Buhari, Lawan,
Gbaja, NPAN, NGE,
NUJ, Tinubu,
Sanwo-Olu, others
mourn as Jakande
dies at 91 10
Herdsmen
attack:
Soyinka flays
Police report,
narrates
ordeal
9
Govs plan
emergency
meeting on
herders/
farmers’
clash
Banks’ borrowing from CBN falls 98% to N15bn
8
#EndSARS:
Why FG won't
allow fresh
protests — LAI
MOHAMMED 5
19
VOL. 27: NO. 64270 FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2021
HERDERS' CRISIS:
36
on insecurity in North-West
•Foreign herders holding Nigerians to ransom, says Ortom•Stop herdsmen before
they plunge Nigeria into civil war •Ban foreign Fulani herders, says
JOURNALISM LOSES TWO GIANTS
FUNERAL SERVICE FOR TONY MOMOH...
From left, Mrs Zainab Momoh, Abdulrasheed Momoh (first Son); Philip Shaibu, Edo
State Deputy Governor; Donald Duke, former Cross River State Governor; Mrs Oseni Elamah
and others at the funeral service for the late Prince Tony Momoh, at Grailland Temple, Iju
Hills, Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Akeem Salau. SEE MORE PICTURES ON PAGES 14 & 15.
CONDOLENCE VISIT TO JAKANDE FAMILY...
People queue to sign the condolence register at the residence of
Late Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande, First Civilian Governor of
Lagos State, in Ilupeju, Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: Kehinde
Gbadamosi. SEE MORE PICTURES ON PAGE 29.
DONU KOGBARA 16 LAKEMFA 17 AZU 20
•SEE
INSIDE
2 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2021
Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2021 -- 3
4 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2021
vanguardnews @vanguardnews @vanguardnews
#EndSARS: Why FG won't allow
fresh protests — LAI MOHAMMED
•Warns security agents ready for any eventuality•Don’t cause trouble, LASG
warns protesters•No protest’ll hold at Lekki tomorrow, Lagos CP vows•No
going back, organisers declare•Reconsider on protests, LCC begs protesters
By Soni Dani
Olasunkanmi Akoni & Juliet Umeh
ABUJA — The protests under the
Federal and banner of the
Lagos State #ENDSARS movement.
governments yesterday Mohammed, who
warned organisers of pointed out the atrocities
#OccupyLekki protests visited on the country
to desist from their and Nigerians during the
action slated for violent #EndSARS
tomorrow or face their protests of last October,
wrath.
warned: “Any further
Aside from both resort to violence in the
governments, Lagos name of #EndSARS will
State
Police not be tolerated this time.
Commissioner, Mr.
Hakeem Odumosu, also
advised the protest
organisers to have a
rethink but the
organisers insisted that
they would not be
intimidated into backing
down.
The organisers of the
protest had said earlier
in the week that it was
meant to counter the
pronouncement of Lagos
State Pan
#EndSARS protest
which gave Lekki
Concession Company,
operators of Lekki Toll
Gate, the all-clear to
restart operations.
This is even as another
group of protesters
vowed to counter the
#OccupyLekki protest to
save Lagos from further
destruction.
Speaking on the
planned protest at a
media briefing in Abuja
yesterday, Minister of
Information, Alhaji Lai
Mohammed, said the
Federal Government will
not fold its arms and
allow another round of
Security agents
ready, says FG
“The security agents are
ready for any eventuality.
A situation in which six
soldiers and 37 policemen
were murdered in cold
blood by hoodlums will
not repeat its
attack, looting and razing
of 269 private and public
property will not happen
again. The killing of 57
civilians will not be reenacted.
“Let me be clear: While
peaceful protests are the
constitutional rights of
Nigerians, violent
protests are not. At this
time, the chances that
any peaceful protest will
be hijacked are very high.
“Based on the
int
disposal of the Federal
Government, some
Nigerian activists have
linked up with others
outside Nigeria,
including subversive
destabilizing the country.
We cannot and must not
allow this to happen.
“Never again will the
Federal Government
allow the kind of violence
that was perpetrated
across the country under
the guise of #EndSARS
last October. Never again
will anyone or group be
allowed to destroy cities or
to kill and maim innocent
citizens, including
GENERAL SECURITY APPRAISAL COMMITTEE MEETING —From right:
The National Security Adviser General Babagana Monguno (RETD); Chief of
Army Staff Major Gen Attahiru Ibrahim; Representative of the chief of Naval
Staff. Com. Christian Ezekobe, The Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshall
Isiaka Amao and the Chief of Defence Staff Maj Gen Lucky Irabor, after a
General Security Appraisal Committee meeting at the Office of the National
Security Adviser in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.
Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2021 — 5
POCKET CARTOON
security agents, under
any guise.
“The #EndSARS
campaign last October
started as a peaceful
protest against police
brutality. As a government
that b
constitutionallyguaranteed
right of
citizens to engage in
peaceful protests, the
Federal Government did
nothing to hinder the
protests for as long as
they remained peaceful.
“Not only that, the
Federal Government
moved swiftly to accede to
the five-point demands by
the #EndSARS
campaigners which are
immediate r
arrested protesters; justice
for all deceased victims of
police brutality and
a p p r o p r i a t e
compensation for their
families; setting up of an
independent body to
oversee
the
investigation and
prosecution of all reports
of police misconduct
within 10 days; in line
with the new Police Act,
psychological evaluation
and retraining (to be
confirmed by an
independent body) of all
disbanded SARS officers
before they can be
redeployed; and an
increase in police salary,
so they are adequat
compensated for
protecting the lives and
property of citizens.
“Unfortunat
the acceptance of the
demands, the protesters
misread the Federal
Government’s respect for
the rule of law and
defiantly continued to
demonstrate and occupy
a public facility, even
after a curfew was
declared by Lagos State
government.
“This led to a series of
actions that culminated in
Continues on Page 35
Mr & Mrs
By Cynthia Alo
On appointment of ex-service chiefs as ambassadors (5)
On what criteria? These people
were accused of war crimes and
many calling for their investigation
by ICC. Under their watch, terrorism
and banditry thrived. Nnamdi Kanu
left Nigeria even when his trav
documents were seized by govt. An
American was kidnapped by
bandits and no one knows how
American soldiers came, rescued
him and left. Citizens have been killed
for just protesting and waving flags;
EndSARS, IPOB and Shiites come
to mind.
—George Moore,
Political Analyst
According to the
Federal Civil Service
rule, military personn
also expected to retire at 60
years or after putting in 35
years of service. The exservice
chiefs spent 36-40
years in service, far above
their retirement age. I think
from the above, this is not a
right decision. We need
young and active people
with fresh and productive
ideas.
—Jesse Ugwunwa,
Debt collections Manager
W
chiefs
ambassadors is like
putting an old wine into
a new bottle because the
bottle is not what we go for,
but the content and the
taste still remains the same.
I think the PMB only did
that to cover up their
shame. You know what
retirement without honour
means.
—Kizito Omenukwa,
Nurse
Maybe putting
their lev
exposure into
consideration, one can
understand where the
president is coming
from. However, he
should also consider that
they were removed for
incompetency. Let’s
watch and see how they
will represent us across
the globe.
—Ebuka Solomon,
Entrepreneur
Saddening! This is
what happens when
you’ve promised people
who support you during
earth. You can never
hold them accountable.
If not, why would you
dismiss service chiefs
for incompetency and
now make them
ambassadors?
—Ogechukwu
Aniakor,
Entrepreneur
This is an international
embarrassment. PMB’s
action is tantamount to
rewarding incompetence at
the expense of the nation’s
global image and
perception. I think PMB just
wants to shi
being investigated and
prosecuted by the ICC
already probing the
atrocities and crimes
against humanity which
they committed.
—Chime Chinedu,
Political Analyst
6— Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2021
Suspected
ritualists
behead farmer
in Imo
By Chinonso Alozie
OWERRI—
Police
operatives in Imo State are
working round the clock to
unrav
beheading of a farmer, Isreal
Ihenacho, around Orodo market
in Mbaitoli Local Government
Area of the state.
It was gathered that
Ihenacho’s lif
discovered by those going to
market, Wednesday, with some
parts of the body allegedly
removed by the suspected
ritualists.
One of the villagers said:
“Those who discovered the
lif
morning market business.
“We are not happy that this
kind of thing is happening in the
community. We are just going to
the market to s
products, which we produced
from our farms only for us to see
a dead body without head and
even the breast as we were told.
“We think some group of
ritualists have entered our
community and something must
be done about it now. This is
complet
community.”
Some parts of the body, which
the eyewitness, said were cut off
were his head, manhood,
including left side of his breast.
“This man was also a palm
wine tapper and we don’t know
why he was the target. This is
wicked I must say,” the
eyewitness said.
However, the state Police Public
R
Ikeokwu, said the state
Commissioner of Police, Nasiru
Muhammed, had ordered
investigation into the matter.
2 dead, 16
others injured
in Kano
auto crash
By Bashir B
KANO —Two people were,
yesterday, confirmed dead in
an auto crash along the Kano-
Kaduna highway.
It was also gathered that the
accident, which occurred at
Tasharkofa village, left 16 other
persons with injuries.
Sector Commander, Federal
Road Safety Commission, FRSC,
Zubairu Mato, who confirmed
the incident in Kano, said the
accident occurred on Wednesday
as a result of overspeeding
leading to tyre burst and collision
between the two vehicles, a
Toyota with number plate: MSA
943 XA and a commercial bus.
He said: “On Wednesday, at
about 07:05 a.m we received a
distress call and we quickly
dispatched our personn
scene of the incident to rescue
the victims.
“The victims who lost their
lives were adult males while the
remaining 16 victims sustained
serious injures.
“The victims were evacuated
to Kura General Hospital where
the doctor on duty confirmed two
dead while 16 other victims are
currently receiving treatment at
the hospital.”
Scores injured as transport unions clash in
Lagos •Leaders trade blame over cause of fight
By Ev
Esther Onyegbula
COMMERCIAL
activities
were disrupted at the ever-busy
Obalende area of Lagos, yesterday,
following a violent clash between
members of National Union of Road
Transport Workers, NURTW, and the
Road Transport Employees
Association of Nigeria, RTEAN.
Dangerous weapons, including
guns, were used during the freefor-all.
Commuters scampered for
safety in the ensuing fracas to avoid
being hit by stray bullets, while
motorists hurriedly made U-turns.
Vanguard gathered that there had
been an ongoing move to take over
parks in contention by one of the
parties, an action that had taken both
parties to the Police in Lagos
command and the Force
Headquarters, Abuja.
It was gathered that a meeting
between members of the unions was
fixed for yesterday at the Force
Headquarters, Force Criminal
Investigations and Int
Department, Alagbon. The fight
reportedly broke out at Obalende
while the meeting was ongoing.
Leaders of both parties blamed
one another for the cause of the fight
when Vanguard contacted them.
The media aide to the Chairman,
NURTW, Lagos Chapter, Mr Jimoh
Busari, told Vanguard that members
of RTEAN invaded his union’s park
early yesterday and attacked his
members, in a bid to forcefully take
over the leadership.
He said but for the intervention of
other members of his union and the
Police, the situation would have
gone out of hand.
He said: “Those arrested were all
RTEAN members. They were the
ones that came to attack us. Our
members were not among those
arrested. We’re peaceful people.”
However when the Chairman of
RTEAN, Alhaji Mohammed Musa,
was contacted, he described the
situation as unfortunate, stating
rather that NURTW members
attacked his men.
Musa explained that out of the
21 units in Obalande, RTEAN had
only two while the rest were being
manned by NURTW.
He said: “We have been operating
in these two units without rancour.
Yet NURTW wants to take over the
only two units we are occupying.
"NURTW reported the matter at
Kam Salem Police formation, we
were invited there and after hearing
our side of the matter, some of our
boys that were earlier arrested were
r
the IGP Monitoring Unit, we went
there, explained our part and we
were exonerated from blame.
"Last month, our union was invited
by the CP Maritime Police for the
same investigation into the two
parks. again, we explained our
part.
"They went to the FCID. Both
parties were asked to come by 11
am today (yesterday). When our
members went to work in the
morning, one of the leaders of
NURTW organised their members
to attack our members.
"Out of the whole local
governments in Lagos State,
RTEAN operates in only six, which
are Badagry, Ojo, Amuwo, Epe,
Ikorodu and Surulere. We are lawabiding
people.“
Normalcy, however, returned in
the area at about 11 am, following
intervention by policemen from the
•6 persons arrested as Police mount surveillance
Suspects arrested.
Rapid Response Squad,
RRS, and those from the
Area ‘A’ Command, Lion
Building.
At press time, policemen
on foot and vehicular patrol
were patrolling the area
while shop owners, who
had closed up for the day,
resumed business.
Six arrested
Six persons, according to
the Lagos State Police
Public R
CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi,
were arrested in connection
with the fracas.
He said: “Based on
pr
crisis that occurred today
(yesterday) was between
transport unions in the area
and no life was lost. Six
suspected hoodlums have been
arrested and handed over to state
CID, Panti, Yaba for discreet
investigation.
However, the Commissioner of
Police taking charge.
Police, Hakeem Odumosu, has
warned that the command will not
condone any act of lawlessness and
criminality in the state. He, however,
directed the Area Commander, Area
A, Lion Building, ACP Bode
Ojajuni, to intensify efforts on
flushing the hoodlums out of the
area and on Lagos Island in
general.
Herdsmen strike in Ogun community, kill
two villagers •Abiodun reads riot act, deploys task
By James Ogunnaike
ABEOKUTA—
Hoodlums
suspected to be herdsmen,
yesterday, struck in Yewa North
Local Government Area of Ogun
State, killing two villagers in an
ambush.
The suspected herdsmen
reportedly laid an ambush for the
villagers around 5 am on the Owode
Ketu-Ijoun-Tata Road where they
killed the two villagers.
A source revealed that the victims
were shot in the chest and head
regions, by the attackers.
The source added that the corpses
of the victims, identified as Isiaka
Apesin and Oguntosin Adebayo,
were later discovered in the bush
and evacuated by the police from
Eggua Divisional Police
headquarters.
Confirming the incident, Youth
Leader of Owode-Ketu town, Sina
Olaleye, said the duo were on their
way to the market when they were
ambushed and killed.
He said the corpses had been
evacuated by the police. He,
however, lamented the incessant
attacks by the herders and called
on the state government to rescue
Ketu people from the menace of
force to Yewaland
violent herders.
Olaleye added that the attackers
were later located by the police in
the bush with assault rifles and other
dangerous weapons, but the police
were unable to arrest them.
The Baale of the town, Sanya
Fabuyi, said Owode-Ketu had been
under the siege of herders, pointing
out that the latest attack was one of
many unprovoked attacks that had
led to the death of many indigenes
of the town.
“As I speak, my town is under the
siege of herdsmen. My people are
living in fears, we are at the mercy
of these marauders. Those who
carried out this latest attack, I was
informed, had bulletproof vests on
and carried AK-47 rifles. Even, police
are h
bush where they were located after
the attack.," he said.
When contacted on phone,
spokesperson of Ogun State Police
Command, Abimbola Oyeyemi,
confirmed the incident.
Oyeyemi, who said no suspect has
been arrested in connection with the
incident, explained that the police
with the support of local vigilance
group, hunters and youths, have
gone on the trail of the suspects from
the Eggua and Igbogila ends of
the bush.
Abiodun reads riot act,
deploys task force to
Yewaland
Meanwhile, Governor Dapo
Abiodun of Ogun State, yesterday,
read the riot act to perpetrators of
violence in Owode-Ketu, Eggua,
Igan-Alade and Igbogila areas of
the state, saying his administration
would leave no stone unturned in
curtailing the activities of brigands
in the state.
This was just as he deployed a
special task force comprising
Police and other security agencies,
including the Department of State
Service, DSS, and local vigilante
groups, with representatives of
other stakeholder entities in the
crises-prone areas of Yewa-North,
Imeko-Afon and Yewa South
Council Areas of the state.
Abiodun directed that
investigation be sped up and
concluded so that indicted persons
could be charged to court and
prosecuted in the interest of justice.
He said: “The government will
leave no stone unturned in
checking the activities of brigands
and criminals in this state."
Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2021—7
Hoodlums stab 98-yr-old woman to death in
Enugu
By Ikechukwu Odu
NSUKKA—A decomposing
body of a 98-year-old woman
identified as Oyibo Ogidi, was
discovered, Tuesday morning, at her
Amafor residence in Ovoko, Igbo-
Eze South Local Government Area
of Enugu State.
The childless woman, according
to family sources, was last seen on
Friday when she visited her ailing
brother in the neighbourhood.
The deceased’s nephew, Victor
Father in court
for allegedly
assaulting son’s
school principal
By Shina Abubakar
OSOGBO—A 35-year-old
father, Adeyeni
Adeyeye, who led his son to
beat a school principal in Ile-
Ife, was yesterday, arraigned
by Osun State Police
Command before a
Magistrates’Court in the
town for assault.
Adeyeni Adeyeye was
docked before Magistrate A.
Adebayo on six counts
bordering on conspiracy,
assault, breach of public
peace and stealing.
Police prosecutor, ASP
Abdullahi Emmanu
disclosed that on Monday,
February 1, the defendant
conducted hims
manner lik
breach of public peace at
Oduduwa College, Ile-Ife
and beat one Sanusi Ademola
around 19:30 am.
He added that Adeyeye
conspired with others now at
large to assault the said
Sanusi, a principal at the
school, and tore his shirt.
He added that the
defendant and his
conspirators now at large
assaulted one Awoyeye
Olayide by hitting her with a
fist and stole her purse
containing the sum of
N50,000.
Emmanu
defendant also stole
Olayide’s car key and office
keys, saying the offence
contravened sections 249(d),
351, 383, 390(9), 451 and 516
of the Criminal Code, Laws
of Osun, 2002.
The defendant pleaded not
guilty to the six counts
slammed against him by the
police.
Defence couns
Oluwatosin Ademola urged
the court to admit the
defendant to bail in the most
liberal terms, saying the
defendant would not jump
bail.
Adebayo admitted the
defendant to bail in the sum
of N1million with one surety,
adding that the surety must
be a civil servant of grade
lev
matter till March 3, 2021, for
hearing.
Onyeke, who confirmed the
dev
family got the news of her death
through a neighbour, who was
perceiving unpleasant odour from
the deceased’s residence, went
close and discovered her dead
body.
Onyeke further said the woman
would have been killed by
hoodlums, who stabbed her on the
neck, covered her face with her
clothing, before carting away her
handset and other valuables.
He added that apart from the deep
cut on her neck, all her body parts
were intact.
Onyeke also said: “She lived
alone in her apartment because she
didn’t bear any child. When we got
the news of her death, we were
shocked because she was not sick.
We rushed to her residence only to
discover that her decomposing body
was already sm
“I discovered that her face was
covered with a cloth. However,
when I uncovered her, I noticed that
she was stabbed on the neck region
and left to die in the pool of her blood.
It was such a shocking rev
“At that point, we rushed to the
Igbo-Eze South Police Division to
make our report about her death.
After the inspection of her remains,
the policemen confirmed that she
was murdered and vowed to fish
out the perpetrators.
“Her remains have been
deposited at the Bishop Shanahan
Mortuary in Nsukka metropolis.”
Meanwhile, members of the
community, who spoke to Vanguard
on condition of anonymity,
expressed worry over recurrent
cases of murder in the rustic
community. They recalled that a 55-
year-old man, identified as Joseph
Ogbonna, was equally murdered
in his sleep in the same community
last April.
NABBED: Arrested suspected cultists who have been terrorising residents of
Ita Oluwo area of Ogijo, Ogun State being paraded by the police, yesterday.
Boko Haram kills 3 soldiers, injures 2 in
Goniri, Geidam attacks
By Kingsley Omonobi
THE Nigerian Army said,
yesterday, that three soldiers
were killed and two others
sustained injuries when Boko
Haram terrorists attacked troops
providing security for road
construction along Goniri-Kafa
supply route and Geidam town
and not 20 soldiers as reported
in the social media.
Director of Army Public
R
Mohammed Yerima, said the
allegation is “false/fake and
bas
the public and demoralising
troops on the untiring efforts in
the overall fight against
insurgency. There was no attack
where 20 soldiers were killed in
the entire Theatre.
“For the records, recent events
that occurred within the Theatre
were professionally reported
and documented by the
Nigerian Army, which includes
the attack on troops providing
security for road construction
workers along Goniri-Kafa
Main Supply Routes, MSR, on
February 5 2021 and the recent
attack on Geidam on February
9, 2021, which were all
decisiv
rep
“The attack on the troops
along the road construction site
and the attempt to infiltrate
Geidam town by the terrorists
were swiftly and professionally
cleared by the dogged Mobile
Strike Teams (MSTs) and
Battalion.
“However, regrettably three
gallant soldiers paid the
supreme sacrifice while two
others sustained injuries and are
receiving treatment at our
medical facility.
“The BHTs and ISWAP are on
the run and desperate for foods,
drugs and logistics from soft
targets for survival as their
camps, routes and enclaves
have been destroyed, blocked
and manned by troops of
Operation “Tura Takaibango.”
Army nabs CJTF
member over fake
report
Meanwhile, one Umar
Muhammed has been arrested
by the Nigerian Army for
allegedly sharing fake
information on the alleged
killing of soldiers in Borno by
Boko Haram.
Muhammed, 29, alleged that
Boko Haram fighters killed five
soldiers and also abducted
many others when workers
•Army nabs CJTF member
over fake report
were repairing
facilities along Maiduguri-
Damaturu road last Monday.
He shared the fake report on
February 8 during an
operational tour of troops’
locations in the theatre, by the
Chief of Army (COAS), Maj.
Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru.
A military source disclosed
that Muhammed, who was
identified as a Civilian JTF
member at Shehuri-North in
Maiduguri Metropolitan
Council, was arrested at his
residence by security
operatives.
He added that the suspect
allegedly shared the false
information, knowing fully w
that it could create panic in the
minds of citizens.
“This kind of fake news can
create false impressions in the
minds of many. From the
suspect’s post, it is clear that the
idea behind it was to sabotage
the good efforts of the Military,”
he said.
The suspect claimed, during
a pr
his account was hacked by
anonymous persons to send the
fake report.
The Deputy Director, Army
Public R
in a statement, described the
report as “fake and misleading.”
GST examination:
8 Ebonyi varsity
students in
coma as
thousands
protest
anti-student
policies
By Peter Okutu
ABAKALIKI— NO fewer
than eight students of
Ebonyi State University,
Abakiliki, are presently in coma
following overcrowding they
experienced while writing their
General Studies, GST,
Examination on Wednesday.
The examination was said to
be computer-based and the hall
of the examination was
overcrowded, leading to the
suffocation of the affected
students.
Protesting the dev
students of the institution,
yesterday, barricaded the
Abakaliki-Enugu expressway.
As the students protested the
deficiencies affecting their
w
efforts by the Police, Army and
other security agencies to
disperse them proved abortive
as they only decided to listen
to the Deputy Governor, Dr
K
Addressing the protesters, a
student leader, Iteshi Freedom,
wondered why 3,000 students
would be cramped into a hall
to write an examination.
“3,000 students both new and
carryover were in a hall to write
an examination. The
management is yet to confirm
any death. We are here to show
anger. The university has been
underfunded. So, we want the
government and management
to address anti-student policies.
“Yesterday (Wednesday) the
issue that triggered the present
demonstration is the
uncoordinated manner the
exam was coordinated. The
issue is that management and
government should liaise to
build halls. If not they should
continue the paper and pen
exams if they are not able to
conduct it in a computerised
fashion.”
Addressing the students later,
the Deputy Governor, Dr Igwe,
assured the students that issues
affecting them will be
addressed within one week.
He said: “This morning, the
CP informed us that there were
issues in the university. It is not
right. Nobody should subject
you to any inhumane situation
like this. The governor is not in
the state. He said I should talk
to you and that whatever your
problems are, you should give
him one week to resolve all.
“He has to come and make an
official pronouncement on all
the matters raised. There is no
one issue you raised here that
will not be addressed. All the
directors of the university are
hereby removed.”
The Public R
the university, Mr Patrick Itumo,
said the management was still
having a critical meeting as
regarding the dev
cannot authoritativ
any student died during the
ugly episode.
8 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2021
:Vanguard
News
:@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058
Aborisade sues Buhari, AGF over
herdsmen’s criminal activities
IBADAN—ACTIVIST and
lawyer, Femi Aborisade, has
dragged President Muhammadu
Buhari and Attorney-General of
the Federation before a Federal
High Court, sitting in Ibadan, Oyo
State, over the criminal activities
of herdsmen in communities in
Oyo State.
He prayed the court to direct
the President to arrest,
investigate and prosecute
suspected armed herders,
suspected armed robbers and
suspected kidnappers, who
commit criminal trespass, rape,
murder, armed robbery,
kidnapping and other criminal
offences in Ibarapa Central,
Ibarapa East, Ibarapa North,
including Igangan, Atisbo, Irepo,
Iseyin, Itesiwaju, Iwajowa, Kajola,
Oor
and Saki West local government
areas of Oyo State.
Other respondents in the suit
are Governor of Oyo State,
Attorney General of Oyo State
and Oyo State Commissioner of
Police.
Aborisade, who is from Ibarapa,
in the suit said that as a result of
the violent attacks, several
people have been killed while
many others have been shot and
macheted by the assailants,
particularly in the
aforementioned Local
Government Areas making up
Ibarapa and Oke-Ogun
geographical areas of Oyo State.
According to him, “Owing to
several violent attacks by armed
kidnappers and bandits, I have
not been able to visit members of
my family living in Itasa, in
Iwajowa Local Government Area
of Oyo State for the past one year.
“The armed gangs and bandits
have violently attacked many
farmers and dispossessed them
of their farmlands inIbarapa
Central, Ibarapa East, Ibarapa
North, including Igangan; Atisbo,
Irepo, Iseyin, Itesiwaju, Iwajowa,
Kajola, Oor
Saki East and Saki West Local
Government Areas of Oyo State.
“Scores of women and girls
have been abducted and raped
by the armed gangs and bandits
in the aforementioned Local
Government Areas making up
Ibarapa and Oke-Ogun
geographical areas of Oyo State.
“The Police Stations in the said
Local Government Areas of Oyo
State have failed or refused to
arrest and prosecute the members
of the armed gangs terrorising law
abiding persons in Ibarapa
Central, Ibarapa East, Ibarapa
North, Including Igangan;
Atisbo, Irepo, Iseyin, Itesiwaju,
Iwajowa, Kajola, Oor
Olorunsogo, Saki East & Saki
West Local Government Areas of
Oyo State.”
Aborisade, through his
couns
meanwhile, wants the court to
order the respondents to adopt
adequate measures to ensure the
protection of the life and property
of every person in Ibarapa
Central, Ibarapa East, Ibarapa
North, Including Igangan;
Atisbo, Irepo, Iseyin, Itesiwaju,
Iwajowa, Kajola, Oor
Olorunsogo, Saki East and Saki
West Local Government Areas of
Oyo State forthwith.
FG offers employment,
scholarships to 110 ex-NYSC
members
By Luminous
Jannamike
A BUJA—FEDERAL
Government, yesterday,
offered automatic employment in
the Federal civil service to 110
former members of the National
Youth Service Corps, NYSC, who
distinguished thems
community dev
during their service year.
President Muhammadu
Buhari announced this at the
virtual President’s Honours
Award for corps members of the
2018 and 2019 sets, which h
in Abuja.
The President also offered the
awardees scholarships for the
pursuit of post-graduate studies
up to doctoral lev
university in the country as w
as cash rewards.
He directed the r
government agencies to ensure
tim
incentives for the award
recipients.
Urging the honourees to
sustain the patriotic zeal that
earned them the award, the
President said: “It is noteworthy
that the young men and women
being honoured have exc
the four cardinal programmes of
the Scheme, nam
Course, Primary Assignment,
Community Dev
Service and Winding-up/Passingout,
which formed the basis of
assessment for the Honours
Award.
“On behalf of the Government
and the good people of Nigeria, I
heartily congratulate those
honoured on standing out from
their peers in order to merit the
honour being bestowed upon
them.
“You have proved yours
worthy ambassadors of your
respective families and the
National Youth Service Corps. I
am very proud of you and
confident that the Award shall
spur you to greater service to the
Nation and humanity,” he said.
President Buhari further
stressed that the NYSC has
remained a bastion of national
unity and integration by exposing
our youth to diverse cultures and
traditions, thereby making them
appreciate our similarities and
diversity.
Service wide vote, biggest fraud in
Nigeria, says Senate
....Asks new auditor general to forward report from 2015
By Henry Umoru
ABUJA—THE Senate,
yesterday, took a swipe
at the executive on service
wide vote, which it
described as the biggest
form of fraud in the country.
It also asked the office of
the Auditor General of the
Federation, AuGF, to probe
the disbursement and
utilisation of the vote.
Speaking, yesterday, in
Abuja, when the newly
appointed Auditor General
for the Federation, Adolphus
Aghughu, appeared before the
Senate Committee on Public
Accounts for screening,
Chairman of the committee,
Senator Matthew
Urhoghide, PDP, Edo South,
asked him to forward to the
Senate report on the service wide
vote from 2015 to date.
Urhoghide, who noted that the
service wide vote, which rose to
N198.7 billion in the 2018 budget,
now stood at N758 billion in the
2021 budget, as allocated by the
Federal Government, adding
that it must be investigated to
ascertain if the vote was actually
solving the problem as it ought
to be for contingency provisions.
He said: “The fund is the
biggest fraud because it is not
Oil exploration drops by 150%, as rig
count stands at 6 —Report
By Udeme Akpan
Herders/farmers clash: Govs plan emergency meeting to
address problem
By Henry Umoru
ABUJA—GOVERNORS of
the 36 states of the
federation, yesterday, resolved to
hold an emergency meeting to
come up with solutions to the
problem of herders/farmers
clashes, banditry and kidnapping
across the country.
In a communique issued at the
end of the 25th virtual
meeting,,signed by the Nigerian
Governors Forum, NGF,
Chairman and Ekiti State
Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi,
the governors noted that the
problem had become very
worrisome, following the renewed
kidnapping, rape, killing and
destruction of property.
The governors said they
strongly condemned what they
described as criminality and the
ethnic profiling of a particularl
ethnic group in the country.
They also spoke on the need
for the country to transition into
modern systems of animal
husbandry that will replace open,
night and underage grazing in
the country.
According to the governors,
state governments are
encouraged to put in place
systems to acc
initiative of the National Livestock
Transformation Plan and
audited. Service wide vote is the
biggest fraud in Nigeria. It is
meant to meet unseen situation.
‘’Nobody gives account on
service wide vote. Standing
committees of the Senate do not
know any thing about its
spending.”
Service wide vote is
contingency fund in the national
budget under the control of the
Federal Ministry of Finance.
Meanwhile, the Acting Auditor
General has assured the
lawmakers that he would look
into the issue of non-auditing
of service wide votes.
Also yesterday, the Senate
urged the Acting Auditor
General of the Federation to
ensure that when confirmed,
THERE are indications
that oil exploration has
dropped by 150 per cent in Nigeria
in the past year, due mainly to
the prolonged d
passage of the nation’s
Petroleum Industry Bill,
PIB, into law.
The PIB, still before the
ranching in the country.
The Communique read:
“Following an update from
governors on the various
initiatives taken by state
governments to address the rising
insecurity in the country due to
the activities of herdsmen,
members reached a consensus on
the need for the country to
transition into modern systems
of animal husbandry that will
replace open, night and
underage grazing in the country.
‘’State governments are
encouraged to put in place
systems to acc
initiative of the National Livestock
Transformation Plan and
ranching in the country.
“The Forum respects the right
he would chase after the big
spenders whose accounts were
not audited, despite the fact that
the office audits the account
of the federation.
The big spenders, according to
the Senate, include the Nigerian
National Petroleum
Corporation, NNPC, Nigerian
Ports Authority, NPA, Nigerian
Maritime Adminisration and
Safety Authority, NIMASA, the
Army, among others.
Speaking further, Senator
Urhoghide, who asked Aghughu
to brief the committee on how he
would audit the fund, said: “You
should t
to audit this service wide votes.”
Answering the committee,
the Acting AuGF told the
National Assembly, aims at
restructuring the industry, as w
as putting in place competitive
legislation, targeted at
encouraging investment in the
industry.
But a copy of the Organisation
of Petroleum Exporting
Countries, OPEC February 2021
report, obtained by Vanguard,
showed that the rig count, a major
of abode of all Nigerians and
strongly condemns criminality
and the ethnic profiling of crime
in the country in an effort to frame
the widespread banditry and the
herders- farmers crisis.
‘’In the light of the economic
and security risks that have
arisen from these circumstances,
the Forum resolved to urgently
convene an emergency meeting
of all governors.
“The chairman of Northern
States Governors’ Forum, NSGF,
and governor of Plateau State,
Simon Bako Lalong, provided an
update on steps taken by
governors of the 19 northern
states and cautioned against the
tagging of ethnic groups based
on the misbehavior of a few
criminally-minded individuals."
VISIT—Chief of
the Naval Staff,
Rear Admiral
Awwal Gambo
( l e f t ) ,
presenting a
souvenir to
Ebonyi State
Governor, Chief
Dave Umahi,
during the
governor’s
courtesy visit to
the Naval
Headquarters,
in Abuja,
yesterday.
senators that the agency lacked
the constitutional powers to audit
Nigerian National Petroleum
Corporation, NNPC, Central
Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Nigerian
Ports Authority, NPA, and other
big spenders among the
government agencies.
The nominee, while
responding on why the office of
the Auditor General has not
been able to carry out an audit
on the big spender, said: “For the
big spenders, it is the
constitution that has issues. By
virtue of 1999 constitution, we
will just provide list of what we
need for them and they will make
their choice. If they decline to
give to us, we have no power to
comp
index of measuring activities in
the industry, stood at six in
January 2020, indicating a drop
of 150 per cent when compared
to 15 recorded in the
corresponding period of 2019.
This showed that operators,
including the International Oil
Companies, IOCs, and their
indigenous counterparts have
not invested much in exploration,
which could have resulted in the
making of additional oil and gas
finds, reserves, and production
capacity.
Consequently, the nation’s oil
reserves remain unchanged at 37
billion barr
40 billion barr
However, The Minister of State
for Petroleum Resources, Timipre
Sylva, had recently promised that
the PIB would be passed in April
2021, bar
enable the government to
achieve set objectives, including
attracting new local and
investments into the industry.
The Speaker of the House of
Representatives, Femi
Gbajabiamila, had also
announced that the bill would be
passed in April 2021, adding that
consultations on the bill will
transcend the public hearing.
Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2021 — 9
:Vanguard News
:@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058
Herdsmen attack: Soyinka flays
police report, narrates ordeal
BRIEFING: From left; Group Head, Corporate Services, Hope PSBank, Cletus Igah; MD, Hope PSBank,
Ayotunde Kuponiyi; Chief Marketing Officer, Hope PSBank, Kathleen Erhimu and, Group Head, Corporate
Communications, Unified Payment Services Limited, F
free registration exercise for National Identification Number (NIN) by Hope PSBank in Lagos, yesterday.
Why we're yet to unfreeze #EndSARS
campaigners’ bank accounts — MALAMI
•Govt had nothing to act on to freeze #EndSARS campaigners’ bank accounts
— Falana •Says CBN must desist from jumping into political arena
A BUJA—THE
Attorney-General of
the Federation and Minister of
Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN,
has given reasons the federal
government was yet to obey the
court order to unfreeze bank
accounts of 20 #EndSARS
protesters.
Malami, who spoke on Sunrise
Daily, a Chann
monitored in Lagos yesterday,
Malami said the Federal
Government’s decision not to
unfreeze the bank accounts
immediat
still weighing options as allowed
by the law on such matters.
On October 15, 2020, Godwin
Emefi
Bank of Nigeria, CBN, directed
banks to place a Post-No-Debit
order on the accounts of 20
persons linked to the #EndSARS
campaign.Three weeks after,
Mike Aondoakaa, couns
CBN obtained an ex parte order
from the Federal High Court in
Abuja to freeze the bank accounts
of the #EndSARS campaigners
for a period of 90 days.
At the expiration of the 90-day
order on February 2,2021, CBN
moved to extend the period but
later withdrew the application on
Wednesday.
It was on this note that Ahmed
MOMAN calls for national dialogue on fu
By Udeme Akpan
MAJOR
Marketers
Association of Nigeria,
MOMAN, has called for a
national dialogue as fu
rises due mainly to the increased
price of crude oil in the
international market.
The price of Nigeria’s Bonny
Light rose from $59 to $60.52
yesterday, thus widening the lev
of fu
borne by the Federal
Government, through the
Nigerian National Petroleum
Corporation, NNPC.
However, speaking virtually on
‘’After Deregulation, What
Next?’’ in Lagos, yesterday, Mr.
Adetunji Oyebanji, Chairman,
MOMAN, said: “With a fully
deregulated downstream
Mohammed, a judge of the
Federal High Court in Abuja,
ordered the unfreezing of the
bank accounts.
But speaking on the
programme yesterday, Malami
said: “We need to take in a lot of
factors with particular reference
to the compliance with the court
order and within the context of
striking a balance, the options
that are available are multiple.
“One, the consideration of or a
possibility of wholehearted
compliance with the court order;
that is, comprehensive,
unconditional compliance with
the order r
unfreezing of the #EndSARS
account.
“But, that does not take away
the right of government to give a
further consideration when the
need arises, a consideration, for
example, of excising the right of
appeal against the order, if the
need arises, coupled with the
right of stay of execution of the
order or perhaps, application of
variation of order, among others.
“While the government has
chosen to exercise those rights
and, indeed, an appeal of
variation of the court order or an
appeal for setting aside the order
or perhaps stay of execution of
the order, you cannot within the
context of the rule of law adjudge
the government as operating in
breach of the order.
“It all depends on, for example,
where parties unilaterally settle
for arrangement or the order is a
product of settlement
arrangement. I think the
possibility of considering options
associated with appeal of
variation of the order or setting
aside the court order may not
necessarily come into play.
“But where it indeed is product
of contentions between the party
‘A’ saying, ‘this is the way it is’,
and the other party saying no,
‘this is the way it is’, the court will
now decide to make a ruling one
way or the other.
‘’So, the right of appeal, right of
application to set aside the court
order or perhaps, maybe a staying
of execution of the order may
come into play.
“It all depends on the
prevailing circumstances. It is the
prevailing circumstances that
determine what decisions, what
provision, what direction the
party involved in the suit or the
party affected by the order will
consider as the next line of action
to take.
Speaking on the same
programme, couns
protesters, Mr. Femi Falana,
•As Bonny Light price hits $60.52 per barr
industry, the natural fear and
anticipation of Nigerians is the
increase in the price of
transportation, food items, and
the attendant economic
hardships.
‘’Solutions to these challenges
can only emanate from a
collective resolve by all
stakeholders to face up to these
challenges together. We must as
a national debate and share
pragmatic and realistic initiatives
to mitigate the impact of a pump
price increase that could follow a
fully deregulated downstream.
“We stand with Nigeria and
Nigerians through this difficult
time and support the Federal
Government’s promise to pass
the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB
this year and fully deregulate the
petroleum downstream sector.
‘’The benefit of a liberalized
downstream is the most visible
means of growing the economy
in the medium to long term.
Nigeria can become the refining
hub of West and Central Africa
and eventually the whole of
Africa if we stick to this path of
investing in new refineries,
adopting a cost optimization
initiative, building an
environment that promotes
competition, and creates a
sustainable petroleum sector.
‘’These actions would lead to
increased employment, reduced
poverty, and reduced social
inequity. We must take
advantage of the opportunities
SAN, said the Federal
Government had nothing to act
on to freeze the accounts of the
protesters, saying the
dev
constitutional provisions which
guaranteed the rights of
Nigerians to protests.
Falana also asked CBN to stay
out of politics and stick to the
business of banking.
Noting that the apex bank
went out of its way, Falana said:
“I do hope that sufficient lessons
have been learnt, particularly by
CBN to desist from jumping into
the political arena by attempting
to freeze the accounts of people
who are involved in the struggle
one way or the other against the
government.’’
He argued further that CBN
misled the court into b
that some grave offences had
been committed, which would
require time to investigate.
He, however, noted that no
offence was committed and that
no attempt was made by CBN to
investigate any individual.
The lawyer urged CBN to be
more circumspect in the future,
adding that the individuals
whose accounts were frozen will
be going to court to challenge
the “gross violation” of their
rights to their property.
brought by the African
Continental Free Trade Area
agreement, AfCFTA, and fully
benefit from our barr
getting the maximum value it can
bring Nigeria.
“MOMAN is calling for a
national discourse among all
stakeholders including
Government, Labour, Civil Society
Organizations, the Organized
Private Sector, and operators, not
on the merits or demerits of petrol
subsidy removal, but on the
initiatives that can be taken to
ease the impact of the subsidy
removal on the most vulnerable
in our society.
“The public, which includes the
downstream operators, are key
stakeholders in the Nigerian oil
By Olasunkanmi
Akoni & Victor
Ajiromanus
NOBEL LAUREATE,
Professor Wole
Soyinka, has said his
property was attacked by
herders and ‘mad cows’,
contrary to police report on
the incident.
Soyinka in a statement
r
Housing Estate residence,
Abeokuta, Ogun State,
yesterday, titled: “Mad
Cows and Even Madder
narratives,” cautioned the
police against making
frivolous statements.
The statement read: “The
most distressful aspect of
my recent interaction with
cows and herders is that it
has created a most
unwanted distraction from
the ongoing life and death
Nigerian narrative.
“One has to take time off to
deal with distortions and fake
versions, while students are
being reportedly waylaid and
killed and/or kidnapped in
Ondo and farmers are being
slaughtered in my own state.
‘’In short, the killings
continue, even as pan
being launched to enquire
into immediate past human
violations. For those who
truly seek details of the Ijegba
incident, I hereby affirm that
I was never physically
attacked; neither did I attack
any cows. The cows and
herders did, however, attack
my property – and not for the
first time.
“The police need to be very,
very careful, learn to be
straightforward with public
information. Failure to
adhere to that obvious, basic
form of conduct means that
the public will lose total
confidence in security
agencies and constantly
bypass them in times of civic
unrest, no matter how trivial
or deadly.
“How on earth could the
police claim that my property
was not invaded by cattle? It
was. My groundsmen knew
the drill and commenced the
process of exp
“Fortunat
driving out and was able to
lend a hand by vehicle
maneuvering. Both cattle
and gas industry. We b
as a country, we have and should
move beyond the debate on the
arguments for the removal of
petrol price subsidies.
‘’The discussion we should be
having today is how best to
maximise the benefits of the
removal of price controls and
subsidies while minimizing the
adverse effects of this action on
our citizens.”
On cost reduction, he said: “In
line with the recently launched
Nigerian Upstream Cost
Optimization Program, NUCOP,
efforts must be made to reduce
costs of production,
administration, and governance
throughout the petroleum value
chain in the Nigerian petroleum
sector, (particularly) the
downstream, in order to promote
efficiency and competitiveness
within the industry and ensure
value creation for all consumers.''
and herdsmen were flushed
out of my property.
“Once they were outside
the gates, I came down from
the vehicle and beckoned
the herdsmen to come over.
At first, they pretended not to
understand, then, as I
approached, fled into the
bush.
“We, thereupon,
“arrested” the cows,
confining them to the
roadside, while I sent my
groundsman, Taiye, to the
police to come and take
over. Since they took rather
long in responding, I
summoned a replacement and
proceeded to the police station.
On the way, we met a
detachment, turned round,
and together we returned to
the scene of crime.
“The police wanted to
commence combing the
bush for the fugitives but I
stopped them – what was
the point? Keep the cows, I
advised, and the owner will
show up. Of course, that
owner eventually did. I
thoroughly resent the police
version which suggests that
the cows never invaded my
home: home is not just a
building, it includes its
grounds.
“It was not a stray cow, or
two or three. It was a herd –
we have photos, so why the
lie? It is so unnecessary,
unprofessional and
suspiciously compromised. The
police suggest that I have
nothing better to do than to go
accosting cows on the public
road – to what end?
‘’ If the police demand
proof, the next time such an
invasion takes place, I warn
that there will be no lack for
cadaver affirmation and the
police will be officially
invited to join in the
ensuing suyafeast.
“So please, let us get
serious!. Getting serious
means seeking a sense of
urgency, ways of
terminating mayhem,
impunity, and the homicidal
culture being imposed on us
through some near cultic
business minority who just
happen to trade in cattle.
“It means not giving up
on peaceful solutions, but
also being prepared for the
worst. Those of my line of
thought have been working
on various ways of
sensitizing the nation to the
very real and imminent
danger issuing from this cattle
aberration.
“The menace, I repeat,
challenges us as a cohesive
entity and as communities of
free individuals, committed to
the dignity of existence.
Cattle imperialism under any
guise is an obscenity to
humanity.
“So let me serve notice that
we are about to commence a
process of public sensitization;
we hope even the police will
join hands with the agenda
as it progresses.
“A special practical plea: now
that the railways are being
resurrected, let us make
cattle wagons a priority. I
grew up with the regular sight
of those practical
conveyances. It is time to
bring them back.”
10 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2021
Buhari, Lawan, Tinubu, Gbaja, NPAN, NGE,
NUJ, others mourn as Jakande dies at 91
•How he died – Seyi, son •Buhari, NUJ, NPAN, Afenifere, Osoba, Lawan,
govs, others shower tributes •Lagos NUJ names Light House after him
•Jakande was last of the titans —Tinubu •Oyetola condoles Sanwo-Olu,
Lagos govt over Jakande's death •To be buried at Volts and Gardens, Ikoyi 4
pm today •NGE mourns its pioneer president •It’s a monumental loss
—Gbajabiamila
By Clifford
Ndujihe, Dapo
Akinrefon, Henry
Umoru,
Olasunkanmi Akoni
& Olayinka Ajayi
THE RESERVOIRS of
tears and tributes were literally
opened for Elder statesman,
media icon and first civilian
Governor of Lagos
State, Alhaji Lateef Kayode
Jakande, who passed on, yesterday,
at 91.
The former minister of
Works died exactly 163 days
to his 92nd birthday.
Apart from old age r
challenges, Alhaji Jakande
did not show signs he was
going, a dev
members of members of his
family mouth agape.
Explaining how his father
died, Seyi Jakande, the third
son of the late venerated politician
and Awoist also known
as Baba Kekere, said: “He
had his breakfast this morning
and went back to sleep.
At about 11 am, we noticed
that he wasn’t breathing.
After confirmation, the medical
doctor, he said he was
gone.
‘’My father was a s
leader, somebody that b
in service to humanity.
He displayed that throughout.
He did everything he
could possibly do in every
given capacity. He lived a
Lagos of his dream, he was
Governor of Lagos State from
1979-1983, he did his best in
that capacity and like he always
said everything is by the
grace of the Almighty Allah
not by his power. He died at
age 91.”
As sympathisers trooped to
Alhaji Jakande’s Ilupeju Lagos
home, yesterday, to symapthise
with the family,
President Muhammadu Buhari,
Senate President Ahmad
Lawan, Chief Olusegun
Osoba, the Nigeria Union
of Journalists, and the Newspapers
Proprietors Association
of Nigeria, NPAN, showered
tributes on him.
Leaders who eulogised Jakande
include Governors
Babjide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos
and Hope Uzodimma of Imo
State, Chief Ayo Opadokun,
Chief Olabode George, and
Major General Tajudeen
Olanrewaju
To be buried at
Volts, Gardens,
Ikoyi 4 pm today
The
buried today at 4 pm at Volts
and Gardens Ikoyi after
pre0burial prayers at 2 Bishop
Street, Ilupeju Lagos at 9
am, according burial arrangements
announced by his committee
of friends.
:Vanguard News
Known as committee of
friends of LKJ, members of
the body include Prof. Abisogun
Leigh, Engr. Kamal
Giwa, Prince Bayo
Oshiyemi, Alhaji Gani
Owolabi Dada, Mrs. Omolara
Abeke Vaugh, and Alhaja
Latifat Olufunke Gbajabiamila.
:@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058
Late Governor of Lagos State, Lateef Jakande and Obafemi Awolowo. See tribute on
Page 37
Jakande lived for
the good of others
— Buhari
Mourning Jakande, President
Buhari in a statement
by his Special Adviser on
Media and Publicity, Femi
Adesina, said the deceased
lived for the good of others.
The statement: read: “President
Muhammadu Buhari
b
Lagos State, Chief Lateef Jakande,
lived for the good of
others, state and country, and
his legacy of standing for all
that was right for humanity
would be long remembered.
“The President, while condoling
with family, friends
and associates of the
statesman, affirms that his
imprint on the commercial
nerve centre of the country,
Lagos State, which was the
former national capital, will
continue to awe and inspire,
reminding everyone of the
strength of character and sacrifices
of the visionary leader.
“President Buhari notes
contributions of the first civilian
Governor of Lagos State
and former Minister of Works
to the growth of democracy
and good governance in the
country, describing him as a
patriot, whose wisdom will
run through generations, especially
in putting people first
in dev
“The President joins government
and people of Lagos
State, Nigerian Union of
Journalists, and Nigerian
Guild of Editors, in mourning
the veteran journalist,
praying that the almighty
God will receive his soul and
grant him eternal rest.”
Ensuring good
governance best
way to immortalise
Jakande, says
Sanwo-Olu
Governor Sanwo-Olu, in a
condolence message signed
by his Chief Press Secretary,
Mr. Gboyega Akosile, said
the late Jakande will remain
one of the best public office
holders in the political history
of Nigeria based on how
he transformed Lagos State
and Nigeria during his tenures
governor and later Minister
of Works.
He described the deceased
the as an epitome of
honesty, dedication and s
who used his
positions for the betterment
of the people he
served.
Sanwo-Olu said Jakande
left impeccable records in Lagos
State and that is why he
remained till date, a reference
point for governors in Lagos
and other parts of the country.
“Alhaji Jakande popularly
referred to as ‘Baba Kekere’
brought a lot of dev
to Lagos State as governor
between October 1,1979 and
December 31, 1983 in line
with the five cardinal programmes
of the Unity Party
of Nigeria (UPN), founded
by the late sage and former
Premier of the Western Region,
Chief Obafemi
Awolowo.
“On behalf of the Government
and people of Lagos
State, I want to express my
sincere and heartf
to the family, friends
and associates of the late Alhaji
Lateef Jakande as w
as members of the progressive
community.
“No doubt, the death of Alhaji
Jakande is a colossal loss
to Lagos State and Nigeria.
He made lots of positive impact
and contribution during
his lifetime to the growth of
our dear State by introducing
housing and educational
programmes that targeted
the poor, building new neighbourhood
primary and secondary
schools and providing
free education for all.”
“Baba Jakande within his
four years in office established
the Lagos State University.
His government constructed
over 30,000 housing units,
which were of great value to
the masses.”
Jakande
personified best
in journalism
— Osoba
In his tribute, Chief Olusegun
Osoba, said: “Jakande
will be remembered in history
as a personification of the
best in Journalism and a political
colossus. He single
handedly founded both the
Newspaper Proprietors’ Association
of Nigeria and the
Nigerian Institute of Journalism.
“He was the first black African
Chairman of the International
Press Institute made
up of Publishers and Editors
all over the world.
“He was a foundation member
of both the Nigeria Union
of Journalists and the Guild
of Editors. He was an astute
politician who left giant footprints
wherever he had the
opportunity to serve at state
and federal lev
“As Governor of Lagos state,
he ran a daily “political clinic”
where citizens consulted
him on issues. “In Yoruba parlance:
‘Iroko Tree as w
an Elephant has fallen”.
NPAN mourns
its founding
president
Newspaper proprietors
said they received with shock
the death of their founding
president.
In a statement by Kabiru A
Yussuf (president) and Alhaji
Mohammed Idris (general
secretary) titled: ‘’NPAN Pioneer
President Drops the
Pen,”NPAN said: ‘’It was
with great shock that we
learnt of the passage today,
Thursday, February 11, 2021,
of Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande,
the first civilian governor
of Lagos State. He was
91.
''Between 1969 and 1979,
Alh. Jakande, midwifed the
Association from infancy and
it is to his eternal glory that
the NPAN became the octopus
that it is today.
Austere, s
oriented, Alhaji Jakande
transferred these core values
from newspapering / newsroom
into politics and acquitted
hims
He became a reference
point for performance not just
in Lagos State which he
served as a governor but
across the country. He was
also Minister of Works under
the Abacha administration
It is on record that Alhaji
Jakande throughout his tenure,
lived in his personal
house in Ilupeju area of Lagos
and also used his personal
car, apart from other
landmark projects consummated
by his administration.
''While we commiserate
with members of the pen fraternity,
his immediate and
political families as w
Lagos State Government, on
this irreparable loss, we could
not but ask our today's politicians
to learn from the life and
politics of Alh. Jakande and
emulate his modesty, s
and passion for the people.
The nation has lost a
great patriot, advocate of good
governance and democracy.
Nigeria has lost one
of its exemplary
political leaders
—Lawan
Senate President Ahmad
Lawan said with the death
Alhaji Lateef Jakande, Nigeria
has lost one of its exemplary
political leaders and administrators.
In a statement yesterday by
his Special Adviser, Media,
Ola Awoniyi, Lawan who noted
that Alhaji Jakande lived
a long and inspirational life
that found fulfilment in the
service of humanity, said that
the deceased made sterling
contributions to the dev
of journalism In Nigeria
before replicating his ind
footprints on the political
and economic dev
of Nigeria with his
landmark achievements as
the first
Lagos State.
NGE mourns its
pioneer president
“Also, the Nigerian Guild of
Editors, NGE, in a statement
by its President, Mustapha
Isa, said
‘’on a day one legend of the
profession was interred, journalism
lost Alhaji Lateef Jakande,
a pillar of the profession
and poineer President
of the Nigerian Guild of Editors.’’
“The guild said ‘’Jakande's
death is particularly painful
because it is coming at a period
when the NGE has already
lost too many of its
members and founding fathers,
including Malam
Wada Maida, Ben Egbuna,
and lat
The NGE is, however, consoled
by the fact that Jakande
left his mark on the sands of
time as a journalist of repute,
publisher, media entrepreneur,
politician, administrator,
governor, minister, statesman
and conscience of the
nation.
“The NGE recalls with nostalgia,
and gratitude, the role
of Jakande, not only in the
empowerment of journalists,
through his John West publishing
group, but also in the
establishment and sustenance
of the Nigerian Institute
of Journalism (NIJ).
“The Guild also fe
proud of Jakande's achievements
as the first civilian governor
of Lagos State, especially
his impactful projects in
public Housing, Education
and infrastructure dev
which remains a reference
point for good governance
till this day.’’
It’s a
monumental loss
—Gbajabiamila
Speaker of the House of
Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila
has described the
demise of a former governor
of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef
Jakande, as a monumental
loss.
The Speaker said he was
personally touched by the
death of Jakande, who he described
as a man of peace,
who lived all his life serving
humanity.
Gbajabiamila said that the
deceased’s invaluable contributions
to making Lagos
what it is today would never
be erased, noting that the
former Lagos governor was
an embodiment of progress.
“Lateef Jakande’s death is
a personal loss to me because
he was a father to us all, and
a strong political ally to my
mother, Alhaja Lateefat Gbajabiamila.
We will never forget
the role he played in the
economic and political existence
of Lagos State, especially
when he served as governor
between 1979 and 1983.’’
Jakande was last
of the titans
—Tinubu
Former Lagos State Governor,
Asiwaju Bola Tinubu,
described the Jakande as the
last of the political titans.
According to Asiwaju,
Papa Jakande "could appropriat
be described as the
last of the titans ranking with
the likes of Chief Obafemi
Awolowo, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe,
Chief Adekunle Ajasin,
Pa Abraham Adesanya, Chief
Bola Ige, Chief Olabiyi Onabanjo,
Alhaji Balarabe
Musa, Alhaji Aminu Kano,
Continues on page 37
Vanguard
anguard, , FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2021 — 11
:Vanguard :@vanguardnews :@vanguardnewsNEWS HOTLINES:
PRESENTATION—Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde (second right); his deputy, Rauf
Olaniyan (second left; front row); Chairman, Oyo State Negotiating Committee on the
Resolution of the lingering crisis on the Ownership of Ladoke Akintola University of
Technology, LAUTECH, Ogbomoso, Prof. Ayodeji Omole (right); a member of the committee
and Special Couns
and other pan
governor, at the Governor's Office, Secretariat, Ibadan.
Arms-bearing herders now to be treated
as armed robbers in Ondo
• As govt approves ranches, grazing areas
• Approves employment of 500 additional Amoteku personn
• South-West no longer safe, Afenifere raises alarm
• We are ready for registration, data capturing, Miyetti Allah t
Dayo Johnson & Rotimi
Ojomoy
ONDO—ONDO
State
government, yesterday,
announced further measures to curb the
spate of herders/ farmers clashes in the
state by approving a bill for the rearing
and grazing of livestock across the state.
Among others, the bill bars bearing of
arms by herdsmen, and violators shall
be treated as armed robbers.
Information and Orientation
Commissioner, Donald Ojogo, and
Attorney General and Justice
Commissioner, Charles Titiloye,
disclosed this at a briefing, after
the weekly State Executive
Councils, SEC, meeting in Akure.
Titiloye, among others, said: “The
State Executive Council, chaired by
Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, approved
the bill for a law to regulate rearing and
grazing of livestock in Ondo State. The
law is also to provide for the establishment
of ranches and other matters connected
thereto. The objective of the law is clear.
It is to prevent the destruction of farm
crops, community ponds, settlement and
property.
“Secondly, the bill is to prevent clashes
between herders and farmers and as w
to regulate and support the growth of
livestock and farming and manage the
environmental impact of open livestock
grazing.
“ And part of the law is to make it an
offense for anybody involved in this
business to carry gun either in the forest
or anywhere. Herders are not to be seen
with any weapon. Violating this will be
tantamount to act of armed robbery. And
it is also punishable under this law. While
certain areas are going to be designated
by the governor for open grazing, other
areas will also be designated for
ranching.
“Those areas designated for grazing,
cattle are free to grade fre
areas without moving out of the zone
while the areas designated for ranching
can only accommodate herds of cattle in
small numbers. To that extent, you are
to get a prior consent of the communities
that owns the land before ranches can
be built.
“This is another phase of
implementation of the order given by Mr
Governor that herdsmen should vacate
the forest reserves that we bring to bear
in Ondo State, the use of modern
technology in rearing of livestock, not
the other way livestock strays easily
along the street, roads and wherein
hoodlums, kidnappers now hide under
the business to disturb the ordinary
citizens of the state.
500 more Amotekun
personn
operation vehicles
On his part, Ojogo said among others,
“the state executive council, noted the
immense efforts and fruitful activities of
Amotekun and gladly approved the
procurement of the 20 operational
vehicles aside the approval for the
recruitment of additional 500 personn
into the security outfit.
“The mandate of the cabinet is to
retrace these two key issues. The cabinet
noted the efforts of the Governor towards
stemming the rising spate of crime and
insecurity across the state. Council
noted the efforts of Amotekun, we noted
with d
efforts and requires the supports of the
citizenry and residents of the state.
Ban on Okada
remains
The commissioner said: “The ban on
Okada is still in order. The cabinet decided
and reinforced that this ban should be
reinforced. Okada is mostly used to
perpetrate crimes. The ban of movement
of Okada beyond 6pm is reinforced.”
Afenifere raises alarm
over safety of South-
West
Meanwhile, the Pan- Yoruba Sociocultural
Group, Afenifere, has raised the
alarm over the safety of people in the
south west, saying they are now
complet
insecurity in the region.
Its spokesperson, Yinka Odumakin, at
a briefing in Akure, among others,
said “The Fulani orchestrated
insecurity has taken over the Southwest
and people cannot sleep with their two
eyes closed, our women are being raped
and people are being killed on a daily
basis including Obas on the street. Our
governors are not giving lawful orders.
Even the President aides are saying you
can’t chase herders out of the forests.
“We are complet
whole noble laureate, last weekend he
was trying to ask the president what to
do about herdsmen, three days later they
took over his house in Abeokuta.
“And somebody was saying that
Soyinka’s house was unfenced. Go to
London, go to America, you will see a lot
of unfenced houses. Will they go and be
keeping cows there because they are not
fenced. General Theophilus Danjuma,
(retd) has already told us two years ago
that if we are not ready to defend
ours
We are ready for
registration, data
capturing —MACBAN
Meantime, Chairman of the Miyetti
Allah Cattle Breeders Association of
Nigeria, MACBAN, in Ekiti State, Alhaji
Adamu Abache, has advised Ekiti State
government to embark on mandatory
registration of Fulani herdsmen in Ekiti.
Abeche said the bio-data should be
done at the local government areas where
the herders live and carry out business
transactions.
According to him, “The government
must know where we live and where we
do our businesses and whoever
perpetrates criminal activities can be
traced, arrested and handed over to
the police”.
Abache, who ordered his members to
expose any herder seen perpetrating
crime in the state, noted that revealing
the identities of herdsmen with criminal
tendencies would protect the integrity of
herders doing legitimate businesses in
Ekiti and disabuse the minds of
Nigerians that all herdsmen were
criminals.
The MACBAN leader spoke in Ado
Ekiti, yesterday, during a security
meeting organised by the Ekiti State
chapter of the Police
Community R
PCRC, for all ethnic nationalities in the
state.
He said: “Fulani herdsmen living in
Ekiti are for peace and we will continue
to live together with our hosts in peace.
Our own support will always be to the
government of the day for all of us to
enjoy peace.
“But the government should h
by providing Identity Cards for all
members, because the herdsmen are
facing a lot of challenges in the forests
regarding identification.
Take your pick guys...the choice is yours!
Fool na fool...age no matter!
Pepper don enta my head oo!
12 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2021
:Vanguard News
Pabic as explosions rock Rivers PDP
secretariat during LG poll’s primaries
By Davies
Iheamnachor
PORT HARCOURT—
There was panic in Port
Harcourt, Rivers State,
yesterday, as twin
explosions rocked the
secretariat of the Peoples
Democratic Party, PDP, in
the state.
It was gathered that two
dynamites exploded during
the councillorship primaries
of the party, which was
holding at the party’s
office on Port Harcourt-Aba
expressway.
It was learned that the
dynamites were detonated
by suspected unidentified
bombers, who stormed the
office in an SUV around
3p.m.
A source at the party’s
office when the explosions
went off and did not want
his name in print said party
:@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058
faithful, who were around
the secretariat to support
their preferred candidates,
scampered for safety
following the blasts.
The source claimed that
the dynamites must have
been detonated by
members of the party, who
were aggrieved that their
preferred candidates were
suppressed.
The source noted that
candidates, who were not
popular were being
imposed on wards and
LGAs as candidates for the
polls.
However, at press time,
spokesman of the party in
the state, Tambari Sydney,
did not pick calls made to
his phone.
Also, the Public R
Officer of the Rivers State
Police Command, Nnamdi
Omoni, said he was not
aware of the dev
when contacted.
Brown, Pere Luke, Emameyan condole with Okowa
on father's death
By Gab Ejuwa &
Victor
Ajihromanus
FORMER Chairman of
Udu Local Government
Area, D
Brown; Second Vice
Chairman of D
Council of Traditional Rulers,
Pere Luke, Kalanam Vlll and
Ambassador Rolex
Emameyan, Chief Operating
Officer of Rolex Emameyan
Foundation and Rox Mny
Entertainment, have
condoled with Governor
Ifeanyi Okowa of D
over the demise of his father,
Pa Arthur Okowa.
Brown, in a condolence
message, urged Governor
Okowa, his immediate family
and the good people of Owa-
Alero, Ika North East Local
Government Area of the state
to take solace in the fact that
late Pa Okowa lived a glorious
life worthy of emulation by all.
According to him, “this
attribute can be attested to in
the quality of life and character
of Governor Okowa, who had
displayed so much
leadership discipline and
commitment to service of God
and humanity.
“It’s our prayer to be able to
live to bury our aged parents
and I pray God to grant the
soul of the deceased eternal
rest and also give the family
the fortitude to bear the
irreplaceable loss.”
The Pere of Akugbene-
Mein kingdom in a
statement, said: “I, on behalf
of my immediate family and
the entire Akugbene-Mein
Kingdom condole with
Governor Okowa over the
death of your b
who died at 88.
“The death of your father
was received with great shock
and disb
background that I was with
him in his country home
precis
and we had useful
conversations bothering on
the w
state. Little did I know that it
was my last encounter with
him on mother earth.
“As devastating and heart
breaking death is, we are
consoled by the fact that he
lived a fulfilled life worthy of
emulation by the upcoming
generations. I pray the
Almighty God grant you and
the family the strength and
fortitude to bear this
irreplaceable loss and grant
his soul eternal rest.”
Meanwhile, Ambassador
Rolex Emameyan, in a
statement, yesterday, said:
“The whole team is
saddened by the news of your
father’s passing. Our
thoughts and prayers are
with you and your family.
“His blessed soul is now at
peace. May our condolences
We’re not at war with Wike, IYC
cautions against attacks on gov
By Davies
Iheamnachor
PORT HARCOURT—
Ijaw Youths Council, IYC,
Worldwide, has said it was
not at war with the Rivers
State governor, Nyesom
Wike, disassociating its
from a statement that the
governor had no rights to
stop violent protests in the
state.
IYC in a statement in Port
Harcourt by its President,
Timothy Igbifa, said: “The
council at no time authorised
the statement, which tried to
b
governor, downplay his
powers and create an
impression that the IYC is on
a collision course with
Governor Wike.
“We listened carefully to
the governor when he
received the Sole
Administrator, Niger D
Dev
NDDC, Effiong Akwa, who
paid him a courtesy visit on
February 2, 2021.
“Wike specifically said the
NDDC was not the birthright
of any ethnic nationality
(including his Ikwere ethnic
group). The governor also
said he would no longer
tolerate protests capable of
causing problems and crisis
in the state.
“The Governor of Rivers
State is not and will not be
against genuine and nonviolent
protest any day any
time. The council makes bold
to say that IYC is not at war
with the Rivers State
government.
“The governor’s remarks
were in line with the position
of the IYC’s leadership that
the NDDC b
entire Niger D
in harmony with the resolve
of the council not to heat up
bring you comfort, and may
my prayers ease the pain of
this loss and fortify you
spiritually and mentally to
continue your work as the
governor.”
CASH GRANT: Surulere 1 Federal Constituency beneficiaries of
Federal Government cash grant being attended to by officials after the
flag off of the event by Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi
Gbajabiamila, at the Teslim Balogun Stadiun, Surulere, Lagos yesterday.
the polity and destabilise the
region with unnecessary
politically motivated protests,
which can degenerate to
violence.
“We had earlier said the
council would adopt other
means of peaceful agitation
to actualise our objectives
while protest could be
deployed as the final card on
the table. Even if at any time
we agree as a council to
protest, we must consult all
stakeholders including
governors and make our
intentions known to security
agencies.”
Court sacks SPDC Cluster Devt Board in
Rivers
By Davies
Iheamnachor
PORT HARCOURT—
A High Court sitting in
Isiokpo, Ikwerre Local
Government Area of Rivers
State has set aside the
purported appointment,
s
Emohua Cluster
Dev
oversees the community
dev
Petroleum Dev
Company, SPDC, in the
council.
RA Nwoka, couns
Chief Friday Ordukwu,
Elder Samu
Elijah Didia, who were the
claimants in the suit, had in
the suit, prayed the court to
set aside the purported,
appointment, s
nomination inauguration and
recognition of Egbeda
Community Trust members
and Emohua Local
Government Cluster
Dev
APC registration exercise:
PDP mocks party, says it
has nothing to offer
BENIN CITY — EDO
State chapter of Peoples
Democratic Party, PDP, has
called on all its members and
the general public to continue
to resist all entreaties by
merchants of falsehood and
propaganda to cajole them as
they wobble through their
registration and revalidation
exercise.
A statement in Benin City,
yesterday, by the party’s state
Publicity Secretary, Mr Chris
Nehikhare, said it had
observed with keen interest
the ongoing “registration and
revalidation exercise” of the
All Progressives Congress,
APC, in Edo State.
“The APC in Edo State was
balkanised in the run up to
the governorship
2020, when EPM faction that
represents less than 13 per
cent of the party membership
is now for all intents and
purposes, the soul of the
dying party. Edo people have
not forgotten the havoc
caused by the EPM in 2020.
“Edo PDP must
congratulate Edo people for
the matured and civilised
manner they have
responded (or should I say,
not responded) to the APC
cry and appeal for people to
come out to register and
revalidate their membership.
“Our investigation has
revealed that though they
started their desperate call for
were done on November 8,
2019.
The council noted that
while the suit was pending
at state High Court in Isiokpo,
SPDC in connivance with
other defendants went ahead
to recognise the illegality,
hence their decision to
petition the court.
However, the trial judge,
Justice L. Nyodee, after
hearing from both couns
said all parties shall maintain
the status quo with respect to
all the subject matters of the
suit as at October 24, 2018.
registration and revalidation
by asking people to go and
register at designated polling
units, they had to abandon
that directive and are now
hawking their party cards
door to door in our villages,
communities and towns.
"Edo people did not only
reject them at the polls on
again rejecting them.
“We are informed that the
registration clerks at the units
reported that it was
unendurable for them to sit
at designated polling units
day-in day-out and are
unable to receive anyone for
registration.
“They even reported that
when people come to these
registration centres, it is to
mock them and recite a long
list of APC failures, instability,
leadership greed, infighting,
failed and unfulfilled
promises.
“Edo people must reject in
its entirety, the party called
APC or any other alias they
may wish to be known. They
have nothing to offer.
“Isn’t it absurd and
laughable that a party that its
members refused to be
proclaimed at the state House
of Assembly because they lost
out in the power struggle to
produce the speaker will
have the audacity to call on
Edo people to come and
register with it as members?”
My administration has done
w
By Samu
Oyadongha
Y ENAGOA—Governor
Douye Diri of Bay
State has said his
administration has done
creditably w
after assuming office
regardless of the numerous
challenges it faced.
Diri at an interactive
session with media
professionals in Yenagoa,
recounted his stewardship
in the period under review.
He enumerated a number
of projects being executed
by his administration and
lauded the media for the
objective reportage of his
administration.
According to him,
contractors have been
mobilised to resume work
on the West and Central
senatorial districts roads.
He said contract for the
federal Yenagoa-Oporoma
road started by his
predecessor was reviewed
upwards to about N27
billion, including
construction of a bridge to
link the road to Oporoma in
the central flank of the state.
According to him, “N1
billion was r
ongoing rehabilitation of all
the internal roads in the
capital city as w
of the contract for
construction of Phase 2 of
the Gloryland Drive Road
from the Ecumenical Centre
in Igbogene to link the
Amassoma Road.
He also said work was
ongoing on the Igbogene-
Bay
road as contract for the job
had been re-awarded.
On the eastern flank, the
governor said his
government had awarded
the contract for reconstruction
of the collapsed
Eleb
to the Imiringi bridge, which
was almost completed and
slated for commissioning
this weekend.
Fi
directed the Works and
Infrastructure
Commissioner to inspect the
Ernest Ikoli/NUJ Press
Centre with a view to giving
it a fac
Commending journalists
in the state for their support
to his administration, the
governor also directed that
the DiriBoost scheme be
extended to media
personn
Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2021 –– 13
:Vanguard News
:@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058
FIDAU PRAYER: From left— Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission; Mrs
Olufunso Amosun, wife of former Governor of Ogun State; Dr Remi Abeere; Mr Musiliu Smith, former Inspector
General of Police and Mr Waheed Kazeem, Deputy Inspector General of Police (retd), at the 8th-day Fidau
prayer for late Alhaja Sadiat Abeke Erogbogbo, mother of Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa in Ikorodu on Sunday.
Photo: Lamidi Bamid
Registration: APC not ready to leave power
in next 30 years —Imo speaker
By Chinonso Alozie
OWERRI—THE Speaker of
the Imo State House of
Assembly and chairman, Technical
Committee, APC Revalidation/Registration
Exercise,
Paul Emeziem, yesterday, said
that the All Progressives Congress,
APC, has more than thirty
years to stay in power.
Emeziem spoke at the Imo
APC party secretariat along
Okigwe road in Owerri, when
the Imo APC committee for
revalidation/registration exercise
led by Godwin Anaughe,
visited the secretariat.
The speaker said that APC
has many decades to stay in
office both in Imo State and
the federal lev
quality foundation of governance.
He said: "This registration is
an opportunity to showcase
many good the APC is known
for and for Nigerians to have
another opportunity to join the
train for moving the country
forward.
"APC membership card is a
ticket to prosperity, a ticket to
join a party that does not discriminate.
We are asking the
people of Imo and Nigeria to
hold unto this opportunity. I
want to say this: APC is not
ready to leave power in the next
30 years and even more. So, be
a member of APC and continue
to enjoy the dividends of democracy."
On what the APC government
has done in terms of
achievements to continue to
stay in office, the speaker said:
"The APC government has little
or nothing to do with propaganda.
The second Niger
bridge in Igboland is nearing
completion and when you go
there, you see it yours
"The noise of building the
bridge has been a noise for
decades and today, the APC
government is making it a reality.
Just like in Imo State,
Court sacks Udeogu-led Ebonyi PDP
caretaker c'ttee
since the government of Hope
Uzodimma came into power,
what we have seen all along
are quality construction of
roads.Just imagine the ongoing
quality construction on the
Owerri/Okigwe and Owerri /
Orlu roads, that is what the
APC stands for. What the APC
government both at the federal
and state lev
value to governance."
Also speaking, the Imo State
Chairman of the revalidation
and registration
exercise, Godwin Anaughe,
Ugwuanyi inaugurates state water corporation
board
E
NUGU—GOVERNOR If
eanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu
State, yesterday, inaugurated
the newly constituted Board of
the State Water Corporation,
headed by a foremost consultant
in the water industry and the
first Managing Director of the
corporation, Mr. Innocent O.
Diyoke, to vigorously drive the
state government’s sustained
programmes towards ensuring
adequate supply of potable water
in the state.
Inaugurating the board, Gov.
Ugwuanyi, represented by his
deputy, Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo, disclosed
that his administration,
since its inception, has made
concerted efforts in tackling the
challenge of water supply in the
state.
Some of the efforts, according
the deputy governor, include
the initial injection of N100 million
to increase the output of
water supply to Enugu metropolis
as w
used for the maintenance of
water facilities at Ajali and Oji
River water schemes, to further
boost supply.
Mrs. Ezeilo who stated that
Gov. Ugwuanyi’s administration
captured the rehabilitation
of the 9th Mile Crash Programme
Water Supply
Scheme with solar powered
boreholes, in the 2021 budget,
disclosed the state government
recently awarded a N600 million
contract for the project,
aimed at boosting potable
water supply from Oji River,
Ajali and Iva Valley water
schemes to Enugu metropolis
and environs, when completed
Ṙevealing that the state government
targets production of
40,000 cubic meters of water,
the Deputy Governor highlighted
other efforts of the
present administration to also
include the commencement of
AFD-funded 3rd National Urban
Water Sector Reform
By Peter Okutu
AHigh BAKALIKI—FEDERAL
Court sitting in
Abakaliki, Wednesday,
sacked the Fred Udeogu-led
Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP) Caretaker Committee
in the state.
The Court which described
their existence as illegal
and unconstitutional,
ordered the Independent
National Electoral Commission
(INEC) not to recognize
the purported caretaker
committee constituted
by the national leadership
of the PDP in Ebonyi
State.
The Court further maintained
that the dissolution of
the Ebonyi State Executive
Committee, SEC, of the PDP
was illegal and cannot
stand.
The order followed a suit
instituted by Barrister Nnachi
Okoro, the Legal Adviser
of the Barr Onyekachi
Nwebonyu-led PDP executive
in Ebonyi State, that was
dissolved November last
year by the national leadership
of the PDP, in the wake
of the defection of Governor
Project, the integration of Adada
Water Scheme and rehabilitation
of other water schemes
as w
of new boreholes with storage
facilities across the state.
“His Exc
Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, sometime in
2019, while receiving the humanitarian
arm of The Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints, donated the sum of N5
million to ten communities in
the state, representing
N500,000 each, as their counterpart
funding for water
projects”, she added.
Responding on behalf of other
members of the newly inaugurated
board, Mr. Diyoke expressed
their gratitude to Gov.
Ugwuanyi for finding them
worthy to serve the state in such
a tasking responsibility, and assured
him that “we will do our
best to meet the requirements
and expectations of the people
of Enugu State with respect to
water supply”.
said: "Everything has been
going on smoothly. We have
had trainings for the local personn
and they have started
work and we have discovered
that in Imo, the APC is united.
We noticed that the governor
of the state has united the
members and we are enjoying
the process.
"We have even asked for additional
members. We also
thank the governor for setting
up a technical committee to
assist us in achieving our aim.
There is no discrimination and
exclusion. Everybody is w
Our exercise will take
place in 3,523 booths"
David Umahi to the All Progressives
Congress, APC.
The Plaintiff, Okoro, had
in the Suit, argued that his
purported removal from office,
as the Legal Adviser of
the PDP by virtue of the dissolution
of the purported
State Executive Committee
of the party without fair hearing,
was contrary to the party's
constitution and the constitution
of the federal republic
of Nigeria and urged the
court to so hold.
The presiding Judge, Justice
Aluko Akintayo, in a
three- hour judgement, ruled
that the purported dissolution
of the Executive Committee
of the PDP in Ebonyi
State which led to the removal
of the Plaintiff, was not
only absurd, but inconsistent
with the provisions of the
party's constitution as w
the constitution of the federal
republic of Nigeria.
Justice Akintayo noted that
the party acted harshly without
any evidence of wrong doing
against the Plaintiff, adding
that the defection of Governor
David Umahi to the APC
was in exercise of his fundamental
human right of freedom
of association and cannot
be a justifiable ground to
remove the Plaintiff from office.
Akintayo h
failed to prove before the court,
its allegations of anti-party activities
and attempts to destabilize
the PDP lev
the Ebonyi State Executive
Committee of the party.
According to the judge,
even if there is truth in the allegations
against the Ebonyi
State Executive Committee
of the party, it was unfair to
have dissolved them including
the Plaintiff, without giving
him fair hearing.
Obi to new Bishop of Mbamili:
Continue promotion of education
—Obi
DIG Okoye joins APC few days
after retirement
By Vincent
Ujumadu
AWKA —DEPUTY In
spector General of Police,
DIG, C
who retired from the force
few days ago after 35 years of
service, has joined the All Progressives
Congress, APC, in his
Awka- Ward 3 in the Anambra
State capital.
Okoye said his reason of joining
APC was because his state,
Anambra and the South East
geopolitical zone cannot continue
to be in the opposition
in the affairs of the country.
He said: "Anambra and
Igbo need to be at the centre
of what is happening in Nigeria.
We should stop deceiving
ours
it cannot take Anambra and
South East anywhere.
" I am in the party as a partner
in progress and I will be
more interested in the area of
THE VICE Presidential
Candidate of the People's
Democratic Party, PDP, in 2019
expressed joy at the consecration
of the Bishop-
Mbamili Diocese, Anglican
Communion, Rt Rev Obiorah
Uzochukwu, at All Saints Cathedral,
Onitsha.
The event which was presided
over by the Primate of Nigeria,
Anglican Communion,
His Grace Henry Ndukuba,
saw to the coming together of
clergy men, political leaders,
captains of industries and
men from all walks of life.
Addressing newsmen after
the event, Obi reaffirmed his
membership of Mbamili Diocese.
He said he discovered
the perculiar needs of the Diocese
when he was the governor
of Anambra State and,
decided to take up the membership
of the Diocese to h
contribute to its growth.
Obi congratulated the newly
consecrated Bishop of
Mbamili Diocese, Rt Rev
Obiorah Uzochukwu, while
expressing hope that he will
take the Diocese to greater
heights. He also rejoiced with
the people of Mbamili Diocese
while urging them to remain
prayerfully supportive
to their spiritual leaders.
Obi appealed to the new
bishop to continue the promotion
of education in the
diocese as his predecessor
admiringly did, noting that
such a remote area needs the
assistance of the Church, otherwise
most of them would not
have access to education.
"No one takes the honour
upon hims
by God. I pray that the grace
of God that has singled Bishop
Uzochukwu out for the
spiritual leadership of
Mbamili Diocese will aid him
to take the Diocese to a new
lev
Ikpeazu'll be the last PDP gov in
Abia —APC
By Ugochukwu
Alaribe
UMUAHIA—AHEAD of
the 2023 governorship
poll in Abia State, the All
Progressives Congress, APC,
has stated that it is fully determined
to oust the ruling
Peoples Democratic Party,
PDP, from power, stressing
that Governor Okezie Ikpeazu
would be the last governor
to rule the state on the
platform of the PDP.
State Chairman of the
APC, Donatus Nwankpa,
who stated this at Mgboko
Umuoria, Obingwa council
area after the APC national
Membership Revalidation
Committee revalidated the
membership of a former
APC governorship aspirant,
Friday Nwosu; charged the
ruling PDP in the state.
In his words; “We are determined
to remove everything
that has to do with PDP
in all political positions in
Abia State in 2023. We want
to use this registration to
prove that APC is the largest
political party in Abia
strategies on how to win the
APC to the centre."
The Anambra State chairman
of the Caretaker Committee
of APC, Basil Ejidike,
who led other members of
state working committee and
members of APC registration
and revalidation exercise
committee to witness the declaration,
said Okoye would be
a great asset to the party.
According to Ejidike, time
had come for Anambra State
to join national politics.
He added: "We cannot continue
to be on the sid
APC has done so much for
South East and Anambra
State in the area of infrastructural
dev
"South East has never had it
like this and the only way we
can get more is to join the
mainstream and 2023 will be
a sure banker for Igbo as regards
producing the Nigerian
President."
State and in the South East.
We're the largest and latest
growing state chapter in the
whole nation.
"We're getting big names
that have made impact in
the society. There are many
other big names we'll register
next week that'll h
prove to you that PDP has
no hiding place in
Abia. Governor Okezie Ikpeazu
will be the last PDP
governor in Abia. It's a task
that must be fulfilled. We
only beg our leaders to h
unite us and not allow their
names to be used in dividing
our party."
Earlier, Maigari, who is
the Chairman of the APC
national membership revalidated
committee, urged
Abia people to mobilize other
people to register, revalidate
and change the political
landscape of the state
come 2023.
"Bring people to come and
register and revalidate massiv
in APC so that APC
will have the largest number
in Abia and South East.
We're also praying that
come 2023, APC will flush
out the existing PDP government
in Abia State".
14 Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2021
OBSEQUIES FOR PRINCE TONY MOMOH
Funeral service for former Minister of Information and a founding father of All Progressives Congress,
APC, Prince Tony Momoh h
From left; Mrs Zainab Momoh; Abdulrasheed Momoh (first son of the deceased); Mr. Philip Shaibu,
Edo State Deputy Governor and Mr. Donald Duke, former Cross River State governor.
Hajia Becklas Imianvan, immediate younger sister to Late Prince
Tony Momoh (left) and Princess Ash
Tafa Zibiri-Aliu, younger brother of Tony Momoh's wife (left)
and Imianvan Sylvester (in-law.)
From left; Prince Jubril Momoh, Adams Gadi, Gani Momoh and Peter Egwuatu.
Abdulrasheed Momoh, 1st son of late Prince Momoh and his family.
Cross section of guests at the burial ceremony.
(LEFT):
Beatrice Ayi
(left) and
Eziamaka
Okpalaoka.
(RIGHT):
Hon F
Ughiovhe (left)
and Yahaya
Momoh, Chief
of Staff to Late
Prince Tony
Momoh.
Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2021 —15
OBSEQUIES FOR PRINCE TONY MOMOH
Funeral service for former Minister of Information and
a founding father of All Progressives Congress, APC,
Prince Tony Momoh h
Lagos yesterday. Photos: AKEEM SALAU.
From left: Messrs Sola Adeyegbe; Ikechukwu Unegbe and Akin Orebiyi.
Messrs Gambo Aliyu (left) and Azubuike Okpalaoka.
Messrs Victor Itotoi (left) and Bala Yesufu.
From left; Messrs Alozie Emmanu
Impeachment: Democrats insist capitol
attackers were answering Trump’s call
Democrats making the
case for Donald Trump’s
conviction for inciting the
deadly attack on the U.S.
Capitol on Jan. 6 focused on
Thursday on the former president’s
role in assembling and
inflaming the rioters and the
damage wrought in the rampage.
As the third day of Trump’s
Senate impeachment trial got
underway, the House of Representatives
lawmakers serving
as prosecutors provided
examples to illustrate how he
explicitly summoned his supporters
to Washington on that
day.
Democratic congresswoman
Diana DeGette told the
senators - serving as jurors in
the trial - that the rioters’
“own statements before, during
and after the attack made
clear the attack was done for
Donald Trump and to fulfill
his wishes.”
“This was not a hidden
crime,” DeGette said. “The
president told them to be
there, so they actually b
they would face no punishment.”
DeGette showed video featuring
one rioter t
as they entered a congressional
office: “He’ll be
happy - what do you mean,
we’re fighting for Trump.”
The Democratic-led House
on Jan. 13 charged the Republican
former president with
inciting an insurrection by
exhorting thousands of supporters
to march on the Capitol
as Congress gathered to
certify Democrat Joe Biden’s
Democrats face a difficult
task in securing a conviction
and in barring Trump from
ever again holding public office,
given his continued popularity
with many Republican
voters. Trump has expressed
interest in again running for
president in 2024. A twothirds
majority would be needed
to vote to convict, which
means at least 17 Republican
senators would have to defy
Trump.
While some Republican
senators have said that the
House managers are presenting
their arguments w
many hold fast to their position
that Trump should not be
convicted.
Republican Senator Marco
Rubio told Fox News that
while the Jan. 6 attack was
“horrifying,” impeachment
was not appropriate given
that Trump was no longer in
office.
The nine House managers
are arguing that Trump
planted the seeds for the riot
by encouraging violence and
making false claims that the
Nov. 3
long before Jan. 6.
“All of these people who’ve
been arrested and charged,
they’re being h
for their actions. Their
leader, the man who incited
them, must be h
as w
senators. “But ... you don’t
have to take my word for it
that the insurrectionists acted
at Donald Trump’s direction.
They said so.”
Myanmar coup: US announces sanctions
on leaders
US President Joe Biden
has approved an
executive order to impose
sanctions on the leaders of
Myanmar’s coup.
The measures will be
focused on military leaders,
their family members and
businesses linked to them.
Steps are also being taken
to block access by the
military to $1bn (£720m) of
government funds h
the US.
The sanctions come as a
woman who was shot in the
head during protests against
the coup fights for her life at
a hospital in the capital Nay
Pyi Taw.
Mya Thwe Thwe Khaing
was hurt on Tuesday when
police tried to disperse
protesters using water
cannon, rubber bullets and
live rounds.
The wound was consistent
with one from live
ammunition, rights groups
say.
Tens of thousands have
turned out in street protests
against last week’s coup,
which overthrew Aung San
Suu Kyi’s democratically
South East Asian country -
also known as Burma -
despite a recent ban on
large gatherings and a night
curfew.
There have been reports of
other serious injuries as
police have increased their
use of force, but no deaths
so far.
Biden called for the coup
to be reversed and for the
r
including Ms Suu Kyi.
“The people of Burma are
making their voices heard
and the world is watching,”
he said, vowing to take
further action if needed.
“As protests grow, violence
against those exerting their
democratic rights is
unacceptable and we’re
going to keep calling it out,”
he added.
Meghan wins privacy battle against
‘dehumanizing’ tabloid paper
President Nguesso seeks fourth term in Congo
The authorities in Congo-
Brazzaville have submitted
the names of eight presidential
aspirants to the constitutional
court for validation
ahead of the 21 March
President Denis Sassou
Nguesso will face seven challengers
including former Finance
Minister Mathias
Dzon and Guy-Brice Parfait
Kol
Meghan, the Duchess of
Sussex, said on Thursday
a British tabloid had been
h
practices” after she
won a privacy claim against
the paper for printing extracts
of a letter she wrote to her father.
Meghan, 39, the wife of
Queen Elizabeth’s grandson
Prince Harry, sued publisher
Associated Newspapers after
its Mail on Sunday tabloid
printed parts of the handwritten
letter she sent to her estranged
father, Thomas Markle,
in August 2018.
Last month, her lawyers
asked Judge Mark Warby to
rule in her favour without the
need for a trial which could
have pitted her against her
father, who gave a witness
statement on behalf of the paper
and who she has not seen
since her wedding in May
2018.
Warby ruled the articles did
breach her privacy, but said
some issues r
copyright of the letter would
have to be settled at a trial.
The newspaper said it was
considering an appeal.
prime minister.
Nguesso, 77, is seeking a
fourth term. He has been in
power since 1979, except for
a five-year period after losing
Others in the presidential
race are Albert Oniangue, a
former aide-de-camp of
Nguesso, former MP Joseph
Kignoumbi Kia Mbougou,
customs official Anguios
Nganguia Engambe, MP
“After two long years of pursuing
litigation, I am grateful
to the courts for holding Associated
Newspapers and The
Mail on Sunday to account for
their illegal and dehumanizing
practices,” Meghan said
in a statement.
She said the tactics of the
paper and its sister publications
had gone for too long
without consequence.
“For these outlets, it’s a
game. For me and so many
others, it’s real life, real r
and very real sadness.
The damage they have
done and continue to do run
deep,” she said.
Meghan wrote the fivepage
letter to Markle after
their r
the run-up to her glittering
wedding to Harry in May
2018, which her father missed
due to ill health and after he
admitted posing for paparazzi
pictures.
In two days of hearings last
month, her lawyers said printing
the “personal and sensitive”
letter was a “triple-barr
assault on “her private
life, her family life and her correspondence”
and plainly
breached her privacy.
Mich
and Deve Mafoula, a 38-
year-old aspirant.
The largest opposition
group, the Pan-African
Union for Social Democracy
(UPADS), has said it will
boycott the polls.
The constitution was
changed in a referendum in
2015 to remove term and age
limits. Nguesso’s victory in
2016 was marred by violence
and allegations of fraud.
16— Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2021
The Fulani problem
I
RECENTLY mentioned
the widespread fury that
is being generated by rogue
Fulani herdsmen who rape,
pillage, kidnap and kill; and
I said that because some
Fulanis have been extrem
kind to me over the years, I
cannot join those who have
decided to hate all
Fulanis…even though I am
the product of Ogoni and Igbo
“reb
enthusiastically participated
in the Biafran Civil War, in the
hope of “liberating”
thems
once and for all.
Now, 50 years after my
people lost the war, my social
circle includes many
Northerners. And, sure, there
are Southerners who befriend
Northerners pur
because they think that they
might be useful (
Northerners, Fulani Muslims
especially, undoubtedly have
clout and can often provide
access to juicy business
benefits).
Juicy business
benefits
I, however, acquired my
Northern pals sincer
because I liked them. And I’m
increasingly aware of the
redemptive power of
friendship…in the sense that
it can be a force for good
beyond the warm personal
interactions that take place
between individuals.
Many natives of the South
and Middle B
had an opportunity to meet a
decent Fulani, never mind
bond clos
don’t blame the unexposed -
sh
rural hamlets in particular -
for viewing all Fulanis with
intense suspicion whenever
toxic “alien” herdsmen go on
the rampage.
But the more exposed
Southerners and Middle
B
personal experience that not
all Fulanis are evil have a
duty to loudly say so at a time
when an ethno-r
crisis is boiling.
Having said all this, the
primary responsibility for
conflict resolution lies with the
Fulani leadership - which
Can anyone please
explain to me why
the Nigerian
Maritime and
Safety Agency,
NIMASA, and
Nigerian Ports
Authority, NPA, are
dominated by
northerners when
the North has no
coastline?
really needs to cut the crap.
President Muhammadu
Buhari is the main culprit.
Whether he d
out to encourage
misbehaviour or not, his body
language has greatly
emboldened the Fulanis who
have bad intentions; and there
is no doubt that the herdsmen
palaver has escalated under
his watch.
And it’s not just about today
or herdsmen either. It’s also
about Fulani leaders (and
their cap-doffing non-Fulani
sidekicks) cockily ignoring
basic principles of fairness
and carrying on like arrogant,
greedy conquistadors since
time immemorial.
Can anyone please explain
to me why the Nigerian
National Petroleum
Corporation, NNPC, is
dominated by Northerners -
•Fulani leaders with Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-
or why so many Niger D
Dev
NDDC, and Presidential
Amnesty Programme
contracts go to Northern
mandarins or their fronts -
when oil comes from the South
and northerners are not more
educated or commercially
savvy?
Can anyone please explain
to me why the Nigerian
Maritime and Safety Agency,
NIMASA, and Nigerian Ports
Authority, NPA, are
dominated by northerners
when the North has no
coastline?
I am not saying that
northerners should not benefit
from maritime or hydrocarbon
resources. It is not their fault
that there is no big water or
big oil in their part of the
country. And since Nigeria is
a nation rather than a
collection of autonomous
My governor
IHAVE fulsom
Nyesom Wike on this page
before because he can be
professional and productive
and compassionate. But I am
extrem
the moment.
Firstly, why on earth did he
have to spend $1 million on a
flashy and totally unnecessary
Maybach luxury car at a time
when so many Rivers people
and Nigerians are struggling
to survive?
Secondly, why did he dash
N500 million to his colleague,
Governor Tambuwal, when a
market in Sokoto State was
destroyed by fire at a time
when many impoverished
government employees have
not received a dime of the
severance payments and
pensions to which they are
entitled?
regions, every geopolitical
zone should gain from
Nigerian resources,
regardless of the origins of
those resources.
But there is a huge
difference between accepting
a reasonable percentage of
the booty and always trying
to grab the lion’s share!
Niger D
receive 13 per cent derivation,
so I’m not really b
about the money aspect per
se. I just want to point out that
the Fulani leadership needs
to change its attitude, which
is irritating at best and
downright offensive at worst.
I think it was Machiav
who said that it was better to
be feared than loved. And this
statement is true within
certain contexts. But there are
no absolutes within the
context of the human
condition.
It is sometimes better to be
loved. It is also worth noting
that victims cease to fear
bullies when they realise that
bullies can be overcome. Or
when desperate victims
decide that they have nothing
more to lose and would rather
die than keep tolerating
nastiness.
Long story short: Many
tribes in Nigeria (especially
the three main tribes) are or
have been problems, in one
way or another.
But for now, we are focusing
on Fulanis because they are
in the spotlight. And the
bottom line is that the
grasping, insensitive Fulani
leadership may soon discover
that there are some
advantages associated with
being loved rather than
loathed!
at a time when he
needs to be more
prudent with
funds that do not
b
If Nigeria were
a proper
democracy - as
opposed to a
c r i m i n a l
conspiracy that is
run by and for the
•Rivers governor, Nyesom Wike ruling class -
Meanwhile, the state government officials would be
secretariat is a mess that more accountable to their
requires substantial constituents.
investment. Electricity is a
rare treat for those who work
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there. Recent photographs
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a Blingy Billionaire Big Boy
contact details attached.
If Nigeria can learn basic
lessons, so can Africa
THERE is a widespread
b
problems are basically
leadership. It does not seem it
can be otherwise because it is a
continent of paradoxes;
naturally the richest part of the
earth, yet the poorest. But such
unscientific analysts could not
have read How Europe
Underdev
brilliantly presented by Walter
Rodney whose young life was
terminated by a bomb.
Just as Africa had the wretched
of the mind like Jean Bed
Bokassa leading us, so have we
had brilliant minds like N
Mand
like Kwame Nkrumah. We
produced chilling butchers like
Idi Amin and Mobutu Sese Seko,
but they were like apprentices to
King Leopold II and Adolf Hitler.
We can disagree about
leadership, reasons for universal
poverty in a world of plenty,
ideology and transformational
leaders, but what is not in dispute
about Africa is that we are a
continent beset by unending
conflicts. The African Union, AU,
might also have reached that
conclusion by dedicating a
separate structure in its
headquarters to its Peace,
Security and Political Affairs
Commission, PSC.
Peace and security are perhaps
the oxygen the continent needs to
continue breathing because some
three quarters of it is embroiled
in one armed conflict or the other.
The Boko Haram insurgency
which Nigerian leaders allowed
to fester, has consumed a lot of
time, resources and lives of
people in Nigeria, Niger,
Cameroun and Chad while
similar terrorists groups have
taken two thirds of Mali and
significant portions of Burkna
Faso. Terrorism is also claiming
lives and limbs in Somalia and
neigbouring Kenya.
The West turned prosperous
Libya into a basket case with at
least four governments, while
Central Africa has been in
turmoil for about six decades.
Sudan and South Sudan, Egypt,
Ethiopia and Mozambique are
infected by armed conflicts while
Morocco would not allow peace
reign in Western Sahara. The AU
has tried to steer the continent
towards peace by dev
programme to ‘Silence the Guns
by 2020’. Four years ago, Big
Brother Nigeria decided to give
the peace process a boost by
seeking to head the PSC.
Its candidate was one Ms.
Fatima Kyari Mohammed. It
was one of the most scandalous
and most embarrassing
decisions of the Muhammadu
Buhari government because its
candidate for this very important
position, was unknown not only
in the AU, but also in Nigeria.
Fatima who? The search engines
could give no more information
than was available. She had read
economics in some school in
Costa Rica, and, for experience,
had worked in the subsidiary of
a limited liability company in
Nigeria. For a position that
demanded some horse power,
Nigeria presented an ant; for a
post that required an
presented a squirr
not make sense and the rest of
the continent must have made
Nigeria the butt of jokes.
The lion Nigeria decided to
pitch its cub against was the
incumbent PSC Commissioner,
Ambassador Smail Chergui,
former Algerian Consul General
to Geneva, Ambassador
Extraordinary
and
Plenipotentiary to the Russian
If Nigeria can look
back at its 2017 folly, restrategise
and return
with a way forward in its
quest for leadership in
the AU, so can Africa
Federation, and Ambassador to
Ethiopia. For those who
understand the workings of the
AU, it is actually the African
ambassadors in Ethiopia who
conduct the day-to-day business
of the AU and take decisions inbetween
the meetings of the
Foreign Ministers and Heads of
State. The
disgraceful outcome for Nigeria.
At the AU Summit this week
which ended on February 7,
2021, Nigeria contested for the
same post. But apparently it had
learnt from its 2017 joke; this
time, it put up a real candidate;
Ambassador Bankole Adeoye
was like a winner even before the
votes were cast.
A distinguished career
diplomat with over 35 years
Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2021—17
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experience, he had served as a
Minister Couns
Nigerian embassies in Brazil,
Paraguay and Bolivia; was
former Ambassador to Ethiopia,
Nigeria’s Permanent
Representative to the AU and
United Nations Commission for
Africa. A known advocate for
Africa’s Regional Integration
and Partnership, Bankole was
thrice Chairperson of the African
Union Peace and Security
Council in 2017, 2018 and 2019,
a position which afforded him
invaluable experience working
with United Nations Security
Council and the European Union
Commission on Human Security.
He led AU fi
Lake Chad Basin in 2017 and
South Sudan in 2018. Also,
Bankole serves the Addis Ababa
Diplomatic Community as coconvener
of the Group of Friends
on Children affected by Armed
Conflict, GoF-CAAC. I have
attended a few AU summits and
have some experience in the
intricacies that are AU
including protest or absentee
votes, but Bankole’s candidacy
was so formidable that all 55
African countries voted for him.
It is like scoring a hundred percent
in a tough examination.
Apart from the prospects of a
Bankole headship of the PSC
having the potentials of
vigorously driving the war
against terrorism and conflicts
in the continent, Nigeria and pan
African countries need to give
him strong backing because the
AU may potentially be weaker in
the next few years. First, wily
France is known to back the AU
Commission Chairperson, Mr.
Moussa Faki Mahamat, who was
re-
term. As we know, France has
been playing a destabilising role
in the West African economic
integration, including its
strenuous efforts to sabotage the
evolution of a common currency,
the Eco in the region. Also, in
comparison to Mr. Faki, a former
Chadian Prime Minister, his
predecessor, Dr. Nkoasazana
Dlamini Zuma was a fierc
independent-minded and
pragmatic leader.
Secondly, President F
Tshisekedi of the highly
destabilised and politically
unstable Democratic Republic of
Congo, DRC, is the new political
Chair of the Union for 2021. His
predecessor, President Cyril
Ramaphosa of South Africa,
came from a politically stable
and economically stronger
country which could withstand
pressures from foreign countries.
Also, the short term does not offer
much comfort as Tshisekedi’s
successor-designate for next year
is President Macky Sall of
Senegal who along with
President Alassane Quattara of
Cote d’ Ivoire are identified with
France’s continued stranglehold
on West African economy.
If Nigeria can look back at its
2017 folly, re-strategise and
return with a way forward in its
quest for leadership in the AU, so
can Africa. In my view, the AU
priority areas are five. The first
is silencing the guns and
restoring peace. Secondly,
allowing the will of the people
prevail, especially on needs,
governance.
Thirdly, in the face of
underdev
enslaving debt servicing and the
crippling COVID-19 pandemic,
there is the need to rebuild the
economy, giving priority to
human dev
education and health rather than
exploitative ‘market forces’.
Fourthly, driving integration
through the African Continental
Free Trade Agreement which
became operational last month.
The fifth is implementing the
liberating AU 2063 Agenda.
Is COVID-19 a rich man’s disease?
By TAYO OGUNBIYI
SINCE March 2019, when the
World Health Organisation,
WHO, declared coronavirus, a.k.a
COVID-19, a pandemic, it has
continued to wreak havoc across the
world: weakling the health care
system, disrupting businesses and
bringing about a complet
norm in social interactions.
At the peak of its reign, the pandemic
brought the entire world to its knees,
forcing countries to impose a total
lock-down with its attendant
challenges. It was such a trying
moment for a bewildered world.
Toward the last quarter of 2020, there
appeared to be a bit of respite, making
many nations to progressiv
hitherto stringent COVID-19 protocol.
Gradually, things began to return to
normalcy, as people began to piece
together the ruins of their businesses.
At last, the worst is over! So we all
thought. How wrong!
From the blue came a more menacing
variety of the pandemic. Now
popularly referred to as the second
wave, the new brand of the deadly
virus, experts say, is more dreadful and
ferocious, giving its victims very little
chances of survival. Now, across the
world, the fear of the second wave of
COVID-19 is the beginning of wisdom.
It is, however, puzzling that in the
midst of the pandemic’s vicious
resurgence, many still see it as a ruse,
while others simply term it a ‘rich
man’s disease’. Ironically, this view is
not only being spread among the
uneducated, a few
For instance, in March 2020, Governor
of Mexico’s Puebla State, Luis Migu
Barbosa, said: “If you are rich, you are
at risk, but if you are poor, you are
not.”
In Nigeria and, indeed, many African
countries, many people who reside in
high density areas are yet to come to
terms with the monstrous nature of the
pandemic. They still live car
claiming, without scientific proofs, that
the virus only seeks the rich to devour.
But then, is this really the case?
Is COVID-19 actually a rich man’s
nemesis? Are the poor totally immune
from the infection as being claimed?
To start with, historically, pandemics
rage more among the poor, but in the
case of coronavirus, being a high-class
import infection - carried in by business
men and tourists returning from trips
abroad, the rich, obviously, appear
more vulnerable.
Therefore, looking at it from this
perspective, the rich certainly stands
the risk of contracting the disease. This,
perhaps, explains, especially in the
case of Nigeria, why the
be the earliest casualties of the
ailment.
Thus, it is safe to establish that at the
outset, COVID-19 could be considered
a rich man’s disease, considering it was
imported by the supposed rich who
contracted it abroad. But then, it didn’t
take long before the equation quickly
changed and the disease became an
all comers affairs.
It was not long before a pattern of
spreading the disease from the rich to
the poor and vice-versa emerged. That
marked the beginning of a new phase
in the spread of the disease, which
experts refer to as community
transmission.
In countries where it recorded
greater casualties, COVID-19 neither
spared the rich nor the poor. It killed
To prevent a spike in
COVID-19 cases and forestall
our healthcare system being
overwh
take responsibility and follow
strictly hygiene practices
without taking such social stratification
into consideration. The truth, thus, is
that the pandemic seeks both the rich
and poor to destroy. Hence, the earlier
proponents of the bas
that the unseen monster is only after
the rich jettisons such wild claim, the
better for them and the entire society.
Please, get it right: COVID-19 knows
no social boundaries! For that reason,
we need to come to terms with the
reality of what we are contending with.
This is not the time to make unfounded
statements. Such will only compound
the situation. The appeal, here, is for
compatriots to take personal
responsibility for their health.
The ultimate responsibility for our
safety lies in our hands. It is quite
absurd to read about certain people
holding some high society party amid
a vicious pandemic. If we continue with
such ‘I don’t care’ (unconcerned)
attitude, we will not only hurt our
families, but we will hurt others too.
According to history, the Spanish flu
of 1918 claimed many lives in the first
wave, but as soon as the lock-down was
r
and quickly overlooked hitherto
treasured protocols. Sadly, before they
could come to terms with it, the second
wave had claimed ten times more
people.
To prevent a spike in COVID-19 cases
and forestall our healthcare system
being overwh
responsibility and follow strictly
hygiene practices. Wear your facemask
appropriat
Adhere to social distancing rules, wash
hands regularly and keep to all safety
guid
We should not frustrate the
government’s effort in containing the
virus via unfounded conjectures and
car
responsibility for keeping everyone
safe.
•Ogunbiyi is Deputy Director, Public
Affairs, Ministry of Information and
Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja
18 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2021
WITH at least 14 vaccines now in
play, it is not surprising that powerful
nations such as the USA, EU, UK,
Russia, China and others have rushed
to stockpile them for the benefit of
their citizens. This is more so as these
countries, despite their sophisticated
healthcare systems, have been
sever
scourge in terms of number of people the risk of buying at exorbitant prices.
infected and fatalities.
The WHO has been criticised for
The scramble for available vaccines many failures since the pandemic
should be approached with caution to emerged in China in December 2019,
avoid what the World Health but it has been very proactive in efforts
Organisation has correctly termed to ensure that vaccines and other
“vaccine nationalism”. According to treatment options are equitably
the World Economic Forum, WEF, available to countries irrespective of
“vaccine nationalism” occurs when the size of their pockets.
countries push to get first access. In April 2020 it initiated the Access
“The richest nations have secured to COVID-19 Tools, ACT, Acc
billions of COVID-19 doses, while which designed the COVID-19
dev
supplies”. Many of the advanced GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, the Centre
countries end up stockpiling far more for Epidemics Preparedness
than they may need while the poor Innovations, CEPI, and others to
Need to avoid ‘vaccine nationalism’
ensure that all countries will have
access to vaccines. This has attracted
156 economies so far.
We commend the WHO and
partners for this initiative whose
importance can never be understated.
This is the first worldwide pandemic
in the globalised era.
Visionaries like Bill Gates warn that
perhaps more vicious pandemics
might be here pretty soon. We must
use the experience of the COVID-19
pandemic to adjust the world’s
mindset towards a greater tendency
to share resources rather than
monopolise them.
We must put more emphasis on our
common humanity rather than the
supremacy of the highest bidder.
It is in the interest of all that vaccines
go round where they are needed
irrespective of financial power.
If the pandemic is allowed to fester
in some corners of the world, the risk
of mutations to more dangerous
variants will increase and we may live
with this pandemic for much longer
than necessary.
The WEF has even determined that
richer economies will have to spend
$119 billion per annum if the $25
billion required to make vaccines
universally available is not realised.
We are all in this COVID-19 war
together. To effectiv
record time, we must continue to close
ranks.
We must continue to share efforts
and resources, knowing that whatever
is allowed to go round will always
come round.
OPINION
Buhari, Adamu and perils of the police force
By JOSEPH TIRPREN OSADEBE
THERE is growing concern in the
country regarding the ever changing
nature of operations of public rules and the
implications for all of us. As important as
the Constitution and other legal instruments
are, the public institutions that have a great
bearing on the day-to-day life of the country
and its people. Appropriate and efficient
institutions – the civil service, the health
service, local government mechanisms, the
Police – are vital to the efficient conduct of
public life.
It is a matter for great regret that we have
neglected these institutions and diminished
their authority and the autonomous spaces
they had for the sake of greater political
control; the politicisation of the Police is no
exception. Politicisation of the police is
putting policing of the nation at risk. The
tradition of policing is in danger from
political interference that is alienating the
police from the public.
When officers join the police force they
swear an oath of allegiance to the
Constitution, not the President or any head
of government and are expected never to be
servants to those in government – until now.
The past five years were characterised by
images of the way in which the Nigeria Police
Force has been made to put government
targets before serving the public. These
targets result in promotions to top offices
with the predictable result that officers lower
down the scale come under pressure to
concentrate on whatever is targeted, to the
neglect of other things.
Following the extension of the tenure of
Inspector General of Police, Mohammed
Adamu for another three months by
President Muhammadu Buhari, the leading
theme on most discussion tables today is
the politicisation of the Nigeria Police,
especially since 2015 and with a new
constitution which removed most of the
autonomy that institutions like the Police
had.
At the centre of these discussions is the
structure of the Police Force – recruitment,
training, placements, promotions, the
principle of seniority, the lack of leadership
in the face of political pressure and so
on. Although the President has the
discretion to appoint, remove and extend
appointments, the new Police Act, which he
signed, limited the act of extending tenure
The President lacks the
power to reabsorb a retired
police officer back into the
NPF through a purported
tenure extension, which is not
contemplated by law
rendering Buhari’s action a clear violation
of the Act.
Beyond the apparent brutal violation of
the guid
2020, Buhari’s action is as w
unconstitutional as it negates the essence of
the Constitution and statutes that aim to
regulate orderliness, conducts and actions.
The extension of the expired tenure of the
IGP without due process, therefore, is not
only unconstitutional but illegal as w
contravening Section 216(2) which
stipulates that: “Before making an
appointment to the office of the Inspector-
General of Police or removing him from
office, the President shall consult the Nigeria
Police Council.”
Paragraph 27 of the third schedule to the
1999 Constitution states: “The Nigeria Police
Council shall comprise the following
members: (A) the President who shall be the
Chairman; (B) the Governor of each State
of the Federation; (C) the Chairman of the
Police Service Commission; and (D) the
Inspector-General of Police.”
By these citations, it follows that when the
tenure of a serving IGP expires on the
ground of completing the mandatory 35
years of service, he cannot be asked to
continue in office beyond his mandatory
tenure.
This is because an IGP who has served the
mandatory years of service ceases to be a
member of the Nigeria Police Force from
the date of the completion of his service and
Adamu ceases to be a member of the NPF
from February 2, 2021.
And by virtue of Section 215(1)(a) of the
Constitution and Section 7(3) of the Police
Act, 2020, only a serving member of the
Nigeria Police Force can be appointed as
IGP; Adamu, having completed his
mandatory years of service on February 2,
2021, cannot be appointed as IGP from
outside the force.
Clearly, the President lacks the power to
reabsorb a retired police officer back into
the NPF through a purported tenure
extension, which is not contemplated by law.
The President cannot appoint an IGP or
extend the tenure of a retired IGP without
the advice of the Nigeria Police Council,
which in this case has not met to consider,
let alone approve such tenure extension.
More dangerously, the extension has
already cracked the ranks of Nigerian police
officers with many toeing the thinking of
the public that a new IGP is desperat
needed to rekindle the long-lost morale of
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officers and men after the carnage
experienced as a result of the #EndSARS
protest and the peak of embarrassment that
came with the abduction of hundreds of
school children in Katsina without trace for
six days.
The evolving scenario is a confirmation
that we may not find a solution to the
problem of insecurity in the country if the
present attitude towards crime control
continues. With this, staff morale will further
nose-dive because there are so many odds
operationally against IGP Adamu who was
supposed to vacate office and allow fresh
ideas into the Force.
The explanation that Buhari needs ample
time to s
complicates the situation by lending
credence that the man in the Villa may lack
the necessary knowledge of what he is
expected to do at this time.
This action is bound to drastically kill the
ambition of other officers who are also
qualified for the office by making it appear
as if it is only the retired IGP Adamu that is
qualified for the job.
There are cogent worries that Buhari, with
this action, d
a particular set of persons on the succession
list because two years were enough for
government to have fished out an
successor from the list of legitimate
competent claimants.
Going by this, it becomes expedient for
President Buhari to move to reclaim his
statesmanship by rectifying this
monumental breach of the nation’s
governing laws lest he would go down in
history as one Nigerian leader that ran the
most disrespectful government for the rule
of law and constitutionality.
•Osadebe, a public affairs analyst, wrote
from Benin City, Edo State
Banks’ borrowing from CBN falls 98% to N15bn
...CBN’s interest earnings drop 75%
By Elizabeth Adegbesan
MONEY MARKET
IN apparent reflection of the
excess liquidity in the banking
system, banks’ borrowing
from the Central Bank of Nigeria
(CBN) through the Standing
Lending Facility (SLF) f
percent, year-on-year (YoY), to
N15.95 billion in November 2020
from N662.44 billion in November
2019.
Consequently, the apex
bank’s interest earnings from the
SLF f
to N90 million in November 2020
from N370 million in November
2019.
On the other hand, banks’ deposits
into the regulator’s Standing
Deposit Facility ( SDF) grew
YoY by 64 per cent to N726.98
billion in November 2020 from
N443.63 billion in November
2019.
Disclosing this its economic report
for November 2020, the
CBN said: “Deposit Money
Banks (DMBs) and merchant
banks continued to access the
standing facilities window to
square liquidity positions in November
2020.
“The trend at the CBN standing
facilities window showed
more frequency at the SDF window,
compared with the SLF, due
to the banking system liquidity
surfeit. “Applicable rates for the
SLF and SDF stood at 12.5 per
cent and 4.5 per cent, respectiv
“Total request for the SLF
granted from November 1-26,
2020 was N15.95 billion, made
up of N3.15 billion direct SLF
and N12.79 billion Intraday
Lending Facilities (ILF) converted
to overnight repo. Daily
average was N2.66 billion in 6
transaction days from November
1-26, 2020.”
CURRENCY BUYING SELLING
US DOLLAR
POUNDS
EURO
FRANC
YEN
CFA
WAUA
RENMINBI
RIYAL
RAND
120.95 -2.03
1,754.00 +15.00
15.84 -0.15
61.49 +0.40
60.52 +0.63
379 379.5 380
524.4981 525.1901 525.882
459.5375 460.1438 460.75
425.317 425.8781 426.4392
3.6171 3.6219 3.6266
0.6803 0.6903 0.7003
545.4506 546.1702 546.8898
58.7506 58.8286 58.9065
101.037 101.1703 101.3036
25.7978 25.8318 25.8658
CBN Exchange rate as at 11/02/2021
PROMO — From left : Nduneche Ezurike, Head, Strategic Brand Management, Polaris Bank;
Peace Ibadin of National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC); Susie Onwuka of Federal
Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC); Adebimpe Ihekuna, Group Head,
Product & Market Dev
& Strategic Communication, both of Polaris Bank at the 1st draw of the on-going Polaris
Save & Win Promo in Lagos.
On SDF, it stated:”Total interest
earned was N0.09 billion.
Total SDF granted, during
the review period, was
N726.98 billion with a daily average
of N38.26 billion in 19
transaction days from November
1-26, 2020.
SRGI 2.0: FG to move from revenue collection to
tax compliance
By Yinka Kolawole
THE Federal Government
is set to shift focus from
revenue collection to tax compliance
under the second
phase of its Strategic Revenue
Growth Initiative (SRGI 2.0).
Minister of Finance, Budget
and National Planning, Mrs
Zainab Ahmed, stated this yesterday,
at a webinar on economic
outlook organised by
D
and corporate finance company.
She said in order to drive the
economy towards recovery, the
government is adopting
two major fiscal initiatives
- the 2020 Finance
Act and SRGI.
According to her,
SRGI is a mechanism
for enhancing fiscal revenues
from 6 to 15 percent
of gross domestic
product (GDP) by 2023.
She said the second
phase of SRGI, which
will include a partnership
with state governments,
will soon be
adopted.
On the planned
adoption of SRGI 2.0,
Ahmed said a consultative
session will be h
to determine areas of
improvement, adding
that the government will
shift focus from revenue
collection to tax compliance
in SRGI 2.0.
She stated: “We would
all have a consultative
process to see what has
ECONOMY
worked and what has not. But I
can t
decided that we must add a thematic
area that centres around tax
administration and tax compliance.
“We noticed during the period
that revenue collecting agencies
are busy measuring their performance
on revenue collection rather
than tax compliance. We want to
shift focus to tax compliance because
when you shift to tax compliance,
revenue will follow it. And
compliance goes on the side of the
tax collector and the revenue agencies.
That is one of the new things
Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY12, 2021 — 19
we want to add in SRGP 2.0.”
Ahmed said the federal government
is working towards making
Nigeria an industrialised nation in
the next five years, as w
the country’s dependence
on crude oil.
“We have a long way to go
and it is not going to be an easy
journey for us. This over-dependence
did not start today. We
have started doing that by
recalibrating our budget to reduce
the r
and if you look at the Nigerian
GDP, the contribution of the oil
and gas industry has been on the
decline,” she added.
MONEY MARKET
Oil exploration drops by 150% in Nigeria — Report
By Udeme Akpan
THERE are indications that oil
exploration has dropped by
150 per cent in Nigeria in the past
year, due mainly to the prolonged
d
Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB into
law.
The PIB, still before the National
Assembly, is aimed at restructuring
the industry as w
in place competitive legislation,
targeted at encouraging investment
in the industry.
But a copy of the Organisation
of Petroleum Exporting Countries,
OPEC February 2021 report, obtained
by Vanguard, showed that
the rig count, a major index of
measuring activities in the industry,
stood at six in January 2020,
indicating a drop of 150 per cent
when compared to 15, recorded in
the corresponding period of 2019.
“Daily request ranged from
N31.30 billion to N45.10 billion.
Cost incurred on SDF in the
month stood at N0.12 billion.”
ENERGY
This showed that operators, including
the International Oil Companies,
IOCs, and their indigenous
counterparts have not invested
much in exploration, which
could have resulted in the making
of additional oil and gas finds,
reserves, and production capacity.
Consequently, the nation’s oil
reserves remain unchanged at 37
billion barr
40 billion barr
However, The Minister of State
for Petroleum Resources, Timipre
Sylva, had recently promised that
the PIB would be passed in April
2021, bar
enable the government to achieve
set objectives, including attracting
new local and investments into the
industry.
The Speaker of the House of
Representatives, Femi
Polaris Bank’s
promo produces
61 winners
POLARIS Bank said that the
its nationwide Save & Win
promo has produced the first set
of winners, including the first
millionaire, Mr. Lucky
Okunzuwa, a customer with its
Akpakpava branch, Benin, Edo
State
The bank in a statement said
that other 60 lucky customers who
also emerged from across the six
geo-political zones, won
N100,000 each during the draw
which was h
in Lagos. The promo which
ends in April 2021 is designed to
enrich Nigerians with a N26 million
pay-out.
The winners emerged through
a transparent draw witnessed by
officials of the Federal Competition
and Consumer Protection
Commission, representatives of
other regulatory agencies, as w
as customers and r
winners. The draw was conducted
using a hybrid media
technology which enabled in-premises
event whilst over 600 customers
logged in through the
bank’s virtual network and social
media handles.
The promo is designed to make
millionaires of everyday Nigerians
by encouraging current and
prospective customers to save a
minimum of N10,000 monthly, for
any three consecutive months
within the promo period, starting
from November 2020 to April
2021, to qualify and be part of the
winners of the promo.
The first millionaire of the promo,
Mr. Okunzuwa, said, “I am very
d
naira in the Polaris Bank’s Save &
Win Promo. It was like a dream,
when I was told but this is a reality.
The money will go a long way
in supporting my small business
to grow. I also make a commitment
to continue to save more. I sincer
thank Polaris Bank for this
nov
Speaking at the unveiling of the
winners, Polaris Bank’s Executive
Director, Lagos Business, Mr.
Segun Opeke, while offering his
congratulations, said the event
was significant because it was a
testament of Polaris Bank’s unwavering
commitment to impact
and enrich the lives of Nigerians,
while noting that the reward is
aimed at encouraging more
people to save and invest their
money.”
Gbajabiamila, had also announced
that the bill would be
passed in April 2021, adding that
consultations on the bill will transcend
the public hearing.
Neverth
Ohaeri, Director, Spaces for
Change, who also stressed the
importance of the early passage,
said: “The Petroleum Industry
Bill (PIB) 2020, a proposed law
that seeks to introduce far-reaching
industry reforms in the Nigerian
oil and gas sector. Among
other objectives, the bill aims to
establish good governance, best
practices, and ease of doing
business in the industry by clarifying
roles and responsibilities
of officials and institutions, enable
frontier exploration, mandate
improved environmental
compliance, and transform
NNPC into a commercially viable
enterprise.”
20 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2021
Nigerian bandits have their cake and eat it
THE fight against terror in Nigeria
has been a theatre of the absurd.
What began as a tiny spark of itinerant
fanatics taking a pledge against Western
education mutated into a full-fledged
non-state army currently ranked as the
third deadliest globally. Yet, banditry is
another fast-growing franchise.
State response has also been as
bewildering as it has been absurd. It has
ranged from denial to extra-judicial
killings and from regional joint task
forces to the use of prayer warriors and
mercenaries.
And when you thought absurdity had
reached its limits, a new idea has been
added to the toolbox: compensation to
bandits as incentive for them to lay down
their arms.
We don’t know how big, yet. But if what
the w
Ahmad Gumi, is saying is anything to
go by, bandits in Zamfara State, North
West Nigeria, may expect a big payout
as compensation to stop the killings.
It’s weird that killers, and not their
victims, should demand compensation.
It’s even weirder that the mediator can
actually bring the matter to the public,
thinking that after years of paying ransom
and bribes without results, compensation
might finally set us free from criminals.
It’s the victim’s nightmare recompense:
A loved one is murdered, and then, you
watch the perpetrator of the crime paid
compensation by the state that is
supposed to have prevented the crime
in the first place.
Gumi didn’t say how much
compensation. But anyone who has seen
videos of the bandits dressed like the
Taliban, armed with automatic weapons
and caches of live rounds strapped to
their bodies, would know that they’ll
need to be paid handsom
their lifestyle of audacious criminality.
As Gumi finished his meeting with over
500 of the bandits in some forest area of
Zamfara recently, he said he was sure
that if the bandits got some money, and
perhaps amnesty to the bargain, they
would lay down their arms and we can
live happily ever after.
I don’t know where the good cleric got
that idea from. Perhaps he wasn’t
listening or didn’t b
of a local government not far from where
he met the bandits, who said the
community had paid bandits N200m in
ransom, yet things only got worse.
It’s not only the local government
chairman that has been paying bandits
without results. Governor B
Matawalle has also been paying the
bandits – one million naira here, two
there – a herd of two or three cows to
start them off and a place to lay their
heads. Lucky folks.
But the governor’s token, often
targeted at rank-and-file bandits, has
proved to be nothing compared to the
huge piles of cash the kingpins make
from ransom and the pleasure they get
from killing for sport.
How much is too much?
How much more can a distressed,
impoverished state pay bandits to lay
down their arms?
If the price was in human lives, the
bandits should have had enough by now.
According to a BBC report in July, in the
last decade since banditry became a
major industry in Northern Nigeria,
8,000 have been killed in the states of
Kebbi, Sokoto, Niger and Zamfara alone.
The highest death toll has been in
Zamfara, with a record topped only by
Borno State in the North East, where
killings by Boko Haram are in a savage
class of their own.
Apart from the cost in human lives,
which means nothing to the bandits, the
price in misery for the living has been
just as high. Thousands have been
maimed, traumatised, displaced and
impoverished by the bandits reducing
the state, which is bigger in size than
B
s
About two years ago, the state set up a
committee headed by a former Inspector
General of Police, Mohammad
Abubakar, to get to the root of the
problem.
The committee found out what most
people already know but brought
figures, faces and insights that
established beyond a doubt that banditry
was not just a w
was also the most prosperous industry
in Zamfara.
According to the committee, the
However w
Gumi’s intentions may be, it
rubs salt in the injury of the
thousands of bereaved families
to suggest that those who killed
their loved ones should be
compensated for the bestiality
criminal gang had made more than
N3billion from 3,672 r
and the gang also had a network that
covered even traditional rulers and
influential persons in the state. The
committee recommended that a judicial
pan
those involved in the crime.
After the public outrage that followed
the report, the bandits took a recess, and
government went to sleep. The bandits
have since returned in full force killing
over 1,000 people last year alone and
raping and looting scores of villages in
daylight. Journalist, Kadaria Ahmed,
said in a video broadcast by the BBC,
that “every day, we bury between 30, 40
and 50 people.” With a police-civilian
population ratio of 1:1,500 in Zamfara,
the communities are on their own.
Perhaps that was why Gumi, who is
from Zamfara, took it upon hims
mediate with the bandits. But where did
the talk about compensation come from?
The playbook
Gumi is obviously copying from former
President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s
playbook on the Niger D
the militants in the Niger D
despicable and obnoxious, were
Nigerians. The bandits,
especially those in the
Zamfara area, are mostly
armed Malian caravans that
have taken advantage of
weak policing and porous
borders to infiltrate the
country larg
Katsina.
They have slowly but
steadily built thems
an occupying force, routing
whole communities along
their path, planting flags at
one time, and collecting taxes
and levies from local
communities whose rulers
sometimes pledge their
loyalty to survive.
A village
Amnesty International that
he received a call from bandits to t
villagers close to the forest to vacate their
homes and farms and come and pay
levies. “He said the only way they’d
allow the villagers to continue staying
is if they paid them five million naira,”
Amnesty reported the man as saying.
Ransom is a way of life in Zamfara.
Whatever Gumi’s motivation, however,
it’s important to remember that Yar’Adua
did not offer compensation to the
militants. He offered them amnesty in
exchange for laying down their arms.
And even that amnesty was justifiably
opposed on the ground that it would
form the basis in future for criminal
gangs to hold government to ransom.
Haunted
That precedent has come back to haunt
us. Today, there are other franchises of
official capitulation and indulgence like
Governor Nasir El-
paying off criminal herders who lost
their cows, while turning a blind eye to
other members of the community who
were actually the victims.
However w
intentions may be, it rubs salt in the
injury of the thousands of bereaved
families to suggest that those who killed
their loved ones should be compensated
for the bestiality.
If the bandits have squeezed N3 billion
from victims’ families and are not
satisfied, if they have extracted over N200
million from just one out of 14 local
governments and are not satisfied, if
they have rustled cows and looted farms
and yet won’t lay down their arms, it’s
obvious that nothing short of a seat in
the Government House, Gusau, along
with the state’s cheque book, all presigned,
would appease them.
And for what? What did they lose for
which they should be compensated or
what offence did the thousands they
have killed commit that their memories
deserve such brazen indignity?
It’s time to end the nonsense and
confront the bandits head-on. I’m
shocked that President Muhammadu
Buhari’s government is not outraged by
the billions of naira paid out to bandits
for nothing, not outraged by bandits most
of whom have been officially described
as foreigners collecting ransom from
citizens. And it is clearly not outraged
that bandits who have received more in
ransom than the government uses to
maintain internally displaced persons,
still want compensation on top of
amnesty.
They want to be paid not just for the
atrocities for which they ought to be h
accountable, but also because they think
that they deserve a flag for making
thems
Where does that happen?
If we don’t end the nonsense now,
nothing stops another group of violent
rogues from some part of the country
from stealing, looting, murdering – even
making a secession bid – and then
staking a claim for compensation.
Zamfara is a crime scene. Buhari
cannot entertain any suggestion,
however w
have monetised criminality should be
compensated.
:Vanguard News
LG polls: Uwabuofu
kicks over
invalidation of
running mate's
candidacy
By Ochuko Akuopha
O BIARUKU—CHAIRMANSHIP
candidate of the All Progressives
Congress, APC, in Ukwuani Local Government
Area, D
has said that his running mate, Mr. Onah
Onyeka, was never at any time, a card carrying
member of the Allied Peoples' Movement,
APM, as being peddled in some quarters.
Reacting to the purported invalidation of
Onyeka's candidacy by the D
Independent Electoral Commission, DSIEC,
on the grounds of dual nomination, Uwabuofu,
in a statement, said he (Onyeka) "was never in
any way, a councillorship candidate of APM".
Disclosing that the leadership of APM had
forwarded a petition requesting DSIEC to
disqualify Onyeka, Uwabuofu said: "In the
petition, APM claimed that Mr. Onah was
nominated as their candidate on the 5th of
January 2021 as against his nomination as
my running mate on January 4th 2021.
"Mr. Onah couldn't have requested to
represent APM after emerging as the Vice
Chairmanship candidate of the APC. On this
cause, we remain firm and in all acceptance
agree that this purported invalidation by
DSIEC is nothing but a malicious and
fraudulent attempt at winning an
through the back door.
"Mr. Onah Onyeka was never screened as a
councillorship aspirant and by virtue of his
absence in the screening, he was supposed to
be disqualified as a councilorship candidate
having not presented hims
for that purpose as required by DSIEC.
"However, despite an affidavit by Mr. Onyeka
to the effect that he is not a member of APM
and not running for any
party, which was received and acknowledged
by DSIEC on Monday 19th January 2021, it is
shameful to note that the body still went on to
publish his name as a successfully screened
candidate of APM. Is this not fraudulent?
"The same DSIEC successfully screened Mr.
Onah as a Vice Chairmanship aspirant on 13th
January 2021 and published his name as a
successful candidate to become the running
mate of Chidi O. Uwabuofu come 6th March
2021. This was after Mr. Onah appeared to be
screened by DSIEC and presented his
documents to the
NANS passes
confidence vote on
Ag Auchi Poly
Rector
By Ozioruva Aliu
AUCHI—THE National Association of
Nigerian Students, NANS, has passed a
vote of confidence on the Acting Rector of the
Auchi polythenic, Engr Mustapha Zubair for
his outstanding leadership style since he
assumed office as the head of the institution.
The Vice President of NANS, Special Duties,
Comrade Odiahi Ikhine stated this during the
opening ceremoney of the Auchi Poly week h
in Auchi, Edo state.
Ikhine said that the entire students of the
institution and the leadership of NANS are
impressed with the dev
leadership style of the acting rector.
He said: "We are very much impressed with
what we saw on ground here as regard to
Covid-19 protocols on the campus which had
the best installation in place among all the
tertiary institutions in the entire state.
"I am dutifully passing a vote of confidence
on your person and the leadership role in this
institution," he said.
On the forthcoming SUG
polytechnic, Ikhine said the NANS body were
on ground to monitor the
Earlier, the Acting Rector, Engr. Zubair,
thanked the Students’ Union Government for
the cordial r
Management of the Institution.
He called for the same cordial r
for the incoming Students’ Union
Government.
"Poly week is part of activities in our School
calendar and it is an opportunity to usher in a
Furore over ‘10-point agenda’ for Birnin Gwari,
dreaded enclave of criminality in Kaduna
•Kaduna State Govt didn’t author the agenda — Gov El-
Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2021—21
Zamfara gov urges colleagues
to dialogue with kidnappers
By Umar Yusuf
YOLA—AMIDST growing
wave of kidnapping and
other criminal activities across the
land, Governor Muhammad
Mutawalle of Zamfara State has
suggested that the only option left
for governors of the affected states
is to engage the bandits and
kidnappers in dialogue for
everlasting peace.
He said: “Only recently such
dialogue with the kidnappers in
Zamfawa State led to the
denouncing of kidnapping by six
kingpins and the surrender of
about 42 assorted rifles and over
6000 arms and ammunition.”
Mutawalle, who spoke in Yola
while on a working visit to
Adamawa State said he will
continue to encourage the use of
dialogue to achieve the much
needed peace in the state arising
from the menace of kidnappers
and bandits.
Continues on page 23
By Ibrahim HassanWuyo
WHO drew up the now
controversial 10-Point
dev
Gwari, the enclave for criminality
in Kaduna State? This is the
question that begs for urgent
answer as the controversial
‘agenda’ continues to trend online,
while the authors remain
unknown.
At first, some
it to the Kaduna State
Government given the lofty
contents of the agenda. But the
State Government has since
denied authorship of the document,
thereby raising more questions on
the originality of the contents and
spirit of the agenda.
In spite of the doubts generated
by the document titled: “All for
Kaduna State”, protagonists of the
plan went ahead to splash the contents
online, claiming that the 10-
point agenda was aimed at addressing
unemployment and the
security challenges in the area.
The authors of the document,
apparently to draw attention of
government to the dev
needs of Birnin Gwari, which has
become notorious for banditry,
kidnapping and robbery in recent
years, drew up what looks like a
utopian dev
the area:
•Kaduna State government is
setting aside 5,000 square
kilometres to build the largest
cattle ranch in Africa in Birnin
Gwari;
•Kaduna State governor has
•Troops in combat operation against bandits in Birnin Gwari
reached an agreement with Al
Rayan Islamic Bank to open an
animal feed compounder at Birnin
Gwari;
•Kaduna State government has
reached a deal with the New York
Giants Leather & Suede Jackets
Company to open a manufacturing
facility in Kaduna;
•Kaduna State government has
successfully wooed Nestle to open
a dairy plant in Zaria;
•Kaduna State government shall
be opening Africa’s largest abattoir
in Kafanchan. It shall be funded
with an Islamic Finance loan;
•Malaysian Islamic bank CIMB
has agreed to loan Kaduna State
$5bn to build an intra-state light
railway programme. This will
engage up to two million youths
over a five year programme;
•Kaduna State will open at least
two technical training colleges in
each of its 23 local government
areas;
• At the Birnin Gwari ranch there
shall be a disarmament centre
where all armed herdsmen and
bandit can hand in their weapons
Widows of military personn
•recount ordeal with children, send SOS to military authorities
By Peter Duru, Makurdi
THEY came out in their
numbers to witness the last
Armed Forces Remembrance Day
c
much nostalgia managed to cheer
the galant display of the military
personn
This, before the demise of their
spouses, was their constituency.
They were wives of soldiers who
lived in barracks across the
country and still shared the fond
memories of life in the barracks.
But the death of the husbands have
left them in bewildered and
pondering how life has been so
unkind and unfair to the women
•Mrs. Nsima Amos •Mrs. Victoria Elijah •Mrs. Grace Adah •Mrs. Patience Adejoh
who managed the home front
while their late husbands defended
the nation in war fronts.
Today fate has dealt them the
devastating blow of struggling for
survival with their children. And
according to them, their situation
has been worsened by the failure
and nonchalance of those whose
responsibility it is to avail them the
benefits accruable to the
dependents of these former
soldiers.
In their respective accounts to
Arewa Voice, the widows in
emotion-laden voices appealed to
the military authorities to give
them reasons to still r
moment their husbands spent in
the armed forces by ensuring the
prompt payment of their benefits
to augment their liv
support their families.
They also appealed to the
military authorities to put in place
a scholarship scheme for children
of the late ex-servicemen to assist
in checking incidents of out of
school children of the late service
personn
For Mrs. Nsima Amos, a mother
without prosecution;
•As from henceforth, Kaduna
State will match Micha
Okpara’s policy of spending 45 per
cent of its annual budget on
education; and
•Kaduna State government will
open a 1,000-square kilometre
solar farm in Makarfi. It will have
Continues on page 22
four from Akwa Ibom State, her
late husband served at the Nigeria
Army School of Military
Engineers, NASME, Makurdi. She
said: “My husband was a Master
Warrant Officer, MWO,
Emmanu
September 16, 2013 in active
service during the crisis in Jos and
life has not been easy with us since
his death.
“Some of my children have
finished school, and some are still
in school. Our pain is that some of
the entitlements we are supposed
to get after my husband’s death
have not been paid up till now. His
group life insurance has not been
paid. Nobody is t
cannot get the entitlements almost
eight years after his death.
“I have been going to Army
Headquarters over the matter but
they keep t
but life has been unbearable for
us. Taking care of the children in
the absence of my husband has
been a herculean task.
“At the moment we live outside
Continues on page 22
22 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2021
• Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, alongside officials of Federal Ministry of
Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Dev
of Cameroon, towards the voluntary repatriation of 9,800 Nigerians of Borno origin, who are among
46,000 Nigerians taking refuge in Minawao camp in Cameroon.
Fear grips Plateau farmers as bird flu strikes again
By Marie-Therese Nanlong
JOS – The resurfacing of the
avian influenza virus otherwise
known as bird flu in Plateau State
has left poultry farmers counting
their losses as the virus spreads
across poultry farms in the state.
The poultry disease, which had in
the past ruined many poultry
businesses had abated as the state
did not record any outbreak since
2019 but the resurgence of the virus,
is now causing panic among poultry
farmers.
Arewa Voice counted five farms in
the state which have been hit by the
outbreak, with owners claiming they
have lost thousands of birds in the
Furore over ‘10-point agenda’ for
Birnin Gwari
Continues from page 21
an adjoining factory that
manufactures pan
of providing employment for at
least 20,000 people.
While the design looks
attractive to the undiscerning, the
state governor, Malam Nasir
the authorship of the plan,
claiming instead that there should
be more security operations to
clear Birnin Gwari of criminals
to allow for the takeoff of
economic activities in full swing.
El-
known regarding the document in
a tweet he posted on his verified
handle and made available to
Arewa Voice. "Malam Nasir
pushes for more security
operations to enable economic
AREWA VOICE TEAM
Editor: Soni Dani
Correspondents:
Wole Mosadomi, Minna
Demola Akinyemi, Ilorin
Bashir B
Aliyu Dangida, Dutse
Umar Yusuf, Yola
Ibrahim HassnWuyo, Kaduna
Peter Duru, Makurdi
Marie-Therese Nanlong, Jos
Abdul Murtala, Kano
Femi Bolaji, Jalingo
David Odama, Lafia
Charly Agwam, Bauchi
Boluwaji Obahopo, Lokoja
process. Battling with high the cost
of maintaining their farms amidst
the economic downturn occasioned
by the COVID-19 pandemic, poultry
farmers said they are being
threatened with the presence of the
highly virulent strain of the disease.
To curtail the spread, rigorous
sensitisation is presently being
carried out for farmers to step up
the bio-security measures in their
farms, even as appeal is being made
for them to insure their farms.
In one of the farms in Dong
community, Jos North LGA, where
over 3,000 birds were affected and
the farm sealed, the farm owner,
Racha
assistance to enable her to return to
take-off in the Birnin Gwari area.
Efforts to make the area a hub for
mining and agriculture have not
yet reached the lofty targets being
fals
point plan for solving banditry.
KDSG did not author or issue the
said 10-point plan which contains
untrue claims about contacts and
agreements with partners. The
public should note that all KDSG
major events and policy
statements are clearly announced
on official platforms."
Prior to the 10-point plan
controversy, a heated debate had
ensued in the state over the
renaming of the state-owned
university, Kaduna State
University, KASU. Those pushing
the idea claimed that the
university had been renamed after
Magajin Gari Sambo, who was
an icon from the Mallawa ruling
House in Kaduna State and used
his position to promote education
at all lev
According to records, the first
primary school in Kaduna was
established during his reign and
he was also among the pioneer
teachers of Western education in
the region. But the management
of KASU has denied the change
of name of the institution,
describing it as the handiwork of
mischief-makers. A statement by
Samu
KASU, urged the public to
disregard the information and
described it as the handiwork of
mischief-makers.
Widows of military personn
Continues from page 21
the barracks and I am doing a
temporary job with the Federal
Medical Centre in Makurdi to
support the children. I appeal to
the military authorities to look
business.
Although it was not ascertained
at the time of this report if her farm
has been insured she narrated that
the loss had left her devastated,
saying: “I lost over 3,000 birds. The
bird showed signs of sickness and
we took them for culture for three
days but before the result came out,
they all died at once. My investment
is gone. I need h
business,” Ochenyi lamented.
However, the State Chief
Veterinary Officer, Dr. Spak Shaseet,
said the outbreak is suspected to be
imported from a South West state
through egg traders. But he did not
give any specific figure of bird deaths
apparently not to create panic and
create room for massive
compensation claims by the
farmers. She said: “So far, five farms
have been affected, all in Jos North
LGA. Four farms in Dong and one
inside the town. We are not r
any figure now so that we don’t
create panic. “Again, if we r
contrary figure to what government
will have for compensation, it will
be a problem but the figure is in
thousands because in one farm
alone, over 3,000 birds were lost. The
outbreak is still on just as we are
sensitising the farmers on what to
do in order to mitigate the spread
Insurgency: Saint Theresa’s church builds 86 houses for
IDPs in Adamawa
By Umar Yusuf
WITH attacks by Boko
Haram terrorists on the
increase in the North East states of
Adamawa, Gombe, Bauchi, Borno
and Yobe, the number of hom
or internally displaced persons has
grown rapidly in the last 10 years of
the insurgency.
And, with hundreds of thousands
driven out of their homes and from
work in the region, the story of
agony, joblessness and hom
now fill the air. The internally
displaced persons, IDPs, cut across
r
and Christians, and even nonb
of the two r
found in the IDP camps.
In fact, places of worships of the
two faiths have been targets of
attacks by the Islamic
fundamentalists. Apart from the
r
into the cases of widows of late
servicemen, ensure that
entitlements are paid without
d
scheme that can h
children in school because some
of our children are now dropping
out of school because of lack
money.”
On her part, Victoria, wife of the
late Private Samu
late husband served the army for
five years before he was killed in
active service in an ambush by
gunmen while on a trip with his
then boss. She said: “In 2012 he
trav
from Enugu to Abuja and on the
way armed men attacked and
killed him on that trip.
“We had three children before
his death. Two of the children are
in secondary school but I
withdrew our last child from
school because I cannot afford to
pay her school fees. My first child
is 15 years, the second is 13 while
our last child is nine years. At the
moment I live in an uncompleted
building with my children. Life
has not been fair to us but we are
toiling on and we need h
carry on.”
and losses.
“Major steps to be taken are
standard protocol because if we
suspect and confirm a farm is
infected with avian influenza, we
seal off the farm to curb movement:
nothing goes in and nothing goes
out of the farm. After sealing, we depopulate
by killing the birds and
burying them. We decontaminate
the farm and everything in it, then
we disinfect the entire farm and the
surroundings and seal the farm for
some time so that the virus does not
spread.
“In 2016, the strain of the virus
was H5N1, which is highly
pathogenic. In 2019, the outbreak
was mild with the H5NA strain but
we are currently battling with the
H5N1, which is very virulent and
has affected five farms in a short
period,” the officer said.
Speaking on the measures to curb
its spread, he added: “We heard of
its existence in Kano; we quickly got
across to the Poultry Association of
Nigeria to t
alert. We always advise farmers to
insure their farms in case of any
outbreak. We advised poultry
farmers to adopt strict bio security
measures and register with r
authorities to protect thems
from losses.”
cut across both genders, though
there are records of male deaths.
This is even as women and children
continue to bear the brunt of
kidnapping, sex-r
rape, sodomy and unwanted
pregnancy among under aged girls,
while male kids have been
conscripted as child soldiers.
The IDPs range from day-old
persons to the very aged persons as
communities are uprooted from
their original abodes. Pregnant
women have been known to d
children within the IDP camps. As
at today, internally displaced
persons cut across gender, age,
r
social status, as paramount
traditional rulers and big time
entrepreneurs are also being
numbered among the IDPs.
Internally displaced persons camps
are in Malkohi, Fufore, NYSC
camp and Saint Theresa Catholic
Mrs. Grace Adah, a mother of
seven children in her account said:
“My late husband was in the 1978
set. My husband was Warrant
Officer, WO, Adah Patrick who
retired in 2013 and died March
2017. Since his death I have not
received his entitlements. I went
to Abuja severally for that reason
but nothing has been done.
Nobody is also giving me any
reason why we must be subjected
to this pain after my husband
served his country meritoriously
as an air force personn
“I am pleading with the military
authorities to passionat
into our travail and ensure that
we get the entitlement that should
come to us after his death. Also
our children are eager and
interested to get enlisted into the
force in order to h
but it is almost impossible for
them to get recruited. My children
have tried severally to get enlisted
but because we do not know
anybody to h
recruited.
“I am begging the authorities to
do something in that regard. Aside
removing the bottlenecks that
d
our children should be availed the
right of first refusal whenever there
is recruitment so that the interested
ones can join the armed forces
without hitches just like their
fathers.”
Also, mother of four, Mrs.
Patience Adejoh, recalled that her
late husband, Sergeant Paul
Adejoh, died in Maiduguri when
her last child was two years and
four months. She said: “My late
husband died on July 10, 2014 in
Maiduguri where he went for an
operation. It is God that has been
taking care of us since his death. I
do petty trading to support my
family but it can bar
of the needs of my children and
mys
“Since his death we have been
making efforts to get all his
entitlements paid. His gratuity
was paid but his life insurance is
presently an issue. When we make
efforts to have the military
authorities pay us they keep
t
we continue to suffer. Our children
are dropping out of school and
feeding our families is also a
major challenge, especially with
the present economic downturn.
“I am pleading with the military
authorities to h
husbands served the country w
and those of us they left behind
deserved to be treated better.”
Cathedral.
Disturbed by the growing number
of people in these camps, the
Archbishop of Yola Diocese and
Chairman of the Christian
Association of Nigeria, CAN, in
Adamawa State,Reverend Stephen
Dami Mamza has commenced the
construction of 86 houses for IDPs
families in the State.
The cleric, while on an inspection
visit to the IDP settlement at Sangere
Margi, said the rationale behind
building the estate is to fully resettle
the displaced persons and equip
them with source of liv
He said: "We are here in Sangere
Margi where we are building a
housing estate for Internally
Displaced Persons that are living in
St. Theresa's Cathedral. So we have
come to see the progress of the work
because we intend to have the IDPs
brought to these houses by the grace
of God in the month of April."
How Zamfara governor, NGO rescued stranded
16-year-old almajiri from Mali
•Sent to study Islamic education in Senegal but trekked for 5 months
to Mali in search of h
By Ibrahim HassanWuyo
BUT for his intervention of the
Zamfara State Governor,
B
Maradun, the life of a 16-year-old
boy would have remained in
jeopardy and uncertainty. The
Barden Hausa and Shettiman
Sokoto, played a major role in
finding out about the condition
and safe return of Fatihu
Muhammed Tukur, who was
stranded in Mali for over four
years.
Tukur, who hails from Kaura
Namoda Local Government Area
of Zamfara State, was taken to
Kaulaha, Senegal to pursue
Islamic education. But after
arriving the area and finding it
unattractive to ply his trade there,
young Tukur absconded from his
Arabic School in Kaulaha
Senegal and trekked to Mali, a
journey which took him five
months to reach Mali.
Tukur was suffering and left on
his own while he struggled to find
his feet in the foreign land. He
was a shadow of hims
the fate of the young lad was made
known to him, the Zamfara State
governor moved into action to
bring him back to his fatherland.
Perhaps, his condition would
have remained unknown if not for
the information that was provided
by a non-governmental
organisation, Child Protection
Network. The NGO r
information about the boy's fate
to the governor and requested for
urgent intervention to rescue him.
While presenting the boy to the
governor, the Zamfara State
Coordinator of Child Protection
Network, Alhaji Bachiri Sarkin
Fulani Bungudu, explained that
Fatihu Muhammed Tukur, would
not have been seen and rescued
without the active support of the
state government working with
his organisation.
Bungudu said the report of the
whereabouts of the boy was
communicated through Zamfara
State Office of Child Protection
Network which liaised effectiv
with the Zamfara State Ministry
of Women, Children and Social
Dev
Continues from page 21
Mutawalle who spoke in Kuva-
Gaya of Hong local council while
commissioning phase two rural
roads of the 347.6 kilometres
rural access roads and river
crossings traversing the 21
councils in the state, applauded
the dev
recorded by his colleague,
Governor Ahmadu Fintiri. He
said: “I have been saying the best
solution and option to tackle
banditry is to seek for dialogue
with bandits.
“If really we want to end
banditry, we have to sit on a round
table and negotiate because
through dialogue and
reconciliation we are able to
secure the r
•Zamfara State Governor, B
repatriation of the young boy
from Mali.
The coordinator added that the
efforts of the organisation in
ensuring the safe return of Fatihu
Muhammed Tukur were
supported by the state
government and other
stakeholders both in Mali and
Nigeria.
While receiving the boy,
Governor Matawallen Maradun
expressed appreciation to the
Zamfara State CPN and the
women affairs ministry for
working tir
the young boy to be reunited with
his family.
The governor, however,
expressed dismay over the
attitude of some parents who take
their children abroad in the name
of Islamic studies without having
adequate arrangements for their
stay. He said the trend is
contributing immens
upbringing of children and
breeding of social vices by the
children instead of the education
they are seeking for.
Governor B
directed that proper couns
be given to the boy in order to
ascertain his health status before
being reunited with his parents.
Zamfara gov urges colleagues to dialogue
with kidnappers
who were under captivity of
kidnappers. The dialogue is for
those of them (bandits) who are
willing to repent, but those that
refused to take path of dialogue,
we fight them. This is just using
carrot and stick approach."
Earlier, in his address, Governor
Fintiri said the projects were in
fulfilment of his campaign
promises to enhance critical
economic growth in the state.
Fintiri assured the people in the
state that his administration will
complete all ongoing projects
scattered across the communities.
Cordinator of RAMP 2, Zubairu
Adamu Vandi, maintained that
628 youths were recruited by his
organisation to maintain all rural
roads constructed in the state.
The governor pledged to
support the boy to pursue both
Western and Islamic education.
By Demola Akinyemi
ILORIN—SCARCITY
of
petroleum products may hit
residents of Kwara State as from this
weekend as the state chapter of
Independent Petroleum Marketers
Association of Nigeria, IPMAN,
said its members will from today
suspend sale of fu
products to members of the public
in the state.
The association said its action is
informed by the recent unfriendly
policy of the Pip
Marketing Company, PPMC, a
subsidiary of the Nigerian National
Petroleum Corporation, NNPC.
Chairman of IPMAN in the state,
Alhaji Abdulateef Kamaja, while
addressing a press conference in
Ilorin, yesterday, said stakeholders
were not duly consulted before
rolling out the NNPC recent e-
payment policy tagged customers
express payment that “directs
marketers to provide some other
prerequisites like bulk purchase
agreement renewal, BPA, the
procurement involves high cost and
a lot of bureaucratic bottlenecks.”
Alhaji Kamaja, therefore, urged
the PPMC to rescind the decision,
noting that it is too sudden as the
marketers were not consulted.
He added: “The implementation
was also so sudden that no marketer
could have made any effort to
comply with NNPC guid
This, to us, is viewed as a means to
paralyse IPMAN members’ efforts
to contribute to national economic
dev
introduction of the present policy
there had been many paid tickets
from marketers running to billions
of Naira in the coffers of the NNPC
which were not attended to.
"Several factors like network
failure and inability of marketers
to have code payment militated
against the former procedure. It is
Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2021 — 23
Insecurity: Gov Ortom deserves commendation not
vilification —Middle B
By Peter Duru, Makurdi
THE Middle B
for Justice and Peace,
MBMJP, yesterday, said Governor
Samu
deserved commendation and not
attack by pro-Buhari groups for
his call on the president to take
urgent steps to address the
worsening insecurity in the
country.
The MBMJP cautioned that any
attempt to vilify the Benue State
governor who spoke the minds of
Nigerians would further confirm
the fears of most Nigerians that
the presidency had taken sides
with armed herders.
Convener of MBMJP, Comrade
Joe Bukka, in a statement in
Makurdi, said those behind the
media outing against the Benue
State governor had done more
harm than good to the image of
the Buhari Presidency.
The statement said: “We read
the media statement by the three
groups who came under the
Friends of Buhari to vilify the
Benue State governor for recently
advising President Buhari to act
fast to save the country from
activities of armed herders who
are gradually plunging this
country into a major civil crisis.
And our question is: what offence
did the governor commit by that
honest and tim
Middle B
Ortom as one of the very few in
this country who speak the truth
always.
“A man who in the last few years
has given his all even to the
detriment of his safety and w
to champion the call for
ranching in Nigeria which is
Fu
stop distribution of petroleum products
hereby wished that the current
directive is abrogated pending a
proper consultation and
d
imperative for the NNPC to
always consult with the
marketers before bringing up
any policy as this will ensure
harmonious and peaceful
r
marketers who act as the bridge
to the consuming masses."
Kalu
in Nigeria
By Boluwaji Obahopo
FORMER Governor of Abia
State, Senator Orji Uzo
Kalu, has tasked serving
governors to do more in tackling
insecurity in Nigeria, stressing
that they have more roles to play
than the Federal Government in
this regard.
The Senator who gave the
challenge when he visited
Governor Yahaya B
State at the Lugard House in
Lokoja on Wednesday, said that
rising cases of kidnapping,
banditry and armed robbery
across the country in recent times
have become worrisome,
pointing out that the governors
were in the best position to
effectiv
He praised Governor B
giant strides in ensuring the
security of lives and property of
Kogi people since assumption of
office, describing the
dev
emulation by his colleagues
across the country.
In his words: “Kogi State is
most peaceful under the
leadership of Governor Yahaya
B
coexistence among the various
ethnic groups in the state is
worthy of emulation”
He also lauded Governor
B
gradually becoming a sing-song
all over the country, deserves
commendation and not
vilification from any quarter.
Moreover, he spoke the minds of
majority of Nigerians on the state
of our country. So, attacking him
is obviously confirming to
Nigerians that the Presidency is
shi
daily killing, maiming and
tormenting Nigerians.
“For the avoidance of doubt, any
media attack on Governor Ortom
who is regarded in the Middle
B
ordinary man in government will
be counter-productive as it will
further demean and discredit the
Presidency in this part of the
country.
"And for the purpose of clarity
we must point out that testimonies
abound that the Governor, aside
championing the cause of the
people, has and is still d
dividends of democracy to the
people of Benue State.
“Contrary to the claims of
Buhari’s Friend, Governor Ortom
has done so much in the areas of
infrastructural dev
construction of schools, roads,
hospitals,
projects, payment of salaries and
pensions and the provision of
security for the people many of
who were displaced from their
ancestral homes by armed herders
and have been abandoned in IDPs
camps by the Federal
Government.”
youths and giving them the
opportunity to serve in
government.
“The job of a governor is most
desirable in the hands of the
youths because they are expected
to d
in the active productive sector. I
became the governor of Abia
state at 39 and to God be the
glory I made my mark in the
governance”.
He, therefore, called on the
people of Kogi State to continue
to support Governor B
exemplary leadership roles to
bring the needed democracy
dividends to everybody in the
state.
Responding, Governor B
expressed d
of encouragement and
motivation from Senator Kalu on
how he is leading the state on the
right path since he came on
board.
B
detribalised and true Nigerian.
He also appealled to him not to
be tired of preaching peace and
unity to all Nigerians.
On the ongoing APC
Registration Membership and
Validation exercise, Governor
B
making progress as no fewer than
25 million people have joined the
larges party in Africa.
24 —Vanguard
Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, , 2021
ALHAJI (Barr.) AbdulAzeez
Alatoye is the Amir (President)
Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at,
Nigeria. Alatoye who is the founder
and Senior Partner of Ascension
Consulting Services, an Associate
Member of the Chartered Institute of
Arbitrators (UK); in this interview says
there is gross injustice in Nigeria which
according to him, has exacerbated the
presence of violence, killings and
clashes here and there.
The Ahmadiyya leader who is also
a F
Taxation of Nigeria (CITN); F
Nigeria Institute of Management also
advised governors of the South-West
states to unite against the criminal
on issues of vaccines among others.
Farmers-herders clashes in
South- West
God wants us to do justice at all
times; it is by so doing we will have
peace. If these two are present, there
will be good governance. If you look
at the purpose of governance as stated
in the constitution, which is all about
the security and w
in line with what God wants. So, if
public office holders had been just in
their approach, if they had shown
concern about the security and w
of the people, we would not have these
incessant clashes, killings and
violence here and there because
justice and peace are the
fundamentals that make up
dev
countries. Regrettably, the problem is
bad governance. We should govern
people with utmost sincerity and
justice. We need to recognise the right
of everyone irrespective of party
affiliation or ethnicity. Once
individual right is respected, there is
no need for anybody putting gun on
the head of another person. The
absence of peace we are seeing today
is as a result of injustice in the society.
The Prophet was reported to have said
that justice and peace are twins,
wherever you find justice, you find
peace and wherever you find injustice
violence becomes the order of the day.
Jumadal Akhirah 29, 1442 A.H.
Gross injustice sparking violence, clashes,
killings in Nigeria
•Urges South-West govs to unite against criminals
•Ahmadiyya has effective structures that care for members world-over
•Says: Covid-19 vaccines should not go the way of palliatives
Acts of governance over time are
replete with high rate of injustice
and that is why we find ours
in this mess. For me, this is a major
challenge than what people are
thinking of.
The solution
The solution to our problem is
contained in the message of His
Holiness to Mr. President. This is
to dispense justice and see
everyone as equal before Allah. It
is our own duty as leaders to ensure
justice is done to all classes of
The message of our
Holiness, Huzoor is
apt to these three
categories. Huzoor is
preaching all over the
world about peace. He
has written to some
Presidents in the
world about justice
and peaceful
coexistence and he has
written several books
on the same topic
people.
I will advice Mr. President in the
most respectful manner to focus
on this aspect. Without justice,
there cannot be peace. Let people
have confidence that the
government is doing what is right.
There is widespread opinion that
government is protecting the
criminal Fulani herdsmen, more
so people fe
from the tribe of Mr. President. So,
Mr. President needs to be more
careful in dealing with the issue at
stake. He needs to address the issue
Alhaji AbdulAzeez Alatoye, Head of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat, Nigeria
and call the people to order. If he
does that with sense of fairness and
justice to all sides of the issue,
people will have confidence and the
matter will be resolved.
Right to s
The right to s
and it is constitutional. You cannot
fold your arms and allow somebody
to kill you. No. It will be ungodly to
do that. But on the other hand, we
don’t want a breakdown of law and
order. People have the right to s
I was wondering when
some say people don’t have the right
to defend thems
like this. What kind of law is that?
Somebody had gone to kill people
with his AK47, then the police and
all other security agencies kept
quiet, the government was also
silent and you want others to fold
their arms and watch them killed
the same way on their own land?
No! It is absolut
cannot expect them to submit to the
killers to be killed and take over
their land. That is wrong! That is
why we are saying government and
its agencies that are supposed to
secure the lives and property of
people for which they are being
paid, should do their job with
outmost sincerity. The Police must
do their job with justice. If there is
no peace, there may not be a
country. You may not be able to stop
people from s
it is part of life.
When the Holy Prophet was
attacked in Makkah, he moved to
Madinah, and when the enemies
came to Madinah to attack him
again, he rose in s
from South-West are not calling for
war, they want peace, and they don’t
want to be killed. Some set of
criminals came with AK47 and
killed people, yet government is not
doing anything about it and you
say people cannot defend
thems
in fairness, Mr. President may not
be aware of what is going on. I have
listened to him a lot of times, so I
do not b
going on.
But he reads newspapers and
he gets briefs from his aides....
It is only what you want the leader
to know that he knows most times,
unlike in those days when he goes
out on his own. If he knows, he
would have taken different
approach.
Advice to South-West
Governors on insecurity
I will give credit to the Ondo State
governor. His position is clear but
people quoted him wrongly or
grossly misunderstood him. He is
not chasing Fulanis away and he is
not fighting a tribe. What he is
saying is that criminals should
leave the forest. All criminals
should leave the forest. You mess
up everything if you put Fulani or
any tribe. The forest is a reserved
area and by the law, it is wrong for
anybody to go there without a
permit. The forest is under the
BARKA JUMAH
The beauty of today
Today is special. “ Jumat and New Year day converged
to issue the noblest day that match our life's journey with d
Jumat and New Year blessings.“ May the beauty of today
h
the powers of our faith preserve each of us in the goodness
of deep obeisance that enliven humbleness which fasten each
of us to the fear of Allah; nudging us to forever do good
deeds that, in the highest, pleases Allah.“ Happy Jumat
and Happy New Year. 'eyo
— Dr. Adewale Adeeyo, OON
•His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad
supervision of the government through
a ministry. No individual goes there for
hunting or anything without a permit.
He was misquoted as saying Fulani
should leave the state. Fulani in those
days we know, never carried AK47, they
were known with a long stick which they
use in controling their cattle and we have
been living peacefully with them. This
problem started about five to six years
ago and I’m aware some people are
attributing it to mercenaries brought in
for
are the ones that have AK47, not our
own Fulanis. Nigerian Fulanis only
carry sticks. Now, it is very difficult to
get them out of the country.
The governors of the South-West
states should come together and speak
with one voice that they are only after
criminals in the region. All other
governors in other regions should come
together to provide security and w
for their people. The effort will be to
support the police in achieving security
and peace in all regions. Unfortunat
most of the governors do not want to
talk because of their 2023 ambition. It
is about criminals and not about Fulani.
I will never come against the Fulani,
Igbo or Hausa. Tribe is not the issue
here. It is wrong to attack any one
created by God. But all of us are
supposed to be against all criminals.
The pandemic and activities of the
Jamaat
Yes, the pandemic has taught us a great
lesson. We have consistently been
following the instructions of Huzoor.
He has been guiding us on what we need
to do at all times, to obey the rules, the
health authorities and observe all
protocols in order to protect our people.
We have lost a number of people to the
pandemic. One happened recently
which shook us greatly. We still have a
couple of people affected by Covid-19
undergoing treatment in different
hospitals. Also, it has slowed down the
businesses of our members.
The positive aspect of it is that it
makes us get closer to Allah. Nobody
knows when death will come. Awareness
about death escalated and people
engage in more spiritual activities to
get closer to God more than before.
We thank Allah that our prayers are
granted and we will continue to pray
that Allah forgives those who lost
their lives and accept them as
martyrs and grant quick recovery
to those at various Covid centers.
Increase in prayers and getting
closer to Allah is one of the
positive side of the whole thing.
We can also do a whole lot without
converging in large numbers. The
use of technology such as zoom
meeting and host of others have
h
lives without physical presence no
matter the distance. That is
fatastic. It also opened our eyes to
how we can plan and reach our
people. We have a structure and it
was put to test and the result was
wonderful. We have the Sadaqat
Committee in every Jamat in
Nigeria, and in terms of
distribution, using our network
system, it worked effectiv
we could get to every member in
any part of the country. We zoned
the whole of the country into 56
circuits but now it has increased
to 58. We have heads for all the
circuits and under them are towns
where our jamaat are located.
Each of the towns is headed by a
President and each of the
Presidents also has executive
committee. The committee knows
the addresses of all our members.
We have an addressing system
which we use for our monthly
subscription; we know where all
our members live. We got in touch
with those who were having
challenges and send money to
their accounts using the same
structure. Sending food items
might be difficult because of the
distance. You cannot send food
from Lagos to Enugu or Sokoto
for example. We sent funds to
them and we did not have any
complaint of not getting to
everyone that needed it. We also
looked at the size of family so that
we can be just in distribution of
the funds. I also kept asking the
circuits heads if there was any
complaint from anywhere, and
the result was exc
any, we quickly addressed it. We
thank God. This can be replicated
by the government. In doing
Continues on page 25
The
Chairman/CEO,
Emi-nasta Trav
Tours, Alhaji Ahmed Y
Abubakar has disclosed that
his company has led no fewer
than 75 Nigerian pilgrims to
perform Umrah in the Holy
land since January 2021 when
the ban on international umrah
was lifted.
Alhaji Abubakar in a chat
with Facing Kaaba recently
said the group had done two
trips with 50 and 25 pilgrims
successfully without any hitch.
He said the first group
arrived the Kingdom on
January 19, 2021 and finished
just as the second group
Veteran eran Journalist, Femi Abbas wins NMM person of
the Y
ear
the Year
He came out first in a health, law, finance and
A
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Alhaji Femi Abbas has s
first class English
emerged winner of the 2020 the National executive of the
Nigerian Muslim Media Person Muslim Media Practitioners of graduate is the most qualified
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Muslim News. Alhaji Abbas is a AbdurRahman Balogun in names that met the criteria for the
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and Mr Abubakar, “Alhaji Abbas
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late MKO Abiola, Alhaji Abbas c
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Muslim professionals in media, “Up till date, the veteran
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Jumadal Akhirah 29, 1442 A.H.
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any part of the country. He must be AA Genotype, have
good Islamic knowledge, and be ready for marriage.
Profile 622: A Muslim lady, 28 based in Jigawa State
working as a Teacher, wants a gainfully employed male
Muslim, between 35-40 years, preferably from Lagos or Kogi
State, and ready for marriage.
The Chairman/CEO, Eminasta
Trav
Ahmed Y
Fulanisation, Zakat
Institution, Hijab, Covid-19
and Muslims, Leadership
concept in Islam, Death as an
inevitable end, the Sanctity of
Arabic language, Islam and
International Politics, etc.
have been beautifully
presented by him.
The Chairman/CEO, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, Alhaji
Zikrullah Kunle Hassan and his commissioners and some management staff received
members of the Independent Hajj Reporters who paid him a courtesy visit in his
office, Hajj House, Abuja Wednesday.
Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, , 2021 —25
Gross injustice sparking violence,
clashes, killings in Nigeria
Continues from page 24
that, we have to get the local governments right, or
chairmen at the local government lev
where everybody is living. That is how we can take care of them at critical
times like this. So, Covid-19 challenged us and tested our structures and it
worked effectiv
Sevice to humanity
The jamaat focuses on the spiritual, moral and socio-economic
dev
jamaat which focuses on entire humanity. They did very w
resources together during the pandemic to h
tons of bags of rice, beans, among other food items to this environment and
others. They went from street to street and from one household to another to
distribute it even to non-Muslims. Some began to wonder that they never
knew Muslims were as good as this. Only what they know is the erroneous
perception of terrorism. However, other activity of the Humanity First such
as the school was slowed down because they couldn’t move to various areas.
We couldn’t go about supplying people boreholes and other essentials. We
couldn’t even go on inspection. A few days ago, a team from Humanity First
called me that they wanted to go on inspection in Oyo North; I had to t
them to hold on for a while for government to sort out the criminality going
on in some parts of the state. These are some of the impacts.
Annual Jalsa salana
Yes, the 2020 Jalsa Salana could not hold because of the pandemic, my
message would have been to three categories of people. Our members,
humanity world-over and goverments. To our members, they should be more
prayerful and encourage people to be Godly. Also, I enjoin all Muslims and
humanity in general to always do justice and be fair to one another. We are all
calling on only one God, one way or the other; so, there is need for peaceful
coexistence. Thirdly, I implore the government to do justice at all times. The
message of our Holiness, Huzoor is apt for these three categories. Huzoor is
preaching all over the world about peace. He has written to some presidents
of countries in the world about justice and peaceful coexistence and he has
written several books on the same topic. This would still have been my
message to all. Let us pray that the pandemic is over before the end of the
year, so that we hold our Jalsa Salana. If not, we would not put the life of
people at risk even if it is only one. We will not do that.
•Alhaji AbdulAzeez Alatoye, Head of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat, Nigeria
How Covid-19 vaccines could be distributed
The government should be fair and just in the distribution. We have a very
robust chann
know the number of local governments we have. We also have the chairmen
of these local governments, as w
So, this structure is a good framework that can get to every household, but
politicians here are not accountable to anybody. His Holiness says every
public office holder must be accountable to people and God. If you are not
accountable to people, you will be accountable to God some day. We have a
good structure; all we need is the fear of Allah by all public office holders.
With that, these vaccines will be distributed with ease. As it stands now, it may
be very challenging because people are not looking at it from the standpoint
of being accountable to the people and fear of God. Drawing a queue from
the distribution of the palliatives, when it came, people were not aware. The
governor gives the food to somebody to distribute, he takes some for hims
his family and probably his friends and send the remaining to the market to
s
distribution and he comes back to t
w
told the President that all Nigerians received the Covid-19 palliative, and
people began to crucify her, but in fairness to her and according to her record,
she had r
It didn’t get to the people but stocked somewhere in various states. The
Prophet said that any leader, who deceives his followers, should be looking
for his place in h
find hims
men, you can’t deceive God. My advice to the government is to work on the
addressing system so that they know where every Nigerian lives such that
they can go there and drop whatever palliative by the door.
Apart from the pandemic, it will h
internally generated revenue as w
been able to know who are Nigerians and who are mercenaries and there
would be peace.
New Service Chiefs
I really don’t envy them. It is a very difficult position for them right now. But
with the fear of God, they can achieve a lot. I know it may be difficult for them
fighting the herdsmen, because that will amount to fighting the government.
They are professionals, but they are handicapped. We can only be supporting
them with prayer, and with the fear of God, they can do better. They should do
the right thing for the sake of God and not for sake of money or their own
s
26 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2021
Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2021 -- 27
28 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2021
Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2021 — 29
CONDOLENCE VISIT TO LATE ALHAJI LATEEF KAYODE JAKANDE, 1ST CIVILIAN
GOV OF LAGOS STATE, IN LAGOS, YESTERDAY
Photos: Kehinde
Gbadamosi & Bunmi Azeez
Chief Lawan Fadina signing the condolence register.
From left: Mr. Tunde Olalere, Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, General Secretary;
Mr. Leye Ajayi, Chairman, NUJ Lagos State Council, widow of Alhaji Jakande,
Alhaja Abimbola (right), with Mrs. Adebolajoko Majekodunmi and Alhaja Idowu
Oladeji, during a condolence visit to the Late Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande's
house, first civilian governor of Lagos State, who died yesterday, in Ilupeju,
Lagos, yesterday.
Chief Ayo Opadokun signing the condolence
register.
From left; Deji Jakande, and Mr Seyi Jakande (children), and Mr
Ali Muzibau, a friend.
Nureni Akinsanya, member, Lagos State House of Assembly (left)
and Funmilayo Tejuoso, former member, of Lagos House of Assembly.
A cross section of sympathisers.
Another cross section of sympathisers.
Mr. Leye Ajayi, Chairman, NUJ Lagos State Council, signing
the condolence register.
The Akuba Classics entertaining guests at the Late Jakande House.
30 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2021
NDNAF seeks better deal for Niger D
in Amnesty office
By Emmanu
Elebeke
ABUJA—THE
Niger
D
Agitators Forum, NDNAF, has
decried what it called unlawful
and indiscriminate posting of
Niger D
Presidential Amnesty Office.
The group, in a protest letter
to the Director-General
Bureau of Public Procurement,
BPP, and copied to the Office of
the National Security Adviser,
NSA; the Director, Department
of State Service, DSS, FCT
Command; the Commissioner
of Police, FCT Police Command
Headquarters; the Interim
Administrator, Office of the
Presidential Amnesty
Programme, and the National
President, Ijaw Youth Council,
IYC, Worldwide, said displaying
deep hatred for the people of
Niger D
sufferings and blood the
Presidential Amnesty
Programme was established, was
unfair.
For them, the continuation
of such practice will amount to
a direct affront and provocation
to the peace loving people of
the Niger D
could lead to a breach of peace.
The group argued that, ‘‘since
the establishment of PAP, the
people of the Niger D
never collectiv
protested against non-Niger
D
of the interventionist agencies of
the Niger D
‘‘This does not in any way
suggest that the people of the
region are not aware of the
staff formation in other similar
agencies like the North East
Dev
NEDC, where only
Northerners are staffed.
''It will surprise you to know
that even as countless none
indigenes from other regions
occupy managerial and
sensitive positions in Niger D
agencies. It is sad that the people
of the region have continued to
be the target of subjugation by
some ethnic bigots,’’ it said.
We won’t be intimidated by your d
communities warn SEEPCO
AGGE
Federated
Communities of the Kou
Kingdom in Bay
states have warned the
management of Sterling Oil
Exploration & Energy Production
Company Ltd, SEEPCO, that
they would not be intimidated by
the d
to evade full implementation of
the Global Memorandum of
Understandin (GMoU) it entered
with them on July 30, 2014.
They insisted that the
resolution reached on December
14, 2020 at the Governor’s Office
Annex, Warri, between officials
of SEEPCO, D
Government and the host
communities must be honoured
or operations of SEEPCO will be
shut down.
Chairman of Agge Federated
Communities, German Irou, who
addressed newsmen at Asaba,
D
convened by D
Government, with a view to
fashioning out a new GMoU
between SEEPCO and Agge
Federated Communities, stated:
“SEEPCO has been deviant and
displayed nonchalant attitude to
several agreements reached.
Government directed SEEPCO
to pay us the months they are
owing and ensure the
generating sets are put into use
within 21 days. Government
directed SEEPCO to introduce
Yade Barge Operators Limited and
DeepFront Line Shippers
Limited to Agge Community
within one month.
D
asked SEEPCO to upwardly
review Anchorage/Palliative
monthly payment to us and to
pay N100 million to Agge
Community for d
refusing to operate without
GMOU from 2018 till date, but
the company has yet to comply.''
Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2021 — 31
ANN
I, formerly known as Ann Okonkwo,
now wish to be known and
addressed as Anastasia Njideka
Listmann. Former documents remain
valid. General Public, Authorities
concerned please take note.
OBADU
I, formerly known as Miss Obadu
Alice Faith, now wish to be known
and addressed as Igwebuike Alice
Faith. Former documents remain
valid. General Public, Authorities
concerned please take note.
SAM
I, formerly known as Charles
Christopher Sam Ekpo, now wish to
be known and addressed as Charles
Christopher Ekpo. Former documents
remain valid. General Public,
Authorities concerned please take
note.
AGADA
ATOI
NEBOLISA
ATAM
I was formerly known as
MISS ATAM MARTHA
NWAMAKA, now wish to be
known as MRS. AIGBE
MARTHA NWAMAKA All
documents bearing my former
name remain valid, general
public please take note
MUTIU
AKINSEYE
ALOZIE YUSUPH VICTOR
I, formerly known as Miss Alozie
Chinonso Nina, now wish to be
known and addressed as Mrs.
Ogujiuba Chinonso Nina. Former
documents remain valid. General
Public, Authorities concerned
please take note.
ONI
I, formerly known as Miss Abimbola
Morenike Oni, now wish to be
known and addressed as Miss
Abimbola Betty Abosede. Former
documents remain valid. General
Public, Authorities concerned
please take note.
OLANLOKUN
I, formerly known as Miss Olanlokun
Atinuke Funmilola, now wish to be
known and addressed as Mrs.
Ajakaiye Atinuke Funmilola. Former
documents remain valid. General
Public, Authorities concerned please
take note.
ENIFOME
UGHARA
I, formerly known as Miss
Esther Ughara, now wish to
be known Mrs Esther Olley.
All former documents remain
valid. Authorities concerned
and general public to please
take note.
ODIMEGWU
NGWU
ZENITH
This is to confirm that my name was
incorrectly sp
Adegoke instead of Edu Yousuph
Adegoke. The correct sp
name is Edu Yousuph Adegoke.
Former documents remain valid.
General Public, Authorities
concerned please take note.
DAVID
I, formerly known as David Ab
now wish to be known and
addressed as Igun Ab
documents remain valid. General
Public, Authorities concerned please
take note.
AMUZU
I, formerly known as Tettey Amuzu
Mathew, now wish to be known and
addressed as Tettey Mathew
Oluwanishola. Former documents
remain valid. General Public,
Authorities concerned please take
note.
ASIKA MAJIYA RILWAN
I, formerly known as Asika Grace
Chinwendu, now wish to be known
and addressed as Ajomale Grace
Chinwendu. Former documents
remain valid. General Public,
Authorities concerned please take
note.
I, formerly known and addressed as
Miss. AGADA Ojoma Patience, now
wish to be known and addressed as
Mrs. TOMA Ojoma Patience. All
former documents remain Valid. The
general public should please take
note.
I, formerly known as Atoi Sarah
Alero, now wish to be known and
addressed as Chekubechukwu
Alero Sarah. Former documents
remain valid. General Public,
Authorities concerned please take
note.
I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND
ADDRESSED AS MISS
NEBOLISA UCHENNA HELEN
NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND
ADDRESSED AS MRS. ODINYE
UCHENNA HELEN. ALL
FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN
VALID.GENERAL PUBLIC
PLEASE TAKE NOTE.
I, formerly known as OLUFUNKE
HANNAH MUTIU, now wish to
be known, called and addressed
as OLUFUNKE HANNAH
OLORUNFEMI. All former
documents remain valid, all
authorities concerned and general
public to take note.
I formerly known and addressed as
Miss Akinseye Esther Abiola now
wish to be known and addressed as
Mrs Esther Abiola Idofe-Ukonga.
All former documents remain valid,
general public take note.
I, formerly known as Miss Majiya
Latifat Oluwatosin, now wish to be
known as Mrs Godwin - Oamen
Oluwatosin Latifat. All former
documents remain valid, general
public please take note.
I, formerly known and addressed as
Miss. EMIEWO Enifome Dorcas,
Now wish to be known and
addressed as Mrs. ADJEKUGHENE
Dorcas Emiewo. All former
documents remain Valid. The general
public should please take note.
I, formerly known and addressed as
Mr. Rilwan Opeyemi Yinusa, now
wish to be known and addressed as
Mr. Ridwan Opeyemi Yinusa. All
former documents remain Valid. The
general public should please take
note.
BELLO
I, formerly known and addressed as
Miss BELLO Rukayat Oluwatoyin
Now wish to be known and
addressed as Mrs MALUMI Rukayat
Oluwatoyin. All former documents
remain Valid. The general public
should please take note.
OGOCHUKWU
I was formerly known as MISS
OGOCHUKWU BLESSING.
now wish to be known as MRS
ANDREW BLESSING. All
documents bearing my former
name remain valid, general
public please take note
CHARITY
OGHENE
YUSUF
This is to confirm that my name was
shortened written as Arjiromanus
Victor instead of Arjiromanus
Chukwuebuka Victor. My full name
is Arjiromanus Chukwuebuka
Victor. Former documents remain
valid. General Public, Authorities
concerned please take note.
ONOME
I, formerly known as Miss
Ihionkhan Christianah Onome,
now wish to be known and
addressed as Mrs. Jeffery
Christianah Onome. Former
documents remain valid. General
Public, Authorities concerned
please take note.
ADEKANBI OD
I, formerly known as Adekanbi
Oluwatobiloba Abigail, now wish
to be known and addressed as
Adeniyi Oluwatobiloba Abigail.
Former documents remain valid.
General Public, Authorities
concerned please take note.
JOHN OD
I, formerly known and addressed as
Miss VIVIAN John Eshiet, now
wish to be known and addressed as
Mrs. VIVIAN Ekum Edim. All former
documents remain Valid. The general
public should please take note.
IBIANG
I, formerly known and addressed as
Miss Blessing Ibiang Ubi, now wish
to be known and addressed as Mrs.
Otu Blessing Etemfa. All former
documents remain Valid. The general
public should please take note.
OKAFOR AKHABUE OBADA
I, formerly known as Uchenna St
Walter Okafor, now wish to be
known and addressed as Uchenna
St
remain valid. General Public,
Authorities concerned please take
note.
This is to confirm that Marc
Oluchukwu Adimegwu and
Marc
Odimegwu is one and the same
person, I now wish to be called and
address as Marc
Adimegwu, all former document
remain valid, general public please
take note.
I, formerly known as Miss Ngwu
Faustina Ifunanya, now wish to be
known and addressed as Mrs
Enyadike Faustina Ifunanya. All
former documents remain valid.
General public please take note.
I, formerly called,known and
addressed as Miss Zenith Imuyosabo
Osa - Ogbegie now wish to be called,
known and addressed as Mrs. Zenith
Imuyosabo Osariemen Ogbeiwi. All
documents bearing my maiden names
remain valid. The general public and
all authorities concerned should take
note for official and record purposes.
I, formerly known as Miss Akhabue
Christiana Isimemeh, now wish to be
known and addressed as Mrs. Collins
Christiana Isimemeh. Former
documents remain valid. General
Public, Authorities concerned
please take note.
I, formerly known as Okundolor
Charity, now wish to be known
as Okundolor Joy. All documents
bearing my former name remain
valid, general public please take
note
This is to confirm that the names
Ejefi Obas and Ejefi Obas Oghene
refer to the same person. I now
wish to be known as Ejefi Obas.
All former documents remain
valid. Banks and the general
public please take note.
I, formerly known as Miss Yusuf
Atsekhegbe Latifat, now wish to be
known and addressed as Mrs Alli-
Yusuf Latifat Atsekhegbe. All former
documents remain valid. General
public please take note.
I, formerly known as Miss
Onosiakohwo Martha Obada, now
wish to be known and addressed as
Mrs. Emu
Former documents remain valid.
General Public, Authorities
concerned please take note.
KANI
I was formerly known as
GRACE ESE KANI. Now wish
to be known as GRACE ESE
JEHOVAH. All documents
bearing my former name
remain valid, general public
please take note
CLARK
I, formerly known as MISS
CLARK IRIMIYOVWINOR.
EVELYN, now wish to be known
as. MRS. SODJE
IRIMIYOVWINOR EVELYN.
All documents bearing former
names remain valid, general public
please take note.
JOY
OLAWALE
I, formerly known as Olawale Ajoke
Kafayatu, now wish to be known
and addressed as Aigbekhai Ajoke
Olufunmilola. Former documents
remain valid. General Public,
Authorities concerned please take
note.
ASAFE NWOSU
I, formerly known as Asafe Basirat
Ayoni, now wish to be known and
addressed as Adeyinka Basirat
Ayoni. Former documents remain
valid. General Public, Authorities
concerned please take note.
JUDITH FR
I, formerly known as Miss Alisiobi
Judith Chetachi, now wish to be
known and addressed as Mrs.
Uzoma Judith Chetachi. Former
documents remain valid. General
Public, Authorities concerned
please take note.
UDUNWA
I, formerly known and addressed as
Miss. UDUNWA Chioma Lucy, now
wish to be known and addressed as
Mrs. NDUKA Chioma Lucy. All
former documents remain Valid. The
general public should please take
note.
OZEGBE
I, formerly known and addressed as
Ozegbe Nwakaego, now wish to be
known and addressed as Mrs.
Nwachuku Nwakaego. All former
documents remain Valid. The general
public should please take note.
OGANAH
I, formerly known as Oganah
Chinye Fid
known and addressed as Ejiofor
Chinye Fid
remain valid. General Public,
Authorities concerned please take
note.
AGILIGA
I was formerly known as
KELVIN AGILIGA
MADUAGWU. Now wish to
be known as KELVIN
CHUKWUEMEKA
MADUAGWU. All
documents bearing my former
name remain valid, general
public please take note
OWANLAN
I, formerly known as. MISS.
CYNTHIA OWANLAN. But
now wish to be known as MRS.
FLOURISH EDOGE. All
documents bearing former names
remain valid general public please
take note.
EZEDOM TEGA
BLESSING
I, formerly known as Momoh
Blessing Natasha, now wish to be
known and addressed as Chukwuma
Elizabeth Blessing. Former
documents remain valid. General
Public, Authorities concerned
please take note.
ONYESO
I, formerly known as Onyeso Zinzy
Ijeuru, now wish to be known and
addressed as Osula Zinzy Ijeuru.
Former documents remain valid.
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concerned please take note.
ISIWE
I, formerly known as Miss Isiwe
Happy, now wish to be known and
addressed as Mrs. Kenebi Happy.
Former documents remain valid.
General Public, Authorities
concerned please take note.
AYEDIME
I, formerly known and addressed as
miss EGAMANA Ayedime
Faith. Now wish to be known and
addressed as Mrs AKPAMI Egamana
Faith. All former documents remain
valid. The general public should
please take note.
SILAS
I, formerly known as Silas
Chukwujekwu Albert, now
wish to be known as Okpatu
Albert Chinekwu. All former
documents remain valid.
Authorities concerned and
general public to please take
note.
EDITH
I, formerly known as Oji
Ajiroghene Edith, now wish to
be known as Ekwejunor-
Etchie Ajiroghene Edith. All
former documents remain
valid. Authorities concerned
and general public to please
take note.
ANENE
I was formerly known as NKECHI
ANENE, now wish to be known
as BLESSING NKECHI
TOOSWEM. All documents
bearing my former name remain
valid, general public please take
note
JOSHUA
I, formerly known as MISS.
JOSHUA ABIGAIL UJE. But now
wish to be known as. MRS.
OMAMOGHO ABIGAIL UJE.
All documents bearing former
names remain valid general public
please take note
ABOYO GLORIA REBECCA
That I wish to correct my name that
was wrongly sp
RUKEME SEPHAS ABOYO
instead of ABOYO
OGHENERUKEME CEPHAS
which is my correct name. All
documents bearing my former
name remain valid. General public
please take note.
I formerly known as Miss
Okpoikibo Joy Oyinkoro now
wish to be known and addressed as
Mrs Oghenegueke Joy Oyinkoro.
All former documents remain valid.
General public please take note.
I, formerly known called and
addressed as MISS EMARUVIA
GLORIA now wish to be known
called and addressed as MRS
OKPAKO GLORIA. All documents
bearing my former name remain valid.
General public please take note.
This is to confirm that the names
Ejinyere Tega Destiny and Ejinyere
Destiny refer to the same person. I
now wish to be known as Ejinyere
Tega Destiny. All former documents
remain valid. General public please
take note.
I, formerly known called and
addressed as AKHAROH
REBECCA ESIEDESA now wish to
be known called and addressed as
ESIEDESA REBECCA
AKHAROH. All documents bearing
my former name remain valid. General
public please take note.
EZEDOM DORCAS
I formerly known and addressed as
Miss Ohiambe Dorcas Omameri
Otome, now wish to be known and
addressed as Mrs Otome Otone. All
former documents remain valid,
general public take note.
32 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2021
OBOREVWORI
I, formerly known as Chief
Blessing Erhiawarie
Oborevwori, now wish to be
known as Chief Blessing
Erhiawarie. All former
documents remain valid.
General public please take
note.
EUNICE
I, formerly known as Eunice E.
Emaremiru, wish to be known
as Eunice Morigho. All other
documents remain valid.
General public take note.
OGOCHUKWU
I, formerly known as Miss
Ogochukwu Blessing, now wish
to be known as Mrs Andrew
Blessing. All documents bearing
my former name remain valid,
general public please take note
KANI
I, formerly known as Grace Ese
Kani, now wish to be known
as Grace Ese Jehovah. All
documents bearing my former
name remain valid, general
public please take note
ATAM
EGHELE
AMONETSONE
GOLD
I, formerly known as Miss My name was wrongly written I, formerly known as I, formerly known as Miss
Atam Martha Nwamaka, now
Mebaghandun Amonetsone
as Egh
Okpegwa Caroline Gold, now
Vctoria, am also the same
wish to be known as Mrs. Aigbe instead of Egh
wish to be known as Mrs.
person known as
Martha Nwamaka. All Akwavbiokpene. All
Ekamah Caroline Gold. All
Mebaghandun Vctoria. All
documents bearing my former documents bearing my former
documents bearing my former
documents bearing my former
name remain valid, general name remain valid, general name remain valid, general
name remain valid, general
public please take note. public please take note. public please take note. public please take note.
EJIMOGU
AGBODE AN
EKEIGWE
UGWU
I, formerly known as Miss This is to notify the general public I, formerly known and
I, formerly known and
addressed as Miss Ugwu
Ejimogu Chigozie Rosequeen, that my name Agbode Chinasa addressed as Ekeigwe Esther
Blessing Chinenye now wish
now wish to be known as Mrs
Obumneme Ani was wrongly stated Onyinye now wish to be
to be known and addressed as
so in my BVN and that the correct one known and addressed as Mrs
Micheal Rosequeen Chigozie.
Mrs Aguozor Blessing
is Agbedo Ani Chinasa Obumneme. Orizu Esther Onyinye. All Chinenye. All former
All former documents remain
All former documents remain valid. former documents remain documents remain valid.
valid. General public should Banks and general public please take valid. General public please General public please take
please take note.
note.
take note.
note.
ONYEANUSI
I, formerly known as Miss
AMAZENE
I, formerly known as Amazene
ONOKPASA
I, formerly known as Miss
OMUNU
I, formerly known as Miss
Scholastica Chinaza
Queen, now wish to be known
Onokpasa Ufuoma Ruth now Omunu Anthonia, now wish to
Onyeanusi, now wish to be
wish to be known as Mrs be known as Mrs Okuguni
known as Mr. Scholastica as Amazene Queen Agbanase.
Okoro Ufuoma Ruth. All Anthonia Omunu. All former
Chinaza Okafor. All former All former documents remain former documents remain documents remain valid.
documents remain valid.
General public please take
valid, general public please valid. The general public should General public please take
note.
take note.
please take note
note.
ABACHE
ISISHERI ENEGIDE AKWUE
OFURE
I, formerly known and I, formerly known and
I, formerly known and
I, formerly known and
addressed as Miss Christiana addressed as Miss Isisheri
addressed as Miss Oaikhena
addressed as Miss Akwue
Afeghetse Abache, now wish H
Ofure, now wish to be known
Favour, now wish to be known
to be known and addressed as known and addressed as Mrs.
and addressed as Mrs.
and addressed as Mrs. Sylvester
Mrs. Christiana Afeghetse Oyatoki H
Arasomwan Ofure. All former
Otabor. All former documents former documents remain
Favour. All former documents documents remain valid.
remain valid. General public valid. General public please remain valid. General public General public please take
please take note.
take note.
please take note.
note.
TOM
OKPALA
PAUL
BRIGHT
This is to confirm that the This is to confirm that the names I, Paul, Peace Oghenefegho hereby I, formerly known as Miss Ang
names Tom Imonieroh and Okpala Benedict and Okpala states that my name is both written Omoyear Bright, now wish to be
Thomas Imonieroh refer to Georginal Nneka refer to one and the as Paul, Peace Oluwatosin and Paul, known as Mrs. Ang
one and the same person. I
same person. I now wish to be
now wish to be known and
Oghenefegho Oluwatosin on my Egwuenu henceforth. Former
addressed as Tom Imonieroh. known and addressed as Okpala
documents. Former documents documents remain valid. General
All former documents remain Georginal Nneka. All former
remain valid. General public please Public, to whom it may concern
valid. General public please documents remain valid. General
take note.
public please take note.
take note.
should please take note.
EK
BEN
IFEANYI OBIE
OKOSI
I, formerly known as Miss I, formerly known as Miss Ben I, formerly known as Ifeanyi I, formerly known as Miss
Edafe Ros
be known as Mrs Ros
wish to be known as Mrs
be known as Ifeanyichukwu
Onyeabo Lilian Ifeyinwa.
Kingsley Omojevwe. All Idorenyin. All documents Anoka Preston. All
All documents bearing my
documents bearing my former bearing my former name documents bearing my former former name remain valid,
name remain valid, general remain valid, general public name remain valid, general general public please take
public please take note. please take note.
public please take note. note.
AUGUSTINE AI
OSAZE
ENAIFOGHE
AI
UGWOKE
I hereby confirm that the
I, formerly known as
I, formerly known as Miss
I, formerly known as Miss Ugwoke
name; Osaze Osato and Iyarhe
Augustine, Veronica, now wish
Enaifoghe Tawa Queen, now Nwamaka Jane Vanessa, now wish
to be known as Augustine,
Philomena is the same person, wish to be known as Mrs to be known as Mrs Amorighoye
Veronica Nsemeke. All but now wish to be address as Sheidu Tawakalitu Queen. All Nwamaka Jane. All Former
documents bearing my former Iyarhe Philomena. Former documents bearing my former document remain valid. General
name remain valid, general documents remain valid. name remain valid, general public, banks, and concern
public please take note. General public take note. public please take note.
institution should please take note.
ABANUM OG
ADEWUSI
AGUIM
KINGSMARTINS
I, formerly known as Miss I, formerly known as Miss I, formerly known as Aguim This is to confirm that the name
Victoria Omonigho Abanum, Adewusi Oluwaseyi Sholaye, Chinenye Marygloria, now Kingsmartins Destiny Anieziokpor
now wish to be known as Mrs. now wish to be known as Mrs.
wish to be known as and Kingsmartins Destiny Ifeanyi
Okechukwu Chinenye
Victoria Omonigho Ogugu. All Georgewill Oluwaseyi Sholaye.
refer to me. I now wish to be known
Marygloria. All documents
documents bearing my former All documents bearing my
as Kingsmartins Destiny Ifeanyi.All
bearing my former name
name remain valid, general former name remain valid, remain valid, general public former documents remain valid.
public please take note. general public please take note. please take note.
General public take note.
ADDISI ISIKAKU IB
JUDE MOORE
I, formerly known as Miss I, formerly known as Isikaku I Formerly known as I, formerly known as Miss
Addisi Ruth Oluwafunmilayo.
Onovwod Omamuzo Jude,
Nkiruka Joy, now wish to be
Moore Rabi James, now wish
Now wish to be known as Mrs
Now wish to be known as
Akano Oluwaseun Victor Ruth known as Azaka Nkiruka Joy.
to be known as Mrs. Abu Rabi
Onovwod Jude. All former
Oluwafunmilayo. All former All former documents remain
James. All former documents
documents remain valid
documents remain valid
valid general public please take
general public please take
general public please take remain valid general public
note.
note.
note.
please take note.
MADUAGWU
I, formerly known as K
Agiliga Maduagwu, now wish to
be known as K
Chukwuemeka Maduagwu. All
documents bearing my former
name remain valid, general
public please take note
DAVID
I, formerly known as David
M
Amorighoye, now wish to be
known as Amorighoye David
Eyewogwa. All former
documents remain valid.
General public please take.
AGBATA
I, formerly known and
addressed as Miss Agbata
Chinenye Jane, now wish to
be known and addressed as Mrs
Nwankwo Chinenye Jane. All
former documents remain
valid. General public please
take note.
EGBE
I, formerly known and
addressed as Miss Kehinde
Egbe, now wish to be known
and addressed as Mrs. Kehinde
Awani. All former documents
remain valid. General public
please take note.
EBEYE
I, formerly known and
addressed as Miss Ebeye
Gladys, now wish to be known
and addressed as Miss Olayemi
Gladys. All former documents
remain valid. General public
please take note.
JOHN
I, formerly known as Asika
Precious John, now wish to be
known as Asika Precious
Chetam henceforth. Former
documents remain valid.
General Public, to whom it
may concern should please
take note.
JAKPA
I, formerly known as I,
Orighomisan Jennifer Jakpa,
now wish to be known as
Orighomisan Jennifer Afolabi.
All documents bearing my
former name remain valid,
general public please take note.
IHEAGWARA
I, formerly known as Veronica
Nkiruka Iheagwara, now wish
to be known as Veronica
Nkiruka Ordor, by marriage. All
former documents remain
valid, general public take note.
IKHANSE
I, formerly known as Ailenotor
Peace Ikhanse, now wish to be
known as Ailenotor Peace
Aihomon. All former
documents remain valid,
general public take note.
NJOKU
I, formerly known as Miss
Nkechinyere Chioma Njoku,
now wish to be known as Mrs,
Nkechinyere Chioma
Agbasimere. All former
documents remain valid,
general public please take note.
ANENE
I, formerly known as Nkechi
Anene, now wish to be known
as Blessing Nkechi Tooswem.
All documents bearing my
former name remain valid,
general public please take note.
ISIAKPERE
I, formerly known as Miss
Isiakpere Akporoghenebor
Andra, now wish to be known
as Mrs Ohwovoriole Andra
Akporoghenebor. All former
documents remain valid any
authority it may concern and
general public to take note.
OZONYIA
I, formerly known and
addressed as Miss Deborah
Chisom Ozonyia now wish to
be known and addressed as Mrs
Deborah Chisom Ani. All
former documents remain
valid. General public please
take note.
EJIME
I, formerly known and
addressed as Miss Dennis
Okofu Victory Ejime, now
wish to be known and addressed
as Mrs. Chukwudumebi Victory
Ejime. All former documents
remain valid. General public
please take note.
EMMANUEL
I, formerly known and
addressed as Emmanu
Chioma, now wish to be
known and addressed as
Liberty Chioma Dakat. All
former documents remain
valid. General public please
take note.
IMARAH
I, formerly known as Miss
Imarah Ese Elfreda, now wish
to be known as Mrs Ikaka Ese
Elfreda. All documents
bearing my former name
remain valid, general public
please take note.
JONAH
I, formerly known as Unwana
Solomon Jonah, now wish to
be known as Bright K
Emmanu
bearing my former name
remain valid, general public
please take note.
FREDERICK
I, formerly known as Frederick
Augustina, now wish to be
known as Hitler Augustina.
All documents bearing my
former name remain valid,
general public please take
note.
OYEKWU
I, formerly known as Miss
Oyekwu Joy Ojoshegbe, now
wish to be known as Mrs,
Obaro Joy Ojoshegbe. All
former documents remain
valid, general public please
take note.
OFOWINOR EZ
SPACE FOR
SALE
ADENUGA
I, formerly known and addressed as
Adenuga Mojisola Bisoye, now
wish to be known and addressed
as Bamigbaye Mojisola Bisoye.
All former documents remain Valid.
The general public should please
take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
FESTUS CHARLES
I, formerly known and addressed as
Chizoba Mary-Rose Charles, now
wish to be known and addressed as
Chizoba Mary Rose Ozoemena . All
former documents remain Valid. The
general public should please take
note.
IDUH
I, formerly known called and
addressed as Miss Iduh Chioma ,
now wish to be known called and
addressed as Mrs Ehiosun Chioma.
All documents bearing my former
name remain valid. General public
please take note.
ANIGBOGU
That I was formerly known and
addressed as MISS ANIGBOGU
NJIDEKA, now wish to be known
and addressed as MRS
MGBEAFULUBA NJIDEKA
HENRIETTA. All my former documents
still remain valid;
Banks and general public take note.
EZEANI
I formerly known, called and
addressed as EZEANI
CHRISTIANA CHINYERE, now
wish to be known, called and
addressed as MRS IGWE
CHRISTIANA CHINYERE, All
former documents remain valid.
Banks, General public to take note.
UKPA
That I formerly known called and
addressed as MISS. DORATHY
ANTHONY UKPA. That I now wish
to be known called and addressed as
MRS. DORATHY ITONYO . All
documents bearing my former name
remain valid. General public please
take note.
GODFREY
That I formerly known called and
addressed as MISS. GODFREY
PATRICIA GRACE. That I now wish
to be known called and addressed as
MRS. HUMPHERY GRACE
IFEYINWA. All documents bearing
my former name remains valid. Banks
and general public please take note.
OROBOSA
I, Enehizena Orobosa Micha
to state that the names Enehizena
Endurance, Enehizena Micha
Enehizena . E. Micha
one and the same person. I now wish
to be known called and addressed as
Enehizena Orobosa Micha
documents bearing any of these names
remain valid. The r
and to whom it may concern please
take note.
IGHEMUNO
I, formerly known and
addressed as Ighemuno
Samson Akpore now wish to
be known and addressed as
Akpore Samson. All former
documents remain valid.
General public take note.
EBISIRE
I, Formerly known and addressed as
Ebisire Rita Ogheneruemu now wish
to be known and addressed as Mrs
Odogwu-Chima Rita Ogheneruemu.
All former documents remain valid.
General public take note.
UDEGBUNA
I, formerly known as Udegbuna
Chiamaka Olivia, now wish to
be known as Onyedili
Chiamaka Olivia. All former
documents remain valid.
General public please take
note.
ADEKANBI
I, formerly known and addressed as
Adekanbi Oluwatobiloba Janet,
now wish to be known and
addressed as Babarinde
Oluwatobiloba Janet. All former
documents remain Valid. The
general public should please take
note.
UGWOKE
I, formerly known and addressed as
Chizoba Mary-Rose Ugwoke, now
wish to be known and addressed as
Chizoba Mary Rose Ozoemena. All
former documents remain Valid. The
general public should please take
note.
KENNETH
I, formerly known and
addressed as Mr Urezi
Kenneth Agadaigho now wish
to be known and addressed as
Engr Urezi Agadaigho. All
former documents remain
valid. General public take
note.
EMMANUEL
I, formerly known and addressed as
Ema Emmanu
known and addressed as Ema
Sunday Jack . All former documents
remain Valid. The general public
should please take note.
EMAREMIRU
I, formerly known and addressed
as EUNICE E. EMAREMIRU, now
wish to be known and addressed
as EUNICE MORIGHO. All other
documents remain valid. General
public take note.
ELEKWACHI
That I formerly known called and
addressed as MISS. FAVOUR
CHINYERE ELEKWACHI. That I
now wish to be known called and
addressed as MRS. FAVOUR
CHINYERE PROSPER. All
documents bearing my former name
remains valid. General public please
take note.
EKEOMA
I, formerly known as Ekeoma Prisca
Ifunanya now wish to be known as
Nwogu Prisca Ifunanya. All
documents bearing my former name
remain valid. The r
authorities and to whom it may
concern please take note.
LEIDE
I, formerly known and addressed as
Miss Leide Ediseimi, now wish to
be known and addressed as Mrs
Okoro Ediseimi. All former
documents remain valid. General
public take note.
EDEMER OT
I, Formerly known and
addressed as Edemer
Josephine Odirin now wish to
be known and addressed as
Oviebor Josephine Odirin.
All former documents remain
valid. General public take
note.
AYEDI
I, formerly known as Miss
Ruth Ayedi, now wish to be
known as Mrs. Ruth Kansese.
All former documents remain
valid. General public please
take note.
ENITE
I, formerly known as Mrs.
Agbuyi-Idio Enite Ev
wish to be known as Miss Oniore
Enite Ev
documents remain valid.
General public please take note.
HARUNA
I, formerly known as Abigal
Haruna, now wish to be known
and addressed as Charity T.
Haruna. All former documents
remain valid; general public
please take note.
THOMAS
I, formerly known as Mary
Thomas, now wish to be known
and addressed as Yuwana
Thomas. All former documents
remain valid; general public
please take note.
BASHIRU
I, formerly known as Miss
Bashiru Kafilat Ayinke, now wish
to be known and addressed as
Mrs. Shotobi Kafilat Ayinke. All
former documents remain valid;
general public please take note.
USMAN
I, formerly known as Usman
Bashir, now wish to be known and
addressed as Bashiru Hashimu.
All former documents remain
valid; general public please take
note.
MOHAMMED
I, formerly known as Mohammed
Awwal Sani, now wish to be
known and addressed as Awwal
Muhammad Sani. All former
documents remain valid; First
Bank Plc and general public
please take note.
ONWUCHEKWA
I, formerly known as Miss
Onwuchekwa Oyinyechi Cynthia,
now wish to be known and
addressed as Mrs. Chris-Okeke
Onyinyechi Cynthia. All former
documents remain valid; NYSC and
general public please take note.
ONOJUVWERUO
I, formerly known as Miss Joyce
Onojuvweruo, now wish to be
known and addressed as Mrs.
Joyce Oghenevwogaga. All
former documents remain valid;
general public please take note.
ILOUNO
I, formerly known as Ilouno
Uchechukwu Lucy, now wish to
be known and addressed as
Onwe-Bright Uchechukwu Lucy.
All former documents remain
valid; general public please take
note.
ISE-JOB
This is to confirm and certify that
Caesar Ise-Job and Ise-Job
Kopona Caesar is one and same
person but now wish to be known
as Ise-Job Kopona Caesar. All
former documents remain valid.
General public take note.
YUNUSA
I, formerly known as Yunusa
Umar Yunisa, now wish to be
known and addressed as Eriko
Yunusa. My correct date of birth
is 28/10/1994. Not 11/07/1990. All
former documents remain valid;
general public please take note.
CHIDI
I, formerly known as Obioma Luke
Chidi, now wish to be known as
Asuoha, Obioma Luke. My
Correct Date Of Birth is 07/10/
1990 and not 01/01/1990. All
former documents remain valid.
General public to take note.
YUSUF
I, formerly known as Hauwa
Yusuf, now wish to be known and
addressed as Mary Musa. All
former documents remain valid;
general public please take note.
MOHAMMED
I, formerly known as
Mohammadu Basiru, now wish
to be known and addressed as
Abubakar Sadiq Amadu. All
former documents remain valid;
general public please take note.
EGBORODE
I, formerly known as Egborode
Akpabome Juliet, now wish to be
known and addressed as
Ikpedavid Akpabome Juliet. All
former documents remain valid;
general public please take note.
OLORUNFEMI
I, formerly known as Olorunfemi
Tobi Kemi, now wish to be known
and addressed as Balogun
Oluwatobi Kemi. All former
documents remain valid; general
public please take note.
IBRAHIM
I, formerly known as Ibrahim
Haruna Haruna, now wish to be
known and addressed as Ibrahim
Haruna. All former documents
remain valid; general public
please take note.
PRINCE
On my Bank Verification Number
(BVN) my name was wrongly
written as Prince Owghe Inyang
instead of Prince Inyang. My correct
name is Prince Inyang. All documents
bearing my former name remain valid,
general public take note.
JOHN-UKO
I, formerly known as Miss John-
Uko Anna Idongesit, now wish
to be known and addressed as
Mrs. Ozor Anna Idongesit. All
former documents remain valid;
general public please take note.
OMONIYI
I hereby confirm that Omoniyi
Adeola is the same person as
Omoniyi Iyabo Adeola.
Henceforth wish to be known as
Omoniyi Adeola Iyabo. All former
documents remain valid; general
public please take note.
OKEKE
This is to certify that my name
was wrongly written as Okeke
Asonye Dike. While my correct
name is Okere Asonye Dike. All
former documents remain valid.
General public take note.
SABO
I, formerly known as Alhassan
Sabo, now wish to be known and
addressed as Alhassan Haruna
Sabo. All former documents
remain valid; general public
please take note.
AUDU
I, formerly known as Audu
Martha Maichibi, now wish to be
called and addressed as Audu
Martha Jatau. DOB From 03/02/
1992 To 03/02/1995 All Former
documents remain valid Any
Authority concern and the
General public to please take note
Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2021 -- 33
UAE suspends Air Peace
flights from Nigeria
THE government of the
United Arab
Emirates UAE, as part of
what it described as
COVID-19 measures,
has suspended Nigerian
airline, Air Peace, from
operating inbound
passenger flights to the
country.
However, flights
bringing Nigerians back
from UAE are not
affected.
In a statement by the
management of Air
Peace, yesterday, among
others, said: “The
management of Air
Peace wishes to notify
the flying public that the
UAE government has
UPU decries insecurity in
the country
THE Urhobo Progress Union,
UPU, has decried the
lev
country, noting that it was
apparent the current security
architecture cannot cope with
the current challenges.
UPU President General,
Olorogun Moses Taiga, who
addressed newsmen,
yesterday, said “The lev
insecurity in Nigeria has
become worrisome. From
Sokoto to Zamfara, Katsina,
Taraba in the North, down to
Ondo, Edo, Oyo and our
b
Urhobo land, in the South,
this story is the same:
kidnappings, armed robbery,
cult wars, killer herdsmen,
farmers-herdsmen clashes
and communal strife.
“ It is apparent that our
current security architecture
cannot cope with the current
challenges. While we await
the impact of the change of
guards in the military, there
is a present and major need
By Jimitota Onoyume
WARRI—IJAW, Isoko
and Itsekiri Leaders
Forum has condoled with
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of
D
of his father, Pa Arthur
Okowa, saying his rich
couns
from service to the state
and the nation at different
lev
missed.
A statement by Chairman of
the body, Chief D. Etaluku,
the first Vice Chairman, Chief
Edward Ekpoko and Second
Vice Chairman, Bare Etolor ,
prayed God to grant the
governor and his family the
strength to bear the painful
loss.
JUNIOR
I, formerly known as Igbokwe
Junior Collins, now wish to be
known as Igbokwe Collins
Osewer. All former documents
remain valid. General public
please take note.
ORE
I, formerly known and addressed as
ORE OLANMA NANCY, now wish
to be known and addressed as
OLANMA NANCY NKO. All former
documents remain valid. General
public please take note.
stopped the airlifting of
Nigerians from Nigeria
to UAE, as part of its
COVID-19 measures.
“However, flights
bringing Nigerians back
from UAE are not
affected. To this end, Air
Peace flights from UAE
(Sharjah-Dubai) to
Lagos, is not affected.
Normal flights shall
resume when the
restriction is lifted from
February 28, 2021.
“Our esteemed
customers, whose flights
are disrupted by this
dev
mail to us via
callcenter@flyairpeace.com
for a possible
reschedule.”
for a total overhaul of the
policing system in Nigeria. A
police structure with a central
command is no longer
effective and appropriate to
tackle our current internal
security challenges.
“Consequently, the UPU
reiterates its call for state
police and community
policing to enable each state
and community deal with its
peculiar security challenges.
Already all forms of security
outfits are springing up in
states and communities to
deal with their peculiar
security situation.
“The executive and
legislature need to move
faster and formalize the
decentralization of the
policing architecture in
Nigeria, as we have in the
United States, the United
Kingdom and other big multiracial
or multi-ethnic
countries like Nigeria, before
the current haphazard
springing up of security
outfits degenerate into
anarchy.
Ijaw, Isoko, Itsekiri leaders forum
condoles Okowa, calls for peace
The forum also called for
peace in Isoko, saying
communal grievances should
be resolved through legal
means, not resorting to s
h
The statement said, “The
Forum has followed the
communal crises in Isoko
Nation vis-à-vis Ozoro/Oleh
and Igbide/Emede feuds that
have led to loss of lives and
properties. These crises are
unnecessary and we
condemn it in its entirety.
“Communal grievances
should be addressed through
appropriate legal means and
not resort to s
not h
“The leadership of the Ijaw,
Isoko and Itsekiri Leaders
Forum hereby appeal to all
parties to the crises to
embrace peace and dialogue
and co-operate with the D
State Government and
security agencies in their
efforts at resolving the crises.
“We commend the D
State Government and w
Isoko leaders for the
steps taken so far in bringing
peace to the areas,” the group
said.
In a r
the Itsekiri Leaders of
Thought, ILoT, an apex
Itsekiri forum has also
condoled with Governor
Okowa over the death of his
father in a statement by the
Chairman , Chief Ekpoko and
the Secretary,
34 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2021
PRESENTATION: From left; it
Okonkwo and Idedemise Victoria posing with the cars gifted them by it
appreciation of their contribution to it
TRIBUTE
Oyinlola: Prince, soldier and politician @ 70
By DR (HON) MUYIWA &
PROF (MRS) B.Y OLADIMEJI
Seest thou a man diligent in his business?
He shall stand before Kings, he shall not stand
before mean men — Proverb 22 vs. 29.
IN truth by any socio-economical –
political classification, the man
Olagunsoye Oyinlola, hims
blood as a Prince, but by the experience/history
of his life as an orphan from childhood, he has
definit
to the top. There is no doubt a
comprehensive tribute of the
man Olagunsoye Oyinlola
can’t but be voluminous,
however, since my interactions/
knowledge of Prince
Olagunsoye Oyinlola is less
than half of his 70 years, this
may not be a sufficiently
wholesome tribute. Although
by some twist of fate, one had r
Oyinlolas for over 50 years, my cousin (sister
Shade - nee Ayod
brother, now Dr. Femi, when we were kids and
mummy was busy at her chores later married
late Prince Duro Oyinlola and Egbon Dipo
Oyinlola (now Dr. Dipo Oyinlola) was a
classmate and very close friend to my late Bros,
Tunde Oyegoke at Osogbo Grams.
In the very early sixties when I entered
Government College, Ibadan, Bros Dipo was
at the Ransome Kuti College of Education. He
and Bros Tunde used to drill me during
holidays in the Sciences. Bros Tunde was
particular about Mathematical Sciences
whilst Bros Dipo about the Life Sciences.
There’s no doubt the duo have a positive
influence on my academics but before long
they both
Oyegoke to the UK to study Engineering and
Egbon Dipo to USSR to study Medicine
(coincidentally in the same university where I
entered the year he graduated).
Then Col. Oyinlola the Millitary
Administrator (Milad): The military man
Olagunsoye Oyinlola, however, was not in my
radar of interactions until he was a MILAD in
Lagos State. Those were the Abacha years.
Prior to that I was an SDP member of the
National Assembly, NASS, and a June 12
activist before we were kicked out, hence I saw
the IBB/Abacha subjugation of democracy by
Kakistocracy as an aberation and regarded
most military people in power then as
predatory political
power usurpers, He was
dictators and
unpatriotic
This fe
further fu
during the
constitutional
conference my Apo
usually soft
spoken and
seemed never
easily provoked
or angered
Residence was
bombed ostensibly because of my bimonthly
newspaper articles calling the Abacha Junta
to vacate Aso Rock Villa for MKO Abiola.
Shortly after the bomb blast, I was drafted
into a seven-man group of Southwest (SW)
constitution conference members to meet with
the (SW) MILADS. I pleaded to be excused
from the group but Dr. Bode Olajumoke, the
late Chief Dayo Abatan and the then Minister
of State for Agriculture, the late Prof. Demola
Adesina insisted I should be in the group to
represent Osun State.
Dr. (now) Senator Bode Olajumoke was
chairman of the group. Contacts were made,
the MILAD of Lagos State (Col. Oyinlola) was
due in Abuja and a meeting was arranged with
him in his hot
Towers. Col. Oyinlola requested we should be
punctual for the meeting because he had earlier
arranged for another meeting about two and
half hours after our meeting.
I had expected the meeting was going to be
with a garrulous, bossy ITK (I too know)
military officer but surprisingly Col. Oyinlola
was of a humble disposition and a very good
discussant even anecdotal rather than being
angry in responding or contributing to what
might be considered condemnation and
provocative comments on the Abacha
government or functionaries. That meeting
thereby ended amicably rather than abruptly
and he invited us to join him at dinner with
those he had told us were scheduled to meet
•Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola @70
him two and half hours after our meeting
started. Dr. Olajumoke in his closing remarks
f
were to prevent him from honouring the earlier
scheduled meeting he already told us about.
But Col. Oyinlola passionat
it was a dinner meeting with Chief Oba
Otudeko and two others at one of same
Sheraton Hot
instructed his aides to ensure that the dinner
table be arranged for 12 people instead of for
hims
planned.
Oyinlola the politician: This second phase
of interaction was to begin years later when
the now Brig. Gen (retd) Oyinlola was the Osun
State PDP candidate for the gubernational
Chief Bisi Akande in 2003. The PDP primary
that ushered Brig. Gen. (retd) Oyinlola in as
our candidate was either tumultuous or
rancorous depending on which faction of the
party members b
that in any political contest a party divided
within its
little or no chance of victory.
Reconciliation
committee
Therefore, efforts needed to be made to
soothe frayed nerves and reconcile different
factions of the party. A Peace and
Reconciliation Committee was inaugurated
by our leader and
Afolabi. Dr. Yemi Faroumbi was appointed
chairman and I was appointed secretary. The
task of that committee was to interact with the
major dramatis personnae of the different
factions in the party. Details of the modus
operandi of that committee are too
to be the subject of this write up; essentially we
met with different leaders of the different
tendencies privat
when we arranged for joint meetings. The
chairman, Dr. Faroumbi’s place was in Ibadan
and it was agreed that the meetings should be
h
At the meeting Brig Gen. (retd) Oyinlola,
unlike many politicians, was usually very
punctual. He neither ate nor drank anything.
He was usually soft spoken and seemed never
easily provoked or angered. Even when others
appeared angry or shouted at him, he would
neither smile nor frown but calmly and
sometimes anecdotally made his remarks.
Gladly to the glory of God and thanks to the
maturity, discipline and sense of party loyalty
of those leaders, tension was reduced and Osun
PDP went into the 2003
united front against the AD; the gentleman
military officer Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola
won to become Governor of Osun State. It was
interesting to observe how the governor
private residence became “Mecca” to all sorts
of persons and lobbyists, while some others
became “emergency golfers” so as to have
access to Prince Oyinlola.
Invariably some of these opportunists/
lobbyists along with some other genuine
dedicated PDP members got appointed by
Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola at one lev
on the other in the government of Osun State.
To be concluded on Monday
•Dr. Oladimeji is former member, House of
Reps and PDP chieftain in Osun state
Continues from Page 5
the hijacking of the
protests by hoodlums who
p e r p e t r a t e d
unimaginable violence
in Lagos and other cities
across the country.
“The trillion-Naira
destruction of Lagos, in
particular, remains too
fresh a wound.
Hundreds, including the
youth, lost their
liv
attacks in Lagos. The
burnt wreckage of public
buses that were wantonly
set ablaze by rampaging
hoodlums remain in
their positions as a sad
and gory reminder of the
unprecedented attacks.
The city is still re
from the war-like
destruction.
“For those who are
using justice as an alibi for
another round of
destruction, let me say
this: As we speak, the
judicial pan
set up across the country
to receive and investigate
complaints of police
brutality or r
killings, with a
view to d
for all victims of the
dissolved SARS and
other police units, are
continuing with the
assignments.
Desist from
protests
tomorrow — FG
“In Lagos, the Judicial
Pan
added responsibility of
investigating the
incident of October 20 at
the Lekki Toll Gate. Like we
have said many times,
anyone who has any
information on the alleged
shooting or purported
massacre at the Lekki Toll
Gate, including the
names and addresses of
those who were
purportedly killed, should
head to the pan
it such information. “This
is how to enhance the
search for justice, not by
rabble-rousing or
engaging in media
shows. We, therefore,
strongly warn those who
are planning to reoccupy
Lekki Toll Gate on
Saturday to desist.
“We know that many of
those who have been
loudest on social media in
advertising the plan to
reconvene in Lagos on
Saturday are not even in
Nigeria. They are
world, fanning the embers
of violence and inciting
gullible people back
home. No one should fall
for their antics.
“No government
anywhere will allow a
repeat of the kind of
destruction, killing and
maiming wrought by the
vanguardnews @vanguardnews @vanguardnews
#EndSARS: Why FG won't allow
fresh protests — LAI MOHAMMED
hijackers of #EndSARS
protests last year. After all,
only one policeman - (plus
four others) - was killed
in the invasion of the US
Capitol in January, yet the
FBI has continued to hunt
down and prosecute the
perpetrators. No life is
more important than the
other.
“The Federal
Government is also keenly
watching the role being
played by the various
social media platforms in
this renewed clamour for
violence in the country.
“Recall that the social
media platforms that
eagerly nudged on the
#EndSARS protesters,
until the situation got out
of hand, are the same
ones that quickly pulled
the plug on even their
own President when the
chips were down in their
own country. I hope we
have all learnt our lessons.
If we allow them to
destroy our country, we
will bear the brunt.”
Sh
tomorrow’s
protest — LASG
Also warning against
the protests yesterday,
Lagos State government
urged youths not to
protest at the Lekki
tollgate tomorrow.
The Lagos State
Commissioner for
Information, Gbenga
Omotosho, who made the
appeal during an
interview on Arise TV,
pleaded with the
protesters not to “cause
trouble” in the state,
adding that there was
nothing to warrant a fresh
protest in Lagos.
He said: “We all saw
what happened in
October last year, how
some of the iconic
buildings in Lagos were
razed.
“We saw how human
lives were wasted,
including policemen and
nobody prays for that kind
of thing to happen in
Lagos again. Because of
that, the Lagos State
government has been
suing for peace.
“We have been meeting
traditional rulers, youth
organisations, civil
societies, and people we
think can influence things
for us not to have the kind
of thing that happened in
October last year.
“As it is now, Lagos will
require peace to grow our
economy. We need peace
for Lagosians to display
their creative skills.
“Nobody wants to go
back to the scene of
October 2020. We are
appealing to both sides
not to cause trouble in
Lagos so that we can
continue to focus on the
economic and social
issues that are facing us.
“We have COVID-19, all
manners of things that
are coming up that the
state government is
tackling. This is going to
be a big distraction. We
are appealing to both
sides. Lagos b
of us.”
We won’t allow
any protests
— Lagos Police
boss
Similarly, Lagos State
Police Commissioner,
Hakeem Odumosu, said
yesterday that the
command would not allow
the protests to take place.
“Allowing both groups to
carry out their planned
protests will be counterproductive.
No protest in
any guise will be allowed
to take place on Saturday,
February 13, 2021
(today),” Odumosu
vowed.
Threats won’t
deter us,
organisers vow
Insisting on the protest
yesterday, organisers of
the
planned
#OccupyLekki protest at
Lekki toll gate listed the
ban on crypto-currency as
one of the reasons for the
protest, beyond the ruling
of Lagos Judicial Pan
In a statement, titled
“EndSARS Season 2, Why
we
will
#OccupyLekkiTollGate on
Saturday –
Campaigners,” issued in
Lagos yesterday, the
organisers explained that
they were undaunted by
threats by security
operatives and counterprotesters
under the aegis
of #DefendLagos.
The statement read:
“After committing
genocide by killing scores
of people who were
peacefully protesting at
Lekki Toll Gate and other
parts of Lagos, Governor
Sanwo-Olu and other
oppressors want to spit on
the dead and dance on the
blood of the innocent by
reopening the yahoo gate
to be collecting money
again.
“We say NO! We are
undaunted! We will be
occupying Lekki Toll gate
again, starting from
Saturday February 13. We
urge all w
Nigerians to return all the
barricades as our rulers
have shown that they can
never change. Since the
#EndSARS, they are yet
to effect any of the
promises. Police brutality
is still raging and SARS
is still operating.
“Despite overwh
and highly comp
evidence showing how
several protesters were
shot by the military, no
single military personn
has been brought to book.
“Deaths have been
established and many
victims of the Lekki
shootings have surfaced,
yet neither the victims or
families of our deceased
colleagues have got
justice.
“After close to five
months of sitting, the
judicial pan
inquire into the Lekki
massacre has refused to
d
the Lekki massacre, most
of whom have either lost
their limbs due to gun
wounds or have become
deceased.
“Despite overwh
grounds of involvement of
Governor Sanwo-Olu and
ex-army chief, Buratai, in
the Lekki massacre,
neither of them has been
brought to book. President
Buhari instead appointed
them ambassadors, so
they won’t be arrested and
prosecuted for genocide
and war crimes at The
Hague.
“Despite #EndSARS,
police brutality and extrajudicial
killings continue
unabated. Government
has refused to provide
employment for young
people, yet they went
ahead to ban the most
promising source of
income of young people
— cryptocurrency.
“Nigerians are
extrem
the cost of food is on the
high side, with increased
cost of
produces darkness. Petrol
price is being increased as
marketers want it at N190
per litre.
“Nigerians are no
longer secure in any part
of the country. When they
are not being harassed or
extra-judicially murdered
by police, they are being
kidnapped, maimed or
killed by bandits.
“Today, the life of cows
has become more valuable
than those of Nigerians,
even as our streets and
communities have fallen
to the rule of kidnappers
and bandits.
The Nigerian
government now
negotiates and enriches
terrorists and bandits,
while chasing after and
Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2021—35
arresting, shooting and
killing protesters.
“It is to this end that we
call on you all to come out
en masse to demand not
just justice for victims and
fallen heroes of October 20
killings but that all
involved in this heinous
criminality be brought to
book.
‘’Come out to demand
the right to life and to exist
in a country that respects
our rights as citizens,
abhors police brutality/
extrajudicial killings,
provides us with security,
decent jobs with good
wages and other such
socio-economic rights that
come with being a
citizen.”
LCC appeals
Meanwhile, Lekki
Concession Company
Limited, LCC, operators of
the toll gate, yesterday,
appealed to Nigerians
planning to stage a protest
at the Admiralty Circle Toll
Plaza tomorrow to rescind
their decision.
It said another protest at
the toll gate has the
potentials of repeating the
disruptions people suffered
last year, in the aftermath
of the #EndSARS protest,
explaining that it
approached the Lagos
Judicial Pan
permission to repossess the
facilities in order to halt
further losses in its
operations.
Managing Director of
the company, Mr. Yomi
Omomuwasan, who made
the appeal, said: “We
have lat
aware from media reports
that two groups,
#OccupyLekkiTollGate
and #DefendLagos/
#DemNoBornDemPapaW
are planning to
demonstrate at our
already destroyed
Admiralty Circle Toll
Plaza on Saturday,
following the decision of
Lagos Judicial Pan
Inquiry to hand the Toll
plaza back to us.
“It was in a bid to halt
further losses to our
operations, especially
given our subsisting
financial commitments to
local and foreign
institutions, that we
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AMAECHI MEETS OSINBAO—Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (R) with
Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi when Osinbajo met ministers at
the Presidential Villa in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.
approached the Lagos
Judicial Pan
for permission to
repossess our facilities.
“Our intent with the
request was to enable us
