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PAGE 2—SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 17, 2022

SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 17, 2022 , PAGE 3

PAGE 4 —SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 17, 2022

SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 17, 2022, PAGE 5 

From left: Surveyor, Craneburg Limited, Michael Dannawi; Ogun State 

Governor, Dapo Abiodun; his Works and Infrastructure Commissioner, Ade 

Akinsanya; Manager, Arise Integrated (UAE), Ranya Onathu, and Founder/Chief 

Executive Officer, Arise Integrated Industrial Platform and investor during an 

assessment tour of the on-going construction work at the Gateway Agro Cargo 

Airport, Ilishan-Remo in Ikenne Local Government Area of the State at the 

weekend. 

By Dirisu Yakubu 

Ahead of the May 28 

presidential primary 

of the Peoples Democratic 

Party, PDP, there are 

indications the party may 

have fewer aspirants as consensus 

talks continue among 

the two leading camps. 

Former Senate President 

Bukola Saraki, Governor 

Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), 

Governor Bala Mohammed 

(Bauchi) and investment 

banker, Muhammed 

Hayatu-Deen, are working 

towards producing a consensus 

choice for the North. 

Sunday Vanguard reports 

that though former Vice President 

Atiku Abubakar was 

approached and actually 

participated in one of the 

meetings, he has no faith in 

a project he believes is 

skewed against him. 

Saraki is the favourite to 

emerge the consensus choice 

of the group barring any 

change of fortune in the 

weeks ahead. 

In the South-East, ex- Anambra 

state governor, Peter 

Obi; businessman, Sam 

Ohuabunwa; erstwhile Senate 

President Pius Anyim; 

and medical doctor-turned 

politician, Nwachukwu 

Anakwenze, are in deep talks 

to present a common front 

at the primary. 

Obi, this medium gathered, 

is the favourite to 

emerge from the camp given 

the tremendous goodwill 

he enjoys across the six geopolitical 

zones. 

A member of the party’s 

National Working Committee, 

NWC, confided in Sunday 

Vanguard that PDP will 

do everything possible to 

avoid the mistake of the 2018 

primary which had as many 

as 13 aspirants contesting for 

the ticket. 

According to him, building 

an early consensus would 

make the party gather the 

required momentum for the 

2023 elections on time. 

He said: “Consensus is the 

main thing. The Chairman, 

the highly respected Dr. Ayu, 

is a product of consensus. 

With consensus, there is less 

trouble, less feud and what 

have you! What we are looking 

at is the possible elimination 

of about 10 persons 

at the primary. 

“That will not only help us 

to elect our flag bearer with 

From left: Modupe Kazeem, Convener, Nigeria Intercessory Group & The 

Prayer Rally; Folasade Rowland, Leader, Timeless Woman, Trinity House; 

Ihuoma Okoroafor, Executive member, Timeless Woman; Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, 

Senior Pastor, Trinity House; Dr Izeduwa Derex-Briggs, former 

Regional Director for Gender Equality, UN; Abosede George-Ogan, Founder, 

Women in Leadership Advancement Network and Mrs Nkem Sofela, CEO, 

Trade Master Ltd at the Timeless ReBirth conference held in Lagos 

PDP: Obi may emerge S/East consensus candidate, 

Saraki for North 

ease; it will also save the 

time of party officials, 

staff of the Independent 

National Electoral Commission, 

INEC, and, of 

course, journalists who 

will be on ground to monitor 

the process. 

“The NWC is encouraging 

consensus but will not 

force or cajole anyone to 

quit the race. The decision 

to contest or stepdown lies 

with the aspirants”. 

Speaking on why consensus 

is likely to do the 

party a world of good, our 

source added: “In 2018 

preparatory to the 2019 

election, over a dozen or 

so aspirants were in Port 

By Kennedy Mbele 

igeria risks a major 

Nexplosion without 

credible elections that will 

urgently resolve the national 

question and free indigenous 

territories from 

the grip of terrorist cells, 

Alliance for Yoruba Democratic 

Movements, 

(AYDM) has said. 

Over 1, 000 delegates 

drawn from the old Western 

Region plus Kogi and 

Kwara states took part in 

the two-day conference 

held in Lagos last week. 

Many representatives 

also came from Ivory 

Coast, Benin Republic and 

Ghana to the parley attended 

by leaders of pan- 

Yoruba groups from northern 

Nigeria and the South- 

South. 

Guest Speakers at the 

event were Prof Tayo Adesina 

of the University of 

Ibadan and National 

Democratic Coalition 

(NADECO) chieftain, Pa 

Ayo Opadokun. 

The Itsekiri were led by 

87-year-old Pa Alfred Agbayegbe 

and President, Itsekiri 

National Youth 

Congress (INYC), Mr 

Weyimi Agbateyinwo. 

The meeting was presided 

over by a notable journalist 

and conflict resolution 

expert, Mr Adewale 

Adeoye. 

The group, in a communique 

issued after the technical 

session held on the 

second day of the confer- 

Harcourt. When a winner 

emerged, even though the 

process was transparent, 

many of the aspirants did 

not warm up to the outcome 

of that event. 

“This is why this convention 

is likely to take a new 

shape in the form of fewer 

aspirants and winning 

strategy for the 2023 election”. 

Meanwhile, the PDP has 

called on Nigerians, particularly 

Christians, to use 

the occasion of Easter, 

“which marks the resurrection 

of Jesus Christ from the 

dead,” to rekindle their 

hope for a brighter future 

and a national rebirth under 

a new democratic order. 

This is as the party blamed 

the Buhari- government for 

legion of atrocities in the 

land, particularly disregard 

for the rule of law and 

violation of human rights. 

In a statement by spokesman, 

Debo Ologunagba, 

the PDP said: “Easter, the 

celebration of the victory of 

life over death, offers us the 

opportunity to further 

strengthen our resolve to 

rescue our dear nation from 

the forces of death, suffering 

and misrule that have 

held her hostage in the last 

seven years. 

“Such forces have in the 

last seven years divided and 

suppressed Nigerians, arrogantly 

instituted lies, propaganda, 

deceit, disregard 

for the rule of law, intimidation 

and violation of human 

rights as official policies 

of state; brought untold 

economic hardship and 

acute poverty as a weapon 

of suppression and mass destruction, 

pillaged our national 

treasury with impunity, 

opened our nation to terrorists 

and look the other 

way as outlaws take over territories 

and daily massacre 

our citizens. 

In a related development, 

the PDP has again adjusted 

the timetable for its activities 

and fixed new dates for 

the purchase of nomination 

forms. 

According to Ologunagba, 

the extension of the date 

is to “enable the party to 

make up for the two days 

public holidays as announced 

by the federal government 

(Friday and Monday)”. 

Under the new timetable, 

the last day for the purchase 

of forms has been extended 

to Tuesday, April 19, 2022, 

while the last day for the 

submission of completed 

forms has also been extended 

to Wednesday April 20, 

2022. 

Consequently, aspirants 

into states and National 

Assembly seats now have up 

to Friday, April 22 and 

Monday, April 25 respectively 

to purchase their 

nomination forms while 

governorship and presidential 

aspirants can still obtain 

their forms on Tuesday, 

April 26 and Wednesday, 

April 27 respectively. 

Similarly, April 25, 27, 29 

and 30 have been slated respectively 

for state House of 

Assembly, National Assembly, 

governorship and presidential 

screening. 

2023: Over 1,000 Yoruba, Itsekiri meet in Lagos, 

say northern cabal wants to retain power at all costs 

•Warn: Time running out on Nigeria 

ence, said the interests of the 

people of the South-West in 

elections have waned simply 

because their votes no 

longer translate to good 

governance. 

It said there are four main 

tendencies in the region: 

Those who want restructuring, 

advocates for regional 

autonomy, campaign for 

sovereign nation for the 

people and those who want 

elections to hold. 

By Yinka Ajayi 

v 

Governor 

Kayode 

Fayemi of Ekiti State 

and Chairman of the Nigerian 

Governors Forum, NGF, 

has accelerated his presidential 

ambition by hinting President 

Muhammadu Buhari 

of his intention to seek the 

ticket of the All Progressives 

Congress (APC) ahead of the 

party’s forthcoming presidential 

primary. 

“He was here two weeks 

ago to inform the President 

that he would be running, the 

President received him well 

and encouraged him to go 

ahead”, a source at the Presidential 

Villa told Sunday 

Vanguard yesterday. 

The source said: “Consultations 

with critical stakeholders 

are ongoing, albeit 

quietly driven largely by some 

political and corporate players. 

The group said those 

clamouring for self-determination 

are justified following 

the excruciating 

pains imposed on the people 

coupled with the historical 

injustice. 

“As we speak, our forests, 

high and lowlands in the 

South-West up to Kogi and 

Kwara States are occupied 

by armed gangs”, the communiqué 

said. 

“Farmers can no longer 

farm, women are raped, 

daughters gang-raped and 

children kidnapped and 

murdered pushing the entire 

territories into a state of 

siege and anomie. 

“The people nurse bottled 

up grievances that can explode 

at any time”. 

The group warned that 

time was running out for 

Nigeria amidst the bleak 

prospect of free, credible and 

fair elections and the desperation 

of the ruling clique to 

ward off the real choice of 

Nigerians. 

Fayemi accelerates consultations, briefs 

Buhari, meets fellow govs 

“He met with his colleague 

Governors to get their buy-in 

even; though as NGF Chairman 

it could be assumed 

that he could access his colleagues 

using the NGF and 

PGF platforms, JKF has 

chosen to meet them in their 

respective states, while he met 

some in Abuja. He has also 

briefed the President on his 

plan to join the race . 

“He often says the decision 

whether to contest or not 

would be taken based on 

conviction after a critical 

evaluation and adequate 

preparation. 

“It is believed that Governor 

Fayemi enjoys cooperation 

and support of his colleagues 

in the NGF and PGF. 

The governors are favourably 

disposed to supporting 

one of them to succeed President 

Buhari. 

“In Ekiti, there is widespread 

clamouring from his 

loyalists and traditional institutions 

for Fayemi to join the 

race. He has kept mum over 

it insisting that he needed to 

finish his current assignment 

. However, he has concentrated 

his energy on completion 

of his legacy projects . 

These include the Ekiti 

agro - allied cargo airport, 

Ekiti Knowledge Zone, ultra 

modern bus terminal 

and water project across 

the 14 local government 

areas”. 

According to it, Nigeria is 

currently in the grip of a 

reckless, corrupt, inept but 

defiant class whose major 

objective is to sustain the 

status quo at all costs. 

“The small cell that rules 

the country wants to impose 

presidential candidates on 

the people, those that will 

continue with the same horrifying 

agenda of human 

persecution”, it stressed. 

The group said Nigeria 

faces major sources of implosion 

that can drag the 

country into turmoil unless 

the people themselves seize 

their own destiny with their 

two hands. 

In the communique 

signed by its General Secretary, 

Mr Popoola Ajayi, 

the 2023 elections face 

three major threats: Lack of 

resolution of the national 

question through a new 

Constitution, the desperate 

attempt by the northern cabal 

to retain power in the 

zone and terrorism which, 

the group said, appears to 

enjoy the support of some 

state actors and the dwindling 

participation of the 

people in the electoral process 

leading to the disempowerment 

of millions of 

people in the South-West.

PAGE 6— SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 17, 2022 

•Representative of the Chairman of the occasion, Mr. Olajide Moshood, Nasrul-Lahi-L- 

Fatih Society (NASFAT), Chief Missioner, Imam Mahroof Onike; Special guest, Deputy 

Governor of Ogun State, Engr. Noimat Oyedele Salako; Women Affairs Secretary, NAS- 

FAT, Alhaja Suwebat Bola Kupolati; NASFAT President, Mr. Niyi Yusuf; NASFAT, former 

President, Alhaji Abdulwahaab Abdulrahman and NASFAT, Vice President 1, Alhaji 

Abdul Rauf Ayodeji, during the NASFAT 2022 Annual Ramadan Lecture with the Theme: 

'And seek help with Patience and Prayer' at NASFAT Islamic Center, Aseese, Lagos-Ibadan 

Expressway, Ogun State. 

2023: Why I’m yet to tell Buhari my 

presidential ambition — Ngige 

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru 

& Anayo Okoli 

AHEAD of the 2023 pres 

idential election, the 

Minister of Labour and Employment, 

Senator Chris 

Ngige, says he is yet to inform 

President Muhammadu Buhari 

of his intention to contest 

for presidency because he 

has not yet concluded his consultations. 

Ngige is one of the cabinet 

members in the Buhari’s administration 

who have shown 

interest in their principal’s 

seat at the end of his (Buhari) 

tenure next year. 

Speaking exclusively to 

Sunday Vanguard, Ngige, 

who is a former governor of 

Anambra State, said he will 

join the presidential race after 

Easter, adding that he 

would have concluded his 

consultations then. 

Although the minister’s 

posters and some vehicles 

branded on his name welcoming 

the delegates were 

sighted at Eagle Square during 

the All Progressives Congress, 

APC, National Convention 

on March 26, he denied 

knowledge of the develop- 


TWO Reverend Sis 

ters, a couple and 

their driver have been 

burnt to death in a motor 

accident which occured 

along Enugu - Onitsha Expressway, 

Anambra State. 

Sunday Vanguard gathered 

that the Rev. Sisters, 

whose names were given 

as Virginia Obike and 

Monica Ilem, were being 

taken to the market by 

their driver, Chamberlain 

Umunakwe, when the accident 

occurred in Nawfia 

area of the State. 

A source explained that 

Obike who, until the sad incident, 

was the Principal of 

Handmaid Secondary 

School, Amansea, Awka 

North LGA, and the school 

Bursar, Ilem, were going to 

buy food items in a neighbouring 

community, for 

their students when the incident 

occurred. 

Other victims in the SUV 

which collided with the 

school bus were a former 

•Set to declare after Easter 

ment but rather said that 

the posters might have been 

pasted by his sympathizers’ 

or those who wanted to conscript 

him into the presidential 

race. 

“I didn’t see the posters and 

if you saw the posters, maybe 

it was sympathizers that put 

them up or those trying to 

conscript me,”he said. 

Responding to the claim 

that he gave the approval for 

his posters to be displayed at 

By Rotimi Ojomoyela 

EKITI State government, 

yesterday, faulted the 

claim of the immediate past 

Chairman of Ado Local Government 

Council, Mrs Omotunde 

Fajuyi, that she signed 

for N100 million allocation 

monthly, while she held sway 

as council boss, only to be given 

a paltry N7 million to run 

Two Rev. Sisters, three others burnt 

to death in Anambra auto crash 

Eagle Square, he said, “That 

is what you will hear. After all, 

I am a politician. So, you people 

can extrapolate anything.” 

He maintained that 

he would make open his intention 

to contest for presidency 

after Easter. 

Asked why he had not told 

the President of his intention 

to contest for the number one 

position in the country, he 

said, “Because I am consulting, 

I am still consulting.” 

On whether he has the political 

structure and support 

from the party to win its ticket 

for the election, he said, “I 

am a foundation member of 

the APC, I am one of the 

founding fathers. We did the 

preliminary negotiations. I 

was the deputy chairman of 

the Constitution Drafting 

Committee for a new party 

APC in 2013 and I have 

enough linkages with other 

Nigerians. But the important 

thing is that I have not concluded 

my consultations. This 

consultation will be taken to 

the north, to the southeast and 

west before it will complete.” 

FURORE OVER EKITI LGAs ALLOCATIONS: 

Fayemi hits Fajuyi hard over alleged slashed 

N100 million 

storekeeper with Anambra 

State government, Emmanuel 

Okeke, and his wife. 

Brother of Okeke, who 

spoke at the accident scene, 

amidst uncontrollable 

tears, said: “I spoke with 

my brother, Emmanuel, at 

about 5pm yesterday, but 

when I called him again at 

about 9pm, the line and 

that of his wife were 

switched off, prompting a 

search that led to this sad 

discovery”. 

Another local, Chinecherem 

Okonkwo, who 

also spoke, explained that 

there was a down pour in 

the area, adding that although 

he met the vehicles 

burning, it was too late for 

any meaningful help to be 

rendered. 

As of the time of this report, 

some sober looking 

Catholic Priests and Rev. 

Sisters were at the scene, discussing 

in low tones, as people 

helped to evacuate the 

corpses and remove the 

burnt vehicles away from the 

road. 

the council. 

It described the claim as 

not only misleading but also 

crass misrepresentation and 

distortion of facts. 

Fajuyi had, during a radio 

interview, claimed that Ekiti 

local governments have no 

control over allocation from 

the Federation Account, adding 

that Governor Kayode 

Fayemi determines what 

each local government gets 

as running grants which, according 

to her, are ridiculously 

low. 

A statement by Fayemi’s 

Chief Press Secretary, Yinka 

Oyebode, clarified: “The 

monthly allocation from the 

Federation Account Allocation 

Committee (FAAC) to the 

local government are determined 

by the Joint Account 

Allocation Committee 

(JAAC) at the state level. This 

Politicians, not Constitution, are Nigeria’s problem 

— Adebayo, presidential aspirant 

By Bilesanmi Olalekan 

SOCIAL Democratic 

Party, SDP, presidential 

aspirant, Prince Adewole 

Adebayo at the weekend, said 

Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution 

isn’t the country’s problem, 

but the people, especially the 

political class which administers 

it even as he described 

corruption and incompetence 

as the cause of the country’s 

precarious situation. He 

said mismanagement and 

greed on the part of the Nigerian 

leadership brought the 

country to being a debtor 

nation. Adebayo was a guest 

speaker at the Pastor Ituah Ighodalo 

led Africa leadership 

group lecture series titled, 

‘Nigeria: Hope in positive 

action’. 

The aspirant debunked the 

claim that his party is divid- 

is in line with relevant provision 

of the law. 

“While the JAAC meeting is 

held monthly to determine 

how the allocations to the local 

government would be disbursed, 

it is on record that 

Governor Kayode Fayemi 

has never meddled in the 

JAAC affairs nor superintend 

over any of its meetings. Except 

for the purpose of mischief, 

Mrs Fajuyi knew the 

Governor never had anything 

to do with JAAC throughout 

her tenure as council boss. 

“It is a common knowledge 

that the difference between 

Gross Allocation to all 

local government (after 

FAAC) and Net Distributable 

(ND) is because of some 

statutory deductions which 

are usually done before the 

local government councils 

are credited”. 

ed, saying Nigeria is even 

more divided than his party, 

which, according to him, has 

closed ranks.”Our disagreement 

in SDP is not fundamental, 

just about administrative 

injustice. We are more united 

now than we were some 

months back. Nigeria has 

more divisions than the party. 

That is behind us now,”he 

said. 

While taking questions 

from the audience on the sincerity 

of the 1999 Constitution, 

Adebayo said there was 

really not much problem with 

it. The problem, according to 

him, lies with the people. “Our 

constitution isn’t our problem. 

Our problem is lack of 

simple obedience to simple 

law as simple as traffic and 

sanitation laws. We are in a 

culture of disobedience and 

our leaders lead in that. It 

does not matter how faulty the 

constitution is, if you have 

people who are in the habit 

of disobedience, nothing 

works”, he said. 

EKITI Council of Elders 

has saluted the courage 

and steadfastness of the Ekiti 

born professor of history, Senator 

Banji Akintoye, in his 

quest to give the Yoruba race 

its deserved identity and rightful 

place. 

The eulogy was given by the 

President of the council, Professor 

Joseph Oluwasanmi, at 

the 90th birthday celebration 

of one of its members, Prince 

Gabriel Omodara QC, in Ado 

Ekiti. The council said it recognised 

the dodgedness of Akintoye 

to secure the release of 

“So if you ack character, 

there is no way the constitution 

can work. Yes the constitution 

isn’t perfect but that 

isn’t the root cause of misgovernance. 

Our misgovernance 

is traceable to our character. 

Some would prefer the parliamentary 

system of govt 

which works and still working 

in England. But it never 

worked here. “There we over 

3,000 things I can improve 

upon in the Nigerian Constitution 

presently. But that isn’t 

the issue. We have been unlucky 

in the drivers we have. 

Mercedes is Mercedes. Toyota 

is Toyota. It’s not the car 

that is the issue. We just need 

to change the driver. We have 

an opportunity to change the 

drivers in the coming elections. 

“We have never had people 

oriented president emerging 

from the people. The constitution 

didn’t envisaged some 

people would sit in their conclave 

and begin to recycle 

themselves around. The constitution 

isn’t the problem. We 

are” . 

SUNDAY IGBOHO: Ekiti Council of 

Elders hail Akintoye 

By Nnamdi Ojiego 

A 

Peoples Democratic 

Party, PDP leader in 

Enugu State, Chief Charlie 

Ugwu, has joined the 2023 

presidential race, with a call 

on PDP stakeholders and aspirants 

from the North to concede 

the presidential ticket to 

the Southern Nigeria, in the 

interest of equity, inclusiveness, 

justice and fairness. 

Speaking at his formal declaration 

on Friday in Abuja, 

Ugwu, a lawyer and estate 

developer, said the socio-economic 

and political challenges 

facing the country had become 

so bad that “no man 

with capacity, material or intellectual, 

can watch while 

this state of affairs ravages our 

Digital TV platform, AFOREVO, offers revenue opportunities 

for filmmakers, video content creators 

AT a time when there is 

an explosion in digital 

creative content, occasioned 

by the bourgeoning effects of 

online platforms, AFOREVO 

has emerged as the leading 

platform where Nigerian and 

African content creators are 

duly rewarded for their sweat. 

AFOREVO is a Pan-African 

digital content company active 

in the production, marketing, 

and distribution of 

content. 

The company, with production 

studios in six countries 

in Africa, also operates AFOR- 

EVO, AFOREVO TV, AFOR- 

EVO Dubbing, and the soon 

to be launched Ikeja-based 

VYBZ 94.5 FM. 

Murphy Ben International 

(IBM), with business operations 

and investments that 

span the digital business 

world, is the parent company 

of AFOREVO and was founded 

by Mr. Murphy Anawana 

on May 11, 2009, and incorporated 

in 2021. 

In a recent media engagement, 

executives of the organisation, 

from the respective 

subsidiaries of the Lagosbased 

conglomerate, Murphy 

Ben International, enlightened 

the public about the 

opportunities being offered 

by AFOREVO to African creators 

of digital content. 

Speaking on VYBZ 94.5 

FM, Mr. Mark Redguard, 

one of the agitators of the 

Yoruba nation, Mr. Sunday 

Adeyemo, popularly called 

Sunday Ighoho, who had 

been incacerated in Republic 

of Benin for months. 

Oluwasanmi described the 

success of Akintoye as typical 

of the Ekiti people in the 

pursuit of any cause for which 

they have conviction. 

He called on well meaning 

Nigerians in the interest of 

the unity and continued corporate 

existence of the country 

to throw their weight behind 

true restructuring of the 

nation. 

Ugwu joins presidential race, urges North 

to concede ticket to South 

General Manager of the digital 

voice and visual radio station, 

emphasized that: 

“VYBZ 94.5 FM is not just 

your regular radio platform; 

it’s a Nigerian 360 digital 

voice and visual radio station, 

that is purely youth-centric 

by design and curated to 

entertain, inform and bring 

to the forefront the authentic 

voice of the enormous youth 

diversity from the largest 

black nation in the world, 

while also promoting the best 

in Afrobeats sounds, lifestyle, 

tech, health, creativity, and 

conversation.” Because we 

understand that music is a 

universal language, we’ve 

made what everyone listens 

to our responsibility. 

country without doing something.” 

He said it was in the light 

of those challenges and his 

conviction that he has the 

competence, requisite educational 

qualification, experience 

in human/material resource 

management, and 

adequate emotional intelligence 

needed to steer the Nigerian 

ship of state out of 

murky waters that he decided 

to throw his hat in the ring 

for the position of President 

to save Nigeria. 

“As a consequence of the 

prevailing situation, I hereby 

announce my intention to join 

the presidential race. I have 

already procured the forms 

to contest the presidential 

nomination of the PDP. My 

fellow countrymen and women, 

I seek your hands of fellowship 

and support. Let us 

confront this state of our dear 

country with hope and determination. 

This task will be 

daunting, I dare warn. But 

with determination and total 

commitment, victory shall be 

ours”, the realtor stated. 

Continuing, the presidential 

hopeful said: “I called on 

my Northern brothers in PDP 

to pay due regard to the Constitution 

of our party (which) 

provides that the party shall 

‘adhere to the policy of the 

rotation and zoning of the 

party and public elective offices 

in pursuance of the principle 

of equity, justice and fairness, 

and do the needful by 

supporting the zoning of the 

2023 PDP presidential slot to 

southern Nigeria.”


ABIA: Ikpeazu under pressure to speak on alleged plot to 

impeach deputy know him very well that if 

he wants to douse tension, 

By Steve Oko 

overnor Okezie Ikpea 

Gzu of Abia State appears 

to be under pressure 

over alleged moves to impeach 

his deputy, Ude Oko 

Chukwu, as the immediatepast 

Secretary to the Government, 

SSG, Dr Eme Okoro, 

has challenged him to personally 

address Abians on 

the issue. 

Okoro, who had, on Monday, 

warned against the alleged 

plot said Ikpeazu’s response 

exonerating himself 

from the alleged impeachment 

plot was not convincing 

enough. 

He argued that the seriousness 

of the matter demanded 

the governor addressing 

it himself to douse the growing 

tension and not leaving 

it to his media aide. 

“The tension in the state 

makes it a little more mandatory 

for my governor to 

speak to Abia people that he 

has no plans to impeach his 

deputy, “the erstwhile SSG 

said.. 

“ He ought to elevate it to 

a level of peace-making. I 

he can say: my people I 

have no plans to impeach 

my Deputy’; and not to 

send somebody to speak 

for him.” 

Ikpeazu had, in a statement 

by his Chief Press 

Secretary, Mr. Onyebuchi 

Ememanka, said there was 

“no substance in such rumor 

as he has no such 

plans and has never discussed 

any such issue with 

anyone.” 

Okoro, who served as 

SSG under Ikpeazu’s first 

tenure, insisted that it was 


arely one week to his 

Bwedding, suspected 

assassins have shot and 

killed a businessman, 

Isaac Chukwu, at the 

Margaret Umahi International 

Market, Abakaliki, 

Ebonyi State capital. 

The deceased, popularly 

known as Ochoudo, 

meaning ‘peace seeker’, 

was said to have locked 

From left: Mr. Etim Etim, the author; Senator Babafemi Ojudu, Special Adviser 

to the President on Political Matters and Mrs Augustina Etim at the public 

presentation of the book, Akwa Ibom Heroes in Uyo. 

wrong for anybody to plan 

to remove the deputy governor 

from office for declaring 

interest in the 2023 governorship 

race. 

The former SSG, who 

claimed that he played a key 

role in Ikpeazu’s emergence 

in 2015 based on power rotation 

arrangement as contained 

in Abia Charter of 

Equity, urged the governor 

to allow power return to 

Abia North in line with the 

prevailing zoning arrangement 

in the state. 

He accused a former deputy 

governor, and Ikpeazu’s 

in-law, Chief Acho Nwakanma, 

and ill-advising the 

governor despite opposing 

Ikpeazu’s governorship bid 

in 2015. 

Okoro warned lawmakers, 

especially those from 

Abia North, against acceding 

to any request to axe out 

the deputy governor on 

trumped-up charges. 

The former SSG said he 

led a delegation of elders 

to plead with the governor 

to allow power shift to Abia 

North in the spirit of Abia 

Charter of Equity but expressed 

concern that the 

governor’s silence is creating 

confusion. 

Man killed in Ebonyi one week to wedding 

GOOD FRIDAY: Man, 35, in police net for ‘stealing’ two 

children in church 

By James Ogunnaike 

middle aged man, Sa 

A kiru Famuyiwa, was, on 

Good Friday, arrested at Ijeja 

area of Abeokuta by men of 

Ogun State police command 

for allegedly stealing two children 

during a church service. 

The suspect, according to a 

statement by the command 

Public Relations Officer, Abimbola 

Oyeyemi, was arrested 

following a distress call received 

by policemen at Ibara 

divisional headquarters 

that, while Good Friday service 

was going on at Celestial 

Church of Christ, Ijeja, 

the suspect and one other, 

who is now at large, sneaked 

into the children department 

and stole two children who 

are two and three years old. 

“On their way out with the 

stolen children, a vigilant 

member of the church sighted 

them and raised the 

alarm, consequence upon 

which the congregants pursued 

them and apprehended 

one of them”, the statement 

said. 

“Upon the distress call, the 

DPO Ibara division, CSP 

Nasirudeen Oyedele, quickly 

moblised his men and 

moved to the scene where the 

suspect was rescued from angry 

mob who were about to 

lynch him”. 

Meanwhile, the State Commissioner 

of Police, Lanre 

Bankole, has ordered the immediate 

transfer of the suspect 

to anti-kidnapping unit 

of the state criminal investigation 

and intelligence department 

for investigation. 

FG inaugurates NDE board, MNILS governing council 

By Johnbosco 

Agbakwuru 

he Federal Government 

Thas inaugurated the 

Board of the National Directorate 

of Employment, NDE, 

and the Governing Council of 

the Michael Imoudu National 

Institute for Labour Studies, 

MINILS, in Ilorin, Kwara 

State. 

The Minister of State for 

Labour and Employment, Mr 

Festus Keyamo, SAN, inaugurated 

the boards of the two 

agencies in Abuja. 

Keyamo, who supervises the 

two bodies, said the ceremony 

demonstrated the government’s 

commitment to all-inclusive 

governance as the provision 

of effective service delivery 

to the people. According 

to him, “the agencies are established 

to discharge their 

functions and attain objectives 

more speedily outside the 

civil service structure and 

procedures. 

“They are granted a measure 

of independence to enable 

them to achieve the 

purpose for which they are 

set up, subject to compliance 

with government policies. 

“The board and the council 

are, therefore, responsible 

for setting out the 

agencies’ economic, financial, 

operational and 

administrative policies, 

programmes and targets 

in line with the overall 

objectives provided by the 

government.” 

The minister further 

stated that the inaugurated 

bodies have the responsibility 

for meeting 

targets, introducing 

broad policy measures 

for seamless operation 

and supervising the management 

to ensure that the 

targets are achieved. 

He also added that the 

role of the governing board 

was, therefore, to drive general 

policy formulation 

and implementation and 

not to be involved in the 

day to day running of the 

agencies. 

He, however, said that 

individual and collective 

mandates of the NDE and 

the MNILS had to do with 

capacity building, job creation, 

generation of 

wealth, labour education 

and sustained development 

of the country. 

He said, “It is obvious 

that the challenges before 

the board and council is one 

of re-engineering and developing 

new strategies and suitable 

modalities for translating 

the board objectives of 

government to tangible goals 

in the lives of the citizen.” 

up his shop, after the day’s 

activities and was heading 

to his car with his heart 

throb, Chioma, when some 

men accosted them, after 

firing sporadically in the 

air. 

According to Chioma, 

the men ordered her fiance 

to lie down on the floor, 

an order he hardly completed 

when they shot at 

him three times and vamoosed. 

Their wedding invitation, 

which has gone viral 

in the Social Media, 

alongside their pre-wedding 

pictures, since the sad 

incident, showed that 

their traditional and white 

wedding were scheduled 

for April 21 at Ekpelu, 

Ikwo and Apil 23, at St 

Thomas Chapel, Pastoral 

Center, Abakaliki, respectively. 

A source close to the 

family of the deceased 

told Sunday Vanguard, 

that Chioma is still in a 

deep shock and that she 

has gone to her village, 

Ekpelu, Ikwo LGA, to 

mourn her departed fiance, 

as tradition demands. 

“She has gone to her village 

to mourn her late husband. 

She can’t do that 

here, in the town”, the 

source stated. 

Undergraduate 

slumps, dies 

acting Jesus 

crucifixion 

drama 

By Chinonso Alozie 

A 

student at the Clari 

antian University of 

Nigeria, CUN, located at 

Nekede in Owerri West Local 

Government Area of 

Imo State, whose name was 

given as Suel Ambrose, 

slumped and later gave up 

the ghost while participating 

in a biblical demonstration 

of how Jesus Christ was 

crucified. 

It was gathered that the 

incident, which happened 

on Friday (Good Friday), 

threw the university community 

into confusion. 

A source at the university, 

who preferred to be called 

Micheal Eluwa, said the 

deceased fell down and, after 

some time, he started 

bleeding while acting in the 

passion of Christ drama. 

“At the time the incident 

occurred everybody came 

together and rushed the deceased 

to a school hospital 

and later, when the case 

became worse, he was taken 

to a nearly Federal 

Medical Center, FMC. It 

was from there we heard he 

could not survive it ‘’, he 

said. 

“Initially when it happened 

we thought it was a 

joke, and that it was part of 

the drama, it was when he 

could not get up that was 

when we knew it was a serious 

matter and he was 

rushed to hospital.” 

The school management, 

through the priest in charge 

of Students Affairs, Chukwuemeka 

Iheme, said the 

school would address the 

matter later. 

Delta 2023: Ndokwa youths adopt 

Edevbie 

ouths of Ndokwa na 

Ytion have endorsed gubernatorial 

aspirant of the 

Peoples Democratic Party 

(PDP), Olorogun David 

Edevbie, as their candidate 

ahead of the PDP primaries 

and 2023 elections. 

The decision was contained 

in a statement signed 

by the Secretary General of 

Ndokwa National Youth 

Movement, NNYM, Idi 

Presley. 

The statement said the 

youths, after careful consideration 

of the over ten gubernatorial 

aspirants in a 

rigorous process, settled for 

Edevbie, citing his wealth of 

200-level mechanical 

A engineering student of 

the Federal University of Petroleum 

Engineering (FU- 

PRE), Effurun, Delta State, 

Daniel Edoreh, is set to release 

his first single, titled 

‘KALA’, on April 29. 

Speaking at the prelaunch 

of the single, Edoreh, 

popularly known as 

Dannyello, said: “My mission 

is not to take African 

music to the world, but to 

bring the world over to African 

music. 

“KALA is a simple dance 

hall and sing-along music, 

but it expresses an emotionally 

deep universal message 

both in lyrics, melody, chorus 

and instrumentation 

targeted at helping our 

experience in governance 

and technical know how on 

issues bedeviling the state. 

“We have decided to 

adopt Olorogun David 

Edevbie as the candidate of 

choice for the youths of 

Ndokwa Nation. Besides his 

wealth of experience, the 

rich resumé and charming 

charisma of David Edevbie 

are some of the key factors 

that influenced our decision”, 

the statement said. 

“The youths of Ndokwa 

nation know the importance 

of having a Governor 

that will have the interest of 

the Ndokwa people at heart. 

We want a Governor who 

came prepared for governance. 

FUPRE student releases first single, Kala 

world recover the value of 

love.” 

Dannyello, an indigene of 

Isoko in Delta State, was 

born in Surulere, Lagos on 

November 27, 2000. He attended 

CMS Grammar 

School, Bariga, Lagos, from 

where he proceeded to FU- 

PRE. 

•Edoreh 

Group rallies support for Osinbajo in Ibadan 

By Adeola Badru 

group known as The Pa 

A triotic Movement For 

Osinbajo 2023 has thrown its 

weight behind Vice President 

Yemi Osinbajo as the next President 

of the country in 2023. 

The South West Chapter of 

the movement, yesterday, in 

Ibadan, Oyo State capital, 

drummed support for the candidature 

of Osinbajo, stressing 

that he was the best candidate 

for the 2023 presidential 

race. 

The group, in a communique 

read by Mr. Kola Kazeem, 

said: “We are happy 

that the Vice President Yemi 

Osinbajo has declared his intention 

to run for president, 

he has decided to take the 

mantle of leadership from 

President Muhammadu Buhari. 

“We commend President 

Buhari for giving Osinbajo 

the privilege and capacity to 

represent the country on foreign 

engagements. We believe 

that all these assignments 

have exposed the VP to national 

and international governance.” 

Obelikpeyah family throws weight 

behind Tidi for assembly seat 

By Jimitota Onoyume 

he family of Obelik 

Tpeyah of Ukpokiti and 

Igbudu has reaffirmed their 

support for their son, Dr Mike 

Tidi, to represent the Warri 

South Constituency II seat in 

the Delta State House of Assembly. 

At a reception organised for 

him, they lauded Tidi who is 

currently the Chairman of 

Warri South Local Government 

Area, saying they were 

proud of his feat so far . 

An address at the event 

signed by Pa Ulori Ukutemi, 

head of the family and Prince 

Julius kpesu , secretary of the 

family reads in part: 

“We, the Obelikpeyah family 

of Ukpokiti and Igbudu 

communities of Ag Kingdom, 

Warri, in Warri South Local 

Government Area hearty welcome 

you to this grand reception 

in honour of our illustrious 

and distinguish son, Dr. 

Michael Ents Oghenevoma 

Tidi, the Executive Chairman, 

Wam South Local Government 

Council” 

“We want to say we’re 

proud to associate ourselves 

with your giant strides in governance 

and human capital 

development.” 

“In these days when young 

men of your age are indulging 

in unwholesome activities, 

you decided to follow the 

path of honour and dignity, 

seeking and acquiring all that 

there’s in education including 

a doctor of philosophy PhD 

and a Bachelor of Law in equity.” 

Idu emerges NDEYA’s president, calls 

for synergy 

By Simon Adewale 

he Niger Delta Ethnic 

TYouth Alliance, NDEYA, 

has elected Comr. Alex Idu, as 

its National President during 

its National Executives election 

held in River State University 

of Science and Technology, 

Port Harcourt, with 

over 2000 delegates from 

across the region in attendance. 

The Electoral Returning 

Officer, Mr. Ebong.O. Ebong, 

stressed that Idu won with a 

large margin to emerge the 

winner, stating that the election 

was peaceful and credible 

and urged the new leadership 

to carry everyone 

along. 

Speaking, the new president 

promised to build a 

strong working relationship 

with both regional stakeholders 

and IOC operating within 

the region. 

Idu stated that he would run 

an open-door policy, and formulate 

critical schemes and initiatives 

for good governance, peace 

and development in the region. 

He, however, encouraged 

all Niger Delta youths to 

build a more robust synergy 

and harmonious working relationship 

to foster peace, 

unity and development.

PAGE 8— SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 17, 2022 

EASTER: Ugwuanyi, Sule, Obaseki, others call 

for prayers to end insecurity 

*As monarch, wife shower gifts on widows 

Monarch, 

By Our Reporters 

Governors, lawmakers, 

clergy and other prominent 

individuals have sent out 

their messages of felicitation 

to Nigerians on the occasion 

of the 2022 Easter celebrations, 

urging them to use the 

occasion to pray for God’s intervention 

to solve the security 

challenges in the country. 

The governors in their separate 

messages canvassed for 

peace, equity, justice, fairness 

and religious tolerance 

among the people. 

Ugwuanyi preaches 

peace, renewed faith 

in God 

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi 

of Enugu State urged Nigerians 

to take advantage of 

the historic event to advance 

peace, intensify prayers and 

commit themselves to God. 

While applauding Christians 

for the successful conclusion 

of the Lenten season, 

he enjoined Nigerians to appreciate 

“deeply this great 

reason for the celebration, 

come closer to God, and dedicate 

themselves to virtues 

that would promote peace, 

love, unity and progress of the 

country. 

Ugwuanyi urged them to 

remain prayerful and committed 

to God, reassuring the 

good people of the state of his 

resolve to continue to serve 

them with the fear of God, and 

to work assiduously towards 

the advancement of peace 

and good governance in the 

state, for the wellbeing of the 

people. 

Ortom calls for 

peaceful coexistence 

Also, the Benue State Governor, 

Samuel Ortom in a 

goodwill message through 

his Chief Press Secretary, 

Nathaniel Ikyur, noted that 

all religions preach peace 

and good neighbourliness. 

According to him, without 

peaceful coexistence among 

Nigerians, no meaningful 

development would take 

place in the country. 

He urged Christians to imbibe 

the lessons of sacrifice, 

perseverance, forgiveness 

and care for the less privileged 

which the Easter celebration 

symbolized. 

Sule calls for God’s 

intervention over 

insecurity 

Governor Abdullahi Sule 

of Nasarawa State has called 

on Christians to pray for 

God’s intervention to surmount 

the spare of insecurity 

confronting the nation and 

reflect on the teachings of 

Christ which epitomize forgiveness, 

sacrifice and tolerance. 

The governor in an Easter 

message he signed urged the 

citizens to use the Easter period 

to reconcile one another 

irrespective of the religious 

divide, political inclinations 

and ethnic differences. 

“This year’s Easter, I call on 

our brethren to use this period 

to pray for God’s intervention 

on the spate of security 

challenges bedevilling the 

country and also pray for the 

continuous socio-economic 

development of our dear 

state”, Sule stated. 

In the same vein, the Speaker 

of Nasarawa State House 

of Assembly, Ibrahim Abdullahi 

called for sober reflection, 

prayers, love and patriotism 

amongst the citizens. 

Obaseki urges hope, 

sacrifice 

Furthermore, Edo State 

Governor, Godwin Obaseki, 

in his Easter message, urged 

Christians to reflect on the 

purpose of the Easter celebration 

with a renewed hope for 

a better Nigeria and to be a 

part of the process of rebuilding 

the country. 

He also charged the Christian 

faithful to emulate Jesus 

Christ by making sacrifices 

that would engender development 

and ensure lasting 

peace and unity in the country 

İt’s period of sober 

reflection – Fayemi 

Similarly, Governor Kayode 

Fayemi of Ekiti State has 

called on Christians to emulate 

the sacrificial lifestyle of 

Jesus Christ who gave his life 

to save mankind. 

The governor in a message 

by his Chief Press Secretary, 

Mr Yinka Oyebode, felicitated 

Christians for the successful 

completion of the Lenten 

season and urged them to 

continue to intercede for the 

state and the country. 

An opportunity to 

rethink – Uzodinma 

In his goodwill message, 

Imo State governor, Hope 

Uzodinma, has said that Easter 

offered the people an opportunity 

to rethink the essence 

of our humanity. 

According to him, “the essence 

of our humanity is to 

love God, to love one another 

and to be ready and willing 

to make sacrifices for the love 

of humanity. The Bible also 

reminds us that the best way 

to love God is to love humanity. 

“As we celebrate this year’s 

Easter, we should ask ourselves 

these pertinent questions 

as Christians who profess 

the love of God: Do we 

truly follow the footsteps of 

Jesus Christ? Do we love our 

fellow human beings as 

Christ loved us or are we part 

of those spreading hate and 

violence against humanity? 

How much love have we 

shown to our state, Imo and 

our country, Nigeria?”, he 

queried. 

Ishaku calls for sustained 

prayers 

against insecurity 

Taraba State Governor, 

Darius Ishaku has urged 

Christians across the country 

to sustain prayers for the nation 

against the onslaught of 

terrorists and bandits plaguing 

the unity and stability of 

Nigeria. 

Ishaku in a statement to 

commemorate this year’s 

Easter also called on residents 

of the state to be extra 

vigilant against the backdrop 

of violent crimes and kidnappings 

in neighbouring 

states. 

Tunji-Ojo preaches 

tolerance 

Member, representing 

Akoko North East/North West 

in the Federal House of Representatives, 

Hon. Olubunmi 

Tunji-Ojo, urged Nigerians 

“to use the occasion to preach 

religious tolerance, love for 

My kingdom’s safest in Delta 

– Ovie of Umiaghwa-Abraka 

By Festus Ahon & 

Ochuko Akuopha 

O 

VIE of Umiaghwa- 

Abraka Kingdom, 

Ethiope East Local Government 

Area of Delta State, 

AVM Ochuko Ararile (retd.), 

has identified peace as his 

greatest achievement since he 

ascended the throne, saying 

that his kingdom was one of 

the safest in the state. 

Speaking to journalists at 

his palace ahead of his 10th 

coronation anniversary, the 

monarch noted that he was 

doing his best in ensuring security 

and minimise conflicts 

at the individual and community 

levels. 

Advocating the need for all 

kingdoms, cities and settlements 

in the state to be properly 

planned, he reiterated his 

desire to make the kingdom 

a model of development in the 

state, saying “the main part 

of this kingdom is off the 

major road; if we can open 

the main road and plan it, 

then we will have a modern 

Abraka town. We are working 

on it both privately and 

through the government.” 

The traditional ruler noted 

that he had worked to ensure 

improved power supply in his 

domain, even as he commended 

the state governor, 

Ifeanyi Okowa, for constructing 

some internal roads in the 

kingdom. 

our neighbours and commit 

to our civic responsibilities.” 

wife 

shower gifts on widows 

Meanwhile, the monarch of 

the Ayede-Ogbese community 

in Akure North Council of 

Ondo State, Oba Ajibola 

Oluyede and his wife, Olori 

Olufunmilayo Nejo-Oluyede, 

have empowered 50 widows 

and aged people in the community. 

Benefitting from the empowerment 

scheme which 

was in conjunction with 

Ayede-Ogbese Women Vanguard 

Community Outreaches 

were 25 indigent widows 

and 25 elderlies. 

Cash gifts, foodstuffs, and 

clothing among other items 

were distributed as palliatives 

to the beneficiaries who also 

checked their health status 

through the medical officers 

who were at the event. 

Victory through 

Jesus Christ 

The Bishop, Diocese on 

the Niger, Onitsha, Anambra 

State, Rt. Rev. Owen Nwokolo, 

has called on Nigerians 

and Christians all over the 

world to maximise the potential 

that God has given them 

to improve their lives. 

He described Easter as a 

source of victory and hope for 

humanity, adding that it was 

a very important festival in 

the life of the Church and 

Christians. 

Foremost Life Coach, Lanre Olusola (fourth left), with representatives of Escae 

Benin University, during the conferment of honourary doctorate degrees on him in 

Lagos 

Train Attack Captives: ‘Alleged demand for 

release of detained terrorist cdrs a decoy 

to obtain ransom’ 

By Our Correspondent 

Top security sources have 

disclosed that alleged 

demand by bandits negotiating 

with Federal Government 

for the release of their 

commanders before freeing 

kidnapped train passengers 

is a decoy to obtain ransom. 

They explained that top terrorists 

in government holding 

facilities across the country 

are Boko Haram/ISWAP 

commanders, who had been 

in detention long before the 

court judgment declaring 

bandits as terrorists was 

gazetted. 

According to one of the 

sources, “there is no evidence 

anywhere of request that bandits 

are demanding the release 

of commanders before 

Foremost Coach, Lanre Olusola, conferred 

with honorary doctorate degrees 

the kidnapped passengers 

will be released. 

“However, if such a demand 

exists, it could be a 

smokescreen to hoodwink 

the authorities into coughing 

out huge amounts of money 

because the commanders in 

detention are Boko Haram/ 

ISWAP commanders arrested 

in the North-East and those 

fleeing the aerial and land 

bombardments of the military.” 

Asked what the bandits 

meant by saying government 

knows what they want, the 

source said it may be a strategy 

to hoodwink government 

into giving them money. 

Sunday Vanguard had reported 

the abduction of scores 

when an Abuja-bound train 

was attacked by terrorists on 

March 26, 2022. 

Ondo North 2023: Group drums 

support for Ipinsagba 

The Akoko Intellectual 

Forum has thrown its 

weight behind Hon. Jide Ipinsagba 

who is currently contesting 

to represent Ondo 

North at the Senate come 

2023. 

Coordinator of the group, 

Mr. Ololade Kazeem, 

through a press release, explained 

that in order to effectively 

represent the people at 

the Red Chamber, the pedigree 

and qualifications of the 

candidate matters as a wrong 

move could condemn their 

lawmaker to undue marginalization 

and state of oblivion 

at the legislative house. 

He stated that the group 

identified Ipinsagba as a perfect 

candidate for the people, 

“Hon. Jide Ipinsagba comes 

with answers to the questions 

of the people, he comes bearing 

a better hope for the future 

of the Senatorial 

District,he comes with the 

passion backed with his resourcesfulnes 

as a change 

maker,”Kazeem stated. 

According to him, the intention 

of the aspirant to seek the 

mandate of the people of 

Ondo North is primarily 

borne out of his desire to effect 

positive change for the 

people. 

Ogun: Airport will serve agro processing companies, others 

— Abiodun 

Governor Dapo Abiodun 

has said that the Agro- 

Cargo Airport being constructed 

by his administration 

in Ogun State would 

serve as a conglomeration to 

agro-processing companies 

as well as aetropolis that have 

added value services, when 

completed 

Abiodun spoke when he 

conducted the Chief Executive 

Officer, Arise Integrated 

Industrial Platform, Mr. 

Gagan Gupta, around the 

airport at Illisan-Remo, at the 

weekend. 

He noted that the airport it 

would also provide facilities 

for cargo processing, storage, 

warehouses, training 

centre, among others. 

“This is an aetropolis; it is 

not just an airport but one 

that adds value services. The 

agro serving part is the most 

interesting, it is going to be a 

conglomeration of agro processing 

companies that take 

raw materials, turn them into 

finished goods. We will also 

have an aggregation centres, 

storage facilities for agro produce 

so that the agro processing 

centres will not run out of 

raw materials”, the governor 

said. 

“This is a truly an international 

cargo airport. At the 

stage it is now, it is already 

attracting a lot of attention 

and investors. The Nigeria 

Customs Service and the Nigerian 

Air Force, which has 

requested for 100 acres of 

land to build their base and 

training school. Others have 

signified interest to build 

whare houses. Cargo companies 

have also applied to have 

their presence here. 

“Those that want to go into 

hospitality business have applied 

to build hotels. We will 

also have demonstration 

farms that would be run 

through an outgrower 

scheme. That is the entire 

gamut of what will be seen 

here, I don’t have any doubt 

that this airport in the first 

instance, will generate over 

25,000 to 30,000 jobs”, the 

governor stated. Abiodun, 

who regretted that the project 

had been on the drawing 

board for many years, maintained 

the reason for embarking 

on the construction of the 

airport was economic gains 

through employment opportunities 

and the desire to keep 

the state as the nation’s industrial 

capital. 

Lanre Olusola (The Cat 

alyst), renowned as Africa’s 

premier Life Coach and 

Behavioural Change Psychologist, 

was conferred with 

two Honorary PhDs over the 

weekend in recognition of his 

incredible track record of excellent 

performance in service 

to humanity. 

Olusola first bagged an 

Honorary Doctoral Degree 

in Behavioural Change Psychology 

from Escae Benin 

University. It soon turned into 

a double celebration as The 

Catalyst was also surprised 

with a Doctor of Humane 

Letters, Honoris Causa from 

the Myles Leadership University. 

According to the Registrar 

of the Escae Benin University, 

the PhD is due to The Catalyst’s 

“immense contributions 

to the human capital 

and capacity development 

industry, also because he revolutionized 

the coaching industry 

in Africa with the 

OLCA academy; having 

spent over 2 decades building 

great businesses and leaders 

in different sectors of the 

economy in the world.” 

The school’s leadership 

also revealed that the honour 

is a result of “Olusola’s extensive 

contributions in the human 

capital and capacity 

development industry. Olusola 

is also recognized as a trailblazer 

who has revolutionized 

the coaching industry in 

Africa”. 

For the Governing Council 

of the Myles Leadership 

University, Olusola was decorated 

with a Doctor of Humane 

Letters because of “his 

long-standing contribution in 

the areas of youth development, 

coaching, behavioural 

change development, business 

development, leadership, 

and philanthropy”. 

“I would like to say a big 

thank you to the leadership 

and everyone at Escae Benin 

University and Myles Leadership 

University for this double 

honour,” said Lanre Olusola. 

“As someone who is also 

undertaking a PhD in coaching 

and mentoring, it feels 

like a full-circle moment to 

be recognised for my contributions 

to the African coaching 

industry. It’s really exciting 

to be recognised for doing 

what one loves” he said, 

adding that this is only just 

the beginning of more work 

he plans to do in the African 

continent and beyond.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 17, 2022, PAGE 9

PAGE 10—SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 17, 2022

Inkblot Productions premieres 'The 

Blood Covenant' 

Foremost Nigerian film powerhouse, 

Inkblot Productions’ new movie, 'The 

Blood Covenant' premiered on Friday, 

April 15, 2022. It was premiered to a select 

audience at the beautifully decorated grounds 

of the FilmHouse IMAX Cinema, Lekki. 

The exclusive event saw some of the biggest 

names in Nigerian entertainment and fashion 

grace the occasion which took over social 

media. 

'The Blood Covenant', a gripping tale of the 

evils of money rituals, greed, peer pressure, 

and corruption, revolves around the lives of 

three friends as they navigate society’s 

suffocating boots and the get-rich-quick 

syndrome. Tired of being looked down upon, 

they embark on a relentless quest for the high 

life, chasing easy money, fast cars, and fame; 

willing to do whatever it takes no matter what 

it costs them. 

The drama features some of the biggest 

names in Nollywood including Tobi Bakre, 

Shawn Faqua, Uzor Arukwe, Ufuoma 

McDermott, Erica Nlewedim, Alexx Ekubo, 

Omowunmi Dada, Shalewa Ashafa, Gregory 

Ojefua, Chimezie Imo, and others. 'The Blood 

Covenant' was directed by Fiyin Gambo, 

L 

•Shade 

Ladipo 

•Annie 

Idibia 

eading radio stations, Cool FM, Wazobia 

FM, and Nigeria Info, under the auspices of 

AIM Group, have announced the first Easter 

edition of the Praise Jam Concert which is 

scheduled to hold on April, 18, 2022, at the 

Eko Convention Centre in Victoria Island, 

Lagos. 

This is in a bid to allow Lagosians to celebrate 

the Easter holidays in grand style with their 

favourite gospel artistes. 

The concert, which is entitled 'The 

Resurrection,' promises to feature live musical 

performances from the likes of Mercy Chinwo, 

Tope Alabi, Tim Godfrey, Akpororo, BJ Sax, 

Emma Oh My God, Mike Abdul, Chioma Jesus, 

and D.J. Ofure while Kenny Black would serve 

as the host. 

2Baba needs vasectomy, 

Shade Ladipo tells 

Annie Idibia 

By Joy Mazoje 

Shade Ladipo, Nigerian 

media personality has 

advised popular 

Nollywood actress Annie Idibia 

to plead with her husband 

2Face Idibia to get a 

vasectomy. The music star 

reportedly has seven children 

from three different women. 

Shade who took to her 

Instagram stories said 

there were too many 

children in the mix. 

“I love you Annie, so 

now would be a great 

time to ask for a vasectomy. I mean there are 

enough children in the mix #JustAThought,’’ 

she wrote. 

The comment of the media 

personality could be linked with a 

recent breakdown of Annie Idibia in 

the reality TV show Young, Famous 

and African. Annie could not hide her 

frustration over her husband’s 

infidelity while they were dating. 

The movie star disclosed this in 

one of the episodes of the show that 

she has been subjected to many 

humiliation and embarrassment 

and would always question how Tu 

Face made the same mistake twice. 

“When you meet someone, then 

you know them first and then you 

wake up to different people 

having babies for him and then 

he has five different kids with other 

women, my first child is his fifth and 

I met him before everybody,” she 

said. 

The Idibias tied the knot in May 

2012 and have birthed two 

adorable daughters, 

Isabella and Olivia. 

from a script written by Chiemaka Osagwu 

working with Inkblot co-founder Chinaza 

Onuzo. 

The exclusive premiere had in attendance 

cast members of the movie, alongside 

celebrities and public figures such as Bovi 

Ugboma, Lala Akindoju, Denrele Edun, Femi 

Branch, Deyemi Okanlawon, Stan Nze, Lanre 

Olusola , Funke Kuti, Prince Enwerem, Pere 

Egbi, Neo Akpofure, Simi Drey amongst 

others. 

•At the premiere of The 

Blood Covenant 

Cool FM, Wazobia FM, Nigeria Info hold 

first Easter edition of 'Praise Jam' 

Speaking on the launch of the first Easter 

edition of the Praise Jam Concert, Serge 

Noujaim, the Chief Executive Officer of Cool FM, 

Wazobia FM, and Nigeria Info, noted that the 

rationale behind the event is to create a platform 

that encourages Lagosians to celebrate the 

resurrection of Jesus Christ collectively. 

“We, as a formidable radio group, understand 

the need for Nigerians, particularly Lagosians, 

to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ in 

a grand style. This is because we believe that 

this is a creative way of promoting the concept 

of love and togetherness which are part of the 

fundamental components required to sustain 

the corporate existence of Nigeria as a whole,” 

he said. 

•Amaka Obi 

•JenniFrank 

SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 17, 2022, PAGE 11 

Style Zee makes bold 

moves, hints on 

collaboration with 

Patoranking, 

others 

ast-rising music sensation and 

F songwriter, Kelechi Solomon, 

•Style Zee otherwise known as Style Zee 

appears ready to build on the success 

of his last EP that rocked the music 

scene in 2021. 

The five-track EP seems to have 

given the rising star a new identity and 

fame as he continues to thrill fans and 

music lovers with his music and sound, 

which he described as unique. 

Style Zee who is signed on Akunwata 

Entertainment owned by Chijoke Jude Amefuna, 

famous as Akunwata has just completed the video 

for his hit track off the EP, Move. 

With a new collaboration that will see him duet 

on a new song with Patoranking also in the works, 

Style Zee disclosed that making music is one 

thing, working with the right set of people that 

would add value to one’s craft is equally 

important. 

No one should succumb to 

marital bullying, Actress 

Amaka Obi warns 

In the wake of the unfortunate and untimely 

death of gospel singer, Osinachi Nwachukwu 

allegedly due to domestic violence, emotions 

have been running wild with all sorts of 

reactions. And when Nollywood actress and 

businesswoman, Amaka Obi chatted 

with Potpourri she was not left out of the 

throe of emotions that had trailed the incident. 

“No one should succumb to marital 

bullying,” Amaka says. “Even though we 

were not inside to see what triggered the man’s 

action, I believe people don’t just wake up and 

decide to start beating their partners. You 

either would have seen that trait in them or 

they just suddenly became afflicted. 

(Which obviously should have a reason) 

I’ll say `speak up for help or leave when the 

situation has gone beyond what you can 

handle.' Amaka posited that marriage 

should be a blissful experience and that one 

should think deeply before taking the plunge. 

“Marriage should be a blissful addition, a safe 

place away from this cold world. My ideal partner 

first, is a man who loves and acknowledges God. 

Who doesn’t find happiness in money but must 

also love money (hardworking), a great sense of 

humor, passionate about legacy and most of all, 

a lover boy,” she said. 

Amaka Obi has taken a bit of a breather from 

acting because she has been building her 

business known as Mirror Skin Africa which 

has kicked off with (MSHOMES), a furniture 

house where she sells imported, home-made 

furniture, and everything household. 

“It’s something I’m super enthusiastic about, 

as it has a lot of features coming under it. and also 

looking into the influencing industry as I have 

already gotten involved with a few couture houses, 

while looking forward to signing more deals and 

contracts in regards to fashion and brand 

influencing,” she added 

Anything posted on 

social media leaves 

digital footprints, 

JenniFrank warns 

ik Tok Queen JenniFrank warns social media 

Tusers with 'The Internet Never Forgets' 

A timely warning has been handed to young 

Nigerians about the danger of indiscriminate 

posting of content on social media. The 

caution came from a three-minute video 

titled, 'The Internet Never Forgets' by 

Jennifer Ebele Onyekwelu-Udoka, 

popularly known as JenniFrank, one of 

Nigeria’s social media influencers. 

“We should be careful of what we put out on 

social media, as the Internet Never Forgets,” 

Jenni Frank urged. 

According to her: “When people are going 

through stuff in their personal lives, they put it out on 

social media; some people even blackmail others and 

put it out on social media. My video is a reminder that 

this can have long term consequences that may not be 

so pleasant, so we should be careful of what we share.” 

In the video, which addresses the current trend 

of oversharing on the Internet and its longlasting 

effects, the Tik Tok Queen’s amazing 

acting talent was on full display as she goes 

through a plethora of emotions¯fear, anger, 

regret, sadness and resignation¯while the plot 

explores the side effects of blackmail and the 

stress of dealing with it outside the law in a way 

that underscores the message that anything put online 

leaves a digital footprint that can be found decades 

after it was posted. 

The short video, scripted and directed by 

JenniFrank and filmed by David Cliq, was uploaded 

to her social media channels including Tiktok, 

Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.

PAGE 12 —SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 17, 2022 

Actors Guild of Nigeria 

goes tough on gays, 

bisexuals in Nollywood 

By Sylvester Kwentua 

The Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), an umbrella 

union that regulates and represents the affairs 

of film actors in Nigeria and abroad, has set 

out to fight issues of bisexual harassment, rape 

and molestation in Nollywood, calling on any actor 

who has been sexually abused, to come out and 

speak, promising to investigate any case brought 

to them. 

In an Instagram post, the national president of 

the guild, Emeka Rollas, who spoke for the guild, 

gave out email addresses that can be reached by 

anyone who wants to make a complaint. 

“The issue of sex for roles, molestations and 

rape by both gays and bisexuals has become 

alarming in Nollywood. Following an 

outburst on twitter a few weeks ago, bothering 

on accusations and counter accusations against 

some male producers whose sexuality are 

questionable had prompted the Guild to begin 

investigation. 

“To get to the root of this, we are calling on all 

sexually abused or molested persons to send in reports 

to this emails :abuses @ actorsguildof 

nigeria.com and agnsexassault@ 

gmail.com or” Emeka posted. 

The post didn’t give a clue to who 

the guild was referring to, but 

it will be recalled that 

last week, Nigerian skit 

maker and comedian, 

Abdulgafar Ahmad, 

popularly known as 

Cute Abiola, was called 

out for alleged sex for 

roles schemes and 

romantic affairs 

with curvy Nollywood 

actress, Omoborty. 

Cossy Ojiakor reveals 

her new source of 

making good money 

Cossy Ojiakor has become 

phenomenally popular not just 

on account of her acting and 

singing talents but more as a result of 

what Mother Nature has blessed her 

with, which is her bulbous, bouncing, 

ballistic boobs. And she has been 

rather generous with them over the 

years, to tease our sensibilities. 

Cossy has simply entertained us 

with her God given gifts and now, 

it seems they are bringing home 

the goodies to her as she is 

smiling to the bank for 

what used to be free for 

I Go Dye storms Benin City tonight 

with 2Baba, Tiwa Savage, others 

for 'I Go Dye Standing' show 

F 

•Cossy Ojiakor 

rancis Agoda popularly known 

as I Go Dye is the cynosure of all 

attention in the old Benin City 

tonight as he comes to town to 

celebrate Easter Sunday in style 

with his signature musico-comedy 

show tagged, 'I Go Dye Standing': 

More than a Legend. Although the 

humour merchant is a bundle of 

tricks and excitement on his own, 

yet he is unleashing other 

powerhouse entertainers on the 

people of the City. Top on the bill 

to showcase their crafts are 2Baba 

and Tiwa Savage. Others on the 

roll-call includes Okey Bakassi, I 

Go Save who is the host and 

many others on top of their 

game.The comedy 

impresario will 

also 

give 

opportunities to 

budding talented 

acts to promote 

their crafts on 

stage. The show 

holds at Crown 

H e i g h t , 

P a v i l i o n 

County Home 

Road, G.R.A 

Benin City. 

•AGN President, Emeka Rollas 

all to see. 

Speaking with Nollywood’s Queen of 

Boobs lately, she revealed her new source of 

income, which according to her, is too good 

to be real. The source is a platform called 

'FansOnly'. 

“Can you believe I was making so much 

money on a monthly basis on 'FansOnly' 

but I lost my account so now I am just building 

it back. It’s for fans. Like all those people that 

don’t want to publicly identify as fans can 

support you there. They pay for videos, the 

same videos I post on my WhatsApp Status 

for personal friends. I sell the videos to them 

for good money. Even ‘runs girls’ can cash 

out taking pictures instead of sleeping 

around,” she said. 

According to Potpourri’s findings, 

OnlyFans is an online platform and app 

created in 2016 where people can pay 

for content (photos and videos, live 

streams) via a monthly 

membership. Content is 

mainly created by 

YouTubers, fitness 

trainers, models, 

content creators, 

public figures, in 

order to monetise 

their profession. 

•I Go Dye 

•J. Jeff 

'I’m Blessed' is 

more than a love 

song, says J. Jeff 

O 

I want to create 

community 

of women 

worldwide 

—Tems 

By Chinasa Afigbo 

Fast-rising 

singer/songwriter, 

Temilade Openiyi, popularly known 

as Tems, has said that She wants to shine 

light on women, artistes and creatives 

finding their way and voices to 

greatness. 

In her debut appearance on her newly 

launched radio show in conjunction with 

Apple Music titled “Leading vibe with 

Tems”, a line culled from her 2018 

single “Mr Rebel”, the rising diva said, 

“I think, for a long time, not just in music 

but also in life, women haven’t really 

had a community, a real type of 

understanding. I want to create a 

community of women worldwide, and I 

am not going to do it alone. There’s 

nothing one accomplishes alone. This 

has been my earnest desire, but I am 

not going to do it alone. For now I am 

only giving out the holistic idea ‘cause I 

can’t get into full details of how I am 

going to achieve it, that would be 

limiting and I am never going to limit 

God. It is going to happen in many 

ways. I want to live my life to the 

maximum so that people can get 

something from it even after I die.” 

She also described lessons learnt 

from Last year’s international 

spotlight on her career as living 

actively. She said, “As humans, 

we only have now, this moment 

to live. We die a little bit more 

every single day and there isn’t 

as much time to do nothing, 

doing nothing is making a 

decision. We have the ability 

to choose what we want and 

the way we live that’s why 

we have a brain. It’s 

either replenishing 

or draining. It is 

either left or 

right. There’s 

no in 

between, no 

middle 

ground. And 

choosing to 

do nothing 

•Tems 

is simply 

making a 

decision to 

die.” 

n the strength of his first impressive single, 'I Will Praise 

His Name', featuring gospel sensation, Carol Cee, fastrising 

Nigerian-born and Japan stationed gospel hip-hop act, 

J. Jeff who is the Visioneer of Vision of Christ Entertainment 

(VCE), has officially pushed-out a new joint album, “'’m Blessed' 

which featured the legendary and awards winning reggae 

giant, Pupa Orits Wiliki. 

'I’m Blessed' is a unit from his ‘I Am Moving On’ work which 

was produced and packaged by reggae powerhouse, 

Righteousman, courtesy of Bigtown International. 

The Vision of Christ Entertainment (VCE), in collaboration with 

Bigtown International have mapped out strategies for a nationwide 

radio tour. Plans to hit locations in Japan and Nigeria for video 

shooting afterwards are also in top gear. The completed work 

according to Righteousman would be out hopefully before the end 

of May. 

From all strong indications, ‘I’m Blessed’, is undoubtedly 

an interesting mix of the hip-hop brand and reggae, 

well pronounced in a classic love song, dedicated 

to his heart throb. No wonder, this titillating 

experiment tips the song and other powerful ones 

as exhilarating, meant to change the music game 

from this end of the world. Hence, Jeff maintained 

that the music 'is more than a love song”'


Tersor Vishigh whose 

three friends were shot in 

his presence 

21-yr-old 

Doowuese 

Iordyar 

MEN FROM HELL ATTACK BENUE: 

They gunned down three friends 

in my presence — Survivor 

• Two-yr-old shot in private part, mother’s breast shattered by bullet 

• Herders slit my nostril, mouth, face — Septuagenarian 

By Peter Duru, Makurdi 

There have been horrifying tales from 

survivors of the recent bloody 

invasion of Logo, Tarka and Guma 

Local Government Areas, LGAs, of Benue 

State where suspected herdsmen massacred 

25 persons including a traditional ruler. 

For the victims, it was an attack no one 

saw coming given the peaceful atmosphere 

that pervaded the affected communities at 

the time of the bloody incursion. 

Some of the survivors who are currently 

hospitalized and recuperating at the Benue 

State University Teaching Hospital, 

BSUTH, recalled their ordeal, giving 

heartrending accounts of how they escaped 

death by the whiskers. 

Recounting his encounter with death, 25 

year- old Tersor Vishigh said he was 

returning from the community market 

square in Bashibo TiorTyu with his three 

friends when they ran into the killer herders. 

His words: “On that day I was at the 

Tiortyu Market to collect some money from 

somebody I worked for. And we usually stay 

out at the market square in the evenings. I 

was with friends whom I was seeing for the 

first time after a long time because I 

travelled to Benin. It was while we were 

returning home around 9pm that the 

armed herdsmen ambushed and attacked 

us. 

Armed herdsmen 

“They gunned down three of my friends 

who were with me. I was lucky the bullet 

pierced through the side of my stomach and 

I was bleeding. After shooting us they also 

opened fire on a commercial vehicle that 

was carrying some passengers on the 

Makurdi-Gboko Road. I don’t know if anyone 

was killed in the vehicle because the driver 

managed to escape with his passengers. 

“It was while they were attacking the 

vehicle that I managed to crawl into hiding. 

From where I hid I saw some of the attackers, 

they were all well-armed Fulani men and 

they were communicating in their 

language. 

“After the shooting, they took away the 

motorcycles that were parked by some of 

the people they killed and those who ran 

and left their motorcycles. 

“People were running in all directions, 

nobody knew where they were. It was as if 

we were in a war situation. They eventually 

retreated and the corpses of the people they 

killed were all over the place. 

“There were cries everywhere. Those of 

us with serious injuries were moved to the 

hospital in Wannune before government 

ordered that we should be transferred to the 

Teaching Hospital.” 

75-year-old 

Another survivor is 75- 

year-old David Iortom, who 

has machete cuts on his face 

and nostrils. With the aid of an 

interpreter, 

the 

septuagenarian with a face 

swathed in blood-soaked 

bandage narrated how he 

escaped death after the bandits 

macheted him and slit his 

nostrils. 

“I was attacked by herdsmen 

on my farm at Daudu where I 

went to get food for my family. 

They saw me and others on the 

farm and started chasing us for 

no reason. 

“While trying to escape I fell. 

They caught up with me and 

used their machete to attack 

me as if I was an animal that 

they wanted to slaughter. 

After that, they fled. Maybe 

they thought I was dead. 

Faith, 

mother of 

2-yr-old 

girl shot in 

private part 

Our 

grandfather 

had attempted 

to escape with 

my daughter 

and others but 

he was shot 

dead .My 

daughter was 

also shot in 

her private 

part 

“I would have died. My family waited for 

me to come back and became worried. But 

luckily information got to them that people 

were chased from their farms by the 

herdsmen. They came searching for me and 

eventually rescued me and took me to the 

hospital. It is still a miracle that I am alive,” 

25- yr-old 

nursing 

mother, 

Lydia Chen 

75-yr-old 

David Iortom 

he narrated. 

Also, a nursing mother of two, 25 yearold 

Lydia Chen, lost her fingers and also 

suffered a bullet wound on her right 

breast in a near-death encounter with 

the killer herders. 

In her account she said: “We saw a large 

number of armed herdsmen coming into 

our village and shooting sporadically. 

Before I could run away with my baby 

they caught me and started taking me 

away. 

Two month-old baby 

“I was weeping and begging them to 

spare me and my two monthold 

baby. They kept dragging 

us along and requested my 

phone. I told them I didn’t 

have a phone. They became 

angry at me. 

“They pushed me and I fell 

with my baby and they shot 

me. I later found myself in the 

hospital.” 

It was gathered from 

relatives that the victim and 

her baby were found in their 

pool of blood by the youths 

after the attackers had left. 

Unfortunately, she has a 

bullet wound on her right 

breast and also lost a finger to 

the bullets. 

The medical personnel 

attending to her told Sunday 

Vanguard that her baby was 

suffering as a result of her 

inability to feed her since her 

right breast was shattered. 

“But she is in stable condition and we 

hope to see her get better by the day 

because she has undergone surgery 

already. She was so lucky to be alive 

because the bullet would have gone 

through her chest. And we also thank 

God that her baby was not killed during 

the attack,” the nurse who pleaded 

anonymity said. 

Pretended 

Recounting her close shave with death, 

21-year- old Doowuese Iordyar said she is 

alive to tell her story through the mercy of 

God. 

According to her, “Last Monday around 

9pm, we suddenly started hearing sounds 

of gunshots everywhere. My father woke 

me and my other siblings and asked us to 

run. I ran to a house and hid myself with 

some other people. 

“They kept shooting and coming close to 

where we were hiding. One of the men who 

also hid in the house with us asked every 

one of us to run into the bush and hide 

because they were getting close to where we 

hid. 

“But as we ran into the bush we suddenly 

came face to face with the herdsmen who 

were carrying guns. They shot and killed 

some of the people I was running with. I was 

hit on the leg and couldn’t move. 

“I fell down. I felt I should not move despite 

the pain. I pretended that I was dead. One of 

them came and tossed me over and took my 

phone. 

“They kept speaking their Fulani language 

and then started walking away from me. I 

remained on the spot and waited for them to 

move very far from me. I then stood up and 

managed to crawl till I got to where I met 

some people who helped me tie my leg and 

we were eventually taken to the hospital.” 

Private part 

Lamenting the attack, Doowuese said: 

“We never had any issues with Fulani to 

warrant the attack. They just stormed our 

village in large number from different 

directions as if they wanted to kill everybody 

in our village.’’ 

Also pathetic is the story of two-year-old 

Msurshima Iorshie who is currently battling 

for her life at the BSUTH, after she was 

reportedly shot on her private part by 

the herdsmen who also killed her 

grandfather. 

Narrating the tragic story, her 25 

year-old mother said: “l left Msurshima 

in custody of her grandfather. I went to 

farm with my husband in a 

neighbouring community where we 

usually spend a few days because we 

have a small residence. 

“At the farm, we were alerted that 

night that armed herdsmen were 

moving towards our community. We 

horridly ran back only to discover that 

they had already attacked our village. 

They were said to be chasing and 

shooting at anybody they saw. 

“Our grandfather had attempted to 

escape with my daughter and others 

but he was shot dead. My daughter was 

also shot in her private part. 

“After the armed herders retreated, 

one of my brothers who went in search 

of our family members, saw her where 

she lay motionless looking as if she was 

dead. It was discovered that she was still 

breathing. But our grandfather was 

already dead. 

Our grandfather 

“We hurriedly carried her to a 

hospital in Wannune, the Local 

Government Headquarter for 

treatment. They revived her and we 

were immediately transferred to the 

Teaching Hospital on the orders of the 

state government for better 

treatment.” 

The devastated mother who could not 

hold back tears said: “We have never 

had anything to do with the herders. 

They came from Nasarawa State into 

neighbouring Guma Local 

Government Area where they have 

been attacking and killing people. They 

found their way to our village to kill 

our people. They came shooting our 

people and chasing us away from our 

ancestral homes. 

“I still do not know the sin my innocent 

daughter committed that they shot her 

like an animal. We thank God she is 

still alive but we do not know what 

becomes of her given where she was 

shot. I’m begging people to come and 

help me because I do not know what to 

do with her condition.” 

Meanwhile, one of the health 

personnel at the pediatric ward, who 

spoke on condition of anonymity, 

disclosed that the little girl was 

responding to treatment but noted that 

she would require correctional surgery 

on her vagina. 

“It was a miracle the little girl is still 

alive. She will require correctional 

surgery on vagina. But we must 

earnestly commend Governor Samuel 

Ortom for ordering the immediate 

evacuation of all the injured to the 

BSUTH where they are receiving 

attention,” he said.

PAGE 14—SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 17, 2022 

Tinubu and Osinbajo: Two 

bald men fighting over a comb 

“Beware! When Fortune will 

elect to trick a man, she plots 

his overthrow/by such a means 

as he would least expect” - 

Geoffrey 

W 

Chaucer, 1342-1400. 

hile Tinubu and 

Osinbajo were busy 

and distracted by their 

presidential ambitions, 

Buhari has “shaved their 

heads clean” behind their 

backs. He has swindled them 

and handed the APC to their 

political enemies. I pity both 

of them. They have been 

stabbed in the back; and they 

are forced to suffer and smile. 

Bola Tinubu has lost more. He 

was one of the two founding 

fathers of the political 

conspiracy called All 

Progressives Congress, APC. 

His original partner in the 

conspiracy was Buhari. 

Without Tinubu’s money and 

media clout, Buhari could 

never have won the election 

on his own; even if he tries a 

thousand times. Without 

Buhari, Tinubu might not 

have been able to be a leader 

in the ruling party. They struck 

an agreement. Buhari would 

go first; Tinubu would follow. 

They forgot that all power 

belongs to God. 

The Action Congress of 

Nigeria, ACN, led by Tinubu, 

was the biggest faction of all 

the legacy groups which 

formed the APC – which 

included a small group from 

the Peoples Democratic Party, 

PDP – the enemy then and, 

presumably now. But, if 

Tinubu and Osinbajo should 

care to take a look at the top 

officials of the APC recently 

imposed by Buhari, their 

hearts should break. Senator 

Abdulahi Adamu is 

Chairman. That is bad 

enough. Chief Emma 

Enukwu is Deputy Chairman 

(South), Senator Iyilola 

Omisore is National 

Secretary, Hon. Victor 

Giadom is Vice Chairman 

(South South) – all former 

members of the PDP. The list 

of current APC party officials 

includes no single former 

member of the ACN. It has 

been a total clean out of the 

“landlords” by the “tenants”. 

Tinubu should have known 

that the game was over when 

he and Chief Bisi Akande tried 

unsuccessfully to dissuade 

Buhari from endorsing 

Omisore as the National 

Secretary. The message to the 

‘National Leader’ was “Get 

lost”. It is difficult to know 

how Tinubu interpreted that 

rebuff before the party 

machinery was handed to the 

long term adversaries of the 

progressive elements. To me, 

it was the final proof that the 

Jagaban has been handed to 

his political antagonists. 

They cannot forget how his 

associates and the media he 

controlled held them to 

contempt, though sometimes 

deserved. Now, he is at their 

mercy. Who would ever have 

thought that Omisore will be 

collecting nomination form 

from Tinubu and assessing 

his eligibility for elective 

office? A political earthquake 

occurred. 

Access the power of Resurrection 

Happy Easter! Happy 

Easter! Our Lord lives. 

Today, Christians 

remember, the risen Christ. 

We acknowledge the power of 

life over death. 

It reminds us that we have 

an advocate that lives. 

When Jesus encountered 

Zaccheus in Luke 19 vs.10 ( 

KJV): Jesus said, “For the Son 

of man is come to seek and to 

save that which was lost”. 

What have you lost, why 

have you lost those things? 

Some we lost, due to our 

lifestyle, some due to sins 

committed, many due to no 

fault of ours. In most serious 

cases, lives have been lost. 

When Jesus said he came to 

save, it means that he came to 

restore that which was lost. 

The story of Jairus 

daughter reinforces our faith 

that nothing is lost when 

Christ is involved. 

Mark 5 vs. 22-23: “ And, 

behold, there cometh one of 

the rulers of the synagogue, 

Jairus by name; and when he 

saw him, he fell at his feet, 

And besought him greatly, 

saying, My little daughter lieth 

at the point of death: I pray 

thee, come and lay thy hands 

on her, that she may be 

healed; and she shall live”. 

While Jesus was on his way 

pulling through the crowd, 

something happened. 

Verse 35: “ While he yet 

spake, there came from the 

ruler of the synagogue’s house 

certain which said, Thy 

daughter is dead: why 

troublest thou the Master any 

further? 

The one who brought the 

message is convinced that 

since Jairus’s daughter had 

died, there was nothing 

anyone could do. For him, 

that is an irreversible case. 

Let’s see how Jesus saved 

the life that was lost. 

Mark 5 vs. 39-42: “ And 

when he was come in, he saith 

unto them, Why make ye this 

ado, and weep? the damsel is 

not dead, but sleepeth. 

And they laughed him to 

scorn. But when he had put 

them all out, he taketh the 

father and mother of the 

damsel and them that were 

with him, and entereth in 

where the damsel was lying. 

And he took the damsel by 

the hand, and said unto her, 

Talitha cumi; which is being 

interpreted, Damsel, I say 

unto thee, arise. 

And straightway, the 

Tinubu exposed 

Osinbajo to 

temptation too strong 

to resist; now he is 

confronted with the 

consequences 

“An honest politician is one 

who, once bought, stays 

bought” - Simeon Cameron, 

VBQ p 190. 

I was not surprised by the 

open hostility which greeted 

Osinbajo’s announcement by 

Asiwaju’s supporters and 

Tinubu himself. The fights – 

verbal and physical – have just 

begun. Nigerians can expect 

an avalanche of calumny from 

both sides. Individuals and 

groups wanting to be on the 

right side of each of them will 

unleash endless secrets in their 

bid to gain upper hand in the 

court of public opinion. It will 

be interesting; but, it will also 

amount to a bloody waste of 

everybody’s time. The main 

issue remains the presidency. 

And, as far as that goes, unless 

there is divine intervention, the 

race is over for both of them. 

Let me provide a few reasons 

for now. 

Everybody is aware that 

Tinubu “made” Osinbajo. I 

have no idea how he plucked 

him out of academia to make 

him the Commissioner for 

Justice and Attorney General 

of Lagos State – despite the fact 

damsel rose, and walked; for 

she was of the age of 12 years. 

And they were astonished with 

a great astonishment”. 

There are lessons for us in this 

story that many of us are 

familiar with. First is that 

Jairus had faith that Jesus 

could heal his daughter and 

make her whole. He knew that 

the Lord Jesus could cancel his 

daughter’s appointment with 

death. He knew that Jesus 

could save him and his family 

from sorrowful tears. 

In between him exercising his 

faith, his daughter died and the 

servant came to inform that he 

needn’t bother about a 

situation that had become 

irreversible. 

In the physical sense, the 

servant was right. It was 

therefore not surprising that 

when Jesus said the damsel 

wasn’t dead but asleep, they 

laughed at him. 

Brethren, I don’t know what 

is happening in your life right 

now that has made people to 

conclude that your situation is 

irreversible. 

Perhaps, many see you as 

unable to have children 

because you have been 

married for long and attained 

the age of menopause. 

Or yours is a case that people 

know you as single when you 

ought to have gotten married 

and forgotten about bearing 

children. Human beings may 

be laughing at you as they 

laughed at Jesus when he said, 

the damsel was sleeping. 

In the name of Jesus, the 

power of resurrection will visit 

you and restore to you whatever 

that the man is from Ogun 

State and Lagos has 

competent indigenes who 

could have filled the position. 

Being LASG AG immediately 

propels one into the legal 

limelight in Nigeria; because 

the lucky person handles 

more top level cases, 

especially corporate, than any 

other AG in Nigeria. It is a 

springboard to great wealth – 

even if the individual was as 

poor as a church rat before the 

appointment. So, even before 

he became Vice President, 

Tinubu had already 

empowered Osinbajo. 

It is also no longer a secret 

that the Jagaban of Borgu 

nominated Osinbajo for VP. 

That, more than doubles the 

sense of gratitude Tinubu 

should ordinarily expect from 

his former subordinate. I don’t 

know if Tinubu made it clear 

to Osinbajo in 2014 that he 

had reserved exclusively for 

himself the right of first refusal 

to succeed Buhari in 2023. If 

not, the man, generally 

acclaimed as a great political 

strategist, committed a 

blunder. It is impossible to 

spend even one month, never 

mind seven years, as VP 

without wanting to be 

President. Tinubu exposed 

Osinbajo to temptation too 

strong to resist; now he is 

confronted with the 

consequences. Like every 

Napoleon or Hitler, Asiwaju 

must now fight on three fronts 

in order to clinch the ticket. 

He has an uphill task. 

“Gratitude is not an active 

sentiment in politics. It is a 

mistake to take account of it” 

- Prince Clemens von 

Metternich, 1773-1859 

(March 18, 1841). 

Osinbajo, meanwhile, is not 

totally without his own selfdefence 

against the serious 

accusations of being an 

ingrate. He saved Tinubu from 

being ousted as Lagos State 

Governor when he was 

accused of falsifying his 

qualifications in 1998. The 

late Chief Gani Fawehinmi 

pursued him all the way to the 

Supreme Court and obtained 

a judgment. But, it was 

Osinbajo who kept him in 

No matter what the 

situation is, the 

power of God is 

available to turn your 

tears of sorrow to 

tears of joy 

you have lost or that which 

you ought to have obtained. 

The power that brings life 

to any situation considered 

dead lies with JESUS. 

As a genuine child of God, 

you have a right to claim that 

power of resurrection. 

Haven’t you heard that a 

woman that doctors have 

declared infertile because she 

produced weak eggs, give 

birth to a set of twins? 

Open up and let the power 

of resurrection come into your 

life. Let that power restore 

whatever you have lost. 

As a child of God, you 

shouldn’t be called barren. 

You shouldn’t be known for 

miscarriages in the hospital. 

Perhaps yours is a case of 

illness that has made you a 

regular visitor to the hospital. 

Brethren, such are not 

meant for you. May be these 

issues are found in your life 

because some enemies have 

planted them there. 

Exercise your authority in 

the word of God. 

Luke 10 vs. 19: “ Behold, I 

give unto you power to tread 

on serpents and scorpions, 

and over all the power of the 

enemy: and nothing shall by 

any means hurt you”. 

Jesus said he has given you 

power. In other words, power 

is available for you provided 

you are able to access it and 

utilize it. 

How? You can access it in 

the word of God, the Holy 

Bible. However, you must 

create time to study the word 

of God. Somewhere in it is 

the word that will give you 

power in the area you need it. 

Power of God is so 

important that the disciples of 

Jesus also needed to obtain it 

before they began their 

ministry. 

Acts 1 vs. 8: “ But ye shall 

receive power, after that the 

Holy Ghost is come upon you: 

and ye shall be witnesses unto 

me both in Jerusalem, and in 

all Judaea, and in Samaria, 

and unto the uttermost part 

of the earth”. 

Power comes upon you 

through the Holy Ghost. The 

power of God is unique. It is 

unlocks whatever has been 

locked, it overpowers all 

forces of the enemy; it 

overshadows all forms of 

darkness. 

Brethren, it is your duty to 

access the power that God has 

made available for you. 

You cannot access power 

when you resign yourself to 

fate. Let your faith in the Lord 

stand firm against fate in your 

life. In the name of Jesus, your 

womb will receive the power 

of God and you shall conceive 

and you will deliver safely. 

Exodus 23 vs. 25 &26 :” And 

ye shall serve the LORD your 

office. Otherwise, Tinubu 

might have been forgotten by 

now. So, Tinubu also owes 

Osinbajo a debt of gratitude. 

Furthermore, it has become 

axiomatic in politics that 

there are no permanent 

friends or enemies – only 

permanent interests. Asiwaju 

has been a great practitioner 

of that approach to politics. 

The way he handled the 

betrayal of progressives in 

Lagos State by Musiliu 

Obanikoro and Sewa 

Ogunlewe, elected senators by 

progressives in Lagos, who 

decamped to the PDP with our 

mandate revealed his 

contempt for us – the 

electorate. We can stand all 

day in rain or hot sun to vote 

for someone who turns out to 

be a defector and Tinubu alone 

reserves for himself the right 

to forgive the political 

malfeasance. To me that is not 

leadership; that assumes that 

his own political self-interest 

is all that counts. Osinbajo’s 

entry into the presidential race 

has, at least, sent an 

unmistakable message to 

Asiwaju that other people 

have interests too; and, more 

than ever, there is an urgent 

need for him to start 

negotiating his way out of the 

present predicament. 

Unfortunately, he has no 

advisers in the true sense of 

the word. All he has are “Yesmen”, 

the real enemy of a 

leader in crisis period. 

SOUTH-WEST APC NOW 

A HOUSE DIVIDED 

“A house divided against 

itself cannot stand.” That is 

wisdom as old as the hills and 

valleys on earth. Those 

wedded to the two competing 

camps might want to pretend 

that there is no division; that 

theirs represents the 

mainstream. But, that is 

deadly wishful thinking. As far 

as I am concerned, Tinubu 

betrayed the ‘Babas’ who 

brought him to prominence 

through the Alliance for 

Democracy, AD, by using 

people like Osinbajo. Whether 

he likes it or not, he has a 

grown son, called Yemi 

Osinbajo, vying for the 

presidency. He will be welladvised 

to take the fellow 

seriously. I will give him some 

reasons. But, not now. 

To be continued… 

HOW 

IGBO 

PRESIDENCY MIGHT 

STILL BECOME A REALITY 

“The triumph of 

imagination over reality is 

one of the humours of history” 

- Will and Ariel Durant, in 

ROUSSEAU AND 

REVOLUTION, VBQ p 100. 

Will and Ariel Durant were 

the most famous married 

couple in history. They wrote 

nearly ten huge history books 

plus a summary – which are 

absolutely delightful to read. 

They were also packed full of 

surprises of history and 

philosophical insights. It is 

that particular statement, 

quoted above, in a book over 

600 pages long, which forms 

the anchor to my article today. 

Believe me, history is full of 

ironies and Nigeria might be 

heading for one. 

However, before 

proceeding, permit me to 

answer a question which has 

been asked of me several 

times. It comes in various 

forms. But, it comes down to 

this: Dele, why are you a 

Yoruba stubbornly 

advocating for an Igbo 

President for 2023, when your 

own brothers are in the race? 

In answering the question, I 

will be forced to repeat myself 

– for the sake of those who did 

not read my explanations 

before. My position is entirely 

principle-based; and was 

taken long before now. I 

actually believed that the 

consideration given to the 

Yoruba people in 1999, 

resulting in a contest between 

two Yoruba candidates – 

Obasanjo and Falae - should 

have been given to the Igbo 

with Alex Ekwueme going 

against an Igbo opponent. So, 

here we go. 

“There comes a time when 

one must take a position that 

is neither safe nor politic, nor 

popular, but we must take it 

because conscience tells him 

it is right” - Rev. Martin Luther 

King, Jr, 1929-1968. 

God, and he shall bless thy 

bread, and thy water; and I 

will take sickness away from 

the midst of thee. 

There shall nothing cast 

their young, nor be barren, in 

thy land: the number of thy 

days, I will fulfill” 

God has spoken that it is 

your right to live a healthy life; 

your right not to lose your 

babies, your right not to be 

barren provided you serve the 

Lord. 

A Christian that serves the 

Lord, is not just a church 

worker but also is a prayerful 

one. Brethren, the power of 

God is able to unblock the 

blocked fallopian tubes. . 

The one, who wants to 

access the power of God, must 

pray with expectation. 

He/ She must praise the 

Lord from the heart. 

No matter what the 

situation is, the power of God 

is available to turn your tears 

of sorrow to tears of joy. 

With the power of 

resurrection, Jesus overcame 

the world. You too will 

overcome every challenge in 

your life in the name f Jesus. 

Easter for Christians 

shouldn’t just be about 

winning and dinning only. It 

is a period for testifying to the 

goodness of God.It is the time 

to win more souls for Christ. 

Prayer point: Lord Jesus, let 

the power of resurrection of 

our Lord come into my life 

and grant my heart’s desire ( 

state your heart’s desire). 

I see you testify soon in Jesus 

name. 

Happy Easter!


PAGE 16— SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 17, 2022 

OSINACHI: 

‘How I sensed 

foul play’ 

•Sibling of late gospel artiste narrates 

turbulent encounter with sister’s husband 

...as relatives, friends reveal final 

moments of the deceased 

•‘Blood patches seen in her heart region 

and she vomited blood profusely’ 

By Luminous Jannamike, Abuja 

The death of Osinachi Nwachukwu, 

celebrated gospel artiste based in 

Abuja, shocked the whole country as 

well-meaning persons, including Senate 

President Ahmad Lawan; the Minister of 

Women Affairs and Social Development, 

Dame Pauline Tallen and top clerics, 

condoled with her family 

The 42-year-old was the lead singer at the 

Dunamis International Gospel Centre, 

DIGC, headquarters, Abuja before her 

death. She was also a mother of three sons 

and a daughter. 

Meanwhile, her marriage to Peter 

Nwachukwu, who hails from Omaboma 

community located near Ukpor in Anambra 

State, has been alleged to be marred by 

domestic violence which triggered health 

complications that led to her death. 

As horrific as the tales of abuse she reportedly 

suffered in the hands of her spouse may 

have seemed, many people who knew 

Osinachi and associated with her very closely 

say the gospel music star accepted her 

situation in life as God’s design. 

They also testified that the mother of four 

children, while on the sick bed in her final 

days, hinted that her death would be a 

function of a race of life well finished. 

Narrating her encounter with the late gospel 

music star before her death, Ebube, who 

was Osinachi’s close confidante, said the 

deceased told her that if she didn’t make it 

in hospital, she would be fulfilled because 

she had done what the Lord asked her to do. 

Ebube told Sunday Vanguard that Osinachi 

saw apparitions of Christ Jesus, a few days 

before she totally submitted to her Maker, 

asking her to start “packing” her things “for 

it is time to go.” 

Heaven 

She added that she was sure the late gospel 

music artiste was in heaven. 

The lady said, “Osinachi told me on her 

hospital bed that this was the time to go on 

Thursday morning (a day before her death). 

She was okay and laughing. Thursday 

morning, Osinachi told me now she was very 

happy and that her joy was complete. 

“That same Thursday at the hospital, Peter 

(Osinachi’s husband) was so uneasy around 

her. He kept asking me ‘What was I doing in 

the hospital?’ The man kept reminding me 

that, hasn’t he asked me to always inform 

him before coming to see his wife? 

“But Osinachi was playing her song ‘Nara 

Ekele’ that day. She told me twice she saw 

Jesus looking down towards her from above. 

Osinachi also said that she saw two pythons 

fighting around the hospital atmosphere and 

Jesus told her to start packing her things. 

“I also remember that at the ‘Nations 

Worship’ programme where Osinachi 

ministered and said God told her to start 

packing, Peter didn’t want her to attend that 

programme because of a ‘picture issue’ at 

that time, but I told him that the people she 

was supposed to minister to will give their 

lives to Christ, that if they didn’t, God will 

hold him responsible. That was when Osinachi now 

came to the programme. 

”The night before she died, Osinachi called me 

on phone and said: ‘Make fried rice for me’. I told 

her ‘Please, can I bring it the next morning, because 

I was just coming in that night?’ 

“She was now trying to say something, but the 

husband came around her screaming, ‘Rest, rest, 

rest!’ and we couldn’t continue the conversation. 

So, in the morning when I came, I met people 

crying. 

“Osinachi is an angel and 

now dwelling among the 

host of angels in heaven. 

She kept talking about 

heaven. The last time I 

spoke to Osinachi I told her 

that she had to be strong for 

her children. 

“I was actually the one who 

brought the buns Peter 

distributed to people after 

Osinachi died. I made the 

snacks for her children. I also 

brought the fried rice she 

asked for. I told the children 

‘Your mother wanted fried 

rice, and that fried rice you 

will have’. 

“I once told Peter to his face 

‘Why is it that you don’t 

know how to manage 

people?’ I also told him that I was not happy with 

the way he was treating his wife. 

“Rather than respond directly to me, he turned to 

Osinachi and started querying her, saying ‘So, you 

have started this ‘soul tie’ thing again?’ He also 

said that he had not fully succeeded in separating 

her from her twin sister, and now he has started 

another one with me. 

“Peter used to tell Osinachi that it was he who 

made her a star and that he was like a Siamese 

twin to “daddy” (Pastor Paul Enenche). He also 

kept telling her that she was anti-social. 

“This is particularly funny, because he is the one 

who is anti-social in many ways. He was merely 

He probably kicked 

her in the chest region, 

because she kept 

telling me ‘My chest! 

My chest! while I was 

with her in hospital 

projecting his self-image on her, but didn’t realise 

it. Peter doesn’t associate with people around 

him, but Osinachi is just a jolly good fellow.” 

Journey to hospital 

Speaking on Osinachi’s journey to the National 

Hospital in Abuja where she eventually died, 

Ebube said: “Despite having two functional 

cars, Osinachi was brought home from the 

Federal Medical Centre Abuja in commercial 

vehicle. 

“She okay, but the next day, she called me 

again to say ‘Oga’ (her husband) 

was taking her to the hospital 

again. 

“Later she told me that what 

they saw in her heart region 

were like blood patches and that 

she vomited blood profusely. I 

think they suspected cancer 

initially and did her biopsy, but 

the doctors didn’t find anything. 

God will use her case to set a lot 

of women free (from domestic 

violence).” 

On Osinachi’s music, Ebube 

said the late gospel 

songstress also called her to say 

she dreamt and beheld herself 

passing on a microphone to her 

twin sister, Amarachi. 

“Osinachi recorded about four 

or five songs before her death 

and gave them to me in a hard drive to upload 

on her streaming platforms, but Peter seized 

the hard drives and the songs,” she added. 

However, Sunday Vanguard gathered 

that the producer of the unreleased works still 

had digital copies of the songs in his computer 

system. 

Mrs Idoko, another friend of Osinachi and fellow 

chorister at DIGC, corroborated Ebube’s 

account. 

According to her, Osinachi, under the influence 

of the Holy Spirit, once said ‘It was time to start 

packing our things to go’. 

Ekwueme: The Osinachi unforgettable song 

...watched 72 million times on YouTube 

By Benjamin Njoku 

hen she was alive, she never had the 

Wprivilege to make headlines in national dailies. 

But since her painful exit last Friday, Osinachi 

Nwachukwu has become an overnight superstar 

whose sad story is presently considered as more 

precious than gold. 

What an irony of life! 

The gospel singer, who endeared herself to the 

millions of lovers of gospel music across the world 

after the release of the hit song, ‘Ekwueme’, which 

has been watched over 72 million times on YouTube, 

was not as popular as her soulful songs were. 

In fact, since she ventured into gospel music, 

Osinachi ultimately defined her path, which she 

followed religiously until her death. 

Call her ‘an unsung ministration in songs martyr’ 

and you may not be wrong. Osinachi sang with 

her soul and the lost of her treasured voice 

will forever be remembered. 

She will equally be remembered not only as 

a soulful singer but also, as a trailblazer in 

the gospel music industry in Nigeria, releasing 

hit songs and becoming one of the golden 

voices of this generation. 

Sadly, with the passage of time, all of the 

stories surrounding her mysterious death will 

fade into oblivion, but some of her recordings 

will long outlast the many sad tales from her 

life. Some believe it will take a lifetime for 

anyone to marry her unique blend of authority, 

power and grace in the presence of God. 

‘Ekwueme’, which Prospa Ochimana 

released in 2018 and featured her on the track, 

is the chorus song in most churches across the 

country. Despite rendering “Ekwueme’ in 

Igbo language , the spirit lifting song till date 

enjoys a high level acceptance of people from 

different ethnic groups in the country and 

Idoko went on, “Yes, Osinachi told me she had a 

vision of two pythons were fighting and that she 

kept seeing some negative forces around the 

hospital. She also told me about another dream 

that she where she had handed over the 

microphone to her twin sister. 

“To my surprise, when we came to their house on 

Sunday which was barely 48 hours after she died, 

Peter was sharing water, minerals and buns to us.” 

According to Gracious, another worship leader in 

DIGC who met with Osinachi in hospital before 

her death, Peter (husband) did everything 

humanly possible to prevent her friends from 

visiting and praying for her on the sick bed. 

“Peter told me to be calling him and not Osinachi 

directly, because I ‘know that she is sick’”, she 

said. 

“But when I called Osinachi and finally got through 

to her, she told me ‘Don’t mind my husband. Just 

come to the hospital and see me.’ This was because 

she knew that every time I called to say I was 

coming to visit her in hospital, Peter will tell me not 

to come that he was not around. 

“Even on the Friday that Osinachi died, before 

her demise, I told him (Peter) that I was coming 

around (hospital). He told me not to, because he 

was going out, but that he would call me when he 

returned. 

“Peter didn’t know I was already in the hospital. 

He was so shocked and ashamed when he saw 

me right there. The nurses said Osinachi was just 

smiling and saying ‘Thank you, Jesus!’ before she 

died.” 

Osinachi’s 

brother’s 

younger 

account 

Osinachi’s only surviving brother, Chiemerie Eze, 

also shared his last moments with her before she 

was pronounced dead by doctors. 

The grieving sibling said, “When Osinachi was 

sick, I went to the hospital, but Peter refused to let 

me draw close to my sister to know what was going 

on. 

“The day I visited, he was visibly annoyed and 

approached to query why I was speaking with the 

doctors and asking them questions. He also 

questioned my right to ask the medical personnel 

questions about his wife who was my blood sister. 

“Right there, I began to wondering whether he 

was in his right senses to be telling me all these 

and asking me that kind of question. That was 

when I began to sense foul play. 

“After he embarrassed me at the hospital, I kept 

my cool. Then he later came around where I was 

reclining and told me that it was cancer that was 

afflicting my sister. I became all the more curious 

and started snooping to find out what exactly was 

wrong with my sister. 

“On Friday that Osinachi died, someone called me 

to ask, if I had heard from my sister and and I said 

‘No’. So, he simply asked me to endeavour to hear 

from her. 

“Shortly thereafter, Peter called me to say he had 

lost his wife. I dropped the call on him immediately. 

He probably kicked her in the chest region, 

because she kept telling me ‘My chest! My chest! 

while I was with her in the hospital.” 

Likewise, a cousin of the late gospel star who flew 

into Nigeria from his base in Turkey last Monday, 

said he sensed something was amiss. 

“I can’t even understand why Osinachi couldn’t 

open up to tell anybody about all that she was 

passing through in her marriage. She just changed. 

It is not normal,” he quipped. 

Meanwhile, contrary to reports, Osinachi’s elder 

sister clarified that Peter was not a minister in 

DIGC. 

“They made Peter Nwachukwu a pastor at 

Nicholas Ukachukwu’s prayer ministry not in 

Dunamis church,” the sister said. 

The woman also maintained that Osinachi never 

knew about her husband’s first marriage with 

another woman in church. 

“My sister never said anything about another wife. 

She couldn’t have known about it and not tell 

anyone including me,” she said. 

Unlike what Osinachi’s sister observed in the 

Nwachukwu residence where only people in small 

groups were visiting the family, she said their house 

in Enugu is now like a Mecca of sort following the 

news of Osinachi’s death. 

“Every day at our house in Enugu, it is like a 

pilgrimage ground. People are trooping in to console 

us. You will think Osinachi lived with us there. 

Some really irate youths who visited us in Enugu 

were ready to ‘redesign’ Peter’s body. While our 

family does not support violence or endorse taking 

the law into one’s hands, we thank Nigerians at 

home and abroad who have committed to fighting 

for justice in my sister’s case. Justice for Osinachi 

is what we really seek,” she said. 

beyond. ‘Ekwueme’, which means ‘the God who 

talks and does’, many believe, was the song that 

brought Osinachi to the limelight and, perhaps, 

set her at the peak of her career. 

But ‘Ikem’, also known as ‘God of all Power’, is 

another powerful song that distinguished Osinachi 

from other gospel singers in the country. 

The song, a single, released in November 2021, 

could bring God down from heaven. But the video 

of the song, shot by Light Cinema Films, was 

released on April 2 l, 2022. The video has over 

692,000 views on YouTube. Unfortunately, the 

song was not a commercial success due to poor 

distribution. 

Osinachi was more known for her musical 

collaborations than her solo efforts as a gospel 

singer. Some of these collaborations include 

‘Nara Ekele’, a popular song sung by Pastor 

Paul Eneche and his Dunamis Voice Choir 

Osinachi led the Dunamis voice choir that sang 

the song’s chorus while Pastor Eneche chanted in 

‘tongues’. The song is believed to have shot 

Osinachi to fame. After ‘Nara Ekele’, Osinachi 

became popular in Dunamis headquarters in Abuja 

where she led praise and worship sections, 

especially in Igbo.

April 17, 2022 

7 

Tips To Take 

Care Of 

Your 

Skin 

Stand 

Out with 

Fascinators 

This 

Easter 

King Hakbal: 

Styling Royalties

6 

3 

6 

IN THIS ISSUE 

email: allurefortheworld@vanguardngr.com 

HAPPINESS 

4 Cover : King Hakbal - Styling 

Royalties 

6 Sexmatics: Bringing Easter Into 

The Bedroom 

8 Billboard 

CELEBRATION 

3 

7 

Fashion : Stand Out with Fascinators This 

Easter 

Beauty : 7 Tips to Take Care of Your Skin 

17 APRIL 2022 

WELCOME... 

It seems there is no end to the 

stress, distress, pain, and constant 

despair to which Nigerians are 

subjected to. Beside the economic 

hardship propelled by massive 

corruption by those in government 

that is crippling the fortunes of 

people, a lot seems to be going 

south with our social morality and 

values. 

The massive killings of 

Nigerians by bandits continue to 

add to the worsening situation of 

fear and terror in the land, while the drop in power supply 

has also marred the economic situations of small 

businesses. 

The death of gospel singer, Osinachi Nwachukwu 

allegedly battered to death by her husband; Peter 

Nwachukwu threw the Christian community into mourning 

last week. Concerned Nigerians have continued to call for 

investigation and for the alleged killer to be brought to 

account. Her place will even be more missed on this 

Easter Sunday for the special place she occupied in 

Christendom. 

But it’s Easter, the commemoration of the resurrection 

of Jesus Christ, an event that signifies the defeat of death 

and the hope of salvation. Today’s celebration it is hoped, 

will rekindle hope and faith in the saving power of a loving 

God. 

This is hoping that this year’s celebration will bring to 

life the things that are dead not just in the country buy in 

our individual lives. 

Enjoy our package this week 

and have a great celebration. 

J . E 

Jemi Ekunkunbor 

lookposh2017@gmail.com 

08052201126 

Quotes 

“In matters of style, 

swim with the current; in 

matters of principle, 

stand like a rock.” 

- Thomas Jefferson 

“Fashion fades, only style 

remains the same.” 

- Coco Chanel 

“The difference between 

style and fashion is 

quality.” - Giorgio Armani 

“Fashion is about dressing 

according to what’s 

fashionable. Style is more 

about being yourself.” 

- Oscar de la 

Renta 

8 

EDITOR 

JEMI EKUNKUNBOR 

ASST. EDITOR 

YEMISI SULEIMAN 

REPORTER 

Josephine Agbonkhese 

ALLURE ONLINE 

RITA OKOYE 

TEMITOPE OJO 

LAYOUT / DESIGN 

OLAYIWOLA AJAGBE 

TEAM 

CONTRIBUTORS 

ADESUWA 

EWOIGBOKHAN 

BAMIYO ISELEMA EMINA 

HEAD OF PRODUCTION 

CHARLES KAMMA 

HEAD MARKETING 

JANET NAJOMOH 

(08037156911) 

PHOTO 

OSCAR OCHIOGU 

(08034746487) 

Printed and published by Vanguard Media Ltd 

Vanguard Avenue Kirikiri Canal; P.M.B 1007 

Apapa, Lagos.

Stand Out with 

Fascinators 

This Easter 

FASHION 

By - Yemisi Suleiman 

Nothing says Easter quite like a beautiful fascinator sitting pretty on your 

head as you step out for church service this Easter Sunday. Fascinators 

come in different designs and fabric with a variety of colours to choose 

from. It can be for any season, and makes an ideal top off for weddings, 

fashion show, carnivals, tea party and other special occasions. 

However, if you are thinking of wearing the fascinator to an event, 

make sure you pick the right shape, size, and style for you. The way you 

attach a fascinator to your hair depends on the fascinator style. Whether 

you are wearing a headband fascinator or one desined with a comb, the 

idea is to maintain a simple hairstyle to keep it from distracting from the 

fascinator, consider something like a slicked-back hairstyle or a simple 

ponytail and use a hairspray to secure it in place. 

Here are other tips you should know and a selection of 

fascinators to choose from. 

Coordinate the size with your hair style. If you want 

to wear a fascinator with your hair slicked back, then 

go with a smaller one. If you’re going to wear your 

hair loosely pulled up, then a medium size is 

probably the best. Wear a large fascinator if you’re 

wearing your hair down and in a voluminous style 

Pick a colour that matches your outfit. Your 

fascinator will give off a more subtle, classy 

boldness if it looks like it belongs with the outfit 

you’re wearing. To ensure this, wear a fascinator 

that is the same colour as the outfit you are wearing. 

Get a fascinator that complements your face shape. 

It looks best to create a contrast between your 

fascinator shape and your face shape. If you have a 

more round face, opt for a slightly taller fascinator. If 

you have a longer or thinner face, a spherical or 

disc-shaped fascinator looks best. 

Stay classy and stylish. You don’t need to wear an 

enormous peacock feather to stand out, instead, 

keep it simple but appealing. 

April 17, 2022 / 

3

INTERVIEW 

King Hakbal: 

Styling Royalties 

Words By - Rita Okoye 

Hakeem Adeyinka Balogun, the Creative Director and CEO of King Hakbal 

International; an established fashion brand is leaving no stone unturned in making a 

huge impact with his designs, home and abroad. 

King Hakbal’s bespoke wears speak volume of sartorial elegance, royalty, confidence and 

culture. 

In this interview, the Mathematics graduate of The University of Lagos (UNILAG), says he 

hopes to, one day, style Former President Barack Obama and international music star Sean 

Combs (P. Diddy). 

He also sheds more light on the problems of the Nigerian fashion industry and the way forward. 

What inspired the King Hakbal brand? 

I would say royalty, passion, and the 

eventual joy of wanting to make every man look 

Royal. I would also say that, my fashion sense 

is a natural God-given talent that I absolutely 

had to share with the world. Not sharing it would 

have been a sin against humanity in my 

opinion. I have always loved fashion, even, as a 

kid, but I would say my very fashionable parents 

were a great influence, especially my mother. 

She had always dressed my siblings and me 

with a very high sense of style, and so, I grew 

up with that standard. What particularly 

prompted my interest into making others look 

good was my sincere desire to see everyone 

looking classy and special. I, sometime, wished 

I had special powers, because I would have 

made every single human look lovely every 

single day. For me, fashion is life and fashion 

brings out the true beauty in all. These are the 

major reasons that inspired the King Hakbal 

Royal Bespoke brand. 

When you were starting out, what gave you 

the confidence that fashion designing is a 

profitable venture that could put bread on 

the table? 

To be honest, when I started, I never thought 

of the financial side of fashion. My main focus 

was just to make my clients truly happy and 

basically to deliver a very satisfying value for 

money service. I will say truly that, all that I 

have achieved so far is from sheer dint of hard 

work, perseverance and God’s divine grace. We all 

never know in the beginning that whatever we set 

out to do will be a profitable one, or will guarantee 

bread on the table. But if you are one that never 

likes to fail, that fear of failure will always keep you 

driven that, you will always want to do more. So, in 

a nutshell, I will say that it’s the fear of failure and 

pure passion that gave me and is still giving me, 

the confidence that with God by side, He will 

always provide the next bread on my blessed table. 

To God be all the Glory and praise. 

What were the initial challenges you 

encountered and how did you scale the 

hurdles? 

I used to have power problems (Electricity) 

when I started in 2003. We all know how bad our 

power situation is but by the grace of God, I saved 

up for a very good diesel generator; one that can 

conveniently power all the machines in my factory. 

That was a very huge achievement for me that 

year. I look back now and all I can say is 

‘Alhamdulilah Robeel Alameen’. It is really not easy 

for a young Nigerian entrepreneur that has a very 

big dream ahead of him or her. I also didn’t get the 

type of support that I expected to get from family 

and friends, but God put total strangers in my path 

and my story changed. These blessed people saw 

how hard working and passionate I was and kept 

referring me to other clients until the world knew 

my name. Social media has also been an amazing 

platform to show my pieces to the world; I am so 

thankful for that. 

Having come this far what lessons have you 

learnt about fashion designing that can benefit 

those coming into the profession? 

Always deliver a good job. Listen to your client’s 

instructions to the letter z. Even if you forget, don’t 

be too shy to put a call through to ask further 

questions because at the end of the day, that smile 

on your client’s face when he or she receives or fits 

into the outfit is what will guarantee a smooth 

transaction, and eventually bring more clients to 

you. I have also learnt that a very good customer 

service is important. Right from the way you speak 

to your clients over the phone, to the way you 

welcome them whenever they are around you will 

say a lot and help a whole lot in pushing you and 

your fashion brand forward. Always note that one 

client is like a million because you never know who 

is who. 

Another interesting thing that I have learnt is 

that as a fashion designer, you must always look 

the part because there is this wise saying that goes 

– “Whoever says that he wants to style us, we will 

be wise enough to see what this so called person 

has on their own back first.” This will tell us if he 

truly knows his onions or not. Furthermore, I have 

also learnt that humility is key. Choose your words 

very carefully whenever you are around your 

clients. Being in your presence is an experience for 

4 / April 17, 2022

INTERVIEW 

them and it’s up to you to make sure that it’s a fun 

one that they won’t forget in a rush. This will 

ensure that you are always in their minds and on 

their lips whenever they speak about a fashion 

designer brand. 

What has been your best and worst moment so 

far as a fashion designer? 

I have only had best moments because I love 

what I do. To name one of the many best moments 

will be taking a bow after the release of my 

collections on the runway on major platforms. 

Fashion is life so that makes everyday a chance to 

make another stunning fashion statement. I always 

say that the world is my runway and everyone 

around are my audience. I simply love what I do. I 

truly can’t see myself doing anything else. God 

bless the Nigerian fashion industry (Amen). 

What motivated you to go to UK and New York? 

What motivated me to travel abroad was 

because of my clients in those parts of the world 

and also to broaden my horizon. I wanted to know 

and learn more about fashion. I also needed a 

refreshing inspiration that could bring out an 

outstanding creative side to my mind. The world is 

like a book. If we don’t travel the world and stay 

in just one country, it’s almost like reading 

just one page in an amazing and 

adventurous book. I also wanted to see 

the things that I used to watch on 

television as a kid in reality. Growing up 

and till date, I am only drawn to 

American movies. They actually 

make me feel like I am partly 

American deep down. So, 

travelling to these parts of the 

world was just out of curiosity and 

adventure. 

You are trying to broaden your 

market to UK, what is unique about 

the Nigerian fashion industry? 

What is unique about the Nigerian 

fashion industry is the Nigerian sense 

of style and confidence that we 

Nigerians carry so effortlessly. I, also, 

For me, 

fashion is 

life and 

fashion 

brings out 

the true 

beauty in 

all. 

particularly love how we Nigerians tend to stand 

taller and adjust our carriage whenever we are in 

any of our ethnic or traditional attires. One can 

immediately see a boost in our self-confidence; 

watching that transformation is simply priceless to 

me. This makes me want to share this truly regal 

Nigerian attires and regalia with the whole world. 

How affordable are your designs and who are 

your target clients? 

My pieces are very affordable for what I deliver. 

My target clients are men that see themselves 

as Kings at heart; men that do not see 

themselves as ordinary, men with a very simple 

yet outspoken sense of style. Men with class! 

Kindly share with us some of the fashion 

shows you have participated in and which 

was your best and why? 

The African Fashion Week and the ECOWAS 

Fashion Week; I particularly loved the African 

Fashion Week more because it carried so much 

power and the coordination. The turn-out was 

huge. I had the sound track from the classic 

movie - Coming to America - And my models 

dressed in stunning tuxedo, very sharp 3- piece 

business suits and some Dansiki and Agbada 

made out of Aso Oke. The screams and 

applause were extremely overwhelming for me. 

There is nothing like reaping the fruits of one’s 

labour. 

Who is the perfect King Hakbal Lion Man? 

The perfect King Hakbal Lion Man is one that 

is fearless in the pursuit of what sets his soul on 

fire. A King Hakbal Lion Man is also one that 

sees himself as a King at heart; a driven- man 

who puts his money where his mouth is. He is 

also a stand-up man that exudes so much 

confidence. A King! 

Who do you dream to style as a fashion 

designer and why? 

Barack Obama, Sean Diddy Combs. I 

mentioned these two great men because 

Barack Obama is my role model. In 

fact, he is a girl’s dad just like me. He 

is also very stylish and he has so 

much swag. Secondly, I mentioned 

Sean Diddy Combs because he was 

my fashion idol growing up. He 

always loved to look sharp at every 

single chance given to him. He also 

inspires a whole generation. 

How friendly is the Nigerian economy 

to fashion entrepreneurs? 

It is extremely friendly because we 

Nigerians are so fashion forward. It’s very 

inspiring. We also have lots of fashionloving 

Nigerians in the Diaspora who see 

the good works that we fashion designers 

are doing on social media. They have been 

so supportive financially. Thank God for 

social media, especially Instagram. Instagram 

has helped every entrepreneur show their 

creativity to the world in a very easy, yet 

professional platform. 

What projection do you have for your brand 

in the next 5 years? 

To be the Royal and Premium Men’s wear 

brand all over Africa and the world at large. To 

have stores in major cities all around the world, 

and to continue to have the high and mighty in 

the society wear King Hakbal. 

How do you relax and have time for family? 

I pray, drink lots of water and go to a private 

beach house with my family. I also love having 

conversations with my wife and daughters about 

almost everything. That really relaxes me as 

they are the love of my life. 

April 17, 2022 / 5

with Adesuwa 07052403531 | adesuwaewoigbokhan@hotmail.com 

BRINGING EASTER INTO 

THE BEDROOM 

here are tons of incredible ways of 

T 

celebrating Easter with your partner in 

the bedroom. No holiday is complete 

without some sexual treats, see it as a 

bonus chore, and consider using it as a 

fun celebratory activity. Follow the tips 

below for that blast you so desired. 

First and foremost, you have to set the mood 

with foreplay- This act is very important, it’s the time 

to nurture before ruffling the bed sheets, especially 

as most lovers blame the absence of romance for 

the lack of sex. Make your intentions known 

especially as your lover is not a mind reader. Let 

your partner know if you need some cuddling, 

affection and smooching in order to get you all 

loved-up for proper sex play. Try creating the right 

ambience like, always having the right music ready 

to play including, candle light supper, even if it’s a 

takeaway food. 

Keep your clothes on even though you are 

usually used to removing them before intercourse. 

Leaving some stuff on can help bring out your sexy 

side, guys going the commando way- just unzip 

your trouser is a lot hotter than leaving your socks. 

“Doing the opposite of what you usually do can feel quite 

exciting.” 

It’s time to get steamy - Like, taking a sexy 

shower with your lovebird, slowly lather each other up 

with some sexy-scented shower gel. With warm towels 

nearby, ready to dry each other off before tumbling into 

the waiting bed. Engaging each other in steamy little 

pleasures, have a way of giving loads of ideas for more 

sensual tricks to tempt each other in to bed.You can offer 

to wash his head gently and caressing his 

scalp. Ask him or her to do the same for you. 

Have sex in different places by 

switching locations - From the 

kitchen counter to the hallway/on the couch/in 

your bedroom closet. The different sounds, 

lighting, textures and smell will up your game. 

He is very much interested in wanting to know 

exactly what turns you on. Feel free to show 

him rather than tell him what to do. Make some 

noise and use your sensual voice to encourage 

him. When he happens to touch you just right, 

“big him up.” Men love being praised. He will 

sure do more of that feel good foreplay. If on 

the other hand he is a bit heavy-handed, then 

stylishly take his finger, gently lick and suck on 

it to communicate your pleasure. 

It’s your turn to find out what 

he wants and desires - Best bet is to 

ask him, don’t stop until he gives you an 

answer. And, one of the best ways of getting a 

response is to give him some options: “do you 

prefer it when I stroke or squeeze you here? Do 

I stroke gently or firmly?The whole essence is 

to make him give an honest response. 

Experiment with new sex 

positions - Touch those areas you usually 

ignore on a normal day, make it simpler by 

keeping a little “pleasure pack” like lubricant 

(never estimate the power of lube) on your 

bedside shelf. 

Play tricks with food - It can really 

be stressful for busy and tired partners to get 

laid. Grab the chance to get food together as 

this could be super sexy, to hand feed each 

other in little bits, or spoon some creamy liquid 

such as chocolate/vanilla mousse into one 

another’s mouth. 

Also, the bed is the perfect setting for 

drizzling ice cream/wine down your breast/ 

cleavage for your spouse to lick off. Don’t be 

surprised to leave him/her asking for more. 

HAPPY EASTER FAMILY! 

Tips for Creating a 

Minimalist Bedroom 

Creating a minimalist bedroom doesn’t have to be expensive, or timeconsuming, 

or look like something out of Dwell magazine. Through some 

careful organizing and strategizing (and possibly looking to a Pinterest 

board or two for inspiration), you can create a simpler ambiance and 

aesthetic in your bedroom in no time at all – without spending buckets of 

cash! Here are tips for creating a minimalist bedroom. 

Get Rid of Your Junk 

There’s no point in keeping your junk around! 

Go through your bedroom belongings 

carefully and put away anything that doesn’t 

positively make your heart sing. The same 

goes for photos, random wall hangings, 

collectibles, and anything else of the sort. By 

removing your bedroom clutter, you are just 

making space for the things that really matter 

6 

/ April 17, 2022 

get rid of junk 

Pick Out a Simple Bedframe 

or Go Frame-less 

It makes a huge difference to pick the 

right bedframe for the particular 

minimalist vibe you’re going for in your 

bedroom - since the bed is the focal 

point of the room, the right minimalist 

bedframe can really set the tone for 

the whole space. For a minimalist bed, 

you can choose from a metal frame, 

box spring, or platform bed - any of 

these would serve as the perfect 

foundation for your décor. 

Purchase Neutral-Coloured 

Bedding 

You can achieve a true minimalist feel 

in your bedroom by choosing 

neutralized tones (think soft beige, 

creamy white, or pale grey). Getting 

back to basics is the key to attaining a 

Zen vibe - too many clashing, crazily 

coloured patterns will not accomplish 

this. Furthermore, by painting your 

bedroom in a neutral palette, you’ll be 

able to add accent colours later. 

Bring in the Natural Light 

In a minimalist bedroom, lighting 

becomes almost an accessory all on 

its own with the least amount of 

furniture, lighting makes a huge impact 

on the look and feel of the room. Get 

rid of your curtains (unless they’re 

sheer) and let as much natural light 

into your bedroom as you can. It will 

make the room feel more open, 

modern, and minimal. 

simple bedframe 

neutral-coloured 

natural light

BEAUTY 

7 

Eat Green 

Vegetables: 

Your skin reflects not only the 

benefits of the cosmetic products 

that you apply on it, but also what 

you eat. Eating oily and junk 

products show their mark on the 

skin sooner than later, therefore the 

trick is to stay away from them and 

indulge in green vegetables. Your 

skin will inevitably show the benefits 

soon. 

Eat fruits: 

The benefits of eating green 

vegetables and fruits go hand in 

hand. Rich in antioxidants, fruits 

help in maintaining the luster of 

your skin. 

Tips To Take Care 

Of Your Skin 

By - Rita Okoye 

Apply 

Sunscreen: 

The rays of the sun 

may not seem harsh, 

it can as well damage 

your skin; therefore 

applying a sunscreen 

should be something 

you must not miss. 

It’s Easter and if you’re getting ready 

for a lunch or dinner date and 

suddenly you notice your complexion 

is dry and dull, there are a few things 

you can do to fake a gorgeous glow in a 

hurry. 

In addition, try incorporating a few 

healthy lifestyle tips to take your glow 

to the next level even after Easter 

celebrations. 

Wash your face with a 

gentle cleanser. 

If you want to look radiant, it’s essential to start with 

fresh, clean skin. First, wet your face, and then 

dispense a dime-sized amount of face wash onto 

your fingers. Use your fingertips to gently massage 

the cleanser over your entire face, except for your eye 

area. Then, use clean water to rinse the cleanser 

away from your skin. 

Use 

Moisturizer: 

It is equally important to use 

moisturizers especially during 

the nights. Night is the time 

when the skin tries to repair 

itself on its own, therefore 

applying moisturizer helps in 

averting the wrinkles and 

maintains the glow of the skin. 

Exfoliate: 

Remember your skin requires the most pampering 

at all times, therefore, an exfoliation at least once 

every week will help you to keep the dead cells 

away, consequently helping you to keep your skin 

glowing and soft. 

Drink Lots 

Of Water: 

Water has plenty of 

advantages and it takes 

care of the skin, health as 

well as hair. Drinking 

plenty of water during 

the rainy days takes 

care of the skin 

and keeps 

the 

glow. 

April 17, 2022 / 7

Stories by - Temitope Ojo 

Temi Otedola flaunts 

engagement ring 

Temi Otedola, Nigerian fashion entrepreneur and 

daughter of billionaire businessman, Femi Otedola has 

shared breathtaking images of herself and her singer 

fiancé, Mr Eazi on Instagram. 

The groom-to-be had earlier taken the bold step, 

by proposing to his long term girlfriend, Temi and as 

expected, she said, ‘Yes!”. 

The beautiful photos have melted the hearts of their 

friends and family, with many others religiously tapping 

into their blessings. 

Mr Eazi was introduced to Temi by her elder sister, DJ 

Cuppy. They’ve dated for about six years before finally 

deciding to take things to the next level. 

They have a podcast where they share insight into 

their relationship. 

Miss Teen Beauty Pageant 

holds today in Sapele 

The second edition of Miss Teen Beauty 

Pageant tagged “Nigeria’s King of Queens”, 

holds today in Sapele, Delta State. 

This year’s event which originally had 

over 30 finalists, has been pruned to the 

best 10, due to the high standards of the 

organisers. 

The winner of the contest will represent 

Nigeria in August on the world stage when 

the Miss Teen Global Beauty International 

2022, will hold in Paraiba, Brazil, courtesy 

of an all-expense-paid trip by the official 

sponsor, Awaritse Nigeria Limited. 

She will also go home with the sum 

of N200, 000 in cash, amongst other 

prizes. While first, second and third-runner 

up walks away with the sum of N150, 

000, N100, 000 and N100, 000 in cash, 

respectively. 

Miss Teen Global Beauty Nigeria brand 

is unarguably, the only major platform in 

Nigeria that grooms young girls from the 

foundation, to become worthy role models, 

and ambassadors and subsequently 

become useful to themselves and the 

society at large. 

The National Director of the pageant 

Nigeria, Mrs Gwen Elohor Tagbarha, 

stated that she is out to change the 

narrative in the beauty pageant industry, 

by sanitising the system which has been 

serially bastardised by both morally 

bankrupt pageant organisers and willing 

collaborators. 

Miss Teen Global Beauty Nigeria brand 

is out to redefine, mould and reshape the 

mindsets of these young teenage girls, 

as well as the pageant organizers”. She 

added. 

The event will be attended by the Crème 

De La Crème of the entertainment industry 

in Nigeria, top government officials, 

personalities in the business and fashion 

world, oil and gas merchants and captains 

of industries from different parts of Nigeria. 

Singer 

Omawumi 

clocks 40 

Nigerian singer, songwriter, and actress, 

Omawumi Megbele celebrated her 40th birthday. 

She shared a series of lovely pictures via 

her Instagram handle with the caption: “Happy 

Birthday to me! I’m so in love with the person I’m 

becoming…” 

Omawumi shot to prominence during the 2007 

West Africa Idols in which she finished as the first 

runner-up. In September 2008, Omawumi released 

her debut single In The Music. 

She won the “Best Vocal Performance (Female)” 

award at The Headies in 2009 with her song, In the 

Music, and in 2018, her song, Butterflies, earned her 

another award. 

She also starred in some films which include 

Inale (2010), The Return of Jenifa (2011), among 

others. 

Canadian founded eco-Luxury 

beauty brand births in Nigeria 

Okoko Cosmétiques, high performance and eco-luxury 

clean beauty brand, based in Vancouver, Canada is now in 

Nigeria. 

Okoko Cosmétiques, which was featured in The New York 

Times twice, Goop, Elle, Forbes and several International 

Media is founded by Oyéta Kokoroko, a native of the 

Republic of Togo. 

The product is formulated from innovative botanicals to 

tackle frustrating skin problems, and core values, which 

are hinged on innovation inclusivity, excellence, and 

transparency, with a promise to consumers to continue to 

formulate natural and organic, innovative, solution-driven and 

high-performance products. 

Speaking on the introduction of the products into Nigeria, 

Oyéta believes that it is high time Africa, which has served as 

the largest natural ingredients market to beauty companies 

across the world, begins to truly experience African-owned 

beauty brands, originally formulated from its roots that are 

cruelty-free, multi-functional, sustainable and devoid of 

exaggerated claims, the latter which she believes is highly 

prevalent in the Nigerian beauty and cosmetics market. 

“Okoko Cosmétiques understands that the Nigerian 

market consumer loves luxury, packaging and results, which 

their White, Black & Red Label Ranges promise above and 

beyond to deliver to the market.

Many have already missed 

the road to 2023 

The next general elections 

in Nigeria are less than 

a year away, yet it is still 

difficult to put a finger on its 

prospects. Many politicians 

and their supporters are 

making noise about 2023, but 

no one knows if they are on 

the right path. There are 

people whose dispositions 

and utterances give the 

impression that they are still 

in 2019 which the nation 

departed from close to four 

years ago. One of the common 

commentaries is that political 

parties should pick their 

presidential candidates from 

the zones that can win 

election. Even if the Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, the 

originator of zoning is for the 

wrong reason no longer 

certain of the efficacy of the 

arrangement, I hope those 

supporting good candidates 

like Governor Aminu 

Tambuwal are influenced by 

his liberal mind and capacity 

to embrace innovation and 

not where is from. Those 

supporting anyone only 

because of his/her zone are 

travelling backwards beyond 

2015. 

If Nigeria must get out of its 

stunted growth and face 

brighter days, unnecessary 

attacks on aspirants should 

stop. The criticism that Atiku 

Abubakar is forever a 

contestant is irrelevant if he is 

qualified and competent. 

Those who say Asiwaju Bola 

Before the next eulogy 

Afew years ago, I 

wrote a Loud 

Whispers essay 

called ‘Before the Next 

Eulogy’. It was about 

breaking the culture of 

enablement around genderbased 

violence. The recent 

death of the talented gospel 

singer Osinachi 

Nwachukwu after years of 

domestic violence is so 

painful because of its 

predictability. 

My maternal grandfather 

was known as a man of 

principle, not to be trifled 

with. As a successful farmer 

from Ilara-Mokin, near 

Akure in Ondo State, his 

opinion mattered in his 

community. My mother was 

his first-born, so she had the 

responsibility of caring for 

the rest of her siblings. 

Three of my Aunts were 

brought up by my parents, 

and they lived with us for 

many years,till it was time 

for them to start families of 

their own. The oldest of my 

Aunts, who I will call Auntie 

Titi had a beau she was in 

love with. Let me call him 

Mr Bayo. He was from 

Ilara-Mokin too, a 

graduate teacher. I met him 

once, he seemed quite nice. 

My Aunt started to make 

Tinubu does not appear 

strong enough for the office of 

president should review his 

response that he is not seeking 

the office of a brick-layer that 

calls for physical strength. 

Those who are visibly angry 

that someone has the courage 

to aspire to contest the 2023 

election along with his 

‘godfather’ should note that 

the contest is not reserved for 

godfathers. When Yemi 

Osinbajo acted as President in 

2017, many who affirmed that 

he did excellently well are 

surprisingly against him now 

as if the man is only good as 

acting President. In any case, 

the godfather sentiments 

cannot be sustained in many 

parts of Nigeria where 

tradition behoves a man to be 

happy if his grandson 

surpasses his own 

achievements. Although 

Tinubu, the acclaimed 

godfather has publicly 

testified that he has no son old 

enough to aspire to be 

president, the godson is still 

under fire. 

In some commentaries, 

people suggested that 

Osinbajo was already a loser 

for wearing black on the day 

he declared his interest in the 

2023 contest. To such 

commentators of the stone 

age, black is meant for burial. 

One wonders what burial 

ceremonies are holding in 

courts everyday across the 

wedding plans. 

One day my grandfather 

visited us in Lagos. He 

rarely came to Lagos unless 

it was very important for 

him to do so. After dinner, 

he had a meeting with my 

parents, my Aunt was 

present. The meeting got 

very heated, we could hear 

Grandpa talking very 

animatedly. Perhaps in a 

bid to calm him down, my 

mother came to my room 

and asked me to bring 

some water for them. As 

soon as I put the glass of 

water down next to him, he 

picked up the water, said 

something in his Ilara 

dialect, took a sip of water 

and spat it out on the floor. 

I did not think much of it 

because old folks do 

strange things, perhaps it 

was another way of 

pouring libation I thought. 

Later on, Auntie Titi gave 

us the fill gist. Grandpa was 

not pouring libation. He 

was placing a curse on the 

proposed union of Auntie 

Titi and Mr Bayo! What he 

said and sealed with the 

water he spat out was ‘Over 

my dead body will you marry 

into that family’. 

It turned out that 

Grandpa’s younger sister, 

globe where black is the 

official colour. What the 

several criticisms against 

aspirants suggests is that the 

authors have missed their way 

to 2023. In the new scheme of 

things, Nigerians who seek to 

hold political offices should 

be subjected to intense 

scrutiny but without being 

parochial. The only viable 

criticism against the Vice 

President was the one made 

by Prof Farooq Kperogi who 

felt Osinbajo was part of an 

RCCG plot for theocratic state 

capture. The prolific writer 

scored high by providing 

verifiable evidence in support 

of his allegation. Those who 

have points against any 

aspirant should do same. 

Unfortunately, tangible 

criticisms which can 

strengthen democracy are 

palpably scanty while the 

media is replete with cosmetic 

issues of zero value. For 

example, to attack Rotimi 

Amaechi for making his 

declaration public at a 

crowded stadium under the 

guise of thanksgiving is no 

point because there is no 

standard place for 

declaration. The same is true 

of those attacking Nyesom 

Wike, Rivers state governor as 

too aggressive as if timidity is 

a more relevant virtue for 

political ambition. Going by 

the current state of the nation, 

an aggressive leader may be 

needed. While it is true that 

some aspirants can easily pass 

for jokers, it is uncharitable to 

add Peter Obi, former 

Anambra State governor to 

such a list simply because he 

does not ‘have a bullion van.’ 

What such contemptible 

attacks show is that not many 

are set to positively move to 

2023 because it is hard to 

ignore the visible capability 

of Obi to manage a troubled 

economy. Having indicated 

(Mama Pitan for 

this story) had 

married into Mr 

Bayo’s family 

approximately 

thirty years 

before then. 

Mama Pitan’s 

husband was 

what I call a 

classic JDA – Jobless, 

Drunk and Abusive. The 

poor woman worked her 

fingers to the bone trying to 

keep their family together, 

especially caring for the 

children – farming, trading, 

hawking, you name it, she 

did it. Her efforts were 

rewarded with severe 

beatings and abuse. All this 

took a toll on her health and 

eventually Mama Pitan left 

the marriage, thankfully, 

alive. I am sure we all know 

my Grandpa, while feeling 

bad for his sister, would 

have heaved a sigh of relief 

that his sister had left with 

her life. Grandpa swore 

back then, that they would 

never have anything to do 

with the family again. 

Thirty years later, the son 

of one of Baba Pitan’s 

cousins shows up asking 

for Grandpa’s daughter’s 

hand in marriage!From the 

same family that condoned 

the abuse,suffering and 

humiliation of his sister. 

Now we could understand 

the old man’s rage and 

indignation. My parents 

pleaded on behalf of my 

Aunt, Grandpa’s response 

was ‘From the way my sister 

was treated, I know madness 

runs in the family. Never 

again’. There was no fairy 

tale ending. My Aunt 

married someone else. 

Grandpa came from a 

generation that frowned on 

Those supporting 

anyone only 

because of his/her 

zone are travelling 

backwards beyond 

2015 

his current preoccupation, 

attacks on Central Bank 

Governor, Godwin Emefiele 

are superfluous 

Mindful that a person 

coerced into an office is not 

likely to perform well because 

he could not have prepared for 

it, this column had earlier 

sought to identify the political 

aspirants who bought 

nomination forms themselves 

to contest the 2015 general 

elections. Findings showed 

that former Governor 

Godswill Akpabio’s 

nomination form was 

allegedly bought for him by 

some youths to represent the 

Ikot Ekpene Senatorial 

District. It was the Benue 

Youth in Diaspora Association 

(BYDA) that pledged to 

provide money to purchase 

the senatorial nomination 

form for former Governor 

Gabriel Suswam. Some other 

Youth leaders from Ado Local 

Government Area of Benue 

State allegedly besieged 

Senator David Mark’s home 

to put pressure on him to 

contest the Benue South 

Senatorial seat. Similarly, it 

was Enugu Professional 

Forum that kept pushing 

former Governor Sullivan 

Chime to contest his 

senatorial seat against 

Senator Ike Ekweremadu 

who was himself pressured by 

Enugu Concerned 

Professionals Worldwide. 

The implication of this 

narrative is that the 

No one can force a 

woman who is not 

ready to leave an 

abusive relationship, 

this is the first lesson 

you learn when you 

start working with 

survivors of 

domestic violence 

divorce, so his sister ending 

up a divorcee would not 

have been seen as ideal. He 

however made it known 

that he would no longer 

tolerate the abuse of his 

sister, and when she was 

ready, she made a decision 

and he stood by her. Thirty 

years after, Grandpa was 

still standing in solidarity 

with his sister. 

Victims of domestic 

violence hide their 

suffering for as long as they 

are able to, till it is no 

longer possible to ignore. 

How many times can you 

fall down the stairs at 

home? How many days in 

a year can you take sick off 

work? When they do talk, 

they raise the issues with 

close family, friends or 

religious leaders. I have 

not met any woman who 

decided to leave her 

husband because he 

slapped her once. The 

abuse is almost always 

persistent and cumulative, 

involving all the 

manifestations of violence 

we are familiar with. When 

should a woman draw the 

line? When should she 

decide enough is enough? 


locomotive heading towards 

2023 is the same one that has 

been conveying people to 

cajole politicians to contest 

elections since 1979 when a 

reluctant Shehu Shagari was 

persuaded to become 

President. Little wonder that 

the tricks have not changed. 

Misguided able-bodied 

Nigerians are still acting as 

fronts for old politicians, 

publicly begging them to 

show interest in elective 

positions. More than two years 

to the end of his first tenure, 

the Transformation 

Ambassadors of Nigeria were 

on the streets distracting 

President Jonathan with 

pleas to seek reelection. At 

other times such as now, 

unemployed youths argue 

that they had to put together 

the little they had to buy 

nomination forms for 

billionaire politicians. 

Whither the new Nigeria of 

our dreams? 

Two weeks ago, Governor 

Yahaya Bello of Kogi State 

formally announced his 

Presidential ambition 

naming two Nigerians that 

would help him coast to 

victory like M.K.O. Abiola did 

in 1993. First, he picked 

Senator Jonathan Zwingina 

former Director General of 

the Abiola Campaign 

Organization as his national 

coordinator. He then named 

Hafsat Abiola, daughter of 

the June 12 hero as the 

Director General of his 

campaign. A week later, 

Abiola’s eldest son, Kola, 

joined politics. With the 

Social Democratic Party, 

(SDP) which bears same name 

as MKO’s winning party, busy 

acting as the rejuvenated party 

to beat, the true representative 

of the legend is no longer clear 

more so as Kola declared 

under another platform – the 

Peoples Redemption Party 

The sad answer to this 

question is we don’t know 

until it is too late. Many 

women, like Osinachi, are 

dead now because they 

were too scared to draw the 

line and there were more 

people enabling them to 

suffer in silence than 

supporting them to leave to 

save their lives. 

Every woman who dies at 

the hands of an abusive 

partner leaves devastated 

family, friends and 

colleagues behind. They 

will keep playing each 

conversation or episode 

they had with the dearly 

departed over and over in 

their heads. They will recall 

the number of times she 

tried to leave and they 

persuaded her to stay. They 

will remember the number 

of times she wanted to stay 

and how many times they 

encouraged her to 

leave.Each memory brings 

with it waves of guilt and 

regret. 

No one can force a 

woman who is not ready to 

leave an abusive 

relationship, this is the first 

lesson you learn when you 

start working with 

survivors of domestic 

violence. You can however 

let her know that she has 

choices that could turn out 

to be empowering and not 

debilitating.A marriage 

ceases to exist the moment 

one person becomes a 

master and the other a 

slave. If the accounts of the 

children of Osinachi are to 

be believed (and I don’t see 

why they should lie) their 

mother was no more than a 

slave in her own home. 

This is a call out to all the 

mothers, fathers, siblings, 

friends, religious leaders 

(PRP). What is clear is that no 

one has the MKO Abiola’s 

political spirit of a true patriot 

and humanitarian warrior 

who helped all and sundry. 

The man donated to every 

good cause unlike now that 

people donate only close to 

elections, competing with the 

trader money scheme. 

Nigeria is thus far from the 

ideals of the past just as her 

movement ahead is retarded 

by lethargy in governance and 

political materialism. 

Declarations have remained 

patently promissory - a trend 

which can do Nigeria no 

good in 2023. What is needed 

now is not who can announce 

what he intends to do, instead 

all aspirants should be 

interrogated to explain how 

they intend to fulfil their 

electioneering promises. 

Indeed, when aspirants 

become candidates ample 

time must be spent on the 

details of how each promise 

would be fulfilled. No one 

should be allowed to evade 

election debate, so that each 

person’s capacity can be 

sufficiently visible for voters 

to make informed choices. 

The strategy, would nullify 

arguments such as that the 

true decadence of the nation 

was not clear when the 

promises were made. 

Every elected candidate 

must recognize that he/she was 

voted in to solve problems and 

not to itemize challenges. In 

truth, Professor Kingsley 

Moghalu was a delight to 

watch on national television 

two days ago explaining that 

if elected he would ensure that 

facilities like good 

transportation are available 

before withdrawing on 

installmental basis, our 

unsustainable fuel subsidy. 

That is the narrative for 2023 

and those who cannot cope 

must fall out of the race now. 

and elders who are the ones 

left to mourn the victims. We 

are tired of all the eulogies 

for women cut down in 

their prime. Let us all adopt 

a zero tolerance attitude to 

domestic violence. Please 

stop encouraging women 

(and the few men who are 

victims) to stay in abusive 

relationships. Please stop 

putting pressure on young 

people to marry.Please do 

not turn yourself into an 

apostle preaching religious 

texts out of context. There 

is enough blood on so many 

hands. If a family member 

or friend is in danger, make 

a note of your 

communications. You 

might be in a position to 

ensure she gets justice 

should the worst happen. 

There is nothing more 

tragic than a parent 

burying a child. Or young 

children left without a 

mother. Can you imagine 

thinking you could have 

done something to prevent 

it? Let us act now to stop the 

unthinkable from 

happening over and over. 

Now those who knew 

Osinachi and those who did 

not are writing eulogies for 

her. Including those who did 

not want her to bring 

‘shame’ to her ministry. We 

need to be more interested 

in saving lives than writing 

eulogies. 

Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi is 

a Gender Specialist, 

Social Entrepreneur and 

Writer. She is the 

Founder 

of 

Abovewhispers.com, an 

online community for 

women. She is the First 

Lady of Ekiti State, and 

she can be reached at 

BAF@abovewhispers.com


Why a new dad and his partner are equally the 

most important in their child’s life 

RREGNANCY for 

Dads-to-be: 

Everything you need 

to know from Conception to 

Birth is a book currently 

making waves in the UK. 

Written by Adam Carpenter, 

it helps expectant and new 

dads get into the swing of 

childcare and gives as much 

as the new mothers – if not 

more! According to him, 

becoming a parent is a lifechanging 

event. 

Alongside mastering the 

skills of nappy changing, 

bottle-feeding and settling a 

crying baby come sleepless 

nights, money worries and 

concerns about your baby’s 

health and development. 

“But while much of the 

emphasis is on how a mother 

copes during pregnancy and 

in the first few months after 

the baby’s birth, new dads are 

often left struggling in the 

background, quietly trying to 

control their own fears and 

anxieties. As a man you may 

feel a step behind, with more 

to learn about parenting. 

Here Adam, the author and 

a father of two, offers advice 

on how to overcome those new 

dad nerves. 

Research: Women are the 

ones who carry the baby and 

give birth but that doesn’t give 

them a head start in being a 

great parent. They’re just 

more likely to have read up 

on what to do once the baby is 

P 

eoples Democratic 

Party (PDP) chieftain 

and former Delta State 

governorship aspirant, 

Chief Sunny Onuesoke, has 

said the pardoning of two 

convicted former governors 

would encourage the 

looting of public funds in 

Nigeria. 

Senator Joshua Dariye, 

former governor of Plateau 

state and ex-Governor Jolly 

Nyame of Taraba State, who 

were imprisoned for stealing 

N1.16bn and N1.6bn 

respectively were among 

159 prisoners pardoned by 

the National Council of 

State. 

Briefing newsmen at 

Nnamdi Azikiwe 

International Airport, 

Abuja, Onuesoke said the 

development would boost 

“looting spree” among top 

government officials. 

He said the present 

government was elected on 

the belief that it would jail 

looters and sanitise the 

country, lamenting that 

rather than jail more 

looters, government is 

pardoning convicted ones. 

His words: “What was the 

yardstick used in pardoning 

these criminals? Why did 

they not include James 

Ibori, Lucky Igbinedion, 

Alaimayesigha 

(posthumously), etc? Why 

are the courts still trying 

other suspected looters if 

they would be pardoned 

later? It is a waste of court 

processes and time.” 

He said Nigeria must be 

seen to treat all citizens fairly 

and equally, noting the 

country will not move 

forward on its anticorruption 

drive if it keeps 

born. 

Often, it’s a lack of research 

on a dad’s part that causes him 

to worry. It takes effort to be a 

good parent and that effort 

has to begin before the birth. 

Get Organised: The more 

you organise before baby’s 

arrival, the more in control 

you’ll feel. Practice kitting out 

the change bag with nappies, 

wipes, creams, spare clothes 

and everything else needed. 

This will make it quicker and 

easier for you to pack the bag 

when distracted by a baby 

screaming in the 

background. Familiarising 

yourself with all the kit, 

including the car seat, will 

make things less stressful once 

the baby arrives. 

Be a more hands-on-dad: 

Offering to share night feeds 

will give your partner a break 

and help you to feel closer to 

your baby. If your partner is 

breastfeeding she might want 

to express milk using a breast 

pump so you can feed with a 

bottle. Bathing your baby and 

changing their nappy also 

help you to bond. After your 

baby’s birth, make sure to 

enjoy skin-on-skin contact. 

This strengthens the feeling 

within you to nurture and 

protect. 

Don’t be a spare part: The 

more in control you feel, the 

less likely you are to feel 

pushed out by bossier female 

relatives. Taking on 

parenting duties straight 

away means you can 

confidently say: ‘I can do 

this.’ Never allow yourself to 

feel like a spare part. You and 

your partner are equally the 

most important people in 

your child’s life and don’t 

forget it! 

Find other dads: Go to 

parent and baby groups. 

You’ll be made to feel 

welcome and there will 

probably be other dads there 

too. Your local children’s 

centre should have details. 

Don’t hide your feelings: 

Many men hide their nerves 

to avoid appearing ‘weak’. 

But feelings of anxiety are 

intensified once you’re a dad. 

Suddenly, you have this little 

person to support and you 

don’t want to feel like a 

failure. But opening up about 

your concerns is a sign of 

strength, not weakness. 

Anxiety about finances is one 

of the top reasons why new 

dads lose sleep, but 

remember your baby doesn’t 

need fancy clothing and 

expensive equipment to feel 

happy. Love is the greatest gift 

you can give your child, so 

don’t worry about all the 

things you can’t afford. Also 

remember that when a baby 

comes along, your priorities 

From left: Sir Ladi Smith, Vice president / Chairman, Membership Committee, Lagos 

Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI); Dr. Michael Olawale-Cole, President, Lagos 

Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Ms Adewunmi Osagie, Managing Director, Ocean 

City Lagos Limited and Dr. Chinyere Almona, Director General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce 

and Industry during New Members Induction Ceremony on Thursday in Lagos. 

shift. Finances are redirected, 

as you no longer spend 

money socialising the way 

you might have before your 

baby arrived. 

A Good Waiter Is As 

Discreet As A Diplomat! 

Two months ago, I had 

lunch at my favourite 

restaurant with an old friend. 

One of the waiters, a favourite, 

made a fuss over me ... 

offering me delicacies he 

knew I was particularly 

partial to – including the wine, 

of course! A couple of days 

later, I showed up again at the 

same restaurant with a 

different guest. 

“Would madam like to wait 

at her usual corner while I get 

the table ready?”, he asked 

enthusiastically. My guest 

frowned. When the table was 

ready, the waiter sat us down 

with yet more fuss: “I got you 

your favourite table,” he 

enthused. My guest’s frown 

deepened. As I ordered, the 

waiter tempted me with side 

dishes I usually favoured and 

my guest wore a long 

murderous look. 

During lunch, he hovered 

again wanting to know if I 

wanted a carafe of my 

favourite wine or a whole 

bottle. That did it! “Look here 

man,” fumed my guest, “I’ve 

had enough of your silly 

pranks. Why don’t you go and 

Pardon of convicted ex-govs ‘ll encourage looting spree — Onuesoke 

treating “elite convicts more 

special than others.” 

”Many persons are 

languishing in prison 

awaiting trials for petty 

crimes as small as burglary. 

I bet some of these petty 

criminals didn’t even have 

the opportunity to be 

considered at all. We will not 

move forward in our anticorruption 

drive if we keep 

treating elite criminals as 

Kalu, Ugwuanyi, others urge Igbo businessmen to invest in aviation 

irst Nigerian female airline 

Fpilot and former 

administrator of the Nigerian 

College of Aviation 

Technology,NCAT, Zaria, 

Kaduna State, Captain Chinyere 

Kalu, has called on businessmen 

stakeholders to invest in the 

aviation sector in the South East 

region. 

Kalu made the call recently at 

the first South-East Regional 

Summit/Award on Aviation, in 

Enugu State, where she received 

an award from the Eastwing 

Aviation Training Centre, Enugu. 

She urged Igbo businessmen 

and women to invest in the 

region to boost the economy. 

Kalu said, instead of depending 

on the Federal Government and 

letting lucrative opportunities go 

to waste, prominent investors in 

the South East should, “initiate 

services and create a situation 

where aviation students can take 

a loan and repay over a period of 

time and also think of ways they 

can make flying cheaper and 

more affordable. There are many 

Igbo businessmen who can afford 

this.” Kalu, who was recognized 

for her trailblazing role as the first 

Nigerian female pilot and her 

tenure as rector of NCAT, 

commended Chief Allen 

Onyema, chairman of Air Peace, 

and others, for contributing 

positively to the aviation industry 

in the south east part of the 

country. 

“Those that are rich and well 

to do, like Obi Cubana and 

others, can sponsor students. 

Instead of throwing money here 

and there, they can use it to 

sponsor people in the aviation 

industry. So, if we are committed 

to it, we can grow the industry 

more special than other 

criminals. ”There is no fight 

against corruption in the first 

place. This pardon shows the 

and have our own people work 

there and derive economic 

benefit from it, which is of utmost 

importance,” she said. 

The former pilot explained that 

there was untapped potential in 

aviation in Nigeria generally, but 

particularly in the South-East 

region. With insecurity making 

other means of transportation 

unsafe, she stressed that air 

transport was much more 

reliable. 

“There isn’t much of other 

means of transportation. 

Railways are not that functional 

in this part of the country, unlike 

in the South-West and the 

northern parts, which are way 

better. 

“We can capitalize on this and 

grow the aviation industry and 

then link up with the 

international community out 

there, not minding what is going 

on in Nigeria; most importantly, 

we should be focused and tap 

whatever resources and 

serve the rest of your clients!” 

You can guess which waiter 

got the smallest tip that day! 

Which goes to show that there 

is much more to being a 

waiter than keeping a thumb 

out of the soup. 

According to a seasoned 

waiter giving tips in a London 

newspaper, ... A waiter is a 

diplomat who not only knows 

how to serve food, he stops 

your girlfriend from bumping 

into your wife – or your 

boyfriend from bumping into 

your husband. ‘To avoid 

making a fool of yourself, a 

good waiter must be an 

information officer as well as 

a gourmet”, he said. 

A head waiter welcomed a 

famous businessman and a 

lady friend with the words: ... 

Good afternoon, sir, I am 

afraid I haven’t a table for you 

today.” The angry 

businessman demanded the 

reason. The head waiter 

leaned forward and 

whispered: “The reason, sir, is 

that your wife is here.” He 

had mastered the art of 

diplomacy worth its weight in 

tips. 

So what makes the perfect 

waiter? The best waiters are 

showmen. A waiter in action 

is very much on stage. And, if 

you are honest, you’ll admit 

you enjoy every moment of it. 

Most people who eat out love 

to be pampered. 

law is for the powerful, rich 

and connected. How can you 

pardon them after stealing our 

patrimony? This country has 

a long way to go,’’ he added. 

advantages the international 

community has for us to grow. 

“We can market what we have 

in Aba. All the products that are 

being produced, and import the 

things we need for our 

development. 

We must stop waiting for the 

Federal Government. As we use 

to do community work to develop 

a place, construct roads and all 

that, we can come together as a 

community to push and grow our 

economy,” she said. 

Governor of Enugu State, Rt. 

Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, who was 

represented at the event by Hon. 

Ogbonna Idike, said the state 

government would play its part 

to realize the goal of an efficient 

and effective air transport system 

in the South-East region. 

The governor also received an 

award for his contributions to the 

development of aviation 

infrastructure in the region. 

Cross section of awardees during the South- 

East Regional Summit/Award on Aviation in 

Enugu State

SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 17, 2022, PAGE 19

A 

s 

m 


0802 384 9036 

Betty Akeredolu after Imo 

honour: I married well 

•Akeredolu 

The First Lady of Ondo State, 

Chief Betty Anyanwu- 

Akeredolu, last week, added 

another feather to her 

chieftaincy cap, as she was 

conferred with a 

traditional title of Ada di 

oha Mma by Eze Chinyere 

I of Ogbor na Umuachalu 

Autonomous Community 

in Aboh-Mbaise Local 

Government Area of Imo 

State. 

Adorning the Ondo 

First Lady with 

instruments of Staff, the 

Eze Chinyere I, HRH 

G.C. Adiukwu, said the 

traditional title of Ada di 

oha Mma (Daughter 

Valued by All) was in 

recognition of her passion for 

the development of her 

maiden environment and the 

love she demonstrated towards 

fellow human beings who had 

crossed her path in their lifetime. 

The monarch, who also conferred 

chieftaincy titles on some other 

personalities as part of activities to 

celebrate his 80th birthday, described Mrs. 

Akeredolu as a rare woman with great 

future. 

The new Ada di oha Mma, who doubles as 

Ada Owere I, expressed excitement for the 

recognition and a show of love demonstrated 

by the people of the community towards her. 

She said: “I’m so happy for this honour 

done to me, you can’t get it better than this 

love they have for me, and I love them back”. 

Mrs. Akeredolu, who earlier attended the 

80th birthday thanksgiving service of the 

monarch, held at St. Simon’s Anglican 

Church Ogbor, Aboh-Mbaise, commended 

her husband and Governor of Ondo State, 

Arakurin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, for 

his unalloyed support and love for her, saying 

“I married well”. 

Dignitaries in attendance included the 

lawmaker representing Akoko South-West/ 

South-East, Hon. Ade Adeogun, the Director- 

General, Performance and Project 

Implementation Monitoring Unit, Mr 

Babajide Akeredolu, the Chairman of Ondo 

State Universal Basic Education, Rt. Hon. 

Victor Olabimtan, and the wife of Olubaka 

of Oka-land, Olori Jumoke Adebori Adeleye. 

Others are Commissioner for Physical 

Planning, Hon. Fatai Olotu, Special Adviser 

to the Governor on Regional Integration and 

Diaspora Affairs, Chief Victor Ategbole, Hon. 

Albert Akintoye, Mr. Saka Yusuf-Ogunleye, 

some members of the Foundation for Wives 

of Ondo State Officials and Female Political 

Appointees (FOWOSO). 

Reacting to the honour, Adeogun described 

it as testimony of the First Lady’s service to 

people, especially in Ondo State and her 

maiden society. 

On her part, Adeleye congratulated Mrs 

Akeredolu, stating that the recognition 

portrayed her as a good daughter of Imo 

while Olabimtan affirmed that she is a wife 

worthy of emulation who had been providing 

tremendous support in Ondo state since her 

husband assumed office as a Governor and 

described the recognition as meritorious. 

Opulence on display as Osasu Igbinedion weds 

he rich cultural heritage of the Binis 

Tand the Benue people was brought 

to bear at the traditional marriage of 

Osasu Igbinedion, a granddaughter of 

the Esama of Benin and daughter of the 

former governor of Edo State, Chief 

Lucky Nosakhare Igbinedion, and 

Nathaniel Ogwuche Junior. 

The traditional marriage ceremony 

attracted the creme de la creme on 

Monday, April 11. 

Benin-City was littered with 

congratulatory billboards with portraits 

of the couple as residents caught the 

frenzy with attendance by top 

politicians, socialites and celebrities. 

There was an endless supply of the best 

local and continental dishes laced with 

high-cost liquors and champagne went 

around like it was going out of fashion. 

The bride’s parents were indeed 

excited just like the bride’s grandfather, 

High Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, also 

didn’t fail to surprise her 

granddaughter with a performance 

from her favorite Hip Hop artiste, Teni 

Makanaki, who dished out scintillating 

music to the delight of the bride and 

guests. 

Earlier in the year, Osasu had 

announced her engagement to 

Nathaniel. 

The media personality took to her 

Instagram page to share a video of the 

marriage proposal witnessed by friends. 

In a post accompanying the clip, the 

29-year-old TV host reiterated her love 

for her man and promised to always 

support him. She added that loving him 

was so easy because of his personality. 

Osasu also hinted that the marriage 

would take place this year, using the 

hashtag #NATSU22. 

Anyone who has closely followed 

activities of Osasumwen, better known 

as Osasu, would have noticed that the 

young lady is not given to walking in 

the shadow of her father. 

She is carving a niche for herself 

with her fast rising television 

programme, The Osasu Show. 

The delectable television host was 

recently honoured with the title of 

Nne Odum I at the palace of the 

Alaukwu II of Isiala Mbato in 

Obingwa Council of Abia State, Eze 

John Iheanyi Ikpeaba, obtained her 

bachelor’s degree from Stonehill 

College in Easton followed by a 

master’s degree from Northeastern 

University in Boston — both in 

Massachusetts, US. 

She is the founder of the Osasu 

Show Foundation. She has also won 

several awards and recognition for 

her career strides in journalism. 

Nathaniel, on the other hand, is a 

top wedding and event 

cinematographer from Benue. 

•Agbani

Adebutu Kessington shines in London 

Business mogul, Adebutu Kessington, was 

penultimate Saturday, honoured by 

communications consultancy outfit, 

Euro Knowledge, with a Lifetime 

Achievement Award of Excellence 2022 

during its Euro Knowledge Leadership 

Philanthropy Forum at the House of Lords in 

London. 

Kessington and other awardees were 

recognised at the event for providing excellent 

leadership in their respective fields, as well 

as for their exemplary contributions to the 

society. 

Conferring the prestigious award on 

Adebutu, Euro Knowledge stated that Baba 

Ijebu, as he is fondly known, is an iconic 

business man who has made tremendous 

impact on thousands of individuals, saying 

that his philanthropic gestures are second to 

none. 

Euro Knowledge, an international strategic 

communications group, is a trusted advisor 

to many of the world’s leading businesses, 

governments and financial institutions. 

The award ceremony was attended by 

captains of industry, policymakers and 

business magnates, among others drawn 

from across the globe. 

SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 17, 2022 , PAGE 21 

Joseph Tegbe 

takes new 

challenge 

Joseph Tegbe, Obafemi Awolowo 

University, OAU-trained engineer, 

management consultant, tax 

advisor and senior partner and head, 

technology advisory and markets for 

KPMG in Nigeria, has taken up new 

challenge. 

The former Oyo State governorship 

aspirant on the platform of All 

Progressives Congress (APC) has joined 

the ruling Peoples Democratic Party 

(PDP) in the state. 

With this development, Tegbe will 

move from Ibadan South-East 

Local Government Area in 

Oyo South to his village 

in Ona-Ara local 

government area in 

Oyo Central to 

contest the 2023 

senatorial seat. 

Tegbe became 

popular after 

running a less 

than four 

m o n t h s 

campaign in 

•Tegbe 

2018 until the 

APC settled 

for Chief 

Bayo Adelabu 

as its 

governorship 

candidate. 

Tegbe was 

born in Oyo 

town but of 

I b a d a n 

ancestral 

descent from 

J e g e d e 

compound in 

Labo area of 

Ibadan. He is 

a member of 

I b a d a n 

Recreational 

Club and a 

philanthropist 

who supports 

the down 

trodden with 

his Joseph 

T e g b e 

Foundation. 

gbani Darego 

avours 

arital bliss 

It’s been five years since former Miss World, 

Agbani Darego, got married to Ishaya 

Danjuma, son of former Defense Minister, 

General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma (rtd), at a 

private wedding in Morocco. 

The mother of two has done a great job of 

keeping her private life far from the klieg lights. 

The international model, who hardly posts about 

her family on social media, no doubt, is enjoying 

a blissful marriage. 

Agbani took to Instagram where she posted rare 

photos from their wedding and captioned it: 

“+5”. 

Agbani is best known as the first native African 

to win the Miss World contest when she clinched 

the crown in 2001 at the age of 18 after she 

became the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria that 

same year. A graduate of psychology from New 

York University, apart from clinching 

mouthwatering modeling jobs, also owns an 

international ready-to-wear denim and 

leisurewear fashion company, AD by Agbani 

Darego. Her husband is a fashion entrepreneur. 

•Wole 

Arisekola 

Wole 

Arisekola 

touches more lives 

For cosmopolitan businessman and the publisher of Street 

Journal Magazine, Wole Arisekola, April 4 was not just 

another birthday. It was also a day he had set aside to touch the 

lives of his people in Ibadan and other areas of Oyo State. 

Arisekola, who was recently installed as the Mogaji Ajenigi-Eye of 

Yemetu-Oje compound, Ibadan doesn’t joke with the well being of 

his people and, on that Monday, he launched a foundation in the 

memory of his late mother. 

The foundation, according to him, will cater for the 

welfare of the aged, women and children in Ibadan 

and Oyo State in general. 

The launch, he said, was part of his effort to 

lessen the daily challenges the people face 

and he has mapped out plans to help in 

the areas of scholarship, health 

provision and job creation. 

Arisekola is not new to giving and 

helping the people. The Wole Street 

Journal Platform he created a 

decade ago has touched the lives of 

many through youth empowerment, 

community development and 

employment. 

The people of Oje, Beere, Mapo, 

Foko, Ita-Baale, Yemetu, Agodi, 

Agbadagbudu, Adeoyo and other 

parts of Ibadan still echo the support 

provided them by the foremost 

journalist and his team during the 

Covid-19 pandemic. 

The kind gestures of the Mogaji, 

who owns the Arryhan PR and 

Oke’badan Oil and Gas, also 

include donation of motorized 

boreholes to areas like Agodi 

Prison, Mele and Ejitolu, all in 

Ibadan. Same was extended to Kogi 

State and Akoko in Ondo State.


I didn’t know I was the ‘other man’ 

When Stan met 

Debbie, she gave 

him the 

impression that she was 

single and fancy-free after 

separating from her 

husband of five years. “The 

only offspring of the 

marriage lived with 

Debbie’s mum and she lived 

the life of the single and 

fancy-free,” explained Stan. 

Debbie moved in an 

enlightened social group 

and through her, I was able 

to crash some good parties. 

“About six months after we 

became an item, Debbie 

and I were invited to yet 

another party by her close 

friend, Nike. Her boss was 

having his 50th birthday, 

and he apparently didn’t 

want only older people 

there. He told Nike and the 

younger people at his office 

to bring as many of their 

friends as they liked. As a 

result, it turned out to be a 

beautiful and fancy party 

that was well catered for, 

boasting of a modern band 

with some of the guests 

boogieing down to the 

music from the band. 

Debbie and I had had 

enough booze, food and 

dancing that we decided to 

just sit at a corner and chat. 

All of a sudden, she looked 

up and saw something that 

made her say, ‘Oh, sh**!’ I 

turned around and saw a 

man I didn’t know, walking 

towards us. He came right 

up and said coolly, ‘Hey, 

Debbie. What’s up?’. What 

are you doing here?” 

“What are you doing 

here?” Debbie spluttered. 

“I got a text on my mobile,” 

the man said. For some 

tensed seconds, there was a 

pause, until Debbie finally 

said ‘Stan, this is Eddy, 

Eddy, Stan.’ ‘Hi, how you 

doing?’ I asked this 

interesting looking 

stranger. Eddy responded 

with just an arrogant raise 

of his eyebrows. ‘So,’ 

Debbie fumbled. What’s 

going on? Not much, Eddy 

responded. Then he asked 

Debbie if he could talk to 

her alone. She turned to me 

and said under her breath, 

‘Sorry about this Stan ... can 

you hang on for a few 

minutes?’ Before I had the 

chance to point out that I 

really had no choice in the 

matter, she walked away 

with Eddy. 

“It was obvious that the 

man and Debbie had some 

history, but I had no idea to 

what an extent they were 

close. A few minutes after, 

Nike came to where I sat 

with a drink in her hand, 

wanting a chat. When she 

asked where Debbie was, I 

pointed to where she stood 

talking with Eddy. She 

looked incredulous when 

she saw them. “Oh no”, she 

wailed, I asked her to fill 

me in on what was going 

on, but she said she thought 

Debbie should do that. 

When she saw how upset I 

was, she told me Eddy was 

Debbie’s boyfriend. That he 

worked outside Lagos and 

came down for the odd 

weekend. 

“I was really freaked out 

by this but said nothing. 

Nike said Debbie and Eddy 

had been together for close 

to two years. Are they 

supposed to be seeing other 

people? I wanted to know. 

“Well,” hedged Nike, 

“Debbie decided that’s what 

she wanted to do but I’m not 

sure if she really told Eddy. 

All we know is that he was 

not supposed to be in town 

this weekend. One of his 

friends must have sent him 

a text message about the 

party. 

“That shows you a guy 

knows only what his girl 

wants him to know about 

her. After six months of 

deluding myself I was 

Debbie’s steady, she never 

gave me the impression that 

I might have to deal with 

an irate boyfriend. For the 

next 30 minutes, I kept my 

eyes open for a possible 

surprise attack from Eddy. 

If that happened, I was 

determined to give as good 

as I got, but thank God he 

wasn’t the violent type. 

Finally, Debbie came back 

to where I was and I saw 

Eddy leave the party. She 

was terribly upset and had 

been crying, so Nike left us 

alone. ‘You must think I’m 

a complete bitch,’ she said. 

I told her I didn’t really 

know what to think. She 

explained that Eddy was a 

boyfriend and though 

they’d had some 

misunderstanding, he 

wasn’t supposed to be in 

town. In other words, I was 

her bit-on-the side; a 

convenience when the real 

thing wasn’t around. 

“She was so dejected that 

I told her she could go after 

him if she wanted, but she 

said she would stick to our 

earlier arrangement to 

come back with me to my 

flat. I made a fuss of her so 

she could get relaxed 

enough for us to make love. 

I had the feeling it could be 

the last time we would be 

intimate together. And I 

was right. The next 

morning, she left only to 

call me a few days later that 

she’d patched things up 

with Eddy. 

“Of course, I was hurt and 

bitter for being used and 

dumped. But I’ve moved 

on. If it were a woman, she 

would still be spewing 

obscenities about how 

shallow men are...” 

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I will tackle poverty among rural women 

— Imo East Senatorial aspirant 

By Chinonso Alozie 

Imo East senatorial 

aspirant, Prince Alex 

Mbata, yesterday said he 

would tackle poverty among 

rural women if elected as a 

senator to represent Imo East 

at the National Assembly in 

2023. 

Mbata made this known 

when he officially declared to 

contest for the Imo East 

senatorial position to the 

leadership of Imo APC, and 

members of the party at the 

APC Secretariat in Owerri. 

He said among other things, 

“I want to start by saying my 

top priority, will be to tackle 

the growing level of poverty 

among rural women in the 

Imo East senatorial district if 

elected senator next year and 

also quarterly financial 

support for the women will be 

accorded prominence for 

stronger empowerment.” 

He added: “This will 

include a periodic interaction 

with my constituents as well 

as youth economic 

empowerment will equally 

enjoy top priority for 

sustainable productivity. 

Above all, I will support and 

work hand in hand with the 

governor of Imo State, Hope 

Uzodimma to move the Imo 

East forward.” 

Chairman, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria(CITN), Lagos and District Society, 

Dr. Yemi Sanni (left); President, Coalition of Association in Computer Village, Pastor Timi 

David; Director/State Co-ordinator Lagos Mainland, Federal Internal Revenue Service(FIRS), 

Alhaji Mohammed Sadiq and Former Chairman, CITN, Lagos and District Society, Mrs 

Abimbola Olumegbon at the CITN, Lagos and District Society, Annual Tax week in lagos 

yesterday 

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but resides in Delta State, 

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Messiah African Church Warri Province 

holds valedictory service for Udofia 

The African Church, 

Warri Province, held a 

valedictory service in 

honour of retiring Primate 

of African Church, Nigeria 

and overseas, His 

Eminence Dr Emmanuel 

Josiah Udofia at the 

Messaih African Church 

Cathedral, Warri last 

Saturday. 

In a sermon titled: ' Jesus 

has set us free, ' Dr Udofia 

who quoted severally from 

the book of Galatians 

Chapter 5, asserted that 

Jesus Christ had paid a 

ramson for the freedom of 

Christains from bondage. 

He urged Christains to 

affirm and confirm the 

liberty and freedom of the 

ramson which Jesus Christ 

paid for their freedom. 

The clergy, however, admonished 

that for 

Christians to affirm and 

confirm their liberty and 

freedom, they must abstain 

from sin and turn away 

from their old ways. 

The event featured 

thanksgiving, fund raising, 

among other things. 

The Achbishop, The 

African Church, Warri 

Province, His Grace, The 

Most Reverend Dr Isaac 

Obie described the event as 

wholesome, marvelous and 

wonderful. 

" We in the vanyard of God 

are praying for a day like 

this when we retire for our 

young ones to grow " he 

added . 

On his part, the Vice Lay 

Effurun Diocese Evangelist 

Jonathan Usiakponebro 

expressed gratitude for the 

huge success of the event. 

•Retiring Primate of The 

African Church, Nigeria 

and overseas, His 

Eminence Dr Emmanuel 

Josiah Udofia 

Sammy 35 resides in Lagos, 

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in Warri, Delta State, needs 

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HRH Queen Ugochi 

Linda Agua-Onyekwelu 

was at the weekend 

awarded Doctor of 

Science in Agronomy and 

Entrepreneurial Development, 

Honoris causa, 

from the European 

American University, 

Panama City, Panama. 

The event held in Lagos.


2023: 

Issues of light 

over darkness on 

the road to 2023 

• Revitalizing our youth to revive Nigeria 

By Pat Utomi 

In Nigeria we love clichès. One 

hackneyed truism, for example is the 

often spewed view is that our youth are 

leaders of tomorrow. In reality, the youth 

often provide the vision, the energy, and the 

passion that saves nations adrift today. Yet 

when ours brought their worries to the table 

to confront police brutality they were gunned 

down by public authority. But the ghost of 

Endsars still hovers over us. The truth 

through the prism of my 

goggles is that a nation that 

does not nourish its youth 

forecloses the possibilities of 

a great future and blocks 

opportunity for current halt of 

a slide. 

I recall the slide of the 

United States of America in 

the late 1970s when I lived 

there and inflation climbed to 

unheard-of levels like 29%. 

Upstart Japanese companies 

were overtaking great 

American giants whether it be 

Canon on Xerox, Toyota 

versus General Motors, 

Komatsu battling Caterpillar, 

and so on. 

On campuses, young people 

polished their CVs but not too 

many were coming to recruit. 

All this led to the victory of an 

aging Ronald Reagan over 

incumbent President Jimmy 

Carter in the 1980 

Presidential elections. 

Gauntlet 

Reagan unleashed the spirit of America and 

its youth picked up the gauntlet. I returned to 

Nigeria in 1982 and went back to visit the US 

not long after. Instead of working on their CVs 

in March for job interviews, seniors, or final 

year undergraduates, as we call them here were 

crossing the t’s and dotting the I’s on their 

business plans and hoping to be billionaires 

by their 26th birthday. The youth of America 

had created a new economy and the .com 

explosion revived the American economy. 

In many ways the Nigerian youth, denied 

the shoulders other societies make available 

to their youth, to stand on to see the future 

more clearly and 

brutalized when they 

look to speak up, 

manage to still make 

impact. The grand hooks 

of the economy today, the 

Tech space which has 

I have spoken 

publicly before 

about a 

conversation I had 

with General Alani 

Akinrinade shortly 

after Emmanuel 

Macron was elected 

President of France 

at 39 

attracted much foreign 

investment and may 

attract more than three 

billion dollars this year, 

the entertainment 

industry, both 

Nollywood and Music, 

which have kept Nigeria 

from dropping off the 

world map have come 

from the young. Imagine 

therefore what can 

happen if we have 

forward looking policies 

that inspire the young to 

be the best they can be. 

My friends in 

alternative party track 

movement have spent 

much time discussing youth policy. The 

position I have offered for starters is that if we 

were to form a government next year 55 percent 

of the cabinet will be women and young men 

and women under the age of 44. 

Consensus is also emerging that the policy 

monitoring teams will be dominated by young 

people under 40. Funds to drive investment 

opportunities for young people would also be 

stimulated. 

I have also proposed the idea of youth 

development centres to developed in tripartite 

partnerships with NGOs and the private sector. 

These centres will offer a combination of 

entertainment, learning, information access, 

library, and job placement centres with high 

speed internet connectivity. The concept builds 

on and expands the Canadian model and will 

be a required fixture in Town Planning. They 

will be the new village square of the 21st century 

and places of culture. 

Consultation 

Consultation with young people, through 

their representatives and in Town Hall 

meetings will become an established part of 

Governmental processes in the post-PDP/APC 

era expectedly coming in 2023. The logic is 

simple. If I began to have meetings at the 

Ministerial level as a 19 year old student leader, 

causing Foreign Minister to come to UNN 

and brief us on Nigeria’s Foreign policy issues 

when Nigeria was considered a frontline state 

in the struggle for the liberation of Southern 

Africa in 1975/76 why show the next generation 

not to have more access than that. 

The public sphere must me touched up to 

allow young people the chance to exhale 

earlier in their formation. 

I have spoken publicly before about a 

conversation I had with General Alani 

Akinrinade shortly after Emmanuel Macron 

was elected President of France at 39. He noted 

that young people in Nigeria were pointing to 

•Utomi 

trends in France, Austria, Scandinavia and 

elsewhere where young leaders were emerging 

and pointed out that most of those emerging 

young leaders were groomed in the Students 

Union movement. Such opportunities were no 

more there, the General lamented, as there 

had been in my time. He blamed the Military 

and politicians for destroying the Student 

Union movement in trying to prevent any voice 

of opposition without thought to the damage 

that shortsighted approach was doing to youth 

talent development. I could not quarrel with 

the stout point the General had made. 

For many years and more formally since 

2004 when I founded the Centre for Values in 

Leadership I have committed much time, 

energy and goodwill to building up leadership 

prowess in young people. 

A change of leadership guard must bring 

with it new thinking about Students Unions 

and a policy of not interfering or meddling in 

Students Union affairs. 

Incentives to encourage voluntarism and the 

strengthening of youth leasership 

organizations like the Boys scouts will aid very 

much the reversal of the collapse of culture 

that currently afflict Nigeria. 

I put these views forward as a simple teacher 

with an audacious vision for a great nation, a 

Nigeria whose youth are the anchor of future 

peace and prosperity as we invest in their 

education and health so that they are human 

capital not statistics of time bomb waiting to 

explode. 

• Utomi, a political economist and 

founder of the Centre for Values in 

Leadership, is a former presidential 

candidate and leader of the NCFront. 

Intrigues as Tinubu, Osinbajo, Amaechi camps emerge in Senate 

By Henry Umoru 

HEAD of the 2023 presidential 

Aelection, strong indications have 

emerged that senators elected on the 

platform of the All Progressives 

Congress, APC, are sharply divided 

over the ambitions of Vice President 

Yemi Osinbajo; Asiwaju Bola Tinubu 

and the Minister of Transportation, 

Mr Rotimi Amaechi. 

The division has been glaring 

before the March 26 National 

Convention of the APC when the 

senators were divided over the 

aspirants for the National 

Chairman against the backdrop that 

the APC had zoned the position to 

the North-Central. 

Prior to the emergence of Senator 

Abdullahi Adamu as the National 

Chairman of the ruling party via 

consensus, senators were not on the 

same page as some supported 

Adamu while others were divided 

between Senator Sani Musa, APC, 

Niger East and Senator Tanko Al- 

Makura (Nasarawa). 

Similar scenario is rearing its 

head in the Senate as 

camps are emerging for 

Tinubu, Osinbajo and 

Amaechi. 

Preparatory to the 

APC National 

Convention, it had 

been alleged that the 

senators in the camp of 

Adamu were also 

working for the 

emergence of Amaechi as 

the presidential candidate of 

the party, even as it was alleged that 

they have chosen Adamu because of 

their belief that nobody would be able 

to influence whatever decision 

President Muhammadu Buhari 

wanted him to take ahead of the 2023 

elections. 

An indication to the split among the 

senators was displayed when Adamu, 

before the Convention, unveiled his 

Campaign Office in Area 11, 

Opposite Radio House. 

Senators who attended the 

ceremony and spoke at the occasion 

included Deputy 

President of the Senate, Senator 

Ovie Omo-Agege, APC, Delta Central; 

•Tinubu 

•Osinbajo 

•Ameachi 

Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi, APC, 

Kebbi North; Chief Whip, Orji Uzor Kalu, 

APC, Abia North; Adamu Aliero, APC, 

Kebbi Central and Ali Ndume, APC, Borno 

South. 

They all spoke clearly about their belief 

in Adamu and the fact that he had the 

competence and capability to lead the 

party. 

Soon after the Convention and with the 

emergence of Adamu as the National 

Chairman of the party, Amaechi declared 

for the 2023 presidency and, barely 48 

hours after his declaration, he made 

Ndume the Director-General of his 

Campaign Organization. 

This is a masterstroke as many 

analysts believe Ndume has what 

it takes to pull many senators to 

support his candidate against the 

backdrop that he is a likeable 

personality. 

Ndume has been around in the 

National Assembly for a while; 

he was in the House of 

Representatives, he was Senate 

leader before contesting with 

Senator Ahman Lawan for the 

position of the President of the 

Senate and he chairs a very strong 

Committee which is Committee on Army. 

Meanwhile, as part of his consultations 

for the 2023 presidency, Tinubu, on March 

16, visited the Senate Caucus of the APC 

during which he vowed that if he becomes 

President, he will not step on the toes of 

Buhari, but step into his shoes. 

He asked the Senate Caucus of the party 

to support his life time ambition to be 

President. 

The APC National Leader was received 

by Lawan with almost all senators of the 

party in attendance. 

Tinubu, who noted that he was at the 

Continues on page 25

PAGE 24 — SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 17, 2022 

Why Tinubu asked 

Osinbajo to leave Lagos 

politics, relocate to 

Ogun —Babaleye 

•Says VP failed politically in Lagos 

By Dayo Johnson 

r. Tolu Babaleye is Director-General of 

MOndo State Network for Bola Tinubu. 

In this interview, Babaleye says Vice President 

Yemi Osinbajo has dared his destiny helper 

with his presidential ambition, saying he lacks 

electoral value in Lagos. 

At what point did Tinubu, Osinbajo 

break ties? 

I am not aware that the ties broke. I don’t 

think Tinubu is disappointed with what 

Osinbajo did but many of his supporters are. 

Ambition is a very difficult thing and there is 

no way you can suppress a man with ambition. 

The Vice President has his ambition and feels 

he can dare anyone including his destiny helper 

and highest promoter. 

Reports suggest Osinbajo quietly 

moved his membership of Lagos APC 

to Ogun APC in 2021. Was that the 

beginning of the breaking of ties with 

Tinubu? 

This is not correct. The truth is that Osinbajo 

had no electoral value in Lagos where he used 

to vote because the place is dominated by the 

Igbo. It was Tinubu who even advised him to 

relocate his PVC to Ogun. Nobody will suspend 

anyone for declaring to contest an election. If 

Osinbajo wins in the primary, he will still need 

Tinubu to fly. People shouldn’t create 

unnecessary tension and enmity that may be 

difficult to settle. The truth is that Osinbajo has 

no electoral value in Lagos. Attached is the 

•Foluso 

By Charles Kumolu, Deputy Editor 

ational Convener, Osinbajo 

NGrassroots Organisation, Ojo 

Foluso, in this interview, responds to 

critical questions provoked by Vice 

President Yemi Osinbajo’s presidential 

ambition. The posers stem from 

Osinbajo’s relationship with the 

National Leader of All Progressives 

Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu, who also 

wants to govern Nigeria. 

How is your team preparing for the 

battle ahead? 

We are supposed to be preparing for a process 

through which the candidate of our party, the 

All Progressives Congress, APC, will emerge 

through democratically available options. Our 

job is to continue to speak to delegates and 

members of our party to seek their support for 

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and to present 

his leadership values as the best needed for 

Nigeria from May 29, 2023. We are also 

result of the last election from the unit where 

Osinbajo voted in Lagos. Relocating to Ogun 

is a political calculation to bring better result 

and not because anyone will suspend him 

for exercising his constitutional right. This 

is the result of Osinbajo’s unit in the 2019 

presidential poll: Vice President Yemi Osinbajo 

(VP) Polling Unit Code 33, Unit 2 Victoria 

Garden City, Lagos: Presidential: APC – 229, 

PDP – 425; senatorial: APC - 261 

PDP – 414, Rep: APC -190, PDP -268. 

Why was the step necessary? 

The step was necessary to make sure he wins 

his unit and ward in the next elections because 

a politician that fails to win his unit and ward 

is irrelevant in politics. 

Was it in anticipation of running for 

President or some other reasons? 

It was not, but to give him a base. For 

instance, it was also at that period that 

Osinbajo built his first house in Ikenne. 

How are All Progressives Congress, 

APC, governors and National 

Assembly, NASS, members divided by 

Tinubu, Osinbajo, Amaechi, Umahi 

and others’ ambitions? 

The result of the primary election will show 

that but what I know is that Tinubu is well 

prepared for the primary election. If you also 

know the history of the 9th National Assembly, 

you will know the role Tinubu played in 

birthing its leadership, all these will work for 

him. You also saw the way he was received 

when he visited the NASS complex about three 

•Babaleye 

weeks ago. Tinubu has really laboured and 

deserves the ticket of APC. 

What options are open to Tinubu now 

that he has very powerful forces to 

contend with? It is suggested in some 

quarters that he may head to Social 

Democratic Party, SDP, if he doesn’t 

pick the APC ticket… 

There is only one option available and it is 

to win the APC presidential ticket. What is SDP? 

Did you see anyone that went to SDP in Ondo 

State? The people who went to SDP in Kwara 

have nothing to do with Tinubu. They have 

their issues with Kwara State governor. 

Tinubu has even appealed to them to return to 

APC because you don’t abandon your house in 

the name of anger. Those linking Tinubu with 

SDP are fifth columnists working with a 

particular candidate who cannot even smell 

the ticket of APC because Tinubu is everywhere. 

Those people working for that candidate are 

majorly PDP members who do not want Tinubu 

to emerge but they want a weak candidate 

that can be defeated easily. We know their game 

plan and we shall beat them to it. 

But some of Tinubu’s men in Ondo 

and Kwara were said to have gone to 

the SDP following the crisis in APC in 

their states… 

This is not true. 

It’ll be patriotic if Tinubu props 

Osinbajo to victory — Foluso 

•Says VP’s declaration changed undecided govs 

supposed to position him as the best chance of 

the party to retain the Presidency among other 

candidates, which he is. 

So, it is a duty not a war as democrats. We 

accept this as an internal process among 

contenders within the same party, to select who 

among them will best fit to fly the party’s flag 

in the next election. We are hopeful that the 

best of them will emerge. But to us, that man is 

Professor Osinbajo. 

Do you think APC governors and 

National Assembly members are 

divided over Osinbajo, Tinubu 

Amaechi and others? 

I don’t understand the part about being 

divided. I know that these governors and 

lawmakers are strong stakeholders, and they 

know who they are likely to support. Most of 

them already know who their preferred 

aspirants are. But I can only say that many 

governors and lawmakers who were on the 

sideline or undecided before may have been 

handed the opportunity to review their stand 

with the Vice President now in the race. Some 

of them had urged and waited for him and 

with this declaration, I’m sure they will be 

making certain decisions. Initially, some of 

them were not convinced the Vice President 

would come on board, but now that he has 

thrown his hat into the ring to contest the 

election, I believe this will cause them to review 

their position, especially with Prof Osinbajo 

holding consultations with them. 

Some believe the declaration by the 

Vice-President to contest against 

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is a betrayal. 

What do you think of this? 

I think those dwelling on this narrative are 

themselves not democrats. And I think they 

are working at variance with what Asiwaju 

Tinubu himself stands for. We are talking about 

the president of a country, and we should stop 

being ridiculous. The office we want to recruit 

for is not a traditional ruler where someone 

lays claims to being the heir to the throne. We 

are talking about an individual that can run 

the country at a time like this and having gone 

through the arrays of those on parade, with the 

current realities, the odds favour Osinbajo who 

has worked with the President for close to seven 

years and who understands current dynamics 

of governance and government. He has 

garnered experience in these tears and is 

younger. Asiwaju Tinubu can continue to play 

his role as a mentor and inspiration to his 

political base as a leader. We should be 

occupied with the future of this country and 

matters relating to good governance and not 

this narrative. 


break ties? 

I don’t know what you mean by breaking 

ties. For a sitting qualified, competent Vice 

President who has not violated any law by 

democratically or constitutionally declaring 

to become the president that is conditionally 

permitted in Nigeria is not breaking ties? I 

don’t believe that these men have a problem. 

They are still friends and political associates. 

Supporters may have blown this out of 

proportion. 

Continues on page 26 

2023: Osinbajo 

didn’t betray 

Tinubu —Ajulo 

• ‘Asiwaju pursuing 

personal ambition, VP in 

race for Nigerians’ 

By Charles Kumolu 

r Kayode Ajulo, a former National 

DSecretary of the Labour Party, the 

Convener, Progressives Lawyers for 

Osinbajo, is a top member of Vice President 

Yemi Osinbajo Campaign for the presidency 

in 2023. 

In this interview, Ajulo insists Osinbajo did 

not betray Asiwaju Bola Tinubu contrary to 

the claim in some quarters that the VP 

shouldn’t have joined the race for the All 

Progressives Congress (APC) ticket, given that 

it was Tinubu who shot him into political 

limelight, first by appointing him as 

Commissioner for Justice and Attorney 

General for Lagos State and later nominating 

him as running mate to President 

Muhammadu Buhari in the 2015 election. 


break ties? 

I’m a bit skeptical about giving a front row 

report on the two leaders. However, this is what 

I am sure of. The ties that bind them are nothing 

but shared commitments to public service. 

Certainly, those ties don’t have to break because 

both of them are seeking the same elective 

post. Vice President Osinbajo, being the 

responsive leader he is, has heeded the call of 

Nigerians while Asiwaju has made it clear to 

us that extant engagement is to fulfill a life 

ambition. I see no issue here. 

Reports suggest Osinbajo quietly 

moved his membership of Lagos APC 

to Ogun APC in 2021. Was that the 

beginning of the breaking of ties with 

Tinubu? 

Vice President of the Federal Republic of 

Nigeria moved quietly to fill an official form 

and records… How can he quietly do that? 

The Vice President openly went to Ikenne 

last year during the APC membership 

revalidation exercise. It was a widely 

publicised event attended by party stalwarts 

in Ogun State including Governor Dapo 

Abiodun. 


Why not? It is legal, democracy is about 

freedom to choose and if the VP elected to 

do so, it is in furtherance of his rights. 

Was it in anticipation of running for 

President? Was it for some other reasons? 

I said it earlier, it was within his rights 

and discretion. 

How is your camp preparing for the 

battle ahead? 

I will adopt the motto of our Army, which is 

Victory Comes from God. God is with us. 

The people are on our side. What else do we 

need? More grace. 

Do you think the All Progressives 

Congress, APC, governors, National 

Assembly, NASS, members are divided 

by Tinubu, Osinbajo, Amaechi, Umahi, 

Yahaya Bello? 

It’s time to choose and this is one big family. 

The democratic choice will emerge soon and 

there won’t be division. 

What options are open to Tinubu now 

that Osinbajo is also running for the 

party’s presidential ticket? 

I mentioned it recently as I see Tinubu being 

the chief mobilizer for Professor Osinbajo 

Many argue that Osinbajo is part of the 

current mess Nigeria is currently in, do you 

agree? 

Osinbajo has been a part of the solutions 

and the records of his contributions are in 

the public space. 

•Ajulo

TheTinubu, 

Osinbajo, 

Amaechi 

battle for Reps 

By Levinus Nwabughiogu 

o say that the aspirations of Asiwaju 

TBola Tinubu and VP Yemi Osinbajo have 

not caused a division 

among members of 

the APC Caucus in 

the House of 

Representatives will be 

to demur on stark 

realities of the present 

times. 

The House is made 

up of 360 members. Of 

the number, the APC is 

in the majority with 

Hon. Femi 

Gbajabiamila as 

Speaker. 

Like Osinbajo, 

Gbajabiamila is also 

Tinubu’s protege from 

Lagos State. 

Gbajabiamila is for 

Tinubu. 

Hon. James Falake, 

also from Lagos, is a 

Tinubu man. Faleke 

has set up an office at 

Lake Chad Crescent, 

You are the 

ones with your 

votes and 

supporters who 

can make me 

succeed 

President 

Buhari 

Maitama Abuja for Tinubu Supporter Organization. 

Sunday Vanguard visited the place adorned with 

Tinubu’s photos and landmark quotes. The place 

is a beehive of activities with people coming and 

going. 

Suffice it to say that the Lagos APC Caucus in 

the House is for Tinubu. The state has 24 seats 

with two belonging to the PDP. There are no doubts 

that 22 will go for Tinubu. 

Such is the case with Kano State which also has 

24 seats. Unarguably, they have pitched tent with 

Tinubu, reflecting the stand of Governor Abdullahi 

Ganduje who is not wavering about his position in 

the Tinubu presidential project. Incidentally, the 

leader of the House, Hon. Alhassan 

Ado Doguwa, from Kano, had, on March 

16, when Tinubu visited the National 

Assembly to solicit support of the 

lawmakers 

glowingly of Asiwaju 

and urged the 

caucus to endorse 

him. With such 

commitment, Kano 

is for Tinubu. 

Borno State is, 

however, divided. 

Their support is 

likely to reflect the 

stand of the 

spoke 

immediate past 

governor who is also 

a serving senator, 

Kassim Shettima, and 

the incumbent, Professor 

Zulum. Shettima is for 

Tinubu while Zulum is for 

Osinbajo. Perhaps, their affinity came 

from their professorial backgrounds. 

The lawmakers are likely to be divided 

in their support. 

The situation is the same with other 

core northern states which see Tinubu 

as an instrument God used to actualize 

the Buhari presidency. For them, it is time to pay 

back. 

Katsina State Reps are likely to go with the 

Minister of Transport, Mr Rotimi Amaechi. Reason, 

he has concertedly and consciously raised the 

infrastructural status of the state, especially Daura, 

the home state of President Buhari. Recall that 

Amaechi was recently turbaned in the community 

as a chief. So, for the Reps from Katsina, it will be a 

time for appreciation. 

With the benefit of the binoculars, where 

Osinbajo is likely to get support of many Reps are 

south eastern and south southern states. But then, 

the South-East is not ready to play the second 

•Tinubu 

•Osinbajo 

•Amaechi 


class citizen this time. They want the 

presidency and this development 

may affect Reps support for 

Osinbajo there. Similarly, 

Amaechi, who hails 

from Rivers State, is in 

the race. He will 

likely to sway Reps 

there. 

Of course, one 

needs no 

soothsayer to know 

that Reps from the 

South-West are 

divided between 

Tinubu and 

Osinbajo. Both hail 

from the zone. But 

place them side by 

side, Tinubu, who had 

for years built a circle of 

allies, will take the day. 

It is not certain where the 

support of North Central 

Reps may go simply 

because Governor 

Yahaya Bello of Kogi 

State is in the race. 

A lawmaker from 

the South-East, who 

spoke the Sunday 

Vanguard after the 

April 13 meeting of 

Osinbajo with the 

APC Caucus, said 

he saw a man who 

was sociable and 

convivial with age on 

his side ready to serve. 

He said the VP took 

time to greet every member 

that was present. 

According to him, eschewing 

stereotype will help 

Osinbajo win the ticket 

over Tinubu. 

Tinubu’s 

meeting 

with Reps 

Tinubu, during 

his visit to the 

House, presented 

himself to the 

lawmakers and 

spoke convincingly 

and unambiguously 

about his intentions to 

succeed Buhari. 

He said: “What I want to 

request you to do is to support 

me. I have discussed that aspect my 

lifelong ambition with Mr President, that after 

the end of his term I want to step in his shoes 

and not step on his toes. 

“He responded to me saying ‘well, come out 

let us see you run and we see how best we can 

promote your democratic credentials’. 

“I love the opportunity today to come and 

consult with you. 

“I am here as a Nigerian who has gone 

through the great tutelage of independent 

accounting in one of the best financial 

accounting of this world. 

“I was one of those most recruited graduates 

of my university, multiple honours, First Class 

degree. 

“I have been in the corporate world with a 

background in the public sector, academic, 

finance and development. 

“I have inherited one of the first badly 

managed states in the states of this country. 

“We define our hopes, we define our 

destination and land Nigeria on a prosperous 

well developed country. 

“I ask for your endorsement. You are the ones 

with your votes and supporters who can make 

me succeed President Muhammadu Buhari. I 

want to be your partner to forge a future for 

this country”. 

Endorsement 

One had thought that the APC Caucus would 

shy away from an open endorsement of 

Tinubu, but nay, that didn’t happen. They, 

instead, made a bold statement and 

commitment to support. 

Osinbajo’s declaration 

In a similar stance, Osinbajo met with the 

Caucus. Feelers from the meeting that held in 

the Presidential Villa were that the lawmakers 

were divided in their support for him. Many 

reasoned that the VP had, while he was Acting 

President during the spasmodic medical 

vacations of his boss, took far reaching 

decisions which may be a harbinger to good 

days for Nigeria should he become the next 

President. Of course, if the vote is cast today, 

the former Lagos Attorney-General would 

garner appreciable number of votes. 

He had while declaring shared his thoughts: 

“Within this period of seven years, I have 

served the government in several capacities, 

and have, at the direction of Mr. President, 

represented our country in sensitive high level 

international engagements. 

“I have been to practically all local 

governments in Nigeria. 

“I have been in markets, factories, schools, 

and farms. I have been in agricultural, mining 

and oil producing communities; in the Delta, 

in Kebbi, Enugu, Borno; Rivers, Plateau and 

Ondo; & in all other States of the federation, 

listening to the diverse experiences and 

yearnings of our people. 

“I have visited our gallant troops in the North 

East and our brothers and sisters in the IDP 

camps. 

“I have felt the pain and anguish of victims 

in violent conflicts, terrorist attacks, flooding, 

fire and other disasters. 

“I have been in the homes of many ordinary 

Nigerians in various parts of the country. I have 

sat with our techprenuers in Lagos Edo, and 

Kaduna, with our Nollywood and Kannywood 

actors; with our musicians, from Lagos, 

Onitsha, and Kano. 

“And I have spoken to small and large 

businesses. 

“I stood where they stood and sat where they 

sat. 

“I know their hopes, aspirations and fears; 

and I believe that in those hopes and 

aspirations are the seeds for the great Nigeria 

that we all desire. 

“I believe that the very reason why the 

Almighty God gave me these experiences, these 

insights, and these opportunities, is that they 

must be put to the use of our country and it’s 

great peoples. 

“Which is why I am today, with utmost 

humility, formally declaring my intention to 

run for the office of the President, Federal 

Republic of Nigeria, on the platform of our 

great party, the All Progressives Congress.” 

Lastline 

It’s not yet uhuru for any of the presidential 

aspirants. For them to become President, 

Tinubu, Osinbajo and, indeed, all other 

persons in APC will have to first get the 

nomination of their party and then face the 

People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the 

candidates of other parties in the general 

elections. But for now, permutations, scheming, 

outwitting, outmaneuvering and outflanking 

are the words that are still permeating the 

political landscape of the country. Nigerians 

are keenly watching where the pendulum is 

swinging to. 

Intrigues as Tinubu, Osinbajo, Amaechi camps emerge in Senate 

Continued from page 23 

Senate for counsel, partnership and 

support, said, “Nigerians have come to 

that stage where we need a change of 

baton. “Election is coming up in February. 

We have various programmes including 

nomination process, primary process and 

all of that. I can’t do it by myself and I 

can’t do it by sitting at home expecting 

that many friends I have here will do it for 

me. 

“I believe jointly we can do it. You can 

back me successfully for the nomination of 

my lifetime ambition to become President. 

My ambition is not blind to the extent I will 

step on the toes of the President. I just want 

to step into his shoes and not on his toes.” 

According to Tinubu, if elected President, 

the country will remain united and “we will 

use that unity, the symbol of our party to 

cleanse Nigeria of unrealisable potential.” 

Responding, Lawan, who assured Tinubu 

that senators would continue to remain 

united to ensure the success of the Buhari 

administration, however, explained that 

external factors were mainly responsible for 

the social and economic challenges the 

country has been facing since the APC took 

over power in 2019. 

Also carrying his 2023 presidential 

campaign to senators, Osinbajo, on April 

12, invited the federal lawmakers and the 

Caucus to celebrate Iftar at his official 

residence. 

Iftar is the meal Muslims eat after sunset 

during Ramadan to break fasting for the 

day 

At the meeting, the VP solicited the support 

of the APC Caucus in the senate in his quest 

to succeed his boss in 2023. 

Recall that Osinbajo made an audio 

declaration for presidency last Monday 

morning after hosting the Progressive 

Governors Forum on Sunday. 

Now that Tinubu is vying for the 

presidency with his political son, the battle 

line is drawn and senators, especially those 

from the South-West, are working in opposite 

directions. 

Presently in the Senate, Tinubu is sure of 

support from his wife, Senator Oluremi 

Tinubu, APC, Lagos Central; Senator 

Olamilekan Adeola, Lagos West; Senator 

Adetokunbo Abiru, Lagos East; Senator 

Kashim Shettima, Borno Central; Senator 

Ajibola Bashiru, Osun Central; and Senator 

Adeyemi Oriolowo, Osun West. 

In Ondo State, the only APC senator, 

Robert Ajayi Boroffice, Ondo North, may 

not support Tinubu because Governor 

Rotimi Akeredolu is said not to be on the 

same camp with Tinubu. 

In Ogun State, the three senators there are 

also believed not to be pro-Tinubu against 

the backdrop that Senator Ibikunle 

Amosun, APC, Ogun Central is also said to 

be nursing presidential ambition and there 

is a political war between him and Governor 

Dapo Abiodun. 

One other thing that may work against 

Tinubu concerning Ogun senators is that 

even though he was instrumental to the 

emergence of Abiodun as governor, the federal 

lawmakers may throw their weight behind 

Osinbajo as an Ijebu man from Ikenne as their 

own son. The other senators from Ogun besides 

Amosun are Olalekan Mustapha, Ogun East 

and Tolulope Odebiyi, Ogun West. 

In Ekiti, it is not clear if Governor Kayode 

Fayemi, who is not in good terms with Tinubu 

while also nursing presidential ambition may 

sway the two APC senators, Opeyemi Bamidele, 

Ekiti Central and Olubunmi Adetumbi, Ekiti 

North, in favour of his ambition or to anyone 

he may be supporting. 

In Delta, the two APC senators are Omo- 

Agege, Delta Central and Senator Peter 

Nwaoboshi, Delta North. Omo- Agege may 

be in the same camp with Ndume in this case 

while Nwaoboshi may also swing to the same 

direction and that is towards Amaechi. 

In Kano State, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje 

is a strong supporter of Tinubu, but Senators 

Ibrahim Shekarau, Kano Central and Jubrin 

Barau, Kano North are presently engaged in a 

political fight with the governor and, with this, 

they may not go the same way with Ganduje, 

but Senator Kabiru Gaya, Kano South may 

support Tinubu. 

In Katsina State, President Muhammadu 

Buhari home state, former Senator Abu 

Ibrahim and Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, 

among others, are strong forces and may 

influence senators from the state: Senators 

Baba Kaita, Katsina North; Bello Mandiya, 

Katsina South and Barkiya Abdullahi, Katsina 

Central. 

The senators will be divided because the 

Emir of Katsina is said to have endorsed 

Amaechi. Abu Ibrahim is a strong supporter 

of Tinubu. 

Kogi Senators Smart Adeyemi, Kogi West; 

Yakubu Oseni, Kogi Central and Jibrin Oseni, 

Kogi East are sharply divided between Tinubu, 

Osinbajo and Amaechi because of the 

presidential ambition of Governor Yahaya 

Bello, just as governor Nasir El-Rufai of 

Kaduna State determines where the two APC 

Senators Suleiman Kwari, Kaduna North and 

Uba Sani, Kaduna Central will be.

PAGE 26 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 17, 2022 

B 

By Gabriel 

Ewepu 

eing a legacy project, 

the Kaduna-Kano 

rail project is well 

conceived by the Buhariled 

administration, and 

has proven to be a game 

changer that would 

galvanize the nation’s 

economy in all facets, 

because it has potential 

to create massive job 

opportunities for the 

teeming population of 

youth across the country, 

resuscitating moribund 

industries in northern and 

southern Nigeria, diversify 

the economy, and unlock 

the massive agricultural 

potential the country. 

The decision by 

President Muhammadu 

Buhari, to award this 

railway contract from Lagos 

to Kano, spanning eight 

sections to a global and 

highly reputable 

construction giant, China Civil Engineering 

Construction Corporation Nigeria Limited, CCECC, 

is commendable, because CCECC with its vast 

experience and professionalism in executing critical 

projects as such across the world for over 40 years of its 

existence indicates a new vista for economic rebirth. 

The company after mobilizing to site has thrived 

hard to ensure the project is completed and Nigerians 

begin to utilize it. Under the challenge of insufficient 

funds, CCECC overcame difficulties, mobilized highquality 

resources of manpower and equipment, and 

pushed forward construction with all their might toward 

the established goals. 

The company also attested to the friendliness, 

hospitality and cooperation of host communities, and 

appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari, the 

Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, and the 

community chiefs for giving it the enabling 

environment to execute the project, and promised to 

do its best in completing the project. 

And also assured of its capacity to accomplish the 

task according to the terms and conditions of the 

contract, and this has been proven despite the 

challenges it faces. 

The Kaduna-Kano Rail Project Execution and 

Impact 

The Project Coordinator, CCECC, Mark XU, said 

this railway construction is going to run from Kaduna 

all the way to Kano, it is a segment of the Lagos to 

Kano Railway project. 

XU said: “This will provide the northward extension 

of Abuja-Kaduna Railway. The length is approximately 

200.11km.The project is the standard gauge railway 

with a design speed of 150 km/h. 

“After completion, there will be great improvement 

in transportation efficiency of Abuja to Kano Railway, 

which will meet the demand for medium to long-distance 

and large-density transportation service in this country. 

“The project will promote the service capability of 

transportation infrastructure, improve the national 

railway network, and optimize the regional 

comprehensive transportation system. 

“The scope of work includes subgrade, bridges and 

culverts, track laying, station building, power supply, 

communication and signal-ling system, etc. 

“This is going to play an important role in 

strengthening the links between coastal port cities 

and other inland areas, promoting the export of 

agricultural and mineral products, and transporting 

imported materials to the inland areas. It is the most 

reliable, most efficient means of transportation. 

“The operation of this rail line will facilitate mass 

movement of passengers particularly the middle-class 

Nigerians, which is arguably the largest in number. It 

will reduce the traffic pressure on the road, lower the 

rate of road accidents and promote safety of travelers. 

The project construction will help increase the service 

level of transportation infrastructure and build a 

national railway backbone network. 

“In terms of Cargo, the project will help to build the 

railway collecting and distributing system at rear areas 

of Lagos Port, facilitate the development of the port 

and promote the development of export-oriented 

economy along the line.” 

He also explained that, “With regards to states linked 

by this line, the project will help promote resource 

development, industrialization and urbanization along 

the line, and facilitate economic development of states 

along the region. 

“It is of great significance to strengthen the links 

between the states along the line, enhance the 

radiation effect of the central city Lagos on the 

northern region, and promote the harmonious 

development of the regional economy. 

“The project also has direct impact on the locals, it 

has provided jobs for thousands of people in remote 

areas, someone in Yako Village for example, won’t 

have to come to city to seek for job, job meets them at 

their door steps. Due to the nature of sophisticated 

equipment used, the project hits the nail on skill 

acquisition, which entails teaching more youth 

machine operation. 

“If security is stabilized, this will also boost tourism, 

some Nigerians in the south have never been to the 

north and vice versa. So, if this is completed and 

security is back to saner climes, we will move around 

comfortably, thereby enhancing unity in diversity and 

multi-cultural tolerance which will eventually have 

significant impact on the economy.” 

Massive Employment by CCECC 

CCECC has employed over 3000 local staff, and 

Kaduna-Kano Rail Project: 

The Game 

Changer 

according to the work progress, the number of direct 

local employee may reach 23,000. 

“Currently, we have employed over 3000 local staff 

and according to the work progress, the number of 

direct local employee may reach 23,000. On the other 

hand, the local inhabitants along the railway involve 

the project may reach as same amount for business 

and services in kinds”, XU said. 

One of the women in Madobi town, headquarters of 

Madobi Local Government Area of Kano State who is 

a food vendor, Philomena Samuel, said, “We were idle 

in this community, but now we have been productive 

by selling food and drinks to the workers at this site, 

which we are using the profit to take care of our 

children’s school fees and keeping the family running.” 

CCECC’s Prioritizes Corporate Social 

Responsibility 

The company has been awake and alive to its 

Corporate Social Responsibility, CRS, which the Project 

Coordinator, CCECC, Mark XU said, “Social 

responsibility programme currently is focusing on 

railway sustainability, such as the construction of 

Transport University and Wagon Assembling Plant in 

Katsina and Ogun States respectively. Besides, about 

295 Nigerian students were sponsored by our company 

to study Railway and Civil Engineering in China. 

“This is typically a technology transfer covering civil 

engineering, mechanical and electrical. These 

students are expected to come back and take over 

lecturing in the Transport University.” 

He also added that, “We have also trained over 

1000 local staff at different levels to ensure the operation 

and maintenance work in the future.” 

Sponsoring Capacity Building of 

Nigerian Undergraduates 

The company has sponsored Nigerian 

undergraduates to acquire knowledge and expertise 

to man Nigeria’s rail system through capacity building 

in different aspects of railway transportation. 

”In 2018, CCECC signed a Memorandum of 

Understanding with Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, 

Zaria, to sponsor 45 students to complete their 

bachelor’s degree in China. Those 45 students came 

back in 2020 with respective degrees in Civil 

Engineering, Traffic and Transport Engineering, and 

Traffic, Equipment and Control Engineering. They 

were exposed to first-hand technology to curb the 

operation and maintenance lapses in the railway 

sector”, XU said. 

Conserving Foreign Exchange by 

locally sourcing materials 

At Section 4 of the project in Gimi-Gari, Makarfi 

Local Government Area of Kaduna State, the company 

has a large expanse of land used for offices, 

accommodation and fabrication site that is used for 

the production of beams and slippers. 

It produces two pieces of beams per day and 50, 000 

sleepers in one month for the rail project. But the 

company depends on diesel for the job to continue. 

This site has speed up the project, and it indicates 

the doggedness and determination of the company to 

ensure completion at the stipulated time and also to 

see that this project is a game changer in Nigeria’s 

economy. The company also sources materials locally, 

hence preventing capital flight. Interestingly, the Public 

Relations Officer, for Kaduna- 

Kano Rail Project, Mohammed 

Aliyu, said work on site is on a 

24 hour basis as workers round 

the clock despite security 

challenges. 

Community Leaders 

speak on impact of 

project, relationship 

with CCECC 

The District Head of 

Madobi, Saleh Musa Saleh 

Kwankwaso, Madobi Local 

Government Area of Kano 

State, said, “The impact of 

this rail project in my 

community is a very 

welcomed development, 

which has improved the 

rural economy including 

security of lives and 

prosperity of my people. 

“We have three terminal 

in Madobi LGA; Madobi, 

Kwankwaso and Chalawa. 

The terminus in Madomi is 

mainly for cargo, and it is 

basically agricultural 

produce transported to 

Lagos and other parts of the 

country. 

”There is a lot of impact 

of this project, and also the 

company has employed 

most of our people and they 

are benefiting, and they 

source their local materials 

from our people including 

laterite and lime, and this 

has improved our 

economy.” 

However, he appealed 

to the Federal 

Government to make 

funds available to 

complete the project at 

the stipulated time, 

because any delay that 

will lead to additional cost. 

Also, the Village Head of Gimi-Gari, Makarfi 

Local Government Area, Kaduna State, Abdullahi 

Ibrahim Gimi, said, “We are very grateful for this 

project in our community, particularly the youths 

are been employed, and it has boost the economy 

in my community including neighbouring 

communities, also there is life in the people. 

“We also have very good relationship with 

CCECC because they listen to me and also I do 

same, and there has never being any rancour 

between us. I thank the management in spite of 

the insecurity because they go on with the work 

without any fear.” 

He also added that the government should 

deploy more security men to the company for the 

project to be completed. 

Appeal for more deployment of 

security personnel 

The Public Relations Officer, for Kaduna-Kano 

Rail Project, CCECC, Mohammed Aliyu, said, 

however, as a national challenge, insecurity is 

threatening the smooth execution and completion 

of the project, but affirmed the company’s 

commitment to carry out the project with the 

presence of the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Police 

Force, and local vigilante giving them security 

shield. 

“I am calling on the Federal Government to 

give maximal attention to this very project so that 

the project would be completed to douse this 

security issue. 

“It is also important for the government to 

provide adequate security to the company 

executing the project, and also when completed 

there is need to install mechanisms that would 

send alert signals to the train drivers to avoid 

running into the trap of terrorists. “In addition, 

insecurity is on the rise around our construction 

site, especially Kaduna area. However, we still 

mobilize and coordinate every resource to focus 

on the construction day and night with double 

shifts. 

Meanwhile, it is also highly recommended that 

the Federal Government include in the contract 

security devices installed by CCECC in the rail 

tracks that would send signal to the train driver 

and his crew members, security agencies about 

danger ahead. 

Beneficiaries of Capacity Building 

testify 

Meanwhile, one of those 45 students that 

benefited from the training by CCECC from ABU, 

Zaria, Abah Adamu Lawal, a Civil Engineer, 

specialized in Track Irregularities Analysis, said 

they were sponsored to study in China by CCECC 

under the first joint degree programme in Nigeria 

while he was in 300 Level to study Railway 

Engineering between 2018 and 2020, and 

currently he works with CCECC. “CCECC 

sponsored the programme, and currently, other 

students are studying in China, who will graduate 

in 2023, and they are trained as lecturers to man 

the Transport Universities in Daura and Port 

Harcourt. 

“And all of the 45 students that CCECC 

sponsored to study in China are all employed by 

the company”, Lawal added. 

It’ll be patriotic if 

Tinubu props 

Osinbajo to victory 

— Foluso 

Continued from page 24 

Reports suggest that Osinbajo 

quietly moved his membership 

of Lagos APC to Ogun APC in 

2021. Was that the beginning of 

the breaking of ties with Tinubu? 

The Vice President’s state of origin is 

Ogun State, and he is entitled to choose 

between the state where he is resident 

and where he is an indigene for his 

political base. He is today a statesman, 

what if he feels the need to draw closer 

to the people for the sake of offering 

more leadership and inspiring more 

people? That is totally at his discretion 

and his prerogative. The fact remains 

that he is from Ogun State and a scion 

of the proud heritage of the late sage, 

Chief Obafemi Awolowo, whose 

granddaughter he is married to and 

who is also from Ikenne, Ogun State. 


As I said, it was at his discretion. Some 

individuals have lived all their lives in 

Lagos. They even served the state in 

different capacities in appointive and 

elective positions, but at a certain 

point, they decided to identify with their 

home states without betraying the 

Lagos identity. Can anyone reverse 

what Prof Osinbajo has done for Lagos 

State as Attorney General and Justice 

Commissioner? Obviously not. So, I 

believe the Vice President just wanted 

a base that connects with where he was 

born and his state of origin. 

What options do you think are 

open to Tinubu if Osinbajo is 

given the ticket? 

Of course, to lend his support as a 

democrat to Prof Osinbajo and feel 

proud that he has molded persons of 

tremendous character, capacity, 

competence and integrity that can 

succeed and sustain his legacy and 

vision for democracy and Nigeria. We 

don’t always win all the time. But we 

can sustain our ideals and certain 

principles regardless of where we are. 

Will Asiwaju go to the PDP or 

sabotage the party he played a role in 

building, or will he join or form a fresh 

party in anger? I don’t want to believe 

so. He has invested his life to defend 

the ideas of democracy, regardless of 

certain faults seen with the practices. 

It will even be most patriotic today for 

Asiwaju Tinubu to raise Osinbajo’s hand 

and prop him to victory as the best choice 

for the APC who will give the best for 

Nigeria today. It is democracy, and either 

through consensus or delegate choice, I’m 

optimistic this will end as an internal party 

contest. 

Many argue that Osinbajo 

is part of the current mess 

Nigeria is currently in. Do you 

agree? 

When people talk about the current 

mess, we also forget where we are 

coming from. Nigeria was coming out 

from a background of hopelessness at 

a period when corruption was denying 

us everything. It was when we were not 

seeing the value of funds that were 

being siphoned by public office holders 

with reckless abandon. Amidst these, 

the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic 

had forced our economy twice into 

recession and we exited both times 

even when big nations were struggling 

with theirs. It is this government led by 

President Muhammadu Buhari that is 

delivering on its infrastructural 

promises and bridging the shortfalls 

with massive investment in railway, 

roads, and supporting families and 

businesses through various 

interventions and National Social 

Investment Programme. Yes, we are 

aware that the insecurity situation has 

denied the administration some credits 

that could have accrued to it, but then, 

it’s not all knocks for this 

administration. If you’re in the South- 

West you can see what is happening to 

the railway and what is happening to 

the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. In the 

Vice President essentially is that 

individual with cognate leadership 

experience at the federal level, whose 

exposure in the eight years gives him 

an edge ahead of those that may want 

to experiment with government. 

Don’t also forget that he cannot 

outshine his boss. This administration 

is Buhari-led administration. The 

Constitution is clear on that. The Vice 

President’s measure of impact on the 

administration is only at the mercy of 

his boss. The President is elderly, a 

retired army General, but they both 

converge with the progressive belief of 

a purposeful Nigeria while the Vice 

President is younger and a lawyer.

Christians do not love God (1) 

The first and great commandment enjoins 

us to: “love the Lord our God with all our 

heart, with all our soul, and with all our mind.” 

(Matthew 22:37). 

However, Christians seem largely unable to 

do this. The first commandment is expressed 

in tautological terms. The love that God requires 

permits no other love. But we love so 

many other things apart from God. These other 

loves compete with the love of God in our 

hearts. 

Jesus asks Peter: "Simon, son of Jonah, do 

you love Me more than these?" (John 21:15). If 

we were to love anything else, it must be through 

and because of our love for God. 

Loving Jesus: hating others 

The Christian faith is very personal. Jesus 

says: “He who loves father or mother more 

than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves 

son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of 

Me.” (Matthew 10:37). 

Elsewhere, He goes even further, saying: “If 

anyone comes to Me and does not hate his 

father and mother, wife and children, brothers 

and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot 

be My disciple.” (Luke 14:26). 

We are not called to observe the rites of religion. 

We are not required to obey some rules 

and regulations. We are called to have a personal 

and intimate relationship with God. 

John expresses it in this manner: “We saw it, 

we heard it, and now we're telling you so you 

can experience it along with us, this experience 

of communion with the Father and his 

Son, Jesus Christ. Our motive for writing is 

simply this: We want you to enjoy this, too.” (1 

Christians do not seem to know 

that God is someone to be 

enjoyed. 

John 1:3-4). 

However, Christians do not seem to know 

that God is someone to be enjoyed. Our 

Father in heaven is the living God who 

gives us richly all things to enjoy. (1 Timothy 

6:17). Yes, we worship God, we praise 

Him, and we pray to Him. But we do not 

enjoy Him. God is not a friend to most of 

us. 

A hard man 

For many, God is a hard taskmaster who 

is to be feared. One man says to God in 

one of Jesus’ parables: “Lord, I knew you 

to be a hard man, reaping where you have 

not sown, and gathering where you have 

not scattered seed.” (Matthew 25:24). 

We say to God: “Depart from us, for we 

do not desire the knowledge of Your ways. 

Who is the Almighty, that we should serve 

Him? And what profit do we have if we 

pray to Him?” (Job 21:14-15). 

We see spending time with God as a 

chore. We struggle with it. We avoid it as 

much as possible. David says: “I was glad 

when they said to me, let us go into the 

house of the Lord.” (Psalm 122:1). 

But going to church is something we do 

out of obligation and not with gladness. A 

lot of the time, we look for some excuse to 

avoid it altogether. Prayer meetings are a 

RUNNING WITH VISION UNTO YOUR SUCCESS: 

Vision support system (3) 

INTRODUCTION 

e shall be looking at the case study of 

WApostle Paul as he built the Vision support 

network of his ministry. Most of the characteristics 

mentioned in the previous sessions 

were noticed in the lives of Apostle Paul’s associates, 

as we shall observe in the present session. 

Covenant helpers in life and destiny are 

surely part of God’s ways to our success and 

divine fulfillment. 

APOSTLE PAUL’S VOCATIONAL NET- 

WORK 

Apostle Paul had a vocational network to 

support his apostolic mission that was developed 

in the Mediterranean region. He spent 

about 10 years to establish this regional support 

network (during his second and third missionary 

journeys). 

Key Persons in Paul’s Vocational Support 

Group : It is worth mentioning that there were 

up to fifty key persons mentioned in the Bible 

as vocational and covenant support persons in 

his network. Their composition covered many 

kinds of advancements of “the world” in Paul’s 

time. Intellectualism, politics, military, commerce, 

trading, agriculture and industry were 

some of the areas covered by the network. In 

fact, Apostle Paul straddled the 7 hills of civilization 

of his time, because, even when you want 

to doubt the inclusion of the unlikely area of 

sports and entertainment, it featured severally 

in many of his writings. 

The people came from several known cities 

and fields of profession. Some had full time 

ministry callings like Lucius of Cyrene, Silas, 

Timothy and Apollos. Some others were professional 

and bi-vocational ministers like Luke, 

a medical practitioner, Zenas, a lawyer and 

Gaius, a professional host. Some others were 

purely people of business and wealth like Lydia, 

a trader of purple linen, Aquilla and Priscilla, 

who are builders. There were also people of 

Christians, is the day of birth in Adamic sin, 

a happy day? 

BIRTH-DAY celebration is meant for un 

believers and not for believers in Christ, 

who are born again and have the Spirit of 

Christ. In Isaiah 5:13-14, it is written: “My 

people are gone into captivity, because they 

have no knowledge: and their honourable men 

are famished, and their multitude dried up with 

thirst. Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and 

opened her mouth without measure: and their 

glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and 

he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it.” 

The people of God who in their multitude 

and pomp, rejoice and celebrate the day they 

were born in sin are in Satan’s captivity because 

they have no knowledge of the truth. And 

they shall descend into hell, if no repentance 

before they die! 

Pastor Akinola 

influence in the society 

like Erastus, 

the City Treasurer of 

Ephesus, Paul’s fellow 

countrymen 

like Jason and Sosispater, 

Macedonians 

like 

Aristarchus and Secundus, 

among 

many others. 

PAUL’S LEVERAGING OF COMMIT- 

MENT TO HIS NETWORK 

The extent of success achieved in life and 

destiny is directly proportional to the level 

and versatility of network building by the 

individual, as well as one’s commitment 

to that network. In the case of Apostle Paul, 

as mentioned above, he was highly committed 

first and foremost to his calling, 

and he was productivity-conscious. In view 

of this he was also similarly committed to 

his network to carry the same burden as he 

was, and truly, they were. May the Lord 

bless you with covenant helpers that will 

be committed along with you in making 

you fulfill divine purpose. (Titus 3:14). 

THE APOSTOLIC 5-FOLD TEAM NA- 

TURE OF NETWORK 

It is wisdom to be strategic in the choice 

of people in your network. Apostle Paul 

was strategic in this respect, as he built his 

vocational support system around 5-fold 

ministers. All the 5-fold ministry gifts were 

found in his network. Surely the Scriptures 

affirm that “..in the multitude of counselors, 

there is safety” (Prov. 24:6). It must be 

noted that Paul himself “was appointed a 

preacher, an apostle and a teacher of the 

gentiles” (2 Tim 1:11). Silas was a prophet 

and apostle, and Timothy also an apostle 

and evangelist. (Acts 15:32; 1 Thess. 2:6; 2 

Birth-day and its ungodly celebration and 

any worldly ceremony is not the doctrine 

of Christ, because Jesus was not of this 

world. (John 17:16) 

And whosoever does not abide in the doctrine 

of Christ, which condemns ungodly 

festivities and all worldly celebrations, has 

not God. 2 John 9. 

King Pharaoh and Herod, who celebrated 

their birth-days, were unbelievers and 

idolaters because they sat down to eat, to 

drink and to dance, during this celebration. 

And Christians are warned by the 

Spirit of God, not to be idolaters as these 

unbelieving Kings, as written in 1 Corinthians 

10:7: “Neither be ye idolaters, as 

were some of them; as it is written, the people 

sat down to eat and drink, and rose up 

to play.” 


No-No. They must drag us to attend those. And 

when we go to vigils, like Peter in Gethsemane, 

we sleep under the anointing. 

“Hear, O mountains, the Lord's accusation; 

listen, you everlasting foundations of the earth. 

For the Lord has a case against his people; he is 

lodging a charge against Israel. My people, 

what have I done to you? How have I burdened 

you? Answer me.” (Micah 6:2-3). 

“Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride 

her attire? Yet My people have forgotten Me 

days without number.” (Jeremiah 2:32). 

However, we do not see God as an ornament, 

or as a pearl of inestimable value for which we 

sell all that we have to acquire it. 

Distracted worship 

When we pray to God, our mind does not stay 

on Him. We are distracted by all kinds of things. 

As we are praying, we are thinking of cooking 

dinner. Or we are anticipating the football match 

coming up the next day. If the telephone rings, 

we interrupt the prayer and keep God waiting 

while we answer the call. 

Then there is the issue of fasting. We see this as 

a burden we sometimes must endure when we 

desperately want something from God. Otherwise, 

fasting is out of the question. We do not 

fast just because we want to be nearer to God. 

When we fast, we continue doing as we please. 

We fast because our understanding is that the 

relationship with God always requires a sacrifice. 

But a sacrifice is not something we give 

willingly. Sacrifices are things we give grudgingly. 

Sacrifices deny us of something we want: 

food, money, or leisure. Sacrifices are exacting 

and burdensome. 

At the end, we ask God: “Why have we fasted, 

and You have not seen? Why have we afflicted 

our souls, and You take no notice?” (Isaiah 58:3). 

When our petitions are not answered, some 

even reach the conclusion that: “It is useless to 

serve God; what profit is it that we have kept 

His ordinance, and that we have walked as 

mourners before the Lord of hosts?” (Malachi 

3:14). 

Tim 4:5). 

Mercy, not sacrifice 

But God is not interested in our sacrifices. 

He says again and again: “I desire mercy and 

not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more 

than burnt offerings.” (Hosea 6:6). 

“‘Why this frenzy of sacrifices?’ God's asking. 

‘Don't you think I've had my fill of burnt 

sacrifices, rams, and plump grain-fed calves? 

Don't you think I've had my fill of blood from 

bulls, lambs, and goats? When you come before 

me, who ever gave you the idea of acting 

like this, running here and there, doing this 

and that — all this sheer commotion in the 

place provided for worship?” 

“Quit your worship charades. I can't stand 

your trivial religious games: monthly conferences, 

weekly Sabbaths, special meetings — 

meetings, meetings, meetings — I can't stand 

one more! Meetings for this, meetings for that. 

I hate them! You've worn me out! I'm sick of 

your religion, religion, religion, while you go 

right on sinning. When you put on your next 

prayer performance, I'll be looking the other 

way. No matter how long or loud or often you 

pray, I'll not be listening.” (Isaiah 1:11-15). 

God wants us to love Him. He wants to speak 

to us face-to-face as a man speaks to his friend. 

(Exodus 33:11). But very few of us see ourselves 

as friends of God. He is too serious and austere 

for us. 

We would never joke with God. We cannot 

imagine Him smiling at us. 

When we want to relax, we do not go to God. 

When we want to have fun, we do not go to 

Him. Instead, we visit our buddies, we go to 

the cinema, or watch television, or surf the internet. 

We only go to God when we want something 

or need something. Or we go to God when 

we want to be religious. 

Jesus warns that the cares of this world and 

the deceitfulness of riches choke the word and 

make us unfruitful. (Matthew 13:22). Earthly 

wealth prevents us from enjoying God. When 

we lay up wealth and riches for ourselves, we 

rejoice in our possessions, like: “The Chaldeans, 

who rejoice in their ships.” (Isaiah 43:14). 

CONTINUED 

Bible Society holds 55th National Board Meeting 

By Sam Eyoboka 

THE Bible Society of Nigeria [BSN] holds 

her 55th National Board Meeting in Abuja, 

the Federal Capital Territory from April 25- 

29, 2022. 

The board meeting, which will be declared 

open by the Minister, Federal Capital Territory, 

Mallam Mohammed Musa Bello, will start 

with a Divine Service scheduled to hold at All 

Saints’ Anglican Church, Wuse Zone 5 on 

Wednesday, April 27, 2022. 

The meeting, being hosted by the North Central 

Zone of BSN, will be presided over by the 

President and Board Chairman of the Society, 

Bishop Dr. Olubunmi Timothy Banwo. Among 

other things, the board meeting will discuss past 

and future activities of the organisation con- 

Oritsejafor empowers some Christians 

By Sam Eyoboka 

IN spirit of the season of Easter, the 

Word of Bible Church has perfected 

plans to empower some Christians. 

According to word from the office of immediate 

past National President of Christian 

Association of Nigeria, CAN, His Eminence, 

Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor certain trained 

All ceremonial cakes, especially the so-called 

“birth-day cakes” are to the queen of heaven, a 

demon goddess, as written in Jeremiah 7:18: 

“The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle 

the fire, and the women knead their dough, 

to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to 

pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that 

they may provoke me to anger.” Therefore, the 

cutting of so-called birth-day “cakes” by Christians, 

is to provoke God to anger. 

In Hebrews 10:26-27, it is written: “For if we 

sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge 

of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice 

for sins. But a certain fearful looking for of 

judgment and fiery indignation, which shall 

devour the adversaries.” 

If after we have received the knowledge of this 

truth that condemns birth-day celebration, and 

we wilfully continue in this sin of birth-day celebration, 

we should expect the judgment and 

fiery indignation of God. 

And it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of 

the living God. Hebrews 10:31. 

CONCLUSION 

These were strategic associates of Paul, who 

added value to his life and ministry. They stayed 

long enough with him to make necessary impact. 

In the same way we should be consistent 

with people in our network for necessary impact 

to become evident. We will continue on 

this in the next session. 

•J.K. Akinola. (Senior Pastor) The Gospel 

Faith Mission International (GOFAMINT), 

Ibadan, 

Nigeria.Email: 

flprofenassociate@gmail.com, 

kolajoshua2003@yahoo.com Pastor (Dr). 

E.O. Abina – General Overseer. 

cerning bible work and as well examine her 

accounts for the past one year. The General 

Secretary of BSN, Pastor Samuel Sanusi is 

expected to present his report for the year under 

review to the board at the meeting. 

Expected at the board meeting are the patron 

of BSN, Gen. (Dr.) Yakubu Gowon, GCFR, 

the national officers, delegates from across the 

country and some senior members of the management 

team of the organisation. 

The Bible Society of Nigeria is a not-forprofit 

interdenominational Christian organisation 

that translates the Bible into Nigerian 

Languages, publishes, distributes, executes programmes 

to engage people with the Bible to 

transform their lives, and raises funds for the 

Bible works. 

professionals will tomorrow be empowered 

with starter packs to enable them practice 

their trades without hindrance. 

The Lion of Africa is set to release some 

entrepreneurs to the market knowing full 

well that goverment alone cannot empower 

everyone in the state or the country, no 

matter how much that 

Even though believers in Christ are saved by 

grace, yet they cannot continue in sin for grace 

to abound. Grace is to deny all ungodliness, 

and worldly lusts, such as birthday celebration 

and to live soberly, godly and righteously 

in this present world. Titus 2:11-13. 

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth 

shall make you free. John 8:32. Free from ignorance 

of Satan’s devices, lest he gets advantage 

of us to kill us spiritually through worldly 

ceremonies and ungodly festivities. (2 Corinthians 

2:11) 

The conclusion. 

Christian Gospel Church 

(The Truth Centre), 

4 Christian Gospel Avenue, 

Beside Psychiatric Hospital, 

Uselu, Benin City, Edo State 

Email:cgc.com.ng@gmail.com 

Telephone: +234(0) 7052061135, 

+234(0)9030731406 

Website: www.cgc.thetruthcentre.com

PAGE 28—SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 17, 2022 

Through the resurrection power, 

that problem shall be over 

Beloved, today is a 

special day in the 

sense that Christians 

all over the world are 

demonstrating their appreciation 

for what our 

Lord Jesus Christ did for 

humanity. He came and 

died a sacrificial death for 

our sin, was buried and on 

the third day 

resurrected in order to 

rescue us from the impending 

doom occasioned 

by the sin of Adam and Eve. 

He laid down His life for 

the love He has for mankind 

and was not coerced 

into it for He has power to 

give it up and take it back. 

Jn 10: 17-18 says, 

“Therefore doth my Father 

love me, because I lay 

down my life, that I might 

take it again. No man taketh 

it from me, but I lay it 

down of myself. I have 

power to lay it down, and I 

have power to take it 

again. This commandment 

have I received of my 

Father.” 

The power of resurrection 

which we are appreciating 

today opens door 

for our salvation, deliverance 

and all the gifts of 

life. We want to let people 

realize that the essence of 

His coming to die and resurrect 

is nothing but that 

we might be abundantly 

blessed. And these blessings 

are not limited to 

Christians alone but to as 

many as will accept Him 

as Lord and personal Saviour. 

As we celebrate the power 

of His resurrection today, 

the challenges of humanity 

including physical, 

spiritual, political and 

economic challenges that 

are distorting the progress 

of man shall by this divine 

program become eradicated. 

That is more reason 

I am urging all to use the 

occasion of this Easter and 

come to Jesus so that their 

problem shall be no more. 

Beloved, the resurrection 

of Christ brings that optimism 

that no matter how 

difficult or how challenging 

our situation may be, 

as long as there is resurrection, 

there will be a restoration 

and since Jesus 

has defeated death, then 

all things are 

possible. This also suggests 

that as bad as the prevailing 

situation in our 

country might appear, 

there is the expectation 

that things will get better 

if we can boldly come on 

His throne of grace to obtain 

mercy. We should understand 

that His victory 

over death is our victory 

over sin and Satan, over 

sicknesses and diseases, 

barrenness and poverty, 

and restoration of all we 

loss in Adam. If you believe 

it, I am assuring you 

that your entire problem 

shall be over in Jesus name 

God who is full of compassion 

has decided to end 

the suffering of man 

through the death and resurrection 

of His only begotten 

son so that the problem 

of man shall be completely 

over. 

That is why the Scripture 

says, “For God so loved the 

world, that he gave his 

only begotten Son, that 

whosoever believeth in 

him should not perish, but 

have everlasting life” 

(John 3:16). God made a 

way for man to be free 

from Satan and by extension, 

suffering, afflictions, 

satanic bondage and every 

consequence of sin 

through Jesus Christ. 

If you are outside the 

kingdom of God, a backslider, 

afflicted and or oppressed 

by the kingdom of 

darkness, Christ has come 

for you and you must be 

free, saved and recovered. 

No matter what your problem 

may be God will deliver 

and save you and everything 

you have lost from 

the beginning shall be restored 

to you in Jesus 

name. 

Remember, it is never the 

will of God that any soul 

should perish or remain 

under satanic slavery or 

suffering, affliction nor 

bondage of any sort, but all 

shall come to repentance 

and become free because 

God has determine that 

your problem will be over 

this Easter. However, it is 

only the acceptance of our 

Lord Jesus Christ in your 

life and family that will 

mark the end of your bondage, 

sufferings and sorrows. 

John 8:36 says, “If the 

Son therefore shall make 

you free, ye shall be free 

indeed.” 

Jesus in your life will certainly 

and completely 

make you free and never 

to remain in sin, sorrow, 

affliction, poverty or crisis 

anymore. 

TESTIMONY 

10 YEARS YOKE OF 

SMOKING BROKEN 

My name is Sister Ngozi 

Ndukamma. I want to testify 

how God broke ten 

years yoke of smoking in 

my life and granted me 

salvation. Prior to receiving 

my salvation I was into 

The General Overseer of the Lord's Chosen Church, Pastor Lazarus Muoka and 

Mummy, Pastor Joy Muoka 

Jesus in your life 

will certainly and 

completely make 

you free and never to 

remain in sin, 

sorrow, affliction, 

poverty or crisis 

anymore 

beer-parlour business for 

more than five years without 

an inkling that I was 

in sin. While I was into this 

business, I was also smoking 

and in a day could 

smoke about three packets 

of cigarette. But on a fateful 

day a woman living on 

same street where I was 

doing that business invited 

me to their church. 

When I asked the church 

she was attending. She replied 

“The Lord’s Chosen”. 

As at that time, I was attending 

a church with its 

headquarters at Sango- 

Otta. The sister said that 

God specifically sent her 

to invite me to The Lord’s 

Chosen program. I bluntly 

told her I did not want 

to go to The Lord’s Chosen. 

But everyday she 

would come to that beerparlour 

to preach to me. On 

a particular visit, she 

made a statement that she 

would not cease inviting 

me until I honoured the 

invitation to The Lord’s 

Chosen. 

When I asked why she 

was determined to see me 

in Chosen, her response 

was that it was God who 

sent her. After hearing her 

that day, I suddenly became 

anxious to attend 

Lord’s Chosen program. 

But I was in a dilemma 

because as at that time, I 

did not have a single gown 

and the Chosen Church 

frowns at women wearing 

trousers, So I pondered on 

what to do the woman said 

if I came to The Lord’s 

Chosen, I would see what 

God would do for me. I 

asked her if I could wear 

trousers and come since I 

had no gown, she said no. 

Then I took decision to attend 

the Church program 

and also let her know of 

my conclusion. 

She directed me to where 

I would go and join the 

church bus, but as I did not 

wake up on time, the 

church bus left. However, 

that afforded me the opportunity 

to go to my sister 

to borrow a gown from 

her and wear. Before my 

sister gave her gown, she 

asked why I wanted to 

wear gown, because she 

had been telling me to 

wear gown to no avail. I 

told her that a Chosen sister 

invited me to her 

church. My sister raised 

her hands and began to 

praise God on my behalf 

because from my youth to 

adult age, I had been putting 

on trousers; I had never 

worn skirt or gown for a 

very long time. 

After putting on the trouser 

and getting to the busstop, 

I saw a bus with the 

inscription “The Lord’s 

Chosen”. I boarded the bus 

and it took us to the 

Church. 

Not quite long we arrived 

and took our seats, I heard 

the General Pastor said 

“You that woman that is 

into smoking, I break that 

yoke in the name of Jesus” 

and immediately I felt 

something left me, and my 

body started shaking. The 

General Pastor continued 

and said, ‘those women 

wearing trousers should 

know they are into sin, 

same thing with those committing 

fornication. As 

many as are hearing my 

voice, whether new or old 

member, I want you to understand 

that there may be 

something you are doing 

and may not know you are 

being controlled by demonic 

spirit, and because 

you do not know there is a 

spirit behind it that is why 

you find it difficult to renounce. 

Today, that yoke 

will be broken in Jesus 

name” Behold as the General 

Pastor prayed for us 

that day, it was like a big 

load was lifted off me. 

Even in the village, they 

know I was into smoking, 

whenever I wanted to 

smoke I would hide and 

smoke, yet when I came out 

from my hiding place, they 

would know that I had gone 

to smoke. But Pastor 

prayed that first day the 

yoke is broken. Moreover 

God of Chosen has 

changed my business, I am 

very happy to be a Chosen. 

Governor Babajide SanwoOlu of Lagos State and the General Overseer of the Lord's 

Chosen Church, Pastor Lazarus Muoka. at the the Governor's Office, during the 

latter's courtesy visit . 

The Vice President of Gambia, His Excellency Dr. Isatou Touray, flanked by Mummy 

Joy Muoka and Pastor Lazarus Muoka (3rd left), during their visit to the Presidential 

Palace, Gambia

Without equity, fairness, maxim of one 

Nigeria is a scam — Fr. Ebube Muonso 

By Nwabueze Okonkwo 

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Obimma 

is the Spiritual Director of the 

Holy Ghost Adoration Ministry, 

Uke, Anambra State. He 

is also the Parish Priest of 

Blessed Iwene Tansi Parish 

and Retreat Center, Umudioka, 

Dunukofia LGA of Anambra 

State. In this interview, the 

vocal Catholic priest speaks 

on the 2023 presidential election 

and Igbo presidency, 

Nnamdi Kanu, arrest of the 

former governor of Anambra 

State, Willie Obiano, by the 

Economic and Financial 

Crimes Commission, EFCC, 

among other issues. 

What’s your reaction to ex- 

Governor Willie Obiano’s 

arrest by the EFCC? 

I 

sense conspiracy in the 

entire saga. I believe that 

the arrest of the former governor 

of Anambra State, Willie 

Obiano, was politically 

motivated. The intention, to 

me, is to malign his person 

and destroy his hard earned 

image. This is what an average 

Igbo man is going 

through today in this country 

Ṫhe current ordeal of the 

ex-governor is a premeditated 

plan. Willie Obiano, no 

doubt, has contributed greatly 

to the development of Anambra 

State. He has built one 

of the best airports in the 

country. When he was building 

the airport, he was 

mocked and sabotaged. 

Many, who did not see anything 

good in his efforts made 

mockery of him. To my greatest 

chagrin, majority of his 

Igbo brothers joined in mocking 

him. They never knew that 

the airport would become a 

reality. Majority of Nigerian 

elites and the common people 

are now benefitting from 

the airport. 

In the recent times, Chris 

Ngige, Olusegun Obasanjo, 

Andy Uba, and majority of the 

political elites have either 

landed or taken off from the 

airport. Majority, who fought 

the project are benefiting 

from it today. I am not trying 

to justify criminality or imprudence 

in government. What 

worries me is that most of the 

times; the fight against corruption 

is made to be lopsided; 

as if the fight were targeted 

on select individuals. 

It should not be so. Imagine 

the kind of humiliation 

the anti-graft agency is subjecting 

the former governor 

to. How could the agency video 

the former Anambra number 

one citizen where he was 

partly dressed, and went on 

to spread the video on the internet? 

This shows that some 

disgruntled elements are interested 

in humiliating him. 

This is a provocation, and I 

Rev. Fr. Obimma 

say no to it. If I were Willie 

Obiano, I would sue the agency 

Ṫhe idea of releasing Obiano’s 

video while in EFCC 

cell is a display of lack of professionalism 

on the side of the 

anti graft agency. Good a 

thing that they have arrested 

the officer that released the 

video. Let Nigerians know the 

said officer. Let him be punished 

to serve as deterrent to 

others. 

What is your opinion 

about the agitation for Nigerian 

president of Igbo extraction 

come 2023? 

There are thousands of 

men and women of Igbo origin, 

who have all it takes to 

move Nigeria forward. Nigeria 

is continually moving 

backwards because the Igbo 

have not been given the opportunity 

to manage the affairs 

of the country. Over the 

years, the rest of Nigeria has 

refused to give Igbo the 

change to produce the country’s 

number one citizen. 

Come to think of it, the Igbo 

man should be the best to be 

entrusted with the destiny of 

the country; because, Igbo 

have the greatest stake in this 

country. Igbo people are everywhere; 

at every nook and 

cranny of the country. They 

have businesses at every point 

around the country. They have 

property everywhere. The 

Igbo are more interested in 

the well being of Nigeria than 

any other ethnic group. It is 

the Igbo that have what it 

takes to move Nigeria forward. 

If an average Igbo person 

can succeed with twenty 

pounds given to him after the 

civil war, he can as well fix 

Nigeria beyond every imagination. 

Agitation for Igbo 

presidency come 2023 is a 

welcome development, and 

should be respected for the 

continued unity and peaceful 

co-existence of the country. 

The agitations you witness 

today across Nigeria, including 

that of Indigenous People 

of Biafra (IPOB) and others, 

are as a result of injustice and 

lack of equal opportunities. 

If injustices in this country are 

addressed, some of these agitations 

will die down. The 

South East is the only geopolitical 

zone that has not 

produced elected president of 

Foursquare church holds 2022 

Ministers Conference 

By Gabriel Olawale 

FChurch oursquare 

in Nigeria Gospel 

has 

concluded plans to hold its 

2022 annual International 

Ministers and Leaders 

Conference. 

Speaking ahead of the forum 

scheduled to commence on 

April 25 at the Church’s 

Camp, Chairman of the 

Organizing Committee, Rev. 

David Adetomiwa, said the 

event would be another 

“opportunity to build upon 

the foundation that had been 

laid in times past.'' 

He said: "The theme of the 

conference is “Building 

Capacity for Relevance” 

taken from Mark 9:17-19. It 

will be a time of intentional 

development of personal 

capacity for ministerial and 

societal influence. '' 

Leading a team of highly 

sought-after conference 

speakers will be the General 

Overseer of the Church, Rev. 

Sam Aboyeji and his wife Rev. 

Mrs Olabisi Aboyeji, Rev. 

Sam Osaghae, Rev. Yomi 

Oyinloye, the National 

Secretary and Dr. Adebola 

Olubanjo, a seasoned 

financial consultant and 

wealth coach, among many 

others. 

this country. It is sad. I will 

urge South East elders and 

the political class to rise up 

to the challenged. They 

should speak up. This country 

belongs to all of us, and 

continued marginalization 

of a particular ethnic group 

in the politics of their own 

country is not a welcome development. 

What do you think will be 

the general feeling in the 

South East if Igbo were denied 

presidency in 2023? 

If Nigeria wanted equity, 

fairness and justice, Igbo 

stock should be given a 

chance in 2023. Continued 

denial of the Igbo to produce 

president has been the reason 

behind agitation for the Sovereign 

State of Biafra. The 

last time an Igbo person found 

himself at the corridor of 

power was more that forty 

years ago, when Alex Ekwueme 

was Vice President 

under Shehu Shagari. 

Since then, no Igbo man 

ever had opportunity. I want 

to warn Nigeria that there is 

an extent one can be pushed 

to the wall. The Igbo have 

been pushed to the wall. They 

have endured humiliations 

and marginalization in a 

country they fought so hard 

to get. If Nigeria were a country 

where justice and equity 

thrives, an ethnic group like 

Igbo cannot be begging to 

produce president of Nigeria. 

A Nigerian president of 

Igbo extraction in 2023 is very 

germane for a number of reasons, 

including the need to 

douse the present political 

and socio-economic tensions 

that have already enveloped 

the country, as a result of perceived 

marginalization of 

Igbo people in the country 

they fought hard to get. If there 

is truly one Nigeria, let there 

be a zoning system, where one 

ethnic group will take a shot 

at the presidency after the other; 

otherwise, the maxim of 

one Nigeria will be seen as a 

scam. Let there be equity and 

justice. 

What is your advice to political 

parties as regards 

making the 2023 Igbo presidency 

realizable? 

My advice is that political 

parties like the Peoples Democratic 

Party (PDP), the All 

Progressive Congress (APC), 

and others should consider a 

South Easterner for their party 

tickets. They should consider 

nominating an Igbo 

person of the south east extraction 

as their flag bearer. 

Igbo politicians in different 

parties should also do internal 

lobbying within their parties. 

South east politicians 

should also extend their handshakes 

beyond the Niger. 

Since an Igbo man is making 

effort to serve as president 

of Nigeria, Igbo politicians 

should build friendship 

across board. They should 

form political alliances. Voting 

Igbo man as president in 

2023 is a sure step to a greater 

Nigeria. Nigeria is not yet 

where it should be politically 

and economically because, 

Igbo have not been given the 

opportunity to fix it. 

What is your view about 

continued detention of 

Nnamdi Kanu by the agency 

of the federal government, 

DSS? 

Continued detention of 

Nnamdi Kanu is uncalled for. 

He is a human being, and 

needs to be heard. Since he 

was detained at the facility of 

the DSS, the court has not 

heard his own side of the story. 

His continued detention 

without any court pronouncement, 

and without being 

granted bail, is not a welcome 

development. It is high 

time Igbo politicians and elders 

spoke concerning Nnadi 

Kanu, as well as injustice 

being meted on Igbo people 

in the present day Nigeria. 

Kimberly-Clark Nige 

ria, a leader in baby 

care and essential feminine 

products, has fulfilled its 

promise to provide scholarships 

to girls at the Dream 


Edo Varsity announces dates for commencement 

of second semester 

•Gets NUC approval for eight more post graduate courses 

Edo State University 

Uzairue (EDSU) has 

announced dates for the 

commencement of second semester 

for the 2021/2022 academic 

session. 

According to a statement by 

the Acting Registrar of the institution, 

Mr. Habib Ekhalefo, 

the school closed its first 

semester on Thursday April 

14, 2022. 

The statement noted that 

students from 300 to 600 Levels 

across all the faculties of 

the institution are to resume 

for the 2021/2022 second semester 

on Tuesday April 19. 

The statement added that 

students in 100 and 200 Levels 

are expected to be back 

on campus for second semester 

on May 5. 

Meanwhile, the institution 

has received the National 

Universities Commission 

(NUC) approval to run eight 

Kimberly-Clark Nigeria gives scholarship to 

indigent Ikorodu students 

additional post graduate programmes. 

A letter addressed to the 

Vice Chancellor of Edo State 

University Uzairue, signed by 

NUCs Director of Academic 

Planning, Dr. N.B Saliu, read: 

“I am directed to inform the 

Vice-Chancellor that the Executive 

Secretary has considered 

and approved the establishment 

of the full-time 

mode of the following postgraduate 

programmes to be 

run in the main campus of the 

university with effect from the 

2021/2022 according session. 

“The courses granted approval 

are: Accounting, 

Chemical Engineering, 

Computer Engineering, and 

Electrical and Electronic Engineering”. 

Other courses listed in the 

letter include Business Administration, 

Mass Communication, 

Public Administration 

and Medical Laboratory 

Science. 

While Accounting got approval 

for PhD, the other seven 

departments got approval 

for Post Graduate diploma, 

Masters, and PhD. 

It would be recalled that the 

university received approval 

from the NUC to run post 

graduate programmes in Political 

Science, History and 

International studies, Computer 

Science, Microbiology 

and Biochemistry. 

Edo State University 

Uzairue runs an uninterrupted 

academic calendar in 

commitment to its motto of 

quality education for human 

development. 

The university is the first to 

use Anatomage table in the 

country in the teaching of its 

medical students and have 

deployed the use of the CAN- 

VASS Learning Management 

System in the teaching 

of it students. 

NDE empowers youths to boost agro-business in Oyo 

In a bid to ensure food se 

curity, employment generation 

and reduction in 

crime rate in the country, the 

National Directorate of Employment, 

NDE, has empowered 

142 beneficiaries comprising 

of youths and women 

to boost agro-business in Oyo 

State. 

Similarly, the agency has 

commenced a three months 

intensive training on Sustainable 

Agricultural Development 

Training Scheme 

(SADTS) for 100 persons in 

the State. 

Speaking at the flag- off 

ceremony in Ibadan, the 

NDE Director-General, Mallam 

Abubakar Nuhu Fikpo, 

who was represented by the 

Oyo State Coordinator, Mrs. 

Olayinka Olayemi, said the 

training was in line with the 

Federal Government policy 

on Agriculture for employment, 

wealth creation and 

food sufficiency. 

He added that beneficiaries 

would be trained on modern 

agricultural activities as 

well as how to utilize the loans 

given to them on profitable 

agro- ventures. 

He advised the teeming 

unemployed persons in the 

country to embrace agriculture 

which he said has lots of 

value chains to enhance their 

quality of life, families and 

the nation in general. 

Also speaking, Oyo State 

governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, 

who was represented by 

Mr. Jide Williams, commended 

the NDE over the recent 

signing of a memorandum 

of Understanding with 

General Manager, Kimberly-Clark Nigeria, Vani Malik 

presenting a cheque for the educational sponsorship of 30 

girls at the Dream Catchers Academy. 

Nigerian pastor denies siphoning church 

funds 

A 

South African-based 

Nigerian pastor and 

founder of Bethesda Christian 

Centre, BCC, a mega-church 

in Pretoria, South Africa, Mr. 

Clement Ibe, has denied alleged 

mismanagement of the 

church’s finance and property. 

A statement issued by the 

church leadership and cosigned 

by Pastor Ibe denounced 

a recent report 

which was believed to have 

been facilitated by a splinter 

group of the church, BCC 

Concerned Group Task 

Team. 

The group had called into 

question, Ibe’s management 

of the church’s funds and the 

true ownership of the church’s 

headquarters building, alleging 

that the property had been 

unilaterally sold by the founding 

pastor. 

However, the statement 

maintained that the pastor 

was being falsely accused by 

the group who had earlier 

filed reports against the 

church and its leader with the 

South Africa Police’s Directorate 

for Priority Crime Investigation, 

DCPI, and the 

Social Development Department, 

SDD. 

the state government and assured 

that the state government 

will continue to support 

efforts geared towards harnessing 

the huge agricultural 

potentials in the state. 

He also emphasized the 

need to develop new ideas and 

skills which are relevant in 

rapidly changing global 

economy. 

Similarly, the director, Rural 

Employment Promotion, 

Dr. Mbata Micheal represented 

by Mrs. Tola Olaoye, 

explained that the scheme 

which consist of two weeks of 

theoretical training and ten 

weeks of in-depth practical 

was designed to equip the 

beneficiaries with the needed 

skills which will enable them 

create wealth and become 

self-reliant. 

Catchers Academy as part of 

its commitment to providing 

better care for a better world. 

The promise was made in 

February 2022, during the inauguration 

of its Ikorodu factory, 

which had in attendance 

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo 

and Governor Babajide 

Sanwo-Olu. 

During the ceremony, its 

General Manager, Vani Malik, 

revealed the company’s 

plans to provide scholarships 

to 30 girls from Dream 

Catchers Academy, a nongovernmental, 

free boarding 

education and performing 

arts academy for orphaned 

and under-served girls in Ikorodu. 

Through its Kotex® She 

Sabi Initiative, which champions 

women and girls’ 

progress by fighting period 

stigma, the company fulfilled 

its promise to the girls. 

This scholarship is in addition 

to donations of furniture 

to Agodo Alara Community 

Primary School, 5,000 Huggies 

diapers and 5,000 Kotex 

sanitary pads to the I-Care 

Foundation. 

The cheque presentation 

and handover ceremonies to 

the Dream Catchers Academy 

and Agodo Alara Community 

Primary School were 

witnessed by the Oba of Ikorodu, 

Kabiru Adewale Sotobi, 

who commended the firm 

for investing in the children 

and the Ikorodu community. 

Malik said, “Beyond commitment 

to the implementation 

of Nigeria’s national 

roadmap for industrialisation 

– to create jobs, substitute 

imports and boost exports, 

education is very important 

to us, and we are dedicated 

to ensuring that children 

are able to reach their 

full potential and enjoy good 

education in a comfortable 

learning environment.”

PAGE 30—SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 17, 2022 

Anti fraud experts urge FG to review crypto ban 

ONE year after the Cen 

tral Bank of Nigeria 

(CBN), imposed a ban on cryptocurrencies, 

experts have advised 

the Federal Government to reconsider 

its stand, while proposing 

tougher measures against infractions. 

The experts gave the advice 

at the fifth annual Anti-Fraud Conference 

of the Association of Certified 

Fraud Examiners, ACFE 

Lagos chapter, that was held virtually 

recently. 

In his presentation, Senior Partner, 

Financial Forensic at A&D 

Forensics, Adedeji Owonibi urged 

the government to tighten the 

noose against fraudulent acts on 

crypto platforms rather than settling 

for an outright ban. 

According to him, the CBN 

should devote more time and resources 

to guiding and monitoring 

banks, adding that a lot of financial 

institutions still engage in 

the deal secretly in spite of the ban. 

Nigerian Breweries Plc restates commitment 

to sustainability agenda 

Stories by Tunde Oso 

NIGERIAN Breweries 

Plc, the foremost brewing 

company, has restated its commitment 

to ensuring a sustainable 

and environmentally friendly 

agenda in its business operations 

across the country. 

The reaffirmation was given 

by the Managing Director, Mr. 

Hans Essaadi during the company’s 

76th Pre-AGM media 

briefing held in Lagos on Thursday, 

April 7, 2022. Essaadi noted 

that sustainability is a key pillar 

of the company’s strategy, which 

explained why it recorded significant 

progress in this direction in 

the last few years. 

He further stressed that the 

company made significant in- 

WHITEROSE Properties, 

a subsidiary of WhiteRose 

International Group, unveiled 

Camelot Mews by WhiteRose 

on April 9, 2022 at Lekki 

Phase 1, Lagos. 

Real estate observers at the 

event, who spoke 

to Vanguard said that with its 

latest roll-out, WhiteRose Properties 

is gradually carving a 

niche for itself in the Nigerian 

real estate sector, especially coming 

after inaugurating Kirah 

Court 1 by WhiteRose at Qakview 

Estate Lafiaji, Lekki in Lagos, 

which is already sold out. 

Kareem Shakirat Ayobami, 

founder of WhiteRose International 

Group said WhiteRose 

Properties is poised to raise the 

ante in the Nigerian real estate 

sector. 

According to her, “Camelot 

Mews is a testament to our architectural 

imagination and introduces 

a new trend whose features 

and facilities cannot be 

found anywhere in Nigeria. This 

estate and others we’re planning, 

To arrest exploitation by criminals, 

Owonibi wants banks to raise 

their game, as well as equip certified 

fraud examiners, CFEs with 

the right tools and knowledge to 

contain irregularities on crypto 

transactions. 

He said, “more than before, financial 

institutions need to identify 

and report suspicious activities 

on how criminals and other 

actors exploit cryptocurrency for 

money laundering, sanction evasion 

and other illicit financial purposes. 

“This applies to all financial 

institutions regardless of whether 

they directly buy, sell, provide custody 

or have virtual currency exchange 

as customers. More so, 

both banks and practitioners must 

be able to identify accounts operated 

by Virtual Asset Service Providers 

(VASPs) and conduct enhanced 

due diligence on customers 

accounts transacting with 

vestments in the last 12 months 

to meet this ambitious target by 

driving operational excellence in 

its existing assets while also promoting 

alternative energy solutions 

in its operations. According 

to him, the company achieved a 

relative reduction in water consumption 

and carbon emission 

during its operations in the 2021 

financial year. 

“Over the last year, we have 

achieved 11.35% carbon emission 

in production. We have also 

reduced our water consumption 

from 3.80hl/hl in 2020 to 3.70hl/ 

hl in 2021. We have achieved zero 

waste to landfill at 5 of our production 

sites and ended 2021 with 

an overall 95.6% waste diversion 

from landfills. We launched the 

sunshine crèche to promote di- 

WhiteRose Properties unveils Camelot Mews in Lagos 

I believe, will not only compete 

with the best estates in Nigeria 

but with other notable estates 

around the world,” she assured. 

The long list of WhiteRose 

Properties projects include 

WhiteRose Mall Lekki 

Phase 1, Kirah Court 2 at 

Mayegun and WhiteRose 

Court at Conservation Centre 

by 2nd Tollgate Lekki Lagos. 

The latest additions to the 

VASPs. 

In the same vein, 2nd First Vice 

President of ACFE, Lagos chapter 

, Dr. Titilayo Fowokan averred 

that cryptocurrency has become 

a global phenomenon which cannot 

be stopped as a result of local 

ban. 

She maintained: “Rather than 

the ban on cryptocurrency, CFEs 

can do a lot to help the government 

detect and curb fraudulent 

practices within the digital economy. 

The fact that most transactions 

pass through the banking 

system gives opportunity for tracking 

fraudulent practices through 

cryptocurrency activities. 

The association’s 1st Vice President, 

Don Ogbonnaya reiterated 

the need for organisations to 

put in place effective checks and 

control mechanisms, as well as 

effective and routine documents 

examination as part of their internal 

audit programme. 

versity and inclusion”, he said. 

He stated that in line with its 

‘Brew a Better World’ sustainability 

agenda, the company has 

embarked on far-reaching initiatives 

geared towards improving 

the planet and making it a better 

place to live and thrive as a business. 

He disclosed that the company 

was determined to deliver superior 

and balanced growth for 

the business through the Heineken 

EverGreen strategy. 

“As a 157-year-old company, 

we think in generations and deliver 

long-term, sustainable value 

creation. Our EverGreen strategy 

has been built from four foundational 

areas called the Green 

Diamond. EverGreen leverages 

our existing strengths and new opportunities 

to chart the next chapter 

of our growth”, he added. 

•From left: Kareem Shakirat Ayobami, founder of WhiteRose 

International Group and another guest at the unveiling. 

WhiteRose family: Camelot 

Mews, is an understated luxury 

comprising of a 1-bedroom 

flat, 2-bedroom flat, 

and 4-bedroom semi-detached 

and Fresh Water Garden 

by Whiterose, a service 

estate located at Ostia Island 

Lagoon District Lekki Phase 

1, Lagos. Neighborhood Estate 

are: Orange Island, Imperial 

international business 

city and Periwinkle estate. 

•From left: Shareholder, Richway Microfinance Bank, Adenike Oni; Director, Richway 

Microfinance Bank, Dr Fatai Lawal; CEO, Richway Microfinance Bank, Adenrele Oni; and 

Director, Richway Microfinance Bank, Mrs Titilayomi Ahmadu, during The Pride Magazine 

Annual Award where Richway won the Exemplary Microfinance Bank of the Year 2021 

held in Lagos. 

Illegal wildlife trade through ports 

threatens conservation 

By Victoria Ojeme 

In recent years, Nigeria has evolved into a 

primary transit hub for trafficking in illicit 

wildlife products, including pangolin scales, 

ivory and other protected species from Eastern and 

Central Africa, arriving in the country through its 

porous borders, as indicated in the United Nations 

Office on Drugs and Crime’s (UNODC) World 

Wildlife Crime Report 2020. 

Nigerian authorities have stepped up 

enforcement actions against illicit trafficking of 

wildlife and forestry products. The Nigerian minister 

of environment, Mohammed Abdullahi, said the 

country is up-scaling its moves in combating wildlife 

and forest crimes citing the launch of the National 

Strategy Plan on Combating Illegal Wildlife and 

Forest Crime in Nigeria. 

Several large scale seizures of wildlife and forest 

products took place in 2021. In January 2021, the 

Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) intercepted a 

container of mixed wildlife products at the Apapa 

Port in Lagos. The container was loaded with 2,772 

pieces of elephant tusks weighing 4,752kg; 162 

sacks of pangolin scales, weighing 5,329kg; 5kg of 

rhino horns; 103kg of skulls suspected to be of lions 

and other wild cats; and 76 pieces of processed 

timber. 

A similar seizure was made at a warehouse in 

Lagos in July 2021, containing 7,137 kg of pangolin 

scales, 4.6 kg of pangolin claws and 870,44 kg of 

ivory. In September 2021, NCS also intercepted 15 

sacks of pangolin scales weighing 1,009.51 kg. 

On 2 February 2022, the Nigeria Customs Service 

reported yet another seizure of 14 sacks containing 

839.40kgs of pangolin scales and 4 sacks containing 

40 pieces of cut ivory weighing 145kgs. 

In all these, the UNODC through its Project 

“Strengthening Nigeria’s response to the trafficking 

of wildlife and forest products” is supporting the 

Nigerian authorities to address wildlife and forest 

crime. The project, which is funded by the 

Government of Germany, supports the 

development of a National Strategy to Combat 

Wildlife and Forest Crime in Nigeria; strengthens 

the capacity of law enforcement officers to intercept 

and detect illegal shipments; as well as upgrades 

the capacity to investigate, prosecute and 

adjudicate wildlife and forest crime. 

The Executive Director of UNODC, Ms Ghada 

Whaly, said that Nigeria is fast becoming a “primary 

transit hub” of wildlife products, stating that despite 

Nigeria having less than 0.1 per cent of the 

population of elephants in Africa, 23% of all elephant 

tusks seized globally between 2015 and 2019 had 

been smuggled through Nigerian ports. 

While bemoaning the illicit trafficking of wildlife 

products from Eastern and Central Africa, she said 

that the UNODC is ensuring feasible partnership 

with diverse groups of stakeholders, including key 

law enforcement agencies to ensure that trafficking 

of wildlife products are halted in Nigeria. 

She said Nigeria has evolved into a primary 

transit hub for trafficking in illicit wildlife products 

from Eastern and Central Africa. 

According to the UNODC World Wildlife Crime 

Report 2020 Nigeria has less than 1% of Africa’s 

elephants yet between 2015 and 2019 the country 

was the leading source of elephant tusk seizures 

accounting for 23% of global seizures. 

She added that 60% of global pangolin scale 

trafficking is traced back to Nigeria as the source of 

shipments. This February 2, the Nigeria Customs 

Service conducted an operation in Awoyaya, Lekki 

Lagos, arresting four suspects and seizing 839.40 

kilograms of pangolin scales and 145 kilograms of 

elephant ivory. 

“I commend Nigeria for taking the government’s 

action to address this growing problem. This five 

year national strategy is a major step towards 

tackling wildlife and forest crime through a 

sustainable and strategic approach,” the UNODC 

boss said at the launch of Nigeria’s national 

strategy to combat wildlife and forest crime. 

“I am pleased that UNODC has supported the 

development of the stray in close collaboration with 

national counterparts. We look forward to 

continuing this partnership. We are already in 

discussions with donors to ensure concerted 

support for the implementation of the strategy. 

UNODC is also committed to broadening the scope 

of our collaboration to address crimes that affect 

the environment.” 

Campaigners say illegal trafficking of wildlife 

happens to be a multibillion-dollar business 

involving the plundering of and illegal trade of live 

animals, plants or parts and products derived from 

them. Wildlife is traded as skins, leather goods or 

souvenirs; as food or traditional medicine; as pets, 

and in many other forms. 

Traffickers illegally capture a diversity of 

irreplaceable species – rare butterflies and baby 

cheetahs, mahogany trees and hummingbirds, sea 

turtles and parrots—and sell them as meat, pets, 

traditional medicine, décor or in any capacity it is 

needed for. 

Endangered animals and plants are often the 

target of wildlife crime because of their rarity and 

increased economic value. Two of such animals are 

pangolins and elephants. Pangolin is a quiet 

anteater which is trafficked because of its scales 

and the elephant, the ivory. The rate at which 

these animals are trafficked is alarming. The 

Pangolin Reports states that roughly 50 tons of 

illegal African pangolin scales have been seized 

globally in shipments that contain both pangolins 

and ivory with pangolin scales surpassing the 

volume of ivory. This means that people buy more 

pangolin scales than ivory. 

A report from the Environmental Investigation 

Agency (EIA) asserts that Nigeria has become the 

world’s largest hub for export of ivory and pangolin 

scales leaving African shores for Asian markets 

because between 2014 and 2018, Nigeria and the 

Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) climbed to 

the top of the list, at 30.5 and 21 metric tons. In that 

same period, Nigeria was connected to 167.6 metric 

tons of pangolin scale seizures — more than four 

times the DRC. 

There is a geographic consolidation of trafficking 

routes across several markets, with Nigeria 

emerging as a key source/transit country for many 

shipments of protected species and products. 

According to a report of the Convention on 

International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild 

Fauna and Flora (CITES), Elephant Trade 

Information System to COP17, Nigeria is the 

second most prominent ivory exporting country of 

West Africa, functioning as a major ivory hub that 

draws in ivory from Central Africa and, increasingly, 

as far away as East Africa. 

The report indicates that Nigeria harbours a large 

unregulated domestic ivory market. Open source 

research indicates ivory is being sold in Lagos in 

markets and hotels under the guise of woodwork 

and bead work. Processing of ivory products for 

export to China takes place on a commercial scale 

(primarily bangles and name seals) using courier 

services or individual carriers. 

The Elephant Trade Information System to 

COP17 report identified corruption among port 

officials as one of the reasons why Nigeria is such 

an attractive destination for smugglers of wildlife. 

In 2019, Nigeria was ranked at 146 out of 180 

countries in Transparency International’s 

Corruption Perceptions Index. Shipping agents 

were reported to be charging premiums per ton for 

illegal wildlife product exports, paying higherranking 

officials up the chain along with others 

involved in inspection and border control measures. 

A major incentive for illegal trafficking of wildlife 

is the low political will to stop the trade and lack of 

prosecutions of offenders. The Nigeria Customs 

Service has made a number of seizures and cases 

are then handed over to the National 

Environmental Standards and Regulations 

Enforcement Agency but no prosecutions happen. 

In a bid to conserve this endangered species, a 

global ban on illegal wildlife trade was given in 

January 2017 but this did not change anything as 

there has been an increment in the seizures of 

pangolins. According to the EIA, there has been a 

fifty-four percent increase in the seizures of 

pangolins thereby showing that the world is 

becoming knowledgeable about the unlawful act. 

Nigeria is not left behind in creating awareness 

about illegal trafficking of pangolins as many reports 

have shown Customs seizures of pangolins. 

Trafficking in wildlife has far-reaching implications 

which include pollution, deforestation, destruction 

of natural habitats and climate change. Trafficking 

in wildlife diminishes species populations and causes 

local or even global extinction. Further worsening 

the problem is the fact that the demand for larger 

and more ornate specimens means that hunters 

and collectors often aim for the fittest individuals 

from the breeding population, with serious 

consequences for subsequent generations. Illegal 

trade in wildlife negatively impacts a country’s 

natural resources and local communities that might 

otherwise benefit from tourism or legal, sustainable 

trade.

INSECURITY: Enough of excuses, lamentations, 

banditry-free Nigeria possible — Tinubu 

•S’ West youths declare support for former Lagos gov 

By Olasunkanmi Akoni 

THE National Leader of 

All Progressives Congress, 

APC, and presidential 

hopeful in the 2023 polls, Asiwaju 

Bola Tinubu, yesterday, 

said Nigerians were tired of 

excuses and lamentations 

over perennial insecurity and 

socio-economice challenges 

in Nigeria, saying a united 

and insecurity free Nigeria is 

possible. 

Tinubu spoke at a grand 

rally by youths under the aegis 

of Progressive Youth of 

South-West to declare their 

support for his presidential 

aspiration at the Mobolaji 

Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos 

Island area of the state. 

The youth from different 

states in the South-West such 

as Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti, 

Ondo and Oyo states converged 

on Lagos in their large 

numbers to drum up support 

for the aspiration of Tinubu 

in his quest for Presidency on 

2023 

The former governor, while 

addressing the teeming 

youths that filled the arena, 

which he described as the 

brightest, brilliant, urged 

them to team up with him in 

his bid to change the story of 

Nigeria for the youths and 

tomorrow which they represent. 

He said, ‘’All you need is 

courage, determination and 

perseverance, if the YouTube 

alone has 2.9 billion people 

following it , including you 

all standing here, then Nigeria 

can excel, we can do it, 

you must develop the can do 

attitude, you must believe that 

this country is yours and you 

want to change the story. You 

must change the story of potential, 

the story of banditry, 

you must change the story of 

tribalism. 

‘’We as a nation can conveniently 

feed ourselves by being 

creative, visionary and 

committed, anybody who 

says we cannot, they can get 

out because it is voluntary. 

We cannot continue the 

lamentation of the past, we 

cannot continue with excuses 

of power failure, no nation 

that made rapid development 

without electricity , give us 

light and if we cannot be successful 

then you can abuse us 

, you cannot give us erratic 

light that is undependable 

and then blame us again that 

we are lazy . 

‘’Nigeria it is about time, we 

have enough gas to fire up 

electricity and supply the rest 

of Europe and make money, 

long term from it. You know 

it. We don’t want to bore you 

with it, when i started we used 

to pick dead bodies on the 

streets, but today Lagos is one 

of the cleanest, most progressive 

states in the country.” 

He therefore, urged the 

youths to revalidate their Permanent 

Voter’s Card PVC 

and be ready to vote in the 

forthcoming 2023 general 

elections. 

Also speaking, Governor 

Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who 

appreciated the grand support 

for Tinubu, noted that 

youths will continue to be 

identified as critical stakeholders, 

just as he urged all 

delegates to the APC Primary 

to exercise their franchise 

wisely. 

The South- West youth leaders 

at the event took their 

turns to speak on why the 

youth were promoting Tinubu 

to become the next president 

of Nigeria, come 2023.. 

Why Olu of Warri did not endorse Asiwaju – Palace 


The Palace of the Olu of 

Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse 

III, has described as false a 

report which claimed the 

monarch endorsed a presidential 

aspirant on the platform 

of the All Progressives 

Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola 

Tinubu. 

A statement by the Director 

Palace Administration, Chief 

Clement Maleghemi, said 

the monarch is a father to 

all , adding that he is not into 

partisan politics. 

“The attention of the palace 

of His Majesty, Ogiame 

Atuwatse III, the Olu of Warri 

has been drawn to the false 

publication in Independent 

newspaper and social media 

and the palace wishes to firmly 

rebut the statement claiming 

Ogiame’s endorsement of 

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu 

and restates that Ogiame has 

no political affiliation or preferred 

candidate for any office 

in the forthcoming 2023 

elections be it regional, sub 

regional or national level,” 

the statement said. 

“His Majesty is a father to 

TCN urges Akwa Ibom community to protect 

Transmission Tower from vandals 

By Chioma Onuegbu 

•From left: Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State; APC Youth Leader, Mr Seriki 

Muritala; Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; Lagos Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamza and Hon Kolawole 

Alabi during a rally organised by APC Progressive South-West Youth in support of 

Tinubu’s presidential bid in Lagos, yesterday. 

Transmission Compa 

ny of Nigeria, TCN, 

has appealed to the 

people of Oku Iboku in Itu 

Local Government Area of 

Akwa Ibom State to assist 

in protecting the 104 

Transmission Tower situated 

in their community from 

vandals. 

The Managing Director 

of TCN, Sule Abdulaziz, 

made the appeal during an 

on-the spot-assessment of 

the collapsed tower following 

attacks of vandals on 

the 330 KV Odukpani/Ikot 

Ekpene transmission line 

which threw some parts of 

the country into darkness 

penultimate Friday. 

Abdulaziz solicited the 

cooperation of the host 

community particularly the 

youths to ensure that the infrastructure 

is not sabotaged 

again, noting that it 

would gulp over 

N100million to rebuild the 

tower because of the level 

of damage. 

His words: “You can see 

what happened here is that 

this Tower has been brought 

down due to the activities of 

vandals. Most parts of the 

country were thrown into 

darkness last Friday because 

of this act of vandalism. 

We condemn this. 

“And we are here to assess 

the level of damage, but we 

have mobilized a contractor 

to site and we have the 

contractor just one week to 

do the job. It will cost not 

less than N100million to 

rebuild the tower. 

“So we are appealing to 

the people of this community, 

we are appealing to the 

youths , Akwa Ibom people 

to please protect this infrastructure 

from being vandalized 

again. You must 

guard it as your own because 

it belongs to you “ 

World Sleep Day: Vitafoam urges 

Nigerians to embrace quality sleep 

itafoam Nigeria Plc, 

Vhas urged Nigerians to 

embrace quality sleep to 

maintain good mental 

health, physical wellbeing 

and live a happy life. 

Speaking at a free training 

session on “Practical Ways to 

Improve Quality Sleep and 

Healthy Living”, organised 

by Vitaform in Lagos, the 

company’s Group Managing 

Director and Chief Executive 

Officer, Mr. Taiwo Adeniyi, 

stated that quality sleep 

was essential for good mental 

health, physical wellbeing 

and a happy life. 

Adeniyi, who was represented 

by the company’s Finance 

Director, Mr. Joseph 

Alegbesogie, said: “Truly, we 

need quality sleep to feel refreshed, 

recharged and ready 

for the days ahead. However, 

in our society, the negative 

consequences of sleep deprivation 

are often overlooked 

till it is too late. Many people 

don’t know that poor sleep 

can lead to a variety of other 

issues, including mental and 

physical health issues.” 

He noted that World Sleep 

Day was a day set aside to 

raise awareness on the importance 

of sleep to the body. 

“We are confident that quality 

sleep is achievable by all 

Nigerians with Vitafoam, as 

we have mastered the art of 

sleeping over the years and 

our state of the art laboratory 

has equipped us with needed 

skills and guide to meet customers’ 

expectations in comfort, 

style and functionality,” 

he added. 

all and has no personal 

favourite or special interest in 

any candidate or political 

party vying for any office in 

the forthcoming elections 

one way or the other or discredit 

any candidate to the 

detriment or advantage of 

others. 

“Therefore , the palace is 

using this medium to make 

this important clarification 

for the avoidance of doubt 

and further request that in the 

future any queries or clarifications 

on communications 

should be directed to the Palace 

media office. “ 


Bikers group donates to home 

for special needs 

A 

group of motorcycle 

rders also known as 

Bikers with attitude and determination, 

has donated 

food items, vocational skills 

tools to God's Fabulous 

Home for Special Needs, 

Mowe in Ogun State. 

The President of the group, 

Mr. Kayode Kosile-Palmer, 

made this known in a statement, 

noting that the children 

also got a treat at Silverbird 

cinemas, where they had fun 

at the movies with members 

of the group. 

According to him, the 

group has always been carrying 

out Charity under its 

Subgroup ‘BG Cares’ quarterly 

every year. 

“The group comprises men 

and women cut across various 

professions in the ecosystem, 

founded in 2016 with a 

Safe medicines: PWDAN calls for 

holistic sanitation of pharmaceutical 

supply chain, regulation 

By Chioma Obinna 

As SAFCO Pharma re 

cently marked its 6th 

Anniversary, the Vice-Chairman, 

Pharmaceutical Wholesalers 

and Distributors Association 

of Nigeria, PWDAN, 

Ogeneochuko Omaruaye, 

has identified holistic sanitisation 

of the pharmaceutical 

supply chain and proper regulation 

as major steps in ensuring 

a consistent flow of 

quality and affordable medicines 

across the country. 

Omaruaye lamented that 

the growth of the wholesale 

distribution sector of the pharmaceutical 

supply chain is 

hampered by poor infrastructure, 

lopsided regulation, lack 

of political will on the part of 

the government, as well as 

unprofessional conduct on 

the part of the practitioners. 

Omaruaye, who spoke during 

a virtual event to mark 

Surveillance job: Arewa youths 

told to focus on insecurity in North 


Ijaw leader, Chief God 

spower Tomone, has spoken 

against call by Arewa 

Youth Assembly on the Federal 

Government not to 

award pipeline surveillance 

job to ex militant leader , 

High Chief Government 

Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo. 

Tomone, who said this in 

Warri, said the Arewa group 

should be concerned about 

the insecurity in the North, 

saying government should 

not hesitate to award the job 

to Tompolo. 

He said: “Tompolo is the 

man ripe enough for the job. 

By virtue of Tompolo being 

from Ogulagha, Gbaramatu 

Dayo Johnson 

he National Director 

Tate of Employment, 

NDE, has commenced a 

three-month intensive 

training in Sustainable 

Agriculture Development 

Training Scheme, SADTS, 

for 100 persons in Ondo 

State. 

NDE Director-General, 

Mallam Abubakar Fikpo, 

who was represented by 

the Ondo State Coordinator, 

Mr Bode Ogunyankinnu, 

said the programme 

includes the orientation of 

the 2021 40% REP loans 

scheme. 

the 6th anniversary of Safco 

Mega Solutions, a pharmaceutical 

and healthcare 

wholesale distribution pharmacy, 

in Lagos said an unending 

chaotic drug distribution 

that has promoted the 

circulation of fake, adulterated 

products, and treatment 

failures among others is a 

challenge of the mind, as 

against the general belief that 

chaotic drug distribution is 

being fueled by the open markets 

only. 

On the 6th anniversary of 

SAFCO, Omaruaye who is 

also the Managing Director, 

of New Height Pharmaceuticals 

Limited, congratulated 

the company and commended 

the leadership style of the 

chief executive officer, Pharm. 

Bayo Afon, for sustaining the 

company despite the challenges 

it had encountered, 

especially at this critical period. 

and other oil bearing kingdoms 

in the Niger Delta region 

and his sacrifices over 

the years makes him more 

qualified to be given the contract. 

“I also commend the federal 

government for considering 

the choice of Tompolo. 

Tompolo handling the pipeline 

surveillance contract, the 

oil production in the country 

will no doubt improve as he 

has done it before. 

“ It must have been the 

hand work of some internal 

betrayals. Anyone fighting 

Tompolo will not have his 

way as he has the blessings of 

all the Ijaw people. Those 

bent on selling Ijaw nation out 

should repent now before they 

will meet their waterloo.” 

zeal to Change the damaging 

myth surrounding Motorcycle 

riding. 

“We are happy that we were 

able to pay for the rent of the 

home as well as provide a 

borehole system alongside 

bunk beds and mattresses. 

“Our satisfaction came 

from seeing the joy on the faces 

of these precious children 

and the wind against our faces 

on our ride back home, 

knowing we made an indelible 

imprint in their hearts.” 

In his remark, the Chairman 

of BG Cares, subgroup 

Mr. Bolaji salami said “We 

evangelize through our Charity 

arm, BG Cares, which focuses 

on impacting society 

and giving a voice and sharing 

hope and joy one rev at a 

time”. 

NDE trains 100 persons on sustainable 

agriculture in Ondo 

According to the DG, the 

training was in line with 

the Federal Government’s 

policy on agriculture for 

employment, wealth creation 

and food sufficiency. 

He said: “The NDE has 

come up with this scheme 

which refers to an agricultural 

production and distribution 

system that will 

help to provide more profitable 

farm income, promote 

environmental stewardship 

and enhance the 

quality of life for farm families 

and communities. 

“The 100 carefully selected 

trainees will undergo 

training in skill proficiencies 

in crop production 

( 

vegetable\horticulture) 

and livestock production ( 

poultry, animal husbandry) 

and another 38 in Sustainable 

Agriculture Empowerment 

Development 

Scheme, Graduate Agriculture 

Empowerment 

Scheme, Agriculture Enhancement 

Scheme and 

Community Based Agriculture 

Empowerment, 

who are already profiled 

for a loan package of 

N100,000 each.” 

Fikpo noted that the 

training of SADTS was expected 

to last till June 

2022, adding that the 

training would be done in 

two phases comprising two 

weeks of theoretical training 

and ten weeks of indepth 

practicals. 

The DG pointed out that 

at the end of the training, 

“a stipend will be paid to 

the trainees to ease the cost 

of transportation and orientation 

on agriprenuel 

training will be given. The 

trainees will also be linked 

with financial institutions 

and other sources of funds 

for resettlement.”

PAGE 32 —SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 17, 2022



ZUGA COIN: 

How from abject 

poverty I founded 

digital currency 

– Archbishop Sam Zuga 

• ‘My parents were so poor, I didn’t 

eat rice until I was 14 years old’ 

Archbishop Sam Zuga is a man of many interests and 

disciplines, most recent of which is founding Zuga Coin, a 

monetary venture developed with an altruistic 

perspective to enabling the fortunes of Nigerians and truly 

driving inclusion in the country. Sunday Vanguard sat with 

him where he had the chance to expatiate on his motivations 

and ambitions. 

Aside the work you do as a cleric, you 

are into so many other things. Can you 

tell us about yourself and your other 

interests? 

My life has been a life of service to 

humanity and worship to the Almighty 

God. I take pleasure in serving people, 

providing solutions, so for that I got involved 

in a lot of things and this has its roots all the 

way to my childhood. We experienced 

hardship and poverty as a family growing 

up, a particular incident led me to God at 

age 14 and He heard my call to take 

humiliation away from our family. And He 

came to make me distributor of whatever 

we lacked as a family. Hardship story 

extends beyond what you may imagine; I 

ate rice at age 14 for the first time! Once a 

year in fact, I worked tirelessly to ensure we 

were fed, worked on others farms for a fee 

when the rains came in addition to toiling 

on my own farm - all to support my younger 

ones. That money is what we used for school 

fees, and to take care of my younger ones. So 

people know me as somebody who helps. 

When the time came and I left the village 

for the city and God helped me so that I began 

making money, the first thing I committed 

to was to establish a secondary school in my 

village, so that the children in my village 

will not suffer like I did. 

Because due to the major 

distance between our 

village and the school, 

many of them were not 

going to school, so I built 

the first secondary school 

in my village. It is now 

called Government Day 

Secondary School, Abako. 

That is the only 

government institution in 

my community. In the 

course of enterprise, I 

engaged myself in 

manufacturing and 

studied soap and cosmetics 

and established the first 

soap and cosmetic 

company in Tiv land. I am 

a Tiv man from Benue 

State. I produced ‘Sa Tiv 

Soap’ meaning ‘We Tiv 

Soap’ to give my people a 

sense of belonging and 

I want to 

use 

technology 

to make 

Naira equal 

to the dollar 

encouragement; this 

company gave a lot of 

youth jobs and again made me a provider of 

that which was lacking for my family and 

others. I also began to explore how to supply 

food to the community and started providing 

dry cassava chips, garri and guinea corn to 

them with a sustainable plan to ensure there 

is no scarcity at key time of the year. Another 

thing I have done is provide free medical 

treatment. Whilst producing soap, I decided 

to set aside a portion of my monthly profits 

to settle hospital bills for my people. I would 

choose any hospital I want and engage them. 

On one occasion, there was an old lady 

whom was financially distressed and I had 

committed all my resources. But her 

situation was dire, it dawned on me we had 

to make this more robust; so we gathered 

some doctors who advised us on structure & 

drugs supply, equipment purchase and we 

started giving free medical treatment across 

villages in the vicinity. Further along, I had 

a revelation where God would use me to heal 

people suffering from illness. My mother 

being the first person, then my sister and 

that is how the gift continued to impact lives 

around me. As this manifestation grew, it 

was not something you can hide so I became 

mobile and began to travel from place to 

place across Africa from 2003 till today. I 

use food stuff as directed and provide medical 

treatment with these materials. I couldn’t 

use orthodox medicine as God has given me 

a solution to answer challenges. Now over 

20 million people in Africa have benefitted 

from that free medical treatment. Then I 

relocated to Dubai, got a resident permit and 

started my business there, I got involved 

with humanitarian activities too. My 

experiences with other Africans and 

Nigerians whom were lacking and 

impoverished led me to develop a 

free coffee center where we could 

support persons who need food, 

shelter and the likes. The number 

we were supporting continued to 

grow. An encounter with an 

extremely distressed young 

Nigerian man who came in 

contemplating suicide arrested me 

to the point that I saw that Dubai 

was temporary base for all the work 

we had been doing. It was time to 

return to Nigeria and focus on 

building a new Nigeria within 

Nigeria. Some persons chose to 

come along with me and relocated 

towards this project. Initially my 

plan was to give loans to people; 

when they repay, I give others the 

chance to also get support. So, a 

company was registered and, 

before disbursement, we travelled 

across parts of Nigeria and met 

people. We then reassessed our 

position on the basis of attitudes in 

general, concerned about our ability to 

recoup funds. The idea of a democratized and 

inclusive system of finance and funding 

came to us in the guise of crypto-currency; 

as it is in the new world movement. 

This brings me to the next question 

which is about Zuga coin. What is Zuga 

Coin and how did it come about? What 

brought the inspiration? 

A lot of analysis and time has gone 

into developing our position in cryptocurrency. 

And it is time for Africa to 

lead as opposed to follow which it has 

conventionally done. Akon of Senegal 

started his own crypto-currency with 

errors here and there though. We have 

ensured we will not make the same 

mistakes. Zuga Coin is one of the first 

African crypto-currencies to be tracked 

on the global market. Zuga Coin is a 

crypto-currency. A crypto-currency is 

digital money founded on block-chain 

technology which is currently the most 

secure, accountable system. The 

mechanisms to developing a coin are 

established in that; you conclude 

building before it is hooked up. The 

block-chains offer tokens, including 

Ethyrium, Binance and more. Upon 

achieving this you will send links to 

exchanges and trackers. The trackers 

study it and if it meets global standards, 

those trackers will begin to track your 

coin. Zuga Coin met global standards 

in December 2020. That’s when it went 

to the global market. 

For ordinary Nigerians who 

want to get involved, what should 

they do? 

I started Zuga Coin because of charity. 

The first thing I started, I didn’t sell it. I 

gave it out free of charge. People who 

registered as members of my NGO have 

benefited from those loans. If you 

register with N500 we multiply it by 

20 and give it to you. So, instead of 

carrying money to buy, I gave them 

free of charge. Many people that have 

Zuga Coins got it free. After giving 

them, I said “okay, go and sell”, so, as 

they are selling, the money is going to 

their pocket, it’s no longer to the 

company, so many people who are 

selling are making their money; that 

is how I started. Right now, anybody 

who wants to participate is welcome; 

we don’t give you exactly how much 

we pay you, like any other cryptocurrency. 

Like now, if you give N100, 

000, we will give you double the 

amount, so right there, you will be 

having N200, 000. We will make it in 

such a way that it can be a business for 

you. 

The internet is technology based 

and we know how it works in this 

part of the world. What were the 

challenges you faced when you 

were starting out? 

The challenges were mainly because 

of the ugly experiences that people have 

when they are using crypto. You know 

anything that has advantages has 

•Zuga 

disadvantages as well. Compliance and fraud 

have been issues plaguing the adoption of 

crypto-currency here. Thus a feature was 

introduced where transactions that are not 

desired or done erroneously can be cancelled, 

i.e. transactions can be reversed. It is the first 

crypto-currency that can reverse 

transactions. Secondly, we introduced 

KYC. We are the first crypto-currency to 

introduce Know Your Customer. So 

when you upload your information, we 

will be dealing with somebody whom 

we know. Your name must be the one on 

your means of identification, and you 

are going to upload that means of 

identification, and after uploading it, we 

have developed a technology that you 

must have that identity card put on your 

face, so the computer may scan, and see 

that face, that is the one that is actually 

doing the transaction. So, you upload this 

information, human beings need to check 

this thing and approve it before 

jumping into a decision. 

So, that aspect of 

money laundering 

has been taken 

care of and, if you 

do anything that 

is fishy, there is a 

way we can trace 

you, we can track 

you. And, then 

we have what is 

called an 

explorer, that 

explorer is the 

one that 

records every 

transaction 

that takes 

place all over 

the world. 

Whatever 

happens, as we 

are talking now, 

what is 

happening there 

is being recorded, 

so you can track. 

For Nigerians 

who may not 

have heard 

anything about 

crypto-currency, what kind of benefits can 

they get by getting involved? 

The first thing is on normal ground, you 

work for money but when you get into 

crypto, money works for you. You know, 

in Zuga Coin, you sell when the market is 

up. You are watching the market, when 

the market is up, you sell and make profit, 

but we don’t want people to go through 

that stress. Here, we make everything at 

a standard level. So, a fixed profit margin 

is already there. The moment you step in, 

first and foremost, you put your money, 

after that we are going to give you double 

of that money. Right there, you make a 

profit, just immediately. It is double 

because we are stopping money 

laundering. You are not going to use it 

immediately, you still have to go and look 

for more money because this one is going 

to be growing. You have 200, 000 and the 

market is growing, so, maybe you come 

the next day and discover that it has gone 

up to about 300, 000 or 350, 000 Naira. 

If we allow you to use it like that, you will 

abuse it, so you have to labour for it. 

Therefore, of this amount, you are only 

allowed to get 30% of it a day. 

People are generally skeptical about 

going into this kind of investment because 

they don’t want to be involved in Ponzi 

scheme or 419 kind of venture. What 

makes Zuga Coin different from the other 

crypto-currencies that people lost their 

money to? 

The first thing is that crypto-currency is 

an anonymous project; you just face the 

computer, do business with the computer 

and go. Whatever happens you do not 

know where to run to. But with Zuga Coin, 

the first difference is that it has a face. 

There is somebody who puts his name 

and face as collateral. Zuga is my 

surname. My name is Sam Zuga, that is 

the first thing and, if you look at the logo, 

what is on that logo is my face. I gave my 

only face and name as collateral. I’m 

telling you that I’ll be held accountable 

when something is wrong. Secondly, we 

have offices. In crypto-currency you don’t 

know anybody’s offices to go to when 

something goes wrong but we have offices 

and any time you have a challenge you 

can walk to an office close to you. We are 

working to extend the offices to council 

and ward levels. You are able to know the 

people that you are dealing with. We 

made it a community crypto-currency but 

we are operating internationally. We 

made it in such a way that we disabuse 

the minds of the people, don’t do this 

transaction in Zuga Coin on the internet, 

do it with someone that you know. If you 

know that you are not a thief, walk to 

somebody and talk to that person, if 

anything happens, the person will hold 

you accountable. 

Read more on www.vanguardngr.com

SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 17, 2022, PAGE 35



In a political system dominated by old players and established parties, 42-yearold 

Harvard-trained Chukwuka Monye, seeks to upend traditional elements 

with his presidential ambition. Like a few emerging trends in the 2023 

presidential race, his ambition offers freshness that adds to the aura of 

unpredictability around the buildup. In this interview, Monye expresses confidence 

about clinching the presidency with demography and not geopolitics as has been 

the case in Nigeria. He is running on the platform of African Democratic Congress, 

ADC, -a party he describes as a collection of technocrats and intellectuals. 

Why are you in the race? 

I am in this race because it is important for me to do something about the 

state of things in the country. I realised that quite a number of people complain 

and lament about the state of affairs. And I saw a vicious cycle of complaining 

and no action. I felt I needed to do something about it. More importantly, is the 

fact that we have lost the dignity of the Nigerian human being and it is something 

I would like to restore. Now, holding a green passport is nothing exciting when 

you travel. To restore the dignity of Nigeria and its people is at the core of my 

interest. But I would also say that I am aware that restoring dignity is what you 

and I understand, but what does it mean to the average person. I am out to 

alleviate poverty because things are bad. Insecurity, education, healthcare and 

law enforcement among others are areas that need urgent attention. We have 

problems in every facet. Some people always ask if I have worked in government 

to solve these problems. But I always respond that working in government is 

not the issue. If you work in government, you get clouded and 

compromised. But if you come from outside, it is an advantage over 

working in government. Now, they ask if I know enough to 

make things work. I don’t need to work in government to 

solve Nigeria’s problems. 

There is something about you and your aspiration. 

You are quite young. And this is something Nigerians 

hardly see in most election cycles. People keep 

asking who this young Nigerian who wants to 

upend the system is… 

Yes, I am young. I think it is an advantage. It is 

often said that power is not given. It has to be 

taken. The truth is if the youths want it, they must 

have good representation. This is not the 

youth without strong values or one without 

a strong value proposition. This is 

someone who is competent and can give 

anybody a run for his money in terms of 

capability to actually transform the 

country. I have spent the last 20 years 

building businesses, transforming 

businesses, mentoring people, building 

capacities and getting involved with a 

lot of people. And these have physical 

impacts on the economy. These are 

businesses you will be shocked I am 

involved in their success stories. There 

are many big businesses in Nigeria that 

will tell you their stories will not be 

complete without me. If with my 

resources, we transformed lives and 

businesses, why won’t people say that 

since I am young and have access to 

foreign investors, let’s support his vision 

to lead this country? The only thing that 

may stop people is that they are not used 

to having young people in the race. 

There are some older ones who asked 

me to wait for my turn, but I see being 

young as an advantage to change the story 

of this country. The kind of issues and 

problems we have today are such that we 

need an agile person to tackle them. 

You consider your age as an advantage 

but history doesn’t recognise 

youthfulness as a plus in Nigerian 

elections. Where does that leave your 

conviction? 

Things have changed. Over the years, 

that young population has grown. Today, 

that young population is the majority. It is 

not like 20 years ago. It is practically 

impossible for someone of another 

generation to serve me effectively. Reason: 

You can’t feel my pain. You can’t feel my 

shoe the way it hurts. Young people may 

not like agriculture because of hard 

farming, but they would like to process 

food and export it because it would link 

them with the international market. I can 

relate with them because that is what I 

would do. I am not going to tell every 

young person to get hoes and cutlasses 

because it doesn’t resonate with them. I 

would also look at the digital space and 

think about how I could maximize the 

potentials there for young people. There 

are all sorts of creative things to do for 

them because I can think like them. But 

the moment they do not have that 

representation in terms of who leads them, 

there would be a disconnect. And such a 

disconnect is simply generational. They 

have their way of thinking. For instance, I 

have a young daughter of six years old 

who expects any vehicle she enters to have 

Wi-Fi. It is because she has grown up in a 

digital world. Someone like her, if given 

the opportunity to create a vehicle, she 

would create a vehicle that has Wi-Fi. So, 

that disconnect is much. When they are 

saying wait for your turn, you are the 

leader of tomorrow, we are disagreeing 

because our future is now. We are not 

leaders of tomorrow anymore, we are 

leaders of today. And we are going to lead 

this country. 

Every political environment has its 

peculiar ingredients. In Nigerian politics, 

there are certain elements that drive the 

process. There is the money factor, 

ethnicity, religion and incumbency. How 

are you going to navigate through these? 

2023: 

•Monye 

I’m winning 

presidency with 

demography, 

not geopolitics 

42-yr-old Chukwuka Monye 

The beauty of my ambition is that I 

think beyond the reality of 

our system. When we put 

all these dynamics you 

listed together, there is a 

solution. I am an 

innovation strategist. I 

know what to do about 

them. 

I recall that some people 

met me and said I didn’t 

mention my party when I 

announced my ambition. 

But they didn’t understand 

it was my strategy. That 

debate about not coming 

out with a party was 

recognition for me. I 

achieved my aim because 

the conversation was 

centred on me as Chukwuka Monye 

and not any party. That is a strategy and 

that is how we are going to handle these 

factors you mentioned. We typically think 

about constituencies in terms of 

geography. 

Do you mean geopolitics? 

Yes, geopolitics. I don’t think that way 

and can’t afford to do so. Yes, I am on the 

ground in Delta State but I am looking at 

Yes, geopolitics. I don’t 

think that way and can’t 

afford to do so. Yes, I 

am on the ground in 

Delta State but I am 

looking at Nigeria as 36 

states 

Nigeria as 36 

states. The reason I cannot think 

geopolitically is that it can limit my 

thinking. I belong to a generation and 

segment that give me the advantage to 

think more demographically than 

geographically. With the youths across the 

country, I have a larger constituency. The 

moment I think in terms of demography, a 

lot of these biases will begin to break. The 

demography of the Yoruba, Igbo , Hausa 

and others do not care about geopolitics. 

They are not interested in all these 

traditional factors. It is another 

generation (old) that is actually sustaining 

some of these elements you have 

mentioned. Young people want a better 

Nigeria. They just want a decent life and 

that is my priority. So, if I am asked about 

my constituency, I will say it consists of 

youths, women and small business owners. 

Irrespective of your confidence, are 

you not intimidated by names like Vice 

President Yemi Osinbajo, Atiku 

Abubakar, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Anyim 

Pius Anyim, Aminu Tambuwa, Bukola 

Saraki, Rotimi Amaechi and Godwin 

Emefiele who are variously linked to 

the race? 

A big person in government recently 

asked what I would do differently from 

him. I told him my aim is to transform 

Nigeria by creating a new economy while 

restructuring the old one. Creating a new 

economy involves industrialization. 

Reorganizing and restructuring is a skill 

I have developed for more than 20 years. 

The fact that you have been able to award 

contracts does not make you competent 

to transform a nation. It doesn’t give you 

access to foreign direct investment. It 

doesn’t give you diplomatic skills. It 

doesn’t give you management skills. It 

doesn’t make you an inspirational leader. 

Imagine that I listened to the people telling 

me to wait for my time. When will it be my 

turn? Is it when I am 70? I am agile and 

energetic. I imagine a cabinet of young 

and dynamic Nigerians not less than 

50 years old. We need great and 

energetic people. But that is not 

what you are going to get with any 

of these people, established 

names. Imagine that the entire country is 

energized because there is a new crop of 

energetic leaders. It is possible. These 

young people I am talking about are those 

already leading in different corporate 

entities and in different spaces. I want to 

create more billionaires. It is not 

acceptable that we have only a handful 

of billionaires in a country of 200 million 

people. I want to give people the 

opportunity to become billionaires. 

The likes of Kingsley Moghalu, who 

long before the Independent Electoral 

Commission, INEC, released the 

timetable for the election, had indicated 

interest to run on your party’s platform. 

What makes you think you will defeat 

him at the primaries? 

One of the most exciting things about 

ADC is that it has intellectuals and 

technocrats and other great minds like 

Prof Kinsley Moghalu. A few weeks ago, 

I hosted all the aspirants in my house. 

All I could imagine was that I am not 

sure I have seen a party where the 

country’s issues were deliberated as we 

did. We had a brainstorming session on 

resolving Nigeria’s issues. And it was 

refreshing. On the one hand, we are 

competing for the same ticket. But it is 

also refreshing that should you not get 

it, you have a lot of people to support. 

That is the thing about our party. It is a 

family of like minds. I have to look at 

it from the angle of the value of the 

collective rather than the value of one 

individual. 

If elected, what are the first steps 

you would take? 

My vision for 2023 is built around a 

few pillars. 

I have talked about restoring the 

dignity of Nigeria and its people. What 

it means is that people would be taken 

out of poverty through job creation. 

The truth is that you can’t alleviate 

poverty and create jobs unless the 

foundation is reorganized. If it 

could be done, it could have been 

done. First, I have to deal with 

insecurity. Nobody is bringing 

any investment if the nation is not 

secure. We will also focus on 

education. Majority of educated 

Nigerians are not employable. 

This is in addition to those that 

are not educated. In my 

economic transformation 

agenda, I have already 

captured the problem. Isn’t it 

ironic that we have about 200 

million people and we are 

saying we do not have workers? 

They have to be trained. I know 

the value of what young people 

can bring to the table. Imagine what 

ASUU is doing with people’s lives. We will 

also take care of the health sector and law 

enforcement. Sort out all these and see 

how Nigeria would be transformed. Those 

who promise 10 million jobs know they 

are not truthful. In terms of insecurity, you 

don’t make your solutions known publicly. 

We are going to use technology and social 

security. People are poor, hungry and 

angry. The reason I am concerned about 

education is that I want more young 

people gainfully engaged.


By Mark C. Orgu 

“The young William was employed by the 

shell-BP in 1970 and left shell-BP in 1971 after 

one year, to study for his HND Electrical/Electronic 

Engineering at the Yaba College of Technology, 

Yaba, Lagos. Again, he performed excellently 

well. This gave him a Federal Government 

scholarship award. Happily, the 

young William left the college in 1973 with a 

distinction, and became the college best overall 

academic price winner of the year” 

April 17, 2022, News/Commentary 

I got to know Engr. William Metieh late 2020 

during the compilation of the second edition 

of my book, Historiography of Orogun. 

Though, I had requested for his contact 

through the chairman, Orogun Council of 

Chiefs, Chief Johnson Akporugo, who also 

briefed me why I should feature Metieh’s profile 

and his part in Orogun Kingdom since I 

was writing about the history of Orogun kingdom. 

I joyfully accepted. While, I was in Abuja, 

I gave him a call and he invited me to his office 

in Abuja and we had discussions fruitfully. It 

was there, I got to know that, I was dealing 

with a man of providence, experience, and a 

technocrat to the core. While we continued as 

a father and son relationship, it became clear 

that, he is a man of simplicity, kind hearted 

and very easy to access. In fact, around last 

year’s November, he visited me at my Uncle’s 

residence in Gwarinpa briefly, and it was there, 

I offered him Afrikanwatch 2021 Memoir. We 

had discussions on how Nigeria has turned 

badly into a cemetery, including bad leadership 

crippling all spheres of the country’s economy 

and sufferings of the citizens. 

Though, I have taken my time to study about 

Engr. Metieh’s profile and his accomplishment 

in last six decades as a young boy, adult and 

septuagenarian. He had studied in the Technical 

College in 1964 at Sapele where he read 

Telecommunications, and obtained the city 

and guilds of London intermediate certificate 

with distinctions in all six subjects. ln 1969, he 

proceed to study electrical engineering at the 

Midwestern technical College ,Auchi (then 

mid-west region ) where he studied with a shell 

By Fred Edoreh 

UNDOUBTEDLY, the recent advisory by 

the Movement for Stronger Delta calling 

on aspirants seeking nomination for various 

positions on the platform of the Peoples 

Democratic Party (PDP) would come off as one 

of the most profound statements in the current 

political environment in Delta State. 

I recall that the statement, entitled: “Tell 

Deltans What You Have For Them,” had 

called on statutory and special delegates to, 

as representatives of the people in the nomination 

process, take their mandate very responsibly 

and sacred, to look beyond mere 

rhetorics and demand to see and analyse the 

vision and agenda of the aspirants for the overriding 

interest of the development of the state. 

Unarguably, Olorogun David Edevbie, a 

leading gubernatorial aspirant in the state, has 

always held that power is for the purpose of 

development and the true contract with the 

people is in declaring his vision and agenda 

for the development of the state and his capacity 

to achieve them. 

Edevbie’s vision for the modernisation of 

Delta State is couched on the cardinal agendas 

of Industrialisation, Energy, Security, Social 

Infrastructure, Jobs and Wealth Creation 

Engr. William Metieh, a man of providence @ 70 

•Metieh 

-BP scholarship as a reward for his brilliant 

academic performance ,passing out with distinctions 

and was the best academic student in 

the electrical department. 

Based on his excellent performance on completions 

of his ordinary National diploma, 

(OND), he was employed by the shell-BP in 

1970 and left shell-BP in 1971 after one year, 

to study for the HND Electrical/Electronic 

Engineering at the Yaba college of Technology, 

Yaba, Lagos. Again, he performed academically 

well .This gave him a federal Government 

scholarship award. Happily, the young 

William left the college in 1973 with a distinction 

,and became the College best overall Academic 

price winner of the year .Engr William 

Metieh in 1974, further his education as he 

was admitted into Cranfield Institute of Technology, 

Cranfield ,England (now Cranfield 

university) to study industrial control systems 

with the federal Government of Nigeria (petroleum 

trust fund) scholarship ,there he studied 

and researched into multivariable control 

system and ,in 1976,was admitted into the degree 

of masters of science (M.S.c) in the control 

engineering specializing in industrial control. 

His project work remained a standard 

laboratory and experimentation equipment at 

the University for three decade with only few 

modifications .A tireless academic but locked 

in the development of Nigerians industrial sector 

,William went back to the University, this 

time with a British council grant ,in 1986,where 

he attended yet another world renowned and 

prestigious institution , the University of Sheffield 

and studied Glass -to-Metal seals and 

finding solutions that led to the successful development 

of modern day energy saving electric 

bulbs. With this major successful engineering 

and technological breakthrough, he was 

admitted into the degree of Master of Technical 

science (M.S.c tech) in Glass Science and 

Technology. In 1987.by January, 2010, Engr. 

Metieh started an online research studies with 

Walden University, Baltimore ,USA for a doctorate 

program in Business Administration, 

specializing in social impact management. 

Engr Metieh’s work experience is vast with 

reward and commendations. From 1970-1971, 

worked as a production foreman trainee with 

shell-BP, Ughelli while in 1972, was a pupil 

engineer with the state ministry of works, Warri 

as a vocational student. Between 1973-74, 

he worked as an electronic engineer with Cadbury 

Nigeria limited Ikeja, Lagos. Others include 

, field engineer trainee with schlumberger 

,Port Harcourt,1977 , Abestos Cement product 

Nigeria Ltd (now Nigerite, Ikeja) first as 

production engineer 1977-1978 and later as 

budget/statistics manger ,after reducing the 

companies raw material losses, improving 

productivity ,profitability and quality in just 6 

months of being employed .He however exposed 

the danger of Abestos fibers . 

By 1978, he joined Ukpilla cement company, 

as electrical/instrumentation Engineer because 

of his conviction and volition to practice 

his chosen engineering profession to the 

utmost. Whilst there, he participated in the 

commissioning of the new cement plant ,working 

beside the Germans ,one of whom later 

invited him to Germany because of his proficiency 

at work .in 1979, he left ukpilla and 

joined Delta Glass ,Ughelli (part of the Leventis 

group)as the pioneer Electrical /instrumentation 

Engineer .In 1982 , he worked as project 

/Generation Engineer when he set up the first 

captive independent power project ,a Ruston 

TB5000 gas turbine of 2.7megawatt for delta 

glass company ltd That turbine remained functional 

for more then three decades .later Engr. 

Edevbie’s development agenda is profound 

•Edevbie 

and Public Service Reforms. 

The industrialisation agenda starts with 

breathing life into existing industrial parks, 

creating new industrial hubs across the state 

and attracting higher involvement and investments 

from the private sector to spark off a 

high level of industrial activities, greater commerce, 

increased generation of employment 

opportunities and a multiplicity of platforms 

for local enterprises with a view of creating a 

more robust economy. 

The plan will also see the reactivation of 

operations at the Warri, Burutu and Koko ports 

Metieh served as the pioneer Nigerian plant 

maintenance manager ,then became the pioneer 

Nigerian Engineering Manager, first 

AGM (Engineering service ) and in 1992 became 

the first Deputy General manager (operations 

). Between 1991 and 1998, he coordinated 

the rebuilding of the 140 tonner per 

day glass furnaces and began the development 

of Nigerians to take over work usually performed 

by expatriates. 

In November 2001,Engr .Metieh was transferred 

to Beta Glass PLC, Agbara ,Ogun state 

as Operations manager ,where he helped with 

the furnace rebuild project and the commissioning 

of a four Megawatt captive independent 

power project (IPP),for the huge glass containers 

and plastic crates manufacturing complex, 

with an annual turnover of over 

N10billion at that time. After only 8 months 

he was made the pioneer General manager of 

the P.E.T Division of Frigoglass Industries Nig 

ltd ,still a part of the leventis group ,where he 

successfully established the P.E.T bottle blowing 

plant at NBC Ikeja Lagos state and P.E.T 

perform manufacturing plant at Ibadan ,Oyo 

state running the two facilities successfully simultaneously 

among others as he gloriously 

bow down in 2009 

In 2013 Engr .Metieh was appointed as a 

senior technical adviser to the presidential tax 

force on power at the crucial time of the power 

sector privatization initiative, contributing 

immensely towards the transfer of the electricity 

generation and distribution companies to 

private investors later,in 2014 he joined the 

Nigerian electricity management services 

agency (NEMSA)as the senior technical Advisor 

to the managing director/CEO and chief 

electrical inspector of the federation till date. 

In 2020, he helped NEMSA to achieve its quality 

management system (QMS) ISO 

9001:2015 certification. As you celebrate your 

70th existence on earth today, may God grant 

you continuous good health of mind and body, 

as I wish you, your children, wife and your 

entire family a joyous celebration 

•Orgu is resident in Lagos. 

as well as the diversification of the economic 

base of the state away from dependence on 

allocations from oil proceeds to the exploration 

of the vast economic opportunities in agriculture, 

mineral resources and diverse human 

talents. 

To achieve the desired industrialisation requires 

adequate electricity and it is in his plan 

to provide a 500 Megawatts Independent Power 

Plant for round-the-clock energy supply to 

support the industries, local enterprises and 

comfortable life across communities. 

These also can only be sustained with the 

guarantee of adequate security, and his plan is 

to localise the command of the security architecture 

to involve traditional and community 

institutions, create greater synergy with the 

regular security agencies, improve communications 

and understanding with the Federal 

Government, improve the State Security Trust 

Fund with greater support from the private 

sector, introduce new technologies and modern 

devices in surveillance and crime fighting. 

While that is going on, Edevbie also sees 

the need for urban renewal of our towns and 

cities and has suggested the possibility of light 

rail networks and an inter-modal transportation 

system. 

He has committed to opening up our riverine 

communities with coastal and inner roads 

networks across the various districts for interconnectivity, 

greater penetration of infrastructure, 

industries and commercial activities to 

improve the standard of living and quality of 

life of the people. 

Same way, he has identified the need to deploy 

the Ecological Fund to frontally address 

environmental degradation, especially the 

scourge of erosion in Delta North communities 

and negative outcomes of oil production 

and mining activities in other parts. 

Edevbie’s public service reform agenda will 

witness the re-invigoration of the local governments 

to be more effective in the funding 

and provision of infrastructural services to their 

communities as well as the introduction of new 

technologies and the training and retraining 

of personal to upscale the efficiency, effectiveness 

and motivation of public service institutions, 

while he also promised to address the 

issue of indebtedness to pensioners and retirees 

by paying off the backlog of gratuities within 

one year in office. 

Edevbie promises many more and the people 

know that he has the capacity to deliver on 

his promises given his well-known credentials, 

competence and experience. 

By Emmanuel Ajibulu 

WATCHING Governor Nyesom Ezen 

wo Wike (N.E.W.) of Rivers State make 

his very maiden broadcast in 2015 on assumption 

of office as the State Governor was a refreshing 

moment and a clear breakaway from 

the old ways of doing things which never yielded 

the tax payers any productive or fruitful 

dividends. He brilliantly outlined his grand 

vision for Rivers and set out a roadmap for 

achieving a new and beautiful Rivers. Today 

he has largely succeeded, with numerous empirical 

evidences. 

Through his smart and cerebral disposition 

he was able to identify early, the power of balanced 

executive judgment, especially in decision 

making and has used it to build bridges 

of favours and political leverage that has sustained 

him and his political empire from 2015 

up till date. When faced with danger(s), Wike’s 

most potent response has always been tact and 

not tantrums. 

As a man truly and fully prepared and set 

out for the job, he was not overwhelmed by the 

challenges he met on ground, particularly on 

the issues of poor educational system, insecu- 

Wike not a greenhorn in politics, better prepared for 2023 presidency 

Wike is an 

experienced leader 

and many 

Nigerians are 

convinced that the 

nation needs him 

rity, environmental pollution and infrastructure 

deficits, he rose to the occasion with his 

hands-on team of very competent people hired 

from across different walks of life, and he succeeded 

in changing and transforming the state 

into a mega city status that it deserves in tandem 

with his original blueprint and according 

to record time. 

As the extraordinary statesman rolls out 

campaign across the 6 geo-political zones in 

the country to drive his presidential campaign, 

every principled democratic elements acorss 

board are expected to throw their weights behind 

this shining icon of democracy, whose 

illustrious career, ideas, battles, patriotism and 

service to the nation offer an inspiration to the 

younger generation. 

For N.E.W. the road to fame was long and 

tortuous, but it is also true that he is an uncommon 

politician with rich curriculum vitae before 

venturing into active politics. He had 

worked hard and made fortunes in his private 

business engagements. He relishes his legal 

professional calling with many indelible 

records of note and worth. He confronted life 

difficulties with uncommon courage, converting 

the vicissitudes into an opportunity to struggle, 

work hard and excel. 

Wike truly means business and he is fantastically 

pursuing his dream with tenacity of 

purpose. He recently developed the mantra: 

’Power is not served a la carte.’ He genuinely 

put all he had into the political process, seizing 

the politics of Rivers State by the storm 

with the people on his side. 

Today, even beyond Peoples Democratic Party’s 

(PDP) cirlce, Wike is being celebrated for 

his power of ideas, legendary organisational 

capability, sound strategy, mobilisation prowess, 

administrative acumen, superlative talent 

hunt, noblest examples of political sagacity 

and accommodation, and permanent loyalty 

to cherished democratic principles as well as 

ability to speak truth to power no matter whose 

ox is gored. 

Records of his performance overtly proved 

him as a national asset; a tested and trusted 

leader, a visionary, thinker and gregarious, 

kindhearted; and a man of the people with 

trailblazeling attributes. 

Wike is an experienced leader and many 

Nigerians are convinced that the nation needs 

him in the next dispensation beyond PDP ticket. 

He is eminently qualified for the position, 

he is a bridge builder across regional, ethnic 

and religious lines and he is capable of uniting 

the country. 

•Ajibulu is a public affairs analyst, social 

media influencer, writer and publisher of online 

magazine, veracitydesk.com.ng 

Continues on: 

www: vanguardngr.com


OMO AGEGE: The dawn for the dream of a new Delta 

By Bala Ibrahim 

I 

have been to every state of Nigeria but 

Delta, so when the chance came to visit 

Warri yesterday, my heart was not only filled 

with the feeling of eagerness to see the place, 

but the enthusiasm of what to see in the place. 

In sooth, Warri turned out to be cool, calm and 

full of fun. 

My initial worry was security, but the guide 

said to me, all the security challenges that are 

found in places like Port Harcourt and Lagos 

are available here, but with a difference. If you 

mind your business, remain humble enough 

to ask questions on the things you don’t understand, 

and move smartly, you are good to go in 

Warri. I took the advise out and out. 

My mission in Warri was to witness the formal 

declaration of the Deputy Senate President, 

His Excellency, Chief Ovie Omo Agege, 

as he unveils his plan to contest for the governorship 

of Delta state, come 2023. 

Wow! I didn’t know Warri is such a multiethnic 

city, that showcases different tribes beyond 

the native Urhobo, Itsekiri and Ijaw, until 

now. The Sen.Omo Agege declaration attracted 

several other ethnic nationalities from 

across Nigeria, such as the Igbo, Hausa and 

Yoruba, who came out in numbers to show 

support. 

If the count of the crowd counts in democracy, 

then H.E.Omo Agege has won the election 

even before the votes are cast. 

The atmosphere at the Federal University 

of Petroleum Resources, Effurun was of both 

jamboree and fiesta, with delightful and captivating 

displays of lavish celebrations, in solidarity 

with the ambition of the cherished Senator. 

The venue was a sea of people that turned 

It was ovation all the 

way from the audience, 

which sustained the 

show of appreciation for 

the choice of a true 

representative 

into an uncontrollable crowd, where the police 

had to use blank shots in the air, to allow 

the chief host gain access to the podium, and 

the stage turned into thunderous shouts of 

Agege!, Agege!!, Agege!!! , as he approached 

the microphone. Yes, in Delta, Omo Agege is 

undoubtedly an enigma. 

In outlining the basis that gave justification 

for his aspiration for the governorship of the 

state, Senator Omo Agege, who couldnt read 

his prepared speech because of time, and in 

order to ease the pains of supporters who waited 

for upwards of 10 hours to see him, only 

summarized it. I had a preview, and I quote a 

segment, thus: 

“I have delivered on all the promises I made 

to you in 2015 and 2019. Today, every community 

has solar powered electricity. Also, courtesy 

of the support of President Muhammadu 

Buhari, we have given focus to our people’s 

infrastructural needs, and the endless list of 

gains in this regard include some to be delivered 

before the end of our mandate in 2023. 

Some are – 

(i) the Act establishing this great institution. 

(ii) the Federal Polytechnic Orogun; 

(iii) numerous infrastructure projects, including 

many outside Delta Central: 

- mass provision of solar street lighting in 

all towns and villages in Delta Central. 

- mass installation of new electricity transformers 

and replacement of obsolete ones 

across our State; 

- mass renovation and furnishing of schools 

across our State; 

- construction of water schemes across our 

State; 

- additional federal funding for the construction 

of Amukpe-Eku-Abraka-Agbor road; 

- rehabilitation of Asaba/Ugbolu/Illah road 

in Delta North; 

- renovation, rehabilitation and furnishing 

of the Nanna Living Museum, with accommodation 

and furnishing of offices for the 

Curator and Staff in Koko, Delta South; 

- Construction of an E-Library and an Administrative 

Block, a one-floor Storey Building 

of 12 Classrooms, a 100 Bed-Space Male 

Hostel with Lavatories, a 100 Bed-Space Female 

Hostel with Lavatories and the Renovation 

of an existing Dinning Hall/Refectory – 

all in St. George’s College, Obinomba, Ukwuani, 

Delta North; 

- provision of solar street lighting for Koko 

in Warri North and Isoko South LGAs; 

- provision of solar street lighting in Ika LGA, 

Abbi and Utagbe-Uno in Delta North Senatorial 

District; 

- provision of solar street lighting in Koko, 

Warri North and Isoko South LGAs in Delta 

South; 

- Construction of the Palace of the Obi of 

Onitsha-Olona in Aniocha North LGA; 

(iv) a Federal University of Agriculture and 

Technology sited in Aboh in Ndokwa East LGA 

is also on the way; 

(v) the Nigerian Defence Space School,Delta 

State. 

(vi) a Campus of the Nigerian Law School is 

also coming to Delta State. 

As he spoke, it was ovation all the way from 

the audience, which sustained the show of appreciation 

for the choice of a true representative, 

that has evidently kept his covenant with 

them. 

The strategy of DSP Omo Agege’s plan as a 

governor is designed to achieve its goal under 

an agenda that is abbreviated as EDGE, or 

Employment and Empowerment, Development, 

Good Governance and Enduring Security. 

The agenda he said, “is a paradigm shift 

to reform our public service, cut the cost of 

governance, eliminate waste, and deny corruption 

and other crimes comfort and safety 

in our governance architecture”. 

It is on that premise that he added: 

“Fellow Deltans, I testify with humility that 

my life has been greatly blessed by God, by 

whose grace I stand with the kindness of many. 

Though blessed with the love of great parents 

and families, I have also lived a hard, rustic 

life of a village fisher boy. I have dared to dream 

and successfully experienced the world in 

many noble pursuits. Standing before you today 

to confidently seek the Office of the Governor 

of our State speaks to God’s immeasurable 

faithfulness upon this proudly Orhomuru, 

Orogun man.”- 

Indeed nothing demonstrates the crowd 

catching capacity, and illustrates the correctness 

of the threat made by DSP Omo-Agege 

sometime back, that come 2023, APC would 

dislodge PDP in the governorship election than 

today’s show of strength. At that time he said, 

“Whether PDP likes it or not, APC will still win 

the presidency come 2023”. 

•Ibrahim lives in Abuja 

Continues on: 

www.vanguardngr.com 


Chairman of the Ondo State Information 

Technology Agency, SITA, Mr. Olumbe 

Akinkugbe, was born in Ibadan in the 70s. He is 

an IT professional who had a remarkable 11- 

year career in the ICT sector, where he held 

executive positions in CISCO and Dell 

Technologies. In 2017, Governor Rotimi 

Akeredolu appointed him as Senior Special 

Assistant to Ondo State Government on 

Information and Communication Technology 

and later as chairman of SITA. In this interview, 

Akinkugbe, who aspires to represent Ondo 

East and West Federal Constituency in the 

House of Representatives, speaks on his 

ambition and transition from a technocrat 

to a politician. 

hat was your background before you 

Wjoined the Rotimi Akeredolu 

government? 

Before joining government, I had spent over 

11 years in the private sector – specifically in 

Information and communications technology. 

In 2006, I landed a job with CISCO, an 

American multinational technology 

conglomerate where I implemented the largest 

deployment of video conferencing and cloud 

solutions for Nigeria’s federal government. I 

soon left for Liberia where I was made country 

manager and led the successful digitization of 

the operations of the largest steel company in 

the world. After eight years and 11 months in 

CISCO, I was hired at Dell Technologies to 

oversee Sales, Business Development and 

Strategy. It was from Dell that I was poached 

by Arakurin Rotimi Akeredolu to serve in his 

administration. 

What was it like for a technocrat like you to 

have accepted such an appointment? 

Governor Akeredolu was passionate about 

building Ondo’s digital economy. He also 

wanted to create opportunities for Ondo 

youths in the technology sector. He allowed 

me to serve in his government to use my skills 

to impact the people of Ondo State. Governor 

Akeredolu was clear-minded and knew what 

he wanted and so I jumped on that 

opportunity to be a part of something 

revolutionary in Ondo state. 

Since becoming Chairman of SITA what has 

your agency been able to achieve? We have 

achieved quite a lot in such a short period. For 

instance, we have helped the government of 

Akeredolu to become more effective and 

efficient through the strategic deployment of 

technology. That way, government was able 

to increase Ondo’s IGR from about N600 

million monthly to over N3 billion monthly. 

Also, we launched The Digital Village Project 

aimed at improving access to the internet, 

computers, and technology in Ondo State, 

particularly in rural communities that had been 

left behind. Since its launch, the Digital Village 

Project has graduated 2000 pupils, primarily 

people from rural communities some of whom 

had never seen a computer before. They have 

How we grew Ondo IGR from 

N600m to over N3bn monthly 

—Akinkugbe 

developed the basic skills required to engage with 

the digital economy, while Hundreds have 

learned the very demanding task of software 

development. Several others have gained 

vital programming skills. At least 72 of the 

young people who participated in the 

programme now earn an income from the 

new skills they acquired. We launched a 

Graduate Youth Programme on digital 

economy where 3000 undergraduates from 

the three senatorial districts in Ondo State 

were trained and given grants to start small 

businesses. Additionally, we have built one 

of the most sophisticated identification 

systems and database that is the envy of 

several other states of the federation. 

How did the transition from a technocrat 

to mainstream politics happen? 

First, I believe that I can add a lot more 

value to my people in Ondo by representing 

them in the House of Representatives. 

Although my foundation has supported 

several initiatives (medical outreaches, 

scholarships, grants), the office will allow me 

to scale and institutionalize many of those 

initiatives. I was tired of seeing people suffer 

needlessly. Tired of the complaints of poor 

leadership and representation. I believe our 

people deserve better. Someone that would 

provide quality representation, respect the 

people and their heritage and attract massive 

development to the constituencies. 

What difference do you intend to make if 

elected a member of the House of 

Representatives? 

I have put together a thoughtful and 

pragmatic legislative agenda that will drive 

change both locally and nationally. The first 

is promoting stem education. Nigeria’s digital 

economy and tech ecosystem attracted close 

to $1 billion in investments last year alone. 

The technology ecosystem has also created 

many high-paying jobs and created several 

opportunities for many small businesses 

providing various services. Undoubtedly, the 

future of Nigeria’s economy will be digital, 

driven by information and communication 

technology. Hence, it is expedient to make 

critical investments in human capital 

development from primary schools to tertiary 

institutions. Therefore, I aim to develop and 

support legislation that would encourage the 

growth of the knowledge economy and make 

young Nigerians more competitive in the 

global economy. The second is on resource 

control. I firmly believe that states should 

•‘I’m running for House of Reps 

to promote knowledge economy’ 

have considerable rights to natural 

resources within their boundaries. 

These rights would include 

exploration, value addition, and 

commercialization. However, the 

states will pay a substantial amount 

of royalties or taxes to the federal 

government. Hence I will support 

Legislation that enables states to 

explore and commercialize their 

resources and stimulate enormous 

economic growth and 

industrialization. That way, states 

would no longer have to depend on 

Abuja to remain viable. Young 

people will have far more 

opportunities outside 

Lagos, Abuja, and Port 

Harcourt for decent 

employment. Another 

is on gender equity. 

From several years of 

research, there is 

ample evidence that 

w o m e n ’ s 

participation in 

governance leads 

to better health, 

education, and 

economic 

outcomes. 

Unfortunately, 

Nigerian 

women have 

had little opportunity to 

participate in government even though they make 

up half of the general population. Hence, I will 

commit to working with the proponents of the 

gender bill to ensure it becomes a law. Another 

important agenda is the reforming of labour laws. 

Many of Nigeria’s labour laws are either outdated 

or ineffective. They provide very little protection 

for the average Nigerian worker, which has to 

change. I will be proposing legislation that prioritizes 

the welfare of the average Nigerian worker, protects 

them from bad employers, and provides them with 

a safety net. More importantly, I will be pushing for 

legislation that will encourage the transfer of skills 

and technology from a global corporation. 

Do you think you can defeat the incumbent in 

your party in the primary election? 

I have tremendous respect for the incumbent. 

He has done his best but I am confident that I can 

do better. I’m on the ground and I can tell you that 

the feedback after several consultations is very 

positive. But we will meet at the primary. The most 

important distinguishing factor between both of us 

is that his interventions are at best cosmetic, or 

superficial for want of a better word. I, on the other 

hand, I’m looking at sustainable development that 

will set people on the path of socio-economic 

independence without having to rely on anyone. 

Don’t you think your plans are too sophisticated 

to have direct impact on your constituents, who 

are mainly rural dwellers? 

Not really. My plan for STEM education will have 

a massive impact on rural communities not only in 

Ondo alone but also across the country. It would 

empower them with the skills and capabilities to 

participate in the global digital economy. 

My plan on labour reforms will ensure that every 

worker is fairly treated and would get their due 

which I believe also directly impacts our people. 

However, in terms of specific projects for people in 

Ondo West and East, there are three major things 

I plan to achieve. The first is improving healthcare. 

I want to ensure that a lot more people will have 

access to quality healthcare irrespective of 

where they reside. This means a great 

amount of my constituency project will focus 

on building healthcare centers, equipping 

some, capacity building for health workers 

and attracting international development 

partners. 

The second is on stimulating the local 

economy. Our people are proud and 

hardworking and do not rely on handouts 

from politicians to survive. Often they just 

want the right environment to support 

their business activities. Things like 

better road access to their 

community, access to cheap 

funds, better storage 

facilities and so on. I will 

therefore design 

sustainable initiatives 

that would ensure 

access to finance for 

many of our business 

women, fight hard to 

ensure some of their 

access roads are 

reconstructed and 

make such the right 

•Akinkugbe environment to enable 

them thrive is created. 

Additionally, our 

young people are in 

desperate need of jobs. 

They are not lazy but the 

local economy has left them idle. Hence, I will spend 

a great deal of my time and resources attracting 

factories and businesses to Ondo East and West so 

that our youths can be gainfully employed. I can 

assure you that we will do this. 

Finally, education is everything and I am already 

putting together a project that will ensure every 

Ondo child attends school and learns in a fairly 

decent environment. This means we have to 

renovate several primary schools, attract new 

teachers and ensure the children are getting quality 

education. 

What are your strengths in this race? 

My major strength in this race is that I have built 

integrity and trust with our people such that once 

I commit myself to anything, they are more than 

confident that I would come through. I believe that 

this is the greatest asset you can have not just as a 

politician but as a human being where people can 

trust you to do what you say you will do. 

Read more on www.vanguardngr.com

SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 17, 2022 — PAGE 39 

City fans disrupt minute of silence for 

Hillsborough disaster victims 

•As Liverpool romp into FA Cup final 

Manchester 

City 

have apologised to 

Liverpool and condemned 

their supporters 

who chanted during a 

minute’s silence to mark 

the 33rd anniversary of 

the Hillsborough disaster 

yesterday. 

•Liverpool players 

Referee Michael Oliver 

cut short an intended 

commemoration prior to 

the FA Cup semi-final between 

City and Liverpool 

at Wembley after some 

City fans failed to observe 

the tribute. 

The chanting appeared 

Osimhen, Merterns can’t start 

against Roma, says Napoli boss 

Luciano Spalletti was 

unhappy with the 

calls to start both Dries 

Mertens and Victor Osimhen 

in Napoli’s clash 

against Roma on Monday. 

The match is a key 

game for both sides at this 

stage of the season, with 

Napoli desperately fighting 

to stay involved in 

the title race and Roma 

looking to secure a 5th 

place finish in the league, 

good enough for Europa 

League qualification. 

Napoli’s recent slip 

against Fiorentina means 

the pressure is on them 

now as the season draws 

to a close. 

Spalletti commented on 

the fans’ requests to see 

both Osimhen and 

Mertens start together 

against Roma. 

“It’s possible, they’ve 

already played, even in 

the second half against 

Fiorentina there were 

Mertens and Osimhen, 

when the game was even 

they were there, then in 

some moments we 

stretched and there were 

the two of them. “Can 

you give me your formation? 

Insigne, Mertens, 

Lozano and Osimhen and 

behind Lobotka and Anguissa? 

You still leave out 

important people like 

Zielinski and Fabian.” 

Anambra to host FC Bayern 

2022 Youth Cup 

The 2022 national fi 

nals selection tournament 

for FC Bayern Youth 

Cup Nigeria will be hosted 

in Anambra State at the 

new Awka City Stadium 

between April 29 and May 

1. 

Victor Edeh, director of 

FC Bayern Youth Cup Nigeria 

tournament, made 

this known yesterday noting 

that selected finalists 

from this year’s invitational 

tournament will travel 

to Munich, Germany to 

represent Nigeria at the 

world finals where they 

will meet other finalists 

from around the world in 

October. 

According to him, “The FC 

Bayern Youth Cup is an international 

tournament series 

open to 15- and 16-yearold 

boys from different countries 

across the globe. 

“The FC Bayern Youth Cup 

started in 2012 in about seven 

countries. By 2018, Nigeria 

was included for the 

first time as one of the destinations 

for the event. Bayern 

Munichlegends, Giovane 

Elber and Klaus Augenthaler 

have been in Nigeria 

to select the best players 

at previous editions with 

some of the selected players 

ahead of U-17 team at the 

U-17 FIFA World Cup and 

WAFU championships.” 

to come from the end 

hosting the City fans and 

was followed by boos from 

Liverpool supporters. 

Amid the noise, Oliver 

blew his whistle to signal 

a premature end to the 

intended period of silence. 

A City spokesperson 

said: “Manchester City 

are extremely disappointed 

with the actions 

of some City supporters 

during the minute’s silence 

before today’s 

game. 

“The club sincerely 

apologises to all those connected 

with Liverpool 

Football Club.” 

However, Liverpool ran 

away with a 3-2 victory 

to reach the final. They 

will play the winner of 

today’s other semi-final 

between Crystal Palace 

and Chelsea. 

Guehi plans ‘Palace coup’ for 

Chelsea 

Marc Guehi is in no 

doubt his decision 

to leave Chelsea last summer 

was the right one for 

his career and says the 

FA Cup means everything 

to clubs like Crystal 

Palace. 

The 21-year-old will 

line up against his former 

side at Wembley on Sunday 

and attempt to ensure 

the Blues endure a 

rare trophy-less season 

by knocking them out in 

the semi-finals. 

Since Guehi swapped 

Stamford Bridge for Selhurst 

Park, he has forced 

his way into the England 

senior set-up and become 

one of the best young defenders 

in the country 

under Patrick Vieira’s 

guidance. 

A total of 30 starts out 

of 31 Premier League 

games this season serves 

as evidence and vindication 

that his desire to find 

a new home has paid off. 

“I thought the decision 

to leave Chelsea and 

come to Palace was the 

right one in order to get 

that game time and hopefully 

show what I can do,” 

Guehi said. 

“Coming here didn’t 

mean it was going to be a 

given that I would play, I 

still had to prove myself, 

work hard, train hard, 

but it was definitely the 

club I thought would give 

me the platform to do so. 

“Patrick’s definitely got 

me thinking about the 

game in a completely different 

way, both very 

tactically and on the ball 

especially because I have 

improved a lot in my decision-making. 

Ofili erases Okagbare’s 200m 

record, Nesiama urges focus 

By Ben Efe 

Up and coming athlete 

Favour Ofili has 

etched her name into the Nigerian 

athletics history 

book by erasing Blessing Okagabre’s 

200m record with 

a run of 21.96seconds. 

Ofili competing at the 

Tom Jones Memorial Invitational 

in Gainesville, Florida 

with her time, became 

the first Nigerian woman to 

break 22 seconds and also 

the first NCAA athlete to 

run that fast. She effectively 

cancelled Okagbare’s 

22.04seconds African 

record set in 2018. 

Last year at the World 

Athletics Junior Championships 

in Nairobi, Kenya, 

she posted 22.23seconds to 

win the bronze and a new 

national U-20 record to the 

bargain. 

With her time in Florida, 

she has established herself 

as the world leading athlete 

ahead of the World Championships 

and the Commonwealth 

Games later in the 

year. 

“When I saw the time, I 

was very happy and excited 

because it was an expectation 

that came to pass on 

God’s word proclaimed in 

Obasa tasks schools, organisations on sports 

development 

By Tony Nwankwo 

The Speaker of the Lagos 

State House of Assembly, 

Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi 

Obasa has appealed to philanthropic 

organisations to partner 

with schools in order to 

harness the hidden sport talents 

of students in public 

schools. 

He made the call during the 

9th edition of the Inter College 

Sports Competition for First 

Generation Secondary Schools 

in Lagos State. Obasa said the 

first set of footballers and best 

athletes were the products of 

these secondary schools. 

“The atmosphere here is nostalgic 

of what it used to be in the 

past when students competed 

favourably among themselves 

before cultism and other vices 

crept in. I am delighted to be 

here as a special guest, the House 

of Assembly under my leadership 

appreciates this gesture of 

sports competitions among 

schools”, Obasa said. 

The Chairman, Board of Directors 

of LAFGHECA, Otunba 

Dele Olapeju said the presence 

of the Speaker was a morale 

booster to the organisers, the students 

and the teachers. 

Igbobi College won the competition 

with 8 gold medals, 

CMS Grammar School came 

second with 4 gold, 3 silver and 

one bronze, while Apostolic 

Church Grammar School 

came third with one gold and 

one bronze. 

•Favour Ofili 

my life. I give all the credit 

and glory to God,” Ofili, a 

student of the Louisiana 

State University USA, said. 

Speaking on the development, 

Omatseye Nesiama, 

former technical director of 

the Athletics Federation of 

Nigeria, said Ofili must have 

to keep working to get ahead 

of the competition in the 

world’s short and long 

sprints. 

“It’s a remarkable performance 

by Ofili, she has always 

been one of our brightest 

prospects,” said Nesiama, 

a retired Navy Commodore 

and also presently a 

board member of the AFN. 

“I urge her to keep her 

head low and keep working. 

The world will announce 

you and not yourself.” 

Ofili was one of the 10 Nigerian 

athletes disqualified 

from participating at the 

Tokyo 2020 Olympics last 

year for not complying with 

the four mandatory ‘whereabouts’ 

tests. She was making 

her debut. 

Pains of a septuagenarian 

THERE are some days when the head overrules 

the mind. Your mind will be telling you the right 

thing but your head will prompt your fingers to punch 

the wrong button of your computer. 

Except a second eye goes through your script, you will 

never get to see that error of the head you have written 

even if you go through the scripts over and over again. 

That was exactly what happened to me last week when 

I was writing my piece ‘After the World Cup disaster’. 

The pains of Nigeria missing out from teams going to 

Qatar was so much that I wrote that a goalkeeping error 

from Maduka Okoye was all the Black Stars of Ghana 

needed to score a vital away goal against the Super 

Eagles at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja 

to edge our dear Super Eagles out of the Qatar 2022 

party. 

After the Sunday Vanguard went to bed penultimate 

Saturday when I was safely at home, my mind reconnected 

with my head and the error I made came up 

with Francis Uzoho ringing in my ears. I quickly ran 

back to my copy of the day’s production and saw that it 

was Maduka’s name that was actually written. “Oh my 

God”, I told myself. What injustice have I done to an 

innocent Maduka who was nowhere near the Nnamdi 

Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja how much more 

the venue of the crucial second leg of the two legged 

World Cup play-offs? 

I also thought I would be misleading many Nigerians 

who never watched the match that day. One thing I 

was however, sure was that I would get a call from my 

bosses who may have been woken up by our Publisher, 

Mr Sam Amuka-Pemu who goes through the pages of 

every edition of the Vanguard like the comb goes 

through the hair. 

All through last Sunday morning, I waited for their 

calls but I never got any. I was surprised but relieved all 

the same. One thing I was sure of was a call, as usual, 

from one or two readers of the column. However, I never 

expected to be called by a septuagenarian who will, 

by the grace of God, turn 72 by December this year. 

Today’s Column is actually dedicated to him. 

Chief (Dr.) Abiodun Oladapo Aro is the name of this 

man of many parts. A passionate football fan, ex football 

and volleyball player, a lawyer, an accountant and 

a Ph.D holder in Business Administration. 

Before he even mentioned his name, I told him I knew 

he called because of the Maduka error and I regretted it. 

He said he loved my Column and never misses it. He 

said he has been an avid reader of both the Vanguard 

and Punch newspapers for close to four decades now. 

After the pleasantries and information about himself, 

Chief Aro, who must be a grandfather by now, asked 

me a question I barely gave him an answer to. He wanted 

to know why the Super Eagles couldn’t pick the World 

Cup ticket here on home soil. I, like every other Nigerian, 

was still shocked by the loss of the World Cup ticket. 

I just told him the problems were many. 

Where do you start from? Players, coaches, administrators 

and the Media. Even the fans can’t exonerate 

themselves from blame. They are too impatient when a 

team is not playing well and mount pressure for change 

of players or the coach. 

No matter what however, the players, coaches and 

the administrators have the major blame because they 

are the main actors. 

When these people act, they never remember that 

they do not represent themselves alone. They forget 

that many Nigerians, whose tax money is used to sustain 

the game and pay them bonuses, derive joy from 

their act, playing football and therefore look forward to 

good results from them. 

Imagine how Chief Aro, and many others in his shoes, 

felt that fateful Tuesday when the ticket was lost, how 

they are still feeling now and how they will actually 

feel when the World Cup starts in November without 

the Super Eagles. 

Imagine the emotional trauma from young and old 

fans. Some don’t survive it. It is on record that a couple 

of elderly fans have slumped and died in the past because 

of poor results from our national teams. Thank 

God Chief Aro is a strong man, maybe because he too 

played the game when he was much younger and could 

absorb the shock. 

What of the losses suffered by many stakeholders and 

business concerns who had already started preparing 

to be part of the World Cup in one way or the other? 

These losses may be quantifiable but how do you quantify 

the emotional trauma suffered by millions of Nigerians 

who were already seeing the Super Eagles in Qatar. 

Next time our administrators should think about the 

Nigerian fans and take decisive actions like their Cameroonian 

counterparts who never wasted time in changing 

their coach even when he narrowly missed the AF- 

CON title on home soil. 

Our players also should, from now, start showing more 

hunger on the pitch like the Indomitable Lions who, 

despite losing 0-1 at home to Algeria, played like hungry 

lions in Algiers and snatched the ticket from the 

north Africans with rugged determination. 

Let it be known that Ghana did not win the World Cup 

ticket but that our Super Eagles who played like a team 

without a soul, threw it away.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 17, 2022 

SEE SOLUTION ON PAGE 5 

Printed and Published by VANGUARD MEDIA LIMITED, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B.1007, Advert Dept: 01-7924470, Hotline: 01-4544821, Abuja Advert Hotline: 09-2921024 

E-mail website: sundayvanguard@yahoo.com, editor@vanguard.com, news@vanguardngr.com, sunvanguardmail@yahoo.com. Advert: advert@vanguardngr.com. Internet: www.vanguardngr.com 

(ISSN 0794-652X) Editor: WALE AKINOLA 08023145556. All correspondence to P.M.B 1007, Apapa, Lagos.

17042022

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