02022019 - War over participation of foreigners in pro-Buhari rally

C 

M 

Y 

K

2 — SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 2, 2019

SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 2, 2019—3


SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 2, 2019 — 5 

War over participation of foreigners in 

pro-Buhari rally: 

*APC undermining our electoral process — PDP 

* Chadians, others free to campaign for Buhari —APC 

* Buhari doesn’t care about electoral sanctity— SMBLF 

*Disqualify Buhari, Secondus tells INEC 

By Clifford Ndujihe, 

Emeka Mamah, Henry 

Umoru, Omeiza Ajayi, 

Dirisu Yakubu 

PRECISELY 14 days to 

Nigeria’s presidential 

election, the presence 

of serving governors from 

Niger Republic at the All 

Progressives Congress, 

APC, presidential rally in 

Kano, has heightened 

fears among the opposition 

that foreigners may 

likely take part in the exercise 

in border states. 

Besides the apprehension 

over the likelihood of 

such, the opposition is 

worried that the development 

could undermine the 

electoral process and national 

security as well. 

For the APC, the issue 

constituted no threat to the 

nation in any way, but the 

leading opposition party, 

Peoples Democratic Party, 

PDP, considered the presence 

of Governor Issa 

Moussa, of Zinder State 

and his counterpart Governor 

Zakiri Umar of Maradi 

State, as inimical to 

Nigeria’s interest. 

The two governors from 

Niger Republic, who wore 

APC campaign attires, 

were seen, actively taking 

part in the exercise last 

Thursday in Kano. 

In addition, the foreigners 

were seen taking photographs 

with President 

Muhammadu Buhari at 

the event. 

Irked by the situation, 

the PDP, urged security 

agencies to immediately 

investigate the circumstances 

leading to the 

presence of the governors, 

with a view to stopping 

further involvement of foreigners 

in subsequent exercise. 

Apart from the party, Saturday 

Vanguard observed 

that a cross-section of Nigerians 

condemned the 

development on the social 

media, saying it could undermine 

the credibility of 

the poll in border states and 

as well, endanger national 

security. 

Many of the commentators 

argued that it had given 

credence to claims that 

foreigners had been registered 

from neighbouring 

countries especially, Niger 

Republic, during the continuous 

voter registration 

exercise. 

Thugs from Niger Republic 

However, the PDP toed 

the line, yesterday, saying 

the APC has concluded 

plans to rig the election 

with mercenaries from Niger 

Republic. 

Briefing newsmen in 

Abuja, its Publicity Secretary, 

Mr. Kola Ologbodiyan, 

expressed worry that 

the development could 

pave the way for influx of 

non-Nigerians into the 

country to illegally participate 

in the 2019 elections. 

He said: “The PDP demands 

an urgent and thorough 

investigation into the 

circumstances leading to 

the presence of politicians 

and thugs from Niger Republic 

at the APC presidential 

rally in Kano last 

Thursday. 

“Our security agencies 

must immediately investigate 

and lay in the public 

domain the circumstances 

leading to their presence, 

which more or less confirmed 

that the APC has 

lost all domestic credibility 

and has assumed a desperate 

mode. 

“The APC and the Presidency 

must immediately 

explain the roles being 

played by Issa Moussa, 

Governor of Zinder and his 

counterpart from Maradi, 

Zakiri Umar both of the 

Niger Republic, who were 

sighted decked in the attires 

and official logos of 

the APC, in our political 

affairs. President Buhari 

and the APC, in their desperation, 

have compromised 

our territorial integrity 

as a nation and this 

portends grave danger to 

our national security and 

the sanctity of our electoral 

process. 

“For a nation contending 

with insurgency and banditry, 

the involvement of 

mercenaries from neighbouring 

countries at the 

APC rally must be condemned 

by all and sundry. 

This is particularly against 

the backdrop of claims by 

President Buhari that killer 

herdsmen ravaging our 

nation are mercenaries 

who are infiltrating from 

the Sahel region. 

Mobilising merchants of 

violence 

“Unscrupulous elements 

are already mobilising 

merchants of violence, 

including armed 

bandits and terrorists to 

orchestrate violence during 

the elections in several 

states of the federation. 

Miscreants who came from 

Niger Republic to President 

Buhari’s rally are being 

offered accommodation 

in our country by the APC 

to unleash violence immediately 

it is clear that President 

Buhari is losing. 

“The presence of the Niger 

Republic governors at 

President Buhari’s rally 

signposts a direct assault 

on the credibility of the 

presidential election. This 

is particularly against the 

backdrop of INEC’s plans 

to allow Internally Displaced 

Persons, IDPs, in 

that country to vote in our 

election, a situation that 

opens the way for aliens 

to infiltrate as IDPs and 

participate in our elections. 

“Our apprehensions are 

accentuated by INEC’s 

recent mass creation of 

additional polling units 

which have not been properly 

designated and which 

may be deployed for the 

perpetuation of monumental 

electoral fraud. We 

note how Kano State, in 

2015, delivered 1.9 million 

votes to the APC presidential 

candidate in circumstances 

devoid of transparency 

and credulity. 

“Moreover, the promise 

by Governor Abdullahi 

Ganduje of Kano state to 

deliver five million votes to 

Presidential Buhari in the 

2019 elections is predicated 

on the unfettered opening 

of our international 

borders to foreign political 

interests. 

Chadians, Nigerians, 

others free to join Buhari 

On its part, APC said citizens 

of other countries 

were free to participate in 

its electioneering campaigns. 

Director, Field Operations 

of the Buhari Campaign 

Organisation and 

former Chairman of Economic 

and Financial 

Crimes Commission, 

From left: Oyo State All Progressives Congress Oyo Central Senatorial 

District candidate, Senator Teslim Folarin (4th left); Oyo South Senatorial 

District candidate, Governor Abiola Ajimobi (5th left); and Governorship 

candidate of the party, Chief Adebayo Adelabu (6th left), during the during 

the APC campaign rally at Lagelu Local Government, in Lalupon yesterday. 

EFCC, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu 

said this while 

speaking with Saturday 

Vanguard on the sidelines 

of a one-day workshop 

convened for canvassers. 

His words: “It is a free 

world and it is the constitutional 

right of everyone 

to be where he wants to be. 

You have no right to stop 

anybody from doing what 

he wants to do. People 

from West Africa are free 

to move into Nigeria. 

“We have a protocol or 

agreement that they don’t 

need visa to come into this 

country. I know for sure 

that they don’t have to vote 

but as a free West African 

who believes that someone 

has done extremely very 

well, and decided to identify 

himself with what he 

believes in, I don’t think 

there is anything wrong 

and I don’t think there is 

any crime committed. You 

cannot and you have no 

right as a Nigerian to stop 

them from exercising their 

fundamental rights to 

identify with their friends. 

“Their presence may or 

may not have any impact 

on the re-election but they 

are entitled to it. We have 

to guarantee their freedom 

because their presence is 

within the law and we 

don’t have the right to stop 

them.” 

Buhari undermining 

national security, electoral 

sanctity—SMBLF 

Also, the Southern and 

Middle Belt Leaders Forum, 

SMBLF, said the participation 

of the foreigners 

was an affront to Nigeria’s 

sovereignty and abuse of 

diplomatic relations. 

In a joint statement by 

Yinka Odumakin, South 

West; Prof Chigozie Ogbu, 

South East; Senator Bassey 

Henshaw, South- 

South; and Dr. Isuwa 

Dogo, Middle Belt, the 

group said the action validated 

the desperation of 

the APC to deploy every 

untoward scheme to impugn 

the integrity of the 

forthcoming election. 

The southern and Middle 

Belt leaders said: “For 

an administration which 

recently lampooned Western 

diplomatic powers 

and bodies for criticising 

the unconstitutional suspension 

of the Chief Justice 

of the Federation, 

Justice Walter Onnoghen 

from office, this is the 

height of duplicity and 

doublespeak. 

“Never in our political 

history has our national 

security been so endangered 

in the name of politics 

and politicking, a situation 

which calls for an 

immediate investigation 

by relevant security 

agencies. The National 

Intelligence Agency, 

NIA, the Defence Intelligence 

Agency, DIA and 

the Department of State 

Services, DSS, must interrogate 

this development 

and report their 

findings to Nigerians 

whose best interests they 

swore to serve. 

Unholy philandering 

“In a country which has 

been in the vice grip of 

accentuated terrorism, 

herdsmen killings, banditry 

and kidnapping in 

parts of the country especially 

since the advent of 

the Buhari administration, 

the kind of unholy 

philandering between 

Buhari and regional 

neighbours suspected of 

complicity in our internal 

security challenges, calls 

for introspection. 

“Last year, President 

Buhari prioritised the 

construction of a rail line 

from Kano to Maradi in 

Niger, at a time several 

aspects of our national infrastructure 

were and are 

still begging for attention. 

Maradi, the third largest 

city in Niger Republic 

and Zinder, are two prefectures 

in the country 

which are predominantly 

populated by Fulanis 

with a consanguineal relationship 

with Daura 

emirate, Buhari’s birthplace. 

“As military Head of 

State in 1985, Buhari purportedly 

favoured Ide 

Oumarou, a diplomat 

from Niger, over and 

above Nigeria’s own Peter 

Onu, in the race for 

the position of Secretary- 

General of the African 

Union, AU, to underscore 

his consanguineous relationship 

and sentiments 

with and for the Nigerien 

Oumarou.” 

Disqualify Buhari, Secondus 

tells INEC 

Chairman of the PDP, 

Prince Uche Secondus 

urged the Independent 

National Electoral Commission, 

INEC, to disqualify 

President Buhari 

over what he termed importation 

of mercenaries. 

Secondus said this yesterday 

in Enugu during 

the party’s presidential 

campaign in the state. 

He said “In Kano, Buhari 

brought mercenaries 

to vote and influence 

elections in Nigeria. I, 

therefore, call on INEC to 

disqualify Buhari for 

bringing mercenaries.”

6 — SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUAR 2, 2019 

Account for N9.6bn running cost, 

CSO tells Lagos Assembly 

Says House lacks basis to impeach him 

The Lagos State 

House of Assembly 

has been told it lacks any 

basis to initiate any impeachment 

proceeding 

against Governor Akinwunmi 

Ambode and must 

therefore desist or face a 

mass revolt of the people. 

The warning was contained 

in a statement issued 

yesterday by a civil 

society organization, 

Legislative Probity and 

Accountability Project, 

LPAP. The NGO had on 

Tuesday issued a press 

release that later went viral, 

challenging the leadership 

of the State House 

of Assembly to account 

for the N28.8billion they 

have collected as running 

cost under the Mudashiru 

Obasa leadership 

of the House without doing 

anything. 

In its latest statement 

signed by its Chairman, 

Mr Olu Fajana, LPAP 

said it was ridiculous for 

the lawmakers to ask the 

governor to appear before 

a committee to defend allegations 

against him or 

be impeached. While urging 

the governor to ignore 

the summon or send 

his appointees, the group 

said there is no basis for 

the harassment other 

than selfish interests. 

“We have studied the 

pretentious allegations 

for which they have been 

ridiculing and desecrating 

the office of the Lagos 

State Governor. We 

dare say that if indeed the 

lawmakers know their 

work or take time to study 

the constitution, they will 

understand that they cannot 

hold the governor for 

going ahead to spend 

part of the 2019 budget, 

which they have deliberately 

refused to consider 

and approve over two 

months after the budget 

proposal had been sent 

ABDUCTORS of the 

All Progressives Congress 

(APC) Edo State 

House of Assembly candidate 

for Owan West 

constituency, Hon 

Micheal Ohio-Ezomo 

are reportedly demanding 

a ransom of N100m. 

He was kidnapped in 

the early hours of January 

23, 2019 at his Eme- 

Ora residence by gun 

men and in the process 

killed his police orderly 

Ṡaturday Vanguard reported 

few days ago that 

the abductors had 

opened discussion with 

the family but they did 

not disclose the amount 

being demanded while 

a source yesterday said 

the kidnappers called 

family members and demanding 

N100m. 

to them. 

“Section 122 of the 1999 

constitution, as amended, 

says expressly that: ‘If the 

Appropriation Bill in respect 

of any financial 

year has not been passed 

into Law by the beginning 

of the financial year, 

the Governor may authorize 

the withdrawal of 

moneys from the consolidated 

Revenue Fund of 

the State for the purpose 

of meeting expenditure 

necessary to carry on the 

service of the government 

for a period not exceeding 

six months or until 

the coming into operation 

of the Law, whichever is 

the earlier. 

Provided that the withdrawal 

in respect of any 

such period shall not exceed 

the amount authorized 

to be withdrawn 

from the Consolidated 

Revenue Fund of the 

State under the provisions 

of the Appropriation 

Law passed by the House 

of Assembly for the corresponding 

period in the 

Edo Police Commissioner, 

Hakeem Odumosu, 

while parading 72 

suspected criminals yesterday 

confirmed that 

the kidnappers had 

opened communication 

channels but was silent 

on how much was being 

demanded. 

Odumosu said the police 

was being careful 

because of the victim. 

He said the police 

busted kidnappers den 

at Okada Junction in 

Ovia South West local 

government area where 

a locally made pistol, 

one cut to size barrel 

and two wooden guns 

were recovered. 

The Edo Police boss 

said seven kidnap victims 

were rescued in 

January in different 

parts of Edo State. 

He called on the citizens 

to assist the police 

immediately preceding 

financial year being an 

amount proportionate to 

the total amount so authorized 

for the immediately 

preceding financial 

year.’ 

“We believe this is clear 

enough and has removed 

any doubt as to whether 

the governor has the right 

to spend from the 2019 

budget, which the Assembly 

has in pursuit of 

its pre-determined agenda 

held back with the 

sole purpose of crippling 

the government and making 

it incapable of delivering 

good governance to 

the people. This is barbaric 

and uncivilized politicking 

to say the least” 

The group further 

asked the lawmakers to 

acquaint themselves with 

provision of the constitution, 

which allows the 

governor to delegate executive 

powers to his appointees. 

“We will also 

like to draw the attention 

of these lawmakers to 

Section 5(2) of the constitution 

on the delegation 

of executive powers as 

well as Section 188 that 

deals with impeachment 

procedure. This is necessary 

for them so that they 

can save themselves from 

further embarrassment 

and relieve the people of 

Lagos of a pending confrontation 

between the 

forces light, that is the 

masses and that of darkness, 

which has for long 

feasted rapaciously on 

the commonwealth of the 

people of Lagos.” 

According to the group, 

“We still whish to remind 

the Mudashiru Obasa led 

House of Assembly about 

our challenge to them to 

account for the 

N9.6billion they have 

been collecting each year 

as running cost, and 

pocketing so far 

N28.8billion. We insist 

that out of this sum the 

entire members have 

been paid only 

N2.4billion in three 

years. Where did the remaining 

over N26.4 billion 

disappear to? This 

question the Lagos 

House of Assembly must 

answer and fully account 

for this taxpayers fund.” 

Kidnappers demand N100m ransom from APC candidate 

*Police parade 72 suspected cultists, others 

By Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu 

L-R: Modern Trade Manager, Indomie Relish, Ajuma Ademu; Brand Manager, 

Indomie Relish, Ginny Tewatia; participant in the Indomie Relish game, 

Ado Adams and Indomie Relish Sales Team Manager, Abuja, Mary Talabi 

during the official launch of Indomie Relish at the Jabi Lake Mall, Abuja. 

with useful information. 

He said his men have 

arrested 54 persons in 

various parts of the state 

in connection with the 

ongoing cult war in the 

state. 

Odumosu said five of 

the suspects were arrested 

in connection with 

the killing of a Police 

Sergeant, Monday Ehigie, 

who was an orderly 

to the Chairman of Ikpoba-Okha 

local government, 

Dr. Eric Osayande. 

Some of the suspects 

were nabbed after allegedly 

killing rival cult 

members in Siluko road, 

Eweka Street, Ugbowo 

and Upper Sokponba 

road. 

According to him, 

“there was heightened 

criminal activity by rival 

cult groups; the black 

axe, eiye, black mafias, 

Vikings and aye one of 

which resulted in a fight 

at Namayo street, Upper 

Sokponba Road, Benin 

City where a police sergeant, 

Monday Ehigie 

attached to the Executive 

Chairman of Ikpobha 

local government 

area of Edo state, was 

shot by the cultists. 

Though he died gallantly, 

he killed two of them 

before giving up the 

ghost” 

“Also, operatives of 

South-Ibie police station, 

acting on information 

arrested a suspected 

ritualist, one Kenneth 

Oviangbede at Afokha 

Street, Iyakpi quarters 

and recovered a sack 

containing used children 

pampers, used female 

menstrual pads, 

female bags and female 

brassieres. The suspect 

made statement and confessed 

to be a ritualist. 

Investigation is in 

progress” 

EFCC arrests 19 suspected 

fraudsters with female pants 

in Ibadan 

Ola Ajayi, Ibadan 

Nineteen suspected internet fraudsters have been ar 

rested in some parts of Ibadan city with female underwears 

found on them by the Economic and Financial 

Crimes Commission,(EFCC) Ibadan zonal office. The suspects 

were rounded up at Ologuneru and Akobo areas of 

Ibadan, Oyo State, with female pants and fetish materials. 

The Acting Head, Media and Publicity, EFCC, Tony Orilade, 

disclosed this in a statement yesterday. 

According to him, “the suspects who are between the ages 

of 21 and 35 years were taken by surprise when operatives 

swooped on them at one of their notorious havens in the 

city. Five of them allegedly claimed to be undergraduates 

while the other 10 claimed to be self-employed in varied 

vocations.” 

He identified the suspects as Bamidele Ayodele Samson, 

Bamidele Philip, Tunji Oladapo Sowale, Bololaji Olalekan, 

Abdulrauf Abiodun, Olaleye Pelumi, Anuoluwapo 

Olanrewaju, Paul Damilola, Olateye David Tobi, Arewa 

Adekunle Ibrahim, Oyesanmi Ayomikun Oluwaseun, Olaleye 

Israel, Adediran Kemisola, Omobolade Alarape and 

Olowolusi Oluwatomisin. 

Other suspects include, Babatunde Afeez, Akorede Ahmed 

Olalekan, Adeleye Damilola and Moshood Richard. 

The anti-graft commission’s spokesperson added that, 

“the Commission got wind of their activities following series 

of intelligence reports. “At the point of arrest, EFCC 

operatives recovered four different models and brands of 

exotic cars, five laptops, 20 telephones, 10 iPhones and one 

small bag containing items suspected to be fetish objects 

from them. Several documents, including international 

passports, and debit cards were recovered from them.” 

Orilade stated further that “SIM cards, one exotic car, 

laptops, telephones, female underwears and four bags of 

fetish objects (juju) were also recovered from the suspects 

who were arrested at Akobo area of the city. 

APC to establish Entrepreneur 

Bank for A-Ibom if re-elected 

— Osinbajo By Chioma Onuegbu, Uyo 

VICE President Yemi Osinbajo has said that the All 

Progressive Congress APC, would establish Entrepreneur 

Bank to enhance small scale businesses in Akwa 

Ibom if the party is re-elected into power in 2019. Osinbajo 

who announced this while addressing party supporters at a 

Special Campaign rally held on Friday in Nsit Atai Local 

Government Area of the state said the bank when established 

would provide loans to women and youths at very 

low interest rate. 

He said that the APC has delivered on its campaign promises 

of providing jobs to Nigerians, stressing that when the 

APC promised that it would provide jobs for five million 

people during its campaign in 2015, the opposition party 

did not believe it. He said, “N-Power is only the beginning. 

We are starting something called the Entrepreneur bank. 

That bank is for giving loans to men and women who have 

a plan for the future. The loans will be given to them at very 

little interest rate so that they can start their own businesses. 

“When we said in 2015 that we will start N-Power, they 

said it is impossible, how can you employ five million people, 

but we have done it. When we said that we are going to 

do home grown school feeding, today we are feeding 9.2million 

children all over Nigeria. They say it is impossible but 

home grown school feeding is here. Home grown school 

feeding used 6.8million eggs in one week, and we are expanding 

it. 

“Every young man or woman must go to the next level. If 

you have voted PDP in the past, apologize and say we are 

going to the next level, I cannot remain on the same level. 

The next level is where it is happening. Everything we said 

we will do, we have already done and we will do more” 

The Vice president said that Akwa Ibom state should 

support his party as it is strategically positioned for development, 

noting that the palm oil that is abundant in the 

state when properly harnessed would replace crude oil and 

boost the economy of the state. 

Lagosians urged to consider 

Buhari’s score-card on 

anti-corruption, terrorism 

By Victor Arjiromanus 

THE senator representing Zamfara North Con 

stituency, Senator Lawali Shuaibu, has urged Lagosians 

to consider President Muhammadu Buhari’s scorecard 

on anti-corruption and the fight against terrorism as 

some of the reasons to re-elect him. 

He said this yesterday in Lagos when the members of a 

pro-Buhari group, Forward with Buhari, held a sensitation 

programme for voters in the state. 

The members of the group, who held a road walk in 

Lagos for the President’s re-election bid, explained that the 

President had proven himself fit and worthy of the position 

he seeks. 

According to Sen Shuibu, “The best option for Nigeria is 

President Muhammadu Buhari, and no other person can 

rescue Nigeria out of its present predicament. Buhari has 

proven himself worthy and fit for the position by delivering 

to the people his campaign promises of fighting corruption 

and dealing a massive blow on terrorism.

APC RALLY IN KANO 


Gov Umar Ganduje with some Niger Republic 

governors 

President Muhammadu Buhari, 

flanked by Governor Umar 

Ganduje of Kano State acknowledging 

cheers from supporters 

at the rally 

President Buhari (right), APC National Chairman, Adams Oshimhole and 

Kano APC governorship flagbearer, Gov Umar Ganduje, during the rally. 

Gov Umar Ganduje with his deputy, Dr. Nasiru Gawuna, former Deputy 

Governor Prof. Hafiz Abubakar, Minister of Interior Abdurrahman Dambazau 

and Governor of Zinder and Maradi from Niger Republic during the 

APC rally in Kano recently. 

I'm seeking re-election to correct Nigeria’s ills — Buhari 

PRESIDENT Muham 

madu Buhari said in 

Kano on Thursday that his 

decision to seek re-election 

was informed by his desire 

and commitment to correct 

the ills bedevilling the country. 

Buhari made the remark 

at his presidential campaign 

rally held at the Sani 

Abacha stadium, Kofar 

Mata, in Kano metropolis. 

“There is nothing that 

prompted me to seek reelection 

beside my desire 

and commitment to correct 

the ills of the country. I was 

a Governor, Minister and 

Head of State and now a 

President. So, I need nothing 

else than to ensure that 

Nigeria attains 

greatness,”he said. 

The president called on 

all supporters of the All Progressives 

Congress (APC) 

to vote massively for the 

party to ensure its victory at 

the polls. 

“There is nothing new I 

will tell you but I am here 

to thank you for taking the 

pains to wait patiently to see 

me,” he said. 

He expressed satisfaction 

with the success recorded 

in the fight against insurgency 

in the North-East as 

most of the people displaced 

by the mayhem had 

returned to their respective 

towns and villages following 

the improvement of 

peace in the affected areas. 

“We promised to fight corruption, 

insecurity and improve 

the nation’s economy. 

We have been able to 

achieve a lot in these three 

critical areas,”he said. 

Buhari said that the decision 

by the Federal Government 

to ban the importation 

of rice had yielded good 

results as it had boosted rice 

production in the country 

and improved the socio-economic 

status of Nigerians. 

The National Chairman 

of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole, 

said President 

Muhammadu Buhari had 

achieved a lot within the last 

three and a half years. 

Oshiomhole said there 

was no need for APC to rig 

the elections in view of the 

tremendous projects it had 

executed and the massive 

support the party had 

across the country. 

He urged the party’s supporters 

to give it all the necessary 

support to ensure its 

success in the forthcoming 

general elections. 

He commended Gov. Abdullahi 

Ganduje for the various 

development projects 

he had executed in the state 

which he said were there 

for all to see. 

Gov. Ganduje thanked 

the Federal Government 

under the leadership of 

President Muhammadu 

Buhari for the various 

projects it was executing in 

the state and Nigeria. 

He called on the people 

of the state to vote for the 

APC to ensure the success 

of all its candidates in the 

Petroleum Marketers endorse Buhari 

*As Buhari urges them to help end fuel smuggling 

By Johnbosco 

Agbakwuru 

AHEAD of the Feb 

ruary 16 Presidential 

election, the Independent 

Petroleum Marketers 

Association of Nigeria, 

IPMAN, on Friday 

endorsed President Muhammadu 

Buhari for second 

term. 

This is as President 

Buhari charged members 

of the IPMAN to 

help tackle fuel smuggling, 

noting that the 

smuggling of petroleum 

products from Nigeria to 

other neighboring countries 

was constituting a 

serious economic sabotage, 

also charged members 

to help expose the 

smugglers 

The President stated 

this when he received 

the National Executive 

Committee of the IP- 

MAN, on a courtesy call, 

at the Council Chambers, 

Presidential Villa, 

Abuja. 

IPMAN is a major body 

responsible for the flow 

of Petroleum Products 

across the nation, controlling 

80 percent of investments 

in the downstream 

sector with over 

fifty thousand members 

scattered throughout Nigeria. 

Speaking on behalf of 

the group, the IPMAN 

national President, Chinedu 

Okoronkwo, 

thanked the President for 

his support to the industry. 

Okoronkwo noted that 

upcoming elections. 

NAN reports that eight 

prominent PDP members in 

the state including former 

Deputy Governor of the 

state, Prof. Hafiz Abubakar, 

who defected to the APC 

were received at the occasion. 

the country was faced 

with frequent problem of 

petroleum products supply 

before Buhari’s administration, 

but expressed 

joy that there 

was free flow of petroleum 

products under the 

present government. 

He said that the sector 

was enmeshed in deep 

corruption before the 

Buhari’s administration 

came on board, adding 

that such ugly development 

has become a thing 

of the past.

8 — SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 2, 2019 

Buhari cannot handover 2023 presidency 

to Igbo — Youth Movement 

By Emmanuel Aziken 

THE Igbo Youth 

Movement, IYM 

has said that it was unimaginable 

for President 

Muhammadu Buhari to 

handover the presidency 

to an Igbo person in 2023 

if he cannot trust an Igbo 

person with sensitive security 

position in his government. 

Founder of the group, 

Evangelist Ugochukwu 

Uko in a statement made 

available to Saturday 

Vanguard warned that a 

vote against Atiku Abubakar, 

the Peoples Democratic 

Party, PDP would 

only assist the All Progressives 

Congress, to 

return to power in 2023. 

Noting that the election 

is an opportunity to halt 

official discrimination, he 

said: “We will all permanently 

put away the hatred 

and mindless division 

established in the 

land almost four years 

ago through the infamous 

97%/5% official policy, that 

is threatening to destroy 

our country. 

Asserting that there 

By Soni Daniel, Abuja 

THE Economic and Fi 

nancial Crimes Commission, 

EFCC, has secured 

an interim forfeiture of the 

sum of N1.4 billion found 

in the accounts said to belong 

to former first lady, 

Patience Jonathan in a commercial 

bank. 

Two major lodgements 

were made to the bank accounts 

on May 20th and 

25th in 2015, just before the 

were “a legion reasons 

why no reasonable voter 

should vote for Buhari,” 

on account of alleged sectionalism 

in appointments, 

he said it was unimaginable 

how he 

would hand over power 

to an Igbo person in 2023 

if he wins re-election this 

February. 

“People who have no 

scruples, trumpeting 

such blatant falsehood, 

are actually only confirming 

their hatred for Ndigbo. 

Our sons and daughters 

who join in repeating 

such lies because of 

filthy lucre, are nothing 

other than traitors. 

“Any voter, who votes 

for any other candidate 

aside Atiku Abubakar on 

February 16, is only assisting 

General Buhari, to 

cling onto power. I repeat 

that any vote not cast for 

L-R: Bale of Ilasamaja, Fatai Abereijo, with Osolo of Isolo, Oba Kabiru 

Agbabiaka; Deputy Comptroller General, Nigeria Customs Service, Elder 

Emmanuel Adedeji Ogunbode (rtd); and Oba Fatai Aromire of Ijora and 

Iganmu land at the Vista International Ltd Corporate Headquarters at Aswani- 

Isolo, Lagos state. 

Money laundering: FG seizes Patience Jonathan’s N1.4b 

By Chidi Nkwopara, Owerri 

No fewer than 70 can 

didates, according to 

the latest information released 

by the Independent 

National Electoral Commission, 

INEC, are set for 

the Imo State governorship 

seat, in the forthcoming 

general elections. 

The Imo State Resident 

Electoral Commissioner, 

REC, Professor Francis 

Ezeonu, disclosed this yesterday, 

while addressing 

political party chiefs and 

their candidates in Owerri. 

“Seventy political parties 

are fielding gubernatorial 

candidates in the forthcoming 

general elections in Imo 

State. So, Imo State is 

number one in this regard, 

in Nigeria. I want to assure 

end of the administration of 

her husband, Goodluck 

Jonathan. 

The forfeiture order was 

handed down by a Kano 

Federal High Court presided 

over by Justice A. Lewis- 

Allagoa consequent upon a 

motion ex-parte filed by the 

Commission seeking the interim 

seizure of the money, 

which was found in the account 

of a company known 

as Magel Resort Limited, 

traced to the former First 

you all that INEC is ready 

for the elections”, Ezeonu 

said. Giving an update on 

the collection of permanent 

voters card, PVCs, in the 

state, the REC expressed regret 

that no fewer than 

547,017 PVCs remain unclaimed, 

as at last Wednesday. 

While saying that “this 

is not encouraging”, Professor 

Ezeonu also reminded 

the party chieftains that 

INEC would stop the distribution 

of PVCs on February 

8, 2019. 

“All the unclaimed PVCs 

will thereafter, be quarantined 

in the Central Bank of 

Nigeria, for safe keeping. 

This will also eliminate 

the fears that such PVCs 

could go into wrong hands 

ahead of the general elections”, 

Ezeonu said. 

Lady. 

The commission told the 

court that it got an intel that 

a bank account domiciled 

in the said commercial 

bank had a huge sum of 

money that was not being 

used by anybody. 

Upon receipt of the intelligence, 

the EFCC swung 

into action by conducting 

preliminary investigation, 

which revealed that Patience 

and some relatives of 

her husband were directors 

70 candidates vie for Imo guber seat 

Speaking also, the INEC 

National Commissioner in 

charge of Imo and Abia 

States, Professor Okey 

Ibeanu, said that the Commission 

has received the 

funds ahead of the elections. 

“The sum of N189.2 billion 

was appropriated by the 

National Assembly, for the 

conduct of the general elections. 

At the end of exercise, 

we shall dutifully account 

for the money given to us,to 

prosecute the national assignment”, 

Professor 

Ibeanu said. 

Atiku, only benefits Buhari 

and that will be calamitous. 

“Ndigbo resident 

in all the 36 states 

and Abuja are hereby reminded 

of the historic 

duty to return Nigeria to 

the path of justice, equality, 

equity, fair play and 

level-playing field for all, 

in the hope that the 

search for true nationhood 

begins in earnest, 

by explaining to your 

kinsmen, the great need 

to vote Atiku Abubakar 

on February 16,2019.” 

of the Company. According 

to court documents, those 

named as directors in the 

firm are: Oba Oba Tamunotonye, 

Goodluck Jonathan 

Aruera, Goodluck 

Jonathan Ariwabai and Esther 

Fynface. 

The agency said that in 

trying to trace the origin of 

the money, it was discovered 

that N500,000 was deposited 

on the 20th of May, 2015 

by Fynface, who is alleged 

to be in charge of the company, 

while N1 billion was 

later transferred in two 

tranches on the 25th May, 

2015 from PAGMAT OIL 

AND GAS NIGERIA LIM- 

ITED, a company not registered 

with the Federal 

Government owned 

Corporate Affairs Commission. 

Ruling on the motion, 

Justice A. Lewis-Allagoa 

held that: “An interim forfeiture 

order is granted to 

the Federal Government in 

the sum of N1.4 billion in 

the Bank account of the 1st 

respondent Magel Resort 

Limited 4011019546 which 

is maintained with 2nd respondent 

Fidelity Bank Plc. 

Emodi seeks patronage of 

indigenous schools 

*As Brickhall celebrates achievements 

By Joseph Erunke 

FOREMOST educationist and founder of Brickhall 

School, Senator Joy Emodi,has called on Nigerians 

to start patronising local schools instead of foreign ones. 

Emodi urged parents to start sending their wards to 

schools in Nigeria, saying there were many indigenous 

schools with high education standard that can stand shoulder 

to shoulder with the preferred ones in western nations. 

Speaking on the sideline of recent event held to mark the 

end of the 2018 academic calendar for Brickhall School, 

Emodi,who chaired the Senate Committee on Education 

when she was elected to serve her Anambra North Senatorial 

District between 2005 and 2010, insisted that it was 

time for parents to start looking back home for quality 

education for their wards. 

According to her:"That quality and standard of education 

you are looking for outside the country can be got here in 

Nigeria. We have schools here in Nigeria that can give you 

those things that you want outside for your children. And 

until we start looking for them,we will not know that we 

have them here." 

Firm assures forex availability 

for investors to ease volatility 

By Naomi Uzor 

BitPesa, Nigeria’s cross-border payments platform and 

treasury solutions, yesterday, assured key players in 

the financial market, investors and SMEs value-chain, including 

importers and exporters of access to foreign currencies 

to boost their business expansion network in the 

country as general elections draw nearer. 

The company also stated that it was committed to protect 

investors’ investments from losses that stem from forex exposure 

amid micro-economic concerns for business environment 

during and after the general elections in order to 

navigate the uncertainty about the Naira. 

Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Elizabeth Rossiello, 

made these known at the company’s executive forum on 

future of finance in African frontier markets in Lagos. 

Rossiello explained that the company has been operating 

in Nigeria since 2015, and completed thousands of 

transactions within and outside Africa, in a bid to help key 

businesses access foreign currencies towards expansion of 

their operations with ease. 

She said that BitPesa was a renowned cross-border payments 

platform and treasury solutions providers that was 

known for doing cross border business by helping to send 

and receive payments in business transactions around the 

globe by significantly increasing the speed of sending payments. 

Bayelsa Medical varsity gets 

NUC approval 

By Samuel Oyadongha 

THE National Universities Commission has recog 

nized the establishment of the Bayelsa Medical University, 

Yenagoa. The Executive Secretary of the NUC, Prof. 

Abubakar Rasheed, issued the letter of recognition of the 

varsity to a delegation led by the state governor, Hon Seriake 

Dickson, at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja 

on Thursday. 

The governor’s delegation comprised the Senator representing 

the Bayelsa West Senatorial District, Senator Foster 

Ogola, the Commissioner for Education, Hon. Jonathan 

Obuebite, the Vice Chancellor òf the Niger Delta University, 

Prof. Samuel Edoumiekumo;Acting Vice Chancellor 

of Bayelsa Medical University, Prof. Ebitimitula Etebu; 

the Coordinator of BMU, Mr. Bennaiah Oye; the Acting 

Registrar, Dr. Akpoebi Adesi. 

Ayandele commends Ambode 

for investing in education 

The Tutor-General/Permanent Secretary, Education 

District 1 in Lagos State, Dr Olufolayimika Ayandele, 

has commended Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode for his 

investments in education. Dr Ayandele gave the commendation 

at Year 2019 Honours Day and Inauguration 

of Students Diplomatic Corps (SDC) in the Education 

District 1 held at the Government Senior College, Agege, 

Lagos. Ayandele said that 92 out of 506 who won various 

awards in the 2017/2018 academic session in the district 

were given honours and graduated into its Student 

Diplomatic Corps (SDC) for the outstanding performance. 

“I will like to appreciate the effort of the Lagos State 

Government for investing heavily in education. Schools 

are getting periodic facelifts, supply of student and staff 

furniture ongoing. Funds get released for various types 

of competitions and teachers go for regular in-service 

training and seminars. In this district, no stone is ever 

left unturned in transforming the lives of the students. 

“Various student-friendly methods like peer mentoring, 

group studies on the part of the students and groups 

mentoring among teachers are instituted,” Ayandele said. 

According to her, there was a robust deposit of knowledge, 

skill, tact, intellect and acumen that could transform 

them to smart thinkers, if handled well by the dedicated 

teachers in a conducive environment. “These students 

have made the district and the state proud; they 

are the future of our nation,” the Permanent Secretary 

said.

Man kills, buries mother of five in shallow 

grave over N530,000 

By Evelyn Usman 

A 

47-year-old man, Ka 

zeem Adebayo, has 

made a startling revelation 

on how he murdered and 

buried a 30-year-old woman, 

Abosede Adesanya, in 

his apartment in Ijebu-Igbo, 

Ogun state, last Friday. 

After committing the dastardly 

act, he collected 

N530,000 from the deceased, 

meant for purchase 

of a plot of land. 

Saturday Vanguard 

learned that the suspect, 

lured the deceased, suspected 

to be her woman friend, 

to his apartment on January 

24,2018, after informing her 

that there was a plot of land 

at a give-away price. 

She was said to have left 

her house with N530,000 

with which to pay for the plot 

of land. 

Apprehension however, 

set in, when she did not return 

home that day. 

Her distraught mother, 

Amoke Onasanya, said, “ 

She received a call from her 

man friend on January 

24,2019 that he has got a 

plot of land for her to buy. 

She left home with N530,000. 

“Hours after she left 

Kazeem Adebayo, the 

suspect 

home, I tried reaching her 

on her mobile line but discovered 

it was switched off. 

I suspected something was 

wrong because it was very 

much unlike her not to inform 

me of her whereabouts. 

I reported her disappearance 

at Ijebu-Igbo police station 

, when she did not return 

home, next day”, she 

said amidst tears. 

Policemen at Ijebu-Igbo 

division as gathered, invited 

Adebayo for questioning 

but he denied knowing anything 

about Adesanya’s 

whereabouts. 

The case, was transferred 

to the State Criminal Investigation 

Department, on the 

order of the Commissioner 

of Police, CP Ahmed Illyasu, 

for further investigation. 

Explaining how the suspect 

was arrested, spokesman 

for the Ogun State Po- 

SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUAR 2, 2019 — 9 

lice Command, DSP Abimbola 

Oyeyemi, said, “ The detectives from SCIID led to 

tion embarked upon by the 

CP ordered the Deputy the discovery of a shallow 

Commissioner of Police incharge 

of SCIID, DCP Wale pect’s house. 

grave right inside the sus- 

Abbas, to take over the investigation 

with a. view to dug, the decomposing body 

“ When the grave was 

discovering the mystery behind 

the sudden disappear- 

It was at this point that the 

of the victim was discovered. 

ance of the victim who was suspect confessed killing 

a mother of five. 

the deceased and took possession 

of the N530,000 on 

“The technical investiga- 

her." 

Herdsmen kill ASP in Delta 

By Ochuko Akuopha 

SUSPECTED herds 

men, have shot 

dead, an Assistant Superintendent 

of Police, 

ASP, at Umuachi-Afor 

community, Ndokwa 

East Local Government 

Area, Delta State. 

It was learned that the 

police officer, who until 

his death was attached 

to the Ashaka police divisional 

headquarters 

had led a team of police 

officers in search of the 

herdsmen who had been 

terrorizing the area with 

kidnapping activities 

when he met with his 

untimely death on 

Thursday. 

Police Public Relations 

Officer of the state command, 

Mr. Andrew 

Aniamaka while confirming 

the incident, 

said: “We had a situation 

where someone was abducted 

and that took our 

men into the bush in 

search of the hoodlums. 

“On their way, they 

were ambushed by the 

armed herdsmen who in 

fact opened fire on the 

police rescue team. In 

the process, the ASP was 

hit by bullets. 

Aniamaka who however, 

did not disclose the 

identity of the deceased 

police officer on the 

ground that “His family 

is not yet aware of the 

development”, said he 

died in the hospital 

where he was rushed to 

for treatment. 

He said “There is reinforcement 

into the 

bush and we are getting 

support from the local 

vigilante team.” 

EFCC parades 

13 Yahoo 

suspects in 

Enugu 

By Dennis Agbo 

T 

HE Economic and 

Financial Crimes 

Commission, EFCC, has 

paraded thirteen suspected 

internet fraudsters, 

alleged to have 

defrauded members of 

the public. 

Paraded with the suspects 

were eight exotic 

utility vehicles, different 

types of laptops, phones 

and cameras at the Enugu 

zonal office of the 

commission. 

Head of EFCC in 

South east, Usman 

Imam said that some of 

the suspects were arrested 

this year in Awka 

Anambra state and others 

in Enugu state, in a 

raid that followed intelligent 

surveillance on 

the suspects. 

Imam regretted that 

apart from public corruption, 

internet fraud 

affects Nigeria image 

negatively. 

He however said the 

commission was determined 

to stamp out cyber 

crimes, noting that 

the suspects would soon 

be charged to court.

10—SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 2, 2019 

ONNOGHEN: 

The Allegations, 

Politics And 

Unfolding Drama 

•Onnoghen 

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri 

The Nigerian judiciary is indeed passing 

through a trying time. 

Never in the annals of the country was 

this arm of the government enmeshed in a 

corruption scandal of the magnitude that is 

currently threatening to erode its integrity. 

The Federal Government, had in an 

unprecedented move on January 11, dragged 

the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice 

Walter Onnoghen, before the Code of Conduct 

Tribunal, CCT, for trial, accusing him of failing 

to declare his assets as prescribed by the law. 

In the six-count charge marked CCT/ABJ/ 

01/19, FG, equally accused Onnoghen of 

maintaining five separate foreign bank 

accounts, in breach of the code of conduct for 

public office holders. 

The charge followed a petition dated January 

7, which was lodged against the embattled 

CJN by a group under the aegis of Anti- 

Corruption and Research Based Data Initiative. 

The Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, which 

received the petition on January 9, at the end 

of its investigation that lasted 48 hours, 

recommended Justice Onnoghen for 

prosecution at the CCT. 

Consequently, the CCT, summoned the 

Defendant to appear before it on January 14 to 

enter his plea to the charge. 

Specifically, some of the allegations against 

Onnoghen, read: “That you, Justice Walter 

Nkanu Onnoghen, CJN, GCON, between 8th 

June 2005 to 14th December 2016 being a 

public officer serving as a Judicial Officer in 

the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a Justice of 

the Supreme Court failed to declare and 

submit a written declaration of all your assets 

and liabilities within the prescribed period of 

three (3) months after being sworn in as the 

justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria on the 

8th day of June 2005 and you thereby 

contravened the provisions of section 15(1) of 

the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act 

Cap C15 LFN 2004 and punishable under 

section 23(2) (a), (b) and (c) of the same Act. 

“That you, JUSTICE WALTER NKANU 

ONNOGHEN, CJN, GCON being a public 

officer as Justice of the Supreme Court of 

Nigeria who is under a duty to declare his 

assets to the Code of Conduct Bureau Chief on 

or about 14th December, 2016, falsely declared 

your assets in your Declaration of Assets Form 

CCB 1 (after you were sworn in as Justice of 

the Supreme Court of Nigeria) by omitting to 

declare a domiciliary (US Dollars) account No. 

870001062650 maintained with Standard 

Chartered Bank of (Nig) Ltd, Wuse 2, Abuja, 

which is being operated since 2011 and your 

thereby contravened the provisions of section 

15(2) read along with section 15(1) 15(1) of the 

Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act Cap 

C15 LFN 2004 and punishable under section 

23(2) (a), (b) and (c) of the same Act. 

“That you, JUSTICE WALTER NKANU 

ONNOGHEN, CJN, GCON being a public 

officer as Justice of the Supreme Court of 

Nigeria who is under a duty to declare his 

assets to the Code of Conduct Bureau Chief on 

or about 14th December, 2016, falsely declared 

your assets in your Declaration of Assets Form 

CCB 1 (after your were sworn in as Justice of 

the Supreme Court of Nigeria) by omitting to 

declare a 

domiciliary (Euro) 

account No. 

93001062686 

maintained with 

Standard 

Chartered Bank 

of (Nig) Ltd, 

Wuse 2, Abuja, 

which is being 

operated since 

2011 and you 

t h e r e b y 

contravened the provisions of section 15(2) read 

along with section 15(1) 15(1) of the Code of 

Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act Cap C15 

LFN 2004 and punishable under section 23(2) 

(a), (b) and (c) of the same Act”. 

Meanwhile, Justice Onnoghen, on January 

14, declined to appear before the Mr. Danladi 

Umar-led three-member CCT panel to be 

arraigned by FG. 

Instead, the CJN, through a consortium of 

lawyers led by a former President of the 

Nigerian Bar Association, Chief Wole 

Olanipekun, SAN, and a former Attorney 

General of the Federation, Chief Kanu Agabi, 

SAN, challenged the jurisdiction of the CCT 

to handle the case against him. 

He contended that FG’s failure to channel 

the petition against him, as well as the outcome 

of the investigation that was purportedly 

conducted on his assets declaration forms by 

the CCB, to the National Judicial Council, NJC, 

before it rushed the case to the CCT. 

The CJN further argued that FG failed to 

abide by existing judicial precedent as 

encapsulated in a recent Appeal Court 

decision in Nganjiwa v Federal Republic of 

Nigeria (2017) LPELR-43391(CA), to the effect 

that any misconduct attached to the office and 

functions of a judicial officer, must first be 

reported to and handled by the NJC, pursuant 

to the provisions of the laws. 

He maintained that only after the NJC has 

pronounced against such judicial officer could 

prosecuting agencies of the Federal 

Government proceed to initiate 

a criminal proceeding. 

Placing reliance on a recent 

decision of the CCT on a 

similar charge FG lodged 

against another Justice of the 

Supreme Court, Sylvester 

Ngwuta, the CJN’s legal team, 

insisted that FG’s decision to 

sideline the NJC, stripped the 

tribunal off its jurisdiction to 

entertain the instant case. 

The same day, FG, filed a 

motion for the tribunal to 

compel Justice Onnoghen to 

step aside as the CJN and 

Chairman of the NJC, and for 

him to hand over to his next in 

command, Justice Tanko 

Muhammad. 

While the CJN was 

contending with the CCT, three 

separate high courts, as well as 

the National Industrial Court, 

issued interim injunctions 

stopping the tribunal from 

taking further steps in the 

matter. 

On January 21, in a two to 

one split decision, the CCT 

panel, said it would proceed 

with the trial, despite the court 

orders. 

Dissatisfied with the 

decision, Onnoghen, 

proceeded to the Abuja 

Division of the Court of Appeal 

where he secured an order that 

suspended further 

The Nigerian Bar 

Association 

unequivocally 

rejects and 

condemns this 

attempted coup 

against the 

Nigerian Judiciary 

and evident 

suspension of the 

Nigerian 

Constitution by 

the Executive arm 

of the Federal 

Government 

proceedings at the CCT, pending the 

determination of an appeal he lodged against 

his trial. 

In the appeal he lodged on January 15, 

Onnoghen, argued that the Mr. Danladi 

Umar-led tribunal erred in law when it held 

that the preliminary objection he filed to 

challenge the competence of the charge, would 

be heard alongside the motion FG filed for him 

to step-aside. 

Onnoghen insisted that it was wrong for the 

tribunal to hear and determine FG’s motion 

when its jurisdiction to entertain the 

substantive charge was being challenged. 

He therefore prayed the appellate court to 

set-aside the decision of the CCT as contained 

in a ruling its Chairman delivered on January 

14 

Ṁeantime, before the appeal could be heard, 

Justice Onnoghen, on January 18, filed the 

motion the appellate court, on January 24, 

relied upon to temporarily suspend further 

proceedings in the case. 

Unknown to both the appellant and the court, 

FG had the previous day (January 23), 

persuaded the CCT to issue an ex-parte order 

for the Defendant to be suspended from office, 

pending the conclusion of his trial. 

Thus, in a move that took Nigerians by storm, 

President Muhammadu Buhari, on January 25, 

suspended Justice Onnoghen and swore-in the 

next most senior jurist of the Supreme Court, 

Justice Muhammad to take over the leadership 

of the judiciary as the Acting CJN. 

The action of the President elicited varied 

reactions from both within and outside the 

judicial circles, with the NBA, describing it as 

a coup against the judiciary. 

“The Nigerian Bar Association 

unequivocally rejects and condemns this 

attempted coup against the Nigerian Judiciary 

and evident suspension of the Nigerian 

Constitution by the Executive arm of the 

Federal Government. 

“The action of the Executive portends a slide 

into anarchy and complete deconstruction of 

the Rule of Law and due process. It amounts to 

an absolute breach of the 

Constitution and the usurpation 

of the powers of the Senate and 

the Nigerian Judicial Council”, 

NBA which is the umbrella body 

of lawyers in the country stated. 

Onnoghen was suspended 

barely eight hours after he 

announced his decision to 

inaugurate judges that will take 

charge of the 2019 election 

petition tribunals. 

He had in a statement that was 

signed by his Senior Special 

Assistant on media, Mr. 

Awassam Bassey, said he would, 

as part of his duties, swear in 

members of the 2019 National 

Assembly, Governorship and 

State Assembly Election Petition 

Tribunals last Saturday. 

To further register its 

displeasure over the action FG 

took against Onnoghen, the 

NBA, ordered a 2-day boycott of 

court activities in the country by 

lawyers. 

The legal body further 

constituted a three member 

committee to liaise with the 

government with a view to 

finding an amicable resolution to 

the crisis bedevilling the 

suspended CJN. 

Likewise, twenty-five 

constitutional lawyers, dragged 

President Buhari before the 

Federal High Court in Abuja to 

challenge what they termed as 

illegal suspension of the CJN, Onnoghen. 

The suit was filed on January 28, which was 

a day the CCT, okayed indefinite adjournment 

of proceedings before it to await the outcome 

of Onnoghen’s appeal. 

The Plaintiffs, led by human rights activist, 

Mr. Johnmary Jideobi, posed two legal issues 

for the determination of the court. 

They prayed the high court to determine, 

“Whether by the combined interpretation of 

Section 153(1) (i) paragraph 21(a) of the 3rd 

Schedule and Sections 271, 291, 292 and 231 

of the amended 1999 Constitution of the 

Federal Republic of Nigeria [and especially in 

view of the Supreme Court decision in Elelu- 

Habeeb vs. AGF (2012) 13 N.W.L.R. (Pt. 1318);], 

there exists any authority in the 1st Defendant 

(Buhari) to suspend the 4th Defendant 

(Onnoghen) as the Chief Justice of Nigeria? 

As well as, “Whether by the combined 

interpretation of Section 153(1) (i) paragraph 

21(a) of the 3rd Schedule and Sections 271, 291, 

292 and 231 of the amended 1999 Constitution 

of the Federal Republic of Nigeria [and 

especially in view of the Supreme Court 

decision in Elelu-Habeeb vs. AGF (2012) 13 

N.W.L.R. (Pt. 1318);] the purported suspension 

of the 4th Defendant as the Chief Justice of 

Nigeria by the 1st Defendant on the 25th 

January, 2019 is not unconstitutional?”. 

Upon determination of the questions, the 

Plaintiffs, asked the court to hold that President 

Buhari lacked the constitutional power to 

suspend Onnoghen as the CJN. 

“A Declaration of this Honourable Court that 

by the combined interpretation of Section 

153(1) (i) paragraph 21(a) of the 3rd Schedule 

and Sections 271, 291, 292 and 231 of the 

amended 1999 Constitution of the Federal 

Republic of Nigeria [and especially in view of 

the Supreme Court decision in Elelu-Habeeb 

vs. AGF (2012) 13 N.W.L.R. (Pt. 1318);] the 

purported suspension of the 4th Defendant as 

the Chief Justice of Nigeria by the 1st 

Defendant on the 25th January, 2019 is of no 

legal force, unconstitutional and a nullity. 

“An order of this honourable court restoring 

the 4th Defendant forthwith to his office as the 

Chief Justice of Nigeria. 

Likewise, “An order of perpetual injunction 

of this honorable court restraining the 1st 

Defendant or any other person acting on his 

behalf or at his direction from further 

suspending the 4th Defendant from his office 

as the Chief Justice of Nigeria”. 

Aside President Buhari, other Defendants in 

the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/113/2019, were 

the NJC, the Acting CJN, Justice 

Muhammad, and the suspended CJN, Justice 

Onnoghen. 

Meantime, on January 30, the appellate court 

cleared the coast for FG to open its case against 

the suspended CJN. 

The appellate court, in a unanimous ruling 

by a three-man panel of Justices, vacated its 

initial order that stopped the CCT from taking 

further steps in Onnoghen’s trial. 

In the lead ruling that was delivered by 

Justice Abdul Aboki, the appellate court held 

that granting the suspended CJN’s motion to 

stop his trial, would amount to a “fundamental 

interruption” of a criminal proceeding before 

the CCT. 

It noted that Onnoghen himself had in a 

judgment he delivered in a case involving a 

firm owned by former National Publicity 

Secretary of the Peoples Democratic, PDP, 

Chief Olisa Metuh, Destra Investment Limited, 

banned the grant of stay of proceeding in 

criminal matters. 

Justice Aboki further recalled that the 

suspended CJN had in another case that 

involved the Senate President, Dr. Bukola 

Saraki, identified the CCT as a special court 

Continues on page 11

Onnoghen: The Allegations, 

Politics And Unfolding Drama 

Continues from page 10 

with quasi-criminal jurisdiction. 

He maintained that section 306 of the 

Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, 

expressly forbade courts from granting orders 

to stay proceedings in criminal cases. 

“We cannot run away from the fact that the 

CCT which has quasi-criminal jurisdiction, does 

not have an option than to abide and apolitical 

the criminal laws in all proceedings before it”, 

Justice Aboki added. 

Consequently, the appellate court dismissed 

Onnoghen’s appeal, stressing that the order for 

stay of proceedings he requested for could not 

be granted as a matter of cause. 

“An applicant must convince the court that 

granting of such order will be in the interest of 

justice”, the court held, saying there was no 

“special or exceptional circumstance”, to 

warrant the suspension of the case pending 

against Onnoghen before the CCT. 

“The Applicants motion for an order for stay 

of proceeding is hereby refused”, Justice Aboki 

ruled. 

Nevertheless, the appellate court fixed next 

Monday to hear the substantive appeal the 

suspended CJN filed to challenge decision of 

the CCT to hear his preliminary objection 

alongside FG’s motion to remove him from 

office. 

Besides, Justice Onnoghen also lodged 

another appeal to challenge the ex-parte order 

the CCT issued for his suspension. 

In his four grounds of appeal, Justice 

Onnoghen, argued that the Mr. Umar-led CCT 

erred in law by granting an ex-parte order for 

his removal, even when its jurisdiction to 

entertain the six-count charge the federal 

government levelled against him was being 

challenged. 

He therefore applied for, “An order setting 

aside the order of the tribunal 

made on the 23rd of January, 

directing the Appellant to step 

aside as the Chief Justice of 

Nigeria and a further order that 

the President of the Federal 

Republic of Nigeria takes all 

necessary measures to swearin 

the most senior Justice of the 

Supreme Court of Nigeria as 

Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria 

and Chairman of the National 

Judicial Council”. 

The suspended CJN 

contended that, “The exercise 

of powers over the motion exparte 

without first determining 

the jurisdiction of the tribunal 

amounted to unlawful exercise 

of jurisdiction and therefore 

void”. 

Aside the legal angles, the 

NJC also waded into the crisis 

by directing the suspended 

CJN to within seven working 

days, respond to allegations 

against him. 

NJC which is the organ of the 

judiciary responsible for the 

Appointment, Promotion and 

Discipline of Judicial Officers, 

at the end of an emergency 

meeting it held last Tuesday, 

also gave the Acting CJN, 

Justice Muhammad, the same 

number of days to explain why disciplinary 

action should not be taken against him for 

submitting himself to be sworn-in by President 

Buhari as Onnoghen’s replacement. 

Basically, the NJC, directed the suspended 

CJN to respond to a petition that was lodged 

against him by one Zikhrillahi Ibrahim of 

Resource Centre for Human Rights & Civil 

Education. 

It was learned that the petitioner is accusing 

Onnoghen of being in possession of funds and 

properties that are way beyond his legitimate 

earnings. 

On the other hand, the Council, asked the 

Acting CJN, Justice Muhammad, to respond 

to two separate petitions that were entered 

against him by a group under the aegis of 

Centre for Justice and Peace Initiative, as well 

as by a former President of the Nigerian Bar 

Association, NBA, Chief Olisa Agbakoba, 

SAN. 

Agbakoba had in his petition, urged the NJC 

to determine the propriety of Justice 

Muhammad, accepting to be sworn-in by the 

President in place of the suspended CJN, 

despite being aware of the implication of his 

conduct. 

According to Agbakoba, by submitting 

himself to the President to be sworn-in as acting 

CJN, Justice Muhammad, lent himself to 

constitutional infraction by the executive arm 

of government. 

He recalled that Justice Muhammad was a 

member of the panel that sanctioned Justice 

Obisike Orji of Abia State for allowing himself 

to be sworn-in as Abia State Chief Judge by 

the state’s governor, without recourse to the 

NJC. 

Agbakoba accused the Acting CJN of 

engaging in an act of judicial misconduct. 

It was learned 

that the petitioner 

is accusing 

Onnoghen of 

being in 

possession of 

funds and 

properties that 

are way beyond 

his legitimate 

earnings 

Similarly, the NJC, in a statement that was 

signed by its Director of Information, Mr. Soji 

Oye, said it forwarded another petition that was 

filed against the CCT Chairman, Mr. Umar, to 

the Federal Judicial Service Commission, 

FJSC. 

A group under the platform of Centre for 

Justice and Peace Initiative, had urged the NJC 

to sanction the CCT boss for engaging in 

“reckless abuse” of his judicial powers. 

However, the Council, said the FJSC was the 

appropriate constitutional body empowered to 

deal with issues the petitioner raised against 

the CCT Chairman. 

Already, the NJC said it has furnished both 

Onnoghen and Muhammad with copies of the 

petitions against them, adding that it abridged 

their response time to 7 days, owing to the 

“gravity of the matters involved”. 

The Council said it would reconvene on 

February 11 to consider responses of the affected 

parties. 

This is even as the CCT has declared its 

resolve to resume proceedings on the charge 

against Onnoghen on Monday. 

Meanwhile, ahead of the scheduled 

resumption of the trial, embattled CJN, opened 

up on some of the allegations against him, 

especially as they relate to foreign currencies 

traced to his bank accounts. 

In a ‘Cautionary Statement Form’ he filed at 

the Department of Intelligence Investigation 

and Monitoring, CCB, in Abuja, Onnnoghen, 

said the deposits were from trading in foreign 

exchange (forex), AGRICODE, as well as 

proceeds of his investments. 

In the statement, Onnoghen averred, “That 

the deposits made in my US Dollar account No. 

87000106250 with STD. Chartered Bank of 

$10,000 at different intervals of June 28, 2011 

were sourced partly from my reserve and 

saving from my estacodes, 

including medical expenses. 

“The same applies to my 

deposit of July 28, 2011, of 

$10,000 twice. It is important to 

state that prior to my opening 

the US dollar account, I had 

foreign currency, which I kept 

at home, due to the fact that 

there existed a government that 

proscribed the operation of 

foreign currency account by 

public officers including 

judicial officers. 

“It was when I got to know 

that the policy had changed 

that I had to open the said 

account. Upon opening the 

account, I was made to 

understand that I cannot pay in 

more than $10,000 at a time 

and per payment slip. I 

cannot remember the total 

amount I had on reserve at the 

time, but it spread from my 

practice days as a private legal 

practitioner from 1979 to 

1989. 

“Some of the deposits are a 

result of forex trading, 

AGRICODE, and other 

investment returns were from 

proceeds of my investments 

into them. The withdrawals 

in the account are partly to pay 

children’s fees, upkeep abroad and further 

investments. My British pound and euro 

accounts with Chartered Standard Bank are 

savings accounts.” 

“In the January 1, 2019 document, the 

suspended jurist, who wrote his statement on 

January 11, 2019, between 12:30pm to 1: 45pm 

added: “I, Walter S. N. Onnoghen, of the 

Supreme Court of Nigeria, hereby, voluntarily 

depose to the statement averred herein, 

knowing that whatever I write or state may be 

tendered against me as evidence in court. 

“I also volunteer to state that the statement 

was not taken in evidence from me under duress 

but after the administering officer had 

explained and made known the details of the 

allegations against me.” 

In response to allegations of non-declaration 

of his assets, justice Onnoghen said: “My asset 

declaration for numbers. SCN000014 and 

SCN.0000 5 were declared on the same day, 

December 14, 2016 because I forgot to make a 

declaration of May 2005 of my assets after the 

expiration of my 2005 declaration in 2009. 

“Following my appointment as acting chief 

justice of Nigeria in November 2016, the need 

to declare my asset anew made me to realise 

the mistake and then did the declarations to 

cover the period in default. 

“I did not include my Standard Chartered 

Bank Account in SCN. 000014 because I 

believed they were not opened during the 

period covered by the declaration. 

“I did not make a fresh declaration of asset 

after my substantive appointment as CJN 

because I was under the impression that my 

SCN. 000015 was to cover the period of four 

years; which includes my leave as CJN.” 

The petitioner had asked FG to investigate 

the origin of huge foreign currencies they said 

were found in Onnoghen’s accounts. 

The petition read: “We write to bring to your 

attention serious concerns bothering on flagrant 

violations of the law and the Constitution of 

Nigeria by the Honourable Mr. Justice Walter 

Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen, the Chief Justice 

of Nigeria. 

“Specifically, we are distressed that facts on 

the ground indicate the leader of our country’s 

judicial branch is embroiled in suspected 

financial crimes and breaches of the Code of 

Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act. 

“The particulars of our findings indicate that: 

His Lordship Justice Walter Onnoghen is the 

owner of sundry accounts primarily funded 

through cash deposits made by himself, up to 

as recently as 10th August 2016 which appear 

to have been run in a manner inconsistent with 

financial transparency and the code of conduct 

for public officials. 

“To give specific examples, here are some 

instances of cash deposits by Justice 

Onnoghen: Justice Onnoghen made five 

different cash deposits of $10,000 each on 8th 

March 2011 into Standard Chartered Bank 

Account 1062650; 

“On 7th June 2011, two separate cash 

deposits of $5000 each were made by 

Justice Walter Onnoghen, followed by 

four cash deposits of $10,000 each; 

“On 27th June 2011, Justice 

Onnoghen made another set of five 

separate cash deposits of $10,000 

each and made four more cash 

deposits of $10,000 each on the 

following day, 28th June 2011; 

“Hon. Justice Walter Onnoghen 

did not declare his assets 

immediately after taking office, 

contrary to Section 15 (1) of Code 

of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal 

Act; 

“Hon. Justice Walter Onnoghen 

did not comply with the 

constitutional requirement for public servants 

to declare their assets every four years during 

their career. 

“The Code of Conduct Bureau Forms (Form 

CCB 1) of Hon. Justice Walter Onnoghen for 

2014 and 2016 were dated and filed on the same 

day. The acknowledgement slip for Declarant 

SCN: 000014 was issued on 14th December 

2016. The acknowledgement slip for Declarant 

SCN: 000015 was also issued on 14th 

December 2016, at which point Justice 

Onnoghen had become the Chief Justice of 

Nigeria. 

“The affidavit for SCN: 000014 was sworn to 

on 14th December 2016; The affidavit for SCN: 

000015 was sworn to on 14th December 2016; 

“Both forms were received on 14th December 

2016 by one Awwal Usman Yakasai. 

“The discrepancy between Justice Walter 

Onnoghen’s two CCB forms that were filed on 

the same day is significant. 

“In filling the section on Details of Assets, 

particularly Cash, in Nigerian Banks, His 

Lordship as Declarant SCN: 000014 mentioned 

only two bank accounts: 

“Union Bank account number 0021464934 in 

Abuja, with balance of N9,536,407, as at 14th 

November 2014. 

“Union Bank account number 0012783291 in 

Calabar, with balance of N11, 456,311 as at 14th 


“The sources of the funds in these accounts 

are stated as salaries, estacodes and allowances. 

“As Declarant SCN: 000015 His Lordship 

however lists seven bank accounts: Standard 

Chartered account 00001062667, with balance 

of N3,221,807.05 as at 14th November 2016. 

“Standard Chartered account 00001062650, 

with balance of $164,804.82, as at 14th 


“Standard Chartered account 5001062686, 

with balance of EUROS 55,154.56, as at 14th 


“Standard Chartered Bank account 

5001062679 with balance of GBP108,352.2, as 

at 14th November 2016. 

“Standard Chartered Bank account 

5001062693 with balance of N8,131,195.27, as 

at 14th November 2016. 

“Union Bank account 00021464934 with 

balance of N23,261,568.89, as at 14th 


“Union Bank account 0012783291 with 

balance of N14,695,029.12, as at 14th 


“The foreign currency Standard Chartered 

Bank accounts that were declared by Declarant 

SCN: 000015 have been in existence since at 

least 2011. 

“Prior to 2016, His Lordship appears to have 

suppressed or otherwise concealed the 

existence of these multiple domiciliary accounts 

owned by him, as well as the substantial cash 

balances in them. 

“The Standard Chartered Bank dollar account 

1062650 had a balance of $391,401.28 on 31st 

January 2011; 

“The Standard Chartered Bank Euro account 

5001062686 had a balance of EURO 49,971.71 

on 31st January 2011; 

“The Standard Chartered Bank pound 

sterling account 5001062679 had a balance of 

GBP23,409.66 on 28th February 2011. 

“It is curious that these domiciliary accounts 

were not declared in one of the two CCB Forms 

filed by Justice Onnoghen on the same day, 

14th December 2016. 

“The Naira bank accounts in b (i) and b (v) 

above are also omitted in the CCB form of 

Declarant SCN: 000014. 

“It is our humble view that, with the 

foregoing, we have laid before you facts which 

support the assertion that Justice Walter 

Onnoghen may have committed a breach of the 

provisions of the Code of Conduct Bureau Act 

as follows: 

SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 2, 2019—11 

•Onnoghen 

“Non-declaration of assets immediately after 

taking office in several capacities prior to 

becoming the Chief Justice of Nigeria contrary 

to section 15 of the Code of Conduct Bureau 

Act; 

“Non-declaration of assets immediately after 

taking office as the Chief Justice of Nigeria 

contrary to section 15 of the Code of Conduct 

Bureau Act. 

“Non-declaration of assets at the statutory 

intervals after taking office throughout his 

career as a federal judicial officer contrary to 

section 15 of the Code of Conduct Bureau Act. 

“False declaration of asset, and in particular, 

concealment of significant and declarable 

assets in the form of sundry bank accounts and 

the balances therein, contrary to section 15 of 

the Code of Conduct Bureau Act. 

“Consequent to this information, it is our 

expectation and request that you will discharge 

the constitutional duty of your office and take 

the necessary lawful actions to uphold and 

enforce the law in this matter by involving sister 

agencies such as: 

“The Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit 

(NFIU) to conduct comprehensive statistical 

analysis of cash transactions on all the accounts 

for cases of suspicious transactions. 

“The Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit 

(NFIU) to determine whether Standard 

Chartered Bank has not breached statutory 

duties to the Nigerian State in favour of, or in 

connivance with, His Lordship on Suspicious 

Transactions Reporting (STR). 

“The Revenue Mobilization Allocation and 

Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), the Supreme 

Court of Nigeria and the National Judicial 

Council (NJC) to determine whether the 

disclosed financial transactions are justified by 

His Lordship’s lawful remuneration. 

“As ordinary citizens, motivated by a clear 

belief that there must be high standards in 

public life, we have acted to expose a possible 

criminal breach of our laws. We believe it is 

now your duty to act, and to do so promptly”. 

Already, FG has directed the Nigerian 

Financial Intelligence Unit, NFIU, to freeze all 

the accounts pending conclusion of Onnoghen’s 

trial. 

In a memo with Ref. No. HAGF/2019/E06/ 

Vol.01, dated January 14 and addressed to the 

Director of the NFIU, the Attorney General of 

the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. 

Abubakar Malami, SAN, requested that five 

accounts linked to the suspended CJN should 

be frozen. 

The letter, a copy of which was sighted by 

Vanguard, was titled Re: Request For Freezing 

of Bank Accounts Subject To Investigation And 

Prosecution Pursuant To Presidential Executive 

Order 6 Of 5th July 2018 On The Preservation 

Of Assets Connected With Corruption. 

“I am directed by Mr. Abubakar Malami, 

SAN, the Honorable Attorney General of the 

Federation and Minister of Justice to request 

that you, pursuant to the Presidential Executive 

Order 6 of 2018,forthwith restrict normal 

banking operations on certain accounts 

belonging to Hon. Justice Walter Onnoghen 

pending final determination of the case against 

him at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT/ABJ/ 

1/19, Federal Republic of Nigeria v. Hon. Justice 

Onnoghen Nkanu Walter Samuel). 

“These accounts are as follows: (a) Account 

No. 5001062686 (Euro) Standard Chartered 

Bank) (SCB) 

(b) Account No. 5001062679 (Pound Sterling) 

(SCB) 

(c)Account No. 0001062650 (Dollar) (SCB) 

(d)Account No. 0001062667 (Naira) (SCB), 

and (e) Account No. 5000162693 (Naira)”. 

While Nigerians await the outcome of the 

legal impasse between FG and the suspended 

CJN, a fact that is not in dispute is that the 

judiciary is indeed undergoing a trying period.


Abdulrazaq’s “O To Ge” movement on fire in Kwara 

By DEMOLA AKINYEMI 

ILORIN—”O to ge”, a Yoruba three 

word sentence, meaning “ Enough 

i 

s 

enough “,today is a political slogan 

of the main opposition, All Progressives 

Congress (APC)in Kwara state. 

Saturday Vanguard reliably gathered 

that the movement indeed started in 

2017 after the local governments 

election, which few members of the 

opposition party allegedly won but were 

reportedly denied. 

Seething with anger over the outcome 

of the last Local Governments election, 

in the state,a rally tagged O to ge was 

planned and approved by the police. 

It was conducted around Ilorin to 

express their grievances over the 

outcome of the election. 

Consequently,there was a meeting 

under the aegis of Kwara Liberation 

Movement of all members not in Saraki’s 

political group in the residence of Dr 

Amuda Aluko in ilorin. It was to 

strategize on how to win elections in the 

state in the coming elections 

considering all available options. 

Then came the movement of the 

Senate President Dr Bukola Saraki and 

his loyalists out of the All Progressives 

Congress (APC) to the opposition 

Peoples Democratic party (PDP), a 

development that commenced the 

movement of members between the two 

major political patties in the state. 

After several movements in and out 

the two main political parties have 

defined their memberships. The 

strategists resumed in the opposition All 

Progressives Congress (APC)in the state. 

Alhaji Abdulrazaq Abdulrahaman 

The O to ge political jargon literarily 

resurfaced again after the party’s 

candidate,Hon Raheem Olawuyi Ajulo 

won the house of representatives bye 

election conducted on November 

17,2018 to replace Princess Funke 

Adedoyin. 

It was during the review of the 

performances of the party in that bye 

election at a meeting by the stakeholders 

of the party, that the words,” O to 

ge”returned and it was adopted as the 

campaign sloganof all the party’s 

candidates in the state. 

The gubernatorial candidate of the 

party,Alh Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq 

had, in his own wisdom, approved O to 

ge as his own campaign slogan and 

others followed. 

Today,across the nooks and crannies 

of the state of harmony, “O to ge”is on 

the mouths, and in the minds of 

everyone. Even the children mouth it 

and the residents now throw banters 

with it. 

Having noticed,the wide acceptability 

of “ O to ge among the people. The 

architects of the political mantra have 

gone further to compose a melodious 

song and even a dance, “O to ge”.dance. 

The O to ge song and its dance are 

enough attractions for the APC as 

masses,not only supporters throng the 

venue to catch the fun of “O to ge” and 

its dance. 

The dancers stretch their buttocks to 

the back,while commencing the 

dance,then back and forth midway of the 

song twisting their two legs and clapping 

their hands rhythmically. 

Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq had 

danced “shaku shaku’’,to “O to ge” song 

in one of his campaigns before it was 

modified, to make the dance, clearly 

different and distinct. “O to ge” in the 

context of political development in 

Kwara state,simply means enough of the 

political domination by the Saraki 

political dynasty in the state. 

In the past elections, the Senate 

president, Dr Bukola Saraki had not 

failed to entrench the dynasty by 

winning all the elective posts in the state 

for his party. 

Saraki over the years has also told 

those who care to listen that the 

opposition members are seasonal 

politicians who would come to the state 

and contest few months to the 

elections, pasting posters and 

campaigning and then abandone the 

people for him after losing. 

Curiously,the aggrieved opposition 

members over the years too have waited 

for opportunity, to win and take over the 

state from the Sarakis dynasty, and it just 

came during the last bye election which 

the candidate of the Senate president, 

Dr Bukola Saraki lost. 

It was strongly believed that it was 

possible. 

In view of this development, the 

movement commenced on all fronts, and 

today the effect is massive across the 

state. 

The gubernatorial candidate of the 

party, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq is 

currently on campaigns, in the northern 

part of the state with this movement selling 

himself, the party and President 

Muhammadu Buhari who is visiting the 

state soon. 

Though the ruling Peoples Democratic 

Party (PDP) members are not folding their 

hands,as they have also coined “O tun 

ya”, meaning let’s do it again, in defence. 

Whichever way the pendulum will swing, 

time will tell. 

2019: Why Buhari, APC 

govt must continue 

—Mrs. Osinbajo explains in Ibadan 

WIFE of the Vice President, Mrs. 

Dolapo Osinbajo has explained the 

reason President Muhammadu 

Buhari and Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo’s 

administration must continue, just as she said 

that the only avenue for the country to develop 

further lies with the ruling All Progressives 

Congress APC government. 

She, however, tasked women in Oyo State 

to re-elect the duo in the February 16 general 

election. 

Mrs. Osinbajo who was hosted by wife of the 

state governor, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi, while 

speaking at the Town Hall Meeting held at 

Kola Daisi Civic Centre in Ibadan, Oyo State 

capital on Friday, remarked that it became 

imperative for women who care for the future 

of their children to vote for a government that 

gives the future of the younger generation a 

priority. 

“What we are doing today is because of our 

children and every work a parent does, is for 

the future of his or her children.” 

“Every money earned is for the children. We 

have to monitor those that will take care of our 

children.” 

“What we are here to discuss is who will 

direct the affairs of our children, which is why 

our vote is very important and what we saw 

today has explained the government of 

President Buhari as one that thinks and 

plans for the humanity,” she said adding 

that whoever is selfish could not think of 

another person’s welfare. 

The wife of the Vice President who spoke in 

parables in Yoruba language, described the 

President as not only a kind man, but someone who 

served as a voice to the children who are voiceless. 

“What President Buhari’s government is doing is also 

helping the traders across the country. The farmers have 

benefited from the gesture as well. These are the reasons 

I said the time of Buhari has been beneficial. Apart from 

that, unemployed graduates are gainfully employed.” 

She advised parents especially mothers on the 

need to caution their children against being 

used as instruments of violence for 

politicians. 

Earlier in her address, wife of the 

state governor, Mrs. Florence 

Abiola Ajimobi, lauded the Buhari 

and Ajimob’s administrations for 

their 

unprecedented 

achievements. 

She said that the meeting was 

timely and important, noting 

that it would enlighten them 

on the present administration’s 

policies and achievements. 

•Dolapo Osinbajo

Imo APC rally: How Okorocha 

held Buhari hostage for hours 

By Peter Ezebunwa, Owerri 

The Presidential campaign of the 

All Progressives Congress (APC) 

landed in Owerri, Imo State 

capital last Tuesday to garner the support 

of the people of the state for the party’s 

candidates including president 

Muhammadu Buhari in the forthcoming 

elections. 

Prior to the rally, the state chapter of 

the APC, led by its Caretaker Chairman, 

Chief Marcelinus Nlemigbo, had 

suspended Governor Rochas Okorocha for 

alleged anti party activities. Okorocha 

had openly thrown his weight behind the 

candidacy of his son-in-law, Uche Nwosu 

who is contesting the governorship under 

the platform of the Action Alliance after 

he lost the APC ticket to Senator 

Uzodinma. There was therefore political 

tension in the state ahead the President’s 

visit, following the earlier rumour that the 

AA candidate, Mr Nwosu was going to 

attend the APC rally which the state 

chapter of the APC had warned against. 

On the day of the rally, President 

Muhammadu Buhari landed at the Hero’s 

square, Owerri, and proceeded to the 

Government House where he was hosted 

by the governor. This arrangement was 

contrary to the earlier plans of the 

presidential campaign team to stop at the 

Asumpta Cathedral where the President 

was expected to meet with traditional 

rulers and Catholic Bishops led by 

Bishop Valentine Obinna. This was the 

earlier arrangement made by the Senator 

Uzodinma’s campaign organization. But 

unknown to many, the outgoing governor, 

Okorocha who was doing everything 

possible to frustrate the Presidential 

campaign where the President was 

expected to canvass for votes for Senator 

Uzodinma and other APC candidates, 

desperately arranged his own programme 

in order to ensure that his son-in-law, who 

had been warned by the National 

Working Committee (NWC) of the APC 

to stay off the APC rally, received the 

attention of the President. Okorocha 

therefore kept the President at 

Government House for several hours 

while the Director General of the APC 

Presidential Campaign Council and 

•As president endorses Uzodinma APC guber candidate 

Minister of Transport, Mr Rotimi 

Amaechi and members of the National 

Working Committee of the APC waited 

endlessly at the Dan Anyiam Stadium 

Owerri. APC supporters across the state 

defied the rain to come out and give 

support to the APC governorship 

candidate, Senator Uzodinma. Amaechi 

was visibly angry when the crowd 

awaiting the arrival of the President 

started leaving the stadium after several 

hours of waiting. It was obvious that the 

DG was unaware about the change of the 

programme. While this was going on, few 

government officials who were at the 

Stadium started dancing and hoping that 

the President had shunned the rally. 

Senator Uzodinma was worried but 

remained calm as his dogged supporters 

still remained resolute to see the 

President. 

Saturday Vanguard gathered that 

Amaechi felt bad that the rumour was 

going round that the President may have 

abandoned Uzodinma at the stadium to 

go elsewhere to endorse Uche Nwosu. 

When Amaechi was therefore called upon 

to address the crowd, he called on the 

party chairman, Comrade Adams 

Oshiomhole to come and tell the people 

who their governorship candidate was. 

The crowd at the stadium became alive 

again and started hailing the DG for that 

declaration. It was gathered that Amaechi 

was obviously trying to puncture any 

victory Governor Okorocha and his 

supporters thought they must have gained 

by keeping the President for so long at 

Government House when the team was 

in the state to campaign for the President 

and all their candidates. Members of the 

NWC and other leaders of the party who 

came from Abuja knew that it was a ploy 

by the governor to frustrate the campaign 

in Imo state since his son in-law did not 

get the APC governorship ticket. 

Finally, President Buhari in company of 

the National Chairman of the APC, 

Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, arrived the 

stadium few minutes before 5pm as the 

caretaker chairman of the party in the 

state, Chief Marcelinus Nlemigbo, 

welcomed the President to Imo state and 

expressed the confidence that the 

President would not only win Imo state 

with the kind of support he enjoyed in the 

state but the entire Souh East. Apparently 

referring to Governor Okorocha, the state 

chairman urged the President not to be 

deceived with what he described as the 

antics of the governor who was creating 

the impression that he and his family 

alone loved him in the state. He declared 

that the APC had the field soldiers to 

deliver the votes with or without 

Okorocha, adding that the performance 

of the President in the South East would 

guarantee victory for him in the zone. 

According to 

him, “the South 

East made a 

mistake before in 

supporting the 

PDP but I can tell 

you Mr President, 

that we will no 

longer make such 

mistakes and with 

the leadership 

being provided by 

our governorship 

candidate, Senator 

Uzodinma who 

has since collapsed 

the PDP and APGA 

structures in the 

state since he 

emerged as 

candidate of our 

great party, you 

will win 

convincingly in 

Imo and other 

South East states”. 

But the drama 

actually started 

when Governor 

Okorocha was 

called to the 

podium, as the 

crowd started 

booing the 

governor. As 

expected, the 

governor started 

by informing the 

President that the 

chairman who 

spoke was not the 

a u t h e n t i c 


There was therefore 

political tension in the 

state ahead the 

President’s visit, 

following the earlier 

rumour that the AA 

candidate, Mr Nwosu 

was going to attend 

the APC rally which 

the state chapter of the 

APC had warned 

against 

chairman of the APC and recalled how he 

formed the party in the state. He did not 

campaign for Uzodinma, rather he 

assured the President of victory. The 

crowd however continued to boo him in 

the presence of the President. The tension 

heightened when the angry DG of the 

campaign, Amaechi, was heading 

towards the podium to check the excesses 

of the governor who was obviously 

wasting the time of the team after 

keeping the President at Government 

House for so long. Amaechi returned to 

his seat when he observed that the 

governor ceased in his attempts to talk 

down on the NWC of the party. 

When Oshiomhole came to the podium, 

he apologized to the crowd on behalf of 

the President and leadership of the party 

for keeping them so long, saying that the 

business of the day was to come and 

campaign for the President, their 

governorship candidate Senator 

Uzodinma and other APC candidates 

and that the agenda must be 

accomplished even if the team was 

in a hurry to rush back to Abuja. He 

therefore called on Uzodinma to 

come and make his speech. Unlike 

the governor who according to the 

leaders of the APC in the state spoke 

like an Emperor, Uzodinma 

exhibited maturity in his speech 

describing Okorocha as his 

governor while observing protocol. 

Dissociating the Imo state APC 

from the purported endorsement of 

the presidential candidate of the 

PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, 

Uzodinma asserted that “we were 

not consulted before the purported 

endorsement. We, in Imo State, in 

consultation with all the traditional 

rulers and Leaders of Thought have 

come together to endorse President 

Muhammadu Buhari as our 

candidate for 2019. Finally Mr 

President, we pray that God will give 

you long life, give you the strength, 

we are happy and we love what you 

have been doing in Nigeria. Those who 

have not been following your foot steps 

must change because the change has 

come to be and we have all keyed into 

the change”. His comment was greeted 

with loud ovation. 

In his speech, Oshiomhole apparently 

tried to correct the impression by 

Governor Okorocha that he alone can 

deliver the state for the President in the 

forthcoming presidential election. He 

asserted that “I want to make it loud and 

clear that the APC has no alliance with 

any political party. The governorship 

candidate of our party in Imo State is 

Senator Hope Uzodinma and he has the 

capacity to galvanize other leaders to 

ensure victory for our party in the state. 

Uzodinma is not a neophyte in politics, 

he has the capacity to deliver and when 

he becomes governor, Uzodinma will 

ensure that appointments are given not 

on how you are related to the governor 

but on merit. Uzodinma will ensure that 

there is equitable distribution of 

resources. He will ensure equity and fair 

play. He will ensure that the poor are 

protected, he will create jobs as an 

experienced business man and one of our 

best hands in the senate who has 

defended the policies of President 

Buhari. He is a man with good heart, a 

man you can trust and I can tell you he 

will bring genuine development to Imo 

state. I urge Imo people to support him, 

work for him and God by our side, 

Uzodinma is the next 

governor of Imo State”. 

Oshiomhole made the 

declaration to the chagrin of 

Okorocha. 

President Buhari after 

reeling out his 

achievements and why the 

people of the state must 

continue to vote APC, 

recognized Uzodinma, 

raised his hand and 

presented him to the 

mammoth crowd of party 

faithful as the party’s 

candidate in the scheduled 

March 2 governorship 

election. It was greeted by 

thunderous ovation from the 

crowd. And Contrary to the 

impression being created in 

some political circles in Imo 

state and the media, that the 

President urged Imo voters 

to vote for candidates of 

their choice, President 

Buhari had earlier solicited 

for votes for Uzodinma when 

he told the crowd, “I am raising 

the hand of the APC candidate, 

vote for him”. 

However, as Uzodinma had 

said at the rally, despite the 

intimidations he and his 

supporters suffered in the 

hands of the state government, 

the APC candidate stole the 

show during the president’s 

visit and it seems he is the 

candidate to beat in the 

forthcoming guber election in 

Imo state.


My covenant wi 

Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has i 

elected into power. Across many state capitals where the PDP Presidential campaign ra 

All Progressives Congress, APC candidate, President Muhammadu Buhari. 

A fortnight after getting the flak for refusing to participate in a debate organised for can 

Anambra state, Mr. Peter Obi appeared on “The Candidates,” an audience participation p 

host and ace journalist, Kadaria Ahmed. 

Atiku for the first time since his emergence as the PDP candidate at the 2017 Port-Harcourt conv 

corruption allegations he has been linked with since quitting office in 2007. He fielded question 

Watch,” while also highlighting his plans to provide jobs for teeming Nigerian youths currently fa 

Kadaria Ahmed: Will you make the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC fully 

independent? How would you reform the criminal justice system, given the lack of confidence 

Nigerians have in it to deliver justice against public officials and politicians who are corrupt? 

Atiku: My quarrel with our judicial system is that there is too much delay. If we can shorten the 

delay so that justice is seen to be meted out immediately, the better for us. 

What in your view is responsible for that delay and how will you tackle it? 

It is by looking at the legislation and also the procedures being adopted by the judiciary. We have 

to sit with the National Assembly and the judiciary. Do you know that the cases we initiated in our 

administration are still in courts? Now where is the justice there? We set up the EFCC. I brought the 

piece of draft legislation from Brazil. And it was based on that draft that EFCC legislation was 

crafted. When it was eventually passed by the National Assembly, EFCC did not even have the 

money in the budget to start operation. I borrowed N300 million from the privatization proceeds 

and said ‘You better get to work’. 

The following year when there was budgetary allocation, they paid the money. Most of the convictions 

that you are hearing about today were cases that we started in our administration. 

What kind of reform will you carry out in the judiciary as well as agencies charged with investigating 

corruption related crimes? 

I have already indicated to you the kind of reform I want to undertake. 

That reform has to shorten the period of investigation by 

investigative agencies. 

How will you do this? 

You have to legislate. This is a country that 

is governed by rule of law. So, you can only 

use rule of law to approach issues. And 

therefore, you have to legislate. In other 

words, investigative agencies must have 

a time limit within which to 

investigate. There must be a 

time limit within which to 

prosecute. And there must 

be a time for the 

judiciary to dispense 

justice. 

How practical is it? 

Why is it that other 

countries are doing 

it within a shorter 

period? Are they 

denying justice to 

their citizens? Not 

necessarily that I 

want to put statute of 

limitation for 

investigating certain 

type of crimes. I 

don’t like statute 

of limitation. 

B e c a u s e 

sometime you 

let criminals go. 

In this era of 

technology, 

what financial 

investigations 

w i l l 

technology 

not be 

able to 

d o 

within 

•Alhaji Atiku Abubakar


th Nigerians — Atiku 

n the past few weeks spoken of his desire to reposition the Nigerian economy for good if 

llies held; he reiterated his commitment to job creation while throwing jibes at the ruling 

didates in the 2019 elections; Atiku alongside his running mate and former governor of 

rogramme featuring party flag bearers and their running mates, anchored by television 

ntion faced an audience of curious Nigerians waiting to hear him speak on the various 

s on a remark about him by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in his memoir, “My 

cing the scourge of unemployment. 

a specified, reasonable period of time? I 

believe it is doable. 

What happens to existing cases? 

I believe there will be need for dialogue 

between the various branches of 

government. We are at a very crisis point 

in this country on the issue of fight against 

corruption. We can’t afford delays. Before 

we review our procedures and laws, I think 

there is need we do something immediately. 

And I believe everybody will understand 

me if you really intend to fight corruption. 

Would you consider an amnesty for 

people who have been involved in corrupt 

practices? 

Why not? I give you an example of Turkey. 

The country gave an amnesty and all the 

money abroad came back to Turkey and the 

government said ‘when you bring the 

money, there is even no taxation. We want 

you to invest in manufacturing, technology, 

real estate. And look at Turkey today. It’s 

like any other European country in terms 

of development. And they drew a line. Why 

not? We could consider it. 

Personally, I have considered it. Yes, it will 

be problematic but what have they been 

able to achieve? Let me tell you what we 

achieved when we came into office to fight 

corruption: there was a recovery panel set 

up by (former) President Obasanjo under 

my chairmanship with the then Attorney 

General and the National Security Adviser. 

And by calling various people who had 

been alleged to have stolen money, we 

recovered over $4 billion which we paid 

back into the treasury. If you were to go and 

prosecute these people, up till now, you 

would still be prosecuting them and that 

money would have been denied. 

It all depends on what you intend to 

achieve whether it is moral rectitude or you 

want to see a fast development of your 

country from proceeds of corruption. 

The United States Senate Committee 

mentioned your wife by name in a case 

involving Siemens which was fined on 

charges of corruption. What are your views 

involving that specific case in which your 

wife was fingered? 

My view about it is that my wife has not 

been indicted, my wife has not been 

charged. So, I don’t accept that view. 

Do you feel the need to clear this since it 

is like a moral burden on you? 

The company was fined for a number of 

offences committed, not necessarily on the 

issue of my wife’s account. What I can tell 

you is that my wife has never been indicted 

and never been charged. So, there is no way 

you can hold my wife accountable. My wife 

is an American, mark you. There is no way 

they would not have charged her to court 

or indicted her if she was guilty. 

Has she been to America since that report 

came out? 

She has been travelling to America. Of 

course, she does very regularly. One other 

serious corruption that is facing us is 

elections rigging. It is also a form of 

corruption. Why can’t we have an Election 

Fraud Commission so that we bring to book 

any individual whether he is a member of 

any political party or a staff of INEC or even 

a member of the security services who 

infringes on electoral laws? It is becoming 

a very serious issue. So, if it requires us to 

have a special investigation bureau called 

Election Fraud Commission, why not? 

This country requires a leadership that is 

pro-business, pro-private sector so that we 

can get out of this mess that we found 

ourselves. 21 million young men and 

women unemployed, we have never had it 

this bad in this country. 

What are your plans for the poorest of 

the poor? 

We have moved people into the middle 

class during the PDP administration than 

we have in the APC administration today. 

The middle class is completely eliminated. 

And you have to have a middle class before 

you can uplift the ones on the bottom 

because it doesn’t just happen like that. 

Does this mean if you become President, 

Nigeria’s poor people will have to wait a 

little while? 

One of our major plans is to create jobs. 

And the greatest job creation sector in this 

country is agriculture. Our agricultural 

policy seeks to empower the farmers to be 

more commercially oriented. Where they 

cannot, we have a system whereby they 

will be supported and assisted. 

How is it different from the Anchor 

Borrowers’ programme of the Buhari 

administration? 

Go to Kebbi and see whether it is not 

fake. It is fake! You have the rice farmers 

(in Kebbi) but how many of them? They are 

very few instead of them to expand (to other 

states). 

It is the same programme but you will 

just do it better? 

In fact, the PDP was doing it better when 

we introduced the purchase of fertilizer 

on mobile phones and our agricultural 

output was much higher than the present 

administration. 

The country gave 

an amnesty and 

all the money 

abroad came back 

to Turkey and the 

government said 

‘when you bring 

the money, there 

is even no 

taxation 

Given what Obasanjo said about you in 

his book, ‘ My Watch’, why should 

Nigerians employ you? 

You must know that nobody has been 

investigated by Obasanjo more than 

myself. If Obasanjo could not find me guilty 

of any wrongdoing, then I don’t think those 

statements stand. 

Did he lie about you? 

I am not here to say that. It is up to my 

employers to say if I have been employed 

or not. But if I was the most investigated 

politician or public officer and I was not 

found wanting, then it is up to my employer 

to believe what has been said or not. 

How do you intend to end the lingering 

herders-farmers clashes in Nigeria? 

I believe that the best solution to the 

farmers-herdsmen is to try and enlighten 

our herdsmen on the use of feeding lots, 

which can conveniently be established all 

over the country. Because we have a number 

of factories that are producing animal 

feeds. There is need for an extensive public 

enlightenment with these herders. To adopt 

this solution is a way to minimizing as 

much as possible the herdsmen-farmers 

clashes. It is an old conflict dating back to 

the years of the Prophet. America has faced 

the same thing. Eventually, the solution 

they found was the establishment of 

feeding lots all over the country. There, 

even the herders will find that their cattle 

have more milk and more beef. And 

therefore they can earn better income if they 

adopt that system. 

How will it work? 

Each state government through extension 

services can enlighten the herders. It used 

to happen before. Only that it has been 

abandoned. And if you enlighten and teach 

them how they can remain in one place 

with the feed lots, it can help. It costs a 

little bit of money but the income they are 

going to generate from the milk and beef 

will far exceed their expenses. It has to be 

over a period of time. 

Are you aware that some states may not 

like that? 

When we introduced nomadic education, 

at least we were able to get them to settle 

in one place. Now the nomadic education 

system was abandoned. I have a guy who 

is today a PhD holder. He started from 

nomadic school. 

What is your opinion about the antigrazing 

law in Benue state? 

We have to look at the constitutionality 

of those laws. I am not sure whether they 

come with the provisions of our constitution 

which guarantees free movement and the 

right to decide wherever you decide to live 

in the country. 

People are saying that privatization 

under you as head of the economic council 

during your time as Vice President, was not 

a huge success as you claim. How will you 

react to that? 

Well, in any policy that you implement, 

you are bound to find some mistakes here 

and there. But in the overall, if you look at 

the reform of our government and also 

theprivatization, you will find out that it 

was a huge success. 

What did you do then as Vice President 

that you will not do if elected as President? 

I will give you an example: when we were 

in office, we sent a bill to the National 

Assembly to make education compulsory 

for every Nigerian child from primary to 

secondary education. But you know, 

education is virtually a state and local 

government affair. And as a result of that 

legislation, we established the Universal 

Basic Education and also imposed taxes. 

And all these revenue were remitted to 

states and local governments to help 

educate these poor Nigerians who cannot 

get education. Eventually, most of these 

monies were mismanaged at the state and 

local government levels. And going 

through the legislation, I discovered that 

we made a mistake. We did not have a 

provision to penalize any level of 

government if they fail to implement those 

policies. And I think if I have another 

opportunity, I will return the law to the 

National Assembly and insert a penalty 

clause to say where a state or local 

government is given money to invest in 

public education and it decides not to do 

so, we will have the right to penalize or 

take their money from even the Federation 

Account. And intervene directly in the 

education of those kids. 

Let me tell you what I did. When I was 

Vice President, I took a tour to Anambra 

State during the administration of 

Governor (Chinwoke) Mbadinuju. I found 

out that the public schools were closed for 

two years. I came back and meet the 

President and said: ‘This governor will 

never be allowed to go back’. He said: 

‘Why?’ I said I found out that all the public 

schools in Anambra State have been 

overtaken by weeds. For two years, they 

were not open. Believe me; I made sure 

Mbadinuju never went back. This is how I 

feel about education. But for education, I 

will not be what I am today. 

If you lose the election, will you accept 

the results? 

If the elections are adjudged to be free, 

fair and credible- why not? I have lost 

elections before.


Polls: 

Buhari’s 

difficult permutations 

in the South-South 

From the First Republic, the South-South had almost flowed with the core North in 

party politics, the exception being 2015 when a South-South candidate was the 

candidate of a major political party. With the two major candidates from the core 

North, the relationship between the nation’s oil producing region and the core 

North is a little more complicated. 

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor 

The unfolding problems of the 

embattled Chief Justice of Nigeria, 

Justice Walter Onnoghen should 

ordinarily be a matter of alleged corruption. 

However, against the trend of the 

appointments made by President 

Muhammadu Buhari and his proclivities, 

the development has again brought to fore 

the perception of the president and the 

ruling All Progressives Congress, APC in 

the South-South region. 

Justice Onnoghen, it would be recalled, 

had his nomination as CJN stalled for 

almost three months until the president 

went on medical vacation. The nomination 

was eventually forwarded to the Senate just 

days before the statutory deadline by 

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo in March 

2017. 

Before the ensuing crisis over Justice 

Onnoghen’s suspension, another person 

from the region, Bayelsa born Matthew 

Seiyefa had upon the removal of the 

erstwhile director-general of the 

Department of State Services, DSS been 

appointed acting director-general of the 

agency in August 2017. Just like 

Onnoghen, his appointment was 

essentially based on ranking, being the 

next in line in the bureaucracy in the DSS. 

He was appointed by Osinbajo in acting 

capacity following the dismissal of Lawal 

Daura, the Katsina born operative who was 

earlier brought from retirement by Buhari 

to head the agency. 

However, Seiyefa spent barely a month in 

office and was removed by Buhari and 

Yusuf Bichi, another retired operative from 

Kano was appointed in his place. 

The controversies over the two 

appointments reflect a growing chasm 

between the region and the president who 

is now seeking a second term in office. 

Before now, the South-South and the core 

North had almost flowed together from the 

First Republic when the Northern 

dominated government 

helped in the creation of 

Mid-West Region. 

In the Second Republic 

that relationship was 

demonstrated in victories 

for the National Party of 

Nigeria, NPN in the Old 

Rivers and the former Cross 

River State. By 1983, the 

former Bendel State had 

been added to the kitty. 

However, President 

Buhari’s seeming distrust 

for people from the South- 

South for high-level 

appointments is one that is 

now causing concern 

among people of the 

region. 

Remarkably, the 

president’s drive for a 

second term is on the 

surface being driven by two 

prominent persons from 

the South-South, Rotimi 

Amaechi, director-general 

and Festus Keyamo, the 

spokesman. 

It is a sort of irony that 

some leading stakeholders 

from the region do not find 

any funny. 

One of the leading activists 

from the region, Dr. Don 

Pedro, convener of the Midwest Movement 

was unbothered by the prominent roles of 

Amaechi and Keyamo in the Buhari reelection 

campaign as much as Buhari’s 

intentions towards the region. 

“I’m unconcerned by judgments made by 

individuals. It’s their choice to sell their 

birthrights for porridge if they so wish,” he 

told Saturday Vanguard. 

“As a Midwestern and President of the 

Midwest Movement of Edo and Delta 

States, I’m more concerned about the rape 

on our commonwealth. I find no direct 

correlation between the choices of the 

people you mentioned and the coup and 

constitutional crisis that we’ve been thrown 

into,” Dr. Pedro added. 

Indeed going into the election, the issue of 

appointments have not been raised as a 

major campaign issue despite the effort by 

some to raise it to the front burner. 

Indeed, Buhari’s replacement of South- 

South born Dr. Goodluck Jonathan as 

president in 2015 has for many of the 

people of the region turned into a 

lamentation. Though the immediate past 

administration did not give many 

advantages to the region, the perception 

that the people were not seen to be 

marginalized in the distribution of critical 

appointments and infrastructure was not an 

issue. 

A chieftain of the All Progressives 

Congress, APC in Delta State, Mr. Efe 

Dukku, however, posits that the president 

has achieved in the South-South, saying 

that the administration has flagged off 

many construction projects in the region 

and also given appointments to the region. 

“Regarding appointments, the facts confirm 

that Mr. President is fair to us, though we 

want more as is often the case in a 

democracy. In Delta alone, we have the 

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, 

the Governor of the Central Bank, a 

Commissioner and an Executive Director 

(Projects - now Acting) at the Niger Delta 

Development Commission, an Executive 

Director at NEXIM 

Bank in the person of 

Hon. Stella Okotete, 

Indeed, the launch of 

the APC presidential 

campaign in Uyo, 

Akwa Ibom was for 

some observers, an 

opportunity for the 

president to use it to 

showcase the 

achievements of the 

administration if not, 

then in the South- 

South and Akwa Ibom 

State in particular 

two Executive 

Directors at the Niger 

Delta River Basin 

Authority, and a 

F e d e r a l 

Commissioner at the 

National Population 

Commission in the 

person of the very well 

respected Sir Richard 

Odibo. 

“The Special 

Assistant to President 

Buhari on Social 

Media, Ms. Lauretta 

Onochie is a Deltan. 

Mr. Festus Keyamo 

(SAN), another 

Deltan, is on the 

board of the Nigerian 

Deposits Insurance 

Corporation (NDIC). 

The Managing 

Director of Nigerian 

Railways Corporation 

(NRC) is from Edo 

State. Of course, the 

Honorable Minister 

for Transportation, His 

Excellency Rotimi 

Amaechi is from 

Rivers.” 

•President 

Muhammadu Buhari 

Mr. Duku’s assertion is, however, flagged 

down by other critics. 

“Could you have expected the president not 

to appoint a minister from the state or a 

commissioner for NDDC from Katsina,” 

one critic said in reaction to Duku’s 

comment. 

“When the president flagged off his 

campaign in Akwa Ibom, you could notice 

that there was nothing he could say that 

he has done for the region. Nothing. Even 

the mere courtesy of identifying with the 

people through state visits is not something 

that they can boast about,” the observer 

said. 

Indeed, the launch of the APC presidential 

campaign in Uyo, Akwa Ibom was for some 

observers, an opportunity for the president 

to use it to showcase the achievements of 

the administration if not, then in the South- 

South and Akwa Ibom State in particular. 

Despite Duku’s claims, one political actor 

in the region said: 

“We watched to see what the president 

would say he has done for the South-South 

or even for Akwa Ibom in terms of project 

delivery, but we could find none.” 

However, the administration’s challenges 

in the region may not be wholly for lack of 

effort. Political considerations and 

bureaucracy may have also impacted 

negatively in the assessment of the 


Beyond the skepticism that comes from the 

imbalanced appointments of the 

administration is the fact that local politics, 

especially in Rivers and Akwa Ibom, have 

beclouded the assessment of the 


In Rivers State, the Ognoi Clean Up project 

which was announced at the inception of 

the administration was largely welcomed 

as a bold initiative. However, for more than 

two years after it was conceived the project 

remained in the drawing board choked in 

bureaucracy. 

The perception of the APC was not helped 

by the cantankerous relationship between 

Governor Nyesom Wike and his 

predecessor, Amaechi who is himself one 

of the leading lights of the present 


Mr. Nsima Ekere, the erstwhile managing 

director of the Niger Delta Development 

Commission, NDDC and presently the 

APC governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom 

was pigeonholed as an agent of the APC. 

His efforts as the helmsman of the NDDC 

were largely clouded by political hues by 

both supporters of the APC and their PDP 

rivals. 

It was as such no surprise that Governor 

Udom Emmanuel and his officials in the 

past challenged the NDDC to detail 

impactful projects embarked upon by the 

commission in the state. 

The APC’s determination to make a strong 

showing in the South-South is 

underpinned by the recruitment of strong 

political leaders from the region into the 

party. Besides Amaechi and the national 

chairman of the party, Comrade Adams 

Oshiomhole who were foundation members 

of the party, the party has in recent times 

recruited at least two of the immediate 

former governors from the region into the 

party. 

Senator Godswill Akpabio and Dr. 

Emmanuel Uduaghan, the immediate 

former governors of Akwa Ibom and Delta 

States respectively are about the two major 

forces the party is depending on to swing 

to victory in the two states. 

It would be make belief for the PDP to 

believe that the Akpabio phenomenon 

would be of little effect in the election, 

especially in the presidential given the fact 

that Akpabio is also on the ballot in the 

Senate contest. 

As a commissioner for six years and 

governor for eight years, his structure in the 

state would be of benefit to the APC in 

Akwa Ibom. 

However, sentiments and gaffes that 

followed Akpabio’s defection in August 2018 

such as the declaration that the election 

would be war have seriously eroded his 

influence. Despite micromanaging the 2015 

succession that brought in the present 

governor and members of the House of 

Assembly, only five members out of 26 

members identify with him. 

In Delta State, stakeholders are watching 

how Uduaghan who as an incumbent 

governor could not stop Senator Ifeanyi 

Okowa from becoming governor would be 

able to do it from outside. 

The APC’s challenge in the South-South is 

also compounded by President Buhari’s 

failure to sign the Petroleum Industry Bill, 

PIB as passed by the National Assembly. 

The president vetoed the bill which even 

though watered down from the original 

concept was still grudgingly accepted by 

political stakeholders from the region.


ATIKU/OBI: 

The Kadaria Ahmed 

Inquisition 

By Emmanuel Aziken 

The high point of the emotive 

interview session between the 

celebrated broadcast journalist, 

Kadaria Ahmed and the pair of Atiku 

Abubakar and Peter Obi was perhaps the 

point when she said she was not an 

apologist for the APC. 

“Anytime I push at you it would seem I 

want to speak for the APC, but I don’t want 

to,” the veteran broadcast journalist Ms. 

Ahmed said just about midway into the 

feisty interview session with the PDP 

candidate and his running mate. 

The remark came after she cut off Mr. Obi 

who had in defence of his and Atiku’s 

aspiration recalled the promises of the 

present government prior to coming to 

power. 

“They promised to make naira (and 

dollar) one to one,” Obi said and was 

immediately cut off by Ahmed. But he was 

unrelenting as he begged to make his 

point. 

“They promised that they were going to 

end Boko Haram in six months, they 

promised that they were going to give 

Nigeria power, they promised fuel 

would be N47…they promised to create 

3 million jobs, but we have lost 18 

million jobs,” bringing the moderator 

to intervene again as she charged them 

to focus on what they were doing. 

As Ahmed was pressing, so was the 

pair of Atiku and Obi resilient 

poohpoohing her claims to rubbish the 

assertions they sought to portray. 

After her respectful, but yet assertive 

interrogation of the All Progressives 

Congress, APC candidates, 

Muhammadu Buhari, and Yemi 

Osinbajo, few had expected Ms. Ahmed 

to do any less on the Peoples Democratic 

Party, PDP candidates, Atiku, and Obi. 

The session with President Buhari left 

many Nigerians including some 

officials of the Buhari campaign in sore 

mood. Many of them with the notable 

exception of the chief of staff, Abba Kyari 

were seen with worried faces during that 

interaction. 

The president’s responses to many of the 

questions were often wrong to the extent 

that Ms. Ahmed severally interjected to 

redirect him. She inevitably 

won plaudits when at one 

time she stepped in to stop 

Prof. Osinbajo from 

speaking when she directed 

a question to Buhari saying, 

“he can speak for himself.” 

The session with Atiku 

and Obi, however, lacked 

any period of soothing as 

from the onset after asking 

Atiku to define corruption, 

Ms. Ahmed engaged the 

pair in a combative 

interview. 

Ahmed started by asking 

Atiku to define corruption, 

and the candidate said it 

was the enrichment of self, 

friends, and family through 

crooked means otherwise 

abuse of office. 

Following that, she now 

asked him whether his 

decision to set up a logistics 

company while still serving 

as a customs officer was not 

an act of corruption. Atiku’s 

response was that it was 

akin to share purchase 

following the then military 

g o v e r n m e n t ’ s 

Indigenization programme. 

She was, however, 

unrelenting as she pressed 

Undoubtedly one 

of the most tricky 

times for Atiku was 

the question from a 

member of the 

audience called by 

Ms. Ahmed to 

question the 

candidates 

him on the concession to the same company 

to run a monopoly at Onne Port while he 

was vice-president. 

Atiku firmly rejected the charge asserting 

that it was no monopoly saying that other 

companies were also involved in the same 

business. His attempt to mention some 

others were, however, 

brushed aside as she 

moved on to Obi who she 

alleged invested $30 

million of Anambra State 

government funds in a 

company he had interest 

in 

Ȯbi also fended off the 

accusation as he affirmed 

that though he invited the 

brewery into the state and 

was offered 15% equity, but 

that he turned it down but 

eventually invested $30 

million of the state’s funds 

into the project. He said 

that investment had now 

progressed to $100 million. 

Atiku was also 

challenged on the 

mentioning of his wife in 

the Federal Bureau of 

Investigation, FBI report 

on William Jefferson. The 

candidate in his response 

said yes, his wife was 

mentioned but was never 

charged or indicted for 

impropriety. 

“My wife was not 

indicted, was not charged, so I have no view 

about it. The company was fined for a 

number of offences committed, not 

necessarily for anything to do with my wife. 

My wife is an American citizen so there is 

no way that she would not have been 

charged.” 

As Ms. Ahmed charged on, Atiku 

rebuffed the insinuation of the complicity 

of his wife saying that if she were culpable 

that she would have been charged. 

He was asked whether his wife had 

travelled to America since then, the 

candidate said that she had regularly been 

traveling to the United States without any 

challenge. 

Undoubtedly one of the most tricky times 

for Atiku was the question from a member 

of the audience called by Ms. Ahmed to 

question the candidates. The man had 

taken time to quote from a passage in 

President Olusegun Obasanjo’s book where 

he described Atiku in scathingly remarks 

short of calling him a thief. The man then 

followed by asking Atiku if somebody 

would such a referral should apply for a job 

in his company how he would deal with 

him? 

Responding, Atiku said, “If the man has 

changed his mind and said that I 

recommend him as the best, then I have 

nothing to say.” As Ms. Ahmed pressed him 

to elaborate, Atiku said he was about the 

most investigated person during the 

Obasanjo’s administration and that 

nothing criminal was found against him. 

Another sore point in the interview was 

Ms. Ahmed’s challenge that Atiku’s wealth 

and experience in government had not 

translated positively for Adamawa State 

which she said moved only barely in the 

poverty ranking among states. She also said 

that aside government Atiku was the next 

biggest employer in the state. She argued 

that if Atiku was successful that would not 

be so. 

Responding, Atiku faulted Ms. Ahmed 

saying that her stance on Adamawa was 

wrong even as he said listed some of his 

acts towards boosting the condition of lives 

of the people of the state. He said he set up 

a micro-finance bank which he said had 

lifted at least 45,000 families out of poverty 

in Adamawa and besides some other 

endowments including a fund for the 

treatment of indigent patients in 

Yola Hospital. 

In Mr. Obi’s perception, 

Ms. Ahmed’s assertion that 

Atiku did not create other 

multi-billionaires like him 

was not a mark of failure. 

Obi also said that Atiku 

being the next biggest 

employer of labour after 

state government should 

be seen as a huge credit 

for the man who now 

wants to serve Nigeria 

as President, 

meaning that as 

President he would 

do more. Obi 

reminded Ms Ahmed 

that no other 

Presidential 

candidate in Nigeria 

today could boast of 

such achievements. 

He said that Atiku 

should be seen as a 

success! Indeed, many 

PDP sympathisers who 

were present at the 

interview session saw it 

as a success, especially 

the fact that none of the 

candidates broke down 

under the pressing 

inquisition of the 

moderator. 

Senator Ben 

Murray-Bruce 

who was present 

in the hall 

lauded the 

performance of 

the PDP 

candidates in a 

series of tweets. 

“ U n d e r 

pressure, @atiku 

did not crack. 

This is kind of 

leader Nigeria 

needs. A leader 

who will never 

crack under 

pressure. This is 

why I will vote 

for Atiku. 

#NGCandidates 

“ T h e 

environment 

was hostile, yet 

@atiku was friendly and professional. That 

is Leadership in action. A man who does 

not react to his environment, but responds 

with his principle. #NGTheCandidates,” 

he tweeted. 

Former Buhari supporter, newspaper 

publisher, Dele Momodu who was also 

present in his tweet said: 

“I think whosoever watched the ATIKU 

ABUBAKAR and PETER OBI performance 

tonight would have decided who to vote for 

on February 16, 2019. 

“As for me and my house, I think ATIKU 

ABUBAKAR is far better than 

MUHAMMADU BUHARI, but YEMI 

OSINBAJO and PETER OBI can duel.” 

The night after the interview, the Buhari 

Campaign responded as it accused the pair 

of Atiku and Obi of several lies during the 

interview session. 

The Buhari Campaign in a statement 

issued by campaign spokesman, Festus 

Keyamo on Thursday said: 

“Atiku/Obi made it clear to Nigerians that 

conflict of interests as a public servant 

should be the norm as, during their tenures, 

they found absolutely nothing wrong then 

and today, with investing public funds in 

enterprises they own or their families own. 

“Their claim on experience in running 

anything public or private cannot stand any 

act of scrutiny. The Presidential candidate, 

who is easily a major contributor to our 

huge unemployment problem today as a 

result of his corrupt privatisation 

programme, counts this failure as a huge 

experience and wants to repeat same if 

elected. 

He concluded by saying that Nigeria’s 

commonwealth would be in grave danger 

if left in the custody of the PDP candidate.

18—SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 2 , 2019 

Media 

Endorsement 

of Okowa 

By Julius Oweh 

President Muhammadu Buhari 

apart from his integrity quotient 

is not a man given to flattery 

and when he says a word, that is 

usually his bond. Buhari and Governor 

Ifeanyi Okowa do not belong to the 

same political party but that in no way 

has affected the state of amity between 

the two men. And not too long ago, 

Buhari in an unusual gesture very rare 

in our political clime described Okowa 

as the most media friendly governor in 

the country. This was no mean feat for 

Okowa and this description was not lost 

on the array of mass media 

organizations in the country. 

Thus recently, prominent media 

organizations in the mould of Vanguard 

newspaper, Independent newspaper 

and DAAR communications, the owners 

of AIT and Raypower radio rolled out the 

drums to celebrate the numerous 

achievements of Governor Okowa. 

These media houses by their gesture are 

not only endorsing the many 

achievements of the Delta State 

government under the able captainship 

of Okowa but also part of the status 

conferral role of the mass media. That 

apart from the roles of information, 

education, entertainment, merchandise 

and setting agenda for government, the 

media can also monitor the activities of 

those in power, holding them 

accountable to the electorate and confer 

on them special status for work done. It 

is in this province the 

various awards 

received by the 

governor recently can 

be situated. 

The Independent 

newspaper named 

Okowa as the governor 

of the year for his 

diligent delivery of 

democratic dividends 

and working to make 

Nigerian democracy 

better. In the case of 

DAAR communication, 

the governor bagged 

the award of 

outstanding governor 

of the year in the area 

of job creation. The 

Vanguard award was 

also predicated in 

f a i t h f u l 

implementation of 

programmes and 

delivery of democratic 

dividends to the 

people. 

Speaking at the 

Independent 

newspaper award 

ceremony which was 

held at Eko Hotel, 

Lagos, the governor 

said that he was very 

appreciative that his efforts at 

enhancing the welfare and security of 

the people are being recognized. He 

also thanked the organizers for finding 

him wealthy of the award and honour. 

He opened up on the achievements :‘ 

Recall that last year I was here to receive 

the “Man of The Year Award, 2017“ 

and I am honoured again today, these 

are possible because we are in perfect 

relationship with our people back home. 

I thank God for His blessings, though, 

the terrain was tough , I am able to 

succeed with our people because of 

the experience we have garnered in the 

act of governance over the years; in 

partnership with all Deltans that are 

now, more united than ever, as a 

government, we will continue to ensure 

good governance and better days ahead 

for us all. I am comfortable saying that 

we are achieving results which has 

earned us several awards, including this 

Governor Of The Year Award because of 

partnership, positive partnership that 

brings confidence and satisfaction to our 

people no matter where they may be 

and as an individual, I will continue to 

appreciate Deltans for the genuine 

partnership with my administration.‘ 

The testimony at the DAAR 

communication on the award of 

Governor Okowa as outstanding 

governor of the year in job creation by 

the organizers was more of a catalogue 

of the achievements of the man. This is 

These media houses 

by their gesture are 

not only endorsing 

the many 

achievements of the 

Delta State 

government under 

the able captainship 

of Okowa but also 

part of the status 

conferral role of the 

mass media 

how Daar Communications, owners 

of African Independent Television (AIT) 

and Ray Power FM said of the award: 

‘Governor Okowa is a man whose life has 

been dedicated to public service. 

Despite the economic challenges that 

greeted his assumption of office, 

Governor Okowa has 

displayed remarkable 

resourcefulness, 

resilience, and strong 

managerial acumen 

as reflected in the 

spread 

of 

infrastructural 

projects across the 

three senatorial 

districts, employment 

generation and 

n o t a b l e 

transformation in the 

education sector. In 

less than four years, 

his administration has 

embarked upon 357 

road projects, 

comprising 1, 056. 15 

kms of roads and 

352.78 kms of drains; 

also, 

his 

administration has 

trained and 

established 4, 253 

young graduates in 

their choice 

enterprise, while 16, 

081 others have been 

trained and 

empowered to grow 

their businesses. 

Under him, Delta 

State was in 2017, 

ranked number one among the 36 states 

and the Federal Capital Territory in 

human capital development by the 

National Competitive Council of 

Nigeria‘. 

Ogbueshi Patrick Ukah, the 

Information Commissioner and the chief 

image maker of government could not 

hide his joy over the avalanche of 

awards got by his principal, Governor 

Ifeanyi Okowa saying that these awards 

have disarmed his critics who continue 

to deny the existence of Okowa‘s 

achievements . He argued thus on the 

relevance of the awards : ‘This is a 

testimony and evidence to what we 

know and the world now know it is the 

truth that Governor Okowa has done 

very well in serving Deltans; I am happy 

today that everybody can testify that this 

government has performed and as the 

Commissioner for Information, I am 

happy that my job has been made easy, 

the world is aware of the performance of 

the governor; they are all saying 

congratulations but, they have not seen 

the best of Governor Okowa, in the next 

four years, it will all be thanksgiving, 

thanksgiving, and thanksgiving‘. 

The chairman of the state PDP, the 

party on which platform Okowa is 

etching his name in gold, Barrister 

Kingsley Esiso described the various 

awards bestowed on Governor Ifeanyi 

Okowa as a hallmark of development of 

the governor. 

He said that Okowa’s performance; in 

spite of the poor economic situation of 

the country before now is a testimony of 

development that makes Deltans to 

believe in the governor’s developmental 

strides. 

Esiso explained further: ‘It will only 

take a man that is hungry for 

development to be Governor of Delta, 

Delta State is not a one-sided state 

because of the multiplicity of the various 

ethnic groups and that it is not a place 

that, when you build a dam, 50 

communities can benefit from it. In Delta 

the governor is identifying with the 

people’s felt needs and concentrating on 

them.` 

Speaking to the press on the various 

media awards, Dr Timi Tonye, a state 

legislator and chairman of publicity 

committee of Delta State PDP Campaign 

Organization said Okowa by these 

awards remain the man to beat in March 

2, governorship polls. He bared his 

sentiments: ‘The awards are recognition 

of excellence. If you are doing the right 

thing as a governor and people from far 

and near will recognize it, these are no 

mean achievements. They are just 

recognition for hard work and 

deliverance of democratic dividends. We 

are happy as a government. And as the 

governor has spoken as various fora in 

receiving these awards, these awards are 

dedicated to all Deltans.‘ 

It could also be recalled that while 

speaking last week in Lagos while 

receiving the Vanguard award, the 

governor dedicated all the awards to all 

Deltans, adding that the award will serve 

as spring board for more hard work and 

dedication to duties. His views : ‘I thank 

Deltans for their partnership and I’m 

happy to dedicate this award to them. 

Deltans are wonderful, understanding 

people; through collaborative efforts, we 

have made great impact on the provision 

of infrastructure and development of our 

people, to achieve prosperity for all 

Deltans. In the next four years, we hope 

to build on the successes we’ve made, 

thus far. With God and effective 

partnership, we can. ‘ 

The views of Buhari that Okowa is a 

media friendly governor could not get 

better practical ventilation than the 

various endorsements by the media 

houses. It is another affirmation that the 

status conferral of the media is being taken 

to its logical conclusion by the 

management of Independent newspaper, 

Vanguard newspaper and DAAR 

communications.


Pressure mounts 

on Assembly to 

shelve Ambode’s 

impeachment 

•As lawmakers weigh options 

By Olasunkanmi Akoni 

Uncertainty currently pervades the 

Lagos House, Office of Governor 

Akinwunmi Ambode and State 

House of Assembly Complex, Alausa, Ikeja, 

following move by lawmakers to impeach the 

governor over alleged infractions and due 

process regarding both the 2018 budgetary 

provisions and the 2019 Appropriation Bill 

which is yet to be approved. 

The lawmakers had on Monday given the 

governor one week to appear before it to 

address the issues and respond appropriately 

or risk impeachment. 

Citing the 1999 constitution, the lawmakers 

alleged that the governor, who was yet to lay 

the budget before the house for consideration, 

was already spending from the state funds, an 

action they described as an “aberration.” 

The House of Assembly had lamented that 

the 2018 budget did not perform above 50 per 

cent after deliberating on the report of a special 

ad-hoc committee set up on budget performance 

in the state. 

Vanguard had reported that there were 

unresolved issues between the lawmakers and 

Governor Ambode, which delayed the passage 

and signing into law of 2019 budget. 

However, in spite of the threat, Ambode 

seemed unperturbed as he continued to keep 

mute over the development and barely 24 hours 

after the threat, Ambode led few executive 

members on inspections of some projects in 

Lekki area of the state. 

At the plenary on Monday, 36 out of the 40 

members of the Assembly, rolled out many 

reasons why the governor must appear before 

it or face the sledge hammer of impeachment. 

It was gathered that in a move to save their 

faces after public outburst, the lawmakers, 

particularly the leadership had been involved 

in series of marathon emergency meetings in 

order to give the governor a soft landing at the 

end of the day without resorting to 

impeachment. 

Many believed that the development which 

has elicited various reactions from the public, 

was the handiwork of “fifth columnists” bent 

on disgracing the governor out of office, even 

after his party, the All Progressives Congress, 

APC, had denied him ticket for second term. 

According to one of the public commentators, 

“the lawmakers could not have carried out the 

threat without the blessing of the leadership of 

the party in the state. This is like applying the 

sledge hammer to kill a fly. The governor has 

been disgracefully denied of a second term 

ticket, is that not enough for him to be left alone 

and be allowed to walk away? He has two 

months to go, after all.” 

All efforts to speak with any of the APC 

executives in Lagos at press time were 

unsuccessful as they declined comment on the 

issue. 

However, an official of APC who spoke with 

Vanguard on condition of anonymity blamed 

the governor for “grandstanding” instead of 

“playing ball” as a politician. 

In a new twist, a group sympathetic to the 

governor, stormed the Assembly Complex last 

Wednesday to protest the impeachment plan 

by the lawmakers. 

Lagos Liberation Movement, LLM, in a 

statement by the convener, comrade Mark 

Adebayo said, it viewed the latest move against 

Ambode as the “height of legislative rascality 

and abuse of office by the lawmakers.” 

The group accused the Assembly of having 

deviated from its statutory responsibility of law 

making, and planning to hijack executive 

responsibilities. “It beats our imagination that 

Lagos State, that should play the leading role 

when it comes to democratic practices and 

respect for the rule of law would be 

disgracing itself before the nation and the 

international community with this kind of 

development, being embarked upon by 

the Obasa led House”, the group said. 

While condemning the people’s 

representatives, LLM called on President 

Muhammadu Buhari to prevail on 

National Leader of APC, BolaTinubu not 

to proceed with the impeachment plan as 

such would be self-destructive, saying it 

was important for the APC to sort out its 

internal conflicts without putting the whole 

state into crises. 

“We will like to reiterate that Ambode is 

the governor of Lagos State and not the 

governor of the APC. If they have internal 

issues within their Party that should not 

be allowed to negatively affect the smooth 

running of government and make people 

suffer. The whole state cannot be reduced 

to the parochial shenanigans of a highly 

corrupted political family. 

“The office of governor of Lagos State is 

beyond Ambode and as such any further 

humiliation, disrespect and 

embarrassment from any quarter 

will be utterly resisted by the 

people. Lagosians are 

unequivocal in their view that 

Ambode is a performing governor 

based on his style of governance 

and project execution, and as 

such, any further attack on him 

will be tantamount to attacking 

the people. And no one can win 

against the people,” Adebayo 

said. 

Earlier, Tuesday, another 

statement was released by a 

group under the umbrella of The 

Legislative Probity and 

Accountability (LPA), through its 

Chairman, Olu Fajana, which 

asked the Assembly to account for 

the N28.8 billion it collected as 

running cost under Obasa’s 

leadership. 

Meanwhile, some of the groups, 

have called on the Lagos House 

of Assembly to justify the 

expenditure of N350,000,000 it 

got from the State Government to 

host conference of speakers. The 

speaker requested for the money 

from the state government on June 22, 2018. 

The groups also asked: “Is it true that 

the Lagos Assembly Speaker and six 

Assembly members got N51 million for a 

summit in Vienna, Austria on 18 th and 

22 th September 2018 but did not attend.? 

“Is it true that members get N2 million 

impress monthly and the House gets a 

monthly allocation of N650 million from 

the state government? 

“Is it true that the House spends N30 

million monthly to take care of the 

environment of the assembly? Can we know 

the exact details,?” they asked. 

Ambode must do the needful—Majority Leader 

By MEbun Sessou 

r. Sanai Agunbiade is the 

Majority Leader in the Lagos 

State House of Assembly. In 

this interview, he speaks on the issue of 

budget infractions and the impeachment 

threat against the state Governor Mr. 

Akinwunmi Ambode 

Why is impeachment against the 

governor coming now? 

There is no budget before the House of 

Assembly. Budget estimate is to be 

considered and passed by the legislature. 

So, we are anxious to receive it and all 

through last year, there were arguments 

whether it was before the House of 

Assembly and we kept saying that it was 

not before the House of assembly because 

it had not been laid. We were willing to 

take the budget but we did not have the 

budget. 

And asides from that, what we 

discovered was that expenditure has been 

incurred and warrants have been issued 

in respect of the budget that has not been 

laid before the House of Assembly. This, 

we find as inappropriate and a committee 

was set up. Before this time also, we have 

find some infractions in the 2018 budget, 

where we discovered that some 

expenditures were made aside the 

budget without the approval of the House 

of Assembly. And that takes us to some of 

the allegations that we have read in print 

media and the social media that the 

current disagreement between the 

executive and the legislators was because 

the House of Assembly wanted the 

governor to fund their campaigns. How 

can the governor fund the campaign of 

individuals when we have a Peoples 

Democratic Party member among us? The 

issue we are talking about is the budget. 

We want to say that the House of 

Assembly is doing this in the interest of 

the public and to the extent that we want 

Lagos to continue to flourish without 

compromising the constitution. We have 

made efforts to invite the Governor over 

all these infractions to come and explain 

his own side of the issue. 

Of course, the constitution is so clear 

about what is to be done where there are 

infractions and that was why the issue of 

impeachment came that where these 

infractions continued with impunity and 

nothing was done even when an 

opportunity has been given to clear it, we 

will apply the strict provision of the 

constitution which is impeachment and 

that is why we cannot put the cart before 

the horse. While members of the public 

are calling on the House not to impeach, 

they should also tell the governor to do 

the needful in respect of the budget. This 

is the first time this is happening in the 

history of Lagos State. 

Why are you bringing infractions of the 

2018 budget now? 

The fact is this, when you are operating 

a budget there is something called media 

review, that is, to review the budget as it 

is being spent. And when you gather 

comments from various committees, each 

committee will handle the budget of the 

corresponding Ministries and MDAs and 

will review it once it is passed. Some of 

these issues would have dragged and 

some addressed but if they cannot be 

solved completely before the end of the 

session or before another budget is 

presented, all these issues will be 

addressed while you are defending 

your budget. 

You don’t just present the budget 

and go. You lay your budget and 

the House will now commit it to the 

various committees and you will go 

before the various committees to 

defend your budget estimate for the 

current year vis-a-vis the 

preceeding year and give justification 

why you have to take more or take less, 

why the figures are to be changed. So, 

it is an opportunity for you now to 

answer some questions that have been 

observed. So, if the budget has been 

presented, it would have been 

committed to the committees and 

most of these questions would have 

been asked and answered. 

Another pressure is however coming from 

Mr. Segun Aka-Bashorun, former Vice 

Chairman, Kosofe Local Government Area, and 

an APC chieftain, when he expressed 

displeasure over the action of the Assembly. 

He exonerated Ambode of 

any wrong doing, quoting 

Chapter 5, Part 2 Section 122 

of the Constitution which 

stipulates that, “If the 

Appropriation Bill in respect of 

any financial year has not been 

passed into law by the 

beginning of the financial year, 

the Governor may authorise 

the withdrawal of moneys from 

the Consolidated Revenue 

Fund of the State for the 

purpose of meeting 

expenditure necessary to carry 

on the services of the 

government for a period not 

exceeding six months or until 

the coming into operation of the 

Law, whichever is the earlier: 

Provided that the withdrawal 

in respect of any such period 

shall not exceed the amount 

authorised to be withdrawn 

from the Consolidated 

Revenue Fund of the State 

under the provisions of the 

Appropriation Law passed by 

the House of Assembly for the 

corresponding period in the 

immediately preceding financial year, being an 

amount proportionate to the total amount so 

authorised for the immediately preceding 

financial year.” 

Aka-Bashorun who said he has formed a 

movement against impunity in Lagos said he 

would resist every move of the Assembly to 

impeach the governor. 

He however, challenged the Assembly, 

particularly, the Speaker to explain to the public 

how N800 million monthly running cost was 

spent. 

The leadership of the Assembly has refused 

to respond to the allegations at press time. 

In a new 

twist, a group 

sympathetic 

to the 

governor, 

stormed the 

Assembly 

Complex last 

Wednesday 

to protest the 

impeachment 

plan by the 

lawmakers 

•Sanai 

Agunbiade



Juliet Ibrahim with rapper Iceberg Slim


*Continues from page 21 

Juliet was also reportedly 

stalking one of the Kupe boys 

on Instagram. The actress was 

rumoured to be dating one of the 

Kupe guys, Jim Seuh since they 

broke the internet with their 

video. Having ended her 

relationship with Iceberg, the 

actress appears yet to find 

another partner. However, she 

became a regular commenter on 

the guy’s Instagram posts. In 

one of his posts, she popped up 

a comment saying: “Tuez-moidéja,” 

which in English, means, 

“Kill me already” accompanied 

with a love emoji. In another 

post, Jim Seuh asked who was 

ready for tonight, then Juliet 

Ibrahim relied: “Meeeee” 

But in the wake of her break 

up with Iceberg Slim, the 

mother of one reportedly found 

love in the arms of another 

Nigerian singer, Vector. The duo 

sparked dating rumours on 

social media, but it was not clear 

if they were actually dating. 

Though reports said they were 

Juliet Ibrahim not shying 

away from controversy 

spotted in what could be 

described as a controversial 

position. The duo were sharing 

romantic posts on the internet. 

Yet, the actress turned deaf 

ears to the rumours, as if she had 

cemented her status as ‘a 

beautiful bride’ who seeks 

attention at the slightest 

opportunity. Even if one is not a 

fan of her music or movies, Juliet 

has the influence and reach to 

start conversations and establish 

trends. 

Juliet ‘s controversial nature 

knows no bounds. The actress 

once showed her extremism 

when she revealed that she had 

sex in a public place not 

minding people around. 

Speaking in an interview with 

Tribe TV, the actress said “It was 

just spontaneous; it wasn’t 

planned. We just went all out. 

There were a lot of tourists 

around and nobody could be 

bothered.” She,however, 

advised her teeming fans 

to dare to have sex on the 

beach, too. “You have to be 

very careful when you 

want to do this. You have 

to make sure that 

wherever you are doing it, 

or trying to do it, it’s 

allowed, and it is not like a 

country or place where 

people will find it offensive.” 

The curvy actress further 

declared that she doesn’t care 

if the lights are on or off, when 

she’s Hot. “I can’t be bothered. 

Anything goes,” she said. 

When she’s in love, Juliet said 

that she can ask a man she 

likes for his number, adding “I 

don’t see it as a big deal. If I see 

somebody I like, I wouldn’t want 

the chance to 

pass me by.” 

It’s not for 

nothing that 

she was 

attacked by a 

fan on social 

media who 

accused her of 

sleeping 

*Juliet 

around with various men after 

having a failed union. The 

actress, who never fail to utilize 

every opportunity she has when 

she comes across some big stars 

to snap with them did not 

escape the attack of some of her 

fans as they came trolling on 

her page after she had shared a 

picture of herself with a friend. 

Some of them tongue lashed 

her, advising her to “get a man 

and stop sleeping with stars.” 

Another fan drew her attention 

to the fact that she’s a mother 

and needed to behave herself. 

“Julie you are a mum, stop 

sleeping around.” 

The posts did not go down well 

with the actress as she fired back 

at her critics. Yet, it just goes to 

show that Juliet is far from 

portraying the true virtues 

and ideals of an African 

woman in her deeds and 

actions. Whether it’s for 

publicity slant or attention 

seeking, the Ghanaian 

actress has sparked a 

controversy that would 

continue to haunt her 

career for a long time. 

However, besides her 

shortcomings, Juliet 

Ibrahim has wormed 

herself into the hearts and 

minds of some people with her 

charity works. Just last week, the 

fair-complexioned actress 

organized a getaway trip to 

South Africa on her birthday. 

The actress extended an 

invitation to the public to 

join her and friends on the 

once in a lifetime 

opportunity and exciting life 

adventure. But just as 

controversial actor, Uche 

Maduagwu asked on his recent 

post on Instagram: Why is it 

so difficult for many beautiful 

women to find partners that are 

suitable for the lifelong journey 

of marriage? Think about it... 

* Juliet Ibrahim with rapper 

Iceberg Slim 

NFVCB takes training to P’ Harcourt, Nnewi 

AFTER opening its 2019 

workshop series in Lagos, the 

National Film and Video 

Censors Board (NFVCB) has 

taken its roadshow to the 

South-South and South-East 

zones of the country, making 

stops in Port Harcourt and 

Nnewi last week. 

In Port Harcourt, Rivers 

State, the programme, tagged 

‘Media Literacy Capacity 

Building On Film 

Classification 

& 

Empowerment For Youth’ took 

place from January 15 to16, 

2019 at the Algate Hotel, an 

exercise facilitated by Hon. 

Boma Goodhead in the Asari 

Toru/Akuku Toru Federal 

Constituency. 

Participants had a great time 

interacting with veteran 

actress and youth advocate, 

Hilda Dokubo, a daughter of 

the soil who helmed the talks 

on Film Classification. 

Dokubo spoke with the most 

familiar references, language, 

gags and slangs of Rivers 

people. 

“I’m going to make it as 

interactive as possible,” she 

began, as she threw a 

question that set the ball 

rolling. “When you buy a film, 

how many of you flip to the 

back jacket to see the 

Classification Symbol? She 

asked. None responded in the 

affirmative. “So, that’s a 

problem,” she declared. 

Enumerating some of the 

categories of classification, 

Dokubo explained that there 

was the need to adhere strictly 

to the rules. 

The actress who frowned at 

stereotype contents in 

Nollywood movies pointed out 

that as a way of changing the 

narrative, producers must 

desist from stories that portray 

the police as bribe collectors, 

soldier as civilian beaters, the 

girl-child doing the home 

chores while the boy-child 

plays football, as well as 

* Juliet Ibrahim and actor, IK Ogbonna * Juliet Ibrahim 

movies that portray career 

woman as endangering their 

home and marriage, while the 

full-time housewife is seen as 

the ideal women. 

In Nnewi, the industrial 

nerve of the South East geopolitical 

zone, it was a 

gathering of notable 

stakeholders in the creative 

industry from Nnewi North/ 

South and Ekwusigo Federal 

Constituencies. 

The event which held on 

Thursday, January 17, 2019, 

was an empowerment 

* Actress Hilda Dokubo and Exective Director, NFVCB, 

Alhaji Adedayo Thomas 

workshop for youths in the 

movie and entertainment 

industry from that area. They 

include actors, script writers, 

movie producers and 

directors, marketers, 

costumiers, editors and other 

crew members within the 

movie production chain. In his 

opening remarks, Executive 

Director of the National Film 

and Video Censors Board, 

Alhaji Adedayo Thomas urged 

participants to avail 

themselves of this rear 

opportunity to carve a niche 

for themselves within the 

creative industry. He noted 

that the essence of the training 

was; to develop participants’ 

interest and understanding of 

classification; make 

participants ambassadors of 

film classification by letting 

their children know what to 

watch and watch not to watch; 

and assist in lobbying policy 

makers on important 

c l a s s i f i c a t i o n 

recommendations.

SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 2, 2019 — 23





animals a 


BRODERICK BOZIMO, ELDER STAT 

What Zik taug 

By Emma Amaize, South-South Editor and Chancel Sunday 

W 

HAT immediately strikes a visitor at Canaan Ville, the magnificent residence of elde 

80, at Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area, Delta State, is the r 

Finding by Saturday Vanguard shows that the mansion is a tourist 

of Ijaw stock, in search of natural environment they left in the creek for city 

Ezebiri community in Bomadi local government area of the state, told Satu 

at peace with nature. 

•Alaowei Broderick Bozimo 

That is it…what I have been looking 

for all my life 

I grew up in Warri as a young person. I 

came to Warri in 1947/48 and I lived in 

Agbassa then. I stayed in Warri until I 

finished Primary and Secondary schools 

and I went to the UK. It is amazing there 

are many similarities between Ijaw land, 

Urhobo land and the UK. They all love 

nature, they all love water. 

Yes, I have found home in Effurun in 

Urhobo land, but it will interest you to 

know that the people of Effurun are also 

from Ijaw because Effurun emanated 

from Tuomo. The founder of Effurun came 

from Tuomo, headquarters of Tuomo, an 

Ijaw clan in Burutu local government 

area of Delta state. 

When I returned from the UK after 

qualifying as a lawyer in 1970, I decided 

that I would not stay in Lagos. I settled in 

Warri because my soul and my spirit 

agree with Warri. I have never left Warri 

and if I go out of it, I must come back to 

it. 

When I decided to set up a home, my 

friend, the late Barrister Bright


ESMAN @ 80, RECREATING RIVERSIDE IN DELTA CITY: 

ht me about talking to 

nd flowers 

r statesman and former Minister of Police Affairs, Alaowei Broderick Bozimo, who just turned 

iverside surroundings, vegetation and quietude. 

attraction of sort to lovers of nature and some affluent persons, mostly 

life. They find solace in the land mass. Alaowei Bozimo, who hails from 

rday Vanguard that Canaan Ville is a fulfillment of his life dream to live 

will bring weeping willows again.” 

What makes my day! 

I must tell you, here in this 

environment, I am quite happy and I am 

at peace with myself, especially when I 

look around and see that we can do this 

in Nigeria and in Warri of all places. 

My soul and my spirit are at peace with 

me when I sit down here and hear this 

fish we call “akôû” (heterotis niloticus) in 

Ijaw come out of the stream and splash 

on the surface, I would say oh, that 

makes my day! 

Inspiration 

He restated, “First, this place was a 

huge forest. You can see a sample of it 

across the stream; I decided to keep that 

portion to remind me always how this 

place was when I came in. However, I 

always had in my mind’s eye what I 

not by contractor, but by family and 

myself,” he added. 

Observing the Kingdom on earth 

“He took Saturday Vanguard reporters 

to a fish pond in the compound, where be 

beckoned on one of his aides to bring 

feed and as soon as feed was splashed on 

edge of the pond, the fishes in the pond 

came out of the river to the surface to eat 

with the ducks from the nearby pen. 

“You saw the demonstration when the 

fishes in the pond came out on land to 

feed together with the ducks. When you 

put the feed for the ducks on the side of 

the pond, the fishes would come out of 

the water to feed together with the ducks 

without attacking each other. 

“This is reminiscent of what the Bible 

says that in the last days, lions and lambs 

will feed together in peace. When I saw it 

for the first time, I said God Almighty; I 

am beginning to experience the kingdom 

even before it arrives.” 

“The only way I can explain it is this: if 

you love nature and nature loves you, you 

are always at peace with nature,” Bozimo 

said. 

your little place. It was then just a 

bungalow and the stream here.” 

“So, my wife Justice Bozimo and I left 

the bedroom and went to sleep at a corner 

of the sitting room. We did not know that 

he woke up around 5.30 am and had gone 

out when we went and knocked at the 

door without response. We opened the 

door, he was not in, we were surprised to 

see that the great Zik had already 

dressed the bed himself and had put 

some of the clothes in the wardrobe. I 

will never forget that act of humility. 

What Zik 

told me! 

“We later saw him and his aide strolling 

round the compound. Therefore, I came to 

him and marveled at what he was doing, 

but he said, ‘Broderick, you must do what 

I am doing; you must go round this your 

beautiful compound and communicate 

with the flowers, you know flowers react 

to human beings.’ I learnt that from him 

that day, we later went for that huge NPP 

rally at Warri Township Stadium,Warri.” 

Niemogha, owner of the next 

premises invited me to this place 

and when I saw the stream, I 

exclaimed, that is it! This is what I 

have been looking for all my life, to 

settle by the shores of a stream or 

lake! I came in here 1974 and I was 

a young man in my early 30s. 

My priority when I travel overseas is to 

buy plants 

Bozimo met the place a forest with wild 

animals, including snakes, said the 

setting was what he desired. Looking 

back, he surmised in an interview last 

week, “I am 80 and I live on this land 

developing and re-establishing it to meet 

my natural and spiritual desires of living 

by a riverside. I designed and created 

what you see here, even the labour, my 

younger brother would come here and 

every year, we would start up a new 

project.” 

“We have a glass house, suya bay and 

every single plant you see here, I brought 

from overseas. I love plants, so whenever 

I go to the UK, my priority is to see how I 

can buy plants and put them in a suitcase 

and bring them to Nigeria. If I go to 

Uganda and every other place, I must 

come back with plants,” he disclosed. 

His words, “So you would see British 

plants, Ugandan plants and even 

weeping willows we used to have here. 

However, I think the climate is too harsh 

for them and they did not make it. Yet, I 

never gave up; if I go back to the UK, I 

I must tell you, here 

in this environment, I 

am quite happy and I 

am at peace with 

myself, especially 

when I look around 

and see that we can 

do this in Nigeria and 

in Warri of all places 

wanted this place to look like, that was 

the secret. If you do not dream it, you 

cannot achieve it.” 

Briefly, I always knew the potential of 

this place. Since the day that I saw the 

stream, I always knew what I wanted it to 

look like in my dreams and in my 

thoughts; the spirit of God in me 

designed this place. 

How does he communicate with the 

animals, including alligator, tortoise, 

fishes, birds in the domicile, Bozimo 

laughed, saying, “animals do not speak to 

me. If you are nature’s child, somehow 

your entire being becomes friendly with 

nature, animals and others. They do not 

have to speak as humans speak, but you 

are in agreement.” 

“The idea kept recurring in my soul and 

I knew that I had to do it the hard way, 

Scramble to establish homes 

What informed the choice of Effurun for 

his home? The elder statesman said, “I 

have always loved Effurun in the sense 

that my senior wife is partly Effurun, and 

because of that, I have a special love for 

Effurun. As I told you earlier, we 

established this place through the 

inspiration from God. I am so happy that 

a lot of Ijaws and Urhobos see the 

potential of this stream. If you go along 

this stream, you will see everybody 

struggling to establish their homes and to 

me, that is amazing.” 

“If you look across the stream, you see 

residential houses and hotels, one of 

them belongs to an Ijaw person, and 

because they love water, you will see 

them paddling and fishing, nobody 

thought it would be possible. If you 

dredge this stream and it gets wider, it 

will help irrigation in Effurun indirectly. 

“I think that we have opened the eyes 

of many young men, who instead of 

building concrete jungles are 

establishing themselves by the stream. 

“It is right to say that we have recreated 

the riverine creek in Effurun here. At a 

time, this stream was stagnant but we 

dredged part of it and our activities on 

the stream have made it to flow,” he 

added. 

When Zik visited 

The Niger Delta leader recalls what 

happened in 1979 when the former 

Governor of Nigeria, the late Dr. Nnamdi 

Azikiwe, came for campaign and spent a 

night in Canaan Ville. 

He asserted, “The great Zik of Africa 

spent a night in this very compound in 

1979. I was then the chair of the defunct 

Nigerian Peoples Party, NPP, which 

fielded the great Zik of Africa. He 

refused to go and stay in the hotel but 

came here. Then he said Broderick, I like 

I support Atiku, Okowa; Buhari step 

aside 

At 80 years, where do you see the 

country going politically, Saturday 

Vanguard further inquired. Alaowei 

Bozimo responded, “First of all my 

sympathies are with a political party, the 

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. I have 

been there from inception and former 

president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, is 

my political boss. He made me Minister 

of Police Affairs. Therefore, my 

sympathies remain with the Peoples 

Democratic Party. 

That is not the reason some of us are 

anxious about this country. I am not a 

very active participant in politics, which 

everybody knows. Everybody knows that 

the state of the nation is pathetic. Every 

honest Nigerian knows that. 

I have taken this position long ago not 

because I am a follower of a political 

party, that Buhari has done so much for 

this country, even in the military 

days, he has done his best, but I think it 

is time for him to step aside. Somehow, 

he decided to carry-on. 

“It is difficult for people like me to say 

he should be returned to seat of power 

because I believe that he has done his 

best and has exhausted his ideas. Let him 

give way to other people, I support the 

candidacy of Atiku Abubakar. 

“I am also excited about the younger 

candidates that are emerging, the young 

former Minister of Power and the 

candidate of the Young Peoples 

Party, they excite me and I hope in due 

time if they remain in this struggle, their 

time will come. 

”However, for now, I will stake my 

position with Atiku and of course, my 

governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, remains my 

candidate in Delta state. He is also the 

candidate of majority of Ijaws because we 

believe in power rotation,” he stated.




SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 2, 2 2019 —33




SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 2, 2019—37


By Adetutu Adesoji 

08157255559 (sms only) 

adetutu.adesoji@gmail.com 

‘The light of my 

life, I love you’, 

Simi gushes over 

Adekunle Gold 

Runtown 

wins legal 

battle 

against 

record 

label 

Sonorous songstress, 

Simi is still basking in 

the euphoria of being 

newly married as she showers 

encomium on her husband and 

singer, Adekunle Gold. 

Simi in an Instagram 

message to her better half on 

his birthday declared her 

undying love for him. “Light of 

my life. I love you. I also really 

like you and the way you do 

your things. I’m such a lucky 

babe. You’re also lucky, but it’s 

your birthday, so yea, let’s 

focus on the celebrant,” she 

wrote. 

The talented singers recently 

tied the knots in a private 

ceremony. 

Actress, Rahama 

Sadau graduates 

Popular Kannywood 

actress, Rahama 

Sadau has defiled all 

odds to graduate from the 

Eastern Mediterranean 

University. The actress who 

is popular for her role in 

Hakkunde bagged a Bsc in 

Chemistry from the 

University located in 

Cyprus. 

The elated role interpreter 

posted pictures from her 

graduation ceremony on 

her Instagram page and 

wrote; “It always seems 

impossible until it is done.” 

After several months of 

legal tussle, pop 

singer, Runtown has 

won the court battle against 

his former record label, Eric 

Many. The singer who was 

signed to his estranged 

record label in 2014 had a 

fall out with the label in 

2018 following accusations 

of breach of contract by the 

singer, subsequently 

leading to a court battle. 

In a judgment delivered by a 

Federal High Court in 

Abuja, Eric Many has been 

refrained from interfering 

with the Mad Over You 

singer’s career. Also, in the 

judgment, the restraining 

order that was placed on 

Runtown from performing 

has been suspended. 

Actor, Akah 

Nnani engages 

long time lover 

Nollywood actor, Akah Nnani has 

popped the question to his 

girlfriend of five years, Claire 

Idera who answered in the affirmative. 

The Isoken actor and his artist lover 

according to their Instagram posts will 

be getting married soon. Akah made the 

announcement on his Instagram page. 

“My people, I’ve engaged someone oh!! 

Lol. 

This actually happened a little while 

before now and I want to share with you 

all. 

@akahandclaire is official guys. We are 

getting married soon!! Thank you so 

much for your love and beat wishes 

guys, we are completely overwhelmed!! 

The full proposal video will be on our 

YouTube channel soon!! We have a 

wedding coming up soon,” he posted 

Sharon Ooja opens up on 

dating Timini Egbuson 

Alluring actress,Sharon Ooja 

Egwurube has finally spoken up 

on the insinuation that she is in 

a romantic relationship with actor, 

Timini Egbuson. The duo became 

subjected to an imaginary relationship 

by fans as a result of their excellent 

chemistry while playing roles of lovers 

in popular web series, Skinny Girl in 

Transit and also co-hosting events. 

However, in a TV interview, the 

beautiful actress denied the existence 

of a romantic relationship with Timini. 

“Because he is easy to work with, it 

looks like we really have something 

going on. I’m not dating Timini 

Egbuson, I’m a single lady,” she said. 

She further revealed that she is open 

to being in a relationship as she has 

come of age. 

Kalu Ikeagwu 

welcomes first 

child with wife 

Popular actor, Kalu has 

welcomed his first child 

with wife, Ijeoma. The 

British-Nigerian actor made 

this known on Instagram where 

he posted a photo of the baby 

boy and also appreciated his 

wife for the wonderful gift. He 

wrote; "Welcome to this world 

my jubilee son from the Lord. 

The Lord train you, the Lord 

keep you, the priest of priests 

translate you in the fullness of time! 

Love you son. Love you Ijay, my lovely 

wife for giving me this wonderful gift." 

The talented thespian got married to his 

wife, Ijeoma Eze in 2016.


ROTIMI AGBANA 

07054964685 

rotimiagbana@gmail.com 

DJs are 

underrated, 

disrespected in 

Nigeria — DJ Neptune 

IGERIAN Disc Jockey, 

NImohiosen Patrick, popularly 

known as DJ Neptune has shared his 

displeasure on how DJs are treated in 

Nigeria. 

Speaking on what he hoped to 

achieve from the release of his debut 

album, the talented DJ who is still 

battling with how to recoup the money 

spent on the album, said unlike in 

western countries, DJs in Nigeria are 

underrated and disrespected. 

“I can’t recoup what I spent on this 

project. Because I am a DJ, there is a 

limit to what I can do. I’m not an artiste 

that will get booked every weekend to 

perform my songs. DJs don’t really 

earn that much respect and fee that we 

are supposed to be earning despite the 

amount of time that we put in to it. We 

put in a lot of hours in the craft. The 

market value is not the primary goal”, 

he said. 

He noted that the Nigerian music 

industry values musicians more than 

DJs, a reason his debut album hasn’t 

recorded the kind of success he 

expected. 

“If it was Wizkid or a Burna Boy that 

released that album, it would have 

gotten more likes than it has now. It 

will take only the few people who 

appreciate good music to appreciate 

that volume of music. Nigerians have 

not understood the concept of being a 

DJ. They just think it is about playing 

music so they don’t think I should 

release an album.” 

Speaking further, he accused the 

media of focusing more on artistes for 

ulterior motives. 

“I feel this is where the media comes 

in. They tend to focus more on artistes 

because some of them are fans of the 

artists or because they feel 

“let me focus more on 

these ones so we can 

get one or two things 

from them”, leaving 

projects or works that 

have good contents. 

But we will 

k e e p 

pushing”, 

h e 

said. 

•DJ 

Neptune 

•Waje 

2019 POLLS: 

Davido charges Nigerians 

to defend their vote 

POP music star, David Adeleke, 

popularly known as Davido, 

may have more of music flowing in 

his veins but in recent times the 26- 

year-old singer and label executive 

is beginning to develop interest in 

the political affairs of the nation 

This recently played out when the 

hardworking musician charged 

Nigerians to take up the 

responsibility of creating a better 

future for themselves, their children 

and the unborn generation by 

making sure they come out to vote 

during the forthcoming February 

2019 general elections. 

According to the Dami Duro 

crooner, the future of Nigeria lies in 

the hands of the electorate, charging 

that if they fail to exercise their 

franchise by defending their votes 

wisely, they would be creating 

bigger problems for themselves. 

“After the greatest night of my life, 

I am more inspired than ever to keep 

changing the narrative about 

Nigeria and Nigerians. This starts at 

How I carved my career with entertainment law— 

Iredumare Opeyemi 

IN an era where many young 

Nigerians resort to criminal 

activities to get by, others take the 

bull by the horn by building 

legacies for generations to come. 

One of such youths is 

entertainment lawyer and music 

business executive, Iredumare 

Opeyemi, team lead of the Legal, 

Finance and Acquisition team at 

Boomplay Music. 

Opeyemi who is fast becoming 

a guru in entertainment law in 

Nigeria says he launched his 

career in the entertainment 

industry while still a university 

student. 

‘There was really nothing like 

entertainment law when I was in 

university and the closest field to 

it was intellectual property law 

which is simply the study of laws, 

Why I accepted my first 

Nollywood role — Waje 

VOCAL powerhouse, Aituaje 

Iruobe, better known as Waje, 

an acronym for ‘Words Ain’t Just 

Enough’, is known to represent one 

major thing; music talent, a reason 

many questioned her decision to 

try her hands at acting- a move 

several of her colleagues have 

since emulated. 

The prolific singer who debuted 

as an actor in ‘Tunnel’, alongside 

Femi Jacobs, Patrick Doyle, Nse 

Ikpe-Etim, among others in 2018, has 

since proved her worth as a woman 

of many talents. 

In a chat with Showtime, the singer 

who also starred in ‘Battleground’, 

currently showing on Africa Magic, 

explained why she accepted her first 

movie role. 

“I accepted my first movie role because 

when I read the script I fell in love with it. 

I felt it was an interesting story. I was 

curious as to how I would play the role 

because I was to play the role of a lady, Sade, who was 

married, and I’ve never been married. So, it was 

interesting to find out how I was going to play the 

role. It was also about the message in the role, I just 

wanted to know, and I think it was just curiosity”, she 

home. On February 16th we can decide 

the future of our country. This is why I 

am supporting the ‘Defend your vote’ 

initiative. God will not come down from 

heaven to save Nigeria, we must do it 

ourselves. Every 4-years we have the 

opportunity to do that, and we must take 

it. A “nothing will change” mentality 

is the reason we are where we are. If 

you can vote and you don’t, you are 

part of the problem. We must go to 

the polls and let our voices be 

heard”, he said. 

He added that posterity will not 

forgive whoever fails to vote during 

the coming elections. 

“Democracy is a government by 

the whole population or all the 

eligible members of a state, 

typically through elected 

representatives. Generations 

before us fought to leave us the 

legacy called democracy. 

Posterity will judge us by how 

much we do today to defend this 

democracy of ours. Defend your 

vote”, he stated. 

policies and judicial decisions 

around protecting the services and 

products. Due to this, what I had 

was interest in music, movies, and 

arts generally. And since I have 

always been fascinated by the arts, 

particularly music, movies and 

how it commands the human 

attention, as well as the level of 

micro transactional business that 

became a million dollar string for 

businesses.” 

“With my background in the 

field of law in which I excelled at, 

coupled with the passion and 

fascination with music, I decided 

to use my knowledge of both 

understanding the trade and 

practices in the music and film 

business to fashion out a career for 

myself”, he said. 

At Boomplay Music where he 

said. 

According to her, her first time 

experience on set was amazing but 

scary. 

“It was amazing because I was scared 

at first, but I tried my best. Nse Ikpe- 

Etim is like a big sister to me, she has 

always been a good friend so she guided 

me all through. She literally coached me 

as we went on. She and Femi Jacobs 

made it an easy task for me.” 

Speaking on the media establishment, 

she recently partnered with Omaumi to 

set up, she said; 

“Hermanes Media has been in 

existence before now but it wasn’t a 

formal transaction. We used to come up 

with ideas so we just thought that it 

doesn’t make sense if two people are 

this creative, have been in the industry 

and have so much to offer and we don’t 

do it. We’ve been talking about it for a 

while so we decided that it’s time we 

formalize it. You know it gets to a point 

as a musician that it’s not necessarily 

about the music, we have more we want 

to offer our listeners? So Hermanes 

Media would be a good way to offer 

more to our listeners”, she said. 

•Davido 

currently serves at legal team 

lead, Opeyemi’s job entails 

content acquisition for the 

platform that has 32 million 

users. 

“Basically, I ensure Boomplay 

Music is at all times in time 

and up to date on new 

and historical records 

of music/audio and 

music videos/audiovisual 

releases in 

Africa. I also 

ensure that data of 

users, staff and 

third party 

contractors are 

well protected and 

in compliance with 

the General Data 

Protection Regulation 

(GDPR).” 

•Harrysong 

Harrysong nabs 

twin brothers who 

defrauded him 

*Advises youth to shun fraud 

DURING the week, popular afropop 

singer, Harrysong, luckily 

nabbed certain twin brothers who used 

a fake Instagram account to dupe him of 

an undisclosed amount of money. 

According to the singer, the brothers 

who disguised as a single mom 

participated in a giveaway competition 

he conducted on his Instagram page for 

his newly released single titled 

‘Journey’. 

However, with the help of his 

manager, Desmond, who 

suspected that the Instagram 

account used by the 

supposed single mother to 

participate in the 

competition was a fake 

one, the ‘Reggae Blues’ 

crooner was able to trace 

the twin brothers and 

bring them to book. 

Harrysong who later 

let the brothers off the 

hook without stiff 

punishment advised 

youths to shun fraudulent 

acts. 

“I keep telling young 

people, you don’t need to steal 

or defraud people to be 

successful in life, just be a bit patient and 

trust in your journey. I did a giveaway 

for ‘Journey’ story on my Instagram page 

•Iredumare 

and these boys used a fake 

page and pretended to be a 

single mother with a baby. 

My manager found out it 

was a scam and we got 

them eventually after the 

money had been 

transferred to them. Please 

shun fraud, don’t use your 

bad attitude to 

block other 

people’s 

opportunities. 

There is 

dignity in 

labor, there’s 

risk in 

fraud. If I 

was a bad 

person, I 

would have 

punished 

them”, he 

said.


•Top Management Officials of Design union project pres briefing 

Anthony Aihie’s ‘Design 

Union’ ups the ante 

Anthony Aihie, CEO of Design 

Union, a leading real estate 

development and lifestyle outfit 

has truly proved that they are in 

Nigeria to stay. To this end, the 

business mogul has announced the 

addition of two state-of-the-art, luxury 

properties; Eden Heights and Ilupeju 

Gardens to its boutique of real estate 

projects in the country. The properties 

were unveiled on Monday, to the 

cheering audience including business 

leaders, property developers, 

investors, newsmen and the broad real 

estate development ecosystem. 

Eden Heights is a network of high-rise 

luxury apartments and penthouses 

catering to the city’s bourgeoise 

middle-class and expatriate 

population. Nestled at the hub of 

Victoria Island, it features the exclusive 

capital club, Ehima cave spa, royal 

residencies with premium hotel rooms 

and world-class private meeting rooms 

for top level executives and business 

owners. Whereas Ilupeju Gardens, a 

small and intimate estate of mid-rise 

apartments and maisonettes currently 

being developed in partnership with the 

Lagos State Development Property 

Corporation (LSDPC), sits in the vibrant 

Lagos mainland and caters to residents 

in the bustling Oshodi/Ilupeju axis – 

particularly the Indian and Lebanese 

expatriate community. The ambitious 

•Prince 

Christopher Obi 

Garden project offers a unique 

technology feature that intersects 

between real estate and climate safety, 

deploying planted Neem trees in the 

environs with a filtering capacity of up 

to 1000 residents annually. Design 

Union Limited is a leading real estate 

development and lifestyle group 

operating in Nigeria and the UK since 

2000. 

Juliet Ebirim 

08137897935 

juliet.ebirim@gmail.com 

Sanwo-Olu, Island big boys 

gather for The Royal Oak 

All Progressives Congress,APC, 

gubernatorial candidate for Lagos 

State, Mr. Babajide Sanwoolu last 

Sunday, commissioned a multimillion 

naira state-of-the-art events 

centre in the highbrow Lekki area of 

Lagos, known as The Royal Oak Event 

•Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Augusta Ikpea-Enaholo at the 

grand opening of the Royal Oak Event Centre in Lekki, Lagos. 

Laurels for Prince 

Christopher Obi 

Imo-state businessman and CEO Reality Oil and Gas 

Ltd, Prince Christopher Obi popularly known as 

Ogazi Malaga was recently awarded the man of the 

year by his people. The group chairman of CPG 

contractors Ltd who hails from Obiagwu Royal 

Dynasty in Awo Idemil,i Orsu LGA Imo state is quite 

humbled by the recognition. 

In a chat with People n Places, he said “ I thank 

God Almighty for this award. I thank the organizers 

for finding me worthy to receive it out of numerous 

other qualified and even richer personalities. This 

goes to show that i am doing something different 

from them. I really thank God. I am just an 

ordinary Nigerian. I try my best to support my 

family and my community.” 

A devoted philanthropist, Prince Obi established the 

Ogazi Foundation in 2017 as one arm of his 

philanthropic projects. The foundation organise yearly 

events, as well as provide empowerment materials 

and financial aids to those in need. “Philanthrophy is 

my best attribute. This is because I do not like to see 

people suffer financial lack. Many people are 

talented, but lack financial help to achieve their God 

given talent. “ A United Nations Peace Ambassador, 

he called on Nigerians to shun violence in the 

forthcoming elections. 

•Wale Osinubi 

Wale Osinubi 

in celebratory 

mood 

That Otunba (Barrister) Adewale 

Osinubi’s Wesco Pools, Bet and Lottery 

International Limited is atop the scale in the 

rating of Lotto companies in Africa is not a subject 

of debate. What makes Wesco’s success story so 

interesting is that Otunba Osinubi’s built a 

profitable business against the tide. Right from a 

humble beginning as a pool agent, Otunba 

Adewale Osinubi has built one of the fastest 

growing and most sought-after Lotto companies in 

Africa. The twenty- year old company 

headquartered in the heart of Lagos flaunts the 

bragging rights as the pioneer of Lotto business in 

Edo, Delta and Ondo States respectively. The 

exciting news coming from the stable of the Wesco 

brand is the plan to go fully digital. This will be 

championed by the Wesco boss who has been the 

arrowhead in the strategic positioning of his 

company in partnership with a Bulgarian. 

According to sources, the new technological 

innovation will completely revolutionize Lotto 

business in Nigeria. Otunba Osinubi has hit the 

ground running already and he is on his way to a 

historic reckoning in the global Lotto business. 

Also, the unassuming business tycoon returned 

to a warm surprise 51st birthday bash few weeks 

back. It was another occasion of class and 

opulence. Otunba Adewale Osinubi who can best 

be described as a jolly good fellow was showered 

with love and gifts in honour of his birthday. 

Centre, Lekki. The outfit is poised to 

become a highly coveted events centre 

among many, with preference for taste, 

sophistication and class. 

Sanwo-Olu who expressed joy over 

the innovation said “this facility has 

added another landmark achievement 

to the state, at a point where Lagos is 

looking to become a preferred 

destination of choice among other 

mega cities of the world”. 

Addressing guests at the grand 

opening, the Chief Executive Officer of 

Royal Oaks Event Centre, Mrs Augusta 

Ikpea-Enaholo noted that the facility 

was built as a measure to shore up the 

hospitality business, with a view to offer 

clients value, satisfaction and a 

remarkable event experience. The 

Delta state born Maritime Lawyer 

expressed her delight towards the 

completion and commissioning of the 

multipurpose hall. She stated that 

Royal Oaks was put together as her own 

modest contribution to the process of 

nation building, which is aimed at 

boosting economic development 

through job creation for the teeming 

populace.The Delta State-born 

Maritime lawyer who expressed her 

delight towards the completion and 

commission of the multipurpose hall, 

said ‘ the business is premised on 

delivering top of the line services to 

customers with sparing prices.” 

Yinka Best eulogises Esther Ajayi 

UK-based founder of Cherubim & Seraphim, known as Love of Christ 

Generation Church, Reverend Mother Esther Ajayi , is one of the most 

celebrated individuals around at the moment. Top juju singer, Yinka Best 

has also extoled the virtues of the ‘woman of God’ in one of the tracks in his 

soon-to-be released album, “The Great Legends”. 

Reverend Esther Ajayi, aside preaching the gospel, is also very 

dedicated to philanthropy and charity. Explaining the reason behind his 

decision to eulogize the woman, Best said ‘Reverend Mother Ajayi has 

been a blessing to Africa and to the world as a whole. This honor is 

coming her way based on her exemplary gesture.’. 

Best also praised King Sunny Ade in the same album. On why he 

included KSA, he said, ‘KSA is my father, he loves young people and he 

has been there for me. Besides, he’s a legend 

who has contributed immensely to the society 

through his songs’. 

Yinka Best will be releasing three 

albums titled; ‘The Great Legends,’ 

‘Dance of Joy’ and ‘Lift me up’ on the 

10th of February. The launching which 

will take place at 10 Degrees event 

centre, will attract dignitaries from all 

works of life and top music acts. Some 

of top musicians that are excepted to be 

in attendance are Ebenezer Obey, KSA, 

•Yinka 

Best 

Kollington , Salawa, Kwam 1 Pasuma, 

Lanre Teriba and many more.

There’re still high rate of 

failed ICT projects in the 

public sector 

or—T 

—Tekville Boss 

Stories by Moses Nosike 

Dr Alex Ndukwe is the 

Chief Executive 

Officer, Tekville 

Systems Nigeria,an ICT 

systems and Power firm 

based in Abuja. Its clientele 

base cuts across the private 

and public sectors. Tekville 

system also deploys solar 

power solutions, others. 

In this interview with 

Nosike Moses, Dr. Alex 

Ndukwu revealed how his 20 

years experience managing 

information technology 

infrastructure 

has 

repositioned the company for 

business success. Excerpts: 

Having managed 


infrastructure for 20 years, 

how can you rate Nigeria in 

this space? 

Nigeria rating is below 

average, we still have high 

rate of failed ICT projects in 

the public sector, though we 

have associations that should 

serve as regulators, 

unfortunately they have a 

different 

agenda. 

Legislations, concerned 

associations should see that 

laws are enacted to improve 

ICT. For instance, “Cyber 

Security”, private sector is the 

most hit with respect to losses 

that run into billions of Naira. 

The Central Bank of Nigeria 

(CBN) has imposed a cyber 

security levy of 0.005 percent 

on service charge collected by 

payment service providers, 

PSPs, on electronic payment 

transactions, this is in 

compliance of Cyber security 

ACT of 2015. This ACT has a 

lot of flaws which should be 

reviewed. I don’t want to 

In order to strengthen its 

managerial objectives, 

the management of 

StarTimes Group, has 

appointed Mr. David Zhang 

as the new Chief Executive 

for StarTimes Nigeria with 

immediate effect 

immediately. 

He succeeded the former 

Chief Executive Officer, Mr. 

Justin Zhang, who 

completed his tenure in 

January. 

A statement issued by the 

company’s Public Relations 

and Communications 

Manager, Kunmi Balogun, 

said that David Zhang will 

bring over 2 decades of 

experience in B2B and B2C 

capacity in both China and 

Africa, with a special 

interest in consumer and 

revenue growth 

management. 

David Zhang will lead the 

team in scaling the impact 

of the foundation laid by his 

predecessor which has seen 

•Ndukwe 

dwell so much on this, I would 

like to share our experience 

with an MDA. My staff made 

an attempt to sell a preventive 

maintenance package to them 

and got this response, “we 

don’t repair our systems, once 

it’s faulty, we throw it away 

and buy a new one”, this 

reveals that maintenance of 

ICT equipment is non 

existent. Servers, data are not 

protected, networks are open 

to vulnerabilities. There is 

need to embrace maintenance 

culture so as to ensure that 

lifespan of these assets are 

StarTimes appoints David Zhang as new CEO 

•David Zhang 

a rise in subscriber base 

and new innovations in the 

country’s pay-tv industry. 

Until his appointment, 

David was the Chief 

Executive Officer of 

StarTimes in Kenya. Before 

archived and reduce total cost 

of ownership, productivity is 

guaranteed since downtime 

would be reduced or 

completely eliminated. 

For technology transfer, ease 

of doing business in Nigeria, 

the government is doing its 

best, private 

sector should 

get involved, 

we need to 

move to the 

next level, 

local content 

should be 

encouraged, 

m o s t 

then, he had worked in 

management capacity in 

Nigeria for over 3 years 

between 2011 and 2014, 

when he left to head 

StarTimes business in the 

East African nation. 


products which is the best in 

the world used by 150,000 

firms. It takes care of 

vulnerabilities of all kinds, 

ensuring your staff, Data and 

environments are protected. 

Wowbii interactive boards 

that aid interaction, 

collaboration, presentation 

and video conference. This 

device replaces whiteboard, 

flip chart, projector, 

Nigerian businesses engage 

Indian experts at the 

detriment of Nigerians. I want 

to urge our associations to 

push for legislation that will 

take care of this age long 

issues, we are developing 

their economies. 

We need to change our 

attitude when it comes to ICT 

and power infrastructure 

deployment 

and 

management, standards 

should not be compromised at 

the private sector, especially 

the banks you will notice that 

power infrastructure is usually 

neglected , UPS’s are always 

breaking down because of 

poor power inputs, earth 

leakage. The personnel don’t 

pay attention to this details, 

power audits should be 

conducted monthly and not 

when there is an issue, we 

need to stop fire fighting. 

What is Tekville’s 

contribution to improve 


infrastructure in Nigeria? 

We have a number of 

products for our clients, 

barracuda, an IT security 

Renmoney, a leading 

fintech lending 

company in Lagos, was 

featured on the London Stock 

Exchange Group (LSEG) list 

of ‘Companies to Inspire 

Africa’ for 2019. Renmoney 

was listed alongside three 

other Nigerian companies. 

CEO, Renmoney, Tobi 

Boshoro, said that the 

company has spent the last 

few years building 

convenient lending solutions 

for Nigerians. 

“We are laser-focused on 

listening to our customers 

and using their feedback to 

iterate on our solutions and 

processes. This approach 

led Renmoney to 112% year 

on year growth in customers 

multimedia recorder, 

meetings and training is 

made convenient and 

professional. We provide cost 

effective filtered power 

maintenance, sales and 

support, our personnel are 

well trained, exposed and 

equipped with state of the art 

tools. 

Well we need to improve, 

we lack maintenance culture 

in Nigeria and the service 

firms need to support their 

clients in terms of cost, ensure 

they are more professional in 

their conduct, this is lacking 

in our country. We need to use 

tools to aid our 

troubleshooting, diagnosis, 

investigations while working 

at sites. 

Renmone 

enmoney Makes 2019 London 

Stoc 

ock Exchange 

served in 2018 and the 

company has more plans to 

make financial inclusion 

count in 2019. 

According to CEO, London 

Stock Exchange Group, 

David Schwimmer, “London 

Stock Exchange Group’s 

report ‘Companies to Inspire 

Africa’ identifies Africa’s 

most inspirational and 

dynamic private, highgrowth 

companies to a global 

market”. 

He said that the 

‘Companies to Inspire 

Africa’ report was born out 

of a belief that the featured 

firms are crucial to the 

future of the African 

economy and the growth of 

the economy of their home 

countries.

C 

M 

Y 

K 


When Naomi Osaka, the young 

Japanese player lifted the first 

major tennis trophy of the year on 

Saturday, I probably couldn’t have 

been happier if I was her father. There 

was this relief, this slow easing of 

tension as the return to her final serve 

went wild. Those who followed the 

final match would affirm that in tennis, 

as indeed in life, it is never over until 

it is truly over. She had earlier had 

three match points on her opponent’s 

serve. Which meant she needed just 

one point out of three. But more 

importantly, she still had the luxury 

of her own serve should she manage 

to lose all the three points. Not only 

did she lose all the three points, she 

lost her service game and went on to 

lose the next two games to eventually 

lose the set. There were tears in her 

eyes as she went to her seat. There 

must have been tears in many eyes too 

around the world, especially in Japan. 

As for me, I walked away in disgust 

and used the interval to do something 

more meaningful. 

This was exactly what happened to 

Serena Williams just a few days earlier 

to deny her the opportunity of a 24- 

Grand Slam equalling feat. To have 

history-making victory taken away 

from you at the last minute and 

literally the last point, must be heart 

breaking. For Serena, it was an 

opportunity to equal a record 

nobody thought was possible again in 

the open, more competitive, Era and 

which at 37 and as a mother, is slowly 

eluding her. For Naomi, 21, it was an 

opportunity not only to become 

world’s number one, but to become 

the first female player since Jennifer 

Capriati seventeen years ago, to win 

back to back Grand Slams after a debut 

win and the first Asian to win the 

Australian Open. 

Serena didn’t have the opportunity 

of another set to fight back and her 

story ended with that loss. Naomi did 

because she had won the opening set. 

She took a bathroom break to 

regroup. Whatever she did to herself 

during the bathroom break, the 

Naomi that came out for the final set 

was drained of all emotions. She was 

calm, composed, placid and 

With the controversy arising from 

the suspension of Justice 

Walter Onnoghen as the Chief Justice 

of Nigeria still raging, Vice-President 

Yemi Osinbajo last Tuesday 

symbolically took flight to the 

increasingly endangered Lake Chad. 

Osinbajo who has the honour of 

being the lawyer in the highest office 

in the land ‘was in Lake Chad’ for a 

conference called to address further 

desertification of the Lake Chad 

region. 

His Lake Chad expedition on a day 

the National Judicial Council, NJC, 

was to sit on the Onnoghen 

controversy, some muttered, was 

akin to the case of King David, who at 

the time kings went to war went 

sightseeing on the rooftop of his 

Jerusalem palace. Inevitably, the 

king was taken in by the nakedness of 

Mrs. Bathsheba Uriam, a dalliance 

that eventually brought David to the 

sin that plagued him and his 

household for the rest of his life. 

It is remarkable that as at press time 

Osinbajo, has yet to ‘return’ from Lake 

Chad and make a public 

pronouncement on what many 

consider as the most vicious attack 

on the rule of law since the inception 

of the fourth Republic. 

The forceful ejection of the head of 

one of the three branches of 

government by presidential decree 

has been widely described as 

untenable, even by many APC 

chieftain. 

Osinbajo’s predicament is very 

obvious. How does he as a professor 

of law defend the vicious desecration 

of the judiciary as symbolized by the 

attack on Justice Onnoghen? It is an 

issue that is bound to stretch the 

imagination of the law professor. 

The reason for reticence is 

Make us feel proud too 

unflappable. Even when she broke 

the opponent’s serve earlier in the 

set, she did not show any emotion 

outwardly. She was like a zombie, a 

mechanical machine doing a job it 

was primed to do. She was at that 

moment in time, a true Japanese in 

a positive sense of the name. 

For a child who came to the US at 

the age of three, her connection to 

her country of birth is amazing. She 

involuntarily greets and shows 

deference the Japanese way—to 

Serena when she beat her at the US 

Open to win her first Grand Slam, to 

Kvitova whom she beat at this 

Australian Open and to tennis 

officials whenever she needed to 

address them. Africans curtsy to 

show deference. Asians, especially 

Japanese, bend their upper body or 

neck if it is a brief one. Although 

black, Naomi does the latter. But 

what got to me was when she was 

asked, after her semi-final win, to 

speak to her Japanese fans all over 

the world. She took the microphone 

and spoke a few words in Japanese 

without breaking a step. And I 

wonder how many Nigerians, or 

Africans, brought to the US at age 

three would be able to address an 

audience in their native language. 

Not many I am sure. And how many 

would hold on to their African 

passports and ‘fly the flag’ in their 

various sporting endeavours? Not 

many I am sure. 

I voiced my observation to a 

friend who is a tennis buff, as well as 

being a lawyer, whose bluntness and 

outspoken nature have denied him a 

deserved silk. He probably doesn’t 

miss being a SAN because he is 

otherwise very successful. He is 

somewhat ascetic in nature with his 

life revolving round his practice, his 

church and his squash. Perhaps his 

only indulgence is in his choice cars. 

Before I report his comments on 

Naomi’s patriotism, let me first 

report his views on the goings on 

around the CJN. He says the temple 

of justice had long been desecrated 

and removing or keeping Onnoghen 

would not change anything. He 

advocates a more radical and 

holistic approach which would 

sweep many away. In fact, he says 

all senior lawyers should be rounded 

up and shot. A radical exercise that 

would certainly include him if 

carried out. His comment on the 

attachment of Naomi to Japan 

despite growing up in the US reflects 

his radical thinking. ‘She has no 

reason to become an American and 

every reason to remain Japanese.’ 

He said. ‘Ethically, morally, 

culturally and even technologically, 

she should feel proud to be Japanese. 

She probably would have more to 

lose if she changed her nationality. 

She’s lucky to have a country she can 

be proud of. How many of us would 

travel with the green passport if we 

had an option? How many of us can 

claim to be proud of the 

developments at home across 

board’? He has a point. You think of 

Anthony Joshua, the heavyweight 

champion whom the British have 

Osinbajo’s difficult icult position around Buhari 

understandable; anything he says 

would be weighed against his past 

utterances on the rule of law, and in 

the future whenever he may have 

left office. 

The Onnoghen matter is even of 

special interest to the vicepresident. 

In the wake of the 

dithering procrastination by 

President Buhari to appoint 

Onnoghen as Chief Justice, being the 

jurist in the hierarchy and the 

person recommended by the 

National Judicial Council, NJC, the 

nation was for weeks on edge as the 

three-month statutory deadline to 

forward his name approached. 

Why Buhari dithered at that time 

was never made public. It was easy 

for some critics to allege at that time 

in 2017, that the hesitation had to 

do with Buhari’s alleged proclivity 

towards Northern Muslims in key 

positions. After all, before Justice 

Onnoghen no person from the South 

had occupied the position of Chief 

Justice of Nigeria for about 30 years. 

Following the recent 

development, some have now 

alleged that President Buhari’s initial 

hesitance in forwarding Onnoghen 

name to the Senate flowed from 

allegations of corruption. However, 

given the administration’s mixed 

record in fighting graft and Buhari’s 

lifting up of Governor Abdullahi 

Gandjue’s hand in Kano last 

Thursday, that claim can now be 

challenged. 

Onnoghen would not be the first 

appointee of Osinbajo’s to be 

dismissed in such a cavalier manner. 

Last September, Mr. Matthew 

Seyiefa who was appointed as 

director-general of the Department 

of State Services, DSS after Osinbajo 

dismissed Lawal Daura from that 

position in August did not last more 

than one month in that office. 

The Bayelsa born Seyiefa was 

removed by Buhari and replaced 

with a retired operative of the DSS, 

Yusuf Bichi from Kano State. 

That action and the latest action 

could bring to question the 

relationship between the president 

and the vice-president. Though both 

men have repeatedly sought to 

shame sceptics of their partnership, 

actions, however, speak louder than 

the words of their propagandists. 

The unique position of a vicepresident 

in a presidential system 

are remarkably ill-defined and varies 

according to the whims of the 

president. 

Both the Executive and the 

Judiciary need to take a 

‘bathroom break’ on this 

current distraction and regroup 

claimed to be their own and you have to 

wonder if his career would have 

blossomed if he had not embraced 

Britain? You think of the opportunities 

that are available to Nigerians growing 

up in Europe or America that are 

routinely denied those at home because 

of corruption. Nigerians are hustling 

everyday to get European, American or 

even Asian passports because of the 

difference it would make in their lives. 

It should not be so. Nigeria—and her 

leaders—must do more to make us feel 

proud of our country too. Both the 

Executive and the Judiciary need to take 

a ‘bathroom break’ on this current 

distraction and regroup. 

As it is, even other African countries 

are beginning to make fun of the lightfingers 

of our leaders. I will leave you 

with the summary of a short clip on 

Nigeria from Kenya with love. It is about 

a Nigerian Minister of Works who went 

to Malaysia on a trip. He was taken 

round the capital city to see highways 

and beautiful construction works. The 

dinner in the evening was at the house 

of his Malaysian counterpart. It was a 

beautiful house with swimming pool. 

The Nigerian asked if he bought it on his 

salary as Minister. For an answer, the 

Nigerian was taken to the balcony and 

shown a highway. ‘You see this highway? 

‘ten percent.’ Two years later, the 

Malaysian returned the visit. He was 

taken round the Nigerian capital city 

through pot holes that started from the 

tarmac. Dinner was at the palatial home 

of the Minister. Everything was 

imported. The Malaysian asked if it all 

came from his salary. For answer, he too 

was taken to a balcony and shown a nonexistent 

highway. ‘You see this highway? 

‘hundred percent.’ 

I don’t know which hurts more. The 

story or the teller. 

Onnoghen would not be the first appointee 

of Osinbajo’s to be dismissed in such a 

cavalier manner 

As President Olusegun Obasanjo 

reminded the nation earlier this week, 

no vice-president since the advent of the 

fourth Republic held as much power and 

influence as Atiku truly had between 

1999 and 2003. Dr. Obasanjo, however, 

did not say that no vice-president was 

also as powerless as Atiku was in the 

period between 2005 and 2007 when 

he was reduced to the barest! 

Dr. Goodluck Jonathan was another 

example of the fluctuating fortunes of a 

vice-president. At the peak of the 

controversies surrounding the ill-health 

of President Umaru Yar‘adua, Vice- 

President Jonathan was practically cut 

off from government as the cabal held 

sway. However, once Yar‘adua died, the 

cabal was demystified as the man from 

Otueke took charge. 

Prof. Osinbajo has undoubtedly been a 

great asset to President Buhari given that 

the social welfare programme and other 

initiatives domiciled in the office of the 

vice-president have practically been the 

only positives the administration can 

brag about. However, those successes 

are tempered by mutterings now and 

then from around the cabal of how “that 

man is trying to outshine the president.” 

So, it could be understandable why it 

was convenient for the professor of law 

to ‘travel’ to Lake Chad at the time he 

did!

Everyone must die. Death is a 

debt we must all pay. Youth 

gives us a false sense of immortality. 

But age clears the fog. We see our 

friends and family disappear. And 

that illusory immortality fades. Death 

makes life finite and therefore 

precious. But it’s the arbitrariness of 

death that makes living a nervous 

enterprise. 

Death takes from the crib. And 

poaches at prime. When it comes 

when it should come, it is met with 

mixed emotions: rued and yet 

celebrated. Separation always comes 

with pain. But when it comes and 

steals, it leaves broken lives and 

bleeding hearts. 

Death often kills more than the 

dead. It can take one soul and leave 

one or two surviving souls moribund, 

as literal ghosts: hollowed out. 

Death can clobber. And it can 

snatch cleanly. It’s that versatile. 

One wakes up healthy and 

brimming with life, then stumbles, 

falls and dies. The autopsy would say 

a tiny blood vessel ruptured, 

carelessly, in the brain. 

The other battles and battles with a 

chronic disease and exhausts 

everyone one, doctors inclusive, and 

then submits. They could have 

helped death to help him if assisted 

suicide wouldn’t be murder. But they 

would cry when he is gone. 

A jilted teenager, naïve lover, 

drinks poison and death collects her 

soul. It’s pitiless. 

An armed robber goes out 

everyday with foolhardiness, unsure 

of how the day would end. Death let’s 

him go and maim and come. Until he 

dies cheaply someday. A woman 

seems sheltered and secure . She 

feels a sudden sharp pain and 

collapses. She doesn’t make it to the 

hospital through the traffic jam. The 

doctors say she ruptured her 

The brutality of death 

Fallopian tubes. She had an Ectopic 

pregnancy. She didn’t even know 

she was pregnant. The neighbours 

called her the barren woman. 

Death’s separation is 

irredeemable. Children will cry and 

long hopelessly for their mother. 

They will be told she travelled. Then 

another woman comes a few 

months later and their lives 

become what they shall become. A 

pastor dies and the church loses 

its essence and drifts in the hands 

of another. Some members come 

unarmored. And float back to their 

Egypt. A man dies and his wife and 

children become economic 

refugees. They are relocated to the 

village and their new reality. With 

him, they had seemed privileged. 

I promised to help a young man. 

He had been repatriated from 

South-east Asia. He had seemed a 

wreck of a fast moving train on an 

illicit track in Malaysia. He was 

deported. He came back without 

his mind. He roamed. And roamed. 

Two weeks after I promised to help 

rebuild his life he woke up and hung 

himself on a tree. And left me sick 

and guilty. 

A colleague is found in his hotel 

room lying face-down. The police 

have no clues. We are left to grieve 

speechlessly. 

Death takes with it the dead and 

takes so much more. It takes their 

good manners and cheerfulness 

that light up rooms and lives. It 

takes with it their knowledge that 

was once commonwealth. It 

takes the public and the private. 

It takes their wishes and their 

secrets. And leaves the living 

more wretched. 

Death cleanses. The old culled, 

so that the new and young can 

flourish. The earth would have 

suffered from chronic 

constipation if it didn’t have an 

excretion mechanism. But death 

is not focused on benevolent 

renewal. It takes the chicks and 

leaves old worn layers, 

sometimes. And ordains the grief 

that only hell can fashion. 

People say goodbye casually 

and walk away. And never come 

back. 

Sometimes, the plane crashes. 

But sometimes it doesn’t. A 

friend is supposed to be there 

going about her business. You 

are sure. Then you run into a 

facebook post . There is a candle 

beside her smiling face. The 

message:Goodnight. The post is 

a month old. You feel faint. And 


Why then are we so much 

attached to the world if death 

follows us everywhere and 

reaps drunkenly 

The brutality of death 

manage to scroll through the comments. 

It’s filled with RIPs. She is dead. 

Her phones are switched off. She has 

been buried? You scroll through your 

phone. And read. Your Christmas 

message hasn’t still delivered. And you 

didn’t notice. Nothing will be delivered 

to her again. Death passed by. She wasn’t 

qualified. Her last baby isn’t two years 

old yet. You can’t accept it’s final. It’s 

dumb. You are numb. 

Then the memories flood in. And life 

becomes such almost a wasteful routine. 

Why do good young dependable people 

die? She was healthy. Now she is dead. 

She didn’t get a quit notice. And you 

were not in the picture. 

Why then are we so much attached to 

the world if death follows us everywhere 

and reaps drunkenly. Why do we fight 

and gather compulsively? Why do we 

even lose sleep? Why can’t we just love 

ourselves and our neighbours on our 

borrowed times. 

When death strikes all that is left is to 

mourn and grieve. Grief is useful. 

Friends and family are precious and 

perishable. Bereavement is harrowing. 

Grief that comes with it burns the heart. 

But teaches the mind. Take nothing for 

granted. Life is short. Rest in peace, 

Damola. 

Death is brutal.... 

In logic, a paradox is an apparently 

contradictory conclusion that is 

derived from what seems to be valid 

premise. Many paradoxes are based 

on false premises or arguments 

underlying the logical systems 

involved. Most petro states have 

many paradoxes based on incomplete 

presumptions. A petro state is one 

whose government’s income is deeply 

reliant on the export of oil and natural 

gas. Their economic and political 

powers are highly concentrated in an 

elite minority, and political 

institutions are weak and 

unaccountable, and corruption is 

widespread. Economists believe that 

petro states are afflicted by the Dutch 

Disease. In an afflicted country, a 

resource boom attracts large inflows 

of foreign capital, which leads to an 

appreciation of the local currency 

and a boost for imports that are now 

comparatively cheaper. It sucks 

labour and capital away from other 

sectors of the economy, such as 

agriculture and manufacturing, 

which economists say are more 

important for growth and 

competitiveness. As these labourintensive 

export industries flag, 

unemployment could raise and the 

country could develop an unhealthy 

dependence on the export of natural 

resources. In extreme cases, a petro 

state forgoes local oil production 

and instead derives most of its oil 

wealth through high taxes on foreign 

drillers. Petro state economies are 

then left highly vulnerable to 

unpredictable swings in global 

energy prices and capital flight. 

Venezuela as a petro state has got 

tales of upheavals characteristics of 

resource rich states. Venezuela petro 

statehood started in 1922 when oil was 

discovered in commercial quantity. 

Venezuela:The paradox of petro statehood 

With the largest oil reserves 

globally, analysts say decades of 

poor governance have driven what 

was once one of Latin America’s 

most prosperous countries to 

political and socioeconomic ruin. 

Venezuela’s oil production has been 

pockmarked in crisis in recent years 

after a long period of alleged 

mismanagement that prevented the 

national oil company Petroleos de 

Venezuela, PDVSA from maintaining 

output, creating a vicious cycle of 

falling supplies and revenue. This 

founding member of OPEC depends 

on oil exports to the United States 

to import basic necessities including 

food and medicaments now in 

extreme short supply. The crude oil 

price slump of July 2014 has 

battered the oil rich communist 

nation’s economy into an economic 

and political spiral. The deepest 

recession ever experienced in the 

nation of 31 million people has a 

runaway hyperinflation with 

economy that shrunk beyond 

comprehension. 

A study by the oppositioncontrolled 

National Assembly put 

the annual inflation rate at an 

unbelievable figure in the 12 months 

to November 2018. Venezuela’s 

President Nicolás Maduro’s anticapitalist 

rhetoric stance courted 

the wrath of the United States. 

Maduro is being brought to 

judgment for constituting a 545 

member special assembly on July 

30, 2017 that rewrote the 

country’s constitution to solidify 

the socialist system installed by 

the late President Hugo Chavez in 

his 14 years rule. There were 

international pressures on 

Maduro to dismantle the 

legislative body. After being reelected 

to a second term in May 

2018, Maduro announced he 

would serve out his remaining 

first term and only then be sworn 

in for a second term on 10 January 

2019. 

On January 23, the opposition 

leader of Venezuela’s National 

Assembly, Juan Guaido, named 

himself interim president amid 

street protests. President Donald 

Trump recognized Guaido as the 

nation’s leader and his 

administration has been 

marshaling international support 

for the opposition figure since 

then. Last Monday, the Trump 

administration imposed sanctions 

against Venezuela’s state-owned 

oil company seeking to cripple the 

government of embattled Maduro 

by cutting off its main source of cash. 

PDVSA’s Citgo refineries in the U.S. will 

be allowed to continue to operate, but 

revenue must be placed in an escrow 

account in the United States. 

In 2017, President Donald Trump 

pushed back on economic sanctions 

including a ban on oil imports he earlier 

slapped on Venezuela. Venezuela is the 

third largest supplier of crude to the U.S. 

An import ban meant high gasoline cost 

and job loss in America than it would 

affect the Maduro administration. But for 

the cries of the Gulf coast refiners, 

Trump was not to back down on 

sanctions. American Fuels and 

Petrochemicals Manufacturers wrote 

Trump that there was no guarantee that 

other key sources of U.S heavy crude 

would provide enough supplies to 

replace Venezuelan crude. Venezuela’s 

state-run oil company, PDVSA, owns 

Citgo and operates sophisticated 

refineries in Lake Charles, Lemont and 

Corpus Christi with a combined refining 

capacity of 800,000 barrels per day, 

bpd. Citgo operates 48 terminals, nine 

pipelines and three lubes blending and 

packing plants, with a storage capacity 

of over 22 million barrels, one of the 

largest energy networks in America. As 

Maduro became cash strapped in 

December 2016, he used PDVSA to 

obtain a loan from Rosneft (Russian state 

owned oil company), using 49 percent 

stake in Citgo as collateral. This was the 

crux of the matter. Venezuela’s PDVSA 

default in their major payment meant 

Russia’s takeover of a major American 

infrastructure thus jeopardizing energy 

security and interests. Both Russia and 

China receive large oil shipments from 

Venezuela as payments of debt held by 

the global powers. They do not pay for 

the oil in cash.

44—SATURD 

TURDAY Vanguard, 

FEBRUARY 2, 2019 

I 

gave a young man a link to apply for 

job recently and his first question 

threw me off balance. “How much are 

they paying fresh graduates, sir?” From 

shock, my countenance changed to 

anger, and then disappointment. But I 

knew that if I reacted the way the man in 

me wanted to, nothing would be achieved 

from my efforts, so I yielded to the God 

in me. I suppressed my emotions and sat 

him down. I explained to him that I know 

he needs money at this time to take care 

of his immediate needs.But I do not 

believe that salary should the priority of 

a young graduate looking for a job. There 

are more important criteria. 

In the 80s, when my friend and I were 

pounding the streets of Lagos, looking 

for jobs, we almost died of frustration. 

Everywhere we went to, where there was 

vacancy, they wanted somebody with 

experience. At a point, we screamed in 

exasperation, “How do we get the 

experience when nobody is willing to 

give us a chance?” Till date I still believe 

that getting a workplace to acquire 

valuable experience is more important 

than your start-off salary. No young 

graduate should give up such an 

opportunity because of the size of the pay. 

The other critical factor is for the new 

entrant to know what he wants on the 

long run. Is he looking for valuable 

experience so that he can go and start 

his own business, or he wants to build a 

career in paid employment? If he wants 

to acquire experience to enable him start 

his own business or practice, start-off 

salary is inconsequential. In fact, he 

should even be prepared to work 

probono, provided he will get the much 

needed experience. Some of the Senior 

Advocates of Nigeria earning 10s of 

millions of Naira in legal fees today 

started off with salaries as little as N400 

monthly, same with accountants and other 

professionals. But they persevered and 

hung around the establishments because 

they were getting valuable 

experience.Now they are reaping the 

rewards of the earlier sacrifice and 

perseverance. 

If you want to remain in paid 

employment and build a career, start-off 

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode 

will not forget January 2019 

in a hurry. Just when everyone 

thought he was going to leave 

office honourably, Lagos lawmakers 

began impeachment moves. 

Ambode had sleepless nights in 

the later part of 2018. What could 

have been an easy ride became 

more than a hurdle. Where his 

predecessor, Babatunde Fashola, 

succeeded the incumbent was put 

in a deep blue funk. He was denied 

a return ticket. 

As January 2019 petered out, 

Babajide Sanwo-olu, began to take 

shape as the new face of Lagos. 

And that is right before Ambode 

who looks more now like a tenant 

with a quit notice hanging on his 

neck. 

Things happen in Lagos in 

January. The first Administrator of 

Lagos, Major Mobolaji Johnson, 

was appointed by Gen. Johnson 

Aguiyi-Ironsi, on January 21, 1966. 

While Ambode is the fifth civilian 

governor of Lagos, Group Captain 

Gbolahan Mudashiru, the fifth 

military governor of the state 

assumed office in January, 1984. 

Going back to the colonial period, 

Henry Freeman became governor 

of the Colony of Lagos on January 

22, 1862. That was the day William 

McCosky ceased to be Acting 

governor having stayed for five 

months. 

McCosky was popular with 

Lagosians who knew him as the ‘A 

Lagbon pipon’ [man with red 

beards]. The name Apongbon is 

derived from there. 

On January 13 1886, Cornelius 

Moloney, became governor of 

Lagos colony following autonomy 

granted by the British. Between 

1866 and 1886, Lagos was run with 

the Gold Coast. 

Samuel Rowe was appointed 

Focus on your destination 

salary is also not important; 

experience is. As you progress, you 

need to move to a stable 

establishment (if where you are has 

no job security or progression on 

the long run), where there is job 

security so that you can work hard 

and smart and climb the ladder. A 

well-established company also 

means that when you retire, for 

example, 30 years later, you will be 

entitled to gratuity and pension. 

With a good retirement plan, your 

gratuity, pension and the 

investments you made over the 

years would ensure that you retire 

in relative financial comfort. 

Young people need to be very 

careful; if not they will fall into the 

same hole many people before them 

fell into. One phenomenon that 

misled some young adults in the 90s 

was the emergence of literature on 

entrepreneurship, aka “sack your 

boss.” Many people, who had no 

business with entrepreneurship, 

swallowed the messages hook, line 

and sinker. They sacked their 

bosses and became their own 

bosses. The outcome was financial 

struggles. They are still struggling. 

In homes, where parents provide 

good mentorship, the parents will 

know the children who will strive as 

entrepreneurs and those who need 

to be in paid employment to 

strive.Such parental guidance was 

either not available or 

commonplace in those days. 

Consequently, some young 

promising graduates, who had no 

business running a business or a 

private practice, branched out on 

their own. The smart ones among 

them realized their mistakes early 

and retraced their steps. Others did 

not and got stuck in a vicious cycle 

of financial instability and 

unfulfilment. 

It is very painful when you see 

some former school mates or 

friends from the past looking 

unrecognizable today. Life has 

battered them. Some of them were 

very intelligent and promising in 

school; they left school with good 

grades. They made the wrong turn 

at the two way junction a few years 

after graduation and they are still 

paying dearly for that error of 

judgment. 

In their 50s, virtually all of them 

are too old to be employed. 

Employers go for younger blood. 

Moreover, they are already set in 

certain ways and would probably 

not fit into many of these working 

environments. In addition, the 

levels at which they can be 

employed are occupied by younger 

people in their 30s and early 40s. 

Somebody over 50 would be out of 

place. 

A major problem that many of 

them now face is that they have not 

put anything,or enough,aside for 

retirement, and there is no 

company to pay them gratuity and 

pension on retirement. The only 

retirement plans they have are 

their children, who might not even 

get jobs early enough after 

Fashola, Ambode and…Sanwo-olu? 

governor of Gold Coast and Lagos on 

January 28, 1881. Gilbert Carter, who 

also served as Lagos governor and after 

whom Carter Bridge is named, lost his 

wife, Susan Locker, on January 13, 

1895, in Lagos. 

January caught up again with Carter. 

He died on January 18, 1927 in far 

away Barbados. Carter’s place of death 

was known as, Ilaro Court, which was 

designed by his second wife, Gertrude 

Parker, an American he married in 

Lagos. 

Today, in Lagos we have Rowe Park 

Sports Centre, Carter Bridge, Moloney 

Street. I am sure Ambode would also 

love to have something for posterity. 

Never did a governor suffer so much 

humiliation. Ambode hit the scene as 

the ‘Anointed One.’ So we were made 

to believe. His predecessor, Fashola, 

had no say even as a stakeholder. 

The Oba of Lagos used the parable 

of the Lagos Lagoon to sell the 

‘Special One.’ I never heard the 

Jagaban himself harangue anyone. 

The Asiwaju allowed those who wanted 

to put on airs to blow the trumpet. 

I have always described Senator Bola 

Tinubu as the Governor General of 

Nigerian politics. He found in Fashola 

what many did not and Fashola gave 

a good account of himself as governor. 

Fashola, played his cards well and 

could not be denied a second term. 

There could have been differences 

between Asiwaju and BRF. Both men 

showed a lot of tact. Everything 

sounded like diplomacy. 

One thing Fashola had going for 

him was this: he was a listening 

governor and communicated, not by 

proxy. And if there is one person who 

should shout this out, I am. 

I have written about this more than 

once. Let me do it again. I have 

never met Fashola. He does not know 

me. In 2011, I sent a text message to 

him, urging him to set up a 

committee. 

In less than 24 hours, it was in the 

news. He did not only set up the 

committee, he picked exactly all the 

names I recommended, Nigerians 

from different geo-political zones. 

I did not expect the next move. 

Governor Fashola put me in the 

committee without announcing it 

publicly. Till date, I have not met 

him. He does not know me. 

I have come across some people 

who are supposed to be close to 

Ambode. The story sounds different. 

Maybe, the governor is so busy that 

even aides do not get to chip in a 

few words. 

And here again, I give it to Asiwaju. 

He never came out to criticize 

Ambode. It was obvious that 

stakeholders were not being carried 

along by the man at Alausa. 

graduation in this harsh economy. And 

when these children finally get jobs, 

they have their own plans. Their 

parents are scarcely their priority. It 

is very rare to see adult children, who 

make their parents’ welfare their 

number one priority. So these people 

are in for a very uncertain future and 

that is not good for old age with its 

attendant challenges. 

In contrast, many of their 

contemporaries, who chose paid 

employment, have risen to high 

positions in their establishments. 

Those in public service are directors, 

permanent secretaries and so on. 

Those in private businesses and 

organisations are now in top 

management positions: senior 

managers, general managers, 

executive directors, chief executives 

and so on. Some have even retired 

with generous packages. 

But there are also those in paid 

employment, who underachieved 

and those who were snuffed out by 

high-wire office politics. Selfemployment/business 

ownership 

versus paid employment; I am not 

saying one is better than the other. 

Know which one suits you and play 

there; the probability of your success 

is higher. The bottom line is a happy 

and fulfilling working life and that 

comes when you are in the right place 

doing what you enjoy. 

So, young people, where do you fall 

into? If you have not been properly 

mentored by your parents, you 

better get a mentor to guide you. 

Taking a plunge into paid 

employment or self-employment/ 

business ownership without knowing 

which side of the divide you fall into 

is courting a life of financial struggles, 

unfulfillment and misery. But before 

you get to the point of taking a plunge, 

let money take the back seat. First 

things first. Getting a job in Nigeria is 

tough business, so you cannot begin 

to put salary on the front burner. Get 

a place where you can acquire the 

necessary experience and showcase 

your skills.Better opportunities will 

come along. 

Tackling the madness that is Lagos 

traffic, may not sound as easy in 

action as on air; let your work speak 

for you 

Government is about the people. 

Tinubu reads the pulse of the 

people. The people also know him. 

Small wonder, he has been able to 

control Lagos. 

Leaders should build bridges not 

walls. That is why Tinubu is the 

Jagaban. He may not be as pious as 

the Pope but Asiwaju pools people 

because he hardly puts on airs. 

For a man to emerge from obscurity 

to stand tall in South-West politics, he 

surely deserves some attention. 

Honestly, without Tinubu, it is pretty 

difficult to shake Lagos. 

Tinubu brought out Fashola. And 

you can name many others who either 

belonged or still belong to his political 

family. We have Vice President Yemi 

Osinbajo, governors Kayode Fayemi, 

Rotimi Akeredolu, Rauf Aregbesola 

and tax chief, Tunde Fowler. 

Now to Sanwo-olu. I listened to him 

recently on Jimi Disu’s radio 

programme. He sounds like a team 

player and accorded his running mate, 

Tunde Hamzat, much respect. 

Sanwo-olu has rich credentials, from 

the banking hall to politics. And he 

talked so much about stakeholders. 

The man is thinking of carrying the 

Yoruba, the Igbo, the Hausa and all 

other groups along. That is a plus. 

I would also like him to learn from 

C 

M 

Y 

K

Igbo'll move from VP to 

Presidency — Atiku 

By Emeka Mamah, 

Dennis Agbo & 

Chinedu Adonu 

PRESIDENTIAL can 

didate of the Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji 

Atiku Abubakar has reassured 

the Igbo that they 

would move from being 

Vice President to Presidency 

after his tenure. 

He told Ndigbo that PDP 

has given them every other 

position except Presidency, 

which he reiterated 

would be made good after 

his tenure. 

Arriving the venue by 

6:10 pm, he apologised for 

late arrival but noted that 

the people persisted and 

waited for him because 

they were PDP faithfull 

right from 1999. 

Atiku said: “You may not 

know that you have two 

over three in this election 

but you know you have the 

Vice President and the first 

lady. You May not have 

such opportunity again. 

“From Vice President the 

next is President. I therefore 

urge you to support all 

PDP candidates for national 

People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku 

Abubakar with Peter Obi, Senate president, Bukola Saraki, Deputy Senate 

president, Ike Ekweremadu, National chairman of PDP, Uche Secondus, Gov 

of Enugu state, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, during the party’s campaign at Nnamdi 

Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu. 

Adamu attacks Obasanjo, Atiku, Jonathan over 

Nigeria’s economy 

By David Odama 

THE senator represent 

ing Nasarawa West at 

the National Assembly, senator 

Abdullahi Adamu has 

blamed the economic hardship 

confronting the nation 

on the bad governance 

former presidents Olusegun 

Obasanjo, vice president 

Atiku Abubakar and Dr. 

Goodluck Obere Jonathan 

brought to the country. 

The former governor of the 

state further stated that the 

former vice president Atiku 

headed the economic team 

during Obasanjo's administration 

and initiated the privitization 

of government enterprises 

and sold government 

properties to themselves, 

which led to the 

collapse of the economy. 

Adamu who spoke at 

Umashia in Toto Local 

Government Area of the 

state, noted that during the 

tenures of former 

presidents Obasanjo and 

Goodluck Jonathan, crude 

oil was sold at 140 US dollars 

per barrel, and lamented the 

wasteful years of the former 

administrations 

According to him, prior to 

President Buhari administration 

dollar remained three 

hundred to four hundred 

naira while crude oil 

dropped drastically to 32 US 

dollars per barrel. 

He, however, said that the 

corrupt politicians were 

working tirelesly to ensure 

that President Buhari did 

not return for second term 

and were not happy with 

Buhari’s anti-corrupt war. 

Budget impasse: Adebule in closed-door 

meeting with lawmakers 

By Olasunkanmi 

Akoni and Monsuru 

Olowoopejo 

LAGOS State Deputy 

Governor, Dr. Idiat Adebule, 

yesterday, paid an unscheduled 

visit to members 

of the state House of Assembly, 

over the 2018 and 2019 

budgets imbroglio between 

the Executive and the Legislative 

arms of government 

in the state. 

Though, the main reason 

the deputy governor visited 

the Assembly was not 

disclosed, a source said it 

was not unconnected with 

the impeachment plot by the 

lawmakers, in order to reach 

a truce in the interest of the 

state. 

The meeting, was aimed 

at reaching an amicable settlement 

of the current disagreement 

between the two 

assembly, you Governorship 

candidate and me for 

President.” 

The Vice presidential 

candidate, Peter Obi noted 

that South East is home 

for PDP, promising that if 

elected, the region will witness 

great transformation 

in the next four years. “That 

roads were not built will be 

a thing of the past.” said 

Obi. 

arms of government, particularly, 

Governor Ambode. 

According to the source, the 

lawmakers, initially refused 

to attend to the deputy 

governor on the insistence 

that the governor must 

appear in person and not by 

proxy. 

It was gathered that after 

much interventions, the deputy 

governor was granted a 

closed doors meeting with a 

committee of the house, with 

Speaker in attendance. 

Recall that a group, sympathetic 

to the governor, 

Wednesday stormed the 

House of Assembly Complex 

to protest lawmakers’ plan to 

impeach the governor. 

The protesters numbering 

hundreds wanted the lawmakers 

to shelve the plan 

immediately, in the interest 

of the masses. 

The protest came barely two 

days after the lawmakers 

threatened to impeach Ambode 

if he failed to explain 

reasons for his alleged financial 

misappropriation within 

seven days. 

36 out of 40 lawmakers of 

the house, at the plenary on 

Monday, unanimously 

agreed that the Governor’s 

action, which includes; 

spending without recourse to 

the House and other sundry 

allegations, violated the 1999 

Constitution. Aside the 

protesters, another group, 

Lagos Liberation Movement, 

LLM, has vowed to resist the 

move to impeach Ambode. 

The protesters, under the 

aegis of Lagos Peoples’ Assembly, 

LPA, barricaded the 

entrance of the State House 

of Assembly Complex, 

Alausa, Ikeja, displaying 

placards, expressing their 

dissatisfaction over the lawmakers’ 

action against the 

governor. 

Senator Jim Nwobodo 

who recently returned to 

the party described 

Abubakar as next President 

of Nigeria and appreciated 

his choice of an Igbo 

man as his Vice. 

“Ndigbo will vote for you 

one hundred percent,” 

Nwobodo reassured 

Abubakar. 

Among the party dignitaries 

that spoke at the campaign 

ground included, 

Atiku Presidential Campaign 

Director General 

and Senate president, Dr. 

Bukola Saraki; Deputy 

Senate president, Ike Ekweremadu; 

Governor of 

Enugu state, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; 

former governor of 

Cross River state, Liyel 

Imoke. 

He re-reiterated his 

personal commitment to 

collaborate with the state and 

the Federal Government to 

end the persistent Bassa/ 

Egbira tribal crisis in Toyo 

Local Government if reelected 

for the third term in 

the forthcoming general elections. 

Adamu also lamented the 

situation where innocent 

people have been killed 

during the crisis and 

property worth millions of 

naira were destroyed, 

while the economy of the 

country was brought to a 

hault. 

He said if re-elected, 

concrete security measures 

would be taken to return 

peace to the area. 

“We are going to collaborate 

with the state and federal 

government to ensure 

those behind the persistent 

crisis in Umashia development 

area in Toto local government 

areas of the state 

were arrested and prosecuted 

to serve as a deterrence 

to others.” 

We are going to take 

drastic measures to find a 

lasting solution to the crisis,” 

he said. 

Earlier, the paramount 

rulers of Ohimegye Opanda 

and Ohinoye Ogye of 

Toto, Alhaji Usman Abdullahi 

and Muhammed Umar 

Azaki Onah promised one 

hundred percent vote for 

president Muhammadu 

Buhari, senator Abdullahi 

Adamu and all APC candidates 

at all levels in the 

forthcoming general elections. 


2019: Agbor, Owa-Oyibu 

stand still as Okowa takes 

campaign to home town 

*Says he’ll do more when re-elected 

By Festus Ahon, ASABA 

AGBOR and Owa-Oyibu, headquarters of Ika South 

and Ika North East Local Government Areas, Delta 

State respectively were yesterday, shut down as Governor 

Ifeanyi Okowa and his team stormed the area to round up 

his campaign of local governments. 

Addressing the people, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa said 

Chief James Ibori was their leader and was known in the 

whole of South South as a leader. 

Okowa said; “we have God, so we have no fear. We will 

win in the 25 local governments. Even in Ethiope East we 

will win, we know you people are with us. 

“On February 16 and March 2nd, take your Permanent 

Voters Card, PVCs; take your sister, brother, father, mother, 

child and your friend along don’t go alone. Vote and guide 

your votes to the collation centres, we won’t allow them to 

rig. 

“The empowerment we are doing now is going to multiply 

in 2023. Both the youths and the women will be empowered. 

I will continue to do good work for my people of 

Delta State. I learnt well under James Ibori”. 

Former Governor James Ibori who also addressed the 

mammoth crowd, thanked the PDP campaign team for the 

good work they were doing by going round the state to sell 

the PDP to the electorates. 

Ibori who made sudden appearance in Owa-Oyibu, said 

the Ika nation stood by him during his two terms as Governor 

and thanked the people for their support for Governor 

Ifeanyi Okowa. 

He said Governor Ifeanyi Okowa was doing well and 

recalled how he (Okowa) served well as Commissioner for 

Water resources development in his government drilling 

boreholes in all parts of the state. 

He expressed hope that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa would 

win the March 2nd election, saying that “it is God who 

gives power”. 

Kidnapping: Judge dismisses 

Evans’ allegation of torture 

By Henry Ojelu 

JUSTICE Hakeem Oshodi of the Lagos High Court, 

Ikeja yesterday dismissed the claims by Kidnap Kingpin, 

Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike alias Evans that he 

was tortured by the men of Police Inspector General’s Intelligence 

Response Team and the Special Anti Robbery Squad 

(SARS) after his arrest. 

Evans, is standing trial alongside Uche Amadi, Ogechi 

Uchechukwu, Chilaka Ifeanyi, Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu 

and Victor Aduba over allegation of kidnapping the 

Chief Executive Officer of Maydon Pharmaceutical Limited, 

Donatus Dunu. 

Evans and his gang allegedly collected 223,000 Euro 

(N100m) as ransom from Donatus Dunu. 

While ruling on the admissibility of Evans confessional 

statement made to the police on June 11, 2017, Justice 

Oshodi yesterday held that there was no proof before the 

court to substantiate his claims of torture. 

He noted that the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic 

of Nigeria made no requirement that statements to 

the police must be in a specific form. 

He also noted that based on the evidence of Evans’ videotaped 

confession played in the court on Oct. 26, 2018 

there was no proof that Evans was tortured to provide details 

of his alleged misdeeds. 

The Judge said: “In the video that was played in open 

court, the first defendant was cautioned and he signed a 

word of caution, when he was asked his profession he said 

he was a businessman, he said so with a smile. 

Stop attacks on Atiku, 

Onuesoke cautions Keyamo 

PEOPLES Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Chief 

Sunny Onuesoke has cautioned the Director of Strategic 

Communications, President Muhammadu Buhari 

Campaign Organisation, Mr. Festus Keyamo (SAN) to 

stop his attack on People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential 

candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. 

Keyamo reportedly said that it was an insult for Alhaji 

Abubakar to accuse President Muhammadu Buhari and 

the All Progressives Congress, APC of planning to rig 

the forthcoming general elections. 

Addressing journalists in Warri, Delta State, Onuesoke 

said it was disrespectful of Keyamo to have described 

Atiku’s allegation as an insult. 

According to him,”it is quite unfortunate that Keyamo 

is busy attacking PDP and its presidential candidate Alhaji 

Atiku Abubakar when the herdsmen issue has not 

been solved, when our brothers and sisters are dying in 

the sahara desert and the Mediterranian sea, and Ngerians 

are dying of hunger every day. 

“I expect Keyamo to advise his boss on how to implement 

policies that will better the life of Nigerians instead 

of attacking and insulting the opposition”.


bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk 

When hurricane infidelity 

hits your marriage! 

AS many friends in a 

female group get 

married, the few left start 

fretting if they’re not 

going to be left 

permanently on the shelf. 

Years later, a couple of 

marriages in the group 

are likely to hit the skids 

and the rest of it starts 

getting jittery—”case 

often green bottle?” 

Beverly, a mother of three 

adorable kids has been 

married for 11 years. A few 

weeks ago, a friend of hers 

dropped by with the news 

that another friend had 

just been separated from 

her husband—divorce 

exceptionally good. 

was on the cards. 

“But would that tiny 

“The news was really 

episode assure me of my 

depressing, I tell you,” 

husband’s fidelity. No way! 

said Bev. “The couple in 

I mean, if a regular guy like 

question,Grace and 

Melvil, got married 

around the same time we 

did. They were a sort of 

role model of the group, 

the ones you invited to the 

house when you just felt 

like hanging out... the 

ones who gladly ran 

errands for you, the ones 

you called when you 

needed a leg-up. They had 

been together since their 

university days and had 

been married for 12 years. 

Although their 

relationship had issues— 

Melvil is a football 

fanatic, he loves going to 

A-list parties— it seemed 

like a given that their tilldeath 

vows would stick. 

However, early last year, 

Grace had hit a rough 

patch emotionally. She 

lost her parents in quick 

successions and had an 

uphill task hanging on to 

a job in the office where 

massive retrenchment 

was a threat. 

“We knew Mel had lost a 

lot of patience over his 

wife’s malaise—but we 

didn’t suspect how bad it 

was until he confirmed 

his affair to his wife and 

the fact he’d found 

solace—and red-hot sex— 

in the arms of a hot dance 

teacher, whom he now 

referred to as his ‘soul 

mate’! It’s one thing to 

read about the cheating 

scandals of all these 

celebrities in various softsell 

magazines, but it’s 

easy to reassure yourself 

you won’t be part of that 

group—your partner is not 

a movie star or a socialite 

and, as a result, he does not 

have adoring women 

flashing their obscene 

boobs at him every time he 

steps outside the door. Yet, 

almost on a daily basis, you 

witness the devastation of 

what is now termed 

Hurricane infidelity. 

“After my friend left, I 

became a bit unsecured 

about my marriage. One 

night, when Timi, my 

husband, was fast asleep, I 

pinched his mobile, crept to 

the kitchen and started 

scrolling through his recent 

text messages like some 

possessed psycho. I skipped 

through the usual notes 

from work contacts and 

friends until I saw one from 

Kate. Who the hell was she? 

What happened to you 

yesterday,’ it read and my 

heart kicked into a gallop. 

You were terribly missed. 

Same time today?’ I was 

livid. I charged up the stairs 

to confront my sleeping 

husband—the cheat! 

Only, I made a complete 

fool of myself. The text was 

from an old female colleague 

whom we all know to be 

always lovey-dovey with 

everyone. She was merely 

raving about a restaurant 

they’d all discovered to be 

One night, when 

Timi, my husband, 

was fast asleep, I 

pinched his mobile, 

crept to the kitchen 

and started scrolling 

through his recent 

text messages like 

some possessed 

psycho 

Melvil—someone I 

thought I knew and 

understood, who seemed 

reasonably happy with 

Grace, his wife —could go 

Ga-Ga over a dance 

teacher, what’s to stop my 

husband doing the same? Some 

few weeks after this incident, 

we were at a swanky party when 

I looked across the room and 

noticed that Timi was engaged 

in an animated conversation 

with a woman I’d never met. 

“She was young, pretty and 

flirty, with dangerous curves 

and perfectly groomed hair 

Want to get t pregnant?So what’s 

stopping you? 

Here is a compilation of what the medics believe might 

work against you when trying in vain to get pregnant. 

Age: The younger you are, the easier it is to get pregnant. 

After 35, your chances get slimmer, and it increased the 

risk of your baby having a genetic disorder. 

Period: Regular periods? The best time to conceive is days 

between 13 to 16 than 31, see your doctor to check your 

hormone levels. Painful periods can be a sign of 

endometriosis, which affects fertility. Taking painkillers can 

lower your chances too. Excessive bleeding might indicate 

that you have fibroids which can make it hard for an egg to 

be implanted in the womb. 

Weight: If you’re obese, planning a baby is the perfect 

incentive to lose a few pounds. Too much body fat affects 

hormones and infertility. Getting regular exercise will boost 

your immune system and improve circulation as well. 

Booze and fags:Drinking over five units of alcohol a week 

greatly decreases your chance of getting pregnant. 

Cigarettes contain chemicals that decrease fertility. 

Additives: Avoid artificial sweeteners in most diet drinks 

and sugar-free foods, and try not to use air fresheners or 

perfumes that contain artificial musk. They can affect your 

hormones. On the other hand, a daily multivitamin and 

mineral supplement may help boost your fertility. 

Him: Swap your man for a younger man! Men over 35 are 

less likely to get their partners pregnant in a year than they 

were at 25. A healthy weight and diet are important for him 

too. Steam rooms can decrease sperm count, as tight 

synthetic pants and smoking. Drinking too much can also 

cause impotence and sterility. 

Worry: Most of all, don’t get stressed about not getting 

pregnant! It will cripple your libido, interfere with your 

menstrual cycle and deprive your body of vitally needed 

nutrients. If you’ve done all the right things and still haven’t 

conceived in 18 months, visit your doctor for tests. 

extensions. Instead of 

walking up and saying hello, 

as I would have up to a few 

months before, I left the 

room. I thought I would 

give him a few minutes and 

he would come looking for 

me. Ten minutes passed. 

Fifteen. My withdrawal 

tactics clearly wasn’t 

working, so I charged back 

to the room. Timi was still 

engrossed with Ms 38 D 

more-bouce-to-the-ounce. 

Could this be an old 

colleague too? Heck no! 

When I finally grabbed 

Timi’s hand and introduced 

myself to the woman, she 

looked embarrassed. In a 

huff, I dragged him off her, 

telling him I was ready to 

go. 

“As soon as we were in the 

car, Timi claimed he was 

really grateful to me for 

dragging him away from the 

woman. ‘I don’t remember 

her name, but she wouldn’t 

leave me alone,” he said. I 

didn’t buy his story and I 

told him so loudly, with 

accusations and profanity. 

We barely spoke for two 

days and when we did, we 

were polite, careful and 

detached. I knew I had 

really offended him. I knew 

I should be trying to mend 

things but the more I 

witnessed Bev’s agony and 

Mel’s liberation’, the more 

freaked out I got. 

“I read articles on how to 

tell if your man is cheating, 

then checked his behaviour 

for clues. Has he become 

more fastidious in his 

grooming? More protective 

of his phone? Changed his 

work hours? Become more 

solicitous. One night, he 

called he would be working 

late. Humph! My chance to 

catch the rat! He would be 

too tired for sex if he’d had 

one already. So, when I 

later pounced on him in the 

bedroom and he eagerly 

rose to the occasion, I felt 

really bad. Why did I doubt 

his love and dedication to 

this lovely family we’ve 

both worked hard for over 

the years? As my husband 

drifted off to sleep, I felt 

reassured that whatever 

happens in future, longevity 

might not compete with 

excitement but new is the 

one thing Timi and I can 

never be to each other.”

Native doctors, NGOs, 

protest blackout in 

444 Edo communities 

•As Gov.Obaseki moves to remedy situation 

By Evelyn Usman 

In Edo state 444 communities spread 

across 18 Local Government Areas of 

Edo were reported to be without electricity. 

From the figure, 157 communities were yet 

to be connected to the national grid, 32 of the 

communities were disconnected by the Benin 

Electricity Distribution Company, BEDC, 145 

communities had faulty transformers, while 

110 communities required network 

rehabilitation. The worst hit were 

Orhionmwon, Uhunmwode and Ovia North 

East council areas. 

BEDC receives knocks 

The state’s electricity distribution arm- Benin 

City Distribution Company, BEDC has 

received knocks from the affected 

communities, civil organizations and the Edo 

State Government, over what was described 

as failure to meet its mandate of distributing 

electricity to customers in Edo state. 

This culminated into protests, particularly 

when news filtered in of plans by the Federal 

Government to extend the operational license 

of BEDC, which expired at the end of October 

2018. 

There were reported plans by some of the 

affected communities to attack BEDC staff , if 

the situation was not addressed. When public 

outrage reached its peak the Edo Civil Society 

Organisation, EDOSCO began a protest, 

against the alleged extension plans of BEDC 

services. 

The organization which described the 

alleged plan as another round of suffering on 

EROSION: We are waiting for FG’s 

intervention in Anambra – Rep Nwankwo 

By Clifford Ndujihe 

Chief Ferdinand Dozie Nwankwo, House 

of Representatives member 

representing Njikoka/Dunukofia/ 

Anaocha Federal Constituency of Anambra 

State, was sworn-in in January 2016, after a 

one year legal tussle to recover his mandate. 

Nwankwo, who has been given numerous 

titles by monarchs in Anambra for his 

philanthropic and constituency projects, has 

flagged off his re-election campaign after three 

interactive stakeholders’ meetings at 

Dunukofia, Njikoka and Anaocha local 

councils of his Federal Constituency. In 

this interview, among others, he shared 

his experience in the National 

Assembly, why the menace of erosion 

in the South-East must be tackled 

decisively, and why he deserves reelection. 

Three years after, how has your 

sojourn in the National Assembly 

been? 

It has been interesting and 

challenging. It is a big honour to carry 

the full weight of the needs, 

expectations and demands of your 

constituents on your shoulders, and 

striving daily to tackle them. 

It is a heart-warming experience 

when viewed from the bills and 

motions I articulated and presented on 

the floor of the House. Through these 

bills and motions, the legislators 

brought to the notice of Federal Government 

and the public certain necessities or things 

that need correction. 

Within these past three years, I participated 

in the oversight function in a number of 

agencies and parastatals of the Federal 

Government as a member of the committees 

on Environment, Federal Character, National 

Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), 

Airforce, Oil/Gas-Upstream, etc. And being in 

the Health Services committee I participated 

in the oversight function in the National 

Agency for Food, Drug Administration and 

Control, NAFDAC, and other health agencies. 

In all, I can proudly say that I am making 

huge progress and succeeding. I thank God 

and my people for giving me the privilege. 

Erosion remains a very big challenge in the 

South-East especially in Anambra State with 

more than 1000 active dangerous sites 

destroying schools, roads, bridges, hospitals, 

homes and even the base of your own home 

has been eaten up. What are you doing 

about this as a lawmaker? 

When I got into the National 

Assembly the first thing I did was to 

sponsor a motion drawing the 

attention of the Federal Government 

to the sad situation within my 

constituency. I sustained the outcry 

which necessitated the House to send 

a 15-man Committee led by Hon 

Obinna Chidoka (Chairman, the House 

Committee on Environment) to tour the 

major sites in the state. They spent about 

two days and were marvelled at the level 

of devastation. But it is sad that in spite 

of the motions and bills and outcries, 

backed by well documented pictorials 

and videos, the government kept saying 

‘there is no money.’ 

Non-carrying out of immediate action 

often aggravates the situation. For 

example, places where about four 

houses were swallowed up the previous 

year would with more rains widen to 

landslides and consume more and more houses, 

if not checked. 

The government will give all manner of 

excuses, saying they are on top of it, that the 

Ecological funds office is the one handling it and 

so on. That is what you continue to hear while 

your people suffer, your community is swept 

away like around my house. If nothing serious 

is done within next few months, all my efforts 

in building the house would be wasted as 

landslide has ebbed away the base of the house, 

the populace, staged a three-day protest 

between October 29 and October 31, 2018 and 

besieged the company’s office in Akpakpava, 

Benin city, calling for the removal of the 

Managing Director, BEDC, Mrs. Funke 

Osibodu. 

Spokesman for EDOSCO, Osazee Edigin, 

lamented that “within the last five years, 

BEDC failed to provide pre-paid meters to 

consumers, extend the distribution network, 

improve customer service delivery and reduce 

power interruptions as well as deliver stable 

power to its coverage area of Edo, Ekiti, Ondo 

and Delta states. 

“We are in collaboration with other interest 

groups and critical stakeholders, reaffirming 

our stand that the operators of the BEDC do 

not deserve an extension or renewal of 

operational license for a day later 

than the 31st of October, 2018. 

Native doctors, traditional 

rulers Protest 

Also last year, native doctors, 

communities among which was 

Ihovbor community in 

Uhunmwonde Local Government 

Area, which hosts Azura Power 

Plant but has been on the receiving 

end of the company’s antics, staged 

protests in Benin city. 

Members of Ihovbor community 

who protested to Government 

House in Benin City, accused 

officials of BEDC of removing a 

transformer which the community 

bought and installed disclosing that 

the action had plunged the 

community into darkness for 16 

months. 

The Edo State Council of 

Traditional Rulers and Chiefs, 

headed by the Benin Monarch, Omo 

N’ Oba N’ Edo, Uku Akpolo kpolo, 

Oba Ewuare II, was not left out in 

the call for the discontinuation of 

service by BEDC in the state, as it 

called on the governor to seek 

alternative solution. 

In a communique issued on 

November 30, 2018, at the Oba 

Palace, Benin City, the Council did not only 

condemn in strong terms the poor 

performance and inability of BEDC to provide 

electricity to Edo residents, it also frowned at 

BEDC’s inability to provide prepaid meters 

to those willing to buy, as well as what it 

described as BEDC imposition of illegal and 

outrageous estimated billing system on its 

consumers. 

The council also said “we fully endorsed the 

actions of Mr Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki, 

Governor of Edo State, in calling for the nonrenewal 

of the contract between BEDC and 

the relevant agency of the Federal 

Government and urge the Governor to 

vigorously pursue the procurement of 

alternative source(s) of power in order to bring 

comfort to the people of Edo State. 

“We cannot continue to dwell in unending 

darkness and watch our people suffer untold 

hardship, resulting from the inefficiency of 

BEDC. Our people who are into small and 

medium scale businesses are going out of 

•Chief Ferdinand Dozie Nwankwo 

leaving it hanging dangerously. 

But for the interest of the community I left 

the issue of my house and concentrated on the 

road that links my community to the church 

which has now been cut into two. So I started 

some remedial and recovery efforts to save the 

road and houses of other citizens. 

On the erosion menace, I believe that my 

efforts would soon yield result. The Federal 

Government has responded and said they are 

working on my request. They said the Due 

Process and Procurement Law was taking its 

course. I am not relenting. I will continue to push 

until we get result. It is really disturbing, we need 

urgent intervention. 

On the challenges he faced in the House 

There are a lot of work to be done. More so, it is 

my first time where you have a lot to learn in terms 

of legislative functions, you carry out oversight 

functions and also must visit home regularly to 

be with and relate/interact with your people. I 

need to brief the citizens of my constituency 

always, and also take care of my family. Though 

it is tasking, I thank God for the energy to cope. 

On why he should be re-elected 

In the National Assembly experience matters 

a lot. We have what we call ‘ranking members’. 

They are those who are not first timers. They are 

experienced members. They get leadership 

appointments first and that is why it is difficult 

for a non-ranking member to head any 

committee. When I took my seat in January 2016 


business daily and bigger businesses are 

having their share of the hardship.” 

Governor Obaseki reacts 

The situation set Governor Obaseki against 

the BEDC and its management as the governor 

had at different fora decried the BEDC’s lack 

of preparedness to extend electricity to over 

195 communities in the state, in addition to 

128 other communities with collapsed 

distribution infrastructure which were yet to 

be fixed. In a bold move to free the affected 

communities from the endless circle of 

darkness, Governor Obaseki sought 

alternatives to get electricity for the affected 

areas and government offices across the Benin 

metropolis with the commencement of 

construction of the CCETC-Ossiomo Power 

plant. The first phase of the 

construction, according to 

the governor, is expected to 

be commissioned in April, 

which will make more 

electricity available for 

distribution in the state. 

The 55MW Power Plant 

Members of 

Ihovbor 

community who 

protested to 

Government 

House in Benin 

City, accused 

officials of BEDC 

of removing a 

transformer which 

the community 

bought and 

installed 

project which is expected to 

be built in phases, the 

governor said, would ease 

the distribution of the power, 

as a substation would be set 

up around Kings Square, 

which would provide power 

for street lights. 

An optimistic Obaseki 

said, “We believe that if the 

megawatts produced 

increase, the distribution 

company will have more 

power to distribute to other 

cities in the state. There is 

an arrangement to drop 

power in certain processing 

centres where artisans can 

move into and do their 

businesses with the 

assurance of steady power 

supply,” he said. 

BEDC position 

However, BEDC‘s Chief State Head, Mr 

Fidelis Obishai, explained earlier that the 

issue of decaying infrastructure was inherited 

by the utility company. He stated that the 

BEDC which had since taken over the asset 

and liability of the defunct PHCN in November 

2013, had carried out, and still carrying out, 

network rehabilitation as well as changed no 

fewer than 150 transformers in Edo alone. 

He said “to start with, I do not quite agree 

with the number of communities, the question 

is, how many communities do we have in Edo 

that you will have such a figure without 

electricity? On the issue of disconnecting some 

communities and those with faulty 

transformers, we do not just go about 

disconnecting people or communities, rather 

they naturally disconnect themselves. 

“BEDC is a business entity and a situation 

where you are owing and you refuse to pay, 

when you have issue and you come to us, we 

ask you to pay and if you still refuse, we don’t 

attend to such problems”, he stated. 

after a stressful legal tussle to recover my mandate, 

I inherited what my predecessor left behind, but 

I could not get chairmanship or deputy 

chairmanship of any committee. So when I return 

in the next session, based on my efforts and 

quality contributions in the outgoing session I will 

get chairmanship of committee. It is possible that 

the number of those who will return may not be 

enough, but those who return will be considered 

first. Again, legislative business is not all about 

going round holding media interviews. It is all 

encompassing, especially in the interest of the 

nation and your constituents. It involves a lot of 

things. It’s never easy for first timers. You must 

learn and know how to lobby, draft bills and 

motions to sail through. As a second timer you 

stand a better chance of getting and attracting 

more projects and services to your constituency 

and constituents. 

If re-elected, what are you going to focus on? 

I have passion for healthcare delivery. For nearly 

two decades, I have been conducting free medical 

treatment for people of my constituency. We started 

with annual package towards Christmas period. 

But we now operate about three times annually, 

and have recently added two more council areas 

to the initial three. So my free medical programme 

now cover Njikoka, Dunukofia, Anaocha, Awka 

North and Awka South councils. I have plans to 

extend it even beyond these areas once the funds 

are available. 

On a personal note I urge the Federal 

Government to create opportunities for all citizens 

to benefit from quality healthcare services. As an 

advocate of quality and adequate healthcare for 

the people, I am going to improve on that when I 

get back to the National Assembly. Also to get 

special attention is Education and Agriculture. I 

sponsored a bill to repeal our Export Prohibition 

Act. Before now there was a law banning the 

exportation of rice, beans, garri, maize and 

others. 

So when I came on board I looked at it and 

wondered why we were looking for foreign 

exchange whereas we were prohibiting some 

easy means of earning same. How then do we 

encourage our farmers? Therefore I sponsored a 

bill to repeal that Act. Of course it didn’t waste 

time to get the support of all. It was such that even 

the committee chairman and many members, 

including the Minister and the Minister of State 

for Agriculture and other experts and 

stakeholders called and commended me.


•The demolished site 

How Police supervised illegal demolition of 

my property in Lagos — Ghana based Nigerian 

By Emma Nnadozie, 

Crime Editor 

ANigerian business man based in 

Ghana, Jayson Bailey Kimipado 

has sent a save-my-soul plea to the 

Acting Inspector-General of Police, 

Adamu Mohammed to intervene over 

efforts to take over his landed property 

by some people in connivance with two 

policemen attached to the Special Fraud 

Unit, Ikoyi, Lagos. 

Speaking to reporters in Lagos, 

Kimipado lamented that two Nigerians 

he identified as Obele and Prince who 

claimed to have influence over the police 

trespassed on his property by 

demolishing structures on it and in 

connivance with two policemen attached 

to the Special Fraud Unit in Lagos after 

which they took illegal possession of the 

land and posted armed policemen to 

guard the land. 

Narrating his plight through his lawyer, 

Charles Omosohwofa Esq, Kimipado 

said he bought the land in 2016 at Lake 

View Estate, Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos and 

duly registered it at the land registry and 

was issued a Certificate of Occupancy 

with a survey plan. 

According to Kimipado, one Edward 

Ojefia acted as his agent and helped in 

the purchase of the land because he lives 

in Ghana and after due negotiation with 

the owner who is a lawyer. Payment was 

made. . “The owner took only part 

payment of the agreed price on hearing 

from the man he earlier bought the land 

from that some persons were trespassing 

on the land. 

“It was agreed between all the parties 

that part payment should be made pending 

the action the owner of the land intended to 

take against the trespassers. Subsequently, 

the owner initiated action at the High court 

of Lagos state and during the pendency of 

the action, the trespassers were duly served 

notices by the court. 

“On the 15 th of June, 2015, judgement 

was delivered in the owner’s favour and 

thereafter, he concluded the necessary 

documentation with Kimipado who fenced 

the land and began erecting structures on 

it. However, two years after, the 

trespasser threatened to pull down a part 

of the fence claiming that it encroached 

on his adjoining land. Subsequently, he 

proceeded to detain up those that bought 

the land on behalf of Kimipado at the 

Special Fraud Unit on trumped up 

charges for three days. 

“Although Edward Ojefia and Bolaji 

Salami who stood for the owner of the 

land were released on bail, six months 

later, they were re-arrested in a 

Gestapo-like manner by the same 

officers from SFU without prior 

invitation. SP Austin Osobase 

and ASP Mohammed 

Abdulkareem who allegedly 

arrested them claimed that 

the response they got from 

enquiries at the Land Use 

Allocation Committee 

revealed that Kimipado’s 

land was some meters 

away from where it is on 

his survey plan. 

However, it was later 

discovered that the 

survey plan was forged 

and sent by the police 

officers to the Land Use 

Allocation Committee. 

“The police officers 

also brought officials 

from the Surveyor- 

General’s office that 

entered the land 

without permission 

for the purpose of 

taking coordinates 

of the land to 

determine the owner. 

Later, the Committee stated in their report 

that the C of O belonging to Kimipado is 

authentic. However, the officers 

continued superintending over the 

dispute arising from ownership of the 

land. This prompted Kimipado’s 

representatives to approach the Federal 

High Court to enforce their fundamental 

rights following threats. 

“On 20 th December, 

2018, the trespassers 

came with a bulldozer in 

company of policemen 

who started shooting 

into the air to scare 

away any opposition 

and demolished 

part of Kimipado’s 

property. After 

that, they 

stationed some 

armed Mobile 

Policemen at the 

site to ward off 

entry by the owner. 

The matter was 

promptly reported at 

Area E and the Mobile 

Policemen were 

arrested. However, the 

two officers from SFU 

later came to the 

station and requested 

•A police uniform recovered at 

the demolished site 

their release 

purportedly on the 

orders of the 

Commissioner of 

Police at SFU. 

“Two weeks after, 

the trespassers 

came again to 

demolish another 

part of Kimpado’s 

property under 

the full cover of 

policemen led by 

the two officers 

from SFU prompting a petition to the 

Inspector-General of Police who ordered 

their immediate arrest by the X-squad at 

Force Criminal Investigations 

Department, FCID, Alagbon. 

Surprisingly, after the arrest of the 

officers, they were released 

unconditionally and the trespassers 

returned to the land with armed soldiers 

and policemen on guard.” 

Edward Ojefia who was detained at 

SFU for three days over the case told 

Crime Guard that the police officers were 

brazen in their open support for the 

trespasser and stressed that one of the 

trespassers called Prince was always 

seen at the unit conniving with some 

officers to extort money from people that 

have cases there. “I call on the new IGP 

to cause a thorough investigation to be 

carried out at the unit because a lot of 

people have been denied justice there. 

Our saving grace was that they could not 

manipulate workers at the Land Use 

Allocation Committee if not they could 

have thrown us into jail.” 

Contacted for comments, the Police 

Public Relations Officer at the Special 

Fraud Unit, SFU, DSP Audu Lawal told 

Crime Guard: “Our officers did not 

supervise any destruction of site. SFU was 

involved after the former IGP instructed us 

to take over the case from X-squad, 

Alagbon. As soon as we took over the case, 

our officers investigated the case and found 

out that the land does not belong to the 

claimant. The claimant swindled the land 

vendor because the vendor has no land in 

that place. He then sold another person’s 

land to the petitioner. The policemen in 

questions are very senior officers in the rank 

of CSP and DSP, how can they supervise 

destruction of a site? They should channel 

their grievances to another place.”

Passengers, airport users commend security 

awareness of Air Peace after bomb hoax 

Stories by Lawani Mikairu 

Following a false alarm raised by a 

mentally deranged passenger who 

was billed to travel on Air Peace airline’s 

flight P4 7121 from Abuja to Lagos on Tuesday 

and immediate return of the flight to base, 

Abuja, for security checks, passengers and 

airport users have commended the airline for 

being security conscious. 

Recall the Federal Airport Authority of 

Nigeria, FAAN, on Wednesday confirmed that 

there was no bomb aboard the Air Peace flight 

from Abuja to Lagos as the passenger that 

raised the alarm was said to have a history of 

mental illness and is currently with the 

security agencies and medical experts for 

assessment. 

Reacting to the incident, Mrs Henrietta 

Yakubu , General Manager, Corporate 

Affairs, FAAN said : “ Following the false 

information, officers of FAAN’s aviation 

security swiftly evacuated passengers, crew 

and cargo on board the flight and a bomb 

squad immediately conducted 

a thorough check on the aircraft and 

baggage, which confirmed the information to 

be false”. 

“After the due diligence test carried out on 

Nigeria College of Aviation Technology, 

NCAT, Rector, Captain Muhammed 

Abdulsalam in this interview with 

selected aviation reporters in his office in Zaria, 

Kaduna State, speaks on a number of aviation 

issues, including the disturbing problem of pilot 

unemployment in Nigeria after spending about 

13 million naira to train to obtain a license. 

Excerpts 

Why is it difficult for Nigeria to do type-rating 

training for pilots in the country so that they can 

be absorbed into the system? This has led to 

unemployment of Nigerian pilots 

I have actually lost track of the numbers of pilots 

that are unemployed in this country. Some say it 

is 500 and others come out with different figures. 

In fact, when some of them get jobs, they don’t 

remember to remove their names from those 

unemployed. 

The issue of unemployment of pilots is not 

common to Nigeria. As you know, NCAT is a 

council member of Association of African 

Approved Training Organisation (AAATO). We 

hold two council meetings a year and at every 

meeting, we discuss this pilot unemployment. 

Some countries have different requirements for 

pilots. A lot of these countries, you need to have 

certain requirements of experience as a pilot 

before you can fly in the airline industry. For 

instance, in the United States, you have to have a 

minimum of 1,500 hours as a pilot before you can 

fly and join the likes of United and American 

Airlines and others. 

So, when pilots come out of school, they join 

commuter airlines, go into general aviation. Some 

stay to work in the flying school as instructors 

and build their experience to get the required 

hours before they are qualified to get the required 

hours to work in the airline industry. Same thing 

applies to South Africa. You need to have the flying 

hours. 

For us in Nigeria, we don’t have that 

requirement and the airlines on their own may 

have certain requirements based on their own 

the aircraft, a fresh boarding call was made 

and passengers boarded the flight for takeoff 

to the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos”. 

However, passengers aboard the Air Peace 

Flight P4 7121 commended the crew for 

prioritising their safety and returning to the 

Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja 

after receiving information that there was an 

explosive aboard the aircraft. 

The Corporate Communications Manager 

of the airline, Mr. Chris Iwarah while 

confirming the incident, said the operating 

crew acted professionally and took the 

decision to return as a precaution. He attributed 

the false information to an intending 

passenger who was denied boarding after the 

crew suspected that he might be mentally 

challenged. 

Iwarah said : “We confirm that Air Peace 

Flight P4 7121, Abuja-Lagos on Wednesday, 

January 30, 2019 returned to the Nnamdi 

Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja after the 

crew received information that there was a 

dangerous item on board. 

“In line with procedures and our high safety 

standards, the captain-in-command acted 

professionally, briefed passengers on board 

and took the decision to return as a precaution. 

The aircraft landed in Abuja without any 

incident and passengers disembarked 

normally to enable security personnel conduct 

a check. 

“Passengers on board the flight were 

screened a second time and the aircraft 

thoroughly checked. At the end of the exercise, 

the information was found to be a hoax as 

nothing was found on the aircraft. The aircraft 

was subsequently cleared to depart for Lagos 

and safely landed at the Murtala Muhammed 

Airport, Lagos at about 11.44 a.m. 

“The passenger who gave the information 

has since been taken into custody by security 

operatives for exhaustive investigation into the 

incident. We commend our valued customers 

on board the flight for their calm and 

cooperation while the checks lasted.,” he 

added. 

A passenger on the flight, a female that did 

not want her name mentioned, said the 

promptness and willingness of the pilot of the 

Air Peace aircraft to return to Abuja for second 

security checks shows the premium the 

airline places on safety and security. 

A Lagos airport user, Mr John Tunde, said 

Air Peace deserve commendations as the 

airline has good information channels which 

are always open, even when the aircraft was 

already air born. He said airport security 

should be enhanced and attention paid to 

passengers who come to use airports. 


Unemployment of pilots is not common to Nigeria –NCAT T Rect 

ector 

procedure manuals where they may have the 

need for a certain experience for their brands of 

aircraft for insurance purposes before they can 

employ their pilots. From time, the practice has 

always been that when they finish from school, 

they will be qualified to fly the type of aircraft that 

we are flying here. So, when they 

go to look for work, as long as it is 

the same aircraft brand they get, 

they won’t need additional 

training, but if it is another brand 

of aircraft, they have to go for typetraining. 

So, it is not possible for you to 

have simulators to provide training 

for all types of aircraft. Simulators 

are very expensive and you need 

to operate them for almost 24 hours 

for you to recover your investment. 

So, if you have somebody who have 

10 aircraft of a type, he doesn’t 

make any sense for you to install a 

simulator for training. There is no 

way you can recover your 

investments. That is why operators 

go for training providers all over 

the world. That is the most cost 

effective way of doing it. 

On the use of expatriate pilots, 

the government has said it several 

The issue of 

unemployment 

of pilots is 

not 

common to 

Nigeria 

times that as long as a qualified Nigerian is here 

on ground, it would not approve a foreigner to do 

the job in Nigeria. For instance, if an airline 

introduces new equipment, there may not be local 

pilots to operate that equipment and as a stop 

gap, you have to bring in qualified people 

anywhere you can get them to come and start 

utilizing the aircraft. 

For instance, Air Peace bought a number of 

Embraer 45 and before then, very few Embraer 

45 were flying in Nigeria, which means that very 

few Nigerians had that type-rating. A number of 

that aircraft were parked because we had no pilots. 

So, the airline had to bring a number of foreigners 

from abroad to fly the planes till such a time their 

own people they are training are qualified to take 

over. It is a common practice in the industry. 

How many aircraft have you acquired in the 

past few months and what are your plans to 

improve on this? 

On the issue of aircraft acquisition, the approval 

we have from the government is to 

acquire 20 Diamond aircraft; five of 

which are the two engines DA42 and 

15 Assembly engine DA 40 aircraft. 

When I assumed office in 2017, we took 

delivery of one DA 42 aircraft in the 

April of 2017. The college placed orders 

for additional aircraft, but we were 

informed by the contractors that the 

Diamond Aircraft Company was 

bought over by another company and 

that new owner decided to relocate the 

production place from Austria to 

Canada and they told us that they won’t 

be able to produce another aircraft until 

nine to 10 months, which is when the 

assembly line would have been 

completely relocated. 

That is what affected the delivery of 

the additional aircraft because we asked 

for additional four DA 40 aircraft, which 

is what we have on order now. That 

company is up and running in Canada 

now and we expect to take delivery of 

those four DA 40 aircraft before the end of this 

year. We also have additional DA 40 aircraft that 

was given to the college by an insurance company 

as part from an insurance settlement. So, by the 

time we have the four aircraft delivered, we will 

have one DA 42 and five DA 40. 

As of today, we have eight aircraft that are 

serviceable. These aircraft are not the same, we 

have the basic, advance and two engines 

ones. So, depending on the stage of training of 

students, some of the aircraft that are serviceable 

may not be useful to students, for instance, who 

are starting afresh that need the basic and less 

complex aircraft and then they advance to more 

complex aircraft, with more instrument flying, 

America Security 

assessment team 

visits Lagos Airport 

A 

three-man United States Trans 

portation Security Administration, 

TSA, team is on a routine security 

assessment visit of Murtala 

Muhammed International Airport, 

MMIA, Lagos. The visit is TSA’s Annual 

Airport Assessment visit. 

The team’s visit is to observe the 

implementation of Aviation Security 

(AVSEC) measures and to also conduct 

inspection on recommended TSA 

security procedures for one of its air 

carriers ,Delta Airlines. 

Confirming the arrival of the TSA 

team, Mr Sam Adurogboye, General 

Manager, Public Relations, NCAA said 

: “ The TSA’s Annual Airport Assessment 

visit has since begun on the 28th 

January -1st February, 2019. Members 

of the TSA team are Laura Loya 

(team lead), Edward Cloniger and 

Mitch Mankowski. 

Port Harcourt airport 

moves local operation 

to old international 

terminal 

Following the recent 

commissioning and movement of 

international operations to the new 

international terminal at the Port 

Harcourt International Airport, the 

Federal Airports Authority of 

Nigeria ,FAAN, has collapsed the 

make shift tent at the airport. 

This was confirmed by Mrs 

Henrietta Yakubu, General 

Manager, Corporate Affairs, FAAN, 

who said : “ With this development, 

all domestic arrivals have now been 

moved to the old international 

terminal. Also, the former local 

departure lounge will henceforth 

serve as local arrival hall, while the 

erstwhile international departure 

lounge has now been converted to 

local departure lounge”. 

before they now go into the multi-engine aircraft. 

Sometimes, when you start with the new 

students, the multi-engine aircraft is actually 

parked and not doing anything until the students 

reach that time where they can now start multiengine 

training. During that period, we use that 

for our instructors to maintain their proficiency. 

We encourage them to fly such aircraft. 

NCAT was recently named as the Regional 

Training Centre of Excellence by the International 

Civil Aviation Organisaiton, how has this 

impacted on your operations? 

The Regional Training Centre of Excellence 

(RTCE) has given NCAT more visibility 

worldwide. For instance, I was in China last 

December and a Chinese man asked me where I 

worked from and immediately I mentioned 

NCAT, he said ‘oh, RTCE’. There are just few RTCEs 

in the world and it takes a lot of efforts and process 

before any institution is recongnsied as an RTCE. 

Now, when you have this status, it affords you the 

opportunity to develop courses in all the ICAO 

Annexes. We can also import courses from any 

part of the world that are ICAO approved courses 

and conduct them here. With RTCE, the sky is 

actually the limit for us as we can run any course. 

Right now, we have some foreign students in the 

college; some from Cameroon, some from The Gambia 

who are doing training and we expect more. 

I am supposed to meet with the representatives of 

the Western and Central African Region of ICAO. 

The countries that are in this region, have headquarters 

in Dakar. They have indicated interest in whatever 

NCAT is doing. I am supposed to have a meeting 

with them on the training opportunities here at the 

college. A lot of them that I met recently, had this 

misconception that Zaria is insecure and that is 

the main reason they are reluctant to come. We 

have gone to great length to convince them that 

Zaria is totally safe. We have had a lot of foreigners 

come and go. Some of these people claimed that 

it is their embassies that tell them that Zaria is 

not safe, but we are making efforts to disabuse 

people’s minds in this regards. 

To be continued


What I’ll do 

differently 

in Kwara 

— APC’s Abdulrazaq 

By Dapo Akinrefon 

Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq is the governorship candidate 

of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Kwara State 

and the face of the O To Ge (enough is enough) 

movement that has become a national sensation. 

In this interview, Abdulrazaq spoke on various issues, 

including his vision for lifting the state out of poverty 

and infrastructure decay if elected governor in the coming 

election. Excerpts: 

You are coming from the private sector. 

What are your plans for the state? 

It is a moot point to ask why we want to 

end the current political status quo in our 

state. The facts about Kwara speak for 

themselves. As somebody from the private 

sector, I see the running of Kwara as is 

being done as an anomaly. You can never 

have development that way. We have a 

government and functionaries that are only 

interested in being in charge of public 

funds and privileges of public office 

without any commensurate delivery of 

services to the public. 

Between January 2011 and August 2018, 

the Kwara State government has received 

roughly N300bn in federal allocations. In 

the same period, the 16 local governments 

have received more than N500bn. This 

means that this state has received an 

average of 40bn naira annually from the 

federal accounts while the local councils 

have taken over 27bn naira annually 

between 2011 and 2017. Yet Kwara is poor 

in social infrastructure even as it is one of 

the frontline states. Teachers and 

pensioners are owed, local government 

teachers are not paid, and civil servants at 

the state level are not properly remunerated 

and often have their pay slashed for 

dubious reasons without being able to 

protest same. 

In Kwara, public funds are 

invested in projects which are 

then converted to private 

estates. There is no other state 

in Nigeria where this 

impunity happens. There are 

several anomalies going on in 

our state to the extent that 

people outside Kwara often 

regard our people as secondclass 

people. Among the six 

states created in 1967, Kwara 

has the second lowest 

internally generated revenue 

and this speaks to lack of 

creativity and economic 

activities in the state. 

Despite the obsolete state of 

infrastructure, low 

development and nonpayment 

of workers and 

pensioners of their dues, this 

state is indebted to the tune of 

N56bn as at December 2017, 

30 per cent of it being external 

debt and 70 owed to local 

financial institutions. By this 

figure, and in spite of absence 

of 

commensurate 

development to justify it, per 

capital debt of the state stands 

at N18,000 per indigene of 

the state who are already 

impoverished. 

What would you do 

differently? 

We will do everything 

differently from the current 

system. We will end a culture 

of converting public funds to 

private wealth and then 

dispensing 

s o m e 

percentage of 

the same funds 

through a very 

dehumanising 

political 

patronage. We 

will use public 

funds to serve 

the public in 

manners that 

restore the 

dignity of our 

people in the 

area of 

infrastructure, including road and other 

basic amenities. 

For instance, you will find that Kwara 

has repeatedly prioritised recurrent 

expenditure at the expense of capital 

spending and the result is clear in its 

infrastructure deficit. Worst still, there is 

hardly any diligent implementation of the 

capital expenditure over the years. 

In 2016, out of N67.4b capital 

expenditure, only N24bn was disbursed, 

representing just 35.6% of capital budget 

for that year. Similarly, capital budget 

performance for the education was just 19%! 

This has to change. Most parts of Kwara 

are ungoverned 

as the only time 

our people feel 

any semblance of 

governance is 

during election 

period. Many 

schools and 

hospitals have 

been taken over 

by the respective 

communities to 

ensure the rest of 

the world doesn’t 

live them 

Between January 

2011 and August 

2018, the Kwara 

State 

government has 

received roughly 

N300bn in 

federal 

allocations 

behind. But 

there is little 

t h e s e 

communities can 

do. There are 

communities 

where just one 

teacher takes all 

the subjects in a 

primary school. 

Most hospitals 

don’t have 

doctors. 

When we 

assume office, by 

the Grace of God 

and the good 

people of Kwara, 

we will spread 

development to 

all parts of the 

state. We will 

ensure that our 

mothers have 

access to 

qualitative 

maternal care. At 

the moment, Kwara has one of the highest 

cases of maternal deaths in the country. 

The state is poor in terms of 

industrialization and infrastructural 

facilities especially in education and 

health. How do you intend to tackle this? 

Industries or businesses cannot thrive 

where you don’t have basic infrastructure. 

Kwara has a comparative advantage in 

agriculture. But our farming communities 

don’t have facilities that will encourage 

investment. So we will concentrate, 

basically, on building infrastructure such 

as roads, health facilities, schools and 

opening up our communities to the world 

through stable electricity and internet 

connectivity. If you have basic 

infrastructure and amenities, investors will 

naturally come in because businesses 

succeed where the cost of running them is 

friendly and they have easy access to 

markets. 

What are your plans to combat youth 

unrest, high crime rate and drug abuse? 

If you provide basic infrastructure which 

then encourages investment, there will 

be jobs and our youths will be productively 

engaged. The idle mind, as it is said, is 

the devil’s workshop. We promise to show 

good examples to the youth by ensuring 

transparency and accountability. We will 

provide our youths with 21st century 

opportunities for a better life. Measures 

will also be taken to address drug abuse 

which I agree is a problem. In tackling it, 

we will look at the root causes which 

include frustration, peer pressure and other 

social crises. 

There are insinuations that if your party 

comes to power, it will be controlled by 

some godfathers from Lagos. How do you 

react to that? 

Who in Kwara doesn’t want our State to 

be as developed as Lagos State? Lagos 

State collaborated very successfully with 

Kebbi State in agriculture and today Kebbi 

is the largest producer of rice in Nigeria. 

Lagos is cooperating with a few other states 

successfully too. The Kwara government of 

Saraki went all the way to Zimbabwe for 

white farmers and allegedly invested 

billions but there is nothing to show for it 

today . So cooperation with Lagos is a good 

•Abdulrahman 

Abdulrazaq 

thing. 

That allegation came from those who, just 

a few years ago, were always seen with the 

same Lagos politicians in APC. Were they 

actually taking instructions from Lagos 

then? They said we want to take Kwara to 

the Southwest if elected. It was a wild and 

yet funny allegation. But it shows they 

lack any sense of history. Everybody knows 

the roles my father played to keep Ilorin in 

the Northern region. The facts are there. 

All in all, I think they were trying to incite 

the people against us but the plan has 

failed. People have seen through their 

desperation. The destiny of Kwara will be 

determined only by Kwarans. Unlike them, 

we won’t give slots belonging to Kwara 

people to anybody else. 

What are your priority programmes if you 

are voted into office? 

Our priority programmes will revolve 

around providing basic infrastructure, 

reorienting our people on lost values and 

lifting Kwara from poverty. 

If you are voted into office as Governor, 

what is the first thing you will do? 

What we will do first will be determined 

by what resources are available. We will 

also be guided by available records on 

the state of things we meet on the ground, 

but I can assure you that we will mobilise 

every resources at our disposal, including 

from private investors, to fulfill our 

campaign promises to our people across 

all the senatorial zones; in all corners of 

the state. And we promise to ensure fair, 

just and equitable development, having 

the fear of God at the back of our mind at 

all times. 

What other things would you do? 

Among other things, we will look into 

the welfare of teachers, health care givers, 

and boost small scale businesses. Kwara 

used to be a powerful centre of commerce 

because it is the melting pot between the 

North and the South. But this is no longer 

the case. We will restore this glory by 

ensuring that our industries are revived in 

line with modern realities. Basically, Kwara 

requires urgent dismantling of the current 

political mercantilism which stifles 

development, encourages laziness and 

thuggery and dehumanises our people. 

This will free up resources to serve the 

people.

Emir of Kano lauds Buhari 

on poverty alleviation 

Kano, The Emir of Kano, ensure the well being of all Nigerians 

Muhammad Sanusi II citizens. 

whenever the 

has commended “If the Federal Government can need arises. 

President Muhammadu Buhari increase the number of Earlier, 

for initiating programmes aimed beneficiaries of the programmes Buhari said his 

at alleviating poverty in the to 20 million, it will contribute visit was not 

country. 

towards poverty reduction in the only to seek for 

Sanusi gave the commendation country. 

re-election, but 

when Buhari visited him 

“It will also bring to an end to also 

while on a campaign 

street begging,” Sanusi commend the 

tour on Thursday in 

said. 

people for their 

Kano. 

He also commended the tireless support 

“Programmes like the 

federal government for to his 

N-power and 

introducing the school administration. 

TraderMoni where small 

feeding programme, saying “I am in Kano 

traders across the 

that the gesture had not to tell the 

country are given N5000 

encouraged more parents to people what 

each, can go a long way 

enroll their children in we are doing 

in boosting the country’s 

school. 

to develop the country, but to 

economy,” he said. 

According to Sanusi, the remind them on the need to 

The Emir also called on 

Emirate Council will perform their civic 

the president to initiate 

continue to remind responsibilities by voting right 

more of such 

government on issues candidates. 

programmes so as to 

relating to well being of “This is because I believe they 

are aware of what we are doing,” 

Buhari to welcome Ex-Jigawa gov to APC 

By Aliyu Dangida, Dutse 

P resident 

Buhari Muhammadu 

will today 

(Saturday) receive the first civilian 

governor of Jigawa state, Ali Sa’ad 

Birnin-Kudu, PDP governship 

aspirant, Hon. Tijjani Kiyawa, 

some commissioners who served 

under PDP led Sule Lamido the 

ruling All Progressives Congress 

in Jigawa state. 

The visit of the number one 

Dutse, Wheat farmers in Jigawa 

say they are anticipating a bumper 

harvest at the end of the current 

farming season. 

Some of the wheat farmers told 

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in 

Dutse that they were expecting good 

yields from their farms. 

They said that they were 

anticipating a bountiful harvest 

because of favourable weather 

conditions, which supported wheat 

cultivation, and availability of farm 

inputs. 

NAN visited some farming 

communities, including Sintilmawa 

in Ringim Local Government Area 

citizen to Jigawa state will be in 

continuation of his campaigns 

forthe February 16 Presidential 

election. He will also be 

presenting the party flag to APC 

gubernatorial candidate, Governor 

Muhammad Badaru Abubakar 

for governorship elections 

scheduled for March 2, 2019. 

President Buhari will receive 

some PDP members into APC, 

notably among them are former 

commisoner of works and 

transport for 8 years under Sule 

Lamido reign, Engr. Baba S. Aliyu, 

former commissioners of water 

resources and special duties, Engr. 

Abdulkadir Jinjiri Dutse and Hon. 

Auwalu Harbo. 

Others include former 

commissioners of Justice and 

women affairs, Barr. Yakubu 

Rubah and Fatima Widi Jalo. Also 

on the list include a female SDP 

gubernatorial aspirant, Hajia Rabi 

El-leman, zonal publicity 

secretary of PDP Northwest, Yusuf 

Wheat farmers anticipate bumper harvest in Jigawa 

buja, The Kano State Judiciary 

Ain collaboration with the 

Presidential Enabling Business 

Environment Council (PEBEC), has 

inaugurated a Small Claims Court 

in Kano, the Presidency said in a 

statement on Thursday in Abuja. 

The statement signed by Jumoke 

Oduwole, Senior Special Assistant 

to the President on Industry, Trade 

and Investment, Office of the Vice 

President, said the court would 

handle disputes for Small and 

Medium Enterprises (SMEs). 

According to Oduwole, the court 

is in line with enabling business 

environment reforms across all arms 

of government, aimed at making 

Nigeria a progressively easier place 

to do business. 

She said that the objective of the 

court was to improve the judicial 

process by providing easy access to 

a cost-effective and fast resolution 

of debt recovery disputes, involving 

small claims of N5 million and 

below. 

“All claims which are filed at the 

Small Claims Court are expected to 

be heard and judgment delivered 

within a maximum period of 60 days, 

with a further 30 days for 

enforcement. 

“Only one adjournment is allowed 

under exceptional circumstances. In 

addition, magistrates are to hear 

(LGA), Madobi in Dutse LGA and 

Kafin Gana in Birnin LGA, where 

the wheat farmers expressed 

satisfaction with the yield of their 

farms. 

The farmers said that they would 

record better harvest in the current 

wheat farming season, when 

compared with the harvest last year. 

Malam Supa Sintilmawa, a wheat 

farmer in Sintilmawa village, told 

NAN that he was expecting to reap 

between 80 and 100 sacks of wheat 

this year, in view of the potential 

output of his farm. 

Another respondent, Alhaji 

Kano State judiciary inaugurates Small 

Claims Court for SMEs 

matters daily to conclusion, and are 

enjoined to promote, encourage and 

facilitate negotiation among 

parties. 

“The court also encourages selfrepresentation, 

and adheres to 

strict timelines for following key 

specified court events. 

“The Small Claims Court is 

regulated by the Practice Directions 

on Small Claims 2018 issued by the 

Chief Judge of Kano State, pursuant 

to the Magistrate Court Law of 2018. 

“The launch took place on Jan. 24, 

at the Judicial Service Commission, 

Audu Bako Secretariat, Kano State, 

and was attended by the acting Chief 

Judge, Attorney-General, Judges of 

the High Court, Magistrates, 

Judicial Officers and members of the 

bar,’’ she said. 

Oduwole said that PEBEC would 

continue its collaboration with the 

Kano State Government, including 

the Kano State Judiciary, on business 

climate reforms for the state. 

PEBEC was established in 2016 to 

oversee Nigeria’s business climate 

reform agenda, and it is chaired by 

the vice president. 

PEBEC’s model aligns with global 

best practice and includes a strong 

performance tracking element, that 

is measured by the World Bank Ease 

of Doing Business Index (DBI), 

which is reported annually. 

Ibrahim Abdullahi, a wheat farmer 

in Kafin Gana, said that the yield of 

his farm was very impressive, when 

compared to that of the preceding 

year. 

Alhaji Ahmadu Musa, a wheat 

farmer in Mobobi, thanked the 

Jigawa Government and the Federal 

ango (Katsina), The Katsina 

ZState Government has said it 

empowered over 500,000 youths and 

women in the state through various 

empowerment programmes in four 

years. 

Gov. Aminu Masari of Katsina 

State disclosed this while 

addressing women and youths in 

Zango Local Government Area on 

Thursday as part of his re-election 

campaign programme. 

“We have empowered over 70,000 

people under the state economic 

programme for small business 

vocational empowerment 

programme. 

“We gave loans to 8,644 people 

under the medium enterprise 

development fund cooperatives. 

“1,816 members of faith-based 

organisations got N20,000 each to 


he said. 

He commended the people for 

welcoming him all the way from 

the airport to the Emir’s palace. 

Buhari assured them of his 

determination towards moving 

the country to the next level. 

Adamu Babura among others. 

This is the third time for 

President Muhammadu Buhari 

visiting Jigawa state from 2014 to 

date. The first was his electoral 

campaign, the second was when 

he commissioned projects and 

this time for his re election and 

Governor Muhammadu Badaru 

Abubakar. 

Special Assistant to the 

governor on media and publicity, 

Bello M. Zaki confirmed that 

President Muhammadu is 

expected in Jigawa state to 

present APC flag of return for 

second term in office slated for 

March, 2019. 

Government for supporting farmers 

with fertilisers and other farm 

inputs. 

Musa noted that wheat farmers 

were able to procure fertilisers and 

other farm inputs through Jigawa 

Agricultural Supply Company at 

affordable rates. 

2019 Elections: We’ll curtail Foreign Intrusion - 

Buratai 

... Establish FOB On Mambilla Plateau 

By Femi Bolaji, Jalingo 

territorial integrity of the nation, 

assured that the influx of refugees 

he Chief Of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. into the Mambilla Plateau due to the 

TTukur Buratai, has said the crisis in neighbouring Cameroon, 

Nigeria Army, in synergy with other would not truncate the electoral 

security agencies are to look out for process. 

foreign intruders, that might want to He also told politicians to avoid 

corrupt the electoral process. taking undue advantage of the 

Buratai made the disclosure on humanitarian situation, and warned 

Thursday at the commissioning of that the Army would not tolerate any 

Forward Operational Base, FOB, for act inimical to the peaceful conduct 

the third Division of the NA in of the elections. 

Sardauna Local Government Area of Governor Darius Ishaku on his 

Taraba state 

part, thanked the Chief of Army Staff 

Buratai who said the FOB was for the foresight, to ensure that Taraba 

established to help combat security remains a safe place for all and 

threats, capable of jeopardizing the sundry. 

KTSG empowers over 500,000 youths, women 

in 4 years – Gov. Masari 

start their own businesses and stop 

over-dependence on government for 

assistance. 

“The government gave additional 

loans to 15,756 persons under the 

small and medium enterprise and 

cooperative scheme. 

The governor revealed that 

200,000 persons were granted loans 

under the special adviser on women 

affairs to start their own businesses. 

According to him, another set of 

N100,000 persons got loans through 

the office of his special adviser on 

girl-child programme. 

“We also gave loans to 361 

unemployed graduates to start their 

businesses as there are no whitecollar 

jobs in the state. 

“We granted loans to 2,600 youths 

that went through entrepreneurship 

capacity building programmes, and 

each person got N50,000 to 

commence his business,” he said 

Polls: INEC engages 

20 physically 

challenged in 

Nasarawa 

By David Odama 

AFIA——THE Independent 

LNational Electoral Commission 

(INEC) in Nasarawa State has 

engaged more than twenty 

physically Challenged persons as 

Ad- hoc staff for the conduct of 

the forthcoming general election in 

the state . 

The INEC Resident Electoral 

Commissioner in the state, Dr 

Uthman Ajidagba announced this in 

Lafia at a Sensitization Forum for 

People with Disabilities ahead of this 

month’s general election. 

According to Ajidagba, over sixty 

persons with disabilities across 

the 13 local government areas of the 

state participated in the sensitization 

exercise adding that those with 

visually impaired, the crippled, the 

deaf and dumb among others 

attended the forum. 

According to the INEC Resident 

Electoral Commissioner, “ the 

sensitisation forum was part of 

activities of the commission towards 

ensuring that people with 

disabilities are fully involved in the 

electoral process. 

He called on the physically 

impaired to mobilize their members 

to play active role in the electoral 

process ahead of the twenty 

nineteen general election. 

The state Joint Chairman of 

Persons with Disabilities, Mr 

Innocent Ladan commended INEC 

for the opportunity to contribute to 

the enthronement of the Democratic 

processes as well as ensuring the 

success of the electoral process. 

The state Women Leader , Joint 

Association of Persons with 

Disabilities, Hajiya HADIZA 

Kasimu called on INEC to ensure 

that people with disabilities do not 

face difficulties during voting. 

Hajiya HADIZA Kasimu pledged 

to step up the sensitisation and 

mobilization of their members 

across the state to play active role 

during the elections 

Army Foster Civil- 

Military Relationship 

With Agent Banking 

Outlet in Taraba 

By Femi Bolaji, Jalingo 

Nigeria, Army, NA has 

Testablished an agent 

banking outlet through a leading 

commercial bank in the country to 

promote civil- military 

relationship in Taraba state. 

The Chief of Army Staff, CAS, 

Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, who 

commissioned the facility at 20 

Model Battalion barrack, in 

Gashaka local government area of 

the state, explained that eight 

Army barracks accross the country, 

including the NA headquarters, 

Abuja will be used as pilot for the 

agent banking scheme. 

Buratai explained that the 

Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, 

initiative would ensure financial 

inclusion for all Nigerians. 

According to him, the 

establishment of angent banking 

scheme would bring financial 

services closer to officers in remote 

barracks and also serve as part of 

its Cooperate Social 

Responsibility, CSR, to the 

populace. 

He said ,”What you are witnessing 

today is part of our vision to sustain 

the civil- military relationship 

between the NA and the civil 

populace. 

“ This agent banking will also 

enhance the discharge of the 

Nigeria Army’s Cooperate Social 

Responsibility, CSR, by extending 

the services to Nigeria populace in 

their localities.” 

While thanking the Federal 

government for the inclusive 

financial initiative, Buratai urged 

residents of Gashaka and environs 

to take advantage of the agent 

banking outlet in their domain. 

Chief of Gashaka, Hamman- 

Gabdo Sambo who appreciated the 

gesture extended to his jurisdiction 

by the Chief of Army Staff, promised 

continuous cooperation with the NA 

operations in his locality. 

He also enjoined his subjects to 

make use of the financial service 

outlet, which he said is easy to acce


100,000 athletes to run in Access 

Bank Lagos City Marathon 

By Ben Efe Pix 

Marathon 

Over 100, 000 elite athletes and 

fun runners, are participating 

in the 2019 Access Bank Lagos 

City Marathon that is holding 

about now at the Eko Atlantic City 

on Victoria Island Lagos. 

For the local and international 

elite athletes the top prizes in the 

42km race and the 10km run, are 

a major motivation, but for the 

others, participation in this 

festival of fitness is worth the pain 

and fun. 

The race started at the National 

Stadium Lagos and will weave 

through the third mainland 

bridge before terminating at Eko 

Atlantic City. 

“The Access Bank Lagos City 

Marathon is an event athletes 

look forward to every year. It is our 

hope and prayer that it continues,” 

said Deborah Pam one of 

Nigeria’s best long distance 

runners. 

Her fear is hinged on the fact 

that so many marathon races in 

Nigeria have come and gone 

including the famous Obudu 

Mountain race which earned 

world acclaim but died out with 

change of leadership in Cross 

River State. 

However, the main sponsor, 

Access Bank and others like 

Seven Up have pledged continued 

patronage of the event. And in the 

words of former Athletics 

Federation of Nigeria boss, 

Solomon Ogba, the organisers 

can only work harder to improve 

on the ratings for the event. 

“The Access Bank Lagos City 

New Paralympic 

body plans 

radical changes 

The newly elected Exco of the 

Prarlympic Committee of 

Nigeria (PCN) have vowed to 

instill radical changes in the 

nation’s paralympic sports in 

order to usher in better days for 

the sport in the country. 

The new board headed by 

Brigadier-General Emico Eruwa 

reaffirmed their vow at 

Wednesday’s official handover 

ceremony by the former Exco led 

by Monday Emoghavwe (MON) 

at the PCN office, National 

Stadium Surulere, Lagos. 

After Emoghavwe and former 

Secretary-General, Dr. Frank 

Thorpe officially handed over 

documents and secretariat to the 

new Secretary-General, 

Suleiman Isah and Assistant 

Secretary, Sunday Odior, Brig- 

Gen Eruwa said the new Exco 

would do everything possible to 

inspire the various sports 

federations and special athletes. 

While commending the former 

Exco for a good job, Eruwa, who 

is also president of Nigeria 

Wheelchair Basketball 

Federation, said: “Right from the 

very credible election of January 

15, the PCN has been 

strategising on how to make 

para sports record radical 

progress in both local and 

international meets. 

“We’re seeking the cooperation 

of the government, corporate 

groups and the media towards 

realising the set targets,” he 

added, just as he applauded 

Team Nigeria’s success at the 

just concluded international 

para 

powerlifting 

championship, Lagos, where the 

nation won with 42 medals. 

Marathon is now a globally 

recognised event and as such we 

must do things appropriately. 

“Lagos Marathon should be in 

the class of the New York, London 

and Dubai marathons. It is only 

by putting up a good showing in 

the organisation that such status 

can be achieved.” 

BARCELONA will take on 

Real Madrid twice in one 

week as the Copa del Rey semifinal 

draw pits the rivals 

together 

Barcelona are currently top of 

the La Liga table, with Real 

Madrid 10 points behind in 

third place. 

Barca have won the Spanish 

Cup for five consecutive years 

since Carlo Ancelotti’s side beat 

their bitter rivals 2-1 in the final 

of 2014 edition. 

Madrid, who were already set 

to face Ernesto Valverde’s side 

at home in the league on March 

3, will now also welcome their 

rivals four days earlier on 

February 27 in the semi-final 

second leg. 

Another Clasico takes place 

before both those ties, with the 

semi-final first leg taking place 

at the Nou Camp on February 6. 

2019 9 U-20 AFCON kicks off f in Niger 

From today, eight African 

countries will begin their 

quest for the four available 

tickets to the U-20 World Cup in 

Poland at the U-20 continental 

championship in Niger. Ghana, 

Mali, Nigeria and Senegal have 

a strong case to win the 

tournament as defending 

champions Zambia failed to 

qualify for the finals. 

Hosts Niger kick off the 

tournament against South Africa 

in the capital Niamey this 

afternoon. Maradi is the other 

host city for the two-week long 

tournament. Niger will hope to 

build on their participation at the 

2017 U-17 World Cup in India 

L-R: LaLiga Ambassador, Mutiu Adepoju; Managing 

Director LaLiga Nigeria, Javier Del Rio and NFF 2nd Vice 

President and LMC Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko at 

the closing ceremony of the 3rd edition of the NPFL-LaLiga 

Before the draw, Barca striker 

Luis Suarez claimed that he 

‘didn’t care’ what stage they 

would meet Real in the historic 

cup. 

Suarez told Mundo Deportivo: 

“To win the Cup you have to beat 

El Clasico 

when they registered their firstever 

goal in a FIFA competition 

through Salim Abdourahmane for 

a 1-0 win over North Korea, 

enough to progress to the 

knockout stages. 

However, Niger will not be 

expected to play a major role in 

the competition as more 

traditional heavyweights of the 

African youth game will battle for 

four tickets to the U-20 World Cup 

in Poland later this year. The four 

semi-finals will all seal their 

ticket for the global showdown. 

Four years ago, Ghana, Mali, 

Nigeria and Senegal represented 

the continent at the U-20 World 

Cup in New Zealand. Both Mali 

and Senegal reached the last four 

before falling to Serbia and Brazil 

respectively. The quartet has 

history on its side and they will 

be favorites in Niger to book their 

slots for Poland and represent the 

continent once more at the 

Ghana 

Barca face Real eal Madrid twice in one week 

By Ben Efe Photo 

Ikedinma 

Nimo community in Awka, 

Anambra State, 

witnessed the birth of a new 

sport... Offsight Race! 

Dignitaries who graced the 

demonstration of the sport at the 

Assumption Catholic Church 

play ground Nimo, agreed that 

if given the necessary support, 

Offsight Race has the potential 

to be an Olympic Sport in the 

years to come. 

Competitors are blindfolded in 

a specially designed suit and 

made to race or walk in a sevenlane 

track and they are required 

to maintain a steady course. 

Successful athletes 

automatically qualify for the 

next stage, while those who 

stray off course have the chance 

to try again twice. The sport is 

both for able-bodied and 

physically challenged athletes 

and open to persons off all ages. 

The inventor Chukwudi 

Ikedinma, said he was inspired 

all the rivals. 

“If we play Madrid in the 

semifinals, it’s welcome and if 

we meet in the final, in case we 

both go through, it will be seen, 

but I do not care.” 

Ex-corper invents potential Olympics sport 

to create the game during his 

National Youth Service Corps 

(NYSC) days adding that the 

major purpose of the sport was 

to task the mind to produce 

mental focus. 

“My aim for initiating Offsight 

Race is to make people happy 

most especially the physically 

challenged. This is a sport they 

can compete side by side ablebodied 

persons. 

“It is my wish that this sport 

becomes popular around the 

world. It is a sport that can bring 

people together and it is also a 

fun game. 

“Of course this is just the start 

and I expect that people with 

ideas will still want to contribute 

so that it can be more 

interesting and more embracing 

without us losing out the 

original idea,” said Ikedinma. 

highest level. 

Mali have never won the 

tournament, but were victorious 

two years ago at the U-17 Afcon. 

That generation also went on to 

play the last four of the U-17 World 

Cup. In qualifying the Malians 

laid down a marker with emphatic 

aggregate wins over both 

Tanzania and Cameroon. Ghana 

finished as runners-up to Mali at 

the U-17 level and the Black 

Satellites can’t be discounted 

after they missed out on the last 

edition of the tournament in 

Zambia. 

Group A: 

Niger 

South Africa 

Nigeria 

Burundi 

GROUPS: 

Group B: 

Senegal 

Mali 

Burkina Faso 

Ghana 

2019 Access Bank 

Lagos City Marathon 

live on Kwesé 

...With Tim Hutchings, 

Lewis Johnson 

providing analyses at 

the finish studios 

With all set for the 2019 

Access Bank Lagos City 

Marathon, multi-platform 

broadcast network, Kwesé has 

announced that it will provide 

live coverage of the event on 

Saturday 2 February from 6 – 

10am. 

The marathon will be 

broadcast across sub-Saharan 

Africa on Africa’s largest free-toair 

(FTA) channel Kwesé Free 

Sports – available in 13 

countries, and on FTA set-topboxes 

on the Kwesé iflix mobile 

app. 

The Access Bank Lagos City 

Marathon is an IAAF Bronze 

Label race and this year Kwesé 

Free Sports has lined-up a mix 

of international analysts and 

local presenters to provide playby-play 

commentary and 

analysis of the marathon. 

Sportscaster Tega Onajaife 

will report live for Kwesé Free 

Sports from the National 

Stadium in Surulere, the 42km 

race start line, while Jimmie 

Akinsola aka “Jimme The 

Entertainer” will be at the 10km 

start line at the Lekki-Ikoyi 

bridge. 

Player 

ers shun Cardiff f after Sala’s disappearance 

– Warnock 

Neil Warnock has 

revealed some players 

turned down joining Cardiff 

City on transfer deadline day 

because of the disappearance 

of Emiliano Sala. 

Record signing Sala and 

pilot David Ibbotson remain 

missing after the Piper 

Malibu plane carrying them 

over the English Channel 

disappeared on January 21, 

two days after the 

Argentinian striker 

completed a £15million move 

from Nantes. 

The search for the pair 

continues with the Air 

Accidents Investigation 

Branch 

having 

commissioned a specialist 

vessel to carry out a survey 

of the seabed. 

It has been an emotional 

period for Cardiff, who play 

their first home game since 

Sala’s disappearance against 

Bournemouth today. 

Warnock did strengthen his 

squad on Thursday by 

signing the versatile 

Leandro Bacuna from 

Reading for around 

£3million, but the Cardiff 

manager said attempts to 

sign a striker proved in vain.

SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 2, 2019— 53


Perennial campaigners, 

Nigeria are seeking a 

record eighth title as the 

Total U-20 Africa Cup of Nations 

gets underway in Niger. 

Winners in 1983, 1985, 1987, 

1989, 2005, 2011 and 2015, the 

Eagles failed to defend their title 

the last time in Zambia after a 

shock elimination by Sudan via 

away goal;s after a 5-5 tie on 

aggregate. 

This time under experienced 

coach Paul Aigbogun, the Flying 

Eagles held their nerves with a 

near perfect campaign and saw off 

both Guinea Bissau and 

Mauritania to book their 12th 

appearance at the biennial event 

being hosted in Niger for the first 

time. 

“The U-20 Nations Cup is a 

tough competition because most 

of the players are already playing 

at club levels some even in 

Europe,” Manu Garba who 

supervised Nigeria’s last triumph 

in Senegal four years ago said. 

“In 2015, when we defeated 

Senegal in the final in Dakar, most 

of the Senegalese were already 

playing in Europe but we had the 

bulk of a young 2013 FIFA U-17 

World Cup winning team, though 

Kelechi Iheanacho and Success 

Isaac were not released by their 

clubs”. 

This time, the Flying Eagles 

have in their mix four foreignbased 

players including tough 

tackling defender Igoh Ogbu who 

plies his trade with Norwegian 

side Rosenborg BK. There are also 

slots for striker Yahaya Nazifi of 

Sonderjyske FC as well as Afeez 

Aremu of IK Start and Vaxjo 

United FC‘s striker Onyekachi 

Durugbor Paschal who was a last 

minute replacement for injured 

Victor Boniface Okoh. 

Meanwhile, the Flying Eagles 

already have their work cut out in 

Niger where they are pitched in 

Group A along with hosts Niger, 

Burundi and South Africa. 

The seven-time African 

champions Nigeria open their 

account against South Africa at 

the Stade General Seyni 

Kountche on 2 February, to be 

followed with two key ties against 

South Africa on 5 February before 

wrapping it up against perennial 

rivals and neighbours Nigeria 

three days later. 

“We don’t need to underrate any 

team; South Africa is a very good 

team as well because they 

defeated us in the U-17 AFCON 

in 2015 and that was an 

•Aigbogun 

•Utin 

Bayern battle Leverkusen 

on StarTimes 

Bayern Munich will seek to maintain their 

title push when they travel to face 

leverkusen in a Bundesliga match this 

weekend. 

And in its typical way of delighting soccer 

fans, StarTimes has concluded plans to show 

the match live from the BayArena on its 

sports channel. 

The Bavarians are fighting for the title once 

again this season, embroiled in a tight tussle 

at the top of the table with arch-rivals 

Borussia Dortmund but remain confident 

they can catch the Bundesliga leaders in the 

second half of the 2018-19 campaign, despite 

facing a six-point deficit 

With striker Sandro Wagner off to the Chinese 

Super League,, Bayern Munich will look up to 

Polish striker, Robert Lewandowski for the goals 

at tee Bay Arena as they hope to cut Dortmund’s 

lead at the top 

Wagner was contracted to remain at the 

Allianz Arena until 2020, but he requested 

for his contract to be terminated after 

getting frustrated with his role on the 

sidelines. 

experience (for me),” noted 

goalkeeper David Udoh who 

featured for the Golden Eaglets 

four years ago at the U-17 

AFCON hosted by Niger in 2015. 

“We would need to fight till the 

very end because our target is 

•Orbih 

U-20 AFCON: Nigeria on 

the march again 

•Road to the finals: Defeated Guinea Bissau 

(2-2, 1-0); Defeated Mauritania (1-1; 5-0) 

•Aliyu 

•Ogbu 

qualification for the World Cup.” 

Unlike their predecessors that 

won in 2015 on the back of a solid 

preparation including top friendly 

matches against Morocco and 

Ghana and winning the novel 

Super Six tournament that 

included the country’s national U- 

23 team as well as four other 

domestic premier league sides 

(Kano Pillars, Enyimba, Warri 

Wolves and Dolphins); the 

Aigbogun-led side had the luxury 

of attending only the sub regional 

WAFU U-20 Tournament held in 

Togo last December where they 

were beaten 2-0 by Senegal in the 

final. 

Nevertheless, Garba said the 

Flying Eagles have what it takes 

to excel in Niger: “The Flying 

Eagles chances in Niger are 

bright because most of the players 

are playing for top Nigerian clubs 

and they are in good shape. 

“We are hoping they will qualify 

from their group and make it to 

the FIFA U-20 World Cup. I wish 

them a successful outing in Niger 

and praying they will qualify to 

the World Cup as African 

Champions.” 

Head Coach 

Paul Aigbogun 

Aigbogun has been in coaching 

for over two decades now and he’s 

a holder of both CAF and UEFA 

coaching licenses. Has varied 

experiences with spells in Wales, 

USA, South Africa at Cape Town 

City FC and England where he 

reportedly headed the youth 

section of Bury FC. 

He has huge reputation for 

identifying young talents some of 

whom have played for Nigeria 

national team including Sunday 

Mba who scored the winning goal 

for the Super Eagles at the 2013 

Africa Cup of Nations in South 

Africa. 

The Badminton Federation 

of Nigeria (BFN) has 

called for entries for mascot 

for the All Africa Senior 

Badminton Championship 

which comes up from April 22- 

28 in Port Harcourt, Rivers 

State with the winner smiling 

home with N100,000. 

According to the BFN boss, 

Francis Orbih, the campaign 

started last week with entries 

from residents of Rivers State 

only to allow them have a 

sense of belonging as their 

state host the best badminton 

players in Africa. 

He said that entries would 

close on February 8 with a 

panel deciding the winning 

entry that would be used to 

sensitize the state on the 

championship before and 

during the event. 

“We are sure that this will 

On the Nigerian domestic scene, 

Aigbogun at one time or the other 

led Warri Wolves and Enyimba to 

different continental cup 

competitions albeit without 

success. 

Players to watch 

Ikouwem Udo 

Club: Enyimba 

Inspirational captain who plays 

from the left back and even scored 

a couple of goals in the qualifiers. 

Already a Silver medal winner at 

the last Total African Nations 

Championship held in Morocco 

(in 2018), he was named 2018 

Nigeria Football Federation 

(NFF) Young Player of the Year. He 

cut his footballing teeth at modest 

Alaska Football Academy in Akwa 

Ibom but has grown in stature and 

rank since his arrival at Enyimba 

International at 16. 

Igoh Ogbu 

Club: Rosenborg 

(Norway) 

A strong central defender with 

Norwegian side Rosenborg BK, 

and also one of the four overseasbased 

players in the squad. 

Ogbu was the vice-captain of 

the national U-17 (Golden 

Eaglets) that was eliminated by 

Niger in the penultimate qualifier 

towards Gabon 2017. 

Yahaya Nazifi 

Club: Sonderjyske FC 

(Denmark) 

Striker Nazifi, who was recently 

transferred from Kano Pillars to 

Danish side, Sonderjyske FC 

came through the NFF youth set 

up after playing in both the U-15 

and U-17 national teams. 

For a fact, Niger 2019 will 

undoubtedly give striker Yahaya 

Nazifi a feeling of Déjà vu after 

failing to score at the 2015 U-17 

AFCON incidentally hosted by 

Niger. He equally fired blank over 

the two legs against the Junior 

Mena in the penultimate round 

towards the 2017 U-17 AFCON 

hosted by Gabon. But he has since 

cleaned up his act and struck a 

brace in the 5-0 thrashing of 

Mauritania in Lagos for an 

aggregate of 6-1 win that sealed 

Flying Eagles’ qualification for 

this year’s Total U-20 AFCON. 

Africa Snr Badminton championship 

mascot: BFN calls for entries 

give them a sense of 

belonging as we also expect 

them to turn out in large 

numbers to cheer the teams 

to victory,” Orbih added. 

He noted that encouraging 

them to submit entries for the 

mascot would create 

awareness for the 

championship in the state. 

He also said that after the 

winning entry has been 

selected a roadshow would 

be done with the mascot on 

display throughout Port 

harcourt as part of the 

activities to create awareness 

around the Championship. 

The BFN boss thanked the 

Rivers State Government for 

hosting the event and sated 

that it would go a long way 

in making the state one of 

the badminton hubs in 

Africa.

Imama set 

to take over 

U-23 Eagles 

El-Kanemi Warriors of 

Maiduguri coach, 

Imama Amapakabo has been 

confirmed as the interim 

manager of Nigeria’s under- 

23 national team. 

Imama, who is currently an 

assistant coach in the Super 

Eagles’ technical crew, will 

now lead the new-look 

‘Dream Team’ for their African 

U-23 Cup of Nations qualifier 

against Libya. 

This much was revealed by 

Eagles’ tactician, Gernot Rohr, 

who declared categorically 

that Imama will step out in 

place of suspended first 

assistant coach, Salisu Yusuf 

for the game against Libya in 

March. 

Imama, who is an exinternational 

goalkeeper, will 

now start compiling a list of 

players that would be invited 

to camp mid-next month, with 

some foreign-based players 

also expected, ahead of the 

match against Libya. 

•Imama 

•Garnet House display trophies 

Garnet House wins Atlantic Hall Inter 

House sports competition 

It was celebration time as the 

25th Inter House Sports 

Competition of Atlantic Hall, 

Poka Epe which 

took place on 

Saturday, 

January 26, 2019 

as Garnet House 

e m e r g e d 

champions. 

T h o u g h 

Emerald House 

out of the four 

houses came first 

after an exciting 

March Past with 

70 points, but at 

the conclusion of 


Sanwo-Olu sports fiesta 

begins February 4 

•Sanwo Olu 

events Garnet (Red House) 

emerged overall champions with 

30 gold, 33 silver and 20 bronze 

medals followed by Emerald 

(Green House) with 29 gold, 27 

silver and 26 bronze medals, 

Topaz (Yellow House) finished 

third with 26 gold, 22 silver and 

39 bronze while in fourth position 

was Sapphire (Blue House) 23 

gold, 26 silver and 23 bronze 

medals. 

The victory for Garnet house 

was the first since 2007 and their 

8th in total which leaves them 

second in all time honors list 

behind Topaz who are the most 

successful house with 9 titles. 

As part of activities to 

empower youths across 

Lagos state, the Babajide 

Olusola Sanyo-Olu 

Independent Campaign Group 

has announced a 6 day sports 

fiesta for kids under 20 years. 

The event will start from 

Monday, 4th to Sunday, 10th 

February, 2019 at the Agege 

Stadium with 20 teams 

representing the 20 local 

governments in the state 

expected to participate. 

Speaking during the 

unveiling the Sports Director of 

the Independent Campaign 

Group, Gaffar Bolowotan, 

revealed that the week long 

event is part of the All 

Progressive Party Governorship 

candidate, Babajide Sanwo-Olu 

to positively engage youths 

through sports. 

Bolowotan promised that the 

project which will subsequently 

add Basketball, Deaf Sports, 

Athletics and Para Sports events 

will become a part of the Sanwo- 

Olu administration if elected as 

the Lagos State Governor. 

Promoter and marketer of the 

6 day event, Engr. Sunny 

Opeyemi said the BOS Sports 

Fiesta is a curtain-raiser for the 

aggressive sports development 

that Lagos State will witness if 

Sanyo-Olu is elected. 

Less than a week ago, 2018 

African Champion in the 

men’s Triple Jump, Hugues 

Fabrice Zango from Burkina 

Faso took the world of Athletics 

by storm when he leapt to an 

African Indoor Record and 

World Lead of 17.58m to win the 

event at the Meeting de Paris on 

January 27th. Zango’s new 

African Record places him on 

20th position on the all-time 

Indoor list. 

A couple of years back, not 

much was known about the 25- 

year old who was eliminated in 

the qualification rounds at the 

Rio 2016 Olympics where he 

finished 34th overall out of 47 

athletes. At the 2015 World 

Championships, he failed to 

record a valid jump. 

However, in the build up to the 

2019 World Championships in 

Doha come September, Zango 

will be regarded as a major 

contender if he keeps up this 

brilliant form he has started the 

year with. It is no surprise that 

he has improved tremendously, 

seeing that he is now trains with 

former World Indoor and 

Outdoor Champion, Teddy 

Tamgho of France. Tamgho is 

also the current World Indoor 

Record Holder in the men’s 

Triple Jump with a mark of 

17.92m. 

Zango’s mark of 17.58m 

supersedes the Nigerian Record 

of 17.26m set by Ajayi Agbebaku 

in 1983 at the World University 

Games in Edmonton, Canada. 

That same year, Agbebaku won 

a Bronze medal in the World 

Championships in Helsinki, 

Finland. The following year, he 

finished 7th overall at the 

Olympic Games in Los Angeles. 

Almost 36 years later, Nigeria 

is yet to produce an athlete that 

can surpass Agbebaku’s 

National Record. If Burkina 

Faso can boast of a Triple 

Jumper who is currently No.1 in 

Africa and one of the best in the 

world, what stops Nigeria that 

has produced the likes of 

Agbebaku from doing same 

now? 

The only Nigerian athlete that 

Fabrice Zango: 

Lesson for 

Nigeria athletics 

has come close to Agbebaku’s 

record is Tosin Oke who set a 

Personal Best of 17.23m at the 

National Championships in 

Calabar in 2012 and along with 

Blessing Okagbare, was Nigeria’s 

most consistent face at the IAAF 

Diamond League from 2013 to 

2016. He is also a seven-time 

Nigerian Champion and threetime 

African Champion: 2010, 

2012 and 2016, settling for Silver 

in 2014. He also won the African 

Games in 2011 and 2015 

respectively. 

Oke was crowned 

Commonwealth Games 

Champion in 2010, and won Silver 

four years later in Glasgow. His 

best performance at the Olympics 

was 7th place at London 2012, 

while he finished 8th at the 2015 

IAAF World Championships in 

Beijing, and 6th at the World 

Indoors in 2016. 

Oke’s last outing for the country 

was at the 2017 IAAF World 

Championships in London where 

he was unable to go past the 

qualification round after placing 

25th overall in a field of 30 athletes. 

He later revealed that he was not 

expecting to compete in the 

championship because his name 

was initially left out of the list of 

the Nigerian contingent, only to be 

added six days before the 

championship. 

In his years of representing 

Nigeria, Oke had been 

involved in a fierce battle with 

administrators of the 

Athletics Federation of 

Nigeria (AFN) and Sports 

Ministry over issues 

bordering on funding. 

In an interview with 

BBCSports in 2017, Oke claimed 

that he hadn’t received significant 

funding to prepare for 

competitions. He talked about 

being denied an IOC scholarship 

despite winning Gold for Nigeria 

at the 2015 All-African Games. 

Also, he had written the then 

Director General of the National 

Sports Commission, Alhassan 

Yakmut, requesting for funds to 

help him win a medal at Rio 2016. 

However, the request was declined 

after Yakmut claimed that Oke did 

not do the usual victory lap after 

winning Gold in Brazzaville, 

despite Oke sending pictures of his 

victory lap as evidence. 

Oke eventually paid his way to 

Rio for the Olympics but had to 

spend the run-up to his event trying 

to get back funds he had spent in 

buying a return ticket. He said, “At 

this point my mind was definitely 

not on competing, it was on ‘this is 

a huge amount’”. It is no wonder 

he finished 23rd overall in the 

qualifying 

round and 

didn’t 

advance to 

•Fabrice Zango the final. 

Oke is 

38 now, so 

it is 

expected 

that he 

would 

have hung 

his boots. However, the much 

younger Olu Olamigoke who 

finished 2nd to Oke at the 2015 

All-African Games and 4th at the 

2014 Commonwealth Games, 

was regarded as a successor to 

the latter. 

In 2015, despite not qualifying 

for the World Championships, 

the IAAF gave 

Olamigoke a wild 

card to compete at 

the 2015 World 

Championships, 

having noticed his 

potential. However, 

Nigeria didn’t take him 

for the championships. 

Last year, he was listed for 

the 

African 

Championships in Asaba 

yet officials had not been in 

touch with him for several 

months to confirm his 

availability or readiness for the 

competition. He chose to stay 

away, and will only reconsider 

returning to international 

action when Nigeria begins to 

treat its athletes like they really 

matter. 

Zango finished 5th at the 2015 

All-African Games, which was 

won by Oke, while Olamigoke 

placed 2nd. However, the 

Burkinabe has now overtaken 

the duo and will be one of the 

people to watch out for this year. 

How sad for Nigeria!

C 

M 

Y 

K 

SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 2, 2019 

ACROSS 

1)South-East zonal Coordinator, Mr. 

Walson – (9) 

6)L.G.A in Abia State (3) 

8)Osun State Governor, Alhaji Isiaka 

Adegboyega – (7) 

9)Minister of Budget & National Planning, 

Mr. Udo – (5) 

10)Former Minister of Education, Mr Wada 

– (3) 

11)Former South Africa “Bafana Bafanas” 

Coach, Gordon – (7) 

14)Autonomous Community in Imo State 

(5) 

15)Nobleman (4) 

17)American Country (6) 

20)Former Egyptian Prime Minister, Mr. Abd 

El-Aziz – (6) 

22)Tanzanian Town & District (4) 

24)Autonomous Community in Imo State 

(5) 

25)Finnish Currency (7) 

28)Senegal “Terenga Lions” Striker, 

Moussa – (3) 

29)Former Cross-River State Governor, Mr. 

Liyel – (5) 

30)Registrar & Chief Executive, Teachers 

Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), 

Prof. Josiah – (7) 

32)Number (3) 

33)L.G.A in Kogi State (9) 

CROSS WORD PUZZLE 

DOWN 

1)State in Nigeria known as “The Eastern Heartland”? 

(3) 

2)L.G.A in Lagos State (5) 

3)Former Super Eagles Coach, Shuaibu – (5) 

4)Country in Africa (6) 

5)Former President, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), 

Mr. Abdulwaheed – (7) 

6)Chairman, First Bank of Nigeria Plc, Mrs. Ibukun – (6) 

7)Portuguese Second Division Club-Side (9) 

11)President, Federation of International Football 

Associations (FIFA), Mr. Gianni – (9) 

12)Adjust (3) 

13)South African Finance Minister, Mr. Nhania – (4) 

16)The First President of South-Korea, Mr. Syngman – 

(4) 

18)Ogun State Chairman, All Progressives Congress 

(APC), Alhaji Tajudeen – (7) 

19)Former Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. 

Fatai – (7) 

21)Obtain (3) 

23)Ethnic Group in Botswana (6) 

SOLUTION TO PUZZLE ON PAGE 55 

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

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

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