Vanguard_30th_Jan_2021

2 — SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 30, 2021 FG to concession 12 highways to private sectors Time for Ndigbo to return to national *Says initiative to attract N1.134 trillion investments, massive jobs politics through APC — Uzodinma By Chris Ochayi Imo State Governor ABUJA: Faced with paucity of funds confronting it, the Hope Uzodinma has Federal Government, yesterday, commenced procure- declared that the upcoming ment process to concession 12 highways to the private sectors governorship election in under the Public Private Partnership, PPP, scheme. Anambra State was a gold- Theconcessionarrangementtagged, the‘HighwayDevelop- en opportunity for Ndigbo ment and Management Initiative HDMI,’ being promoted by to return to national politics the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, is expected to at- by embracing APC. tract investments to the tune of over N1.134 trillion. He said 51 years after the The 12 highways selected for the pilot scheme include the civil war , the preoccupa- Benin-Asaba, Abuja-Lokoja, Kano-Katsina, Onitsha-Owerri- tion of Ndigbo should be Aba, Shagamu-Benin, Abuja-Keffi-Akwanga, Kano-Shuari, Po- how to seek justice, equity tiskum-Damaturu, Lokoja-Benin, Enugu-Port Harcourt, Ilorin- and fairness in a united Jebba, Lagos-Ota-Abeokuta, and Lagos-Badagry-Seme. Nigeria. Speaking while receiving the Certificate of Compliance in Uzodinma who spoke Abuja, the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde when he led south east Fashola, said the procurement process for the highway conces- APC leaders on a reconcil- sions under the Highway Development and Management Ini- iation meeting to Anambra tiative, HDMI, has officially commenced. State argued that the short- est route to achieve justice Fashola said the HDMI would facilitate further development in Nigeria was for the en- of Nigeria’s federal highway network by bringing in investment tire region to collapse into to improve efficiency, accountability, and profitable entrepre- APC. neurship to the operation, management, and maintenance of all assets within the Right of Way on the highways. According to him, the initiative has further affirmed the Pres- “It is obvious to me that ident Muhammadu Buhari administration’s commitment to we cannot get the justice we infrastructure development funding which has been driven by seek through isolationism the Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment In- or ethnic politics. The only The Commissioner of Police CP Ari Muhmmed Ali (R)condoling the Gov- vestment Tax Credit Scheme Order of 2018, the Presidential way we can get what we ernfor Ifeanyi Okowa over the death of his father, Sir Arthur Okowa in Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF) being managed by seek is by being part of Delta State. the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) and the mainstream politics by be- SUKUK Fund. longing to APC,”he centre. tional grid by returning fairness and equity so that averred. He said there was need them to the mainstream their talents and industry He noted that through such initiatives the Federal Govern- national politics where we will flourish.” ment has been leveraging on private sector funding and partic- Uzodinma who is the for Anambra State to return can obtain the justice we ipation in the development of critical infrastructure across the chairman of APC reconcili- to APC in November this seek.” He noted that some nota- country and the HDMI is another innovation developed to at- ation committee, regretted year as a prelude to getting ble Igbo including Dr Nnam- tract the private sector. that Anambra had been all the five south east states According to him,” what di Azikiwe and Dr Alex Ek- long in opposition, thus to mainstream politics. Igbo is seeking in a united wueme fought for the the in- The Minister, who spoke at the official handover of the Certif- denying the people what Nigeria is justice. Igbo tegration of Ndigbo to main- icate of Compliance by ICRC, explained that the HDMI was a they ought to get from the Said he,” We need victo- need justice to provide a stream politics through alli- fully home-grown idea that would deliver a safer and enjoyable ry in Anambra State to re- level playing ground for ances and NPN. travel experience for Nigerian road users as travel time would connect Ndigbo to the na- be shortened, cost reduced and commercial activities stimulat- APC membership registration, revalidation: Where trouble looms ed. Explaining further, he said the HDMI is an indigenous Land Value Capture scheme conceived by the ministry to devel- op Nigeria’s network of federal highway corridors and boost economic development along the Right of Way. He added that it By Omeiza Ajayi state caretaker committee camp of Senator Sabo Na- hail from Akure North. would be executed in two parts comprising Value Added Con- chairman. While Samari is kudu who is reportedly in- Imo cession (VAC) and Unbundled Assets Approval (UAA). THE ruling All Progres said to be loyal to the gov- terested in governing the Former Governor of the sives Congress APC is ernor, his “predecessor”, state. On the economic benefits, he said, “Apart from infrastructure set to begin its membership Bashir Bolarinwa who has state, Sen. Rochas Okoro- and assets development, thousands of jobs will be created for registration and revalidation continued to lay claim to the Rivers cha recently declared that Nigerians as the initiative will open up the highway economy exercise on Tuesday, Febru- seat, belongs to the Moham- In Rivers, the power play he is still a member of the with opportunities in various economic activities including fab- ary 2, having kick-started the med/Saraki tendency. will be between Transporta- APC. Both Okorocha and rication of gantries and directional signage with advertising process since January 25 tion minister, Rotimi Amae- the incumbent Governor, opportunities, towing van operations and auto repair stations, with inauguration of com- Bauchi chi and Sen. Magnus Abe. Sen. Hope Uzodinma are operation of rest areas and emergency services, among others. mittees, trainings and de- In Bauchi, the erstwhile Ondo reported to have their indi- ployment of logistics. state Chairman of the par- In Ondo, while there are vidual camps. “When fully operational road users will now enjoy first-class While the Gov. Mai Mala ty, Uba Nana who is be- pockets of disagreements facilities on federal highways with directional signage, well- Buni-led Caretaker Extraor- lieved to be loyal to former among leaders in some lo- It remains to be seen equipped rest areas, round-the-clock security patrol, and ambu- dinary Convention Planning governor Mohammed Abu- cal governments, the most whether both leaders would lance services for emergencies.” Committee CECPC boasts bakar has not had it rosy prominent is that between work together during the of having resolved intra-par- with the chairman of the the Minister of state, Niger exercise or whether they Mr. Fashola appreciated and commended the Infrastructure ty squabbles in at least 11 APC Youth Parliament, Ab- Delta Affairs, Sen. Tayo Ala- would work at cross purpos- Concession Regulatory Commission’s (ICRC) diligent apprais- states, there are still states dullahi Maifure, who leads soadura and the Commis- es for their individual polit- al of the initiative and for issuing Certificate of Compliance to where some stakeholders some “aggrieved members” sioner for Works. Both men ical benefit. the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to proceed with the may want to use the exer- of the party. Highway Development and Management Initiative, HDMI. cise to test their powers. This Ekiti is because, politics is a game In Ekiti where there have Stakeholders insist on constitutional role for N’Delta monarchs of numbers and he who has been a rash of suspensions the numbers has an advan- and counter-suspensions, *As NDD study reveals govs unduly interference in kingship, chieftaincy affairs tage over others. the membership registration *Any officeholder who derides me won’t complete his tenure—C’River monarch Though the party has and revalidation exercise warned its states registration would provide another op- By Emma Amaize, ropean Union (EU). without regards to the tradi- ploys to interfere and exercise committees not to pander to portunity for Gov. Kayode Regional Editor, South- Giving highlights of the tion and customers guiding undue control over monarchs.” the whims of any individual Fayemi and Sen. Babafemi South & Egufe Yafugborhi such stools,” he revealed. or group, it is pertinent to Ojudu to test their might. study, Dr. Edward said: “It was Among resolutions and ac- look at some “troubled” Oyo PORT HARCOURT - observed that the absence of Responding to cases of gov- tion points adopted, stakehold- states where there could be Here, loyalists of the late STAKEHOLDERS re- constitutionally defined pow- ernors and officeholders den- ers harped on the imperative a battle of wits. former governor, Sen. Abi- emphasized, yesterday, the ers for the monarch signifi- igrating monarchs and their for government to provide le- Zamfara ola Ajimobi and those of need to give traditional rulers cantly hinders traditional rul- stools, a Cross River mon- gal framework and adequate There is no love lost be- former Communications in Niger Delta constitutional ers’ role to maintain peace and arch, HRM, Obol Ofem Uba- funding for traditional rulers, tween a former Governor of minister, Adebayo Shittu role and power to ensure security in their domains. na Eteng, Obol Lopon of security agencies should main- the state, Abdulaziz Yari and may want to test their rele- peace and security in the vola- Ugep, vowed, “If you come tain confidentiality of informa- a former senator, Kabir Ma- vance in the scheme of tile region. “Even when they are the first to my palace to insult me, tion from traditional rulers and rafa. It is left to be seen how things. This was the consensus at port of call among key actors your car will not start as you media and civil society orga- the registration would bring Aside that, there are those the 2021 Niger Delta Dia- when issues of insecurity crop leave.” nizations to sustain support. both men to work together who look up to the trio of logue , NDD, at Port-Harcourt, up, the law does not guaran- or further alienate them. Adebayo Alao-Akala, Teslim Riversstate, wherearesearch tee them security votes, no se- “If you insult me or try as The Commissioner of Police Kwara Folarin, and Fatai Buhari, team coordinated by Dr Tok- curity cover, making them vul- much to denigrate or dismiss (CP), Cross Rivers state, S. K. The battle here is between while some belong to the po Edward, Federal Universi- nerable to insecurity . me from a throne bestowed Akande, however, stressed that, the state Governor, Abdul- “Unity Forum” led by Sen- ty, Otuoke, Bayelsa state, un- on me by people, customs, “Overriding all the recommen- rahman Abdulrazak and the ators Soji Akanbi, Olufemi veiledthegroup’sstudyon“Re- “Some traditional rulers tradition and God, you will dations is the challenge of in- duo of Information and Cul- Lanlehin, Ayoade Adeseun, thinkingSynergyBetweenTra- have been kidnapped or killed not complete your tenure,” he sincerity. Insincerity among ture minister, Alhaji Lai and Barr. Adebayo Shittu. ditional Rulers, Security Agen- by hoodlums or cultists after added. stakeholdersisthebiggestchal- Mohammed and the Min- Jigawa cies, Government Officials providing intelligence report. lenge that instigates insecurity ister of State, Transportation, Gov. Muhammad Badaru and Civil Society in Return- Thereis hardlyanyconfiden- Also speaking, HRM Dr. anywhere in the world. With all Sen. Gbemisola Saraki. of Jigawa State is likely to ing Peace to Niger Delta.” tiality when they give informa- Etim Okon Edet, Chairman, of us being sincere, peace will The CECPC has appoint- have his way but not with- The NDD is a dialogue tion to security operatives. Cross Rivers Traditional Rul- surely come.” ed Abdullahi Samari as the out a challenge from the space facilitated by a non gov- ers Council, asserted: ‘Gov- ernmental organisation, Aca- “On top of all that, the study ernment has become a med- On the success of yet another demic Associates PeaceWorks revealed an emerging threat dlesome interloper in chief- Niger Delta Dialogue, Chief (AAPW), sponsored by the Eu- of undue politicisation of taincy affairs. Kingship is tra- Judith Asuni, Convener, said, chieftaincy matters. Gover- ditional, the presentation of “The fact of different sets of nors impose traditional rulers, staff of office and certificates people in the room talking as make and unmake monarchs of authority are all needless equals is very unusual. C M Y K

SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 30, 2021 — 3 I‘ll speak again at appropriate time — Sunday Igboho My father deflowered me on kitchen floor By Adeola Badru — 19 yr-old daughter reveals The acclaimed Oyo State freedom fighter, Chief *He started sleeping with me from age 12 Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as ‘Igbo- *I slept with her just once —Father ho,’ has said that he would remain silent on securi- *Suspect attempts suicide ty issues in the state, for sometime till some issues are resolved, following the fire that engulfed his By Dayo Johnson Akure The victim, Fatima Mother of the victim (middle) with delegation house caused by suspected arsonists, last week. from Akeredolu's wife Betty He made this known in a chat with Vanguard on A 19 year old lady, Fa his next line of action following the fire incident. tima Usman has re- the delegation sent to the when she met with the del- current state of depres- According to him: “I have been asked by promi- vealed that her 52 year family by the governor ’s egation. sion. “We are going to give nent Yoruba people to remain silent for now until old father Usman Mo- wife. her psychological sup- some issues are resolved. But I will still continue to moh took her virginity at l slept with my daughter port. She needs our sup- fight for the course of Yoruba people.” age 12 on the floor in Jemila said her father only once—Suspect port morally because she “We will not allow our Yoruba sons and daughters their kitchen in Owo area once woke her up in the is not stable”, she said to continue to be killed by these killer herdsmen of Ondo state. Fatima had middle of the night and at- Fatima’s father, Usman who have infiltrated into our lands. We will contin- in a viral video said that tempted to sleep with her Momoh has admitted The case won’t be swept ue to resist them. No room for them again in the her father had been sleep- but she refused and report- sleeping with his daughter under the carpet- Police southwest,” he stressed. ing with her ever since ed to her mother who scold- but only once. Momoh, while her mother refused ed him not to try such again. while being transferred to Police spokesperson, Tee Ogun APC welcomes decamped to do anything whenever the Ondo State Police Leo Ikoro said that the APM membershe All Progressives Congress (APC) has de she reported to her. Suspect attempted sui- Command headquarters suspect has been rearrest- According to her “My cide—Victim’s aunt said he had sex with his ed noting that “this wasn’t Tscribed as “a welcome development”, the de- father would always daughter only once. He the type of case that could threaten to kill me while The victim’s aunty, Mrs. asked the society to for- be swept under the carpet. camping of all the seven members of the Allied holding a knife if I ever Diamond, said the suspect, give him as he had realised We will do everything pos- People’s Movement ( APM) in the Ogun State tried to expose him. who is a gardener at the his mistake. Momoh stat- sible within our means House of Assembly to the All Progressives Con- Akeredolu’ s wife inter- Rufus Giwa Polytechnic ed that he didn’t know what and legally to ensure that gress (APC) vene Owo, attempted suicide came over him when he the man is prosecuted and Meanwhile, the wife of immediately after he con- committed the act. the outcome will be In a statement issued in Abeokuta on Friday and the governor, Mrs Betty fessed to the crime before known to everybody be- signed by the Publicity Secretary, Ogun APC Care- Anyanwu Akeredolu has his arrest The Chairperson of cause I have listened to the taker Committee, Tunde Oladunjoye, the party said waded into the matter and Ondo Women Lawyers girl and I think it’s pathet- “Our Caretaker Chairman, Chief Yemi Sanusi, wel- sent a delegation to the “He bought all the items (FIDA) Barr. Bola Ogun- ic. I was told that the man comes the former APM members and we see their family of the victim. The for the ritual and they were dadegbe, told journalists has been brought to the bold action as a welcome development and long delegation was led by the taken to the village with a that Momoh’s prosecution station because he was expected, especially since the APM’s gubernatori- Senior Special Assistant warning that the girl would rested with the police af- first granted bail”. al candidate in the last election, Hon. Kunle Akin- to the governor on Gen- never live under the same ter conducting investiga- lade, announced his return to APC at a well re- der Research and Docu- roof with him”. tion Ikoro said “proper ar- ported press conference last year where he declared mentation, Mrs Temitope rangements were ongoing his former party, APM, as dead in Ogun State.” Daniyan who was accom- I’m not aware of all this— Ogundadegbe said the to transfer the accused to panied by officials of the Mother of victim victim would be given psy- the State Criminal Inves- The party also commended the Speaker of Ogun Federation of Women chological counselling to tigative Department. Assembly, Rt. Hon. Olakunle Oluomo, “for the Lawyers, FIDA. The 39years old mother enable her come out of her maturity, courage and selflessness with which he Mrs Akeredolu’s inter- of the girl however claimed has led the current House of Assembly since inau- vention reportedly led to ignorance of the allegation guration.” the re-arrest of the sus- pect who is a gardner in a Customs seizes lion bones, pangolin scales While urging the returnees “to cooperate, even tertiary institution in the the more with the Governor of Ogun State, Prince state. worth N952m He said that the total pa command success- Dapo Abiodun, we commend the governor on his Police in the state had weight of the items stood fully detected and ar- non-sectarian disposition to all the members of the released the suspect after The Nigeria Customs at 854,719 tonnes, val- rested one unit of 20 House of Assembly regardless of political tenden- family members said they Service, NCS, Apa- ued at N952 million. feet container which cies or affiliations”. The statement then urged the would settle the matter pa Area Command, La- was processed for ex- seven House of Assembly members to “seize the and that some rituals gos, has seized a huge “On Jan 21, based on port and falsely de- opportunity of the on-going APC membership re- would have to be per- haul of mixed endan- credible intelligence, clared as a furniture validation and registration to register their mem- formed. gered species including Customs operatives at component. bership at their polling units in their various wards, Victims narrates her or- lion bones and pangolin the export seat of Apa- since what they did yesterday on the floor of the deal scales, worth N952 mil- House was ceremonial and statutory because of Speaking with news- lion. their status”. men, the victim said, “he The Customs Area Con- normally woke me up in troller of Apapa Com- Pa Okowa was a peace initiator, the middle of the night in mand, Comptroller Mo- ethnic bridge builder — Onuesoke our room and would take hammed Abba-Kura stat- me to the kitchen to have ed that the items were People’s Democratic Party, PDP, chieftain and former sex with me. He usually being taken out of the Delta State gubernatorial aspirant, Chief Sunny held a knife to threaten country to Vietnam when Onuesoke has said Deltans and Nigerians in general me.” they were intercepted. will miss Pa Arthur Okorie Uzoma Okowa who passed Fatima said that when- Speaking during a on recently, describing him as a peace initiator and eth- ever she made an attempt press briefing recently, nic bridge builder. to tell her mother, she Abba-Kura said that the Onuesoke made the statement while commiserating wouldn’t listen and the items were contained in with Delta State Governor Senator Ifeanyi Okowa and abuse kept coming regu- a one unit 20 feet contain- his family over the demise of his father, Pa Okowa say- larly until last December er with number CSLU ing the Octogenarian’s death was indeed painful and when she decided to run 2362640 heading to devastating. away from home. Haiphong, Vietnam. The PDP Chieftain described the late Pa Okowa as She pointed out that He said that the items, patriotic, passionate and detribalized elder statesman anytime her father woke comprising 162 sacks of who built bridges for the unity, peace, progress and her in the middle of the pangolin scales weighing development people across ethnic and party affiliation. night and she refused, she 8,800kg and 57 sacks of would sleep outside their mixed endangered spe- apartment till daybreak cies of various sizes such while her mother as ivory/animal horns, wouldn’t show concern to lion bones and others ask for the cause of her were falsely declared as action. furniture components. Fatima who just fin- ished her Senior Second- ary school explained that her father had made it a tradition to sleep with her before paying her school fees or fending for her needs. She further accused him of attempting to do same with her younger sister who is 17years old. The younger sister, Jemima confirmed this to C M Y

4 — SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 30, 2021 I left Nigerian Army better than I met it— Buratai NigerianArmy. During the pulling out ceremony, the Min- *Urges politicians to work with military commanders to overcome security threats ister of Defence, Major General Bashir Ma- gashi (retd) launched IMMEDIATE past Army better than he met dynamic nature of the played in the fight momentum and the a book in honour of Gen Chief of Army Staff, it on assumption of Com- threats in the country”. against insurgency, Bu- pressure to rid those last TY Buratai titled “The Lt. Gen Tukur Yusuf Bu- mand more than five ratai said, “He came vestiges of terrorists in Legend of Buratai Vol- ratai on Friday disclosed years ago. “The Nigerian Army with a unique style of the North East. ume 2” which consist of that he left the Nigerian has remained resolute leadership. I can assure 125 pages and 9 Chap- Gen Buratai made the in the discharge of its you that collectively, the “Let me at this point ters. disclosure at the pulling roles as enshrined in the Nigerian Army and the pay tribute to our depart- out parade organized in constitution of the Fed- Borno state government ed heroes. To the sol- He described Gen his honour at Mogad- eral Republic of Nigeria. will end this insurgen- diers in various opera- Buratai as a seasoned ishu Cantonment just as I urge you all to contin- cy in the shortest possi- tions, I say Bravo and General saying “Bu- he reiterated that the ue to rise to the occa- ble time”. keep the flag flying. ratai is not just an out- Nigerian Army under sion”. standing and an ac- his leadership was able “The remaining en- On his advise to poli- complished General, to achieve greats feats Gen Buratai conse- claves have already ticians, Buratai said, but also a renowned au- in the fight against in- quently urged the new been entered by our “We need politicians who thor. surgency in the country. COAS to maintain the troops. They are in the are statesmen to work momentum and the process of evicting them closely with profession- Present at the pulling He said, “The counter pressure to rid the coun- and dealing with them al military command- out ceremony were insurgency operation is try of the last vestiges of decisively. I want to ers”. He further called Governor Umara Zu- a warfare that is new to terrorism from the North urge the Chief of Army for support of the new lum, Senator Ali the Nigerian Army. But East. Staff to maintain the Chief of Army Staff as he Ndume and the Emir of over time, we have con- pilots the affairs of the Biu. tinued to improve and Applauding Governor device means of tack- Umara Babagana Zu- LIRS extends deadline for filing of ling the ever evolving lum of Borno state for the immense role he annual returns to Feb 14 IN view of the chal February 1 to February form their civic obliga- lenges being experi- 14, 2021. tion. enced due to the effects of the COVID-19 pan- According to law, the The extension of the demic on businesses filing of company’s an- deadline was also in re- within the State, the La- nual returns expires on sponse to appeals made gos State Internal Reve- January 31st of every fis- by taxpayers as well as nue Service (LIRS) has cal year, and attracts stiff an attempt to assuage extended the filing of penalties for defaulters. the effect of the pan- Employers’ Annual Re- Tax Payers were therefore demic on the taxpayers turns by an additional urged to take advantage and residents of Lagos two weeks starting from of this extension to per- State. C M Y K

SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 30, 2021 — 5 and partners. mosquitoes from Asia and Latin America which share How realistic? the same equatorial climatic system with Africa? There is no doubt about it – Despite these challenges, if this vision is implemented the Ned Nwoko Foundation the fight against malaria in is doggedly pressing ahead Africa will be largely won. But with its ambitious project. there are some questions Already, $750,000 has been Fighting malaria in Africa with vaccine: How realistic? waiting for answers. For earmarked by the foundation instance, how will the money for endowment in five for such a gigantic continental African universities for the By Ochereome Nnanna Project their flags hoisted at the adoption of continent-wide project be raised in view of the development of vaccines SouthPole.Nigeriaisnowthe sanitation and fumigation fact that despite billions ($150,000 each). The Chairman, Editorial Board In January 2020, Nigerian 13th country…” exercises and the massive already spent, the Bill Gates foundation has also won the billionaire, Senator Ned recycling of waste to create Foundation has not even Our elders say: “When a Nwoko, embarked on a According to him, the sole wealth and jobs. discovered a vaccine in 20 support of the Federal woman marries two rather “eccentric” adventure purpose of the mission was to years? What new strategies Ministry of Health, with the to Antarctica, the world’s ice raise awareness for his vision According to Senator will be deployed to persuade Minister, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, different husbands she will continent, in the South Pole. and mission to eliminate Nwoko, the entire continent Africans to adopt the uniform directing his Ministry to offer know whotreatedherbetter.” When he came back from that will have to sacrificially lock waste disposal strategy given I just recovered from a mission he gave an insight malaria from Africa through down for the fumigation of poor governance and equally comprehensive technical into what Antarctica is like: indigenous initiative. both forest and human poor citizen compliance with support to the foundation to coronavirus attack. Some Unlike the Bill and habitats from one end to the regulations in the continent, ensure the successful call it:“The China virus” “There was extreme cold, other to eradicate especially Nigeria? because it came from Wuhan, 24 hours daylight (no Melinda Gates initiatives mosquitoes. Africans will be implementation of the darkness), no airports, no which focus on Research and made to adopt a template of How can the entire African malaria eradication project. China. Just like all other immigration or customs, no Development of drugs and waste disposal system and continent be persuaded to This is an opportunity for Africans, I have also land except glaciers and few clearance of drainages implement a uniform experienced malaria dozens rocks, no shops, no hotels. vaccines (which have yet to which will make it lockdown for the fumigation? Dr. Ned Nwoko, who is more Slept in body bags inside produce concrete results in impossible for mosquitoes to Won’t such a massive widely known in the social of times since childhood. tents. Very windy, less than nearly 20 years despite breed. There will be waste- fumigation exercise targeting media for his numerous Malaria is basically an 5,000 people and they are all to-wealth plants in all 774 mosquitoes also lead to the African permanent research scientists from billions of dollars invested), local government areas of extinction of other useful celebrity wives, to show that America, UK, Germany, the Ned Nwoko Foundation the country, all of which will organisms? What about the his resources, scope of mind pandemic. It can be claimed India, Russia, South Africa, has adopted a be funded by the Foundation possibility of the repopulation and vista of vision can that malaria is actually more etc. Only 12 countries (had) of the continent by of a Nigerian pandemic. To comprehensive and actually eliminate integrated approach. They mosquitoes—an existential put us in a clearer picture of involve: the development of threattoAfricans–andsecure things, let us look at some authoritative facts and vaccines by African scientists, the future of the continent. figures which will show that Africans (especially Nigerians) should be even more concerned about the malaria scourge while grappling with the coronavirus pandemic. In July 2020, barely eight months after Covid-19 was discovered in Wuhan China, the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced that 874,010 caseshadbeenrecorded,with 524,557 recoveries and 18,499 deaths. The same WHO had in 2019 documented 229 million malaria infections worldwide with 409,000 deaths. The big news is that out of these numbers, 94 per cent of the malaria infections occurred in Africa. Six countries received the brunt in Africa with Nigeria leading with 23 per cent, Democratic Republic of the Congo (11 per cent), Tanzania (5 per cent), Burkina Faso (4 per cent), Mozambique(4percent)and Niger Republic (4 per cent). Instructively, unlike Covid- 19 which is (rightly or wrongly) perceived in Africa as an affliction of the elite, malaria clearly targets the poor and our children. In April 2003, the WHO and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), organs of the United Nations, jointly reported that malaria kills 3,000 children in Africa EVERYDAY! Their experts are all over the world. They know what they are talking about. By killing our children in such large numbers, malaria is a threat to our future. Malaria is AN AFRICAN PROBLEM. But it is a problem that is obviously too big for Africa to shoulder alone. This fact got the attention of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation which was launched in 2000. Since 2002, this Foundation which belongs to the then wealthiest man on earth, Bill Gates,hasannuallydisbursed hundreds of millions of dollars in support of the research and development of malaria vaccines, new and more effective drugs and improved malaria control methods. The WHO says that about $322 million which is annually spent on the ResearchandDevelopmentof malaria vaccines falls “far short” of need. Ned Nwoko Foundation’s Malaria Eradication C M Y K

6— SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 30, 2021 Quest for power, money behind rising Boko Haram attack Borno community, say new service ethnic/religious tension — Presidency chiefs cannot stop them By Johnbosco Agbakwuru *Alleges plot to smear Buhari By Ndahi Marama, Maiduguri THE Presidency on Fri From Left; Mr Charles Kumolu, Deputy Editor , Sunday Newspaper, Vanguard BARELY 24 hours after the new Chief of Army Staff, day alleged that peo- Newspaper, Mr Kunle Adekoya, Deputy Editor Daily, Vanguard Newspaper, Mr Eze Major General Ibrahim Attahiru took over from his ple stoking ethnic and reli- Anaba, Editor, Vanguard Newspaper, Mr Charles Aniagwu, Delta State, Commis- predecessor, General Yusuf Buratai, Boko Haram sect yes- gious unrest in the country sioner for Information, Mr Onochie Anibeze, Editor, Saturday Newspaper, Vanguard terday attacked Dikwa town, in Dikwa Local Government are motivated by quest for Newspaper, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, Chief Press to the Governor Delta State, and Mr Area of Borno state with hundreds of residents fleeing into power and filthy lucre. Nelson Egware, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, during the the bush. The Presidency also raised courtesy visit by Commissioner of Information with is team to Vanguard Newspa- Following the replacement of service chiefs by President the alarm over the alleged per on Thursday, at Vanguard Office, Canal Road, Kirikiri, Lagos. PHOTO; Kehinde Muhammadu Buhari last Tuesday, Boko Haram leader, plan to launch a smear cam- Gbadamosi. Abubakar Shekau had boasted in a video he released im- paign against President mediately that the new service chiefs could not do anything Muhammadu Buhari in the and blogs. hari. them. This allegation is by to end the over decade crisis. media. “The campaign, sched- “Part of the planned pub- no means supported with The sect members were said to have stormed the Borno This was contained in a reasonable facts and figures. community in a large number of gun trucks and motorcy- statement issued by the Spe- uled to be launched anytime lication is to make unwary cles and engaged the troops as hundreds residents flee into cial Adviser to the President soon through editorials and readers believe that the The presidency recalled Bush for safety. Fleeing residents told our Correspondent on Media and Publicity, purported special investiga- President has continually that just on Thursday, Pres- on phone from Dikwa that the town was under series spo- Chief Femi Adesina, in Abu- tive stories, is designed to used the powers of his of- ident Buhari, while meeting radic gunshots and explosions as they ran for their dear ja. further exacerbate tension in fice to shield and protect an with the Nigerian Supreme lives. Dikwa is about 60km drive from Maiduguri, the state According to the state- the land, by portraying the ethnic group against crimes Council for Islamic Affairs capital and a stone throw from Mafa Local Government ment, “Those who are bent President as pandering to of murder, kidnappings, (NSCIA), led by Sultan of Area where Governor Babagana Zulum hails from. on stoking ethnic and reli- ethnic and other primordial rape and banditry in the Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Dikwa is in Borno Central, where its Shehu, His Royal gious unrest in the country tendencies, contrary to his southern, middle belt and Sa’ad Abubakar, restated his Highness Dr. Abba Tor Masta II died last week after pro- remain deaf to reason, and pledge to belong to all Ni- some northern states. even-handedness on the tracted illness. The Late Shehu’s Palace was hitherto taken impervious to reality. They gerians. issues of ethnicity and reli- over and declared as Home Base to one of the Top Boko are hell-bent on distorting “The publication will also gion. Said the President: Haram Commander and his lieutenants some year back be- reality, and Nigerians are “Impeccable security find- refer Nigerians to a 58-page fore Troops recover it after a fierce battle. urged to be wary of them. It ings indicate that those be- document, which chronicles The statement recalled is all about quest for power, hind the plot have procured purported atrocities of the Buhari’s statement during Pa Okowa: Dignitaries pay tribute and filthy lucre.” online blogs and newspa- ethnic group in the South the meeting saying: “The It said security sources pers, which are to launch co- since 2017, all of which it Federal Government under Delta Governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa have revealed that those ordinated publications, al- claims the Presidency has my leadership does not, and (right); his wife, Dame Edith (left) and daughter, behind the plot have pro- leging subjugation and sup- turned blind eyes to. will not, allow religious prej- Mildred Okowa-Igumbor, while receiving sympa- cured online blogs and pression of a particular reli- udice or partisanship to in- thizers on the death of Late Pa Arthur Okowa, at newspapers for the plot, gion and ethnic groups. “Again, the hatchet job will fluence any of its decisions Owa-Alero Delta State, yesterday which they will launch any allege that the President has and policies. It is my solemn moment from now. “A specific medium has so continued to place members decision to be fair and just FOLLOWING the demise of Pa Okorie Okowa, father It said the plan will be far contacted some opinion of his ethnic nationality in to all segments of society.” of Delta state governor, Senator (Dr). Ifeanyi Okowa, implemented through leaders, especially those sensitive positions, so as to on Thursday, sympathisers thronged the Owa-Alero resi- newspapers editorials and very critical of President Bu- confer undue advantage on dence of the deceased octogenarian in Ika North East Lo- special investigative stories cal Government Area on Friday, to commiserate with the designed to exacerbate eth- first family of the state. nic/religious tensions in the The sympathisers were received by the governor, his wife, country. Edith and other members of the family. The statement read in part: Among them were the Chairman, Delta State Traditional “There is compelling reason Rulers Council and the Obi of Owa Kingdom, Dr. Emman- to alert the nation of another uel Efeizomor II; members of Owa Council of Chiefs led by orchestrated smear cam- Chief Kenneth Okocha; Delta State Commissioner of Po- paign against President lice, Mohammed Alli; Chairman of Peoples Democratic Muhammadu Buhari, us- Party (PDP) in the state, Chief Kingsley Esiso; Secretary to ing some online newspapers the State Government (SSG), Mr Chiedu Ebie and the Chief of Staff, Government House, Asaba, Chief David Edevbie. YPF to South-West Govs: Prioritise job creation, Others were founder of, DAAR Communications, Chief Raymond Dokpesi; former Acting Governor of Delta, Rt. entrepreneurship to tackle insecurity Hon. Sam Obi; the Commander, 63 Brigade, Nigeria Army, Asaba, Brig.-Gen. Abdulrahman Idris, Commissioner for *Says rate of youth unemployment, poverty, hunger turn kidnap- Higher Education, Prof. Patrick Muoboghare; Economic ping to commercial enterprise Adviser to the governor, Dr. Kingsley Emu and Delta North unfortunately, the majority of Guyana 11.81%, El Salvador Chairman of PDP, Mr Moses Iduh. By Dapo Akinrefon and Army cannot quench in- crimes are perpetrated by 4.2% and Syria 8.45%. They also included the member representing Ika South security where youth unem- peoplewhofallbetweenages Constituency in Delta House of Assembly, Mr Festus Okoh; A pan-yoruba socio-cul ployment reigns Supreme.” 20-35. “These are the top 10 coun- Chairman of SUBEB, Mr Sunny Ogwu; Elder Emmanuel tural group, Yoruba tries with the highest crime Ogidi, Dr Festus Okubor, Chief Lawrence Osiegbu and Professionals Foundation, The statement reads: “The “This is the most active age rate in the world at the mo- members of Saint Peter’s Anglican Church, Boji-Boji Owa YPF, on Friday, warned SouthWestinrecenttimehas in human life, but unfortu- ment. If you compare these led by Venerable Patrick Okoh. South West Governors that experienced unprecedented nately, according to NBS statistics with that of Nigeria, Speaking to newsmen on behalf of Owa Council of Chiefs, unlesstheyprioritisejobscre- security challenges at a scale data in the Q2 of 2020, the you will understand we are the Okiroro of Owa, Justice Sylvester Ehiwario (retd.), said ation through knowledge- that could pose a great threat unemployment rate among sittingonthekegofgunpow- that as the Ojenyagbe of Owa Kingdom, late Pa Okowa based entrepreneurship, and to development and foreign young people (15-34years) der except we start fixing the was one of them. agriculture, insecurity will direct investments. was 34.9%, while the rate of problem of unemployment According to him, members of Owa Council of Chiefs continue to boom in the re- underemployment for the now. “While we recognize and the entire people of Owa Kingdom as well as Ika na- gion. “Kidnapping, banditry, same age group rose to that government cannot cre- tion will miss him a great deal. YPF, a group of Yoruba pro- armed robbery, internet 28.2%. ate enough jobs to solve the fessionals, noted that pover- fraud, drug abuse and more unemployment problem and Hoodlums burn Church pavilion in ty, hunger and starvation, recently, herdsmen attacks “This invariably means we invariablyreducingthecrime Southern Kaduna mostly occasioned by a high are all in the exponential rise. have over 63% of our active rate, we are of the firm be- rate of youth unemployment, All these are not unrelated population not having any lieve the government in the By Ibrahim HassanWuyo are responsible for the in- to our explosive population tangible employment and South-West must begin to creasedcommercialcriminal- growth and escalating youth over 34% of them complete- institute knowledge-based GOVERNOR Nasiru Ahmad El-Rufa’i of Kaduna ity and kidnapping in the unemployment. ly idle. This data is a telling entrepreneurial develop- state has called for diligent investigation into the South-West. indictment on the failure of ment policies and pro- burning of pavilion of a church in Zangon Kataf LGA of In a statement jointly “Except there are urgent leadership and lack of an grammes for the youth to Kaduna state. signed by its Convener/Pres- interventions and conscious adequate plan for citizenry open new doors of opportu- Condeming the development, Samuel Aruwan ,Com- ident and Director of Re- strategies to engage our and succession generation. nities, ventures, alliances to missioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Af- search and Strategy, Messrs growing youth population There can’t be any better in- engage the youth and drive fairs, Kaduna State, said Malam El-Rufai received se- Maxwell Adeleye and Ola- the south-west and by exten- cubation for crime than a so- the economy. curity report detailing the incident, which stated that a wale Kadri respectively, YPF sion,thenationmaybehead- ciety with explosive youth pavilion erected by the leadership of the ECWA Church warned Governors in the re- ing towards the rock. unemployment. “The government in the ahead of its conference was set ablaze by unknown per- gion on the dangers of not region must ensure the en- sons at a location near the Palace of the Agwatyap. prioritising youth employ- “By 2050, Nigeria is ex- “To understand how bad vironment is conducive for ment, stressing that “even a pected to become the third this is, the unemployment the youths to think about the trillion naira budgetary allo- most populated nation in the rate in Venezuela is current- needs of society and get ad- cation to Amotekun, Police world according to United ly at 9.38%, in Papua New equate support in designing Nations data. Again, accord- Guinea 4.50, South Africa solutions for the need and ef- ing to the United Nations 28.48%, Afghanistan 11.16, fectively marketing the solu- data, over 69% of our popu- Honduras 5.23, Trinidad and tions. lation are below age 35 and Tobago 2.8%, Brazil 11.97%, C M Y K

SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 30, 2021 — 7 Buhari Writes Senate, Seeks Confirmation of new Presidency in dilemma over choice of Service Chiefs By Henry Umoru Commander General for NSCDC as PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has written to intrigues threaten process the Senate, seeking confirmation of the newly appointed Service Chiefs. …Minister rejects board, DSS recommendations; insists on ‘examination’ for 18 ACGs President Buhari, in a letter to the President of the Audi Ahmed, Ningi Ibrahim & Nwinyi Nnamdi ‘recommended’ to replace acting CG, Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan, dated 27th January Hilary Madu 2021, said that the screening was being sought in fur- …Aggrieved candidates oppose Minister’s action; want Presidency to stick to board’s therance of Section 18 (1) of the Armed Forces Act Cap. proposal A.20 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria. drawn bad blood from top Trouble is however brew- In a statement Friday by the Senior Special Assistant By Soni Daniel, Northern officials of the agency, who ing arising from the attempt as is the usual practice. to the President on National Assembly matters, Sena- Region Editor fear that the minister was by highly-placed officials in “But strangely, the interi- tor Babajide Omoworare, he said, “President Mu- trying to rob them of the op- the Interior Ministry and hammadu Buhari has communicated the appointment THE Presidency ap portunity to be selected to some presidential influenc- or minister and some pow- of the Service Chiefs to the National Assembly and has pears to have run into head the para-military out- ers who have tried to side- erful people around him sought the confirmation of the said appointment by the murky water over the choice fit and make the most out of track both the recommenda- have attempted to jettison Senate through his letter to the Senate President dated of a substantive Comman- their tenure like others be- tion of the CDCFIB and the the entire process supervised 27th January 2021. This was done in furtherance of dant- General for the Nige- fore them. Security Report turned in by by the security agency in Section 18 (1) of the Armed Forces Act Cap. A.20 Laws ria Security and Civil De- the Department of State Ser- conjunction with the CD- of the Federation of Nigeria. fence Corps following the It was also gathered, from vices regarding the five per- CFIB and have now ordered end of tenure of the former inside sources, that while sons they recommended for that 12 Assistant Comman- Ignore Call for Scrapping of boss of the agency, Abdul- the minister is trying to es- the post out of the 18 Assis- dants-General should NDDC — Jasper Jumbo lahi Mohammed Gana, ear- tablish his wish through tant Commandants-Gener- present themselves for an- lier this month. what most officers see as a al, ACGs, they interviewed other examination in order THE National Leader of Host Communities Produc The crisis now rocking the ‘questionable and strange since June 5, 2020 and the to choose one of them for the ing Oil and Gas in Nigeria (HOSCON) Professor paramilitary agency and examination’ in picking the results of their performance post of CG. Jasper F. Jambo has called on Nigerians to ignore calls may torpedo the entire pro- preferred candidate, the sent to the Presidency since for scrapping of the Niger Delta Development Commis- cess, stems from the decision Office of the Secretary to the last year. “This is strange, disap- sion (NDDC). In a press statement on Wednesday 27th of the Minister of Interior, Government of the Federa- pointing and a serious set- January 2021, which he personally signed,Professor Jam- Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, to tion and some influential A very competent security back to the operations of the bo described such calls as an insult and gross disregard introduce a new dimension presidential officials, would source familiar with the NCDSC. The government and disrespect of the untiring efforts of His Excellency into the selection of the boss prefer the recall of the im- screening, confirmed that should not allow the King Alfred Diette Spiff, Amanyanabo of Twon Brass of the agency against the mediate past CG, Abdulla- out of the five men, three achievements recorded by and former Military Governor of Old Rivers State who, standard practice of picking hi Mohammed Gana, to candidates were strongly the NCDSC over the years along with his colleagues, Bishop Dr. Mike Emus, His the best candidate based on run the affairs of the estab- recommended for appoint- to be washed away just be- Highness Wellington Okrika, HRH EzeAmadi, HRH the recommendation of the lishment for another two ment as the NSCDC CG cause of the choice of one Frank Okurakpo and HRM Whiskey and himself, had Civil Defence, Nigeria Cor- years. based on their performance, preferred person. been tolling day and night in liaison with various Feder- rectional Service, Fire Ser- service records, leadership al Government agencies to ensure a better deal for the vice and Nigeria Immigra- The contention of those in acumen, exposure to nation- “Under the CDCFIB op- oil producing communities in Nigeria. He stated that tion Service Board, CD- this group of top federal al issues and qualifications. erations, no officer to be ele- the suggestion amounted to throwing the baby away CFIB. government officials is that vated to head any of the with the bath water and a frontal challenge to His Ex- Saturday Vanguard learnt Gana still has two more A top source familiar with para-military agencies is cellency, President Buhari’s commendable forensic au- that the minister’s action, years to reach retirement the process said: “After a expected to write another dit initiative, aimed at sanitizing the NDDC. which the board and other age of 60 years or 35 years painstaking screening pro- ‘examination’ after having directors see as unprece- in service: According to his cess, the DSS cleared and climbed to their positions Alleged extortion, assault on Ikedi dented in the history of the record, he is 58 and has also recommended three persons through their regular profes- Ohakim: Court orders IGP to establishment, has also put in less than the manda- it considered as the best sional examinations and arrest woman tory 35 years in service. choices to the Presidency to courses in line with estab- pick one from among them lished public service re- By Chidi Nkwopara, OWERRI. quirements,” the official ex- plained. AN Abuja Magistrate Court has issued a warrant of arrest against Chinyere Lillian Amuchinwa-Igweg- NDLEA: Marwa signs new pact with US to be, in connection with allegations made against her by strengthen Nigeria’s drug war former Governor of Imo State, Chief Ikedi Ohakim. The Magistrate, ED Ebiwari, ordered the Inspector Gen- CHAIRMAN/Chief From left: Chairman/Chief Executive of National Drug Law Enforcement eral of Police, IGP, to arrest and produce Amuchinwa-Ig- Executive Officer of Agency, NDLEA, Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (Retd) with the US Ambas- wegbe before the court for the purpose of arraignment, to the National Drug Law sador to Nigeria, Ms Mary Beth Leonard, when the latter paid him a courte- answer allegations made against her by Ohakim. Enforcement Agency sy visit in his office in Abuja on Thursday Saturday Vanguard gathered that the arrest warrant was (NDLEA), Gen. Buba Mar- made following a direct criminal complaint brought wa (Retd) has signed a of these assistance to en- between the agency and Ambassador said the visit against the defendant by Ohakim. new Memorandum of Un- sure we go after the crimi- the United States. I am hap- was to congratulate Gen. The order for the arrest of the defendant reads: “After derstanding, MoU, with nals and in a hard way. py to say I have signed the Marwa on his appointment hearing from Eric Ibe, complainant’s counsel, seeking the the United States Govern- MOU.” as NDLEA boss. “We also following reliefs: An order of the court directing the Inspec- ment on how to strength- “I must thank the US like to know your priority, tor General of Police, Louis Edet House, Force Headquar- en Nigeria’s war against government for all the sup- While thanking the US present and future direc- ters, Abuja, to arrest and produce the defendant in court, so drug even as he assured port NDLEA has received Ambassador for the visit, tion of the agency under as to secure her attendance in court for the purpose of the that the agency will be hard through the years. Indeed, Gen. Marwa said, “On be- your leadership. arraignment. against drug traffickers, this week, I distributed 12 half of the officers and men “This court hereby orders as follows: The Inspector-Gen- exporters and importers vehicles which I got wind of the NDLEA, I like to com- We have a long history eral of Police, Force Headquarters, Louis Edet House, Force operating in the country. of during my time in mend you for your visit of relationship. It was great Headquarters Abuja, is hereby ordered by virtue of Section He disclosed this when PACEDA (Presidential which is remarkable, com- to come see him (Marwa), 113 and 114 of ACJA, 2015, to arrest and produce the defen- he received the US Ambas- Advisory Committee for ing just in the second week to get his assessment of the dant, Ms Chinyere Lillian Amuchinwa, to court for the pur- sador to Nigeria, Mary the Elimination of Drugs of my assumption of office. situation on ground and pose of arraignment to answer the allegations made against Beth Leonard in his office Abuse). I also got wind of This speaks volumes to the know how to move the re- her by the complainant, via Direct Criminal Complaint.” in Abuja. According to delayed Memorandum of agency.” lationship forward”, Ms Saturday Vanguard gathered that the direct criminal com- Gen. Marwa, “We will be Understanding, MOU, Beth Leonard said. plaint marked CR/95/2020, is between Chief Dr. Ikedi hard against drug crimi- In her remarks, the US Ohakim versus Ms Chinyere Lillian Amuchinwa. nals. We will be serious. We Similarly, in the charge that followed the police investiga- are going to rid this coun- tion, marked CR/95/2020, lady Amuchinwa was accused of try of illicit drugs trade, traf- “criminal defamation of character, criminal extortion and ficking and consumption. threat to life”. But in carrying out this The complaint, which was filed through his counsel, Eric onerous task, I will take this Ibe, reads in part: “It is our brief that our client and the opportunity to seek for suspect became close friends in late 2018, but the relation- more of your support for ship later broke down on account of our client’s loss of inter- the agency to enable us est in the relationship. move faster”. “Our client informed us that the suspect did not take kindly Disclosing that the to his termination of the relationship and as a consequence, NDLEA has been partner- the suspect resorted to myriad criminal conducts towards ing with the US depart- our client.” ments and agencies fight- Ohakim not only prayed the court for a warrant of arrest ing against drugs menace to be issued against Lady Amuchinwa for alleged offences of like DEA and INF, he said, criminal defamation, assault, extortion and threat to life, “The US has assisted us in but also gave the particulars of the alleged criminal con- the area of training, oper- ducts against her as “several phone calls and text messages ational equipment, logis- by which the suspect threatened the life of our client”. tics. But we still need more The court was also told that “the suspect suborned several unknown persons who texted/called our client on the phone and threatened his life”. Ohakim equally complained that: “The suspect made sev- eral telephone calls to a host of people by which she vowed to do everything within her powers to destroy our client’s repu- tation and marriage and will not relent until the complain- ant pays her the sum of N610 million. C M Y K

8—SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 30, 2021 Terrorism at the European Centre for Security Studies in Garmish, Germany. By Kingsley Omonobi, Abuja What you didn’t know about new Service Chiefs Major General Lucky Irabor is a trained Lucky Irabor, Engineer from Obafemi Awolowo University Chief of Defence Staff – How Borno •Irabor •Attahiru and holds two Masters Degrees from indigine foretold his elevation in 2016 University of Ghana, Accra and Bangladesh •Zubairu •Oladayo University of Professionals, Dhaka. In 2016, Ibrahim Uba Yusuf, an indigene of Borno was so impressed with new Chief 27th January 2021 when President military and civil courses both locally and The Honours and Awards that Major of Defence Staff Lucky Irabor that he Muhammadu Buhari announced the abroad. He attended Armed Forces Command GeneralIraborearnedinthecourseofhiscareer declared him his man of the year in a local appointment of new Service Chiefs with and Staff College (AFCSC) for his Junior Staff include Forces Service Star (FSS), Meritorious publication in Maiduguri. Before then, the General Irabor becoming the Chief of Defence Course in 1995 and Ghana Armed Forces Staff Service Star (MSS), Distinguished Service entire Sambisa Forest had fallen to Gboko Staff. College Teshi, Accra Ghana for Senior Staff Star (DSS) and Grand Service Star (GSS). Haram but Irabor led the operations that Course in 2000/2001 amongst other several Others include Command Medal and Field recovered greater part of the forest. Yusuf Major General Lucky Eluonye Onyenuchea military courses. The senior officer equally Command Medal (FCM). He was also celebrated Irabor this way: “The year 2016 is Irabor was born on 5 October 1965 in Aliokpu attended National Defence College in awarded the ECOWAS Monitoring Group remarkable to not only the people of Borno or Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area of Bangladesh in 2010 and Harvard Kennedy (ECOMOG) peacekeeping medals for North East but also the whole of Nigeria Delta State, Nigeria. The senior officer gained Schools of Government and Executive operations in Sierra Leone and Liberia as well because of the fall of camp and hideout of the admission into the Nigerian Defence Academy Education, USA in 2012 and 2017 respectively. as medals for United Nations Mission in Boko Haram leader Shekau in Sambisa. (NDA) Kaduna as a member of the 34 Regular Others include United Nations and African Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL), United Nations The raid on Sambisa by our gallant troops Course in 1983 and was commissioned Second Union Peace Keeping Courses and Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) and is what no money can pay for. Lieutenant on 28 June 1986 into the Signals Conferences as well as a seminar on Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF). As we bid farewell, once and for all to 2016 Corps of the Nigerian Army. Combating Weapons of Mass Destruction and and all that it had, my man of 2016 is Major APPOINTMENTS\\ ACHIEVEMENTS General Lucky Irabor, the 3rd Theatre Major General Irabor attended several Major General Lucky Irabor has held several Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, North appointments in the course of his career. East, Nigeria. Notable amongst which are Nigerian Defence Many readers and followers of my Academy Adjutant, Commanding Officer 515 commentary will wonder why this went to Maj. Signal Regiment, Commander 53 Signals Gen. Irabor rather than Lt. Gen Tukur Yusuf Brigade and Principal Staff Officer to the Chief Buratai. The choice is simple and not far- of Army Staff. Others include Coordinator fetched. Nigerian Army Aviation, Deputy Theatre To start with, Major General Lucky Irabor, Commander/Land Component Commander an engineer and officer of the Nigerian Army Operation Lafiya Dole, Theatre Commander Corps of Signal has been at the frontline of a Operation Lafiya Dole, Force Commander ferocious battle for quite a long time and MNJTF, Chief of Defence Training and among others, the brain behind the Operations and until his appointment as the establishment of the Theatre Command, Chief of Defence Staff was the Commander Operation Lafiya Dole. Training and Doctrine Command Nigerian The history of the Theatre, is not, therefore, Army. complete without his name. He has remained, truly, if unfortunately, an unsung hero of the Major Gen. Nigerian Army even though he is among the Ibrahim Attahiru, finest of them—but, at the end, it is history that will judge him. Chief Of Army Staff The recovery of Sambisa and other territories hitherto under the control of Boko NewCOASisacourageous,innovativeofficer. Haram was possible due to his commanding On assumption of duty as Theatre Commander styles. Operation Lafiya Dole on 30 May 2017, Gen Based on the foregoing, I crown the smallish Attahiru quickly carried out evaluation of the in size but the ‘Mazan Fama’ Major General operational situation of the theater. The Lucky Irabor as my man of the year 2016. I evaluation led to the crucial decision to swiftly pray to God to grant him every success, lift establish Fire Support Coordination Cell him to the peak of his career and bless him (FSCC) which was employed continuously to with long life so that our children would degrade Boko Haram in their enclaves and celebrate him at his old age for making sure staging areas. theydidn’twitnesstheuglyexperienceoftaking over a local government, displacement of The FSCC carried out artillery and aerial people and frequent attacks on public places. bombardments in conjunction with the Air Thank you Major General Irabor, you are a Component of Operation Lafiya Dole on rare and really patriotic soldier of the Nigerian isolated Boko Haram enclaves killing several Army. BHT and destroying their logistic bases. This ‘prophesy?’ came to pass on Tuesday Anoffshootoftheevaluationisthedestruction of dugouts along BHT crossing points to deny the group, freedom of action and stem the conduct of their nefarious activities. Also, under his short reign the theatre was rejigged with the inauguration of Mobile Strike Teams (MSTs) in August 2017 to reinforce the Mobile Brigade Concept (MBC) adopted in the Theatre to facilitate attacks on Boko Haram. Read more on www.vanguardngr.com When blood flowed in Orlu! brigandage. By Chidi Nkwopara, OWERRI. “I cannot be convinced that Imo State Uzodimma not only directed the security •Orlu distruction. Government is not aware of the carnage going On Friday, January 22, 2021, Saturday (inset) Gov Uzodinma on now. The same is also true of the huge agencies to carry out a 24-hour patrol, but also Vanguard got a mail from Chris even at press time. Economic and social life of damages going on in the town. The ever busy vowed that those who committed the heinous Mocha, the Media Aide of the the people was completely grounded, while Banana Junction is a ghost of its former self. crime will not go unpunished. protagonist of Biafra Independence the affected citizens counted their losses Social and economic activities have ground to Movement, BIM, and Movement for the silently. a halt in Orlu. While Governor Uzodimma condoled with Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, Palpable tension kept building in Orlu, even the families of the bereaved and all the victims MASSOB, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike. as gory videos and pictorial details kept rising. “Government should intervene now, so as to of the unfortunate incident, some clerics came The message was simple and self This necessitated putting a call across to the stem further destruction of precious human out strong to condemn the mayhem in the area. explanatory. Mocha said: “Soldiers drafted the Public Relations Officer of the 34 Artillery lives. There are some side stories to this from (34 Artillery Brigade), Obinze barracks, Brigade, Lt. Zubairu Babatunde, to get the unfortunate happening in Orlu, but none can Speaking to Saturday Vanguard, the this afternoon took over the BIM-MASSOB Army angle to the unfolding story. Unlike in be equated with a single precious and Methodist Bishop of Owerri, Rt. Rev. Dennis Secretariat at Mgbee, in Orlu Local all previous cases, the Army PRO neither picked inalienable life lost in the mayhem.” O. Mark, said that although he did not have Government Area of the state and barricaded nor called back. the details of the mayhem, he however the road leading to the office. Saturday Vanguard then called a Catholic A resident of Orlu, who simply identified maintained that “human life is precious and “The soldiers came in two Hilux trucks, priest of Orlu Diocese, since it was risky to travel himself as Emeka, recalled that some people, inalienable”. numbering about 12, collected fuel from a to Orlu, and he spoke on strict grounds of who were suspected to be members of the nearby filling station, barricaded the entrance anonymity. Eastern Security Network, ESN, emerged from Mark said: “Although, I don’t have the full leading to the Secretariat, before setting the The priest decried what he called “the the bush, went on a shooting spree, last details of what is happening at Orlu, but I can building on fire. unsolicited siege and restrictions we have been Monday, killing soldiers in the process. say that the little that has come out of the area Some good Samaritans who attempted to forced to face in Orlu”, which was two days old is not pleasant at all. Life is being snuffed out quench the fire were prevented from doing so at the time of the telephone interview. “This engineered some element of tension. of people and this is not a good corporate while the fire raged. His words: “I am not the Diocesan Director Apart from the palpable tension in the area, testimonial. Only God who created life, has the “They vandalized the iron door, which had of Social Communication, whose duty it is to the military personnel arrived and started right to take life. Any other instrument that takes the inscription ‘BIM-MASSOB’ and later set talk to the press, but we can’t all keep quiet in shooting sporadically from the Timber Market human life, outside God almighty, is evil, fire on the Secretariat after they had the face of unnecessary human destruction and area and people were forced to hurriedly close barbaric and wicked.” successfully removed 66 pieces of plastic restrictions. As at the time of speaking to you, their shops and scamper into safety”, Emeka chairs and six roofing sheets inside the office.” nobody can give the exact figure of the dead recounted. The Methodist cleric challenged the political Mocha also said that although Chief and maimed, or the actual cost of properties leaders to wake up to their responsibilities, Uwazuruike condemned the military burnt, destroyed or looted in the affected areas. Continuing, Emeka said that the military stressing that they must think of what they must onslaught against his members, he quickly set up road blocks at different points in do to save people’s lives and property now. however warned members of BIM- all the affected local council areas, frisking, MASSOB “not to retaliate or resort to violence frog-jumping innocent citizens and sometimes, He also had a word for the military: “The in the face of the provocation”. turning back vehicles and the passengers. military should know that we are not in a Not long after, Saturday Vanguard gathered military era. This is a civilian dispensation. from another credible source that the military As expected, Governor Hope Uzodimma Whatever the military is doing in the Orlu area, operation was not unconnected with the addressed Imo people, Monday, via a radio and they should have the consciousness of the alleged killing of some security personnel by television broadcast. He said, among other fact that people’s life should not be toyed members of the Eastern Security Network, things that the broadcast became necessary, with. The lives of Nigerians matter. They ESN, recently floated Mazi Nnandi Kanu and following what he called “disturbing reports should calmly sort out the criminals in the his Independent Peoples of Biafra, IPOB. on the activities of a group of militants”, society and deal with them according to Very disturbing stories, founded and operating in the area. the laws of the land, but extending their unfounded, thereafter, kept inundating the action to the entire hapless, innocent masses, social media that “Orlu and the adjoining Uzodimma not only imposed a dusk to dawn is not a good omen and no responsible communities were fast becoming a morbid curfew in 10, out of the 12 local government government should sit down and helplessly spectacle”. areas of Orlu senatorial zone, but also ordered watch her unarmed hapless citizens being No accurate figure of the dead was available, the security agencies to “fish out the killed.” perpetrators without fail”. Similarly, the interim leadership of Orlu The Governor lamented that the perpetrators Zurumee, a socio-cultural organization in the of the carnage were out to paint a picture of area, has condemned the killings, maiming, near breakdown of law and order in Orlu area, intimidation and harassment of the citizenry noting that government condemns in its by the security personnel. entirety, acts of extreme hooliganism and The Interim Management Committee Chairman, Professor Protus Nathan Uzorma, in a press conference, expressed worry that the sad development has recorded overwhelming fatality, which is under-reported. C M Y

SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 30, 2021—9 What new Service because Nigerians were not satisfied with what they were doing. The primary responsibility of any government is to provide security for lives and property of the people. Nigerians said the last set were not doing enough to curb insecurity. It is true they claim to have technically defeated Boko Haram but they did not see an end to the activities of Boko Haram. They did not see enough action being taken against the increasing state of Chiefs should do kidnapping, they did not see a containment of the activities of herdsmen. So Nigerians thought these people are tired and they should go. So what do we expect from the new sets? With the new ones in place, Nigerians expect better, technical, tactical and comprehensive bold solution to Nigeria security problem, they expect that these new security chiefs differently—Nigerians should introduce new policies, new approach, new methods that will guarantee the safety of lives and property of Nigerians wherever they are. They expected that they will be able to sleep with their eyes close, they expected they will be able to travel conveniently without being harassed by kidnappers or bandits or other criminals. So we expect them to bring a new rigour, a new vision, a new approach to the massive security problem that Nigeria have been facing in the last six years. or thst he will recover fully. That is what —Sullivan Chime We all agreed that change brings dynamism, By Emma Amaize, Regional Editor, insurgency is, all you do is to approach the the new security chiefs, even if they will South-South; Dayo Johnson, South challenge from various dimensions that could Former Governor of Enugu state, Mr. spend a year or two should bring in dynamic bring insurgency to submission. In the case Sullivan Chime said the new security chiefs change in the approach to security in the West Regional Editor; Sam of Nigeria, the new service chiefs should try should identify the areas that the military had country”. Oyadongha; Gabriel Enogholase; and work together as a team because in shortages, either in personnel, equipment or Festus Ahon; Jimitota Onoyume; unison they will certainly do much better and any other shortcoming and make amends to Take fight to bandits, Boko Egufe Yafugborhi; Dennis Agbo; they should be more ruthless in their approach improve on the nation’s insecurity challenges. Haram insurgents to acts of disloyalty. They should encourage I expect the new Service —Sen Manager Peter Duru; Rotimi Ojomoyela; the government to address the socio-political Chiefs to do their best Davies Iheamnachor; Chioma side of insurgency because arms alone will using what they have. Let Onuegbu; Perez Brisibe; Shina not do the trick. I hope that all the social them do their best in Senator James Manager Abubakar and Ozioruwa Aliu challenges, the insecurity along the roads will whatever situation they The primary representing Delta South also be addressed by the new team with find themselves, that’s my responsibility of any senatorial district, asserted: After much agitation across the country vigour and the question of herdsmen stopping advice to them. Remember government is to “Nigerians long expected for a replacement of the Service Chiefs Nigerians from driving through their God they are working under a provide security for this to have happened, but following worsening security situation, given country should be ruthlessly dealt with. Commander-in-Chief and lives and property of now that it has happened President Muhammadu Buhari, last Tuesday, Insurgency is not like normal wars, it does they are not totally in the people. Nigerians even though it is very late, finally appointed a new set of Security not finish overnight, counter insurgency is not control and an armed force said the last set were it is better late than never. heads. Nigerians were almost united in a tea party, there is nothing like putting is one aspect of not doing enough to The service chiefs are not condemning the performance of the sacked insurgency to an end, it is a war that lingers governance where you curb insecurity strange persons to the state service chiefs. So much is therefore expected no matter how efficient we are. It is a bitter need equipment. I don’t of security and what is from the new helmsmen. They are expected battle, so nations pray not to have insurgency know how armed they are, happening in the country tNoigeexrciealnswhwearnet tohuerirropardesdetocebsseofrrseefafirloemd. but now that we have it, every Nigerian I don’t know how trained today and we expect kidnappers’ control. Nigerians pray for an should get involved, all these criminal Fulani the soldiers are, both the nothing less from them. ethnedseto, tihnesucritgiezenncys. eIxnpoecrdt ethr etonaecwhiseevreviaclel herdsmen should be flushed out”. Air Force and Navy and so Nigerians expect that at the chiefs to bring new ideas. They desire an I expect them to do their end of the day, they will take entirely new approach in tackling terror and Don’t politicize security best. They are career the fight to the bandits and banditry. They spoke of their high —Gov Wike military officers that rose Boko Haram insurgents expectations and what they believe the new through the ranks; I expect and that is the least that is service chiefs should do differently. Governor Nyesom Wike challenged the new to see professionalism in expected from them and service chiefs to see the opportunity as a call the discharge of their nothing less”. Tackle Boko Haram, “to re-engineer the nation’s security duties. I expect them to herdsmen from all fronts architecture which has suffered tremendous manage the Armed forces Deep patriotism – setback in the last five years. The new service to the best of their Kokori —Major General Abbe retd chiefs should not politicize security by abilities.” In his own view, ex- aligning with politicians. What the country Secretary General, National Former Minister of Defence, Major General needs now is competence and They should Union of Petroleum and Godwin Abbe (retd) said: “For the new men, professionalism that will reduce insecurity to bring in dynamic Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, Chief Frank I think it is important they realise that fighting barest minimum. change Kokori said, “I want them to be deeply insurgency is like a team of doctors trying to patriotic, serve the country as soldiers and cure a cancer patient. It is very unprofessional This is an opportunity to serve the nation —Amb. Yemi Faroumbi keep the position Nigeria holds in the African to predict that a cancer patient will be cured and I believe that the service chiefs will be continent. They should also be professional focused and dedicated,” he said. The former Nigerian Ambassador to the and not behave like elitist people as being Philippines, Dr. Yemi Faroumbi said, experienced among the average Nigerian Deploy professionalism to “Nigerians have advocated, for long, for the tackle insecurity removal of the last set of Service Chiefs Continues on page 10

10—SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 30, 2021 of orientation that has engaged them. We have no serious expectation of departure from the clannishness and parochialism that has characterized the security architecture of Nigeria Continues from page 9 dWohdaitffneerewnStleyrv—icNeiCgheireifasnsshould They must build confidence of Nigerians —Chief Ebiseni soldier of today. You will agree with me that it has never been heard of in the history of Former member of the 2014 National Confab Nigeria until now that a soldier will build and former commissioner in Ondo state — abnormal mansion which runs into millions. Chief Olusola Ebiseni, said, “the Nigerian Nigerians expect so much from them and they State today is, to say the least, a security risk. should not let us down having come into office The territorial integrity of the country is largely with the blessings of all Nigerians. threatened and compromised in every way. If Nigerians have not lost hope in the security What matters is what they bring to agencies, it is because they have no alternative the table —Ledum Mitee on account of the constitution. Notwithstanding, because self security is the Former President of the Movement for the fundamental concern of every being, Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) and past Nigerians, even State Governments, have Chairman of Nigeria Extractive Industries devised several measures for security. When Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Mr Ledum even military formations are no longer reliable Mitee, said, “I am not excited about the sanctuaries, what do you expect from ordinary reported changes of security personnel. The folks. The basic task of the new service chiefs buck stops with the commander-in-chief or and expectation of Nigerians is confidence as our people say, the fish rots from the head. building. Starting from the territorial attacks What would make a difference is what new in the North East, both the Chiefs of Defence directions or commands the commander-in- Staff and of the Army are tested hands who chief give to the service chiefs.” will prove their mettle in that sector. The fact that criminals and bandits operate with Owe allegiance only to country — impunity and are seemingly above the law, Briggs no arrests, no prosecutions, not even caution from authorities leave much to be desired. The Niger-Delta activist, Annkio Briggs said: “I service Chiefs themselves need the personally see this (change of services chiefs) cooperation, support and prayers of all as coming late, a lot of damage has been done, Nigerians in the interest of our collective but the question is; will the new service chiefs security. perform as expected, securing life and property? We will have to see what they will In its reaction, the Christian Association of achieve. I hope the new service chiefs will Nigeria, CAN, Ekiti State charged the new understand that they owe allegiance to the Service Chiefs to be alive to their Nigeria nation meaning all the ethnic responsibilities and work hard towards nationalities and not a person or persons from bringing lasting solution to problem of a particular region and religion,” she said. insecurity in the country. In a statement in Ado Ekiti, CAN Chairman, Reverend Father Peter They should insulate themselves Olowolafe said the change in the security from politics —Ambakederimo architecture was long overdue as the issue of insecurity was becoming more alarming. He Convener, South- South Reawakening explained that it was only in a secured Group, Joseph Ambakederimo, said: “The environment that development could happen new service chiefs should concentrate on the noting that the cases of kidnapping, banditry job of securing the territorial integrity of the and herdsmen attacks had hampered the country, and this time around they should speed of the nation’s growth. The CAN insulate themselves from politics. They should Chairman noted that “security goes beyond also know that no one in this country is above tribe, religion or political classes, hence the the law, fish out the sponsors of the crimes need for governments at all levels to show and funders of insecurity. They should the political will in protecting lives and collaborate and synergize with other property of all citizens”. paramilitary agencies for proper and effective fight to stem the tide of insecurity.” The National President of Middle Belt Forum, MBF, Dr. Pogu Bitrus Buy modern weapons for soldiers- said; “I want to see the new Service Chiefs Mudiaga —Odje differently to secure Nigeria, first is to toe the I expect no magic from them path of dialogue in certain circumstances. For —Hon Igbinedion change the performance of the armed forces. Human Rights Activist and constitutional example, in the crisis in the South East, South A legal practitioner and former member of We have seen our troops sabotaged in the past. lawyer, Dr Akpor Mudiaga-Odje, asserted: West currently, and even part of the North you the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. We saw that they have been suffering ambush “The new service chiefs should position the need to apply the carrot and stick strategy. Bamidele Igbinedion while responding to the and all that. We have seen that the fight security architecture of Nigeria to be at par We are not fighting a war, we are all Nigerians. expectations of Nigerians from the service against insurgency has not been going the with our sister countries like Ghana and South You don’t need to use helicopter to start chiefs, said: “Nigerians should not expect way it should. We have seen insurgency on Africa. They must now go to the war-front to throwing grenade in a community. Again, they something different from the retired service the increase. So, what we want is that cheer up as well as join in engaging the need to find out why we are having violent chiefs because the new service chiefs will insurgency has to be totally defeated so that enemies. They should critically examine the reactions. The service chiefs should know that we can have a peaceful Nigeria. It started condition and welfare of our fighting soldiers they are accountable to the people, therefore have to take orders from President from the North East and spread to the Middle with a view of ensuring they are well taken they should give periodic update on their Muhammadu Buhari. It is very unfortunate Belt area, it has gone to the North West now it care of at the war-front and ensure regular performance accountability,” he added. that this country has found itself in this has crept to the South West, South East and payments of their salaries. They should also situation. For me, I cannot depend on them part of South South. The military have to push ensure we purchase very recent and Create viable synergy with other because there is nothing each one of them will them back. They have to fish out elements who contemporary weapons of war for this war; paramilitary services —Ayo Fadaka do without instructions from the President.” are not even Nigerians who are partaking in hold regular meetings with communities in this. They have to collaborate with other the volatile region. Open up an avalanche of A Political analyst and former Publicity No respite —Gbemre, NPDC security agencies; the DSS, the NIA, the DMI suggestion boxes to assist in reforming the Secretary of the PDP in Ondo state- Hon Ayo and all other outfits to receive adequate system. Treat every report of abandonment Fadaka contended that, “Nigeria is currently Coordinator, Niger Delta Peace Coalition, intelligence, including the Immigration made by the soldiers almost immediately and plagued by insecurity and the desire of an NPDC, Zik Gbemre, expects little or no Service to know how these people come in. get a workable budget for these security average Nigerian is to feel secured positive change from the new military heads. They must identify those who are bringing apparatuses,” he said. everywhere in this country, be able to sleep “Let us also be reminded that the new Chief these foreigners into our country to kill and with two eyes closed, be able to take a trip of Army Staff, Attahiru, was same officer destroy. We also want the Commander-in- No sacred cow —Essien, and not be afraid that they will be plucked off reportedly displaced for incompetence in 2017 Chief to give them a free hand to operate so UNIIUYO the roads by Fulani miscreants imported into from leading the Boko this nation by unscrupulous people to torment Haram war by the outgone that if there is any weakness Dr Kufre Abasi Essien of University of Uyo, us. I will expect the new service chiefs to create Chief of Army Staff. I fault or lapses in their operations UNIUYO, said: “the service chiefs will not be a viable synergy with other paramilitary the obviously skewed and they should be held able to do so much if the system does not give services, Police inclusive, and develop a frame partial appointments which responsible. them the support. As individuals, they may work that will rid our nation of kidnappers, have the burden of transforming the country, marauders and bandits who continue to wreck is due to the fact that the Chief Edward Ujege, but does Nigeria as a system want the untold havoc on the nation. That is my Office of the Chief of Army former Chairman transformation? So, I have two things they can expectation and that of average Nigerians. Staff, has been made the do. First, let there be no sacred cow. The Fulani However what is the expectation of the man exclusive preserve of the Benue Tribal leaders herdsmen attack is spreading, and no one is who appointed them? I ask this question Northerners by the President I fault the obviously saying anything. If they are going to succeed because conspiracy theories abound about Buhari-led administration. I skewed and partial Normally when you effect in curbing insecurity in the country, there are complicity in high places in respect of our do not see reason for the appointments which is changes they bring in new a lot of questions that they must ask like why security challenges. It is the expectation of excitement on the new due to the fact that the ideas. My expectation is that are soldiers being ambushed? As a Service Nigerians that the Book Haram insurgency appointments. Buhari still OfficeoftheChiefofArmy the army should be well Chief in charge of a certain section, you must be defeated decisively once and for all. This cleverly favored his Staff,hasbeenmadethe equipped. They must not be be able to raise questions, answer those expectation was promised the nation during Northern interest. The Chief exclusivepreserveofthe sent to the field without questions, without fear or favour. The other the campaigns for 2015 elections, almost seven of Army Staff is most Northerners by the adequate weapons and area I want them to get into is the area of years into Buhari’s Presidency, it remains a relevant, powerful, that of President Buhari-led materials. This was an issue education because security is not just a one pipe dream. The best we got in this regard Chief of Defence Staff is administration the former chiefs complained item project. If government is not keeping to was a declared technical victory which in my redundantly ceremonial. The about. It should not just be agreement, that is an item of insecurity. I am estimation amounts to nothing but a mere high Chief of Army Staff, his Navy the appointments but it worried that we are expecting so much from sounding phrase designed to cajole the nation. and Air counterparts report should be backed up with the new service chiefs, but it is not enough to directly to the President and adequate equipment to help appoint them, have you given them the free De-politicize the military hardly answerable to the them achieve the purpose for hand to run their departments? Today the —Akintoye Chief of Defence Staff, a mere which they were appointed. country has deteriorated to the level of tribal Administrative Head of the We expect that the service and religious sentiments, how many of them A Political analyst, Zadok Akintoye argued military, with no firm control chiefs would be impartial. are Christians, Muslims, how many are from that: “It is expected that the new service chiefs the North, and South. All these are factors that will immediately reposition the Nigeria and influence over the Chief Iorbee Ihagh, Chairman of we cannot run away from. We have run away military for greater effectiveness to restore its operations/activities of the military. We all Benue Tribal Leaders from this truth for so long and it is not helping lost glory as one of the most effective military know the nucleus of the military is the Army. the system. So let us confront it, and fix it once in Africa. I am particularly sceptical of their Now, he has appointed an officer earlier We called and pushed for the change of the and for all”, the don said. capacity to solve the insurgency in the North displaced for incompetence as the new Chief security chiefs and now that President Buhari East that has become a hydra headed battle of Army Staff, to deliver what? Continue his has done it, though he was compelled by Carrot and stick strategy with the military being accused of complicity incompetence? Nigerians to do it, we expect that the new —Akpan, COMPPART within its ranks. I will also want to see a Chiefs will bring in changes that we want in military that focuses on its primary duty of the area of general security and the fight Similarly, Saviour Akpan, Executive maintaining Nigeria’s territorial integrity. Expect nothing spectacular against insurgency and banditry. If they fail Director, COMPPART Foundation for Justice One area the new service chiefs need to also —Afenifere to do that, it means there is an agenda on the and Peace Building, said, “What they can do work on is the de-politicization of the military. The spokesperson of Afenifere, Pan Yoruba part of the President. He obviously appointed Nigerians want a truly professional military. Socio-Political group, Yinka Odumakin said them to take care of those issues and if they “There is nothing spectacular we expect don’t do that, we will be disappointed and because it is the same regime with no change we will continue to remain divided as a country.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 30, 2021—11 Emohua-Elele-Alimini axis of the East-West road; Isiokpo-Elele axis of the Port Harcourt- Owerri Road; Omagwa – Ubima; Isiokpo- Ubima; Elele -Umudioga; Egbeda, Ubima, Omoku, and Elele-Ndele Rumuji-Emuoha- Choba -Port Harcourt roads. South West The scenario is not different in the South West region either. In Osun and Nigerian roads Ekiti states, affected where kidnappers roads include Esa- unleash mayhem Oke junction; Iwaraja-Efon Alaaye; Ile-Ife junction; Iloko junction; Ipetu-Ile – Ilesha; Ilesha-Ile- Oluji; Ilesha - Osogbo, and Ilesha- Akure. Along the Ondo Auga road in Akoko, more than 20 kidnap incidents have occurred there. Others roads are: Akure- ljare; Akure- Owo- Oba Akoko- Akungba; Oka Akoko – lsua •Kidnap suspects operating in S/W open up: Akoko; lpele- Ido •Say forest in S/W taken over , reveal Ani; Ondo-Ore; Ondo-Akure and locations in Lagos, Ogun Akure-Benin. Ogun •Community connivance Siun-Ogere; Obafemi-Owode; Abeokuta-Lagos; •Kidnap Abeokuta-Sokoto; suspects Ilaro-Owode-Idi- channels Iroko; Odeda- television Ogunmakin; Fidiwo-Obafemi; By Evelyn Usman community in Sagamu-Ogijo- Uzo-Uwani Badary; and Ijebu Igbo-Oru-Awa. The rising incidence of kidnapping has Local Government Area of Enugu state;Ugwu- In Ekiti State, Ikere-Akure road and assumed an ubiquitous trend in Onyeama along Enugu-Onitsha road; Ebonyi communities like Iyemero, Ayede, and Oloje Nigeria. Almost on daily basis, Enugu-Abakaliki Expressway; Abakaliki- are also danger zones. Nigerians are inundated with news of Afikpo Expressway; Amasiri-Okigwe For Oyo State, Ilorin-Ogbomoso road, in abduction of unsuspecting persons, in different Expressway; Ivo-Oso Edda Road and some Atisbo Local Government Area of the state parts of the country. roads linking the hinterlands in the state. were also found unsafe as a result of From the North to the South and the East to kidnapping by suspected herdsmen. the West, the story is same! These unscrupulous Edo elements spring out from nowhere, to abduct •Suspected kidnappersof Dr Phillip Kidnap suspect boasts defenseless Nigerians, take them to their AJatnaguaar'sy w24if,e2a0n20d atwt JoudjiaCuogmhtmerusniotny Kidnapping in Edo State is almost on daily Last year October, the Zone 2 Command hideouts, from where they put calls across to in Chikun LGA of Kaduna State basis, as herdsmen intercept motorists and of the Nigeria Police Force, Onikan, Lagos, victims’ relatives for payment of ransom. whisk them into the forest, from where busted a kidnap/ robbery syndicate The early stage of kidnapping in Nigeria •kidnap suspects negations for ransom take place. responsible for several abductions of was mainly for ritual purpose. In the south terrorizing S/west unsuspecting persons in the South West west region, it was Some roads prone to these attacks are : Region of the country, arresting six members. called gbomogbomo. There were also •kiRdencaopvesruesdpewcetsapinonLsafgroosm Upper Sokponba, Ehor axis of the Benin-Auchi Sophisticated weapons instances where individuals were abducted Roads in Kakangi, Gayam, Dan Ganji, road; Ogbemudia Farm; Okada, along Benin and ammunition which included AK 47 during communal wars and held as bait for Maganda, Dawari and Kazage. Gusau- –Ore-Lagos expressway, and Avbiama in riffles, Ak 49 riffles, American Pump Action strategic trade-offs. Magami-Dansadau, Kuceri-Danjibga-Keta- Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of the , among others were recovered from the Another dimension to kidnapping was Wanke, Kaura- Namoda -Moriki-Shinkafi, State. suspects, who were paraded by the Assistant introduced in the Niger Delta region around Zurmi-Jibia – Katsina, and Talata Mafara/ Inspector General of Police, AIG Mohammed 1990, where militants engaged in hostage Tsafe In Sokoto State and Issa and Rabah In Edo Central, kidnapping is common Illyasu. taking to press home their demands for better Local Government Areas are also dangerous along Ubiaja-Ewohimi-Agbor Road, while They confessed to have their hideouts in living conditions in the area. zones, known for acts of banditry. roads across the six Local Governments Areas forests spread across Ogun, Oyo, Ekiti Osun, Though the trend has abated in that region, In addition, it was gathered that herdsmen in Edo North regularly record cases of Kwara and Lagos states, where victims were unfortunately, it was embraced by youths in operate a thriving kidnap network between kidnapping by suspected herdsmen. kept until ransom was paid. the South East region who considered it a Umutu, Urhonigbe and Abavo communities. A woman Police Inspector, a Nigeria lucrative business. Katsina Jibia – Gurbi – Kaura Namoda; Delta Security Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC and Abia and Anambra states were critical Dutsinma – Kankara – Sheme – Faskari; prominent businessmen were among those hotbeds for kidnappers, whose targets were Musawa – Matazu; Charanchi-Kankia- The South/ kidnapped so far. parents and relatives of the rich . At a point, Kusada; Dandume – Sabuwa; Sheme – South region is indigenes stopped visiting their home towns, Kankara and Dutsinma – Funtua ,which not safe either. Unfortunately, one of the victims, Alhaji Oro, out of fear of being caught in the kidnappers many motorists avoid between 6pm and 6am. In Delta State was shot dead by the gang , after collecting N webs. Jibia – Gurbi – Kaura Namoda road which for instance, 4 million ransom from his relatives, with his links Katsina and Zamfara states is, also these remains buried in the forest. Boko Haram considered dreadful. herdsmen commonly Betrayal Insurgents also introduced kidnapping in Middle Belt kidnap many their bloody game. In this case, they would of their victims In the case of the NSCDC official identified storm schools and villages, abduct victims in The Sankera axis comprising three Local on their as Are, he kept some cattle in the custody of large numbers and whisk them to their Government Areas : Katsina/Ala, Ukum and farmlands . In one of the herders to graze. It was this hideouts. Sometimes, these victims , especially Logo, have have had to contend with issues of the process, employee of his that gave him out to the gang. young girls faced terrible abuse. Some of them kidnappings which usually occur on the over some of them He was kidnapped on his way to the farm at forced into early marriage and those who were 150km stretch of Katsina/Ala – Wukari road, are killed. Eggua in the Yewa North Local Government not Muslims forced to convert. linking Benue and Taraba states. Also, Wukari- Some of the roads where kidnapping takes Area of Ogun State and held in captivity for Takum and Wukari-Ibbi roads in Taraba State place in this region are: Edo-Ogwashi-Otulu- three days in the forest before he regained The abduction of 276 Chibok girls in April are notorious for kidnapping. Atuma-Akwukwu-Igbo Road, considered as freedom upon payment of N3 million ransom. 2014, in Borno State and additional 200 girls a quiet stretch into a dead zone. from Dapchi, Yobe state , in 2018, by members South East Others are : Ebu-Ukala-Onicha-Olona Late Alhaji Oro, a big time cattle rearer, who of the Boko Haram, are examples. Till date, road; Issele-Uku-Otulu road and Issele-Uku- had his farm in Eggua, was kidnapped on his some of these girls are still missing. In The South East is not spared either. Some of Onicha-Olona road. way to the farm and held hostage for four particular, is Leah Sharibu. the roads prone to kidnappers attacks include Issele-Uku-Ubulu-Uku road, in Delta State days. Despite payment of the demanded N4m : Enugu-Ugwogo-Nsukka Road; Nsukka- is another dreaded route. On January 5, 2016, ransom, these boys shot and killed him. They Herdsmen, routes of attacks Adani-Onitsha Road; 9th Mile-Nsukka- the monarch of Ubulu-Uku Kingdom in confessed to have traced traced another target, Makurdi road; Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, Aniocha South Local Government Area of the identified as Umaru at Awaiye in Oyo State, Today, the trend has assumed a frightening particularly at Ugwu-Onyeama valley; and State, HRM Akaeze Edward Ofulue III, was trekked from Ogun State and were on the road and worrisome dimension , as herdsmen seem Enugu-Port Harcourt road. abducted by suspected Fulani herdsmen for two weeks. They ambushed him on his to have taken over, terrorising Nigerians all . Fifteen days later, members of a vigilante way to the farm and successfully seized him. over the country. On the Abuja - Kidnapping is yet to abate at Ukpabi-Nimbo group found his decomposing remains at the He was in captivity for two days before he Kaduna expressway, they attack motorists stomp of a tree in the bush at Umunede, Ika was released after payment of N1 million and whisk them away, both in the day time North East local government area, the ransom . and at night. This expressway is notorious boundary between Delta and Edo States. for kidnapping and frequent armed robbery The Umutu –Urhonigbe-Abavo and Ekuku- Theyalso targetedoneAlhajiAdegoke,near activities and has become a hub for robbers Agbor roads are also notorious for kidnapping. Iseyin in Oyo State, during which they made who see abduction and murder as lucrative. Other notorious roads prone to herdsmen a demand of N25m ransom from his relatives. attack in the South-South include : Okurekpo But while that was on, one of them with an Other dangerous roads where these community road in Ethiope East Local AK47 rifle was on guard while others herdsmen kidnappers operate in the north are Government Area and the Ode Bridge axis in went out for another operation. : Birnin Gwari-Kaduna Road; Kaduna- Ethiope East in Delta State. Saminaka-Jos road; Kaduna-Kachia road; On Bomadi-Ohoror road, activities of It was at this point that fate played in the Kagarko-Jere road; Birinin Gwari-Kagara- bandits and herdsmen who kill and maim victim’s favour, as the man on guard slept off Tegina road; Sarkin Power-Birnin Gwari commuters have become worrisome. The and Alhaji Adegoke escaped and cleverly hid route; and Minna-Lambata-Diko-Kaduna road traverses four local government areas of in the forest. axis. Delta namely Bomadi, Patani, Ughelli South and Ughelli North. On realizing he had escaped, the raging They also include the Nassarawa Shendam kidnappers, in their large number, scattered road; Obi/Keana/Awe road; Akwanga/Keffi Women lament into the forest, shooting sporadically with the road; Keffi/Nasarawa/Toto road; Gudi-Keffi intention to have him killed. road; Gudi Garaku road; Nasarawa-Toto- Agadama community women lamented Gadabuke road and Akwanga/Abuja road. that they were often raped by herdsmen in Confession their farms along Agadama road. Urhonigbe In addition are : the Niger Suleja – Lambata, portion of the Agbor-Obiaruku-Abraka-Warri Identities of the suspects who all confessed Bida road; and roads in Kushaka, Kurebe, road was also found to be another area of to be from the Fulani tribe but born in Kwara Pandogari, Gidigori, Kusherki, Koregi, Alawa, concern. and Ogun states were : Adamu Saliu,25; Kwaki, Bataro, Chikuba, Shafa, Kauri, Ibrahim Mohammed , 33; Abubakar Sadiq, Zazzaga in Rafi Local Government Areas of In addition, some of the roads notorious for 24; Tambaye Mohammed , 25; Adamu Niger Statte. herdsmen attacks in Rivers State, are : Continues on page 17

12—SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 30, 2021 By Omeiza Ajayi fighting insecurity and reworking the P rince Tony Momoh, a Journalist and Lawyer, was Nigeria’s Minister of economy are all Information and Culture (1986-1990). In January 2011, he became the traceable to the National Chairman of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change CPC, constitutional one of the “legacy parties” which merged to form the now ruling All Progressives provisions of budgeting Congress APC. and putting structures In this interview, he said his Party has done well and that if it organizes itself that are ill-advised. well, it would retain power in 2023. He also threw his weight behind restructuring and Unicameral Legislature. In using the zones as Excerpts: federating units, what then happens to the states? Won’t there be a backlash? Yes, let us have zones as federating units. The states are within the zones. There were So far, your party, the APC, has been in power since 2015. Would you say the party has three regions before. It been able to live up to expectations? was the splitting up Yes. The party assumed power in 2015, promising three main things on which to hinge its that made them 36. operations viz: ensuring security, fighting corruption and reworking the economy. Even the 2014 As of the time they came, everybody believed that we had a boom in the economy where oil arrangement of sold for $100 per barrel but immediately we came in, you saw what happened. We were Jonathan, suggested 54 welcome by a recession in which the price of crude went below $50. Anybody who is in states. If you create one government knows that governance is based on a budget and the budget is composed of two more state now, you things; what you spend on running the government and what you spend on developing will have many more facilities. In other words, unless you have the money, which is built up through taxation and things coming. We had other resources, you cannot achieve what you set out to achieve. for instance, Bendel So, we came in crippled by a failing economy and so, if you want to look at what has happened state with 18 in the last six years, if you look at the cost of governance and try and look at the 1999 Constitution permanent secretaries through budgeting where we have full time but they split Bendel lawmakers, full time everything unlike the state into Delta and First Republic when we had only part-time Edo. Now, Edo state lawmakers; So, you discover that as of 2002 which used to have when I wrote “To save Nigeria, Let’s Talk”, eight permanent we were spending more than 80% of our secretaries now has 30. resources on recurrent, and you spend more Creating more states than 20 to 25 percent of your resources on and more federating recurrent, because you are supposed to spend units only opens up a large amount of your resources on opportunities for development (capital) and not on running sharing and then deny government (recurrent). With full time bicameral the opportunity of I have come out to define democracy which growing the economy. we chose as our path, as the luxury of legislature, central govt Would you recommend a single term of six development. Democracy has to do with in name of federation... years for the legislature? freedom. Democracy has nothing to do with boreholes, hospitals, education etc. It is about There was no tenure before, but later when freedom. How free are you? How much we had the presidential system, they said two freedom is there in the polity and how much terms for elected officials at the executive of it can you attain? That is Chapter 4 of the level. If we believe that that is what we need, Constitution, that is the Fundamental Rights. we can go for it and change the constitution. But since 2019, you would see that we have The thing is that we see tenures as been pursuing the Fundamental Rights of opportunities to take, but the fact is when you Chapter 4 rather than the fundamental duties decongest the political space, you will discover of Chapter 2 which is the Fundamental that many people will be going after others to Objectives and Directive Principle of State Nigeria come and work. Policy. It is very clear that before you attain office, you must swear to abide by the OBJ threw Confab report away because of provisions of Chapter 2. It may be social, 3rd term economic, environmental, educational, foreign policy and so on. And anybody who For instance, at the local government level, wants to attain office in Nigeria would form a people would beg retirees to come and work, group and apply to be registered as a political not now that people with school certificates party. So, we came frontally to the facts on the are in charge. If you say for instance, come ground, a whole economy that would run on and take an allowance of N10, 000 per week, borrowed money than on any statistics to grow it is those who have retired that you would the economy. Now we spend more on beg to come and sit down. But now, the returns recurrent -two time Councillors, two time of political office are such that they would do Assembly members, two time senators etc. cannot work anything to access those vanities. RMAFC Everybody is earning full time and then budgets about N13 million for the Senate everybody is also using the opportunity they President per year but the fact is that Sen. have full time to acquire things for themselves Shehu Sani told us that they take N13 million full time. There is a collusive constitutional every month to go and spend and make arrangement to deny the hoi polloi what they returns. They have not opened their books for are entitled to, which is their welfare and us to know how much they spend. There is so security. These were the challenges that Tony Momoh roars in much spent on the remuneration of elected confronted us when we came and we promised support of restructuring officers that if we were to channel the money to address the economy, to address corruption to development, Nigeria would have been and to address security. more developed than what it is today. So, part- time legislature is inevitable but the thing is, With the facilities on ground and then the where is the willpower, the political will to do problem we have with COVID-19 and all that, so? And that is what is obstructing how much have we done? An unbiased restructuring. No two zones in Nigeria have analyst would say that Buhari has tried with the same definition of Restructuring. the minimum resources. Look at all the levels. Obasanjo was there for eight years and he was You are a monitor of governance and looking •Says money spent on elected officers enough fighting for a third term. But because third at then and now, you will not say that we have term didn’t come, he threw away all not passed. I said that in two years, if we did to develop Nigeria recommendations of the 2005 National not perform, stone me and a lot of people have Political Reform Conference. In 2014, Jonathan packaged it as a diversion and when •Speaks on Buhari, OBJ, Jonathanbeen saying, “ah, Tony Momoh should be they got their report, they didn’t take it to the stoned”. I did not say go and carry a stone National Assembly. They left it there. There and come and hit me on the head. There is a are a lot of suggestions in both reports but constitutional provision for stoning me or any government makes laws in areas including you have regional governments as we had in the fact is that those who set them up had some other person and that is through the votes. Agriculture, Roads, Water, Health and the First Republic which had powers and part- other reasons to do so than improving the So, if we have not done well, work hard to everything. This is unacceptable. Look at the time legislature, now everything is full time, quality of life. vote us out. That is the stoning you are 1999 Constitution which the then President it cannot work. We must look back, have one entitled to. Obasanjo latched onto when Lagos wanted lawmaking arm at the Centre because that is But your party also set up the Nasir el-Rufai to bring its own electricity and the federal what we need now and lawmakers will be Committee on True Federalism which report Are you now recommending a Unicameral government said no, because it was in the part-time. Then perhaps, in the regions or so, has not been transmitted to the National Legislature? Exclusive federal list. There are a lot of other we have Parliamentary system because in the Assembly.... areas where the federal government will say states for now, only the governor is elected, Yes. For instance, there is nothing we can are exclusive to her. But you would see now the deputy governor is a spare tyre. The The fact is that the recommendations are do from my analysis that is not going to be that in a bid to ensure effective governance, governor has all the money coming to the there. Anybody can pick them and set the ball defeated by Restructuring. You must the federal government has been very cool state, he pockets it and decides what to do rolling through the National Assembly decongest the political space. When you and not too strict in implementing the with it. But if we have Parliamentary system because you must go through the lawmakers. decongest the political space, economic Exclusive List in the Constitution. People can in the states for instance, the majority would The committee really addressed the issues deregulation will be automatic. The now generate electricity, people can do a lot form government and execute the down to he grassroots. They are public constitution shares powers among all the of things that are there in the Exclusive List. programmes of the zones. So, we have six property. Anybody can pounce on them and organs of government- the Legislature, the Although Police is supposed to be central, but federating units that the powers at the Centre initiate actions. Executive and the Judiciary. even now people (states) are attempting to would go to and then the regions can make have their own security network. arrangements for security like Amotekun. I f You have scored your party so high. Do you The Legislature makes laws in two areas, you have Amotekun in six zones, within six see the APC retaining power in 2023? that is, the Exclusive List and the Concurrent So, we must decongest the political space months there won’t be kidnapping, there List at the national level and at the state level. by reducing the powers at the centre which won’t be banditry. What we have now is that Yes, with good organization. We have So, the National Assembly makes laws in the are 93. The federal government oversees 93 our federal government is struggling with several political parties and each of them can Exclusive List while the National and State areas of laws that have been made by the activities it cannot supervise or even effectively attempt power through due process. Pick your Assemblies make laws in the Concurrent. The National Assembly. We have to reduce them monitor. Until we have the will power to candidates, follow through with campaigns fact is that if there is any law at the national to less than 24. That is how Federations work. decongest the political space, I do not think across the country and whoever has the and state levels, the law at the national level A federation is not a centralised government. Nigeria can work. I do not think so. The required spread and highest votes during the is paramount. For anything not listed, the state We are running a centralised government in lapses we see now in fighting corruption, assembly can make laws but there is hardly the name of a Federation in Nigeria. Where Continues on page 13 any area that is not listed. So, the federal

SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 30, 2021—13 current Presidential system. Speaks on Buhari, OBJ, Jonathan As a founding member of the APC, was Continues from page 12 in Port Harcourt. He lived in Owerri, Onitsha, in Daura or Kaduna and will contribute to the there anytime that the party agreed on zoning Lagos, Abeokuta, Makurdi, Jos, Maiduguri, growing of the party that he joined and which whether formally or verbally? election becomes the president. It could be Kaduna, Kano and Sokoto. There is nowhere gave him that opportunity to lead the country. any party, including my own. he has not lived in Nigeria and knows Also, he is the national leader of the party, Zoning is not in the constitution. Zoning or Nigeria inside and out. He was detained in founding member of the party. He owned any other power sharing mechanism is an With what we read and see in the media, Benin for two and a half years. So, he knows CPC. Tinubu owned ACN. Ogbonnaya Onu, internal arrangement of the party. We had an complaints from people, the #EndSARS Nigeria more than the other average ANPP and Okorocha who came in with a interim administration headed by Bisi issue, are you not worried that the APC would Nigerians. And he is the only one who came faction of APGA. So, what we have as Akande and then we went to the National lose much of its electoral appeal during the into politics with a decision to be president. the”Legacy Chairmen” are Bisi Akande of Convention that picked John Odigie-Oyegun next general elections? Tafawa Balewa wanted to be a broadcaster ACN, Tony Momoh of CPC and Ogbonnaya as the first Chairman. Later, Oshiomhole but he became the Prime Minister. Shehu Onu of ANPP. We, as founding members of came and now we have problem in our hands It is not only APC. Every seat that is Shagari wanted to be a Senator and he APC, are there to ensure that APC does not and we came up with an interim body that supposed to be elective is open for contests. became president. Obasanjo go the way of PDP where will later organise a national convention to How many people will be returned was in prison praying to leave the party members were pick officers. There is no where in the unopposed? It will be a public contest and prison in one piece and he denied, dislocated and constitution where they talked about zoning. people will vote in accordance with INEC came out and became then dismantled. In our first outing, we zoned the presidency guidelines and the majority will form the president. Yar ’Adua was to the North but some people in the South government. And I do not claim that APC must governor and he wanted to go What is your position on contested. Even in PDP when Obasanjo was be the one that must be there. If APC is and lecture whenever he left zoning of presidential picked, people like Abubakar Rimi and others organised enough as I think it will, then it Government House but he The lapses we see ticket? contested. Zoning is an internal arrangement will have a chance. If it is not organised became president. Jonathan now in fighting of the party and what we discussed or did not enough, it will lose. I have no sentiments was in Bayelsa enjoying The type of government discuss is not for public knowledge but I know about that. you run determines the what we discussed and I know that zoning is himself as governor, they went corruption, fighting type of arrangement you inevitable in a presidential system. Some people, including APC chieftains and brought him to Abuja. He insecurity and make. In Parliamentary have expressed fears that the party would became vice president and reworking the system, you contest at the Are you satisfied with the Gov. Mai Mala disintegrate by the time President Buhari later president. This is the only economy are all constituency level of Buni-led Caretaker Committee of the party? leaves office. Do you share the same man, Buhari, who came into traceable to the Parliament. Tafawa Balewa concerns? politics and said ‘I want to be contested in Balewa and The fact is that we populated the organs of President’. He tried in 2003, the party with the majority, the party at the interim level with about 12 I am very close to Buhari. I have been with 2007, 2011 and finally 2015 NPC, formed the million registered party members. Now, we him since 2003 and I was in The Buhari and became president. Why do constitutional government. In a are about 16 -17 million, the biggest party in Organization TBO which had a document you think that such a person provisions of presidential system, it is Africa. And where you have two or more called, “Project Nigeria”. It spelt out what will come empty-headed? He budgeting and wider. In a gubernatorial parties, you have vested interests. You cannot Nigeria needed to be governed properly from has a contract with Nigeria. election, the whole state is have people singing only one song. Everybody the grassroots to the national level. Those who This man has never attended your constituency but you is in a political party or any arrangement packaged it gave it to Buhari and some other meetings of the so-called putting structures must have a deputy from a because of what he can get and so you are leaders. When they gave it to Buhari in the northern elders and the that are ill-advised different Senatorial bound to have divergent views. All these North, he accepted and requested for some Kaduna mafia. He is Nigerian District. In a presidential things are there and manifesting everywhere time to look at it and make amendments. and he knows what he is doing election, you cannot have and the Buni committee is attending to them and has done his best and a running mate from your to the best of its ability. Buhari only Nigerian determined to be those who are fair would say that all areas of own part of the country. It is between the North president promises he made that he has executed them. and South. So, in a presidential system, Recently, Sen. Rochas Okorocha said there People believe that he ought to be terrorizing zoning is inevitable. In the segmented loyalty are bad people in both the APC and the PDP He came and registered in his own Ward to people, but he doesn’t terrorise anybody. theory as propounded, where your interest and that the good ones in both parties should join the ANPP to prosecute this Project So, I said I have been with him since 2003 lies is where your support lies. If I am from come together to liberate the country in 2023. Nigeria. I came in 2003 as Media Director and why I am saying this is that when we the South and it is between the South and Do you agree with him? and we have been prosecuting it and that formed the CPC, I became National Chairman the North, I will support the South. If I am handbook is what he has today. He knows in January 2011. He was the Chairman of the from Edo and it is between Edo and Delta, I I don’t comment on opinions. That is his Nigeria at all levels. He has lived everywhere Board of Trustees BoT and the presidential will support Edo and so on. So, because it is opinion. That is his conviction and he has a in Nigeria. He has occupied positions in all candidate. After the election, people were only one constituency, the zoning must be right to it. I can even say he is correct because areas and he knows the South, the North, the going to him to make complaints and he said between the North and South. Several other there is no concentration of good people in East and the West. He was instrumental to “look, I am a presidential candidate and now interests have also come up with regards to one group and concentration of bad people in the laying of pipelines and then the three a party man. Go to Tony Momoh, the religion and even age considerations. Zoning another group. The earth is a combination of refineries. He fought in the war and was the Chairman of the party for whatever you want. is inevitable in a presidential system. You the good, the bad and the ugly. All of them only soldier in the Nigerian Army who Don’t come to me”. I am telling you this cannot have two candidates from the same live together. Outside here (earth), you have commanded three of the four divisions of the because when Buhari leaves in 2023 as area in a presidential system. Parliamentary homogeneity but not on earth. So, people Nigerian Army. He lived in Enugu, he lived president, he is going to be a loyal party man system does not allow for zoning unlike our gravitate towards one another to resolve or pursue their vested interests either in war or in peace. The choice is always theirs and the consequences theirs. Okorocha was one who came into the merger from APGA and did very well as was our own governor in Imo and he contested to be presidential candidate of APC and even promised to contest again. So, it is only fair for him to move around and meet with like-minds to be able to have a forum if he is still interested and he is a very solid figure for any office in Nigeria. 2023: APC, PDP go for broke By Omeiza Ajayi cycle elections and displayed their preference Failed state Convention Planning Committee CECPC, and endorsement of APC as the Party of choice controversy Sen. John James Akpanudoedehe who now TheoppositionPeoplesDemocraticParty for the majority of Nigerians. speaks for the party said, amid the COVID-19 PDP may have recently touched the To the Gov. Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker RelyingonanarticlebytheFinancialTimes induced economic slowdown, President tiger’s tail with its advisory to the ruling Extraordinary Convention Planning of London, PDP said the Buhari Presidency’s Buhari’s administration is stimulating the All Progressives Congress APC to throw in the Committee CECPC, the PDP has no moral arrogant trivialization of Nigeria’s tragic economy by preventing business collapse and towel and agree that it has failed Nigerians. authority to even contemplate comparing descent to a failed state further confirms that supporting labour-intensive sectors such as But the APC would have none of it as it noted themselvestoAPCaftertheformer’s“wasteful the nation is on autopilot with nobody in agriculture. that the PDP has lately been engrossed in years in governance”. charge, concocted tales and ramblings on the polity, “Indeed, the editorial by Financial Times is He said; “Nigerians will recall the ignoble advising that Nigerians be spared the trauma Doomsday only stating the obvious, as our nation under pastime of past administrations which will of a reminder of the disaster of the PDP’s years Wishes President Buhari has presented all the rather bury its head in sand and spin of misadventure in government. conspiracies in the face of insecurity and “The party should allow Nigerians forgive trappings of a failed state engage in voodoo economics to hoodwink it for the numerous transgressions and agony The APC has also warned including having a Nigerianswhilenationalresourceswerestolen it had put Nigerians through many years of against what it described as PDP’s rudderless government and diverted to political cronies. Those days misrule”, APC said in a statement. insensitive and callous political with a dysfunctional are gone. According to the APC, the PDP deludes itself campaign against Nigeria’s command structure that that “Nigerians desire their return to power”, security services, particularly the cannot guarantee “While the PDP and their hirelings engage adding that PDP is only seeking a return in Armed Forces fighting terrorists, security, manage our in their unfortunate and apparently order to kill the country and bury her. bandits and other criminal economy or even perform orchestrated attacks on the Armed Forces and Following the kidnap of some students of elements, saying it is a lingering very simple tasks of other security services, the APC will rather Government Science Secondary Kankara in pastime of the failed opposition governance”, the PDP support their efforts and charge them to do Katsina state, National Chairman of the PDP, party. stated. more to further degrade the capacity of Prince Uche Secondus had told President “From the onset, the PDP’s While the APC described Inariposte,APCsaidthe terrorists and other criminal elements to Muhammadu Buhari that rather than the attack soft targets”. “belated lamentation on deteriorating security intentions was to play politics with PDP’s position as truly President Muhammadu situation in the country, he should resign and the grief of citizens affected by laughable and a collective Buhari government is not However, Ologbondiyan accused the APC give way to competent hand to govern the recorded security incidents. oblivious of the country’s of stealing over N15 trillion since it came to country”. “Again, while naysayers and assault on the sensibilities of challenges and is visibly power in 2015, an allegation denounced by He said; “rather than the belated opposition partisans chorus their Nigerians,therulingpartysaid, and frontally addressing the APC which instead said, “going by the lamentations after 67 months in power that doomsday wishes for Nigeria, our them. cankerworm of revelations after the descent he has been unable to perform, he should do dear country is nowhere close to “While naysayers and of PDP, the CBN’S vault was thrown open and the honourable thing by resigning and giving becoming a failed state. The perhapsthePDPneedstobe opposition partisans virtually abandoning professionalism; where way for fresh ideas and new vitality. individuals drove in to cart away raw cash as “Prince Secondus recalls the advice of President Muhammadu Buhari remindedthatNigerianshave chorus their doomsday political patronages and without recourse to President Buhari while in opposition in 2013 government is not oblivious to the consistentlyandresoundingly wishes for Nigeria, our paperwork and inflationary consequences. to the then President Goodluck Jonathan country’s challenges and is visibly dear country is nowhere saying ‘Jonathan should vacate and give way and frontally addressing them. rejected them in two close to becoming a failed “We need to remind all patriotic Nigerians, to a competent hand to govern the country’ ” . “From the economy to security, consecutivecyclesofgeneral state. once again of the missing $20 billion from the While the APC described PDP’s position as coffers of Government as reported by the then truly laughable and a collective assault on it is easy to sum up Nigeria with “President Buhari’s country’s Number 1 banker (Sanusi Lamido the sensibilities of Nigerians, the ruling party some recent recorded security administration which sees Sanusi). Monies (Billions of Naira meant for said, perhaps the PDP needs to be reminded incidents and the economic elections the urgent need to have a arms importation) were reportedly discovered that Nigerians have consistently and in private jets belonging to “allies of the then resoundingly rejected them in two consecutive downturn. However, this better policing system for government” in far away South Africa, by the cycles of general elections as well as other off- government has displayed the the country and is South African authorities, yet no questions political will and capacity to contain any embarking on sweeping police reforms and were asked and no answers were given by the criminal/terrorist activity and return the supporting community policing, is definitely Nigerian government. economy to growth”, the ruling party stated. not governing a country close to becoming a failed state”, the ruling party stated. Continues on www.vanguardngr.com Secretary of the Caretaker Extraordinary

14—SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 30, 2021 My encounter with Fashola, the Great Teacher! By Soni Daniel, Covid-19 preventive measures.and not in the rural areas of Nigeria. We must •Fashola Northern Region Editor Of all the issues, which I wanted BRF to talkunderstand the problem so as to be able to prescribe the right solution. The problem is the current state of the road with proper Let me start with a Caveat: Don’t ever about; my major interest was on when Nigerianot the shortage of houses alone but thepronunciation of the local names, state of start an argument with this tall and will be self sufficient in housing supply andshortage of houses in the urban centres wherecompletion, what is missing on the road and brilliant man if you’re not well armed when the citizens can enjoy affordable housesthe need is. what needs to be done and when. I used to with the facts of the matter you want to take as a right. I also questioned the minister on“So, prescribing millions of houses is lump BRF among those officious ministers him on! why many federal roads in Benue andrecommending wrong diagnoses. Hundreds who cannot remember anything about their I won’t forget in a hurry that fierce argument Adamawa were said to be ‘abandoned’.and thousands of houses may be required in ministries and parastatals unless a permanent between me and Babatunde Raji Fashola, Nigeria’s urban centres like Lagos, Ibadan, secretary or director ‘brings up’ a file and Nigeria’s current Minister of Works and He was his real self as he fired back at me,Abuja, Kano, Umuahia, Enugu, Kaduna etcchurns out the needed information until I Housing. Fashola is a tough and brilliant guy drawing my attention to facts and figures tobut they may not find off- takers in lessbegan to take him on many issues related to - you can’t take that from him. He remains back up his assertion that the Buharipopulated cities where there are already his ministry and agencies and he shone resolute and unrelenting on matters and issues administration has done perhaps more thanempty houses. brilliantly on every subject matter put to him. hebelievesin.Butonethingthatboldlydefines any other president in terms of building and“Even in Abuja and other urban cities, there him till date is his profound humility and rehabilitating federal roads and constructing are a lot of empty houses. If During the interaction, BRF drew my calmness even in the face of provocation and new houses for Nigerians. the owners can bring down attention too to the claim by some powerful above all, a boundless respect for people- thepricesoftheirhousesand leaders of two states in the North who younger, older and peers. But I missed my path and charge for shorter periods, approached and pleaded with him to construct Again, Fashola is a keen listener: He doesn’t sheepishly played into his hand: the houses can be taken up federal roads to their respective communities seek to disrupt anyone’s view point no matter And, he wasted no time in as they finish building.” in Benue and Adamawa states. But he quickly how wrong it may be. But he works tirelessly demystifying me and I looked The minister also spoke brought out a list of ongoing road projects to bring in his own perspective on any issue like a fish out of the water: Sir, on the effort the ministry has being undertaken by the federal government and makes you see nothing better than his what would it cost the been making lately to make in the two states and waited for their reactions. point of view in the end. government if it devotes money more houses available to And, the reactions came in a very shocking Smart, quietly disarming, calm but in a year to build and complete those who really need them. form: “Mr. Minister, we all know that the disruptive at times and unassuming but just 100 million houses sine it He said: “In the last few federal government is working very hard to forceful with facts, BRF, is a man you can only is claimed that we are 200 years something is working. make our roads better but we want you to beat to submission with superior facts and million in this country? I threw The National Housing ensure that the roads come directly to our own arguments.Henonethelessremainsverycalm policy is working because communities. If the roads don’t reach our and calculative at all times. Right! It isthatinnocuousquestionatBRF. the private sector is working communities it would still appear as if there Right! It is already in the public domain At that point he adjusted his hard to deliver houses for are no federal roads in this state,” the minister that Mr. BRF is a workaholic but not many those who really need them. quoted the powerful leaders as saying during are aware of the fact that he is also a book already in theseat and began to scratch his The federal government a meeting with him. worm. He reads; reads and just keeps reading through the Federal books whether from Nigeria or abroad and head. Then, the answer began Mortgage Bank of Nigeria A case of enlightened self interest one would watches major news and information is financing estate say. And, that has become the norm across the channels that have news about people, events publicdomainthatto roll in like a steady stream of development through Real country in recent years leading to misplaced and places around the globe. Many have come Mr. BRF is awater flowing through a small Estate Development Loans. diversion of federal roads, railways and to describe BRF as an egg head with an There are about 25,000 airports to unviable places, towns and villages unceasing quest for knowledge acquisition hill. “That would be a chaos of units at different levels of in recent years. despite his daunting task of fixing Nigeria’s construction and broken road and housing infrastructure. But workaholicbutnotsome sort,” he began, and completion. But Fashola stood his grounds and said he doesn’t seem to be complaining about “We are doing many capital No to the leaders but assured that the combining his work with a relentless pursuit cleared his throat apparently tothings to ensure the availability of houses for roads under construction would be completed of knowledge. The last time I was on tour with Nigerians. Housing means different things based on agreed contractual terms for the the minister to some key federal highways and many are aware offine-tune his position. “And, doto different people because some want to buyoverall use of the people. project sites in the South East and South government built house, others want South, BRF was reading one huge book that you know the amount of moneygovernment land. Others want to buy from But I discovered during my interaction with looked like a chopping board with the the private sector with only government BRF that one key issue is holding him back title Double Down, written by Antoinette the fact that he isthatwouldcost,”hechallengedcertificate of occupancy. from performing the wonders he would have Clarke and T. Clarke-Stone. He was reading also a book wormme. “Some hundreds of“Many want a mortgage from the Federal wanted to present as the Minister for Works the book while conducting the Coaster bus Mortgage Bank. For that reason, we have and Housing: Cash! Indeed, his drive and that ferried his directors, highway engineers billions,” I replied. “No, it is inissued mortgage loans in excess of N50 billion desire to construct new roads and build more and other top officials of the FMWH as well trillions of Naira,” the ministersince I became minister. We also issue rent-to houses for Nigerians are very active, but the as a team of journalists to the different job thundered and I felt flustered.own homes loans because housing is not all means to do so and on time is hugely lacking, siteshisministryissupervisinganditwasreally He was right; I was wrong!about ownership but also about rental. The leading those who may not understand the fun seeing the man at his best as he showed wide gap between resources and leadership to seriousness, cracked jokes and issued stern And, he came again with accuse the office of not doing much. warnings to workers and contractors as the another question! Can you just imagine the journey progressed. quantum quantity of cement, rods, windows, But the truth remains: BRF is working his But on December 11, 2020, I drove myself doors, stones and other building materials that heart out to fix our roads and give us shelter. to his office in Mabushi to keep an would be required for such huge number of What Nigerians need to give him and the appointment which had been arranged with houses? Fashola queried me. For him, what administration is the understanding of the him in order to follow up on what his ministry most Nigerians describe as housing shortage issues at play and how to navigate around had possibly accomplished based on the is not the unavailability of enough houses for them in order to produce the required results. February 2020 directive he issued to officials Nigerians but the improper use of and to ensure that notorious spots in the country management of available houses to How and when that is done, remains the that usually gave headaches to Nigerian road accommodate those who really need the issue at stake but BRF the Great teacher users during the rainy season be given priority houses in the urban centres of Nigeria where remains undaunted! attention during the dry season. the shortage is dire. While agreeing that there I did not spend any time before his Media is need to build more houses in the country for Specialist, Hakeem Bello, ushered me into the citizens, Fashola argues that no BRF’s vast office strewn with striking photos government can simultaneously build and of bridges, roads and ongoing federal projects supplyallthehousesrequiredbythepopulace. across the country and I sat face to face again with this tall, left-handed and grey haired Hear him: “I keep saying that the problem man, who looked straight into my face after is that the housing shortages are in the urban offering me a chair and a normative welcome. key thing is shelter,” Fashola pointed out. There was no need for handshake in keeping Fashola’s head is perhaps working like a with the ongoing Covid-19 protocols and there well programmed machine. Sampler: Ask him was no way that could have been achieved about the condition of any federal road in given the fact that the minister a glass Nigeria and he would be ever ready to tell you separates himself from visitors as part of his

Man as a work in progress is both SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 30, 2021—15 a subject and object of other words, work drives civilisation by cultivation. There is no culture without participating in the cultivation of men cultivation both in its figurative and and women. Just like culture, a faith that literal senses. As habitual beings, our is not adequately cultivated, by repeated actions create a pattern that consciously searching for its best influences and informs our default understanding, expression and value, perspective to reality. This disposition degenerates into a monster. Through comes by the cultivation of one’s life such a monster, the worst elements in and its ramifications. As I wrote humans are accepted and celebrated elsewhere, without the cultivation of under the guise of worshipping God. virtues, there cannot be a culture of Cultures need to be constantly purified, freedom, which provides the No culture without agriculture, and faith needs to be always environment for growth. No civilisation interrogated. Once the quaerrere of faith without a city, no culture without (the quest for understanding) stops, the cultivation! “There is no culture possibility of abuse and corruption without agriculture,” says Baba Tarik no faith without cultivation increases! Oduno. Given that our metaphysical Whereas culture is dynamic, growing deprivation impacts our freedom and at the pace of the people’s consciousness our sociological milieu constraints its of their environment and their exercise, no one can become a better lives and tries to meliorate his culture. interaction with other societies in person living his or her freedom appropriation of values to respond This cultivation of culture draws responding to vital existential questions, responsibly without proper cultivation better to the community’s needs. No some persons consider it a static and of the self. Cultivation of nature epoch is denied of the creative from the principles and praxes of ready-made reality from the past. This positively impacts the individual and perfective presence of the Spirit that agriculture, which integrate three mentality treats culture as a fossilized promotes the common good. The feeds her march to progress and critical elements: namely soil, self artefact located in historical mining sites. observance of the law of nature humanisation. and society. By cultivating the soil, In other words, many people treat generates a dividend of wellness for one is imperceptibly cultivating the culture with an archaeological mindset, the ecosystem, the individuals and the Precisely because faith is a project self and society. The quality of the which limits the possibilities of new community. Similarly, the observance in progress, it needs nurture; it soil, soul and society measures the answers to old or not-so-old questions. of the law of nurture unleashes on the needs cultivation. Paul planted, quality of life, and the integration of Since solutions are often sourced by society a set of well-formed citizens Apollos watered, and Christ gave these three launches humanity into flight in time to past decades or who maintain a healthy relationship the increase. Faith is nothing without its fullest expression. In cultivating centuries, old answers are recycled with with self, society and the supreme works, and indeed, without works, the soil, humans enrich their souls utter forgetfulness that the Spirit who being. faith is dead. Cultivation is the and construct society. Through work, spoke and inspired people in the days In processing the data of daily receptive mode of appreciating faith he explores the meaning of his of old is the same Spirit who does so occurrences, in making choices and as a treasure to be nurtured. existence as a soul interacting with today. The severance of the Spirit of executing resolutions, man cultivates Cultivation means that one others in society. The cultivation of yesterday from the Spirit of today his values and constructs his life. consciously exposes self to the soil engenders the cultivation of wallows in the ignorance of the divine Culture is the aggregation of these circumstances and things that the self, which leads to the cultivation dynamism. For the Spirit, yesterday, facts in a mélange that informs and promote the object of his/her interest. of society. Through this cultivation, today and tomorrow are integrated and reinforces further similar acts. It is in In this case, faith needs cultivation virtues are developed; thus, superior never delinked. these daily experiences that one to grow and flourish. Cultivation is qualities and skills are domesticated. cultivates his culture as such. While a structure of grace-economy because The practice of exerting one’s Culture¯the shared societal memory culture has an overarching impact on it reaches the depths of ‘ what it was energies and creativities feeds that connects her past with the present the individual and community, it is not to be’ human. Though grace is the healthy customs and traditions that and influences the future¯is the sum of a prefabricated, factory-fitted infallible act of divine irruption in human promote the interest of all. humans’ meaning-making efforts in a norm. In actuality, culture is an affairs, it builds on nature such that given place and time. It is one of the imperfect milieu in which everyone the cultivation of self approximates Constant domestication and most evident manifestations of humans’ to the cultivation of culture. cultivation of virtues make the possession of reason, meaning and logic. Arguably, the ethos of grace frees ego culture better. Work, which is the and informs both ecology and instrument of mending the Read more online... economy and produces a healthy brokenness of the human person and human family, typifies cultivation. In Soldiers speak from the the military has subordinated itself to civil rule, battle field •Explain why war on terror is unending it goes to show that, it’s the political class that •Accuse commanders of feeding fat on the death of others calls the shot while the military leadership only •Set agenda for new service chiefs executes. If there is sincerity of purpose and the By Emma Nnadozie, Crime Editor political will on leadership, Boko Haram family that he has left for a long time. It was kitted and well equipped with all the insurgency would have been a foregone Soldiers are the ones who bear the brunt. onlyaformerGOCof7Division,Maiduguri, necessary support weapons, knowing full conclusion by now. Even the sabotage you are They are in the frontlines, battling daily General Victor Ezugwu who sympathized well that if he dies, his family would be well talking about, it still boils down to sincerity of with Boko Haram insurgents. They face with the plight of soldiers on the front line taken care of, such a soldier will be highly purpose. If the Government of the day is honest the bullets, get hit and die in the war front. They and decided to increase the pass duration motivated and be eager to fight with his last and sincere, all the moles that are crawling in are not happy. Though they swore to protect, fromsevendaysto14daysandalsoshortened breath. Also, there should be collaborative high places would have been fished out and preserve and die for Nigeria, they are no longer the interval from once a year to every 90 efforts between the Army and Airforce completely dealt with. But because some people happy carrying out their professional duties. days(3months).Thatis,whenyouspendthree components in terms of logistics and in the corridors of power are feeding fat at the In fact, announcement of the appointment of mouths on ground, you are movement of troops in and out expenseofothersdying,thatiswhythewarseems new service chiefs elicited wild jubilation and entitled to apply for a pass of of the theatre of operations. For to be unending.” cheers from our gallant soldiers in the war front. 14 days to see your family and instance, if there’s an OUR TRAVAILS They could not hide their anger against the loved ones provided you don’t arrangement in place for the the One other officer had this to say: “Soldiers retired service chiefs. Saturday Vanguard had have any disciplinary case Nigerian Airforce (NAF), to combating Boko Haram confront a lot of an exhaustive telephone conversation with a against you. always station an aircraft like the difficulties. Napoleon Bonaparte once said cross section of Nigerian soldiers in the battle But immediately the GOC was C-130 to airlift officers and men that,”a soldier marches on his stomach”. If you field in Borno and other endangered Northern postedout,everythingchanged One of the officers who wish to go on pass, let’s say are not properly fed, you will not have the stamina states. The interview which lasted for hours had and we went back to the status who spoke from once in a week, we will avoid a to carry your weapons and fight gallantly, let unprecedented out pour of anger and curses quo, if not worse. Recall that Borno said “the lot of reckless and senseless alone assisting a wounded colleague who has against what was in place before new changes just some weeks ago, there was appointment of deaths that we have witnessed in been shot. How do you exert strength to carry were made. Those interviewed sought strict the case of a soldier who shot the new service time past. Some times, soldiers your colleague who is down? The only option anonymity so as not to be subjected to military and killed his platoon chiefs was long that went on pass, on returning you have is to abandon him at that point, which order. Their expose is an agenda setting for the commander, a Lieutenant, in over due to the theater were ambushed by is very bad. You are fighting a battle and you are new service chiefs. one of the locations in marauding Boko Haram thinking of your family at home who are staying Excerpts: Maiduguri because the officer insurgents while at other times, hungry simply because you have not been able APPOINTMENT OF SERVICE CHIEFS denied the soldier the privilege it could be that the vehicles were to send them money. These are distractions that One of the officers who spoke from Borno said to proceed on pass to see his involved in a crash. dampen the soldiers’ morale and a demoralized “the appointment of the new service chiefs was family. So, you can see that this man can not give his best to fight effectively. At long over due. It brings hope that there will be isaveryseriousissuethatneeds POLITICAL AND MILITARY the end, the insurgents are winners by default. changes. Many of us are now full of to be looked into by the new LEADERSHIP USE OF EXPIRED BOMBS expectations. servicechiefs.Thereshouldalsobeadequate Another officer said: “Attention should be “Another disturbing factor is the issue of giving ALLEVIATING THE SUFFERING OF remuneration to the immediate family in focused on the political and military expired bombs and ammunition to troops. Just TROOPS ON THE FRONT LINE case of death or any hazard incurred by the leadership. This is against the backdrop of imagine you, firing an RPG (Rocket Propelled They should provide the soldiers on the front soldier in the line of duty. If a soldier is fully thefact,thatinademocracylikeourswhere Grenade) to dozens or pockets of the insurgents line with full military kits, ranging from boots, only for the bomb to land but refused to explode camouflage uniform, ballistic helmet, and will only be bringing out smoke, what do fragmental jackets, night vision goggles, you think will be your fate? For success to be serviceable compass, amongst others as well achieved, we need to go down the roots to the as basic infantry, platoon and company least private soldier in the front line and address weapons. Also, soldiers in front line should be the above stated challenges. Pay the troops their rotated out of the battle field after a minimum allowance on time and ensure that modern period of six months interval to avoid battle equipment are supplied and very active, because fatigue or what you call ‘job monotony’ in civil what they normally do is to refurbish old and parlance. This aspect is only on paper, but not archaic weapons including battle tanks. We are in practice. It’s only the Navy and the Airforce witnesses to all these practices here in the front that seem to keep to such policy. Imagine line. If not, how do you explain supposedly newly keeping a soldier in the theatre of operations acquired artillery gun or Armour tank that cannot for three to five years, yet if he is allowed to go fire more than three bombs before you start to on pass, it’s just once or twice in a year to see his experience stoppages. Most times in the thick of the battle, your tank can neither fire nor move, at such critical times, before abandoning the tank and our commanding officer will order us to remove the firing pin to further render the gun useless in the hands of the insurgents while we look for alternative way of saving our lives. Read more online @www.vanguardngr.com

16—SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 30, 2021 Insecurity: Miyetti Allah meeting with S’West Govs can’t end farmers-herders clash —Sen.Sani *Kicks against open grazing By Omeiza Ajayi •Akeredolu •Makinde •Bello Bodejo Activist and former senator who hostile. So, it should be harnessed and it motorcycles with AK47 kidnapping Ogun states have been suffering is the same represented Kaduna Central in the should be used because whatever is being people and extorting ransom from their thing we are suffering in the North. I wonder 8th National Assembly, Comrade applied, as far as issues are concerned, on victims. how possible it is for anybody to defend or Shehu Sani has called on governors of the table, it is still not going to solve the justify the murderous, hideous and heinous northern states to take urgent steps to resolve problem as long as cattle will move from “The herdsmen crisis has been allowed activities of these herdsmen. They occupy the Fulani-Herders crisis. state to state”. to linger because successive governments lands, kidnap people, rape and collect He said while the recent meeting between including this one have failed to address ransom. Southwest governors and the cattle dealer’s He also kicked against the politicization the problem by envisioning that this could group, Miyetti Allah was a good step of the issue, saying almost every part of be a problem in future and we need to do “What made the Ondo issue controversial aimed at calming frayed nerves, it is the country is now leaving at the mercy of something about it. was the phrase, “quit notice” and it has been however not enough to solve the security bandits. used and abused by different ethno-religious puzzle. “In 1960, Nigeria’s population was and sectional groups like the IPOB and Sani who spoke on a breakfast television Sani said; “The herdsmen crisis in Ondo about 45 million and our landmass was Arewa groups quit notices; the quit notice show on AriseTV said the movement of and Ogun states as well as other parts of about 900,000 plus. In 2020, Nigeria’s to Fr. Matthew Hassan Kukah etc. So, of herders across states must be halted while the Southwest is a continuation of the population was 206 million and the same anybody hears the phrase ‘quit notice’, he grazing reserves must be provided by crisis we have been having in the North landmass. You can even subtract the would not have gone through the details that governors of states where the herders hail between herdsmen and farmers. It has Bakassi Peninsula. Same landmass with there is a caveat that only the violent from. happened in the states of Benue, Plateau; increasing population. criminals and those who have been engaged He said; “The dialogue going on and most parts of the Northwest which has in crimes are those who were told to leave between the governors of the Southwest been under siege by bandits who are more “What policy makers and people in the forests. and Miyetti Allah is a good step but it is or less herdsmen. position of power ought to have done from not going to permanently resolve the the beginning was to have envisaged a “But in this sense, it has reached a point problem. As long as people are allowed to “The difference between the herdsmen Nigeria where you couldn’t do in 2020 what where the whole issue has been politicised move and roam about with cattle from one moving down South and the ones we have you were doing in the 1960’s to 1980’s. because nobody went through the details state to the other, there is bound to be in the Northwest is that these ones have and then it became a major issue”, he added. conflict. It will calm the problem down but no cattle. They move in 200s to 300s on “The killings and kidnappings have been it is not going to solve it. going on and what the people of Ondo and “It is for the northern states, particularly where these cattle rearers and the Fulani ethnic group come from to set up grazing reserves and attach them to agro-allied industries involved in hides and skins and cheese to make business out of it. Cattle business in the 21st Century is a multi-billion dollar business. In the 21st Century, it is not possible for people to move about with cattle on people’s ancestral lands and property and you don’t expect crisis to come in. “This has gotten to the point of affecting harmonious coexistence between people from the North and those from the Southwest. “I believe that the permanent solution will be to find a permanent place in most parts of the North, because the North covers about 75% of Nigeria’s land mass. There is enough land for these cattle and these herdsmen to graze in peace with people who are not Tasks Before New Service Chiefs By Dirisu Yakubu removal of the service chiefs. And even chiefs) came too little, too late in the sense to people who will tell them to be patient though the 9th Assembly is seen largely as that much has been lost in terms of lives and anymore and the reason is simple: being “Better late than never,” “At last,” one wired to say YES to every request and properties. Despite the cry for change by the patient with our leaders has not paid “Finally,” “We thank God o,”...were some demand of President Buhari; history will be public, the President never heeded the calls Nigerians. We have graves and cemeteries of the remarks that greeted President kind and just to give it its fair share of credit until now. Even the National Assembly at a to show for being patient. We have lost Muhammadu Buhari’s eleventh hour as it also condemned Buharis then refusal point aligned its voice with that of Nigerians lives and properties and we have incurred removal of the nation’s security chiefs on to disengage the service chiefs. but the President was adamant. The sack of huge expenditures in the fight against Wednesday. For a people that have been the service chiefs was something done to insecurity. They (new service chiefs) have unanimous in their call for a review of But just as Nigerians were resigned to fate; distract or even persuade Nigerians to look work to do and they need to do it quickly,” Buhari’s security parade; that fateful the Commander-in-Chief took them away from the burning issues that were still he said. Wednesday will go down as a day to unaware by sacking the quartet and the trending as at when the service chiefs were remember; a day of some importance and appointment of Maj. Gen. Leo Irabor, changed, which is the issues of herdsmen. For Jackson Lekan Ojo, a certified golden history to boot. Maj.Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru; Air Vice member of the International Security Marshall Isiaka Amao and Real Admiral “Herdsmen are wrecking havoc all over Association, it will take extra effort on the From 2009 till date, Nigerians have Awwal Gambo as the new Chiefs of Defence the place and across the states of the part of the new security chiefs to convince lived with the horror of rising insecurity Staff, Army Staff, Air Staff and Naval federation. Don’t forget that these herdsmen Nigerians that they are equal to the task. (never mind government’s claim that Boko Staff, respectively. are virtually into robbery, kidnapping, Haram have been decimated), made worse raping, arson and what have you. Changing “When people are tired and have lost by the inability of the combined effort of Although, a video went viral of soldiers the service chiefs was a bit suspect because confidence in a system, no matter what you the Nigerian Police, Army, Navy and Air celebrating the exit of the four security if for all the losses the country recorded, the do, it will take a long time for them to trust force to run the killers out of town. But chiefs, not a few Nigerians insist that the President did not remove them, why suddenly that system again. Truth is, those people there was hope of some sort when Buhari, damage done by the President’s failure to now? He quickly removed them when there (former security chiefs) ought to have left a a retired army general mounted the hot seat rejig his security architecture would take a was a lot of protest over what happened in long time ago, but they stayed on. If in 2015. His image makers were quick to while to reverse. Ondo and Oyo states. To take Nigerians’ democracy is still a government of the take us down a trip on memory lane on how, attention from that, he quickly changed the people, by the people and for the people; the gangling civil war hero chased a gang Speaking exclusively to Saturday service chiefs. President Buhari ought to have heeded the of murderers led by one Mohammed Vanguard, Capt. Umar Aliyu (retd) said the voices of the people by removing the service Marwa (Maitatsine) into oblivion in the 80s. decision to part company with Buratai and “While we congratulate the new service chiefs long ago because that was what the others is suspect, arguing that the first chiefs, they should know that they have a people wanted. I am not excited by the However, the past five and a half years citizen took the option to douse the recent lot of work to do. Expectations are very appointment of new service chiefs,” he have been a tale of woes, pains, anguish and tension occasioned by relocation order high and Nigerians are almost out of argued. lamentations to boot. Kidnappers maiming issued to herdsmen to quit Ondo state. patience. Nigerians are not ready to listen and raping their victims, even collection of He also added some of these officers have ransom, killers murdering farmers, bandits He said: “Indeed, it (change of service been part of operation Lafia Dole, “So what laying ambush to travellers and unleashing are they going to be doing differently? The terror, Boko Haram/ISWAP beheading new chiefs should try and boost the morale abductees including military men-life has of the men on the battlefield. They should never been this terrible in this part of the do well on intelligence gathering,” he world. counselled. All this culminated in the calls for the sack Of the quartet, there have been anxiety of Lt. General Tukur Buratai (Chief of Army on the part of some Nigerians that Staff), General Abayomi Olanisakin (Chief General Attahiru who was redeployed from of Defence Staff), Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Operation Lafiya Dole for failing to produce Ibas (Chief of Naval Staff) and Air Marshall the Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau Sadique Abubakar (Chief of Air Staff) as “dead or alive,” may struggle to produce they were then. result; a school of thought believes the man deserves his appointment and should be Socio-cultural groups including Afenifere, supported to deliver on his mandate. Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Middle-Blet Forum and the Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF all As it were, the months ahead will see a lot of demanded at one or the other for the conjectures, with no one certain of what will become of a once flourishing and peaceful nation.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 30, 2021—17 The Trouble With Nigeria Is A House Uzor Maxim Uzoatu barracks bedroom in Lagos. he was shabbily kicked out. Abuja. It suffices to say that ever since Evil Genius The Goggled One who kicked out the The old soldier enjoyed two rounds of this C hinua Achebe has stolen my thunder by stating that the trouble made this Abuja house the abode of power the Interim Man had to stay holed up in Lagos for animal called man in the house and then with Nigeria is leadership. country has known no progress whatsoever. quite some time for the haunted Abuja house somehow manufactured to enjoy a third term. In my own book, the trouble with Nigeria is to be metaphysically detoxified for human a house. The visibly shaken self-advertised “Master Everything around the old soldier cried foul Yes, the source of the plenteous troubles of of Violence” that ran for his occupation. and told him pointedly: “Fear God!” Nigeria is a house that is deadlier than a bush- dear life from Lagos all the way The tough Goggled One doctor’s juju rock. to Abuja saw the clear and It then became incumbent on the old soldier It never ceases to amuse me when all makes present need to fortify the house did not want to dash in to hire a former chemistry teacher to take over of characters fight to the death in the struggle against all spiritual attacks, where angels feared to tread. his place in the house of death. to live in that house of death. metaphysical onslaughts and In the Bible, at Matthew 16:18, Jesus said: terrestrial diabolism. Once the Goggled One got “Umoru, are you dead?” the old soldier asked “You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build into the house he upped the the sinewy former teacher of chemistry. my church…” I have it on good authority ante in making the ornate In Nigeria, an evil genius made an imitative palace his permanent home. Of course it is only death wish that would claim, to wit, “Upon this rock I will build the It is against thisthat hoary marabouts and make any man agree to occupy a house villa of my evil empire”. He reportedly ferried in a reluctantly vacated by that rustically And thus Nigeria was bequeathed with a voodoo grandmasters were put million blind mice from medicated man who propounded the fatal house, a villa haunted day and night by around the Sahara Desert immortal theory that apartheid in South Africa very vile and evil spirits. c a b a l i s t i cto diabolic service from all into the house to keep all could only be defeated by juju. The trouble with the house started from the Nigerians eternally blind to very beginning because Evil Genius did not corners of the globe to root his antics at self- Umoru may have taught chemistry earlier pack into the place under normal perpetuation. in life but the type of chemical substances circumstances. background thatforever the life tenancy of Evil assailing him in the house were definitely not Everybody knows that it is not with ordinary Even so, the Goggled One the normal chemical compounds that he was eyes that harassed mortals run into the embrace Genius and his family deep did not reckon with the used to in the Bunsen burner of the chemistry of the born-again “Jehovah Sharp-Sharp” short-time service charge of laboratory. churches. any wannabe so-inside the house on the rock. Indian apples of kaput. Evil Genius fled to this house of horror It is against this cabalistic He was grossly unprotected against the following the hot pursuit of a firing squad of And thus the Goggled One relentless onslaught of supernatural Scud hardened plotters who smoked him out of his called occupant ofbackgroundthatanywannabe expired, giving place to a missiles and preternatural Molotov cocktails soldier of fortune who just directed acutely at his pericarditic heart! so-called occupant of the house took as plenteous money as he could in nine fast months Umoru floated between life and death from the house isis doomed to occult failure. and simply ran away from the house to the airport and back again until This way, the civilian buddy the grigri of the haunted the so-called doctrine of necessity entailed house. putting the Clueless One in the house. doomed to occultof Evil Genius who sought to By special arrangement a traditionally medicated old soldier who had the singular The Clueless One had to perforce be take over the house instantly distinction of championing an earlier cause chased out of the house, but I have to stop of defeating apartheid in South Africa via juju writing now because the mad cow disease failuresaw the dastardly annulment was catapulted into the dangerous house in coming from the troublesome house has kidnapped me and everybody here. of his popular charge. Even when so much heat was put on Evil Genius to quit the house it’s remarkable that he told anybody willing to listen that he was merely “stepping aside”. The Interim Man who was put in the house could not get a hang on the spiritual and underworld underpinnings of the place until From The Archives: Still on Onitsha Market Literature Whenever Onitsha gets into any writing, traditional customs and, of course, like Chinua Achebe, Emmanuel Obiechina, Highbred Maxwell Public Opinion on Lovers; business, other cities take the back money-making. There is actually a title How Ulli Beier, Michael Echeruo, Ernest Nathan Njoku Beware of Women and My seat. When market literature was in to get Rich Overnight by H. O. Ogu. Emenyonu, Ime Ikiddeh, Bernth Lindfors, Seven Daughters are after Young Boys; Marius vogue, Onitsha was the leader. John Reed, Alain Ricard, Adrian Roscoe etc. Nkwoh Cocktail Ladies/Talking about Love According to a study published by the British Colonialism and its education somewhat have written extensively on the Onitsha market (with Mr Really Fact at St Bottles’ Library in 1990, Market Literature from “opened the eyes” of the authors of the market literature phenomenon. Church);Joseph Nnadozie Beware of Harlots Nigeria: A Checklist, there was zero publishing literature. Some of the soldiers who had and Many Friends; Raphael Obioha Beauty is output in Onitsha as at 1949 when Lagos could travelled to Burma and other sectors of the A quotable quote from one of the titles, from a Trouble; Ogali A. Ogali Veronica My boast of as many as 19 titles. By 1950-54, Lagos Second World War came back with exotic the recently deceased Ogali’s Veronica My Daughter/No Heaven for the Priest; H.O. Ogu accounted for 30 books while Onitsha had ideas. The economic prosperity that followed Daughter, goes thus: “As I was descending from Rose Only Loved My Money/How a Passenger only seven titles. From 1955 to 1959, Onitsha the war provided extra income for leisure a declivity yesterday with such an excessive Collector Posed and got a Lady Teacher in gained ascendancy with 56 books as against reading. As large numbers of rural dwellers velocity I suddenly lost the centre of my gravity Love; Rufus Okonkwo Why Boys Never Trust 31 from Lagos. In the boom years of 1960 to trooped to Onitsha, the book market shot up and was precipitated on the macadamised Money Monger Girls; Anthony Okwesa The 1966, Onitsha published a whopping 411 titles especially as there was massive expansion in thoroughfare.” The next character then says: Strange Death of Israel Njemanze; Okenwa while Lagos had only 65 books. Of course the primary and secondary education after the war. “I hope your bones were mercilessly broken.” Olisah Money Hard to get but Easy to Spend/ civil war years of 1967 to 1970 dealt a heavy The Onitsha publishers made up of a close- The reply from Bomber Billy of bombast Drunkards Believe Bar as Heaven; Speedy Eric blow to the growth of market literature in knit group of families from some surrounding comes this way: “Don’t put my mind under Mabel the Sweet Honey that Poured Away; Onitsha, but that is another story. towns were in effective control of perturbation!” Felix Stephen Lack of Money is not Lack of Onitsha market literature was made up of apprenticeships, sub-contracts and agencies Sense etc. inexpensive booklets and pamphlets while organising the distribution of their titles Some of the more prominent Onitsha comprising genres such as fiction, plays, verses, to all parts of Nigeria and indeed West Africa. authors and their titles include: J. Abiakam The great pity is that none of these titles is current affairs, language primers, social How to Speak to Girls and Win their Love; available in any Onitsha bookshop today. I etiquette, religious tracts, history, biography, Sales of the booklets ranged from three Cyril Aririguzo Miss Appolo’s Pride Leads her predict that anybody who reissues the titles will manuals, collections of proverbs, letter- thousand copies per title to 100,000 copies for to be Unmarried; S. Eze How to know when a make a mighty killing. bestsellers such as Ogali A. Ogali’s play, Girl Loves You or Hates You; Thomas Iguh Veronica My Daughter. Scholars and writers £9000,000,000 Man still says No Money; Nigerian roads where kidnappers unleash mayhem as garri, which are the common food taken violates their rules. by kidnappers and their hostages. In an interview with one of them who was Continues from page 11 where they were. They resolved to kidnap and collect ransom from his relatives in order to Villagers as Spies arrested along the Abuja/Kaduna expressway, Suleiman and Akanni Musa , 38. avenge what he did. sometime ago, he revealed that in his group, One of them, 25-year-old Adamu Saliu, said Some of these villagers who spoke with no member was permitted to rape any light in “ I am a Fulani man, born in Ogun State. I sell “But when he was kidnapped, one of them Saturday Vanguard on strict anonymity, completion lady , except their leader. He said, cows. I was introduced to kidnapping by a shot him dead because he recognized him. revealed that some villagers act as spies for “ anybody who rapes a yellow girl, will be killed friend. We are many that are into this and there His corpse was dumped in the bush. Our these kidnappers. But they are afraid to reveal because only our leader is allowed to have are different groups. Each group operates on weapons are kept in the bush after each their identities as that could spell doom for her”. its own. We come out of the forest, block the operation. I used money realized to buy them and members of their families. road and kidnap victims. We would carry them motorcycles which I gave out on hire purchase”, He further stated that whenever they went on motorbikes , into the forest where they he stated. For instance, information gathered from on operation, they went for dark complexion would remain until ransom is paid for their some of these villagers revealed that those who ladies that would go round members, before release. Others also opened up on their roles in the act as spies , in almost all the states, were they were released. “ We don’t know the profession of some of series of kidnap, blaming their indulgence on stationed in strategic places to alert our victims before they are kidnapped. For the devil. kidnappers of the presence of security agents. Another offense that attracts death of others, it is based on information. The forest is kidnappers by their members , is when any of so big that it can take as many victims as we AIG Illyasu disclosed that efforts were still They were also stationed not too far from them is arrested. wish. on to arrest other members of the syndicate, location where ransom are to be dropped, “In Ogun state, we make use of forests in adding that he had placed his men on strategic acting sometimes as lunatics, all in a bid to One of them who was arrested along the Shagamu, Ogijo, Sagbada, Ibua, Odumaki. locations in Lagos and Ogun states where ensure that the negotiator was not being Benin /Auchi expressway recently, begged to And in Lagos, forest in Epe is used to keep kidnappers operate. accompanied by security agents, to designated be killed , revealing that if he was lucky to be victims. points of collection. released, he would never go back to his “We give victims garri ( cassava flour) and Rape, deaths colleagues in the bush, else, he would be killed. palm oil or garri with water, depending on Whenever the presence of an intruder was This is to avoid a sell out from the arrested what they want. At times, my members would When victims are taken onto the forests or suspected during payment of ransom, the spy suspect. serve them with raw cassava . I have never other hideouts, most times ,women are raped. as gathered, alerts the kidnapper through signs slept with any of the female victims but some Some, right in from of their husbands and male such as whistle, throwing of stones or flag a Relocation of my colleagues did. children. red or white rag to the direction of his “We collected N1 million ransom for the instructor who could either be on top of a tree, Saturday Vanguard also gathered that release of the policewoman, out of which I got In one of the videos that went viral, a lady in or watching from a distance. whenever a member of any of the kidnap groups N 100,000. For the Civil Defence man , we her 20s was seen being gang- raped in the forest, was arrested, his colleagues would collected N3 million ransom from his relatives amidst struggle. At that moment, the location where the immediately vacate the part of the forest they , out of which I got N 200,000. One of us, money would be dropped would be changed. occupied. This , as gathered is to avert any Mohammed, gave us information on his Some of the male victims who narrated their Sometimes , this could infuriate the kidnapper likely invasion of their hideout by security movement. He (informant )got N400,000 out ordeals, revealed that men were also not and could lead to the death of the victim. agents through the arrested member. of the N3 million ransom. We also collected spared, as some of their captors who were gays, N4 million ransom from one Alhaji Oro took turns to have anal sex with them during At other times, it could take days of location Arrests who was later shot dead”. their two days stay in the forest. change, before instruction would be given to the negotiator to drop the money. There have been several arrests of these Why we killed Alhaji Oro For some of these villains, human life means criminal gangs that would stop at nothing to nothing. They kill at will and abandon corpses Information at Saturday Vanguard disposal achieve their devilish aim. When asked why Alhaji Aro was killed,Saliu of victims in the forests. also revealed that some of these villagers who explained, “ he stood as surety for two of our act as spies, ended up picking the ransom from In Niger State for instance, 240 suspected members who were earlier arrested for stealing Sometimes, these corpses, were dumped in where it was dropped . Thereafter, they would criminals, among who were 87 kidnap cows. But they fled when they were expected to the farmlands, to avoid the disturbing stench, be instructed by the kidnapper on phone, to suspects, were arrested between January and report at the police station. Alhaji Oro was and at times buried in shallow graves, even take it far inside the forest , from where it would October 2020, alone, with 40 abducted victims arrested and asked to produce them and he when ransom had been paid. be collected from them. rescued by the Police. did. While I was in prison over cow theft, with some of those Alhaji earlier stood surety for, Community connivance It was reliably gathered that these spies were In Kano State, 17 kidnap suspects were they were angry at him for showing the Police paid between N2000 and N5000 after each arrested in the last four weeks, Saturday Vanguard investigation showed watch. Unfortunately, they were reportedly that there are possible connivance of some killed at the end of an assignment, to avoid There had been several other arrests of communities in this kidnap saga, as some giving the kidnappers mode of operation to kidnap suspects accross the country , most of youths and traditional heads in communities security agents. who gave starling revelations of their modes around forests used as dens by kidnappers, are of operations. aware of the on-goings there. Brutes Unfortunately, rather than witnessing a For instance, they were accused of selling Again, these kidnappers, whether herdsmen decrease in kidnap cases, it has remained palm oil and cassava flakes, otherwise known or other groups , don’t spare any member who unabated

S18—SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 30, 2021 For instance, your sibling visits you from the tories of rags to riches are abound village; all he has used all his life is pit latrine, in our midst. For instance, a family or open defecation in the bush. He needs to use is very poor, but God leaves no one the toilet on arrival and you direct him to a empty handed, and so gives them a very sparkling modern toilet. Trust me, he would brilliant eldest son. Even in the harshest not know where to start from. If he is the type conditions, the son strives academically. The who is too shy to ask and he is heavily pressed, family invests its non-existent resources in he might even defecate on himself because he the son’s education. Mother luck smiles on looks around the sparkling toilet and cannot him and at some point, he gets a scholarship imagine pooing anywhere. I have heard a story to study in the university and comes out like that. Also, some relatives from the village with an outstanding first degree. Luck pooh and they do not know how to flush or smiles on him again and he gets another have not cultivated the habit of flushing the toilet scholarship for his postgraduate studies. In after use. Children of Cain and AbelhispostgraduateschoolinEurope,hemeets The mother of a son of Abel visits his son and Jane. Jane is a silver spoon daughter of a she is wondering why there is “harmattan” very rich Nigerian, who did her inside the house and in the car, but outside is wAmlbwtBppmniuogptAhyifNpbeihcnoscJonnnhhriapfdahofaaraaaanofoveruobbTAaiisiaeeaanAocynrrcrtngonuedeutilmtepeChryAvrhnddseeokelhikbbdegdoreIrlcslnirdiennavui.aytgribagterrrslnssanwthagaaemtrettiageirrialrreyhatssgcganct,teebottpotuorlmiyij.hoolahetluuvseiseoaoo,lunrre,hu’aknaeytuuneWkeihse.dbnsnt,osannlsownn.innyinledd,stt.tuFansadutomdsodudhdechiofbghrnbhSAeoaeidcl,moncfsensndhresveeieefueitjoohsatr.cstowsng.sebmtinot;eaiunehnAietmsmdtheelwaarta,TrryslitpsesdohtaoesIt,sib,atystdcthacehsehtraufssonperihtwoneCchdehkeyienadfr.ehemdCnrtuayogeustotlaegieaacorarcnoiil,eeuomtwuaseutsoeledveaogrhrhhyiissuo,rlipinronsenpTlaftertstievneefscsaetmonileweruagftntgltitedodeshth.tepriasnhlahlawrgonh.notrafiervoiNsamettnnpyhenlmeetdoednurTerhhdeymldmohimiiinddroyoeeyyyfnssssecfhrrriiofr.aieasksecehaatnenussidhnbnreCynyuteo.rstgg.noVsihr.gi:wlstensefeilehestactnCtimmvi.HtlaAgonaehostaeeTnehscraoAnebheuatraibyhhdhwaifiisrucevr,ervnssraleeiieeerwlsvdirtelnmctw.psytidyowsnapasakaaNhr.dodarmefahtrogbenjhAeiaaaeoorldootlrsirlndleooenleessstrrr-ytl,eypuy,isftmrshcoutaihtsidabCgdddturtyhebonlhhnheooateuiaiinnielfaAglvdeefcsmeaucduthtdfydmipoyls,lAyemtkrnugfrsepeaoacrfegowtbbggthprdyoet,mptnoohn,rhrhoaettsoaebnayoiseupihetetlrirndlufnoutoiuelr’eertbyyyesygtguythtfttnnehfoocirhroehrel-bdteafaoiiemsuaerltidmaCsirislvcartgueoooanooneuafaksncuariudyirdeatmnattnrnsidoethlolyiatifgfjBsatpTmflcolotoi,iOsashhaoecsdoulseetwtonrnhurwoicBhstmsutmdeaearbamitfsrcolxuldotyeoeteenneaideltsenudtutgniflbiudiomyuwrowye.hddngolvdfiaulitditeeysloistluuyrvnvhircriYeeanhjgocnae.exsitwxsuovsodeeecrdehasrIeoedatamtitaermpfodeifareenree,ssharirynuatsntbypssemselhtsoA,ltbb.nedwottm,iwopcliof;da.raThomieoimitghealtobtiriuetnnrosfirpuohaenecayehhbrceeiawyeheurgtcaclacnmenknh,tesoleouovsopnl.tlsresaeatrriyohcigedyuiifepetaatvotoifteatrwtreaeoenmbetarssdinienfihvidtroonbusnygvoltttahhnAty.todrwweeieheaunhaihidhioonenygohleneawavNoorbrlrnien.iieeoeaeuagtutrtrreetrmnetewyyiIihnddhddloaeeeyoaaayyysrrrrrrtll,,.. hot. She wakes up in the morning and goes to younger siblings. It is a world she sit in the balcony with her chewing stick to get does not know and you must explain some warmth because there is “harmattan” to her that, whereas her father is inside the house. You serve her tea and bread responsible for her siblings’ and she dips her bread in the teacup. She puts education, you will be responsible for cutlery aside during lunch and eats her rice with your siblings’ education; whereas her her hands. She is an absolute nightmare at the parents still give her money, you have dining table. Even her grandchildren, who are to send money to your parents. under 10, watch in absolute horror or amusement. How does a daughter of Cain cope The issue of support for your family with these experiences unless the husband must be sorted out before marriage so prepared her mind for them ab initio? When that your wife will not be a stumbling her mind is prepared for them, she will laugh block later. Supporting your family is them off or tolerate them. If not, these are the for your good and everybody’s. If you scenarios that make daughters of Cain to call do not support them, it will come back their in-laws, “barbarians,” “uncivilized,” to haunt you in future. You might end “uncultured” among other hurting wordings. up with siblings who are perpetual We all know the outcomes: divorce, separation, dependents, or siblings you are fights and sometimes homicides. All these are ashamed to be associated with, or avoidable if sons of Abel do their homework siblings who will be of no help if there well. is external aggression and you need family support. You have to learn how All children of Abel must realize that they were to do the balancing act between your like their parents and siblings until the world nuclear and extended families. This opened up for them. They must now open up problem is self-inflicted. Marriage the world for their parents and siblings. When should not have been top priority in should this start? From your early beginnings. the first place. And there is nothing There is nothing like I want to get an like I have my own life to live in this accommodation first. From your first income, if matter. You must support the extended it N5,000 or N10,000 you can spare, start familyandyourwifeshouldunderstand sending money home to your poor parents and that. siblings. Remember the bible says that he who is not faithful in little things will not be faithful Getting your wife to understand your when the stakes are high. Giving is a habit; it is background will also help to avoid either you have it or you don’t. If you cannot unnecessary tension and conflicts later. give out of little, you cannot give even in Your family members will like to visit abundance. Take care of your parents who gave or stay with you at some points. Their their all for you. ways might look crude by modern If you were away from soccer in the standards. Things you and your wife 1970s, keep reading until you discover take for granted will be novel to them. the mass movement called Enugu Rangers. The Flying Antelopes represented Ezeani. Godwin ‘ Pele’ Ogbueze. Onyeaka. more than football for they transformed from Emma Merenini. Charles ‘Wagner’ Adimora. club to Renaissance. One of those who made Okey Ozo. Donald ‘ Stone’ Igwebuike. Ikechukwu Ofoje. Charles ‘Warrior’ Okoye. Nnamdi ‘Policeman’ Anyafo. Kenneth Boardman. Totty Okoro Totty. You will see those us love them, Nwabueze Peter Nwankwo, is faces anew. no more. When there was Reunion in Enugu, it drew a We all knew him as Bulldozer. Yes, larger gathering. That was the first time many saw Harrison ‘ Mecha okpukpu’ Mecha, the Nwankwo was strong, he was huge and of rugged defender, after the creation of Imo State course, could kick the hell out of a in 1976. He came wearing the Ohafia War rampaging attacker. That was a defensive Bulldozer, Ejindu and Dancers hat. Christian Madu was there, shortly midfielder that did not have the cha cha cha before he passed on. Stanley ‘ Englishman’ of Jay Jay Okocha but could charge at goal Okoronkwo, Dr. Johnny Egbuonu, Francis ‘ like a bull. Rangers monument German Wall’ Nwosu, Jude Agada, Hakeem Ashiru, Ndubuisi Ajomiwe, name them. All were His demise got many talking and thinking. there. Sam Onyeaka, the speedstar who was known choice goalie Cyril ‘Flying Cat’ Ejindu was one of the first to visit the Dream in his Rangers days as 404 began Okosieme until the 1972 season. Coach “I have to tell you how far I have gone Team in Atlanta when they were stranded on their deliberations. Charles Okonkwo, Hurricane, Dan Anyiam had seen Okala stop Godwin towards accomplishing that. way to the 2016 Rio who also played for Rangers tried to sign Achebe’s penalty when Enugu Black I searched around Enugu Olympic Games. The into the past. Super fan, Donnie Emeka Ikpa, Rocks tackled Onitsha Red Devils. That with Okala for a good team returned the joined the fray. was enough to give him a place in location. I went to see favour by signing a T- Rangers. governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi Shirt which Siasia They put me through to Grand Patron of and explained everything to handed over to him. Ex-Rangers Players worldwide, Sir Benson The list was confirmed. Skipper him. I showed him the initial He said: “ Emeka Ejindu, Ezeomeogo of Oba. It turned out to Godwin ‘Ide’ Achebe. Johnny ‘ Wheeler’ plan drawn by one Ejike. Ikpa called me. I drove be another kind of Constitutional Nwosu. Mathias ‘Wonder Boy’ Obianika. “The governor wanted us four hours to Atlanta to Conference. We all got fixated on the need Godwin ‘Alan Ball’ Adimachukwu. Luke to expand on the drawing. I It bothered us all make them for Enugu Rangers Hall of Fame. ‘ Jazz Bucana’ Okpala. Nwabueze ‘ told him I needed a nice that should this comfortable. I also Bulldozer’ Nwankwo. Chukwuma ‘It’s a location. He agreed. We gave them 10, 000 It bothered us all that should this goal’ Igweonu. Cyril ‘ Flying Cat’ were supposed to meet again generation pass dollars for winning the generation pass away, there would be no Okosieme. Dominic ‘Alhaji’ Nwobodo. but we have not. I intend to away, there would bronze medal.” monumental edifice to tell posterity about Sam ‘ Onyembi’ Nwachukwu. Peter travel to Enugu when we are our Rangers International. Last year it was ‘General Gason’ Okeke. Teddy ‘Aji Obi’ done with Covid,” the Grand He eulogized Chukwuma ‘Its a goal’ Igweonu. This year Anikputa. Kenneth ‘Magician’ Abana. Patron told me. be no monumental Bulldozer. “A pure Nwankwo has left. Of the 1970 pioneers, we Emmanuel ‘ Tallest’ Okala. Ernest Ufele. edifice to tell gentleman. A good started to do arithmetic of how many had Emma Ojirika. Shedrach Ajaero. Sam Ejindu is doing a good job. posterity about our husband and father departed. Okoh. Godwin Nwosa. Patrick Ozua and He is in touch with many Rangers who instilled the news Ray Ohaeri. Rangers veterans. He is one International for a good education in It was 2am Nigerian time, Monday of the major sponsors of his kids. I am very sure January 25, 2021. Ezeomeogo was still a day Abana and Okala helped as we sought Rangers Union, a global that the family is very behind in Charlotte, North Carolina. the living. Nwobodo, Okeke, Anikputa, event which began in 2014. proud of Nwabueze Achimota, that is another of Onyeaka’s Ojirika, Okoh, Ozuah and Ohaeri are still When Houston, Texas hosted Nwankwo. A captain of nicknames was in another part of the United very much around. The last time I saw in 2018, Ezeomeogo the Biafra Army. Hero States, just like Ikpa. Hurricane was blowing Ohaeri was in the late 1970s when he extended invitation to Segun of the Igbo nation. The in the United Kingdom. was with the Imo Sports Council as a Odegbami and Samson man with the longest coach alongside Isaac Nnado and Siasia. Both stars did not play for throw in the History of Nigerian soccer. The Ejindu got in touch with Kenneth ‘ Paulinus Nzerem. Rangers. Rangers family will always be with the family.” Magician’ Abana, who was still awake The Rangers Union is like a carnival. Ejindu also prayed God to heal Chairman somewhere in Anambra. We tried to confirm Ejindu promised to locate the living In the United States, former players Christian Chukwu, a regular at the Reunion, a list of the pioneers. Abana was the youngest Flying Antelopes as we harped on the make it bubble. Dominic ‘ Hugo Harris’ home and abroad, with Okala. member of the squad in 1970. He also scored Rangers Hall of Fame. He said efforts Rangers’ first local and international goals. had been made in the past to get it started. Ejindu also contacted Emma ‘Tallest’ Okala as we tried to know those still living with us. Okala was an understudy to first

Ihave neither the space nor the heart SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 30, 2021—19 to produce the emotional letter a son wrote his recently deceased father through his standing income. And at over in full here. I have read the letter at least 70, he really doesn’t need the farm for twice. Each time I did, I felt a lump in sustenance. His farm was basically to my throat. I am a father, and for over empower his community and give back to his three decades before my father passed people. On December 19, he sent me graphic on, a son. I can therefore, easily put images of how herdsmen desecrated his farm. myself in the position of a father or a They destroyed his banana trees, uprooted son in the letter which starts with ‘Dad, his tubers, took time to roast some, gave some knowing that I will never see you again to their cows and took some away. On their is a hard pill to swallow’. It then goes way out, they destroyed the farm house. The on to talk about the little things that make scale of destruction wasn’t borne out of any a father/son relationship special. How economic need. It was wanton. It was he brought his partner home at 28 last punitive. And it was done with impunity. It year and his dad teased that the son A son’s letter to his dead father was not the action of people who were needed to do catch up because he got accommodating and wanted to be married at 26. How he got his own back accommodated. It makes you wonder if there when he started his PHD programme is more to the presence of these Fulani and teased his father that he too needed in his family and his country was wasted remained mute. Like when the President herdsmen in Yorubaland. After all, Fulanis to do catch up because his dad finished by people who cared nothing for family told Governor Ortom to learn to had always been living peaceably in his PHD at 49 and he would most likely and country. A man who had so much to accommodate his fellow Nigerians. Or Yorubaland. It also makes you wonder if there finish his own at 32. He recollected the lose because he had improved his lot was when the Presidential spokesman pride in his father as he started calling murdered by people who had nothing to reminded Governor is more to the him Dr… If you have ever teased your lose because they have no self-worth. The Akeredolu of the right of acquiescence and son or been teased by your son, then Nigeria he believed in; the Nigeria he Nigerians to reside anywhere tacit complicity of you can relate with the obvious affection, called home had let him down. What is in the country. You have to some people at the the intimacy in the narrative. The letter worse is that his family might never find ask if that is all they have to centre to the atrocities then talks about how the son had given closure because his killers might never say to people who are being of these criminals. up on Nigeria because he doesn’t feel be found, let alone held accountable. displaced from their ancestral safe there ‘and home is where you are homes; who are being driven We saw how safe’.To which his dad retorted ‘home is The son ends the letter with words that If you have everfrom their means of America is handling where you are from. Nigeria is your will stay with me for a while. ‘Dad, I’ll livelihood; who are being the assault on Capitol home’. How many times have we told write you yearly. I’ll keep you up to date teased your sonkilled on their beds. Or if that Hill. It is being this to our children in the diaspora?I about everything we have achieved since or been teased bygoing on almost everywhere treated there as an know I have. In the light of what is going you left and we know you will be happy is the answer to the banditry insurrection and the on in Nigeria now, the statement is to read them’. You see, to his killers, he perpetrators are beginning to sound hollow. The was one more killing. To the police he was your son, thenin the country. Economic being treated as argument that there is insecurity another addition to their statistics. To his migration is one thing – criminals irrespective everywhere is easily defeated because community, he was probably a good man. you can relatemany of us are economic of their ideologies few governments pay lip service to But to his family, he was irreplaceable; migrants to the cities at least. and political motives. insecurity like we do. someone whose untimely death will with the obviousBanditry is another thing We should learn from His dad buttressed his points by forever leave a void. affection, theover people’s land and them. Crime must be talking about the Nigeria that raised and altogether. You don’t take distinct from ethnicity, educated him – he was, like me, a It would be bad enough if his death was religion or economic product of free but qualitative primary a one off. Or if the perpetrators would be intimacy in themigrant. You don’t kill and migration. Criminals education. He had, according to the son, apprehended. Unfortunately that is not property as an economic and their sponsors a glowing image of his formative years the case. His death was just one of the must be held and wanted to give back to the country. multiple killings in the country and the narrativemaim wantonly as an accountable if we His farm was one of the ways he thought increasing death toll in the South-West. economic migrant. You want to have a of doing that. His dad was Dr Fatai People are routinely killed and maimed certainly don’t impose your country. Otherwise, Aborodo who was allegedly killed in on their way to their farms. People are way of life on the community many war lordslike front of the said farm by Fulani routinely kidnapped on the highways and as an economic migrant. Sunday Igbohowill spring up in unlikely herdsmen. A well-educated, well-bred taken to the bushes. The farmer/herder A close friend of mine has places to defend their ancestral land. The man was brutally killed by ill-educated, clashes started in the Middle belt and always been fascinated with agriculture stakes are getting higher. ill-bred bandits. A man who had invested because the body language of the men at like me. But unlike me, he has the drive Those governors and leaders who are the top condoned it, has spread South. and the resources to do something about playing politics with the lives and livelihood The presidency hardly finds its voice it. He calls himself a ‘government pikin’ of their people will look back one day soon to when the killing, maiming and raping go because he retired as a senior military find that their people are no longer following on and when it does, you wish it had officer. He is also medical doctor. He lives them. a simple life which can easily be financed After dithering procrastination the was supposed to be a clincher. national leadership of the All In an open letter he said that going on with Progressives Congress, APC has pledged to commence the planned the exercise would undermine the Federal validation and registration of party Government’s fight against COVID-19. members next week. Ever since the plan was first revealed While not calling for the cancellation, Faleke, last year it has remained a source of a member of the House of Representatives acrimony among party members representing Ikeja, called for a deferment of struggling over the soul of the party. the exercise. His argument was that in the wake The struggle first consumed Comrade of the Second Wave of the pandemic that the Adams Oshiomhole who was shoved out ruling party should not be seen to be as national chairman last year. countermanding efforts directed against the pandemic. Why Tinubu is afraidReflective of the viciousness in the struggle, those against Oshiomhole and That was about the most logical argument his group ensured that the party’s against going on with the re-registration candidate in the 2020 governorship managed to add to itself the duty of exercise as scheduled. election in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize- Comrade was quick to distance, disown and conducting a new membership registration Iyamu lost in the Edo State governorship dispel any relationship to him. exercise. However, Akpan Udoedeghe had a sharp election. response almost immediately. While Ize-Iyamu, who by many accounts ‘won For Comrade, he had had enough of APC Incidentally, associates or those linked to commending Faleke over his concern, he was the 2016’ contest bad politicking. the National Leader have been most prompt to assure him that the party would despite being in opposed to this exercise. adopt safe distancing protocol to ensure that the opposition at But there are some who simply cannot COVID-19 is not spread during the exercise. the time was walk away. Asiwaju Bola When the issue began to gain traction last soundly beaten in Tinubu, the national leader year, a party chieftain from Benue State had For the National Leader, the troubles of the the 2020 election of the party is one such threatened to go to court over the exercise. exercise seem more than many eyes are despite the person. Given the chummy relationship between presently seeing. The registration exercise advantage of Without him and the God Asiwaju and Akume, some in Abuja could for the first time divide the unity of the So when somehaving security factor, the APC could not hazarded that Akume was being used Lagos APC going forward. taunt that Tinubuand all that. have achieved the success it against the exercise. A source said he was Many were did in 2015. simply called to order and his boy has since Fouad Oki, the factional chairman of the has been quiet onable to see the On the way to Change, the kept quiet. party in Lagos, having rebelled from the rolethe menace of FulaniOshiomhole’sof National Leader and his Tinubu mainstream is spoiling for a showdown associates successfully What those behind it did next was to get with the National Leader and has reportedly herdsmen, they areenemies in the registered the APC as a party. President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval started mobilizing for the exercise. APC in the defeat His rivals in the party believe for the exercise. This Buni did when he ignorant of ferocityof his anointed that he has the membership visited the president on November 10, 2020. Oki, remarkably has not hidden his support of the politicalcandidate. register and data which they for the 2023 governorship aspirant, Abdulaziz If for anything, claim he can use to produce Buni was escorted on that visit by the Adediran. Adediran, who was at one time m a r a u d e r sit was to silence the candidate at the prompt chairman of the Progressive Governors linked to the Babatunde Fashola family is the threatening him.governor who of buttons. Forum, Senator Bagudu Atiku who is also champion of the Lagos4Lagos Movement the comrade The sweeping defeat of governor of Kebbi State and the governor which aims to eviscerate Tinubu’s leadership Akinwunmi Ambode in the of Jigawa State, Abubakar Badaru. of the party. If Oki is able to galvanise popular had in the past Lagos APC primaries, the support it could spell doom for all that Tinubu celebrated his emergence of Hope The Kebbi and the Jigawa governors represents in Lagos. decimation of the Uzodinma as APC candidate according to sources have become the godfathers in are among tales that party major influence moulders around Buni and The registration exercise as planned by the Edo State. blabbermouths say are at the whatever goes on in the APC of today. APC is exactly what the Peoples Democratic Given the trauma he was made to pass Party, PDP did in 2005 that threw Atiku through, it was no shock that when a advantage of whoever controls the Despite the fact that Tinubu’s ‘man’ Abubakar out of the party he founded. At that former associate, Hilliard Eta last membership register. Senator John James Akpan Udoedeghe is time Prof. Jibril Aminu the linkman for December sought to resurrect what was the secretary of the committee, it seems that Adamawa refused to register Atiku. left of the Oshiomhole executive, that Though the Mala Buni national for today, the national leader is on his own committee was given the specific mandate in the face of the determined effort by his Now despite its slogan of change, the APC of organizing fresh congresses and a traducers to whittle down his powers in the which many complain has not as much national convention to produce a national APC. changed much in governance is adopting the leadership, the committee has somewhat same prescription and procedure to cut down Earlier this week in an open admission of a leader. the desires of the Tinubu Camp against the exercise, James Faleke came out with what So when some taunt that Tinubu has been quiet on the menace of Fulani herdsmen, they are ignorant of ferocity of the political marauders threatening him. C M Y K

H20—SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 30, 2021 succeed. ope Uzodimma has played his Communities that lie along that road should joker. His game plan, it seems, is to make the two critical provide peace. Then they must watch the builders roads that link the three senatorial zones in and ensure the best job is being done. The the state grade-A roads. Work has started. government must prioritize funding for that Craneburg Construction have moved to site. road. Uzodimma had promised Julius Berger. Craneburg say they are apar with Julius Speed kills. But Craneburg would need more Berger. Time will tell. speed. At the current speed, with the coming Imo people have seen governors come and rains, that project could linger. So let Craneburg go. Some came with small ambitions and make as much hay as it can while the sun shines. indolence. Some came with energy but no But there is something else. I haven’t seen the sense of standards. Many came with false design of the road. But Akwakuma roundabout is a mess. And it becomes a nightmare once the CRANEBURG and the road topromises. So when Hope promised Julius rains set in. Something has to be done urgently Berger and brought Craneburg, many Orodo at Akwakuma and other failed portions of the Imolites sucked their teeth and looked away. road before the rains come. Akwakuma needs But work has started on the roads. some order, which Craneburg and Hope If Hope can complete well-drained and Uzodimma can install today. The agony people tarred Owerri-Orlu and Owerri-Okigwe go through at Akwakuma in traffic snarls, and roads before 2023, he could be in the game aren’t you scraping off the entire tar and pursue them with zeal, with wild floods can be alleviated now. The people for re-election despite his squabbles with finding a new base and laying a brand ruthlessness, to early completion. want to see sensitivity. Craneburg must show workers and pensioners. Take it from me; it new bed?” Craneburg, it responsiveness- must always respond with is sinful to owe workers and pensioners. Since The managing appears, have interest and enthusiasm in relieving commuters he claimed he had eliminated a legion of director said his the equipment, and communities in its operational areas of pain ghost workers, let him pay genuine workers company was giving expertise, and and agony. and pensioners. Imo the strongest hunger for possible sub-base with excellence. They Craneburg have a chance to perish doubts and Owerri-Orlu road is important because it modern technology at are mindful that cement its claim to elite status. They will paint links the biggest senatorial zone and the a discount. They the roads would themselves in glory with a quality job on that second biggest city in the state to the state would scrape the weak be their portrait road to Orodo. I have seen big construction firms capital. Imo has a small landmass. If that 40 old tar and concrete as in Igbo land. in Lagos do quality roads and leave small km Owerri - Orlu road is completed, a much as possible, They said they drainages. Before the roads are commissioned, woman who hails from Orlu can work in crush and mix with had proved the drainages would be blocked by filth and Owerri and vice versa. But that road is cement, and relay on themselves in plastic bags, and the resultant flooding would important for another reason, a personal the road. That must be Epe, Lagos. eat up the new road. That is the predicament at reason. It links Owerri to Orodo. So I have the concrete looking Hopefully, in 24 Mile 2 in Lagos. That is a predicament those taken a special note of what is being done. sub-base I saw. months, they who constructed Festac town in 1976 avoided The 40km Owerri- would brag with deep drainages. I haven’t seen the Owerri- When Craneburg started, my hopes fell. Orlu and 60km Owerri about the Orlu road design, but I hope Craneburg know They had come in like they were patching Okigwe roads Owerri- Orlu that drainage would be everything. Yes, I have potholes. Just from the middle of nowhere, reconstruction will road too. But noticed, they have given the road a good slope. and they weren’t scraping off all the old tar. have huge political they would need But they must give it a wide and deep drainage We had seen governors pour watery tar over implications. So Uzodimma the cooperation system. old decrepit tar. So it seemed like deja vu. politicians might of the Then I watch more closely. I noticed that struggle to affect the government and Craneburg claim a track record in delivering Craneburg’s sub-base looked strong, perhaps project. Hope the high-quality developments. Craneburg’s the best I had seen anywhere in Imo. That Uzodimma must communities to reputation is at stake on the road to Orodo. Let piqued my interest. I asked questions, “Why the people and the government give them support and cooperation. Is it of national interest for criminality to be given ethnic coloration? Compiledby LUMINOUS JANNAMIKE • Gabrielle Kelu • Victor Ibrahim-Itopa • Nonso Nnaemeka Nwankwo • Tunde Akinsanmi (TDot) • Ugochukwu Nwazojie • Ifeoma Agbo Eze • Abubakar Ali like kidnapping, robbery, genocides and many forms of terrorism, disturbing the peace and well being of 1. Ethnicising criminality, spade. I do not have enough information Of course, no ethnic group should be the entire nation. unhelpful —Gabrielle Kelu to decide what the current criminality in spared in the fight against criminality. the country should be called. But like I said, Insecurity should be tackled headlong We cannot say all herdsmen are criminals, but Ethnicising the current situation is even more if it’s true that the members of a particular with the clarity of the law. we can outlaw or control their activities around the unhelpful. There should be no reason for such. ethnic group are the ones perpetrating evil communities. No security initiative should be targeted at in the process of carrying out their daily 4. Some criminals use any ethnic group just as its benefits are to be business, then let us call a spade a spade. ethnicity as cover for their However, it is not of national interest to give reaped by all Nigerians irrespective of ethnic Otherwise, we would be worsening our crimes —Tunde Akinsanmi criminality an ethnic coloration. Our leaders should or religious placements. already fragile unity. (TDot) know how to tackle this situation. If they are not up to it, then they have no business leading us. 2. Let’s call a spade by its name 3. Spare no ethnic group in In recent times there have been —Victor Ibrahim-Itopa tackling crime criminals who use the cover of being 5. Treat criminals without ethnic herdsmen, to perpetrate heinous crimes bias —Ugochukwu Nwazojie I am of the opinion that you call a spade a —Nonso Nnaemeka Nwankwo I opine that criminality should be tackled headlong and not otherwise. This is because I believe every nefarious act perpetrated by a hardened criminal should be treated according to law irrespective of where the person cones from. 6. Criminality is colourless, tribeless —Ifeoma Agbo Eze Criminality has no tribe, colour or race. It is found in every tribe, ethnic group, race, and all peoples. It shouldn’t be given any ethnic colouration; instead it should be collectively fought and nipped in the bud. 7. Ethnic colouration to crime threatens national unity —Abubakar Ali I don’t subscribe to that idea of branding any particular ethnic group with criminality. Doing so, over a long time, may lead to violent inter-ethnic clashes.

SATURDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 30, 2021—21 •Angela Philip

22—SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 30, 2021 me with the python on set. He told me this is how I want to bring the story to Edited By AYO ONIKOYI life. But I was like, it wasn’t in the script. 08052201215 For me, I am a very passionate actress. Whatever I feel is going to bring the Uche Ogbodo speaks on her romance with python! story to life, I am ready to do it. When he said that, I saw his point and agreed to ‘I underwent deliverance act alongside the python. There is nothing that’s not achievable. But what scared me was not even the python that was wrapped around my neck, but it was muddy river that I could not see what was inside it. There were crocodiles and other pythons domicile in the river. I wasn’t seeing them and out of fear, I came out from the river, even though I believed that nothing would happen to me. You made a post on Instagram that went three times after playing viral recently, where you said that you have not had sex for two years now. What is it like living a life of celibacy? I have done it for four years before now. Celibacy is a voluntary vow of sexual abstinence. It’s something I practice ones snake girl’ in a while. I have done it for four years, it’s not something that is new to me. It’s something I do whenever I need to go back into my myself and re-brand or to reconstruct myself. I recall that before I Sultry actress, Uche Ogbodo who’s fondly had my daughter, I abstained from sex called ‘Nollywood Lady Gaga’ is indeed a for four years. ‘woman with a brave heart.’ Last year, she Would say celibacy is your way of embarking on spiritual cleansing? played a role that one could describe as her That’s what it’s for me. Celibacy is my most challenging ever, where she acted way of spiritual cleansing because sex is a major distraction. If you are having sex Azummiri-The Snake Girl, in the movie,Udene oftentimes,andyouwanttogrowspiritually, produced by Oma Nnadi. It was frightful as it’s always very hard. I am not saying it’s many who saw the viral video on social notachievable.Butifyou abstainfromsex and you commune with the spirit, it’s media, where a huge python was wrapped somethingthatisamazing.Iamnotforcing around her neck while on set couldn’t believe anybodytofollowmyfootsteps.Ifyouwant their eyes. Yet, it was real, but what happened to have sex, go ahead and have sex. After thereafter is something that is unimaginable. all, life is for enjoyment. Ogbodo, who’s best known for roles in such movies as “The Laptop(2008)” and “Range Rover While you abstained from sex for two years, were you not tempted to go back again? Babes” shares her horrible experience after playing I am famous and being someone who’s that role. As she narrates: After the faced with people that are real as well production, I started having attacks from as the ones that are not. I don’tlikeromanceinmylife.Ihave the python. The actress also reveals why men at my beck and call at all she’s always practicing celibacy and why she’s times.Butthat’snotwhoIam.I no longer desperate about any man’s love am a very strong woman. Whatever I decide to do with my life, that’s what I do among other things. Read on.... irrespectiveofwhathappens around me. Things don’t influence me, rather I By BENJAMIN NJOKU influence things. If I say ‘know’, I don’t want men aroundme,itstands,andifI I recall that last year you played a role in a movie that almost say, I want men around me, challenged you, where you acted a snake girl, Azummiri in the so be it. movie,Udene. Did you experience any spiritual attack after playing that role? Yes I did. I had a lot of attacks spiritually. Although when we Yousaidinoneof your were shooting the movie, I was a bit prepared for the battle interviewslastyear ahead of me, which was why I accepted to play the role. that you are While we were shooting the movie, I was on a 14 days open to fastingandpraying.ButIfeltthateven myspiritual finding love. belief was nothing compared to the effect of Would say the python and the river, where the movie you have was shot. found love Horribly, after the production, I started again? having attacks from the python. It Well, love was so serious that I had to comes and undergo deliverance for almost goes. But I three times before I stopped am in a •Uche Ogbodo seeing the python. It didn’t relationship harm me, but it kept this time appearing and playing around. I’m around me in my dreams. I loving, but it knew it was same python. depends on The python and I were not your ownidea friends. Our contract ended of finding love after wecompletedtheshooting •Uche Ogbodo again.Youknow of the movie. the way the media paints things. Do you How I regained control of my life, mental health after Does it mean you were not thinkthatmarriage initially frightened when the isthelove? Forthemedia,anyrelationship snake was wrapped around your neck? thatdoes notend inmarriageisscandalous. The person involved has not even found I wasn’t frightened. I’m not someone who is easily love. I know my boy friend and we are frightened. I always believe that I have a certain together.It doesn’tstopmefrombeingwho power. I am a goddess, I always believe that I I am or who I want to be at a certain stage am stronger than whatever that have come to of my life. It doesn’t also stop me from face me. Before playing the role, I have already makingdecisionthatwillprofitme. IfIwant commanded the spirit of the python to obey to go into sexual relationship, I will do it. me. It could have harmed any other person, or But if I don’t want, I won’t go into it. This is caused a big accident about me and not about the man. on set, but in my own case it was moving on my body battling postnatal depression —Dakore Egbuson-Akande and doing all sorts Each time you see your six-year old of things on me. daughter, does she reminds you of ABy BENJAMIN NJOKU creativity, so it was dying inside. This was after four When you were anythinginthepast? ward-winning actress, Dakore Egbuson- years of being away from work. I just had this given the script and My baby is a blessing to me. Everything Akande went down memory lane during the consistent and persistent sadness - a lack of joy - you learnt that you that happened to me when I was carrying week, recalling how she regained control of her almost like I would be struggling to reach the joy, were going to act her pregnancy, I felt like the world was life and mental health after she battled with then sometimes I would be very manic-like very alongside a against me at a certain stage. But after I postnatal depression. happy, then very sad,” she revealed. python, how did had my child, I saw that this was meant to The actress made the revelation, in this week’s “After a while, I started going to therapy. My therapist you feel? be.Thisisbecausewithoutthisgirl, Idon’t emotional episodes of #WithChude. asked me what I used to do before I had my baby, Unfortunately, thinkthatIwould bethewomanthatIam Speaking on how her seemingly perfect life and and I told her I was an actor. She said to me, ‘It’s there was nothing today. Giving birth to her has brought so recent transition to motherhood deteriorated into probably because you’re not doing what you’re used like playing with a many good things to me. It has upgraded postpartum depression, the beautiful mother of to doing, you’ve been doing this since you were a python in the script. me andtaughtmealotofthingsaboutlife. three said, “I had some slight complications after kid, and now you’ve suddenly stopped’”. When I was given the It has also taught me a lot about loving the birth of my daughter. I was in a sad state, and Through the support of her therapist and a script, there was myself and being independent. Do you I just slipped into postnatal depression. I didn’t supportive friend, Dakore was able to identify nothing like that. But knowwhatself-loveis? Now,Iamnolonger even realize it when it started happening.” that her depression emanated from the recent the director of the desperate for anybody’s love, I am not After a conversation with a trusted, older friend readjustments that had been happening in movieissomeonewho desperate for acknowledgment. I am also who helped her identify the source of her sudden her life. With a slow but eventual return is spontaneous. He notdesperateforappraisalnorforanything. and recurrent mood swings, Dakore said she to acting and the entertainment industry throws things at I love myself well enough now. I make visited her OB/GYN, who confirmed that she was at large, Dakore was able to pull through people, he stunned decision and stand by it without anybody indeed suffering from symptoms of postnatal and regain control of her life and mental influencingme.Ineverhaditlikethisbefore depression. health. now. “I started to realize that I wasn’t using my C M Y K

SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 30, 2021—23 A“COVID jail” with a 15-foot 08116759759 barbed wire fence to house people who repeatedly break In The Clink quarantine rules has opened in Germany. The facility, in the northern province of Neumünster, is one of the measures being taken in the country to prevent the spread of the new mutant strain of coronavirus. Rule breakers will be held in one of six cells in a vacant annexe of a young offenders institute, with 40 retired police officers guarding the site as volunteers. Detainees will be allowed home comforts like televisions, laptops, and mobile phones, and will also be able to access psychological support if needed. The prison will be used to enforce quarantine for people who have travelled, been exposed to coronavirus, or tested positive but refuse to complete an isolation period. Local officials have said it will only be used as a “last resort” and that no-one will be imprisoned unless there is evidence to demonstrate they broke quarantine rules. Speaking to reporters earlier this month, district councillor Sönke Schulz said: “The isolation of suspected infected people in their own homes is an essential element in getting the infection rate under control. “Anyone who does not comply with this is putting other people at risk. “The infection protection act therefore rightly allows isolation in locked facilities as the last resort. “It should not really be any different from quarantining at home.” At present, the quarantine period for anyone thought to have been exposed to the coronavirus is ten days. Schulz said that by the time authorities are able to obtain a court order to mandate a person’s detention, it is unlikely many days of the period will remain. Man who thinks he’s God ‘cut off dad’s head Councillor Peter Schröder, who and killed another in human sacrifice’ will be overseeing the facility, introducing similar facilities. said it was intended more to “set It comes amid concern over the an example” than to be in regular use. possible spread of the mutant strain “We hope there will be hardly of coronavirus first detected in the any [detainees]. Up until now UK in December. there have not been many,” he said. The strain is thought to be up to 70 States across Germany have per cent more contagious than the reportedly considered original, and to have contributed to a rise in cases in the UK at the start of this year. Man missing for three weeks in Australia ‘survived on wild Aman who thinks he is God mushrooms’ cut off his dad’s head and A man managed killed another man as a to survive 18 ‘human sacrifice to himself’, it is days in the alleged. gruelling Australian Dmitry Ponomarenko, 30, was bush by eating wild seen walking naked down the mushrooms and street in Odessa, Ukraine, hitting drinking dam water. his father’s severed head against Police had called off a parked cars, police said. search for Robert Weber, Neighbours saw him leaving his 58, after he flat covered with blood, while disappeared with his holding the head of his 53-year- dog in Queensland on old father Igor Ponomarenko. January 6. He was last While being interrogated, the spotted in Kilkivan alleged killer reportedly told police leaving a hotel but later he was ‘a God’ and ‘sacrificed the when he drove down a victims to himself ’. farm road he got stuck A resident who lives in his in the dirt. Weber spent apartment block said: “A covered the next three days in his with blood and wrapped in guts vehicle but was forced man, holding a severed head, came The beheaded corpse of Igor to leave when he ran out out of the entrance, sat down on a Ponomarenko was lying on the bed. of water, police said. bench and lit a cigarette.” Family friend Aleksandr He then got lost while Horrified witnesses called the Demchenko, 32, was also found looking for help in the emergency services. sliced open and gutted. 30C heat and was only Police raced to the scene and able to survive by detained Ponomarenko who was When asked why he killed the sticking close to a dam, wandering around Odessa with victims, Ponomarenko said drinking its water and his dad’s head, according to “because he had to”, witnesses eating mushrooms. onlookers. claim. Weber turned up alive mushrooms. ‘Mr Weber was He reportedly held his father’s on Sunday, a few days after an conveyed to hospital suffering head in his hands and told police A police spokesman told local air and land search had been from where his car was found. exposure to the elements but was ‘he is a God who is not media: “We received calls from suspended. Queensland MP Tony Mr Perrett, who had decided to otherwise safe and well.’ Weber worshipped’ when he encountered shocked people reporting a man Perrett and his wife Michelle and his dog were separated the officers. walking in the neighbourhood with found Weber sitting under a tree keep looking for Webber after the during the ordeal and the animal Police found two dead males in a severed head in his hand.” near a dam which was 3km away search was called off, told ABC: his apartment. ‘We’d been past this dam on Law enforcement opened a numerous occasions over the last criminal case for double murder week and when we saw him there it was just quite extraordinary. against Ponomarenko, ‘Just this morning it was good who was taken into fortune that he was there and we custody. He faces up to 15 were able to locate him.’ A police years in prison if found spokesperson added: ‘He guilty. remained at his car with his dog for three days before running out The suspect worked in of water. ‘He left on foot and the Duke Hotel, where he became lost and remained at a had been fired a day before dam where he survived by the incident for being sleeping on the ground, drinking under the influence of dam water and eating drugs and inappropriate behaviour, a source said. The motives of the crime are being investigated.

24—SATURDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 30, 2021 BADAGRY:Day Sanwo-Olu brought relief to residents Speaking during the commissioning of the housing scheme, Governor Sanwo-Olu kilometre road walk with some residents said Lagos State Government before flagging off the reconstruction of the acknowledged the effect of affordable decrepit Hospital Road. The road connects housing on the socio-economic well-being the city centre to the Badagry General of the residents, which was why his Hospital. administration went into a joint partnership with a private investor to 252 units of two- deliver the 252-unit two-bedroom terrace bedroom flats in Idale bungalows for low and middle-income families. The first project Sanwo-Olu By Clifford Ndujihe •Sanwo-Olu commissioned in Badagry was the Lagos 110-bed maternity home, rebuilt commissioning of the projects. State Eco-Friendly Affordable Public School of Anaesthesiology BADAGRY Division is arguably the Housing Scheme, which has 252 units of most neglected of the five divisions The elderly, youths and children in their two-bedroom bungalows in Idale. As part of his commitment to change the of Lagos in terms of political hundreds lined up in different parts of the narrative of the disturbing maternal, new appointments and provision of amenities. town waiving hands and shouting ‘Sanwo- The housing project is a Joint Venture born and child mortality indices, Governor For instance, the division is yet to produce Olu’ as the governor moved from one place Agreement with Echostone Development on Sanwo-Olu also commissioned a 110-bed governor or deputy governor of the state For to the other. Different groups also a 12.7 hectares of land. It was constructed Maternal and Childcare Centre, MCC, in some years now travelling on the Lagos- entertained the Governor with traditional under the supervision of the Lagos Ministry Badagry General Hospital. He also Badagry Expressway has remained a songs, drums and cultural dance. of Housing. The housing project was commissioned the rehabilitated School of nightmare as a journey between Mile Two designed with eco-technology and Edge Anaesthesiology in the ancient town. and Badagry, which used to be for one hour In appreciation of the warm reception, Advanced protocol, which is a green in the 90s can last for seven hours. Governor Sanwo-Olu took about 1.17- building certification that makes buildings 5.5km road project Things took a turn for the worse when the to be more resource-efficient. Each home immediate past administration of has two trees and a garden. It also has a In line with his administration’s Akinwunmi Ambode abandoned the water treatment plant, central sewage plant, commitment to make life comfortable for construction of the Lagos-Okokomaiko and power generating plant, good the people of Badagry in term of traffic stretch of the Lagos-Badagry expressway, an drainages and interlocking road network. management and transportation, Governor international highway linking Nigeria with Sanwo-Olu, during the visit flagged-off 5.5- West African countries. kilometre Hospital Road. The Hospital Since coming to power on May 29, 2019, Road is being rehabilitated to create easy Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who access to the Badagry General Hospital promised to turn the fortunes of the historic and the new housing estate in the town. and ancient town of Badagry around, resumed work on the Lagos-Badagry Traffic Management and Transportation Expressway and many stretches of the road programme is the first in the six-pillars being handled by China Civil Engineering THEMES Agenda of the Babajide Sanwo- Construction Company, CCECC, have been Olu administration. completed thus alleviating the suffering of commuters. As the Sagamu-Abeokuta road again comes to life . . . Last Saturday, Sanwo-Olu, in fulfilment of his election promises commissioned three By Bolu Adeosun Bad roads, Nigerians have come to learn meters wide, is strategically important as the major people-centred projects in Badagry time and again, are a major bane of the econ- major route linking Abeokuta, the Ogun State and flagged-off construction of a road THE importance of quality roads to the omy. Vehicles get spoilt on the roads almost capital, to Nigeria’s commercial hub, Lagos, meant to consolidate his administration’s development of the Nigerian society is as a daily ritual even as the movement of goods as well as the Eastern parts of the country. It efforts in putting smiles on the faces of Lagos constantly in the national discourse, and so from one place to the other is perpetually im- originates from the Government House, citizens. needs no repetition here. In Ogun, as in every periled: as if by compulsion, perishable pro- Abeokuta, and traverses the densely populat- The projects are 110-bed Maternal and other state, there is apparently a veritable need duce rot on farmlands. Happily, though, long ed business districts and residential areas of Childcare Centre (MCC) and School of for good roads to link communities and cre- abandoned roads are receiving attention in Ibara, Kuto, MKO Abiola Stadium, Oke- Anaesthesiology in Badagry General ate an enabling environment for investment Prince Abiodun’s Ogun where campaign Mosan, Laderin, Kobape and Siun, terminat- Hospital and 252 units of two-bedroom to thrive. Since coming on board as the fifth promises have become articles of faith. As has ing at the interchange. The two-lane dual car- housing project in Idale, as well as a 5.5 democratically elected governor of Ogun State been previously remarked, anyone visiting riageway separated by a two-meter median kilometre-long Hospital Road being on his 59th birthday on May 29, 2019, Prince Ogun in recent times will readily attest to the boasts of state-of-the-art architecture, includ- rehabilitated to create easy access to the Dapo Abiodun has left no one in doubt about fact that it is gradually becoming a huge con- ing standard drainages and functional stree- Badagry General Hospital and the new his desire to make Ogun State an investment struction site. In this regard, it is crucial to tlights. There is of course the reconstruction housing estate in the town. destination and development hub ready to live remark on the ongoing rebuilding of the of existing earth drains with adequate turn The projects were meant to bring succour up to its billing as Nigeria’s Gateway State. Abeokuta-Sagamu interchange road for a outs where necessary. And, again, there is a to the people of the historic town and its Underrated by many based on the false notion moment. Constructed by the Gbenga Daniel divider on the road with ornamental trees environs, who were direct and indirect that a billionaire business mogul attuned to administration and Obasanjo inaugurated by planted to create aesthetic appeal. When the beneficiaries of the Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s years of boardroom presentations would not the then President Olusegun Obasanjo, the construction began, as noted by the state Com- government initiative. make it in the murky waters of politics, a no- road had suffered from the normal wear and missioner for Works and Infrastructure, Ade Knowing the importance of the projects tion easily disproved but nevertheless tena- tear over the years. Last year, as part of the Akisanya, three milling machines were sited to Badagry Division, the residents trooped ciously held on to by naysayers, Abiodun has efforts by the Abiodun government to rehabil- on it to remove the entire asphaltic portions out to welcome the Governor with fanfare. unveiled an ambitious acronym ISEYA phi- itate existing roads in the three senatorial dis- and replace them with new asphalt overlay of It was a heroic moment as traditional rulers losophy; “Building our future together”, sol- tricts of the state, attention quickly shifted to both binder and wearing course, to ease traf- led by the Akran of Badagry, Oba De Aholu idly anchored on business models and the no- the Sagamu interchange- Abeokuta road, fic congestion in the area, as well as improve Menu-Toyi 1, public office holders, tion of governance as problem-solving, set- which had become notorious on account of the socio-economic development of the peo- chieftains and members of the ruling party, ting up new institutions and intervening to its state of disrepair and the nightmare of trav- ple along that corridor. All Progressives Congress, APC, as well as make extant institutions more relevant and ellers. residents came out to witness the able to deliver on their social mandates. Continues on www.vanguardngr.com The road, 42 kilometres long and 14.6 COVID-19:What you should do if you develop symptoms There is frenzy in the air and the world is •Stay in touch then it’s safest if you isolate separately from below 94 percent on your pulse oximeter.If desperately searching for a lasting cure with your everyone else while the others quarantine. you notice you get short of breath going up for COVID-19. Although there are no doctor... and down stairs or walking or something like COVID-19 vaccines in Nigeria yet, several havedevelopedsymptoms,reachouttoahealth Quarantine that, it is a sign that your case is more serious countries have been rolling out doses of the care provider or your local coronavirus Quarantining is a safety precaution for and requires further medical attention. available vaccines. But even this has done little information line for assistance. people who might have been exposed to to stem the growing anxiety. COVID-19. It requires staying home to If you have a persistent fever above 100 As the second wave of the coronavirus If you have COVID-19, try to spend the monitor yourself for symptoms for 7-10 days, degrees Fahrenheit that won’t come down infections spreads, concerns about personal majority of your time in a designated private which is the incubation period for the virus. with routine medications, call the doctor. health has continued to mount even as several space. If you need to share a bedroom, sleep They can end quarantine after 10 days as long new COVID-19 variants are emerging with six feet apart from any other people if you can. as they don’t have symptoms or after seven You can take drugs to treat your fever and some becoming more contagious or deadlier. Open your windows to improve ventilation and days if they don’t have symptoms and have cough. Taking supplements, including High infection risk help prevent virus particles from lingering in received a negative COVID-19 test within 48 vitamins C & D, and zinc, will not prevent you With no confirmed permanent immunity, the air. Wear a face mask as much as possible hours of breaking their quarantine. fromdevelopingsymptomsorhelpyourecover more people have been coming down with and observe all forms of hygiene. Even if the person or people you live with more quickly. The best thing you can do for Covid infection and as the number of cases in feel perfectly fine, it is best for them to your recovery is to stay hydrated, eat nutritious Nigeria have been increasing daily, it has If it’s impossible to stay in a separate room, quarantine if you get COVID-19. That’s meals, and just try to weather the storm as become pertinent to know what to do to care then everyone you in your house should wear because they could be asymptomatic with and best you can. for oneself or a loved one in the event that the masks as much as possible, while washing and pass the virus on to others. unexpectedhappens. sanitising your hands as often as possible. Quarantining may not be possible for When to go to the hospital Considering how rapidly the coronavirus everyone the goal is to aim to do whatever The symptoms that are concerning enough spreads, chance of becoming infected at some If everyone in your house has COVID-19, possible to avoid getting other people sick. to seek emergency medical attention would point is high. If this happens, it is essential to then you can all isolate together. If you’re the Self monitoring be fatigue, joint and chest pain, confusion and know what to do from the moment you test only person in the house who has COVID-19, If you can, obtain a pulse oximeter and profound shortness of breath that is not positive or develop symptoms that make you thermometer; they can more accurately help relieved with rest. suspect you have the virus. youdetectchangessoyouknowwhenmedical Beyond these critical symptoms, advice for Go into self isolation care might be necessary. seeking medical attention varies depending As soon as you receive a positive COVID-19 A pulse oximeter measures the amount of on the patient, Difficulty breathing continues test, or you suspect that you might have been oxygen in your blood. One of the major to be the most immediate concern. exposed, the next thing you should do is to self concerns around COVID-19 disease is the People with COVID-19 can get sick very isolate. This means staying home and not development of trouble breathing or quickly. It’s not clear how common ongoing going anywhere. If you haven’t got a test but respiratory distress. symptoms are, how long they last, or how to An early indicator of respiratory distress is treat them effectively. But if you’re still if your oxygen saturation drops. You should struggling with lingering symptoms after call the doctor for their advice about whether COVID-19, stay in touch with your doctor or you need medical care if your saturation drops contact your local health department or hospital.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 30, 2021—25 [email protected] Abrokenheartcouldbedangeroustoyourhealth! Recently scientific research has shown the risk of having evolution terms, say the researchers, trigger tension headaches -the so- pressure is not clear. However, a fewer natural killer cells – the cells heart failure or a stroke that’s fine. But it’s less useful when called ‘stress headaches’ regularly 1997 study of 150 American widows in the immune system that attack doubles in the first month after facing long term emotional distress. experienced by a third of adults. The and widowers showed that it tumours. A Swedish study in 2003 losing a loved one. The findings add Then the hormone can build to causes are not properly understood, remained high 25 months after the showed that women who had lost a to growing evidence that harmful levels in the blood, affecting but they are often linked to tight death of a spouse. Studies of the husband were twice as likely to bereavement doesn’t just increase many parts of our bodies. shoulder and neck muscles. families of dead soldiers have develop breast cancer as women the risk of depression and anxiety, Alongside dizziness, nausea, shown blood pressure is higher who had not. And a study of more but can weaken the body’s defences Hair loss: Within weeks of losing palpitations, stomach cramps and amongst bereaved relatives four than 6,000 Israeli families in 2000 against all types of disease – from a loved one, some women lose hair muscle aches, they are a common years after death. suggested the incidence of cancer the common cold to cancer. Doctors at an alarming rate. Hair grows in side-effect to people suffering was higher in parents who lost an even call it broken heart syndrome, a natural cycle. A strand typically intense emotional stress. The This could be linked to higher than adult son in the Yom Kipper war. not least because you are six times grows from the scalp for three years symptoms are thought to be normal levels of stress hormones, more likely to die in the year after before entering a ‘dormant’ state for triggered by the release of cortisol or it could be caused by destructive However, Cancer research UK losing a loved one than at any other three months. It then falls out to and adrenaline into the changes in lifestyle, such as smoking says plenty of studies have shown time. make way for a new strand. Any one bloodstream. Doctors say that even or drinking. Higher blood pressure the link is small or non-existent. The phenomenon explains why time, 10 per cent of hairs are if a headache isn’t initially triggered may not be a serious problem for Teasing out the cause and effects of many widows and widowers die dormant, while in a typical day, 30 by grief, any stress will exacerbate fit, young people – but for those in bereavement and cancer is tricky. within a few months of their spouses. to 150 fall out naturally. it. middle or old age who may already Grieving mothers may be more When an older colleague lost his be at risk, it could be enough to likely to smoke, drink, do less wife of almost 50 years a couple of High levels of cortisol can cause High blood pressure: Not trigger heart attacks or a stroke. exercise, and overeat, factors that years back, I felt really sorry for him. 30 per cent of more of your hair to surprisingly, blood pressure usually increase the risk of cancer. Apart from the fact they were very become dormant and three months soars in the first weeks after losing Cancer: The immune system close, the wife was hale and hearty later, drop out, causing bald patches a loved one. That’s because stress doesn’t just fight off bugs – it’s also Heart Disease and stroke: The when she left to spend time with her and thinning. The good news is this hormones, released in your crucial in defending against cancer. risks of a heart attack are 21 times daughter’s new family. “The next condition, called telogan effuvium, bloodstream, cause the heart to beat But huge levels of cortisol triggered higher in the 24 hours following the thing I heard was that she slumped usually cures itself. Within six faster and blood vessels to narrow. by bereavement can weaken the death of a spouse, according to a and died before they could even take months, hair should be growing Doctors say evidence of long term immune system. Studies have 2012 Harvard University Study. her to the hospital”, he told me sadly normally. effects of bereavement on blood shown that widowed women have Within the first week of bereavement, as we sat over our once-a-month widows are six times more likely to lunch treat. A usually boisterous Headaches: Bereavement can suffer than normal. The stress of man, he tried to be his old jolly self losing a partner can rvise heart but it was too much of an effort. He rates, increase blood pressure and barely touched his lunch. Three make blood sticker. Sleep and weeks later, another colleague appetite are disrupted, and people called wanting to know if I’d heard forget to take their regular of our friend’s demise. My heart medication – all increasing the sank. But it wasn’t a surprise really. dangers. Studies have also shown I just pictured him on our last date, that recently bereaved people suffer hunched over his beer and changes in their heart rhythms, muttering, “one minute, I was which puts them at risk. waving her off, and the next I was watching her remains being Diabetes: The loss of a loved one lowered into her grave!” may increase the risk of type 2 There are many complex causes diabetes, the version of the disease of broken heart syndrome, but the that usually appears in middle age. production of cortisol – a chemical A Danish study in 2005 showed released by the adrenal gland on top mothers who had lost a child in the of the kidney as part of our ‘fight of previous 18 years were 41 per cent flight’ response to danger, is believed more likely to end up being treated to be one of the biggest sources of in hospital for diabetes than mothers problems. The surge of cortisol who had not. Scientists believe increases the amount of sugar in the chronic high levels of cortisol blood to help our muscles work damage the cells in the pancreas faster. It gets more energy to the brain that produce insulin – the substance and speeds up wound repairs. In which controls blood sugar. Complications of type 2 diabetes can be serious and include poor circulation, sight loss, heart or kidney disease and miscarriage. Signals you get when your marriage isn’t working “WILL the average person in-laws. Their marriage seems to be training in England, he was always choice areas then sold the other plots course who wouldn’t under the experiencing problems in their on an even kneel. The situation that urging me to save and send whatever to build another one house in circumstances? But I never had relationships know whether or not gives a lot of concern is where the I could home so he could buy me Victoria Island. My darling peace of mind and my kids didn’t to walk away? It goes without couples know that their marriage is some property. His letter bothered husband, in the meantime, was have much respect for him. When saying that divorce now is quick and lying on its back with its hooves on an irritation at times but his having the time of his life sampling he died suddenly five years ago, I with little rancour, single virtually in the air but sit tight and insistence goaded me into doing the delight of the dames around him. couldn’t believe the number of parenthood are on the increase and hope that things will get better. temporary jobs – and petty trading It would have been alright if he women that showed up as mothers more men now opt for the single along with my regular job so I could hadn’t been obsessively jealous. Any of his children! There was even one life despite the fact that eligible Unfortunately, they seldom do, send him money. He always made man I talked with was a potential spotting an advanced pregnancy! It women are two a penny Boma, a retired industrial nurse in up for the balance and thanks to lover and he was often violent with was hard convincing them that the (seemingly). Yet, never before has her sixties now sits alone in her him, when we came back, I had a whoever he suspected. I’ve lost count love of their lives was so busy there been that fear of uncertainty lovely house, wishing she’d had the few plots of land here and there. of the black eyes he gave me, the enjoying life he didn’t even bother in abandoning a relationship that common sense to kick her wayward disgrace with which he’d marched to buy a piece of land not to talk of was obviously going nowhere than husband out of their matrimonial “My husband went into one of the me out of parties because he building a house in spite of his now. A few months ago, I ran into a home when she realised he was a armed forces and there was a house believed I was too friendly with men. connections. Tongues are now friend’s daughter and asked after bum despite the fact that he was a thrown in with his job, I got a good There had been occasions, when wagging more furiously than ever her mother. Sheepishly, she told me medical doctor. “I had a very shrewd job too as an industrial nurse, and he’d come to our official clinic to before that I’d sat on the property it was a long time she saw her father who believed in putting a bit thanks to my family connections, I rough-handle senior colleagues I my husband acquired in my name mother last as she was now living by for the rainy day”, she said. was able to get quite impressive was attending to because he thought when he was a public officer, that I with her fiance. That would have “When I was working after my contracts. In no time, at all, I had they’d come under the guise of was denying his other children fund been perfectly in order if it was what developed the two-plots I had in having quickies with me in my out of spite. Whereas, if I’d left when she wanted too. “I would have office! The man’s imagination was common sense dictated I should, all preferred for us to get married”, she dangerously fertile. these wouldn’t have happened. How shrugged, “but he doesn’t want to many accusers would I show commit himself until I’m pregnant”. “I was often regarded with pity and documents! the children too were fearful of him. What happens if she gets pregnant, But as long as he had his Cognac “These days, I look at my married gets married, and later has a and Benson, he was alright until he children and marvel at the ease with miscarriage? Will the man abandon got drunk – then it was bedlam. which they communicate with their her some two years later if she can’t When I left regular employment, I spouses. I’m glad they’ve learnt from conceive again? These questions started travelling and he would the harsh treatment I received from and lots more ran through my mind pinch shoes, costume jewelry or any their father. Whenever any of their but I didn’t want to make the poor fanciful female things I had to sell friends tel of ill-treatment they girl more miserable than she and give them to his girlfriends. I receive in their matrimonial homes already was. She is currently actually saw one of them wearing a and I tell them not to stick any abuse hopping from one gynaecologist to set of jewelry and exclusive shoes that could rob them of their pride, the other and when I asked her if that I’d earlier imported, but found they look at me in wonder, believing the lover of her life had gone for a missing, at a party and challenged old people like me should advocate test too, she said it wasn’t necessary him. He called the lady over and matrimony at all costs. Well I don’t. as he’d already fathered a child. I boomed for everyone to hear that You should always stick a situation, wanted to tell her that was no proof. she got her shoes from as I thought good or bad, as long as you’re That I knew a few ‘surrogate’ fathers they were mine. You can imagine comfortable with it. Once you’re not, who’d made a few ‘barren’ women the type of reactions we got from you should think of an alternative – mothers. The legal fathers are none other guests. otherwise you’ll be bitter for the rest the wiser and the mothers are now of your life...” free of criticisms and jibes from their “I had a few flings of my own, of C M Y K

26—Vanguard, SATURDAY, JANUARY 30, 2021 Twitter: @yetundearebi [email protected] 08054700825 Yetunde Arebi The year before Covid 19 invaded the It’s a mother’s horrors of attending the Church wedding which world, I attended a traditional wedding would take place in their obodo oyinbo, two party in the company of some friends. I day! weeks after the Naija show of shame. knew not the intended couple nor their parents. I had been invited by my childhood friend who and her uncle were flung money to the vendors. Only I learnt later that the man was a brut and is also a friend of the groom’s mother. My to one end of the front row. when it was absolutely wife beater, who would always blame everyone friend and some others had travelled from Not even the advice by the necessary would the groom’s and everything around him for whatever he Obodo oyinbo land with this woman to support wedding handlers or close mother be allowed to step out. did or befell him. He soon struck gold when and share in the joy of her son’s wedding. It friends could make him This wedding remains the luck shone on him in politics and his thirst for turned out to be one of the worst parties I’ve change his mind. Some most confusing, unnecessarily women became insatiable. She’d fled to save ever attended. even tried to talk to hostile, dehumanising and her life and taken her only child, the groom, We arrived the venue a bit late, so the madam to help prevail of embarrassing party I’ve ever with her, even though the boy was allowed to traditional rituals had commenced. On oga, but she kept a attended. As soon as her shuttle between them. I was not so pained with identifying our host, we were ushered to one of straight, stone cold face. The rich man of power presence was no longer this man’s cowardly act as with the ‘wife’ who the tables at the back of the hall on the groom’s The devil had taken over. had decided to use such required (not that it ever was) allowed herself to be used to perpetrate such side. I thought it strange. Two other tables Many of our friend’s an auspicious day in the our host was led to her side of an evil act on another human being, more so, marked with her name were also empty. My family members knew life of his family to take his the hall, the last tables close a fellow woman. If the man is crazy and bent friend excused herself to go look for their other what could happen and pound of flesh on a wife to the entrance and she sat at on rolling in the gutters, should his wife also friends. I was already getting irritated when had come prepared for who decided to walk out our table. Her friends took agree to follow suit? No matter what might she appeared with two others. They had a any level of absurdity the on him years back, by turn to appease and ease her have gone down between a couple, there must strange look on their faces which got me big man could descend to. shaming her in the pain as tears rolled down her be a limit to the things and events to be used as worried. They sat and began discussing the I’d heard of similar presence of her family, cheeks uncontrollably. A pun to score cheap points against each other. strange event going on in front. The groom’s stories but never witnessed friends and in fact, the leopard could never change Definitely not a wedding! father had insisted that the groom’s mother, one until then. No doubt world its spots they said, and it was his estranged wife and our friend, could not sit my party mood was part of the reasons she’d left What impression does he want the bride and beside him for the ceremonies! That was not ruined, but I was all ears him in the first place. My her family to have about him and his family? all. This man had turned up at the venue of his and eyes for the gist stomach turned. No mother If I had admired him from afar before the first child’s wedding, not in the clothes chosen unfolding before me. deserves such on her day of party, I left with very little respect for him and for the occasion, but a different one in honour, especially one who’d his ‘wife’ after, and I am certain, many others collaboration with his ‘wife’! The woman who The groom’s father’s been there for the child all the would share my feelings. I asked my friend if had dislodged the groom’s mother. new wife would promptly way. It does not matter there were no elders in the family that could The rich man of power had decided to step out anytime the whatever might have transpired have prevailed on him to at least pretend to be use such an auspicious day in the life of groom’s mother’s attention was needed. between her and the father of the civil for the occasion? Perhaps as the one with his family to take his pound of flesh on a After all, she had been the one holding the child. I was happy to be saved the the deep purse and connection, no one wanted wife who decided to walk out on him years pre wedding consultations and doling out the to defy him. That’s the way of our people. back, by shaming her in the presence of her family, friends and in fact, the world. However, I still believe it was the duty of a Even the new alliance their family was sensible ‘wife’ to make things right, even if forging in honour of their son could not only to save her face and reduce the scorn to be stop him. He owns the money, was funding thrown at her. There are other ways she could the ceremonies and so called the shots. have registered her ‘wifely’ presence without His beloved family members and the vulgar display of ownership, but she chose important dignitaries got seats beside him to help rub a sister’s face in the mud instead. and madam, while the groom’s mother That day was not one for penis war. It was a child’s day of honour and he deserved his mother beside. Do have a wonderful weekend!! By Prisca Sam-Duru Cicely Tyson: The black actress At the Tony’s award ceremony the stunning who destroyed racial stereotypes actress said, “It’s been 30 years since I stood Cicely Tyson has just left the stage, onstage; I really didn’t think it would happen Thursday 28, 2021 to be precise and of Freedom which is the country’s highest Pittman,” adapted from the novel by Ernest J. again in my lifetime, and I was pretty this time, she wasn’t acting; it’s for real civilian honour. Gaines. comfortable with that. Except that I had this and she’s finally gone to eternal rest at 96. burning desire to do just one more. ‘One more Renowned for her identity as not just an And in November 2018, a month before she Other TV roles followed and they include, as great role,’ I said. I didn’t want to be greedy. I amazing black actress but also, a bold and turned 94, Cicely Tyson received an honorary Kunta Kinte’s mother in a mini-series based just wanted one more.” determined woman who all through her Oscar, a Governor’s Award of the Academy of on Alex Haley’s “Roots” in 1977; She was extraordinary career that spanned seven Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. In an Coretta Scott King in the 1978 NBC mini- True to her words, she appeared with James decades, rejected roles that degraded Black emotional acceptance speech during the series “King,” about the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther Earl Jones for nearly four months between 2015 people. Rather than her career retrogressing, ceremony, the actress paid tribute to her King Jr.’s final years; as Harriet Tubman, and 16 in a Broadway revival of “The Gin she won a Tony, Emmys and an honorary Oscar. mother, who had opposed her career in the whose Underground Railroad spirited slaves Game,” which is D.L. Coburn’s Pulitzer Prize- Tyson was firm in her decision to turn down theatre industry. to freedom, in “A Woman Called Moses” winning 1976 play about two elderly residents roles in films and television programs that cast (1978); and as a Chicago teacher devoted to of a retirement home drawn together over a Black characters as immoral and a race with “Mom, I know you didn’t want me to do poor children in “The Marva Collins Story” card table. questionable character. It was something she this,” she said, “but I did, and here it is. I don’t (1981). In 1994, she won a supporting actress called ‘characterless roles’. “We Black actresses know that I would cherish a better gift than Emmy for her portrayal of Castalia in the mini- This year, when she was 96, her memoir, “Just have played so many prostitutes and drug this. This is the culmination of all those years series “Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells as I Am,” was made public. And during a pre- addicts and housemaids, always negative. I of have and have-not.” All.” publication interview with The New York Times won’t play that kind of characterless role any Magazine, when Ms Tyson was asked if she more, even if I have to go back to starving”, In 1972, Ms Tyson featured in ‘Sounder’ as She eventually appeared in “29 films; at least had any advice for the young, she said, “It’s Tyson told Parade magazine in 1972. the lead actress. She played the role of Rebecca, 68 television series, mini-series and single simple. I try always to be true to myself. I The gifted stage, screen and television actress the wife of a Louisiana sharecropper (played episodes; and 15 productions on and off learned from my mom: ‘Don’t lie ever, no attained stardom through her acting prowess by Paul Winfield) who is imprisoned in 1933 Broadway, including “Tiger, Tiger Burning matter how bad it is. Don’t lie to me ever, OK? and vivid portrayals of strong African- for theft. Her role elicited unending reviews Bright” (1962) and “To Be Young, Gifted and You will be happier that you told the truth.’ American women thereby smashing racial and an Oscar nomination for best actress. Black” (1969). That has stayed with me, and it will stay with stereotypes in the theatre business in the 70s. me for as long as I’m lucky enough to be here.” That achievement endeared her to many as a “The story in ‘Sounder’ is a part of our history, Ms Tyson took a three-decade break from worthy prototype for civil rights. Tyson did not a testimony to the strength of humankind. Our Broadway and made a comeback in 2013 in a Born in East Harlem on Dec. 19, 1924, Cicely stop at rejecting characterless roles, she also whole Black heritage is that of struggle, pride production of “The Trip to Bountiful”, where Tyson was the youngest of three children of urged other Black colleagues to tow the same and dignity. The Black woman has never been she played Carrie Watts, an old woman, also William and Theodosia (also known as line insisting that African-Americans be shown on the screen this way before”, Tyson conceived as a white character, who yearns to Frederica) Tyson, immigrants from the portrayed with dignity in spite of their financial said concerning the play. see her hometown before dying. Her Caribbean island of Nevis. Her father was a status in the society. Her resilience and hard performance in “The Trip to Beautiful won her carpenter and painter while her mother was a work further earned her roles that had In 1974, Ms. Tyson wowed a national the Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle domestic worker. When she was 10 years old, traditionally been awarded white actors. television audience with her Emmy Award- awards. her parents separated and the children were Until her demise, Ms. Tyson was an idol of winning portrayal of a former slave in the CBS raised by a strict Christian mother who did not the Black Is Beautiful movement for most special “The Autobiography of Miss Jane permit movies or dates. Americans. She always looked majestic in an African turban and caftan, her face gracing After graduating from Charles Evans the covers of Ebony, Essence and Jet Hughes High School, Cicely became a model magazines. Since the ’60s she had inspired and was seen in so many magazines including Black American women to embrace their own Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. In the 1940s, she standards of beauty leading to her helping to studied at the Actors Studio, taking up her first popularize the African hair style- Afro. role on NBC’s “Frontiers of Faith” in 1951. She won three Emmys and many awards Her disapproving mother threw her out of the from civil rights and women’s groups, and at house as a result. 88, she became the oldest person to win a Tony, for her 2013 Broadway role in a revival of She later joined James Earl Jones and Louis Horton Foote’s “The Trip to Bountiful.” Gossett Jr. in the original New York cast of At 93, Ms Tyson won an honorary Oscar, Jean Genet’s “The Blacks” in 1961. and was inducted into the American Theatre Hall of Fame and into the Television Hall of Fame in 2018 and 2020 respectively. Added to that was a career achievement Peabody Award in 2020. In 2016, former US President, Barack Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal

SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 30, 2021—27 Nutritionists harp on the health benefits of Capri-Sun In an effort to reinforce its leadership in the fruit drink segment for children, Capri-Sun launched a national consumer awareness Five million users to benefit campaign to reiterate its all-natural ingredient recipe as a healthier option firm’s e-commerce app that supports the long term growth and development of children. This was amplified nationwide with an effective media campaign on print publications, television, out-of-home and digital, targeting parents who want the best for their children. Leading on from this, a few health nutritionists have lent expert opinion on the nutritional benefits of Capri-Sun Fruit Drink. They emphasized the importance of Capri-Sun’s ‘Clean Recipe’ that ensures the use of only premium natural ingredients extracted from the best of fruits, thereby Stories by Moses Nosike guaranteeing optimal retention of fruit contents as superior to chemically manufactured fruit drinks lacking in nutritional value. An online e-commerce platform, Offerservice, has Kemi Lawal, a Dietitian and Nutritionist with Hopewell Nutrition, stated been unveiled in Lagos, to that in the case of fruit drinks, using natural ingredients means that most nutrients from its original state will be present in the product. provide opportunities for “As nutritionists, we always recommend the consumption of food and corporations, businessmen, artisans drinks made with all-natural ingredients because of its numerous health and professionals to showcase and benefits. Capri-Sun falls into this category for kids with its unique processing promote their products and services that ensures no artificial colours, no artificial sweeteners, flavours and without any charge. preservatives,” she noted. The Managing Director, Mr. Tony For Tope Brown, a Nutritionist, it is important for parents to keep a tab Uzoma Emmanuel said that the aim on what their kids consume as unwholesome fruit drinks could be of the platform is to bridge the gap detrimental to their wellbeing. in terms of services rendered by “Parents constantly tell us of their preference for fruit drinks made with those with relevant skills sets, with a all-natural ingredients for their kids. Unwholesome fruit drinks add no view to creating that enabling value and we encourage them to enable their kids develop a healthy environment where service relationship with fruit drinks made with “Clean Recipe” like Capri-Sun for providers will be able to connect to their long term growth and development”. those who actually need those Capri-Sun offers a convenient way to hydrate with a natural taste that services, without too much stress. appeals to kids. It is made with all-natural ingredients - that means no In a media chart with pressmen at Donation and Commissioning of Dumb Site at Ogudu Jun- artificial colours, no artificial sweeteners, no artificial flavours and no the launch of app in Lagos, ior Secondary School by Rotary Club of Ogudu, Lagos. preservatives. Emmanuel explained that with the 2nd left is Club President Rotr. Chibuzor Okpala; 3rd left intended community space being is Mrs Clara Adebayo,Principal of the school; 4th left is Firms partner to support COVID-19 created, about five million people past Assistant Governor ,Bala Yesufu flanked by 2 pupils vaccination, women empowerment are expected to register by the end extreme right and left. education, water, sanitation of the first quarter of this year. Saying further that this could only be mutually beneficial to everyone involved in the process. audience at state, federal or global Nigeria and other countries in the The agreement will support the provision of COVID-19 vaccines and level”. world. The platform cuts out the related supplies for low and lower-middle income countries. According to him, the platform middleman approach that tries to This wide-ranging partnership is to support the global distribution of allows clients to register their Continuing, he said that registered rip people off. It also helps to project COVID-19 vaccines and related immunisation supplies in low and lower- brands, upload relevant images, users can showcase their services, registered users to potential buyers middle income countries. including opportunities for list their merchandise, and in their state, federal or across the The partnership with a multi-million dollar value, is the largest to date potential buyers to make payment personalise their page free of charge. globe. It helps people in the Diaspora to support UNICEF’s lead role in procuring and supplying 2 billion doses online in the specified currency. “The platform has been in operation make vivid decisions regarding of COVID-19 vaccines and auxiliary vaccination supplies on behalf of the since September 2020 but that the business transactions they want to COVAX Facility. DP World and UNICEF will also collaborate on other Emmanuel further said, “already wealth of experience of its get involved in. It indirectly reduces global programmes in support of education, health, women’s empowerment about 5,000 businesses have been management team within the IT unemployment in every society and water and sanitation. registered on the platform, through sphere spans well over three because it helps people to look DP World, a leader in global end-to-end supply chain logistics, will the efforts of staff who collect data decades”. inwards and find innate skill-sets provide UNICEF with logistics solutions and supply-chain expertise. By on a daily basis and hopes to get to that has been dormant thereby using DP World’s warehouse facilities in Dubai, UNICEF will have five million businesses by the end of Emphasising on what users stand giving them opportunities to activate optimized access to many countries. In addition, DP World has committed the first quarter. Offerservice is a to gain, Emmanuel said, “It creates and make profit from them. to leveraging its global logistics infrastructure and services on a pro-bono United States and Nigerian a symbiotic community market for basis in support of COVID-19 vaccine logistics needs, including transport, registered online catalogue, e- individuals who are keen to render He said that the platform helps to port and storage requirements in countries where it is present. commerce, events, job search and service and for those who require reduce stress. At your fingertips you The partnership was signed by UNICEF Executive Director, Henrietta social media organisation with a immediate service without hassles. can engage your immediate society Fore, and Group Chairman and CEO, DP World, Sultan Ahmed bin geolocation attribute that helps to The platform will naturally reduce and the world at large.” connect users to their target market/ the level of traffic on the roads of FONDCUP, partners to organise Niger-Delta unique cultural heritage Sulayem. It arose from UNICEF’s collaboration with the World *Winner goes home with car, N1 million Economic Forum’s Supply Chain and Transport Community, of which DP World is a member and explores In order to change the wrong choice and also well get to work with how the community collectively narrative people are holding various cultural programmes. HUSSTORM Technologies while tourists to visit the Niger-Delta could support an equitable access against Niger Delta, Mrs Elizabeth According to her, after the the second runner-up will be getting region. to the COVID-19 vaccines globally. Era, Convener of the maiden Face N500,000 with other opportunities. of Niger-Delta Cultural Pageant duration of 22 days camping, the In the same vein, Secretary “Distributing COVID-19 vaccines (FONDCUP), on a media chart with face of Niger-Delta Cultural At the end of the pageantry, each of General, The World Kindness is humanity’s biggest logistics journalists in Lagos said that the Pageant would emerge. However, the contestants will be going with Movement, Mr Stephen Oke, said, challenge since the end of the cultural pageantry will not only she said that the success of the N200,000. “the organisation had supported the Second World War,” said Sultan showcase the rich cultural heritage programme is as a result of the cultural pageantry because they Ahmed bin Sulayem. “We offer our of Niger Delta but change the wrong collaboration with The World The new face of Niger-Delta believed in the objective of re- infrastructure and expertise to view people are holding against the Kindness Movement etc. Cultural Pageant would take up the orientating the mindset of the support this effort because everyone people of that region. task of visiting the Niger-Delta Niger-Delta people”. should have access to vaccines, Era said, “Niger-Delta indigenes Era said that registration for the regions, sensitising them on the need especially the most vulnerable in our who were known for militancy, pageantry started January 22 to to embrace the culture of peace and The Content Creator of the event, society. Unless the vaccine is kidnapping and conflicts, etc. also close March 15. Again, she said, “the show kindness to others”. Mr Idris Saibu, said that the slogan available to all, the pandemic will had their unique cultural heritage auditioning will be done virtually of the cultural pageantry is not end for anyone.” and other potentials to explore”. while the grand finale of the entire Mrs Evelyn Okere, a Nigerian “Embracing our Peace, Beauty and She said that the cultural contest will hold June 25, 2021. The Politician, commended the initiative, Culture. “The pandemic has turned pageantry with nine contestants winner of FONDCUP will be going saying it is coming at the right time children’s world upside down, from Niger-Delta states will stay home with a new car, N1 million. with so much cases of insecurity in He said that these attributes of disrupting their education, health together for 22 days while they will The person will also be the Kindness Nigeria. African women are the major ones and protection,” said UNICEF be examined and preoccupied based Ambassador for one year with a to be examined in every contestant. Executive Director Henrietta Fore. on the Niger-Delta culture and series of ambassadorial jobs. She expressed the hope that the “Vaccines will be a big step towards sensitisation programme would “This pageantry is trying to putting children’s lives back on The first runner-up will be leaving ensure peace among Nigerians. promote morality and not the usual track. with N1 million and will be half-naked runway parade, and we empowered with a skill of her Okere urged the convener of will be focusing on upholding FONDCUP to also organise decency as Africans”. programmes that would encourage MOP merges with NYDG to pursue political, social, economic devt booster in the struggle towards registering the MOP in the The Movement of the People independence. They therefore call on viewpoints on issues, it is only a days of the #EndSARS struggle consciousness of the Nigerian and Nigerian Youths Nigerians to join this peaceful and matter of time before they unite”. and was sincerely oriented towards masses and youth and also seeking Democratic Group had formed a law-abiding movement that would This is exactly what has developed the problematic Nigerian Youths formal registration with voice of liberation to pursue the bring about social, economic with this merger of the NYDG with Democratic Party until they too Independent National Electoral course of common Nigerians. The repositioning Nigerians are MOP. This is definitely not an confirmed its shortcomings and Commission, INEC”. groups said that this course is long yearning for. opportunistic merger between opted out, and set out to seek like overdue and now is the right time to strange bedfellows, typical of the minds. In addition, Kamal Adekola said retrief Nigeria from the elites who In a media chart with journalists Nigerian ruling elites; this unity is that since independence leadership have denied the poor the right to in Lagos, Protem chairperson, MOP, based on ideology, socialist and class Kuti said that the implication of in Nigeria has refused to develop quality education, affordable Seun Kuti said that the merger of oriented programmes, and desire to this development is the struggle the country in spite of all the natural houses, healthcare, employment the Nigerian Youths Democratic build a mass political party of the towards concretely building a resources Nigeria is blessed with. and security expected of the Group (NYDG) with the Movement masses and youth. This is one of the changed political organization of “And this has reduced the country government. The groups also of the People (MOP) is to strengthen clarion calls of the #EndSARS the masses and youths capable of to one of the poorest countries in claimed that in spite of all the the struggle for the building of a revolt, which is still ongoing. taking political power from the the world”. natural endowment placed in political party of the toiling masses, ruling elites ganged up in APC and Nigerian soil, the country has youth and liberation. According to Kuti, the NYDG was PDP, just got reinforced. According to him, this is the time remained under-developed since one of the political organizations for Nigerians especially the youths “As the saying goes, “when people that developed during the October “The NYDG joining the MOP to do something for their future and share the same ideology and alliance is another major morale generation.

28—SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 30, 2021 Stage set for Sportsville award NFF owes Alloy Agu ALL is now set for the maiden than 50 get access into the venue league side. Shaibu plays for the 22 months salary edition of the Sportsville which ordinarily accommodates Arsenal of Nigerian football, award which holds today at Ibis over 1000 people. We are observing Bendel Insurance. *Rohr 5 months outstanding Royale Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos. all the COVID-19 protocols, so *Eagles yet to receive match bonuses in 19 months Organizers of the award there is nothing to worry about as The event is billed to start at 4pm *They ‘ll be settled soon – Pinnick assures disclosed yesterday that every we roll out the drums to celebrate with the red carpet. arrangement has been put in place a carefully selected credible for a memorable outing. Nigerians that have done Others on the honors roll call are Chairman of the event’s absolutely well for sports in the the President of Nigeria Football planning committee, Tony Ubani country,” Ubani who is the Group Federation, Amaju Melvin Pinnick, in a statement said top on the list Sports Editor of Vanguard NBBF boss, Engr Musa Kida, NOC of measures taken is to ensure the newspapers stated. president, Engr Habu Gumel, safety of guests at this trying time NWFL chairperson, Aisha Falode, when the world is living with the Topping the list of those being Enyimba chairman, Felix Anyansi challenge of Covid-19. honored today is Rivers state Agwu, and the CEO of “We have taken measures to governor, Nyesom Wike (POS) and Monimichelle Group Mr Ebi ensure the safety of everybody. We the “leather tapping” Deputy Egbe, veteran sports journalist are going to ensure that only Governor of Edo state, Rt. Hon. cum media icon, Dr Larry Izamoje invited guests which are not more Philip Shaibu who is the only of Brilla FM and Super Eagles deputy governor that has laced number one supporter, Dr Rauf boots for a Nigerian premier Ladipo. THE Nigeria Football Be wary of Fury, Oboh warns Joshua Federation president Amaju Pinnick said his FORMER British and administration is working to Commonwealth light settle the debts they owe Super heavy weight boxing Eagles players and coaches champion, Peter Oboh has said despite the difficulties caused by that the forthcoming blockbuster the coronavirus pandemic. unification fight between the Pinnick did not shy away from WBA, IBF and WBO world the financial challenges facing heavyweight champion the NFF and the struggles they Anthony Joshua and the WBC encounter in discharging their heavyweight champion Tyson financial obligations to Fury will be difficult to predict Nigeria’s football teams. the winner. Although salaries and Speaking on the big fight Oboh allowances of national coaches which is likely to come up head is for Fury, while my have been slashed, coach Gernot NFF President Pinnic and Rohr middle of this year, Oboh said, whole body is for England Rohr is being owed five months “if Anthony Joshua fails to stop because the UK is making salary, with goalkeeper coach “We are working religiously Tyson Fury in the early rounds, history again.” Alloy Agu awaiting 22-months Sport. and assiduously to resolve this as Fury will knock him out.” unpaid wages while the Super “But we’ve moved to pay Alloy soon as possible. Oboh who was also the WBA Note, this will be the biggest Eagles are yet to receive their International boxing champion pay per view fight ever among bonuses and allowances for 19 [Agu] nine months of his wages “It’s a kind of government made it clear that “ whether two British boxers in the history months. from what we have left and coach responsibility to pay the players boxing fans like it or not, one of of the UK boxing. It will even Pinnick faulted Covid-19 for its Gernot Rohr too will be sorted. and the [Nigerian] president is the prized fighters must add surpass Lenox Lewis vs Frank negative impact on businesses, We don’t want to owe and that is very keen on helping to sort it. another defeat to his boxing Bruno big showdown over two including the NFF premium the mentality with which I came record. We must not forget both decades ago. Believe it or not sponsors Aiteo Group, however, into the NFF. “I was in Abuja and I found out fighters have just one blemish England remains the winner he disclosed his administration’s it’s only a matter of the each in their careers. because both fighters are her commitment to paying off the “There are circumstances modalities delaying paying the “Both fighters are world citizens.” debts as soon as possible. beyond our control. It is not a allowances and bonuses, any champions and very hard “With the pandemic and good thing to owe and we don’t moment from now it will be punchers and both British and Talk about the huge financial challenges facing oil companies, like the image it creates. sorted out.” that makes it more interesting.” reward both fighters will take things have been tough for our Oboh, who holds dual home, win or loose, plus the sponsors Aiteo, who are “We are looking at every means Paul Onuachu is having a citizenship as both Nigerian money the British government responsible for the payment of not to owe. The toxic atmosphere banner season at Racing Genk and British said, “this will be will make from the fight then coaches,” Pinnick told BBC has really affected our with 22 goals in 23 appearances, one would safely conclude that sponsorship drive but we can’t making him the top scorer in the England will be the winner, give excuses. Belgian First Division A. says the ex-boxing champion. the most difficult fight for any Onuachu impresses Klopp pundit to predict. As for me, my mind is for Joshua while my A YYSFON postpones Ramat CupOnuachu transfer to a more But if he continues to perform like OUTH Sports Federation of still witnessing a spike in many glamorous league may not this we will do everything we can to Nigeria (YSFON) has states of the Federation. NAjiagyei:riIaalways planned to play for aAgrtaeintasttoUtOddegaard Arsenal debutEMI Ajayi has said thatbe possible in the January transferkeep him. But there will be a lot ofannounced the postponement of window but definitely on the cards interest,” De Conde told HLN (via this year ’s Ramat Cup. The While expressing regrets and S Ahe had always wanted to in the summer and Genk are Voetbalkrant). tournament which is the oldest the inconveniences the resigned to losing their star player. grassroots football competition postponement might cause play international football for Racing Genk Technical director “Paul Onuachu will score in the country was earlier participants, he explained that Nigeria. Dimitri De Condé believes the everywhere. Also in the Premier scheduled to hold at the Kano once a new date is agreed on with Nigeria international is drawing League.” Pillars Stadium from February the host state, Kano, it will be Joshua vs Fury to smash UK pay-per-view recordThe London-born Westthe attention of top teams in 5~13, 2021. communicated to all states. England and he’s backing the lanky De Condé pointed out that Announcing the postponement, Meanwhile, YSFON National Bromwich Albion defender, striker to take the Premier League Onuachu caught the eye of National Secretary of the President Dr. Yusuf Gawuna who by storm if he moves to England in Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp when Federation, Patrick also doubles as the Deputy Awho was also eligible to play the summer transfer window. Genk faced off with the Premier Okpavuerhe,said the decision Governor of Kano State said that “He’s 27. He’s a top scorer. It’s League champions in last season’s was taken because of the all logistics for a successful for England, qualified to play not a goal in itself to sell him on. Champions League. COVID~19 pandemic which is tournament had been put in place for the Super Eagles through the Nigeria team saying that before the postponement. his parents. they had been monitoring my “In the Champions League he progress and they would like played strong against Liverpool But the Gunners have several “When I was at Charlton, I to offer me an invitation to the last year, which has a fantastic injury concerns with Kieran first team. defense. RSENAL could hand a Tierney, Thomas Partey, Emile debut to new Real Madrid Smith Rowe, Daniel Ceballos “That was his reference game, loanee Martin Odegaard. and Pablo Mari all doubtful. even Jürgen Klopp said afterwards that they were having a hard time Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang with Paul,” he added. Onuachu is missed the trip to Southampton under contract with Racing Genk in midweek due to personal until the end of the 2023-2024 reasons and could sit out again. season. United defender Eric Bailly NTHONY Joshua vs Tyson Fury will need a fitness test on a knock will most likely generate more while Victor Lindelof is money than any other fight in struggling with a back problem. heavyweight boxing history, according to Fury’s co-promoter Bob Arum. The undisputed title showdown is had already represented edging closer to reality with draft Nigeria at under-20 and contracts now being exchanged under-21 level. I’d always between the parties. envisioned myself progressing to the first team,” It’s expected that the bout will likely the 27-year-old told BBC Sport take place in the Middle East or Far Africa. East, with countries such as Saudi “When I got promoted with Arabia and China interested in Rotherham, I was playing agreeing mega money deals to host. week in week out in the Championship. This would allow the event to “That season I got a call from Joshua and Fury maximise revenue from a site fee, while Odegaard also being aired at a prime time slot in the UK to maximise pay-per-view revenue.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 30, 2021 — 29

30— SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 30, 2021 NPFL: We must play to the rules — Sylvanus Okpala •Says Rohr should be allowed to see out his contract •Warns,”there are no longer minnows in world football” Former Nigeria international and ex-Rangers coach, Sylvanus Okpala in this conversation with Jacob Ajom takes a look at the Nigerian Above all, for us called Professional Football League and warned that unless the clubs, players and to improve our upon. If you don't organisers of the league operate in strict adherence to the rules and regulations league, we have to want to do that you go elsewhere. governing the competition, the league will not achieve the desired goals. observe the rules We have the talent and it is also good and regulations of for us to involve external variables in our The Nigerian Professional Football the game as league. League just started again after a long while. Could they have inserted a clause in the stipulated by FIFA. There was a time coaches from Spain What do you expect of the new season? contracts that stipulates half salary as We must adhere came here to interact with our own punishment for losing home matches? strictly to FIFA coaches as part of the NPFL-LaLiga I don't expect much considering the fact Statutes, in whatever exchange programme. In England that it was restarted in a hurry. Under a FIFA does not approve of such we are doing. today, we have a lot of coaches from proper setting, before a new league season obnoxious contracts. No it can never different parts of the world. But when one begins, teams have to train for at least one be. sees the England national team playing, month or more, engaging in pre-season without looking at anybody's face one would warm up matches and tournaments. This That step is primitive. Doesn't Is this a message know that is England and the other team is would prepare the teams and put them in a it? to the LMC? Germany, the other one is Spain. That is because competitive mood before the start. Well, I don't agree with you that It is a message to the each national team have their peculiar it is primitive. The only thing I clubs, not only LMC. It is a characteristics. But most clubs were engaged in some can say is that it shows their level o f message to whoever has anything to do For the coaches coming to Nigeria, how much local pre-season tournaments and friendly understanding. Perhaps they thought they with the Nigerian league; it is a message to of our football culture do they know? Our matches. could apply that to whip the boys back on every stakeholder and to the players mentality? track. But it is not advisable, in the first place. themselves because there are rules that also What do they know about Nigerian football? I know that some were playing but The only thing is for them to tell the boys if guide the players in the whole scheme of The characteristics of a typical Nigerian footballer? stopped for sometime because they never you win matches you get winning bonuses things. One has to be a professional to the What do we have as characteristics? We are knew when the league would restart. The and no bonus for losses. But you don't core. robust in nature, we have speed, skill, agility and uncertainty that surrounded the tamper with salary. Sometimes As a player, you don't have to go late for shooting ability. But we are not patient. We don't resumption date, made clubs to relax in managements here would place a player training. If you are late, you will be have the patience to hold the ball and look for a their preparations. Some even asked their on transfer and they would stop paying him sanctioned. Under such circumstances, a break. Even in our life style, when we are driving players to go on Christmas break. salary. It is not acceptable, it is not done that club can sanction a player by way of or when we go to the bank you see our conduct, way. forfeiture of certain incentives or even pay we are always in a hurry. Well the season has begun and some cut. From time immemorial, we have a typically matches have been played already. take such A club can tell their players that they don't Nigerian style of play. Our game is one, two, three Plateau United lost their opening match at But were they not in a hurry to want to see any one and we are there. home and management put the players on a drastic step, just after one That has eaten outside by ten. As a Now when you bring these people, do they half salary match? deep into every disciplined know about this? They have to work within this fabric of our professional, by ten, one frame to map out a kind of tradition the Nigerian No No, No. That is not the rule of the In everything we do in society. Even must be in one's way. Not in Spanish way. If you want to teach the game. In professional football, if a team lose Nigeria, we are always in a those who are apartment even if one is Spanish way, it will not work. a match, they won't get any bonus. Salary hurry. Go to the road and supporting not sleeping. That is And let me tell you. There is a saying that if you remains intact. If you don't win matches you watch people drive. Premier League professionalism. One want it done well, then do it yourself. . So we need don't earn match bonuses. Nobody tampers Everybody seems to be in a clubs are al- cannot play football to start doing it by ourselves. with anybody's salary because they are on hurry. That has eaten deep ways in a hurry without discipline. I spoke with Dr Tijani Yusuf the other day, and contract. into every fabric of our to pass judg- A club can call a he said there were Nigerian coaches who could society. Even those who are ments player's attention to make the Super Eagles deliver better than where Do you really believe Nigerian players supporting Premier League certain areas he goes to; the team is today. Is it that Coach Gernot Rohr are on contracts? clubs are always in a hurry to areas that are either not does not understand the characteristics of a pass judgments.. When a good enough for the typical Nigerian footballer? This is because the They are on contract. coach wins a match they image of the club or not Super Eagles seem to have stagnated? Even the way they are treated? praise him to high heavens, good for his career If you ask me, they gave him a contract. Maybe They are on contract. but when he loses one match, growth and would ask they should not have renewed his contract. But Playing without salaries for several they would say sack him. But the player to stop going now he is under contract. But no one can come months? if you go to England where there. They do that, even and tell me that Rohr is not a good coach from the They are on contract. What you are saying these clubs are based, in Europe to prepare the way he has handled the affairs of the national is a different thing. Every player is on nobody talks about sacking player to give them his team. The only thing I can fault him is on some of contract. a coach. The English fans best. They want him to his utterances. For instance, when the Eagles were don't always be in a hurry to get ready and offer them recommend sack of a coach. his best, anytime he is That is the difference between them and our fans.

Transfers: SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 30, 2021 — 31 Some deals that could still go through before Monday deadline There are only a few days to go before the various fronts, a new signing midway through January transfer window shuts on the season could tip the balance more than •Musa Monday but there are still plenty of deals to ever before. be done involving Premier League clubs. Ahmed Musa - free to It has been a quieter window than most West Ham are looking to reinvest after WestBrom owingtotheeffectsoftheCovid-19pandemic, Sebastien Haller's £20m move to Ajax, West Afree agent who previously struggled for with top-flight teams having spent under Brom need forwards who can fire them to £50millionthisJanuarycomparedtowellover safety – Christian Benteke, anyone? – and goals in the Premier League may not £200m shelled out at this stage last season. Newcastle are just looking for inspiration appear to be the solution to West Brom’s woes, But with every team facing a Covid- wherever they can find it. butAllardycedesperatelyneedsanyattacking impacted schedule, the potential for injuries reinforcements he can get. to key players and teams competing on Here, Sportsmail looks at some of the transfers that could still go through before the The Baggies have scored just 15 times this Kaide Gordon - Derby close of play next Monday. season, the joint second-lowest in the Premier toLiverpool League along with Fulham. Jurgen Klopp’s side are not short of quality •Gordon Musa has been without a club since leaving •Okpala attackers, but a 16-year-old winger who Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr in October and has already broken into Derby’s first-team iseagertomakeupforlosttimeafterhisrecord squad was always likely to attract admiring £16.6m move to Leicester yielded just five glances from higher up. goals in 33 appearances. Now it seems to be a matter of when, not if, Allardyce will look to sign the Nigeria Kaide Gordon moves to Liverpool, with Derby captain to a short-term deal until the end of holding out for a £1m deal and add-ons worth the season in a bid to clinch survival. £3m having already agreed terms with the going to the World Cup, he said he was going with Premier League champions. Marcos Rojo - Man United to Boca Juniors a young team to gain experience. A coach should not say that. Every team going to the World Cup is Gordon hasn't signed a professional contract there to compete. The ambition is to win. If he talks at Pride Park but has been touted as the next about experience, how is he sure that those he took big thing after becoming the fourth-youngest It seems like a lifetime ago that Rojo signed to Russia will still be there if they qualify to go to player in Derby's history in December. for Manchester United for £16m after Qatar next year? helpingArgentinatothe2014WorldCupfinal. For the records, Rohr qualified us for the World Klopp’s men are struggling for goals at The defender signed by Louis van Gaal has Cup, qualified us for the Nations Cup. We presentandhavejustonewinintheirlastseven experienced peaks and troughs since then but cannot say he should be sacked because of the games – the 4-1 FA Cup win against Aston appears to be coming to the end of his seven- results against Sierra Leone. We played 4-4 Villa’s youngsters – but the England U16 year spell at Old Trafford. yes, but we are still topping the group. international looks to be one for the future. Rojo has not played for United since I don't support sacking him for now, in as November 2019 owing to injuries which also much as I, Sylvanus Okpala would like to •Bernard hampered a loan spell back at boyhood club coach the Super Eagles. Let him continue Estudiantes. at the end of his contract if he doesn't do Now the 30-year-old looks set to return to well then we can ask him to go. Argentina,butthistimewithBocaJuniors,who That we played 4-4 with Sierra have reportedly agreed personal terms with Leone is not enough for us to sack Rojo. •Rojo him. Hamza Choudhury — Leicester to Newcastle or The issue here is people tend to underrate Sierra Leone. Some would say, 'is it not Sierra Bernard-Evertonto West Brom Leone? Is it not Benin?' We must have this right. There Al-Nasr ASIDE from appearing in all six of Steve Bruce after Newcastle’s 2-1 de- are no longer minnows in Bernard is one of a host of players Everton Leicester ’s Europa League group feat by Leeds – their sixth loss in a row world football. If not, how games, Choudhury has barely featured – and both sides could do with further can Nigeria be competing are looking to trim from their wage for Brendan Rodgers’ side this season. steel in midfield. with Brazil? Or Germany? budget before the window shuts. The England U21 international has When we play Germany played just 70 minutes in the Premier *Choudhury n o w, we say we want to The Toffees are reportedly looking for £9m League and could move to either New- beat Germany. Are we fortheBrazilianwinger,whohasfoundhimself castle or West Brom on loan in search equals, in terms of pedigree? It is on the fringes this season having made just 11 of more playing time. the same thing with the other teams you once appearances for Ancelotti’s side. Sam Allardyce has already spoken saw as weak teams, Sierra Leone, Benin and so about the importance of the January forth. It is eleven-a-side and every country now UAE Pro League side Al-Nasr would appear transfer window in West Brom achiev- boasts a good number of players in top tobethemostlikelydestinationforthe28-year- ing survival, and their 5-0 drubbing European leagues. Football has improved all old who Everton signed on a free transfer from against Manchester City means they over the world. It is not like those days they felt Shakhtar Donetsk back in 2018. are still second-bottom and six points Africa was going to the World Cup to complete from safety. the number. Africa now is taken seriously That would free up space on the wage bill The outlook is similarly bleak for for other potential signings as the Toffees look to build on their flying start to the season. because they go there to compete with the best. DemaraiGray-LeicestertoBayerLeverkusen Cameroon, Senegal and Ghana have reached the quarter finals and Nigeria got to the second round. We achieved that in only our first Gray was attracting interest from Crystal appearance and we were one of the best teams Palace but the 24-year-old winger has now year, where his playing time has been limited to in the world in 1994, in fact the 5th in FIFA agreed personal terms with Bayer Leverkusen, an 18-minute cameo against Palace. rankings in '94. with Marseille also circling. In '94, the World Cup belonged to Nigeria but Gray is highly rated at the King Power The winger has made nearly 170 appearances we never realised that. We were only satisfied Stadium but has played more Premier for Leicester but now looks set to leave, having been with a second round effort. We had the best team •Gray League 2 than top-flight football this left out of Rodgers’s squad entirely for Sunday’s FA Cup win against Brentford. at the tournament. At that moment, nobody Danny Rose - Spurs to Trabzonspor wanted to play Nigeria because we had fireworks, speed and quality. Christian Benteke - Crystal Palace to West Brom Rose could be the next out-of-favour Premier League Another less than obvious saviour in attack for But Benteke has started five player to up sticks to the Turkish Super Lig after Mesut West Brom could be Benteke, although there of Palace’s last six Premier Ozil’s free transfer to Fenerbahce and Danny Drinkwater ’s are doubts as to whether the Belgian is even up League games and may be surprise loan to Kasimpasa. for sale. tieddowntoanewcontract Allardyce himself has admitted he is not sure soon in a bid to keep him •Benteke •Rose Left-back Rose has not featured under Jose Mourinho this season since returning from his loan spell at what Benteke’s situation at Crystal Palace is but atSelhurstPark. Newcastle and Trabzonspor are said to be interested. would be open to signing him if he was available. Ifthatisthecasethenit Rose is out of contract in the summer and is open to a move TheloansigningofstrikerJean-PhilippeMateta is unclear where abroad after spending the vast majority of his senior career from Mainz appeared to open the door to Allardyce will turn to at Spurs. Benteke’sexit,withhisPalacedealsettorunoutin next with his team the summer. sinkingfast. Trabzonspor could be an interesting next step after Daniel Sturridge's year-long spell there and with Benik Afobe and Lewis Baker also on the books at the side who sit sixth in the Super Lig.

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