THEWILL MAR. 14-20 EDITION

KOGI INVESTMENT DRIVE TURNS MIRAGE THREE YEARS AFTER – page 7

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MARCH 14 - MARCH 20, 2021 VOL . 1 NO. 5

I B O R I L O O T C O N T R O V E R S Y:

Did Delta State Shoot Self In The Foot?

• Additional £20m Coming In September – Falana • Return Money to Delta – Elumelu • Don’t Touch It – Clark Warns FG • A Complicated Case – British High Commissioner • It’s Nothing New – Ibori’s Aide

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Did Delta State Shoot Self In The Foot?

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BY AYO ESAN he Delta State Government may have been thrown into a fix over the fireworks triggered by the announcement of the British Government to return a whopping £4.2m (N2.4billion) seized from a former Governor of the state, James Onanefe Ibori, to Nigeria.

While the Federal Government is laying claims to the recovered looted fund and has listed three federal projects the seized money would be expended on, the Delta State Government is, unfortunately, left at a crossroads.

Meanwhile, controversy continues to trail the decision of the Federal Government to spend the money on three infrastructural development projects instead of releasing it to the Ifeanyi Okowa-led Delta Government, which logically should have the money.

DILEMMA OF A STATE The State Government may have shot itself in the foot and, ordinarily, may not have the moral right to claim ownership of the recovered money since succeeding administrations in the state did everything within its means to frustrate the trial of Chief Ibori both in Nigeria and London over the alleged theft of billions of naira belonging to the state during his tenure as governor.

The government even made presentations in courts that its monies were not missing and that it could not have been stolen by the Oghara-born exGovernor. So there are legitimate questions about Delta’s conduct during the journey to bring Ibori to justice and its demand for the proceeds of his restitution.

DELTA STATE VERSUS FG Apparently, this is not the first tango between the Federal Government and the Delta State Government over the Ibori saga. THEWILL recalls that the state government and the Federal Government under the administration of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan clashed severally over access to Delta State’s financial records in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,’s bid to help the UK Government in its prosecution of the former governor.

However, this was contrary to the stance of the Federal Government under the late President Umaru Yar’ Adua’s administration which actually frustrated Ibori’s trial through the influence of the deceased leader and the then Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Michael Andooaka. So can the same Federal Government morally lay claim to the recovered Ibori loot?

DOUBLE JEOPARDY THEWILL also recalls that the closest the state government came in a case involving Ibori was its deliberate refusal to cooperate with the EFCC to bring the Ex-Governor to justice. In what appears as a double jeopardy, the Delta State Government had earlier forfeited the sum of $15 million in cash returned to the EFCC by Ibori as restitution. The state government denied the money came from its coffers, which allowed a federal high court to order its permanent forfeiture to the Federal Government.

ADDITIONAL £20 MILLION COMING IN SEPTEMBER FALANA Of great concern to watchers of the development is the revelation that an additional 20 million British pounds is due to be released to the Nigerian Government in September according to human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), who disclosed this to THEWILL in an exclusive chat on Friday.

Okowa

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The state is waiting to study the terms of the agreement reached between the Federal Government and the British Government before it decides on its legal options regarding the returned funds

“The next tranche of money to be released is 20 million pounds in September 2021,” the human rights lawyer said, adding: “It was what Ibori had deposited for the purchase of a private Jet.” However independent checks

by THEWILL authoritatively revealed that the monies for the purchase of the luxury Bombardier Challenger jet were contributed by some powerful state governors of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to acquire a private jet for the exclusive use of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who eventually became Chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees, BoT, after he served out his two terms as president.

However, describing the decision of the Federal Government to spend the recovered money on Niger Bridge, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and KanoKaduna Expressway as illegal, provocative and insensitive, Falana said: “It is insensitive of the Abuja people to the people of Delta State. Are there no *Continues on Page 4

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Don’t Touch It – Clark Warns FG *Continued from Page 3

roads to fix in Delta State?”

DELTA LIKE ANY OTHER STATE According to Falana, “Delta State like any other state was receiving money from the Federation Account during the Ibori Government and the State Government put that money in its account. Ibori took the money from the state account to the UK. And the British Government confiscated it.

This is against the spirit of Article 35 of the United Nation Convention Against Corruption. So, when the money comes to Nigeria, the Federal Government has no claim to it.

“In the case of former Governor Joshua Dariye of Plateau State and Diepreye Alameyeisegha of Bayelsa, the money was refunded to the states. On the grounds of precedence, the Federal Government stand is weak.”

THE AGREEMENT Last Tuesday in Abuja, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing, signed an agreement with the Federal Government on behalf of the British Government to release the seized £4.2 million to Nigeria. The AttorneyGeneral of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, also signed the agreement, which came under the framework of the 2016 Britain -Nigeria Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), on behalf of the Federal Government.

Speaking after the agreement was signed, Laing described the Ibori case as complicated, adding that the British authorities were still working on the total amount involved in the matter. She said the initial £4.2 million was just the first tranche, maintaining that more of such recoveries from the Ibori case would be returned to Nigeria in due course.

“This agreement represents the culmination of many years of work by law enforcement authorities in the UK and Nigeria. The return of the assets to Nigeria has been subject to a number of hard-fought legal challenges by third parties which were defeated in the UK courts,” the British High Commissioner said.

According to Laing, the agreement demonstrates UK’s commitment to recovering and returning corruptly-obtained assets, adding, “money obtained through criminality or corruption is not welcome in the UK.” ARROGANCE AND GRANDSTANDING Falana, however, faulted the MoU, describing the conditions attached to it by the British authorities as arrogant, amounting to grandstanding, even as he wondered whether Nigeria was still under colonialism.

He told THEWILL: “When you talk of MoU between the Federal Government and the British Government, are you saying we are still under colonialism? There is currently a global collaboration not to allow money to be laundered from one country to another. So, why are you allowing the British to be arrogant and grandstand? Anyway, why are they returning the money? “ According to Falana, “What I am saying is, if the Delta State or Federal Government were to allow me, I would sue the U.K on the grounds that they collaborated with the banks for failure to comply with Know Your Customer Policy or do they mean to say they did not know that Ibori was a government official.”

DELTA HAS NO LEGAL RESPONSE YET – ATTORNEY-GENERAL The Attorney-General of Delta State, Mr. Peter Mrakpor, SAN, says the state is waiting to study the terms of the agreement reached between the Federal Government and the British Government before it decides on its legal options regarding the returned funds.

“I cannot speak on the matter until we obtain and study the MoU between the Federal Government and the UK. That is the logical path to follow,” Mrakpor told THEWILL, Friday.

Delta State Commissioner for Information, Charles Aniagwu, did not pick calls to his phone, Friday morning, and did not also reply the text message sent to him as at press time.

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Malami

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This agreement represents the culmination of many years of work by law enforcement authorities in the UK and Nigeria

He had earlier reportedly described the decision of the Federal Government to hold on to the money as the height of wickedness, saying the Buhari regime could as well have spent the money on developing Ghana if it wished.

“Why should Delta State money be used in building LagosIbadan Expressway or Abuja-Kano rail? Is the Federal Government saying it doesn’t know the origin of the money,” he was quoted as saying in widely available reports.

NOTHING NEW IN THE CASE - IBORI’S AIDE Tony Eleumunor, spokesperson to Chief Ibori, told THEWILL, Friday night, that there was nothing new in the case as he lamented what he described as “I love Master too-much” attitude of Nigerians to Britain.

Eleumunor, who maintains that he stands with the position of the Oghara Union on the matter, said: “This matter was adjudicated in 2012. The houses were sold and the money has been in the bank since then. So, what came up that the story is being presented as new?

“They signed the MoU in 2016 to return the money and Nigerians are not asking about the details of the MoU.The actual amount involved was six million pounds and we are now talking of 4.2 million pounds. What happened to the two million pounds difference? Does that MoU give Britain the power to take 25 per cent of the money? Is Britain on a treasure hunt?

Elumelu

“Beyond all else, it is tragic that Nigerians have refused to ask themselves questions on the Ibori case and the role of the British in the African political issues. We joke about tragedy! Was there a stand Ibori had taken on oil matters that is making Britain to fight back? Or they are just trying to divert the attention of Nigerians from the COVID-19 tragedy in Britain and the kidnapping and insecurity in Nigeria?”

RETURN MONEY TO DELTA - HOUSE OF REPS Leader of the Delta State Caucus in the House of Representatives, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, insisted that the Ibori loot belongs to Delta and should be returned to the state.

“My reaction is that the money should be returned to Delta State people,” Elumelu told THEWILL on Friday in a text message. His affirmation on the ongoing controversy came as the House of Representatives, Wednesday, called on the Federal Government to ensure that the £4.2 million Ibori loot be returned to Delta State. The lawmakers insisted that the funds were stolen from Delta State and, as such, should rightly be returned to the state. They added that the funds are needed for the infrastructural development of the state. This was the resolution reached after a motion of urgent public importance which was sponsored by all the lawmakers from Delta State. The lawmakers said the total money is £6.2 million and not £4.2 million as is being reported. The House also asked the Federal Ministry of Finance to direct Abubakar Malami to give the House all particulars relating to the recovered money.

DON’T TOUCH IT - EDWIN CLARK Elder statesman and leader of Delta Elders Forum, (DEF), Senator Edwin Clark, said he could not speak when THEWILL called him on phone, Friday morning, though he had, on Tuesday, also, opposed the plan of the Federal Government to appropriate the recovered Ibori loot. He had maintained that the plans to use the soon-to-be repatriated fund to complete roads in other parts of the country whereas federal roads in Delta State have all dilapidated, would be resisted vehemently.

THEWILL recalls that Ibori’s corruption charges actually started with the petitions from some of his kinsmen under the auspices of Delta State Elders and Stakeholders Forum influenced by Chief Edwin Clark. The petition was sent to the then EFCC boss, Ribadu, who initially refused to act on the petition. This, THEWILL gathered, made the Forum and THEWILLNIGERIA

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Additional £20 Million Coming in September - Falana called the proceeds from the crime act which is before the National Assembly. I am not holding my breath as to when the National Assembly will resolve that issue. And the result of this is that governments across the world would take the proceeds of crime that come to their jurisdiction and that is like a fine.

“It is a penalty extracted by specific jurisdiction and can dispose of the money in the way it chooses. The money belongs to the British Government.”

Clark

Falana

other activists to eventually blow the lid off Ibori’s alleged crimes as they made spirited efforts to drag the ex-Governor and EFCC before the court to compel Ibori’s prosecution with the assistance of their lawyer, Kayode Ajulo.

DELTA STATE SHOULD APPROACH SUPREME COURT - OGUNYE A former Senator and legal luminary, Jiti Ogunye, however advised the Delta State Government to go and settle the matter in court even as he maintains that the money should be returned to the state.

When THEWILL sought to speak with Ajulo, Thursday evening, on his reaction to the unfolding development, he said: I’m a party to the case and it would be prejudicial for me to comment now as an interested party.”

“My view is that this money should be returned to Delta State. There should be guarantee and arrangement that this money is not re-looted . This money is ultimately destined to Delta State because that is where the money was illicitly scooped from in the first instance. And there is no debate about this . I think the money ought to go to Delta State , it doesn’t belong to the Federal Government, unless the Federal Government just wants to use its power, an overbearing pre-eminence, to spend the money.

WE HAVE NO INVESTIGATIVE POWER – CROWN PROSECUTION THEWILL sought clarifications from the British Crown Prosecution Services (CPS) on the recovered looted funds based on the ensuing controversy to ascertain the actual amount involved since Ibori’s kinsmen insist that the total sum accrued from the assets disposed off was £6.2 million and not £4.2 million as claimed by the British. THEWILL wanted to know when the remaining tranches would be released but met a brickwall.

“I think the Delta State should go to the Supreme Court and make it an issue.If at a particular time, those who were in Delta State, felt in order to protect Ibori, said they didn’t lose any money , now that ….. why can’t they declare that we lied then, we need the money now . Let the issue be trashed out in court . The issue of it saying it didn’t lose any money, let the Supreme Court decide. You know we cannot play hanky-panky in a matter of states,” Ogunye was quoted as saying on a live radio programme monitored by THEWILL in Lagos.

In a reply to an email sent by THEWILL on Wednesday, the CPS said Thursday morning: “It may assist if I explain that the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is responsible for reviewing and, where appropriate, prosecuting most criminal cases in England and Wales following an investigation by the police. The CPS is also responsible for providing legal advice to the police about cases, although we cannot provide legal advice to members of the public.

“The CPS is not an investigative body and has no power to investigate allegations of crime. If you believe that a criminal offence has been committed, you should report it to the police so that an appropriate course of action can be taken.

Any evidence that you have to support your allegations should be referred to the police in the first instance, as they have the power to investigate the matter further. They will refer the matter to the CPS if necessary…”

LOOT BELONGS TO BRITISH GOVERNMENT – CANDIDO-JOHNSON But Yomi Candido-Johnson (SAN) sees the whole matter differently as he maintains that the money in question actually belongs to the British authorities.

Speaking on a radio programme monitored by THEWILL in Lagos, Candido-Johnson said: “That money belongs to British Government. The process by which the proceeds THEWILLNIGERIA

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NO ONE CAN DICTATE TO THE BRITISH HOW TO SPEND THEIR MONEY Also speaking on the controversy trailing the recovered loot, Babatunde Ogala, SAN, in a post on his Facebook page on Friday said: “The money was tracked,investigated and recovered by the British Government under British Law in British soil from James Ibori and his associates and family as suspected proceeds of crime.

The British Government approached the courts and James Ibori and his associates were prosecuted and convicted in London. The court also ordered that the money be forfeited to the British Government. Ibori and his associates did not appeal. Neither did the Delta State Government lay claim to the funds. So the money thereafter became vested in the British government.

So the money thereafter belonged to the British Government.

The British Government out of benevolence elected to release some of the money to the Federal Government of Nigeria with certain conditionalites contained in an MOU that it be spent on the completion of three projects. Any attempt by the Federal Government to use the funds for anything outside these three projects will be a breach of the MOU entered into with the owners and donor of the moneythe UK Government.

The £4.2 million belonged to the UK Govt and no other and no one can dictate to them how they spend their money.”

Ogunye of crime is extracted from the hands of criminal such as a convict like James Ibori, the law is quite clear that the government that deprived the criminals the proceeds of their crime, has the power to take that money wherever it can be found. This is by a straight legal process which requires them to investigate, determine the value of the law, determine the source of the assets from where they are located, find them and make a forfeiture order. And this is a system of controlling money laundering and proceeds in crime which is replicated across many jurisdictions. “ I believe there is a bill to enact a similar law in Nigeria

IBORI’S BAG OF TROUBLES Ibori, who governed Delta State from 1999 to 2007, was convicted by a UK court in 2012 and was sentenced to 13 years in jail after admitting to fraud of nearly £50m (N26.3bn), even though prosecutors say the actual amount stolen was about £250m (N131.7bn).

The former governor of Delta State pleaded guilty to 10 offences relating to conspiracy to launder funds fr om the state, substantive counts of money laundering and one count of obtaining money transfer by deception and fraud. He was released in 2016 after serving a fraction of his term.

Despite his voluntary guilty plea, Ibori still maintains that his prosecution and travails were motivated by his tough stance against the alleged marginalisation of oil producing Niger-Delta region where the country produces almost all of its crude oil.

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NEWS PDP S’ West Congress: George, Bucknor-Akerele, Others Back Arapaja

BY AYO ESAN

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ormer Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Bode George, former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Senator Kofoworola Bucknor–Akerele and other PDP chieftains in Lagos State have thrown their weight behind Hon. Taofeek Arapaja who is gunning for the National Vice Chairmanship of the PDP in the South West.

George and other PDP leaders made their support known to Arapaja, when he visited the party leaders at Bode George’s IkoyiLagos office.

Arapaja, a former deputy governor of Oyo State who is the South West mainstream PDP candidate in the forthcoming regional Congress of the party was accompanied to Lagos by Mrs. Abosede Adedibu, who is also going for the Women Leader position during the congress, the South West Caretaker Chairman, Dayo Ogungbenro and Hon. Dare Adeleke.

Speaking on behalf of other party chieftains in Lagos, Chief George said Arapaja is competent and devoted.

He said: “I know you are competent, devoted, willing and rearing to serve with the best of intentions and with the best of motives. I have no doubt that you will succeed”.

George urged Arapaja that when he mounts the podium of leadership, he should let the constitution of the party be his guide like a constant northern star.

“Respect it. Adhere to its basic tenets and values with principled devotion. Never deviate from this grundnorm. That is your steering rudder to the redemptive light. You must be fair and just in all your undertakings. Let your decisions bear the collective input of your team. Always allow the redeeming precedents of old to sharpen your bearing, to strengthen your vision, to give fillip to your commitments and your mission.”

George further counselled Arapaja to be totally resolved, stern and immovable about the principle of non-interference of external forces in the affairs of the South West.

George said he looks forward to a zonal congress ,which will be a celebration of brotherhood, a triumphant carnival of love, of friendship and party solidarity Arapaja in his response, appealed to members of Lagos State chapter of the party to bury their differences in the interest of the party so that it can move forward.

He emphasised that it is only when the party is united that it can win election, adding that when the party is in government, then it can meet the needs and yearnings of the electorate and members of the party.

He stated that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is not better than the PDP but the party was having its way because of the division in the PDP. “We came for your blessings, prayers and seek your vote in the zonal Congress that comes up very soon. It is also time to win Lagos State, and take power to where it belongs. We gave them (APC) opportunity because we did not work as a team. Lagos State is of strategic importance, we need to win the state, we should rise above petty jealousy, the objective is to take power from those people and restructure the party.

“These people have their way because we are not united. Let us stop wasting our time, if you have executive council without being in government, the executive council is useless. We are appealing to you, begging you to be united”, Arapaja appealed.

He however, added that, if there is the need to appease and beg some members for the party to work as a team he was ready to do that.

Speaking in the same vein, the Chairman of the PDP caretaker committee in the South West, Dayo Olugbenro charged members of the Lagos State chapter of the party to forget their differences and work as a team for the success of the party.

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L-R: Vice President Yemi Osinbajo SAN, the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III and Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, during the VP’s visit to the royal palace in Sokoto on Friday, March 12, 2021.

Anambra: Tension Mounts over Appointment of Ousted Market Leader

FROM CHIDI YADIBA, ONITSHA

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ension is gradually brewing at Bridge-Head Market, Onitsha over the appointment of Mr. Sunday Obinzeou as the Caretaker Committee Chairman of the market.

CACOL Commends Judiciary For Upholding Dariye’s 10 - Year Imprisonment

BY AYO ESAN

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Mr. Obinzeou was removed by an Onitsha High Court judgment of February 4, 2021 over the market pre-election matter.

he Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, (CACOL) has hailed the Supreme Court ruling upholding the 10-year imprisonment of former Plateau State governor, Joshua Dariye upon his conviction for criminal breach of trust.

But, in a clear disrespect to the judgment, the Anambra State Commissioner for Commerce, Trade and Wealth Creation, Chief Uchenna Okafor about two weeks ago appointed the embattled market leader as the Caretaker Committee Chairman of the volatile market.

The Supreme Court, Friday, upheld Dariye’s concurrent conviction and sentence by the trial court and the Court of Appeal on the offence of criminal breach of trust. It proceeded to quash his conviction and sentence in relation to the offence of criminal misappropriation.

Mr Obinze stated that his appointment would last for a period of one year.

Reacting to the development, a former sectional union leader in the market, Comrade Peter Okala described the “purported appointment as a clear violation and disrespect to a judgment of a competent court of the land”.

In a press release issued by the anti-graft coalition’s Director for Administration and Programmes, Tola Oresanwo on behalf of its Chairman, Mr. Debo Adeniran, CACOL said, “We at CACOL, received the news of the Supreme Court verdict on Dariye with great delight. It is very interesting to note how he pursued justice for his case from the lower courts to the highest court in the land. Though, he got respite for the offence of criminal misappropriation leveled against him, the Court did not disappoint millions of Nigerians whose resources are being looted and who are subjected to abysmal state of deprivations and poverty by upholding the 10-years imprisonment for the offence of criminal breach of trust”.

Comrade Okala who could not hide his displeasure accused the Commissioner of fueling an already tense situation.

According to Comrade Okala, “the commissioner is still retaining Mr.Obinze as the market leader despite a court judgement against his legitimacy of office because he (Obinze) is protecting his investments and managing the plaza which he built through suspicious means.”

He noted that the commissioner’s visit to Bridge-Head Market on February 8 this year just a few days after the court judgement was suspicious and not acceptable to traders of the market whom he noted had been shortchanged by Obinze’s “wicked disposition and maladministration”.

While accusing the state commissioner of supporting illegality in the market, Comrade Okala said it had become clear that it was the state functionary who was orchestrating the whole drama by encouraging the embattled market leader to remain in office in clear violation of a court judgement.

The fearless former market leader who demanded the immediate removal of Mr. Obinze as a mark of respect to the rule of law and constituted authority, however, warned that failure to act on the demand of the Traders by removing Obinze from office within seven days the Commissioner should be held responsible for the consequences of his actions.

The anti-corruption crusader said: “We want to commend the judiciary for taking this bold step. We have been at the forefront of naming, shaming and criticizing the corrupt tendencies of some of our political office holders and it gladdens the heart to see some of these wicked public officials being punished for their wicked acts while in office”.

CACOL added: “In recent times, we have seen public office holders after siphoning the commonwealth of the citizens of this country running into billions to advance their individual and group’s business interests without recourse to laid-down procedures and thereafter be running from pillar to post in order to evade arrest and the attendant judicial prosecution. This is why we commend the decision of the Supreme Court for this landmark judgment and call on all the Anti-graft agencies to continue to investigate and prosecute other public office holders who are still enjoying their freedom and spending their loots. We have always opined that culprits of official corruption need to be deprived of their evil accumulations, wherever and whenever they are found out, and made to face the consequence of their acts as just deserts”.

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SPECIAL REPORT Kogi Investment Drive Turns Mirage Three Years After

BY SAM DIALA

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ndaunted by a deluge of criticism and negative media reports, the Kogi State Government braved a two-day Economic and Investment Summit February 13-14, 2018, the first in the state’s 25 years of existence then. Three years after the highly celebrated event, the outcome of the Summit remains in limbo.

The summit was to draw attention to the massive economic opportunities and potentials in the Confluence State that, if or when tapped, could turn Kogi into the league of Nigeria’s topmost economies and end its appendage of a civil service state.

However, various stakeholders and industry experts within and outside the state had warned that the summit might not go beyond the podium rhetoric it generated. They maintained that the timing, execution, ‘body language’ of the organisers, socio-economic and political realities of Kogi, showcased the summit more as a package of “political propaganda” – far from the objectives it was meant to achieve.

Coming at the peak of unfriendly voices of labour, opposition and critics, it was to the credit of Alhaji Yahaha Bello, the state governor that a quantum leap of faith was taken to host the investment summit “to highlight Kogi State’s economic opportunities and potentials to an international audience comprising policymakers, business leaders, academics and finance professionals to debate what must happen now for the state to overcome its challenges, mitigate the risk in a downturn, and ensure its lofty hopes for future prosperity are met.”

Kogi was toeing the lines of her counterparts. The dwindling fortune of oil revenue had put the nation’s economy on edge. Since mid-2014 when prices of oil in the international market slumped, Nigeria’s three tiers of government (federal, states and local) have experienced acute revenue shortfalls. The imperative of diversifying the economy thus became more compelling than ever as governments embarked on survival strategies to stay afloat. Kogi seemed to have tapped into that unfolding narrative.

According to Governor Bello, Kogi had worn the appalling appendage of ‘Civil Service State’ since inception and his administration was determined to change the narrative: “Twenty-five years ago, Kogi State was created and ever since then, it is often referred to as a civil service state. Under this administration, we will no longer take that narrative because Kogi state is full of potentials.”

Sounding confident about his vision that underscored the imperative of the summit, Bello linked the necessity and outcome of the event to the expectations of dividends of democracy under his leadership. “How can the government deliver on its bold promises – from increasing ease of doing business to making it easier for firms to raise capital—to improve the climate for foreign investment?”

“Our geographical location, natural water bodies, variable vast and arable land, human capital and solid minerals are great potentials. I refer to Kogi State as the solid mineral capital of Africa. All these potentials will remain untapped so long as we continue to see Kogi State as a civil service state and nothing is done,” Bello said at the opening ceremony in Lokoja, as if preempting Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who represented President Muhammadu Buhari at the occasion.

Osinbajo said, “This summit is both timely and strategic not only to draw attention to the confluence of opportunities in Kogi State but also to reinvigorate and inspire the people of Kogi; as you are reminded of your prospect both as a state and what it has to offer and the possibilities that are so unique to this state.

“A fertile arable land that makes Kogi the largest producer of cashew, potential major rice producer, a respected fishing community among others as well as a bed of some of the most prolific solid minerals including coal, limestone, iron ore and tin makes undoubtedly, the confluence state.”

Then Minister of Solid Minerals, Kayode Fayemi, urged Kogi to explore partnership opportunities for immediate exploration of the huge mineral deposits in the area. “There are opportunities for Kogi State to partner with private sector players to exploit the vast value chain of mining in the state. Kogi State, in partnership with private sector entities can invest in beneficiation plants that encourage the expansion of mining activities within the state, thus creating jobs and economic opportunities for indigenes.”

THE FLIPSIDE Divergent opinions were raised then concerning the two-day summit that attracted the Vice President, state governors, top government officials, eminent religious leaders and traditional rulers, and members of the diplomatic corps among others. The critics accused the state governor of pursuing an “anti-people” initiatives that, contrary to his pronouncements, did not show convincing evidence that he walks his talk.

A newspaper columnist had on February 18, 2018 used his back page column to throw uncommon punches at Bello saying: “It is obvious that the idea of an economic summit is an abstraction to him, a distant idea with no ties to either his own vacant mind or economic and social reality. The state is in decay, its people groaning in abject poverty and government-inflicted pains, and he has engineered an oppressive air that envelopes the state.”

But, the Director-General, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Kebbi State, Malami Kebbi Guruza, noted then that the success of such economic development initiatives is tied to the goodwill of the government of the day.

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“The success of the summit will depend on the goodwill that the people enjoy from the government of the day. When salaries are not paid, it affects the commercial activities of the state; even the market women are affected. The workers, who will implement the policies, are affected”, Guruza told a national newspaper.

The Chairman, Kogi Chapter, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Edoka Onuh, at the time said that Labour was not involved in the Investment Summit, a pointer to possible hurdles towards achieving the objectives of the exercise.

“Government needs the civil servants in implementing the policies and programmes of the investment summit, even if it is going to be private-sector driven. If government has commitment to the summit, it must use the civil servants to drive it. But in a situation where many of the civil servants have either been sacked or prematurely retired, how will the government go about it? Labour was not part of the summit; we cannot say if government has the capacity to drive the initiative or not”, Edoka was quoted as saying.

The then Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to Governor Yahaya Bello, Mrs. Petra AkintiOnyegbule, said that government would launch a small and medium enterprise (SME) clinic alongside the summit to demonstrate its determination to take the project beyond podium rhetoric and make it beneficial to the people, irrespective of the numerous challenges and oppositions. This SME launch was performed by Vice President Osinbajo.

BEYOND PODIUM The question being asked then was, after this podium rhetoric, what next? How would the vision of the summit and the efforts invested in the project be translated into concrete action to deliver on the seven-point objectives of the Summit? Is Kogi ready to move

“

Twenty-five years ago, Kogi State was created and ever since then, it is often referred to as a civil service state. Under this administration, we will no longer take that narrative because Kogi state is full of potentials

*Continue on Page 8

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SPECIAL REPORT Kogi Investment Drive Turns Mirage... *Continued from Page 7

out of its undesirable orbit of a ‘civil service state’ – an appendage that conveys laziness, cluelessness, lethargy, lack of creativity, being allergic to entrepreneurship and not in a hurry to seek the way to the next level. Perhaps, the questions raised in the summit document offered the answer: “How can Kogi State navigate these complex policy challenges successfully to ensure an economic revival? How can businesses ride out the current slump, mitigate the risks and impact on the bottom line? What are the consequences for regional cooperation and what, if anything, can foreign investors do to help?

“What do these new circumstances mean for foreign investors engaged in ongoing or planned projects in the state, and where do the key opportunities lie? How can the government deliver on its bold promises – from increasing ease of doing business to making it easier for firms to raise capital — to improve the climate for foreign investment?”

There are three defining factors considered germane to achieving the objective of the summit and translating the plethora of rhetoric by various speakers into result-oriented, measurable programmes. These are human capital; security; and micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) development. Without strategic policy frameworks to articulate, execute, monitor and review these economic advancement imperatives, the 2018 Kogi Economic and Investment Summit will end an exercise at blowing penny whistle, many observers pointed out.

HUMAN CAPITAL IMPERATIVE A key challenge of Nigeria’s economic development is poor human capital status. The nation lacks skilled labour to tackle economic development challenges and that is why the unemployment rate is high – 27.1 per cent as at Q2 2020. Kogi is not one of Nigeria’s educationally developed states and this reflects in the poor state of its economy.

Observers therefore wondered the magic wand Bello possessed to rapidly transform Kogi into another Lagos, Kano or Port Harcourt.

Experts urged the state to develop a well-articulated human capital development plan, preferably in 10-year parenthesis tenure, to determine what it required, when and at what level. What are the mineral deposits? In what commercial quantity are they? What is required for exploration? What is needed for development? Who will do the marketing? What about the processing? Who is monitoring the environmental factors as well as tax and other regulatory policies guiding business in the country?

It is imperative to revisit the status of the technical colleges and other skill acquisition centres. There should be a total man concept in human capital development strategy of the state. This is to ensure that everyone is relevant and contributing. None of these has happened in Kogi.

SECURITY IMPERATIVE Insecurity is a tremendous threat to development. Although, crime rate has dropped remarkably in recent times in Kogi, according to reports, the area is notorious for heinous crimes like armed robbery, kidnapping, ritual killing and assassination. The strategic location of the state is a huge asset. As Vice President Osinbajo noted, “The state is also the undisputed gateway between the north and south. This state stands in a strategic position making it the only state that shares boundaries with ten other states including Abuja”. But it is always in the news for negative reasons associated with crime and road accidents.

Gov. Bello’s re-election in November 2019, over a year after the summit, was adjudged one of the worst in Nigeria’s electoral history by domestic and international observers. The election was least in transparency, unmatched in irregularities, monumental in corruption, and absolute in brutality. Widespread violence, intimidation and bloodbath held sway. Political thugs set Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, women leader ablaze with her household, a heinous crime that was never investigated nor the culprits apprehended and prosecuted.

Gov. Bellow has decreed salary cut of civil servants’ – a move that kindled the wrath of the state medical doctors and other healthcare workers who vowed to resist the move. In a statement by the Kogi State Chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and signed by its chairman, Dr Kabiru Zubair in Lokoja, in May 2020,the group said: “The NMA is not unaware of the ongoing global pandemic of COVID-19 and the consequent economic downturn. But, the NMA strongly rejects any salary cut for doctors and other health care workers.

“This is because doctors in Kogi State have been getting along on half salary before now, occasioned by the non-implementation of corrected CONMESS – Consolidated Medical Salary Structure; Non-implementation of the new minimum wage of N30,000 and its consequential adjustment, skipping, relatively, promotion and annual stem increment.”

In February 2021, Kogi primary school teachers and local government workers alleged massive salary deduction that left many with a takehome pay of between N6,000 and N10,000 per month. Gov. Bello had embarked on the screening of government workers to determine ghost workers and ascertain the genuineness of the workers’ certificates, an exercise that lasted about two years.

“The screening did not end on time. It lasted more than a year.

During that period, they (the workers) weren’t paid salaries. After the screening, they now had cleared and uncleared workers. Workers receive meagre salaries that are not enough to support them. Some people who were found to be ghost workers were sacked. Later, those that were not cleared were transferred to the pardoned list. This process lasted for over two years with no pay. Some died, some survived”, an unnamed government worker told Sahara Reports.

Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Dr Kingsly Fanwo, did not respond to THEWILL WhatsApp message on the status of the Kogi Economic & Investment Summit held in February 2018. The Director-General, Kogi Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Victor Ibrahim, declined to comment. The President, Kogi Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Grace Obafemi, responded tersely that the event created awareness among the residents. “Being the first of its kind, there was real awareness of businesses in the state. It made us to know about the businesses existing in the sate”, Obafemi told THEWILL in a note.

VITAL STATISTICS Findings by THEWILL revealed that Kogi has the lowest budget of

N130 billion for the 2021 fiscal year among the six North Central States. Its FAAC revenue as at H1 2020 was N23.52 billion, while internally generated revenue (IGR) was N7.43 billion according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) as at Q3 2020 was $28.62 million (or N11. 73 billion at N410/US$1), and domestic debt N73.31 billion bringing total debt to N85.04 billion. Its unemployment rate as at Q2 2020 was 36 per cent, the highest in the zone.

Kogi is a struggling state. Its gross domestic product (GDP) is among the lowest among the 36 states: $32,719,347.57 as at June 30, 2017, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). Its population as at 2006, is 3,595,789, Per capita is circa $1,500. Its productive age group (15-64 years) as at 2006, according to National Population Commission (NPC) is 1,715,165.

Conversely, Kogi is fifth best state to do business in Nigeria: Starting a business takes 28 days in eight procedures; ranking second after Abuja F.C.T. Registering property takes nine procedures and lasts 33 days. In registering property, Kogi merges three procedures into one i.e., assessing the deed at the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), paying the stamp duty, and stamping the deed, by allowing applicants to pay the stamp duty at FIRS directly, rather than at a commercial bank.

Kogi State Nigeria is one of the most naturally endowed states in Nigeria. The natural resources in Kogi State are in commercial quantities. These include coal, dolomite, feldspar, bauxite, and iron ore.

Others are tar, limestone, gold, petroleum, tin and barite.

Kogi is located in the central region of Nigeria bordering nine states which an added advantage for commerce and other economic activities.

They include Niger, Kwara, Ekiti, Ondo, Odo, Anambra, Nassarawa, Benue and Enugu. It is called the confluence state because both river Benue and river Niger meet at the capital, Lokoja which could be developed into a unique tourist attraction with special boats and an annual festival.

A prominent Kogi-based road transport operator who pleaded for anonymity in this report expressed disappointment in the leadership of Gov. Bello. He described Bello as a young man burning energy in the wrong direction and aiming at the sky when he has not learnt to walk.

“Gov. Yahaya Bello is a dreamer a mere dreamer. Look at the huge wealth lying untapped under the state. Look at the location that opens it up to economic opportunities from many states. He is not looking that way. He has tasted power without working for it; he has learnt to deploy brutality and crude force to have his way. He wants to be Nigeria’s president when he has not managed small Kogi.

“His unique selling point is his youthful age which means nothing without being resourceful. We have seen many young governors – Orji Uzo Kalu (Abia), James Ibori (Delta), Lucky Igbinedion (Edo), Adamu Muazu (Bauchi), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Chimaroke Nnamani (Enugu) and many others were young governors. What do we remember them for now? Kogi Economic and Investment Summit has become a mirage. The governor wants to be Nigeria’s president.”

Besides “equipping and inspiring the security agencies”, government should consider the neighbourhood security network system of Lagos and adapt it to its (Kogi) peculiarities. A local arrangement that produces Kogi neighbourhood security network watch will go far in crime prevention and detection. Besides, it will serve an avenue for job creation for the teeming youth who would be excited at being part of the developmental process, security experts suggested.

MSME IMPERATIVE To show faith in what Gov.Bello had show-cased at the event, experts advised the state government to vigorously drive the micro, small and medium enterprise clinic it launched at the summit; the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) pattern and a strategic partnership with the Bank of Industry (BoI) was recommended.

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, who was among the personalities that graced the occasion, emphasized at the summit: “We make that mistake a lot in this country. We have versatile youths who can manufacture equipment locally but we will focus on how to discourage and pull them down. Why can’t we urge the government to set up a research and development unit so they can be schooled?”

EXERCISE IN MIRAGE Over three years after the Kogi Economic and Investment Summit that dominated the waves and pages of the electronic and print media, there is nothing to show that Gov. Bello was sincere about the initiative or determined to pursue the grandiose project beyond rostrum rhetoric and loud audience applause. The opening ceremony was streamed live on major national televisions at a huge cost.

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POLITICS

Abubakar

Soyinka

Kukah

Again, State of The Nation Comes Under Focus

BY AMOS ESELE

F

ebruary and March are decidedly months for elections circles in the country. Coincidentally, they have become engaging months for Nigerians talking to one another in the face of worsening insecurity in the country.

During those months, Nigerians in the Diaspora and at home converged on the frightening state of insecurity in the country and proffered solutions in no holds barred virtual meetings.

On Saturday, March 6, the Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile Ife, in Southwest Nigeria hosted another gathering. The occasion was the virtual 2021 Obafemi Awolowo Annual Lecture, held to mark the 122nd birthday anniversary of the former Premier of the Western Region and sage, Chief Awolowo. In attendance were The Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar 11 as Royal Father of the day, Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka as Chairman and former Nigeria Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Mr Emeka Ayaokwu as Special Guest. Other guests were the former Emir of Kano, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi; Former private secretary to Awolowo, Mr Odia Ofeimun and foremost Nigerian thinker, poet and author, delivered a lecture on the theme; “Whither Nigeria.”

The following day, Sunday, March 7, over 3,000 Nigerians participated in a webinar titled; A Conversation With Matthew Hassan Kukah, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto. It was hosted by Profession Oluwatoyin Falola, a Professor of History at Texas State University at Austin in the United States of America.

Earlier on February 27, Nigerians in the Diaspora spoke at a virtual conference organized by the immediate past European President of the Nigerian Diaspora Association, Mr. Kenneth Gbandi, with a theme: Conference of All Diaspora Parties on the State of Security Situation in Nigeria. Mr Gbandi is currently the Deputy National Chairman of the Diaspora branch of the African Democratic Congress, ADC.

At the 2021 Obafemi Awolowo Annual Lecture, panelists and key speakers agreed on the urgent need to build a united and progressive Nigeria through massive education and a restructured constitution.

Anyaoku, who bemoaned the heightened insecurity and poverty and mutual distrust called on the National Assembly to organise an allinclusive national dialogue, taking into account previous national conferences to produce a consensus constitution, as according to him, only a restructured constitution would guarantee political stability and economic development.

“There is no section or ethnic group in Nigeria that does not stand to gain from belonging to one country. “It is in the common interest of all the ethnic groups and component parts to sustain the oneness, for progress of the country,” he said.

“

We can solve our problems without a stick.

No problem is beyond dialogue

For the Sultan of Sokoto, government needs to be more proactive and decisive in tackling national challenges.

He said: “We can solve our problems without a stick. No problem is beyond dialogue.”

Ofeimun in his paper said Boko Haram, Indigenous People of Biafra, herdsmen/ farmers conflict were fueling secession pressures.

“We need to discuss what belongs to us as a people. This is a country that is worth defending and we should all defend it. We need to free ethnic nationalities so that Nigeria can be free,” he said and called for restructuring.

“There is a way of managing Nigeria such that every child will go to school. We must put all the cards on the table and discuss Nigeria. We need a less dominant centre. If we go by this, we are moving towards having a country.”

Former Emir of Kano, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, disputed the *Continue on Page 10

THEWILL monitored the events.

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A common thread running through the interventions is the state of the country, what is to be done and how.

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POLITICS ...State of The Nation Comes Under Focus *Continued from Page 9

“This is a unique event as far as I know and as long as I have been in the diaspora because it is the first time an event of this nature is happening, where branches of political parties in the diaspora decided to put partisanship aside and identified with what affects every Nigerian, “ said Collins Nweke who comoderated the session with Gbandi.

Chairman of the virtual meeting, Prof Soyinka drew the participant’s attention to the fact that there was a national consensus on restructuring that would make room for decentralization and devolution of powers and greater autonomy for the state.

The webinar featuring Bishop Kukah, attracted prominent Nigeria journalists such as Mr. Dapo Olorunyomi, Publisher of Premium Times; Author, Professor Larry Diamond; Open Society Initiative for West Africa, OSIWA, Director, Mrs Ayisha Osori, who is also CEO of Nigerian Women Trust Fund, NWTF, two youth academicians from Oxfor and Baliol; Ms Ndidi Akara and Papa Nrumah, all of whom directed questions at Bishop Kukah.

Responding to the questions, Kukah, said, among many things: “To create a good society, you don’t treat unequal people equally and you don’t treat equal people unequally because if you have a society where just being a woman penalises you, or just belonging to a different religion penalises you or just being of a different social class penalises you, then you don’t have the hope of pulling together the resources, mental ability and otherwise that people have.

Anyaoku

general view that the country’s problems were caused by ethnicity or religion, rather than economic and governance.

Osori

He noted that if Nigerians want to get out of the current systemic challenges, it means they have to subscribe to some values that are necessary for building a good society and stop the present situation of “your begging bowl is bigger than my own. It is not going to happen in 2023, we have to think of it in a long term.”

PAGE 10

Akahara

“So the sovereignty dispute has to be resolved before the 2023 general elections.”

For retired Colonel Lambo, the worsening insecurity can be resolved quickly with equipment and logistics support for the security agencies and their welfare together with proper training. Manpower should be increased and a military industrial complex set up to assist in producing light weapons, bullets and a variant of AK-47He suggested the setting up of a security trust fund., which should be funded by the private and public interests ranging from those in the corporate would to public service.”

“Two years ago, I granted an interview to Channels TV that if we don’t solve the herdsmen challenge, we would get into problem. Here is where we are today,” he said.

From within and without, Nigerians of all walks of life have taken the bold step to start talking with each other, which a form of dialogue that holds the prospects of a light in the dark tunnel currently blocking the country’s progress.

Gbandi

“

For him, the solution would be to police our borders in strategic alliance with neighbouring countries, namely Chad, Niger, Mali and Cameroun. Security agencies have to be properly equipped and their officers trained and retrained for currency and effectiveness in intelligence gathering; security issues should never be politicized, the authorities need to articulate the security position clearly to be able to galvanise the citizenry behind it and seek international help.

Thinking along the same lines, Nnadi said if the past was properly looked into, it would become obvious that the decent into terrorism has been brewing since 2007 when 12 states in Northern Nigeria declared Sharia law in clear violation of the secular nature of the country as defined by the Constitution, and then Boko Haram in 2009 and then the affiliation of the terror group with ISIS and then the government’s reluctance to rein in the herdsmen menace and then President Buhari’s invitation open door policy to free passage into the country and then Governor Bala Mohammed justifying killer herdsmen’s possession of AK-47 and now Sheik Gumi negotiating with bandits and calling for amnesty for them.

At the Diaspora event, attended by over 500 participants, officers of the international branches of ADC and YES parties were noticeably present. Speakers were varied. They included Mr Clement Mosindi, a security expert based in Israel for the past sixteen years; Nigerian retired Colonel Hassan Lambo; Mr Tony Nnandi; Secretary, Nigeria United Group for SelfDetermination; Mr Chidi Nwaomi, a retired officer from the British Army and Lady Dupe Ajayi-Gbadebo.

Two years ago, I granted an interview to Channels TV that if we don’t solve the herdsmen challenge, we would get into problem. Here is where we are today

According to security expert, Mosindi, it is time to “call a spade a spade,” because, in his view, Nigeria is dealing with international terrorism and not banditry and insurgency, as the authorities would have us believe”.

He said: “Since Boko Haram launched its war in 2019, it has not relented. In 2012 it pledged allegiance to Al Qadir, in 2016 to ISIS, so all these years it has been blending with international terrorists. So when Boko Haram is fighting ISIS has to assist. They have come in the guise of herdsmen and bandits from across Nigerian border. All of them are emboldened by the faulty security architecture in the country.

Our borders are porous. Borders are the first line of defense for any country. We have to acknowledge that fact and seek help.”

“So, for me, in the final analysis is how do you create an environment where everybody thrives according to their abilities? That is the responsibilities of those who create and manage the state because not everybody is going to be a civil servant, not everybody is looking for a job from government, people just want to be able to do the things they need to do.”

According to him, “The challenge is for us to create a conducive environment and this is why I worry about this government because the government has not created a narrative that points in a direction that we should be going.

We don’t expect the President to do everything, we are not expecting angels, but it is that a nation has to survive on a vision about where we are going and how we are going to get there”.

For Gbandi, “every observer of the Nigerian situation since the civil war can see that kidnapping, herdsmen attack have become prominent in Nigeria, and the inability of the government to manage the affairs has worsened the security situation since the civil war. by the emigration of Nigerians.

Anybody not aware of this is insincere. Even attempts by those of us in the diaspora to intervene are been threatened like Chief Abuda who was recently kidnapped and killed in Edo State.

For the ADC, “we believe Nigeria belongs to all of us and it is time to come together and speak up and forge a way out to avoid another war.”

“We can solve our problems without a stick. No problem is beyond dialogue, “ said Sultan Abubakar at the Obafemi Awolowo 122 birthday anniversary.

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POLITICS Imagine too Chief Gamaliel Onosode alias “Mr. Integrity,” who wielded the Midas touch in things temporal and celestial as foremost Nigerian technocrat and administrator, whose successes spanned not just industrial empires but building from his living room in 1984 the Good News Baptist Church into a massive church with a congregation of over 2,000. But when death beckoned in 2015 at the age of 82, the former Chairman of Dunlop, Cadbury and several other high-profile organisations left with his political ambition amputated.

“

I am making myself available; it must not be me, but an Igbo of character. Ndigbo must present their best.... It is not about the SouthEast, it is about Nigeria

Shall we need to recount the obnoxious histories of such corporate geniuses as Ernest Shonekan, Bamanga Tukur and M.K.O. Abiola?

In fact, due to the failure of such businessmen, Nigerian politics appears to be the exclusive calling of retired military Generals, retired civil servants, teachers and academics.

For this very reason, the coming of Ohuabunwa has whipped up some excitement. Maybe he will break the jinx. Such a man who has made success of private enterprise could make a difference in public office. First he will likely have the backing of his peers in the corporate world. Secondly, his kinsmen, the Igbo, have been shopping for an untainted standard bearer that will brighten their chances of wresting power from the other regions in the South when the pendulum of power swings away from the North come 2023.

Ohuabunwa himself is leaving no stone unturned to help his chances. In furtherance of his dream, he has floated a political pressure group called, The New Nigeria Group. He is TNNG’s Convener. He will need all such props.

Ohuabunwa

2023: Can Ohuabunwa Break The Jinx?

BY FELIX OBOAGWINA

H

e chose a Holy Day to announce his aspiration to wade into the mucky waters of politics and run for the highest office in the land. However, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa’s declaration on the last Sunday in January that he would join the 2023 presidential race has lifted more than eyebrows; it sent the heart of many a potential opponent into a frenetic frenzy of palpitations. Why would they feel so intimidated by a man coming from two constituencies that have often fallen by the wayside in the race for the country’s highest prize?

For one, unlike many gladiators in the arena, this contestant rides into the competition like a knight in the shining armour of industry and integrity. By all means a quality contender, Ohuabunwa virtually wears a saintly halo around his head, as his dossier exposes not a scintilla of blemish from his past.

That apart, Ohuabunwa possesses formidable credentials. The President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) as well as chief executive of the multi-billion naira pharmacy giant, Neimeth, the man possesses strong tentacles in corporate Nigeria and beyond.

Somewhere he has been branded an accomplished Author, Newspaper Columnist, former Chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), and former member of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) under President Goodluck Jonathan. Currently, he serves as a member of President Muhammadu Buhari’s Presidential Advisory Committee (PAC), a position likely to secure for Ohuabunwa a soft spot in the heart of the government of the day.

However, this will be the first time Ohuabunwa actively delves into party politics, having spent the adult phase of his 70 years on the sidelines. The renowned Pharmacist, who holds the national honour of the Order of the Federal Republic, OFR,

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is not a known sympathiser of any party and nothing so far indicates that he secretly registered as a card-carrying member of any.

Undoubtedly, this Igbo gentleman from Abia State exudes all the aura of a shining star from the East, yet the question must be asked: Does he possess the sagacity to navigate the labyrinth of partisan politics, outwit the potential ganging up of political Barracudas and survive the fangs that will inevitably lounge at him? He may have mastered the fine art of corporate politics.

But have his boardroom skills equipped him with the requisite survival kits for the mucky waters of raw partisanship?

As a business guru giving politics a wholesome embrace, Ohuabunwa follows in the footsteps of other personalities from corporate Nigeria who leaped from the boardroom to the rostrum. Unfortunately, those adventures did not have a happy ending. Back in the Third Republic, industrial guru and Guinness Chairman, Chief Abel Ubeku, threw his hat into the ring and aspired to be Nigeria’s President. He had made a huge success in the brewing industry where he steered his company’s products and brands into dominance in the country’s beverages sector, so Ubeku clearly knew his onions. But his ambition never found the wings to fly. Until he died in March 2014, the Delta State-born gentleman never really made it into the heavyweight class in the country’s political ring. This is a ring that has slain timbers and calibres of industry.

Imagine the experience of Professor Pat Utomi, who also followed the nose-diving trajectory, despite forming his own political party, the African Democratic Congress, and becoming the Presidential Candidate of SDMP. The cerebral former Special Adviser to the Second Republic’s President Shehu Shagari and later Chief Executive of Volkswagen Nigeria lowered his eyesight from aspiring to the country’s presidency to becoming a state Governor under APC. Despite it all, politically speaking “ground no just level for the guy,” to put it in pidgin English.

In the race for the presidency, Mazi comes into a field filled with formidable warhorses who already have a head start as they have political structures and networks built since this Republic dawned in 1999. Talk of former Nigeria’s Vice President Atiku Abubakar. Talk of former Abia State Governor Senator Orjih Uzoh Kalu. Talk of former Lagos State Governor Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Talk of the current Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. Talk of the current Kogi State’s Governor Yahaya Bello. Talk of Ekiti State’s Governor Kayode Fayemi. Talk of former Lagos State’s Governor and current Minister of Works and Housing Babatunde Fashola. Talk of former Anambra State’s Governor who was PDP Vice Presidential Candidate in 2019, Peter Obi. Talk of former Imo State’s Governor Senator Rochas Okorocha. Talk of the current Ebonyi State’s Governor David Umahi. And then consider former President Goodluck Jonathan.

None of these wannabes rates like a pushover.

But unlike many in that field of Barracudas and desperadoes, the Pharmacist approaches his ambition with a liberal psychology.

For him, being President is not a do-or-die affair. He shows fastidiousness about power shifting to the South-East, a zone that has never enjoyed the privilege of posting an indigene as civilian President. Ohuabunwa posits that he stepped forward only to brighten the chances that his native Igbo race (only one of the three major tribes yet to occupy the seat) would clinch the presidency.

As he put it: “I am making myself available; it must not be me, but an Igbo of character. Ndigbo must present their best.... It is not about the South-East, it is about Nigeria. Every Nigerian who wants unity must support power shift. Igbo Presidency will stop Biafra agitation, which asks for equity, fairness and freedom. Even other agitations will stop. Igbo are for justice and equity. We are not coming with anger and recrimination, but with equity....”

More interesting, while making his declaration speech, Ohuabunwa raked from under the carpet matters that professional politicians prefer to view with a blind eye. He bemoaned how current administrators have continued to run Nigeria in an opaque manner. He took particular exception to the lopsided structuring of government institutions as presently constituted.

Such talk may sound grating to the ears of those benefiting from the status quo. It, however, paints Ohuabunwa in the picture of a man quite abreast of the country’s dominant issues, a man who would dare to head-butt those issues without any pretence to political correctness.

In the final analysis, this Igbo son rising from the East represents two primary constituencies, his ethnic stock and corporate Nigeria giants, who appear jinxed in the quest for the presidency. Will Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa finally break both jinxes?

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POLITICS/INTERVIEW

2023 Presidency: Let’s Shun Zoning, Pick Best From Any Part of Nigeria - Adeniran

“

I believe that what we should do now is to look for the very best from any part of the country that will bring about unity, peace and progress to the country, the very best

Adeniran

Professor Tunde Adeniran is a former Minister of Education. He is also a former member, PDP Board of Trustees. He later dumped the PDP and joined the Social Democratic Party before quitting active politics.

In this interview with AYO ESAN, he speaks on the current insecurity ravaging the nation. He also speaks on the issue of creation of State Police, monetisation of Nigerian politics, movement of politicians across the parties among other issues of national interest. Excerpts: PAGE 12

H

ow do you see this prevalent insecurity in the land? Kidnapping of students, payment of ransom even by the state governments and so on. There is also the resort to self-help by the people who believe the government has failed to provide them with security. How will you react to the situation in the country?

It is unfortunate and it is something that we really have to tackle with more seriousness than ever before, so that every category of Nigerians will feel safe to do their business. This is because if there is no security, there won’t be productivity.

And if there is no productivity, the country is likely to suffer seriously because farmers will not be able to work. Those who go to schools will not be able to do what they are supposed to be doing either. So there will be no development in the country and that is not good for us. So it should be taken more seriously.

The one aspect of it that I believe we have to consider is that there had been over reliance on government to stop the situation. We shouldn’t leave everything to the government.

We should know that the citizens themselves too also have a role to play to make sure that we constitute ourselves to not just vigilante groups or something like that, but intelligence groups to give necessary information to the security agents.

There was this case of Sunday Igboho who in Oyo State went to send the Fulani out of Igangan in Oke Ogun area. Can we tolerate such individual effort in curtailing insecurity?

Well, the self- help is not necessary once the government

does what it should do. What we need to do is to work closely with the government and then ensure that we all cooperate in getting rid of criminals in our society. The role we need to play is to work hand in hand with the government, not to supplant the government or to leave everything to the government. In other words there is need for cooperation at all levels.

Many people believe that the restructuring of the country will solve many problems especially that of insecurity.

What is your position on restructuring?

I am committed to restructuring because I know that with the problems we are having in the country, if the country is properly restructured, there will be better governance, there will be more commitment and there would be some fairness and justice in the carrying out of governance for the people. That is very important. And then, of course, there is going to be competition among the Nigerian people and everybody would be able to have sufficient commitment in making sure that what concern them in their areas, they are involved and once they are involved, there will be sense of belonging which is very important in whatever we do.

Some people are saying the National Assembly should handle the issue of restructuring, others are saying we should have constitutional conferences. What is your take?

Well there are different approaches but what I believe is that we could go back to history and see what happened in the past. If you look back, you will see that there is this Constitutional Conference even under the Late THEWILLNIGERIA

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POLITICS/INTERVIEW General Sani Abacha that was done at that time. There were some good recommendations that were made and all that was required was to subject such recommendations to a referendum. And after the referendum, it would have been the constitution of the people. And there was another one that was carried out during the Jonathan era, in 2014.

Nigerians gathered from all walks of life and so much went into it. And at that time what one expected was that most of those things ought to be carried out directly by the government through Executive orders while the others could have gone to the National Assembly and enacted into law. So right now, what we can still do is to have a look at some of those issues, if we are still going to revisit them, of course there is the need for referendum. And there is time for it: Because we cannot have the constitution of the people without people’s participation. It is not possible. And I have suggested in some areas that what we can do is for the National Assembly to look at the decree that led to this constitution that we are now operating, the constitution of 1999, that decree should be abrogated by the National Assembly . And then from there, they go ahead and proclaim into law the constitution of the people.

Right now, the easiest thing will be, if they are afraid on some decisions of the past but they cannot run away from the reality on ground now. So the people must be involved and the involvement of the people is to say what are the issues that you want us to look into. So people must debate their future on their own and a referendum held within a short period and they will be together. And whatever is not agreed upon should be put aside. If you keep on insisting that what pleases me or what pleases you are what we are going to do , of course we are going nowhere. But we must see it as give and take. What would be in the overall interest of the people, equity, fairness and justice and an environment in which our people will live together in peace and harmony, there will be progress, and there will be development that is very important.

Some people are also saying that creation of state police will help in curtailing or reducing the incident of insecurity. What is your position on this?

I believe either you call it community policing or state policing, that will also help, policemen should be familiar with the environment where they work and be familiar with the whole locality where they function.

Then of course, the terms of operation, how they are structured, how they function also matters. Because when you have most of those things, there should be designated areas to be covered by those police, either you called them community policing or state police. It is very important, there are some areas for them to cover while the national police will cover some other areas.

The 2023 presidential election is getting nearer. Many people are urging the parties to zone their presidential candidates to certain geo political zone. What is your position on zoning of the presidency?

Well, the constitution, which was proposed under the Abacha period thought about zoning. That is when something like president supposed to be zoned and rotated among the six geo- political zones but that was not adopted. What we have now does not give room for zoning; there will be confusion. So I believe that what we should do now is to look for the very best from any part of the country that will bring about unity, peace and progress to the country, the very best.

But many people are saying the South East is being marginalised and that it has not produced the president since 1999 when we started this democracy and that they should have a fair share in what is going on in the country. How do you feel for the South East?

I believe any part of this country could produce the president and that depends on the parties because we don’t have independent candidates.

If any party could come with a good material from a particular part of the South East, Nigerians will endorse it, will embrace it because there is nothing against somebody coming from South East, nothing stop anybody coming from the South East from being the president. So long as the person has the capacity, and he is patriotic and has a vision for the country.

Then, there is this issue of politicians moving from one party to the other. If you noticed, it is more common during this period of APC registration of members. Many PDP leaders in PDP are moving to the APC especially in the South West. This kind of movement, what does it say of our politics?

It shows that many people are playing politics of convenience, politics of opportunism rather than politics of principle. And it also shows that between the two major parties, there is hardly any difference.

Looking at the fight against corruption under President Muhammadu Buhari, the Acting EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, was removed in a controversial circumstances. A new Chairman has been appointed, Abdulrasheed Bawa. If you were asked, how would you advise him?

The new EFCC chairman, Bawa, my advice to him is to do his homework thoroughly, to be courageous, to be fearless and also to employ capable hands that will assist him in the prosecution of cases. Otherwise he will just be there wasting time, wasting resources and dampen the hope of Nigerians that there will be fairness and justice. If he does not have competent hands to prosecute cases, of course there will be no result.

So what need to be done is look at cases, frivolous cases should not be THEWILLNIGERIA

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Adeniran the one that will pre-occupied them. Genuine cases should be brought up, investigated and prosecuted, that is what will make people regard EFCC as truly a commission that is worth it. Otherwise before you know it, people will be talking about scrapping it, as it is not doing any good for the country. He should ensure fairness, he should not be partisan in the approach, those things are very important.

As one of the leaders in the South West, this period is not the best of time for the people of the region. Fulani herdsmen are attacking them.

There is raping, killing, kidnapping of the people. How will you advise the South West Governors on how to handle?

My strong advice to them is that they must unite. They have this outfit, the Amotekun and the Amotekun will go a long way, if they will equip the Amotekun with necessary training, necessary discipline and proper direction so that they will be able to carry out what they need to do to put an end to the killing , to the maiming and to the raping of our women and of course the kidnapping of our people . That is very important. It is something that must be taking with all seriousness more than any other thing. This is because if there is no security, the farmers cannot go to the farm, the women will not be able to do anything and of course , even going to school will be difficult for students as time goes on . So it is a very important thing that should not be taken lightly.

Looking at monetisation of our politics, good and intelligent persons may find it difficult to get elected into position because of the high money required. For how long do we continue like this ?

The monetisation will be changed, when the constitution also changes.

What we have presently now encourages such. Because it is so attractive, you now look at political parties as businesses. They will go and look for money because if you go in there you are going to take back as much money as possible even if you do not develop the people and you do not develop the community. But once you have a constitution that makes public office less attractive and does not give room for the looting, the manipulation of the system for personal enrichment, then of course, people will not put too much money on it. But now, yes it is very expensive, because people see it as an avenue to take as much money away as possible. People put much money into it because they want to get huge money back.

“

Once you have a constitution that makes public office less attractive and does not give room for the looting, the manipulation of the system for personal enrichment, then of course, people will not put too much money on it

So we need to approach it from three angles. One the quality of people that go in should be men and women of character who feels that they are going into politics for service. Two, the constitution with which they have to operate should be such that does not permit, or allow people to go into office for embezzlement. And that it does not require you to spend too much money before you get into an office. And thirdly and finally, the mechanism, the institutions that will really monitor, all those institution like INEC that has to do with performance in public should be such that prevent anybody that has ulterior motive from carrying them out , that is very important.

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EDITORIAL INEC and Continuous Voter Registration Exercise T

he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the body saddled with the conduct of elections in the country has tried over the years to improve on its performances. Only last year, the electoral umpire received kudos for its performance in Edo and Ondo gubernatorial elections.

In the two elections, INEC, for the first time, posted the results directly from polling units to its server, which made it accessible to the electorate. This novel development helped in giving credibility to the elections as the usual manipulation of the results from the polling units to the collation centres was eliminated.

The import of this development was that for the first time, there was relative peace after the announcement of results. Both the losers and the winners were satisfied with the conduct of the election by INEC. Thus, we can say that the elections’ results reflected the peoples’ will.

It is little surprise, then, when President Muhammadu Buhari gave INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, a second term in office. Mahmood thus became the first INEC Chairman to have the opportunity of serving twice.

As efforts are being intensified to improve the country’s electoral system, one area that needs to be given attention is allowing all qualified Nigerians to participate in the elections.

The new development which allows the transfer of voter card from one location to the other is a welcome development. Before, somebody who registered in a different location and left that location may not have the opportunity of voting, unless he can return to the location where he registered. But that has since changed, with a voter having the opportunity of transferring his card to his new location where he can vote. Many, who hitherto have shunned voting due to the problem or inability to go back to their old location to vote, can now vote with ease.

This was made possible because INEC has since realised

that every Nigerian has the right to live in any part of the country. An important part of voter registration is that an eligible person is advised to register at the Centre nearest to his or her residence. This is to make it easy for the voter to access the polling unit and vote on Election Day. A person who has relocated to another place, outside the unit in which he/ she registered cannot vote in his/ her new location unless he/ she transfers his/ her registration.

The person who intends to transfer his/ her registration will apply to INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner of the state where he/ she is currently residing through his/ her Electoral Officer (EO).

While we appreciate the efforts of INEC, especially under the incumbent chairman, Prof.

Yakubu, to improve our electoral system, there is also the need to afford all qualified Nigerians the right to vote and, so, the issue of continuous voter registration is something that must be implemented to the letter.

Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) is an exercise meant for the registration of citizens who turned 18 years of age after the last registration exercise; or those who, for one reason or another, could not register in previous exercises. The 2010 Electoral Act (as amended) mandates the Commission to carry out CVR nationwide and to make available to every political party within 60 days, the names and addresses of each person registered during that year.

In pursuance of this requirement, the Commission at various times has developed the modality for the conduct of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise nationwide.

It is interesting that INEC has scheduled another round of voter registration for the first quarter of this year.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Yakubu, made this known while he met with the Senate Committee on INEC to defend the Commission’s 2021 budget. He said the voter registration

exercise will run for six months before the 2023 general elections.

Though INEC may have its logistic reason to haphazardly fix certain period for the Continuous Voter Registration exercise, this arrangement has to change. There is the need for INEC to fashion out a modality that will give opportunity to Nigerians to register as voters immediately they clock the mandatory age of 18. For instance, if registration of new voters stops six months before the next general election as stated by Yakubu, what happens to those who clock 18 years, five, four or three months before the election . They would have been denied their rights to elect those who would serve them either as legislators, governors or president for four years. The implication of such denial due to no fault of their own is not in consonance with the principle of democracy.

In a democracy, every qualified Nigerian who has attained 18 years and is of sound mind must be allowed to have a say in who governs them.

THEWILL therefore implores INEC and the National Assembly to find a way to ensure that qualified Nigerians have the opportunity to register as voters every day of the year. This should be incorporated into the new electoral system. For democracy to be the government of the people by the people and for the people, all adult qualified Nigerians must participate in electing those who govern them.

Nigerians will not accept anything less than the opportunity to register as voters once they reach the mandatory voting age.

We believe that fundamental human rights, such as the right to vote, is not negotiable. We therefore urge INEC not to wait until somebody drags it to court over this before it will do something on the issue. We are aware of high number of litigations that INEC is facing and the cost of prosecuting such cases. So, a stitch in time saves nine and INEC needs to do something on time.

Publisher/Editor-in-Chief - Austyn Ogannah Editor - Olaolu Olusina Deputy Editor - Amos Esele Politics Editor - Ayo Esan Business Editor - Sam Diala News Editor (Online) - Felix Oboagwina Cartoon Editor - Victor Asowata Entertainment/Society Editor - Ivory Ukonu Photo Editor - Peace Udugba Head, Graphics - Tosin Yusuph Circulation Manager - Victor Nwokoh

Nigeria Bureau: 36AA Remi Fani-Kayode Street, GRA, Ikeja. Lagos, Nigeria. info@thewillnigeria.com / @THEWILLNG +234 810 345 2286, +234 913 333 3888. EDITOR: Olaolu Olusina @OLUSINA PAGE 14

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OPINION Buhari’s Shoot At Sight Directive:

The Best And Worst Case Scenarios

BY MAGNUS ONYIBE

F

ollowing the backlash of the directive by President Muhammadu Buhari to Nigerian security forces that it should shoot-at-sight anyone carrying AK47 assault rifles in the forests-a weapon which herders now sling over their shoulders with reckless abandon, (instead of the sticks and knives that the Fulani herdsmen usually arm themselves with) Mr. President is now caught in a Catch 22 position because of the contradictions.

This may very well be a classical case of, if you speak, you are dammed, if you don’t speak, you are equally damned.

That is because having not made any declarative utterance on the matter of herdsmen killing, presumably because of his affinity to the Fulani, (some of whom are being fingered for the vagrancy) until it had assumed a pandemic dimension, he was massively criticised for his long silence. And now that he has decided to act by giving security agencies the order to shoot-at-sight any AK47 carrying person in the forests, as conveyed by his spokesman, Garba Shehu, he is still being criticized.

The thumbs down obviously stems from the fact that the directive which is so far the closest direct involvement or intervention in the farcical and fratricidal crime of herdsmen killing by Mr. President may be considered by his critics as too little too late as the crisis has degenerated. The mindset of those that are of the belief that the conflict has reached an abysmal level justify their position with the videos of innocent farmers and villagers recently killed by suspected herdsmen with their homes and farms burnt down and the reprisal actions of the lynching of herdsmen for allegedly murdering the innocent farmers also in videos that have surfaced in the social media.

Not since the civil war, (1967-70) did Nigeria descend so lowly to level of savagery currently being witnessed .

In protest of the jungle justice meted out to the alleged purveyors of violence that are predominantly from the north-the source of

most staple food in Nigeria - the supply of food to the south from the north had been blocked by those sympathetic to those lynched.

However, shortly after, reason prevailed and the blockade was removed.

Ordinarily, the conflict needn’t escalate to the extent of blood letting and the imposition of a trade embargo. But that is what could happen when the leadership at any given time does not make concerted efforts to douse the fire in combustible situations before they spread and cause more damage in the polity.

The government in power should have intervened long ago by enforcing the law which forbids non military personnel from bearing arms. But it did not until the complete breakdown of law and order in Oyo state and environs .

The incendiary comments by the duo of Bala Mohamed, and Isa Yuguda, past and present governors of Bauchi state to the effect that cattle herders had the right to carry AK47 assault rifles to defend themselves against rustlers and that the Fulani herdsmen shouldn’t be hindered from roaming all the forests in Nigeria, amounted to pouring fuel into a burning furnace. On the contrary, the peace maker approach by the trio of former head of state Abdulsalami Abubakar, Nasir El-Rufai, Kaduna State governor, and Abdulahi Ganduje, Kano State governor by appealing to the feuding parties that they should hold their peace as alternative grazing arrangements that would modernize the practice of animal husbandry are being made, restored peace and calmed frayed nerves.

Thankfully, both the present and former governors of Bauchi States have retracted their provocative comments which contravened the law of the land that forbids unauthorized people from bearing arms and criminalises people who forcefully grab other people’s land. And it is to the credit of those at the helms of the security architecture at the centre -most likely at the instance of Minister of Defense, Gen Bashir Magashi and National Security Adviser, NSA, Gen. Babagana Mongonu that the highly volatile situation

has been brought under control.

Hopefully, the successful quenching of the potential inferno penultimate week would be permanent as it would be in the best interest of all Nigerians, herders and farmers alike, as well as Christians and Muslims to maintain the peace in order to sustain the potentially great country that our forbears bequeathed to us.

It is a no brainer and therefore commonsensical to presume that permanent peace between herders and farmers in our country can only come about when justice and equity are applied in the resolution of the crisis which is now a cankerworm of sorts eating away at the fabrics of our society.

Prior to the current directive to the security agencies to shoot-tokill, President Buhari’s media aids had been issuing statements on his behalf labeling those engaged in the orgy of killing unarmed Nigerians under the guise of being herdsmen, as cowardly and ungodly. The problem with such diatribe is that it is counter productive, especially as the arsonist never made any claim to being heroes or pretend to be priests. As such, calling them cowards or making moralistic appeal to their conscience could never sway them from engaging in the dastardly acts that they seem hell bent on perpetuating in order to impose their extremist beliefs or kill and maim Nigerians by unleashing violence on them in order to cow us into submitting to their whims and caprices.

So, the application of moral suasion by President Buhari’s spokespersons have been roundly condemned as ineffective, puerile and of no value simply because the outlaws are not known to have conscience which their moralizations and preachments could prick.

While the rhetorics from the presidency lasted for the better part of the past five years, more Nigerians were being sent to their early graves, courtesy of the villains who can best be described as nefarious ambassadors that have become unhinged in their nihilistic enterprise in spite of the moralisations from the presidency each time they struck. *Continues online at www. thewillnigeria.com

2021 Anambra Governorship Election: Soludo Leading The Pack

BY JOE C ANATUNE

A

s the race towards getting a successor for the incumbent governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, hots up, one person stands out among aspirants jostling to replace him. He is former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Dr Chukwuma Soludo.

Soludo is the only one among the aspirants who has consulted for 20 international financial and development institutions, including the World Bank, IMF, African Development Bank, UNDP, USAID, UK-DFID, European Union and even founder of Africa Finance Corporation with over U$6 billion investment in Africa.

In post covid-19 era with fall in oil price and drastic fall in allocations from Abuja to states, Anambra needs someone like Soludo who is uniquely connected around the world to mobilise project and development financing to transform Anambra State. He has also advised many countries and institutions, there is therefore the need to bring all those knowledge that the world is paying him for, to transform his home state.

Soludo had lived in Ethiopia, United Kingdom and USA and travelled to 43 other countries in all the continents of the world. No one has 1% of Soludo’s international connections and exposure among those jostling to occupy the Anambra Government House.

The pandemic era is not the time to start trial and error. Through the NEEDS and banking revolution, all designed and executed by Soludo, tens of millions of jobs were created in Nigeria. His tenure witnessed the highest growth rate of the economy in over 40 years. He has proven to be a big thinker and doer, with results which Nigeria, Africa and the world have celebrated. No wonder, Nigeria has awarded him the third highest national honour, CFR; and the world has celebrated him as the best governor of central bank in the world; and also one of the 100 most influential Africans. No other contender has the experience!

Soludo is also the founder of the African Heritage Institution (formerly African Institute for Applied Economics), Enugu, a thinktank since 2001 which has been providing economic development research and advice to federal government and state governments in Nigeria, especially the South East.

As the Chairman, Planning and Strategy Committee of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide since 2017, Soludo had initiated and started building CBN South East regional centre of excellence which cost over N7billion at the University of Nigeria Enugu campus union.

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He built CBN branches at Awka, Asaba, Umuahia, Abakiliki, and completed the building at Enugu branch.

He established CBN’s N500 million Entrepreneurship Development Centre, Onitsha, managed by University of Nigeria, Nsukka and trained thousands of young entrepreneurs.

Soludo facilitated the inclusion in Federal budget the release of funds for several federal roads in the South East, including the EkwulobiaUmunze- Ibinta road; Nnobi-Ekwulobia road.

EMPOWERED MANY CONTRACTORS FROM THE SOUTH EAST Over 66,000 jobs were created in the commercial banks due to Soludo’s banking revolution and thousands of them from the South East.

Under Soludo, CBN licensed over 1,000 microfinance banks and hundreds of them in Anambra/South East Under Soludo, CBN issued licenses for Bureau de Change, and hundreds of them were from Anambra/South East He is currently, Chairman: Anambra State 50 -Year -Development Plan (Anambra Vision 2070) Soludo has always refused to advertise his charitable causes.

According to him, he does not play politics with, nor need public advertisement for helping the poor. He insists that it is his own way of thanking God for His blessings. However, due to popular demand, some of them are listed below: At age 20, and as undergraduate student, he organized extramural studies for secondary school students in Isuofia during the long vacation holidays and continued it for four years. At age 26, he started training not only his siblings but also others in secondary schools and university.

As secondary and university student,he was very active in Isuofia Students’ Union and not only played for its football team, but also served as its Secretary for several years From year 2000, he instituted a scholarship scheme for his Umunna (kindred) that no person should fail to go to University because of financial constraints.

From 2001, Soludo became the Chairman of his village Education Trust Fund to which he was the highest donor, and which granted scholarships and bursaries to students in higher institutions; About 10 years ago, he adopted a primary school in his village, Amoji

Primary School, Isuofia to give all children there free and qualitative education. His objective is to give opportunity to the children of the poor the quality of education available to the rich in private schools.

Everything is provided to the children and no parent is expected to contribute a penny, uniforms; footwear; games wear; all writing materials; all textbooks; furnished classrooms; employed additional graduate teachers; solar-powered computer laboratory with 40 computers; and other facilities. For years, there have been over 850 pupils per year, coming from over 12 neighbouring communities and 18 states of Nigeria as people from all over Nigeria living around Aguata took their children there to benefit from the qualitative but free education. It is arguably the best public sector primary school in the state. He also pays for facilities in other primary schools in Isuofia and especially pays salaries for the PTA teachers.

SCHOLARSHIPS/BURSARIES AND PAYMENT OF SSCE AND JAMB FEES Every year, Soludo pays the fees for JAMB and SSCE for hundreds of secondary school students, and certainly for all students at the Holy Child Secondary School, Isuofia. Also, hundreds of graduates have benefited from his scholarships/bursaries.

For over 14 years, he instituted revolving interest-free micro credit fund with women organizations in the church parishes in Isuofia as well as others such as Umuada, etc amounting to tens of millions of Naira.

During the period he was CBN Governor, most of Igbo brothers and sisters got the opportunity to secure Bureau De Change licences A revolving purchase of motorcycles for Okada riders until 49 motorcycles purchased and distributed to beneficiaries, free of charge.

N3 BILLION 120-BED HOSPITAL PROJECT WERE FACILITATED BY SOLUDO. In spite of the fact that those that pledged to contribute to the hospital project failed to do so, Soludo has mobilized funds to embark upon an even bigger project than originally envisaged.

HE TARRED SOME 4.5 KILOMETRES OF COMMUNITY ROAD IN ISUOFIA. He convened and mobilised the entire citizens of Isuofia to resolve a 20 years old crisis and re-united Isuofia into one united and peaceful community in 2017.

On contribution to churches and evangelism, let’s leave this between him and God, but he has made immense contributions!

•Anatune, a media consultant, writes from Lagos.

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Grappling With Security Breaches At Nation’s Airports

Mixed Reactions Trail FG’s Proposed Free Prepaid Metres PAGE 34

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NNPC: Concern Mounts Over MultiBillion Naira Wasteful Spendings

BY SAM DIALA

T

he public outcry over unbridled spending habit of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) which characterises its operations resonated on Wednesday March 3, 2021, when the Senate Public Accounts Committee engaged top management of the nation’s oil firm over enormous financial irregularities levelled against it.

Presided over by the chairman, Senator Mathew Urhoghide, the committee had summoned the management of the NNPC to explain the expenditure it made without budgetary provision amounting to over N443 billion. The committee took the decision based on the 2016 report of the Auditor-General for the Federation (AuGF), being scrutinized by the lawmakers as part of its oversight functions.

The report contained audit query against the abuse of due process

by NNPC in the managing of public funds.

The AuGF’s query to the NNPC read, “During the examination of subsidy records provided by the Federation Accounts and Allocation Committee, it was observed that the total subsidy paid during the year 2016 was N443,940,559,974.80. They included the 2014 arrears paid to oil marketers in 2015 and the payments made in 2016 without interest is N403,321,449,046.76.

“Interest and forex differential is 40,619,110,928.04 totalling N443,940,559,974.80 which was termed subsidy deducted at source by the NNPC. This reflects continuing weaknesses in the budgeting process adopted by the Federal Government.”

The Accountant General of Federation, Ahmed Idris, reportedly told the committee that the NNPC would be in a better position to explain the extra-budgetary spending query raised by the AuGF. That was the end.

A similar scenario played out in June 2020, when the Senate took a swipe at NNPC for over 210 per cent subsidy expenditure rise in two months – March to May 2018 – which skyrocketed from N774 million to N2.4 billion daily during the period.

Chairman of its Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream and Upstream), Senator Sabo Muhammad Nakudu, regretted that the sole importer of petroleum products claimed N843.12 billion and over N1 trillion as “under-recoveries” for 2018 and 2019 as against the average N511 billion yearly in a decade-long subsidy regime.

The chairman said the arbitrary and unsupervised deductions in the name of under-recovery from the country’s crude account without recourse to any enabling law was at variance with Section 80 (1, 2, 3, and 4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

Nakudu stated: “The NNPC Act which empowers the corporation to submit to the National Council of Ministers not later than three months before the end of each financial year, estimates of its expenditure and income relating to the next financial year does not negate the supremacy of the constitution on appropriation matters.

“The constitution is very clear on the role of the National Assembly in appropriating funds belonging to the federation, and did not exempt anyone.” He cautioned that the non-audit of the NNPC budget by the National Assembly makes its oversight role on the national oil company very difficult, if not nearly impossible, urging immediate redress.

In June 2018, a deadlock occurred during the monthly Federation Accounts and Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting when state governors queried the figures NNPC remitted to the Federation

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Account. The NNPC had remitted N147 billion into the federation account in May but the governors faulted that amount, saying it did not reflect the current economic realities and prices of oil in the international market. The governors also queried the amount that the NNPC said it paid for petroleum subsidies.

Briefing journalists on the matter, Abdulaziz Yari, then chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum and Zamfara state governor, said the governors still disagreed with the figures presented by the oil corporation.

“NNPC said it paid N88 billion for subsidy; in the month of June it said it paid N31 billion but it claimed N57 billion is for payment of subsidy in 2017. That is not acceptable and we won’t give the approval. You can’t just deep your hand into the public purse and take the money; you have to seek approval from the NEC or Mr. President.

“And NNPC said they have N15 billion for miscellaneous, N9 billion for pipeline maintenance, N3 billion for crude loss, all those things were not approved by anyone.

“NNPC is owned by the federal, states and local government.

The states get 48 per cent while the local government and federal government get 52 percent. We have to agree whatever we get the federal government is getting 52 percent. We are saying this money should be brought to the public for sharing,” Yari said.

THE TREND The NNPC has been struggling to pronounce the words it invented to justify the decision to manage public fund its own way – “underrecovery”. Following reports of undisclosed and tardy financial dealings by the NNPC, the Senate, stepped into the corporation’s cloudy “under-recovery” room to uncover what had triggered great concern among Nigerians.

At its sitting of October 16, 2018, the Senate resolved to probe the NNPC over unaccounted whooping sum of $3.8 billion allegedly shrouded in secrecy in the implementation of the petroleum subsidy/”under-recovery”. The issues contained in the point of order raised by Senator Biodun Olujimi (Ekiti South) which triggered the resolution for the probe are instructive.

She stressed the need for the Senate to invite all those involved, “so that we can sit down together and ask questions – How are you managing this fund, what have you been using this fund for, have you being subsidising? This is because reports say that we have been subsidising. And right now the subsidy level is so high that if it is added to what we had, pump price will be N210 per litre. And this is being done behind the scenes. It shouldn’t be so. This is because it is money belonging to Nigerians and, it must be appropriated”.

CONFUSION, CONTRADICTIONS Olujimi had alleged there was a $3.5 billion “Subsidy Recovery Fund” being managed only by the GMD and Executive Director, Finance, of the NNPC. Proceedings of the Senate ad hoc Committee probing the alleged $3.5 billion “under-recovery” fund managed by the NNPC created a chimney of emitting confusion as the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Mahmoud IsaDutse, denied knowledge of the “slush fund”. His claim which corroborated then NNPC GMD, Makanti Baru’s submission that no such fund existed in its custody, worried the concerned lawmakers.

Leaked media reports which revealed that the Federal Government, through the NNPC, illegally and clandestinely diverted the government’s NLNG dividend into fuel subsidy compounded the situation. It also increased the doubts among Nigerians over NNPC’s claim of transparency in the “under-recovery” narrative.

The dividend represents income from Federal Government’s investment in the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas project at Bonny, Rivers State, on behalf of the citizens. The proceeds therefore ought to have been transferred to the FAAC to be shared by the three tiers of government.

The then NNPC spokesman, Ndu Ughamadu, initially said the $1.05 billion was sourced from an “international agency” to fund the fuel subsidy. But this was to be countered by Baru who later *Continue on Page 35

FG BUDGETED Vs ACTUAL REVENUE IN 5 YEARS: 2015-2019

“Right now, the fund is being managed quietly without appropriation of any known law. Nobody is talking about us – Nigeria, paying subsidy. But we know that subsidy is being paid in one form or another but being covered in recovery rather than subsidy.

“It was also gathered that this slush fund has long been in the custody of the NNPC management without being couched well before the public. So, the NNPC management should come to explain what the money has been used for and whether or not it has been used in paying subsidy”.

Olujimi further affirmed that, “What happened is that rather than the Executive talking about subsidy, they talk about subsidy recovery. That means that they were going to end subsidy and pay people to stop subsidy. But the fund is not appropriated. It’s just a lump sum within the management of NNPC. And we believe that it is not good for it to be shrouded in this kind of secrecy.”

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AVIATION

Grappling With Security Breaches At Nation’s Airports

BY ANTHONY OKECHUKWU

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takeholders in the nation’s aviation industry have warned that if the frequent security breaches at the airports continue, it may lead to threat of lives and property, which may consequently affect the perception of the flying public. Penultimate week, armed bandits attacked workers of Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and that of Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) quarters in Kaduna, abducting about nine persons, including a family of six and a housewife with her two children.

The bandits had gained access to the quarters through the airport runway at midnight, storming into the apartment of their victims in a brazen manner. Last year, a 25-year-old man was caught at the runway of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, attempting to hide in the wheel-well of Air Peace aircraft. He was, however, arrested by Aviation Security of FAAN. Still in 2020, a similar incident occurred when a middle-aged man identified as Nigerien attempted to climb Azman Air aircraft on the same runway but was stopped and eventually arrested by security operatives.

Cases of unconfirmed reports of runway incursion abound across the airports, the latest being the Kaduna scenario.

However, despite the bandits attack in Kaduna, FAAN has said it will not shut down the Kaduna International Airport.

Capt. Hamisu Yadudu, the Managing Director of the agency, told THEWILL that FAAN is working round the clock to ensure that security and safety are sustained at the airports.

Speaking at the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos shortly after the bandits attack, and during the oversight function visit by the Senate Committee on Aviation, Yadudu lamented the attack on its staff quarters, but vowed that the management, the state government and the various security agencies would not relent in their efforts at ensuring safety of humans and equipment at all the airports across the country.

According to him, before the unfortunate attack, the management had beefed up security networks at all the nation’s airports, stressing that the current attack would not discourage it from clamping down on any heinous crimes anywhere within the sector.

He said: “This incident is entirely different from closing down the airport. It’s a security concern that we have at our staff quarters. A lot of our staff do not even live in these quarters. If there is a need for us to close, we will close it, but this is even far away from it.

“There is no need for that drastic action. Just a small percentage of our staff stay in the staff quarters; the rest are all living in the town. You can see that the staff quarters are fenced. We are taking appropriate measures, but as I said, we just have to improve to counter these challenges.

“The fence was broken, there are security measures. We have security personnel attending to the area, but somehow, somewhere, things happened and now it is time for us to counter as we have been doing always.

“Security is a race. Security challenges will always come and we will improve and on our own part, we keep improving to outsmart them. Anytime there is a breach of the security architecture, we will still do the same thing. Our staff can attest to this, the state government can attest to this and even the security agencies can tell you this.”

He insisted that FAAN had since 2020, further beefed up security at the various airports across the country, which had foiled attacks in the sector, maintaining that the agency in collaboration with the other security agencies and the Kaduna State Government would rise to the occasion.

In his own views, Sen. Smart Adeyemi, Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, advocated for state and local government policing as a way of enhancing the security architecture in and around the country THEWILLNIGERIA

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Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos

“

This incident is entirely different from closing down the airport.

It’s a security concern that we have at our staff quarters. A lot of our staff do not even live in these quarters. If there is a need for us to close, we will close it, but this is even far away from it

Lamenting the sordid security challenges, which had pervaded the country in recent times, Adeyemi said: “I think the time has come for Nigeria to evolve a system that will appreciate the size of the nation and the diversities. You don’t recruit one who graduated from University of Maiduguri for instance and you post him to Lagos to come and police. He doesn’t know the system and the areas. So, criminals can take advantage of that.”

In a bid to improve security in aviation industry, Adeyemi appealed to the Federal Government to make available special funding for the sector.

In his submission, CEO of Centurion Securities, Group Capt John Ojikutu (rtd), warned that FAAN and concerned security operatives should reinforce security at the airports.

Capt Ojikutu who revealed that aviation infrastructure is higher on the lists of terrorists targets for attacks pointed out that Nigeria requires a very urgent security directives from the

Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to update airports emergency and airport security management programmes to tackle the trends of insecurity around our airports.

According to him, operators may request support from the military, especially the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) for arms’ support, stressing that the trend of attacks may be rehearsals of big things waiting to start happening Explaining further, Capt Ojikutu said: “All the federal airports are expected to have Aviation security programmes approved by the NCAA. All federal airports are expected to have an airport security committee. If any airport is deficient in any of these, it would be serious negligence and the NCAA must take necessary enforcement action. These are not teething problems but part of age old traditional operation standards”.

A regular air traveller, Dr Isaac Mordi, said FAAN has done so well in most of the major airports, just as he observed that so many airports outside Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt are porous. According to Mordi, all airports should be given the same attention in terms of security so as not to give chances to criminals.

He said: “If you look at our airports, FAAN seems to have concentrated on some airports but this is not supposed to be so.

All airports within the country need to be fortified against any form of invasion or encroachment.”

To Damilola Akinfenwa, another air passenger, a good security architecture will not only save life and properties but would also instill confidence in the flying public. She therefore advised that FAAN and authorities concerned do everything possible to enhance safety at all the airports in the country.

Meanwhile, NCAA and FAAN have been making efforts to increase collaboration with all relevant agencies to strengthen security at the nation’s airports. A statement issued recently by Mr Sam Adurogboye, the NCAA General Manager and Public Affairs, confirmed the partnership arrangement. Adurogboye explained that the collaboration was to forestall a similar occurrence of the security breach that happened at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA).

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MARCH 14 - MARCH 20, 2021 www.thewillnigeria.com

ENERGY

Mixed Reactions Trail FG’s Proposed Free Prepaid Metres

BY EMMANUEL IKE

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n October 20, 2020, when the Minister of Power, Alhaji Mamman Kwagyang Saleh, announced the plans of the Federal Government to distribute no fewer than 6million free prepaid meters, Nigerians welcomed the idea with apprehension and excitement.

The idea, according to industry players, is designed with a view to ensuring an increase in Nigeria’s metering rate, eliminate estimated billing and strengthen the local meter value chain by increasing local meter manufacturing, assembly and deployment of capacity.

It is part of the Federal Government’s effort to further bridge the country’s metering gap and also cushion the effect of high tariff on the electricity consumers in the country.

This is also a demonstration of the current efforts by the Federal Government to improve power supply and mass metering as part of the agreements recently reached with organised labour.

While many Nigerians believed that the idea would go a long way to improve the supply and distribution and ultimately enhance the efficiency in the consumption of energy in the country, others described it as another misdirected “elephant project” that may not achieve the desired impact on the masses.

IMPACT ON CONSUMERS, DISCOS Although, while inaugurating the scheme through the National Mass Metering Programme, which took place simultaneously in Eko, Kano, Kaduna and Ikeja Distribution Companies (DisCos) franchise areas recently, Saleh said the prepaid metering and monitoring system helps compliance and ensures that consumers were not shortchanged and Discos get payment as and when due.

The minister pointed out that in the next 18 to 24 months, over six million metres would be distributed across various households in the country.

“The free distribution of the prepaid meters is to ensure that every household in the country is properly metered and captured in the billing system as this is the way to eradicate the current estimated billing system which has given rise to inefficiency in the sector,” he said.

But the Chairman, Banana Island Residents Association, Chief Femi Coker, in a telephone conversation with our correspondent, said the exercise, if properly managed and devoid of manipulations, would provide succour to consumers and solves their electricity needs.

Coker, however, recalled how residents of the area have been passing through unwarranted stress in the hands of the employees of discos in order to acquire the device.

He said having been subjected to all manners of inhuman treatment, he was not expecting this particular exercise to be less cumbersome and therefore advised that adequate measures should be put in place to ensure consumers do not go through pain to acquire the device.

He said, “Currently, we go through the eye of a needle in order to get the device. This is deliberately caused by the employees of the

CAPITAL MARKET

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“If the government can be serious about the free distribution of the meters by putting the enabling structures in place, I think collection of the meters would be seamless and devoid of stress.”

Another consumer from Ikorodu, Lagos Mrs Ifeoma Ani, and said “anything free from the government may not be actually free” as what one would pass through may be more expensive than going to buy it with money. Ani said she had applied for the device for over a year now and has yet to be given one.

She lamented the negative attitude of the employees of the distribution companies, which according to her, has been a serious cause for concern towards achieving an adequate metering system for all consumers.

“The Ikeja Electric people have remained adamant to the plight of consumers as regards this, they have refused to meter us but have preferred the estimated billing system as they see it as a pipe to drain the consumers. Now the government has said they are distributing free meters when the people who have paid have yet to receive.

How do they intend to harmonise that?

FEAR OF MANIPULATION However, a resident of Surulere, Lagos, Mr Nurudeen Ola, has expressed strong fear that the process, although well intended, may be manipulated and hijacked by what he described as “powers that be” if proper measures were not put in place.

He said people were of the opinion that the 6million meters proposed by the government may end up in the hands of very few individuals who would use the avenue to enrich themselves.

But while reacting, the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of IE, Mr John Omo, said all necessary arrangements have been put in place to ensure consumers collect the meters without any hitch.

Omo added that at ICE, over 100,000 meters would be rolled out to their consumers in the next few weeks for the first phase of the programme.

He, therefore, appealed to the consumers to support the government to stamp out the menace of energy theft in the industry.

He revealed that key stakeholders to monitor the distribution include government representatives, the community development associations and representatives from corporate bodies as well as representatives of Organised Labour and Civil Society Organisations.

NSE Completes Demutualisation As SEC, CAC Give Nod

he Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has received final approvals of its demutualisation plan from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) respectively. With these approvals, The Exchange has now completed its demutualisation process.

Under the demutualisation plan, a new non-operating holding company, the Nigerian Exchange Group Plc (‘NGX Group’) has been created. The Group will have three operating subsidiaries, namely: Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX Limited), the operating exchange; NGX Regulation Limited (NGX REGCO), the independent regulation company; and NGX Real Estate Limited (NGX RELCO), the real estate company. All the entities have been duly registered at the CAC. Otunba Abimbola Ogunbanjo, NSE Council President, said: “Successful demutualisation was one of my fundamental objectives when I assumed the Presidency of The Exchange.

The SEC’s decision today to approve the NSE’s demutualisation plans brings this aspiration to a successful conclusion in a process that included the passage of the Demutualisation Act through the National Assembly.

“We are elated that this milestone has been achieved as we celebrate the 60th anniversary of the commencement of trading at the Exchange and now look forward to the future public listing of its shares on NGX Limited. On behalf of the NSE, I would

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discos who are using the process to extort consumers and ensure the continuous use of the estimated billing system.

like to warmly thank all those that have worked assiduously to achieve this watershed event on our journey to make the NSE a multifaceted exchange that extends across various markets and geographical regions.”

The approvals by the SEC and CAC signify that the NSE can now activate its Transition Plan to a new operational structure and holding company. The extensive Transition Plan, taking the Group and its subsidiaries through to full Operational Launch, covers legal and practical changes to enable the functioning of the new corporate structure, with no loss of service and a seamless transition for market participants.

The Transition Plan will also see the inauguration of Boards for each of the new entities, staff reallocation to their respective functions within the operating subsidiaries, operationalisation of business plans and budgets, technology systems transfer, and the requisite arm’s length agreements between the entities.

Upon Operational Launch, the Group’s new brands, including a new website, will be unveiled and the Group will be in position to execute on its strategic vision. Stakeholders, including our new valued shareholders will benefit from The Group’s enhanced Corporate Governance framework, access to capital to fund strategic developments and a more globally competitive Exchange.

The approvals also enable the shares of NGX Group Plc, which

have been registered with the SEC; to be allotted to the membership pursuant to the Court approved Scheme of Arrangement. Ahead of its listing on NGX Limited, the shares of NGX Group Plc will be available for bilateral trades to be executed in line with extant rules and regulations of the Nigerian capital market. Otunba Ogunbanjo will serve as the inaugural Chairman of NGX Group Plc’s Board of Directors.

Oscar N. Onyema, the new Group CEO of NGX Group Plc, said: “The Nigerian capital markets should play a role commensurate with Nigeria’s status as Africa’s largest economy. At the Nigerian Stock Exchange, we have a vision that the new group will become the premier exchange hub for Nigerian businesses and for the African economy. We are implementing a series of measures towards this goal, demutualisation being a critical milestone.

The completion of demutualisation is a truly significant moment, and we welcome the new possibilities that have opened up for us today.”

Demutualisation of the NSE is pivotal as it creates new strategic opportunities that will enable the Group realise its vision of becoming Africa’s leading capital market infrastructure provider.

The creation of a holding company and a new capital structure will also enable NGX Group Plc to form new dynamic relationships, drive strategic partnerships and gain capital raising flexibility. It will be recalled that NSE members approved at its last AGM, the listing by introduction of NGX Group Plc on NGX Limited.

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BUSINESS NEWS

Oil/Gas Giants Plan Headquarters in Akwa Ibom

BY UDEME UTIP, UYO

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ssociation of Oil and Gas/Petroleum Marketers of Nigeria has concluded plans to cite the Headquarters of Waterways oil and Gas Marketers Association of Nigeria (WOGMAN) and Waterways Transport Association of Petroleum Marketers of Nigeria (WTAPMN) in Akwa Ibom State as the highest producers of crude oil in the country.

National President/Chairman Board of Trustees of the association, Alhaji Usman Alli bared the minds of association in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State while flagging off a conference of amalgam of associations involved in oil, gas and petroleum marketing.

“Apart from being the highest producer of crude oil, Akwa Ibom is the most peaceful state in the South-South region of Nigeria and in deed the entire country.” He added.

Associations flagged off included: Waterways oil and Gas Marketers Association of Nigeria (WOGMAN) Association of Nigeria Refineries Petroleum Marketers (ANRPM) Waterways Transport Association of Petroleum Marketers of Nigeria (WTAPMN) Lubricant and Greases Marketers of Nigeria (LACMAN) Independent Crude Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (ICOMAN).

According to the President, the five associations inaugurated were duly registered with Corporate Affairs Commission and with the flag off, are set to start operations in their separate oil fields.

Declaring the conference open, the president who is a former *Continued from Page 16

Director of Finance of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), stressed on the need to involve the grassroots of oil producing Communities in the scheme of things to give them sense of belonging and promote peace and harmony.

He called on delegates to the conference to take advantage of the opportunities in the associations and get involved in petroleum products marketing.

Speaking, the Supervising Chairman of Akwa Ibom State chapter of the Association who doubles as the South-South Chairman of WOGMAN Dr. Innocent Udom thanked Alhaji Alli for the gesture and demanded that indigenes of Akwa Ibom State be appointed into key positions in the National Executive and Board of Trustees.

The grand patron of the Associations, Obong Etim Udofia of BeBless Industries was full of praises for the National President and his exco for the bold step, especially the decision to site their headquarters in Akwa Ibom.

Dr. Udom also called for the full implementation of the local “Ast 2010’ in Akwa Ibom State. While thanking the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Mohammadu Buhari for approving an Oil and Gas free Zone and a Petroleum depot in AKWA Ibom.

Expressing gratitude on the governor of Akwa Ibom State Mr. Udom Emmanuel for his industrialization drive and provision of enabling environment hat attracts investors to the state, Udom said the flag off became necessary to further liberalize the marketing of petroleum products and bring the business to the grassroot of the oil producers.

The conference was attended by delegates from all over the southern part of the country, these included, South West, South East, and South-South which played the host state, Akwa Ibom.

Alli

...Concern Mounts Over Multi-billion Naira Wasteful Spendings

admitted that the $1.05 billion was proceeds of the NLNG dividend.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, also confirmed that N378 billion (equivalent of $1.05 billion at N360 to a dollar) was withdrawn from proceeds of the NLNG proceed domiciled with the apex bank.

of being idle as all the refineries did not refine crude oil from July 2019 to September 2020. The refineries, located in Port Harcourt, Kaduna and Warri, have a combined installed capacity of 445,000 barrels per day but have continued to operate far below the installed capacity.

AUGEAN STABLES Disclosures at the Senate’s Joint Committee on Finance and Planning showed outright abuse of the TSA process by many revenuegenerating agencies who behave like they are immune from the rule.

Among them is the Department of Petroleum Resources, a parastatal under the NNPC. The DPR was among the agencies accused of failing to remit the expected level of revenue to the Federation Account while swimming in its revenue pool as it likes. The Senate queried the agency’s remittance of a meagre N44.5 billion into the Consolidated Revenue Fund out of the N2.4 trillion it generated in 2019, a situation the lawmakers considered mind-boggling.

In 2019, Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company only processed crude in one month, June; Port Harcourt Refining Company in two months (February and March); and Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company in four months (January, February, March and May).

For instance, the DPR management deducted N88 billion from the N2.4 trillion generated in 2019 as 4 per cent approved collection fee. According to reports, the DPR could not convincingly account for the remaining unremitted collections which it simply classified as “overhead and operational costs” without specific figures tied to them.

A report by Premium Times showed that the DPR paid over N8 billion as salary upfront in January 2020 to its staff quoting daily payment data published on the open treasury portal: “The review of salary payments between January and April 2020 showed two descriptions. The first description is January 2020 DPR Staff Salary. This has only five beneficiaries and sums to ₦29.6 million. The second description, which is 2020 DPR Staff Upfront Payment, had 605 beneficiaries and summed to ₦8 billion.

“Twenty-nine (29) top officials received between ₦50 million and ₦71.7 million as upfront salary payment. Another 30 received between ₦30 million and ₦49.9 million. 51 staff members received between ₦20 million and ₦29.9 million. One hundred and nineteen (119) others received between ₦10 million and ₦19.9 million. The remaining 375 staff members received between ₦5 million and ₦9.9 million.

“The treasury database also indicated that five DPR staff received double payment in the same period. The first payment was with the description January 2020 Salary while the second payment had the description – 2020 DPR Staff Upfront Payment.

“An example of a recipient of the double payment is Abubakar Attahiru Saleh who received a sum of ₦22,755,745.91 twice the same day. While he received ₦6,318,167.93 as January Salary, he also received a second payment of ₦16,437,577.98 as Salary Upfront,” the online newspaper published in its May 20, 2020 edition.

COMFORT IN LOSSES The NNPC announced in January 2021 that the nation’s refineries lost a total of N152.08bn in 15 consecutive months THEWILLNIGERIA

Dr. Ebenezer Ukpe, the Southern Nigeria Chairman of WTAPMAN said the detamination of the National President to correct anomalies in the oil marketing sector of the economy was commendable saying that his zone had noted his sincerity of purpose and would work to ensure the success of all the planned programs.

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The Kaduna refinery incurred an operating deficit of N57.99bn from July 2019 to September 2020, according to the NNPC data.

Port Harcourt refinery lost N48.99bn in the period under review while the Warri refinery lost N45.10bn.

The NNPC said that the declining operational performance of the refineries ‘is attributable to the ongoing revamping of the refineries, which is expected to further enhance capacity utilization once completed’. The Group Managing Director, NNPC, Mallam Mele Kyari, had reiterated its plan to revamp the refineries and end fuel importation by 2023.

Bloomberg reported on January 15 2021 that a year after shutting down all of its dilapidated refineries to figure out how to fix them, Nigeria still could not say how much it would cost to do the work or where the money would come from. According to the report, the NNPC said it had finished the appraisal of its largest facility but hadn’t completed the process at two others.

The international news agency quoted refining experts as saying that the extended halt meant the plants were at risk of rotting away and unlikely to restart on time. It noted that the NNPC had totally shut all three plants down by January 2020 to do a comprehensive

appraisal, and set the ambitious target of having them all back up and running at 90 per cent of capacity by 2023.

A similar report by the nation’s oil firm had revealed that the three refineries lost a total of N111.27 billion from January to September 2019. It noted that the refineries posted a loss of N96.31 billion in the same period in 2018. Analysis of the 2019 report showed that the refineries lost N8.36 billion in January, N10.26 billion in February and N16.04 billion in March 2019. The figures for April, May and June were N11.44 billion, N13.63 billion and N17.42 billion respectively.

The plants recorded a loss of N13.84 billion, N13.21 billion and N7.07 billion in July, August and September 2019 respectively.

Kaduna refinery which did not process any crude in eight months lost N44.06 billion. Warri recorded a loss of N33.88 billion as it did not process any crude oil in April, June, July, August and September, 2019.

The report further disclosed that Port Harcourt refinery posted a loss of N33.31 billion as it was idle in January, April, May – September, 2019.

The NNPC Group General Manager, Public Affairs, Dr Kennie Obaeru, did not respond to enquiry sent to him via WhatsApp; phone calls to his cellphone were not answered.

Dr. Ibilola Amao, Principal Consultant at Lonadek Global Services, foremost oil and gas services firm, condemned the move by NNPC to undertake the extensive repair of the idle and out-dated refineries.

She sees the project as one aimed at pooling resources for the 2023 elections in an indirect manner. “This is another plot to gather money for 2023 (elections). NNPC should be unbundled and handed over to private hands”, Amao said in a note to THEWILL. Managing Director/CEO of a popular indigenous oil and gas services firm headquartered in Lagos with branches in Port Harcourt, Warri, Eket and Kaduna, who would not want his name published because of his relationship with the authorities, told THEWILL that NNPC has become a consolidated, amalgamated channel for wasteful spending, massive looting of the nation’s commonwealth and enrichment of privileged few in the corridor of power.

“When it is not subsidy, it is under-recovery or projects that are over-inflated in cost, sometimes three times what obtains in other environments. Can you imagine keeping idle refineries and pumping money into them without any conscience; yet one is bold enough to tell the world that we posted billion Naira losses on such facilities? In parts of the Asian world, this will attract public execution. Simple,” the oil and gas expert told THEWILL in a phone chat.

Nigeria is experiencing severe revenue challenge, yet the little generated is frittered away through mindless waste and questionable investments in idle refineries in addition to deceitful subsidy payments, the expert said

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MARCH 14 - MARCH 20, 2021 www.thewillnigeria.com

NEWS Medical Workers Laud Diri Over Approval of Welfare Package

•Demand Autonomy for Primary Health Care Board

FROM DAVID AMOUS -OWEI edical workers in Bayelsa State under the aegis of Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, MHWUN have commended the state governor, Douye Diri, for approving the implementation of promotion due them as well as the N30,000 minimum wage.

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The state chairman of MHWUN, Comrade Barnabas Simon, gave the commendation yesterday in an interview with THEWILL in Yenagoa.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State receiving the COVID vaccine Jab on Friday.

Abia Woos French Investors

FROM OKKEY UCHENNA UMUAHIA

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he Abia State government has wooed French investors to invest in state especially the Enyimba Economic Centre (ECC), saying the potentials of such investments are limitless.

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu made the appeal when he hosted the French ambassador to the country, Mr Jerome Pasquier at his country home, Umuobiakwa, Obingwa local government area.

Soliciting the cooperation of the ambassador in attracting the investors, he assured that his administration would provide them the necessary support and cooperation to succeed.

He said the administration plans to build a Youth Eco-System where the youths will acquire skills to fit into the technological demands of the 21st century, appealing for the envoys partnership for the project.

Earlier, in his speech, Pasquier said that the French government is open to any possibility of working with the state in the area of education and agriculture, among other sectors.

On arrival, the ambassador who was received at the Government House, Umuahia, the state capital, by chief of of staff to the governor, Dr. ACB Agbazuere, later visited the National War Museum.

Financial Inclusion: Un-banked Persons Hit 1.7bn Worldwide

BY ANTHONY OKECHUKWU lobal Financial Inclusion Database, otherwise known as Global Findex, which documents how people save, borrow and make payments, states that, close to one-third of adults, that is 1.7 billion are still unbanked globally.

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The Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Engr. Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, made the disclosure at the 5th annual “The Bullion Lecture” organised by the Centre for Financial Journalism (CFJ) in his lecture, titled: “Driving Pervasive Broadband Penetration to Deepen Digital Financial Inclusion for Nigeria’s Socio-economic Transformation”.

The event was a hybrid of virtual and physical participation.

Speaking as a Guest Lecturer, Dantata also pointed out that great strides have been made toward financial inclusion and that 1.2 billion adults worldwide have got access to an account since 2011.

Quoting the World Bank Report, the NCC CEO further added that 69 percent of adults have an account, insisting that about half of un-banked people include women, poor households in rural areas or out of the workforce.

According to Dantata, such a situation hinders women from being able to effectively control their financial lives, as financial inclusion has been identified as an enabler for seven of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals 2030. He further opined that financial inclusion is considered a key enabler to reduce extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity and that countries with high mobile money account ownership have less gender inequality.

“Reports indicate that since 2010, more than 55 countries have made commitments to financial inclusion, and more than 60 have either launched or are developing a national strategy. When countries take a strategic approach and

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develop national financial inclusion strategies which bring together financial regulators, telecommunications, competition and education ministries, among others, they increase the pace and impact of reforms”.

Noting that one percent increase in financial inclusion increases the real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita by 3.6 percent, Dantata affirmed that access to financial services is a crucial enabler of economic and social transformation of any country.

According to him, the approval for implementation of their promotions was a sign that the government meant well for workers in the state.

Simon enumerated problems facing them in the state prior to the coming into office of the Diri government to include confusion as to whether the state’s local government service commission or the primary health care board should have control of the affairs of the medical and health workers, amongst others.

The MHWUN helmsman said with the recent re-drafting of the control of medical and health staffers into the local government system, the union now know exactly their position as to their remuneration and other sundry issues concerning them.

“We thank Governor Douye Diri for the approval of the implementation of our promotion, which from 2015 to date our promotions weren’t implemented, but Diri has just given the approval which is going well with all of us”, he said.

“Before now, we didn’t even know whose duty it was to take charge of the primary health workers in the state.

“Whether it was the local government service commission or the primary health care board was what we don’t know until Diri came and took us back to the local governments”, he added.

The MHWUN boss called on government to grant autonomy to the state’s primary health care board and said its present status makes it lack the requisite powers to function effectively, just as he implored members to put in their best in performance and productivity to justify the confidence reposed in them by the present administration.

UBA Posts Impressive Results As Profit Jumps 28%

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espite Covid-19-induced operating challenges, United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA) recorded a post-tax profit of N113.76 billion for its FY 2020, representing 27.7 per cent from N89.08 billion in 2019. The bank’s profit before tax was up by 18.5 percent from N113.3 billion in the preceding year to N131.9 billion in the year under review.

The bank also recorded gross earnings of N620.4 billion in 2020 which exceeded the N559.8 billion posted in the same period of 2019 by over one-tenth tenth as earnings derived strength from a surge in net interest income by 16.9 percent from N221.9 billion to N259.5 billion.

Net fee and commission income rose to N82.60 billion from N80 billion in the corresponding period representing 3.25 percent increase as net trading and foreign exchange income grew from N37.6 billion to N59.5 billion which boosted revenue.

Earnings per share increased from N2.52 in 2019 to N3.2 in 2020 representing 26.98 percent jump Year-on-Year (Y-o-Y), as impairment charges for credit losses on loans recorded a 37.38 per cent jump, Y-o-Y, from N16.34 billion in the preceding period to N22.44 billion in the reporting

year.

This reflects the bank’s inclinations to extant prudential guidelines as it keeps keen watch on the status of nonperforming loans (NPLs).

NPL specifically recorded 11.32 decline Y-o-Y from 5.30 percent to 4.7 percent in 2019 and 2020 respectively.

Further glimpse into the bank’s published report showed total assets recorded 36.95 per cent increase from N5.62 trillion to N7,69 trillion in 2019 and 2020 respectively, as total equity also grew Y-o-Y by 21.10 percent from N597.98 billion in 2019 to N724.15 billion in 2020.

Apparently reflecting the Covid-19 challenges, total borrowing declined Y-o-Y by -8.4 percent from N758.68 billion in 2019 to N694.36 billion in 2020, as deposit contributed 79 percent of the total funding mix in 2020.

The report showed income from e-banking contributed 34.9 percent to total income from fees and commissions during the reporting year.

The Board has proposed a total dividend of N17.8 billion comprising interim dividend of N0.17 per share paid earlier in the year and final dividend proposal of N0.35, bringing the total to N0.52 per share.

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INSIDE:

•Trouble in Paradise!

What’s Up With Alibaba’s Marriage?

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•How Nigerian Music Producer, Dokta Frabz, Died of Drug Overdose in America

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FUNMI AJILA-LADIPO AND SALEWA AJILA Partnership That Works PAGE 37

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Today is Mother’s Day and what’s better than featuring a mother and her daughter in the same line of business! While Funmi Ajila-Ladipo is a two-time president of Fashion Designers Association of Nigeria, (FADAN) and a highly accomplished professional, her daughter, Salewa Ajila, is not only towing her footsteps, she has succeeded in putting a modern spin to the business, repositioning it to compete favourably in today’s digital world. They both speak to IVORY UKONU about doing business together, having a seamless working relationship, motherhood as well as their Mother’s Day wishes.

I Wish My Mum Lives Long Enough To See My True Potential – Salewa Ajila be the environment, my mood, certain colours, or fabric. The things that influence me are truly endless, I find inspiration in many things and I am fluid when it comes to my designs. My mum sometimes has input in my designs. What is the use of having an expert if you won’t take advantage of it? She has a large role to play in reviewing and fine tuning my designs. It takes experience to know what would work and what would not.

What three lessons will you say you have learnt from her that have helped you in managing your own business?

I have learnt people management skills especially in areas of patience with the tailors. I have also learnt proper detailing and finishing of an outfit, this is something my mother doesn’t play around with, she always says the inside must always be as neat as the outside.

Another lesson I’ve learnt is to always make a sample. Sampling before large production is the only true way to achieve design success. Sometimes I sketch and I like it but after making a pattern and creating the sample we see that it only looks good as a sketch but not an actual design.

How do you resolve disagreements since both of you work in the same space and you use your mum’s design factory?

Disagreements are something we rarely have; we have different perspectives, and we are both aware. When disagreement arises, we try to look at it through each other’s eyes, maybe not in the heat of the moment but we always ensure we review afterwards.

Sometimes you just can’t disagree with experience.

What happens when she retires, do you hope to take on her own side of the business or will it be shut down since you both run different labels?

I can tell you for free that my mother has no plans of retiring from the fashion industry and that is the joy of doing something you are passionate about. If the environment is conducive, a person’s profession looks less like a job and more like something brings genuine happiness. We have never spoken about retirement, but she has built a brand that will outlive her. RegaliabyFAL is here to stay.

Salewa Ajila

How would you describe your mum?

My mum and I are very close. We talk every day. She’s someone who is always filled with so much love and genuity in her heart. She is always willing to go the extra mile for people without expecting anything in return. She is very innovative and works hard. My mum is someone who always has a way to turn things around for good, she is a solution giver. She loves her family and she loves God and every day she does something to make the lives of the people around her better.

It is Mother’s Day today. What special wish do you have for your mum?

My one true wish for her is that all her heart desires are fulfilled and she lives long enough to reap the reward of her hard work and see me live up to my true potential.

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You studied Human Nutrition Science but today you are towing your mother’s path as a fashion designer. Why the switch?

Well, even though I studied and I perform in the professional field of international development, fashion designing is what I was born into. I still remember having to sleep under my mother’s cutting table while she worked all night. I remember being brought to the factory on some days after school, because mum needed to ensure I didn’t cause any trouble to distract the workers. I was taught and given tasks to design something in the factory. I started using my first sewing machine when I was 10 years old and I held my first needle and thread long before then. The art of fashion designing is in-built and there’s no way I wouldn’t use the opportunity I have been given, to share my creation with the world.

What informs your choice of design and does your mum sometimes have an input in your designs?

Anything that inspires or speaks to me influences how I create my designs. It could

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Mother and Daughter

hy do you own a separate brand, Ajila Ready-to-Wear, different from your mum’s brand, ReagaliabyFal? Our brand designs are both unique in their own ways, they appeal to different audiences. Having my own brand gives me the opportunity to express my creativity independently.

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solid foundation in the industry, I also provided initial funding. I encourage and constantly support her. My factory is always available for her to manufacture her designs and I’m happy she is able to turn it around and put a modern spin to how we operate, she has put the millennial strength into it Your daughter is very much like your younger self. If you were to give her one important advice that you should have taken as a younger person, what would that be?

I have several, not just one. Whatever she pursues, whether it is her calling, her passion or her general interest, she needs to ensure she does it with diligence and she’ll see that the sky is her limit. She should never limit herself, everything and anything is possible if she believes and works towards it. Also, the fear of God is also important, she must put that into consideration in whatever she does.

What will you say is the most amazing thing about being a mother?

That is being able to tutor and mentor a child in the way of life and in the things of God. It’s amasing to be given the opportunity to watch a child grow right, be a part of the process and see them be the best versions of themselves. It is truly satisfying to see your child take a decision to follow in your foot-steps and be a success.

How have you been able to balance your role as a mother, a wife, an entrepreneur, and a socialite?

My children are all grown up now, so they don’t require my attention as much as they used to. I attach importance to everything I need to do but I also consciously prioritize. I like to approach responsibilities as if I will not get another chance to do so as this helps me ensure I do them well. I also always make time to decongest and relax, I don’t like complications or anything that causes confusion so I am quite skilled at removing myself from those types of situations.

What do you think is the best approach to motherhood in the 21st century?

Be a good example. You are going to be the first mentor your child is going to be, that is your opportunity to build them. Ensure you are actually showing them how to behave and do things rather than just telling them. I’ve come to understand that children imitate what they say and not what you tell them to do.

Funmi

What is your special wish for yourself on Mother’s Day? For God to fulfil all my dreams and prayers as a mother.

It ‘s Satisfying To See Your Child Follow Your Foot-Steps Successfully – Funmi Ajila-Ladipo

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Did you attempt to discourage her in any way when she told you she wanted to tow your path?

On the contrary, I was thrilled to see that she was interested in fashion. I even felt it came later than it should have.

What is the most significant thing you have done to support her in her business?

I’m the kind of mother who does whatever it takes to support my children to the best of my abilities and this wasn’t any different. Being that I had been able to lay her a THEWILLNIGERIA

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Salewa with Mum

ast year, your daughter unveiled her ready-to-wear line which officially launched her as a fashion designer. How did that make you feel as a mother, especially because you are also in the same line of business?

It’s fulfilling to not only see my daughter follow in my footsteps but be a success at it.

It gives me true joy to see her do something with her hands although she is skilled as a professional in her industry as a nutrition scientist, she is also doing well in this. I have always been an advocate of having other skills besides your area of study. I’m fulfilled to know that from generation to generation, this skill has been successfully transferred through the family.

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STORIES BY IVORY UKONU

Mina Okoloko’s ex-Husband, Onajite, Steps Down As Notore Chemical CEO

How Nigerian Music Producer, Dokta Frabz, Died of Drug Overdose In America

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Why Gumsu, Zainab Abacha Are Two Peas In A Pod

hey are both daughters of the late dictator, General Sani Abacha, with Zainab being the older of the two. Until recently, besides sharing the same parents, they literally shared nothing else in common. But today, they have both been previously married, divorced and are basking in the glow of their second marriages.

Zainab’s first marriage was to her late father’s Minister of Industry, Basheer Dalhatu. It was a bad marriage and she soon ended it. Today, she has remarried to Senator Yakubu Lado DanMarke as his second wife.

Like her older sister, Gumsu, has also had a first taste in marriage but unlike her sister, Zainab, who ended hers too soon, Gumsu was married for about 20 years to Cameroonian multi-billionaire, Bayero Fadil Mohamadou. Hers was supposedly built-on love as she once said that the greatest gift she has ever received from her husband is his love and one she cherishes. One then begins to wonder what must have gone wrong as the marriage crashed about a year ago. It didn’t take too long for Gumsu to find love again as she has since given marriage a second chance with Mai Mala Buni, the Yobe State governor, who also doubles as the chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC Caretaker/ Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee. The duo secretly got married late last month at her late father’s house in Kano. While Gumsu had previously said that hitches in marriage cause a man to take up to two, three or four wives, it is instructive to note that she is Buni’s fourth wife but with her ex-husband, she was his only wife.

Trouble in Paradise! What’s Up With Alibaba’s Marriage?

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Alibaba and Mary

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few weeks ago, there were hush hush talks in some quarters about the state of the marriage of veteran comedian, actor, Master of Ceremonies and entrepreneur, Atunyota Alleluya Akpobome, popularly known as Alibaba. The story was that the comedian and his wife, Mary, had some issues they couldn’t settle amicably, thus forcing him to move out of his home. The conclusion was that his marriage had ended.

Also, a post on February 14th on his social media page, further lent credence to talks about his marriage ending. Many wondered why, on the said day which also happened to be his last child’s birthday, he posted a photograph of his daughter together with his wife with a simple caption devoid of emotion. This was quite unlike him, as he is known to always celebrate his wife at any given opportunity. The caption simply read: “@mummymary_’s twinnie…. (referring to his daughter) happy Valentines Day to both of you.”

Having been bombarded with calls and messages from concerned individuals, Alibaba had to ‘address’ the issue to prevent talks about his marriage further escalating. While assuring his followers on social media that his marriage is still intact, he reiterated that rumours about his marriage are false and that the rumours started because he was not home for the Christmas and New Year celebrations which was due to the fact that he was in isolation having contracted Covid19.

But despite his explanation that things were alright at home, on International Women’s Day, on March 8, a day that he would usually post the photograph of his wife in celebration of women generally, he instead posted the symbol of 2021 IWD without a caption.

Investigations however reveal that the comedian left home long before the Christmas and New Year celebrations and not because he contracted Covid19. According to a reliable source, he allegedly left home shortly before he embarked on an influencer trip to Dubai with three younger colleagues in the entertainment industry. The trip happened in November and on November 15 2020 precisely, he had announced to his followers that he was making a trip to Dubai ‘just to get away for a few days and reset’. The source also alleged that the matter that forced him to leave home had to do with his wife’s relations and how he was being disrespected.

Well, their 15th wedding anniversary comes up next month. It is our hope that they iron out their differences as many still consider them their role models.

n Saturday, February 27, Nigerian music producer, Ayorinde Faboro, more popularly known as Dr Frabz, passed away in his home in Maryland, United States of America where he lived. Dr Frabz is an acronym for Doctor of Flavour, Rhythm and Blues. Before his relocation, Dr Frabz worked with quite a few top Nigerian artistes, including Wizkid, late Dagrin, Davido, Naeto C, Chuddy K, Weird MC, Wizkid and Omawunmi.

A lot has been thrown around about how he actually died but the narrative that everyone seems to be going with is that he was shot dead. A hip-hop artiste (name withheld) actually began the rumour of Dr Frabz dying from gunshots during a gang fight between rival groups in Baltimore away from his home in Maryland.

But nothing could be farther from the truth as investigations reveal that Dr Frabz actually died of drug overdose. Not only was he personally using harmful substances, he allegedly was into commercial dealership of hard drugs and was under investigation by authorities for the sale of these harmful substances.

In addition, the late Dr Frabz, despite being a US citizen, having obtained a Green Card, had several run-ins with the law as he had several identity cards bearing different names but with his face on them.

He also had a long list of DUI and on more than one occasion missed appearing for his court cases.

He was 35 when he died. Before his death, his driver’s license was suspended as a result of this, thus banning him from any form of driving in the state where he resided.

Perhaps all of these coupled with the state of his mental health contributed to why he wasn’t in a good place with his wife and children who weren’t living with him up until he passed away.

So distraught were his parents when they received news of his death that his father, the Olojudo of Ido-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Oba Ayorinde Ilori-Faboro, a first-class monarch, asked that he be buried in the States instead of flying his corpse to Nigeria for burial. While a Service of Songs was held for him on Thursday, March 11, at Harvesters International Christian Centre, Lekki, Phase 1, a celebration of his life held simultaneously for him same day in Maryland, US. His corpse was interred on Friday, March 12, in Maryland US. From Ekiti State, Dr Frabz was born and raised in Lagos, where his love for music got nurtured as a student of Doregos Private Academy, Ipaja, Lagos. He was the school pianist and choir leader. At the Archbishop Vining Memorial Church Cathedral, Ikeja, where he attended with his parents, he played the keyboard, the drum, and other Sunday School instruments as a kid. It was while he was a student at Covenant University, that he discovered the music production software called Fruity Loops which launched him into the league of some Nigeria’s best music producers. However, his love for music couldn’t keep him there. He was also in a brief relationship with singer, Omawunmi.

Dokta Frabz

Gumsu and Zainab

najite Okoloko, the ex-husband of socialite and skin care expert, Mina Okoloko, is hanging his boots as the CEO of Notore Chemical Industries Plc after 16 years in the saddle. Notore is what it is today because Onajite dared to acquire the assets of NAFCON via a team of investors and partnered with a consortium of other investors to birth Notore.

And between 2005 and today, Notore has grown to become Africa’s first indigenous urea fertilizer producer in Sub-Saharan Africa including South Africa. That Okoloko has come a long way from his days at Oando is simply stating the obvious.

A founding member and one of the trio that make up Oando Plc, formerly Ocean and Oil, Okoloko for reasons best known to him, left for Notore.

With his assignment done in Notore, he now has more time to focus on his job as the head honcho of Midwestern Oil & Gas Company, Eroton Exploration & Production Limited, as well as to spend more time with his new wife, Salma and his set of twins.

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Actor, Emannuel Ikubuese, Returns To Spotlight After Marriage Crash

Ikubuese and Anita

Ayo (AY) Makun Drags THISDAY To Court

Ini Edo

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ormer Mr Nigeria, model and now actor, Emmanuel Ikubuese, who has been away from the spotlight following the crash of his marriage to makeup artiste to the stars, Anita Adetoye of Anita Brows, is back.

He made a grand appearance at the Nigerian premiere of Coming 2 America, about two weeks ago, looking every inch like a Prince of Zamunda kingdom. The dashing young man didn’t look rattled by the unfortunate ending of his barely one-year-old marriage. He strolled into the venue of the premiere alone, looking like a burden has been taken off his shoulders and ready to take on the world. He twirled for the cameras, showing off his looks and physique. It was just in March of 2020 that he tied the knot in a star-studded ceremony to Anita Adetoye, and months after, there were already cracks in the marriage. A few weeks ago, it became obvious that the marriage had ended for good when the couple unfollowed each other on social media and deleted all of their wedding pictures. Anita also reverted to her maiden name. Even though they have both chosen to keep mum about their crashed marriage, it is alleged that during the shortlived union, Anita was the man of a house, shouldering most of the responsibilities.

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Ini Edo Unveils Skin Care Line After Failed Nightclub Business

ollywood actress, Ini Edo, has joined a growing list of entertainers who are becoming serial entrepreneurs. First, it was a relaxation spot she floated in 2015 called Mimz, a combo of a rooftop lounge, night club as well as a guest house located in Lekki Phase One. Unfortunately, barely two years after it opened it closed because of poor management. Undeterred, she decided to revive her entrepreneurial spirit after five years when she floated a fashion outfit called Secrets of April in August 2020. Now, she has added a skincare and makeup line which she recently launched called Beauty Secrets of April. While the skincare line has a full range of body products made from plant-based ingredients, the makeup line has only unveiled three different coloured lip glosses.

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Nigerian Air Force Partners Nollywood For First-Ever Military Movie, ‘Eagle Wings’

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he Nigerian Airforce has expanded its frontiers to also include movie making. The youngest arm of the Nigerian Armed Forces partnered with Nollywood for an action thriller centered around the true accounts of the tragic experiences involving an Air Force fighter pilot who was caught in the heat of insurgency. The result of the collaboration which is between Nigerian Air Force Investments Limited (NAFIL) and Nollywood is called ‘Eagle Wings.’ The movie was shot in Kaduna, Borno, Abuja among others, in a bid to better showcase activities of the military through motion picture. Produced and directed by Paul Apel Papel, the movie is the first of its kind in Nigeria, in terms of technical excellence and realism in the portrayal of the Nigerian military. According to Enyinna Wigwe, one of the actors who featured in the movie, the Nigeria Air force gave the cast and crew all the props needed for the movie, including auto rifles, fighter jets, manpower, sophisticated rifles, camouflage outfits, armoured vehicles etc.

Mo Abudu Adds Another Feather To Her Cap

M Mo Abudu

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ast week, actor cum comedian, Ayo Makun, more popularly known as AY, slammed THISDAY newspaper with a defamation suit, demanding N1 billion in compensation for a publication he alleged was aimed at tarnishing his image.

AY had through his attorneys, Pentagon Partners, also sent a cease and desist to the newspaper for the publication dated Sunday 21st February 2021 and titled, PR Job Gone Sour: Why Friends Of Belema Oil Founder, Tein Jack Rich, Aren’t Happy With AY The Comedian.

The story was about the viral news of actress, Destiny Etiko’s latest acquisition, a 2017 model of Toyota Land Cruiser Prado. The purchase however came under intense scrutiny on social media with an allegation that the car was a gift from Nigerian businessman, Tein Jack-Rich, a claim both she and Jack-Rich denied. Despite this, the scrutiny over the purchase of the car intensified when more alleged evidences purportedly proving that the car was from married Jack-Rich emerged. And then came claims by some bloggers that they were being contacted by the businessman to do ‘image laundering’ on his behalf over the car saga.

Following the publication by THISDAY that AY was contracted to do the ‘image laundering’ job, which he allegedly failed to do, the comedian slammed the newspaper a N1 billion defamation suit, asking the paper to do the needful or meet him in court.

The newspaper on March 7 was forced to publish a retraction.

While the retraction confirmed that the said publication did not undergo editorial appraisal and urged the public to disregard the story, AY is miffed that the newspaper did not deem it fit to apologise to him despite his request. He says the retraction failed to meet his demand about it being on the front page as well as other requests he made. But more important is the fact that the said publication can still be found online. To this end, AY has instructed his lawyers to pursue the matter to its logical conclusion to ensure his legitimate legal demands are met.

edia mogul, Mo Abudu, has done it again. In commemoration of the International Women’s Day, last week, American lifestyle magazine, Variety, named her the 2021 Variety Magazine International Women’s Leadership Award winner, with an exclusive editorial feature dedicated to her and the work she does at EbonyLife, her movie production brand, in telling African stories through films. This recognition is coming barely a month after she joined forces with Jada Pinkett-Smith and Will Sm ith’s Westbrook Studios to create film and television projects connected to Africa. Prior to that, in January precisely, she snagged another partnership with Sony Pictures Television (SPT), a US entertainment firm, to develop scripted African TV series targeted at a global audience.

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Snippets From Premiere Of Iyabo Ojo’s Star-Studded Movie, ‘Under The Carpet’

the Carpet is full of intrigues, betrayal, sacrifice and the love of a mother. The movie is a mixture of Pidgin and English language.

STUDIO 54 WAS THE DRESS CODE It was a night club inspired dress code tagged “Studio 54” and no doubt, most celebrities who graced the occasion followed the code to the letter. They all brought their best foot forward, looking glam, gorgeous and breathtaking in their ensembles. From the red carpet to the cinema hall, there were colorful displays of fashionable attires we all love and admire.

IYABO OJO’S GRAND ENTRANCE AND CHOICE OF OUTFIT The brain behind Fespris production, Iyabo Ojo, made a grand entrance befitting royalty. She arrived the venue in a white stretch limousine, accompanied by some of her close friends in the industry.

Immediately she alighted from the limousine, a bodyguard was waiting to accompany the thespian to the red carpet. The beautiful role interpreter is no push over when it comes to making fashion statements. She followed the dress code and she was the cynosure of all eyes at the event. Her night club inspired outfit was designed by the fashion guru herself, Toyin Lawani and many were wowed by the belly-revealing sexy pink outfit.

THE CAST The producer of the movie sure has impeccable taste when it came to who should feature in the movie.

Rich in character and theme, there was a display of upcoming acts and bigwigs in the movie industry.

The likes of Deyemi Okanlawon, Femi Jacobs, Pasuma, Tana Adelana, Moyinoluwa Olutayo, Lydia Lawrence etc were all among the cast.

ENTERTAINERS CAME TO SUPPORT THEIR OWN Iyabo Ojo enjoyed massive support at her movie premiere. Friends, colleagues and family members all threw their weight behind the actress to stage a successful show. From the music industry to Nollywood, fashion and beauty industry, guests were not left out at the event. The likes of Monalisa Chinda Coker, Ayo Makun, Funke Etti, Small Doctor, Pretty Mike, I.K Ogbonna, Iya Rainbow, Dele Momodu, Toyin Lawani, Pasuma all attended the premiere. Most of the guests waited till the event was over. There is nothing as good as enjoying such huge support when you need it most.

IYA RAINBOW’S MOTHERLY WELCOME Veteran actress, Idowu Philips popularly known as Iya Rainbow is a mother indeed. Not only to her biological children but to all movie practitioners who cross paths with her. Her presence was hugely felt at the movie premiere. She was at Iyabo Ojo’s movie premiere and she ensured she showered her with praises and prayers for doing a good job and staging a successful show that day. The industry needs more people like Iya Rainbow.

Iyabo Ojo

A NIGHT OF FREEBIES A lot of freebies were on offer for the attendees. Those who attended the premiere had their hands full with freebies from sponsors of the event. Before the D-day, 50 invites were given to lucky fans of the beautiful thespian. Some people also got Jumia’s vouchers worth 10,000.00 each. While five lucky winners went home with pure human hair courtesy, Wholesalesnaija, a human hair depot. The biggest freebie was the gift money from Lush Hair Nigeria, one of the sponsors of the event. They rewarded three ladies for their beautiful attires and lovely hairdo. Actress Dayo Amusa and veteran Yoruba actress, Oyinda, won the best hairdo gift but the prize money was won by ebony skinned actress, Yvonne Jegede, who was the best dressed at the event. She went home with N250, 000.00.

BY SHADE METIBOGUN

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THE MOVIE ‘UNDER THE CARPET’ Nollywood has upped its game when it comes to movie production and role interpretation. This was aptly depicted in Iyabo Ojo’s creative work. The movie is a celebration of motherhood, the travails and the length a woman can go, just to ensure that her child makes the right choice in life. Under

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Dayo Amusa

THE VENUE The venue of the movie premiere was IMAX cinema located in the highbrow area of the Island, Lekki to be precise. The movie started showing in cinemas across the nation from March 12, 2021.

Expectations are high that Under the Carpet would join the league of high grossing movies of the year.

Yvonne Jegede

he entertainment industry was agog on Sunday, March 7, 2021 when N and N production in conjunction with Fespris production owned by delectable thespians, Tosin Abiola, more popularly known as Omo’brish and Iyabo Ojo respectively, premiered their latest movie, Under the Carpet. The event which was well attended by friends and colleagues in the movie industry was a huge success by miles as it has effortlessly set the tone for other movie premieres this year.

Here are titbits from the event.

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SHOTS OF THE WEEK PHOTOS: PEACE UDUGBA (08033050729)

From left, Executive Director, Corporate Affairs, FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria PLC, Ore Famurewa; Managing Director, FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria PLC and Chairman of the Board, Centre for Yusuf Binji, MD/CEO, BUA Cement (1st Row 4th Left) and Richard Gidaddo General Manager, BUA Cement Nigerian Dutch Dairy Development (CNDDD), Ben Langat; and General Manager, Dairy Development (1st Row 3rd Right), flanked by members of the Okpella Graduates Association (OGA) when they paid a Nigeria, FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria PLC, John Olayiwola, at the CNDDD webinar titled: “Harnessing the Great Unpolished Diamond of Africa, CNDDD’s vision for creating a sustainable dairy courtesy call to BUA Cement Factory in Okpella, Edo State on 11/3/2021 sector in Nigeria” hosted in Lagos, Wednesday March 10, 2021

The Executive Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa (right), addressing the staff of the Commission during his first interactive session with the staff at the EFCC Headquarters in Abuja on the 10/3/2021

The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, (right) being received by the NDDC Interim Administrator, Mr Efiong Akwa, (middle), and the NDDC Director Project Management Department, Engr Julius Tonye-George (left) at the newly completed headquarters of the Commission at the Marine base in Port Harcourt. 9/3/2021

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L-R: Chief Medical Officer, Evercare Hospital Lekki, Dr Ayo Shonibare; Chairman, Evercare Hospital Lekki, Tosin Runsewe; Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Executive Director Finance, Admin and Strategy, Evercare Hospital Lekki, Temi Awogboro; Chief Executive Officer, Evercare Hospital Lekki, Rajeev Bhandari; and Head, Business Development and Marketing, Kehinde Oyesiku at the official unveiling event of Evercare Hospital Lekki in Lagos 11/3/2021.

L-R: Founder, Revamp Africa, Kelechi Anyalechi; Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Manager,Nestle Nigeria Plc,Victoria Uwadoka; Vice Principal, Ilupeju Senior Secondary School, Akinboro Idowu Saliu; Principal, Ilupeju Junior Secondary School, Mrs. Oyetade Aderonke and Director, Exams of Education District VI, Amodu Oluwole, during the Nestle Volunteers donations of desks and books to Ilupeju Junior and Senior Secondary School in Lagos...on Tuesday 9/3/2021.

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TRIBUTE

Sadiq Daba: Superlative Voice of Radio, Screen MICHAEL JIMOH

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f you had two dozen students in a class and Sadiq Daba walked in as a teacher, 48 pairs of eyes would have followed every of his move from the moment he stepped in. Tall, military-trim with well-defined features (pointed nose and prominent earlobes suggestive of high intelligence and a headful of hair) Daba would have been a sight to behold by his wards. The same students would have listened keenly to whatever he had to say, delivered in a pellucid voice with a tinge of baritone.

“Acting,” the great Sir Laurence Olivier famously said, “is more voice, more voice and more voice.” Of course, Sir Laurence delighted European and American audiences with his inimitable voice on the stage and screen. So did Daba hold the attention of millions of viewers and listeners in Nigeria and beyond with his uniquely distinct voice: as an actor and broadcaster.

Nigerians of a certain generation remember too well the popular soap opera and docudrama Cockcrow at Dawn that ran for 104 episodes beginning from the seventies up to the eighties. Wherever you were, whatever you were doing, you took time off every Friday evening at about 6pm to sit with others (family members, neighbours and friends) before the 14 by 14 black and white television sets covered with antimacassar standing squarely in one end or angle ninety of sitting rooms in most Nigerian households.

If your parents were not rich enough to afford the ubiquitous black and white Sanyo or President, you watched the 45 minute soap somehow, somewhere - sometimes peering between the legs of an adult or a partly opened window or doorway curtain.

On those days, the soundtrack of the soap composed by Bongos Ikwe and of the same name was sure to rouse you from play like a school bell driving students back to the class after recess/ break for something more serious. Yes, watching the docudrama was something serious for millions of Nigerians such that it was almost sacrilegious if you missed one episode.

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Among the soap’s parade of stars, Sadiq Daba stood out. He was young and good to look at as Bitrus, nearly always at loggerheads with his father and sometimes going in opposite directions after some nasty verbal exchange. But it was Sadiq’s voice that got and held the attention of most of us at the time, plus he was a damn good actor.

His self-effacing demeanor endeared him to many who related with him at close range. He was a very hardworking man with a very fertile mind. He rolled with the young and old in equal measure

His journey to the screen and as a broadcaster began most inauspiciously, though with his kind of voice he would no doubt have ended up as a Thespian or a broadcaster.

Sadiq Abubakar Daba was born in Kano but the peregrinator that he is, he soon moved to Sierra Leone where he had his education at St. Edwards Secondary School, Freetown.

From his teens Sadiq Daba enjoyed listening to the radio. With time, he started speaking like those he heard from the wireless. With time, also, his father bought a tape recorder for him, the better for him to train his voice.

The Dabas returned to Nigeria on June 28, 1968 and with his certificate handy, Sadiq had a stint with Government Coastal Agency where he supplied materials at the ordinance depot in Yaba. Peripatetic by nature, Sadiq Daba was off once again, this time to Kano where he worked with Nigeria Customs. While in Kano he paid his brother, Major Mohammed Daba, a visit in Kaduna. It was while in Kaduna that fate stepped in to alter Sadiq Daba’s destiny by way of a chance encounter with one Baba Ahmed (Khalifa) at Hamdallah Hotel.

Charmed to no end by his voice, Khalifa introduced Sadiq Daba to Radio Television Kaduna where he began as a continuity announcer in 1973.

From then, the young man had some spell at NTA/ TV College and higher education at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Sadiq Daba worked with NTA for 35 years where, the all-rounder that he is, he reported, read the news, acted, directed and produced. A versatile actor, Sadiq Daba has played different characters in films such as Behind the Clouds, Ripples, A Place like Home, Moment of Truth and most recently as Inspector Waziri in Kunle Afolayan’s widely acclaimed October 1.

With that record of performance, Sadiq Daba made a number of friends in the entertainment industry, among them Afolanya. Indeed, some of his highly placed pals rallied round him after he was diagnosed with the cancerous infections.

Following his death on Wednesday, March 3, 2021 of leukemia and prostate cancer at Ayinke General Hospital, Ikeja, tributes have poured in for the veteran actor and broadcaster. Among them is an accomplished producer himself, Edi Lawani.

Reminiscing on his relationship with the deceased Daba, Lawani wrote through WhatsApp that “he was fun to be with. A good listener, he knew no diplomatese in his candid conversations. He said it as it was and as he saw it always. Truth or nothing. Slow to acquainting, he was spiritually inseparable from his chosen acquaintances and friends. He remembered every detail of his many meetings with a myriad of people in his line of work and leisure time.”

Lawani who knew Daba professionally and as a friend described the late actor as “multi-talented,” insisting that “his self-effacing demeanor endeared him to many who related with him at close range. He was a very hardworking man with a very fertile mind. He rolled with the young and old in equal measure. He never shied away from making a move to help a friend in need. He was a teacher who taught many of us many lessons of life on the move. He was a very observant person as he was highly perceptive. Sadiq Daba understood body language like his native dialect.

He could be moody in some extreme circumstance. He was forthright and lived his life like an open book, although many were never able to turn the pages of that book.

To such persons, they formed an opinion of a one-dimension man that they thought

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Sadiq Daba to be.”

At least one other person has corroborated Lawani’s views of Daba’s moody mien and that person is none other than his own son, Abdulkadiri. In one recent interview, Daba’s son recalled of his father thusly: “When he is annoyed, he indirectly vents his anger on us. I used to feel bad but now I try to console him and make him relaxed.

We then talk as men not as father and son. Sometimes when we go out together, he introduces me as his friend and vice versa. He does not move with the crowd.”

It is also true that Daba wasn’t a crowd person. Though not without friends, he was almost solitary like a leopard. On one occasion, for instance, many years ago, the famous actor was found sitting all by himself at Bar Beach at about 2 or 3am.

There was no one in sight, leading some to speculate that there was something wrong somewhere. Far from it. A man who preferred his own company couldn’t wish for a better place to meditate or, as Virginia Woolf so aptly put it, a room of one’s own, especially for the creative types.

Sadiq Daba was a thoroughgoing professional – “in front of the camera or behind one,” as one writer described him posthumously. For his 69 years, Daba lived life to the fullest, was married to Bola from a royal home in one of the Yoruba states.

But above all was the uncommon courage he showed while suffering a debilitating disease. Although there were painful moments while undergoing treatment with oxygen machines for months, Daba had encouraging words to Nigerian youths.

“Believe in yourself and do not be a copycat,” he advised them through a reporter who interviewed him on his hospital bed. “Be proud that you are a Nigerian. You cannot be more American than the American. In American films, they do not glamorize their slums, they show you the better parts of America. Those who want to go into acting, drama and broadcasting should know that they are going to be ambassadors of Nigeria.”

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BOOK REVIEW

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Oluomachi Chinedu

Oluomachi focuses on family values in Love outside Home, honing on the physical and psychological damage done to neglected children by a divorced couple

Oluomachi’s Choice

MICHAEL JIMOH

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iven a choice, some teenage girls in Nigeria today will most certainly opt for a career in music or become a notable Nollywood actress. In their thinking, the entertainment industry remains one of the surest paths to instant fame and fortune.

It is no surprise, then, that some of them secretly wish to become an Ini Edo, a Genevieve Nnaji, an Omotola JaladeEkeinde, a Tiwa Savage or some reigning princess of the screen or billboard, forgetting that without the requisite smashing look, talent and hard work, their desire remains what it is – a mere wish.

But here is one young woman who is not fascinated by a career in the movies or music. Though if, by chance, she turns up unexpectedly at an audition, a casting director is likely to give her more than a casual one over. Nor would a studio producer dismiss her with a wave of the hand as unfit for a recording session on account of her voice.

Even so, she chose, from very early on, what she wanted to become in life – a writer. Oluomachi Chinedu, a student of medicine at Babcock University, Ilushin in Ogun state has not only glom onto her childhood dream but has made a good start with a debut novel, Love outside Home, a 175page book about well-heeled, globe-trotting parents who value their careers more than their two children.

Cyrus Peters, a high-flying oil tycoon, and Hilda Davies Peters, a supermodel with a corresponding international itinerary, are the parents of two daughters – Joyce and Judy age 16 and 14 respectively. Spousal squabbles and beatings THEWILLNIGERIA

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are part of the daily life of the Davies, with the children often bearing the brunt of the acrimonious and violent shout-downs. Since husband and wife are seldom together at home for any length of time, divorce ends the union. The consequence on the children is predictable: denied vital parental care and love, one of them dies and, because of that, another is traumatised for life.

Good enough subject matter for Oluomachi who never experienced such disorientation at home herself. But it was not hard to imagine, as most writers do. Besides, in her reckoning, such themes are seldom mentioned in contemporary Nigerian fiction.

“I wanted to write something that is close to home,” Oluomachi told me in that self-assured, girlish voice common to teenagers when they find themselves the subject of attention for commendable actions. “Everybody feels that the home is a place of love, filled with happiness and moral support. That is not the case for some people. Every child deserves to be happy, to be protected.”

Oluomachi focuses on family values in Love outside Home, honing on the physical and psychological damage done to neglected children by a divorced couple. It is not for nothing the author pointedly remarks in a prefatory statement that “children require presence and not presents; no amount of gifts and meeting of financial obligations can replace the presence of parents in the life of a child.”

For much of the book, the absence of parental care is the lot of Joyce and Judy and the author, with a combination

of teenage zeal, innocence and rebelliousness, lays bare for readers how far and deep the trauma can go. At some point in her misery after losing Judy, Joyce denounces and denies both parents privately and publicly.

But what you can’t deny the young author is her determination as a writer. Oluomachi’s mother, Vivian Amadi Chinedu, a teacher, remembers her at six or thereabout always reading and jotting things down. “I did not pay her much attention. I did not catch her drift towards writing then.”

She took it for the normal childhood preoccupation, busy with pencil or pen and paper sketching whatever catches their youthful imagination. But Oluomachi kept at her drawings or writings up to secondary school and university.

“She never told any of us what she was writing and we didn’t press her,” Mrs. Chinedu told me one late afternoon last weekend at The Patron Hotel in Lekki where her daughter’s novel was publicly presented to a gathering of fellow students, family, friends and the media.

An auditor in Lagos working with FIRS, former neighbour and family friend of the Chinedu’s in Warri where Oluomachi’s father lived and worked as a Chevron staff, Diamond Tietie, who was chairman of the presentation, praised the young woman’s effort. “It is not easy to be a medical student in a Nigerian university and write a novel at the same time,” Diamond noted. “This is a remarkable feat for a young woman in a country where teenagers like her are inseparable from their handsets and obsessed with whatever is trending in the social media at the expense of writing or reading.”

Oluomachi’s teacher in secondary school recalled that her ward was in a class by herself as a student. “She was different. While others trooped out during break time, Oluomachi would remain in the class reading. I am proud of her as her former teacher and I am not surprised that she has written a book we are here launching today.”

Speaker after speaker spoke glowingly of a girl whose commitment to writing has deepened with time, from the moment as a preteen when she devoured story books her mother bought for her and her siblings.

On that Saturday at the tony premises of The Patron Hotel, Oluomachi herself was aglow with the satisfaction of one whose dream has finally come true, as guests eagerly bought copies of Love outside Home for various amounts of money “to encourage her.” One guest shelled N1m for some copies, making the young author richer than some established Nigerian writers who are dependent on royalties alone would ever hope to in their lifetime.

Above all else was the feeling that many of them had come to be part of Oluomachi’s story, not only her devotion to a career she chose for herself in her formative and younger years but the story of unrequited love from those who are obliged to give it unconditionally as she tells it in her book.

Asked which of the two – medical practice or writing – she is likely to concentrate on more in the coming years, Oluomachi paused momentarily and then with that teenage precosity, declared that “I want to become a writer fully and also practice medicine. Both are different professions. For me, writing is more like a hobby and medicine is something I want to do.”

As it is, Oluomachi is in good company straddling both professions. Former president of the Association of Nigerian Authors, Wale Okediran, is a medic cum writer who is as busy with his doctor’s bag as he is with his laptop.

Another is, or should have been, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, who quit medical school midway to take up writing fully. By the way, Chimamanda is Oluomachi’s role model and the young writer hopes to be as good as her someday. Very ambitious, you would say. But like an acolyte eager to learn from the master, Oluomachi has read all of Chimamanda’s novels, from Purple Hibiscus to Half of a Yellow Sun and Americanah. She has also read all of Chimamanda’s interviews. “I admire Chimamanda a lot.

I’ve read all her books, listened to her interviews. I see her as a strong woman, I see her as a warrior. I like her novels and I love what she stands for women.”

With this promising beginning for the teenage author and many years ahead to learn her craft, Oluomachi might someday become a role model herself to one or two of the coming generation of writers among the female folk.

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SportsLive

Aruna Quadri: From Humble Beginnings, Aims For Glory At Tokyo Olympics

BY JUDE OBAFEMI

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lthough the Chinese continue to dominate the top ranks of the Table Tennis game, one name has maintained the African representation in general and the Nigerian involvement in the top-most echelon of Table Tennis in particular for the better part of a decade. Nigeria’s expert in the game of pingpong, Quadri Aruna has consistently delivered that he is currently ranked 20th, the highest ranking of any African and miles from the second-placed player from the continent, the Egyptian Omar Assar, who is ranked 41st.

As the son of a teacher, Aruna grew up in a society that expected academic brilliance from the teacher’s children and at a time when deciding for a career in sport was viewed as an admission of intellectual laziness reserved for the slow of mind and blunt of brain. As a child watching proceedings in the Oyo table tennis hall, the only difference that pertained to his own case, and that marked him out for the renown for which he presently boasts was that he enjoyed maternal support from his “teacher-mother”.

At about 10 years of age, the young Aruna often accompanied his older brother, Femi, to the table tennis hall in Oyo. As their house was beside the hall, Aruna was known to peep through the door to watch older boys play with Femi, who had a good hand of the game.

It was not long before his interest was noticed and he began to get invited to join in and play with the other boys.

As far as he did not allow his studies suffer because of his newfound love for table tennis, his mother allowed him continue. Aruna’s initial tutelage came Abolarin Oluwole, a tennis player who turned trainer and is credited with discovering the Nigerian tennis superstar.

After being granted permission by Aruna’s mother to train him, the trainer honed the boy’s skills and focused his determination through dedicated fidelity to the sport.

Credit to the careful ministrations of trainer Oluwole and the tender attention of Aruna’s mother, efforts were focussed on keeping the player still as dedicated to his studies as he was to perfecting his service game. Tennis sessions were off limits during examination periods and the young boy had the presence of mind to follow this guidance.

The young Quadri’s qualities that stand him out today in Tennis on the continent and beyond were already obvious in his days as a pupil and then as a student in Oyo Town. They reflected in his primary education at LA School New Durban and later also when he proceeded to the Oba Adeyemi Grammar School where he was always referenced as an exemplary learner.

Life lessons he learned in class, he replicated in tennis. Whenever the odd loss happened to him in a game of tennis, the up and rising star was never one to sulk for losing. Rather, he was fond of reaching out to older players who saw him lose the game to help with an assessment of his performance and their experienced review of what led to his loss. The lessons from these feedback loops helped to greatly improve his wholesome quality as a tennis player.

Quadri’s humble origins are illustrated most perfectly in the trajectory of his growth from the Oyo Table Tennis hall to the halls of tennis glory across the globe. What began as admiration for Femi’s skills with the bat to being invited to personally play with the boys took on more serious tones when he continued as he was summoned to represent his High School in both community and competitive table tennis events. The highpoints of his qualities were too beautiful to ignore that he was soon representing his local government area. Then, he became the Oyo state table tennis player at relevant competitions.

The availability of the best training facilities and gear in Europe ensured that the Nigerian tennis star’s career took off abroad in 2010. With the best at hand, the boy who began with practically nothing but fiery interest blossomed into a world beater. When he represented the Portuguese club side Sporting, Aruna remained unbeaten in his last five years and single-handedly guided the club to consecutive league titles.

In the 2012 London summer Olympics, Aruna represented Nigeria at the table tennis men’s single. He defeated Spain’s Carlos Machado 4-2 before bowing out in the second round to Turkey’s Bora Vang by 4-2. It was a learning experience for him at the biggest sporting

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Aruna

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Aruna faced long-term rival, the second highest-rated African, the Egyptian Assar, in a breathtaking, edge-of-the-seat encounter to emerge a 4-3 winner to take the tournament and confirm himself as the undisputed African Cup Champion in 2017 stage in the world. It was his style to take the lessons forward and that he did.

The succeeding Olympic games saw a returning Quadri in 2016. He turned on the style in the first round, after many tussles, to defeat Slovakian player Wang Yang 4-1. However, the highpoint of his matches was the second round matchup against Taiwanese protable tennis player Chiang Chih-yuan.

Aruna wrote the biggest upset of the tournament when he defeated Chuang in a 4-0 flawless thumping without losing a single set. Yet, there was more. In the third round, Aruna faced renowned German player Timo Boll who as of June 2019 was ranked 6th in the ITTF world ranking. In that Olympic match, Boll came undone by the Nigerian in a 4-2 victory The win earned him a quarter-final berth against the tournament’s number one seed, China’s Ma Long, the Olympic and world champion at the time. At this stage of the competition, Aruna was naught with Ma Long’s fast pace and looping attacks, which was too overwhelming for the Nigerian’s attacking play.

Despite the perceived gulf in class between both, Aruna gave Long a run for his money, resorting to defensive play and some back-fromthe-table moves, which created an entertaining scene providing memorable rallies which have become a vital staple online. Long eventually swept Aruna off his feet by seeing him off to a nonresponsive 4-0 defeat, an evidence of Long’s status at the time.

The gifted tennis player continued to fly the Nigerian glad high when he competed in the 2017 ITTF African Cup. Here, he was purely peerless in his journey to glory. The list of those he vanquished was impressive. He defeated Algeria’s Naim Karali 4-1 in the quarterfinals while had a close call against Egypt’s Mohammed ElBeiali as he saw him off to a 4-3 defeat in the semi-final stage.

In the finals, Aruna faced long-term rival the second highestrated African, the Egyptian Assar in a breathtaking, edge-of-theseat encounter to emerge a 4-3 winner to take the tournament and confirm himself as the undisputed African Cup Champion in 2017.

However, when the pair met again in the final of another edition of the competition the following year, cementing their top ranked status as the best in Africa, the Egyptian prevailed after a failed forehand loop from Quadri.

The rivalry extends beyond the two world class players. It is a microcosm of the feud for African Table Tennis supremacy between Egypt and Nigeria. These two African bastions of ping-pong have both produced some of the continents strongest players over the last decade, the likes of Segun Toriola, Monday Merotohun, Olufunke Oshonaike, Dina Meshref and El-sayed Lashin.

In recognition of the talents of Quadri, he was awarded the Outstanding Sportsman of the Year at the 2018 Nigeria Sports Awards. Part of his personal achievements make Aruna out as the first African to reach the quarter-final stage of the table tennis Summer Olympics that took place in Brazil in 2016. In 2018 at the Commonwealth Games in Australia, he finished with a silver medal to his name after playing a fine tournament to the very end. In the Polish Open, he emerged the competition winner, being the first African to win the ITTF championship outside the continent.

Surprisingly, the Nigerian icon of table tennis has never had a coach in his entire professional table tennis career. He once claimed that it was because it was a luxury he could not afford. Although he admitted that it was difficult playing without a coach, he believed paying coaches to come to his tournaments means a cut in his budget which might affect his ability to afford entry fees for participating in more tournaments.

*Continues online at www. thewillnigeria.com

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