22052019 - F U L A N I S AT I O N A G E N D A : Obasanjo seeks to divide Nigeria in his old age —FG

No Yoruba president in 30 

Nigeria for another 20 years 

Otedola 45 

Bandits 

visits kill 34 in 

Chairman 

Chukwu 3 Katsina 

in London LGAs 7 

WHY NOT: 

DELTA STATE PRIMARIES 

OF APC: A charade 

and mockery of 

democracy 

By Pat Utomi 

-- Pgs. 

22&23 

CBN to limit banks’ appetite for govt securities, retains MPR at 13.5% 

9 

VOL. 26: NO. 63815 WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2019 

FULANISATION AGENDA: 

Obasanjo seeks to divide 

Nigeria in his old age —FG 

Story on 

Page 5 

•Says his comments're divisive, depressing 

•CAN, Onaiyekan, Martins, Adebanjo, Ikponmwen, Nyiam, others back Obasanjo 

DOCK WORKERS 

RECRUITMENT: 

Stevedores 

set for 

show-down 

with 

IOCs 

Naira stable 

at N359.5/$ 

in I&E 

window 

43 

Mr & Mrs 

•Obasanjo 

Alleged 

professional 

misconduct: 

EFCC reports 

Justice Taiwo 

to NJC over 

Saraki, 

Okorocha 

COLUMNISTS 

9 

Purchasing 

Managers 

index grows 

further 

—CBN 

report 

19 

•Buhari 

NASS drops 

stringent 

accreditation 

measures for 

journalists 

•as Saraki vows to 

probe matter 

DEAR BUNMI 

ERGP’s 7% target not 

achievable by 2020 

—UDOMA 

Buhari returns from Saudi 

Arabia, presides over FEC 

valedictory session 

AFE 

PRINCEWILL 17 

32 40 

4 

14 

14 

SEE 

INSIDE

2 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2019

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2019 — 3

4—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 22 , 2019 

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

HAND-OVER: Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh (left), handing 

over Silo complexes certificate to Managing Director, Ebony Agro Industries Ltd, Mr Andy Ekwelam, 

during the Concession of Federal Government Silo Complexes in Abuja, yesterday. With them is 

the Chairman, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu (middle). Photo: NAN. 

NASS drops stringent accreditation 

measures for journalists 

•Saraki vows to investigate 

•As SERAP gives Saraki, Dogara ultimatum 

By Henry 

Umoru, 

Olasunkanmi 

Akoni & Emman 

Ovuakporie 

ABUJA—THE National 

Assembly management 

has dropped plans to 

introduce stringent 

accreditation measures for 

journalists covering both 

legislative chambers. 

A source privy to the 

meeting held by 

management with leaders of 

both press corps of NASS 

told Vanguard that “all is set 

for the Clerk of the National 

Assembly, Sani Omolori, to 

drop the idea. 

According to the source, 

“the CNA told us that as a 

leader, he was going to take 

responsibility for the action 

though it was never 

approved by me. 

“He promised to go into 

the whole matter and get 

back to us before the close 

of work yesterday 

(Tuesday) to douse the issue 

once and for all. As it is, the 

plan has been dropped as 

all those fingered in the 

matter are already denying 

their involvement." 

According to the source, a 

committee consisting of the 

two leaders of both press 

corps in the legislative 

chambers would be set up 

to draft fresh guidelines for 

accreditation of journalists. 

He further explained that 

the director of information 

and two management staff 

will be in the committee to 

ensure that the guidelines 

met with international 

standards. 

Saraki vows to 

investigate 

Meanwhile, the Senate 

President, Saraki, yesterday, 

disowned those behind 

issuance of the new 

guidelines, and vowed to 

investigate the matter. 

Special Assistant, New 

Media, to the Senate 

President, Olu Onemola, 

said in a series of tweets, 

yesterday, that his principal 

remained committed to press 

freedom. 

Onemola stated that 

Saraki’s antecedents as 

chairman of the 8th National 

Assembly showed that he 

had always believed in the 

right of journalists to operate 

unhindered to promote 

transparency. 

He tweeted: “These 

alleged guidelines have not 

emanated from either the 

Senate president or the 

speaker, and will be 

promptly investigated. 

“The public should note 

that the 8th National 

Assembly has been 

committed to the freedom of 

Cooking gas consumers’ll no longer 

own cylinders — FG 

By Michael Eboh 

THE Federal Government, 

yesterday, said it has 

commenced a policy to 

remove ownership of 

Liquefied Petroleum Gas, 

LPG, cylinders from 

consumers. 

Speaking at a stakeholders’ 

forum in Abuja on the 

implementation of the micro 

distribution system to boost 

LPG penetration, Senior 

Technical Adviser on 

Downstream and 

Infrastructure to the Minister 

of State for Petroleum 

Resources, Ms. Brenda 

Ataga, said the policy would 

require that the ownership of 

the cylinders rests solely with 

the press as exemplified by 

its work to bring governance 

closer to the people through 

live streams and live tweets. 

“This is because the 

leadership of the 8th 

National Assembly believes 

strongly in the freedom of the 

press and in carrying the 

Nigerian public along, 

hence, the Senate president 

and all his colleagues will 

continue to work to ensure 

that these freedoms remain 

unhindered.” 

SERAP gives 

Saraki, Dogara 

ultimatum 

These came as Socio- 

Economic Rights and 

Accountability Project, 

SERAP, yesterday, asked 

Senate President, Dr Bukola 

Saraki, and Speaker of the 

House of Representatives, 

Mr Yakubu Dogara, to 

immediately withdraw the 

fresh media accreditation 

the dealers and distributors. 

To achieve this, she 

disclosed that the Federal 

Government has concluded 

discussion to inject 600,000 

LPG cylinders to owners of 

refilling plants on credit, to 

end the menace of roadside 

sale of LPG. 

She noted that this new 

LPG policy was developed 

by the Federal Government 

to deepen the penetration of 

LPG, also known as cooking 

gas, and address issues of 

safety. 

Ataga declared that 

starting from next week, 

when the policy would come 

into effect with the awareness 

campaign, illegal and 

roadside gas sellers would 

be expected to approach the 

Department of Petroleum 

guidelines it described as 

repressive or face legal 

action. 

SERAP’s threat came on a 

day Saraki disowned those 

who, on Monday, came up 

with the guidelines that had 

drawn the ire of the Nigerian 

Guild of Editors, NGE, 

Peoples Democratic Party, 

PDP, among others. 

SERAP in a statement 

signed, yesterday, by its 

Deputy Director, Kolawole 

Oluwadare, stated: 

“Nigerians expect the 

leadership of the National 

Assembly to show a greater 

level of transparency and 

accountability and to explain 

and take responsibility for 

what they are doing rather 

than implicitly banning 

journalists from covering 

their public functions. 

"Implementing the 

‘accreditation guidelines’ 

would allow the lawmakers 

to escape accountability for 

their constitutional 

functions.” 

It urged the National 

Assembly to immediately 

withdraw the accreditation 

guidelines and allow 

journalists cover activities of 

the National Assembly freely. 

Resources, DPR, for permit, 

and convert their sales points 

to Micro Distribution 

Centres, MDCs, for the sale 

of LPG. 

She added that the Federal 

Government had reached an 

agreement with two original 

cylinder manufacturers to 

deliver the 600,000 cylinders 

to LPG distributors on credit, 

with a pre-payment period 

of 18 months. 

Also speaking, Head of 

Gas, Abuja Zone of DPR, Mr. 

Umar Gwandu, said the 

clampdown on illegal 

roadside sellers of LPG 

would commence in earnest, 

noting that the requirements 

for licensing of MDCs had 

been reduced to encourage 

more individuals to venture 

into the business. 

Reps pass bill abolishing 

HND/BSc dichotomy 

•Await harmonisation, presidential 

assent; offenders to pay N5m fine 

By Levinus 

Nwabughiogu 

A BUJA—-THE 

House of 

Representatives has 

passed a bill abolishing 

dichotomy between 

Higher National 

Diploma, HND, and 

Bachelor’s of Science, 

BSc, degree holders in 

the country. 

It also mandated all 

individuals and 

corporate bodies in both 

the public service and 

private sector to 

henceforth carry out the 

new rule. 

According to the 

lawmakers, contravention 

of the law will attract 

penalty of N5 million and 

N1 million for corporate 

organisations and 

individuals or five years 

imprisonment. 

The bill for an act to 

abolish and prohibit 

dichotomy and 

discrimination between first 

degrees and HND in the 

same profession was 

passed at yesterday’s 

plenary. 

The bill now awaits 

harmonisation with the 

Senate for onward 

transmission to President 

Muhammadu Buhari for 

assent. 

Nigeria’s population can only be 

determined via auditable census 

—NPC 

By Soni Daniel, 

Northern Region 

Editor 

PROJECTIONS by 

international and local 

a g e n c i e s , 

notwithstanding, 

Nigeria’s true population 

figure can only be 

determined through a 

credible, technologydriven 

and auditable 

population and housing 

census, National 

Population Commission, 

NPC, has said. 

The commission 

maintained that although 

the figures given by 

different local and 

international groups were 

well within scientific 

margins, they remained 

nothing but mere 

projections, which were 

not sacrosanct. 

Director of Census at 

NPC, Mr. Usman Kolapo, 

who was responding to 

findings by Vanguard on 

DISCOs require $10bn 

investment to improve electricity 

supply in 5 years —Report 

THE French Agency for 

Development, AFD, 

has said the 11 electricity 

distribution companies, 

DISCOs, in Nigeria will 

need an investment of $10 

billion to improve power 

supply in the next five 

years. 

AFD said it 

commissioned AF 

Mercados, a consultancy 

firm, to carry out an indepth 

study of the 

challenges of Nigerian 

Electricity Supply 

Industry, NESI, with the 

support of the European 

Union, EU, with the aim 

of finding a way forward. 

The agency noted that 

the consulting firm worked 

with DISCOs and other 

stakeholders in the 

industry since mid-2017 

while conducting the 

the alarm raised by 

International Monetary 

Fund and Central Bank 

Governor, Godwin 

Emefiele, on the matter, said 

the commission was fully 

aware of the projections, 

adding that they were not 

new to the agency. 

Kolapo said: “It is possible 

that our population could 

rise to 425 million in 2050 if 

we project from our 

population of 140.4 million 

as at year 2006. 

"If we continue to grow at 

an average rate of 2.6 per 

cent per annum, then 

Nigeria’s population would 

be up to 440 million people 

by 2050. 

“However, to establish the 

base population, let there be 

a census with the use of 

modern, refined scientific 

techniques and technology 

that will lead to accurate, 

reliable, auditable 

population and housing 

census needed for 

sustainable development 

plan.” 

study. 

Presenting the report at a 

conference in Abuja on 

Monday, Jose Guerra, team 

leader at the consulting firm, 

said the study would help 

policymakers to make the 

right decisions in the 

electricity industry. 

AFD lamented that 

despite the investments by 

the agency and other 

development partners in the 

industry, it has not 

witnessed improvements 

since the privatisation of the 

sector. 

“According to the best 

estimates, the 11 Discos 

operating in Nigeria would 

need more than $10bn in 

five years. Also, innovative 

financing solutions must be 

devised, possibly involving 

new players,” the study said.

vanguardnews 

@vanguardnews 

@vanguardnews 

NEWS HOTLINES 

018773962, 

08052867058 

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2019—5 

POCKET CARTOON 

VALEDICTORY NEWS CONFERENCE—From left: Minister of Information 

and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Minister of Education, Malam Adamu 

Adamu; Minister of State for Education, Prof. Anthony Anwukah; and 

Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Prof. Sonny Echono, during a 

valedictory news conference by the minister in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: NAN. 



By Chioma Gabriel, Emma Amaize, 

Clifford Ndujihe, Sam Eyoboka, Emmanuel 

Elebeke, Olayinka Latona, Dirisu Yakubu, 

Olayinka Ajayi & Luminous Jannamike 

L F AGOS—THE he withdrew his 

e d e r a l statement and apologize 

Government, yesterday, to Nigerians. 

thumbed down former The government said 

President Olusegun 

Obasanjo’s comments, 

weekend, that the Boko 

Haram insurgency has 

become an agenda to 

‘Fulanise’ West Africa and 

Islamise Africa. 

Describing the comment 

as absurd and divisive, 

the government in a 

statement by the Minister 

of Information and 

Culture, Alhaji Lai 

Mohammed, urged 

Obasanjo not to allow 

personal animosity 

override his love for a 

united Nigeria, saying it 

will not be out of place if 

comments imputing 

ethno-religious motive to 

Boko Haram and ISWAP 

were deeply offensive 

and divisive, and far 

below the status of an 

elder statesman who had 

taken bullets for Nigeria’s 

unity. 

The Federal 

Government’s position 

was toed by an Islamic 

group, the Muslim 

Rights Concern, MURIC, 

which asked the former 

President to come clean 

with any grouse he may 

have against the Fulani 

ethnic group, saying his 

recent comments on the 

threats of Boko Haram and 

armed herdsmen in the 

country were unbecoming 

of a statesman. 

However, Christian 

leaders and some 

stalwarts of the National 

Democratic Coalition, 

NADECO, said former 

President Obasanjo was in 

order and urged the 

government to do the 

needful to halt the slide 

into anarchy. 

Among those who 

agreed with Obasanjo 

were the Christian 

Association of Nigeria, 

CAN; The Catholic 

Archbishop of Abuja, John 

Cardinal Onaiyekan; 

Archbishop of the 

Metropolitan See of 

Lagos, Most Rev Alfred 

Adewale Martins and 

NADECO stalwart and 

elder statesman, Chief 

Ayo Adebanjo. 

Others include 

National Vice Chairman 

(South-West) of the 


PDP, Eddy Olafeso; 

National Chairman of the 

Social Democratic Party, 

SDP, Chief Supo 

Shonibare; South-South 

leader, Col Tony Nyiam, 

retd; and Brigadier- 

General Idada 

Ikponmwen, retd. 

It’s tragic 

Obasanjo is 

dividing Nigeria 

in the twilight of 

his life – FG 

In the statement, the 

minister said it was 

particularly tragic that a 

man who fought to keep 

Nigeria one was the 

same person seeking to 

exploit the country’s fault 

lines to divide it in the 

twilight of his life. 

Mohammed said Boko 

Haram and ISWAP were 

terrorist organizations, 

adding that they cared 

little about ethnicity or 

religion when 

perpetrating their 

senseless killings and 

destruction. 

His words: ‘’Since the 

Boko Haram crisis, which 

has been simmering 

under the watch of 

Obasanjo, boiled over in 

2009, the terrorist 

organization has killed 

more Muslims than 

adherents of any other 

religion, blown up more 

mosques than any other 

houses of worship and is 

not known to have 

spared any victim on the 

basis of their ethnicity. 

’ It is, therefore, absurd 

to say that Boko Haram 

and its ISWAP variant 

have as their goal 

the ‘Fulanisation and 

Islamisation’ of Nigeria, 

West Africa or Africa.’’ 

He noted that President 

Muhammadu Buhari put 

to rest the mischaracterization 

of Boko 

Haram as an Islamic 

organization when he 

said, in his inaugural 

speech in 2015, that 

‘’Boko Haram is a 

mindless, godless group, 

which is as far away from 

Islam as one can think 

of.’’ 

The Minister said 

Obasanjo’s comments 

were, therefore, as 

insensitive and 

mischievous as they were 

as offensive and divisive 

in a multi-ethnic and 

multi-religious country as 

Nigeria, wondering 

whether there was no 

limit to how far the former 

President could go in 

throwing poisonous darts 

at his perceived political 

enemies. 

He said Obasanjo’s 

prescriptions for ending 

the Boko Haram/ISWAP 

crisis, which include 

seeking assistance 

outside the shores of 

Nigeria, were coming 

several years late, as 

President Buhari has 

done that and more since 

assuming office, hence 

the phenomenal success 

he has recorded in 

tackling the terrorists. 

‘’Shortly after assuming 

office in 2015, President 

Buhari’s first trips outside 

the country were to rally 

the support of Nigeria’s 

neighbours - Benin, 

Cameroon, Chad and 

Niger - for the efforts to 

battle the terrorists. 

‘’The President also 

rallied the support of the 

international community, 

starting with the G7, and 

then the US, France and 

the UN. 

‘’That explains the 

massive degrading of 

Boko Haram, which has 

since lost its capacity to 

carry out the kind of 

spectacular attacks for 

which it became infamous, 

and the recovery of every 

inch of captured Nigerian 

territory from the 

terrorists,’ the minister 

added. 

He said Obasanjo’s call 

for wide consultations 

with various groups as 

part of efforts to tackle the 

Boko Haram crisis has 

been neutralized by his 

ill-advised comments 

which have served more 

Continues on Page 41 

By Bose Adelaja,Yinka Latona, 

Dickson Omobola, Tolulope Oke, 

Chiamaka Uba & Erinfolami 

Abdulkudus 

Does FG have right to seize property without court order? (4) 

It makes no sense 

whatsoever. The 

government has no 

such right. In as much 

as an individual 

acquires his or her 

property through 

legitimate means, to 

seize the property 

would be a violation of, 

and an infringement on 

the individual’s right. 

Miss. Ayeni Elizabeth 

Student 

That would amount to 

oppression by the 

Federal Government. If 

there is a corruption 

allegation, a mandatory 

investigation should be 

carried out and prior to 

receiving the 

investigation results, 

actions should be taken 

according to the law. 

Mr.Ogwoni Cletus 

Student 

Idon’t agree with that. 

It is wrong in every 

aspect. Why would you 

seize people's property 

without corruption 

allegation against them 

and when the law hasn’t 

actually condemned 

them? That is wrong and 

against fundamental 

human right. I can’t help 

but just wonder the 

essence of having a right 

when you cannot exercise 

it. 

Mr Areogun Amos 

Analyst 

It is not the best 

decision. It would 

be the right decision if 

those whose properties 

would be confiscated 

have corruption 

allegation against them. 

Furthermore, it has to 

be proven in a court of 

law before such could be 

done. 

Mr. Ipinjugba 

Mayowa, 

Corps member 

I 

think only a 

competent court has 

the right to order the 

seizure of property of 

corrupt people after 

thorough investigations 

of course. Since landed 

property are 

immovable, the best 

thing to do is to place a 

notice on the propertyy, 

indicating that it is 

under investigation 

while investigations are 

ongoing.Comrade 

Adeola Soetan 

Activist 

It is an infringement on 

the right of the people. It is 

only when an individual 

acquires his or her wealth 

illegally that such can be done. 

Before this can be done, 

investigation has to be carried 

out and the individual must be 

proved guilty by the court. 

Otherwise, if the government 

does that, it calls to question 

the role of the Police, EFCC, 

the judiciary and other law 

enforcement agencies whose 

duties are to investigate and 

prosecute according to the 

provisions of the law.Mr. 

Dennis Okeroghene 

Banker

6—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2019 

NNPC razes 

Alakija Road 

Market 

By Olayinka Ajayi 

THE popular Alakija 

Road Market along 

Navy Barracks and Satelite 

town axis in Lagos was, 

yesterday, levelled by 

officials of the Nigerian 

National Petroleum 

Corporation, NNPC, and 

soldiers. 

One of the traders, whose 

shed was demolished, said: 

“Though they informed us 

some months back that they 

would chase us away, 

instead of flogging and 

bullying us like babies, the 

soldiers that accompanied 

the NNPC officials should 

have allowed us to pack our 

belongings before levelling 

the whole market.” 

A pepper seller, whose 

shed was also destroyed, 

said: “We paid huge amount 

to get spaces here. At least, 

they would have intimated 

us of their coming so we can 

prepare ourselves ahead. 

But they just allowed 

scavengers to cart away our 

goods helplessly.” 

All attempt to hear from 

NNPC officials that carried 

out the exercise proved, 

abortive as they were busy 

dishing instructions to the 

bulldozer operator. 

Navy intercepts 

455 bags of 

contraband rice 

from Cameroon 

By Ike Uchechukwu 

THE Nigerian Navy, 

yesterday, handed over 

to Nigeria Customs Service, 

NCS, three suspects alleged 

to have smuggled 455 bags 

of parboiled rice worth N8 

million into the country. 

The Commander of 

Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS 

Victory, Commodore Vincent 

Okeke, told newsmen at the 

handing over ceremony in 

Calabar that the arrests were 

made on May 19 by naval 

officers. 

His words: “We are here to 

hand over yet another set of 

455 bags of rice smuggled 

from Cameroon. The arrest 

was made on May 19. We 

are here with three suspects 

with Cotonou boats to hand 

them over to the Customs for 

investigations and 

prosecution. 

“The street value of the rice 

is about N8 million. But like 

I said during the previous 

hand over, the value is not 

so significant. 

“Put side by side the 

impact of smuggling on our 

economy, you will know that 

we should not focus on the 

value of rice.” 

Cameroonian cook to die by hanging for killing employer 

•... as widow narrates how Togolese cook killed Credit Switch boss 

By Onozure Dania 

LAGOS—JUSTICE Adedayo 

Akintoye of a Lagos High Court 

sitting at Igbosere, yesterday, 

sentenced a Cameroonian cook, 

Leudjou Koyemen Joel, also known 

as William Smith, to death by 

hanging over the murder of his 

employer, Dayo Enioluwa Adeleke. 

In the same High Court at Igbosere 

yesterday, the trial of a 22-year-old 

Togolese cook, Sunday Anani, 

accused of killing the Chief Executive 

Officer of Credit Switch Ltd., Mr. 

Opeyemi Gbademosi, commenced 

with the prosecution calling the 

deceased’s wife as its first witness. 

On the death sentence, the 

Cameroonian cook, Leudjou 

Koyemen Joel, was convicted by 

Justice Akintoye after a trial of almost 

two years, following his “Not guilty” 

plea to a one-count charge of murder. 

The defendant, a refugee from 

Cameroon, murdered Adeleke on 

December 20, 2016, by stabbing her 

in the chest. 

During the trial, he had testified that 

Adeleke mistakenly stabbed herself 

after she fell while she was pursuing 

him with a kitchen knife. 

However, in her judgment Justice 

Akintoye noted that “all the evidence 

points to the defendant. I find merit 

in the prosecution’s case.” 

Joel, 25, was first arraigned before 

Chief Magistrate Oluyemisi Adelaja 

of an Ebute-Meta Chief Magistrate’s 

Court, Lagos, on December 30, 2016. 

Following his remand, the case was 

transferred to the High Court where 

Joel was arraigned on January 19, 

2017, on a one-count charge of 

murder, in accordance with Section 

221 of the Criminal Law of Lagos 

State, 2011. 

Lagos State Attorney-General and 

Commissioner for Justice told Justice 

Akintoye that the defendant 

committed the offence on December 

20 at about 9.30p.m. 

He said on the morning of the 

incident, Joel requested for a twoweek 

salary advance, but Adeleke 

turned him down. Later that night, 

shortly after Adeleke got back from 

work, Joel repeated his demand. 

Again she declined. 

He got angry and stabbed Adeleke, 

daughter of the late Brigadier General 

Adekola Alfred Adeleke, in the neck 

and heart. He was apprehended at 

the gate of the deceased’s Park View 

Estate, Ikoyi, while attempting to flee. 

The court heard that the victim was 

found lying on the floor of her living 

room in a pool of blood, with a kitchen 

knife stuck on the left side of her chest. 

She was rushed to St. Nicholas 

Hospital on Lagos Island, where a 

doctor on duty confirmed her dead. 

Adeleke was killed seven months 

after Joel was employed and exactly 

three months after her engagement 

to her fiancée. 

Joel, who opened his defence on 

November 21, 2018, denied killing 

Adeleke. He spoke through a French 

translator. 

Defence 

Led in evidence by his counsel, Mr. 

C. Acnonye, he confirmed that before 

the incident, he approached his boss 

twice to pay him part of his salary 

as his child was very ill in 

Cameroon and he needed 

money for hospital bills. 

He said the first time he 

asked for part payment of his 

salary was on December 16, 

then the second time was on 

December 18, two days 

before Adeleke was killed. 

He stated that on the 

day of the incident, after 

cleaning her apartment, 

he knelt down and 

pleaded with her to give 

him a loan, “but that she 

became upset suddenly 

and started shouting 

and screaming at me. 

So I thought that it 

was the situation in 

her office that 

was making 

her shout.” 

He told 

Justice 

Akintoye that 

Adeleke 

suddenly 

stood up 

b e g a n 

speaking a 

language he 

did not 

understand, but 

that from the look 

on her face, he knew 

that she was very furious. 

The defendant claimed that his 

employer pushed him and he 

fell. She started beating him on 

his head, so he closed his eyes. 

He said: “I perceived the smell 

of alcohol. When I opened my 

eyes, I saw her with a knife, 

then I tried to run away. But she 

was rushing towards me. 

“When I got to the entrance 

door, I noticed that she was no 

longer running after me but kept 

screaming. When I turned, I 

saw that she had fallen, with the 

knife in her chest.” 

Togolese cook 

The trial of a 22-year-old 

Togolese cook, Sunday Anani, 

accused of killing the Chief 

Executive Officer of Credit 

Switch Ltd., Mr. Opeyemi 

Gbademosi, also yesterday, 

By Victor Arji 

AMajor, yesterday, lost his 

life in a fire that engulfed 

his car at the Ojo Cantonment, 

Lagos. 

The deceased, Major EN 

Efam, was said to be driving out 

of the cantonment in the early 

hours of yesterday, when his car 

hit that of a colleague from the 

rear, resulting in the fire. 

Before the fire could be put out 

by some persons, who brought 

out their fire extinguishers, the 

Delta-State born Major attached 

to Army Finance, had been 

completely burnt. 

His charred remains were later 

commenced before a Lagos 

High Court, sitting in 

Igbosere, with the prosecution 

calling the deceased’s wife as 

its first witness. 

The deceased’s wife, Mrs 

Ebunoluwa Gbademosi, 

narrated to the court how 

her husband was killed 

by a cook they 

employed three days 

after he got to their 

house. 

The defendant 

allegedly committed the 

offence on October 31, 

2018, at Preview Estate 

Ikoyi Lagos. 

He stabbed the 

deceased, 67-year-old 

Opeyemi Gbademosi, to 

death with a knife and 

stole his valuables 

including his 

phone. 

The offence is 

punishable 

under Sections 

223 and 297 of 

the criminal 

law of Lagos 

State 2015. 

He, however, 

pleaded not 

guilty to the 

charge. 

When the matter came 

up yesterday, the Director of 

Public Prosecution, DPP, Ms 

Titilayo Shitta-Bey, informed 

the court that the matter was 

scheduled for trial. 

The witness, who was led in 

evidence by Shitta-Bey, said on 

the fateful day she had gone 

to Polaris Bank at Falomo to do 

some transfers to Dubai and 

China, and by the time she 

returned home she saw blood 

flowing from her husband’s 

room. 

She said while she was about 

leaving the bank, the deceased 

had angrily called her and was 

asking her why the defendant 

was knocking at his door, and 

also asked if she was back from 

the bank; she said no that she 

was on her way. 

Gbademosi said the 

deceased later told her that he 

Major dies in car fire 

Late Major Efam 

would open the door to find out 

what the defendant wants. 

According to her, before she left 

the house for the bank, she had 

told the defendant that ‘Oga dey 

sleep’ (that her husband was still 

sleeping) and that he shouldn’t 

wake him up but to continue with 

the cleaning of the house, which 

he was about starting when she 

was leaving. 

She said she had not seen her 

husband that morning, as they do 

not share the same room. So she 

just told the defendant that she 

was going out and would be back 

soon. 

The witness told Justice 

Mobolanle Okikiolu-Ighile that 

she got to the bank at exactly 

8:05a.m. 

She said: “When I got home, I 

wanted to go through the kitchen 

door but it was locked. I knocked 

several times, calling on the 

defendant, but he didn’t come 

to open the door. I felt he must 

be doing something and waited 

by the kitchen door for a while. 

“While waiting, I got a call 

from my sister at Ibadan and we 

spoke for about six minutes. At 

some point, I brought out my 

phone from my bag and called 

my husband, then I realised 

that the phone was being 

picked, but he was not 

responding. 

“I called him twice more and 

it was the same thing. At that 

stage, I went downstairs and 

decided to pass through the 

front door. When I got to the 

front door, I realised that the 

door was left ajar. 

“I entered the apartment and 

saw blood flowing out from my 

husband’s bedroom. I couldn’t 

enter the bedroom because the 

door was slightly opened with his 

his body lying on the floor. 

“Because I wasn’t sure of what 

could be happening inside, I ran 

out of the building and started 

screaming, calling neighbours for 

help. Some people came and I 

told them to go up and check.” 

She also told the court that she 

ran to the security man at the gate 

and asked after the cook, but was 

told he said he was on an errand. 

evacuated. 

Effort to speak with some 

Military personnel at the 

cantonment for details of the 

tragedy failed. 

Contacted, Deputy Director, 

Information, 81 Division, 

Victoria Island, Lagos, 

Lieutenant Colonel Olaolu 

Daudu, could not make an 

official statement on the 

incident. 

Spokesman for Lagos State Fire 

Service, Bola Ajao, said the station 

did not receive any distress call 

from that axis. She said the only 

incident her office was aware of 

was the protest by residents over 

the state of the road.


Man nabbed smuggling hard drugs into Kuje Prisons 

By Omeiza Ajayi 

ABUJA—A man, Clement 

Jacob, of Deidei village in 

Abuja, who was about to smuggle 

substances suspected to be Indian 

hemp into Kuje Medium Security 

Prisons in Abuja, has been 

arrested. 

Jacob hid the suspected 

substance he was to deliver to an 

inmate of the prison, one Emeka 

Onyejikachi, in a sandal. 

Public Relations Officer of the 

Federal Capital Territory, FCT, 

Command of the Nigerian Prisons 

Service, Humphrey Chukwuedo, 

in a statement, yesterday, said: 

“The inmate of Kuje Prison, 

Onyejikachi, is in custody for a 

case of possession of hard drugs.” 

Luck, however, ran out on Jacob 

when he exchanged his sandals 

with that of the inmate after his 

session of prison visit. 

According to Chukwuedo, 

“Inspector Hussain Ibrahim, the 

officer in charge of the visiting 

area, noticed the quick exchange 

of footwear and requested for 

another search after the visiting 

session was over. 

“During the search, inspector 

Hussain carefully tore open the 

sole of the sandals, thereby 

By Bashir Bello 

KATSINA —NO fewer than 

34 persons were reportedly 

killed by bandits in three local 

governments areas of Batsari, 

Danmusa and Faskari in Katsina 

State. 

Locals in the areas said 18 were 

killed in Yargamji, Batsari Local 

Government; five in Mara 

Zamfarawa, Danmusa Local 

Government, and 11 in Sabon 

Layi village, Faskari Local 

Government. 

Scores were reportedly said to 

have sustained degrees of 

injuries, while some were still 

missing and their livestock carted 

away by the bandits. 

Some residents of Batsari, one 

of the areas frequently attacked 

have, staged a protest to the 

government house with corpses of 

victims of the attack, where they 

were received by Governor Aminu 

Masari. 

The governor was moved to 

tears upon seeing the corpse 

mostly youths. 

Eyewitnesses and survivors of 

the attack in Batsari, who were 

among the protester, said 18 

persons were killed, many were 

still being recovered and others 

missing. 

They said the bandits came on 

motorcycles and attacked them on 

their farmlands. 

One of them said: “We were told 

on phone, as we were at the 

Government House, that bodies 

were being recovered and 

conveyed to the palace of 

traditional leaders. 10 others were 

still missing. 

“We started with a visit to our 

District Head with the corpses to 

The drugs 

exposing the illegal transaction.” 

On interrogation, Jacob, who 

feigned ignorance, said one Mrs 

Emeka had called him to assist her 

in paying Mr. Emeka a visit. He 

was also instructed to exchange his 

footwear with the inmate before 

leaving the premises. 

Chukwuedo added: “The 

Controller of Prisons, FCT 

Command, Mustapha Illyasu Atta, 

commended the alertness of the 

officer and further wishes to remind 

By Esther Onyegbula 

Aformer Assistant Comptroller 

General of Nigeria Customs, 

Bridget Okafor, was yesterday 

arraigned by operatives of the 

Economic and Financial Crimes 

Commission, EFCC, before a 

Federal Capital Territory, FCT, 

High Court, over alleged N3 billion 

fraud. 

Okafor, who is currently facing a 

13-count charge bordering on 

abuse of office, was arraigned 

before Justice Venchak S. Gaba of 

FCT High Court, Kwali. 

The charge reads: “That you, 

Bridget Okafor, while being 

employed in the public service and 

serving as Assistant Comptroller 

General of Nigeria Customs 

Service in charge of Finance and 

the public and family members 

of inmates of their responsibility 

in ensuring that the inmates are 

properly reformed and 

rehabilitated. 

“The Controller of Prisons 

pledged the commitment of the 

officers and men of the 

Command to rid prisons in the 

command of illicit transactions 

that are capable of 

compromising security and 

discipline in the Service.” 

Bandits kill 34 in 3 Katsina LGs 

•Protesters take corpses to Govt House 

let them know that there is no 

security in the villages. 

“They wanted to bury them, but 

we insisted on taking the corpses 

to the Emir’s palace and then 

Government House. So if anybody 

is telling them there is adequate 

security in place, we don’t have 

security in our villages. 

“We have about 30 mosques in 

our area, but I can tell you that you 

can hardily find people praying in 

three of them at night in the month 

of Ramadan. We live in fear. 

“They prevented us from rearing 

livestock and farming. When we 

call the security agencies, they 

don’t respond to our calls.” 

Contacted, spokesman of Katsina 

State Police Command, SP Gambo 

Isah, said only five were killed in 

Faskari, but was yet to confirm 

attacks in the other two 

councils. 

According to him, “on the 

Faskari incident, a group of 

Yansakai from Sabon Layi 

village, Faskari, went into the 

forest and confronted the 

bandits since yesterday and did 

not report back. 

“Two corpses were recovered 

and buried by the villagers 

yesterday. A search party led by 

the DPO of Faskari recovered 

three others inside the forest. A 

bandits camp was also 

discovered abandoned. 

Investigation is ongoing.” 

At press time, the Police is yet 

to respond to enquiries on the 

Batsari and Danmusa attacks. 

Ex-Customs boss accused of N3bn fraud 

Revenue, sometime in 2015 at 

Abuja within the jurisdiction of 

this honourable court, did 

knowingly acquire a private 

interest in a contract awarded 

by Nigeria Customs Service to 

Erman Global Energy 

Engineering Nigeria Limited, 

a company in which your 

children are directors and for 

which the Nigeria Customs 

Service paid N89,999,964 and 

you thereby committed an 

offence contrary and 

punishable under Section 12 

of the Corrupt Practices and 

other Related Offences act, 

2000.” 

She pleaded “not guilty” to 

the charges. 

The matter has been 

adjourned to July 3, for hearing. 

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Alleged professional misconduct: 

EFCC reports Justice Taiwo to 

NJC over Saraki, Okorocha 

•Writes CJ to transfer all corruption cases 

from him 

By Soni Daniel, 

Editor, Northern 

Region 

AFTER granting similar 

injunctions stopping the 

probe of Senate President, 

Bukola Saraki, and Governor 

Rochas Okorocha of Imo 

State, Economic and 

Financial Crimes 

Commission, EFCC, has 

dragged a Federal High 

Court judge before the 

National Judicial Council, 

NJC. 

The commission, 

apparently angered by what 

it considered a brazen 

attempt by Justice Taiwo 

Taiwo to stop its constitutional 

duties, will today formally 

present a strongly-worded 

petition before the NJC 

against the judge. 

At the same time, the 

petition, which was 

personally signed by the 

chairman of EFCC, Mr. 

Ibrahim Magu, is to be 

made available to the Chief 

Judge of the Federal High 

Court, Justice Abdul Kafarati, 

asking him to retrieve all 

corruption cases filed by 

EFCC from Justice Taiwo’s 

court. 

A top EFCC source told 

Vanguard that the 

commission came to the 

decision to move against 

HEALTH TIPS 

By Sola Ogundipe 

How to have a smooth shave 

SHAVING is considered 

a daily chore for many 

men, however, the 

frequency and technique 

play a major role in the 

outcome. 

A perfect shave is a 

combination of art and trial 

and error, but there are steps 

you can take to help ensure 

a clean and comfortable 

shave. 

You do not have to shave 

everyday. Shaving daily 

removes natural oil from 

skin and leaves it dry. It is 

preferable to shave five days 

in a week, say Monday to 

Friday, and give rest to your 

skin on Saturday and 

Sunday. 

For the best shave, wet 

your skin and hair. The best 

time to shave is right after a 

shower. 

If you have dry or sensitive 

skin, use an appropriate 

shaving cream. Apply it in 

a circular motion, using your 

fingers or a shave brush. 

Let the cream sit for two to 

Justice Taiwo after he gave 

similar restraining orders to 

two top politicians facing 

probe by the anti-graft 

agency within a week. 

Incidentally, the two 

injunctions issued in favour 

of Saraki and Okorocha 

against their investigation by 

EFCC were argued by the 

same lawyer, Sunday 

Onubi, and and granted by 

the same judge on May 15 

and May 8, 2019 

respectively. 

In the two injunctions 

sighted by Vanguard last 

night, the same set of 

government agencies and 

officials were listed as the 

respondents, while 

Okorocha and Saraki were 

the applicants. 

The judge effectively 

restrained the Attorney- 

General of the Federation, 

Inspector-General of Police, 

DSS, EFCC and ICPC from 

going ahead with the probe 

of the applicants, despite 

decided cases that the 

agencies had the right to do 

so. 

In a 10-paragraphed 

petition addressed to the 

NJC, dated May 21, 2019, 

EFCC accused Justice Taiwo 

of professional misconduct 

and impropriety and asked 

that he be appropriately 

sanctioned to serve as a 

deterrent to others. 

three minutes to penetrate 

and soften the hairs. Shave 

in the direction that your 

hair grows to help prevent 

razor bumps and burns. Do 

not stretch your skin taut 

while shaving. 

After shaving, rinse your 

face with cold water to 

reduce inflammation. Apply 

a good moisturiser to help 

close the pores of the skin 

and keep the skin moist. 

If you are experiencing 

razor bumps, razor burns or 

ingrown hairs, consider 

switching razors. For some 

men, single or two-blade 

razor is okay. For others, 

multi-blade razors work 

well. 

Use a good quality razor 

and rinse the razor after each 

swipe. Change disposable 

razors after five to seven 

shaves to minimise irritation. 

Store your razor in a dry 

area, do not leave it in the 

shower or on a wet sink to 

prevent bacteria from 

growing on it. 

MEETING: President of Republic of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, flanked by his wife, 

Cilia Flores and former Abia State governor/senator-elect, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, after a 

meeting in Venezuela, yesterday. 

CBN to limit banks’ appetite for govt 

securities 

By Emma Ujah, 

Abuja Bureau Chief 

THE Central Bank of 

Nigeria, CBN, 

yesterday, said it would soon 

announce measures to limit 

the excessive appetite of 

banks for government 

securities. 

Nigeria shopping for $140bn 

loan to tackle infrastructure 

decay —Osinbajo 

By Juliet Umeh 

THE Vice President, 

Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, 

yesterday, revealed that 

Nigeria was looking up to 

America and other 

countries for a loan of about 

$140 billion to tackle the 

infrastructure decay in the 

country. 

He said the current 

government had spent up 

to N3.5 trillion in the last 

four years to fix 

infrastructure and still had 

not scratched the surface. 

Osinbajo, who was 

represented by Minister of 

Trade and Investments, Dr 

Okechukwu Enelamah, 

spoke at the opening 

ceremony of the trade and 

investment expo 

exclusively for Nigeria and 

America, tagged USA Fair 

2019, in Lagos. 

He said government was 

making infrastructure 

revamp a priority in the 

next four years, adding that 

it would also try to deploy 

modern infrastructure 

within the same time frame, 

for job creation and ease of 

doing business in the 

country. 

He said:“We are 

interested in building 

•Laments impact of insecurity on economic activities 

•Retains MPR at 13.5% 

Meanwhile, the Monetary 

Policy Committee, MPC, of 

the apex bank concluded its 

bi-monthly meeting, 

yesterday, with a decision to 

retain the Monetary Policy 

Rate, MPR, at 13.5 percent. 

The committee also retained 

the Cash Reserve Ratio at 

modern infrastructure. 

Our president has pointed 

out that if we build 

infrastructure, Nigerians 

will do well. It is the 

singular most important 

thing we can do to create 

jobs. 

“We spent over N3.5 

trillion in the last three 

years. We are trying to 

figure out how to raise $140 

billion that Nigeria needs 

to catch up with 

infrastructure deficit over 

the next four years. 

"This is what the 

government is taking a 

hard look at and thinking 

of how to partner great 

countries like America and 

other nations around the 

world.” 

Osinbajo also stated that 

partnership with the USA 

was strategic, considering 

that the US has remained 

the largest economy, which 

no forward looking 

economy in the world could 

ignore. 

“Nigeria also remains the 

largest economy in Africa 

and one that the USA 

cannot also ignore. So, we 

both have responsibility to 

work together for the 

greater good of not just our 

two countries but the world 

at large," he said. 

22.5 per cent and the 

Liquidity Ratio at 30 percent. 

The governor of CBN, Mr. 

Godwin Emefiele, 

announced this at a press 

briefing on the decisions of 

the MPC meeting in Abuja, 

yesterday. 

According to him, the step 

became necessary to curtail 

banks’ focus on investing in 

government debt 

instruments, while 

neglecting their role of 

lending to the private sector, 

in order to bring about the 

much-needed growth in the 

economy. 

Emefiele said: “According 

to our regulation, there is a 

particular minimum 

percentage of a treasury bill 

or government securities that 

the banks must invest in in 

order to remain liquid. 

“But unfortunately and 

increasingly so, that the 

banks, rather than focusing 

credit to the private sector, 

they tend to direct their focus 

mainly on buying 

government securities. 

The MPC has frowned at 

that and has directed the 

management of CBN to put 

in place policies or 

regulations that will restrict 

the banks from unlimited 

access to government 

securities. 

“It is important and 

expedient that the committee 

gave this directive to the 

bank’s management 

because this country badly 

needs growth." 

Mitigating credit 

risks 

In addition, the CBN boss 

said his team would come up 

with strategies to mitigate the 

credit risks of private sector 

lending which lead to a very 

high non-performing loans 

in the past, with a view to 

making it more attractive for 

the banks to lend to the 

private sector. 

He said although the 

NPLs had improved to 

between 9-10 per cent, 

down from between 15-17 

percent in the recent past, it 

remained higher than the 

minimum regulatory 5 per 

cent threshold. 

To boost consumer 

credit 

As part of the strategies 

towards boosting the 

economy, the governor said 

consumer and mortgage 

credit markets would be 

brought into focus in the 

industry. 

His words: “The MPC also 

felt that the consumer and 

mortgage credit market must 

be catalyzed in Nigeria. That 

one of the inhibiting factors 

to growth is the fact that we 

have not been able to jumpstart 

consumer credit and 

mortgage credit and 

business in Nigeria and the 

management of the bank 

will think of how to put in 

place regulations that will 

assist banks to ensure that 

consumer credit is improved 

again in Nigeria." 

Laments impact of 

insecurity on 

economic activities 

Meanwhile, the CBN 

governor lamented the 

impact of insecurity on 

economic activities, 

especially farming appealing 

that that farmers be allowed 

to return to their farms. 

He said: “There will be 

need for us to be thinking 

about how do we improve 

employment and reduce 

unemployment in the 

country. 

"I must confess that there 

is a relationship between an 

improved employment, 

improved economy and the 

level of security in a country. 

So we all have to work 

together."

10 — VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2019 

By Olasunkanmi Akoni 

& Monsur Olowoopejo 

L AGOS—GOVERNOR 

Akinwunmi Ambode of 

Lagos State has approved the 

sum of N6 billion for the 

expansion project of the Orile 

Truck Terminal into 1000 capacity. 

The project, conceived by the 

outgoing administration was 

considered as a permanent 

solution to end the persistent 

traffic gridlock that had crippled 

commercial and human activities 

within Apapa ports and environs. 

In a release by the state Office 

of Procurement obtained by 

Vanguard, the fund would only 

cater for the Phase One of the 

Orile terminal project. 

The approval was contained in 

a document which also stated 

other contracts approved by the 

Ambode administration. 

In the release by Office of 

Procurement titled: Letters of 

awards registered March 2019, 

under project description, showed 

that N10 million was approved 

for “the production of architectural 

I’m not a land 

grabber, Lagos 

monarch insists 


LAGOS—THE Oba of Isheri- 

Olofin in Alimosho Local 

Government Area of Lagos State, 

Oba Wahab Balogun has denied 

allegations of harassment and 

land grabbing by one Alhaji 

Shamusideen Adebimpe against 

him before the Lagos State Special 

Task force on Land Grabbers. 

The 92 year old Oba also denied 

allegations that he encroached on 

a parcel of land in the area, caused 

chaos and destruction of property 

of residents, illegally evicted them 

from the land and transferred titles 

of innocent third parties. 

At a public hearing headed by 

the co-ordinator of the agency, Mr. 

Owolabi Arole in Lagos, weekend, 

the solicitors of Oba Balogun and 

Isheri-Olofin Community, Otunba 

Remi Adeoye and the Secretary 

of the town, Alfa Isiaka 

Abogunloko, denied the 

allegation. 

The monarch said: “The land 

issue is not between Isheri-Olofin 

or Alhaji Adebimpe, but between 

Oba Balogun, the people of Isheri- 

Olofin and Ishau Madarikan 

family of Idimu. 

“Oba Balogun and the people 

of Isheri-Olofin won a 32 year-old 

land legal tussle against the Ishau 

Madarikan family in the judgment 

of suit No: ID/488/80 delivered on 

May 15, 2012 by Justice Lawal 

Akapo of a Lagos High Court. 

“The application for stay of 

execution was dismissed by the 

same court on October 3, 2012 with 

cost, while an order of perpetual 

injunction restraining them, their 

servants, agents and/or privies 

from further act of trespass was 

also granted against the judgment 

debtors (the Ishau Madarikan 

family). 

“They went to Appeal Court in 

2013 in suit No: CAL/662a/013 in 

which the parties were ordered to 

maintain the status quo, pending 

the determination of the appeals. 

“As a matter of fact, the petitioner 

to the Lagos Special Taskforce on 

Land Grabbers is the one 

trespassing on our land and two 

Magistrate Courts have at 

different times issued warrants of 

arrest against him.” 

vanguardnews @vanguardnews @vanguardnews 

Apapa gridlock: Ambode approves 

N6bn for truck terminal construction 

•Execution stalled by non-passage of budget 

drawing for the proposed 

retirement house for Ambode at 

No. 18 Glover Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.” 

On the truck terminal, the 

document stated: “This fund is for 

the construction of Asiwaju Bola 

Ahmed Tinubu International 

Tankers Terminal, Orile Iganmu in 

Apapa LGA (Phase I).” 

The document, which 

contained names of the 

contractors and date, had been 

issued letters to confirm their 

approval since the last day of 2018. 

However, over four months after 

approval, construction work was 

yet to commence on the truck 

terminal. 

Vanguard gathered that the 

funds to execute the project were 

included in the 2019 

Appropriation Bill which was still 

on the floor of the House after its 

passage. 

Confirming the approved fund 

for the project, Permanent 

Secretary, Ministry of 

Transportation, Dr. Taiwo Salaam, 

disclosed to Vanguard that the 

project would only commence 

when the house handover the 

budget to the executive. 

He noted that the Ambode led 

administration was seriously 

committed to the actualization of 

the projects but it could not 

continue with the project due to 

non submission of the 2019 

budget that would fast-track the 

completion which was still on the 

floor of the State House of 

Assembly as at press time. 

VISIT: Olugbon of Orile-Igbon, Oba Francis Olusola-Alao (2nd left); Alaafin of Oyo, Oba 

Lamidi Adeyemi (3rd left); Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi (4th left); Eleruwa of Eruwa, 

Oba Samuel Adegbola (4th right); Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Abdulganiyu Adekunle (3rd right); 

Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin (2nd right), and other royal fathers during 

a visit by the state's traditional rulers, led by Alaafin, to the governor, in his office, in Ibadan. 

Sanwo-Olu’s voter’s card is suspect — AD, LP 

By Agbonkhese Oboh 

LAGOS—THE Lagos State 

governorship candidate of 

Alliance for Democracy, AD, Chief 

Owolabi Salis and his Labour 

Party counterpart, Professor 

Ifagbemi Awamaridi, have called 

on the state Attorney-General 

and Commissioner for Justice, 

and security agencies to 

investigate the voter’s card of the 

Governor-elect, Mr. Babajide 

Sanwo-Olu. 

In a statement, Salis and 

Awamaridi said Sanwo-Olu, who 

contested on the platform of the 

All Progressives Congress, APC, 

was wrongly declared winner, 

calling on security agencies to 

take action to stop his swearing 

in 

Ḃoth candidates and their 

parties have dragged Sanwo-Olu 

and APC to the election tribunal. 

They said: “Surprisingly, 

Babajide Sanwo-Olu nominated 

APC, an organisation, as his 

Deputy Governor in his INEC 

form rather than nominating 

Babafemi Hazmat, an individual. 

We don’t know at what point this 

was corrected. 

“Although Sanwo-Olu voter’s 

card number is said to be 

registered in Lagos, it shows 

invalid command on INEC voters 

status verification system. 

“We are suspecting illegal 

invasion of INEC registration 

system, as he may not have 

registered to vote but this was 

smuggled into the INEC system. 

“You have to be registered to 

vote and be voted for to contest 

for. 

“Our view is that there is a 

failure of nomination. If Sanwo- 

Olu was not validly nominated, 

Section 181(2) of the Constitution 

says a new election shall be 

ordered by the INEC. Since there 

will be no Speaker on May 29, 

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode 

should hand over to the Chief 

Justice of the state pending a new 

election by INEC which will 

disqualify participation of Sanwo- 

Olu and APC.” 

Ex-aides sue Communication Minister over 

alleged unpaid salaries 

By Ola Ajayi 

IBADAN—MINISTER of 

Communication, Adebayo 

Shittu has been dragged to court 

by his former aides over alleged 

unpaid salaries and allowances 

totalling N21,500,000. 

The aides, Razaq Olubodun 

and Victor Oluwadamilare, 

former Personal Assistant (PA) 

and Special Assistant (SA) 

respectively in two separate suits 

filed on their behalf by the same 

counsel, Adewale Lawal Esq. are 

praying the court to order the 

payment of their outstanding 

salaries and allowances which the 

Minister denied them while 

serving under him. 

While Olubodun, in his own 

suit before the Abuja Division of 

the National Industrial Court, 

NIC, captioned NICN/Abj/132/ 

2019 is seeking to recover from 

the Minister the sum of N9.8m 

allegedly paid alongside the 

Minister’s salaries and 

allowances for 24 months, on his 

part, Oluwadamilare in his suit, 

NICN/Abj/133/2019 is claiming 

N11.7m being his outstanding 

salaries and allowances for 28 

months. 

They want the court to declare 

that the non-payment of full 

salaries and allowances to them 

for those periods as wrongful, 

illegal and unconstitutional and 

that the Minister should be 

ordered to pay them their unpaid 

salaries and allowances according 

to the Federal Government 

directive for payment of aides to 

the Minister of Federal Republic 

of Nigeria. 

Equally, the claimants are 

asking for an order on the 

defendant to pay the sum of 

N50m to each of them and to also 

pay them their full taxed costs of 

the prosecution of the suits. 

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Book on Premium 

Times publisher for 

launch on May 27 

ABUJA—A book of essays in 

honour of frontline 

journalist, Dapo Olorunyomi, will 

be unveiled on Monday, May 27, 

at the Shehu Yar’Adua Centre, 

Abuja. 

Mr. Olorunyomi, who was 

among the team that founded the 

hard-hitting TheNews/Tempo 

magazines in the 1990s, is the 

publisher of PREMIUM TIMES 

newspapers. The book, edited 

by Chido Onumah and Frederick 

Adetiba, has over 90 contributions 

from a spectrum of Mr. Dapo’s 

teachers, colleagues, associates 

and mentees. 

The Vice President, Prof. Yemi 

Osinbajo SAN, a long-time 

associate of Mr. Olorunyomi, is 

expected to lead dignitaries to the 

event. Other special guests are 

the Secretary to the Government 

of the Federation, Mr. Boss 

Mustapha, a former governor of 

Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu 

and veteran journalist and 

politician, Senator Chris 

Anyanwu. 

Ekiti State governor, Dr Kayode 

Fayemi, will deliver the keynote 

address while publisher of Daily 

Trust, Mallam Kabiru Yusuf, will 

chair the occasion. 

The book of essays was 

conceived after Mr. Olorunyomi’s 

60th birthday in November 2017. 

Co-editor of the book, Chido 

Onumah said the idea of the book 

was to document and celebrate 

Dapo as an accomplished 

journalist, and to underline the 

contributions of the media in the 

struggle for a better Nigeria. 

Local content critical 

for economic devt 

— SEN ADEOLA 

ASenate BUJA—CHAIRMAN, 

Committee on 

Local Content, Senator 

Solomon Adeola, yesterday, 

said that Nigeria has a lot to 

gain economically by 

implementing the Nigerian Oil 

and Gas Industry 

Content Development, 

NOGICD, Act 2010 and 

amendment of the law to 

embrace manufacturing, 

construction as well as 

communication and information 

technology sector. 

Addressing participants at the 

opening of 2019 Local Content 

Stakeholders retreat in Abuja, 

Senator Adeola said: 

“Presently, no major oil and gas 

contract takes place without 

capacity building and training 

for Nigerians built into such 

contracts.” 

He said: “This has created a 

pool of specialised manpower 

to man key infrastructure 

formerly handled by foreigners 

in the industry. 

He said the NCDMB should 

be further empowered, 

particularly in the area of 

manpower, to carry out 

regulations. 

“I want to also suggest that the 

Local Content Fund contributed 

by stakeholders now at about 

$200 million should be made 

accessible to genuine investors 

who are contributors to the 

fund”, he said.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2019 —11 

•Daddy 

Showkey 

DADDY SHOWKEY BLOWS HOT: 

Says Naira Marley doesn’t deserve 

such illtreatment from EFCC 

Veteran musician, Daddy Showkey, has criticized and condemned the heavy security 

circumstances under which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on 

Monday, arraigned popular street music rapper, Azeez Fashola, a.k.a Naira Marley 

before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on 11-count charge of alleged credit card fraud. 

According to the Fire Fire singer, the level of security attached to Marley was unfair and 

undeserving. 

“When I saw the way Naira Marley was escorted under heavy security on Monday, 

it made me laugh. What has he done to deserve that level of security? Is he a threat to 

the society? All the people that pose a threat to our society haven’t gotten that kind 

of treatment. I insist that he is still a small boy growing up. We all have made 

mistakes in the past, if you haven’t, yours would surely come someday. Don’t 

think because you are in position today you can use it anyhow. I’ve said it, we 

have begged that he should be given another chance but you people don’t 

want to listen. Rather you treat him like he was the one who looted Nigeria’s 

treasury. The people who have looted and are still looting Nigeria’s 

treasury, what have you people done to punish them? Yet you keep treating 

him like he’s a slave. You can do whatever you want with him; your 

children will meet their waterloo also.”, he said. 

Showkey added that government’s insensitivity to the poor masses’ 

continuous sufferings has been responsible for increase in crime rate. 

“There are no jobs in the society so how do you expect the poor 

masses to survive? Establish vocational schools but nothing has 

been done. Yet you treat him like he’s the one bombing Nigeria, 

all those bombing Nigeria, what have you done to them”, 

he added. 

•Baba Fryo 

•Naira Marley 

Why I need aggressive 

sex—Eniola Badmus 

Plus size Nollywood actress, Eniola Badmus may not 

be a medical expert or any kind of therapist but 

she sure knows how to ease off steam whenever she 

finds herself in that condition. 

The actress, who recently issued a timely official 

statement debunking widespread rumour that 

she was dead, is in the news again; and this 

time she has prescribed what she feels is the 

most appropriate treatment for her present 

health condition. 

Feeling extremely stressed up after so much 

work, Eniola stated that the best way to ease it 

out is to have aggressive sex. 

“I’m so stressed up, I need to fornicate 

aggressively”, she wrote on her Snapchat 

account. 

NGOs to enhance agriculture 

through reality show 

By Victor Arjiromanus 

on-Government Organisations, Adventium Global Development Limited and Glomesam World 

NEntertainment have revealed intentions to organize a reality TV show titled ‘Farmhouse’. 

Speaking about the forthcoming TV show, the CEO, Adventium Global Development Ltd, Mr. Isaac Oghogho 

noted that the attention of Nigerian youth needs to be redirected towards agriculture. 

“The initiative arose because for several years Nigeria’s economy has been driven by crude oil production 

and export; a trend that several governments had tried to reverse by encouraging and developing strategies 

and incentives to diversify the economy from crude oil export to other non-oil export products and services 

especially agriculture. Projects such as “Green Revolution”, “Operation Feed the Nation”, etc. were largely 

unsuccessful due to several factors. One key factor for the lack of success is the youth’s apathy to Agriculture. 

It is our objective to stimulate, create awareness and redirect the attention of the youthful population of 

Nigeria to the tremendous potentials and opportunities in Agriculture using Entertainment as a delivery 

channel that has made the Promoters to embark on a Reality Television show Project’ 

In her opinion, Miss Gloria Sambo, a member of the organizing team shed light on the benefits accrued 

to participants of the reality show. 

“The Farmhouse concept will involve recruitment of selected unemployed graduate participants with 

passion for agriculture from all over the country and camp them in an integrated farm for 90-days. It is 

aimed at promoting the rise of Agripreneurs (Agriculture Entrepreneurship) and it’s an advocacy tool for 

development of agri-business in Nigeria. Housemates will equally be trained on good agricultural practices, 

including bookkeeping and writing business plans for agricultural financing. In the Farm House, 

Housemates will be trained to see agriculture as a wealth- creating business as opposed to the current 

trend where the youths perceive agriculture in a derogatory manner”, she said. 

At the end of the Ninety day period, participants will be supervised in their respective agricultural 

ventures by Adventium Global and the Nigerian intensive risk sharing for Agriculture lending (NIRSAL). 

My ordeal in the hands of fake soldiers— Baba Fryo 

n Sunday, May 19, 2019, veteran musician, Friday Igweh, a.k.a Baba Fryo, shared photos of his bloodstained face after 

Ohe was attacked by alleged fake soldiers, in the Alaba Rago area of Lagos State. 

However, in an exclusive chat with E-Daily, the ‘Denge Pose’ hitmaker recounted his ordeal with the alleged fake soldiers 

and how they were eventually apprehended by officers of the Military Police, Ojo Military Cantonment. 

“I and my producer were returning from a show; so we passed through Alaba Rago to enter Alaba International. There’s 

this road called NEPA Road and because it’s a tight road I decided to allow an LT bus that was coming towards us pass first, 

to forestall traffic jam. As I was about driving off after the bus passed, a man smashed my side mirror, claiming I hit him 

while I was reversing to create space for the bus to pass. Before I knew it, he and his colleagues 

attacked me with slaps, blowing me here and there. One of them wore a camouflage shirt. 

Everybody around believed they were soldiers, so I didn’t retaliate.” 

He added; “After much scuffle, they threatened to take me to Ikeja Military Cantonment 

but I insisted that if they were real soldiers we must go to Ojo Army Barracks, but they 

said its Ikeja Army Barracks that we would go to. They eventually escaped after giving 

me serious injuries on my head. However, I went to complain to the OC Military Police, 

Ojo Army Cantonment, Capt. A.S Atunwa, who swung into action immediately. 

Fortunately, one of the fake soldiers was apprehended on Monday at the same place 

where they had physically assaulted me. Tramadol, a military face cap and other 

incriminating things were found on him. He is currently being detained at the Ojo 

Military Cantonment for further investigations.” 

The 

The singer expressed profound gratitude to the Nigerian Army and Capt. A.S 

Atunwa. 

“I’m grateful to the Nigerian Army and Capt. A.S Atunwa for their prompt 

action on this matter”, he said. 

•Eniola 

Badmus 

•Stephen 

Chibuzor 

Entertainers endorse 

football campaign 

against drug abuse 

As part of a conscious effort to curb drug 

abuse menace among young people in 

the society, Creative Executive and Social 

Activist, Stephen Chibuzor, popularly known 

as Igwe Paparazzi, held the 4 th edition of 

‘Powerball Football Tournament’, an annual 

event aimed at discouraging drug abuse among 

young people in the society. 

Speaking to E-Daily on the essence of the 

event, the convener, Stephen Chibuzor said; 

“Powerball Football Tournament is an annual inter 

university 5-aside-football tournament that sees 

different universities and celebrity teams compete 

in a friendly atmosphere to create awareness for the 

prevention of drug abuse on Nigerian campuses. Drug 

abuse among young people has become a problem 

that needs to be paid attention to immediately. A group 

of Nigerian entertainers decided to come together to 

create the much needed awareness against drug abuse 

on campuses, using football as a tool.” 

Entertainers including popular comedian, Akpororo, 

Big Brother Naija 2017 winner, Efe Ejeba, musician, 

Sexy Steel, Joe Boy, DJ Voyst, Junior Boy, Ossy 

Achievas, Bello Kreb, Josh 2Funny, Instagram comic 

sensation, Oluwadollarz, were all on ground to play at 

the 2019 edition of the tournament which held at the 

Astro Turf Pitch, Federal College of Education 

(Technical), Akoka, alongside students from The 

University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos State University, Ojo, 

Federal College of Education, Akoka and Yaba College 

of Technology, Yaba, Lagos. 

The event was powered by Moving MAD Inc. and 

supported by Merrybet, Netsat TV, Redbull and 

Indomie.


Tackle insecurity in Rivers 

or reject another oath of 

office, Peterside tells Wike 

Ramadan: Time running out 

AS Ramadan slides to its 

second half, it is time 

for self appraisal. It is time 

to look at areas you have 

not done very well in your 

ibadaat. 

Have you met your target 

in your recitation of the 

Holy Quran and how much 

of the messages of the Holy 

Book have you 

internalised? Did you miss 

any Tarawih? What about 

your Tahjud and other 

supererogatory prayers? 

Well, it is not over yet, 

extra ibadaat in the 

remaining half can cover for 

all the inadequacies. You 

need to be more 

determined to achieve all 

your set goals in the month. 

You just need to shift the 

gear for more activities in 

order to earn the pleasure 

of Allah. 

The recitation of the 

Quran is one aspect that 

you must incorporate in 

your daily schedule. 

Remember that the Quran 

was revealed in the month 

of Ramadan and you can 

By Davies 

Iheamnachor 

PORT HARCOURT— 

Director-General of 

Nigerian Maritime Administration 

and Safety 

Agency, NIMASA, Dr. 

Dakuku Peterside, has 

advised Governor 

Nyesom Wike of Rivers 

State not to take another 

oath of office on May 29, 

2019, if he (Wike) cannot 

handle the security situation 

in the state. 

Peterside noted that the 

call was based on rising 

killings and relocation of 

businesses from the state, 

urging the governor to 

buckle up to end the 

menace head on. 

Peterside, who handed 

down the challenge, 

yesterday, in a statement, 

in reaction to the 

deteriorating security 

situation in the state, 

argued that as a state 

governor, Wike’s primary 

duty was to secure the lives 

and property of the people, 

without which citing of 

infrastructure and any other 

corollary of development 

would amount to zero. 

Peterside said: “Life in 

Rivers State has become a 

sort of jackpot as residents 

who wake up in the morning 

are not sure of living to 

see another night, just as 

those who eventually 

make it to the night are 

uncertain they would see 

the next morning. 

“When such residents 

manage to snatch a morsel 

of sleep, they wake up amid 

the horrors of severed 

heads, decapitated bodies, 

and trails of blood. To Rivers 

residents, day and night 

have both become emblems 

of terror. 

“In Wike’s Rivers State, 

people are killed while 

waiting for or driving in 

traffic, on the streets, while 

watching a game of soccer 

and at home. Both the poor 

and wealthy live in fear of 

each other.” 

He noted that latest 

figures emerging from the 

state are both frightening 

and capable of permanently 

shutting out the state from 

the list of potential business 

destinations for investors. 

Peterside criticised Wike 

on his claims that 

International Oil 

Companies, IOCs, 

operating in the state were 

responsible for the killings 

and kidnappings, stressing 

that the governor was only 

trying to play smart like the 

proverbial ostrich. 

only make this month 

worthwhile if you study it. 

Those who have studied it 

before now always go over 

it again and again. The 

result of this repeated 

activity is that it will make 

more impact in your life 

than ever before. 

Also, note that the most 

beloved deeds to Allah are 

those done regularly, even 

if they are little. No matter 

how little, do regularly and 

you will be blessed for it. 

Do not engage in activities 

that negate the blessings of 

this month. 

The 30-day spiritual 

exercise is meant to 

reshape and remold us to 

be better persons and earn 

us Al-Janah Firdaus. Let 

your heart glow in the 

worship of Allah, at workplace, 

home or any other 

place you find yourself 

during the day. 

Allow the seed of sincere 

intention, love of Allah, care 

for others grow in your 

hearts and guide your 

behaviour, then you would 

have achieved greatly in 

this Ramadan. 

WORKSHOP: From left, House Leader, Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Udo Akpan; 

Speaker, Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Onofiok Luke; Governor Udom Emmanuel 

of Akwa Ibom State; Deputy Speaker, Princess Felicia Bassey and member, Akwa Ibom 

State House of Assembly, Emmanuel Bassey; at a two-day workshop on Advisory Committee 

on Parliamentary Matters for Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, in Lagos. 

Hand over on Friday, Okowa tells his 

commissioners 

By Festus Ahon 

ASABA—With about 

two weeks to his 

inauguration for a second 

term in office, Governor 

Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta 

State, yesterday, held a 

valedictory executive 

council meeting and asked 

his commissioners to 

handover to permanent 

secretaries of their 

respective ministries on 

Friday this week. 

Promising to run an 

inclusive government in his 

second term as such was 

instrumental to the success 

recorded so far in the 

delivery of policies and 

programmes by his 

administration, he thanked 

members of the State 

Executive Council for their 

collective efforts and 

determination, which 

ensured the execution of 

government programmes 

and policies to the 

satisfaction of Deltans. 

Okowa said: “In the last 

four years, I have had a 

working team, an EXCO 

that realised that we are 

together and that our 

success story would be told 

together and I am proud to 

say that it is the collective 

efforts of each and 

everyone of us that had 

given us our success stories 

which also resulted in the 

resounding victory we 

recorded at the elections. 

“I want to use this 

opportunity too to thank all 

Deltans for the support 

given us as a government; 

the love they had shown us 

and urge and pray that 

they will continue to 

guarantee us the peace 

and the support that they 

gave us this first tenure. 

"As we look forward to 

next week as the deputy 

governor and myself take 

the oath of office, we want 

to reassure our people that 

we will be there for them, 

we will continue to strive to 

improve on the things that 

we had done and we look 

forward to having the 

cooperation of the people 

because working together 

as a people will make us 

excel.” 

Pollution: CSOs, stakeholders demand health 

audit in N-Delta 

By Samuel 

Oyadongha 

Y ENAGOA—CIVIL 

Society Organisations, 

CSOs, and other 

stakeholders in Bayelsa 

State, yesterday, called for 

health audit across 

communities in Niger Delta 

as part of efforts to address 

the years of environmental 

pollution and degradation 

in the blighted region. 

The appeal was made 

during a roundtable with 

CSOs and Bayelsa State 

Oil and Environmental 

Commission, BSOEC, in 

Yenagoa. 

Coordinator of Global 

Care Rescue Mission (aka 

Operation Rescue), Mrs 

Elizabeth Egbe, said such 

health audit would go a 

long way in ascertaining 

the health situation in 

communities impacted by 

oil spills. 

She commended the 

Bayelsa State government 

for inaugurating the Oil 

Commission of Inquiry, 

describing it as a laudable 

initiative. 

Also speaking, Mrs 

Aniedim Ozowede, 

President, Ogbia Women 

Assembly, expressed 

concern over the state of 

environmental pollution in 

Niger Delta and urged the 

commission to deepen its 

findings, especially at the 

grassroots, citing the 

Oloibiri oilfield host 

communities, which are 

today abandoned. 

Chairman of the 

commission, Archbishop of 

York, Most Rev John 

Sarham accuses Wike of offering him bribe to 

compromise gov poll 

GENERAL 

Jamil 

Sarham, General Officer 

Commanding, GOC, 6 

division of the Nigerian Army, 

has accused Governor 

Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, 

of offering him bribe to 

compromise the governorship 

election in the state. 

In a statement by Aminu 

Iliyasu, the division’s 

spokesman, Sarham said 

Wike declared war on him 

when he refused to accept the 

governor’s offer. 

Wike had accused Sarham 

of running an oil theft ring in 

the state. He also alleged that 

the army commander sent 

troops to assassinate him in 

his residence on February 15. 

But Sarham described the 

allegations as “unfounded 

and false.” 

He said: “Wike’s resentment 

against me is based on my 

choice of professionalism and 

integrity over the billions of 

naira offered me by the 

governor to compromise the 

2019 general election. 

“My refusal to be bought 

over and the rejection of the 

hefty offer is the genesis of 

Wike’s hatred and vociferous 

criticisms of me. 

“On the mischievous 

accusation against Maj.-Gen. 

Sarham of leaking 

proceedings of State Security 

Council meetings to criminals 

in Rivers State, Wike knows 

well that Maj.-Gen. Sarham 

is not a member of the Rivers 

State Security Council, neither 

has he ever approached the 

gates of Rivers State Government 

House, since his assumption 

of office as the 

GOC, 6 Division." 

Sentamu said the CSOs 

roundtable was an interface 

meant to deepen its work 


Sentamu restated the 

commission’s commitment 

to investigate the 

environmental and human 

damage caused by the 

operations of oil companies. 

Rejoinder 

Our attention has been 

drawn to a story that 

purports that Seplat 

Petroleum Development 

Company Plc has made 

Final Investment Decision, 

FID, on Amukpe-Escravos 

Pipeline Project, AEPP. 

This is, in fact, not true, 

as it was an erroneous 

mistake from a source. The 

said pipeline belongs to 

Nigerian National 

Petroleum Corporation, 

NNPC, and Pan Ocean Oil 

Corporation JV. 

Based on the foregoing, 

Seplat could not have taken 

FID on the project as it was 

not the owner.


Army commander attacks convoy of 

Borno deputy gov during Osinbajo’s 

visit 

MAIDUGURI—THERE was 

disagreement between 

soldiers and policemen yesterday 

while Vice-President Yemi 

Osinbajo was inaugurating some 

projects in Maiduguri, Borno 

State capital. 

The vice-president visited 

Borno to inaugurate some of the 

projects executed by the outgoing 

administration of Kashim 

Shettima. 

Among the projects were 

schools, GSM Center and 

facilities for displaced children in 

the state. 

However, while the vicepresident, 

Kashim Shettima, the 

governor and Usman Durkwa, the 

deputy governor, were 

inaugurating a school along 

Bukumkutu road in the state 

capital, there was drama as 

security operatives attached to 

them failed to work together. 

Confusion broke out after Mike 

Alechenu, garrison commander, 

operation Lafiya Dole, prevented 

the vehicles attached to Durkwa 

to join the convoy of other 

dignitaries. 

As the lead vehicle in the 

convoy of Durkwa attempted to 

move, Alechenu used a stick to 

smash its windscreen. 

He also used the stick to hit the 

driver of the white Hilux van 

conveying security operatives 

before ordering his men to deflate 

the tyres of any of the deputy 

governor’s vehicles that 

attempted to “move an inch”. 

Soldiers were seen attaching 

knives to their Ak-47 riffles in 

order to comply with directives of 

their commander. 

Alechennu also threatened to 

handcuff the aide-de-camp of 

Durkwa, an assistant 

superintendent of police (ASP), 

who had appealed for calm. 

“This is a matter of security, you 

don’t tell me what to do. I’ll 

bundle and handcuff you if you 

move an inch from this place,” he 

warned. 

Consequently, junior police 

officers blocked the road in 

protest. “You are here trying to 

intimidate us when you are 

running away from your 

responsibility of fighting Boko 

Haram,” an angry police officer 

said. 

EFCC arrests Kwara State Assembly 

Clerk, quizzes SSG over alleged 

N400m severance package 

By Demola Akinyemi 

ILORIN—ECONOMIC and 

Financial Crimes Commission 

EFCC, Ilorin Zonal Office, has 

commenced investigations into 

the alleged illegal payment of 

about N400 million to some 

members of the Kwara State House 

of Assembly and the State Executive 

Council members before the expiration 

of their tenure. 

Towards this end, the anti-graft 

body is currently interrogating 

the Secretary to the State 

Government, Sola Gold and the 

Clerk of the state House of 

Assembly, Kperogi Jummai over 

the alleged payment. 

Vanguard gathered that all the 

25 state lawmakers and some 

Reps approve two state 

constituencies in Benue 

By Levinus 

Nwabughiogu 

A BUJA—HOUSEof 

Representatives, yesterday, 

gave approval for the creation of 

two constituencies in Benue State 

as requested by the Independent 

National Electoral Commission, 

INEC 

By the approval, INEC will 

alter the boundaries of Ushongu 

State Constituency. 

The new constituencies would 

be Mata, comprising Ikov (2), 

Mbagba (07), Mbayegh (10), 

Utange (11), and Mbagwa, 

consisting of Artikyese (01), Lessel 

(03), Mbaaka (04), Mbaanyam 

(05), Mbaawe (06) and Mbakuha 

(09). 

The resolution was sequel to a 

motion by Hon. Edward Pwajok 

(PDP, Plateau) and Hon. 

Benjamin Wayo (Benue, APC) at 

Tuesday’s plenary. 

The lawmakers also sought the 

concurrence of the Senate on the 

matter. 

Presenting the motion, Pwajok 

and Wayo noted that, “Section 91 

members of the state Executive 

Council, received about N400 

million gratuity. 

The Clerk of the House, who 

confirmed that the lawmakers had 

received their gratuity told the 

operatives of the EFCC that the 

payment was approved by the 

Governor Abdulfatai Ahmed. 

Kperogi said: “ At a meeting of 

the Principal Officers of the Kwara 

House of Assembly wherein I 

was scheduled to be the Secretary, 

held on May 8, 2019, the issue 

of Severance Gratuity for the 

members was raised. The 

principal officers were informed 

that the state governor had 

approved the payment of their 

gratuity. 

of the Constitution of the Federal 

Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as 

amended provides that, subject 

to the provisions of this 

Constitution, a House of 

Assembly of a State shall consist 

of three or four times the number 

of seats that a State has in the 

House of Representatives divided 

in a way to reflect, as far as 

possible, nearly equal 

population. 

“The same section provides that 

a House of Assembly of State shall 

consist of not less than twentyfour 

and not more than forty 

members. 

“Section 112 of the 1999 

Constitution provides that, 

subject to provisions of Sections 

91 and 113 of the 1999 

Constitution, the Independent 

National Electoral Commission 

shall divide every state in the 

federation in such a number of 

the State Constituencies as is 

equal to three or four times the 

number of Federal 

Constituencies within that State. 

VISIT: From left—Chairman, Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrator of Nigeria, 

Lagos, Francis Olawale; MD/CEO, Bank of Industry, Olukayode Pitan and Mobilisation 

Secretary, ICSAN Lagos, Folashade Akin Akinmusire during the ICSAN executives working 

visit to Bank of Industry in Lagos. 

Rebuilding North East tops Buhari’s 

major challenges — Osinbajo 

By Ndahi Marama 

M President, AIDUGURI—VICE 

Professor Yemi 

Osinbajo has said concerns over 

the rebuilding of Northeast 

remain the most important 

challenge of President 

Muhammadu Buhari’s 

administration. 

Osinbajo who stated this 

yesterday in Maiduguri at the 

Shehu of Borno’s Palace, also said 

with the signing of the Northeast 

Development Commission, 

NEDC, Act into law, 

redevelopment in the North East 

was certain. 

The Vice President, who was in 

Maiduguri for the commissioning 

of the projects executed by the 

administration of governor 

Kashim Shettima, lauded the 

governor for the infrastructural 

development recorded by his 


He said:” I am here specifically 

to commission projects that were 

done under the administration of 

governor Kashim Shettima who 

has done excellently well for the 

people of Borno despite the 

challenges of the Boko Haram 

terrorists in the state. 

“ I am impressed by the 

numerous projects that I have 

seen in the state and if I should 

continue to commission all the 

projects, it will continue till May 

29. 

“Concerns of rebuilding 

northeast remain the most 

important challenge that we have 

as a government and we want to 

assure you that it remains at the 

front burner of the federal 

government. 

“Recently, the federal 

government signed into law the 

Northeast Development 

Commission ( NEDC) Act which 

backs the vehicle of the 

redevelopment of Northeast. 

“With the men appointed into 

the commission, we are bound to 

witness a great development in 

the rehabilitation process of 

Northeast.’’ 

Earlier, the Shehu of Borno, 

Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Umar 

Elkanemi who hosted the Vice 

President at his palace, thanked 

the federal government for the 

continuous support to the people 

of Borno State. 

He recalled how Boko Haram 

destroyed property and displaced 

several citizens in the years of the 

crisis, but expressed confidence 

in Buhari's administration. 

Kogi guber: APC NWC dumps Bello, 

anoints Admiral Jibril ...as top politicians jostle to deputize him 

By Boluwaji Obahopo 

L OKOJA—NATIONAL 

Working Committee of the 

All Progressives Congress, 

APC, seems to have dumped the 

governor of Kogi State, Yahaya 

Bello and endorsed the 

aspiration of Admiral Usman 

Jibrin (retd) for the November 

16 governorship poll. 

Vanguard gathered that the 

NWC is beginning to talk about 

the former Chief of Naval Staff 

(CNS) as the most likely to 

succeed Bello. 

Sources at the party’s 

National Secretariat said the 

NWC decided to support Jibrin 

following his acceptability in 

Kogi East; which has the 

highest voting strength in 

addition to the strong support 

from key politicians in Kogi 

West.. 

Currently, Jibrin’s ambition’s 

has started attracting politicians 

across various camps, 

especially estranged APC 

stalwarts who do not want to 

associate with Bello on account 

of poor performance. 

Also, core politicians from the 

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, 

fold are already considering the 

option of defecting to APC to help 

actualise Jibrin’s governorship 

aspiration. 

The most interesting part is the 

current high-level lobbying to be 

for the position of running mate. 

Most prominent among these 

politicians jostling for the slot is a 

former senatorial aspirant in Kogi 

West, who was a member ofHouse 

of Representatives and former 

commissioner in the state, Chief 

Tolorunjuwon Faniyi. 

Also, a former senatorial candidate 

of Accord Party in 2015, Chief Sam 

Aro, is in the race to deputise Jibrin. 

Both are hinging their ambitions 

on the fact that since Senator Dino 

Melaye, is from Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu 

Federal constituency, the deputy 

governorship slot should be for 

either Yagba or Lokoja/Koto Federal 

Constituency. 

However, strategists within Jibrin’s 

camp are considering a running 

mate from Kogi Central, the 

senatorial district of Governor 

Yahaya Bello. 

They are of the belief that 

Kogi West is already a no-go 

area for Yahaya Bello’s reelection 

aspiration, hence the 

need to make an in-road into 

Kogi Central. 

They preferred the senatorial 

candidate of Social Democratic 

Party, SDP, for Kogi Central in 

the last election, Natasha 

Akpoti. 

Already, the Director- 

General of Audu/Faleke 

Campaign Organization 

during the 2015 governorship 

election, Dan Isah, has aligned 

with Jibrin’s aspiration.


AERO @ 60: Dr Cecilia Ibru, Co Chairman Aero Contractors Nigeria Limited (7th right); Capt. Ado Sanusi, 

CEO, Aero Contractors (6th right); Mrs. Tobi Odunaiya (7th left); Capt. Dapo Olumide, CEO, Ropeways 

Transport Ltd (5th left); Dr Harold Demuren, Former Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, 

NCAA ((2nd left) and others, cutting anniversary cake during the 60th Years Anniversary of Aero Airline, at 

Aero Departure Lounge, Murtala Muhammed Local Airport, yesterday. PHOTOS: BUNMI AZEEZ. 

Engr. Mohammed Wali, Director of Engineering, 

Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) and Sheik 

Abdur-Rahman Adangba. 

ERGP 7% target not achievable by 2020 

— UDOMA EDUCATION: FG spends N1.338trn 

doggedness of the N4.33 trillion, while the 

By Emmanuel 

on capital expenditure in 4 years 

Elebeke 

— MINISTER 

A BUJA—THE 

Minister of Budget 

and National Planning 

Senator Udoma Udo 

Udoma has said the 7 per 

cent Economic Recovery 

Growth Plan, ERGP target 

by 2020 is no longer 

achievable. 

The minister disclosed 

this yesterday at the end 

of tenure briefing in 

Abuja. 

He, however, expressed 

optimism that the growth 

target set by the 

administration to fully 

recover from recession 

would be accomplished in 

the second term of the 

President as plans had 

already been put in place 

to attain the set goal. 

Udoma, who expressed 

satisfaction with the 

incremental growth so far 

recorded in the economy, 

attributed it to the 

economic team. 

He, however, noted that 

the 2 percent GDP growth 

recorded in the first quarter 

of 2019 was not acceptable 

to the government. 

His words: “The ERGP 

targets of 7 percent are not 

likely to be achieved in 

2020 but I believe it will be 

achieved in the President’s 

second term. What we 

need to do when 

something is working is to 

work harder. 

“The 2 percent growth is 

a weak growth because we 

will like Nigeria to grow at 

6.5 percent. But the key 

thing is the direction of the 

movement. We must 

continue to stay focused 

and we will surely get 

there.” 

Total releases 

He said the total capital 

budget releases in this 

administration for three 

consecutive budgets of 

2016, 2017 and 2019 to 

Ministries, Departments 

and Agencies, MDAs was 

implementation for 2019 is 

yet to kick off. 

He said: “In 2015, the 

capital budget for education 

was N23.52billion; in 2016, 

it was increased to 

N35.99billion; In 2017 it 

increased to N56.81billion; 

in 2018, it was increased to 

N102.91billion. 

“In health, in 2015, it was 

N22.68billion; in 2016 it 

was N28.65 billion, in 2017 

it was N55.61 billion, 2018, 

N86.49 billion. 

“This does not include 

the National Health Act 

implementation which was 

N55.15 billion. We are the 

first administration to begin 

to implement that. 

“ That gives an indication 

of the thrust of the policy. 

However, we still have a 

long way to go to deliver 

the objectives that we 

want.’’ 

“In health and education, 

we have to take into 

account the spending of the 

states but we are where we 

should be.'' 

By Joseph Erunke 

A F BUJA—THE 

e d e r a l 

Government said 

yesterday it had spent 

N.338 trillion in capital 

investment in the 

education sector in the last 

four years. 

It also revealed that its 

aggregate expenditure in 

the education sector 

(public and private) 

exceeded the muchtouted 

26 percent of the 

national budget. 

Minister of Education, 

Mallam Adamu Adamu, 

who disclosed these 

during his valedictory 

briefing in Abuja 

yesterday, also said the 

amount was outside the 

N25 billion approved for 

public universities. 

He said: “In spite of the 

economic downturn, we 

have done well in terms 

of investment in capital 

expenditure. 

‘’The 

UBEC 

interventions in states 

have recorded a total of 

N350 billion, while 

TETFund and NEEDS 

Assessment interventions 

have recorded N857 

billion with the main 

ministry and other 

agencies recording N86 

billion, totalling N1.338 

trillion in the last four 

years.” 

Adamu,who said the 

Buhari administration 

had laid good foundation 

for dealing with the 

challenges posed by outof-school 

children 

phenomenon and the 

huge number of adult 

illiterates”, said “If we 

continue on this path, in 

the next 10 years, 

Nigeria’s challenges in 

this twin direction would 

be confined to the dustbin 

of history. 

“In spite of the economic 

downturn, we have done 

well in terms of 

investment in capital 

expenditure. The UBEC 

•Shuts down 134 varsities, 

polytechnics, others 

interventions in states 

have recorded a total of 

N350 billion, while 

TETFund and NEEDS 

Assessment interventions 

have recorded N857 

billion with the main 

ministry and other 

agencies recording N86 

billion, totalling N1.338 

trillion in the last four 

years. 

“This is aside the N25 

billion just approved for 

public universities. These 

figures have nothing to 

do with personnel and 

overhead cost in the 

education sector, which 

are also well over a trillion 

naira. 

“On the basic, 

secondary and tertiary 

education, we shall 

continue on the path of 

infrastructure and 

Buhari returns from Saudi 

Arabia, presides over FEC 

valedictory session 

By Johnbosco 

Agbakwuru 

A 

B U J A — 

PRESIDENT 

Muhammadu Buhari 

yesterday evening 

returned from Saudi 

Arabia where he 

performed the Muslim 

Umrah, known as lesser 

pilgrimage. 

He returned at 6:30 pm 

at the Presidential Wing of 

Nnamdi Azikiwe 

International Airport, 

Abuja. 

President Buhari is also 

expected to preside over 

the valedictory session for 

the Federal Executive 

Council, FEC, today. 

The session is the last 

meeting the President 

would be having with 

members of the current 

cabinet. 

President Buhari had on 

manpower development, 

increasing carrying 

capacity and creating 

unfettered access to all 

levels of our education for 

our young people. 

“I am convinced that we 

are where we are in 

education because we are 

where we are as a nation. 

We have done well in 

education relative to our 

level of development as a 

nation. 

Shuts varsities, 

polytechnics, others 

“As I speak, over 134 

illegal tertiary institutions 

including universities, 

polytechnics, colleges of 

education and specialised 

institutions have been 

closed down and some of 

their operators are currently 

undergoing prosecution.” 

Thursday last week 

travelled to Saudi Arabia to 

honour an invitation from 

King Salman Bin 

Abdulaziz, the king of 

Saudi Arabia and 

Custodian of the Two Holy 

Mosques to perform the 

Umrah (lesser 

pilgrimage). 

He was accompanied by 

his personal aides. 

At the valedictory session 

today, the President is 

expected to thank members 

of the Federal Executive 

Council for their 

contributions to his 

government in the last four 

years. 

Reports indicate that 

some members of the 

cabinet may be 

reappointed based on their 

individual performance. 

The President has however 

kept the issue of the 

appointment to himself.


:Vanguard 

News 

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

FOR WORLD HYPERTENSION DAY: From left— Second runner-up, Ayagwa Success; 

winner, Akpojotor Stephen; Chairman, Heirs Holdings, Tony Elumelu; CEO, Avon Medical, Dr. Awele 

Elumelu, and first runner-up, Okeh Paul, during the inaugural Avon Medical 5K Colour Run event to 

mark World Hypertension Day. 

N400m fraud case: 

EFCC lied, I didn’t spend 

a dime on PDP— Metuh 

By Ikechukwu 

Nnochiri 

A BUJA—FORMER 

National Publicity 

Secretary of Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, 

Chief Olisa Metuh, 

yesterday, told the Federal 

High Court in Abuja that 

he did not spend a dime 

out of the N400 million that 

was released to him before 

the 2015 presidential 

election. 

Metuh, who continued 

his testimony before trial 

Justice Okon Abang, 

insisted that he only used 

the fund to execute a 

“national assignment” that 

was given to him by former 

President, Dr. Goodluck 

Jonathan. 

He maintained that the 

Economic and Financial 

Crimes Commission, 

APGA on sickbed, national 

chairmanship aspirant declares 

By Chinonso 

Alozie 

OWERRI—AN aspirant 

to the national 

chairmanship position of 

All Progressive Grand 

Alliance, APGA, from Imo 

State, Edozie Njoku, 

yesterday claimed that the 

party was now in a sickbed. 

Njoku said the only 

remedy is to avoid forcing 

a national chairman on the 

people. 

The chairmanship 

aspirant revealed that there 

is an arrangement to pull 

out of APGA, either to 

create a new Igbo party or 

join another political party, 

should the proposed 

convention go contrary to 

EFCC, lied when it alleged 

that the fund was used to 

sponsor political activities 

of PDP, prior to the 

presidential election. 

Metuh is answering to a 

seven-count money 

laundering charge the 

EFCC preferred against 

him and his firm, Destra 

Investment Ltd. 

He was alleged to have 

received N400m from the 

Office of the National 

Court strikes out suit on 

Ihedioha’s swearing in 

By Chinonso 

Alozie 

OWERRI—A Federal 

High Court sitting in 

Owerri, presided over 

by Justice P. A. Rimgim 

the will of the people. 

Njoku said: “I remember 

when I visited Victor Umeh 

to pick the form for the 

national chairmanship post, 

he told me the party does 

not have the energy to go 

through having so many 

contestants and that the 

party has only one 

chairmanship aspirant. 

“But today, I am happy 

that Victor Umeh is seeing 

the need to have a 

democracy. We sit down 

and say things must be 

democratic; it is not because 

of any individual but 

because we want it to be 

good for all. 

“An example is what 

happened to AD in the 

South-West. It had five 

Security Adviser, ONSA, 

before the 2015 presidential 

election, without executing 

any contract. 

EFCC alleged that the 

fund was electronically 

wired from an account that 

ONSA operated with the 

Central Bank of Nigeria, 

CBN, to Metuh. 

It told the court that the 

fund, which was released 

to Metuh and his firm by 

detained former NSA, Col. 

yesterday, struck out the 

suit attempting to stop the 

swearing in of Imo State 

governor-elect, Emeka 

Ihedioha, just as the court 

also awarded a N5 million 

cost against the plaintiff, 

governors but today they 

can’t even boast of one 

thousand votes. It came to 

a point, Yoruba people said 

enough is enough 

“They chose another 

party called ACN which 

they later joined with 

another party to be the party 

of government today. 

“We Igbo should watch 

out and keep learning and 

stop some rubbish that 

have been destroying us 

politically. 

“There was ANPP that 

looked out for northern 

interests and AD for Yoruba 

interests. We struggled to 

form APGA in 2000. We are 

now asking: do we not still 

have that need for which we 

created APGA?” 

Sambo Dasuki(retd),was 

part of about $2.1 billion 

earmarked for the purchase 

of arms to fight insurgency 

in the North-East. 

Besides, the prosecution 

which had earlier closed its 

case after it called eight 

witnesses that testified 

before the court, equally 

alleged that Metuh was 

involved in an illicit 

transaction that involved 

the exchange of $2million. 

Clifford Eze, a 

governorship candidate of 

Democratic Alternative, 

DA. 

Rimgim struck out the 

suit on the grounds that the 

matter was supposed to be 

at the tribunal level and not 

a matter for the regular 

court, pointing out that it is 

a post-election matter. 

Reacting, Chairman of 

DA, Anyiam Israel told 

Vanguard: “Let me get in 

touch with the stakeholders 

of the party, by the time we 

get the details, we will react 

properly on the matter. I 

am not fully aware of it 

now.” 

Also reacting, the 

Secretary to Imo State 


PDP, Ray Emeana, said the 

suit was an attempt to derail 

democracy in Imo State. 

The PDP scribe said: 

“These are people who 

have governed the state for 

the past eight years and 

they are trying to keep the 

state down. The state is 

gradually being untangled 

for the commencement of 

progress across the state.” 

Umahi backs Gbajabiamila 

for Reps speakership 

By Peter Okutu 

A BAKALIKI— 

GOVERNOR 

David Umahi of Ebonyi 

State yesterday, 

endorsed Femi 

Gbajabiamila for the 

speakership of the House 

of Representatives. 

Umahi gave the 

endorsement in 

Abakaliki when 

Gbajabiamila led 103 

members of the House of 

Representatives to seek 

the governor’s support 

on his speakership 

ambition. 

Describing 

Gbajabiamila as a very 

intelligent lawmaker, 

Governor Umahi 

assured that he would 

align himself with the 

By Dennis Agbo 

E NUGU—THE 

Movement for 

Actualisation of the 

Sovereign State Of 

Biafra, MASSOB, has 

spoken out in support of 

former President 

Olusegun Obasanjo’s 

allegation on 

Islamisation and 

Fulanisation of 

Nigeria. 

MASSOB in a 

statement yesterday, 

through its spokesman, 

Samuel Edeson, said 

Chief Obasanjo should 

not be crucified or 

condemned because he 

exposed the intention 

to unleash evil on the 

people of southern and 

middle-belt regions of 


Edeson said it was 

unfortunate some aides 

to the President have 

mortgaged their 

conscience for their 

selfish desire, 

presenting falsehoods 

to the citizens because 

they wanted to be 

ambition of the lawmaker. 

He however, demanded 

that South-East, especially 

members who hail from 

Ebonyi be included in the 

appointment of key floor 

functionaries and 

chairmen of committees if 

elected. 

Umahi pleaded that the 

House leadership under 

Gbajabiamila, if elected, 

should not dwell so much 

on party affairs but think 

of how to build and 

develop the nation. 

Reacting, Gbajabiamila 

said Ebonyi is the first 

state he was visiting to 

seek for support, adding 

that his decision to visit 

Umahi was because of 

his uniqueness and 

influence in the South- 

East zone. 

MASSOB backs Obasanjo 

on Islamisation agenda 

relevant in President’s 


Edeson said: 

“MASSOB commends 

Obasanjo for being 

courageous and 

eloquent in revealing 

this unwanted truth 

which the present 

government don’t want 

to hear. 

“It will be recalled that 

MASSOB had earlier 

exposed this 

Islamisation agenda. 

“MASSOB wishes to 

make it clearer again that 

there is no difference 

between Boko Haram 

and herdsmen. The 

terrorist herdsmen were 

sent to go and destroy 

the South and Middle- 

Belt while the Boko 

Haram will carry their 

acts of terrorism in the 

North-East. 

“That is why President 

Buhari can never declare 

killer-herdsmen a 

terrorist movement or 

condemn the killing of 

the innocent citizens by 

these foot soldiers of 

Islam called herdsmen.”


COMMISSIONING: 

From left— Ekiti 

State Deputy 

Governor, Otunba 

Bisi Egbeyemi, 

Governor Kayode 

Fayemi, Board 

Chairman, Gossy 

Warm Springs Ltd., 

Oluwole Adeyegbe 

and MD, Gossy 

Warm Springs Ltd., 

Gbemileke Otun, at 

the official 

commissioning of 

the company's production 

plant, at 

Ikogosi, Ekiti State. 

Edo APC scribe under preasure to resign 

•As Obaseki meets party leaders, monarchs 

By Alemma Aliu 

BENIN 

CITY— 

DESPITE Governor 

Godwin Obaseki’s recent 

pronouncement that there 

is no rift between him and 

his predecessor, Comrade 

Adams Oshiomhole, Vanguard 

reliably gathered 

yesterday that there is 

pressure on the Secretary 

of the All Progressives 

Congress (APC), Lawrence 

Okha from Edo government 

house to resign his appointment 

to be replaced by a 

secretary that “could work 

with Godwin Obaseki for 

his second term ambition”. 

Okha is seen as one of the 

staunchest supporters of 

Oshiomhole. 

It was gathered that the 

message for Okha to resign 

was first sent to him by 

weekend and Vanguard 

gathered yesterday that he has 

also been summoned by the 

governor but it was not clear 

whether he has honoured the 

invitation or not. 

It was learnt that the 

information has already been 

relayed to the National 

Secretariat and the information 

is being studied. 

However, when contacted on 

By Emmanuel 

Elebeke 

ABUJA—THE Executive 

Vice Chairman, 

Nigerian Communications 

phone yesterday, Okha described 

the threat as “a joke” and ended 

the call. 

One of his aides said “I 

doubt if anybody will want 

to do that. They cannot 

pressurise my Oga to resign. He 

is not a government appointee 

and he came through a process 

in the APC”. 

Meanwhile, Vanguard gathered 

that some ward chairmen 

King selection: Let people's will 

prevail, Ogun community urges govt 

E 

M 

By Gabriel 

Olawale 

U R E N — 

RESIDENCE of 

Emuren town in Sagamu 

Local Government area of 

Ogun State has called on 

the state government and 

the local government to allow 

the will of the people and that of 

the kingmakers to prevail in the 

selection of new monarch. 

The community dwellers alleged 

plan by a serving lawmaker 

in the Ogun State House of Assembly 

to foist his preferred candidate 

on the people of the town 

as the next monarch , two years 

after the last king died. 

The regent of the town, Chief 

from Oredo local government area 

who are said not be happy with 

the development were meeting 

yesterday to take position on the 

issue. 

This information is on the heels 

of a meeting of Governor Obaseki. 

yesterday with APC leaders in 

Edo Central and Edo North 

Senatorial Districts to sue for 

cooperation and support ahead 

of his second term ambition. 

Nasiru Taiwo expressed his surprise 

at the sudden rush by the 

Sagamu local government to 

“hurriedly “ install an Oba in the 

town , after delaying the process 

for more than a year. 

Chief Taiwo, who is the Lisa of 

the town said; “we have tried in 

the past to get new king since we 

lost our last king in 2017 but there 

has been delay from the 

government. The Oba of Emuren 

is a first class monarch and we 

should be very careful in the 

process of selectig a new Oba. The 

government should consider the 

implication of going against the 

wishes of the people of the town. 

One of the kingmakers, the lotu 

Omoba of Emuren, Otunba Bola 

Why NCC places more emphasis on tertiary 

institutions —Danbatta 

Commission, NCC, Prof. 

Umar Danbatta says the 

commission places more 

emphasis on higher institutions 

of learning because 

it believed that we are in a 

Rep trains 100 constituents on fish 

feed production 

KWALE—NO fewer 

than 100 persons have 

benefited from the training 

and Empowerment of Youth 

and Women on Fish 

Feeds and Value Chain in 

Delta State (zone A and B) 

sponsored by the member 

representing Ndokwa/ 

Ukwuani Federal 

Constituency at the 

National Assembly. 

Declaring open the 5-day 

training programme at 

Kwale, Ndokwa West Local 

Government Area of Delta 

State, Hon. Ossai 

Nicholas Ossai represented 

by his Special Assistant 

Mr.Chibuzor Okereke said 

that the training and empowerment 

programme 

was to add value and enhance 

the economic status 

of the beneficiaries. 

Ossai who maintained 

that he is passionate about 

the wellbeing of his 

constituents, pointed out 

that it was not enough to 

give people fish but also to 

teach them how to fish. 

“What we are doing here 

today is in line with my 

responsibility. I believe so 

much in human capital 

development. I believe so 

much in training and 

empowerment of my people 

to enhance their living 

standards and make them 

economically buoyant,” he 

said. 

One of the resource persons 

and Director, Biotech, 

Nigerian Institute of Oceanography 

and Marine Research, 

Lagos, Dr. 

Adekunle Oresegun, 

commended Ossai for 

sponsoring the training and 

empowerment programme, 

saying that the initiative 

was to sensitize and 

popularize fish farming. 

The governor on Monday 

broke the Ramadan fast at the 

palace of the Otaru of Auchi with 

some other traditional rulers from 

the area privately. 

The governor held a similar 

meeting with political leaders from 

Edo South on Friday where he 

was said to have told them they 

should remain focused and 

continue to give him the support 

he needs to implement the 

policies and programs of his 


Taiwo, said that the 14 days notice 

given by the local government 

for the family meeting and the 

nomination of the candidates is 

too short, considering the fact that 

the Emuren in Council had for 

more than a year been trying to 

install a new monarch. 

“The secretary to Sagamu local 

government, Otunba Wale 

Fakoya had in a letter dated May 

9, 2019, directed the Olori Ebi of 

the Owuyo ruling house to 

convey a meeting of the leaders 

of the family to agree on a date for 

nomination of candidates . But to 

our surprise, we woke up to see 

groups of miscreants stationed in 

some parts of the community to 

instigate violence. 

knowledge based economy 

and ICT space had to be 

created for people to operate. 

And for this reason, he 

said the commission has 

being providing Information 

Communication Technology 

(ICT) facilities to tertiary institutions 

across the country. 

Danbatta stated this on Tuesday 

when a delegation from the 

National Orthopaedic Hospital 

Dala-Kano paid him a courtesy 

visit in Abuja. 

He was represented by Mrs 

Abigail Sholanke, Director 

Projects, NCC. 

He said that special 

intervention projects of the 

commission was an initiative to 

ensure that ICT facilities were 

provided in schools both 

secondary and tertiary 

institutions. 

"When we realized that most of 

these schools don't have computers 

and internet facilities the commission, 

we decided to intervene 

in this area. 

"We have being given a lot of 

schools interventions and your 

school is a part of the programme 

of the commission," Danbatta 

said. 

Wall St. rises as tech shares 

rebound after Huawei reprieve 

Shares of technology companies helped push Wall 

Street forward yesterday after the United States 

temporarily eased curbs on China’s Huawei Technologies 

Co Ltd, alleviating investor concerns about pressure on 

future corporate results in the sector. 

U.S. President Donald Trump added Huawei to a trade 

blacklist last week, leading several companies to suspend 

business with the world’s largest telecom equipment 

maker, a move that could weigh on their sales. 

Chipmakers, many of which sell to Huawei, bore the brunt 

of Monday’s sell-off. 

But late on Monday, the United States granted the 

Chinese telecoms equipment maker a license to buy U.S. 

goods until Aug. 19. The development offered a reprieve 

to shares of chipmakers, with the Philadelphia 

Semiconductor Index gaining 2.1 percent in a bid to end 

a three-day slump. 

Shares of Huawei suppliers such as Intel Corp, 

Qualcomm Inc, Xilinx Inc and Broadcom Inc rose 

between 1 percent and 4.5 percent. 

Zimbabwe hikes fuel prices again, 

new currency slides 

Zimbabwe hiked fuel prices by around half on 

Tuesday, the second sharp rise in four months, a 

day after the central bank effectively removed a subsidy 

by ending oil importers’ access to U.S. dollars at a 

favourable rate. 

The fuel price rise, likely to push up the country’s 

soaring inflation rate, was accompanied by a plunge 

in the country’s RTGS dollar - which posted its biggest 

one-day fall against the U.S. dollar on the interbank 

market. 

Oil firms started buying dollars on the interbank to 

import fuel yesterday, having previously been allowed 

to use a 1:1 dollar to RTGS$ rate. 

The latest price increase had been expected. It 

followed a 150 percent fuel price hike in January, which 

sparked violent street protests and led to the death of a 

dozen people after a harsh security crackdown. 

The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) 

said in a circular that diesel would now cost RTGS$4.89, 

up from RTGS$3.26, and petrol RTGS$4.97, compared 

with RTGS$3.38. It had earlier on Tuesday denied plans 

to increase the price of fuel. 

The Reserve Bank had been under pressure to remove 

the fuel subsidy, with economists saying some fuel 

companies were accessing cheap foreign currency and 

selling it on the black market instead of importing fuel. 

Deutsche Bank investors want 

chairman to go early — 

Sources 

At least three major investors in Deutsche Bank want 

Chairman Paul Achleitner to step down early 

amid discontent with the bank’s turnaround, two people 

with knowledge of the matter said yesterday. 

Achleitner, whose term expires in 2022, is due to face 

investors at the bank’s annual general meeting yesterday. 

A spokesman for Deutsche Bank declined to comment, 

both on behalf of the bank and Achleitner. 

The sources did not want to identify the three investors, 

and while they do not have the power to push through 

management change on their own, their calls are a sign 

of the pressures facing Germany’s biggest bank after years 

of failed turnarounds. 

In recent years, Deutsche Bank has been plagued by 

failed regulatory tests, ratings downgrades, big fines and 

management reshuffles. It posted its first profit in four 

years in 2018. 

Achleitner’s record of installing executives and 

overseeing the lender has been chequered, said one of 

the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity. 

Egypt to raise power prices by 14.9% 

for 2019-2020 — Minister 

Egypt will raise electricity prices by an average of 

14.9 percent in the 2019-2020 fiscal year 

beginning in July, Electricity Minister Mohamed 

Shaker said yesterday. 

Egypt has committed to deep cuts to energy subsidies 

as part of a three-year, $12 billion IMF loan programme 

it began in late 2016. 

All stories credited to Reuters

OUR economic discourse 

obsessively tracks GDP 

figures but fails to analyse the 

standard of living in real terms. 

Similarly, we pay very little 

attention to the average 

Nigerian’s emotional wellbeing 

in a system where it is virtually 

impossible to achieve anything 

without a high level of resources 

or connections. We talk about 

attracting foreign direct 

investment but fail to analyse 

why it doesn’t seem to have an 

impact on the lives of ordinary 

people. 

Similarly, we are yet to accept 

that economic growth will not 

help the majority unless we 

tackle inequality in our society. 

In 2010, seven out of 10 

Nigerians were already poor, 

and two thirds of that number 

were from the North and 

projected to spend a lifetime in 

poverty, according to the Centre 

for Global Development. Social 

inclusion is not given the same 

attention as trade policy, yet it 

is central to the survival of our 

democracy. 

Of course, if people become 

less poor they are more reluctant 

to be used as tools of violence 

and instability, hence why many 

of those bemoaning Nigeria’s 

current state did little to prevent 

our nation’s slow decline when 

they had the chance. 

We thought we were making 

progress because telecoms were 

booming, fashion and art shows 

were everywhere, oil prices 

were high and construction was 

up, and with progress came all 

of the social ills of modernity but 

with none of the discourse, 

analysis or government 

programmes to keep them at 

bay. 

Perhaps the one thing we 

discuss even less than 

inclusive growth is mental 

health. Both are linked. Our 

winner-takes-all society is 

producing citizens nursing a 

Obasanjo 

THE former President 

outraged many leaders 

and former associates by stating 

Boko Haram is proof of a plot to 

islamise West Africa. Like Reno 

Omokri and Femi Fani-Kayode, 

he believes there is a 

“fulanisation” agenda. 

It’s a shame that so-called 

statesmen continue to play 

dangerous games, pitting 

Nigerians against one another, 

using the tools of 

misinformation and 

demagoguery to do so. 

Statistically, Boko Haram has 

killed more Muslims than 

Christians in the North where 

its attacks have been 

concentrated. Some people are 

smartly using the North/South, 

Christian/Muslim divide to 

enforce their own agenda. 

It is also quite ironic that 

Obasanjo believes “the twin 

evils of Boko Haram and 

marauding cattle herders were 

initially treated with kid gloves” 

whereas both issues were 

already present under his 

administration. Wikileaks 

cables allege they were ignored 

and allowed to fester for political 

reasons not unrelated to the 

third term agenda. 

The unspoken public health challenge: Depression, 

suicide and Nigeria’s declining standard of living 

myriad of personal issues: 

anxiety, depression, life 

dissatisfaction are a result of an 

unjust society where 

individuals are damaged by 

pervasive inequality. We 

wonder why suicide is suddenly 

so prevalent without 

connecting this to the 

disintegrating moral fabric of a 

country where neither merit nor 

hard work are rewarded, one 

where we are all constantly 

trying to outdo or outspend 

•Chief Olusegun Obasanjo 

To quote Dr. Junaid 

Mohammed, a Second Republic 

lawmaker: “Every Nigerian 

leader should be blamed for the 

mess we find ourselves in. We 

must blame in totality the 

political class who have not 

handled the economy and 

politics well. They have been 

very divisive in their ways”. 

He questioned Obasanjo’s 

alleged meddling in the politics 

of Sharia when it was 

introduced, and the use of 

religion (by both Christians and 

Muslims) to divide Nigerians. 

We must interrogate 

politicians’ utterances and 

actions which might not be 

unconnected to their loss at the 

polls. 

each other while creating little 

wealth or socio-economic value. 

Our country remains poor 

despite (some might say 

because of) our luxurious tastes: 

we put pressure on ourselves 

to outspend each other, the 

appearance of wealth matters 

more than sustainable 

production, and we fail to see 

that in this rat race we’re all 

losers; the energy spent 

attempting to outdo one another 

only benefits foreign brands and 

companies. 

We might think our spending 

makes us big men in our local 

context but we are only big fish 

in a very small pond, and the 

pond is shrinking fast with no 

mass commitment, from all of 

us, to make the pond bigger and 

increase the number of fish 

which have access to it. 

Modern living negatively 

affects our physical and mental 

health. Yet, the majority of 

Nigerians don’t seem to be 

aware of this. 

The more affluent the middle 

class becomes, the more we 

mindlessly consume imported 

products: from technology, to 

food and beverages, everything 

that is a marker of higher status 

is slowly becoming a means to 

State governors 

THE Nigeria Governors 

Forum has rejected the 

financial autonomy recently 

granted to local governments. 

The NGF Chairman and 

Governor of Zamfara State, 

Abdulaziz Yari, signed a letter 

to President Muhammadu 

Buhari stating the NGF’s 

displeasure. 

Many of those in office do not 

support the sort of radical, 

structural change which could 

really make a difference in 

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2019 —17 

encourage poor outcomes from 

obesity to status anxiety, as it is 

done in the West. 

We mistake progress and 

development for consuming 

expensive or mass-produced 

products we don’t really need, 

and human relationships suffer 

because of this. Parents more 

readily buy their children 

entertainment than take an 

interest in their lives and a “real 

man” is one who can afford to 

fund the lifestyles of several 

Our country offers 

too few 

opportunities for 

self-realisation for 

us to believe that 

people will forever 

accept a society 

where one’s 

aspirations are only 

realizable if one 

cheats and steals 

one’s way into 

becoming upper 

class 

women. These behaviour 

patterns put pressure on 

individuals and the entire 

society; they have psychological 

consequences which we are yet 

Nigeria. One wonders, in fact, 

how many of those around the 

President himself truly believe 

in his professed agenda. 

The NGF statement asked the 

Nigerian Financial Intelligence 

Unit to focus on anti-money 

laundering and combating 

those who finance terrorism. 

How can this be done without 

looking more closely at the use 

of local government funds? 

How long will Nigerians 

tolerate this hypocrisy? 

to fully realise or condemn. The 

pressure to live up to the 

financial expectations of others, 

the lack of contentment the 

modern world mocks and 

discourages, is fast becoming a 

public health challenge. 

Social media is perhaps one 

of the most intriguing 

inventions of the century. The 

ability to seamlessly connect 

with others and broadcast one’s 

message has obvious 

revolutionary potential. It also 

feeds into some of humanity’s 

worst tendencies, insecurities 

and status anxiety. 

In a consumerist world where 

individuals are defined by what 

they own, social media easily 

becomes a projection of 

excesses as exemplified by the 

Nigerian culture. 

For a long time, we were 

living a sort of dream life, 

pretending this was still the 

1970s, when our problem wasn’t 

money “but how to spend it”, 

according to General Yakubu 

Gowon. We produced little 

besides oil and felt we were 

literally too big to fail. 

Unrealistic 

expectations 

Entire generations grew up 

with outsized, unrealistic 

expectations based on the 

lifestyles exemplified by those 

at the top. The current travails 

of now infamous musicians 

such as Naira Marley who was 

questioned by the EFCC due to 

his alleged connection to 

internet fraudsters or “yahoo 

boys”, is but one example of a 

culture of overindulgence, 

dissipation and extravagance. 

Ironically, Dino Melaye, a 

senator, said on Twitter recently: 

“I am afraid of the revenge of 

the poor… Housing 

segregation puts us the elite in 

jeopardy. Ikoyi, Banana, 

Maitama, Asokoro, etc. Our 

leaders + me beware of violent 

revolution. Perilous times 

loading”. 

Yet, the bills he and his 

colleagues sponsor do not seem 

to reflect this sense of urgency. 

The idea of a revolution in a not 

too distant future is not 

unconnected to the 

phenomenon of mass 

unhappiness 

and 

dissatisfaction taking over 


Nigerians are grappling with 

many frustrations, and the same 

loneliness as elsewhere in the 

world. 

Our country offers too few 

opportunities for self-realisation 

for us to believe that people will 

forever accept a society where 

one’s aspirations are only 

realisable if one cheats and 

steals one’s way into becoming 

upper class. Will the new 

leadership of the National 

Assembly work on bills to uplift 

the standard of living? 

Tabia Princewill is a 

strategic communications 

consultant and public policy 

analyst. She is also the cohost 

and executive producer 

of a talk show, WALK THE 

TALK which airs on 

Channels TV.

18 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2019 

LAST Monday, angry youths and 

students of the Adeniran Ogunsanya 

College of Education, AOCOED, 

Ijanikin, Lagos, joined by students of 

the Lagos State University, LASU, 

marched along the unbelievably bad 

Lagos-Badagry Expressway in protest. 

This time around, the students were 

not protesting against higher school 

fees or the deplorable condition of 

facilities in their schools. They were 

asking both the Federal and Lagos State 

governments to immediately fix that 

international road, the gateway to 

neighbouring West African countries 

like Benin Republic, Ghana, Togo, and 

others. 

Some angry students who spoke to 

Vanguard around the Federal 

Government College, Ijanikin, said the 

protest was about the Lagos-Badagry 

Expressway which has become hell on 

earth for all users of the road. “You 

can see for yourself the condition of 

Declare emergency on Lagos-Badagry Express 

this international road. Since we were 

born, we have never seen any road in 

this condition, even in the rural areas,” 

they chorused. 

Without exaggeration, it will be 

difficult to find a road in any 

prospective megacity in the world 

comparable to the Nigerian section of 

the Trans-West African Coastal 

Highway which connects Lagos, 

Nigeria with Dakar, Senegal. It is a 

shame to the Federal Government of 

Nigeria, the Lagos State Government 

and the people. 

The Lagos-Badagry Expressway is 

perhaps the biggest monument of state 

failure in Nigeria. By its status as the 

highway to the highly reputable tourism 

town of Badagry, international tourists 

are often seen on the road, on their 

way to Badagry, videoing the road and 

taking its pictures - perhaps to show it 

when they return home as “one of the 

seven wonders of the world” on the 

side of infamy. 

No doubt, those international tourists 

would be wondering how it is possible 

for such a road full of gullies, ditches, 

crevices, mud and flood to exist in any 

country in the 21st century. Surely, too, 

they must be reading the faces of Nigerians 

and other Africans who use the 

road, wondering how in the world the 

people and their businesses have managed 

to survive it. 

Government is constituted by humans 

with hearts and souls, and so should 

show human sympathies? How can 

their hearts fail to break, watching the 

level of human sufferings occasioned 

by the hellish Lagos-Badagry Expressway? 

Reconstruction work on the road began 

around 2009. Several years later 

the work continued to move at a snail’s 

pace until it was completely abandoned 

a few years ago due to negative politics 

within the ruling party in Lagos. 

We appeal to the Federal 

Government of Nigeria and the Lagos 

State Government to immediately declare 

a state of emergency on the Lagos-Badagry 

Expressway, fix it, and 

save the people from embarrassment 

and pain. Governor-elect, Mr. Babajide 

Sanwo-Olu, over to you! 

The ticking Sniper time bomb 

By Kayode Ojewale 

FUMIGATION is a method of pest 

control which involves a process of 

disinfecting an area by spraying dangerous 

chemicals. Manufacturers of these 

chemicals (fumigants and insecticides) 

usually issue strong warnings to users 

boldly written on the containers that they 

should avoid inhalation and contact with 

food, the skin or mouth. 

This is due to the health challenges these 

hazardous chemicals can pose when we 

are exposed to them. Fumigators and 

anyone within the premises while 

fumigation is ongoing may be at the 

highest risk of exposure to these chemicals 

if necessary protective clothing is not worn 

as constant exposure may cause vital organ 

damage or malfunction and even death. 

Among many other deadly fumigants 

commonly used are hydrogen cyanide, 

nicotine, naphthalene, acrylonitrile, 

ethylene dibromide and methyl bromide. 

The National Agency for Food and Drug 

Administration and Control, NAFDAC, 

recently banned the use of methyl bromide 

as a fumigant for pest control in crops. The 

agency, in a press release early this year, 

said methyl bromide is colourless, 

odourless, non-corrosive and nonflammable 

toxic vapour primarily used as 

a fumigant in stored product pest 

management. 

“Methyl bromide is readily absorbed 

through the lungs…as a result of 

inhalation. Methyl bromide is 

a dangerous cumulative poison. First 

symptoms are due to damage to the 

nervous system, and may be delayed from 

48 hours to as long as several months after 

exposure. This delay, combined with 

methyl bromide’s lack of odour, means that 

the victim may not realise that exposure is 

occurring until much has passed,” the press 

statement further revealed. NAFDAC, 

therefore, advised farmers, exporters of 

agricultural produce and agro input 

dealers to desist from using methyl bromide 

as a pesticide as safer alternatives are 

available. 

When this odourless and non-irritant 

fumigant is used, one cannot smell it, but 

alas it silently kills after long inhalation 

of the toxic fumes. A research study found 

out that both insecticides and herbicides 

significantly increased the risk of 

Parkinson’s disease (a chronic neurological 

disorder affecting movement, 

characterised by tremor, slowness of 

movement and postural instability) by 70 

per cent. Long time exposure to these 

chemicals may also cause cancer. 

Sniper insecticide, a synthetic 

organophosphorus which belongs to the 

DDVP chemical family (2, 2-dicholorovinyl 

dimethyl phosphate compound), is 

indiscriminately being used by many 

Nigerians as indoor insecticides which is 

not the original purpose. 

There is an instructional warning on the 

bottle which says that diluted portions 

should be applied to crops and there is a 

‘withdrawal’ time in which the crop should 

not be consumed that the active ingredient 

can degrade to minimal level before 

consumption. 

In recent times, given its effectiveness in 

killing insects and rodents better than wellestablished 

brands of insecticides, sniper 

now holds sway as it has become popular 

in its use as indoor insecticide among 

OPINION 

Nigerians. The affordability of sniper 

compared to other insecticides has also 

fueled its demand and use. Health experts 

have warned on its dangerous effects, 

especially to respiratory organs. 

Inhalation, absorption through the skin, 

ingestion and eye contact are the various 

ways a person may be exposed to the 

associated risk of sniper. 

It has also been observed that sniper is 

ranked among the most available tools for 

suicide here in Nigeria. In fact, suicide by 

sniper insecticide appears to have become 

a popular choice for suicidal Nigerians. 

So sad! 

The World Health Organisation, WHO, 

estimated that the method used for 20 

percent of global suicide was through 

Sniper is ranked among the 

most available tools for 

suicide in Nigeria; infact, 

suicide by sniper insecticide 

appears to have become a 

popular choice for suicidal 

Nigerians 

pesticide self-poisoning, most of which 

occurred in rural areas in low- and middleincome 

countries. 

Another study conducted by the Suicide 

Research and Prevention Initiative, 

SURPIN, at the Lagos University Teaching 

Hospital, LUTH, revealed that out of every 

66 suicide victims cumulatively recorded 

in 2018, only about 37.9 per cent 

committed (or attempted) it through 

conventional means, while nearly 62.1 per 

cent bade life farewell through the 

consumption of poison - which most times 

happens to be sniper. The reason for this is 

not farfetched: sniper is readily available. 

This, therefore, brings to the fore the 

dangerous effects of the uncontrolled use 

and unregulated availability of sniper on 

the society at large. The big challenge of 

easy accessibility of sniper is the reason 

you find it almost everywhere - in the 

markets, on the streets and by the roadsides. 

It will be recalled that sometime last year, 

NAFDAC banned the use of sniper in the 

preservation and storage of agricultural 

commodities. The agency further gave 

directives on the proper use of 

agrochemicals. That could be said to be a 

step in the right direction but more can be 

done to curb this rising threat of 

indiscriminate use of sniper. 

Relevant authorities and agencies must 

leave no stone unturned by ensuring proper 

use of sniper pesticide. To nip this menace 

in the bud, there is also the need to educate 

people on how to apply this chemical 

properly. 

An outright placing of a ban on the sale 

and use of sniper may not be feasible given 

the economic realities of the country. But 

its accessibility must be hugely regulated 

and strict measures put in place to monitor 

the sale, distribution and use of this sniper 

insecticide. 

One will not be playing to the gallery to 

conclude this way: If sniper accessibility is 

fully regulated nationwide, then sniperrelated 

suicides will drastically reduce if 

not totally stopped. 

•Ojewale wrote via 

kayodeojewale@gmail.com

Purchasing Managers Index inches 

up further 

management 

By Elizabeth Adegbesan 

A 

Central Bank of Nigeria 

(CBN) survey report 

yesterday shows a marginal 

expansion in economic 

activities in the country 

persisted for the twenty-sixth 

consecutive month in May 

2019. 

The report, “Purchasing 

Managers Index (PMI) for 

May 2019”, indicated that the 

Manufacturing PMI in May 

grew by 0.1 points to 57.8 

index points from 57.7 index 

point in April while the nonmanufacturing 

PMI rose 

slightly by 0.2 points to 58.9 

index point from 58.7 index 

points in April. 

The report further showed 

that out of 31 subsectors 

surveyed, 29 subsectors 

recorded growth during the 

period. 

The report stated further: 

“Thirteen of the 14 subsectors 

surveyed reported growth in 

the review month in the 

following 

order: 

transportation equipment; 

electrical equipment; 

petroleum & coal products; 

paper products; cement; food, 

beverage & tobacco products; 

plastics & rubber products; 

chemical & pharmaceutical 

products; fabricated metal 

products; furniture & related 

products; non-metallic 

mineral products; textile, 

apparel, leather & footwear 

and printing & related 

support activities. The 

primary metal subsector 

recorded a decline in the 

review period. 

“Sixteen of the 17 surveyed 

subsectors recorded growth in 

the following order: 

management of companies; 

arts, entertainment & 

recreation; repair, 

maintenance/washing of 

motor vehicles; information & 

CURRENCY BUYING SELLING 

US DOLLAR 

POUNDS 

EURO 

FRANC 

YEN 

CFA 

WAUA 

RENMINBI 

RIYAL 

SDR 

DANISH 

RAND 

$91.90 2.00 

2,441.00 54.00 

$11.47 -0.15 

$71.87 -0.10 

$62.96 -0.14 

305.9 306.4 306.9 

389.1354 389.7714 390.4075 

341.1703 341.7279 342.2856 

302.6316 303.1262 303.6209 

2.7696 2.7741 2.7786 

0.5016 0.5116 0.5216 

420.5802 421.5802 422.2682 

44.2881 44.361 44.338 

81.5646 81.698 81.8313 

421.5608 422.2498 422.9389 

45.6717 45.7464 45.821 

. 21.1874 21.2221 21.2567 

CBN Exchange rate as at 21/05/2019 

communication; agriculture; 

construction; educational 

services; real estate rental & 

leasing; electricity, gas, steam 

& air conditioning supply; 

health care & social 

assistance; wholesale/retail 

trade; accommodation & food 

services; finance & 

insurance; utilities; water 

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2019 — 19 

supply, sewage & waste 

and 

professional, scientific, & 

technical services. The 

transportation & warehousing 

recorded decline in the review 

period.” 

L-R: Technical Information Chair, Nigeria Council of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), 

Lekan Olafuyi; Delivery Integration and Technology Manager, Shell Nigeria Exploration and 

Production Company (SNEPCo), Yemi Asaolu; SPE Nigeria Council Chair, Debo Fagbami; 

SNEPCo’s Managing Director, Bayo Ojulari; SPE’s Assistant Publicity Chairperson, Lagos Section, 

Princess Offor; and Chair, SPE Special Projects Committee, Francis Nwaochei, during a 

courtesy visit to SNEPCo head office in Lagos state recently. 

IST resolves N532bn cases, effects 

downward review of litigation cost 

By Nkiruka Nnorom 

THE Investment and Se 

curities Tribunal, IST, yesterday, 

said it has adjudicated 

in cases valued at N532 billion 

since its inception in 2002. 

Chairman of IST, Siaka 

Isaiah Idoko-Akoh, who disclosed 

this at the unveiling of 

the new Lagos Zonal Office of 

the Tribunal, said in order to 

make justice affordable to litigants, 

the Tribunal has undertaken 

a downward review of 

the cost of litigation to a minimum 

of N2,000 and maximum 

of N100,000 depending 

on the value of the 

claim filed by the 

claimant as against the 

initial requirement of 

4.5 percent of total 

value of claims. 

On the processes of 

the tribunal he stated: 

“These matters are resolved 

in a flexible, 

cost effective, transparent 

and efficient 

manner. The 

Tribunal’s proceedings, 

which are merit 

based accord litigants 

a more relaxed dispute 

resolution platform 

that is devoid of 

the usual technicalities 

prevalent in regular 

courts,” he said. 

According to him, 

the Tribunal through a 

long line of its decisions, 

has been able to 

set benchmarks for 

capital market operations by 

sanitizing the market, influencing 

policies and engendering 

law reforms. 

In her remarks, the Minister 

of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, 

congratulated the Tribunal on 

the unveiling of the new office, 

saying that anything that 

would facilitate the adjudication 

of issues that may arise in 

the capital market is welcome 

by the ministry. 

Stock Exchange tackles controversy over MTN listing 

By Peter Egwuatu & Nkiruka 

Nnorom 

AGAINST the backdrop 

of concerns that the 

Nigerian Stock Exchange, 

NSE, may have bent some 

of its listing requirements to 

accommodate MTN Nigeria 

Communication Plc on its 

platform, the Exchange has 

said that the company met 

all listing requirements as 

entrenched in its ‘Rule 

Book’. 

The Exchange also said 

that due process was followed 

in the listing of the 

telecommunication giant, 

adding that no concession 

was given to MTN on free 

float requirement. 

In a statement sent to Vanguard, 

yesterday, the Exchange 

noted that the company 

met and surpassed the 

rule that requires a company 

listing on the Premium 

Board to have value of its 

free float equal to or above 

N40 billion as at the time of 

its listing. 

Reacting to the concerns 

on unavailability of the 

shares on the floor of the Exchange, 

it stated: “Where a 

company lists following an 

Initial Public Offering, 

shares are expected to be 

available for trading on the 

day of listing. In a Listing 

by Introduction, however, no 

shares have been offered for 

subscription by the company 

prior to listing. Thus, without 

any intervention, it is 

possible that there will be no 

shares available for trading 

on the listing date. Indeed, 

currently, no rule of the Exchange 

compels shareholders 

in a listed company to 

tender their shares for trading. 

“Shareholders are at liberty 

to trade their shares at 

any time and price suitable 

to them. However, in order 

to stimulate trading in the 

shares of companies that List 

by Introduction, the NSE’s 

practice is to urge the company 

to make shares available 

on the day of listing. In 

the case of MTN Nigeria, the 

NSE had requested the com- 

SNEPCo paid N366 

billion in revenue to 

Nigerian government 

in 2018 

By Udeme Akpan 

THE revenue accrued 

to the Federal Government 

from the operations 

of the Shell Nigeria 

Exploration and Production 

Company Limited 

(SNEPCo) amounted to 

N366 billion in 2018 fiscal 

year. 

The oil giant’s operations 

also yielded another N2.1 

billion as statutory revenue 

to the Niger Delta Development 

Commission. 

SNEPCo’s Managing Director, 

Bayo Ojulari, said 

the payments resulted from 

oil and gas production by 

SNEPCo’s flagship investment, 

Bonga, which is 

Nigeria’s first oil and gas 

project in water depths of 

over 1,000 metres. 

He stated: “At the end of 

2018, SNEPCo had produced 

819 million barrels of 

oil from the Bonga field 

which translates into huge 

contributions to the Nigerian 

economy in addition to 

the significant human capital 

development of deepwater 

expertise among Nigerians.” 

He noted that the pride of 

SNEPCo was the increase 

in its Nigerian workforce to 

over 96 percent and the creation 

of Nigeria’s first oil 

and gas engineers with 

deep-water experience. 

“The success story at 

Bonga is not only that it is 

Nigeria’s first deep-water 

project but the fact that 

Bonga is a Nigerian venture 

delivered by Nigerians 

using global expertise and 

processes offered by the 

Shell Group that have 

launched Nigeria into the 

league of notable deep-water 

players.” 

pany as part of the listing 

process to make shares 

available and the Exchange 

expects the company to do 

that.” 

Since the listing of MTN 

Nigeria on Thursday, May 

16, 2019, a total of 105.3 million 

shares valued at N12.23 

billion have traded in three 

days. These trades were carried 

out by 10 dealing member 

firms in 134 cross deals/ 

negotiated deals. While explaining 

the MTN Nigeria’s 

free float valuation, the NSE 

said: The Exchange’s rules 

for listing on the Premium 

Board, which is the board in 

which MTN Nigeria is 

listed, require a company to 

have a minimum free float of 

20 percent of its issued 

share capital or that the 

value of its free float is equal 

to or above N40 billion on 

the date the Exchange receives 

the issuer’s application 

to list. MTN Nigeria 

met with the free float requirement 

of N40 billion. 

The free float of MTN at the 

time of listing was in excess 

of N90 billion.




Edited by 

OSA MBONU-AMADI 

08070524223 

osaamadi@yahoo.com 

Delta State primaries of APC: 

A charade and mockery 

of democracy 

YESTERDAY... 

The author narrated how he was drafted into the Delta 

State gubernatorial race. He showed that it was possible 

for one to serve without holding a title, and that others 

can identify leadership qualities in one and then 

persuade one to run for a public office. In this episode, 

he discovers that the state primary of APC was a sham: 

WITH the buy-in of the 

Asagba, I began 

direct conversations 

with people like Fortune Ebie 

and Felix Osifo, the founder of 

Osiquip. Then I moved to 

Ralph Uwechue. I was glad 

that Chief Uwechue told the 

story himself at the World Igbo 

Congress meeting in Orlando 

Florida in 2012. 

I called him and asked for 

where he was and a time to 

visit with him. He said he was 

in Abuja and that the 

following day was good. I then 

flew from Lagos to Abuja. I cut 

through the chase quickly 

and told him I had come to ask 

him to lead Ohaneze for the 

Anioma people and gave him 

reasons why he should. He 

then told me a number of 

things about why it seemed a 

problematic proposition even 

though he was disposed in 

principle. I assured him I 

would do the necessary work 

to clear the path. I returned to 

Lagos and then flew to Asaba 

to tell Asagba what the 

outcome of my efforts were. 

He also briefed me about 

some interested parties who 

had approached him. I 

assured him I would visit those 

people and review matters 

regarding the more suitable of 

the candidates. 

All went smoothly and 

Asagba came to Lagos to host 

a meeting of Anioma elite for 

briefing. All were in 

agreement. The Uwechue 

ascendancy in Ohaneze 

idea of identifying people and 

persuading them to take on 

roles we thought they were 

suitable for but had myself 

been drawn into service in that 

manner. 

When I first served as Vice- 

President, and later, President 

of the University of Nigeria 

Alumni Association in Lagos, 

I had no such plans. When I 

was nominated by one of the 

elders and someone else was 

nominated, I actually voted 

for the other person. More 

than a decade after I had 

served as President, I was 

again approached by some 

elders to return to the position. 

When I saw the consensus, I 

thought it civic duty to oblige 

against my personal 

preference. 

It was not by accident 

therefore that my 1997 

autobiography – To Serve is To 

Live – Autobiographical 

Reflections on the Nigerian 

Condition was centered 

around duty and the 

obligation to selflessly give of 

self to advance the common 

good. 

When the group of 

Government College Ughelli 

Old Boys came to see me, I felt 

a sense of deja vu. As the story 

goes, Jonny Esike was 

lamenting the state of Delta 

State and its politics. Ajiri 

Aluta, a friend of his, pointed 

him in my direction for where 

liberation could come from. I 

had never met 

Aluta and he had no clue 

Now I had evidence to support my statement that 

Nigeria often seemed all dressed up with nowhere 

to go; Values, I was confident, shaped human 

progress, and seeing the values of those who 

emerged as gatekeepers into public office was 

enough to tell that progress was not in sight so the 

revolution needed to be reconsidered 

would thus be the smoothest of 

President-General elections 

in Ohaneze tradition. After the 

President-General took office, 

I hosted him to dinner at my 

Lagos home in 2009 to build 

to build into his network a 

younger group of Igbo 

business elite and then 

detached myself. Even when I 

was candidate for public office 

in 2011, I did not try to reach 

the President-General to 

influence thinking in 

Ohaneze. 

I had not only promoted the 

how to reach me. As the 

conversation developed the 

group of the Old Boys thought 

one old boy who was not from 

Delta State, Philip Ikhile, 

would be able to reach me. 

Philip knew me well but had 

lost my telephone number. He 

reached out to a former 

colleague from their banking 

days who was a mutual friend, 

Tony Nnacheta, who gave him 

my number and promised he 

would help soften the ground 

for their mission. 

They arrived as a group of 

about six people one late 

afternoon to make their pitch 

to persuade me to run for 

Governor of Delta State. 

When two years later the socalled 

cabal treasonably 

reduced the Delta State 

primaries of APC to charade 

and mockery of democracy, 

one of that group, Fiddles 

Akpoimare, called to share 

with me the depths of his pain 

at the development. He 

recalled how I was reluctant to 

embark on the journey when 

they came to see me. I assured 

him I had no regret and 

believed there was a purpose 

for what was going on. Had I 

not come on that journey, I 

would never have come to the 

kind of knowledge of the 

possibilities of human 

treachery, considered norm in 

Nigerian politics, a laboratory 

of which the process had 

exposed me to. I told him that 

now I had evidence to support 

my statement that Nigeria 

often seemed all dressed up 

with nowhere to go. Values, I 

was confident, shaped human 

progress, and seeing the 

values of those who emerged 

as gatekeepers into public 

office was enough to tell that 

progress was not in sight so the 

revolution needed to be 

reconsidered. To make the 

point that this kind of 

democracy is a dead end 

without the evidence I was 

now witness to would have 

been faulty. At the least now I 

had touched the Soul of our 

national Failure. We were 

beyond theory. 

I remembered how I thought 

a run for office was not the 

optimal choice even though I 

had a sacrificial commitment 

to a change in the political 

culture that was slowing down 

progress. Was it not better to 

allow the system inching 

Nigeria towards the ultimate 

blow-out, with the revenge of 

the poor to play out? 

Was listening to Esike and 

his friends not defeat for the 

thesis that the system should 

just be allowed to 

move towards implosion, then 

the serious people left can 

work on reconstructive 

surgery. I had tracked the fault 

lines in the nature, structure 

and character of the Nigerian 

enterprise for a while. Did 

patchwork salvage effort from 

inside make sense? If in a 

governorship role, example 

could be shown, may be the 

high cost to life and property 

of the revenge of the poor that 

‘as bound to come, in Robert 

My chosen strategy was to 

penetrate the extant order 

without becoming 

incorporated, and to use 

what I learnt from the 

penetration to structure a 

liberation initiative. I found, 

contrary to notions from the 

protest movement in which 

some of the days of my youth 

were framed that it was not just 

that the class of capture and 

their co-conspirators were 

wicked, greedy and 

unpatriotic people. 

What I discovered were 

people also wanted to see their 

country make progress but 

had been spoiled by easy 

money that came from being 

in power when oil money 

poured into state coffers. 

These people were afraid of 

returning to the desert. Or in 

Chinua Achebe, speak into the 

rain from which they had 

found cover. In the house of 

rent made accessible by power. 

In their self-love, a kind of 

petty narcissism, they found 

comfort in the impunity that 

allows self to be first. It was the 

culture of post-civil war 

Nigeria, a conflict that allowed 

the political power wielders of 

the time to consolidate power 

and personalise influence, 

and would dominate elite 

ethos. The district of intellect 

and the open public sphere 

became an approachavoidance 

conflict. They liked 

the idea of The Guardian 

Newspaper but despised 

some of the ideas expressed 

in it which started out with a 

commitment to growing the 

marketplace of ideas and 

making the public sphere 

more robust. 

To make the point that this kind of democracy is a 

dead end without the evidence I was now witness 

to would have been faulty; At the least now I had 

touched the Soul of our national Failure; We 

were beyond theory 

Kaplan’s vision of The Coming 

Anarchy, would be mitigated. 

Should l take this kind of 

trouble ? 

They showed this in the 

many travails of The Guardian 

Newspaper, which went 

through a season of being 

prohibited and another of 

attempted assassination of its 

publisher by agents of state 

terror, the same set of assassins 

as were given the mandate for 

my own elimination because 

of my outspokenness and role 

in founding The Concerned 

Professionals (CP). They even 

tried Arson in which the 

Guardian premises were 

target. 

Having come to know the 

driving forces of power well, I 

thought I might want to leave 

public office alone and find 

less threatening ways of 

making tomorrow better than 

yesterday for all, no matter the 

size of their bank account, the 

faith they profess or confess 

and the tongue that put out 

words to communicate 

meaning. I had also seen 

cracks opening. One ‘okay’ 

person here and another 

there. Could the range of time 

we figured our pushing 

against the wall would take to 

make change happen, be 

getting shorter? 

In my watch of the fault lines 

I had seen the class of state 

capture upfront. I had seen 

the gangster groups tagging 

along. I knew without a doubt 

that they found thinking 

people and straight arrows 

troubling around the lever of 

power. They knew they 

needed them for legitimacy. 

They also knew that there 

were enough of such people 

with whom they could earn 

legitimacy, who were less 

threatening to the status quo. 

‘The poor and the greedy 

professors,’ as one professorfriend 

put it. They felt that 

they could find the dissenting 

voices that they could 

incorporate and squelch their 

voices, but they were quick to 

study the sample groups. 

I knew many found me 

threatening and believe many 

knew I would resist being 

incorporated. I had studied 

the corporatist state in postcolonial 

Africa and I was 

determined not to be 

incorporated and my voice 

silenced. Continues on page 23


Edited by 

OSA MBONU-AMADI 

08070524223 

osaamadi@yahoo.com 

Delta State primaries of APC: 

A charade and mockery of democracy 

Continues from page 22 

I had become more 

convinced about my thesis 

on the class of capture when 

my friends thought our work 

of restoring Nigeria was 

done with General 

Abdulsalami Abubakar 

announcing the return to 

civilian rule in 1998. We had 

chosen to wind down CP with 

that announcement and 

leave politics to the 

politicians, even though 

some among our group had 

asked that we transmute into 

a political party. The class of 

capture would capture the 

main platform emerging at 

the time, the People’s 

Democratic Party, PDP, and 

install their own, Olusegun 

Obasanjo, as President. But 

many of the gangsters who 

were their cronies as soldiers 

in power filled the spaces of 

public life, making us realize 

we may have made a mistake 

in not listening to our 

colleagues like Waziri 

Mohammed and Donald 

Duke. 

The return of the 

Concerned Professionals, the 

banner under which we 

resisted military rule as 

educated professional men 

and women, now as the 

restoration group, a political 

movement had led to my 

being urged to run for the 

office of the president. 

Our clear purpose was to 

set the agenda for the 2007 

elections, and, in the event 

of a statement, which we 

thought plausible in 2007, 

become a swing factor. Even 

with our agenda limited as 

it were, we wanted to run a 

serious campaign. I was 

going to campaign in every 

state of the federation. 

As the typical campaign 

involved courtesy visits to 

traditional rulers, governors 

and prominent citizens in 

every state the candidate 

visited, I asked my friends 

in Kaduna who were setting 

up my visit to Minna to book 

an appointment for me to call 

on General Ibrahim 

Babangida, the former 

President. Ibrahim Usman 

had asked Mohammed 

Haruna to help out. The 

feedback I got spoke 

volumes. General Babangida 

had said to those who came 

to express our condolences, 

he turned to Ibrahim as we 

were leaving and said “Stay 

close to him. He is the 

future.” Was that 

‘Maradona-talk’ or did he 

think 30 years early was now 

looking like in my lifetime? 

As we left, I reflected again 

on the visit to Gombe during 

the 2007 campaign when the 

Emir shocked us by urging 

me to continue to run if the 

outcome was not favourable, 

because, in his words, 

“Nigeria will not make 

progress until someone like 

you becomes President.” The 

Emir, a retired Federal 

Permanent Secretary had 

broken the tradition of politetalk 

at those courtesy calls 

because he believed people 

like me should continue to 

patrol around those walls of 

Jericho until they fall. 

With Adams Oshiomhole 

helping make the election of 

a Godwin Obaseki who 

would fit my mould, and a 

few others here and there, it 

made sense to wonder if the 

crack was not widening. So, 

the visit of the Jonny Esike 

team met me still debating 

whether it was a timely call 

and whether the nature of 

the drafting was like the 

acceptance of the University 

of Nigeria, Nsukka Alumni 

positions. Those kinds of 

drafts had determined just 

about every other leadership 

position, outside of 

promotion at work, I had 

ever held. In each case a 

sense of duty compels you to 

say yes. Had the time come 

for an American-type 

Sherman declaration? I was 

of one mind to make a 

Sherman declaration, as in 

American politics when a 

possible candidate says, ‘If 

drafted I will not run, and if 

elected I will not serve.’ 

Fiddles Akpoimare 

captured well my reluctance 

that evening as they left my 

office. I had been there 

before and seen people urge 

you on whilst promising that 

they would pawn all their 

valuables to fund the 

campaign only for them to 

then retreat to their comfort 

zones whilst you have 

mortgaged all that was 

possible to so do. 

In the end, I felt the legacy 

of the pooling of effort to 

I was left to chant my battle matching and 

battle cry chants in a lonesome corner of a 

rain forest; But duty was duty! So, while the 

best of friends and relations were asking, 

‘Why run,’ my essence was screaming, ‘Why 

not?’ 

that I was a friend who 

required no appointment to 

visit him. About my 

presidential bid, he had 

simply said ‘Pat is good, the 

kind of President Nigeria 

needs. The trouble is that Pat 

is 30 years ahead of his time 

in this our environment.” 

When Babangida’s wife 

died a few years later and 

Ibrahim Usman and I went 

push down the wall was 

worth the troubles it could 

bring me. When I computed 

in the fact that a friend, 

Adams Oshiomhole, seemed 

poised to become Chairman 

of the party and former Lagos 

State Governor Bola Ahmed 

Tinubu who I had worked 

well with and who had urged 

me to run for Governor of 

Delta in 2011 with assurance 

of his full support, in every 

manner of campaign need, 

was leader of the party. I 

thought the idea may not be 

so troublesome. I had said I 

would not run in 2011 and 

had chosen in 2015, at 

Tinubu’s urging, to work 

getting the party ready to 

win in 2015 at the federal 

level. Those assumptions of 

support would prove to be 

the worst misjudgments of 

my engagement in public 

life. 

They led me down an 

intense track of touring 

Delta, visiting the good, the 

bad and the ugly; taking 

horrendous risks, and 

stretching mind and body. 

The endurance test with 

scheming people that cost 

plenty of money and 

encounters with people who 

think politics is about how 

well they can mine your 

pockets, labeling you 

‘stingy’ even as they are 

spending what they have 

extorted from you. How can 

they expect good 

government from people they 

try so hard to frisk? I kept 

asking myself. The nature of 

the politics was guarantor of 

Governance failure. 

I had truly entered a 

laboratory necessary for 

figuring out how to save a 

people. It was clear such a 

road would be bumpy. I 

never stopped reminding 

myself that the self-image I 

had set for myself from quite 

early on in life was that of a 

freedom fighter. 

Composing the freedom 

fighters battle song may not 

be as elegant as Mozart 

scoring a symphony but both 

stir the soul. I was left to 

chant my battle matching 

and battle cry chants in a 

lonesome corner of a rain 

forest. But duty was duty! So, 

while the best of friends and 

relations were asking, ‘Why 

run,’ my essence was 

screaming, ‘Why not?’ 

Back to the beginning 

How, why and when did I 

became so passionate about 

saving Nigeria and working 

for it to claim its glory? From 

newspaper features, 

columns and reports dating 

back forty years, it seems 

like a suffocating height of 

evidence about views that 

my passion for a progressive 

and respected Nigeria, and 

service to neighbour for that 

purpose, goes all the way 

back to my teenage years. 

But who stoked the fire and 

what has sustained it even 

when it has been materially, 

and 

sometimes, 

reputationally costly? 

I think it is hard to 

precisely locate the times 

and sources of the drivers of 

my disposition on the 

Nigeria project, but a few 

experiences stand out as 

possible shapers of my 

destiny. One that I have 

referred to in the past, came 

between ages 7 and 10 – 

these were days spent in 

provincial Gusau in the deep 

North West in the early 

1960s. My father worked for 

British Petroleum and in 

those days Gusau, which 

hosted a petrol tank farm 

supplied by rail, it was the 

largest town before the 

railway terminal town of 

Kaura Namoda. My father 

TOMORROW... 

was transferred there 

from Kano in 1962. The 

local Catholic church, 

Our Lady of Fatima, was 

assigned to the 

Dominican Order and the 

school attached to it was 

where I had the bulk of 

my primary school 

education. I was an altar 

boy who showed up almost 

every morning to serve at 

Mass before riding my 

bicycle home to get ready 

for school and be dropped 

off by my father. 

The Dominican priests 

and brothers dominated my 

horizon. They were 

predominantly American 

and they were quite proud of 

the US President of the day, 

the first Catholic to be 

elected President of the 

United States, John F 

Kennedy. He would become 

my hero and role model. 

I won quite a few prizes 

from a variety of 

competitions organised by 

the priests. The typical gift 

would be a book on Kennedy. 

At 8, I read books most 

adults had little inclination 

towards. Great quotes like 

“Ask not what your country 

can do for you but what you 

can do for your country “ 

became my mantra. 

Kennedy quotes were 

coming out of my mouth, 

ears and eyes. I was 

impressionable and Kennedy 

made an impression on me 

so much that I still remember 

where I was and what I was 

doing when news of his 

assassination reached me. 

These building blocks of 

character had another stone 

set on the masonry of the 

I had said I would not run in 2011 and had chosen 

in 2015, at Tinubu’s urging, to work getting the 

party ready to win in 2015 at the federal level; 

Those assumptions of support would prove to 

be the worst misjudgments of my engagement 

in public life 

Dominican influence. 

Parents and teachers of an 

amazing range that worked 

hard and stayed honest and 

very devoted to the ideals of 

the spirit of Nigeria. 

However, these would 

compete with experience 

from a pogrom in the 

convulsions of 1966 in 

Northern Nigeria that 

makes many of today’s 

violent conflict seem like 

kindergarten exercises 

coupled with a horrifying 

civil war, which I experienced 

from both sides. A third of 

the time, I saw the evil of 

war inside Biafra and then 

witnessed the massacre of 

Anioma people, which 

reached its peak in Asaba 

between October 1967 and 

August 1968 affected my 

humanity much. Then from 

mid-1968, I was a Lagos boy 

who saw the war on 

television as a distant 

dysfunction. 

The author will lead us into the knowledge of the factors 

that influenced his civil and political activism, as 

well as socio-political and educational forces that 

shaped his interest to be of service to his country

24— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2019 

FINTECH FOUNDRY: 

How emerging technologies redefine banking operations 

By Juliet Umeh 

anking industry is one of the 

Bsectors of the economy that 

has seen huge innovations in 

recent years. With the emerging 

new technology in the sector, the 

traditional banking landscape is 

rapidly giving way to a new one 

engendered by technology. 

For instance, about 30 to 40 years 

ago, bank tellers used adding 

machines to calculate bank 

deposits. They used ledger cards, 

posted nightly, to keep track of 

•As bankers boast of leading sustainable Nigerian e-economy 

account transactions and 

balances. In those days, if one 

needed to make a deposit or 

withdraw cash, a visit to the bank 

was inevitable. 

However, today, technology has 

made almost everything possible, 

and most interestingly, at the 

convenience of bank customers. 

Deposits are done electronically 

as well as through the Automated 

Teller Machines, ATMs. 

Financial transactions between 

business people are done at the 

touch of the button, thanks to 

rapid 

technological 

advancements. 

Evaluating the transformations 

that have happened in the banking 

sector following the technology 

revolution in Nigeria in the past two 

decades, Head, African Fintech 

Foundry, Mr. Segun Adeniyi, at an 

event in Lagos recently, said the 

evolution of technology and the 4th 

industrial revolution is just about 

opportunity. 

Adeniyi who spoke at African 

Fintech Foundry Disrupt 2019, 

organised by Access Bank 

Nigeria, said the evolution is 

about using the power of 

technology to harness the 

opportunities in Africa. 

Also, Chief Executive Officer of 

Access Bank, Nigeria, Mr. 

Herbert Wigwe, said technology 

has changed everything and not 

only is this continuing, the rate of 

development and evolution is 

speeding up exponentially. 

Wigwe recounted: “In the past, 

it could take a considerable 

amount of time for the cashier to 

perform countless calculations 

and the checking of ledgers to 

ascertain if the cheques presented 

were good for payment. The 

traditional banking environment 


By Prince Osuagwu, 

Hi-Tech Editor 

If about 250 Nigerian engineers 

versed in robotics, 

Artificial Intelligence, big 

data analytics among others, 

emerge in 2023, the country 

would have put a strong footing 

into the 4th industrial revolution, 

4IR. 

That is the feat Microsoft hopes 

to achieve by 2023 when it targets 

to have trained about 500 

engineers in Nigeria and Kenya, 

as it launched the Africa 

Development Centre, ADC. 

The Africa Development 

Centre represents Microsoft’s 

first-ever engineering offices in 

Africa. With locations in Nairobi, 

Kenya and Lagos, Nigeria, the 

ADC is a premier centre of 

Engineering for Microsoft. 

The centre will afford Nigerian 

talents the opportunity to work on 

cutting-edge technology suitable 

for Nigeria and the rest of the 

world, reinforcing the country’s 

position as a leading regional 

digital innovation hub. 

Microsoft says it will make an 

investment of US $100 million 

over the first five years of 

operation, across the two markets. 

By the end of 2019, Microsoft 

intends to recruit 100 full-time 

engineers across the two ADC 

sites, with plans to increase the 

headcount to more than 500 

engineers by the end of 2023. 

Unveiling the centre in Lagos, 

weekend, Country Manager for 

Microsoft Nigeria, Mr Akin 

Banuso said: “Microsoft recently 

opened its first hyper-scale 

datacentres in Africa, and this 

next milestone is particularly 

significant for Nigeria. The 

reason we selected Nigeria as 

one of the first ADC sites is to 

better understand a continent 

that is rapidly adopting cloud 

technology and innovation at the 

intelligent edge. We view 

Nigeria as a leading regional 

digital innovation hub, and the 

ADC aims to invest in and 

accelerate the work being done 

here.” 

Corroborating him, technical 

fellow at Microsoft, Alex Kipman, 

while inaugurating the first 

engineering team in Lagos, 

added that “we have already 

started work in Nigeria around 

mixed reality offering and I am 

very much looking forward to the 

kind of innovation that will come 

from the ADC.” 

With the ADC, Microsoft is 

seeking engineering talent in 

Industrial revolution of new techs 

Over 250 Nigerian AI 

engineers to emerge in 2023 

•Microsoft throws $100m into project, opens first ADC in Nigeria 

artificial intelligence, AI, machine 

learning and mixed reality. It is 

fuelling innovation across 

numerous domains from 

healthcare, agriculture, finance, 

and human-centric automation. 

The ADC intends to recruit 100 

full-time engineers by the end of 

2019, expanding to 500 across the 

two sites by 2023. 

To support the development of 

these required skills, Microsoft is 

also partnering with local 

universities to create a modern 

intelligent edge and cloud 

curriculum, unique to Africa. 

Graduates from top Nigerian 

engineering faculties will have 

access to the ADC to build 

relevant and meaningful careers 

in data science, AI, mixed reality, 

application development and 

more. 

It is expected that the ADC will 

help to empower young talents 

across the continent to build 

innovative solutions on the 

Microsoft platform. 

The ADC will be unlike any 

other existing investment on the 

continent. It will help Africa 

develop locally, scale up 

businesses for global impact and 

make strong showing in the 

Fourth Industrial Revolution. 

The Fourth 

Industrial 

Revolution 

represents 

extraordinary 

technology 

advances to 

those of the first, 

second and 

third industrial 

revolutions. 

T h e s e 

advances are 

It is forecast 

that 

investment in 

this category of 

service will get 

to about 

$933.6B by 

2025 

merging the 

physical, digital 

and biological 

worlds in ways 

that create both 

huge promise 

and potential peril. The speed, 

breadth and depth of this 

revolution are forcing countries 

to rethink development, how 

organisations create value and 

even what it means to be human. 

The Fourth Industrial Revolution 

is about more than just 

technology-driven change; it is 

an opportunity to help everyone, 

including leaders, 

policy-makers and 

people from all 

income groups and 

nations, to harness 

converging 

technologies in 

order to create an 

inclusive, humancentred 

future. 

Benefits of 4th 

industrial revolution 

reults from the 

services it will 

introduce. 

Some of them are: 

Smart Internet of 

Things, IoT, which 

will create connected 

enterprises, increase reliability 

and efficiency in services 

offering. 

It is forecast that investment in 

this category of service will get to 

about $933.6B by 2025. 

Connected car services: This 

will bring about mobility of goods 

and people, ensure smooth 

navigation, telematics and 

infotainment. 

Industry estimates revealed are 

that the connected car services 

will rake in $96.4 billion 

investment by 2022. 

Insurance Telematics will 

measure driver behaviour and 

improve crash management. 

It will reduce coverage costs, 

reduce infrastructure and 

maintenance costs while offering 

better customer and fleet services. 

Investment here, is expected to hit 

$2.2 billion by 2020. 

4th data revolution 

Although some Nigerian ICT 

professionals still do not believe 

in the concept of fourth industrial 

revolution considering that 

Nigeria has massive 


C 

M 

Y 

K


How emerging technologies redefine... 


did not provide opportunities for 

scalability. The processes were 

manual and in-branch, creating 

the need for brick and mortar 

branches with related expensive 

overheads, and low level of 

financial inclusion.” 

Why banks must leverage 

technology 

However, Wigwe challenged 

commercial banks in Nigeria on 

leveraging technology to improve 

their services to customers. He 

said banks can maximise 

opportunities offered by 

technology to remain 

competitive in the global 

market. 

In his speech titled: The 

future of the intelligent bank, 

Wigwe said becoming an 

intelligent bank is no longer 

an option in today’s financial 

services, but a necessity. He 

noted that banks in Nigeria 

have done well so far but the 

future holds a lot more than 

what has been experienced. 

He said: “Today, we are 

experiencing the fourth 

industrial revolution which 

uses the Internet of Things, 

and Cloud Technology to 

automate processes. This has 

enabled financial services 

providers to increase their 

digital offerings for customers 

so they can conduct banking 

transactions on mobile phones, 

the internet and at the ATM. 

“The only waiting time today 

is how fast your internet 

connection is, but 5G, which 

has a faster connection, is 

already here. 

"These technologies that 

brought about automation in 

the system, enable banks and 

Fintechs to now, grant credit in 

seconds." 

According to Wigwe, 

“Artificial Intelligence reviews 

legal documents. Before now, a 

manual review of 12,000 

documents used to take up to 

360,000 hours. Today, it is done 

in seconds, using Artificial 

Intelligence. 

“Block chain can be used to 

execute smart contracts, 

By Prince Osuagwu 

martphone maker, iTel has 

Sofficially announced the 

introduction of an Artificial 

Intelligence, AI, camera smartphone, 

P33, which battery lasts up to 80 hours 

before running down. 

Introducing the smartphone 

recently, 

Marketing 

Communications manager of iTel, 

Oke Umurhohwo, said since 

smartphones are still predominantly 

communications devices, his 

company found it imperative to 

design one that can enable users 

make calls and send text messages, 

all day, without having to worry about 

a low battery. 

He said the phone’s 4000mAh 

battery controlled by artificial 

intelligence, AI power master, keeps 

power consumption on the device 

highly reduced. 

The device enables users go up to 

80 hours with normal use, 22 hours 

continual 3G phone call, and 350 

hours standby time with a sim card. 

Furthermore, the power-saving 

mode intelligently adjusts the 

phone's performance to WLAN, 

Bluetooth, data, display brightness 

and other apps to extend battery life 

by 35 per cent at most. 

According to him: “Nigeria 

deserves the best and that is why 

we introduced the phone in 

Nigeria. When there is a seamless 

interplay between hardware and 

software as well as affordable 

pricing, you get a smartphone 

worth talking about. One of such is 

the new power hero in the market 

– itel P33. It is fully equipped with 

innovative technology features 

like AI-powered big battery, big 

screen, and many more. 

Interestingly, these features are 

available at a shockingly 

affordable price.” 

Other features of the device 

include a 5.5" HD+ IPS full 

screen display and a 

eliminating 

m a n u a l 

costs of 

transactions 

w h i l e 

robotics 

technology 

is used to 

s e r v e 

customers in 

banks. 

"Only one 

decade ago, 

we could not 

h a v e 

imagined 

s u c h 

advances. •Digital banking 

“There is so 

much that can be done with data. behaviour and needs. 

Big data analytics helps an "Such understanding improves 

intelligent bank understand its product development and enables 

customers. Big data categorises effective cross and up-selling. 

customers and analyses their “Cloud Technology has also 

Over 250 Nigerian AI 

engineers to emerge... 


dysfunctional data management 

history, one of the vocal Nigerian 

ICT experts and former President 

of Institute of Software Providers of 

Nigeria, ISPON, Mr Chris Uwaje 

says 4th Industrial Revolution 

for Nigeria without good data 

governance is preposterous. 

Uwaje who is currently the 

Director-General of Delta 

State Innovation hub, prefers 

that Nigeria pursues 4th data 

revolution, instead. 

His argument is that 

“Nigeria appears ignorant of 

the digital future-of-Things by 

adopting the 4th industrial 

revolution at this stage. We are 

really about to experience the 

bang of the 4th data 

revolution and not industrial 

As AI camera smartphones soar: 

P33 battery lasts up to 80 hours —iTel 

fashionable gradation blue 

colour. 

Despite having a plastic back 

cover, the itel P33 comes in a 

svelt and slim package which 

makes it easy to hold. At the 

back is a multi-functional 

fingerprint sensor that 

guarantees security against 

prying eyes. In situations where 

your fingers are not accessible, 

there’s a face unlock for more 

secure access. 

Camera 

The itel P33 features a dual 

rear camera setup with 8.0MP + 

revolution as we are made to 

believe. Data had always been 

there and comes before 

industry. It is time to build local 

cloud, domicile all source 

codes in Nigeria and make a 

rigorous push for Open 

source.” He also sounded a 

note of warning: “Beware, our 

data vulnerability is huge and 

capable of leading us into the 

dark tunnel of a digital colony. 

After Venezuela, we might be 

next with power, financial, 

Aviation sectors SQL injection. 

A stich in time, they say, saves 

nine. Industrial revolution is 

preposterous, data revolution is 

reality,” he added. 

However, Professor Kayode 

Alese, professor of Computer 

Science, Federal University of 

Technology, Akure, FUTA says: 

an assistant camera and a 5.0MP 

selfie camera. The camera 

certainly takes good photos in 

both well-lit and poor lighting 

settings. The portrait mode allows 

users to take an artistic portrait 

with bokeh effects. The 

customised feature - Face Beauty 

V2.0, which is created for the 

chocolate skin colour, makes 

user’s face look slimmer, ruddy 

and smooth in real-time. 

Storage and security 

Complementing the fingerprint 

sensor is a facial identification 

scanner. This combination means 

been a game-changer for banks. 

It reduces server and 

infrastructure costs which is 

most appreciated in a country 

like Nigeria, where power 

generation is expensive and its 

availability is not usually 

guaranteed. Cloud technology 

enables the delivery of work 

from any location where 

programmers can be based in 

multiple countries even while 

working on the same project. 

“Intelligent Banks are able to 

consider the impact of having an 

active online presence and 

social media for their business. 

Banks can target social media 

for specific advertising ensuring 

they provide the right product 

and content to the right customer 

instead of marketing all 

products to all customers. 

"In this sense, banking has 

become much more tailored and 

personal. Intelligent Banks 

partner with critical 

stakeholders to expand the 

improved security. With all the 

videos, pictures, screenshots, 

movies and documents you love 

right at your fingertips, itel P33 

enables the user do much more 

with its 16GB ROM that is 

expandable up to 32GB with a 

memory card. This is a 140 per 

frontiers of their business. 

“At Access Bank, we are 

acutely aware that Artificial 

Intelligence is the new cool in 

banking offering ongoing 

opportunities to enhance 

convenience for our customers. 

"We are in constant pursuit of 

being the best possible 

Intelligent Bank. Our 

applications of intelligent 

banking range from the review 

of legal documents, to 

conversing digitally with our 

customers. 

Our TAMADA system 

presents a single chatbot 

experience for all our customers. 

The services are countless. 

"Imagine getting weather 

forecasts and sports updates 

without human intervention. Or 

applying for a loan and 

receiving disbursement 

instantly? What about paying 

bills from the comfort of your 

sofa,” he added. 

*From left: United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Stuart Symington; 

Country Manager, Microsoft Nigeria & Ghana, Akin Banuso; Technical 

Fellow, AI & Mixed Reality, Microsoft, Alex Kipman; Lagos State Governorelect, 

Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Executive VP, Gaming, Microsoft, Phil 

Spencer, at the Microsoft Africa Development Centre, ADC launch in Lagos 

recently. 

“For more than 20 years, I have 

taught computer science to 

enthusiastic African students, 

but still, Africa has been 

referred to as the last 

technology frontier. The fact 

that Microsoft has taken the 

giant step of setting up its first 

development centre in Nigeria 

is a testament to the huge 

talent base that exists in our 

academic institutions. It is a 

great time to be a Nigerian.” 

cent increase compared to its 

predecessor, itel P32. 

The device is also powered by 

Android 8.1 Oreo (Go edition). This 

OS comes with app platform 

optimisations designed to reduce 

mobile data usage and sustain the 

battery life for a longer period of 

time. 

Immersive display 

The itel P33 has a distinctly 

sharper and more saturated 

display, which gives users 

comfort when watching videos, 

playing games or reading e- 

books. It dons a 5.5" HD+ IPS 

full screen while its twin, the 

itel P33 Plus comes with a 6.0" 

IPS FullScreenDisplay and a 

fashionable gradation blue 

colour.




Raging storm over Kokori's replacement 

as NSITF board chairman 

By Victor Young 

WHEN the Minister of Labour 

and Employment, Senator 

Chris Ngige, on Monday, May 13, 

2019, inaugurated the Board of 

Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, 

NSITF, with Mr. Austin Enejamo- 

Isire, as chairman instead of veteran 

unionist and pro-democracy fighter, 

Chief Frank Kokori, little did he 

know that he had just stirred the hornet's 

nest. Indeed, the minister's action 

was immediately greeted by a 

storm of controversy that appears to 

be escalating by the day. 

It would be recalled that Kokori 

was originally named chairman of 

the board by Vice President Yemi 

Osinbajo in September 2017, in his 

capacity as the Acting President, 

when President Muhammadu 

Buhari was away in the United Kingdom 

on medical trip. With the issue 

in the front burner of public discourse, 

many have canvassed different 

motives behind the alleged plot, 

scheme and maneuovre to ensure 

that Chief Kokori was never swornin 

as NSITF board chairman. 

Those in a position to know have 

traced the root of the unfolding controversy 

to when President Buhari returned 

from his medical trip. 

Senator Ngige was said to have 

sought and got his approval for Chief 

Kokori to be sworn-in as chairman 

of NSITF board. But in a baffling 

twist of events, President Buhari was 

to approve the appointment of another 

person recommended by the 

Minister of Labour a year after he 

allegedly gave approval for the appointment 

of Kokori. The question 

is: What was the president told about 

Kokori? 

NLC writes 

Presidency 

What about the claim by the President 

of Nigeria Labour Congress, 

NLC, Ayuba Wabba, that the Minister 

of Labour had expressed reservations 

over the choice of the former 

General Secretary of Nigeria Union 

of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, 

NUPENG? Some observers are 

of the opinion that actions and events 

which later culminated into the replacement 

of the veteran Labour 

leader seemed to have given credence 

to Wabba's allegations. 

Also cited in this regard is the 

minister's failure to inaugurate the 

NSITF board after the naming of 

Kokori as its chairman. This was in 

spite of pressures from the National 

Chairman of All Progressives Congress, 

APC, Comrade Adams 

Oshiomhole, organised labour and 

the umbrella body for employers in 

the country, Nigeria Employers’ 

Consultative Association, NECA, 

among others. 

It is on record that the NLC, Trade 

Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, 

United Labour Congress of Nigeria, 

ULC, Association of Senior Staff of 

Banks, Insurance and Financial 

Institutions, ASSBIFI; Nigeria Union 

of Petroleum and Natural Gas 

Workers, NUPENG and Association 

of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, 

ASCSN, at different times decried 

the absence of a board and its effect 

on social partners. 

The NLC was reported to have 

severally written to the Presidency 

and even the minister on the need to 

inaugurate the board. According to 

Kokori... rejected. 

reports, the first letter on December 

15, 2017, was addressed to the Secretary 

to the Government of Federation, 

SGF, three months after Kokori 

was appointed chairman. The NLC 

in the letter titled: “Non-swearing in 

of Board of NSITF and other Matters”, 

was said to have, among others, 

drawn attention of the SGF to 

the continuous non-inauguration of 

the NSITF Board three months after 

the Federal Government had appointed 

the chairman of the Board. 

In between, the minister besides 

congratulating Kokori for his 

appointment, was said to have met 

with the pro-democracy activist for 

not less than four times to discuss the 

issues relating to the fund and his 

inauguration as chairman. The 

minister in his defence for not 

inaugurating the board said he was 

cleaning up the corruption in the 

place. He alleged that the previous 

administration looted the fund and 

it would be improper to inaugurate 

a new board without first cleaning 

up the mess. 

Consequently, Ngige constituted a 

nine-member administrative panel 

of enquiry into NSITF finances, the 

same finances the Economic and Financial 

Crimes Commission, EFCC, 

had investigated and charged about 

six persons to court over the 

mismanagement of the funds of the 

agency. The administrative panel 

turned in its report in July 2018, alleging 

that about N62 billion was 

looted by the former board. 

Nothing was heard about the panel 

report, or inauguration of the NSIFT 

board till Wednesday, April 17, 2019 

when the minister announced the 

constitution of a new board of NSITF, 

replacing Kokori with Mr. Austin 

Enejamo-Isere. He equally informed 

that President Buhari has instead approved 

the appointment of Kokori 

as chairman of the Board of Michael 

Imoudu National Institute of Labour 

Studies, MINILS. 

Aborted inauguration 

However, organised Labour rejected 

the announcement and 

stormed the venue of the planned 

inauguration slated for April 18, 

2019, which stalled the 

inauguration. It was a development 

the minister did not take lightly as 

he described Labour's action as an 

invasion by thugs. 

Ngige... kingmaker. 

Enejamo-Isire... chosen. 

A statement by Rhoda Illiya, Head 

of Press on behalf of the minister, informed 

that “the inauguration of the 

board of NSITF scheduled for today, 

April 18, 2019 was postponed 

because of security breach occasioned 

by the siege on the Conference 

Room of the Minister of Labour 

and Employment, venue of the inauguration 

by violent thugs imported 

by the President of the Nigeria Labour 

Congress, NLC, Ayuba Wabba 

and Comrade Frank Kokori.” 

It contended that “the postponement 

was to avoid the degeneration 

of the situation, where thugs were 

already manhandling some officers 

of the Ministry and policemen attached 

to the office of the minister.” 

The statement added: “The replacement 

of Comrade Frank Kokori with 

Mr. Austine Enajemo-Isere and his 

transfer to the Board of Michael 

Imoudu National Institute of Labour 

Studies, MINILS, Ilorin, a diploma 

awarding institution in Labour Relations 

as chairman, followed due 

process and the necessary 

presidential approval. 

“The approval for this exercise 

was given by the appropriate 

approving authority, which is the 

President, and duly communicated 

to the Ministry of Labour and 

Employment. This is also in line with 

the Act establishing the NSITF which 

confers such powers on the President 

on the recommendation of the minister. 

“Comrade Kokori is expected to 

report at his new chairmanship 

posting by Mr. President at the 

Michael Imodu National Institute 

of Labour Studies, Ilorin, Kwara 

State where his experience is more 

relevant as the President has also 

appointed Mr. Austin Enejamo-Isere, 

an insurance executive 

and seasoned banker, chartered 

accountant, fellow of the Institute of 

Chartered Accountant of Nigeria, 

senior member of Chartered 

Institute of Insurance,CIIN, as well 

as Chartered Institute of Taxation to 

bring his wealth of experience as the 

Chairman of the NSITF.”The statement 

warned that: “Government will 

not tolerate a situation where Labour 

Leaders challenge or vitiate the constitutional 

powers of the President 

over appointments.” 

'Kokori's too rigid' 

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2019— 29 

Did Ngige refuse to 

inaugurate Kokori 

because he did not 

nominate the veteran 

unionist as NSITF 

board chairman, or 

because he did not like 

his honesty, 

transparency and 

rigidity? 

After this, the 

disagreement 

between 

Labour and the 

minister 

degenerated 

that at a 

briefing on 

May 7, 

president of 

NLC, Ayuba 

W a b b a , 

revealed that he 

had a meeting 

with the 

minister, where 

N g i g e 

expressed 

dissatisfaction 

with the choice 

of Frank 

Kokori as 

chairman of 

the Fund’s 

board, alleging 

that the minister 

had confessed 

to some 

Labour leaders 

that his major 

problem with 

the appoint- 

ment of Chief Kokori was that the 

veteran unionist was too rigid for his 

liking. 

He threatened that labour would 

picket the minister anywhere they 

saw him, saying: “Since President 

Muhammadu Buhari approved the 

reconstitution of the Board of the 

NSITF, I recalled meeting with you 

(Ngige) on four different occasions 

on this matter. At our first meeting, 

you expressed dissatisfaction with 

the choice of Comrade Frank Kokori 

as the board chairman of NSITF. I 

remember vividly that I reminded 

you of Frank Kokori’s track record 

of capacity and integrity and thus 

his suitability to head the NSITF 

board, especially given the scandals 

that trailed past NSITF boards and 

given the fact that Frank Kokori is 

perceived as being rigid and honest. 

“Dr. Ngige confessed to some of us 

that his major problem with the 

appointment of Chief Kokori is that 

he is too rigid for his liking. We want 

to reiterate that it is only very rigid 

and incorruptible people like Chief 

Kokori that we want to superintend 

over our money in NSITF.” 

Responding through his Special 

Assistant on Media, Nwachukwu 

Obidiwe, the minister, however, said 

that he never nominated Chief 

Kokori as chairman of the NSITF, 

saying: “However, an appropriate 

recommendation has been made by 

the minister in conformity with the 

NSITF Act and in fairness to the 

spirit of the labour tripartism. A 

chartered accountant, senior fellow 

of the Institute of Insurance of Nigeria 

and fellow of the Institute of 

Taxation of Nigeria, Austin Isire, has 

been nominated and approved by 

the president as the chairman of 

the board of the NSITF. 

“A neutral person, for the avoidance 

of doubt, is one who is neither 

pro-labour unions which Kokori is, 

nor Nigeria Employers Consultative 

Association, NECA, an umbrella 

body representing private sector 

manufacturers nor a member of the 

government.” The statement added 

that: “...The minister of labour and 

employment can neither be intimidated 

by blackmail nor by hooliganism. 

Certainly, Sen. Ngige cannot be 

derailed from carrying out his legitimate 

duties as directed by the President 

by unionism.” 

The relationship between the 

organised Labour worsened on May 

8, when Wabba-led other labour to 

picket the private residence of the 

minister in Asokoro, Abuja, where 

suspected thugs attacked the labour 

leaders leading to the hospitalisation 

of nine labour leaders at the 

National Hospital. 

However, on Sunday, May 12, the 

Presidency through the Special 

Adviser to President Buhari on Media 

and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, 

said among others, that: “The appointment 

of the chairman of this 

board, NSITF, which is in consonance 

with Section 4(a) of the NSITF 

Act CAP N88 of 2004 was also approved 

by Mr. President since July 

23, 2018 on the recommendation of 

the minister. 

The statement also informed that: 

“Comrade Frank Kokori, our 

respected veteran labour leader, has 

Mr President’s immense respect and 

has also been appointed on the 

recommendation of the Minister of 

Labour and Employment to chair the 

board of Michael Imoudu National 

Institute for Labour Studies, 

MINILS, a diploma awarding 

labour institution". 

Immense 

respect 

This put paid to any hope of Chief 

Kokori being sworn-in as chairman 

of NSITF board. Nevertheless, there 

are several issues that are begging 

for clarification over the 

replacement of Chief Kokori as 

NSITF board. To start with, did 

Ngige refuse to inaugurate Kokori 

because, he did not nominate the 

veteran unionist as NSITF board 

chairman, or because he did not like 

his honesty, transparency and 

rigidity of Chief Kokori? If Kokori 

was appointed chairman of NSITF 

board by President Buhari instead 

of Vice President Osinbajo, would the 

minister have refused to inaugurate 

him for about two years after the 

appointment? 

Is it true that some powerful cabal 

in the presidency, working with one 

of the leaders of APC faction in Delta 

State, who is said to be a major 

contractor to the NDDC and a leading 

figure in the June 12, 1993 struggle, 

schemed out Chief Kokori as 

chairman of the board? Is it true that 

close to N2 billion was spent to stop 

Kokori from becoming NSITF 

board chairman? Will Nigerians 

ever know the real reasons why Chief 

Kokori was dropped as chairman of 

the board? Why did it take the 

minister or the Presidency so long to 

come out clean over Chief Kokori’s 

appointment? When did the 

Presidency realise that Kokori should 

no longer be the chairman of the 

board? Is Kokori a victim of a 

powerful cabal in the presidency that 

does not accept any action taken by 

the Vice President whenever he acts 

as President? There are many 

questions left unanswered. 

Unfortunately, the answers may 

never be provided.

No Yoruba president in Nigeria for 

another 20 years 


IF Nigeria survives the what they have benefitted from 

controversy provoked by the the last four years of Buhari’s 

2019 presidential election, one presidency. If they are sincere, 

of the prerequisites would be they will tell you it is also zilch, 

that there cannot be a Yoruba nada, niente! 

president in the country for at Moreover, I don’t remember 

least another 20 years. Nigeria passing a 

Otherwise, we would be further constitutional amendment now 

stoking the flames of zoning the presidency 

disintegration. 

exclusively to the North-West 

The Yoruba have provided the and the South-West. These 

president in eight of the last 20 irresponsible people don’t mean 

years. They have also held the Nigeria well. Their ethnic 

vice-presidency for another four jingoism, greed and selfishness 

years. That will do for the next is part of what is killing Nigeria 

20 years. 

today. 

Our country is the Federal 

Republic of Nigeria and not Turn of 

Oduduwa Republic of Ndigbo 

Nigeria. Neither is it the 

Federal Republic of the Hausa- The democratic experiment 

Fulani and the Yoruba. has been ongoing now in this 

Nigeria is bigger than the Fourth Republic in Nigeria for 

North-West and the South-West, 20 years since 1999. In that 

no matter what the bogus period, the Yoruba have 

population figures used for provided the president for eight 

elections in these geopolitical years and the vice-president for 

regions indicate. Therefore, four years. In the unlikely 

the choice of president cannot event that the results of the 2019 

be reduced to a ding-dong election are confirmed by the 

between them. 

courts, by 2023, a Yoruba vicepresident 

would have been in 

Ethnic 

power for eight years. 

jingoism 

Therefore, it is preposterous 

to still insist that the same 

During the 2019 election Yoruba should simply transition 

campaign, Vice-president Yemi from vice-president to president 

Osibajo tried to seduce Yoruba in 2023. What then is to 

votes for Buhari on the promise happen to the other ethnic 

that their vote for him would be groups in Southern Nigeria? 

rewarded with the presidency When did they become 

in 2023. Since the election, a consigned to be only the hewers 

bogus group calling itself the of wood and drawers of water 

Afenifere Renewal Group has for the Yoruba? 

also come out to say the Yoruba The Igbo, one of the three 

will produce the next president major tribes in Nigeria, have 

in 2023. 

provided neither president nor 

We have also witnessed vice-president in the Fourth 

already a lot of jockeying by Republic. An Igbo man has 

self-styled Yoruba presidents-inwaiting 

only ever been head of state in 

for strategic positioning Nigeria for merely six months, 

vis-à-vis the 2023 presidential after which he was assassinated 

election. 

with extreme prejudice. 

This is the height of deceit and Nigeria then fought a civil war 

irresponsibility. 

for three years during which the 

What, if I may ask, did the Igbo made an unsuccessful 

Yoruba man-in-the-street get for attempt to secede. In that 

having Obasanjo as president calamity, over a million Igbo 

for eight years? The answer were slaughtered and killed. 

is nothing: Zilch! Nada! Accordingly, even the blind 

Niente! 

must know that it is in the 

The people who are already interest of national unity and 

projecting a Yoruba president in cohesion for the presidency to 

Nigeria for 2023 are go to the Igbo in 2023, after a 

charlatans. They are up to no denial of over 50 years. In the 

good and only hankering after intervening period, the other 

juicy appointments for two major ethnic groups of the 

themselves or their godfathers, Hausa-Fulani and the Yoruba 

the better to rob the country have had their share. 

blind. Believe me, they could If federal character is an 

not care less about the Yoruba. indelible principle of the 

Ask the Almajiri in the North Nigerian Constitution, that 

C 

principle must also find 

expression at the presidential 

level. If it does not, it is 

tantamount to consigning the 

Igbo to the status of secondclass 

citizens in their own 

country of Nigeria. 

That is why the statements 

already making the rounds 

about a Yoruba president in 

2023 needs to be stopped 

immediately before even the 

mere expression does 

irreparable damage to the 

fragile Nigerian psyche. 

Rotational 

presidency 

There is an unwritten 

understanding in this fourth 

Nigerian republic that the 

presidency should rotate 

between North and South. We 

started with Obasanjo, a Yoruba 

man from the South in 1999. 

That election was a straight 

contest between two Yoruba 

candidates: Obasanjo and Olu 

It will be the 

turn of a 

Southerner to be 

president again 

in 2023; that 

Southerner 

must, without 

controversy, be 

an Igbo man 

Falae. Obasanjo won that 

election and was president for 

eight years. 

Thereafter, it was the turn of 

the North and the 2007 election 

was essentially a Northern 

affair. Yar’Adua ran primarily 

against Buhari and Atiku. He 

won but, unfortunately, he died 

in office after barely two years. 

Goodluck Jonathan, his vicepresident, 

then became 

president. However, he was 

from the South, so there was hue 

and cry in the North that he had 

usurped the Northern slot 

deemed to be for eight years. 

Jonathan served for two years 

and was elected for another four 

years. Thereafter, the North 

cried enough and Buhari was 

elected to replace him. 

The just-concluded 2019 

election was also essentially a 

contest between two 

Northerners from the two major 

parties of the APC and the PDP: 

Buhari and Atiku. Whatever 

the conclusion of the tribunal 

about that election, a 

Northerner would nevertheless 

have served as president for 

eight years by 2023. 

This means it will be the turn 

of a Southerner to be president 

again in 2023. That 

Southerner must, without 

controversy, be an Igbo man. 

Any right-thinking Nigerian 

must see that it is not only high 

time for this to happen, it is 

essential for our national 

integration. It will also signal 

to all intents and purposes that, 

after 50 years, the civil war is 

finally truly over. 

So this is my reasoning. 

Before it can be the turn of a 

Yoruba man again, 20 years 

should elapse. This is the 

breakdown: 2015-2023: 

Northern president; 2023-2031: 

Igbo president; 2031-2038: 

Northern president. That is 20 

years before you can get 

another Yoruba president from 

the South. 

Even then, there is no 

guarantee that the 2038 

president should be a Yoruba 

man. There are other tribes in 

the South that can also come into 

contention in that year. So, in 

the interest of national unity, 

2023 is out of the question for 

the Yoruba. 

Party of 

enemies 

Even though we have yet to 

completely settle the matter of 

the 2019 presidency, the 

struggle for 2023 is already 

tearing the APC apart. The 

party is not and has never been 

cohesive. It is a collection of 

strange bedfellows who came 

together for the sole purpose of 

wresting the presidency from 

the PDP in 2015. Having done 

that, the party has been 

undergoing internal 

combustion; with its members at 

daggers-drawn ever since. 

The only glue still holding 

APC together is the fact that the 

current president is from the 

party. Once Buhari goes, in 

2023, that would be the end of 

APC. Already, the nPDP 

component of Atiku, Saraki and 

Tambuwaal have returned to the 

PDP. The ACN component, 

under the leadership of Bola 

Tinubu, is now at loggerheads 

with the North-West redoubt, 

now spearheaded by Nasir el- 

Rufai. 

Everybody knows that the 

fight for speaker and president 

of the Senate is a fight for the 

soul of the APC with an eye to 

2023. But the Yoruba are 

using the excuse that the Igbo 

did not vote for Buhari and the 

APC in 2019 to lay claim for the 

presidency again in 2023. The 

assumption, of course, is that 

whoever secures the APC 

presidential ticket in 2023 is a 

shoo-in for the presidency. 

As a matter of fact, the Tinubuled 

Yoruba faction in the APC is 

not only insisting on the 2023 

presidency, it is also laying 

claim now to the Speaker of the 

House of Representatives in 

2019. This greed is so way out 

of control that Tinubu’s wife in 

the Senate also has her eyes 

firmly trained on the post of the 

Deputy Senate President. 

The long and short of this 

inordinate ethnic monopolistic 

ambitions is the belief in some 

quarters that, because of current 

APC political supremacy, 

Nigeria now belongs to the 

Hausa-Fulani and the Yoruba 

and no one else. The rest of 

the people in the country are 

simply their political subalterns 

or houseboys. They are only 

useful at presidential election 

time to make up the number. 

Thereafter, they go off the 

political radar. 

The question needs to be 

asked: are the Igbo Nigerians 

or are they not? If the answer 

is yes, as it must be, then we 

need to ask further: are the Igbo 

never to be president in 

Nigeria? The year 2023 is to 

answer this question once and 

for all. It is the year when it is 

so obviously the turn of 

Ndigbo. The Hausa-Fulani 

have had more than their fair 

share. The Yoruba have had 

their turn. Ditto for the Niger 

Delta. What excuse then can 

there be for denying the Igbo 

their turn in 2023? Only 

nonsensical and self-serving 

ones 

Death of the 

godfathers 

Those who insist there is some 

agreement between Buhari and 

Tinubu that will propel Tinubu 

to the presidency in 2023 must 

be dreaming. Just ask El- 

Rufai. He will tell you 

Nigerians will never accept 

Tinubu as national godfather or 

president. The template he 

has used to hold Lagos to 

ransom cannot be duplicated 

elsewhere, not even in the 

South-West. 

Tinubu could only hold on to 

Lagos for Buhari in 2019. APC 

resorted to bribing voters with 

trailers filled with rice and garri, 

snatching ballot boxes in Igbodominated 

areas and 

suppressing opposition votes. 

If Tinubu can no longer hold the 

South-West without these 

shenanigans, he does not have 

a hope in hell in the rest of 

Nigeria come 2023. 

The anti-Tinubu plotters in 

APC made sure Osinbajo lost 

his polling unit in Lagos. They 

ensured Fashola lost his local 

government. They doubledealed 

Akpabio by not rigging 

the election in his favour in 

Akwa Ibom. They buried 

Adams Oshiomhole in Edo. 

They refused to give a 

certificate of return to Okorocha 

in Imo. They could not help 

Rotimi Amaechi secure Rivers 

for the APC. 

In effect, all the APC iroko 

trees in the South have been cut 

down. They no longer have 

to be seriously reckoned with.

Obasanjo’s ‘disappointment’, 

Atiku’s planned ‘insurrection’ 

and Buhari administration 

FORMER President, Olusegun 

Obasanjo, has stirred the 

hornet’s nest once again. The 

redoubtable soldier, war hero, exruler, 

farmer and two times 

president claimed in a talk that he 

gave at an Anglican Church in 

Oleh, Isoko South Local 

Government Area of Delta State, 

that the entire purpose of the Boko 

Haram insurgency is the 

Fulanisation and Islamisation of 

Nigeria. Which is saying that the 

spate of kidnappings, sacking of 

communities, armed robberies in 

the form of cattle rustling and 

above all, the imposition of the 

Islamic legal and religious codes 

in places under the control of Boko 

Haram are well-orchestrated 

plans aimed at making Fulani and 

Muslims out of other Nigerians. 

As is now the case with most of 

his interventions, Obasanjo said 

nothing new. Nothing that other 

Nigerians have not said over and 

over again. His remarks have, 

however, elicited instant responses 

from many quarters, highlighting 

the fault lines in our peculiar 

federation that has made the 

country’s unity a project 

perpetually in the future. While 

some have condemned his 

remarks as unbecoming of his 

status, he has received enthusiastic 

approbation from others. The 

problem, again as usual with 

Obasanjo, is not necessarily the 

message but the messenger. 

Obasanjo acknowledged the fact 

that Boko Haram has been with 

us for quite a while. But its 

activities were viewed, he said, as 

a revolt of the poor and 

dispossessed. They were seen as an 

economic issue that could be 

resolved by tinkering with those 

policies through which the 

governing elite in the North have 

kept most Northerners away from 

the gains of our commonwealth. 

Now Obasanjo thinks such reading 

was essentially flawed and naïve 

as it beggars the fact now at our 

disposal, namely, that Boko 

Haram had and has a far more 

sinister agenda. This is to impose 

Islam as well as Fulani rule on the 

rest of Nigerians. All of this became 

clear, according to Obasanjo, 

from the concerted manner in 

which Boko Haram has escalated 

its activities while teaming up with 

other murderous groups like the 

Islamic State of West Africa 

Province and Al Qaeda, among 

others. 

For quite a while, Nigerians 

from the Southern and Middle belt 

parts of the country have raised 

fears about the possible 

Islamisation of Nigeria. Those 

fears have been accentuated since 

Muhammadu Buhari took over as 

president. Things were nowhere 

helped by the fact that Buhari 

himself exhibited a high degree of 

revanchist provincialism in his 

appointment of ministers and other 

public officers. He displayed a 

clear bias for Muslims from the 

North of the country while quietly 

ignoring the concerns of others like 

the Igbo who did not vote for him 

and have never supported his 

presidency. His recent 

reappointment of Godwin 

Emefiele as Central Bank governor 

is being seen as a mere sop that 

would not do much to assuage the 

feeling of alienation his 

administration has engendered 

among the Igbo. 

Our greater concern, 

however, should be to 

ask what Buhari is 

doing to erase the 

perception that he 

supports Fulani 

domination and 

Islamisation of 

Nigeria 

His weak response to herdsmen 

attacks in many parts of the North, 

seen as a lack of concern for other 

Nigerians, makes his stance 

appear like subtle endorsement of 

the activities of the insurgents. 

Buhari, like most of the elite from 

the North, at some point adopted 

a casual stance that suggested he 

was satisfied with the activities of 

Boko Haram. This was in the early 

days of its activities when prompt 

condemnation could have gone a 

long way. Things remained this 

way until a strange twist in the tale 

would result in Boko Haram 

hunting after prominent 


Northerners. Buhari was a target 

of one such attack and only 

escaped narrowly. Only then did 

the scale fall from the eyes of the 

Northern elite. And they began to 

align with the rest of Nigerians to 

reject the extremist ways of Boko 

Haram. By this time, however, 

matters had got to a head and the 

group had become a monster with 

a life of its own, answerable to 

nobody. 

That Abuja was, as at last week, 

embroiled in an argument with 

Afenifere and Ohanaeze Ndigbo 

about the nature of its recognition 

of and dealings with Miyetti Allah, 

the Fulani cattle breeders 

umbrella organisation, feeds into 

the unsettled narrative that the 

government is all hunky-dory with 

the herdsmen and by extension, 

cattle herders - a step from Boko 

Haram. Activities of the herdsmen 

and those of Boko Haram directly 

or indirectly align with one 

another. 

It was under these circumstances 

that a presidential aide, Lauretta 

Onochie, issued a statement 

suggesting that Atiku Abubakar, 

Buhari’s opponent who has been 

in court since the conclusion of the 

2019 elections, is under 

investigation for corruption at the 

United Arab Emirates. Abubakar, 

it should be said, has not been a 

favourite of the Northern elite or 

groups like Miyetti Allah that 

opposed his candidacy in the 2019 

presidential election. Atiku feels he 

has been defamed by Onochie’s 

claim and has instructed his 

lawyers to demand compensation 

running into billions of naira. It is 

not surprising that Lauretta 

Onochie would attack Atiku in the 

manner she did. Her remarks were 

in consonance with the position of 

Abuja that Atiku is at the vanguard 

of a conspiracy determined to 

disrupt violently the Buhari 

Send Opinions & Letters to: 

opinions1234@yahoo.com 

government. What is, therefore, 

surprising is that Abuja has not 

thought it wise to arrest Atiku 

considering the gravity of their 

accusation, one that has been 

repeated by other administration 

officials, including the military 

chiefs. 

What is Abuja and Buhari up to 

with their attack on Atiku? Why 

have they continued with their 

claim that he plans to disrupt 

Buhari’s inauguration while 

failing, against the norm, to act on 

their accusation for which they say 

they have ample evidence? Is theirs 

a red herring to prepare the ground 

for a clampdown on Atiku or a 

move to undermine his challenge 

of the Buhari Administration in the 

courts? Is Obasanjo’s own remark 

about the Fulanisation and 

Islamisation of Nigeria an 

expression of his disappointment 

with the failings of the Buhari 

administration as Sule Lamido 

has alleged? Even if one could 

criticise Obasanjo for gross 

insensitivity and unbecoming 

utterance given his position as a 

former president and indeed, one 

of Nigeria’s most respected (and 

vilified?) leaders, would it be right 

to assume that his remarks are so 

much blather? Or could there be 

some truth to his observation? 

Nigerians, especially leaders, 

should be careful not to say things 

that could aggravate the tense 

cloud that has pervaded our 

country in the last few years. But 

should that stop us from telling one 

another some home truths? A 

church might not be the most 

appropriate place for Obasanjo to 

highlight the objectives of Boko 

Haram. Our greater concern, 

however, should be to ask what 

Buhari is doing to erase the 

perception that he supports Fulani 

domination and Islamisation of 


The myth of ‘debt trap' in China-Africa cooperation 

By Charles Onunaiju 

FORMER US Secretary of State, Mr. Rex 

Tillerson sacked mid-air by his principal, 

President Donald Trump while returning from 

a visit to Africa last year, orchestrated the hype, 

on a visit to the Africa Union headquarters in 

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He said that “Chinese 

investment does have the potential to address 

Africa’s infrastructure gap,” but added a 

spurious claim of “an approach that has led to 

mounting debt and, a few, if any job in most 

countries.” 

Last December, Mr. John Bolton, US 

National Security Adviser made more 

outlandish claims that “China uses bribes, 

opaque agreements and the strategic of use of 

debt to hold states in Africa captive to Beijing’s 

wishes and demands.” To drive home the scare 

at the alleged China’s debt trap, Mr. Bolton 

claimed “the nation of Zambia for example, is 

currently in debt to China to the tune of $6 

billion to $10 billion. China is now poised to 

take over Zambia’s national power and utility 

company in order to collect on Zambia’s 

financial obligation.” A few days later, the 

Zambia government announced that the claim 

of the US national security adviser was false 

and that, of its total sovereign debt of 

about US$9 billion, China’s share is only 

about US$3 billion and none of its national 

assets is under any form of threat of seizure. 

China’s broad cooperation with Africa which 

has provided huge support for the continent to 

overcome the existential bottlenecks of funding 

shortage, infrastructure deficit and inadequate 

manpower and which has currently restored a 

critical takeoff of sustainable and inclusive 

economic growth is the object of vicious attack 

from quarters that were unwilling to touch 

Africa with a long spoon in regards to 

investments, trade, loans and other such 

activities that could boost the aggregate growth 

of the economies in the region. 

China herself is not a stranger to the use of 

concessional loans as a funding mechanism 

for her own economic modernisation. At the 

outset of her modernisation programme, in 

March, 1978 China announced an ambitious 

ten-year plan that focused on 120 key 

modernisation projects, including 30 electric 

power stations, six trunk railroads, eight coal 

mines, ten new steel plans, five habours, nine 

non-ferrous metal complexes and ten new oil 

and gas fields. 

According to the account of Professor 

Deborah Brautigan, a sober and keen China 

watcher, “by the end of 1978, Chinese officials 

have signed 74 contracts with Japan to finance 

turn-key projects that would form the backbone 

of China’s modernization. All would be repaid 

in oil and coal.” China herself was a recipient 

of Japan’s generous loans, though Beijing 

viewed it as a mandatory reparations that 

Tokyo must make for its atrocious war crime 

against the Chinese, in the same manner, that 

post-war Germany was obligated to make 

reparations to the state of Israel on account of 

the Nazi violence that targeted the Jews. 

With the signing of the treaty of friendship 

between China and Japan in 1978, Japan 

agreed to provide large five-year loan 

packages to China. The first yen loan package 

(1978-1983) totaled 330 billion yen. The 

second tranche of the yen loan package between 

1984 and 1989 amounted to 470 billion yen, 

with the third loan package between 1990 and 

1995 totalling 800 billion yen. Yet for all 

Japan’s loan assistance, the Chinese leadership 

maintained unassailable prerogative on its 

major policy decisions both domestic, foreign 

and even defense policies. 

For example, in 1995, long after China has 

ended the nuclear monopoly of the former 

Soviet Union and Americans by blasting its 

first nuclear test in 1964, Beijing went ahead 

with its 42 nd nuclear test, despite 

evident misgivings by the Japanese Prime 

Minister, Mr. Marayama Tomichi, who during 

a visit to Beijing had asked Premier Li Peng for 

a moratorium on nuclear test. Beijing has, 

however, during her first blast of the nuclear 

bomb made a commitment never to be first to 

use a nuclear bomb but would maintain the 

facility for deterrence. 

Apart from loans, trade and investments 

also between Beijing and Tokyo flourished in 

the period which coincided with the time of 

China’s intense modernisation drive that has 

borne the fruits of the country’s contemporary 

national aggregates and global preeminence. 

In fact despite tension over domestic politics, 

security policy and history, economic 

interdependence between China and Japan 

remained a powerful force. Total trade between 

the two countries grew from $18.2 billion in 

1990 to $66.2 billion in 1999, while Japanese 

The strategy of scaremongering 

African countries 

with the hype of “Chinese 

debt trap” is essentially to 

prevent the rise of Africa 

foreign direct investment into China rose from 

$438 million in 1989 to $4.5 billion in 1995. 

Against the foregoing, the hype about 

Chinese loans, investments and trade 

morphing to debt trap or surrender of 

sovereignty of African countries is a hogwash 

concocted and designed by its peddlers to 

starve countries in the continent, the veritable 

and indispensable financial oxygen that is 

necessary to generate sustainable economic 

growth and the wider socio-economic 

development and even political stability. 

What the leadership of the various countries 

in Africa needs to do is to harness loan and 

investment flows to critical and strategic 

national priority, build integrated national 

economic structures and work it up to the 

global value chains. 

The strategy of scare-mongering African 

countries with the hype of “Chinese debt trap” 

is essentially to prevent the rise of Africa, as 

such efforts, though, of different type was 

desperately deployed to prevent the rise of 

China. From the earlier insinuations from the 

same quarter that China is a “hollow” power 

that has nothing tangible to offer to Africa 

except rhetoric, the tune has changed that 

China wants to compromise the sovereignty 

of African countries through debt trap. 

But if China was not entrapped by Tokyo 

despite generous loans, investments and trade, 

how is Africa destined to become a vassal of 

Beijing because of loans, investment and trade, 

except only on the assumptions that Africa, 

her people and leadership are incapable of 

securing her own interests? This, in itself, 

reflects the unreformed bigotry of how Africa 

is viewed from the West. 

Despite the sustained hoopla about Chinese 

loans and the alleged debt trap, the Londonbased 

Economist magazine said that these 

“investments funded by Chinese are not in 

China” and that the best Beijing can do in 

respect of government defaults on its loans is 

to reduce the amount of money that debtors 

have to pay, adding that “countries with longer 

records of lending to poor countries often do 

the same,” citing the example of the “Paris 

Club of creditors formed in 1956 to devise ways 

of reducing defaulters' debt loans.” 

If the media high priest of Western liberal 

order has the above to say about the “myth of 

China’s debt trap,” there is little to add except 

for Africa to shine her eyes, as it is used in local 

parlance to commend someone to a sober 

reflection. 

•Onunaiju, director, Centre for China 

Studies, wrote from Abuja. 

C 

M 

Y 

K


He says he's too old for sex 

Dear Bunmi, 

My husband is in his mid 

50s and I am 48. It’s over 

three years since we made 

love and I’ve suggested that 

he sees a specialist but he 

won’t, he shrugs that the 

specialist will only say that at 

our age, that type of thing 

stops. 

I know that sex is not the 

element of relationship but it 

is an important part. I find 

myself being flippant and 

sarcastic with him and this 

leads to arguments. My 

husband said that if sex 

meant that much to me, I 

should have an affair if I could 

find someone and if I could 

be discreet about it. Well, 

maybe I should! I love my 

husband but I refuse to live a 

celibate life for the rest of my 

years. 

Ladunni, by e-mail. 

Dear Ladunn, 

Impotence can be an early 

indicator of disease, so it is 

really important that you 

consult his doctor. He can 

prescribe Viagra or some 

other medications that will 

help maintain an erection, if 

that seems appropriate. Ask 

him to seek medical advice to 

protect his well-being as well 

as your marriage. 

Although the frequency 

with which we make love 

declines as we leave our 20s, 

men and women in good 

health can have sex far to their 

old age. 

If it turns out that lovemaking 

is something you and 

your partner will never again 

or seldom be able to enjoy, 

both of you need to come to 

terms with that reality in a way 

that deepens your loving 

bond. 

A couple may face this 

challenge at any age. Despite 

his bravado, your partner 

fears that you’ll have sex with 

another man and leave him. 

He is afraid that if he can 

no longer make love to you, 

he may be rejected as 

inadequate and worthless. 

You too fear being abandoned 

and the end of your marriage. 

Despite your rationalism 

and the sense that you miss 

having sex, your need is only 

for reassurance that you have 

not become undesirable to 

men or to the man you 

married. Accept that you will 

not part. In the meantime, 

find ways to share intimacy 

that won’t depend on sexual 

intercourse. 

Sex is a tide that ebbs and 

flows in a relationship. Even 

though sex life dies, a couple 

needs to constantly re-affirm 

their sense of love, loyalty and 

companionship. 

He wants to keep me as 

his mistress 

Dear Bunmi, 

I am over 25 and haven’t 

been able to find a suitable 

boyfriend for close to two 

years now and I feel sexually 

frustrated. A few months ago, 

I met a man at work and I was 

immediately attracted to him. 

One Saturday morning, he 

turned up in my flat and we 

had mind-blowing sex! Soon 

after, he got a better job and 

relocated outside Lagos. He 

confessed when he called that 

he now lives with his 

girlfriend but made it clear 

that he still fancies me. I don’t 

want to break up the 

relationship with his new 

partner but if he’s hell-bent 

on being unfaithful, why 

shouldn’t it be with me when 

I want him so badly? 

Tara, By e-mail. 

Dear Tara, 

Don’t even think about it! 

This man is living with 

someone else. Popping round 

one morning for a quickie is 

no basis whatsoever for any 

kind of satisfactory 

relationship. Nothing is 

purely physical. 

You’re both human beings 

with hearts, soul and all sorts 

of emotions. Don’t imagine 

you can indulge sexually 

without your feelings 

becoming involved. This is a 

recipe for a heartache and 

heartbreak, for you and for 

him. 

Why not spend some time 

looking inwards? Try working 

out the reason why you 

haven’t had a boyfriend in two 

years. Pin down the problem 

and apply your energy to 

finding a man of your own 

instead of tinkering with 

someone else’s. 

How do I introduce my girl to my parents? 

Dear Bunmi, 

I am currently dating a very 

wonderful girl and would 

want my parents to meet her. 

I have met her parents and 

they are quite extroverted, 

they took to me right away. 

Mum always grills me about 

bringing my intended. I love 

this lady but we haven’t 

discussed marriage yet. She’s 

quite keen on meeting my 

parents, but how do I do this 

without my mum hearing 

wedding bells? 

Jide, by e-mail. 

Dear Jide, 

Introducing your new love 

to your parents is always little 

I’m afraid 

you’re kidding 

yourself that 

you have a 

future together; 

you’re having 

sex because 

that’s the easy 

option. He’s 

out there 

making a new 

life while 

you’re at home 

clinging to 

your old one 

fraught with anxiety but here 

are some expert advice on 

ways to make sure it all runs 

smoothly. 

Fill your partner in on any 

family eccentricities. If your 

dad doesn’t take his eyes off 

the telly, warn your partner 

not to feel slighted. 

Fill your family in on your 

partner. Explain what he or 

she does for a living and any 

significant vulnerable points. 

For example, a parent who’s 

recently died or a promotion 

that’s fallen through. That 

way, they’ll know to steer 

clear of certain subjects. 

Make sure your family 

knows how serious the 

relationship is, especially if 

your partner is more serious 

than you are. He or she will 

already think meeting your 

family is the green light for 

commitment. Your parents 

saying things like “You’re part 

of the family now,” will have 

wedding bells ringing in your 

partner’s ears. 

If you’re both staying the 

night, make sure you’ve had 

where you’re both going to 

sleep discussion. Don’t quiz 

your partner relentlessly for 

their impression after. 

Give everyone time to get 

used to each other. 

He blames the booze for his 

bad behaviour 

DearBunmi, 

Do you really do things you 

don’t want to when you’re 

drunk? I’m not sure. Recently, 

my partner did something bad 

that I found out about. His 

excuse was that he was really 

drunk and didn’t remember. 

I’m a graduate of 

psychology and from what 

I’ve seen in others and 

experienced myself, alcohol 

doesn’t make you do things 

you don’t want to, it just takes 

away the drive to hold 

yourself back from doing 

something you really wanted 

to. 

The way I see it, people who 

are funny drunks are just 

funny people without their 

normal shyness or 

embarrassment, and those 

who are mean drunks are full 

of anger that they normally try 

to hold back. 

It’s the same with sex. Those 

who have sex with ‘the ugly 

one’ or ‘the fat one’ really like 

that kind of people but are 

normally too embarrassed to 

show it. The same goes for 

stuff people say when they’re 

drunk. 

Alcohol doesn’t change 

what we want or think, it just 

takes down the barrier. So I 

guess what I’m asking is, 

should I give my boyfriend 

benefit of the doubt, or was he 

simply using alcohol as an 

excuse to do something he 

always wanted to do? 

Jadesola, by e-mail. 

Dear Jadesola, 

Your knowledge of 

psychology has been put to 

good use here and I think you 

are, right up to a point about 

the effects of alcohol It 

certainly relaxes, and 

sometimes completely 

demolishes inhibitions. And 

you’re right about the effect it 

can have on personality. An 

excessive amount can also 

cause periods of memory loss 

or make you very vulnerable 

to abuse or crime. 

You need to ask yourself if 

your man has it in him to do 

whatever he did since you 

didn’t share what it was with 

readers. And if he’s blaming 

it on drinks, then maybe it is 

time he looked at that aspect 

of life, too. 

Separated but still living together 

Dear Bunmi, 

After three years of living 

with my partner, he decided 

the spark was gone for him 

and that we both need to move 

on as according to him, he 

couldn’t do the relationship 

any more. 

We still live together in the 

flat until the rent runs out in 

a few months’ time. Though 

I’ve since moved to the guest 

room, we remain friendly and 

continue to sleep together. 

In the meantime, he has 

female friends who he meets 

in clubs and social gatherings 

and refer to them as just 

friends. I tend to believe him 

but I’m not sure. 

I’m planning to move out 

before the rent runs out, but 

things are okay between us 

and I think we may get back 

together properly. The other 

day, he said he still loves me 

You’re both 

human beings 

with hearts, soul 

and all sorts of 

emotions, don’t 

imagine you can 

indulge sexually 

without your 

feelings 

becoming 

involved. This is 

a recipe for a 

heartache and 

heartbreak, for 

you and for him 

but he can’t be in a 

relationship because he has a 

lot on his mind at the moment. 

I’d really like to be with him 

again, but I feel like I’m in 

some kind of limbo. I know 

that it’s not good for me to 

keep sleeping with him, but 

it feels so right when we’re 

together. What should I do? 

Thelma, by e-mail. 

Dear Thelma, 

I’m afraid you’re kidding 

yourself that you have a future 

together. You’re having sex 

because that’s the easy option. 

He’s out there making a new 

life while you’re at home 

clinging to your old one. 

You need to get out there and 

into that flat of yours. Maybe 

you do have a future together, 

but the only way to find out is 

to put yourself first and put 

some space between you. 

Good luck. 

Share your problems and release your 

burden. Write now to Dear Bunmi, 

Vanguard Newspapers, P.M.B 1007, 

Apapa, Lagos, or bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 22 , 2019 — 33 


A 

S A B A — 

SUSPECTED 

herdsmen have unleashed 

mayhem on Ubulu-Uku 

community, Aniocha South 

Local Government Area of 

Delta State, killing one 

Chikwe Ojinji in his farm. 

Vanguard gathered that 

the hoodlums, who 


Suspected herdsmen kill one, injure 

another in Delta 

Fedpoly Ukana 

seeks 

accreditation for 

more courses 

By Chioma Onuegbu 

U YO—THE 

Management of 

Federal Polytechnic 

Ukana in Essien Udim 

Local Government Area of 

Akwa Ibom State has said 

efforts were on to ensure 

more courses offered in 

the institution were 

accredited soon by 

National Board for 

Technical Education, 

NBTE. 

The Rector, Dr. Uduak 

Ukekpe, who made the 

disclosure while 

addressing matriculating 

students, said the 

polytechnic made 

significant progress, 

especially in the area of 

physical infrastructure to 

meet the requirement of 

NBTE. 

Ukekpe disclosed that 

the management of the 

institution had been able 

to secure Tetfund special 

intervention for the 

construction of Civil 

Engineering, Electrical/ 

Electronic Engineering as 

well as Science 

Laboratory Technology 

complex in its 

determination to expand 

academic programmes in 

the institution. 

He said: “The 

management is working 

closely with the 

Governing Council to 

invite for a second time 

NBTE to inspect facilities 

and the accreditation of 

programmes, including 

programmes earlier 

denied accreditation. 

“The courses include 

Electrical/Electronic 

Engineering Technology, 

Computer Engineering 

Technology, Science 

Laboratory Technology, 

Civil Engineering 

Technology, Accountancy 

and Business 

Administration.” 

allegedly laid siege to the 

community for about three 

days, also shot a youth of 

the community on the 

Ubulu-Uku/Issele-Uku 

Road. 

A reliable source said 

Ojinji's corpse was 

discovered in his farm and 

had been deposited in the 

mortuary. 

The murdered chief 

hailed from Udo quarters of 

the community 

Confirming the incident 

in a telephone chat with 

newsmen, Jamico Adoh 

said Ojinji's corpse was 

discovered early hours of 

Monday. 

M e a n w h i l e , 

circumstances surrounding 

the shooting of the youth 

whose identity was 

unknown at press time 

were still hazy. 


BRIEFING: From left; Senior Project Officer, Leadership Empowerement And 

Resource Network (LEARN), Mrs Tonne Marques; Chief Operating Officer, Mrs 

Ronke Oguntoyinbo and Project Officer, Miss Bimpe Ekundayo at the press briefing 

on their activities on the forthcomiing Children Day in Surulere, Lagos. 

Edo election tribunal rejects PDP 

plea to recount ballot papers 

he is receiving treatment at 

an undisclosed hospital. 

Recall that suspected 

herdsmen kidnapped and 

killed the traditional ruler of 

the kingdom after collecting 

ransom in 2016. 

The state Commissioner of 

police, Adeyinka Adeleke, 

who confirmed it to 

newsmen said the police 

was investigating the 

matter, expressing optimism 

that the suspects would be 

brought to book. 

Judge disqualifies self from ex-Bayelsa 

Security Adviser's trial ruling, 

By Emem idio 

Y ENAGOA— 

JUSTICE Iniekadi 

Eradiri of Bayelsa State 

High Court yesterday, 

disqualified himself from 

the trial of Chief Richard 

By Alemma Aliu 

BENIN CITY—THE 

Edo State Election 

Petition Tribunal sitting in 

Benin City, yesterday, 

rejected the prayer of the 


PDP, to recount the ballot 

papers used for Etsako 

Federal Constituency 

during the National 

Assembly election in 

March. 

The Tribunal Chairman, 

Justice O. Ogundana, 

declined the plea of the 

petitioners, Mr Blessing 

Agbomere and the PDP in 

a ruling on an application 

by counsel, Mr Chika 

Adindu requesting the 

recounting and finger print 

assessment of the ballot 

Kpodo, a former aide to 

former Governor Timipre 

Sylva of Bayelsa on Security 

Matters. 

Kpodo, standing trial for 

alleged rape of a 26-year 

female cashier, had 

appealed Justice Eradiri’s 

papers used for the poll 

Agbomere is challenging 

the declaration of Mr 

Johnson Oghuma of the 

All Progressives Congress, 

APC, as the winner of the 

Etsako Federal 

Constituency election. 

The tribunal ruled that 

there was no provision in 

the Electoral Act as 

amended that provides 

for recount after 

declaration of result. 

“At the place of voting, the 

polling officers can allow 

the agents to count. 

Recounting and finger 

print assessment does not 

have any correlation with 

errors or miscalculation, as 

a result, the application 

lacks merit and is hereby 

dismissed.” 

declining 

jurisdiction from hearing 

the case and petitioned the 

National Judicial Council, 

NJC, accusing the judge of 

bias. 

Kpodo’s counsel, Julius 

Iyekoroghe, had on 

December 21, 2018, 

approached Justice Eradiri 

with a motion, urging him 

to disqualify himself, but 

Eradiri referred the 

application to Chief Judge 

of Bayelsa. 

Justice Kate Abiri, Chief 

Judge of Bayelsa, 

subsequently declined the 

application to assign the 

rape trial to another judge. 

The defence counsel 

alleged that the judge was 

biased in the case by 

refusing to grant the 

defendant bail. 

At the resumed hearing 

in the matter, yesterday, 

Justice Eradiri, said that he 

was constrained to hands 

off the case to pave way for 

the investigation by NJC. 

Recalle that Kpodo who 

was earlier denied bail by 

Justice Eradiri appealed 

the ruling at the Appeal 

Court and was released 

from Okaka Prisons 

Yenagoa, where he was 

held from July 2018 till 

April 2019 after meeting the 

bail condition. 

Save us from land grabbers, 

Rivers community begs Wike 

By Davies 

Iheamnachor 

O R T 

P HARCOURT— 

THE people of 

Rumuokurusi community in 

Obio/Akpor Local 

Government Area of Rivers 

State, have pleaded with 

governor of the state, Mr 

Nyesom Wike, to save them 

from land grabbers. 

The community also urged 

the state government to treat 

anyone arrested for the 

offence as a criminal, 

adding that land thieves 

invade the area with guns. 

The people of the 

community, who made the 

call in Port Harcourt 

yesterday, noted that land 

grabbers from a 

neighbouring community 

in Igbo Etche, Etche LGA, 

have encroached on their 

ancestral homes, adding 

their property. 

Speaking, the paramount 

ruler of Omuwokerebe, Eze 

Standford Achor, noted that 

the land grabbers use 

assorted rifles to chase 

owners of the land from their 

property. 

Achor regretted that all 

efforts made to scare away 

the persons involved had 

proved abortive, adding 

that they (land grabbers) 

have also flouted court 

order which barred people 

from entering the land. 

He said: “As it stands, 

land grabbers have finished 

our land. They sell the land 

everyday. This thing started 

in 2016. There was a time 

they stopped, but now they 

have started again. They 

have sold over 200 hectares 

of land. 

“There is order of court 

that barred people of Igbo 

Etche and Rumuokurusi 

from entering the land, but 

when you go there, you see 

boys with guns selling the 

same land.” 

Meanwhile, Chairman of 

Rumuokurusi Town 

Council, Kingsley Ejekwu, 

has called on Governor 

Wike to wade into the 

situation to ensure that the 

activities of land grabbers 

were put to stop. 

He said: “We are calling 

on the governor to come to 

our aid. The boys are fast 

entering our ancestral 

homes. We don’t want to be 

evicted from our homes 

and we don’t want to carry 

guns to face them because 

if we do, that part of the 

state will become 

ungovernable.” 

Delta rewards excellence 

in academics 


W ARRI—DELTA 

State Government 

has called on the private 

sector, individuals and nongovernmental 

organisations in the state to 

partner it in funding 

education to ensure higher 

excellence and secure the 

future of the youths. 

Secretary to the State 

Government, Mr Festus 

Agas, and the 

Commissioner for Basic 

and Secondary Education, 

Chiedu Ebie, made the call 

at the 2nd Delta State 

Award for Academic 

Excellence sponsored by 

Eroton Oil, during which 

cash rewards, laptops and 

other items were presented 

to awardees. 

They said that the state 

government placed 

premium on education and 

had invested much to 

reposition technical and 

vocational education, 

constructed, renovated and 

equipped of educational 

infrastructure as well as 

revived schools sports. 

The Category A awardees 

on Cognitive/Placement 

Examination include Miss 

Faith Ogheneyevworho of 

Springfield Primary School, 

Sapele who came first with 

a total of 351 marks, Miss 

Michele Alero of Benchill 

School, Warri, 349 marks, 

and Stephanie Ude, 300 

marks, came 2nd and 3rd 

respectively. 

In the 2018 NECO 

Examination category, 

Precious Agboghai of 

Orient Academy Group of 

Schools, Boji-Boji Owa 

came 1st with 9Bs, Ephraim 

Oritsemolagbemi of NEPA 

Staff Secondary School, 

Sapele came 2nd with 7Bs, 

1A and 1C and Isioma 

Ifeanyichukwu of Federal 

Government College, 

Warri, came 3rd with 7Bs 

and 2Cs. 

Nelson also came first in 

the 2018 WASSE category 

with 7As and 2Bs while 

Akanyo Ebipade of Federal 

Government College, Warri 

followed with 6As and 3Bs 

and Abogbai Precious, 

Orient Academy Group of 

Schools, Boji-Boji Owa 

came 3rd with 6As and 3Bs. 

The NABTEB 2018 

category had Lucky Usiwo 

of Ofagbe Technical 

College, emerging 1st with 

2As and 7Cs scoring 27 

points, Kaiye Ufuoma of 

Ogor Technical College, 

Otogor, 2nd with 3As, 

6Cs and 26 points and 

Gift Achie of Essi 

College, Warri with 2As, 

6Cs and 22 points.


HAJJ: From left— Company Secretary/Legal Adviser, Abdullahi Adam Al-Ilory; MD/CEO, Alhaji 

Muneer Bankole, both of Med-View Airline; Assistant Director, Legal Services, Mr. A. Alhassan, and 

Chairman, Abdullahi Mukhtar, both of National Hajj Commission, NAHCON, at the signing of 2019 Hajj 

airlift agreement in Abuja. 

There're 5th columnists in 

EFCC, Okorocha hits back 

By Chidi 

Nkwopara & 

Chinonso Alozie 

O 

W E R R I — 

GOVERNOR 

Rochas Okorocha of Imo 

State yesterday, said the 

Economic and Financial 

Crimes Commission, 

EFCC, did not provide 

information on how they 

arrived at the conclusion 

that he wanted to withdraw 

money for vote-buying 

during the election, urging 

its Chairman, Alhaji 

Ibrahim Magu, to keep fifth 

columnists at arms length. 

Also yesterday, Okorocha 

announced the 

postponement of President 

Muhammadu Buhari’s visit 

to the state to commission 

some projects. 

According to Governor 

Okorocha’s Chief Press 

Secretary, CPS, Sam 

Onwuemedo, President 

Buhari, among other 

Muslims, were performing 

the lesser hajj in Saudi 

Arabia. 

Speaking on the EFCC 

probe in Owerri, Okorocha, 

through the CPS, argued 

that despite EFCC’s 

blockage of Imo State funds 

to the tune of N7.9 billion, 

he did not owe salaries. 

He said part of his 

prayers is that the EFCC 

should not allow infiltrators 

into its activities, adding 

that he understood the 

chairman of EFCC, 

Ibrahim Magu never 

accused him of 

mismanagement of funds. 

According to the release, 

“On Monday, May 20, 

chairman of the Economic 

and Financial Crimes 

Commission, EFCC, Alhaji 

Ibrahim Magu was quoted 

to have told journalists in 

London that the 

commission was 

•Says he's not owing workers despite N7.9bn blockage 

•...as Imo Poly staffers down tools over salaries, others 

investigating Governor 

Rochas Okorocha over the 

bailout fund. 

“Also on Friday, May 17, 

the commission’s zonal 

head for South-East, 

Usman Imam held a 

briefing in Enugu, where 

he also told the world that 

the commission was 

investigating Governor 

Okorocha. 

“These press conferences 

raise genuine concern and 

have also added fillip to the 

governor’s earlier worry 

that those behind the 

drama over his Certificate 

of Return have not gone to 

sleep but have continued to 

spread their dragnets or 

tentacles. 

“If you ask us, we won’t 

join issues with the EFCC 

as an institution and with 

Alhaji Magu as an 

individual. Investigating 

individuals, governments 

and institutions is part of 

the commission’s rules of 

engagement. We only pray 

that the commission should 

not allow undue infiltration. 

“Out of the N8 billion 

they quoted, they also 

confirmed that N7.9 billion 

is what they blocked. Then, 

what is Owelle’s case? And 

the governor does not owe 

salary. 

“Imam also threw a kite 

which could not fly when 

he told his audience that if 

not for their timely 

intervention, N5 billion 

would have allegedly been 

deployed in vote buying by 

Okorocha’s administration. 

“Alhaji Magu is doing a 

good job as the head of the 

EFCC but he should keep 

the fifth columnists at arm’s 

length. He should not eat 

with them even with the 

longest spoon. 

“With more than one 

thousand landmark and 

verifiable projects to his 

credit, Governor Okorocha 

must have managed the 

resources of the state in his 

time as governor with high 

sense of prudence.” 

...on Buhari’s visit 

The state government, 

yesterday had announced 

the coming of Buhari to the 

state to commission some of 

his projects which included 

the Sam Mbakwe 

International Cargo Airport. 

However, a statement on 

the visit's postponement 

yesterday said: “We humbly 

wish to inform the general 

public and Imo people in 

particular that President 

Muhammadu Buhari has 

not returned from Saudi 

Arabia where he is at the 

moment with other 

Muslims from all parts of 

the world on pilgrimage. 

“Therefore, the 

scheduled visit of the 

President to Imo State for 

the commissioning of some 

key projects of Governor 

Rochas Okorocha on 

Tuesday (yesterday) has 

been postponed. A new 

date for the visit will also 

be made public in due 

course, once the President 

comes back from Saudi 

Arabia.” 

… Imo Poly 

In a related 

development, academic 

activities in Imo State 

Polytechnic, Umuagwo, 

have been grounded, 

following an indefinite 

industrial action declared 

by lecturers. 

Apart from the alleged 

maladministration of the 

Rector, Rev. Wence Madu, 

the lecturers said they were 

doing the battle to secure 

payment for their salary 

and promotion arrears. 

According to the 

institution’s chairman of 

Academic Staff Union of 

Polytechnics, ASUP, Dr. 

Desmond Echeta, issues 

related to salary and 

promotion arrears as well 

as check off dues, are the 

major reasons for the 

ASUP action. 

Already, ASUP has 

written the school 

management to inform it 

of the commencement of 

the indefinite industrial 

action. 

According to the letter 

by the chairman and 

secretary, Dr. Echeta and 

Engr. Victor Ehirim, 

respectively, congress 

totally rejected 

government’s 

pronouncement on the 

relocation of the 

institution. 

The letter read in part: 

“The teaching and nonteaching 

staff, students 

and host community of the 

polytechnic were not 

consulted. Congress 

sympathises with parents, 

who will be affected by the 

relocation exercise. 

“Congress can no longer 

condone the continued 

delay in payment of 

February, March and April 

2018 salary arrears and reaffirmed 

their total 

committment to the 

payment of 80 percent 

salary which started from 

May 2018. 

“Congress demands 

immediate financial 

implementation of 2015, 

2016, 2017, 2018 

promotion and proper 

placement of staff.” 

Abia govt to complete 

ongoing projects in 120 days 

By Anayo Okoli 

& Ugochukwu 

Alaribe 

ABA—ABIA State 

government has 

stated that ongoing 

projects across the 17 

councils of the state 

would be completed 

within 120 days. 

Commissioner for 

Information, John Okiyi, 

who disclosed this to 

Vanguard, explained 

that greater focus will be 

on education, road 

infrastructure, 

agriculture, job creation, 

health as well as security 

of lives and properties. 

He added that the state 

government had also 

directed the review of 

some of the ongoing 

projects such as Aba- 

Owerri Road; Aba Road; 

Umuahia-Osisioma 


E NUGU—THE 

outgoing Vice 

Chancellor of University 

of Nigeria, UNN, 

Professor Chukwuma 

Ozumba, has embarked 

on commissioning of 

completed projects in the 

university as part of his 

valedictory programme. 

Among the projects he 

commissioned were the 

upgraded facilities at the 

university’s Law Faculty, 

Enugu Campus. 

The improved facilities 

include Moot Court, 

Human Rights and 

Documentation Centre, 

Flyover; Osusu Road and 

Abiriba-Nkporo Road to 

ensure completion within 

120 days. 

Okiyi further stated that 

contractors to the various 

projects have been 

mobilised to return to site 

to achieve the time limit 

set by the government. 

He urged residents of 

the state to continue to 

support Governor 

Ikpeazu's administration 

as it is committed to 

making life meaningful for 

the people. 

His words: “As we speak, 

contractors have been 

mobilised to return to site 

and complete the ongoing 

projects. Work will 

commence on Osisioma 

Ngwa Flyover, Abiriba- 

Nkporo Road, Aba Road 

in Umuhia, Osusu Road 

as well as other ongoing 

projects across the state.” 

UNN VC commissions 

Law Faculty projects 

By Chimaobi 

Nwaiwu 

N NEWI—TWO 

Anglican Bishops; 

Rt. Rev. Samuel Ezeofor 

of Diocese of Aguata and 

his Diocese on the Niger 

counterpart, Rt. Rev. 

Owen Nwokolo, have 

called for political 

restructuring in Anambra 

State, with power 

shifting to Anambra 

South Senatorial zone 

and Anglican 

Communion. 

Bishop Ezeofor in a 

statement he read 

during the 2nd Session 

of the 5th Synod of 

Diocese of Aguata, said: 

“Going by the recent 

history of governance of 

the state, it is the turn of 

ICT room, post-graduate 

seminar room and other 

physical infrastructure 

such as classrooms and 

lecturers offices. 

Ozumba together with 

the pro-Chancellor, Chief 

Michael Olorufemi, 

commissioned the 

projects. 

Olorufemi lauded the 

Faculty Dean, Professor 

Joy Ezeilo, for transforming 

the Law Faculty 

with the lean resources 

at her disposal 

and charged other 

deans to emulate the 

resourcefulness, 

creativity and 

innovativeness of Ezeilo. 

Bishops call for 

restructuring in 

Anambra politics 

the Anambra South 

senatorial zone to produce 

the next governor of the 

state. 

Bishop Nwokolo, in 

another statement, said: 

“We recommend that the 

same structural arrangement 

be considered for 

religious denominations.” 

They noted that through 

Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju, 

the pentecostal 

denomination of the 

Church had a four-year 

slot in governorship, 

adding that “through Dr 

Ngige, Sir Obi and by the 

time Chief Obiano 

completes his eight years 

tenure, the Roman 

Catholic denomination 

would have completed 19 

years slot in the 

governorship of the state.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 22 , 2019—35 


No in-fighting in Edo APC —Obaseki 

By Gabriel 

Enogholase 

BENIN —GOVERNOR 

Godwin Obaseki of Edo 

State has dismissed rumours 

of in-fighting in the state 

chapter of All Progressives 

Congress, APC, saying the 

fake news about crisis in the 

party is the handiwork of few 

individuals, who want the 

party to put them first above 

the interest of everyone else. 

He spoke, yesterday, at an 

enlarged meeting with APC 

leaders from Edo North 

senatorial district, in Jattu, 

Etsako West Local 

Government Area of the 

state. 

He also urged party 

leaders in Edo Central to 

shun the antics of a few 

greedy individuals trying to 

cause disaffection in the 

party, insisting that the state 

government and the party 

were united for the 

development of the state and 

not to fritter the state’s 

resources for selfish gains of 

few individuals. 

According to him, the 

rumour of in-fighting was 

being spread by a few 

disgruntled persons, who 

raised issues that were not 

real on the pages of 

newspapers. 

Obaseki noted that after 

meeting with APC leaders 

in the three senatorial 

districts of the state, the 

feedback so far was that there 

was no issue. 

He said: “The consensus 

is that there are a few people 

trying to hustle for positions 

they hope may be available 

in Abuja. In doing this, they 

created the impression and 

feeling that there are several 

groups in the state and they 

try to align themselves for 

such roles. As far as I am 

concerned, that is primitive 

politics. 

“We have one solid, united 

party and the majority of the 

leaders agreed that as a 

government, we have done 

well. The people are happy 

with the government and the 

party is happy with us as 

well.” 

Ramadan: Dangote Foundation donates N200m food 

items to Borno IDPs, others 

By Ndahi 

Marama 

M BORNO 

AIDUGURI— 

State 

Deputy Governor, Usman 

Durkwa, yesterday, 

commended the Chairman 

of Aliko Dangote 

Foundation, Alhaji Aliko 

Dangote and Mrs. Zoiera 

Youssoufou, Managing 

Director of Aliko Dangote 

Foundation for donating 

food items worth N200 

million for distribution to 

thousands of people, 

especially Internally 

Displaced Persons, IDPs, 

during this year’s 

Ramadan. 

The deputy governor 

made the commendation 

during the official flag-off 

of distribution of the items 

in Konduga and Bama 

Local Government Areas of 

the state. 

Durkwa who represented 

Governor Kashim Shettima 

during the exercise said: 

“The government and 

people of the state are very 

grateful for witnessing 

another flag-off ceremony 

of Dangote Foundation 

2019 Ramadan Kareem 

distribution to the IDPs and 

host communities in Borno 

State. 

“Dangote Foundation is a 

strategic partner in various 

aspects of our livelihood, 

particularly our IDPs 

welfare since the 

insurgency. This track 

record in areas of 

distribution is ensuring and 

providing the most needed 

support for the IDPs and 

returnees in the state is 

commendable. 

“ Today’s occasion and 

distribution of food items by 

Dangote Foundation is an 

annual event which has 

significantly reduced acute 

food shortage in Borno state 

and we are so grateful to 

the Foundation in this 

regard. 

I, therefore, urge all 

beneficiaries to make good 

use of this opportunity and 

pray fervently for the return 

of total peace in the state 

and Nigeria in general.’’ 

INVESTMENT: Chief Operating Officer, Nova Scotia Business 

Incorporated, Peter Askill; Nigeria High Commissioner to Canada, 

Adeyinka Asekun; Chair, Halifax Chambers of Commerce, Cynthia 

Dorrington, and Kenneth Oguzie, Director, Africa Canada Trade 

and Investment Venture, during investment meeting in Halifax, Nova 

Scotia, Canada. 

A-Ibom releases funds for projects’ completion 

By Harris 

Emmanuel 

UYO—AKWA Ibom 

State Commissioner 

for Works, Akparawa 

Ephraim Inyangeyen, 

yesterday, announced that 

the state government had 

released enough funds to 

ensure projects completion 

across the state. 

He disclosed this while 

inspecting progress of work 

at Eket remodelling project 

within the Liverpool area at 

Atabong Junction. He also 

supervised demolition 

exercise of some structures 

that were on the right of 

way and whose 

compensations had been 

fully paid. 

According to the Works 

Commissioner, Governor 

FAAC shares N616.198bn to federal, states, 

LGs 

By Emma Ujah, 

Abuja Bureau Chief 

THE 

Federation 

Accounts Allocation 

Committee, FAAC, has 

shared a total of N616.198 

billion to the three tiers of 

government from the 

federation revenue earned 

in April. 

A communique issued by 

FAAC at the end of its 

meeting in Abuja, 

yesterday, indicated that the 

N616.198 billion comprised 

revenue from Value Added 

Tax, VAT; exchange gain 

and gross statutory revenue. 

The gross statutory 

revenue for the month was 

N518.916 billion, which was 

higher than the N446.647 

billion received in the 

previous month by N72.269 

billion. 

Revenue from VAT was 

N96.485 billion as against 

N92.181 billion distributed 

in the previous month, 

resulting in an increase of 

N4.304 billion. Exchange 

Gain yielded a total revenue 

of N0.797 billion. 

The committee announced 

that as at May 20, 

2019, the balance in the 

Excess Crude Account was 

$144 million. 

Of the N616.198 billion 

shared, the Federal 

Government received 

N253.918 billion, the states 

received N168.056 billion, 

and the local governments 

received N126.278 billion. 

The oil producing states 

received N46.353 billion as 

13 per cent derivation 

revenue and Revenue 

Generating Agencies 

received N21.593 billion as 

cost of revenue collection. 

Udom Emmanuel had 

given directives that all jobs 

should be completed, 

adding it was expedient to 

work and put extraordinary 

efforts towards the 

completion of phase 1 of 

Eket remodeling project. 

“We are going to get Eket 

project completed. Eket 

people need the project, the 

state governor needs the 

project, so we are doing 

everything to ensure that 

the Eket remodeling phase 

1 is completed,” he said. 

Meanwhile, the 

commissioner’s team 

visited the 14km Odoro- 

Ikpe-Ìkpe Ikot Nkon- 

Obotme-Arochukwu road 

in Ini Local Government 

Area of the state, to also 

access the level of work 

done on the bridge. 

He expressed 

disappointment for not 

being able to drive through 

the bridge. However, 

Managing Director of 

Peculiar Construction Firm, 

which is handling the job, 

promised that the bridge 

would be ready for use 

soonest. 

Zamfara commissioner 

resigns over political 

differences 

By Nasir Gusau 

THE Commissioner 

for Higher Education 

in Zamfara State, 

Professor Kabir Jabaka, 

has resigned his 

appointment after being 

accused of paying 

allegiance to a political 

pressure group, 

popularly known as G-8. 

The professor disclosed 

this to newsmen in 

Gusau, after tendering 

his resignation letter to 

Burial 

Burial rites for late Mr. 

Anthony Onyenuwe, 

(a.k.a, Baba Aluwe), 49, 

will begin with a wake 

keep on May 24, 2019 

while burial and 

interment take place 

next day. 

Late Mr. Anthony 

Onyenuwe is survived 

by wife, children, brother 

and sisters. He was a 

member of Ajegunle- 

Apapa All Star Fooball 

Club. 

the authorities. 

He stated that his action 

was informed by some 

accusations against him by 

top politicians within the 

government circle. 

Jabaka also explained 

that he was stopped from 

receiving his salary for the 

past five months. 

He thanked the governor 

for giving him the 

opportunity to serve in 

government but lamented 

that some groups within the 

government were the 

administration’s problems. 

NIMASA donates relief 

materials to flood victims 

in Delta 


AM SABA—NIGERIA 

a r i t i m e 

Administration and Safety 

Agency, NIMASA, has 

donated relief materials 

worth millions of naira to 

the Delta State 

government for onward 

donation to flood victims 


The items, which were 

loaded in two mega 

trucks, include 

mattresses, sewing 

machines, bags of rice, 

blankets, chairs, cooking 

gas cylinders among 

others. 

The items were donated 

through the State 

E m e r g e n c y 

Management Agency, 

SEMA, via the State 

Bureau for Special Duties. 

The agency also 

donated generator sets, 

laptops and printers to 

National Identity 

Management 

Commission, NIMC, 

offices in Patani and 

Oshimili South Local 

Government Areas of the 

state that were ravaged 

by flood. 

Presenting the items, 

Director-General of 

NIMASA, Dr. Peterside 

Dakuku, said the 

programme spanned 

across 20 flood affected 

states, including, Kano, 

Katsina, Yobe, Rivers, 

Ondo, Anambra, Edo, 

Niger, Bayelsa, Plateau, 

Lagos, Kogi, Benue, 

Taraba, Sokoto, Osun, 

Ogun, Cross River and 

Delta. 

Dakuku, who was 

represented by NIMASA 

Head, Corporate 

Communication, Mr. 

Isichei Osamgbi, said 

though agency core 

mandates were principally 

to regulate and promote 

shipping as well as other 

associated maritime 

ventures in Nigeria, the 

agency decided to identify 

with victims of natural and 

other disasters with the aim 

of giving them a sense of 

belonging. 

Receiving the items, 

Commissioner, Bureau for 

Special Duties, Mr. Ernest 

Ogwezzy, Director SEMA, 

Mr. Karo Ovemeso, and 

Coordinator, NIMC Delta 

State, Henrietta Okolo, in 

their remarks promised to 

ensure judicious 

distribution of the items to 

the victims and 

commended the agency for 

their efforts towards 

alleviating the sufferings of 

flood victims in the state. 

Transition 

Chief Francis Nwaogu is 

dead. He died at the 

University College 

Hospital, UCH, Ibadan at 

the age of 81 years. 

He has since been buried 

at the family compound in 

Umuako village, Nsirimo, 

Umuahia South Local 

Government Area, Abia 

State. 

He is survived by his 

widow, Mrs.Grace 

Nwaogu, chidren, among 

other relations.


WITH CHARLES KUMOLU 

midweekpersonality@gmail.com 

08052140865 (sms only) 

SIJIBOMI OGUNDELE: 

How I found 

wealth just by 

reading books 

THIS man knew he was more than good enough to 

conquer even as someone born into grinding poverty 

in a Lagos suburb. 

With such a mindset of depending on nobody but 

himself, Sijibomi Ogundele, Managing Director, 

Sujimoto Construction, converted his fantasies into 

driving forces and eventually became a billionaire at 

a very young age. He was adjudged a brave 

entrepreneur by Forbes Africa. Perhaps, only a few 

would read his story and find it uninspiring. 

Finding wealth 

I found wealth by reading 

books. My first introduction to 

entrepreneurship was when I 

read Think and Grow Rich by 

Napoleon Hill. Ten years in any 

university could never have 

given me what I learned in 10 

days. This changed my life 

forever. I understood two 

things. The first is to look for a 

product. The second one is to 

create a competitive advantage. 

Also, customers should always 

come first. These principles are 

the foundations of my success. 

I ventured into the luxury real 

estate sector at a time 

Nigerians were beginning to 

demand value for their money. 

My vision was to redefine 

luxury living by exceeding all 

expectations. My simple 

philosophy was to create sugar, 

after which ants will come. I 

have been doing real estate 

since 1998 when I lived in the 

South of France as a common 

agent with no license. 

Back then, I brokered a lot of 

deals in project management 

and financing but my first major 

break was in 2011 when I 

bought an apartment in Paris 

and decided to remodel it. My 

friends thought I was crazy 

and ostentatious but after I was 

done renovating, I sold it in less 

than two months to a friend 

from Qatar for double the price. 

This investment flip in such a 

short time re-ignited my 

interest in real estate and 

changed my career path 

forever. 

Banana Island 

Before moving back to 

Nigeria, I visited my aunt who 

bought a house on Banana 

Island. After paying so much 

for the house, I still had to help 

her redesign the kitchen, 

change the doors, tiles and 

other things. It was very 

exerting and frustrating 

considering the fact that one 

would expect a house of that 

magnitude and price to have 

quality accessories and 

interiors. 

When I decided to return to 

Nigeria in 2014, I had the 

vision to liberate the Nigerian 

luxury real estate market and 

bring true value to customers, 

who were not only tired of 

architectural mediocrity but also 

frustrated by value 

depreciation. I ventured into 

the luxury real estate sector at 

a time when Nigerians were 

beginning to demand quality 

and value for their money. They 

had been at the mercy of 

mediocre developers who 

refused to raise the bar in terms 

of quality but demanded 

ridiculous prices, because they 

thought the customer didn’t 

know better. The market was 

littered with substandard 

structures, going for exorbitant 

prices. All I did was to create 

sugar by offering world-class 

service with superb finishing 

of international standard at 

reasonable prices. The game 

changed and today, most of 

the so-called top developers are 

using Sujimoto as a case study. 

Many have copied our designs 

and tried to emulate our 

marketing strategy. 

Fear of poverty 

The fear of poverty brought 

me this far in life. As a builder, 

the foundation for me was very 

crucial because a man’s 

foundation gives him a glimpse 

into his future. Without my 

experiences, while growing up, 

I wouldn’t be where I am today. 

They didn’t only make me 

resilient, they were my pillars. 

I have zero tolerance for failure 

and I believe that a man who 

lives in an apartment in 

Ikorodu today, can own a house 

in Ikoyi tomorrow. Success is 

all about the choices we make 

and our priorities. I am quite 

fortunate to have won the 

ovarian lottery of my mother. 

She is a woman who at the age 

of nine was sent to Cameroon 

as a sales girl. 

Today, against all odds, she 

is among the biggest 

distributors for Nestlé Nigeria 

Plc. She inspired me to become 

who and what I am today. She 

taught me the importance of 

having a great vision and 

working persistently towards 

making it a reality. 

Billionaire at a young age 

While growing up on the 

PERSONALITY ETHICS 

Nobody succeeds 

without challenging 

himself 

If you want to succeed, 

don’t accept failure 

Your condition should 

not determine your 

destination 

streets of Agege, the fear of 

poverty was my greatest 

motivation. Out of the 47 

houses on our street, only two 

people owned a power 

generating set. This taught me 

a great lesson that for wealth 

to be generated, my 

environment and the people I 

surround myself with, needed 

to change. At the tender age of 

9, I started visiting Ikoyi with 

the mindset that someday, I 

would also live there. Today, 

that dream has become a 

reality. I became a billionaire 

at a young age because I 

prepared myself for it. It 

required hard work and a 

strong conviction that I was 

chosen and ordained by God. 

This is the basis of my 

confidence which motivates me 

to dream bigger than my 

environment. 

I speak English, French, 

At the tender age of 

9, I started visiting 

Ikoyi with the 

mindset that 

someday, I would 

also live there. 

Today, that dream 

has become a 

reality. I became a 

billionaire at a 

young age because I 

prepared myself for 

it 

Spanish, Yoruba, and Hausa. 

It will interest you to know 

that I have a working 

knowledge of Japanese and 

Arabic languages. From 

childhood, I developed a 

passion for entrepreneurship. 

That’s been my only passion 

to date. I was first introduced 

to business at a tender age in 

Africa’s largest market, Oke- 

Arin. Out of curiosity, I followed 

my mother to the market where 

I learned every aspect of 

trading. That is why I am not 

surprised I am the Managing 

Director and Chairman of 

Sujimoto. We usually say 

Sujimoto is to architecture what 

Picasso was to art. We are a 

dynamic and innovative luxury 

real estate firm. Our major 

mission is to revolutionize the 

luxury real estate sector. 

Crucial asset 

Without the right mentorship, 

people might miss the road to 

their destinies. That is why we 

have different people from 

different industries, who share 

their stories with young people 

and encourage them to pursue 

their dreams. Youths need to 

know that their location has 

nothing to do with their 

destination. 

The project is for youths for 

now. Nigeria has a tendency of 

discouraging people from 

achieving their potentials with 

their talents. We want our 

brand to empower youths and 

help them achieve their 

potentials. A short message can 

transform a mindset, just the 

way a piece of advice can 

change a life. 

Mentoring assures people 

that there is someone who cares 

about them, assures them that 

they are not alone in dealing 

with day-to-day challenges and 

makes them feel they matter. 

Ultimately, mentoring connects 

an individual to personal 

growth and development, 

social and economic 

opportunities. Sadly, one-inthree 

young people will grow 

up without this crucial asset. 

Anyone aspiring to be great 

should not accept failure. 

When failure happens, people 

should rather be strong and 

learn from it. Nobody 

succeeds without challenging 

himself. I want to encourage 

young people in this country 

to read books because a widely 

read person is an asset any 

day. Being creative should not 

be ignored as well as 

associating with the right 

people. 

Selling all I owned 

I dreamed of developing what 

I can call the biggest project in 

my life; which is the tallest 

residential building in Sub- 

Sahara Africa estimated to cost 

$90 million. I invested all my 

money, time and passion into 

it because believed in it. Sadly, 

our economy crashed and 

things became rough. 

Sometimes, life snatches 

peoples’ dreams away, making 

everything around them 

appear impossible. At that 

point, some people told me that 

real estate is a difficult sector. 

They said it was better I 

abandoned my passion and do 

something else. 

I visited a friend’s water 

factory in Abeokuta and 

thought about venturing into 

the pure-water business. Not 

satisfied with that, I was at 

Ijebu Igbo and visited some 

farms because farming looked 

promising. Confused and 

devastated A friend, whom I 

lent about $2 million defaulted. 

I contemplated selling all I 

owned and move to New York 

City. At that point, I had spoken 

to a successful Nigerian actor, 

who relocated to Atlanta 

because of the recession in the 

country. 

Most inspiring, most difficult 

He assured me that I could 

access credit through a flexible 

banking system. I was 

confused and devastated, but I 

kept the words of Napoléon 

Hills on replay in my head. I 

remembered that my condition 

at the time should not 

determine my destination. 

However, I knew that running 

away wasn’t the definition of 

the Motomatics Philosophy I 

had created.


VOL. 2 NO. 49 

WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2019 

Traders lament as govt demolishes Orie-Emene 

market for Akanu Ibiam airport standardization 


ENUGU- ALL stakeholders 

interested in the uplifting of the 

deplorable state of Akanu Ibiam 

International Airport Enugu 

had for over two years agreed 

on what should be done to 

upgrade the airport to an 

international status and bring 

about traffic of both local and 

international airlines to the 

only International airport in the 

South East Nigeria. 

It was identified among other 

things that the Ori-Emene 

market close to the landing at 

*The demolished Emene abattoir 

the airport together with the 

abattoir would have to be 

relocated. The reasons given 

were that the aircrafts almost 

touch the market on landing; 

that the lights used by traders, 

especially at nights, constituted 

hiccups to pilots on landing 

and that terrorists could use the 

market for attacks since the 

planes almost touched the 

market on landing. 

The abattoir also located close 

to the market was also said to 

attract birds that could attack 

aircrafts and cause engine 

failures to aircrafts and the 

predicated bird strike actually 

took place last week in a flight 

that had on board most 

prominent Igbo personalities. 

The bird strike caused one of 

the engines of the aircraft to fail 

and the flight made a u-turn 

mid way as it could not risk 

flying to Abuja with one engine. 

Other impediments to the 

airport were the lack of 

dependable water supply; bad 

and bumpy runway which the 

Governors of south east had 

described as death traps; lack 

of approach light facility which 

makes it impossible to have 

night flights; inadequate land 

space for expansion; 

*Orie Emene in bee-hive of activities Sunday 

After years of agony by motorists, FG set to 

complete Enugu-Onitsha expressway 

By Vincent Ujumadu 

AWKA- AFTER many years 

of plying the deplorable 

Enugu-Onitsha expressway, 

motorists would soon heave a 

sigh of relief as the federal 

government has shown 

unprecedented seriousness in 

completing the road. At the 

rate the construction work is 

going, the Onitsha-Awka axis 

of the road would be ready for 

use before the end of the year. 

Serious work is currently 

going on along the once 

abandoned Umunya-Awkuzu 

axis of the road and the 

communities through which 

the road passes are in great 

jubilation that their 

businesses would soon pick 

up as vehicles would soon 

start plying the road. 

Although the road had been 

highly politicized in the past, 

with caterpillars seen there 

only when elections drew 

near, the situation has 

changed for the better and the 

people are happy. 

Last week, officials of the 

federal ministry of works, 

power and housing came from 

Abuja to assess the level of 

work done and to get 

assurance from the 

contractors on the likely date 

of its completion. 

Minister of Works, Power 

and Housing, Mr. Babatunde 

Raji Fashola SAN, who would 

have inspected the road 

himself, sent experts in the 

ministry, who expressed 

satisfaction with the level of 

work so far done. 

By the calculation of the 

experts, the entire road would 

be ready for use by 2020. 

Already, four out of the 18 

Part of the Umunya-Awkuzu axis of the Enugu-Onitsha 

Expressway, last week 

obstructing 

radio 

communication mast; none 

functional air-conditioning 

system in the terminal building; 

among other degradations. 

The airport became an 

embarrassment to both users, 

the airport authority and every 

other stakeholder involved. 

The Enugu state government 

accepted to among other 

things, relocate the market with 

the abattoir; relocate the 

communication mast and 

resolve land issues at the 

airport. The state government in 

pursuit of that obligation set up 

a committee to execute the 

kilometers stretch of the road 

had been fully asphalted and 

the contractors are seriously 

working to cover a reasonable 

ground before the rains fully 

set in. 

Director in charge of 

Highway in the Ministry, Mr. 

Yemi Oguntomiyi, who 

represented Fashola during 

the inspection, said he was 

satisfied with the progress and 

quality of work done on the 

road. 

Oguntomiyi recalled that 

during the last visit by the 

Minister on the road, the 

contractor promised that one 

lane of the road would be 

completed to reduce the 

hardships of the people, 

knowing the importance of the 

road, not only to the region, 

but the entire country, adding 

that that promise had been 

kept. 

He assured that other roads 

in the South East were being 

executed at the same speed 

as the Onitsha-Enugu 

Continues on page 29 

project. 

Chairman of the Committee 

and Commissioner for Enugu 

Capital Territory Development 

Authority, Mr. Chidi Aroh had 

told South East Voice that the 

committee was working round 

the clock to implement the 

recommendations, but the 

committee’s pace of work was 

probably not satisfactory to the 

federal government which 

made the minister for Aviation, 

Hadi Sirika threaten 

downgrade of the airport. 

The Enugu state government 

was therefore alarmed and it 

quickly moved in to demolish 

the Orie-Emene market at short 

instance. As at Sunday, this 

week, the abattoir had been 

demolished while a trader at the 

market said the market would 

be demolished on Monday. 

Traders in the market are 

however lamenting that they 

were never given any notice for 

demolition or relocation but the 

Mr. Aroh said that for about 

seven years market was given 

notice of relocation. 

Aroh said “Even the 

traditional Ruler of Emene 

community agreed with us that 

the demolition was in order. The 

government is making efforts to 

relocate the market within 72 

hours. We have not demolished 

the market, we only shut it 

down; we only demolished the 

abattoir which caused bird 

strike on Monday in a flight that 

carried Senator Ken Nnamani 

and other notable Igbo leaders 

that would have caused air 

mishap.” 

Chairman of the Orie-Emene 

Market Traders association, 

Chief Nicolas Ezeme however 

said that he was only informed 

about the intended demolition 

and shut down in the middle of 

night of Friday May 17 2019 by 

the chairman of Enugu East 

local government council, Mr. 

Alex Ugwu. 

“The local government 

chairman came that night and 

told me that he has information 

from the presidency, that Orie- 

Emene should be demolished. 

I asked him why, that this is 

impromptu. So I went to inform 

my people but when came out 

on Saturday morning they had 

started the demolition. I went 

there and I saw the traditional 

ruler, the local government 

chairman, the commissioner for 

capital territory,” Ezeme 

narrated. 

Another trader in the market, 

Nze Ikechechukwu Okofar said 

they just came to the market to 

see demolition exercise going 

on. “I am a stakeholder in this 

market because I have four 

shops. The whole Emene was in 

stampede this morning because 

we just saw two bulldozers 

demolishing structures within 

the market premises and there 

was no notice whatsoever. The 

officers wore vests of Enugu 

Capital Territory Development 

Authority and my reaction is 

that we should have been 

informed and the right thing 

should be down. Inventory 

should be taken and they 

should pay compensation. 

“If this market is demolished, 

a lot of people will suffer a lot of 

hardship and we have been 

paying taxes to the state 

government. If government is 

interested in taking over the 

area, the right thing should be 

done,” he lamented.


Ogun residents 

fault installation 

of 75 coronet 

Obas by Amosun 

SECURITY STAKEHOLDERS SENSITISATION MEETING: From left; Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; Osun State Deputy 

Governor, Mr Benedict Alabi; Governor Adegboyega Oyetola; his wife, Kafayat and Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Adekunle 

Aromolaran, during the Ife/Ijesa zone security stakeholders sensitisation meeting at Ilesa yesterday, Osun State. 

Light Rail: Apapa 

gridlock may 

spill over to Oyo, 

Amaechi warns 

By Adeola Badru 

IBADAN—THE Minister of 

Transport, Rotimi Ameachi, 

yesterday, warned the Oyo State 

Government to be ready to take 

over the stress of traffic congestion 

that characterizes Oshodi/Apapa 

Expressway from the nation’s 

largest seaport immediately the 

Lagos-Ibadan corridor of the light 

rail project is completed. 

Amaechi, who was on an 

inspection of the project in Ibadan, 

noted that most containers and 

commercial goods would be 

transported through the rail 

towards Ibadan and it would ease 

traffic on the Oshodi/Apapa 

expressway. 

He, however, advised that the 

incoming administration of 

governor-elect, Mr. Seyi 

Makinde to develop adjoining 

roads around the Ibadan Inland 

Dry Port to ease traffic around the 

area. 

Also, Amaechi who paid a 

courtesy visit to Governor Abiola 

Ajimobi at his office with the 

Executive Secretary, Nigeria 

Shippers Council, Mr. Hassan 

Bello commended the Governor 

for making the dream of Ibadan 

Inland Dry Port a reality with the 

provision of necessary logistics, 

while he congratulated him for 

completing his two term reign with 

a laudable legacy. 

He said: “You are concluding 

your second term administration 

with a very strong note of 

performance. Not all governors 

finished this way.” 

“Most of your detractors even 

acknowledged the fact that you 

have done so much in 

infrastructural facilities and other 

areas where you have touched 

lives.” 

“History will judge you well. For 

me, I don’t think of what people 

talk about me. I only care about 

how I do what I do. You have 

journeyed well and I congratulate 

you and your family for your 

success. 

“Let me quickly add that the 

Lagos-Ibadan light rail project, on 

completion will ease the Apapa 

expressway gridlock in Lagos 

and my fear is that I don’t 

know if Oyo State government 

is ready for the shift of the 

gridlock to this axis of Ibadan.” 

Ondo students shut down Akure 

over tuition fees 

By Dayo Johnson 

Afrom KURE—STUDENTS 

the Adekunle Ajasin 

University Akungba Akoko, 

AAUA, and Ondo State University 

of Science and Technology, 

OSUSTECH, Okitipupa, 

yesterday, disrupted both 

commercial and vehicular 

movement in Akure and called for 

a reduction in tuition fees by the 

state government. 

For hours, students from the 

state-owned institutions shut 

down Akure, the state capital 

protesting the hike in their school 

fees. 

Management of the two 

institutions had earlier shut the 

schools over students’ protest in 

April. 

The protesting students 

displayed various placards with 

inscriptions like: No Reduction, 

No Resumption, Akeredolu 

Reduce or Resign, Education 

Must Be Free and Say No to 

N250, 000. 

Speaking with newsmen, the 

students’ union president of 

AAUA, Samuel Adesomoju 

vowed that “the protest would 

continue until Governor 

Oluwarotimi Akeredolu reduces 

tuition fees.” 

Adesomoju said: “The current 

fees of N250, 000 which was 

increased last year has not 

brought any infrastructural 

development to institutions in the 

state. 

“We are here this morning to 

make our demand known once 

again. We are telling Governor 

Akeredolu that our school fees 

must be reduced now because we 

will not resume if the fees are not 

reduced. 

“It is our right to have education 

but the governor is gradually 

taking it away from us with his 

policies. 

“If the governor wants to 

generate revenue, he should look 

elsewhere not our schools. 

“We are sending him a clear 

message today that we will not 

leave this road until he reduces 

the fees and he should not think 

about opening the schools 

without reducing tuition. We are 

going to resist it.” 

Also speaking, a former NANS 

JCC chairman, Kowe said: 

“Education is our right and we 

are here fighting for it. We want 

to put it to Governor Akeredolu 

that if he does not reduce fees, 

there will not be resumption, he 

should know that.'' 

Akure monarch commends 

peaceful protest 

Addressing the protesting 

students in his palace, the Deji 

of Akure, Oba Ogunlade 

Aladetoyinbo lauded them for 

their orderliness. 

Oba Aladetoyinbo, who spoke 

through his Chief of Staff, Prince 

Toyin Aladetoyinbo said: 

“Education is their right and must 

be made affordable to everyone 

in the society no matter the 

financial situations in the country. 

Primary, secondary healthcare systems 

have collapsed in states — FG 

•Says Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Ogun, Kebbi, Sokoto, Benue, Zamfara, 

7 others yet to key into Basic Health Provision Fund 

By Henry Umoru 

ABUJA—THE 

federal 

government, yesterday 

told the Senate that both the 

Primary and Secondary Health 

Care have collapsed in states. 

Speaking yesterday in Abuja 

when he appeared before the 

Senate for hours at Plenary, 

Minister of Health, Professor 

Isaac Adewole disclosed that 

secondary healthcare in the 

states had no staff, doctors, 

nurses and even in cases where 

they had, they were not paid, 

adding that when they were 

even paid, they were paid only 

what he described as a fraction 

of what people get in tertiary 

health institutions. 

The minister explained why 

the tertiary institutions are 

overstretched, noting that there 

were states where in a general 

hospital, one finds only one 

doctor and in some others, no 

doctor is found. 

Adewole urged state 

governors to invest in 

secondary healthcare if the 

sector must be improved on. 

However, he disclosed that 

fourteen states were yet to key 

into the Basic Health Provision 

Fund. 

According to the Minister, 

only twenty- two states have so 

far registered for the fund. 

Professor Adewole listed 

Kebbi, Jigawa, Akwa Ibom, 

Cross River, Rivers, Gombe, 

Borno, Zamfara, Benue, Taraba, 

Ogun, Sokoto, Ondo and 

Nasarawa as states yet to 

register for the fund. 

Before the appearance of the 

Minister, the Senators had 

gone into a closed door session 

which lasted for thirty minutes. 

The appearance of the 

Minister was sequel to his 

being summoned last week to 

brief the Senators at plenary on 

the current state of facilities and 

healthcare services in Nigerian 

Teaching Hospitals. 

Resolutions of the Senate to 

summon the Minister was 

sequel to a motion entitled, 

“Alarming report on poor quality 

of services in Nigerian 

Teaching Hospitals” sponsored 

by David Umaru (Niger East). 

Presenting the motion, 

Senator Umaru, lamented 

widespread cases of poor 

electricity supply, obsolete 

medical equipment, decayed 

infrastructure and other factors 

which, made it extremely 

difficult for Nigerian Teaching 

Hospitals to provide tertiary 

healthcare to patients with 

complex ailments such as 

cancer, kidney failure etc. 

Meanwhile, the Senate 

President, Dr. Bukola Saraki 

however, lamented that inspite 

of the huge sums of money for 

teaching hospitals across the 

country, Nigerians die 

everyday. 

Saraki who stressed the need 

for the budgetary releases to be 

looked at in order to fund the 

health sector, said that there was 

the urgent need to improve on 

releases, adding that there must 

be adequate releases. 

By Daud Olatunji 

ABEOKUTA—SCORES of 

aggrieved residents of 

Ogun State have rejected the 

appointment of some of the 75 

coronet Obas enthroned by 

Governor Ibikunle Amosun. 

The protesters, who were drawn 

from Eruwon Kajola in Obafemi- 

Owode local government, 

Olohunda in Abeokuta North and 

Ibese in Yewa-North local 

government area of the state 

among others, vowed to prevent 

the controversial Obas from 

entering their communities. 

Amosun had promoted 75 

village chiefs, otherwise known 

as Baale, to coronet Obas. 

Speaking on behalf of the 

people of Kajola, the Oluwo of 

Eruwon, Chief Adisa Soyoye and 

Balogun of Eruwon, Chief Tade 

Sodipo lamented that the 

appointment of the new Olu of 

Kajola, Chief Akanji Sowonoye 

did not have their input. 

They described the 

appointment of Sowonoye as 

illegal and shocking. 

Also, residents of Olorunda 

Community in Abeokuta North 

Local Government area of the 

state staged a peaceful protest 

seeking the removal of their 

traditional ruler, Oba Segun 

Ogunsola for allegedly not 

belonging to the community. 

TNL, SINOPEC, 

others host Seyi 

Makinde 

I 

B A D A N — 

STAKEHOLDERS in 

Nigeria oil and gas industry 

hosted the Oyo-Governor-elect, 

Mr. Seyi Makinde over his victory 

in March 9 governorship election. 

The event organised by the 

Chief Executive Officer, TNL 

Drilling, Engr. Dotun Sanusi was 

held at Ilaji Hotels and Sports 

Resort in Ibadan. 

In his opening remark, Engr. 

Sanusi attributed Makinde's 

victory in the last election to his 

resilience, doggedness and 

never-say-die attitude which he 

said is the hallmark of an average 

oil and gas person. 

He said Makinde will afford his 

colleagues in the oil and gas 

business the opportunity of 

managing the finances gotten 

from the exploration of crude oil. 

“It is no doubt that our country’s 

economic mainstay is crude oil 

“the liquid gold” that we in the 

oil and gas business toil day and 

night to bring out from where 

nature hides it." 

In his response, Makinde 

reiterated his commitment to 

improve on what he met on 

ground but added that his desires 

is to work differently so as to ''get 

different results that is different 

from what the citizenry are used 

to. I can assure you that I will not 

disappoint you. This is why we 

shall not hesitate to listen to ideas 

that will drive the state 

forward. I can’t afford to 

disappoint you because I 

emerged from you and I know 

that at the completion of this 

assignment I will go back to you.”



Awoism and the unending search for transformational 

leadership in Nigeria: Challenges (5) 

PATHWAYS 

to 

transformational 

leadership in Nigeria 

Several years after the titanic 

strides of Chief Awolowo, the 

search for transformational 

leadership in Nigeria remains 

ongoing. In this final part of 

my address, I will propose how 

true national leaders in the 

mould of Chief Awolowo can 

emerge and how Nigeria, a 

country of many nations can 

metamorphose into a nation 

properly so called and how we 

can move closer to the ideals 

of Awoism. 

Full restructuring: A 

necessity for the emergence 

of nation Nigeria 

The founding fathers agreed 

on a true federalism in 

Lancaster House in London 

between 1950 and 1960 having 

taken into consideration the 

differences in culture, religion, 

philosophy of life, attitude to 

work, languages and so on. 

One who believes that his 

father is a fool would sooner 

than later regret his own 

foolishness. 

There is urgent need for total 

devolution of powers to enable 

each state or geo-political zone 

to effectively administer its 

resources and social political 

needs. The Federal 

Government should only be 

concerned with management of 

common political affairs like 

currency, foreign affairs, etc. 

Inordinate 

ambition 

There will be less crisis and 

quarrel or inordinate ambition 

to become president, minister 

or legislator. As a matter of fact, 

the late Sardauna found 

regional premiership more 

prestigious than being the 

Federal Prime Minister. 

Qualification and 

remuneration for political 

officer holders 

Political offices in this country 

have been made too attractive, 

each state spends a huge 

percentage of government 

revenue on salaries and 

allowances. Yet there are 36 

Houses of Assembly, two 

national Legislative Houses, 

array of commissioners and 

ministers. 

In addition, they maintain a 

large number of aides and 

assistants at public expense. 

There are also large number of 

senior special assistants, 

private secretaries. There is 

also the First Lady and an array 

of assistants. At the local 

government level, we have the 

Awolowo 

chairmen and large number of 

officers. Politics in Nigeria 

today is viewed primarily as a 

business and not as a means 

of service to the nation. In the 

First Republic masterminded 

by Chief Awolowo, members of 

House of Assembly did not 

earn salaries but sitting 

allowances. More importantly, 

legislative business was parttime. 

Furthermore, there has to be 

a change to the qualifications 

for seeking political office. 

Rather than have a minimum 

educational qualification of 

Senior Secondary School or 

WAEC, it should be a first 

degree with a minimum of 

secondary class lower. Such 

person must also be selfemployed 

or have viable means 

of self-sustenance prior to 

seeking political office. They 

must also have held positions 

of responsibilities. The 

position of local government 

councillors should be reserved 

for retired and much 

experienced people like 

teachers, professors, other 

professionals and clergymen 

also on part-time, with 

payment of sitting allowances 

only. 

Agriculture 

As stated earlier, Agriculture 

was the mainstay of economy 

of this country in the First 

Republic. The fact remains that 

Agriculture is the major 

employer of labour all over the 

world. However, in Nigeria, 

agriculture is virtually 

abandoned. In court of law, 

particularly in election petition 

cases when witnesses are 

asked what is their occupation, 

the answer invariably is 

“politics”. Our government 

has been paying lip service to 

agriculture by urging people 

to go back to farm. I do not 

know a father who will tell his 

son who has just graduated to 

return to the farm and use 

cutlass and hoe. Agriculture is 

an attractive business, if we 

adopt mechanised farming as 

is done in other countries. I 

am confident that our youths 

can go back to the farms if the 

government can make 

available 

agricultural 

equipments 

to all local 

governments 

which can be 

hired by 

youths. All 

they need to 

do is pledge 

t h e i r 

farmland as 

security. 

If soft 

loans at the 

rate of 2-3 

percent is 

m a d e 

available to 

youths, most 

of the young 

graduates 

will certainly 

want to go 

back to 

farming. 

Generally, 

to revive the 

lost glory of 

agriculture 

in Nigeria, I 

suggest that; 

(a) Agric 

science must 

be taught in 

elementary 

a n d 

secondary 

schools as a 

compulsory 

subject 

(b) All 

universities 

m u s t 

encourage 

students to 

s t u d y 

agriculture by reducing school 

fees such as exemplified by my 

university ABUAD where 

tuition is reduced to 50%. In 

addition, the government 

should emulate how ABUAD 

empowers graduates in 

agriculture with N250,000 as 

initial startup on their farms. 

Finally, each family 

throughout this country should 

All universities 

must encourage 

students to 

study 

agriculture by 

reducing school 

fees 

be encouraged to come 

together and merge their small 

holdings for purpose of large 

scale farming. 

Education 

I have addressed the issue 

of poor funding in education 

over the years. I will 

recommend once more that 

this country must comply and 

implement UNESCO 

recommendation and budget 

26 per cent for the 

maintenance of education 

annually. The fact must be told 

that our universities simply do 

not have the financial 

wherewithal to compete with 

other universities around the 

world. Most advanced 

countries appreciate that 

government alone having 

regard to its responsibilities on 

infrastructure cannot provide 

quality education that will 

accommodate all applicants 

seeking admission into the 

university. That is why in 

addition to providing robust 

financial support for public 

universities, special financing 

is set aside to support the 

establishment of private 

universities that can bridge the 

gap of insufficient space for 

interested and qualified 

university candidates. 

Government must encourage 

and appreciate individuals 

who have the means and 

interest in education. This is 

why, on this occasion, I once 

more thank Awolowo 

Foundation for appreciating 

what I am doing in education. 

Again, government should 

set up more scholarships and 

avenue for students to obtain 

loans to finance their 

education. 

In this respect, I wish appeal 

to the government to bring 

back the Education Bank 

established by virtue of the 

Nigerian Education Bank Act. 

Cap N104, Laws of the 

Federation of Nigeria 2010. 

This bank was empowered by 

law to approve and disburse 

loans to students to finance 

their education in institutions 

of higher learning. Regrettably 

that bank has folded up. 

To be concluded.

vanguardnews 

@vanguardnews 


@vanguardnews 

NEWS HOTLINES 

018773962, 

08052867058 

VISIT—Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (right) with the Majority 

Leader of the House of Representatives and candidate for the post of Speaker, 

Femi Gbajabiamila (middle) and the Director-General of his Campaign 

Council, Abdul Mumin Jibril, when Gbajabiamila led over 103 members of 

the 9th House of Representatives, to pay a visit to the governor at the 

Government House, Enugu, to solicit his support, yesterday. 



Continues from Page 5 

to alienate a large number 

of Nigerians, who are 

offended by his tactless 

and distasteful 

postulation. 

If Obasanjo has 

grouse with 

Fulani, let him 

say so 

— MURIC 

In like manner, 

Executive Director of 

MURIC, Prof. Ishaq 

Akintola, said in a chat 

with Vanguard that 

Obasanjo’s attribution of 

acts of terror by these 

violent groups to some 

sort of West Africa 

Fulanisation and Africa 

Islamisation Agenda bore 

signs of mounting senility 

on his part. 

He said: “The ex- 

President is simply licking 

his own spittle. Would he 

have made that speech 

when he was President? 

When we started Sharia in 

1999, Obasanjo was not 

outrightly antagonistic. 

He knows better because 

he knows the truth. 

“Is it senility? Is the ex- 

President going senile? 

Otherwise, I don’t see 

how he will be promoting 

lawlessness, dividing the 

country, and playing the 

religious card. What has 

ethnicity got to do with 

the insecurity in the 

country? 

“If he has something 

against the Fulani, let 

him come out and say so. 

A statesman should not 

attack any ethnic group. 

“It’s a pity that those 

who are supposed to 

know better are behaving 

like kindergartens. It’s so 

unfortunate. I am grossly 

disappointed in former 

President Obasanjo. He 

used to be more 

matured. This is not the 

Obasanjo we used to 

know, he should go and 

read his own books.” 

CAN, 

Onaiyekan, 

Martins back 


However, CAN 

disagreed with the 

Federal Government’s 

position on ‘’the patriotic 

statement’’ credited to 

Obasanjo, saying when 

an elder statesman 

makes such sensitive 

statement about Nigeria, 

it shouldn’t be waved 

aside. 

CAN Director of Legal 

Services and Public 

Affairs, Mr. Samuel 

Naira stable at N359.5/$ in 

I&E window 

By Elizabeth Adegbesan 

THE Naira, yesterday, was stable at N359.5 per 

dollar in the parallel market. 

However, the Naira appreciated by 30 kobo in the 

Investors and Exporters (I&E) window due to a 65 

percent rise in the volume of dollars traded. 

Data from FMDQ showed that the indicative 

exchange rate for the I&E window dropped to 

N360.42 per dollar yesterday from N360.72 per 

dollar on Monday, translating to 35 kobo 

appreciation for the Naira. 

The volume of dollars (turnover) traded on the 

window yesterday rose by 65 percent to $ 

138.41million from $ 84.08 million traded on 

Monday. 

Kwamkur, in a telephone 

chat, yesterday, argued 

that Chief Obasanjo who 

has fought to keep 

Nigeria’s unity cannot be 

making wild statements 

without considering the 

wide implication of the 

nation’s security. 

His words: “I think the 

statement by Obasanjo is 

a wake-up call on all 

Nigerians that demands 

serious reflection and a 

rethink with a view to 

finding lasting solution to 

the growing security 

challenges spreading 

across the nation. We have 

a serious challenge in this 

nation. 

“What I think the 

Federal Government 

should do is call the likes 

of Chief Obasanjo to a 

round table meeting and 

critically look at the 

security issues and fashion 

a way forward. The trouble 

with Nigeria is that we do 

not look at our challenges 

beyond political 

considerations. I believe 

that when an elder 

statesman like Obasanjo 

who loves this country, 

makes such a statement 

like that, it calls for serious 

rethinking. 

“I have read quite a lot 

of comments by several 

persons on the issue and I 

think we should not just 

wave it just like that. We 

need to give it a serious 

consideration and deep 

thought and find amicable 

solution to a collective 

challenge. 

“On the side of 

Obasanjo, you have been 

a leader who should not 

have made such a 

statement like that since 

you can bring such things 

before the current leaders. 

The statement should have 

been directed to 

Government to clearly 

define a way out of the 

problem.” 

According to him, that 

Chief Obasanjo went 

public with such a serious 

matter is not the matter 

now. 

‘’He may have done his 

homework and was not 

able to reach the powers 

that be. He is at liberty to 

address any issue he 

feels concerned about. 

There is nothing wrong in 

going public if he felt that 

something is going to 

affect the country 

adversely. 

“I do not blame him for 

going public. I think the 

government should liaise 

with eminent past leaders 

like Gen. TY Danjuma 

and look at the issues 

dispassionately without 

recourse to religion, 

ethnicity and whatever 

considerations for the 

betterment of the 

country,” he said. 

Onaiyekan, 

Martins concur 

The Catholic 

Archbishop of Abuja, John 

Cardinal Onaiyekan and 

Archbishop of the 

Metropolitan See of 

Lagos, Most Rev Alfred 

Adewale Martins, agreed 

with Obasanjo. 

The duo spoke, 

yesterday, during the 5th 

anniversary of Africa’s 1st 

Satellite Catholic 

television and 

presentation of maiden 

annual lecture held at 

Catholic TV House, 

Osapa, Lekki, Lagos. 

Tasking the federal 

government on an 

immediate and more 

aggressive approach to 

deal with the current 

challenge of insecurity 

and criminal activities 

across the country, 

Archbishop Onaiyekan 

said Nigerians were 

practically at the mercy of 

criminals in the country. 

He added that 

Nigerians cannot 

continue to pretend that 

all is well with the security 

situation in the country. 

He said: “We cannot 

pretend that everything is 

fine; you move round with 

fear in your heart. Apart 

from the Boko Haram 

senseless insurgency, 

which has been around 

for the past 10 years, we 

have other terrorist 

activities in the country. 

Initially, we did not see 

the herdsmen as terrorist, 

now we know. 

“I also agree with 

General Obasanjo’s 

statement on the security 

issue in the country 

although I have not read 

the full statement but what 

is sure is that we know 

that Boko Haram are with 

guns Islamizing by force. 

All the girls that they 

kidnapped, they put hijab 

on them and displayed 

them all to the whole 

world that they have all 

become Muslims. 

“This is clearly a case 

that the group called Boko 

Haram believes that they 

have every right or the 

duty to spread Islam by 

force. 

“Nigerians are 

practically at the mercy of 

these criminals and when 

you have a government, 

and such things are 

happening, I begin to ask 

myself if we have a 

government because we 

have to speak the truth to 

ourselves. 

“Before the modern 

government, we know 

that in our traditional 

culture, every able bodied 

man went around with his 

cutlass, bows and arrows 

to defend himself. Now, 

we have disarmed 

ourselves so that the 

security agencies can 

protect us and if they 

cannot protect us and the 

only people that carry 

weapons around are 

criminals, we can see that 

this doesn’t work. It is 

only the rich people and 

those in government that 

surround themselves with 

security.” 

Also Archbishop 

Martins in his homily, 

said he was amazed that 

those in authorities 

disputed former President 

Obasanjo’s statement, 

adding that instead of 

trading blames and 

insults, all hands must be 

on deck to address the 

nation’s security 

challenge. 

FG naïve to 

accuse Obasanjo 

of dividing the 

country 

– Adebanjo 

For Chief Ayo Adebanjo, 

the former President reechoed 

what he and some 

leaders of the country 

have been saying for a 

while now, adding that 

the Federal Government 

must be naïve to accuse 

Obasanjo of dividing the 

country with his 

comments. 

‘’There is nothing new 

in what Obasanjo said. 

We have been saying it 

for a long time. President 

Buhari cannot say that he 

does not know that Boko 

Haram insurgents are 

terrorists. Obasanjo is in 

order. He has hit the nail 

on the head. He said it at 

the right time. Those who 

have ears let them hear,’’ 

he said. 

There is danger 

in the land 

– Nyiam 

Also speaking, Col 

Nyiam said: ‘’There is 

observable high level of 

mutual distrust between 

the original land owners 

of Nigeria and the settlers 

in their midst. There is 

emerging alliance of the 

South-West, South-East, 

South-South, North- 

Central or Middle Belt 

and the Hausa people on 

one side, versus the 

armed Fulani herdsmen 

invaders. 

‘’Former President 

Obasanjo’s crying out 

against what he sees as 

the on-going Islamisation 

and Fulanisation of 

Nigeria in particular and 

West Africa as a whole. 

‘’The fact that almost all 

the critics of the former 

President’s remarks are 

almost all Fulani, have all 

collectively seen to the 

widening of the gap 

through which Nigeria’s 

enemy within and their 

external bosses would 

penetrate our fold and kill 

more thousands of 

innocent Nigerians. 

‘’Our continuing to be 

afraid of each other is 

what our enemies desire 

and are exploiting to their 

warfare advantage. There 

is now an opportunity for 

a strategic resolution of 

the recurring Nigerian 

security problems. 

‘’The rare occasion is 

now made available by the 

unprecedented national 

insecurity development. 

And this is by virtue of the 

irony that the terrorist 

chickens have come home 

to roost among those who 

believe they are born to 

rule others against their 

wishes and in the sacred 

cows region of the North- 

West of Nigeria. 

‘’The Niger and Chad 

foot soldiers who the far 

North’s political elite use 

to either inflate the 

population of North-West 

region during national 

headcount or to rig 

presidential election in 

Nigeria are now forcefully 

demanding pay back for 

the services they’ve 

rendered to the parasitic 

Fulani elite. 

‘’Don’t mind the far 

North leaders pretexts, 

they are facing the 

greatest danger to their 

lives from the 

talakawas(the poor) they 

have been exploiting for 

long.’’ 

It’s dangerous to 

ignore 

Obasanjo’s 

observation 

– Shonibare 

To Shonibare, the former 

President is an African 

statesman with several 

local and international 

connections and ‘’any 

government which elects 

to ignore his observations 

about the state of insecurity 

in the polity does so at its 

own peril because 

‘’Afenifere, Ohanaeze, 

Middlebelt Forum and 

even belatedly Arewa 

Consultative Forum have 

all expressed great 

apprehension about the 

state of insecurity. 

“It is in the best interest 

of the Executive to 

appreciate that all these 

organizations constitute the 

pulse and genuine 

expressions of the thoughts 

of the people of this country. 

The President himself had 

alluded to non- Nigerians 

being culpable for many of 

the state of insurgency. 

“He has once held sway 

in our country first as 

military Head of State and 

subsequently as civilian 

President. I would imagine 

that a leader who has held 

such positions, cannot and 

must not be frivolous in his 

contributions and must 

Continues on Page 43

42— VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2019 

Iran's Rouhani rejects talks with Washington 

IRANIAN President 

Hassan Rouhani rejected 

talks with the United 

States on Tuesday, after 

President Donald Trump 

said Iran would call and 

ask for negotiations “if and 

when they are ever ready”. 

Tehran and Washington 

have escalated rhetoric 

against each other in recent 

weeks as the United States 

has tightened sanctions 

with what it says is the goal 

of pushing Iran to make 

concessions beyond the 

terms of its 2015 nuclear 

deal. 

Trump withdrew the United 

States a year ago from 

the deal between Iran and 

global powers, under 

which Tehran curbed its 

uranium enrichment capacity, 

a potential pathway 

to a nuclear bomb, and won 

sanctions relief in return. 

Trump restored U.S. sanctions 

on Iran last year and 

extended them this month, 

ordering all countries to 

halt imports of Iranian oil 

or face sanctions of their 

own. Iran has repeatedly 

rejected any further negotiations 

as long as the United 

States remains outside 

the nuclear pact. 

“Today’s situation is not 

suitable for talks and our 

choice is resistance only,” 

state news agency IRNA 

quoted Rouhani as saying. 

Trump said on Monday 

that Iran would be met with 

“great force” if it attempted 

anything against U.S. 

interests in the Middle 

East. He said reports Washington 

was trying to set up 

North Korea warns U.S. over seized ship 

NORTH 

Korea 

stepped up its 

campaign on Tuesday 

for the United States to 

return a seized cargo 

ship belonging to Pyongyang, 

warning 

Washington that it had 

violated its sovereignty 

in a move that could affect 

“future developments” 

between the 

countries. 

North Korea’s U.N. 

Ambassador Kim Song 

held a rare news conference 

at the United Nations 

in New York to 

demand the immediate 

return of the ship, which 

the United States said 

earlier this month it had 

seized over accusations 

it was used for coal 

shipments in violation 

of U.S. and U.N. sanctions. 

“The United States 

should deliberate and 

think over the consequences 

its outrageous 

act might have on the 

future developments. 

Also the United States 

must return our cargo 

ship without delay,” 

Kim said. “We regard it 

as part of our territory 

where our sovereignty 

is fully exercised.” 

He said the seizure of 

the ship, known as the 

“Wise Honest,” defied 

the spirit of a statement 

by U.S. President 

Donald Trump and 

North Korean leader 

Kim Jong Un after their 

first meeting in Singapore 

in June 2018. 

They pledged to build 

new ties between their 

countries and work towards 

North Korea’s 

denuclearisation. 

The U.S. Justice Department 

earlier this 

month said the ship was 

seized and impounded 

to American Samoa. The 

vessel was first detained 

by Indonesia in April 

2018. 

A second meeting between 

Trump and Kim 

Jong Un in Hanoi 

broke down in February. 

With talks on denuclearisation 

stalled, North 

Korea went ahead with 

more weapons tests this 

month. The tests were 

seen as a protest by 

Kim Jong Un after 

Trump rejected his calls 

for sanctions relief at 

the Hanoi summit. 

The U.N. Security 

Council has unanimously 

strengthened 

talks were false, but “Iran 

will call us if and when they 

are ever ready”. 

Critics have accused 

Trump of sending mixed 

signals. Last week three 

U.S. officials told Reuters 

that Trump had told his top 

advisers he does not want 

war with Iran. 

Iran has portrayed the hot 

and cold rhetoric as evidence 

Trump is being goaded 

into war against his better 

judgement by hardline 

aides such as National Security 

Adviser John Bolton. 

sanctions on North Korea 

since 2006 in a bid 

to choke funding for 

Pyongyang’s nuclear 

and ballistic missile 

programs, banning exports 

including coal, 

iron, lead, textiles and 

seafood, and capping 

imports of crude oil and 

refined petroleum 

products. 

“We will carefully 

watch every move of the 

United States,” said 

Kim. 

French woman sues Boeing seeking at least 

$276m over Ethiopian crash 

A 

FRENCH 

woman whose 

husband was killed in 

the March crash of a 

Boeing 737 MAX airliner 

in Ethiopia has 

filed a U.S. lawsuit 

against the planemaker 

seeking at least 

$276 million in damages, 

her lawyer said on 

Tuesday. 

The crash of Ethiopian 

Airlines flight 302 

near the capital Addis 

Ababa killed all 157 

passengers and crew 

aboard. 

The complaint alleges 

Boeing failed to inform 

pilots properly 

about the risks posed 

by software meant to 

prevent the 737 MAX 

from stalling which repeatedly 

lowered the 

plane’s nose due to a 

faulty sensor data, according 

to U.S. attorney 

Nomaan Husain. 

“Once again corporate 

greed has placed 

profits over safety with 

tragic consequences 

for the public,” Husain 

said in a written statement. 

“We have 

learned that Boeing relied 

on a single sensor 

that had been previously 

flagged in over 

200 incident reports 

submitted to the FAA 

(U.S. Federal Aviation 

Administration).” 

Husain told a Paris 

news conference he 

was seeking a mini- 

mum of $276 million in 

damages for client 

Nadege Dubois-Seex. 

Risk of nuclear war now 

highest since WW2, UN 

arms research chief says 

THE risk of nuclear weapons being used is at its 

highest since World War Two, a senior U.N. security 

expert said on Tuesday, calling it an “urgent” 

issue that the world should take more seriously. 

Renata Dwan, director of the U.N. Institute for 

Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), said all states 

with nuclear weapons have nuclear modernisation 

programmes underway and the arms control landscape 

is changing, partly due to strategic competition 

between China and the United States. 

Traditional arms control arrangements are also 

being eroded by the emergence of new types of war, 

with increasing prevalence of armed groups and 

private sector forces and new technologies that 

blurred the line between offence and defence, she 

told reporters in Geneva. 

With disarmament talks stalemated for the past 

two decades, 122 countries have signed a treaty to 

ban nuclear weapons, partly out of frustration and 

partly out of a recognition of the risks, she said. 

“I think that it’s genuinely a call to recognise – 

and this has been somewhat missing in the media 

coverage of the issues – that the risks of nuclear 

war are particularly high now, and the risks of the 

use of nuclear weapons, for some of the factors I 

pointed out, are higher now than at any time since 

World War Two.” 

The nuclear ban treaty, officially called the Treaty 

for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, was backed 

by the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear 

Weapons (ICAN), which won the Nobel Peace Prize 

in 2017. 

The treaty has so far gathered 23 of the 50 ratifications 

that it needs to come into force, including 

South Africa, Austria, Thailand, Vietnam and Mexico. 

It is strongly opposed by the United States, 

Russia, and other states with nuclear arms. 

Cuba also ratified the treaty in 2018, 56 years after 

the Cuban missile crisis, a 13-day Cold War faceoff 

between Moscow and Washington that marked 

the closest the world had ever come to nuclear war. 

Dwan said the world should not ignore the danger 

of nuclear weapons. 

“How we think about that, and how we act on that 

risk and the management of that risk, seems to me 

a pretty significant and urgent question that isn’t 

reflected fully in the (U.N.) Security Council,” she 

said. 

Macron invites Buhari to 

Africa-France summit 

President Emmanuel Macron of France has in 

vited President Muhammadu Buhari to the 

Africa-France summit scheduled for Bordeaux, 

France, in June 2020. 

Stephanie Rivoal, secretary general of the summit, 

disclosed this when she visited Geoffrey Onyeama, 

minister of foreign affairs, in Abuja on Tuesday. 

She said the summit themed “sustainable cities” is 

aimed at helping African countries seek ways of resolving 

challenges within the region. 

She said the presence of Buhari will be well appreciated, 

considering the position of Nigeria on the 

African continent. 

Rivoal added that the summit will involve African 

leaders, as well as other experts and city developers 

who will look into occurrences in different African 

states and derive solutions for the problems identified. 

Global sea levels could rise far more than 

predicted — Study 

GLOBAL sea levels 

could rise by two 

metres and displace tens 

of millions of people by the 

end of the century if greenhouse 

emissions remain 

unchecked, according to a 

new study. 

The authors of the report, 

released on Monday 

in the Proceedings of 

the National Academy of 

Sciences journal, said this 

outcome is the worst-case 

scenario, in which global 

temperatures would warm 

more than five degrees 

Celsius by 2100. 

The new projections, 

which double benchmark 

estimates by the United 

Nations, suggest the melting 

of the vast ice sheets of 

Greenland and Antarctica 

will contribute to accelerating 

the rise of seas levels, 

adding that they contain 

enough frozen water 

to lift the world’s oceans 

dozens of metres. 

The UN’s Intergovernmental 

Panel on Climate 

Change (IPCC) said its 

2013 Fifth Assessment Report 

suggested that in a 

“business-as-usual” scenario, 

sea levels would 

likely to rise by up to one 

metre by 2100. 

That prediction has 

since been viewed as conservative, 

as the levels of 

planet-warming greenhouse 

gas emissions continue 

to rise year on year, 

and satellites show accelerated 

rates of melt-off 

from massive ice sheets 

atop Antarctica and 

Greenland. 

In October, the IPCC 

released a landmark climate 

report that called for 

a drastic and immediate 

reduction in coal, oil and 

gas consumption in order 

to arrest the rapid rise in 

the levels of greenhouse 

gases in the atmosphere. 

That report, however, did 

not include revised estimates 

of sea-level rise.


vicahiyoung@yahoo.com 

have some information on 

which he is basing his 

observations. 

‘’Any government 

which elects to ignore his 

observations about the 

state of insecurity does so 

at its own peril. It’s more 

important for the security 

operatives to begin to 

interrogate OBJ’s 

hypothesis and let us 

know the outcome of an 

intense investigation into 

the origins of those 

responsible for the 

insurgency and 

kidnapping now rampant 

in many parts of the 

country. 

‘’There’s no doubt that 

criminal elements are also 

exploiting the state of 

insecurity to carry out 

dastardly acts but some of 

these acts appear fairly 

organized from what we 

read in the newspapers 

and social media.’’ 


deserves praise 

not insult, 

Olafeso tells FG 

On his part, Chief 

Olafeso, the PDP National 

Vice Chairman (South- 

West), said Obasanjo 

should be lauded for 

speaking truth to power. 

In a telephone 

conversation with 

Vanguard, Olafeso 

faulted the federal 

government for accusing 

the former President of 

making divisive 

statements, stressing that 

what Obasanjo said at the 

2019 Synod of the Church 

of Nigeria, Anglican 

Communion was a true 

reflection of the state of 

affairs in the land. 

“The federal 

government should take 

up the challenge of 

addressing the issues 

raised by President 

Obasanjo in Delta State. 

There is no doubt that a 

particular ethnic group is 

going about killing other 

people for no just cause 

and none of these people 

has been brought to book. 

“This is what the former 

President talked about 

and what government 

ought to do is to tackle the 

issues and not to resort to 

abusing the messenger. 

With the violent campaign 

going in some parts of the 

country, it will be very 

difficult for this nation to 

realize her economic, 

human and material 

potentials,” he said. 

He urged well-meaning 

Nigerians to speak in 

condemnation of the 

senseless killings going in 

some parts of the country, 

even as he challenged the 

President Buhari-led 

administration to 

demonstrate sufficient 

capacity to tame the 

vanguardnews 

@vanguardnews 

Obasanjo seeks to divide Nigeria 

in his old age —FG 

Continues from Page 41 

scourge of insecurity in 

the country. 

Obasanjo is 

right 

— Ikponmwen 

Pointedly, former 

Provost Marshal of the 

Nigerian Army, Brigadier 

General Idada 

Ikponmwen, retd, one of the 

frontline South-South 

leaders, who vehemently 

opposed compatriots that 

accused President Buhari 

of having an Islamisation 

agenda in the last three to 

four years, has made a volte 

face. 

Ikponmwen, also a legal 

luminary, who spoke to 

Vanguard, yesterday, said: 

“I am unable to refute in 

any solid manner the 

assertion credited to former 

President Obasanjo that 

Boko Haram Movement, 

the rampaging herdsmen 

are turning into ready tools 

for Islamisation of this 

country. 

He said: “When available 

signs, signals and 

indicators point strongly to 

what is alleged, nobody 

needs to seek further 

proofs. As a strong and front 

line backer of President 

Muhammadu Buhari, I 

strongly opposed my 

friends and associates who 

canvassed the idea that 

Buhari had an Islamic 

agenda. 

“Three to four years after, 

my erstwhile antagonists 

appear to be winning; How, 

for example do we justify 

the central govt’s insistence 

on open- grazing and 

creation of cattle colony from 

extreme North to the 

southern coasts, even when 

such idea has become not 

only obsolete, but 

inconsistent with our laws? 

“How does the discerning 

Nigerian interpret the 

virtual failure of 

government to bring to trial 

or otherwise strongly 

address even one of the 

uncountable killings 

inflicted by cattle herdsmen 

all over the Middle Belt and 

other areas of southern 

states? 

“How, indeed, can 

anyone justify the outright 

refusal of the then Inspector 

General of Police to relocate 

to Benue when the killings 

of Benue indigenes were at 

intolerable peak? 

“Today, there is growing 

tension and fear in Edo 

State and other 

neighbouring states over 

rapid and growing 

infiltration of large numbers 

of people of Fulani 

extraction into rural areas 

suspected to be assisted in 

numerous ways, including 

arms and ammunition, by 

powerful persons and 

institutions to which there 

has been no effective refutal. 

“Furthermore, has there 

been any satisfactory 

explanation as to why 

virtually those in the 

security sector in Nigeria 

since PMB administration 

have been a monopoly of 

the Muslim Hausa / Fulani 

sect? Has the recent 

widespread news making 

the rounds that the Miyetti 

Allah group (IMN) has 

been pacified with N100 

billion grant, even as the 

unarmed IPOB remains 

proscribed as a terrorist 

group, been satisfactorily 

counteracted?’’ 

“Were all Nigerians not 

witnesses to how the 

federal government of 

Nigeria deployed the 

fullest of resources, 

including diplomacy and 

funds to ensure the release 

of our Muslim girl, Aisha, 

compared to the case of our 

Christian, Leah Shuibu, 

who has remained in 

captivity till date? 

“The sudden and 

unconstitutional removal of 

a Christian Chief Justice of 

Nigeria, CJN W. 

Onnoghen and his 

replacement by a Sharia 

Jurist picked from below the 

ladder in the hierarchy of 

Supreme Court Judges 

cannot, but spark religious 

sentiments in a country that 

has become so visibly 

divided along religious 

lines? 

“Can any non- Muslim 

Nigerian be blamed for 

faulting the manner of 

appointment of IGPs in 

recent times when 

government went down the 

ladder in the seniority roll 

of senior police officers to 

pick the next IGP? 

‘’What about the news 

making the round that 

Saudi people were being 

strategically positioned to 

play dominant role in the 

Nigerian oil/ gas industry? 

“In the same vein, how 

do we remove religious 

sentiments when our own 

President would proceed to 

Medina failing to hand 

over affairs of state to his 

Christian Vice President? 

Does anyone expect that 

those seeking to islamise 

Nigeria would openly 

admit it? 

‘’I think it is increasingly 

becoming clear that the 

authorities are charting the 

way to islamise Nigeria. It 

is on this note that I posit 

that those who see Boko 

Haram and ravaging 

herdsmen as tools for 

Islamic agenda are hardly 

at fault. 

“This is more so when 

Boko Haram has all along 

declared that anything 

touching on western 

education is evil. One can 

justifiably interpret the 

failure of the PMB 

administration to effectively 

deal with this sect as tacit 

approval by a government 

that vowed to eliminate all 

forms of killings wherever 

they occur in this country. 

“This government must 

be reminded that our state 

from the beginning was 

based on secularism and so 

it must remain for the good 

of all.’’ 

Obaseki puts smiles on Edo pensioners' 

faces, begins clearance of arrears 

•Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, observing the pensioners dressed 

in white during a march-past at the 2019 May Day celebration, in Benin City, 

Edo State capital. 

By Evelyn Usman 

HIS is certainly one of 

Tthe best times for pensioners 

of Edo State as 

they now have every right 

to smile and be joyful as 

Governor Godwin 

Obasaki, following a farreaching 

reforms, has 

commenced payment of 

the backlog of unpaid 

benefits to the pensioners 

spanning up to two decades. 

Speaking during the 

May Day rally, at the University 

of Benin Sports 

Complex, State Chairman 

of the Nigeria Union of 

Pensioners, NUP, Mr. Egbon 

Osamwonyi, said: 

“Our issues are being 

looked into. Many of our 

members have been paid 

and others have been captured. 

The governor is living 

up to his promise. He 

has done what many others 

could not do.” 

Similarly, Chairman of 

the Edo State Chapter of 

the Nigeria Labour Congress, 

NLC, Sunday Osayande, 

who commended 

the governor for addressing 

the welfare of the 

workers and pensioners, 

said, “We also commend 

Obaseki for the infrastructural 

development in the 

state especially on the 

construction of roads 

across the state. Thank 

you for the prompt payment 

of workers’ salaries, 

payment of pension arrears 

that made pensioners 

to be smiling today. 

Before, they wore black to 

this commemoration, but 

today they are in white, 

showing that the governor 

has made them 

happy. We commend our 

governor for creating the 

atmosphere in the state for 

investors to contribute to 

our development as jobs 

have been created in the 

state under the Obasekiled 

administration” 

Transformation stage 

It will be recalled that 

the change in the 

pensioners' story began 

with the inauguration of 

the Ad-Hoc Committee on 

Pension Management 

chaired by Mr Saylor Juwobor, 

in December 

2017. 

The committee was 

charged with the responsibility 

of supervising 

modalities for clearing 

pension arrears accumulated 

from 1996 to 2000 ; 

and to ensure migration 

of public servants to the 

Contributory Pension 

Scheme, CPS. 

At the inauguration, 

Obaseki, said, “We cannot 

solve all the problems of 

pensioners in one day. 

This problem accumulated 

for a long time. As a 

government, we are committed 

to resolving all 

pension-related problems.” 

Obaseki, who assured 

civil servants that pension 

payment would 

not be delayed when they 

retired, explained that 

the committee was set up 

in accordance with the 

provisions contained in 

section 17 sub-section 3 of 

the Pension Act, noting 

that “The committee is 

meant to supervise and 

ensure effective administration 

of the contributory 

pension scheme in the 

public service. Edo State 

Government employees 

who have more than five 

years to retirement have 

joined the contributory 

pension scheme. The 

fund for the payment of 

their pension is in a special 

account usually with 

their pension fund administrators. 

We have also 

appointed pension fund 

administrators and custodians 

who will hold those 

funds.” 

Payment of pension arrears 

To ease payment, Vanguard 

gathered that pensioners 

were divided 

into batches, with a view 

to ensuring that the backlog 

was cleared methodologically 

after due confirmation. 

Report, also had it that 

N200 million was 

set aside every month to 

defray the pension arrears. 

Aside, this, local government 

chairmen, also set 

aside money to clear 

pension arrears owed 

their retirees. 

For instance, in January 

2019, the governor approved 

the release of 

N843, 324,509.46 for the 

payment of arrears owed 

local government pensioners, 

covering years 

2015 to 2018. 

Speaking on the release 

of the sum, Commissioner 

for Local Government 

and Community Affairs, 

Jimoh Ijegbai, said, 

“This recent approval of 

N843, 324, 509.46 is a further 

demonstration of the 

commitment of the Obaseki-led 

administration in 

Edo State to ensure that 

all arrears of pension are 

cleared. 

“ In 2018, on a monthly 

basis, we were using 

N264 million to pay 

pensioners and at the 

close of December, we 

paid pensioners to the 

tune of N3.168billion. If 

you add this to the N1.5 

billion that we paid in 

June last year and this recent 

approval of N843, 

324, 509.46 that we are 

paying today, it will bring 

the total amount used in 

paying pensioners for one 

year to N5, 511,324, 

509.46.” 


the last batches paid were 

48 to 50, with pensioners 

looking forward with expectation 

to the announcement 

of new 

batches. 

To this end, Permanent 

Secretary and Chairman, 

Pension Bureau, Mr. Saylor 

Juwobor, has called 

on pensioners to present 

themselves for physical 

and documentary verification 

at the Imaguero 

Hall, Benin City, at a stipulated 

date and time. 

Pensioners in the previous 

batches who failed 

to participate in preceding 

verification exercises 

were urged to partake in 

newly scheduled screenings 

to ensure no one was 

left out. 

Affected pensioners are 

expected to come to the 

venue of the verification 

exercise with their “Pension 

Authority; Retirement 

Letter; Letter of First Appointment; 

Pension I.D. 

Card; Biometric Slip; and 

Bank details including 

bank name and Account 

Number. 

Death benefits 

While those privileged 

to be alive expressed gratitude 

for the government’s 

gesture, their dead colleagues 

who were opportuned 

to benefit from the 

Group Life Insurance 

Scheme, introduced by 

the governor as part of his 

pension reform scheme 

had their families paid the 

lump sum benefit for their 

upkeep. 

Meanwhile, record 

shows that over N28 million 

has been disbursed 

by the state government 

to families of deceased 

workers in the 

state’s civil service. 

Presenting cheques to 

some of the families of deceased 

workers in the 

state, last year, at the Government 

House, in Benin 

City, Governor Obaseki, 

noted that the presentation 

of cheques to the next 

of kin to deceased civil servants 

with the State Civil 

Service Commission, was 

history being recorded 

during his administration. 

He said, “When this government 

came into power, 

I promised that we will not 

leave the pension scheme 

the way we met it."


YOUR LUCK TODAY 

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 

GEMINI: BEHIND-the-scene-activities are sources of avoidable 

trouble especially before mid-morning period when influence 

of the moon’s fluctuation will last. Avoid inordinate ambition. 

CANCER: IT’S important you don’t allow your thought for 

and/or about the future derail your plans for the present so that 

success will not elude you. Romantic attractions along your 

career/business lines may become stronger sooner than you 

think. 

LEO: EARLY morning blues will affect many people around 

you meaning that not everybody should be taken seriously in 

the morning period especially along your career/business lines. 

L E I S U R E 

TAKE HEART — ELLA RANDLE 

“Give yourself permission to allow this moment to be 

exactly as it is, and allow yourself to be exactly as you 

are.” -Jon Kabat-Zinn- 

Sometimes we let the present slip away, allowing time 

to rush past unobserved and unseized, and squandering 

the precious seconds worrying about the future and 

ruminating about what’s past. Go beyond the dissonance 

and find a place of quiet, allow inner peace into your 

heart. -- Ella Randle 

SAYINGS OF 

OUR PEOPLE 

When there is 

peace in the 

country, the 

chief does not 

carry a shield. 

~Ugandan 

proverb 

VIRGO: MAKE sure you perfectly understand what you are 

doing within your working arena before mid-morning period 

or else costly mistakes would be made. Be tolerant. 

LIBRA: TOMORROW You are advised to leave some important 

decisions and/or action till tomorrow when the heaven 

will smile at you. Your love life is favoured. 

SCORPIO: TOMORROW will prove more challenging. Thus, 

if there are things you should do now, you better don’t contemplate 

procrastination as you are likely to be stretched full length 

tomorrow. Watch what you tell others early in the morning. 

SAGITTARIUS: AS the moon fluctuates early in the morning 

some people may promise more than they can actually deliver. 

And if you take them for granted, you would be disappointed. 

CAPRICORN: CERTAINLY some people will get on your 

nerves yet you must not over-react at least because of the immediate 

future. Truly this is the wrong time to gamble with love. 

AQUARIUS: THE Moon fluctuates during the morning period 

today . That is why you will need to guard against confusion 

likely to be caused by others. 

PISCES: THE Moon position influences you to become aggressive 

the way is capable of bringing unnecessary argument 

and avoidable confusion. To before warned is to be fore armed. 

ARIES: EARLY morning blues will affect many people today 

(yourself inclusive) but luckily for you, things will go according 

to your plans. And you will need to be more careful with money. 

TUARUS: THE Moon fluctuates early in the morning. And if 

care is not taken you would promise more than you can actually 

deliver to the resentment of others. Yet, you’ll win. 

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING 

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING 

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye” 

DUDU in “ROLLING HOT” By A.O. OLAIDE 

By Kola Fayemi 

Send your date e and place of birth th to the Astr 

trological 

Counselling, P.M.B 100 

007, 7, Apapa, Lagos 

Where was my moon? 

Dear Joshua, 

Kindly tell me where the Moon was placed when I was born 

and other things I should know about my star. 

Babajide, Ibadan 

Dear Babajide, 

What space can take will be given here under. Your natal Moon 

was in Aries. 

ANALYSIS OF YOUR HOROSCOPE DATA 

Preponderance of cardinal quality in your chart is an indication 

of GREAT LEADERSHIP QUALITY together with innate 

ability to attain prominence on one hand, on the other hand, 

exaltation of intellectual related Mercury in Aquarius at positive 

angle to both lucky Jupiter and Uranus (the planet of genius) 

in Libra pointed to a person with higher pitch of intelligence. 

Action loving Mars as the final dispositor of your horoscope ( 

that’s most influential planet at home when you were born) will 

most times induce you to strongly desire importance with likeness 

for quick results; actually long promise without concrete 

action will bore you easily. Equally 60 percentage of push full 

influence in your chart means that the best for you is to go after 

your needs and wants. 

Combination of all placement and aspects formed within the 

planets when you were born are pointers to you as a person with 

balanced personality with little bias for good spiritual life. And 

you believe in disciplinarian life style. 

Placement of your natal Sun and Moon in compassionate Pisces 

and self conscious Aries respectively are indications of 

your being mainly a Piscean and partly an Arian, however as 

Aries is also your Stellium sign, both basic characteristics of 

Pisces and Aries are highly pronounced in your inner self. 

VIRGINIA 

HOME & ABROAD 

dadadekola@yahoo.com 

By Lawrence Akapa

Ghana's all-time leading 

goal-scorer Asamoah 

Gyan has retired from 

international football a month 

before the start of the Africa 

Cup of Nations. 

His decision comes as he 

was replaced as Ghana 

captain, with Andre Ayew 

likely to be given the role in 

Egypt. 

"If the decision of the coach 

is to give captaincy of the 

tournament to another player 

while I am named in the team 

(squad) of the tournament, I 

United lower 

Pogba 

asking price 

to £138m 

Manchester United 

are willing to lower 

their demands for 

midfielder Paul Pogba. 

The France international 

has been heavily linked 

with an exit from Old 

Trafford, and Real Madrid 

are said to be the World 

Cup winner's most likely 

destination. 

However, it has been 

suggested that Real will 

not pay £150m for the 26- 

year-old, who has just two 

years remaining on his 

contract at the Premier 

League giants. 

According to 

Tuttomercatoweb, that has 

resulted in United being 

prepared to entertain any 

offers of £138m during the 

summer transfer window. 

Gyan quits Black 

Stars over captaincy 

wish to recuse myself from 

the tournament," Gyan said in 

a statement. 

"I also wish to retire from 

the national team 

permanently." 

Gyan has not featured for 

the side since September 2017 

after persistent injury 

problems and has also battled 

Firmino 

returns to 

Liverpool 

training 

Forward 

Roberto 

Firmino has given 

Liverpool a Champions 

League final boost by 

returning to training. 

Firmino was the first 

player to arrive on the 

south coast of Spain 

having attended slightly 

earlier than his teammates 

for some individual 

sessions with strength 

and rehabilitation staff. 

Chelsea striker Olivier 

Giroud has signed a 

new contract with the club. 

The 32-year-old 

Frenchman's new deal extends 

his stay at Stamford Bridge 

until the end of the 2019-20 

season. 

for game-time with his 

Turkish club Kayserispor. 

The 33-year-old netted 51 

goals in 106 international 

appearances, both Ghana 

national team records, which 

includes scoring at six 

consecutive Nations Cup 

finals, as well as three World 

Cups between 2006 and 2014. 

Belgium recall 

Kompany for 

Euro qualifiers 

Vincent Kompany has been 

recalled by Belgium for 

their Euro 2020 qualifiers against 

Kazakhstan and Scotland. 

The 33-year-old announced 

on Sunday that he is leaving 

Manchester City to rejoin 

Anderlecht as player-manager. 

He has not played for Belgium 

since November 2018 but was a 

regular as City clinched a historic 

domestic treble. 

Belgium coach Roberto 

Martinez said: "He will be 

selected on his merit as a 

player, not as a coach. He will 

do everything to get to Euro 

2020." 

Giroud signs Chelsea contract 

"I am very happy to sign a 

new contract. I really wanted to 

stay at least one more year," he 

said. 

"I have felt a part of the team, 

the family, since the beginning 

and hopefully there will be 

more trophies to come." 

Billionaire businessman 

and Chairman of Forte 

Plc, Mr. Femi Otedola, paid a 

surprise visit to ailing football 

legend Christian Chukwu at 

his Wellington Hospital, Circus 

Mkhitaryan out 

of Europa 

League final 

against Chelsea 

Arsenal have confirmed 

that Henrikh 

Mkhitaryan will miss next 

week's UEFA Europa League 

final over security issues. 

Armenia captain 

Mkhitaryan had been 

assured by UEFA that he 

would be safe during his stay 

in neighbouring Azerbaijan 

but Arsenal have concluded 

it wouldn't be in the best 

interests of the rest of the 

squad to have him on the trip. 

Hazard's 

closest player 

to get to Messi 

Few players earn 

comparisons to Lionel 

Messi given the Barcelona star 

has established himself as one 

of the best ever to play the game. 

But a study of more than 

70,000 footballers has 

determined that wantaway 

Chelsea attacker Eden Hazard 

is the closest player to the 

supremely talented Argentine. 

The Belgian, courted by Real 

Madrid this summer with his 

Chelsea deal edging closer to 

expiry, achieved 92 per cent in 

the various comparison tests 

and finished ahead of Paris 

Saint-Germain's 

Mbappe. 

Kylian 

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2019 — 45 

Otedola visits Chukwu in London 

•Offers more assistance 

•Chukwu thankful 

Road, St John's Woods London, 

yesterday. 

Recall the business mogul 

offered a lifeline to the former 

captain and dolled out $50,000 

to foot his medical expenses. 

Yesterday, he brought cheers 

and tears of joy to Chukwu 

when he visited the London 

hospital to know how well he 

was responding to treatment. 

At the hospital, Otedola was 

to discover that the medics; Dr 

Leye Ajaji, a renowned 

Urologist who is among the 

doctors treating Chukwu once 

also treated his late father, Sir 

Michael Otedola. Otedola also 

met with Dr Katherine Piggott, 

an Uncologist and Dr Evadney 

Keith. 

He was elated to know that 

Chukwu was receiving the 

best of medical services and 

pleaded with them to do 

everything possible to ensure 

that Chukwu regains his 

health. He told them that 

Chukwu is an ''idol'' in Nigeria. 

Mr Otedola also paid for 

Chukwu's accommodation, 

noting that money should not 

be the problem to Chukwu's 

return to good health. 

Chukwu expressed 

appreciation to Otedola and 

prayed that God would 

continue to bless him with good 

health. 

''Where do I begin to thank 

you? What do I say that can 

convey my joy and appreciation 

for your love and care? It is only 

God who can repay you and 

replenish all you have been 

doing for humanity. I am 

grateful to you and to millions 

of Nigerians who have shown 

tremendous love for me'', the 

former Super Eagles coach said 

as he battled back tears. 

Chukwu also thanked NFF 

President, Amaju Pinnick for all 

his assistance. 

VISIT: From left, Femi Otedola, Chukwu, Pinnick and 

Chukwu's wife at the Welliegton hospital in London

46— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2019 

Ndidi’s 4th most 

hard-working EPL player 

Wilfred Ndidi has been named among the top twenty 

hardest working players in the Premier League for the 

2018-2019 season. 

The Leicester City midfielder covered a distance of 408.3 

kilometers over the course of the campaign to place fourth 

on the list behind Crystal Palace’s Luka Milivojevic 

(447.1km), Burnley’s Jack Cork (445.6km) and Chelsea’s 

Jorginho (418.8km). 

The Nigeria international outranked the player he 

presumably replaced at The Foxes, N’Golo Kante, who 

covered a distance of 407 kilometers in 36 games to place 

fifth. 

Top stars jet in for Okpekpe 

Kenyan trio of Alex Korio 

(2015 men's 

champion),Simon Cheprot 

(2016 men's champion) and 

Polline Wanjiku (2016 

women's champion) will 

lead over 35 international 

elite athletes to Nigeria 

today ahead of Saturday's 

IAAF silver label Okpekpe 

international 10km road race 

which holds in Okpekpe,a 

hilly,rustic twon in Etsako 

East local governmnet area 

of Edo state. 

The trio will be coming in 

with their focus on making 

history as the first man and 

woman to win two Okpekpe 

titles since the inaugural 

edition of the race in 2013. 

''The athletes will come in 

through the Murtala 

Mohammed international 

airport Lagos and will be 

transported to Auchi where 

accommodation has been 

reserved for them. The 

athletes,together with their 

Nigerian counterparts will 

go on tour of the course on 

Friday in line with IAAF 

Ndidi, who was 

involved in all the 

38 games 

contested by 

Leicester City in the 

Premier League, was 

the only African player 

that made the top 20 

hardest workers in the 

division. 

César Azpilicueta 

(Chelsea), James 

McArthur (Crystal 

Palace), Gylfi Sigurdsson 

(Everton), Abdoulaye 

Doucouré (Watford) and 

Ben Chilwell 

(Leicester) rounded off 

the top ten. 

Ndidi is set to link 

up with the Nigeria 

squad at their gettogether 

in Asaba on 

June 2 ahead of their 

trip to Egypt for the 

Africa Cup of Nations. 

Iwobi to pocket N46.8m if 

Arsenal win Europa League 

Alex Iwobi is in line to 

pocket at least 

100,000 pounds 

(approximately N46.8 million 

in Nigerian currency) if 

Arsenal beat Chelsea in the 

final of the Europa League on 

Wednesday, May 29. 

According to the Daily Mail, 

Arsenal are set to heavily reward •Iwobi 

their players if they win the Europa 

League and payments ranging from 

£100,000 to £500,000 will be made to the 

players, bringing the total payments to 

around £10 million. 

Ogbeide: NPFL to observe 60 seconds silence, 

wear black armband on MatchDay 22 

Nigeria Professional Football League 

(NPFL) Coaches, Players and Officials 

are to honour late Coach Solomon Ogbeide 

by wearing black armbands during fixtures 

of MatchDay 22 on Sunday, May 26. 

Chairman of the League Management 

Company (LMC) Shehu Dikko who 

announced the decision, described the news 

of the Lobi Stars Coach as “a grave loss to 

the league and hundreds of players he trained 

in over two decades of his career as football 

coach in our league”. 

Ogbeide reportedly slumped and died 

Monday morning shortly after complaining 

of feeling unwell in Makurdi, hours before 

their last home fixture of the season. 

Dikko said the LMC would go to lengths 

to honour those who has contributed in any 

capacity to the development of the league. 

Moses glad to score Fenerbahce winner 

Former Super Eagles midfielder, Victor 

Moses was delighted to net the game 

winner for Fenerbahce as they registered a 

1-0 win against 

BB Erzurumspor 

on Monday 

evening but 

admitted 

•Moses 

requirements,’revealed Mercy 

Etukudo,the race's head of 

secretariat who added that the 

athletes will get their 

registration done as soon as 

they arrive in Auchi and will 

be taken on a tour of the race 

course on Friday. 

'This year's race will be 

explosive as we have 

assembled mostly 27 minutes 

runners for men and 31,32 

minutes runners for women.A 

new course record looks a cast 

iron certainty on 

Saturday,'said Etukudo who 

predicted Ethiopia's Taye 

Grima,who holds the pre-race 

fastest time (28:07) could spoil 

Korio and Cheprot's bid for a 

slice of Okpekpe race history. 

Meanwhile final registration 

of all categories of athletes for 

the race will begin today. 

‘’All registered athletes will 

be screened and accredited for 

the race which begins early 

Saturday morning in 

Okpekpe.They will be 

provided with their bib 

numbers as a sign of 

accreditation for the 

race,’explained Etukudo. 

“In addition to the black 

armbands, a minute 

silence will be observed 

before kickoff at all the 

match venues in honour 

of the veteran coach”, 

Dikko stated. 

•Ogbeide 

“Our thoughts are with his 

immediate family, with players 

and staff of Lobi Stars and with 

all the players he impacted their careers”, 

the LMC Boss continued. 

The late Coach guided Lobi Stars to the group stage 

of this year’s CAF Champions League after the club 

was declared winner of the 2017/18 NPFL. 

He joined the club in 2017 and has prior to then 

had worked with Julius Berger, the defunct 

Nigerdock, Warri Wolves and Sunshine Stars 

amongst others. 

that the opponents proved a tough nut to 

crack. 

BB Erzurumspor, who pay the wages 

of Emem Eduok, are involved in a 

relegation dogfight and were holding 

their illustrious opponents to a goalless 

draw until the 59th minute when Moses 

converted a spot kick. 

‘’It is a massive three points for us 

today, we know that it was going to be a 

difficult game for us today, we know 

the position that the team we are 

playing against are in at the 

moment,’’ Moses told 

Fenerbahce TV after the 

game. 

‘’They wanted to fight 

right from the start to the end 

but we showed a great character. 

‘’We kept our foot firmly on the floor 

and the most important thing for us today 

was to get the three points. We did that 

today so we are very pleased.’’ 

With one game left before the end of 

the season, Fenerbahce are eighth on 

the 18-team table with 43 points 

accumulated from 33 games. 

•Ndidi 

The maximum 

amount Iwobi 

can receive as 

cash bonus is 

N234 million, if 

Unai Emery’s 

team win their 

f i r s t 

continental 

trophy since 

they won the 

d e f u n c t 

European Cup 

France 2019: Super 

Falcons arrive in Austria 

African champions Nigeria have landed at the Avita 

Resort facility in the Austrian city of Bad Tatzmannsdorf 

for a two –week residential camping ahead of the 8th FIFA 

Women’s World Cup finals. 

A delegation including nine home –based professionals and 

technical and administrative staff departed from Abuja on 

Monday night aboard an Air France flight, and travelled 

from Paris to the Austrian capital, Vienna on Tuesday 

morning before connecting Bad Tatzmannsdorf. 

At the airport in Vienna, nine overseas –based 

professionals from different parts of the world joined 

the contingent, taking the number of players to 

18. With England –based Ini-Abasi Umotong 

already waiting in camp, that made the total 

number 19, with only eight more expected. 

The world –renown Avita Resort is the same 

facility that served the Super Eagles in their 

final training sessions just before the 2018 

FIFA World Cup finals in Russia. 

Coach Thomas Dennerby must pick his 

final squad of 23 by Friday this week. The 

final squad and officials will fly into France 

on 4th June. 

Nigeria take on Norway, Korea Republic 

and host nation France in the group phase 

of the championship, with their first 

coming up against Norway at the Stade 

Auguste Delauney in Reims on 8th June. 

Winners Cup in 1994. 

The Nigeria 

international 

penned a new deal 

with the Emirates 

Stadium outfit in 

August 2018 and it 

is believed that 

there is an agreement 

for bonus payments for 

European success 

inserted into the contract. 

Though Iwobi was a nonplaying 

substitute in both 

legs of the semifinal 

against Valencia, the Hale 

End Academy graduate has 

appeared in ten matches in 

this season’s Europa 

League, scoring one goal 

and providing two assists. 

Arsenal will face Yusuf 

Otubanjo’s LASK Linz in a 

behind-closed doors 

friendly on Thursday as part 

of their preparations for the 

Europa League showpiece. 

By Jacob Ajom, Enugu 

Cross River State male and female teams 

competing in the ongoing Nestle Milo 

Secondary Schools Basketball 

Championship have qualified for the 

Eastern Conference final. The matches come 

up today at the Indoor Sports Hall of the 

Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu. 

While the female team will clash with 

Bayelsa, the boys have the Rivers State 

representatives to contend with in today’s 

final. 

To qualify for the final, Cross River state 

girls dominated their Rivers state 

counterparts 33-13 in the semifinal match 

played yesterday. 

Earlier, Bayelsa State team defeated their 

Enugu state opponents to qualify for the 

Poland 2019: 

FIFA briefs 

Flying Eagles 

on new laws of 

the game 

Nigeria’s U20 boys, Flying Eagles, 

have been fully schooled on best 

practices and moves and gestures to 

avoid on-field at the FIFA U20 World 

Cup finals opening in Poland on 

Thursday. 

Immediately after the FIFA arrival 

meeting, traditionally held to welcome 

participating teams to the FIFA World 

Cup, FIFA referee instructor Jerome 

Damon took the players and officials on 

the new laws of the game, which would 

hold sway at the finals. 

Damon, a South African, is a former 

FIFA referee. 

Following theie arrival in Poland on 

Sunday and the first training on 

Monday, concentration is now fully on 

Friday’s opening match of Group D 

against Qatar at the 15,300 –capacity 

Tychy Stadium in the Slask region of 

Poland. 

Nestle Milo Sec Sch. B/ball Championship: 

Cross River teams qualify for final 

final. 

Perhaps the best matches in the ongoing 

conference tournament were played 

yesterday when the boys took to the court. 

The match between Rivers and Ebonyi state 

was a classic. It was a match that could have 

gone either way. But Rivers state early 

takeoff paid off as they won the first quarter 

13-5. 

Despite the early dominance of Rivers in 

the first quarter, Ebonyi fought back 

intensely to close the gap as they got a more 

respectable score of 28-17. Rivers team 

held tight to their lead to end the match on 

48-45. 

Coach Tekena Okumgba of the Rivers 

state team said they were ready for the final 

against Cross River who sent Bayelsa 33- 

16 in the other thrilling semi final. 

Onyekuru in Bayern’s transfer net 

Reports by several media outlets in 

Turkey, have it that Nigeria 

forward Henry Onyekuru 

will complete a permanent 

transfer to Bayern Munich 

from English Premier 

League side Everton. 

Onyekuru had a 

productive season in 

Turkey where he played 

a starring role for league 

•Onyekuru winners Galatasaray with 

14 goals to his name 

including one in the final game 

of the season against Istanbul Basaksehir 

which helped them seal the title. 

Spanish sides Valencia and Sevilla were 

reported to be keen on signing him 

permanently from Everton where work 

permit issues have stopped him from 

playing for the team two years after his 

signing from modest Belgium side Eupen. 

Reports in Turkey suggest he will be in 

Germany next week to seal a switch to 

Bayern Munich who are in the market for 

wing forwards like Onyekuru following the 

departure of Franck Ribery and Arjen 

Robben.


Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2019 

TODAY’S PUZZLE 

Sudoku 

FRIDAY’S ANSWER 

TODAY’S CROSSWORD 

QUICK CROSSWORD 

THURSDAY’S SOLUTION 

ACROSS 

1 High-kicking dance (6) 

4 Fought with swords (6) 

8 Shifted (5) 

9 Victory (7) 

10 Selected passage (7) 

11 Higher (5) 

12 Drowsy (9) 

17 Relating to sight (5) 

19 Large flightless bird (7) 

21 Delicate (7) 

22 From Switzerland 

(5) 

23 Vigour (6) 

24 Former name of 

Sri Lanka (6) 

DOWN 

1 Force (6) 

2 Beginners (7) 

3 Tree related to the 

birch (5) 

5 Keep out (7) 

6 Move furtively (5) 

7 Wish for (6) 

9 In an undertone (5,4) 

13 Sardonic (7) 

14 Petty (7) 

15 Hot beverage (6) 

16 Selected (6) 

18 Tantalise (5) 

20 Savour (5) 

How to Play Sudoku 

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

of the same number). 

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

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

blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no 

number can appear twice in any block, column or row. 

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

multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination. 

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