Ondo Boils, Buhari promises to intervene

2—SATURD 

TURDAY Vanguard, 

OCTOBER 29, 2016 

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SATURDAY Vanguard, , OCTOBER 29, 2016—3 

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4—SATURD 



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SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 29, 2016 — 5 

Ondo boils, Buhari promises to intervene 

•INEC wants to set Ondo on fire—Mimiko 

•Mimiko’s antics will not work—Jimoh Ibrahim 

•INEC confirmation of Jimoh Ibrahim shocking—PDP 

By Dayo Johnson, 

Ben Agande, Livinus 

Nwabughiogu and 

Rotimi Ojomoyela 

RIOTS erupted across 

many parts of Ondo 

state yesterday as 

protesters trooped to the 

streets to protest the 

substitution of the name of 

the Peoples’ Democratic 

Party, PDP, governorship 

candidate, Mr Eyitayo 

Jegede SAN by the 

Independent National 

Electoral Commission 

(INEC) with that of 

Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim for 

next month’s 

governorship election in 

the state. 

As early as 6.30am the 

rioters had barricaded all 

the roads leading to Akure, 

the state capital chanting 

war songs and paralysing 

both economic and social 

activities as commercial 

banks and shops were 

closed down. 

Workers and students 

were turned back while 

commercial vehicle owners 

deserted the streets. 

The protesters made 

burn fire on all the major 

roads in the state and 

resisted all attempts by the 

security agents to disperse 

them. In the midst of 

sporadic gunshots and 

tear-gas by the combined 

team of security agents the 

protesting youths 

remained undeterred. 

Following the outbreak 

of riots in the state, 

Governor Olusegun 

Mimiko hurriedly left the 

state for the presidential 

villa to brief President 

Muhammadu Buhari 

saying what INEC had 

done was capable of 

setting the state on fire. 

He vowed that 

everything possible would 

be done to make the 

commission reverse the 

decision, which he 

described as shocking. 

Saturday Vanguard 

gathered that similar 

protests were recorded in 

Ondo town, Ore in 

Odigbo local government 

area, Ilara, Idanre, Owo, 

Okitipupa, Isua Akoko, 

Ikare Akoko, Ipele and 

many other towns and 

villages in the state. 

Some of the protesters 

also stormed the office of 

the INEC and were 

addressed by the Resident 

Electoral Commissioner, 

(REC) Olusegun Agbaje, 

who explained the reason 

behind the removal of 

Jegede as the PDP 

candidate. 

Agbaje said “We 

received a court order from 

the High Court in Akure 

on Wednesday but there 

was a subsisting ruling by 

Justice Abang on 

Thursday and we had to 

comply with the order” 

He however said that 

another court order can 

upturn the situation 

saying “the situation will 

continue that way until the 

matter is decided by the 

Supreme Court if the 

parties choose to proceed 

to the apex court. We do 

not have any candidate 

but we will always abide 

by the laws guiding the 

process.” 

Mimiko consults 

president 

As a result of the 

uprising, Mimiko on 

Friday morning quickly 

raced to the presidential 

villa to formally intimate 

President Buhari on the 

developments in the state, 

appealing to him to 

intervene in the matter at 

least to prevent the crisis 

from escalating. 

According to the 

governor, it was shocking 

that INEC substituted 

Jegede with Ibrahim’s 

name on the final list of 

various parties’ 

candidates, saying it was 

an act of gross impunity. 

He recalled that the 

election that threw up 

Ibrahim was conducted in 

Ibadan, Oyo state and 

was not supervised by the 

relevant bodies, 

wondering why Jegede 

whose election took place 

in Ondo with the 

presence of INEC and 

security agencies as 

monitors was set outside. 

It will be recalled also 

that Ibrahim was a product 

of Ali Modu Sheriff 

factional leadership of the 

PDP while Jegede 

belonged to the Ahmed 

Markifi’s faction. 

Speaking to State House 

Correspondents after his 

meeting with Buhari, 

Mimiko said the crisis in 

the state could assume a 

wider dimension if the 

situation was not reversed. 

He said: “I am shocked. 

In logic, in law, in politics, 

there is no basis for it 

whatsoever. The Jimoh 

Ibrahim factor in all of this 

is predicated on a court 

order given by Justice 

Abang. Incidentally that 

court order is about zonal 

and state executives of PDP. 

That order is about 2009 

election. Neither Jimoh 

Ibrahim nor Tayo jegede 

were parties to the suit. 

“So, when that 

judgement suddenly came 

and the name of Jimoh 

Ibrahim was sent to INEC 

after a primary election 

which was conducted in 

Ibadan without INEC 

monitoring it, without 

security agencies, SSS or 

police observing it, INEC 

took the right decision 

initially by making it clear 

that it is not state or zonal 

executive that is 

empowered by the 

Electoral Act to conduct 

election and also that the 

Abang judgement on the 

basis of which they were 

putting pressure on INEC 

to accept Jimoh Ibrahim as 

a candidate was referring 

to 2009 election. 

“There is nothing about 

2016 election in that 

judgement. So, on the 

basis of this, INEC refused 

and discountenanced the 

name of Jimoh Ibrahim as 

a candidate. Then, they 

went ahead and filed form 

48 and from the blues, the 

same Justice Abang 

mandated INEC to replace 

the name of Eyitayo 

Jegede who emerged 

through a primary process 

that was supervised by 

INEC, security agencies 

with all delegates that were 

supposed to participate. 

Justice Abang ordered 

that Jimoh Ibrahim should 

replace Eyitayo Jegede. 

Ordinarily, we should 

have disregarded the 

order because Jegede was 

not a party to the suit, 

neither was Jimoh 

Ibrahim. But we were also 

advised that it was very 

important for us to appeal 

so that if anybody is up to 

a mischief, we would have 

taken the plank off the 

person. 

“Immediately we 

appealed, that notice of 

•Protesters on the streets of Ondo rampaging over INEC’s 

recognition of Jimoh Ibrahim as the PDP guber candidate yesterday. 

appeal especially when 

we had filed in our papers, 

submitted our briefs and 

got a date, should serve as 

a stay of execution. 

“We don’t want to take 

chances because 

somebody in INEC told us 

that they obey the last order 

in the commission. Some 

went to court and obtained 

two different orders 

mandating INEC not to 

substitute Eyitayo Jegede. 

We served one on INEC 

around 10 am yesterday, 

and we served INEC with 

the other one at the close 

of business around 3 pm. 

But around 7 or 8 pm, we 

got to know that INEC for 

no justifiable reason had 

substituted the name of 

Jegede and replaced it 

with that of Ibrahim. 

“The question to ask is 

on whose order has INEC 

done that? Apart from the 

fact that we have two 

restraining orders on 

INEC, INEC knows fully 

well that Jimoh Ibrahim’s 

primaries were held in 

Ibadan. There was no 

report by any security 

agency that the security 

situation in Ondo state 

warranted the movement 

of the primaries to Ibadan 

or anywhere outside the 

state for that matter. 

“Under INEC 

guidelines, the time for 

substitution of candidates 

has even elapsed. This 

action potentially can 

cause a breach of peace. 

In Ondo state in the last 

seven and half years, we 

have done everything 

possible to put good 

governance on the table. 

We see this action as 

potentially dangerous. It 

can cause conflagration in 

the state and that is why 

as the chief security officer 

of the state, I have come to 

alert Mr President of the 

potential danger of this 

injustice so that we can 

nip it in the bud.” 

Mimiko however stated 

that his intervention on the 

protest in the state had 

yielded result. 

“The whole day from 

5am, I have been on phone 

with stakeholders to 

ensure they keep the 

peace in the state. The 

extent of the protest you 

have seen has been 

reduced by our 

intervention to ensure that 

there is no breach of peace. 

For the people of the state, 

it is just from the blues. I 

have assured them that 

this injustice will not stay. 

We will continue to explore 

all avenues to make INEC 

see reasons why this 

impunity must not stand. 

“If INEC finds it difficult 

to obey court order, a 

credible election starts with 

a process like this”. 

Asked of the President’s 

response to his request, the 

governor said “Mr 

president has promised to 

look into it and that if there 

is any injustice, we should 

be rest assured that it will 

be rectified.” 

Mimiko’s antics will 

not work——Jimoh 

Ibrahim 

In his own reaction to the 

uprising, the INEC 

recognised PDP 

governorship candidate in 

Ondo state, Barrister Jimoh 

Ibrahim said the burning of 

tyres allegedly orchestrated 

by Governor Mimiko was 

to give a false impression 

of security challenge in the 

state but that the trick would 

not work. 

In a statement he issued 

yesterday, he said 

“yesterday, Mimiko called 

on the drivers’ union in the 

state, whose chairman is 

his relative, to gather 

disused tyres across the 

state and burn them so as 

to show that there are 

security challenges in 

Akure town. While the 

tyres were burning, school 

children were attending 

their classes, banks were 

opened, market women 

and traders were carrying 

on their economic activities, 

and courts were sitting”. 

According to him, 

“regrettably, Mimiko’s 

orthodoxy has played out 

to be fake, empty and 

unbecoming of a person 

that occupies the position 

of the governor of a state. I 

am happy to note that 

Mimiko eventually met 

with President Muhammadu 

Buhari, a president 

that Governor Mimiko had 

described, in a meeting 

with the former President 

Goodluck Jonathan, as 

unfit to govern Nigeria 

and according to Governor 

Mimiko, the president 

does not have a school 

certificate. Regrettably, 

this tyre burning for 

sympathy will not work as 

Ondo State remains 

peaceful. 

Akure monarch sues 

for peace 

Meanwhile, Deji of 

Akureland Oba 

Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi 

yesterday appealed to 

rioters across the state to 

remain calm and be law 

abiding. In a statement last 

night, the Oba appealed 

to the protesters to allow 

the law take its full course 

The monarch, in the 

statement signed by his 

Chief Press Secretary, 

Micheal Adeyeye said, 

“the Akure Deji-in council 

at an emergency meeting 

presided over by the Deji 

and paramount ruler of 

Akureland, Oba 

Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade 

Aladelusi (Odundun II) 

today (yesterday) 

reviewed the list of 

gubernatorial candidates 

as released by the 

Independent National 

Electoral Commission 

(INEC) and the attendant 

effect of the substitution of 

the name of Mr. Eyitayo 

Jegede (SAN) with that of 

Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim as 

the candidate of the 

People’s Democratic Party 

in the 26th November 

gubernatorial election in 

ondo state. 

INEC confirmation of 

Jimoh Ibrahim shocking 

—PDP 

Meantime, the Peoples 

Democratic Party has said 

that the confirmation of Jimoh 

Ibrahim as the candidate of 

the Peoples Democratic Party 

was shocking and surprising 

In a statement yesterday, 

the spokesman of the party, 

Dayo Adeyeye said the 

commission monitored the 

Primary Election conducted 

in Akure, Ondo State by 

the Senator Ahmed 

Moham-med Makarfi led 

Continues on page 6

6 — SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 29, 2016 

*Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi 

Okowo and the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Mrs. Ayo Adesugba 

with delegates to the 46th National Council on Information in Asaba, Delta State yesterday. 

2016 budget update: FG spends N3.6trn 

out of N6trn budget 

*Settles N1,137.7trn debts 

Soni Daniel, Northern 

Region Editor 

THE Federal govern 

ment has so far spent 

N3.577 trillion out of the 

full year budget of N6.060 

trillion for the 2016 fiscal 

year. This translates to a 

79% performance of the 

pro-rated budget for the 

three quarters up to September 

30, 2016. 

In addition to the total of 

N2,439.9 trillion so far released 

for Capital, nondebt 

Recurrent and Service-wide 

Vote expenditures, 

a total of N1,137.7 

trillion has also been paid 

out in domestic and foreign 

debt service expenditures. 

This includes N44bn transferred 

to the Sinking Fund 

to retire maturing obligations 

on bonds issued to 

contractors. This is contained 

in a statement released 

by the Budget and 

National Planning Ministry 

signed by the Media 

Adviser to the Minister, 

Mr. Akpandem James. 

“To date, budgeted personnel 

cost and debt service 

obligations have been 

fully met on schedule. Additionally, 

government has 

done reasonably well in the 

challenging circumstances 

with respect to capital expenditures. 

“It is noteworthy that the 

NIGERIA’s grand 

master of data, Globacom, 

has signed Inetimi 

Alfred Odon, popularly 

known by his stage 

name Timaya, as its newest 

brand ambassador. 

The company revealed 

the deal in a statement 

released from its headquarters 

in Lagos, saying 

that Timaya’s strides in 

the showbiz industry and 

his ‘role model’ position 

to the people of the Niger-Delta 

area necessitated 

the signing of the contract 

a week ago. 

The bearded singer who 

is also called the Egberi 

Papa 1 of Bayelsa now 

becomes the latest Glo 

ambassador, joining the 

likes of Basketmouth, Bovi 

Ugboma, Reekado Banks, 

85-year old village 

head of Misisi farming 

community in Kaduna 

state, John Zogo and six 

others have been killed 

following an attack by 

armed on Thursday. The 

village is about 7km from 

embattled Godogodo 

town, in Jema’a Local Government 

Area of the state. 

The development has 

ignited tension in many 

communities in Southern 

Kaduna where alleged 

armed herdsmen have invaded 

communities and 

killed scores since July this 

year. Security has therefore 

Glo signs Timaya as brand 

ambassador 

total amount of N753.6bn 

already released for capital 

expenditure in 2016 is 

the highest in the nation’s 

recent history, even in the 

era of high oil prices. Indeed, 

the capital releases 

to date exceed the aggregate 

capital expenditure 

budget for 2015 of N700bn, 

inclusive of capital expenditure 

in statutory 

transfers,” the statement 

said. 

It will be recalled that at 

an interactive session with 

members of the Senate 

Committee on Appropriation 

in Abuja on Thursday, 

the Minister for Budget 

and National Planning, 

Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, 

had said that in spite 

of the shortfall in revenue 

expectations, the government 

was committed to its 

debt obligations in addition 

to funding the critical sectors 

to enable government 

function smoothly, while 

seeking lasting solutions to 

revenue shortfalls. 

Udoma had explained 

that although the 2016 

Budget was well conceived, 

with reasonably 

conservative benchmarks, 

it recorded unanticipated 

revenue shortfalls along 

the line due to militants’ 

activities in the oil-producing 

Niger Delta region, a 

development which seriously 

affected the budgeted 

production levels for the 

fiscal year. 

The minister said that the 

government adopted a targeted 

approach with respect 

to capital expenditure 

to ensure that releases are 

consistently made to those 

sectors whose activities 

have the capacity of driving 

economic growth and 

fostering job creation. Particular 

attention was focused 

on infrastructure, agriculture 

and other areas 

with high job creation potentials. 

The Minister 

pointed out that all the releases 

have been cashbacked. 

85-yr-old village head, 6 others killed 

*As tension builds in Southern Kaduna 

Korede Bello, Hadizah 

Blell (Di’ja), Patience 

Ozokwor, popularly called 

Mama G, Omawumi, 

Ego, Yvonne Nelson, Nadia 

Buhari and MI. Others 

are Flavour, Ime Bishop, 

Sani Danja, Funke 

Akindele, Odunlade Adekola, 

Bimbo Oloyede, 

Jaykolo (Dominic 

Elujaifor)and Sessime of 

Benin Republic. 

Timaya whose genre of 

music includes raga, hiphop, 

dancehall and afro 

beat, has released smash 

hits such as True Story, 

Gift and Grace, De Rebirth, 

LLNP and Upgrade. 

His journey into 

music started back in the 

year 2005 when he released 

“Dem Mama”, a 

track in his first album, 

True Story released in 

2006. 

been beefed up in the 

major town of Kafanchan 

while police and army undertake 

joint patrol of the 

surrounding villages. 

Acting chairman of 

Jema’a Local Government 

Area, Dr. Humble Katuka, 

who confirmed the tragedy 

to Saturday Vanguard 

yesterday evening however 

said the curfew that was 

imposed on the local government 

has been relaxed. 

He said, “I was briefed 

that the soldiers drafted to 

help secure this area noted 

that some youths were 

parading some locally 

made fire arms publicly. A 

meeting was then scheduled 

by one Major Mbaim 

between the Army, 

and the villagers especially 

the youths of Misisi village 

about their weapons. 

I was told that as soon as 

they went into the talks, 

there were gun shots in 

the village and everyone 

scampered for safety including 

the soldiers. The 

shooting lasted, according 

to what I was told, less 

than 15 minutes and at the 

end six people were 

killed, including the village 

head, while 16 houses 

were burnt. Some of the 

gun men were said to be 

wearing what looked like 

Army uniform. 

“The Hilux belonging to 

the Army was shot at. 

Those who survived said 

even the soldiers were 

fighting back for their lives. 

They denied that the soldiers 

turned their guns on 

the villagers. I have been 

touch with Lt. Col Bello 

(full names not disclosed) 

and he affirmed the same. 

He is the officer in charge 

of the troops in Jema’a. It 

was an unfortunate incident.” 

But, the Kaninkon 

Development Association, 

KADA, in a statement yesterday 

in Kaduna said 7 

person were killed. 

The stament signed by its 

National Chairman, Mr 

Waje Goska Williams, gave 

the names of the victims 

as: John Zogo, 85, (the 

Village Head); Yakubu 

Abuja, 80; Adamu Bulus, 

30 and Majhe Audu, 50. 

The rest were: Karu Amos, 

42; Confidence Kibadu, 29 

and Kurma Amo, 44. 

Part of the stamen reads: 

“This attack is clearly preplanned 

and there seems 

to be a clear conspiracy on 

the part of the Government 

and Army and Security 

agents to look the other 

way while the killings and 

destructions were going 

on. It is clearly a plan of 

genocide against the 

Kaninkon people. 

Ondo boils, Buhari promises 

to intervene 

Continued from page 5 

PDP which produced Hon. Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, and 

did not monitor the purported primary election that 

produced Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim which was said to have 

held in Ibadan, the Oyo State Capital. 

“INEC cited the Order from Justice Okon Abang of the 

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court as the reason 

for publishing Barr. Ibrahim’s name as PDP Candidate 

but ignored another order from the Ondo State High Court, 

which is a Court of Coordinate jurisdiction that compelled 

INEC to maintain Hon. Eyitayo Jegede’s name as the 

candidate of the PDP. The least INEC could have done in 

the circumstance was to maintain status quo and stick to 

its own earlier decision pending a superior order or 

Judgment from a superior court. But that did not happen 

in this case. 

“This singular decision of INEC has generated sporadic 

reactions from the electorate in Ondo state leading to violent 

protest and damages. This could have been avoided if 

INEC had adhered strictly to the letters and characters of 

the Electoral Laws and the Constitution of the Federal 

Republic of Nigeria. 

“We therefore warn that external forces should not sit in 

Abuja and set Ondo state ablaze. Whatever authority in 

Abuja, whether it’s the executive that is using the judiciary 

or vise versa, must realize that they cannot for selfish 

political reasons toy with the fate of millions of people in 

Ondo state. Who emerges governor of the state should be 

the decision of the electorates themselves through the ballot 

and not from any organ of the Federal Government in 

Abuja. 

“It is a known fact that Ondo people are politically 

sophisticated and any attempt to truncate the will of the 

people will be resisted vehemently. References should be 

made to the 1965/66 and 1983 political violence in the 

west that brought about the collapse of the 1st and the2nd 

Republics. We should therefore be careful not to repeat 

history. 

“Finally, we call on the people of Ondo State to eschew 

violence and remain calm. We believe in the rule of law 

and the matter is already in the Appeal Court, and we are 

certain that the PDP shall get justice on this issue and 

Hon. Eyitayo Jegede will be returned to contest under the 

platform of our great Party” he said. 

Jegede remains our flagbearer——Ondo PDP 

Also, the Chairman of the PDP in Ondo state, Chief 

Clement Faboyede has argued that “the event culminating 

in replacing Jegede is a crude hallmark and handiwork of 

some moles in PDP and some highly placed government 

officials of APC at the federal level” 

He submitted that the moles within the PDP believed 

that removing Jegede from the race will pave way for easier 

manipulation of the election results in favour of the APC 

candidate He however said that Eyitayo Jegede remained 

the flagbearer of PDP saying “it is not the duty of any court 

to impose or dictate candidate for the party. It is a pre 

election matter and the Supreme Court which is the highest 

organ of judiciary in the land has said it severally that pre 

election is not a matter of the court.” He called on President 

Muhammadu Buhari to be father to all and should give 

room to a level playing ground for the nation’s democracy 

to survive and allow the wish of the people to prevail, 

noting that the people of the state voted for Buhari in the 

2015 election despite being controlled by PDP government. 

He commended the protesters for not taking laws into their 

hands while he urged security agents not to use force to 

disperse peaceful protesters. 

I will not jettison my mandate——Jegede 

The rejected candidate, Eyitayo Jegede in his reaction 

expressed optimism that the Appeal Court would revalidate 

his mandate to fly the Flag of the Peoples Democratic Party 

[PDP] in next month’s election. Jegede said attempts to 

substitute his name will not stand as justice would be done 

at the appeal court. 

“I am aware of a recent litigation resulting in the 

announcement of another person as the governorship 

candidate of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party. 

However, I wish to assure our teeming supporters in Ondo 

State that necessary legal steps have been taken to seek 

justice. Already, the matter is before the Court of Appeal” 

He thanked the people of the state for their support and 

steadfastness since the campaign activities began and their 

total commitment to his lofty programmes designed to take 

Ondo to greater heights. Jegede assured that he will not 

for any reason jettison the mandate freely given to him by 

generality of PDP members in the state. 

APC, INEC want to kill democracy——Fayose 

Also reacting, Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti state has 

described the recognition of Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim as the 

PDP candidate for the November 26 governorship poll in 

Ondo State by INEC as dangerous to democracy. Arguing 

that what INEC did amounted to rigging the Ondo State 

governorship election in advance, Fayose accused the All 

Progressives Congress (APC) of turning the INEC into 

its department and willing tool that can be deployed at 

will to manipulate election. Fayose said recognising 

someone who did not emerge through any known electoral 

process signalled the end of democracy in the country.

Arrested Judges: Court summons 

Buhari, DSS, others to appear Nov 15 

•declines to stop ‘untoward action’ against the judges 

By Ikechukwu 

Nnochiri 

THE Abuja Division 

of the Federal High 

Court, on Friday, ordered 

President Muhammadu 

Buhari and the Director- 

General of the Department of 

State Service, DSS, Mr. Lawal 

Daura, to appear on 

November 15 to show cause 

why seven judges arrested 

between October 7 and 8 

should be prosecuted. 

Others equally summoned 

to appear before the court 

were the Attorney-General of 

the Federation and Minister 

of Justice, Abubakar Malami, 

SAN, the Inspector-General 

of Police, Ibrahim Idris, and 

the National Judicial Council, 

NJC. 

They were all cited as 

Respondents in a legal action 

that was instituted before the 

high court by a Lagos-based 

lawyer, Mr. Olukoya 

Ogungbeje. 

Though President Buhari 

will not appear in person, he 

is expected to brief a lawyer 

to represent him before the 

court on that date. 

The plaintiff had in the suit 

marked FHC/ABJ/CS/809/ 

16, applied for an order of 

perpetual injunction 

restraining the Respondents 

from arresting, inviting, 

intimidating, or harassing 

any of the judges whose 

homes were raided in the 

“sting operation” conducted 

by the DSS. 

He contended that the 

arrest and detention of the 

judges without recourse to the 

NJC, was not only 

unconstitutional, but also 

aimed at ridiculing the 

judiciary arm of government. 

According to him, the 

action of the DSS was in gross 

violation of rights of the 

judges as enshrined in 

sections 33, 34, 35, 36, and 

41 of the 1999 Constitution, 

as amended. 

Consequently, Ogungbeje 

sought ten separate reliefs 

from the court, including 

award of N50billion as 

general and exemplary 

damages against the 

Respondents, as well as 

another N2million as cost of 

the suit. 

He equally prayed the 

court for an order compelling 

the DSS to return to the 

judges, money that were 

seized from their homes. 

Meanwhile, in a bench 

ruling on Friday, Justice 

Gabriel Kolawole directed 

that copies of the relevant 

court processes be served on 

all the Respondents. 

The Judge held that the 

Respondents are entitled to 

within seven days, respond 

to the suit. 

However, Justice Kolawole 

refused an ex-parte motion 

the plaintiff filed with a view 

to securing an interim order 

stopping the Respondents 

from taking “any untoward 

action” against the embattled 

Judges, pending 

determination of the suit. 

The Judge said he needed 

to resolve a number of issues, 

including the locus-standi of 

the plaintiff, before he could 

make a pronouncement on 

the prayer. 

He said such resolution 

could only be made in an 

inter-party hearing involving 

all the Respondents. 

Specifically, the plaintiff 

had through his counsel, Mr. 

Ayo Ogundele, sought, “An 

order of interim injunction 

restraining the respondents, 

their agents, servants, privies, 

men, officers or anybody 

deriving authority from them 

by whatever name called 

from further arresting, 

intimidating, arresting, 

inviting, seizing or taking 

any untoward action against 

the arrested and affected 

honourable judges and 

judicial officers pending the 

hearing and determination of 

the substantive suit.” 

In a 39-paragraph affidavit 

he deposed in support of the 

substantive suit, the plaintiff 

averred: “That the 1st 

(President Buhari), 2nd (DG 

of DSS), 3rd (DSS), 4th 

(AGF), and 5th (Inspector- 

General of Police) 

respondents never filed 

any petition against the 

affected judges the 6th 

respondent (NJC). 

“That the 6th respondent 

is the only body empowered 

by the constitution of the 

Federal Republic of Nigeria 

to discipline judges and 

judicial officers in Nigeria. 

“That the judiciary is an 

independent arm of 

government in Nigeria and 

separate from the executive 

and the legislature. 

“That this illegal and 

unconstitutional action by the 

1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th 

respondents have been 

roundly condemned by the 

Nigerian Bar Association. 

“That the 2nd (DG of DSS), 

3rd (DSS), and 5th (IGP) 

respondents carried out their 

action which brazenly 

infringed upon the rights of 

the affected five judges 

without lawful excuse or 

recourse to the 6th 

respondent”. 

Though seven judges 

were arrested, the plaintiff 

said he instituted the action 

on behalf of five of them who 

are still serving. 

The judges the plaintiff is 

fighting for are Justices 

Inyang Okoro and Sylvester 

Ngwuta of the Supreme 

Court, Adeniyi Ademola and 

Nnamdi Dimgba of the 

Federal High Court Abuja, as 

well as Justice Muazu 

Pindiga of the Federal High 

Court, Gombe Division. 

Among the five judges, only 

Justice Dimgba was not 

arrested, though his house 

was thoroughly searched. 

Other Judges who though 

arrested but not covered by the 

suit are former Chief Judge of 

Enugu State, Justice I. A. 

Umezulike, the Presiding 

Justice of the Court of Appeal, 

Ilorin Division, Justice 

Mohammed Tsamiya; and 

judge of the Kano State High 

Court, Justice Kabiru Auta. 

All the arrested judges are 

currently under administrative 

bail from the DSS, pending 

their trial. 

SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 29, 2016 —7 

B-R-I-E-F-S 

I was not suspended, says 

Abbah Kyari, Buhari’s Chief 

of Staff 

By Levinus Nwabughiogu 

CHIEF of Staff, CoS to President 

Muhammadu Buhari, Mallam Abbah Kyari, has 

dismissed reports in some quarters that he was on 

suspension. 

Unconfirmed reports linking him to an alleged monetary 

inducement from MTN to reduce the fine imposed on it by 

the Nigerian Communication Commission, NCC for selling 

unregistered sim cards had been rife and as such prompted 

a reprimand from the President in line with his anticorruption 

war. 

For over two weeks, Kyari was neither in his office nor 

sighted around the presidential Villa, clutching his usual 

file to the President’s office. 

But speaking tacitly with State House Correspondents 

who were surprised to see him on Friday, the CoS, said he 

was on a short leave and had just resumed. 

Sighting Journalists, he asked “Are you going to tweet 

that I am back? I don’t go on leave?” 

Asked to comment on the reports of his purported 

suspension, he responded: “I don’t talk to the press. You 

know my job doesn’t allow me talking.” 

Chief of Air staff urges 

militants to embrace 

dialogue 

By Jimitota Onoyume 

CHIEF of the Air staff , Air Mashal Sadique 

Abubakar has enjoined militants to embrace 

the dialogue offered by the federal government for 

peace in the region. 

Speaking yesterday when he came to commission 

blocks of 18 x2 bedroom apartments and 10 x one 

bedroom flats at 97 SOG, Port Harcourt he said the 

Airforce will continue to pursue its constitutional 

responsibility of defending the nation’s territory 

“Our message to them is that they should dialogue 

with the federal government. On our part we will 

continue to discharge our constitutional 

responsibility 

We will do everything humanly possible to protect 

lives and ensure peace 

The constitution has given us mandate to protect 

our territory. let them embrace peace but if they fail 

to do that we have a constitutional responsibility to 

protect lives”, he said. 

Indians celebrate Diwali 

INDIANS will celebrate Diwali, one of the 

biggest holidays in Indian culture on Sunday, 

October 30. It ‘s specially known as a five-day festival 

of lights celebrated worldwide by Hindus, Sikhs and 

Jains. 

This year, the popular Indian celebration is unique 

because the traditional day of Diwali falls on Sunday, 

special day for Christians church services and activities; 

though celebrations in this regard span the entire week 

leading up to and following the holiday, which marks 

the triumph of good over evil. 

Diwali, reminiscent of Christians’ Christmas 

celebration...has a host of legends to explain its 

origin,but the most popular one recounts the story of 

Lord Rama and his wife, Sita,who returned to the city 

Ayodhya after 14 years in exile. To celebrate 

Diwali,Indians across the world light fireworks and 

candles,and decorate their homes with rangoli— 

patterns made out of coloured rice or powder. Families 

clean their houses in preparation for Diwali bliss and 

celebration; buy new clothes, eat sweets,delicacies and 

share presents just like Yuletide season....

8 —SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 29, 2016 

Pastors fight dirty over N16.5m church 

land commission 

By Joseph Saater 

Undu 

THREE Pastors of the 

Living Faith Church 

also known as Winners 

Chapel at Isheri Olofin area 

of Lagos state are 

engrossed in serious fight 

over the sharing of N16.5m 

realized from the purchase 

of some parcel of land and 

property by the church in 

Lagos. 

The fight which was said 

to have started from the 

church premises has now 

moved to the Lagos court 

where the parties are 

seeking justice. 

The three pastors in the 

matter are Deacon Dolire 

Oluwaniyi who is also an 

estate agent on the one 

hand and two other Pastors, 

Edwin Iky and Peter O. 

Odama on the other hand. 

The last two acted on behalf 

of the church over the 

purchase of the property. 

In the suit before 

Magistrate’s court sitting in 

Ogba, with suit number, 

MIK/4174/16, Deacon 

Oluwaniyi stated that the 

two pastors cheated him 

after they collected N140m 

from their General 

Overseer, Bishop David 

Oyedapo and paid N130m 

to the owner of the 

property. 

Apart from that, Deacon 

Oluwaniyi also stated that 

as the agent who linked 

the church to the owner of 

the property, he was 

entitled to N6.5 million 

commission which was 

also paid by the church but 

was shared between the 

two pastors and he was not 

given a dime. 

Following the alleged 

scam, the claimant 

dragged the church to the 

court seeking an order that 

he should be paid his 

commission as a registered 

agent with his company’s 

name, Bedek properties 

that facilitated the 

transaction. 

In his affidavit in support 

of the claim, the claimant 

stated that his company 

wrote to the church 

introducing the properties 

which contain two big 

church halls and a story 

building on one acre of 

land located at Iyana Odo, 

along Igando road in 

Sheri Olofin area. 

He stated that he was 

contacted through the 

pastors and he linked the 

church to the owner of the 

property, one Bishop 

Emmanuel Omobajesu. 

The claimant said after 

the payment for the 

property he demanded for 

his commission and the 

two pastors asked him to 

•The three armed robbery suspects who attacked 

Divine Fisheries in Oko-Afo Igborogo with their 

stolen money, N121,400; a locally made pistol 

and laptop recovered from them. 

bear it as seed to the 

church where as they had 

already collected the 

money from the church. 

The claimant also stated 

that the pastors involved in 

the transaction are not 

honest and sincere as they 

both ate with both hands 

and thereby soiled their 

hands in the transaction. 

In response, the 

defendant under the 

registered trustee of the 

church stated that the 

claimant was not 

appointed as its agent, 

legal representative nor 

hold any partnership and 

did not authorise the 

claimant to act on behalf of 

the defendant. 

It also stated that the 

claimant have no locus 

standi to sue the defendant 

as regard the property and 

demanding N6.5m agency 

commission. 

The 

presiding 

Magistrate, Mrs. M.O 

Osibajo has adjourned the 

matter till 23 November, 

2016, to deliver rulings on 

the motions filed by the 

parties. 

''My mother’s 

curse led to 

my arrest'' 

By Daud Olatunji, 

Abeokuta 

A 

28-year old suspected 

armed robber Chukwuemeka 

Obinna has said 

that his mother’s curse led 

to his arrest by men of the 

Ogun state police 

command. Obinna who was 

arrested on the 9th of 

September and paraded , 

yesterday, claimed that 

frustration led him into 

robbery, adding that if not for 

the unbearable poverty he 

was battling with, he would 

have adhered strictly to his 

mother’s warning. 

Obinna told our reporter 

that his mother had warned 

him severally against any 

robbery act, saying that she 

had prayed to God that any 

day he tried to steal or rob 

anyone of their valuables, he 

would be arrested on his first 

attempt. The suspect who 

met his Waterloo on his 

second attempt said he 

hailed from Ebonyi State. 

He said, “if not for poverty, 

I wouldn’t have ventured 

into robbery, because, my 

mother had warned me 

never to venture into any act 

of robbery or stealing. 

•Read more news on pg.39 

B-R-I-E-F-S 

Governor Ugwuanyi eulogises 

retiring Enugu Police Commissioner 

By Emeka Mamah 

GOVERNOR Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has described the 

retiring Police Commissioner of Enugu State, Mr. 

Emmanuel Ojukwu, as a disciplined officer whose 

commitment to his job should be emulated by every public 

servant. 

The governor paid the eulogy during the passing out 

parade organized for the retiring Commissioner of Police 

held at Michael Okpara Square, Enugu, on Friday. 

The governor noted that Mr. Ojukwu assumed duties 

in the state during the unfortunate herdsmen attack at 

Ukpabi Nimbo in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area, 

stating that he assisted in quelling the tension that ensued 

from that incident. 

“As we congratulate him for successfully reaching the 

end of his career in the force, we are assured that we can 

always call upon his wealth of experience and 

competence whenever the need arises,” the governor 

said. 

NMA begs FG to implement WHO 

15 per cent GDP 

By Daud Olatunji, Abeokuta 

THE Nigerian Medical Association has asked the 

Federal Government to immediately implement the 

World Health Organisation’s 15 percent Gross Domestic 

Product for health. 

Ogun state chairman of NMA , Dr. Abayomi Olajide, 

stated this at the 2016 Physicians’ Week organised by 

the State branch of the association in Abeokuta. 

Olajide called for a speedy implementation of the 

National Health Act and the community-based health 

insurance scheme for the benefit of the masses. 

According to him, “it is pathetic that the National Health 

Act has not been implemented two years after it was signed 

into law” 

In his remarks, NMA General Secretary, Dr. Adewunmi 

Alayaki, has reiterated the call for a reduction in capital 

flight used by government officials to seek medical 

attention abroad. 

Dr. Alayaki argued that government should rather 

develop the country’s health system, since Nigeria is 

blessed with the needed expertise. 

El-Rufia advocates NCC, NBC 

merger 

...as FG licenses 6 slots of 2.6 MHz Spectrum 

By Emmanuel Elebeke 

THE Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai 

has called on Federal government to merge the National 

Communications Commission, NCC and the National 

Broadcasting Commission, NBC to avoid unnecessary 

duplication of functions by both agencies. 

The Governor made the call on Friday at the 4th Edition of 

the National Council on Communication Technology, NCCT 

holding in Kaduna. 

As a country in recession, Governor El-Rufai said Nigeria 

requires a well articulated policy framework to reap from the 

huge benefits inherent in the ICT sector, which can only be 

achieved through the harmonization of existing National 

Policy on Communication and Broadcasting. 

“In my view, the existing National Policy on Communication 

and Broadcasting are overdue for harmonization to recognize 

digital convergence. We recognize digital convergence and 

increasing movement towards mobile platform. 

“There must be institutional and regulatory framework to 

enable optimal use of our IT endowment and the 

unprecedented development in the sector. 

Ex-President's Media aide, Reuben 

Abati gets bail 

M 

R. Reuben Abati, the former Special Adviser to 

ex-President Goodluck Jonathan on Media, has 

been granted bail by the Economic and Financial Crimes 

Commission (EFCC). 

It was gathered that the bail conditions required that 

Abati should drop his international passport with the 

EFCC and produce a surety, who should not be below a 

deputy director on Level 16 in the civil service of the 

country. 

Abati was arrested last Monday on allegations that he 

received N100 million from the former National Security 

Adviser, rtd Col. Sambo Dasuki. The former presidential 

spokesman was the chairman of the Editorial Board of 

the Guardian Newspaper before his appointment. 

Dasuki has been held for the misappropriation of the 

$2.1 billion meant for the purchase of arms for the prosecution 

of the war against Boko Haram. Many people 

have been arrested in connection with the sharing of the 

money with some offering to refund part or all they got.


C 

M 

Y 

K

10—SATURD 

TURDAY Vanguard 

anguard, , OCTOBER 29, 2016 

Grant us amnesty or we'll 

cripple Lagos, Ogun 

Arepo militants explode 

*We have kidnapped, robbed, now we surrender 

*Boast of 21 'generals', 7,800 battle-ready boys, superior weapons 

*Reveal how they bribed OPC, Police and Military men in the past 

By Emma Nnadozie, Crime Editor 

Sometime last year, the notorious 

leader of the dreaded militants who 

terrorized Ogun and Lagos states 

from the creeks of Arepo and Ibafo, called 

on phone identifying himself in a typically 

hoarse voice as ‘De don of Militants in 

Nigeria.' Threatening fire and brimstone, 

he warned security agencies to get off the 

creeks or they would meet their waterloo. 

After explaining that he got my telephone 

number from the pages of Saturday 

Vanguard, he swore to make the two states 

ungovernable if security operatives failed 

to stop raiding the creeks and allow them 

to continue with oil bunkering 

unchallenged. 

He even promised to reward this reporter 

handsomely if he could avail them with 

certain security information, a request that 

was rebuffed immediately. However, the 

cat and mouse game continued until the 

‘day of the jackal’, which was the day jet 

fighters unleashed bombs ceaselessly into 

the creeks which the militants had earlier 

boasted was impenetrable. On the second 

day of the raid, De don called this reporter 

again lamenting the carnage being carried 

out on their abode when, suddenly, his 

telephone went dead amidst a barrage of 

bombardments from Air force planes. 

There was a deafening silence and it 

appeared De don may have been killed. 

He did not call again and all calls to his 

line failed. 

Then, midnight last Monday, his voice 

rang out again but from a different number 

to re-assure that he was alive. However, 

he stated that the essence of the call was to 

beg for amnesty from the government 

alongside other top ‘Generals’ who 

survived the military onslaught inside the 

creeks. Interestingly, one of the other 

‘Generals’ who also spoke on phone after 

De don turned out to be the most wanted 

and deadly kidnap kingpin in the country, 

‘General’ Ossy, whose exploits in the 

criminal world in the past two years had 

jolted security agencies to their wits' end. 

The two militant 'Generals', on one 

hand, made passionate appeals for 

amnesty while on the other hand, 

warned that hell would be let loose if 

their request was turned down. 

Excerpts: 

How we started bunkering business 

I am General Ossy Ibori. I am 40 years 

old. We are from Niger Delta region, from 

Isaac Boro’s hometown. We started this 

business of bunkering in 1998 here in 

Lagos during which we had an agreement 

with the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) 

to settle them. In those days, we were 

giving the OPC between N250, 000 to 

N350, 000 every night before the mobile 

policemen later came on the scene. That 

was in 2001 and 2002. After paying them 

the money, they would allow us to do our 

bunkering work but later they killed our 

brothers. This infuriated us because the 

killings were done after collecting bribe 

from us. So we decided to come together 

to fight it. I even tried to reach an 

agreement with them to allow peace reign 

but they later conspired with the police in 

Lagos state including operatives of the 

Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and 

Anti- Vandals unit some of whom started 

collecting bribe from us also. Then, the 

Mobile police and Federal SARS came 

to us at Abule Egba, and Arepo where we 

were doing our business and reached an 

agreement with us as they also started 

collecting bribe from us. We were giving 

them N2 million every night. That was 

during the era of a top Commissioner of 

Police (name withheld). Again, these 

people too conspired and arraigned some 

of our brothers in court. Shortly after 

arresting some of our brothers and 

collecting bribe from them, the police 

stormed the area, killing innocent people. 

How we subdued the police 

We went to the police and tried to find 

out why they arrested our brothers, 

collected bribe from them but still went 

ahead to kill them. When we saw that 

they were ready to arrest us as well, we 

now launched an attack and exchanged 

fire with them before we subdued them. 

This happened in 2013 and the following 

year, we came back to work but the people 

we were working with complained that 

the area had become dangerous, arguing 

that if they came to us we would kill them. 

We then decided to go to them and settle 

them. Then, the Nigerian Army was sent 

to stop our bunkering but they allowed 

us to continue after we started to settle 

them also. The army also, at a stage, 

conspired with the people and they were 

no longer giving us access to the area we 

wanted, so we resolved to fight for our 

rights and started doing things to draw 

government’s attention to us but 

government refused to listen to us. Then 

we began to attack pipelines, Federal 

SARS and Civil Defence just to attract 

When we saw that 

they were ready to 

arrest us as well, we 

now launched an 

attack and 

exchanged fire with 

them before we 

subdued them 

government’s attention but the 

government ignored us. After a while, the 

government now sent a delegate to us 

that they wanted to give us amnesty. It 

was one Colonel whose name I cannot 

remember again. He claimed to have 

come from the amnesty office. We started 

the negotiation but later found out that 

he was a betrayer and the whole thing 

ended like that. Apart from that Colonel, 

one Captain Okotie, also came whom 

we strongly believed to be a fraudster. 

That was when we started operating in 

Lagos and Ogun states. We operated in 

Irekpete, Gburumu, Arepo, Ibafo, 

Majidun, Ajegunle and Abule Egba. We 

were trying to fight for our rights by 

attacking the government, bursting oil 

pipelines, kidnapping and robbing the 

residents so that the government could 

pay attention to us but it’s unfortunate 

that they did not. Now, we are very much 

ready to dialogue with the government 

and to make sure that none of such things 

happen again. 

Our activities in 2015 and 2016 (De 

don takes over) 

I am General Don. I am 45 years old. 

We are ready to allow peace to reign and 

guarantee the safety of oil pipelines. 

Before, when we came to work, we used 

to settle those people. Meanwhile, we 

have members in FESTAC, Arepo and 

Abule Egba. This is how we used to do 

the business. We used to vandalize oil 

pipelines, siphon the oil. But when they 

stopped pumping the oil, we then started 

kidnapping and armed robbery. We 

robbed so many banks in Lagos. We 

started kidnapping in 2015, we 

kidnapped in FESTAC and Epe areas of 

Lagos. If government does not pay 

attention to us soon, robbery and 

kidnapping will resume at a very 

alarming rate. We are determined to 

make peace reign between Lagos and 

Ogun states. So, let their governments 

come and dialogue with us. If that is done, 

all these things will not happen again. 

We will come together with the security 

operatives and work hard to ensure 

absolute peace within the region. 

How Nigerian Air Force bombarded 

our camp 

On Thursday evening, June 23rd 2016, 

while we were in the camp, we saw a jet 

displaying in the air and we asked 

ourselves, what is this that’s displaying 

in the air? Shortly, we discovered that it 

was a fighter jet. Before we could figure 

out what it was up to, they started 

bombing our camp. They bombed the 

first camp in Irekpete. We lost nine souls 

in that place, which was the first day. The 

second day, after shooting, we went out 

and discovered the corpses of four 

children and few women. After five days, 

Continues onpage 11

SATURD 


anguard, , OCTOBER 29, 2016—11 

Continues from page 10 

when they came back with heavy 

bombardment, we now started 

escaping from the forest because the 

bombing was too much for us. We 

left the area where we were working 

to the other side. During the air raid, 

none of our generals died. Even those 

who died were not part of us, they 

were innocent people. They killed 

mostly Yorubas and some other few 

tribes. We still have 21 generals and 

7,800 battle-ready boys. Even now 

as we are still in the forest, we can 

see everything the government is 

doing but we don’t want to cause 

problem again. 

How we escaped from the 

bombardment 

We believe so much in God., we 

work like spirit and disappear any 

time. God sets us free, we don’t have 

any spiritualist (Jujuman), we believe 

in God. We are members of different 

churches like Baptists, Redeemed, 

Cherubim and Seraphim. We used 

to pray before going on revenge 

mission. We call on God to help us 

out. We didn’t start the killing, they 

did by provoking us when the killed 

our brothers unjustly. Before we go 

to battle, we pray to God to help us 

because we are fighting for our 

rights. 

Is oil bunkering your right? 

So many youths and graduates are 

suffering without jobs and many are 

even managing this oil bunkering 

business in Lagos and Ogun states. 

We have more than 100 graduates 

working with us and earning their 

living. What else do you expect from 

us? Are we not part and parcel of this 

oil rich country? Are we not entitled 

to enjoy our natural resources? That 

is our right and nobody, I repeat, 

nobody can deny us that. 

We escaped with our weapons 

(General Ossy Ibori) 

We escaped the bombardment with 

a lot of weapons though not all. Right 

now, we have fire guns, artillery, 

GPMG, K2, Pump Action, Double 

Barrel and locally made guns. You 

can’t find out how we buy our arms, 

we won’t disclose it but we want the 

government to know that we are 

ready for peace. But if they fail to 

dialogue with us, we are ready to 

bring down the economy of Lagos 

and Ogun states. We can even 

vandalize pipelines but for now, we 

don’t want that to happen. We want 

dialogue but if they refuse to comply, 

we are ready to destroy the economy 

of these two states. We want the 

government to know that, we are 

human beings like them and we are 

suffering, the youths are suffering but 

we don’t want to kill innocent souls. 

We have been in the creeks for the 

past 18 years. Within this period, so 

many souls were lost there but we 

are just ready to dialogue with the 

government to let peace reign. 

We want amnesty 

We are not demanding monetary 

settlement, we are not demanding 

anything other than freedom and 

dialogue with the government. We 

want peace to reign. Secondly, we 

need amnesty as well as pipeline and 

waterways security. That will bring 

to an end kidnapping, armed 

robbery, bunkering and other 

criminal activities in the region. We 

are ready to stop all criminal 

activities. We are not money 

conscious, what we want is peace, 

we want dialogue first. If we are 

granted amnesty, we will be glad to 

provide security to oil installations. 

That’s what we want to do. We know 

much about the creeks and because 

of our expertise, we will like to work 

with the anti-vandalism team and 

the police to ensure absolute security 

in the creeks. Civil Defence’s claim 

that they chased us out of Arepo is 

not true. We are still in the creeks. We 

are even very close to them and if we 

decide to go offensive, we can even 

slaughter all of them, we can wipe 

Reveal how they bribed OPC, 

Police and Military men in the past 

Gov Ibikunle Amosun 

Our worst regret 

since this fight with 

the security started 

is that, they are 

killing innocent 

Nigerians and we 

are also killing 

innocent Nigerians 

By Ifeanyi Okolie 

The vandals, who are mainly 

militants from the Niger Delta, 

had held sway for a long time in 

Arepo, Ibafo and environs. They 

masterminded the vandalism of 

pipelines belonging to the Nigerian 

National Petroleum Corporation, 

NNPC, and siphoned the contents. 

They were also behind the incessant 

bank robberies in Lekki, Ikorodu, 

Festac and Agbara areas of Lagos 

and Ogun States, during which they 

carted large sums of money and 

killed several residents including 

policemen. Security sources 

disclosed that the vandals led by 

dreaded hard hitter, General Ossy, 

were responsible for the kidnap of 

students of Babington Macaulay 

Junior Seminary at Ikorodu, Lagos. 

The unfortunate students were 

ferried to their camp called Fatola 

in March this year. The militants also 

abducted a staff of MTN the same 

day within Arepo and collected a 

ransom of N4.5m before he was 

released two days later around 3 am. 

No go area for security agents 

Security agents including 

policemen, DSS, NSCDC, Navy who 

had attempted to invade the camp 

in the past were ambushed and 

killed in the process thereby making 

it a no-go-area for security personnel. 

all of them out of that area. We 

are together but we don’t want 

that to happen and that is why 

we want government to ensure 

there is peace here. 

Our sponsors 

We are our own sponsors. We 

don’t have anybody in 

government or politician 

sponsoring our activities. We 

sponsor ourselves. Concerning 

our feeding, you won’t 

understand how we feed. We 

have enough money to feed 

ourselves. We have money to 

make problem with the 

government and to cripple the 

economy but we don’t want it 

to be that way. We have so 

many connections and I tell 

you that everything in Lagos 

belongs to us. If we are given 

amnesty nobody will kidnap, 

Gov Akinwunmi Ambode 

nobody will rob, nobody will 

vandalize. We know about every 

criminal activity in the region. If 

government is ready to dialogue 

with us, we will put a stop to 

everything. 

Our pains in the creeks 

We are in the creeks suffering. We 

cannot go out and enjoy with our 

families. If the government is ready 

for peace to reign in the creeks, we 

will have the opportunity to go out 

and meet with our various families. 

There is no single woman or 

children in our camps and you 

know what that means. It is only 

men who live in our camps. We 

have not got any chance to meet 

with women because we don’t go 

out. We don’t even see anyone in the 

creeks. Some of our brothers’ 

family members were arrested by 

the police. They are still being held 

Their evil e 

foo 

ootprints 

The vandals, however, resorted to 

kidnapping following the recent 

clamp down on top members of the 

gang and operations by the military. 

They also invaded another school at 

Epe area of the state owned by the 

Lagos Anglican Dioceses, shooting 

indiscriminately before abducting 

the school girls who were in their 

hostel preparing for test. They later 

disappeared from the scene in an 

SUV. 

Difficulty in stemming operations 

of vandals 

The renewed efforts by the vandals 

to abduct defenceless civilians for 

ransom have exposed the inability 

of security operatives to completely 

stem their operations. Some security 

operatives however boasted that 

vandals could no longer carry out 

large scale bank robberies as they 

did in March 2013, when they raided 

a bank in Lekki, killed three 

policemen and two civilians and 

carted away large sums of money. In 

November, 2015, the same gang 

struck at a bank in Agbara area of 

Ogun State, killing two mobile 

policemen and carted away large 

sums of money. In June 2015, the 

vandals raided banks in Ikorodu, 

carting away unspecified amount of 

money. They attacked the banks 

located at Ipakodo- Ebute, near 

Ogolonto in Ikorodu by using speed 

boats in accessing the community 

after which they raided the two 

banks in the area. While the police 

were busy spreading their dragnets 

to track the fleeing bandits, no fewer 

than forty members of the gang 

invaded two banks at 4th Avenue, 

Festac area of Lagos state few weeks 

later and carted away huge sums of 

money. A nursing mother and her 

child were killed during the 

operation. 

In May 2014, nine policemen 

attached to the Inspector-General of 

Police Special Anti-Vandalism were 

kidnapped and killed by the vandals 

when they attempted to visit the scene 

of a pipeline explosion in Arepo 

pipeline, Ogun State. The policemen 

were said to have boarded a canoe 

and were last seen heading into the 

creek. Their bodies are yet to be 

recovered. 

Litany of woes 

In the same vein, in January 2015, 

three officials of the Nigerian 

Security and Civil Defence Corps, 

NSCDC, were killed while 10 others 

sustained severe injuries when they 

had a confrontation with the vandals 

in Abule Ishawo and Tappa areas of 

Ikorodu, close to Arepo. The 10 

officials who survived the attack 

were rescued by a reinforced team 

comprising the military and NSCDC 

operatives. After this incident, the 

vandals chased some NSCDC 

officials to Owutu Police Station 

by the police even as we speak while so many 

innocent people who are not even our 

members are still in police detention. But 

we are still in the creeks, and if we go out for 

any reason, we come back together. Nobody, 

not even army or police can come to the 

main creeks where we live unless we permit 

them. They can’t penetrate it on ground 

because of the weapons we have and the roads 

are made just for us alone. A stranger cannot 

just get in and when you force yourself in, 

you cannot find your way back unless such a 

person comes from the sky. Even at that, we 

will not allow it because of our latest 

weapons. If we don’t come out in the open, 

even fighter jet cannot get us where we are 

right now. 

Wanted General Ossy on why he has not 

been arrested 

That’s why I’m the Don, that is how it is 

supposed to be. The robbery incident that 

happened in FESTAC where a pregnant 

woman and her child were killed was an 

unfortunate incident. It was not deliberate. 

We can operate anywhere we want between 

Lagos and Ogun states. Concerning 

innocent people who lost their lives in the 

course of our operation, you can see that is 

how security agents used to kill our people. 

They collect bribe from us and then kill our 

brothers. They would even set fire in the area 

where we are engaging in bunkering. We 

are remorseful about the number of people 

we have unintentionally killed, it is better to 

leave it to God. We don’t kill innocently, we 

kill reasonably. Our main anger is that, after 

collecting bribe from us, the OPC, the police, 

army, and civil defence would turn around 

to kill our brothers and that is we decided to 

retaliate. 

Our regret 

Our worst regret since this fight with the 

security started is that, they are killing 

innocent Nigerians and we are also killing 

innocent Nigerians. They are Nigerians and 

we are also Nigerians. Our brothers that they 

have killed are also Nigerians. We lost our 

people and they also lost their people and 

this is not helping the country. That is why 

we want genuine dialogue that would bring 

this to an end. You can’t find out how rich we 

are, we are average people in terms of money. 

We cannot also expose our other businesses 

to the government. 

where they ran into and opened fire 

on some policemen on guard, killing 

two on the spot while two other 

civilians were also killed. The 

vandals were said to have carted 

away four Ak47 rifles from the police 

station before escaping. 

Massacre of SARS, DSS teams 

Few days after, the vandals struck 

at four banks in Ijede and Ipakodun 

areas of Ikorodu. Some operatives 

of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, 

SARS, were deployed to Ikorodu to 

combat the menace of the robbers, 

but in one of their operations, four of 

its operatives were ambushed and 

killed and their corpses were taken 

away. Subsequently, in September 

2015, nine operatives of the 

Department of State Services, DSS, 

were killed while they attempted to 

rescue a kidnapped victim from the 

hands of the vandals. The vandals 

were said to have ambushed the 

operatives at Konu, a border town in 

Ogun State while tracking a 

telephone number used by the 

vandals in negotiating the ransom 

with relatives of the victim. The 

corpses of the operatives are yet to 

be recovered till date. Efforts by both 

the state government and security 

agencies in the state to end the 

activities of the vandals have been 

stalled owing to lack of proper 

synergy

12—SATURDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 29, 2016 

BY DENNIS AGBO 

ENUGU- The purported 

Privatization of defunct 

Nigeria Coal Corporation, 

NCC, with its headquarter in 

Enugu has continued to 

generate the interest of 

stakeholders in the coal 

industry particularly the former 

workers of the corporation who 

are wondering what manner of 

privatization was carried out in 

the Nigeria's premier solid 

mineral industry that has 

completely deflated the 

industry. 

As far as the ex-staff are 

concerned, what took place was 

sale and outright devastation, 

cannibalization of equipment 

and properties of the industry 

with no intention to revitalize 

the needed mining of coal 

through privatization as was the 

original philosophy of the 

federal government's 

privatization policy in 2003. 

The former staff of the defunct 

corporation are therefore more 

worried that the industry has 

gone under with no insight to 

it coming back to mining of 

coal, the former workers wages 

and entitlements trapped, the 

property of the corporation sold 

to individuals, monetization of 

the property not adequately 

carried out while the essential 

equipment were so 

cannibalized that even an 

investor would find it extremely 

difficult to start any major move 

to mine coal at different mines 

in Enugu, Benue, Delta and 

Kogi states. 

In a litany of petitions the 

disengaged and retired staff of 

NCC have submitted to 

President Mohammadu Buhari 

and government agencies 

including the anti-graft 

agencies, the former workers are 

lamenting the non settlement of 

all arrears owned the 

disengaged staff of the NCC 

amounting to about N315 

million; destruction of coal 

mining property by the Bureau 

for Public Enterprise, BPE, 

through a property consultancy 

firm, corruption through a 

purported monetization of 

houses of the NCC, allegedly 

being committed by the 

consultancy firm, among other 

allegations. 

In an open letter to President 

Mohammadu Buhari, some of 

the concerned disengaged and 

retired workers alleged that a 

hurried monetization of the 

NCC properties has been 

enmeshed in corruption to the 

extent that money is being paid 

into private accounts other than 

to the Treasury Single Account 

(TSA) of the federal 

government. 

“BPE and their agent have 

sold off heavy plants and 

machinery of NCC at very 

ridiculous prices and declaring 

peanuts to the BPE and even 

the lands too. This is a clear case 

of corruption. Example of such 

sale made is the gigantic and 

highly sophisticated coal 

washrey plant housed in an 

entire seven story building built 

by KOPEX contractors, Poland, 

Corruption tales linger over 

sale of Coal Corporation 

•Stakeholders write petitions to Buhari 

together with the vast land 

housing the edifice worth 

over a billion naira was sold 

at N160, 000,000. Other 

examples are two high 

capacity coal briquette plants 

at Enugu and Ankpa Kogi 

states which were sold in 

the same manner as plants 

and weigh bridges at 

Enugu, Okaba and 

Owukpa amongst many 

others,” the ex-staffs 

alleged. 

In another letter to 

President Buhari dated 

September 1 2015, the 

labour leaders of former 

workers prayed the 

President to scrutinize all 

transactions made by the 

BPE, their agent and NCC 

officials, maintaining that 

due processes were not 

followed and lacked 

transparency. They are also 

asking President Buhari to 

compel the NCC, BPE, and 

their agent to make 

available all the NCC 

landed property survey 

plans, including mine plans 

for public scrutiny. “Ask the 

BPE, NCC, their agent to 

make available 

You can check 

with the 

CBN. We are 

responsible 

and want to 

be fair so that 

we can give 

good account 

of everything 

•Dilapidated Onyeama 

Coal mine office 

comprehensive list of all 

NCC office properties in the 

country, whether leased or 

not; whether sold or not as a 

lot of lease documents were 

manipulated while a good 

number leases that expired 

were secretly and hurriedly 

re-negotiated, back dated 

and removed from 

government files.” 

Yet in another petition 

authored by Comrades Okey 

Uwaelelam and Hyacinth 

Ohagwu to the Independent 

Corrupt Practices 

Commission, ICPC, the exstaff 

asked the commission to 

probe why the BPE and their 

agent flouted the federal 

government’s order to remit 

monies from the 

monetization of NCC 

properties to the TSA, 

“amongst other deliberate 

irregular, inordinate, 

practices like not issuing 

receipts for money paid to 

them on behalf of the federal 

government.” 

Saturday Vanguard’s 

interaction with the 

consultancy firm, however 

revealed that some matters 

were already in court as their 

staff referred us to BPE. 

The Director of Mines in 

BPE, Alhaji Dikko on his own 

account stated that it is not 

the business of the BPE to 

question what buyers of 

properties do with them as 

they have become the 

properties of the new owners. 

On the issue of the sold coal 

processing plant being used 

for other purposes other than 

for coal matters, Dikko said 

the plant was vandalized 

before the BPE sold it to the 

new owner, which he said 

was the main reason, he 

could not hold the new owner 

responsible. 

On the allegation of not 

•Coal corpration hqtrs Enugu 

•Coal sample 

operating a TSA in the 

monetization of NCC properties, 

Dikko faulted the allegation, 

pointing out a joint account 

was opened by both the 

consultancy firm and the BPE 

at Zenith Bank and which 

monies have been remitted to 

the TSA. “We transferred money 

to TSA and we are still in the 

process. You can check with the 

CBN. We are responsible and 

want to be fair so that we can 

give good account of 

everything,” said Dikko. 

On the hope of achieving 

revival of coal mining through 

privatization, the BPE official 

stated there is an existing committee 

drawn from government 

agencies with the mandate to 

draw out a road map for immediate 

coal mining revival. “We 

were supposed to go to the five 

coal blocks to make diligence 

recommendation but the rainy 

season disrupted it because you 

can’t go to the mines in rainy 

season but now that the rains 

are getting over we will soon 

commence the assignment,” 

disclosed Dikko.

SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 29, 2016—13 

Nigeria’s in chaos, it’s 

stuck 

Ebitu Ukiwe speaks on Corruption, Buhari and Biafra 

General Staff leadership must face the issue and asking if he is doing it well 

w h i c h of corruption squarely. 

or not. The issue requires 

translated in 

everybody to be involved and if 

civilian terms Do you think President need be they should set up a 

as a Vice- Buhari’s approach to it is the committee. And the selection of 

President. In way to go about it? 

the men who will be on the 

each of these I don’t think it will be good to committee would even be more 

appointments, just pinpoint Buhari regarding important than the policies of 

there were how the situation is. The issue fighting corruption. It does not 

hurdles and had been quite bad before require preaching for anybody 

there were also Buhari came in. So, pointing at to know that one man cannot 

s o m e him as if he has the capacity to fight corruption. You need a 

disappointments do it and does not want to do it man, who has the wisdom to not 

but with my may not be right. There are only identify the cause of action 

faith in God things he is doing in form of but to select the type of men 

and the policies that are right. To agree that can do the job. If you can’t 

struggle to to fight corruption totally is right select them, you have failed 

ensure that I but the method is like strategy already. 

remained and tactics. Your tactics may not 

disciplined, work, if that is the case, tactics 46 years after the civil war, 

God saw me could be changed in order to some young Igbo men are 

Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe 

through. That meet the main objective which asking for Biafra, as someone, 

is why I am 

who played key roles during 

AFORMER Chief of General Staff(Vice-President under the here. 

the war, what message do you 

military) Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe ,retd turned 76 on 

have for them? 

Wednesday. While attending to well wishers he spared Nigeria has 

I don’t think I have any strong 

us few minutes for this exclusive interview. He examined the gone through 

message for them because even 

multifaceted crises in Nigeria and said that normalcy should be a lot of crisis 

the way they are going about it 

urgently restored in the country. Ukiwe, who was the first number like the civil 

is not the right way. I fought the 

two man to former President Ibrahim Babangida from 1985-1986 war, do you 

war and I suffered all the 

also spoke on pro-Biafra agitation and war against corruption think the 

inconveniences of the failure of 

among others. 

l e s s o n s 

that war. What they are doing, I 

learned are being applied in the 

have not been able to 

BY CHARLES KUMOLU 

interest of the nation and do you The country is understand. And I believe that 

think the nation learnt lessons 

if they can subject themselves 

What does being 76 mean to 

from its experiences? 

stuck. What is 

to a little discussion, we will be 

you? 

I will say that at any point, now needed is able to talk to them and they 

I feel alright and I feel very 

whatever obstacle anyone 

will be able to understand what 

happy with myself because I live 

crosses, there are some lessons to apply all 

should be done. Criticising 

well and eat well. When I look 

to learnt from it. Whoever does 

the caution 

them will not be the solution, 

back at events and how I passed 

not learn from such things is a 

but if they are willing to be 

through them, I just thank God 

loser, if you learn from such and reason to talked to we, will do that. I 

for His blessings because 

obstacles you will excel and go 

believe that if we are able to talk 

without God’s blessings I could 

higher. But the person may still be able to 

to them and the government, 

not have passed through the 

face further obstacles but he may 

bring back 

both sides will see sense in what 

things I passed through 

have developed the discipline to 

to do and solve the problem. 

successfully and happily. 

handle such problems. In Nigeria, normalcy to 

I must say things have gone very 

What sort of Nigeria do you 

In retrospect, what were the 

bad. Things went very bad. And some extent to 

wish to see in the nearest 

turning points in your life and 

they happened because they were be able to 

future? 

career as a military officer? 

allowed to rot and ferment given 

Every young man will know 

It is a bit difficult to go through 

that there was not enough action fight 

the type of Nigeria we desire. 

those events in an environment 

to prevent them from going bad. 

Right now, Nigeria is in chaos. 

like this because they are many. 

From the way things are, you can 

corruption 

That is what it is. So, the 

Life to me is like a ladder, you 

see that they are trying to fight 

Nigeria we want is where there 

take one step at a time. And if 

corruption. they are not finding 

is to fight corruption and wipe it 

is peace, progress, development 

you don’t do like that, you will 

it easy because corruption was 

out. It is obvious that he has to 

and general wellbeing of the 

have a problem. I have passed 

allowed to spread like a disease 

make some changes, it is obvious 

people. The problems in the 

through a lot of things and came 

and like a wildfire. Now, knowing 

that he has to have a second look 

country are the symptoms of a 

out successfully right from birth 

how to handle it is a problem. 

at his tactics and see how best to 

disease. We have to identify 

to school, training and 

Those, who should carry the 

handle it. You can see that the 

what the disease is and not 

qualification as a Naval officer 

blame and responsibilities that 

whole country is at a standstill 

chasing symptoms. Diagnosis of 

commissioned in the Royal Navy. 

follow it are those, who saw evil 

regarding the issue that is 

the disease is the first thing 

I have driven ships in the ocean 

being committed and did nothing. 

happening about the judges, the 

before applying the right 

as a captain. And I did that with 

Not now that it had gone like a 

lawyers, the National Judicial 

medicine. A good leader cannot 

so many risks and I reached the 

wildfire, spreading everywhere 

Council. The country is stuck. 

emerge in the country through 

level politically where I was one 

that one or two cases would be 

What is now needed is to apply 

the type of fraudulent elections 

of the few that had the privilege 

picked with the aim of addressing 

all the caution and reason to be 

we often have, deceit and 

to have governed two states in 

it. It is a very difficult thing now 

able to bring back normalcy to 

looting of the treasury. Now, the 

the country which were Niger 

but it is a problem that can only 

some extent to be able to fight 

problem has got to the stage of 

and Lagos states. From there, I 

be solved. There is no alternative 

corruption. I don’t think it is an 

kidnapping, raping, and 

eventually became the Chief of 

to that. It has to be controlled, 

issue of just picking up Buhari 

assassinations. 

people have to face it, the 

C 

M 

YK

14—SATURD 


anguard, OCTOBER 29, 2016 

C 

M 

YK 

By Soni Daniel, Northern 

Region Editor 

Why is the country still 

witnessing pockets of 

bombing of oil facilities 

despite series of assurances by elders 

and leaders of the Niger Delta that they 

are working to bring about peace? What 

is missing in the peace process? 

Let me say that all is still not well with 

the Niger Delta despite the intervention 

of the elders and leaders in the 

fractured peace process. As you can see, 

there is a serious lack of trust and 

confidence among the leaders and 

people, a situation that breeds 

suspicion, division and voices of dissent 

instead of a united, coordinated and 

respected popular opinion. 

So, we have a problem at hand, which 

the elders and leaders are trying 

stridently to resolve. 

There are also divisions even among 

Niger Delta leaders and politicians 

going by the cacophony of voices over 

who they want and do not want to lead 

them? 

Well, that is also true but we have 

already taken steps to solve that 

problem. When we observed that there 

were differences in opinion and 

direction and approach, we quickly 

came together early this month to forge 

a common ground and produce a 

coordinated position under the 

leadership of Chief Edwin Clark-led 

Pan Niger Delta Elders and Leaders 

Forum. We believe that we are on 

course to break the barriers that had 

held us back as a people. 

I can tell you that we have resolved 

that the initial differences which led to 

some disagreement on who was 

qualified to summon a meeting or not. 

As a result of our resolve to forge ahead, 

we now have a pan-Niger Delta forum 

which incorporates the King Diete- 

Spiff Dialogue Committee, Rotimi 

Amaechi Dialogue Group and the Pan 

Coastal Niger Delta Elders Forum led 

by PA EK Clark. All these have been 

collapsed into one entity for the purpose 

of achieving peace. With this in place, 

we will be meeting President Buhari 

on November 1, as united Niger Delta 

front to discuss our problems and the 

way forward. I can assure you that we 

will be speaking with one voice on that 

day. 

But why did some elders reject the 

initiative of the Transportation 

Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, to spearhead 

a peace meeting with Buhari, as if he is 

not also from the Niger Delta? 

Indeed, it was very funny to see such 

an ugly development. Are you saying 

that there are people who are more 

qualified to be Niger Deltan than others 

even though they are from the same 

geographical area? 

First, let me correct one impression 

here: Ameachi has not at any time 

What Niger Delta 

expects from Buhari 

after Jonathan's 

disappointment 

High Chief Mike Loyibo, a member of the Pa 

Edwin Clark-led Pan Niger Delta Elders and 

Leaders Forum, which is slated to meet with 

President Muhammadu Buhari on November 1, 

2016 on the Niger Delta situation, speaks to 

Vanguard ahead of the crucial parley. 

As far as I am 

concerned 

Jonathan failed 

the Niger Delta 

people 

particularly 

claimed to be leading any Niger Delta 

group. That is very important to note. What 

Amaechi was trying to do, was to explore 

means and ways of bringing the Niger 

Delta elders and leaders together with a 

view to having a meeting with the 

President on how to end the crisis in the 

region. He never led any Niger Delta 

group. But we have our leaders and they 

are well known. There is no denying the 

fact that Ameachi is a leading figure in the 

present administration. We also recognise 

the fact that as a former governor and 

speaker of Rivers State, he played 

prominent roles and that he also has the 

right to contribute his quota to the Niger 

Delta peace process. We know that he was 

disturbed and he called a meeting of the 

elders. It might interest you to know that 

the same people he called are also the ones 

who have agreed to work together under 

the different committees we have put in 

place. So, I can say again, there is no 

problem and that we are working as a team. 

Chief check your records: There are very 

prominent people who said Amaechi was 

not qualified l to call a meeting of the 

people. So, what makes one Niger Delta 

minister more qualified to call a meeting 

than the other? 

No, I don’t share that view. Whoever said 

that Amaechi was not qualified to summon 

a peace parley of Niger Delta leaders and 

elders with President Buhari might have 

expressed a personal viewpoint and not the 

position of the generality of the elders and 

leaders of the Niger Delta. We have never 

taken such a divisive stance in all our 

meetings. Nobody can say that Ameachi 

is not qualified to host a meeting that can 

bring about peace and development in the 

Niger Delta. 

So where is the peace process now, what 

level of achievements has it made in terms 

of ending bombings and restoring peace 

and sanity in the Niger Delta? 

I can say with a sense of optimism that 

we are making progress. During our last 

meeting in Effurm, we were able to secure 

a ceasefire with the leading militant 

group, the Niger Delta Avengers and it 

really boosted oil production within the 

period. Again, when the ceasefire expired 

a few weeks ago, we went back to the 

creeks and pleaded with them to keep the 

peace as we are working to achieve a 

lasting peace with the federal 

government. You must also note that some 

of these bombings are being carried out 

by criminals and not by the youths we are 

talking with. I can say that 99.9 percent 

of the genuinely aggrieved militant 

groups have given us their commitment 

and mandate to interface with the Federal 

Government and make their grievances 

known and we are going to do that with 

the hope that at the end of the day, the 

solution would be found to the Niger 

Delta crisis. We are confident that after 

that meeting, we can begin the process 

of solving the Niger Delta problem once 

and for all. 

But it does not appear as if the 

intervention of the elders is working 

given the continuous destruction of 

pipelines and other oil facilities by 

militants as late as Tuesday this week. 

Does it mean the militants do not respect 

the elders? 

Look, for you to know that our 

intervention is working, go and check the 

level of oil production. What is the country 

producing now and what was it 

producing when the bombings were not 

controlled? These are hard and verifiable 

facts. It may interest you to know that 

when this problem started, there was one 

time that production was less than a 

million barrels per day but after our 

intervention and the declaration of 

ceasefire by the militants production has 

steadied at 1.8million plus. 

So the pockets of destruction you now 

see are not such that can cause a major 

setback as it was in the past. I believe 

that those doing that are people who are 

still dissatisfied and just want to be seen 

and heard. 

Some of these people still feel that the 

government has not shown enough 

sincerity, commitment to the development 

of the Niger Delta. They continue to argue 

that the government is looking at the 

Niger Delta as a conquered territory by 

constantly deploying the military to fight 

them. As far as these set of youths are 

concerned, there should be no dialogue 

with the government but we have said 

there is need to discuss since Mr. 

President is willing to listen to us. 

Many Nigerians are wondering why 

the militants did not discuss the issue of 

resource control or restructuring and 

special status with former President 

Jonathan, who could have speedily done 

that for the region where he comes from. 

Don't you suspect that the renewed 

bombings and agitation by militants are 

deliberately targeted at frustrating Buhari 

just like they did to YarÁdua, who 

consequently granted amnesty to Niger 

Delta militants? 

Let me tell you something. In my view, 

nothing tangible has changed in the Niger 

Delta despite all the programmes and 

projects mentioned by various agencies 

with mandate to develop and invest in the 

region. In reality, the Niger Delta problem 

has remained the same: the key issues of 

neglect and structural defect occasioned 

by the Constitution remain a thorn in the 

flesh of the people. I believe that as long 

as these issues are not addressed 

holistically, the agitation will continue no 

matter who is on the throne of Nigeria. 

Why is the structure of the Niger Delta 

a problem to the people? 

On the surface, it does not appear as if it 

is a problem but the way the constitution 

of Nigeria is written, the Niger Delta 

cannot get any special advantage despite 

its enormous contributions to the 

development and growth of Nigeria. That 

is the danger which must be urgently 

addressed for a lasting peace to prevail. 

So, the structure is a big problem, which 

many people from outside the area have 

not really appreciated. You have to give 

special treatment in the law to the Niger 

Delta because of what it brings to the table 

everyday for the rest of the country. We feel 

cheated and not being give the attention 

we deserve given our prime contribution 

to the nation. Most painful is the fact that 

the problems of the region are well 

documented and known but no concrete 

effort is being made by successive 

administration to transform the area. It is 

really an anomaly that must not be 

allowed to continue any longer in the 

interest of peace and stability of the 

country. 

But is it not surprising to you that this 

same feeling did not crop up at all 

throughout Jonathan's tenure. Why? 

Well, that is to tell you and others that in 

a way, the Niger Delta struggle is also a 

political struggle. I believe that the 

agitation died down naturally during 

President Jonathan's time because we 

thought that as our son, who really 

understood the problem, he would use his 

office to address all the thorny issues 

affecting us but he failed woefully. In fact, 

Jonathan disappointed most Niger Delta 

people. 

As far as I am concerned Jonathan failed 

the Niger Delta people particularly. But 

that is now history and we must take steps 

now to change a bad situation before it is 

too late. That is why we must put aside the 

issue of whatever Jonathan did and did 

not do and see how best Buhari can go in 

tackling the problems in the region. I 

believe strongly that the Niger Delta 

elders as led by Pa Clark will succeed in 

pushing the agenda of transforming the 

Niger Delta with Buhari during the 

November 1 meeting in Abuja. 

So what conditions are the elders going 

to table before Buhari in order to appease 

the Niger Delta militants and people? 

Well, there are many issues yearning for 

answers and we have to be frank and 

straightforward in discussing them so as 

to achieve the desired goal. 

The issues border on both human capital 

and physical transformation of the Niger 

Delta region in accordance with the 

Willinks Commission, which had long 

stressed the need to give a special 

consideration to the Niger Delta in 

Nigeria's scheme of things. That is what 

we will focus mainly on and I believe that 

if there is a willingness on the part of the 

federal Government to do that, then all will 

be well.


C 

M 

Y 

K


From left: the Amayanabo of Bonny Kingdom, King Alfred Diette Spiff; 

the US Under-Secretary on Civilian Security, Democracy and Homeland 

Rights, Sarah Sewall; South South Leader, Chief Edwin Clarke and Former 

Permanent Information Minister, AVM Haruna during a parley between an 

American delegation and Niger Delta Leaders at the Residence of the South 

South Leader, Asokoro, Abuja. Photo by Abayomi ADESHIDA 

NMA to Buhari: Implement NHA now 

By Soni Daniel 

THE Nigerian Medi 

cal Association, 

NMA, has said that its call 

for the implementation of 

the National Health Act, 

which was passed into 

law by the National Assembly 

since 2014, is for 

the overall improvement 

of healthcare delivery in 

Nigeria and not for the 

welfare of doctors. 

The National President 

of the NMA, President, 

Prof Mike O.Ogirima, 

made the clarification in 

a statement he sent to 

Vanguard to clear the erroneous 

impression that 

the association was asking 

for welfare for its members 

under the National 

Health Act. 

Ogirima said, “It is not 

true that the NMA called 

on President Muhammadu 

Buhari to pay them 

their entitlements or face 

their wrath. We did not 

say that and the issue at 

stake does not have to do 

with doctors’ entitlements 

but the total improvement 

of healthcare delivery in 

Nigeria. 

“What we asked the 

President to do during 

our Health Walk on 

Wednesday was for the 

Federal Government to 

implement the National 

Health Act, which was 

passed into law in 2014. 

Prof Ogirima said, “As 

you are all aware, the 

National Health Act was 

enacted in 2014 with provisions 

that have the potentials 

to turn around the 

fortune of the hitherto bastardized 

health sector. 

“The passage into law 

of the Act by the national 

assembly and subsequent 

assent by the President of 

the Federal Republic of 

Nigeria was received with 

a sigh of relief by the general 

public and the Nigerian 

Medical Association 

in particular. 

“This was because the 

Act made specific provision 

for Basic Health Care 

Fund which is a first line 

BY NDAHI MARA- 

MA, MAIDUGURI 

Governor Kashim Shet 

tima of Borno State 

yesterday accused some of 

the Non-Governmental Organizations 

(NGOs) of allegedly 

misappropriating 

about $334 million (N133.6 

Buhari hails Afe Babalola 

at 85 

By Levinus Nwabughiogu 

President Muhammadu 

Buhari has congratulated Chief 

Afe Babalola who clocked 85 

on October 30, 2016. 

Describing him as a legal 

luminary, educationist and 

philanthropist, President 

Buhari joined members of 

Babalola’s family, close associates, 

professional colleagues 

and the academia in 

celebrating “this milestone in 

the life of a man who epitomizes 

unique and enviable 

qualities that every nation 

will want projected in its 

leadership and citizenry.” 

A statement by the presidential 

spokesman, Mr. Femi 

Adesina stated the president 

wished the celebrant long life. 

charge on the consolidated 

revenue of the federal 

government. This fund is 

to be primarily deployed 

to our primary health care 

which has been so neglected 

in the past and 

start reversing the unacceptable 

health indices in 

the country. 

“The fund is to take care 

of the basic minimum 

health package through 

National Health Insurance 

Scheme (NHIS), 

provision of essential 

drugs and consumables, 

equipment and infrastructure, 

training of health 

workers and provision of 

emergency care. 

The Nigerian Doctors 

are saying that the time 

to implement the Health 

Act is now; we can no 

longer wait. 

Shettima accuses NGOs of 

misappropriating $334m meant for IDPs 

The statement read thus: 

“The President reaffirms 

that the legal luminary’s 

lifestyle exemplifies discipline, 

diligence, honesty 

and wisdom, virtues he employed 

from childhood to 

succeed against the vicissitudes 

of poverty and deprivation, 

and climbed steadily 

to reach the pinnacle of 

his career as Senior Advocate 

of Nigeria (SAN). 

“As he marks his 85th birthday, 

President Buhari believes 

Aare Babalola can look back 

with pride at his achievements, 

which include the God-fearing 

act of always catering for the 

poor and under privileged, and 

mentoring of lawyers from his 

Emmanuel Chambers that 

have turned Senior Advocates 

of Nigeria and Attorneys-General 

and Ministers of Justice. 

billion) donated as “humanitarian 

interventions and assistance” 

for Boko Haram victims 

in the state and North- 

East 

sub-region of the country. 

Although Shettima did not 

disclose the names of the 

NGOs, he said that since the 

commencement of Boko 

Haram crisis, there were 

over 40 NGOs that intervened 

in humanitarian assistances 

in Borno State. 

“There had been more 

than 40 NGOs that invaded 

this North-East sub-region, 

particularly Borno State.” 

Shettima made the allegations 

yesterday; during an 

official visit of the United Nations 

Fund for Population 

Activities (UNFPA), Deputy 

Regional Director for West 

and East Africa, Mrs. Beatrice 

Mutali at the Government 

House, Maiduguri. 

Shettima said that the people 

of Borno State have suffered 

more in the hands of 

Boko Haram for six years, 

noting that they deserved 

not to be sidelined or cheated 

by some desperate money 

seekers who pretend to 

be working for Internally 

Displaced Persons (IDPs).

SATURD 


anguard, OCTOBER 29, 2016—17 

Revisiting The 1967 Asaba Massacre 

By S. Elizabeth Bird and Fraser M. Ottanelli 

“I LOOKED around and I saw machine 

guns all around us. Some of them were also 

carrying automatic rifles. One of them 

shouted an order, and they started shooting.” 

With these chilling words, Ify Uraih describes 

how the massacre of hundreds of innocent 

civilians began in Asaba more than 

40 years ago. Here we document how this 

terrible event unfolded, why it is important, 

and why the people of Asaba now demand 

recognition. 

It started on October 4, 1967, when Nigerian 

federal troops entered Asaba, the Niger 

River town that was then part of Nigeria’s 

Midwest Region. The war over the secession 

of the predominantly-Igbo Eastern Region, 

renamed Biafra, had broken out in July; in 

August, the Biafran army had advanced across 

the Niger Bridge and progressed through the 

Midwest, headed for Lagos. Federal troops 

counter-attacked, pushing the Biafrans back 

across the Niger at Asaba. The Biafrans blew 

up the Onitsha end of the bridge, leaving the 

Federal Second Division, commanded by 

Col. Murtala Muhammed, on the Asaba side. 

Asaba, although ethnically related to the 

Eastern Igbo, remained part of Nigeria, and 

supported the government’s ideal of a multiethnic 

“One Nigeria.” As Wole Soyinka wrote 

in 1972, the Midwestern Igbo, caught between 

their desire to remain part of the federation 

and their identity with Eastern cousins, 

became “the most vulnerable Nigerians.” 

Asaba had a long tradition of high education, 

producing a disproportionate number 

of professionals and high-ranking civil servants, 

who had contributed to a sense of allegiance 

to a united Nigeria, and trust that 

Federal troops would behave appropriately. 

Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, had issued 

a military Code of Conduct, so when 

troops arrived, the townsfolk were unprepared 

for what followed. Soldiers occupied 

the town, and began killing civilians (mainly 

boys and young men) accused of Biafran 

collaboration. Dozens, perhaps hundreds, 

were killed in the next three days, some apparently 

randomly, while others appeared to 

be targeted. 

Stanley Okafor, then a university student, 

described how he and several relatives were 

summoned by troops: “we got to the police 

station and there was a huge crowd. And then 

they would come around and they would say 

do you know Mr. X, Mr. B, and do you know 

his house? They had names they wanted to 

kill. And once in a while they’d pick someone 

from the crowd, go to the back and you 

hear gunshots. And the crowd would wail.” 

Patience Chukwura, a young mother expecting 

her fourth child, saw her husband 

Eddie gunned down near the police station, 

along with his brother, Christian: “That made 

me hysterical. I held onto the soldier and said, 

‘Why did you kill my husband?’ The man, 

with the butt of the gun, hit me on the chest 

and said, ‘woman, if you’re not careful, you’ll 

get killed as well.’ We feared they were going 

to wipe out everybody in Asaba, especially 

male children.” 

Troops invaded homes, demanding money, 

executing men and boys, and abducting 

women, often before setting the houses 

ablaze. The streets were littered with corpses. 

Patrick Okonkwo recalled that his compound 

was crowded with extended family members, 

when soldiers entered and shot his two brothers, 

a cousin, and two other relatives. His 

father buried them in shallow graves in the 

compound. 

On October 7, in hopes of avoiding more 

violence, Asaba leaders summoned everyone 

to gather to show support to the troops by 

making a pledge to One Nigeria. Hundreds 

of men, women, and children assembled, 

dancing and singing. According to survivors, 

as the parade reached a major junction, 

troops removed women and young children, 

and directed men and boys into an open area. 

As the crowd began to realize what might be 

happening, panic grew, as Peter Okonjo explained: 

“Women who came with their sons 

were removing their skirts and blouses to disguise 

them. And I looked at the whole place, 

there is nowhere to escape.” 

Ify Uraih was 13 years old, and had joined 

the parade with his brothers and father. He 

described how the officer in charge, identified 

by several witnesses as Ibrahim Taiwo, 

gave the order to open fire, and the massacre 

began: “Some people broke loose and tried 

to run away. They shot my brother in the back. 

The rest of us just fell down on top of each 

other. And they continued shooting, and 

shooting, and shooting. I don’t know how 

Hundreds died; survivors 

report climbing 

from among heaps of 

bodies when the soldiers 

finally left hours 

later 

long it took; after some time there was silence.” 

Hundreds died; survivors report climbing 

from among heaps of bodies when the soldiers 

finally left hours later. Ify Uraih survived, 

but his father, Robert, and brothers 

Emma and Paul were dead. His brother 

Medua was shot multiple times, but survived. 

Between 500 and 800 were murdered, in 

addition to many from previous days, and 

many people fled the town. Although there is 

no firm death count, our research suggests 

that more than 1,000 died at the hands of the 

troops during October. Most were buried in 

mass graves, without observing requisite 

practices, and the town was destroyed, with 

most of the houses looted and burned. 

The long-term impacts of these tragic events 

were profound; many extended families lost 

multiple breadwinners, and the town’s leadership 

was decimated. Survivor accounts and 

reports by relief agencies show that Asaba 

remained in dire straits until the war’s end, 

most inhabitants having fled or subsisting 

in refugee camps. Soldiers assaulted and 

abducted women and girls with impunity. 

The destruction was so complete that Asaba 

disappeared from the official roll of Nigerian 

towns in 1969. 

The atrocities at Asaba remained virtually 

absent from the published record, and have 

largely remained unacknowledged. A major 

reason was lack of media coverage at the 

time. Of course Biafra became world-famous, 

but its public, international narrative 

developed after the retreat of the Biafrans 

across the Niger, after which the federal government 

imposed a blockade, effectively 

starving the East into submission, and searing 

the images of emaciated children into 

the international memory of the War. This 

contrasts with the lack of attention in 1967, 

when the Midwest people suffered most. The 

Federal government suppressed accounts of 

military action against civilians in the Midwest, 

and the international media were carefully 

managed. The 1967 massacres received 

almost no press coverage at the time. In later 

historical accounts, the Asaba events, if mentioned 

at all, are usually dismissed as aberrant 

or unproven. 

In 2001, some Asaba survivors testified to 

the Nigerian Human Rights Violations Investigation 

Commission (HRVIC, or Oputa 

Panel), commissioned by President Olusegun 

Obasanjo, and charged to consider the history 

of human rights abuses from 1966 

to May 1999, of which civil war events 

were part. The Asaba accounts were 

included in the Ohaneze Petition, presented 

by Barrister Chuck Nduka-Eze, 

and drawing on earlier research by 

Emma Okocha, as well as testimonies 

recorded in 1969. The HRVIC’s report 

was never officially released, although 

it is now available on the internet. 

Obasanjo declined to offer formal 

apologies, although in a landmark 

moment, Gowon publicly apologized 

to the people of Asaba in 2002, opening 

the door to further efforts at truth and 

reconciliation. 

After the Oputa Panel, Asaba leaders 

formed a committee to develop a memorial 

process, seeking an academic 

partnership to research the history of 

the event objectively. We responded, and 

with the support of our university’s 

Holocaust and Genocide Studies 

Center, have been researching the events 

of 1967 and beyond. Our work is based 

on an array of sources, including archival 

collections on both sides of the Atlantic, 

as well as videotaped interviews with 

almost 80 people. Most are direct witnesses 

and survivors, while others testified 

about the long-term impacts on Asaba. 

They were interviewed in several locations 

– Asaba, Lagos, Ibadan, Benin City, and 

the United States, and their stories produce 

a compelling, detailed, and consistent 

account of the atrocities that befell 

their town. 

Our research has produced several interrelated 

conclusions. First, it shows that 

the killings in Asaba were unprovoked, 

and stemmed directly from a chain of 

events that started before the war, continuing 

through the Biafran offensive 

across the Niger, which stirred up simmering 

ethnic hatred that had previously 

resulted in violence toward Igbos. This 

fueled the undisciplined actions of the 

counter-attacking federal troops against 

Nigerian civilians. Second, although the 

Federal authorities worked hard to suppress 

the news, people fleeing Asaba 

spread the word, and the killings of large 

numbers of people of Igbo ethnicity bolstered 

Biafran claims that the war was 

one of genocide. This helped steel the 

Biafrans’ resolve to continue the eventually 

hopeless war, and so represents a pivotal 

moment that directly contributed to 

the progress of the conflict. 

More broadly, the 

Asaba killings raise 

issues that go beyond 

the tragedy of one 

community. The war 

has left a bitter 

legacy; many today 

argue that the violence 

and ethnic hatred 

endemic in contemporary 

Nigeria 

are partly attributable 

to an institutionalised 

unwillingness 

to come to terms with 

it. Thus the Asaba 

events are instructive 

because they provide 

a vivid case study of 

the unresolved consequences 

of ethnic 

tension and state violence 

which have 

created barriers to 

reconciliation. 

Today, our work 

suggests it is time to “recalibrate” the nation’s 

collective memory, putting Asaba’s 

fate in its rightful place as a key event in 

the Civil War. Martina Osaji, who 

dragged the body of her father Leo Isichei 

from among the dead, speaks for many 

in Asaba: “There is nothing you can do to 

replace my father -- no amount of compensation. 

I would rather have my father 

and my other relations. But I want the 

world to know this happened; that’s the 

only way we can remember them. God 

knows why I had to survive—for me to 

have a story to tell. And that is why I’m 

telling you now.” 

Thus the people of Asaba rightfully demand 

an acknowledgment of the sacrifices 

they made while expressing support 

for Nigerian unity. And they also wish to 

use their experience as a way to open 

dialog and invite reconciliation – so important 

in this Nigerian Centenary Year. 

Our research shows that wartime atrocities 

are complicated. For instance, several 

survivors recalled that amid the brutality, 

individual Federal officers and soldiers 

stepped in to prevent violence and 

protect civilians. Some, notably a Captain 

named Matthias, are remembered 

in Asaba for their actions, as they rose 

above the horror being inflicted – warning 

people to escape, shielding civilians, 

or even spiriting whole families out of 

town. Such stories show that good may 

transcend ethnic hostilities, and can offer 

opportunities for moral reflection. It is 

important to acknowledge the horrors of 

history; accounts of “upstander” soldiers 

help us understand our common humanity, 

making repetition of evil less likely. 

We are documenting all our research 

on our project website: 

www.asabamemorial.org, where readers 

may find a short video based on our interviews, 

our longer academic articles, and 

information about the ongoing research. 

We invite readers to peruse our work, consider 

how much Asaba is owed, and reflect 

on ways to avoid such horrors in the 

future. 

- S. Elizabeth Bird S. is Professor and 

Chair of Anthropology at the University 

of South Florida, while Fraser M. 

Ottanelli is Professor and Chair of History 

at the University of South Florida. 

C 

M 

Y 

K

18—SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 29, 2016 

In a soccer match 

Uduaghan 

umpiring a tennis 

match 

Uduaghan paddling a canoe 

Pictures 

by Henry 

Unini 

By Onochie Anibeze 

SIR Tony Obuh described him as an 

accomplished man of peace in his 

goodwill message on his facebook, last 

weekend. Sonny Areh, his media assistant, 

had also posted, on his facebook page, a 

birthday message to Dr Emmanuel 

Uduaghan, the immediate past governor of 

Delta State. He turned 62 last Saturday. 

What followed was an avalanche of birthday 

and goodwill messages. 

There were some in the newspapers too. And 

so the goodwill that marked Uduaghan's two 

tenures as governor is still on the high. And 

people showed this at a thanksgiving service 

at the Guiding Light Assembly Church at 

Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos, last Sunday. 

Uduaghan was at the church to thank God 

for His mercies all these years. People turned 

out in numbers in the church where the 

pastor preached about the Holy Spirit. The 

word of God was good. And the people 

reveled in it. As the service was about to end, 

the pastor invited Uduaghan to make a brief 

remark after the church had prayed for him 

and his family. When he was done, the pastor 

prayed that more good things would continue 

to follow him. 

Uduaghan recalled one moment, as 

Governor of Delta State when he was caught 

between life and death and God saved his 

life. Part of his testimony went thus: 

“There are two things associated with 

governance. I call them the two Ps. They are 

Power and Pain. You see a governor and you 

marvel at the power he commands. He can 

order the arrest of somebody, he moves in a 

convoy, he has so much power that he earns 

tremendous respect everywhere. People see 

the glamour and the glitz, etc. But they don't 

see the pain. There's pain in governance. You 

can only rely on the grace of God to guide 

and guard you. 

''When I came in as governor in 2007, the 

violence we battled then in Delta was more 

than what is happening now with the 

Avengers, etc. Kidnapping was high and 

expatriates were leaving. Militancy was 

more than what we have now. President 

Yar'Adua called me and said 'what's going 

on? These things are happening in year state.' 

I told him that there are two ways to handle 

the militancy in Niger Delta. I asked that 

the Federal Government should do their own 

and I would do my own. We set out to work. 

I had to go to the creeks. We had to dialogue 

with these people. 

''I remember one Sunday, my family and I 

had prepared to go to church and I received 

a call that they were going to burn Chevron 

terminal. The facility they planned to burn 

MY CLOSE SHAVE 

WITH DEATH 

— Uduaghan 

While on the boat 

going back, we 

noticed one speed 

boat racing to where 

we were. They 

caught up with us 

was so huge the impact would have been 

terrible for our oil production. I told them I 

would come after church service but they 

insisted I should come immediately 

otherwise the militants would destroy the 

terminal. I had to leave. I told my family to 

pray for me at the church. It was just one of 

my trips to the creeks. I took helicopter and 

then did the final journey by boat. And you 

know that when you go on such trips to the 

Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and his wife 

on Sunday. With them is Peter Obi, 

former Anambra State Governor 

creeks you don't take escorts 

or when you take them they 

don't carry guns. I went with 

only my ADC. No guns. It was 

a huge risk but one that I had 

to take to engage them and stop the 

blowing up of the oil facilities. 

''It was a terrible place. I got to the place 

and after discussing with the militants 

they told me that there were higher 

authorities further inside that I must 

meet and that what I had just done was a 

preliminary one. They were all armed 

to the teeth, fierce-looking and ready to 

pull the trigger. You could imagine how 

dangerous it was in that terrain. I 

continued the journey further into the 

creeks to meet their superiors. I got there 

and they led me into a room. They were 

kind enough to offer me a seat. With their 

guns, some pointing at me, they sat on 

the floor while we held talks on why they 

should spare the oil facility. I spent hours 

with the them. I finished with them and 

left for the journey back home. 

''While on the boat going back, we noticed 

one speed boat racing to where we were. 

They caught up with us. We didn't know 

if it was another group but they caught 

up with us and one of them pointed his 

AK 47 at me and put his finger at the 

trigger. It was terrifying. It was a moment 

of life or death within seconds. You could 

see the anger on the face of the militant, 

who pointed the gun at me. He wanted 

to shoot. It was terrifying. There was 

nothing I could do but to pray silently. I 

Playing tennis 

was praying. Silently, I prayed and I 

waved the white handkerchief (peace 

signal) I had. The man steadied the gun 

at me. Suddenly another speed boat 

from nowhere dashed in between and 

and after some seconds they all sped off. 

'I believe that The Holy Spirit appeared 

in that white handkerchief and saved my 

life and I live today to give this testimony. 

''There were other terrible encounters one 

had as governor but people would not 

know about these pains. What they know 

is the glamour or power they associate 

with you in governance. I thank God for 

what he had done for a village man like 

me. I come from a village setting where 

there were no roads, no electricity, no 

facilities, just village life – our parents 

were farming and fishing for us to go to 

school. I remember when I eventually 

had a Beetle car and how my wife prayed 

for us to have a better car, a better air 

conditioned car possibly a Mercedez 

Benz. And she used to sing a song about 

this. Today, God's blessings have gone 

beyond owning a Mercedez Benz car. 

And if He could do it for a village boy 

like me He can do more for you all 

here.” 

Applause greeted this and the pastor 

prayed that good things would continue 

to follow Uduaghan. 

“You'll preach and touch lives even if it 

is not from the pulpit,” the pastor told 

him. And so, that was how quietly 

Uduaghan marked his birthday with a 

thanksgiving service. 

Many turned out for him including 

former governor of Anambra State, Peter 

Obi. They still admire him. He made 

peace his trademark throughout his 

tenure. He was a symbol of humility. He 

liked sports so much. He played and 

still plays tennis. As governor, he would 

even officiate as an umpire while others 

played. He was that humble. He 

worked tirelessly for peace in Delta and 

towards the end of his eight-year tenure 

he made unbelievable sacrifices for the 

interest of peace. Nothing can be more 

apt than Obuh's description of Dr 

Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan as an 

accomplished man of peace. Many 

Happy returns.

I 

once got a message from a 

respected industrialist and former 

Vice-President of the Lagos Chamber 

of Commerce. He wanted an 

appointment to come over to my office. 

Such was my respect and affection for 

this man that I simply dropped 

everything and followed the 

‘messenger’ who happened to be his 

wife to his GRA Ikeja home. It turned 

out that he had a son abroad who had 

some legal issues. Somehow, some 

implicating documents got into the 

hands of an unscrupulous fellow who 

claimed to be a journalist. He wanted a 

tidy sum of money for himself, the 

Editor and the Publisher in order to kill 

the story. Fortunately, the publication 

in question was mine and the person 

he chose to extort had a good 

relationship with me—otherwise, he 

could have damaged my name, my 

publication and the profession and I 

would not even have known. We quickly 

set a trap for him and handed him over 

to the police. Not once did I hesitate or 

think the matter should first be reported 

to the NUJ (Nigeria Union of 

Journalists) for sanctions. In my book, 

what he was trying to do was criminal, 

and crimes should be investigated by 

those equipped for it. It didn’t matter 

whether he was a registered journalist 

or not. 

I have used this personal story to 

illustrate and try to bring to clarity, my 

position on the midnight arrests of some 

judges. Normally, I should not be 

commenting again on the controversial 

arrests immediately after my last article. 

(This moving hand, haven ‘writ’ should 

have moved on to other pressing 

things). But I had several discussions 

with people that I have tremendous 

respect for during the course of the 

week on my article and the position I 

took regarding what some people saw 

as the violation of due process by the 

DSS. What I can distil from their 

positions are these. First: they largely 

agreed that there was massive 

corruption in the judiciary, and 

something needed to be done. Second: 

the DSS over reached itself and thereby 

threatened the delicate separation of 

powers that all democracies need to 

survive. It should simply have handed 

over the petitions to NJC which had the 

Political Editor 

power to discipline erring judges. 

Third: the indicted judges were 

those who had given unfavourable 

judgements to the ruling party and 

the executive was fighting back. We 

are on all fours on the first one, so 

there is no need to dwell on it. I will 

therefore try to clarify my position 

on the other two points. 

I believe there is a line however 

thin, between a professional error of 

judgement and a deliberate abuse 

of a professional position. Again, I 

will use my profession to illustrate. 

Every Editor is at one time or the 

other, under pressure from 

governments, corporate bodies and 

I do not think the 

judiciary is on trial. 

I think corrupt 

judges are 

powerful individuals to drop a story 

or use an angle that is favourable to 

them. And because there are very 

few stories really, that a newspaper 

cannot do without, the Editor 

sometimes yields to some of the 

pressure. But while it is an error of 

judgement to drop a story that has 

commercial or credibility 

implications, or use an angle that 

threatens fairness and balance, it is 

criminal and an abuse of position to 

emmanuelaziken@vanguardngr.com 

08052201189 

Jimoh Ibrahim makes a major acquisition 

Last Thursday the man who has 

been famed as a turnaround 

expert with interests in several 

business concerns including Air 

Nigeria, Newswatch, National 

Mirror, NICON Insurance, among 

others made an unusual 

turnaround in the political 

landscape in Ondo State. 

Jimoh Ibrahim, lawyer, politician, 

and businessman, even if 

momentarily, did what many 

politicians, some dead and many 

others alive, had vainly attempted 

when he supplanted the man famed 

as Iroko, that is Dr. Segun Mimiko, 

in the hierarchy of the Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP in Ondo 

State. 

Jimoh’s emergence as the 

governorship candidate of the PDP 

could in business terms be 

described as a major acquisition. 

While many politicians achieve their 

political goals through the merger 

of strategies and camps, as the All 

Progressives Congress, APC 

founders did; Mr. Ibrahim’s 

emergence could have been termed 

a takeover; indeed, a hostile 

takeover. 

Earlier in the week before INEC 

enlisted him as the official 

candidate of the PDP, senior INEC 

officials had fought off what they 

claimed as blackmail, supposedly 

by Ibrahim, when they 

denounced his allegation that a 

female official of the commission 

asked him for a $1 million bribe. 

A senior INEC official who 

spoke to this correspondent had 

used strong language in 

renouncing Mr. Ibrahim 

describing him and his claim as 

ungodly. 

However, any supposition that 

the allegation of the million dollar 

bribe would influence the 

commission to block Mr. Ibrahim 

from being enlisted as the PDP 

candidate was dismissed on 

Thursday night as INEC stuck to 

the court order in determining the 

PDP candidate. 

That decision was no doubt 

influenced by what some have 

dubbed as the controversial order 


subvert the will of the people 

irrespective of which party the 

judgements favour, and thereby turn 

the law on its head because of money 

deserve to be named and shamed. If 

NJC truly feels it is its duty to do this 

then why has it been failing in its 

duty? It cannot be for lack of 

knowledge of what is going on. Or 

titbits2012@yahoo.com 

lack of evidence. Meanwhile, we 

blame the EFCC for not getting any 

conviction from its high profile cases. 

Maybe we are blaming the wrong 

institution because we all know that 

many of these Politically Exposed 

demand money either to drop a story or 

Persons have the wherewithal to buy 

to slant it. It can even lead, like it 

or stall judgements. 

happened in my earlier illustration, to 

Without necessarily mentioning 

blackmail. Now, if the money is marked 

names, I have had the privilege of 

and the police swoop in while receiving 

interviewing many of the early 

the money or in the dead of the night 

Nigerian Judges of the Supreme Court 

with the red hot money, should the 

including perhaps, the first three 

Guild of Editors come out in defence of 

Nigerian CJNs (Chief Justice of 

such an Editor under the pretext that 

Nigeria). One question I usually 

the press is being gagged and that the 

asked them was how they felt on the 

guild should be allowed to discipline 

night of delivering landmark 

erring editors? I think not. 

judgements. Many told me they 

I believe judges walk on a more 

usually had sleepless nights. Some 

tenuous line. Many of them would be 

told me they fasted and prayed. One 

occasionally leaned on my 

told me that all judgements were 

governments, colleagues and friends to 

landmark judgements to him because 

write a judgment that favours them. It 

of the need to be fair and not offend 

would be left to their professional 

man and God. Most wanted 

discretion and judgement to know how 

judgements that would stand the test 

far they can go without damaging the 

of time and could be cited by 

interest of the other party. It is this kind 

generations unborn. They were to a 

of judgement that in my view, the NJC 

man, concerned with reputation and 

should monitor because such a case can 

erudition. 

be cited in future and it would be bad 

I wonder what the answers of some 

for the course of justice. Besides, justice 

of these judges would be if asked the 

should not only be fair, it should be seen 

same question. Already, many young 

to be fair to all and sundry. It becomes 

lawyers are finding it difficult to cite 

another matter however, when a Judge 

cases because of conflicting 

deliberately perverts the cause of justice 

judgements. 

for pecuniary gains. That to me, is a 

My summation is this. I do not think 

crime and crimes should be left to those 

the judiciary is on trial. I think corrupt 

best equipped for them. 

judges are. I do not think the arrests 

My questions to those who say that 

bring the judiciary under the ambit of 

the arrested judges were those who 

the executive. Rather, I believe when 

gave unfavourable judgments to APC 

all this is over, that a cleansed 

are these. Did the judges corruptly 

judiciary will be emboldened to speak 

enrich themselves in the process? Was 

truth to the executive in the interests 

money a factor in the judgments they 

of the average Nigerian. After all, 

delivered? Buhari will not be there for 

whoever comes to equity must come 

ever. Let whoever succeeds him indict 

with clean hands. 

the judges that also delivered 

The alternative to an incorruptible 

judgements that were favourable to his 

judiciary is chaos. The alternative to 

party if he is unwilling to do it. I believe 

the rule of law is the reign of might. 

that those who give judgements that 

A thin line 

by Justice Okon Abang of the Federal 

High Court that paved the way for Mr. 

Ibrahim to be enlisted. Whether 

Justice Abang took note of the fact that 

the Ibadan, Oyo State primary that 

produced Ibrahim was not monitored 

by INEC as was the one that produced 

Eyitayo Jegede was apparently not 

considered by the judge. 

Though many stakeholders in the 

mainstream PDP are wont to claim that 

Mr. Ibrahim is a stranger to their party, 

having allegedly not campaigned 

against the party in the 2015 election; 

and supposedly identified with 

Accord, that, however, does not make 

him a stranger to the political 

landscape. 

Since 2003, the business mogul had 

been a sort of political fixture in the 

state, persistently being hammered by 

Dr. Mimiko. In 2003, he was on the 

wrong side as the governorship 

candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples 

Party, ANPP, in an election in which 

Mimiko in alliance with the late Dr. 

Segun Agagu helped to upstage the 

Alliance for Democracy. 

Following the overwhelming defeat, 

Mr. Ibrahim resorted to his businesses 

amassing a fortune and showcasing 

himself on national television in 

lectures to staff on the rudiments on 

mergers and acquisition and such like. 

How successful he was in his 

ventures in aviation, publishing, 

energy remains debatable. However, 

his success in political acquisition 

after forcefully taking over, even if 

momentarily, the PDP ticket nurtured 

by one of the most tested political 

masters in Ondo State is remarkable. 

Has Ibrahim finished Dr. Mimiko? 

It is really arguable. What the 

emergence of Ibrahim means is that 

the political permutations in the state 

would have to be reviewed. 

Assumptions that the prospects of 

Chief Rotimi Akeredolu as the All 

Progressives Congress, APC 

candidate would be mired by the 

internal conflicts in his party will 

now be reviewed as stakeholders 

consider the prospects of Mr. 

Ibrahim. Also under consideration 

would be the chances of Chief 

Olusola Oke, the candidate of the 

Alliance for Democracy, AD who left 

the PDP for the APC before leaving 

for AD. 

Oke and Ibrahim are from the 

Southern Senatorial District and 

suggestions that the entry of the 

latter into the fray would harm Oke 

may be counterbalanced by the 

opportunities available to him in the 

Central Senatorial District given the 

probable absence of Jegede and 

Mimiko. 

Well, all these remain in the realms 

of probability given the fact that in 

enlisting Jimoh, INEC affirmed that 

it acted upon a court order. As Mr. 

Ibrahim had repeatedly sounded off 

in his lectures to staff, a businessman 

who does not improve himself would 

sooner than later find himself out of 

the reckoning. It is doubtful if 

Ibrahim’s many political enemies 

would just watch him enjoy his 

latest acquisition! 

C 

M 

Y 

K

20—SATURD 



Nigeria is in a recession, you do not 

have to be an economist to know. 

There is reduced economic activity and 

increasing unemployment, among other 

negative indices. Not surprising, there 

is increased anger in the land. It is 

apparent in public places, an 

aggregation of domestic anger. It was 

therefore understandable when my good 

friend, Rev. Fr. Theodore Martinos, the 

priest-in-charge of SS. Peter and Paul 

Catholic Church, Baruwa, Iyana, Lagos, 

invited me to talk to his parishioners on, 

ANGER MANAGEMENT: A TOOL FOR 

CONFLICT RESOLUTION IN THE 

FAMILY AND SOCIETY. That talk forms 

the basis of our column today. 

What is anger management? “Anger 

management is the process of learning 

to recognize signs that you’re becoming 

angry, and taking action to calm down 

and deal with the situation in a positive 

way. Anger management doesn’t try to 

keep you from feeling anger or 

encourage you to hold it in.” (Mayo 

Clinic). Anger is normal for every being. 

God wiped out mankind from the face of 

the earth during Noah’s time (Genesis 

6). Jesus used a whip to chase out traders 

who desecrated the temple (John 2:15). 

So the issue is not anger, per se, but 

letting out anger and managing it in a 

positive way to stay out of trouble. St. 

Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:26, that you 

can be angry, but do not allow your anger 

lead you to sin and do not let your anger 

linger. 

To start with, anger is not a condition 

(except in some extreme and rare 

situations, in which case the person 

might need medical attention); it is a 

symptom of underlying problems 

(financial troubles, marital troubles, office 

troubles, anxiety, sexual problems, etc.). 

It is therefore important that you go to 

the root of the problem rather than 

trimming the branches. What is making 

you angry? Identify it so that you can 

begin to find solutions. In finding 

solutions, get help if it is beyond you. 

Certain situations linger in some 

people’s lives because they are either too 

shy or too proud to ask for help. 

Anger management in a recession 

Two, avoid people and situations 

that get you angry, if possible. I said 

if possible because it is not easy to 

avoid every person or situation that 

gets you angry. For example, if your 

spouse is the person who gets you 

angry, you cannot avoid him/her. But 

you can discuss your source of 

irritation with him/her. If he/she is 

sensitive or loving enough, he/she 

will make amends. But what if your 

spouse is not? You have a right to be 

happy and it begins with your state 

of mind. Stephen Covey said that it 

is not what people do to you that 

matter but how you react. React 

Remember the 

only person you 

are largely in 

control of is 

yourself 

positively, maturely and with dignity. 

Do not give anybody (including your 

spouse) the opportunity and pleasure 

of turning you into an angry wreck. 

Remember the only person you are 

largely in control of is yourself. Others 

are largely out of your control. 

Three, you must learn to walk 

away, literally or connotatively, 

before the situation boils over, 

especially when the situation is not 

worth the trouble. Most fights and 

fatal outcomes would not have 

occurred if one party had walked 

away. Then, one respondent asked 

what he should do if he is walking 

away and the other party is pulling 

him back and hauling insults at him? 

I responded that such scenarios are 

more common between spouses and 

in multi-tenant dwellings. If the 

person is a co-tenant, get the 

landlord/caretaker involved. If they 

are unable to resolve the matter, 

relocate before you commit murder/ 

manslaughter or get killed. 

Relocating is a small price to pay. 

But if it is your spouse, something 

is fundamentally wrong with you, 

your spouse or the marriage. A 

spouse who torments his/her other 

half for no just cause needs 

temporary relocation to the left side 

of Yaba or Uselu (psychiatric 

attention). On the other hand, if 

there is something you are doing 

that is turning your spouse into a 

“lunatic,” you need to mend your 

ways. But if the problem is in the 

marriage, then it is built on sand. 

Both parties need to work on 

building a solid marital foundation. 

Four, stay quiet until you can talk 

calmly. My President Emeritus 

(Urhobo Social Club), Emmanuel 

Evue, always says “you cannot 

quote silence” and it has become 

one of my guides. People utter 

hurting words they later regret saying 

in fits of anger. Even if you apologise 

later and your apology is accepted, 

it does not erase what you said. So it 

is better you shut your mouth while 

angry until you calm down and can 

talk sensibly. 

Five, a spirit of forgiveness is a 

must for anger management. Unless 

you habitually forgive, your anger will 

linger and that is not good for anger 

management. An unforgiving spirit 

is even unhealthy. It weighs you 

down and can lead to high blood 

pressure, stroke and depression. 

Develop a spirit of forgiveness as a 

habit. 

Six, anger management is not a 

one-off exercise. You develop the art 

over time until it becomes a habit. The 

key is to make little progress everyday 

no matter how minimal. 

Another tool that helps in anger 

management is Jesus’ new 

commandment: “Love one another as 

I have loved you” (John13:34). You 

must learn to genuinely love, 

especially those around you who you 

interact with regularly. People are 

usually more tolerant of their loved 

ones; it is also very difficult for anger 

to linger in such situations. 

Eight, it is always good to be right, 

but remember that being kind is more 

important than being right. I used to 

be a very angry man on the road 

because of the lawlessness of the 

average road user, but my disposition 

is changing. 

Nine, majority of mankind is proud; 

forget all this skin-deep humility. You 

only need to get most people angry 

and pride manifests. But anger 

management and pride do not travel 

together, so control your pride to 

manage your anger. Another 

respondent drew my attention to the 

issue of anger management and 

pride. 

Finally, remember tough times do 

not last, but tough people do. Do not 

cut short your life or somebody else’s 

due to uncontrolled rage resulting 

from the economic situation. We shall 

overcome. 

(Text Only) 

(Text Only) 

The seated twist 

Technique: 

Sit ramrod straight on 

a chair with feet close 

together. Place the right 

hand on the left upper 

Maintain your youthful look 

thigh and the left hand 

on the top of the chair. 

Turn the head, neck and 

trunk to the left without 

moving the feet and 

legs. Breathe in deeply 

and retain the posture 

for ten seconds and 

repeat on the side. 

Benefits: 

The twist increases the 

lateral flexibility of 

spine. It also helps to 

improve muscular 

problems in the hips, 

back, and benefits the 

bowels, liver, kidneys, 

spleen and gall bladder. 

Technique for Eagle variation: 

Standing with the feet 

together, bend the elbows 

and place the on the top, 

and bring the palms 

together while you raise 

and bend the left leg and 

rap it around the right 

lower leg with the foot 

sticking out. The left leg 

must be slightly bent at 

the to make this possible. 

Benefits: 

The Eagle instills a 

sense of balance and also 

banishes varicose veins. 

•The twist 

The Deep Knee Bend 

Technique: 

Get on your knees with the 

feet quite wide behind you. 

Firstly, lower your body down 

till your buttocks rest on the 

floor. Bend down slightly to the 

left, place place your left elbow, 

then right elbow and gently 

ease your back flat down on the 

floor. Spread out your hands by 

your sides. Breathe deeply and 

slowly as you retain the posture 

for 5 to 15 seconds. 

Benefits: 

•The Deep 

knee bend 

The Deep knee bend tones the 

quadriceps and burns fat in the thighs. 

It lubricates the ankle and knee joints. 

•Eagle variation 

Yoga Classes 

STARTED 

@ 32 Adetokumbo Ademola, 

Victoria Island Lagos. 

10.00am — 11.00am 

on Saturdays 

C 

M 

Y 

K

Vanguard, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2016 —21 

The gift of a second chance 

By Yetunde Arebi 

Everything happened so suddenly, so 

unexpected. As I lay on the small 

hospital bed, in the little white 

painted room, waiting for the summon to 

surrender my body to the surgeon’s knives, 

everything began reeling out before me. Both 

sounds and pictures, just as in the movies. I 

had this strange feeling that my life had 

come to an end. An abrupt one at that, for 

this was not the way I had always envisioned 

myself exiting this world. Somehow, I had 

over the years been convinced that my exit 

would be all planned out and carefully 

executed. I will then peacefully slip or sleep 

out. But circumstances at that moment, that 

fateful rainy Tuesday afternoon, on the 7th 

day of June, meant that I had been wrong 

all this while. The dream that I would have 

all the time and wherewithal to set my house 

in order before I die now seemed exactly 

what it was, a dream. The opportunity to 

make restitutions, reconciliations, 

renunciations and re-dedications appeared 

to have dissolved into nothingness. I said to 

myself, “so there will be no time for all the 

thank you, I’m sorry, and I love you”. My 

thoughts raced to my son and as if by 

telepathy, he opened the door and stuck his 

head in, asking if I was ready. Emotions 

flooded through me and I was moved to 

tears but I did not want him to see me in fear 

and in pain. I decided to send him back 

home with some things I did not need at the 

hospital and would not need ever again if 

indeed my time was up. He tried to refuse, 

insisting he wanted to be in the theatre while 

the surgery went on, but I won. I told him it 

was important that we took precautions and 

that the errand was for his own good. As he 

walked away, my heart sank. Was this really 

the end? 

It all began Sunday, 29th May as I tried to 

undress. My left breast felt heavy and 

painful. I quickly did an examination and 

realised that I had an inflamed lump. Was it 

an old growth or a new one? I have a 

running battle that has spanned almost two 

Oloibiri Well No 1. It is the display 

board on the first oil rig in Nigeria. 

The visible advertised signal of the 

first Oil Well relic appeared like the ‘first 

atomic bomb on Hiroshima’ mark of an all 

destroying war for residents of this lowbrow 

place in the Niger Delta. Shell D’Arcy 

discovered petroleum in 1956 at Oloibiri 

and with pioneer production from February 

1958, progressively shipped barrels of crude 

oil per day to Europe. 

Decommissioned Wells like Oloibiri in 

Bayelsa State abound in the Niger Delta; 

with hundreds of associated oil spills that 

blight the environment. Eco systemic 

degradation also results from burning of 

associated natural gas and natural gas 

flares that produce arcs of light separated 

into bands of rainbow colours of red, orange 

yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet 

radiating heat into the Niger Delta skylines. 

The significance of Well No 1 to antiquaries 

is that all around it is squalidness, 

shabbiness and dirtiness resulting from 

poverty and neglect. 

International oil companies exploration 

and production activities have continued 

unabated, unattended to, and with elusive 

justice in the no law, no offence syndrome. 

Our laws stipulate that oil companies are 

responsible for containing and cleaning up 

spills and returning affected areas to their 

prior state. . Oloibiri Well dried up and was 

decommissioned but never returned to its 

prior state. 

Communities pursue human and 

environmental rights in offshore courts 

because there is no onshore justice breeze in 

Nigeria. In November 2014, during a legal 

action in the UK, Shell was forced to admit 

that it had under estimated size of two major 

Niger Delta oil spills, after years of denials. 

Global Issues Director of Amnesty 

International, Audrey Gaughran in 2015 

said the Royal Dutch Shell reported 204 

Niger Delta spills in 2014 while ENI 

reported 349 spills in Niger Delta in 2014 

giving a total of 553 a contrast of only 10 

spills across Europe between 1971 and 

2011. 

According to Gaughran, ‘’in any other 

country this would be a national emergency. 

In Nigeria it appears to be a standard 

decades with Fibrocystic disease, but I have 

not had a new growth in over two years. I 

decided not to panic and prayed that the 

pain would subside quickly. Luckily, it did, 

but my mind kept telling me I had to go for 

medical examination. So, Thursday 

morning I was at the hospital where the 

breasts were examined and I was referred for 

further tests, which included 

Mammography and scan. But as I made the 

get off the bed, my doctor asked, “this your 

stomach looks rather big, what is inside?” To 

this we all laughed and I told him of my bad 

eating habit and how I would sometimes eat 

as late as 11pm or even as early as 2am if I 

was still awake. He suggested exercises and 

eating early and I left for the laboratory for 

the tests. It was there that the miracles of this 

whole drama began unfolding. 

Indeed, God does speak to all of us. His, is 

that tiny voice that directs when we remain 

calm and allow him to take over. As I waited 

for my turn to register and pay 

for the tests, that tiny voice 

kept telling me to add an 

abdominal scan to the 

doctor’s list. My bill ran up to 

N22,000 and I wanted to 

change my mind. I told myself 

there was no hurry since I 

would still come back in 

August for the annual tests 

anyway. But as I turned 

around to leave, the voice told 

me again to add the 

abdominal scan. So I asked 

how much it would cost and 

he said N7,000. Wow. That’s 

approximately N30,000! One 

day on test only? Yet again, I 

turned to leave, but that small 

voice held me back and asked, 

“what’s the difference between 

now and August? Don’t you 

sometimes spend that much 

on trivial things?” It was just 

as if I was in a conversation 

with the voice. So, I said, 

“that’s true” and asked the lady to add the 

full abdominal and pelvic scan. This turned 

out to be the saving stroke. 

I realised something was wrong when the 

doctor began asking all sorts of questions. 

“Is this a routine test? Why are you doing 

this? Do you feel any pain? Blah blah blah! I 

told her it was a routine test and she could 

cull up results of my annual tests from their 

system. She did but could not find a report 

for 2015. Only for 2014 down to 2011 when 

I began using their centre. Well, This could 

only mean that I did not take the test here in 

2015 but at another diagnostics centre. 

Suddenly, she dropped the bomb shell. There 

is a cyst in my right lower abdomen. I froze! 

How big, I asked? Very big, she said and 

proceeded to mark it out for me on the 

monitor screen. “I’m worried because it 

appears to be growing rapidly and worse 

still, it has some liquid in it. I advice you see 

your doctor immediately, he will know what 

to do”, she explained. Back at the hospital on 

Friday, my doctor nearly fell out of his sit on 

seeing the report. Either of two things could 

happen, a twist or a rupture and both were 

life threatening. The absence of a 2015 

report made it difficult for him to determine 

when the growth began and how rapidly it 

had developed to that size. The initial 

complaint that brought me to the hospital 

was considered “child’s play” compared to 

the chance discovery and the surgery was 

proposed for Sunday. I was not ready 

physically, psychologically, financially and 

spiritually, so we shifted to Tuesday. When I 

finally regained consciousness Wednesday, I 

was informed that God had indeed 

performed two miracles for me and not one. 

That on checking my Appendix, it was also 

on the verge of rupturing. The doctors 

reiterated severally that had I not walked in 

by myself for the surgery, I was not likely to 

survive the next two to three weeks as either 

the cyst or the Appendix would have 

ruptured, poisoned my body and sent me to 

an early grave. God in His infinite mercy 

saved me from the jaws of sudden death only 

Gowon, Oloibiri and the 

spell of crying 

operating procedure for the oil 

industry. The human cost is 

horrific- people living with 

pollution everyday of their 

lives.” Do we blame anybody 

for the horrendousness? Perhaps 

a gentle Mr. Nobody did the 

mischief in Nigeria. 

But former Head of State, 

retired General Yakubu Gowon 

in an assertion last week as 

Special Guest of Honour, at the 

premiere of the film ‘’Oloibiri” 

in Lagos had a full emotional 

confession, and did not mince 

words that all have sinned 

against Oloibiri and other 

similar communities, and come 

short of the glory of the Niger 

Delta. 

General Gowon ruled 

Nigeria between 1 st August 

1966 and 29th July 1975. His 

administration witnessed the 

first oil boom in Nigeria. 

Oloibiri Well No 1 while alive 

contributed to the 98 percent 

export earnings, 83 percent 

Federal government revenue 

and 14 percent gross domestic 

product, GDP. Gowon’s 

Petroleum Act of 27 November 

1969 altered the 50 percent royalties and 

rents received from mining enterprises to the 

component states in which mining was done. 

He must have laid the foundation of Oloibiri 

Well No.1 decommissioning without death 

benefit by abolishing the existing derivation 

formula for one based on population and 

size of states. 

Gowon’s apology was a demonstrable 

proof that something was, and still wrong in 

Nigeria’s petroleum resources management. 

That admission of something being wrong 

and embarrassing, and appealing to 

Oloibiri people to forgive all past and 

present rulers for treating oil producing 

areas unfairly may pacify the angry people 

of Niger Delta. 

General Gowon whose decrial of the resort 

to self-help to fight injustice however 

acknowledged that as a nation and as a 

people, mistakes were made and clearly 

Oloibiri as a community had not been 

treated fairly. To him they deserve our 

sympathy, compassion and collective resolve 

to restore the beauty of this once vibrant 

community. 

According to him there is no doubt that 

there are agony and bitterness in the hearts 

of people of Oloibiri and other similar 

communities who have also been affected in 

one way or the other. The film has succeeded 

in projecting the unacceptable, deprivation 

by me listening in those still split seconds to 

that tiny voice. Four weeks later, I was back 

in that same hospital theatre, same team of 

doctors, to commence examination and 

treatment for the initial complaint that 

brought me to the hospital. A journey that 

would span June to September. 

I learnt a very important lesson from this 

incident. It is very important to know your 

body and how it works. This is perhaps the 

only way to figure out and at the right time 

too, should something go wrong. After I 

learnt that I also had an inflamed Appendix, 

I recalled that I had mentioned this on our 

way back from a family function on 4th 

May. I had felt some sharp pains in my lower 

abdomen. It was as if I was being poked by a 

needle and I informed my sister that I 

suspect it was Appendicitis. Her response 

was “God forbid, it is not our portion”. But it 

was. And I didn’t do anything about it 

because I did not want to admit it could be 

“our portion”. Regular medical check is also 

important as we age. Perhaps, if I did not 

skip the 2015 check, we could have found it 

when it was just a little growth and avoided 

the fire brigade operation. Again, I have 

come to the conclusion that it would be 

rather difficult for anyone to be truly 

prepared for death. Not unless one is 

planning to commit suicide. In fact, how 

does one begin to put his house in order? By 

dotting every i and crossing every t in all 

your actions and relationships to the best of 

your ability? Nobody can please everybody. 

You can only do your bit and leave the rest. 

Death is an inevitable end. It will come when 

it will, no matter what we do. We can only 

pray that God grants us the grace to live out 

His promised three scores and ten. 

And so, here I am again. Glad to be back. 

A special thank you to all those who asked 

after me during my absence here. 

A special thank you also to my friend, the 

one I call the Giant; Mrs Omasan Duru for 

taking good care of my son. My boss, Mr. 

Gbenga Adefaye for his support and prayers 

all these years. My darling sisters, the 

AAGCSS Old Girls’ Association, My 

wonderful family members and friends. God 

bless you all. 

of Oloibiri and such other communities into 

people’s consciousness. 

The lamentable Gowon hoped that such 

new consciousness will propel those who are 

charged with the responsibilities to change 

current realities. Unfortunately he never had 

a political reincarnation like his erstwhile 

comrades-in-arms like President 

Muhammadu Buhari and President 

Olusegun Obasanjo to make amends. He 

should do more to assuage the feelings of 

communities hosting energy infrastructures 

who live in abject poverty and squalor. 

Oloibiri needs justice and equity in terms 

of development as it is in other countries. 

The national oil company of Saudi Arabia, 

Saudi Aramco our equivalent of NNPC has 

its headquarters in Dhahran where oil was 

discovered. Dammam No. 7 now known as 

Dhahran was the first commercial oil well 

discovered in 1938 by America’s Standard 

Oil Company of California. Saudi Aramco, 

the world’s largest Oil and Gas Company 

and the world’s most valuable company 

according to Forbes 2015 report is worth 

between US$1.25 and US$10 trillion. 

The tempo of urbanization and commerce 

in Dhahran increased with the construction 

of Dhahran International Airport which 

connects Europe and the west, with India 

and the east. Dhahran Techno Valley, DTV 

was established in 2006 for research and 

development, create Centres of local and 

international companies and to promote 

new businesses. DTV includes the King 

Abdullah Science Park, an innovation 

Centre, a liaison office, business incubator, 

industrial consulting office and a science 

and technology exhibition centre, Scitech. 

Oil and gas is the key driver of America’s 

economic growth supporting 9.8 million 

jobs while adding US$1.2 trillion in America 

national economy. It contributes 8 percent of 

the US gross domestic product, GDP. 

Development of America’s oil and gas 

resources benefits communities across the 

country. According to ConocoPhillips news 

from its headquarters in Houston, Texas 

working with communities is their goal to 

create and maintain inclusive, honest and 

mutually beneficial relationships with 

people wherever they operate or plan to 

operate.


South Africa has reached a lamentable 

decision. 22 years after apartheid, South 

Africa has rejected a global consensus 

to hold monsters guilty of unspeakable acts 

of gross inhumanity accountable. To think 

that a South Africa, ruled by victims of 

apartheid, can come to such forgetfulness, 

such carefreeness , so spontaneously, is 

confounding. African governments, 

stampeded by Rwanda, were once the 

staunchest supporters of the court. A court 

the cold war had, for decades, deprived the 

world. That fervency has faded, died. The 

practical realties of even tepid international 

accountability have proved to much for the 

culture of impunity embedded in 

governance in Africa to bear. The narrow 

interests of unscrupulous political elite and 

the safety of their fantasies are all that matter. 

Burundi withdrew from the ICC a few 

days ago. Burundi is possessed by a leader 

who fancies himself as a medieval monarch. 

He wants to rule forever and at all costs. The 

ICC , for him, must be a nuisance . Naked 

opportunism by a deluded despot is perhaps 

more tolerable than shameless cold 

treachery by a supposed ally. South Africa 

owes this continent so much. Gambia wants 

to leave too. But Gambia under that 

bumbling dictator has never pretended to 

anything worthy of emulation. An alive and 

kicking ICC must be Yahya Jammeh’sworst 

nightmare. And that is why South Africa is 

a traitor. The lessons of apartheid didn’t last. 

Is it the interest of the Burundian roadside 

auto-mechanic who lives on the brink of an 

all out civil war or the hubris of a Kenyatta , 

ensconced in privatized national wealth, that 

should matter? Self serving pan Africanism 

and empty mischievous nationalism have 

been sold as principles. 

Pejorative labels have been churned out - 

‘tool of modern imperialism’, ‘International 

Caucasian Court’. With half truths and a 

good dose of emotionalism , cries of neocolonialism 

found resonance. The docket of 

the court is lopsided. But it is totally African 

for objective reasons. If the court existed to 

ensure that every family had access to clean 

water, its work would still have been largely 

African. Justice is as scarce as clean water in 

Africa. But African leaders wouldn’t weigh 

the comparative benefits of the court. They 

are too shortsighted, too self absorbed, for 

such considerations that require some 

sobriety. 

Conceited leaders who live at a remove 

from the perilous reality of the average 

African woman have the luxury to lapse into 

The International Criminal Court 

and a treacherous South Africa. 

The court is a novel 

attempt at setting 

standards and 

checking impunity. 

The court is 

therefore morally 

indispensable in 

social craters and 

dark spots where 

local authorities lack 

the willingness or 

the capacity to bring 

to book principalities 

and powers, 

committing 

egregious evil 

against humanity, 

from hitherto 

unassailable towers 

and sanctuaries 

unending lamentations about the erosion of 

sovereignty.Leaders of beggarly nations whose 

sovereignties have since been mortgaged for 

aids and grants are the noisiest . Of what 

relevance is a theoretical sovereignty if citizens’ 

human dignity has been drained by hunger and 

violence and hopelessness perpetuated by 

wanton impunity? They would point to the arrest 

warrant the court issued against a siting African 

president - Al Bashir of Sudan, and feign 

indignation, and disown the court. Al-Bashir 

licensed the Janjaweed to rape and bring 

gruesome death to millions. But because of Al- 

Bashir, South Africa is through with the court. 

Al- Bashir is a most despicable man who all 

men of goodwill should spare nothing to bring 

to justice. 

Any ordinary African conversant with the 

conception and workings of the court must be 

in utter disbelief. The court is a novel attempt at 

setting standards and checking impunity. The 

court is therefore morally indispensable in social 

craters and dark spots where local authorities 

lack the willingness or the capacity to bring to 

book principalities and powers, committing 

egregious evil against humanity, from hitherto 

unassailable towers and sanctuaries. To be 

effective, the Rome treaty refused to countenance 

any immunities. Immunity accorded heads of 

governments by international law and 

conventions was a crippling handicap the 

Assembly of States Parties (ASP) recognized 

and excised. A supranational determination to 

do justice must come at some cost to national 

sovereignties. The ASP’s decision to surrender 

presidential immunity to check ravenous 

impunity was why the court was seen a ray of 

hope in the dark tunnel of sub-Saharan Africa 

filled with war lords, demagogues and life 

presidents. 

South Africa was conversant with 

these lofty ideas and their costs. She 

ratified the treaty and prided herself 

cleansed of lepromatous apartheid 

,member of a new moral order. But 

like a few others, when she was asked 

to work the treaty she had talked and 

brandished, she cowered. Having 

failed to abide by the provisions of the 

treaty and its domesticated 

implications by refusing to effect the 

arrest of a visiting Al Bashir, South 

Africa was in a moral fix. But she could 

have lived on with some duplicity. She 

now claims the Rome treaty is in conflict 

with her local laws and her self 

appointed role of chief peace maker in 

Africa. That is a pathetic argument. The 

new norm is that no immunity is 

sufficient to shield against gross human 

rights abuses and war crimes. 

The ordinary Gambian would not 

give up the court so flimsily. The 

ordinary African must be the greatest 

beneficiary of any system that checks 

systematized decimation of a civilian 

population . Because there are simply 

no protective institutions and 

restraining political culture. A 

continent of neglect and wars must in 

its own interest be the prime recipient 

of the attention of any agency instituted 

to provide vigilance against 

cannibalistic groups and murderous 

emperors perpetuating their 

domination and rules by exterminating 

opponents and squelching dissent. 

Allegations of bias and prejudice are 

puerile. Africa constitutes 100% of the 

cases under investigation by the ICC. 

That seems skewed. But how did that 

come about? Of the nine cases, six were 

self- referrals. The countries in crises 

voluntarily sought the intervention of 

the court. Two other cases - Dafur and 

Libya- were referred to the court by the 

UN Security Council. In both instances 

if a standing court didn’t exist the UN 

Security Council would have 

established a Rwanda -type ad hoc 

tribunal to investigate those cases. The 

UN Security Council would have still 

gone after Al-Bashir. And that leaves 

Kenya. 

Kenya is important for two main 

reasons. First, it is the only one instance 

where the prosecutor exercised his 

propio- motu powers to initiate an 

investigation sans referral. Secondly an 

arrest warrant was issued in 2010 

against Uhuru Kenyatta, a very 

powerful politician, who became 

president in 2013.The Kenya human 

rights commission had indicted 

Kenyatta for planning and funding 

post election violence. Thousands were 

massacred, half a million were 

displaced. President Kenyatta rallied 

against the ICC, hounded witnesses 

into oblivion and destroyed the case. 

The ICC withdrew charges against him 

in 2014. Kenyatta had been rattled, he 

mobilized for a pan -African withdrawal 

from the court. The resentment he found 

righteousness to sow is now bearing 

fruit. The proposed substitute , an 

African criminal court, is a ruse. 

Africa is the major beneficiary of the 

ICC.Unfortunately the interests of the 

political elite are always in conflict with 

the interests of the ordinary people. The 

court has failed to summon courage 

against the atrocities of coalition force 

in Iraq and the Israelis and Palestinians. 

But that can’t be the priority of families 

in Nairobi and Bangui slums who fear 

they might be maimed, fractured and 

dislocated yet again by the greed and 

ambitions of mindless Uhuru Kenyatta 

and his ilk. The court will improve. The 

shadow of the court looming over 

Bangui helps to soothe trepidations. 

The court must not die. The hope of the 

poor that the court’s jurisdiction be 

expanded to include massive 

corruption and theft of public resources 

must not be dashed. 

IN modern election era, no candidate has talked about 

elections being rigged even before votes were cast. Then 

again, GOP candidate Donald Trump is not your conventional 

kind of candidate. America has never seen anyone like Trump. 

Besides Obama, no candidate has captured global attention like 

Trump, and to his detriment, none has indirectly conceded defeat 

long before the first ballot was cast as he appears to be doing. 

Remember, Trump began to say the elections were rigged even 

before the first presidential debate and way before early voting 

started. Nothing strange, though, because he did the same thing 

during the GOP Primaries. He accused the system of being rigged, 

but the moment he got the GOP 

nomination. the system no longer was 

rigged. 

Now with defeat looking more and more 

inevitable, the blame game is back and 

louder than ever. This time, even the media 

are not spared. Right from the inception of 

his campaign, the media have given Trump 

more coverage than any candidate on both 

sides of the party. Not really because they 

were always biased, but because Trump 

made himself more accessible to the media. 

During the primaries and for most of the 

general election campaign, Trump got 

away with almost everything he said and 

did. Now that the honeymoon is over and 

media scrutiny is on him and exposing things 

about him he never thought could be done, 

the “low life” media are the scum of the 

earth as far as Trump is concerned. 

FYI: The U.S. elections are not conducted 

like the Nigerian elections. Unlike Nigeria 

where INEC controls elections in the entire 

country, elections in the U.S. are handled 

by the Secretary of State in each state. Some 

are Republicans, others Democrats. Each 

state then conducts the elections through 

the counties, Nigeria’s equivalent of the 

local governments. The county election 

officials are either Democrats or 

Republicans. Now, this doesn’t mean the 

U.S. electoral system is flawless. No, but 

the possibility of elections being rigged 

nationwide to favor one candidate or the 

other is insane. Actually, there have been 

only 31 documented cases of voter fraud 

out of I billion votes cast in the United 

States elections between 2000 and 2014, 

according to a study by a Loyola Law 

School professor. Trump’s claims of 

Trump gambles with the blame game 

systematic, nationwide voter fraud are 

bogus and embarrassing even to some 

Republicans. It also makes him stand out 

as a sore loser who wants to discredit 

American democratic system to appease his 

enlarged ego that can’t stand the possibility 

of losing, especially losing to a woman, even 

when that woman doesn’t belong to the 

bedroom, the living room and the other 

room (pun intended). As if Trump hasn’t had 

enough self-inflicted wounds, he says he will 

only accept the result of the presidential 

election only if he wins. Really? 

Hillary and Obama Care Challenges 

Just when we thought we’ve seen the last 

of October surprise when 11 women came 

out to accuse Donald Trump of unwelcome 

sexual advances against them (accusations 

Only divine 

intervention can 

stop Hillary from 

getting to the 

White House. 

Trump vehemently deny) here comes news 

that Affordable Care Acts (a.k.a. 

Obamacare) health insurance coverage will 

not be so affordable next year. Americans 

covered by the ACA health coverage are 

expected to experience a 22 percent hike in 

cost. This is contrary to all the promises 

Obama made that the healthcare coverage 

will be very affordable, hence its name. This 

is bad news for Hillary Clinton, a staunch 

supporter of Obamacare. Under normal 

circumstances in an election year that has 

a conventional opponent, this could have 

probably dealt Hillary a terrible blow, but 

Trump has been such a gift to Hillary and 

Democrats that this would not be as big a 

deal as it should have. For instance, this is 

when Trump should be talking about an 

alternative plan for Obamacare, but all he 

does is to say that he will repeal Obamacare 

and replace it with something better. Which 

is what? Well, he wouldn’t say. I guess it’s 

one of his secrets meant to keep American 

voters in suspense, which doesn’t help him 

one bit. And with about 10 days to the 

elections, millions of Americans already 

have cast their votes and early voter turnout 

is making Hillary and Democrats feel good 

about November 8. 

Phony Polls? 

Trump says don’t believe the polls. 

Actually, he says the polls are phony. This 

implies that all the major pollsters have 

conspired to manufacture statistics to make 

him look bad by having his Democratic 

opponent Hillary Clinton lead him in all 

major (and even minor) polls. 

Sounds familiar? Well, when Obama was 

seeking reelection in 2012, all the major 

polls had him leading his GOP challenger 

Mitt Romney, but some prominent 

Republicans dismissed the polls and urged 

their supporters not to believe the “phony” 

polls. According to them, their internal 

polling showed that Romney would beat 

Obama by at least 6 percentage points. Then 

came election day, Romney so believed the 

GOP internal polling that he only wrote his 

acceptance speech. By the time Obama was 

projected the winner, Romney had to 

quickly put a concession speech together. 

Fact is, the same “phony pollsters” are the 

ones who correctly predicted that Trump 

would win many of the GOP primaries, and 

he did. Trump loved polls back then and 

always quoted them to show how well he 

was doing. Now that they’re predicting a 

Trump defeat, they’re phony. 

Electoral College Picture 

For all the Trumpsters out there, get on 

your knees and pray like you’ve never prayed 

before. Well, prayers alone would not be 

enough. You need to go on dry fasting – 10 

days dry. Only divine intervention can stop 

Hillary from getting to the White House. 

With 10 days to the November 8 presidential 

election, the Electoral College picture has 

become crystal clear that Hillary Clinton 

would become the next American president 

– the first female ever to be the leader of the 

Free World. If the election was held today, 

the projection is that Hillary would win 307 

electoral college votes to Trump’s 179. It 

may not end up that bad for Trump. One 

big problem is that Trump is in danger of 

losing even traditional Republican states 

like Arizona and Georgia, which makes 

Republicans scratch their heads in 

frustration. The biggest problem. Though, 

is that many Republicans have accepted the 

possibility of a Trump defeat, they are now 

worried that Trump could make them lose 

the Senate to Democrats on November 8, 

with the possibility of losing the House 

during the mid-term elections in two years. 

C 

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JULIET EBIRIM 

08137897935 

What would you do if your spouse 

denies you sex? 

Rejection hurts. When a lover 

or spouse withholds sex, it's 

a particular kind of 

rejection that can affect a person's 

self-esteem and thought process. 

People can have many valid 

reasons for not wanting to have 

sex. But if you find yourself in 

that situation where your spouse 

refuses to share that physical 

intimacy with you, what would 

you do? We sought the views of 

some celebrities and here are 

their responses; 

I will use my sex toys 

— Cossy Orjiakor, Actress 

If my partner or spouse refuses to have sex 

with me, I will make do with my sex toys. 

I'll wait till he's 

ready, but... 

— Mimi Orjiekwe, 

Actress 

I will wait till he is ready. He 

is my husband and marriage 

comes with so many 

challenges. A normal man with 

his senses knows that sex is 

vital and important in 

marriage. For how long can he 

deny his spouse of sex? For 

me, I'll only wait till he's ready. 

Besides, he could be going 

through stress or some 

depressive moments which 

could be the cause of his action 

or behaviour. But if this 

happens for a longer period, I 

will call him to order as much 

as I can, else he will begin to 

share me with another man. 

Period! 

It can't 

happen, 

but ... 

— Blessing 

Patrick, Actress 

It can't happen because I 

have what it takes to make 

him always demand for it. 

But even if it does, I will 

God's face for intervention, 

because there's nothing God 

cannot do. Besides, it was 

God's approval I sought 

before getting married to my 

husband. 

•Cynthia 

•Blessing Patrick 

I'll dress more 

sexy and pray 

— Ruth Eze, Actress 

Iwill pray about it and also dress 

more sexy. Appearance is very 

important for both men and women. 

But in most cases, his lack of desire 

may have nothing to do with him 

thinking I'm not beautiful or sexy 

enough for him to want to enjoy. That's 

why I also have to pray about it. 

•Lurrenz 

Onuzulike 

I might have to get 

it outside if … 

— Dimplez, Singer 

If I ask for sex over and over 

again and he still denies me, 

it definitely means he's getting 

it from someone else. If it 

happens that I'm very horny 

and really need it, I might get 

it outside. It all depends on the 

situation of things though. 

•Ruth Eze 

I'll try to convince her 

— Lurrenz Onuzulike, Actor 

I 

've been lucky never to be in this 

situation, but if it ever happens, I 

won't have any choice than to work 

on convincing her to rethink her 

decision, because other options are 

not appealing to me. For instance, I 

don't patronise prostitutes and I 

can't stand the sight of sex toys for 

men. So, my choice is limited. I 

have to find a way to win back her 

love. 

•Dimplez 

C 

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Plus-sized women have 

hips and curves men like 

— Jennifer Enujiugha, model 

By Juliet Ebirim 

Jennifer Enujiugha is a 26 year-old plus-size model, choreographer and 

VJ/compere from Anambra State. The beautiful, dark-skinned 

graduate of crop production and protection from Abia State 

University is the current Miss Curvy Nigeria Top Model. In this 

interview with Juliet Ebirim, Jennifer who is also a creative 

consultant bares her mind on her plans, journey as a plussize 

model, relationship and more. Excerpts... 

What’s your take on plus-size modeling in 

Nigeria? 

Plus-sized models are not appreciated as 

they ought to be, knowing fully well that 

almost all African women have the 

tendency to be plus-sized. Even if they 

were skinny before marriage,when they 

get married and after childbirth, they 

become plus-sized. We don’t appreciate 

them (curvy and plump models), we chase 

after skinny models but the truth is the 

westerners are beginning to accept the fact that 

there should be a place for the plus-sized in the 

fashion world. In the recently concluded New York 

Fashion Week, they had plus-sized models 

everywhere. Here in Nigeria, it’s difficult to see three 

plus-sized models on a runway show and that’s not nice. 

Most people who come to watch the shows are plump, but if 

they discover the outfits being showcased are for skinny people, 

they wouldn’t be motivated to go for them. A lot of people don’t 

know, but plus-sized modeling is a goldmine that’s yet to be 

harnessed in Nigeria. 

How do you juggle modeling with other things you do? 

Because I’m passionate about it, I don’t really see it as work. I 

enjoy doing it and besides, they’re all related, still the same 

industry – creative consultancy, VJ/compere, modeling, 

choreography – they’re all entertainment. It’s easy for me to 

combine them all. I was the logistics manager for last 

year’s ‘Dance with Peter’ reality TV show 

•Jennifer 

Enujiugha 

Based on your experience, what do 

you think is the major challenge plussized 

models face? 

The major challenge is that people do 

not want to accept them for who they 

are. It’s not peculiar to Nigeria alone, 

but the westerners are beginning to 

accept plus-size models. Ashley 

Graham is doing very well. Nigerians 

have not really started accepting plussize 

models. Designers should have 

ready-to-wear outfits for plus-sized 

models to encourage them. 

Do you think African men are drawn 

to plus-sized women? 

Yes, they are, but they pretend they are 

not because of friends. They don’t want 

their friends to say ‘the guy babe na 

Orobo!’ I think African men are actually 

attracted to plus-sized women. They 

may not admit it, but they are. Being 

plus-sized, you automatically have 

the hips and curves and that’s 

what men like. Few slim 

women have that. 

Any awkward or 

embarrassing moment? 

The first day I climbed 

on stage, everyone 

started laughing at me. 

I went to perform 

somewhere as a 

dancer and people 

started laughing at 

me because of my 

size. There’s always 

an awkward 

moment for 

everybody. There 

are occasions when 

there are only 

skinny models 

around, you make a 

mistake and they all 

stare at you in a 

funny way. Sometimes, 

you go for fashion shows 

and a designer will tell 

you straight up, that he 

doesn’t make outfits for plussized. 

Every career has its 

challenges, but it’s being able 

to learn from it all that 

matters. Anything that doesn’t 

kill you makes you stronger. It 

all boils down to passion. 

What are you working on at the moment? 

I’m the current Miss Curvy Nigeria Top Model, I’m yet to 

hand over though. I represent plump models in every 

fashion show. I’m working on a project for the plus-sized. 

I want to get plump ladies to appreciate the fact that they 

are beautiful. It doesn’t matter their skin color, size or 

shape. You may be plump and still beautiful. You just have 

to be confident. Confidence is the best make-up you can 

wear. The project is aimed at changing the way Nigerians 

see plus-size people. It will also reduce the rate of 

anorexia and suicidal thoughts. When some of these 

plump people are rejected by the people they like, they 

tend to think that it’s because of their size. No, the person 

rejecting you doesn’t know what he wants. 

How were you able to conquer the rejection you faced as 

a plus-sized when you ventured into modeling? 

I think everything I’ve been into has helped me in one 

way or the other. As a dancer, I got used to performing on 

stage and that helped me loosen up. I became comfortable 

dancing before large crowds because I used to be very 

shy. Choreography helped me out so when I got into 

modeling, I started doing runway shows. Most times, I’m 

the only plus-sized model on the runway or for a job. I 

usually fight the temptation to feel inferior because I’m the 

only plus-sized, instead I chose to take it as an advantage. 

Can you name some of the commercials you’ve done? 

I’ve worked with Honeywell, Glo, I just did something for 

societal family health and a couple of other jobs. Actually, I 

just started doing commercials, I’ve been doing mostly 

fashion. 

Even in my love songs, there are messages - Slimpac 

By TOFARATI IGE 

Aspiring singer, Prince Etim Effiong aka Slimpac Ajebo 

from Cross-River State says his primary function on 

earth is to provide music. In his words, “I came into the 

world because of music, and my duty is to pass messages to 

people through music. I have the gift of music in me, and I 

must not let it waste.” 

Speaking on the type of music he does, he ventured, “I do 

Dancehall music. These days, some people feel that once 

the beat is okay, then the song is good, but I believe that 

every song should have a message. “I don’t follow trend. I 

do my music in a unique way, and I don’t copy what’s 

reigning in the industry.” 

Going further, he said, “When I was in Anambra State, I 

recorded songs like ‘I want to be your man,’ ‘My booboo,’ 

‘True Love’ and many others. But there isn’t much music 

activity in Anambra, so I decided to move to Lagos, which is 

regarded as the capital of entertainment in Nigeria. And 

since I’ve been here, I can see the difference in my music 

career. 

For someone who says he delivers messages with his 

music, it is curious that most of his songs are about love. He 

says, “Yes, I sing about love, but even in those songs, you’ll 

find deep messages that you can learn from. 

On what he wants to achieve with his music career, he 

stated, “I know many people go into music to make money. 

Yes, money is a good thing, but I usually pray to God to 

bless me so I can be of help to the people on the streets. 

I’ve been on the street before and I know how hard it is to 

survive. I got to where I am today through the help of 

people, and I’ve also determined to be of help to people.” 

•Slimpac


Edited by Ayo Onikoyi 

08052201215 

Saying 'Living in Bondage' 

marked birth of film 

industry in Nigeria is 

distortion of history 

— Oga Bello 

C 

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By Adekunle Olaniyan 

Adebayo Salami may be a faintly 

popular name but when you 

mention the alias 'Oga Bello', 

you are bound to get applause and 

cheers everywhere. This Lagos-born 

Kwara man did not attain the fame he 

enjoys today on a platter of gold, it 

came from years of toil, struggle, sweat 

and plenty of other sacrifices. 

With over 50 years in the saddle as a 

Thespian that has traversed every 

labyrinth of the creative arts, Oga Bello 

is one of the first among equals. So, 

when he talks, we should bae all ears 

to draw from his fountain of 

knowledge, regarding the creative arts 

in Nigeria. He talks the story of acting 

in this interview, let's listen to him: 

Who is the world acclaimed, world 

famous Oga Bello? 

Oga Bello is a character. Oga Bello is 

quite different from Adebayo Salami. If 

you are asking people who is Adebayo 

Salami, is quite different from asking 

for who is Oga Bello. Oga Bello is 

somebody who is interpreting the role 

of a particular character, in a script and 

his character depends on a script he 

has at hand. Adebayo Salami on the 

other hand is a father, a 64 years old 

man born in Lagos State, though he 

hails from Kwara State. 

Since you started acting , how many 

films have you produced ? 

Well, the issue of acting is a two-way 

thing; the ones you produced yourself 

and the ones you featured in. For 

the movies I have produced, I can 

count up to 22 but for those I 

featured, it is impossible to count. 

Honestly, I have lost count.“ 

What informed the formation of 

Young Star Concert Party, the group 

from which you sprang at the 

beginning? 

Well, they were young people that 

had talents , they gathered together to 

display their talents ,hoping to be stars 

in the future. That is why we called it, 

“Young Star Concert’’. The same group 

of people were under the leadership of 

Ojo Ladipo and it metamorphosed into 

Ojo Ladipo theatre group. Later on, 

there were problems of all sorts; 

misunderstandings, in-fighting and a 

lot of acrimony. At the end of the day 

the centre could not hold and the 

group broke up. Some people like me 

went with Ojo Ladipo while others 

went in different ways. 

Could you name your 

mentors in the industry and 

how they influenced your 

career? 

Those I can mention are Chief 

Hubert Ogunde, Alhaji Aina 

Olumegbon and Ade Love. These 

three great actors influenced my 

career in their different unique 

ways. Well, let me start from Hubert 

Ogunde, Hubert Ogunde inspired 

me to be an actor because I never 

missed his program on television 

titled 'Village Doctor' . From watching 

the 'Village Doctor', I developed 

the interest in acting and made up 

my mind to be somebody like him. 

Talking about Olumegbon, I 

remember I usually go to 

his“rehearsals and whenever I got 

home I imitated him, from there I 

respected him so much and he 

knew me before he died and 

mentored me. For Pa Ogunde, he 

inspired me from afar but I had the 

opportunity of meeting him and I 

eventually came close to him. He 

too, taught me many things. For 

Ade Love, I learned from him 

physically. During his widely 

popular film 'Taxi Driver', I was his 

production manager. I was also his 

production manager on his other 

popular films like 'Iyani Wura', 'Ija 

Orogun' and 'Taxi Driver' part 2. 

They say Hubert Ogunde 

was an occultist 

That is a lie. He was a Godfearing 

person. He was a Christian. 

Our problem in this part of the 

world is that we mix up what is 

religion and what is culture. 

Religion is quite different from 

culture. He was a religious man 

who was trying to promote his 

culture. There's nothing occult 

about that. 

Who actually started the Nigerian 

film industry? Some people 

link it to Alade Aromire 

That is a lie. He was a 

God-fearing person. He 

was a Christian. Our 

problem in this part of 

the world is that we mix 

up what is religion and 

what is culture 

No, no, no, you cannot throw 

away celluloid .We have two 

formats in the film industry – the 

one we were shooting then and 

celluloid, because at that time we 

could not even get anything 

locally here , if you wanted to 

do production , you had to go 

to America . You wanted to do 

post-production ,you had to go 

to U.K. I shot my first film on 

celluloid in 1985. At the time we 

were shooting there was no 

local equipment except you get 

them overseas . 

Which other technology 

was in vogue at that time, 

apart from celluloid? 

If they wanted to do television 

production, they used Umatic. For 

celluloid we had 65mm, 35 mm, 

55mm, 16mm. Ade Love shot on 

16mm. Alade Aromire started by 

experimenting. He did an 

experiment on home video using 

VHS . At that time, when the 

economy started crumbling, none 

of us could afford celluloid 

anymore. And if you raised funds 

by loan or by any other means to 

fund your movie, how do you 

recoup your money ? Even as at 

that time there was no piracy or it 

was at the barest minimum. So, at 

that time, it was Aromire that 

started home video by experimenting 

because we did not have 

money to shoot on celluloid 

anymore. We didn’t believe home 

video would be popular. All over 

the world what was popular was 

celluloid but here, our economy 

made it difficult to continue using 

it.“ 

How would you compare 

the industry of today and 

then? 

The major difference is the issue 

of piracy. There wasn't as much 

piracy then as it is now. The 

second one is the issue of 

discipline; that seems to be 

lacking in the artistes of today. 

Then, there was respect for call 

time, there was respect for 

location, there was respect for 

shooting of the video. But these 

young ones want everything on 

a platter of gold. 

Oga Bello 

How many English movies 

have you done ? 

Very few. The reason is simple, I 

don't get many invitations. I cannot 

speak for those people that did not 

invite me ,they have their personal 

reasons and I don’t want to go into it 

so much, but I am sure if am invited as 

we are conversing now, I can express 

myself and I can interpret roles in 

English .Why they don't invite me is 

left to them .“ 

But I saw Jide Kosoko in a film by 

Rita Dominic 'Damage' and in several 

other English films ? 

Yea , Jide Kosokodo normally features 

in English movies and I must 

confess to you, if you come to me and 

you want to pay 1 million naira for an 

English film and I have another script 

of Yoruba movie that wants to pay 

me 200,000 naira , I will go for the 

Yoruba film. The reason for it is simple, 

my culture and my language are more 

important to me than money. What is 

most important to me as an African is 

the promotion of my culture. 

There is this saying that 

Nigerian film industry started 

with 'Living in Bondage' and you 

have been saying that history is 

not correct? 

It's a lie. If they say the film industry 

started in 1992 with 'Living in Bondage', 

what happened to the films shot 

before then. I shot my first film on 

celluloid in 1985, the second one in 

1987. Whether English or native, a 

movie is a movie. A Nigerian movie is 

a Nigerian movie. We own Nollywood 

together. If they want to mention 

Nollywood all over the country, they 

would say Nigerian movies. Forget 

about the medium of expression 

whether its Hausa, Ibo, Yoruba , or 

English. They know the right history, 

they know it. Wole Soyinka shot Kongi 

Harvest in 1970. Bisi Daughter of the 

River is there . Abiola’s film, 'Dinner 

With The Devil' is there. How can they 

say film industry started in 1992. 

So, what do you think brought 

about this distortion? 

It is their style. I called their production 

people and told them. If they 

invite Yoruba actor, to take part in their 

movie, they would say the accent is 

too Yoruba. What is their own accent? 

Don't they sound Ibo in their own 

movies? What is their problem?


By TOFARATI IGE 08068792241 

tofaratiige@gmail.com 

Tiwa Savage signals 

reconciliation 

possibility with hubby 

...Solicits marital advice 


About six months after her 

marital squabble made 

the front page of newspapers, 

magazines and dominated 

discussions on radio and TV 

talk shows, it appears talented 

minstrel, Tiwa Savage, is 

ready to mend fences with her 

estranged hubby, Tunji Balogun 

aka Tee Billz. 

According to sources close to 

the singer, her body language indicates 

that she’s ready to reconcile 

with her baby’s daddy. Already, 

there have been meetings 

between both families aimed at a 

peaceful reconciliation. 

Tiwa is also said to have been 

meeting with older couples and 

counsellors who have been advising 

her to give her marriage another 

chance in respect of the ‘for 

better, for worse’ vows she took at 

the altar. 

Our source who commented 

under the condition of anonymity 

stated that, “You can take my word 

for it that a reconciliation is in the 

offing between Tiwa and Teebillz. 

She has told people close to her 

that she misses Tunji, and she 

wants him back in her life. Also, 

as their son, Jamal (Jam Jam) is 

growing older, Tiwa wants to ensure 

that he has a father figure 

around.” 

Speaking further, the source 

said, “Of course, she has also given 

a condition that Teebillz gets 

help so that all the issues that led 

to his public meltdown will not 

happen again.” 

However, there are 

also reports that Tiwa’s 

mom was badly hurt 

by the negative things 

Teebillz said about her 

on Instagram, but 

she’s ready to forgive 

and forget all because 

all she really 

wants is her daughter’s 

happiness. 

As a pointer to the 

fact that Tiwa is 

ready to accommodate 

her husband, 

she paused 

her performance 

last Sunday at the 

Three Thrones 

concert which 

held at the Eko 

Hotel and 

Suites, to seek for 

marital advice 

from ‘veteran’ 

singing couple, Tunde and Wunmi 

Obe (TWO). 

“You’ve been married for so long, 

and you’re also in the limelight; 

how have you managed to keep 

your relationship intact for all 

these years? There’s a lot of pressure 

on young couples and I’m 

very jealous of you,” Tiwa said 

right on stage. 

The elderly couple responded by 

telling her that it is imperative to 

‘marry the man you love, communication, 

the only third party in 

your marriage should be God.’ 

Meanwhile, Teebillz’s whereabouts 

is been jealously guarded 

•Tiwa 

Savage 

and ex 

husband 

Teebillz 

like a high-value painting at a 

museum. 

His known friends in the entertainment 

industry have studiously 

maintained sealed lips in response 

to inquiries about where 

their friend is. 

But it was gathered that Teebillz 

is presently not in Nigeria, 

as he travelled out shortly after 

the couple’s fight in April. But the 

good news is that the hermit guy 

has reopened his Instagram 

page which he surreptitiously 

closed down in the wake of the 

marriage brouhaha. 

I’m not threatened 

by Tiwa Savage, Yemi 

Alade or anyone, Naomi 

Mac boasts 

BY ROTIMI AGBANA 

House One Records songstress, Naomi Mac, may not yet 

be a big name in the Nigerian music industry, but since her 

emergence as 1st runner up at the maiden edition of Nigerian 

Idols in 2011, there has been a great twist in her coin of fate. With 

six singles to her credit, Naomi Mac seems to be finding a fertile 

ground in the music industry. In an exclusive chat with Showtime, 

the singing sensation says she’s not threatened by any female 

singer, including the likes of Tiwa Savage or Yemi Alade 

who are ruling the scene right now. She made other interesting 

revelations on what she has been up to and why she collaborated 

with YBNL’s official producer, Pheelz, and on her latest single, 

Ori Mi 

“I’ve been scared of only one person and that person is myself; 

because I believe the sky is really wide, wide enough for everyone 

to take their place. Everyone is different and so if I stop being 

myself then nobody will be me, so I don’t think I’ve any issues with 

the number of talented female singers in the industry. Tiwa Savage 

and Yemi Alade have their place and I have mine” 

On why she decided to collaborate with Pheelz, she said “I’ve 

heard him sing and I really love his production, so since Ori Mi 

has a lot of percussion and I knew that Pheelz does a lot of percussive 

work and also having listened to a lot of Olamide’s songs that 

he produced, I thought he would come good on the track. After 

producing the track, I had him sing on it for the first time and it 

•Naomi Mac 

was amazing, it was an amazing experience, trust me. Pretty soon 

I’m going to be compiling my album and dropping it.”“ 

Yung Graycee keeps mum on 

alleged rift with Naija Ninjas 


Nothing much has been heard from 

female Naija Ninjas singer, Yung 

Graycee, in a while, and this has made 

her fans worried. This is coupled with 

the speculations that all is not well with 

the ‘Chukwuma’ singer and her label 

boss, Sound Sultan. 

As we are wont to do, 

Showtime reached out to 

the singer to find out the 

true picture of things, 

but she refused to give 

a categorical answer. 

When Showtime initially 

put a call across 

to her, she complained 

that the network was 

bad, and enjoined us to 

call back. We called 

again, but she said she 

was in a meeting, that she 

would call back. 

After waiting for hours without 

hearing anything from her, 

we called her again, but she refused 

to pick her call. 

However, the word on the streets is that all is not well in the 

Naija Ninjas camp, as the management of the label has not 

been funding and promoting her music career in recent times. 

This is allegedly what is responsible for the lull in her young 

career. 

Meanwhile, Showtime will keep following the story, and will 

furnish you with relevant updates. 

I’m not pressured by 

Lil Kesh — Viktoh 


YBNL signee, Viktoh, was 

the one who introduced 

Lil Kesh to his label boss, Olamide, 

but the latter has released 

his music album, while 

Viktoh is yet to have an album 

•Viktoh 

•Yung Graycee 

to his name. As a result of this, 

many feel that there is a bitter 

rivalry between the both of 

them, but Viktoh says he is not 

intimated by Lil Kesh. In his 

words, “When it comes to music 

and what you love doing, 

there shouldn’t be any kind of 

pressure. I’m not under any 

pressure from anyone in my 

label, or even outside. I’m 

taking my time to bring out 

good stuff for my fans. I 

don’t like to rush, and I always 

wait for my time.” 

Hinting on when his album 

will likely be released, 

he said, “My album should 

be coming out next year. I 

don’t want to say much right 

now, but keep your fingers 

crossed because it’s going 

to be a different style; 

things you’ve never heard 

from me before.” 

On the inspiration behind 

his song, ‘Skibbii That,’ he 

said, “I was just playing 

around in the studio, and 

the idea came. Skibii is like 

my best friend in the music 

industry, so the song wasn’t 

a ‘diss’ at him.” 

Viktoh also has glowing 

words for his label-boss, 

Olamide. According to him, 

“Olamide is not just a boss; 

he’s a brother and leader. 

He’s a very wonderful person, 

and creative. He is also 

a good example for others 

to follow.” 

C 

M 

Y 

K

SATURD 


anguard, OCTOBER 29, 2016—27 

C 

M 

Y 

K

28—Vanguard, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2016 

By BENJAMIN NJOKU 

Jonathan Butler performing 

alongside Mi Casa 

*Jonathan Butler on stage 

A NIGHT AT THE KAZBAH SHOW 

How Lagos jazz lovers defied rain to 

keep date with Jonathan Butler 

By BENJAMIN NJOKU & 

CHRIS ONUOHA 

his is one great night to 

r‘Te m e m b e r ! ’ 

exclaimed Joe, an Afro soul 

enthusiast. Another enthusiast, Philip, a 

regular Island nightclub crooner felt the 

same way, “Real live music comes alive.’ 

Indeed, that’s how best to describe the night 

show that rekindled the appetite of both 

old and young jazz lovers who thronged 

the Balmore’s Dome, Federal Palace 

Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, last weekend, 

to watch a jazz music legend, Jonathan 

Butler, perform some of his evergreen 

songs before them. 

It was not the first time, Jonathan Butler 

performed in Nigeria. But last weekend’s 

performance was something out of the 

ordinary. The jazz fusion guitarist and 

Grammy nominee took the audience to 

another realm, performing hit songs after 

hit. It was a night of oldies and jazz music 

at its best. 

The soulful jazz crooner who hit the 

stage at about 10 pm put his powerful 

talent on display to the admiration of the 

audience. For more than one and half 

hours, the legend performed non-stop on 

stage. And despite the heavy-downpour 

that almost marred the show, people 

were not in a hurry to leave the venue. 

They were busy dancing and singing 

along with the jazz maestro as he went 

on and on reeling out his old songs. 

Dressed in a majestic way, the jazz fusion 

guitarist stirred the already charged 

audience with Bob Marley’s “No Woman 

No Cry”song with a blend of Soweto 

fusion. His energetic performance tells less 

of his age, just as his high pitched vocal 

prowess kept even the night’s rainfall down. 

He later sang his “Grace and Mercy”which 

rose to the top of the Billboard 

contemporary jazz chart and peaked with 

singles “Don’t Walk Away” and “I Stand on 

Your Word” among others. While his 

performance lasted, people were having swell 

time, jumping up and down. 

Butler confessed while on stage that the 

audience inspired his unimaginable performance 

just as he claimed it never happened in his 

previous performance in the country. 

Butler stepped on stage shortly after Mi Casa’s 

performance. The South Africans thrilled too 

with inspiring love songs that won the hearts of 

many. 

Speaking backstage after his performance, 

Jonathan Butler could not hide his excitement. 

According to him ‘I had an awesome time in 

Lagos at Smooth 98.1FM’s ‘A Night at The 

Kazbah’. It was amazing, I can’t wait for another 

opportunity to come back and do it all over 

again’. 

Butler, a native of Cape Town, South Africa, 

began his career nearly four decades ago, 

signing his first record deal when he was just a 

teenager. Since then Butler has seen success in 

the jazz and RnB arenas, with a particular focus 

on gospel music. His latest release, Grace and 

Mercy, rose to the top of the Billboard 

contemporary jazz chart and peaked with singles 

“Don’t Walk Away” and “I Stand on Your Word.” 

He engaged the audience while he performed 

and they sang along with him. It ended in a 

drama. The singing was on and he urged all to 

continue. The orchestration stopped but the 

singing with the crowd continued. Everybody was 

charged and high with and in his music. The 

audience kept singing when the light dimmed 

and he walked away while the crowd continued 

singing. The show had come to an end but those 

singing would not stop. They wanted more even 

as the illumination on the stage brightened and 

Butler was no longer there. It was simply amazing. 

“I don’t know what I’m still doing in this country,” 

a young boy who plays the keyboard said, 

apparently wishing he could learn the ropes 

under Butler. He left the hall a happy boy full of 

dreams. It was his first Jazz show and Butler blew 

him to the skies. 

‘I couldn’t have asked for a better debut 

concert experience’ 

But it was vocalist and winner of The Voice Nigeria, A’rese who 

opened the night show with her vocal dexterity, signaling 

what the night was all about - ‘A Night at the Kazbah’ - more than 

just music. A’rese was in her element in what was in fact her very 

first live performance as a solo artist. She thrilled the crowd, 

opening the show with a beautiful rendition of Fela Kuti’s 

Palavar. She then went on to perform original songs from her 

repertoire with the crowd cheering and dancing along. Her 

highlight was a soulful rendition of Alexandra Burke’s Hallelujah, 

a performance that showed just how talented and versatile A’rese 

is as an artist. 

It’s a cultural exploration designed to bring good Nigerian, 

African and World music to the forefront of our consciousness and 

promote indigenous artistry. The rising act who was in her first 

major performance exclaimed, “I couldn’t have asked for a better 

debut concert experience. It was an honour and a privilege to 

open for Mi Casa and Jonathan Butler. I was inspired watching 

them perform.” Presented by Smooth98.1Fm, this year’s “A Night 

at the Kazbah” was a huge success just as those who graced the 

show would not forget it in a hurry. 

A’rese on stage 

*Jonathan Butler performing alongside Mi Casa 

Mi Casa awesomely terrific on stage 

They are really the rave of the 

youthful moment. The soulful 

house trio held the audience 

spellbound with series of their tunes. 

They lived up to their reputation 

belting out song after song on stage. 

Their performance of the hit ‘Jika’ 

was one of the highlights of the night 

as it got guests on their feet. The 

popular song raised the roof as the 

whole house stood, giggling and 

waving to this celebrated song that 

has topped radio chart in South 

African stations. The phenomenal J’ 

Something, Mi Casa’s lead vocal, 

with his deceptive persona of white 

look and black heart was very smooth 

in gait as he blended Mi Casa’s 

songs with some Nigerian lyrics. 

This group seems to 

understand Nigeria 

audience so well and 

lived up to their 

expectations by 

performing 

satisfactorily with a 

blend of AfroSoul/ 

Nija vibes. The 

youthful Mo’T, Mi 

Casa’s trumpeter is 

one guy you cannot 

phantom its 

powerful notes as 

the young man 

handles the wind 

instrument with ease 

while rendering 

energetic stretched 

sounds. Dr. Duda, 

the groups’ mixer is 

equally wonderful 

and meticulous with 

mixes. Mi Casa! Mi 

Casa!! Mi Casa!!! Screamed the 

audience as the formidable group 

signs off their session with 

decrescendo miming of ‘Folake 

Gimme love o…!’ by Nigerian 

singer- Techno. 

Mi Casa lead vocal, J’ 

Something who spoke to SideBeat, 

said, ‘Saturday night was absolute 

magic, it honestly felt like not only 

the first time performing in Lagos 

but it felt so new to us, the energy 

was real. Everybody was amazing, 

the production was unbelievable, 

it was really a dream for us to be 

here and finally get to show Lagos, 

what Mi Casa is all about…a 

huge thank you to Smooth FM.” 

Mi Casa performing on stage 

C 

M 

Y 

K


Just female 

October is breast 

cancer awareness 

month. Every year, 

October 13 is widely 

recognized as No Bra Day, 

aimed at raising 

awareness of the 

importance of knowing 

how to carry out breast 

self-examinations, being 

able to recognise the 

symptoms of breast 

cancer and encouraging 

women to partake in 

regular breast cancer 

screening. 

Although 

a 

controversial event in the 

eyes of some, National No 

Bra Day further aims to 

raise awareness of breast 

cancer. Using the 

hashtag #nobraday o n 

social media and 

encouraging women to go 

braless for a 24-hour 

period. 

Every year new cases of 

breast cancer occur with 

many being invasive 

forms of breast cancer. 

No Bra Day encourages 

women everywhere to go 

without their bra to raise 

awareness for breast cancer and the 

challenges that those with it faces. 

No Bra Day was established to both 

raise awareness of breast cancer and 

its prevalence in today’s society, as 

well as to drive opportunities for 

fund-raising to help keep the research 

moving. Do you know that 1 in 8 

women will develop breast cancer in 

their lives? 

The disease limits a woman’s view 

of herself, her ability to breastfeed, 

and can result in surgeries that 

include mastectomies. Breasts 

primary identifiers of what makes a 

woman, visually, a woman, and 

having to have them removed in the 

fight against breast cancer can lead 

to self-image issues and depression. 

The idea of asking women to drop 

their bras for 24 hours is in solidarity 

with those affected. Women who have 

been through a battle with breast 

cancer often have to wear prosthesis 

to hide the fact that they’ve had a 

breast or breasts removed, and are 

unable to go without a bra as a result. 

By spending the day without a bra 

helps raise awareness and help to 

prevent other women from having to 

go through this experience. 

Why do women wear bras anyway? 

Normally, hundreds of millions of 

women wear a bra. Why? This was the 

subject of discussion at a function 

recently. In the course of finding an 

answer to this knotty question, it was 

discovered that, many women wear 

bras without ever asking why. 

Interestingly, bra wearing is not a 

necessity for most women for their 

breasts’ sake; rather, it is worn more 

for cultural reasons. 

The modern bra with its two 

separate cups dates back to the corset 

in the early 20th century, in an 

attempt to manufacture a more 

comfortable underwear piece and has 

evolved from simple underwear into 

an actual sexual garment that 

emphasises the sexual nature of 

breasts. This can be readily seen, for 

example, by the terminology used to 

Day 

women 

left 

their 

bras at 

home 

advertise bras: enticing, hot, 

ravishing, seducing, etc. For 

most purposes however, 

wearing a bra is feminine and 

rather strangely, going braless 

is sometimes also connected 

with feminism. So why wear, or not 

wear a bra? 

According to experts, women’s 

breasts change sizes an average of 

five times over their life. That means 

that the bra size you wore when you 

are 20 now will no longer will fit you 

properly. And there is a good 

chance that the bra you are now 

wearing will no longer fit you in a 

few years. Skin, not muscle actually 

supports the breasts, and skin 

stretches with movement. Wearing 

a good support bra is essential to 

minimise this stretching. 

To wear or not to wear, would, 

depend, first of all, on the breast 

size, and secondly, on the woman’s 

habits. It is known that very large 

and heavy-breasted women usually 

need to wear bras for support, and 

they feel pain and discomfort if they 

don’t wear bras. For women with 

small-to-medium size breasts, if 

they are used to wearing bras, say 

they feel a little uncomfortable 

without them. However, this is more 

a psychological issue and a question 

of habit: women tend to feel 

awkward or self-conscious without 

bras if they are used to wearing 

them. In fact, when a person gets 

Across the world, 

breast cancer is a 

problem only in 

cultures where 

women wear bras 

•Tight bras and under wires 

promote congestion 

used to automatically wearing bras, 

it’s possible to not even notice or pay 

any attention to the slight discomfort 

from bras. There are arguments that 

as a woman, you may need to wear a 

bra because your bust has no muscle. 

When gravity pulls your breast down, 

it also stretches your throat and face 

tissue. 

Your breast depends on an outside 

source of support to keep its shape and 

the shape of your breast is determined 

by the bras you wear. Ordinary bras 

on the market today are only covers. 

The woman’s bust must be lifted to 

allow for proper circulation. Without 

proper support, lymphatic drainage is 

impeded, which interferes with cellular 

health. Breast disease such as cancer 

is more likely when there is no 

circulation and lymphatic drainage. 

Several medical experts argue that 

there is no evidence that wearing a bra 

brings any medical benefit. They say 

you could be putting your health at 

risk by wearing bras, researchers have 

warned. Surgeons found women are 

more likely to suffer regular breast 

pain, which has been linked to breast 

cancer. Across the world, breast 

cancer is a problem only in cultures 

where women wear bras. There is 

already international evidence that 

cultures where women do not wear 

bras are free of breast cancer. Tight 

bras cause congestion in the lymph 

nodes—a vital part of the immune 

system and the body’s first line of 

defence against the spread of cancer. 

Repeated inflammation from 

constricting bras are implicated in 

painful breast cysts and lumps, scar 

tissue develops, and milk ducts 

become plugged, all of which is 

associated with a higher risk of breast 

cancer. 

In one study, 100 

premenopausal women 

who went braless for 

three months and then 

returned to wearing one 

for another three months 

found that, on average, 

the number of totally 

pain-free days went up by 

7 per cent when the 

women stopped wearing a 

bras. Several separate 

studies have shown a link 

between breast pain and 

breast cancer. It is 

estimated that two in five women suffer 

from breast pain, with some also having 

cysts. The pain can leave breasts feeling 

extremely tender, and restrict 

movement. Breast pain is very 

common but very hard to treat. 

A study published in the European 

Journal of Cancer found that 

premenopausal women who do not 

wear bras had half the risk of breast 

cancer compared with bra users. More 

interestingly, Japanese, Fijians, and 

women from other cultures tend to have 

a significantly higher likelihood of 

developing breast cancer when they 

began wearing bras. 

Japanese researchers found bras can 

lower melantonin by 60 percent. 

Melatonin has anti-cancer properties. 

And Spanish researchers wrote about 

the use of melantonin in breast cancer 

prevention and treatment. Go braless 

as much as possible? Most women agree 

it’s actually easier to do this. When 

these muscles and ligaments are forced 

to bear the weight of breasts, muscle 

tone returns. 

Indeed, the more you wear a bra, the 

more you need to wear a bra. A study 

found that “medically, physiologically, 

and anatomically, breasts gained no 

benefit from their weight being 

supported in a bra.” There was some 

evidence that eliminating bra use 

helped ease back pain. Some say bra 

wearing is a “false need.” A medical 

doctor (female) summed up this way: 

Remove your bra when you get home. 

Don’t wear a bra to bed. And if you’re 

self-conscious when going out, try 

wearing camisoles, thicker material, or 

nipple pads. However, it does make 

sense to wear a support bra while 

exercising. Wear loose bras in softer 

materials. Tight bras and under wires 

promote congestion and stagnation of 

toxic waste materials. 

C 

M 

Y 

K


08116759 

6759759 

Woman who wanted to be ‘world’s 

fattest’ is now losing weight 

– thanks to constant sex 

A 

morbidly obese mother who 

wanted to be the ‘fattest 

woman in the world’ has turned 

her life around – thanks to a diet 

of constant sex. 

Patty Sanchez weighed 51 

stone after going out with a 

‘feeder’ – who encouraged her to 

eat 13,000 calories of greasy, 

sugary foods per day, and to 

move as little as possible. 

But once they split up, Patty, 

Out of this world 

who lives in Nevada, met a 

younger boyfriend, Bryan 

Johnson, and has lost 19 stone 

with the help of yoga, weightlifting 

– and love-making. 

Patty said, ‘Bryan has changed 

my life. I’ve never felt love like 

this. He keeps me moving and 

active. Before I was too fat to do 

anything but now I have my zest 

for life back. 

‘We have a very active and 

adventurous sex life – we can’t 

keep our hands off each other.’ 

Bryan, a web consultant, 

added: ‘There are limitations 

because of Patty’s weight but we 

do what we can – I think that 

what we do get up to is probably 

too kinky to say.’ 

The couple met via a dating 

site for ‘Big Beautiful Women’ – 

which Patty signed up to after 

she split up with her feeder ex. 

Patty said, ‘We clicked right 

away. He likes bigger women 

and appreciates my curves, but 

he encourages healthy living 

and he keeps me moving. 

‘My ex would do 

everything for me. It got 

to the point where I was 

struggling to even walk 

to the bathroom and I 

realised that I was 

killing myself. 

‘My life needed to 

change. Brian likes big 

women and we have a 

lot in common. 

‘I’m completely in love 

with this man. I’ve never 

felt love like this and I 

feel like Bryan has 

totally changed my life. 

I want to get out and 

about so I can show him 

off – and I want to walk 

down the aisle. 

‘I don’t want to get 

married in a wheelchair 

– I want to stand next to 

the man I love when he 

becomes my husband. 

Bryan said: ‘I’m not 

scared she’s going to 

lose too much weight.’ 

‘Even though I have a 

preference for large 

women and that’s 

always been a thing for 

me, the reason I’m with 

her is because I love who 

she is not what she is.’ 

A 

UGANDAN man has 

become an unlikely pop 

sensation after winning an 

event to find the country’s most 

unusual looking man. 

Godfrey Baguma, 47, a cobbler 

from Kyanzana, became was 

thrust into the limelight for his 

severely deformed head. 

Now, his status as a local 

celebrity has led him to a career 

in African pop music with his 

music videos racking up 

3,000,000 views on YouTube. 

But the singer’s mystery 

condition has never been 

diagnosed and he was fearful he 

would pass it onto his eight 

children. 

After Godfrey’s health began 

declining, Tony Wilson, head of 

medicine at Mbarara Hospital in 

the western region of Uganda, 

decided to carry out tests to 

diagnose him. 

Dr Wilson said: “He has very 

widespread abnormality in his 

head and pressing on various 

parts of his brain. 

“His posture is compressing 

his chest – this is why he’s not 

breathing well.” 

Six weeks after an MRI scan 

with Dr Wilson, Godfrey 

received the full examination he 

had always hoped for. 

He was diagnosed with a rare 

condition called Fibrodysplasia, 

which affects the growth and 

placement of his cells and tissue. 

With the correct medication, 

Godfrey’s health can be 

managed and, better still, he 

cannot pass the disease down to 

his children. 

Godfrey added: “I was so 

worried that the doctor wanted 

to operate on me. I feel glad that 

he just told me about my 

condition. 

“I feel so good and I have 

learned that I am a human 

being.” 

Despite his unusual looks, 

Godfrey is not the only man in 

the world living with a severely 

deformed head. 

‘’I am doing 

it because I 

love my 

family’’ 

Katherine Stone left Seattle to 

work in one of Nevada’s 

infamous legal brothels after 

spotting an advertisement on 

Facebook 

A woman is auctioning her 

virginity for more than £325,000 

to help her family following a 

devastating house fire. 

Katherine Stone, 20, left 

Seattle to work in one of 

Nevada’s infamous legal 

brothels after spotting an 

advertisement on Facebook. 

There, she is advertising her 

virginity for $400,000 - however 

she won’t accept a bid unless 

she feels a “connection” with 

the person. 

Her controversial decision has 

left some saying she should 

have sex for the first time out of 

‘love’, but she claims that is 

“exactly what she is doing”. 

Speaking to CNN , she said: 

“People say you are supposed to 

do it for love. But if you think 

about it, I am doing it because I 

love my family.” 

Stone struck up a deal with 

brothel tycoon Dennis Hof, who 

owns seven of Nevada’s legal 

bordellos, in 2015. 

Hof stated she could sell her 

virginity at his brothel - as long 

as he gets a 50% cut. 

Until then, she works at the 

brothel and offers nonintercourse 

services to raise 

money for her family who didn’t 

have insurance when the fire 

destroyed their home. 

And even after the sale she 

plans on staying on to work 

theirfor five years, at which point 

she will then leave to study law. 

She said: “I’m waiting for a 

man who I feel a connection 

with so that the experience can 

be special for both of us. 

“I have the right to choose 

what I do with my body. And in 

this troubling economy, do you 

blame me?” 

C 

M 

Y 

K

SATURD 


OCTOBER 29, 2016—31 

Vanguard’s foremost columnist, Bizlaw 

marks 83 

L-R: Mrs Aramide Hassan - Momodu , grandaugther, Mrs Aduke 

Olopade, daugther, Uncle Bisi Lawrence, celebrant, Barbara Lawrence, behind 

, Sade Okuboyejo, Ladi Okuboyejo, Funto Okuboyejo and Ven Dr Dele 

Okunnuga 

Being 83 may be 

viewed by some 

as not being too 

kosher, but when you 

are Uncle Bisi Lawrence 

of Vanguard, it is 

something bordering on 

extraordinary. At 83, he 

doesn’t sit on a reclining 

chair boring the young 

to death, he is an active 

columnist who still 

engages both young and 

old on trending national 

issues. Little wonder, 

Vanguard’s top echelon 

sacrificed the whole of 

last Sunday to celebrate 

with him. Photos by 

Sola Oyelese. 

Vanguard’s Titi Jegede 

marries heart-thr 

t-throb 

Titi Jegede of the advert department of 

Vanguard, Abeokuta,Ogun State has married 

her heart-throb, Mr Kehinde Olorundare. The 

marriage took place at Breakforth Church, 

Osuntokun Avenue, Ibadan before the couple’s 

families, their friends and a good number of 

Vanguard’s top brass. Photos Dare Fasube 

The newly-wedded couple; Mr and Mrs 

Kehinde Olorundare 

L-R: Mr Eze Anaba, Editor, Vanguard, Mr 

Ikeddy Isiguzo, former Chairman, Editorial 

Board, Vanguard, Onoche Anibeze, Editor, 

Saturday Vanguard and Mr Emeka 

Nkwocha, Advert Manager, Vanguard. 

L-R: Mr Muyiwa Olopade GrandSon , Mr 

Femi Lawrence Son presented a gift to Uncle 

Bisi Lawrence celebrant and Mrs Tolani Olopade . 

L-R: Mr and Mrs Funsho Oladimeji, groom's 

parents) and Mr annd Mrs Adebayo Jegede, 

bride's parents. 

L-R: Mr and Mrs Kehinde Philips, Uncle Bisi 

Lawrence, celebrant and Ven. Dr. Dele Okunnuga 

. 

Launch of Gionee S6 

phone in Lagos 

L-R: Mrs Aduke Olopade, daugther, Uncle Bisi 

Lawrence, celebrant, Mrs Victoria Ofaru and 

Muyiwa Olopade, grandson. 

Graduation 

L-R: Mr Fred Odueme; Brand Manager, Pastor 

Ola Ajayi; Oyo State Correspondent, Mr 

Dare Fasube; Assistant Photo Editor, Alero 

Atsimene; Deputy Advert Manager, Mr and 

Mrs Kehinde Olorundare, the couple, Janet 

Najomah; Deputy Advert Manager Weekend, 

Mr Emeka Nkwocha; Advert Manager, 

and Pastor Temisan Amuka; Circulation 

Manager 

L-R: Sonoye Habeeb, Marketing Director, 

Gionee Nigeria; Damilola Bolanle, Queen 

Dammy, Face of Gionee and Chen Lie, CEO 

Editor of The Pathfinder, Alhaji Abdulfattah 

Olajide (2nd from right) with his daughter, 

Miss Sakinah Olajide (right), his son, 

AbdulAzeez Olajide, and his wife, Alhaja 

Fatimah Olajide during AbdulAzeez's 

graduation ceremony at the University of 

Ilorin last Saturday 

L-R: Mr Babatunde Abimbola Ambassador, 

Barrister Abraham Ojo, Chief Babablola 

Kehinde Babson and Mr Najeem Soaga of the 

Sun newspaper. 

C 

M 

Y 

K

32—SATURDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 29, 2016 

juliecoker100@yahoo.com 

Why do I 

seem 

invisible 

to people? 

Dear Aunty Julie, 

Iam a 23-year-old lady with an 

issue that bothers me a lot. I feel 

invisible to most people and it has 

made me really suicidal and 

depressed. I feel that no one really 

wants to be friends with me and no 

one cares about me. 

Recently, I went out with my friends 

and we took pictures but when I 

checked Instagram , I realized that 

they have posted the pictures of three 

of them without me! 

It made me question our friendship 

in my mind. But I also feel like no 

one else cares either. It is always me 

who texts/call people for special 

occasions and when I don’t do it, 

people forget about me! It made me 

think that I might have some mental 

problem, like social anxiety, 

depression, or something else! I’m 

really shy and get anxious in most 

social situations. To the point that I lose 

my energy so fast. So I sometimes 

avoid social situations. 

I was much better as a kid. I was still 

shy around some not-so-close relatives. 

But I was okay in most other places 

and sometimes, I was shy at first, but 

not so shy when people started to 

know me. I think it started getting 

worse after secondary school to the 

point that I can’t even look into 

people’s eyes when talking to them. 

I’m painfully shy and socially anxious, 

even around old friends that I 

sometimes meet on the street and 

usually, I don’t know how to start 

conversations, how to hold a 

conversation and what to talk about. 

I really feel jealous of loud and popular 

people who have lots of friends who care 

about them. But when I go to a social 

situation, I can’t be the real me. I can’t 

emotionally open up to people , I can’t be 

loud. Also, I’m really afraid of conflict, and I 

always try to be careful and not to do things 

that “might” bother people or make them 

uncomfortable. 

What should I do about this? 

Nneoma, Jos 

Dear Nneoma, 

There is nothing “wrong” with you! When 

we are feeling depressed or anxious, we 

tend to spend a lot of time caught up in 

negative thoughts. Our brains tend to latch 

onto the negative and sometimes we 

misinterpret different things that people do 

and say. 

When you have the thought that “no one 

cares” or “other people are better than me,” 

try to catch these thoughts and ask yourself 

if they are true and helpful. If you do some 

detective thinking, you may find that the 

thoughts that go around in your head aren’t 

actually completely correct. 

You said that you went out with friends and 

took photos but they didn’t post the photo 

with you in it. There could be many reasons 

why - maybe they didn’t like how they 

looked in the photo with you, maybe they 

didn’t even realise that you would feel left 

out by that! Our negative brain can be quick 

to jump to conclusions, which aren’t actually 

true at all. 

You are very shy and so you aren’t spending 

a lot time talking to others, which then 

“confirms” the negative thought that you 

don’t have friends and no one likes you. 

Therefore, you continue to be shy and avoid 

talking to others. 

But the good news is that once you realise 

you are in this cycle, you can start to make a 

few changes that will help you get out of it. 

Learn forcing yourself to smile at someone or 

ask a question to someone sitting next to you 

in a bus or public places. It might not be 

instant, but keep persisting as you’ll start to 

notice people positively responding to you. 

This will increase your confidence in talking 

to others and hopefully, will help form 

stronger friendships. Don’t pressure yourself 

to jump straight into long conversations, a 

smile is a good start! Also, try to keep 

yourself busy with things you enjoy . Staying 

at home not doing anything can lead to 

getting caught up in all the negative 

thoughts and feeling more and more 

helpless. The important thing to know is that 

you are never alone and there are always 

people who care. 

We are both itchy in our genital areas after sex 

Aunty Julie, 

A 

few weeks after my boyfriend 

and I had sex, we discovered 

we were both itchy in our genital 

areas. 

We postponed sex thinking it was 

just a yeast infection, his 

symptoms being redness and a bit 

of bumps, mine being itchy 

redness. 

Two weeks later, we had sex again 

thinking it was cleared, because 

we were symptom free and then it 

came back again. He has multiple 

bumps on and under his foreskin 

along with itchiness and redness. I 

feel slight itchiness and a little 

redness. What might this be? 

Jessica, Port- Harcourt. 

Dear Jessica, 

You may have been right in the first 

instance. It does sound a bit like a 

yeast infection but you need to treat it to 

make it get better. You’ll need to see a 

doctor and explain your symptoms, 

which is a bit embarrassing but the best 

way for them to know what to suggest. 

If you try this and it gets better, that’s 

probably what it was. 

I recommend going to see a doctor 

anyway as you two should get a routine 

test for STIs, especially chlamydia, as 

well as make sure you’re using a reliable 

form of birth control. 

My parents 

fight a lot 

Aunty Julie, 

I 

grew up to meet my parents 

fighting a lot . I think my dad beats 

my mum for no reason. 

My mum cries everyday and I hate 

seeing her like that. It also affects me 

and my siblings psychologically. 

Sometimes, I feel like we are not like 

normal children or our family is 

different from other families. My 

social life is suffering and I fear I will 

grow up to be like my dad and a wife 

beater. 

I feel so helpless. 

Fabian, Lagos. 

Dear Fabian, 

That’s a terrible situation to be in. 

You clearly worry about your mother 

a great deal, and it’s not easy 

knowing what to do. It also sounds 

like you’re quite angry about how 

they fight. Sometimes, in 

relationships, issues come up which 

couples find difficult to agree on. 

There may not be easy answers, and 

sometimes, a compromise can’t be 

reached. Some couples find it helpful 

to get counselling together, to help 

sort out differences. You haven’t 

mentioned whether this is something 

your parents have done. If they 

haven’t, it’s really difficult as a child 

to suggest such things. I wonder 

though, if your parents know how 

upset you are over them fighting? If 

this is a conversation you are able to 

have with either of them, it may be 

helpful as a starting point to look at 

getting further help. 

I do understand that you might not 

necessarily be able to talk to your 

parents about these things. If so, you 

may find it helpful to get advice from 

someone you trust, like a family 

member or close friend. Sometimes, 

such people may have a different 

perspective on things, which could 

help you understand the situation, 

or they might be in a better position 

to talk to your parents. 

You said something about you turning 

out to be a wife beater like your father. 

That is why you also need 

counselling so as to live a separate 

life different from your father. 

You’ve talked about feeling helpless 

and having thoughts of killing 

yourself. It’s understandable to feel 

hopeless when faced with such a 

difficult situation. It might be a good 

idea to see a professional on your 

own to get some support. 

And do you ever get caught up in 

the fighting? The most important 

thing right now is safety. If you’re 

worried that anyone, you or either of 

your parents are physically 

threatened in anyway, it’s important 

to call the police. 

Getting married 

Getting married is like going to a 

restaurant with friends. You order what you 

want, then when you see what the other 

fellow has, you wish you had ordered that. 

Wedding ring 

At the cocktail party, one woman said to 

another, “Aren’t you wearing your wedding 

ring on the wrong finger?” 

The other replied, “Yes, I am. I married the 

wrong man.” 

Cost of marriage 

A little boy asked his father, “Daddy, how 

C O C K - T A L E S 

much does it cost to get married?” 

And the father replied, “I don’t know 

son, I’m still paying for it.” 

What it takes 

Young son : “Is it true, Dad, I heard that 

in some parts of Africa, a man doesn’t 

know his wife until 

he marries her?” 

Dad : “That happens in most countries, 

son.” 

True marriage 

Married life is very frustrating. 

In the first year of marriage, the man 

speaks and the woman listens. 

In the second year, the woman speaks 

and the man listens. 

In the third year, they both speak and 

the neighbours listen. 

Fools for love 

After a quarrel, a wife said to her 

husband, “You know, I was a fool 

when I married you.” 

And the Husband replied, “Yes, dear, 

but I was in love and didn’t notice it.” 

C 

M 

Y 

K

MTNF delivering economic 

value, deepens empowerment 

on communities, orphanages 

It was few Nigerians who 

believed this initiative, MTN 

Foundation when it was launched 

initially. But today the foundation has 

delivered a lot of economic value in 

Nigeria even as it continues to deepen 

its empowerment in communities 

which an orphanage in Enugu North 

is a beneficiary among others. 

Many youths from poverty ridden 

families had been granted scholarship 

to education while fire incident 

victims had been flown to abroad for 

surgery operations and a lot of 

survived with appreciation to the 

foundation. Different categories of 

people are today managing their small 

and medium enterprises based on the 

foundation’s empowerment, just to 

mention but few. 

MTN foundation despite economic 

recession has remained focused, 

resilient in empowering individuals, 

communities for poverty elevation, 

economic empowerment in Nigeria. 

Today the foundation has found 

Enekwe Ikem Theophilos, a corp 

member, serving in Enugu north with 

Government Technical College, Udi 

LGA as a teacher. In addition, Enekwe 

has passion for the less privileged in 

Udi Eke his native community. 

Before going for service, he could 

not withheld the passion of giving 

back to his society and one place 

where he really desired to touch lives 

is the orphanage in his community, 

Nkolo-Ezi Umuneke Orphanage 

home, where the homeless and less 

privileged children in the community 

hope on for shelter and livelihood. 

Finally, a chance to see his dream 

actualised came through as MTN 

BUSINESS GUIDE 

•Theophilos with children living in orphanage 

Foundation was giving 200 

communities a chance to benefit 

from 200 projects across the six-geo 

political zones in the country and 

Enekwe quickly jumped at it, 

nominating the orphanage in his 

community. 

“I am from this community; I 

nominated this orphanage home 

because of the good service the 

owner and the proprietor are doing, 

providing food and basic amenities 

for them. So when I got the news of 

MTNF WCWDT, I said let me try and 

see if this will help to improve the 

good service these people are doing 

for the orphanage. 

Luckily I got a call that we have 

been selected and all through the time 

they kept in touch with me. They 

came for inspection and interviewed 

me. They gave us a lot of items last 

year December. We received 15 

foams, pillows, mosquito nets and 

refrigerator. Most of those items made 

the community to embrace what the 

orphanage owner is doing. People got 

to know more about MTN foundation 

through the programme and they 

were really appreciative.” 

When asked about the impact of 

the donation to the community and 

what he felt about nominating the 

orphanage, Enekwe said, “I feel so glad 

and honoured because the 

intervention made me a star in my 

community, although most people 

may think it’s too good to be true, 

because of the high rate of fraud stars 

good number of articles educating Nigerians 

A on how to be a part time or full time selfemployed 

to increase personal earnings and 

become rich through animal farming have been 

published in this column to ensure that the pressure 

of unemployment in Nigeria is reduced through 

this sector. Good a thing it does not require much 

cash to invest before reaping your investment. 

This week is on Ostrich which belongs to the 

family of giant birds known as Struthio camelus; 

Ostrich is a wild bird that modern science has 

succeeded in domesticating. The Ostrich is the 

largest ever-living bird. Although flightless, the bird 

is able to take 3.5m (12-feet) strides and to run at a 

sustained speed of 50 km/h (30mph) for 15 minutes 

or more in short distance run, it may reach 70km/ 

h (43mph) especially, when escaping from 

predators. The head is small, with large eyes and a 

short, flat bill. Its body is covered with large, soft, 

loosely structured feathers that easily get wet during 

the rain. 

Ostriches are the only living birds that eliminate 

their urine separately from their faeces unlike other 

birds. Ostrich live in mostly desert, open country, 

where they feed on succulent plants like fruits, 

grasses, and leaves as well as insects, frogs, rat, 

lizards, birds and mice. The most common mating 

pattern in domestication is one male and one female 

in a family pair. 

THE BUSINESS 

An investor who really wants to go into this 

business will need at least half plot of land. The 

land should be fenced only to prevent the birds 

from moving away on their own from the farm. 

The fencing can be made with blocks or preferably 

thick wire gauze as this allows tourist to see animals, 

which is the main attraction. The roof should be 

SATURDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 29, 2016—41 

around. But I must tell you that it is 

a good initiative. I am an eye witness 

and I can stand anywhere and testify 

that MTN have changed the lives of 

people in my community and it has 

also affected me. I thank God for the 

good work he is doing through MTN 

foundation and I urge people to take 

advantage of this generosity because 

it is free and well meaning. 

The donation of valuable materials 

to Nkolo-Ezi Umuneke Orphanage 

home, is one of 200 projects in 200 

local Government Areas in Nigeria 

in the ‘What Can We Do Together 

Phase 1’. 

Following thousands of entries 

received under its “What Can We Do 

Together” initiative phase 2, MTN 

Foundation (MTNF) has begun 

verification visits to 1,085 

communities shortlisted across the 

country. 

The verification visits are geared 

towards achieving a final selection 

of 200 successful communities to 

benefit from the programme. 

According to the Executive Secretary, 

MTN Foundation, Nonny Ugboma, 

the MTN Foundation’s “what can we 

do together” initiative is a unique 

project that aims at putting smiles on 

the faces of individuals and 

improving the lots of Nigerian 

communities. 

Nonny said that ‘What Can We Do 

Together’ is a unique and remarkable 

project because it is meant for 

Nigerians and by Nigerians. “At the 

MTN Foundation we are pleased to 

sustain and improve on the huge 

success recorded in the first phase, 

it’s heart-warming to see the 

eagerness with which Nigerians are 

willing to partner MTNF in its 

unrelenting commitment to 

complement government’s efforts in 

infrastructure development across 

various communities in the country,” 

she added. 

“MTN Foundation targets 200 

communities in 200 local councils 

across the country to benefit from 200 

intervention projects, for the phase 2 

of the project, the foundation will 

focus on electricity transformer, borehole, 

school furniture and medical 

supply donations to community 

health care centres. The 200 

communities will benefit from 20 

transformers, 20 boreholes, 80 school 

furniture and 80 primary health care 

centres. 

Nutricima fights stunted growth among 

Nigerian children 

…launches Nunu Smart-Gr 

t-Growth Formulation 

In its bid to further combat malnutrition and stunted growth among Nigerian 

children, Nunu has unveiled its special smart growth formulation that delivers 

30% Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) nutrition needed for a child’s 

healthy living and growth. 

The new pack design for Nunu also unveiled at the launch of the Smart- 

Growth campaign complements the richness and quality nutrients Nunu has 

been known for over the years. 

Speaking at the launch, Marketing Director, Mr. Kalyan Bandyopadhyay 

explained that the Smart-Growth formulation delivers 30% Recommended 

Dietary Allowance (RDA) to help children grow every day so that they can fulfill 

their potentials. “Nunu milk is rich in proteins and other vitamins which are 

essential nutrients required for children’s mental growth and development”. 

Bandyopadhyay stated that as a kid’s specialist brand, Nunu Smart-Growth 

Formulation seeks to address malnutrition and stunted growth amongst children 

which according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) can take 

variety of forms such as protein-energy malnutrition, iodine deficiency disorders 

and deficiencies of iron and vitamin A. 

“Nunu Smart Growth is endorsed by the Nutrition Society of Nigeria (NSN) 

and according to recent studies, children between ages 7 – 12 years who are 

regularly exposed to nutrients offered by products like Nunu milk have steady 

growth and develop faster. 

According to the Dietitian Nutritionist of the Nutrition Society of Nigeria, Mrs 

Coates-Romoke Oludayo, “based on the latest data from UNICEF, an estimated 

11% of children age 5 – 8 and 1.7 million in Nigeria alone suffer from acute 

malnutrition while 40% and 10.1 million children in Nigeria are affected by 

chronic malnutrition. But with smart growth formulation, mothers can now be 

rest assured that their children will have access to all the nutrients they require 

to grow healthy.” 

Earning a living through Ostrich farming 

left open, as the bird cannot fly. It is 

also important that some tree shrubs 

are left in the farm, which could serve 

as sheds to the birds during hot 

weather. 

WHERE TO BUY FERTILE 

OSTRICH BREEDERS? 

Jovana Farms offers training 

services and materials for profitable 

ostrich production. One of the major 

challenges in ostrich farming is 

getting the right breed, and this opens 

up a golden opportunity for 

technically based company like us 

to fill this gap. We do not only provide 

good breeders of ostrich, antelopes, 

grasscutters, snails, etc. We also teach 

farmers how to manage them for 

profitability. 

FEED 

Mostly, Ostrich feeds on leaves, 

fruits, grains, small animals and 

tubers like cassava, coco yam, 

potatoes, yam and enough water. 

Today, we have very good feed-mix 

that can be formulated from 

feed mill centres to boost fast 

growth. Concerning 

mortality rate, as the largest 

bird in the world, Ostrich has 

the strongest body immunity 

to diseases more than any 

other bird in existence. 

After about 18-months, the 

laying of eggs start for 

domesticated birds, 

fertilization of egg is 

internal. A bird well cared for 

can lay up to 80-eggs in a 

year, and each egg is as big as 

children football. 

BENEFIT OF OSTRICH 

FARMING 

Although many people are 

unaware, Ostriches produce more 

meat than cattle and contains the 

least fat and calories of all meats 

(beef, chicken, pork, lamb, goat and 

turkey). Because they are not as 

common as other meats, Ostrich 

produce fetches a very high price. 

They can be slaughtered between 8- 

18months. In a world that is more 

likely to switch to low-calorie and 

healthier meats in the near future, 

Ostrich farmers are positioning 

themselves to cash in the huge 

opportunity. 

Visit us at 

www.jovanafarms.com, E- 

mail:jovanafarms@gmail.com or Call: 

080 33262 808, for more details.


Africa stars stage tribute for Manu 

Dibango, KSA, Papa Wemba, others, 

at Lagos AFRIMA awards 2016 

$2.6bn Badagry deep Sea Port will be turning 

point for economic growth—Ambode 

...Says funding for 10-Lane Mile 2-Badagry highway 

expansion at advanced stage 

By Olasunkanmi 

Akoni 

LAGOS State Governor, 

Mr. Akinwunmi 

Ambode on Thursday expressed 

optimism that the 

$2.6bn Badagry Deep Sea 

Port Project would be a major 

turning point that would 

go a long way to bring about 

global growth to Nigerian 

waters and by extension the 

nation’s economy. 

The Governor, who spoke 

shortly after another successful 

meeting with the 

executive management of 

APM Terminals (Maersk 

Group), represented by Mr. 

Morten Engelstoft, CEO 

designate of APM Terminals 

in Copenhagen, Denmark, 

on the advancement 

of the Badagry Deep Sea 

Port, said the project would 

also complement the emergence 

of Lagos as the fifth 

largest economy in Africa. 

He said the meeting, held 

alongside Chairman, APM 

Terminal, Apapa, Chief 

Ernest Shonekan, was the 

culmination of a process 

which begun as far back as 

2012 and which has been 

taken on with renewed 

vigour by his administration 

and has thus resulted in this 

significant foreign investment 

estimated at over US 

$2.6billion into Lagos. 

“This port and free zone, 

situated on over 1000 hectares 

is expected to be the 

largest deep sea port in Africa 

upon its completion. The 

project will include a container 

terminal, oil & gas 

services and a liquid bulk 

terminal, with general cargo 

and Ro-Ro facilities,” Governor 

Ambode said. 

The Governor while lauding 

the investors for staying 

the course with the project, 

expected to generate 

500,000 direct and indirect 

jobs upon completion, 

pledged his government’s 

commitment to ensuring the 

interests of the host communities 

alongside a sustainable 

regeneration and urban 

renewal of the area. 

Alluding to the fact that 

the project would be a major 

infrastructural development 

to the Badagry axis, Governor 

Ambode also confirmed 

that talks are well advanced 

to reach financial close on 

Lot 3 of the Mile 2 to Seme 

10-lane highway expansion, 

saying that it would in 

no small way complement 

the ongoing Badagry Deep 

Sea Port Project. 

The Governor, who said 

the Lot 3 would run from 

LASG/BCAN to employ 1000 graduates as Bus Conductors 

By Ebun Sessou & 

Obinna Mbajunwa 

HE National President 

Tof the Bus Conductors 

Association of Nigeria, 

BCAN, Comrade Israel 

Ade Adeshola through the 

Lagos State ministry of 

transportation said it would 

employ 1000 graduates 

from different Universities 

as Bus Conductors. 

Comrade Adeshola in an 

interview with Vanguard 

also disclosed that the new 

policy of the Lagos state 

government under the 

leadership of Governor 

Akinwunmi Ambode is 

collaborating with the 

association to give Bus 

Conducting profession a 

new look. 

According to him, 

“presently Lagos state 

government through the 

Lagos State Drivers 

Institute, LASDRI is 

training and accrediting 

conductors in the state, 

adding that after the 

training the graduands 

would be employed as Bus 

Conductors and would be 

on the payroll of the 

government with a salary 

worth of N50,000 per 

month. 

“The objective is to make 

the job of bus conducting 

attractive, respected and 

dignified as obtainable 

globally”, he said. 

Adeshola explained that 

there is a project in the 

pipeline by the state 

government to change the 

face of transportation 

system to enhance security 

and also provide 

employment opportunity 

in the state. 

Speaking on the vision of 

the association, he said, 

since the establishment in 

2008, it has been working 

relentlessly with the 

federal government 

through the national 

assembly as well as some 

state governments to 

establish its presence. 

Two Lagos housewives bath hairdresser’s 

face, breasts with hot water 

By Ishola Balogun 

A 

hairdresser, Taiwo 

Atunramu, is 

battling to stay alive after 

she was gruesomely 

attacked with hot water by 

two housewives. The 

incident which occurred at 

Igbogila, Ipaja, Lagos 

recently has affected her 

face, chest and mammary 

glands. 

The two suspects, 

Awawu Raimi, 40, and 

Temitayo Raimi, 42 were 

said to have invaded the 

shop of the hairdresser to 

avenge the burns 

sustained by a daughter 

of one of the housewives 

while Atunramu 

(hairstylist) was making 

making her hair. 

According to her: “I was 

in my shop when she 

(Raimi), brought her 

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode 

(right), with CEO designate of APM Terminals in 

Copenhagen, Denmark, Mr. Morten Engelstoft, 

shortly after the Governor met with the Executive 

Management of APM Terminals (Maersk Group) on 

the Badagry Deep Sea Port, at the A.P Moller – Maersk 

Head Office, Copenhagen, Denmark, recently. 

daughter to do her hair. 

When I finished making 

the hair, I decided to use 

hot water to smoothen the 

tips of the hair.” 

In the process of putting 

the hair in the hot water, 

some hot water splashed 

on the girl’s shoulder and 

I quickly dropped the 

bowl of water and applied 

grease on her shoulder. 

The hairdresser said that 

when Raimi came to pick 

her daughter, she 

explained what had 

happened to the mother, 

apologised and refunded 

the money she had paid 

for the hair. 

She added that Raimi, 

who was not happy about 

the incident, went home 

and told her mate 

(Temitayo) what 

happened. 

Aturamu said: “I was 

Okokomaiko-Badagry- 

Seme, affirmed the commitment 

of his administration 

to providing an enabling 

environment for businesses 

to thrive in the State. 

On his part, Engelstoft 

reiterated the Group’s commitment 

to the Badagry 

Deep Sea Port and assured 

the Governor that all business 

streams of the Maersk 

Group would be involved 

in ensuring the success of 

the Project. 

closing my shop when the 

duo appeared with a big 

flask and all the same, I 

was about to apologise 

again, the duo opened the 

flask and poured hot water 

on my face, chest and 

breasts,” she stated. 

She was immediately 

rushed to the hospital by 

witnesses; she suffered 

injuries on the face, chest 

and both breasts.” 

Saturday Vanguard as at 

press time gathered that 

the matter has since been 

reported to the police and 

charged to court. 

The offence contravened 

Sections 243 and 409 of the 

Criminal Law of Lagos 

State, 2011. Section 243 

stipulates seven years 

imprisonment for grievous 

harm, while Section 409 

prescribes a two-year jail 

term for conspiracy. 

By Olasunkanmi Akoni 

THE performance 

stage of the 2016 All 

Africa Music Awards, 

AFRIMA, will come alive 

on Sunday, November 6 at 

Eko Hotels and Suites, 

Lagos, as African music 

stars have been lined up 

for pulsating and emotive 

tribute performances in 

honour of Manu Dibango, 

King Sunny Ade and late 

Papa Wemba, three of 

Africa’s renowned music 

legends. 

The jamboree with expected 

thousands of guests 

which is being organized •Late Papa Wemba 

in partnership with the African 

Union Commission, AUC, and the support of the 

Official Host City, Lagos State, AFRIMA 2016 grand awards 

ceremony will be preceded by The AFRIMA Music Village 

on Friday November 4, 2016, a non-stop music concert 

with over 40 African artistes performing live at the 

Waterfront, Bar Beach, Victoria Island, Lagos in Nigeria. 

82-year-old Cameroonian saxophonist and vibraphone 

player Manu Dibango, is hailed for making an enormous 

contribution to African music as a whole. Nicknamed; 

‘The Lion of Cameroon’, Manu Dibango is recognised for 

developing a music style fusing jazz, funk and traditional 

Cameroonian music. His song “Soul Makossa” has influenced 

several popular music hits, including Michael 

Jackson’s “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin”, as well as his 

recording of that song with Akon, the Fugees’ “Cowboys”, 

and Rihanna’s “Don’t Stop the Music” and Comedian 

Eddie Murphy in his 1982 parody song “Boogie in your 

butt”. 

Artiste-in-Residence at the ObafemiAwolowo University, 

Nigeria, King Sunny Ade is classified as one of the 

most influential musicians of his time. The Nigerian singersongwriter 

and multi-instrumentalist and two-time 

Grammy award nominee is known for his pioneering of 

modern world music. His stage performance is 

characterised by dexterous dancing steps and use of the 

guitar. Papa Wemba, the late iconic musician from the 

Democratic Republic of Congo, who died at the age of 67 

on April 24, 2016 during a stage performance in Cote 

d’Ívoire, also pioneered a blend of African, Cuban and 

Western sounds which became one of Africa’s most popular 

music styles. Dubbed the ‘King of Rhumba Rock’, Papa 

Wemba was also a fashion icon who popularised the La 

Sape look and style through his musical group Viva la 

Musica, with whom he performed on stages throughout 

the world. 

Lagos to plant over 12m 

trees in 4 years 

By Olasunkanmi Akoni 

LAGOS State Government has concluded plans to plant 

12 million trees in another four years. 

Commissioner of the environment, Dr. Babatunde Adejare 

revealed that the state government planned to set examples 

to other states by planting between 600, 000 to one million 

trees yearly. 

Meanwhile, Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim, Chairman, 

Senate Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, has 

urged the Federal Government to establish an agency 

saddled with the responsibility of climate change challenges 

and issues in the country. 

Ibrahim made the appeal during the presentation of South 

West Ambassador of Nigeria Goes Green to Governor 

Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, in Alausa, Ikeja, recently. 

The chairman stressed that the government also 

needed to increase public awareness, promote research 

and fund climate change projects in Nigeria for sustainable 

solution. 

Ibrahim, who was represented by Prince Ade Adewunmi 

identified persistent droughts and flooding, off season rains, 

dry spells and fewer water supplies as such factors effecting 

climate change in Nigeria. 

To combat the effects of climate change, the Executive 

Secretary of Nigeria Goes Green, Mr. Dare Adenekan 

stressed the need for Nigerians to plant at least two billion 

trees yearly. 

He commended the Lagos State government for planting 

over 6.8 million trees in the last few years adding that the 

planet earth needs about 87 billion trees to curb the effects 

of climate change. Adenekan therefore, urged individuals 

and organisations to lessen the burden on the government 

by planting a tree in their respective houses and workplace. 

C 

M 

Y 

K


have to be the one running for office, but either 

way I will be involved. 

Do you still dream of ruling Rivers state? 

The dream was never to rule, it was to lead. 

And lead by example. I do that every day in 

whatever capacity I find myself. It is not easy 

to engage with all kinds of politicians and 

come out clean. I believe I have done that. It 

is not easy to come from nowhere and make 

a name in state and national politics, I believe 

PRINCE TONYE PRINCEWILL 

I have done that. It is not easy to join the 

Nollywood family and make an impact, I 

Films or not, I 

believe we have done that and it is not easy 

to develop the business contacts we did 

without politics, yet again we have also done 

that. If politics has not allowed me show my 

capacity today, one day it will in whatever 

capacity. Maybe I am bigger than just Rivers 

still dream of 

state or politics. Maybe my dream is to be a 

statesman. The country is short of them. 

How strong is this dream? 

I do not sleep for too long, so 

I think I dream in 

episodes. And so far, so 

leading Rivers 

good. My dreams are 

going well. 

Fortunately I am not 

prepared to kill, maim 

or sacrifice human life 

to achieve my political 

state someday 

goals. So my ambition 

and my dreams are 

measured by the price 

I am prepared to pay 

for them. The dark 

actors in Rivers state 

know that if I decide 

•Tonye 

to go down the path 

A 

Princewill 

of violence, neither of 

t 47 years of age, Prince Tonye Princewill has done many things that 

them would rest easy. 

many of his age mates dread to attempt. From running successfully, 

They know I am not 

Riverdrill, his oil and gas conglomerate employing hundreds of 

the one who would be 

Nigerians and other business interests to being the youngest gubernatorial 

afraid. But like the 

story of the two women and King Solomon, I 

candidate in Rivers state elections of 2007 as candidate of the Action 

am not prepared to kill my people in order to 

Congress of Nigeria. He was also Labour Party Governorship candidate in 

lead them. There has to be a line. 

2015. Recently, at the Toronto International film festival, Tonye and crew 

How do you assess Rivers state as well as 

stood out as the movie 76 which he proudly produced was singled out for 

the south south in terms of growth and 

honors. He speaks on his unwavering interest in leadership of Rivers state 

development? 

among other issues. 

Not yet time to comment but I expected 

more. Then again that is compared to what I 

The next movie is 

know is possible. The leaders in power now 

are doing their best. A mango can not produce 

ou must be feeling happy about the recent 

Did part of your growing up prepare you for the about Boko Haram 

oranges. My job is to pray for our leaders 

Yexploits of the film 76 at the recent Toronto 

latest moves you are making in entertainment? 

and hope that good can still come from them 

and we will go to 

International Film festival. Why did you venture 

I believe it did. I was an all rounder in both arts 

to the many and not the few. Wike does not 

into culture and entertainment as diversionary 

and science. My father too. He made me read the Sambissa. We are 

take constructive criticism very well, you are 

or complementary to your political interests? 

entire works of Shakespeare aged 10 and my love 

either with him or against him, no in 

Both my political and individual interests are 

for film was total. In the university, we lived on also doing a 

betweens. So I have stopped the need to 

complementary but I notice many people often 

campus at Uniport and so The Crab which was the 

constantly give advice. Very soon I will break 

documentary as we 

wonder how come Princewill is making films. A 

home of Theatre Arts was a hangout for me from an 

down the story so far with a detailed analysis 

closer inspection will reveal why. First, the films 

early age when school was not in session. The Ola speak which is 

of what he got right and what he got wrong. 

have powerful messages and all the messages 

Rotimi house was my second home and so I was 

Till then, constantly talking is not a habit. I 

are aimed at the next generation of youths. This 

exposed to the theatre and its allure before the world bound to open 

am not a fan of my own voice. 

is my fourth film and even though 76 is making 

of business took control in my life. That is why it may 

doors Nigeria has 

the most impact, the others will soon be making 

surprise others but I can explain my passion, my 

Do you think that the youths are clicking 

their impact very soon. That is the story of my 

love and my dedication to film making and I know 

into the message of self development like 

kept closed for over 

politics too. I want to show the next generation 

that this is only the beginning now that we have 

you have always preached? 

that they do not have to wait for things to happen. 

seen the money one can make from film. 40 years 

Yes they are. Faster than I expected. The 

movement is alive. We can not continue to 

Given a sincere passion and a driving 

determination, anything is possible. 76 is going 

Nigerians have come to respect Izuu Ojukwu for 

take them for granted. That to me is the 

to Toronto and London Film festivals back to back, 

his creativity..How did you meet him? 

definition of success in our political sphere. 

Haha!! But I am new. So what do I know? 

the first for a Nollywood film made in Nigeria by 

A mutual friend who is the co-executive producer 

Seeds have been sown. 

My little experience tells me that there is a 

Nigerians for the international community. As we 

on 76, Adonai Owiriwa brought him to my attention 

Good question. Let me answer it this way. 

time for everything. Nigerian film aka 

are proud to export our entertainment, one day 

after I decided to get involved in my first project. It 

We have moved forward but we have left too 

Nollywood has done what it did with little or 

we will be proud to export our politics. It’s all about 

was a movie that highlighted the plight of orphanages 

many people behind. That is why celebrating 

no organised pro-active support from 

sending a positive message of Nigeria. 

in the country and the role of individuals and 

it is not second nature for Nigerians. The 

government in making miracles happen. For the first government or the private sector. Charity begins grass is always greener on the other side so 

at home. Before you present your best outside, 

What did you specifically learn from Toronto 

time I met someone who was more interested in his 

we are bound to have many who complain 

things need to be put in order inside. My 

as regards the art and technology in film making 

art than in money and who let his work do the talking. 

for the sake of it. But there are too many 

immediate assessment is we are not yet serious 

and its distribution? 

Found out later that we both grew up in Jos and 

genuine patriots who expected far better from 

about the things we need to be serious about. 

Toronto was a confirmation of what I suspected 

were both driven by the same passion for excellence. 

us this far into our independence and they 

Four industries in spite of the challenges of 

all along. There is a hunger for the Nigerian 

I call him the Spielberg of Nigerian film and as far 

are not unreasonable. Our leaders have let 

Nigeria have demonstrated that they can 

experience. If well packaged, Nigerian films can 

as good guys go, Izu is up there with the best. This 

us down. History and God will not be too kind 

produce world beaters. Religion, banking , 

make money. Even before we arrived Toronto we 

is our second project together and in each we have 

to us. Your only redemption is to show your 

music and film. The last two are often grouped 

had already secured 300% on our investment. The 

tackled issues that will make the next generation 

track record. Corruption needs to be 

together as entertainment. 

movie had not even be released yet. Is that not 

think. Nnenda was about orphanages, 76 is about 

addressed head on but we must be able to 

talk and walk at the same time. Fiscal 

good business? I brought my business acumen, 

women and things people miss when they read only 

How do you think that these problems will discipline, creating the environment for 

my political contacts and an ability to identify a 

the headlines. Izu made all the difference. He also 

be solved? 

growth, security in the Niger Delta especially 

good team to create a winning formula that makes 

doubled as producer too. 

When the government and the private sector and the promotion of a positive identity are 

this business more profitable than oil. My first 

step up to the plate. There have been many crucial if we want to crack the No 1 problem 

degree was in Petroleum Engineering, my second 

On the film 76…you must have been touched by 

attempts at it but they keep falling short. What in Nigeria - JOBS. 

degree was in Mineral resources Engineering, I 

the story…? 

is needed is not rocket science. It is simple 

made my money from Information technology and 

Yes I was. Deeply. Watched it the first five times 

demand and supply. Everything else is finer Nigeria is agog with the arrests of judges 

project management but here I am now investing 

and cried every single time even though I knew what 

detail. If you don’t know where you are going, especially as it happened in Port 

in film. Toronto has shown my team and I that 

was going to happen. After a while I suspected it 

how can you get there? We need to set targets, Harcourt..any comments? 

film is a universal language and given a chance, 

was the money we spent that made me cry because 

agree on what we define as collective success As for the affair with judges and my view 

Nigerians can influence the world and create their 

since we signed our deal in Toronto, I have watched 

and work towards it. My brief entry into the on it, why does everyone feel the need to 

own story. 

it three times and it hasn’t been so bad. Having said, 

that the original version has been modified for film industry tells me the potential here is huge. comment? By default, I am inclined to look 

Film is the new oil. 

before I speak. I shudder at people who rise 

Your interest in the murky and volatile climate 

festival audiences and made less dramatic. Oyibo 

aggressively to defend the judges or the DSS 

of entertainment must be long time because I 

people do not like too much drama. We are yet to 

Can they even ever be solved? 

and ask myself two questions. 

recall your involvement in Delyork. No one 

decide which version we will show Nigerians on 

Yes. They can. And they will. If not this What if either side is wrong and how well 

invests in culture without strong passion… 

November the 25th. Either way I believe they too 

government, then the next. The recent initiative do I know the law? If it turns out the 

That is correct. I have invested in films all along 

will be touched no matter which version they watch. 

that Tony Elumelu and the Federal Government government over reached it self, nobody is 

from scholarships to internships and also to skills 

signed to partner with the film industry is a better equipped to get justice than judges. If 

acquisition. I try to give back in a guided way. 

I hear you have more films in the pipeline 

sign that this government recognizes things however the federal government is right that 

Free food is not always good so I match effort with 

Yes. The next movie is about Boko Haram and we 

are happening. One must be optimistic. they have a case and have exposed the mother 

reward. Many of my scholars have gone on to 

will go to Sambissa. We are also doing a documentary 

Nothing employs like film. One day somebody of all corruptions, let us thank our God and 

transform their places of work. I was pleased to 

as we speak which is bound to open doors Nigeria 

important will get it. 

see where the story will end. Talk about the 

see one of my scholars also in Toronto acting in 

has kept closed for over 40 years. But in everything 

time of arrest, whether they can arrest, 

one of the best documentaries we have made, 

we do, we do it with wisdom and care. The unity of 

One wonders what becomes of your warrants and rights can leave the best lawyers 

Green white Green. I don’t want anything back 

Nigeria is paramount. I see our differences as worthy 

political career now you have entered arguing for and against forever. Me and the 

from them except that they remember they are 

of celebration and not a cause for conflict. Fear should 

Nollywood with utmost vigor? 

people I care about have school fees issues, 

Nigerians and that Nigeria is full of good people. 

not rule us, love needs to start winning. I am glad to 

My political career is intact. Good people exchange rate issues and health problems to 

Find them and help them. If we had more Tonye 

be in the midst of an industry that can make and is 

are becoming more and more critical to move address. 

Princewills down their bit, the difference would 

making a difference. 

Nigeria forward. When Nigerians realise we Let the judges and the government sort 

be visible in no time. I believe they are there, out 

cannot continue like this, they will look for themselves out. What is clear though is that 

there, even better than me. 

You will always say you are new….what do you 

see as problems of African especially Nigerian films people like us or younger versions to exhibit stealing will no longer be like it was before 

making it at world stage? 

excellence and toughness combined. I do not and that is a good thing. 

C 

M 

YK

44—SATURD 



C 

M 

Y 

K

When the Nigeria Football 

Federation (NFF) 

appointed Gernot Rohr, the 

former Bayern Munich and Bordeaux 

defender, as the new manager of the 

Super Eagles, I was less than 

enamoured with the appointment. 

With stints in Niger, Burkina Faso 

and Gabon forming the bulk of the 

German’s national team 

management experience, I 

wondered how that qualified him to 

take on the biggest job in African 

football and certainly one of the most 

difficult in the world. 

That the 63-year-old took over the 

national team after the NFF made a 

dog’s breakfast of recruiting Paul Le 

Guen, Cameroon’s manager at the 

2010 World Cup, did not help matters 

either. 

Anyone aware of my position on the 

current NFF leadership, led by 

Amaju Pinnick, will be acutely aware 

that I have been a trenchant critic of 

the sharp nosedive that Nigerian 

football has taken, since he and his 

executive committee members took 

over the administrative reins in 

2014. 

But a conversation with Hardy 

Hasselbruch, an old friend in 

Nuremburg and professional 

colleague at Kicker, Germany’s top 

football magazine - which I 

occasionally write for - opened the 

door to my change of mind, on 

Gernot’s suitability for the job. 

“As a coach, he has sound 

knowledge of the game and has a 

strong personality. But what is even 

more important, Gernot is a very 

decent human being,” Hardy told 

me. 

osasuo@yahoo.com 

A chat about (and with) Gernot 

If he is 

allowed to do 

his job, in the 

way that I 

know he can 

do it, he will 

be successful 

in Nigeria 

“I am quite surprised that he has 

taken on the Nigeria job, knowing 

that many coaches before him 

worked without being paid their 

salary,” he laughed. 

“If he is allowed to do his job, in 

the way that I know he can do it, he 

will be successful in Nigeria.” 

Another person with knowledge of 

Rohr, owing to the German’s playing 

and coaching experience with 

Bordeaux, is my Paris-based friend, 

Frank Simon of France 

Football, whose expertise on African 

football – and the game in general - 

I respect greatly. 

“As a coach, he was a good call for 

many clubs. He is not a bigmouth 

and a very humble person.” 

Hardy put me in touch with Gernot 

before he signed a deal with the NFF, 

leading to a subsequent exchange of 

messages, until we finally had a oneon-one 

conversation at the Abuja 

National Stadium on Wednesday, 

5th October, for the BBC World 

Service, a few days before Nigeria’s 

World Cup qualifier in Zambia. 

It left me impressed for several 

reasons. 

First, Gernot is as eager to go to 

the 2018 World Cup as Nigeria. 

Despite being a well-respected 

defender in Europe, during his 17- 

year playing career, Gernot never 

made it to the game’s premier 

tournament. 

“Going to the World Cup is why I 

accepted this very exciting challenge 

with Nigeria,” he told me. “I would 

like my team to play against 

Germany. 

“I have already coached at the 

Nations Cup with two countries and 

I’ve also had the chance [at 

Bordeaux] to coach Zinedine 

Zidane, one of the biggest players 

in the world. 

“And I played with Franz 

Beckenbauer and Gerd Müller 

[whilst he was at Bayern]. I am 

missing that feeling and I thought 


Gernot Rohr 

that by coming here, I could get it 

back. 

“The passion for football is very big 

here. Nigeria is a big football 

country. It is an honour for me to 

coach this team. 

“We have to work at the top level, 

all the time… The players must be 

conscientious about their 

responsibility, to be here for the 

country. It is a bigger responsibility 

than when they are at their clubs, 

because they are representing 180 

million people.” 

Another revelation that left a 

positive impression is the fact he 

claims money is a “secondary thing” 

to him. 

“I am here to coach a team. The 

salary is secondary,” Rohr insists. 

“I was, for 17 years, a professional 

player with Bayern Munich and 

Bordeaux. Money is not my problem. 

Even if the salary is not coming 

immediately, I am not hungry. I can 

eat.” 

That attitude could come in handy, 

especially with an employer known 

for its abysmal record in not promptly 

paying wages to its employees, as 

Samson Siasia can readily attest to. 

An insistence that his Nigerian 

assistants - Salisu Yusuf and 

goalkeeper trainer, Alloy Agu - be 

given improved contracts, also 

attests to his decency and that he 

understands a harmonious team 

environment is required to achieve 

World Cup qualification. 

But it is having the backbone to be 

unbending, when it comes to 

enforcing the professional 

management of the Super Eagles’ 

World Cup campaign - a huge 

problem in the past – that will be 

critical for Gernot. 

He will have to be extremely firm, 

uncompromising even, to ensure the 

high standards he is demanding are 

met during a lengthy qualifying 

campaign. 

Clemens Westerhof, Nigeria’s most 

successful foreign manager, once 

told me that to succeed with the 

Super Eagles, he had to have “the 

skin of an elephant” on his back. 

Gernot will certainly need to borrow 

a leaf – or a tough hide, rather – from 

Clemens, if he is to accomplish his 

mission. 

I hope Gernot has a successful 

sojourn with us. The alternative for 

Nigeria – not qualifying for Russia 

and missing out on international 

tournament football for six successive 

years – is a prospect too frightening 

to contemplate. 

For more of my reports and 

feature pieces, go to 

FootballIsAfrica.com

C 

M 

Y 

K 

46— SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 29, 2016 

NFF pays Siasia, 

keeps assistants 

waiting 

The Nigeria Football 

Federation (NFF) has 

paid Samson Siasia all his 

outstanding salary but is yet 

to pay his assistant coaches, 

comprising David Ngodigha, 

Fatai Amoo and Monday 

Odigie. 

Siasia and his coaching 

crew, performed what seemed 

a miracle at the last Rio 

Olympic Games, winning 

bronze in the men's soccer 

event, which was the only 

medal won by Team Nigeria 

contingent at the Games. 

The plights of the Siasia's 

side before their trip to Brazil 

for the Games were well 

documented that even the 

international media, 

comprising CNN, BBC and 

Sports Illustrated highlighted 

how the team were being 

prepared for failure 

But against all odds, the 

technical crew did not allow 

their problems to distract 

them from putting up a 

befitting performance as they 

reached the semifinals, where 

they lost to eventual 

champions, Germany. 

But for all their pains and 

toils, the coaches, who 

assisted Siasia to achieve this 

great feat are yet to receive 

their outstanding salary, even 

when Siasia has gotten his 

salary. 

An insider in the NFF told 

us last night that the Amaju 

Pinnick-controlled Executive 

Committee has paid Siasia his 

wages, leaving his assistants 

in the cold, as far as their 

remuneration is concerned. 

We learnt that Siasia's 

assistants were not happy 

with the development, that 

has left put a lot of financial 

stress on them, a trend that 

brings to the fore the manmade 

problems coaches face 

in Nigeria 

Eagles gather 

momentum 

against 

Algeria 

By John Egbokhan 

With about two weeks to the 

Russia 2018 World Cup 

qualifier between Super Eagles 

and the Desert Foxes, the momentum 

is swinging in Nigeria’s 

direction to get the three points 

in the game holding in Uyo, 

Akwa Ibom State.. 

Eagles top the group, which 

also include Cameroon and 

Zambia, after one round of 

matches held earlier in the 

month, with another win in the 

next match set to take them five 

points clear of the Algerians, who 

were held to a 1-1 draw by the 

Indomitable Lions in Bilda. 

In a group of four former AF- 

CON champions, the stakes are 

high as the battle-line has been 

drawn as teams attempt to outwit 

each other for the right to 

pick the sole ticket to play in Russia 

2018. 

For Nigeria, there is an increased 

sense of urgency to qualify 

for the next World Cup, following 

the team’s failed bid to 

reach the upcoming AFCON in 

Gabon. 

To ensure that the current generation 

of Eagles do not miss out 

of top-flight continental and international 

football in the next 

two years, the Nigeria Football 

Federation (NFF) has swung into 

action to get the players unwavering 

commitment to the looming 

clash with the Algerians in 

Uoy. 

One of such moves was the recent 

visit of Eagles technical adviser, 

Gernoit Rohr to England, 

where he had fruitful discussion 

Rangers plan Hall of Fame with Ugwuanyi in mind 

By Onochie Anibeze 

Ex Rangers players 

have not relented in 

their drive to remain 

not only united but also progressive 

in football and welfare 

matters. 

Rangers are the only Nigerian 

club whose ex players 

operate a social system that 

sees them holding conventions 

and other social engagements 

in the United States and 

other places. They have a solid 

patron in Sir Benson Ejindu 

who sponsors most of their 

events in USA. Many of the 

ex Rangers players reside in 

USA where many had gone to 

study on scholarship. Donald 

Igwebuike is their spokesman 

in USA. Rangers run a social 

union and uppermost in their 

agenda is the welfare of the 

retired players. When a member 

is bereaved they attend the 

funeral as a team. And when 

it is celebration time like in 

weddings and other social 

events involving their members 

they also attend as a 

team. And when on October 2 

they had a chance to win the 

league after 32 years many of 

•Siasia 

them came from afar to be part 

of history at the Enugu stadium 

that will host international 

matches next season. Winning 

the league again has 

ensured greater unity in them. 

And now they want to establish 

a Hall Of Fame. They 

want to site this in their dream 

Rangers Estate. They are 

banking on the governor of 

Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi 

to achieve these lofty 

dreams. 

“It will be great for the government 

to carve out part of 

Enugu and name it Rangers 

Estate,” Christian Chukwu 

said of the new plans by the 

Ex Rangers body. Dr. Johny 

Egbonu was with him and confirmed 

their plan to appeal to 

the governor to allocate land 

for Rangers Estate in Enugu. 

If such land is made available, 

ex Rangers players could 

be allocated plots of land at 

affordable rates. Streets in the 

Estate will be named after 

great players of Rangers. 

Members of the public could 

also be allocated plots of land 

to buy. It will be a normal estate. 

It is in this estate Chukwu 

said they hope to gather 

•As Wenger counsels 

Iwobi 

•Rangers captain and Gov. Ugwuanyi 

resources to build their Hall 

of Fame. 

“We have considered the 

possibilities and we know it is 

achievable. We will make representations 

to the governor 

who has done a lot for Rangers 

within the short time he 

has served as governor. We 

•Iwobi 

with Chelsea midfielder, John 

Obi Mikel and Arsenal forward, 

Alex Iwobi. 

The 63 year -old former Bayern 

Munich defender also had 

talks with Iwobi’s club coach, 

Arsene Wenger, who it was learnt 

committed to releasing the 

youngster as early as possible for 

the crucial game in Uyo. 

Rohr, it was gathered was happy 

with his tete-a-tete with the 

aforementioned personalities 

and felt convinced that the momentum 

was in Eagles favour to 

nick maximum points against the 

Desert Foxes, who he however 

warned were dangerous and out 

to turn the table against the Ea- 

•Iheanacho 

•Mikel 

gles on November 12. 

And sounding a word advice to 

Iwobi, Wenger yesterday that the 

Nigerian striker need to to work 

on his finishing to be a more 

complete player. 

“He turns the game forward, he 

passes the ball through the lines 

very well. He has a final ball in 

him. He is now a little bit, I think 

he has it all in the locker to pass 

and give the final ball,” said the 

Arsenal manager. 

“What you want from him now 

is the finishing, you know. That’s 

still a little part that is missing in 

his game. I think he is too nervous 

at the moment when he has 

the possibility to finish.” 

won the league again under 

him and we hope that there 

will be more victories to make 

our people happy and also 

boost the business of sports in 

the east,” Chukwu said. 

Rangers mean more than a 

football club to Easterners. 

They were formed immediately 

after the civil war and it was 

one of the tools the Igbo used 

in the process of reintegration. 

And the resounding victories 

in their early years made the 

Igbo proud. Rangers symbolised 

a movement and the Easterners 

reveled in it. 

“There’s always an attachment 

you can’t describe if you 

have played for the club,” 

David Ngodigha, an Olympic 

bronze medallist said. 

“When you wear the Rangers 

jersey there’s a great feeling. 

I’m happy that they won 

the league again,” Ngodigha 

said. He said he particularly 

feels special because all the 

other clubs he played for are 

now defunct. Only Rangers 

are still on and doing well. 

Sharks, Bendel United, BCC, 

Flash have all gone under. 

“I played for many clubs but 

I have always being referred 

to as David Ngodigha of 

Rangers as if they knew out 

of all of them Rangers would 

be the only surviving club 

many years on.” 

Ngodigha also excelled as 

Super Eagles goal tender. He 

showed his class in the training 

of the team that won Nigeria’s 

only medal at the Rio Olympics.

Ronaldo opens 

up on rivalry 

with Messi 

In an interview with Coach Magazine, Real Madrid forward 

Cristiano Ronaldo has spoken about his relationship with 

Barcelona’s Lionel Messi. 

It’s well known that the battle between the duo over the last 

decade has been one of football’s biggest talking points. From the 

Portuguese star’s point of view, “it’s not like we’re not good friends, 

but there’s a respect between us both. The media sell this great 

rivalry, but we don’t have that.” 

Ronaldo is loved and hated and he’s aware of that, accepts the 

situation and says he uses his ‘haters’ as motivation: “Football has 

shown me that I have to use the negative people as motivation. In 

reality I need my enemies. They help he achieve everything I’ve 

won.” 

Messi has also praised Ronaldo in the past, who he’s said he 

admired. In fact, at the Ballon d’Or galas in 2014 and 2015, for 

example, there was a mutual understanding between both players. 


Higuain hopes for brace 

against Napoli 

Gonzalo Higuain “really 

hopes” to score a brace 

when Juventus host his former 

Napoli teammates tonight 

It will be the first meeting 

since he pushed through 

the •90m transfer to Turin, 

activating a release 

clause in his contract. 

Sport Mediaset 

caught Pipita as he 

arrived at the Vinovo 

training centre and 

asked if he would 

score a brace. 

“Certainly, I really 

hope so!” 

Higuain has not 

found the net for a 

few games, but 

Giorgio Chiellini 

assured “he’s 

saving up the goals 

for the Napoli 

match.” 

•Higuain 

C 

M 

Y 

K 

Hamsik: We’ll get a 

result at Juve 

MAREK Hamsik assured Napoli “are going to Turin to get a 

result against Juventus” today. 

It kicks off at the Juventus Stadium on Saturday at 19.45 Nigerian 

time 

“Now bring on the next test. We are going to Turin to 

get a result against Juventus,” wrote Napoli captain 

Hamsik on his official website. The Partenopei had 

fallen into crisis with three consecutive defeats in all 

competition, but have now won back-to-back matches 

with Crotone and Empoli. 

“Against Empoli we didn’t make the most of our 

chances in the first half, but in the second we did what 

we had to do. “We achieved two objectives: securing another three 

points and moving into third place.” 

Moses is 

unstoppable 

—Noble 

WEST Ham captain Mark Noble has 

praised Victor Moses for finally 

breaking into Chelsea’s first team, saying he 

believes the Nigeria international is 

unstoppable when in his best form. 

Moses is enjoying a revival in his 

career at Chelsea after spending 

the last three seasons out on 

loan at Liverpool, Stoke 

and West Ham 

respectively following 

his arrival from Wigan in 2012. 

Chelsea coach Antonio Conte has used Moses as a 

right wing-back in his new 3-4-3 formation to much 

success. 

“Victor Moses, on his day he is one of the best and you 

cannot stop him,” Noble said. 

“The one thing that has probably gone against him 

during his career has been his consistency but he 

looks like he has that now and is enjoying his 

football.” 

•Ronaldo 

Barca face 

defensive worry 

against Granada 

BARCELONA return to league action today against 

Granada with a number of players missing. Injuries, 

therefore, will condition Luis Enrique’s planning for the 

game at Camp Nou. 

The run of injuries seems to have no end at the moment, 

especially in defence. The latest to drop is Jeremy 

Mathieu, who picked up a calf problem in the Catalan 

Super Cup defeat to Espanyol. 

The French centre-back joins Jasper Cillessen, Jordi Alba, 

Aleix Vidal, Gerard Pique and Andres Iniesta on the 

sidelines. In addition, Arda Turan also ended 

Tuesday’s game against Espanyol with a knock. 

Therefore, Luis Enrique doesn’t have much 

room for rotations when Granada visit ahead 

of the Champions League trip to Manchester 

City next week. 

In goal, it will be Marc-Andre ter 

Stegen after Jordi Masip 

played the game against 

Espanyol in 

midweek. 

What also 

*Victor Moses 

seems undoubtable is 

that Sergi Roberto and Lucas Digne 

will play. Roberto has won his battle 

with Vidal, who despite being 

injured is way down Luis 

Enrique’s pecking order. 

French international Digne has 

been the replacement for the 

injured Alba. 

•Pique 

In the middle of the back four 

will be Javier Mascherano and 

Samuel Umtiti, a duo who will 

have to adjust once again to the 

absence of Pique. 

Sergio Busquets and Ivan 

Rakitic, both regulars, are still 

fit. But, if they’re both selected, 

who will start with them? Denis 

Suarez and Andre Gomes are 

both options. Arda Turan is 

another possibility. If the 

Turkish midfielder overcomes 

the ankle injury he picked up 

against Espanyol, that is. 

Rafinha, too, who has a rib 

problem, could still come into 

his manager’s reckoning. 

As for the forward line, it 

doesn’t seem as if Messi, 

Suarez or Neymar will rest 

against Granada. Paco Alcacer 

had minutes in midweek while 

the three South Americans were 

enjoying a few days off.

SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 29, 2016 

Eagles gather 

•Mikel 

momentum 

>>46 

Higuain 

hopes 

for >>47 

brace 

against 

Napoli 

•Iwobi 

against Algeria 

•Iheanacho 

•As Wenger 

counsels Iwobi 

TODAY'S FIXTURES 

EPL 

Sunderland 

Man Utd 

v 

v 

Arsenal 

Burnley 

12:30pm 

3pm 

Middlesbrough v Bournemouth 3pm 

Tottenham v Leicester 3pm 

Watford v Hull City 3pm 

West Brom 

Crystal Palace 

v 

v 

Man City 

Liverpool 

3pm 

5:30pm 

SERIE A 

Bologna 

Juventus 

v 

v 

Fiorentina 

Napoli 

5pm 

7:45pm 

Barca face >>47 

Granada without 

key defenders 

NFF pays 

Siasia, 

keeps 

assistants 

waiting 

>>46 

•Siasia 

Moses is 

unstoppable 

— Noble 

CROSS WORD PUZZLE 

ACROSS 

1 Managing Director, Nigerian 

Ports Authority (NPA), Mrs. 

Hadiza – (5) 

4 German Chancellor, Angela – 

(6) 

7 State in Nigeria Knowns as 

“God’s Own State”? – (4) 

8 England’s Capital City – (6) 

9 Former Japanese Prime 

Minister, Mr. Yasuhiro – (8) 

10 Kwara state Capital – (6) 

12 Permanent Secretary, 

Ministry of Information & 

Culture, Mrs. Ayotunde – (8) 

16 Minister of trade, 

Investment & Industry, Mr. 

Okechukwu – (8) 

20 Chairman, Federal Internal 

revenue Service (FIR), Mr. 

Babatunde – (6) 

21 Former Ghanaian President, 

Mr. Jer4ry – (8) 

22 Lagos State Commissioner 

for Women Affairs, Mrs. Lola 

– (6) 

23 Precipitation – (4) 

24 Economic & Financial 

Crimes Commission (EFCC) 

Lawyer, Mr. Festus – (6) 

25 Country in Africa – (5) 

>>46 

DOWN 

1 Country in Africa – (6) 

2 Former Imo State Governor, 

Mr. Sam – (6) 

3 Bahamas Capital City – (6) 

4 Mozambique Finance Minister, 

Mr. Adriano Alfonso – (8) 

5 South Africa “Bafana Bafana” 

Ffitness Trainer, Kabelo – (8) 

6 Fabric – (5) 

11South Sudanese Vice President, 

Mr. James Wani – (4) 

13 Nasarawa United Coach, 

Kabiru – (4) 

14 Country in Asia –(8) 

15 Mexican State – (8) 

17 Plateau State Governor, Hon. 

Simon – (6) 

18 The Philippines Capital City 

– (6) 

19 Bangladesh Prime Minister, 

Sheikh – (6) 

20 Deputy Publicity Secretary, 

All Progressives Congress 

(APC), Mr. Timi – (5) 

LA LIGA 

Sporting Gijon v Sevilla 12pm 

Alaves v Real Madrid 3:15pm 

Atletico Madrid v Malaga 5:30pm 

Barcelona v Granada 7:45pm 

BUNDESLIGA 

Augsburg v Bayern Munich 2:30pm 

Mainz v FC Ingolstadt 2:30pm 

SV Darmstadt v RB Leipzig 2:30pm 

Werder Bremen v SC Freiburg 2:30pm 

Wolfsburg 

B Dortmund 

v 

v 

BayerLeverkusen 

Schalke 

2:30pm 

5:30pm 

LIGUE I 

Toulouse v Lyon 4pm 

Bastia v Dijon 7pm 

Guingamp v Angers 7pm 

Lorient v Montpellier 7pm 

Nancy v Caen 7pm 

St Etienne v Monaco 7pm 

Rangers plan Hall 

of Fame with >>45 

Ugwuanyi in mind 

Solution on page 45 

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Website: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) EDITOR: ONOCHIE ANIBEZE. Phone: 01-7742861, All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos. 

C 

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Ondo Boils, Buhari promises to intervene

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