22032021 - Govs, APC, PDP, othersrally against attack on Ortom

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<strong>Govs</strong>, <strong>APC</strong>, <strong>PDP</strong>, others rail 

<strong>against</strong> <strong>attack</strong> on Ortom 

5 

•Sponsors of disturbing <strong>attack</strong> on Ortom must be uncovered —NORTHERN 

GOVS•<strong>PDP</strong> govs condemn <strong>attack</strong> on Ortom, say it’s an invitation to 

anarchy•Benue people not weak— MARK•Says citizens may resort to selfhelp• 

As IGP orders full scale investigations into assassination 

attempt•Orders beef up of security around governor•Don’t politicise <strong>attack</strong> 

on Ortom —<strong>APC</strong>•Buhari orders thorough, transparent investigation of <strong>attack</strong> 

8 

<strong>APC</strong>’ll soon crash, has lost confidence of 

Nigerians – TAMBUWAL •He’s living in self-delusion —LAGOS <strong>APC</strong> 

Why treasury INSECURITY: 9 

NDLEA intercepts 

looting Reps’ bill on 

persists in 

restructuring, 200kg of hard 

state police, 

Nigeria 

drugs at Lagos, 

others gaining 

— ARCHBISHOP 

Abuja, Kano 

support 

KAIGAMA 41 

—SPOKESMAN, DATTI airports 

7 

COLUMNISTS OWEI 16 MAILAFIA 17 SOBOWALE 21 

744,000 

jobs: Buhari 

orders 9 

release, 

payment of 

beneficiaries 

Mr & Mrs

2 — Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 22, 2021 

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Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 22, 2021—5 

POCKET CARTOON 

By Kingsley 

Omonobi, Henry 

Umoru, Peter Duru, 

Dirisu Yakubu & 

Marie-Therese 

Nanlong 

ABUJA —The Nigeria 

Governors’ Forum, NGF, 

said yesterday that any 

attempt to make Benue 

State ungovernable will 

fail woefully. 

The NGF was reacting 

to Saturday’s <strong>attack</strong> by 

gunmen suspected to be 

herdsmen on the 

governor’s convoy while 

on a visit to his farm at Tyo 

Mu along Makurdi- 

Gboko road. 

Ortom had said that 15 

armed men trailed his 

convoy to the river bank 

where he was on foot with 

his security details and 

opened fire on them. 

The governors’ reaction 

came as the Inspector- 


COMMISSIONING OF DLA ROAD —From left: Senator Bukola Saraki, 

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, his Deputy, Mr Kingsley Otuaro 

and the Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Chief Sheriff Oborevwori, 

during the commissioning of DLA Road, Asaba, weekend. 

<strong>Govs</strong>, <strong>APC</strong>, <strong>PDP</strong>, others rail 

<strong>against</strong> <strong>attack</strong> on Ortom 

General of Police, IGP 

Mohammed Adamu, 

yesterday, ordered fullscale 

investigations into 

the circumstances 

surrounding the <strong>attack</strong> 

and 

reported 

assassination attempt on 

the life of Governor Ortom. 

Reacting to the <strong>attack</strong> 

yesterday in a statement, 

Chairman of the NGF and 

governor of Ekiti State, 

Kayode Fayemi, did not 

only describe the broad 

daylight <strong>attack</strong> on Ortom 

as “shocking and a rude 

awakening” but also noted 

that any attempt to make 

Benue 

State 

ungovernable, by virtue of 

that <strong>attack</strong>, would fail. 

Recalling that the 

brother of a former 

governor of the state, 

Gabriel Suswam, was 

recently killed by gunmen, 

the governors said the 

plan of the gunmen was 

to make Benue 

ungovernable and vowed 

to bring the violence in 

the state to an end. 

NGF condemns 

<strong>attack</strong> 

The statement read: 

“The news of the broad 

daylight attempt to cut 

short the life of the 

Governor of Benue State, 

Dr Samuel Ortom, is 

shocking and a rude 

awakening. 

“The Nigeria 

Governors’ Forum, NGF, 

empathizes with the 

governor and the people 

of Benue State on this 

sad, cowardly, and wicked 

plan and vehemently 

condemns the act in its 

entirety. 

“All hands must be on 

deck to uncover the 

identities of those 

involved in this heinous 

crime. The NGF wishes to 

state categorically that the 

attempt to make Benue 

State ungovernable is 

unacceptable and will fail 

woefully. 

“Only recently the 

brother of one of the 

former governors of the 

state was mowed down in 

cold blood. This 

dishonourable and 

shameful act of resorting 

to violence, for whatever 

reason, to eliminate 

citizens of Benue State by 

brutal means must not 

continue. 

“The NGF as a platform 

for all the 36 Governors 

will continue to encourage 

its members to stand firm 

in the service of their 

people regardless of the 

evil machinations of those 

who do not wish Nigeria 

well. 

“Evil will not be allowed 

to triumph over good, not 

in Benue and not 

anywhere in this country. 

While all governors will 

continue to pray for 

Governor Ortom, the NGF 

wishes to draw the 

attention of all evil-doers 

that not only will they 

continue to fail in their 

wicked acts, but they will 

also definitely be traced 

and punished for their 

crimes, no matter how 

long it takes. 

“Once again, the NGF 

prays for Governor Ortom 

and wishes him long life 

as his safety and that of 

all the people of Benue 

State continue to be 

paramount to the NGF.” 

Fish out sponsors 

— Northern govs 

Similarly, Northern 

governors condemned the 

<strong>attack</strong> in the strongest 

terms, describing it as a 

disturbing development 

which must be 

investigated thoroughly. 

Chairman of the 

Northern Governors’ 

Forum and governor of 

Plateau State, Simon 

Lalong, in a statement 

signed by his Director of 

Press and Public Affairs, 

Makut Macham, said the 

<strong>attack</strong> on Governor Ortom 

was “yet another daring 

attempt by criminals to 

cause mayhem not only in 

Benue State but also in 

the nation as a whole.” 

While praising the 

security details of the 

governor for repelling the 

<strong>attack</strong> and securing the 

governor and members of 

his entourage, Lalong 

said: “Relevant security 

agencies must carry out 

detailed investigation to 

fish out those behind the 

<strong>attack</strong> and their sponsors. 

“All hands must be on 

deck to tame this 

degeneration of security 

in the country that 

threatens the corporate 

existence of the nation. 

“Northern governors 

stand in solidarity with 

our colleague and the 

entire people of Benue 

State. We will continue to 

engage and support 

security agencies in their 

duty of securing the 

region and nation at 

large.” 

Attack on Ortom, 

<strong>attack</strong> on us all — 

<strong>PDP</strong> govs 

Also yesterday, 

governors elected on the 

platform of Peoples 

Democratic Party, <strong>PDP</strong>, 

condemned in strong 

terms the reported <strong>attack</strong> 

on Ortom by yet-to-beidentified 

gunmen. 

Chairman of the forum 

and governor of Sokoto 

State, Aminu Tambuwal, 

in a statement he 

personally signed on 

behalf of his colleagues, 

warned that “any attempt 

to harm any Nigerian will 

be viewed by the forum as 

an attempt on all of us.” 

The statement read: “We 

believe strongly that any 

dispute or perceived 

dispute should be and 

must be resolved 

amicably without resort to 

violence. Nigeria is not a 

Babana Republic, even 

though certain 

retrogressive elements 

and centrifugal forces are 

trying to consign Nigeria 

into a failed state. 

“It remains the primary 

responsibility of 

government, especially the 

federal government, who 

have monopoly of the 

coercive forces of state, to 

secure the lives and 

livelihoods of our people, 

however low or high. 

“Every Nigerian deserves 

equal protection of the laws. 

Every citizen is entitled to 

freedom of speech and free 

exercise of all rights 

guaranteed in the 

Constitution of the Federal 

Republic of Nigeria, subject 

Continues on Page 41 

By Cynthia Alo 

On FG's approval of $1.5bn for rehabilitation of PH refinery (2) 

It’s a good idea if the FG 

can do it. It will reduce 

cost of refining crude 

due to nearness of raw 

material to refinery. Fuel 

price would go down; 

however, politics may 

set in. Many Nigerians 

no longer take such 

statements seriously 

because they end up 

being unfulfilled. Again, 

such amount of money 

could be embezzled. 

—Chimezie Onyeneke, 

Hospitality consultant 

Towards the end of 2019, 

Mele Kyari, NNPC’s 

GMD, said during a 

facility tour of the PH 

refinery that 

rehabilitation will 

commence but nothing 

happened. My point is; 

promising to rehabilitate 

refineries has been a 

recurring decimal; they 

are pointers that 

elections are around the 

corner. A lot of promises are 

made but not fulfilled. Let’s 

just watch and see. 

—Momoh Moses, 

Media Assistant 

In my opinion, running 

a refinery requires very 

prudent and straight 

forward structure devoid of 

govt. bureaucracy. Reviving 

an obsolete refinery is 

tantamount to going 

backwards and it’s another 

avenue to siphon money. 

The FG should sell or lease 

it or go into joint venture 

with private companies. 

That’s the way forward. 

Oseni Mariam, 

Businesswoman 

That is outrageous; it’s 

wasting of public funds. 

I think this is another way 

to channel our money 

where we can’t question 

them. How can I trust a govt. 

that has spent so much on 

security and agriculture, yet 

things are worsening? Our 

refineries don’t have the 

capacity to refine huge 

amount of oil, hence the 

reason I’m forced to think 

they’re trying to cheat us as 

usual. 

—Oguche Ojonugwa, 

First, how much will 

it cost to build a new 

refinery from the scratch? 

Maybe we should ask 

Dangote so that we can 

weigh the options of 

rehabilitation or 

completely build from 

scratch or better still, 

concession the project to 

a private firm or 

individual for a period of 

time. 

Tunde Timothy 

Soc. media/PR manager 

Approvals have been 

given to carry out 

several projects here but 

majority never 

materialised. Approving 

$1.5bn at a go for 

rehabilitation is unwise. 

Dangote is already building 

the biggest refinery in Africa 

here in Nigeria. If the FG 

wants to spend $1.5 bn for 

rehabilitating a refinery that 

has been unproductive for 

years, your guess is as good 

as mine. 

—Ifeanacho Jennifer, 

Undergraduate

6— Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 22, 2021 

Obaship tussle: 

Egiri Ruling 

House asks 

court to 

remove Agura 

of Gbagura from 

office 

THE Egiri Ruling House in 

Gbagura Kingdom, 

Abeokuta, Ogun State has 

dragged the Agura of Gbagura 

land, Oba Saburee Babajide 

Bakre, and the kingmakers 

before an Abeokuta High Court, 

seeking the removal of the 

monarch from office. 

The ruling house in a suit 

marked, AB/292/2019, is 

challenging the election and 

appointment of Oba Bakre as 

the 9th Agura of Gbagura, 

alleging that the election and 

subsequent installation of the 

monarch did not follow due 

process and breached the 

provisions of section 16 of the 

Chiefs Law, Laws of Ogun State 

2006. 

Bakre was appointed the 9th 

Agura of Gbagura during the 

tenure of the immediate past 

administration of Governor 

Ibikunle Amosun. 

But the Egiri Ruling House, 

in the matter taken before the 

court <strong>against</strong> the Oba Bakre, the 

kingmakers, alleged that the 

installation and coronation of 

the monarch violated the 

provisions of section 16 of the 

Chiefs Law, Laws of Ogun State 

2006. 

Joined in the suit are the 

Chairman and Secretary to the 

Abeokuta North Local 

Government Area, 

Commissioner for Local 

Government and Chieftaincy 

Affairs, Attorney-General of the 

state and the governor of the 

state, Dapo Abiodun. 

The suit was filed for and on 

behalf of members of Egiri 

Ruling House, Prince Akindele 

Sharafadeen Ogunwoolu, 

Prince Saburi Ayinde Adeyemi, 

Prince Sufian Soetan, Prince 

Salihu Adetunji Nadir, Prince 

Kabiru Abolade and Prince 

Wasiu Adeyinka Adeosun. 

The claimants in an amended 

writ of summons claimed that 

the monarch “is not a 

descendant of any lineage of 

Egiri Ruling House, lacks the 

prerequisite locus standi to vie 

for Agura of Gbagura stool and 

his selection/election, 

presentation and/or 

appointment and installation as 

Agura of Gbagura is null and 

void. 

“That the regency council by 

their statutory duties have no 

official role in the process of 

nomination, selection and/or 

election, presentation, 

appointment and installation 

AF any qualified candidate as 

Agura of Gbagura.” 

The ruling house, therefore, 

prayed the court to set aside the 

selection, election, 

presentation, appointment and 

installation of the Oba Bakre as 

the Agura of Gbagura. 

The claimants are also 

demanding N10 million as 

damages for “the psychological 

trauma and pains” suffered by 

them. 

However, the presiding 

judge, B.O.O Bamgbose, 

adjourned the case till April 28 

for hearing. 

Herbalist, bricklayer arrested over kidnap, 

murder of woman, 4-yr-old son 

•They were used for money rituals —Suspects 


By James Ogunnaike 

EMOTION ran high, weekend, 

at the Ogun State Police 

Command following a startling 

confession of a 29-year-old herbalist, 

Baoku Gbuyi and his partner in 

crime, Odulaja Olamide, on how 

they abducted and killed a woman 

and her son for money rituals. 

The victims, Modupeola 

Folorunsho, and her four-year-old 

son, Peter, went out on February 13, 

2021, but never returned to their 

Ijebu-Igbo abode. 

Her apprehensive husband was 

said to have reported their 

disappearance to the Police at Ijebu- 

Igbo division, consequent upon 

which the Divisional Police Officer, 

SP Kazeem Solotan, detailed his 

crack detectives to unravel the 

mystery behind their 

disappearance. 

The detectives reportedly 

embarked on a technical and 

intelligence-based investigation, 

which led to the arrest of one of the 

suspects, Olamide, a bricklayer in 

Ibadan, Oyo State capital. 

During the investigation, the 

suspect opened up on how the 

missing persons were kidnapped 

and murdered. 

He said: “I am not the only one 

involved. A herbalist is also 

connected. They were abducted on 

THe suspects. 

February 13, 2021 and killed at the 

herbalist’s place. After killing them, 

the herbalist burnt the woman’s head 

which he used for the money 

rituals.” 

His confession, according to the 

Ogun State Police Public Relations 

Officer, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, led 

detectives to the herbalist house at 

Araromi Street, Japara, Ijebu-Igbo. 

But he was discovered to have taken 

to his heels when he got wind of 

Olamide’s arrest. 

Oyeyemi said: “Subsequently, all 

adjoining divisions were alerted to 

be on the lookout for the fleeing 

suspect. He was eventually traced 

to Kajola village, where he was 

arrested by the DPO Awa Ijebu, with 

the assistance of hunters and local 

vigilantes. 

“On interrogation, the herbalist 

confessed that it was Olamide 

Odulaja who approached him for 

money-making ritual, following 

which he asked him to bring the 

head of a human being as one of 

the materials to be used. 

“He stated further that they both 

conspired to abduct the woman and 

her son and slaughter them for that 

purpose. He confessed further that 

he burnt the woman’s head with 

some other herbs, which he gave to 

Olamide to use. 

“When asked about the little boy, 

he said his remains were dumped 

inside a latrine. 

“The Commissioner of Police, 

Edward Ajogun, who commended 

his men for their display of 

investigative intelligence, has 

ordered the immediate transfer of 

the case to the State Criminal 

Investigation and Intelligence 

Department, for further investigation 

and diligent prosecution. 

“The CP, who described the 

incident as the height of man’s 

inhumanity to man, warned those 

looking for money-making rituals to 

desist, insisting that only hard work 

backed with prayer can lead to 

success.” 

Corpse of day-old baby abandoned beside Lagos hospital 

•Police arrest 2 suspected armed robbers 

By Evelyn Usman & 

Esther Onyegbula 

THE corpse of a day-old baby was 

abandoned beside Ayinke House , 

Ikeja, Lagos, weekend, by an unknown 

person. 

This occurred barely six days after 

another day-old abandoned baby was 

rescued by policemen at Oladejo Street, 

Oko Oba area of Lagos. 

Information had it that the baby 

beside Ayike House could have been 

dropped there by his unknown mother, 

apparently for medical reasons. 

However, when policemen at the 

Ikeja division, who were contacted by 

the security department of the Lagos 

State University Teaching Hospital, 

arrived at the scene, the baby was 

reportedly found dead. 

Spokesman for the Lagos State 

Police Command, CSP Olumuyiwa 

Adejobi, said the policemen contacted 

the State Environmental Health 

Monitoring Unit that later evacuated 

the corpse. 

He said: “The baby was suspected to 

have been abandoned by his mother 

and must have been exposed to risks 

that caused his death.” 

He also informed that the 

Commissioner of Police, Hakeem 

Odumosu, had expressed his intention 

to discuss with the Ministry of Youth 

and Social Development on processes 

of adopting the baby that was earlier 

rescued. 

He said: “CP Hakeem Odumosu has 

condemned the barbaric act of 

dumping or killing babies with 

impunity. He has ordered the State 

Intelligence Bureau and Surveillance 

teams in the command to step up their 

findings and keep watch on heartless 

criminals, who engage in such heinous 

crimes, with a view to bringing them to 

book and curb the act in our society.” 

Suspected armed 

robbers 

The suspects. 

Also, the Anti Crime Patrol team 

attached to Ilasan Division of the 

Lagos State Police Command, 

Saturday, arrested two suspected 

armed robbers while one escaped 

with their operational motorcycle. 

The suspects, Okorocha Covenant 

and Adigun Jeremiah, both of 

Badagry area of Lagos State, were 

arrested along Lekki-Epe 

Expressway by Jakande. 

It was gathered that a Beretta 

pistol with ammunition was 

recovered from the duo. 

Confirming the arrest, the 

spokesperson Lagos state police 

command, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, 

said the Commissioner of Police had 

ordered that the suspects be taken 

to the State Criminal Investigation 

Girl, 18, stabs brother to death in Ondo 

AN 18-year-old girl, Idowu 

Biletiri, weekend, allegedly 

stabbed her elder brother, Kehinde, 

to death at Igbokoda in Ilaje Local 

Government Area of Ondo State. 

It was gathered that trouble started 

when the suspect returned home 

after leaving the house for some 

days without any trace of her 

whereabouts. 

A source said: “Her deceased 

brother queried her on her return, 

Head, Gender Unit, Lagos State Police Command, Bimbo 

Williams (left) presenting the rescued baby to CP Hakeem 

Odumosu of the state police command. 

seeking to know where she had 

been since she left home. 

“It seemed she was angered by 

the question and went straight for a 

kitchen knife, which she stabbed 

her brother with to death. 

“Only the two of them were at 

home when the incident occurred, 

this has thrown the whole 

community into confusion and 

mourning.” 

The state Police Command’s 

Department, Panti, Yaba for discreet 

investigation. 

He equally directed the Area 

Command, Area J, Ajah, to step up 

Anti Crime Strategies, including 

raids of black spots and surveillance, 

to combat crimes and criminality in 

the entire area. 

spokesman, ASP Tee Leo-Ikoro, said 

the incident had not been reported 

officially to the command. 

Leo-Ikoro said the case was rather 

reported to the Ondo State Security 

Network code-named Amotekun 

Corps. 

“I can confirm that the incident 

occurred but it was reported to 

Amotekun Corps and they are in 

charge of the case now and until it 

is reported to the police, we cannot 

carry out any investigation,” he said.

Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 22 , 2021—7 

NDLEA PDF intercepts Compressor Free 200kg Version of hard drugs at 

Lagos, Abuja, Kano airports 

•Police bust robbery, drugs peddling gangs in Abuja, arrest 10 

suspects 

By Kingsley Omonobi 

THE National Drug Law 

Enforcement Agency, 

NDLEA, yesterday, disclosed 

that its operatives have foiled 

attempts by some defiant 

traffickers to export hard drugs 

through the Murtala 

Muhammed International 

Airport, MMIA, Lagos; 

Nnamdi Azikiwe International 

Airport, Abuja and Mallam 

Aminu Kano International 

Airport, Kano. 

NDLEA said the combined 

size of the hard drugs seized 

from them totalled 200 

kilogrammes. 

At the Lagos airport, 41- 

year-old Adewuyi Olayinka 

was arrested while trying to 

export 650 grammes of cocaine 

wrapped in two parcels to the 

United Kingdom through the 

SAHCO export shed of the 

MMIA cargo, Ikeja. 

According to the 

Commander, MMIA 

Command of the NDLEA, 

Ahmadu Garba, the drug was 

concealed in dry local pepper 

and herbal concoction 

popularly called ‘agbo’ 

In the same vein, 107 

kilogrammes of hard drug 

suspected to be Khat has been 

seized at the cargo shed of the 

Kano airport while being 

exported to Canada. 

According to the acting 

Commander, MAKIA 

Command of the NDLEA, 

Mohammed Ajiya, “the drug, 

which weighed 107kgs, was 

concealed in golden colour 

nylon bags covered with textile 

materials and labelled tea to 

deceive and mislead our 

officers. 

“The so-called tea arose the 

suspicion of officers at the 

cargo shed, who insisted that 

it must be subjected to 

laboratory analysis and test 

before it will be allowed to go, 

because the so-called tea came 

from Lagos by road to Kano 

and our operatives wondered 

why the owner did not ship it 

via Murtala Muhammed 

Airport, Lagos. 

"Hence, the reason the 

shipment was delayed until 

the sample was taken and sent 

to our forensic lab for analysis. 

The result came out positive 

for Khat. It has since been 

seized and is now in our 

custody.” 

Also, an attempt by a 

trafficker to export 92.250 

kilogrammes of Khat via 

Turkish Air through the cargo 

warehouse, Nnamdi Azikiwe 

International Airport, Abuja, 

was frustrated and the hard 

drug packed in six cartoons 

heading to Goussainville in 

Suspects arrested by FCT Police 

France confiscated. 

Police bust robbery, 

drugs peddling 

gangs in Abuja, 

arrest 10 suspects 

Meanwhile, the FCT Police 

Command, weekend, arrested 

10 suspects for armed robbery 

and drug peddling along 

Mpape, Kado-Biko and Life- 

Camp axis. 

A statement by ASP Yusuf 

Mariam, Police Public 

Relations Officer of the 

command said,: “The 

suspects, who met their 

Waterloo while attempting to 

break into a container, 

confessed to being members of 

a 12-man robbery gang 

terrorising Mpape axis. 

“Exhibits recovered are two 

cutlasses, two iron cutters, one 

iron bar, one axe, one rope and 

wallet containing counterfeit 

currency notes. Effort is 

underway to arrest other 

One of the suspected 

drug traffickers. 

members of the gang. 

“Relatedly, Police Operatives 

from Life-Camp Division also 

arrested one Emmanuel 

Idowu, 61years and Ede 

Chinedu, 27years, along 

Dappe, Life-Camp axis during 

a routine patrol for being in 

possession of a firearm while 

one Bright Effiong, 37years, 

was arrested with dried leaves 

suspected to be Indian hemp. 

“All the suspects will be 

arraigned in court upon 

conclusion of the 

investigation.” 

Police nab 3 suspects for kidnapping, 

robbery in Adamawa 

THE Adamawa Police 

Command has confirmed 

the arrest of three suspects for 

alleged kidnapping and 

armed robbery, and also 

recovered three single barrel 

guns. 

The command’s spokesman, 

DSP Suleiman Nguroje, who 

disclosed this in a statement, 

yesterday, in Yola, said the 

suspects were apprehended at 

various hideouts in Muleng 

and Chigari Villages of Song 

and Fufore local government 

areas, following credible 

information and intense search 

by the Police and the vigilance 

group of Song Division. 

Nguroje said the suspects 

were responsible for the 

kidnapping of Mr Elan Jobbo, 

the Principal of Vocational 

Training Centre, VTC, Jabbi 

Lamba, Alhaji Jauro 

Mamburso and Alkani Zumbe, 

all of Girei and Song LGAs, 

around May 2020. 

He said: “The suspects were; 

Usman Sale, 40, a resident of 

Muleng; Lawali Sale, 37, a 

resident of Bah Usman Village, 

Fufore and Yerima Dadi, 36, a 

resident of Bah Usman Village. 

“Investigations so far 

revealed that the suspects do 

participate in armed robbery 

and kidnapping activities 

across the border between 

Nigeria and Cameroon 

Republic. 

“The Commissioner Police, 

Aliyu Alhaji, while 

commending the DPO of Song 

and his men, also directed 

further investigations into the 

case to bring up more human 

and material evidence for 

proper prosecution.” 

BLOCKED: Flood takes over Ipaja Road at Sofunde and Markazz junction, due 

to blockage of drainage at the Agege, Lagos. Photo: Bunmi Azeez. 

Mobile 

policeman, 3 

land 

grabbers 

arrested 

over death of 

man in Lagos 

By Evelyn Usman 

A 

Mobile policeman 

and three civilians 

have been arrested in 

connection with the 

death of a man, 

weekend, in NITEL area 

of Ikorodu, Lagos. 

The cop with an 

undisclosed identity was 

alleged to have led some 

armed thugs to the 

Igbogbo area of Lagos, 

to forcefully evacuate 

some persons from an 

expanse of land. 

Some land grabbers 

said to have engaged 

the policeman’s services, 

reportedly went into a 

rampage in their bid to 

evacuate those they met 

from the land. This was 

met by some restrictions, 

in the process of which 

the area was thrown into 

disarray. 

Some shots, according 

to eyewitnesses, were 

fired. Unfortunately, a 

bullet hit a man in his 

car, killing him on the 

spot. 

An eye witness who 

gave his name as Jide 

Jeje, said: “Policemen 

from Igbogbo division 

arrived at the scene and 

evacuated the corpse. It 

was deposited at the 

Ikorodu General 

Hospital. Some people 

who were injured were 

also taken to the 

hospital.” 

The armed thugs were 

identified as Okappy, 

Wakiku alias Omo 

Jakande, Harmony, 

Okanlomo, while others 

are still on the run. 

When contacted, 

spokesman for the Lagos 

State Police Command, 

CSP Olumuyiwa 

Adejobi, confirmed the 

arrest of the Mobile 

policeman and three 

others, with the recovery 

of arms and 

ammunition. 

He could not 

immediately tell which 

Mobile Squad the cop 

was attached to, saying 

an investigation was 

still on to ascertain that, 

adding that the 

Commissioner of Police, 

Hakeem Odumosu had 

ordered for proper 

investigation into the 

matter.


:Vanguard News 

:@vanguardnews 


NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058 

CONDOLENCE 

VISIT: From 

left, Governor 

AbdulRahman 

AbdulRazaq of 

Kwara State 

(right) paying a 

condolence 

visit to former 

Minister of 

State for 

Health, Hajia 

Amina Ndalolo, 

over the recent 

death of her 

husband, Alhaji 

Usman 

Ndalolo, in 

Abuja, weekend. 

<strong>APC</strong> has lost people’s confidence, ‘ll 

soon crash — Tambuwal 


•He’s living in self-delusion, playing to the gallery 

– Lagos, Ondo <strong>APC</strong> 

By Clifford Ndujihe, 

Dayo Johnson, 

Olasunkanmi Akoni 

& Musa Na Annabi 

SOKOTO — 

GOVERNOR Aminu 

Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto 

State has said that the ruling 

All Progressives Congress, 

<strong>APC</strong>, will collapse because it 

has lost focus and confidence 

of the citizenry. The Governor 

further said that the decision 

of the Sokoto State chapter of 

the <strong>APC</strong> to boycott the March 

27 local government elections 

in the state did not come to him 

as a surprise as the party had 

lost confidence and mandate 

of the electorate nationwide. 

Lagos and Ondo state chapters 

of the <strong>APC</strong>, in a quick counter 

pooh-poohed Tambuwal 

saying that he was living in 

self-delusion and playing to the 

gallery. Efforts to get the national 

leadership of the <strong>APC</strong> 

to speak on the issue did not 

yield dividends. Secretary of 

the Caretaker Committee, 

Senator John James Akpan- 

Udoedehe could not take his 

calls and was yet to reply text 

messages as of press time. 

Tambuwal was speaking to 

supporters of <strong>PDP</strong> during the 

Flag-off of Sokoto East Senatorial 

Zone campaign at 

Gwadabawa town in preparation 

for the council poll. 

Tambuwal said the <strong>APC</strong>-led 

Federal Government has 

failed to deliver or execute any 

meaningful developmental 

project since it came to power. 

According to him, Nigerians 

would no longer support <strong>APC</strong> 

and as such it would collapse 

and its members would dissolve 

into other political parties. 

The governor used the occasion 

to appeal to Sokoto 

people to support and cooperate 

with security agents in their 

quest to provide security in all 

areas of the state. 

Also, speaking the state 

Commissioner for Rural Development, 

Alhaji Usman Suleman 

stressed the need for the 

<strong>PDP</strong> to inaugurate a reconciliation 

committee to address 

the yearnings of aggrieved 

members of the party. 

Alhaji Usman insisted that 

the former state Governor, Alhaji 

Attahiru Bafarawa should 

lead the reconciliation committee. 

Tambuwal seeking 

comfort in selfdelusion 

– Lagos 

<strong>APC</strong> 

Tackling Tambuwal, Publicity 

Secretary of Lagos <strong>APC</strong>, 

Mr. Seye Oladejo, said the 

governor is living in self-delusion. 

His words: “We believe 

Tambuwal indirectly predicted 

the fate of <strong>PDP</strong> as a political 

party as a result of its permanent 

implosion before the 

next national elections. 

“Unfortunately, he won’t receive 

a prize for his pointblank 

prophesy because of the obvious 

crisis that is tearing <strong>PDP</strong> 

apart in the various zones and 

the mutual suspicion and the 

crisis of confidence among its 

national leaders. “The heartwarming 

performance of <strong>APC</strong> 

in different by-elections across 

By Sam Eyoboka 

LAGOS — PRESIDENT of 

EL-Buba Outreach Ministries, 

Prophet Isa El-Buba, has 

said there are demonic Fulani 

sent to destroy Nigeria, urging 

the Church to intensify prayers 

and speak with one voice. 

El-Buba with his church 

headquarters in Jos, Plateau 

State, in a broadcast on his 

Facebook page, said he had 

kept quiet for over two months 

because the Lord did not give 

him permission to talk. 

He noted, however, that the 

Lord had asked him to tell 

Nigerians to prepare to push 

back the forces of darkness 

away from the land. 

The pastor, who said he was 

a Muslim, an occultist and 

served the queen of heaven 

from his childhood before he 

gave his life to Christ in 1982, 

said he had no personal hatred 

or grudges <strong>against</strong> 

Fulani, being one himself. 

His words: “I don’t have 

anything <strong>against</strong> the Fulani 

because I am one myself. My 

grandmother is Fulani. I have 

Fulani blood in my veins. But 

I can tell you that there are 

demonic Fulani who have 

been sent to destroy this country. 

There are sane Fulani. But 

I am saying there are demonic 

Fulani who have been sent to 

destroy Nigeria.” 

He noted that Nigeria was 

going through the most trying 

time in its life, adding that 

the country was in the hands 

of a wrong driver. 

“Nigeria got into the hand 

of a wrong driver. This wrong 

driver has driven the vehicle 

of Nigeria to the point of 

crashing it and the occupants. 

I have cried out to Nigerians. 

‘’The president has lost control 

of this country. He is no 

longer in charge as the commander-in-chief. 

I am just a 

voice that speaks on behalf of 

God. I speak for the redemption 

of the people. 

“It has become increasingly 

impossible to travel by road 

as a result of killer terrorist 

men. Some killer Fulani men 

have been sent to destroy the 

glory of this nation. I want to 

say to every Nigerian that we 

are more than enough to end 

this wickedness. 

‘’It is time for Nigerians to 

rule. God will not come down 

to salvage Nigeria, He will 

only give us the power to sal- 

the country and the increasing 

numbers on the floor of 

the National Assembly put a 

lie to Tambuwal’s assertion. 

“However, I shouldn’t fault 

him for seeking comfort in 

self-delusion.” 

Also, Ondo State chairman 

of the <strong>APC</strong>, Engineer Ade Adetimehin 

reacting through the 

party’s publicity secretary, 

Alex Kalejaye, said: “Governor 

Tambuwal was either 

misquoted or merely playing 

to the gallery. We are, however, 

not unaware that the <strong>PDP</strong> 

is unbelievably desperate 

about winning in 2023, and 

this results in their <strong>attack</strong>s on 

the ruling party. 

“The <strong>APC</strong>- led Federal Government 

has initiated and executed 

meaningful projects 

across the country to the extent 

that no state is lagging 

behind. The party has undertaken 

these projects, not because 

we feel we are in competition 

with any other party, 

but we believe the country and, 

indeed, the people deserve better 

treatment. 

“While the current administration 

is working for posterity, 

we are happy the informed 

observers are appreciative 

of the fact that we have 

changed the old narratives of 

endless wailing and sleeping 

on roads for days on account 

of dilapidated infrastructures. 

“lt is expected and understandable 

that the Peoples 

Democratic Party should feel 

jittery over the ongoing re-organisation 

in the ruling party, 

which is helping to rebuild its 

foundation for future challenges. 

“The gale of defections that 

has hit the <strong>PDP</strong> since the advent 

of the Governor Mai 

Mala Buni-led <strong>APC</strong> Caretaker/Extraordinary 

Convention 

Planning Committee, 

CECPC, is a clear indicator 

that the opposition party is 

having sleepless nights over 

the renewed vigour of the ruling 

party.’’ 

I’ve Fulani blood in me, but there are 

demonic Fulani sent to destroy Nigeria 

— Prophet el-Buba 

vage this country,” he said. 

Referring to the recent kidnap 

cases, he said: “Innocent 

lives are being toyed with. I 

feel for those men stripped 

naked by terrorists. We can’t 

negotiate with bandits and 

criminals. You can’t negotiate 

with the devil. It is time for us 

to correct the wrong.” 

While declaring the launch 

of a two-million-man prayer 

movement for the redemption 

of Nigeria, he said: “Let us 

not wait till 2023. We can’t allow 

these confused men to direct 

the affairs of this nation. 

Nigeria is the nation of God, 

not the nation of blood-thirsty 

men. We have a responsibility 

now to pray with a pure heart 

for the redemption of Nigeria. 

“We trust in the power of the 

Almighty God. We must pray 

like never before. Through our 

prayers, God knows what to 

do. We should begin to pull our 

strength together. We need to 

pull our voices together. We 

don’t need politicians to go 

into politics anymore, we want 

leaders. 

‘’I trust God that in this year, 

we will produce the team that 

will lead Nigeria to victory. 

Selfishness will never save this 

nation,” the prophet said. 

Senate queries Finance 

Ministry over failure to 

account for N2.8bn released 

from service wide vote 

By Henry Umoru 

ABUJA—THE Senate has 

raised alarm over refusal 

of the Ministry of Finance to 

account for N2.8 billion 

service wide vote collected 

from the federation account. 

According to the Senate, the 

N2.8 billion was slated to 

take care of estacodes and 

other allowances for those 

representing the Federal Government 

in internationally 

organized annual board 

meetings, conferences and 

workshops, including contribution 

to Organization for 

Petroleum Exporting Countries, 

OPEC. The Senate 

Committee on Public Accounts, 

led by Senator Matthew 

Urhoghide, <strong>PDP</strong>, Edo 

South, which raised the 

alarm, said of the said 

amount, payment vouchers 

were raised for the sum of 

N113,558,372.85, leaving the 

sum of N2,772,214,120.42 

unaccounted for. The committee 

is relying on the 2018 Auditor 

General of the Federation’s 

report to query on the 

unaccounted expenditures. 

Urhoghide, who expressed 

GTBank grows pretax profit 

by 2.8% to N238.1bn 

By Peter Egwuatu 

LAGOS — Despite the im 

pact of coronavirus, 

COVID-19 and lockdown of the 

economy, Guaranty Trust Bank, 

GTBank, Plc has recorded a 

growth of 2.8 per cent in its Profit 

Before Tax, PBT to N238.1 

billion for the audited financial 

result ended December 31, 2021 

from N231.7 billion in the 

corresponding period of 2019. 

A review of the result released 

to both Nigerian Stock 

Exchange, and London Stock 

Exchange, shows improved 

performance across major key 

financial metrics in the face of 

the unprecedented challenges. 

Specifically, the Group’s Loan 

book (Net) grew by 10.7 per cent 

to N1.663 trillion in December 

2020 from N1.502 trillion 

recorded as at December 2019, 

while customers’ deposits 

increased by 38.6 per cent to 

N3.509 trillion from N2.533 

trillion. 

The Bank’s sheet remained 

well structured, diversified and 

resilient with total assets and 

shareholders’ funds closing at 

N4.945 trillion and N814.4 

billion respectively. Full Impact 

Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) 

dissatisfaction with the abuse 

of service wide vote by government 

agencies, vowed to 

investigate management of 

service wide vote by agencies 

in 2021 budget. The query 

read: “ Financial Regulation 

601 states, ‘All payment entries 

in the cash book/accounts 

shall be vouched for on one of 

the prescribed treasury forms. 

‘’Vouchers shall be made out 

in favour of the person or persons 

to whom the money is 

actually due. Under no circumstances 

shall a cheque be 

raised, or cash paid for services 

for which a voucher has not 

been raised.” 

During our audit, it was observed 

that the sum of 

N2,885,772,493.27 was released 

to the Federal Ministry 

of Finance from the Service 

Wide Vote. “This is to take 

care of estacodes and other 

allowances for representing 

the Federal Government in internationally 

organized annual 

board meetings, conferences 

and workshops including 

contribution to Organization 

for Petroleum Exporting 

Countries, OPEC. 

remained very strong, closing 

at 21.9 per cent, while Asset 

quality was sustained as Non 

Performing Loan, NPL ratio and 

Cost of Risk (COR) closed at 6.4 

per cent (Bank: 5.9 per cent ) and 

1.2 per cent (Bank: 1.0 per cent 

) in December 2020 from 6.5 

per cent (Bank: 6.2 per cent ) 

and 0.3 per cent (Bank: 0.2 per 

cent ) in December 2019 

respectively. 

Commenting on the financial 

results, the Managing Director/ 

CEO of Guaranty Trust Bank 

plc, Mr. Segun Agbaje, said: 

“2020 was arguably the most 

challenging year that the world 

has faced in decades. In such unprecedented 

times, we sought to 

live out the full extent of our values; 

safeguarding lives and 

livelihoods for our people, our 

customers and across the communities 

where we operate. 

"We were on solid footing 

going into 2020; the strength, 

scale and liquidity of our balance 

sheet, coupled with the 

quality of our past decisions and 

the efficacy of our digital-first 

customer-centric strategy gave 

us the resilience and flexibility 

to navigate the economic shocks 

and market volatility that 

dominated the year.”

Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 22, 2021 — 9 


Subject PDF $1.5bn Compressor for Free PH Version refinery repair 

to national debate, Peterside tells FG 

FOUNDER of Stanbic 

IBTC, and Anap 

Foundation, Atedo 

Peterside, has said the 

approval of $1.5 billion for 

the rehabilitation of Port 

Harcourt refinery in 

Rivers State should be 

subjected to a national 

debate. 

The Federal Executive 

Council, FEC, had last 

Wednesday announced 

the approved sum for the 

rehabilitation of the 

refinery. 

The approval was 

announced at the 38th 

virtual FEC meeting 

presided over by President 

Muhammadu Buhari in 

Abuja. 

Timipre Sylva, Minister 

of State for petroleum, 

said the rehabilitation will 

be done in three phases 

of 18, 24 and 44 months. 

He said the contract will 

be awarded to Tecnimont 

SPA, an Italian company. 

Sylva said the funding 

has three components 

:@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058 

from Nigerian National 

Petroleum Corporation, 

NNPC, internally 

generated revenue (IGR), 

Afreximbank and 

budgetary provisions. 

But reacting to the 

approval in a tweet 

yesterday, Peterside asked 

the Federal Government 

to halt repair of the 

refinery. 

Peterside, who served as 

a member of the National 

Council on Privatisation 

between 2010 and 2015, 

said experts preferred 

that the refinery be sold 

to qualified investors. 

He said: “FG should 

halt $1.5 billion approval 

for repair of Port Harcourt 

refinery and subject this 

brazen and expensive 

adventure to an informed 

national debate. 

“Many experts prefer 

that this refinery is sold 

“as is” by BPE to coreinvestors 

with proven 

capacity to repair it with 

their own funds." 

VISIT: From left, Chief Financial Officer, Lagos Free Zone, Mr. Ashish Khemka; Chief 

Executive Officer, Dinesh Rathi; Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and Manager, 

Business Development, Mrs. Chinju Udora, during the visit of the governor to Lagos Free 

Zone (LFZ) in Lagos. Photo: Akeem Salau. 

Insecurity: Reps’ bills on restructuring, state police, 

others gaining support — Spokesman, Datti 

By Levinus 

Nwabughiogu 

THE clamour to restructure 

Nigeria and enthrone 

fiscal federalism may soon 

yield positive results as the 

House of Representatives is 

already in receipt of bills to 

realise the dreams. 

The bills are seeking to 

tinker with the 1999 

Constitution (as amended) 

and transfer some items from 

Exclusive Legislative List to 

Concurrent List to enable the 

federating units of the country 

develop at their pace without 

any inhibition or interferences 

from the Federal 

Government. 

Speaking exclusively to 

Vanguard in Abuja on the 

phone, spokesman of the 

House, Benjamin Kalu, said 

restructuring and state police 

were topmost in the 

constitution amendment 

exercise billed to kick off soon. 

He said the lawmakers 

were giving their nod for a 

decentralised police force, 

especially with the spate of 

insecurity currently facing the 

country. 

Kalu, who represents 

Bende federal constituency of 

Abia State in the House, said 

it had been counterproductive 

to have people 

from different backgrounds to 

police an environment not 

familiar to them as officers. 

He said: “As you know, the 

issue of restructuring has 

been a long standing issue 

and this is the first parliament 

that’s being faced with this 

demand from Nigerians to 

give power from Abuja to the 

various federating units and 

the argument has always 

been that it will increase 

productivity, enhance 

development and increase 

healthy competition for 

purposes of making our 

country more resourceful and 

productive. 

‘’Others are also 

wondering whether it will not 

affect the unity of the nation. 

Some people are feeling that 

the more the federating units 

are strengthened, the more 

division is enhanced. 

“It (the issue) is before the 

constitution review 

committee and various 

memoranda will and are 

being received as we speak. 

From there, we will be able 

to take a position and 

definitely, a public hearing 

will be also be held. 

“State police is also one of 

the things that will come up. 

Because of the insecurity in 

the country, Nigerians are 

looking for alternatives to 

make lives more secured. 

People are thinking that if we 

put this state police in place, 

our various communities will 

be better secured by those 

who understand the terrain, 

the culture, language, 

religion and all that. 

“A situation where you 

have someone from the north 

policing a place in the west 

where he doesn’t speak the 

language, he doesn’t 

understand their culture, it 

takes the person a long time 

to adapt, especially now that 

we have insecurity 

problem.” 

Also speaking on the 

subject matter, the member 

representing Sabon Gari 

constituency at the House of 

Representatives, Garba Datti, 

named prisons, the judiciary, 

stamp duties, fingerprint, 

identification of foods and 

drugs, registration of 

business names, mines and 

minerals as items to be 

expunged from the 

concurrent legislative list. 

He said the items were 

before the House via various 

bills by members. 

Datti said the National 

Assembly had the capability 

to fix Nigeria without the 

Federal Government 

convoking a conference of 

any sort. 

He said: “There are many 

issues to be moved from 

Exclusive Legislative list to 

Concurrent. Correctional 

centre is one, state police is 

another. Different people are 

bringing them. We have 

them before the House. 

‘’This clamour for 

restructuring, true federalism, 

devolution of powers is within 

the powers of the National 

Assembly to do. 

“We can make all these 

things without assemblying 

some people to come and do 

it. This is because all the 

people in the National 

Assembly have the 

experience, education, 

qualification, so it can be 

done not only by convoking 

any conference. 

“There is the issue of 

railways from the exclusive 

to concurrent list because as 

it is now, some states are 

trying to build this metro. 

Therefore, they can have the 

opportunity to build it without 

going through the exclusive 

list. 

‘’There are other ones like 

judiciary, stamp duties, 

fingerprint, identification of 

foods and drugs, registration 

of business names, mines 

and minerals. All of these are 

in the House. 

“They(bills) are gaining the 

support of the House. With 

the current security situation 

now, even those who are 

opposed to state police or 

community police, whatever 

you call them, are supporting 

it because they are more 

familiar with the environment 

they exist than to bring 

somebody from far away who 

doesn’t know that 

environment.’’ 

Over 86% of Nigerians lack 

access to safe drinking water 

— UNICEF 

By Steve Oko 

ABA—UNICEF 

has 

expressed concern over 

the shortage of potable water 

in Nigeria, saying over 86 per 

cent of Nigerians lack access 

to a safely managed drinking 

water source. 

UNICEF in a statement to 

commemorate the World 

Water Day, further noted that 

“although about 70 per cent 

of Nigerians are reported to 

have access to a basic water 

services, more than half of 

these water sources are 

contaminated.” 

UNICEF Representative in 

Nigeria, Peter Hawks, said in 

a statement that though 73 

per cent of the country’s 

population had access to a 

water source, only nine litres 

of water on average was 

available to a Nigerian daily. 

The statement read: “At the 

current rate, the country will 

miss the SDG targets on 

people’s access to water, 

unless there is a strong 

commitment and appropriate 

action taken by all 

stakeholders. 

“While the impact of water 

scarcity can be felt by all, no 

one suffers more than the 

most vulnerable children. 

‘’Children and families 

living in vulnerable 

communities face the doubleedged 

sword of coping with 

high water scarcity levels 

while having the lowest water 

services, making access to 

sufficient water especially 

susceptible to climate shocks 

and extreme events. 

“We have to act now both 

to address the water crisis in 

774,000 jobs: Buhari orders 

release, payment of 

beneficiaries 

By Johnbosco 

Agbakwuru 

ABUJA— PRESIDENT 

Muhammadu Buhari 

has approved the release of 

funds for the payment of 

itinerant workers engaged 

under the Special Public 

Works Programme. 

Minister of State for Labour 

and Employment, Festus 

Keyamo, SAN, stated this in 

a tweet via his official handle 

on Saturday. 

The minister in the tweet, 

said he had directed the 

National Directorate of 

Employment, NDE, to 

commence the processing of 

payments for the workers 

engaged in the 774 local 

government areas. 

Keyamo in his verified 

Twitter handle wrote: 

“President Muhammadu 

Buhari has graciously 

directed a release of the funds 

for the payment of stipends 

to the 774,000 participants of 

the SPW programme. 

‘’I have consequently 

directed the NDE to begin 

processing the payments and 

participants should begin to 

receive payments soon. 

“In order to eliminate fraud 

Nigeria to prevent it from 

getting worse and if we want 

to meet the SDGs. 

“We can only achieve water 

security for every Nigerian – 

including the Nigerian child 

- through innovation, 

investment and collaboration, 

and by ensuring services are 

sustainable and wellmanaged. 

We must act - for 

the sake of our children and 

our planet.” 

UNICEF further noted that 

according to its latest analysis, 

globally, more than 1.42 

billion people, including 450 

million children, were living 

in areas of high or extremely 

high water vulnerability. 

UNICEF stated: “This 

means that 1 in 5 children 

worldwide does not have 

enough water to meet their 

everyday needs. 

“The figures in Nigeria are 

particularly worrying, with 

26.5 million Nigerian 

children experiencing high 

or extremely high water 

vulnerability – or 29 per cent 

of Nigerian children. 

“The analysis, part of the 

Water Security for All 

initiative, identifies areas 

where physical water scarcity 

risks overlap with poor water 

service levels. Communities 

living in these areas depend 

on surface water, 

unimproved sources of water, 

or water that can take more 

than 30 minutes to collect. 

“The world’s water crisis is 

not coming - it is here, and 

children are its biggest 

victims. When wells dry up, 

children are the ones missing 

school to fetch water. When 

droughts diminish food 

supplies, children suffer from 

malnutrition and stunting." 

and/or double payments, I 

have also directed that every 

payment to participants 

should be made using the 

BVN of their accounts so we 

can have an audit trail of every 

single payment. Those who 

registered with different 

names shouldn’t expect 

payments.” 

Recall that the Federal 

Government had in January 

this year, flagged off the 

774,000 jobs, with each 

participant expected to 

receive N20,000 for the next 

three months. 

The minister said 

participants will be paid 

through their bank 

verification numbers, BVN, 

to eliminate fraud and/or 

double payments to 

participants.


COVID-19: Vaccination progressing well 

— LUTH, LASUTH, FMC Chiefs 

Exercise going smoothly at LASUTH — Prof Fabamwo, CMD 

.Over 300 health workers vaccinated in LUTH — Prof Adeyemo, CMAC 

.50% of health workers at FMC, Ebute Metta vaccinated — Dr Dada, MD 

.Our members are satisfied — NMA Lagos 

By Chioma Obinna 

FOLLOWING 

the 

rollout of COVID-19 

vaccines in Lagos last 

week, health workers in the 

state’s pubic and private 

healthcare facilities were 

among the first to recieve 

the jab. 

In line with the objective 

of the phased rollout plan, 

health workers are 

prioritised for vaccination 

because they are 

considered to be at high 

risk of exposure to the 

COVID infection. 

Like every other state, the 

Lagos State Government 

recently rolled-out 

vaccination in 88 health 

facilities. Vanguard 

Health&Living spoke to 

medical doctors and Chief 

Medical Directors of public 

health facilities in the state. 

Excerpts: 

Over 300 heaith 

workers vaccinated 

in LUTH — CMAC 

At the Lagos University 

Teaching Hospital, LUTH, 

over 300 healthworkers in 

the institution had been 

vaccinated by the weekend 

out of 3,000 targeted, 

according to the Chairman 

Medical Advisory 

Committe, CMAC, Prof 

Wasiu Adeyemo. 

In a chat, Adeyemo 

acknowledged that the 

COVID-19 vaccination was 

progressing well. 

"I am not sure how many 

but must be in the range of 

over 20,000 because about 

10,000 were vaccinated few 

days after the roll out in 

Nigeria. "Doctors, nurses 

and other healthcare 

workers are satisfied with 

the arrangements in my 

opinion. 

"Over 300 healthcare 

workers have been 

vaccinated in LUTH as of 

Friday. Many more will be 

vaccinated this week, he 

added. 

Vaccination safe, 

doctors are satisfied 

- NMA Lagos 

Speaking with Vanguard, 

the Secretary of the Lagos 

state branch of the Nigerian 

Medical Association, 

NMA, Dr. Imeh Okon, 

recounted that initially, 

there were doubts and 

hesitancy but the 

vaccination gradually 

picked up and there is now 

higher patronage among 

doctors and health workers. 

"We have picked up 

patronage, it is higher now. 

I'm not very sure about the 

state’s figures but in my 

hospital, and the adjoining 

primary healthcare centre, 

we have vaccinated over 


The Lagos State NMA Secretary, Dr Imeh Okon, recieving the AstraZeneca 

COVID-19 vaccine recently in Lagos. (Inset) Dr. Okon displaying her 

vaccination card after the exercise. 

1,000 health workers.” 

Further, Okon stated: 

"Well, you know people will 

always have reservations 

but so far, not too many 

complaints have come from 

the healthcare workers in 

the public sector about the 

roll-out, but those in the 

private sector feel they have 

not been adequately 

catered for as the 

vaccination sites are mostly 

public facilities. 

"There are serious 

challenges with the online 

registration, causing 

avoidable delays and long 

queues as people have to 

resort to on-site 

registration." 

Speaking on her 

experience after taking the 

vaccine, Okon said: I had 

fever, body pains 

(myalgia), but all subsided 

when I took paracetamol. 

“I'm fine now. These 

symptoms are not 

unexpected because your 

body is meant to generate 

reactions that will produce 

the antibodies to fight the 

disease. 

Also in separate chat. 

NMA Lagos Publicity 

Secretary, Dr Badmus 

Adeola noted that COVID- 

19 vaccine waz generally 

accepted among doctors 

and a lot of them are taking 

the vaccine. He added that 

there are small subset that 

have some reservations 

because of the circulating 

propaganda. He said 

however,more are having 

change of mind and taking 

the vaccination. 

“The people that have 

taken the vaccine are 

generally satisfied with the 

roll-out,it is organised in 

most centres. 

"Everybody should have 

the vaccination because it's 

safe and proven to be 

effective with some known 

side effects similar to most 

other vaccines. That is the 

only known way of 

mitigating <strong>against</strong> the 

spread of the COVID-19 

virus, atleast it will reduce 

the incidence of severe 

symptoms and gradually 

boost our immunity <strong>against</strong> 

the virus.” 

Exercise going 

smoothly at 

LASUTH — Prof 

Fabamwo 

At the Lagos State 

University Teaching 

Hospital, LASUTH, the 

vaccination exercise is 

progressing smoothly. 

Confirming this to 

Vanguard on Sunday, the 

Chief Medical Director, 

Prof Tokunbo Fabamwo, 

said the turnoud had been 

good so far. 

”The vaccination that we 

are carrying out in 

LASUTH is for health 

workers in LASUTH and 

we have been given 10 

days to do that. We have 

done five days. I cannot 

say the turnout has been 

100 per cent, but it has been 

fairly good. The hospital is 

carrying out a lot of 

awareness, information is 

being pushed out to 

educate people because 

some people have a bit of 

scepticism about the 

vaccine. 

”It is our responsibility as 

management to free their 

minds from some of the 

reservations that they 

have. I do not have the 

exact number of people 

vaccinated so far but the 

turnout is good. We still 

have about five days, that 

is, Monday to Friday next 

week. ”We are trying to get 

people to come out to get 

the vaccination. The Ikeja 

local government has been 

majorly in charge of this 

exercise but. We constituted 

a hospital committee to 

work with them. 

”So far so good, it has 

been excellent because no 

one has had to wait for more 

than 10 to 15 minutes to get 

vaccinated. Vaccines arrive 

on time because we go to 

the local government to pick 

them up. We have a 

combined team of nurses 

from the local government 

and our nurses here.. We 

have a total of 15. Nurses. 

From here who are working 

with the local government 

team? It has been going on 

very smoothly. 

50% of health 

workers in FMC 

Ebute Metta 

vaccinated — CMD 

No less than 50 percent 

of the health workers 

vaccinated at FMC Ebutte 

Metta- Dr DADA Speaking 

to Vanguard, the Medical 

Director of the Federal 

Medical Centre, FMC, 

Ebutte Metta, Dr 

Adedamola Dada who said 

the vaccination was 

progressing well in the 

hospital said: "Frontline 

workers are getting 

inoculated. 

In the FMC, Ebute 

Metta,we have inoculated 

about 50 percent of our 

frontline workers and we 

are continuing at a "furious 

rate. We have enough 

vaccines and a roster. 

"We are completely 

satisfied with the rollout. 

The arrangement is 

impeccable and we are 

impressed with the logistics 

support by the NPHCDA 

and the state. 

Covishield is same as 

AstraZeneca, NAFDAC 

explains 

By Joseph Erunke 

THE National Agency for 

Food and Drug 

Administration and Control, 

NAFDAC, has explained 

that both Covishield and 

AstraZeneca are the same 

vaccines for immunisation 

<strong>against</strong> COVID-19. 

The Director-General of 

the agency, Prof. Mojisola 

Adeyeye, in a statement, 

Sunday, said Covishield 

manufactured by Serum 

Institute of India Pvt Ltd 

and COVID-19 Vaccine 

AstraZeneca manufactured 

by AstraZeneca, are the 

same vaccine. 

“AstraZeneca and Oxford 

University (AZOU) 

originally developed the 

ChAdOx1 recombinant 

adenoviral vector vaccine to 

be used for prevention of 

COVID-19 disease,” the 

statement said. 

It explained that: ”AZOU 

gave the license of its 

vaccine to Serum Institute 

of India PVT Ltd (SIIPL) to 

manufacture this vaccine at 

commercial scale.” 

It read in part: “SIIPL is 

the largest vaccine 

manufacturer in the world 

and the company got the 

license by signing 

manufacturing agreement 

with AstraZeneca (AZ)/ 

Oxford University to 

manufacture this vaccine. 

Observe safety protocol at 

vaccination sites — ABAYOMI 

By Olasunkami Akoni 

BARELY six days into 

commencement of the 

COVID-19 vaccination 

exercise in Lagos State, 

residents have continued to 

troop out to various 

dedicated sites leading to 

increase in activities of 

medical personnel. 

The state Commissioner 

for Health, Prof. Akin 

Abayomi, revealed this on 

Sunday after reviewing 

report of the weeklong 

Phase 1 vaccination rollout 

campaign in the state. 

Abayomi said: “We 

understand that there is a 

great demand for the 

COVID-19 vaccine in 

Lagos leading to increase 

in activities at our various 

vaccination sites, this has 

brought to the fore the need 

to ensure strict adherence 

to COVID protocols as well 

as accountability and 

security for officials, citizens 

and the cold chain 

mechanism at the sites. 

"We want to avoid 

crowding and the resultant 

spread of the COVID 

inspection at the 

vaccination sites, this is why 

we are appealing to 

persons who are not 

categorised in the phase 

one of the vaccination 

exercise to keep off the 

“SIIPL gave the vaccine the 

trade name Covishield 

“Covishield is the result of 

cooperation and a 

technology transfer from 

AstraZeneca – the 

University of Oxford to 

SIIPL. 

“Serum Institute of India 

Pvt. Ltd. is now the world’s 

largest vaccine 

manufacturer by a number 

of doses produced and sold 

globally (more than 1.5 

billion doses) which 

includes Polio vaccine as 

well as Diphtheria, 

Tetanus, Pertussis, Hib, 

BCG, r-Hepatitis B, 

Measles, Mumps, and 

Rubella vaccines. 

“Vaccines manufactured by 

the Serum Institute are 

accredited by the World 

Health Organisation, 

Geneva, and are being 

used in around 170 

countries across the globe 

in their national 

immunisation 

programmes, saving 

millions of lives throughout 

the world. 

“Both Covishield 

manufactured by Serum 

Institute of India Pvt Ltd 

and COVID-19 Vaccine 

AstraZeneca manufactured 

by AstraZeneca are the 

same vaccine – ChAdOx1 

nCoV- 19 Corona Virus 

Vaccines (Recombinant). 

vaccination sites. 

Warning <strong>against</strong> 

overcrowding, he said: 

"Lagosians should be 

patient, we will vaccinate 

everybody eventually but 

there is the need for 

citizens to support 

government by following 

the vaccination 

implementation plan to 

ensure a successful 

exercise. We plan to 

vaccinate this year into 

2022." 

Abayomi, therefore urged 

eligible persons who fit into 

the first phase of the 

vaccination exercise to 

observe and ensure strict 

adherence to COVID 

protocols and instructions 

given by officials when they 

visit the vaccination sites. 

He advised eligible 

persons who are scheduled 

to be vaccinated under 

phase one of the exercise 

to maintain social distance 

of at least two meters, wear 

a face mask and ensure 

proper hand hygiene at the 

vaccination sites. 

Abayomi said the 

COVID-19 protocols is still 

in place especially at public 

places noting that security 

personnel have been 

stationed at the vaccination 

sites to provide security, 

maintain order and ensure 

adherence to protocols.

Vanguard, , MONDAY, MARCH 22 , 2021 — 11 

:Vanguard :@vanguardnews :@vanguardnewsNEWS HOTLINES: 


Social Media Conversation 

LAUNCHING—From left: Desmond Majekodunmi, Founder, Lufasi Park, Lagos; Mrs. Angela Emuwa, 

Chairman, Punch Newspapers; Dr. Dolapo Fasewa, DG, Lagos State Environment Protection Agency, 

LASEPA; Ada Ifejuka, winner, '2020 The Dawn Poem competition'; Dr. Pamela Ajayi, collaborator, The 

Dawn Project, during the launch of The Dawn 2021 competition, themed: 'Climate Change: Poetry and 

Pictures—A View From the Heart and Eyes', and partnership with LASEPA, held at Lufasi Park, Lekki- 

Epe expressway, Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele. 

APMT fires security unit over theft of 200 

cartons of tramadol 

By Godwin Oritse 

L AGOS—TERMINAL 

operator, AP Moller 

Terminal, APMT, Limited, 

Apapa, weekend, sacked its 

entire security department 

over its involvement in the 

theft of over 200 cartons of 

Tramadol. 

Speaking with Vanguard,, 

the Public Relations Officer of 

the Apapa Port Command of 

the Nigeria Customs Service, 

NCS, Mr. Usman Abdullahi, 

disclosed that four security 

personnel from APMT were 

handed over to the NCS to 

investigate their involvement 

in the theft of the drugs. 

Abdullahi, who said the 

incident occurred last Friday, 

noted that investigation was 

still ongoing on the matter. 

He said: “This is a case of 

theft by some security 

personnel. Some of their 

security personnel on duty last 

week vandalized one of the six 

containers and went away with 

some cartons of Tramadol. 

“Currently, we have three of 

their security personnel in our 

custody and they are being 

interrogated. The 

management of APMT has 

handed over those on duty the 

night the incident happened 

for investigation and they are 

cooperating with us. 

“Investigation is ongoing 

because we want to know the 

content of the container with 

what we have on our records. 

“Unofficially, I can tell you 

that about 200 cartons of 

Tramadol were carted away, I 

do not have the accurate 

figure because they are still 

counting and I do not want to 

give you an incorrect figure. 

By Monday, we will have the 

accurate number of cartons that 

were stolen.” 

Meanwhile, sources in the 

terminal told Vanguard that 

Customs and Police personnel 

involved in the infraction were 

also among suspects detained by 

Customs Enforcement Unit. 

On the involvement of Customs 

and Police officers, Abdullahi said 

that there is no Customs or Police 

officer in their custody. 

Besides, he said: “Whenever 

the examination bay is closed, the 

security of the terminal lies on the 

APMT security; they have their 

security personnel there. 

“Examination bays close 

between 5:30 pm and 6:00 pm 

depending on the workload; and 

once the examination bay is 

closed, nobody has access to the 

examination except the APMT 

security or their staff. This incident 

happened at midnight, so, I do 

not know how our officers were 

involved. 

“Investigation is still ongoing, 

this incident happened on Friday 

and we were able to secure the 

container. Our officers were there 

on Saturday to ascertain the 

missing content. 

“They handed over four 

security personnel for 

interrogation, but as far as I know, 

the security personnel handed 

over to us are still in our custody. 

They are cooperating with us and 

giving us information but they 

have not mentioned any officer’s 

name. 

“Out of the four security 

personnel that were handed over 

to us, only three are in our 

custody, the fourth is in the 

hospital. When the incident 

happened, he got information 

and fainted, but doctors are 

treating him.” 

SERAP sues Lawan, Gbaja over missing N4.4bn 

NASS funds 

By Olasunkanmi Akoni 

LAGOS—THE 

Socio- 

Economic Rights and 

Accountability Project, SERAP, has 

sued the Senate President, Dr. 

Ahmad Lawan, and Speaker of 

House of Representatives, Mr. 

Femi Gbajabiamila, over alleged 

missing N4.4 billion of public 

funds budgeted for the National 

Assembly. 

No date has been fixed for the 

hearing of the suit. 

The suit followed the publication 

of annual audited reports for 

2015, 2017 and 2018 in which the 

Auditor-General of the Federation 

raised “concerns about alleged 

diversion and misappropriation of 

public funds, sought the recovery 

of any missing funds, and asked 

that the evidence of recovery 

should be forwarded to his office.” 

In the suit number FHC/ABJ/ 

CS/366/2021 filed, last Friday, at 

the Federal High Court in Abuja, 

by SERAP’s lawyers, Kolawole 

Oluwadare and Ms. Adelanke 

Aremo, the organisation is 

seeking: “An order of mandamus 

directing and compelling Messrs 

Lawan and Gbajabiamila and the 

National Assembly to perform 

their constitutional oversight 

functions to ensure the prompt 

and transparent investigation into 

the allegations that N4.4 billion 

budgeted for the National 

Assembly may be missing and 

unaccounted for.” 

In the suit, SERAP stated that: 

“By the combined reading of the 

provisions of the Nigerian 

Constitution of 1999 (as 

amended0, the International 

Covenant on Economic, Social 

and Cultural Rights, and the 

United Nations Convention 

<strong>against</strong> Corruption, which 

Nigeria has ratified, the National 

Assembly has legal duties to 

combat corruption, and promote 

transparency and accountability 

in the management of public 

resources.” 

SERAP said: “Transparency and 

accountability in the 

management of public resources 

and wealth are essential for 

promoting development, 

people’s welfare and well-being, 

and their access to basic public 

services, as well as good 

governance and the rule of law. 

“The failure of the National 

Assembly to promptly and 

thoroughly investigate, and to 

refer to appropriate anticorruption 

agencies the 

allegations documented in the 

annual audited reports for 2015, 

2017 and 2018 is a fundamental 

breach of the oversight and public 

interest duties imposed on the 

legislative body by sections 4, 88 

and 89 of the Nigerian 

Constitution. 

“Granting this application 

would serve the interest of justice, 

reduce corruption and 

mismanagement, as well as end 

impunity of perpetrators, and 

advance the fundamental human 

rights of Nigerians. 

“This suit seeks to vindicate the 

rule of law, the public interest, and 

to promote transparency and 

accountability. Government 

agencies and institutions are 

responsible to a court of justice 

for the lawfulness of what they do, 

and of that, the court is the only 

judge." 

...And the creators of the sagging craze?! 

Flaunting hypocrisy! 

...




Nothing to show for federal allocations, 

IGR in N'Delta —Stakeholders 

•Commend Akpabio, Akwa, NDDC interim administrator 

By Emma Amaize, 

Regional Editor, 

South-South 

U YO—NIGER-DELTA 

Stakeholders Forum, 

NDSF, weekend, complained 

that there was nothing to show 

for the huge federal allocations 

and Internally Generated 

Revenue, IGR, in Niger 

Delta region. 

The stakeholders also berated 

the six governors of 

South-South states, saying 

they have not done much with 

the resources available to 

them. 

On questions over Niger 

Delta governors utilisation of 

fund allocations to the region, 

Governor Nyesom Wike said, 

no citizen from the region, 

except Rivers State indigenes, 

can question how he utilises 

Rivers State resources. 

Briefing news men after a 

meeting of the Forum at Uyo, 

Akwa Ibom State, to brainstorm 

on key issues affecting 

the region, chairman, NDSF 

and South-South Front SSF, 

Chief John Harry, said "The 

Niger Delta Development 

Commission, NDDC, and 

state governments as developmental 

agencies are not in 

any way comparable. The six 

South-South governors, individually 

and collectively, have 

little to show for the billions 

collected as Federal Allocation 

and Internally Generated 

Revenue, IGR. 

"The South-South geo-political 

zone can no longer be 

held hostage by a few people 

whose sole aim is to work 

<strong>against</strong> the plans of the Federal 

Government," adding 

that the recent demands of 

the South-South governors 

on NDDC had sinister import 

and was meant to distract the 

Federal Government. 

"The views of the South- 

South governors are really 

borne out of crass ignorance 

and mischief. The NDDC is 

working. Things are really 

happening in the region. The 

commission is embarking on 

people-oriented projects. 

There are development 

projects going on in the region. 

The South-South governors 

did not talk from facts at least 

concerning the current efforts 

of the Commission to develop 

the region," he said. 


COMMISSIONING: From left—Dr. Chike Ihekweazu D-G, NCDC, Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora, Minister of 

State Health, Dr. Victor Osiatuma, Medical Director, Federal Medical Centre, Asaba and Senator Abdul Karim 

Jajere, Chairman of the board, FMC, Asaba, during the commissioning of capital projects FMC, Asaba. Photo: 

Onojake Nathaniel. 

The stakeholders urged 

President Muhammadu Buhari 

not to play into the hands 

of those contributing towards 

the underdevelopment of the 

South-South geo-political 

zone, commending NDDC, 

and its managers for taking 

concrete steps to ensure quality 

service delivery. 

"The Niger Delta people are 

now beginning to witness 

genuine and practical intervention 

in their lives and environment 

as opposed to 

mere linguistic, lackadaisical 

and chaotic involvement of 

past management team," he 

said. 

By Samuel 

Oyadongha 

YState ENAGOA—BAYELSA 

government has 

urged traditional rulers and 

security agencies to complement 

its efforts in implementing 

the state anti-grazing law 

to forestall herders-farmers 

crisis in the state. 

Deputy Governor, Senator 

Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo 

made the call, yesterday, in 

Yenagoa, during a meeting 

with first class traditional rulers, 

chairmen of local government 

areas and some top security 

officers. 

He said, "I can tell you substantially 

that most of our 

communities are undergoing 

espionage. We have some intelligence, 

though not yet confirmed, 

that there is a mass 

build-up of arms in our various 

forests, which we are not 

aware of. 

"I can assure you that some 

of these people, who come into 

our communities in the name 

of fishing and farming, know 

our forests more than us and 

they are just waiting for the 

time to strike. That's how it 

started in the South West and 

other places in this country. 

"It is already here with us. 

So, we should stop playing the 

ostrich by trying to cover the 

smoke with a basket. It is better 

to open up the smoke and 

deal with it. Therefore, all 

hands must be on deck to nip 

the herders/farmers problem 

The group praised the Minister 

of Niger Delta Affairs, 

Senator Godswill Akpabio, 

for confronting the challenges 

of the development of the 

Niger Delta region and bringing 

a positive difference in the 

lives of the people of the oil 

rich region and their environment. 

It also lauded, Chief Edwin 

Clark, for holding NDDC Interim 

Administrator, Mr Effiong 

Akwa, in high regard. 

Specifically, the key stakeholders 

praised Akpabio for 

addressing the needs of the oil 

producing areas and attending 

to such priority projects as 

roads, bridges, electricity, water 

supply, foreshore walls, jetties 

and land reclamation. 

Only Rivers can ask how our 

monies are spent ---Wike 

Reacting, Wike said, "No 

citizen of Cross River, Akwa 

Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta and Edo 

states has any right to question 

how the resources of Rivers 

State is expended. 

"Only Rivers State citizens 

who elected the Government 

have moral justification to 

demand for accountability 

from my administration 

which has implemented several 

infrastructural projects in 

all the 23 local government 

areas of the state." 

Anti-grazing law: Bayelsa tasks traditional 

rulers, security agencies on implementation 

in the bud 

"So, this meeting is to enable 

us set an agenda on how to do 

what is called 'due diligence 

and person mapping' for us to 

clearly know the people who 

come into our communities 

in accordance with the law. 

"Henceforth, there must be 

a way of profiling any person 

who is not an indigene that 

comes into our communities: 

where the person is from, how 

long he or she will stay and 

what the person will be doing 

during his or her period of stay," 

he said. 

He restated his advocacy for 

government to ascribe a well 

Stow emerges leader of Bomadi 

LGA Legislative Arm 

By Onozure Dania 

B OMADI—EBIYEKEFE 

Stow has emerged leader 

of the 9th Assembly, Bomadi 

Local Government 

Area Legislative Arm of Delta 

State. 

This followed the unanimous 

decision by the 20 

councillors at the maiden 

session of the Legislative 

Arm at the Bomadi council. 

Stow, in his address to the 

House, thanked God Almighty 

for given him the opportunity 

to serve and commended 

Governor Ifeanyi 

Okowa for being a true 

democrat and allowing the 

defined constitutional role 

and authority to traditional 

rulers to enable them contribute 

more effectively towards 

community and national development. 

The meeting had in attendance, 

the Chairman, state 

House of Assembly Committee 

on Security, Benard 

Kenebai, Chairman, state Traditional 

Rulers Council, King 

Alfred Diete-Spiff, the Commissioner 

of Police, Mr Mike 

Okoli, the State Director of 

Security, Local Government 

Chairmen, first class traditional 

rulers and Divisional 

Police Officers, DPOs. 

will of the people to prevail 

in the March 6, 2021, Delta 

State council polls. 

He also thanked and appreciated 

the Senator representing 

Delta South senatorial 

district, James Manager, 

the House of Representatives, 

representing Bomadi/Patani 

Federal Constituency, 

Mr Nicholas Muturu 

and hierarchy of the People's 

Democratic Party, <strong>PDP</strong>, 

in Bomadi council. 

Stow said that, he would 

be guided by the local laws 

alongside his colleagues to 

make bye laws for the good 

governance for the people of 

the council. 

Nigeria's in a difficult time 

—Okowa 

By Festus Ahon 

ASABA—GOVERNOR If 

eanyi Okowa of Delta 

State, weekend, said Nigeria 

is in a very difficult time, adding 

that the more the government 

pays special attention to 

the vulnerable people, the better 

the society would be. 

Consequently, he said the 

country would experience 

peace if 25 percent of the subsidy 

funds are deployed for an 

insurance scheme for the lessprivileged. 

Okowa, when he received 

the Minister of State for 

Health, Dr Olurunnimbe 

Mamora, who paid him a 

courtesy visit at Government 

House, Asaba, urged the Federal 

Government to use 25 

percent of funds expended on 

fuel subsidy to provide health 

insurance for vulnerable Nigerians. 

Okowa said: "I am glad that 

you are in Delta State to inaugurate 

the ECR machine at the 

Federal Medical Centre, Asaba. 

Although we have lost 

some lives, God has kept us 

safe and the anticipation of the 

world didn't come to pass. We 

are in a very difficult time in 

our nation Nigeria and the 

more we pay special attention 

to the vulnerable people, the 

better the society we will have. 

"I thank God that the 7th 

Senate passed the National 

Health Bill which became an 

Act, and I must commend you 

and the Ministry for making 

funds available for the running 

of the basic health care 

fund provision. The basic 

health care fund provision has 

•Urge FG to expend 25% of subsidy 

funds on health insurance scheme 

come to the aid of local government 

areas and the primary 

health care centres. 

"If we are able to address 

health insurance for the vulnerable 

in our society, it will 

help us to reduce maternal 

mortality and the more we are 

able to reduce those indices, 

the better for us as a nation. 

"The money being used to 

subsidise fuel today, if 25 per 

cent is spent to provide health 

insurance for all Nigerians 

that cannot afford health care, 

it will help us as a nation. We 

must continue to direct our 

policies in favour of the poor 

because if the family is well 

enough, it can take care of itself. 

"If a reasonable chunk of 

that money is spent on the education 

of the poor children, it 

will help to check insecurity 

and unemployment to a large 

extent and we must continue 

to voice this narrative to 

change things in this country." 

Speaking further, Okowa 

encouraged Nigerians to 

make themselves available for 

the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, 

saying that it was safe. 

The Minister, Dr Olurunnimbe 

Mamora, who spoke 

earlier, told the governor that 

he and his delegation were in 

Delta State to inspect facilities 

at the FMC, Asaba and 

thanked him for his contributions 

to the management of 

COVID-19 in Nigeria, adding 

that as a Senator and Medical 

Doctor, Dr Okowa distinguished 

himself at the Red 

Chamber, and had continued 

to distinguish himself as governor. 

Agitators to S-South govs: Work 

with Akpabio to develop N-Delta 

By Emma Amaize 

YENAGOA—A coalition 

of Niger Delta agitators, 

weekend, called on governors 

of South South to work with 

Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, 

Senator Godswill Akpabio, 

to develop Niger Delta 

region and its people. 

The group meanwhile, 

called out governors of Niger 

Delta states, saying recent revelation 

by Niger Delta Development 

Commission, NDDC, 

that they (governors) collected 

N100 million each as Covid-19 

palliative has exposed 

their hypocrisy. 

Chairman, Senate Committee 

on Ethics, Privileges 

and Public Petitions, Senator 

Patrick Ayo Akinyelure, last 

week, told reporters in Abuja 

that NDDC officials told the 

committee that each of the 

nine governors of the Niger 

Delta states got N100 million 

as Covid-19 palliatives. 

Coordinator of the 21st 

Century Youths of Niger Delta 

and Agitators with Conscience, 

21st CYNDAC, selfprofessed 

"General" Izon Ebi, 

in a statement, yesterday, said 

"The N100m palliative controversy 

just raised by the National 

Assembly indicting the 

governors of the nine states is 

another eye opener concerning 

the hypocrisy of our governors 

towards the Minister 

of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator 

Akpabio and NDDC. 

"We advise the governors to 

work in synergy with Senator 

Akpabio, who has demonstrated 

leadership and given 

to his people dividends of democracy 

when he was the 

governor of Akwa Ibom state, 

rather than playing politics 

with the development and 

well-being of the Niger Delta 

region and its people. 

"The 21st CYNDAC takes 

exception to the blackmail 

and derogatory language 

used by one of the governors 

of the South- South accusing 

the minister of sponsoring 

militants <strong>against</strong> South- 

South governors. We never 

wanted to join issues with our 

governors but for the sake of 

posterity and to put records 

straight. We ask the governor 

of Rivers State to tell Nigerians 

how much he gave the 

21st CYNDAC when we 

threatened fresh oil war and 

asked President Muhammadu 

Buhari to restrain 

Transportation Minister, Rotimi 

Amaechi in March 2019. 

"We appeal to governors of 

South-South to concentrate 

more energy on their various 

states and think of how to deliver 

the dividends of democracy 

to their people, build industries 

to employ the unemployed 

youths, organise 

meaningful programmes to 

engage and discourage the 

idle and unemployed youths 

from crime and criminality in 

their various states in order to 

attract foreign investment to 

boost their states' economy. 

"We expect the governors to 

look for an avenue to partner 

with Senator Akpabio to 

change the ugly narrative of 

NDDC and Niger Delta region, 

ensure the forensic audit 

sees the light of day and 

culprits punished for the mismanagement 

and stealing of 

N19 trillion meant for the development 

of the region."




S'East benefitted more from <strong>APC</strong> govt 

than <strong>PDP</strong>'s 16 years —Umahi 

•Blames Biafra agitations on marginalisation 

•Insists, President of S'East extraction'll stop agitations 

By Chioma Gabriel 

L AGOS—GOVERNOR 

David Umahi of Ebonyi 

State and Chairman of South 

East Governors' Forum weekend, 

said the South East benefitted 

more from the Buhariled 

All Progressives Congress, 

<strong>APC</strong>, federal government 

than from Peoples Democratic 

Party's sixteen years of governance. 

Speaking to Vanguard in 

Lagos through his Commissioner 

for Information and 

State Orientation, Barr. Orji 

Uchenna Orji, Umahi said the 

Igbo have had a fair-play under 

Buhari's administration in 

terms of economic and infrastructure 

development. 

According to him, the 

N10Billion Airport rehabilitation, 

the 2nd Niger Bridge, 

the Enugu -Port-Harcourt 

Expressway and other infrastructures 

are pointers to the 

benefits the South East States 

are getting from the Buhari 

administration. "These are indications 

that this administration 

is helping the South East 

a lot more than ever.” 

He blamed the issue of Biafra 

agitations on marginalisation 

of the southeast and 

urged the Igbo to embrace 

togetherness of purpose. 

Pointing out that the Igbo 

are republicans, independent 

and enterprising in nature, he 

urged the people to embrace 

togetherness in pushing for a 

common agenda. 

“We must agree that there is 

strength in unity. Every person 

in the southeast wants 

fair-play, wants freedom, 

wants love and peace, wants 

harmony and equity. If these 

are given to every section of 

this country, there will be more 

peace, more love and more 

cooperation. 

“Passing through the civil 

war has made the Igbo more 

aggressive. But in the midst 

of these perceptions, we have 

Igbos that have generosity of 

heart. They are very hospitable. 

Infact, the Igbos regard 

visitors more than any other 

tribe. While we concede that 

no tribe is perfect in their perception 

and conception of 

things, I want to say that there 

is nothing wrong with Igbos 

having different perception of 


VISIT: Gen. Lucky Irabor, Chief of Defence Staff (4th left), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO, Nigerians 

in Diaspora Commission, NIDCOM (4th right) with other top Military Personnel, during the visit of the NIDCOM 

boss to Defence Headquarters in Abuja. 

things, but we must know that 

at the end of every disagreement, 

there must be an agreement. 

This is acceptable in a 

democratic setting. 

“We believe in constituted 

authorities, we believe in establishments. 

That is why we 

still have the Federal Republic 

of Nigeria under the able 

leadership of President Muhammadu 

Buhari. We also 

believe in the leadership of 

governors and so, our various 

shades of opinion will not be 

a barrier to governance. 

“The South East has abiding 

faith in Nigeria as a nation. 

The labours of our heroes 

past shall never be in vain. 

One of our most respected 

founding fathers, Dr. Nnamdi 

Azikiwe was in the frontline 

of championing the 

cause of one Nigeria, the 

cause of an independent Nigeria 

and we cannot for any 

reason renege from that vision. 

People express opinions 

based on a lot of factors. There 

have been issues of marginalisation 

and under-development. 

You'd recall that the 16- 

year rule of <strong>PDP</strong> did not give 

the S-East any progress. So, 

these accumulated issues 

made people to share different 

opinions but the majority 

opinion goes. Our leaders believe 

in one Nigeria where 

there is peace and I think it is 

high time Nigerian government 

considers the issue of 

conceding presidency to the 

S-East no matte the political 

party. It is important to give 

everybody a sense of belonging, 

no matter the party. We 

should fight for the corporate 

existence of Nigeria.” 

Asked if Umahi is interested 

in running for Presidency, 

the commissioner said the 

governor has not said so. 

“ I know the governor does 

anything when he is inspired. 

For now, he is content and really 

saddled with how to deliver 

the dividends of democracy 

in Ebonyi State. So far, 

so good. We have seen in him 

a man of extra-ordinary ability, 

a performer, a pace-setter 

and God's instrument and a 

vessel of honour in Ebonyi 

State. There is a great difference. 

Before he came on 

board, we have no confidence 

as a people but all that has 

changed. We were marginalised, 

denigrated but all that 

has changed. Today, we have 

a sense of confidence, a sense 

of self-worth and self-contentment. 

That, you can see in the 

face of every Ebonyian. Everywhere 

we go, we are proud to 

say we are from Ebonyi State. 

That is what is giving our 

governor joy. The next thing 

he will become is in God's 

hand. Honestly, if truth must 

be told, if somebody like 

Governor Umahi replicates 

what we are seeing in Ebonyi 

State in the Nigeria nation, 

other Nigerian leaders will 

begin to ask what is happening. 

Is it a miracle or magic? 

And I think the time has come 

for the Nigerian nation not to 

look at sentiments, not to look 

at race and tribe but to look 

at the track-records of the 

leaders and see that Umahi 

has the credentials, the stamina, 

the morale and mental 

character to deliver in the 

mandate that will launch Nigeria 

into the comity of advanced 

nations of the world. 

“I want to say that despite 

our emotions, despite our sentiments, 

despite some encounters 

we must have had in 

the hands of criminals or bandits, 

whether they are of herdsmen 

or of kidnappers, that 

should not derogate from the 

fact that we can get criminals 

anywhere in any part of 

Nigeria. But essentially, government 

of every s tate under 

this federal system that we operate, 

including the federal 

government has a primary 

responsibility under the constitution 

to secure and protect 

the lives and properties of the 

citizens. That is not negotiable. 

If any government does 

compromise that, that government 

will fail in its responsibility. 

Having said that, I 

want to say that the South East 

governors are doing very 

well. In Ebonyi State, we have 

a strategic blueprint on how 

to tackle insecurity comprehensibly. 

On the issue of criminals, 

we have fortified security 

and we have put in place 

necessary facilities to checkmate 

criminals including 

making Ebonyi a smart city 

state whereby CCTV cameras 

were installed in different 

junctions in the state to monitor 

the activities of these criminals. 

We have also gone 

ahead to establish a monitoring 

committee to monitor 

herders/farmers activities and 

ensure there is harmony and 

peaceful co-existence between 

them. Over the years, we have 

had traditional herdsmen in 

our various states in the southeast. 

What is important is that 

when there is any issue of 

herdsmen and crime committed, 

we consult with the leaders 

of the herdsmen to track 

such incidents and treat them 

accordingly. 

"We have also registered 

herdsmen in Ebonyi State. We 

know their locations and we 

also know possible areas of 

their operations and when an 

offence is committed by them, 

we know what to do to ensure 

there is no future occurrence 

of such crime. We have also 

strengthened our laws involving 

herders/farmers issue, 

armed robbery and other 

things. 

“The South East Governors 

Forum has a committee on 

security that is developing a 

template that will have a 

common application in the 

states of the southeast. Don't 

listen to anybody that says 

there is a S-East regional security 

outfit. The constitution 

on security recommends no 

regionalism. There is no central 

body that controls security 

in a zone. It is being controlled 

by the individual governors 

in the state but there is 

a central committee aimed 

at having a clear view, cooperation 

and collaboration to 

ensure resolution in the security 

issues of the zone. That is 

actually what is happening. 

As I speak, various states in 

the Southeast are working on 

what will enhance security in 

the states. They have commonality 

of spirit and intentment 

and that is the only thing 

any zone can do. 

“The issue of the agitation 

for Biafra is just a product of 

marginalisation, under-development 

and it's not the issue 

of this current administration. 

It has continued to be 

even right from independence. 

I can say authoritatively that 

we have had a fair-play under 

this administration in terms 

of economic development 

and infrastructure." 

We need neighborhood, forest 

guard laws in Igboland to end 

killings —ASETU 

By Chinonso Alozie 

OWERRI—THE National 

President of the Association 

of Southeast Town 

Unions, ASETU, Emeka 

Diwe, yesterday, said that the 

South East region should 

come up with a neighbourhood 

watch and Forest guard 

laws to stop continued killings 

by herdsmen. 

Diwe made this call in Owerri 

when a group of newspaper 

columnists and editors led 

by Chinedu Opara, gave an 

integrity award to him 

(Diwe). 

The ASETU national president 

said that the call to establish 

the above mentioned 

laws was to make farmlands 

in Igboland safe for cultivation. 

According to him, "We have 

resolved that there is a necessity 

for anti-open grazing 

laws, neighbourhood watch 

laws and forest guard laws in 

the southeast. We have written 

the southeast governors 

and all the state Houses of 

Assembly thrice in three years 

over the need for these laws. 

"Such laws, as we have since 

conceptualized, will define an 

enforceable framework that 

takes cognizance of appropriate 

punishment to defaulting 

herdsmen, restitution to victims 

and restoration of losses. 

"The laws will also restore 

hope and confidence to our 

poor and defenceless people 

at the grassroots. It is unfortunate 

that till this day, the 

laws have not been enacted." 

He further said: "We have 

made representations to the 

United Nations and the government 

of the United States 

of America over this matter. 

Never again shall we allow 

innocent men and women to 

be murdered by these herdsmen." 

Anambra 2021: 24 support 

groups converge for Soludo, 

hold prayer rally 

By Vincent Ujumadu 

AWKA —TWENTY-four 

political groups working 

for the realization of the governorship 

aspiration of the 

former governor of Central 

Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Professor 

Charles Soludo converged 

for a prayer session in 

Awka at the weekend to seek 

the face of God in the project 

they have embarked upon. 

The groups, under the aegis 

of All Soludo Support Groups 

(ASSG), have been mobilizing 

support for the former 

CBN governor, who had indicated 

interest to contest the 

November 6 governorship 

election on the platform of All 

Progressive Grand Alliance, 

APGA. 

It was gathered that the 

groups, which were being 

funded by some individuals 

across party lines in the state 

since 2019, have been wooing 

Soludo to join the governorship 

contest on the premise 

that he has the capability to 

move Anambra State to greater 

heights. 

The session, which took 

place at Dora Akunyili Women 

Development Center in the 

state capital featured rally 

and prayers from Christian 

denominations, including the 

Catholic, Anglican and Pentecostal 

churches. 

Former member of the 

House of Representatives, 

Hon Ifeanyi Ibezi who 

chaired the event said the 

groups were formidable 

enough to constitute an intimidating 

political structure 

for Soludo. 

He said: "All the 24 support 

groups now constitute the 

structure of the aspirant and 

we urge all the other people 

going around as aspirants to 

step down for Soludo. 

"We will use Soludo to teach 

other political parties the 

same lesson we have always 

taught them. In 2017, most 

people said Obiano would not 

return but at the end, he won 

21 out of the 21 local government 

areas." 

Addressing the groups, Soludo 

said he was moved to tears 

seeing the crowd of people 

from all the 24 groups, who 

have been working for his 

emergence as governor, despite 

having not met him personally 

before. 

Nigeria's a breathing tragedy 

—Catholic Bishop 

By Chidi Nkwopara 

OWERRI—THE intracta 

ble state of insecurity 

that has gripped Nigerian citizens 

is said to have reduced 

Nigeria to "a horror movie 

and a breathing tragedy". 

The Catholic Archbishop of 

Owerri Ecclesiastical Province, 

Most Rev. Anthony J. V. 

Obinna, made his feelings 

known in Owerri, after assessing 

the current state of affairs 

in the country. 

His words: "Nigeria has 

now become like a horror 

film, a vivid and breathing 

tragedy due to the constant 

unease and fear which intractable 

state of insecurity has 

generated in the citizens. 

"Like the leaders, priests and 

people of Judah, Israel at the 

time of their captivity and exile 

in Babylon, we (Nigerians) 

live like captives in our nation. 

Nigeria is witnessing the anguish 

and misery of so many 

of our people." 

The cleric was irked that 

Nigerians are kidnapped, 

raped and killed everyday, 

adding that even school children 

are not spared from the 

trauma. 

He said: "Nigerians are 

kidnapped, raped and killed, 

even school children. Their 

homes and forests are invaded 

and sometimes set on fire, 

as their churches, mosques, 

schools and businesses are 

destroyed with daily livelihood 

threatened and normal 

life suspended." 

Archbishop Obinna was 

also disturbed that commuters 

on the nation's highways 

are not only traveling in fear 

but are also unsure of arriving 

safely to their destinations. 

He reminded Christians 

that: "We are in the season of 

Lent, God given time to repent 

of our sins, of our infidelities 

to God, of the abominations 

in our nation and state, and of 

the pollutions and corruption 

in our personal and corporate 

lives."




TRAINING: From left—Consultant, Public Procurement, Ibrahim Abu; Deputy Chairman, House Committee on 

Public Procurement, Hon. Uju Kingsley; Director General, Bureau of Public Procurement, Mamman Ahmadu 

and Chairman, House Committee on Public Procurement, Hon. Nassir Ali Ahmed, during the training for members 

of the committee in Abuja, weekend. 

Hijab: End controversy now before it soars, 

Catholic Bishop tells Kwara govt 

•AS ECWA Church insists no Hijab in its schools 

By Etop Ekanem & 

Demola Akinyemi 

ILORIN—THE Catholic 

Archbishop of Lagos, Dr Alfred 

Martins, has decried ongoing 

Hijab controversy in 

some Kwara State schools, 

and advised the state government 

to end the matter now 

before it escalates. 

This came as Evangelical 

Church Winning All, ECWA, 

dismissed insinuations that it 

had agreed to the directive of 

the state government to allow 

the use of Hijab in its schools 

especially ECWA Schools, 

Oja-Iya, Ilorin. 

The Archbishop, who spoke, 

during the celebration of 30th 

anniversary of St. Francis 

Catholic Secondary School, 

Idimi, Lagos, among others, 

said: "If a school was started 

by Christians or Muslims, it 

should be able to retain it character 

in all ramifications and 

not to use some subterranean 

measures to wipe away the 

Christians or Muslim foundations. 

"This is not acceptable and 

it does give an indication of 

religious intolerance or perhaps 

efforts to dominate, 

which is not appropriate in a 

country that is secular by constitution, 

and in the way of 

operation. We hope the Kwara 

State government will ensure 

that it handles this matter so 

that it does not become a bigger 

issue than it is now." 

According to him, if the 

schools were returned to the 

original Christian owners, 

"the kind of values we used to 

have that were so present in 

the children in the past would 

be restored. One can only 

hope that the government of 

Kwara State will recognise 

the fact that it cannot do it 

alone. It should be humble 

enough to use the benefits of 

hundreds of years of education 

principles that the Christian 

schools have had, which 

have completely made a difference 

in the value system in 

the country." 

On his part, Chairman, 

ECWA District Church Councils 

Rev Vincent Akintunde, in 

statement, said, "We would 

like to put the records straight 

by asserting that ECWA is totally 

<strong>against</strong> the use of Hijab 

in our grant-aided mission 

schools. We wish to inform the 

general public that our initial 


concern was not the use of 

Hijab. Our initial concern 

bothers on the ownership of 

the schools. Our contention is 

<strong>against</strong> the Kwara State government 

which allowed the 

Muslim groups which subtly 

introduced the issue of Hijab 

to the case to distract us from 

our primary concern even 

Lagos bound Aero Contractors plane 

from Kano, suffers bird strike 

Security: Labour threatens AMP terminals over 

engagement of S-African firm 

By Victor Ahiuma- 

Young 

MARITIME WORKERS 

Union of Nigeria, 

MWUN, weekend accused 

APM Terminals, Nigeria, of 

secretly outsourcing its security 

to a South African firm, 

to the detriment of Nigerians, 

demanding immediate reversal 

to avoid industrial unrest. 

Efforts to reach APM terminals 

for comments were unsuccessful. 

Several calls and 

text message to its spokesperson 

were not answered or responded 

to at the time of this 

report. 

However, MWUN in a 

statement by its President- 

General, Prince Adewale 

Adeyanju, insisted that the 

engagement of the South African 

firm was a breach of the 

agreement reached between 

the Union and AMP Terminal 

management which stated 

that "In the event of a further 

need for outsourcing in 

the operations, the MWUN 

and management of APMT 

while the matter is still pending 

in the Supreme Court. 

"Following this backdrop, 

we consider the reopening of 

the 10 grand-aided mission 

schools and the permission to 

use Hijab by the Kwara State 

government while the case is 

pending in the Supreme Court 

premature, ill-motived and a 

By Lawani Mikairu 

KANO—AERO Contrac 

tors airlines plane on a 

scheduled flight from Mallam 

Aminu Kano International 

Airport, Kano, to Lagos 

yesterday suffered bird strike. 

According to an eyewitness 

who said he was at the Kano 

airport when the incident 

happened, " the aircraft with 

about 100 passengers on 

board had been airborne for 

about 15 minutes when the 

pilot announced a problem in 

one of its engines and contacted 

the Kano Airport control 

tower that he was returning 

to Kano airport". 

The eyewitness, who spoke 

on condition of anonymity, 

said the plane landed safely 

with no casualty. 

On landing, the engines 

were checked by engineers 

after the pilot reported that "a 

bird had struck the engine'. 

Confirming the bird's strike, 

Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, 

NCAA,the General Manager, 

Public Relations , NCAA, 

Mr Sam Adurugboye, said 

the authority had been duly 

will discuss and reach an 

agreement." 

The statement which informed 

that the South African 

firm was engaged on Thursday 

March 18th, 2021, "is a 

threat to national security. 

Security is also very paramount 

in this trying period of 

growing incidences of breaches 

in security all over our nation. 

So, any act capable of 

further contributing to its 

breakdown should be met 

with serious attention. To forestall 

a further breach of security 

situation in our ports we 

wish to bring to the attention 

of the general public the dangerous 

activities aimed undermining 

the security of our 

nation's maritime security in 

particular and the national 

security in general. 

"We are more alarmed because 

what this means is that 

the security functions of APM 

Terminals which is the biggest 

receiver of containerized cargo 

in our nation's seaport has 

been outsourced to foreign nationals 

without input from 

gross violation of the rule of 

law. 

"We consider the action of 

the state government on this 

matter an injustice; and we 

would use every legitimate 

means to fight for our Godgiven 

property and heritage 

in the state. We want to use the 

opportunity of this platform 

to say to the state government 

that ECWA will not accept the 

use of Hijab in her schools 

under any circumstances and 

our schools should be given 

back to us." 

informed about the incident, 

adding " Yes. We are aware. 

Definitely, we are aware of the 

incident". 

At the time of this report, the 

plane was still at the Kano 

Airport for further examination 

and necessary action. 

Bird strikes are regular occurrence 

in flight operations. 

This is more prevalent in airports 

where there are overgrown 

bushes and grasses that 

attract birds. 

Airports with abattoirs near 

their vicinity also experience 

constant bird strikes. 

local and internal security 

systems. This may open up our 

ports to all sorts of inflow of 

dangerous cargo. We wish to 

inform the general public that 

APM Terminals is unilateral 

and a clear violation of clause 

3 of an existing Agreement 

reached between the Union 

and the management which 

states that "In the event of a 

further need for outsourcing 

in the operations, the MWUN 

and management of APMT 

will discuss and reach an 

agreement. 

"Suffice it to say that APM 

Terminals unilateral action 

has caused restiveness 

amongst the rank and file of 

our members, as we have neither 

discussed nor reached any 

agreement on outsourcing of 

security functions of any organization. 

We view this as an 

anti - labour practise and disrespect 

for the Nigerian people 

and needs. 

‘‘Consequent upon the foregoing, 

the Union has demanded 

for an immediate reversal 

of this unilateral action and 

maintain the status quo to 

avoid any crisis in your terminal." 

Tiv group demands resignation 

of Reps Deputy Speaker over 

diaspora petition row 

By Peter Duru 

M AKURDI—THE 

Mzough U Tiv, MUT, 

worldwide, has called on the 

Deputy Speaker of the House 

of Representatives, Mr. Ahmed 

Wase, to resign his position and 

save the country further embarrassment 

being generated 

by the diaspora petition rejection 

row. 

The call followed the outrage 

that greeted the Deputy 

Speaker's rejection of the petition 

by the Mutual Union of 

Tiv in America, MUTA, 

brought before the House last 

week by the member representing 

Gwer East/Gwer West Federal 

Constituency of Benue 

State, Mr. Mark Gbillah. 

The President General of 

MUT worldwide, Chief Iorbee 

Ihagh who made the call Yesterday 

in Makurdi said the 

action of the Deputy Speaker 

was tantamount to denying the 

Tivs in diaspora their fundamental 

rights to be heard as 

Nigerians. 

According to him, the MUT 

"viewed this action or inaction 

as a calculated attempt to 

shield verifiable facts and fig- 

Mamora commissions projects 

at FMC 

ASABA—MINISTER of 

State, Health, Senator 

Olorunnimbe Mamora, has 

commissioned a Molecular 

Biology Laboratory, a 15 - 

room Intensive Care Unit, a 

40 - room House Officers 

Quarters and a Guest House 

of 17 rooms, executed by the 

authorities of the Federal 

Medical Center, Asaba, Delta 

State. 

Senator Mamora who 

weekend, commissioned the 

projects, commended the 

management of the hospital 

for delivering such quality 

landmark projects, which 

would make healthcare services 

easily accessible and affordable 

to the people of Delta 

and the neighbouriing 

states. 

Senator Mamora applauded 

the Director General of the 

Nigeria Center for Disease 

Control, NCDC, Dr. Chikwe 

Ihekweazu, for facilitating the 

construction of the Molecular 

Biology Laboratory, saying 

it was part of measures to 

Lokoja varsity goes tough on 

cultism, exam malpractices 

By Boluwaji 

Obahopo 

ures on the state of insecurity 

and the accompanying vulnerable 

and deplorable condition 

of the displaced Tiv people 

who have over several years 

turned into refugees in their 

fatherland due to the nefarious 

activities of the marauding 

Fulani herdsmen in Benue, 

Taraba and Nassarawa states." 

Chief Ihagh explained that 

since MUT was registered 

with the Corporate Affairs 

Commission and with authority 

to establish branches across 

the country and in the diaspora 

there was no acceptable reason 

justifying the disruption of 

the presentation of the petition. 

"We insist that the petition is 

re-presented and a public apology 

tendered by Hon. Ahmed 

Wase. We also warn <strong>against</strong> 

any further frustration in the 

process of re-presenting the 

petition by any member of the 

green chamber. We call on 

members of the green chamber 

to compel him to honorably 

and voluntarily resign 

from the position of the Deputy 

Speaker with immediate effect 

to save the House and Nigeria 

as a democratic society 

from a slumbering image." 

improve response to the management 

of the COVID - 19 

pandemic. 

The Minister acknowledged 

the immense support 

and assistance of Delta Governor, 

Senator Ifeanyi 

Okowa, to FMC Asaba, particularly 

in containing the 

spread of the COVID - 19 pandemic, 

adding that it affirmed 

the determination of the Governor 

to improve the health 

status of his people. 

The Medical Director, Dr. 

Victor Osiatuma, said FMC 

Asaba was established in August 

1998, and took off from 

the premises of the old General 

Hospital, Asaba, with old 

buildings and equipment and 

no take off grant. 

Dr. Osiatuma said although 

the beginning was rough, the 

hospital was able to transform 

massively and quickly to fulfill 

the roles expected of it, 

pointing out that the four capital 

projects commissioned 

were the results of the prudence 

and resourcefulness of 

the management of the hospital. 

LOKOJA—The Federal 

University Lokoja,FUJ, has 

read the riot act to students of 

the school, warning them to 

stay away from examination 

malpractices and cultism or 

risk expulsion. 

Vice Chancellor of the university, 

Prof. Olayemi Akinwumi 

spoke weekend during 

the institution 2019/2020 matriculation 

ceremony. 

Akinwumin in his address 

tittles, "Remember The Children 

of Whom You Are" urged 

the new students to developed 

themselves both in character 

and learning, saying "Whatever 

will be the end result of your 

academic career here in Federal 

University Lokoja will be 

dependent on how you determine 

to study, "As you lay your 

beds is exactly how you will 

lie on them. My dear children, 

I urged you all to look 

back and always remember 

the home you are coming 

from and reflect on your activities 

in these three or four 

years that you will sojourn 

here in search of Academic 

laurels that will launch you 

into the future. In doing this, 

you must always remember 

the children of who you are. 

Akinwumi specifically listed 

involvement in cult activities, 

examination malpractice, 

improper dressing as 

those forces that attract expulsion 

from the citadel, 

"Obedience to all the provisions 

in the students handbook 

will save you from unnecessary 

embarrassment."


Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 22, 2021 — 15


Send Opinions & Letters to: 

opinions1234@yahoo.com 

The truth in the DNA of falsehood 

BANDITS have taken over 

parts of the country, 

especially the North West, in a 

determined effort to make banditry 

the most lucrative industry in the 

country. While they are united in 

their efforts and are growing 

bolder, the governors of the states 

are divided. 

Some governors see the bandits 

as victims of ethnic cleansing, 

others argue that there should be 

negotiations, amnesty and 

compensation for them. 

However, Kaduna State 

Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, 

disagrees, arguing that bandits are 

criminals who must face the wrath 

of the law and justice. He said 

rather than negotiating with them, 

bandits and other criminal 

elements “must be degraded and 

decimated to a state of 

unconditional submission to 

constituted authority”. 

His submitted that criminal 

gangs, bandits, insurgents and 

ethno-religious militias in making 

a conscious decision to challenge 

the country’s sovereignty and 

terrorise the citizenry must be 

wiped out immediately and 

without hesitation. 

He says banditry has driven 

farmers from their land, putting 

food security at risk, displaced 


communities, stolen property and 

deprived people of their right to 

life and that a stop must be put to 

these criminal acts so the people 

can live in peace. 

To achieve these objectives, El- 

Rufai advocates better training 

and equipment for the security 

forces, increasing their numbers, 

upgrading them technologically 

and modernising their 

armaments. 

He argued that the security of 

communities depends on the 

robust projection of state power 

and the ability to overawe and 

deter criminals. He emphasised 

that: “The prerogatives of the state 

need to be asserted, not merely 

proclaimed. The people we put in 

uniform must never be placed in 

avoidable danger, outgunned or 

outnumbered by non-state actors.” 

He also made the sensible 

argument that policing a large 

country like Nigeria with a 

923,768 square-kilometre landmass 

in a unitary manner is not 

pragmatic. So, the establishment 

of state police and other levels of 

policing, is inevitable. 

He regretted the lack of synergy 

among the governors in the North 

West on how to fight banditry, 

pointing out that a: “State like 

Zamfara adopted a policy of 

dialogue with the gunmen, giving 

them amnesty, which I don’t 

believe in. With this, we have 

differences on how to tackle the 

situation.” He submits that: “It is 

deceitful to believe that a person 

who is now counting millions as 

gains from ransom will embrace 

dialogue and return to his previous 

lifestyle where he saw little money 

occasionally.” 

He warned his fellow governors 

who are prevaricating that if they 

do not unite and let the Federal 

Government provide the states 

with soldiers and police to go after 

the bandits in the forests and 

Should El-Rufai’s 

position be taken on 

face value when less 

than five years ago he 

had a completely 

different position? 

eliminate them, it will be difficult 

to defeat banditry. 

I was so enamoured with El- 

Rufai’s principled, foresighted and 

statesmanly position that I almost 

hit the road to Kaduna to go shake 

his hand, salute his courage and 

pledge my support. The only 

restraint was that owing to 

activities of bandits on the Abuja- 

Kaduna highway, I needed to go 

into days of fasting and prayers. 

Then, doubts started creeping in; 

should El-Rufai’s position be taken 

on face value when less than five 

years ago he had a completely 

different position? 

In 2016 as bandits ravaged 

Kaduna State, El-Rufai as the 

governor rather than use or rely 

on the security forces to restore law 

and order, choose to negotiate and 

pay off the killers, in some cases 

sending state funds to pay them in 

neigbouring countries. 

He told journalists this rather 

bizarre story himself: “For 

Southern Kaduna, we didn’t 

understand what was going on and 

we decided to set up a committee 

under Gen. Martin Luther Agwai 

(retd) to find out what was going 

on there. What was established was 

that the root of the problem has a 

history starting from the 2011 

post-election violence. 

"Fulani herdsmen from across 

Africa bring their cattle down 

towards the Middle Belt and 

Southern Nigeria. The moment the 

rains start around March, April, 

they start moving them up to go 

back to their various communities 

and countries. 

"Unfortunately, it was when they 

were moving up with their cattle 

across Southern Kaduna that the 

elections of 2011 took place and 

the crisis trapped some of them. 

Some of them were from Niger, 

Cameroon, Chad, Mali and 

Senegal. Fulanis are in 14 African 

countries and they traverse this 

country with the cattle. So many 

of these people were killed, cattle 

lost and they organised themselves 

and came back to revenge. So a 

lot of what was happening in 

Southern Kaduna was actually 

from outside Nigeria... 

"We took certain steps. We got a 

group of people that were going 

round trying to trace some of these 

people in Cameroon, Niger 

Republic and so on to tell them that 

there is a new governor who is 

Fulani like them and has no 

problem paying compensations 

for lives lost and he is begging 

them to stop killing. 

"In most of the communities, 

once that appeal was made to 

them, they said they have forgiven. 

There are one or two that asked 

for monetary compensation. They 

said they have forgiven the death 

of human beings, but want 

compensation for cattle. We said 

no problem, and we paid some.” 

There is no record that like the 

foreign herders, he also paid the 

local farmers and citizens, some 

of who were also killed with their 

farms and homes destroyed. The 

identity of the killers El-Rufai paid 

and how much they were paid is 

not certain. It is also not known if 

they used the so-called 

compensation to buy more arms. 

However, what is certain is that the 

terror <strong>attack</strong>s did not abate. 

So which of the El-Rufai positions 

is his true position? Is it the one 

five years ago when he presented 

the bandits as victims for whom 

he crossed borders into countries 

like Niger, Cameroon, Chad, Mali 

and Senegal not only to ask them 

to forgive Nigerians, but also pay 

them to stop coming to kill 

Nigerians, or what he is espousing 

now which is that these killers are 

mere criminals with whom there 

should be no negotiations, no 

amnesty given and no ransom 

paid? 

Did he have a change of mind, in 

which case he needs to so express 

and explain why? I think as 

humans, we can make mistakes, 

but he should own up to his 

mistakes and not to act as if this 

has always been his position. 

I am trying to work out in my 

mind whether El-Rufai’s current 

position that banditry should be 

taken headlong and stamped out 

is a principled one or one dictated 

by the 2023 presidential election 

which he is rumoured to be 

interested in either as candidate or 

running mate. If you know the 

truth, please tell us. 

The changing face of Awka 

By EJIKE ANYADUBA 

UNTIL the inception of the Obiano 

administration, not much, in terms 

of development, was seen in Awka. Previous 

administrations in the state seemed 

concerned with efforts to improve 

development in other sectors of the 

economy with little or no attention to 

structural deficit in the state capital. For a 

time the state of infrastructural decay in 

Awka seemed certain of continuing 

unabated. The road to its attaining the 

status of a capital city became one hell of 

a winding path. 

Awka was so barren of growth that it 

almost became a byword for stagnation 

and underdevelopment. State capitals 

created alongside it took time to develop 

while it stalled. Landmark projects were 

virtually non-existent. It was so bad that 

travellers - even passersby - claimed they 

passed Awka unnoticed. At a point 

journalists from Lagos who were in 

Anambra State for official assignments 

expressed the same concern about the 

bleakness and lifelessness of the capital 

city. In almost one breath, they asked where 

the state capital is. To rub it in, when they 

arrived Onitsha North council 

headquarters they declared it as more 

befitting of a State House. It took almost 

a rehash of the story of large scale 

destruction of government properties, 

including the State House sometime in 

2003, to explain away the poor condition 

of Awka. As was expected very few of them 

were taken in by the explanation. Most 

demurred and dismissed the story as 

lacking in merit. 

The story of Awka capital city was one 

told with a tinge of regret. Perhaps, a lot of 

people took for granted that the capital of 

Anambra State must rank among the best 

in the country. Unfortunately, that was 

never the case as the famed blacksmith 

town tottered in progressive decline. Policy 

framework of the previous administrations 

appeared not to favour development of 

Awka just as some known factors also 

militated <strong>against</strong> it. Neither its prime 

location (Awka is located midway between 

Enugu and Onitsha) nor its rich history as 

an administrative centre for the defunct 

colonial administration in the East could 

advance its fortune. But more than that, 

private developers (at least Anambra has 

a surfeit of them) appeared unimpressed 

with the idea of pitching development in 

the town. 

Lack of physical infrastructure, 

Even if everybody will not 

admit the effort of this 

government in changing the 

face of Awka, it will be 

churlish of any to <strong>attack</strong> that 

effort 

insecurity of life and property as well as 

land racketeering contributed to deny Awka 

the attention of investors. What is more, a 

good number of potential developers 

headed west and pitched tent in Asaba. The 

hope of developing the fledgling capital 

has been dashed. However, nothing lasts 

forever. The problems are gradually easing 

off. The decisiveness of the Obiano 

government in handling the situation has 

ensured gradual, but steady development 

of what should be one of Nigeria's foremost 

state capitals. 

It can be said with a measure of pride 

that no traveller can claim to pass Awka 

again without noticing it. A change has 

occurred that nestled Awka on a 

comfortable range among the best in 

Nigeria. But for the speed of 

transformation, many would have 

dismissed the governor’s promise of 

transforming the state as a political talk. 

Truth is that he is yet to renege on the 

promise he made to ndi Anambra when 

inaugurating members of the board of 

Awka Capital Territory Development 

Authority, ACTDA, early in his 

administration. 

Among other things he charged the board 

to draw up a capital city that would 

favourably compete with the best in the 

country. So far, three state-of-the art bridges 

have been built in Awka to alleviate severe 

traffic situation in the town and for 

aesthetics. The bridges were designed with 

floodlights that illuminate dark ends of 

Arroma junction and beyond. Elsewhere in 

the capital city, a 1000-seater International 

Conference Centre is nearing completion, 

as is the Awka International Stadium 

complex. Even with a surfeit of sports men 

and women the state has no standard 

stadium. 

A lot of interconnecting roads within the 

capital city like Esther Obiako, Ifite, 

Stamford, Ekwueme were reconstructed 

with beautiful kerb sides to give access to 

otherwise inaccessible areas and to take 

traffic off problem points. The State House 

was also refurbished to reflect the authority 

it wields in the political administration of 

the state. New estates are also emerging 

either at the instance of the government or 

in partnership with private developers. 

The icing on the cake was lightning up 

the entire capital city through installation 

of streets lights. This has returned night life 

which died with years of violent crime in 

the state. Economic activities have since 

moved some notches higher with new areas 

like Club Road offering social and 

economic services all through the night. 

Arroma and Government House, two areas 

known for fruit markets, have also 

witnessed a burst of nocturnal activities. 

Greengrocers now defy time to stay up the 

night to ply their trade. 

It has been argued that but for the 

uncommon commitment of the Obiano 

government to change the face of Awka, 

the capital city will still be without marked 

distinction. If the administration did not 

insulate itself from the disease of 

procrastination as seemed the tradition, 

Awka would still look like a glorified local 

council headquarters. It did not just rouse 

itself from the infectious indifference, but 

it has worked its hands off to sustain the 

development effort on the double. 

By March of next year when the 

government would have completed its two 

terms of eight years, Awka, the blacksmith 

town, hopes to develop to a certain level 

where no one, be they in favour or <strong>against</strong>, 

will dismiss Awka as less of a state capital. 

Regardless, more effort should go into 

renewal of the city in order to move it to 

the level that befits the quality of human 

capital that composes the state. With the 

interest shown in building up the city, it 

does not seem subsequent administrations 

will treat the capital city with levity. Awka 

has come to take its place and favourably 

compete with others noted for their 

excellence. 

Even if everybody will not admit the effort 

of this government in changing the face of 

Awka, it will be churlish of any to <strong>attack</strong> 

that effort. Truth is that the administration 

has shown uncommon statecraft in 

attending to all aspects of the state 

economy under an excruciating economy. 

If progress were the reason behind the 

clamour for the creation of Anambra State, 

it behoves everybody, including naysayers, 

to commend government effort evident in 

virtually every aspect of the economy. The 

Obiano government has demonstrated 

both in speech and in action that it is 

determined to leave the state better than it 

met it. It only needs support to finish strong. 

•Anyaduba, a public affairs 

commentator, wrote from Abatete, 

Anambra State 

C 

M 

Y




NOBODY will live forever. 

There is a time and a season 

for everything under the sun, says 

the Preacher. A time to be born and 

a time to die. John Magufuli, President 

of the United Republic of Tanzania, 

passed away on Wednesday, 

March 17, 2021 after a protracted 

illness. He was aged 61. His deputy, 

Samia Suluhu Hassan, has been 

sworn in as his successor; the first 

woman in the country’s illustrious 

post-independence history. 

He had not been seen in public 

for about a month. It was rumoured 

that he had contracted the evil virus; 

but it transpires that he died of 

a cardiac arrest. He had been battling 

with a heart condition for 

years. It is the end of an era. 

John Magufuli was one of the 

most outstanding leaders of our 

New Africa, alongside Festus 

Mogae, Meles Zenawi, Pedro Pires, 

Hifikepunye Pohamba, Joaquim 

Chissano, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf 

and Paul Kagame. Tanzanians 

have been thrown into mourning. 

It is rare for ordinary people to 

speak of an African leader with genuine 

love in their hearts. Niccolo 

Machiavelli recommended that if 

a prince has to choose between being 

loved and being feared, he 

would be wise to choose the latter. 

Most of our leaders are more feared 

than loved by their citizens. Magufuli 

was a rare exception in this regard. 

He was a genuine servantleader 

who was truly beloved by the 

ordinary wananchi of Tanzania. 

But he was also feared – some 

would say, reviled — by elites who 


Magufuli as a servant-leader 

live in gilded privilege by sucking 

the blood of the people. 

He was following in the footsteps 

of the founding-father of Tanzania, 

the illustrious Julius Kambarage 

Nyerere (1922—1999). Scholar, 

statesman and pan-African socialist, 

Mwalimu Nyerere was a humble 

and incorruptible statesman. 

He gave Tanzanians a sense of genuine 

pride in their nationhood. Tanzania 

today is different from neighbouring 

Kenya where ethnic animosities 

are bitter and toxic. 

John Pombe Joseph Magufuli was 

born in Chato district on the shores 

of Lake Victoria on October 29, 

1959. He came from humble stock. 

During the campaign trail in 2015, 

he declared: “Our home was grassthatched, 

and like many boys, I was 

assigned to herd cattle, as well as 

selling milk and fish to support my 

family…. I know what it means to 

be poor. I will strive to help improve 

people’s welfare”. 

A school teacher by training, he 

studied Education and Science at 

University Dar es Salaam, earning 

a doctorate in Chemistry in 2009. 

After a stint in teaching, he joined 

the Nyanza Cooperative Union as 

an industrial chemist during 1989- 

1995. He successfully stood for election 

as MP for Chato under the platform 

of the ruling Chamacha Mapinduzi 

(CCM). His abilities caught 

the attention of the then President 

Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, who appointed 

him to a succession of ministerial 

cabinet positions: Lands, 

Livestock and Fisheries; Works, 

Transport and Communications. 

Magufuli gave Tanzanians 

renewed confidence 

in their sense of 

nationhood; he left the 

scene at a time when 

things were looking up 

and the country was 

poised to register bigger 

milestones in economic 

development 

senteeism that had been so rife 

among civil servants. That same 

week he announced a blanket ban 

on all foreign travels for public servants 

in order to conserve scarce 

foreign exchange; saving in the process 

as much as $430 million for 

the treasury in 2017 alone. 

He also scrapped the rather costly 

traditional Independence Day 

celebrations that hold every December 

9. He declared it, instead, as a 

day for cleaning up the country. He 

was often seen picking up rubbish 

outside State House in the capital 

In July 2015, he won the CCM 

presidential primaries <strong>against</strong> rivals 

Asha-Rose Migiro, former UN 

Deputy Secretary-General and veteran 

diplomat Amina Salum Ali. 

He went on to clinch the national 

elections and was sworn in as the 

fifth President of Tanzania on November 

5, 2015. He won a second 

five-year term in October 2020, 

under circumstances that were 

somewhat more controversial. It 

was claimed that opposition 

groups were muzzled and that the 

elections were marred by a general 

“climate of fear”. 

One of the first decisions he took 

as president was to slash his own 

monthly salary from $15,000 to 

$4,000. On his first day in office, he 

made a surprise visit to the Ministry 

of Finance to find out how many 

people had actually turned up for 

work. He made it clear that he 

would not brook the traditional abof 

Dar es Salaam. He said it was 

unseemly to spend so much on mere 

festivities “when our people are dying 

of cholera”. He also trimmed 

the cabinet from 30 to 19 ministers. 

Magufuli was nicknamed “the 

bulldozer” because of his prowess 

in infrastructural development – 

highways and bridges, port facilities, 

aviation, energy, mining and 

railways. 

But he was also not one to shy 

away from controversy. He was criticized 

for human rights abuses by 

Amnesty International and others. 

Churches and civil society groups 

cried foul about the alleged muzzling 

of opposition voices. In July 

2016, he banned shisha smoking, 

pointing to its bad effects on the 

youths. He upheld the legislation 

on a 30-year jail term for same-sex 

liaisons. He expelled groups campaigning 

for LGBTQ rights. 

A devout Catholic, the late president 

was also staunchly opposed to 

abortion and family planning. He 

accused those opting for family 

planning of being “lazy” and not 

wanting to “work hard to feed a 

large family”. He was also a contrarian 

regarding COVID-19, 

which he dismissed as a global 

scam. When the first test kits were 

brought to Dar es Salaam, he had 

them secretly tested on goats and 

chickens. When a goat tested positive, 

he was derisive. He was also 

opposed to the generalised lockdown, 

especially on places of worship. 

He was quoted as saying: “Corona 

is the devil and it cannot survive 

in the body of Jesus”. To his 

last day, he continued advocating 

for home-grown steam and herbal 

remedies, including the concoction 

from Madagascar. 

Magufili was among a new breed 

of African leaders who do not suffer 

from the innate inferiority complex 

that afflicts many of our people 

when they are faced with our 

new Roman proconsuls. 

He must have inevitably made 

powerful enemies within and outside 

Tanzania. He expelled the 

UNDP Country Representative. He 

denounced the EU-East African 

trade deal as a form of “neocolonialism”. 

The EU broke diplomatic 

relations and stopped bilateral 

aid. In 2017, he accused the British 

gold-mining company, Acacia, of 

tax evasion, slamming an unprecedented 

tax bill of $190 billion after 

250 of their containers were intercepted 

at the port in Dar es Salaam. 

The company settled for a 

payment of $300 million as well as 

concession of a 16% stake for the 

government. The government 

passed a new law empowering it to 

terminate or renegotiate a mining 

contract in the event of proven 

fraud. 

Magufuli famously dismissed the 

offer of a $10 billion Chinese loan 

with a remark that only a “madman” 

could accept the terms. 

The late president scores high on 

macroeconomic management. 

Tanzania for decades operated a 

poverty-stricken, centralised command 

economy. He successfully 

engineered a new prosperity. Economic 

growth averaged nearly six 

percent annually. He gave Tanzanians 

renewed confidence in their 

sense of nationhood. He left the 

scene at a time when things were 

looking up and the country was 

poised to register bigger milestones 

in economic development. 

In defending the honour of Tanzania 

and the dignity of our glorious 

continent, Magufuli undoubtedly 

incurred the wrath of powerful 

enemies from within and outside 

his country. 

No man is perfect. The highest 

wisdom of statecraft is to know that 

even the saint will occasionally get 

his hands dirty. Magufuli was no 

saint. But he was the quintessential 

servant-leader. He served his people 

with compassion and justice. 

According to Joseph Warioba, a 

former Prime Minister, Magufuli 

could easily have become one of 

the richest men in Tanzania. But it 

is to his eternal credit that he never 

succumbed to that temptation. 

He lived a strenuous and austere 

life, like a Trappist Monk. God and 

History will absolve him. His will 

be a rest of the righteous and the 

just. 

Is the future of our educational system not imperiled? 

By CHIEDU UCHE OKOYE 

NOBODY can gainsay the fact that 

education is the bedrock of national 

development, globally. Any nation-state that 

is keen on and desirous of achieving 

sustainable economic growth and 

technological advancement should place 

much premium on issues bedeviling its 

educational system. The super power 

countries which have military might, 

economic wealth and technological culture, 

have great educational institutions. And 

their schools are bastions of scientific 

knowledge and studies in the arts and 

humanities. Regarding countries with great 

schools, America readily comes to my mind. 

Doesn’t it have Harvard University, 

Massachusetts Institute of Technology and 

others? And, in England, there is the Oxford 

University. 

Now, some Asian countries have evolved 

their technological culture with help and 

inputs from their universities. And their 

scholars have formulated variants of 

democracy that suit their respective 

countries’ cultural peculiarities. National 

development is dependent on functional 

educational system. Not surprisingly, 

Nigeria brings up the rear on the ladder of 

global national development chiefly 

because of its dysfunctional educational 

system. It is an irrefutable fact that there is 

a correlation between the growth of a 

country and the effectiveness of its 

educational system. 

Until the mid-1980s, universities in 

Nigeria used to be the educational Mecca 

for foreign students who sought quality 

education. However, the rot in our 

educational system as well as the dip in the 

quality of education obtainable in our 

schools came in the wake of the military 

adventurism. We still remember how a 

military dictator deported Dr.Patrick 

Wilmot, a lecturer at Ahmadu Bello 

Universtity, Kaduna to his home country. 

Other progressive-minded intellectuals and 

lecturers were hounded out of the country 

too. The brain-drain that ensued in Nigeria 

became the brain-gain of many European 

countries, Canada and America. Now, from 

Asia to Antarctica and from Europe to 

America, many topnotch doctors, lawyers, 

lecturers, scientists and astronauts, who are 

contributing meaningfully to the 

development of their host countries, hail 

from Nigeria. 

Back home in Nigeria, our academics and 

scientists in the citadels of learning do dish 

Education should take its pride 

of place in Nigeria as only 

skillful and knowledgeable 

people can drive our national 

developmental initiatives 

out recycled 30-year old lecture notes to their 

students, not to talk of their pushing back 

the frontiers of knowledge in their areas of 

specialisation. But the lecturers’ lack of 

creativity and lukewarm attitude to their 

jobs are caused by the government’s utter 

and criminal neglect of the educational 

sector which has become both normative 

and phenomenal. 

Luckily, and thankfully too, some 

corporate organisations have instituted 

prizes to honour and reward secondary 

school teachers who are outstanding in their 

core duties of moulding the personalities of 

students and imparting knowledge and 

skills to them. Gone are the days when 

people would always say that teachers’ 

rewards are in heaven. But we are not 

unconscious of the stark fact that giving 

teachers prizes is an incentive and 

recognition that will boost their morale and 

spur them to give their best. 

And it should be noted that since 2015, 

the Nigerian Breweries Plc, the organisation 

that instituted the Maltina Teacher of the 

Year Prize, has been honouring and 

rewarding teachers yearly for their splendid 

performances in the field of teaching. In the 

maiden edition of the Nigerian Breweries 

Plc Maltina Teacher of the Year 

Competition, Rose Nkem Obi, a selfeffacing 

petite Chemistry teacher from 

Federal Government Girls’ College 

Nkwelle-Ezunaka, won the national 

teaching diadem. Mrs. Obi attributed her 

victory to a blend of her faith in God and 

sedulous disposition. She said that her 

winning the teaching diadem has boosted 

her enthusiasm for teaching and given her 

a huge voice to offer suggestions to 

government at different levels on how to 

revamp our comatose educational system. 

Her winning the award gave her an 

opportunity to undergo an educational 

programme at the University of 

Manchester, United Kingdom, where she 

was taught effective methodologies of 

teaching. Lately, I visited her at Federal 

Government Girls’ College, Nkwelle- 

Ezunaka, and she offered her suggestions 

on how we can tackle our educational 

problems. “Our school curricula should be 

expanded to include skill acquisition 

programmes/courses into them, and what 

is not necessary should be removed from 

the curricula," she said. I concur with her on 

this as students who are equipped with 

practical skills can deploy them in doing 

jobs from which they can eke out their 

existence. 

Again, regarding the welfare of postprimary 

school teachers in Nigeria, the 

Federal Government has formulated some 

educational policies that are designed to 

better the lot of teachers. But, it seems that 

only teachers in Federal Government 

secondary schools will benefit from that 

welfare package for teachers. Against the 

background of state governments going cap 

in hand to solicit money from the centre, 

can they implement the Federal 

Government’s newly approved welfare 

package for teachers? 

Again, Mrs. Rose Obi, gave her take on 

the thorny issue: “What is happening in most 

of the states is mismanagement of funds. If 

funds are managed properly, the states won’t 

have problems in paying civil servants their 

entitlements and salaries. The money used 

to run political offices is too much; much of 

it should be channeled into executing 

educational initiatives." 

In Nigeria, education is on the concurrent 

list, which imposes the responsibilities of 

handling educational matters on both the 

state and federal governments. But the sad, 

pitiable and execrable condition of most 

secondary schools owned by states in 

Nigeria is a true portraiture of state 

governments’ utter and criminal neglect of 

education. And alongside teachers in 

Federal Government-owned schools, 

teachers in state-owned secondary schools 

are poorly remunerated. They receive mere 

pittance at the end of every month. 

Political leaders at the state level should 

know that education is very critical and 

pivotal to the development of Nigeria. 

Education should take its pride of place in 

Nigeria as only skillful and knowledgeable 

people can drive our national 

developmental initiatives. No nation 

desirous of achieving sustainable economic 

growth and prosperity, and technological 

advancement neglects the issues troubling 

its educational system. 

•Okoye, a poet, wrote from Uruowulu, 

Obosi, Anambra State 

C 

M 

Y 

K

18—Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 22, 2021 

FOR the second time in quick 

succession, President Muhammadu 

Buhari mandated the armed forces and 

security agencies to implement his 

shoot-on-sight order <strong>against</strong> anyone 

found “illegally” with AK-47. 

He restated this PDF on March Compressor 11, 2021 at Free Version 

a meeting attended by the National 

Security Adviser, retired Major General 

Babagana Monguno; Inspector General over their lands almost unchallenged. 

of Police, Mohammed Adamu; Director Justifying this order, the 

General of the Department of State Commander-in-Chief declared: “What 

Services, Yusuf Bichi and the Director surprises is what is happening now in 

General of the National Intelligence the North West where the same people, 

Agency, Ahmed Abubakar. Also in with the same culture, are killing each 

attendance were the Sultan of Sokoto, other, taking their livestock and burning 

Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar (III) and properties… One thing that got to the 

the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan press which I read myself was that 

Ogunwusi. 

anyone with an AK-47 will be shot. This 

Many Nigerians were surprised by is because AK-47 is supposed to be 

this order because it is coming almost registered and it is only given to 

six years into the life of the Buhari security officials”. 

administration when strange elements This order is fraught with a number 

have been roaming the countryside, of issues. For one, AK-47 is not the only 

using their assault rifles to <strong>attack</strong> assault rifle in use by hoodlums, 

indigenous communities and taking bandits, herdsmen terrorists and 

Buhari’s shoot-on-sight order 

vigilantes. This order should apply for 

all illegal arms, and the only way to 

ascertain this is through the 

constitutionally-mandated law 

enforcement procedure governed by 

rules of engagement. Law enforcement 

must be maintained through 

constitutional, not militaristic or 

extrajudicial methods. 

It is unfortunate that the armed 

forces, security and uniformed 

agencies sat on their palms while the 

national landscape was being flooded 

by these strange elements. Many of 

them are foreigners acting with their 

indigenous cohorts. Our security woes 

are worsening because our security 

architecture is not configured to protect 

the people, and must be corrected. 

It had variously been alleged that 

many of these armed hoodlums were 

either assembled and armed by powerhungry 

politicians or permitted by 

unpatriotic leaders to infiltrate the 

country unchallenged by our lawenforcement 

agencies. It is like the 

proverbial Frankenstein’s monster 

which went out of control and is now 

threatening its master. 

We hope the security and military 

agencies are now ready to do their jobs. 

They will need to block the arms 

inflows at the borders and conduct 

systematic mop-up exercises that will 

hopefully remove the armed hoodlums 

from our forests, communities and 

highways. 

To succeed, they must enlist the 

support of the people in every locality. 

And it must be devoid of ethnic agenda 

for the people to buy into it. 

OPINION 

Secret of long-lasting family businesses 

By TIMI OLUBIYI 

IT is no longer a secret that 

family businesses the world over 

can struggle with governance, leadership 

transitions and even survival, longevity or 

business continuity. From context observation, 

majority of Small and Medium Enterprises, 

SMEs, in Nigeria are family-owned 

businesses, more so over 60 per cent of all firms 

in most nations are classified as family 

businesses, according to an Irish report. Family 

businesses are common in Nigeria, especially 

in Lagos State, which is the economic nerve of 

the country. The importance of this form of 

business cannot be overemphasised; they are 

expected to contribute to the economy in these 

three key areas: creating jobs, improving 

Gross Domestic Products, GDP, and improving 

the standard of living or reducing the poverty 

level. However, the failure rate of family 

businesses, especially in Nigeria, is high. 

According to data, 95 per cent of family-owned 

businesses in Nigeria do not survive the third 

generation of ownership. This should be a huge 

concern to government, policymakers, family 

business owners and future entrepreneurs. 

Apart from the known challenges such as 

decrepit infrastructure, inconsistent 

government policies, double taxation, among 

many others, which are contributory to 

business failures in Nigeria, the lack of 

succession plan is a serious issue militating 

<strong>against</strong> the survival and continuity of these 

family businesses. Succession planning is the 

process of identifying and preparing suitable 

family members or employees through 

mentoring, training and job rotation, to replace 

key players within the family business as those 

key players leave their positions for whatever 

reasons such as retirement or advancement. 

With succession planning as a very important 

aspect of a business, overwhelming evidence 

from a survey and finding from a study indicate 

that 94.2 per cent of entrepreneurs and business 

owners in Nigeria lack succession plan or a 

poor succession plan exists in their business 

organisation. This portends a concern for the 

multigenerational growth of SMEs, especially 

family businesses, and is also a threat to 

business continuity in Nigeria. Succession 

planning is one of the most demanding and 

necessary phases in business transition, but 

this is usually left unattended or left till it is too 

late among business founders and leaders in 

Nigeria. Unfortunately, many of the 

companies do not even prioritise succession 

planning, choosing only to focus on how to 

The lack of succession planning 

has been identified as one of the 

major reasons why many firstgeneration 

family businesses do 

not survive their founders 

grow their business profits rather than consider 

it along with sustaining the next generation 

business leaders or having multigenerational 

business growth in mind. 

The purpose of adequate succession 

planning for family businesses is that it will 

minimise the gap and risk in the operations of 

organisations when key leaders or 

management staff suddenly leave the business. 

Remember in our country, especially in Lagos 

State, some prominent family businesses 

sprang up in the 1980s and the late ‘90s. These 

businesses were founded by then business 

moguls, but if you look around, the businesses 

are no longer in existence. Significant 

examples include those established by the late 

Bashorun M.K.O Abiola (Concord Group, 

Abiola Bookshop and Abiola farms); the late 

Alhaji Ahmadu Chachangi (Chanchangi 

Airline); IRS group of companies founded by 

the late Chief Isiaka Rabiu Ayodele; Sunrise 

group of companies founded by the late Chief 

Ajibade Falodu; Balogun group of companies 

founded by the late Alhaji Lai Balogun; Sanusi 

Brothers group of companies owned by the 

late Ayodele Sanusi, and the group of 

companies owned by the late Chief Augustine 

Ilodibe. 

These businesses thrived while their founders 

were alive, but folded up few years after their 

demise. The lack of succession planning has 

been identified as one of the major reasons 

why many of these first-generation family 

businesses do not survive their founders. A 

significant number of these family businesses 

do not go beyond the first generation. Many of 

these companies failed not because of 

economic reasons or hostile business 

environments but because of poor 

management, lack of clear policies and 

strategy for continuity. Ordinarily, succession 

planning would have effectively taken care of 

the issues if it was considered in good time. 

However, the case is different in climes where 

the importance of adequate succession 

planning is recognised. The growing role of 

family businesses is evident even after the exit 

of the founder in these countries. Largely the 

continuity of these businesses is supported by 

a good corporate culture of succession 

planning. Some of these companies are 

Walmart owned by the Walton family (USA), 

Ford Motor Company founded by Henry Ford 



in 1903 and now owned by the Ford family 

(USA), Tata and Sons Ltd owned by the Tata 

family (India), LG Electronics owned by Koo 

family (South Korea). Nigerian family 

businesses can also build appropriate 

structures and culture to guarantee this form 

of business continuity and multigenerational 

growth. Succession planning can help achieve 

this by considering a deliberate effort of 

developing competencies into the leadership 

positions of your business. Therefore, 

succession planning can be introduced into 

Nigerian businesses as an important tool to 

create this multigenerational growth. Coupled 

with having a formal corporate governance 

structure and adopting strong internal control 

measures in the businesses. 

Please note that by making succession plan 

arrangements early enough, business founders 

and owners can help make a smooth transition 

and minimize any negative effects of their 

departure from the company. Because 

succession planning is an essential part of 

doing business, no matter how certain the 

future of the company currently appears, if it 

is disregarded it can threaten the business 

continuity. Consequently, from a specialist 

perspective, the key assurance of 

multigenerational growth is to establish the 

right conditions as it concerns your corporate 

culture, governance, accountability, record 

keeping and information management so that 

the survival and multigenerational growth of 

your family business can be assured. The 

starting point of this whole awareness is to 

consider and allude to whether the business 

will continue to operate after the departure or 

exit of the founder from the business. 

Continues online:www.vanguardngr.com 

•Dr. Olubiyi, an entrepreneurship and 

business management expert, wrote from 

from Babcock University.

By Nkiruka Nnorom 

Decisions by investors in the 

nation’s equities market will 

be dictated by the outcome of the 

Monetary Policy Committee, 

MPC, meeting of the Central 

Bank of Nigeria, CBN, scheduled 

to hold today and tomorrow. 

But analysts are already 

projecting that the Committee 

would vote to keep the monetary 

policy parameters unchanged. 

At its last meeting in January, 

2021 the Committee retained the 

Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) at 

11.5 percent. 

Though it was expected that the 


Investors look up to MPC for direction 

•As equities depreciate 0.7% 


decision to hold rates would have 

retained the uptrend in the stock 

market, this did not happen due 

to the uptick in yields in fixed 

income market, spike in inflation 

rate and profit taking activities in 

equities. 

Meanwhile, the stock market 

suffered its seventh consecutive 

week of losses, resulting in N139 

billion loss to investors and 0.7 

percent decline in the All Share 

Index (ASI). 

Specifically, the index closed 

lower at 38,382.89 points, driven 

by losses in BUA Cement (-6.4%), 

Nigerian Breweries (-5.3%), and 

MTN Communication Nigeria (- 

0.6%). 

Also, the market capitalisation of 

all listed equities declined to 

N20.082 trillion from N20.221 

trillion, representing 0.7 percent 

decline. 

Analysis of sectoral performance 

was mixed as the banking 

(+2.1%), and oil and gas (+1.6%) 

sectors posted gains, while the 

industrial goods sector (-2.6%) and 

consumer goods (-1.5%) recorded 

losses. However, the insurance 

sector closed flat. 

Making a projection into the 

week, analysts at Cordros Capital, 

said: “We expect investors’ 

attention to be focused on the 

outcome of the MPC meeting as 

they seek clarity on the direction 

of yields in the fixed income 

market.” 

Also, analysts at Cowry Asset 

Management said the market may 

remain weak as yields in the fixed 

income market trend upward, 

“especially for 364-day bill which 

rose to 7 percent. Hence, we expect 

investors to use the opportunity to 

hunt for bargains given the lower 

re-entry prices.” 

MONDAY, MARCH 22, 2021 

Diaspora cash remittances 

drop by 27% to $17.2bn 

•Bright prospects for 2021 as Q4’20 records 10.6% growth 

By Babajide Komolafe 

In apparent reflection of the 

severe impact of the COVID- 

19 pandemic on the incomes of 

Nigerians living abroad, diaspora 

remittances inflow into the 

country fell 27 per cent, year-onyear, 

(YoY) to $17.2 billion in 2020 

from $23.55 billion. 

The 27 per cent decline 

represents 18.2 percentage 

points below the 8.8 per cent 

decline projected by the World 

Bank for both Nigeria and the 

Sub-Saharan African. 

In a report issued in October and 

titled, “Migration and 

Development Brief 33” the 

World Bank projected that 

remittances inflow into Sub- 

Sahara Africa will fall to $44 billion 

in 2020 from $48 billion in 2019. It 

also projected that remittance 

inflow into Nigeria will fall to 

$21.7 billion in 2020 from $23.8 

billion in 2019. 

The World Bank said: 

“Remittances to Sub-Sahara 

Africa are expected to decrease 

significantly by around 8.8 percent 

between 2019 and 2020, from $48 

billion to $44 billion due to the 

COVID-19 pandemic, restrictions 

in movement, and their 

devastating impacts on the global 

economy. 

“Nigeria remains the largest 

recipient of remittances in the 

region, and is the seventh-largest 

recipient among low and middleincome 

countries (LMICs), with 

projected remittances to decline to 

around $21.7 billion, a more than 

$2 billion drop compared with 

2019”. 

However, the 27 per cent decline 

in remittances into Nigeria in 

2020 imply that the negative 

impact of the pandemic on the 

economic fortunes of Nigerian’s in 

diaspora is more severe than 

expected. 

CBN’s figures 

This is confirmed by Financial 

Vanguard analysis of quarterly 

statistics of the Central Bank of 

Nigeria (CBN) which showed that 

remittances inflow fell, YoY, in 

both half of the year. 

In the first half of 2020, H1’2020, 

remittance inflow fell by 23.7 per 

cent, YoY, from $11.82 billion in 

H1’2019. This trend worsened in 

H2’2020 with remittance inflow 

falling by 30 per cent, YoY, to $8.2 

billion from $11.73 billion in 

H2’2020. 

Further analysis, however, 

showed an upward trend in 

remittances in the Q3’2020 and 

Q4’2020. After suffering Quarteron-Quarter 

(QoQ) decline of 5.3 

per cent to $5.64 billion in Q1’2020, 

and 40 per cent decline to $3.38 

billion in Q2’2020, remittances 

inflow revived and rose QoQ by 

15 per cent to $3.89 billion in 

Q3’2020 and further by 10.6 per 

cent to $4.31 billion in Q4’2020. 

2021 prospects 

The World Bank projected 

further decline in remittances 

inflow for Nigeria and other 

countries in the Sub Saharan 

region in 2021. But it however 

stressed the need for government 

measures to address the 

downward trend. 

It stated: “This declining trend 

is expected to continue in 2021, 

when remittances are projected to 

decrease by around 5.8 percent to 

reach $41 billion (in Sub Saharan 

Africa). The decline in remittance 

flows is attributed to a 

combination of factors, all driven 

by the COVID-19 crisis in major 

destination countries, including 

EU countries, the United States, 

China, and GCC countries. Sub- 

Saharan migrants are 

disproportionately affected in host 

countries as many are in 

precarious working conditions and 

informal jobs, with high 

vulnerability to contagion and loss 

of employment. In addition, these 

migrants are often excluded from 

social protection systems, health 

care, and government stimulus 

measures. 

“For countries where 

remittances account for a large 

share of GDP, a sharp decline in 

remittance inflows is expected for 

2020 and 2021, as many migrant 

workers have seen their income 

plummet, especially in OECD 

countries. “Governments efforts to 

facilitate remittance inflows in 

these economies would be needed 

in addition to more efforts to 

support household remittance 

recipients who will be facing a 

significant decline in 

remittances.” 

Apparently in response to this 

recommendation, the CBN in 

December 2020, introduced a 

policy that allows beneficiaries 

of diaspora remittance to be paid 

in foreign currency. 

This was followed up with 

another policy announced earlier 

this month, tagged Naira4dollar 

scheme, which involves the CBN 

paying diaspora Nigerians N5 

rebate for every $1 of remittances 

sent through licensed 

International Monetary Transfer 

Operators (IMTOs). 

Consequently, analysts at 

FBNQuest Merchant Bank 

opined that the downward trend 

in remittances inflow into Nigeria 

in 2020 will be reversed in 2021. 

Citing the upward trend in 

Q3’2020 and Q4’2020 as well as 

recent measures introduced by the 

CBN to boost remittances inflow 

into the country as basis for their 

optimism, they said: “The q/q 

improvement is probably due to 

the fact that the low point in the 

COVID cycle for those G7 

economies where the Nigerian 

diaspora is concentrated was the 

previous (second) quarter of 2020. 

“Theories as to Nigeria’s 

relative underperformance 

abound. It could be that the 

Nigerian diaspora has a 

particularly large presence in 

those economies that have taken 

the largest hits from the virus (the 

Eurozone and the UK). The 

exchange-rate regime (i.e. the 

sense that the recipient was not 

getting ‘full value’ in naira) may 

have been another factor. 

“Looking ahead, we would 

expect a recovery in remittances 

as the G7 economies rebound.” 

CBN Governor Emefiele also 

expressed confidence that the 

recent measures of the apex bank 

will boost remittances inflow, 

adding that weekly remittance 

inflow had increased to $30 

million from $5 million, following 

measures introduced in 

December. 

Speaking at the diaspora 

webinar organised by Fidelity 

Bank, where he also announced 

the Naira4dollar scheme, 

Emefiele said: “We believe our 

efforts at driving remittance 

inflows into Nigeria would yield 

positive results as we strive to 

ensure formal banking channels 

offer cheaper, faster and more 

convenient ways for remitters to 

send funds to beneficiaries. 

“Reducing the cost of sending 

remittances is a significant way to 

boost remittance inflows to 

Nigeria. In general, the new policy 

is expected to enlarge the scope 

and scale of foreign exchange 

inflows into the country with a 

view to stabilizing the exchange 

rate and supporting accretion to 

external reserves. More 

importantly, it will provide an 

opportunity for Nigerians living 

abroad to make investments in 

their home country. ”


FINANCIAL VANGUARD 

Dearth PDF of Compressor products Free stalls Version activity 

in equities market 

By Nkiruka Nnorom 

Given the current 

dominance of local 

investors in the domestic 

equities market, Lilian Olubi, 

Chief Executive Officer, EFG 

Hermes Nigeria, has indicated 

the need for more products to be 

floated in the Nigerian Stock 

Exchange (NSE) to increase 

available options for local 

investors. 

Domestic investors accounted 

for 70.14 percent of the total 

market transaction on the NSE in 

January, 2021, according to the 

latest data on domestic and 

foreign portfolio participation in 

equity trading. 

Speaking at a virtual media 

round-table organised by her firm 

to discuss the shifts in investor 

appetite in East and West African 

equity markets, Olubi said that 

besides the pressures of returns, 

product unavailability is also 

contributing to the low activity 

being witnessed in the Exchange. 

She opined that the lack has 

resulted in a situation where only 

about five securities control over 

80 percent of the entire market 

capitalisation, forcing investors to 

rotate their portfolio around the 

five stocks. 

“This pressure of returns has 

been a major barometer for 

investors’ decisions. Apart from 

that, we also have a situation 

where even with equities, there is 

some lack of depth and breadth. 

So, you have just about five stocks 

that control about 80 percent of 

the entire market capitalisation. 

So, investors have been rotating 

around these same stocks and a 

lot of them were already close to 

their internally set limit. 

“It is a quiet time for local 

players and retail players tend to 

have a more herd mentality and 

they tend to follow how 

institutional investors play. So, 

there’s some inactivity on that 

side as well. So, right now, things 

are low and we have issue of 

product availability. The local 

investors really need a lot of 

product range to go into,” she 

said. 

By Elizabeth Adegbesan 

The Association of Chartered 

Certified Accountants 

(ACCA) Nigeria in collaboration 

with CFA Society Nigeria, have 

tasked women to take more 

risk and diversify their 

investment portfolio in order to 

build a sustainable personal 

finance. 

The association disclosed this 

in its five days series of events 

with the theme ‘Inclusion in 

Action’, organized to celebrate 

the International Women’s Day 

2021. 

She further stated that price 

fixing regime in the foreign 

exchange (forex) market is a 

deterrent to Foreign Portfolio 

Investors (PFIs), and enjoined the 

authorities to reduce focus on FX 

management. 

Also speaking, Ali Khalpey, 

CEO, EFG Hermes Frontier, said 

that so far, FPIs are showing little 

interest in the Nigerian equities 

market, arguing that uncertainty 

around the exchange rate and the 

possibility of repatriating dollars 

out of the country still serve as 

A 

philanthropist and the 

Founder of the Tony Elumelu 

Foundation (TEF), Mr. Tony 

Elumelu, has called for a 

framework that will widen the 

circle of prosperity in Africa rather 

than littering the continent with 

lone star billionaires. 

Elumelu made the call when he 

spoke at the, “World Government 

Summit Dialogue: Africa’s Future 

Post 2021,” where he said the 

continent needs massive 

investments in infrastructure, 

electricity, digital technology and 

healthcare delivery to address the 

massive positive in the continent, 

adding that future Bill Gates could 

come out of Africa if access to 

electricity is provided. 

He said: “We can see more 

billionaires. The ones that are 

there are getting stronger 

climbing the league table while 

new ones are coming up. But we 

need to move the emphasis away 

from these so called billionaires. 

“We should be talking about 

how many young Africans will be 

impacted in the next five or 10 

years’ time? 

“Instead of us having a pyramid 

of few billionaires I will prefer 

that we have a large base that has 

prosperity, happier people and 

people whose basic human needs 

are met. I think that is what that 

will give us the sustainability and 

the lasting peace that we need in 

Africa. 

“That will also address the 

challenges. 

He said: “FPIs are not going to 

come in knowing that FX prices 

are managed and not market 

reflected. it is very difficult to 

attract capital when you are 

dealing with such low yields and 

high inflations and then you still 

try to control FX pricing. So, there 

is no way we would get the level 

of capital that the market needs. 

“If we see significant reforms on 

FX regime, significant 

adjustment in naira exchange rate 

coupled with the high oil price, 

and then we will see a very quick 

turnaround in what the equities 

market will do.” 

Elumelu calls for strategic longterm 

investment to tackle poverty 

insecurity that we have in Africa 

and stop the migration of our 

younger people. That will stem 

extremism and all the 

kidnappings we hear every day 

all around us because of poverty 

and hopelessness as people do not 

see a better future. We need to 

reset our mind to think in a better 

ways to improve society and 

mankind.” 

Elumelu noted that poverty 

anywhere is a threat to mankind 

everywhere and called for support 

for the development of 

entrepreneurship and the SMEs 

so that the continent could 

address the challenge of poverty 

in a significant way. 

By Princewill Ekwujuru 

International 

Finance 

Corporation (IFC) has invested 

20 million euros in Bolt, a 

mobility service company, to 

promote access to on-demand 

mobility services in emerging 

economies including Nigeria. 

The IFC funding is targeted 

towards Eastern Europe, 

including Ukraine, and African 

markets, such as Nigeria and 

South Africa. 

The funding will help Bolt, a 

ride-hailing company, expand 

mobility solutions that create 

earning opportunities, stimulate 

ACCA, CFA task women on building finance 

Speaking on the theme, 

‘Women in Finance - Building 

Sustainable Personal Finance’, 

Keynote Speaker, Temilade 

Aduroja, Head Investor 

Relations Dangote Cement, 

charged women to be more 

adaptable and forward thinking 

in business and to take more risk 

to create more sustainable 

wealth and the need to diversify 

their savings and investment 

portfolio to hedge <strong>against</strong> 

shocks. 

He stated further: “To increase 

wealth, you need to take more 

Neimeth to recapitalize, plans to inject N5bn 

By Peter Egwuatu 

Neimeth International 

Pharmaceuticals Plc plans 

to inject fresh capital of 

N5 billion as part its move to 

recapitalize and boost its 

business in Nigeria . 

The shareholders of the 

Company approved a resolution 

to raise the fresh capital at the 

62nd Annual General Meeting 

(AGM) of the Company held in 

Lagos via virtual. The money 

according to the Company will be 

used to fund an expansion 

programme involving the 

construction of a World Health 

Organisation (WHO) current 

standards of Good 

Manufacturing Practice (WHO 

cGMP) pharmaceutical 

manufacturing facility at 

Amawbia, near Awka in Anambra 

State. 

To facilitate the new capital 

injection the shareholders also 

approved an increase in the 

share capital of the C ompany 

from N1 billion to N2 billion by 

the creation of 2billion units of 

Ordinary shares of 50 kobo each. 

Speaking at the AGM, Dr. 

Ambrosie Orjiako, Chairman, 

By Rosemary Daniels 

The Junior Achievement 

Nigeria, JAN, has stepped up 

its social investment programe 

across Nigeria, reaching over one 

million youths while attracting 

partnerships with key global 

corporates and individuals. 

Reports from the organisation 

last week indicated that as part of 

its Corporate Social 

Responsibility strategy, Mixta 

Nigeria has partnered with JA 

Nigeria to teach secondary school 

students the basics of starting and 

running a successful business 

through the implementation of ‘JA 

Be Entrepreneurial’ program. 

The program which will be 

implemented in Akwa Ibom, 

Lagos and Oyo expose Senior 

Secondary School Students to the 

fundamentals of owning an 

entrepreneurial venture. 

In a statement last week, JA 

Nigeria said it kicked off 2021 

with a financial literacy program 

themed, ‘Break Free’, tailored 

toward impacting the lives of 

young professionals on matters 

regarding money management. 

JAN stated: “Burdened with the 

fact that COVID-19 affected the 

finances of many, we organised a 

program aimed at helping young 

people gain financial freedom. 

With the support of Sigma 

Pensions, ‘Break free’ gave 

insight on basic finance 

NEWS 

JA Nigeria partners for growth, 

Impact 

small-scale entrepreneurship, 

and improve access to 

transportation in Eastern 

European and African markets. 

Senior Vice President of 

Operations at IFC, Stephanie von 

Friedeburg said: “Technology can 

and should unlock new pathways 

for sustainable development and 

women’s empowerment. Our 

investment in Bolt aims to help tap 

into technology to disrupt the 

transport sector in a way that is 

good for the environment, creates 

more flexible work opportunities 

for women, and provides safer and 

more affordable transportation 

access in emerging markets”. 

Chief Executive Ofiicer/ 

Founder, Bolt, Markus Villig 

said: “We are looking forward to 

partnering with IFC to further 

support entrepreneurship, 

empower women and increase 

*Grooms digital entrepreneurs, 

empowers young people 

understanding finance concepts 

such as saving, pension, and 

investments, and strategies to live 

a debt-free life.” 

It added, “one of JA’s aims is to 

build a generation of digitally 

inclined youths. To make this 

happen, youths need to learn 

diverse strategies on how to stay 

safe online. 

“An offshoot of marking the IWD 

2021 was the weekly ‘Girls4Tech’ 

program sponsored by 

Mastercard. This program was 

designed to inspire female 

teenagers between the ages of 8- 

14 as taking STEM-related 

courses could encourage more 

girls to consider a career in 

STEM. Did you know that in 

Nigeria, only 20% of girls are 

enrolled in STEM-related 

courses? This reveals the urgency 

for programs like ‘Girls for Tech.’ 

Recall, “An equal world is an 

enabled world.” “Our GoogleIT 

Support program is on the run. 

Organisations are counting on 

young people who can think 

outside the box and we delight in 

building young people to not only 

think creatively but to see how 

their potentials can cause a global 

impact.” 

Adebowale Akinbobola, one of 

the beneficiaries of the JA Nigeria 

Google IT support program, 

stated; “I am looking forward to 

the other modules and I 

appreciate JA Nigeria for this 

opportunity.” 

IFC invests E20m in Nigeria, other emerging economies 

risk and diversify your 

investment portfolio. There are 

three investment goals. One is 

to maintain current wealth, 

protection from reduction in 

wealth, two; wealth protection 

from inflation and currency 

devaluation and three; increase 

wealth substantially and take 

more risks.” 

Also speaking, Founder House 

of Tara, Tara Fela-Durotoye, 

challenged women to take a lead 

in inspiring and supporting the 

next generation of women 

leaders in all facets of life. 

Board of Directors said the 

recapitalization plan is part of the 

larger programme of Neimeth to 

become an investor’s haven. He 

said the project will help shore up 

Neimeth’s top line and profits. Dr. 

Orjiako said civil work on the 

Amawbia plant will soon 

commence. He explained that the 

choice of Amawbia for the new 

WHO plant is premised on 

proximity to key markets for 

the company’s products. 

Pharm. Matthw Azoji, 

Managing Director/CEO of 

Neimeth said the plan is to make 

the Company become a 

By Princewill Ekwujuru 

The Coca-Cola Foundation 

(TCCF), the philanthropic arm 

of The Coca Cola Company 

(TCCC), said it has awarded 

N303million grant to 8 nongovernmental 

organisations 

(NGOs) in Nigeria. 

The grant is to support efforts to 

strengthen communities, 

access to affordable mobility 

services in Africa and Eastern 

Europe. Together with the 

investment from the European 

Investment Bank last year, we are 

proud to have sizable and 

strategically important 

institutions backing us and 

recognising the strategic value 

Bolt is providing to emerging 

economies.” 

Country Manager, Bolt 

Nigeria, Femi Akin-Laguda also 

added: “As leaders in ridehailing, 

we are committed to 

improving the way people move 

in Nigerian cities. Safety and 

affordability are at the core of our 

operations and with this 

partnership, we’re even more 

dedicated and committed to 

increasing earnings, and 

providing entrepreneurial 

opportunities for citizens.” 

Coca-Cola grants 8 NGOs N303m to 

drive environmental sustainability 

manufacturing hub for medicines 

and centre of excellence for 

pharmaceutical development in 

Africa. He said the Amawbia 

plant will be a multi-products 

plant and will be presented to the 

World Health Organisation 

(WHO) for certification in line 

with her current standards of 

Good Manufacturing Practice 

(cGMP). When this is done, the 

plant will offer foreign and local 

contract manufacturing services 

for drug production, research and 

development, formulation and 

validation services among others. 

empowering women and youth, 

promote well-being, protect the 

environment and educate 

scholars. 

Speaking on the grant, Director, 

Public Affairs, Communications 

and Sustainability, Coca-Cola 

Nigeria Limited, Nwamaka 

Onyemelukwe said: “Apart from 

supporting sustainable 

community initiatives, The Coca 

Cola Company is a leading total 

beverage company in the global 

fight <strong>against</strong> plastic waste with its 

innovative solutions and 

recycling partnership projects. 

Despite the growing public 

awareness around plastic waste, 

only 9% of plastic created are 

recycled. 

“It is <strong>against</strong> this backdrop that 

Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited and 

its bottling partner, Nigerian 

Bottling Company, are 

empowering NGOs and social 

ventures to strengthen recycling 

efforts at a local level, creating 

income opportunities for people 

and boosting the circular economy 

while making a difference 

towards a better shared future for 

all.”

One man, who is currently repeating himself, to the 

sorrow of Fellow Nigerians, is President Mohammadu 

Buhari. History has already recorded that as Military 

Head of State from 1984 to August 1985, he led Nigeria to the 

first economic recession since independence. Recession by its 

nature is an economic monster destroying numerous public 

and private assets – ending 

up in increasing the Misery 

Index. 

In 1984, inflation reached 

unprecedented heights; 

companies laid off workers 

and created record levels of 

unemployment; aggregate 

purchasing power declined 

precipitously. More Nigerians 

went below the poverty line 

in the twenty months of 

Buhari’s administration than 

ever before. Nigerians never 

had it so bad. And, all these 

were happening under a 

“corrective regime” which 

seized power on December 

31, 1983. 

To silence Nigerians, the 

junta resorted to draconian 

measures and repressive 

decrees making grumbling 

out loud a punishable offence. 

It was the period of “Suffering 

and Smiling” — as Fela 

Anikulapo rendered in his 

immortal music. 

But, of all the calamities 

afflicting those alive then, 

none was worse than the 

emergence of “Essenco”, as 

essential commodities were 

called then. Those too young 

to be aware of the hardships 

Nigerians faced, as well as 

those unborn at the time will 

find it unbelievable that, at 

one time in Nigeria, 

housewives 

and 

grandmothers had to stand 

on queue for hours just to be 

allowed to buy two tins of 

milk, sardines, infant milk 

powder, a box of detergent, 

two cakes of bath soap and 

some bullion cubes. In truth 

that was what mothers and 

grandmothers went through 

under Buhari’s military 

By Godwin Oritse 

The Nigerian Maritime 

Administration and 

Safety Agency, NIMASA, 

has indicated that moving its 

multimillion dollar floating 

dock to the Continental 

Shipyard on Dockyard Road 

in Apapa, Lagos was aimed 

at leveraging the availability 

of the auxiliary engineering 

infrastructure and services at 

the shipyard to service the 

floating dock. 

Speaking exclusively to 

Vanguard during a tour of 

the floating dock currently 

domiciled at the Nigerian 

Navy Dockyard, NIMASA’s 

Director of Shipping 

Development, Engr Olu 

Aladenusi, said the new 

location has a welding, 

fabrication, electrical and 

electronic workshop, which 

are very key to functionality 

of the floating dock. 

Aladenusi also said that 

when the facility finally 

becomes functional, it will 

create thousands of jobs and 


Essential commodities 

are back 

“History does not repeat itself; man does.” — Prof Barbara 

Tuchmann, Harvard University, USA 

government. 

Brutality was an ever 

present aspect of the 

allocation of “Essencos”. 

Soldiers were in attendance 

at each allocation point; and 

the young thugs in uniform 

mercilessly whipped people 

old enough to be their 

grandmothers. I lived in 

Kaduna at the time, but my 

schedule of duties took me to 

all the Northern state capitals 

at least twice a month. 

Watching young soldiers 

whipping, slapping and 

kicking women with bestial 

abandon was an experience 

not to be forgotten – even in a 

thousand years. And, all the 

women wanted was the 

chance to buy these basic 

necessities for their families. 

Get set for Round 

Two of 

ESSENCO with 

Buhari 

Those of us alive in 1985, 

when Buhari was overthrown 

heaved sighs of relief. 

Nigerians, apparently are 

masochists. We love leaders 

who cause us great pain. So 

we elect as many of them as 

we can. Buhari returned to 

power in 2015 with our votes. 

save a lot of foreign exchange 

that players in both the oil 

and gas and maritime 

industries spend to dry dock 

their vessels outside the 

country. 

He disclosed that the 

Committee set up to work on 

how best to put the facility 

into use has concluded its 

work, adding that the report 

of the Committee will be 

Since then, the following 

disasters have also returned 

to Nigeria. Let me mention a 

few. 

First is recession; and this 

is what Buhari’s government 

announced for 2020. 

“Nigeria’s GDP in the fourth 

quarter of 2020 grew by 0.11 

per cent in real terms. This 

follows, if you will recall, two 

consecutive negative growth 

in the third quarter and 

second quarter of 2020, 

which saw the country going 

into recession. As a result of 

this fourth quarter positive 

‘Impact of Financial Literacy 

on Youths.’ 

Junior Achievement 

Nigeria (JAN) is part of 

Junior Achievement 

Worldwide, the world’s oldest 

and largest non-profit 

economic education 

organization operating in 

120 countries. 

Uduani who is a board 

member of JAN, said it is 

important that people learn 

how to save from young age, 

especially in the university 

years and this will go with 


processors and importers, he 

had in effect reduced 

aggregate production because 

not many in the Foods and 

Beverages Sector can survive 

without collecting foreign 

exchange at official rates. 

Parallel market rates 

automatically introduced 

inflation. Now supermarket 

shelves are becoming empty. 

Even Coca-cola is now 

rationed to distributors. That 

is always a weather vane 

showing where the wind is 

blowing in the sector. 

We are experiencing the 

same set of economic 

phenomenon in 2020/21. 

growth, the total growth for 

Unemployment is rising in 

the year 2020 is -1.92 per 

absolute and percentage 

cent.” 

terms. About 23 million 

Inflation rushed in after it. 

Nigerians are now regarded 

Here is proof. 

as unemployed. Close to 30 

“Pressure on food prices 

million are not fully 

spikes inflation to 17.3%” - 

employed or engaged in jobs 

News Report. 

other than those for which 

“This marked the highest 

they were trained. 

figure recorded in the country 

Altogether close to 60 million 

since 2017” - Another 

Nigerians are involved. An 

Report. 

astonishing number of Uber 

That was how we started in 

drivers are university 

1984. Hyper-inflation led the 

graduates forced to earn 

parade of unfavourable 

their living by driving taxis. 

economic indices and at one 

But, the greatest challenge 

time reached close to 30 per 

Nigerians will face in the 

cent. That invariably resulted 

next two years will be the 

in lower purchasing power 

return of essential 

and decline in aggregate 

commodities. The longer it 

demand. Industrial capacity 

persists, the harder it will 

under-utilisation followed 

drive inflation. If care is not 

inevitably and retrenchment 

taken, we might be 

followed — like the last man 

experiencing 30 per cent or 

in a parade of mourners. 

more by the fourth quarter 

As in 1984/5, we are not 

of this year. The worker’s 

facing inflation caused by too 

take home pay which now 

much money chasing too few 

cannot take them home, 

goods primarily. What we 

might not even get him to 

have on our hands is supplyside 

inflation. Producers of 

work if fuel scarcity kicks in. 

Thank God, this is not 

goods are now incapable of 

another military government 

supplying what consumers 

under Buhari. Otherwise, 

want. 

history might repeat itself 

When Buhari ordered the 

again. Our women might 

Central Bank of Nigeria, 

again be horse-whipped by 

CBN, to stop providing 

young soldiers. 

foreign exchange to food 

Why we are moving floating dock to Continental Shipyard —NIMASA 

presented to the 

managements of the 

Nigerian Ports Authority, 

NPA, and NIMASA. 

He stated that it is the 

managements of these 

agencies that will agree and 

decide on when to move the 

dock to the new location. 

He explained further that 

the floating dock has only 

two of its kind in Africa and 

one of them is in Nigeria 

adding that the dock is in 

very good condition waiting 

to be deployed for the 

economic benefits of ship 

owners and the nation’s 

economy. 

He stated: “As you can all 

see the floating dock is in 

perfect condition contrary to 

some media reports. 

“There is a Committee 

them as they grow and 

develop into adulthood. He 

added that savings in banks 

are short term savings as 

they can be used for daily 

needs while long term 

savings are pensions meant 

for when people retire. 

He said: “Savings and 

pensions are critical to 

national development. 

Pensions are the bedrock of 

the long term financial 

savings. The longer you save 

the better for you. What we 

are saying is that it is 

between the NPA and 

NIMASA on the 

management plan of the dock 

and how to move the dock to 

its permanent place. 

“Right now, we have 

completed the work of the 

Committee and we are at the 

point of reporting back to our 

individual management 

because we have sat for 

about three weeks.” 

Savings, pensions critical to national development –Expert 

By Rosemary Iwunze 

Managing 

Director, 

Sigma Pensions, Mr. 

Dave Uduanu, has said that 

short-term and long-term 

savings are critical to 

development of countries 

around the world, noting that 

Nigeria is not an exception. 

Uduanu stated this during 

a panel discussion at a 

virtual media engagement 

organised by the Junior 

Achievement Nigeria (JAN) 

where they deliberated on 

That was how 

we started in 

1984. 

Hyperinflation 

led the parade 

of unfavourable 

economic 

indices and at 

one time 

reached close 

to 30 per cent 

important that we start to 

save for our future while we 

are young than to wait for 

when it is too late. That is 

why at Sigma Pensions, we 

target university students 

and youth corps members for 

our catch them young 

programme. 

“Saving for pension is no 

magic. People should save 

enough money now so that 

when they retire, they can 

continue their lifestyle in 

retirement”.










Nigeria LNG, Prof Adimora-Ezigbo and 

Nigeria Prize for Literature 

By Prisca Sam-Duru 

Emeritus Professor of English 

at the University of Lagos, 

Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, has 

been appointed as the 

chairperson of the Advisory 

Board for the Nigeria Prize for 

Literature. 

The announcement was made 

by the sponsor of the Prize- 

Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) 

during a virtual conference held 

to flag off the 2021 cycle of the 

competition. 

The newly constituted Board 

assumed duties on Wednesday 

March 18, 2021, as 202 entries 

in Prose Fiction carried over 

from 2020 into the 2021 cycle after 

the prize’s postponement due to 

the COVID-19 pandemic, were 

handed over to a panel of judges, 

marking the start of the cycle. 

Professor Adimora-Ezigbo, a 

past winner of the Prize, succeeds 

Professor Ayo Banjo, Emeritus 

Professor of English at the 

University of Ibadan who had 

served as chairman since the 

inception of the Prize in 2004. Prof. 

Adimora-Ezeigbo, won the 

Nigeria Prize for Literature in 2007 

alongside Mabel Segun, in the 

Children’s Literature category. 

She has also served on the panel 

of judges for the prize. 

Other members of the Advisory 

Board include Prof. 

Olu Obafemi, a 

playwright, poet 

and Professor of 

English at the 

University of Ilorin 

who has served in 

prominent roles 

including as 

president of the 

Nigerian Academy 

of Letters and the 

Association of 

Nigerian Authors 

and, Prof. Ahmed 

Yerima, a professor 

of Theatre and 

Performing Arts at 

the Redeemer's 

University. Prof 

Yerima is a 

playwright, theatre 

director and a 

Laurette of the 

Nigeria Prize for 

Literature in the 

Drama category 

(2006). 

At the virtual ceremony held to 

introduce the new Advisory Board 

members and to hand-over the 

entries, NLNG’s General 

Manager for External Relations 

and Sustainable Development, 

Mrs Eyono Fatayi-Williams, 

“expressed appreciation to 

Emeritus Professor Ayo Banjo and 

Emeritus Professor Ben Elugbe 

for their selfless service to the prize, 

adding that the outgoing Board, 

which included the late Professor 

Jerry Agada, oversaw the growth 

of the prize into Africa’s foremost 

literature competition best known 

for its principles of excellence and 

integrity”. 

Continues online @ 

www.vanguardngr.com 

Babatunde brings intriguing legal stories into print 

AS in William Golding’s classic 

novel, Lord of the Flies, Layi 

Babatude, exposes the capacity of 

man for untold evil in his newly 

released Dark Hearts. 

Though, Golding’s evergreen novel 

is pure work of fiction, which may 

have been inspired by some actual 

events, Babatunde’s work are reports 

of actual life events uncovered in the 

application of the laws of Nigeria. 

In Dark Hearts, Mr Babatunde, a 

Senior Advocate of Nigeria, who has 

been in legal practice for close to 

four decades, brings into the open, 

in simple prose, what would 

otherwise have been buried in Law 

Reports and other legal literature. 

He delivers a chilling account, which 

would make you ponder, on the 

increasing loss of humanity amongst 

humans. 

Evidently aided by the legal 

luminary’s well-known interest in 

scholarship and incursion into law 

reporting, through the Supreme 

Court Reports (S.C Reports) which 

he has edited and published for 

decades; Dark Hearts is a collection 

of 12 short stories based on actual 

life occurrences, leading to 

prosecution under the Laws of 

Nigeria and decisions rendered up 

to the Apex Court. The case 

references or citation are in the End 

Note. 

Dark Hearts,(A collection of 

short stories from decided 

cases); Layi Babatunde, SAN, 

reviewed by Niran Adedokun 


And as the author says in his 

introduction, some of the revelations 

in the collection would make the 

average person shudder at man’s 

limitless capacity for evil. The 

stories distilled from cases decided 

by the Supreme Court at diverse 

times, also amply tells that the 

pervasive cold-heartedness and lack 

of fellow feeling with which Nigeria 

currently grapples may in fact be as 

old as humanity itself, Indeed 

Nothing is truly new! 

From murder to armed robbery 

to kidnapping, ritual killings and 

even the desecration of worship 

places in the perpetration of evil for 

selfish gains, Nigeria is only 

currently seeing an escalation 

rather than a novelty. 

And I would imagine that this is 

one of the concrete benefits that this 

timely book does for us as a people. 

By jigging our consciousness and 

reminding us that, we have as a 

people always had a tendency to 

jettison blood ties and affinities and 

sacrifice a brother and sister for the 

sake of becoming rich, Dark Hearts, 

give sociologists and psychologists 

in Nigeria a task more intense than 

the general assumption that the 

current economic downturn and 

government’s inability to actualise 

shared prosperity amongst its 200 

million citizens is what is turning us 

into money mongering savages. 

This is one of the myths that 

Babatunde busts in his collection of 

stories. In one of the stories, Brother 

Kills Brother, a man leaves Kano, in 

the north-west of Nigeria all the way 

to Iwo, in the south-west to source 

for a hunchback required for a 

money ritual for some men who 

were desperate to be rich. 

You are also confronted with issue 

of unsafe school environment, the 

kidnapping of children either for 

ransom or ritual purposes. 

And then you have a variety of 

stories dwelling on armed 

robberies, murders, and kidnapping 

(including that of a magistrate), and 

betrayal. A memorable one is the 

story entitled: Band Manager Kills 

•Prof Akachi 

Adimora-Ezeigbo 

Band Leader, which would resonate 

with people conversant with the story 

of a popular musical artist who was 

murdered in south-west Nigeria 

about four decades back. And for 

this artiste, it seems 2020/2021 is 

unwittingly commemorative given 

the fact that production work has 

just been completed on feature film 

by the legendary filmmaker, Tunde 

Kelani. 



By Providence Adeyinka 

African or Nigerian politics 

was initially devoid of 

military participation. The 

military in the concept of 

Mazrut then assumed the role 

of an idiot (Aristotelian 

language used to describe a 

citizen who is impervious to 

politics). The absence of any 

military insurgency in the 

continent then, prompted 

Claude Welch to refer to the 

entire continent as a political 

kingdom or the primacy of 

politics. 

Paradoxically, this epoch was 

ephemeral as African armies 

jettisoned the tradition of the 

civilian control of the military 

popularized by Carl Von 

Clausewitz in his book entitled 

“On War” published in 1832. 

Therefore, the entire African 

Continent became a theatre of 

military intervention. 

These are the words of an 

Associate Professor who 

lectures in the Department of 

Political Science, Lagos State 

University, LASU, Dr. Jimoh 

Bamgbose, in his book titled 

“Military Intervention In 

African Politics”. 

The nineteen-chapter book 

Establishing IAAAS’ N60b 

AILI in Nigeria 

Across section of Nigerians 

from different professional 

background have given their 

support to the proposed 

establishment of the Africa 

International Leadership 

Institute in Nigeria. 

The institute which is the 

brainchild of the International 

Association of African Authors 

and Scholars (IAAAS) is 

expected to provide the training 

ground where leaders are 

coached to lead effectively and 

citizens are trained to learn 

leadership skills first before 

seeking leadership position for 

individual development, 

organizational growth and 

nation building. 

It will also offer national 

leadership skills training in 

programmes, seminars and 

workshop which will educate 

Nigerian graduates to be 

empowered with leadership 

and management skills 

As a citadel of learning, the 

institute will also provide 

opportunity for working adults, 

small business entrepreneurs, 

youths and personnel working 

in the private sector or 

government agencies on 

management and effective 

with 266 pagination, 

considered cases of military 

intervention in Nigeria, 

Ghana, Gambia, Liberia, Benin 

Republic, Togo, among others 

with a view to unraveling the 

causes, the dramatis personae 

involved and the impact of 

those coups on these countries. 

Bamgbose said: “Sight must 

not be lost of the unanimous 

decision by the African Union, 

AU, Economic Community of 

West African States, ECOWAS, 

Economic Community of 

Central African States, 

ECCAS, as well as the East 

African Community, EAC that 

under no circumstance should 

there be any change of 

government by the use of force 

regardless of what the coupists 

say. But the popular saying is 

that power flows from the barrel 

of a gun. Liberia remained 

under a democratic rule for 133 

years but bowed to the military 

by April 1980. African countries 

of today should be careful and 

govern aright.” 

Speaking at the book launch 

in Lagos, book reviewer, Prof. 

Sylvester Akhaine, said that the 

book is holistic in its approach 

to the subject and as well looks 

at the traditional African 

leadership skills in achieving 

maximum growth, greater 

productivity, that will engender 

progress and stability in the 

nation’s quest for a better 

society for the citizens. 

The Institute’s leadership skill 

programme is open to 

Nigerians and Africans and it 

will give dual certification that 

meets national and 

international accreditations after 

successful completion of 

courses 

A cross section of Nigerians 

who spoke on the establishment 

of the Africa International 

Leadership Institute in Nigeria 

described it as a welcome 

development which must be 

encouraged and ensure it 

comes to fruition. 

Mr Taiwo Olaleye, a graduate 

of the University of Ibadan and 

an IT Specialist identified the 

major challenge in the country 

as lack of leadership. 

Olaleye said there is real 

acute leadership problem in the 

country adding that for the 

country to make progress 

leadership training must be 

taken seriously. 



Mr. Chinedum Igwe, Executive Director of IAAAS (with 

microphone) at a seminar with members of the association in 

Atlanta, USA. 

Bamgbose’s new book explores military intervention in African 

societies and their military 

organization to background 

the depiction of the military and 

its foray into politics. 

Akhaine said the book 

overview military coups in 

Africa with a focus on countries 

like Benin, Ethiopia, Gambia, 

Ghana, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, 

Sudan, Togo and Uganda, 

adding that it reawakens to 

political issues that are 

consequential but lost in the 

din of avarice of political actors 

and devaluation of scholarship 

by the proliferation of what 

Paulo Freire has called magical 

consciousness that seeks 

causation in the otherworldliness 

instead of 

objective realities. 

“The book is didactic; it talks 

about the nature and dynamics 

of military intervention in 

politics and the factors that 

drive such intervention and he 

situated it within the 

background of pre colonial 

African history and our 

experience within the post 

colonial period. He wants 

us to understand these 

dynamics so that we can 

consolidate our democracies,” 

he said. 


www.vanguardngr.com


L-R: South Korean Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency, 

Kim Young Chae with the DG, NCAC, Otunba Segun Runsewe 

exchanging gifts. 


As a prelude to the forthcoming 

yearly Korea-Nigeria drawing 

competition for students the 

organizers, the Korea Cultural 

Centre and FCT Universal Basic 

Education Board, held the FCT 

Art Teachers’ Workshop 2021. 

The workshop held 16th and 

17th March, 2021 at the Korean 

Cultural Centre Studio, featured 

A PowerPoint presentation of 

‘Introduction to Korean Culture’ 

by KCCN Director, FCT UBEB 

Director’s remarks, Workshops 

and Korean games for teachers. 

According to Lee Jin Su, 

Director of Korean Cultural 

Centre Nigeria Embassy of the 

Republic of Korea, “The Art 

Teachers’ workshop is hosted by 

Korean Cultural Centre and 

FCT Universal Basic Education 

Board as an art workshop for 

Primary school art teachers in 

FCT. A total of 32 teachers from 

30 public schools and 2 private 

schools were in attendance”. 

He disclosed that this year’s 

workshop focused on 

engendering creativity in arts 

among primary school pupils. 

At the event, the Director of 

Korean Cultural Centre also 

made a presentation on the 

various activities and 

programmes undertaken by 

Korean Cultural Centre 

Nigeria geared towards 

promoting culture as well as 

mutual relationship between 

Korean and the various 

peoples of Nigeria. 

According to Lee Jin Su, “The 

Korean Cultural Centre in 

Nigeria together with the FCT 

UBEB has since 2010 been 

Nigeria-South Korea cultural ties 

The need to further establish 

and reinforce the mutual 

cultural relationship that exists 

between the South Korea and 

the National Council for Arts 

and Culture (NCAC) and the 

Federal Government of Nigeria 

that dates as far back as 2010 

should be explored for the 

benefit of mutual cultural 

benefits for both countries. 

The Director-General, 

National Council for Arts and 

Culture, Otunba Segun 

Runsewe stated this when the 

Ambassador of the Republic of 

South Korea, His Excellency, 

Kim Young Chae paid him a 

courtesy visit in his office. 

Runsewe noted that Nigeria 

has benefitted a lot from the 

mutual relationship with South 

Korea in areas of education, 

poverty eradication, trade and 

many more. Adding that the 

trade between the two countries 

as at 2011, was well over $3 

million dollars. 

At the meeting held at NCAC 

FCT Art Teachers’ Workshop engenders creativity 

among pupils 


Individuals with mental health 

challenges are on the increase 

in Nigeria for a number of 

reasons which have been 

multiplied by the impact of the 

Covid-19 pandemic on people’s 

finance. A large number of 

people are becoming depressed 

on daily basis, resulting in some, 

ending their lives when they felt 

they’ve gotten to a dead end. 

“The Morning After: A Guide 

for Media Reporting and 

Prevention of Suicide in 

Nigeria”, is a book co-authored 

by Olufemi Oluwatayo, a Fellow 

of the Royal College of 

Psychiatrist and, Consultant 

Psychiatrist and Medical 

Director at Lakeside Hospital, 

Wyboston, Bedfordshire, UK; 

and multiple award-winning 

Journalist and Health 

Correspondent for THISDAY 

Newspaper, Martins Ifijeh, in an 

attempt to address issues 

relating to suicide in the country. 

The book is a very insightful 

material dealing with how to 

handle this major health 

challenge hardly discussed; 

reason being that it is culturally 

seen as taboo by the various 


peoples of Nigeria. It therefore, 

documents life-saving 

information on how the silent 

health crisis could be 

prevented. 

“The Morning After”, 

published in 2020 by Narrative 

Landscape Press under its 

Prima Imprint, also lays down 

instructions on how cases of 

suicide should be reported in 

the media as a means to end 

the ugly trend particularly 

ravaging the youth. 

The fact that the health 

journalists are the major targets 

of the book, is an indication of 

the huge task they are saddled 

with in the clamp down of 

suicide cases in the country. 

Dedicated to the memory of 

the young men and women 

described in the book, “The 

Morning After”, is arranged in 

nine chapters spread across 

138 pages. 

To fully grasp the subject of 

the book, the authors begin 

with a background on suicide 

which dates back to centuries, 

from both religious and 

historical perspectives. This is 

contained in chapter one 

subtitled; “Understanding 

Suicide: Historical Perspective, 

organizing Korea –Nigeria 

drawing competition for both 

primary and Junior Secondary 

schools in FCT. The aim has 

been to promote creativity and 

better understanding of facts of 

both Nigerian and Korean 

societies among Nigerian 

students. The workshop is 

intended to serve as training for 

teachers who are expected to 

impart acquired knowledge to 

their pupils. The teachers for 

the workshop are from schools 

that have already been listed to 

take part in this year’s drawing 

competition which is slated to 

take place later in April 2021". 

Interestingly, he disclosed 

that students who excel in the 

drawing competition will be 

awarded prizes at a special 

ceremony to be held in May 

2021. 

Definition and Clarification”. 

Many people maintain a 

strong view <strong>against</strong> suicide and 

believe that nothing on earth 

will drive them to the brink of 

taking their lives and so, 

wonder the reason individuals 

who completed suicide, did so. 

The book offers clarifications 

with regard to reasons for 

suicide in chapter two. It is 

subtitled; “How Common is 

headquarters in Abuja, 

Otunba Runsewe took his time 

to inform the South Korean 

Ambassador on the 

forthcoming programme of 

NCAC called the International 

Arts and Crafts Expo (INAC) 

and to seek the participation 

of South Korea. 

He also sought partnership 

with the Republic of South 

Korea in organizing a joint 

exhibition in Nigeria and in 

South Korea noting that this 

will be very rewarding to both 

By Chukwuma Ajakah 

Against the backdrop of 

the myriad of seemingly 

insurmountable problems 

Nigeria grapples with, Ike 

Okonta, an Early Career 

Fellow in the Department of 

Politics at the University of 

Oxford and a former 

journalist with The News 

Magazine explores the view 

that the country can be 

successfully governed 

through a genuine federal 

arrangement. Ike Okonta’s 

stance on a wide range of 

topical issues relating to the 

polity, the economy and 

socio-cultural life of the 

nation is revealed in his new 

book titled, “Nigeria and the 

Challenge of Federalism.” 

Interestingly introduced 

with an insightful declarative 

that aptly depicts Nigeria’s 

dilemma from Peter 

Enahoro’s How to Be a 

Nigerian: “No Nigerian 

arrangement is permanent 

unless that which has been 

reached by negotiated 

compromise,” the book 

captures the highpoints of 

The Morning After: Towards a suicide free society 

countries. 

The South Korean Ambassador 

to Nigeria, His Excellency, Kim 

Young Chae in his response, 

stated that the embassy of South 

Korea will be interested in joint 

programme for school children 

and other cultural programmes 

that will make Koreans to 

understand Nigerians better. He 

proposed a joint food festival as 

well as Arts and Crafts exhibition 

later in the year. 

Ike Okonta’s expose of 

Nigeria’s political culture 

Suicide and What Are its 

Causes”. This is followed by 

“Suicide Prevention” which is 

dealt with in chapter three. In 

as much as every chapter of 

the book is very important, 

Chapter three that documents 

ways through which suicide 

could be prevented is 

imperative. It’s needless to 

wail when the head is off. 

Other chapters include; 

“Decriminalising Suicide”, 

“The WHO Guidelines on 

Suicide Reporting for the 

Media”, “Reports of Suicide 

Cases in Newspapers”, 

“Suicide Reports and the 

Impact on Families in 

Nigeria”, “Preventing Suicide 

Through Reporting 

Guidelines” and “A 

Recommended Guideline for 

Reporting of Suicide in 

Nigeria Media” 

“The Morning After”, 

employs real-life case studies 

to analyse existing practice 

which has not been entirely 

beneficial especially to the 

grieving families of those who 

took their own lives. 

Continue online @ 




Nigeria’s experience with 

federalism, from its introduction 

in 1954 to the present political 

dispensation. The author 

examines the roles of various 

individuals and agencies in the 

country’s politics with particular 

reference to the colonialists, the 

military, the political elite and 

other forces that perpetuate the 

unitary contraption, being 

masqueraded as a Federal 

system of government. 

The plot of Nigeria and the 

Challenge of Federalism 

hinges on the intractability of 

Nigeria’s socio-political 

problems as the discourse 

primarily exposes the factors 

that make the practice of a 

genuine federalism 

impracticable in the country. 

The plot develops through a 

narration replete with factual 

accounts of the country’s 

political utopia anchored on 

riders such as: Theorising 

Federalism, Colonial Rule and 

Crisis, Federalism on Trial: The 

Failed Politics of the First 

Republic, Aguiyi-Ironsi: In the 

Horns of a Dilemma, Civil War, 

Or the Continuation of Politics 

with Bulllets, Mohammed/ 

Obasanjo: Laying the 

Groundwork for Centralism, 

Ibrahim Babanginda and the 

Endless Transition, Many 

Voices, One Goal, Buhari and 

the Politics of Centralised 

Despotism and Achieving the 

New Federal Republic. 

Ike Okonta’s Nigeria and the 

Challenge of Federalism 

consists five chapters spread 

across 115 pages. In each 

chapter, the author presents a 

cardinal topic, relating to the 

broad subject matter and 

explores the multifaceted issues 

embedded in the discourse. 


www.vanguardngr.com


















:Vanguard 

News 

Bye-election: Shot policewoman 

recuperating PDF —Ekiti Compressor CP Free Version 

....As Fayemi vows to deal with 

perpetrators 

By Rotimi 

Ojomoyela 

A CONTRARY 

DO-EKITI— 

to 

reports making the rounds 

that a policewoman lost 

her life during last 

Saturday’s Ekiti East 

Constituency 1 poll, the 

Ekiti State Police 

Commissioner, Mr. 

Babatunde Mobayo, 

yesterday, clarified that 

she is alive and 

responding to treatment. 

Mobayo said the 

Policewoman, who was 

shot during the byelection, 

only sustained 

gunshot wounds and was 

promptly rushed to the 

hospital for treatment. 

Three persons were, 

Saturday, shot dead by 

suspected party thugs, 

while five others 

sustained gunshot 

wounds during the House 

of Assembly by-election 

conducted by the 

Independent National 

Electoral Commission, 

INEC, in the state 

constituency. 

Speaking with journalists 

via telephone in Ado Ekiti, 

yesterday, Mobayo, who 

responded through the 

Command’s spokesman, 

ASP Sunday Abutu, said 

the police officer shot is 

recuperating where she is 

being taken care of. 

He said: “No police 

officer died during the 

shooting by party thugs. 

Though one of our officers 

was shot, she didn’t die as 

wrongly speculated. 

“The policewoman, who 

is in a critical condition, is 

now responding to 

I’ll be first governor to 

handover to successor in Oyo 

—Makinde 

By Ola Ajayi 

I 

B A D A N — - 

GOVERNOR Seyi 

Makinde of Oyo State, yesterday, 

vowed to hand over to his 

successor if defeated in the 2023 

governorship election. 

He said this at the 

inauguration and 

commencement of duty service 

of the 8th President of Christ 

Apostolic Church, CAC, 

(worldwide), Pastor Samuel 

Oladele, held at All Saints 

Chapel, CAC. General 

Secretariat, Bashorun in Ibadan. 

He said, though no governor 

has ever handed over to his 

successor, he would break the 

jinx. 

Governor Makinde, who has 

been variously criticized by his 

political opponents in the state, 

said: “When we started the 

democracy we are now enjoying 

in Oyo State, if you look at all the 

past governors, none of them 

handed over to the successor.” 

He said that he was ready to 

make the difference in Oyo State 

where, according to him, no 

governor has handed over to the 

treatment. She is getting 

better.” 

Mobayo said his men had 

arrested three suspected 

perpetrators of the 

shootings and are now 

being detained at the police 

headquarters in Ado Ekiti. 

“Yes, three suspected 

party things have been 

arrested. They were picked 

up where they were hiding 

and are now being 

detained in our 

headquarters. 

Fayemi vows to 

deal with 

perpetrators 

Meanwhile, Governor 

Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti 

State, while condemning 

the violence, yesterday, 

vowed to bring the full 

weight of the law <strong>against</strong> 

those fingered in the killing 

of voters during the 

Saturday’s bye-election in 

the state to serve as 

deterrent to other political 

thugs. 

Fayemi, who spoke 

during his visit to the palace 

of Olumuo of Omuo-Ekiti, 

Oba Noah Omonigbehin, 

vowed not to politicize the 

killing of innocent citizens 

during election in the state. 

He said: “We may not be able 

to bring back the dead but every 

perpetrator will be dealt with to 

serve as deterrent to others. 

“After I spoke with Senator 

Biodun Olujimi yesterday 

(Saturday), I called the CP and 

instructed him to do everything 

possible to arrest the perpetrators 

and I’m happy to inform you 

Kabiyesi, that as I arrived the state 

today(Sunday), the CP said all 

the culprits have been arrested 

and on Monday, they shall be 

charged for murder.” 

successor, since the start of 

the Fourth Republic in 1999. 

He recounted that in 2003, 

Governor Lam Adesina did not 

attend the handing over 

ceremony of his successor, Alhaji 

Rashidi Ladoja; the latter did not 

also attend the inauguration of 

his successor, Adebayo Alao- 

Akala, even as Akala didn’t 

attend the inauguration of 

Senator Abiola Ajimobi, who also 

refused to hand over to the 

incumbent, Governor Seyi 

Makinde. 

He pledged to be the first 

governor to do the handover to 

his successor in the state. 

By Innocent Anaba 

LAGOS—A group of 

Lagos prominent 

indigenes, yesterday, urged 

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to 

name the Lagos State University, 

LASU, after the first civilian 

governor, late Alhaji Lateef 

Jakande, for his meritorious 

services to the state. 

In a statement by its 

spokesman, Chief Adesunbo 


• Sunday Igboho (right) acknowledging cheers from his teeming supporters. File photo. 

We can’t continue unholy marriage 

with killers —Sunday Igboho 

• Says breakup imminent; insists on Yoruba Nation 

• Demand restructuring, not secession —Oluwo tasks agitators 

By Adeola Badru & 

Shina Abubakar 

Ifreedom BADAN—YORUBA 

fighter, Mr. 

Sunday Adeyemo, 

popularly known as 

Sunday Igboho, said, 

yesterday, that the <strong>attack</strong> on 

his boys by some suspected 

hoodlums, last Friday at 

Soka Area, Ibadan in Oyo 

State, will not deter his 

agitation for Yoruba Nation, 

adding that the Yoruba can 

no longer have unholy 

marriage with those "killing 

our brothers and sisters in 

our land." 

He, however, warned of 

imminent break up of the 

country with the current 

state of the country. 

This came on a day the 

Oluwo of Iwo, Oba 

Abdulrosheed Akanbi, 

yesterday, tasked those 

agitating for Nigeria’s break 

up to dissipate their energy 

on proper restructuring 

saying it will be difficult to 

disintegrate Nigeria. 

He also stated that the 

breaking of Nigeria into 

pieces could mean a failure 

for the entire race. 

Igboho, who spoke with 

Vanguard, said he was not 

disturbed by the threat of 

Arewa youths to the Yoruba 

living in the North to vacate 

their land, asking how 

many Yoruba people, living 

in the North, were reported 

to have unjustly killed their 

people? 

Recalling that even if the 

constitution allows anyone 

to live in any state of his or 

her choice, he said such 

does not guarantee such a 

person to violate the laws 

of the land. 

His words: “How many 

Yoruba living in the North 

have you heard killed any 

Hausa man? Have you ever 

heard any Yoruba living in 

the North has engaged in 

raping women there? 

“So why must we 

condone such act of 

lawlessness in our land 

under the pretence that the 

constitution allows anyone 

to live in any state of his 

choice. Enough is enough. 

Yoruba are not bastards. 

“We are ready to give it 

what it takes for the Yoruba 

Nation to stand, no more 

one Nigeria. 

“They can’t continue to 

dominate our land and turn 

us into slaves. We have 

woken up from slumber. We 

will also drive them away 

from our land. 

“Any Yoruba, who is not 

supporting the cause of 

Yoruba Nation, is an enemy 

and a bastard. We are going 

to intensify our efforts from 

various fronts to drive home 

our demand. Nobody can 

stop the Yoruba Nation. 

“Let them regroup and 

<strong>attack</strong> me hundred times, I 

will not relent, because this 

is a just cause. I am ready 

to lay my life on if need be. 

We can no longer continue 

with this unholy marriage 

to the detriment of the 

Yoruba people. 

“We urge our brothers 

and sisters living in the 

North to come back home 

and work for the 

emancipation of Yoruba 

Nation. 

“Before this becomes war, 

the United Nations must 

intervene because we want 

to go. We have gone 

beyond the point that we 

cannot keep quiet again. 

We are no longer scared to 

voice out. We are not safe 

anywhere; we can’t sleep in 

peace; we can’t travel in 

peace. What have we done; 

are we slaves?” 

Demand 

restructuring, not 

secession 

—Oluwo tasks 

agitators 

But the Iwo monarch, in 

a statement by his media 

aide, Alli Ibrahim, 

expressed concern over the 

unrestricted and misuse of the 

social media, saying fuelling the 

agitation for secession could lead 

to a situation the country would 

regret for decades. 

While warning secession 

agitators to channel their efforts 

in demanding for quality 

Name LASU after Jakande, Lagos indigenes tell Sanwo-Olu 

Onitiri, the group said: “The late 

Jakande founded and established 

the pioneer university and 

nurtured it to maturity. 

“Other state universities in the 

country were named after their 

pioneer founders including 

Ambrose Alli University in Edo 

State, Adekunle Ajasin 

University in Ado Ekiti and 

Olabisi Onabanjo in Ogun State. 

“Jakande deserves such 

honour as his works in the state 

were yet to be surpassed. He had 

done more than any governor 

dead or living. His legacies include 

the Lagos Epe-Expressway, the 

Lagos- Badagry Expressway and 

the Banana Estate in Ikoyi 

amongst others. 

“The scripting of governance in 

Lagos State cannot be chronicled 

without Jakande as one of the 

chief-protagonists and, we dare 

say, inadequately sung heroes of 

our nation. 

“Late Alhaji made way to 

history books by sheer 

completeness in biography, 

excelling personally, 

professionally and politically. A 

simple, unassuming, smallstatured 

man with an ‘iroko’ 

personality, LKJ during his 

lifetime, stood tall as a role model 

to many, whether old or young, 

political or apolitical, Muslim or 

Christian, Southerner, Westerner 

or Northerner." 

governance and devolution of 

power, the monarch urged them 

to always situate and compare 

their interest to that of Nigerians. 

The statement reads: “Nigeria 

is an indivisible, unbreakable, 

inseparable and impenetrable 

country and the hope of the black 

race. Nigeria remains the unified 

force of the black race and its 

weaknesses must be properly and 

technically managed. Any 

attempt to break up Nigeria will 

unavoidably result to the 

separation of the black race, 

worldwide. Nigeria can never 

break. 

“I will admonish the break-up 

agitators to channel their energy 

towards productive venture such 

as calling for quality governance 

and devolution of power as done 

in some advanced countries. The 

leaders at the helms of affairs 

should be tasked to give 

dividends of democracy and 

quality lives to citizens. 

Promoting secession is like 

fuelling war that will consume the 

black race. As a responsible father 

to the nation, I can never be part 

of such move. 

“The government is tasked to 

domesticate dividends of 

democracy through policies that 

cut across all classes and social 

strata. The agitators should dust 

their Voters’ Cards, take part in 

election and promote competent 

candidates. Nigeria is too delicate 

to beat the drum of division 

synonymous with war. 

“Nigeria will bounce back. We 

will survive the trying time and 

be an envy of great nations. We 

have what it takes. What we need 

can only be done by competent 

leaders. Let’s harmonize Interest 

to demand quality governance. 

“The Nigerians in Diaspora 

should exercise caution in 

contributing to issues on social 

media. Most of their comments 

are fuelling division and 

heightening the tension. You all 

planned to resign home. Of what 

moral justification is destroying 

what our forefathers laboured for 

and setting the house we planned 

to resign to on fire? The failure of 

past leaders sent you abroad.”




Curfew: NBA wants review by Edo govt 

over alleged extortions 

•There' s no case of extortion —Police 

By Ozioruva Aliu 

BENINCITY—THE Benin 

Branch of the Nigerian 

Bar Association, NBA, has 

called on Governor Godwin 

Obaseki of Edo State to review 

the 10 pm to 6 am curfew 

imposed in the state in the 

wake of the Covid-19 pandemic 

outbreak, alleging 

that security agencies were 

using the opportunity to extort 

innocent persons. 

A statement by the branch's 

Chairman and Secretary, 

Pius Oiwoh and Andrew Lawani 

said the NBA had received 

several complaints 

about the attitude of the police, 

alleging that the security 

forces have turned it into an 

extortion ring and a huge 

money spinner. 

The statement alleged that 

a matron, who was conveying 

a diabetic student to St Philomena 

Hospital in Benin City 

was detained by the police on 

Friday night until the intervention 

of the Deputy Governor, 

Philip Shaibu "who had 

to personally come to the 

scene at Dawson Akpakpava 

to facilitate movement of the 

Matron and the patient to the 

By Festus Ahon & 

Ochuko Akuopha 

ASABA—GROUP Man 

aging Director Emeritus 

of Midwestern Oil and 

Gas Company Limited, Operator 

of OML 56, Engr 

Charles Odita, weekend, 

said the company with its 

Joint Venture partners, Sun- 

Trust and others have increased 

their oil process capacity 

from 25,000 to 

40,000 barrels of oil per day 

(bpd) in Umusadege, Kwale, 

Ndokwa West Local Government 

Area, Delta State. 

Odita said they have also 

stepped up gas process capacity 

from 15 to 25 million 

standard cubic feet per day 

(mmscf) and storage capacity 

from 29,000 to 110,000 

bopd facilities. 

Speaking in Asaba, he 

also confirmed the acquisition 

of two compressors that 


FLAG-OFF CEREMONY—From Left: US Consular General, Ms Claire Pierangelo; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice 

Admiral Awwal Gambo; Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Jason Gbassa; Chief 

of Staff, Logistics Command, Air Vice Marshal Cosmas Ozougwu; Commander, NNS Beecroft, Rear Admiral 

Ibrahim Shetima, and Chief of Naval Engineering, Rear Admiral Suleiman el-Ladan, during the flag-off ceremony 

of the exercise 'Obangame Express 2021' on board NNS Thunder, in Lagos. Photo: Kehinde Shonola. 

hospital where they could access 

medical attention. 

"Prior to this latest incident, 

we have had reports of some 

security personnel who detain 

pregnant women and their 

family members enroute labour 

wards and are only released 

after they have been 

extorted. The Commissioner 

of Police has been kind 

enough to intervene at the behest 

of the Bar in some of these 

Attack on security personnel is <strong>attack</strong> on 

Anambra, Obiano warns 

By Vincent 

Ujumadu 

AWKA-—WORRIED by 

the recent <strong>attack</strong>s on security 

personnel in parts of 

Anambra State during which 

some policemen and naval officers 

lost their lives, Governor 

Willie Obiano warned yesterday 

that any <strong>attack</strong> on security 

personnel meant an <strong>attack</strong> 

on the state. 

In a statement, the governor 

said those involved in the dastardly 

act would face the full 

MidWestern Oil partners increase 

production capacity in Delta 

would deliver 6.5mmscf of 

gas each, which were 

among the multi million 

dollars project. 

He said: "While major 

challenges arose from regulatory 

agency restrictions 

and the capital-intensive 

nature of the project, diligent 

management resources 

and cooperation of the 

partners were able to surmount 

all obstacles and 

come up with the resultant 

investment. 

"Today is a memorable 

and glorious day in the history 

of oil and gas in Nigeria, 

as we, (Midwestern Oil 

& Gas Company Limited) 

with our JV partners are 

commissioning four major 

projects. 

"Abandonment of such 

projects in our industry is not 

unusual and we are indeed 

proud of this remarkable 

achievement. The value of 

the 3-fold increment in our 

very pathetic situations." 

The NBA cautioned the security 

personnel to be mindful 

of the fact it was the several 

cases of injustices <strong>against</strong> 

people that triggered the 

#EndSARS protests last year. 

But when contacted, the Police 

Public Relations Officer, 

Kotongs Bello, denied the allegation 

of extortion, saying 

"The issue of the deputy governor 

is not an issue of extortion, 

it was an issue that they 

stopped them from moving. 

There is a law set by the state 

weight of the law.. 

He said: "Within the past 

week or so, we have witnessed 

what obviously is a planned 

and targeted <strong>attack</strong> on Security 

personnel and facilities in 

the State by armed hoodlums. 

"So far, Police Officers and 

Navy personnel on official 

duties at strategic checkpoints 

in various locations in the 

state were sporadically <strong>attack</strong>ed, 

killed and their firearms 

taken away. Also, prison 

and police personnel conveying 

an inmate to court 

gas processing, oil processing 

and storage is immense 

and by adding the two compressors 

that will deliver 6.5 

mmscf of gas, we have set a 

course for a bright future for 

us and our JV partners. 

"We have also positioned 

our host communities for industrial 

excellence, and this 

is due to the cordial support 

they have granted us from 

the onset of our operations 

in their communities. 

"On a personal note, I am 

grateful to God because no 

sooner had I joined the company 

as Managing Director 

did the price of crude oil 

plummeted from $150 to 

$29 dollars per barrel. 

"So, most of the time that I 

was Managing Director, we 

grappled with low oil price 

and limited resources. Despite 

all that, we were able 

to apply resources judiciously 

to the current success of 

the company." 

government which we are enforcing 

when it is 10 pm, except 

for reason of ill-health, 

there is no other reason that 

you are to move. 

"When apprehended, you 

are taken to a mobile court 

where you will pay a fine for 

violating the law, so it is not 

extortion, police are not doctors, 

if somebody is sick, you 

have to seriously verify that the 

person is sick before the person 

can be considered. We are 

working by the directive of the 

governor through the Commissioner 

of Police, if you 

don't want to be taken to a 

mobile court to pay a fine, 

then don't come out." 

were equally <strong>attack</strong>ed and 

killed. 

"This morning, (Sunday),:a 

Police outpost was <strong>attack</strong>ed 

unsuccessfully as joint 

Police,vigilante and community 

efforts repelled the <strong>attack</strong>ers. 

"Anambra State government 

categorically condemns 

these <strong>attack</strong>s on our security 

personnel and is doing everything 

possible to apprehend 

the perpetrators and bring 

them to justice. 

"Since these <strong>attack</strong>s commenced, 

I have personally 

coordinated security commanders 

in the State with 

a joint effort to halt this 

mayhem and by God's, we 

will surely succeed. The 

State security Council has 

met twice and I summoned 

another emergency 

meeting this afternoon 

hence my address. 

"Let me emphatically 

state that any <strong>attack</strong>s on security 

personnel in Anambra 

is a direct <strong>attack</strong> on the 

State itself and will be resisted 

with our greatest 

might. Those who <strong>attack</strong> 

us are obviiously intent on 

distorting the peace and 

security we have enjoyed in 

Anambra State in the past 

seven years and we will not 

allow that. 

"We have received massive 

Police, Army, Navy and 

DSS deployment since yesterday 

and they have joined 

their teams on ground to 

enforce security. 

" I have therefore directed 

all security agencies in 

the state, the vigilante services, 

all task forces and every 

structure in the state security 

infrastructure to rise in defence 

of our dear state. 

Obaseki assures of more funding 

for basic, tech education 

By Gabriel 

Enogholase 

B ENIN—GOVERNOR 

Godwin Obaseki of Edo 

State, has said that his administration 

would continue to 

invest in basic education as 

well as Technical and Vocational 

Education, TVET. 

The governor gave the assurance, 

yesterday, in Benin 

City, during a thanksgiving 

service to mark the eight years 

completion of office and 75 

years birthday anniversary of 

the former National President 

of the Pentecostal Fellowship 

of Nigeria, PFN, Rev. Felix 

Omobude. 

Obaseki said: "We are proud 

that a child in primary one in 

Edo under the Edo Basic Education 

Sector Transformation 

(EdoBEST) programme 

after one term can now read. 

We will continue to invest in 

that transformation. 

"We are extending the 

achievements recorded in 

EdoBEST to technical and 

vocational education, but the 

COAS expected in A-Ibom for 

commanding officers' workshop 

By Harris Emanuel 

UYO—CHIEF of Army 

Staff, Lt General Ibrahim 

Attahiru is expected in 

Uyo , Akwa Ibom State to declare 

open a 5-day workshop 

for Commanding officers. 

The Commanding officers 

workshop is the first to be hosted 

by 6 Division Nigerian 

Army in 2 Brigade Area of esponsibility 

and is scheduled 

to hold from March 22-26 

2021, in Uyo. 

According a statement by 

the Assistant Director , Army 

Public Relations, 2 Brigade , 

Captain G. Akpaba, the worship 

has the theme "Repositioning 

the Nigerian Army to 

foundation is what is critical. 

Without a solid foundation in 

education, nothing good can 

rest. We want to thank you for 

what you are doing for education 

in the church. 

"I did not realise that for the 

past 20 years you have been 

picking out little resources to 

train children who are not 

your own, to give them education 

and a chance in life." 

On the state of security in 

the South-south, Governor 

Obaseki, said, "We are working 

very hard to ensure security 

in our zone. You know that 

we have a zone with a peculiar 

terrain, because of the 

farmers and herders' crisis, but 

you know that we also have 

the issue of militancy and oil 

bunkering. We have a heightened 

security problem in the 

zone. 

"I was in Delta State last 

week where I met with Governor 

Ifeanyi Okowa. Security 

was part of what we discussed 

and there is going to be a meeting 

soon for further deliberation." 

Defeat Contemporary Adversaries 

in a Joint Environments." 

According to the statement, 

it is aimed to build capacity 

of the Commanding Officers 

and provide an avenue for 

them to deliberate on topical 

issues with a view to proffering 

solutions to contemporary 

security challenges in the 

country. 

The statement said, "The 

event will witness the presence 

of some erudite seasoned serving 

and retired senior military 

officers who will impart 

knowledge, share their perspectives 

and experiences on 

topical issues with the participants." 

Ministry partners studios to train 

1000 youths in creative industry 

LAGOS—THE Federal 

Ministry of Youth and 

Sports Development is to partner 

Ogidi Studios for the 

training of 1000 youth in the 

music production segment 

value chain of the creative industry. 

The Minister, Chief Sunday 

Dare stated this at the commissioning 

of the studios in Lagos, 

weekend, noting that it was 

part of the Ministry's commitment 

to equipping the youth 

with skills that can set them up 

as entrepreneurs and contributors 

to Nigeria's economic 

growth. 

Dare explained that the 

launch of the studios "resonates 

with our youth because it excites 

and employs our youth. 

"I see that the future of some 

of our youth will be built here. 

The most important tasks for 

me is to announce a partnership 

between the Federal Government 

through the Ministry 

of Youth and Sports Development. 

We would support and 

train 1000 Nigerian youth in 

two to four weeks courses.‘‘ 

Anambra 2021: EFCC urged to 

check profiles of aspirants 

AWKA—AHEAD of An 

ambra State governorship 

election schedule for November 

this year, the Economic 

and Financial Crimes 

Commission (EFCC) has been 

urged to investigate the profile 

of the aspirants. 

The Anambra Concern Citizens, 

which made the call 

weekend, also urged the antigraft 

agency to investigate 

whether the aspirants are involved 

in no payment of bank 

loans or defaulted in taxes. 

The group, in a s statement 

by its Chairman, Paul Okeke 

said that the call became imperative 

as this is the right 

time to know the people that 

want to rule the state. 

The group further said it 

was better to know them now 

than to be using anti-graft 

agency to recover the money 

belonging to the state after 

tenure. 

The group said: "Let the 

people know who want to rule 

them now. The EFCC should 

carry out investigation and 

check the profile of the aspirants. 

It is better to know the 

people now than to ask questions 

later. 

"The people of Anambra 

should know the integrity and 

sincerity of the people that 

want to rule them. The EFCC 

should go the extra mile to 

expose the mindset of these 

people by investigating them 

and show the people the character 

of these aspirants.



METU 

I, formerly known as METU 

PAMELA KELECHI, now 

wish to be known as IBEANUSI 

PAMELA KELECHI. All 

documents bearing my former 

name remain valid. Gtb and the 

general public please take note. 

EDOJA 

I, formerly known as Miss 

Edoja Roseline, now wish to 

be known as Mrs. 

Emuemukoro Roseline. All 

former documents remain 

valid, general public take 

note. 

AGWU 

I, formerly known as Mercy 

Okafor Ikeogu and also Mercy 

Okafor Agwu, now wish to be 

known as Azu Mercy Chinedu 

Dike. All documents bearing 

my former name remain 

valid. Gtb and the general 

public take note. 

MGBEOKWERE 

I, formerly known as 

JENNIFER NWAKAEGO 

MGBEOKWERE, now wish 

to be known as JENNIFER 

NWAKAEGO OJAMAMI, all 


valid. Authorities concerned 

and general public take note. 

IKEME 

I, formerly known and addressed 

as Miss Ikeme Chiamaka Cynthia 

now wish to be known and 

addressed as Mrs Anyanwu 

Chiamaka Cynthia. All former 

documents remain valid. General 

public please take note. 

IYAWE 


as Miss Iyawe Godbless 

Ehiozomwangie, now wish to be 

known and addressed as Mrs. Abah 

Godbless Ehiozomwangie. All 

former documents remain valid. 

General public please take note. 

TAFA 

I, formerly known as Leslie 

Shola Tafa, now wish to be 

known and addressed as Leslie 

Shola Isiayei Tafa. Former 

documents remain valid, 

general public take note. 

ETUETUE AI 


Etuetue Ruth Ejiroghene, now 

wish to be known as Mrs 

Bikawei Ruth Ejiroghene. All 


valid, Banks, general public 

take note. 

NWOBODO OG 


Chidinma Pamela Nwobodo, now 

wish to be known and addressed 

as Mrs Chidinma Pamela Nneji. 

All former documents remain 

valid. Central Bank of Nigeria and 

the general public please take note. 

OW 

NWOYE 

I, formerly known as Michael 

Chukwuemeke Nwoye, now 

wish to be known as Michael 

Chukwuemeke Godfrey. All 


valid, general public take note. 

FAVOUR 

This is to confirm that my name 

was wrongly written as Erhabor 

Favour instead of Erhabor Love in 

my BVN. All former documents 

remain valid, Zenith Bank PLC 

Abraka branch, other banks, general 


ITIMA AN 

I, formerly known and 

addressed as Miss Itima, Rita 

Uyegha now wish to be known 

as Mrs Ovat, Rita Uyegha. All 

former documents bearing my 

former name remain valid. 

Public please note. 

KELLY 

This is to confirm that the name 

UGBEH CHUKWUDI and UGBEH 

KELLY CHUKWUDI belong to one 

and the same person, now wish to be 

known and addressed as UGBEH 

KELLY CHUKWUDI. Former 


Public please take note. 

OYIBE 


as Miss Oyibe Ujunwa Nneka now 

wish to be known and addressed as 

Mrs Amaefula Ujunwa Nneka. All 



ADELEYE 


as Olufunke Bukunola Adeleye, 


addressed as Olufunke Bukunola 

Fatusin. All former documents 

remain valid. General public please 

take note. 

SUNDAY 


Mary Sunday Johnson, now 


as Mrs. Mary Sampson Iferi. 

Former documents remain 


ETUK 

I, formerly known as Etuk,.O. 

Ese Helena, now wish to be 

known as Omuvwie Helena. All 



EMEOFA 

I, formerly known as Emeofa 

Faith Ogheneovo, now wish to 

be known and addressed as 

Otobrise Faith Ogheneovo. All 


valid, any authority it may 

concern and the general public 

to please take note. 

ENEGIDE 

OKHALAFEMHE 

I, formerly known as Abache 

Victor Okhalafemhe, now wish 

to be known as Abache Victor 

Eshiomati. All former 



AJOKE 


Oluwayemisi Ajoke Adepoju, 

now wish to be known as 

Oluwayemisi Adepoju- 

Awodele. All former 



OGUNDARE 


as Miss Ogundare Esther Funke, 


addressed as Mrs. Obatayo Esther 

Funke. Former documents remain 

valid, general public please take 

note. 

NWAOKORO 

I, formerly known and addressed as 

MISS NWAOKORO RITA 

OBIAGELI, now wish to be known 

and addressed as MRS. AWANA 

RITA . Former documents remain 

valid. General Public, to whom it 

may concern, please take note. 

JARIKRE 


Jarikre Oghenerukevwe 

Martha, now wish to be known 

and addressed as Mrs Felix 

Oghenerukevwe Martha. All 


valid. General public please 

take note. 

UNUAFE 

I, formerly known as Miss Joy 

Emamezi Unuafe, now wish to be 

known as Mrs. Joy Emamezi 

Okunoye. All former documents 

remain valid. General public please 

take note. 

NGWU OBIE 

I, formerly known as Isife 

Ifeoma Emelda, now wish to 


Ngwu Isife Ifeoma Emelda. 



NKIRU 

AI 

I, formerly known as OSUJI 

NKIRU PATRICIA, now wish 

to be known and addressed as 

OSUJI NKEIRUKA 

PATRICIA. All former 

documents remain valid. Osuji 

family, General public please 

take note. 

UBIRI 

I, formerly known as MISS 

FELICIA ELIZABETH UBIRI, 


addressed as MRS FELICIA 

ELIZABETH BANKOLE. All 



ISAAC 

I, formerly known as Idris Isaac 

Bobby, now wish to be known 

as Azikwe Idris. All former 



AKWARI 

I, formerly known as Akwari 

Ezinne Ugomma, now wish to 

be known as Nweke Ezinne 

Ugomma. All former 



IFEDOLAPO 


as Miss Ata Bukola Ifedolapo, now 


as Mrs. Oshobukola Bukola. 

Former documents remain valid, 

general public please take note. 

OKOCHA 

I, formerly known and addressed as 

MISS OKOCHA PERKY 

ONYEKA, now wish to be known 

and addressed as MRS. 

UFOEGBUNE PERKY ONYEKA. 

Former documents remain valid. 

General Public, to whom it may 

concern, please take note. 

PECULIAR 

My name was wrongly written on my 

Primary School Leaving Certificate 

as Okagbare Peculiar 

Oghenetekevwe instead of Okagbare 

Priscilla Oghenetekevwe. I wish to 

be known and addressed by my 

correct name Okagbare Priscilla 

Oghenetekevwe. All former 



HUMPHREY 

I, formerly known as Ehumadu 

Ifeanyi Humphrey, now wish 

to be known as Ehumadu 

Ifeanyi Miracle. All former 

documents remain valid. 

General public please take 

note. 

OCHA 

I, formerly known as Ocha 

Onyekachi Owen, now wish 


Amarhese Onyekachi Owen. 



note. 

IDUMA 

I, formerly known as MRS. 

ESTHER IDUMA, now wish 


MRS. ESTHER MGBO OKO. 


valid. General public please 

take note. 

UWAIFO 


Uwaifo Hannah Isabel and 

Okocha Hannah Isabel, now 

wish to be known as 

Mrs Hannah Isabel Osadebe. 


valid general public please 

take note. 

ABOH IB 

OTIKPO OMOBAH 

I formerly known as MISS 

AGHOGHO OTIKPO, now OMOBAH 

wish to be known and 

addressed as MRS OJIGHO 

AGHOGHO ANDREW All 


MABUYAKU 

valid.General public please 

take note. 

The Family of Mr NWOSE. Therefore,the members of the Family formerly known, 

called and addressed as ABOH BARTHOLOMEW CHIKE, ABOH 

BONAVENTURE TOCHUKWU, ABOH PATRICK IKECHUKWU, ABOH 

EMMANUEL OKECHUKWU ABOH SCHOLASTICA IFEOMA, ABOH 

ANTHONIA NWAMAKA, now wish to be known, called and addressed as 

NWOSE BARTHOLOMEW CHIKE, NWOSE BONAVENTURE 

TOCHUKWU, NWOSE PATRICK IKECHUKWU, NWOSE EMMANUEL 

OKECHUKWU, NWOSE SCHOLASTICA IFEOMA, NWOSE ANTHONIA 

NWAMAKA. All former documents bearing our surname remain valid. General 

Public, Authorities Concerned to please take note. 

I formerly known as MISS 

KESSY 

AJIRIOGHENE, now wish to be 

known and addressed as MRS 

KESSY 

AJIRIOGHENE. All former 



GOODNESS 

This is to confirm that my 

name was wrongly captured as 

Emeke Goodness instead of 

Emeke Goodnews. My correct 

name is Emeke Goodnews. All 



OBASI 

I, formerly known as Ugochi 

Peace Obasi, now wish to be 

known as Ugochi Peace 

Nnamdi Okeke. All former 



FOLAGBADE 


as Miss Oluwatosin Rebecca 

Folagbade, now wish to be known 

and addressed as Mrs. Oluwatosin 

Rebecca Onyekwere. Former 

documents remain valid, general 


BIATRIC 

I, formerly known as OKERE 

CHINYERE BIATRIC. now wish 

to be known as OKERE 

CHINENYE BEATRICE. Former 

documents remain valid. BVN, 

VOTER’S CARD And General 


VICTORIA 

I, formerly known as Victoria Eyoh 

Antigha, now wish to be known 

and addressed as Veronica Eyoh 

Antigha. Former documents remain 

valid. First Bank of Nigeria 

Plc and the general public please 

take note. 

AGHOMA 

I, formerly known as Aghoma 

Josephine, now wish to be 

known as Adarighofua 

Josephine. All former 


General public please take 

note. 

CHIDI 


Chidi Promise Nneka, now 


as Mrs. Oluwole Promise 

Nneka. Former documents 

remain valid, general public 

take note. 

AKANDE 


addressed as AKANDE 

SAKIRAT, now wish to be 

known and addressed as Mrs. 

AKANDE-ABDULSALAM 

SAKIRAT. All former 


General public take note. 

OTERI 

I formerly known and addressed as 

OTERI SAMUEL, now wish to 

be known and addressed as OTERI 

SAMUEL OGHENEOVO, former 


authorities concerned and general 


MICHAEL 


addressed as MICHAEL 

RACHAEL OMOWUMI, now 


as MIKIE RACHAEL 

OMOWUMI. All former 


General public take note. 

EDEKI 

I, formerly known as Elizabeth 

Onovwakpoyeya and Mrs. 

Elizabeth Edeki, now wish to 

be known as Mrs. Elizabeth 

Ozuri. All former documents 


take note. 

ADARAMOLA 


Adaramola Rhoda 

Fiyinfoluwa, now wish to be 

known as Ayedun Rhoda 

Fiyinfoluwa. All former 



FREDRICK 


addressed as Fredrick Faith 

Ogboi, now wish to be known 

and addressed as Ogboi faith. 


valid, general public please 

take note. 

AIKOYE 


as Aikoye Jacob, now wish to be 

known and addressed as Aikoye 

Benjamin Jacob. Former 

documents remain valid, Bank Of 

Nigeria PLC, general public please 

take note. 

ONAJITE 


as Adjogri Kelvin Onajite now 


as Kelvin D. O. Adjogri. All former 



ORJI 

I, formerly known as Orji 

Ogechi Samuel, now wish to 

be known as Vincent Grace 

Ogechi. All former documents 

remain valid. General public 

please take note. 

OTUGO 

I, formerly known as Otugo 

Leodarline Nkechiyere, now 


addressed as Leo Leodarline. 



note. 

IKUEMENISAN 


as (Nee)Ikuemenisan Folaranmi 

Elizabeth, now wish to be known 

and addressed as Balogun 

Folaranmi Elizabeth. All former 



DAN 

I, formerly known as Dan 

Yakubu Surazu now wish to be 

known as Yakubu Surazu. All 


valid. General public take note. 

OFOWINOR 

FAGBEMI 

I formerly known as Miss 

FAGBEMI Oluwashola Damilola, 

Now wish to be known and 

addressed as Mrs.OLANREWAJU 

Oluwashola Damilola. All former 

documents remain Valid . The 

general public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME 

BOLAJI 


as Mr. BOLAJI Kayode 

Christopher, Now wish to be 

known and addressed as Mr. 

FAMULEGUN Kayode Pelumi. 


Valid. The general public should 


SHOLABI 


as Miss SHOLABI Tolulope 

Oluwatobi, Now wish to be 


Nosiru Tolulope Oluwatobi. All 

former documents remain Valid. 

The general public should 


SOREMEKUN 


as Mister. SOREMEKUN 

Boluwatife Emmanuel, Now wish 


Mister. DANIEL Boluwatife 

Emmanuel. All former documents 

remain Valid. The general public 

should please take note. 

OGBONNAYA 


Christopher Ogbonnaya, now 


addressed as Azubuike 

Christopher Onuoha. Former 



IGBONOBA 

I, formerly known as Faustina 

Ahaoma Igbonoba, now wish 


Ahaoma Faustina Abike 

Ebere. Former documents 


take note. 

OSONDU 


Ezebuiro Osondu Harvest, 


addressed as Ezebuiro 

Harvest Ezinne. Former 



OWEN 

I, formerly known as OWEN 

GODWIN, now wish to be 

known and addressed as 

OWEN GODWIN 

CHINONYEREM. Former 



ERHENEDE 

I, formerly known, called and 

addressed as CHARLES O. 

ERHENEDE, now wish to be 

known, called and addressed as 

OCHUKO CHARLES 

ONOBEIRIE. All former 

documents remain valid. The 

general public should take note. 

OKEIYI 

I formerly known and 

addressed as OKEIYI 

LOVETH IHUAKU, now wish 


IKECHUKWU LOVETH 

IHUAKU. All former 


General public should take 

note. 

OGUNDIPE 

I formerly known and addressed 

as Miss Omokehinde Omotola 

Ogundipe , now wish to be 

known and addressed as Mrs 

Omokehinde Omotola Bamidele. 


valid. General public should 

take note. 

NWACHUKWU 


addressed as Miss 

Nwachukwu Nkiruka charity, 


addressed as Mrs Imo 

Nkiruka Charity. All former 



note. 

GBADAMOSI 


as Miss Gbadamosi sunkanmi 

suliat, Now wish to be known 

and addressed as Mrs. Agbaje 

sunkanmi suliat. All former 

documents remain Valid. The 

general public should please 

take note. 


IFAYEFUNMI 


as Miss IFAYEFUNMI Tomike 

Gloria, Now wish to be known 

and addressed as Mrs. KUYE 

Tomike Gloria. All former 

documents remain Valid. The 

general public should please 

take note. 

UMAR 

I, formerly known as UMAR 

YUNUSA, now wish to be 


UMAR YUNUSA UMAR. 



note. 

ADOYI 

I, formerly known as Ameh 

Dennis, now wish to be 


Ameh Dennis Adoyi. Former 


ECO BANK PLC and 


AHMED 


Deborah Ahmed, now wish 

to be known and addressed 

as Deborah Ibrahim.Former 


UBA PLC, First Bank PLC 

and general public take note. 

SULE 


Michael Sule, now wish to be 


Michael Sunday. Former 



OSAKWE 


addressed as Miss. Osakwe 

Adaobi. I now wish to be 

known, called and addressed 

as Mrs. Owhoruviowho 

Adaobi. All former documents 

remain valid. The general 

public should take note. 

OGUNJUWON 

I, formerly known as Miss. 

ADEBISI 

SERAH 

OGUNJUWON, now wish to be 


ADEBISI 

SERAH 

KONIGBAGBE. All former 

documents remain valid. The 

general public should take note. 

USMAN 


addressed as, MISS. USMAN 

JOY NINMA, now wish to be 


MRS. UGWU JOY NINMA. 


valid. General public should 

take note. 

ASAKE 


addressed as Miss Oyenike 

Asake Oyeboade, now wish to 


Mrs Oyenike Benjamin 

Olaleye. All former documents 

remain valid. General public 

should take note. 

ALFA 


addressed as Yunusa Alfa 

Abuh, now wish to be known 

and addressed as Abubakar 

Yunusa.. All former 



note. 


Number of S-Court Justices drop to 18, as 

Rhodes--Vivour retires today 

By Ikechukwu 

Nnochiri 

A BUJA—JUSTICE 

Olabode Rhodes- 

Vivour will, on 

Monday, bow out of 

the Supreme Court 

bench, having clocked 

the 70 years statutory 

retirement age. 

Justice Rhodes- 

Vivour is the second 

most senior jurist of 

the court, directly 

below the Chief 

Justice of Nigeria, 

CJN, Justice Tanko 

Muhammad. 

His retirement has 

Delta community protests over Odogwu title 

....Urges government to intervene 

O GWASHI-UKU— 

THE people of 

Azungwu Community 

of Ogwashi-Uku, 

Aniocha South local 

government area in 

Delta State, have 

protested <strong>against</strong> the 

chieftaincy title of the 

'Odogwu of Ogwashi- 

Uku, confered on 

Gabriel Ohai Amboi, 

alleging that he was not 

the right person to hold 

the title. 

The protest, which was 

carried out by the men, 

women, youths, elders, 

including the chief 

priest of the community, 

was, however, peaceful, 

as the protesters 

appealed to the state 

government to intervene 

in the matter, so as not 

to allow it to degenerate 

into crisis in their area. 

The protesters, who 

carried placards with 

various inscriptions, 

chanted war songs 

while matching round 

the town. the 'Onu 

Odafe' of Ogwashi-Uku, 

Nweke Odafe, who 

spoke on behalf of the 

Odafe, alleged that 

Gabriel Ohai Amboi was 

imposed on the people 

of Azungwu by the 

traditional ruler of 

Ogwashi-Uku without 

due consultation with 

the people of the 

community. 

While saying that the 

people of Azungwu 

were peace loving, he 

called for the removal of 

SALISU 


addressed as Yunusa Salisu, 


addressed as Yunusa Salisu 

Abubakar. All former 



note. 

depleted the number 

of justices of the apex 

court to 18. 

Number of justices of 

the 

court 

unprecedentally rose 

to 20 in November 

2020, after President 

Muhammadu Buhari 

okayed the elevation of 

eight justices at a go. 

Their appointment 

had sparked hope that 

the apex court would 

for the first time in 

history, attain the full 

complement of 21 

justices. 

However, with the 

death of Justice 

Gabriel Ohai as the 

Odogwu of Ogwashi- 

Uku. He insisted that 

the Odogwu title belong 

the people of Azungwu, 

saying that they were in 

a better position to know 

the rightful person to 

occupy the position as 

custom and tradition 

demands. 

Speaking in the same 

vein, Comrade Tony 

Nwaduba, Chief Iloba 

Obata, Comrade 

Emmanuel Nwani and 

Sylvester Ngwuta on 

March 7, about 23 

days to his retirement, 

and the retirement of 

Justice Rhodes-Vivour 

on Monday, only 18 

Justice are left on the 

apex court bench. 

Remarkably, five 

other justices of the 

court, including the 

CJN, will equally exit 

the bench within the 

next 33 months. 

Whereas Mary Odili, 

who will become the 

second most senior 

justice of the court 

upon the retirement of 

Justice Rhodes- 

many other youths, said 

they would continue to 

ensure that Azungwu 

remains as one family as 

it was from inception. 

Maintaining that 

nobody could 

disorganise the unity 

the people of the area 

were enjoying, they said 


Vivour, will retire on 

May 12, 2022, Justice 

Ejembi Eko will also 

bow out of active 

judicial service just 11 

days later, being May 

23, 2022. 

The CJN himself will 

retire on December 31, 

2023, which is about 

seven months after 

President Buhari’s 

second term in office had 

elapsed. 

Meanwhile, Vanguard 

learned that the Supreme 

Court will on Monday, 

hold a special valedictory 

session in honour of 

Justice Rhodes-Vivour. 

Azungwu land was not 

for sale. 

They alleged that the 

chieftaincy imposition 

and forceful land 

administration in 

Azungwu Community 

had in no small measure 

negatively impacted on 

the peaceful co- existence 

of the community. 

Ekariko at 80: Our father 

stood for the oppressed 

—Children 

By Paul Olayemi 

S APELE—“OUR 

father stood for 

the oppressed,” a 

daughter of Chief 

Vincent Ekariko, Mrs. 

Phyllis Fafi, said of 

their family patriarch, 

at the occasion of his 

80th birthday. She 

described her father as 

a disciplinarian, who 

abhors oppression. “We 

are truly blessed to 

have him as a father.” 

A Sapele historian 

and community leader, 

Dr. Ekariko said he was 

happy to attain 80. “I 

am an ex-soldier who 

believe in discipline, 

and I thank God that I 

have attained this age.” 

Also speaking, 

Obomina and David 

Ekariko, sons of the 

celebrant, wished their 

father a happy birthday 

and many happy 

returns. 

The birthday, which 

was celebrated along 

Abeke road, in Sapele, 

also witness dignitaries 

from far and wide with 

the presentation of a 

Toyota Highlander to 

the celebrant from the 

children.

40—Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 22, 2021 


ANNIVERSARY: From left, Rev Fr Ikenna Ikechi, Chaplin; Rev Fr 

Maduabuchi Muoneme, Administrator; Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, 

Dr Alfred Martins; Rev Fr Chukwuyenum Afiawari, The Provincial 

of the North-West Africa Province, the Society of Jesus; Rev Fr 

Francis Koshoffa, Deputy Administrator and Rev Fr Hyfon Ikyondi, 

during the 30th anniversary of St Francis Catholic Secondary School, 

Idimu, Lagos, weekend. 

PRESENTATION: Representative of Oyo State Governor and Executive Chairman, 

Oyo State Minerals Development Agency, Abiodun Oni (left), presenting 

a bus key to Pastor in charge of United Missionary Church of Africa, 

Bethlehem, Igbeti, Rev Ebenezer Onipede, while Deacon Samuel Feyisipe 

looks on during the presentation of 18-seater bus to the church. 

VISIT: From left, Tope Dare, Executive Director, Infrastructure Business, 

Inlaks; Ayodeji Aina, Head Enterprise Innovation Unit, FirstBank; Abimbola 

Ibikunle Aina, Head, Branch Experience Management, FirstBank; Femi 

Adeoti, MD/CEO Africa Operations, Inlaks; Callistus Obetta, Group 

Executive, Technology & Services, FirstBank; Lande Atere, Group Head 

Branch Operations and Services, FirstBank and Adewale Salami, Chief 

Technology Officer, FirstBank when the FBN visited Inlaks Technical 

Resource Centre (TRC), Ikeja, Lagos. Photo: Kehinde Shonola. 

BIRTHDAY: Dr Vincent Ekariko with members of his family when he 

celebrated his birthday in Sapele, Delta State, at the weekend.


<strong>Govs</strong>, <strong>APC</strong>, <strong>PDP</strong>, 

others rail <strong>against</strong> 

<strong>attack</strong> on Ortom 

Continued from page 5 

only to law. 

“Nigeria is still a 

democracy and a nation of 

laws and not men. Nobody, 

or group, however, highly 

placed should take the laws 

into their hands, even 

though some highly placed 

federal government 

ministers seem to have 

surrendered to the 

nefarious activities of 

miscreants and mischief 

makers, bent on 

destabilising the nation. 

Self-help is an invitation to 

anarchy and must be 

nipped in the bud. 

“The <strong>PDP</strong> governors are 

solidly united and are 

behind Governor Samuel 

Ortom and will do the 

utmost to defend the rights 

and prerogatives of Benue 

people who elected him. 

“We expect the security 

agencies and other 

authorities of state to 

investigate this matter 

swiftly and thoroughly and 

bring the perpetrators to 

justice. Enough is clearly 

enough.” 

Benue people not 

weak — Mark 

Also reacting, former Sen 

ate president, David Mark, 

condemned the <strong>attack</strong> on 

Samuel Ortom, saying this 

might compel people to 

defend themselves. 

In a statement signed by 

his media aide, Paul 

Mumeh, Mark said if a 

governor’s security could 

not be guaranteed, citizens 

might have to resort to selfhelp. 

He said: “If a state 

governor can be so brazenly 

<strong>attack</strong>ed, what would they 

not do to ordinary citizens? 

“Let me state clearly that 

Benue people are receptive 

and accommodating. But 

this should not be 

misconstrued or mistaken 

for weakness. Enough of 

this malady. 

“If our government and 

security operatives can no 

longer guarantee peoples’ 

safety in their homes, farms 

or places of business, I am 

worried that the situation 

may compel citizens to 

resort to self help. 

“That is the situation, we 

cannot contemplate and 

must not be allowed to 

happen because the 

consequences would be 

catastrophic. 

“Therefore, the Federal 

Government and all the 

security agencies must of a 

necessity come to terms 

with the painful reality of 

the unending insecurity in 

the land and resolve to end 

it.” 

The senator, who also 

hails from Benue, urged 

Ortom not to be deterred by 

the incident, noting that he 

(governor) had lived up to 

his oath of office to defend 

and protect the lives and 

property of Benue people 

without compromise. 

He also advised all 

citizens to be security 

conscious at all times and 

provide information 

regarding any suspected 

activity to security 

operatives. 

Attack on Ortom: 

<strong>APC</strong> warns <strong>against</strong> 

politicizing crime 

The ruling All 

Progressives Congress 

<strong>APC</strong> has condemned 

Saturday’s <strong>attack</strong> on the 

convoy of the Benue State 

Governor, Samuel Ortom. 

The party in a statement 

by the National Secretary 

of its Caretaker 

Extraordinary Convention 

Planning Committee 

CECPC, Sen. John James 

Akpanudoedehe, however, 

cautioned Nigerians about 

politicizing crime. 

Part of the statement 

reads: “We thank God for 

his safety and praise the 

dutiful security details for 

repelling the <strong>attack</strong>. 

“We are confident our 

security services will do 

everything to unravel the 

criminals behind the <strong>attack</strong> 

and bring them to book. 

“The <strong>APC</strong> reiterates that 

we must all collaborate to 

end criminality in all forms. 

A crime is a crime and 

should not be politicised in 

any way.” 

IG orders full 

investigation 

Meanwhile, the 

Inspector-General of Police, 

IGP Mohammed Adamu, 

has ordered full-scale 

investigations into the 

<strong>attack</strong> and reported 

assassination attempt on 

the life of the governor. 

The IGP, who condemned 

the incident, also directed 

the Commissioner of Police, 

Benue State command, to 

take adequate measures 

towards strengthening and 

improving security in the 

state, particularly around 

the governor. 

A statement by CP Frank 

Mba, Force Public 

Relations Officer, said: “The 

IGP has also specifically 

directed the CP to carry out 

painstaking investigations 

into the incident and 

ensure the arrest and 

prosecution of persons 

indicted in the course of the 

investigations. 

“Meanwhile, in order to 

ensure a speedy, thorough 

and conclusive 

investigations into the 

matter, the IGP has ordered 

the immediate deployment 

of a team of specialized 

investigators from the Force 

Criminal Investigations 

Department, FCID, Abuja 

to Benue State to provide 

additional investigative 

support to Benue State 

police command. 

“While calling for calm, 

the IGP has assured the 

people of Benue State and 

the country at large that the 

Force will continue to do its 

best in stabilizing the 

security situation in the 

country. 

“The IGP further 

reiterates that the Force will 

continue to work with 

relevant stakeholders to 

advance the fight <strong>against</strong> 

violent crimes and other 

criminal activities across the 

country.” 


Buhari orders 

thorough, 

transparent 

investigation 

of Gov Ortom’s 


President Muhammadu 

Buhari has condemned the 

<strong>attack</strong> on Governor Samuel 

Ortom of Benue State, 

saying the string of brutal 

<strong>attack</strong>s on individuals and 

communities in the state, 

with the latest one targeting 

the governor, was 

unacceptable. 

This was contained in a 

statement issued by the 

Senior Special Assistant to 

LAGOS — Chief 

executive officers of 

Nigerian banks and 

financial experts have 

enumerated measures 

and policies that the 

government should 

implement in order to 

achieve irreversible 

recovery and inclusive 

growth as the country 

had a perfect ‘V shaped’ 

recession in 2020. 

In a joint communiqué 

issued at the recently 

concluded one- day 

Special Summit on the 

economy hosted by 

CBN/Bankers 

Committee’s in 

collaboration with 

Vanguard Newspapers, 

the participants agreed 

that the country should 

explore agriculture and 

agro allied businesses as 

a booster top economic 

growth. 

It was agreed that 

Nigeria should manage 

seasonality, minimise 

food wastage and ensure 

price stability by 

investing in storage 

facilities for agro 

products, particularly for 

export, explore shared 

infrastructure of 

processing facilities for 

agro activities. The 

commodity exchange 

initiative should be 

strengthened to link all 

vital value chains of the 

agro ecosystem and 

stakeholders (e.g. 

warehouse operators, 

aggregators, processors, 

testing and certification 

institutions.) 

In terms of funding the 

2021 TECH, INNOVATION EXHIBITION —SCT&SCT1: The Minister of 

Science and Technology, Chief Ogbonnaya Onu (Middle, front row) flanked 

by the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire (2nd R) and the Minister of 

State for Science and Technology, Mohammed Hassan Abdullahi (3rd left) 

with others at the closing ceremony of the 2021 Tech, Innovation Exhibition 

at the Eagles Square, Abuja, weekend. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida. 

the President on Media 

and Publicity, Mallam 

Garba Shehu in Abuja last 

night. 

Mallam Shehu in the 

statement said that the 

President welcomed the 

dispatch of a high level team 

of crack investigators to the 

state from the Police 

headquarters in Abuja, 

urging the officers to 

uncover who, or 

whatsoever, was behind 

the <strong>attack</strong>s and bring them 

to justice. 

According to the 

statement, “In expressing 

his sympathies, and that of 

the government of the 

federation to Governor 

Ortom and all Benue 

indigenes, President 

Buhari said the unfortunate 

incident must not be 

politicized, reiterating that 

an <strong>attack</strong> on one Nigerian 

is an <strong>attack</strong> on all 

Nigerians. 

“The President directed 

How to achieve irreversible recovery, 

inclusive growth – Bank CEOs, experts 

telecoms and oil and gas 

sectors, participants 

agreed that commercial 

banks should provide 

funding for training and 

skills acquisition and 

information and 

communication 

technology to promote 

the digital economy and 

increase returns to 

investors. 

In the communiqué it 

was agreed that banks 

should partner with 

State Governments in 

funding infrastructure 

particularly in deploying 

broadband access in 

schools , commercial 

centres and important 

socio economic 

institutions. 

Other resolutions and 

recommendations at the 

Summit include 

harnessing economic 

potentials through 

integrated rural 

development; road to 

s u s t a i n a b l e 

infrastructure 

development and the 

empowering the people 

through retail lending. 

It was agreed that 

government should 

provide enabling, stable 

operating environment 

for banks to , adding that 

it should also 

i n t e n s i f y 

implementation identity 

management to deepen 

retail lending and 

reduce the cost of 

operations for banks and 

provide adequate 

infrastructure to enable 

more efficient retail 

lending by banks. 

Why looting persists in Nigeria — 

ARCHBISHOP KAIGAMA 

By Luminous 

Jannamike 

ABUJA — Catholic 

Archbishop of Abuja, His 

Grace Most Rev. Ignatius 

Kaigama, said yesterday 

that treasury looting in 

Nigeria has persisted 

because Nigerians are 

not yet ready to clamour 

for positive change. 

He said in a society 

such as Nigeria, where 

leaders want others to 

die for their political 

ambitions, misuse of 

public funds would 

continue to thrive. 

Delivering his homily 

at St. Matthew’s 

pastoral area in Paso 

Abuja, Kaigama also said 

the day politicians would 

begin to see the wrong 

in their deeds and stop 

rationalising crime, the 

actions that would follow 

will engender good 

governance. 

He said: “We must all 

pay attention to the voice 

of God in our 

consciences. The degree 

of rot and blatant misuse 

of public resources of 

this great country is 

because many have 

allowed their conscience 

to die. They see no 

wrong in their bad or evil 

actions and they 

rationalize sin and 

crime. 

“Dying to self is the 

only way a new Nigeria 

will germinate and grow, 

free from the dominion of 

sin and criminality; to 

produce patriotic 

citizens who do nothing 

from selfish ambition or 

conceit, but in humility 

regard others as better 

than themselves; looking 

not only for their 

the Police to undertake a 

thorough investigation into 

the incident involving the 

governor and into all such 

incidents affecting 

individuals and 

communities in the state.” 

“Let there be open and 

transparent investigation 

and whoever is linked to it 

should be caught and be 

made to face the law,” the 

President directed. 

interests, but the 

interests of fellow 

Nigerians. 

“If Nigerians avoid 

politics of pleasure and 

the tendency of 

leadership without 

sacrifice, practise selfemptying; 

uproot every 

sinful habit and seek to 

be renewed in mind, 

spirit, soul and body, the 

clamour for positive 

change will be possible. 

“Unfortunately, leaders 

want others to die for 

their political ambitions; 

while they are 

comfortable with their 

families at home or their 

children well protected 

overseas. 

“It is only by dying to 

self that good 

governance can be 

entrenched and positive 

legacies endure, just as 

Jesus in dying became 

the source of eternal life.”



STATE OF THE NATION: 

Buhari’s 8 years may end up 

wasted unless ... — Unagha 

*Hold northern leaders responsible for worsening insecurity 

*Nigeria at war with itself 

*Delta State yet to honour its founding fathers 

Alhaji Mumakai-Unagha was a presidential aspirant in the 2019 general election 

on the plank of the ruling All Progressives Congress <strong>APC</strong>. In this interview, 

the legal practitioner expressed fear that President Muhammadu 

Buhari’s eight years may end up a monumental waste unless he acts fast. 

He also spoke on how to develop Delta State. 

C 

M 

Y 

K 

By Clifford Ndujihe 

YOU seem critical of this 

government your party 

controls. Why is it so? 

Most politicians are bootlickers, 

they do not have the courage to 

face reality which some of us don’t 

have the shocks to absorb. Take it 

or leave it. If you see the enthusiasm 

and zeal with which we embraced 

Buhari when he came, it 

was as if he was the messiah but 

the expectation of the masses was 

not only turned down, but also buried. 

I couldn’t have imagined that an 

army general, known for fighting 

wars would not be able to address 

security challenges. As party faithful, 

we welcomed his economic 

and development policy, but the 

policy was like a beautiful bride, 

well dressed without character. To 

give it a better narrative, the government 

took off well with high 

expectations but the reverse has 

been the case now. 

The integrity of Mr. President we 

know him for has fast gone down. 

In 2014, some of us almost sold our 

houses and cars to prosecute the 

election because of the love we 

have for him. It has been so painful 

considering the present state of 

the country. 

This is a party where the president 

does not know the foundation 

members or those who stick out 

their neck for the party. He did not 

know if members are dying of hunger 

to the exclusion of a few, all in 

the name of integrity. Boards and 

parasatals he constituted since 

2016 are still there. Worst, non performing 

ministers are also still 

there doing nothing. 

Those who asked Mr. President 

to re-contest for second term may 

be regretting by now. They saw his 

shortcoming but compelled him to 

contest for their selfish interest. I 

can tell you, Buhari was not prepared 

for the second term of office. 

Some of us, his faithful, who can 

trek from Badagry to Maiduguri 

for the love we have for him, cannot 

even do so from the Eagle 

square to the gate of Aso Villa. 

In the first tenure of Mr. President, 

his eye glass, Agbada even 

his cap was a threat to corrupt Politicians, 

making them to flee the 

country. Sooner or later, all went 

down the drain. The Economic and 

Financial Crimes Commission, 

EFCC, became the centre of corruption 

where officers were on pay 

list of those who stole the country 

blind. Power play took the centrestage 

over who controls the soul of 

these agencies. However, Mr. President 

still has the opportunity to 

redeem his image. 

On how to tackle insecurity in 

the country. 

I have said it times without number 

that northern leaders, past and 

present, are responsible for the current 

security challenges and they 

should be held responsible. I know 

they will challenge this position 

but that is the true situation and I 

stand to be corrected or challenged. 

The borders in the North are so 

porous giving room to all kinds of 

people to move in freely. The military 

should conduct internal investigation 

on itself; they will discover 

that most of the personnel are 

either from Chad or Niger Republic. 

As a matter of fact, they constitute 

20 per cent of the voting 

strength in the North. The killing 

going in the North, no true Muslim 

will carry out such heinous 

crime, let alone killing his brother. 

The security agencies should 

purge themselves and genuinely 

carry out search light into their 

activities. 

In all the para-military agencies 

in the country, there are so many 

people from Chad and Niger recruited 

unknowingly. They claim 

that they are from the North. Nigeria 

is at war with itself. The 

North that used to be safe haven 

for all has turned hell fire. I, therefore, 

appeal to Mr. President to 

bring back the dignity and 

hounour brought by the Sadauna 

of Sokoto, the Prime Minister of 

Nigeria, Abubakar Tafawa Balawa. 

Unless that is done the eight years 

administration of President Muhammadu 

Buhari will be a waste. 

How do you see the development 

recorded in Delta since the 

state was created in 1991? 

Not satisfied compared to the allocations 

coming to the state. 

Twenty nine years after the creation, 

we are still battling with the 

problem of socio-political and economic 

development. I did not expect 

or believe that the state will 

still be foot-dragging. Major cities 

which by now ought to have been 

transformed to El-dorado are still 

slums. Take a drive trough Warri, 

Sapele, Ughelli, Agbor as well as 

the state capital; they are still tales 

of woe of under development. The 

social lives of the people are nothing 

to write home about. 

There is a gradual but steady erosion 

and corrosion of the people’s 

psyche. This was not what we anticipated 

when we were clamouring 

for the state to be created. It is 

sad to note that the state parades a 

high social economic profile and 

despite its enormous and sophisticated 

oil sector, the economy of 

the state reflects an extreme disparity 

and depression. Our youths 

are more frustrated as there is no 

hope of things getting better. The 

number of our youths roaming the 

streets is so alarming that the state 

is pregnant. Delta State seems 

conquered by the ruling class. 

What we see every day in our national 

dailies are all praise singers, 

traceable to hunger. Political 

sycophancy has become the order 

of the day. If you doubt, go through 

some of the villages in the state, it 

is an exercise in a 

pathetic sightseeing 

of hungry 

looking 

children and 

old parents afflicted 

with 

malnutrition. 

We fought so 

hard to get the 

state created; 

one would have 

thought the 

state would be 

witnessing rapid 

growth. 

How would 

you describe 

Northern leaders, 

past and present, 

are responsible for 

the current security 

challenges and they 

should be held 

responsible 

the performance 

of the 

urban development committees 

set up by the State Government 

sometime ago? 

I don’t see the existence of any 

committee, as they have failed. If 

there is such committee, it is either 

the committee has gone into comatose 

or oblivion. For example, the 

various urban cities are slums, dirt 

everywhere. I want to particularly 

make reference to Warri and its environment, 

it is a sorrow state. 

There is no city we can be proud 

off. Keke NAPEP has taken over 

the cities making them look unkempt. 

I am of the view that the 

state government should wake up 

these committees or replace them 

with more vibrant members. Delta 

State is yearning for development. 

You said successive governments 

in Delta State have not been fair 

to you and others, how do you 

mean? 

Emphatically yes, they are unfair 

to some of us. During the 

movement for the state creation, I 

was a member of the committee, 

nominated by the Former President 

General of the Urhobo 

Progress Union, UPU, late Dr. Fredrick 

Esiri. We were five members 

that represented Urhobo in the 

committee- Late Benjami Okumagba 

who later became the Orosue 

of Okere Urhobo Kingdom; 

Chief Smith Okwarume; Chief Akpedeye; 

Chief Cassidy of Ughelli, 

and I. 

On the side of the Itsekiri were 

late O.P Edodo, late Chief Begho 

and Chief Jemide. The Ijaw were 

represented by Chief Oki of Patani 

*Alhaji Mumakai-Unagha 

and others. There was a super permanent 

secretary, late Orewa from 

Agbor, Chief Onyeobi and others. 

The representatives from the Delta 

North opted for lower Niger 

state as <strong>against</strong> the overwhelmingly 

wishes of Deltans. 

The Delta North delegates came 

with a formula that for them to key 

in, the headquarter should be cited 

in Ughelli or Orerokpe, the 

name of the state should be Lower 

Niger State. This did not receive 

the blessing of other ethnic nationalities. 

During consultations tour, 

we visited all the nooks and crannies 

of the state to seek the support 

of Deltans. Our Delta North 

representatives gave us assurance 

that they had connection to the 

then head of state, General Ibrahim 

Babangida. We prepared a 

joint memorandum with headquarter 

at Ughelli. Unknowingly to 

those of us in Delta Central and 

South, Delta North delegates prepared 

their separate memorandum 

with Delta State and Asaba as 

Headquarter. We went home to rest 

hoping that the state would be created 

as generally agreed with 

headquarter at Ughelli. 

I rushed to Abuja in anticipation 

of its creation with the capital at 

Ughelli. I was in my hotel room 

when the state was announced with 

Headquarters at Asaba. I fell sick 

for a whole week. I never anticipated 

that the state headquarters 

will be far away. During the consultation 

tour of the area, there was 

no loss of lives but hectic as a section 

does not want to be part of the 

proposed state. I headed the media 

committee which I did perfectly, 

and to God be the glory, it was 

created. Since the state was created 

no successive government considered 

it worthy to honor those 

who laboured for it, instead they 

have been busy acquiring wealth 

for themselves, their family and 

those yet unborn. If government 

can honour athletes that did the 

state proud, I see no reason those 

of us that laboured for the state to 

be created should not be honoured. 

On how to address the security 

challenges facing Delta State 

Just as Nigerians are calling for 

a change in the security architecture 

in the country, so also it is in 

Delta State. The state security apparatus 

should be overhauled immediately. 

Delta State has not witnessed 

this high rate of robbery, 

banditry and kidnapping in recent 

time. No day passes that there is 

no report of killing, armed robbery, 

kidnapping and communal crisis. 

If you see the character of people 

trooping into the state, you will be 

worried and weep for the state. 

They are penetrating very fast 

which the state governments 

should take note. 

Recently, the state governor 

through the instrumentality of the 

Delta State Independent Electoral 

Commission created 34 additional 

wards in the state. Of the 34 

wards, none was given to Delta 

Central on the excuse that he 

wants to balance the number of 

wards in the three senatorial districts. 

He also upgraded three tertiary 

institutions into full-fledged universities, 

what is your position? 

The Governor is unfair to the 

Urhobo Nation; it seems he has 

scores to settle with the Urhobo. 

The reason he gave that he wanted 

to balance the wards is not tenable, 

and not in consonance with 

the basic facts. The Governor 

needs to be reminded that states, 

local governments and wards are 

created based on geographical 

size, population and economic 

derivation. If the reason or reasons 

given is anything to go bye, 

with due respect to him, he should 

work hard to balance the Northern 

and Southern dichotomy 

where the North have more states 

than the South. The population 

demographic and size of Ughelli 

North, Uvwie, Sapele, Abraka, 

Udu are equivalent to some states 

in Nigeria. Delta Central deserves 

more wards more than any 

Local Government in the state 

because of the size and population. 

While the dust of the new 

wards is yet to settle down, he upgraded 

three territory institutions 

to university status for Delta North 

and South senatorial districts. This 

is an open challenge and declaration 

of dispute between the people 

and his government.

Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 22, 2021— 43 

Pope Francis PDF Compressor launches Free Version fresh 

<strong>attack</strong> on Mafia 

By Olayinka Ajayi with 

Agency report 

P OPE 

launched a fresh Francis 


on the mafia yesterday, 

Italy’s day of remembrance 

for victims of 

the mob, describing them 

as “organisations of sin” 

who have exploited the 

coronavirus pandemic. 

“Mafias are present in 

various parts of the world 

and, exploiting the pandemic, 

have enriched 

themselves through corruption,” 

the pontiff said 

after his weekly Sunday 

Angelus address. 

Referring to his predecessors 

as head of the 

Catholic church, he added: 

“St John Paul II denounced 

their culture of 

death and Benedict XVI 

condemned them as a 

road of death. 

“These organisations of 

sin, mafia structures, exchange 

faith for idolatry, 

contrary to the Gospel of 

Christ. Today we remember 

all the victims and renew 

our commitment 

<strong>against</strong> mafias.” 

In an open-air mass in 

Sicily in September 

2018, during a trip to honour 

a priest murdered 

by the mob 25 years earlier, 

Pope Francis condemned 

those who belong 

to the mafia as 

“blasphemous”. 

His impassioned plea 

echoed the words of Jean 

Paul II who, during a 

May 1993 trip to the island, 

had also called on 

mobsters to abandon 

crime, and urged Sicilians 

to revolt <strong>against</strong> the 

mafia. 

Italy’s anti-mafia organisation 

Libera has for 

many years been remembering 

the victims of 

organised crime on 

March 21, but in recent 

years it has become an 

official national day of 

commemoration. 

In a statement on Sunday, 

Italian President 

Sergio Mattarella said: 

“Eradicating the mafia is 

possible and necessary.” 

US Defence ence Secretar 

ary y visits Afghanistan 

ahead of troop withdrawal 

US Defence Secre 

tary Lloyd Austin 

has made an unannounced 

visit to Afghanistan, 

weeks before a 

planned withdrawal of 

all remaining US troops. 

After meeting President 

Ashraf Ghani in Kabul, 

he called for a responsible 

end to the war but 

would not say whether 

the deadline would be 

met. 

Mr Austin said the focus 

should be on reducing 

high levels of violence 

to allow a negotiated 

end to the conflict. 

The pullout was agreed 

with the Taliban by the 

Trump administration 

last year. 

But there are questions 

Egyptian author, women’s 

rights icon El Saadawi dies 

W ORLD-renowned 

Egyptian author 

Nawal El Saadawi, an 

outspoken champion of 

women’s rights in the 

Arab world, has died at 

the age of 89, her family 

said. 

El Saadawi passed 

away in a Cairo hospital 

after suffering a long illness, 

her daughter, 

Mona Helmy, said on 

Sunday. 

The prolific writer was 

a leading feminist who 

revolutionised discussions 

on gender in deeply 

conservative societies. 

Born in the village of 

Kafir Tahla in 1931, El 

Saadawi rose to prominence 

in 1972 with her 

taboo-breaking book, 

Women and Sex, but she 

shot to fame with her 

widely translated novel 

Women at Point Zero in 

1975. 

With more than 55 books 

to her name, she was 

briefly jailed by late President 

Anwar Sadat and 

also condemned by Al- 

Azhar, the highest Sunni 

Muslim authority in 

Egypt. 

“I write in Arabic. All my 

books are in Arabic and 

then they are translated. 

My role is to change my 

people,” El Saadawi, who 

faced many death threats 

throughout her life, said. 

over whether the insurgents 

have kept their 

pledge to negotiate with 

the Afghan government. 

New US President Joe 

Biden has said the May1 

deadline would be tough 

to meet, prompting warnings 

of “consequences” 

from the Taliban. 

Mr Austin is the first 

member of Mr Biden’s 

cabinet to visit Afghanistan. 

He flew into Kabul 

on Sunday at the end of 

a brief tour of Asia. 

Speaking to journalists, 

Mr Austin would not say 

whether the Taliban had 

met their obligations under 

the recent deal. 

“It’s obvious that the 

level of violence remains 

pretty high in the country,” 

he said, quoted by 

the New York Times. 

“We’d really like to see 

that violence come down, 

and I think if it does come 

down it can begin to set 

the conditions for some 

really fruitful diplomatic 

work.” 

There are fears that if 

foreign militaries withdraw 

before a lasting 

agreement is reached, 

the Taliban might return 

to power. 

The US says it has some 

2,500 troops still in Afghanistan. 

The Trump administration 

made withdrawing 

troops from Afghanistan a 

priority. 

The deal signed in February 

2020 said that the 

US and its Nato allies 

would withdraw all troops 

in 14 months if the Taliban 

upheld its promises, 

including not allowing al- 

Qaeda or other militants to 

operate in areas it controlled, 

and proceeding 

with national peace talks. 

Although the Taliban, a 

hard-line Islamist movement, 

stopped <strong>attack</strong>s on 

international forces as part 

of the historic agreement, 

it has continued to fight 

the Afghan government. 

As a condition of starting 

negotiations with the Afghan 

government, the Taliban 

also demanded that 

thousands of their men be 

released in a prisoner 

swap. 

Direct talks then began 

in Doha in September 

2020, but a breakthrough 

has still not 

been reached. 

Long-dormant volcano flared to life in Iceland 

A 

long-dormant vol 

cano on the Reykjanes 

Peninsula in southwestern 

Iceland flared to 

life at the weekend, spilling 

lava down two sides 

in that area’s first volcanic 

eruption in nearly 

900 years. 

The glow from the lava 

could be seen from the 

outskirts of Iceland’s 

capital, Reykjavik, which 

is about 32km (20 miles) 

away. 

The Department of 

Emergency Management 

said it was not anticipating 

evacuations 

because the volcano is 

in a remote valley, about 

2.5km (1.5 miles) from 

the nearest road. 

There had been signs 

of a possible eruption 

recently, with earthquakes 

occurring daily 

for the past three weeks. 

But volcanologists 

were still taken by surprise 

because the seismic 

activity had calmed 

down before the eruption. 

On Saturday, experts 

said the volcano appeared 

to be subsiding 

and posed no danger to 

people. 

Leicester 3-1 Man Utd 

Iheanacho fires warning shots to 

Benin, Lesotho 

Alexandre Lacazette’s 

82nd-minute header 

completed a remarkable 

Arsenal comeback as West 

Ham surrendered a threegoal 

lead to draw 3-3 in a 

breathless encounter at the 

London Stadium. 

The Hammers raced into 

what seemed an unassailable 

advantage after Jesse 

Lingard’s opener (15) was 

added to by Jarrod Bowen (17) 

and Tomas Soucek (32). But 

Lacazette played his part in 

beginning the sensational 

response by the Gunners 

when his shot deflected in off 

Soucek (38), before another 

own goal from Craig Dawson 

further reduced the deficit 

(61). West Ham were 

crestfallen when Lacazette 

Moses Simon’s Nantes in 

relegation trouble 

•Fail to beat FC Lorient and Moffi 

Chelsea to battle Man 

City in FA Cup semis 

•Leicester face Southampton 

Moses Simon’s club FC 

Nantes remain in the 

relegation playoff zone 

after they failed to beat 

fellow strugglers FC 

Lorient, who paraded fellow 

Nigeria star Terem Moffi. 

Home team FC Nantes 

were forced to a 1-1 draw 

today and so remain in 18th 

position with 28 points 

from 30 matches. 

Lorient are 17th with 29 

points. 

Both Moses Simon and 

Moffi started the game. 

Moses Simon played for 

76 minutes, while Moffi was 

pulled out a minute from 

full time. 

Leicester City are in the semifinals 

of the FA Cup for the first 

time since 1982, thanks to Kelechi 

Iheanacho who has continued his 

fine goalscoring form with a brace 

in the Foxes 3-1 victory over 

Manchester United at King Power 

Stadium. 

Iheanacho’s two goals were 

scored either side of an excellent 

Youri Tielemans strike. Mason 

Greenwood had earlier equalised 

for Manchester United, but the 

Red Devils were never close to 

repeating their San Siro heroics in 

the East Midlands. 

Iheanacho who is expected to 

feature in the Super Eagles squad 

<strong>against</strong> the Republic of Benin and 

Lesotho in the 2022 Africa Cup of 

Nations Cup, has scored five goals 

in two matches. 

His form has been a source of joy 

to Manager Gernot Rohr whose 

team need only one point from the 

remaining two matches to qualify 

for the continental showpiece. 

Arsenal in thrilling 3-3 comeback at West Ham 

met Nicolas Pepe’s cross to 

secure a share of the 

spoils.This will feel like a 

defeat for David Moyes’ side 

having been in such a 

commanding position, but his 

side remain in fifth place on 

49 points, two adrift of Chelsea 

in the final Champions 

League place. The result 

moves Arsenal into ninth 

ahead of Aston Villa’s game 

with Tottenham later on 

Super Sunday. 

Chelsea versus Manchester City 

is the mouth-watering tie in this 

year’s FA Cup semi finals, with 

Leicester facing Southampton. 

Man City are the dominant team 

in English football this season and 

overcame Everton 2-0 in 

the previous round. 

They take on a resurgent 

Chelsea under Thomas 

Tuchel, who are 

unbeaten since the 

German took over. 

Southampton will face 

Leicester , who defeated 

Manchester United 3-1 

in their Sunday evening 

FA Cup quarter final. 

Man City enter the 

closing stages of the FA 

Cup as favourites as Pep 

Guardiola’s men are still 

on course for an 

unprecedented 

quadruple this season. 

City are running away 

with the Premier 

League, face Tottenham 

in the League Cup final 

and are in the 

Champions League 

quarter finals too.


Sports Festival: 

Edo dishes out stringent guidelines 

•Team Nigeria to camp in Benin City 

By John Egbokhan 

Team Nigeria athletes to this 

summer’s Tokyo Olympics 

Games are set to camp at the 

world-class Samuel Ogbemudia 

Stadium, Benin City. 

Disclosing this yesterday, the Edo 

State Deputy Governor, Comrade 

Philip Shaibu, said the 

government and the Ministry of 

Sports and Youth Development, 

agreed that Nigeria’s contingent 

for the Games in Tokyo, would be 

camped in Benin City in order for 

the athletes to ‘’take advantage of 

the world-class equipment and 

facilities in the state’’. 

Meanwhile, the Edo State 

government has reeled out 

stringent guidelines to be 

followed for a successful hosting 

and organisation of the National 

Sports Festival, set to start on 

April 2, 2021 in Benin City. 

According to a signed statement 

by the Chairman, Local 

Organising Committee (LOC)/ 

Deputy Governor, Edo State, Rt. 

Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu, 

‘’(MOC )has decided that all 

athletes and officials from the 35 

states and the FCT, participating 

in the sports fiesta must take 

COVID-19 tests 72 hours before 

arrival for the tournament. 

The statement added that, ‘’all 

athletes and officials are to take 

COVID-19 vaccine at least 12 

days before arrival for the 

Chelsea 2-0 Sheffield Utd 

Chelsea weathered a spirited 

second-half Sheffield United 

fightback to reach the FA Cup 

semi-finals with a 2-0 quarterfinal 

victory at Stamford Bridge. 

The Blues looked set to stroll 

through to a last-four spot at 

Wembley when Oliver Norwood’s 

first-half own goal handed them 

the lead at the interval, but a 

thrilling Sheffield United rally 

pushed Thomas Tuchel’s side right 

to the wire. 

The Blades came alive in the 

tournament’’. 

In other highlights of the 

guidelines ,all athletes and 

officials are to present certificates 

and documentation of COVID-19 

tests and vaccination before they 

can be admitted into the Games 

Villages in Edo State, set to be 

opened to competing athletes on 

April 2. 

Comrade Philip Shaibu said 

t’’he torch of unity will arrive Edo 

Chelsea cruise into FA Cup semis 

The Nigeria Football 

Federation is leaving no stone 

unturned in its determination to 

have Nigeria’s best players to 

prosecute the remaining AFCON 

2022 qualifiers <strong>against</strong> the 

Squirrels of Benin and Lesotho. 

We gathered that England-based 

Super Eagles players will be flown 

home in private jet for reasons not 

far from travel restrictions 

occasioned by the corocnavirus. 

Existing guidelines aimed at 

curbing the spread of coronavirus, 

anybody flying into England will 

isolate for a minimum of 7 days, 


second half and should have 

forced extra-time, but David 

McGoldrick squandered a giltedged 

header from six yards, 

before substitute Rhian Brewster 

lashed into the side-netting in 

stoppage-time. 

Hakim Ziyech then made sure 

of the Chelsea victory - their 10th 

from 14 games under Tuchel - with 

their second goal with virtually the 

last kick of the game as the Blues 

joined Manchester City and 

Southampton in the last four. 

Private jet for England-based Eagles 

that is if they’re not coming from 

areas tagged as red zones by the 

authorities in England. 

The Super Eagles will be 

playing in Cotonou and Lagos, 

cities not marked as red zones but 

to avoid the mandatory 

quarantine on return, which will 

see them miss matches for their 

respective clubs. 

In order to avoid the mandatory 

quarantine on return to England, 

plans are underway to fly them in 

a private jet and back through the 

same means after the second 

game. 

State on April 3, and will go round 

the 18 local governments in the 

state. It will arrive the Samuel 

Ogbemudia Stadium main bowl 

on April 6, where Governor 

Godwin Obaseki would light it up. 

‘’ In line with COVID-19 

protocol, the number of athletes 

and officials expected to 

participate in the games have 

been reduced from 14,000 to 8,000 

participants’’ 

Davies: Ottasolo’ll be a model 

club in Nigeria 

•says promotion is dream come true 

Erstwhile Stationery Stores 

defender and owner of wavemaking 

Ottasolo FC, Gabriel 

Davies, has described his side’s 

qualification to the Nigeria 

National League (NNL) in only 

their first try, as a dream come true, 

adding that his resolve is to make 

the club a model in the country. 

Ottasolo FC remarkably 

stormed through their Nationwide 

League One campaign at the Ilorin 

centre by winning five matches 

and drawing 2-2 only <strong>against</strong> 

Remo Stars to secure their spot in 

the playoff <strong>against</strong> the City of 

David. 

In the ensuing qualification 

match on Friday in Ilorin, 

Ottasolo came out smoking with 

an impressive 2-0 win <strong>against</strong> their 

Ronaldo receives special 

‘G.O.A.T’ shirt 

Cristiano Ronaldo was presented with a special 

commemorative shirt by Juventus president Andrea 

Agnelli for breaking Pele’s official goalscoring record of 

767 goals. 

The Juventus forward overtook the Brazilian’s total last 

weekend by netting a hat-trick in his side’s 3-1 victory <strong>against</strong> 

Cagliari to take his own tally to 770 goals. 

Before the Old Lady’s Serie A fixture with Benevento on 

Sunday, Ronaldo was handed a shirt with ‘G.O.A.T 770’ on 

the back, claiming that the Portuguese forward is the 

‘Greatest Of All Time’. 

World football governing body FIFA does not keep an 

official list of who has scored the most goals in history, so 

the top end of the list is hotly contested. 

Ronaldo was praised at the start of January for eclipsing 

Josef Bican’s total but the Czech FA claimed the striker 

actually scored 821 goals following a review of his statistics 

during a career spanning from 1931 to 1955. 

But the Portuguese forward decided ignored these claims 

and took to social media to praise Pele for the legacy he 

created. 

Okolie is new WBO Cruiserweight champion 

•Knocks out Glowacki in 6th round 

Lawrence Okolie obliterated 

Krzysztof Glowacki with a 

sixth-round knockout to win the 

vacant WBO cruiserweight title on 

Saturday night. 

Okolie landed a peach of a right 

hand that the former two-time 

WBO cruiserweight champion 

Glowacki never saw coming in the 

sixth round. 

The corkscrew-like chopping 

right hand from Okolie drop 

Glowacki into the canvas. 

Glowacki, 34, bravely got back 

to his feet, but the referee Marcus 

McDonnell took a long look at 

the condition he was in and 

waived it off. If not for that, 

Glowacki would have likely been 

knocked cold because he didn’t 

look in good shape. 

Glowacki could not get in 

punching range the entire fight, 

but mostly because he was too 

afraid to make a quick move to 

close the distance. The Polish 

fighter Glowacki knew he would 

get hit with something on the way 

in 

Ġlowacki’s unwillingness to do 

what he had to do for him to try 

and win ultimately cost him the 

fight. Shorter fighters must take 

risks <strong>against</strong> their taller opponents, 

but Glowacki lacked the nerve to 

try. 

equally determined contender 

much to the joy of the club’s 

owner. 

“ Victory <strong>against</strong> City of David 

and qualification to the NNL is a 

great achievement for us and I’m 

happy we came through despite 

all the odds, “ Davis who also star 

for Mogas ‘90 in Gabon in his 

playing days, remarked.” This is 

just the beginning and we want to 

create history by working our 

ways up to the ladder of Nigerian 

football.” 

Davies said he dreamed of 

replicating the pace-setting style 

of the defunct Ibadan-based 

Leventis United that rose through 

the ranks of Nigerian football 

with style in the 1980s. 

“Of course nothing is 

impossible and as you said, 

Leventis United was such an 

admirable thing in those years 

and I think we can follow the 

same steps; it’s our dream to play 

in the elite Nigeria Professional 

Football League (NPFL) in the 

nearest future and we are going 

to work hard for it,” he noted. 

Benin top 

stars get 

chance to face 

Super Eagles 

Benin can now bank on their 

best players in France for this 

Saturday’s decisive AFCON 

qualifier <strong>against</strong> the Super 

Eagles after the government 

exempted them from a 

mandatory seven-day 

quarantine on return from Africa. 

Benin were in danger of 

missing as many as seven 

players including Jodel Dossu 

and Steve Mounie from the 

AFCON qualifier on Saturday in 

Porto-Novo. 

But the French government 

has now exempted these callups 

from the mandatory 

quarantine as long as they 

adhere to strict Covid protocol. 

Benin will qualify for the 

AFCON to be staged in 

Cameroon next year with a win 

over group leaders Super Eagles 

at the weekend. 

They lost the reverse tie 2-1 in 

Nigeria in 2019. 

They have seven points from 

four matches, a point behind 

Nigeria.







Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 22, 2021 


QUICK CROSSWORD 

TODAY CROSSWORD 

FRIDAY'S SOLUTION 

TODAY’S PUZZLE 

Sudoku 

FRIDAY'S ANSWER 

ACROSS 

1 Dairy product (6) 

4 Day nursery (6) 

8 Regretting (5) 

9 Lunacy (7) 

10 Female ruler (7) 

11 Sufficient (5) 

12 True to life (9) 

17 Small flock of game birds (5) 

19 Dishonourable (7) 

21 Taken for granted (7) 

22 “Le Traviata” composer (5) 

23 Small (6) 

24 Method (6) 

DOWN 

1 Gents' hairdresser (6) 

2 Away-day tourist (7) 

3 Large bird of prey (5) 

5 Glowing (7) 

6 Move furtively (5) 

7 Simpler (6) 

9 Bewildered (9) 

13 Appalling (7) 

14 Floor show (7) 

15 Scribble (6) 

16 Gas used in balloons (6) 

18 Call upon (5) 

20 Manual worker (5) 

How to Play Sudoku 

Place a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have 

two of the same number). 

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine 

lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block 

(nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means 

that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row. 

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or 

multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination. 

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22032021 - Govs, APC, PDP, othersrally against attack on Ortom

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