10012017 Adeboye: FG fires Obazee, FRCN boss

Lawyers, 

politicians hail 

Justice Abang's 

transfer 

2 

How Ajumogobia 

opened bank 

account with fake 

address —WITNESS 

10 

** ** 

VOL. 25: NO. 63199 TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2017 

Adeboye: FG fires Obazee, 

FRCN boss 

•Sacks heads of 4 

aviation agencies 

By Favour 

Nnabugwu & Levinus 

Nwabughiogu 

ON THE GAMBIAN IMPASSE... 

ABUJA — The 

F e d e r a l 

Government, 

yesterday, effected a 

major shake-up in the 

boards of some public 

institutions, sweeping 

away the Executive 

Secretary/Chief Executive 

of the Financial Reporting 

Council of Nigeria, 

FRCN, Mr Jim Osayande 

Obazee. 

FRCN, one of the 

Continues on page 5 

BUDGET: 

Lawmakers 

warn 

Buhari of 

imminent 

face-off 

if... 3 

President Muhammadu Buhari (L) bids farewell to the ECOWAS Chairperson, President Ellen Sirleaf-Johnson of Liberia, 

while President Macky Sall of Senegal (R) discusses with the ECOWAS Co-Mediator on the Gambian Political impasse, 

former President John Mahama of Ghana (3R) and Nigeria’s Foreign Minister, Geofferey Onyema after a meeting on the 

Gambian situation at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida. 

COLUMNISTS 

YINKA 

ODUMAKIN 

Nigeria: 

Tackle issues 

with common 

sense 

17 

PATRICK 

DELE COLE 

Return of 

James 

Ibori 

Osinbajo to lead 

FG fact-finding 

team to Niger 

Delta 

See inside 

4 civilians, 5 

suicide 

bombers 

killed in Borno 

fresh attacks 

31 9 

Mr & Mrs

2—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2017 

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

Fashola 

demands 

audited report 

of DISCOs, 

GENCOs 

By Prince Okafor 

LAGOS— FOLLOWING 

the liquidity challenge 

confronting the Generation 

Companies, GENCOs and 

Distribution Companies, 

DISCOs, Minister of Power, 

Works and Housing, Mr. 

Babatunde Fashola, has 

demanded that they submit the 

audited reports of their 

accounts. 

Fashola, yesterday, at the 

monthly Power Sector and 

Stakeholders Meeting, at the 

Ikeja West Transmission 

Station, Lagos, also said 

DISCOs should be able to 

resolve issues bordering on 

metering and billing. 

“I think the top burner issue 

remains service delivery. I and 

my team are working hard to 

make the operating 

environment better. But as 

pioneers, you will carry some 

burdens. You will make more 

sacrifices. I am optimistic that 

it will get better,” Fashola said. 

The minister emphasised the 

need for management and staff 

of DISCOs to always render 

effective services to customers. 

According to him, “investors 

must be willing to carry some 

share of the burden. 

“You will have to sacrifice 

perhaps more than what you 

have done but I am optimistic 

that it will get better, I am 

optimistic that we can win 

together and we can win for 

the Nigeria people.” 

At the end of the meeting, 

the communiqué issued noted 

that the Transmission 

Company of Nigeria, TCN, 

had informed the power 

stakeholders that transmission 

projects at Shagamu, Ikeja 

West, Ajah, Ayobo, Omotosho, 

Ayede and Ogba would be 

completed before the end of 

2017 to boost transmission 

capacity to over 6,500 

megawatts. 

Furthermore, the Nigerian 

Bulk Electricity Trading Plc, 

NBET, reminded stakeholders 

that all operators must pay their 

bills promptly to NBET as well 

as their suppliers and service 

providers, to ensure that the 

sector remains functional and 

friendly. 

The meeting also agreed on 

the importance of government 

Ministries, Departments and 

Agencies, MDAs, paying their 

debts, acknowledging the 

need for proper verification 

prior to payment and also 

noted the ongoing verification 

and data collection exercise 

which is aimed at improving 

liquidity in the sector. 

By Ben Agande & 

Ikechukwu Nnochiri 

ABUJA — A HOST of 

lawyers and politicians, 

yesterday, hailed the 

redeployment of Justice Okon 

Abang from Abuja to Asaba by 

the Chief Judge of the Federal 

High Court, Justice Ibrahim 

Auta, saying it was long over 

due. 

While one of the lawyers 

wondered if Justice Abang’s 

redeployment to Delta State 

was not to hurt the Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, 

because most of his 

controversial rulings had been 

against the PDP, Governor Ayo 

Fayose of Ekiti State said 

Abang should have been 

sacked. 

Justice Abang was among 10 

judges of the high court that 

were affected by a 

redeployment circular the 

Chief Judge issued on 

December 21, 2016. 

Other judges affected by the 

redeployment exercise are 

Justice Mohammed Liman 

from Port Harcourt to Enugu; 

Justice S. Saidu (moved from 

Lagos to Port Harcourt); Justice 

A. Faji (from Asaba to Lagos); 

Justice R. Aikawa (Sokoto to 

Lagos); Justice B. Quadri 

(from Port Harcourt to Abuja); 

Justice Mallong Hoommuk 

(from Port Harcourt to Lafia); 

Justice K.K Dagat (from Lagos 

to Kano); Justice Saleh Idrissa 

(Kano to Sokoto); Justice H. 

Oshomah (Lafia to Port 

Harcourt) and Justice J. 

Omotosho (Kano to Port 

Harcourt). 

The CJ stressed that their 

transfer was owing to “recent 

developments in the court.” 

Abang should be 

removed not 

transferred — Fayose 

According to Fayose, "for a 

judge like Okon Abang, whose 

judgements were described as 

fraudulent and rape on 

democracy by Justices of the 

Appeal Court, what he 

deserved is outright sack, not 

transfer. 

"If the appellate court could 

go to the extent of saying that 

he (Abang) embarked on a 

wild goose chase, spoke from 

both sides of his mouth and 

acted like Father Christmas, in 

saner climes, such a judge 

does not deserve a place in the 

judiciary. 

"To us, Justice Abang is 

nothing but a cancer that is 

capable of destroying the 

judiciary and by extension the 

entire country if he is allowed 

to continue as a judge. He 

should be shown the exit door 

from the judiciary.’’ 

Abuja lawyers hail 

Abang’s re-deployment 

Legal practitioners in Abuja, 

yesterday, commended the 

Chief Judge of the Federal 

High Court, Justice Ibrahim 

Auta, for re-deploying Justice 

Abang, who they termed 

ATTACK: Rescue workers from national and state emergency management agencies at 

the scene of suicide bombers attacks in Maiduguri metropolis, Borno State, yesterday. 

Lawyers, politicians hail 

Justice Abang’s transfer 

•He should've been removed, not transferred — Fayose 

•Abuja lawyers hail Abang’s re-deployment 

•He should've been transferred to APC state 

“controversial,” from Abuja to 

the Asaba division of the court 

Some of the lawyers, who 

spoke to Vanguard, described 

the action of the CJ as a right 

step in the right direction, 

noting that it would save the 

judiciary from “further 

embarrassment.” 

Most of the legal 

practitioners, including 

Senior Advocates of Nigeria, 

who pleaded anonymity, said 

the judge ought to have been 

re-deployed before now. 

According to a SAN, 

because he still has a case 

pending before the judge, “I 

can tell you that almost 

everyone is pleased with this 

development. Though Justice 

Abang is a fine gentleman, he 

has, however, turned very 

controversial since he was 

transferred from Lagos to 

Abuja. 

“Aside several petitions that 

had been lodged against him 

before the National Judicial 

Council, NJC, since he came 

to Abuja, his various 

controversial judgements, 

especially on sensitive 

political matters, did not help 

matters.” 

Another lawyer, who simply 

gave his name as Mr. 

Lawrence A., said: 

“Redeployment of Justice 

Abang is a welcome 

development. The judiciary, 

as you know is very 

conservative. Since the 

learned judge came to the 

Abuja division, it has been 

one controversy or the other. 

“Most times when I hear of 

any controversial ruling 

coming from the Abuja 

division of the court, even 

without reading the story, I 

will just guess that it was 

delivered by Abang and 

most of the time my guess 

turned out to be right.” 

He should've been 

transferred to 

APC state 

However, another lawyer, 

Mr. Ekeke said: “I was not 

surprised at all that Justice 

Abang was affected by the 

redeployment. Most of his 

judgements have been 

overturned by the Court of 

Appeal. The CJ took a wise 

decision. I am, however, 

concerned that he was 

redeployed to Delta State, 

which is a state controlled by 

the Peoples Democratic Party, 

PDP, especially when you take 

into cognisance the fact that 

most of his recent decisions 

were against PDP." 

Abang’s transfer a 

non-issue —Ojougboh 

National Vice Chairman of the 

Senator Ali Modu Sheriff 

faction of the PDP, Dr Cairo 

Ojougboh, dismissed Abang’s 

transfer as a non-issue, saying 

no issue should be made out of 

it. 

Ojougboh said what 

happened was a normal 

administrative procedure that 

should not be misinterpreted. 

"As a political party, we don’t 

get involved in what the 

judiciary is doing with their staff 

just as the judiciary does not 

get involved with our internal 

matters. If we have a case, we 

approach the judiciary for 

adjudication and it’s not about 

individual justices or judges," 

he said. 

He said Nigerians should not 

politicise normal procedures 

like transfer of Justices by 

relevant authorities “because it 

is not their business who is 

transferred where.” 

Oil: Kachikwu outlines goals for 2017 


LAGOS— IN a bid to 

substantially ensure a 

smooth transformation in the oil 

industry in 2017, Minister of 

State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe 

Kachikwu, has said the oil and 

gas sector will be run with a 

rocket pace. 

The minister in a post on his 

twitter handle, entitled the 

Nigeria Petroleum Sector 2017 

Outlook, said that in 2017, 

activities will be sped up to 

achieve set goals. 

He said: “We are going to run 

at a rocket pace. We have so 

much to do. First, we are going 

to firm up our policies, be able 

to gazette all our oil and gas 

policies and then pass the 

Petroleum Industrial Bill, PIB.” 

He also said the difficulties of 

2016 served as a pointer to where 

the country is headed, adding: “Do 

not despair, do not lose hope, do 

not be frightened, do not wonder, 

rather be energized. 

“We are going to accelerate 

Federal Government revenues, look 

into areas where we could have 

made more money (as the Federal 

Government has been losing low 

hanging fruits), so as to support the 

2017 financing."

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2017—3 


Closure 

of TNP 

reduces 

demand for 

Nigeria oil 

•...as China 

goes for 

more 

Angola oil 

INVESTITURE: From left— Executive Director, United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA, Professor Babatunde 

Oshotimehin; Emir of Kano, Muhammed Sanusi II; Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State; and Minister of Women 

Affairs, Senator Aisha Alhassan, during the investiture of the Emir of Kano as Grand Patron of Women and Children’s Health 

in Kano, yesterday. NAN PHOTO. 

BUDGET: Lawmakers warn 

Buhari of imminent face-off if... 

By Henry Umoru, 

Emman Ovuakporie, 

Johnbosco Agbakwuru & 

Joseph Erunke 

ABUJA—AHEAD of today’s 

resumption of the two 

chambers of the National 

Assembly, the legislators are 

warning that President 

Muhammadu Buhari could 

trigger an unneeded face-ff 

should he insist on having his 

way through the budget 

process. 

Speaking against the 

background of claims that 

legislative re-order and revision 

of the budget amounted to 

padding, the legislators warned 

that they would not condone an 

intrusion into what they observed 

as their constitutional duties. 

Consistent with their 

determination, the Senate 

Vanguard learned yesterday, 

had deferred its consideration 

of the 2017 budget proposal to 

next week, pending the passage 

of the Medium Term 

Expenditure Framework, 

MTEF/Fiscal. 

Besides the budget and the 

MTEF/FSP, also on agenda of 

the returning lawmakers are the 

Petroleum Industry Governance 

Bill, PIGB, the ban on the 

importation of vehicles through 

land borders, the crisis in 

Southern Kaduna and an 

investigation into the state of the 

aviation sector. 

Aviation sector 

The inquiry into the aviation 

sector is being triggered by 

reports on the misplacement of 

the luggage of former African 

Footballer of the Year, Peire Eric 

Aubameyang by an airline, 

during his visit for the Glo-CAF 

Awards held last week. 

The 2016 budget proposal was 

enveloped in controversies, 

following the disappearance 

of the budget document in the 

Senate, the circulation of fake 

copies and allegations of the 

inflation of the proposals. 

To avoid the acrimonious 

situation in the 2017 budget, 

the Presidency had, through 

the Special Assistant to the 

President on National 

Assembly Matters, Senator Ita 

Enang, last year, given 

conditions upon which the 

President would sign the 

budget. 

Senator Enang, at a 

colloquium on Budget 

Matters in Abuja, during the 

unveiling of Order Paper, had 

said that President Buhari 

might not assent to 

Appropriation bills passed by 

the National Assembly 

unless the schedule of 

details of the budget was 

duly passed on the floor of 

both chambers of the 

National Assembly. 

Budget, reactions 

Reacting to the issue, the 

Deputy Chairman, House 

Committee on Media and 

Public Affairs, Mr. Jonathan 

Gaza, said the condition 

given by the Presidency was 

not necessary as the House 

was only interested in doing 

what would be of benefit to 

Nigerians. 

He said: “We intend to 

cooperate fully with the 

executive and discharge our 

legislative duties as we have 

been empowered by the 

constitution. 

“That which needs to be 

done, we will make sure it is 

done appropriately, 

adequately and, of course, we 

always act within the law and 

the powers which the 

constitution has given us. 

“We have always insisted that 

we do not know what padding 

is, only if you can show me 

‘padding’ in the constitution. 

“We are going to discharge 

our duties as mandated in the 

constitution and, of course, 

with strict adherence to the law. 

After all, we have never flouted 

the law in discharging our 

constitutional duties.” 

He also noted that the 2016 

budget had errors and 

inconsistencies when it came 

from the executive, adding, 

“and we had to work both ways 

to smoothen it out.” 

Also speaking on the issue, 

Mr. Austine Chukwukere, 

Deputy Chairman, House 

Committee on Finance, said: 

“It is not the duty of the 

executive to decide how the 

parliament performs its 

constitutional functions as 

regards the appropriation. 

“There are processes to 

follow. The executive has 

submitted the budget estimate; 

they should stay back and 

watch us do our work. We are 

not to be stampeded.” 

Asked if the President 

decides not to assent to the 

Appropriation Bill, if it does 

not follow its line of thought, 

Chukwukere, who represents 

Ideato Federal Constituency 

of Imo State, said: “What 

happened to last year’s 

budget estimate was that the 

National Assembly did not 

want Nigerians to suffer and 

the country be on a standstill 

because it was the first 

budget, even though it came 

late with its problems.” 

Also speaking, Dr. 

Chukwuemeka Ujam, 

representing Nkanu Federal 

Constituency of Enugu State 

said: “The 2017 Appropriation 

estimate was sent to us on 

December 14, 2016 by Mr. 

President. 

“There is a laid down 

procedure for passing an 

Appropriation Bill. I do not see 

why we should deviate from 

that. If the President lays the 

appropriation, we look at it, 

scrutinise it and do 

adjustment where it is 

necessary.” 

On what happens if the 

President refuses to assent 

to it, he said: “The President 

cannot refuse to sign the 

Appropriation Bill. If there 

are areas he feels that should 

be accommodated, he will 

come back to us; we have the 

power of appropriation.” 

‘Might be 

overzealous aides’ 

Chairman House Committee 

on Public Petitions, Uzoma 

Nkem-Abonta, said: “I do not 

think President Buhari is 

undemocratic. Budget process 

is a democratic process. And 

I do not think Mr. President 

will want to put a clog in the 

wheel of democratic process. 

“I think that may be an 

overzealous statement from 

his aides. 

“Do you mean that in the 

face of obvious mistakes that 

we should return the budget 

like that? They described it 

as budget estimates, which 

means there is no finality in 

the document as presented. 

“The document ought to go 

through legislative purity 

before it can become law. 

“Let me caution that the 

opposition, in doing its job, 

ought to take a critical 

analysis of the budget, distil 

it very well, identify areas 

not fit enough and increase 

areas of economic benefit.” 

By Sebastine Obasi, 

with agency report 

THE closure of Trans 

Niger Pipeline, TNP, 

has taken its toll on 

demand for Nigeria’s 

crude oil as there have 

been no fresh Bonny Light 

loading schedule issued 

since the January 3 fire 

incident. 

Attention has shifted to 

Angola, which has 

attracted more demand 

from China. 

Offer levels for other 

grades were slipping due 

to demand constraints. 

ExxonMobil was said to 

have offered Qua Iboe as 

low as 80 cents above 

dated Brent. 

India’s BPCL took two 

cargoes of Nigerian crude 

and a pending tender from 

IOC set to close this week 

could absorb more. 

The awards included 

Agbami, Akpo, Bonga and 

Bonny Light. Other 

buying interests were 

notably thin due largely to 

unpredictable loading 

plans for several grades. 

Angolan state oil 

company, Sonangol, has 

cut output by 78,000 

barrels per day, bpd, to 

1.673 million bpd as part 

of an OPEC agreement to 

lower supply from 

January 1, it said in a 

statement. 

Chinese demand for 

Angolan crude and other 

medium grades was 

robust, traders said, due in 

part to the narrow spread 

between Brent and Dubai 

crudes that made the 

grades more attractive. 

China’s Unipec has 

snapped up several 

cargoes over the past two 

weeks, including Pazflor 

from ExxonMobil at dated 

Brent plus $1.20 per 

barrel, Nemba from 

Sonangol at around minus 

60 cents along with 

cargoes of Dalia and Saxi. 

Traders said Cabinda 

was around 40 cents below 

dated Brent, Hungo minus 

$1.30 per barrel and 

Mondo at minus $1.20.



Workers shut 

DESOPADEC 

over end of 

year benefit 

By Egufe Yafugborhi 

W ARRI—WORKERS 

of Delta State Oil 

Producing Areas 

Development Commission, 

DESOPADEC, yesterday, shut 

down the headquarters of the 

commission in Warri over nonpayment 

of end-of-year 

bonuses and other allowances 

by the commission. 

The protesters in their 

hundreds, barricaded the gate 

to the commission, chanted 

solidarity songs and disrupted 

business activities. 

They displayed placards 

with various inscriptions such 

as,”Gov. Okowa, pay attention 

to DESOPADEC Staff 

Welfare”, “Pay Pensioners their 

money” “Okowa, Where is our 

13th month bonus?”, among 

others. 

One of the protesters, Mr. 

Darlington Erhijakpor, said 

the DESOPADEC staff and 

pensioners were being owed 

salaries and gratuities. 

“We don’t know where our 

pension goes to after they 

deduct our monies at the end 

of every month. 

“The 13-point bonus that we 

used to get at the end of every 

year was not paid to us,” he 

said. 

Responding, the Managing 

Director of the Commission, 

Williams Makinde, admitted 

the nonpayment of the End of 

Year Bonus to the staff. 

“The grievances and protest 

were diversionary attempts to 

intimidate the management 

from dealing with stifling staff 

explosion in DESOPADEC,” 

he said. 

Makinde said that the 13- 

point bonus the workers were 

asking for was not 

incorporated in the 2016 

budget. 

Edo govt 

releases 

emergency 

phone lines 

EDO State Government 

has released emergency 

phone lines to the public, to 

report any violator of the ban 

on the collection of revenue for 

immediate sanction. 

A statement by the interim 

Chief Press Secretary, to the 

Governor, Mr. John Mayaki, 

said the special Police lines are: 

08115808360, 08115808361, 

08115808441, 08115808442. 

According to the statement, 

“the Commissioner of Police, 

Haliru Gwandu has vowed to 

enforce the implementation of 

the ban on collection of 

revenue by private individuals 

as pronounced by the State 

Governor, Mr. Godwin 

Obaseki. 

Police arrest 6 Ogbe-Ijoh, Isaba leaders over 

crisis with Aladja •As communities demand release of suspects 

By Emma Amaize 

W ARRI—POLICE 

have arrested and 

detained about seven leaders 

of Ogbe-Ijoh and Isaba 

communities in Warri South- 

West Local Government Area, 

Delta State, in connection 

with the bloodletting among 

the Ijaw communities and 

Aladja, an Urhobo 

community in Udu Local 

Government Area of the state. 

Those being held were the 

Chairman of Ogbe-Ijoh, Alex 

Akemotubo, Secretary, 

Godwin Eneghan and youth 

president, Edwin Aken. Also 

in custody of the police were 

an octogenarian, Chief 

Santors Emmontoghan, 

representative of the Pere of 

Isaba, Chairman of the 

community, Henry Ofoleyo, 

Secretary, Austin Deinfegha 

and youth president, Moses 

Ogugu. 

In a joint statement by 

Ogbe-Ijoh and Isaba 

communities, signed by 

Chief Monday Keme, they 

said: “The leaders were 

invited by the Area 

Commander, Warri, Friday, 

January 5, for a security 

meeting over the recent 

beheading of Gabriel Sibe, 

and taken to Asaba, 

thereafter. We, therefore, call 

on the Police authorities to 

direct Mr. Zanna Ibrahim, 

Commissioner of Police, 

Delta State, to release the 

community executives 

PDP, Peterside in war of words over dismissed 

policemen 

By Jimitota Onoyume 

PORT 

HARCOURT— 

DEPUTY Leader of All 

Progressives Congress, 

APC, in Rivers State, Dr 

Dakuku Peterside, and the 

Peoples Democratic Party, 

PDP, in the state, yesterday, 

traded words over recent 

dismissal of six police officers 

attached to Governor Nyesom 

Wike, by the Inspector 

General of Police, IGP. 

Peterside claimed the 

dismissal of the police 

officers was an indication that 

the governor was involved in 

electoral fraud and that the 

governor also compromised 

security during the last rerun 

elections. 

Peterside, who was the 

governorship candidate of 

the APC in the last 

governorship elections in the 

state, described the governor 

as an embarrassment to the 

state. 

But the PDP in the state said 

the statement credited to Dr 

without further delay as their 

continued detention will 

ultimately lead to break down 

of law and order in the state. 

“Ogbe-Ijoh and Isaba 

communities wish to draw the 

attention of the Inspector 

General of Police to the 

unlawful arrest and detention 

of the chairmen, secretaries 

and youth presidents of 

Ogbe-Ijoh and Isaba 

communities by the 

Commissioner of Police Delta 

State. The Commissioner of 

Police, Delta State, Zannah 

Ibrahim, invited the 

leadership of Aladja, Isaba 

Peterside showed that the 

action of the IGP was grossly 

unprofessional, noting that 

security agencies should call 

Peterside to order over his 

alleged unguarded 

statement against Governor 

Wike. 

Chairman of PDP in the 

state, Mr Felix Obuah, who 

spoke through his media 

aide, Mr Jerry Needam, said 

Send Justice Onnoghen's name to NASS for 

confirmation, Owie urges Buhari 

By Simon Ebegbulem 

B ENIN—FORMER 

Senate Chief Whip, 

Senator Rowland Owie, 

yesterday, admonished 

President Muhammadu Buhari 

to jettison the advice of political 

jobbers and send the name of 

the current Acting Chief Justice 

of Nigeria, Justice Walter 

Onnoghen, to the National 

Assembly for confirmation, as 

substantive Chief Justice. 

and Ogbe-Ijoh communities 

including the traditional 

rulers over the recent 

beheading of late Mr. 

Gabriel Sibe, an indigene of 

Isaba community, who 

was murdered on Friday , 

5th January 2016. 

“Ogbe-Ijoh and Isaba 

communities reported to the 

Area Command Warri at 

8a.m. and waited patiently 

till about 2p.m. before the 

Commissioner of Police 

arrived. Aladja community 

did not honour the invitation. 

It was alleged that Aladja 

community later sent the 

the statement of Peterside 

had again confirmed 

allegations that the sack of 

the policemen was politically 

motivated. 

“Comments by Dr. 

Peterside on the sacked 

policemen have exposed the 

inordinate role played by the 

Inspector-General of Police 

to ensure that the APC 

candidates won the election. 

Senator Owie regretted that 

although President Buhari had 

good intentions for the nation, 

he had allegedly allowed 

sycophants to hijack his 

administration. He reminded 

the President that his name won 

him the presidential election, so, 

he must not disappoint 

Nigerians. 

According to him, “I urge 

President Buhari not to succumb 

to the pressure from those who 

do not mean well for this nation, 

youth president and another 

youth to represent the 

community in Asaba. After 

taking their statements, 

Commissioner of Police, Delta 

State, directed that Ogbe-Ijoh 

and Isaba community 

executives be detained. We are 

surprised that Mr. Zanna 

Ibrahim could descend so low 

to detain the bereaved people, 

whose son was killed and 

beheaded and the culprits 

moving freely as innocent 

people in Aladja. The two 

communities went extra miles to 

calm down the youths not to 

embark on reprisal attack.” 

ECOWAS MEDIATORY COMMITTEE MEETING: President Muhammadu 

Buhari; President Macky Salle of Senegal and ex-President John Mahama of Ghana, during 

the meeting of ECOWAS Mediatory Committee on the Gambian political empasse, at the 

Presidential Villa, Abuja. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida. 

The careless comments by 

Dakuku have vindicated the 

position of the PDP that the 

sacking of the six policemen has 

political undertones. What 

about the policemen who 

accompanied Rotimi Amaechi, 

Magnus Abe, Barry Mpigi, 

Derrick Mene and other APC 

chieftains to their respective 

polling units during the re-run 

election?” the PDP said. 

for him not to confirm the appointment 

of Justice Walter as the 

Chief Justice of Nigeria. He 

should submit his name to the 

National Assembly for 

confirmation. He should not allow 

anybody to derail him. Those who 

are trying to ask him to toe 

otherwise are not his friends. I have 

always said it that once a President 

or governor is sworn in, he 

becomes a prisoner of palace jesters 

and sycophants."

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2017 — 5 

POCKET CARTOON 

COMMISSIONING—From left: Former National President of the 

Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, Chief OCJ Okocha; Rivers State Deputy 

Governor, Ipalibo Harry-Banigo; Gov. Nyesom Wike; former Acting National 

Chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, and Rivers Commissioner for Works, 

Bathuel Iheanyichukwu, during the inauguration of Rumunduru-Eneka Link 

Road in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, yesterday. Photo: 

NAN. 

Adeboye: FG fires Obazee, FRC boss 

Continues from page 1 

parastatals under the 

supervision of the 

Ministry of Industry, Trade 

and Investment, was the 

principal actor in the 

controversial exit of Pastor 

Enoch Adeboye as the 

General Overseer of the 

Redeemed Christian 

Church God, RCCG, 

Nigeria, last weekend. 

The Council is 

responsible for setting and 

promoting compliance 

with standards for 

accounting, financial 

reporting and auditing in 

Nigeria, under which it 

created its controversial 

Code of Corporate 

Governance, now also 

suspended by the 

Minister of Industry, Trade 

and Investment, Dr. 

Okechukwu Enalema. 

Following the removal of 

Obazee, President 

Muhammadu Buhari, has 

ordered the reconstitution 

of the 

Council’s board. 

Consequently, his 

Senior Special Assistant, 

Media, Mallam Garba 

Shehu, yesterday, in 

Abuja stated that the 

President has approved 

Mr Adedotun Sulaiman 

as the new council 

chairman, and Mr. Daniel 

Asapokhai as the new 

Executive Secretary of the 

Council, replacing 

Obazee. 

Garba Shehu also said 

the President has 

instructed Enelama to 

invite the 19 ministries, 

departments and 

agencies of the Federal 

Government and private 

sector organisations 

specified in the FRCN Act 

to nominate their 

representatives to fill the 

remaining vacancies on 

the board of the Council. 

On the sidelines of 

Obazee's sack, the 

Federal Government has 

IT'S UP TO YOU 

BY AYO ADIO - 08104802192 

CHOOSE your friends carefully as a general 

would his closest lieutenants. Ultimately, those 

we surround ourselves with would determine how 

far we go. It’s up to you. 

TAKE HEART 

BY ELLA RANDLE- O8084919482 

“Focus on the solution not the problem” 

AFEW steps from the restaurant, I noticed this 

cute little black coloured furred terrier dog tried 

to escape from its owner’s lead and barking furiously 

at a Mastiff who almost tore at him. This scenario is 

highly amusing. It is like watching a Lilliputian and 

a Gulliver in a fight. Then I realise what just 

happened. It seems the dog is handling a problem 

the way we sometimes handle life issues. Like the 

terrier, we attack a problem till it looms bigger and 

larger, and like the Mastiff, it comes aggressively 

right back bigger and stronger than before and 

overwhelming. But there is a better way, focus on 

the solutions, and take it one step at a time. Within 

the problem, always lies the solution. 

SAYINGS OF OUR PEOPLE 

A woman with a massive backside will 

realise what she has done to herself when the 

race starts. 

suspended the Corporate 

Governance Code, CCG, 

FRCN, pending a 

detailed review, extensive 

consultation with 

stakeholders and 

reconstitution of the board 

of the FRCN. 

Minister of Industry, 

Trade and Investment, Dr. 

Okechukwu Enelamah in 

Abuja, yesterday, said 

that Government remains 

committed to restoring 

By Levinus 

Nwabughiogu 

A BUJA-The 

Presidency, 

yesterday, rose in defence 

of Abba Kyari, the Chief 

of Staff, CoS, to President 

Muhammadu Buhari, 

stating that he never used 

the funds of the Nigeria 

High Commission in 

London to pay his medical 

bills during a recent visit 

for medical treatment. 

Also, the Minister of 

Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey 

Onyeama, attested to the 

innocence of the CoS. 

The clarification 

followed allegations by an 

online news medium, 

recently. 

Reacting to the report, 

the presidency which 

spoke through the Senior 

Special Assistant to the 

President on Media and 

Publicity, Mallam Garba 

Shehu in a statement said 

the allegations were 

totally incorrect, 

misleading and a 

fabrication. 

He said: “The Nigeria 


London did not at any 

time ever settle the 

medical bills or any other 

bills for that matter as 

Abba Kyari personally 

took responsibility of 

paying his bills. 

“This is by the Chief of 

Staff’s choice. He pays for 

his medicals, his taxi and 

accommodation in the U.K 

despite the high office he 

and enhancing market 

confidence and improving 

the Ease of Doing 

Business in Nigeria. 

Shake up in Aviation 

In a related 

development, Buhari, 

yesterday, approved the 

appointment of four chief 

executives of aviation 

agencies, namely 

Nigerian Airspace 

Management Agency, 

NAMA; Nigerian 

Meteorological Agency, 

NIMET; Nigerian College 

of Aviation Technology, 

NCAT, Zaria and the 

Accident Investigation 

Bureau, AIB. 

According to a 

statement by the 

Permanent Secretary of 

the Ministry of 

Transportation, Alhaji 

Sabiu Zakari, Capt. Fola 

Akinkuotu, is the new 

Managing Director, 

NAMA. Captain 

Akinkuotu is a transport 

pilot, flight and aircraft 

maintenance engineer, 

airline chief executive and 

a trained aviation industry 

regulator. 

Professor Sani Mashi, 

is the new Director- 

General, NIMET. He is a 

Professor of Geography 

with specialty in 

environmental application 

of remote sensing. 

Professor Mashi is 

currently a Deputy Vice 

Chancellor at the 

University of Abuja. 

Capt. Abdulsalam 

Mohammed is now the 

Rector, NCAT, Zaria. An 

alumnus of the College, 

Capt. Mohammed is a 

renowned Civil Aviation 

Trainer and Examiner 

with accreditation by the 

Nigeria Civil Aviation 

Authority and the Federal 

Civil Aviation 

Administration. Engr. 

Akinola Olateru is the 

new Commissioner, AIB. 

He is an engineer of 

international repute. 

Olateru is a trained Air 

accident manager and 

certified safety officer with 

aircraft maintenance 

engineering licences in 

Nigeria, USA and the 

United Kingdom. 

The Chief Executive 

Officers, CEOs, who lost 

their jobs by the new 

appointments are the DG/ 

CEO of NIMET, Dr. 

Anthony Anuforom; the 

Rector/CEO of NCAT, 

Zaria, Capt. Samuel 

Caulcrick; the 

Commissioner/CEO of 

AIB, Mr. Felix Abali and 

the Ag. MD/CEO of 

NAMA, Mr. Emmanuel 

Anasi. 

DG NIMET has eight 

months to leave office as his 

second tenure expires 

August 2017; acting MD 

NAMA is also retiring as a 

civil servant, so if removed, 

he will go back as a Director 

NAMA before retirement; 

while the Rector NCAT and 

Commissioner of AIB have 

both served two years and 

10 months into their first 

tenure. 

Abba Kyari paid his medical bills in London —Presidency 

occupies, even when 

there is no rule that says 

he cannot be catered for 

by government. 

“For the records, Kyari 

was rushed out of Nigeria 

for an emergency medical 

treatment on December 1, 

2016. To receive him on 

arrival, the Wellington 

Hospital needed to have 

cash deposited or in the 

absence of this, a letter of 

guarantee. 

“In order to meet this 

condition, the Nigeria 


London wrote the Letter of 

Guarantee to the hospital 

for treatment to 

commence. The role of the 

High Commission didn’t 

involve financial 

commitments on behalf of 

Kyari. “The Letter of 

Guarantee from the High 

Commission was meant to 

meet the routine 

requirements of the 

Wellington Hospital since 

the patient in question 

(Kyari) didn’t possess the 

UK National Health 

Insurance. 

“Apart from senior 

government officials, 

other reputable Nigerians 

are issued with such 

guarantee letters to 

hospitals. A guarantor is 

not liable unless there is 

a default, but this wasn’t 

the case with Abba Kyari 

who paid all his medical 

bills by himself as he had 

done on previous 

occasions. 

“Hospital records are 

available for verification to 

show that the Nigeria 


London didn’t spend a 

penny on Kyari, as its 

involvement didn’t go 

beyond the issuance of 

the letter of guarantee to 

the Wellington Hospital.” 

Foreign 

affirms 

minister 

Also, fielding questions 

from State House 

correspondents shortly 

after the meeting of 

Economic Community of 

West African States, 

ECOWAS team to settle 

the political quagmire in 

The Gambia at the 

presidential Villa, Abuja, 

yesterday, the Minister 

of Foreign Affairs, 

Onyeama said there was 

no truth in the report. 

He explained that the 

Commission only stood 

as guarantor to the CoS 

in conformity with the 

standard practice of 

United Kingdom 

hospitals. 

“Because a lot of 

people do not bring libel 

cases against media 

houses, they think they 

can write whatever they 

like. 

“The report was a 

blatant falsehood, really 

defamatory. As we all 

know, in most of these 

industrialized countries, 

if you want medical 

treatment or hospital 

room reserved for you, 

they will require medical 

insurance of that 

country. 

“If you do not have, 

they will require a 

deposit or a guarantee. 

Our embassies and High 

Commissions around the 

world are there to assist 

Nigerians. 

“All that happened in 

the case of the Chief of 

Staff when he went to the 

U.K. for medical 

treatment was that before 

he arrived, the High 

Commission guaranteed 

that he will pay his 

hospital bills and that 

was all. 

“A letter was written to 

the hospital that this 

person is a high official 

and we guarantee that he 

will settle his bill. 

“On that basis, they 

reserved a hospital room 

for him and afterwards, 

he settled his bill. 

During the time he was 

in London, he never 

asked the High 

Commission to even 

provide a car for him. He 

made his arrangements. 

“It is extremely unfair 

that such defamatory 

article would have come 

out. It has no iota of truth 

in it. 

“He had never made 

any contact with the U.K. 

for the one and a half 

years he has been in 

office,” he said.



Man 

allegedly 

cuts off 

wife’s 

breast in 

Ibadan 

•He said she 

had breast 

cancer 

—SOURCE 

By Ola Ajayi 

IBADAN—A 61-yearold 

Pastor, Adejare 

Adebayo, has been 

remanded in Agodi 

Prison Custody, Ibadan 

by a magistrate's court 

for allegedly using a 

knife to cut off his wife's 

left breast. 

His wife, Rukayat 

Adegbule, aged 43, 

died a few days later. 

When he appeared 

before Chief 

Magistrate F. Richard of 

Court 2 yesterday, the 

accused man pleaded 

not guilty to the onecount 

charge. 

The crime was 

allegedly committed at 

Onikankan Village, 

Ibadan, on the eve of 

Christmas. 

A source alleged that 

the accused was quoted 

as saying that he cut off 

the breast because his 

wife had earlier 

suffered from breasts 

cancer. 

According to the 

charge sheet signed by 

the prosecutor, Mr. 

Sunday Ogunremi, 

“you, Pastor Adejare 

Adebayo, on December 

24, 2016 at 12 a.m., 

Onikankan Village, 

Ibadan, did unlawfully 

cause the death of 

Rukayat Adegbule, 

aged 43, by cutting off 

her breast, thereby 

committed an offence 

contrary to Section 316 

and punishable under 

Volume 11 Section 319 

of the Criminal Code 

cap ix Volume 11 of the 

Laws of Oyo State.” 

Further investigation 

revealed that the family 

members of the 

deceased had been 

looking for her only to 

be called later by the 

husband, informing 

them of her death. 

Before adjourning 

the case to February 14, 

the Chief Magistrate 

ordered that the 

accused be remanded 

in Agodi Prison 

custody. 

CRASH: Scene of an accident at Ile Zik in Ikeja, Lagos State, yesterday. NAN PHOTO. 

Bayelsa housewife clubs husband 

to death over Christmas rice 

By Samuel Oyadongha 

YENAGOA—A housewife, 

identified as Mrs. Favour 

Parker, has allegedly clubbed 

her husband, Leo Parker, to 

death at Ekeki, a suburb of 

Yenagoa, Bayelsa State 

capital, following an argument 

over last Christmas rice. 

The incident occurred along 

the Azikoro Road area of 

Ekeki. 

The woman, who has since 

been arrested by the men of 

the Anti-Vice Squad of the 

Bayelsa State Police 

Command, according to 

sources, was accused by her 

husband of collecting N27,000 

to buy a bag of ‘foreign’ rice 

for the family ahead of the 

Christmas celebration, but 

bought local rice at N10,000. 

According to a family 

source, though the argument 

over the purchase of rice and 

the alleged diversion of 

N17,000 started on December 

23, 2016, the angry wife 

allegedly killed her husband 

last Saturday, following a 

heated argument in their 

room. 

Though the late husband 

was the one responsible for 

buying the rice and other food 

items for the Yuletide 

celebration in line with the 

family tradition, it was 

gathered that the wife insisted 

on buying the commodity and 

other food stuff. 

The deceased, it was 

gathered, was sleeping in the 

room when he was reportedly 

dragged from the bed to the 

floor by the wife, who 

allegedly hit him with a wood. 

On realising the gravity of 

her action, a source said, the 

woman “started parking her 

properties out of the house 

through the back door, while 

some of their children and 

neighbours were outside 

unaware of the 

development.” 

Caught 

According to the source, the 

deceased’s five year old 

grandchild discovered the 

wife’s movement while 

playing at the back entrance. 

The source said: “The fiveyear-old 

boy came to alert us 

that he saw the wife packing 

properties through the back 

entrance and dragging his 

grandpa on the floor with 

bloodstains. 

By Peter Duru 

MAKURDI—A 15-yearold 

Senior Secondary 2 

student of College of 

Education Demonstration 

Secondary School, Katsina- 

Ala in Katsina-Ala Local 

Government Area of Benue 

State (names withheld) was 

gang-raped comatose by 

suspected cultists. 

Vanguard learned that the 

teenage girl was, last week, 

abducted by the gang and 

taken to an unknown 

destination were they 

drugged and tied her up for 

several days, while they took 

turns on her. 

She was later discovered 

unconscious, yesterday, at 

the Katsina-Ala Riverside by 

a search party led by her 

father, a lecturer at the 

College of Education, 

Katsina-Ala. 

A father’s story 

Narrating his ordeal to 

reporters at the Benue State 

Teaching Hospital, BSUTH, 

Makurdi, where the girl is 

•His death's natural—POLICE 

“We went to check, but 

met the room locked and 

pretended that we were not 

aware. When she came 

back for her fridge, we 

accosted her and ask her to 

open the door. But she 

refused. 

“We forced the door open 

and met our father on the 

floor in his pool of blood. 

She later told us that she 

did it in anger.” 

However, spokesman of 

The victim 

still unconscious, her father 

said his daughter was 

abducted by a gang led by 

one Torkula. 

He said: “On Thursday, 

January 5, 2017 at about 

11a.m., my daughter, an 

SS2 student, went to a 

nearby market to buy zips 

to make a neighbour’s 

cloth, but did not return. 

“We did not see her till 

nightfall and then decided 

to search in homes of some 

of her friends and 

classmates, but could not 

the state Police Command, Mr. 

Asinim Butswat, dismissed as 

untrue claims that the 

housewife clubbed her 

husband dead over purchase 

of Christmas rice. 

Butswat, in a chat with 

Vanguard yesterday, said 

following investigation, there 

was no sign of the deceased 

being clubbed to death by the 

wife. 

He said the deceased ‘s 

death was natural. 

15-yr-old SS2 student gang-raped comato 

find her. I then lodged a 

complaint at the Police Station 

in Katsina-Ala, where I was 

also advised to also put up an 

announcement on a local radio 

station located in Katsina-Ala, 

which I did. 

“The whole family resorted to 

prayers as I consulted my 

pastor, who told me that he 

saw a vision of my missing 

daughter in the midst of 

cultists, even as he assured me 

that she would be found soon. 

“I later got a call from a 

church member, saying that



se by cultists in Benue 

•Family relocates over threats from suspects 

•We've arrested one—POLICE 

she saw my daughter on a 

motorcycle with two men, who 

covered her mouth as she 

attempted to speak to her. 

According to her, they were 

heading for the riverside.” 

He said he immediately 

proceeded to the riverside in 

company of a motorcyclist, “On 

getting there,” he said, “I saw 

many cultists smoking hemp and 

one of them approached me, 

asking what I was looking for. 

“Few minutes later, I saw one 

Torkula dragging my daughter 

and she looked heavily drugged 

and almost unconscious. The 

motorcyclist held onto Torkula as 

he attempted to run, while the 

others escaped. 

“My daughter managed to 

speak and told me that they 

gave her four injections of an 

unknown substance, that they 

took her from one Ucha’s house 

to the home of another member, 

where they stripped her naked. 

“She said they later took her to 

Torkula’s mother’s beer parlour, 

Don/cleric assassinated 

in Makurdi 

By Peter Duru 

MAKURDI—A pastor with 

Foundation Faith Church 

and a Professor of Aquatic 

Pollution in the Department of 

Fisheries and Aquaculture, 

Federal University of 

Agriculture, Makurdi, 

Professor Gabriel Okayi, was, 

yesterday, reportedly killed by 

gunmen in Makurdi, Benue 

State capital. 

The university lecturer and 

brother in-law of the General 

Overseer of the Church, Okayi, 

was allegedly killed at about 

3a.m. in his residence at Asase, 

in the North Bank area of the 

where she was forced to drink a 

drugged beer. She also told me 

that they starved her for two 

days and only gave her drugs.” 

Medical report 

Meanwhile, a medical report 

from Nguher Clinic in Katsina- 

Ala, where the victim was 

earlier admitted before being 

transferred to the Benue State 

Teaching Hospital, made 

available to reporters, indicated 

that she was induced with a 

substance and was sexually 

assaulted. 

Vanguard further gathered 

that the victim's father has 

relocated his entire family from 

Katsina-Ala to an unknown 

destination, following threats 

from the members of the gang 

and their families. 

Confirming the incident, the 

state Commissioner of Police, 

Bashir Makama, said a suspect 

had been arrested, while other 

fleeing members of the gang 

were being trailed. 

town. 

Vanguard gathered from a 

member of his church that 

the deceased, who was in his 

mid 50s, had a day before his 

death dedicated a new 

Toyota Corolla car he 

recently bought in the 

church. 

According to a neighbour of 

the deceased, who spoke on 

condition of anonymity, “we 

heard that the armed men 

gained entrance into the 

private residence of the pastor 

after scaling the perimeter 

fence of the building. 

“But what got everyone 

worried about the manner he 

Hospital worker commits suicide at work 

By Peter Okutu 

•We suspect foul play—POLICE 

ABAKALIKI—A 

health 

attendant with a private 

hospital (name withheld) in 

Abakaliki metropolis, in Ebonyi 

State, Mrs. Nnenna Usulor, 

allegedly committed suicide in 

the hospital, yesterday. 

She was alleged to have 

stabbed herself to death after an 

all night prayers organised by 

the owner of the hospital. 

According to a source, 

immediately the prayers ended 

and everybody left, the deceased 

slept in the hospital because of 

the distance to her house from 

the hospital. 

The source noted that there 

was an alarm in the hospital 

when a staff saw her in a pool of 

blood, lifeless. 

The state Police Public 

Relations Officer, DSP Jude 

Madu, confirmed the incident, 

adding that investigation into 

the matter had commenced. 

He said: “Police are still 

investigating the case. From the 

look of things, it is not easy for 

any policeman to conclude that 

the case was a suicide case; it 

is not. 

“Information I got was that 

the position of the knife was 

not common with suicide. If 

somebody wants to kill 

himself, the stab should be on 

the abdomen not on the neck. 

So it is difficult for us to believe 

it was suicide.” 

Enugu man allegedly kills 

brother in New Year day fight 

ONE Leonard Mba, who 

allegedly killed his 

brother, Cletus Mba, in Onicha 

village, Enugu-Ezike 

community, in Igboeze North 

of Enugu State, over a yet to 

be established issue, has 

been arrested by the police. 

The state Police 

Command’s spokesman, Mr. 

Ebere Amaraizu, who 

disclosed this yesterday in 

Enugu, said that the incident 

happened on New Year day. 

He said the homicide 

section of the command has 

begun investigation into the 

case, adding that “Leonard 

Mba is now helping the 

Homicide Section of the State 

Criminal Intelligence and 

Investigations Department 

in the command in its 

investigation.” 

Amaraizu explained that on 

that fateful day, Leonard 

Mba allegedly engaged his 

brother, Cletus Mba, in a 

fight over a yet to be 

established issue. 

He said: “In the process of 

the fight, it was reported that 

Leonard Mba allegedly hit 

Cletus Mba, his brother, with 

an object which left him 

unconscious. 

“Cletus Mba was later 

rushed to St. Mary’s 

Hospital, Ogurute, for 

treatment, and was 

confirmed dead on arrival at 

the hospital by the doctor on 

duty.” 

He said the corpse has 

been deposited at the 

General Hospital morgue, 

Ogurute-Enugu Ezike for 

autopsy. 

Professor Gabriel Okayi 

was killed is the fact that the 

man woke up at about 3a.m., 

when he realised that his 

dogs were barking 

persistently, only for him to 

discover that the dogs were 

not released from their pen 

by his housekeepers. 

“He was said to have 

opened the door and 

stepped out to get the dogs 

released only for the armed 

men, who hid within the 

compound to open fire on 

him, killing him instantly in 

cold-blood, after which they 

fled the scene. 

“The gunshots and wailing 

by his family members 

attracted neighbours some of 

whom summoned courage 

and mobilised to the house 

only to discover the man in 

a pool of blood and before 

they rushed him to the 

hospital he was already 

dead.” 

When Vanguard visited 

the scene, sympathisers, 

including his church 

members, had taken over his 

residence and family 

members, who were still in 

shock, would not speak on 

the matter. 

Police 

When contacted, the 

Benue State Police 

Commissioner, Bashir 

Makama, said: “I have 

visited the scene of the 

incident. The fact is that 

murder cases of this nature 

are premeditated. 

“They don’t just happen; 

they are well planned and 

executed. Investigations are 

ongoing and I can assure 

you that we will apprehend 

the masterminds of the 

condemnable act.” 

Reacting, the Head of 

Public Relations Unit of the 

university, Mrs. Rosemary 

Waku, said the matter had 

been reported to the police, 

pleading that the matter be 

thoroughly investigated with 

a view to arresting the 

masterminds. 

She said: “We also urge 

other lecturers living outside 

the campus of the university 

to beef up security around 

their homes to check a 

repeat of the unfortunate 

incident.” 

My wife, baby 

in hospital, 

says carpenter 

accused of 

stealing cables 

By Onozure Dania 

LAGOS—A 32-year-old 

carpenter, Francis 

Humbe, who allegedly 

stole cables valued 

N250,000 from a 

construction company at 

Eko Atlantic City, was, 

yesterday, arraigned before 

an Igbosere Magistrate’s 

Court, Lagos. 

The prosecutor, Corporal 

Friday Mameh, told the 

court that the defendant 

committed the alleged 

offence on January 4, at 

3a.m. 

He said that the 

defendant was caught by 

the security guard, while he 

was carting away 50 meters 

of armoured electrical 

cables. 

He said: “Humbe was 

caught by the firm’s security 

guards carting away 50 

meters of armoured 

electrical cables, valued at 

N250,000. 

“On January 4, at about 

3a.m., one of the firm’s 

guards was on patrol when 

he allegedly saw the 

suspect hacking away at the 

cables with a saw blade. 

“He raised the alarm and, 

along with his colleagues, 

they chased the suspect and 

wrestled him to the ground. 

“The defendant told the 

police afterwards that his 

wages of N2,000 per day 

had not been paid since 

2016 and that his wife and 

newborn were in hospital 

with no money to settle their 

hospital bills.” 

Mameh said that the 

offence committed is 

punishable under Section 

285(7) of the Criminal Laws 

of Lagos State, 2011. 

However, the defendant 

pleaded not guilty to the 

charge. 

The magistrate, Mr. 

Patrick Adekomaya, 

granted him bail in the sum 

of N50,000 with two 

sureties in like sum, and 

adjourned the case till 

January 25, for mention.

8—VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2017 


Abuja 

residents 

resort to 

charcoal over 

hike in 

kerosene price 

By Gabriel Ewepu 

A 

B U J A — 

FOLLOWING 

recent rise in kerosene 

price from N320 to N500 

per litre in the Federal 

Capital Territory, Abuja, 

residents have resorted to 

charcoal as alternative fuel 

for cooking. 

Vanguard gathered that 

the rise, according to some 

residents, came as a shock 

to them after the Christmas 

and New Year celebrations 

and as they also hoped that 

2017 will be a year of relief 

from the pain of recession 

in 2016. 

A private health 

practitioner in Kabusa, a 

suburb of Abuja, Mrs Dimie 

Thompson, said the hike in 

price by marketers and 

retailers had made her to 

abandon the kerosene stove 

for charcoal. 

She said: “I used to buy 

kerosene N320 per litre, 

which was also high but I 

still bought it for cooking. 

On Saturday I was told by 

the seller that the product 

was now N400 per litre. 

“I was really shocked. I 

considered the challenges 

in the family and decided 

to buy charcoal and ‘coal 

pot stove’ for cooking.” 

A teacher, Abigail John, 

who lives in Mpape, Bwari 

Area Council of Abuja, said 

kerosene in their area now 

goes for N500 per litre and 

she had resorted to 

charcoal. 

“I cannot afford the price 

of kerosene now, which a 

litre goes for N500. I am 

now using charcoal to 

prepare our meal. I don’t 

know where we are 

heading to in this country,” 

John said. 

A business woman and 

resident of Gidan-Mangro, 

a suburb of Abuja, Chinwe 

Felix, said the kerosene 

situation had become 

frustrating and people were 

finding it difficult to buy the 

commodity at N500 per 

litre. 

She said: “It is very 

frustrating as a woman, wife 

and mother the situation of 

kerosene. 

"Many of us are frustrated 

here in Gidan-Mangro 

community over the new 

price of kerosene, which is 

now going for between 

N450 and N500 per litre. 

"What will those in the 

villages in the states do 

about this increase? It will 

further compound the 

hardship they are facing.” 

Corruption: FG applies to amend charge 

against Justice Ademola, wife 

•As defendants seek accelerated trial 

By Ikechukwu 

Nnochiri 

ABUJA — THE Federal 

Government, yesterday, 

notified an Abuja High Court at 

APC to summon 

spokesmen over hate 

comments 

Maitama of its intention to 

amend the 11-count criminal 

charge it preferred against 

Justice Ademola Adeniyi of the 

Federal High Court, Abuja and 

his wife, Olabowale. 

Promotions in federal civil 

service: Stagnated 

directors grumble 

By Soni Daniel, 

Northern Region Editor & 

Favour Nnabugwu 

ABUJA—THERE is unease 

in the Federal Civil Service 

over the non-promotion of 

qualified directors, who have 

been stagnant on their current 

posts for many years. 

The affected directors, who 

were due for promotion, 

according to findings by 

Vanguard, have been forced to 

remain on their current positions 

and are losing hundreds of 

millions of Naira that should 

have accrued to them if they had 

been promoted as at when due. 

According to some of the 

directors, who were due for 

promotion since 2013, they 

might be forced to take their case 

to President Muhammadu 

Buhari, if the Head of Civil 

Service of the Federation, Mrs. 

Winifred Oyo-Ita, does not act 

swiftly to save them from further 

stagnation and deprivation 

arising from their non-elevation. 

Most of the affected top civil 

servants were due for promotion 

from Assistant to Deputy 

Directors and from Deputy to 

Directors since 2012. 

Most disappointing to the 

affected bureaucrats is the fact 

that many of them do not have 

many years to spend in the civil 

service either on account of age 

or years of service to the nation. 

One of the men, who took 

promotion examination to be 

promoted from Assistant to 

Deputy Director in one of the 

federal ministries, told 

Vanguard that he was 

disappointed, having passed 

the qualifying examination last 

year only to be told that there 

was no vacancy for him to be 

promoted to the next level. 

Findings by Vanguard 

showed that the stagnation in 

the nation’s civil service stems 

from the suspension of the 

tenured policy by the Buhari 

administration, an innovation 

that was put in place by the 

previous administration to create 

room for more qualified public 

servants to 

grow and 

reach the apex 

of their careers 

before retiring. 

Under the 

tenured policy, 

all directors 

who have 

served up to 

eight years on 

one post are to 

give way for 

new ones. 

T h e 

arrangement 

created new 

openings for 

the prompt 

retirement of 

civil servants 

and created 

room for the 

promotion of 

others with 

ease. 

By Omeiza Ajayi 

ABUJA—As part of efforts to reset the tone 

of political conversation in the country, 

the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, 

said it had concluded plans to summon all its 

spokesmen in the various states for a 

brainstorming session in Abuja. 

National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr 

Bolaji Abdullahi, disclosed this, yesterday, in 

Abuja at a ‘meet and greet’ session with 

members of the APC Press Corps. 

“It is very important because we think very 

seriously as the ruling party. If you speak for 

a ruling party, there is a way you need to 

speak, you need to speak with a higher level 

of responsibility,” he said. 

Government lawyer, Mr. 

Segun Jegede, told the court 

that the charge would be 

amended to include Mr. Joe 

Agi, SAN, as the third 

defendant in the case. 

Agi was alleged to have, on 

different dates, offered 

gratifications to Justice 

Ademola, including a car gift 

worth N8.5 million. 

Federal Government told the 

court that Justice Ademola and 

his wife conspired and also 

received N30 million 

gratification from Mr. Agi, SAN, 

and Associates between March 

11 and March 26, 2015. 

Ademola was among the 

seven court judges arrested 

after a “sting operation” by the 

Department of State Service, 

DSS, between October 8 and 9, 

2016. 

The defendants were 

arraigned on December 13 and 

subsequently granted bail to the 

tune of N50m each. 

Defendants seek 

accelerated trial 

Meantime, the defendants 

have urged the court to abridge 

their trial date. 

The defendants had in 

applications through their lead 

counsel, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu, 

SAN and Chief Roberts Clarke, 

SAN, prayed the trial court to 

accelerate their trial. 

Trial judge, Justice Jude 

Okeke, had originally adjourned 

till January 18 for government 

to open its case against the 

defendants by calling its 

witnesses and adducing 

evidence against them. 

However, the defendants, said 

they would prefer an 

abridgement of the time to 

enable an expeditions disposal 

of the matter. 

They predicated the 

application on the provision of 

section 396 of the 

Administration of Criminal 

Justice Act, ACJA, 2015. 

Their application was not 

opposed by the prosecution 

counsel. 

Consequently, Justice Okeke 

abridged the time to January 11 

for possible re-arraignment of the 

defendants on an amended charge, 

even as he adjourned till January 

16 for commencement of trial.

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2017—9 


Four civilians, five suicide bombers killed in Borno fresh attacks 

•Army releases 1,250 cleared Boko Haram suspects 

By Ndahi Marama 

MAIDUGURI—NO fewer 

than four persons, 

including member of Civilian JTF, 

three male and two female suicide 

bombers were on Sunday killed 

in simultaneous attacks in Muna 

Garrage and Kaleri wards of 

Maiduguri metropolis, Borno 

State. 

The separate blasts which took 

place about 10:20 p.m., and 

10:45p.m., caused fears in the 

state, especially now that the 

military had claimed that it has 

decimated Boko Haram terrorists, 

after capturing Sambisa Forest, 

which was declared stronghold of 

insurgents. 

These attacks came barely 12 

hours after some terrorists 

attacked a military base in Buni 

Yadi general area of Yobe State, 

which led to the killing of five 

soldiers, including a Captain. 

Army releases 1,250 

cleared Boko Haram 

suspects 

Meanwhile, the Army, 

yesterday, said it has released 

1,250 Boko Haram suspects who 

have been cleared of no links with 

insurgency. 

Brig.-Gen. Victor Ezugwu, 

General Officer Commanding, 

GOC, 7 Division of the army, 

disclosed this when the Head 

of Sub Delegation of ICRC, Mr 

Beat Mosimann, visited him at 

the Maimalari cantonment in 

Maiduguri, Borno State. 

Ezugwu said the cleared 

suspects were released in about 

seven batches after being cleared 

of having no link with Boko 

Haram. 

...warns of new 

method by Boko 

Haram to attack 

homes 

Meanwhile, the army has 

alerted residents of Maiduguri 

and its environs of new antics 

of Boko Haram terrorists, 

warning residents to be wary 

of strange persons knocking at 

their doors. 

It also said the curfew from 

10 p.m., daily was in force, 

warning that defaulters would 

be prosecuted accordingly. 

On the attacks, a resident of 

Kaleri, Mallam Ali Gujja, told 

our correspondent that the 

Maiduguri attack in Kaleri 

occurred when two female 

suicide bombers sneaked into 

the community located behind 

University of Maiduguri 

Teaching Hospital and 

pretended to be Internally 

Displaced Persons, IDPs, 

looking for a place to spend the 

night. 

“The suicide bombers 

disguised as IDPs. One of them 

approached the house of my 

neighbour and knocked on the 

gate. 

“Unfortunately, a daughter of 

a Civil Defence Corps, Hassan 

Mandara, went out to open the 

gate. When she opened it, the 

female suicide bomber told her 

that she was an IDP looking 

for a place to pass the night and 

when the daughter of the Civil 

Defence Corps told her that 

they don’t have an extra room 

to accommodate her, the suicide 

bomber quickly hugged her, 

detonated the explosives 

wrapped on her body which 

killed both of them instantly. 

“Also, another female suicide 

bomber approached a house in 

Kaleri and knocked on the gate, 

but when the occupants refused 

to open the gate, she detonated 

her explosives, killing only 

herself,” Gujja said. 

Also, the Muna Barrage male 

suicide bombers succeeded in 

Group asks Buhari to reflect national unity in 

appointments 

LAGOS— A CIVIL society 

organisation, Vanguard for 

Transparent Leadership and 

Democracy, VATLAD, has called 

on President Muhammadu 

Buhari to urgently reconstitute 

the Federal Executive Council 

and Boards of agencies and 

parastatals to reflect government 

of national unity. 

National President of VATLAD, 

Mr Igbini Emmanuel, in a 

statement, yesterdaty, said: 

“Having critically examined the 

causes of the economic and 

socio-political crises ravaging 

our nation, Nigeria, since the 

enthronment of democratic 

system after Inpendence in 

1960, we have come to the 

conclusion that the first and 

major step to resolving and 

preventing these crises is for our 

political leaders to, as deliberate 

policy, embrace constitution of 

killing three persons, including a 

member of Civilian JTF (names 

withheld). 

Meanwhile, rescue workers 

from national and state 

emergency management 

agencies have evacuated corpses 

of the suspects and victims to the 

mortuaries. 

Led by Chairman of Borno State 

Emergency Management Agency, 

BOSEMA, Satomi Ahmed, in 

conjunction with NEMA, 12 

bodies were evacuated, yesterday. 

Among the corpses were that of 

two suicide bombers at Muna 

Garage and two other suicide 

bombers killed at Kaleri temporary 

settlement, behind University of 

Maiduguri. 

executive councils (cabinets) of 

national unity at federal, state and 

local government level. 

“Members must be men and 

women of proven records of 

patriotism, integrity and 

competence from all political 

parties, ethnicity, religions and 

professions. Such form of 

government is lawful and in line 

with the aim and objective of the 

1999 Nigerian Constitution as 

amended."

10 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2017 


NBA proposes 

law as second 

degree in 

Nigerian 

varsities 

By Abdulwahab 

Abdulah 

IN a move to raise the 

bar for Nigerian 

lawyers, the Nigerian Bar 

Association, NBA is 

seeking to make the study 

of law a second degree 

course in Nigerian 

Universities. The idea was 

one of the issues contained 

in the agenda before a 

committee convoked by the 

national body of lawyers to 

find lasting solution to the 

seemingly low standard of 

legal profession in the 

country. 

Though, the idea is still 

an agenda for the 

committee, however it will 

change the face of law 

study in Nigeria, if the 

committee considers it 

worthwhile. 

The 23-man committee 

inaugurated weekend by 

the NBA president, 

Abubakar Mahmud, SAN 

is chaired by Chief Anthony 

Idigbe, SAN, while Dr 

Aminu Gamawa is the 

secretary. 

The agenda states, among 

others: ”Given the current 

size of the legal profession, 

its exponential growth in 

recent years in relation to 

the needs of the Nigerian 

economy, the committee 

will consider the 

desirability of candidates 

seeking admission to the 

law faculties in Nigeria to 

possess a degree in 

another discipline as a 

condition for admission.” 

The statement signed by 

the NBA secretary , Isiaka 

Olagunju reads in part: 

“The Nigerian Bar 

Association has repeatedly 

expressed concerns in the 

falling standard of legal 

education and legal 

practice. This is a 

disturbing phenomenon 

that must be addressed 

urgently and adequately.” 

How Ajumogobia opened bank account with fake 

address — WITNESS 

By Abdulwahab Abdulah 

L 

A G O S — A 

PROSECUTION 

witness, Ademola Oshodi, 

yesterday, told Justice Hakeem 

Oshodi of an Ikeja High Court 

how the embattled Justice Rita 

Ofili-Ajumogobia allegedly 

opened her corporate account 

with Diamond Bank Plc with the 

address of an uncompleted 

building. 

In his testimonies at the 

resumed hearing of the case 

Oshodi disclosed that the given 

BUDGET SIGNING: From left: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (2nd left); 

Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, Hon. Rotimi Olowo (left); Commissioner 

for Finance/Economic Planning & Budget, Mr. Akinyemi Ashade (2nd right) and Secretary to 

the State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello (right) during the signing of the 2017 Appropriation 

Bill into Law at the Conference room, Lagos House, Ikeja, yesterday. 

Ambode appoints Olawale new LASTMA GM 

By Monsur 

Olowoopejo 

G OVERNOR 

Akinwunmi 

Ambode of Lagos 

State has appointed 

his Principal Private 

Secretary, Musa 

Olawale, as the new 

General Manager of 

the State Traffic 

Management 

A u t h o r i t y 

(LASTMA). 

Olawale’s 

appointment ended 

the tenure of Bashir 

Braimah, who was 

appointed in 

location of the company being an 

uncompleted building could have 

stalled the opening of the account 

but the condition was waived by 

the bank. 

Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia and 

Mr. Godwin Obla, SAN, are being 

prosecuted by the Economic and 

Financial Crimes Commission, 

EFCC. 

The duo were arraigned by 

EFCC on November 28, 2016 

before Justice Oshodi in a 30- 

count charge bordering on 

perversion of the course of justice, 

graft, unlawful enrichment, 

November 2015, by the 

governor, to improve the 

standard of traffic 

management in the state. 

Though no reason was 

given for the replacement, 

the new LASTMA boss, 

who resumed work 

yesterday, was the third 

LASTMA boss within 18- 

months of the present 

administration. 

While addressing the 

staff, Olawale assured 

them that during his 

tenure, staff and motorists 

discipline and free flow of 

traffic on Lagos roads 

would be paramount. 

He said: ''My aim is to 

have a highly mobile, 

efficient and effective traffic 

management system in the 

state.” 

He assured residents that 

the agency would work in 

line with the best global 

By Abdulwahab 

Abdulah 

ALagos High Court 

sitting in Ikorodu 

yesterday dismissed a suit 

to restrain Oba Kabiru 

Adewale Shotobi from 

providing false information to the 

EFCC and forgery. 

Led in evidence by EFCC 

prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, the 

witness said the bank completed 

the registration process because 

the judge is a good customer of 

the bank and the fact that the 

uncompleted building was hers. 

“Before opening the corporate 

account for Justice Ofili- 

Ajumogobia, she filled a 

corporate account opening form 

and submitted the company’s 

documents which was verified 

from Corporate Affairs 

Commission. 

“We also did a physical 

practices in traffic 

management. 

“Therefore, every 

LASTMA official must 

demonstrate discipline on 

duty, shun corruption, 

rededicate themselves to 

duty and accord road users 

adequate respect.” 

He urged members of 

the public to report any 

erring staff for proper 

discipline in accordance 

with extant rules. 

Court dismisses application restraining Ikorodu 

monarch 

parading himself as the 

Ayangburen of Ikorodu 

land. 

Justice Olushola 

Williams who presided 

over the case dismissed the 

suit after hearing the 

submissions of counsels 

visitation to the company’s 

address given as 18, Lai Bende 

St, Fajuyi Estate and found out 

that the building was still under 

construction but because Justice 

Ajumogobia was our customer 

and we knew that the property 

belonged to her, we proceeded to 

open the count,” he said. 

According to Oshodi, all the 

account opening requirements 

were satisfied by the judge except 

for the address. 

The EFCC’s witness who is a 

staff of the bank also testified to 

how the judge deposited huge 

sum of money at various times 

through him while serving as 

judge of the Federal High Court. 

The banker told the court that 

he managed the bank accounts 

of Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia, with 

number 0029928474, 0032091183 

and 0036103605. 

The banker told the court that 

he regularly visited Justice Ofiili- 

Ajumogobia’s home and also 

chambers on the premises of the 

Federal High Court on Oyinkan 

Abayomi Drive, Ikoyi, Lagos, to 

collect huge cash sums mostly in 

dollars to be deposited in the 

judge’s account. 

The witness said whenever the 

money was above the lawful 

threshold that could be deposited 

in the judge’s account, he would 

split it, deposit a portion in the 

judge''s account and the 

remaining portion in his own 

personal account to be transferred 

back to the judge. 

representing both parties 

in the matter. 

Justice Williams declined 

to grant any of the 

claimants’ requests nor 

determine any of the 

issues raised for 

determination by the court. 

Court adjourns ex-NIMASA boss, Akpobolokemi's case till Feb 

By Innocent Anaba 

THE ongoing trial of 

a former Director 

General of Nigerian 

Maritime Administration 

and Safety Agency, 

NIMASA, Patrick 

Akpobolokemi and five 

others, was, yesterday, 

adjourned to February 28, 

for cross examination of a 

last prosecution’s witness. 

Akpobolokemi, a former 

DG of NIMASA, was 

charged by the Economic 

and Financial Crimes 

Commission, EFCC, 

alongside five others, on 22 

counts bordering on the 

offence. 

Others charged are 

Captain Agaba, Ekene 

Nwakuche and Governor 

Juan, as well as Blockz and 

Stonz Ltd, Kenzo Logistics 

Ltd and Al-Kenzo Logistic 

Ltd. 

In the charge, the 

accused were alleged to 

have converted to their use, 

a total of N2.6 billion 

between December 23, 

2013 and May 28, 2015. 

The offences were said to 

have contravened the 

provisions of sections 15 

(1), 15 (3), and 18 (a) of the 

Money Laundering 

Prohibition Act, 2012. 

The trial of the accused 

was earlier slated for 

January 9 to 13, for the 

defence counsel to cross 

examine the 11th witness 

for the EFCC, Mr 

Chukwuma Orji, as well 

as for continuation of trial.

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2017 — 11 

Protesting 

federal varsity 

staff shut down 

school over 

delayed pay 

By Rotimi Ojomoyela 

A DO-EKITI—THERE 

was palpable tension 

in Oye Ekiti, headquarters of 

Oye Local Government Area 

of Ekiti State, as Non- 

Academic Staff of Universities, 

NASU, branch of the Federal 

University, Oye Ekiti, FUOYE 

protested against the 

management of the institution 

over unpaid salaries and 

entitlements. 

The protest which paralysed 

academic and administrative 

activities of the institution, also 

affected the orientation 

programme organised for new 

students of the university , as 

their parents, who brought 

them met the main gate under 

lock and key. 

The protest, led by the 

leadership of the Senior Staff 

Association of Nigerian 

University(SSANU) and 

Non-Academic Staff Union 

(NASU) started as early as 

7am at the main gate of the 

university, as the angry 

staff locked out their 

colleagues, both academic 

and non-academic. 

Amosun swears 

in new Chief of 

Staff, HoS, 

commissioner 

A BEOKUTA—OGUN 

State Governor, Senator 

Ibikunle Amosun, yesterday 

urged political appointees in 

the state to pay attention to his 

administration’s resolve 

towards completing all 

ongoing projects before the 

expiration of his tenure. 

Amosun stated this in 

Abeokuta during the 

swearing-in of Mr Abayomi 

Sobande, Chief Tolu Odebiyi 

and Mrs Adepeju Adebajo as 

the new Head of Service, 

Chief of Staff and 

Commissioner for Agriculture 

respectively. 

Amosun explained that the 

new appointees were chosen 

based on qualification and 

to further actualise the five 

cardinal programmes of his 

administration. 


LAUTECH STRIKE: Police warn as students 

paralyse activities in Ibadan 

By Ola Ajayi 

IBADAN—NOT fewer than 

300 students of Ladoke 

Akintola University of Technology, 

Ogbomoso, yesterday, protested 

in many parts of Ibadan 

metropolis over an unresolved 

ownership crisis between the two 

owner states of Oyo and Osun, 

which led to declaration of strike 

by the academic staff of the 

institution seven months ago. 

While lamenting that they were 

fed up with the continued closure 

of their school and endless 

misunderstanding between the 

two states over funding of the 

institution, the students displayed 

placards with varying inscriptions 

such as “Save our future, reopen 

LAUTECH”, “7 months strike 

action has jeopardized 

Ladokites”, ''Ajimobi answer us; 

stop playing politics with our 

future”, “We are not thugs; we are 

intellectual radicals.“ 

Police warns against protest 

While reacting to the protest, 

the state Police Public Relations 

Officer, Superintendent of Police 

Adekunle Ajisebutu, said: “The 

Oyo State Commissioner of Police, 

Sam Adegbuyi held a parley with 

representatives of LAUTECH 

students over a planned protest.'' 

Addressing the students led by 

former SUG President, Bakare 

Sule, the CP warned them 

against violence, while advising 

them to seek audience with 

governors of Oyo and Osun 

states, where possible and 

articulate their grievances in 

writing. 

Although, Governor Abiola 

Ajimobi of Oyo State said two days 

ago that the students should be 

getting ready for resumption in a 

few days, the students led by 

Sodunola Obafemi, from Obafemi 

Awolowo University, Sanyaolu 

Juwon, National Secretary of 

Alliance of Nigerian Students 

against Neo-Liberal Attacks, 

Omoakin Monsurudeen, Fawole 

Israel Opeyemi, Omole Ibukun 

and Ajayi Moyosore, 

described the utterance as mere 

political statement, adding that 

it was the school's 

management that should 

announce resumption and not 

the governor. 

The students’ leaders who spoke 

in turns, said, the Professor 

Gbadegesin-led management of 

LAUTECH announced the closure 

of the university on 13th of June 

2016. 

Later, the students marched 

through Mokola roundabout to 

Government secretariat where 

Governor Abiola Ajimobi assured 

them that their school will be reopened 

before the end of January. 

LAUTECH to get N500m 

lifeline – Ajimobi 

Meantime, Governor Abiola 

Ajimobi, suspended the State 

Executive Council meeting to calm 

the frayed nerves of the students, 

Stop parading yourself as Baale, Oyo govt warns 

title contender 

By Ola Ajayi 

IBADAN—OYO 

State 

Government has warned a 

self-acclaimed Baale of Ejioku, 

Prince Bashiru Adesina, to desist 

from parading himself in such 

capacity, having failed to secure 

the approval of the Governor 

Abiola Ajimobi, in disobedience to 

the provisions of Chiefs Law of 

Oyo State, 2000, CAP. 28. 

A statement by the 

Commissioner for Local 

Government and Chieftaincy 

Matters, Mr. Bimbo Kolade, 

yesterday, conveyed the 

government’s displeasure at the 

development, which, he said, 

contravened laid down rules 

guiding the appointment of 

recognized chiefs. 

Although Section 20 (1, 2 and 

3) regulates such appointment, 

Section 20 (1) specifically reads, 

“Subject to the provisions of this 

section, the governor may 

approve or set aside an 

appointment of a recognized 

chief,” the class under which the 

Baale of Ejioku falls. 

Kolade warned that the 

government would wield the big 

stick should the concerned 

chief remain adamant in order 

to protect the sanctity of the 

revered traditional institution 

of Ibadanland. 

Ondo govt, APC bicker over alleged diversion of N1.5bn grant 

By Dayo Johnson 

AKURE—ONDO 

State 

government and the opposition All 

Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday 

bicker over allegation that foreign grants 

of N1.5 billion were being diverted ahead 

of the handing over next month. 

First to raise alarm was the publicity 

secretary of APC, Abayomi Adesanya who 

said the outgoing government was on a 

looting spree capable of frustrating a 

seamless transition. 

Abayomi in a statement in Akure alleged 

that the state government received N1.2 

billion physical cash being amount 

deposited into the account of the 

Multilateral Relation Department of the 

governor’s office as accumulated grants 

from foreign donors. 

“Confirmed information also showed that 

anotherN385 million was credited into the 

account of the Wealth Creation Agency, 

LAUTECH 

STUDENTS 

PROTEST: 

Governor, 

Senator Abiola 

Ajimobi of 

Oyo State (far 

r i g h t ) 

addressing 

students of the 

L a d o k e 

Akintola 

University of 

Technology, 

Ogbomoso, 

who staged a 

peaceful 

protest to his 

office against 

the continued 

closure of the 

school, in 

Ibadan...yesterday. 

who staged a peaceful protest to 

his office in Ibadan, yesterday. 

The governor said he 

suspended the meeting to 

address the students because of 

his concern for their plight and to 

enable them hear directly from 

him about the concerted efforts to 

douse the tension. 

Ajimobi said that he was 

working in concert with his Osun 

State counterpart, Ogbeni Rauf 

Aregbesola, for both states to 

mobilise an initial N500m lifeline 

to defray the salary arrears of the 

striking academic and nonacademic 

members of the school. 

He said; “The crux of the matter 

is that government lacks funds. 

I’m sure all of you are aware of 

the mounting financial difficulties 

confronting the country, in which 

we have a fair share. 

Nevertheless, we (Oyo and Osun 

states) have reached a solid 

agreement on how to contribute 

funds to start with. 

“We are contributing an initial 

N250million each as allocation to 

LAUTECH to achieve the set goal 

of getting the university 

reopened. This is in continuation 

of our continuous search for every 

opportunity to improve education 

standards in the states.'' 

WECA, of Ondo State. 

“It is sad that, unpatriotic and 

unscrupulous elements within the highest 

echelon of the outgoing government have 

activated nefarious plans to siphon this 

monies into private accounts to the 

detriment of the people of Ondo state. 

“To perfect this plan, arrangement had 

been made to transfer the N1.2billion to 

WECA which has been designated as exit 

point for the monies,’’ he said. 

Responding, the Information 

commissioner Kayode Akinmade came 

hard on the party’s spokesman describing 

him as “most ignorant,’’ whose desperation 

for attention would spell doom for the 

incoming government if allowed to continue 

running the party’s publicity machinery on 

outright falsehood. 

Akinmade said the APC as a party must 

“tame Adesanya now or purge him of his 

lies before he becomes an embarrassment 

to the party and the incoming government.''


Another N'Delta militant group announces 

resumption of hostilities 

Chief Edwin Clark, former 

military governor of Old Rivers 

•As Delta Dep gov begs militants to sheath sword 

state, HRM King Alfred 

By Emma Amaize, 

Regional Editor, South 

South 

WARRI—THE Niger Delta 

Revolutionary Crusaders, 

NDRC, a militant group in the 

Niger Delta, yesterday, joined the 

Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, in 

declaring its plan to resume fresh 

hostilities in the Niger Delta, 

following the Federal 

Government’s alleged decision 

not to dialogue with the Pan Niger 

Delta Forum, PANDEF. 

This came as deputy governor 

of Delta State and Chairman, 

Delta State Advocacy Committee 

Against Oil Facility Vandalism, 

DSACAOFV, Deacon Kingsley 

Otuaro, said dialogue option 

towards resolving the Niger Delta 

crisis was still open, urging 

militants to abort the plan to 

recommence bombing of oil 

installations. 

But NDRC in a statement by its 

spokesperson, WOI Izon-Ebi, 

said: “After a keen observation of 

our ceasefire, declared on the 

17th day of November, 2016, 

the Niger Delta Revolutionary 

Crusaders want to resume attacks 

with a warning to the Nigerian 


government and the oil 

multinationals to be ready for the 

consequences of their 

oppressive and devilish 

politicization of the Niger Delta 

agitation and failure to 

utilize the precious 

intervention of our distinguished 

royal fathers and elders of 

PANDEF.” 

Alleging that the Federal 

Government had turned the 

Niger Delta Development 

Commission, NDDC, to All 

Progressives Party, APC, 

secretariat, it warned that the 

Commission “will be the first 

casualty of the renewed hostilities 

in the region because what we 

have discovered is so outrageous 

and shameful.” 

The group claimed its findings 

showed that N80 billion which 

was supposed to be used in 

developing the Niger Delta was 

used to prosecute the election of 

a former South-South governor, 

while N40 billion was also 

withdrawn from the NDDC 

coffers to prosecute the last rerun 

election in Rivers State. 

According to the statement: 

“We want to sound it loud again 

to the Federal Government that 

we are fully in support of the 

Niger Delta Avengers’ 

Operation Wall of Jericho and 

Hurricane Joshua to knock all oil 

operations down in the country 

because enough-is-enough, 

our next line of action is not to 

warn the federal government 

again, because we have the 

capacity as the gods are with us. 

We are freedom fighters that 

respect our elders, leaders, and 

royal fathers. But we take our 

directives from the gods of the 

Niger Delta. Any planned 

humiliation of our elders, 

leaders, and royal fathers could 

give room to the gods to pour 

their blessing to all genuine 

agitators and freedom fighters to 

defend their motherland from 

external aggression that is being 

spearheaded by the Fulani 

caliphate of systematic cleansing 

and grabbing of territories. 

Confidence in 

leadership of PANDEF 

“We have confidence in the 

convener/leader of PANDEF, 

former 

Federal 

Commissioner of Information, 

Diete Spiff, former governor of 

Akwa-Ibom State, Obong 

Victor Attah, both co-chairmen 

of PANDEF and other leaders 

of the group, contrary to the 

claim of the Presidency that the 

group lacked credible leaders. 

These are well respected 

leaders that control respect in 

the Niger Delta region. So, why 

is the Federal Government 

politicizing and trying to 

discredit these distinguished 

personalities of the Niger Delta 

for their sincere effort to appease 

the agitators and freedom 

fighters of the Niger Delta to 

give peace a chance and halt 

all hostilities. 

“The Federal Government 

was never sincere, all they were 

looking for was just to buy time 

to enable them prepare, acquire 

sophisticated arms to commit 

genocide against the 

defenseless people of the Niger 

Delta. It has been revealed and 

every right thinking Nigerian is 

now aware that the Buhari -led 

administration is more clueless 

then the past administration of 

Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.” 

On NDDC, it asserted: “The 


turned NDDC to APC 

secretariat, NDDC that was 

established by the past 

administration of Olusegun 

Obasanjo because of the sacrifice 

of the Niger Delta youths for the 

development of the region and the 

empowerment of the Niger 

Deltans, irrespective of their 

political affiliation, but it has come 

to our notice that instead of the 

NDDC to be responsible to its 

primary responsibility of 

developing the Niger Delta and 

empowering its people, it is now used as a 

political machinery of the APC to cause 

disunity among the Niger Delta youths 

and its people.” 

NDDC to be 

first casualty 

“NDDC will be the first casualty 

of the renewed hostilities in the 

region because what we have 

discovered is so outrageous and 

shameful. We are sounding it as a 

warning to the Executive Director of 

Finance directly and all board members to 

retrace their steps because the NDDC was 

born out of the blood and sacrifice of Niger 

Delta youths. They should be warned 

because they and their family members 

could pay dearly for this sinful and devilish 

conspiracy against the Niger Delta.” 

Meanwhile, Deacon Otuaro, who spoke 

to Vanguard at Asaba, yesterday, said: “The 

dialogue option has not been exhausted, 

so there is no need for militants to bomb 

critical national oil assets as a way of 

expressing their grievances.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY JANUARY 10, 2017 — 13

14 — VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2017 

TAMBUWAL AT 51: 

Indelible marks on the 

Seat of the Caliphate 

By Imam Imam 

IF he were to be asked his 

birthday wish this day in 2015, 

the then Sokoto State 

gubernatorial candidate of the All 

Progressives Congress (APC), Rt. 

Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, 

would have probably prayed for 

success in the elections he was 

facing few weeks away. He 

wouldn’t have stopped at that; the 

Tambuwal I know would have 

definitely prayed for God’s hand 

in not only winning the election 

but discharging the 

responsibilities that come with 

victory creditably. 

I don’t know whether 

somewhere in his mind then 

whether Tambuwal supplicated to 

God on these two fundamental 

issues. But God Almighty has 

been gracious. Less than 90 days 

after his 49th birthday, Tambuwal 

emerged as the Sokoto governorelect 

and today, at 51, he has 

performed so wonderfully that he 

is celebrated both at home and 

away. 

In steering the state-ship, 

Tambuwal’s major account for 

success is his recognition, ab 

initio, of the weight of 

expectations that come with 

leadership, especially executive 

power entrusted on a governor in 

a state like Sokoto. But most 

importantly is his realisation, like 

all great leaders in history, that 

leadership essentially means 

taking people where they should 

be, not necessary where they want 

to be. 

With this clear vision on the 

expectations and where he wants 

to see the state under his 

stewardship, Tambuwal set out to 

prioritise and articulate this vision 

into areas of focus. 

Refreshingly, he set out to differ 

by coming up with genuine, 

insightful and visionary ideas to 

turn around, not only the day to 

day course of life, but initiatives 

that would also alter the face of 

the society. For Tambuwal, 

whatever is done is not just 

another project, it is part of the 

bold revolutionary interventions 

that have set his government 

apart from the pack. 

Sokoto, like many a northern 

state, is often listed among what 

is termed ELDS; educationally 

least developed states. This 

negative ranking is tabulated 

based on enrolment ratio, the out 

of school children, school 

dropouts and other parameters. 

A state that is the nucleus of the 

knowledge-driven Sokoto 

Caliphate was unfortunately 

lagging in the area of education, 

•Tambuwal 

especially for the girl-child. It was 

therefore revolutionising for 

Governor Tambuwal to marshal 

out sweeping policies aimed at 

turning around the statistics. To 

this end, the state government 

announced state of emergency on 

the education sector. This 

impressive pronouncement has 

since been backed by action. 

The first of those bold steps was 

the announcement, early in the 

day, of enforcement of school 

enrolment for all eligible children. 

The government, in attempt to 

tackle the lethargic attitude of 

some parents to modern 

schooling promulgated 

punishment against parents who 

refuse to enrol their school-aged 

children in schools. 

The government then went a 

step further by introducing 

incentives for parents who enrol 

their daughters in school, through 

a conditional cash transfer scheme 

to enable the parents support their 

wards through school. Through 

this carrot and stick approach the 

state government targeted 

enrolment of 1.2 million pupils 

that were hitherto out of school. 

Education, in this information 

age, is the key to the further. The 

wisest decision, for any leader in 

this age is to have a holistic and 

wide-ranging investment in 

human capital development 

through education. Here is the 

Tambuwal model, a model of 

societal upliftment through the 

viable investment in its human 

capital. 

By making education the 

mainstay of his administration, 

Tambuwal has put Sokoto, once 

again, on the pathway to 

greatness. If this noble agenda is 

pursued diligently, beyond the 

rhetoric as in many government 

programmes, then it is safe for 

one to expect Sokoto to shine 

among peers in the near future. 

The huge attention being 

received by education in Sokoto 

under Tambuwal, justified as it is, 

does not mean that other critical 

and important sectors are 

neglected. 

Agriculture and healthcare 

delivery have equally benefitted 

from Tambuwal’s methodical and 

strategic interventions. 

Contrary to the usual practice in 

Nigeria, Governor Tambuwal went 

all out since his coming to ensure 

that all works he inherited have 

been completed by budgeting 

huge sums of money for that. The 

result was the commissioning of 

the 500-units Kalambaina housing 

estate by President Muhammadu 

Buhari in November last year. 

Another big one in this regard is 

the coming on board of the 38MW 

Sokoto State Independent Power 

Project. 

Even by this pigeon-holed look 

into the stewardship of Sokoto state 

by Governor Tambuwal it is 

evident that this true leader of his 

people is indeed serving the 

people diligently towards creating 

a new vista for Sokoto State. The 

Matawallen Sokoto is poised to 

making his Sokoto a pride of all 

Sakkwatawa. 

At 51, Tambuwal is unarguably 

one of Nigeria’s most enterprising 

politicians. His ever-smiling 

disposition brings forward a happy 

mien that is intricately infectious. 

Like his forebears in Sokoto always 

say, the future tends to be brighter 

for he who smiles often. 

•Imam (imamdimam) is the 

spokesman to Governor 

Tambuwal. 

SCHOOLS RESUME NATIONWIDE AFTER THE XMAS & NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS 

Photos by SOLA OYELESE 

Pupils of Akowonjo Primary School, Lagos State on their first day in school, after 

the Xmas and New Year holidays. Photo by Kehinde Gbadamosi. 

Students of Great Light Scholars Academy, Masaka, Nasarawa State at the assembly 

ground at the resumption of school calendar. Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan. 

Resuming students of Iju Junior Grammar School, Ogun State tidying 

up their school premises. Photo by Akeem Salau. 

...Even these pupils of Methodist 

Nursery/ Primary School, Oshodi 

are not left out of Day 1 action. 

Photo by Diran Oshe. 

Pupils of Supreme Basic Schools, Magada, Ibafo, Ogun State 

at the Assembly ground. Photo by Lamidi Bamidele.

Vanguard, TUESDAY JANUARY 10, 2017 — 15



Buhari to 

commission 

S’East projects 

March 

By Dennis Agbo 

E 

N U G U — 

PRESIDENT 

Muhammadu Buhari will by 

March this year commission 

some of the projects the 

administration is executing in 

the South East geopolitical 

zone. 

Some of the projects 

expected to be commissioned 

by the President include the 

on-going reconstruction of 

Enugu-Onitsha expressway 

and Enugu-Port Harcourt 

expressway, among others. 

The disclosure was made 

yesterday by the local 

organizing committee of 

Buhari Support Organisation, 

BSO, Enugu State chapter, 

shortly after its meeting for 

hosting of the National 

Committee of Buhari Support 

groups in the five South-East 

states in Enugu on 21st 

January. 

The group said the January 

21 meeting of the entire BSO 

in south east is to strategize on 

how they will receive the 

President when he comes for 

the commissioning by March. 

The BSO said it is also 

planning a reception for new 

members from the zone into 

the All Progressives Congress, 

APC, such as former Governor 

of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu, 

Senator Jim Nwobodo, former 

Senate President Ken 

Nnamani, among others. 

Addressing newsmen, 

Enugu State Chairman of BSO, 

Chief Anike Nwoga, appealed 

to Ndigbo to have faith in the 

Federal Government, noting 

that the group is optimistic that 

in the fullness of time, the 

Buhari administration will 

fulfill all promises made to the 

South-East region. 

Nwodo, 4 others vie for Ohanaeze presidency 

•Ngige tasks Igbo on quality leadership; Ikedife warns against imposition 

By Vincent Ujumadu, 

Dennis Agbo, Nwabueze 

Okonkwo & Peter Okutu 

ENUGU—NO less than 

five contestants, including 

a former minister for Information, 

Chief Nnia Nwodo, 

were yesterday screened for the 

position of President-General of 

Ohanaeze Ndigbo, which 

election takes place today. 

The out-going Secretary 

General of the organization, Dr. 

Joe Nwaorgu, made the 

disclosure to Vanguard at the 

national secretariat of the 

Ohanaeze in Enugu, yesterday. 

Nwaorgu, however, said he 

could not immediately divulge the 

names of the contestants but it was 

gathered that those screened for 

the position included, Chief Nnia 

Nwodo, Commodore Alison 

Madueke (rtd), Prof. Chiwete 

Ejike, Dr. Simon Otuanya and 

Chief Joel Enugwu, all from 

Enugu State. 

Also, the post of Secretary 

General zoned to Rivers state is 

being contested by four aspirants, 

out of which one candidate is 

protesting the payment of N300, 

000 as nomination fee. 

The contestants from Rivers 

State are: Barr. Uche Okwukwu, 

Chief Isaac Nwaonwu, Chief 

Jackson Omenazu and High 

Chief Kroham Joel. 

Omenazu told Vanguard that 

he refused to pay the N300, 000 

nomination fee, saying: “Am I 

coming to take money from 

Ohanaeze? The amount is too 

much and they must screen me.” 

The post of National Treasurer 

of the group zoned to Delta State 

is being contested by two persons 

including a veteran journalist, 

Ogueshi Emma Okocha. 

Okocha said he will bring on 

board transparency, 

accountability and innovations to 

the body if elected. 

“I will publish monthly 

accounts of Ohanaeze if elected 

in the same way Ngozi Okonjo- 

Iwela transparently handled the 

finance ministry in Nigeria,” 

pledged Okocha. 

The outgoing President 

General, Chief Gary Nnachi 

Enwo-Igariwey and the secretary 

of the election committee, Prof 

ABC Nwosu refused to speak to 

the press, with Nwosu making 

derogatory remarks about 

journalists. 

IPOB to Buhari, UK govt: Only way to stop us is to kill 

70m Biafrans 

By Nwabueze Okonkwo 

O NITSHA—THE 

Indigenous People of 

Biafra, IPOB yesterday stated 

that the only way the Nigerian or 

British government can stop the 

restoration of the nation of Biafra 

is to ''kill over 70 million Biafrans 

who have sworn to restore their 

God-given nation.” 

IPOB said that aside that, both 

President Muhammadu Buhari 

and the Biafra-hating British 

government are incapable of 

stopping the restoration of Biafra 

since 2017 is the year that kickstarted 

the restoration process. 

In a press statement issued to 

newsmen, IPOB raised an alarm 

over what it termed the British 

Government’s plot to stealthily 

administer a non-traceable poison 

on detained leader, Mazi 

Nnamdi Kanu. 

In the statement, IPOB 

spokespersons, Emma Nmezu 

and Clifford Iroanya contended 

that its intelligence gathering 

team revealed that one of the 

reasons for embarking on such a 

heinous crime by the British 

Government, in tandem with the 

Nigerian government was to stop 

the avalanche of leaked videos 

and some classified information 

PEOPLE SPEAK 

What do you think of 2017 Budget? 

One of the candidates for 

secretary general, Krohan Joel 

said his edge is that he is an ex- 

Biafran soldier, who fought on the 

side of the defunct Biafran 

republic, noting that “We have an 

uncompleted struggle.” 

Okwukwu on his own said he 

is most qualified for the post of 

Secretary General given his 

pedigree as an arbitrator and 

educationist of 22 years standing. 

Ngige harps on quality 

leadership 

Following this development, 

the Minister of Labour and 

Employment, Senator Chris 

Ngige has tasked the Igbo nation 

to get it right this time so that the 

race would take its rightful place 

in Nigeria through quality 

leadership that had been 

missing. 

Ngige, who spoke in an 

interview in Onitsha, regretted 

that Ohanaeze had been in 

comatose for some time, adding 

that today’s election was an 

opportunity to for it to recover the 

lost ground. 

According to Ngige, since the 

end of the tenures of Dr. Dozie 

Ikedife and Justice Eze Ozobu, 

which incontrovertibly placed the 

British Government as an 

accessory to genocide on 

Biafrans. 

The statement further 

contended that another reason for 

wanting Kanu dead was to 

ensure that he was dead before 

Mr. Donald J. Trump assumes 

office as the 45th President of 

United States of America, USA. 

According to the statement, “We 

have also confirmed that should 

the plan to poison Nnamdi Kanu 

fail, a phantom road accident will 

be arranged for the vehicle 

conveying him to court on any of 

the court days beginning from 

Tuesday, 10th of January 2017.” 

there had been a yawning gap in 

Ohanaeze leadership. 

He said that if the right person 

was elected to lead Ohanaeze, 

Igbo would regain their voice in 

national discourse, adding that 

the organization needed to 

redeem its battered image without 

further waste of time. 

Ikedife warns against 

imposition of leaders 

Similarly, former president 

general, Dr Dozie Ikedife has 

warned against any manipulation 

that would lead to the election of 

wrong leaders. 

Ikedife gave the warning, 

yesterday, at his Nnewi country 

home. He said his expectations 

were that the process would be 

transparent, devoid of 

manipulation, imposition, 

irregular movement and should 

be peaceful “anchoring 

everything on God that He would 

give us the right person to lead 

us,” he added. 

He said Ohanaeze would be a 

dead force, if a wrong person was 

elected president. 

Ebonyi adopts Nwodo 

Meantime, Ebonyi State 

government has adopted the 

former minister of Information 

and culture, Chief Nnia Nwodo 

as its sole presidential 

candidate ahead of today's 

convention in Enugu. 

The state made its position 

known when Nwodo 

accompanied by some 

stakeholders from Enugu state 

paid governor David Umahi 

courtesy call at Government 

House Abakaliki on Monday. 

Governor Umahi, while 

endorsing Nwodo, said he 

deserved the position and is the 

most qualified to hold the top job 

among other contestants. 

Umahi with other stakeholders 

including traditional rulers in the 

state present at the event prayed 

for Nwodo’s victory to show their 

full support. 

By Bartholomew Madukwe 

(08051019450) 

nwamad@yahoo.com 

I 

do not think 2017 

Budget will end economic 

woes. President 

Muhammadu Buhari's 

2017 Budget is not number 

one key to good 

economy, not to talk 

about reviving economic 

recession. Miss Tracy 

Philpp, Businesswoman 

Number one key is 

economic confidence 

control by private 

sector. No such Budget 

will return economic 

confidence in Nigeriaonly 

Republic of Biafra in 

full operation will return 

economic confidence in 

the country. Mr Uche Mabia, 

Student 

Ithought President Buhari 

said his 2016 

budget was a budget of 

change and will end Nigeria’s 

woes, until we 

discovered it was padded. 

Till this day, not 

even one project was 

executed from the said 

budget. Mrs Morayo 

Simeon, Entrepreneur 

Nothing will change 

except the legislature 

address issues on 

the N18,000 minimum 

wage. Civil servants are 

suffering and they constitute 

the think-tank of 

the policy making structure 

in Nigeria. Mr Emmanuel 

Iyoke, Worker 

I 

am confident that 

things will change for 

good in this country by 

2017. The situation Nigeria 

is faced with today is 

due to bad leadership. 

Talking bad leadership is 

a thing of many years past 

not this administration 

that brought it. Miss 

Chioma Ani, Model 

Of course, I strongly be 

lieve in this government, 

they will definitely 

deliver. The problem lies 

with the structure of the 

fraudulent federation 

called Nigeria and the Budget 

is a mere instrument 

that fix the structure, if well 

executed. Miss Amamchi 

Okoji, Graduate

Nigeria: Tackle issues with common sense 

NIGERIAN leaders are 

not known for telling the 

truth but sometimes the truth 

spills out of their mouths and they 

find it difficult to take it back. And 

since they are not gifted to give 

quotable quotes, such slips 

become their immortal words. 

So it was in 1973 when General 

Yakubu Gowon at a time Nigeria 

was suffused with petrol dollars 

said that Nigeria's problem was 

not money but how to spend 

it.That statement remains the 

most memorable quote of the 

General till date. In the year 2005, 

he tried to explain the context in 

which he made the comments 

claiming it was in a manner of 

speaking. 

However, that honest comment 

captures our affliction as a country. 

Our squandering pattern over the 

years are more than convincing 

that money has never been our 

problem but the sanctified 

common sense to make good use 

of money. 

I was with Oonirisa sometimes 

ago and some young men came 

to seek his support for a project. 

After their presentation, Oba 

Ogunwusi told the group to go 

and rework their proposal because 

what they needed most was the 

right ideas and that money should 

be the last of their consideration. 

Compelling 

narration 

He told the story of his billion 

naira Inegbe Resort and all he 

had when he started. He told of 

how he deployed the power of 

ideas to start and complete what 

he did not have the cash to face. 

His compelling narration further 

reinforced my position that 

Nigeria would make no progress 

even if it were to have a hundred 

times of what we currently earn 

from commodities. 

Our problem has never been 

cash but the financial sense to 

deploy the money. The point I 

made above reminds one of the 

sermon preached by Most Rev. 

Abiodun Adetiloye at the funeral 

service of Chief Michael 

Adekunle Ajaisin in Owo in 1997. 

For the younger folks reading, 

Ajasin was the Leader of National 

Democratic Coalition, NADECO, 

who wrestled with the military 

over the annulment of June 

12,1993 annulled elections won 

by Bashorun MKO Abiola. He 

was governor of old Ondo State 

in the Second Republic and his 

testimony was that he left 

government with the same 

number of agbada he came in 

with. He also took two cars to 

government and came out with 1 

and 1/2 as one became 

unserviceable! 

His funeral took place under the 

tyranny of Abacha and the service 

was highly militarised because 

his deputy, Gen. Oladipo Diya 

was in the service. I saw the same 

Diya trying to find his way into a 

church service the other day like 

any other person and I shook my 

head reflecting on how those who 

occupy public office behave as 

though they would be in power 

for ever. 

The militarised atmosphere at 

Ajasin's funeral did not stop 

Adetiloye from speaking the 

truth. He gave an allegory about 

what happened the day God was 

creating different countries of the 

By Ayokunle Fagbemi 

AN analytic review of the 

2017 Presidential 

Message must be done 

objectively by applying theoretical 

construct to reflect upon it vis-àvis 

empirical reality, legal and 

policy frameworks. 

From our perspective, the most 

applicable approach is by 

adopting the Speech Act Theory 

introduced by John L. Austin 

(1962, 1975) and revised by 

various scholars over the years 

including John R. Searle (1962, 

1975, 1979 and 1999). 

If analysts, the media and 

Nigerians, dispassionately do 

this objectively, the Presidential 

Message for 2017 remains an 

interesting academic exercise, 

which reflects the nature and 

character of the operational 

Governance Information 

Management System, GIMS . 

Nature and character of 

GIMS: The operational GIMS 

indicate that the system remains 

predominantly “campaign and 

legitimacy seeking” at about 68 

per cent and “governance service 

delivery and information sharing” 

at about 32 per cent. 

Connecting with the 

audience: We acknowledge the 

attempt in the salutations to move 

into forging positive relations 

with the citizenry by adopting the 

phrase “My Dear Compatriots” 

as opposed to the formal use of 

“Fellow Citizens” used in 2016. 

Unfortunately, however, the 

remaining contents of the 

message appear to have 

exhibited some disconnect with 

the salutations for multi-sectoral 

appeal and reaching out. This is 

notwithstanding the constant use 

of the phrases of willingness 

reinforced with the “I urge”, 

“Continue to appeal” and “I 

assure” in the message 

Comparison of Illocutionary 

Statements of PMB New 

world. He would create this 

country and give them one or two 

mineral deposits and call the next. 

This went on until it was the turn 

of Nigeria and he started 

throwing in all mineral deposits 

in there. It got to a point that all 

other countries rose in protest that 

God was being partial towards 

Nigeria. The Almighty told them 

to calm down and said: "Why 

don't you wait and see the leaders 

I will give them before you start 

your protest". 

Since the end of creation all the 

countries that participated in that 

"we no go gree" have annually 

been sending emissaries to God 

Analytic Review of PMB 2017 New Year Message 

Year Messages 

Furthermore, comparing the 

2016 with the 2017 Presidential 

Message indicates that the 

messages contain “illocutionary” 

force statements: 

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANAURY 10, 2017 —17 

to apologise for their error every 

time they see what Nigerian 

leaders have made of our 

plentious resources. 

The latest team went to say "we 

are sorry again" when the 

Nigerian government could not 

find any profitable thing to do with 

N72b than to share it to one 

million Almajiris (yes, it takes an 

Class of Illocutionary Acts 2016 / 2017 Differential 

Assertive 30% 10% -20% 

Directive 12% 30% +18% 

Commissive 28% 36% +8% 

Expressive 22% 24% +2% 

Declarations 8% 0% -8% 

Variable on Style an d Reflective Rendition % Score of 2017 

New Year Message 

Creativity and Innovativeness 40% 

Positive Narrative Rendition of Issues Mentioned 60% 

Reflection of Empirical Reality 40% 

Consistent Historical Rendition 40% 

Comprehension of Legal Frameworks 20% 

Understanding of Policy Frameworks 20% 

Appeal to Multi-Sectoral and Multi-stakeholders 20% 

IDO hope that the Presidential 

Speech Writing Team and 

those involved in the GIMS of this 

administration are sincerely and 

objectively monitoring, tracking 

and analysing the expressed 

public perception and reactions to 

the Presidential Message. This is 

because of the need to make 

future Presidential speeches, 

addresses and messages to reflect 

empirical realities, a fair 

comprehension of existing legal 

frameworks and an effective 

understanding of the extant policy 

frameworks. In real terms, the 

scores against some key variables 

indicate: 

Thereby explaining the 

seeming negative perceptions 

associated with the Presidential 

Message in social media 

commentaries, public analyses 

and attempts by public officers to 

reconstruct the contents of the 

message on “Security” and 

“Economy” for positive 

reconnection with the people. 

On Security, the expressed 

negative perception revolves 

around the seeming silence on the 

very homicidal killing of 

Nigerians that have continued to 

occur in the North Central, South 

East and emphatically in Southern 

Kaduna State. The narratives of 

Unfortunately, 

Nigeria was 

not around the 

day God 

distributed 

common 

sense! 

Almajiri to go and queue for 

N5000 monthly!) across Nigeria. 

The Human Development Report 

shows that over 80m Nigerians 

live below two dollars a day 

poverty benchmark. Only the 

government that cannot count 

Analysing Public Perception and Feedback 

some commentaries indicate 

element of the perception that the 

homicidal killings appear 

ethnoreligious cleansing in 

nature and smacks elements of 

deliberate displacement for land 

grabbing and occupation by 

extraneous elements. 

Extraneous 

elements 

With regards to the Economy, 

the summation of the perceptions 

in public domain indicates that 

the people feel the President was 

made to reflect only on 

“macroeconomic indicators” 

devoid of microeconomic 

concerns that are people oriented 

and expressive of sensitive 

considerations for individual 

Nigerians majority of whom are 

adversely affected by the officially 

declared economic recession. 

Broom analogy: The decision 

and choice of using the “Broom 

analogy” appears a patriotic APC 

act. Painfully, in our view, within 

the context of many analogies and 

deep cultural African myths, 

parables and injunctions attached 

to the broom, it is seemingly, not 

a well thought out analogy to use! 

This is because the myths and 

parables surrounding the broom 

correctly how many Nigerians are 

knows how it would determine 

the poorest of these poor that 

would benefit from this N5000 a 

month which can only fill a 12.5 

kg of gas cooker in Nigeria of 

today. 

Yet, by the time we share N5000 

to one million people in 12 

months we would have flushed 

N72b down the drain and our 

government would count this as 

one of its success stories at the 

end of the year. What would any 

of those countries God gave 

common sense and less resources 

have done with N72b? They 

would call for SMEs to come 

forward with proposals for 

funding to the tune of of N10m 

per project. At the end of 

screening, they would have 

picked 200 proposals from each 

of the 36 states to share (I hate 

that word!) or benefit from the 

N72bn. Imagine what 200 

enterprises would do to the 

economy of each state even at 50 

per cent success rate. Each 

successful enterprise could 

generate at the minimum ten new 

10 jobs. 

Unfortunately, Nigeria was not 

around the day God distributed 

common sense! 

take cognizance of the growing 

of the palm tree, the harvesting 

of the palm fronds, and the 

making of brooms by stripping the 

palm fronds of the green leaves 

to have the broomsticks tied 

together into a broom and the 

functionality and disposal of 

brooms. 

Since the intention, as indicated 

in the message is for the 

continued unity and consolidation 

on the gains of the existence of 

the Federal Republic of Nigeria 

then a reconsideration of the 

analogy should have occurred at 

the level of Speech/Message 

Technical Quality Control Check. 

This would have allowed for the 

required clarifications and explicit 

messaging required. 

The Presidency may require 

gathering the perception data on 

the message, analyze and make 

inferences from the observed 

trend and emerging patterns of 

discussions to ensure that GIMS 

becomes more governance 

service delivery and positive 

information sharing in 

orientation. 

Issues of concern and note 

• Envisaged clampdown on the 

media, analysts and political 

actors who discuss national 

issues. 

• Inclusive anti-corruption 

drive. 

• Increased surveillance on 

political actors, public comments 

and media publications. 

•Concerted efforts at economic 

recovery, improved employment, 

citizenry empowerment and selfreliance. 

•Ayokunle FAGBEMI is 

executive director of CePSERD 

Fee 

C 

M 

Y 

K

18 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANAURY 10, 2017 

A novelty was introduced to the 

nation’s drive towards self sufficiency 

in food production on 

Wednesday, December 21, 2016 

when Lagos and Kebbi States 

launched the much-awaited 

LAKE Rice.The initiative is a 

partnership between Governor 

Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos 

State and his Kebbi State 

counterpart, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu, 

not only to ensure food 

security but to showcase 

Nigeria’s potentials in rice 

production. 

At the event which was marked 

with fanfare at Lagos House, 

Ikeja, Governor Ambode described 

the attainment as great 

and historic moment for both 

states and Nigeria. Compared to 

what obtains in the market, the 

rice is to be sold at a reduced and 

affordable price. 

Both Lagos and Kebbi State 

governments signed a Memorandum 

of Understanding(MoU) in 

March 2016, to produce Nigerian 

rice in response to President Muhammadu 

Buhari’s admonition 

Making LAKE Rice available 

on food production in the country. 

Unlike imported rice that has 

five to six years storage life span, 

LAKE rice is fresh. The partnership 

is expected to expand the 

rice production for Lagos that has 

the largest consumption market 

to absorb it. A 50kg bag of the 

rice sells for N12,000, 25kg costs 

N6,000 while 10kg is N2,500. The 

Federal Government has donated 

two rice mills to Lagos State 

in order to increase next year’s 

production. 

The foresight of Governors Ambode 

and Bagudu in coming up 

with the idea is commendable 

and worthy of emulation by other 

states. The addition of LAKE rice 

to the local varieties like 

Abakaliki and Ofada rice is a 

major leap towards self sufficiency 

in food production. Nigeria 

should no longer be a dumping 

ground for expired imported rice. 

The LAKE rice came on board 

at an opportune moment during 

the last Yuletide when prices of 

commodities were sky bound . 

The market price of other 50kg 

bag of rice then was betweenN18,000-N22,000. 

Despite 

high expectations, very few Lagos 

residents were able to buy the 

rice at designated selling points 

which were characterised by 

winding queues. Designating a 

selling point to serve an entire 

Local Government Area and demanding 

bank teller instead of 

cash made the whole process 

cumbersome. 

We call on the state government 

to decentralize the sale outlets 

and make the purchase seamless. 

The LAKE rice should not be a 

seasonal affair. It should be 

available at all times for people 

to buy. Officials who are in 

charge of distributing and selling 

the rice should be monitored to 

guard against unwholesome 

practices that may defeat the 

purpose of the laudable effort. 

Beyond this, if the potentials 

and capacity are well annexed, 

the collaboration can catapult Nigeria 

to a big market in Africa, 

especially with Kebbi’s 

comparative advantage in production 

and Lagos’ 

consumption market. The joint 

venture can be replicated with 

other commodities like cocoa, 

soya beans and sorghum. 

By Dauda Hanga 

OPINION 

Senate, SGF and the real 'grass cutters'(2) 

Continued from yesterday 

FACTS available to us show that 

Engr. Babachir Lawal actually 

resigned from Rholavision Engineering 

and all other companies he had 

shareholdings in, through his letter of 

resignation addressed to his lawyers, D. 

D Azura & Co, Suite C7/8 Bensima House, 

Plot 2942 Cadestral Zone A6, off Aguiyi 

Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja on 28th 

August 2015. Facts reveal he was a 

Director to eight other companies 

(Rholavision Engineering inclusive) and 

resigned from all the companies 

simultaneously (Rholavision Engineering 

inclusive). 

Our goal was to find out if indeed any 

work has been done at all. Remember that 

the work in question is the intervention 

by PINE within the Hadeja-Nguru 

wetlands, spanning an area of 

3,500sqkm, made up of 12 Local 

Governments from three states (Yobe, 

Jigawa, and Bauchi). 

The intervention work involves manual 

channel removal of aquatic weeds (typha 

and other), simplified irrigation scheme, 

provision of motorised and manual boats, 

and construction of water control gates. 

CATBAN alongside the local NGOs 

The claims that it was 

meant to clear grass in IDP 

camp or that nothing has 

been done are nothing but 

unfortunate lies. If they 

then give N195 million as 

kickback from a contract of 

N240m, what then did they 

execute the project with? 

went to the Likori bridge in Marma 

Channel on the Hadejia River. We found 

the first project sign post which consists 

of the contractors’ and consultants’ 

details. In order to see for ourselves the 

level of improvement as a result of the 

invention work, we took a boat down into 

the water canals that were previously 

overgrown with thypa grass. We paddled 

towards Burwa Fadama under Kabak 

community which subsequently led down 

Nguru Lake. It was at that point we 

gathered that at that part of Marma 

channel some communities were wiped 

out. Examples of such communities are 

Kakayau village, Matara Gari Gana, 

Duwa Kaku. Also down the Marma 

Channel within Yobe State, communities 

like, Sabon Gari, Araro, Maja Kakori, etc 

were also wiped out. 

The Duke of Edinburgh Prince Philip 

was said to have visited Yobe and Jigawa 

States in 1988 in trail of birds from the 

Palace in England and spoke about the 

thypa grass. 

CATBAN can assert with authority that 

the contract was indeed carried out. The 

claims that it was meant to clear grass in 

IDP camp or that nothing has been done 

are nothing but unfortunate lies. That the 

company which executed the project gave 

kickback to the SGF to the tune of 

N195million is also false, because in the 

first instance, the contract was executed 

and the scope of their job entailed not only 

the clearing of the invasive plans but also 

sinking of 115 boreholes, laying of pipes 

across 155 hectares for irrigation, 

provision of aquatic pumps and supply of 

boats. If they then give N195 million as 

kickback from a contract of N240m, what 

then did they execute the project with? It 

simply would mean the project was given 

them as a free source to make money, 

which contradicts the fact that the projects 

were genuinely executed. Josmon 

Technologies also provided evidence to 

show they borrowed N170million from 

Rholavision to enable them complete the 

contract within the specified duration, 

with an agreement to repay with interest 

of N25million (documents to all 

submissions are attached). The 

testimonies of people we met and the 

evidence before our CSO group prove 

conclusively that it was a worthwhile 

contract that was executed to the benefit 

of the people. 

We will like to advice government not 

to allow the people suffer more hardship 

due to elite politics, as there is the need 

for regular monitoring of the thypa grass 

on water to avoid further blockage after 

the recent opening up of the channels 

facilitated by PINE. 

Concluded 

*Mr. Hanga, is Director of Mobilisation at 

CATBAN.


NNPC deficit rises to N18.7bn over oil 

search in Bauchi, Rivers 

By Michael Eboh 

THE Nigerian National Pe 

troleum Corporation, NNPC, 

yesterday, stated that its ongoing 

search for crude oil in the Benue 

Trough in Bauchi State and in Rivers 

State contributed significantly to 

the trading deficit of N18.72 billion it 

recorded in November 2016. 

In its Monthly Financial and Operations 

Report for November, released, 

yesterday, NNPC disclosed 

that despite a 19.2 per cent increase 

in its operating revenue to N187.75 

billion in November, it still recorded 

a deficit of N18.72 billion that month. 

The November figure also indicated 

11.1 per cent rise in deficit in November, 

as it recorded 16.85 billion 

deficit in October. 

The Corporation explained that the 

increase in its deficit was as a result 

of 18.4 per cent rise in its operating 

expenditure hitting N206.5 billion in 

November as against N174.4 billion 

in October 2016. 

Improved revenue 

generation 

It said, "The deficit in the month of 

November 2016 increased by N1.87 

billion or 11.06 per cent due to upsurge 

in the group operating cost despite 

an improved revenue generation 

and enhanced cost control across 

the group. 

"In particular, Integrated Data Services 

Limited, IDSL, operating costs 

has increased as a result of the ongoing 

mobilisation activities in both 

Benue Trough seismic data project 

located in Bauchi and Party 05 in 

Elele, Rivers state. Also, the strike 

action by Bristow Helicopters workers 

delayed the planned lay-time of 

Okono Blend resulting to nil NPDC 

offshore export sales for the month." 

NNPC further stated that it recorded 

total export sale of $166.18 

million in the month under review, 

CURRENCY BUYING SELLING 

US 

DOLLAR 

POUNDS 

EURO 

FRANC 

YEN 

CFA 

WAUA 

RENMINBI 

$143. 35 0. 50 

$2,192.00 -69.00 

$55. 74 -1. 36 

304 304.5 305 

375. 8656 376. 4838 377. 102 

321. 784 322. 3133 322. 8425 

300. 3953 300. 8893 301. 3834 

2. 6196 2. 6239 2. 6282 

0. 4675 0.4775 0.4875 

408. 1885 408. 8598 409. 5312 

43. 9056 43. 9783 44. 051 

81. 0451 81. 1784 81. 3117 

CBN Exchange rate as at 09/ 01/2017 

MEETING: From left: Chief Executive Officer, Egbin Power Plc, Mr. Dallas Peavey, Chief Executive 

Officer, Ikeja Electric, Anthony Youdeowei, and Chief Executive Officer of Eko Electricity 

Distribution Plc, Mr. Oladele Amoda, at the 11th monthly meeting of the Minister of Power, 

Works and Housing with operators of the power sector at Ikeja West Transmission Station, 

Lagos State. 

an improvement of $60.44 million 

when compared with the amount 

recorded in October. 

According to the Report, crude oil 

export sales contributed $96.31 million, 

or 57.95 per cent of the dollar 

transactions compared with $21.40 

million contribution in the previous 

month, while gas export amounted 

to $69.87 million in the month. 

Of the total export sales, the Report 

stated that $162.40 million export 

proceeds were received in the 

month under review, compared with 

$97.29 million recorded in October 

2016, while it added that contribu- 

Customs revenue drops by 0.5% 

By Emma Ujah, Abuja 

Bureau Chief 

DESPITE increased cover 

age and tariff, the Nigeria 

Customs Service (NCS) recorded 

a drop in revenue in its 2016 operations. 

The revenue was 

N898.67 billion as 

against N903 billion in 

2015. 

The Service had 

dropped its revenue 

target in 2016 to 

N937.331 as against 

2015 target of N954 

billion, but the 2016 

actual indicated 76.9 

per cent performance. 

No reason was given 

for the decline but industry 

observers had 

indicated that such development 

would be 

due to the decline in 

level of import trade 

and other Customs 

revenue generating 

activities in the 

economy. 

Of that amount, customs 

duty accounted 

for N720.743 billion, 

while Value Added 

Tax (VAT) collected by 

tion from crude oil amounted to 

$96.31 million after adjusting for 

$2.50 million lifting deposit utilized 

earlier. 

In addition, the Report noted that 

gas and other proceeds was $66.09 

million, while the total receipt of 

$162.40 million was remitted to fund 

the JV cash call for the month of November 

2016 to guarantee current 

and future production. 

The NNPC report stated: "The domestic 

crude oil and gas receipt during 

the month amounted to N 121.06 

billion, consisting of N2.43 billion 

from Domestic Gas and the sum of 

N600. 350 billion 

was remitted 

into the Federation 

Account and 

shared by the 

three tiers of government, 

while 

Non-Federation 

Account Remittances 

stood at 

N120.392 billion 

count and shared by the three tiers 

of government, while Non-Federation 

Account Remittances 

stood at N120.392 billion. 

Customs' spokesman, Assistant 

Comptroller Joseph Atta said the 

revenue recorded by the service 

N118.63 billion from Domestic Crude 

Oil. Of the N118.63 billion receipt 

from Crude Oil, the sum of N75.30 

billion ($382.23 million) was transferred 

to Joint Venture Cash Call 

(JVCC) being a first line charge and 

to guarantee continuous flow of revenue 

stream to Federation Account. 

"NNPC transferred the sum of 

N43.33 billion into Federation Account 

during the month under review 

from the net domestic crude oil receipt 

and N2.43 billion from Gas receipts. 

Also, the 28th installment of 

the refund to FG of N6.33 billion was 

remitted to Federation Account." 

the service on behalf of the Federal 

Inland Revenue Service 

(FIRS), which has the mandatory 

responsibility of tax collections, 

stood at N177.930 billion. 

A total of N600. 350 billion was 

remitted into the Federation Acwas 

made possible due to its aggressive 

revenue drive, despite the 

difficulties in accessing foreign 

exchange by importers and the 41 

items-exemption policy of the Central 

Bank of Nigeria (CBN). 

According to him, the strict application 

of extant laws championed 

by the Comptroller-General 

of Customs, Col. Hameed Alli 

(rtd), greatly impacted on the 

overall performance of the 

organisation. 

Mr. Atta said that with the recent 

re-organisation of the service 

in which several top management 

officers were redeployed, to 

strengthen its operations, coupled 

with the current elimination of 

leakages, he was optimistic that 

the NCS would perform better in 

the current year. 

A document detailing monthly 

collections by the customs, this 

year, indicated that the highest 

revenue was realized in August 

with the figure standing at 

N95.766 billion. Minister of Finance, 

Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, announced 

the decision to jettison 41 

items exemption from foreign exchange 

market policy in the recently 

released 2017 Fiscal policy 

Roadmap. 

BoI begins 

indirect lending 

to micro 

entrepreneurs 

through MFBs 

By Franklin Ali 

THE Bank of Industry, 

BoI, has commenced 

granting loans to micro 

entrepreneurs in the economy 

through 14 microfinance banks 

with branches nationwide. Micro 

entrepreneurs include the likes 

of shoemakers, tailors, snacks 

producers, furniture makers, 

people in bakery business, 

among others. 

Waheed Olagunju, Acting 

Managing Director, BoI, 

disclosed this, weekend, during 

presentation of cheque totalling 

N2 billion to three microfinance 

banks: LAPO MFB, Fortis MFB 

and Lotus Capital. 

At the ceremony held in Lagos, 

Olagunju said: “BoI is currently 

in partnership with 11 

microfinance banks under the 

BOP scheme to which the sum 

of N1.1 billion had earlier been 

disbursed. The inclusion of 

LAPO MFB (N1.0 billion, Fortis 

MFB N500 million and Lotus 

Capital N500 million) will bring 

the number of such participants 

to 14 and a total sum disbursed 

for on-lending to micro 

entrepreneurs under the 

programme to N3. 1billion.” 

Hajia Hazara Adeola, 

Managing Director, Lotus 

Capital Limited, lauded BoI for 

“living true to its credos for 

extending credits to those at the 

bottom of the pyramid to include 

those who are not economically 

active or have access to finance 

to grow their business and to 

bring Nigeria out of the 

recession, and for choosing us 

to be part of the economic revival 

of our nation.” 

Also speaking, Godwin 

Ehigiamusoe, Managing 

Director LAPO Microfinance 

Bank, said: “I am delighted 

today for what we are doing. We 

started this process of 

engagement several years ago 

till we got to this point. I give 

credit to the current management 

of the bank that today we have 

signed what we desired several 

years ago. 

“The envisioned economic 

revitalization can only take place 

if we effectively engage a large 

number of Nigerians at the 

bottom end of the society and 

doing that will require financing 

and so the essence of this 

partnership between BoI and 

LAPO, is to be able to extend 

financial services that are critical 

to enhancing the productivity of 

people at the bottom of the 

pyramid for them to be able to 

make their contributions to the 

society.” 

C 

M 

Y 

K


Oil prices drop on concerns U.S. 

production is rising 

By Sebastine Obasi, with 

Agency report 

OIL prices dropped 

yesterday as signs of 

increasing United States 

production outweighed 

optimism that many other 

producers, including Russia, 

were sticking to a deal to cut 

supplies in a bid to bolster the 

market. 

Benchmark Brent crude 

slipped by 96 cents at $56.14 a 

barrel, while U.S. crude futures 

slipped by 88 cents as it traded 

at $53.11 per barrel. 

"We see the optimism 

surrounding the Organisation 

of Petroleum Exporting 

Countries, OPEC and non- 

OPEC production cuts being 

counterbalanced by fears of 

higher U.S. crude production 

as the higher rig count of last 

Friday still weighs," said Hans 

van Cleef, Senior Energy 

Economist at Amsterdam, 

Netherlands - based ABN Amro 

Bank. A stronger U.S. dollar 

also weighed as the currency 

surged on expectations of 

faster U.S. interest rate hikes 

this year, making it more 

expensive to hold dollardenominated 

commodities. 

Last week, U.S. energy 

companies added oil rigs for a 

10th week in a row to 529, 

Baker Hughes data showed, 

extending a recovery in activity 

into an eighth month. Analysts 

at London, Barclays Bank, said 

they expected the U.S. rig 

count to rise to 850-875 by the 

end of the year, with spending 

on exploration and production 

set to increase 27 percent in 

North America. 

This raised concerns that U.S. 

production is increasing and 

undermining efforts by OPEC 

and others to cut output. In 

Iraq, OPEC's second-biggest 

producer, a record 3.51 million 

barrels per day (bpd) were 

Diesel prices, 02-Jan-2017. 

(Litre, U.S. Dollar) 

• Globalpetrolprices.com 

exported from its port in Basra 

in December, officials said, 

although they added that the 

country would comply with its 

commitment to lower output by 

an average of 210,000 bpd from 

January. 

Sources also said that Iraq's 

State Oil Marketing Company 

(SOMO) had given three 

buyers in Asia and Europe full 

supply allocations for February. 

On the other hand, Russia, one 

of the world's largest crude 

producers, appeared to be 

sticking to the agreement to cut. 

Russian energy market sources 

said the country's output had 

fallen by 100,000 bpd in the first 

week of the month. However, 

analysts at Austria - based oil 

and gas independent research 

centre, JBC Energy were 

optimistic about a tighter oil 

market in 2017. 

"Concerns regarding the 

sincerity, depth and duration of 

announced production cuts 

notwithstanding, most 

analysts, including us, see 

tighter-than-previouslyenvisaged 

balances for 2017," 

they said. 

Recession: Indigenous oil companies sell off assets 

FG directs 

NNPC to 

explore 

alternative 

energy sources 

By Chris Ochayi 

ABUJA: Worried by 

incessant attacks on oil 

installations, especially 

bursting of gas pipelines by the 

militants in the Niger Delta, the 


directed the management of 

Nigerian National Petroleum 

Corporation, NNPC, to explore 

alternative energy sources, 

with a view to addressing the 

problems of irregular power 

supply. 

The gas pipelines laid across 

the Niger Delta region have 

suffered series of attacks and 

vandalism in recent times 

following activities of organized 

militant groups which 

disrupted gas supply to power 

transmission plants. Relating 

this development to Vanguard 

in an interview in Abuja, the 

Group General Manager, 

Renewable Energy Division, 

NNPC, Dr Rabiu Suleiman, 

said the Corporation was ready 

to collaborate with stakeholders 

in the power sector in order to 

deepen development of the 

renewable energy, particularly 

solar. He explained that the 

NNPC would soon sign 

Memorandum of 

Understanding, MoU with an 

indigenous firm, NIGUS 

International, in order to form 

a common partnership towards 

transforming the entire country 

in the use of alternative energy. 

By Sebastine Obasi 

THE current economic 

recession in the country 

appears to have taken its toll 

on indigenous players in the 

nation's oil and gas industry as 

some of them have been 

selling off their assets to pay 

back loans taken from banks. 

Their misfortune is 

compounded by the fact that 

some of the jobs gotten from the 

international oil companies, 

IOCs, have been put on hold, 

coupled with their inability to 

source foreign exchange in 

order to import materials. 

Chief Executive Officer of an 

oil servicing company who 

prefers to be anonymous told 

Vanguard that the situation is 

excruciating for indigenous 

companies. 

He said, "The service 

companies are challenged. 

They service the exploration 

and production companies, 

E&Ps. If the E&Ps are not 

working, what will they be 

servicing? How will they come 

to service? I have a contract 

service with Shell for one year 

to provide access for 

maintenance facilities for them, 

but we have not been called to 

provide any. No work is going 

on now. I borrowed money, 

acquired equipment, in fact I 

gave instruction that some of 

our assets can be sold to be able 

to pay our debts. I am a direct 

participant in that programme. 

"The minimum we were 

expecting is to do $500,000 

service based on that particular 

called off contract. Till date, 

they have not offered up to 

$80,000. Meanwhile our 

investment has been 

predicated on the fact that we 

are going to have $.5m 

services. 

International 

market price 

All the things we acquired, 

all the recruitments we did, all 

the trainings we sent people 

overseas to do (We sent people 

to Dubai, we certified them in 

scaffolding and security in the 

United Kingdom, preparing for 

this journey). We are going 

through excruciating moments. 

It is very bad." 

The CEO explained that the 

major challenge confronting 

independents in Nigeria are 

The service 

companies are 

challenged. 

They service 

the 

exploration 

and 

production 

companies, 

E&Ps 

national organizations to fund 

their operations and doing that 

is predicated on cash flow from 

sales. When sales are 

interrupted, the cash flow will 

decline. The multi-nationals 

will come for their money. If you 

are to sell your assets to meet 

your financial obligations, 

remember you need to be a 

good corporate citizen to be 

predicated on international 

market price. 

According to him, "Some of 

them can produce but they 

cannot evacuate. They have 

taken facilities from multiable 

to attract fund tomorrow, 

it is critical." 

Another player in the 

industry, who was an executive 

member of the Independent 

Petroleum Marketers 

Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, 

told Vanguard that in the last 

seven months, he has been 

forced to sell two off his assets 

worth millions of Naira to settle 

bank loans. He explained that 

the current recession has made 

life difficult for him as the 

exchange rate of N490 to a 

dollar means that he has 

limited access to foreign 

exchange to import petroleum 

products. 

"For over seven months now, 

business has been difficult. It 

is difficult to the extent that one 

is unable to import petroleum 

products due to scarcity of 

foreign exchange. You are 

aware that a dollar exchanges 

for N490. We were told that the 

official rate is N315. I am yet to 

see anybody who gets it at that 

rate. Some of us are being put 

out of business. To be frank with 

you, I have sold two of my 

assets to offset bank loans. The 

situation is terrible, I must 

confess," he said. 

Renewable 

energy 

According to him, "It is a very 

welcome development and this 

is an effort that government 

has been making for several 

years. It forms part of the 

various discussions that 

President Muhammadu 

Buhari has undertaken in 

different countries including 

China and United State of 

America. 

"Most importantly during the 

COP 21 in Paris and most 

recently in America, the 

President committed himself to 

the United Nations conventions 

and requirements to reduce 

carbon footprint. Justifying the 

move towards renewable 

energy, Suleiman said it is 

inexhaustible. "One, it is a raw 

material, a source of power. It 

is a source of economic 

development endowed by 

God, that is sun that is 

inexhaustible, that is 

renewable, that remains 

between 15-18hours a day in 

Nigeria, particularly in the 

northern part of the country 

where it is not only sunny but 

it is also dry.” 

C 

M 

Y 

K


Artificial scarcity pressures diesel prices 

••As average price of Kerosene reduces by 3.4% 


ARTIFICIAL scarcity has 

hit diesel market with 

depot prices souring to between 

N252 and N258 last weekend. 

Meanwhile, National Bureau 

of Statistics (NBS) said that the 

average price paid for kerosene 

by consumers in November 2016 

stood at N282.86, about 3.4 per 

cent when compared to an 

average of N292.73 in October 

2016. But the November price still 

stood toweringly 88.6 per cent 

above the N150 Federal 

Government's price tag given on 

the product largely used by low 

income earners. Ogun State, 

South West Nigeria, recorded the 

highest price of N327.92 per litre 

of Kerosene in November. 

According to the National 

Household Kerosene Price Watch 

report released by the NBS, 

Lagos emerged the second state 

that sold the product above 

government recommended price 

of N150/ litre, selling at N316.23/ 

litre in the State, while Abia State 

where it sold for N299.90/ litre, 

came third. However, Vanguard 

gathered that marketers of the 

product have been lamenting 

that there is no possibility of 

getting the product at the official 

price, unless they cut-corners. 

Most of the filling stations 

selling kerosene between N230 

and N240 as the pump price 

claim it is due to the additional 

NATIONAL 

Rural 

Electrification Agency, 

NREA, has been allocated a total 

sum of N16,137,871,005 in the 

2017 fiscal proposal of the 

Ministry of works, Power and 

Housing. The list of projects 

which the fund is expected to be 

spent on include the 

rehabilitation, completion and 

construction of rural 

electrification projects in Benue 

state for which N274 million was 

allocated, monitoring and 

evaluation software for rural 

electrification projects, N40m, 


construction of electrification 

projects in Gombe State, N214m. 

Solar street 

light 

Other projects, according to the 

budget proposal, include the 

maintenance of solar street light 

at Asaba and environs in Delta 

State, which got N13m, 


construction of rural 

electrification projects in Edo 

State, N200m, rehabilitation, 

construction and completion of 

electrification scheme in Ondo 

State, N224m, rehabilitation, 

money on transporting the 

product, as well as some other 

levies paid by marketers. 

Meanwhile, the NBS report 

stated that Niger State recorded 

the lowest price at N254.63/ litre. 

Other States that had the product 

at a little bit above the benchmark 

price are Borno and Abuja where 

it was sold at N256.48, and 

259.52 respectively.The report 

also said that Rivers State, South- 

South Nigeria, recorded the 

highest price of N220 per litre of 

•N2.2 billion for payment of debts 


THERE is hope of 

improved power supply 

in 2017, as Aba, Abia Statebased 

Geometric Power stated 

that it is working in partnership 

with foreign firms to generate 

1,140 megawatts to boost power 

supply to the South-east geopolitical 

zone of the country. 

Barth Nnaji, former Minister 

of Power, who is the promoter 

of the project said the first 

tranche of the power project, a 

140 megawatts power plant by 

Geometric would come on 

stream before the first half of the 

year. He explained that 

Geometric Power is partnering 

Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) 

popularly known as diesel in 

November. 

In the NBS monthly AGO Price 

Watch report, Borno State dealers 

sold the product at N206.25/ litre, 

while in Kebbi State it sold for 

N208.64/ litre. The national 

average price paid by consumers 

in November 2016 stood at 

N195.67 as against N187.25 paid 

in October 2016, a 4.5 per cent 

increase. The product's price is 

deregulated. 

Artificial scarcity hits 

diesel market: Meanwhile, 

Vanguard investigation show 

that depots around Apapa and 

Ibafon areas now sell Diesel at 

an exorbitant price of 252/litre. 

A source at Ibeto Jetty said that 

scarcity of the product is the cause 

of the current increase in price, 

as most depots are dry. According 

to a source at Apapa depot, 

"Ships will be coming in between 

mid to end of January, 2017. 

2017 Budget: Rural electrification gets N16bn 

By Chris Ochayi 

completion and construction of 

rural electrification scheme in two 

communities in Sokoto State, 

N280m. 

Others are rehabilitation, 


rural electrification scheme in 

communities in Kano State, 

N253m, rehabilitation, 



nine communities in Kaduna 

state, N247.5m, rehabilitation, 


•Source: NESI 

electrification scheme of 

communities in Enugu state, 

N227.5m, and rehabilitation, 



eight communities in Nasarawa 

State, N223m. 

The rehabilitation, completion 

and construction of rural 

electrification projects in Rivers 

State got N240m, while that of 

Kano State was allocated N309m. 

N246m was allocated for similar 

scheme in communities in 

Jigawa State. The budget 

proposal also showed that rural 

electrification projects in Akwa 

Ibom will gulp N206m, while 

such projects will gulp N332m 

in Kogi state. In Borno State, 

such projects are expected to 

gulp N236m. 

The Federal Government also 

included the sum of N2.2billion 

for payment of debts owed 

contractors that handled projects 

for the National Rural 

Electrification Agency across the 

"Once AGO comes in, people 

that have products will want to 

sell off cheaper and face new 

stock because the competition 

would have risen as supply 

increased." 

He also said that the price 

jump has nothing to do with 

foreign exchange, FOREX. "It 

is an artificial price increase 

caused by low supply or stock 

hoarding. Oando, MRS and 

Total bought the last set of AGO 

that were brought on December 

14, 2016. "Prices would likely go 

up till new stock arrives. I haven't 

seen this kind of price rise for 

AGO in depot. It's very strange," 

he added. 

Current 

hardship 

"We at Ibeto have AGO, so we 

seized that opportunity to 

increase the price to be able to 

meet up the current hardship in 

the country. As at last Wednesday, 

we sold the product at N250, 

now we are selling at 252/litre. 

Other depots have resorted to 

trading of PMS," he said. 

When contacted, Obafemi 

Olawore, Executive Secretary, 

Major Marketers Association of 

Nigeria, MOMAN, said he 

would not comment as he was 

still on vacation in the village. 

Also, Chinedu Okoronkwo, 

factional President of 

Independent Marketers 

Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, 

said he would respond to 

enquiries when he comes back 

from holiday. 

country. It also set aside N2 

billion for Rural Electrification 

Fund. Others include allocation 

of N44m for completion of the 

construction of the REA Zonal 

office in Osogbo, Osun State and 

N150m for Administration and 

Coordination. Rural electrification 

projects in Katsina are expected 

to gulp N303m, while such 

projects are to gulp N242m, 

N251m and N269m in Zamfara, 

Anambra, and Kebbi states, 

respectively. 

Electricity: Geometric Power to generate 1,140mw in 2017—Nnaji 

with United States-based 

General Electric and Orascom 

of Egypt to build two separate 

500 megawatts power plants in 

Aba to bring the total to 1,140 

megawatts. 

"The project, Aba integrated 

power project (Aba IPP), the 

issue that held it from coming 

on stream is being resolved 

with the full support of the 

Federal Government, the 

Minister of Power, the 

Permanent Secretary, President, 

the Vice President; they are 

working very hard to see that 

this thing is fully resolved. Once 

it is resolved, we think that 

within the next six months, Aba 

should see power." 

Nnaji's statement may have 

signaled the coming to fruition 

of the long- awaited power 

project meant to supply 

uninterrupted electricity to the 

commercial city of Aba and its 

environs. 

It will be recalled that 

Geometric Power and Interstate 

Electric, owners of Enugu 

Electricity Distribution 

Company have been involved 

in a rift over the ownership of 

Aba Power project, which 

warranted the intervention by 

the Federal Government. 

Part of the agreement 

brokered by the Minister of 

Power, Works and Housing, 

Babatunde Fashola was that 

Geometric should pay Interstate 

the sum of $26 million claimed 

to have been spent in Aba since 

the acquisition of the 

geographical area covered by 

the Enugu Electricity 

Distribution Company. Sources 

told Vanguard that though no 

single equipment has been 

installed, nor the old ones 

changed in Aba since the 

acquisition, Geometric agreed 

to pay the sum so as to facilitate 

the take off of the project. 

Barth Nnaji secured a 20-year 

concession from the Federal 

Government to supply power 

exclusively to the Aba industrial 

city and its surrounding 

communities.


Non-implementation of gas flare penalties 

costs Nigeria N2.9trn 

••Oil companies paying N10 instead of $3.5 as fines 


LACK of political will on 

the part of the Federal 

Government to enforce its own 

laws on gas flare penalties, has 

cost the country $14.298 billion 

between April 2008 and October 

2016. 

This came as international oil 

companies, IOCs, and other oil 

companies operating in the 

country fail to abide by the 

regulation stipulating penalty of 

$3.5 for every 1,000 Standard 

Cubic Feet, SCF, of Gas flared in 

the country. 

Nigerian Extractive Industries 

Transparency Initiative, NEITI, 

in its latest audit report, the 2014 

Nigerian Oil and Gas Audit 

Report, disclosed that in 2008, 

the Federal Government in its 

fiscal regime for the petroleum 

sector had set a penalty of $3.5 

per 1,000 SCF of gas flared by 

the oil companies, stating, 

however, that the companies 

have refused to comply with the 

directive. 

It also stated that the Federal 

Government had over the years, 

refused to enforce the regulation 

and is still collecting the old rate 

of N10 per 1,000 SCF which was 

supposed to run from 1998 to 

2008. 

Efforts to get the reaction of the 

Ministry of Petroleum Resources 

proved abortive, as messages 

sent to key officials of the 

Ministry were not responded to. 

Subsisting 

penalty rate 

Furthermore, analysis of the 

various Annual Statistics 

Bulletins of the Nigerian 

National Petroleum Corporation, 

NNPC, showed that from 2008 

to October 2016, oil and gas 

companies operating in the 

country flared a total of 4.085 

trillion SCF of gas. 

A breakdown of the figures 

showed that in 2008, 631.19 

billion SCF of gas was flared; 

2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 

recorded total gas flare of 509.35 

billion SCF, 581.568 billion SCF, 

619.033 billion SCF, 588.667 

billion SCF and 409.31 billion 

SCF respectively. 

Again, in 2014 and 2015, total 

gas flared was 285.762 billion 

SCF, 341.37 billion SCF; while 

between January and October 

2016, 119.15 billion SCF of gas 

was flared. 

Using the old and subsisting 

penalty rate of N10 per 1,000 

SCF, the total of 4.085 trillion SCF 

of gas flared recorded in this 

period translated to N40.85 

billion accruable to the 

Federation Account. 

On the other hand, using the 

new penalty rate of $3.5 per 1,000 

SCF of gas which is yet to be 

enforced, the country would have 

earned $14.298 billion, which 

would amount to N2.86 trillion, 

using an average exchange rate 

of N200 to a dollar. 

This implied that due to the 

failure of the Federal 

Government to enforce the new 

rate, the country has lost about 

N2.818 trillion over these years. 

Gas Flare Penalty, according to 

NEITI, is the penalty imposed on 

oil and gas producing companies 

operating within the country as 

a deterrent for burning the 

natural gas that is associated with 

crude oil when it is pumped up 

from the ground, adding that this 

correctional measure is to end air 

pollution, environmental 

degradation caused by gas 

flaring and also encourage 

investment in gas infrastructure 

by the oil and gas companies. 

NEITI disclosed that the 

regulations governing gas flare 

penalty include: Regulation 42 

of the Petroleum (Drilling and 


THE Federal Government 

must not allow the Olokola 

Liquefied Natural Gas, 

OKLNG, to waste, Ode-Omi, 

host community of the project, 

said. 

Their assertion is coming on 

the heels of the Nigerian 

National Petroleum 

Corporation, NNPC, approval 

to effect a partial closure of the 

multi-billion dollar project. 

Ode-Omi, a riverine 

community in Ogun Waterside 

local government area of Ogun 

State believes that the benefits 

of the project are too enormous 

to be allowed to waste. 

In a document sited by 

Vanguard and signed by 

Adenubi Jacob, the community 

stated: "OKLNG must not be 

allowed to waste like Iwopin 

Paper Mill, Ajaokuta Steel 

Company and other major 

projects facing similar 

challenges. As we are made to 

Production) Regulations, 1969; 

Associated Gas Re-injection Act, 

1979; Associated Gas Reinjection 

(Continued Flaring of 

Gas) Regulations, 1984 and 

Cap. 26, Laws of the Federation 

of Nigeria, 1990. 

Fiscal 

regimes 

It noted that gas flare penalty 

rates per 1,000 SCF, used under 

various fiscal regimes are: 2Kobo 

applicable from 1985 to June 

1992; 50Kobo applicable from 

July 1992 to December 1997; 

N10 applicable from January 

1998 to March 2008 and $3.5 

applicable from April 2008 to 

Date. 

Commenting on the nonenforcement 

of the law, NEITI 

said, "The rate of N10 as 

provided by the Regulation of 

January, 1998 is still being 

applied. We understand that lack 

of political will on the part of 

Government to uphold the April 

2008 Regulation may be 

responsible for the nonimplementation." 

NEITI further stated that 

during the course of its validation 

exercise, it observed a very 

disturbing trend in some IOCs 

where gas flared penalty fees 

were not paid for over a decade 

and sanctions or fines were 

neither imposed on them by the 

respective regulatory agencies. 

Commenting on the 

implications of this delay, NEITI 

said, "Late payment of statutory 

dues results in the reduction of 

government revenues; where 

regulatory agencies fail to 

sanction payment defaulters, they 

create the enabling environment 

for continuous delayed payment 

by oil companies, which in turn 

reduces government revenue. 

Host community challenges Buhari, FG over OKLNG's fate 

understand, the benefits of 

OKLNG project are enormous 

and should not be allowed to 

go unrealised. 

"On the 20th of December 

2016, an OKLNG team came to 

the palace of the Lenuwa of 

Ode-Omi at a community 

engagement meeting, where it 

was made known that the 

OKLNG project office in Lagos 

was relocating to Abuja. To an 

average Ode-Omi indigene, 

this is a systematic closure of 

the project. 

"Is this one of the changes 

President Buhari promised 

Nigerians, the Yoruba race, 

Ogun State and Ode-Omi 

community during his 

campaign?" the people asked. 

The community further asked 

for the intervention of President 

Buhari, as well as other well 

meaning Nigerians including 

governors of Ogun and Ondo 

States, Senators of the two 

states and traditional rulers 

from the South-West. According 

to the people, their land was 

taken without adequate 

compensation. "OKLNG was 

able to keep the community 

together by promising what was 

called "top up". Every effort 

made by the community to sign 

an MOU with OKLNG was 

truncated and dismissed by the 

Ogun State government 

officials. 

Partial closure 

of the project 

The people have in the 

process of the delay of the 

project lost so much and the 

remedy to this loss is OKLNG 

project," they added. 

It will be recalled that the 

NNPC has directed the 

management team of OKLNG 

to move from Lagos to Abuja, 

signaling a partial closure of 

the project. Explaining some of 

the reasons behind the partial 

CNL appoints 

Jeff Ewing as 

managing 

director 

C 

H 

E V R O N 

NigeriaLimited 

(CNL), operator of the joint 

venture between the Nigerian 

National Petroleum Corporation 

and CNL, has announced the 

appointment of Jeffrey "Jeff" 

Ewing to the position of 

Chairman and Managing 

Director of Chevron companies in 

Nigeria, effective January 1, 2017. 

Ewing succeeds Clay Neff, who 

has been named president of 

Chevron Africa and Latin 

America Exploration and 

Production (CALAEP), with effect 

from January 1, 2017. Jeff, who 

is currently the Director, 

Deepwater & Production Sharing 

Contracts (PSCs) for the Nigeria 

Mid-Africa Business Unit, will be 

responsible for Chevron's 

upstream operations in Nigeria 

and West Africa in his new 

position. 

He joined Chevron in 1985 as 

a Drilling Representative in New 

Orleans after graduating from 

Texas A&M University with a 

Bachelor's degree in Petroleum 

Engineering. Since then, Jeff has 

held numerous technical and 

management positions of 

increasing responsibility in 

different locations; including 

Democratic Republic of Congo, 

Indonesia, Kuwait, Scotland, the 

United States of America, 

Venezuela and Nigeria. 

According to Clay Neff, the 

current chairman & managing 

director of Chevron companies in 

Nigeria, Jeff Ewing was 

appointed to the position based 

on his "demonstrated leadership, 

breadth of experience and 

proven ability to build effective 

relationships with key 

stakeholders." 

closure, NNPC stated; "The 

non-conclusion of exit 

formalities for the shareholders 

has hindered the search for 

new investors and hence, the 

funding burden may continue 

to linger on NNPC for a while. 

"Following recent 

management steer on the 

project, we have revaluated the 

budget requirement that will 

enable us maintain the project 

on preservative mode from 

Abuja. 

It added, "Consequent on the 

above, the GED/COO is 

requested to kindly endorse for 

GMD's approval as follows: 

The immediate relocation of all 

OKLNG project team to Gas 

and Power Investment 

Company Limited, NNPC 

Towers, Abuja and the release 

of the sum of $4,580,940 to fund 

the revised 2016 OKLNG 

project activities on value 

preservation mode."

VOL. 1: NO. 119 

Osinbajo to lead FG 

fact-finding team to N’Delta 

•Begins from Gbaramatu kingdom, Tompolo’s home base 

•It’s long overdue — Asuni, Briggs, Uranta, Beks 

•Fresh crisis looms as Avengers break truce 

Osinbajo 

TUESDAY, , JANUARY ARY 10, 0, 2017 

Buhari 

sidetrack PANDEF in the dialogue 

process could be tricky, as 

Avengers, which gave the body the 

mandate to negotiate with 

government last August, 

announced resumption of 

hostilities, last Saturday, on account 

of government's bungling of the 

dialogue process by refusing to 

dialogue with Niger Delta leaders. 

Other militant groups, which also 

ceased bombing, are likely to join 

soon, a development that could 

possibly hinder the assessment tour 

by Osinbajo and his team. 

Welcome development: 

Executive Director of Academic 

Peace Associates Peace Works and 

facilitator of Niger Delta Dialogue 

Contact Group, NDDCG, Chief 

(Dr.) Judith Burdin Asuni, aka 

Mama Niger Delta, told NDV: “We 

have been waiting for senior 

government officials to come to the 

Niger Delta for one and a half years. 

We welcome such a visit and hope 

that it is a sign of genuine political 

will. 

“On June 29, 2016, HRM King 

Alfred Diete-Spiff, Ambassador 

Nkoyo Toyo and I met with 

President Muhammadu Buhari to 

present the report of our June 10 

Niger Delta Dialogue. The 

President ordered the Chief of Staff 

to set up a team to study and 

implement the report. We heard 

nothing further. 

“On November 1, 2016, another 

team, PANDEF, met with the 

President, who again said that 

government would look into the 

issues of the Niger Delta. We hope 

that the government is now ready 

to engage the people of the Niger 

Delta in genuine dialogue and 

mutual efforts at addressing the 

issues. We all need to get out of 

this recession and seek peace and 

security.” 

FG can’t decide for 

N’Delta leaders 

Clark 

By Emma Amaize & 

Perez Brisibe 

WEEKS after it wrote off the 

Pan Niger Delta Forum, 

PANDEF, umbrella body of 

monarchs, leaders and 

stakeholders of the coastal states of 

Niger Delta, the Presidency has 

constituted a fact-finding team, 

headed by the Vice President, 

Professor Yemi Osinbajo, to traverse 

the beleaguered area and obtain 

first-hand information from the 

people on the problems and 

reasons for the frequent conflicts 

between the region and 

government. 

The team will start its job at 

Oporoza, traditional headquarters 

of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Delta 

State and home base of ex-militant 

leader, Government Ekpemupolo, 

alias Tompolo, which is the 

heartbeat of the current agitation. 

PANDEF, convened and led by 

former Federal Commissioner for 

Information, Chief Edwin Clark, 

had, November 1, last year, 

submitted a 16-point dialogue 

issues to President Muhammadu 

Buhari at a meeting in Abuja, but 

barely two months after the icebreaking 

parley, the Presidency 

indicated its unwillingness to 

discuss with the group, saying it 

was searching for credible leaders 

of the region. 

Home base of 

ex-militant leader 

A source told NDV: “The Osinbajo 

team is not the much-expected 

Federal Government dialogue 

team, but a body put in place to go 

round the communities in the 

region to ascertain and assess what 

actually happened. The Federal 

Government wants to know exactly 

what the problems are from the 

horse’s mouth, after which it will 

determine the way forward; 

I expect the Federal 

Government to accept 

the responsibility it 

owes Nigeria and the 

Niger Delta region and 

people by listening to 

our long-term 

demands for justice 

and equity 

probably a dialogue team can now 

be set up and all that. 

“For now, the Federal 

Tompolo 

Government is in the dark about 

the real issues at stake, that is the 

reason for travelling around.” 

Besides, the Niger Delta 

Greenland Justice Mandate, 

NDGJM, which is still opposed to 

PANDEF, the most fearsome 

militant groups in the region, Niger 

Delta Avengers, NDA; Movement 

for the Emancipation of the Niger 

Delta, MEND; Reformed Egbesu 

Boys; Adaka Boro Avengers and 

Niger Delta Revolutionary 

Crusaders, NDRC, gave PANDEF 

the mandate to dialogue with the 

Federal Government. 

Professor Osinbajo’s team was 

supposed to have commenced the 

tour in the first week of this month, 

but it was shifted to today, January 

10. However, at press time, NDV 

gathered that the date has been 

rescheduled again. 

Looming trouble: However, the 

Federal Government’s decision to 

Environmental and human rights 

activist, Ann-Kio Briggs on his 

part, asserted: “He is the Vice 

President of this country, as such 

he is free to go wherever he wants 

and needs to go to, Oporoza, being 

one of such places in the Niger 

Delta region. 

“It amazes me when Nigerian 

officials talk about peace in the 

Niger Delta; there is no war in the 

Niger Delta. Rather, what we have 

in the Niger Delta is reaction to over 

50 years of abuse, neglect, 

disrespect, environmental 

devastation, injustice and 

oppression of the people and region 

of the Niger Delta. 

“It is, therefore, a wrong 

impression bordering on deceit or 

lies to say the Federal Government 

is seeking for peace. As a 

stakeholder, I expect the Federal 

Government to accept the 

responsibility it owes Nigeria and 

the Niger Delta region and people 

by listening to our long-term 

demands for justice and equity. 

“I started with leaders as far back 

1958: late Harold Dappa Biriye, 

Adaka Boro, Ken Saro-wiwa, to the 

Kaiama Declaration, Ogoni, 

Itsekiris, Urhobo, Ibibio, etc bill of 

rights, the demands made by 

MEND in 2004/2005 before 

Tompolo, Dokubo-Asari, Boyloaf, 

Ateke Tom, Fara, John Togo, Shoot 

at Sight, etc, accepted amnesty as 

Continues on Page 25

24 — Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2017 

PANORAMA 

Isioma Okobah Foundation, American students 

render free medicare in Delta communities 

•From left: Commissioner for Health, Delta, Dr. 

Nicholas Azinge in a group photograph with Dr. 

Mrs. Isioma Okobah, medical students from Georgia 

State University, Atlanta Georgia on medical mission 

to the state. 

•illagers waiting to be attended to by doctors. 

Dr. Isioma Okobah 

assisting a member of 

the medical team to 

examine a patient. 

•Dame Elizabeth Agu, Branch Controller, CBN, 

Delta state, inspecting the pharmaceutical section at 

the health fair in Owa-Alero. 

•Dr Okobah checking the blood pressure level of Dr. 

Nicholas Azinge, Commissioner for Health in Asaba. 

A’Ibom communities threaten to deal with 

Fed Poly, Ukana vandals 

By Chioma Onuegbu 

UKANA—UKANA Ikot 

Ntuen, Ukana Ikot 

Okut Etim and Ukan Onuk 

host communities to the 

Federal Polytechnic, Ukana, 

Essien Udum Local 

Government Area, Akwa Ibom 

State, have advised hooligans 

destroying and looting the 

property of the institution to 

desist from the act, vowing to 

deal decisively with anyone 

caught. 

The village heads, Chief 

Michael Akpabio, Emmanuel 

Obot and Victor Ntuen, who 

expressed the displeasure of 

the three communities during 

a visit to the institution, also 

frowned at the encroachment 

of some persons into the 

institution's land, assuring that 

they would intercede. 

Criminal 

elements 

Village head of Ukana Ikot 

Oku Etim, Chief Emmanuel 

Obot, said the communities 

would not fold their hands and 

watch some criminal elements 

tear down an institution given 

to them by God. 

“We the community leaders 

are happy to have this 

AKWA IBOM… 

LAND OF PROMISE 

Village heads and other community leaders of Ukana during a visit to the management of 

Polytechnic, Ukana. 

polytechnic located in our 

locality. We prayed for things 

like this and God answered 

our prayers, therefore, we 

have come here today to let the 

management of the 

polytechnic know that we will 

not condone such acts going 

on in the institution. 

“We are interested in 

assisting the school 

management address this 

problem. We will resist any 

form of encroachment and 

vandalism because we 

sacrificed so much for this 

institution to stand,” he said. 

Obot further asserted: “On 

behalf of the host communities, 

I call on the management to 

lay premium for qualitative 

learning in this institution and 

we will assist you in the fight 

against cultism. Also we are 

assuring the polytechnic 

community of peaceful coexistence 

between it and the 

host communities.” 

Rector pleads for 

continuous support 

Rector of the institution, Prof. 

Balama Obomanu, expressed 

appreciation at the show of 

concern by the community 

leaders and their interest in 

the peace and progress of the 

institution, while he sued for 

continued cooperation from 

the host communities to enable 

the institution achieve its set 

objectives. 

“We are committed to 

helping our host communities 

grow; most of our students are 

from the state. And I appeal 

to the youths particularly, to 

join forces with us in order to 

take the institution to higher 

heights. 

“So far the institution has 

enjoyed the benevolence of 

the Akwa Ibom State 

Government and prominent 

sons and daughters of this 

community, including the 

Senate Minority Leader, 

Senator Godswill Akpabio, 

towards improving the 

standard and we solicit for 

more support,” he said. 

THE TEAM 

Emma Amaize, Editor 

Jimitota Onoyume 

Samuel Oyadongha 

Simon Ebegbulem 

Gabriel Enogholase 

Festus Ahon 

Egufe Yafugborhi 

Emmanuel Una 

Akpokona Omafuaire 

Godwin Oghre 

Chioma Onuegbu 

Ike Uche 

Davies Iheamnachor 

Emem Idio 

Brisibe Perez 

Theresa Ugbobu 

Ochuko Akuopha 

Barnabas Uzosike 

Nath Onajoke 

Chijioke Nwankpa

Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2017 — 25 

Strange rituals 

in Calabar on 

‘cross-over’ night 

•Pastors make ritual for more power 

— Akpabom, Juju priest 

•Our fears— Street sweepers 

•Lunatics eat food, drink can, bottled drinks 

served to the gods 

By Emmanuel Unah 

CALABAR—IT was a 

spectacle to behold at the 

Ikot Ishie crossroads, popularly 

known as Calabar roundabout, 

Zone Six, Ikot Omin, Effigy and 

other traffic circles at Calabar, 

Cross River State, on New Year 

eve, as traditional worshipers 

flooded the intersections with 

all sorts of sacrifices, while 

Christians prayed at the same 

time in their churches for divine 

intervention and blessings in 

2017. When NDV visited some 

of the intersections, January 1, 

2017, animals, including cats, 

dogs, and chicks were among 

sacrificial items deposited by 

juju worshippers with plates of 

rice meal, bottles of drinks put 

inside a basket woven with 

fresh palm leaves and other 

strange objects littering the 

places. 

Stray dogs had a field day 

feasting on some of the meals 

and edible items, except for the 

can and bottle drinks, which the 

lunatics took away to cool their 

thirst, leaving behind the 

baskets and plates for street 

sweepers to clean up the next 

day. 

A juju priest in Ikot Ishie, 

•Sacrifice on Ikot Ishie Rounadabout, Calabar. 

Ekpabom Ekanem, told our 

reporter: "Many people do 

sacrifices to different gods and 

spirits, so do not think that 

everybody you see go to church 

or who spent the 31 st night 

singing and dancing in the 

church truly had faith in what 

they were doing,” 

“Many still come here to 

carry out sacrifices and rituals 

to juju or spirit, some even offer 

human beings just to make 

sure they achieve success in 

the New Year,” Akpabom said 

He said some people were 

possessed by one demon or 

ancestral spirit and until they 

offer what they are required to 

every year, they would die or 

not achieve what they target in 

the course of the year. 

“Look, some of the pastors do 

come to us, so do not think 

that because they talk about 

Satan, they really believe in 

God, no, they do it just to make 

ends meet, we see all these 

things every day”. 

My oath – Pastor Ekwot 

A senior clergy with Christ for 

the World Mission and 

Chairman, Pentecostal 

Fellowship of Nigeria, Calabar 

Chapter, Pastor Lawrence 

Ekwok, said: “We are yet to win 

everybody to Christ, so some 

people still undertake the 

worship of juju and other 

things, that is the more reason 

we as Christians need to do 

more in our evangelism to win 

such people to Christ.” 

He, however, said he does not 

know if such fetish sacrifice 

works for those that do it, but 

could only vouch for the word 

of God and the name of Jesus 

Christ, which can save and also 

provide blessings and salvation 

to those that believe. 

We see sacrifices every time – 

Street sweepers 

A street sweeper, Ann 

Ekaette Okon, told NDV: “It is 

not only during 31 st of 

December nights that we see 

such sacrifices, but every time. 

Some are covered with a lot of 

blood making us wonder if it is 

human blood or animal, 

although we have to carry them 

away to the refuse dump. If not 

for God, many of us would have 

since died. 

“Some women send their 

children to sweep their portion 

and they do come across things 

like that from time to time, so we 

fear that some of them could be 

affected in later years.” 

NDV gathered that some of the 

roundabouts are conducive for 

such rituals because they are 

decorated with traditional items 

and artefacts like pots, monoliths, 

gongs, masquerade heads and 

the like, which are in tandem 

with juju and ritual practices. 

Osinbajo to lead FG fact-finding team to N’Delta 

Continues from Page 23 

then offered by the late President 

Yar’Adua. 

“It is rather unfortunate and 

insincere for the Federal 

Government to say it is looking for 

credible leaders. It is another way 

of running away from the reality it 

must face. Niger Delta is made up 

of over 30 different nationalities 

and it is these nationalities and 

only they that have the sole rights 

to determine who is a credible 

leader to them, from their 

nationalities. 

“For instance, in Rivers State we 

have different nationalities from all 

the six Niger Delta States (South- 

South geo-political zone). Every 

state has different nationalities, 

except in Bayelsa where all are 

Ijaw. Therefore, in Delta for 

instance, will the Ijaw man speak 

for the Isoko man? Will the Urhobo 

man speak for the Itsekiri man? In 

my own beloved Rivers State, will 

the Ijaw man speak for the Ikwerre 

man, or will the Ogoni man speak 

for the Egi man. 

Demands for 

equity and justice 

“The question is if the Federal 

Government is credible or sincere 

in its quest to finding a solution to 

the Niger Delta peoples demands 

for equity and justice or it is just 

attempting its usual deceit so they 

can access oil and gas quickly to 

fund its budgets? 

“As a stakeholder, we can only 

listen and watch the government 

and the people they want to 

discuss with. If it is what we want, 

we the people will say yes. If it is 

not, we will say no.” 

Divide and rule tactics: Secretary 

General of the United Niger Delta 

Energy Development Security 

Strategy, UNDEDSS, Mr. Tony 

Uranta, told NDV: “I laugh; who 

does the Vice President believe he 

will be holding any talks with? 

Maybe he will visit Okrika, Eket 

and Kalabari next. 

“Personally, I believe this visit by 

the Vice President will just create 

good optics for him and the 

Presidency, whilst adding even 

less value to the development, 

security or peace processes 

regarding the Niger Delta than did 

the same Vice President’s farcical 

flagging-off, over eight months 

ago, of the environmental 

remediation of Ogoniland, which 

the whole world knows has not 

been followed up on till date. It is 

a shame that this administration is 

more intent on show than on 

substance. 

“This is nothing more than a 

puerile attempt to institutionalise 

the divide-and-conquer tactics that 

have dominated feudal-style 

politics and created more motion 

than movement. 

“All citizens of Gbaramatu 

Kingdom are part of PANDEF, so 

PANDEF will be present when the 

Militants (file photo) 

VP arrives, but I can foresee that 

the reception may not be as 

pleasant as the Villa may have 

been misled into thinking it will 

be. 

“The VP has the right to visit any 

part of the country, but the 

continuing attempt by the Federal 

Government to ignore the urgent 

need to announce its team and 

sincerely commence dialogue with 

the Niger Delta as represented by 

PANDEF, as evinced by all this 

empty show-boating for photo-ops 

will soon backfire to the chagrin of 

all Nigerians.” 

Time for change: President, 

South-South Media Professionals, 

Elder Asu Beks, who spoke to our 

reporter, said: “We need to replace 

this set of commercial activists, who 

themselves, have become part of 

the problem in the region. They 

have nothing to offer except their 

selfish interests and greed. 

“All of them have failed to realise 

that the music has changed and 

so there should be new dance 

steps. Our problems in the region 

are profoundly huge and cannot 

be tied to the payment of hand outs 

Continues on Page 26 

DELTA…THE BIG HEART OF THE NATION 

Anioma monarchs, politicians 

back Okowa’s move to 

unite Delta ethnic groups 

OWA 

OYIBU— 

TRADITIONAL rulers 

and politicians of Anioma 

nation in Delta State have 

resolved to support the 

administration of Governor 

Ifeanyi Okowa to enhance the 

existing bond of love and 

peaceful co-existence among 

the ethnic groups in the state 

to actualize the vision of the 

founding fathers. 

They also resolved to solidify 

the Delta North unity and 

speak with a strong voice on 

issues of common interest to the 

district to enable them frontally 

tackle developmental, security 

and socio-political challenges 

facing the state and district in 

particular. 

Common 

interest 

The resolution was made at 

Owa Oyibu, traditional 

headquarters of Owa 

Kingdom, Ika North East local 

government, when the Senator 

representing Delta North in the 

National Assembly, Senator 

Peter Nwaoboshi, led a high 

powered delegation of 

politicians on a special New 

Year homage to traditional 

rulers in Delta North, who 

converged in the palace of the 

Obi of Owa Kingdom, Dr. 

Emmanuel Efeizomor II. 

They pledged to encourage 

the people of the district to 

make land available to 

investors for commercial 

agriculture in order to diversify 

the economy of the state and 

create wealth for all Deltans. 

Dr. Efeizomor II, who is the 

chairman of Delta State Council 

of Traditional Rulers, stressed 

the need for greater unity and 

co-operation among the 

political class, traditional rulers 

and people of Delta North 

senatorial district for speedy 

development of the Anioma 

nation. 

The monarch particularly 

charged the people of the 

district to close ranks and join 

forces with the Okowa 

administration for the 

successful implementation of 

the prosperity agenda of the 

state government. 

Earlier, Senator Nwaoboshi 

informed the royal fathers that 

the visit was to appreciate them 

for their support for him and 

their invaluable contributions to 

the effective administration of 

the state. 

The meeting was attended by 

the second Vice Chairman 

Delta State Council of 

Traditional Rulers, Pere S.P. 

Luke Kalanama VIII, royal 

fathers of the different 

kingdoms in Delta North, 

legislators, commissioners, 

special advisers, local 

government chairmen, party 

chairmen, elders and leaders, 

as well as other stakeholders 

in the Delta project.

26 — Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2017 

CROSS-RIVER… 

THE PEOPLE’S PARADISE 

•Chief James Nya •Abua Stream, source of drinking water •A malnourished child 

EKPENE IBIABONG: C-River community 

of skin-and-bone children 

•Health centre operates only 4 to 5 times a month 

•Children parade village with protruded tummy, white eyes, red hair 

•Govt plans borehole, renovation of dilapidated primary school 

By Ike Uchechukwu 

EKPENE IBIABONG— 

THE economic slump is 

taking its toll on residents, 

particularly children, who 

appear half-starved at the 

rustic Ekpene Ibiabong 

community, Odukpani Local 

Government Area, Cross River 

state, investigations by NDV 

has revealed. 

Most of the children sighted 

by NDV looked underfed with 

protruding tummies, white eyes 

and red hair, as if they are 

suffering Kwashiorkor. 

Residents, mainly farmers 

and fishermen, who bemoaned 

their plight during our visit, 

said they could scarcely eat 

two square meals, adding that 

their situation was further 

complicated by the fact that 

they have no access to potable 

water and efficient health 

facilities. 

They called on the state 

governor, Prof Ben Ayade, to 

come to their rescue, saying 

that the level of neglect by 

government has taken them 50 

years backward. 

Stinking 

water 

At Abua Stream, the only 

source of drinking water in the 

community, NDV found that it 

was practically a stagnant 

pool, but despite that, 

villagers still thronged the 

place daily to obtain drinking 

water. A health official, who 

once worked in the area, 

asserted: “The water is 

stinking and could probably be 

the reason for some diseases, 

especially among women and 

children in the place.” 

Our guide, a native of 

Ekpene, Mr. Benedict Bassey, 

said: ‘’We are still living in the 

past, I am a teacher, I know 

what I am telling you, you can 

verify .We have only one well 

in this community and it is in 

the compound of Mr. Mathias 

Okon .No potable drinking 

water, I believe that stream is 

not safe, especially now that we 

are in dry season. 

“Government must as a 

matter of urgency come to our 

aid before it is too late, cholera 

amongst other disease is 

imminent in this place. 

Hypothetically speaking, if an 

outbreak like cholera or 

diarrhoea should occur, trust 

me NDV, it will kill hundreds 

of children before government 

can get here because of the 

bad topography, your coming 

to this place is a blessing, 

may be they see to our plight.” 

Non-functional health centre: 

Also speaking, a community 

leader, Chief James Okon Nya, 

said there was just a one- room 

healthcare centre in the area, 

which opens four to five times 

in a month and sometimes less 

because the workers posted to 

the place, find it very difficult 

to get to Ekpene due to the 

deplorable state of the road. 

“The heath workers try a lot 

by making it down here for 

those number of times, you 

(NDV) came from Calabar, and 

you have seen how difficult it 

was for you to get here, it takes 

passion and the grace of God 

for anyone posted here to even 

accept the letter, not to talk of 

coming to our community 

because of the bad road, we do 

not have road,” he lamented. 

A villager, Elizabeth Nya, 

disclosed: “The partial 

functionality of the health centre 

in our community has also 

contributed to death and 

malnutrition because there are 

so many children, who have 

various treatable diseases, 

but because the health centre 

is barely functioning, they 

remain that way.” 

Help on the way- Govt 

Contacted, Director General, 

Cross River state Primary 

Healthcare Development 

Agency, Dr Beta Edu, said 

agency will collaborate with 

Rural Water and Sanitation 

Agency (RUWATSA) to dig a 

•Anthony Eyibio 

Osinbajo to lead FG fact-finding team to N’Delta 

Continues from Page 25 

to former armed agitators. Where 

is the Niger Delta master plan? 

Where’s the Mitee report? Where 

are the cottage industries? 

“Where are the model cities? How 

has the 13 per cent derivation to 

the oil bearing communities been 

managed? How do we remove the 

NDDC from being a cash cow of 

the Presidency? How do we ensure 

that the Federal Character 

Commission does not give out our 

places in job recruitment? How do 

we stop gas flaring? How do we 

commence the clean-up of our 

region? 

“All these are questions begging 

for answers, which our current 

commercial activists are not 

interested in asking. The time for 

a new rhetoric in the region is now.” 

Osinbajo should travel by boat 

Chief of Staff to the Delta State 

Government, Tam Brisibe, asserted: 

“It is definitely a welcome 

development that the Vice 

President is visiting Oporoza and 

I hope he would travel by boat from 

Warri, so he can get a feel of how 

the people live. The demands of 

the Ijaw are straightforward; a 

sense of understanding of their 

plight by the Federal Government. 

“I am not too sure it is the 

responsibility of the Federal 

Government to determine who 

should negotiate for us; they should 

be prepared to dialogue with 

anybody we send. As far as I can 

tell, everyone we send is a credible 

leader.” 

President of the Ijaw Youth 

Council, IYC, Udengs Eradiri, 

vowed: “They (Vice President and 

his men) are moving round circles. 

Oporoza visit is not the issue: the 

Nigerian Maritime University, 

NMU, Okerenkoko, resumption 

date does not require visits or 

meetings." 

Better to jaw jaw 

Member representing Patani 

constituency in the Delta State 

House of Assembly, Hon Timi 

Tonye, said: “It is a step in the right 

direction. What is needed in the 

agitations coming out of the Niger 

Delta is jaw-jaw and not war-war. 

Dialogue as an instrument of 

resolving conflict in a democracy 

cannot be over emphasised. I 

support this over-delayed 

movement. 

Speaking on the proposed visit, 

President, Niger Delta Security 

Watch Organisation of Nigeria, 

NDSWON, Dickson Bekederemo, 

said: “The Vice President coming 

to Niger Delta region is a good 

omen to the most neglected and 

economically-battered region. We 

have been wailing that the 

Presidency should come and see 

the conditions of the inhabitants of 

the environment that is feeding the 

rest of country for it to appreciate 

the circumstances and issues that 

always triggered violent agitation. 

“His coming will, therefore, create 

a window for the Presidency to 

appreciate the yearnings of the 

people and the need to return to 

the people their God-given 

resources in order to enable them 

develop their region at their own 

pace. It is also my expectation that 

the needless and unjustifiable 

pursuit of some persons whose only 

sin is a valid contractual relationship 

they executed with Federal 

Government, will be addressed.” 

Declare state of emergency: 

Environmental activist, Morris 

Alagoa, also declared: “While the 

move is a welcome development, 

it is not new. Jonathan did go to 

the creeks as Vice President too 

borehole in the community. 

According to her, the agency 

will take its nutrition program 

in the state to the community, 

but those with severe cases 

would be brought to bigger 

healthcare facilities. 

Executive Chairman, Cross 

River State Basic Education 

Board (SUBEB), Dr Stephen 

Odey, said the Board had 

concluded plans to intervene 

at Ekpene because of the 

critical condition of the 

community’s primary school. 

He said the board, which is 

undertaking the renovation of 

over 237 schools across the 

state, would collaborate with 

the Ministry of Works to open 

access road to the community 

to enable the agency move in 

materials to the place. 

“They would do some 

palliative work, government is 

not a one man affair, it is 

collective, and so we will 

collaborate with agencies that 

will make our work a success 

in the place,” he added. 

before amnesty was eventually 

offered, as recommended by the 

Ledum Mitee-led Technical 

Committee on the Niger Delta. 

“If it is another move to treat the 

Niger Delta problematic as a movie, 

then it would be too bad and most 

unfortunate. There is practically 

nothing new to be suggested to the 

FG as there are reports with farreaching 

recommendations about 

the Niger Delta just gathering dust 

in the drawers of the FG. 

“It would be fine if the Vice 

President would be able and 

sincerely convince those he will 

meet in the creeks that the Federal 

Government has the political will 

and ready to squarely address the 

issues of development and 

environmental degradation in the 

region. 

“For instance, there is need to 

apologise to the people of 

Gbaramatu/Oporoza and restore 

damages done to property and pay 

for lives lost. Then, the Federal 

Government should declare a state 

of emergency to develop the Niger 

Delta. “The issue of true federalism 

is very important, and he should 

tell stakeholders why Nigeria is 

running a unitary system instead 

of a federal one.”


Ebola vaccine not 

preventative, WHO 

warns 

. Says period of protection is unknown 

By Sola Ogundipe 

IN the midst of the euphoria 

of the discovery of an 

effective experimental Ebola 

vaccine, the World Health 

Organisation (WHO) has 

cautioned that the vaccine 

cannot be used as a 

preventative, because of its 

unknown period of protection 

and safety levels particularly for 

children, and pregnant 

women. 

The Ebola vaccine which has 

been under development for at 

least a decade and a half, has 

been shown to be 100 percent 

effective in preliminary trials. 

According to a report in the 

MIT Technology Review, Head 

of the Initiative for Vaccine 

Research at the WHO, Dr. 

Marie-Pierre Preziosi, who 

issued the warning, said the 

genetically engineered vaccine 

cannot be used as a 

preventative vaccine in the way 

that polio and smallpox 

vaccines are used and it cannot 

serve as a “long-term strategy” 

to stop Ebola. 

Long-lasting 

protection 

Preziosi’s argument is that it 

is unknown how long the 

vaccine lasts, noting that some 

vaccines offer protection that 

may last for decades, while 

others last a very short period 

of time. “Unless the WHO is 

able to determine that the new 

Ebola vaccine offers longlasting 

protection, it could only 

be used to treat people once 

outbreaks are already 

occurring.” 

According to a MIT Tech 

Review, if the experimental 

New malaria vaccine shows efficacy, safety in humans 

IN what has been described 

as a “major advance in 

malaria vaccine development”, 

researchers say a vaccine called 

GAP3KO stimulated an effective 

immune response against the 

malaria parasite Plasmodium 

falciparum, without causing any 

serious side effects. 

Created using a weakened 

version of the entire parasite, 

GAP3KO caused each of the test 

subjects to develop antibodies 

against the immature forms of the 

malaria parasite that cause 

human infection and none of 

them developed malaria or 

experienced any serious side 

effects. 

Until now, a vaccine named 

vaccine is approved, it would 

only be given to the people 

most at-risk of being exposed 

to a sick person once an Ebola 

outbreaks occurred, such as 

family members, health-care 

providers, and sanitation 

workers. 

It is unknown 

whether the 

experimental 

vaccine is safe or 

effective for 

pregnant women, 

children under 6, 

or people living 

with HIV 

This approach is similar to 

how oral cholera vaccines are 

used, only during outbreaks or 

when people are traveling to 

By Chioma Obinna 

THE World Health 

Organisation, WHO, has 

explained the rationale why the 

world need to clean up the global 

environment, saying that, every 

year, 12.6 million (1 in 4 deaths) 

people die from diseases 

associated with environmental 

hazards. 

The Director-General of WHO, 

Dr Margaret Chan who listed 

some of the environmental 

hazards to include air, water or 

soil pollution, and climate 

change explained that the single 

greatest environmental risk to 

human health is through most 

RTS,S had proven the most 

promising candidate, reducing 

the number of clinical malaria 

cases in young children and 

infants by 26-36 percent over a 

3-year period. However, the new 

study suggests the new vaccine 

could be more effective. 

Malaria 

infection 

For their study, the scientists 

gave mice a rodent version of 

GAP3KO. They found that it 

protected against malaria 

infection when the mice were later 

exposed to an unmodified 

version of P. falciparum. 

Next, the researchers enrolled 

Researchers working on the experimental Ebola vaccine 

an area prone to cholera. 

While cholera vaccines have 

been available for years, 

cholera outbreaks continue to 

occur in developing countries 

around the world. 

It is also unknown whether 

the experimental vaccine is 

safe or effective for pregnant 

women, children under 6, or 

people who are HIV positive. 

These groups are some of the 

people most at risk for Ebola. 

basic need - the air individuals 

breathe. 

She said for years, governments 

have struggled to improve access 

to energy in order to promote 

economic development, but the 

unsustainable energy path that 

the world has followed has come 

at an unacceptable cost. 

“Air pollution, overwhelmingly 

resulting from energy production 

and use, causes heart and lung 

diseases and cancer, resulting in 

approximately 6.5 million deaths 

each year. The energy sources 

that cause the release of deadly 

air pollutants, such as black 

carbon, also release greenhouse 

gases, including methane and 

10 human volunteers. Each 

participant was bitten 

approximately 150-200 times by 

mosquitoes that had been infected 

with GAP3KO. 

In his view, study co-author Dr. 

James Kublin, a scientist at the 

Fred Hutchinson Cancer 

Research Centre in Seattle, WA, 

and Medical Director of the 

Seattle Malaria Clinical Trials 

Centre stated: "We are very 

fortunate to have the human 

malaria challenge model to take 

the critical next step evaluating 

the efficacy of GAP3KO in 

preventing malaria in people," he 

says. 

"The Hutch is looking forward 

to bringing its expertise in clinical 

Studies to determine the safety 

and effectiveness of the 

vaccine for these groups are 

just now getting started. 

Another issue is that most 

Ebola outbreaks around the 

world are now under control, 

so it is extremely difficult to 

determine how effective any 

vaccine is against the deadly 

disease. Ebola is too 

dangerous to intentionally 

expose people to, leaving 

carbon dioxide. Together, these 

drive climate change, which 

threatens to undermine all of the 

environmental conditions on 

which human lives depend – 

food, water, and shelter,” she 

added. 

Chan in the statement 

explained that by 2050, 66 percent 

of the world’s population will live 

in urban areas, which are often 

characterized by pollution as well 

as heavy traffic, poor housing, 

limited access to water and 

sanitation services amongst other 

health risks. “Environmental risks 

to health, like many of the 

challenges facing our world, are 

too complex and interconnected 

1 

researchers with no accurate 

way to gauge how effective the 

vaccine really is. 

Yet another issue is that there 

are different strains of Ebola, 

which means that vaccines that 

work against one strain of Ebola 

may not work against another. 

Preziosi says that doctors will 

need to have a combination of 

vaccines and therapeutic 

options in order to mount a 

truly effective campaign against 

Ebola in the long term. 

12.6m die from environment associated diseases annually 

trial design and management to 

the next stage of tests for this 

vaccine. 

"Future studies demonstrating 

protective efficacy will be the next 

critical milestone for continued 

development of this promising 

vaccine approach," he adds. 

Study co-author Dr. James 

Kublin, a scientist at the Fred 

Hutchinson Cancer Research 

Centre in Seattle, WA, and 

medical director of the Seattle 

Malaria Clinical Trials Centre, 

believes that the team's human 

malaria challenge model - 

whereby malaria vaccine 

candidates are tested in healthy 

adults - puts them in a good 

position for future research. 

to be dealt with by simplistic, 

short-term solutions or by 

individual actors. That’s why the 

2030 agenda for sustainable 

development, adopted by all 

countries, is so important. This, 

the world’s first ever global 

development plan, offers a 

unique opportunity for coherent, 

long-term action by all of society 

for all of society,” she concluded. 

Vehicle 

emissions 

Speaking, the Secretary- 

General of World Meteorological 

Organization, Petteri Taalas, 

stated that many governments 

are now bringing several 

ministries and departments 

together, for example linking up 

environment, climate and health 

sectors, to take joint action. 

Taalas said simple 

interventions, such as reducing 

vehicle emissions and 

investments in rapid transit 

systems, will save lives. 

On his part, the Executive 

Director, UNEP, Erik Solheim, 

noted that the UNEP, the World 

Meteorological Organization 

(WMO) and the WHO are 

working together under a single 

environment and health plan, 

adding that, air pollution will be 

the first priority due to the huge 

health impacts that it causes, as 

well as its close links with other 

risks, such as climate change and 

chemical contamination.


Intervention fund essential in healthcare 

delivery — Executive Secretary, HFN, Dr. Itunu Akinware 

EXECUTIVE Secretary of the Healthcare Federation of 

Nigeria, HFN. Dr. Itunu Akinware, in this chat with 

Chioma Obinna, explains the rationale behind the 

urgent need for an intervention fund for the Nigerian 

health industry. She said HFN is set up to promote 

access to finance for healthcare practitioners. Excerpts: 

THE Healthcare Federation 

of Nigeria is a coalition of 

private sector stakeholders in 

healthcare and they have come 

together basically to improve 

healthcare outcomes in Nigeria. 

We find out that 60-70 percent 

healthcare services is provided by 

the private health sector, so one 

of the ways we can improve the 

industry is by investing in the 

sector. When you consider public 

health sector funding today is not 

enough to cause the changes that 

we need in healthcare, so the 

private health sector must come 

together to ensure that we improve 

health care. 

Improving healthcare 

To do this we have three pillars. 

The first is access to finances. We 

realise that for us to be able to 

grow as a sector we must have 

access to finances. Some of the 

challenges we have is that we are 

not patronised by the government 

when it comes to accessing 

finances and the banks do not 

lend as much to the health care 

sector especially because the kind 

of loans we will require - long 

term loan, single digit loan - is 

very difficult to find here. 

There is no intervention fund to 

stimulate healthcare. However, 

there are opportunities such as 

manufacturing pharmaceutical 

consumables. If we can get our 

healthcare right we will be able 

to generate income from it. 

As of today over $1 billion goes 

out of our shores in medical 

tourism, so we realise that by the 

time we ensure that we have 

access to finances people will be 

able to build better hospitals and 

supply better drugs . One of the 

things we are set up to do is 

promote finances for health care 

practitioners. The second is to set 

Dr. Itunu Akinware 

up industry growth. We realise 

there is a need to grow our 

industry, and there is a need to 

build capacity. So a healthcare 

There is no 

intervention fund 

to stimulate 

healthcare. 

However, there 

are opportunities 

such as 

manufacturing 

pharmaceutical 

consumables 

practitioner needs to understand 

the business of healthcare as well 

because most times healthcare 

practitioners are technical people, 

but this is the time to close the 

gap between management, 

business and health care. 

We do a lot of programmes, 

capacity building programmes 

and workshops and now we do 

advocacy. And this is really the 

first thing we do because we 

realise that for the private health 

sector we need to have the right 

policies, the right regulatory 

frame work. 

The health federation of Nigeria 

is set to speak to government and 

working together to ensure the 

right policy, the right operating 

environment and that is why we 

organised a meeting with the 

Minister of Health, Professor 

Isaac Adewole with chief 

executive officers and captains of 

industries and other health care 

leaders in the private sector to 

meet with the minister of health 

and speak on the things we need, 

speak about the things we 

required in health sector today. 

We also want to hear from the 

Minister and his plans in Nigeria, 

and how can the private sector 

be part of the dream and general 

vision for health care . 

Beneficiaries of a medical outreach organised by the Redeemed Christian Church of God, The 

Calvary Area, Mafoluku, Lagos as part of activities to mark the 2016 Let’s Go Afishing event,in 

Lagos 

Need for intervention 

fund 

The intervention fund is 

necessary. We have been talking 

to the Ministry of Finance, the 

Central Bank , Bank of Industry, 

etc., to basically set out a fund that 

can be given to private sector 

practitioners, a single digit long 

term financing fund. So for 

instance, if you are building a 

hospital , it is going to take a while 

for you to realise your fund. 

It is not something you can do 

in two to three years. If you want 

to build a 500-bed hospital or even 

50-bed hospital or if you want to 

go into pharmaceutical 

manufacturing, you know it is a 

large scale, if you want to have a 

WHO approved manufacturing 

plant, it is a large scale and you 

don’t get your returns 

immediately and our commercial 

banks are not structured to give 

us that long term low interest 

loan that will be required to grow 

the industry. 

So we will love to advocate to 

the government, the Ministry of 

Health, the Bank of Industry, and 

the Central Bank to see if they can 

souce funding that the private 

sector can access. It can be given 

through the Central Bank. This 

will help us and it will help in 

development because we don’t 

have to rush. We will do things 

properly, we will be able to build 

the right capacity, right 

infrastructure required if we have 

access to finances. 

Moving the health 

sector forward 

One thing we have come to find 

out is that the health sector and 

the finance sector don’t talk and 

because of that, the finance sector 

doesn’t really understand the 

intricatcies of the health sector 

so one of the things that the 

HFN is trying to do now is to 

bring together the finance 

banks, the commercial banks 

and the health sector to see how 

they can understand each other 

and create some sort of tools to 

drive the health sector. 

Also, we are trying to be 

innovative, so we promote 

things like group practices 

instead of setting up a one-man 

show. We say, why don’t you 

partner with the next person, 

you can have more capacity, 

you can have leverage on 

resources so there are lots of 

things you can do. But really, 

we do need finances on large 

scale. 

Also one key area we need to 

address is health insurance. 

What you fine in other societies 

is the demand side to finances 

and based on that, there is a 

health insurance that ensures 

you can invest because you 

know there is a way you can get 

back what you have invested. 

Since you know you can get your 

investment back. health insurance 

will go a long way to improve the 

sector. 

Invest in your 

health, go for 

regular 

medical 

checks 

Nigerians told 

By Gabriel Olawale 

NIGERIANS have 

been charged to invest 

in their health by going for 

regular medical check-up to 

avoid unnecessary death 

arising from unknown and 

unexpected health conditions. 

This is coming on the 

heels of a call to the three 

tiers of Government to form 

a mutual synergy with responsible 

NGOs, such as 

Lions International and Rotary 

International. 

These calls were made by 

representatives of several 

international NGOs during 

a 2-Day Health Screening 

by the US based Fied 

Temple African Methodist 

Church Maryland USA in 

conjunction with the Diocese 

of Lagos Methodist 

Church, Nigeria in Lagos. 

Leader of the US based 

Medical Team from Fied 

Temple African Methodist 

Episcopal INC, Maryland, 

USA, Dr. Anu Esuola, reiterated 

the need for prompt 

revamping of the obsolete 

facilities and structures, especially 

in the training of 

more efficient medical personnel. 

Esuola further pleaded for 

improved welfare package 

for health workers. 

Paramedical 

volunteers 

She expressed the team’s 

profound gratitude to the 

Church and other medical 

and paramedical volunteers 

and practitioners that assisted 

the US team in carrying 

out the mission. 

She however appealed to 

political office holders and 

others in both sectors of the 

economy to device a reliable 

roadmap that would give 

Nigerians the ‘Real’ dividends 

of democracy they 

rightly deserved. 

Responding on behalf of 

the Church, Dr Charles 

Oladeinde Williams, assured 

the team of the 

Church continued support 

in their dogged strides to 

make the Society, the 

Church and the Nation, a 

laudable environment 

where no man is oppressed. 

The US team also assured 

them on the continuity of 

the programme this year. 

The team offered free 

screening for blood pressure, 

diabetes, eye screening 

and donation of free eye 

glasses, free drugs, and 

other comprehensive Dental 

and Body Screening.


Omisore fetes patients at OAUTHC, orphanage 

By Erezi Efeunu 

IN the spirit of the yuletide 

and the new year, former 

Deputy Governor of Osun State, 

Senator Iyiola Omisore, visited 

patients at the Obafemi Awolowo 

University Teaching Hospital, 

OAUTH, Ife, and children and 

care givers at the Covenant 

Orphanage & Welfare Centre in 

Moro village, Osun State. 

Omisore who was received by 

the top management staff of the 

hospital led by the Chief Medical 

Director, Professor Victor 

Adetiloye, spent quality time with 

several of the patients including 

the indigent patients that had 

been discharged but unable to go 

home for inability to settle their 

bills. 

Presenting them goodie packs 

of gifts, Omisore sat with the 

hapless patients and inquired 

from them what led to their 

incapacitation. 

He immediately ordered their 

release and paid off the 

outstanding debts to the 

admiration of all. This gesture 

brought tears of joy to the 

detained patients some of whom 

came from the southern and 

northern part of the country. 

The convoy later drove to the 

Covenant Orphanage & Welfare 

Centre in Moro Ward, another 

community within the state. He 

was received with appreciative 

songs by the inmates and care 

givers at the home. Omisore 

felicitated with them, and also 

presented gifts and food items. 

Appealing for Nigerians to be 

their brother’s keeper, he stated: 

“You don’t have to be rich to help 

others in need. A little assist will 

go a long way in the life of a 

needy. At the hospital, both the 

in-patients and the detained 

patients always wait for me to 

come and bail them out on 

January 1st of every year; and I 

am always happy to bring that 

relief to them. I pray for God’s 

grace to continue”he noted. 

In his response, the CMD, 

Professor Adetiloye 

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL) 

I 

AM dating a girl who casually mentioned that she is 

bisexual. I like her but my mind keeps going back to 

that statement and what it could mean for our 

relationship – Kolade 

Bisexuality means being attracted to both men and women 

and many people are bisexual by nature. I think the reason 

homosexuality continues to shock us is because we lack 

information on human sexual complexities and how 

common it is. 

Gay people are everywhere you look and have always 

been there. We are only just getting to find out. Some of 

them are our parents, uncles, aunts, brothers, sisters, 

nieces, nephews, colleagues etc. This isn’t new and we 

will eventually have to get on with it. 

Believe it or not, twenty percent of the world’s population 

is either gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered. That is 

over 1.2 billion people. That is how common alternative 

sexuality is and it is not going away. I suggest you should 

enjoy your time together while you can. Her sexuality is 

not a threat to you or anyone and that should be the 

bottom line – Uche 

I have been hypertensive for quite some time and even 

though there used to be a time I could take sex drugs, 

but not anymore. I am 57. I am interested in penis 

enlargement but only if it does not involve drugs - 

Maurice 

Dear Maurice, there are many penis enlargement options 

today. The newest of them is the Pro Extender Penis 

Enlarger. This kit comes complete with an instructional 

DVD and is so effective that it can grow your penis one 

inch a month. So within four months of consistent use, 

the Pro Extender Penis Enlarger can grow your penis 

an additional four inches. 

This would make a man with a five inch long erection 

end up with a nine inch penis in four months. It is simply 

amazing – Uche 

Good afternoon. A friend recommended you. I hear 

you know how to help people with premature 

ejaculation problems. My own is really bad. Sometimes 

just as I am kissing a girl, I climax. It is that bad – 

Chinedu 

HOSPITAL VISIT: Senator Iyiola Omisore presenting a goodie pack to a patient at the 

Gynaecology Ward at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, OAUTHC, 

Ile Ife, Osun State, during a visit on January 1,2017. 

acknowledged the gesture by 

Senator Omisore who chooses 

to spend the 1st day every year 

with patients of OAUTH, Ife and 

at orphanage homes. 

Adetiloye enumerated several 

intervention projects that 

Omisore has been doing to 

advance the hospital; these he 

said includes, water projects, 

road construction, and building 

of new wards for the hospital. 

“Today as usual, Senator 

Omisore has brought salvation 

to many of our patients. As we 

stand here today, all the 

Chinedu extreme cases like yours often has more to do 

with lack of regular sex or experience. First, I would 

recommend masturbating a few hours before you get to 

have intercourse. 

This eliminates sexual tension and performance anxiety 

and minimizes the chances of ejaculation before 

penetration. And then you can use a prolonging novelty 

to last longer. For this you need a delay cream like the 

Max Man Delay Cream and a penis sleeve such as the 

Purple Studded Penis Sleeve. Apply the cream on an 

erect penis five minutes before intercourse and then wear 

the Penis Sleeve. 

The Sleeve is worn like a condom but it is thicker, reusable 

and padded to make the penis appear much longer than 

its actual size. A combination of these two will make you 

last 20 to 25 minutes before climaxing. Alternatively, take 

the Boss Rhino performance supplement. It helps men 

last longer in addition to strengthening their erections 

and enlarging the penis – Uche 

I started experiencing menopause when I was 48. I had 

always known it would change my life but it has been 

terrible. Anyway, my biggest problem now is irritability, 

lack of libido and vaginal dryness. I know there are 

things that can help me. I am open to all options – Kemi 

Menopause can drive a woman mad I hear. Sorry about 

that. You need two things. A performance supplement for 

women and a lubricant. Get Libigirl Pills. It will help 

with arousal and lubrication and also relaxes you. The 

Vanessa Gel is a very slick lubricant that eliminates all 

dryness during intercourse – Uche 

Please I need a dong. Non vibrating – Hope 

Get the Hard Man Dong. It is very realistic and 7.5 inches 

long – uche 

That is all for today. Adults in need of these treatments/ 

novelties can call us on 08171912551, 08027901621 or 

07086754515 for help or visit www.zeevirtualmedia.com 

to place their orders with their computers or on their 

phones with the zee mobile shopping app. Zee Virtual 

Media delivers all over Nigeria. For enquiries email us 

at custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com- Uche Edochie, MD, 

Zee Virtual Media. 

structures standing at the Phase 

4 of our expansion programme 

were all facilitated by our noble 

Senator. 

“Though it is a Federal 

government institution, 

government cannot do it alone. 

It is from the little we charge 

that we cover our administrative 

expenses. If not for such 

support we receive from people 

like Senator Omisore, we might 

not have been able to develop 

our services to this enviable 

level,” he noted. 

Alzheimer's 

drug, could 

revolutionise 

dental 

treatments 

— STUDY 

By Gabriel Olawale 

ANEW method of stimulating 

the renewal of living stem 

cells in tooth pulp using an 

Alzheimer's drug has been 

discovered by a team of 

researchers at King's College 

London. 

Following trauma or an 

infection, the inner, soft pulp of a 

tooth can become exposed and 

infected. In order to protect the 

tooth from infection, a thin band 

of dentine is naturally produced 

and this seals the tooth pulp, but 

it is insufficient to effectively 

repair large cavities. 

In a paper published in 

Scientific Reports, scientists from 

the Dental Institute at King's 

College London have proven a 

way to stimulate the stem cells 

contained in the pulp of the tooth 

and generate new dentine -- the 

mineralised material that protects 

the tooth -- in large cavities, 

potentially reducing the need for 

fillings or cements. 

The novel, biological approach 

could see teeth use their natural 

ability to repair large cavities 

rather than using cements or 

fillings, which are prone to 

infections and often need 

replacing a number of times.


Lamentation trails 

stigmatisation of infertile 

African women 

… as "Merck More than a Mother" campaign 

debuts in Nigeria 

By Chioma Obinna & Ikenna 

Asomba 

NKEMDILI Okeke (not real 

name) is a secondary school 

certificate holder who got married 

in 2011 at the age of 25, to a 

wealthy businessman in the 

South-Eastern part of Nigeria. 

Five years after marriage, she 

was yet to conceive. She was 

subjected to dehumanising 

treatments by her husband's 

family. Nkemdili's mother-inlaw 

suddenly became a thorn in her 

flesh, daily raining abuses on her, 

calling her all sorts of names, and 

even accusing her of being a witch 

that eats up the babies in her 

womb. That's not all. At other 

times, Nkemdili's mother-inlaw 

accused her of ruining her womb. 

This went on and on for years, 

that Nkemdili's husband became 

pressurised by the mother to get 

a second wife for himself. 

The claims were that Nkemdili 

was to be blamed for her inability 

to conceive. However, on the 

advice of a neighbour, Nkemdili 

and her husband, sought medical 

attention, and lo and behold, it 

was discovered that it had not all 

been Nkemdili's fault but her 

husband's, as he was diagnosed 

to have low sperm count. 

Today, there are millions of 

Nigerian women suffering these 

forms of dehumanisation due to 

their inability to conceive, and in 

most cases, the fault is usually 

laid on their doorsteps, without 

the slightest knowledge that the 

men could be the cause of the 

problems. 

A recent statistics by the World 

Health Organisation showed that 

more than 180 million couples (1 

in every 4 couples) in developing 

countries suffer from primary or 

secondary infertility. 

WHO says infertility in Africa 

is caused by infections in over 85 

percent women compared to 33 

percent worldwide which 

emphasize the importance of 

prevention programmes in Africa. 

It's against this backdrop that 

world's foremost pharmaceutical 

and chemical company, Merck, 

launched in Nigeria, its "Merck 

More than a Mother" initiative 

aimed at combating infertility and 

the stigmatization associated with 

it in Nigeria. 

The launch which took place 

first in Lagos and then in Abuja, 

brought together women leaders, 

policy makers, parliamentarians, 

academics, fertility experts among 

others to chart the way forward 

towards combating, identifying 

and implementing strategies to 

improve access to effective, safe 

and regulated fertility care in 

Nigeria and to define 

interventions to decrease social 

suffering arising from infertility 

and childlessness. 

The mind-engaging discussion 

at the launch included panelists 

the Chairman, Senate Committee 

on Health, Senator Lanre 

Tejuosho; member, Parliament of 

Kenya, Hon. Joyce Lay; 

President, Africa Fertility Society, 

AFS, Professor Oladapo Ashiru; 

former President, International 

Federation of Fertility Societies, 

IFFS, Prof. Joe Simpson, 

President, Nigeria Reproductive 

Society, Dr. Faye Iketubosin; 

Head, Intercontinental Region, 

Merck, Yiannis Vlontzos; amond 

a host of others. 

Experts 

speak 

Speaking at the launch, in 

Lagos, Chief Social Officer, 

Merck, Dr. Rasha Kelej, said the 

"Merck More than a Mother" 

initiative is imperative in Africa 

as the consequences of infertility 

are much more dramatic in 

developing countries and can 

create more wide ranging social 

and cultural problems compared 

to Western societies, particularly 

for women. 

Kelej said: "A central difficulty 

associated with infertility is that 

it can transform from an acute, 

private distress into a harsh, 

public stigma with complex and 

devastating consequences. 

"In some cultures, childless 

women still suffer discrimination, 

stigma and ostracism. An inability 

to have a child or to become 

THE birth of conjoined twins 

has been in the news in recent 

times. In November 2016, Miracle 

and Testimony Ayeni, a set of 

conjoined twins born in Nigeria 

was successfully separated at the 

at Le Bonheur Children's 

Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, 

USA. 

Again, in December 2016, 

another conjoined twins with two 

heads, a neck, chest, two legs and 

two hands, was delivered at a 

private hospital in Ogudu area 

of Lagos. 

Although the baby later died, 

the euphoria surrounding the 

birth of such abnormal babies has 

continued. 

According to a report in the 

Daily Mail, The latest conjoined 

twins in the news was born in 

Mexico, and the video of the 

conjoined twins was posted on 

social media towards the end of 

last week. Local reports claim they 

are both male, and it appears they 

both share most of their major 

organs. 

Sharing a single body and fitted 

with tubes, the clip of the 

newborns was posted on social 

media by surprised relatives 

towards the end of last week. 

One in four couples in developing countries suffer from primary or secondary infertility 

pregnant can result in being 

greatly isolated, disinherited or 

assaulted. This may result in 

divorce or physical and 

psychological violence. 

"Through the "Merck More 

than a Mother" initiative, all 

stakeholders together including 

Statistics by 

WHO show that 

more than 180 

million couples 

in developing 

countries suffer 

from primary or 

secondary 

infertility 

THEY 

women leaders, policy makers, 

parliamentarians, academia, 

fertility experts, community and 

media will challenge the 

perception of infertile women, 

their roles and worth in the 

society, both within and beyond 

the medical profession in order 

to achieve a systemic shift in the 

current culture of gender 

discrimination in the context of 

fertility care in African societies 

and address solutions for change 

of mindset and upgrading the 

health care services." 

On his part, Senator Tejuosho 

affirmed that the stigmatization 

of women and mothers who have 

infertility challenges, require the 

much needed attention, saying. 

"It's a fact that out of four Nigerian 

couples, we have a couple with 

infertility challenges. This 

statistics means that infertility 

Conjoined twins share single body, two heads in Mexico 

It is not known if the 

unidentified parents knew 

beforehand that they would be 

born with the deformity. 

While it appears that they share 

all of their major internal organs, 

but have their own heads and 

brains. 

But health officials have refused 

to go into detail about the rare 

case, instead just confirming that 

the mother is in a stable condition. 

Doctors in the city of Ciudad 

Juarez are now said to be looking 

needs urgent attention and we 

need to focus on how we can 

make health institutions 

accessible for infertility 

management. 

"Most importantly, there is a lot 

of stigma against women with 

infertility challenges in Nigeria. 

We want to stop it. We also want 

to increase the advocacy against 

the notion that it's only the women 

that suffer infertility. People must 

know that 50 percent of infertility 

issues are caused by men." 

Similarly, Infertility Advocate 

and Member, Kenyan Parliament, 

Hon. Joyce Lay disclosed that 

what inspired her to lead the 

campaign against stigmatizing 

women with infertility issues in 

Kenya and Africa was because 

she had a personal experience, 

having had difficulty having a 

child after she got married. 

at a 'plan going forward' for the 

babies. 

Siamese twins, or conjoined 

twins as they are known to medics, 

occur in about one in 100,000 

pregnancies. 

Medical literature states 

conjoined twins develop when a 

woman produces just one egg 

that doesn't fully seperate after 

being fertilised. 

The developing embryo then 

begins to split into identical twins 

during the first few weeks but 

stops before the process is 

complete. 

Experts say the partially 

separated egg then develops into 

a conjoined foetus. 

Most conjoined twins don't 

survive because their organs are 

unable to support their bodily 

needs. 

It is estimated that 40 per cent 

are not alive when they are 

delivered while 35 per cent die 

within a day of being born. 

Their birth comes just two days 

after a Saudi Arabia king 

promised to separate two 

conjoined sisters from Egypt. 

The young girls, named Menna 

and May, will be treated at the 

kingdom's expense, reports in the 

Middle East have stated.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2017 —31 

Return of James Ibori 

HIS achievements are as 

considerable as his 

background is somewhat murky 

and unclear. 

Like most Nigeria leaders, 

questions about him remain 

unanswered. For example, did he 

go to prison before he was elected 

governor of Delta state? It is true 

that our constitution forbids exconvicts 

from holding political 

office. Before the election, it was 

not clear why the Independent 

National Electoral Commission, 

INEC, and State Security Service, 

SSS, were not able to establish 

the truth of his alleged London 

convictions. 

In London, the processes of the 

criminal justice system 

photographs convicts and have 

their finger prints on 

documented. Did someone 

dissuade INEC and SSS from 

checking these? James is 

charismatic and he would have 

left a thorough footprint in 

London, for our security forces to 

have easily followed with the help 

of the Police in the UK. 

There is a strong connection 

between him and Abacha, Mike 

Adenuga, Abubakar Atiku, Wale 

Tinubu and several large 

ventures such as Kakawa Finance 

Company House, Airtel, etc. He 

belonged to the club of rich men; 

though he was fantastically 

generous and he carried himself 

as a successful rich man. 

Aminasari Dikibo was the 

National Vice President for South 

and was his very good friend. In 

fact, he was on his way to visit 

James Ibori when he was 

assassinated. James Ibori, like 

most PDP members, did not 

believed that General Olusegun 

Obasanjo, OBJ, would want a 

second term. Ibori had said 

electing OBJ for second term was 

unwise and that OBJ was 

unelectable. This is why OBJ had 

it in for Ibori who had led the 

movement to stop Obasanjo’s 

second term bid because that was 

the original agreement at the time 

of recruiting OBJ to run in 1999. 

OBJ was to be President for only 

one term, so even the third term 

proposal was unaccepted. James 

Ibori led the Southern revolt, but 

he wanted to be the vice 

president, VP. But James and his 

fellow governors in the South 

South thought that one of them 

deserved the office of the VP and 

worked assiduously to achieve it. 

His disagreement and travails 

with the Economic and Financial 

Crime Commission, EFCC, and 

in Courts and his eventual 

imprisonment was preceded by 

lengthy protracted court 

proceedings in Nigeria. But even 

then, he was politically active 

from jail in the UK. 

The Metropole Hilton Hotel on 

Edgware Rd was the place of 

choice for hundreds who visited 

him in London. James was not 

Ibori’s arrival in 

Delta will change 

the political 

dynamics of Delta 

State and thereby 

of South South 

the only politician who went to 

jail. Other politicians have been 

in jail all over the world, 

especially during the colonial era. 

For a Nigerian politician to be 

arrested during the colonial era 

was a badge of honour. 

During the military rule, 

hundreds of politicians were 

incarcerated. In fact, you are not 

a serious politician if the iron grip 

of the military did not grasp you. 

James Ibori was surrounded by 

bright young men who were his 

first respondents. They have 

remained loyal to him. But some 

questions still persist about James 

Ibori. Was he convicted in Abuja? 

The court could not decide, 

indicating failure of the Appeal 

Court system. Normally, finger 

printing and photography ought 

to have been used. 

Other famous prisoners – Bode 

George, OBJ – both came out of 

prison emboldened and more 

determined to fight for public 

office and to clear their names. It 

is a question of personal opinion 

whether or not they succeeded. 

But many others have been in 

prison and ended up being 

leaders. There is a long list - 

especially in colonial period. 

Famous on the list are – Gandhi, 

Nehu, Mandela, Aung San Suu 

of Burma, Bhutto of Pakistan, 

Nawaz Sharif. 

James Ibori remains popular. 

More so than Ogbemudia who 

by all accounts did a lot for the 

then Mid-West. James, by far the 

most popular leader, seems to 

control the party even from an 

English jail: from where he was 

able to dictate the outcome of the 

last Delta State election. 

But he was accused of serious 

crimes. Should someone accused 

and convicted of crimes of 

betraying public trust have such 

power? If he had he stayed in 

Nigeria, he might have survived 

without imprisonment. Should he 

continue to be relevant? 

One cannot quarrel with a man 

who is so loved by his people. But 

we have to question the morals 

of people who make allowances 

for a convicted bribe giver and 

one who “stole” the people’s 

money. Is the issue one of 

relativity? Whereas other 

governors did what he did and 

had gone scot free, he was bitter 

when he had to go to jail because 

he helped a lot of people with the 

said 'stolen' money. He built roads, 

he put Delta state in the fore front 

of States in Nigeria. Delta’s voice 

was as strong as it was relevant. 

There are two views on James 

Ibori- one that he was a mere 

victim of circumstances which 

conspired against him, led by his 

considerable powerful enemies. 

The second view is that this is a 

hard boiled unscrupulous 

manipulative politician unafraid 

of taking risks. He was imbued 

by a singleness of purpose which 

put steel in his backbone. He was 

a patriot of his people ready to 

lead them to their destiny by 

whatever means necessary. 

Delta though is ethnically 

divided, James Ibori seems to 

have achieved great harmony 

with all sorts of the people – he 

took his time to listen and operate 

in their best interest. 

What is my grouse with James? 

It is that he is now serving time 

for a crime he committed. When 

he gets out, should that fact of 

imprisonment still hunt him? 

Most criminologists would argue 

that he should not be further 

disturbed, that he may have been 

reformed; he has been punished; 

he should not therefore suffer any 

more disabilities. Not all would 

agree – there is the issue of being 

a role model. His incarceration 

may have changed him to be an 

even better person, but that is still 

left to been seen. I felt the same 

when Ojukwu was returning from 

Abidjan. The whole of Lagos 

came to a stop. It was as if a hero 

has come back to repossess his 

own. For me, I had a different 

feeling. Yes, the war was over but 

he was not a hero. He was a 

misguided man dealing with 

difficult circumstances led by 

other equally misguided people. 

He did his best with what he had: 

but there is always another side. 

What if at the end of the World 

War II, Hitler was to come back to 

Germany, what would be 

Germany’s reaction? One thing 

is clear; Ibori’s arrival in Delta 

will change the political dynamics 

of Delta State and thereby of 

South South. 

*This piece was written long 

before Ibori gained his freedom 

Ugwuanyi’s development trajectory and 2017 

By Louis Amoke 

A 

REVIEW of the activities of Governor 

Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State in 

2016 towards the advancement of good 

governance and provision of critical 

infrastructure in the state couldn’t have 

come in any other better time than now. 

The year under review, was no doubt a 

tough one, considering the adverse effects 

of the economic recession in the country. 

It was indeed, a year many Nigerians, both 

the rich and the poor, will not forget in a 

hurry. 

In Enugu State, even though 2016 was 

coarsened by the severe economic 

hardship, Governor Ugwuanyi made a 

mark and impacted positively on the lives 

of the people through the provision of 

critical infrastructure and good 

governance. 

The governor’s development trajectory 

with the meager resourses at his 

administration’s disposal occasioned by the 

economic meltdown in the country, his 

peace initiatives and humble disposition 

have endeared him to the people of the 

state. 

His administration has remained focused 

and steadfast in its efforts to deliver on its 

campaign promises, “to deploy 

government services to create fair and 

equal opportunity for every willing citizen, 

to make a living and create wealth, 

educate our children, and enjoy life in a 

peaceful and secure environment.” 

During his one year anniversary in office, 

he pledged that “rather than allow the 

severe economic recession occasioned by 

the negative developments in the oil sector, 

deter us from achieving our goals, we will 

instead, turn the situation into an 

opportunity to look inwards and harness 

those potentials which free oil money has 

blinded and prevented us from exploiting 

all the while.” 

According to him, “it is indeed a very 

well known fact that, as a consequence of 

the nation’s current economic woes, the 

monthly allocation to states from the 

Federation Account has fallen to less than 

38 per cent of what it used to be. 

“Before we came into office, Governors 

used to enjoy access to excess crude fallouts 

but now, the language has changed to 

bailout funds. The situation has become 

so bad that many states are unable to pay 

salaries and meet other obligations; and 

Ugwuanyi has rekindled his 

commitment to the 

provision of social services 

and rebuilding of vital 

infrastructure in all sectors 

and across the State 

when a Governor pays salaries, he is 

applauded and it makes news. The Federal 

Government essentially summed up the 

situation with its recent and solemn 

declaration that the country is broke. 

“However, notwithstanding these bleak 

economic realities, we were able to embark 

on the massive development of urban and 

rural roads across the state in fulfillment 

of our promise to create more urban 

centres, enhance rural access and boost 

economic activities in every corner of 

Enugu state.” 

From the foregoing, a critical review of 

the achievements of Ugwuanyi’s 

administration in 2016, in the midst of the 

daunting economic challenges speak 

volume and showcase his leadership 

qualities in navigating the state through 

the current situation to greater heights. 

It was in 2016 that administration 

commenced massive construction of over 

eight major roads spread across the three 

senatorial districts of the state, which were 

flagged off in late 2015. 

The roads include the Nike Lake road; 

the Abakpa Nike road; the Opi-Nsukka 

dual carriage road; the Amaeke-Ngwo- 

Nsude- 9TH Mile bypass; the Amankwo- 

Amaeke-Amah Brewery Junction-9th Mile 

by-pass; the Ohom Orba Junction-Imilike 

Ani- Ezimo Uno- Ezimo Agu-Imilike – 

Ogbodu Aba-Obollo Etiti-Amalla-Obollo 

Afor ring road; the Enugu Road Junction- 

Umuezebi-Nru Junction-University Gate 

road; the Post Office Roundabout- 

Odenigbo Roundabout- Ogurugu Road- 

Ikenga road; and the Obechara Road 

Junction-Umuakashi-Mechanic Village- 

Ikenga Hotels Junction road. It is worthy 

of note that five of these roads have been 

completed and inaugurated while others 

are nearing completion. 

It was also during the year under review 

that a data-simplifying civic organisation, 

BudgIT, listed Enugu, Lagos and Rivers 

as the only three states out of the 36 states 

of the federation that would fulfill 

obligations to their workers. Enugu State 

in spite of the economic recession has been 

regular in the payment of workers’ salaries 

and still executes capital projects. In fact, 

the state government paid last December 

salaries on the 19th to enable its workers 

celebrate Christmas in joyous mood. This 

decision was based on the fact that Enugu 

is predominately a civil service state and 

it is only when workers’ salaries are paid 

that the economic activities of the state are 

reactivated for the overall interest of the 

people. 

In 2016, the Ugwuanyi administration 

grabbed the bull by the horns and 

embarked on the rehabilitation of the failed 

sections of the federal government roads 

along Oji River-Ugwuoba-Anambra State 

boarder road by old road and 9th mile- 

Egede-Nsukka-Obollo Afor- Benue State 

boarder road to alleviate the pains road 

users experience on the roads and 

guarantee smooth and safe transportation 

during this Yuletide. 

It was also last year that the governor, in 

a move to extend the frontiers of 

development to the rural areas with the 

aim of creating more urban centres to boost 

economic growth and improve the lives of 

the people, simultaneously flagged off 35 

infrastructural projects across the 17 Local 

Government Areas of the state. The 

projects, which comprise 25 roads, water 

schemes, electricity, hospitals, schools, 

buildings, among others, are ongoing. 

The State Government last year approved 

the release of funds for the execution of 

N3 billion worth of projects for the 

renovation of over 276 primary and 

secondary schools in the state with the 

Federal Government providing 50 percent 

of the sum. It also embarked on the 

recruitment of 2000 primary school 

teachers to improve the standard of 

education in the state. 

The governor’s passion for sporting 

activities and support to the Enugu 

Rangers International Football Club saw 

to the Club’s winning of the 2016 Nigerian 

Professional Football League - a 

remarkable feat that broke the Club’s jinx 

of not winning a trophy since 32 years. 

It was also in 2016 that Enugu State 

through the instrumentality of its Economic 

Advisory Council organised the first ever 

Enugu State Investment Summit 

christened “Oganiru” to showcase the 

economic potentials of the state in line with 

the promise to vigorously promote 

investment and pursue the diversification 

of the State’s economy. 

The state has also through the application 

of the best economic practices had resulted 

in a significant increase in the State’s 

internally generated revenue. 

With the recent presentation of the 2017 

Budget estimates tagged, “Budget of 

Economic Recovery and Inclusive 

Development” before the Enugu State 

House of Assembly, which articulates the 

plans and vision of the present 

administration to create an environment 

that will further encourage full 

development of its human and natural 

resources, Gov. Ugwuanyi has rekindled 

his commitment to the provision of social 

services and rebuilding of vital 

infrastructure in all sectors and across the 

State. 

*Mr. Amoke, a public affairs analyst, wrote 

from Enugu, Enugu sdtate. 

C 

M 

Y 

K

32 ---- Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2017 

YOUR LUCK TODAY 

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 

CANCER; Many of you may be tempted and give in to 

the urge to gamble either with love or other important 

issue to the detriment of your cause. Be practical. 

LEO; This is not the right time to take happenings along 

your career line for granted. Prepare for important domestic 

challenge. Keep your family secrets. 

VIRGO; You may over inflate your ego to the resentment 

of people that matter. Watch what you do with money 

before 12.31pm. Try to be more diplomatic. 

LIBRA; If care is not taken you would mislead others 

before 12.31pm while you are close to minor but costly 

mistakes from 12.31pm. Be wise with money. 

SCORPIO; After initial confusion before 1pm you find 

your bearing and assert yourself but you will need to 

prepare to take care of oppositions that may come up 

suddenly. 

By Richard Eromosele 

L E I S U R E 

THOUGHT FOR TODAY 

About Relationship? 

LIFE is all 

about relationship. 

It is all 

about how you 

relate well with 

the other man or 

woman. For example, 

a successful 

father 

should be able to 


his children, a 

successful leader 

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye” 

should be able to 


his followers. 

Similarly, a good 

manager should 

have a good rapport 

with members 

of his 

workforce.How 

well you relate 

with people could 

determine how 

far you will go in 

life.Think about 

it. 

By Kola Fayemi 

SAGITTARIUS; It is important you don=t allow 

friends mislead you before 12.31pm no matter how genuine 

their intention. Watch what you do with your health. 

Tomorrow is your best day. 

CAPRICORN; Take it easy along your career/business 

line during the morning period so that costly mistakes 

will not make things difficult for. Take your social life 

seriously. 

AQUARIUS; What may look like a very good advice 

from younger members within your base of operation 

may eventually lead to avoidable trouble. 

PISCES; Miscalculation is possible before 12.31pm 

that is why you will need to be as practical as possible 

and refuse to take people for granted throughout. 

ARIES; Yes it is good to take partnership related issue 

seriously but priority attention must be given to money. 

Watch what you tell others before 12.31pm. 

KAPTAIN AFRIKA in “Pretty Lunatic’ By Andy Akman 

TAURUS; If you take your new ideas too seriously they 

would mislead you. But taken good advice from your 

influential friends can prove helpful. As the Moon fluctuates 

during AM period it is important you practical till 

after 12.31pm. 

GEMINI; Provided you don’t allow mid-morning blues 

to get better off you will eventually live up to expectation 

at work. Take good care of your health, please. 

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING 

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

trological 

Counselling, P.M.B 100 

007, 7, Apapa, Lagos 

What’s my sensitive part? 

Dear Joshua, 

I ma interested in your daily analysis in Vanguard Newspapers. 

The truth is your daily horoscope column always 

work for me and now I just cant do without reading my 

Star in your papers. 

My believe is since you can be as accurate as possible 

writing daily horoscope you are in a better position to 

analyse my health which is very important to me. I want 

to know which area(s) of my body should be taken more 

seriously. 

Wahab, Jos. 

Dear Wahab, 

According to your natal horoscope you have gone above 

danger zones of your life health-wise. But then what you 

will find here-under will be of benefit. Thanks for your 

commendation. 

Opposition between the Sun (an indicator of basic selfhood) 

and difficult Saturn during your birth hour pointed 

to a very tough beginning in life but luckily for you both 

Spiritual Neptune in powerful Scorpio and steady Pluto 

in healthy Virgo were at positive angles to your natal 

Sun thus, your chances of surviving are more than the 

delicate ones. More so as your natal Sun and Moon are 

members of strongest Star signs-health wise. 

Certainly Saturn must have brought you a few number 

of health related challenges raging from skin, bone, sometimes 

the stomach and importantly headache . Since you 

were able to survive infancy and middle age you have 

very good chances of living to a very old age. While the 

ailments stated here can easily be managed by yourself 

one important organ of your body that must be managed 

by medical expert is your HEART because of many placement 

in heart related Star sign. This is not to say you 

must have heart problem but here is an organ you in 

particular must take very seriously. Yes fever is common 

in Africa and today fear of STDs is the beginning of good 

health. STDs are mentioned here because of your natal 

planets is sexual Scorpio. Mind you nothing fatalistic 

here, but mere warnings. 

VIRGINIA 

HOME & ABROAD 

dadadekola@yahoo.com 

By Lawrence Akapa



Delta APC crisis gets messier as chairman, 

suspended scribe trade words 

•Why I'm being persecuted —Scribe 

By Festus Ahon & Egufe 

Yafugborhi 

ASABA—THE 

crisis 

rocking Delta State chapter 

of All Progressives Congress, 

APC, is getting messier by the day 

as Chairman of the party, Prophet 

Jones Erue, and the embattled 

state Secretary, Mr. Chidi Okonji, 

have been at daggers drawn with 

accusations and counter 

accusations over collection of a 

N600, 000.00 grant by the Delta 

State Government to all political 

parties in the state, among others. 

It will be recalled that the 

leadership of the party had last 

week Wednesday suspended Mr 

Okonji over alleged romance with 

the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, 

in the state. 

Speaking, Okonji, who 

described his suspension as 

illegal, claimed that “there was no 

meeting of the party’s State 

Executive Council, SEC, made up 

of 35 members, which has the 

constitutional right to suspend 

me,” and maintained that Prophet 

Erue authorized him to collect the 

N600,000.00 grant. 

According to him: “Prophet 

Erue authorized me through a 

letter to collect the grant of N500, 

000.00 only on behalf of the party. 

He (Prophet Jones Erue) divided 

the money into two and collected 

half. Erue however said that the 

grant ought to be N600, 000 and 

said that he was going to see the 

Senior Special Assistant to 

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa on 

Political Matters to confirm the 

amount.” 

Okonji alleged that he was also 

being victimised because he 

asked Prophet Erue to return the 

“party’s bus donated by Atiku 

and for him to call an SEC 

meeting to address burning 

issues including the N13.5 

million Christmas gift given to 

the party.” 

Okonji claimed that part of his 

offence was that he asked the 

party Chairman “to account for 

the N5 million given him to run 

the party every month; and to 

stop using his personal account 

to siphon money from the party's 

account. My purported 

suspension is null and void as 

the nine person-meeting (State 

Working Committee) lacks the 

constitutional power to suspend 

or apply any punitive action 

without the approval of SEC.” 

•My signature was forged —Chairman 

But a in a swift reaction, 

Prophet Erue denied 

authorizing Okonji to collect the 

grant, alleging that he (Okonji) 

forged his signature. 

Erue said he had reported the 

matter to the Police. 

On the issue of the bus, he 

said the bus was in his custody 

for safe keeping. 

On the N13.5 million, he said 

the figure was not correct, 

adding that the said Christmas 

money they got was evenly 

distributed among party officials 

and “every State Working 

Committee, SWC member got 

N100, 000 each including 

Okonji and me.” 

On the issue of N5 million, he 

Ex-service men laud govt for support 

•As Wike applauds security operatives on peace building 

By Jimitota Onoyume & 

Samuel Oyadongha 

EX-SERVICE 

men 

from Bayelsa State have 

commended the federal and 

state governments for the 

welfare and upkeep of 

members of the Nigerian 

Legion Corps, describing the 

welfare of military pensioners 

as non-negotiable. 

This came as Governor 

Nyesom Wike of Rivers State 

lauded security operatives for 

their role in peace building 

round the country. 

According to the Assistant 

Commandant General, Corps 

of Commissionaire and 

Chairman of the Nigerian 

Legion in Bayelsa State, ACG 

Igiri Effiom, this had led to 

improved welfare and rank 

restructuring for the Nigerian 

Legion Corps of 

Commissionaires. 

Effiom, who spoke during 

the launch of the Armed Forces 

Remembrance Emblem in 

Yenagoa, said though 

members of the legion and 

the widows of deceased 

military men were facing 

difficult times in some states, 

the need for states to cater for 

members of the corps became 

imperative because the 

history of Nigeria could not 

said it was not true and 

challenged Okonji to prove his 

allegation. 

Earlier at a briefing in Warri, 

while denying the allegations, 

Erue noted: “To be fair, we 

requested party leaders to 

support the party at Christmas 

and to also help in sorting out 

crucial pending party 

requirements. We received 

some funds but suffice to say it 

is below the figure Okonji is 

suggesting. Regrettably I did 

not receive any N13.5 million. 

The police are looking for 

Okonji. I await the outcome of 

ongoing investigations which, 

to a large extent, will determine 

my next course of action.” 

MEETING: Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, (middle); 

Permanent Secretary, Power, in the Ministry, Mr Louis Edozien (left) and Ag. CEO, Nigerian 

Electricity Regulatory Commission, Dr Anthony Akah, during the 11th monthly meeting 

with sectoral participants in the power sector, hosted by Ikeja DisCo and Egbin Power Plc, 

in Lagos, yesterday. 

Etsako by-election: My ambition not based on 

my dad’s political influence —Oshiomhole Jnr 

By Simon Ebegbulem 

BENIN—SON of the 

immediate past governor 

of Edo State and House of 

Representatives aspirant for 

Etsako Federal constituency of 

Edo State, Dr Cyril Oshiomhole, 

has said his ambition to 

represent his people in the 

House of Representatives is 

borne out of his passion to serve 

and not as a result of the political 

influence of his father, Comrade 

Adams Oshiomhole. 

The Independent Electoral 

be complete without the 

sacrifice made by ex-service 

men. 

In Port Harcourt, speaking 

at an inter- denominational 

service for this year’s Armed 

Forces Remembrance Day 

celebration at the First Baptist 

Church, Aggrey road, Port 

Commission, INEC, is expected 

to hold a by-election for Etsako 

federal constituency of the state 

as a result of a vacant seat left 

by Comrade Philip Shaibu who 

is now the Deputy Governor of 

the state. 

However, Dr Oshiomhole, 

who is one of those who have 

indicated interest in the seat, 

said he felt disrespected each 

time people attributed his 

ambition to the political influence 

of his father. 

According to him: “I am a 

medical doctor, an 

Harcourt, the Governor 

Nyesom Wike called for a 

more organised 

comprehensive package for 

servicemen and legionaries 

in the country as a worthy 

reward for their sacrifice to 

the nation. 

He said: “It is important 

that the Federal Government 

takes a second look to keep 

families of servicemen and 

ex-servicemen going." 

environmentalists and I have 

travelled far and wide, and 

have seen how things happen. 

I have discussed with Nigerians 

in the Diaspora and they are 

disappointed with the way 

things have gone over the years 

until President Buhari came in. 

So, I am eminently qualified to 

represent my people since there 

is a vacuum now. I know what 

my people want and I know 

what they are going through. 

People forget that behind a 

successful man there is always 

a family behind him." 

Delta 

community 

assured of safe 

environment for 

oil firm's 

operations 

AN opinion leader from 

Ofuoma oil producing 

community in “Afiesere 

oilfield”, Mr. Chris 

Eriyamremu, has assured of 

safe and friendly 

environment for the 

operations of Heritage 

Energy Operational 

Services Limited, the new 

operator of OML30 assets. 

Eriyamremu, a media 

consultant, who spoke 

yesterday at Ofuoma 

community, said: “The 

stakeholders, leaders and 

host communities in 

OML30, are very friendly 

and peaceful. I am confident 

that Heritage will enjoy a 

cordial working 

relationship with OML30 

host communities. 

“As we await Heritage to 

commence operations, it is 

necessary for the elected/ 

appointed chairmen of the 

over 100 communities in 

OML30 to prepare 

themselves for a fresh 

negotiation with Heritage, 

which will form the next 

GMoU." 

Onianwah 

assures on 

sponsorship of 

Anioma 

authors 

By Kelechukwu 

Iruoma 

AN 

American-based 

Nigerian philanthropist 

and sponsor of publishers, Mr. 

Chinazor Onianwah, has 

reiterated his commitment to 

sponsoring and promoting 

upcoming authors, including 

those in the movie industry, 

from Anioma in Delta State. 

Mr. Onianwah, who is also 

a journalist and publisher of 

many books, spoke at the 

launch and exhibition of books 

written by Mr. Emeka 

Esogbue and Mr. Ngozi 

Ifechukwude, held at the 

Civic Center, Ibusa, Delta 

State. 

Onianwah, who said it was 

his God-given talent to sponsor 

authors, stated that he got the 

inspiration of sponsoring and 

promoting authors, especially 

Ibusa and Anioma indigenes 

as a way of contributing his 

quota towards the upliftment 

and repositioning of Anioma 

cultural heritage. 

“My flare to give financial 

support towards publishing of 

books authored by any 

Anioma indigenes was part of 

my commitment in 

encouraging upcoming 

artistes and writers,”he said.

34—VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2017 


Etisalat Prize 

for Literature 

shortlists 3 

authors 

ETISALAT Nigeria has 

announced the names 

of the three shortlisted 

authors for the 2016 edition 

of its pan-African flagship 

literary prize, the Etisalat 

Prize for Literature. 

According to this year’s 

Chair of Judges, Helon 

Habila, “in addition to 

originality of voice and 

literary excellence, our 

purpose was to also select 

a work that portrays an 

‘African sensibility’." 

The three shortlisted 

books are: Jacqui L’Ange 

(South Africa), The Seed 

Thief (Umuzi Publishers, 

South Africa); Jowhor Ile 

(Nigeria) And After Many 

Days (Kachifo Limited, 

Nigeria); and Julie 

Iromuanya (Nigeria) Mr & 

Mrs Doctor (Coffee House 

Press, USA). 

The authors were 

shortlisted by a threemember 

judging panel 

comprising Nigerian 

novelist and poet, Helon 

Habila (Chair of Judges); 

South African writer/ 

activist, Elinor Sisulu; and 

Ivorian writer and Africa39 

laureate, Edwige Renée 

Dro. 

The winner would be 

unveiled in Lagos in 

March 2017. 

Commenting on the 

success of the 2016 Etisalat 

Prize for Literature, Chief 

Executive Officer, Etisalat 

Nigeria, Matthew Willsher, 

commended the judges for 

their diligence in selecting 

the top three books out of 

the tens of titles that were 

received following the call 

for entry. 

He said: “This is by no 

means a simple task. The 

role of the judges is quite 

enormous and we want to 

thank them for the attention 

and dedication to the entire 

review process which 

birthed the top three 

finalists.” 

Willsher reiterated 

Etisalat’s commitment to 

continuously impact on the 

lives of Nigerians and 

indeed Africans by offering 

them innovative products 

and services and more 

importantly a platform that 

enables them to express 

their passion and 

creativity. 

“At Etisalat, we have 

found the nexus between 

innovation and creativity. 

This is why we give people 

the opportunity to express 

their individuality and 

ingenuity so they can be 

the best in whatever they 

choose to do,” he said. 

Two herdsmen allegedly killed in Anambra 

•Police arrest 6 over killings 

•Herdsmen chop off boy’s ear, injure mother in Ebonyi 

By Vincent Ujumadu & 

Peter Okutu 

AWKA—TWO 

persons 

believed to be herdsmen 

have been killed at Umuoba- 

Anam in Anambra East Local 

Government Area of Anambra 

State by yet to be identified 

persons, even as the state police 

command said six persons 

arrested over the incident were 

helping in the investigations. 

The Anambra State 

Commissioner of Police, Mr. 

Samuel Okaula, said yesterday 

that the command had already 

deployed a large number of 

policemen to the area to 

maintain peace and to prevent 

reprisal attack. 

South East leader of Cattle 

Breeders Association, otherwise 

known as (Miyetti-Allah), Alhaji 

Sadiq Gidado, told reporters in 

Awka that the incident took place 

at the area where the two men 

and others were grazing. 

According to him, the 

herdsmen were at their grazing 

ground at Eziagulu-Otu 

community and later decided to 

go to Otuocha market to buy 

something, when they were 

allegedly abducted by some 

youths. 

Gidado said the two persons 

had not been seen since the 

incident, adding that while their 

caps and shoes, which they took 

along with them to the place, 

had been recovered, their 

motorcycle had not been seen. 

“If they were killed, all we want 

to see is their bodies and we will 

be satisfied. I don’t know why 

some people want to cause 

trouble after the peace accord we 

signed with the state 

government and security 

operatives in Anambra State,” 

Gidado said. 

Victims' relations 

speak 

Sixty year-old father of one of 

the victims, Alhaji Bello Nuhu, 

who gave the name of his 

missing son as Musa Bello 

Nuhu (26), said he had been 

devastated by the sudden 

disappearance of his son, 

adding that he had not slept 

since the incident happened. 

Nuhu said he had the feeling 

that his son had been killed since 

his shoes and cap were 

recovered. He also claimed that 

he equally saw blood stains at 

the scene of the incident. 

He said: “I was in my house 

when I got a distress call and I 

rushed to the place and what I 

saw frightened me. I have been 

devastated and worried since 

then because my son was in 

charge of my cattle, which his 

other siblings cannot do.” 

Also, 40-year-old Haruna 

Hassan, who is an elder brother 

to Adamu Haruna (32), the 

second victim, said his missing 

brother and himself were the 

ones taking care of their late 

father’s cattle. 

He recalled that their father 

was killed in a similar manner 

some years ago at Uzo-Uwani in 

Enugu State, adding that he had 

been sad and frustrated since the 

incident. 

Meanwhile, CP Okaula told 

reporters, yesterday, in Awka that 

the command was not taking the 

issue lightly, stressing that 

anybody found to be involved in 

the dastardly act would face the 

full weight of the law. 

Though the police 

commissioner could not confirm 

whether the missing people were 

actually killed, he said the police 

command was still investigating 

what transpired in the 

community, adding that what the 

command was working on was a 

case of missing persons. 

Herdsmen allegedly 

chop off boy’s ear 

In a related development, there 

was outrage last week as two 

Fulani herdsmen allegedly used 

their swords to chop off one of 

the ears of a 19-year-old boy 

(names withheld) at 

Azuoagbagu village in Nkalagu, 

Ishielu Local Government Area 

of Ebonyi State. 

The incident took place in the 

victim’s family rice farm in the 

area. 

An eye witness revealed that 

the victim and his mother were 

busy harvesting their rice when 

the herdsmen reared their cattles 

into their farm. 

“The boy shouted on them to 

remove their animals from their 

farm produce as the cows were 

already making a mess of their 

harvest. In anger, the cattle 

rearers drew their swords with 

the intention of beheading the 

boy but missed and chopped off 

the boy’s right ear. 

Ban on revenue collection: Edo police 

vow to crack down on violators 

THE Edo State Government 

has said it has released 

emergency phone lines to the 

public, to report any violator of 

the ban on the collection of 

revenue for immediate arrest, a 

statement by the Chief Press 

Secretary (Interim), Mr. John 

Mayaki, said yesterday. 

The police special lines, 

according to Mayaki, are: 

08115808360, 08115808361, 

08115808441, 08115808442. 

He said the Commissioner of 

of Police, Haliru Gwandu, had 

vowed to enforce the 

implementation of the ban on 

collection of revenue by private 

individuals as pronounced by 

Governor Godwin Obaseki of the 

state. 

According to Gwandu, “I will 

shell out 20 squads who will go 

round and ensure there is 

diligence and compliance of the 

ban. 

“Very soon, I will hold a 

meeting with my DPOs. I 

implore the people of Edo State 

to do the right thing and ensure 

that there is sanity. I will enforce 

the order to the letter.” 

“The victim’s mother, Mrs. 

Eucharia Otubo, who came in 

defence of her son also got a deep 

cut on her hands by the herdsmen." 

Vanguard gathered that when 

the victims raised alarm, youths 

in the area rounded up the 

herdsmen and as they made effort 

to carry out a mob action against 

the suspects, they were prevented 

by an immigration officer (names 

withheld) who had returned home 

for the holiday 

As tension heightened in the 

area, men and officers attached to 

the Ishielu Police Division arrived 

the scene and promptly took the 

suspects to the station 

It was, however, gathered that 

the herdsmen while in custody 

pleaded guilty to the crime but 

insisted that the actual suspect 

behind the act had fled before the 

arrival of the youths. 

The herdsmen, according to 

report have helped in the arrest of 

6 more suspects in connection with 

the dastardly act. 

BRIEFING: From left, Chairman, Buhari Support Group (BSG), Enugu State Chapter, 

Chief Anike Nwoga; Publicity Secretary, Mrs Kate Ofor; and Director-General, Voice of 

Nigeria, Mr Osita Okechukwu, during a news conference on activities of the group in the 

South-East, in Enugu, yesterday. Photo: NAN. 

Umahi pledges support for Buhari’s 2nd term 

GOVERNOR 

David 

Umahi of Ebonyi State 

has said there is nowhere in 

his state for any 

opposition political party to 

sweep, 

adding 

that President Muhammadu 

Buhari, is the only 

recognisable APC 

member in Ebonyi State. 

Umahi, who spoke when a 

delegation from Ohaozara, 

Onicha and Ivo Federal 

constituency as well as 

stakeholders from Onicha- 

East constituency paid him a 

new year homage in Ohaozara 

Local Government 

Area, explained that his efforts 

to transform the state had 

made it impossible for broom 

to be useful in the state. 

The governor added jokingly 

that "our people doing 

handiwork have refused to 

produce 

brooms 

again.•Opposition has 

nowhere to sweep in Ebonyi." 

A statement by his Chief 

Press Secretary, Emma Anya, 

however, quoted the governor 

as saying that the only 

recognisable APC member in 

the state was President Buhari. 

The chairman of the National 

Caretaker Committee of the 

PDP, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, 

in his response asked the 

governor to clarify what he 

meant. "Let him 

clarify,"•Makarfi said in an 

sms to Vangaurd.



458 dump 

APC for PDP 

in Plateau 

SUSPECTED KIDNAPPERS: The suspected kidnappers of Ambassador Bagudu and other personalities paraded 

by Force Public Relations Officers, Don Awunah, in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: Gbemiga Olamikan. 

Civil servants 

are the 

thieves— 

LAWMAKER 

By Aliyu Dangida 

Amember of the House 

Representatives 

(APC Ringim/Taura, 

Jigawa State), 

Muhammad Gausu, has 

said civil servants are 

more corrupt than 

members of the National 

Assembly, adding 

“people talk about us 

because we are elected; 

but the thieves are in the 

ministries.” 

He told newsmen in 

Ringim, yesterday: 

“Directors insert billions 

of Naira because they are 

the ones that give contracts 

and they are the ones that 

the contractors see. 

“Let me give you an 

example. I was in a 

committee on Niger Delta. 

There was a single 

contract with 20 different 

names and codes. 

“The consultancy fee for 

that contract was N1.2 billion. 

Who is responsible 

for this? The lawmakers or 

civil servants? 

“Nigerians must 

understand that this is 

what we are there to stop 

not encourage.” 

He urged Nigerians to 

sustain their support for 

APC in all coming 

elections, assuring that 

the present economic 

hardship would be a 

blessing for the country as 


Buhari’s team was ready 

to tackle the situation. 

He said: “Those 

accusing APC for the 

current hardship are 

looters, their collaborators 

or those benefiting from 

the loots. 

“Nigerians are still 

aware of the wrongs of 

PDP; thinking APC put 

them in hardship is not 

true, and PDP is no more.” 

KADUNA KILLINGS: 

Ulama council calls for Sen 

Laah, CAN President's arrest 

By Luka Binniyat & 

Gbenga Oke 

KADUNA—THE Council 

of Imams and Ulama, 

Kaduna State, has called for the 

arrest of Senator representing 

Southern Kaduna Senatorial 

Zone, Senator Danjuma La’ah; 

President, Christian Association 

of Nigeria, CAN, Dr. Samson 

Ayokunle, and the President of 

Southern Kaduna Peoples 

Union, SOKAPU, Dr. Musa 

Solomon, among others, for 

what it said were their 

inflammatory comments over 

Southern Kaduna killings. 

However, Senator Laah 

responded promptly, saying the 

call for his arrest and others by 

the Imans and Ulama of Kaduna 

State was a ploy to cover their 

(Ulamas) fear and shame 

resulting from the cruelty meted 

out to Southern Kaduna people 

by those they mentored. 

On his part, Second Republic 

lawmaker, Dr. Junaid 

Mohammed, accused the 


Buhari-led administration and 

Governor Nasir el-Rufai of 

Kaduna State of not doing 

enough to put an end to the 

killings in Southern Kaduna. 

As for the council of Imans 

and Ulamas, it made the call, 

at a briefing by the Chairman 

and Secretary General, Sheikh 

Abubakar Babantune, and Yusuf 

Arrigasiyyu, respectively, in 

Kaduna, yesterday. 

They said: “In the last one 

year or so, Kaduna State has not 

been in peace resulting from the 

activities of some mischiefmakers 

and the reckless 

utterances of southern Kaduna 

political and religious leaders. 

“Several news reports credited 

to southern Kaduna political 

and religious leaders, urged 

their people to take up arms to 

defend themselves and nothing 

was done to prevent its 

occurrence until the worse had 

happened. 

“Thus, the situation degenerated 

into the senseless and 

merciless massacre of Hausa/ 

Fulani Muslims in that area. 

‘Arrest these people’ 

“These drew the attention of 

the Council to call on the 

government to arrest and 

prosecute persons who made 

inflammatory statements that 

instigated the crises, these 

include Reverend Zachariah 

Gado, Chairman, ECWA 19 

DCC Fellowship, Kaduna State. 

“Others are Dr. Samson 

Olasopu Ayokunle, President, 

Christians Association of 

Nigeria, CAN, and the Secretary 

General, Rev. Dr. Musa Asake; 

Senator Danjuma La’ah, 

Senator representing Southern 

Kaduna Senatorial Zone; Mr. 

Sunday Marshall Katung, 

member representing Zangon 

Kataf/Java Federal 

Constituency; Mr. Solomon 

Musa, SOKAPU President, and 

all his executive members; Dr. 

John Danfulani and any person 

found involved.” 

Senator Laah reacts 

Speaking on behalf of Senator 

Laah, his legislative aide, Media 

and Public Relations, Mr. Balla 

Duniya, said: “They are afraid 

and too ashamed to own up and 

face the horror and cruelty 

terrorists herdsmen, who may 

have been mentored by the 

Ulamas, carried out. 

“There was not a word the 

Senator uttered that was 

unlawful or profane. As a devout 

Christian, a parent, businessman 

with extensive investment 

in Southern Kaduna and a 

sitting Senator, he stands to lose 

the most if the violence goes on. 

“The Imans and Ulamas have 

nothing to lose, but gain new 

conquered territories if the 

killings and occupation of more 

parts of Southern Kaduna goes 

on by those who look to them for 

divine guidance. 

“All he has ever wanted was 

for the killings to be put to an 

end. This curious blame game 

is distasteful, as the Senator is 

yet to see the Ulamas’ call for 

the arrest of the murderers, who 

have been on a killing spree 

since May last year, with over 

800 reportedly killed and 

properties worth billions lost. 

“Why are the Ulamas not 

calling for the arrest of some 

leaders of Miyetti Allah, who 

have come out on several 

occasions to defend the pogrom 

in Southern Kaduna carried by 

their members as ‘reprisals,’ 

whatever meaning they make 

out of that word. 

“The Senator is committed to 

peace, development and 

progress of Southern Kaduna, 

while the Ulamas are clearly not 

for that. They only care about 

the murderers.” 

Junaid Mohammed 

Meanwhile, Mohammed, 

yesterday, also warned that if 

something urgent is not done 

about the killings, it was likely 

to spread to other parts of 

Kaduna State. 

Speaking with Vanguard, 

Mohammed said that the lack 

of decisive action on how to stop 

the genocide going on in 

Kaduna has further shown that 

the Federal Government lacks 

the capability to deal with 

issues of national importance. 

According to him, “even 

though no one really knows 

what is going on in Southern 

Kaduna, it is evident that the 

Federal Government and the 

state government have not 

done much to ameliorate the 

sufferings of the people in 

Southern Kaduna. 

“The problems in Southern 

Kaduna did not start with the 

administration of President 

Buhari; it started during the 

administration of General 

Sanni Abacha.” 

By Marie-Therese 

Nanlong 

JOS—NO fewer than 458 

members of All 

Progressives Congress, 

APC, in Langtang South 

Local Government Area of 

Plateau State, have joined 


PDP. 

They were received by the 

state PDP Deputy Chairman, 

Amos Gombi, at Kumbur 

community. The new 

members said they were fed 

up with the inability of their 

former party to keep to the 

campaign promises and 

promised to work towards 

reclaiming the state from their 

former party. 

Speaking at the ceremony, 

Gombi commended the 

people of Kumbur 

community of Langtang 

South for returning en masse 

to PDP, saying the returnees 

will be accorded the same 

status as other members of 

PDP in the locality. 

He added that he was 

happy that the people had 

discovered that APC lied to 

them in Plateau State in 2015 

and are still lying. 

Kwara police 

caution against 

fleeing Boko 

Haram 

suspects 

By Demola 

Akinyemi 

ILORIN—KWARA State 

Police Command, 

yesterday, urged residents of 

the state to be at alert for 

fleeing Boko Haram terrorists 

recently flushed out of 

Sambisa Forest, saying there 

are possibilities of the 

insurgents infiltrating the 

state. 

The command also urged 

the public “to watch out for 

person/persons seeking 

asylum in different 

communities across the 

state.” 

The warning was contained 

in a statement by the 

Command’s Public Relations 

Officer, DSP Ajayi Okasanmi, 

made available to Vanguard 

in Ilorin. 

The police particularly 

advised the public to watch 

out for people posing as new 

converts into religious folds 

to attract sympathy of the 

unsuspecting communities. 

It particularly warned that 

such strategy might be a 

calculated attempt “to create 

sleeper-cells in order to 

enable them to hibernate and 

restrategise for terrorist 

activities.”


ABUJA DIGITAL: From left— Chairman, Pinnacle Communications Ltd., 

Sir Lucky Omoluwa; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Minister of Information and 

Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, and Minister of Health, Professr Isaac Adewale, 

during the launch of Abuja Digital Switch-Over in Abuja. 

HONEY SERVICE: President, The Busy Bees Society, Yaba, Mrs 

Omotunde Oredipe; her husband, Mr. Ayotunde Oredipe (middle) and other 

members of the society during their 25th Honey Service at Hoares Memorial 

Methodist Cathedral, Yaba, Lagos. 

DEDICATION: From left— Former Deputy Governor of Imo State, 

Dr. Douglas Acholonu; Chief of Staff, Imo State Government House, Chief 

Uche Nwosu, carrying his son, Nobuchukwu Remington, and his wife, Mrs. 

Uloma Nwosu, at the dedication service of their son at the Holy Cross Catholic 

Church, Aladinma, Owerri Imo State. 

From left— President, The Busy Bees Society, Mrs Oredipe; Chairperson, 

Honey Service, Princess Abiodun Omotade, and Vice President, Mrs Folasade 

Fajemisin, at the event. 

GOLDEN THANKSGIVING: Mazi Andrew and Ezinne Priscilla 

Alakwe, parents of Vanguard reporter, Prisca Sam-Duru, during their 

thanksgiving to mark their 50th wedding anniversary at St Anthony's Catholic 

Parish, Umuozu, Imo State. They are flanked by the Bishop of Orlu Diocese, 

Most Reverend Dr. Augustine Ukwuoma (left) and Parish Priest, St Anthony's 

Catholic Parish, Rev. Fr. Anthony Egbosimba, children and grand children. 

From left— Mrs Oredipe, Mrs Sarah Blanche, Mr. Ifeanyi, Mr. Mustapha, 

Princess Omotade and Mr. Oredipe at the event. 

MAMADOR HEART PLEDGE: From left— Brand Manager, 

Mamador Cooking Oil, Oluwatoyin Popoola-Dania; participants, Emeka 

Austine; Udoh Anietie, and Brand Manager, PZ Wilmar Ltd., Oloketuyi 

Adebowale, at the Mamador Pledge for Your Heart activation in Lagos. 

FOR SOUTHERN KADUNA: Ras Innovator, a peace campaigner 

(holding world peace flag), and some Christians, during a rally in Ojodu 

Berger to support a day of national mourning on the killings in Southern 

Kaduna as declared by Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN.

Vanguard, TUESDAY JANUARY 10, 2017 — 37 

Wizkid’s babymama, Shola Ogudu, 

debunks engagement rumour 

By Rotimi Agbana 

OVER 

the 

weekend, news 

went viral on the social 

media that Wizkid’s first 

babymama, Shola 

Ogudu, got engaged to 

an unconfirmed partner. 

Accompanying the 

rumour was a picture of 

the mother of one, 

flaunting an 

engagement ring 

suspected to have been 

given to her by her 

undisclosed fiancée, 

with the caption “Yes”, 

sparking off spurious 

rumours that she just got 

engaged. 

But debunking the 

engagement rumour 

through her Twitter 

handle, Ogudu wrote, 

“Shola is not engaged, 

she would be eventually 

at the right time and to 

the best man (amen). 

But don’t chase him 

away with false news 

please.” 

Wizkid 

By Anozie Egole 

ESTRANGED husband of Mavin’s first 

lady, Tiwa Savage, Tee Billz has said that 

despite all odds, he wants his family to be happy. 

Tee Billz in a post shared on his 

Instagram account wrote, “I’m at a 

point in my life where I want my 

family to be happy. My faith is 

strong, my health is good, my 

mind is right, my dollars tight 

and no unnecessary drama.” 

This comes after the 

troubled couple were spotted 

together for the first time 

after their April saga. 

The duo were seen 

together at TV 

presenter, Stephanie 

Coker’s traditional 

wedding over the 

holidays making 

it their first 

public sighting 

since April 

2016. 

Meanwhile, 

reports last 

w e e k 

indicated that 

pop queen 

Tiwa Savage is 

back with her 

husband and 

f o r m e r 

manager Tunji 

‘Tee Billz’ 

Balogun. 

Relatively, Tee 

Billz also spoke 

about mental 

h e a l t h 

awareness. The 

manager who has 

been undergoing 

therapy took to 

the photo sharing 


Shola and son 

Tee Billz: I want my family 

happy 

app to raise awareness over mental 

health. 

“If you can seek help for malaria and 

fever, don’t be ashamed about your 

psychological and emotional condition. 

Why are we so afraid to discuss mental 

health in our society?” 

Tee Billz 

and Tiwa 

Bobrisky declares N45,000 aso 

ebi for house-warming party 


NIGERIAN male barbie, Idris 

Okuneye, popularly known as 

‘Bobrisky’, is set to throw a big housewarming 

party after the acquisition 

of his new five-bedroom duplex in the 

Lekki peninsula area of Lagos State. 

T h e party which is 

Bobrisky 

suspected to be a ladies only 

affair is organized by the 

Instagram sensation, Bobrisky, to 

celebrate the completion of his 

newly acquired apartment which 

has been under renovation for 

about two months now. 

Sharing news of the party on 

his Snapchat page, Bobrisky 

revealed that aso ebi for the party 

goes for N45,000, and it is 

available for ladies only. “My aso 

ebi for house warming is 45k, 

green and silver for ladies only. 

I’m doing a big house warming 

party”, he boastfully wrote. 

Since he announced the aso ebi 

sales, mixed reactions have 

continued to trail his hilarious 

decision to sell aso ebi 

for a mere house 

warming party for such 

amount. Shortly after he 

made 

the 

announcement, the 

social media went agog 

with reactions from his 

fans and critics. Many 

condemned his 

decision while others 

continue to laud his 

move as a 

unique one. 

People don’t like 

to support gospel 

artistes 

—E- Praiz 

By Anozie Egole 

WITH his anointing laced 

single titled, “Na your 

Grace”, up and coming gospel 

singer, E-Praiz is on the verge of 

writing his name in gold in the 

Nigerian gospel music scene. The 

Abia State-born singer has 

expressed his disappointment with 

the kind of treatment meted to gospel 

singers, saying they do not get 

enough support from people. 

In a chat with E-Daily, Praiz said, 

“I was born in a family of singers. 

Therefore I started singing at a very 

tender age and I have worked with so 

many singing groups such as House of 

David Accapella, Jesus disciples 

Accappella, among others. But I started 

singing professionally in 2009, since 

then I have not looked back. 

“My latest single, “Na your Grace”, I 

would say I was inspired to write this song 

when things were very rough for my family 

at the beginning of 2013. But at the end of 

that same year, God’s grace rained on us 

and things started to take shape when 

we thought all hope was lost. At that point 

I wrote the song with the help of the Holy 

Spirit to encourage people and also let 

them know that everything they have was by 

the special grace of God.” 

Praiz said the major challenges he has in 

the industry is finance, adding that “people 

will always tell you that God will reward you 

in heaven when they can actually support you 

financially. That is the impression people have 

about gospel artistes.”

38—Vanguard, TUESDAY , JANUARY 10, 2017 

OBASANJO VS AWUJALE: A 

delayed showdown 

By Azu Ishiekwene 

'Anyone who has read 

Awujale might agree that 

it was a bomb waiting to 

explode' 

THE book is nearly seven 

years in print but I didn’t 

get a hold of it until sometime 

last year. Someone very close, 

whom I had told I wanted to 

interview Kabiyesi Oba Sikiru 

Adetona, had sent a copy over 

to me in Abuja. He advised me 

to read the book before the 

interview. I have since read 

the autobiography, Awujale, 

twice and was not 

disappointed. We have 

SaharaReporters to thank for 

an excerpt that removed the 

pin from the grenade. Anyone 

who has read Awujale might 

agree that it was a bomb 

waiting to explode. The 

surprise is why it took so long. 

Why it took so long: In 

17 chapters of lucid, clear-ascrystal 

writing in 275 pages, 

Adetona shares insights of his 

odyssey from the time he left 

Nigeria to study accounting 

abroad to his totally 

unexpected ascension to the 

throne at age 26; and from 

deeply personal family feuds 

to his adventure as Oba and 

businessman, and then from 

his deposition and return to his 

involvement in some of the 

momentous events in Nigeria’s 

contemporary political history. 

Delayed 

time bomb 

In a number of instances, the 

details and candour were 

unsparing, with no room for 

indulgence, even for the Oba 

himself. For former President 

Olusegun Obasanjo though, it 

seems like a delayed time 

bomb. 

I can understand Obasanjo’s 

anger and his concern to, in 

his words, “set the record 

straight,” especially in the part 

of the book brought to his 

attention that gave the 

impression that he maliciously 

disliked the Oba’s cousin and 

chairman of Globacom, Mike 

Adenuga; that he has interest 

in Obajana Cement Factory, 

and that he sometimes 

interfered with - or even 

misused - the Economic and 

Financial Crimes Commission 

(EFCC) on his watch. 

If those who called 

Obasanjo’s attention to the 

book nearly seven years after 

an excerpt of it was published 

wanted to do him a favour, they 

should have given him a copy 

of the book to read first. That 

way he might not only have 

been obliged to respond, at 

great length, to the Adenuga 

part alone. He would also have 

had the benefit of knowing in 

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo 

full what Adetona said about 

him, especially his years in 

power. 

From the book, the Oba 

appears to have formed his 

opinion of Obasanjo long 

before Adenuga applied for a 

GSM licence, or before S.O. 

Bakare (mostly known by the 

name of his car marketing 

company, Oluwalogbon 

Motors) contributed to 

Obasanjo’s election campaign. 

From the book, the 

Oba appears to 

have formed his 

opinion of 

Obasanjo long 

before Adenuga 

applied for a GSM 

licence, or before 

S.O. Bakare (mostly 

known by the name 

of his car marketing 

company, 

Oluwalogbon 

Motors) contributed 

to Obasanjo’s 

election campaign 

On page 174 of Awujale, for 

example, Adetona described 

Obasanjo as “a Judas” among 

the Yoruba, a name he called 

him twice in the book, the 

second time, according to him, 

straight in his face at a private 

meeting between the two of 

them in Aso Rock when 

Obasanjo was testing the 

waters for a third term. 

In fact, on page 181, Adetona 

said he told Obasanjo that the 

former president was “no 

longer credible” even before he 

started his second term, in the 

presence of former Ogun State 

Governor Segun Osoba. At 

least two recorded incidents 

appear to have shaped 

Adetona’s harsh impression of 

Obasanjo. It was Obasanjo, he 

said, who first tried to get the 

former executive secretary of 

the Economic Commission for 

Africa, Professor Adebayo 

Adedeji, to contest to succeed 

former military president, 

General Ibrahim Babangida, 

in 1991. 

Adetona was initially 

opposed to the idea - as was 

Adedeji - because he said he 

thought Adedeji would be 

unable to find the money to 

run. But Obasanjo persisted 

and even travelled all the way 

to Addis Ababa twice to 

persuade Adedeji to run. 

Hostile 

attitude 

He reportedly told Adetona 

not to worry about the money; 

that he, Obasanjo, would find 

it. One thing led to another 

and it didn’t come off. It is not 

clear whether Obasanjo failed 

to keep his promise or whether 

Adedeji pulled out solely 

because Babangida outmanoeuvred 

politicians at the 

time. 

Obasanjo’s lukewarm - some 

would even say hostile - 

attitude to M.K.O. Abiola’s 

victory at the June 12 poll, and 

the way he undermined Ernest 

Shonekan and canvassed an 

interim government, which he 

wanted to head, appear to 

have particularly annoyed the 

Oba. 

Recalling what he said 

during one of the meetings he 

Oba Sikiru Adetona 

hosted in the early days of the 

Peoples Democratic Party and 

the Alliance for Democracy, 

Adetona said after telling the 

parties plainly that the next 

president must be a Yoruba 

man and one chosen by the 

Yoruba themselves, “I added 

further that I was giving the 

warning because I was aware 

that a ‘Judas’ had been found 

among the Yoruba, whom they 

(the Hausa-Fulani elements in 

the PDP) were trying to impose 

on us.” 

Judas 

perception 

He continued: “When they 

asked me who this Judas was, 

I replied that it was Olusegun 

Obasanjo.” 

Obasanjo’s four-page reply 

to the Awujale did not cover 

this part of the book. It’s either 

his attention had not been 

called to it or he deliberately 

decided to focus on what he 

considered the most 

potentially damaging part. It 

may also well be that having 

grown a thick skin to public 

criticisms, he had come to 

terms with the ‘Judas 

perception’. 

But as I said, Awujale is not 

a whitewash. Unlike what 

anyone who has read any of 

Obasanjo’s books, especially 

My Watch, would find, 

Adetona documented his own 

foibles, including how he 

bought a Benz on a whim; how 

he is a more successful 

grandfather than he was a 

father; how he almost killed 

himself with cigarettes, and 

the painful and distrustful 

relationship he had with his 

own brother. 

He reserved a shaft or two for 

Chief Obafemi Awolowo with 

an honesty that grips you, and 

acknowledged with humility 

that even though he backed 

the wrong horse in the Ogun 

State governorship race in 1999 

against Segun Osoba, he did 

so out of conviction. 

Awujale is also not all bile for 

Obasanjo. Apart from 

acknowledging the role 

Obasanjo played in fixing one 

of the major roads to his 

domain, Adetona also recalled 

that it was Obasanjo who 

settled the rift between him 

and former Governor Bisi 

Onabanjo, the man who 

despised and dethroned him. 

Who to believe? 

Among Yoruba Obas in the 

last 50 years, the Awujale is 

one man who earned respect 

for speaking the inconvenient 

truth, even when it seemed 

dangerous to do so. He stood 

up to General Sani Abacha and 

his shenanigans, fought his 

dethronement in court and 

won, and never shied away 

from a fight, even with his 

subjects. It didn’t mean he was 

always right, but you were 

never in doubt where he stood. 

Capricious 

use of power 

In a way, you could say the 

same of Obasanjo, except that 

he stands only where his 

personal interest lies - it’s 

Obasanjo first and last, and that 

makes him predictable. In the 

rage of the controversy, not a 

few might be tempted to think 

that the book is about who 

owns Obajana Cement 

Factory, Obasanjo’s 

ingratitude to old friends, and 

his capricious use of power. 

It’s all of that and more. For 

its detail and clarity, the book 

reminds me of the 

autobiography of the late Oba 

of Benin, Omo N’Oba 

Erediauwa, “I remain, Sir, Your 

Obedient Servant.” Awujale is 

one of the most forthright 

accounts of the personal 

odysseys of a traditional ruler 

who through longevity and 

other circumstances of life has 

earned immortality. It will take 

more than a woolly four-page 

letter coming seven years later 

to undermine the value of the 

book. 

•Ishiekwene is the MD/ 

Editor-In-Chief of The 

Interview and a board member 

of the Paris-based Global 

Editors Network.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2017—39

40 —Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2017

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2017 — 41 

Makarfi drags 

23 villagers to 

court over 

trespass on 

farmland 

By Luka Binniyat 

Z ARIA—THE 

Chairman, 

Caretaker Committee of the 


PDP, Senator Ahmed 

Makarfi, yesterday dragged 

23 farmers from Kadakada 

village, Likoro District, 

Kudan Local Government 

Area, LGA of Kaduna 

State, to court. 

He has accused them of 

criminal trespass into a 

farmland he claimed to have 

bought from them in 2007. 

The case filed before the 

Upper Sharia Court, 

presided over by Judge 

Mustapha Umar, in Zaria, 

was entered on behalf of the 

former two times Kaduna 

State Governor, by Barrister 

Ahmad Yunus Abdullahi. 

The defendants, many 

wearing their farm clothes, 

were led to the court yesterday 

by their Counsels, Barr. 

Ahmed Haruna 

Danmaigauta and his 

partner Barr. Nasiru. 

When the case came for 

hearing, Danmaigauta 

objected the absence of 

Makafi in Court citing section 

162 of the Sharia Courts 

Criminal Procedures Codes of 

Kaduna state (2002). 

According to him, that 

portion of the law stipulates 

that, “if at the date a criminal 

case is called or fixed for 

hearing, the complainant 

must be at the Court. Failure 

of which the court itself can 

strike out the case and 

discharge the accused.” 

But, the Counsel to 

Maikarfi, disputed the 

position of the defense lawyer, 

saying it was at the discretion 

of the court to decide. 

After a brief debate, the case 

was adjourned to February 

6th 2017 for the Judge to 

determine on the objection 

raised by the Counsel to the 

defendants. 

When cornered by 

newsmen, one of the 

defendants' lawyers, 

Danmaigauta, said his 

clients were surprised to 

learn that the plaintiff was 

claiming their farmlands, as 

they had never sold their 

farms to anyone. 

He said, “before and after 

Maikarfi became the governor 

of Kaduna state, it has been 

said that a portion of 

farmlands in Kadakada was 

going to be submerged by 

water, because an irrigation 

dam was going to be built in 

the village for their dry season 

irrigation farming.'' 


More condolences for late ex-Niger State gov, Kure 

•Buhari, Saraki pay last respects; Okowa mourns, Senate, NUJ extol late gov 

By Our Reporters 

MORE 

condolence 

messages have 

continued to pour in over the 

death of the former governor of 

Niger State, Abdulkadir Kure, 

who died in a German hospital 

on Sunday with President 

Muhammadu Buhari, the senate 

President, Bukola Saraki, 

Governor of Delta State, Dr 

Ifeanyi Okowa and the former 

Senate President, David Mark, 

among others, commiserating 

with Niger State government and 

the family over their loss. 

President Buhari in a statement 

issued yesterday in Abuja by Mr 

Femi Adesina, his Special Adviser 

on Media and Publicity, 

commiserated with the wife of the 

deceased, Sen. Zaynab Kure, her 

children, all the Kure family and 

the Nupe people on the demise 

of their illustrious son. 

“The President joins them in 

mourning the two-term 

governor and vibrant political 

leader, who was a great 

promoter of peaceful coexistence, 

development and the 

unity of the Nigerian state 

throughout his life,” the 

statement read. 

Buhari paid tribute to Kure’s 

unselfish dedication to the 

progress of his state, 

symbolised by his selfless 

services to his community even 

after leaving office. 

He prayed Allah to receive 

VISIT: Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. David Umahi (6th left); Deputy Governor, Kelechi 

Igwe (7th left); former Minister of Information, Ogbonnia Nwodo(7th left); former Enugu 

State Governor Okwesileze Nwodo (5th left) and a team from Enugu State who visited 

the Government House to seek endorsement for Ogbonnia Nwodo’s candidacy for 

Ohanaeze Ndigbo President-General in Abakaliki yesterday. 

Kure’s soul and comfort all 

who mourned him. 

The President of the Senate, Dr 

Bukola Saraki, while expressing 

shock over the death of 

Abdulkadir Kure, described Kure 

as a man who sacrificed all he had 

for nation building. 

He said that the death of Kure 

had left a vacuum that would not 

be filled in a hurry. 

The Senate President also 

commiserated with the family 

of the late Kure, most 

especially his wife, Sen. 

Zainab Kure, who had also 

UNPAID SALARY ARREARS: Kwara teachers embark on 

fasting, prayers 

ILORIN—THOUSANDS of 

teachers in public primary 

and Junior Secondary Schools in 

Kwara say they have embarked 

on fasting and prayers to ensure 

payment of their six months’ 

salary arrears by state 

government. 

The Deputy Chairman of the 

state chapter of the Nigeria Union 

of Teachers (NUT), Alhaji Toyin 

Salihu, disclosed this during an 

interview in llorin yesterday. 

Salihu, who is also the Principal 

of Sheikh AbdulKadir College, 

llorin, said that the teachers’ 

action was for God’s intervention 

for the payment of their salary 

arrears. 

He said that though the fasting 

and prayers were voluntary for 

both Christians and Muslim 

teachers, it would continue until 

God accepts their request. 

The NUT Deputy Chairman 

said that the government had 

commenced full monthly 

payment for the teachers’ salary, 

but that they were yet to receive 

their six months’ salary arrears. 

Salihu said that the unpaid six 

months arrears had compounded 

the hardship being experienced 

by the teachers and their 

relations. 

Efforts by Vanguard to speak 

with the Commissioner for 

Finance, Alhaji Ademola Banu on 

the issue proved abortive. 

When a text message was sent 

to Banu for his comment on the 

issue, he did not respond. 

Normal academic activities 

were, however, in progress in 

Digital Switch Over: We’re not 

responsible for set-up boxes hiccup 

— Pinnacle 

By Tare Youdeowei 

FOLLOWING 

the 

controversy that trailed the 

activation of some of the set-up 

boxes that were used after the 

hitch-free Digital Switch-Over 

(DSO) from analogue to digital 

terrestrial TV broadcasting in 

Abuja, Pinnacle Communications 

has said it is not responsible for 

hiccups of activation of Abuja set 

up boxes. 

The company’s stand was made 

known by Jimmy Enyeh, Media 

Consultant, Pinnacle 

Communications Ltd, Abuja in a 

statement, where he said: “The 

contract to produce and supply 

set up boxes were awarded to 

about seven different companies 

by the Emeka Mba-led National 

Broadcasting Commission. 

"Of this number, Pinnacle 

Communications was not 

served the country as a senator. 

Gov. Okowa mourns 

While commiserating with the 

government and people of Niger 

State yesterday, Governor Ifeanyi 

Okowa of Delta State said: “The 

sudden demise of Kure is a big 

blow to the family and the 

People’s Democratic Party (PDP) 

in Niger State.'' 

Okowa’s condolence was 

signed by his Chief Press 

Secretary, Mr Charles Aniagwu, 

in Asaba. 

He said: “Kure was a staunch 

PDP chieftain whose contributions 

some of the primary and junior 

secondary schools visited in some 

parts of llorin, the state capital. 

Teachers in public primary and 

junior secondary schools 

embarked on strike in 2016 over 

unpaid several months of salaries. 

included. The companies were 

saddled with the activation of the 

set up boxes which experienced 

some hiccups after the switch-on. 

“Pinnacle Communications was 

quite visible in the process that 

culminated to Digital Switch Over 

(DSO) from analogue to digital 

terrestrial TV broadcasting in 

Abuja on account of being a major 

player in the setting up of the 

Abuja platform at the Pinnacle 

Broadcast Centre, Mpape but it 

was not in charge of the set up 

boxes that experienced activation 

problems.” 

Enyeh further stressed the 

company’s unambiguous stance 

by stating; “During the 

commissioning of the Pinnacle 

Broadcast Centre by President 

Muhammudu Buhari, 

represented by Vice President 

Yemi Osinbanjo, who lauded the 

successful launch of the pilot 

scheme in Jos in April.'' 

to the growth of the party in Niger 

State will remain memorable for 

a long time.'' 

For former President of the 

Senate, Senator David Mark, the 

death of the two-time govenor of 

Niger State was devastating. 

Lamenting the demise, Senator 

Mark stressed that he was an 

accomplished public servant and 

quintessential politician . 

In a statement by his Media 

Assistant, Paul Mumeh, former 

Senate President Mark said that 

the death of Kure at this time was 

a devastating blow to the political 

class, especially the PDP family. 

Senator Mark noted that late 

Kure was a vibrant and dynamic 

governor of Niger State, who 

embarked on aggressive 

transformation of the state. 

Late Kure redefined 

governance in Niger – Senate 

The Senate Spokesman, Sen. 

Sabi Abdullahi, has described the 

demise of former governor 

Abdukadir Kure of Niger as a 

huge loss to the state and the 

country as a whole. 

Reacting to the death of Kure, 

the Senate spokesman said in 

Abuja that the deceased redefined 

governance in Niger while he was 

governor. 

He gave priority to 

people’s welfare — NUJ 

The Nigeria Union of 

Journalists (NUJ), Niger State 

Council, described the late former 

governor of the state, Alhaji 

Abdulkadir Kure, as a man who 

gave priority to the welfare of the 

people. 

The Chairman of the council, 

Malam Mohammed 

Mohammed, said: “The late 

former governor was a complete 

gentleman who took the welfare 

of the people serious. 

“He empowered civil servants, 

citizens and non-citizens of the 

state in various ways. 

“So, the news of his demise 

was a great shock and a loss 

to the people of the state and 

the country, because he 

worked for his people.“



State govs fuelling Niger Delta crisis —OMPALAN 


OIL and Solid Minerals 

Producing Area 

Landlords’ Association of Nigeria, 

OMPALAN, yesterday, accused 

governors of oil-producing states 

of fuelling the crisis in the Niger 

Delta through constant 

interference in affairs of the 

communities. 

Chairman, Board of Trustees, of 

OMPALAN Mr. Udo Azogu, in 

Abuja after an interactive meeting 

of leaders of South-South and 

South-East regions, argued that 

instead of fuelling crisis, oil 

producing state governments 

should focus on their primary 

constitutional responsibility of 

upholding the rule of law and 

deepening good governance by 

working in synergy with 

recognized organizations to 

achieve results. 

In a statement, he said: “The 

situation where oil producing 

state governments encourage 

multiplicity of youth formations 

for egocentric reasons and meddle 

in oil company/host community 

relations that have been built and 

consolidated over the years, only 

help to deepen the crisis in the 

region.” 

Azogu claimed the restiveness 

gained ascendancy in oil 

producing areas with attendant 

heavy toll on life and property 

largely because of the ambivalent 

stance of the elite. 

According to him, the elites felt 

militancy was purely a youth 

problem and allowed the situation 

to escalate, noting that things fell 

apart when democratic 

institutions of governance that 

delivered good governance 

collapsed under the overbearing 

influence of the corrupt and 

subversive political class. 

He stated that oil producing 

state governments must not only 

support the laws of the land 

which they swore to uphold, but 

aggressively defend the laws 

establishing oil-related 

palliative programmes such as 

the Oil Derivation Fund 

Commission, Niger Delta 

Development Commission, 

NDDC, Ministry of Niger Delta 

Affairs, Ecological Funds, 

Federal Government Amnesty 

Programmes, among others. 

He said: “The stark reality on 

ground is that there is not much 

to justify the existence of these 

robust programmes in 

vulnerable host communities 

which bear the brunt of stiffening 

environmental challenges. It is 

the shared belief in OMPALAN 

that there cannot be military 

solution to the problems of the 

regions. We also support the view 

that no responsible government 

will fold its arms and watch the 

systematic destruction of the 

nation’s economic resources. It 

is in this regard that we appeal 

to our youths to sheathe the 

sword and support the rule of law 

so that we as elders of the regions 

can effectively provide the 

platform for a negotiated settlement. 

“The association has 

developed a blueprint to the 

lingering crisis in oil producing 

regions. Our bottom-up 

proposal for durable peace in oil 

producing areas is designed to 

strengthen delivery chains of 

robust Federal Government 

palliative programmes to 

vulnerable host communities. It 

is also designed to shield the 

youths of oil producing areas 

from exploitation by aggrieved 

and subversive elements who 

stoke tension to settle political 

scores. Our proposal will also 

be extended to solid mineral 

producing areas.” 

Edo Child Rights Act gets boost as Obaseki inaugurates 

Family Court 

By Gabriel Enogjolase 

EDO State yesterday took 

a giant step towards the 

implementation of its Child 

Rights Act as Governor Godwin 

Obaseki inaugurated the Family 

Court, to exclusively handle 

matters pertaining to children in 

both civil and criminal matters. 

The bill was passed into law in 

2007 and was assented to by 

former governor, Oserhiemen 

Osunbor. 

At the inauguration, Governor 

Obasaki said if Nigeria could 

implement the family court, it 

would go a long way to 

addressing some of the 

challenges facing families. 

The governor, represented by his 

deputy, Mr. Philip Shuaibu, 

assured that the government 

would support the judiciary, 

especially as the 2017 

appropriation bill provides for 

infrastructural development. 

He said government would 

provide more courts as well as 

improve on the welfare of judges 

and judicial workers. 

Speaking, the Chief Judge of the 

state, Justice Cromwell Idahosa, 

said the Child Rights Bill 

VISIT: From left: Minister of Women Affairs, Sen. Aisha Alhassan; Governor Abdullahi 

Ganduje of Kano State; Executive Director, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), 

Prof. Babatunde Oshotimehin, and Resident Coordinator, UN System in Nigeria, Edward 

Kallon, during an advocacy visit by the UNFPA Executive Director to Kano State, yesterday. 

extensively catered for the 

interest and rights of the child. 

Idahosa noted that the court 

would have exclusive 

jurisdiction to handle all matters 

pertaining to children in both 

civil and criminal matters. 

According to him: “With the 

inauguration of this court, there 

shall now be speedy trials in 

matters relating to children’s 

welfare and protection, 

specifically from undue 

World Bank partners state govts to protect 

lives in erosion prone areas 

By Festus Ahon 

ASABA—THE 

World 

Bank, yesterday, 

expressed its resolve to partner 

with states that have keyed 

into the Nigeria Erosion and 

Watershed Management 

Project, NEWMAP, to protect 

the lives of Nigerians in 

erosion prone areas. 

Senior Human Resource/ 

Business Partner, Central and 

West Africa, in the World Bank, 

Mr Chude Ezinwa, made the 

disclosure during the opening 

exposure and exploitation. The 

court will strive to provide 

families with the best possible 

outcome in child rights’ cases in 

accordance with the law and best 

global practices.” 

Similarly, Edo Chairman, 

Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, 

Mr. Ede Asenoguan, said the 

inauguration would place the 

state among the few states in the 

country that had established the 

family court. 

ceremony of a one week 

training programme organized 

by the World Bank in 

conjunction with Federal 

NEWMAP for NEWMAP 

States Project Management 

Unit, held in Asaba with four 

states in attendance. 

Commending Delta State 

Government for paying up its 

start-up and counterpart funds 

of N30 million and N500 

million respectively, Ezinwa 

said other states were already 

keying into the project. 

Earlier, Delta State 

“We are happy that today, our 

collective dream of caring for the 

rights of our children has been 

given a boost by this 

inauguration. 

“Certainly, our children 

deserve the best and I believe 

that no effort shall be spared in 

ensuring that the rights of 

children are protected and 

enforced whenever or wherever 

same is breached or violated," 

he said. 

Commissioner for Environment, 

Mr. John Nani, reiterated 

the state government's 

resolve to support NEWMAP 

and ensure its success in the 

state. 

Confirming that the state 

government had paid its start 

up and counterpart funds 

amounting to N530 million for 

the project, Nani said the 

training programme was to 

equip participants with 

modern skills that would 

manifest in prompt delivery of 

the project in record time. 

Monarch tasks 

Delta North on 

unity for devt 

By Aniema Umoh 

CHAIRMAN of Delta 

State Council of 

Traditional Rulers, Dr. 

Emmanuel Efeizomor II, has 

called for greater unity among 

the political class, traditional 

rulers and the entire people 

of Delta North senatorial 

district for the speedy 

attainment of the development 

vision of the Anioma Nation. 

Efeizomor II made the call 

when the senator representing 

Delta North in the National 

Assembly, Senator Peter 

Nwaoboshi, led a high 

powered delegation of 

politicians on a special New 

Year homage to all the 

traditional rulers in Delta 

North who gathered at the 

palace of the Obi of Owa, at 

Owa-Oyibu, headquarters of 

Ika North- East Local 

Government Area of Delta 

State. 

Earlier, Senator Nwaoboshi 

informed the royal fathers that 

the visit was to appreciate 

them for their support for him 

and their invaluable 

contributions to the effective 

administration of the state. 

He assured them that 

government will continue to 

give priority attention to their 

welfare and hold them in high 

esteem. 

Edo APC Vice 

Chairman 

urges support 

for Obaseki 

By Simon Adewale 

A 

chieftain of All 

Progressives 

Congress, APC, in EDO 

Central senatorial district and 

Vice Chairman of the Party in 

Edo State, Chief H. O. Okoror, 

has called on the people of the 

state, particularly people of 

Edo central senatorial district, 

to support Governor Godwin 

Obaseki, to deliver on his 

election promises to the state. 

Chief Okoror, in a statement 

at an end of year party he 

organised for leaders and 

members of APC in Esanland, 

reflected on the victory of APC 

in the last governorship 

election in the state which 

produced the governor, 

however, expressing regret 

over the result from the district. 

According to him, “the result 

is not a true reflection of the 

popularity of the party or the 

governor in Esanland but was 

a product of needless 

infighting and division within 

the party,” calling for 

forgiveness and unity by all 

concerned in the spirit of New 

Year.

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2017– 43 

Relatives of inmates react in front of Desembargador Raimundo Vidal Pessoa 

jail in the center of the Amazonian city of Manaus, Brazil. Photo: REUTERS 

British pound hits new low after 

Brexit remarks 

THE British pound has 

tumbled to its lowest 

level against the US dollar 

since 1985, after UK Prime 

Minister Theresa May hinted 

at a complete break with the 

European Union following 

the conclusion of the Brexit 

negotiations. 

Foreign currency markets 

had the pound at $1.21 on 

Monday, down from $1.46 on 

the day before the referendum 

to leave the EU in June last 

year. 

In an interview with British 

broadcaster Sky News on 

Sunday, May said the UK 

would not hold on to “bits of 

EU membership”, but 

cautioned that a so-called 

hard-Brexit was not an 

inevitability. 

“Often people talk in terms 

that we’re leaving the EU but 

we’re going to keep bits of 

membership of the EU,” she 

told Sky. “We’re leaving, 

we’re coming out, we’re not 

going to be a member of the 

EU any longer.” 

The British prime minister 

went on to add that her 

government’s priority would 

be to negotiate the best 

possible deal for the UK. 

The pound’s performance 

is seen by analysts as a 

bellwether of the confidence 

financial markets have in the 

UK economy after the vote to 

leave. 

The currency has 

previously rallied after signs 

that the UK may remain in 

the European single market. 

Yet, it has also tumbled on 

comments by senior ministers 

that the government is willing 

to sacrifice single market 

membership as a cost of 

leaving the EU. 

Tim Farron, the leader of 

the pro-EU Liberal Democrat 

Party, said the prime 

minister’s comments were 

hurting the British economy. 

“Every time Theresa May 

opens her mouth on Brexit, 

the pound falls further. It’s 

clear this government is 

taking us down a destructive 

hard Brexit that would hurt 

jobs, increase prices and blow 

a hole in the budget,” Farron 

said in a statement. 

Palestinian leader warns Trump against moving US embassy to Jerusalem 

P ALESTINIAN 

President Mahmoud 

Abbas has written to US 

President-elect Donald 

Trump telling him not to move 

the US embassy from Tel Aviv 

to Jerusalem, according to 

official Palestinian media 

reports. 

Trump has said at various 

times that he plans to relocate 

the embassy, and last month 

chose David Friedman, a 

right-wing lawyer who has 

vowed to move the mission 

to Jerusalem, as his 

ambassador to Israel. 

A potential relocation is 

severely opposed by 

Palestinians as a unilateral 

action while the status of the 

city remains contested. 

Israel supports the move 

and has encouraged previous 

presidents to take similar steps 

to no avail. In an official letter, 

Abbas warned that such a 

move would have a 

“disastrous impact on the 

peace process, on the twostate 

solution and on the 

stability and security of the 

entire region”, Palestinian 

news agency Wafa said on 

Monday. 

Wafa, which did not specify 

when the letter had been sent, 

said Abbas aimed to explain 

the “risks” of moving the 

embassy to Jerusalem. 

The Palestinian president 

also sent letters to other world 

powers, including Russia, 

China and the European 

Union, calling on them to 

“spare no effort” to prevent the 

United States from making the 

move, Wafa said. 

Pope slams jihadist attacks as homicidal madness 

POPE Francis has 

condemned as 

“homicidal madness” recent 

deadly “fundamentalistinspired” 

attacks around the 

world. 

In a speech to the Vatican 

diplomatic corps, the pontiff 

called on religious leaders to 

reaffirm that “one can never 

kill in God’s name”. 

He also warned that 

poverty served as fertile 

ground for radicalisation. 

Scores of people died in 

jihadist attacks in Europe, 

Africa, Asia, the Middle East 

and the Americas in 2016. 

“We are dealing with a 

homicidal madness which 

misuses God’s name in order 

to disseminate death, in a play 

for domination and power,” the 

80-year-old Argentine pontiff 

said on Monday. 

“Hence I appeal to all 

religious authorities to join 

in reaffirming unequivocally 

that one can never kill in 

God’s name. 

“Fundamentalist terrorism 

is the fruit of a profound 

spiritual poverty, and often is 

linked to significant social 

poverty,” the Pope said. “It can 

only be fully defeated with the 

joint contribution of religious 

and political leaders.” 

Merkel vows national effort on deportation 

G 

E R M A N 

Chancellor 

Angela Merkel has 

promised a new push to 

send home failed asylum 

seekers after Berlin truck 

attacker Anis Amri 

murdered 12 people. 

She called for a "national 

effort" to ensure that 

anyone who had a right to 

protection was integrated 

while those denied it 

•President Mahmoud Abbas 

should leave. 

Germany turned down 

Amri's asylum bid in June 

but failed to deport him 

because Tunisia refused to 

accept him. 

Ministers are preparing 

tougher rules for such 

cases in future. 

The chancellor said the 

attack showed that the 

government had to "act 

faster, act correctly, not 

just to get stuck with 

announcements but also to 

show where it really 

stands". 

Justice Minister Heiko 

Maas believes the 

authorities should have 

the right to detain for an 

18-month period 

individuals who are 

designated a threat to 

security and given a 

deportation order. 

Chad’s Habre appeals 

conviction, life sentence 

LAWYERS for former 

Chadian president 

Hissene Habre have filed 

an appeal against his 

conviction for crimes 

against humanity, 

marking the final stage 

in a landmark case pursued 

by victims for more 

than 15 years. 

In May, the Extraordinary 

African Chambers 

(EAC) in Senegal’s capital, 

Dakar, sentenced 

Habre to life in prison 

after founding him guilty 

of rape, sexual slavery 

and ordering mass killings 

during his time in 

power between 1982 and 

1990. 

Two months later, the 

special court, which was 

set up by the African 

Union and Senegal, 

also ordered him to pay 

tens of millions of dollars 

Body of Rwanda’s last king 

sent home 

THE body of 

Rwanda’s last king, 

Kigeli V, has been flown 

back to Kigali after a legal 

battle among his relatives 

about where he should be 

buried. 

King Kigeli died last 

October, aged 80, in the 

United States, where he 

had been living since 1992. 

The former monarch had 

reportedly not wanted to 

be buried in Rwanda as 

long as the current government 

was in power. 

However, a US court 

ruled in favour of relatives 

in Rwanda who wanted 

his body returned there to 

be laid to rest. 

By Levinus Nwabughiogu 

with agency report 

THE presidents of Ni 

geria, Sierra Leone 

and Liberia will visit 

Gambian President Yahya 

Jammeh on Wednesday 

in a second attempt to 

press him to hand over 

power, Nigeria’s foreign 

minister Geoffrey 

Onyeama said on 

Monday. 

Jammeh, in power since 

a 1994 coup, lost a Dec. 1 

election to businessman 

Adama Barrow, but the 

authoritarian leader has 

contested the results in a 

move condemned at 

home and abroad. 

An ECOWAS delegation 

led by Liberian President 

Ellen Johnson 

Sirleaf visited Gambia in 

December but failed to 

persuade Jammeh to step 

down. The West African 

bloc has since said it 

would take all necessary 

steps to uphold the result 

of the election and had 

put troops on standby. 

Jammeh called the 

move “a declaration of 

in compensation to victims. 

The hearing in the EAC 

opened on Monday and 

the arguments are expected 

to last several 

days. A final decision 

will be made by the end 

of April, when the court’s 

mandate ends. 

Habre has said he does 

not recognise the court’s 

authority, and his defence 

lawyers refused to 

appear during the trial. 

Court-appointed lawyers, 

however, represented 

him and appealed 

the conviction, 

alleging that one of the 

trial court judges should 

not have been appointed 

given his background as 

a prosecutor, and that 

there were several errors 

of fact and law. 

“We are very happy to 

have him back in his country 

of birth,” said James 

Vuningoma, executive 

secretary of the Rwanda 

Academy of Language 

and Culture (RALC), who 

was at Kigali airport when 

the king’s remains arrived. 

A number of relatives, 

including King Kigeli’s 

half-sister, were also 

there. 

Earlier, the king’s Royal 

Council had said Kigeli 

had not wanted to be buried 

in Rwanda “as long as 

the current government 

administration that was 

hostile to his majesty in 

life was still in power” 

West African leaders to visit 

Jammeh again amid crisis 

war.” 

“They resolved that 

three presidents will visit 

Jammeh on Wednesday to 

press him again to hand 

over (power). They are the 

presidents of Nigeria, Liberia 

and Sierra Leone,” 

Onyeama said after a 

one-day ECOWAS summit 

in the Nigerian capital, 

Abuja. 

Meanwhile, the 

meeting of West African 

leaders aimed at 

resolving the brewing 

political impasse held 

yesterday at the 

Presidential Villa, Abuja. 


Buhari, who chaired the 

forum was joined by the 

immediate past President 

of Ghana, John Mahama. 

Other key members of 

the panel who were 

present included the 

Liberian and Senegalese 

presidents. 

The meeting was 

expected to reach a 

compromise on how to 

effect a successful 

transition of power from 

Jammeh to Barrow.


Ronaldo wins maiden FIFA Best Awards 

CRISTIANO Ronal 

do has been 

named as the best player 

on the planet for a 

fourth time in his glittering 

career. 

In FIFA’s newly 

launched “The Best 

Awards” Ronaldo, 31, 

won the top individual 

award ahead of Barcelona’s 

Lionel Messi and 

Atletico Madrid’s Antoine 

Griezmann. 

Speaking in Zurich, 

Switzerland, the Real 

Madrid star was delighted. 

“As I mentioned many 

times, last year was a 

dream year,” Ronaldo 

said. “With Real Madrid 

we won the Champions 

League and with the 

national team we won 

the first time in history. 

Unbelievable season. So 

proud and happy. I have 

to say thank you to my 

team-mates in Real Madrid 

and the national 

team and the coaches. 

Amazing year.” 

“Thank you everyone, 

I don’t really have anything 

else to add. The 

awards I think speak for 

themselves. I’m just 

very happy. I’m sorry 

some people from Barcelona 

aren’t here, but 

that’s understandable.” 

Ronaldo has previously 

won this award in 

2008, 2013 and 2014 as 

the tussle between himself 

and Messi for world 

dominance has dominated 

much of the past decade. 

The award was handed 

out to the Real Madrid 

and Portugal star in 

a glitzy ceremony on 

yesterday as FIFA started 

up its own awards 

ceremony after sharing 

the Ballon d’Or award 

with France Football 

from 2010-15 which formerly 

crowned its best 

player. 

Ronaldo also won the 

Ballon d’Or for 2016 and 

it is not difficult to understand 

why. 

The Portuguese forward 

scored 51 goals in 

48 games in all competitions 

for Real Madrid in 

the 2015-16 season and 

led them to the UEFA 

Champions League title 

against cross-town rivals 

Atletico Madrid. Ronaldo 

was then influential 

in Portugal winning 

EURO 2016 as he captained 

his nation to its 

first-ever major trophy. 

That victory cemented 

Ronaldo’s spot among 

the legends of the game, 

if that was ever in any 

doubt, and this final 

award for his heroics in 

2016 was well deserved 

as he continues his personal 

quest with Messi. 

In terms of World Player 

of the Year awards 

the scoreline now reads: 

Messi 5-4 Ronaldo. 

Ikeme: I’ll not watch any AFCON match 

CARL Ikeme has 

said that he will 

avoid watching the 

2017Africa Cup of Nations 

as a result of his 

disappointment after 

Nigeria failed to qualify. 

The Wolverhampton 

Wanderers goalkeeper 

has been part of a new 

look Super Eagles 

squad led by Gernot 

Rohr who are in pole 

position to clinch a World 

Cup 2018 ticket after two 

qualifying games. 

Rangers, IfeanyiUbah to 

clash in Charity Cup match 

Adeleye 

THE BEST: Carli Lloyd (r) and Cristiano Ronaldo pose with their The Best 

FIFA Player Award 

NIGERIA Profes 

sional Football 

League champions, 

Enugu Rangers will battle 

Federation Cup winners 

FC IfeanyiUbah in 

the annual Charity Cup 

match in Abuja on 

Wednesday, 11th January 

2017. 

NFF’s Director of Competitions, 

Mr. Bola Oyeyode 

told thenff.com 

that all arrangements 

have been put in place 

for the match, scheduled 

for the main bowl of the 

National Stadium Complex 

as from 4pm. 

Officials of the two 

clubs, as well as those of 

the other two clubs flying 

Nigeria’s flag in continental 

competitions 

this year, Rivers United 

and Wikki Tourists, are 

also due to meet with 

NFF officials same day 

with regards to their 

continental campaigns. 

Rangers, who swept to 

their first title in 32 years 

by claiming the NPFL 

title on the last day of 

last season, will fly Nigeria’s 

flag in the dollar 

–spangled CAF Champions 

League while FC 

IfeanyiUbah, conquerors 

of Nasarawa United 

in the final of the men’s 

Federation Cup, will 

campaign in the CAF 

Confederation Cup. 

“We didn’t qualify this 

year which was a big disappointment. 

I’ll try and 

avoid watching the Cup 

of Nations, because 

we’re not there. Our focus 

is on the World Cup 

now,” Ikeme told Daily 

Mail. 

The 30-year-old helped 

Paul Lambert’s side defeat 

Stoke City 2-0 in a 

FA Cup third round encounter 

on Saturday, 

pulling off several crucial 

saves in the second 

half to frustrate Mark 

Hughes and his team. 

And has hailed his side’s 

performance as ‘brilliant’. 

“It’s always nice to 

keep a clean sheet and 

make some saves. We 

were under pressure at 

the end but the lads were 

brilliant from start to finish.” 

JOSE MOURINHO 

is determined to 

strengthen his defence 

with a new centre-back 

and will offer Roma 

£47.6million for Kostas 

Manolas. 

The Manchester United 

manager has said he 

does not intend to buy 

another defender but behind 

the scenes is still 

working on a deal for 

the Greek international. 

Mourinho had initially 

coughed up £32.5m for 

Manolas. 

That came after talks 

FIVE 

Barcelona 

players and five 

Real Madrid stars have 

been selected in FIFA’s 

Team of the Year, with 

the Premier League totally 

snubbed. 

The world governing 

body revealed their 

stand-out ‘FIFPro World 

XI’ at a glittering awards 

ceremony in Zurich on 

Monday, and Lionel 

Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo 

were unsurprisingly 

chosen to lead the 

line. 

But not a single player 

currently plying his 

trade in England was 

deemed worthy of a 

place in the star-studded 

line-up. In fact, only one 

man not employed by 

Barca or Real in 2016 

was picked - Bayern 

Munich goalkeeper 

Manuel Neuer. 

The rest of the positions 

were perfectly split 

between players who 

have represented either 

Barcelona and Real Madrid 

in 2016, the La Liga 

giants having five players 

each in the line-up. 

It was no surprise that 

both Cristiano Ronaldo 

and Lionel Messi were 

Mourinho will break the bank for 

Kostas Manolas 

with Victor Lindelof hit 

a wall – despite Benfica 

and Vasteras recently 

agreeing a sell-on fee. 

And last May, when 

Mourinho started looking 

at which players he 

would like to sign, he 

paid special attention to 

Manolas and teammate 

Alessandro 

Florenzi. 

But Roma, who currently 

sit just four points 

behind Serie A leaders 

Juventus, are reluctant 

to lose one of their most 

sought-after assets. 

Kostas 

Ikeme 

Real Madrid, 

Barca 

dominate 

FIFPro 

World XI 

Messi 

chosen as two of the 

three strikers, Ronaldo 

having won both the 

Champions League with 

Real and the European 

Championship with Portugal, 

while Messi continued 

to dazzle for Barca. 

The other forward position 

in FIFA’s chosen 4- 

3-3 was given to Luis 

Suarez, who was honoured 

ahead of teammate 

Neymar, Real Madrid 

and Wales’s Gareth 

Bale, and most surprisingly 

Antoine Griezmann, 

who had been 

shortlisted for the men’s 

player award but 

strangely did not make 

the cut here. 

Maradona 

Continued from B/P 

elected president of the 

global soccer body to replace 

the disgraced 

Sepp Blatter. 

‘I’m delighted by Gianni’s 

initiative because 

it gives chances to teams 

that otherwise would 

start the qualifiers knowing 

they had no chance 

of getting to the World 

Cup,’ Maradona told 

reporters after a veterans’ 

match at FIFA headquarters. 

‘It gives each country 

the dream and it renews 

the passion for football, 

it appears to me to be a 

fantastic idea,’ added 

Maradona, who captained 

Argentina to 

World Cup success in 

1986. 

He said it was important 

for the sport that 

FIFA’s image improved 

after it was battered by 

a corruption scandal 

that has seen 40 individuals 

and two sports marketing 

companies indicted 

in the United States. 

‘We want a FIFA that 

is clean so people come 

back to the stadiums, 

with so much corruption 

people have got tired of 

always seeing the same 

thing,’ said the 56 - 

year-old.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2017 — 45


Jesus insists he’s ‘going 

to conquer the world' 

GABRIEL Jesus has 

stated his aims 

and ambitions following 

his £27million move from 

Palmeiras to Pep Guardiola’s 

Manchester City. 

The 19-year-old forward 

arrived in Manchester 

at the beginning 

of January and he will 

now be hoping to stake 

a claim for a regular spot 

in Guardiola’s first-team 

squad after adapting to 

life in England. 

Jesus appears focused 

on making an instant 

impression at his new 

side as he took to social 

media to outlay his 

plans. 

The Brazil international 

said on Instagram: 

‘I’m going to be one of 

the favelados (translates 

to slums-dweller) that 

will conquer the world, 

I’ll be my mother’s 

cause for so much 

pride.’ 

Jesus makes reference 

to the fact that he grew 

up in the Sao Paulo favelas 

before making his 

name in Brazilian football. 

The teenager, who has 

scored four goals in six 

games for his country, 

netted 28 in 83 appearances 

for Palmeiras before 

deciding to leave 

his homeland. 

Guardiola said ahead 

of City’s 5-0 FA Cup win 

over West Ham: ‘He was 

three weeks or one 

month off on holidays 

but he played two friendly 

games. He rested, he 

needed that [after his 

season in Brazil]. 

‘He has made two 

training sessions - this 

afternoon he will make 

his first training session 

with the team. 

‘We are delighted he is 

here and what we are 

looking for is for him to 

settle as soon as possible. 

Try to help him to be 

happy here. To have a 

good connection with his 

team-mates. The process 

to understand and play 

in the league needs 

time. 

‘Hopefully he can do 

what he is with the national 

team of Brazil, his 

old club, playing in front 

and help us to score the 

goals which is his big 

value.’ 

Uzama: Infantino 

commiserates with NFF 

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has written to 

NFF President Amaju Pinnick to commiserate 

with Nigeria over the killing of former youth international 

Douglas Uzama. 

In a letter dated 6th January and personally signed 

by him, the FIFA supremo wrote: “I would like to 

express my deepest sympathy on hearing the news 

of the tragic passing of Nigerian youth international 

Douglas Uzama. 

“On behalf of FIFA and the worldwide family of 

football, please allow me to extend my deepest condolences 

to the football community of Nigeria, and 

most importantly, to his family, friends and loved 

ones. We hope that, in some way, our words of support 

may help bring a little bit of peace and solace 

in this time of sadness.” 

Jesus has already scored four goals in just six 

appearances for the Brazil national side 

Nigeria, 

Egypt to 

represent 

Africa at 

Hungarian 

Open 

TABLE tennis power 

houses in Africa – Nigeria 

and Egypt have confirmed 

their participation in 

the first major ITTF World 

Tour for 2017, Hungarian 

Open serving off on Thursday 

January 19 to 22 in Budapest. 

Nigeria will be presenting 

the largest number of 

players with the highest 

ranked player in the continent 

– Aruna Quadri leading 

four other Nigerians to 

the championship while 

African Champion, 

Egypt’s Omar Assar will be 

competing alongside his 

sibling – Khaled in the 

competition. 

Besides Quadri, other 

Nigerian players in the 

tournament are Italy-based 

duo of Olajide Omotayo 

and Kazeem Makanjuola 

and Portugal-based pair of 

Bode Abiodun, and Ojo 

Onaolapo. 

The $70,000 prize money 

championship will be 

kick-started on Tuesday 

with preliminary matches 

in the singles and doubles.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2017 — 47

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2017 

Ronaldo wins maiden 

FIFA Best Awards 44 

Maradona backs 48 teams World Cup 

ARGENTINA football 

great Diego 

Maradona has backed by 

plans to expand the 

World Cup to 48 teams 

and believes it will rekindle 

interest in the tournament. 

The FIFA Council is 

expected to approve a 

proposal to expand the 

finals from 32 to 48 

teams, starting in 2026, 

when it meets on Tuesday. 

Maradona, one of the 

greatest players to grace 

the game, has been a 

long-time critic of FIFA 

but the two sides buried 

the hatchet last year after 

Gianni Infantino was 

Continues on Page 44 

Winners 

FIFA Best Male 

Cristiano Ronaldo Real 

Madrid/ Portugal 

FIFA Best Women 

•Maradona yesterday 

THE BEST... Cristiano Ronaldo kisses his The Best FIFA Football Player 

trophy after claiming his latest award in Zurich yesterday 

TODAY'S PUZZLE 

Tanzania 

name 

squad 

for 

Eagles 

Sudoku 

How to Play Sudoku 

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

have two of the same number). 

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

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

bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 

through 9. This means that no number can appear twice 

in any block, column or row. 

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division 

or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination. 

YESTERDAY'S ANSWERS 

ACROSS DOWN 

2 Forgo (5) 1 Pup (5) 

7 Absolute (5) 2 Intertwine (5) 

8 Seat (5) 3 Silver (6) 

10 Torment (5) 4 Aperture (4) 

12 Point (3) 5 Reel (7) 

13 Mental (5) 6 Females (5) 

15 Prickled (7) 9 Lubricate (3) 

17 Add (6) 11 Jewish (7) 

19 Delve (3) 13 Nerve (5) 

20 Infant (7) 14 Dismay (5) 

23 Scorch (4) 16 Nothing (3) 

25 (Part (4) 18 Dismal (7) 

26 (Authorise (7) 21 (Tree (5) 

30 Lout (3) 22 Untidy (5) 

31 Trouble (6) 24 Turbulent (7) 

34 Platform (7) 27 Vehicle (3) 

37 Watery (5) 28 Deserved (6) 

38 Jeer (3) 29 Staid (5) 

39 Prostrate (5) 32 Sport (5) 

40 First appearance 

(5) 35 Weep (3) 

33 Scoff (5) 

41 Receded (5) 36 Legend (4) 

42 (Shadowy (5) 

ACROSS: 2, Erode. 7, Oral. 8, Reckon 9, Force. 

11, End. 13, Sup. 15, Rein. 16, Sap. 18, Seer. 

19, Applaud. 20, Data. 22, Mass. 23, Askance. 

25, Tank. 27, Rue. 28, Germ. 30, Eft. 31, Due. 

33,Abyss. 36, Wicked. 37, Path. 38, Dandy. 

Carli Lloyd, Houston 

Dash and United States. 

Puskas award 

for best goal 

Mohd Faiz Subri, forward, 

Penang in the 

2016 Malaysia Super 

League. 

Best Coach Men 

Claudio Ranieri. 

Leicester City 

“Thank you so much 

for voting me. I’m 65 

now, I start now as a 

manger!” 

Best Coach 

Women 

Silvia Neid Germany 

Fair Play Award 

Atlético Nacional Colombia. 

QUICK CROSSWORD 

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS 

Top 

stories 

inside 

•Ikeme: I’ll 

not watch any 

AFCON match 

•Jesus insists 

he’ll conquer 

the world 

•Rangers, 

IfeanyiUbah 

to clash in 

Charity Cup 

DOWN: 1, Prone. 2, Elf. 3, Oar. 4, Ere. 5, Ice. 

6, Rogue. 10, Chap. 11, Erudite. 12, Distant. 

13, Sedated. 14, Presume. 16, Spear. 17, 

Place. 18, Sun. 21, Ask. 24, Numb. 26. Affix. 

29, Rusty. 32, Sky. 33, Add. 34, Yen. 35, Spy. 

Printed and Published by VANGUARD MEDIA LIMITED, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B.1007, Apapa. Phone: Newsroom: 018773962. Deputy Editor: 01-4548355. Advert Dept Hotline: 

01-4544821. Abuja Advert Hotline: 09-2921024. E-mail: editor@vanguardngr.com, news@vanguardngr.com, letters@vanguardngr.com. Advert:advertproduction@yahoo.com 

Website: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) Editor: EZE ANABA. Phone: 01—4548355, All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.

10012017 Adeboye: FG fires Obazee, FRCN boss

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?