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milestones buried: justice idris kutigi, on thursday, october 24, 2018, at the national cemetery abuja. kutigi died on sunday october 2, at a london hospital. he was 78. justice kutigi served as the attorney general and commissioner for justice in niger state until 1976 when he was appointed a high court judge. he served in that position for more than a decade before his appointment as a judge of the supreme court in 1992 after 10 years at the supreme court based on the recommendation the national of council. judicial president, former olusegun obasanjo appointed him to the position of chief justice in 2007 to succeed justice salihu alfa belgore. kutigi retired on 30 december, 2009. he served as the chief justice of nigeria between 2007 and 2009 and retirement, after the he was made chairman the national conference set up by former president, goodluck jonathan in 2014. of born kutigi 31 december, 1939 in kutigi, lavun local government of niger state, kutigi attended the barewa college in zaria. he graduated from ahmadu bello university, abu, zaria after which he left for england where he studied at the school of oriental and africa studies, university of london and gibson and weldon college of law he also attend the nigeria law school in lagos. on by timileyin okunuga elected: mansur ahmed, executive director, dangote industries ltd, as the 10th president of the manufacturers association of nigeria, man. at different times, ahmed served as diretor-general of the nigeria economic summit group, nesg; and director-general of the infrastructure concession regulatory commission, icrc. announcing his election at the 46th annual general meeting, agm, segun kadir, director-general, man said ahmed has managed quite a number of manufacturing companies effectively. “he was part of the national economic management team that conceptualized, developed, and implemented policies and strategies to attract long- term financing for infrastructural development in nigeria. earlier in his career, he has managed quite a number of manufacturing companies, including bagauda textiles mills in kano and kaduna textiles in kaduna. he has also served on the boards of notable and diverse business concerns, including union bank of nigeria, glaxosmithkline plc and savannah sugar company limited.” thanking the members for reposing their trust in him, ahmed promised to improve the association’s collaboration with the federal government towards boosting the competitiveness of the nation’s manufacturing sector. he also pledged that the association would its level of collaboration and interaction with government to ensure that the executive order 003 was fully implemented to boost local patronage of made in nigeria products. strengthen ahmed further explained that the association had kick-started the partnership by presenting a compendium of its members to the government toward showcasing all the locally produced goods. ahmed by ifidon janet died: hamman tukur, an engineer and former chairman of the revenue mobilization allocation and fiscal commission, rmafc, on the 7th of october 2018, in kaduna and was buried according to islamic rites. tukur served under former president, olusegun obasanjo government as the chairman of the rmafc, which was introduced under the same government. the commission recommended and implemented the monetization policy of remuneration packages for political office holders in all tiers and arms of government. tukur was born on the 24th of january 1942, in adamawa state, and had a bsc. in physics, and msc. in engineering, from schools in and outside nigeria. he also worked at the consolidated tin mines in jos and as a lecturer at the kaduna polytechnic, where he later became the rector. he was also a recipient of the officer of the order of the federal republic (ofr) honour. he was appointed as the director general, federal ministry of mines, power and steel, and later became managing director of the national electric power authority (nepa). tukur was also a member of the institute of strategic studies, kuru; fellow nigerian society of engineers; fellow, yaba college of technology and a member of institute of electrical engineers (england). the by abimbola adedolapo tukur tell (www.tell.ng) november 5, 2018 page 10
milestones celebrating 25 years of kingship dressed in blue ankara fabrics of diverse designs, residents, indigenes, friends and other wells-wishers proudly marched to the expansive ajiran recreation centre, eti-osa, lekki on tuesday, october 24, to celebrate the 25th coronation anniversary of their beloved king, oba tijani adetunji akinloye, sateru ii, the ojomu of ajiranland, eti-osa, lagos state. oba akinloye who clocked 78 last month, was crowned the 14th ojomu of ajiranland on october 23, 1993 and has since been working tirelessly for the growth of the community. some of his areas of interest are education and youth development. the king has also made efforts to improve the health condition of his subjects through the ajiran community based health insurance programme. during his pre-anniversary meeting with the media, oba akinloye stressed that the present time calls for more active roles by traditional rulers to improve their communities. born to prince lasisi and awawu akinloye on september 6, 1940; and was brought up at the family house at idumagbo on the lagos island. he began his primary education at the saint matthias primary school, lafiaji, lagos, in 1948 and completed same in 1956. he proceeded to the hussey college in warri in 1957 for his secondary education and passed out in 1962, after which he left for abeokuta grammar school in 1963 for the higher school certificate. he later gained admission into the university of ife, now known as obafemi awolowo university, oau, where he studied agricultural science, graduating in 1974. on completion of his mandatory national youth service corps, nysc, scheme in kano, he was offered appointment as a training officer at the danbatta farm training centre, kano but he turned down the offer and returned to lagos where he secured a teaching job at zumratul islamiyah secondary school, yaba and later at igbogbo, ikorodu. his diligence, professionalism and focus later earned him the position of a principal at community high school, ilado in 1983. akinloye was later appointed as the executive secretary of eti-osa local government education authority. years later, he was chosen by the sateru ruling house for the revered stool of ojomu and crowned in 1993. by olusegun adeosun oba akinloye with wives cutting the anniversary cake panorama short and sharp abubakar ibrahim otti buhari nwogwugwu sharibu tell me one political leader who has been consistent on a political platform. — atiku abubakar, former vice president, federal republic of nigeria on the allegation that he has been moving from one political platform to the other. whether we are prepared for it or not… another recession is coming but it is going to happen before the end of december. — jimoh ibrahim, chairman and chief executive officer, global fleet group, while predicting another distress economic situation for nigeria and nigerians. the baboons are still having a field day at the expense of the labouring monkeys it would seem. — alex otti, former managing director, diamond bank, while discussing the issue of fuel subsidies in nigerian economy i was called baba go-slow. those who were going fast, where did they get to? — muhammadu buhari, president, federal republic of nigeria, chiding nigerian elites while meeting nigerian community at the 73rd united nations general assembly held in new york. there was a pdp before wike and there will be a pdp after wike. — ijeoma nwogwugwu, an editor and group executive director with thisday newspapers on governor nyesome wike and his political antics i do not know what their demands are but whatever they are the federal government should please meet them so that our daughter will be free. — nathan sharibu, the father leah sharibu, who was among the 110 girls kidnapped at dapchi secondary school, pleading with the federal government to arrange for her release from boko haram enclave. i have gone too far to withdraw and didn’t come this far, to just step down. — akinwunmi ambode, governor of lagos state in verbal encounter with his godfather. when some people are playing low, we will continue to play high and maintain focus to take lagos state to a higher level. — jide sanwo-olu, all progressives congress governorship aspirant in lagos state in spar with the incumbent governor, akinwunmi ambode. tell (www.tell.ng) november 5, 2018 page 11
panorama fototell the rains, like a woman scorned warnings were given ahead of the rainy season. the authorities merely advised residents of flood-prone areas in about 12 states in the country to relocate. no options were given in most places, and hardly do those in authority attempt a review of the condition of the people in areas under threat. so unable to relocate, or probably unwilling to believe the predictions, the residents- rich and poor (largely the latter)- simply prayed. if god heard the supplications, he perhaps decided to grant the will of the element of nature. the rain poured in its glory, sending flood to visit the cosy neighbourhoods like lekki in the emerging smart city of lagos, as well as the not-so-rich neighbourhood of katsina. there were casualties, the last being about 200 in september alone. that was aside from the damages to private and public properties, a development that rendered about 3,000 people homeless. didn’t the bible draw a parallel between the fury of the rain and that of a contentious woman in the book of proverbs chapter 27 verse 15? in koton karfe, kogi state when flood took over houses and worship places. tell (www.tell.ng) november 5, 2018 page 12 this is lekki, an exclusive area of lagos, nigeria’s megacity. didn’t they say the rich also cry?
cover story the choice of atiku abubakar, former vice president as the candidate of opposition peoples democratic party, pdp for the 2019 presidential election raises dust even within the ruling all progressives congress, apc that initially claimed that no politician could match president muhammadu buhari abubakar: holds the aces? tell (www.tell.ng) november 5, 2018 page
tell nigeria’s independent weekly no. 43 november 5, 2018 16 cover story: contents the atiku challenge the choice of atiku abubakar, former vice president as the candidate of opposition peoples democratic party, pdp for the 2019 presidential election raises dust even within the ruling all progressives congress, apc that initially claimed that no politician could match president muhammadu buhari 28 special interview: how abacha and yar’adua died – felix oviemo ovadje, a medical doctor and retired four-star general in the nigerian army 31 special report: 2019: huddles against credible polls ahead of the 2019 general elections in nigeria, there are indications that vote-buying underage voting and other malpractices may constitute major challenges to credible elections 35 business: edo set for agric revolution the recent harvest launch of fresh tomatoes, the first yield from the multi-million dollars wells hosa green house farm in a village in the outskirts of benin-city, edo state, gives a ray of hope for food security in the country and a boost in foreign exchange earnings from agriculture 44 health: health and the herbs herbal mixtures are fast gaining ground among nigerians for self medication with telling effects, but the alternative medicine industry is yet to get official recognitions 4 the report 10 milestones 14 flashback 43 charity 46 globally frank tell (issn:1115-7615) is published weekly for n400.00 by tell communications tell offices limited, kilometre 22, lagos-ibadan expressway, berger, ojodu, lagos. p.m.b. 21749, ikeja, nigeria. telephone: 01–7747910, 7390467. hotline for advertisers: 08033071071. letters to the editor should be sent to this address. edition no. 43 copyrights reserved. reproduction in any form, in whole or in part without permission is forbidden. the contents or views expressed in adverts, advertorials, special features and supplements in tell are exclusively those of the advertisers. you can access tell website at: www.tell.ng and our e-mail address: newsroom@tell.ng lagos office (headquarters) km 22, lagos-ibadan expressway, berger, lagos. abuja office suite b15, amack plaza, beside heritage printing house, sultan abubakar way, zone 3, wuse, abuja. ibadan office 2, araromi street, daily times building, oke padre, ibadan, oyo state. benin office nuj press centre, 1, reservation road, gra, benin city, edo state. enugu office 23, edinburgh road, enugu, enugu state. port harcourt 55, market road, rumuomasi, port harcourt, rivers state. * front cover design by xstrata consulting * printed by odufuwa modern design tell (www.tell.ng) november 5, 2018 page 6
tell nigeria’s independent weekly founding editors: dare babarinsa, nosa igiebor, kolawole ilori, dele omotunde, onome osifo-whiskey president: nosa igiebor vice presidents: dele omotunde, onome osifo-whiskey editor-in-chief: ayodele akinkuotu deputy editor-in-chief: ademola oyinlola chief operating officer: dejo oyawale executive editor, publications: wola adeyemo executive editor, corporate & business development: adekunbi ero general editor: anayochukwu agbo (abuja) senior associate editor: tony manuaka associate editors: anthony akaeze, emmanuel obe (port-harcourt) assistant editors: fidel bam, james orode, juliana uche-okobi staff writer: olusegun adeosun reporter: wilson ibharayi (benin) special correspondent: tundun adeyemo (uk) senior it officer: shola akinyele director, library services: idowu awoyinfa library officer: murtala aleem director, production: emmanuel bodemeh manager, production: folorunso sanni deputy manager, production: godwin alozie senior photo editor: sunday adedeji photo journalist: paul kuyoro deputy manager, admin. & human resources: olalekan akinruli senior officer, special duties: john inyang transport officer: rufus kayode (despatch) technical officers: dare olaito, oluyemi rotimi agm, accounts: yusuf isiaka senior accountant: james oguntoye assistant accountant: akinola afeez principal accounts officer: nkeiruka nwokocha accounts officer: shakiru adesomi agm, audit: oludele oyewole deputy manager, audit: olusegun ibrahim manager, adverts: olukayode olofin deputy manager, adverts: john omoogun (abuja) senior advert executives: omoregbe igiebor (benin city), ebunoluwa oladitan manager, sales & marketing: titilayo jeta deputy manager, sales: uzunma nwangwu (enugu) assistant manager, sales: oluniyi shobowale (west) senior sales executives: emmanuel amadi (akure), stanley madu (abuja), sunday otokunrin sales executive: onyema arubalueze (awka) from the editor last week, the political arena was replete with stories of activities ahead of the general elections in 2019. there was the frenzy in the ruling all progressives congress, apc where governors and party leaders at the state levels are up in arms against the national chairman, adams oshiomhole. governors like ibikunle amosun of ogun state and rochas okorocha of imo state are insistent that their choice of candidates must be the official candidates of the party in the forthcoming elections. the crisis threatens the chances of the party at the election, both at the state and the federal levels. it, however, appears that while the apc is struggling with the contending forces within it, the opposition peoples democratic party, pdp appears to have learnt from its past mistakes and it is moving into the elections with a united front. waiting in the wings are the political groups that represent the third force, but probably uncoordinated. rather than look at these issues, we decided to look forward, of course using the facts of the present. so what is the future? a fact of the future is that the presidential election will be a two-horse race, despite the fact there are many candidates in this level. but what we are looking at is the challenge that the choice of atiku abubakar as flag bearer of the pdp poses to the second term ambition of president muhammadu buhari. the story was reported by anayochukwu agbo, general editor and head of abuja bureau and tajudeen suleiman, who until recently was on sabbatical [we will talk about that at a later date]. in the process of reporting they met with brick walls here and there. but as veterans on the job they surmounted the obstacles and the result is the lead story in this edition, the atiku challenge, which in the tradition of tell is analytical and revealing. the special report is on the hurdles ahead of the election. the story, hurdles ahead of 2019 election, is written by juliana uche-okobi, assistant editor. from the realm of politics we move to health, of the citizens and the leaders. this time it is an interview with retired brigadier general oviemo ovadje. he also tells us how two nigerian leaders died in office. it is the special interview in this edition. we bring in a new section known as flashback. in it we will bring back stories of yester-years that speak to the current situation. we are starting with a story written in 1998. it borders on restructuring to show that the topic did not just start today, and perhaps give us an insight into where people stood then and now. do have a blessed week ahead! wolaadeyemo@tell.ng sms only: 08054728297 tell (www.tell.ng) november 5, 2018 page 7