18042021 - Ex-Gov Aliyu Lied, not all northern govs worked against Jonathan in 2015

PAGE 2—SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 18, 2021
The Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, right,
and Nigeria’s Ambassador Designate to the Caribbean and Dominican
Republic, Dr Maureen Tanumo, during the latter’s visit to the palace of the
Ooni at the weekend.
KANO KILLER JUICE: How N300 expired drink
almost wiped out my family — Survivor
…50 undergoing treatment for kidney-related complications
Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State (right) with his deputy, Hon. Mrs.
Cecilia Ezeilo (middle), former Deputy Chairman of Ezeagu Local Government
Area/Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor, Hon. Vitalis Ndu (2nd
left), the Managing Partner, FIT CONSULT LTD, Chief Loretta Aniagolu (2nd
right) and the younger brother of Monsignor Prof. Obiora Ike, Dr. Afam Ike,
when the governor paid condolence to The Ike family, during the funeral
ceremony of their brother, late Dr. Chinedu Cyril Ike, at Umana Ndiagu, Ezeagu
LGA, yesterday.
By Bashir Bello
This is not the best of
time for residents
of Kano as the state
battles with a strange ailment
following the consumption
of expired juice.
Officials confirmed 10
persons dead after consuming
the drink. More
than 400 people were hospitalised
while 50 others
are undergoing treatment
for kidney-related complications.
Speaking to Sunday
Vanguard, a survivor,
Siyama Rabiu, narrated
how she bought the juice
at the rate of N300, which
nearly sent her to an early
grave.
She is one of those who
prepared the local juice for
consumption in Warure,
Gwale Local Government
Area.
Rabiu said she didn’t
know that what she bought
got expired in 2020.
She said: “I bought a
carton of expired juice for
N700 and another one at
the rate of N300.
“After cooking our meal,
I made local juice for our
consumption in the house.
About 10 minutes after we
consumed the drink, my
smallest daughter started
vomiting. After some intervals,
we all became infected.
We were 13 in the house
while our neighbors were
six. Our urine was coming
out with blood. Our skin
colour changed to yellowish.
“We initially thought it
was the water we bought
from water vendors. It was
later that we discovered the
juice we drank was expired
since October 2020.
“We went to a medicine
store and we were given injections.
The following
morning, we proceeded to
Primary Healthcare Centre
where they gave us
drip. They referred us to
another hospital. We were
referred to Aminu Kano
Teaching Hospital. Some
people came and took our
blood sample for a clinical
test in Abuja.
“One person died after
drinking the juice. He is an
elderly man. We were hospitalised
at Zanah Hospital.”
Recall that Kano State
Commissioner for Health,
Dr. Aminu Tsanyawa, had
earlier confirmed three
persons dead while 284
others hospitalised.
He said several assorted
drinks were confiscated
while 13 persons were arrested
in connection with
the development.
The Director-General of
National Agency for Food,
Drugs Administration and
Control, NAFDAC, Prof.
Mojisola Adeyeye, while
presenting preliminary results
of the clinical test on
the substances to Governor
Abdullahi Ganduje,
By Chioma Onuegbu
MINISTER of Niger
Delta Affairs, Senator
Godswill Akpabio, has set
July 2021 ending as deadline
for the conclusion of the ongoing
forensic audit of the Niger
Delta Development
Commission, NDDC, ordered
by President Muhammadu
Buhari.
Akpabio, who spoke weekend
at the Ibom Icon Hotels
and Golf Resort Uyo, Akwa
Ibom State, on the sideline of
the inauguration of the
physical verification phase of
the forensic audit of the
NDDC, said that the audit
involves the internal reforms
of the NDDC.
He explained that the 16
field auditors selected for the
field audit would now begin
to identify and verify the
projects across the Niger Delta,
noting that budgetary
delays affected the progress
of the forensic exercise,
prompting President Buhari
to intervene to save the situation.
He said it was, however,
surprising that some people
were peddling rumour which
has left many concerned citizens
of the region wondering
if the forensic audit exercise
has been aborted
His words, “It is the considered
position of President
Muhammadu Buhari that
for us to have a properly constituted
board for the NDDC,
we should first take a look at
what has happened to the
Commission since inception.
identified poisonous substances
as the cause of the
outbreak, noting that
there were five substances
involved in the development
out of which two were
unregistered.
Meanwhile, Kano State
Consumer Protection
Council, KCPC, said government
is putting measures
in place to prevent a
recurrence.
Acting Managing Director
of the Council, Dr. Baffa
Babba Dan’agundi, said
they have formed a coalition
which comprises security
agencies and NAFDAC
on the matter.
Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman (5th left), addressing
Controller of Works, Federal Ministry of Works, Engr. Joshua Popoola (6th left),
other stakeholders during the inspection of the road construction around Tin Can Island
Ports, Lagos as part of efforts to perfect the operations of the electronic truck call-up app,
yesterday.
NDDC: Forensic audit ends in July, says Akpabio
.... Flags-off physical verification phase
“There was nothing our
detractors have not done to
stop the forensic audit and this
has led some people to be left
wondering if the forensic audit
has been aborted.
“The President is resolute
that he cannot leave the Ni-
ger Delta and the NDDC the
way he met it. As a demonstration
of this commitment,
he is funding the forensic audit
from the budget of the
Presidency.The security component
of the audit exercise is
very important because of the
safety issues in the Niger Delta
region.
PRP makes case for Aminu Kano’s vision, ideals
By Nnamdi Ojiego
he Peoples Redemption
TParty, PRP, has called on
Nigerians who believe in the
party to work towards the realisation
of its objectives.
It also said as the 2023 general
election approaches, party
supporters should not involve
in blame game but
strive to achieve the dreams
of the late Mallam Aminu
Kano , who founded the party.
By Bashir Bello
In order to bridge the gap
of internet accessibility
and connectivity, a group
known as Centre for Information
Technology and Development,
CITAD, has advocated
for the establishment of
community networks to meet
the demand and need of the
unserved and underserved
“We decided to start the audit
exercise from the NDDC
headquarters, while security
arrangements were being
firmed up. The field visit is a
critical next step, after which
we go into the office to produce
the reports”.
Akpabio, who is the supervising
minister of the NDDC,
I started singing from my mother’s womb — Odumeje
By Benjamin Njoku
•Odumeje
Popular Onitsha-based
cleric and self-acclaimed
lion, Prophet Chukwuemeka
Odumeje, who
opened up on how he acquired
his spiritual powers as
published yesterday, in Vanguard,
has also revealed how
he got the gift of singing.
According to the controversial
pastor, he started singing
in his mother’s womb.
“I started singing in my
mother’s womb,” he said.
He added: “What I possess
is a full calling. Everything
was given to me so that nobody
can brag for me.
“When I’m on the pulpit, I
sing the songs that can move
me into action. I don’t need
anybody to sing for me.”
Odumeje, who has released
many songs in recent times,
said singing moves him into
action.
One of his songs, titled
‘Umu Jesus’,” featuring Ijele
Flavour, is still receiving massive
airplay.
So also is his highlife-christened
track, ‘Great is My
God’, featuring Phyno.
‘Umu Jesus’ was produced
by multiple award-winning
music producer, Mastercraft,
and was released on August
21, 2020. His previous released
single “Alabasidi” is
still gaining more downloads
A statement by the party’s
Interim National Publicity
Secretary, Kabiru Gwangwazo,
said PRP is retooling and
pulling together all those who
believed and still believe in
the gospel of its founding fathers.
The statement reads: “The
PRP is today, like the proverbial
phoenix, retooling and
pulling together all those who
believed and still believe in
the gospel of its founding fathers.
“We are working along the
trajectory charted by the Late
Malam Aminu Kano and his
colleagues from their days in
NEPU to the PRP which he
left us with.
For the past 38 years the
chain has remained unbroken.
We have had Mallam
Aminu Kano dying but the
ideals he stood for, lived for
and left us with remain.”
Internet accessibility: Group advocates
setting up of community networks
communities and promote
digital inclusion in the country
Ṫhe group further called for
the regulatory bodies, National
Communication Commission,
NCC, and Universal
Service Provision Fund,
added that the physical verification
was a very serious
exercise because the results
of the exercise may lead to
the prosecution of the affected
contractors, some of
whom, he said, abandoned
their contracts without completing
them.
on different digital platforms.
Other songs, include, ‘Iron
Like a Lion in the Zion’, ‘Oku
Na Ele Ele’, ‘Odomi Na Welete’.
‘Jesus Odumeje’, ‘Ogini
Sele Muna Chukwu’ and ‘Iga
Egbu Nwa Intervention’.
USPF, to develop favourable
policies to back and recognize
the community networks
to meet the demands of the
communities instead of depending
on the major telecommunications
industry for
internet.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 18, 2021, PAGE 3
From left: Chief Executive Officer, Dufil Prima Foods Plc, Mr Adhi Narto; Ogun
State First Lady, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun; Group Corporate Communications
and Event Manager, Dufil Prima Foods Plc, Mr Temitope Ashiwaju and Special
Assistant to the First Lady, Mrs Omolara Adewunmi. during the Ogun State
First Lady’s Visit to Dufil Head Office in Lagos.
From left; Chinenye Okere, Financial Literacy Team Member, Stanbic IBTC
Bank, Woji branch; Eudora Chima-Ebor, Student and Excel Ohimor, Principal,
both of Lintel International School and Efeose Eichie, Relationship Manager,
Stanbic IBTC Bank, Woji branch during the 2021 Financial Literacy programme
organised by Stanbic IBTC Bank PLC at Lintel International School, Port Harcourt,
Rivers state
Queen Elizabeth leads UK in 1-Minute Silence at Prince Philip’s funeral
Queen Elizabeth bids farewell to Prince Philip at funeral
By Tony Nwankwo, with
agency reports
Queen Elizabeth II
said a final goodbye
to Prince Philip, her
husband of more than seven
decades, during an intimate
funeral on yesterday.
The Queen sat alone in
the quire of St. George’s
Chapel during the funeral of
Prince Philip, the man who
had been by her side for 73
years.
Philip, who died April 9 at
the age of 99, was being
laid to rest in the Royal
Vault at Windsor Castle
after a funeral service
steeped in military and
royal tradition — but also
pared down and infused
with his own personality.
People across Britain have
observed one minute of silence
in honor of Philip just
before his royal ceremonial
funeral got under way.
Following strict social
distancing rules during the
pandemic, the queen set
an example even in grief,
sitting apart from family
members arrayed around
the church. Just 30 mourners
were allowed to attend
the service at St. George’s
on the grounds of Windsor
Castle, where the queen
has stayed to avoid getting
COVID-19.
Other royals who were in
family bubbles sat together
Ṫhe service began with
Archbishop of Canterbury
Justin Welby entering the
chapel ahead of the coffin,
followed by Philip’s children
and three of his eight
grandchildren, as a fourmember
choir sang “I am
the resurrection and the
life.”
Military bands played
and Queen Elizabeth II
joined a procession, yesterday,
at Windsor Castle
ahead of a funeral where her
husband Prince Philip was
being remembered as a man
of “courage, fortitude and
faith.” The service was saluting
both his service in the
Royal Navy and his support
for Britain’s monarch over
three quarters of a century.
Philip, who died April 9 at
the age of 99 after 73 years of
marriage, was being laid to
rest in the Royal Vault at
Windsor Castle after a funeral
service steeped in military
and royal tradition — but
also pared down and infused
with his own
personality.Coronavirus restrictions
mean that instead
of the 800 mourners included
in the longstanding plans
for his funeral, there will be
only 30 inside the castle’s St.
George’s Chapel, including
the widowed queen, her four
children and her eight grandchildren.
Meghan Markle sent a
handwritten card to accompany
a wreath she and Prince
Harry have had made to remember
his grandfather.
Meghan has had to miss the
4 soldiers, many terrorists feared killed as B/Haram
hits military base in Borno
By Ndahi Marama
No fewer than four sol
diers were on Friday
feared dead when suspected
members of Boko Haram invaded
a military base in Kamuya,
a village in Biu Local
Government Area, Borno
State. Many terrorists also
lost their lives in the attack.
Kamuya is about 30km
drive from the town of former
Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General
Yusuf Tukur Buratai
(retd), and located along
Damaturu- Buni Yadi- Biu
120km highway. It was recovered
from the insurgents a few
years ago.
Sunday Vanguard gathered
that the incident started
at about 6:35pm on Thursday
and disrupted the busy
road as commuters and passengers
had to take another
route following the closure of
until yesterday.
A driver, Ali Isa, who said
he left Biu on Friday with his
passengers had to make a u-
turn when they reached Buratai,
and diverted to Biu,
passing through Gombe- Potiskum-
Damaturu- Maiduguri.
“Armed men, suspected to
be members of Boko Haram
/ ISWAP, stormed KAMUYA
community and dislodged
the Special Forces (SP) location.
The elements are still
present in the community,
while patrolling communities
within BUNI GARI to prevent
SF reinforcement”, a security
source, which added
that movement had been restricted
along Damaturu-
Damboa-Biu Road, said.
funeral in Windsor because
she is pregnant and could not
get medical permission to fly.
However it was confirmed
on Saturday afternoon that
she would watch the ceremony
from their home in California,
where it began at
6.30am Pacific time.
Meghan and Harry used
the florist who put together
the flowers for the evening
reception of their wedding in
May 2018 for the wreath, and
chose flowers related to the
duke’s life.
They chose Acanthus mollis
(Bear’s breeches), the national
flower of Greece, to
represent the Duke of Edinburgh’s
heritage and Eryngium
(Sea Holly), to represent
the Royal Marines.
They also requested campanula
to represent gratitude
and everlasting love, rosemary
to signify remembrance,
lavender for devotion,
and roses in honour of
June being the duke’s birth
month.
Harry arrived in the UK
earlier in the week to attend
the ceremony but has had to
remain in quarantine because
there are no travel corridors
open at the moment.
He has been living at Frogmore
Cottage, the Windsor
home which was given to him
and Meghan after their wedding
by the Queen.
He shared his own tribute
after his grandfather’s death,
saying: “My grandfather was
a man of service, honour and
great humour. He was authentically
himself, with a seriously
sharp wit, and could
hold the attention of any room
due to his charm – and also
because you never knew what
he might say next.
Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami ,and
the founder, Prada Uzodimma Scholarship Grant, Prada
Uzodimma, when the latter paid a courtesy visit to him in
Abuja.
Gunmen kill policeman in Taraba,
attack checkpoint
By Femi Bolaji, Jalingo
Gunmen have reported
ly attacked a mobile
police checkpoint at Dogongawa
community in Taraba
State, killing one officer on
duty.
This happened as another
set of gunmen opened fire on
officers of Safer Highway at
their checkpoint along
Wukari- Chonku Road in
Wukari local government
area of the state.
Chairman of Takum local
government area, Shiban
Tikari, who narrowly escaped
the onslaught of the gunmen
at Dogongawa mobile police
checkpoint, confirmed the
incident.
Speaking to newsmen via
telephone, Tikari said one
officer was unlucky and lost
his life to the bandits gun fire.
Similarly, the Chairman of
Wukari local government
council, Daniel Adi confirmed
the attack on the police
checkpoint along
Wukari- Chonku road.
According to him, the incident
happened around 3am
yesterday.
“While the officers were on
their duty, the gunmen shot
sporadically at them”, he
said.
“It was just by the grace of
God that none of the officer
suffered any casualty.”
Spokesman for the state
police command, DSP David
Misal, did not respond to
phone calls to his phone for
the confirmation of both incidents..
I’m hungry, I need help, owner of
demolished ‘sex party’ restaurant cries
By Ibrahim HassanWuyo
Aisha Mercy Yakubu,
the owner of Asher
Kings and Queens Restaurant,
the building alleged
to have hosted ‘sex party’
in Kaduna, has cried for
help, saying since her business
was terminated, she
had been hungry and
could not pay her children’s
school fees.
The lady, in a video that
went viral at the
weekend,insisted that she
knew nothing about the allegation
which led to the
demolition of her restaurant,
which, she said, was
the only means of livelihood
for herself and her
three children.
Aisha, in the video , wept
profusely and lamented
that she was left with nothing
to feed after putting
everything into her restaurant
business.
The lady also said she
lacked the means to seek
justice and appealed to
Nigerians to come to her
aid.
Aisha, who later confirmed
the video,said she
was unable to pay for the
West African Senior
School Certificate Examination
(WASSCE) and
school fees for her children,
Uwana Edem,
Daniel Edem and Christabel
Edem.

PAGE 4—SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 18, 2021
Agitators for Yoruba self-determination led by Prof. Banji Akintoye during their
protest in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, yesterday. Photo: Dare Fasube
By Adeola Badru
Hundreds of agitators
under the aegis of ‘Ilana
Omo Oodua,’ yesterday,
occupied the streets of
Ibadan, Oyo State capital,
seeking self-determination
for the Yoruba nation.
The group, in a peaceful
rally against what they described
as the prevailing
injustice and biases in the
country, insisted that there
was no going back on their
demand for the creation of
the Oduduwa Republic.
They gave the “two tiers
of government” 120 days
within which to address
contentious issues in the
country.
The protesters, which
comprised various Yoruba
groups, converged in front
of the ancient Mapo Hall,
under the leadership of
Prof. Banji Akintoye.
Scores of security personnel
were stationed at strategic
points around the venue
to prevent hoodlums from
hijacking the peaceful rally
Ṫhe rally, which was
billed to start around 9am,
could not hold until about
two hours later, due to the
presence of the heavily
armed security personnel
who prevented protesters
from gaining entrance into
the Mapo Hall venue of the
event.
Undeterred, the protesters
later converged in front of
Mapo Hall where they declared
that the Yoruba nation
has had enough of the
burdens of the marriage of
inconvenience in the country.
According to some of the
protesters, the agitation for
sovereignty followed the
From left: (Front Row): North-West Regional Education Officer, Sterling Bank
PLC, Linda Okafor (2nd left); North-West Regional Manager, Sterling Bank
PLC, Ibrahim Salihi; Director Dutse Commercial Secondary School, Malam
Abdulmumini Jibrin; North-West Regional Business Executive, Umar Baba in
a group picture with other members of staff of the bank and staff of Dutse
Commercial Secondary School in Takur during the Global Money Week event
held in Dutse, Jigawa State.
SELF-DETERMINATION: Yoruba agitators storm Ibadan,
warn against 2023 polls
… want issues addressed in 120 days
•We are in support of struggle - YCE
nited Nigeria Airline
Uhas airlifted more than
25,000 passengers within two
months of commencing
flight operations after getting
clearance from the civil aviation
regulator, the Nigeria
Civil Aviation Authority,
NCAA.
The Chairman, United
Nigeria Airline, Dr. Obiora
Okonkwo, who spoke with
Aviation reporters in Lagos,
said: “We are hoping to in-
claims that the Nigerian
Constitution had not been
effective in the smooth running
of the country’s affairs.
Among others, they listed
alleged ethnic imbalance,
lop-sided appointments
into public offices, insensitivity
of the present leadership
of the country to the
increasing waves of banditry,
kidnapping, raping and
killing of the people of the
South-West region, as part
of their grievances.
The protesters also said
that they had lost faith and
confidence in the country’s
leadership and the electoral
process, declaring that
conducting the 2023 elections
would amount to nothing
but an exercise in futility.
Elections
One of the notable leaders
at the rally, Bashorun
Kunle Adesokan, noted that
it was time for the Yoruba
race to have a country of its
own..
He said: “Yoruba have
suffered enough. We are not
in support of the 2023 elections.
We are telling the politicians
not to contest. They
After months of expec
tation, the Bayelsa
State-owned airport, yesterday,
finally got the nod
of the Nigerian Civil Aviation
Authority (NCAA) to
commence commercial
flight operations.
The NCAA Director General,
Dr. Nuhu Musa, presented
the regulatory
body’s approval letter to
an elated Governor Douye
Diri in Government House,
Yenagoa, after the team
should not contest in order
not to waste their money,
because we will not allow
the Yoruba to participate in
the elections.”
During a press conference
shortly after the rally in his
house at New Bodija,
Ibadan, Akintoye said, having
allotted 120 days to the
two tiers of government in
Nigeria for consultations
and engagements with the
issues raised by the NINAS
Constitutional Force Majeure
Proclamation of December
16,2020, the group
has declared a 120-day period
of consultations commencing
April 17,2021,
with the Peoples of the Alliance
Territories with dedicated
sessions for various
segments of the Nigerian
and the international community.
The Chairman of the Nigerian
Indigenous Nationalities
Alliance for Self-determination
(NNAS), whose
address was read by Otunba
Shade Olukoya, Treasurer,
Ilana Omo Oodua and
Chairman ,Steering Committee
of NINAS, said:
“NINAS offers the framework
for activating this de
facto governance imperative
which begins with providing
clear directions to
our traumatised peoples
and relating to the international
community on their
behalf.
“NINAS knows and hereby
alerts the Peoples of the
Alliance Territories, that
the mad rush of the caliphate
and its agents across
Nigeria, to drag Nigeria to
another round of national
elections under the 1999
Constitution, informed by
the Caliphate ‘s desperation
to somehow resuscitate that
Constitution in the sense
that if, instead of taking
down the 1999 Constitution
forthwith (which is well now
with the Constitutional
force majeure),we (the Alliance)
go for Elections under
that Constitution, we
will invariably give a fresh
lease of life to that Constitution
whereas if we pressing
on as we are already
doing right now, by rejecting
further any national
elections (2023 in particular)
under the 1999 Constitution,
that Constitution will
be dismantled, decommissioned
and jetitioned inside
the first half of 2021, paving
the way immediately
for transitioning, referendums
and emergence of
successor-constitutional arrangements.
“Having allotted a total
of 120 days to the two tiers
of government in Nigeria
for consultations and engagements
with the issues
raised by the NINAS Constitutional
Force Majeure
Proclamation of December
16,2020. .NINAS hereby
declares a 120-day period of
consultations commencing
April 17,2021, with the Peoples
of the Alliance Territories
with dedicated sessions
for various segments of the
Nigerian Society, the diplomatic
community and the
international community..
“Let it be known that upon
the completion of this first
final round of consultations,
mid-August 2021, should
the demands of the Constitutional
force majeure
(CFM) remain unaddressed
, NINAS shall proceed most
expeditiously with the Activation
of Reconsideration
of Allegiance to the repudiated
1999 Constitution
and commence processes of
the orderly interment of that
Constitution within the context
of the self-determination
imperative for the Constituent
Nationalities Components
of Nigeria.”
The group berated a
former presidential spokesperson,
Reuben Abati, for
describing self-determination
campaign as treason.
‘Worthwhile
cause’
In the same vein, the Secretary-General
of the Yoruba
Council of Elders (YCE),
Dr. Kunle Olajide, described
the self-determination
struggle as a worthwhile
cause.
In an interview with Sunday
Vanguard, Olajide said
the struggle is a legitimate
NCAA approves commercial flight operations at Bayelsa Airport
completed the mandatory
inspection of the airport
and its facilities.
Musa said the airport
met all airspace standards
By Marie-Therese
Nanlong
Vice-Chancellor of
Tthe University of Jos,
Professor Sebastian Maim-
United Nigeria Airline airlifts 25,000 passengers s within 2 months
crease our air fleet very
soon. We are looking at the
next couple of months, 2-3
months. A lot of plans are
already on the way. We have
been happy so far with the
responses we have been getting
from the market.”
He also said the medium
term plan of the airline is to
consolidate on the domestic
operations while planning
the expansion into the
West African sub-region.
and is one hundred per
cent ready for daytime
flight operations.
The governor’s Chief
Press Secretary, Mr.
UniJos VC tasks would-be successor on staf
aff f welfare, security
On the choice of aircraft
type, Embraer ERJ145, he
said it was the best for the
airline and convenient to
build routes and give passengers
the quality service
they deserve.
Dr. Okonkwo said: “We
did a thorough and due diligence
before we embraced
Embraer. The fuel saving
capacity is an advantage,
the passenger load which is
50 is an advantage.”
ako, has tasked his wouldbe
successor to brace up to
the challenges of running
the institution transparently,
improve on the security
and welfare of staff and students
as well as improve on
ICT and physical development
in the institution.
The tenure of Maimako
will end in a few weeks and
18 aspirants have shown interest
to succeed him. However,
the list was trimmed to
13 candidates comprising
of 12 males and one female,
from within and outside the
institution.
He gave the charge on
Thursday at an interactive
session with candidates vying
for the position of the
VC organized by the institution’s
chapter of the Academic
Staff Union of Universities,
ASUU in collaboration
with the institution’s
Advancement Office to
hear the plans the candidates
have for the institution,
its workforce and students.
Represented by the Director,
non-NUC programmes,
Professor John Adeyongo, the
outgoing VC urged the successful
candidate to ensure
that “training, the security
and welfare of staff and students,
physical development,
ICT improvement,
among others have to be
looked into.”
He reminded them that
IPPIS does not capture contract
staff hence the need to
generate funds to pay them
because they are very useful
to the system.
one, adding that the Yoruba
have the right to demand
self-determination.
“We have no objection at
all for our people justifiably
asking for self-determination,
as long as they they
promised us as they have
done, that they are going to
get it without bloodshed.
So, YCE has nothing
against them”, he stated.
“In fact, YCE is very unhappy
with the state of the
Nigeria nation, especially
in the last five or six years.
This administration has
done a lot of damage. We
have nothing against selfdetermination
if we can
have it without bloodshed.
It is a legitimate right for
Ilan Omo Oodua to demand
Yoruba nation, so far
they have promised us
there will be no violence
or bloodshed, because the
country has been badly
managed in the last five to
six years. The situation has
been polarised. Nobody
really knows whether the
President himself wants
the country together or
wants it to disintegrate. He
has not addressed us to reassure
us. So people asking
for self - determination have
every right to ask for it.
“As elders, what we are
emphasing is we do not
want any violent dismantling
of this republic. It is
better for all of us to be together,
but if it is going to
be one superior ethnic
group against the other,
then we better go ablaze”.
Daniel Alabrah, quoted the
NCAA DG as saying that the
approval was sequel to the
report of the agency’s inspection
team, which prior
to the visit had certified
that out of 29 gaps, the airport
was able to close 26.
Musa noted that other
requirements were nonsafety
related and that
work was already in
progress to achieve night
flight operations.
He said the agency had
to limit flight operations
to daytime as the runway
lights were being installed,
noting that once completed,
full approval would be
granted.
Responding, Diri, who
was full of joy, expressed
appreciation to God for
making the long-awaited
day possible.
Diri said issuing of the
operational licence was a
winding journey that began
from the administration
of his immediate past
predecessor to when he assumed
duty over a year
ago.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 18, 2021, PAGE 5
Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi left), with the General Overseer, the Redeemed
Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor E.A. Adeboye, during the cleric’s visit to the
Government House, Ado-Ekiti, yesterday.
2015: 5: Babangida Aliyu lied, not all northern
govs s worked ed against t Jonathan—Ex-Gov Jang
By Nnamdi Ojiego
claim that all the 19
Tnorthern governors
worked against former President
Goodluck Jonathan
during the 2015 presidential
election, has been dismissed
by a former governor
of Plateau State, Jonah
Jang.
A former governor of Niger
State, Dr. Babangida
Aliyu, had said northern
governors under the auspices
of Northern Governors
Forum, NGF, agreed to deliberately
work against the
second term bid of
Jonathan.
He said the decision was
informed by what he described
as Jonathan’s failure
to honour an agreement
he had with them in 2011.
Aliyu explained that
northern governors felt betrayed
by Jonathan’s decision
to run for a second term
after agreeing not to contest
in 2015.
He added that the governors
consequently resolved
to ensure he didn’t return to
power.
Party
According to him, “following
the sudden passage
of President Umaru Musa
Yar’Adua on May 5, 2010,
the leadership of the then
governing Peoples Democratic
Party along with the
state governors under the
flagship of the party had
series of meetings on the
presidency and the future of
our great party.
“All the governors in the
north under the PDP supported
the then Vice-President
Goodluck Ebele
Jonathan to complete the
remaining years of
Yar’Adua’s tenure and to
contest the next presidential
election as a sole candidate
of our great party. However,
midway, President Goodluck
Jonathan insisted to
run for the office in 2015
against the grain of our earlier
agreement.
“Since this was against
the grain of our earlier
agreement in the party, and
which we the governors in
the north felt the north
would have been shortchanged
if Jonathan had
succeeded, we rose stoutly
to insist on the agreement
we all had. On that premise,
we opposed Jonathan. But
all along, Goodluck
Jonathan had enjoyed every
support from the governors
in the north and the entire
region.”
The former Niger State
governor is currently having
a running battle with his
state chapter of the Peoples
Democratic Party, PDP.
He was earlier suspended
by the party for allegedly
engaging in anti-party
activities.
Aliyu was particularly accused
of working against
the PDP in 2015.
It was while defending
himself that he claimed the
decision to work against
Jonathan was collective.
Lied
By Peter Duru, Makurdi
A
family of four and
three others were yesterday
shot dead by suspected
militia at Mbamondu
community, Makurdi Modern
Market Council Ward
in Makurdi Local Government
Area, LGA, of Benue
State. The attackers also
inflicted serious injuries on
five others three out of which
were said to be in critical
conditions.
An indigence of the community
and the state Commissioner
for Lands, Survey
and Solid Minerals, Mr.
Bernard Unenge, who spoke
to Sunday Vanguard, explained
that the attack was
unprovoked. According to
him, he got a call that his
people were being attacked
by suspected herdsmen militia
and had to call on security
operatives stationed
around Adaka community
who arrived after the killings.
But reacting to the allegation
by Aliyu, Jang, a member
of the PDP, accused his
former colleague of lying,
saying he wasn’t a party to
the alleged agreement.
Jang said he believed
Jonathan was better
equipped to govern the
country than President Muhammadu
Buhari at the
time.
In a statement by his
spokesman, Clinton Garuba,
he said there was no basis
for him not to have supported
Jonathan, especially
when the contest was
against Buhari.
The statement titled: Dr.
Muazu Babangida Aliyu
Lied, reads: “For the avoidance
of doubt, despite the
perceived shortcomings of
President Goodluck
Jonathan, Senator Jonah
believed that Jonathan was
better equipped to rule Nigeria
at the time, especially
when his opponent was
General Buhari.
“Jang did not hide his
By Harris Emanuel
uslim leaders, under
Mthe aegis of South-
South/South-East Muslim
stakeholders, have accused
some governors in the
two geopolitical zones of
sidelining them in the
scheme of things despite
their contribution to the
economic growth of the
zones.
They said they have been
marginalized in government
patronage in terms of
appointments and that their
schools were completely
bereft of teaching apparatus.
These are contained in the
The bride, Chinonye Valerie, flanked by her parents, family friends and
relations at Maria Assumpta Cathedral Owerri after her wedding to Mr.
Nnamdi Emelumba. On her far right is Prince Okey-Joe Onuakalusi followed
by DIG Val Ntomchukwu (rtd), on her immediate left is Chief Inno Eloka,
Chairman Clarion Shipping (WA) Ltd, next are her parents, Barr. & Lady
Okwy Ejezie KSJI followed by Barr. K. O. P. Odidika, a chieftain of Aka
Ikenga Lagos.
conviction concerning Buhari’s
inabilities to resolve
the nation’s challenges and
sensitivities of the issues at
the moment. Unfortunately,
Buhari won and we are all
witnesses to the tales of
woes.
“Senator Jang is not one
who speaks from both sides
of his mouth, rather he
speaks and supports only
what he believes, little wonder
Plateau was won by
President Jonathan in the
2015 general election. It
was largely due to the hard
work of the then governor.
“For emphasis sake, there
was no basis for Dr. Jang
not to have supported Dr.
Jonathan especially when
the contest was against
General Buhari.”
Recall that Jonathan lost
to Buhari who won 54 percent
of the votes on March
29, 2015.
He was the first incumbent
to lose an election since
democracy returned to Nigeria
in 1999.
Suspected herdsmen kill family of
four
our, , three others s in Benue
“It is heartrending and
tragic because my people
did not incite or provoke the
attack. They came into my
village, started shooting
sporadically and when people
were running out of
their houses to flee for safety
they shot and butchered
them like animals”, the
commissioner said, further
stating that four of the people
comprised of a father
(70), his son and three
grandchildren.
In another development in
the area, troops of Operation
Whirl Stroke, OPWS,
reportedly neutralized five
members of the militia and
injured some during an exchange
of fire. The militia
were said to retreating from
the Benue and Nasarawa
border.
According to a security
source who spoke on condition
of anonymity, troops of
OPWS, backed by aerial support,
chased the attackers as
they retreated towards neighboring
Nasarawa State.
Benue State Police Command
Police Public Relations
Officer (PPRO), DSP Catherine
Anene, who confirmed
the attack, said a team of police
officers had been deployed
to the area to forestall
further breakdown of law
and order.
Muslim leaders s accuse S/South, S/
East t governor
vernors s of marginalization
resolutions of an enlarged
meeting held in Uyo, the
Akwa Ibom State Capital,
signed by HRH, Eze Sheikh
Abdul Fatah Emetumah
and others.
The leaders, however,
commended the efforts of
the Sultan of Sokoto in ensuring
peace within the
Islamic community and
the nation at large.
Meanwhile, they condemned,
in strong terms, all
acts of disunity among
Muslims in the S/South and
S/East and called on religious
leaders to use their
pulpits to preach peace and
unity, instead of hate speeches.
Mr. Lawrence Inyang and his wife, Loveth,
during their traditional marriage ceremony held
at Agbarha-Otor, Ughelli North Local
Government Area, Delta State.
Coca-Cola out with
‘Cash-4-Trash’ ash’ Initiative
By Princewill Ekwujuru
oca-Cola Nigeria has kicked off its Cash-4-Trash ini
Ctiative for the advancement of Waste Management in
Africa (W.A.S.T.E Africa) and Mental and Environmental Development
Initiative for Children (MEDIC) at Badore Jetty,
Lagos. Cash-4-Trash is a recycling scheme designed to empower
communities while ensuring cleaner environments. This
initiative will also be executed by leveraging cutting edge technology
using the Pakam app, through which recyclers will
request pick-up of plastic waste collected. With the continuous
funding of recycling initiatives in Nigeria and smart waste
collection, Coca-Cola continues to work towards its goal of
building a world without waste.
This development follows the official launch ceremony which
was held in August 2020 where the philanthropic arm of The
Coca-Cola Company, Coca Cola Foundation partnered with
W.A.S.T.E AFRICA to launch its novel “Cash 4 trash” initiative
in 5 communities across Abuja, FCT.
The initiative is targeted at promoting a waste-free world
through waste recovery, recycling, and economic development.
In her remarks, Director of Public Affairs, Communications
& Sustainability, Coca Cola Nigeria, Nwamaka Onyemelukwe
said: “A greener environment remains a priority area for
Coca-Cola as evidenced by the numerous initiatives launched
and supported by The Coca-Cola Foundation.
Uber drivers s begin strik
trike
in Lagos tomorrow
By Bose Adelaja
ard time appears to be awaiting commuters in La
Hgos as over 20,000 E-Hailing drivers popularly
known as Uber proposes to embark on an indefinite strike
across the state beginning from tomorrow over poor service
condition by their coordinating body identifies as Uber
Nigeria and Bolt Nigeria.
Speaking under the ages of Professional E-Hailing Drivers
and Private Owners Association (PEDPA), the National
President of the association, Comrade Idris Sonuga lamented
that they had recorded over 15 deaths and no fewer
than 20 of the members were missing while some are
suffering permanent disabilities owing to injuries sustained
at work, situations which he said the coordinating bodies
never paid attention to.

PAGE 6 —SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 18, 2021

EBUBE AGU 'COORDINATOR' VOWS:
From Enugu
command centre,
we will secure
S/East
•Says security outfit is like a
step ahead of Amotekun
By Kennedy Mbele
General Obi Umahi (rted), a former General Officer
Commanding 82 Division of the Nigerian Army and
Chairman of the South-East Security Committee, in this
interview, speaks on how Ebube Agu, the security
outfit announced by the five governors of the South
Eastern states, last week, will work.
OU once said that the South-East
Ywas the most secured region in
the country. You also said that the
region’s governors had concluded
plans to set up a security outfit and
now they have announced Ebube
Agu. From your understanding, could
you lead us into what this entails?
What has been done in terms of how
the outfit will operate?
I think there was a committee earlier that
included the Attorneys General of the five
states of the South-East that came up with
the legal framework. I guess the region’s
governors studied this framework over time
before making the announcement at Owerri.
I think the next thing they need to do is to get
the states’ Houses of Assembly to make laws
backing the outfit and once that is done,
everything will roll out.
With the announcement, many thought
that everything had been sorted out,
but it appears that is not the case. Does
that not suggest that the governors’
hands were forced as a result of the
heightening insecurity that played out
in the region, so they needed to just do
something to be seen as responding to
the security threat?
Responding to security threat is number one.
Second, I guess there was so much that went
on in the background. Security issues require
some level of networking because the
governors needed to do to be on the same page.
I don’t think someone forced their hands, but
they were studying the situation like other
people, and they felt that the alert had been
raised and they needed to do something
promptly which they did.
You said the Attorneys General are
working to ensure that the legal
details are finalized alongside the
state assemblies. Doesn’t that mean
that until that is done, this
announcement will be just an
announcement?
They are working pari-passu, there are
things that can be going on simultaneously.
So while the Attorneys General are fine
tuning the bills to submit to the state
Assemblies, the state Assemblies are part of
the system, that wouldn’t take them a lot
time to come up with a law.
From your own understanding, why
does it have to take much time for
state Assemblies to finalize?
One thing you can give to the governors
is that they have been networking to reach
common ground on all issues. As you may
know, security issues are a little bit sensitive.
Again, consider the fact that the governors
of South-East have contributed so much to
the stability of the nation by withholding
some actions. I guess this may have led to
what someone may call delay, but
strategically speaking, it was no delay. I
think that so many things were going on at
the background but which were not known
to many.
We understand that it is one central
organization that is in charge of
security in the South-East. Will the
entire South-East operate under
Ebube Agu or it will be Ebube Agu
in each state?
There will be Ebube Agu in each of the
states with a command and control center
that will help to share information, acquire
some security assets as may be permitted
by the Federal
Government. Such assets
may be difficult to get
financially speaking, but when the five states
come together, they will be able to acquire
them. So, there will be a command and
control center but each of the states will be
responsible for the security of their various
domains. Without prejudice to this, the
vigilante in Enugu State could support that
of Ebonyi and that of Ebonyi could support
that of Abia, etc. And, should there be any
need for such support, the central body will
be in-charge of awareness, information
sharing, managing the alarm system which
the governors have agreed will be located
at Enugu.
Does that support imply that vigilantes
from Ebonyi can cross into Imo?
Yes, why not? We are the same people
separated by artificial boundaries.
Have you been able to track the reasons
for the upsurge of security challenges
in the South-East now that
necessitated the action of the
governors?
We have all been watching developments
in the security sector, especially in the
South-East. In the past,
South-East was the most
secured and most peaceful
region in the entire country.
But as we all know, there
was a recent attack in
Ebonyi by suspected
herdsmen, another attack in
Enugu, and the jail break as
well as the burning of a
police headquarters in Imo.
All these raised the security
alert in the region,
warranting the governors to
take the action they have just
taken which is the setting up
of a security framework for
the South-East.
What can you tell us
about the nature and
shape that Ebube Agu is
going to take?
There will be a command
and control center in Enugu. Each of the
states will have their Ebube Agu structured
in a way that will enable quick mobilization,
deployments and operations. That structure
will be replicated in each of the five states
in the region. Each state will ensure
security in collaboration with federal
security agencies. The command and
control center in Enugu will be responsible
for passing information, developing an
alarm system that can be used in all the
states.
Is Ebubu Agu in any way similar to
Amotekun, the South-West regional
security outfit?
Yes. They are similar in some ways. But
the truth is that Amotekun does not have
command and control center. I don’t know
Each of the states
will have their Ebube
Agu structured in a
way that will enable
quick mobilization,
deployments and
operations
whether they share information. Also, I
have not heard of cross border support in
their operations, and that tells you that a
lot of time has been spent and some details
worked out during the period people felt
there was no action. The governors were
trying to fine tune and be on the same page
on virtually all issues so that the operation
of Ebube Agu will be seamless as soon as it
is rolled out.
The timing is quite interesting as
it is coming a few days after the
country got a new Acting Inspector
General of Police and I recall that
the South-East governors held
several meetings with the former
IGP. To what extent is the new IGP
being carried along in the whole
process?
Unlike what obtained in the past, the
governors had been doing what I can call
diplomatic politicking because they believe
in the Nigerian project. They believe that
we are better off staying together as one big
country instead of going different ways.
They have been doing everything to ensure
peace and unity in this
country. They have not been
involved in statements that
could overheat the system
but that is not to say that
they have not been fully
concerned with the security
of the South-East. What
have extracted.
•Umahi
they have achieved is that
they have used networking,
penetration and diplomacy
to gain support for the
South-East security
framework from the
security agencies and the
Federal Government
because these agencies and
the Federal Government
have seen the need for
regional security outfit.
Is the new IGP saying
he will support the
initiative?
That’s what the governors
From the acting IGP?
From the entire federal security agencies
That is to say that the acting IGP is
not directly involved in this?
I am not saying that. I said that the South-
East governors have extracted support. In any
case, what the regional security outfit is doing
is to support the federal security agencies to
succeed in carrying out their constitutional
roles. I think every misunderstanding was
based on lack of understanding of the
Constitution of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria which says that the governor is the
chief security of his state. This implies that
every governor can employ every
constitutional means to ensure there is security
SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 18, 2021, PAGE 7
in his state. The federal security agencies
are not under the control of governors. So,
governors must make their own local
arrangement to provide security for their
people.
Some people argue that the law does
not permit regional security outfits, but
you are saying the governors extracted
that support for regional security
outfits?
There is no part of the Nigerian constitution
that says that states cannot cooperate to achieve
legitimate aims. If states can cooperate on
agriculture, industry, transportation, why can
they not cooperate on security which has overarching
importance to the lives and livelihood
of their people?
Would it be out of place to say that
Ebube Agu will facilitate community
policing as it will end up being closer
to the people than the community
policing that the police were working
on?
No. I rather think that it will enhance the
operations of community policing which is
about being close to the people, getting
information and passing it to the legitimate
authorities that can use it to enhance security.
The two are not in any way contradictory. They
are rather a form of reinforcement that will
help achieve the desired security goals not only
in the South-East but also if applied across the
country.
If you say that the governors extracted
support from federal security agencies
including the police, how then do we
situate item 11 in the governors’
communique which says the governors
requested the acting IGP to stop the
influx of the IGP Monitoring Unit but
to allow state and zonal commands to
handle their cases?
The police arrangement sometimes is
internally and inherently contradictory. It is not
so in the Nigerian Army where I served. You
can’t have a command that you have
confidence in the commander… Let me be
specific about the police. It is the police
headquarters that appoints the commissioner
of police because he or she is qualified and
competent to hold the position and he is
expected to ensure security in the state he has
been posted to. Why will the same police pass
vote of no confidence in the commissioner of
police by sending another layer of security to
come and operate in his area of responsibility
without reference to him or her? It breeds
confusion and security contradiction. I think
the police need to address this issue. Check
everywhere in the world, there is no where it is
happening that way. Sometimes, some of such
policies are instigated for some other reasons
rather than enhancing the security of this
nation.
Will Ebube Agu wear the same
uniform across the region and will they
be operating in the cities or restricted
to the outskirts?
They will wear the same uniform and will
be everywhere, especially where there is need
for them to be. As earlier stated, they will
collaborate with federal security agencies.
Ebube Agu is not going to work as if it has an
enemy, security agencies are friends and Ebube
Agu cannot succeed without other security
agencies. That is why a lot of cooperation will
be sought from federal security agencies;
otherwise Ebube Agu will not succeed.
This is a step to state police. Don’t
you think so?
Well, state police will come with
constitutional amendment, but I guess that
Nigeria has nothing stopping it from
establishing state police. That is one sure way
of improving security of this nation. The
provision in the Constitution that confers on
the governor the power as a chief security
officer envisages that he will have state police
that he can use in achieving that constitutional
responsibility. I think we should stop at nothing
to establish state police. We need state police
today more than ever and I think the National
Assembly, the Federal Government and every
right thinking Nigerian should go for it.
At different times in our nation’s
political history, security agencies
have been accused of meddling with
elections. How do we guarantee that
Ebube Agu is not used for political
purposes?
It is a systemic problem. The federal security
agencies are used to meddle with elections. If
we are not afraid of that, why should we be
afraid that the regional security outfit or state
police will be used for that same purpose? We
need to improve on the stability of our
institutional culture. When we get our
institutional culture right, those things will
come to an end. But, in the interim, what is in
the front burner in this country is the issue of
insecurity and what we require to address it is
state police and some other arrangements. I
have said before that this country does not have
internal security doctrine. We need it for us to
be sure that everybody is doing what he ought
to do to ensure security of this nation and when
we have insecurity as we are experiencing now,
we should be able, if we have a coherent and
internal security doctrine, to know the institution
that is not doing its work and then we know
where to pass the buck.
• Interview first aired on Channels TV

PAGE 8—SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 18, 2021
The South-East governors woke up
from what seems like slumber and
established a security outfit, Ebube
Agu. Does that mean anything to IPoB?
Those spearheading the formation of
Ebube Agu security network are failures.
When our people needed them for
protection they were nowhere to be found.
Instead of standing to be counted, they
were rather waiting for instructions. And
now that their masters have instructed
them on what to do, that is why they
hurriedly announced the imaginary
outfit.
We know their mission. The outfit will
be an extension of the Nigeria security
agencies to spy on our gallant Eastern
Security Network, ESN, and pro-Biafra
groups. The so-called Ebube Agu will be
infiltrated by thugs and saboteurs to hunt
ESN and IPoB members. They want to
fight us using our own people. But we are
smarter. We are miles ahead of their game
plan.
Coming at a time IPoB already has the
Eastern Nigeria Security Network,ESN,
there seems to be a lot of concerns about
how Ebube Agu would work...
IPoB members and ESN operatives can’t
work side by side with any other group
that does not know how we operate. In
fact, Ebube Agu is a suspect. We can never
operate together or co-exist. One must
give way for the other. We can never trust
any outfit formed by our governors for
the security and defense of our land.
Why are they suddenly realising that a
regional security outfit should be set up
for the defense of the South-East after
foot-dragging for many months? These
governors who can sacrifice the collective
interest of Ndigbo on the altar of their
political future cannot be trusted. They
are the worst set of Igbo leaders ever seen.
They don’t have the interest of the masses
at heart.
Why have they been quiet over the
atrocities of herdsmen in the South-
East all along if they truly care for the
people? They are political merchants
whose interest is only about political
office at all costs. Why haven’t they been
courageous enough to implement the ban
on open grazing like Governor Otorm of
Benue is doing?
There is no way you will expect the
brainchild of this set of people to be in
the best interest of the masses. Therefore,
we can’t work together with their
brainchild. Period!
Let me quickly remind them that if their
intention is to use their abstract Ebube
Agu to spy and hunt down ESN and IPoB,
they won’t succeed. That alone will bring
their own end because IPoB and ESN will
moblise our people to ensure they meet
their waterloo.
We pity those they are going to recruit
into the outfit. They should be prepared
to meet their ancestors soon if their
mission is to spy on ESN. We assure them
that they will certainly see ESN in the bush
but will not return to tell the story. We
don’t care to know who they may be.
The action of the governors, to a lot of
people, especially in the Southeast, is
belated and may not likely achieve
desired goals...
Yes, their action is belated and an
afterthought. Where were they when
their counterparts in the South-West
formed Amotekun?
Like I told you, the sleepy governors
were waiting for instructions. Now, they
have been told what to do, they just woke
from their slumber to deceive the gullible.
But we know better. Their action is
belated and our people have since
embraced ESN which came to rescue
them when it counted most. We no longer
need any other security outfit, especially
the one coming from governors which we
see as an afterthought.
Looking at the scale of insecurity in
the region, especially killings by
suspected herdsmen, do you think the
action of the governors is the
•Kanu
Ebube Agu
won't stand,
IPoB insists
•Says Igbo have rejected new
security outfit, embraced ESN
•'Yoruba defended Igboho but S/
East govs see Kanu as a threat'
appropriate response?
Their action cannot be appropriate but
rather, it is confusion in itself. How can
you announce the establishment of a
security outfit without personnel? When
Amotekun was set up, did you not see their
men and their equipment and uniform?
When ESN was floated by our leader, Mazi
Nnamdi Kanu, did you not see photos of
ESN gallant officers and men? So, from
the style of the governors alone you can
see they are not serious. You can be sure
that they won’t be able to even pay the
salaries of the personnel of the so-called
outfit.
I want to make it clear that IPoB and
ESN are not for Ndigbo alone but for all
the nationalities in the entire region. Our
mandate is to provide protection and
defense for the entire region.
Some argued that Ebube Agu has
By Chimaobi Nwaiwu
Ever since the South-East governors announced the formation of a
regional security outfit, Ebube Agu, there have been mixed reactions
from the zone. Instead of widespread optimism, skepticism over the
prospects of the agency continues to grow. The Indigenous People of Biafra,
IPoB, which had earlier threatened that anyone found associating with Ebube
Agu should be ready to meet his ancestors, in this interview, explains its opposition
to the outfit. IPoB’s spokesperson, Emma Powerful, who speaks on behalf of the
group, dismisses Ebube Agu as an imaginary outfit that won’t work.
Like I told you,
the sleepy
governors were
waiting for
instructions. Now,
they have been
told what to do
come to literally take over the
tasks of ESN. To them, the outfit
serves as a substitute. Does that
make any sense to you?
You can’t compare a lion with a goat.
There is no basis for that at all. How can
imaginary Ebube Agu take over from
formidable groups like ESN and IPoB?
Who trained them? Can they swim in the
river where we take our bath?
Can I ask you: Is there any state in the
South-East that doesn’t have state
vigilante groups before now? Have any
of them been able to challenge the killer
herdsmen raping and slaughtering
people in our communities?
But today the greatest nightmare of the
killer herdsmen is ESN that is less than
six months old. That is why they quickly
asked the governors whom they installed
to float the Ebube Agu outfit to checkmate
ESN and IPoB but they will all be
disappointed.
A South-East governor, while speaking
on the formation of the security outfit,
said he does not agree with IPoB’s
strategy but accepts that most issues
being raised by IPoB are valid. What do
you make of that?
The governors knew very well that what
IPoB is talking about is good but because
they want to protect their offices they
pretended as if they don’t see or hear. They
all know the truth but are afraid to speak
up because of political interest.
Those ruling this country have
intimidated them into submission and
that is why IPoB is telling them to stand
up. They cannot do anything as long as
IPoB is concerned.
Again, didn’t you see how the Yoruba
nation rose in defense of Sunday Igboho?
But here our own governors proscribed
IPoB and saw our leader, Nnamdi Kanu
as a threat to their political ambitions.
Since the new security outfit is
targeted at insecurity in the region,
would IPoB offer any form of assistance
even if it is unsolicited?
Already, IPoB and ESN have been the
ones resisting the jihadists from
overrunning our communities. If not for
our gallantry, killer herdsmen and their
sponsors would have accomplished their
evil agenda. So, we are already in it all
alone and will continue to defend our
people because it is our mandate.
Despite the presence of ESN across
southeastern states, killings by
suspected herdsmen are happening in
succession in Ebonyi State...
Do you know how many attempted
attacks by Fulani herdsmen that ESN and
IPoB foiled in the South-East and South-
South? We are not here to sing our praise
but if attacks by herdsmen are still
noticeable despite our presence, then
imagine what it would have been like
without us. Don’t also forget the entire
Nigeria security agencies and providing
cover for these attackers. Our men are
resisting many enemies at the same time.
Can’t you see the way the military uses
fighter jets to bomb areas where these
Janjaweed vampires are resisted? But the
same military will even exonerate Boko
Haram when they claim responsibility for
downing a military jet.
An All Progressives Congress, APC,
chieftain hailed South-East governors
for forming Ebube Agu. He said IPoB
should dissolve ESN. Would IPoB heed
the advice?
The man you are talking about is
nobody. He is only trying to be relevant
by attacking IPoB or ESN. You know that
failed politicians or those trying to gain
political relevance simply resort to
attacking IPoB or our leader.
We don’t dignify such liabilities with a
response. The governors can only dissolve
ESN if they have control over it, but if
they don’t, how can they?

ROW: Ohanaeze to
get IPoB, ESN to
work with Ebube-
Agu – Iwuanyanwu
By Chinonso Alozie
Elder statesman, Chief Emmanuel
Iwuayanwu, in this interview, speaks on the
row over Ebube Agu, the security outfit just formed
by the five governors of the South-East.
Ebube Agu was recently formed by
South-East governors. What are your
expectations from the regional security
outfit?
Everybody in this country in the last few
years must be worried and concerned about
the security situation in the country. It is the
same thing from the South-East to North-
East. Criminals attack, kill, rape, kidnap
school children and even security personnel
who are supposed to protect
us.
These have never happened
before in the history of this
country. The question now is:
what do these people really
want? As I said earlier, every
militancy or war must have a
reason. Even the first and second
world wars had reasons
that led to hostilities. The Nigeria/Biafra
War had reasons
that led to it.
Did you foresee what is
happening today?
When these bandits and terrorists
started, I warned the
South-East not to take anything
for granted or to be
complacent. What is happening
today is nothing but a war
against Nigeria.
Their strategies are part of
the strategies usually adopt-
ed for
war. Most often, some people say, that it is
By Levinus Nwabughiogu
Hon. Victor Afam Ogene was a
member of the 7th Assembly of the
House of Representatives. A veteran
journalist, Ogene spearheaded the robust
public engagement that led to the emergence
of the Aminu Tambuwal /Emeka Ihedioha
leadership. He is currently the Spokesman
for the All Progressives Congress, APC Patriots,
Anambra Chapter. In this Interview, he speaks
of the party’s chances to win the November 6,
2021 gubernatorial election in the State.
What informed the setting up of APC
Patriots?
The singular reason for the coming on board
of the group, APC Patriots, Anambra Chapter
is to “capture” political power in Anambra
State. When I say, “capture” power, I use that
word advisedly, and deliberately. As you may
have observed, the bulk of APC Patriots
membership is drawn from people who have
at one time or another sought elective position,
many without success. Yet, their failure to
secure success at the polls was most often
inversely propelled by extraneous factors not
directly associated with their electability. To
properly situate our dilemma, let me cite one
very recent example. In the last gubernatorial
election in Anambra state, our party, the APC,
despite claims of widespread unacceptability
still managed to come second, ahead of the
People’s Democratic Party, PDP which is often
passed off as the largest political party in the
state. After the polls, the APC set up a factfinding
committee which carried out a near
forensic post-mortem to find out what was
responsible for what, in our estimation, was a
the Indigenous
People of Biafra,
IPoB, and
Eastern Security
Network, ESN, that are behind this but I do
not think so. The IPoB boys are Igbo and no
right-thinking Igbo man can just wake up
and take arms to kill his fellow Igbo man.
This is why we should find out what is
happening. In 2019, the
leadership of Ohanaeze
Ndigbo met with governors
of South-East states,
and they decided to have
a common security outfit.
The elders of
Ohanaeze Ndigbo
Worldwide will take
steps to get the IPoB
and ESN to work
with Ebube Agu
We held meetings in
Enugu and Ebonyi, and
a retired Army General
was appointed to head a
committee that was established
to bring the
security outfit to fruition.
Every state in the
South-East was represented
in that committee
that was set up. We
also agreed that all state
Houses of Assembly in
the South-East should
pass a law to back it up
and also recruit people
into the regional security
outfit.
not-too-satisfactory outcome. Now, it will
shock you to know that besides official
indulgence with the ruling All Progressives
Grand Alliance, APGA, internal party
sabotage arising from a bitterly fought
primaries counted hugely in diminishing the
fortunes of our party. With this realization in
mind, and given the likelihood of another eight
years stay outside the power loop in the state if
we do not get it right on November 6, 2021,
some key stakeholders came together and
birthed the group, APC Patriots, Anambra
Chapter.
Your continuous use of the term,
Anambra chapter, presupposes that
your group has a nationalistic fervour
with branches across the country. Is
your group, therefore, something of a
national movement?
You will not be wrong to come to such
conclusion, even when all you hear about the
Patriots now revolves around Anambra. In
more ways than one, our dear state, Anambra
holds an enviable position as one which opens
up hitherto uncharted pathways. But for the
sake of this discourse, let me limit myself to
the political terrain. Even before other states
started making a song, and dance about
combating the menace of godfathers,
Anambra, through the current state leader of
our party, Senator Chris Nwabueze Ngige,
had liberated the state from the stranglehold
of godfathers. So, the idea of the Patriots, as
an internal self-cleansing mechanism, is sure
to set off positive reactions across states and
political parties once we succeed, as we plan
to do, with the Anambra model.
•Iwuayanwu
No political party is more accepted
in S/East than APC — Hon. Ogene
*Speaks of party’s chances of winning the Nov 6 Anambra guber election
Is the floating of Ebube Agu a product
of the decision taken at the meetings
with South-East governors?
At a recent Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide
council meeting, the elders gave the governors
of the South-East the directive to float
a security outfit and that was how Ebube
Agu came about.
As I said earlier, talks about Ebube Agu
had been on and now that it has been established,
it requires experienced personnel,
training, and adequate funding.
IPoB and ESN, which came on board before
Ebube Agu, acted in all honesty to defend
us and nobody is against it. The elders
of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide will take
steps to get the IPoB and ESN to work with
Ebube Agu.
Do you think it will be possible
since IPoB has already opposed the
outfit?
I know that some people in the South-
East may kick against this move, but we
want a situation where all hands should be
on deck for us to heave a sigh of relief. We
want an end to banditry and terrorism.
We acknowledge their, ESN, interest and
enthusiasm to protect our people and it
would be good if they work together with
Ebube Agu. Nobody should say it is illegal.
There should be no conflict between them
and, as I said, the governors of the South-
•Ogene
As a group within the political
framework, how do you intend to
achieve your goals in a way that does
not conflict with the role and
responsibilities of statutory organs of
the party?
Following the formation of APC Patriots,
many party loyalists, analysts and observers
have been worried stiff regarding what some
of them termed the likelihood of a hidden
agenda. But I can tell you here and now, that
there is no hidden agenda anywhere - and
anybody who embarks on a search for one
would only end up chasing a wild goose. For
the sake of emphasis, our goal is to make sure
that the process leading up to the emergence
of our party’s candidate is not strewn with
bristles, thus compromising the cohesion of
our party in the run up to the main election on
November 6, 2021. In fact, conventional
wisdom dictates that once a party’s candidate
emerges through a credible, fair, rational and
transparent process, there will not only be less
acrimony, but also the entire gamut of those
who contested the party primaries will
willingly team up with the candidate to go
SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 18, 2021, PAGE 9
East should get IPoB and ESN to work with
Ebube Agu. Terrorists have different strategies
of operation.
Do you think the synergy you are
proposing between Ebube Agu and
IPoB can bring an end to insecurity
in Igboland?
For instance, the way they operate in Enugu
and Imo might be different from the way
they operate in Ebonyi and Benue. Recall
how they killed many soldiers without any
of the soldiers escaping.
Not long ago, an aircraft belonging to
the Nigeria Air force suddenly disappeared
in the air and nothing has been heard of it
up until now.
It seems the perpetrators of violence
in the South-East are getting
emboldened by the day…
Our prisons should have policemen and
military men guiding them. I want to ask:
can such an incident happen without the
collusion of security forces? They were here
for more than three hours. Something is
wrong somewhere.
As I said, we should share information
with South-South and other regions. We
should also provide intelligence to the federal
government. This is war. I am speaking
from experience, and the solution is intelligence
gathering.
Those saying it is IPoB may not be right.
That does not mean we are in support of
IPoB, because we know the group has been
proscribed. However, we expect the federal
government to move quickly to identify
those behind these attacks.
That is why I said the hoodlums behind
the attacks are the greatest threat to Nigeria’s
unity. This is very important to stop
this whole thing from escalating. I am saying
this because nobody wants to stay in a
country where people are killed for no just
cause. In fact, all we need to end these attacks
is just intelligence gathering.
I also urge the federal government to set
up an enquiry to know what happened in
the recent plane crash involving our security
agents in Niger State. I don’t like it when
things like this happen and they end like
that.
The way these people are going, they are
coming very close and I would not be surprised
to find them overrunning the whole
country one day. How can these things be
happening and we are keeping quiet?
I could remember what Gen T. Y Danjuma,
retd, said some time ago. He said the
security situation is going out of hand and
that it may come to a point when people
will start protecting themselves.
That is why I am saying that everybody is
afraid and something must be done. We have
come to a point the safety of lives and properties
is what we care about now.
Over 1,800 inmates were released from
Owerri Correctional Centre and security
agents did not fire a single shot. What does
that mean? This incident happened in a state
with many security agencies.
The hoodlums release those they wanted
to release freely when we have the police
and military men around. That is why we
need Ebube Agu to stop the trend.
into the general election as a cohesive unit. As
a matter of fact, unless the disparate power
blocs which are in contention morph into one,
the end result would be disheartening. And
because we don’t want such a scenario, party
stalwarts, operating under the auspices of the
Patriots began working from the problems to
the solution.
Y o u seem to have an uphill
task up your sleeves,
especially as political
parties are known to
have preferred
candidates.
In deed, we will be kidding
ourselves to think that party
officials and its hierarchy
would not want to have
certain individuals emerge
as candidate from a pool of
other highly qualified
aspirants. As humans,
officials are bound to have
preferences, but we’re insistent that even in
seeking to do family and friends favour, the
process must accommodate the feelings of the
other aspirants; thus necessitating that the
process must not only be credible, but also
acceptable to a wide spectrum of critical
stakeholders.
So, how does the APC Patriots intend
to achieve its lofty goal of winning the
Anambra gubernatorial election?
First, the steering committee of the Patriots
began with a face to face interaction with the
aspirants. With that concluded, we are taking
the message down to the South east; to
Anambra.
Already, we have outlined a schedule of
activities that will lead up to the primaries
sometime in June. Beginning with courtesy
visits to the governors of Imo and Anambra
states, other leaders such as Ngige, Sharon
Ikeazor and top national leaders of our party,
we are going to spend the month of April
engaging with the party members across the
board.

PAGE 10—SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 18, 2021
Will igbo presidential candidates
start reaching out?
“They came forth to war; but,
they always fell” - James
Macpherson,
J
1736-1796.
ames Macpherson was
the father of Sir John
Macpherson - the second to
the last Governor General of
Nigeria. His observation
about groups which
perpetually engage in losing
battles because they fail to
alter their approach is
important as Igbo face a new
engagement. I found the book
from which the statement was
lifted very illuminating. It is
also pertinent to the latest
quest for Igbo Presidency in
2023—which I totally
endorse. It needs to be
repeated that from the time the
late Dr Alex Ekwueme was
schemed out of the Presidency
by the military on their way
out in 1998, no Igbo
candidate has had a chance.
Other Nigerians had been
responsible; so have the
Ndigbo.
Many of our readers would
recall the loud noise for Igbo
Presidency coming from
former Abia State Governor
– Orji Uzor Kalu – from 1999
until 2002. A visit from the late
Stella Obasanjo to Kalu’s
mother was all it took for Kalu
to switch. When Ekwueme
tried his luck again in the
Peoples Democratic Party’s
primary, Abia State’s
delegation, led by Kalu, was
the first to vote against him. I
mention this event not to
embarrass Kalu but to point
out that Igbo Presidential
candidates need the total
support of their people first;
and then, they must reach out
to the rest of us. Total Igbo vote
will not secure victory as the
almost total support of the
Email:biolasobowale@yahoo.com
Phone Number: 07081372829
Twitter:@DrDeleSobowale
Instagram:delesobowalefranklyspeaking
Website: www.delesobowale.com
South-East for Jonathan have
demonstrated in 2015 and
2019.
Unfortunately, with less
than two years to go for the
2023 elections, there is very
little sign of the outreach.
Starting today, any candidate
who does not begin the tough
task of building structures in
the 36 states, 774 Local
Government Councils and
about 6023 Wards nationwide
is placing himself at a
competitive disadvantage.
Yet, for strategic reasons which
I don’t want to disclose, Igbo
candidates are better
positioned to achieve that
breakthrough than even my
brother in Yorubaland who is
now assumed to be a
candidate. They can make
waves at the grassroots which
will surprise their opponents.
I obtained this insight from
living and working in the four
corners of Nigeria; and from
travels to at least 30 states over
a span of thirty-five years. But,
since it was my stated personal
policy not to get involved in
politics, there was no
opportunity to deploy the
strategy in favour of any
Presidential candidate.
Apart from getting out and
meeting with others, they must
be sensitive to those non-Igbo
who are sympathetic to their
cause and promote the
interest from passive to active
support. Permit me to give an
example. I was in the
Adamawa Governor’s House
in late 2006, paying him a
courtesy call and requesting
for assistance to get to Gembu
at the Manbilla Plateau when
former Akwa Ibom Governor
was ushered in by security
men. Victor Attah was still a
candidate for
President. In his
entourage were six
people known to me.
They were Yoruba,
Igbo, Fulani, Berom
and Tiv. He also
recruited one person
well-known from
among the ethnic
groups in the state.
After the Governor, he was
going to pay a courtesy call
on the Lamido. But, Attah was
astute enough to know that he
could not go there with all
Ibibio entourage. He wanted
to be the Nigerian President;
he had to start with the
composition of his campaign
team. It must be national.
The reason for the call for a
Since I started the
campaign for Igbo
Presidency 2023,
several friends from
other ethnic groups
have challenged me to
name an Igbo
candidate
blended campaign team
should be self-evident. But,
just in case, one trending event
should help to drive the point
home. When a Yoruba
political leader and possible
Presidential candidate
unfolded part of his manifesto
by promising to create 50
million jobs for youths, later
changed to 5 million jobs, an
Igbo candidate can deploy his
Yoruba team member to send
a more scathing rejoinder
without being accused of
tribalism. Another candidate
from the North Central is also
in the race. One of his brothers
could ask him to forget it –
and receive the flak that will
necessarily result from the
call. The non-Igbo members
will constitute the “shock
absorbers” from the rivals’
attacks.
In that connection, I must
register a personal complaint.
Ever since I started the
campaign for Igbo Presidency
2023, several friends from
other ethnic groups have
challenged me to name an
Igbo candidate and tell
Nigerians why they should
consider the candidate. I
started with Okonjo-Iweala –
who is now out of the race.
Then a long time
acquaintance announced his
interest. Anxious to promote
him, I scrapped the article
scheduled for the Sunday after
his declaration of interest.
Instead, the article was about
the candidate. A few of our
colleagues at Oregun, still
alive and reading SUNDAY
VANGUARD, called me to
express appreciation for
supporting our friend. Till
today, I have not heard from
the candidate; who it was my
intention to help establish his
national communication
network. I don’t know why.
But, it is my fervent hope that
ethnicity had nothing to do
with it. And that brings me to
my second piece of advice to
all candidates. Grasp all the
hands stretched to help you;
but evaluate their worth
carefully. No candidate alone
can make it – even with all the
money.
Ohaneze also has a role to
play here. One Igbo friend
asked me two weeks ago if I
had given up on Igbo
Presidency advocacy. It was a
long time I wrote about it; he
correctly observed. I told him,
“No, but it is either Igbo
candidates don’t need help
from other parts of the country
or the leaders of Ohaneze have
not been reading SUNDAY
VANGUARD. Like my friend,
I have not heard a word from
them.” He was shocked.
Professor George Obiozor
does not know the sort of
pressure people like me
experience for breaking ranks
when our own people are in
the race. The easiest and most
profitable step to take is to
“return home” (as I was told)
and join the biggest gravy
train in the zone. But, I have
long lived with the principle
that a man must stand for
something or he will fall for
anything. There is a lot of
work to do; and I have a plan…
G O V E R N O R
MATAWALE’S HOUSE IS
ON FIRE; HE WANTS TO
BURN NIGERIA
“Bandits killed 2,619;
collected N970m ransom;
30,000 bandits in Zamfara
forests, five other locations…”
- Governor Matawalle, April
3, 2021.
Governor Matawalle and
Sheik Gumi are the two
leading “Devilfathers” (leave
God out of this sordid
business) of bandits and
kidnappers in the North. The
Governor, against wise
counsel, continues to
negotiate with and pay
bandits and kidnappers from
revenue contributed mostly by
Southern states. Gumi pleads
for amnesty for the heinous
criminals, without saying a
word on behalf of the victims.
Yet, this is a Muslim cleric who
would readily approve
amputating a man who steals
a goat according to Sharia
law. He, in my opinion, is
worshipping Satan and not
the God of the Holy Prophet
Mohammed (Peace be unto
Him). The tag team –
Matawalle and Gumi – had
promoted banditry to a
profession deserving National
Honours. They call it amnesty.
Take a look at those figures
provided by Matawalle
again. They should reveal
some truths to you. But, in case
you can’t figure them out
yourself, we at UniJankara
will help you out. To begin
with N970 million would
probably pay all the public
servants in Zamfara State for
a month. Instead of paying the
workers, the Governor is
carrying their money to the
forests to donate to bandits.
And the payment to bandits is
yielding the appropriate
dividends. Matawalle himself
provided the figures for his
own self-indictment.
“30,000 bandits in Zamfara
forests” was his claim to
cement his position among
those Nigerians anywhere
should not have leading them.
This is worse than the
proverbial case of “the blind
leading the blind”. It is more
like a totally drunk and manic
driver behind the wheels of a
luxury bus full of people with
“99 standing”. To understand
the basis for my charges
against the Governor the
reader must bear certain facts
in mind.
“Even God cannot change
the past” - Agathon, 447-401
BC.
Anybody who doubts me
can go and read all the
newspapers before May 29,
2019; when Matawalle
became Zamfara Governor.
He would not read about 500
being killed during the years
in office of all his
predecessors. Former
Governor Yari might have
spent more time in Abuja and
abroad than in Gusau, but he
did not spend his time driving
bullion vans to deliver money
to hardened criminals. That
was Matawalle’s innovation.
In two years, despite the
Governor running errands for
heartless brutes, more people
have lost their lives than under
all his predecessors combined
since Zamfara State was
created in 1996. The man has
a lot of blood on his hands.
GHOST BANDITS OF
ZAMFARA
That, however, is only part
of the charges against him. He
is not even truthful. During my
years in the North, especially
Sokoto, I had the opportunity
to travel to all parts of what
became Zamfara State. There
are very few forests during the
rainy season; there is virtually
none during the dry season
lasting up to six months. Right
now, there is hardly any forest
in any part of the state. So,
where are 30,000 bandits
hiding?
Since it is no longer news
that virtually every state of
Nigeria employs ghost
workers, is it not possible that
somebody might have
inflated the number of bandits
– ghost bandits that is – in
order to claim more funds
from the government purse to
pay them? I cannot afford to
hire a helicopter; but, I can bet
anything that if anybody can
provide one for surveillance,
we will not find forests capable
of harbouring 30,000 bandits.
That is bad enough.
If we accept Matawalle’s
statement as the truth, then he
must be charged with another
offense bordering on treason.
Anybody who knows the
number of bandits in a state
and their locations in “ghost”
forests, and who has failed to
reveal the information to the
Nigerian armed forces is
giving aid and comfort to the
enemies of Nigeria.
Joyfulhomes
2015@gmail.com
Specific prayer, get the
Lord’s attention
Brethren, we are still in the
season of the power of
resurrection that indeed never
ends.
Why am I sure it never ends?
It is because as Christians we
know that Jesus is alive forever.
One of the factors that lift
our faith is when we receive
answers to our prayers. Often
times, we never asked God for
how He should respond to our
requests but because He is the
Almighty, the Lord responds in
most cases miraculously.
His response is always
beyond our imagination.
As Christians, we know that
prayer is a channel of
communication with God.
We must communicate with
the Lord when in need and
when not in need. God is
worthy to the praised at all
times. Brethren, the issue
sometimes is not how often
you pray but what you pray
for and how.
Have you ever asked
yourself, “ Is what I am asking
in line with the word of God?
Imagine a young lady who is
under pressure from her inlaws
because of delay in childbearing
asking God to kill her
mother in-law so that she can
be free from pressure. Such a
person is definitely not asking
in line with the word of God.
Even in cases, where it has
been divinely revealed that
this wicked mother in law or
any other person or forces of
darkness is behind her
challenge, to begin to pray for
their demise is a confirmation
that the person praying has
lost focus.
When thoughts like this flow
in our minds, we should
rather remember Proverbs 10
vs. 32 : ( KJV) “ The lips of the
righteous know what is
acceptable: but the mouth of
the wicked speaketh
forwardness”. Is you mouth
saying what is acceptable?
Thoughts such as these are
also an indication that the
Holy Spirit of God does not
guide such a person.
Brother and sister, when
One thing is
certain; God does
not and cannot lie
situations like this arise; the
strength of your faith is that
you remain focused. Be
determined with prayer to put
the enemy to shame. Either
they live to see the glory of the
Lord in your life or they are
dead should not be your
concern. Your challenge is the
Lord’s battle, hand it over to
him with prayer and
thanksgiving.
It is also the time for couples
to be closer. The moment,
you begin to pray for death
for your in-laws or whoever is
behind your challenge, you
are putting a wedge in
marriage. You may end up
driving your spouse into the
hands of the enemy. Men
also have this type of
challenge.
The Bible presents us with
an example in the life of
Hannah. Ist Samuel vs. 11 is
our authority: “ And she
vowed a vow, and said, O
LORD of hosts, if thou wilt
indeed look on the affliction
of thine handmaid, and
remember me, and not forget
thine handmaid, but will give
unto thine hand-maid a man
child, then I will give him unto
the LORD all the days of his
life and there shall no razor
come upon his head”.
Please not that Hannah
asked for a son. Hannah had
both spiritual and physical
challenges. You are familiar
with the story that Elkanah
had two wives, Hannah and
Peninnah.
The two challenges of
Hannah are identified in 1st
Samuel 1 vs. 6: “ And her
adversary also provoked her
sore, for to make her fret,
because the LORD had shut
her womb”.
In most cases, when we are
going through challenges,
there are adversaries. People
who would rather want you
remain with a challenge
forever. Often times they are
blood relations but mark you,
the Blood of Jesus is superior
to any blood relationship.
This is why you must remain
connected with the Lord in
prayer, worship and
thanksgiving. The more you
do this, the grater your
testimony in Jesus name.
When we pray, we must also
believe the word of God that
is spoken through a Pastor.
Either as a word of
knowledge, word of wisdom
or direct prophecy.
Once you are convinced that
it is the word of the God, the
true God, believe it and hold
on to it even when it seems
nothing is happening
physically.
The life of Abraham is a
good example for us and it is
found in Genesis 11 vs. 7:
“ And the Lord appeared
unto Abram and said, Unto
they seed will I give this land:
and there builded he an altar
unto the LORD who appeared
unto him”.
At this time, Sarah was not
pregnant. Physically
speaking, she could not
longer have a child because
menopause had set it. Even
Abram was quite old yet he
believed God.
In spite of what could be
physically seen, Abram
honoured the LORD by
building an Altar.
If it were you and I, we are
unlikely to fully believe God.
So, for anyone trusting the
Lord, you must totally hold on
to his promise for you.
One thing is certain; God
does not and cannot lie. The
Holy Bible affirms this to us
as Christians.
I’ll share with you the story
of a couple that were married
and had no child for years.
They were declared medically
fit, put in a lot of money
consulting doctors but
nothing happened.
They then resorted to
prayers, praise singing and
thanksgiving. They
contributed generously to the
work of God. During one of
such prayers, it was revealed
that the mothers of the two of
them for different reasons
connected in the world of
darkness were behind their
challenge.
Rather, than quarrel with
each other they stuck together
and God broke the yoke.
The lady attended a prayer
meeting of a Pentecostal
church titled “ More than
Conquerors”. That night, she
had a dream in which she saw
two human beings faced
downwards. She didn’t
understand the dream. So she
called her Pastor who simply
told her that her enemies had
bowed to her God.
In the name of Jesus any
force, human beings or
demons tormenting your life
will bow to the power of the
Most High God. Not long
after, the wife got pregnant
and a baby was born. God
blessed them with a Samuel.
The occultist mothers did not
die; they lived to see the glory
of the Lord.
Both of them attended to the
naming ceremony and one
even gave the child a name
that shows the supremacy of
the Almighty God.
Brethren, if you are indeed
a child of God, if your worship
under a true Anointing, you
are on your way to your
breakthrough.
We are unable to overcome
many challenges as human
beings but where man is
limited, God is unlimited.
It is your season of Laughter
in Jesus name. Till next week
if the Lord tarries his coming.

SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 18, 2021,PAGE 11
Vaccine apathy threatens
COVID-19 response
...as experts
blame trust
deficit
By Chioma Obinna
For decades now, vaccination
programmes in Nigeria have been making
progress.
But the advent of COVID-19 vaccines may
be bringing back ugly years of vaccine
hesitancy which experts fear may erode
gains already made in routine
immunisation.
According to experts, vaccine hesitancy
is a continuum between vaccine
acceptance and refusal.
Eligible Nigerians are either delaying
or refusing COVID-19 vaccines, even after
the World Health Organisation, WHO,
has confirmed the safety and effectiveness
against the dreaded virus.
Sunday Vanguard reports that if left
unaddressed, vaccine hesitancy will not
only threaten COVID-19 response but
prevent Nigeria from achieving herd
immunity.
Despite the fact that COVID-19
vaccination has accelerated across
the country, many Nigerians are still
having reservations about the vaccines.
For Emeka Opara, his reservations about
being vaccinated against COVID-19 may
not change in a hurry.
Like many other Nigerians, Emeka is
concerned about the side effects of the
AstraZeneca vaccine as reported in some
parts of the world even when Nigeria is yet
to record any serious side effects since it
rolled out.
Unlike Emeka, Juliana Adebayo, a
caterer, was ready to accept the vaccine but
her aged mother had warned her never to
do so.
The mother is among Nigerians who
believe that the vaccine is one of the
strategies of Anti-Christ to deceive
Christians.
“My mother threatened to kill herself
should I take the vaccine. She said it is the
mark of 666. I also believe that if the vaccine
cannot protect me from getting COVID-19,
there was no need taking it. These are some
of the reservations that I have,” Juliana told
Sunday Vanguard.
Meanwhile, Grace Udoh, a banker
working in Lagos, initially believed in some
of the conspiracy theories but, today, she is
open to taking the vaccine after she saw
people who took the vaccine had no side
effects as reported abroad.
“Initially, I had reservations about the
vaccine but after I saw my friends taking it
and my doctor explained to me the benefits
of vaccines and why I need it to boost my
natural immunity, I decided to give it a shot.
Now, I have taken my first jab waiting for
the second one,” she proudly told Sunday
Vanguard.
Today, despite the efforts of the Federal
Government agencies and international
partners like UNICEF and WHO to create
awareness on the benefits of receiving
COVID-19 vaccines, millions of Nigerians
are still hesitant.
This is no thanks to the conspiracy theories
around the pandemic and vaccines.
The myths and falsehood that had been
propagated overtime about the aftermath
of taking the vaccine had worsened the
situation in communities across the country.
From Lagos to the end of the last
community in the insurgency inflicted
Borno State, the story is the same:
Nigerians are still hesitant to the vaccine.
Some are yet to believe in the virus talk.
What of the vaccines?
Findings by Sunday Vanguard show that
some Nigerians currently opening up for
the vaccination are only moved by the
intention to own the COVID-
19 card to avoid being
restricted from international
travels in the future.
A visit by Sunday Vanguard
to some of the vaccination
centers in Lagos confirmed
that the numbers of would-be
vaccinators are gradually
picking up although many
residents are still hesitant to
the life-saving vaccine.
Experts insist that unless
Nigerians open up for
vaccination, the country may
not achieve herd immunity
which the experts say has far
reaching implications on the
health and economy of
Nigeria.
Globally, experts say about
900million persons have
received the COVID-19
vaccine.
Although, the level of response and
acceptance of the vaccine across the globe
has been encouraging, the case is different
in Nigeria.
An update released by the National
Primary Health Care Development Agency,
NPHCDA, on Wednesday, showed that
only1, 043, 737 eligible Nigerians have so
far been vaccinated with the first dose,
representing 51.9 per cent of the proportion
vaccinated.
A breakdown of the NPHCDA update,
contained in an Electronic Management
of Immunisation Data System, further
revealed that Lagos is leading in the exercise
with 192, 061 persons vaccinated.
Three other states trailing Lagos are Kano
Most Nigerians
do not think they
have need for the
vaccine. A good
number of them
would even tell
you that they rather
have need for food
vaccine instead
56,942; Kaduna, 55,604 and Ogun, 52,513.
Other states that have recorded 5-digit
figures in the exercise are FCT, 44,098;
Katsina, 39,297; Bauchi, 35,764; Oyo,
34,755; Ondo, 31,348;
Kwara, 30,708; Jigawa, 27,644; Plateau,
27,334; Edo, 27,129; Gombe, 26,807; Niger,
26,659; Rivers, 26,572; Ekiti, 22, 735; Yobe,
21, 030; Benue, 20,981; Osun, 20,869;
Borno, 20,737; Delta, 20,525; Imo, 18,763;
Adamawa, 18,612; Nasarawa, 16,860;
Kebbi, 15,531; Zamfara, 15,251; Cross
River, 14,483; Sokoto, 11,560; Akwa Ibom,
11,350; Enugu, 11,018; Bayelsa, 10, 487.
In the league of 4-digits are Anambra,
9,989; Ebonyi, 8,534; Taraba, 7,538; Abia
and Kogi recorded 6,081 and 5,568
respectively.
On the reservations by many Nigerians
against the vaccine, experts insist that it is
safe.
According to the Communication for
Development Specialist, United Nations
Children’s Fund, UNICEF, Ms. Elizabeth
Onitolo, vaccine is to ensure
that while the virus is
running its course, people
don’t die, hence, the need for
everybody to take the
vaccine to get the required
herd immunity.
To her, refusal of many
Nigerians to vaccinate
against COVID-19 would
prevent Nigeria from
achieving herd immunity.
“For Nigeria to get out of
the pandemic, everyone
must be involved,” she
insisted.
Onitolo, who spoke during
a three-day Media Dialogue
on Routine Immunisation,
Post-Polio Certification and
COVID-19 Vaccination,
explained that of the three
main types of COVID-19
vaccines in phase three clinical trials, viral
vector vaccines produce coronavirus
proteins to safely generate an immune
response that cannot give COVID-19.
Throwing light on vaccines, she said RNA
and DNA vaccines prompt human bodies
to recognise and protect them from the virus
that causes COVID-19.
Noting that there are currently more than
200 vaccine candidates (56 in clinical and
166 in pre-clinical development) under
development, Onitolo stated that getting
vaccinated was one of the many steps people
can take to protect themselves and others
from COVID-19.
According to her, stopping a pandemic
requires using all the tools available.
“Vaccines work with your immune system
so your body will be ready to fight the virus
if you are exposed. Masks, hand wash and
social distancing help reduce your chance
of being exposed to the virus or spreading
it to others. Together the two offer the best
protection”, the UNICEF official said.
She added that widespread use of vaccine
can reduce rate of spread in the community
and reduce chances of a new variant as well
as reduce the chances of lockdown.
Corroborating her views in a chat with
Sunday Vanguard, a renowned Medical
Laboratory Scientist, Dr Casmier Ifeanyi,
said despite the fact that Nigeria has
vaccinated about one million persons, there
is worrisome vaccine apathy in the country,
adding that “it is a big challenge with far
reaching implications.”
He blamed vaccine hesitancy on factors
including trust deficit and alleged want of
transparency in the COVID-19 response
activity by government at all levels.
Ifeanyi said: “Some states including the
Federal Capital Territory reportedly
expended billions of Naira that didn’t
impact very much on the ordinary citizens
during the first wave of COVID-19
pandemic last year.
“So, when the vaccine became available,
many people, except the traveling elites and
members of the front line healthcare
workers, were not eager to take the
vaccine.”
Acknowledging that Nigeria does not
have enough of the vaccine, he, nonetheless,
said the country cannot afford to overlook
vaccine apathy by Nigerians.
“Most states in Nigeria including Kogi
have received allocations of the COVID-
19 vaccine with varying responses but
overall people are not enthusiastic about
taking the vaccine”, the expert stated.
He pointed out that the implication of
vaccine apathy in a globalised world on
health and the economy for Nigeria would
be very upsetting.
“At the moment, there is concourse by
many countries and regional blocs to
deploy and implement the vaccine visa and
this will negatively impact non-compliance
persons and countries”, Ifeanyi pointed
out.
“Non-compliant persons and countries
may not be able to engage in international
travels for trade and other sundry
endeavours.”
He warned that Nigerians continued
attitude of apathy to the COVID-19 vaccine
would do the country harm to the tune of
becoming ostracized from the global
economic interplay.
According to him, government and
Nigerians need to do whatever that is
required to ensure that the country is not
ostracized.
To forestall the negative implications of
non-compliance, Ifeanyi called for a
sustained aggressive constructive
engagement with the citizenry.
To appraise the enormity of the existing
apathy, he said: “Visit any market in
Nigeria and you would be shocked by the
responses given by members of the public
regarding their acceptance or otherwise of
the COVID-19 vaccine.
“It’s unfortunate that the general public
seems not interested in taking the COVID-
19 vaccine. Most Nigerians do not think
they have need for the vaccine. A good
number of them would even tell you that
they rather have need for food vaccine
instead.
“In the light of that, government,
especially those charged with the COVID-
19 response activities, must find ways of
incentivizing the campaign for the
vaccination.
“We must find a way of making it appeal
to our people, we may not need to be
draconian in approach but we can find
avenues to give incentives, we can also find
programs that we would use to motivate
people to embrace the COVID-19 vaccine.
“The world is gradually returning to
normalcy and it is expected that when a
significant number of the global population
is vaccinated, herd immunity would have
been established.
“So, if vaccination becomes a
prerequisite for you to travel, for you to
move from country to country then
Nigerians must be up to par.”
He stressed the need for more public
education and enlightenment on the
benefits or the advantages of being
vaccinated to get Nigerians interested.
“People should be told the truth about the
COVID-19 vaccine so that they know that
if you take the jab there are benefits”, the
expert said.

PAGE 12 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 18, 2021
I can’t quit acting
because of any man
—Destiny Etiko
nugu-based voluptuous high-profile
ENollywood actress, Destiny Etiko is
unquestionably in love with acting and living her
best life. For any man who may want to seek her hand in
marriage, Destiny has a word of caution for the suitor.
“Before I started acting, I’ve always said I will never
work for anyone, but rather be independent doing my own
thing. I read marketing. Acting is something I love and
I’m passionate about. So, whoever I’m falling in love with
or having a relationship with should understand that I
love acting and that I’ve been doing it before we met”, she
stated in a chat with Potpourri
“I’ll have to look for an understanding man. Probably,
there has to be an understanding that there are some
roles I shouldn’t do, like smooching, kissing,
caressing and all. I would agree to that because I
love him and want to keep him. He shouldn’t stop
me from doing what makes me happy. Most
people who are married and still into acting are
not doing it for the money, but because of the
love and passion they have for it. So, the man
has to understand, I can’t ask him to quit his
job”.
My fashion style different
from my lifestyle
—Vicvtoria Kimani
F
ormer Chocolate City singer, Kenyan Victoria
Kimani has a huge following on Instagram which
may have resulted from both her talent and style.
Her style, which is a staple for many on the social
media has been widely described as “weird”
but the singer has defended herself that her
style is not the true definition of her lifestyle
“My fashion is different from my
lifestyle. My fashion might be weird and
crazy but that is not my lifestyle. I think
I live a very disciplined and focused
life. I wake up in the morning, walk
out, cook my own food and go to
the studio and do whatever I want
to do. I live a very normal and
simple life. I don’t really have a
party lifestyle, I don’t club much. I
think I need to keep working harder
because at the end of the day, I want
to be found backing my parents up
in whatever they are doing. And to
do that, I need to have capital; I
need to have money coming in for
myself,” she had said in an
interview with Potpourri
I have never been dark
—Mimi Orjiekwe
potlessly beautiful
SNollywood actress,
Mimi Orjiekwe may
have answered the
question many
Nollywood actresses
have had to bear at one
point or the other as
many of them have been
accused of bleaching
their skin.
Mimi, who is into
beauty and skincare
products and who
appears to be the ‘usual
suspect’ stood firm in her
response to Potpourri’s
question on the matter.
“I’ve never really been
dark if you go through my
pictures, but I know that
normally in life, when
you adjust and you rest
igerian singer and
Nsongwriter, Phlex has
adopted a new name known as
Phlexdenary.
While some of his fans are
raising questions about his
decision to change his name, the
hit maker who is preparing to
release a new song titled
‘Flavor’ and an EP said he
remains committed to the music
that endeared him to his fans
from day one and he would not
stop.
Phlexdenary who has been
experimenting on his creative
process lately hinted that he’s
more and you stay more
under the AC and sun
doesn’t hit you, you
can’t compare your
complexion to when
you were still in
school and you
played a lot under
the sun. I’ve never
been a dark person,”
she said,
Mimi Orjiekwe
launched a makeup
line in 2018
christened
‘Flawless By
Mimi’ and has
since gone to
represent some
beauty brands on
account of her
spotless skin and
youthful beauty.
Phlex adopts new name, Phlexdenary,
speaks on new single, EP
expanding his sonic
palette with excitingly
distinct sounds and
adapting to the
increased recording
independence resulting
from his acquired fresh
tech skills.
“Just wait till you hear
the EP”, he said out of
excitement.
He said he hopes this leads
him to the ears and playlists of
music lovers in Nigeria, saying
he remains sold out to his dream.
He said, “music and I are
inseparable.”
•Destiny Etiko
•Victoria Kimani
•Mimi
Orjiekwe
‘LUGARD’ Movie Featuring Gabriel
Afola
olayan, an, Kehinde Bankole, set for
August 27 cinema date
3
•Phlex
Knights Film Production in conjunction with B5Films and
Monomania Entertainment is finally set to release one of
Nollywood’s most anticipated film of the year, Lugard in
cinemas on August 27, 2021.
LUGARD, the movie, tells the intriguing story of an
intelligent new entry university student who was
initiated into cultism due to his intimidating brain
power. After his first assignment which led to the
death of a rival confraternity leader, Lugard’s life
became hunted.
The movie which was shot with exceptional
performance featured top Nollywood stars such
as Gabriel Afolayan, Kehinde Bankole, Adeniyi
Johnson, Hafiz ‘Saka’ Oyetoro, Debo ‘Mr
Macaroni’ Adebayo, Omowunmi Dada, Zack
Orji, Norbert Young, Laduba Quadri Qidad, Kalu
Ikeagwu, Tunji Adeyemo and the likes.
The heavily performance-driven movie was
directed by one of Nigeria’s top directors, Tunde
Olaoye and written by Laduba Quadri Qidad and
Segun Akejeje.
Honeymoon Palava:
Yvonne Jegede lauds
Deyemi Okanlawon
for near-nude scene
ollywood star actress Yvonne Jegede has
Ncommended actor Deyemi Okanlawon for
his bravery and commitment to art as he went
all out in the upcoming Nollywood movie
titled Honeymoon Palava set to hit the
cinemas from April 30, 2021.
Last week, a clip surfaced online where Deyemi
came out of the bathroom naked while acting a
scene alongside Yvonne Jegede and Adebola
Adeyela (Lizzy Jay) in Honeymoon Palava.
The video generated reactions with some
people saying Deyemi went too far as a
married man.
Yvonne said in a statement that the
reaction the almost naked footage has
caused is unnecessary as Deyemi was just
acting.
‘Deyemi is an actor. He interprets roles.
He is acting coming out of the bathroom
after a warm bath, do people expect him to
come out fully kitted? This is a movie, it is
make-believe. He is acting and committed
to his arts. Art is real, so acting should be
closed to reality. I will instead commend
him for being a very good actor and a good
professional’. Honeymoon Palava
features Ufuoma Mcdermott, Prince Jide
Kosoko, Lateef Adedimeji, Bimbo Thomas,
Nkechi Blessing Sunday, Bianca Ugowanne,
Omilani Olayinka, Taiwo Adeyemi, Semilore
Adewumi and a host of other amazing acts. The
movie was written by Bob Saviour with Idowu
Adedapo as the Director of Photography (DOP).
Sunny Neji,
Gangali, Ohio join
MCSN’s board
Showbiz cum business personalities, Sunny
Neji, Fapohunda Asha Gangali and
Matthew Ohio have been appointed to the board
of Musical Copyright Society Nigeria (MCSN).
At its meeting held on March 18, 2021, the
MCSN’s General Council received, considered
and unanimously approved the nominations of
the music impresarios as members of the
collecting society’s board of directors.
The appointment of Sunny Neji and
Asha Gangali follows MCSN’s
agreement with the Performing
Musicians’ Employers’ Association of
Nigeria (PMAN), which provides that the
music body would have two seats on the
board of MCSN. On the other hand, the
appointment of Matthew Ohio was based
on his wide interest and representations
in the music industry upon which MCSN
would leverage to increase the quality and
quantity of its membership and huge
repertoire.
While announcing the appointments, the
Managing Director, MCSN, Mayo Ayilaran
said it signifies the bringing on deck more hands
to work for the building of the required structures
for the music industry, as well as strengthening
the capacity of the collective management of
copyright in Nigeria.
•Kehinde
Bankole
•Deyemi
and Yvonne
•Sunny Nneji

SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 18, 2021, PAGE 13
•Omosuwa Bukola
•Omosuwa
Bukola
I get turned on when
my man smells nice
—Omosuwa Bukola
Beautiful Nollywood actress, Omosuwa
Bukola has made a name for herself in
the industry as “Omoge Ikale” after her
first self-produced movie titled “ Omo Oko
Ikale” hit pay dirt. She has a degree in Home
Economics” from College of Education,
Benin-City and also a B.Sc degree in
Entrepreneurship and Business Management
from the National Open University, Akure Study
Centre.
The fast-rising beauty from Ondo State who
started acting professionally in 2016 has featured
in many great movies like Omo Meji, Akebaje,
Olowo Idan series, Iseoluwa, Firekanmi, Ibudo Aje,
Japa, Ooya Ife, Wemimo, Egungun Gbigbe, Kayo,
14 Days amongst many others. She has produced
two films, namely; Omo Oko Ikale and Ipinnu.
In this interview she bares it all, on her life, the
industry and other issues.
Challenges
As an upcoming actor, I had a lot of
challenges back then.When I started I felt
Intimidated, I used to be a shy kind of person
but I thank God today all this has brought
out my real self and I’m no longer camera
shy. My self-confidence has greatly
improved and nothing really fazes me any
more. Every career has its own high and
low points, sometimes your works are
accepted and sometimes they are not but
in all I have learnt to always keep my head
high no matter what and always believe I
can do it. I snap out easily from past events
and move on as if it never happened. I try as
much I can to keep away negative vibes, I
am positive in all that I do.
Sex, marriage and relationship
To my own understanding, sex does not
have to get boring in the long-term in a
marriage. As years go by and you get older,
your intimate relationship should get better. Sex with your
partner can become more satisfying because you know
each other’s likes, dislikes, habits, and preferences.
On being sexy
Every woman needs to look sexy, radiant, captivating,
charming, gorgeous and outstanding. From my own
perception it means taking good care of oneself, your
dressing, your looks and the way you carry yourself around
because you will be addressed the way you are dressed. In
my opinion I don’t support the idea of a woman flaunting
her endowment. I hate indecent dressing.
Turn-on and turn-off
I easily get turned off by an opposite sex who can’t take
good care of himself. Things that turn me off include poorly
maintained teeth stained with cigarette smoke, general
tardiness, unfaithfulness, jealousy and nagging.
I get turned on when he smells nice, clean shaven, open
minded, honest, humourous, humble and matured.
Selling points
My banging body, sexy nose and pretty face. Yes! Aside
from the talent God has bestowed on me, I’m privileged to
also have a very pretty face and sexy body a lot of filmmakers
are on the lookout for. Everyone wants a new face
on the poster but a pretty one that is sell-able. And I can
boldly say it has also helped my career.
Heartbreaks
As a matter of fact I’ve had several heart breaks and they
weren’t good at all. I remembered dating a guy I loved so
much, even though he had a positive impact in my life that
I wouldn’t forget in a hurry, he shattered my heart into
pieces. I could remember a day I walked into his house and
I met a lady he was also dating there. I was literally
shivering, and he begged me to leave that day. It took a
very long time before I could get over it but eventually with
the help of people around me I got over him. That is why it
is advisable to be surrounded with positive minded people
and friends because you’ll certainly need them at your
lowest moments.
Angel Ufuoma’s talk show, , The
Angel’s No Filters Show debuts
awyer, award-winning actress and movie producer,
LAngel Ufuoma is set to hit the Nigerian
entertainment space with her brand new talk show
christened, The Angel’s No Filters Show.
Speaking, the indigene of Delta State said: “I am
so excited. This is my dream come true and I am
glad that after so many years, it has come to
fruition. The Angel’s No Filters Show is a talk
show which aims to present and project positive
view points of cultural and business development
in Africa and create opportunities by proffering
solutions to critical issues and challenges in
Nigeria particularly in the creative industry.
“Angel’s No Filters Show is an engaging talk
show involving several entertainment celebrities
including Uru Eke, Shirley Igwe, Jimmy Odukoya
and Ifeanyi Kalu among a host of others airing
their opinion on critical Nigerian
entertainment issues; as well as bastions of
the Nigerian business community proffering
solutions to major economic and political
issues.”
Angel added that the show will
showcase the Nigerian business
community, major cultural
institutions and celebrities in the
film, music, fashion and culinary
arts industries.
Angel Ufuoma is an
entertainment producer, TV
Personality, actress and a
lawyer. Following in the
footsteps of her thespian
mother, Nollywood veteran,
Princess Tina Amuziam, she
has produced several
entertainment projects and
starred in top Nollywood
global productions including
Tony Abulu’s Doctor Bello. She
produced the Nigerian
blockbusters, Superstar,
Spellbound among other
titles all featuring A-list
Nigerian actors.8u
•Angel
Ufuoma
Royal Hugs Empire Surprises
celebrates es 6th Anniver
ersar
sary
ne of Nigeria’s Leading Surprise
O Celebration Company, Royal Hugs
Empire Surprises celebrated its 6th Anniversary
in Grand Style at the White Stone event center
Oregun on April 4, 2021.
Royal Hugs Empire Surprises which is solely owned
by serial entrepreneur, Toyin Oyesanya, is well known
for putting smiles on people’s faces on their birthdays,
anniversaries and other celebrations. They have worked
with thousands of notable Nigerians, businessmen,
Nigerian celebrities including, Tiwa Savage, Mercy
Aigbe, Iyabo Ojo, Toyin Abraham, Kolawole Ajewole Osas
Ajibade, Timi Dakolo, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, Mercy
Eke, Burna Boy, Adedimeji Lateef, AY and other prominent
dignitaries.
The glamourous event which was hosted
by Comedian Deeone and MC Ajele had in
attendance top Nigerian celebrities such as
Iyabo Ojo, Chinko Ekun, Adediwura Gold,
Bianca Ugowanne, Samuel Olatunji, Idris
Connecting Lagos, Nkechi Blessing, Aremu
Afolayan and was graced with amazing live
band performance from SB Live and Laolu
Gbenjo.
Speaking at the event, The CEO of Royal
Hugs Empire Surprises, Toyin said: “Today
is a day that means so much to me, The
devil did everything possible to make this
day sad for me but God took control. I
couldn’t celebrate our 5th Anniversary due
to the rapid increase in the Covid 19
pandemic this time last year but here we
are today. I am indeed overjoyed today
because putting smiles on people’s faces is
my utmost joy but today, people are here to
show me love and also put a smile on my
face. I am indeed grateful and do not take
this hospitality for granted. Thank you so
much to my friends, family and staff. Y’all
made this dream possible. I also want to
use this medium to implore you that this is
just the beginning for Royal Hugs Empire
Surprises, we are gonna take you all to the next level. This is
actually a double celebration which includes my birthday and the
anniversary. Stay Safe and Stay Beautiful.”
•Royal Hugs
Toyin Oyesanya

PAGE 14—SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 18, 2021
Nigeria’s Economy: What is
the truth?
The immediate
implication of a
chasm which public
information management
in Nigeria has successfully
created between the
government and the people
is that the country now has
two major debating groups.
The first group is made up
of those who adversely
criticize whatever President
Muhammadu Buhari does
or fails to do, while the
second group consists of
those who see no wrong
whatsoever in the activities
of Buhari’s government.
The two groups have
something in common
which is that most
Nigerians do not
understand either of them.
Perhaps because both
groups are unaware of this
situation, they have
continued to seize every
opportunity to eloquently
disagree with one another
on every subject so as to
convince us that they have
good points either way. So,
when Edo state governor
Godwin Obaseki last week
painted a frightening
picture but which looks like
a true story of the
precarious Nigerian
economy, the resultant huge
war of words between the
pro and anti-Buhari
crusaders especially the
non-state actors could not
have surprised any analyst
who has followed street
debates in the country.
As if to sensitize people on
the state of the nation’s
economy, Obaseki had
raised an alarm that our
finances have gone so low
that last month,government
had to print more money
for states to share to meet
their obligations. This was
unacceptable to some
people who decided to react
to the allegation. First, was
an unsigned statement that
government was unaware of
any printing of money as
alleged. One comedian
immediately tweeted that
“the man didn’t say you
were aware, he said you
printed.”The second
reaction described the
governor’s alarm as a lie
while the third educated us
on the correct terminology
for what happened -
lending, not printing.
Painfully, what should be of
concern to us has been
buried by the controversy.
The fact that what was
shared was a form of loan
seems to establish that
there was not enough to
share. Whether the extra
that was borrowed was
printed or conjured by a
magician cannot
controvert the fact that
Nigeria is hugely broke. If
such truth must be told to
put our status in correct
perspective, then Obaseki’s
alarm can hardly be wished
away especially if his entire
statement and not just
theexcerpt on printing is
read in full.
Indeed, there are vital
parts of the statement that
have been ignored. For the
benefit of those who may
not have read Obaseki’s
statement, here is a crucial
aspect that ought not to be
d o w n p l a y e d o r
discountenanced.
According to the governor,
“everywhere else,
governments rely on the
people to produce taxes and
that is what they use to run
the local government, state
and the federation. But with
the way we run Nigeria, the
country can go to sleep. At
the end of the month, we just
go to Abuja, collect money
and we come back to spend.
We are in trouble, huge
financial trouble. The
current price of crude oil is
only a mirage. The major oil
companies who are the ones
producing are no longer
investing much in oil. Shell
is pulling out of Nigeria and
Chevron is now one of the
world’s largest investors in
alternative fuel, so in
another year or so, where
will we find this money that
we go to share in Abuja?”
This quotation is no doubt a
veritable wake-up call for us
all to rise to the occasion and
change our spending habit.
This is more so when the
governor also clearly stated
that it would be unfair for
Nigerians to expect one
man – Buhari, to be left
alone to face the enormous
problems. In other words,
the governor’s statement
created no room for claims
and counter claims
amongst politicians or
What displeases
Nigerians is not the
disclosure of the true
state of their nation’s
economy but the
transparent inequity
where at this critical
stage, some people still
enjoy wardrobe,
newspaper or other
forms of annoying
comfort while others
are dying
supporters.
It is also important to
make the point that this is
not the first time some of us
are getting confused about
the internal sources of
Nigeria’s colossal loans.
Last month, Mele Kyari,
Group Managing Director
of the Nigerian National
Petroleum Corporation
(NNPC) announced that his
corporation could no longer
bear the huge subsidy
payments of over N120
billion monthly subsidy for
Premium Motor Spirit
(PMS). The NNPC
according to Kyari has been
absorbing the cost
differential between the
actual and selling cost of the
product by recording it in its
financial books. Not many
understood the statement.
From which of its books does
NNPC get such huge sums
every month? If NNPC had
been paying all its funds into
the Federation Account as
legally expected what
magic does the Corporation
employ to accommodate
massive subsidy payments;
is it by merely writing the
amounts in its books?
Indeed, during the peak of
the Covid 19 pandemic,
there were certain expenses
which Nigeria was too broke
to accommodate and which
both the NNPC and the
Central Bank of Nigeria
(CBN), graciously accepted
to co-settle. Do these two
bodies have their own supply
of funds? Answers to a
question such as this may
illuminate the state of
Nigeria’s finances
Is Nigeria really in
financial trouble, if so, to
what extent? The latest
answer to this question was
given a few days ago by
Finance Minister Zainab
Ahmed who said “the
nation’s debt profile was still
within sustainable limit.”
The statement was quite
comforting on its face value
but the situation on ground
appears to counter it
because if we still have
capacity to borrow more,
why not go ahead and
resolve the numerous issues
waiting to be settled? From
basic economics we can
imagine that our current
inflation rate reflects a
decline in the purchasing
power of our naira which is
itself not available to many.
Only last week, the National
Bureau of Statistics
released her consumer price
index (CPI) for March 2021.
In
the report,inflation was
said to have risen to 18
percent in March
representing 0.82 percent
when compared to 17
percent recorded in
February. Similarly, food
inflation rose by 5.0 percent
to 23 percent in March from
22 percent in February. The
report is worth worrying
about especially as the
scarce funds available are
swallowed by personnel
costs across the nation. How
do we develop?
The body language of the
CBN governor, Godwin
Emefiele at the press
conference where he was
requested to react to
Obaseki’s comment,
showed he was visibly upset
that his sacrifices do not
appear appreciated. Of
course no responsible CBN
can watch her nation in
trouble without intervening.
Again, no one doubts that
our CBN has never been this
stressed in history. Governor
Emefiele must take solace in
the fact that he has been able
to withstand the vagaries of
the economic weather of
Nigeria in the last couple of
troublesome years. To say
that Nigeria is super broke
is not an indictment but
telling the truth about our
situation for general
enlightenment. One of the
advantages of educating
people on the true status of
our economy is that it can
have an effect on the
increasing demands by
different striking Nigerian
workers on all kinds of
expectations. What
displeases Nigerians is not
the disclosure of the true
state of their nation’s
economy but the
transparent inequity where
at this critical stage, some
people still enjoy wardrobe,
newspaper or other forms
of annoying comfort while
others are dying.
PhD,Department of
Philosophy,
Universityof Lagos
08116759758
opuruiche2000@gmail.com
On the alleged non-negotiability and
sacrosanctity of One Nigeria (4)
As I disclosed in our
discussion last Sunday,
Nigeria’s military
government and leaders of the
eastern region failed to make
inconvenient but necessary
concessions which probably
would have defused tensions
and prevented further
escalation. Unfortunately that
did not happen, and the
devastating avoidable civil
war was the end result of that
egregious failure.
Notwithstanding odious
attempts in certain quarters
to equalise blame for the
conflict or contrive a moral
equivalence between
Gowon’s chameleonic
attitude to the Aburi Accord
and Ojukwu’s single-minded
determination for its
undiluted implementation,
the heavier burden of
responsibility must be placed
at the feet of Gowon, his
hawkish advisers, and British
diplomats who always put
Britain’s strategic economic
interests above everything in
relating with Nigeria because
working in concert they
sabotaged the accord. No fairminded
person can fault the
insistence by Lt. Col.
Ojukwuthat “On Aburi we
stand.” In my opinion,
Gowon’s finagling and failure
to implement that agreement
is one of the greatest blunders
committed by a Nigerian
leader since the country was
created by British imperialists
in 1914.
Gong back a little bit into
history, it can be plausibly
argued that the fundamental
error by leading pioneer
southern politicians was their
misjudgement of the real
intentions of northern leaders
which prevented them from
considering seriously from the
very beginning when the
struggle for independence
gained traction the need for a
referendum across the regions
to determine whether Nigeria
should remain a single
country, reconfigured into a
confederation like Great
Britain or be divided into at
least four independent
nations. That costly oversight
was one of the reasons why
they missed the golden
opportunity of northern
procrastinations or
prevarications about self-rule
to compel Britain to partition
the country in a manner
similar to what happened in
India. Both Gowon and
Ojukwu believed in One
Nigeria but disagreed
seriously on the foundational
principles upon which the
country should be built. At the
Aburisummit Ojukwu had a
clear idea of how Nigeria
could be preserved as a single
political entity which he
formulated with following
propositions: “It better that we
move slightly apart and
survive. It is much worse that
we move closer and perish in
the collision.” On the other
handGowon was bereft of
clear ideas about how that
could be achieved, which
made him vulnerable to
Instead of endless
hair-splitting
arguments about
restructuring or
true federalism
focus should shift
to confederation
manipulation by northern
power mongers. Finally, it is
a serious mistake to think that
a stable nation can be built
on a foundation containing,
among other centrifugal
forces, nomadic migrant
muslim Fulani whose ruling
class believe that they are
ordained by Allah to rule,
together with the largely
republican acephalous Igbo
who are predominantly
christian and the Yoruba with
their unique blend of liberal
world outlook and monarchy.
The parliamentary system
inherited from Britain at
independence was fairly
successful in that the regions
enjoyed a considerable
degree of autonomy. But for
the fixation with One Nigeria
created by Britain,
regionalism should have
evolved or dovetailed into
confederation, the only single
political arrangement that
could beneficially sustain
Nigeria as a single political
entity while allowing the
confederating units to develop
to their full potentials
untrammelled. Now, as the
years inevitably roll by the
expressions “restructuring”
and “true federalism”
bandied about all over the
place by notorious wily
politicians and others have
become so misused and
distorted to the extent that
what they denote concretely
cannot be delineated
precisely. Consequently
instead of endless hairsplitting
arguments about
restructuring or true
federalism focus should shift
to confederation along the
lines of Great Britain since a
confederal arrangement,
aside from its obvious
advantages in a multiply
plural setting like Nigeria, is
more clearly definable and,
therefore, more actualisable.
At this point, some questions
should now be asked: must
there be a country called
Nigeria as created by Lugard
more than a century ago? Is it
really true that Nigeria’s unity
is non-negotiable and
sacrosanct? All things
considered, is Nigeria worth
preserving? Looked at
objectively, there is no good
reason why Nigeria should
continue to exist especially in
its present form. Knowing full
well the importance of
symbols in the political life of
human beings, it is
disappointing that since
independence Nigerian
leaders had not radically
modified the geopolitical
entity they inherited from
Britain in order to signal to
the world that they can chart
a new course positively
different from the one
bequeathed by the colonial
master. For instance retention
of the name ‘Nigeria’ shows
lack of historical imagination
and insight. In Africa names
matter a lot, which was why
leaders of former Gold Coast,
Northern Rhodesia, Southern
Rhodesia, Upper Volta and so
on changed the names they
inherited from European
colonisers to designations that
reflected their Africanness.
Additionally failure to think
beyond what British
colonialists envisaged for
Nigeria prevented leading
southern politicians from
realising the extreme
difficulty of creating a
cohesive and harmonious
nation with muslim
northerners whose dominant
worldview and values are so
different from what obtains in
the south as to leave very little
in common on which such a
nation can be founded. I have
made this point earlier, but it
bears repeating since the
ruling power blocks in
Nigeria and their lackeys are
still pretending that the
country is a united and
indivisible geopolitical
community. As long as
members of the northern
ruling elite who are
predominantly Fulani
muslims operating with the
hideous agenda of
Fulanisation and
Islamisation of the entire
country retain their
stranglehold on power
Nigeria will continue to lurch
from one ethno-religious and
political crisis to another. In
this connection the major
positive thing about Buhari’s
failing presidency is that his
unprecedented negative
triumphalist nepotism has
really opened peoples’ eyes by
exposing the colonialist
project of the Fulani militarycivilian
establishment. For
this group, southern Nigeria
must be subdued to pave way
for the establishment of
Nigeria as the homeland for
the Fulani in West Africa and
the Sahel, as explained by
Bala Mohammed, governor
of Bauchi State recently. The
differential policies on border
closure for the north and the
south; the bizarre visa-free
programme which has
allowed Fulani from other
countries to pour into Nigeria;
the absurd covert
encouragement of muslim
terrorists and bandits from the
north by the federal
government;taqiyyahimpregnated
handling of the
demand for restructuring by
the ruling party (APC); and
Buhari’s obdurate refusal to
address wisely agitations in
the south for selfdetermination
through
referendum – all this indicate
that the Fulani colonisation
programme of Alhaji
Ahmadu Bello has gained
momentum since Buhari
became president in 2015.
Extremely selfish and myopic
politicians, traditional rulers,
prominent businessmen and
professionals from the south
are either unaware of the
serious existential dangers
posed by Fulani colonialist
agenda unfolding before
their very eyes or are actively
helping Buhari and his foot
soldiers to entrench muslim
Fulani domination
nationwide. Sadly the Fulani
have no solid history of
creating an egalitarian
political system that could
beneficially serve as solid
foundation for its hegemonist
agenda in Nigeria. And
despite dominating political
leadership at the centre for
decades using decrees
andunitarist constitutions that
vested enormous powers and
resources on the federal
government, there is no
evidence that Fulani leaders
in general are astute
managers of human and
natural resources. It is tragic
that whenever a northern
Fulani muslim and a
southerner are available for
the highest political office, the
northerner with inferior
educational and intellectual
credentials
victorious.
Continues on
www.vanguardngr.com
Concluded
emerges

CENSUS:
We tried to stop
Nigeria from
counting ‘ghosts’
— Duruiheoma,
ex-NPC Chairman
•Says Jonathan, Buhari scuttled 2016 headcount
•‘Nation needs N280b, 36 months preparation’
By Nnamdi Ojiego
Chief Eze Duruiheoma, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, is
the immediate past Chairman of the National Population
Commission, NPC, the body saddled with the responsibility of
organizing census, amongst others. In this interview, the former
Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Imo State, explains
why the commission under him could not organize a national census.
He also says it will cost about N280 billion and 36 months of preparation
to conduct a qualitative census that will stand a test of time. Excerpts:
Why is there no census in Nigeria 15
years after?
The last census was in 2006. By
convention, the next one should have been
in 2016. And as a matter of fact,
preparations were on to have it conducted
but the unexpected happened. In 2015,
there was a change of government and it
would not be reasonable to expect an
incoming administration to embark on
such a fundamental and cost intensive
thing like census without studying the
ground. We had put some programmes
and structures on the ground for the
national exercise. The first thing we did,
and in fairness to President Muhammadu
Buhari, even before he assembled his
cabinet, we were the first constitutional
body that he granted audience. And
during that audience so to say, we
acquainted him with our programmes,
what we were planning and needed his
buy-in and, of course, he promised to do
something but, again, in fairness to him,
there was something the previous
administration of President Goodluck
Jonathan failed to do and that was a
major hitch to any serious talk about
census.
Presidential Proclamation
And that thing was President Jonathan
failed to make a presidential
proclamation. Yes, there’s no law
prescribing that before you do a census,
there must be a proclamation but it is a
statement of intent. A presidential
proclamation from the President is a
notice to the world that Nigeria is about
to embark on a very serious exercise like
a census and that, from every available
evidence, tells the world what we intend
to do and solicit their help because no
country does census on its own. More so,
developing countries need some kind of
assistance, technical or whatever, from
outside sources. That’s only way you can
get them to show interest in what you are
doing. In fact, we needed to do that
because, it got to a point donor agencies
were begging us to get a presidential
proclamation on this matter and they will
come in and assist. But I didn’t know what
happened, President Jonathan didn’t do
it.
Did you write to President Jonathan
requesting he make the proclamation?
That’s what I’m telling you. We started
with Jonathan, in fact, the discussion with
Jonathan on the matter lasted till his last
day in office before he told us “sorry, I
can’t do it, let the incoming
administration handle that”. So, that’s
what happened and when the incoming
administration came in, we approached
them, told them everything we had done
and what we were expecting from them.
N280b Budget
Again, promise was made that the
proclamation would come but,
unfortunately, it didn’t come and there’s
no official statement as to why it didn’t
come. All we heard on the matter was just
speculation, maybe, the cost was so
prohibitive because, at a time, we
presented a budget of N280b but,
officially, we were asked to look at that
budget again and prune it down and we
succeeded in pruning it down to about
N220b. Some people
will ask: “Why do you
conduct a census with
that kind of money?”
Well, one may say that
the question may not
be entirely wrong but
at the same time, if
you look at the benefit
of a census, if you look
at what any country
can gain from
properly conducted
census, you will agree
with me that no
amount of money
spent on it is a waste.
We were
reminded that
the last census
didn’t cost up to
N50b or so, why
is this one so?
Qualitative Census
However, the
question is, why is this
one particularly
expensive? Because we
were reminded that the last census didn’t
cost up to N50b or so, why is this one so?
Yes, the reason is simple. We wanted a
qualitative census, a census that will stand
a test of time, a census whose outcomes
will not be a subject of unnecessary
acrimony and litigation, that was what
we aimed at. How did we intend to
achieve it? By deploying technology. In
fact, the kind of technology that will
prevent one thing that was so common
place in previous censuses such as double
and fictitious enumerations. That is,
enumerating none existing people and all
SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 18, 2021, PAGE 15
that. We wanted to eliminate them to the
barest minimum. So, this technology,
which definitely will cost money, shot up
the cost of the census. So, we were then
told to prune it down, of course, we looked
at it critically and brought it down to
about N220b. That was last
communication on the matter till I left.
Aside fictitious figures, what other
things can make a census unacceptable?
Double Enumerations
The integrity of any census can be
questioned on the basis of fraud, which I
have mentioned. One, counting ghost
people, double counting, that is, double
enumerations etc. Now, census like
elections, you know, elections are
conducted in polling units, and that’s why
they have registrations within that polling
units. The same thing applies with census.
There’s what we call enumeration areas,
like a cluster. For example, let’s say
Owerri is divided into clusters of about
500 households. Each cluster is an
enumeration area. So, being able to
carefully demarcate all the communities,
all the towns and cities, within this defined
framework, that is, if you are talking about
500 households, making sure that they are
500 households. On the day of
enumeration, one enumerator or two or
more will be assigned to one particular
cluster, an enumeration area. That is for
the effectiveness. If you don’t do that and
come into Owerri, you can’t start counting
people on the street because the chances
are that you will count one person two or
three times. You must be
able to pin them down to
their localities, to their
communities and count
them.
Deploying Satellite
First of all, it is done by
satellite, then identify them
on the ground so that there
will be coordination. That
again adds to the quality of
what’s done. And on the day
of enumeration, you don’t
find two persons or more
counting one area twice. An
enumeration area well
defined is now well known
and is assigned to
enumerator(s). With this, it
will be difficult to have
double or multiple
enumeration of an area
because the work is so spelt out that
everybody knows what they supposed to
do.
Aside funding, is there any other major
challenge?
Yes, funding is important but having the
manpower is also very important. So, it
behooves the commission to train its staff.
As a matter of fact, let me share this with
you. The problem that commission has
now is erosion of manpower. The place is
in need of highly qualified technical
manpower. You know, those people that
took part in previous censuses have all
retired. So they have a new crop of people
and there’s no guaranty that this new crop
of people has the requisite experience to
carry on this assignment whenever it
comes up.
Did you do anything to solve this
particular problem?
Of course I did. I conducted several
training workshops for the staff. And in
order to give them a feel of what lies
ahead, I made sure that we devoted every
little kobo we got to doing limited
demarcation of enumeration areas, in a
full dressed rehearsal of a census. There
should be nationwide demarcation but
because of limited funds, what do you
do? You come to Imo and do Owerri
only. Owerri is just one local
government out of 27. So, that’s what I
called limited demarcation of
enumeration areas.
What are the consequences of absence
of census in a country like Nigeria?
The consequences are so obvious. You
see, the problem we have in this country
is we place emphasis on the wrong things.
At times, people look at issues of census
and population from the myopic
angle of revenue allocation,
political representation in
states and national
assemblies, but the
benefit of census goes
beyond all that. In a
well conducted
census, for
example, here in
Owerri, we
should be able
to identify how
people live,
that is, their
housing, the
kind of
amenities
they enjoy
such as
electricity,
water supply,
schools,
health facilities etc., all these make part
of census outcome.
Basic Amenities
So, a census result is a picture of a
population - where they live, how they live
and the number of people in an area. Often
times, our emphasis is on number, forgetting
these other areas. The data obtained from
census will help in bringing basic amenities
to an area. For example, the census figure
for Owerri may show that there ought to be
2, 000 primary schools but what is currently
on ground is 50. That shows there’s a
shortfall in the number of primary schools
in Owerri and that is what the census has
revealed. An accurate census has revealed
that Owerri had a shortfall of primary
schools, hospitals etc to the tune of this or
that. Unfortunately, people look at how
much money that would be accrued to the
state as a result of high number but if you
look at some of the problems that associated
with census, the problems are arising from
the fact that people want to give up numbers
for the purposes of allocation of revenue.
And for how long can we continue in that
way?
Questionnaires
Like I said earlier, in a census, there’s a
list of questions, what we call
questionnaires, given to respondents. If you
come into this house and you want to do
a census, there are questions each
respondent will answer. Now, the
aggregate of those questions, the
outcome of those questions will constitute
the census results not just the number of
people counted. Census is not all about
headcount, no. It goes beyond that, that’s
what I’m saying.
How can Nigeria conduct an
acceptable headcount?
By making sure that we’re honest with
the exercise because everybody will
benefit from it. What people are looking
at now are the short term gains. Most
people are not thinking about the long term
which should concern everybody. The
governor is thinking about how much
money will be coming in as revenue. I don’t
want to talk about what the money is used
for but the money is frittered away, it’s wasted,
leaving tomorrow’s problems unsolved.
Do you see the present administration of
Buhari committed to conducting a national
census in the near future?
Well, I don’t know what programme they
have but speaking as somebody who knows
how the thing works, there must be a
preparation period and that preparation
period cannot be less than 18 months. In
other words, if this administration wants to
do a census, there must be at least a period
of 18 months to enable the population
commission to prepare. I’m not saying 18
months is adequate but at least in the
present situation in which the commission
finds itself in which technical experienced
manpower is acutely lacking, it should be
given at least 36 months to do a good census,
not just for a headcount because, if we want to
do only a headcount, we’ll still run into the old
problems.

PAGE 16— SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 18, 2021
ADETUTU AUDU
08023849036, 08112662587
Ooni picks Toyin Kolade
as Iyalaje Oodua
Socialite and businesswoman, Yeye Toyin
Kolade, has been picked by the Ooni of Ife,
HRM Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, as the
Iyalaje Oodua.
The Global Coordinator of the Annual AJE Festival
is a major player in the private business sector
who started as a petty trader in her home town of
Ilesa, Osun State about 35 years ago.
Her involvement in the promotion of the rich Yoruba
cultural values, her countless humanitarian
services, her virtuous character of a disciplined
family woman and her respect for the royal
institution, it was learnt, qualified her for the
prestigious title.
“Aside from her efforts in the promotion of cultural
activities in Ile-Ife and Yorubaland, the colossal
contributions of Princess Kolade towards the revival
of the ancient Aje Festival which has today gained
tremendous global limelight cannot be
overemphasized,” a palace source said.
Ooni Ogunwusi, in 2017, had appointed Kolade as
his Cultural Ambassador in charge of Aje Festival,
with the responsibility of attracting global
acceptance for the annual celebration of Aje.
Kolade has so far coordinated five editions of the
annual celebration in Ile-Ife during which locals and
foreigners participated.
She also, in September 2019, led a team to launch
Aje Festival in Brazil. The event was hosted by the
City Parliament in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil and she
received awards of excellence for herself and the
Ooni from the government of Rio de Janeiro at the
occasion.
•Toyin Kolade
Glitz, glamour at Oba Saheed
Elegushi’s 45th birthday party
It was show of glitz and glamour for Oba Saheed Elegushi
when he celebrated his 45th birthday.
The event which coincided with his 11th year coronation
anniversary started with a golf course and a session of
prayers at the palace.
The two-in-one celebration was rounded off with a dinner
held at the Monarch Events Centre.
The highpoint was when the amiable king was joined
by his mother, Olori Sinat Elegushi, and his beautiful
queens, Olori Sekinat and Olori Hadiza, and together,
they cut the gigantic birthday cake to a thunderous
applause.
Guests at the event included Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa,
Hon. Wasiu Eshinlokun-Sani, Rev. Mother Esther
Abimbola Ajayi and husband, Dr Taiwo Afolabi
(SIFAX), Amina Jambo, Hon. Shina
Pella, Oba Folarin Ogunsanwo,
Oluwo of Iwo, Oba
Abdulrasheed Akanbi,
Oniru of Iru,Oba Gbolahan
Lawal, and Lagos State
Head of Service,
Hakeem
Okunola, Seyi
Tinubu.
Muri-
•Oba Saheed
Elegushi
•Lekan
Adebiyi
Lekan Adebiyi, the man behind Bishop
Oyedepo’s new ‘wonder’ project
It is no news that David Oyedepo, the Presiding Bishop
of Living Faith Church Worldwide, also known as Winners
Chapel, has kick-started a new ‘wonder’ project.
The initiative, tagged ‘The Ark’, is designed to be
accommodated on 1,000 hectares of land.
Among other things, it will boast of a twin tower,
100,000-seater place of worship with a rotating
altar, prayer booths, a massive bookshop,
audio/visual theatre, 3,000 capacity bible
school, food court, baptismal pool, and
accommodation for workers and guests.
The official ground laying for the project
was done March 26, 2020.
But we can reveal that the magic hand
behind the project is Olalekan
Adebiyi, one of the in-demand
contractors across the country
especially regarding public works.
Adebiyi, fondly called Laralek, is a
spiritual son of the popular man of
God.
The closeness between Oyedepo
and the Adebiyi is said to be such
that the flamboyant pastor was a
guest at the 50th birthday celebration of the Laralek
boss.
As the founder and muscle behind LaraLek Ultimate
Constructions, Adebiyi bears the enviable reputation
of being the numero uno in Nigeria’s construction
community.
This is all the more surprising considering the fact that
Adebiyi never received university education in
engineering or architecture.
When NSE honoured Adebiyi with the highest honour
possible for archons of engineering who did not
themselves study engineering, the body reportedly
explained that Adebiyi’s ingenuity with construction had
hit the mark! Thus, his LaraLek Ultimate Constructions
rode the same reputation.
The city of Lagos has benefitted the most from the
projects of LaraLek.
Adebiyi oversees the operations of LaraLek while
emphasising his personal guiding principles: excellence
and economy. As a man whose foremost pastime is
philanthropy, it is not surprising that he has endeared
himself to all and sundry. This is the reasoning behind
his identity as a ‘Silent Billionaire,’ and the central
disposition of the entire LaraLek staff.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 18, 2021, PAGE 17
Why you should never er let t your husband take you for granted!
Quite a number of
women dress to
impress other
women - so they’ll pass the
brutal, look-you-up-anddown
appraisal routine
practised by all judgmental
ladies. “But I am not
interested in what other
women think,” said fortysomething
and funky Ethel. A
full-time housewife - sorry,
‘homemaker!’ She is married
to a well-heeled businessman.
She believes that: “Men are
the barometer by which my
attractiveness to my husband
can be measured, ensuring I
never take his interest in me
for granted. It’s easy, after
years of marriage, to assume
your husband will fancy you
no matter how you look. And
at the end of a busy day, with
three children to take care of,
it can take a lot of effort to
make the effort!”
Ethel and her husband met
and got married abroad but
as soon as they arrived the
shores of this country with
their first two children, Dare
stopped his wife from seeking
paid employment. “He’d also
prevented me from breastfeeding
the kids when they
were infants so my boobs
wouldn’t droop. “Bad habits
easily set in when you settle to
marital bliss,” Ethel
continues. ‘Not bothering
with make-up when you both
go to the supermarket (who’s
going to notice your bland
complexion at a crowded
market?) or wearing your nonflattery
glassed to pop round
to friends next door. I see
married women all the time
in their ugly shoes or with their
badly concealed baby weight,
tagging alongside an
uninterested husband. These
women are inviting their men
to stray. For reprehensible as
it is for any man to cheat, a
woman who no longer values
her own sexiness is
compounding any potential
weakness on her husband’s
part.
“The way to keep your
husband interested is to make
him insecure - show him that
other men are interested in
you, so he’d better value what
he’s got. I realise that my view
is not such a popular one.
Some few days ago, I went for
a drink with a friend at her
club. I was in tight-fitting
jeans, full make-up and high
heels. Her own idea of
dressing casual was to take off
her jacket. I explained my
theory only for her to snarl: ‘If
my husband’s seen me give
birth, he can cope with me in
an old top and skirt.’ But that’s
precisely the point. Your
spouse remembers only too
well watching his beautiful
bride transformed into an
enormous, foul-mouthed
shrew on the delivery table.
He knows how you look in the
morning with last night’s
make-up landsliding down
your face and your hair
matted like a badly used mop.
If that’s all you ever show
him, it’s simply inevitable that
he’ll take you for granted.
Sure, he may love you - but
when you stop showing him
your desirable side, his
attraction to you will become
as tired and routine as last
night’s pot of stew. That’s why
you need to remind him that
other men find you sexy -
otherwise you dent his
delicate male ego by
suggesting he’s not worth
scrubbing up for. Remember,
if he married you, he must
have fancied you (once). As a
hard-working mother of three
and a palatial home, battling
encroaching age and fatigue,
I would describe my looks -
without the help from my
loads of lotions and potions -
as utterly ordinary. But that
just makes me work harder.
“Dare is a bit bemused by
my theory. But a few weeks
ago, I was making the most
of a clingy dress I’d just had
made, fretting over which
killer hills to team it with
before we went to a friend’s
informal birthday bash. ‘Does
it really matter what designer
shoes you wear?’ he snorted.
‘Who really cares apart from
me?’ At the party, when one of
his friends told me I looked
‘rather hot,’ he bristled and
threw a protective arm
around my shoulder! I simply
gloated. Trust me, nothing is
more guaranteed to drag your
man away from checking
football scores at a party and
place him firmly back by your
side than the appreciative
glance of a lusty competitor.
And the greater the status of
the man who notices you, the
greater the impact on your
other half. It will re-inforce
his pride in the fact that you
are his.
“It works the other way too
as nothing re-ignites my
interest in my husband more
than the flutter of another
woman’s eyelashes in his
direction. I buy him beautiful
clothes for his birthday, even
though they might attract the
sort of female attention that I
know raises my hackles. It is
all part of keeping the spark
alive. Does it get me into
trouble? Occasionally, yes.
There will always be a man
for whom a reasonablypresented
woman will seem
fair game. This is why turning
heads has to be done with a
restrained hand. Men are
suckers for smoke signals! If
you’re heavy-handed with the
hair-flicking, pouting and
skirt-hitching, they
automatically assume this is
a cue for them to hint at a
motel round the corner. When
I sense there is any danger of
that, I can’t get back to my
lovely hubby fast enough.
“Basically, I still fancy my
husband and want to do
everything I can to ensure he
still fancies me too. But even
if he put a ring on my finger, it
doesn’t hurt to keep him on
his toes too.”
In the absence of
nookie? (Humour)
A country lad applied for a
sales man’s job at a city
department store. In fact it
was the biggest store in the
world - you could get anything
there. The boss asked him:
“Have you ever been a
salesman before?” “Yes, I was
a salesman in the country:”
said the lad. The boss liked
the cut of his confidence and
said, “You can start tomorrow
and I’ll come and see you
when we close up.” The day
was long and arduous for the
young man, but finally 5
o’clock came round. The boss
dully fronted up and asked,
“How many sales did you
make today?”
“One:” said the young
salesman. “Only one?”
blurted the boss, “most of my
staff make 20 or 30 sales a
day. How much was the sale
worth?” “Three hundred
thousand dollars,” said the
young man. “How did you
manage that?!” asked the
flabbergasted boss. “Well,”
Yoruba gods come alive in new book ‘Who’s Who in the Yoruba Pantheon’
A
new book, ‘Who’s
W h o
in the Yoruba
Pantheon’, written by Peju
Akande, Jahman Anikulapo
and Toni Kan with
illustrations by Abdulkareem
Baba Aminu, has hit the
shelves.
The book captures,
celebrates and hopes to reappropriate
the Yoruba
Orisas who have been
demonized
and
characterized as animist
personages especially Esu,
who has been mischaracterized
as the devil.
Focusing on 16 orisas,
‘Who’s Who in the Yoruba
Pantheon’ attempts to define
who the orisas are by focusing
on their characteristics and
essences while illuminating
the crucial role they play as
custodians of cultural ethos
and beliefs. It also captures
the primacy of the orisas as
agents of communal and
cultural cohesion.
Commenting on the book
U pfield,
nutrition and plant-based
producer of
plant-based margarines,
spreads and cheeses has
joined the Global Shea
Alliance (GSA).
Upfield has also registered as
a GSA sustainability partner,
committing to promoting the
sustainable development of
the Shea sector.
By joining the GSA, Upfield
will work with NGOs,
producer groups and
women’s groups to jointly
advocate for Shea production
practices that benefit both
people and planet.
For also joining the GSA is
an important component of
Upfield’s sustainability
strategy. In addition to the
company’s Responsible
Sourcing Policy and Human
Rights Statement, Upfield’s
position on Shea will be
directed by the sustainability
and the process that led to its
production, Toni Kan noted:
“The process of writing this
book provided an insightful
and educational excursion
into Yoruba cosmology and
culture.”
On her part, Peju Akande
affirmed: “Working on this
book, I learned a lot about
my Yoruba culture.”
For Abdulkareem Baba
Aminu, who brought the gods
Upfield joins global shea alliance
guidelines
and
implementation criteria laid
out by the Global Shea
Alliance.
Speaking on the membership,
Head of Sustainability,
Upfield, Sally Smith
said:”Upfield is committed to
the responsible and
sustainable sourcing of all our
ingredients. Whilst Shea is
widely considered to be a
sustainable crop, we also
recognize the potential safety,
labour, environmental and
economic risks associated
with Shea kernel collection
and processing. We are
excited to work with the
Global Shea Alliance and
partners across the Shea
value chain to help address
these issues.”
President of the GSA,
Simballa Sylla said: ‘We are
excited to have Upfield on
board. The Global Shea
to life through his illustrations,
“I felt so honoured when I was
asked to come on board the
project because I’ve always
had a keen interest in the
Yoruba orisas. Most
importantly, projects like this
will present the orisas to a
whole new generation of
Nigerians and non-
Nigerians, inspiring pride,
restoring a sense of history and
culture for the coming
decades.”
Jahman Anikulapo’s
comment addressed the place
of the book as a contemporary
guide and educational tool.
‘Who’s Who in the Yoruba
Pantheon is a significant
contribution to the deepening
of cultural understanding
among the races of our
collective humanity, in
particular between Europe
and Africa, which often
appear far apart in terms of
racial relationship. As father
of a teenage African-German
daughter, who is highly
curious about African
Alliance welcomes their
contributions to promoting
the use of Shea in the plantbased
products, a fast-growing
sector that would drive
additional economic
opportunities to women
collectors/processors and their
communities. We truly look
forward to an exciting
partnership.”
cultural and historical
virtues, I appreciate the
said the salesman, “this man
came in and I sold him a small
fish hook, then a medium hook
and finally a really large
hook. Then I sold him a small
fishing line, a medium one
and a hunge big one. I asked
him where he was going
fishing and he said down the
coast. I said he would
probably need a boat, so I took
him down to the boat
department and sold him that
twenty-foot schooner with the
twin engines.
“Then he said his
Volkswagen probably
wouldn’t be able to pull it, so I
took him to the car
department and sold him the
new Deluxe Cruiser.” The boss
took two steps back and asked
in astonishment, “you sold all
that to a guy who came in for
a fish hook?” “No,” answered
the salesman. “He came in to
buy a box of Tampons for his
wife and I said to him,” “your
weekend’s shot, you may as
well go fishing.”
How thick can you
get? (Humour)
A handsome but naive boy
was discovered by the police
walking around town with
just his shoes on. ‘Hey Johnnie,
how come you’re walking
around naked,’ they asked.
“Well, it’s like this: replied
the boy. “I was on the
riverbank fishing when
Mandy came along, sat down
and started kissing me. Then
she took all her clothes off and
told me to do the same. So I
did. I took all my clothes off
except my shoes. Then she
opened her legs and said. ‘Go
on Johnnie, go to town,’ so here
I am.”
Ika youths hail Buhari for appointing Irabor as CDS
By Adeola Oyawale
The leadership of Ika
Youth Association (Otu
Uche Onye Edue), Warri
Branch, yesterday, hailed
President Muhammadu
Buhari for appointing
General Lucky Irabor as the
new Chief of Defence
Staff(CDS) and for
promoting him to the rank of
General.
The statement described
the appointment as the best
thing to happen in the military
hierarchy in recent times.
The group described
General Irabor as an
illustrious son and a worthy
ambassador of the Ika nation
who has contributed his
quota to nation-building.
Mr. Raymond Adaigbe,
President of Ika Youth
Association, Warri Branch,
who spoke to newsmen in
Warri, said Ika people at
home and in the diaspora are
grateful to President Buhari
for the appointment of
General Irabor as Chief of
Defence Staff.
He said the choice of
General Irabor for the post of
L-R: Abiodun Afolayan (ED Marketing),
Oluwatosin Olatujoye (GMD Zylus Group Int'l),
HRM Oba Kazeem Salami (Osobia of Makun-
Ota) at the launch of Lekki Pride Estate.
educational value of this
publication, hence my
gladness at contributing to the
Chief of Defence was borne
out of his earlier
accomplishments in his
sojourn as a professional
soldier who has committed so
much to the success of the
wellbeing of Nigerians.
According to Adaigbe,
Maltina takes message of hope, happiness
round Nigeria
Nigeria’s leading malt
brand – Maltina is
taking its series of activations
t a g g e d
#MyhoodMyMaltina, to
several states around the
country.
According to organizers, the
tour which started in Enugu
State during the Easter
celebrations, was to share
happiness with Nigerians in
an atmosphere of fun and
entertainment.
The side attractions of the
Enugu event, which took place
at Oaklands Amusement Park,
included Maltina Happy
corner, where a lot of games
for adults and kids were made
available; the Maltina flavour
bar that showcased different
Zylus Group International has
announced the commissioning of its
new real estate project called Lekki
pride, which would comprise
luxurious smart and affordable
homes.
The real estate firm during the
unveiling at weekend, in Lagos
disclosed that the initiative was
born from the organization’s
dedication towards contributing its
own quota in order to solve the
housing deficit problem of the
country.
According to the Group Managing
Director, Zylus Group International,
writing and production of the
book.
‘Who’s Who in the Yoruba
Pantheon’, published by
Iwalewa books, is now
available in bookshops.
Nigeria is lucky to have him
on the saddle because he is a
tested and proven war
general. Mr. Kenneth
Omojeva, Secretary-General
of the association, also
expressed the group’s
appreciation for the gesture.
brands of Maltina, especially
the recent brands of Maltina
Pineapple and Maltina
Vanilla flavours.
From Enugu, the train
moved to Kano, last week. The
event which took place at the
famous Ado Bayero Mall, saw
the launch of new Maltinathe
Vanilla, and Pineapple
flavours.
The show also witnessed
dancing competition , while
lots of free drinks were also
given out in the spirit of Easter
celebrations.
Maltina Regional Business
Manager in Enugu, Hillary
Obuh, said the event was put
together because Easter was
a period when families come
together as a culture and
tradition to celebrate
themselves hence the Maltina
intervention.
Zylus Group unveils Lekki Pride Housing Project
Oluwatosin Olatujoye the housing
development initiative is the first of its
kind within the Lekki axis, as the building
would have features such as electric key
cards ad fingerprint locks.
He said, “The structures would consist
of two bedrooms terrace with BQ, four
bedroom terrace with BQ, semi detached
and apartments, which would makeup
three structures of the building within
the estate. “In addition, as a part of
efforts to ensure the estate is entirely secure
we would also incorporate CCTV
cameras, GSM access control, top notch
security personals as well as electric
wire fences.”

PAGE 18—SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 18, 2021
•Chief Benjamin
Style, National
Chairman,
HOSTCOM
By Emma Amaize, Regional
Editor, South-South
If the directive of Delta State Governor
Ifeanyi Okowa to two of his powerful
administrators to resolve the differences
between Host Communities of Nigeria
Producing Oil and Gas, HOSCON, and Host
Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and
Gas, HostCom, when he saw a cavernous
crack in their relationship, in 2019, was
executed to the letter, the animosity that led
to the show of shame at the House of
Representatives Committee Hearing Room
028, in January, this year, could have been
averted.
On the other hand, it could be that the
officers, Hon Michael Diden, aka Ejele,
currently Chairman, Delta State Oil
Producing Areas Development Commission,
DESOPADEC, and Managing Director/Chief
Executive Officer, DESOPADEC, Bashorun
Askia Ogieh, did their best to tackle the
matter but because of opposing interests, the
dispute remained protracted.
Some HOSCON members, indeed, pointed
finger at Delta State government, accusing
it of taking sides with HostCom in the logjam,
an allegation that HostCom dismissed as
falsehood.
Besides the Delta government, similar
efforts by South-South monarchs under the
auspices of Traditional Rulers of Oil Minerals
Producing Communities of Nigeria,
TROMPCON, to end the dispute was also
botched. In fact, the monarchs were accused
of duplicity and treachery.
Okowa’s men met us two
times, then disappeared
— Iwetan
Former Chairman of HostCom in the
state, Hon. Benjamin Iwetan, who is
demonstrably displeased with the attitude
of some HostCom leaders on the issue, told
Sunday Vanguard: “In 2019, Delta State
governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, set up a twomember
reconciliation committee
comprising of the Chairman of
DESOPADEC, Hon Michael Diden, and
Managing Director, Bashorun Askia Ogieh.
“They met with both parties and promised
to call us back, which they never did till date.
The reconciliation that Dr. Okowa initiated
is for the Delta State chapter, not the
•Dr Mike Emuh,
National Chairman,
HOSCON
HOSCON, HOSTCOM HOSTILITY:
How Delta govt, monarchs
peace moves failed
national body of HostCom.
“Like I said before, the committee met with
my group and Isibelou group twice and
never called us again, I do not know why
they did not call back.
“The fact remains that there are two
factions in Delta State Hostcom, which is
why the governor asked the Chairman and
Managing Director of DESOPADEC to wade
in to see how it could be resolved.
“When Governor Okowa took office, he
recognized the Isibelou faction; he funded
their group by providing office building,
buses, Hilux vehicle and was giving them
funds to run the office until he became
aware that there has been leadership
problem in Delta State chapter
of HostCom.
“I am still the state Chairman
of HostCom, Delta State
chapter until we call for an
annual general meeting, AGM,
according to the constitution or
a third party calls for
settlement”.
‘S-South monarchs
exacerbated crisis’
He blasted South-South
monarchs over its role in the
feud between the two groups,
pointing out: “What South-
South monarchs did in Port
Harcourt, Rivers State is
unconstitutional and it
destroyed the association the
more, as it showed they have
vested interest when they heard
how far Dr. Mike Emuh had
gone on the Petroleum Industry
Bill, PIB, gas flare penalty,
having oil field for indigenes
from this region, etc.
“They have Traditional Rulers of Oil
Minerals Producing Areas Development
Commission, TROMPCOM, as their own
association, they can as well resolve their
own crisis.
“The Oba of Benin called the two factional
national leaders and tried to settle them but
both parties refused to heed what the Oba
advised, so the divide is still there in the
association.
“Some persons misinformed the monarch
in Benin and whatever verdict they claim
the Oba gave was not respected by both
parties; instead of working together as
National Leader and Chairman, one group
was trying to outsmart the other by going to
the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, to
change names of Board of Trustee, BoT,
members, while the other one was going to
the Presidency to negotiate gas flare penalty
payment for the association.
“Until we put the interest of our region to
be developed and bring our people out of
abject poverty first, we will keep having
problem of leadership in the association”.
The problem
between
HOSCON and
HostCom is
complex; it is not
what can be
resolved in one
fell swoop, as both
sides stick to their
gun on any issue
all the time
•Governor Ifeanyi
Okowa
•Okowa’s emissaries met us twice, then vanished —Iwetan
•Governor, TROMPCON made blameless efforts for truce —Egedegbe
Okowa did his best
—Egedegbe
Another former chairman of HostCom
in Delta State and
presently its National
Secretary, Dr. Peter
Egedegbe, countered
Iwetan’s submissions on
Okowa’s intervention and
role of South-South
monarchs, asserting:
“These are misconstrued
information and a total
deviation from the
reality.
“In the first place,
Governor Okowa did not
set up reconciliation
committee to reconcile
HostCom and HOSCON,
the governor is not even
aware of any issue of
HostCom/HOSCON. This
issue is national HostCom/
HOSCON affair and it has
no local connotation.”
He was later to affirm:
“Yes, the governor had
made efforts to reconcile
the two groups, the
committee the governor set
up met with the state Chairman that took
over from me and even including me.
Terms of settlement were put before Mr.
Iwetan, which he turned down.
“I do not know what the governor would
have done than what he had already done.
HostCom was magnanimous enough to try
to identify with a man that sued them to
court, defeated him and still bragging to
settle with the people he offended”.
On alleged inclination of the state
government, he deflated the claim, saying:
“While I was in office as the state Chairman,
Governor Okowa released HostCom budget
that my executive fought for in DESOPADEC
2014 budget, which provided the HostCom
secretariat that you see today at Plot 11, Uti
Street, Effurun.
“We had a robust bargain with Governor
Okowa to buy buses for the HostCom and
he graciously approved, we have the
buses today”.
TROMPCON’s good
intention impaired
On TROMPCON, he said: “Like I earlier
informed you, the national HostCom/
HOSCON issue has been treated and
resolved by the TROMPCON, South-
South monarchs and the Oba of
Benin where communiques
were signed by both parties.
“Thereafter, a 16- man
committee was set up whose
duties are to meet with the
Federal Government to bring
home the much needed
development of the Niger Delta
region.
“But alas, all that is almost
becoming a mirage now with
the lack of trust portrayed by
some members of the group.”
Iwetan fumes,
reveals ‘root cause’
of debacle
Iwetan, who dismissed
Egedegbe’s purported
sweeping statement on the
crisis, indicated that wicked
attempts by some people to
undermine the status of the
founder of Host Communities
and former Chairman of
DESOPADEC, Chief
Wellington Okrika, was what
led to the crisis facing the two
rival groups, HOSCON and
HOSCOM.
“What is registered with the
Corporate Affairs
Commission, CAC, is Host
Communities of Nigeria
Producing Oil and Gas and,
therefore, HostCom and
HOSCON are one body. What
led to the fight in Abuja is a
leadership tussle between
Bishop Dr. Mike Emuh and
Chief Benjamin Tamaranebi, the two
factional leaders, during the public
hearing of the PIB bill by the House of
Representatives.
“If you look at the video carefully, you will
see that Dr. Mike Emuh was attacked by the
other group of HostCom.
“Chief Dr. W.O Okrika is the National
Leader and founder of Host Communities
of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas.
“It was when Chief Okrika was appointed
as DESOPADEC Chairman that he
sponsored the registration of the association
(Host Communities).
“He also pleaded with us as foundational
members to entreat the Isoko ethnic group,
which the national chairmanship was zoned
to, to allow the late Chief Dr. Alfred Bubor,
an Ijaw, to be the National Chairman. Chief
Ogagarojor of Isoko was gunning for the
position then.
“The registration of HostCom brought a
lot of argument amongst us because those
that went for the registration, headed by one
late Prince Edewor, put names of their choice
as BoT members without considering those
of us from the Itsekiri ethnic group that has
the highest production quantum in Delta
State.
“Other state officers were equally not
happy that nominees from various states
were not part of the BoT.
“At the time, we were in Asaba, Delta State
capital, to lobby Delta State government for
the position of members of the association,
it was a fight between Chief Okrika and the
late Chief Bubor, and we had to settle that
Bubor should be National Chairman while
Chief Okrika be National Leader and
DESOPADEC Chairman.
“After Chief Bubor’s tenure in office, Chief
Okirika inaugurated Dr. Mike Emuh to take
over from Chief Bubor, but Chief Bubor’s
faction inaugurated Chief Benjamin Style,
so there has been conflict of interest
whenever there is something to agitate by
both in the states and the federal
government”.
Diden, Ogieh ran into
stumbling block - Informant
Sunday Vanguard reached Ogieh on
phone, but he was unwilling to make
comments on the matter.
Diden was simply unreachable on his cell
phone.
A source, however, hinted: “The problem
between HOSCON and HostCom is
complex, it is not what can be resolved in
one fell swoop, as both sides stick to their
gun on any issue all the time, making
adjudication by a third party difficult.
“Hon Diden, who we know as Ejele, and
Bashorun Ogieh definitely ran into obstacle
in reconciling them and may have tactically
retreated to evolve better strategic options.”

Buhari's Nigeria
By all indices,Nigeria is on
fire. Nigeria today
seems to be a long way from
where President Buhari met it.
It is a poorer, sadder, more
insecure, and more torn-apart
country today. Looking at
Nigeria now, the picture is of
a truly terminally ill behemoth
reeling from the many
historical abuses to which she
has been subjected.
Nigeria is like the subject in
that hymn that says: “he that
is down needs fear no fall/ he
that is low no pride…” Nigeria
is on the ground, prostrate and
clearly helpless. There is no
pride left in this once proud
“giant of Africa” that has now
turned into Africa’s giant shit.
Nigeria is broke; Nigeria is a
neo-colonial foot-mat;
Nigeria is being shaped as a
province of the new Ottoman
Empire; and Nigeria is
insecure. Nigerians who sit on
the fence watching this
happen are complicit in its
destruction, and they must
own it.
One of the facts Nigerians
now must own up to is the
mistake in “electing” the
curent government, or in
succumbing to the blackmail
that brought them to power in
2015.This has set the very
stage for what is looking
increasingly to be the end of
this federation if nothing
happens fast to check this.
There has never been any
other time in the history of
Nigeria when every part of
Nigeria is up in arms; in active
rebellion against the Federal
Government. There is mass
discontent of the kind never
seen before. This current
government lacks clear
direction.In spite of a massive
machinery of lies that
continue to insult Nigerians
built by this regime, Nigeria
continues to regress and bleed.
This is the only administration
that has invested in an
extraordinary office
dedicated to online or digital
disinformation headed by a
young Nigerian that once had
great promise, Tolu Ogunlesi.
These guys sell a dud; or what
folks out in Florida call
“lemons.” And they sell it
hard. They too will in the
fullness of time account to
Nigerians for their complicity
in prodding up a fascist
regime whose clear doctrinal
intention was never the
elevation of Nigeria as a
nation, but the categorical
dismantling of the balance of
reason that undergird the
historical superstructure of
Nigeria as a modern,
multiethnic nation. This is a
regime headed by a Fulani
nationalist who is nepostic in
his appointments. He does not
pretend, nor does he care
about what the rest of Nigeria
thinks or feels in filling the
entire structure of his
administration with his
kinsfolk. For the first time in
Nigeria, under Buhari, where
you come from now
determines what position you
occupy in the federal
government. Two examples
will just suffice here: when it
came to appointing the DSS
in 2018, Buhari side-stepped
Mr. Matthew Seiyifa, and
many other senior operatives
ahead of him and appointed
Yusuf Magachi Bichi. Last
week, he continued the pattern
by appointing DIG Usman
Alkali as Nigeria’s new
Inspector-General of Police,
once again side-stepping
many fine officers senior to
him in the force. These are
only two examples, but it is a
pattern which Buhari has now
established. The politicization
of these career positions by
Buhari has not only damaged
the confidence in the work of
Nigeria’s security services, it
has introduced something
more egregious than the
quota system that destroyed
merit as the basis of
consideration in selections to
the higher services. More than
once, his own publicists have
said that the President is not
guided by whatever Nigerians
think in making his strategic
decisions. So, who does he
work for? If he does not care
what huge sections of
Nigerians think, why is he
president? Yes, the president
has the power to make
appointments. But that power
is not absolute. It is power
Domestic accident: Former Edo Commissioner
seeks N9.5m lifeline
By Ozioruva Aliu
A
former Commissioner
for Arts, Culture and
Tourism and former Youth
Leader of the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) in
Edo State, Hon. Vincent
Akhere, has appealed to the
public and governments to
assist him raise N9.5m
needed for his medical
treatment .
Akhere, who was also a
former transition chairman of
Esan North East Local
Government Area of the state,
said he had a domestic
accident last year that led to
the collapse of his hips and
that he needed a Total
Bilateral Hip Replacement
Surgery (TBHRS) to be able
to walk again.
He explained that the
initial hip replacement
There has never been
any other time in the
history of Nigeria when
every part of Nigeria is
up in arms; in active
rebellion against the
Federal Government
normally mediated by
legislative oversight. But that
branch too has failed
Nigerians.If Nigeria’s
National Assembly were up to
its constitutional task, it
should have investigated this
president for sundry acts
allegedly inimical to the wellbeing
of the federation of
Nigeria. This president has
shown himself more
concerned with the welfare of
Niger republic than Nigeria,
the nation that gave him
everything. Only recently he
authorized, although he has
no such constitutional right,
the naming of a major road
for the President of Niger
Republic in Nigeria’s federal
capital, Abuja. No Nigerian
has any idea what the
president of Niger has done
for Nigeria. What he means
to Nigerians. His relevance to
the history of Nigeria to
warrant such an honour.
Nigeria’s federal capital has
no streets that bear the name
of Mazi Mbonu Ojike, one of
Nigeria’s foremost
nationalist figures, who
actually fought the British and
campaigned for Nigeria’s
independence, at a time when
the north were collaborators
By Henry Ojelu
The
National
Engineering and
Technical Company,
NETCO, a subsidiary of
Nigerian National Petroleum
Corporation, NNPC says it is
exploring business
opportunities in Equatorial
Guinea to boost its revenue
generation capacity in line
with the GMD, Mallam Mele
Kyari’s vision to make
NETCO the hub of
Engineering, Procurement
and Construction in the West
African sub-region and major
revenue earner.
Mr Usman Baba,
Managing Director, NETCO,
made the disclosure during an
oversight visit of the House of
Representatives Committee
on Petroleum Resources
(Upstream) to the company
in Lagos.
Usman revealed that
NETCO was established in
December 1988 to provide an
Edo North: Anamero Foundation empowers 5,000 farmers
In an effort at promoting
agricultural practises and
also encourage farmers in the
country, the Anamero Idofe
Anamero Foundation
organised a three-day
empowerment programme
tagged, ‘Food Security: A
Panacea for Socio- Economic
Development’, aimed at
adding value to farmers in
Edo North.
The event had in
attendance a total of 5, 000
farmers from the six local
government areas that make
up the senatorial district, who
were trained by seasoned
agriculturists on critical topics
which includes cocoa
farming value chain, rice
farming, agricultural
cooperative societies, cashew
production and farm produce
marketing.
In his welcome address, the
convener and founder/
carried out failed and that his
doctor in Abuja said his two
hips have to be replaced.
Narrating his ordeal to
Sunday Vanguard, Akhere, a
lawyer, who is now a shadow
self, said his situation has been
pathetic since March last year,
when he had the accident. He
appealed to well-meaning
Nigerians to support him
raise the N9.5m which, he
said, he can not afford as he is
on wheel chair battling
excruciating pains, all day.
“I am now on wheel chair, I
hardly go out, where am I
going? Whatever I want to do,
my children carry me. If I want
to sleep in the night, they will
carry me on the bed. It has not
been easy, only God knows
how I have been surviving, he
said. Anyone touched by
Akhere’s story and wishes to
donate to help his cause can
Chairman of Anamero Idofe
Anamero foundation, Mr.
Sunday Dekeri Anamero, said
the training became
imperative in view of the
economic contributions of
farmers to nation building.
According to him, farmers
are critical to the survival of
the populace given their
enormous contributions to
Nigeria’s food security
architecture.
Speaking further, Anamero
stressed on the need to assist
local farmers to grow beyond
the level of subsistence
farming, adding that the
foundation would continue to
assist them to improve their
farming business, as well as
enhancing the agricultural
value chain for the gain of all.
He noted that the task of
food security and
commercialization is
important to the collective
do so through his account
details:: Vincent Akhere,
Zenith Bank account
Number 1001844393.
• Hon. Akhere
survival of the nation, while
saluting the courage and
commitment of the farmers at
producing food and other
crops for the sustenance of the
country.
Going down memory lane
on how he started as a young
farmer in the 90s, Anamero
explained how his
commitment to agriculture
contributed to where he is
today. He therefore urged
farmers in the senatorial
district to rise above their
present level of subsistence
farming.
Convener and founder, Anamero Idofe Anamero
Foundation, Mr. Dekeri Anamero (right), presenting an award
to a facilitator at the 3-day agricultural summit.
SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 18, 2021, PAGE 19
with the colonizers, rejecting
independence for Nigeria.
There is no street that bears
the name of Nigeria’s leading
modernist artist of the 20 th
century, Ben Enwonwu, or her
leading Mathematician of the
20 th century Chike Obi, or
icons of the women’s fight for
freedom like Margaret Ekpo,
Funmilayo Ransome Kuti or
her son Fela, or even the
inimitable Israel Ransome-
Kuti. This is a federal capital
of Nigeria that does not bear
a street named for Kola
Balogun, or Olu Akinfosile, or
Fred Anyiam, or Fred
McEwen, or Ladipo
Solanke,or Raji Abdallah, or
H.O. Davies, or MCK
Ajuluchukwu, or Smart Ebi,
or Mokugo Okoye, or Pius
Okigbo or Aboyade or
Abdulaziz Attah; or Adegoke
Adelabu; or Stanley Wey or
Sir Louis Ojukwu (never
mind his son Chukwuemeka
who also deserves all the
honours available to truly
great Nigerians) – so many,
many more who actually
meant something in the
history of modern Nigeria.
But the president of
Niger?On what account?
What strategic significance
does he radiate for Nigeria?
Granted, there are many
hidden facts that inform the
diplomatic actions of a
country intent on acquiring or
securing leverage, but what is
Niger republic’s strategic
importance to Nigeria? It is
quite ironic because this
former General of the
Nigerian Army campaigned
from 2003 to 2015 to be made
President of Nigeria. That is a
record eleven years and four
presidential campaign cycles.
Many Nigerians were swayed
by his zeal, and by what some
began to see as his passion for
Nigeria. That zeal and
passion clearly turned with his
election in 2015 into the
horror! The horror we see
today in Nigeria. Today,
Buhari makes General
Ibrahim Badamasi
Babangida and General
Olusegum Obasanjo look
beautiful and radiant. That’s
something. The Obasanjo
years for instance, were not
altogether trouble-free years.
There were troubles in
Southern Nigeria. The oil
producing regions in the
Niger Delta were up in arms
on the matter of the inequities
in the distribution of oil
wealth. Kidnappings were rife.
Obasanjo had sent soldiers
into Odi who killed a high
number of civilians, just
during Babangida regime
soldiers were sent to kill
civilians in Umuechem.
Aside from the massacres at
Zaki Biam in Benue State and
Odi, in Rivers State, there were
political assassinations –
Harry Marshall, A.K. Dikibo,
Uche Orji the ANPP
Senatorial contender in Orlu,
Layi Balogun, Professor
Chimere Ikoku, former V.C.
of the University of Nigeria,
the publisher of Fourth
Dimension Books, Victor
Nwankwo, Mr. Funso
Williams, the PDP
Gubernatorial candidate in
Lagos, and of course, Nigeria’s
Attorney-General, Bola Ige –
under Obasanjo; murders
which remain unsolved and
are still open cases to date.
But in none of these instances
was Nigeria under any threat
of political implosion as it is
today.
NETCO targets business
opportunities in Equatorial Guinea
efficient and reliable
engineering base for the
NNPC Group and the
Nigerian oil and gas industry.
According to him, NETCO
has been involved in some key
projects in the Oil & Gas sector
in the last five years
including the Nigerian
Liquefied Natural Gas Train
7 project, refineries
rehabilitation project and the
Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano Gas
pipeline project which are
ongoing.
Baby Efana-Okon emerges Cussons
Baby of the year…Wins N2m
By Juliet Umeh
It was yet another
successful finale of the 7th
season of the PZ Cussons as
Ms Naomi Essienawan
Efana-Okon won the Cussons
Baby of the year with a N2
million consolation prize.
Efana-Okon who beat about
9000 other entrants to the
biggest prize is also entitled
to a year supply of Cussons
Baby products.
Baby Ojelade Daphne also
emerged as the first runner up,
winning N1 million and 6
months’ supply of Cussons
Baby products while the
second Runner up, Aliu
Ayomide got N500, 000 and
6 months supply of Cussons
Baby products.
The Top 7 finalists were not
left out as the 4th-7th position
walked away with N100, 000
and 3 months’ supply of
Cussons Baby products each,
while others got one month
supply of Cussons Baby
products.
Reacting to her wins, the
parents of Baby Efana-Okon,
who were full of praises for the
organisers of the competition
said: “When we started this
journey we didn’t imagine this
end, but here we are, God bless
Cussons Baby and PZ Cussons
for such a competition and
thanks to all those who voted
and brought our baby this far,
God will reward you all.”
L-R: Joyce Coker, Human Resources and Admin Director,
Africa, PZ Cussons; Family of the winner of the 7th edition of
the Cussons Baby Moments competition, Peace
Nwachukwu, Binta Nwachukwu, Baby Naomi Essienawan,
Ebere Obi and Daniel Gyefour, Head of Marketing, PZ
Cussons at the Grand finale of Cussons Baby Moments 7
held at Lagos.

PAGE 20—SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 18, 2021
The hope of righteousness (2)
The bible calls us to rejoice in hope. It
says we should rejoice in hope of the
glory of God.” (Romans 5:2).
When we rejoice in hope, our joy is in the
promise of God. Like Christ, it is a joy that
enables us to overcome the world. We become
like Christ who: “For the joy that was set before
Him endured the cross, despising the
shame, and has sat down at the right hand of
the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2).
“For we were saved in this hope, but hope
that is seen is not hope; for why does one still
hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what
we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.”
(Romans 8:24-25).
Carnal hope
If our hope is in this life, we cannot be true
believers. To prosper, we would have to live the
unrighteous and cut-throat way the people in
the world live because it is the ungodly who
prosper in the world. (Psalm 73:12). Believers
only prosper in Christ.
If our hope is in carnal things, we would soon
run out of time. But if your hope is in God, just
wait. God is never late, and He promises:
“For Zion's sake I will not hold My peace,
and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until
her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and
her salvation as a lamp that burns. The Gentiles
shall see your righteousness, and all kings
your glory.” (Isaiah 62:1-2).
Those who hope to spend eternity in heaven
must be determined to learn the ways of God.
John says: “Everyone who has this hope in
(Jesus) purifies himself, just as (Jesus) is pure.”
(1 John 3:3).
Success in life, ministry: Persevering to succeed (2)
INTRODUC-
TION
We thank God for
beginning a treatise
about the Lord
Jesus Christ as the
epitome of success
through suffering.
This is the example
He has laid for us,
but many do not
like to follow this
Pastor Akinola
example. Even
professed Christians who are supposed to be
followers of Christ, sing, ‘me I no go suffer’,
meaning that suffering is not their portion or
part of their diet in Christ. However, what does
the Scriptures say in 1 Peter 2:21-23?
21 For even hereunto were ye called: because
Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example,
that ye should follow his steps:
22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in
his mouth:
23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not
again; when he suffered, he threatened not;
but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously
And what was the result of His perseverance
in this suffering? Let us look at it again in Phil
2:9-11.
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted
him, and given him a name which is above
every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee
should bow, of things in heaven, and things in
earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the
Father
What a great result of godly perseverance!
That is what we are called unto, according to 1
PFN faults President's medical trip to UK
By Olayinka Latona
THE Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria,
PFN has faulted President Muhammadu
Buhari’s trip to United Kingdom for medical
check-up when Nigeria's health sector is in
shambles.
Speaking through its national President,
Bishop Francis Wale Oke after the National
Executive Council meeting in Lagos he criticized
the government’s failure to build worldclass
hospitals in Nigeria.
According to him, Mr. President is no longer
a private person, he belongs to all Nigerians,
and we need to know what is happening to him
We shall be perfect;
one hundred percent
perfect
Since we expect to sit at the Lord’s right
hand in heaven, we cannot afford to remain
mired in the works and lusts of the flesh. A
man who truly has the hope of righteousness
does not continue to live in sin.
Jesus is looking for a church without a
spot or wrinkle. His disciples are not those
who hunger and thirst for the things in the
world. Neither are they even those who hunger
and thirst for heaven. They are those
who hunger and thirst for righteousness.
They are those who are determined to be
completely sinless. They are those whose
hope is the hope of righteousness.
Righteousness is the preeminent glory of
God. Everything about God is in Him. Nothing
about God can be abstracted from
Him. God cannot be rich because he has
riches. He himself must be the riches. That
is why He makes us partakers of Christ,
that we also might be the riches in glory of
God.
When Moses asked to see God’s glory, he
did not see God’s possessions. He did not
see money, lands, houses, or properties. He
saw God’s character. He saw the righteousness
of God because the glory of God is His
righteousness. (Exodus 34:6-7).
Peter 2:21
TRIBUTE TO A SUFFERING
MAN AND HIS UNPARALLELED
SUCCESS
There was a young Man who
died in His early thirties, after a
brief public career brought Him
fame in His time and in His territory.
The tragic element in his life
story is that, after stunning successes,
he was falsely accused of a crime
that resulted in his imprisonment,
trial and execution! The death penalty
was carried out, and the end of
his life was utter disgrace, humiliation
and shame! I could weep now
as I think of the whole sad sordid
spectacle of this social injustice. I
doubt if there is another case in history
where a bright mind and good
heart rose so rapidly to prominence
and popularity, only to drop so precipitously
in the public eye!
So, has his success now ended?
He had failed, hadn’t he? Now listen
to this stunning reversal and
historic comeback! His comeback
was solid and sensational! So, his
perceived failure in the eyes of the
world was now about to turn
around and take a new definition
of success! The young man’s name
was eventually vindicated! His honour
was restored by honest, honorable
and faithful followers, who
became empowered to proclaim
him as the Hero! His name today
is the most respected and renowned
name in the world. He is my friend
and my inspiration. He is also my
so that we know what and how to pray.
"We are also concerned that whenever Mr.
President needs medical check-up, he goes
out of the country, to us that is a very major
security risk. Does it mean that our president
is safer in the hands of foreigner than
in our hands. Supposing those people in an
attempt to undermine our nation, try to play
game with our president, what can we do?.
"Why should our elected officials be going
abroad for medical treatment when they
can inject the money into our healthcare
system and bring it to up to the standard of
the nations they are going. Nigeria is
blessed with intelligent medical personnel.
The challenge is that we are not creating
God’s decree
God says: “Rain down, you heavens, from
above, and let the skies pour down righteousness;
let the earth open, let them bring forth salvation,
and let righteousness spring up together.
I, the LORD, have created it.” (Isaiah 45:8).
When a man has the hope to be rich, it makes
him greedy and selfish. When he hopes to be
promoted, it makes him mean-spirited. But when
he has hope in Christ, it brings forth godliness.
Paul says: “The only hope that bears fruit is the
hope that is in Christ, and the fruit it bears is the
fruit of righteousness. (Colossians 1:3-6).
When a man has the hope of righteousness, he
has peace, and he has joy. He does not need to be
impatient. He can afford to be long-suffering,
confident that whatever happens everything is
going to work together for his good. (Romans
8:28).
He is inclined to show love for all the saints.
Since we are to live together forever in heaven,
there is no point in quarreling here on earth.
After all, we are to be partakers of the same joy,
the same love, and the same glory.
Spiritual heaven
The heaven of the believer in Christ is not fleshly.
It is not physical heaven. God is Spirit and
not flesh and blood. Therefore, the heaven that
we are going to is spiritual heaven. It is the heaven
of being like Christ. It is not the heaven of a
place; it is the heaven of a being.
We are called into fellowship with God. Therefore,
heaven is not so much a place as wherever
God is. Heaven is all about God and not about
things. While it involves, sharing in the Lord’s
power, joy, and honour; it lies in our being spiritually
and morally like him.
John writes: “Behold what manner of love the
Father has bestowed on us, that we should be
called children of God! Therefore the world does
not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved,
now we are children of God; and it has
not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we
know that when He is revealed, we shall be like
Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” (John 3:1-
Lord and Saviour! His Name is
Jesus Christ! Halleluyah! Today
He is the most celebrated all over
the world. He triumphed over adversity
and death, for death could
not hold Him captive! What a
great success that is! He has the
keys of hell and death! Because
He is the epitome of success, as
many as have believed in Him
have unending success.
CONCLUSION
Isn’t success fantastic through
suffering! Success is finding a
need and filling it! It is finding a
hurt and healing it! It is finding a
problem and solving it There is
no success without sacrifice. Satisfying
success will never really
come to the self-serving person!
Rather, it is the sincere self-sacrificing
spirit that inspires, sustains
and sanctifies success. All this
happened by the element, perseverance.
Perseverance makes a
person stay put under severe pressures
to follow through a just
cause to it’s logical conclusion.
We shall continue this element in
the next serial.
J.K. Akinola. (Senior Pastor)
The Gospel Faith Mission International
(GOFAMINT),
Ibadan, Nigeria.
E m a i l :
flprofenassociate@gmail.com,
08033376660, 08055405095
Pastor (Dr). E.O. Abina – General
Overseer.
enabling environment
for
them to practice.
How
many Nigerians
can afford
to travel
abroad for
medical treatment?
The
Federal Government
should please
rise up and invest
in our
health sector
to bring our
health system
to world standard."
2).
Hope of glory
Paul says: “God has chosen to make known
among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this
mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of
glory.” (Colossians 1:27).
The present and indwelling Christ is our
hope of glory. This glory will not be revealed
to us. The glory will be revealed in us. This
coming glory makes every difficulty of the
present bearable because “The sufferings of
this present time are not worthy to be compared
with the glory which shall be revealed
in us.” (Romans 8:18).
The glory that is in Christ is the same glory
that will be in us. Paul says: “According to my
earnest expectation and hope that in nothing
I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as
always, so now also Christ will be magnified
in my body, whether by life or by death.” (Philippians
1:20).
How delightful it would be to have no propensity
to sin whatsoever. We shall have no
temptation to sin. There will be no erring judgment,
no straying passion, no rebellious lust.
There will be nothing that can defile, or weaken,
or distract. We shall be perfect; one hundred
percent perfect.
We shall be secure from every danger. There
will be no evil in us and none around us. No
bereavement, no sorrow, no labour, and no
reproach. No doubts, no difficulties, no anxieties,
and no fears. No sickness, no accidents,
and no pain. Just the righteousness of God.
Hallelujah!
“I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul
shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed
me with the garments of salvation, he has covered
me with the robe of righteousness, as a
bridegroom decks himself with ornaments,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
For as the earth brings forth its bud, as the
garden causes the things that are sown in it to
spring forth, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness
and praise to spring forth before all
the nations.” (Isaiah 61:10-11).
Salvation is free (2)
•Pastor Kumuyi
Isaiah 45:22 "Look unto me,
and be ye saved, all the ends
of the earth: for I am God, and
there is none else."
The only way you can comfortably
receive from God Almighty
is when you make up
your mind to cultivate the right
mindset and focus your attention
on Him. The instant that is
done you would experience freedom
from sin, sickness, and Satan.
As you give God the required
attention through listening to
His word and obeying His command,
He will save your soul
from destruction and forgive
you all your sins.
Please understand that you
can only obtain peace of mind
through the grace of God, because
Him alone has the ability
to save you from sin and only
Him has the monopoly of power
to deliver you from the consequences
sin affords and from
the evil plots of Satan and that
of wicked men in the society.
That is why the scriptures succinctly
puts it that no other Saviour
exists as He does.
Acts 4:12 "Neither is there salvation in any
other: for there is none other name under heaven
given among men, whereby we must be
saved."
The above scriptural reference is an eye
opener to all those who seemly put their reliance
on some other safety nets to secure them
against the day of judgment: others are mere
false hope that would implode to the
chagrin and eternal hurt of your soul.
That is why you should know that there
is no salvation in occultism. Tradition
and idol worship are all dead ends, and
religion will not suffice for the high standard
of the righteous requirements God
demands from you.
That is why you need to look away from
any other personality and switch your
reliance and dependence from them to
God and receive Christ as your Lord and
only Saviour. The moment you look unto
Jesus, irrespective of your creed, and as
you turn away from your sins, your salvation
will be totally secure.
Your salvation is the product of the love
of God exemplified long before you were
born: God sent Jesus to this world, that
has been infested with sin, through the
great love He loved us: and Christ perfected
the demonstration of the same
love when He gave up Himself for us at
the cross of Calvary.
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world,
that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in him should not
perish, but have everlasting life."
To be continued
Archbishop Okeke tasks Regina Pacis students
on academic excellence
By Nwabueze Okonkwo
HE Metropolitan Archbishop of
TOnitsha Ecclesiastical Province and
Archbishop of Onitsha, Most Rev. Valerian
Okeke has charged staff and students
of Regina Pacis Model Secondary
School, Onitsha to go for more academic
excellence.
He said the Global Technovation Challenge
Competition they won in 2018 in
far away Silicon Valley in the USA has
stood them out as technocrats among
their contemporaries world over and as
such they needed to study harder and
acquire more academic excellence so as
to brace up for more of such international
competitions in future.
Archbishop Okeke who spoke during
his pastoral visit to the school
where he administered sacrament of
confirmation to about 139 students,
commended the staff and students of
the institution for making the Archdiocese
proud and expressed the need
for them to aim higher in their future
endeavours
Responding, the Manager/Principal
Rev. Fr. Paschal Okonkwo assured the
Archbishop that they were academically
and morally ever ready to face
any competitions at any point in time
and bring back the trophy.

SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 18, 2021,PAGE 21
Living for Christ (2)
Christianity is a way
of life, a manner of
living that is a replica of
how our Lord Jesus Christ
lived while on earth. Living
for Christ begins with
winning souls for the Kingdom
of God, emulating
Christ’s holy life, patience
and perseverance in trials,
to what He endured in order
to obtain the crown. If
you are a Christian, you
must be ready to live a sacrificial
life, rise above fatigue,
hardship, want, and
bear all with pleasure in
ensuring the work of God
which is winning soul is
advanced. This is the reason
why you are converted,
which is that others
may be saved. As a Christian
you are expected to
urge others to live a life of
self-denial and holiness,
by your own manner of living,
and what you are in
your daily walk and conversation.
This is because
the main business of life is
not to seek the supply of
our temporal wants but to
do the will of God. If you
do the will of God you will
not only prosper (Josh.1:
7-8) but also be a friend of
the Lord. (Mk 3: 35)
Any person living for
Christ ought to live and do
everything like He did
while on earth. “Jesus
saith unto them, My meat
is to do the will of him that
sent me, and to finish his
work” (Jn. 4:34). The great
design of Christ’s life was
to do the will of God. Jesus
at all times did the will of
God and it is recorded that
God was with Him always
and in same manner, if you
are a child of God, and follow
after Christ’s footsteps,
God will be with you
and none shall be able to
contend with you and you
will live victoriously and
make heaven at last.
A brother healed of two years partial stroke at
last Thursday's deliverance service at the
headquarters in Lagos
A true Christian must
frame his character in
accordance with that of
God whom he is living for
Motorcycle evangelical group of the Lord's Chosen during the last concluded
programme; titled: From sorrow to Joy
Chris must aspire to copy
the lifestyle of our Lord
Jesus Christ. He must be
holy and living a life of
purity and particularly
abstaining from those
vices which debase and
degrade the soul.
1 st Peter 1:15-16 says,
“But as he which hath
called you is holy, so be
ye holy in all manner of
conversation; 16 Because
it is written, Be ye holy; for
I am holy”.
God has called us into
holiness and demanded
we maintain purity if we
are from Him. A true
Christian must frame his
character in accordance
with that of God whom he
is living for. He must be
holy in all manner of his
conversation. The foundation
of the command is
that those who professed
to be living for Christ
ought to be like God.
They are expected to imitate
the God whom they
worship and form their
character in accordance
with His. So as God who
is the object of the Christian’s
worship is perfectly
holy, the character of
His worshippers should
also conform to God’s
status of holiness.
Furthermore, whoever
that would want to live his
life after our role model
Jesus Christ, will do the
work of God like soul winning,
praying, preaching
the word of God, and above
all living a righteous life.
God commands as many
that are living for Him to
be holy in all areas of lifesuch
as in words, thoughts,
action, disposition, comportment
and dressing.
Such person should go to
do what our Lord did while
He was here during His
earthly ministry. If you are
living for Christ your life
must be characterized with
good works and God must
take preeminence in all
things you find yourself doing
in this life as a proof
that you are living for Him
and as an ambassador.
Lev. 11:44 says, “For I am
the LORD your God: ye
shall therefore sanctify
yourselves, and ye shall be
holy; for I am holy: neither
shall ye defile yourselves
with any manner of creeping
thing that creepeth
upon the earth”
God’s sovereignty over us
obliges us to do whatever
He commands even if that
crosses our inclinations. If
He commands that we
should be holy, we ought to
comply, or else we cannot
expect to be accepted by
Him. Whoever that is living
for God must learn to
put a difference between
good and evil, maintain a
constant observance of the
divine law, and ready to
govern himself by that in
all his actions. He must be
able to distinguish himself
from his neighbours, as
one who has been set apart
for God and by so doing
sanctify himself and learn
to be holy.
Luke 19:13 says, “And he
called his ten servants, and
delivered them ten pounds,
and said unto them, Occupy
till I come”.
Whatever office you are
occupying now or whatever
you are doing, the Lord
is looking up to you to
demonstrate to the world
that you are living for Him
by your action and disposition.
The Lord calls you
into the office to be worthy
ambassador until He returns
to rapture the prepared
people destined for
the prepared place called
heaven. You should live the
rest of your lives for Him
because He has purchased
you with His precious
blood at the cross of Calvary.
Brethren, Christ is
pure, so must we be, if we
are to live for Him.
John 8:29 says, “And he
that sent me is with me: the
Father hath not left me
alone; for I do always those
things that please him”.
If you devout your life
living for Christ, the Father
will never leave nor forsake
you. The Father was
with and in Christ while He
was on earth. As He went
about doing the will of the
Father, He became the
brightness of the Father’s
glory. If you do what pleases
the Father, He will be
with and in you and above
all you will be the brightness
of His glory. Though
men may forsake and reject
you but God will assuredly
attend to your
need. However, you cannot
be the brightness of God if
you are living in sin given
the fact that it is sin that
dims the light of God in
man. Anyone living for
Christ must endeavour to
be holy, sanctified, committed
in the things of God
and separated from sin.
Every true believer who
wishes to follow after
Children choir ministering during the Easter 2021 Crusade

PAGE 22—SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 18, 2021
RCCG Mercyland feeds 1000
families, tasks congregants
By Sam Eyoboka
THE leadership of the
Redeemed Christian
Church of God Mercyland
Parish, Area 3 (Lagos Province
44) has donated food
items to no fewer than 1,000
families within its neighborhood
in a bid to alleviate their
suffering.
The items which include
1,000 (5kg) premium quality
parboiled bags of rice, 1,000
(1kg) bags of salt and other
food items is in tandem with
the Christian Social Responsibility
mandate from the
General Overseer of the
Church, Pastor Enoch Adejare
Adeboye according to Pastor
Amos Emovon, the Pastor in
Charge of the Province.
Emovon, during a presentation
on Sunday in the
Church Auditorium at Odunlami
Street, Lagos Island
charged all congregants to
receive Jesus, the Bread of life
as He is the source of energy,
strength and everything that
money cannot buy even as
several souls were won into
the Kingdom to the Glory of
God.
Assistant Pastor in Charge
of CSR of the province, Pastor
Ajibola Opeoluwa-Calebs
reiterated that the RCCG “is
passionately committed to
fighting hunger and poverty
within the communities our
churches are located”.
He added that “this gesture
was in alignment with the vision
and mission of the
Church which regularly embarks
on various CSR initiatives
as a way of positively
impacting the quality of lives
within the communities the
parishes are located”.
Chairperson of the Parish
CSR Committee, Mrs. Titi
Osuntoki noted that the feeding
1000 families programme
started last year and
The power of focus (2)
TEXT: 2 KINGS 2:2 – 15
2:12 And Elisha saw it,
and he cried out, “My father,
my father, the chariot of Israel
and its horsemen!” So he saw
him no more. And he took hold
of his own clothes and tore
them into two pieces.
2:13 He also took up the mantle
of Elijah that had fallen
from him, and went back and
stood by the bank of the Jordan.
2:14 Then he took the mantle
of Elijah that had fallen
from him, and struck the water,
and said, “Where is the
LORD GOD OF ELIJAH?”
And when he also had struck
the water, it was divided this
PASTOR O.C. CHUKWUEZIE.
CAC Madaiyese Regional Headquaters
Plot 701/702 Durumi District
P.O. BOX 2577
Garki, Abuja.
Contact us on: 08155555048, like us on
facebook @cacdurumi
His glorious resurrection and ours(3)
Rev. Emmanuel Awazie
*Assemblies of God Church
Nigeria, 111 Clegg Street,
Surulere, Lagos.
IN this concluding part of
the series it is important to
know that Incarnation and
Atonement reveal the marvelous,
inconceivable, infinite love
of God to poor sinful humanity.
D. L. Moody said that there
is not a ray of hope for man
outside the atoning and substitutionary
sacrifice of Jesus
Christ. God never laid the sin
of the human race on anybody
but Himself, and in Redemption
He has dealt with the disposition
of sin forever. All who
believe can claim total freedom
by reason of this. Through Redemption,
God undertakes to
deal with a man's past, and He
does it in two ways: by forgiving
him, and by making the
past a wonderful culture for the
future, the memories of which
must keep us from becoming
what we once were. Everything
that sin and Satan have ruined
is going to be reconstructed and
readjusted through the Redemption
of Lord Jesus Christ.
Death was the supreme work
of the Lord Jesus here on earth,
He came to die; His purpose
could be gained in no other way.
Sin involves the death penalty;
someone must bear it, either the
sinner or a suitable substitute.
There is no possibility of bribery
here at heaven’s court. The
atonement is the heart of Christianity,
atonement settles the sin
reminded the worshippers of
the various CSR initiatives
which include various Back
to School Programmes, donation
of neo-natal equipment
to Massey Street Children
Hospital, Lagos, provision
of glasses and surgery for
the elderly, provision of boreholes
to several communities,
monthly feeding within
church communities, various
medical/health Awareness interventions,
etc.
Victory @ Last Evangelical Ministry marks
10th anniversary
The 10th anniversary
of Victory At Last
Evangelical Ministry
International(aka Liberation
and
Fruitful
Assembly),Agodo-Egbe, Ikotun,
Lagos, holds Sunday 25,
April 2021.
The programme with the
theme: Arise, let us build for
the Lord is to be held in conjunction
with launching ceremony
to raise fund to build
the Church of God.
According to the General
Overseer of the Church, Evangelist
Richard Augustus
Akanchawa, the programme
slated to start by 10 am at the
church premises, 15 Ogbwei
Street, has Rev Dr. Amos,
Chief Honourable Cosmos
Osuji and Engr. Julius Ehochi
will be guests of honour
to be supported by other eminent
personalities.
•Evang. Augustus
From left; Pastor in Charge of New Jerusalem Assembly
Area, Akute, Pastor Bolaji Ayininuola, Assistant
Pastor, Mrs Comfort Ayininuola, Pastor in
Charge of Akute Zone, Pastor Niyi Ajimuda, Assistant
Pastor, Mrs Adeshola Ajimuda, Pastor in Charge
of Victory Hall Area, Pastor Samson Oladokun and
Assistant Pastor Mrs Unice Oladokun at the RCCG
Easter Let's-Go-A-Fishing at New Jerusalem Assembly
parish in Akute.
way and that way; and Elisha
crossed over.
2:15 Now when the sons of
the prophets who were from
Jericho saw him, they said,
“The spirit of Elijah rests on
Elisha. “ And they came to
meet him, and bowed to the
ground before him.
By Focus, I mean paying
particular attention to someone
or something. According
to Robert Kiyosaki, “FOCUS
means Follow One Course until
Successful”. No noteworthy
achievement or success can be
recorded in any endeavour that
is undertaking by man on earth
until all his energies have been
brought to focus… And by following
one course at a time,
he can ensure that maximum
energy is concentrated on a
singular purpose for that fire
of success to get ignited
To rise above the hurdles on
the Christian adventure, focus
is needed. Naturally, life encompasses
several issues that
beg for man’s attention but few
should be attended to if one
must be successful. Only people
of Vision and Focus would
be at advantage.
From our scriptural text, Elisha
followed Elijah closely
with a strong determination to
obtain double portion of the
power of his master. Though,
people and circumstances tried
to distract and discourage him,
but with the power of focus; he
eventually got his desire. You
will achieve your goal by the
special Grace of God.
In the same vain, the enemies
of Nehemiah, having been deterred
from stopping the building
of the temple through war,
tried to distract Nehemiah
from building the wall by inviting
him for a meeting.
question – Rom. 5:17; I Jn. 2:2;
I Pet. 1:18-19. Jesus had to die
by crucifixion – Matthew
27:35; Mk. 15:24; Luke 23:33.
The death of Jesus by crucifixion
was prefigured or predicated
– Num. 21:8; Jn. 3:14. This
was a shameful, humiliating
and horrendous death – Heb.
12:2; an accursed death – Gal.
3:13. The death of Jesus Christ
is sufficient for every sinner; He
died for the sins of the whole
world. He died for your sins
and particularly for my sins.
The resurrection of Jesus
Christ is the foundation of the
New Testament. Christianity is
the only faith with a living originator.
The claim and glory of
Christianity is the empty tomb.
Jesus is risen. On the Cross
Jesus cried, “It is finished”, and
the Father echoed “Amen” by
resurrecting the Son from the
dead. If Jesus did not rise from
the grave, we are of all men
most miserable – I Cor. 15:16-
19.
Lawyer charges entrepreneurs to respect laws
By Innocent Anaba
agos lawyer, Mr Dona
Ltus Chinwoke, has
charged new executives of
Plaza Owners Association,
PLOWASS, in ASPAMDA,
Lagos, to respect the laws of
the land to ensure peace and
From left: Mr Donatus Chinwoke, Mr Ogwueleka
Okechukwu, Provost, Ikechukwu Obiora, Financial
Secretary, Mr Patrick Umerioha, Vice-President, Mr
Innocent Nnamene, President, Idamu Chima, Secretary
and Chief Cosmas Ojukwu, Treasurer, after
their election.
Gtextjobs.com sets new target for job creation
By Ephraim Oseji
n a bid to reduce the rate
Iof unemployment in Nigeria
and other countries,
Gtext Global has created its
online platform,
gtextjobs.com to get more
people closer to their dream
of getting jobs and netting
themselves a better income.
The organisation also
launched the Gtext Academy,
which is to help train job seekers
to become employable
individuals.
This was announced by
Stephen Akintayo, GMD/
CEO, Gtext Global, at a recent
zoom meeting where he
explained that the initiative
is part of their vision to help
more people out of the
scourge of unemployment.
He stated that while the
academy will be starting off
with 2000 candidates who are
salespersons, Gtext Global as
a company is prepared to assimilate
50 of the best candidates
into their organisation.
Akintayo added that the the
goal is to create over 25,000
jobs before 2035.
He said: “The global chal-
How my singles ’ll make me relevant
in music industry — SouthBoy
By Cynthia Alo
The music industry has
just received another
boost with the release of a 5-
hit singles EP titled: 'Melophile'
by a fast-rising artiste,
Patrick Victor with a stage
name, SouthBoy MFB.
MFB, in a chat with the
media, expressed confidence
that the newly released singles
will make him relevant
in the music industry.
The Edo-born artiste said,
his newly released five tracks
are contemporary with the
blending of Afro and Hip-
Prada Uzodimma launches
scholarship grant for law students
Managing Partner of
Principle Legal Consult,
Prada O Uzodimma, has
launched
the Prada Uzodimma Law
School Scholarship Grant to
provide financial sponsorhip
to selected indigent law
school aspirants across Nigeria.
A statement by Uzodimma
said the scheme is an educational
philanthropic project
initiated, sponsored and facilitated
annually by her.
The statement reads:"
Winners of this scholarship
grant will have their Law
school tuition fees fully catered
for. There are no stringent
requirements (such as
harmony for the development
of the country.
He said no association or
country can develop without
peace and respect for government
agencies, adding that no
association can achieve its
objectives in crises no matter
how strong.
He said, "As businessmen,
lenge is that millennials are
not patient. We are in a jet age
where people are allowed not
to be patient because of technology.
“Again, many people out
there looking for jobs lack the
ability to even deliver on the
job, while others focused on
the wrong things when they
do get a job, which implies
that they cannot contribute
meaningfully to the organisation.
According to him, “If you
he Chartered Institute
Tof Information and
Strategy Management, has
congratulated Delta State Attorney-General
and Commissioner
for Justice in Delta
State, Mr Peter Mrakpor,
SAN, and Prof . Matthew
Oyeyemi, on their nomination
as the Institute’s President
and Vice president respectively.
The Registrar of the institute,
Prof. Bolorunduro extolled
the leadership qualities
of Mrakpor and his vice,
Hop.
Picking a line from one of
his singles titled: ‘critics not
constructive could make one
despair and make one feel
weak,’ SouthBoy MFB, said
the inspiration behind the
song radiates from rising
above critics.
He said when it comes to
music, what some desire may
be entirely different from another
but the central point it
leads to is, good music embedded
with attractive lyrics.
SouthBoy MFB, young,
smart and zealous, officially
started music in 2016.
being a first class student); applicants
are required to display
a show of impassioned
drive and determination towards
becoming a lawyer.
"The scheme is birthed from
a passionate understanding
of the financial inhibitions,
which confront a sizeable
number of Nigerian Law
School Aspirants, restricting
them from attaining their aspirations,
and is targeted at
positively re-scripting these
sad narratives by emitting
rays of hope and succour
through financial grants.
We are keen on ensuring
that bright minds and intellectuals
are not deprived of
their ambitions to be called
you need to work in synergy
with relevant authorities to
ensure a smooth business environment.”
The new President of PLO-
WASS, Mr Innocent
Nnamene, thanked members
of the association for the confidence
reposed in him and
his executives, promising that
members would not regret
voting for him and his team.
“I want to equally thank the
PLOWASS electoral committee
ably led by Mr Ezenwosu
Chidozie for conducting such
free, fair and credible election.
I will not fail to thank
the outgoing President and
his entire executives who displayed
quality leadership and
never interfered in the affairs
of the electoral officers before,
during and after the election.
“On this note, I want to state
that the outgoing President,
Chief Lawrence Ugochukwutubelu
and his executives performed
wonderfully well as
time permitted them, considering
how and manner they
started, history will be kind
to them".
don’t stay long enough at a
job for example, how do you
build your pension? Many
don’t understand the consequences
of these things. Secondly,
family values have become
a thing of the past. When
you were leaving home to
start a career back in the day,
people were not asking how
much you would be earning
or if it was a cushy job, the
priority at the time was that
you be a good ambassador
for your family".
Institute felicitates with Delta Justice
Commissioner on new appointment
Oyeyemi, which he stated singled
them out for the positions.
He added that the duo’s
appointment has been carefully
viewed by the ( CIISM )
selection committee which
was based on their accomplishments
as a role model
and mentor that demonstrate
commitment to core value of
leadership, integrity, loyalty,
respect and selfless service.
Mr. Mrakpor, 56, is an
alumnus of the University of
Benin, Edo State, and holds a
Master’s Degree in International
Law and Diplomacy, a
Doctorate Degree in Commerce
and Enterprise Development
from Bilingual University,
Togo.
He has been the Delta State
Attorney-General and Commissioner
for Justice since
2015 and a fellow of several
institutes which include the
Chartered Institute of Arbitrators,
Chartered Institute of
Mediators and Conciliators,
fellow Chartered Institute of
Information and Strategy
Management, fellow Chartered
Institute of Commerce
and Enterprise Development
, among others.
to the Nigerian Bar as a result
of financial incapacity
and have benevolently setup
this scheme to infuse life to
those vulnerable dreams.
"The program introduced
by Prada Uzodimma, Esq,
ACIArb in 2020, will provide
its first batch of scholarships
to the 2021 Law School Aspirants
through an unbiased
and meritorious selection
process. The scholarship
grant has been fully endorsed
by the Director General of the
Nigerian Law School, Prof.
Isa Chiroma and the Honourable
Attorney General of
the Federation and Minister
of Justice, Abubakar Malami
, SAN.
"Applicants can access the
application portal for the
scholarship on the Principle
Legal Consult Website".

Inside Uzodinma's road revolution
By James Okere
ONE of the key advantages of being
prepared for leadership and being
conversant with the critical needs of the
people is that such a leader does not grope in
the dark when entrusted with the
leadership position. In fact, a would be
governor who already had his programmes
tailored to capture the essential needs of the
people of the state only hits the ground
running, no matter the distractions,
including financial challenges. That
explains why Governor Hope Uzodinma did
not waste time in prosecuting his
developmental agenda for Imo state. Not
only was he prepared for the exalted office,
he was a “home boy” who virtually spent
his years among the people, knowing as it
were, their expectations from government.
Perhaps in the din of the rancorous
campaign among the candidates in 2019,
many may not have actually paid much
attention to Uzodinma’s development
agenda encapsulated in the 3Rs of
Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and
Recovery. In his detailed manifesto tailored
alongside that of the ruling APC, Uzodinma
pledged to recover Imo state from the cesspit
of corruption and dictatorship it had been
enmeshed. He promised to rehabilitate the
decayed infrastructure. He gave his word
to reconstruct the state including the psyche
of civil servants that had been battered
beyond the ordinary. He needed just two
critical factors to see through those lofty
promises: Will power and finance.
Whereas he had the former in excess,
finance was a stumbling block. But
believing that where there is a will, there
must be a way, Uzodinma confronted the
developmental challenges facing him.
Although he inherited an empty treasury
without even the luxury of a handover
note, the governor marched on sustained
by hope and faith. One of the key areas that
needed immediate attention was road
reconstruction. Prior to January 2020,
almost all the roads traversing the state
were death traps in a comatose state. Flood
had sacked many residents. Movement of
services and foods was faster than the speed
of a snail and to make matters worse, the
economy was negatively affected since
majority of the citizens relied on commerce
for survival. Those in the estate business
abandoned themselves to fate because
patronage was at the lowest ebb. They just
couldn’t force tenants to live in flooded areas
with the attendant health hazards and
mobility quagmire.
Interestingly, many citizens heaped the
blame of the bad roads on Uzodinma. That
was not misplaced, afterall, he is the sitting
governor. They conveniently suffered
collective amnesia and chose to forget that
for more than 20 years the problem had
become systemic. With the calmness of a
Bishop, the governor promised to fix the
roads as soon as the rains were over. He told
them that the burden of bad roads midwifed
by past administrations will be lifted from
their shoulders at the advent of the dry
season. As a man whose word is his bond,
the Imo State governor walked the talk by
awarding contracts for the construction,
reconstruction and rehabilitation of 46
roads across the state. At the last count, 22
of the roads have been completed and
commissioned.
These roads include Oparanozie Street,
Amaigbo Street, Edede Street, Lake
Nwaebere Street, Olokoro Street, Umuahia
Street, Okeikpe Street, Arugo Street,
Egbema Street, Ngwa Street, Douglas Road,
JP Ajaelu Street and Thomas Moore Street.
Others are Gozie Nwachukwu Street,
Archdeacon Dennis Road, Aladimna,
Assumpta/Ibariogwa Port Harcourt Road,
Federal Secretariat Road, now renamed
Muhammadu Buhari Drive, Dick Tiger
Road, Dick Tiger Street, Akachi Road now
Evan Enwerem way, Relief Market Road
and Chukwuma Nwoha Road. The harvest
of roads is the product of the commitment of
the shared prosperity Government of Gov
Hope Uzodinma to change the lives of Imo
people and resuscitate the economy.
Although those using the roads have
already testified to the positive changes
brought about in the conduct of their
businesses, the government deemed it fit to
invite prominent Nigerians to also bear
witness to what Uzodinma has done with
•How efforts are reviving Imo economy
•Uzodinma
the resources of the state within his one year
in office. President Muhammadu Buhari was
the first to open the floodgate of visitors/
witnesses to Imo to behold the road
revolution wrought by the shared
prosperity government of Senator
Uzodinma. As part of activities making the
one year in office of the governor, the
President virtually commissioned the
Federal Secretariat Road which was fittingly
named after him. Not surprised that Hope
Uzodinma had touched positively the lives
of Imo people within just 365 days in office,
Buhari proudly proclaimed the governor
as a shining example of what an APC
product and government can do in and for
Nigeria.
The President was not alone in his effusive
praise of the governor after the evaluation
of his progress report as exemplified in those
brand-new roads. His ever loyal deputy,
Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, the Vice President of
Nigeria visited Imo twice in a space of two
weeks to endorse the governor for a job well
done. First, he came calling during the
official thanksgiving marking the one year
anniversary of the Hope’s administration.
The security breaches that occurred in Imo
penultimate week almost marred the
second visit of the Vice President. But the
That spirit of doing
more for the people
apparently galvanized
Gov Uzodinma to
invite his brother
Governor, Dr. Kayode
Fayemi of Ekiti State
to commission the
historical Chukwuma
Nwoha Road in
Owerri
gentle Professor was not deterred. On the
6th of April, he landed in Owerri to also
commission some roads and bear testimony
to the road revolution of the governor. Apart
from stressing the economic importance of
the roads, the Vice President urged the
people of Imo to hold fast to their governor
because of his zealous commitment to their
welfare. He was also happy that the
governor understood perfectly the needs of
the people and was resolute in delivering
democracy dividends to them. He therefore
urged all, especially the youths to give peace
a chance, noting that there can never be
any development in the absence of peace.
Whereas the Vice President downplayed
the unfortunate events of the previous day,
choosing instead to wave the flag of peace,
the Senate President, Alhaji Ahmad Lawan
was not that diplomatic. He fingered
enemies of the federal and state government
for being responsible for the security
breaches so as to take away the shine from
the glorious one year anniversary of the
Governor. Warning such people to desist
SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 18, 2021, PAGE 23
from their evil ways, the Senate President
commended Hope Uzodinma for refusing to
be distracted by the antics of the opposition,
but had gone ahead to deliver quality roads
to boost the economic fortunes of the state
and ease the movement of human, goods
and services across the state. He however
urged the people of the state to guard
jealously facilities of the government so as
to encourage the government to do more
for them.
That spirit of doing more for the people
apparently galvanized Gov Uzodinma to
invite his brother Governor, Dr. Kayode
Fayemi of Ekiti State to commission the
historical Chukwuma Nwoha Road in
Owerri. The history behind the road is that
it had been abandoned by successive
administrations in the last 20 years. The
road was named after a member of the
conquering Golden Eaglets of 1985. Flood
had driven out the residents away.
Landlords lost their property and income.
Tenants avoided the area like a plaque.
Despite its strategic importance in diverting
traffic from the city centre to Imo state
University and Okigwe Road, Chukwuma
Nwoha was desolate. But Uzodinma
changed the narrative. Apart from
recovering and reconstructing the road,
Uzodinma made it a dual carriageway. And
Fayemi, the Chairman of the Governor’s
Forum was carried away by the beauty and
splendor of the new road. While applauding
his Imo counterpart for redeeming his
campaign promises, the Ekiti State
governor praised Uzodinma for this
judicious use of state resources for the good
of the majority.
Although, Uzodinma had been upbeat in
the commissioning of all the roads since the
commencement of his one year
anniversary, that of Chukwuma Nwoha
was emotional for him as evidenced in the
speech he delivered at the ceremony.
Indeed the speech captured his vision to Imo
people especially the youths, asking them
to remain peaceful and supportive of his
government to enhance the opportunity of
more democracy dividends.
Hear him, “Today marks another
watershed in our matchless developmental
efforts, especially in the area of
Infrastructures. Today, we are practically
commissioning a brand new dualised
Chukwuma Nwoha road which had been
surrendered to flood and other ecological
processes before we came on board. We all
know how residents had deserted this road
before we embarked on its holistic
rehabilitation. Both landlords and tenants
had their tales of woes, yet their cries didn’t
reach the ears of previous administrations.
This particular commissioning is
heartwarming because this road is named
in honour of Chukwuma Nwoha, who as a
teenager was among the youngsters that
made the nation proud by winning the
under 17 world Cup in China in 1985. In
essence Chukwuma Nwoha road ought to
reverbrate a sense of national pride and
inspiration on its users. It should remind
them how our young Eaglets made us all
proud in far away China 36 years ago. It
should also inspire the younger ones to
strive to be immortalized like Chukwuma
Nwoha. But all that will be only when the
road is a delightful motorway to road users.
Unfortunately in the past 20 years, the
opposite was the case. What we had instead
was a stretch of stagnant pond water that
severed this critical Chukwuma Nwoha
link road, connecting MCC road to Egbu road.
Indeed what we met on ground was a great
eyesore and a big shame on our national
psyche. To the glory of God, that is now
history. We have not only recovered the
road but we have made it a brand new one
by turning it into a dual carriage way to
take more traffic off the ever busy Egbu road.
In our shared prosperity agenda,
encapsulated in the three RS of
Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and
Recovery, roads are important component
because of their socioeconomic benefits to
our people.
Apart from relieving residents the burden
of restlessness occasioned by flooding,t his
road relieves pressure from the city centre
as motorists coming from Umuahia, Mbaise
and Emekuku can easily pass through
Chukwuma Nwoha to IMSU , Okigwe road,
Orji and other parts of the city. Today, the
chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, His
Excellency, Dr Kayode Fayemi is here live
to commission this important road. He is
again bearing witness to our total
commitment to the service of our people
through provision of critical infrastructure.
President Muhammadu Buhari opened the
floodgate of harvest of roads followed by the
vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo. The
Senate President, Alhaji Ahmad Lawan was
also here last week. As we have more than
46 roads fully completed or under
construction, it means that more
distinguished Nigerians will be touching
base with Imo State to bear witness to what
we have done in just one year.
What it means is that under a conducive
environment devoid of violence,
unnecessary distractions and malicious
political shenanigans, this government
would more than deliver on its mandate to
transform Imo State. It also means that Imo
State will only continue to march on
triumphantly to better and better years
ahead. Even more importantly, it signals
the irreversible end to the days suffocating
hardship in the land of “New Egypt”,
because we have made sure that NEVER
AGAIN, shall our people return to Egypt.
May I therefore use this opportunity to
appeal to our youths to give peace a chance
by refraining from being willing tools in
the hands of enemies of our state and
country. Since there can never be progress
without peace, all our people should
recommit to building an enduring society
where we shall pursue our legitimate
undertakings in peace”.
With 22 roads already completed and
commissioned, and 24 more awaiting
completion, Uzodinma has served notice
that his road revolution is not a fluke but a
sustainable programme designed to
transform the socio-economic lives of the
people. It is gratifying that these roads are
not concentrated only on the urban centers.
The rural areas are also beneficiaries. It is
even more gratifying that among the roads
under construction are the Owerri-Okigwe
and Owerri Orlu roads which are dual
carriageways that would connect the
capital city to the other senatorial districts
of Okigwe and Orlu and by extension
neighbouring states of Abia, Enugu, Ebonyi
and Anambra states. The two roads which
are going to be the signature projects of the
current administration more than speak
eloquently of the desire of Uzodinma to
return Imo to its true pride of place as the
Eastern Heartland of the Igbo nation.
Bandits now
targeting Igbo, say
Ibo Senior Citizens
By Chidi Nkwopara, OWERRI.
THE insecurity bedeviling Nigeria
and attendant loss of lives and
means of livelihood is giving Ibo Senior
Citizens’ Affairs Foundation, ISCAF, sleepless
nights.
The senior citizens are also irked that
“this hellish situation, which has taken
away the joy and hope of many families
in the six geo-political zones of Nigeria,
has continued unabated”.
ISCAF President and Bishop of Friends
of Jesus Global Mission, Rt. Rev. Dr. Maglorious
Enyioha, made the group’s feelings
known, during a press conference in
Owerri.
His words: “The saddest aspect of the
whole scenario is that Ndigbo, a people
that have suffered untold and unmitigated
pains, resulting from marginalization,
deprivation and deliberate exclusion
from membership of the circle of Nigeria’s
service chiefs that implement the
nation’s policies on security, have become
targets for faceless gunmen, herdsmen
and others, who shed innocent blood at
will.
“Recently, herdsmen invaded a community
in the northern fringes of Enugu
State, in the night, killing and maiming
scores of Ndigbo.
“Apart from Enugu State, all the states
that make up the old Eastern Region,
have lost lives to senseless killings, organized
by herdsmen and other classes of
murderers, simply described as unknown
gunmen, in a nation that boasts of gallant
and paramilitary forces.”
While lamenting that the other day, it
was Obigbo in Rivers State, the Bishop
equally grieved that “a fortnight ago, it
was the turn of Orlu, in Imo State, and
just last week, hell was let loose in Ebonyi
State and of course, by who?”

PAGE 24—SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 18, 2021
Being a successful cougar is an art!
‘
COUGAR’ is a
sophisticated
word introduced to
the dating scene a few years
back. A cougar, aka Puma,
aka American mountain
lion is a fierce-looking
animal who stalks its prey
relentlessly. When it
eventually over-powers the
prey, the cougar tears it to
pieces, devours it
ferociously and licks its lips
with satisfaction at the end
of the ‘feast’. The cougar
has now replaced those we
once knew as ‘senior girls’
in the society. Women with
a lot of money and power
but with little patience to
start running after men in
their age bracket only to
find such men to be bitter
disappointments in the
bedroom. The cougar
knows the type of men she
wants – not so old. Young
enough to stand to
attention at the push of a
button!
To the Cougar’s prey, the
sky is the limit to the doors
that might be opened to him
– cars from his cougar’s
garage at his disposal, lots
of money to burn, and lots
of business opportunities
thrown his way. All he has
to do is to ask ‘how far?’
when his cougar says
‘jump’! As long as a boytoy
knows his place and
doesn’t get complacent
enough to start eyeing some
of his cougar’s friends with
the hope of rendering same
services with maybe better
returns, he’s on solid
grounds.
Nkiru, now close to 50
married very young.
According to her, “I was a
quiet 19-year-old virgin
when my parents gave me
out in marriage to a rich
village chief almost 20
years my senior. He was
kind and dependable but I
was shy and inexperienced,
unable to relax and enjoy
sex. I just assumed great
sex was a media myth, that
orgasms were as
unobtainable as the moon.
The arrival of the children
turned me off sex even
more and my husband
didn’t protest. He
obviously had a below
average libido or was
looking elsewhere for
gratification.
“By the time he died 16
years into our marriage, I’d
known enough about his
business to run things for
myself. He died of cancer
and had warned his greedy
relatives to leave me alone
after he’d gone. Not only
that, he’d transferred all his
liquid cash into my
account and given me the
little deeds to all the
property he had. As soon
as he died and my
traditional mourning
period was over, I sold off
everything, so my husband’s
family wouldn’t lay their
hands on it, and came to
Lagos to find a business of
my own.
“My first taste of
meaningful sex came when
one of my suppliers started
teasing me with saucy
innuendos. I was thrilled.
He was married, tall, dark
and handsome with
mischievous eyes. That
suited me to the ground. I
had my four children and
money; I wasn’t on the lookout
for another husband.
The day we finally got
together was like magic.
Like the magazines advised,
I’d worn sexy underwear
and spiced up my bedroom.
We were nicely tipsy when
we tumbled into bed. It was
the first time I reached an
orgasm. At last I
understood that sex could be
mind-blowing. And I wanted
more.
“I made sure he didn’t
regret our liaison. I bought
a lot of my raw materials
from him, gave him money
towards the price of a second
hand car and bought him
designer clothes whenever
we travelled. It went on for a
few years until his wife found
out and had the nerve to
charge into my office calling
me all sorts of derogatory
names. I was furious and
threw her out of my office. I
might be bunking her
husband, but I was sure a lot
of the freebies I threw his
way went a long way into
giving his wife and children
a cushy life.
Telling him I didn’t want
any scandal, I cut him off
and bought myself a few
vibrators which kept me
man-free for a while. Two
years later, I met Joshua
who was single and ready to
mingle as they say! His
youth made him eager to
please and he was really
energetic. ‘I love older
women’, he said cheekily
and he was better than any
of the vibrators I’d used. In
the bedroom he actually,
made me ecstatic. He was
matured enough not to talk
about my private life and I
gave him all the freedom he
wanted. All I wanted was
amazing sex-passion
without responsibilities.
And we were both free to
sleep with other people, so I
kept my options open.
“Once in a while, I caught
glimpse of jealousy in his
eyes and I quickly called him
to order. When he eventually
told me he was getting
married, I gave him my
blessings but told him we
were over. After that
experience with an irate wife,
I didn’t relish the idea of a
‘wife’ young enough to be
my daughter shouting
insults at me because I slept
with her husband.
“I’ve since met another
man also young and virile.
Like me, he enjoys slow,
sensuous sex. And I’m
having the time of my life.
It’s difficult to believe that
when I was younger, I
thought orgasms were
mythical, yet now, at my age,
I’m having incredible sex
and growing older has never
been such fun! I’m looking
forward to hitting the ‘great
five-o’! Who knows what
spritely hip-wriggling stud I
would spend that day with!
Thank goodness all my
children are abroad. My
eldest son came to stay for a
while and saw my new
catch. He grimaced when I
confessed we were lovers.
‘Just be careful mum’, he
warned, ‘we don’t want any
scandal!’
“I told him to grow up.
Even in Britain where he
stays, cougars abound and
it wouldn’t hurt him to
experiment with one or two
before he settles down! I
then discovered that a lot of
my friends are into this
cougar thing and some have
even slept with each other’s
lovers without any illfeelings.
I didn’t intend to
take things that far and I
insist on safe sex. I want
excitement. I don’t intend
to be reckless in my quest
for meaningful sex! I want
to be around long enough
to see how far this
adventure would take me!”
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Dear readers, please note that we neither operate, nor are we an affiliate of any match–making agency in or outside the
country. Any reader who transacts business with any one claiming to be our agent does so at his/her own risk. Our mission
is only to provide a platform for social networking.
Also note that neither Vanguard, nor Yetunde Arebi will be liable for any error in the publication of requests which may
result in any form of embarrassment to any member of the public. We therefore request that text must be sent through at least
one of the numbers for contact. This notice is necessary to enable us serve you better in our refreshingly different style. You
can send your requests to 33055. For enquiries, text or call 08026651636, or 08054700825
FLOOD: Rivers community
expresses fears
By Davies Iheamnachor
As the raining season
approaches, Aggah, a
flood prone community in
Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local
Government Area of Rivers
State has expressed fears of
sacking by this year’s flood.
This was happening as a
Joint Investigation Visit, JV,
between Nigeria Agip Oil
Company, NAOC, and
Egbema Voice of Freedom,
EVF, on culverts projects to
end flooding in the
community ended in a
deadlock following
disagreement by engineers of
both parties in the visit.
Speaking, the leader of
Egbema Voice of Freedom,
Pastor Evarestus Nicholas,
expressed worries that the
development meant that the
community would be flooded
this year should Agip not take
proactive steps.
Nicholas said: “We had
written Agip requesting that
they show the complainant
what they have done on the
project to stop flooding in our
community but Agip wrote us
that they were bringing the
paramount ruler of the
community and others to be
part of the JV and be part of
the report.
“NAOC being two years
behind in the completion of
the project, we complained at
the early stage about the
errors we observed in the
project, but they refused to
make amends.”
He said: "Having seen
what they have done today, it
is obvious that if nothing
urgent Aggah is going to
suffer another round of
flooding".
The lead engineer to EVF,
Engr. Orji Chuks, urged
NAOC to order their
contractor back to site and
execute the project according
to specifications.
Eboh lauds Ereyitomi over
empowerment of Warri youths
The Chairman of
Association of
Private School
Owners of Nigeria
(APSON), Warri South
Local Government Area
chapter, Hon. Michael
Oritseweyimi Eboh has
lauded the member
representing Warri Federal
Constituency at the
National Assembly, Chief
Thomas Ereyitomi over his
empowerment programmes
of youths of the
constituency.
Eboh who is the proprietor
of the famous Trust
International School, Warri
made the commendation in
a media interaction with our
correspondent in Warri at
the weekend.
The renowned
educationist stated that
Itsekiri, Ijaw and Warri
Urhobo youths have
benefited from the various
e m p o w e r m e n t
programmes of the law
maker, particularly in their
academic pursuits.
He attested that Chief
Ereyitomi has sponsored
scores of youths in the
enrollment for WAEC,
GCE, NECO and JAMB in
addition to providing
financial assistance to
indigent students
While noting that this
philanthropic gesture
would remove a lot of
youths from the street,
Hon. Eboh stated that a lot
of youths were on the
monthly payroll of the law
maker.
Eboh who described
Chief Ereyitomi as a
detribalized politician,
urged other politicians in
the area to borrow a leaf
from him (Ereyitomi) in his
philanthropic gesture.
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Gospel artiste, Peterson Okopi set
to drop video on 'Amazing God'
Peterson
Okopi,
Nigerian fast-rising
gospel music minister, is back
with the official video to his
hit single “Amazing God”
which has been a blessing to
many since the release in
March 2019.
The song brings to bear a
deeper sense of reflection on
the personality of the Almighty
God and the mystery
behind his creations.
According to the singer,
“It’s such a wonderful sight
to behold the great wonders
of God that are surrounding
us, and We can’t but stop and
ponder how he came about
such creativities. But, hey!
those are the things that
makes him the God that He
is.”
According to the Record
label president, Sly Etuk, the
team is busy working on
Peterson's full album which is
scheduled for June 1, 2021
Speaking on the hit song,
Amazing God,Mr Sly Etuk ,
stated that Peterson Okopi
who is signed to TWC Records
has so far released great and
amazing songs such as “O Ga
Eme”, “He’s up to something”
and several spontaneous
worship sessions available
online.
According to him,Peterson's
profile is on the rise as he has
graced so many platforms
such as the recently concluded
RCCG 79hrs Praise to mark
Pastor Adeboye's birthday.
•Peterson Okopi

SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 18, 2021, PAGE 25
Drug war escalates,
barons busted,
N75bn cocaine,
others seized
•How we did it in 3 months – Gen. Marwa
By Kingsley Omonobi,
Abuja
Imagine what would have been if
illicit drugs with a cash value of
over N75 billion were to circulate in
streets across Nigeria and getting to 15
million people.
Also imagine what would have been without
the arrest of over 2,175 suspected drug
traffickers and barons in three months,
and stopping the injection of over 2 million
kilograms of assorted dangerous illicit
drugs into an already charged volatile
society where drugs, ‘a defeatist cover’,
are now seen as a way out.
On top of this, the agency charged with
the responsibility of checkmating drug
abuse has filed about 2,000 cases in court
with 329 convictions while 1,549 cases are
pending.
These and many other revelations came
to the fore when the Chairman/Chief Executive
Officer of the National Drug Law
Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brigadier
General Buba Marwa (rtd), paid an advocacy
visit to the Minister of Information,
Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in his office in
Abuja.
Marwa said at the occasion: “These figures
are even less than what could have
been on the streets destroying the lives of
innocent youths, our women and men”.
Agreeing with the volume of danger and
destruction that drugs, if they had permeated
the society, would have cost the nation,
Mohammed, in his reply, said, “The
war against illicit drugs and tackling drug
trafficking is one of the most important
tasks in our country today.
“This is because drug trafficking, money
laundering by traffickers and the use of
illicit drugs are closely linked to the nation’s
security, well being of the citizens, the
moral fabric of our society and even governance.
“It is common knowledge that drug money
can be used to finance insurgency and terrorism.
A successful fight against drug trafficking
will therefore help to deny or reduce funding
for insurgency”.
The Information Minister continued, “The
kind of vicious banditry and kidnapping for
ransom that our country has witnessed in recent
times cannot be totally separated from
illicit drug use and their effects on users who
take to crime.
“Drug trafficking proceeds are sometimes
also ingested into legitimate businesses, making
hard working and honest people look indolent.
“What about the effect of drug trafficking
on the moral fabric of the society. This society
rarely questions the source or sources of people’s
wealth. That’s why drug traffickers end
up becoming role models in the society, with
devastating consequences for our young ones.
“Even governance is not spared. Drug traffickers
and money launderers contest and win
elections into high offices, where they help
shape policy.
“Just imagine the damage this can do to
governance and indeed to any nation.
“This is why I want to commend Gen. Marwa
for raising the bar in the fight against drug
cartels and the use of illicit drugs with the new
maxim, ‘’offensive action’’
“Boosting the morale and confidence of
staffers; Attracting International support and
‘’offensive action’’ against drug cartels that
has led to the arrest of 2,175 drug traffickers,
seizure of 2,050,765.33 kilograms of illicit
drugs as well as cash and drug seizures worth
N75 billion”.
Against this backdrop, the minister assured
the NDLEA boss: “The Federal Ministry of
Information and Culture will work with you
to give maximum publicity to your activities,
especially in the area of advocacy.
“To date, we have launched a number of
national campaigns. It will not be a bad idea
for the ministry, working with the NDLEA, to
launch a national campaign against drug trafficking
and use of illicit drugs.
“I will also encourage the NDLEA to work
with the National Orientation Agency (NOA),
which has set up Integrity Clubs in Secondary
Schools nationwide, to reach the young ones
with its campaign against drug use”.
Crisis
In his submission earlier, Marwa had said,
“Today, Nigeria is faced with a major drug
crisis that is in no small way fuelling most
of the security challenges being faced in
NE, NW, NC and indeed across the country”.
The NDLEA Chairman went on: “Recently,
through intelligence based operations,
we were able to arrest some drug
traffickers; one a Nigerien and another a
Chadian in Niger State and Taraba State
respectively, who supplied illicit drugs to
insurgents and bandits
“As much as we’re disrupting their drug
supply chain through law enforcement, we
also need to work hard on our drug demand
reduction through advocacy programmes,
which are mostly publicity driven”.
Saying his visit to the Information Ministry
was to leverage on the Minister’s position
to drive advocacy programmes at
little or no cost because it’s an open secret
that NDLEA has, over the years been left
behind in terms of funding among other
law enforcement agencies including those established
years after it, he explained: “For instance,
we need to run a weekly 30 minutes
network programme on NTA and Radio Nigeria
to reach Nigerians on the dangers of
drug abuse; we need to reach those at the grassroots
with our messages in various Nigerian
languages packaged in jingles; we need coverage
of our programmes to promote the
coming World Drug Day on June 26 and
•General
Marwa (left)
during his visit
to Information
Minister Lai
Mohammed
others.
“We don’t have the resources to pay for
all of these and this is why we need partnership
with the Ministry of Information
and its Agencies to be able to reach millions
of Nigerians and save them from the drug
scourge
“It gladdens my heart to inform the Hon.
Minister that despite our constraints, we have,
in less than three months in the saddle, been
able to seize drugs and cash worth over
N75billion, with the arrest of 2,175 drug traffickers
and the seizure of 2,050,766.33 kilograms
of assorted illicit drugs as well as
the filing of about 2,000 drug cases in
court with 329 convictions and 1,549
pending cases in court.
“These figures are less than what could
have been on the streets destroying the
lives of innocent youths, our women and
men. With the support of your office and
those of your agencies, we’ll be able to
save millions of Nigerians from being afflicted
with the menace of drug abuse”.
Marwa appreciated Mohammed for the
excellent work the he has been doing and leading
agencies under him to promote the good
work of the federal government and the country
as a whole
Noting that the minister’s competence and
versatility on issues of governance and information
management have never been in
doubt, he attributed this to his track records
as the Chief of Staff in Lagos, the first person
to occupy such office under Nigeria’s democratic
setting; then as National Publicity Secretary
of Action Congress of Nigeria and ultimately
the All Progressives Congress, a party
which for the first time defeated an incumbent
government in a democratic election.
“No doubt, the Minister’s current role
is central to all key activities of government
and the agenda of the President Muhammadu
Buhari’s administration, especially
with key information dissemination media
outlets like the NTA, NAN, FRCN, VON and
more under the supervision of the minister”,
he said.
“Let me acknowledge that without any
prompting from you, these agencies have been
of tremendous support since we came on
board. We are indeed grateful for that”.

PAGE 26—SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 18, 2021
‘In four years, PIND resolved 713 conflicts in Niger Delta’
By Kennedy Mbele
CRUDE oil was discovered at Oloibiri
in Bayelsa State in Nigeria’s Niger
Delta in 1956. Oil exploration and
production of oil and gas subsequently
began, making the region a key contributor
to Nigeria’s economy.
Oil is said to account for more than 70
percent of the country’s revenue.
Rather than a blessing to the people of the
Niger Delta, crude oil has become a source
of conflict.
Despite the huge economic benefits of
crude oil, a large percentage of the
population still lives in poverty.
The hardship in the region triggered
armed violence that lasted for years until
the federal government granted amnesty
to the militants in 2009.
Conflicts such as communal clashes,
cultism, election violence, communal
violence, armed robbery, kidnapping,
human trafficking, mob violence, and land
disputes grew, wrecking the region.
Peace
To address these conflicts, the Foundation
for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta
(PIND), an organization committed to
economic development and restoring peace
in the region in 2013 established the
Partners for Peace Network (P4P).
PIND’s P4P adopted a model where
grassroots peace actors were mobilized for
conflict prevention, mitigation, and
peacebuilding in the region
PIND deployed participatory research to
identify drivers of conflict and locate
existing peace actors and organized an
intensive conflict assessment of the region
that enabled them to map and hold
extensive consultations with
representatives from all key stakeholder
groups including men, women, youth,
militants, and ex-militants, political
leaders, civil society, business owners,
traditional leaders, religious leaders,
community group leaders, government
officials, and peacebuilding experts across
all nine states of the Niger Delta.
The aim is to understand how they have
experienced conflict and its impact on their
livelihoods.
Conflict
State chapters of the Network were
subsequently established in each of the nine
states of the Niger Delta.
The peace actors consist of traditional
rulers, government officials, civil society
actors, reformed militants, security
operatives, youth leaders, women leaders,
By Peter Egwuatu,
Assistant Business Editor
The achievement of N1 trillion annual market
turnover by the Nigerian Bureaux De
Change (BDCs) has reinforced their prime role
in the economy. Not relenting on its successes,
the Association of Bureaux De Change
Operators of Nigeria (ABCON) held a zoom
general meeting where regulators and industry
stakeholders lauded the strength of BDCs
and their contributions to economic growth
and exchange rate stability.
Issues around regulatory compliance were
discussed with ABCON President, Alhaji (Dr)
Aminu Gwadabe listing major steps taken by
ABCON management to ensure that all licensed
BDCs comply with extant regulations,
including regular rendition of regulatory returns.
IT was a gathering of champions with a
clear mandate geared towards setting
the Nigerian Bureaux de Change (BDCs)
on a path of sustainable growth.
The Association of Bureaux De Change
Operators of Nigeria (ABCON) Annual General
Meeting was an opportunity for AB-
CON President, Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe to
restate the prime role played by Central
Bank of Nigeria (CBN)-licensed BDCs in promoting
exchange rate stability, forex liquidity
and forex sale to the retail end of the
market.
Gwadabe spoke extensively about the N1
trillion turnover milestone achieved by
BDCs which reaffirms the sector’s prime
position in the economy. He also listed the
challenges facing the sub-sector, especially
small enterprise owners, private
individuals, and others.
P4P started with 100 peace actors in
2013. The number later increased to over
10, 000 members in 2019. Their capacity
was built to gain life-long skills. “Anytime I
see people we have trained in their little
corner making a difference, it blows my
mind,” said P4P Programme Manager,
Nkasi Wodu.
According to him, “two of the states that
have the greatest numbers as of 2018 are
Abia and Imo. One of the factors that are
attributed to that growth was the fact that
the two states have a strong media outreach
programme. They also have strong
grassroots mobilisation programmes. They
would go from community to community
talking about peace, just like a health worker
would go about doing sensitization on polio.
“They would go to churches and schools
talking about peace. Then, people would say
they want to be part of this programe. Even
when they carried out interventions in
communities, people were interested to join
in engaging and proffering solutions to
disputes and issues that would have
escalated to violence.”
Communities
The peace actors revealed the Network
was a good platform to put their passion for
peace into practice.
Atakpa Effiong, a volunteer from Akwa
Ibom State said he did not have a structured
means to actively engage in peacebuilding
before P4P was established, adding the
Network gave him a sense of doing
something that has an impact on his
communities.
“Just like other members, the Network
gives him a sense of doing something that
has an impact on their communities in
particular and the region in general,” he
said.
P4P members in Bayelsa State said “P4P
came to amplify our voices”.
Other members of the Akwa Ibom P4P
added that: “The Network has helped us
because it has created that platform that
we needed. They say together we stand and
divided we fall. The Network has given us
the strength, unity of mind, and purpose
we need to work in achieving peace in our
society.”
The peace actors were provided with the
support they need in addressing conflicts in
various communities in the region.
They receive early warning signs and go
into the communities and broker peace with
the people involved in the conflicts.
A combination of conflict prevention,
resolution, and management, mediation,
arbitration was adopted to restore peace in
•Gwadabe
the low transaction margins on dollar sales,
which continuously threaten the survival
of BDCs businesses.
The meeting, which had the backing of
CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, was also
attended by the apex bank directors, representatives
of Nigerian Financial Intelligence
Unit (NFIU), Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC), Financial Action
Task Force (FATF), DataPro CEO and
over 550 top BDC directors, traders and other
attendees nationwide.
Gwadabe further highlighted the urgent
need to foster a better and positive image
for the BDC sub-sector.
He said the BDCs needed a positive and
rewarding image different from what the
“naysayers” feed the public with.
“We need to tell everyone that ABCON
members are different. Majority of BDCs
•Participants at a peacebuilding event organised by PIND in the Niger Delta.
the region.
According to the P4P case study report
released by PIND in 2020: “P4P members
were able to take actions that addressed
potential sources of conflict before it reached
a point where the parties involved see
violence as their only recourse. In other
instances, where conflict is already in
existence, the P4P actors helped conflicting
parties to find a peaceful solution to their
disagreement using informal alternative
dispute resolution mechanisms such as
negotiation, arbitration, mediation, and
diplomacy.”
For instance, a nine-year land conflict
between two families in Urue Offong/Oruko
LGA in Akwa Ibom State had been
escalating.
The peace actors conducted a full
situational analysis of the crisis, including
the identification of key stakeholders and
persons who were in a position to exert a
positive influence on the dispute.
Dispute
Following the analysis, mediation efforts
were undertaken, involving both the
aggrieved families and the key stakeholders
identified in the analysis. Eventually, the
families agreed to resolve their dispute
through peaceful means and withdrew
their case from the police.
The Edo State chapter of the Network
reduced election-related violence during the
2016 gubernatorial election.
The members designed and executed an
intervention with two key components of
advocacy and sensitisation campaigns and
election conflict early warning and response
are not criminals. We need respect from
members of the public,” he stated.
He said with over 20,000 Nigerians employed
by the sub-sector, there is need to
support the BDC business for sustained economic
growth and employment generation.
Gwadabe who spoke on the theme: “BDCS
Operations: A Trillion Naira Sub Sector, Issues
of Formalisation, Regulation & Way
Forward,” said foreign currencies dealt in
by BDCs are derived from private sources
and such other sources which may include
the CBN window as determined by the CBN
from time to time for funding Business Travel
Allowance (BTA), Personal Travel Allowance
(PTA), School Fees Payment abroad,
medicals, mortgage and subscription.
There are also other autonomous sources
such as diaspora remittances, walk-in customers
and bank sources.
He said ABCON is now training Compliance
Officers to ensure they are acquainted
with what is required of them, especially
on the monthly rendition of results and
tracking illicit capital flows through compliance.
According to Gwadabe, BDCs are
complying with the rendition of suspicious
transaction reports as directed by NFIU,
CBN, and EFCC.
He said BDCs are required to comply with
all extant rules and regulations prescribed
by the CBN, adding that CBN supervises
and monitors their operations.
“In compliance with the provisions of
Bank and Other Financial Institutions (BO-
FIA) as amended, every BDC renders returns
to the CBN in prescribed format and
within the deadline stipulated by the CBN.
training.
The advocacy and sensitisation
campaigns targeted relevant stakeholders
through peace messaging and advocacy
visits before, during, and after the elections,
while the early warning and response
component focused on the training of 60
peace monitors in four identified hotspot
LGAs on early warning reporting.
Interventions
They established a situation monitoring
room in Benin, the state capital, to collect,
analyse reports, coordinate and contact key
stakeholders, including Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC) and
the Police through dedicated phone lines for
timely responses.
PIND supported P4P members with grants
to conduct peace-building interventions.
P4P Network Coordinator Africa, Lawal
said: “When they (P4P members) come up
with an intervention plan that has a budget
of N1,000,000, we give them like N300,
000 or N400,000 so they will have
something to put on board as members.”
He said those grants played a vital role in
jumpstarting the quick conflict response
objective of the network.
Between 2015 and 2019, the P4P Network
has mitigated 713 conflicts in the Niger
Delta.
The P4P Network model is “accepted
because it is indigenous to the people,” said
P4P Network Coordinator, Africa, Lawal.
He added that building a network of
volunteers for peace has proven to be an
effective model for peacebuilding in a
conflict-prone region like the Niger Delta.
1trn turnover: BDCs set for market dominance, regulatory compliance
The records of the BDCs are made readily
available to the CBN examiners as and
when requested including carrying out
customer due diligence, corporate governance
and tax returns,” he said.
He said ABCON has over the years established
itself as a key player in the BDC industry
and has also made several commitments
and sacrifices to ensure that the sector
continues to thrive despite all odds.
“The recognition of the role of BDCs in Nigeria’s
financial sector remains the first step
to building a sustainable and viable forex
market that is comparable to what is obtainable
in other developed economies. But
getting the Nigerian BDC sector to where it
desires, to demands hard work, quality leadership,
regulatory foresight and sound government
policies,” he said.
Digitization/ Transaction Margin
Review
Gwadabe said BDCs have achieved major
success with the digitization of their operations
as operators can now file their reports
from a convenient point without clustering
at CBN’s offices. He said ABCON digitized
BDCs operations with the official launch and
take off of the ABCON Live Run Automation
Portal in Lagos.
The portal, which is a game-changer in
the Nigerian BDC Industry, is the final phase
of automating all BDCs’ operations and integrating
them with the operations of CBN,
NFIU and Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement
System (NIBSS) for improved compliance
with regulation and seamless operations.
Continues on
onlinewww.vanguardngr.com

Viewpoint
By Ayodeji Mayokun Ayopo
WHEN Lagos State government earmarked
143.66 billion naira for public education in
the 2021 budget, many people were of the opinion
that it was poised to change the education landscape
in the state.
This implies that the government is strongly focused
in pursuing a holistic agenda of transforming
the education sector.
To achieve it aim here, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu
inaugurated the Special Committee on
the Rehabilitation of Public Schools (SCRPS).
It should be pointed out that the huge investment
in infrastructural development in the education
sector is very critical to effective learning.
Indeed the quote from the sage, Allan Bloom,
who said “education is the movement from darkness
to light” is indeed the current scenario in Lagos
State. The Sanwo-Olu government is indeed
dispelling the works of darkness in the education
sector by heralding a new dawn through its holistic
agenda to accelerate infrastructural development
in the sector. It should be noted that public
schools suffered from environmental degradation
and infrastructural kwashiorkor.
It has been a pitiable sight as students learn under
pathetic and life threatening atmosphere.
However, things have started taking shape
after Sanwo-Olu took office.
By George Inwang
HEALTH is wealth. This time-worn adage
must be the philosophy that drives the
unprecedented transformation of the health
sector in Akwa Ibom State under the
leadership of Governor Udom Emmanuel.
It is a transformation that is bringing
healthcare delivery closer to the people
through increased accessibility and
availability regardless of their social class or
area of residence.
This includes rural areas which had no health
facilities, thus forcing residents in those areas
to travel long distances for medical care in
hospitals that were ill-equipped to serve that
purpose ab initio.
The exercise has so far seen the revamping
of health institutions that were dilapidated in
structures, which were in rundown conditions
and unable to provide services to the sick, even
in the most common ailments like malaria
and typhoid fever, or maternity services – with
preventable deaths, including high infant and
maternal mortality rates, as consequence.
Those institutions have had life breathed into
them by way of remodeling, reconstruction,
and rehabilitation of critical structures like
emergency and accident departments, wards,
By Chigoziem Dike
IN 2014, Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product
(GDP) was rebased from $270bn to $520bn,
making it the largest economy in Africa and
the 26th largest in the world. This close to 90%
increase was attributed to new sectors of the
economy not previously captured, one of which
was the creative industry. For the first time in
Nigeria’s economic history, the value of this industry
was captured and one of its subsets –
Nollywood – was discovered to have contributed
1.42% to the GDP, an impressive $7.2bn in
monetary value. Nollywood has grown to be
globally recognized as the second largest film
producer in the world, producing about 2500
films a year and generating $590million annually.
Nollywood’s leap in recent times has gone
beyond the individual efforts of the players. It is
the collaboration of many interventions dedicated
to making the film industry home to authentic
storytelling. Since the home video boom
in the 90s that led to the coinage of ‘Nollywood’,
By Ifeanyi Aigbedion
NIGERIANS woke up to hear about the bru
tal killing of an Army Captain and some soldiers
who were on a routine patrol operation in
Konshisha Local Government Area of Benue State.
The 11 fallen heroes were killed by alleged gunmen
who ambushed their military convoy.
Unconfirmed reports also claimed that the slain
troops met their ‘tragic end’ after intervening in a
‘bloody’ communal clash between Konshisha and
Oju local governments.
Days earlier, they had first been declared missing.
But in a statement, issued penultimate Thursday,
Brig. Gen. Mohammed Yerima, Director, Army
Public Relations, said the missing soldiers were
later found dead. This was after a search and rescue
operation was conducted.
Though this is not first time personnel of the
Armed Forces of Nigeria have fallen victim to
unscrupulous elements, it is heartbreaking that
Service to fatherland is being turned into a source
of sorry.
With the killings come new widows and children
who have no father to look up to. Dying on
the war front is not a new thing, but when it happens
when on a mission to restore peace, it becomes
unacceptable.
The series of attacks by gunmen on security per-
With gargantuan zeal, the governor swung into
action and, today, the tide has indeed changed
positively concerning infrastructural decay in Lagos
public schools. It should be emphasized that
the strong focus of the administration is premised
on a strategic blueprint. This aptly tagged
T.H.E.M.E.S. focuses on Traffic Management,
Transport, Health, Environment, Education and
Technology. The education part of this strategic
process has received enormous attention with huge
investment in infrastructural development.
Sanwo-Olu on assumption of office had decried
the poor state of infrastructure in public schools.
He immediately declared zero tolerance on the
poor state of infrastructure in public schools.
FULFILLING AGENDA
To accelerate and actualize the core vision of
revamping schools’ infrastructure, the governor
inaugurated SCRPS.
The committee, headed by Mr. Hakeem Smith,
has since been a veritable channel through which
public schools have experienced massive transformation
and growth.
The governor gave SCRPS the mandate to ensure
that public schools are conducive for learning.
The Smith committee remains the cynosure of
public spectacle as the populace watched in utter
SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 18, 2021, PAGE 27
Lagos Public Schools: SCRPS and the Transformation Agenda
With MTF, MultiChoice Nigeria beams Nollywood to Global investors
Wanton killing of military personnel must stop
sonnel cuts across the country.
Like many spirited and concerned Nigerians,
Hajia Salamatu Adebayo, Publicity Secretary,
Mothers for United Nigeria (MUN) laments the
frequent attack on members of the Armed Forces
of Nigeria.
Adebayo like several other Nigerians believes
that the wanton attacks on troops are capable of
‘killing’ their morale while affecting ongoing military
operations, across the country.
Truth must be told, families of our military personnel
are already in pain missing their loved ones
engaged in several operations across the country.
Some families have not seen their loved ones who
are engaged in military operations for months.
The last any of the families want to hear is the
death of their loved ones.
Therefore, willfully killing people who have
mortgaged their life for the country is adding salt
to the injury. As Adebayo said, we must ensure the
morale of our military personnel is not weakened.
We must support them at this very crucial point in
the history of this great country.
We must support the new service chiefs led by the
Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Leo Irabor,
and give them the benefit of doubt as they seek
Udom’s healthcare programme for sustainable devt
•Gov Udom
theatres, and dispensaries as the case may be,
as well as upgrade or replacement of
equipment, to be able to meet the challenge of
providing modern healthcare delivery in a
state that is being primed to be Nigeria’s
industrial hub.
The government has created an environment
that is conducive for investments to thrive – a
peaceful and secure state, critical infrastructure
like a good road network and power, as well as
incentives that investors find attractive and
irresistible. This is in addition to the traditional
hospitality for which the people of Akwa Ibom
are well known, which contributes to creating
a welcoming environment where people can
visit, live and work.
The creation of the right environment has so
far yielded results in form of industrial
establishments which have been set up in the
state in the last six years – about 16 in all. These
industries are collectively employing thousands
of people. With the oil and gas free zone, the
federal government is planning to set up in the
state, and the futuristic Ibom Deep Sea Port
which is going to be the biggest investment in
that part of the country, Akwa Ibom indigenes
in other parts of the country are going to find it
attractive to return home to seek employment
and business opportunities. The state will no
doubt appeal to Nigerians in neighbouring
states and other parts of the country in search
of greener pastures.
With more people coming into the state-local
astonishment the beautification of public schools
in Lagos.
Since its inauguration, SCPRS has rehabilitated
close to 150 schools while over 300 classrooms
at various stages of completion are being constructed
and renovated.
Construction of hostel blocks with a target of
over 1,000 beddings is also almost completed in
the model colleges.
The facilities that are being installed in the
schools attest to the fact that fact that the Lagos
government is making education a life in its own
right for both teachers and students.
STATE-OF-THE-ART FURNITURE
The intervention is not only limited to infrastructural
development but also the provision of modern
furniture. The fabrication and supply of dual
single composite student benches and tables with
underneath compartments for books and bag storage
are being supplied to public schools especially
to those with furniture deficit.
The provision of state-of-the-art furniture for
both students and teachers align with the above
that education is life in Lagos. SCRPS has provided
over 100,000 students furniture.
ICT ANGLE
Giant strides have also been made in infusing
technology into schools and into the learning process.
This is a welcome development in view of
the huge role ICT plays in learning.
It is the innate resolve of the Sanwo-Olu administration
to build new schools and incorporate
ICT to drive teaching and learning through
infrastructural needs.
TEACHERS CAPABILITIES
A critical focus of the transformation in public
schools is improving the competency and capabilities
of teachers through continuous training.
The skills of teachers are being updated through
modern technology.
2,500 teachers were trained in scenario planning
based on remote learning, teaching and classroom
co-ordination post-COVID.
SECURITY ANGLE
The government intervention is not only limited
to infrastructure but also the innovative dimension
of security.
There is the Security Improvement Programme
(SIP) introduced especially in the model colleges
and boarding schools.
The government factored the critical issue of
security into its school infrastructural development
project. Watch towers with alarm belts and
perimeter fences in order to enhance security have
also been constructed.
Continues on www.vanguardngr.com
investors from other parts of the country,
foreign investors and Nigerians seeing to take
up employment – there is going to be pressure
on social services, including healthcare
delivery. The government has acted proactively
by investing in healthcare to build a state
where health would translate to wealth – a
state with a healthy population that would
create individual and collective wealth for
present and future generations of Akwa
Ibomites.
The government has strengthened
healthcare delivery at the primary level by
building more health centres, rehabilitating
old ones and upgrading some to the level of
full hospitals. For instance, the Awa Primary
Health Centre has been remodeled,
reconstructed and equipped to join the list of
general hospitals that are located in the three
senatorial districts of the state – to make
secondary healthcare delivery available even
where there are primary health facilities.
•Inwang, a public affairs commentator,
lives in Port Harcourt
Continues on www.vanguardngr.com
Nigerian films have displayed an impressive
capacity to travel beyond the shores to the
amazement of many observers. Though films
at the time were of low production quality, the
stories they told resonated with Nigerians home
and abroad as it reflected the culture and economic
situation of the country.
It wasn’t long before Nollywood became the
leader in African films where any film from Nigeria
was almost seen as a representation of the
continent. This boom resulted in many individuals
with little or no filmmaking experience
associating themselves with the industry. The
downside of this bandwagon effect resulted in a
drop in production quality and a promotion of
unprofessionalism since some practitioners
were untrained.
In the late 90s, the industry witnessed a change
through the intervention of MultiChoice Nigeria.
The media entertainment company kicked
off an initiative - New Directions - to stimulate
the growth of emerging filmmakers in the continent
with professional trainings of international
repute. Renowned filmmakers like Tunde Kelani,
the late quintessential Amaka Igwe, Mahmood
Ali Balogun and Femi Odugbemi cut
their teeth on that program and would not only
become masters in the field of storytelling but
also institutions. Through their eyes, other filmmakers
were able to understand the craft and
business of filmmaking.
MultiChoice has had a knack for investing in
local content since it entered the Nigerian market
in 1993. These investments are not limited
to monetary value alone but extend to talent
and capacity development as well. From sports
to movies and even to music, the company has
embarked on many interventions such as trainings,
conferences and awards that empower and
reward talents. One of such interventions is the
MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF), the company’s
Creating Shared Value initiative.
Similar to New Directions, the ultimate objective
of the initiative is to ignite Africa’s creative
industries, notably the filmmaking business.
MTF has three touchpoints: The Academy,
Masterclasses and Portal.
The Academy operates in three regions of the
continent where the company thrives and is
accessible to 13 countries. In West Africa, the
Academy hub is in Nigeria while in Southern
and Eastern Africa, Zambia and Kenya are the
learning hubs. The Academy offers a unique
opportunity to young, vibrant and passionate
individuals who display an interest in film and
television production. Twenty students are
picked from each region and undergo a 12-
month all-expense paid educational programme.
The programme exposes the students
to the nitty-gritty of filmmaking while expanding
their views on the business of filmmaking.
•Dike a Public Affairs analyst, writes from
Abuja.
Continues on www.vanguardngr.com
solutions to the security challenges ravaging the
land.
Thankfully, the killings have been condemned
by Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, who
vowed to collaborate with security agencies to
bring peace to Konshisha.
Ortom, while describing the incident as unfortunate,
apologised to the families of the fallen heroes.
He vowed that the state government would collaborate
with security agencies to ensure that all
those who perpetrated the act are fished out and
brought to book
He regretted how the soldiers died in the hands
of the militias while trying to ensure peace in troubled
areas of the state.
Ortom appealed to the families of the deceased
soldiers to forgive him for uncomplimentary comments
he may have made in the course of the
situation, saying he said that based on the information
available to him at that time.
“If I said anything offensive to the families, I ask
for their forgiveness. I earlier said only two soldiers
were involved based on the information available
to me at that time.”
The governor pledged his administration’s support
for the bereaved families to enable them to
overcome the difficult moment.
Political, community and religious leaders, traditional
rulers must educate their people on the
need to support the Armed Forces of Nigeria to
bring peace to their domain
But beyond the condolences of Governor Ortom
and the homilies of both Major Mavisky
and Captain Bashir, there is a need for a proactive
measure to be adopted to arrest the spate of
wanton attacks on military personnel.
Meanwhile, it should dawn on the federal government,
most especially, to find a way to curb
anything that will dampen the morale of troops
in the various frontlines, and also hinder ongoing
military operations. It is fundamental to ensure
that efficacious military strategies evolved
to fight terrorists, bandits, militia gangs, and other
criminals, are not weakened.
That is why every necessary machinery must
be put in place to avoid a repeat of the Konshisha
event. And that is why we all must not only worry
that our military personnel are been maimed, on
a basis. We must also do something to stop it.
•Aigbedion is Convener, Unity Advocacy
Group (UAG)

PAGE 28—SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 18, 2021
Tribute
By Festus Ahon
OBARISI Ovie Omo-Agege returned from
the United States in 2001 with a passion
to serve his fatherland, leaving his lofty legal
practice and taking a shot at the House of Representatives
election to represent Ughelli North/
Ughelli South and Udu Federal Constituency,
Delta State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic
Party, PDP, with uncertainty.
He went round the political gladiators in the
constituency then to intimate them with his
desire to contest the 2003 National Assembly
election.
He was not substantially then, so he would
always introduced himself as the son of a
former Chief Judge of Delta State, Justice
James Omo-Agege, now of blessed memory.
But his ambition to serve his people, for which
he returned from America, was truncated after
he was unable to pick the PDP’s ticket to fly the
party’s flag at the 2003 general elections.
Undeterred by his unsuccessful outing in the
election, Omo-Agege joined other party members
to work for the re-election of then Governor
James Onanefe Ibori.
After his re-election, Ibori picked him (Omo-
Agege) as his Executive Assistant, a position he
held until he was appointed as Commissioner
for Special Duties (Government House) in
Richard Elesho
On Monday, 15th February, a day af
ter this year’s St. Valentine’s Day cel
ebrations, my phone rang with a din.
I stepped aside from my visitor to pick it. The
caller tried to be calm. But I could perceive the
nervousness in her tone.
“What did they say happened in Kogi?” Since
I had remained indoor working from home
on that day, I replied I had not heard anything.
‘Tor’ she said. “But what of your Oga?” I wanted
to confirm which Oga when she interjected.
“What did they say has happened to Ibro? Is it
true that he is dead...?” So many questions.
She sounded truly worried or exasperated to
the point of sobs. I told her I had not heard or
read anything like that. I also assured her I
would cross-check the information and get
back to her.
To say I was downcast would be an understatement.
But my curiosity was stronger than
my melancholy. Since meeting his acquaintance
in 2004 about a year after he became
Governor of Kogi, my dear home State, Alhaji
Ibrahim Idris, aka Ibro had become a destiny
helper to me. Someone under whom I had
shared so much first as ‘Oga’, then ‘Attai’ and
now as ‘Baba.’
Could it be true? Although, I was in touch
with one of his children a week earlier, I had
not spoken with Baba for sometime. I ignored
my visitor who had taken a seat beside my
uncle in front of our house where we were both
enjoying some succour from the horrible Lokoja
heat. Without considering other options, I
called Baba. The trauma did not last.
To commemorate the World Malaria
Day and to further create awareness
on its Malaria Eradication Project, the
Prince Ned Nwoko Foundation is inviting creative
talents across Nigeria to interprete his
Antarctica Expedition/Experience and Malaria
Project in different creative genres such as
music, shortfilm, drawings, poetry, etc. The
winner, according to a statement, gets 5million
Naira worth of prizes which include cash
prize of 2.5m, luxury trip to Mount Ned on a
private jet and a weekend at a luxury hotel in
Abuja.
Audition deadline is April 20.
In addition, on April 24, the eve of World
Malaria Day, there will be a MALARIA WALK
in Abuja metropolis led by the Initiator of the
Malaria Eradication Project, Prince Ned Nwoko
supported by National Malaria Elimination
Programme (NMEP) Federal Ministry of
Health (FMOH), Ministry of Environment,
Malaria Consortium, National Youth Service
Corps, Linas International, Project Tourism,
Regina Entertainment Television, Federal
Road Safety Corps, The Nigerian Police Force,
to mention but a few. Everyone is encouraged
to WALK WITH NED to end the scourge of
malaria in Nigeria and Africa.
It will be recalled that in January 2020 Prince
Ned Nwoko went on a symbolic expedition to
the extremely cold Antarctica to create an
Awareness on the scourge of malaria in Africa.
He made history as the first BLACK AFRICAN
TO REACH THE SOUTH POLE, ANTARC-
TICA. The essence of the trip was to use global
attention that it will attract to create Awareness
on the need to Eradicate Malaria in Africa.
The Foundation therefore launched an
DELTA: How providence smiled on Omo-Agege
•Ovie Omo-Agege
2005.
Still burning with the desire to serve his people,
Omo-Agege again dropped his hat in the
ring to contest the 2007 Delta State gubernatorial
election and went round the state to campaign
after floating the Ovie Omo-Agege Foundation.
He ran with former Governor Emmanuel
Uduaghan, present Governor Ifeanyi Okowa,
the late Senator Pius Ewherido, Chief Emmanuel
Aguariavwodo and a host of others under
the umbrella of the PDP.
But, again, he could not secure the PDP governorship
ticket.
After the primary election, he was appointed
by Ibori as Secretary to the State Government,
SSG, a position he held till the end of the administration
in May 2007.
He joined other party members to work for
the victory of Uduaghan who had won the PDP
gubernatorial primary.
In November 2010, Omo-Agege again indicated
interest to contest the governorship election
after the Court of Appeal, Benin-City nullified
the election of former Uduaghan.
This time, he pitched his tent with the Republican
Party of Nigeria, RPN, which platform he
used to contest the governorship rerun in February
2011.
The outcome of the election is better on your
lips as former Uduaghan was returned after
beating all his opponents.
Still determined to serve, Omo-Agege contested
the 2011 governorship election after
winning the ticket of the defunct Action Congress
of Nigeria, CAN, now All Progressives
Congress, APC.
He was also unsuccessful in that election.
The mystique of Ibrahim Idris, CON at 72
•Gov Udom
•Idris
Ned Nwoko to lead walk for malaria eradication
•Prince Ned Nwoko
onslaught on the dreaded disease with the following
approaches:
1. Research for development of safe Malaria
and implementation of RTSS Malaria Vaccine
in Nigeria.
2 Sanitation that includes cleaning up the
entire country to get rid of mosquito breeding
spaces
3. Setting up of recycling plants in each Local
Government Area of the Federation.
4. Fumigation and Spraying of the environment
to kill the vector.
5. Finally the Prince Ned Nwoko through his
Foundation has approached the National Assembly
to advocate for a Bill for the creation of
an Agency that will ensure sustainable implementation
of the above approaches for a Malaria
free Nigeria.
It was as if he was expecting the call. At the
third ring, when it connected, he picked. Then
I heard his trademark opening compliments
“Hellooo Richard... How are you my dear.” I
was glad to find him alive. My eclat knew no
bounds at this discovery. It was fake news and
I didn’t bother him further.
I returned to my visitor only to discover that
the offending information was also known to
him. He had seen the headline and heard a
conversation on the death of one Ibrahim Idris.
He thought he should crosscheck with me.
I assured him I just spoke with the former Governor.
The information was a still birth. Dead
on arrival.
It turned out to be a case of mistaken identity.
Yes, a Sudanese of the same name and
former detainee at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba,
had died about mid February. Apparently it
was this passage that some people either erroneously
or mischievously domesticated.
Very few people, big or small live through
the privilege of reading their own obituary. Dr.
Nnamidi Azikiwe, the late Owelle of Onitsha
did. In November 1989, both print and electronic
media had announced Zik’s death with
screaming headlines. In fact, the former Nationalist
and first indigenous Governor General
of Nigeria had read the announcement of
his death on national media. He laughed it off.
Of course he did not die until 1996 at the ripe
age of 91.
It is a strong fortuity that Ibrahim shared
other things with the great Zik of Africa. Azikiwe
was among the pioneer students of Holy
Trinity School, Onitsha which Ibrahim would
also attend decades later for his primary education.
In his adolescent years in Onitsha where he
grew up, Ibrahim was a regular visitor to Azikiwe’s
country home. He had voluntarily cultivated
the habit of a herdsman cutting grasses
and leafs for his mentor’s growing livestock.
The great man took notice of the boy’s diligence.
In appreciation, he dashed Ibrahim
five shillings. It was the boy’s biggest cash gift
then. That was in about late 50s.
Later, he returned to the PDP and contested
the Delta Central senatorial bye-election after
the demise of Senator Pius Ewherido in
2013.
He lost the primary election to Senator Emmanuel
Aguariavwodo.
In 2015, Omo-Agege vied in the gubernatorial
election where he contested the PDP ticket
with incumbent Governor Okowa and a host
others and lost.
Propelled by his passion for the service of his
people, he immediately joined the Labour Party
on which platform he contested the 2015 National
Assembly elections but lost to the candidate
of the PDP, Senator Ighoyota Amori.
Not satisfied with the outcome of the election,
he approached the Election Petition Tribunal
and was declared by the Court of Appeal,
Benin-City as winner of the election and
was subsequently sworn-in.
In 2019, he sought for re-election into the
Senate this time on the platform of the All
Progressives Congress, APC.
He won both the primary and general elections
without much stress due to his overwhelming
performance in his first term in the
Red Chamber.
Continues on www.vanguardngr.com
Indeed, outside his parents, the strongest
influence on Ibrahim was a Zik devotee and
apologist, Mr James Nwanne. The native of
Ubulu Uku who was the custodian of Ziks
property in Onitsha, happened to be living in
the same compound with Ibrahim’s parents.
He was Ibrahim’s self appointed guardianangel
who identified his talents early in life
and kept him on the path of discipline. “You
are different from other children.” He would
remind Ibrahim whenever he applied the cane
on him.
Later in life, the statement turned out to be
prophetic. In his business and public service
career, Ibrahim’s humility, diligence and devotion
to truth have set him ways ahead of his
contemporaries.
Before his shepherd experience, he had been
a scavenger collecting and repackaging old
small bottles for sale in hospitals around Onitsha.
He saved Mama Igonoh, his mother
from financial embarrassments through the
ingenious practice. His stint at King’s College
of Commerce, Buguma Rivers State was not
less eventful. From eating on the table of
Barango Tariah, the then Principal, to following
the senior prefect nicknamed Pasota
Minisota home in the countryside for short
holidays, his was a life of love, love and more
love from people.
Elesho was Chief Press Secretary, CPS,
to the former Governor.
Continues on www.vanguardngr.com
We will revitalise relationship with people in the
Caribbean —Tamuno, Ambassador designate
.As Ooni promises cultural revival
By Adesina Wahab
Nigeria’s Ambassador Designate/
High Commissioner to Jamaica,
Haiti, Belize and Dominican
Republic, Dr Maureen Piribonemi Tanumo,
has said the country will soon really
connect with the black people in those
nations, so that the advantages in the cultural
affinity between the peoples of the
Caribbean and Nigeria will be adequately
harnessed.
She stated this at the weekend at the palace
of the Ooni of Ile Ife, His Imperial
Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi,
while honouring an invitation extended to
her by the palace.
She noted that quite a number of people
in the Caribbean were eager to identify
with their kinsmen in Africa, especially
Nigeria, from where their forebears were
taken as slaves to those countries.
Tanumo added that current administration
was ready to remove all the bottlenecks
hindering the seamless interface
between the two regions such as lack of
direct flight between Nigeria and the region,
and also explore ways of a great symbiotic
relationship.
“Kabiyesi, I am thrilled to be here on
your invitation as the representative of
Nigeria in the Caribbean and Jamaica.
The people of the Caribbean would be
happy and looking forward to be associated
with the people of Nigeria, especially
the South-West from where their forebears
were transported as slaves many
years ago through Badagry in the South-
West part of Nigeria and Calabar.
“So, we have our people over there waiting
for us to connect. As a woman that
believes in tradition and the culture of our
people, I was glad when I was accorded
with this invitation by the Ooni of Ife to
come here to see and also know how to
communicate with the people of the Caribbean.
“As an ambassador of the black people,
I am assuring you that I will let people
know that there are people known as the
people of Ife who hold the African culture
in high esteem. We would love to bring
it to the global space for the world to
know. And we are working for a good relationship
between the two countries and
for the people of Ife to get ready to visit
Jamaica,” she stated.
Tanumo gave the assurance that the lack
of direct flight between Nigeria and Jamaica
would soon be a thing of the past.
In his response, the Ooni promised to
cooperate with the ambassador and
vowed to assist in making her discharge
her work with ease.
The foremost monarch noted that reviving
the culture of the Nigerian people and
making it attractive to the people in the
Diaspora was a task he wanted to achieve.
He promised to champion the cause of
such a cultural reawakening.

Edo 2020 fall-out: Nigeria needs sports
oriented sports minister, athletes cry out
*Nigerian atheletes looking for a better deal
Team Nasarawa attacked, one
feared dead
Team Nasarawa con
tingent returning
from the just- concluded
20th National Sports Festival
held in Benin City,
Edo State were Thursday
attacked by suspected
armed robbers at Akeleku
village, some two kilometres
after Kadarko town,
along Makurdi-Lafia express
road.
The 56-seater team bus
had rammed into the robbers
who were already carrying
out their nefarious
act on other commuters on
the highway Thursday
night.
The heavily armed robbers
who appeared in military
camouflage had asked
the Team Nasarawa bus
driver and other occupants
to disembark from their
vehicle as they got positioned
to unleash mayhem.
But unknown to the men
of the underworld, one of
the escorts attached to the
contingent immediately
opened fire, killing one of
the gang members on the
spot.
As the bus was escaping
from the scene, some of the
hoodlums who were hiding
inside the bush returned
multiple gunfires, bursting
the tyres and shattering the
radiator of the bus, which
led to the occupants of the
vehicle, majority of whom
were athletes and coaches,
scampering for safety.
More security re-inforcement
was immediately
called and the ugly situation
which lasted for over
four hours was brought under
control, as the entire
contingent were re-united
unharmed and returned
safely to their destination in
Lafia, the State’s capital, in
the early hours of Friday.
(From Left): Sukanmi Iyiola, Adebiyi Fetuga,
Omoba Wole Sowole( Capt) and Jenkins Alumona
of the Flykite team at the Nigeria British Chambers
of Commerce 2021 Chamber of Commerce
Golf Tournament
Musa’s Kano Pillar move a
boost for NPFL — Izilein
Former Bendel In
surance coach Godwin
Izilein has said that
the signing of Super Eagles
captain Ahmed
Musa by Kano Pillars
FC is a big boost for the
Nigeria Professional
Football League (NPFL).
He said the player took
the best decision which
would keep him in good
shape, urging other
players like him to take
a cue from him and not
remain idle.
“Musa took the right
decision, instead of remaining
idle without a
club. This decision will
not relegate him or make
him less of a good footballer,
but put him in
good shape. I want others
like him (Musa) to
put pride aside and emulate
him.
“My conclusion is that
this is a big motivation
for the Nigerian league.
Several people and indeed
the whole world
now have something positive
to talk about our
league”.
NAN reports that Musa
had on Wednesday put
pen to paper to play for
the Kano Pillars FC in
the NPFL.
*Musa
By Ben Efe
Following upheavals
that have hit Nigerian
sports in recent times,
former Nigerian athletes
have pleaded with whoever
becomes the next Nigerian
President to appoint a
sports oriented citizen to be
sports minister.
Under President Mohammadu
Buhari’s administration,
sports ministers
from Solomon Dalung to
Sunday Dare seem to have
failed to chart a new course
for the country’s sports as
it has been crisis after crisis
in major sports like football,
athletics and basketball.
The federations that
are relatively crisis free are
moribund with no hope of
competitions.
“There has been too much
politics in sports administration
and it has destroyed
Nigerian sports,” cried
former 400m runner Sunday
Adeleye.
“In the next dispensation
we sports people must impress
on whoever is going
to be sports minister to be
Gov Diri plans elaborate
reception for Team Bayelsa,
says Igali
*As Jones-Ere hails contingent
For posting their best
ever performance at
the National Sports Festival,
Governor of Bayelsa
state, Senator Douye Diri
has promised to celebrate
the state’s contingent to the
Edo 2020 event at an elaborate
reception planned
for Yenagoa.
The state’s commissioner
for youth and sports, Dr
Daniel Igali disclosed this
to Sports Vanguard via
telephone from Yenagoa
on Friday.
According to Dr Igali
who is also the President
of the Nigerian Wrestling
Federation, Gov Diri commended
the athletes for
their performance at the
festival which saw them
placing third with 56 gold
medals, 23 more than their
sister state, Rivers which
came fourth with 33 gold
medals.
“The governor was elated
by the performance of
the athletes and came personally
to receive them at
the entrance of Yenagoa.
Bayelsans trooped out in
their numbers to welcome
the team and carried the
athletes shoulder high,” he
said.
“We have never experienced
this in the history of
our participation at the
sports festival. The governor
is planning an elaborate
reception on a later
date to reward the athletes
for their feat,” an equally
elated Igali announced.
By Patrick Omorodion
well grounded in sports.
Take a look at the ministry
of Health, Justice and Finance
and tell me if it is
rookies that are made ministers.
Sports is a big industry
and we must have technocrats
in decision making
position to move it forward.”
Also speaking in the same
vein was Falilat Ogunkoya.
She lamented the endless
crisis that have rocked the
Athletics Federation of Nigeria,
AFN, saying that
things would have fared better
without the official interference
from the sports ministry.
“We really look forward to
the day people who are genuinely
into sports are made
ministers. Even if we can’t
get it, those surrounding the
minister must be able to influence
his decisions. We’ve
had former athletes who are
personal assistants to sports
ministers yet things are getting
worse,” said the 1996
Atlanta Olympic Games
400m bronze and 4x400m
silver medalist.
Meanwhile a former
sports commissioner in the
state, Prince Opukiri Jones-
Ere commended the Governor
Diri, Dr Igali and all
the athletes and their
coaches for making
Bayelsa proud at the biennial
event which ended in
Benin City, Edo state on
Wednesday.
Writing on his Facebook
wall, Prince Jones-Ere said,
“56 Gold medals, 55 Silver
medals and
58 Bronze medals. This is
our overall 3rd place and
best outing ever. Congrats to
our fine athletes, coaches,
Hon. Daniel Igali and Gov
Douye Diri. God bless Bayelsa.”
In apparent reference to their
sister state, Rivers, Jones-Ere,
a former Special Assistant to
the Minister of Sports and
Chairman, National Sports
Commission, Dr Tammy Danagogo
said, “It is not the size
of the state, it’s not how many
Local Government Areas a
state has but the size of the people
in the state”, adding that
Bayelsa performed the record
breaking feat with 80% home
grown athletes.
The state’s swimmer, Ifiezebe
Gagbe turned out the most
decorated athlete at the National
Sports Festival with a
total of 8 gold, 2 silver and 5
bronze medals. She created
new records in 100m Freestyle,
400m individual medley,
1500m freestyle, 200m freestyle
and the 400m freestyle.
SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 18, 2021, PAGE 29
Norwich City secure automatic return to the Premiership
Norwich City have se
cured an automatic
return to the Premiership,
just one season after they
were relegated after Brebtford
and Swansea City
failed to win yesterday.
The Canaries secured promotion
in style, thanks to
Swansea City and Brentford’s
failure to win in the
afternoon. The East Anglians,
on 90 points, secured an automatic
return to the Premier
League with five games left
FA Cup: Iheanacho targets
Southampton's fall
In-form Kelechi Ihea
nacho has urged his
teammates to redouble
their efforts and get a good
result against Southampton
in today’s FA Cup
semi-final.
Having failed to play in
the last four since 1982,
Iheanacho’s heroics in the
last stage against
Manchester United meant
Brendan Rodgers got more
joy at this round after suffering
defeat at the hands
of Chelsea last year.
The Nigeria frontman
*Iheanacho
to spare.
The Daniel Farke’s side
faced Bournemouth last
night, looking to extend
their unbeaten run to 14
games, but because
Swansea were held 2-2 at
netted twice and set up
another in the Foxes’ deserved
3-1 victory over a
pitiful Red Devils side, carrying
the 2016 Premier
League champions into
the final four.
“[Southampton] are a
strong side; they have quality
individual players and
they play as a team as
well,” Iheanacho told
LCFC TV.
“We need to do more
than them, we need to fight
and hurt them first in the
first half, so we don’t need
to go behind
“We always have that
hunger and desire to win
trophies, of course, other
teams are preparing as
well. We need to sacrifice
so many things and give
our best shot.
“That’s what we need to
do. In training and on the
game, we need to do what
we can, work extra and
give extra than what we do,
I think we are getting
ready to do that.”
Kayode spurs Turkish
side to victory
Nigeria international,
Olarenwaju Kayode,
continued his goalscoring
form as he inspires his
Turkish side, Savaspor to
come from 2-0 down to win
3-2 yesterday at the
Eryaman Stadyumu.
Kayode, who was brought
on in the 46th minute for
Isaac Cofie, levelled proceedings
for Sivasspor in
the 83rd minute with a fine
strike after receiving a
sumptuous assist from
Gradel.
Jorge Felix ignited the
comeback when he found
the back of the net in the
78th minute after he was set
up by Erdogan Yesilyurt.
The Braves then got the
winning goal moments before
the end of the game after
Pierre-Yves Polomat
turned the ball into his net.
The victory moved
Sivasspor to the seventh
spot on the league table after
gathering 50 points from
33 games.
Gradel featured for 90
minutes before he was replaced
by Chad’s Casimir
Ninga while Mali’s
Mustapha Yatabare was on
parade for 46 minutes before
making way for Jorge
Felix.
Nwankwo equals Aiyegbeni’s
European record
*Nwankwo
Though Crotone lost at home to Udinese in yester
day’s Siere A game, top striker Simone Nwankwo
scored and equaled Yakubu Aiyegbeni’s European goals
record.
Nwankwo who was not in the squad of the Super Eagles
that beat Benin Republic and Lesotho to qualify for
the Africa Cup of Nations, scored from the spot after
Udinese had gone ahead.
The goal took Nwankwo’s haul to 17 goals in the 2020/
21 Serie A season, a feat which has only been achieved
by former Super Eagles striker, Aiyegbeni in the 2011/
12 season with Blackburn in the English league. They
are the only Nigerian players to have scored at least 17
goals in a single top-5 European League campaign.
In a recent chat with Goal, ‘the Yak’ expressed his
desire for the 28-year-old to overtake his benchmark.
home to Wycombe Wanderers
and Brentford in a stalemate
at home to Millwall,
Norwich’s passage back to
the top-flight is secure, regardless
of last night’s outcome.

PAGE 30 —SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 18, 2021

SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 18, 2021, PAGE 31

SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 18, 2021
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