13012017 Obazee vowed to oust Adeboye - RCCG

Kudirat Abiola: 

S-Court clears 

LASG to retry 

Al-Mustapha 

10 

AMBASSADORIAL NOMINEES: 

Buhari drops 

Mamora, 

Ooni's brother, 

others 3 

•Mamora 

** ** 

VOL. 25: NO. 63202 FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 2017 

CHANGES AT REDEEMED CHURCH: 

Obazee vowed to oust 

Adeboye — RCCG 

•Suspension of FRCN’s corporate governance code 

won’t affect investments – NSE 

APC SOUTH WEST STAKEHOLDERS' MEETING... 

From left, Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; former Ekiti Governor, Engr. Segun Oni; APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola 

Tinubu; former APC Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande; Aremo Olusegun Osoba; Minister of Works, Power and Housing (at the back),Mr 

Babatunde Fashola; Otunba Niyi Adebayo; Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi; Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun; Solid 

Minerals Minister, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; Lagos State Governor, Mr . Akinwunmi Ambode; Information Minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and 

Osun Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; at the APC South West Stakeholders' meeting held in Ibadan yesterday. MORE PHOTOS ON PAGE 11. 

S-West APC: Tinubu, allies in 

By Sam Eyoboka, 

Peter Egwuatu, 

Nkiruka Nnorom & 

Olayinka Latona 

L AGOS—THE 

Redeemed Christian 

Church of God, RCCG, 

yesterday, said the sacked 

Executive Secretary/Chief 

Executive Officer of the 

Financial Reporting 

Council of Nigeria, FRCN, 

Mr. Jim Obazee, had 

vowed to remove the 

General Overseer of the 

church, Pastor Enoch 

Adeboye. 

This revelation was made 

by Head of the church’s 

Media and Public 

Relations, Pastor Segun 

Adegbiji, who also 

confirmed that the 

embattled Obazee was a 

zonal pastor with RCCG 

and, at a time, refused to 

honour Pastor Adeboye’s 

summons over alleged 

infractions. 

According to Adegbiji, 

when the General Overseer 

noticed some infractions 

and sent for the then zonal 

pastor, he (Obazee) 

immediately replied that 

Continues on page 5 

Mr & Mrs 

icy meeting at Ibadan 

11 

COLUMNIST 

OWEI 

LAKEMFA 

Soul brother, 

Obama 

31 

A season of 

consuming fires in 

South West 

SEE STORY INSIDE 

Soyinka condemns 

Buhari, el-Rufai on 

35 

Southern Kaduna killings

2 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 2017

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 2017—3 

Ex-President 

Jonathan 

condoles 

with Kure's 

family 

By Wole 

Mosadomi 

M 

I N N A — 

FORMER 

President, Dr. Goodluck 

Jonathan, has described 

the death of former 

Governor of Niger 

State, Abdulkadir Kure, 

as too sudden, saying: 

“He left when the 

ovation is about to be 

loudest.” 

According to, 

Jonathan, “he left us at 

a very young age. 

Within a short life span, 

he has impacted the 

society significantly.” 

He described Kure as 

a patriotic member of 

Peoples Democratic 

Party, PDP, pointing out 

that the party will miss 

him greatly, 

He said: “For us in 

PDP, he is one of the 

pillars of the party and 

also a member of our 

Board of Trustees, BoT, 

that is why almost all 

our members in the 

country were around 

during the burial.” 

He prayed the 

Almighty God to grant 

the family the fortitude 

to bear the loss. 

He was accompanied 

by former governor of 

Bauchi State and 

Minister of the FCT, 

Alhaji 

Bala 

Mohammed; former 

Minister of Special 

Duties, Kabiru Turaki; 

former Minister of 

Aviation, Femi Fani- 

Kayode; former leader, 

House 

of 

Representatives, 

Mulikat Akande, and 

former FERMA boss, 

Ezekiel Adeniji. 

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

ENVOY NOMINEES: Buhari drops Ooni's 

brother, Mamora, others 

•Replaces Bugaje, Tallen as Imo, FCT get nominees 

By Henry Umoru 

ABUJA—THREE months 

after President 

Muhammadu Buhari sent 

names of 46 non-career 

ambassadorial nominees to the 

Senate for screening and 

subsequent confirmation, the 

President, yesterday, resent the 

list. 

In the new list, name of former 

Deputy Minority Leader of the 

Senate, Senator Olorunnimbe 

Mamora, was dropped with no 

replacement. 

Also dropped was 

Adegboyega Ogunwusi, an 

elder brother of the Ooni of Ife, 

Enitan Ogunwusi, who was 

replaced with Afolahsn Adeyemi. 

In the former list sent in 

October last year, President 

Buhari had forwarded three 

names from Lagos State and 

they were Mamora, a retired 

Supreme Court judge, George 

Oguntade and Mrs Modupe 

Irene. 

Dr Eniola Ajayi, a former 

Commissioner for Education as 

well as Environment, under Dr. 

Kayode Fayemi and House of 

Representatives candidate (APC 

2015), also made the list. He 

replaced Mr. Ayodele Ayodele, 

FG to train prosecutors handling 

high-profile corruption cases 

By Ikechukwu 

Nnochiri 

ABUJA— THE Federal 

Government, yesterday, 

said it would conduct special 

training for prosecutors 

handling high-profile 

corruption cases across the 

federation. 

It has, therefore, directed 

Attorneys-General of the 36 

states of the federation to 

CISLAC urges NASS to take citizens’ input into budget 

By Emmanuel Aziken, 

Political Editor 

ABUJA— THE Civil Society 

Legislative Advocacy 

Centre, CISLAC, has charged 

the National Assembly to 

activate already made 

commitments to allow citizen 

participation in the budget 

process so that the 2017 budget 

would reflect the aspirations of 

the citizens. 

Welcoming the legislators 

back to work in a statement, 

yesterday, CISLAC also 

charged the National 

Assembly to enthrone 

accountability to intensify its 

monitoring of the security 

sector to complement the 

nation’s recent achievements 

directed towards stemming 

the spate of insecurity. 

CISLAC statement by its 

Executive Director, Auwal 

Musa, welcoming the 

legislators back from the 

yuletide break, called on the 

National Assembly “as a 

matter of urgency, prioritise 

pending and important 

issues affecting the nation’s 

socio-economic development 

such as the Petroleum 

Industry and Governance 

Bill, openness and 

transparency in the 2017 

Appropriation Bill, 

Constitutional and Electoral 

Reforms, Constituency 

Accountability and 

Sustainable Security.” 

also from Iyin Ekiti. 

In the revised list, 13 states 

had their earlier nominees 

changed while Lagos State 

forfeited one of its slots. 

The new names on the list are 

Aminu Iyawa from Adamawa; 

Baba Jidda, Borno; Prof. Steven 

Ugba, Benue; Dr. Eniola Ajayi, 

Ekiti; Ahmed Bamalli, Kaduna; 

Mohammadu Barade, Kebbi 

and Suzanne Aderonke, Ogun. 

Others are Jacob Daodu, 

Ondo; Afolahan Adeyemi, 

Osun; James Dimka, Plateau; 

SahabiIsa Gada, Sokoto; Alhaji 

Hassan Ardo, Taraba and Capt. 

Bala Mariga, Zamfara. 

CONDOLENCE VISIT: Former President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan(right) and 

Senator Zainab Kure, wife of late Governor Abdullahi Kure during a condolence visit, in 

Minna. 

nominate participants to 

attend the training scheduled 

to commence on the first week 

of March and end on the last 

week of May. 

Attorney-General of the 

Federation and Minister of 

Justice, Abubakar Malami, 

SAN, made the disclosure in 

a statement in Abuja. 

He said the training was 

part of efforts by the 

administration of President 

Muhammadu Buhari to build 

capacity of prosecutors across 

the federation on the modern 

techniques of drafting 

charges, as well as to fast-track 

the prosecution of high profile 

cases, some of which would be 

handled at the state level. 

Malami said that the 

decision was in furtherance of 

a request by Body of 

Attorneys-General of the 

States in Nigeria. 

Bugaje, Tallen replaced 

In the new list, former Deputy 

governor of Plateau State, Pauline 

Tallen and former National 

Secretary of the defunct Action 

Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Usman 

Bugaje from Katsina, who had 

rejected their nominations, were 

replaced, just as James Dimka took 

the place of Tallen and 

Mohammadu Barade replaced 

Bugaje from Katsina. 

President Buhari, in the 

resubmitted list, the Federal 

Capital Territory was given and 

Habiss Ugbada was named while 

Imo State nominee is Justice 

Sylvanus Nsofor. 

In the letter to Senate President 

Bukola Saraki, dated January 11, 

2017, President Buhari said: “I 

wish to refer to your letter of 

November 16, 2016 on the 

nomination of noncareer 

Ambassadors and to resubmit, here 

under, the revised list of 46 noncareer 

nominees for confirmation 

as Ambassadors-designate by the 

Senate. 

“It is my hope that this will 

receive the usability kind prompt 

attention of the distinguished 

members of the Senate. Please 

accept, distinguished Senate 

President, the assurances of my 

highest regards.” 

Full list of the new 

nominees 

The full list of the new nominees 

as read by Senate President Saraki 

are: Uzoma Emenike (Abia), 

Aminu Iyawa (Adamawa), Maj- 

Gen Godwin Umoh (retd) (Akwa 

Ibom), Christopher Okeke 

(Anambra), Yusuf Tuggar (Bauchi), 

Baba Madugu (Bauchi), Stanley 

Diriyai (Bayelsa) Stephen Ugba 

(Benue) Baba Jidda (Borno) 

Etubom Asuquo (Cross River), 

Frank Efeduma (Delta), Jonah Odo 

(Ebonyi), Uyagwe Igbe (Edo), 

Eniola Ajayi (Ekiti), Chris Eze 

(Enugu), Suleiman Hassan 

(Gombe), Justice Sylvanus Nsofor 

(Imo), Amin Dalhatu (Jigawa) and 

Ahmed Bamilli (Kaduna). 

Others are Deborah Iliya 

(Kaduna), Prof. D. Abdulkadir 

(Kano), Haruna Ungogo (Kano), 

Justice Isa Dodo (Katsina), 

Mohammadu Barade (Katsina), 

Tijani Bande (Kebbi), Prof Y. Aliu 

(Kogi), Nurudeen Mohammed 

(Kwara), Prof Mohammed Yisa 

(Kwara), Justice George Oguntade 

(Lagos), Modupe Irele (Lagos), 

Musa Mohammad (Nasarawa), 

Ahmed Ibeto (Niger), Suzanne 

Folarin (Ogun), Jacob Daodu 

(Ondo), Afolahan Adeyemi 

(Osun), Maj-Gen Ashimiyu 

Olaniyi (Oyo), James Dmika 

(Plateau), Haruna Abdullahi 

(Plateau), Orji Ngofa (Rivers), 

Sahabi Gada (Sokoto), Kabir Umar 

(Sokoto) Jika Ado (Taraba), Goni 

Bura (Yobe), Garba Gajam 

(Zamfara) Capt Bala Mohammad 

Mairiga (Zamfara) and Habbiss 

Ugbada. (FCT).

4—VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 2017 


My 

emergence 

as Senate 

Leader'll end 

animosity 

— Lawan 

By Henry Umoru 

ABUJA— THE new 

Senate Majority Leader, 

Senator Ahmad Lawan (APC, 

Yobe North), said yesterday, 

that with his emergence on 

Tuesday, the animosity which 

had characterized the 8th 

Senate, which was 

inaugurated June 9, 2015 has 

been nipped in the bud. 

Lawan noted that the 

atmosphere was tensed soon 

after the emergence of Dr 

Bukola Saraki as President of 

the Senate when members of 

the Senators Unity Forum, 

SUF, alleged injustice and felt 

that things must be put in their 

proper perspective, adding 

that now that there was 

compliance, there will be 

unity and peace in the Senate 

where the lawmakers will now 

focus on real legislative 

activities. 

He said: “The 8th Senate 

started on a shaky foundation. 

This Senate will end on a 

solid, stable and successful 

foundation. On the part of the 

SUF, we were never personal, 

we only felt that what ought 

to have been done was not 

done and if there is 

compliance now, there will be 

no animosity.” 

Face-off: 

Premium Times 

demands 

apology from 

Army 

By Soni Daniel 

ABUJA—THE face-off 

between the Nigerian 

Army and an online 

newspaper, Premium Times, 

festered, yesterday, with the 

online medium asking the 

former to apologise to it and 

its staff within seven days or 

risk being sued. 

The legal threat from the 

online medium followed an 

earlier threat by the Nigerian 

Army that it should retract and 

apologise over three stories 

done by the medium, which 

the army claimed were false 

and irresponsible. 

Rather than retract and 

apologise, Premium Times, 

through its lawyer, Jiti 

Ogunye, warned the Nigerian 

Army, the Chief of Army Staff, 

Burutai and others to tender 

an apology and stop further 

acts of threats against them. 

Premium Times, on Tuesday, 

through its lawyers, delivered 

a detailed response to the 

Army, affirming its stories, and 

unequivocally rejecting the 

demand for retractions and 

apology. 

Nigeria to lose another $550m Abacha loot 

in US 

By Victoria Ojeme 

ABUJA — THE Federal 

Government, yesterday, 

stated that the United States was 

reluctant to release over $ 550 

million to Nigeria, being 

proceeds from identified Gen 

Sani Abacha loot in the country. 

Special Adviser to the 

President on Diaspora and 

Foreign Affairs, Mrs Abike 

Dabiri-Erewa, made the 

disclosure when she addressed 

newsmen on Asset Recovery 

and Asset Return organised by 

the Presidential Advisory 

Committee Against Corruption, 

PACAC, in collaboration with 

Office of the Special Adviser to 

the President on Diaspora and 

Foreign Affairs, Abike Dabiri- 

Erewa. 

Erewa said: “America is 

keeping the funds, they are 

telling us about technicalities, 

they are saying recover doesn’t 

mean they can return them.” 

She lamented the delay in the 

return of the funds, stating that 

the person who steals is just as 

guilty as the person who keeps 

stolen funds. 

She said: “The person who 

steals is a criminal, the person 

who keeps known stolen funds 

is also a criminal. We are here 

to state that every Nigerian in 

disapora, friends of Nigeria, 

should join this committee in 

demanding that every stolen 

fund of Nigeria recovered in any 

part of the world should be 

returned to Nigeria. 

“You can’t give us aid of a 

billion dollars and keep a billion 

dollars of funds you have 

recovered from Nigeria. We will 

join the committee to embark on 

an advocacy with Nigerians 

outside the world to appeal to 

these nations to do everything 

possible to return what belongs 

to Nigeria.” 

In his remarks, Chairman of 

•As FG demands unconditional release of all loots abroad 

PACAC, Prof Itse Sagay, SAN, 

stated that the fund was 

different from the earlier $480 

million forfeited to the US 

following a court judgment in 

August 2014. 

Sagay lamenting that the 

tracing, seizure, forfeiture and 

return of Nigeria’s assets 

laundered outside the country had 

become a challenge due to the 

uncooperative nature of the 

countries in possession of the fund. 

LAUNCHING: From left, Chief Abayomi Akintola, Dr. Abimbola Akintola, children of 

late Chief Ladoke Akintola; Alhaji Sakariyan Babalola, Deputy President General, Nigerian 

Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, representing the Sultan of Sokoto; Prof. Ralph 

Akinfeleye, Guest Speaker and Dr. Yomi Finnih, Chairman of the event during the launch of 

The Samuel Ladoke Akintola Memorial Foundation as part of activities to mark the 51st 

anniversary of the death of late Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola, at Afe Babalola Auditorium, 

University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, yesterday. 

Attempt to remove Ekweremadu'll 

bring anarchy — PDP 

•No plan to impeach him—APC Senators 

By Ben Agande, 

Omeiza Ajayi & Dennis 

Agbo 

ABUJA —THE Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, has 

warned that any attempt to 

remove the Deputy President of 

the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, for 

any other reason other than 

incompetence or breach of the 

constitution was a call to anarchy. 

This came as the South-East 

chapter of the Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, 

pledged that the party in the 

zone shall stand by 

Ekweremadu. 

In a statement by the 

spokesman of the party, Dayo 

Adeyeye, yesterday, in Abuja said 

there was no where in the 

constitution of the country that 

provides that the President of the 

Senate and his deputy must be 

from the ruling party. 

The PDP is reacting to a 

statement credited to Senator 

Kabiru Marafa that Senator 

Ekweremadu should decamp to 

the All Progressives Congress, 

APC, if he wanted to retain his 

seat. 

No lan to impeach him 

—APC Senators 

Meanwhile, Deputy Senate 

FRCN’s corporate governance suspension won't 

affect investment inflows —NSE 

By Peter Egwuatu & 

Nkiruka Nnorom 

LAGOS— THE Nigerian 

Stock Exchange, NSE, 

yesterday, expressed confidence 

of market rebound, saying the 

suspension of the Financial 

Reporting Council of Nigeria, 

FRCN, corporate governance 

code by the Federal 

Government will not affect 

foreign investment inflow into 

the capital market and the 

economy in general. 

It also kicked against the 

proposed creation of multiple 

stock exchanges by the 

Securities and Exchange 

Commission, SEC, saying the 

existing stock exchange does not 

have enough liquidity as at 

today. 

Chief Executive Officer of the 

NSE, Mr. Oscar Onyema, who 

stated these during the review 

of the market performance in 

2016 and outlook for 2017, said: 

“The suspension of the of 

FRCN’s corporate governance 

code will not affect foreign 

investment inflow into the 

market and the country in general 

but will rather give them 

more confidence to invest in the 

market. There is more work to 

be done on the code to be able 

to address the teething 

problems.” 

Power output from 9 GENCOs hits zero 

By Prince Okafor 

LAGOS—GAS and water 

shortages may have forced 

down power output to 2,918 

megawatts (mw) as nine power 

Generation Companies, 

GENCOs, yesterday, produced 

zero megawatt of electricity. 

Power output was 3,146mw 

previous day. 

This came as the Transmission 

Company of Nigeria, TCN, 

through the daily operational 

report of the National Control 

Centre, NCC, said Nigeria’s 

electricity sector lost about N1.1 

billion yesterday, due to gas and 

water constraints. 

The nine GENCOs are 

Gbarain, Rivers Independent 

Power Project, IPP, Trans Amadi, 

ASCO, and A.E.S. Others are 

Olorunsogo IPP, Ibom, Ihovbor 

and Afam IV- V. 

The reported gas constraint 

was 2,155mw as against the 

previous figure of 2,052mw, 

while the water constraint 

Leader, Bala Na’Allah, has dismissed 

concerns that the APC caucus 

in the chambers was planning 

to impeach Ekweremadu. 

Na’Allah, who spoke when he 

visited the national secretariat of the 

APC in Abuja, said: “All those things 

happened when I was out of the 

country. I was in Germany and it is 

not in my character to speak about 

what I don’t know but as far as I am 

concerned, there is nothing near to 

that. As far as I am concerned, I am 

not aware. At least, I am back now, 

I am in office. Please APC is a big 

family, everybody is welcome.” 

But PDP, in the statement, said the 

call by Marafa “is unconstitutional, 

undemocratic and to say the least, 

unbecoming of Senator Marafa. 

It said: “It is very distasteful and 

uncharitable for any senator to stand 

on the floor of the hallowed chamber 

to ask his colleague to violate the 

constitution by cross-carpetting 

from his party to join the ruling 

party. Note that it is Senate of the 

Federal Republic of Nigeria and not 

Senate of the APC." 

remained unchanged at 150mw. 

Meanwhile, oil prices rose more 

than $1 a barrel, yesterday, on 

news that key Organisation of 

Petroleum Exporting Countries, 

OPEC, members were cutting 

production as promised and on 

forecasts of strong demand growth 

in China. 

Benchmark Brent crude oil rose 

$1.33 a barrel to a high of $56.43 

before easing slightly to trade 

around $56.20, while United States 

light crude was up $1.05 a barrel 

at $53.30.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 2017—5 

POCKET CARTOON 

BIAFRA—Leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mr Nnamdi Kanu (M) acknowledges cheers 

from his supporters, after a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: NAN. 

Obazee vowed to remove Adeboye – RCCG 

Continues from Page 1 

he was in his office and if 

Pastor Adeboye really 

wanted to see him, he 

knew where to reach him. 

Obazee had allegedly 

refused to suspend the 

implementation of the 

FRCN regulation that 

requires heads of all 

registered churches, 

mosques and other nonprofit 

organisations to 

serve a maximum of 20 

years in office and 

thereafter hand over to 

someone from outside 

their families. 

Obazee reportedly 

insisted that only an 

official gazette would stop 

him. 

Pastor Adegbiji further 

said that the recent 

changes announced by 

Pastor Adeboye, last week, 

which caused a stir in the 

polity, were informed by 

the provisions of the 

FRCN Act, explaining 

that the General Overseer 

does nothing without 

consulting God. 

According to him, “God 

may have decided to carry 

out the reforms for a 

purpose though such 

appointments were not 

new to a growing church 

like RCCG which has 

branches in 192 nations of 

the world. 

“The newly appointed 

country overseer, Pastor 

Joseph Obayemi may 

remain the overseer in 

charge of Nigeria 

operating from his current 

regional headquarters in 

Somolu in Lagos. 

“The national 

headquarters of the 

church remains in Ebute 

Metta, Lagos, while the 

global headquarters is at 

the Redemption Camp, 

IT'S UP TO YOU 

BY AYO ADIO - 08104802192 

THERE is a trademark on every one of us that 

guarantees and protects our uniqueness. Stop 

imitating others, you are an original. It’s up to yoyu. 

TAKE HEART 

BY ELLA RANDLE- O8084919482 

So the darkness shall be light, and the still be the 

dancing —T.S.Elliot 

THE lessons of life teach us about stillness. 

Being in the quiet often comes with great 

inspirations and one can feel the calm when the 

waves of life are rolling higher, rougher and 

tumbling, because, often it’s an indication that 

perhaps, a smooth ride is about to emerge. At times 

like this, it’s okay to pause, with eyes closed and 

take a deep breath, let it all out, exhale the exhausted 

energy. 

With an inflow of clean air, feel the soft stir of 

leaves caressed by the winds upon a sunny day. 

This is a feeling of great love and beauty from 

within. Most importantly, trust your nudges, hold 

on to faith and hope with a knowing that you will 

excel through the gentle ways of Divine Love. 

SAYINGS OF OUR PEOPLE 

A hungry fairy and one that has eaten full, 

can’t produce a harmonious, melodious song. 

but the new country 

overseer, Pastor Obayemi 

may not immediately 

move to the Ebute Metta 

headquarters because it 

will be administratively 

inconvenient for him to 

operate from the 

headquarters of another 

region.” 

He corrected the 

impression that the 

General Overseer, Pastor 

Adeboye had resigned 

and appointed a successor, 

saying: “The General 

Overseer has not stepped 

down. He is still the 

General Overseer of the 

church and the 

announcement has not 

diminished his schedule 

across the globe.” 

He also corrected the 

impression that the new 

national overseer was a 

Special Assistant to the 

General Overseer, adding 

that Pastor Obayemi, who 

will now oversee RCCG’s 

28 regions in Nigeria, was 

one of the seven senior 

pastors promoted 

Assistant General 

Overseers and members of 

the Governing Council, 

during the 2016 

convention of the church 

last August. 

Pastor Obayemi was a 

deputy in charge of 

Finance and a member of 

governing council in 

RCCG, before his 

appointment as the new 

Country/national 

Overseer of the church. 

RCCG, with 14 parishes 

before Pastor Adeboye’s 

entrance, has grown to 

become one of Nigeria’s 

biggest with branches in 

192 countries. 

According to the PRO, 

the church may not have 

so designated them but 

most pastors overseas are 

actually regarded as 

country overseers, who act 

as liaison between the 

church and their host 

countries. 

With the sack of Obazee 

and the dissolution of the 

FRCN Board, President 

Muhammadu Buhari may 

have temporarily saved 

the jobs of many 

prominent Pentecostal 

church leaders who have 

since passed the 20-year 

threshold. 

Among them are Pastor 

William Kumuyi, who has 

spent 43 years as the 

General Suerintendent of 

Deeper Christian Life 

Ministry; Bishop Mike 

Okonkwo of the 

Redeemed Evangelical 

Mission (35 years); 

Living Faith Church, also 

known as Winners 

Chapel’s Bishop David 

Oyedepo (35 yeas;) Dr. 

Daniel Olukoya of 

Mountain of Fire and 

Miracles Ministries (22); 

Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor of 

Word of Life Bible Church 

(29 years); Rev. Chris 

Okotie of the Household 

of God (29 years); 

Kingsway International 

Christian Centre’s Pastor 

Matthew Ashimolowo (24 

years);. 

Others are Pastor Chris 

Oyakhilome of Believers’ 

LoveWord International, 

alias Christ Embassy (26 

years); Pastor Sam 

Adeyemi of Daystar 

Christian Centre (21 

years); Pastor Tunde 

Bakare of Latter Rain 

Assembly (27 years); 

House on the Rock’s 

Pastor Paul Adefarasin (22 

years) among others. 

Suspension of FRCN’s 

CCG won’t affect 

investments – NSE 

Meanwhile, the 

Nigerian Stock Exchange, 

NSE, yesterday, 

expressed confidence of 

market rebound, saying 

that the suspension of the 

FRCN corporate 

governance code will not 

affect foreign investment 

inflow into the country. 

It also kicked against 

the proposed creation of 

multiple stock exchanges 

by the Securities and 

Exchange Commission, 

SEC, saying that the 

existing stock exchange 

does not have enough 

liquidity as of today. 

2017 market 

outlook 

NSE Chief Executive 

Officer, Mr. Oscar 

Onyema, who stated 

these during the review of 

the market performance in 

2016 and outlook for 2017, 

said: “The suspension of 

the FRCN’s corporate 

governance code will not 

affect foreign investment 

inflow into the market and 

the country in general but 

will rather give them more 

confidence to invest in the 

market. There is more 

work to be done on the 

code to be able to address 

the teething problems.” 

Creating more stock 

exchanges 

The SEC recently 

disclosed plan to further 

fragment the stock 

exchange to cater for 

Small and Medium 

Enterprises, SMEs, in the 

country that are 

interested in listing but 

are encumbered by the 

stringent listing 

requirements as part of 

efforts to drive equity 

listing in the stock 

market. 

According to the Director 

General, SEC, Mr. 

Mounir Gwarzo, the 

process when completed 

would lessen the strident 

listing rules that have 

been hindering such 

companies from listing 

in the stock market. He 

explained that under the 

new arrangement, the 

stock market would be 

classified under tier one, 

tier two and tier three 

markets, thereby 

allowing companies that 

want to set up small 

exchanges do so. He 

stated that the move 

would allow more SMEs 

to be listed in any of the 

exchanges that would be 

set up other than the 

NSE. 

However, while 

briefing the market, 

Onyema said the NSE 

does not really believe 

that the market should be 

fragmented at this point 

because “for a 

developing market such 

as ours, we do not want 

to fragment the market 

because we do not even 

have enough liquidity in 

one market.” 

On capital market 

outlook for 2017, he said: 

“Nigeria is expected to 

recover from its recession 

in 2017 with a modest 

GDP growth forecast of 0.6 

per cent driven by vigour 

of fiscal policy 

implementation, with a 

keen focus on articulation 

of desired goals; lower 

rates of disruptions to oil 

infrastructure from 

resolution of the Niger 

Delta conflict, thereby 

increasing Foreign 

Exchange, FX, inflows. 

"Crude oil prices are 

expected to remain above 

the federal government’s 

benchmark of $42.5/ 

barrel; positive impact of 

the war against corruption 

manifested in ease of 

doing business 

improvement; and 

policies aimed at boosting 

economic productivity 

such as improved 

budgetary allocation to 

capital expenditures, 

exit from JV Cash Call 

arrangements with IOCs 

by the FGN, which is 

expected to save the 

country $2 billion 

annually. 

“We intend to 

strengthen efforts with 

policy makers to drive 

policies that will free up 

the system and promote 

the ease of doing 

business in Nigeria. We 

believe that incentive 

schemes for sectors of 

the economy that can 

support a pivot to exportled 

economy will be 

beneficial, and 

systematic removal of 

impediments to doing 

business and therefore 

reduction of leakages 

will attract private sector 

investments 

“We anticipate that 

secondary market 

activity will be 

challenged initially as 

the impact of various 

policy measures work 

their way through the 

system. However, we 

expect to see a revival of 

supplementary listings, 

return of the new issuance 

market, and potentially 

one Initial Public Offer, 

IPO, since the equity 

market is a forward 

indicator of the economy, 

he added.”

6—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, 2017 

Delta 

herbalist 

arrested over 

attack on 

herdsman 

By Ochuko 

Akuopha 

OLEH—POLICE in 

Delta State have 

arrested an herbalist, 

Mr. O. Bassey, in 

connection with the 

attack on a herdsman 

and slaughtering of one 

his cows at Ossissa 

community, Ndokwa 

East Local East Local 

Government Area of the 

state. 

It was learned that the 

herdsman was heading 

towards Ossissa 

community with eight 

cows, when he was 

accosted by hoodlums 

suspected to be cattle 

rustlers, who attacked 

him around the Ossisa 

Bridge axis of the 

Ughelli-Asaba 

Expressway. 

Police Public Relations 

Officer of the state 

command, Mr. Andrew 

Aniamaka, who 

confirmed the arrest 

yesterday, said the 

assailants, numbering 

four, opened gunfire at 

the herdsman “but the 

bullet hit one of the 

cows; thereafter, they 

started beating him with 

machetes and seriously 

injured him.” 

He said the shot cow 

was discovered to have 

been butchered at a farm 

belonging to the 

herbalist in the Umuleke 

area of the Ossissa 

community. 

He said the herbalist 

had denied involvement 

in the incident, adding 

that police had 

intensified investigation 

into the matter to ensure 

that everyone involved 

is brought to book. 


Human Puppies: Pretty Mike signs 

undertaking to stop using chains on girls 

By Olasunkanmi Akoni 

LAGOS State Police 

Command has arrested a 

socialite, Mike Eze-Nwalie 

Nwogu, 30, popularly known 

as Pretty Mike, for allegedly 

dehumanising young girls 

and boys by turning them into 

human puppies with chains 

round their necks. 

Nwogu, a club owner in 

Ikeja area of the state, was 

arrested on Wednesday on the 

orders of the Lagos State 

Government after news 

emerged on social media of 

the development. 

Mike, whose escapades had 

since gone viral on the 

internet, was seen putting 

leash on young girls and 

leading them to a wedding in 

Lagos. 

According to a statement by 

state Director Public Affairs, 

Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Bola 

Akingbade, the development 

caused outrage from many 

quarters with people calling on 

government to act fast to put a 

rein on such bizarre anti-social 

behaviour. 

Nwogu was said to be 

cooperating with investigation 

and had given useful statement 

to the police and was released 

after signing an undertaking to 

desist from putting any woman 

or man on a leash. 

According to the 

undertaking, Nwogu admitted 

By Gbenga Olarinoye 

O SOGBO—THREE 

persons, yesterday, died 

on the spot while one other was 

critically injured in an accident 

that occurred along Ilesa/Akure 

Expressway. 

According to an eyewitness 

account, the accident, which 

occurred at Erin Oke Junction, 

involved a Toyota Sequa SUV 

and a Peugeot 406 car. 

Kogi photographer's 

kidnappers want N50m 

By Boluwaji Obahopo 

LOKOJA—THE families of a 

renowned photographer in 

Okene Local Government Area 

of Kogi State, Aminu Yakubu, 

who was kidnapped two weeks 

ago, have cried to the police to 

rescue him from the hands of the 

kidnappers. 

The family said that the 

kidnappers have demanded a 

ransom of N50 million for their 

son to regain his freedom 

According to the aged mother 

of the victim, Hajia Zainab 

Yakubu, who spoke to newsmen 

yesterday, on December 23, his 

Pretty Mike (above), with 

some of the girls on leash at 

an event in Lagos (right). 

knowing his action was 

against the law, but pledged 

not to further indulge in such 

behaviour. 

‘I pledge’ 

The undertaking read in 

part: “I, Mike Eze Nwalie, 

A.K.A Pretty Mike, of 21A, 

Magodo GRA, Luma Street, 

do hereby undertake to stop 

whatever act of putting girls 

on a leash or any other 

degrading treatment to ladies 

and guys. 

“I am aware that such act 

Sources near the scene of 

the crash told newsmen that 

the driver of the Peugeot car 

with the number plates NND 

968AA, wrongfully overtook a 

vehicle in front of him, when 

he did not have a clear view 

of the oncoming vehicle. 

The eyewitness said: “The 

driver of the Peugeot car 

overtook the vehicle in front 

of him and faced another 

vehicle, a Toyota Sequa SUV, 

By Chioma Onuegbu & 

Emmanuel Ayungbe 

UYO—NO fewer than 

three persons are feared 

dead following a clash 

between Hausa\Fulani 

scavengers and some local 

residents of Itiam Etoi in Uyo 

Local Government Area, 

Akwa Ibom State. 

It was gathered that trouble 

started on Tuesday night, 

when an Hausa scrap dealer 

ferrying a power generator on 

wheelbarrow, was accosted 

around the Udo Udoma area 

of Itiam Etoi, by some locals. 

A resident of Itiam Etoi, Mr. 

offends the law of the State 

of Lagos and if I repeat it 

again, there will be legal 

act towards me. 

“I undertake to issue a 

letter of apology to the 

public effective from 

tomorrow on all my social 

media platforms.” 

Reacting to the 

development, the state’s 

Attorney General and 

Commissioner for Justice, 

Mr. Adeniji Kazeem, said 

the government would not 

tolerate any anti-social 

number plates SMK 289 

AX, coming from the 

opposite side. 

“This led to head-on 

collision. All three 

passengers inside the 

Peugeot car died on the spot, 

while the driver of the SUV 

was seriously injured.” 

An officer of the Federal 

Road Safety Corps, FRSC, 

on patrol when the accident 

happened, who preferred 

Okon Effiong, told 

newsmen that if the attack 

had started when most 

residents had not gone to 

bed, the situation could have 

been worse. 

He added that the 

Hausa\Fulani community 

mobilised and launched a 

reprisal attack, venting anger 

on anybody they run into on 

their way to the scene of the 

meeting between the scrap 

dealer and locals. 

Effiong said: “When the 

‘area boys’ stopped the 

Hausa man, they asked him 

for settlement. He refused to 

pay and it led to a fight and 

behaviour that attempts to 

dehumanise any citizen in the 

state. 

Kazeem restated the 

government’s determination to 

prosecute any individual or 

group of persons who violate 

any law of the state under any 

guise. 

The commissioner said: 

“Lagos State Government is 

committed to the protection of 

the rights of all citizens, 

including children, women 

and all the vulnerable persons 

in the state.” 

3 killed, one injured in Ilesa-Akure Expressway crash 

son, Yakubu, was returning 

home at about 7.30p.m. from 

his photo studio along Lafia 

Street in Okene when he was 

kidnapped at the front of his 

residence and whisked away 

with his Toyota hilux van, which 

he said was latter abandoned 

along Ege village in Adavi 

Local Government Area of the 

state. 

The aged mother confirmed 

that her son has been under the 

custody of his kidnappers for 

more than two weeks now. 

She appealed to police to 

assist them, saying Yakubu is 

the bread winner of the family. 

anonymity, corroborated the 

accounts of sources that 

witnessed the accident, saying 

the accident occurred as a 

result of “wrongful overtaking 

and speed limit violation.” 

The bodies, it was gathered, 

had been deposited at the 

morgue of Wesley Guild 

Hospital, Ilesa, while the only 

survivor of the accident is said 

to be receiving treatment at 

OAU Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife. 

3 dead, as Hausa/Fulani go hay 

a reprisal attack from the 

Hausa\Fulani settlers in the 

area. 

“They arrived in large 

numbers with machetes and 

clubs and started cutting 

anyone they found on the road. 

Some of them carried iron rods 

with which they destroyed 

properties and chased shop 

owners away.” 

A resident, who narrowly 

escaped being killed by the 

Hausa men, simply identified as 

Ubong, said they met him on his 

way from work and descended 

on him. 

He said: “They wanted to kill 

me, but God saved my life as


By Ndahi Marama 

MAIDUGURI—AS part of 

its efforts to curtail 

criminality and social vices, 

Borno State government has 

announced a ban on the sale of 

alcohol and prostitution in the 

state. 

The Commissioner for Justice, 

Alhaji Kakashehu Lawan, made 

the announcement while 

briefing newsmen in 

Maiduguri, yesterday. 

He said that mobile courts 

would be set up to try violators 

some youths, who were drinking 

nearby, came to my rescue. I 

thank God that I am still alive.” 

Leaders react 

Reacting, the leader of the 

Hausa\Fulani community in 

Uyo, Alhaji Hassan Sadauki, 

sued for peace, saying the 

incident was a fallout of minor 

misunderstanding between his 

men and the suspected ‘area 

boys’. 

He said one of the victims from 

his side was critically ill from the 

injury he sustained from the 

fracas, adding that he would 

need about half a million naira 

for his medical expenses. 


Borno bans prostitution, sale of alcohol 

By Gbenga Olarinoye 

OSOGBO—A herbalist, 

simply identified as Jelili, 

and a commercial driver, Elijah 

Oyebode, are helping the 

Department of State Services, 

DSS, Osun State Command, on 

what led to the alleged 

kidnapping and killing of a 400 

Level student of Osun State 

University, Osogbo, Adebisi 

Rofiat Damilola. 

It would be recalled that Rofiat, 

who left Ipetu-Ijesa for Osogbo 

on December 22, 2016 got 

missing along the way and her 

corpse was later found on the 

roadside along Ikirun/Iragbiji 

road few days after. 

Sources within the DSS 

disclosed in Osogbo that the 

driver had confessed that the 

herbalist gave him the 

assignment to bring a young 

lady and get N10,000 as reward. 

The sources added that Elijah, 

in his confessional statement, 

said Rofiat boarded his vehicle 

from Ipetu-Ijesa to Osogbo, 

while returning from the Ipetu- 

Ijesa campus of UNIOSUN 

where she was studying Science 

Education. 

Elijah, who spoke in Yoruba 

language with newsmen in 

Osogbo, said: “I took her (Rofiat) 

from Ipetu-Ijesa. There were 

other passengers in my vehicle 

that day. The girl matched the 

of the new law. 

According to him, “the sale 

of alcohol is, hereby, banned 

throughout the state with effect 

from January 20. 

“All brothels and other spots 

where prostitution, immoral 

activities, sale and 

consumption of illicit drugs 

take place are hereby banned 

with immediate effect.” 

The Commissioner, however, 

explained that military and 

paramilitary formations across 

the state are exempted from the 

ban. 

specification that Ifa (herbalist) 

gave me. 

“Ifa said I should bring a lady 

that has never bore a child. When 

I saw the student, I was very sure 

that she had not given birth to a 

child. 

‘We used charm’ 

“Ifa had given me a charm that 

I will use to hypnotise any lady 

that I want to bring. He said once 

I put the charm in my pocket, I 

only need to have body contact 

with the lady and she would be 

hypnotised. 

“The charm was already in my 

pocket when I saw the lady and 

I ensured that my body touched 

her. From there, she didn’t know 

anything again. 

wire over harassment in A-Ibom 

Sadauki added that efforts 

were on to relocate his people 

from the crisis area for fear of 

another backlash. 

Worried by the frightening 

development, which has raised 

tempers in the state, Village 

Head of Itiam Etoi, Eteidung 

Effiong Asikpo; the Chairman of 

the state chapter of the Christian 

Association of Nigeria, CAN, 

Ndueso Ekwere, and the 

Chairman of Uyo Local 

Government Area, Mfon Ben, in 

their separate reactions sued for 

peace. 

Confirming the incident, 

Police Public Relations Officer, 

Cordelia Nwawe, appealed for 

“Military and paramilitary 

formations (Mammy 

Markets) are exempted as 

provided by the Liquor 

Business (Prohibition) Law, 

2000. 

“Those engaged in the 

activities above, particularly 

in Galadima, Gamboru, 

Moduganari, Wulari, Hot 

Bite, Baga Road, Mairi, 

London Ciki, Artillery and 

along Giwa Barracks are 

hereby warned to take note.” 

Lawan called on owners of 

unregistered chemists and 

“After dropping other 

passengers at their various 

destinations, I took the lady 

to Ifa in his house in Ikirun 

and he gave me N10,000. I 

pitied the lady when I was 

leaving because I knew she 

would not come out alive. My 

conscience was telling me that 

what I did was bad. 

“When I left Ifa’s house, I 

went to a bush to dump the 

lady’s luggage which 

contained some clothes. Few 

minutes later, her phone 

started ringing. I knew her 

people must be looking for 

her. I took the phone to Yusuf 

to help me sell it. I told Yusuf 

that a passenger forgot the 

phone in my vehicle. 

calm, assuring that peace has 

already been restored to the 

affected community, adding 

that some victims of the fight 

have been discharged from 

the hospitals. 

Nwawe, who admitted 

casualties on both sides, said 

police was not in a better 

position to confirm the 

casualty figures. 

She said: “We are not the 

one to confirm the dead. It is 

the job of the state 

government or qualified 

medical professionals. But as 

far as I know, nobody died 

from the clash.” 

patent medicine stores to 

register their outfits or be 

made to face the wrath of the 

law. 

He said: “All unregistered 

chemists and patent medicine 

stores are hereby warned to 

properly get registered within 

two weeks from today or be 

forced to close down. 

“Government will not 

tolerate a situation where 

unregistered or unlicensed 

persons engage in such 

business that directly touches 

on the health of the citizenry.” 

How I took Osun Varsity girl to herbalist for N10,000 

•He's lying—Herbalist •There's evidence against herbalist—DSS 

“The phone kept ringing 

and I later picked it. Yusuff 

told me that it was dangerous 

to receive the call because 

they could use it to trace us. I 

removed the SIM card and 

threw it away instantly to 

prevent her people from 

reaching us. We sold the 

phone for N20,000 and 

shared it.” 

The herbalist, in an 

interview with journalists, 

said the driver was telling lies 

and that Elijah was just his 

contract driver that he used 

occasionally. 

A top DSS official said there 

was incriminatory evidence 

against the herbalist, adding 

that he was lying. 

Children carrying animal feeds at Dindima in Bauchi, yesterday. NAN PHOTO. 

By Bose Adelaja 

THERE was panic at Lagos 

State Model College, 

Igbonla, Epe, yesterday, 

during a fire outbreak at one 

of the boys’ hostels. 

Property worth millions of 

Naira was lost to the inferno, 

which consumed clothing, 

beddings and other personal 

effects of the students. 

No life was lost in the 

incident as all the students 

were quickly relocated to a 

safer place during the fire, 

which cause was yet to be 

ascertained. 

March 23 for 

judgment on 

Cynthia 

Osokogu’s 

case 

By Onozure Dania 

JUSTICE 

Olabisi 

Akinlade of the Lagos 

High Court sitting at 

Igbosere, yesterday fixed 

March 23, for judgment 

on the trial of four men 

accused of the murder of 

Cynthia Osokogu. 

The late Osokogu was 

allegedly murdered on 

July 22, 2012 at Cosmilla 

Hotel, Lakeview Estate, 

Festac Town, Lagos, by 

her Facebook lover. 

The defendants are: 

Okwumo Nwabufo, 33; 

Olisaeloka Ezike, 23; 

Orji Osita, 33, and Ezike 

Nonso, 25. 

They are facing a sixcount 

charge bordering 

on conspiracy, murder, 

stealing, recklessness, 

negligence and 

possession of stolen 

goods. 

At the resumed trial 

yesterday, Akinlade, 

adjourned for judgment 

after the adoption of the 

final written addresses by 

all the counsel. 

Akinlade had frowned 

at the delay by the 

second defendant’s 

counsel, Mr A. 

Nwachukwu, in filing his 

final written address. 

She pointed out that the 

court would not entertain 

delay tactics from any 

counsel to forestall 

justice in all cases. 

Mr. Victor Okpara, who 

spoke for all the defence 

counsel, said that the trial 

was fair and they 

expected their clients to 

be discharged and 

acquitted. 

The murder trial began 

on February 8, 2013, 

with the state calling the 

hotel’s receptionist as 

the first witness. 

Panic in Lagos school 

as fire guts hostel 

The incident caused panic 

among the students and their 

teachers, who reportedly made 

several calls to their relatives. 

During the inferno, which 

raged for about two hours, the 

school authorities made use of 

fire extinguishers, which could 

not douse the intensity of the 

fire, until the state fire fighters 

were invited. 

The Director Lagos State Fire 

Service, Razak Fadipe, said 

similar incidents were 

recorded at Maximum Prison, 

Kirikiri. and Idimu areas at 

about 2a.m. and 9a.m., 

respectively, yesterday.

8 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 2017

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 2017 — 9

10 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 2017 


Moro indigenes 

protest over 

monarchs' 

grading 

C ONCERNED 

indigenes and elders 

in Moro Local Government 

Area of Kwara State have 

called on the state 

government to take another 

look at the grading of 

traditional institutions which 

has led to the marginalisation 

of some monarchs in the 

state. 

In a petition signed by 15 

prominent indigenes from 

different districts, it was noted 

that grading and regrading 

exercises done by the Kwara 

state government in the past 

four decades have 

consistently sidelined 

traditional rulers in Moro 

local government area who 

had been graded and 

subsequently degraded. 

It cited the instance of two 

traditional rulers, the Ohoro 

of Shao and the Oba of Jebba 

who were graded third class 

Obas in the 1983 but this was 

withdrawn in 1984 by the 

succeeding military 

administration. 

e-library 

commissioning 

THERE will be the 

commissioning of an e- 

library at Lagos Baptist 

Academy, today, January 13 

at 11.30am. 

According to Mr Lanre 

Idowu, President, Baptist 

Academy Old Students 

Association; ‘’This is the 

latest in the series of strategic 

interventions planned by 

the old students to improve 

the standard of education in 

their alma mater.’’ 

Marriage and 

Family 

Intervention 

Conference 

M 

ARRIAGE Alive 

International will 

holds its annual Lagos 

Marriage & Family 

Intervention Conference, 

with the theme: Love, as 

it was in the beginning, 

tomorrow at Edify City 

Event Centre, 39 

Ogunnusi Road, Ogba, 

Lagos. The time is 2pm to 

5pm. 

According to host 

minister, Dr Ben E. Efe, 

the conference is open to 

spouses and family 

members in Lagos and its 

environs. 

‘’At the conference, you 

will be given tips on how 

to keep your marriage 

safe and alive; special 

impartation/prayers for 

marriages; raising altars 

for your homes. And free 

gifts and lots more awaits 

all comers,'' Dr Efe said. 

KUDIRAT ABIOLA: S-Court clears LASG to retry Al-Mustapha 

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri 

ABUJA—THE Supreme 

Court, yesterday, upheld 

the appeal by the Lagos State 

Government, against the 

discharge and acquittal of 

Major Hamza Al-Mustapha 

over the murder of Alhaja 

Kudirat Abiola. 

Al-Mustapha was a former 

Chief Security Officer, CSO, to the 

late Military Head of State, 

General Sani Abacha. 

He was accused of complicity 

in the murder of Kudirat, a wife 

OONI VISITS LSHA: From left: Deputy Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Wasiu 

Eshilokun; Speaker Mudashiru Obasa; Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II; Hon 

Adebayo Osinowo and Majority Leader, Sanai Agunbiade promoting the Yoruba culture during 

the courtesy visit by the Ooni of Ife yesterday at the Lagos State House of Assembly 

Ooni attends Lagos Assembly’s Yoruba 

session, praises members 

By Ebun Sessou 

LAGOS—THE Ooni of Ife, 

Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, 

yesterday attended a session 

conducted in Yoruba by the Lagos 

State House of Assembly and 

thereafter commended the 

members for promoting the 

language and culture. 

He also called on other state 

Assemblies in the South West to 

take a queue from Lagos. 

He made the call when he paid 

a courtesy visit to the Assembly. 

Ooni Ogunwusi commended the 

Lagos lawmakers for being in the 

forefront of promoting the Yoruba 

language and culture. “I’m very 

happy to be here and I want to 

commend the members for being 

of the presumed winner of the 

June 12, 1993 presidential election 

that was annulled by former 

President Ibrahim Babangida, 

late Chief Moshood Abiola. 

Lagos State approached the 

apex court, seeking its permission 

to challenge a Court of Appeal 

judgment that freed Al-Mustapha 

on July 12, 2013. 

A seven-man panel of Justices 

of the apex court led by the Acting 

Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice 

Walter Onnoghen, granted the reopening 

of the case against Al- 

Mustapha. 

in the forefront of promoting 

Yoruba language and culture,” 

Oba Ogunwusi said. 

While receiving the Ooni as 

special guest at the Yoruba session 

of the plenary, the Speaker of the 

House , Mr. Mudashiru Obasa 

restated the commitment of the 

Assembly to the promotion of 

Yoruba language and the culture 

of the Yoruba people. 

“We have started conducting our 

Thursday plenary sessions in 

Yoruba. We have gone ahead to 

organise the Yoruba Stakeholders’ 

Summit and we will ensure that 

the teaching of Yoruba language 

becomes compulsory in Lagos 

schools,’’ he said. 

Meantime, the newly appointed 

Director General of the Lagos State 

Kwankwaso’s foreign scholarship, 

a scam — GANDUJE 

By AbdulSalam Muhammad 

K ANO—GOVERNOR 

Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of 

Kano state took his predecessor, Rabiu 

Musa Kwankwaso to the cleaners 

yesterday over the latter's foreign 

scholarship scheme saying the entire 

scheme was a scam. 

Governor Ganduje, who made the 

assertion while receiving the new 

executives of National Association of 

Kano state Students, NAKSS, who 

visited him explained that “the 

arrangement was fraudulent and 

unacceptable to his administration.” 

He said instead of following due 

process to secure admissions for the 

students, the government engaged the 

services of what he called “a contractor”, 

who collects money improperly from 

both the government and the 

institutions, turning the whole 

admission exercise into a racket. 

Ganduje revealed that “when they 

want to pay the bursaries of the 

students, they give the contractor, who 

in turn takes his share before remitting 

the money to the students. Similarly, 

when they want to pay the school fees, 

they send the money to him, to take his 

share, then give the rest to the 

institutions”. 

In a brief ruling, the apex court 

said it was minded to allow Lagos 

State to lodge its belated appeal, 

despite being out of time. 

Consequently, the Supreme 

Court gave Lagos State 30 days 

within which it should enter a 

notice of appeal against Al- 

Mustapha. 

The ruling followed an 

application that was moved on 

behalf of the state by Mrs. 

Osunsanya Oluwayemisi, a 

Senior State Counsel in the Lagos 

Ministry of Justice. 

Al-Mustapha’s lawyer, Mr. 

Safety Commission, LSSC, Hakeem 

Dickson has said that every 

house in the state must possess 

a fire extinguisher cylinder 

as safeguard from disasters. 

Dickson gave this assurance 

while addressing members of the 

House during plenary towards 

approving his nomination as the 

head of the commission. 

Also, the State Coordinator of 

the Federal Government N-Power 

scheme, Shola Falana gave 

assurance that the Scheme would 

commence fully in Lagos by 

month-end. 

While responding to some of 

the questions raised by the 

lawmakers, Falana explained 

that the Federal Government 

has final verdict on the 

programme, saying she was 

acting according to instructions. 

Joseph Dauda, SAN, did not to 

oppose the application. 

The acting CJN stressed that 

going by the ruling, the time for 

Lagos to appeal against findings 

of the Court of Appeal on the 

celebrated murder case has been 

extended from July 12, 2013, when 

Mustapha was discharged, till 

yesterday. 

Though out of time, Lagos had 

prayed the apex court panel to 

allow it to challenge the appellate 

court findings of Justices Amina 

Augie, Rita Nosakhare Pemu and 

Fatimo Omoro Akinbami, on 

ground of mis-carriage of Justice. 

It expressed determination to 

test the validity and correctness 

of the decision of the Court of 

Appeal on the matter. 

It wants the apex court to 

determine whether or not there 

was any direct or circumstantial 

evidence establishing the guilt 

passed on Al-Mustapha in the 

murder case. 

It justified its lateness in filing 

the appeal on the ground that it 

had constituted two legal teams 

to review the circumstances of the 

case vis-a-vis the verdict of the 

Court of Appeal. 

Lagos State told the apex court 

panel that it took a long time for 

the two legal teams to present 

their findings and recommended 

that an appeal should be lodged. 

The state, its notice of appeal 

marked SC/45/2014, is praying 

the Supreme Court to not only setaside 

the appellate court verdict, 

but to also restore the death 

sentence by hanging earlier 

passed on Al-Mustapha by a 

Lagos High Court on January 30, 

2012. 

It will be recalled that Al- 

Mustapha, Mohammed Abacha 

and one Lateef Shofolahan were 

arraigned before a Lagos high 

court on two-count criminal 

charge of conspiracy to commit 

murder and the murder of Kudirat 

on June 4, 1996 in Lagos State. 

Justice Moji Dada had in a 

judgment in 2012, found the 

accused persons culpable as 

charged and sentenced them to 

death by hanging. 

The verdict was however, 

reversed by the appellate 

court following an appeal Al- 

Mustapha filed on April 27, 

2012 for a review of the trial 

and conviction.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 2017 — 11 


APC POLITICAL LEADERS' MEETING: From left; Chief Pius Akinyelure; Aremo Olusegun 

Osoba; Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, APC National Leader and Otunba Niyi Adebayo, former Ekiti 

State gov, during the meeting of the All Progressives Congress, APC political leaders of the 

South West in Ibadan, Oyo State, yesterday. Photos by Dare Fasube. 

From left; Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and 

Culture; Chief Bisi Akande, former Chairman of APC and Governor 

Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State. 

Tinubu, allies in icy meeting at Ibadan 

By Ola Ajayi 

IBADAN — A meeting 

called to forge unity among 

prominent Southwest chieftains of 

the All Progressives Congress, 

APC, ended on an icy note 

yesterday after former Lagos State 

governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu 

and some close allies walked out 

after the first round of a two-stage 

meeting. 

The meeting involving all 

governors and ministers from the 

region was, nevertheless, 

declared a success by party leader 

and two-time governor of Ogun 

State, Aremo Olusegun Osoba. 

Roll call 

The meeting, which was 

reportedly brokered by Governor 

Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State had 

in attendance the former 

National Chairman of the 

party, Chief Bisi Akande, 

Tinubu, Osoba, APC Deputy 

National Chairman, Engr 

Segun Oni, Senate Chief Whip, 

Senator Olusola Adeyeye, 

Majority Leader, House of 

Representatives, Femi 

Gbagabiamila, Lagos State 

Governor, Mr. Akinwumi 

Ambode, Governor Ibikunle 

Amosun of Ogun State and 

Governor Rauf Aregbesola of 

Osun State. 

Others included Prince 

Olagunsoye Oyinlola, former 

governor of Osun State, Aremo 

Olusegun Osoba, former 

governor of Ogun State, Niyi 

Adebayo, former governor of Ekiti 

State, Minister of Finance, Mrs. 

Kemi Adeosun, Minister of 

Information, Alhaji Lai 

Mohammed, Minister of 

Communications, Mr. Adebayo 

Shittu, Minister of Works, Power 

and Housing, Mr. Babatunde 

Fashola and Professor Isaac 

Adewole, Minister of Health. 

The only high profile office 

holder absent was the Deputy 

Speaker of the House of 

Representatives, Mr. Lasun Yusuf 

who reportedly was out of the 

country. 

The first round of the meeting 

in the Executive Chamber of the 

Oyo State Governor’s Office 

lasted about four hours with all 

invitees in attendance. 

The meeting, which was held 

behind closed-doors, according to 

Vanguard sources saw party 

chieftains confronting one 

another over alleged acts of 

betrayal. 

When the meeting ended at 

about 5:05 pm, Tinubu wore a hard 

countenance likened to a lion 

fresh from a battle. Fayemi, a 

political disciple of Tinubu was, 

on the other hand, smiling all 

through. 

When Tinubu posed with others 

for a photograph, he had to be 

persuaded to soften his mien for 

the photographs. He then feigned 

a dry smile and immediately after,, 

he again assumed a tough mien 

as he strode towards his waiting 

vehicle. 

Meanwhile, Fayemi was 

holding Amosun’s hand while 

Fashola stood apart, smiling 

occasionally. 

The cat was, however, let out of 

the bag when Fayemi burst into a 

song, still holding the hand of 

Amosun. 

He sang one of King Sunny 

Ade’s tunes...Ko le se kija ma wa 

o, bi ija ba de o, se lo ye ka pari e, 

ko le se ki ija ma wa o..meaning 

misunderstanding is 

unavoidable, when it occurs, we 

ought to settle it. 

Amosun, however, cautioned 

Fayemi to stop the song. 

Speaking on the outcome of the 

first round of the meeting, Osoba 

said: “All the members that we 

invited are here except the 

EFCC should probe theft in Ekiti govt house — APC 

•Why not, when FG can investigate missing underwears — FAYOSE 

By Rotimi Ojomoyela 

ADO-EKITI — THE All 

Progressives Congress, 

APC, in Ekiti State has asked 

the Economic and Financial 

Crimes Commission, EFCC, to 

investigate report of $50,000 

(N20million) theft in the Ekiti 

State Government House 

involving Governor Ayodele 

Fayose’s aides and a woman 

who allegedly bolted with 

$125,000 (N75million) without 

trace. The $50,000 is allegedly 

part of the $125,000. 

In a statement in Ado-Ekiti, 

APC Publicity Secretary, Taiwo 

Olatunbosun, said the antigraft 

agency must fulfil its 

mandate of checking frauds 

and investigation of 

questionable sources of money 

among Nigerians whose 

lifestyles do not support their 

sources of income. 

Governor Ayo Fayose’s Chief 

Press Secretary Idowu 

Adelusi, while reacting on 

behalf of his principal, said; 

“There is nothing bad in the 

APC asking the EFCC to probe 

the stolen money since the 

antigraft agency can now 

investigate even missing 

under wears in individual 

homes. 

“But the APC should also go 

further to ask the EFCC to 

investigate the N850 million 

SUBEB fund stolen during 

former governor Kayode 

Fayemi’s administration, the 

millions of naira spent on 

flowers that were never seen 

anywhere in Ado Ekiti and the 

billions of naira looted from the 

State treasury when the party 

was in power. 

On Wednesday, the State 

Commissioner of Police, Mr. 

Wilson Inalegwu arraigned 

two of the named governor’s 

aides, Bamidele Temitope and 

Afolabi Sunday, including a 

street foreign exchange operator, 

Shuaibu Amidu, at the Ekiti 

State Magistrate Court in Ado- 

Ekiti, Ekiti State capital, for 

stealing and conspiracy. 

Deputy Speaker, who is presently 

out of the country. We met 

principally to discuss all the things 

that may be affecting South-west, 

and we have come out with a 

resolution to show that in the APC 

South-West of APC, there is unity 

of purpose, the leadership is one, 

and we have resolved all the issues 

that may be affecting the 

governance of this country and 

what should be the role and the 

influence that we should exercise 

as a group in the interest of this 

country and for the progress of this 

country. 

“We have examined what the 

government that we are all 

involved in is bringing, and we 

have resolved all the issues, and 

all those that will be taken to Abuja 

will be taken to Abuja by those 

concerned. We have related with 

our legislative members, leaders 

at the party level and we have 

related with all our governors, and 

I can assure you from now 

onward, there will be total 

harmony and consultation among 

our governors for the progress of 

South West Nigeria. 

“Southwest is the leader of the 

progressives in this country, and 

we are determined to reassert our 

influence in the progressive 

politics of this country for the 

betterment of Nigeria,” he said. 

All the persuasive moves by 

Ajimobi for Tinubu to tarry a little 

for the second meeting were 

rejected as he immediately drove 

away in a Range Rover Sports 

Utility Van. In fact, some of his 

aides were still looking for him not 

knowing he had left. 

While Tinubu, Ambode, 

Aregbesola and Amosun left after 

the first meeting, Akande held the 

second round of meeting with the 

ministers. 

The second meeting involved all 

the ministers, including Fayemi, 

Shittu, Adeosun, Ajimobi and 

Isaac Adewole. It was chaired by 

Chief Akande and ended at about 

5:30 pm. 

Though details were sketchy, it 

was gathered that it was a channel 

through which the mind of the 

caucus would be passed to the 

president. 

Vanguard gathered that party 

chieftains felt that the South West 

may have been betrayed despite 

the tremendous support given to 

President Muhammadu Buhari. 

No time for 

tribal 

politics — 

AKEREDOLU 

By Dayo Johnson 

AKURE — ONDO 

State governor 

elect, Rotimi Akeredolu 

SAN, yesterday said that 

he would not have time 

for sectional or tribal 

politics when he takes 

over next month, 

February 24. 

Akeredolu said instead 

his administration will be 

fair to all in the execution 

of policies and projects. 

He stated this when 

members of the Owo 

Reformed Association 

ORA, Ikare Akoko 

Chapter paid him a 

congratulatory visit in his 

Owo residence. 

The governor elect 

promised to embark on 

aggressive life changing 

projects in the state. 

He said; “Not one 

single town or community 

will be left out in the task 

of developing the state. “ 

My mission is to make 

Ondo state great again, 

there is no time for 

sectional or tribal 

politics.’’ 

He said that he went 

into the governorship race 

not because of selfish or 

sectional interest but the 

urge to serve the people. 

Akeredolu pointed out 

that his heart desire is to 

make the state a single 

and indivisible family. 

Earlier, the Chairman 

of the association, 

Kehinde Fabuluje 

enjoined the governor 

elect do do away with 

sycophants and praise 

singers who will do 

everything possible to 

curry favour from him for 

selfish interest.



WHO begins vaccination of 4.7m children in 

North-East •…as Dangote tasks Kano, Kaduna govts on mgt of polio funds 

By AbdulSalam 

Muhammad & Gabriel 

Olawale 

THE World Health 

Organisation, WHO, today 

began a mass vaccination as 

part of the campaign to protect 

4,766,214 children against 

measles in conflict-affected 

North-East states. 

The global health body said 

the two-week exercise at the 

internally displaced people, 

IDP’s camps is targeting all 

children aged between six 

months and 10 years in 

accessible areas in Borno, Yobe 

and Adamawa states. 

In a related development, 

Chairman of Dangote 

Foundation, Alhaji Aliko 

Dangote, has called for the 

need for accountability in 

managing donor funds 

released for Polio 

immunisation in Kano State 

government last year. 

Alhaji Dangote made the 

call during a video 

conference involving Co- 

Chair of Bill and Melinda 

Gates Foundation, Mr. Bill 

Gates; Governor Abdullahi 

Ganduje of Kano State; his 

Kaduna State counterpart, 

Malam Nasir el-Rufai; 

officials of the National 

Primary Health Care 

Development Agency and 

development partners, at the 

Government House, Kano. 

He said the request lies in 

the interest of 

“accountability and 

transparency” and that “all 

expenditure in the exercise 

must be verified by external 

auditors and the report 

tendered by the end of 

March 31.” 

NNPC proposes hike in royalties, 

scrapping of incentives 

By Michael Eboh 

THE 

Nigerian 

National Petroleum 

Corporation, NNPC, 

yesterday, called for an 

increase in royalties across 

all categories in the Deep 

Offshore and Inland Basin 

Production Sharing 

Contract, PSC, in the 

petroleum industry. 

A statement by Mr. Bello 

Rabiu, Chief Operating 

Officer, Upstream, of the 

NNPC, said that the 

corporation made the 

proposal at a presentation 

to the Joint House of 

Representatives 

Committees on the 

amendment of the PSC Act 

and an Act to establish the 

National Oil and Gas 

Museum and Research 

Centre in Oloibiri. 

He further proposed key 

amendments to the Act, 

which he claimed would 

enable the Federal 

Government optimize the 

collection of royalties and 

other revenue in deep 

water oil production 

activities and also increase 

government take. 

The NNPC is also 

proposing the scrapping of 

incentives to oil companies 

in the areas of investment 

tax credit, investment tax 

allowance and associated 

cost uplift and capital 

allowances to PSC 

contractors. 

“It is our opinion that these 

incentives have outlived 

their usefulness and are 

now impediments to the 

Federal Government’s 

revenue collection efforts. 

The use of such incentives 

can be terminated by an 

amendment of section 4 of 

the Act,” the Corporation 

noted. 

The NNPC noted that the 

proposal for an increase in 

the royalty rate for terrains 

beyond 1,000 metres, from 

zero per cent to three per 

cent, is commendable 

adding that it was also 

necessary to make 

corresponding adjustments 

in other categories. 

MoU 

Dangote and Bill & Melinda 

Gates Foundations had, in 

2012, signed a Memorandum 

of Understanding, MoU, 

with Kano State government 

on routine immunisation in a 

tripartite accord meant to 

lapse in 2015, but extended 

for one year, while Kaduna 

State government signed a 

similar agreement a year ago. 

He, however, commended 

the Ganduje administration 

for providing world-class cold 

chains, stressing the need for 

the government to continue to 

work closely with traditional 

authorities and local 

government officials to 

achieve a Polio-free society. 

Mr. Gates also lauded Kano 

and Kaduna state 

governments for their war 

against polio, stressing that 

total eradication of the 

disease is possible if the 

states maintained the zeal. 

He also stressed the need 

for accountability in 

managing donor funds. 

The governor’s reaction 

In his contribution to the 

video conference, Governor 

Ganduje said: “Although 

milestone have been 

recorded in immunisation in 

the state, which hitherto was 

the chief host of Polio, we 

would emphasise public 

enlightenment and 

cooperation with religious 

and traditional leaders to 

make the set goal 

achievable.” 

He also promised that 

more attention would be 

attached to data collection 

and thanked Dangote 

Foundation, Bill and 

Melinda Gates Foundation 

and other donor agencies for 

supporting Kano to attain 

landmarks on immunisation 

and maternal/child health. 

WHO 

On the measles vaccination, 

WHO representative in Nigeria, 

Dr. Wondimagegnehu Alemu, 

said the campaign is an emergency 

intervention to protect 

more than four million children 

against a highly contagious 

and sometimes deadly disease. 

According to him, “massive 

disruption to health services in 

conflict-affected areas for many 

years has deprived these 

children of essential childhood 

vaccinations. 

“In addition, many of them 

have severe malnutrition, 

making them extremely 

vulnerable to serious 

complications and death from 

measles.”



Use Osinbajo's visit for N-Delta devt —GROUP 

By Emma Amaize 

&Davies Iheamnachor 

W 

ARRI—T H E 

Foundation for Human 

Rights and Anti- Corruption 

Crusade, FHRACC, and Niger 

Delta Progressive Youth Leaders 

Council, NDPYLC, have asked 

the Federal Government to use 

the confidence-building visit of 

the Vice President, Professor Yemi 

Osinbajo, and his team to Niger 

Delta, next week, to tie up its 

development plan to address the 

neglect of the region once and for 

all. 

FHRACC, in a statement by the 

national president, Alaowei 

Cleric, yesterday, said:”Since we 

stand on peaceful resolution of the 

crisis, any genuine step taken by 

the Federal Government to 

resolve the crisis is appreciated. 

We hope that the government 

uses this medium to fine-tune the 

real cause of the crisis and address 

them once and for all. The 

proposed fact finding visit to the 

Gbaramatu kingdom and some 

other parts of the Niger Delta 

region by Vice President, Prof. 

Yemi Osinbajo is a right step in 

the direction if the visit will not 

be like his last year’s visit to 

Ogulagha kingdom, where he 

came to inspect the damaged 

Forcados Trunk line without 

inspecting the ecological 

challenges of the environmentally 

devastated Ogulagha community 

in Burutu LGA of Delta state. 

“We warn that the government 

should eschew its double 

standard in the matter. A situation 

where the Vice President is 

coming to the region to look for 

peaceful solution to the crisis, 

while the government’s security 

agencies are on a witch-hunt 

mission to arrest every Tom, Dick 

and Harry cannot be said to be a 

By Jimitota Onoyume 

PORT 

HARCOURT— 

PEOPLES Democratic 

Party, PDP, and its All Progressives 

Congress, APC, counterpart in 

Rivers State, yesterday, traded 

words over purported arrest of 21 

Independent National Electoral 

Commission, INEC, adhoc staff 

who served in the last re-run 

elections. 

State Chairman of the party, Mr 

Felix Obuah, who spoke through 

his media aide, Mr Jerry Needam, 

alleged that those arrested were 

first detained at the State 

Criminal Investigation 

Department, SCID, before they 

were moved to Abuja to confess 

that they were bribed by Governor 

Nyesom Wike during the re-run 

elections. 

On its part, APC, through its 

spokesman, Mr Chris Finebone, 

said the PDP was panicking 

peaceful visit. That is the 

greatest antithesis of the Niger 

Delta crisis. You cannot say one 

thing today and do another 

thing tomorrow. We, therefore, 

call for the unconditional release 

of ex-agitator and member of the 

Delta State Waterways and Land 

Security Committee, DSWLSC, 

Smith Bounanaowei, and all 

other persons arrested by 

security operatives since 

February, 2016. The sincerity 

government can display is in 

releasing the detainees, 

otherwise peace will continue to 

elude the region. 

Similarly, NDPYLC asked the 

Federal Government to direct 

the Ministry of Niger Delta 

Affairs, MNDA, and Niger Delta 

Development Commission, 

NDDC, to commence the 

implementation of the Niger 

Delta Regional Development 

Master Plan, NDRDMP. 

In a statement yesterday in 

Port Harcourt, leader of the 

group, Iyke Daniel and the 

Publicity Secretary, Kingsley 

Maduka, said: “We support the 

Federal Government of Nigeria 

under the leadership of President 

Muhammadu Buhari on the 

various programmes and 

policies aimed at putting the 

country on the path of progress 

and prosperity and for the 

appointment of Mr. Useni 

Uguru, and Mr. Ishaku Darius 

as Minister and Minister of State 

respectively for Niger Delta 

Affairs Miistry. We urge the 

government, through the 

Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs/NDDC 

to, as a matter of 

priority, demonstrate the 

needed courage and political 

will to implement the Niger 

Delta Regional Development 

Master Plan which represents 

a holistic approach to the developmental 

needs of the region 

in term of human and 

natural infrastructure. 

“We, therefore, demand for 


ensure increased and robust 

funding of the ministry and the 

commission to deliver on their 

mandates. We are confident of 

the capacity of the board of the 

NDDC, and the Ministry of 

Niger Delta Affairs as presently 

constituted to deliver on the 

needs of the people." 

LANDSLIDE: Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John- 

Jonah (retd), (middle) inspecting the site of a landslide that occurred at Okoloba community 

in Kolokuma Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, while a cross section of 

members of the community look on. 

PDP, APC trade words over arrest of 21 INEC staff 

•They were arrested to lie against me —Wike 

•PDP is afraid the truth will soon come out —APC 

because the staff could spill the 

beans on the rerun elections, 

saying it might have confirmed 

suspicion of the APC that the 

PDP smuggled some of its 

members into the INEC list as 

adhoc staff. 

This came as the state Police 

command, declined comment on 

the issue, saying since the PDP 

said the matter was in Abuja, the 

Force Public Relation Officer, 

FPRO, was in a better position 

to speak on it. 

Spokesman of the state’s Police 

command, DSP Nnamdi 

Omoni, who spoke to Vanguard 

said since the party alleged that 

the matter was in Abuja then it 

was beyond his powers to 

comment. "The IGP’s spokesman 

is the one to speak,” he said. 

Similarly, INEC’s Resident 

Electoral Commissioner, REC, in 

the state, Elder Aniedi Ikoiwak, 

told Vanguard that he was not 

aware that some adhoc staff of 

the commission were in the 

custody of security agencies. 

The PDP, however, in its 

statement, claimed a source 

hinted that more arrests would 

be made and those allegedly in 

the custody of security operatives 

in Abuja would be paraded 

before the media by the Police. 

The party said: “Regrettably, 

the Police in the Rivers State have 

become a tool of witch-hunt by 

the Federal Government and 

certain Rivers politicians of the 

APC. We call on well-meaning 

Nigerians to rise against this 

ugly trend and abuse of 

responsibility by the Police high 

command and the APC 

leadership in trying to silence the 

opposition by wrongly indicting 

innocent citizens, the Rivers State 

government and leaders of the 

PDP in the state.” 

But APC said: “We do not see 

why the PDP should be too 

worried that ad-hoc staff of 

INEC or indeed anybody, is 

invited by the Police to assist 

them on any issue. How that 

becomes a source of worry for 

the PDP is baffling to us. Could 

it be a confirmation of our longheld 

suspicion that PDP 

smuggled their members into 

the INEC ad-hoc staff list to do 

their bidding? Or could the 

investigation of the ad-hoc staff 

possibly lead to the unravelling 

of possible extent and 

dimensions of compromise of 

INEC officials by Governor 

Nyesom Wike and the PDP 

hence the apprehension and 

false alarm?.” 

The party said if truly the 

adhoc staff were arrested it 

should ordinarily not generate 

frenzy, adding that security 

operatives should go about their 

jobs. 

Release our 

leaders, Ogbe- 

Ijoh community 

cries out 

CONCERNED Members 

for Peace in Ogbe-Ijoh 

Kingdom has cried out to Delta 

State governor, Dr. Ifeanyi 

Okowa, to intercede and 

release the three Ogbe-Ijoh 

community leaders arrested by 

the police in connection with 

the clash with Aladja over an 

age-long boundary dispute. 

Urging the governor to be 

resolute on its December 20, 

2016 pronouncement for the 

mandatory acquisition of the 

289 hectares of land between 

both communities, the group 

also expressed fears that there 

are some politicians in his 

cabinet that have become clogs 

in the wheel of progress to 

actualizing a peaceful 

resolution in the dispute. 

The group in a statement by 

its coordinator, Friday 

Denighan, said: “In as much 

as Ogbe-Ijoh people have 

more to lose in the acquisition, 

we are also mindful of the fact 

that some politicians are 

against the acquisition for their 

selfish reasons." 

On the arrest of three Ogbe- 

Ijoh community leaders, he 

said: "The arrest is biased and 

politically motivated because 

after the governor read the riot 

act on December 20, 2016, our 

people have not carried out any 

attack to warrant the arrest of 

its leaders. 

“In as much as we are 

surprised by the charges 

levelled against them, 

arresting community leaders is 

not the best solution to ending 

the crisis but upholding and 

implementing the findings by 

the various fact finding 

committees set up by the state 

government.” 

Okowa, others 

to grace UIAA 

annual dinner 

By Kelechukwu Iruoma 

GOVERNOR 

Ifeanyi 

Okowa of Delta State, 

his Chief of Staff, Tams Brisibe, 

and Commissioner for 

Economic planning, Dr. 

Kingsley Emu, are expected to 

join a distinguished gathering 

of graduates of the University 

of Ibadan, when the Asaba 

chapter of the Alumni 

Association hosts the 2016 

annual dinner of the University 

of Ibadan Alumni Association, 

UIAA, Asaba chapter, 

tomorrow. 

A statement by the Planning 

Committee Chairman, Dr. A 

Ojogbo, said that the annual 

dinner, which will hold at the 

residence of former Delta State 

Head of Service, Sir Okey Ofili, 

will have Chief D.N 

Maduemezia, the Oligbo 

Ahaba as Chairman while Dr. 

Kemi Emina, National 

President, UIAA, will be the 

Special Guest of Honour.



New twist to Ohanaeze polls fallout 

•Nwabueze, Ejike, ILT distance selves from litigation 

•Igbo forum tasks new leadership to be non-partisan 

•S'East PDP pledges support for Nwodo-led exco 

By Clifford Ndujihe, 

Dennis Agbo & 

Nwabueze Okonkwo 

ELDER statesman and 

Chairman of the Igbo 

Leaders of Thought, ILT, 

Professor Ben Nwabueze, SAN, 

and his deputy, Professor 

Chiweyite Ejike, have distanced 

themselves and the ILT from any 

court case seeking to nullify the 

election of the Chief John Nnia 

Nwodo-led newly elected 

Ohanaeze executive. 

Professor Ejike, was one of the 

candidates for the presidentgeneral 

post and lost to Chief 

Nwodo at the poll held on 

Tuesday. 

A day after the election, the ILT, 

reportedly represented by Chief 

Enechi Onyia, SAN, was said to 

have lodged a legal proceeding 

against the election of the new 

executive, insisting that the past 

executive committee of the group 

led by Chief Enwo Igariwey had 

no locus to conduct the election 

that produced Nwodo. It argued 

that the tenure of the Igariweyled 

executive had expired two 

years ago, that the Igariwey-led 

executive was served the court 

process on December 22, 2016 

but it was defiant and went ahead 

to conduct the election. 

The court process lodged in an 

Enugu state high court presided 

over by Justice A. O. Onovo, fixed 

March 1, 2017, as a date to 

commence hearing on the validity 

of the Chief Igariwey-led 

executive to have conducted the 

election. 

However, in a press statement 

and telephone chat, Professors 

Nwabueze and Ejike said they are 

not aware of the suit and have no 

hand in it. 

Quoting the reports, 

Nwabueze, in a statement said: 

‘’We hereby state categorically 

that, until we read the above news 

reports, we were unaware of any 

such court action or of any plan 

or intention to institute same. 

Neither I, as Chairman of The 

Igbo Leaders of Thought nor 

Professor Ejike (a candidate at the 

said election), as Deputy 

Chairman, knew anything about 

the court action. Neither did we 

authorise anyone or group to 

institute such a suit on behalf and/ 

or in the name of Igbo Leaders of 

Thought. The reports in the two 

newspapers are thus completely 

false and unfounded as well as 

downright mischievous and 

malicious. We are yet to get copies 

of the originating processes in the 

case, in order to find out who the 

real plaintiffs in the court action 

are and their names. 

''We hereby disassociate the Igbo 

Leaders of Thought and 

ourselves as its Chairman and 

Deputy Chairman respectively 

from the said court action and from 

the false newspaper reports. 

‘’After the series of crises that 

have riven our Organisation, 

Ohanaeze Ndigbo needs 

breathing space to try and repair 

the damage of the past and to 

reposition itself for the future 

under a new leadership. 

‘’We will like to clear the 

unfortunate misunderstanding of 

our position. For the purposes of 

the now concluded election, we 

thought it in the best interest of 

Ndigbo that there should be a 

genuine contest for the office of 

President-General at an election 

fairly conducted and at which 

there would be an equal playing 

field for all the candidates. We 

considered this a legitimate 

position to take.’’ 

Speaking in like manner, Ejike 

told Vanguard on phone: ‘’The 

report is surprising to me. It is 

totally false. We (ILT) don’t have 

any case in court against 

Ohanaeze and did not ask any 

lawyer to represent us. Why 

should we? Professor Nwabueze 

is our leader and chairman and a 

lawyer. We don’t have a better 

person than him. I hope the 

wrong impression will be 

corrected. I presented myself for 

the Ohanaeze election and 

Ndigbo have made their 

decision. All we need now to join 

forces to move Ndigbo forward.’’ 

Forum tasks new leadership 

on non partisanship 

Meanwhile, Ndigbo Unity 

Forum, NUF, an Igbo socio 

cultural organization has tasked 

the Chief Nwodo-led newly 

elected leadership of Ohanaeze 

not to be partisan and to always 

stand for equity and justice. 

NUF also tasked the new 

executive to join hands with the 

governors in all the Igbo 

speaking states that are 

members of Ohanaeze Ndigbo 

and other stakeholders in the 

region in formulating policies 

that will revive Igbo culture and 

language. 

In a congratulatory statement 

jointly signed by its President, 

Augustine Chukwudum and 

Secretary-General, Chinedu 

Onyebuchi, the NUF described 

the election that produced the 

new Ohanaeze executive as free 

and fair, adding, “we commend 

everybody associated with 

Ohanaeze Ndigbo whose effort, 

in one way or the other, 

contributed towards achieving a 

rancour-free election that 

produced Chief Nnia Nwodo and 

other members of the executive”. 

S’East PDP pledges support 

for Nwodo exco 

Also, the South East chapter of 

the Peoples Democratic Party, 

PDP, yesterday congratulated 

Ndigbo, the new leadership of 

Ohanaeze and Nwodo. 

National Vice Chairman of the 

PDP, South-East, Chief Austin 

Umahi, said with the emergence 

of Nwodo as Ohanaeze 

president-general, a new Igbo 

order has been born. 

He wrote Nwodo: “With your 

emergence as the President 

General of the Apex Socio- 

Cultural organization, an 

umbrella body uniting all Igbo 

and Igbo speaking states across 

the country, we can now believe 

that Ndigbo have come to a level 

of self determination. 

''It is therefore on this note that 

I write on behalf of the PDP in 

the zone to congratulate you on 

your election as the leader and 

also urge you to keep the 

interest of Ndigbo at the 

uppermost part of your heart.'' 

SERVICE OF SONGS: From left;Mrs Foluke Akintemi, Mr Leye Akintemi, Mrs Funmi Jayeola, 

first daughter, Mr Shola Jayeola, Mrs Funmi Akintemi, Mr Kayode Akintemi, Pastor (Mrs) Simisola 

Adigwu and Pastor Chinedu Adigwu during the service of songs for late Mrs Catherine Adebisi 

Akintemi at Holy Spirit Mission, Shasha Road, Akowonjo, Lagos, yesterday.Photo by Akeem Salau. 

IPOB angry with Uwazuruike for calling them fraudsters 

...gives him four days to recant 

By Chinedu Adonu 

E NUGU—LEADERSHIP 

of Indigenous People of 

Biafra, IPOB, has come down 

hard on the leader of Biafra 

Independent Movement, BIM, 

Chief Ralph Uwazuruike to 

prove how their leader, 

Nnamdi Kanu and other 

leaders of IPOB are fraudsters 

and have been deceiving 

Biafrans and the world as he 

has alleged. 

To show that they are serious 

, the organisation has given 

Uwazuruike four days to recant his 

allegation or they will expose his 

evil deeds that led to his expulsion 

from MASSOB,so the world will 

know ''who is deceiving who.'' 

A statement which was signed 

by the spokesmen of the 

organisation, Mazi Uche Mefor, 

deputy leader and image makers, 

Barr. Emma Mmezu and Dr. 

Clifford Iroanya, respectively, 

gave Uwazuruike four days to 

recant or they will open cans of 

worms capable of drowning him 

for life in Nigeria, Biafra and the 

entire world. 

The organisation noted in the 

statement that if Uwazuruike had 

been committed to the restoration 

of Biafra as he made people 

believe, there wouldn’t have been 

need for the formation of other 

pro-Biafra liberation groups like 

IPOB, BZM and even his BIM. 

The statement read: “On behalf 

of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the 

leader of Indigenous People of 

Biafra (IPOB), and the entire 

Biafrans, we are giving Raphael 

Lebeanya Uwazuruike four days 

to provide evidence that Nnamdi 

Kanu and IPOB under the 

leadership of Nnamdi Kanu are 

fraudsters. A national daily on 

January 10, 2017, reported that 

Raphael Lebeanya Uwazuruike 

“described Nnamdi Kanu and his 

IPOB as fraudsters who are out 

to deceive gullible people. 

“We in IPOB demand that 

Uwazuruike must provide 

evidence to prove that Kanu 

and his IPOB members are 

fraudsters. Uwuzuruike’s 

evidence must be proven beyond 

reasonable doubt.'' 

Plastic rice 

detrimental to 

human health 

— Prof Hamza 

By Chidi Nkwopara 

O 

W E R R I — 

NIGERIANS 

have been advised to “avoid 

eating anything that would 

endanger their lives, despite 

the excruciating hardship 

they are passing through 

now”. 

The National President of 

Polymer Institute of Nigeria, 

PIN, Professor Paul Hamza, 

who made the special appeal 

while responding to 

Vanguard inquiry on the 

alleged importation of 

plastic rice into the country, 

also warned that the product 

is detrimental to human 

health. 

“Plastic rice is detrimental 

to human health when 

consumed, because of the 

chemicals used in its 

production. Those 

producing or importing it 

into the country are enemies 

of mankind”, Professor 

Hamza said. 

While affirming that he has 

heard about the importation 

of the killer rice into Nigeria, 

the university don also 

warned that consumption of 

plastic rice could cause 

cancer. 

Answering a question, 

Hamza gave the name of the 

injurious rice as “Best 

Tomatoes Rice”, stressing 

that the product has no 

NAFDAC number. 

“The plastic rice is 

produced from potato 

powder and plastic materials, 

basically by blending and 

extruding this material 

through an extruder and 

pelletized in rice grain 

sizes”, Hamza said. 

It was his considered 

opinion that the easiest way 

to identify the killer grain is 

by dropping some quantity 

in a bowl of water and stir. 

“If it settles down, it means 

that it is the edible rice grain, 

but if it floats on top of the 

water, it means you have 

bought plastic rice. Again, if 

you heat the grains in a pan, 

they melt and stick to the 

pan”, Hamza said. 

The university don called 

on members of the National 

Assembly to hasten the 

passage of the Bill for the 

establishment of the 

Chartered Polymer Institute 

of Nigeria. 

“If this is done, we will then 

be empowered to join the 

National Agency for Food, 

Drug Administration and 

Control, NAFDAC, and 

other regulatory agencies of 

government to curb the 

production and importation 

of such goods into Nigeria”,

C 

M 

Y 

K 

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 2017 — 15


I get paid for catching my fun — Ara Oge 

Concepts' boss 

Stories by Akin Sokoya 

SHE has a very humble 

disposition, easy-going and 

very unassuming. But working on 

women and ladies' beauty has 

become a hobby-cum-fun for the 

delectable lady who is fondly 

known as Tolu Ara-Oge, the Chief 

Executive and Creative Officer of 

upscale Ara Oge Concepts in 

Ogba, Ikeja, Lagos. 

A graduate who had the option 

of settling for a white collar job 

after her tertiary education, Ara- 

Oge's deep passion for the makeup 

business made her to embrace 

the upwardly mobile business of 

make-up, where she has since 

found fulfilment and satisfaction, 

having opened her own shop few 

years back. 

The happily-married mother of 

one enthused: 'I was just doing 

the business for the fun of it, 

because of the deep passion I 

have for the vocation; but the rapid 

increase in my clients made me 

plunge fully into the business 

shortly after my NYSC. 

Business 

and passion 

HE became a factor in the 

entertainment industry through his 

Stingomania 360 Record label but all of a 

sudden, the label went underground. Is 

Barrister Ope Banwo's Stingomania 360 

Record label still in showbiz? That is the 

question on the lips of showbiz enthusiasts. 

Charismatic Ope Banwo used to be the 

honcho man of Stingomania, and held Dove 

Media with all the verve; churning out 

movies that depicted the life and times of 

Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye as the one 

and only 

General Overseer 

o f RCCG. 

As a lawyer 

f r o m 

Obafemi 

Awolowo 

University, 

Ile-Ife, 

Osun 

State, 

h e 

soon 

proceeded 

The fun in the business and my 

passion for it, now rake in cool 

dough for me. People pay me well 

for catching my fun and doing my 

hobby, which of course, I honed 

by going for some refresher 

courses in many areas of the 

beauty and make-up business. 

And I must confess that it has been 

great fun all the way.” 

She revealed that she has 

trained many ladies who are now 

doing well in the business. To say 

Is Lagos big boy, Ope Banwo 

still in showbiz? 

but the least, Ara Oge Concepts' 

boss is everything in one; a 

professional make-up artist; 

bridal make-over expert; fixer of 

human eye lashes; bridal hair 

stylist; natural hair stylist among 

other specializations in the 

beauty and make-up industry. 

Indeed, the creativity, 

dynamism and versatility of the 

business have made it one that 

would last for a long time. 

The very pleasant and 

courteous lady of style, panache 

describes herself as an up and 

coming make up artist, even 

when her numerous clients refer 

to her as an expert in the field. 

One believes that the sky is 

definitely the starting point for 

Tolu Ara Oge who has expressed 

optimism that tomorrow will be 

better than today. 

to the University of Lagos, where 

he bagged a Masters in Laws 

degree. Ope Banwo ventured into 

the entertainment industry and 

suddenly fizzled, for no reason any 

one can guess now. He was last 

seen on Silverbird TV, addressing 

national issues, and since then, 

nothing has been heard of him 

again. But if one may ask, has Ope 

Banwo dumped his Stingomania 

360 project? 

Let somebody whisper this to the 

big boy who attended Adeola 

Odutola College and came out in 

flying colours. The big question 

now is whether Ope Banwo is 

giving a big berth to the 

entertainment industry, which he 

cherished and was doing 

everything to establish his presence 

in the industry. Your guess is as 

good as mine! 

*Ope Banwo 

By Benjamin Njoku 

WHILE many of his ilk are still groping in the dark, figuring out 

what to do with their latent skills and potentials, young and very upwardly 

mobile Emmanuel Ikubese, has already hit the ground running, since he 

sauntered into our consciousness as winner of the 2014 edition of Mr. Nigeria. 

Here is one young chap who would not allow his fledgling fame and stardom 

to distract him from making a meaningful impact on the lives of other people. 

Forget his striking, irresistible and charming sex appeal, coupled with screen 

playing role as a playboy, striking poses for the cameras or taking a due break 

from work, one thing is certain about this well-focused youngster; he is certainly 

charting a potent course for himself outside the world of glamour which his Mr. 

Nigeria status has foisted on him. 

Today, Emma is quietly climbing the proverbial ladder of success with his 

acting prowess, but that is not the story here. The handsome Emma is a rare 

breed in the area of charity and philanthropy, even at his relatively young age. 

Very unassuming, attractive and admirable, Emmanuel Ikuebese, who doubles 

as a model and actor, aside being a former Mr. Nigeria and 

of Mr. World, has over time, been championing a 

campaign against violence on women, with his 

pet project aptly titled 'Respect A Woman' RAW. 

Emerging 

movie actor 

*Ara-Oge 

Ex-Mr. Nigeria, Emmanuel 

Ikubese's love for charity work 

The fast emerging movie actor 

describes himself at every opportunity he 

has to do so, as a philanthropic persona 

whose many ambitions are ably 

supported by his 'go-getter' attitude; just 

as he uncompromisingly aspires to use 

his accompanying successes in the 

make-believe world and 

showbiz to jump start his 

NGO Foundation for 

orphans and abandoned 

kids; a project that is 

very dear to his heart. 

Emma, for your 

information, has already 

started using his 

unquantifiable 

personality and meagre 

funds to push the 

campaign against 

domestic violence 

against women, from one 

neighbourhood to 

another, and 

simultaneously taking 

the campaign to the 

universities and other 

tertiary institutions 

across the nation. 

first runner-up 

C 

M 

Y 

K 

*Emmanuel Ikubese

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 2017 — 17 

Nigeria didn't 

cut ties with 

Taiwan — 

PRESIDENCY 

...As Taiwan objects to 

relocation of business 

office from Abuja 

By Levinus 

Nwabughiogu & Victoria 

Ojeme 

A BUJA—PRESIDENCY 

last night denied reports 

that Nigeria had cut ties with 

Taiwan in recognition of “One 

China” policy. 

The clarification was 

contained in a statement by the 

Senior Special Assistant to the 

President on Media and 

Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu. 

The statement stated that the 

relationship between Nigeria 

and Taiwan has only been at the 

level of trade representation. 

It read: “Presidency dismisses 

incorrect media reports to the 

effect that Nigeria has cut ties 

with Taiwan. The correct 

position is that the official 

relationship between Nigeria 

and Taiwan has been at the 

level of trade representation and 

this has not changed from what 

it used to be.” 

Meanwhile, Taiwan, 

yesterday, objected to a 

Nigerian request to the Island 

to relocate its representative 

office from Abuja, a request 

Taiwan sees as more pressure 

by China to isolate it. 

Taiwan has no diplomatic ties 

with Nigeria, but has an office 

for business affairs in Abuja. 

However, Taiwan’s Foreign 

Ministry said that Nigeria has 

asked Taipei to move its office 

from Abuja to Lagos. 

“Taiwan urges Nigeria to 

leave room for discussion. The 

Foreign Ministry seriously 

objects and condemns the 

unreasonable actions by the 

Nigerian government,” 

Taiwan’s Ministry said 

referring to the request to move 

the trade office. 

Nigerian officials met their 

Chinese counterparts in Abuja 

on Wednesday and pledged to 

stick to Beijing’s “one China” 

policy, that Taiwan is a part of 

China, media reported. 


Boko Haram not defeated without rescue 

of all Chibok schoolgirls, others — BUHARI 

A BUJA—PRESIDENT 

Muhammadu Buhari has 

restated his pledge that Boko 

Haram will not be considered 

defeated without the rescue of the 

Chibok girls and all other 

innocent persons held hostage by 

the Boko Haram insurgents. 

The President reiterated this 

in a response to a letter written 

to him by Ms Malala Yousafzai, 

the Pakistani activist for female 

education, youngest-ever Nobel 

Prize Laureate and co-founder 

of the Malala Fund. 

The President in a statement 

by the Minister of Information 

and Culture, Alhaji Lai 

Mohammed, in Abuja, 

yesterday, said that the 

“Nigerian government is 

unrelenting in its efforts to 

ensure the safe return of the 

Chibok girls who remain in 

captivity.” 

He said the military, the 

Department of Security Service 

and the other security agencies 

were intensifying their efforts to 

ensure freedom for all those who 

remained in captivity. 

Buhari noted that while he 

could not divulge the details of 

ongoing negotiations to secure 

the release of the girls due to 

the sensitive nature of the 

negotiations, the government 

was committed to their rescue. 

“Be rest assured of the 

doggedness, commitment and 

sincerity of the Nigeria’s Federal 

Government toward ensuring the 

safe return of the Chibok girls, 

and indeed all others still in 

captivity.” 

The President said the gallant 

troops of the Nigerian military had 

recently scored a great victory by 

seizing control of the Sambisa 

forest, the last stronghold of the 

Boko Haram elements, who were 

responsible for the kidnap of the 

Chibok girls. 

On the welfare of the 21 Chibok 

girls who regained their freedom 

on October 13, 2016, the president 

said that the Federal Government 

had taken over the responsibility 

for their personal, educational and 

professional goals and ambitions 

in life. 

“They are being given 

comprehensive medical, 

We''e ready to take advantage of auto ban — CUSTOMS 

By Ifeyinwa Obi 

THE Ports and Terminal 

Multiservices Limited, 

PTML, command of the Nigeria 

Customs Service, has assured that 

it was ready to take advantage of 

the recent policy of Federal 

Government banning importation 

of vehicles through land borders 

to boost its revenue. 

PTML is the biggest vehicle 

importing terminal at the Tin Can 

Island port. 

Speaking in Lagos, Public 

Relations Officer of the PTML 

Customs Command, Mr. Steve 

Okonmah assured that the 

command was well positioned 

and ready to handle large vehicle 

imports as a result of the ban on 

vehicles through land borders. 

Okonmah said that this was the 

best time for government to take 

the bull by the horn. 

According to him, before now, 

Nigeria has been developing 

other neighbouring countries at 

the expense of its own. 

“I want to assure you that in 

implementing the government’s 

directive, we have the manpower 

VISIT: From left; An awardee, Prof. Tare Ojaide; Chairman, National Merit Award Committee, Prof. 

Etim Moses Essien; President Muhammadu Buhari and an awardee, Prof. Omowunmi Sadik during 

the 2016 awardees' visit to the president at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Photo by Abayomi Adeshida. 

nutritional and psychological care 

and support, and anyone who has 

seen them in recent times will 

attest to the fact that their 

reintegration back to the society 

is progressing well. 

“The Federal Government 

2017 BUDGET: NASS lobbies for N150bn 

allocation •As Reps summon IG over diversion of N7.2bn 

By Emman Ovuakporie & 

Johnbosco Agbakwuru 

A BUJA—INDICATIONS 

emerged, yesterday, that 

members of the National 

Assembly were advocating the 

increment of their budgetary 

allocation in 2017 to N150 billion 

against the N115billion that was 

budgeted last year. 

Meantime, the House of 

Representatives has summoned 

the Inspector-General of Police, 

IG, Mr Ibrahim Idris to 

unfailingly appear before its 

Committee on Police Affairs on 

Thursday next week over 

alleged diversion of N1.2 

billion approved in the 2016 

budget for the purchase of 10 

Armoured Personnel Carriers, 

and the equipment. The officers 

are alert and ready, we have 

enough space, even if you are 

bringing in a 10,000 vehicles, we 

are ready, we have about three 

different spaces for it and these are 

very big open spaces that can take 

as many vehicles as possible. 

“Any vehicle coming through the 

borders as from January 1, 2017 is 

a contraband and the customs 

have stopped receiving entries 

from importers. Before the end 

of the month, we will start 

seeing changes,'' he said. 

“I want to believe that if we 

believes that it is not too late for 

the girls to go back to school, and 

everything will be done to ensure 

that they continue the pursuit of 

their studies,” he assured. 

Buhari commended Malala for 

her continuing caring disposition 

APC, for the Police and another 

N6bn earmarked for the 

reconstruction of 102 police 

stations nationwide. 

Although the budgetary 

allocation for the National 

Assembly for 2017 had not been 

made public, it was said to be 

between N115bn and N110bn, 

but Vanguard gathered that 

members were advocating 

N150bn, following the increment 

of the judiciary budget. 

A highly placed member of 

the House, who spoke to 

Vanguard on the condition of 

anonymity, contended that if 

the allocation for the National 

Assembly four years ago was 

N150 billion even when the 

Naira had more value, it was 

not proper to give the legislature 

less than that amount now when 

the purchasing power of the 

nation’s currency had 

dwindled. 

However, Chairman, House 

Committee on Media and Public 

Affairs, Abdulrazak Namdas was 

evasive when asked how much 

was budgeted for the National 

Assembly as he only said that the 

budget would be made known in 

the next two weeks when debate 

on the budget would commence. 

Reps summon IG for alleged 

diversion of N7.2bn 

The House also summoned the 

Inspector-General of Police to 

“unfailingly” appear before its 

Committee on Police on Thursday 

next week by 2p.m., to explain 

toward the release of the girls who 

remained in captivity and the 

welfare of the girls who had 

regained their freedom. 

He said: “There is no better 

example of the fact that we are all 

linked by our common humanity.” 

why some budgetary allocations 

made for the police were not 

utilised, instead the allocations 

were diverted to other projects 

that were not budgeted for by the 

National Assembly. 

The House also condemned in 

the strongest terms the alleged 

failure or refusal of the IG to 

honour the invitations of the 

Committee on Police Affairs. 

The summon was sequel to the 

motion by the member 

representing Ayamelum/Oyi 

federal constituency (APGA 

Anambra State), Mr Gabriel 

Onyenweife. 

The House condemned the 

action of the IG for ignoring 

invitations to him to appear before 

its Committee to explain why he 

allegedly diverted the funds that 

were appropriated for other use 

without the approval of the 

National Assembly. 

According to Onyenwife, “The 

sum of N1.2bn was approved in 

the Appropriation Act of 2016 for 

the purchase of 10 Armoured 

Personnel Carriers by the Police 

Force but the amount was diverted 

for the purchase of 64 Toyota 

Hiace Commuter vehicles without 

the approval of the National 

Assembly. 

“The sum of N6bn was 

appropriated in the same Act 

for rehabilitation and 

reconstruction of 102 Police 

Stations nationwide but the 

amount was also diverted for other 

uses without the approval of the 

National Assembly.”


WITH the possible exception of 

Lagos, Rivers, Delta and Akwa 

Ibom states where the issue of 

pension is receiving some measure 

of attention, pensioners across the 

country have continued to lament 

non-payment of their entitlements 

by their respective state 

governments. 

Indeed, reports have it that many 

states are not only owing their 

pensioners in excess of 20 months’ 

arrears, they have been 

demonstrating little or no 

willingness to pay. Some state 

governments introduced measures 

to compel pensioners to forfeit 

percentages of their entitlements, 

which they ascribed to paucity of 

funds. 

It is lamentable that in spite of 

the enactment of the Pension 

Reforms Act of 2004, through which 

the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS) 

was replaced with the Contributory 

Pension Scheme (CPS) to enhance 

pension payment, no significant 

improvement has been recorded in 

Pay pensioners from Paris 

Club fund 

the management of pensions in 

Nigeria till date. The crisis 

bedeviling the various pension 

schemes over the years is further 

complicated by the serial failure of 

both Federal and State 

Governments to remit counterpart 

deductions to the Pension Fund 

Administrators, (PFAs), as required 

by the Pension Reforms Act. The 

news media are awash with reports 

on the plights of pensioners. There 

are recurring incidents of our 

senior citizens collapsing and even 

giving up the ghost while waiting 

on long verification queues 

towards collection of their 

entitlements . 

This unfortunate scenario has 

fuelled frequent complaints and 

protests by pensioners across the 

country. The National Union of 

Pensioners recently asked the 

Federal Government to pay the 18 

months arrears of the 33 per cent 

pension increase owed its members 

since the last review in 2010. This 

was in reaction to the payment of 

24 months out of the total 42 

months owed them. 

The common refrain of many 

state governments for failing to 

meet their pension payment 

obligation is lack of funds arising 

from the prevailing economic 

recession. There is however good 

news with the recent refund of 

$4 billion (N522.74 billion) to 

Nigeria by the Paris Club for 

excess deductions on Nigeria’s 

foreign debts. States cannot claim 

to be cash-strapped after receiving 

significant amounts as their share 

of the refund. President 

Muhammadu Buhari made a case 

that states use at least 25 per cent 

of the money received to offset 

outstanding 

workers’ 

entitlements, including that of 

pensioners. 

We align with this suggestion and 

urge that more efforts should be 

made by state governments to 

alleviate the sufferings of 

pensioners because they are very 

vulnerable. Governors of various 

states should heed the President’s 

advise and do the needful. We 

commend those who have 

complied and urge others to follow 

the good example. The pensioners 

deserve their entitlements. 

Edo election: Limit of blind ambition (2) 

Continued from yesterday 

By Ralf Imaghodo 

FURTHERMORE, electronic card readers 

were introduced to eliminate accreditation 

abuses and incidences of double voting. Over 

time, the performance of the card readers which 

were said to be problematic in previous 

elections vastly improved thus conversely 

improving the credibility of elections and their 

outcome. And being the only election scheduled 

for that day nationwide, INEC deployed more 

than enough personell logistics wise to conduct 

the exercise. 

It is significant to note that unlike in 2007, the 

party in power went into the election with a 

sense of confidence and pride, having 

substantially delivered on her electoral 

promises. 

Before the election, there was public consensus 

that government had done exceedingly well 

particularly in infrastructure development. 

Besides the issue of performance, by 2016, the 

APC had replaced the PDP as the ruling party 

not only in the State but also at the Federal 

level and this conferred some advantages to 

the APC as our people often prefer their 

government to be alligned to the one at the 

centre. The PDP had no choice but to resort to 

sharpening their propganda machine by which 

they launched a relentless and vigorous 

campaign of calamny against the APC leaders 

and the candidate. 

On September 28, 2016, the people trouped 

out in drones to the voting centres and their 

polling booths with a clear choice in their 

minds. The desperate attempt by the PDP to 

It is gratifying to note that 

the PDP has approached 

the court as required by 

law. The onus is now 

upon the petitioners to 

prove their case before 

the Tribunal 

monetise the election by introducing vote 

buying tactics which they extenuatingly called 

stomach infrastructure as they did in the last 

Presidential ellection in the State was robustly 

countered by the APC. Accredition and voting 

commenced and ended in line with INEC 

guidelines and instructions peacefully across 

the State. Reported cases of violent behaviours 

were minimal and inconsequential, and 

generally regarded as normal considering the 

NEWS 

nature and size of the operation. From Edo 

South through Edo Central to Edo North, no 

single shot was fired and no life was lost unlike 

the 2007 election. Thus, no single member of 

PDP has rising to the challenge of pointing out 

the result of a single booth that was altered 

between the polling booth and the collation 

centres. Apart the Observer Groups sponsored 

by the PDP to discredit the election, all reputable 

election Observer Groups with records of 

credibility adjudged the election as largely free 

and fair and credible. They courageously 

pointed out areas that INEC must improve 

upon in subsequent elections. They 

acknowldged that no election was perfect 

anywhere in the World! 

It is gratifying to note that the PDP has 

approached the court as required by law. The 

onus is now upon the petitioners to prove their 

case before the Tribunal. A background check 

on the Panelist shows that members are too 

professional and experienced to be intimidated. 

The petitionerss should stop wasting resources 

creating a sense of popularity. 

The Tribunal cannot also be swayed by the 

organised solidarity rallies of paid gangs and 

groups of jobless youths, who are being daily 

mobilised to the Tribunal to disturb the peace 

of the area chanting slogans! The Tribunals 

are already aware that unpopular and 

desperate political office seekers stop at 

nothing to create non- existent popularity. The 

Tribunal cannot service the blind ambition of 

desperados. It is solely intetested in hard 

evidence! 

As clearly proven, the 2007 episode between 

Adams Oshiomhole of the then AC and 

Oserheimhen Osunbor of the then PDP is by no 

means similar or comparable to the 2016 

ongoing case between Osagie Andrew Ize- 

Iyamu of the PDP and Godwin Nogheghase 

Obaseki of the APC in material facts and 

circumstances. 

In 2007, the national electoral body was still 

struggling with the daring rigging machines 

of Mr. Fix it and his likes and it was a case of 

two guilty parties out-smarting one another. 

The Tribunal simply provided the opportunity 

for one party to prove that it was less of a sinner 

than the other! 

Today, we have an INEC that has vastly 

improved in performance and virtually 

defeated the old rigging machines of political 

parties. Thus, electoral integrity has largely 

been secured with the introduction of electronic 

card readers and the salutory improvement in 

the performance of same. 

Consequently, it is quizotic, wishful thinking 

and day dreaming for anyone to hope and 

expect that what happened in 2007 will happen 

now! The petitioner in the present case is 

hanging on tenterhooks betrayed by morbid 

sense of entitlement. He is faced with the heavy 

burden of proving his case on the basis of 

evidence. 

Concluded 

*Dr. Imaghodo, an educationist, wrote 

from Benin City , Edo State.


Ban: Over 10,000 vehicles trapped 

••As Customs seize 5,998 vehicles worth N10bn 

By Godwin Oritse 

THE Nigerian Customs 

Service, NCS, said that 

over 10,000 Nigeria bound vehicles 

are currently trapped in 

ports of neighbouring countries 

following the ban of such cargoes 

through land borders. 

A statement by the Acting 

Public Relations Officer of the 

Service, Mr. Joseph Atta, said 

the agency observed that the 

volume of vehicles that were 

trapped in the last 10 days has 

reached that figure. 

Atta disclosed that vehicles 

properly imported through the 

land borders between January 

2014 and December 2016 was 

209,691 with N38.5 billion paid 

as duty, while it seized another 

5, 998 with a duty value of 

N10.2 billion. 

Duty rates 

for vehicles 

In an earlier statement, the 

Comptroller General of the service, 

Col. Hammed, (retd) had 

said that although duty rates for 

vehicles at both land borders 

and seaports are the same, importers 

exploited the informality 

of land border trade and 

smuggled through the porous 

borders or compromised his officers. 

Ali said, “Regrettably, despite 

Nigeria’s bigger and more 

equipped port facilities, statistics 

has shown that more than 

90 percent of vehicles imported 

to neighbouring countries are 

normally on transit to Nigerian 

market.” Reacting to the development, 

the National Publicity 

Secretary of the Association of 

Nigerian Licensed Customs 

Agents, ANLCA, Mr. Kayode 

CURRENCY BUYING SELLING 

US DOLLAR 

POUNDS 

EURO 

FRANC 

YEN 

CFA 

WAUA 

RENMINBI 

RIYAL 

SDR 

$149. 00 1. 30 

$2,127.00 -80.00 

$20. 59 0. 11 

$54. 93 1.29 

$52. 03 1.21 

304 304.5 305 

368. 6608 369. 2672 369. 8735 

319. 4736 319. 9991 320. 5245 

297. 5433 298. 0327 298. 5221 

2. 6126 2. 6169 2. 6212 

0. 4705 0.4805 0.4905 

408. 5101 409. 182 409.8539 

43. 8221 43. 8946 43. 9671 

81. 0494 81. 1827 81. 316 

409. 1536 409. 8266 410. 4995 

CBN Exchange rate as at 11/ 01/2017 

From left, Pai Gamde, Acting Head, Corporate Services Division, Nigerian Stock Exchange 

(NSE); Tinuade Awe, General Counsel & Head, Regulation, NSE; Oscar N. Onyema, Chief 

Executive Officer, NSE; and Adeolu Bajomo, Executive Director, Market Operations & Technology, 

NSE at the 2016 Market Recap & 2017 outlook held in Lagos. PHOTO:AKEEM SALAU 

Farinto, said that the volume of 

trapped vehicles was expected 

to rise as a result of the urgency 

of the ban implementation. 

On the opposition to the ban 

coming from the Senate, Farinto 

said the group supports the 

Senate on that stand. 

Mr. Lucky Amiwero, a member 

of the Presidential Committee 

on Customs Reform said the 

vehicles were trapped because 

the government did not give 

enough notice before implementing 

the policy. 

He said that the government 

gave less than one month to 

allow the policy come into force, 

adding that this was against the 

practice of international trade. 

“There are vessels that come 

from China and other far Asian 

countries and the voyages take 

time, the government should at 

least have given 90 days grace 

period before implementing the 

policy,” Amiwero said. 

CBN to resume dollar sales to BDCs next week 

By Babajide Komolafe 

THE Central Bank of Nigeria 

(CBN) will resume 

sales of dollar proceeds of international 

money transfer (IMT) to 

bureaux de change (BDC) operators 

next week. 

CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin 

Emefiele, disclosed this during a 

meeting with executives of Association 

of Bureaux De Change 

Operators of Nigeria 

(ABCON). 

ABCON President, 

Aminu Gwadabe, confirmed 

this to Vanguard, 

saying that the 

CBN governor also 

dismissed as untrue 

speculations that the 

apex bank would reintroduce 

mandatory 

caution deposit of N35 

million. 

CBN had returned 

the mandatory caution 

to BDCs last year following 

the cancelation 

of direct sales of dollars 

to them. It commenced 

the sale of dollar proceeds 

of IMT to BDCs 

in August last year as 

part of measures to 

boost dollar supply in 

the retail segment and 

also stem the depreciation 

of the Naira in the 

parallel market. 

However, the sale was suspended 

last month due to the 

Charismas and New Year holidays. 

Emefiele told ABCON executives 

that the apex bank will 

resume dollar sales to BDCs so 

as to ensure stability of the Naira 

exchange rate. 

Gwadabe told Vanguard that 

CBN governor also warned 

against speculation against the 

value of the Naira, assuring that 

the apex bank will not devalue 

the Naira contrary to predictions 

in some quarters. The CBN governor 

also asked BDCs to shun 

speculation and ensure compliance 

with all regulatory requirements. 

Regulatory 

requirements 

Gwadabe said the CBN governor 

commended efforts of the 

Association to publish weekly 

exchange rates for BDCs, in order 

to enhance transparency and 

confidence in the market. 

The meeting with the ABCON 

executives was aimed at exploring 

measures to narrow the wide 

gap between the interbank exchange 

rate and the parallel market 

rate. The interbank exchange 

rate closed at N304.5 yesterday 

awhile the parallel market rate 

closed at N495 per dollar. 

Recall that ABCON launched 

weekly exchange rate quote for 

BDCs as part of efforts to encourage 

Nigerians in Diaspora to 

patronise the official channels to 

remit their dollars. 

Speaking at the launch, 

Gwadabe said the Association 

will also introduce full automation 

of BDC operations in Nigeria, 

saying about 2000 BDCs 

have already been enrolled in the 

online platform established for 

this purpose. 

Gwadabe said that these measures 

were aimed at boosting confidence 

in the foreign exchange 

market and hence encourage 

Nigerians in diaspora to send 

their dollars through the official 

market. “It is believed that Nigerians 

in diaspora remitted about 

$35 billion into the country last 

year. We believe if all these dollars 

were remitted through the official 

channels, the naira will appreciate 

significantly, and the gap 

in exchange rates would be eliminated”, 

he said. 

He noted that the challenge 

facing the nation’s exchange rate, 

especially the recently introduced 

flexible exchange rate regime is 

liquidity, adding that the solution 

is to ensure transparency via 

harmonisation of exchange rate, 

which would in turn boost confidence 

in the market and encourage 

dollar inflows. 

SEC warns 

against 

investment 

in Bitcoin, 

Swisscoin, 

others 

By Nkiruka Nnorom 

THE Securities and Exchange 

Commission, 

SEC, has warned Nigerians 

against the risk involved in 

investing in digital currencies 

such as Swisscoin, OneCoin 

and Bitcoin, as vehicles of investment. 

In a public notice on its website, 

SEC said that none of the 

individuals or companies promoting 

the use of the currencies 

is recognized by it or any 

other regulatory agency in the 

country. 

Such digital currencies, otherwise 

known as Cryptocurrency, 

is a digital asset designed 

to work as a medium 

of exchange using cryptography 

to secure the transactions 

and to control the creation of 

additional units of the currency. 

Bitcoin became the first 

decentralized cryptocurrency 

in 2009. 

The Commission, therefore, 

said such investments been 

promoted by the companies 

could be risky with possibility 

of loss of money by investors, 

while others could be outright 

fraudulent pyramid schemes. 

“Given that these instruments 

and the persons, companies 

or entities that promote 

the digital currencies have 

neither been authorized, nor 

any guidelines/regulations 

developed for them by any of 

the regulatory authorities in 

Nigeria, there is no protection 

available to users or investors 

in these virtual currencies 

from financial losses if the virtual 

currencies fail or the companies 

promoting them go out 

of business. 

“The public and consumers 

of financial services are further 

advised that before making 

any investment or entering 

into any financial services 

transaction they should ascertain 

that the entity with whom 

the investment or transaction 

is being made is authorized by 

the Commission or other financial 

services regulatory authority 

as applicable to provide 

such services.,” it said. 

It would be recalled that the 

Nigeria Insurance Deposit 

Commission, NDIC, in conjunction 

with the Central Bank 

of Nigeria, CBN, had recently 

set up a committee to study the 

trending “digital currency, 

‘bitcoin. 

C 

M 

Y 

K


By Theodore Opara 

EFFECTIVE TRANSPORT SYSTEMS: 

A catalyst for Nigeria’s socio-economic development 

We conclude Ben Obumselu review of 

Dr. Usoh Kingsley’s book on Effective 

Transportation System: A catalyst for 

Nigeria’s Socio-Economic Development, 

where he writes that Nigerian roads are 

among the most deadly in the world, 

contributting far more to the national 

death rate than any other single cause. 

According to him, the death toll on our 

roads is the result of a monumental 

performance deficit at every level. He 

submitted that transport is a single simple 

system and that it is optimally efficient 

and user-friendly only when its different 

modes are seamlessly interconnected. 

Enjoy the review. 

WE maim and kill so many 

of our countrymen on the 

roads: 1. Because a very large 

number of our public transport 

vehicles are not roadworthy; they 

had indeed died and been buried 

in Europe before resurrecting 

as tokunbos in Nigeria. 

2. Because vehicles are certified 

as roadworthy without being 

inspected or even seen by vehicle 

inspection officers; roadworthiness 

certificates have no connection 

whatsoever with security 

on our roads, they are only the 

means of raising revenue. 

3. Because the operators of 

driving schools are untrained 

persons who are in no position 

whatsoever to train drivers for 

professional work, 

4 . Because our public transport 

drivers are often illiterate 

persons who are forced to work 

round the clock often under the 

influence of hard drugs. 

Performance 

deficit 

In a brief review, there is no 

reason to proceed any further. Dr 

Usoh does not take us into unfamiliar 

territory. What he does is 

that he searches every. nook and 

corner of the ground we already 

know with a magnifying glass. 

In the process the deformations 

in the terrain stand out with great 

clarity. The death toll on our roads 

is the result of a monumental performance 

deficit at every level. 

But there is another way of 

looking at these matters. Professor 

Wole Soyinka, our Nobel laureate 

for literature and the first 

chairman of the Federal Road 

Safety Commission, wrote a play 

in 1965 telling the story of Nigerian 

roads. 

In the opening scene of that 

play, the usual habitues of motor 

parks, unemployed drivers, apprentices, 

spare parts dealers, 

thieves, thugs, vehicle particulars 

forgers, and other hustlers gather 

and talk about their lives. They 

complain about hunger, plan 

how to make it through the day 

and dream about the great wealth 

they would amass, “so much 

Dr. Usoh Kingsley 

wealth that God will jealous 

them”; and they devise ways of 

evading or colluding with the 

police, and make up wonderful 

sagas about their dead colleagues 

who died defying the 

cruelty of their lives - friends like 

Akanni the Lizard “who would 

stand on the lorry’s roof and play 

the samba at sixty miles an hour.” 

The point of Professor Soyinka’s 

play is that road transport, at the 

level of molue, bolekajas and the 

mammy wagons, offers existential 

opportunities to the destitute 

and the wretched in the nation, 

giving them what is often only 

the illusion of a chance, surrounded 

by inordinate difficulties, 

of making a few naira at the 

end of the day. 

In the desperate improvisations 

which extreme poverty forces 

upon them, we come face to 

face with the intolerable anguish 

of the lives of the poor. There is 

no room there for professional 

standards. 

As we should expect, it is in Dr 

Usoh’s discussion of maritime 

transport that he writes most 

knowledgeably and with a professional 

breadth of vision. He 

is here in his own field of specialization 

and revels in the stories 

of the Grand Canal of medieval 

China as a great artery of 

commerce, of industry and navigation 

on the’ Danube, of the 

growth and development of 

ocean shipping and the international 

conventions which govern 

it, of different kinds of cargo vessels 

and the coming of the age 

of containerization. 

His account of the Nigerian National 

Shipping Line, the Unity 

Line, the national Ship Acquisition 

Fund, the Cabotage law, and 

the failed attempt to reserve a 

specified share of cargo for, Nigerian 

enterprise is illuminating 

and it goes further to highlight 

the human capacity failures 

which also ruined the Nigerian 

Railways and the Airways. 

To understand Dr. Usoh’s vision 

for maritime transport and 

port management, we should 

begin by glancing very briefly at 

his description of the famous ‘Cement 

Armada’ crisis of April 

1975. This was 

the occasion 

when the Federal 

Military 

Government, 

delighted by 

the mighty tidal 

flow of petrodollars 

which 

flooded the 

treasury after 

the OPEC revolution, 

ordered 

16 million metric 

tonnes of cement 

for the 

building of 

army barracks. 

The problem was that Lagos ports 

at the time could only handle 6.5 

million tonnes and, in any case, 

16 million tonnes of cement 

would be enough to build three 

cities of the size of Lagos. At one 

point in June/July, 300 ships loaded 

with cement were waiting at 

The death toll 

on our roads 

is the result of 

a monumental 

performance 

deficit at every 

level 

sea and waiting time had 

stretched to 180 days. Nobody 

had given any thought whatsoever 

to the actual amount of cement 

needed to build army 

barracks.ior to the berthing capacity 

of the ports, or to cargo 

handling facilities available, or 

to transportation from the ports 

to designated warehouses. For 

several months, Lagos and its 

ports were paralyzed in a systemic 

lockdown. Movement into 

the ports and around the ports 

was impossible Right up to the, 

present day, congestion and ap- 

IN 2016, Dr. Ing. h.c. F. 

Porsche AG far exceeded its 

2015 record. The Stuttgart-based 

sportscar manufacturer delivered a 

total of 237,778 vehicles around the 

world, some 6 per cent more than 

the previous record. The key drivers 

of growth were Europe, the USA 

and China. The Macan and the 

new 718 Boxster had a particularly 

positive effect on the result. The excellent 

response to the new 

Panamera provides an additional 

boost. 

“Our strong product range has 

enabled us to once again exceed 

the high levels from the previous 

year”, says Oliver Blume, Chairman 

of the Executive Board of 

palling. traffic jams still characterizethe 

Apapa and Tin Can Island 

area even after very substantial 

increases have been made in 

the number of ports, in specialized 

oil and gas terminals and 

privately operated jetties. Furthermore, 

port operations have 

continued to be So time-consuming, 

expensive and inefficient that 

many Nigerians find it expedient 

to route their cargo through 

Benin Republic, Togo and the 

Cameroons. This, Dr Usoh argues, 

is the exorbitant price that 

we have had to pay for focusing 

attention in one port area and for 

making the Nigerian Ports Authority 

a clumsy monolith and a 

monopoly. 

One of the exciting ideas which 

Dr Usoh returns to again and 

again in Effective Transport Systems 

is his insistence that the 

component parts of the national 

transport system must be seamlessly 

interconnected. 

Railway 

carriage 

A traveler arriving Lagos by sea 

should be able to step into a railway 

carriage, a. luxury bus or an 

inland watercraft to take him to 

his destination without interruption. 

The transport system must 

be traveler friendly to this extent. 

Closely linked to this idea there 

is another proposition: that port 

services in the nation should be 

thoroughly unbundled, decongested 

and decentralized 

through the establishment in every 

geo-political zone of a dry 

dock to which all customs processes 

in the zone should be 

transferred. 

This idea, apparently blessed 

by the World Bank and already 

enjoying the support of the Federal 

Ministry of Transport, has 

profound and far-reaching implications. 

Nigeria imported goods 

to the value of about #1.6 trillion 

in the first quarter of 2016. This 

translates in annual terms to 

about #6.4 trillion. What is proposed 

is the transfer into the heart 

of the different geopolitical zones 

of the nation, to Kano, Jos, 

Makurdi, Ibadan and Onitsha of 

several trillion Naira worth of 

economic business in port processes, 

cargo handling, warehousing, 

clearing and forwarding, 

banking, insurance, markets, 

hotels and restaurants, housing 

and social services. The savings 

which businessmen in every part 

of the nation would make if this 

were incalculable. At the same 

time, economic power, and the 

direction of population movements 

in the nation would be totally 

transformed. No other measure 

would lead more profoundly 

to the economic re-structuring 

of the nation, 

Effective Transport Systems 

should be warmly received by 

students of Nigerian economics 

especially those in the sub-discipline 

of transport and by all stakeholders 

in the transport sector. 

The propositions which run 

through and permeate Dr Usoh’s 

text, that transport planning and 

transport management are inherently 

interdisciplinary in character 

and that resolute national effort 

must be made to enhance professional 

capacity building for 

that important, are beyond dispute. 

He goes on to argue that 

transport is a single system and 

that it is optimally efficient and 

user-friendly only when its different 

modes are seamlessly interconnected. 

He is at his brightest 

and best when he holds forth 

on his own special fields of shipping 

and port administration. And 

he does try, with all astonishing 

degree of success, to set out the 

simple laws which govern a, vast 

range of activities apparently unrelated, 

in glossy airports, in the 

confusion and noise of the motor 

roads, in railway lines still overgrown 

with grass, and in the 

ports presently undergoing professional 

re-configuration and 

concessioning, activities which 

appear to deny the idea of a common 

purpose and yet are the vital 

stream of the national economy 

as rhythmic and as life-enhancing 

as the circulation of 

blood in the human body. 

Porsche powers into new records 

Porsche AG. “Porsche is synonymous 

with emotion and quality. The 

positive trend in the global markets 

confirms how enthusiastic our customers 

are.” 

However, he adds that exclusivity 

is more important to Porsche than 

sales targets. Detlev von Platen, 

Member of the Executive Board responsible 

for Sales and Marketing, 

gives further reasons for this clear 

growth: “The strength of the brand 

and the exceptionally motivated 

dealership network, which we have 

continued to expand”. 

There were 12,848 deliveries of 

the 718 Boxster, exceeding last 

year's result by 9 per cent. Meanwhile, 

the legend of the Porsche 911 

continues: With a total of 32,409 

models delivered, sales of the 911 

once again grew by 2 per cent, helping 

it to maintain its special position 

in the market for exclusive 

sportscars. The Macan reinforced 

its position as the best-selling 

Porsche with 95,642 vehicles delivered, 

representing an increase 

of 19 per cent. 

In the sales regions, Europe surpassed 

last year's excellent result 

by 5 per cent, delivering 78,975 

vehicles. Germany remained stable 

at 29,247 vehicles delivered (+1 per 

cent). Porsche has also continued 

its success story in the USA, where 

last year the company delivered 

54,280 models, 5 per cent more than 

in 2015.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 2017 —21 

Kia Stinger star 

shines in North 

America Auto show 

KIA Motors stole the 

spotlight with the world 

debut of the all-new 2018 Kia 

Stinger (hereafter Stinger) at 

the North American International 

Auto Show. The event 

dominated by introduction of 

products from North American 

companies could not dwarf the 

new Kia Sport Sedan. 

A five-passenger fastback 

sports sedan poised to redefine 

a segment currently populated 

by European automakers, the 

Stinger promises to be the highest-performance 

production vehicle 

in the company’s history 

and is backed by Kia Motors’ 

industry-leading quality and reliability. 

Luxurious 

accommodations 

Offered with multiple engine 

and drivetrain configurations 

and luxurious accommodations, 

the Stinger is planned to go on 

sale in the U.S. late this year. 

“Unlike any Kia that has come 

before it, the Stinger really is a 

dream car for us, and here today 

in Detroit, that dream is now 

a reality after years of commitment 

and hard work from a passionate 

group of designers, engineers 

and executives around 

the world,” said Orth Hedrick, 

vice president, product planning, 

Kia Motors America. 

“From its GT concept-car origins 

to the years of tuning and 

refining on the legendary 

FRSC boss approves redeployment of 

senior officers 

FOLLOWING the re 

cent promotion of senior officers 

and other intermediate officers 

of the Federal Road Safety 

Corps, FRSC, the Corps Marshal, 

Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi has approved 

the redeployment of some of the 

newly promoted senior officers in 

the capacity of Deputy Corps Marshal, 

Assistant Corps Marshals and 

Corps Commanders, who are all 

expected to report to their new Commands 

next week. 

According to the Head, Media 

Relations and Strategy of the Corps, 

Mr. Bisi Kazeem, the newly promoted 

Deputy Corps Marshal, 

DCM, Dauda Biu who was formerly 

the Assistant Corps Marshal, 

ACM, Finance and Accounts at the 

National Headquarters of the 

Corps, still remains the Head of the 

Department. 

He however stated that the designations 

of some of the other senior 

officers have been changed to 

suit their new ranks. 

He gave the list of the officers 

posted as: Assistant Corps Marshal 

Kayode Fanola formerly the Corps 

Secretary at the Headquarters, has 

now been posted to the National 

M ERCEDES-BENZ 

rounded up the year with 

the number one position in the 

premium car segment at a double-digit 

rate in 2016. The renowned 

German automaker sold 

more than two million vehicles last 

year worldwide (+11.3%) for the 

first time, thus surpassing its German 

competitors by selling the 

most premium cars worldwide. 

Mercedes-Benz was also the 

bestselling premium brand in Germany, 

Italy, Portugal, Japan, 

South Korea, Australia, Taiwan, 

the USA and Canada for the full 

Nurburgring circuit, 

no detail was too 

small to be obsessed 

over, and the result is 

simply stunning.” 

Instantly recognizable 

as a direct evolution 

of the concept 

that preceded it, the 

all-new 2018 Kia 

Stinger design was 

overseen by Peter 

Schreyer, Kia Motors’ 

chief design officer, 

and his talented team of designers 

in Frankfurt. 

Ride and handling development 

was looked after by Albert 

Biermann, head of Kia’s Vehicle 

Test and High Performance Development 

and his group of engineers 

in Korea and on the grueling 

Nurburgring racing circuit. 

But what makes a true gran 

turismo? This question was the 

foundation for a years-long journey 

that began when the GT concept 

was first unveiled at the 2011 

Frankfurt Motor Show. Although 

every Kia design study 

has a purpose, the GT concept 

Institute for Policy and Strategic 

Studies (NIPSS); Assistant Corps 

Marshal Susan Ajenge who was 

formerly the Sector Commander 

Niger State, is now the new Corps 

Secretary at the Headquarters; Assistant 

Corps Marshal Efosa 

Osawe still remains the Head of 

Corps Safety Engineering Office 

at the Headquarters. 

In the same vein, Assistant Corps 

Marshal Taiwo Eseyin who was 

former Zonal Head of Operations at 

the Zone RS7 Abuja Zonal Command 

Headquarters, moves to Corps 

Marshal Office, Assistant Corps 

Marshal Gilbert Igbokwe still remains 

the Corps Budget Officer while Assistant 

Corps Marshal Albert Moore 

equally remains as the Corps Transport 

Safety Officer. 

Similarly, Assistant Corps Marshal 

Fidelis Osakwe; who was formerly 

the Head of Section Discipline under 

the Administration and Human 

Resources at the Headquarters, is 

now the Assistant Corps Marshal 

Administration under the Administration 

and Human Resource Department 

at the National Headquarters. 

He added that apart from Assistant 

Corps Marshal Ayobami 

Omiyale, former Sector Commander 

Kogi State Sector Command, now 

Zonal Commanding Officer Sokoto; 

and Assistant Corps Marshal Peter 

Kibo former Sector Commander Imo 

State Sector Command, now Zonal 

Commanding Officer Bauchi, all 

former Zonal Commanding Officers 

remain in their present areas of jurisdiction. 

was something considered by 

many outside the company as 

little more than a dream for a 

brand known for producing 

mass-market transportation 

rooted in value. But the GT ignited 

embers of passion that 

sparked a fire within the organization 

and over the next five 

Mercedes-Benz tops premium vehicle sales 

year 2016. 

Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman 

of the Board of Management of 

Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz 

Cars, said, “2016 was 

the most successful year for Mercedes-Benz 

in the history of the 

company, and the sixth record 

year in succession. With new cars 

with pioneering design that inspire 

our customers and with particularly 

strong growth, above all 

in China and Europe, we have 

climbed to the top of the premium 

segment. And we are accelerating 

further – with new technologies, 

products and services.” 

The year 2016 ended with the 

highest-ever unit sales in a December, 

which was also the 46th 

consecutive record month 

(190,269 units, +6.8%), and with 

the best quarter of all time (545,967 

units, +10.2%). 

Europe was the biggest sales 

region of Mercedes-Benz once 

again in 2016. With growth of 

12.4%, primarily due to strong 

sales of the E-Class and the SUVs, 

best-ever volumes were 

achieved; nearly 900,000 Mercedes-Benz 

vehicles were sold to 

customers in Europe in the past 

twelve months. 

The C-class remains the bestselling 

model with a sale of estates 

and saloons of approximately 

425,000 in 2016 alone. Since 

1982, over nine million models of 

the C-Class have been sold worldwide 

with the largest individual 

market being China and new 

best-ever unit sales in Japan 

(+3.5%), South Korea (+25%), 

Australia (+14.8%), Taiwan 

(+17.4%) and Malaysia (+8.6%). 

Mercedes-AMG grew strongly 

years that fire would grow beyond 

fantasy and morph into reality. 

Once the Stinger was green 

lighted, that gran turismo question 

became a mantra as development 

commenced. Coming 

from Kia, the design had to be 

bold. 

once again in the year 2016 and 

significantly surpassed the record 

year of 2015 with 44.1% growth. 

With 99,235 cars delivered, the 

sports-car and high-performance 

brand from Mercedes-Benz, 

which celebrates its 50th anniversary 

in 2017, continued along its 

successful path. This means that 

the Mercedes-AMG unit sales 

have more than tripled in the past 

three years. 

The biggest model offensive in 

the history of AMG took place in 

2016: the product portfolio was 

expanded with more than ten new 

models. Customers worldwide 

were particularly attracted by the 

“43” models and the compact 

models. The strongest-selling 

markets for AMG automobiles 

were once again the USA, Germany 

and China in 2016. 

According to Mirko Plath, 

Managing Director, Weststar 

Associates Limited, sole general 

distributor of Mercedes-Benz in 

Nigeria, “It’s an amazing 

achievement, Mercedes-Benz 

has set a new global standard.’’


Seven simple tech habits 

to adopt in 2017 

Stories By Laju Iren 

LITTLE things make 

a big difference. That' an 

important lesson you should 

take with you through out the 

new year. Especially when it 

comes to your devices, you'd be 

surprised at just how much 

impact little habits can have. 

Here are some you should 

imbibe in 2017: 

Buy a screen protector 

You know that broken device 

screen that keeps staring you in 

the face? It will get worse. If you 

think the twenty-something 

thousand naira you will spend 

repairing it is a lot, bear in mind 

that you will spend much more 

when your devices finally 

refuses to come on. Do your self 

a favour. Buy a good screen 

protector. It will cost you less 

than N1,000. 

Get off your phone while 

driving 

A 2014 study found that 

speaking on the phone while 

driving delays drivers' reaction 

time by 46 percent, and driving 

84.6 million Nigerians, 

accounting for 47 percent 

of the country's population are 

unbanked. In a sharp contrast, 

mobile phone penetration is very 

high at 94.5 percent with 30 

percent of Nigerians owning a 

smartphone. 

It is no wonder therefore, that 

experts are looking to technology 

as the solution to Nigeria's 

unbanked population. 

Managing Director/ 

CEO, Diamond bank Plc, Mr. 

Uzoma Dozie, has joined his voice 

to this cause. "It is no exaggeration 

to say that mobile banking has 

revolutionized the way financial 

transactions are made across the 

continent," he told Glamtech 

recently, " for millions of people, it 

has positively transformed their 

ability to conduct business and 

their everyday lives." 

Convenient 

banking 

He said: “Looking specifically at 

Nigeria and its ever-growing 

population of over 182 million 

people, we still have huge 

numbers of people who have 

limited or no access to convenient 

banking. If you think a brick and 

mortar branch-led strategy is 

going to be the way to bring these 

people into the formal economy, 

then, in my view, you will fail." 

"Instead, it is only by creating 

digital infrastructure that the 

banking industry can scale rapidly 

enough to support the needs of 

those currently left out. Moreover, 

following changing lifestyles, 

Nigerians are some of the most 

digitally advanced consumers on 

while texting delays reaction 

time by 37 per cent. A driver on 

his phone is more dangerous 

than one who is high on 

the planet.” 

“Therefore, when financial 

service firms think about the 

Nigerian market, they absolutely 

must provide a fully integrated, 

seamless digital offering. 

"The Diamond Bank MD also 

spoke excitedly about the 

potential ecosystem digital 

infrastructure can help create. 

"Through an integrated digital 

platform," he said, "consumers can 

access bundled services and 

products from multiple partners 

best suited to facilitating their 

lifestyle,” he added. 

Dozie added that through 

Cannabis or alcohol. The study 

found that using cannabis slows 

reaction time by 21 per cent, and 

drinking to the legal limit by 13 

‘Why tech will help unbanked population' 

Diamond Mobile, customers can 

manage their finances, search and 

book international and local flights, 

as well as purchase movie tickets. 

His words: "This is only the start of 

what can become an even more 

integrated and far-reaching 

platform. It’s also the start of a 

concept that I call Beyond Banking." 

China’s Wechat – an instant 

messaging service which allows 

online banking – is a powerful 

example of what the possibilities are 

when it comes to an integrated 

ecosystem. Those of us in the 

banking system must begin to 

look at business models that are 

We're ready for 2017, says LG 

HEAD of Corporate 

Marketing, LG Electronics 

West Africa operations, Mr. Rajesh 

Agnihotri has said that his 

company is ready to set the trend 

in 2017. 

He told Glamtech in a recent 

release: “For LG ,the year is fully 

loaded with great products that 

will be trendsetting and perfect for 

smart homes, which will further 

shape the year changing the 

narrative of technological 

innovation. Indeed, 2017 is a 

promising year for us, as we intend 

to upscale existing products and 

also introduce newer ones that will 

meet the needs of our 

consumers”. 

Internet of Things is where 

everyday items get chips or 

sensors, and apps join the internet 

from cars to toothbrush. This 

completely shows that apps which 

control IoT devices will also make 

LG Watch Urbane 2nd Edition 

use of machine learning. "So in 

2017 consumers should look out 

for devices that will communicate 

and help each other make 

decisions," said the LG West 

Africa boss. 

LG Watch Urbane 2nd Edition 

features the circular display, stylish 

appearance and LTE connectivity 

of previous models while also 

per cent. So if you're on the 

wheel, get off your phone. 

Back up files 

Time flies. It's flown even 

technology based even when 

they are far removed from the 

adding a number of new features 

to help it stand out in a competitive 

market. While wearables are yet 

to find their niche and explode in 

popularity the way smartphones 

have, LG believes that the 

progress it has made with its smart 

watches demonstrates just how 

bright the future is for these 

devices. With a wide variety of 

faster since the last time you told 

yourself that you'd back up your 

files. Back them up on 

googledrive, in the cloud and on 

your other devices. Don't wait 

until tomorrow, protect your data 

now. 

Passwords, passwords 

Even IT professionals can't 

decide how often you should 

change your passwords. While 

some say you should change 

frequently, some others say that's 

not safe. But you are the best 

person to answer that question. 

How many people have you 

given your password to? How 

long have you used it? On how 

many accounts do you use the 

same password? These are 

questions you must ask yourself 

before deciding whether or not 

you should change your 

password. 

Update your anti-virus 

Still on security, now might be 

the time to update your 

computer's anti-virus. It will cost 

you some money, but your better 

protected data would be worth 

it in the long run. 

Deal with the clutter 

Organize your files across your 

devices. This will help you have 

a more organized year ahead. 

traditional models we have 

known in the past. 

Mobile banking in 

action 

smartwatches available from 

high-end luxury timepieces to 

activity trackers, 2017 might just 

be the year for wearables. 

If that happens, then LG will 

have a lot to smile about in the 

new year. Its series of 

smartwatches and TONE 

INFINIUM seem to be doing not 

too badly in their respective 

markets. Combining smart 

usability with interactive, userfriendly 

features, LG says its 

wearables have helped 

consumers become familiar with 

the most exciting technology on 

the planet. The company’s 

consistent strong performance in 

the market has provided great 

insights into the path it will take 

with other wearable products to 

increase market share. As the 

wearable market continues to 

evolve consumers are encourage 

to look out for other products that 

would emulate the trends.


Security concerns force foreign airlines to 

reject Kaduna Airport 

By Lawani Mikairu 

REPRESENTATIVES of 

international airlines 

operators who attended the 

stakeholders meeting called by 

the Minister of State, Aviation, 

Senator Hadi Sirika to discuss the 

closure of the Nnamdi Azikiwe 

International Airport, Abuja to 

enable government carry out 

repairs on the runway rejected 

the Kaduna International Airport 

as alternative destination for 

Abuja flight 

Mr Osho Joseph who spoke on 

behalf of the representatives of the 

international airlines operators at 

the stakeholders meeting said the 

Kaduna airport may be a good 

option for local airlines but not for 

foreign. He said, “We believe 

Kaduna may be an alternative for 

local operators but definitely not 

for international airline operators. 

But we will get back on this.” 

He described the planned 

closure as a total disruption of 

their schedules and operations, 

stressing that Kaduna lacked 

capacity and logistics to handle 

international flights. He also 

expressed worry over logistics 

challenges like aviation fuel 

supply, security of passengers, 

capacity to handle bigger 

airplanes and more passengers, 

among other issues. 

Joseph said,“We’re supposed to 

learn from past experiences. We 

shouldn’t have waited this long 

before repairing the runway. We 

have individual concerns aside 

security issues. We believe 

Kaduna airport is an alternate 

airport for local airlines, but not 

foreign carriers. Again, we ask, 

what arrangements are on 

ground in Kaduna to assist fuel 

marketers? Besides, since the 

thinking is to utilise the 

opportunity of the dry season, 

why not start the repairs in 

February and end in March?” 

The Chairman, Airline 

Operators of Nigeria (AON), 

Capt. Noggie Meggison 

supported the position of the 

foreign airlines. He said while 

the local carriers support 

the repair of the Abuja airport 

runway to buoy safe operations, 

it could be done without total 

closure. Meggison said “The 

Abuja runway should be repaired 

at night as done in other climes 

between 6pm-6am. Such is the 

style used in Gatwick airport in 

the UK. It handles 400,000 

passengers a year. Abuja is about 

4,000. If Gatwick can be done that 

way, why not Abuja? International 

airlines can fly into Kano and 

Lagos, and we’ll distribute 

passengers for them because 

Kaduna doesn’t seem to work for 

them. We should take another look 

at the cost of logistics and support. 

Runway of Abuja is 3,900 metres. 

Spilt it into two. We can fix each 

2,000 metres in four weeks, while 

the other side remains 

operational. So, smaller airplanes 

like the B737s and CRJs can land. 

Kaduna can’t handle high 

volume of passengers and 

airplanes. We’re in total support 

of rehabilitation of the Abuja 

runway. It has become a safety 

concern and needs to be 

addressed.” 

Economic 

decision 

In his response, the minister of 

state for Aviation, Senator Hadi 

Sirika said it is an economic 

decision on the part of all 

stakeholders in the sector to fly to 

Kaduna during the six weeks 

required for repairs. “On whether 

some of the international airline 

won’t fly to Kaduna, that’s an 

economic decision. But we will 

ensure they are comfortable if 

they chose to fly to Kaduna. 

Kaduna has the capacity to take 

jumbo jets and B777s” he said. 

The minister also said “what I 

have said is not final. We are still 

open to new knowledge on this 

matter. At the end of our 

preparation, stakeholders will be 

invited to inspect Kaduna to ask 

further questions.” 

On security, he explained that 

the federal government and the 

Kaduna State Government will 

provide “security within the 

airport, Kaduna Metropolitan 

City, enroute to railway station & 

along Kaduna- Abuja road.” 

He also said air surveillance of 

the entire route will be provided 

by the Police and the Air Force 

even as road safety personnel will 

be deployed to ensure smooth 

flow of traffic. 

He also said passengers will be 

screened in Abuja, possibly at the 

old parade ground, Area 11 before 

buses will take them to Kaduna 

for free. However the passengers 

will be screened again at Kaduna 

airport. On the scope of work to 

be done on the runway he 

said “about 48,000 tonnes of 

asphalt by milling will be removed 

and reinstalled, over 400 shallow 

bases will be removed, about 

20km of cables will be laid, 50 

tonnes of asphalt reinforcement 

to be placed and the runway 

lighting system to be replaced and 

upgraded”. 

The minister ruled out carrying 

out repairs of the Abuja airport 

runway at night as suggested by 

some stakeholders saying “We 

know that option but we can’t 

possibly work at night on Abuja 

airport” the minister said adding 

that the entire runway has failed. 

Meanwhile, the National 

Association of Nigeria Travel 

Agencies, NANTA, weekend 

supported the rejection of Kaduna 

Airport as alternate airport by 

foreign airlines operating in 

Nigeria following the decision of 

the government to close Abuja 

airport runway for six weeks for 

repair works. 

Foreign 

carriers 

The association said the foreign 

carriers should be given the option 

of flying the Abuja passengers to 

Lagos and allowing the domestic 

airlines to do the distribution of 

the passengers to Kaduna airport. 

The President of NANTA, Mr. 

Bankole Bernard made the 

position of the body known while 

briefing aviation reporter 

weekend in Lagos. He said the 

government should not compel 

the foreign carriers to operate from 

Kaduna airport as they could 

decide to withdraw their aircraft 

from that route and stop operating 

flight for the six weeks the repair 

works will last and this might 

cause more hardship for the 

passengers .


Nigeria has no excuse not to benefit 

from tourism—Avantgarde Tour boss 

By Gabriel Olawale 

THE Managing Director , 

Avantgarde Tours, Mr. 

Efetobo Awhana, has said that 

the excuses of insecurity, 

infrastructures among others 

often touted by some people 

were not enough reasons for 

Nigeria not to sell tourism. 

Speaking at the launch of 

‘Naijaholidays’ an online 

booking site, Awhana noted 

that all the thriving and 

successful tourism destinations 

around the world have one 

form of challenge or the other. 

“Recently I read about the 

number of death recorded in 

Chicago from crime in the last 

two years, it outnumbers what 

we have here in Lagos with 

wide a margin. 

Our own 

narrative 

Then the question becomes 

how are we carrying our own 

Serika Abass Baracoon (jail) 

narrative, which story are we 

telling the world. 

“We don’t hear of United 

States of America as a terrible 

country; however South Africa 

has worse reputation in terms 

of security than Nigeria, but 

records highest revenue from 

tourism in Africa. I was in 

Nairobi few days before 

President Obama’s visit and 

they were patching their roads. 

The point that I 

am making is 

that we don’t 

have excuse not 

to sell tourism in 

this country.” 

A w h a n a 

explained that 

t h e 

‘Naijaholidays’ 

was launched 

with the aim of 

making booking 

tour around 

Nigeria lot easier 

and comes with 

exciting tour 

options and 

g r e a t 

convenience for 

tourist. 

“This new 

online booking 

site will give 

tourists a chance 

to easily find tour 

packages around 

Nigeria. 

Choosing 

affordable and 

memorable travel 

options for 

honeymoons, 

family holidays, 

group and teambuilding 

tours, 

and educational 

tours can now be 

done at the 

comfort of one’s 

phone or 

computer.” 

“Before now it 

is almost 

impossible to go 

online and get 

information 

about tours in 

the Nigeria this makes 

Avantgarde Tour Limited and 

other reputable tour operators 

in the country to set up an 

online platform designed to 

sell tour packages.” 

“The new website allows 

tourists to choose from several 

payment options powered by 

technology company, 

REMITA. They can pay using 

a card, make an online 

transfer or even take down the 

booking number and make 

payments at the bank.” he 

explained. 

NTDC, ITP 

partner to 

promote 

tourism 

Badagry: Steeps in 

slave history 

BADAGRY, a town founded 

around 1425 A.D, today 

provides endless exciting 

experience for tourists from the 

first story building in Nigeria 

constructed by the Anglican 

missionaries to the Agia Tree , 

where Christianity was first 

preached in Nigeria, 

fascinating beach fronts and 

enchanting lagoon waterways, 

and the Island point of No 

return, the town indeed has a 

lot to offer tourists. 

But an aspect of history that 

most tourists to the town often 

relate with has to do with the 

slave trade that took place in 

Badagry around 1473 by 

Portuguese slave merchant 

named Ferman Gomez, who 

sold most of the inhabitants of 

Gberefu as slaves to Europe. 

To many tourist, a visit to 

Badagry is not complete 

without a visit to Seriki Abass 

Slave museum; Mobee Slave 

Relics museum; the Vlekete 

Slave market; George 

Freemingo’s tomb and the 

THE Nigerian Tourism 

Development 

Corporation (NTDC) and 

the Institute for Tourism 

Professionals (ITP) are 

forming a strong synergy to 

ensure development and 

promotion of the Nigerian 

tourism industry. 

The Acting Director- 

General of the corporation, 

Mrs. Mariel Rae-Omoh, 

while receiving the National 

President of ITP, Chief 

Abiodun Odusanwo, in her 

office in Abuja, expressed 

the readiness of the 

corporation to work with 

stakeholders in the industry 

to practically develop and 

promote the tourism 

industry. 

Rae-Omoh, who reiterated 

her commitment to move the 

corporation forward, 

commended the continued 

efforts of ITP to ensure that 

Nigeria stands tall in the 

comity of tourism nations. 

Odusanwo, earlier in his 

speech, commended the 

Rae-Omoh ledadministration, 

which 

according to him, will move 

tourism development and 

promotion in the country 

from mere rhetoric to 

fruition. 

Slave Ports . 

Seriki Abass Brazilian 

Baracon: Portuguese Baracoon 

, a jail or cell in English, was 

built by the Brazilian slave 

merchants in 1840 and was 

handed over to their black 

agent, Chief Seriki Williams 

Abass, who was also once a 

slave boy. 

The compound has been 

converted into a living museum 

by the government with the 

tomb of Chief Seriki Abass, 

who died in 1919 featuring in 

the courtyard prominently. 

The legendary Baracon apart 

from the preservation of hidden 

relics of the slave trade era, also 

offers great insight into “the 

exchange rate” mechanism 

used by inhuman white slave 

merchants, as an umbrella 

fetches 40 slaves, a cannon 

gun (Big) exchanges for 100 

slaves, a bottle of gin (spirit) 

10 slaves, a dane gun – 40 

slaves, ceramic pot/plate – 10 

slaves and a mirror – 

negotiable. 

C 

M 

Y 

K

Edited by EMEKA AGINAM 


I don’t have any bank account, 

aircraft or real estate outside 

Nigeria – Jonathan 

FayoseTheWailer 

Nobody knows 

tomorrow You are very 

right; let us leave former 

President, GoodLuck 

Ebere Jonathan alone to 

enjoy his money and 

those held by proxy by the 

wife. This is the best way 

to develop. However, it is 

not then right to lament 

that the Niger Delta is not 

developed. You want him 

back as President?. 

MYSTORY123 

It is possible. all 

Nigerians are not 

necessarily thieves. If I 

become president of 

Nigeria for example, I 

will not steal. 

ndemokon 

Going by some people’s 

opinion in this forum, it 

is clear there are people 

who pray and fast that 

former President 

Jonathan be prosecuted 

and jailed. Any court of 

competent jurisdiction 

worth its salt will not jail 

an accused unless tried. 

Courts decisions are 

usually based on 

evidence before the court. 

I will prefer this case be 

settled in court so that the 

matter be settled once 

and for all. I am certain 

former President 

Jonathan is not afraid of 

court if his hands are 

clean. 

ODI ODI 

Former President 

Goodluck Jonathan was 

the best executive 

President Nigeria ever 

had. This is the reason 

the government is 

fighting the truth which is 

Nigeria can’t be Islamised – 

Osinbajo 

ldest OYEYEMI 

Yes . but some people 

that detest the unity of 

the country will not 

succumb to that just 

because of their 

unpatriotic role. May 

God guide this country. 

NDA4REAL 

The Vice President 

should go and check 

Nigeria's constitution. It 

a standard they don’t 

want to be judged by. 

is based clearly on Islam 

and Muslim, no 

Christianity 

Barclayteke 

Nigeria is already an 

Islamic country by virtue of 

its membership in the 

Islamic organization. In case 

the VP doesn't know, most 

of the western zone is 

already Islamized and the 

remaining parts will be too 

willing to oblige. 

I know Buhari’ll 

not perform; 

His change not 

working – 

Fayose 

OnuohaOkpo 

It is disheartening that 

a lot of people are suffering 

as a result of present 

leadership that has 

resulted to the abysmal 

performance of the 

government in power. It is 

even more painful that 

some people are still 

pretending that all is well 

with them and Nigeria 

under this government 

whereas nothing seemed 

to be working. 

Jagus 

Governor Fayose and 

Wike are the only brave 

governors who challenged 

this government. This is 

the beauty of democracy. 

There must be opposition 

in government. 

Niga'Area Zootopia 

Governor Ayodele Fayose 

is a Prophet. We believe 

him wholeheartedly. 

Whatever he says 

unmistakably comes to 

pass. 

Femosilla Niga'Area 

Zootopia 

Thank God you have 

agreed that Governor 

Fayose, a Yoruba man is 

now your only outspoken 

prophet especially when 

most of your South East 

governors are busy 

secretly singing praises for 

President Buhari in the 

name of Naira and kobo 

politics. Now we know who 

the real cowards are. 

C 

M 

Y 

K


Secure Anchorage Area: We have reduced piracy, sea 

robbery in Lagos waters— OMS boss 

By Godfrey Bivbere 

THE collaboration between 

the Nigerian Navy and 

Ocean Marine Services, OMS, 

in the operation of the Secured 

Anchorage Area, SAA, has led to 

the reduction of piracy, sea 

robbery in the Lagos anchorage 

area. 

Disclosing this in an interview 

with Vanguard in Lagos, the 

Assistant General Manager, in 

charge of Business Development 

at OMS, Comdr. Chuma Adogu 

(rted), said the collaboration has 

also led to the reduction of 

shipping cost in the country. 

Adogu explained that the 

collaboration which entails the 

provision of platforms by OMS 

for the Navy for enhanced 

policing of the SAA, has not only 

resulted in a more secured 

operational environment but has 

also increased the confidence of 

the international shipping lines 

calling at the nation’s ports. 

He noted that the international 

shipping lines were forced to 

provide “war insurance” for any 

call to Nigeria before the 

collaboration which led to 

increase in the cost of shipping 

business in the country. He said, 

“Government is buying more 

platforms for the Navy and the 

Navy is doing its best but as I 

said earlier, it is not easy to police 

our huge coast line. Our 

operation is also helping in the 

sense that where ever we are, the 

Navy does not need to send their 

platforms there; therefore it is an 

addition. 

“In the final analysis, you are 

reducing the risk, the capacity of 

bad people. You are being more 

at sea, more eyes at sea, you are 

reducing the risk. The increased 

capacity has helped these foreign 

ships that make port calls to 

Nigeria in terms of the high risk 

insurance or war insurance that 

they were forced to pay. This has 

resulted in the reduction of cost 

of shipping business in Nigeria 

and, therefore, reduced the cost 

of goods since the premium of 

the shipping companies has 

reduced. These are some of the 

things that people who 

antagonise our operations 

should consider.” 

Adogu explained that the 

creation of the SAA was the result 

of a steering committee 

comprising the Nigerian 

Maritime Administration and 

Safety Agency, NIMASA, 

Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, 

Nigerian National Petroleum 

Corporation, NNPC, Nigerian 

Navy and other stakeholders on 

the instance of the NNPC. 

In the words of the OMS boss, 

“At some point in 2013/14, there 

was need to streamline the Lagos 

harbour approaches. The 

demarcations that were done 

earlier by NPA and some other 

agencies were not 

implementable. The area they 

marked out for anchorage was too 

far into the sea and too deep for 

anchorage. So people were not 

using it. People were using 

where they could come closer and 

so a steering committee which 

was formed by NIMASA, NPA, 

NNPC and the Nigerian Navy 

and all other stakeholders met for 

over six months to look at the 

demarcations. 

“I think it was NNPC that 

initiated it, they are the people 

who bring in petroleum products. 

They needed some kind of 

streamlining of the 

administration of the area. So this 

committee met for about six 

months and eventually came up 

with demarcations which include 

the Free Anchorage Area, FAA, 

Secured Anchorage Area, SAA, 

the No Anchorage Area, NAA, 

the Free Passage Area, FPA, 

where you must not anchor and 

the Ship-to-Ship Transfer Zone.” 

NIMASA workers 

groan over 

non-payment 

of allowance 

By Godwin Oritse 

WORKERS of the 

Nigerian 

M a r i t i m e 

Administration and 

Safety Agency, 

(NIMASA), are 

currently groaning over 

non-payment of the 

balance of their dress 

allowance. 

The workers, it was 

gathered resorted to 

cutting cost due to the 

unpaid allowance as 

their morale has also 

dropped. 

Some of the workers 

have stopped bringing 

their vehicles to the 

office as a result of the 

cost of putting the cars 

on the road. 

Some of them have 

also resorted in 

rationing the number of 

days they come to work 

due their inability to 

transport themselves 

on daily basis. 

Vanguard learnt that 

some of the workers 

had collected bank 

loans in anticipation of 

the allowance. 

Several months after 

collecting the loans, the 

balance of the allowance 

were yet to be paid and 

the bank, (name 

withheld) has held on 

the salaries of the some 

of the workers for close 

to five months. 

The source also told 

Vanguard that the 

Director General of the 

agency, Dr Dakuku 

Peterside, had said the 

particular allowance 

has not been approved 

by the Salaries and 

Wages Commission. 

Whether the agency 

was making any move 

to get the allowance 

approved by the 

Commission could not 

be ascertained, but the 

outgoing spokesperson 

of the agency, Hajia 

Lami Tumaka, however, 

told Vanguard that the 

money will be paid 

when all arrangements 

for payments are 

concluded.


•Felix Duke 

Anu, The Lady Ekwe begins the 

year with tour of Turkey 

Anu, the lady Ekwe 

I didn’t run away 

from the country 

— Felix Duke, Dancehall reggae star 

By Benjamin Njoku 

NIGERIAN rising musical sensation and 

female percussionist, Anu, The Lady 

Ekwe is currently in Turkey for an arousing 

world performance, heralding her global 

itinerary in 2017. 

In Konya, one of the cities in Turkey’s 

mainland, the musical act, who is known for 

her velvety voice and sonorous renditions as 

well as energetic percussionist deft on Ekwe, a 

male dominated African musical instrument 

from the eastern extraction of Nigeria but which 

she has made her musical signature, is one of 

the Nigerian musical artistes invited by the 

Turkey government to showcase her talent in a 

global event being hosted by the country. 

The event is the first ever Africa – Turkey 

Economic and Cultural Amalgamation, an 

activation of Motherland Beckons, which kicks 

off today, in Konya and is expected to run 

through the weekend. In attendance will be 

top African diplomats in Turkey, African heads 

of state and prime ministers as well as governors 

and mayors of major cities and states in the 

continent. 

Also in attendance are the business 

communities in this first event of its kind, which 

is focusing on exploring the business aspects 

of tourism, culture and entertainment between 

African countries and Turkey under the auspices 

of Motherland Beckons headed by Otunba 

Wanle Akinboboye in partnership with 

MUSAID. Turkish government will be leading 

a powerful delegation to the event. 

By Austin Ngbolu 

VETERAN singer and instrumentalist, Felix Duke who 

bestrode the country’s music scene like a colossus 

for three decades before disappearing into thin air has 

denied ever joining the infamous quest to travel to the 

United States in search of greener pastures. 

Duke said he never planned to live abroad, stating that 

he only travelled to the United Kingdom on a musical tour, 

which took him away from the music scene. 

He denied joining the likes of Victor Eshiet (Mandators), 

Ras Kimono, Majek Fashek, Mike Okri, among other 

Nigeria’s music legends who jetted out of the country in 

search of greener pastures abroad, but got stranded in the 

process. 

“I have always been around. I only travelled to the United 

Kingdom along the line and that was on a musical tour. 

And it was at a time Nigeria was experiencing political 

crisis. That was where I recorded “Joanna”, one of the hit 

songs I have in my kitty today. So mine was a different 

ball game,” he explained. 

The dancehall general believes that he still has what it 

takes to reclaim his place in the country’s music scene. 

Duke recently released his latest song, “General”, which 

is currently enjoying massive airplay. Produced by Stary, 

the song is bound to re-launch the Edo-born reggae 

dancehall artiste into the mainstream music scene in the 

country. 

*Singz and Phzieso 

Industry Nite 

debuts in Ekiti State 

By Rotimi Agbana 

TRAILING the blaze of the biggest mid-week 

music show in Lagos, IML, a musical group 

made up of Singz and Phzieson have launched 

Industry Nite in Ekiti State. As undergraduates of 

Ekiti State University, they are the founders and 

organizers of Ekiti State Industry Night (EKSIN), 

an entertainment platform to help young artistes 

showcase their talents within the state. 

They both believe that the platform has helped 

to boost the career of many young talented artistes 

in Lagos, so they also want to recreate such 

platform for upcoming artistes in Ekiti. Their 

greatest inspiration is fuelled by their early exposure 

to the sounds of musical legends like Fela 

Anikulapo Kuti, Stevie Wonder and 2face Idibia. 

When PMAN 

honoured KSA! 

THE celebration of King 

Sunny Ade’s 70th birthday 

continued recently with the 

Performing Musicians Association 

of Nigeria, PMAN Lagos State 

chapter, joining other corporate 

organizations and individuals in 

the country to honour the music 

icon with the award of excellence. 

The award was given to him in 

recognition of his immense 

contribution towards the growth of 

the Nigerian music industry. 

The event which was part of the 

70 artistes’ celebration of KSA in 

Lagos, climaxed the 70th birthday 

anniversary of KSA, which was 

flagged off few months ago. 

According to Kabiyesi Olomide 

Osoba, Governor of PMAN Lagos 

State chapter, “KSA deserves more 

than the honour given him 

because he has successfully put 

the country’s music in the world 

map and we shall continue to 

celebrate him throughout his 

lifetime” 

Responding, KSA thanked 

PMAN for the honour, praying 

that God would continue to uphold 

the association and the executives. 

“You will take this association to 

greater heights and God will 

continue to guide you in all your 

endeavours. I sincerely appreciate 

this gesture even though it was a 

surprise to me.” 

Recall that the presentation of a 

joint album by 70 notable artistes 

in the country at an event 

packaged by Tope Olukole among 

other events organized in the 

musician’s honour climaxed the 

month-long celebration of KSA’s 

70th birthday. The occasion was 

used by PMAN Lagos to present 

an award of excellence to the king 

of Juju music. Equally, the Gospel 

Musicians Association of Nigeria 

headed by Lady Evangelist Funmi 

Aragbaye presented an award to 

the icon at the occasion. 

Sunny Ade


FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, , 2017 

Season of consuming fires in South-West 

Shops burnt in Akure Ondo 

By Dayo Johnson, Monsuru 

Olowoopejo & Rotimi 

Ojomoyela 

AKURE, the Ondo State 

capital was literally in 

flames within a 10-days interval 

as public buildings, shops, 

schools, cars and buildings were 

torched and goods worth 

millions of naira razed. 

Residents of Ado-Ekiti, the 

Ekiti State capital would not 

forget in a hurry the inferno that 

engulfed the heart of the city. 

Like a wild wind, the fire spread, 

eating up everything in its way 

and by the time the inferno was 

put out, several properties worth 

hundreds of millions of naira 

have been consumed by the 

raging fire. About 20 houses, 30 

offices and shops were razed by 

the fire. 

The news of massive fire 

disaster at the Nigerian 

Breweries Plc, Lagos, completed 

the cycle. The fire which was 

finally curtailed several hours 

after, destroyed property worth 

millions of Naira. 

Akure literally 

aflame 

It was a sordid experience 

across the state capital as traders 

and residents counted their 

loses. Traders cried and wailed 

as their goods were destroyed 

in their presence as they 

watched helplessly. The 

lukewarm attitude of officials of 

the state fire service to the 

distressed calls to help salvage 

some of the goods from the 

raging fire came under 

condemnation by all and sundry 

in the state capital. 

Vanguard gathered that the 

mysterious fire incidences had 

become a source of concern 

following which residents of the 

metropolis staged a protest march 

to the palace of the traditional ruler, 

the Deji of Akureland Oba 

Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi. Although, 

the state Police command fingered 

a gang of arsonists as perpetrators 

of the heinous act, only one of the 

suspects had been arrested and all 

attempts to parade him before the 

public since his arrest had been 

futile. 

Distress 

telephone calls 

Traders at the popular Odopetu 

market after the day's businesses 

went back to their different homes 

without any premonition that by 

the next morning all the goods in 

their shops would be consumed by 

fire and burnt to ashes. 

Many were woken up from their 

sleep by distress telephone calls 

from loved ones and other 

sympathizers that their shops had 

went up in flames. In night gowns 

and other funny dresses they raced 

to the venue to behold their source 

of livelihood consumed by the 

mysterious fire outbreak. Residents 

in the houses close to the market 

made spirited efforts to quell the 

fire but to no avail. The raging fire 

spread so fast that nothing could 

be salvaged by the owners of the 

stalls in the market and 

sympathizers as they watched 

helplessly. Many traders who ran 

into their shops to evacuate 

valuables sustained injuries 

occasioned by the fire. 

Mostly affected were shops 

stocked with food items expected 

to be sold during the new year 

festivities in the market. The shops 

and the items in them were 

destroyed when the fire incident 

reportedly occurred at midnight. 

No life was lost in the inferno 

according to eyewitness account. 

Traders interviewed in the 

metropolis described the fire 

The razed tanker and filling station in Ekiti 

outbreak as mysterious. 

While others speculated that the 

cause might be as a result of 

power surge, it was further learnt 

that there was no power supply 

in the area when the incident 

occurred. Food items destroyed 

by the fire, according to findings, 

include bags of rice and beans, 

tubers of yam, plantain, fruits, 

kegs of palm oil and vegetable 

oil among others. An eyewitness 

account said "the cause of the fire 

It was a sordid 

experience 

across the state 

capital as 

traders and 

residents 

counted their 

loses 

incident is unknown to anyone 

because everybody had gone to 

sleep and all the traders have all 

gone home when we started 

seeing smoke from the market. 

Noise in 

the night 

“We just heard the noise in the 

night and by the time we got there 

we saw everywhere on fire.” 

One of the affected traders who 

identified herself as Mrs. Janet 

Olorunfemi said that she had lost 

all she stocked in her shop to the 

fire. 

Olorunfemi while narrating her 

ordeal said, "I was home when 

somebody called to inform me that 

the market was burning so I 

quickly rushed down. Everything 

in my shop was burnt down 

completely." 

She appealed to NEMA and 

the state government to come to 

their rescue moreso that all what 

they stocked to be sold during the 

new year festivity had been 

consumed by the outbreak. 

Reacting to the outbreak, the 

Chairman of the Akure South 

Local Government Bayo Alarapon 

described the fire incident as 

unfortunate. 

Alarapon told Vanguard that a 

panel to investigate the incident 

would soon be set up. According 

to him “it is very unfortunate that 

this kind of incident is happening 

during this hard time of recession. 

On our own part, we shall look 

for the ways to assist the affected 

traders.” 

As if the Odopetu fire outbreak 

and the losses recorded were not 

enough, another mysterious fire 

outbreak wreaked havoc in 

Ayedun area of Akure barely a 

week interval. Several shops, a 

brothel and buildings were again 

razed. It was a pitiable sight as 

owners of the shops ravaged by 

the fire were rolling on the floor 

crying and wailing. They claimed 

they got loans from the microcredit 

to buy the goods that were 

ravaged by the fire. 

No life was lost in the inferno 

but reports had it that security 

guards employed by the shop 

owners sustained some injuries 

while trying to put out the fire. 

Vanguard gathered that the fire 

outbreak ravaged the shops 

situated at Egbe street in Ayedun 

area in Akure metropolis in the 

early hours of Wednesday. 

Items destroyed 

by the fire 

Items destroyed by the fire were 

similar to those at Odopetu 

market. Food items including 

bags of rice, beans, bags of 

pepper, tubers of yam, kegs of 

palm oil and vegetable oil stocked 

in the shops were burnt to ashes. 

Also destroyed in the inferno 

were football dish, fans, 

household furniture, television 

sets, stabilizers, generators and 

decoders. Property worth millions 

of naira were reportedly destroyed 

by fire outbreak which started at 

about 1.00am. 

Eyewitness account said the 

outbreak started from one of the 

locked shops and gradually 

spread to many others before it 

was noticed. The cause of the fire 

could not be ascertained as 

residents in the area and the 

security guards said it happened 

suddenly and spread fast to other 

shops and the building. Speaking 

with Vanguard, one of the victims, 

Bola Makinde, said she got a 

distress call at about 1.00 am from 

one of those living beside her 

shop that there was a fire 

outbreak. 

Makinde said by the time she 

rushed to her shop it was already 

on fire with all her goods 

destroyed. Another shop owner 

who is a motorcycle repairer, 

Abiola Ojo, said three motorcycles 

that were under repair in his shop 

were burnt beyond recognition 

while all the equipment used by 

him were not spared in the 

inferno. Ojo who said that the 

cause of the fire remained 

unknown to them denied that it 

was caused by a power surge 

because power supply in the area 

had been epileptic for sometime. 

He on behalf of the affected 

traders pleaded with the state 

government and the National 

Emergency Management 

Agency, NEMA, to come to their 

assistance. 

Ojo said that their source of 

livelihood had been consumed by 

the fire and to take care of their 

families during this recession 

would take only the grace of God. 

The owner of one of the affected 

buildings, Mrs Mary Dada, said: 

“The cause of the fire incident is 

not clear yet to anyone because 

everybody has gone to sleep and 

all the traders have all gone 

home. But what I just know is that 

one of my tenants went out in that 

midnight to urinate and he is the 

one that raised the alarm before 

everybody rushed out for fear of 

being consumed by the fire." 

Also, a teacher at Saint Martins 

RCM Primary, Oke Padi, where 

the administrative block was razed 

said it was difficult to trace the 

source of the fire as the school was 

on holiday and nobody was in the 

school environment when it 

started. Meanwhile, some 

residents of Oke Ijebu where a 

Continues on page 29


Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (3rd right), with the Ooni of 

Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II (4th right) in a group photograph 

with members of the State Executive Council during a courtesy visit by the Ooni 

of Ife at Lagos House, Ikeja, on Wednesday. 

Oyo State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Adeniyi Olowofela (left) 

and one of the protesting students of the Ladoke Akintola University 

of Technology, Ogbomoso, Olamiposi Fawole, during a peaceful protest 

to the Governor's Office against the continued closure of the college, 

in Ibadan...on Monday. Photo: Governor's office. 

Mrs. Mosunmola Ayeni; Ambassador Oluwole Coker., former Nigerian 

Ambassador to Ivory Coast; Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Business Icon and Mrs. 

Abiodun Jinadu, some of the children of late Special Mother in Israel, Mrs. 

Christiana Modupeola Coker, during the funeral rites to celebrate 

the life and times of the late matriarch of Nathaniel Coker dynasty 

and the mother of Ambassador Oluwole Coker in Lagos. 

THE TEAM 

EDITOR: 

Adeleke Adeseri 08054682557 (sms only) 

CORRESPONDENTS: 

Dapo Akinrefon Lagos 

Ola Ajayi 

Ibadan 

Gbenga Olarinoye Osogbo 

Dayo Johnson Akure 

Olasunkanmi Akoni Lagos 

Daud Olatunji Abeokuta 

Rotimi Ojomoyela Ekiti 

Monsuru Olowoepejo 

A season of consuming fires 

Continues from page 28 

number of shops were consumed, besieged 

the Oba's palace to express their displeasure. 

In their hundreds, the residents alleged that 

the various fire incidences were not natural 

but a sinister move by some “evil” 

personalities to paint the state capital as 

unsafe ahead of the handing over to a new 

government. 

Security 

operatives 

They appealed to security operatives in 

the state to be alive to their responsibilities 

by fishing out the evil perpetrators. As if the 

protest was what the security operatives 

were waiting for to spur them into action, 

the state Police Command few days after, 

announced the arrest of one suspected 

arsonist, Oladapo Alaba, the gang leader 

of those whose sport it was to set public 

places on fire. The suspect, according to the 

Command spokesman, Femi Joseph, was 

arrested while attempting to raze a popular 

supermarket in the metropolis. 

Joseph said the suspect was believed to 

be one of those hoodlums that burnt down 

public places in recent times in the state. 

According to him,“our men, while on patrol 

at about 3.00am saw the suspect at the 

premises of 

t h e 

supermarket. 

Immediately 

he saw our 

men he ran 

away and 

our men 

chased him 

until he 

was later 

arrested. 

We have 

begun 

investigation 

We have begun 

investigation on the 

matter and in our 

preliminary 

investigation, we 

discovered that he 

wanted to set the 

supermarket on fire 

on the matter and in our preliminary 

investigation, we discovered that he wanted 

to set the supermarket on fire. We are still 

interrogating the suspect to know if he was 

being sent by some people or not and also 

to know his actual intention for deciding to 

carry out the act.” 

Joseph said that the suspect would be 

charged to court after the investigation had 

been concluded. “We need the support of 

our people to fight crimes in this state, we, 

the police can not do it alone, we can’t be 

everywhere at the same time. That is why 

we need the people to give us information 

about anybody suspected to be criminal or 

involved in criminal activities among us. We 

are committed to ensure that the rate of 

criminality is reduced to the barest minimum 

in this state,”he said. 

The state Police Command was yet to 

present to the public the suspected leader 

of the gang hinging it on security reasons. 

Joseph told Vanguard that investigations 

were still ongoing to know the reason for 

his action, his sponsors and to round up 

other members of the group still on the run. 

Tanker fire wreaks havoc in Ekiti: To some 

concerned residents of Ado-Ekiti, the fire 

incident shouldn’t have taken anybody by 

surprise, because the signs were already 

there that such a disaster was looming, 

especially with the way petrol stations are 

located haphazardly in the state capital, 

throwing safety and other extant rules that 

guide such a delicate business to the dogs. 

Residents of the state capital also 

expressed the fear that the capital city may 

be sitting on a keg of gun powder with the 

way filling stations are springing up in every 

nook and cranny of the sprawling city with 

reckless abandon. The inferno, which started 

at about 4.00pm on Sunday evening at 

Strive-Energy, a high brow filling station 

located at Ijigbo Roundabout, very close to 

the popular Erekesan Market in the capital 

city of Ado-Ekiti, was like a poisoned arrow 

aimed at the hearts of the traders, who wept 

uncontrollably as they helplessly watched 

their wares burned to ashes. 

How the trouble started: It was 

gathered that the incident started 

around 4:00 p.m. when a tanker which 

was delivering fuel at the station began 

to emit thick smoke. An eye-witness who 

pleaded anonymity said the smoke 

billowed from the tanker for over 20 

minutes with the workers at the station 

not responding to it. A huge fire 

eventually started when a driver who 

was on the queue to buy fuel suddenly 

switched on the ignition of his vehicle 

which caused a spark. The ensuing 

inferno razed several buildings, the fuel 

station, and other nearby offices and 

vehicles. It created a huge tension 

among the people of the state capital, 

many whom wailed and cursed while 

watching the havoc being wreaked by 

the fire. 

One of the shop owners who 

identified himself as Emeka said he lost 

goods worth over N7 million. He said 

many of the affected traders had not 

returned from the eastern part of the 

country where they had gone for the 

Christmas holiday. The chaotic situation 

was exploited by hoodlums who had a 

free rein, breaking into shops in the 

affected area and carting away goods. 

The fire lasted for about three hours 

before any sort of intervention by fire 

services in the state, ostensibly because 

of the poor state of their equipment, 

which prevented from quickly 

containing the fire. 

Alleged loss of 500 

cows: Police move 

to avert herdsmen, 

farmers' clash in Oyo 

By Ola Ajayi 

AS a result of alleged loss of 500 

cows by Fulani herdsmen in 

Ibarapa are of Oyo State, the 

Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. 

Samuel Adegbuyi, has begun 

investigation into the claims of the 

herdsmen. 

The CP was said to have acted on a 

petition by the group that represents 

Fulani in the South-West named Jamu 

Nati Fulbe Association of Nigeria. 

The petition which was signed by the 

National Chairman of the association, 

Alhaji Saliu Kadir and Oyo State 

Chairman, Mallam Abubakar Banni, 

was sent to the Oyo State Governor, 

Senator Abiola Ajimobi. the 

Commissioner of Police and Director, 

Department of State Services. 

The Police Public Relations Officer for 

the state, SP Adekunle Ajisebutu, said 

as a step to bring a lasting peace, the 

CP had summoned farmers and the 

herdsmen to a meeting. 

At the meeting both parties poured 

out their grievances. On the part of the 

farmers, they complained that the 

herdsmen always used their cattle to 

destroy their farmlands. The herdsmen, 

on the other hand, accused the famrers 

of poisoning water sources to kill their 

their animals. 

The farmers were represented by 

Baale Agbe of Ibarapa, Chief G.A. 

Akorede, while the cattle rearers were 

represented by their leader, Alhaji Soliu 

Kadir. 

The herdsmen complained, “Farmers 

are in the habit of using poisonous 

substances in our grazing land, which 

have caused the death of millions of 

cows since last year against the counterclaim 

by the farmers that it is chemical 

treatment of farm produce. 

“But, it is just a deliberate attempt by 

the farmers to provoke Fulanis so that 

crisis will erupt and as a result drive us 

out of Ibarapa zone. Also, hunters are 

in the habit of shooting our people at 

will and burning our herd. This case 

happened after Sapoto area of Igangan."

30----VANGUARD, FRIDAY, January 13, 2017 

•Community members from Villa 21 protest against the murder of Elida del Valle Barrios .Photo: Maria Eugenia Nogueira. 

Welcome to Argentina, where women 

are murdered every 30 hours 

ON October 8, in the Argentinian 

seaside city of 

Mar del Plata, 16-year-old 

Lucia Perez left school for the 

last time. 

She went to buy marijuana 

from someone she had never 

met, investigators hypothesise. 

When she arrived, she was 

force-fed drugs, gang-raped 

and penetrated with a wooden 

stick. Her alleged abusers then 

washed her body and left her 

at a hospital where she died. 

The gruesome details of the 

crime sparked outrage 

in Argentina, where every 30 

hours a woman is murdered. 

Within two weeks, social 

activist group Ni Una Menos 

(Not One Woman Less) had 

mobilised to denounce this 

brutal crime. 

Memory 

of Perez 

On October 19, thousands of 

protesters shut down the 

streets of Buenos Aires in 

memory of Perez, holding 

signs reading: “We want 

women alive” and “Machismo 

kills”. 

The brutal murder of Perez 

soon became a national and 

international symbol of the 

horrific violence women face 

around the world. In Latin 

America, a movement against 

gender violence is growing 

with Argentina at the forefront. 

Ni Una Menos, a collective 

of artists, activists and 

journalists, first took to the 

streets of Buenos Aires in June 

2015 in response to a string of 

femicides, defined by the UN 

as the violent, deliberate 

killing of a woman. 

“When we women decide to 

take control of our own lives, 

we confront an increase in 

cruelty, which is what we see 

with these deaths,” said 

Mariana Carbajal, a founding 

member of Ni Una Menos and 

In Argentina, at 

least 1,800 

women have been 

murdered since 

2008, according to 

La Casa del 

Encuentro, a 

women’s rights 

organisation in 

Buenos Aires, yet 

only some cases rise 

to the fore of public 

consciousness 

journalist who covers gender 

violence in Argentina. 

“They don’t stop with killing 

[the woman]. They have to 

torture, destroy and obliterate 

their bodies.” 

Statistics 

In Argentina, at least 1,800 

women have been murdered 

since 2008, according to La 

Casa del Encuentro, a 

women’s rights organisation 

in Buenos Aires, yet only some 

cases rise to the fore of public 

consciousness. 

Cases such as that of Perez 

are some of the most brutal, but 

they only tell part of the story 

of gender-based violence in 

Argentina. 

It’s often women with the 

least resources who suffer the 

most, according to Carbajal, 

although gender violence 

affects women of all classes, 

races and ages in Argentina. 

In the slums of Buenos 

Aires, home to an estimated 

275,000 residents, a smaller, 

grassroots movement against 

femicide is also brewing, 

focusing on the unique 

challenges poor, marginalised 

women face. 

Just weeks after Perez’s 

murder, another lesser-known 

femicide sparked outrage in 

Villa 21, one of the city’s 

poorest neighbourhoods, 

about five kilometres south of 

where camera crews set up to 

capture the national outcry 

over Perez’s murder. 

•Government statistics show that crimes against women 

have risen 78% since 2008 in Argentina. 

•Between 2008 and 2015, one woman was killed every 30 

hours in episodes of domestic violence for a total of 2,094 

victims, according to La Casa del Encuentro, a women’s 

rights group. 

•In Argentina, around 280 women died in 2015 due to 

violence against women. About 4000 calls a day are received 

in the help line. 

•In 2015, 235 women were killed in gender violence 

incidents in Argentina. 

A protester wears a flyer 

with the ace of Elida del Valle 

Barrios. The mother of two 

was stabbed more than 20 

times by her husband in a 

public square 

On October 29, Elida 

del Valle Barrios, a 39-year-old 

Paraguayan immigrant and 

resident of Villa 21, was 

stabbed more than 20 times by 

her husband in a public plaza. 

She bled to death in front of her 

seven-year-old daughter while 

neighbours said the ambulance 

took more than an hour to 

arrive. The mother of two had 

recently filed a domestic 

violence report and was trying 

to leave her husband, according 

to neighbours and friends. 

Appalled by the murder, 

community members organised 

a local march to honour her life 

the following Saturday, with only 

community media covering the 

event. A few hundred protesters 

gathered in the plaza where del 

Valle Barrios was killed, a 

modest number compared with 

the thousands who filled 

Buenos Aires’ city centre after 

Perez’s death. 

“The protest was a sensation 

that came about organically to 

say this can’t happen without 

consequences,” said Maria 

Eugenia Noguiera, who works 

in Villa 21 with La Campora, an 

organisation that fights for 

social justice and economic 

equality. 

“The community has to 

organise and go out [to the 

streets] feeling empowered and 

knowing that they can make 

demands,” Noguiera said. 

Nearly half of all homicides in 

Buenos Aires occur in villas, 

informal settlements which 

house about 10 percent of the 

city’s population. In 2015, 

about one in three female 

murder victims were killed in 

a villa, even though these 

neighbourhoods are home to a 

small fraction of the city’s 

residents. An estimated 80 

percent of femicides are 

committed by someone who 

knew the woman, most often her 

current or former partner. 

One of the most recent cases 

was on the morning of 

December 29, when a 22-yearold 

woman was shot in the head 

in Villa 21. Police are still 

searching for her boyfriend, the 

prime suspect in the case, who 

a neighbour said they saw 

fleeing the house shortly after 

a shot was fired. 

Social support 

systems 

Without adequate economic 

resources and social support 

systems, women such as del 

Valle Barrios are more 

vulnerable to gender-based 

violence and find it harder to 

escape these situations. 

“Femicide and gender 

violence can’t be combated in a 

vulnerable neighbourhood in 

the same way as in another area 

[of a higher socioeconomic 

class],” said Lorenzo de Vedia, 

a priest in Villa 21 known as 

Father Toto. 

Del Valle Barrios moved to 

Villa 21 from Paraguay with 

her husband and two children 

less than a year ago. 

She had no other family in 

Buenos Aires besides an 

estranged brother who lives in 

another part of the city, 

according to community 

members who knew her. She 

quickly became part of the local 

community, selling Paraguayan 

food to make a small sum of 

money on her own. Her 

children were enrolled in the 

local school and always 

behaved well, according the the 

school principal. 

But there were signs that her 

husband, who worked in 

construction, was a heavy 

drinker and often became 

violent, according to Father Toto. 

Friends close to her said she 

was trying to leave him, but that 

she had no way to provide for 

her children financially.

Soul brother, Obama 

THOSE who signed the July 

4, 1776 American Declaration 

of Independence gave humanity one 

of the most imperishable 

declarations: “ We hold these truths 

to be self-evident, that all men are 

created equal, that they are endowed 

by their Creator with certain 

inalienable rights, that among these 

are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of 

Happiness.” Yet, 41 of the 56 

signatories including George 

Washington, James Madison and 

Benjamin Franklin, were slave 

owners. They did not believe that 

Black people are human beings who 

are created equal, or that they have 

inalienable rights including those of 

life and liberty. In fact, Thomas 

Jefferson who drafted the 

Declaration, owned 600 human 

beings as slaves! 

President Abraham Lincoln who 

on January 1, 1863 signed the 

Emancipation Proclamation that 

freed slaves was a hard core racist 

who believed that Blacks were sub 

humans who should not have equal 

status with whites including the right 

to vote. In fact, he argued that freed 

slaves should not be allowed to 

pollute the American society, hence, 

he advocated that they be shipped 

out of America and colonised with 

the rest of Africa. He also suggested 

Panama as an area where freed 

Blacks should be bundled to. He 

signed the Proclamation to 

outmaneouvre the Confederates and 

preserve capital. 

Perhaps, the most charismatic 

American President is John 

Fitzgerald Kennedy, JFK. But he was 

a war monger sending American 

troops to fight in Vietnam and 

invading Cuba. His successor, 

Lyndon Johnson transformed the war 

in Vietnam into a full scale one. 

Interestingly, Johnson was the 

President who on August 6, 1965 

signed The Voting Rights Act which 

gave African-Americans the right to 

vote. 44 years later, Barack Obama, 

an African-American was sworn in 

as the 44th President of United 

States. 

Studying the history of United 

States, I had come to the conclusion 

that the most intelligent, race-blind 

and resourceful American President 

was Bill Clinton. I had not reckoned 

with the emergence of an Obama; 

now I am uncertain. An edge Obama 

has is that he is not tainted by any 

scandal. It seems incredible to have 

a top American politician like 

Obama with no baggage even after 

eight years in office. Obama is young, 

brilliant, non-pretentious and might 

have been one of the greatest leaders 

in history were he not held captive 

by the American system and its welloiled 

machinery. He came in with a 

clear message of hope promising 

Sustaining development in a 

recession: The case of Osun (2) 

Continued from yesterday 

By Ileowo Kikiowo 

EVERY school day in Osun, 253,000 

elementary school children receive 

nutritious meals produced largely by local 

farmers, to boost health and cognitive 

capability at their formative stage, as well as 

boost local food production. The Osun School 

feeding programme is the longest running of 

its kind in the country. 

In six years, Osun has through its basic 

education agency, invested over N8.5 billion 

to build capacity, both in human and physical 

infrastructure. This investment in education is 

driven by the resolve of the administration to 

equip the future generation of Osun with the 

best possible resources regardless of their 

background, so they can seek a better and 

prosperous future for themselves and 

consequently for the State. 

How Osun continues to thrive 

As many states became fiscally unstable and 

shortfall in federally collected revenues 

continued to challenge salaries payment, the 

government of President Muhammadu Buhari 

heeded Osun’s push for interventions by 

helping her and other states restructure 

commercial loans into FGN bond with 

reduced financial cost and freeing of cash-flow 

in August 2015. The Federal Government also 

granted a concessionary loan to Osun and 

many other states to clear backlogs of salaries 

and to restore treasury and fiscal stability of 

these states. 

Table 1: The State of Osun Bailout Loan (as 

at June 30th, 2015) 

Description Amount Requested Amount 

Released 

Salary – Outstanding @ 30th June 2015 

24.87B 25.8B 

Pension 6.96B – 

Gratuity 8.40B – 

Subtotal 40.32b 25.8b 

Salary paid previously from state treasury 

Position (Salary Overdraft) 24.00B – 

Total 64.32b 25.8b 

Table 2: Osun Local Governments Bailout 

Loan 

Nobody argues with 

results. The impact of the 

decisions taken by the 

present administration in 

the state continues to yield 

positive results from all 

available indices 

Description Amount Requested Amount 

Released 

Salary-Outstanding @ 30th June, 2015 

9.12B 9.1B 

Pension 1.35B – 

Gratuity 12.46B – 

Subtotal 22.93b 9.1b 

Salary paid previously from treasury 

position (Salary Overdraft) 0.96B – 

Total 23.89b 9.1b 

The state government and the labour unions 

recognised that the current national challenge, 

resulting from dwindling revenues will 

continue to affect the payments of critical 

expenditure of government, which include 

salaries, wages and pension, after the 

exhaustion of the bailout funds. The labour 

unions agreed to accommodate the state 

government during this economic headwind, 

while the state government agreed to be 

Americans he would clear the local 

and international mess left by his 

predecessor, George Walker Bush. 

However, a lot of what we can see 

were his intentions. His promise to 

end the crisis in Iraq and Afghanistan 

Obama came in to 

rescue America, he 

leaves it in the 

unsafe hands of 

Donald Trump, an 

unpredictable 

politician with 

mercurial temper 

whose moves are 

difficult to predict; he 

also leaves the world 

more dangerous than 

he met it 

and close down the criminal 

Guantanamo Bay detention centre, 

remain a mirage; the American war 

industry would not allow that. 

The same industry frustrated his 

attempts to curb gun deaths which 

claimed over 300,000 lives during 

his Presidency. In frustration, he said 

last October: "We spend over a trillion 

dollars, and pass countless laws, and 

devote entire agencies to preventing 

terrorist attacks on our soil, and 

rightfully so. And yet, we have a 

Congress that explicitly blocks us 

from even collecting data on how 

we could potentially reduce gun 

deaths." 

Another of his frustrations is the 

rise in the extra judicial killing of 

Black people by the police leading 

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 2017 — 31 

to the ‘Black Lives Matter’ 

movement. A few years ago, I 

reunited with a friend who had 

relocated to America when we were 

young. I remarked that he seems to 

have risen remarkably in the 

American system. He said yes, but 

that as a Blackman he had to work 

twice harder than his white 

counterparts and that he had to 

constantly demonstrate to his white 

subordinates that his rise is not a 

fluke. I guess it is same with Obama. 

He had rescued American banks, 

auto industry and mortgage system 

from the brink, crashed 

unemployment rates from 10.1 

percent in 2009 to 4.99 percent in 

2016 and carried out a revolution in 

the health system by providing cover 

for over eighteen million Americans 

under the Affordable Care Act he 

introduced in 2010. He also stopped 

the torture policy of the Bush Jnr 

administration, and to his glory, 

there was no successful al Qaeda 

attack on American soil during his 

administration. 

Obama employed diplomacy to 

address the Iranian Nuclear issue, 

restored diplomatic ties with Cuba 

after a half century break and told 

Israel the truth; that it cannot have 

peace if it denies its Palestinian 

neighbours peace, an homeland or 

continues the theft of Palestinian 

lands under the guise of building 

settlements. He cut the ‘Star Wars’ 

missile defence programme of 

Roland Reagan and signed with 

Russia, the New Strategic Arms 

Reduction Treaty, START, reducing 

strategic warheads. 

But tragically, he authorised the 

destruction of Libya which led to the 

murder of Moammar Ghadaffi, and, 

the bombing and destruction of 

Syria. His administration nurtured 

the Islamic State and turns a blind 

eye to the mindless bombing and 

destruction of Yemen by a murderous 

Saudi Coalition. Where Russia has 

transparent and carry the labour unions along. 

The state government and the labour unions 

also agreed that whatever is available as net 

revenues accruing from Federation Accounts 

and Internally Generated Revenues, IGR, will 

be apportioned in such a way that will take 

care of critical expenditure, wages, pension, 

salaries and other expenditure required to run 

government. This milestone agreement gave 

birth to the apportionment of revenue, called 

modulated salary. From August 2015 till now, 

the prudent management of concessionary 

loan (bailout) and its subsequent revenues by 

the administration of Aregbesola has ensured 

salaries are paid and workers keep their jobs, 

rather than embark on mass retrenchment; 

an alternate idea other state governments have 

toyed with. 

Table 3. Ranking of State Salary Arrears. 

State Months Owed No. of Months Owed 

by Salary Indebted States in the South West 

Estimated Monthly Wage Bill Estimated 

Salary Owed 

Ondo May – October (2016) 6 

3,900,000,000.00 23,400,000,000.00 

Ekiti June – October (2016) 5 

2,600,000,000.00 13,000,000,000.00 

Oyo June – October (2016) 5 

5,200,000,000.00 26,000,000,000.00 

Osun August – October (2016) 3 

2,000,000,000.00 6,000,000,000.00 

Lagos Nil 0 

Ogun Nil 0 

Source: Budgit, Govt Sources 

The salary regime ensures full salaries are 

paid to junior cadre in levels 1-7, while their 

senior counterparts are paid nothing less than 

50 per cent or greater, depending on the level 

of income per month. 

The government’s infrastructure 

development efforts has already started 

yielding results as investments and production 

has been on the rise in Osun: In 2009, the 

famous International Breweries, Ilesa, known 

for Trophy brand which serves the South West 

and beyond, doubled its production capacity 

Send Opinions & Letters to: 

opinions1234@yahoo.com 

scored a stunning diplomatic goal 

by coupling together a ceasefire in 

Syria, Obama in his last days in 

office, is fumbling with 

circumstantial claims that Russia 

intervened in the 2016 American 

elections. As he exits, he is trying to 

provoke an unnecessary diplomatic 

row by expelling some Russian 

diplomats. 

Africa might not have benefitted 

in a significant way from the Obama 

Presidency, but his 2009 admonition 

in Ghana, that: “Africa doesn’t need 

strongmen, it needs strong 

institutions” is one of the best pieces 

of advice a son can give his parents. 

The other Obama advise - which 

Africa rightly rejected - was the 

inculcation of homosexuality into 

our cultural life. He owes his rise, to 

the struggles of many American 

minorities especially the Indian, 

Latino, Chinese and the Black. Those 

he referred to in his Tuesday farewell 

speech in Chicago as the 

“underserving minority.” 

Obama stands on the shoulders of 

giants like Frederick Douglas, 

Harriet Tubman, Marcus Garvey, 

Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jnr, 

Huey P. Newton, Bobby Seale, and 

one of the greatest Americans and 

humanist of all times, John Brown 

who in a Christ-like manner, laid 

down his life and those of his two 

sons so the Blackman can be free. 

Obama came in to rescue 

America, he leaves it in the unsafe 

hands of Donald Trump, an 

unpredictable politician with 

mercurial temper whose moves are 

difficult to predict; he also leaves the 

world more dangerous than he met 

it. He arrived the White House with 

the slogan: ‘Yes We Can’ He departs 

with: ‘Yes We Can, Yes We Did”. I 

join him in appealing to Americans 

to look for the “reservoir of 

goodness” both within and outside. 

‘God bless America’ as Trump steps 

in from January 20, 2017. 

to cater for the boost in local economy. Tuns 

Farms, an indigenous poultry company, in 

partnership with small holder farmers, 

ramped up broiler production to position the 

state as the second largest broiler producer in 

the country. Omoluabi Garment Factory, a 

Public-Private-Partnership between Sam and 

Sara Garments and the State Government of 

Osun emerged as the largest Garment Factory 

in West Africa. An indigenous computer 

assembly plant, RLG Adulawo also set shop in 

Osun as a result of the favourable 

infrastructure in the State. These and more 

are the direct and indirect investment results 

of the administration’s bet for a prosperous 

future and these efforts are paying off. 

Consequently, Osun developmental 

programmes have also impacted on the socioeconomic 

profile of the state as reported by 

reputable institutions. In 2015, The Oxford 

Poverty and Human Development Initiative, 

OPHI, rated Osun 2nd Highest in Human 

Development Index among the 36 states in 

the Country. In 2014, Renaissance Capital, 

RENCAP, in its 36 shades of Nigeria economic 

review of states ranked Osun as the 7th largest 

economy in Nigeria, while in 2013 the NBS 

rated Osun as the state with the lowest poverty 

rate in Nigeria. 

In conclusion, was there a dearth in critical 

physical infrastructure in Osun before 2010? 

The answer is yes. Was there an urgent need to 

build these infrastructures? The answer is a 

resounding yes. Was the decision to debt 

finance the construction of these 

infrastructures a rational one amongst other 

options available? Yes! Has the state 

government properly managed the resultant 

downside risks involved in taking these steps? 

Yes! Nobody argues with results. The impact 

of the decisions taken by the present 

administration in the state continues to yield 

positive results from all available indices. 

Concluded 

*Mr. Kikiowo, a public affairs analyst, 

wrote from Osogbo, Osun State. 

C 

M 

Y 

K

C 

M 

Y 

K 

32 ---- Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 2017 

YOUR LUCK TODAY 

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 

CANCER; Happenings within your working arena can 

bring minor provocation but it is just a passing trend. 

Travelling for love will bring more challenges than expected. 

LEO; Male members of this Star sign will need to watch 

their libido while female must not ignore their sex-life. 

Beware of joint ventures with those you don’t know. 

VIRGO; It is not compulsory you take to aggressive reaction 

to those within your base of operation who are not 

as perfect as you. Protect your spouse. 

LIBRA; Watch what you eat and drink today. This is the 

wrong time to engage in unnecessary heated argument.. 

Romance at work may bring disappointment. 

SCORPIO; Trying to influence matters-of-the-heart with 

money will not give you the desired result. Any way it is a 

day you will need to be more careful with money. 

By Richard Eromosele 

IT is never too 

late for you to be 

what you want to 

be.The truth is 

that life is like a 

bag full of assorted 

and varied 

goods.What you 

get depends on 

L E I S U R E 

THOUGHT FOR TODAY 

It’s never too late 

what you pick from 

the bag.In life, 

there is nothing 

like too late.Some 

people are born 

into wealth, some 

achieve it 

personally.It does 

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye” 

not matter when 

you achieve 

success so long as 

you put in honest 

effort.It is never too 

late to think of 

what to do,it is 

never too late to 

start doing 

something,it is 

never too late to 

write that book, it 

is never too late to 

compose that song, 

it is never too late 

to start that 

business.IT IS 

NEVER NEVER 

TOO LATE... 

By Kola Fayemi 

SAGITTARIUS; It is important you are more careful 

while trying to pass judgement on people within your 

base of operation because you too may be wrong. 

CAPRICORN; Taking a pleasure drive or movement 

may bring more than anticipated responsibility. Keep 

away from whatever can not be placed above board today. 

AQUARIUS; If you allow friends to force their ideas 

on you financially or on matters-of-the-heart, you would 

be the loser. Express yourself gracefully. 

PISCES; Unless you are more careful matters-of-theheart 

may cause avoidable trouble the way your career/ 

business can suffer temporarily. 

ARIES; It is important you don’t exhibit aggression 

unnecessarily. Here is a day when secret love is capable 

of bringing serious pressure. Try to be very diplomatic. 

TAURUS; Your concentration level is not perfect and if 

you take bad advice from friends you would be misled. 

The more practical you are the better for you. 

KAPTAIN AFRIKA in “Pretty Lunatic’ By Andy Akman 

GEMINI; Unnecessary aggressive approach on your 

part along your career/business lines will back-fire more 

than you imagine. Graceful expression is what you will 

need. 

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING 

Send your date and place of birth to the Astr 

trological 

Counselling, P.M.B 100 

007, Apapa, Lagos 

Where was my moon 

Dear Joshua, 

Kindly tell me where the Moon was placed when I 

was born and other things I should know about my 

star. 

Abdullahi, Oyo. 

Dear Abdullahi, 

What space can take will be given here-under. Your 

natal Moon was in Aries. 

ANALYSIS OF YOUR HOROSCOPE DATA 

Preponderance of cardinal quality in your chart is 

an indication of GREAT LEADERSHIP QUALITY together 

with innate ability to attain prominence on 

one hand, on the other hand, exaltation of intellectual 

related Mercury in Aquarius at positive angle to 

both lucky Jupiter and Uranus (the planet of genius) 

in Libra pointed to a person with higher pitch of 

intelligence. 

Action loving Mars as the final dispositor of your 

horoscope (that’s most influential planet at home 

when you were born) will most times induce you to 

strongly desire importance with likeness for quick 

results; actually long promise without concrete action 

will bore you easily. Equally 60 percentage of 

push-full influence in your chart means that the best 

for you is to go after your needs and wants. 

Combination of all the placement and aspects 

formed within the planets when you were born are 

pointers to you as a person with balanced personality 

with little bias for good spiritual life. And you believe 

in disciplinarian life style. 

Placement of your natal Sun and Moon in compassionate 

Pisces and self conscious Aries respectively 

are indications of your being mainly a Piscean and 

partly an Arian, however as Aries is also your Stellium 

sign, both basic characteristics of Pisces and Aries 

are highly pronounced in your inner-self. 

VIRGINIA 

HOME & ABROAD 

dadadekola@yahoo.com 

By Lawrence Akapa

Y 

K 



Prevailing peace in N-Delta'll be sustained 

—Okowa 

•As Osinbajo begins N-Delta visit on Monday 

By Emma Amaize & 

Festus Ahon 

A SABA—GOVERNOR 

Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta 

State, yesterday, expressed 

confidence that the prevailing 

peace in the creeks of the Niger 

Delta would be sustained. 

However, despite threats by 

Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, 

and Niger Delta Revolutionary 

Crusaders, NDRC, to resume 

hostilities in the Niger Delta 

region, a team from the 

Presidency, led by the Vice 

President, Professor Yemi 

Osinbajo, will on Monday, 

January 16, commence a 

confidence-building visit to the 

region. 

Meantime, Ijaw Peoples 

Development Initiative, IPDI, 

has condemned the Itsekiri 

Leaders of Thought, ILOT, in 

Delta State, over recent attacks 

on the Pan Niger Delta Forum, 

PANDEF, saying ILOT is 

looking for cheap political 

recognition and fame in 

President Muhammadu 

Buhari's administration. 

Governor Okowa, who spoke 

when the United States’ 

Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. 

Stuart Syminton, paid him a 

courtesy visit in Asaba, said for 

more than four months, pipeline 

vandalism had not been 

experienced in the creeks, 

especially in Delta State. 

According to him: “We are 

doing a lot to ensure that we 

have peace and it is our hope 

that we sustain the peace. It is 

in our best interest to do so. We 

are looking forward to a 

peaceful and progressive 2017.” 

The governor insisted that it 

was in the collective interest of 

all stakeholders for the peace to 

be sustained and commended 

the US government for doing 

business in Nigeria, especially 

in Delta State. 

He assured investors that the 

state was safe for business, 

saying, “our people are friendly 

and accommodate visitors.” 

Earlier, the Ambassador who 

was accompanied by top 

embassy officials, disclosed that 

they were in the state to see how 

to deepen their business 

relationship with the people. 

Osibanjo’s visit 

Vice President Osibanjo’s 

visit, initially scheduled for 

January 10, was moved forward, 

Vanguard gathered, soon after 

the NDA, angered by the 

apparent refusal of the 

Presidency to dialogue with 

PANDEF, announced its plan to 

resume bombing of oil 

installations, last Saturday. 

A source at the Presidency 

said: “The Vice President was 

taken aback by the threats, but 

he has since been reassured 

that the discontent in the region 

•IPDI blasts ILOT over comment on PANDEF 

was caused by the same notion 

that will be created if the 

planned visit is cancelled.” 

The source claimed that the 

Vice President’s first port of 

call would be Gbaramatu 

Kingdom, the home of exmilitant 

leader, Government 

Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, 

in Warri South-West Local 

Government Area, Delta State. 

The team would also visit 

Bayelsa, Eket in Cross River 

State and other parts of the 

region to obtain first hand 

information on the pains of the 

people of Niger Delta. 

IPDI blasts ILOT 

Meanwhile, IPDI, in a joint 

statement by its national 

President and Secretary, 

Messrs. Austin Ozobo and 

Mayor Ogobiri, described 

ILOT as “meddlesome 

interlopers.” 

“The ILOT in several fora, 

has indicated interest for 

recognition in PANDEF. It 

seems they have not been 

given such recognition, which 

is why they are attacking the 

Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark 

and PANDEF. ILOT's 

clandestine approval of 

military operations in Niger 

Delta will only add fuel to the 

volatile situation in the region. 

“Except ILOT was in exile, 

there were series of agitations 

that almost eclipsed the 

Yar’Adua/Janathan 

administration. It is wrong to 

say that Ijaw were not agitating 

or making demands in 

Jonathan's administration,” 

the group noted. 

According to IPDI: “It was 

the continuous agitation of 

former agitator, Government 

Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, 

and others after Yar’Adua/ 

Jonathan 2007 presidential 

elections that led to the 

bombardment of Camp 5 and 

the entire Gbaramatu Kingdom 

in 2009. Thereafter, the then 

government sued for peace 

and rolled out the current 

Amnesty Progamme, and 

created Niger Delta Ministry 

to halt further agitation in the 

region. ILOT, except members 

were aloof, know that the 

agitation did not stop. It 

continued when late John 

Togo abandoned the amnesty 

programme and went back to 

the creeks and engaged 

federal troops in a serious 

fight for not doing what was 

promised by government, and 

Ayakoromo community in 

Burutu local government was 

bombarded in 2010. It is, 

therefore, wrong to assume 

that during Yar’Adua/ 

Jonathan administration, 

there was no agitation and no 

demands were made. 

“The continued agitation led 

to the 2014 pro-National 

Conference in Jonathan's 

administration where series of 

issues affecting the Niger 

Delta were addressed. The 

clandestine approval of 

militarization of Gbaramatu 

Kingdom by ILOT is a clear 

indication that the Itsekiri's 

claim of ownership of Warri is 

fallacious and concocted. It 

is our warning that peddlers 

of ethnic falsehood should 

repent, as it will only end up 

fuelling ethnic unrest in the 

region.” 

HANDING OVER: From left: Dr. Felix Abali, former Chief Executive Officer/ 

Commissioner, Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB, and Mr. Akin Olateru, new CEO/ 

Commissioner, AIB, during the handing over ceremony held at Air Safety House, Murtala 

Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos. 

Edo govt hails firm over quality road 

construction 

By Gabriel 

Enogholase 

BENIN—EDO 

State 

Government is excited by 

the tempo of ongoing road works 

in the state and commended 

contractors handling the projects 

for working to meet the deadline. 

Chief of Staff to Governor 

Godwin Obaseki, Mr. Taiwo 

Akerele, spoke when he 

inspected Edo State 

Employment and Expenditure 

for Result, SEEFOR, road 

projects under construction 

within the Benin metropolis. 

Akerele said the construction 

of the roads was critical because 

some of them linked major roads 

within the Benin metropolis. 

He said: “I am impressed that 

within a period of six months, 

we have been able to construct 

several roads with side-drains 

across the three senatorial 

districts. This means that the 

objective of the intervention is 

already yielding result and has 

impacted on the benefiting 

communities. You can see for 

yourself the level of work done 

at Cooke Road. The road has 

been completed with side 

drains. The wild gully on the 

other side of the road has been 

constructed. The 1.23-kilometre 

Reuben Agho Road is 95 per 

cent completed. 

“The 160 meters Okhoro/ 

Aghahowa Street is 50 per cent 

completed with side-drains and 

concrete pavement." 

Ayade’s aide 

donates 

N50,000 

monthly from 

salary to 

motherless 

babies 

By Emma Una 

CALABAR—CHIEF of 

Staff to Governor Ben 

Ayade of Cross River State, 

Mr. Marrtins Orim, has 

said each time he sees 

babies abandoned by their 

mothers he is moved to 

tears, noting that a baby is 

a gift from God who has a 

destiny to fulfill on earth. 

This came as he donated 

N200,000 to Uwanse 

Motherless Babies Home, 

Calabar and promised 

additional N50,000 from his 

salary every month for the 

upkeep of the children 

throughout his tenure as 

Chief of Staff. 

Mr Orim, who spoke at 

the Uwanse Motherless 

Babies Home, Calabar, 

where he went to cut the 

cake to mark his 43rd 

birthday, said each child 

brought into the world had 

a special purpose to fulfill 

and should not be 

abandoned by the mother 

no matter the circumstances 

she found herself. 

Prominent 

Nigerians to 

grace 

UAMEC's 10th 

anniversary 

E 

M I N E N T 

personalities across 

the country are expected to 

grace the 10th year 

anniversary of the United 

African Methodist 

Evangelical Church, 

UAMEC, Abule-Ijesha, in 

Lagos. 

The celebration which will be 

marked with a week-long 

conference, tagged 

Uncommon Grace, will hold 

from January 15 to 22, 2017, 

and feature the investiture of 

some statesmen and religious 

faithful at its new church 

cathedral. 

The personalities will 

include former governor of 

Oyo State, Rear Admiral, Toye 

Sode (retd), Senator Ayodeji 

Otegbola; Executive 

Chairman, Coleman 

Industries Ltd, Mr. Solomon 

Onafowokan. Others are the 

Executive Chairman, Amni 

Petroleum Limited, Dr. 

Kessington Adebutu. 

The sermon will be delivered 

by the retired Archbishop of 

Ilesha Methodist Church 

Nigeria, Most Revd Ayo 

Ladigbolu. 

C


Probe Abia 

past leaders, 

NLC tells FG 

By Anayo Okoli 

UMUAHIA—ABIA State 

chapter of the Nigeria 

Labour Congress, NLC, has 

called on the Federal 

Government to probe how 

funds allocated to the state 

from 1999 to 2015 were 

utilized. 

According to Labour, the 

probe has become necessary 

following the number of 

unpaid arrears of pensions 

and gratuities and 

infrastructural decay in the 

state. 

The state chairman of NLC, 

Uchenna Obigwe, who made 

the call, lamented that gratuity 

had not been paid in the last 

15 years with several months 

of arrears of workers salary 

and pensions, a situation he 

said had led to untimely death 

of many pensioners. 

He said the previous 

governments in the state 

received so much money and 

yet left “a lot of indebtedness 

of arrears of salaries and lots 

of infrastructural decay. 

“What happened to the 

billions of money to the state? 

What were they used for? 

Federal Government should 

help us find out this and also 

come to the aid of the state,” 

the NLC chairman said. 

Anambra 

renovates 9 

magistrate's 

courts 

By Enyim Enyim 

O NITSHA—THE 

Anambra State 

government has renovated 

nine magistrate's courts in 

Onitsha and Nnewi 

magisterial district. 

Speaking to Vanguard, 

Acting Registrar, Mr Nnamdi 

Mbanefo, said the renovation 

of the courts was a result of 

the cordial relationship 

between the executive arm of 

government and the judiciary. 

“The renovation of nine 

magistrate's courts is yet 

another milestone made 

possible by close and robust 

relationship between the 

executive and the judicial 

arms of government in the 

state.” 


Biafra: Buhari committed felony in 1983, 

not me, Kanu tells court 

•Judge to rule on defendants’ motions Feb 10 

By Ikechukwu 

Nnochiri 

ABUJA — DETAINED 

leader of the Indigenous 

People of Biafra, IPOB, Mr. 

Nnamdi Kanu, yesterday, 

accused President 

Muhammadu Buhari of 

committing treasonable felony 

against Nigeria. 

Kanu made reference to the 

December 31,1983 military coup 

that led to the installation of 

Buhari as Head of State, while 

praying trial Justice Binta 

Nyako of the Federal High 

Court in Abuja to quash the 11- 

count treason charge the 

government entered against 

him and three other pro-Biafra 

agitators. 

The said coup ousted the 

democratically elected 

government of President Shehu 

Shagari. 

Moving his preliminary 

objection to the charge, Kanu, 

through his lawyer, Mr. Ifeanyi 

Ejiofor, said: “My lord it was 

Buhari that committed 

treasonable felony in 1983 when 

he spearheaded a coup that 

overthrew a democratically 

elected government, not my 

client.” 

The defendants queried the 

competence of the charge, 

saying there was nothing in the 

proof of evidence before the 

court to support treason 

allegation against them. 

They argued that Federal 

Government failed to establish 

a prima-facie case against them 

to warrant their trial. 

In a seven-paragraph 

affidavit deposed to by one 

Ahmed Sadiya, the defendants, 

said there was “nothing 

contained in the proof of 

evidence to show that IPOB, 

people merely exercising their 

constitutionally guaranteed 

rights to self determination, 

freedom of expression and 

peaceful assembly, is an 

unlawful society/organisation.” 

Kanu said the only evidence 

the prosecution attached in 

support of treason allegation 

against him was an extra 

judicial statement he made to 

the Department of a State 

Services, a statement made by 

the prosecution witnesses, and 

highlight of alleged Radio Biafra 

broadcasts. 

He told the court that Radio 

Biafra was duly registered and 

operated under the United 

Kingdom Laws. 

The IPOB leader is facing trial 

alongside Chidiebere 

Onwudiwe, Benjamin 

Madubugwu and David 

Nwawuisi. 

All the defendants, through 

their respective lawyers, urged 

the court to not only quash 

charges, but to also discharge 

Okorocha joking with lives of pensioners —ADC 

By Chinonso Alozie 

OWERRI — THE Imo State 

Chairman of the African 

Democratic Congress, ADC, Mr 

Ignatius Nlem, has alleged that 

Governor Rochas Okorocha was 

joking with the lives of pensioners 

in Imo State by not paying them 

their pension. 

Nlem, who stated this while 

speaking with Vanguard in 

Owerri, Imo State, said the plight 

of the pensioners was as a result 

of government of “cosmetic show 

and political deceit. This is a state 

where pensioners are cajoled, 

blackmailed and compelled to 

abandon their inalienable 

entitlements.” 

The chairman said he was not 

happy that due to bad 

governance in Imo State, 

pensioners were forced to 

demonstrate as a way of asking 

government to pay their pension. 

He said, at the moment, “Imo 

needs a rejig, reactivation, 

rebuilding and rebranding for 

good governance. Imo people 

have to join hands and save the 

state from imaginative 

nonsense. The time has come to 

put a stop to this man’s 

inhumanity to man. 

“In a moment like this, when 

history beckons on men and 

women of integrity with 

responsibility to defend the 

fabrics of the nation and states, 

we shall not shrink from this 

clarion call, ADC is the answer." 

and acquit them. 

FG asks court to 

dismiss defendants’ 

objections 

Meanwhile, government 

lawyer, Mr. Shuaibu Labaran, 

in his response, asked the court 

to dismiss the defendants’ 

objections which he said lacked 

substance. 

Labaran urged the court to, inline 

with the provision of section 

396 of the Administration of 

Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, 

refuse the applications and okay 

witnesses to commence their 

evidence-in-chief against the 

defendants. 

Meantime, the defendants have 

applied for a stay of further 

proceeding on the matter to enable 

the Abuja Division of the Court of 

Appeal to hear and determine the 

appeal they have lodged against 

their trial. 

Trial Justice Nyako has fixed 

February 10 to determine whether 

to quash charges against the 

defendants or not. 

Kanu and his co-defendants 

were dressed in white with shawl 

like Israeli Rabbis on their head. 

Scores of protesters also stormed 

the court premises chanting pro- 

Biafra songs, with most of them also 

dressed in jewish apparels. 

The protesters who were barred 

from gaining access into the court, 

brandished placards and several 

Biafra insignia and flags. 

DOCKED: Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mr Nnamdi Kanu (middle), 

arriving at the Federal High Court, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan. 

Corruption, worst of all Nigeria’s 

problems —Buhari 

By Levinus 

Nwabughiogu 

A BUJA—PRESIDENT 

Muhammadu Buhari, 

yesterday, in Abuja said 

corruption was the “very worst” 

of all the problems facing 

Nigeria. 

He stated this while receiving 

recipients of the 2016 Nigerian 

National Order of Merit, 

NNOM, led by chairman of the 

award, Professor Moses Etim, at 

the State House. 

The President said the ruling 

political party, All Progressives 

Congress, APC, had identified 

three major challenges facing 

the nation, namely insecurity, 

poor economy, and corruption, 

noting that corruption was the 

most debilitating of all the ills. 

He said: “Nobody disputed the 

fact that they were the major 

problems of Nigeria and we 

campaigned on those three 

planks. As a government, we 

believe you cannot administer a 

country you have not secured, 

so we focused on security. 

“The economy is also down, 

therefore, we are not sparing any 

effort to revive and diversify it 

so that our people, particularly 

the youths, can get jobs. The 

third problem, and the worst of 

them all, is corruption.” 

Buhari told the awardees that 

the country was in a terrible 

shape when the administration 

came into power in 2015, with 

oil prices falling to as low as $37 

per barrel, from peak periods of 

over $100 in previous years. 

“There was no money in the 

treasury. We were producing less 

than one million barrels of oil per 

day, from the 2.2 million barrels we 

used to do. The country was in a 

terrible shape, but luckily, the 

people understand, and are 

cooperating with us.” he said. 

He commended 2016 Merit 

award winners, Professor 

Omowunmi Sadik, for 

distinguishing herself in the 

Sciences, and Professor Tanure 

Ojaide, in the Humanities, 

describing their contributions to the 

academia and national 

development as “quite 

fundamental.” 

A statement by Mr. Femi Adesina, 

presidential spokesman, stated that 

in separate remarks, the award 

recipients, who had their 

investiture on December 1, 2016, 

commended the government on 

the anti-corruption war, noting, 

however, that more enlightenment 

campaign needed to be done on 

how corruption slowed down 

development.



Soyinka condemns Buhari, el-Rufai 

on Southern Kaduna killings 

•…Army to launch Operation Kunama II in Southern Kaduna 

By Emma Ujah, Abuja 

Bureau Chief & Levinus 

Nwabughiogu 

ABUJA—Nobel Laureate, 

Professor Wole Soyinka, has 

condemned the manner President 

Muhammadu Buhari and 

Governor Nasir el-Rufai of 

Kaduna State handled the 

killings in Southern Kaduna. 

Indigenes of Southern Kaduna 

claimed that more than 800 

people, mostly women, children 

and the elderly, have been 

murdered and villages burnt 

down by suspected herdsmen 

without the state and Federal 

governments doing anything to 

stop them. 

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army 

said it would launch operation 

Kunama II to completely restore 

peace in the troubled Southern 

Kaduna. 

Soyinka spoke at the launch of 

the book, Religion and the 

Making of Nigeria, in Abuja, 

yesterday. 

His words: “Religion in the 

history of this continent has been 

a disastrous venture, a disaster in 

many zones and continues to be 

even so today. In this very nation 

in Southern Kaduna, over 800 

souls were brutally extinguished 

suddenly. 

“While the issue of grazing 

lands versus farming is 

unquestionably part of the 

conflict, it is equally undeniable 

that religious differences have 

played crucial role in the conflict. 

“And yet some weeks before the 

latest outrage, the governor of that 

state was quoted to have claimed 

that peace was nigh since he had 

sent funds to the earlier wave of 

killers and they had agreed to 

end their killing spree. 

“What astonished me was not 

the admission by the governor, but 

the astonishment of others at such 

governmental response to 

atrocity. There was nothing new 

about it. Has appeasement to 

religious forces not become a 

Burial 

EVANGELIST Miracle 

Ojukwu, 47, of 

Urudunu Ifite, Oraifite, 

Ekwusigo LGA of 

Anambra State is dead. 

Service of Songs at held 

January 7 at her former 

residence in Lagos, while 

Christian wake-keep was 

at late Emmanuel Okeke 

Ojukwu’s compound, 

Oraifite, yesterday. 

Internment is today at 

same compound. 

Nigerian face of justice and 

equity? 

“First lethargy and then 

appeasement. Wasn’t Boko 

Haram’s Muhammed Yusuf 

not a beneficiary of 

appeasement in a similar 

fashion? 

“Southern Kaduna has 

reminded us once again that 

the monster is always lying 

waiting to pounce under the 

guise of religion. 

“If you ask why General 

Buhari did not act fast enough 

when these events take place, 

which degrade us as human 

beings, well it is perhaps he has 

been waiting for the governor 

of that state to send money to 

the killers first for them to stop 

the killing. 

“The sitting President of this 

nation, General Buhari, once 

said ‘If you don’t kill corruption 

in this nation, corruption would 

kill us’. I would like to transfer 

that cry from the moral zone to 

the terrain of religion. If we do 

not tame religion in this nation, 

religion would kill us.” 

Operation Kunama II 

in Southern Kaduna 

Meanwhile, Nigerian Army has 

said it would launch Operation 

Kaunama 11 in Southern 

Kaduna. 

It also stated that the 

military exercise in the South- 

East, code-named Operation 

Python Dance, would be 

renamed while still carrying 

out other engagements across 

the country. 

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt- 

Gen Yusuf Bruntai, made the 

disclosure while fielding 

questions from newsmen at 

the end of the security council 

meeting presided over by 

President Muhammadu 

Buhari in Abuja, yesterday. 

He said the exercise in 

Southern Kaduna would be 

extended to Plateau and Kano 

states. 

HONOUR: Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State (left) being decorated by the Attah 

of Igalaland, HRM Michael Oboni, with the legionnaires emblem at the Glass House, 

Government House, Lokoja. PHOTO: Bolu Obahopo. 

By Evelyn Usman 

& Bose Adelaja 

L AGOS—REACTIONS, 

yesterday, trailed the arrest 

of Publisher of Sahara 

Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, by 

the Police in Lagos over 

allegations of threat to life and 

blackmail by a London-based 

journalist, Lekan Fatodu, with 

the Centre for Anti-Corruption 

and Open Leadership, 

CACOL, condemning the 

police action. 

Executive Chairman of 

CACOL, Mr. Debo Adeniran, 

in a statement yesterday, 

described the police action as 

unacceptable, adding that the 

development was reminiscent 

of the dark days of the military 

rule when journalists were 

“hounded, intimidated, 

tortured, detained and 

assassinated on a regular 

basis.” 

He said: “Let us assume, 

without conceding that Sowore 

is guilty of the trumped-up 

charges of defamation, 

blackmail and threat to life; and 

if police had a petition on the 

matter, we should ask the Police 

if previously they had invited 

the journalist for interrogation? 

“If they did, what was Sowore’s 

response? That is, did he honour 

the invitation? If he didn’t, what 

did the Police do? Why should it 

be the petitioner that had to 

carry-out the arrest on behalf of 

the Police?” 

Recall that news of Sowore’s 

arrest went viral in the social 

media, Wednesday, after he 

posted online an attack on him 

in Ikeja. 

From the Area ‘F Police’ Station 

in Ikeja, Sowore posted that 

“after the police intervened in 

the attacked by Lekan Fatodu 

and his friends in Lagos, we 

were taken to the CP’s office. 

“Turns out he was in on this; 

he pulled out a supposed 

petition written by Lekan. After 

that he became very hostile 

towards me and ordered that we 

be driven to the State CIID, 

Yaba. It is very obvious that this 

was planned between Lekan 

Fatodu and the police.” 

I was never 

arrested—Sowore 

Speaking to The Cable, 

Sowore, however, described 

report of his arrest as untrue, 

adding that he demonstrated 

that by refusing to sign a bail 

bond before leaving the SCIID 

Wednesday night. 

He said: “When they asked 

me to sign a bail bond, I 

refused. I asked them to show 

me why and how I was 

arrested. 

“They asked the investigation 

officer if he had any charge 

against me and he said ‘No o. 

It’s two fighting’. 

“So I said it is two fighting that 

brought us here. Where is the 

allegation and evidence? And 

they were looking at me. There 

is no evidence on police record 

that I was arrested.” 

Femi Falana reacts 

On his part, the human rights 

activist, Femi Falana (SAN), 

said police had not been able 

to establish the allegation of 

blackmail against Sowore. 

Falana said: “The complaint 

against Sowore was thrown out 

by the Lagos State Police 

Command this afternoon 

(yesterday). Police said that the 

allegation of blackmail was not 

established against Mr. 

Omoyele Sowore. 

“With respect to the complaint 

of defamation of character by 

DIGITAL SWITCH 

OVER: Makers of 

decoders explain 

challenges 

By Prince Osuagwu 

LAGOS—SET Top Box 

Manufacturers 

Association of Nigeria, 

STBMAN, has called on 


caution broadcast signal 

distributor, Pinnacle 

Communications, over 

utterances on challenges 

being experienced in the 

recently-concluded digital 

switch over from analogue 

to digital broadcasting for 

Abuja residents. 

The switch, which 

happened last week in 

Abuja, appears to be 

running into hitches, after 

some residents complained 

of inabilty to make the 

switch from the decoders 

offered them as vehicles to 

effectively go digital. 

Pinnacle had blamed the 

licensed set top box 

(decoder) manufacturers 

for not being able to activate 

the decoders for the users. 

Reacting, spokesperson 

of the association, Sir 

Godfrey Ohuabunwa, said 

Pinnacle’s accusation was 

ridiculous, considering that 

as one of the stakeholders 

in the digital switch over 

project, it should have 

known better. 

He said: “Let me state 

clearly that the Abuja 

switch-over was not 

inconclusive. The little 

challenges in activating the 

boxes are purely that of lack 

of awareness and 

information on what to do 

with the new system." 

Falana, CACOL react to arrest of Sahara Reporters’ Publisher 

Sahara Reporters’ publication, the 

complainant was advised by police 

to approach a civil court for legal 

redress.” 

Our position—Police 

Commissioner of Police, Lagos 

State Police Command, Mr. Fatai 

Owoseni, while explaining the 

command’s position, frowned at 

Sowore’s accusation that police 

were working in favour of Fatodu. 

Describing the claim as false, 

Owoseni disclosed that it was 

Sowore who made a distress call 

to the command’s platform, that he 

was being attacked by hoodlums 

at Isaac John street. 

He hinted that policemen 

responded immediately, only to 

discover that it was a false alarm. 

Owoseni said: “Policemen found 

out that there was no robbery attack 

but a brawl between him and one 

Lekan Fatodu. 

“The policemen brought them to 

my office and after I interrogated 

them, it was found that Lekan had 

earlier lodged a complaint of 

defamation of character, blackmail 

and extortion, which I detailed to 

the SCIID. 

“I referred both of them to the 

SCIID with regard to the pending 

case.”


WINNER: From left— Founder/CEO, Elliot’s Cribe, Glory Edozien; 

winner, Omowunmi Etiko; and MD/CEO, Addosser Microfinance Bank Ltd., 

Mr. Ayodeji Sobulo, during the presentation of N500,000 to Etiko, winner of 

SME Boutique Women Exclussive Club Business Plan Pitch competition by 

the bank in Lagos. PHOTO: Diran Oshe. 

NCC BOARD’S INAUGURATION: From left— Commissioner, 

Technical Services, Engr. Ubale Maska; board member, Mr. Clement Baiye; 

Chairman of the Board, Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye, all of Nigerian 

Communications Commission, NCC; Minister of Communications, Mr. 

Adebayo Shittu; Executive Vice Chairman, Professor Umar Danbatta; board 

member, Senator Ifeanyi Ararume, and Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder 

Management, Mr. Sunday Dare, all of NCC, at the inauguration of the 

Commission’s board in Abuja, yesterday. 

EDUCATION/FUN: From left— Mrs Tayo Chiemeka, Mrs Evelyn 

Femi-Paul, Mr. Tunde Obadimeji, Pastor Femi Paul, Senior Pastor, Grace 

Assembly, and Pastor Steve Omotayo, at an education drive/fun day organised 

by Grace Assembly for the children of Jakande Estate, Lekki, Lagos. 

RETIREES’ASSOCIATION: From left— Treasurer, Mr. Wali Onibon; 

1st Vice President, Mr. Ajibola Olagbaye; 2nd Vice President, Mrs. Carlene Alaja- 

Browne, and member, Mr. Sammy Oki, all of Association of Lagos State Retired 

Heads of Service and Permanent Secretaries, ALARHOSPS, during the 

asociation’s 2017 Day in Lagos. PHOTO: Bunmi Azeez. 

How we're boosting 

awareness about welding in 

Nigeria — EDEBIRI 

DR. Solomon Edebiri is the President of the Nigeria Institute 

of the Welding, NIW. In this interview he speaks on efforts 

to improve awareness of welding in the country. Excerpts: 

RECENTLY, you announced 

the formation of the 

African Welding Federation 

(AWF) as part of move to 

standardize welding activities in 

Africa. What is the motivation 

for this? 

All over the world, regions, and 

indeed continents have common 

standards and codes to manage 

the practice of welding and 

related fields. This will make it 

easy for management of things 

within neighbouring countries 

and people. In the Americas, you 

have the American Welding 

Society, in Europe it is European 

Welding Society. 

This way whatever is obtainable 

in France is the same with that of 

Germany, Italy, Spain e.t.c. With 

this, the continent is able to 

harmonise training schemes and 

industry practice regulations. That 

exactly is the motivation and the 

reason for the formation of the 

African Welding Federation. 

It is being created in order to 

have a common standard and 

codes for the continent on welding 

and related fields. 

This is a daunting objective. 

How are you going about it? 

That is true. It is a daunting task, 

yet we must achieve our 

objectives. I have just returned 

from a meeting with the Southern 

African Institute of Welding 

(SAIW), Johannesburg where we 

agreed that the SAIW and the 

NIW being the two leading 

members of the International 

Institute of Welding (IIW) on the 

continent must act on the issues 

of standards and codes for the 

continent in line with what is 

obtainable the world over as 

recommended by the world body. 

We took the decision to midwife 

the establishment of the African 

Welding Federation. 

Although discussion about the 

AWF has been on for over three 

years now, this meeting finally put 

in place the drafting of the aims 

and objectives of the AWF. The 

meeting also concluded that the 

AWF will be formally unveiled at 

the annual regional conference of 

the West African Welding 

Federation taking place in Ghana 

in April, 2017. 

Is there any urgent need for 

the AWF? 

After the SAIW, and until the 

coming of the Nigerian Institute 

of Welding, the only active 

members of the IIW from the 

continent were Egypt, Libya and 

Algeria. That left the continent 

venerable for the dumping of all 

kinds of unregulated systems, 

standards and codes. 

To set up a continental body like 

the AWF, we must have the 

involvement of at least 

membership from three regions. 

In Africa, we have five regions – 

North African, East African, West 

African, Central African and 

Southern African regions – we 

have attained that milestone. 

Even Zambia and Namibia are 

on the verge of joining as full 

members. With these countries 

ready to go, the continent is ready 

for a continental body like the 

AWF. 

Many Nigerians think welding 

is all about artisans plying their 

trade by the road side. What do 

you say to them? 

Over the years, we have been 

doing all we can to correct this 

impression about welding; that 

welding is not dirty, it is not dusty 

and that it is not about the artisans 

alone as assumed by many 

Nigerians. That position has been 

underscored by the numbers of 

professionals and highly trained 

Nigerians who are plying their 

trades as welding engineers. 

Some of them have qualifications 

as high as Masters of Science and 

engineering degrees! 

So, basically, the misconception 

has changed over the years with 

the involvement of more educated 

people. Even with the artisans 

and those in the informal sector, 

we are doing all we can to ensure 

that a code of practice is 

established for them. 

Standard, code of practice 

We in fact want to sanitize that 

part of the industry by creating a 

standard and code of practice for 

them. 

Today, the impression has 

changed. More people are now 

interested in what welding is all 

about. It may interest you to know 

that welding is all about man. It 

is all about development. Without 

welding, there cannot be 

development. That is why people 

are taking more interest. 

Can you tell us the story of 

NIW in the last 10 years? 

Yes, it has been a long and 

exciting journey for the institute. 

The road was never paved in 

gold, but I can assure you that 

within this period we have not 

only learnt along the way, but we 

have achieved a lot also. Let me 

summarize some of our 

achievements so far. 

The most important part of our 

achievements is that we have 

increased and sustained our 

membership, it has increased very 

tremendously. Within this period, 

we have also sustained our 

membership of the International 

Institute of Welding (IIW) with the 

attainment of the status of 

Authorized National Body (ANB) 

of the IIW which gives us the 

authority to certify International 

welders and other cadres of 

welding personnel up to 

international welding engineers 

level. 

Having gotten to this level, the 

NIW has accredited some 

Approved Training Bodies (ATB). 

In the last 10 years, some six 

centres have gained full 

approval; additional three will 

soon be approved with over 20 

waiting to meet the standard 

required for their approval under 

the NIW/ANB for welding 

personnel training using the 

guidelines of the IIW. 

Within the same period, we 

have grown our collaboration with 

government through such 

agencies as the NCDMB, PTDF 

and the NDDC. There is also the 

United Nations Office of Project 

Services. We also have a good 

relationship with the Federal 

Ministries in the areas of job 

creation, research and 

development.


UWAOMA 

I, formerly known and 

addressed as Miss 

Uwaoma Victoria 

Ezioma, now wish to 

be known and 

addressed as Mrs. 

Uche Victoria Ezioma. 

All former documents 

remain valid. General 

public please take 

note. 

AISHA 


addressed as 

Ihitegbulem Maryjane 

Aisha, now wish to be 

known and addressed 

as Abdulsalam Aisha 

Maryjane Oyiza. All 

former documents 


public please take note. 

OKAFOR 


addressed as Okafor 

Victoria Chizoba, now 

wish to be known and 

addressed as Aniagor 

Victoria Chizoba. All 




GARBA 


addressed as Fatima 

Ibrahim Garba, now 


addressed as Fatima 

Ibrahim Obanikoro 

(Fatima .I. Obanikoro). 




ONWUMERE 


addressed as 

Chukwuemeka 

Hyppolite Onwumere, 

now wish to be known 

and addressed as 

Chukwuemeka 

Hyppolite Theophilus. 




note. 

ONUH 


addressed as Mr. 

Onuh Michael Ogbu, 


and addressed as Mr. 

Michael Ogbu. All 




UMAH 



Cynthia Obiageli 

Umah, now wish to be 


as Mrs. Cynthia 

Obiageli Nwulu. All 




EGBOWON 


addressed as 

Egbowon Josephine 

Eyeremi, now wish to 

be known and 

addressed as Eyiomo 

Josephine Eyeremi. All 




BENEKPE 

Correction of Name 

My name was mistakenly 

written as Benekpe Joy D. 

and Ekpe Orezime Joy, 

instead of Ben-Ekpe 

Orezime Joy. My correct 

name is Ben-Ekpe Orezime 

Joy. All former documents 

remain valid. Delta State 

University, WAEC and 

general public please take 

note. 

ONWUDIEGWU 



Onwudiegwu Chiagozie 

Esther, now wish to be 

known and addressed as 

Mrs. Wodi Chiagozie 

Esther. All former 

documents remain valid. 

Banks and general public 

please take note. 

OFFODILE 



Offodile Cynthia 

Chinenye, now wish to 

be known and 


Edeoga Cynthia 

Chinenye. All former 

documents remain 

valid. Banks and 

general public please 

take note. 

JUSTINA 


addressed as 

Uhonmhoibhi Justina 

Eirhegbetale, now 


addressed as 

Imhansoloeva Justina 

Eirhegbetale. All 




AKABUEZE 



Ngozi Ifechukwukuru 

Geme Akabueze, now 



Akabueze Ngozi Geme 

Shadrack Dickson. All 




TOBOREH 


addressed as Sunday 

Ohwoka Toboreh, now 


addressed as Owhoka 

Sunday Vincent. All 




ONEGBU 


addressed as Onegbu 

Happiness and 

Emmanuel Happiness 

Funmilayo, now wish 

to be known and 

addressed as Mrs 

Alimi Happiness 

Funmilayo. All formal 


valid. General public, 

please note. 

MODEY 


addressed as 

Margaret Nda Modey, 



Margaret Modey Ata - 

Asu. All former 


valid. CRUTECH, 

NYSC and general 

public should please 

take note. 

NNADILI 



Nnadili Paraclete 

Nwakaego, now wish 



Ugwu Paraclete 

Nwakaego. All former 


valid. Banks and 


take note. 

NWAGBARA 



Nwagbara Anderline 

Adanna, now wish to 

be known and 


Anderline Adanna 

Reginald Onwuka. All 




GHOMORAI 


addressed as 

Ghomorai Ebisidor 

Raymond, now wish to 

be known and 

addressed as 

Bebeteidoh Raymond 

Wenebi. All former 


valid. General public 


EGWUONWU 



Peculiar Benedicta 

Odinkenma Egwuonwu, 

now wish to be known and 


Peculiar Benedicta 

Odinkenma Akalazu. All 

former documents remain 

valid. General Public, 

Coollink, NYSC, 

Madonna University, 

WAEC etc please take 

note. 

OKPALA 



Okpala Ginika Ijeoma, 


and addressed as Mrs. 

Okoye Ginika Ijeoma. 


remain valid. Banks 

and general public 


TUKPE 



Benedicta Ogheneovo 

Tukpe, henceforth wish 



Benedicta Ogheneovo 

Aminah. All former 


Diamond Bank, Skybank 

and GT Bank to reconcile 

with my BVN while the 

general public, to please 

take note. 

OGWEZI 



Promise Ishioma Ogwezi, 

Miss Ogwezi Isioma Lizzy, 

Miss Elizabeth Ishioma 

Ogwezi, now wish to be 


Mrs. Promise Elizabeth 

Ishioma Okoh. All former 


General public please take 

note. 

ELUEMELEM 



Eluemelem Agatha, 



Agatha Etie. All former 



should take note. 

ONYAGU 


addressed as Onyagu 

Chinyere Maryrose, 



Enweugwu Chinyere. 


remain valid. Banks 



WEEKS 


addressed as Idiok 

Mfon Weeks, now wish 

to known addressed as 

Mrs Mfon David 

Aminu. All former 


valid, The general 


take note. 

DORE 


addressed as Miss Dore 

Onome, now wish to be 


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valid. Revelant 

authorities and 

institutions and general 


NWALANGWA 



Ruth Ngozi 

Nwalangwa, now wish 



Ruth Ngozi Uchenna 

Chidi Ezeama. All 




OK 

PETER 


addressed as 

Okechukwu Peter 

Nwafor, now wish to 

be known and 

addressed as Simon 

Okechukwu Nwafor. 




note. 

CHINEDU 



Akutamadu Chinedu 

P r e c i o u s 

Chinazaekpere, now 



P r e c i o u s 

Chinazaekpere Kalu 

Oji. All former 


valid. General Public 


ERHIRHI 

Confirmation of Name 

This is to confirm that the 

name Erhirhi Ogheneruro 

Obodjo and Erhirhi 

Ogheneruro Emmanuel 

refer to one and the same 

person, now wish to be 


Erhirhi Ogheneruro 

Obodjo Emmanuel. All 




DUNYA 

Reconciliation of Name 


names Dunya Suleman 

Mohammed and Dunya 

Suleman Joshua refer to 

one and same person, but 


addressed as Dunya 

Suleman Joshua. All 




ADELUSI 



Adelusi Abosede 

Adetutu, now wish to 

be known and 


Adegoke Abosede 

Adetutu. All former 




OKOR 

ORO 


addressed as Blessing 

Ignatius Okoro, now 


addressed as Blessing 

Udoka Ugbana. All 




AMAECHI 



Amaechi Miracle 

Chinonyerem, now wish 



Onyediako Miracle 

Chinonyerem. All former 


Abia State University, 

Uturu, NYSC and general 


OBASI 



Obasi Juliet Ijeoma, 



Juliet Ijeoma. All 


remain valid. Nursing 

and Midwifery Council 

of Nigeria and general 

public please take note.


UGOCHI 



Ugochi Livina 

Maduabuchi, now wish 



Ugochi Vina 

Ogennamdi Anukam. 




KINGSLEY 


addressed as Boma- 

Fynecountry, now 


addressed as Kingsley 

Boma-Fynecountry 

Ijenemealanele. All 




EBOH 

Confirmation Of Name 

This is to certify that the 

names, Eboh Udi 

Raymond, Udi Raymond, 

Eboh Omovigho Paul are 

mine and they belong to 

me, but henceforth I now 

wish to be known, called 

and addressed as Udi 

Raymond. All former 


The general public and to 

whom it may concern to 


UTAGWUNI 



Utagwuni Roseline, 



Monday Roseline. All 




ADA 



Juliana Ada Aluh, now 



Igene-Aluh Juliana. 




IFEANYI 


addressed as Ifeanyi 

Joseph Aloh, now wish 


addressed as Joseph 

Mbamagu Aloh. All 



public take note. 

ASIMIYU 



Asimiyu Sadia, now 



Sikiru Sadia. All 




CHIDI 


addressed as Livinus 

Chidi Igwe, now wish 


addressed as Livinus 

Nlemuchukwu Igwe. 




AGOFURE 


addressed as Agofure 

Ejiroghene, now wish 


addressed as Ajari 

Ejiroghene. All former 




OKOKHUE 



Precious Okokhue, 



Precious Dede. All 




NDIDI 



Ndidi Ifeanyi Victoria, 



Ikediuba Ifeanyi 

Victoria. All former 




EDEKI 



Edeki Matilda Eloho, 



Akpotozor Matilda 

Eloho. All former 




ANIKWENZE 



Anikwenze Obiageli 

Gloria, now wish to be 


as Mrs. Okeke Gloria 

Obiageli. All former 



take note. 

CHANGE OF NAME 

AKINOLA EJEN ADELAKUN GBAREGOLO 



Solabomi Florence 

Akinola, now wish to 

be known and 


Solabomi Niniola 

Olabisi Akinduyilemi. 






Favour Emmanuel 

Ejen, now wish to be 


as Mrs. Favour 

Christopher Nkanta. 





addressed as 

Adelakun Leo Adetayo 


and addressed as Adeh 

Leo Adetayo. All 






Blessing Okuboere 

Gbaregolo, now wish 



Blessing Okuboere 

Timitimi. All former 




OBOMANU OSHINNILU EJUWA PAUL 


addressed as Dr. Queen 

Sougbenyenyanam 

Obomanu, now wish to be 


Dr. 

Queen 

Sougbenyenyanam 

Kingdom Koki. All former 


General public please take 

note. 


addressed as 

Oshinnilu Simisola 

Boluwatife, now wish 


addressed as 

Atseyinku Simisola 

Boluwatife. All former 




I formerly known and 

address as Miss Rita 

Ejuwa Oritsegbubemi, 

now wish to be know 

and address as Mrs 

Rita Ejuwa Awia 

Oritsegbubemi. All 

documents carrying 

the former name 


public take note. 

I, formerly known, called 

and addressed a Victoria 

Paul, now wish to be 

known, called and 

addressed as Odudu 

Victoria. All former 


The general public and to 

whom it may concern to 


KUBI FAVOUR ESE USIAPHE 



Kubi Stella Efe now 



Irorobeje Stella Efe. 


remain valid, any 

authority and the 

general public to take 

note. 

Confirmation of names 

These names, Favour 

Obrughoro and 

Endurance Obrughoro 

that appear in some 

documents belong to the 

same person but now wish 


addressed as Mrs. Favour 

Ighohwo Goddey. All 


valid, any authority it may 

concern and the general 

public to take note. 


addressed as Ese 

Ogberejeko, now wish 



Ese Efemo. All former 


valid, any authority it 

may concern and the 

general public to take 

note. 

Confirmation of names 

These names, Usiaphe 

Sunday and Usiaphe 

Sunday Oghenedoro 

belong to the same 

person but now wish to 

be known and addressed 

as Usiaphe Sunday 

Oghenedoro. All former 

documents remain valid, 

First Bank and the general 

public to take note. 

CHINAKA NWANKWO ONYEMA INEGBENOSE 



Chinaka Amarachi 

Goodness, now wish to 

be known and 


Ifechimerem Amarachi 

Goodness. All former 






Nwankwo Chigozie 

Chibuzo, now wish to be 


Dr. (Mrs.) Nwosu 

Chigozie Chibuzo. All 


valid. Medical and Dental 

Council of Nigeria and 

general public please take 

note. 



Onyema Augustina, 



Olivet-Egwu 

Augustina. All former 






Inegbenose Cynthia 

Obhafuoso, now wish 



Ojei Cynthia 

Obhafuoso. All former 




IHEDIWA NDOZI COLLINS DAKA 



Josephine Nwamaka 

Ihediwa, now wish to 

be known and 


Josephine Nwamaka 

Bardi. All former 




Reconciliation of Name 

This is to confirm that 

the names Ndozi Victor 

Chukwunedum and 

Ndozi Chinedu Victor 

refer to one and the 

same person, but now 


addressed as Ndozi 

Victor Chukwunedum. 



public please take note 


addressed as 

O m o a t a m a n 

Okegharle Collins, 



Collins Peters. All 






Tamunokuro Mercy 

Daka, now wish to be 


as Mrs. Mercy 

Edmund Banigo. All 


remain valid. NYSC, 

United Bank for Africa 

(UBA) and general 


note. 

MBAMA NWABUDE ONOSADJAYE OBOH 


This is to certify that the 

name (s) Mbama Noyinye 

Ferdinand and Mbamalu 

Onyinyechukwu 

Ferdinand refer to one and 

same person, henceforth 


addressed as 

Mbamaonyeukwu 

Onyinyechukwu 

Ferdinand. All former 


General public take note. 



Ngozi Nwabude, now 



Ngozi Onochie. All 






Onosadjaye Margaret 

Enekirhire, now wish 



Odeh Margaret 

Enekirhire. All former 






Oboh Maureen, now 



Onos Maureen. All 


remain valid General 


note. 

KELVIN OBARO ROSE OLOGWA ELIZABETH 



Mr Kelvin Emmanuel 

Eden and Emmanuel 

Kelvin Akpomejeme is 

one and same person. 






Obega Obaro Future 

and Obega Job Obaro 

is one and same 

person.All former 


valid. Ecobank and 


take note. 



Ofodile Nkiruka Rose 

and Ofodile Nkiruka 

Roseline is one and 

same person. All 






the name Ologwa 

Monday and Ologwa 

Marvelous refer to one 

and same person, now 


addressed as Ologwa 

Marvelous. All former 






Onah Rita Elizabeth, 



Onah Rita Oluchukwu 

Emenike. All former 


valid. NCS and 


take note.

OWEN 


My name was 

mistakenly written as 

Owen Samson 

Itiomemena, instead of 

Samson Jarikre. My 

correct name is 

Samson Jarikre. All 


remain valid. Ecobank 



ANYI 


addressed as Patience 

Anyi, now wish to be 


as Patience Asaakpugi. 




IDOWU 



the name Dr. 

O l o r u n t o b i 

Christopher Idowu 

and Ehinmilorin 

Christopher Idowu 

Oloruntobi refer to 

one and same 

person.All former 




OZAVIZE 


My name was 

mistakenly written as 

Abdulraheem Ozavize 

Hadijat, instead of 

Abdulraheem Hadijat 

Ize. All former 




OKOMOB 

OMOBA 



Okomoba Harriet 

Dafe, now wish to be 


as Mrs. Okomoba 

Harriet Dafe 

Ovanerita. All former 




IROEGBU 


addressed as 

S e r a p h i n a 

Chinonyerem Iroegbu, 



S e r a p h i n a 

Chinonyerem Uhegbu. 




EDEH 



Ugochukwu Edeh, 


and addressed as Mrs 

Mbonu Happiness 

Ugochukwu. All 




ITOYAL 

AL 



Igho Itoyal, now wish 



Igho Oboh. All former 




OBUKE 



Obuke Vivian Ejiro, 


and addressed as Mrs, 

Dossou-Yovo Vivian 

Ejiro. All former 




TOBORE 


addressed as 

Okagbare Tobore Enoor 

Rebecca, now wish to 

be known and 

addressed as 

Okagbare Rebecca. All 





EGBOSIMBA 


addressed as 

Egbosimba Adaugo 

Anthonia, now wish to 

be known and 

addressed as Enyika 

Adaugo Anthonia 

Desire. All former 




ELUYELA 



Eluyela Taiwo 

Florence, now wish 



Adegoke Taiwo 

Bolayemi. All former 




BAKARE 



Omobolanle Olubunmi 

Bakare, now wish to be 


as Mrs Omobolanle 

O l u b u n m i 

Oladunjoye. All former 




BLESSING 



Blessing Oghenetega 

Emadamerho, now 



Aghojare Blessing 

Oghenetega. All 




note. 

NOEL 


addressed as 

Emokpae Noel 

Okuomose, now wish 


addressed as 

Omoregbee Emokpae 

Okuomose. All former 




ODIRI 



name Oghenerhoro Odiri 

Success and 

Oghenerhoro 

Oghenetega Success refer 

to one and same person, 



Oghenerhoro 

Oghenetega Success. All 




AKAHARA 



Lilian Onyinyechi 

Akahara, now wish to 

be known and 


Lilian Onyinyechi 

Abhulimen. All former 




EGBEWUMI 



Janet Kehinde 

Egbewumi, now wish 



Janet Kehinde Oni. All 




ERIATA 



Mercy Omonye Eriata, 



Mercy Omonye F. 

Egoma. All former 




OFFICER 


addressed as Officer 

Emmanuel Ejaita, now 


addressed as 

Ighokwankpo 

Emmanuel Ejaita. All 





INIM 



Magdalene Edem 

Inim, now wish to be 


as Mrs Magdalene 

Emem Essien. All 




AKINWALE 


My name was 

mistakenly spelt as 

Akinwale Olusegun 

Akinleye in National 

Identity Card but now 


addressed as Akinleye 

Olusegun Adewale. All 




JOLLY 


addressed as Kingsley 

Jolly, now wish to be 


as Kingsley Oscar 

Ekwu. All former 




OGUNLI 



Ogunli Nora Omare, 



Abedi Nora Omare. All 




OGBORU 



Mercy Ogboru, now 



Mercy Ogboru 

Igbokwe. All former 




OFOMA 



Ofoma Augustina 

Ogochukwu, now wish 



Ugozor Augustina 

Ogochukwu. All 




JIMOH 



the name Jimoh 

Ramota and Jimoh 

Ramota Omolara refer 

to one and same 

person, now wish to be 


as Jimoh Ramota 

Omolara. All former 




ADEOLA 



Aderojuola Khadijat 

Adeola, now wish to be 


as Mrs Akangbe 

Khadijat Adeola. All 




CHUKWUEKWU 


addressed as Fidelis 

Henry Chukwuekwu, 



Fidelis Henry 

Onyeugbo. All former 




OSAEKE 


My correct name is 

Osaeke Nwanchukwu 

Shadrach, but it was 

wrongly written as 

Osaeke Nwanchukwu 

Shadrack. Osaeke 

Nwanchukwu 

Shadrach remains my 

correct name. All 




EYEWU 


addressed as 

Mogborukor Hope 

Eyewu and Atoto 

Hope Otumalokun, 


and addressed as Atoto 

Hope Eyewu. All 




note. 

ANIKPO 



Ndidiamaka Ijeoma 

Anikpo, now wish to 

be known and 


Ndidiamaka Ijeoma 

Okechukwu. All 




note. 

JOKE 


addressed as Joke 

Munirat Banks, now 


addressed as Adejoke 

Munirat Banks 

Ogundero. All former 




AKUDO 



Akudo Unakalamba, 



Akudo Chukwuma - 

Ubah. All former 




WEST 



Ibinabo Fubara 

West, now wish to be 


as Mrs. Ibinabo 

Oluwafunmilayo 

Agbaje. All former 




UZOR 



Eberechukwu 

Innocentia Uzor, now 



Eberechukwu 

I n n o c e n t i a 

Oguneme. All former 




MUONAKA 


addressed as Oparah 

Muonaka Omenma. 

that due to the fact that, 

I decided to add Moore 



Oparah Moore 

Omenma. All former 




CYPRIAN 


addressed as Mr. 

Cyprian Chukwuma 

Ubah, now wish to be 


as Mr. Cyril 

C h u k w u m a 

Ikechukwu Ubah. All 




ADEYEMI 



Adeola Oluwatosin 

Adeyemi, now wish to 

be known and 


Adeola Oluwatosin 

Nwabueze. All former 




OBO 



Obo Blessing and Obo 

Lale Blessing Chanya 

refer to one and the same 

person. All former 


First Bank Plc and General 


OBODOZIE 



Margaret – Mary Uche 

Obodozie, now wish to 

be known and 


Margaret Mary 

Uche Osimobi. All 




KPOKPO 


addressed as Kpokpo 

Grace Gbeindi (F), now 


addressed as 

Teibogiren Gbeindi. 



public please take note.

40— Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 2017 


IGIEBOR 



Lucky Orighomisan 

Igiebor and Lucky 

Misan Igiebor refer to 

one and the same 

person. All former 




MONA 



Mona Augustina, now 


address as Mrs. 

Abiodun Augustina. 


remain valid. The 

general public should 


IKHIDI 

Confirmation of Names 

This is to confirm and 

certify that the 

n a m e s R o s e 

Ikhidi and Rose 

Douglas refer to one and 

the same person, but now 

wish to be known as Rose 

Douglas. All former 


The general public 

should please take note. 

EFOBI 



Efobi Uzoma Chika, 


and addressed as Mrs 

Onuekwusi Uzoma 

Chika. All former 


valid. FRSC, Nursing 

and Midwifery 

Council of Nigeria and 


take note. 

UDI 



Tega Udi, now wish to 

be known and address 

as Mrs. Tega Hope- 

Obanye. All former 


valid. The general 


take note. 

AWENODE 



Elo 

Anna 

Awenode, now wish to 


as Mrs Elo Anna 

Onokiti. All former 




take note. 

ELEKWACHI 



Elekwachi Obiageri, 



Obiageri Treasure 

Nnabike. All former 




IFEOLUWA 



Olohungbebe 

Mamudat Ifeoluwa, 


and address as Mrs. 

Nurudeen Mamudat 

Ifeoluwa. All former 




take note. 

EJIRO 



E j i r o 

Oborairuvwe, now 


address as Mrs Ejiro 

Christopher Oburhie. 





CHIKELUBA 



Chikeluba Judith 

Chikaodili, now wish to 

be known and 


Peterson Judith 

Chikaodili. All former 




OGIEMHEN 


addressed as 

Ogiemhen Josepine, 


and address as 

Ogiemhen Esosa 

Josephine. All former 




take note. 

ANIEFIOK 


addressed as Aniefiok 

Bassey, now wish to be 

known and address 

as Bassey John Edem. 





EJIDIKE 


addressed as Ejidike 

Macfelix Chidiebere, 



Peterson Macfelix 

Chidiebere. All former 




CHIMEZIE 


addressed as 

Chimezie Azubuike, 



Goodluck Chimezie- 

Azubuike. All former 




take note. 

ELEFE 


That my name was 

wrongly written as Elefe 

Robinson instead of Elete 

Robinson, now wish to be 


as Atsekpere Robinson 

Otsof. All former 


The general public should 


JUNIOR 


addressed as 

Akpocheyovwi Junior, 



Akpocheyovwi 

Melvin. All former 




take note. 

OKOL 

OLOB 

OBA 



Yoyo Okoloba, now 


address as Mrs Yoyo 

Robert Iveh. All former 




take note. 

OJOIVLE 


addressed as Innocent 

O j o i v l e 

Jonathan, now wish to 


as Innocent Jonathan. 





CHUKWU 


addressed as Merit 

Ezinne Chukwu, now 


address as Mrs Merit 

Ezinne Ndulue. All 





AWIGHOZE 



A w i g h o z e 

Veronica, now wish to 


as Mrs Egware 

Veronica. All former 




take note. 

OVOMA 

OMA 



Ovowa Enifome 

Perpetuarl, now wish 


address as Mrs 

Enebeli Enifome 

Perpetuarl. All former 




take note. 

SAMUEL 


addressed as Samuel 

Efe Sylvester, now 


address as Samuel 

Efe Emukowhate. All 





ERIEKPARE 



Eriekpare O. Joy, now 



Amawha O. Joy. All 





EDHEBRU 



Edhebru Rosemary 

Obokparo now wish 


address as Mrs. Ileleji 

R o s e m a r y 

Obakparo. All former 




take note. 

ESE 


addressed as Ujuanbi 

Christy Ese, now wish 


address as Ujuanbi 

Christy Esimaje. All 





IDIGU 


addressed as Idigu 

Johnson, now wish to 

be known and 

addressed as Akpede 

Johnson. All former 




IGHEGHE 



Chioma Igheghe, now 



Chioma Walker 

Alexander Peter. All 





AKEMU 



Akemu Queen Edirin, 



Orji Queen Edirin. All 




ONAJITE 


My name wrongly 

captured as Onajite 

Ejiro instead 

o f O b a s e k i 

Ejiro now wish to be 


as Obaseki Ejiro. All 





EGBEDI 



Faith Egbedi, now 



Faith Edosio. All 




EMERAROH 



Emeraroh Endurance, 



Adjarho Endurance. 




OGHENEGUKE 



Florin Ogheneguke 

Toje, now wish to be 


as Mrs. Florin Toje 

Omakoko. All former 


valid. Setraco Nigeria 

Ltd and general public 


JOMO 


addressed as Jomo 

Joy Anwuli, now wish 


addressed as Nmor 

Joy Anwuli. All former 




GRACE 



Ubogoadjera 

Uruemuevwioni Grace, 



A k p o r o d e 

Uruemuevwioni Grace. 




EDAFIOKEN 

AFIOKENA 

Addition of Name 


addressed as 

E d a f i o k e n a 

Oghenevwoke, now 


addressed as 

E d a f i o k e n a 

Oghenevwoke Elina. 




IBOYI 


These names Iboyi 

Frank Eniyekenimi 

and Frank Morgan 

Iboyi is one and the 

same person now wish 


addressed as Frank 

Morgan Iboyi. All 


remain valid. First 

bank, Eco bank and 


take note. 

THIS SPACE 

IS FOR SALE

Redefining the El-Rufai leadership doctrine 

By Henry Efe Duku 

MY encounter on 

December 10, 2016 with 

Lucky Awobasivwe on the 

‘National Leadership Question’ 

opened insights worth sharing. 

A successful business tycoon, 

Awobasivwe is an amazingly 

simple man. Guided by sound 

ethical principles, he has deep 

respect for people, processes, 

and rules. 

Though averse to the “undue 

complexities of politics”, he is 

nonetheless passionate about 

good governance as the “bedrock 

of societal orderliness and 

oxygen for good, sustainable 

businesses”. He is passionate 

about credible leaders and 

believes President Muhammadu 

Buhari has what is required to 

deal decisively with bad 

governance in Nigeria, especially 

corruption. 

Also, he is bullish on Mallam 

Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai – the 

Executive Governor of Kaduna 

State. On that day, Awobasivwe 

talked passionately about El- 

Rufai’s “unblemished leadership 

qualities, clear vision on the right 

direction for society and 

extraordinary courage to go 

against the status quo and make 

positive change possible.” 

But somehow he supplied no 

more than platitudes for so 

elevating El-Rufai, and for this I 

disagreed with him. In 

disagreeing, I was armed with 

two rebuttals which I had aptly 

used in a social media debate on 

El-Rufai’s tenure as the Director- 

General (DG) of the Bureau of 

Public Enterprises (BPE). I had 

argued then, that: 

Character 

balance 

“Nasir must lose his claim to 

whistle-cleanliness, character 

balance, and thoroughness if 

media reports are right that, as 

DG of the BPE, he negligently, 

conspiratorially, overzealously, or 

underhandedly handed over 

NITEL to Pentascope – an easily 

ascertainable fraud on Nigeria as 

a nation. It is said that Pentascope 

was hastily registered in Holland 

on New Year Day in 2002 (a global 

Public Holiday!). 

It is a fact that Pentascope is not 

a registered company in Nigeria 

(with the Corporate Affairs 

Commission (CAC)) and 

therefore lacked the legal 

capacity to do business in Nigeria, 

including managing NITEL. 

Pentascope’s workforce of just 

nine (9) persons, reasonably 

disqualified it from competing to 

manage a behemoth like NITEL 

with a staff strength of tens of 

thousands. Even in appearance 

alone, Pentascope was an ad-hoc 

design to swindle Nigeria. 

An ad-hoc design to swindle 

Nigeria: “Significantly, the BPE 

advertised that it was searching 

for an international telecoms 

operator with a record of 

accomplishment 

of installing and 

managing at 

least one million 

telephone lines. 

Pentascope had 

no such history 

of managing 

even one 

telephone line! 

I n d e e d , 

Pentascope 

failed all set 

criteria for 

companies 

competing to 

manage NITEL. 

*Gov. El-Rufai. 

… Despite these 

and much more, 

the BPE still 

donated the 

Gov Nasir El Rufai of Kaduna State 

management of 

NITEL to Pentascope and 

curiously declined to monitor 

implementation of the 

Pentascope agreement! … That 

apart, I also agree that the Mallam 

ought to be disrobed of respect if 

his BPE actually paid his 'lucky' 

female aide, Ms. Aishetu Fatima 

Kolo, about Two Million Naira as 

monthly pay (in US Dollars 

equivalent) in brazen violation of 

basic rules of transparency. On 

both counts alone i.e the 

Pentascope and Aishetu Kolo 

It is well-known that 

El-Rufai played a 

leading role in the 

2015 general 

elections which saw 

the emergence of 

President Buhari and 

his emergence as 

governor 

issues, it would seem El-Rufai’s 

BPE rigged extant rules and 

broke the law. If so, then 

someone ought to be tried and 

jailed now.” 

These rebuttals had tainted the 

credentials of orderliness, 

uprightness, and transparency 

ascribed to El-Rufai and were the 

lenses with which I viewed 

anything ‘Nasir El-Rufai’. Thus, 

more was required to canonise 

El-Rufai as a reference for good 

leadership in the exalted order 

of Lee Kuan Yew, as Awobasivwe 

believes. 

But Awobasivwe was calm as I 

took down his perspectives. To 

him, my rebuttals were out of 

context and based on unhinged 

sponsored media reports. 

Questioning his confidence in 

the El-Rufai brand was a pain, 

as revealed in his response: “It’s 

very painful, disturbing and 

dangerous to have the thoughts 

of brilliant and principled 

persons shaped by sponsored 

media untruths and that seems 

to be the case here. … We need 

a serious conversation. And let 

me implore you to open your 

mind. You cannot objectively 

define a person with just two 

narrow and twisted events. I shall 

be asking you to study about 

Mallam. Read this book 

(bringing out a new copy of ‘The 

Accidental Public Servant’ 

written by El-Rufai).” 

The Accidental Public Servant: 

No doubt, Nasir El-Rufai is a 

prominent feature in our public 

space. The top graduand of his 

1976 class in the prestigious 

Barewa College, Zaria, El-Rufai 

also holds a first-class Bachelor 

degree in Quantity Surveying 

from Ahmadu Bello University, 

Zaria. 

He has post graduate degrees 

from Harvard and Georgetown 

Universities – a Master’s degree 

in Public Administration and a 

certificate in Public Policy and 

Management from the John F. 

Kennedy School of Government, 

Harvard University. El-Rufai also 

holds a Bachelor of Laws degree 

(Second Class, Upper Division) 

from the University of London. 

With these credentials, El-Rufai 

passes easily as intellectually 

smart. 

His core belief that “… to succeed 

in public service, one must 

have acquired a certain level of 

anger with our failures as a society, 

and be willing to damn all 

consequences to change things 

for the better” speaks to a character 

element that is almost totally 

absent in our public service 

space. 

El-Rufai came to sustained 

national limelight with his 

appointment as the Director- 

General (DG) of the Bureau of 

Public Enterprises (BPE) – the 

body in charge of our national 

privatisation program. His choice 

gave the previously sleepy BPE 

new life and it became registered 

in public consciousness for 

‘market efficiency’ – an 

acceptable alternative to the 

historical ‘state inefficiency’ in 

virtually all our public 

enterprises. 

Fighting against massive 

systemic corruption: El-Rufai’s 

uncontroverted accounts in The 

Accidental Public Servant speaks 


on procedures, Atiku’s NCP has 

not really disputed this assertion. 

Thus, Atiku’s NCP must take 

responsibility for the catastrophic 

collapse of NITEL, more so as it 

happened after El-Rufai’s exit 

from the BPE. 

Undoubtedly, El-Rufai’s BPE 

successes convinced former 

President Olusegun Obasanjo to 

appoint him as the Minister of 

*Map of Kaduna 

the Federal Capital Territory 

(FCT), Abuja with a mandate to 

restore the Abuja Masterplan 

which was then severely 

distorted. He knew it would take 

an El-Rufai to do it and 

mandated him accordingly. And 

El-Rufai delivered excellently. 

But his first hurdle came when 

he refused to pay an alleged 

bribe of N54 Million for Senate 

clearance and went further to 

publicly name and shame those 

involved. 

admirably to an unbelievably 

strong leadership personality. 

He fought against massive 

systemic corruption and a 

generally rotten status quo whilst 

in BPE by consistently taking 

down corrupt ‘Big Men’. 

He even had to exploit a 

‘loophole’ in extant laws to use 

BPE’s resources to help finance 

Mallam Nuhu Ribadu’s EFCC 

to take off. His goal was simply 

to strategically defeat the plans 

of some corrupt politicians who, 

being scared of its take off, gave 

the EFCC zero budgetary 

allocations then. In an instance, 

a BPE staff was sacked for 

allegedly being procured to bribe 

him with USD350,000. 

Given his unbreakable anticorruption 

convictions, was it 

possible that the allegations were 

orchestrated to taint El-Rufai in 

bad light with a view to allowing 

corruption a smooth sail in the 

BPE? The answer is a straight 

‘Yes’. In Kolo’s case, El-Rufai was 

targeted for refusing to ‘play ball’ 

with corrupt lawmakers who 

wanted to make the BPE their 

private ATM. And because they 

met an impenetrable barrier in 

El-Rufai’s granite will, they 

practically defunded the BPE 

with zero budgetary allocations 

– thinking this would compel his 

acquiescence. 

Collateral 

damage 

But ever unyielding to attacks 

on his values, El-Rufai called 

upon his ingenuity by resorting 

to international funding and 

donations for the BPE from 

USAID, DFID and the World 

Bank. In the case of USAID, the 

donations were administered by 

IBTCI - a USAID-appointed 

consultant. BPE was therefore 

not in direct control of what its 

“core team” consultants, 

including Kolo earned. 

The media smear of Kolo under 

the transparent USAID funding 

arrangement would eventually 

irritate her to leave BPE for a 

World Bank programmr. She was 

just a collateral damage in a 

vicious war for BPE’s soul! They 

lied against Kolo because they 

feared El-Rufai her boss. 

Regrettably, we believed them 

because there was no forceful, 

credible counter narrative. 

On Pentascope, it has been 

argued that as chairman of the 

National Council on Privatisation 

(NCP), former Vice President 

Atiku Abubakar approved the 

takeover over of the management 

of NITEL by Pentascope on 

February 21, 2003 vide a memo 

referenced BPE/I&N/NT/MC/ 

DG/280. This is quite significant 

– being contrary to the 

impression out there that El- 

Rufai’s BPE acted unilaterally, 

without approval. Short of some 

incoherent arguments bordering 

Approval for 

the property 

By this, he announced himself 

as a ‘madman’ to be feared the 

more. Fearless, he took down a 

building belonging to Ahmadu 

Ali (Chairman of the then ruling 

party – PDP) because approval 

for the property was improper. He 

almost took Nigeria into a 

diplomatic row with France for 

rightly insisting that the French 

Embassy could not develop its 

ambassador’s residence on a 

plot of land reserved for a school 

on the masterplan. He prevailed. 

Not ready to spare even Nigeria 

itself for violating the masterplan, 

he demolished a property 

belonging the Federal 

Government as ‘illegal’. In the 

end, he restored the FCT 

Masterplan. That is leadership. 

It is well-known that El-Rufai 

played a leading role in the 2015 

general elections which saw the 

emergence of President Buhari 

and his emergence as governor. 

His decision to invest his 

leadership endowments at his 

home front is no doubt impacting 

Kaduna as a good governance 

model. He is already 

undertaking critical institutional 

reforms and attracting global 

players to Kaduna. His vision to 

make Kaduna the largest 

agriculture and agro-processing 

hub in West Africa deserves 

attention because El-Rufai will 

succeed. His intellectual and 

character strengths are delivering 

huge advantages for his people. 

The emergence of men of El- 

Rufai’s standing as governors is 

a rebuke of the chronic mediocrity 

in places like my Delta State 

where primitive criminals 

consistently violate the electoral 

will of the people and loot public 

treasuries with animalistic 

impunity. El-Rufai’s credentials 

aggregate a governance doctrine 

fit for a better future for a 

discerning people. 

So few, our El-Rufais are 

endangered species deserving 

conservation by the replication of 

their values as normative honour 

codes. In many ways, El-Rufai 

represents the reality of the 

Nigeria many dream of – one 

where rules are sacrosanct and 

‘Big Men’ are compelled to obey 

them. Kaduna State is blessed 

with El-Rufai. 

Duku wrote this piece from 

Lagos. 

C 

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•Ambode: Lagos state 

governor 

Apprehension as Lagos LG poll looms 

By Olasunkanmi Akoni 

AFTER much anxiety, there 

are strong indications 

that the long anticipated local 

government elections in Lagos 

State would soon be held. 

Not only was the provision 

made for it in the 2017 budget 

assented to by Governor 

Akinwunmi Ambode earlier 

this week, the body language 

of state officials indicated 

imminent conduct of election 

of chairmen and councillors 

for the 20 Local Government 

Areas, LGAs and 37 Local 

Council Development Areas, 

LCDAs. 

Release of 

voters’ register 

Giving credence to the state’s 

readiness for the polls, Speaker 

of the State House of Assembly, 

Mudashiru Obasa speaking 

during a parley with Civil 

Society Organisations and 

media at the Assembly old 

Complex, Alausa, Ikeja, said: 

“We have just passed LASIEC 

law three weeks ago, and we 

are still waiting on the 

Independent National 

Electoral Commission, INEC, 

for the release of voters’ 

register, delineation of 

constituency and wards, 

without all these exercise 

completed there is no way we 

can hold the polls. We 

politicians are always 

interested in elections. I assure 

you that in no distant future we 

will conduct the council poll.” 

Obasa added that the 

Assembly had approved the 

budget for LASIEC to hold the 

elections and once they could 

fulfil other compulsory 

requirements, “LASIEC will be 

ready for elections, because we 

are definitely, ready for the 

polls.” 

He continued: “With the 

LASIEC Amendment Law and 

the Election Tribunal Law 

cleared and passed by the 

Assembly, which was 

subsequently, assented to by 

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, 

the Lagos State council election 

is set to hold as soon as 

possible.” 

Delineation of the 

constituencies 

Some of the factors said to 

have delayed the conduct were 

the issues of voters register 

which LASIEC was unable to 

get from the INEC, the absence 

of a board and the question of 

using Electronic Voting 

Machine, EVM or not for the 

polls. 

There was also a controversy 

over the delineation of the 

constituencies. The authorities 

were bothered by the fact that 

whereas INEC delineated the 

state into 245 wards the 

LASIEC, delineated the state 

into 346 wards. 

"The result of the delineation 

exercise indicated that there is 

need for additional wards 

before the next polls,” Mr. 

Adeoye Ogundipe, a 

commissioner in LASIEC said. 

The commissioner noted that 

With the LASIEC 

Amendment Law 

and the Election 

Tribunal Law 

cleared and passed 

by the Assembly, 

which was 

subsequently, 

assented to by 

Governor 

Akinwunmi 

Ambode, the Lagos 

State council 

election is set to 

hold as soon as 

possible 

the electoral body was also in 

“close contact with INEC on 

the need to add more wards on 

the existing wards.” 

On EVM, Ogundipe said 

“There are issues for instance, 

the electronic voting is not 

stated in the law. We have to 

resolve that. The fact that 

other states had been using it 

does not mean that it was 

proper. 

“It isn’t totally ruled out, if it 

will enhance the poll process, 

we will use it. The commission 

will sit down and examine the 

pros and cons of the machine. 

“We have gone to some states 

where it was used inspite of the 

huge fund expended on it, 

there were hiccups. But that 

hiccup will not be accepted in 

Lagos.” 

Also, the newly appointed 

Chairman of LASIEC, Justice 

Ayotunde Philips (Retd), at a 

forum recently, said the date for 

the local government election 

would be announced soon. 

Cmmission’s 

responsibility 

“I can assure you that the 

announcement for the date will 

be made soon. The 

commission’s responsibility is 

to ensure that the election is 

free and fair and we are 

committed to achieving that,” 

he said. 

However, sources said the 

election is likely to be held by 

April considering that the 

Electoral Act compulsory 

stipulated 90 days period for 

political parties to end all forms 

of campaigns. 

It was also gathered that the 

All Progressives Congress, 

APC, in the state is likely to 

release guidelines by the end 

of this week for prospective 

aspirants on its platform for the 

poll. 

At the signing of year 2017 

budget of N812.998 billion, 

earlier this week, 

Commissioner for Finance and 

Economic Planning and 

Budget, Mr. Akinyemi Ashade, 

said that the three stores/ 

warehouses to be used to store 

poll materials would be 

constructed at the three 

senatorial districts. 

He noted that this was why 

the administration budgeted 

N39.7222 billion for security, 

law and order in the state. 

Ashade disclosed that the 

store house was reason for the 

increase in LASIEC budget 

allocation. 

LASIEC boss seeks 

improvement in electoral 

officers offices in LGAs 

During an inspection tour of 

some LASIEC offices across the 

state, LASIEC chairman, 

Phillips, expressed 

dissatisfaction over the state of 

the offices allocated to some of 

the Electoral Officers of the 

Commission deployed to the 

Local Governments and Local 

Council Development Areas of 

the state. 

While describing the offices 

Continues on page 43

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 2017 —43 

LAGOS LG POLL 

APC jittery of defeat 

— GANI, PDP SPOKESPERSON 

PDP no longer in existence 

— IGBOKWE, LAGOS APC SPOKESPERSON 

MR Taofik Gani is the Publicity 

Secretary of the Peoples Democratic 

Party, PDP, in Lagos State. In this 

interview, he takes a swipe at the All 

Progressives Congress led 

government in the state for failing to 

conduct council elections. Among 

other issues, the party’s 

spokesperson kicked against the 

appointment of sole administrators to 

oversee activities at the council level. 

Stories by Dapo Akinrefon 

HOW prepared is your party for 

the council elections and what 

are your chances if elections are 

conducted? 

The Lagos State PDP is well prepared 

for the council elections. We were 

expecting that local government 

elections would be conducted at the 

expiration of the democratically elected 

council chairmen but for whatever 

reasons, the former governor Raji Fashola 

shied away from conducting the elections. 

But now, a new governor is there and we are 

insisting that new governments are 

democratically in place as stipulated by the 

constitution. 

We are indeed better fortified to win 

elections now, if the elections had been held, 

there would be no reason for us to challenge 

the government but now that we have won 

seats in the House of Assembly and House 

of Representatives, if any election is 

conducted 

now, the PDP 

is better 

positioned to 

win. Indeed, 

the catchment 

area of the 

PDP in Lagos 

State are well 

outlined now 

and what we 

are doing now 

is to increase 

the catchment 

area. 

On our side, 

what we are 

doing is to 

increase those 

catchment 

areas, so we 

Appointment of 

sole 

administrators at 

the helm of affairs 

of local 

government areas 

that 

constitutionally 

intended to be 

governed by 

democratically 

election officials 

is illegal 

will implore 

the chairman of the Lagos State Independent 

National Electoral Commission, LASIEC, who 

was a former chief judge of Lagos and his 

members to put in place immediately the 

guidelines and date for the conduct of local 

government election. If they have obstacles 

put by the governor, they should let 

Lagosians know. Lagosians are not happy 

that up till now, they do not have 

democratically elected representatives at the 

council level, this is unfortunate. 

What is your take on the continued delay 

of the council poll, do you think it is a 

deliberate act by the APC led government 

in the state? 

It is not only illegal, it is also immoral on 

any governor not to conduct elections. It is 

deliberate in Lagos State and the reason is 

because APC was shocked, we jolted them 

when we won the number of seats in the 

legislature. They never expected it. They are 

•Gani: Appointment of sole 

administrators illegal 

jittery that if they conduct local government 

elections, apart from the acrimony within 

the APC, the acceptance of the PDP at this 

point in time due to the irresponsible 

governance that we are getting from the 

Federal government led APC, they will 

meet their waterloo. That is why the conduct 

has been deliberately delayed. 

What is your position on the appointment 

of sole administrators for councils in 

Lagos State, is it legal? 

Appointment of sole administrators at the 

helm of affairs of local government areas 

that constitutionally intended to be governed 

by democratically elected officials is illegal, 

it is an abberation. 

Democratically 

elected persons 

The Supreme Court has said it many 

times, the constitution is clear on it. Section 

7(1) of the 1999 constitution as amended 

states that local government councils shall 

only be governed by democratically elected 

persons. So, what is happening at the local 

government level now by the governors is 

illegal. That is why we also welcome the 

move by the House of Representatives to 

stop the joint state and local government 

account to 

enable the local 

governments 

have control and 

be independent. 

So, Governor 

Ambode is now 

having another 

opportunity to 

conduct local 

government 

elections. That is 

why we insist 

that never again 

in Lagos shall 

we have sole 

administrators, 

we insist that 

elections should 

be conducted 

immediately 

after the 

expiration of the 

tenure. 

in some of the 12 Local 

Government Councils already 

visited since the 

commencement of the 

inspection tour as “disgusting”, 

the Chairman commended the 

authorities of some of the 

councils for providing office 

accommodation for Electoral 

officers deployed to the 

Councils. 

Phillips, however, urged the 

authorities in the various 

councils to make the offices 

allocated conducive to enable 

the officers discharge their 

duties effectively. 

•Igbokwe: PDP can't force us to conduct poll 

MR Joe Igbokwe is the Publicity Secretary of the All 

Progressives Congress, APC, in Lagos State. In this 

interview, he lampoons the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in 

Lagos State for attempting to force the government to 

conduct local government elections. 

WHY has council 

elections not been 

conducted in Lagos State? 

For PDP, they don’t conduct 

local government elections. I 

know a PDP State that has not 

conducted local government 

elections in the last 16 years. 

Lagos State has been 

conducting elections since the 

advent of the Fourth Republic. 

I do not know why the PDP will 

be sounding as if something is 

happening somewhere or as if 

they have anything to offer. 

By the way, do we still have 

PDP in Lagos? They are no 

longer in existence and so, why 

the noise about local 

government elections as if they 

have anything to offer. They 

sound as if they can win one 

local government area, if 

elections are condcuted. 

Apprehension as Lagos LG poll looms 

Continues from page 42 

NCP 

Chairman of the Lagos 

chapter, of the National 

Conscience Party, NCP, 

Comrade Ayodele Akele, 

accused that the APC led 

Government of suppressing the 

people’s right through 

“capricious imposition of 

Caretakers for the Local 

Government offices as against 

constitutional requirement of 

conducting elections into same. 

“APC is unnecessary buying 

time by its failure to hold 

council elections. We cannot 

afford to fold our arms and 

allow the ruling APC 

mismanage the affairs of the 

But the PDP boasts that your 

party is jittery... 

(Cuts in) Jittery of what? PDP 

is no longer in Lagos, they are 

no longer in Nigeria. They are 

no longer in existence. We are 

in firm control and we are 

coming from a background of 

performance of so many years. 

So, why should we be jittery? 

The truth of the matter is that 

the PDP whether they are in 

existence in Lagos or not, are 

not the ones that would force 

us into elections. 

We need to prepare, we need 

to put structures in place, we 

are creating new polling units. 

There are so many things to be 

done, but be rest assured that 

the elections will be 

conducted.The PDP cannot 

force us to conducted local 

government elections. 

councils in the state. It is an act 

of illegality that rather than 

conduct election into councils 

the state government gave the 

administration to appointed 

Executive Secretaries. 

“We are saying no to 

caretaker committees for Local 

Government in Lagos State.” 

Akele stated. 

He also urged Federal 

Government to halt further 

disbursement of monthly 

allocation for the funding of the 

state councils, describing it as, 

“unlawful”, even as he asked 

Economic and Financial Crime 

Commission, EFCC to probe of 

all activities by the Executive 

Secretaries.


Rabiul Thanni 8, 1438 A.H. 

Check your Ikhlas, sincerity in deeds 

IKHLAS (sincerity) in our 

actions and statements is of 

utmost importance for the 

acceptance of our deeds. Al- 

Bukhari and Muslim narrated 

that ‘Umar said, “I heard the 

Messenger of Allah (s) say: 

“Verily, the reward of deeds 

depends upon the Niyyah 

(intentions) and every person will 

get the reward according to what 

he has intended.” 

Therefore, every action that was 

not performed solely for Allah’s 

Sake, is annulled and fruitless in 

this life and the Hereafter. 

There are two implications for the 

word Niyyah according to the 

scholars. One of them pertains to 

distinguishing acts of worship 

from acts of habit. For instance, 

there is a difference between 

taking a bath to remove impurity 

(to be able to pray and engage in 

other acts of worship), and taking 

a bath to cool off. Also, there is a 

different Niyyah for Zhur prayer 

than Asr prayer and fasting during 

Ramadan in contrast to fasting in 

other months. 

The second meaning for Niyyah 

pertains to distinguishing between 

the intention behind the act – if it 

is directed to Allah Alone or to 

Allah and others. 

Reward or 

punishment 

This meaning carries with it 

happiness or misery and reward 

or punishment. For example, two 

different persons might perform 

the same act, paying equal effort 

to it but one of them earns a reward 

while the other earns no reward, 

or even punishment, because the 

intentions were different in each 

case. 

Some scholars said that this is 

why people vary in grades (in the 

sight of Allah); it is in accordance 

to the intentions behind their 

actions, not because of merely 

fasting and praying. Imam Ibn 

Rajab said: 

Know that performing deeds for 

other than Allah is of different 

types. Sometimes, this action 

might be to show off in its entirety, 

and thus, one seeks to be seen by 

the creation for a worldly gain. For 

example, this is the state that the 

hypocrites pray in. Allah describes 

them as follows: 

“…And when they stand up for 

As-Salat (the prayer), they stand 

with laziness and to be seen of 

men, and they do not remember 

Allah but little…” (Surah An-Nisa: 

142) 

Allah also described some as 

follows: “…And be not like those 

who come out of their homes 

boastfully and to be seen of 

men…” (Surah Al-Anfal:47) 

Thus, let’s remind ourselves that 

showing off can annul our acts 

of Ibadah and may even lead us 

to earn Allah’s anger and 

torment. Sometimes, the act 

might be for Allah and is mixed 

with showing off. In this case, 

there are authentic texts asserting 

that if the intention of showing 

off was present at the time one 

intended to perform a righteous 

act, the act itself will be annulled 

and fruitless. But when the act 

was started to gain Allah’s 

reward alone, but changed later 

If you disclose your 

Sadaqat 

(almsgiving), it is 

well: but if you 

conceal them and 

give them to the poor, 

that is better for you. 

(Allah) will expiate 

you some of your 

sins.” (Surah Al- 

Baqara:271) 

on to include an intention to 

partially show off, then it will not 

annul the act, provided one 

strives to repel such thoughts. 

As Musilms, therefore, we 

should worship Allah in Riya’ 

(showing off). The Prophet (s) 

said in an authentic Hadith, that 

agreement 

among the seven whom Allah 

shades under His Shade,there 

will be a day when there will be 

onIy His shade: 

“ …A man who gives charitable 

gifts so secretly that his left hand 

does not know what his right 

hand has given (i.e., nobody 

knows how much he has given 

in charity).” 

In addition, Allah said: 

“If you disclose your Sadaqat 

(almsgiving), it is well: but if you 

conceal them and give them to 

the poor, that is better for you. 

(Allah) will expiate you some of 

your sins.” (Surah Al- 

Baqara:271) 

Scholars recommend that when 

a believer gives away charity for 

a good cause, he should not 

agree that his name be 

announced to the public, such as 

in newspapers, unless the 

purpose is to encourage others 

to similar or other charitable 

causes. Again, we should be 

conscious of the fact that Allah 

always knows the real intentions 

behind our actions. 

Let’s ensure that we strive to 

clean our hearts, intentions, and 

acts from all types of Riya 

(showing off) and instead should 

direct our good acts to Allah 

alone. The real rewards and 

payback are only with Allah and 

that’s all that we should strive for. 

Allah says: Say (O Muhammad 

(S): “I am only a man like you. 

It has been revealed to me that 

your God is One God – i.e. Allah. 

So whoever hopes for the 

Meeting with his Lord, let him 

work righteousness and 

associate none as a partner in 

the worship of his Lord.” (Surah 

Al-Kahf:110) 

His Eminence, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar, Sultan of 

Sokoto with the Vice President, Prof Yemi during a 

function in Benin recently. 

Barka Jumah 

Five daily prayers 

Can any filth remain on the body were it to be 

bathed five times a day by prayers to Allah? No! By 

our five daily prayers shall we come closer to Allah 

and attain consistent spirit of peace, bliss and 

comfort. 

Nothing more disturbs the routine of earthly joy 

than the lack of prayers. Pray hard. Do good always. 

Winning in life is not for the faint-hearted. It’s for 

those who pray hardest. Be not the vulture waiting 

upon the rock for the death of the prey. Be yourself, a 

Conqueror fortified by prayers and robust faith. May 

Allah ever guard you. Happy Jumat. —Adewale 

Adeeyo, OON 

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L-R: Sa Majeste Anigba Daouda Djomamousso Roi 

De Ze; former Amir, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at 

Nigeria, Engr. Husenin Sunmonu; King Ovesse, 

Gbessola Poi Ovesse and Oba Alajase Onikoyi Abesan 

5, Hadj Sanni Ajassa Adeleye, during the 28th Jalsa 

Salana (Conference Annuelle) Jama’at Islamique 

Ahmadiyya Du Benin. 

C 

M 

Y 

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Rabiul Thanni 8, 1438 A.H. 

Signs of home filled with Allah's zikr (1) 

STRONG family ties built 

on the teachings of Quran 

and Sunnah provide the necessary 

foundation for a happy and joyous 

home and in turn contribute to the 

overall health of a society. On the 

other hand, members of troubled 

families struggle to maintain calm 

within and watch helplessly as day 

to day troubles tarnish and strain 

their relationships, and as a result 

grapple with daily stress of life. 

In extreme cases, this results in 

corrupting the very foundations of 

societies at large. Society becomes 

messed up and governance 

becomes disordered. The fact many 

people tend to ignor is that family 

is the mirror of the society. As 

family members, therefore, 

everyone has the obligation to take 

the necessary measures to 

strengthen these foundations. 

Having a family is a blessing and 

its members must work to make 

family life at home peaceful and 

joyful. Allah says in Q16-80: “And 

Allah has made for you in your 

homes an abode …” 

Place of 

protection 

A home is also a place of 

protection from the fitnah 

(corruption) of the outside world. 

The Prophet (S) said: “The safety 

of a man at times of fitnah is in his 

staying home.” 

Islamic teachings based on the 

foundation of the Quran and the 

teachings of the Prophet (s.a.w) 

provide us with those guidelines. 

To benefit from those guidelines, 

we ought to “live” Islam within our 

families. We do not become 

Muslims simply by being born into 

a Muslim family. Rather, Islamic 

character is formed from a 

combination of parental efforts, 

personal struggle, prayers and 

supplications. 

The necessity to bring Islam 

within our families is underscored 

by Allah telling us in the Quran to 

protect ourselves and our family 

members from the fire. He says in 

Quran 66 v 6: save families hell 

fire 

“O you who believe! Protect 

yourselves and your families from 

a Fire whose fuel is human beigns 

and stones, over which are 

[appointed] angels, harsh and 

severe; they do not disobey Allah 

in what He commands them but 

do what they are commanded.” 

Protecting one’s family from the 

fire refers to fostering a guiding 

environment for our families. The 

Prophet (s.a.w), too, stressed that 

we all actively help to lead our 

families in the right direction. He 

said: “Allah will ask every 

shepherd (or responsible person) 

about his flock (those for whom he 

was responsible), whether he took 

care of it or neglected it, until He 

asks a man about his household.” 

We know that the walls of a 

home have little to do with the 

building of healthy dynamics 

within family members. That 

usually comes from living our lives 

according to the principles of 

Islam. So, how do we live Islam 

within our families and nurture a 

good home? There are six 

principles that families can use to 

live Islam within their families. This 

in turn can help in building the 

foundations of a joyous family. 

Make home a place for the 

family to worship Allah 

Let us start with the basics. Allah 

clearly tells us that He created us 

to worship Him. That involves 

following Allah’s commands in our 

daily lives as well as remembering 

Him through various Ibadat such 

as prayers, Quran recitation and 

so on. Within a family, we need to 

ensure following all that is needed 

to fulfill our minimum 

responsibilities of worshiping Him 

along with helping others to 

perform theirs. For example, 

Aishah (may Allah be pleased with 

her) reported that the Messenger 

of Allah (S) used to pray qiyaam 

at night, and at the time of witr he 

would wake her up to pray witr. 

(Reported by Muslim, Sharh al- 

Nawawi, 6/23). 

Minimum 

responsibilities 

The importance of family 

members frequently engaging in 

Allah’s worship at home is evident 

through other ahadith as well as 

the Quran. Allah says in the Quran: 

“And We inspired Musa and his 

brother (saying): ‘Take dwellings 

for your people in Egypt, and make 

your dwellings as places for your 

worship, and perform al-salaah, 

and give glad tidings to the 

believers.’” (Q10s:87). In a hadith, 

the Messenger of Allah (S) said: 

“Do not turn your houses into 

graves …” (Reported by Muslim, 

1/539). 

One of the signs of a home that 

is filled with Allah’s remembrance 

is for it to become lively at Tahajjud, 

Fajir, and other prayers. This habit 

alone can bring tremendous peace 

to one’s household. 

Continues next week 

From left: Mrs Hanifat Onafowokan, Senior State Counsel, Lagos State Ministry of 

Justice; Akeem Oyewale, Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT), Guild of Muslim 

Professionals (GMP); Dr Ajibola Bashiru, Guest speaker and former Osun State 

Commissioner for Regional Integration and Special Duties; Dr Ibrahim Oreagba 

and Modupe Kadri, MTN Ghana Chief Finance Officer during the GMP 4th annual 

Convention held at Badagry, Lagos, recently. 

Saudi, Iran hold talks on Hajj 2017 

AS Iranians mourn and bury former president Akbar 

Hashemi Rafsanjani in a show of unity to honour the 

Islamic Republic’s polarising pragmatist, the country has began 

talks with Saudi Arabia on the next hajj pilgrimage coming up 

in August this year. The meeting, it was gathered through 

Agency reports 

was at the instance of Saudi Arabia. 

It will be recalled that in January 2016, Saudi Arabia cut its 

diplomatic ties with Iran following attacks on its mission in the 

country during angry protests against the Saudi execution of a 

prominent Shiite cleric. Iranian pilgrims did not join in the 

last annual pilgrimage held last September. 

Several rounds of meetings in 2016, between Tehran and 

Riyadh failed to reach an on arrangements for the Iranian 

pilgrims last year. 

Ali Qazi-Askar, Iran’s representative for Hajj ceremonies 

noted that Iran has officially received Saudi Arabia’s invitation 

to meet and hold bilateral talks on the Hajj. 

Talks would focus on accommodation, transportation, safety, 

medical care, visas and banking, he said, adding that Iran 

would respond to the invitation over the next few days. 

Iran accused Saudi officials of creating obstacles for the Iranian 

government to send pilgrims to the ceremonies. 

Also, Saudi authorities said that the Islamic republic was 

politicizing the issues related to the religious rituals. 

Iranians were among other pilgrims who died in stampede 

in 2015 Hajj. 

From left: Incoming Sadr, Majlis Ansarullah Nigeria, Engr 

Abdul Waheed Adeoye; outgoing Sadr, Alhaji Mikail Odukoya 

and Amir, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Nigeria, Dr Mash’hud 

Adenrele Fashola, during the handover ceremony Sadr Majlis 

Ansarullah Nigeria in Lagos. 

Quote from the Quran 

O you who have believed, indeed many of the 

scholars and the monks devour the wealth of 

people unjustly and avert [them] from the way 

of Allah. And those who hoard gold and silver 

and spend it not in the way of Allah - give them 

tidings of a painful punishment. 

Ask Your Imam 

Polygamy: Fair treament of wives 

ONE of the things that Allah has enjoined in His Book is 

fair treatment of wives. Allah says: 

“You will never be able to do perfect justice between wives 

even if it is your ardent desire, so do not incline too much to 

one of them (by giving her more of your time and provision) so 

as to leave the other hanging (i.e., neither divorced nor 

married). And if you do justice, and do all that is right and fear 

Allaah by keeping away from all that is wrong, then Allaah is 

Ever Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” [al-Nisaa’ 4:129] 

The justice that is required here is a fair division of nights, 

and the giving of each wife her rights as regards spending 

and clothing. This does not refer to emotions or love, because 

man has no control over his feelings. But some people, when 

they marry more than one wife, favour one and neglect the other, 

spending more time with one wife and spending more on her, 

and ignoring the other. This is haraam, and the person who does 

this will come on the Day of Resurrection in the condition described 

by the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) in 

the hadeeth narrated by Abu Hurayrah: “Whoever has two wives 

and gives one of them preferential treatment, he will come on the 

Day of Resurrection with half of his body leaning.” (Narrated by 

Abu Dawud, 2/601; see also Saheeh al-Jaami’, 6491). 

C 

M 

Y 

K


FBI, Justice Dept to be investigated over Clinton probe 

*Trump’s Defense Secretary nominee talks tough on Russia 

*Republicans take first step to scrap Obamacare 

Lawmakers from ruling AK Party and the main opposition Republican People’s 

Party (CHP) scuffle during a debate on the proposed constitutional changes at the 

Turkish Parliament in Ankara, Turkey. REUTERS. 

THE Justice Depart 

ment’s internal 

watchdog announced 

Thursday it has launched 

a probe into the department 

and the FBI’s handling 

of the investigation 

into Hillary Clinton’s 

private email server. 

The announcement, 

which was expected, 

comes after criticism of 

the Justice Department’s 

handling of the investigation, 

particularly on 

how the public was notified 

about the controversy, 

which was a major 

issue on the 2016 campaign 

trail. 

Justice Department Inspector 

General Michael 

E. Horowitz said the 

decision to initiate a review 

was prompted by 

requests from numerous 

members of Congress 

and public inquiries. 

Horowitz’s office said 

the review will examine 

several allegations, including 

that DOJ or FBI 

policies were not followed 

when FBI Director 

James Comey publicly 

stated last July that his 

bureau would not pursue 

criminal charges 

against Clinton; that 

DOJ and FBI employees 

improperly disclosed 

non-public information; 

and that the timing of the 

FBI’s release of certain 

Freedom of Information 

Act requests right before 

the election was improper. 

The White House said 

Thursday it wasn’t involved 

in the decision to 

investigate. 

“Decisions that are 

made by inspectors general 

across the administration 

are independent, 

and this administration 

has assiduously protected 

the independence of 

inspectors general,” 

White House Press Secretary 

Josh Earnest said 

at a briefing. 

A message left with 

Clinton’s office was not 

immediately returned. 

Rep. Jason Chaffetz, 

who chairs the House 

Oversight Committee, 

tweeted his support of 

the investigation. 

Germany to return refugees to Greece 

starting in March 

GERMANY has decided 

to start returning 

newly arrived 

asylum seekers to Greece 

starting in mid-March, 

according to an interior 

ministry spokesperson, 

effectively reversing a 

five-year suspension of 

Cyprus peace deal close, says UN chief 

after Geneva talks 

UN Secretary Gen 

eral Antonio Guterres 

says a deal on reunifying 

Cyprus is “very 

close”, but cautioned 

against hopes of a “quick 

fix”. 

Speaking after the first 

round of peace talks in 

Geneva, he said a settlement 

was within reach if 

the “instruments” were 

there to implement it. 

The Greek- and Turkish-Cypriot 

communities 

have been split since 

1974 and are divided by 

a UN buffer zone. Both 

sides have exchanged 

maps setting out proposals 

for new boundaries. 

It was the first time 

they had done so, according 

to the UN, and 

was hailed as an important 

advance towards a 

deal. “We are coming 

very close to what is the 

settlement,” said Mr 

Guterres, flanked by the 

Greek- and Turkish-Cypriot 

leaders - Nicos Anastasiades 

and Mustafa 

Akinci. 

“You cannot expect miracles 

and immediate solutions. 

We are not looking 

for a quick fix.” 

The foreign ministers of 

Greece, Turkey and the 

IRAN has taken deliv 

ery of its first Western-built 

passenger 

plane in decades, following 

the lifting of sanctions 

last year. 

The Airbus A321 landed 

in Tehran to an official 

ceremony that included 

Transport Minister Abbas 

Akhoundi. 

IranAir will eventually 

take possession of 100 

UK which act as Cyprus’s 

security guarantors 

- are involved in the 

negotiations, as are EU 

foreign policy chief Federica 

Mogherini and 

European Commission 

President Jean-Claude 

Juncker. 

The talks are expected 

to last into the weekend. 

such transfers owing to 

the poor conditions 

there. 

Under the European 

Union’s so-called Dublin 

rules, would-be refugees 

must file for asylum 

in the first memberstate 

of the bloc they enter 

- often Greece, Italy 

or Bulgaria. If asylum 

seekers have travelled 

on to other EU nations, 

they are to be returned 

to their first port of call. 

But that requirement 

was halted for Greece in 

2011, which together 

with Italy has been the 

main point of entry for 

the more than one million 

migrants who have 

entered the bloc since 

2015, fleeing war and 

poverty in the Middle 

East and Africa. 

A German interior ministry 

spokesman told AFP 

news agency that Germany 

would reinstate the 

Dublin rule in two 

months’ time and return 

newly-arrived asylum 

seekers to their first EU 

port of call. 

Iran welcomes Airbus as first post-sanctions 

airliner 

planes from Airbus and 

80 from Boeing. 

World powers agreed 

to lift sanctions against 

Iran in return for its 

curbing of nuclear activities. 

The Airbus 321 had 

flown from Toulouse in 

France and its passengers 

included company 

chief Fabrice Bregier. 

Correspondents say 

Thursday’s arrival is being 

seen as symbolic of 

Iran’s emergence from 

decades of economic isolation. 

State TV called it “a 

historic moment for Iran, 

signalling the end of the 

sanctions era for the 

country”. 

“This is a prelude to the 

delivery of other aircraft 

and the renovation of 

Iran’s ageing air fleet,” 

it added. 

Buhari jets out to Gambia 

today for ECOWAS mission 

*As Army says not planning to attack any country 

By Levinus Nwabughiogu 

& Joseph Erunke 

PRESIDENT Mu 

hammadu Buhari 

would depart Abuja for 

Banjul, the capital of 

The Gambia today and 

later Bamako, the capital 

of Mali. 

His mission to The 

Gambia is to meet President 

Yahya Jammeh and 

the President-elect, Adama 

Barrow in his capacity 

as the Chief Mediator 

for the Economic 

Community of West African 

State, ECOWAS. 

This came as the Nigerian 

Army, yesterday, 

denied that it had raised 

a stand-by peace mission 

in the Gambia 

ahead of the country’s 

expected transition on 

January 19. 

The Army, in a statement, 

through its Director, 

Army Public Relations, 

Brigadier General 

Sani Usman, said the 

denial was in response 

to media reports that it 

had raised troops for deployment 

in Gambia in 

case Jammeh refuses to 

hand over power to Barrow. 

The President would be 

joined by President 

Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of 

TUNISIAN police fir 

ing tear gas clashed 

on Thursday with hundreds 

of youths who 

tossed rocks and petrol 

bombs in protests over 

jobs and a lack of development 

in a town in the 

country’s south, residents 

said. 

Six years after their revolt 

ousted autocrat Zine 

El Abidine Ben Ali, Tunisia’s 

central and 

southern regions are still 

flashpoints for rioting in 

marginalized towns 

where many young Tunisians 

see little economic 

progress since the uprising. 

Local residents said 

police clashed with sev- 

Liberia and Chairperson 

of the Authority of ECO- 

WAS Heads of State and 

Government, President 

Ernest Koroma of Sierra 

Leone, and the immediate 

past President of Ghana, 

John Mahama. 

The meeting followed 

the resolution of the 

ECOWAS team in Abuja 

last Monday. 

Later in the day, the 

President will also travel 

to Bamako, Mali to 

participate in the 27th 

Africa–France Summit. 

A statement by the 

Presidential Spokesman, 

Mr. Femi Adesina on 

Thursday said: “ The 

Summit for Partnership, 

Peace and Emergence 

convened by French 

President Francois Hollande, 

is aimed at 

strengthening cooperation 

between France and 

African countries in the 

areas of peace and security, 

economic partnership 

and development.” 

President Buhari, 

would be accompanied 

by governors Aminu 

Tambuwal of Sokoto 

State, Abiola Ajimobi of 

Oyo State and the Ministers 

of Foreign Affairs, 

Interior and Defence on 

the trip to Bamako. 

Tunisian police fire tear gas 

at protesters demanding jobs 

ANGOLA said on 

Wednesday it had 

recorded its first two cases 

of the Zika virus, just 

three months after a yellow 

fever epidemic that 

killed at least 400 people 

was brought under control. 

Zika, a viral disease 

carried by mosquitoes, 

has spread to more than 

60 countries and territo- 

eral hundred young men 

in the center of Ben 

Guerdane, and that protesters 

lobbed rocks and 

petrol bombs and set tyres 

ablaze. 

“Police are firing tear 

gas to try to disperse 

hundreds of youths who 

are protesting in the center 

of the town demanding 

work,” Fethi Chandoul, 

a local resident, 

told Reuters. 

Residents and local 

media said shops and 

offices were closed for a 

general strike in Ben 

Guerdane, the site of an 

Islamic State attack last 

year by militants crossing 

over from nearby Libya. 

Angola reports first two cases of 

Zika virus 

ries since an outbreak 

was identified in Brazil 

in 2015, raising alarm 

over its ability to cause 

the rare birth defect microcephaly. 

“Up until two months 

ago, we didn´t have any 

detected case, but, now, 

we have two cases of 

Zika,” Health Minister 

José Luis Gomes Sambo 

told reporters in the Angolan 

capital Luanda.


Payet goes on strike at West 

Ham 

DIMITRI Payet has 

told West Ham he 

wants to leave and has 

gone on strike, Slaven 

Bilic has revealed. 

The 29-year-old let Bilic 

know at the start of the 

January transfer window 

that he wants to be sold – 

despite having only 

signed a new five-year 

deal last February worth 

£125,000 a week. 

It made Payet the bestpaid 

player in the history 

of the club but Bilic, who 

insists he will not sell the 

West Ham superstar, 

believes he is being 

‘tapped up’ by other 

clubs. 

Payet was in France last 

week and super-rich Paris 

Saint-Germain are among 

those to have been linked 

with the player. 

A return to his former 

club Marseille could be 

on the cards, with the 

French club bankrolled by 

new owner Frank 

McCourt, a US billionaire. 

They are the leading club 

in the race to sign him at 

the moment and would 

jump at the chance to 

have him back. 

•Payet 

FORMER England 

manager Graham 

Taylor has died at the age 

of 72. 

As a club manager, he 

led Watford from the 

Fourth Division to runners-up 

in the old First 

Division in six seasons 

and to the final of the 

1984 FA Cup. 

He guided Aston Villa 

to second in the First Division, 

returning to 

Watford and Villa after 

his England stint as well 

as managing Wolves. 

He became England 

boss in 1990 but resigned 

in 1993 after the 

team failed to qualify for 

Ex-England manager, Taylor 

dies at 72 

the 1994 World Cup. 

Following his spell with 

England, Taylor returned 

to club management and 

also became a renowned 

pundit for BBC Sport. 

Ibrahimovic 

continued from B/P 

Manchester United. 

The United forward 

says he no longer has 

any individual targets 

left and instead has his 

sights on winning the 

Premier League. 

Ibrahimovic, 35, has 

2016/17 NPFL season: Eunisell unveils jerseys for Rivers Utd 

By Jacob Ajom 

ANigerian company 

in the oil servicing 

sector, Eunisell 

yesterday, in Lagos unveiled 

a new set of jerseys 

for Rivers United 

Football Club of Port 

Harcourt in a brief but 

impressive ceremony at 

the Renaissance Hotel, 

GRA Ikeja. 

In addition to the kitting 

deal, which details 

were not given, the 

sponsors also announced 

a N10m reward 

to the club for its 

good showing in the 

2015/16 season, where 

the club placed second 

behind champions, 

Rangers of Enugu. The 

club also won the Super 

Four pre-season tournament 

hosted in Enugu. 

Group Managing Director 

of the company, 

Chika Ikenga told journalists 

that his organisation 

expects Rivers 

United to compensate 

their teeming supporters 

with the league title in 

the 2016/17 season 

which begins tomorrow. 

“In addition to the 

NPFL title, we hope to 

see them become continental 

champions,” 

Ikenga said, adding, 

“we hope to see them 

bring glory to the state, 

Nigeria and happiness 

to their enthusiastic fans 

across the country.” 

Responding, the General 

Manager of the 

club, Chief Okey 

Kpalukwu promised 

that, “we are going to 

win the league and do 

2019 AFCON draw 

Continued from B/P 

Swaziland. Both Nigeria 

and South Africa 

failed to reach the 2017 

Cup of Nations tournament, 

which kicks off in 

Gabon Saturday with a 

fixture between the host 

country and Guinea-Bissau. 

Nigeria lost out to 

Egypt after taking only 

one point from the two 

matches between countries 

who have won 10 of 

the previous 30 competitions. 

South Africa held 

eventual group winners 

Cameroon twice, but finished 

an embarrassing 

third after losing and 

drawing against minnows 

Mauritania. 

Both blockbuster pairings 

are repeats of 2015 

qualifiers with Nigeria 

and South Africa drawing 

twice and Tunisia defeating 

Egypt home and 

away. Ghana and Kenya 

are in Group F with 

Ethiopia and Sierra Leone 

and the Democratic 

Republic of Congo and 

Congo Brazzaville share 

Group G with Zimbabwe 

and Liberia. Group L 

comprises decades-old 

east African rivals Uganda 

and Tanzania plus 

Cape Verde and Lesotho. 

There will be three 

two-leg preliminary ties 

during March involving 

the six lowest ranked 

sides with the overall 

winners securing places 

in the group phase. 

well in the continent.” 

The club boss recalled 

that last season, “we 

entered the league in a 

hurry without adequate 

preparation and we 

came second. With what 

we have put into our 

preparations this time 

around, we promise to 

come up tops at the end 

of the season.” 

Mikel 


three-year deal and will 

reportedly earn 140,000 

pounds a week. 

The Nigerian retained 

his shirt number at 

Chelsea, number 12 

although he played in a 

different role from the 

usual role he use to play 

for the Blues during his 

time at the club. 

He played in a more 

advanced midfield role 

and proved his mettle 

with neat, crisp passes to 

his fellow midfielders 

and strikers of the team. 

Tianjin Teda are 

warming up for the start 

of the Chinese League 

Olympics 


the possibility of awarding 

Paris the 2024 Olympics 

and Paralympics and 

Los Angeles 2028. 

IOC President Thomas 

Bach admitted after an 

Executive Board meeting 

in Lausanne last month 

that “informal discussions” 

are underway 

about changing a bidding 

process in which 

there are “too many losers”. 

But newly-published 

minutes from the USOC 

Board meeting on December 

13 show it was 

agreed that they “do not 

foresee pursuing any 

bid” other than for 2024. 

It followed an update 

given by Los Angeles 

A family statement said: 

“With the greatest sadness, 

we have to announce 

that Graham 

passed away at his home 

early this morning of a 

suspected heart attack. 

impressed hugely since 

joining from Paris Saint- 

Germain on a free transfer, 

with his 13 league 

goals putting him just 

one behind Chelsea’s 

Diego Costa in the race 

for the golden boot. 

But Ibrahimovic 

stressed he is only focused 

on helping United 

extend their ninematch 

winning streak 

across all competitions, 

with the league title firmly 

in his sights. 

The striker told United’s 

official website: 

“No, I’m not chasing 

anybody. I’m chasing the 

head trophy – the Premier 

League. “I have no 

individual targets because 

I have done that 

already, after three 

months in England. I' ve 

conquered England in 

three months." 

and the capture of Mikel 

is one of the numerous 

steps they have taken to 

reposition their team for 

a better outing. 

Eagles coach, Gernot 

Rohr has assured that as 

long as the experienced 

midfielder is playing well 

in China, he will be part 

of the national team. 

Eagles 


Nigeria’s World Cup 

rivals, Algeria are 39th 

in the world and fifth in 

Africa, Cameroon are 

62nd in the world and 

12th in Africa, and 

Zambia are 88th in the 

world and 21st in Africa. 

2024 chief executive 

Gene Sykes. 

“Board discussion followed 

as to public reports 

that the IOC may consider 

naming hosts for 

both the 2024 and 2028 

Games during 2017,” the 

minutes said. 

“After a full and frank 

exchange of ideas, issues, 

and possibilities, there 

was general agreement 

that the LA 2024 bid is 

specifically configured 

and calculated for 2024 

rather than 2028 activation. 

“Neither LA 2024 nor 

the USOC have focused 

at all on the possibility of 

any bid other than for the 

2024 Games; and the 

USOC Board does not 

foresee pursuing any bid 

other than for the 2024 

Games.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 2017 

Ibrahimovic: I conquered England 

in 3 months 

ZLATAN Ibrahimovic 

thinks he conquered 

English football within 

three months of joining 

continues on page 47 

FIFA ranking: Eagles 

move one step up 

AFRICA TOP 10 

•Senegal 

•Cote d’Ivoire 

•Egypt 

•Tunisia 

•Algeria 

•Congo DR 

•Nigeria 

•Burkina Faso 

•Ghana 

•Morocco 

NIGERIA 

have 

moved a spot up 

and are now 50th in the 

world according to the 

latest FIFA Rankings 

released today. 

They are also seventh 

in the African ratings, 

which is still led by 

Senegal, who are ranked 

33rd in the world. 

However, the Super 

Eagles ranking is 

expected to suffer 

seriously by next month 

because they will not 

feature at AFCON 2017 

in Gabon and have been 

inactive since their 3-1 

home win over Algeria in 

a 2018 World Cup 

qualifier in November. 


TODAY'S PUZZLE 

Tanzania 

name 

squad 

for 

Eagles 

Sudoku 

How to Play Sudoku 

•ON THE RISE: Eagles stars, Iheanacho (l) and Iwobi. 

2019 AFCON: Super Eagles 

draw Bafana Bafana, Libya 

THE 2019 Africa 

Cup of Nations 

qualifying draw made in 

Libreville yesterday pitted 

Nigeria against 

South Africa in one of 

the 12 groups and Tu- 

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. 

nisia against Egypt in 

another. Nigeria and 

South Africa are in 

Group E with Libya and 

the Seychelles while Tunisia 

and Egypt are in 

Group J with Niger and 


YESTERDAY'S ANSWERS 

INSIDE 

Payet goes on 

strike at West 

Ham 

Ex-England boss, 

Taylor dies at 72 

ACROSS DOWN 

4 Clan (5) 1 Entry (6) 

7 Habit (6) 2 Property (6) 

9 Colour (3) 3 Cat (3) 

10 Swab (3) 4 Rotate (4) 

12 Recover (5) 5 Prompt (5) 

13 Cheese (4) 6 Poised (8) 

15 Tendency (5) 8 Insect (4) 

17 Tie (6) 11 Statesman (9) 

19 Pull (4) 14 Repair (4) 

20 View (5) 16 Cupid (4) 

22 Drunkard (3) 18 Pour (4) 

24 Invented (7) 21 Being (8) 

27 Insane (3) 23 Marquee (4) 

28 Poor (5) 25 Urn (4) 

31 Facts (4) 26 Act (4) 

33 Sitting (6) 29 Reviser (6) 

35 Perfume (5) 30 Shouted (6) 

37 Face (4) 32 Flower (5) 

38 Share (5) 34 Particle (4) 

39 Summit (3) 36 Wagon (4) 

41 Stray (3) 40 Seed-case (3) 

42 Sullen (6) 

43 Centre (5) 

•Ibrahimovic 

ACROSS: 1, Quip. 4, Cup. 6, Shah. 9, Mar. 

10, Fastener. 11, Amen. 14, Pip. 16, Gleam. 19, 

Mandible. 21, Taint. 23, Legation. 24, Halve. 

27, Dip. 31, Dawn. 33, Overrule. 34, Too. 35, 

Deem. 36, Tar. 37, Date. 

Mikel makes losing 

debut for Tianjin Teda 

SUPER Eagles captain 

Mikel Obi debuted 

for his new Chinese 

team, Tianjin Teda, on 

Wednesday when he 

starred in a friendly 

game against Borussia 

Monchengladbach II. 

Tianjin Teda lost 2-1 to 

the visiting team. 

Mikel, who was 

Chelsea player for tenand-a-half 

years, joined 

the Chinese team on a 


Olympics: It’s 2024 or 

nothing, US warns IOC 

LOS Angeles and the 

United States 

Olympic Committee 

(USOC) have warned 

that they have no interest 

in bidding for the 2028 

Olympic and Paralympic 

Games if they are not 

awarded the 2024 

edition. 

The International 

Olympic Committee 

(IOC) have been 

actively investigating 

continues on page 47 

QUICK CROSSWORD 

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS 

•Mikel 

DOWN: 2, Upas. 3, Pith. 4, Cannibal. 5, Port. 

6, Small. 7, Ham. 8, Arena. 12, Smash. 13, 

Enrol. 14, Fit. 15, Piled. 17, Ethic. 18, Mount. 

20, Engineer. 22, Tap. 25, Abate. 26, Venom, 

28, Bout. 29, Prod.30, Glut. 32, Woe. 

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.

13012017 Obazee vowed to oust Adeboye - RCCG

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