THEWILL MAY 22 - 28 EDITION

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2023: Without Zoning Nigeria May Run Into More Problems – Onyibe

Russia-Ukraine Crisis: CBN to Sustain Interventions in Critical Sectors

STEPPING INTO FATHER’S SHOES

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APC PRESIDENTIAL TICKET:

Plot to Adopt Lawan, Retain Presidency in North Hits Brick Wall

•Key Governors Oppose Move Backed by Adamu, Uzodinma, Kalu, Others •The Intrigues, Power Play •Amaechi Tipped As Buhari’s Preferred Successor

MAY 22 - MAY 28, 2022 T H E W I L L N E W S P A P E R • www.thewillnigeria.com

IS NOW WHOLLY DIGITAL F

Photo: Kola Oshalusi @insignamedia Makeup: Zaron

or our cover story this week, we speak to Bukky George-Taylor. Most of you may know her as what I have dubbed her, the 'Queen of PR', but did you also know she is a co-founder of the lifestyle app; CRAWL, which shows you the hottest places to visit in Nigeria for now, and soon, Africa?

For George-Taylor, the app is her gift to Nigeria to help promote all the beautiful places in our country, a sort of response to the many horrid stories you read about Nigeria on the Internet.

Anyone from any part of the world can see how beautiful our country is when you use the app. Now, that's how you bridge the gap between technology and tourism. Who knows? She might just become the 'Queen of Tourism' as well. Apart from this, she has other businesses that you must read about on pages eight through ten.

The beauty industry has seen a shift regarding what men can and cannot do; we regularly see many more men wearing full makeup these days.

In the eighties, rock stars were noted for their gothic makeup and dark nail polish, but it was usually for stage performances to create a particular perception. That's no longer the case. Nowadays, you find men spotting nail polish as part of their style, or could it —as I would like to think— be a statement? We share tips for any man who would love to try this trend on the beauty pages.

VOL 2 NO. 21 • MAY 22 - MAY 28, 2022

Couples have different acts they find to be kinky while in the throes of passion, and Downtown confidential, our sex page, tells a tale of one of those kinks. The story is in line with a simple but very sensitive question: Do you swallow?

Until next week, enjoy your read.

Onah Nwachukwu

Editor, THEWILL DOWNTOWN

Entrepreneur And Queen of PR

@onahluciaa

George-Taylor on Boosting Tourism Using Communication

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VOL 2 NO.04 • JANUARY 23 - JANUARY 29, 2022

SPECIAL EDITION • MONDAY APRIL 11 – 16, 2022

Fruits To Help You Stay Hydrated This

Ramadan

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COVER APC PRESIDENTIAL TICKET:

Plot to Adopt Lawan, Retain Presidency in North Hits Brick Wall •Key Governors Oppose Move Backed by Adamu, Uzodinma, Kalu, Others •The Intrigues, Power Play •Amaechi Tipped As Buhari’s Preferred Successor

BY AMOS ESELE AND AYO ESAN

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t is as clear as broad daylight that some influential figures in the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) can no longer hide their preference for a presidential candidate from the North in the 2023 general election as pressure mounts for the party to cede the ticket to the Southern part of the country.

Buhari on this project. “The plan is that they want to agree on an acceptable northern candidate among them and then meet with the President to convince him to support the person. So far, they have not agreed on anyone yet after the opposition to Lawan's candidacy,” one of the sources said.

Although the high-wire politicking remains intense with just a few days to the presidential convention of the party, it however appears that the bloc is having a hard time selling the candidature of Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, who is from Gashua, Yobe State, North East, as their preferred candidate, to other powerful interests in the party including President Muhammadu Buhari.

The other presidential aspirants from the North are Badaru Abubakar and Senator Ahmed Sani Yerimah, who jumped into the race for the Presidency after the APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, announced that the party has not zoned the presidency to the south because its main rival, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is plotting to field a northern candidate due to the zone’s voting strength. Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State is the other governor from the zone.

The major resistance to Lawan’s presidency, according to THEWILL checks, are three key state governors – Nasir El-rufai (Kaduna), Abubakar Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi) and Badaru Mohammed Abubakar (Jigawa).

Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) as well as President Muhammadu Buhari’s very influential nephew, Mamman Daura are not supporting the move, according to our authoritative sources.

Multiple sources also confirmed to THEWILL that the bloc has not consulted with President Muhammadu THEWILLNIGERIA

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However, of the four from the North, Lawan was favoured by the northern bloc which has Abdullahi Adamu, Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege and Senator Orji Uzor Kalu as frontline actors who are willingly doing the bidding of some unseen forces within the corridors of the presidency.

Even at that, some doubts still surround the preference for Lawan as a source close to the development told

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our correspondent that at least two members of the bloc have withdrawn their support for him.

According to our sources, the bloc is now considering Gov Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa State as someone they can convince to abandon his support for a southern president. It is however unclear whether Abubakar has been conscripted into their plot as at the time of writing this report.

When a leading aspirant from the South, who is believed to be President Buhari’s preferred candidate to succeed him, former Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, paid him a visit, Badaru Abubakar had promised not to contest against him saying: “I repeat I will not contest against my friend and brother. We are brothers who share the same mission and cannot in any way run against each other.”

The governor said he would await President Buhari's directive, whom he described as "our father."

THEWILL reports that the bloc has been relentlessly plotting to halt Amaechi’s presidential bid, including those of other aspirants from the South. It is also said to be influencing even the opposition PDP to settle only for a northern candidate.

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COVER

Plot to Adopt Lawan, Retain Presidency in North Hits Brick Wall THEWILL recalls that the response to Lawan's declaration for the 2023 presidency among the senators, especially the APC majority caucus, was overwhelming. Senator Kalu, for instance, said that since Lawan entered the race he had dropped his ambition for the 2023 presidential ticket.

A Public Policy Analyst, Magnus Onyibe, while speaking on the open support given to Lawal by Uzor Kalu, said, "As a matter of fact, I would assume that he has probably read the dynamics of the situation on ground and he decided to go in the direction he is going. Initially he had said that he would contest, but I think that he changed his mind when he saw the handwriting on the wall and saw that his chance was very little.”

WHY LAWAN ENTERED THE RACE In making a case for Lawan’s ascendancy, his advocates, who are mostly close to some players in the Presidency, are also falling for the prevailing political calculations floating around. They are hell bent on power remaining in the North and for a Fulani to take over from Buhari.

The first is to dredge up the micro-management argument of the supporters of zoning. As a northeasterner, Lawan’s zone, like the South-East, is yet to produce a president.

The farthest both geo-political zones have gone in this regard have been to produce Vice Presidents: Alex Ekwueme, an indigene of Anambra State in the SouthEast, was Vice President to late President Shehu Shagari between 1979 and 1983, when the administration was terminated by a military coup.

Similarly, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who hails from Adamawa State in the North-East, was Vice President to President Olusegun Obasanjo between 1999 and 2007. For the minders of Lawan, the North-Central geo-political zone has been taken care of for now. The National Chairman, Adamu, hails from Nasarawa State, which is in that geo-political zone.

Secondly, there is the political consideration aimed at frustrating the PDP. Lawan’s supporters envisage a situation where former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, also from the North-East, wins the PDP presidential ticket.

Handy for Lawan’s supporters is the reworked Electoral Act Amendment, particularly the controversial section 84(12), which prescribes rules for those that can appear as delegates at party conventions. There is also the most recent amendment (section 84(8) which the president is yet to sign. It allows elected representatives, including the president, vice president, governors and deputy governors to vote during party primaries as statutory delegates.

Sources have said that if the President signs the amended Act, Lawan will reap from it. Intense lobbying that went into the amendment included a pat-my-back agreement with members of the National Assembly, particularly from the APC, who would be required to give a bloc vote for the Senate President at the convention in return for cast-iron support for those who want to return to the National Assembly in 2023. Should the party adopt a consensual agreement, that constituency would be boosted by the religious and ethnic cards for delegates from the North, a majority of whom are in support of power remaining in the North. Lastly, in Lawan’s favour according to his promoters, lies the self-interest of the Presidency which will want to pick a loyal, trusting successor to Buhari.

For all his 23 years in the National Assembly, since PAGE 8

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It appears President Muhammadu Buhari has settled for the former Minister of Transport as his preferred successor, according to at least two authoritative sources who are conversant with the development and confided in THEWILL

the beginning of the current democratic dispensation, Senator Lawan has built a solid reputation as a perfect establishment man who would openly propose, defend and canvass views and policies that support the system.

His tenure as Senate President has clearly demonstrated this as he has often succeeded in cobbling members' support to grant approval for anything that came from the executive.

Just like the National Chairman, Adamu, who was rewarded for his unwavering support for Buhari, particularly during the radical Senate presidency of Dr Bukola Saraki when he headed a Pro-Buhari support group of Senators, Lawan backers are hoping he would reap from his loyalty.

THE NAYSAYERS Bright as his chances are, Lawan’s path is also strewn with opposition and the bloc is aware of this, hence its last week’s clam that it is yet to take a position on zoning. Top party sources who spoke with THEWILL under strict confidentiality say those pushing the Senate President’s aspirations are bent on betraying a gentleman's agreement on zoning that will not augur well for the party.

Most recently, they maintain, it was this gentleman’s agreement that produced Adamu as consensus National Chairman. Under the micro zoning arrangement that produced Adamu at the party convention on March 26, 2022, previous offices that were held by the North and South switched places.

According to Governor Nasir el-Rufai, who explained it then, the South-South, South-West, South-East swapped the offices of the National Working Committee with the North-Central, North-West and North-East, respectively.

With the emergence of Adamu, it was understood that the party would honour the power sharing arrangement to cede power to the South.

The brokered arrangement that saw Adamu’s emergence as National Chairman succeeded because it was understood that after eight years of Buhari’s presidency, power would naturally go to the South.

This brazen decision to flout the zoning arrangement poses a threat to Nigeria’s political stability, argue the source, adding that the party may indirectly sabotage its interest in the South, particularly in the South-East and South-South where its influence has grown in the past few years with the defection of Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State and Prof Ben Ayade of Cross Rivers State and many state and National Assembly members.

Besides, the party’s decision flies in the face of equity, fairness and justice as enshrined in the Constitution.

Section 14 (3) of the Constitution, for, instance states: “The composition of the Government of the Federation or any of its agencies and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria and the need to promote national unity, and also to command national loyalty, thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few States or other sectional groups in that Government or any of its agencies.”

Even the political mileage that Lawan’s choice holds for the fortunes of the party as being canvassed by his plotters may be farfetched, the sources further adduced.

Given its dismal performance on all fronts, chiefly on its major agenda on security, economy and corruption, it is doubtful if the APC can still muster a quarter of the support it had in 2019, not to talk of 2015 which was a high point of its success as a political party. Poverty, widespread insecurity, unemployment and agitation for separation and self-determination have combined to reduce the larger-than-life image of the party on ascension to power in 2015 to that of a tamed hero in a village square.

Some big wigs in the party, it was learnt, are also not comfortable with the idea that the governing party would be seeking to allow the opposition PDP to determine how it makes its choices, even though both of them are engaged in the same game to capture state power.

Speaking and acting publicly as the National Chairman has done on the presidency weakens the public image of the party, which is being perceived as a Siamese twin with the election of key NWC members from the rank and file of defectors from the PDP. AMAECHI AS BUHARI’S PREFERRED SUCCESSOR? It appears President Muhammadu Buhari has settled for the former Minister of Transport as his preferred successor, according to at least two authoritative sources who are conversant with the development and confided in THEWILL. One of the sources, who asked to remain anonymous, said Amaechi has the full backing of the President to succeed him. “The President’s most trusted adviser, Mallam Mamman Daura, has embraced the Amaechi project. The president’s wife is wholly with him. These are the most important pointers that President Buhari has signalled privately to his family that Amaechi is the one,” the source said, adding that with the former Chief of Army Staff, retired Lt. General Tukur Buratai’s departure from his post as Nigeria’s Ambassador to Benin Republic to campaign with Amaechi is a pointer to where the president’s heart is on his successor.

“It is no secret that General Buratai is very close to President Buhari. Did you know that at some point when he was Chief of Army Staff everyone within the president’s circle, including his then Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, wanted him removed as head of the army, but Buhari refused?” the source added.

THEWILL further gathered that President Buhari will this week meet with key party leaders where he would anoint his successor and seek the party’s support for the candidate.

The APC’s presidential primary has been scheduled to hold on May 29 and May 30.

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NEWS Chevron's Host Community in Ekeremor, Bayelsa Spends N98m on Devt Projects FROM AMOS OWEI,YENAGOA

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Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, (2nd right), flanked by Lagos Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr. Abiodun Alabi (left); Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat (2nd left); Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Tayo Ayinde (right) and others during a security meeting with the Lagos CP, Area Commanders & Divisional Police Officers at Lagos House, Ikeja on May 18, 2022.

Cross River Anti-Tax Agency Achieves APC Governorship Aspirant Synergises With Central 40% Reduction in Illegal Taxes Govt For Benue's Devt

FROM BASSEY ANIEKAN, CALABAR he Chairman of the Cross River State Anti-Tax Agency, Bishop Emmah Isong, has said that the agency achieved a 40 per cent reduction in illegal taxation.

Bishop Isong disclosed this at the Agency's Secretariat during an event to mark it's 2nd year anniversary.

He said that though the agency has not achieved all its objectives, it is not discouraged.

"40 per cent of illegal taxes has been wiped out in two years and that's a good rating. We are not yet where we are supposed to be, but we are not where we used to be.

"Illegal taxation became institutionalised in the state because it became reward for the boys after

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elections. Other government agencies crisscrossed into the activities of the agenxyency but we are not discouraged," he said Bishop Isong also disclosed that the agency has intervened in multiple areas where People's rights were abused.

He called on the government to proscribe some of its agencies who have given the government a bad name, in spite of their good intentions.

He added that politicians who engage in illegal taxation should be discouraged from assuming public office.

Also speaking, Rev. Father Julius Ada, secretary of the agency, said the agency’s policy objective was to create a tax free regime for food production and small scale businesses.

2023: We'll Be Fair to All Irrespective of Past Misdeeds, Abiodun Tells APC Members FROM SEGUN AYINDE, ABEOKUTA

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head of the election primaries of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has assured that his administration would be fair to all members of the party, irrespective of their past misdeeds.

Abiodun disclosed this when he received the immediate past Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Jide Ojuko and his supporters, who have defected to the party, at the Presidential Lodge, Abeokuta.

He said that since the returnees retraced their steps, they would be reintegrated into the party and would not be left out in its affairs.

The governor, who urged the members to bury their differences and welcome the returnees with open hands, said that he would not betray the confidence the members and people of the state reposed on him.

He said, "I know that you fought for a cause THEWILLNIGERIA

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and if we are fighting for a purposeful leadership then we understand. But there is no need for the fight to continue since the election had been concluded and a governor emerged. I am not going to be the governor of APC alone, but the governor to those who did not vote for me.

"Your coming to join us was not by compulsion, it is out of your conviction.

This action of yours is a vote of confidence of what we are doing. It is a vote of endorsement. This is a day of celebration for all of us in the APC. We may have our differences, but the important thing is for us to put those differences aside and work for the good of the party and the state.

"Let me assure you that as your leader and on behalf of the party, since you strayed and decided to come, you are welcome. I commend your sense of loyalty and determination to come back home. We welcome you with open arms.

Please, integrate yourself and contribute to the success of the party."

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FROM KAJO MARTINS, MAKURDI

A

governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), , Pastor Terwase Orbunde, has pledged that if elected part of his priorities will be to ensure synergy with the Federal Government to enhance the development of the state.

He made the pledge at the APC state secretariat last Friday during an interactive session with the expanded Benue State Executive Committee of the party in Makurdi, the state capital.

The former Chief of Staff to the Governor recalled that the first civilian governor of the state, Aper Aku, was able to achieve a lot of for the state because of his synergy with the government at the centre.

He stressed that his priorities would include enhanced security, agriculture, power and solid minerals development.

Pastor Orbunde stated that his administration would encourage clustered settlement pattern to boost security and agricultural mechanisation, make the state the protein hub and evolve policies for solid minerals development.

He appealed to the leaders and members of the party not to entertain any apprehension about his entry, assuring that as a game changer, his coming has brought value addition to APC fortunes in the state.

In his remarks, the Chairman of Benue APC, Comrade Austine Agada, represented by the Secretary, Rt. Hon. Paul Ibiam, stated that the party appreciated Orbunde for his voluntary choice to canvass his governorship ambition on its platform.

He said Orbunde was free to interact with the APC family throughout the state in pursuit of his gubernatorial ambition.

The party’s zonal Chairman for Benue North West, Mr. James Tor, in his welcome address, stated that the APC has space for new members, who have the same status as the old ones, to explore political opportunities.

he Dodo River Communities Rural Development Association, Ekeremor Local Government Area (LGA) in Bayelsa State on Friday said it spent N98.34 million on community development projects in 2021.

The expenditure is marginally higher than the N95.43 million spent by the association in 2020.

Mr Francis Amamogiran, Chairman of the Association, stated this while speaking during the 10th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the association in Yenagoa, the state capital.

He explained that the funding came from Chevron Nigeria Limited under the Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) with the oil firm's five host communities in Ekeremor LGA. Amamogiran noted that the fund was deployed for infrastructure and noninfrastructure projects including town hall buildings, scholarships, adult education programme, cottage hospital staff salary amongst others.

According to him, the association conducted its activities in line with the transparency and accountability requirements of the GMoU funding framework which prioritises community participation in development projects.

He said that association was holding the last AGM under the GMoU model following the enactment of the Petroleum Industry Act and looks up to the government to provide further guides on the host community funds administration.

Mr Christmas Mark, Secretary of the association applauded the peaceful disposition of residents of the host communities that resulted to the successful oil and gas exploration in the outcome year and urged them to sustain the peace.

In her speech, Mrs Ruth Etebu, Permanent Secretary, Bayelsa Ministry of Mineral Resources expressed satisfaction at the governance structure adopted by the association in implementing projects.

She advised the residents to continue its peace building efforts to attract further development to their communities as peaceful atmospheres attract investors.

The high point of the event was presentation of certificates to 10 female beneficiaries of the Adult Education Scheme by Etebu.

Mrs Mien Sunday, who spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries expressed appreciation to Chevron and leadership of the association for giving them another chance to learn to read and write.

She said that the knowledge acquired has improved their self esteem which those engaged in petty trading can now keep records and track the progress they make in their various businesses.

She said that the adult education classes have also enabled them to participate in the education of their children as they can now help out their with their homework, a development that has increased the bond of love in their families.

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POLITICS 2023: APC Battles to Take Over A’Ibom

BY UDEME UTIP, UYO

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ith the recent re-alignment of a frontline governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Engr. Akanimo Udofia, with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at the national level, chances are that the APC might take over Akwa Ibom State by winning the governorship election scheduled for next year.

The choice of Pastor Umo Eno, the immediate past commissioner for Lands and Water Resources, by Governor Udom Emmanuel as his preferred successor in the race has continued to generate controversies within the PDP in the state.

Although Governor Emmanuel has pointed out at different fora that his choice had not foreclosed the chances of other individuals who may wish to aspire to governorship, he had deployed the state’s resources, including manpower, to ensure the success of his preferred successor.

THEWILL reports that over 10 aspirants have purchased the Expression of Interest and Nomination forms of the PDP and they have been cleared for the party's governorship primaries scheduled to hold on May 23 nationwide.

"If he must give any form of support, then he should give to everybody equally and not to sponsor an individual to the detriment of others."

Another controversy brewing in the PDP camp is the issue of micro-zoning. In Itu Federal Constituency, comprising Itu and Ibiono Ibom Local Government Areas, the electorate have expressed the opinion that it is their turn to produce the next governor of the state. Their argument, which seems to gain the sympathy of majority of the zones in the state, is that every other federal constituency in the state had taken a turn in the government house, except the Eastern Ibibio axis made up of Itu and Ibiono Ibom in Uyo Senatorial District and Ikono/Ini Local Government Areas of Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District.

When Udom Emmanuel, who hails from Eket Senatorial District, exits office in 2023, it would be the turn of Uyo Senatorial District to produce the next governor if the party keeps its zoning arrangement. The expectation was that the Itu Federal Constituency would be given the opportunity, having supported other Federal Constituencies in previous dispensations.

Not less than six persons from Itu Federal Constituency supposedly favoured by micro zoning arrangement have been duly cleared by the national Secretariat of the party including; Senator Bassey Albert, James Iniama, Akan Okon and a US-based member of the 700 Club, Sampson Sydney, among others.

There are strong aspirants from other parts of Uyo Senatorial District such as the lawmaker representing Etinan Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Rt. Hon. Onofiok Luke, who is an indigene of Nsit Ibom, Obong Ide Owodiong, a former management staff of the oil giant, ExxonMobil, from Ibesikpo Asutan LGA. Engr Akanimo Udofia is also from Uyo Senatorial District.

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It is obvious that, given a level playing ground by the PDP in Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno cannot stand the popularity and the goodwill of the likes of Senator Bassey Albert, popularly called OBA, Rt. Hon. Luke who is a former Speaker of the State House of Assembly even James Iniama who withstood Chief Godswill Akpabio in 2007 and only gave up when he was defeated at the Court of Appeal in Calabar

It is obvious that, given a level playing ground by the PDP in Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Eno cannot stand the popularity and the goodwill of the likes of Senator Bassey Albert, popularly called OBA, Rt. Hon. Luke who is a former Speaker of the State House of Assembly even James Iniama who withstood Chief Godswill Akpabio in 2007 and only gave up when he was defeated at the Court of Appeal in Calabar.

Without state resources, Umo Eno is no match for the likes of Udofia, who owned a private jet even before the state government considered buying one.

Although aspirants like OBA and Luke have said repeat-

Eno

A frontline aspirant who spoke with THEWILL anonymously said, "He should allow a level playing ground for all aspirants and leave the delegates to make their choice.

Udofia

However, there is fear that the fact that Emmanuel has anointed a successor may not guarantee a level playing ground for other aspirants who may want to woo party delegates for support.

edly that they have no other party to defect to apart from PDP, from an analytical point of view, if they decide otherwise, it would be a formidable force and many party faithful would join them.

THEWILL observed that as soon as Governor Udom Emmanuel pronounced Pastor Umo Eno as his successor on January 30, 2022, PDP’s camp in the state became divided. Emmanuel tried to convince the people that God showed him Umo Eno, while interested parties revolted and vowed that they would not succumb to such deception.

Udofia’s defection to APC, THEWILL gathered, was influenced by the ruling party at the centre. A source close to the presidency confirmed that the presidency is the propelling force behind Udofia’s final decision, adding that the APC at the national level anointed Udofia to represent the party as its flagbearer in the 2023 governorship election.

"Godwill Akpabio and the APC national executive are behind Udofia, who is expected to give the PDP a good fight during the poll," the source submitted.

Akanimo Udofia is the CEO and Managing Director, DESICON Engineering Ltd. He holds an MBA and degree from the prestigious Harvard University. He is seen by most Akwa Ibom voters as a visionary leader who values inclusiveness.

It is obvious that the two contending political parties in the state are going to have a showdown. While the APC boasts federal might, the PDP is dominant in the state.

Analysts expect Udofia to receive the support of aggrieved elite aspirants in the PDP, who are expected to be defeated at the party’s primary by Udom’s preferred successor, Pastor Umo Eno. THEWILLNIGERIA

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POLITICS

Lalong

Senator Nora Dadu’ut was lucky to come out of the saga alive. But it is a postponed war, which hostilities and theatre will relocate to the polling booth and ballot, being pretty sure Governor Lalong will be passing by to the Senate. This prospect is deepened in verve and propensity by the mobilisation and popularity of the persecuted and ousted former chairman of Qua’an Pan Council, Isaac kwale, who has since become a rallying point for PDP resurgence and revitalisation and to that extent, the obliteration and sacking of the APC from the grassroots of Qua’an Pan local government area.

Lalong certainly lacks the charisma and political brinkmanship to neutralize or reverse the odds against him to win Quaan Pan in the senate secondary election.

2023: Lalong May Walk Tight Rope

BY UKANDI ODEH

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overnor Simon Lalong of Plateau State and his party, the All Progressives Congress, do not have a stronghold or clear advantage in Plateau South Senatorial District as the time ticks closer to the electoral hour of 2023.

At the celebration of this year’s Olum O’Tarok in Langtang North Local Government Area last week, fantasy and realism stood down and Lalong, who was special guest of honour, came face to face with the reality of dishonour and bottled anger as the gallery failed to pretend at him.

The governor and the Chairman of Langtang North Local Government Council, Bitrus Zulfa, only managed their stay at the event, as they had to put up with boos and jeers, indicating the surging crowd’s disapproval of their political personalities and underscoring their preference for the politically subjugated and oppressed.

That the lawmaker representing Langtang North/ Langtang South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Beni Lar, and the Chairman of Langtang North LGA, Joshua Ubandoma Laven, who Lalong admires but prefers to haunt of office, received tumultuous and sustained approval from the same gallery, speaks volumes of the political landmines awaiting Lalong’s senatorial bid during the secondary election in that constituency.

From appointments in the state government to the political leadership of Langtang North LGA, to the representation of Plateau State in the recently constituted National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress, the governor’s political ‘sins’ against the Tarok nation are numerous and still counting.

As part of the countdown to 2023, the two main local government areas of the Tarok people, that is Langtang North and Langtang South, have witnessed defection of THEWILLNIGERIA

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members from the APC to the PDP more than any other local government area in the State. As a matter of fact, before the APC governorship congress, which held last Friday, a chieftain of the party in Langtang North bemoaned the situation to the effect that “there is so much discontent and confusion in the APC in Langtang that defection to the blossoming PDP opposition is now happening per second”. This situation is expected by analysts to worsen after the party’s governorship primary due to the malcontent and anger that the intrigues that will shape its outcome will generate. This is even expected to degenerate and precipitate grating trends in the party after the primaries have been concluded.

Thus, even if Lalong manipulates his way through to the senatorial ticket of the APC for Plateau South, as it looks likely with delegates forms declared missing up to the eve of the ad hoc delegates election last week, the secondary election will come with the much desired opportunity for the Tarok to serve him hot vengeance. This lethal punch will not just be a sucker one, but decisive in its banality especially if there is an indigenous Tarok option on any other party platform challenging for the same political position.

When a crowd of variously armed angry youth attacked and held the senator representing Plateau South presently, Prof Nora Dadu’ut, hostage on April 28, in Namu, Quaan Pan local government area, and tormented her and her entourage for over three hours, the youth did not pretend about their anger and grouse; they did not mince words either in letting the Senator understand that whatever befell her, including death as they threatened, she was merely a collateral casualty and by-the-way victim. Their anger, according to beholders in the scene, is meant for Governor Lalong who has used his office and power to deprive them of their preferred political leadership at the local council, and also imposed a Royal Father on them who does not really have ancestral foot in the people’s culture and heritage.

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Even in Shendam, his home local government area, Governor Lalong is bereft of illustrious son popularity.

Not even the location of the new Federal Polytechnic in his village, the ill-fated legacy project conceived as the teaching hospital of the Plateau State University and provision of urban roads, all in Shendam, seem to have persuaded or impressed the people. In local social circles within, his tenure and leadership of the state are disparaged and dismissed with scorn, with a lot of his Goemai tribesmen expressing lack of willingness to stretch his political fortune and travelogue beyond 2019. Beside the danger that there are also Tarok elements in Shendam with reasonable votes to pool, Shendam would be a real political nightmare for Lalong if another Goemai, John Bull Shekaru, as it looks likely, pulls through and clinches the PDP senatorial ticket for the Southern zone this week.

Last week at the PDP State secretariat, Jos, John Bull said his challenge is to secure the ticket of his party, dismissing a potential Lalong threat as a soft target he can walk over easily in the secondary election.

Yet, there are other matters arising amidst pending issues. That the minister of Women Affairs has declined contest and participation in the race does not suggest she has surrendered, and is not a non-competing competitor. Her stakes in the political leadership of Plateau South are still very high, and she will align with forces and interests that will enable her to keep the bar and secure her place and relevance in the unfolding dispensation. Simon Bako Lalong is not a likely ally of Pauline Tallen for now – till further notice.

Again, there is a growing distrust and seething enmity between his Chief of Staff, Noel Donjur, and Lalong.

On the one hand are the problems perceived to have been unnecessarily created by the office of the Chief of Staff that have unsettled sentiments and provoked passions in the local politics of Shendam, home of the duo.

Things even got worse recently as Governor Lalong has successfully imposed a gubernatorial candidate on the APC, thus rubbishing the choice of his Chief of Staff and his shadow cabal. In the course of his senatorial race, Lalong would have to pay dearly for this – more likely in the secondary election when ambush is easier and sweeter.

In Mikang Local Government Area, Lalong does not have any political respite either. The people have their own preference and choice which Lalong has to accept or forget about his senatorial election. He is pushing for the present member in the State House of Assembly, Hon Naanlong Daniel, to be re-elected to enable him emerge as speaker in the next Assembly, against the popular preference of the people who is Henry Yunkwap, who recently defected from the APC to the PDP to enable him get re-elected, and eventually emerge speaker.

The details from Wase local government area about Lalong’s chances are scanty. But the deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Idris Maje, is struggling to secure his chances to be re-elected because of PDP domination of the political space there currently. In the Kadarko area of Wase, dominated by the Tarok people, it could still be bad electoral news for Lalong in 2023.

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POLITICS/INTERVIEW

2023: Without Zoning Nigeria May Run Into More Problems – Onyibe Magnus Onyibe, an entrepreneur, public policy analyst and former commissioner in Delta State, speaks with AYO ESAN about his new book entitled, Becoming President of Nigeria: A Citizen’s Guide, and other matters affecting the country. Excerpts:

In your book, you subscribed to equity and fairness to all parts of the country. Are you disappointed with the decision of the APC and the PDP to jettison zoning and throw their presidential slots open?

Yes, that is a problem. Look at the blurb on the book.

I stated that it would be nice for Nigerians to elect a president who will pursue the agenda of equity and inclusiveness , as well as provide the kind of patriotic leadership that will build upon the foundation of progress laid by previous administrations. So will the 2023 presidential election be a turning point? I was thinking that it would be a turning point because by then the circle will be completed.

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hat informed your decision to write the book?

I looked at the whole environment and felt that Nigerians were not sufficiently enlightened on their roles in democracy. And this did not come to me as a surprise because we have had a long reign of military governments and autocracy. I felt we had to enlighten Nigerians that we are indeed practising democracy where every bonafide Nigerian, as stated in the constitution, can be president of Nigeria. I also know that, coming from experience of votes not counting, because of rigging of elections and all of that in the past, Nigerians have become despondent.

They don’t want to come out. But following the review of the Electoral Act 2010, which is now the Electoral Act 2022, where certain provisions were made and as it is right now , until we practise it and see that it will prevent certain levels of rigging that used to take place. I feel at this time I should also give support to the government agency that has not adequately enlightened Nigerians about their roles.

That is why I had to write the book. It contains all the information that they need to know.

It started with the South West, now it is with the North and it is supposed to go to the South-East. But as things are now, the dynamics has changed and the paradigm has shifted. It is going to cause a problem in the country because we are looking at the short time benefit of winning the elections. The two major parties, APC and the PDP, are looking at strategies to win the election . But they are not looking at the long time benefit of sustaining the harmonious existence of the multiple -ethnic groups that make up Nigeria .

That is the danger.

You also canvassed Igbo presidency in 2023. With the permutation on ground, how feasible is that now?

It is very difficult to see a pathway to an Igbo presidency right now. In the book, I dedicated about four out of 12 chapters trying to make a case for an Igbo president. But as it is right now, it is not looking as if that is possible. I also pointed out in one of the articles in the book about the dearth of presidential candidates from Igboland. And I put it like this: ‘No presidential material from Igboland’. But it was a good thing that just about a few months ago a lot of Igbo people came out to indicate their interest in contesting for president. And it was like ‘Okay fine, we have been waiting for them for years to come out, but they didn’t.’ However in the past three or four months, they came out in number. Unfortunately from the body languages of the major political parties, though THEWILLNIGERIA

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POLITICS/INTERVIEW

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The two major parties, APC and the PDP, are looking at strategies to win the election . But they are not looking at the long time benefit of sustaining the harmonious existence of the multiple -ethnic groups that make up Nigeria . That is the danger

to contest. I guess he had a change of mind when he read the handwriting on the wall and figured out that he had very little chance of realising his ambition. I think he decided to pitch his tent with the camp of the likely candidate or likely successor to President Buhari. I think all that is politics. But whether it is out of personal interest or national interest is a different kettle of fish.

Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, PANDEFF and the Middle Belt Forum are insisting that the next Nigeria President must come from the South.

What are the likely implications of this ?

As a matter of fact, that is the challenge right now.

That is the elephant in the ring because there is very strong agitation for the presidency to return to the South for very good reasons and in compliance with the principle of rotation. Why the principle is being jettisoned now amazes everybody.

it has not been expressed fully now, the candidates of the two political parties may have to come from the north.

Are you surprised that somebody like Senator Orji Uzor Kalu is backing a northerner for the 2023 presidential election?

As a matter of fact, I would assume that probably he has read the dynamics of the situation on ground and he decided to go in the direction he is going.

That is how people in politics are. They are very smart. They look at the dynamics and quickly key into what they think is the best for them to do in order to survive. Already he told me that he wanted THEWILLNIGERIA

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Why did you choose this time to unveil your book?

It is because this is the right time. We are in the election season. In the next few months, we shall go to the polls and elect another president who would be inaugurated by the grace of God on May 29, 2023.

That is why I have decided to published the book at this point in time. I started writing the book for a long time and the delay in amending the Electoral Act actually delayed till this time. I was waiting because the Electoral Act is critical. The whole thing about the future of elections in Nigeria was predicated on the Electoral Act, which we needed to beef up. If you remember that the last amendment to the Act was in 2010. As soon as the 2022 amended version came, which was the only thing delaying the book, I went to the press immediately and published the book. So it is an act of God that the delay became a positive thing.

Aren’t you worried that even the Nigerian elite do not read books?

There is a saying that if you want to hide something from a black man, put it in a book. But all that is changing because at the launch of the book in Abuja on the 10th day of this month, a lot of people bought the book and there is more demand for the book.

Most of the people demanding or buying the book are actually politicians. As a matter of fact, the book reviewer said that the people or those in politics might be thinking that the book would be like a recipe, a menu for a meal and something like that. I also feel that some people are thinking that it will tell

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them what to eat in the morning, what to eat in the afternoon and what to have for dinner so that they can become president. But the book does not contain any of those things. What it contains is a whole gamut and milieu of political evolution in Nigeria, what it takes to become Nigerian president beyond those specifics.

There is a guide to what you need to do and how to reach out. In fact, I made reference to somebody like late Chief M.K.O. Abiola. I said if you want to become a president in Nigeria, you must be like MKO Abiola who was a philanthropist and who was open to everybody. Abiola was neutral in religion, even if he was a Muslim and he reached out to all the nook and crannies of Nigeria, touching the lives of many people in a very profound way that had never been witnessed before. That was why it wasn’t a surprise to many people that he won the election.

In the book, you also traced the history of Nigeria and past governments in the country. With the research you have carried out, what do you think is at the root of ethnic agitations in this country?

The reason for that is deviation from the norm, from the grand strategies that our forebears laid down for us. If you notice, the 1963 Constitution, which we operated and the country we inherited were such that all the three regions (later they became four after the Mid-West Region was created). The British did the right thing because they actually bequeathed to us their own system, where they had four different ethnic groups, the English, Welsh, Scottish and Irish coming together to form Great Britain. That was what they left us. The system worked for them. It was working for us until the first military coup and counter-coup and then the civil war happened.

Democracy was introduced in Nigeria in 1979.

Past administrations, such as the Shehu Shagari administration, has come and gone. We were balancing it through federal character. All that has been jettisoned now and thrown into the garbage bin . People started getting restive like IPOB, the Oduduwa nation and others . This thing is going to continue unless equity and justice returns to the system of government in Nigeria.

As Nigerians look forward to the 2023 general election, what is your advice to INEC and politicians?

The good thing that has happened is that whatever anybody wants to say about the National Assembly or so much bad things that happened in this government, the amended Electoral Act that was signed this year will booster the process of recruiting our leaders in this country. It will be different because technology will give better vitality. In fact, to some existent I would even say that the people now believe that votes will count. People will believe that godfathers will not impose their candidates, that there will be equity and the general election will be transparent with the new Electoral Act .

So to some extent I would say INEC has done well and the National Assembly did well, too, by making a lot of changes to the issues on the front burner or tackling some of the challenges that we had in the past. Going forward, the next National Assembly will look at the issue of electronic voting and voting by Nigerians living in the Diaspora, as well as improving the vitality of our electoral process .

Our politicians have to be sensitive to the fact that there is a need to maintain some balance in Nigeria.

The way they are going, by not recognising rotation again, is a problem. They have to note this.

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EDITORIAL

Selling Political Offices to Highest Bidders

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emocracy has been described as the government of the people by the people and for the people. What this connotes is that unlike a dictatorial or autocratic government, democracy needs the input of the people of a country practising it.

Where the people are in one way or the other manipulated out of the system to either contest or be elected into a government, such a government cannot be described as a democratic government.

In essence, democratic rule allows the citizens of the country the right to vote and be voted for. Again, Section 42 of the Nigerian Constitution provides that nobody shall be subjected to any restriction or discrimination on the basis of class, fortune, sex or whatever.

It is based on this fundamental right of Nigeria Citizens to vote and be voted for that we view with sadness, the sale of nomination forms by the two major political parties in the country, the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to their members aspiring for political offices at exorbitant costs.

It seems that for both parties the underlying objective is to eliminate those whose pockets are not deep enough from running for political offices on their platforms in the 2023 general election.

For instance, the APC sold its

presidential nomination form and form of intention to contest for N100m, while the PDP sold its own presidential nomination forms at N40 million. The APC explained that the nomination form was sold for N70 million while the expression of interest form costs N30 million.

We consider the costs of purchasing these forms outrageous, especially in a country where many state governors are finding it extremely difficult to pay the minimum wage of N30, 000 and where about 100 million Nigerians have been classified as living below the poverty line and unable to afford three square meals a day.

The annual salary of the president in a year is not up to N100 million and no genuine salary earner or people engaged in legitimate business would like to stake that kind of money on mere forms.

The two major political parties with their actions have shown that they are insensitive to the suffering of the average Nigerian.

The argument put forward by the leaders of the parties that the high cost of forms was intended to discourage unserious people does not hold water.

Their insistence on leaving out aspirants for certain elective positions, who cannot mobilise the sums of N100 million or N40 million out of the electoral process, is discriminatory and illegal.

It is our belief that in a democracy, no restriction can be erected to prevent people from participating in the politics

of their country. Are the APC and PDP now saying that the politics of the country is for the rich or ‘money bags’? If so, it is important to remind them that any action in such direction is anti-democratic and unconstitutional.

This development is clearly antithetical to the current administration’s drive to encourage full participation of the youth in the electoral process, which is anchored on the signing of the Not-Too-Young- To-Run Bill

by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2018.

Fixing the cost of nomination forms beyond the reach of the youth seeking elective positions in 2023 will not only discourage them from participating in the electoral process, but also deny the entire nation the opportunity to benefit from their input to national development

Fixing the cost of nomination forms beyond the reach of the youth seeking elective positions in 2023 will not only discourage them from participating in the electoral process, but also deny the entire nation the opportunity to benefit from their input to national development.

The sale of nomination forms at such exorbitant costs may propel the youth toward getting rich by any means, thus worsening the crime rate and by implication, further compounding the security situation in the country.

The APC and PDP should bear in mind that when an aspirant obtains a nomination form at great expense and eventually finds himself in government, he will want to recover the expenses incurred during pre-election and election time. This will definitely not augur well for the fight against corruption in the long run.

We would like the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to monitor the expenses of politicians and political parties.

Under the Electoral Act, there are fixed amounts of money payable by aspirants seeking various elective positions in the country. Anything beyond these fixed amounts is not acceptable.

Also, INEC should, through the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), monitor the finances of the political parties and ensure that they submit their annual financial audit reports.

We commend the lesser parties for lowering the prices of their nomination forms to a level that can be afforded by the average Nigerian.

Publisher/Editor-in-Chief

Austyn Ogannah Editor – Olaolu Olusina Deputy Editor – Amos Esele Politics Editor – Ayo Esan Business Editor – Sam Diala Copy Editor – Chux Ohai 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 [Letters/Opinions: opinion.letters@thewillnigeria.com]

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OPI N ION

Constitution Amendment: How Lawmakers Dashed Nigerians’ Hopes

BY MACK OGBAMOSA

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here is no perfect constitution anywhere. The more advanced democracies in the world have had cause(s) to change and amend their constitutions over time.

Constitutions, whether written or not, are usually subjected to regular modifications or amendments in order to meet the exigencies of time and promote good governance. The United States of America has a written constitution which has had about 27 amendments since 1789 when it became operational.

The British Constitution, which is unwritten, has been undergoing amendments, though informally, from time to time through debates and conventions. That of Canada has gone through 11 amendments since it was transformed from an Act of the British Parliament to that of Canadian Parliament in 1982. Between 1789 and 1958, France had 15 different constitutions and from 1958 to date, about 24 amendments have been introduced into the Indian Constitution has had 105 amendments since it was made in 1950.

strengthen the judiciary for timely dispensation of justice; the bill on timeliness for the determination of civil and criminal cases; the bill on virtual/remote court proceedings; and bill on devolution of power.

Other bills rejected are qualification to become an indigene of a state; immunity for legislative and judicial officers; specific seats for women in National Assembly 35 per cent affirmative action for women in party administration; women to become indigenes of their husband’s states after five years of marriage; and citizenship to foreign-born husband of a Nigerian woman.

How lawmakers dashed our hopes There is no doubt that the lawmakers made some efforts to improve on the provisions of the current constitution, but did these attempts go far enough? The answer is obviously no.

To most Nigerians, it is a matter of regret that the lawmakers dashed our hopes by not looking into most of the challenges facing the country today. They include insecurity, resource control, corruption, poverty and unemployment.

are supposed to have access to the resources available in their areas. In the US, for instance, states, even individuals, are allowed to own and produce mineral resources.

The current situation where the main source of survival in the country- crude oil is the hands of the Federal Government, while the people from the oil producing states are living in squalor. Poverty and deprivation is not healthy for our polity.

Research has shown that there is no state in Nigeria that does not have the natural resources to survive on its own. But it is the dependence of states on monthly allocations from the Federal Government that has made them lazy, idle and poor.

If states are made to produce and spend only what they earn, the competition for survival will be to the overall benefit of all Nigerians.

This is in line with true federalism and restructuring.

Enforcement of socio-economic rights

Insecurity

Our lawmakers also forgot to understand that to promote social justice in the country, we need to urgently look into the amendment of the constitution to allow for the enforcement of socio-economic rights in Chapter II of the constitution.

The lawmakers forget that the primary purpose of government is the security and welfare of the people as spelt out in Section 14 (2b) of the 1999 Constitution ( as amended.

According to the section, “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.”

Except for free and compulsory basic education, they did not address the issue of non-justiciability of socio-economic rights provided in Section 6 (6c) of the constitution. This is an obstacle to the enforcement of socio-economic rights which are focused on the welfare of the people.

Difficult Challenges and their solutions

Fifth Alteration by the National Assembly

The lawmakers forgot that this aspect of the constitution has been largely ignored. They foret that we have all become captives to terrorists, kidnappers and that one of the major causes of the persistence of this level of insecurity is because the major security forces ( the armed forces and the police ) for confronting these enemies are in the hands of the Federal Government .

It is against this background that this writer welcomes efforts made by the Ninth National Assembly to amend it through the fifth alteration.

They forget that state governors are not chief security officers as they are wrongly called. They are just lame - ducks chief security officers.

Why not amend the Constitution to ensure a certain percentage of our budget is actually devoted to education?

It was hoped that with this exercise, most of the issues currently agitating the minds of Nigerians would be addressed. But it appears that this is not the case.

How do they expect us to tackle insecurity in a large federation like ours when all the security forces are under the control of the central government?

The National Assembly deliberated on about 68 issues. No fewer than 44 issues were passed and transmitted to the 36 state assemblies for their deliberations and approval.

They forget that we will need to amend the constitution to create room for the creation of state and community police.

Nigeria is not an exception. In the course of our democratic experiment since political independence in 1960, we have had four republics. We have had five different constitutions: the Independence Constitution of 1960 and Republican Constitution of 1963, which were both based on a parliamentary system of government. The 1979 Constitution introduced the Presidential system of government in the Second Republic. Another Constitution in 1993 was meant to guide the affairs of the aborted Third Republic. The current one was enacted for the Fourth Republic in 1999 by the Abdusalami Abubakar military administration.

Many critics of this constitution believe it is not the People’s constitution because it was neither debated by the people nor subjected to any referendum before it was approved by the then military government.

Issues passed by the National Assembly Some of the notable bills passed by the National Assembly include: Bill on the separation of the office of the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation from that of the Minister of Justice; Termination of tenure of elected officers after change of party; Financial autonomy for local government councils; Financial autonomy for states houses of Assembly and states judiciary; Independent candidacy and Free and compulsory basic education as a fundamental human right.

Bills rejected by the National Assembly Bills rejected by the National Assembly include the bill to

Are our lawmakers not aware of the fact that difficult and peculiar challenges require drastic solutions? Are they not aware of the fact that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU ) is currently on strike? Are they not in the know that this has become a permanent feature of our system?

Some people have even suggested that there should be a law to prohibit public officers, political appointees, their children and wards from schooling outside Nigeria. Can it be one of the ways to force the government to give attention to education and end the recurring strikes in our tertiary institutions?

Resource Control

The Way Forward

Our lawmakers did not also remember that another major cause of agitation in Nigeria today is that people do not have control over resources produced from their states or regions. This is due to the unitary nature of our federation.

All the mineral resources in the country are owned by the Federal Government as stipulated in the Exclusive list of our constitution. Section 44(3) and Item 39 Schedule II of the Exclusive Legislative List of the constitution vests the control and management of mineral resources and hydrocarbon operations on the Federal Government for the common good and benefit of all citizens. This is not the situation in other federations. In a proper federal system of government, states

•Ogbamosa is a legal practitioner/communications consultant.

It is important to note that most of the proposed amendments passed by the National Assembly to the state assemblies cannot bring about rapid political, economic and social development of this country. They did not seriously address the issue of devolution of powers towards true federalism instead of the unitary system of government we are currently running. They did not tackle the basic issues of insecurity, poverty, illiteracy and unemployment confronting the country. The way forward is for subsequent amendments to focus on these issues.

Fueling Industrial Disharmony

BY BABATUNDE ADENIJI he ‘oxygen’ of the aviation industry is leaving operators gasping for breath. In a statement issued on May 6, 2022, the Airline operators of Nigeria (AON) declared their decision to discontinue operations nationwide, with effect from Monday May 9, 2022, till further notice.

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AON cited the astronomical price increase in JET A1 fuel as the reason for its position.

In its response, oil marketers, acting under the aegis of the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), blamed the skyrocketing price of aviation fuel on Nigeria’s dependence on importation of the commodity and its exposure to international price movements caused by the twin shock of increased post-pandemic demand and reduced supply due to the ongoing sanctions against Russia.

It is always distressing to read about heightened disputes within the aviation industry. This is because it operates as an ecosystem. We can all agree that such interconnected and interdependent systems need all hands-on deck and all THEWILLNIGERIA

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ducks in a row, if it must deliver its unique mission in our lives and our means of livelihood In the words of a former Director-General of IATA, Tony Tyler, “Every plane carries with it enormous possibilities.

Business is connected to markets. Tourists are brought to amazing destinations. Students travel to study. Products are delivered to consumers. Aid is transported to the needy.

Doctors reach their patients. Components are brought to assembly lines. Ideas cross oceans. Families are reunited.

Friends are made. International understanding is facilitated.

And our world becomes a better place”.

In our aviation outlook for this year, we shared the view of many experts that the price of oil was going to rise.

This estimate did not take the possibility of a war between Russia and Ukraine into account. As operators, who are highly dependent on the impact of energy, AON could have done a better job of preparing itself .

Many stakeholders who have criticised AON’s lack of action in the past are pleased by its increasing willingness to take up its role on behalf of the industry that is so heavily impacted

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by every single economic shock. Airlines must engage to survive but they cannot thrive if they disengage other players in the ecosystem or treat them like their enemies.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) is the singular most important stakeholder for resolving this current situation. We take the view that its failure on several fronts is responsible for our import dependence as a nation. AON and MOMAN should be united in getting the NNPC and other Government stakeholders to deliver a workable solution for the industry.

Where would we be if all service providers threaten to down tools because of the rise in energy price, ‘’especially given that diesel prices have risen faster than that of JET 1 fuel’’?

If it is okay for airlines to enjoy the fruits (and shocks) of deregulation, it cannot deny oil marketers the same. There are organisations that can offer airlines different solutions to improve their Jet fuel strategies. All they need to do is make enquiries.

•Adeniji is Founding Partner of General Sales and Solutions Management Limited, Lagos.

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SHOTS OF THE WEEK Photo Editor: Peace Udugba [08033050729]

On May 14, 2022, Olumide Akpata, President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and Osayamon Michelle Edo State. Here are some images from the event. The church marriage will be held in Mauritius in October.

L-R: Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki; Akpata; Osayamon and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN

L-R: Omoruyi Akpata, Oghogho Akpata, Ewi Akpata and Uyi Akpata

L-R: Mr Kashim Imam; Olumide Akpata and Chief Suny Kuku

Publisher, THEWILL Newspaper, Austyn Ogannah (left); Ernest Orji (m) and Akpata.

Traditional dancers from Benin Cultural Centre.

Eyimofe Atake, SAN, and wife, Dorothy Atake.

Akpata with Wale Tinubu, Charles Ndiomu (in shaded glasses) and others.

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SHOTS OF THE WEEK

e Ogbebor held their traditional marriage ceremony under the Bini Native Law and Custom in Benin City,

Akpata chats with Senator Bukola Saraki.

The Akpatas arriving at the venue of the Reception.

L-R: Former Delta State Governor, James Ibori; Incumbent, Ifeanyi Okowa and Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki.

L-R: Hon. Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, Akpata and Deji Akinyanju.

L-R: Victor Ochei, Dere Otubu, Olumide Akpata, Osayamon, Hanatu Ochei, Amaju Pinnick and Ernest Orji.

Owen Diana Omogiafo and Ehimwenma Elaiho.

Former NBA President, Augustine Alegeh.

L-R: Uzomah Idabor, Hanatu Ochei, THEWILL Publisher, Austyn Ogannah, Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei and Chris Nehikhare, Edo State Commissioner for Youth and Humanitarian Affairs.

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Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

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www.t hew illni g eri a. c om VOL .2 N O.2 2

Emefiele

MAY 22 - MAY 2 8, 2022 T H E W I L L N E W S P A P E R

Russia-Ukraine Crisis: CBN to Sustain Interventions in Critical Sectors

BY SAM DIALA

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o insulate the economy against adverse spillovers from the Russia-Ukraine war, indications have emerged that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will deploy targeted development finance interventions that have proved to be critical safety nets in such situations. To achieve the desired impact, priority will be given to two sub-sectors that are most impacted by the ongoing conflict – agriculture and manufacturing.

These facts emerged from the views of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) members contained in the Communique No. 141 of the MPC meeting held in March 2022. All the 10 members present at the meeting expressed similar opinions in the document entitled “Personal Statements by the Monetary Policy Committee Members” posted on the Bank’s website last week. To underscore the severity of the circumstance, the members stated that “even if the war in Ukraine is short-lived, sanctions will not immediately go away, and so would be their impact on, and consequences for the domestic economy”.

Noting that significant recovery has been recorded from the catastrophic COVID-19 pandemic, the MPC members observed that output recovery still remains fragile, stating that the Bank’s use of the development finance interventions in selected employment generating and output-stimulating sectors would continue to support output recovery. They recommended sustaining collaborative efforts with the Federal Government on extensively focusing on interventions targeted at increasing aggregate demand, boosting domestic agricultural production, driving lending to MSMEs and investing in critical infrastructure.

On Manufacturing, the MPC expressed concern that the prices of intermediate imports would remain elevated due to the disruption

Aero Contractors Plans Reduction of Workers by 40%

BY ANTHONY AWUNOR

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here is an indication that Nigeria's carrier, Aero Contractors, is planning to cut down its workforce by 40 per cent.

The 63-year-old airline is currently harbouring over 700 direct aviation jobs, even as it is under the receivership of the

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Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).

However, two major aviation unions, the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the Air Transport Senior Staff Services Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) have kicked against Continues on page 19

in supply. It said high energy costs directly constrain manufacturing as the sector relies heavily on energy – diesel and gas – both of which are impacted globally by the war.

The Committee stated that Agriculture could also take a hit as fertilizers and other inputs are impacted. It noted that Russia and Belarus are major players in the global market for potash, urea, and other chemicals required to produce fertilizers. Both countries are on the other side of the war. “Given these scenarios, both sectors (manufacturing and agriculture) would require extra policy support to weather the storm ahead,” the members reasoned.

“CBN interventions in critical agricultural products like wheat should be sustained. Food security should be a national priority with partnerships of researchers, government, and the private sector working together to deepen the agriculture value chain. More farmers should be able to access the intervention funds across the country. Intervention should extend to the procurement of inputs, storage, and protection of farmers against price volatility”, said Adeola Festus Adenikinju, a member of the MPC. Another member, Aishah I. Ahmad, said, “While the recent spike in domestic prices may be transitory, it is prudent to take forward-looking policy decisions to mitigate unforeseen adverse price developments and manage inflation expectations. Sustained interventions by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to improve food supply alongside fiscal efforts to contain long standing structural constraints are important considerations in that regard.”

In his view, another member, Aliyu Ahmed said, “I am of the view that the current pro-growth policies of the Federal Government

MORE INSIDE Popoola Canvasses I ncreased Investment Towards Sustainable Development Goals PAGE 21

BDCs Mull Autonomous FX Trading Window to Boost Supply PAGE 21

Continues on page 19

Polaris Bank, Lagos Agency Launch N1bn Fund to Empower Artisans

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olaris Bank and the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) have partnered to provide N1 billion fund to artisans operating in Lagos state.

This was disclosed at a joint media launch of the artisans’ funds and addressed by the Bank’s Executive Director, Lagos Business, Mr. Segun Opeke, on Thursday May 19, 2022.

Opeke explained that the partnership with Continues on page 21

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MAY 22 - MAY 28, 2022 T H E W I L L N E W S P A P E R • www.thewillnigeria.com

AVIATION/ECOMOMY Russia-Ukraine Crisis: CBN to Sustain Interventions in Critical Sectors

Continued from page 18

Continued from page 18

Sirika

Aero Contractors Plans Reduction of Workers by 40%

the proposed downsizing of the carrier’s staff strength, arguing that the aviation company is yet to complete the redundancy payment of those it asked to stay home since 2016.

The unions appealed to the National Assembly, Ministers of Aviation, Labour and Employment to initiate an intervention that could save Aero Contractors and Arik Air, as well as workers.

According to the unions, reports claiming that Aero’s aircrafts are too old to fly are unjustifiable and made to compel the airline out of existence as the airline has an MRO subsidiary.

The unions alleged ulterior motives by some hidden forces, who they said had engineered a phoney lease contract with one House of 5A’s where the airline operated the lease at a total loss, whereby they had an arrangement that allowed them to have only three seats in a 180-seater aircraft at N35,000 each, no matter the category of fare charged.

Speaking at a forum organised by the unions, the General Secretary of NUATE Comrade Ocheme Aba, said, "Specifically, we call for a probe of the circumstances surrounding the rumored sale of one or both of the airlines to the promoters of 5A’s for cheap after the airlines must have been forced to the ground by an artificially created financial crumbling.

"We also call for a strong and deeply reflective interface between the Ministry of Aviation and AMCON and the legacy shareholders of Aero Contractors and Arik Air for the purpose of knocking out a deal that could truly rejuvenate the airlines, one way or another, and resolve the legacy owners’ imbroglio once and for all.

“We call for a complete stop to further attempts to truncate genuine revamping efforts at keeping these airlines on the path of recovery. Specifically, we call for a halt to further attempts through House of 5A’s to force any phony lease contracts down the throat of Aero Contractors and Arik Air. "We equally make a passionate appeal to AMCON not to allow any form of weariness to stand in the way of efforts to achieve the plan of turning around the fortunes of the two airlines. We wish to share with AMCON our unshaken belief that the task can, and must, be done. It requires, though, that all hands must be on deck and working harmoniously. To this effort, we pledge our cooperation and collaboration.”

In its reaction, the management of Aero Contractors described all the allegations made by the unions against it as wild and unfounded.

The airline maintained that it is pure mischief that when things are rosy the unions keep quiet, but when challenges occur they quickly run around THEWILLNIGERIA

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with wild claims and threats.

The airline wondered why its staff, knowing the challenges facing airlines in the current operating environment, are always in a haste to compromise confidential information to the public and make it an issue for discussion.

"All the allegations about the Managing Director of House of 5A’s and Charles Arumemi Johnson are unfounded. Charles is a very competent staff of Arik Air owned by AMCON, which equally owns Aero Contractors; therefore there is no conflict of interest. He is instrumental to the recently launched Aero portal which has given the site a face lift and made it more user friendly, compared to the previous website.

"On the House of 5A’s, every partnership was done with the aim of improving the revenues of the airline, particularly in relation to our unserviceable equipment and ensuring standard customer service. The question is what was our revenue before, during and after the exit of House of 5As? They should please respond.

“It also emphasised that the Aero management is conscious of the challenges we are facing and have been prudent with our expenses, and doing our best to take care of staff welfare.”

Explaining further, Aero added that the current management decided to create the four Strategic Business Units (SBUs): Maintenance Repair Overhaul (MRO), Aviation Training Organisation (ATO), Airline Operation and Rotary Wing, to enhance efficiency and profitability.

"There is no Nigerian carrier without debt overhang caused by the operating environment.

And all major airlines in the world have had similar challenges, but took strategic measures to turn around the airlines. It is unfortunate that the airline industry operates on thin margins and airlines are always making efforts to be leaner and smarter to stay afloat.

"Whatever management decisions are taken are usually done with the engagement of the unions. It is at the instance of the unions the Chief Executive Officer called for a Town Hall meeting last week. We believe that as the revenues begin to improve over the next few months, following strategic engagements with potential partners, the airline’s fortune will improve," the airline added.

AMCON had in 2016, dissolved the Board of Aero Contractors Airlines and appointed a Manager to oversee the daily affairs of the airline. With that, AMCON became both the majority shareholder and creditor of Aero.

The intervention of the debt management company was expected to protect the brand heritage of the airline and also protect the public interest to sustain and improve the robust and premium quality service, which the airline has been known for over the years.

“

National Union of Air Transport Employees(NUATE) and the Air Transport Senior Staff Services Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) have kicked against the proposed cut down of workforce, arguing that the aviation company is yet to complete redundancy payment of those it asked to stay home since 2016

THEWILLNIGERIA

should be sustained and enhanced to ensure adequate domestic production and supplies. This would insulate the economy from the looming danger of imported inflation and the associated downside risks to growth arising from the adverse fallouts of the Russian-Ukraine war.”

Already, the spillover effects of the Russia-Ukraine war have begun to impact Nigeria’s domestic economy pushing fiscal deficit, inflation and high cost of energy to unbearable levels.

An investigation by this newspaper revealed that the performance of Nigeria’s major manufacturing firms were severely impacted by a tough operating environment in the first quarter of the year (Q1 2022).

This was compounded by spiral inflation and decline in consumer demand which combined to create a regime of high operating costs for the firms as they struggled to lift margins. Inflation rate surged to 16.82 percent in April 2022, recording the highest jump in eight months.

Nigeria’s economic woes have worsened since the year with rising energy prices, frequent petrol scarcity in major parts of the country and lingering epileptic power supply. Diesel prices have more than doubled amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict, raising energy costs for businesses that must generate their own power most of the time.

Manufacturing companies are threatening shutdown, job cuts and price increases as their operation costs soar. The immediate past Director-General of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Dr Muda Yusuf expressed concern that some firms may shut down if their customers can no longer afford to buy their products.

According to him, the situation calls for a lot of creativity and innovation on the part of the firms so that they can continue in business. He posited that the firms may find a means of breaking their products into smaller units that the consumer can buy or scale down their operations by reducing the size of their workers or reducing their working hours. Also, they may pass the extra cost to their consumers by increasing the price of their products.

“In a worst case scenario, the firms may shut down because it is better to be on zero than to be running negative,” Dr Yusuf, who is now the CEO, Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE) told THEWILL by telephone. Experts urge the CBN to take adequate steps to insulate Nigeria from the catastrophic effects of the RussiaUkraine conflict as it did during COVID-19.

The CBN played a key role in saving the economy from the catastrophic effects of COVID-19 pandemic.

The apex bank rolled out proactive measures to sustain the economy during the terrible period by way of intervention funds directed towards the critical sectors of the real economy. Like the proverbial stitch that saves nine, the sectorspecific intervention funds were a booster to the economy which was almost totally ravaged by COVID-19

“

To strengthen recovery and forestall the impact of the ongoing geopolitical conflict, we will continue to partner with the fiscal authorities to sustain support for manufacturing, agriculture, infrastructure, and MSMEs

pandemic. This was compounded by the impact of the 15-months land border closure that ruined many businesses and led to thousands of job losses. Then the recession.

Eminent Economist and CEO, BIC Consultancy Services, Dr Boniface Chizea, said credit must be given to the CBN for its intervention initiatives which constituted a rapid response in both assuaging the pangs of the pandemic and checking its worst impact. He noted that the interventions were not only timely but appropriate being sector-specific with clear guidelines devoid of implementation bottlenecks, and in line with the development finance policy of the CBN. “You can imagine what would have happened to us if the CBN did not do what it did. The Bank should go ahead and do what is needed. At this time we are going to witness severe economic challenges arising from the RussiaUkraine war”, Chizea told THEWILL by telephone.

Chizea recalled that the COVID-19 restrictions had severe consequences on households’ livelihoods and business activities.

The CBN introduced the N50 billion Targeted Credit Facility (TCF) as a stimulus package to support households and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The CBN has always pointed at this singular intervention for salvaging the economy at a most difficult time.

As Emefiele has indicated, it is evident that the CBN will step-up its development finance intervention schemes to strengthen recovery and insulate the economy from the spillover effects of the Russia-Ukraine crisis.

“To strengthen recovery and forestall the impact of the ongoing geopolitical conflict, we will continue to partner with the fiscal authorities to sustain support for manufacturing, agriculture, infrastructure, and MSMEs. I note that our recent actions have put GDP and inflation on satisfactory long-run trajectories.

“I acknowledge the recent unexpected rise in domestic inflation, which, though transient, could justify arguments for tightening. But, importantly, economic recovery is still fragile, while per capita income and unemployment rate are at unacceptable levels,” Emefiele said at the MPC meeting.

•Continues online at www.thewillnigeria.com

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ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Nigerian entrepreneur

Self-employed And The Employed: Boosting Living Standards

BY TIMI OLUBIYI he rising cost of living is impacting globally but differently, and it is clearly evident that expenses and bills continue to rise steeply. The cost of food, household consumables and other essentials has skyrocketed in recent times from Cairo, to Botswana, Delhi, Shanghai, London, Houston, Mexico City, Johannesburg, Mumbai, Dublin and Manila, name it.

This price hike has been on the increase as part of the consequences of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and it continues to shrink the available disposable income of the majority altogether.

In the Nigerian context, a loaf of bread that was N350 in 2020 is now sold at N700, a 100 per cent increase in two years. Similar percentage increases are in the cost of flight tickets, health care, rents, diesel, cooking gas, bag of rice, crate of eggs, a kilo of chicken or turkey and many other essentials due to inflation, yet income has remained the same or even less. Nothing is easily affordable, and everything is out of reach of the masses.

Given the country's current situation and the fact that many people have not seen growth in their income, this has resulted in reduced or no savings, increased frustration and dissatisfaction in fulfilling basic demands amongst many. There is always the possibility and anxiety of losing jobs or businesses folding up regardless of the length of service put up, experience acquired, or available connection, and these consequences may even be more severe.

Employers, in fact, are hesitant to implement any wage increases for economic reasons. Inflation continues to have a severe negative impact on man's mental, emotional, and physical well-being, as well as on marriages and livelihoods. Currently, even with a steady, regular salary, living has become costlier with heightened uncertainty, high inflation, and weak purchasing power, especially for the masses including civil servants, entrepreneurs, and small business owners. As a result, one of the ways to have protection is by diversifying sources of income and having multiple streams at this time. You have multiple bills; why not have multiple streams of income to support the inadequacy.

Therefore, in addition to salary or business income, it is important to source other income avenues to satisfy the rising needs, poor business performance and inflation. Because if financial capacity is weak and daily expenses continue to rise, individuals, businesses, and even households will be threatened with sustainability. Therefore, there is a need to take action because having multiple streams of income has proven to be priceless.

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If the average billionaire or millionaires have more than one way to make money, it is important for professionals and business owners to think the same way and have stable passive income streams in order to stay on top of financial and economic woes

According to my observations, the majority of people and homes in the country rely solely on earned income, be it salary or daily income from a business, and they are always hoping that nothing bad happens. It is critical to understand that if salary is the sole source of income, you are on the verge of financial pressure.

With the high inflation, unemployment crisis, and unstable economy, having many sources of income may help spread the risk and guarantee that homes and businesses are stable and financially protected. We live in a world where one source of income is insufficient and becoming increasingly unsustainable.

If you ask me, having multiple sources of income is no longer a luxury; it is a necessity. To be safe, it is never rational to depend on a single income source, full-time job, or a single market. Remember, change is the only constant thing in life, and this change happens rapidly in this period and is always unpredictable. Living on paycheck-to-paycheck, can severely affect mental health, increase anxiety, depression, stress and many are unaware of the implication on their health.

Consequently, having multiple sources of income is the best way to protect yourself, your company, and your family against drastic financial change. The tools for generating these multiple streams of income are readily accessible on the internet or by engaging a professional. We have greater access than ever before to information, people, ideas, and opportunities with

social media, so tap into this. If the average billionaire or millionaires have more than one way to make money, it is important for professionals and business owners to think the same way and have stable passive income streams in order to stay on top of financial and economic woes.

While active income will require your full attention and effort, like being available from 8am to 5pm daily, passive income is generated with no or insignificant effort and attention; it can work while you sleep. So, to complement active income, passive income such as investing can generate income through dividends, interest, and return on capital. Depending on the market and your financial circumstances, investing in real estate might provide you with high returns and rental income. But if you cannot construct to generate rent, acquire a piece of land and protect it; no matter how far away it is, it will rise in value.

If you have years of experience in your field, you can start giving consultations or guest lectures as a means to earn another stream of income from your regular job or business. Another reliable way is by acquiring assets that can generate consistent and steady cash flow. Looking inward might just help as well, talents, abilities, and passion can be used to create potentials that can give income streams.

Clearly, research has shown that having multiple streams of income as a plan aids retirement and provides the necessary comfort in old age. Hear this: if a solid retirement plan is your goal, savings alone will be insufficient; instead, the objective should include developing numerous streams of income sufficient to replace your principal active income (salary). The main benefit or advantage of having multiple streams of income is that when one stream is challenged or things are very volatile, there is a backup for extra income to attain financial stability. That can give the necessary hedge against uncertainties in a business as well during illness, disability of the entrepreneur.

In conclusion, it is reasonable to live below your means to make room for savings and then investment, no matter how little it helps along with side hustle.

Relying on a salary or daily business income alone is a danger at this time. In an environment where job loss and unemployment are chronic, the decision to create multiple streams of income and secure financial stability is expedient. However, do not let your sideincome streams put the primary and full-time job or business at risk, unless you can survive without it.

•Dr Olubiyi is an entrepreneurship and business management expert. He can be reached on the Twitter handle @drtimiolubiyi and via email: drtimiolubiyi@gmail.com THEWILLNIGERIA

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MAY 22 - MAY 28, 2022 T H E W I L L N E W S P A P E R • www.thewillnigeria.com

BUSINESS NEWS BDCs Mull Autonomous FX Trading Window to Boost Supply

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L-R: Group Head, Product and Market Development, Polaris Bank, Mrs Adebimpe Ihekuna; Executive Secretary, LSETF, Teju Abisoye; Executive Director, Lagos Business, Polaris Bank, Segun Opeke and Director of Programme, LSETF, Omolara Adewunmi, at the launch of N1 billion Polaris/LSETF Employment Fund in Lagos on May 18, 2022.

Polaris Bank, Lagos Agency Launch N1bn Fund to Empower Artisans Continued from page 18

LSETF is aimed at providing the much-needed funding to create wealth and empower artisans and players within the MSME space in Lagos state who have been in business operation for a minimum of one year.”

The executive director further noted that Polaris Bank will be providing N500m counterpart funding in the partnership while LSETF is providing to the fund the same amount. He encouraged artisans in the state to take advantage of the facility.

In her presentation at the signing off ceremony, the Executive Secretary of LSETF, Tejumola Abisoye, stated, “LSETF working with the Lagos State Council of Tradesmen and Artisans and the Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment is committed to making impact by ensuring it creates access to finance and sustainable job opportunities for artisans in Lagos State.

“We are happy to partner with Polaris Bank in ensuring that this mandate is achieved, and we know that through this fund, thousands of artisan businesses across the state can become sustainable. At LSETF, we are open to more strategic partnerships to reduce unemployment by building the capacity and improving the productivity of Lagos residents,” she said.

“We are working with Polaris Bank to grant this loan at a single digit of 9.5% per annum. This is extremely important because we want it to be clear from day one that it is affordable. We still think it is the most affordable in the market that you can have access to at the moment,” she added.

Explaining the process of accessing the artisans’ funds, the Group Head, Products and Market, Polaris Bank, THEWILLNIGERIA

Mrs. Adebimpe Ihekuna, said the scheme is highly subsidised at less than 1% flat per month and artisans who wish to take advantage of the facility can complete an application form; provide proof of verifiable business location with evidence of tenancy and domiciliation of business account to Polaris Bank.

Applicants are also to provide business plan among other friendly terms throughout the tenor of the facility.

Mrs. Ihekuna further explained that the scheme offers up to N5m for the MSMEs to be able to purchase working equipment so that even as a cobbler, vulcanizer, a barbing or hairdressing salon owner or whatever business you do, you can create value which also becomes a platform to continue to provide more employment opportunities for the youth.

On her part, Director of Programs, LSETF, Omolara Adewumi, expressed appreciation to Polaris Bank for the collaboration and the gesture of coming on board as a financial partner. She noted the role MSMEs play in creating jobs and reducing poverty.

“I believe the time for this kind of matching funds which focuses mainly on artisans in Lagos state is now and we know that this collaboration will be a successful one,” she added.

Lagos State’s informal economy, under which artisans are categorised, is said to employ about 5.5 million people – about three-quarters of the State’s 7.5 million labour force – out of the country’s nearly 200 million people. This figure (5.5m in Lagos alone) represents over 80 percent of the population working in the informal sector, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

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IGR: Ogun Cautions LG Over Unwholesome Revenue From Investors FROM SEGUN AYINDE, ABEOKUTA

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gun State Government has cautioned Local Government administrators to desist from collecting unwholesome revenues from investors operating in their councils in the state The government equally said that such practice promotes unhealthy investor relations and also double taxation, which in turn affects the State’s Ease of Doing Business index ranking.

Commissioner for Finance and Chief Economic Adviser to the Governor, Dapo Okubadejo, disclosed this in Abeokuta while meeting with Chairmen and representatives of the 20 Local Government councils in the state He said that the Dapo Abiodun led administration was doing everything possible to shore up the Internally Generated Revenue of the state to achieve its revenue target for the year and would not tolerate actions from the LG's administrators capable hindering its chance to meet the target Okubadejo noted that the monthly allocation from the Federal Government to LG in the state was grossly insufficient to meet its financial obligations, saying that the current administration has always urgent the fund to meet the dividend of democracy in the state "You cannot achieve world-class governance without recognising the powers and financial autonomy of the Local Government as enshrined in our constitution."

"Our Local Government administrators should desist from collecting unwholesome revenues from investors operating in their Local Government Areas" "That is why we introduced the monthly Joint Account Allocation Committee meeting to discuss the financial status and relationship between the State and Local Governments. This emphasises the transparency and accountability of this administration."

"This is to enable all our Local Government stakeholders to know that the money coming from the Federal Government in their favour is not spent by the State government at all" he added The commissioner, therefore, opined that revenue items such as tenement rates and others have been harmonised and taken care of by the Land Use and Amenities Charge (LUAC).

he Association of Bureaux De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON) has called for the establishment of Bureaux De Change (BDCs) Autonomous Foreign Exchange Trading Window (BAFEX) to restore sanity to the market and make forex available to more parties.

ABCON said the mechanism, which would serve as a pathway to mainstreaming BDCs into the official foreign exchange (FX) management system, would enable its members to source foreign currencies from banks and other autonomous sources and offer a window for regulation of their activities.

This comes as the naira faces fresh volatility, slipping to nearly N600/$ at parallel market.

ABCON National Executive Council, in a statement said its inclusion in the retail market would reduce the pressure and stabilise the market. It said it has concluded at a meeting held in Lagos to kick-start a strategic campaign to save the local currency, bridge the supply gaps in the markets and curb the current volatility.

The ABCON President, Aminu Gwadabe, said there was an urgent need to enhance FX liquidity to stabilise the exchange rate for predictable economic planning. He said its campaigns are aimed at mitigating the volatility that comes with election spending.

The ABCON boss pointed to growing illiquidity and supply shock as key factors manufacturers and other economic agents find it difficult to access FX from the official sources.

He said the leadership of the body would intensify campaigns among traders to help reduce the market arbitrage, which is currently about N175 per dollar.

“The naira has consistently come under serious pressure due to dollar scarcity making it difficult for forex end-users (manufacturers and key industry players) to access dollars needed to meet their needs. ABCON under my leadership will continue to encourage our members to play a vital role in closing the exchange rate gaps in the market and reducing the premium between the parallel market and the official window,” he said.

Gwadabe listed several factors, which he said have continued to undermine efforts to stabilise the market, saying its proposed BAFEX would go a long way to save the situation. He said a template would be worked out to enable BDCs to access FX from banks, autonomous market and diaspora remittance widow at prevailing market prices.

Gwadabe also requested enhancement of existing BDCs’ automation portals to file transaction returns on CBN/ABCON/ NFIU/NIBSS portals for effective regulatory monitoring and supervision, saying the members are ready to comply with the regulations.

“The BDCs should be able to operate a network of digital solutions for PTA/ BTA. This would reduce overheads, and improve profitability. Some BDCs might still consider working closer with commercial banks. The ABCON can also be recognised as a self-regulatory organisation to enable it to operate effectively and sanction erring members.

“We wish to reiterate our resolve to align with the policy thrust of the apex bank and ensure that ABCON members play their roles professionally and strategically in the interest of the market and economy,” he said.

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BUSINESS NEWS Popoola Canvasses Increased Investment Towards Sustainable Development Goals

Customs Commences Implementation of Reviewed e-VIN

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instruments that address sustainable development and promote financial inclusion in the Nigerian capital market.

In recognition of Nigeria’s climate finance needs and the urgent action required to combat climate change as enshrined in the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, the Exchange, in 2016, championed efforts along with government and industry stakeholders that culminated in the issuance of the maiden N10.69Bn (c. $25.8 million) 13.48% 5-year green bond in 2017.

The Exchange also played a leading role in promoting the development and issuance of the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) Ijarah Sukuk which has proven to be a highly attractive instrument that supports inclusion from Nigeria’s ethical investors and sharia compliant investors who have stronger preference for noninterest based instruments”.

Speaking on NGX’s continuous support for developing the sustainable finance market in Nigeria, Popoola cited the Exchange’s collaboration with International Finance Corporation (IFC) to build the capacity of potential green bond lssuers in Nigeria.

He said, “NGX has partnered with IFC to train issuers and market operators on the issuance of sustainable financial instruments. Through the training, NGX and IFC shared best practices in sustainable finance issuance, and educated potential issuers on the unique characteristics of green social and sustainable bonds, the specific advantages of each instrument, as well as the detailed step-by-step process for issuing these instruments".

NEED BESPOKE FURNISHING SERVICES?

he Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has announced the commencement of the implementation of the reviewed electronic Vehicle Identification Number, e-VIN. Speaking at the sensitisation workshop for stakeholders in Apapa, Lagos, the Controller in charge of e-valuation, Abuja, Anthony Udenze, said the application would be launched on Friday, May 20 and will be fully deployed from the next day, Saturday May 21.

It could be recalled that the Service had earlier introduced the e-VIN platform which was opposed by stakeholders as a result of lack of consultation and the high value of duty payable on imported vehicles.

Udenze explained that the Service took into consideration all the complaints raised by stakeholders during the first attempt to implement the application, and made the necessary corrections before the redeployment. He said the VIN system is aimed at facilitating trade, stressing that the new values have been unified and simplified.

“Right now, we have cases where values given by various commands are different.

There has been outcry for the unification of value from the valuation unit and the Service deemed it fit to listen to this cry.

“Remember that two months ago we deployed this valuation and there was an outcry. The Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd) in his magnanimity listened to the cry of

stakeholders and set up a committee to review the process and the committee worked assiduously to come up with something that would be acceptable to all.

“We drew up officers from various Commands’ valuation units and today we can tell you that what we are presenting today will be acceptable globally,” Udeze stated.

He noted that the new VIN Valuation system considered all options, including accidental vehicles and salvage vehicles were all built-in, even as uniformity in values from all the Area Commands has also been achieved. Udenze noted that apart from engagement with stakeholders in the industry, members of the House of Representatives also reviewed the new VIN valuation system and approved it.

Ali

he Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Exchange Limited, Temi Popoola, has canvassed for increase in long-term sustainable finance to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals in Sub-Saharan Africa. He made this known while speaking as a panellist at the CEO Breakfast Roundtable hosted by United Nations Global Compact Network Nigeria, during the visit of Sanda Ojiambo, Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations Global Compact, to secure the commitment of the leadership of the Nigerian private sector to the UN Global Compact Africa Strategy.

Highlighting the unique role played by securities exchanges within the global capital market in driving progress towards sustainable development, Popoola said, “Securities exchanges have a critical role to play in the reallocation of capital towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement on climate change, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) where countries are lagging behind all other regions in various development indicators. At NGX, we remain committed to fostering the growth of sustainable financial products that integrate the financial risks and help issuers leverage the opportunities associated with the SDGs, the fight against climate change”.

Speaking on NGX’s role in fostering the growth of sustainable finance in Nigeria, he highlighted the role of the Exchange in developing Nigeria's green bond market.

He said, “NGX, has over the years, played a leading role in developing financial

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•Ibori-Suenu

•Okowa-Daramola

•Ajimobi

•Igbinedion

•Abiru

•Obanikoro

•Osoba

•Alao-Akala •Uduaghan

STEPPING INTO FATHER’S SHOES PAGE 23-28 THEWILLNIGERIA

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POLITICIANS’ CHILDREN INTERESTED IN ELECTIVE POSITIONS IN 2023 Next to oil, politics in Nigeria is the most attractive and biggest money spinner.

Little wonder, some people have resolved to remain in politics even as they have nothing to offer, while others have recruited their offsprings to join them in the 'lucrative business' and go on build political dynasties long after they are gone.

In the light of this, IVORY UKONU unveils some young Nigerians, interested in elective positions, whose parents are well known politicians:

BELLO EL-RUFAI

S

erving as Deputy Chief of Staff to his father, Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State, is not enough for Bello who wants to represent Kaduna North Federal Constituency in the Federal House of Representatives, on the platform of All Progressives Congress. While there is nothing wrong with his aspirations, there is a lot to worry about someone who wants to champion the interests, needs and aspirations of a group of people when he has no qualms threatening to organise the gang rape of an adversary’s mother over a social media banter that degenerated to a disagreement.

“Tell your mother I’m passing her to my friends tonight. No Igbo sounds please,” he told his adversary.

Clearly, his threat violated the Cybercrime Act and when criticised for his conduct, he went on a tirade of verbal abuse and threats and refused to apologise for his reckless statements. When matters got to a head, Bello eventually issued a terse apology that did nothing to douse flared tempers.

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ERHIATAKE IBORI-SUENU

OMOSEDE IGBINEDION

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he is the daughter of a former Governor of Delta State, James Ibori.

After two terms in the Delta State House of Assembly, Erhiatake has her eyes set on representing the same constituency in the Federal House of Representatives on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, come 2023.

Naturally, she hopes to achieve this feat with the help of her father, who is considered a demigod of some sort in the politics of Delta State.

However, despite his immense influence in the politics of the state, Ibori had to put his pride aside to appeal to the sensibilities of Delta State delegates to vote his daughter rather than insist on their votes at the party's primaries.

“Do this for me. Vote for my daughter, Hon. Erhiatake IboriSuenu for the House of Representatives Ethiope Federal Constituency,” Ibori begged the delegates.

Like her personal life, the 41-year-old’s foray into politics has been fraught with controversies. During the 2019 general election, in which she contested for a second term in the State House of Assembly, Erhiatake’s opponent from the All Progressives Congress, Chief Hope Abijor, called for the cancellation of results in some polling units and rescheduling for fresh elections in the affected areas.

Abijor had written to the Returning Officer of the Delta State Independent National Electoral Commission via his solicitors alleging delays, hijacking of election materials, thuggery and violence in some polling units. But not much was done about the situation and Erhitake’s election sailed through.

he is one of the daughters of the Esama of Benin kingdom, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion and a sibling to Lucky Igbinedion, a former governor of Edo State. She has put the necessary machinery in place to ensure her return to the House of Representatives to represent Ovia Federal Constituency in Edo State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Omosede, who was in the House of Reps in 2015 for one term, lost the bid to return for a second term after her opponent, Dennis Idahosa of the All Progressives Congress trounced her at the polls. Not satisfied with the outcome of the election, she approached the Election Petition Tribunal in Benin City alleging that Idahosa was not qualified to contest the election as a Canadian citizen. She also claimed that Idahosa did not resign his appointment with the Federal Ministry of Environment as a member of the board of National Agency for Great Greenwall. She added in her petition that there was over-voting, forgery and falsification of results in the election.

Her petition was thrown out for lack of proof.

CHINEDUM ORJI

H

e is the current Speaker of the 7th Abia State House of Assembly. Chinedum allegedly connived with his father, Senator Theodore Orji, the immediate past governor of Abia State and both stole the sum of N500 billion from the state’s coffers and laundered the funds via 100 bank accounts. After the initial noise of their arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, nothing was heared about the case again. Now he is angling to represent Ikwuano Umuahia Federal Constituency in the Federal House of Representatives, come 2023 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.

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TOKUNBO ABIRU

MARYLIN OKOWA-DARAMOLA

H

e comes from one of the biggest political dynasties in Lagos. In the Second Republic under Lateef Jakande’s administration, his father, Mubasiru Akanbi Olatunji Abiru, became a Senator of the Federal Republic from Lagos East Senatorial District. He moved on to become a High Court judge during which period he headed an armed robbery and firearms tribunal before he passed on to immortality.

Abiru’s sons, Rotimi and Tokunboh, have taken over from where he stopped. Rotimi Abiru was a former Chief Whip of the Lagos State House of Assembly representing Shomolu State Constituency II. He is currently doing his 8th term in the House. Another son, Adetokunbo Abiru, who rose to the top of his banking career as the Managing Director of Polaris Bank, is a member of the senate representing the Lagos East senatorial district on the platform of the All Progressives Congress. He clinched the ticket to contest in the by-election in December 2020 and replaced the late Senator Adebayo Sikiru Osinowo who died on June 15, 2020. He is seeking re-election in 2023 on the same platform.

S

KOLA ABIOLA

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e is the eldest son of late Chief Moshood Abiola, the presumed winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election.

Kola has been away from the public glare for as long as anyone can remember. In between squabbling with his half-siblings over some of his father’s estates and trying to make sense of his half-sister’s decision to be in cahoots with Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, he decided to be an active participant in the 2023 general election. Perhaps in a bid to actualise his late father’s unfulfilled dreams, Kola plans to run for president on the platform of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP ). He hopes to slug it out with two other presidential aspirants to get the party’s ticket.

ORODE UDUAGHAN

LADI ADEBUTU

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IDRIS AJIMOBI

O

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he is the daughter of a former Governor of Delta State, Emmanuel Uduaghan and is currently the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa on Small and Medium Enterprises Development.

Orode, who has been away from the spotlight for some years, following the collapse of her marriage, was given the appointment not only to help launch her into the scheme of things, but also to mend the fragile relationship between her father and the incumbent.

Orode’s father had refused to support Okowa’s candidacy for reasons best known to him and he always spoke against Okowa in public foras. She is riding on this new wave of forgiveness to launch herself into mainstream politics. She is aiming to represent Warri North Constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly.

he is the daughter of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State and also doubles as his Senior Special Assistant on Girl-Child Empowerment.

Yet Okowa does not seem to be satisfied with Marylin being his SAA alone as he plans to impose her on the people of Ika North-East by having her represent them in the Delta State House of Assembly on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party. The decision to field Marilyn was arrived at, seeing that a certain section of Ika North East had for 20 years, occupied a seat in the House of Assembly. And so, they figured that it would not be out of place for other sections of Ika NorthEast to take their turn.

And who else was deemed worthy of that seat other than?

N

ot only is he the first son of Chief Kessington Adebutu, a business magnate and Premier Lotto promoter, he is also a former member of the Federal House of Representatives. The 60-year-old was a governorship candidate in Ogun State in the 2019 general election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party. Despite losing to the opposition due to the power play between him and the late Senator Buruji Kashamu, he is not relenting and is gunning for the seat in 2023 on the same platform. Considered one of the pillars of the PDP in the South-West geopolitical zone, Ladi, unlike others who lack the basic principles of loyalty, has remained true and faithful to the party, despite the many disappointments he has suffered as a member.

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ne doesn’t need a soothsayer to know that Idris, one of the sons of late Abiola Ajimobi, a former governor of Oyo State, is hoping to step into his father’s shoes some day and return to the Government House, Ibadan, which his father occupied for eight years.

Also, one does not need to be reminded that Idris’ mother, Florence Ajimobi, the erstwhile First Lady of Oyo State and his father in-law, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State, will both guide him through the murky waters of politics to achieve his ambition.

The end game is to build a political dynasty between the Ajimobis and the Gandujes. But first, Idris would have to cut his political teeth. He plans to do so by vying for a seat in the Oyo State House of Assembly to represent Ibadan South-West Constituency II on the platform of the All Progressives Congress. His decision to join politics a few days after he was installed as the Aare Akogun Musulumi of Oyo State is not lost on political watchers.

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SALIHU TANKO YAKASAI

OLAMIJU ALAO-AKALA

OLUMIDE OSOBA

O

H

e is the son of frontline northern elder statesman and politician, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, who was a former Liaison Officer to President Shehu Shagari. Salihu, who was sacked from his job as the Senior Special Assistant on Media to Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State for criticising President Muhammadu Buhari, has joined the race for the governorship position in Kano State. Having dumped the All Progressives Congress after his sack, he hopes to actualise his dream on the platform of the People's Redemption Party.

IBRAHIM BABAJIDE

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brahim is already a member of the House of Representatives, representing Isale-Eko constituency. He is the son of Senator Musiliu Obanikoro. Popularly known as IBO, he is planning to return to the House in 2023 and has started mobilising the electorate to get their votes for another term of four years on the platform of the All Progressives Congress.

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lumide, who is the son of the All Progressives Congress chieftain and a former governor of Ogun State, Olusegun Osoba, is currently a member of the House of Representatives and the Chairman, House Committee on Sports. The laid-back young man, who represents Abeokuta North/ Obafemi- Owode/Odeda Federal Constituency, is serving a second term in the House and hopes to be re-elected for a third term.

KHADIJAH OKUNNU-LAMIDI

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he holds the record as the first female to make known her intention to contest for president of Nigeria in the 2023 general election.

According to her, she is motivated by an urgent need to make Nigeria work for all Nigerians.

A distant relation of Senator Bola Tinubu, a presidential aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, 38-yearold Khadija is the only child of Chief Lateef Olufemi Okunnu, a former Federal Commissioner for Works, lawyer and former ProChancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi. Khadija obviously thinks that vying to be Nigeria's president is a joke as days to major party primaries, she is yet to announce the political platform on which she hopes to actualise her dream.

H

e is one of the sons of Christopher Alao Akala, a former governor of Oyo State. Olamiju is hoping to represent Ogbomosho North/South and Orire Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives on the platform of the All Progressives Congress.

Olamiju is no stranger to politics as he was a former chairman of Ogbomoso North Local Government Area. With an in-law like billionaire industrialist, Razaq Akanni Okoya, Olamiju's political war chest is a forgone issue.

NNENNA UKEJE

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ike Omosede Igbinedion, Nnenna is seeking re-election into the House of Representatives to represent Bende Federal Constituency in Abia State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party. She contested for a fourth term in the Green Chambers in 2019 and lost.

She is the daughter of late Captain Sunday Elendu-Ukeje, a decorated Nigerian Air Force pilot who also had a stint with the defunct Nigerian Airways. Her mother, Roseline Ukeje, a retired Chief Judge of the Federal High Court and the first female judge of the High Court of Nigeria is known for the role she played in giving former Abia State governor, Theodore Orji, access to immunity from being probed for committing fraud when he was Chief of Staff to Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, who was governor of Abia State at the time.

The older Ukeje granted Orji bail from the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and he was immediately flown down to Abia State House, Lagos, where he was sworn in as governor. Justice Ukeje’s daughter, Nnenna, is still reeling from the loss of her home to arsonists, who attacked her home a few month ago for failing to provide the dividends of democracy after spending 12 years at the lower chamber of the National Assembly.

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MAY 22 - MAY 28, 2022 T H E W I L L N E W S P A P E R • www.thewillnigeria.com

STORIES BY SHADE WESLEY-METIBOGUN

Kizz Daniel And Iyabo Ojo's GBENGA DANIEL'S AMBITION TEARS IBIKUNLE Daughter Spark Romance Rumour

AMOSUN, LEKAN MUSTAPHA APART

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he once healthy relationship between former Governor of Ogun State, Ibikunle Amosun and one of his close allies, Lekan Mustapha, a lawmaker representing Ogun East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, has been torn apart by political ambition of another former governor of the state, Otunba Gbenga Daniel.

When Mustapha was pursuing his ambition to represent Ogun East Senatorial District in the National Assembly in 2019, Amosun was instrumental to his emergence as the consensus candidate of the All Progressives Party. After winning at the poll, Mustapha remained loyal to his benefactor.

Trouble started when, in a bizarre twist, Amosun decided to support Daniel’s aspiration for the same elective position for which Mustapha is seeking re-election.

The development did not go down well with Mustapha, who apparently had informed Amosun of his decision to seek re-election and received his blessings. Recall that Amosun and Daniel were at daggers drawn all through the former’s tenure as Ogun governor.

The bone of contention was Daniel's multi-billion naira conference hotel situated somewhere in the state, which Amosun had kept under lock and key, while accusing Daniel of using state resources to build it. But following an agreement with the current governor of the state, Dapo Abiodun, which saw Daniel quitting as the Director-General of the Atiku Abubakar Campaign Organisation and switching allegiance to Abiodun with only a few weeks left to the general election, it became obvious that his (Daniel) hotel would be returned to him if he (Daniel) helped Abiodun to win the election with his loyalists.

A few weeks after he was sworn in,

Mustapha

Amosun Abiodun kept his own side of the deal.

But in another shocking development, Daniel has now joined forces with Amosun to unseat Abiodun and deny him a second term. Both men are already hatching a plan to have their anointed candidate, Adekunle Akinlade, a former governorship candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement in the state, to replace Abiodun.

One may wonder where and how things went wrong between Abiodun and Daniel. The cause of the cold war between both of them is a power plant valued at N9 billion. Daniel had purchased the power plant during his tenure in 2003. He imported equipment for the installation of the plant, which purpose was to generate power independently to Ogun. But the project was abandoned and the equipment allowed to rot away after he handed over power to Amosun.

The abandoned project became a dent on Daniel’s image and that of his administration. Having aligned with Abiodun, he had hoped that the incumbent governor would help to redeem his image and clear the

controversy the power project had generated in the state.

When Abiodun failed to resuscitate the project, Daniel was disappointed.

He felt betrayed and decided to pay Abiodun in his own coins by working against his re-election bid. This prompted him to join forces with Amosun who wrecked the project in the first instance by not continuing with it and even punished him further by seizing his hotel.

Amosun and Daniel's plan may likely succeed as Abiodun is currently battling to save his political career, what with APC threatening to disqualify aspirants who refuse to divulge previous criminal histories.

Abiodun was accused of forgery, credit card theft, and other criminal offenses by the City of Miami Police Department in the United States after it filed criminal charges against him in 1986. Despite lying under oath to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the embattled governor claimed that his detention was insufficient ground for his disqualification by the ruling All Progressives Congress.

Meet Ngozi Ekeoma, Controversial Wife of Nepal Oil Boss

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he wife of Elder Eme Ekeoma, Group Managing Director of Nepal Oil, is one of the few female philanthropists cum entrepreneurs who sits atop many conglomerates and has succeeded in running such huge

Ekeoma THEWILLNIGERIA

conglomerates.

Ngozi Ekeoma has her hands in maritime business with her Quest Shipping Ltd. She is also into travel and tours which her company, Geo Travel and Tours Company, handles. Her other interests include manufacturing, insurance and aviation.

As an enterprenuer, Mrs Ekeoma mobilised and built an Isolation Centre in Umuahia, Abia State, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

She has awarded scholarships and mentorship schemes to so many under privileged in the society.

The serial entrepreneur turned 50 a few weeks ago. As expected, she rolled out the drums in celebration. Many celebrities, especially entertainers, graced her birthday celebration. Despite her stupendous wealth, the successful business woman is no stranger to controversy.

She was allegedly accused of

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stealing the nation blind. The Abia State-born mother of four was said to have allegedly committed fraud to the tune of $10 Million via the Nigerian Petroleum Subsidy Fund. She allegedly used one Chukwuemeka Ekwunife and Ugochukwu Onwuegbuna to create two firms in Liberia called Dexter Oil Limited and Structured Energy Limited.

The companies were allegedly used to conduct illegal oil trading transactions outside the country. Her company allegedly transferred Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) intended for consumption in Nigeria for sale overseas. She also allegedly used Ekwunife to arrange fake papers in Liberia in order to receive money from the Federal Government through a subsidy system. Supporting documents, such as the Bill of Laden, Product Recertification and Certificate of Origin were allegedly created and used for trade that never took place in the country.

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inger Oluwatobiloba Anidugbe, professionally known as Kizz Daniel, is rumoured to be in a romantic relationship with Priscilla Ojo, actress Iyabo Ojo's daughter.

The two are allegedly away in Manchester, United Kingdom at the moment and they have been spotted together at two different social functions in the city. Priscilla flew into Manchester from Dubai, the United Arabs Emirates where she has been staying for some days to join Kizz Daniel, who was the first to arrive in Manchester as he had a show to perform on Saturday, May 14, 2022 at the 02 Ritz.

The two travelled to the UK separately to avoid giving naysayers a clue about what they are up to. Unfortunately, some people already suspected they are already an item. Priscilla has allegedly been cruising around the city of Manchester in

Ojo a Bentley meant to convey the singer anywhere he goes.

Kizz Daniel already has a live-inlover known as Ovajoja. She is the mother of his twin children, Jelani and Jalil, who were born in 2021. Ovajoja is a dancer and has featured in some of the singer's

Anidugbe musical videos. The two started dating and eventually welcomed their first children together last year. The singer's family have accepted her as their daughter-inlaw and they have been treating her with utmost respect since she gave birth to the twins.

Shina Peller Marks 46th Birthday With Book Launch

S

hina Peller, the lawmaker representing Iseyin/Itesiwaju /Kajola Federal Constituency in Oyo State, celebrated his 46th birthday on Saturday, May 14, 2022. The first part of the two-inone event took place last Saturday in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory. It had in attendance political big wigs, such as the Governor of Niger State, Abubakar Sani-Bello, a former Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha,

Peller

one of the presidential hopefuls of the All Progressives Congress, Tien Jack-Ric; Dr Linus Okori, the founder and President, Guardians of the Nation International; traditional rulers and a host of others.

One of the highlights of the party was the presentation and launch of his book, The Turning point which chronicles the celebrant's life, which is an embodiment of achievements, his activities, his core leadership ideology which will serve as an inspiration to the younger generation and those looking up to him as their political role model. The book also exemplifies the qualities needed in both leaders and the nation in general. Peller revealed through his book that the nation's turning point is a new mindset which can rebuild the country. The book was launched by Alhaji Awwal Garba, the Chief Executive Officer of

Magma Group of Companies.

Sensational music acts that thrilled guests at the events include, Abbey Elias, also known as Skiibii, Sodiq Abubakar Yusuf, professionally known as CDQ and Adewale Mayowa Emmanuel, aka Mayorkun.

The lawmaker will also host another party in his hometown, Iseyin, in Oyo State next week and also celebrate with students of Pacelli School for the Blind and Partially Sighted in Lagos and some schools of the handicap within his constituency.

Peller who recently welcomed a baby girl, had earlier signified interest to run for president under the platform of the All Progressives Congress in 2023.

He abandoned the idea when he could not generate enough funds to purchase the N100 million nomination and expression of interest forms.

Progress, Zadok Make it to Grand Finale of Nigeria Idol Season 7

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rogress Chukwuyem and for N100 million worth of prizes, finale of the competition is taking Zadok Aghalengbe have including a recording deal from a place on Sunday, May 22, 2022. both made it to the finale of label, a brand-new Sports Utility Nigeria Idol is powered by the Bigi Nigeria Idol Season 7. It has been Vehicle (SUV), cash prizes, and carbonated soft drink brand of Rite a frenzied musical competition other exciting gifts. The grand Foods. for the contestants on the reality show. The frontline contenders for the Idol crown have been battling each other, trying to outwit one another as they perform exhilaratingly to the admiration of the judges and audience.

The two had the upper hand after Ester Temiwumi, also known as Banty, exited the musical platform, due to low votes. Progress and Zadok are now competing Asika, Chukwuyem, Kosoko, Aghalengbe and Oyebanjo xx

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MAY 22 - MAY 28, 2022 T H E W I L L N E W S P A P E R • www.thewillnigeria.com

STORIES BY SHADE WESLEY-METIBOGUN

2022 AMVCA: THE GLITZ, THE GLAMOUR, THE RIDICULOUS

Best Actress in a Drama for her exceptional performance in the movie Rattlesnake: The Ahanna Story and she also won the Best Dressed Female at the ceremony with a cash prize of N500,000. The actress, obviously surprised by the circumstances surrounding her movie role win, burst into tears as she dedicated her victory to God and her mother who was with her when she was working on the project, but unfortunately passed on before it was completed. Ramsey Nouah won the Best Director for the movie Rattlesnake: The Ahanna Story, while Ighodaro and Nzes's win were for the same movie as well.

The Eighth edition of the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCA) took place on Saturday, May 14, 2022 at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. The successful event, was well attended by entertainers across Africa. Shade WesleyMetibogun, who was there, gives a blow-by-blow account of what happened at the event:

A

bout the award ceremony Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards is an annual award organised by MultiChoice to recognise outstanding achievements in the entertainment industry in Africa. Lagos, Nigeria has always played host to the award ceremony since its inception in 2013. But, in 2019, the event was not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It continued in 2020 after restrictions on movement and public gathering were relaxed.

A week-long event For the first time since its debut eight years ago, this annual event lasted a whole week. It kicked off on Saturday May 7, 2022 with an opening gala night. The fashion runway show took place the following day. It was followed by Young Film Makers Day on Monday, May 9, Digital Content Creators' Day on Wednesday, May 10 and the Pan-African Food Festival and Cultural day on Thursday.

Nominee's Night held on Friday, May 13. The grand finale of the show was the award night, which held on Saturday, May 14. An after-party followed the awards ceremony.

The Hosts The hosts were Nigeria’s Ikponmwosa Osakioduwa, also known as IK, and South Africa’s Bonang Dorothy Matheba. It was the eighth time that Ik hosted the AMVCA, but his female co-hosts are usually switched every year. One of the things that endeared him to the organisers of the event is his professional touch and sense of humour, which usually lights up the award ceremony. The trio of Ebuka ObiUchendu, Uti Nwachukwu, Toke Makinwa and Sika Osei, were the red carpet hosts.

Odunlade Adekoya's rudeness at the AMVCA Odunlade Adekola, one of the most talented actors in the Yoruba movie genre, is so versatile when it comes to switching roles easily and keeping people glued to the screen. He has earned a lot of respect for this. But his behaviour at the award ceremony was totally uncalled for. He pointedly ignored two journalists who were trying to have a chat with him. In turn, other journalists who noticed his rude attitude ignored him on the red carpet.

Adekola won an award for Best Male Supporting Actor in the movie, Jankariwo produced by Bukunmi Adesile. One of the sponsors of the show, OctaFX, a forex trading company, rewarded the actor with N2 million.

Will Smith Oscar slap was enacted at AMVCA Actor, Deyemi Okanlawon and the host, IK, recreated the infamous Will Smith/Chris Rock Oscar slap. IK and Okanlawon, who was a nominee for the Best Actor in a Comedy recreated the moment Chris Rock kept talking about Jada Pinkett Smith's bald hair. This time, IK went on and on about how the actor had turned to a real estate agent as a result of the pandemic which got actors creating other streams of income. Okanlawon screamed "Keep my name out of your mouth," and attempted to walk up the stage to accost IK. He was prevented from doing so by some bouncers who whisked him off before IK intervened for his release.

Tension still brewing between Funke Akindele-Bello and husband Abdulrasheed Bello, also known as JJC Skillz, and his wife, Funke Akindele-Bello, were spotted together for the first time after trouble was said to have plagued their paradise. First, they arrived separately to the nominees' party, which took place a day before the actual event. They exchanged banters with their colleagues. On the day of the award, they arrived separately but sat together. They were also together on stage to receive the award for the Best Actress in a Comedy for Akindele-Bello's role in the movie, Omo Ghetto. The actress dedicated the award to her musician husband, JJC Skillz and her twin children.

The actress had accused her husband of unlawfully spending money without her consent. JJC Skillz had to travel to London to cool off.

With the way Akindele-Bello dedicated the award to her husband and children, fans hope they will settle their differences soon.

Iyabo Ojo ends beef with Funke Akindele-Bello The duo of Iyabo Ojo and Funke Akindele- Bello, who were not on speaking terms before the event, shared a warm hug at the award

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ceremony. Fans of the actress were happy to witness the love between the two. Akindele-Bello had gone to receive an award on behalf of Biodun Balogun, the makeup artist who won the Best Makeup Artiste in Akindele-Bello's movie Omo Ghetto.

Before then, tales of a rift had been trailing the two actresses. It started after it was speculated that Akindele-Bello paid Instagram critics to fault Toyin Abraham's movie, The Ghost and the Tout.

Ojo started throwing shades at Akindele-Bello.

However, it is now in the past as Ojo celebrated her colleague after the award.

She revealed that hugging Akindele-Bello made her day and she congratulated her for her win.

Taiwo Ajayi Lycett's surprise win Seasoned Nollywood actress of International repute, Taiwo Ajayi Lycett, won the Industry Merit award. The actress, who has paid her dues over the years, was surprised to be among the awardees at the event. While accepting her award plaque, the versatile actress stated "I've lived to carry this. This is a major surprise to me. I've been to many places but there is nowhere like home".

Ighodaro

Akindele-Be

llo

About Ifu Ennada and Erica Nlwedim's expensive dresses Reality television stars, Iheme Faith Uloma, also Nouah known as Ifu Ennada and Erica Nlewedim made fashion statements at the AMVCA with their outfits. Ennada's dress, which was made by fashion stylist, Toyin Lawani, had several masks attached which made many wonder if her dress was actually for a red carpet event. Many criticized her for her choice of outfit. She later revealed that her entire look to the event cost over $100,000 which is an equivalent of almost N60 million. Her revelation was greeted with criticism as she was labeled a liar. Nlewedim's gorgeous dress was styled by Turkish designer, Patrycja Kujawa and she parted with $794,000 which is an equivalent of N329 million for the floor sweeping dress. Her appearance also sparked different reactions as many did not believe she parted with such a huge amount for the dress.

The biggest winners of the night Several movie practitioners went home with award plaques for their creativity and hard work put into many years of acting. However, Stanley Ebuka Nzediegwu, also known as Stan Nze, Osas Ighodaro and Ramsey Nouah had the biggest win at the event. Stan Nze won the Best Actor in Drama for his role in Rattlesnake: The Ahana Story. It was the first time he would be nominated for such an award and he won. Osas Ighodaro clinched two awards at the event, the

Well deserved award for Okey Ogunjiofor Nollywood producer, Okey Ogunjiofor's movie, Amina had several nominations at the AMVCA but won in four categories. The Best Overall movie, Best Art Director, Best Costume Designer and Best Sound Editor. His win is well deserved considering the controversies that trailed the movie after it was released in 2021. The movie was severely criticized for being filled with historical inaccuracies and mistakes.

Naysayers alleged that it was below standard in terms of cinematography, cultural relevance and poor screenplay. Despite all the criticism, the producer smiled home with the satisfaction that his efforts were not wasted after all.

Ogunjiofor's victory came at a time that the actor tried to re-launch his career having taken a break from active movie production for a couple of years.

Toyin Lawani styled most celebrities for AMVCA The AMVCA has become an avenue for Nigerian designers to showcase their creativity. And it has become almost like a tradition for Nze Toyin Lawni to design and style the most number of people for the for the event. Toyin who is unarguably the best fashion designer the creative industry is blessed with, styled at least eight celebrities who graced the red carpet of the AMVCA. The likes of Pretty Mike, Beverly Osu, Ifu Ennada, Oyebade Adebimpe also known as Mo Bimpe, Denrele Edun, James Brown, Samuel Perry also known as Broda Shaggi are some of the celebrities styled by the fashion guru.

The performances Energetic singer, Yemi Alade opened the award ceremony with her vigorous and intense dance steps as she sang her hit song, Shekere.

This was followed by a collaborative performance by the duo of Bisade Ologunde, also known as Lagbaja, and Divine Ikubor, better known as Rema, which was highly applauded.

Later Lagbaja thrilled the guests to his old school music, Konkobilo and Gra Gra. Lagbaja's performance excited guests who stood for minutes dancing to the rhyme of his music. The talented music act has obviously been missed by music lovers. He has not been visible in the Nigeria music scene for quite a while. He relocated abroad a few years ago and has not released any album since then.

One of the reasons Lagbaja was chosen to perform at the award event is because his kind of music aligns with the pop culture that the sponsors of the award show have been propagating. Also, 12 contestants of the Nigerian Idols thrilled guests to a delightful performance, that earned them huge applause from the audience.

Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo, also known as Dbanj, wrapped up the award ceremony with his electrifying performance.

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MAY 22 - MAY 28, 2022 T H E W I L L N E W S P A P E R • www.thewillnigeria.com

POLITICS XTRA

Politicians’ Desperation Highly Worrisome – Sonaiya The presidential candidate of KOWA Party in the 2015 general election, Prof Oluremi Sonaiya, speaks with AYO ESAN about political parties’ preparation for the 2023 general election, the Independent National Electoral Commission and other issues.

Excerpts:

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How do you see the calibre of people that have come out for the presidential ticket?

I see people with different levels of ability, as should be expected. I am not impressed by many and would not love to see them as the Number One representative of my country. I think we do not place enough importance on that fact that the President represents us to the world. What image would the world get about us based on how we are represented? There are so many aspects to it: How the person carries himself or herself; is he or she strong and in good health; will he or she be able to hold conversations intelligently and intelligibly with other world leaders; are they up to date on recent technological developments which drive communication in the present era?

Can you please compare the political terrain now and when you contested the presidential election?

There is a lot more viciousness and a lot more greed now.

One gets the impression that people are desperate about something. Why should so many people have rushed to pick up forms at such exorbitant costs? And not a single one of them could protest publicly about it, given the serious economic distress in which most Nigerians currently find themselves?

Many have seen the PDP and APC as one and the same.

Looking at the two parties, what can you say about them?

I agree with the people who see them as the same.

As Nigeria prepares for the 2023 general election, some people are afraid that insecurity may hinder the conduct of the election. What is your take on this?

I hope that our security agencies will do their work and ensure a peaceful atmosphere in which the elections can be conducted. But the desperation of the politicians is quite worrisome.

What do the exorbitant fees fixed by the PDP and APC for nomination and expression of interest forms portend for our democracy?

As many people have commented already, it shows that our politicians are uncaring people, without any feeling for the generality of Nigerians. All they care about is to get to positions of power, obviously for personal advantage.

Otherwise, they would not agree to those humongous fees.

All of that does not augur well for our democracy. They are turning the country into one that works only in the interest of the rich and powerful.

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Sonaiya

he two major political parties, PDP and APC, have abandoned the zoning arrangements by throwing the presidential ticket open. Are you a supporter of zoning? Do you think this is fair to the South?

I have never been in support of zoning, because I think it demonstrates a lack of focus for what is truly important in the running of public affairs, which should be merit-based; that is, demonstrable competence and capacity. Has the fact that we have practised zoning delivered good governance?

So, I am actually happy that it has been jettisoned, although I recognise the fact that those who believe it is their turn now, and who have supported zoning all along, have a right to feel offended and betrayed.

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I hope that our security agencies will do their work and ensure a peaceful atmosphere in which the elections can be conducted.

But the desperation of the politicians is quite worrisome

What is your advice for INEC as it prepares for the election?

Let INEC be truly impartial in administering the rules and regulations. I think they should be monitoring how much money is being spent too. For example, although it might not be quite within their jurisdiction, maybe they should have issued a statement on the high costs of forms, because it definitely disenfranchises those who do not have that kind of money. They should be interested in ensuring that parties conduct their affairs in a fair and sensible manner; they should protect the interest of all Nigerians and their right not only to vote, but equally to be voted for.

Since the law has not given support to women in politics, what do you think can be done to enable them to occupy political positions?

This is an ongoing issue, as you well know. Women will continue to demand for their rights to be full participants, not mere spectators, in running the affairs of our country.

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Of course, one thing we must do is to vote out most of the current legislators who see women as second-class citizens.

Some of them are people who are marrying girls they could have as grand-daughters; they don’t believe that girls and women should be educated and enjoy the same rights as boys and men. We need to get them out of our National Assembly and vote in people who are more fair in their judgment and who believe that women have much to contribute to the development of our country.

Do you nurse any fear about the forthcoming general election?

My greatest fear is actually that we might not be seizing the opportunity to make the fundamental changes needed in the country as we go into the elections. Personally, I really don’t think we should be conducting the elections under the current flawed Constitution. We need to renegotiate the future of our country so that we can know peace and prosperity. The centralized government bequeathed to us by the military is simply not going to work. How wonderful it would it be if we agreed to come together and redefine our co-existence, and begin to practice a truly federal system, where the federating units will be able to develop the resources found in their localities for the advantage of the whole country.

What is your advice to the electorate as we begin preparation for the 2023 general election?

It is time for the electorate to begin to truly occupy their position as citizens of this potentially great nation. Luckily, there are several initiatives and CSOs that are engaged in this effort to create awareness among the electorate on how to approach the elections; that is, they cannot continue to succumb to “stomach infrastructure” and keep electing people who are not going to provide them the services they need and improve their quality of life. So, everyone should make sure they get their PVCs; especially most of the socalled elites who tend not to come out to vote on Election Day. Let us all get involved and vote for people who have capacity, competence and character – not the corrupt and selfish people who are parading themselves as leaders.

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MAY 22 - MAY 28, 2022 T H E W I L L N E W S P A P E R • www.thewillnigeria.com

ARTS

A Cinematographer’s Point of View By the time he was done three years later, anyone would have imagined the chap to take his place among the professionals. Not quite. By his own admission, Kagho put aside his certificates and came to Lagos mostly as PA and camera assistant to people like DJ T, Tunde Kelani, Yinka Edwards “busy studying these people.”

MICHAEL JIMOH

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ong before a shoot begins at locations, long before rehearsals, one professional would have been consulted compulsorily by either the director or producer of a film, documentary or whatever project is at hand. He/ she is the cameraman/ camerawoman better known in the industry as cinematographer.

Of course, none of them knew he was a graduate of NFI. It was a deliberate decision Kagho took himself. “I kept all my certificates aside realizing that the industry is a different ball game. Academic is one thing while practical and experience is another thing. I needed that practical and experience and because of my understanding how the industry is and how people can be a little bit threatened about you coming from the Film School into the industry, I didn’t let anyone know I had a film school background. I came into the industry fresh as a cameraman who wanted to learn. Because of that, I had a lot of opportunities, people carried me along, people showed me a lot of things I didn’t know and I learnt a lot.”

They don’t get much media traction like actors or directors. They don’t get to be talked about in the front pages in blockbuster films.

Who remembers the cinematographer of Titanic? But we all know of Leonardo de Caprio and Kate Winslet, the hero and heroine, and the director James Cameron. And yet, without the cinematographer a director or producer can hardly see a film through from start to finish.

So, it was something of a surprise when more than half a dozen magazines in Europe and America devoted pages to the work of a Nigerian Kagho Idhebor named in the credit of King of Boys: The Return of King as cinematographer. A political thriller, King of Boys is a star-studded film with the likes of Sola Sobowale, Demola Adedoyin, Osas Ajibade, Sani Muazu, Toni Tones, among others.

Kemi Adetiba directed the film.

Kagho was shooting an ES (Establishing Shot) in a market when someone called saying Adetiba wanted him to be cinematographer of King of Boys. He accepted the offer after which the script was sent to him. But more important, Kagho chose a particular type of lens for the shoot: a Cooke Optics lens. It was a wise decision. Years after release of King of Boys in 2018, the makers of the lens profiled Kagho and syndicated the story in more than half a dozen news outlets in Europe and Ameria including British Cinematography magazine.

Kagho is not unfamiliar with BC though. He has been reading the magazine for years, browsing copies and copies of the publication devoted entirely to cinematography. But he has never been featured in one, never in his wildest imagination hoped to be written about in a magazine he read frequently. For him, “It is an unbelievable exposure that just came unannounced and unsolicited. That is a big sign that I am doing the right thing, I am in the right profession.”

Beyond its publicity mileage for Kagho, the publication in BC and others is another classic case of outsiders discovering and celebrating talents unknown and uncelebrated by their own. Therefore, meeting and speaking with the cinematographer was only a matter of time after senior journalist, filmmaker and documentarian, Tam Fiofori, introduced Kagho to THEWILL. (This newspaper has the privilege of interviewing the cinematographer first among Nigerian newspapers and magazines.)

THEWILL met Kagho in the afternoon of Tuesday May 16 at a branch of 1960 hotel bookending Obokun Close Off Johnson Street, Ikeja.

Far from the human and vehicular traffic in central Ikeja, 1960 seemed ideal for such an interview. The Garden Bar, also, seemed just perfect: there is a full length portrait of Fela somewhere, three or so stylized paintings of voluptuous female dancers. The potted palms and flowers fringing the entrance completed the ambience of a real garden.

It was against this backdrop and semi-silence that Kagho’s journey to filmmaking unfolded. The road to cinematography began right from home in Warri where he lived for many years with his father, Caesar Kagho, mother and three brothers.

“I was much interested in music and acting,” Kagho told THEWILL “My father tricked me into filmmaking because he saw that I loved music and I loved art.” Father himself was an entertainment journalist with the Nigerian Observer in Benin. “I don’t know what he saw. He just sent me to the school because I didn’t see myself as a filmmaker.

I never even envisioned that I would be a filmmaker. I thought I was going to be a musician or probably read Theatre arts because I was involved in acting activities in church and in school.”

Whatever reason Caesar Kagho had, it has turned out well for his second and middle son out of his three all-male children. Father not only persuaded him to study film, he made sure he never schooled in any institution down south because of the raging cult related crimes among young people, particularly in the combustible coastal city in Delta state.

Kagho was 19 or 20 when he finished a diploma certificate programme at Nigerian Film Institute Jos. Again, his father stepped in. He thought his son was too young to begin a professional career as a filmmaker.

So, he advised him son to continue his studies in the same institution.

That was how he re-enrolled for a Bachelor’s degree in the same discipline.

At first, Kagho majored in directing, hoping to become a director once he finished. Somehow, he turned to cinematography. “My first love was in directing. I started directing before I started handling the camera. I remember when I was about graduating I asked myself what

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Of course, Adetiba of King of Boys will readily agree that Kagho did learn some things in his years of practical lessons. It has been said that while scouting for a cinematographer, she considered Kagho as first choice. King of Boys is currently streaming on Netflix thanks to the professionalism of the cinematographer.

Witness, for instance, the syndicated profiles sponsored by Cooke Optics, makers of the lens which Kagho chose to shoot with.

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Kagho is not unfamiliar with BC though. He has been reading the magazine for years, browsing copies and copies of the publication devoted entirely to cinematography

would I say I have learnt? What can I say I would be able to do in the industry as a professional? I saw that I loved directing and then directed two films and the whole feedback was encouraging.”

Popular Nigerian filmmaker Kenneth Gyang (Blood Sisters 2022) saw the films Kagho directed. He was much impressed. He sent a message to the director-to-be. Gyang was living upstairs in the same building with Kagho at NFI. “If you continue like this,” Kagho recalls Gyang saying, “you will be one of the best filmmakers we have around.”

Two incidents later redirected his steps from directing to cinematography, as he told THEWILL. “One day I went to the girl’s hostel and I saw how my friends were running around, jumping fences with cameras shooting and it challenged me and I thought I liked that.

That’s why I went into cinematography.”

The other occasion was when a facilitator, Tam Fiofori, visited the school to talk about documentary filmmaking. In the process, Tam said something that encouraged Kagho to take up filming more seriously.

“He said as a cameraman you must be aware of your environment, you must be aware of life, you must be observant, your eyes should be like the camera and you must be dogged and rugged.”

Kagho was in his twenties at the time and with his street cred from Warri, he naturally felt he could go anywhere with a camera on his shoulders, be it a ghetto in the Niger Delta or in Lagos. “These were the things going through my mind. I was a rugged man, I was because of my background growing up in Warri I had street cred which has actually helped me in navigating life’s path, shooting in the streets in Lagos, having my way around. There is no dangerous place in Lagos I can’t shoot. I used that street cred to shoot a documentary which is called Awon Boys. I was able to shoot it because of my growing up in Warri, my understanding of the Area Boys in the street are just the regular people like me. It just depends on how you relate with them.

Those were the things that Fiofori opened my eyes to, the first spark that I had after I fell in love with the camera, that a cameraman is not just any other kind of person, a cameraman is a special kind of man who documents history and for you to be able to document history, you must be aware of life, you must be aware of your surroundings, everything must be a story to you.”

Along with his love for a favoured working equipment, Kagho is also inspired by the works of two Hungarian cinematographers Vilmos Zsigmond and Laszlo Kovacs because, for him, “cinematography is basically not about beautiful pictures, it is about communicating an idea, it is about how a cinematographer brings his own philosophy into his works. Why I love their works is how they bring in their philosophy, how they try to make their cinematography speak in terms of emotion, to transfer that emotion on screen rather than just entertaining you with beautiful visuals.

But his favourite remains Haskell Wexler, an American cinematographer, director and film producer. Wexler, Kagho said, “is my favourite cameraman on earth. He is not only a cinematographer but a documentary director and that was what drew me to him. His documentaries show the need to fight for the right of the people. He has gone through different trenches, different processes in order to use his work to preach - he fought for the industry, fought for better working time for the crew, fought for better finance. So, apart from his work as a cinematographer which is very good, his philosophy really encouraged me a lot and that is me personally. I am not for the whole pristine beautiful cinematography but I am all for cinematography that sends a message, that has a soul, that has some sort of voice and emotion. That is the kind of work I’ll like to do, the kind of filmmaker I will like to be.”

It goes without saying that Kagho read about his heroes in BC and some such other publications on cinematography for as he admitted: “I will say most of the greatest lessons I have learnt as a cameraman is from my personal experience, research and close study of American magazines and other resources online. Basically, those were the things that actually equipped me as a cameraman.”

And then a life-changing incident happened. Kagho was working as a camera assistant for a film called The Meeting. The DOP happened to a Welshman called Jim Bishop. “He came to Nigeria to work and I said I will like to work with him.” Because of distance, it just didn’t work.

But Bishop advised the ambitious chap to apply for a One Day Fine Film workshop holding in Nairobi, Kenya. He did and was selected.

They spent two weeks studying intense cinematography.

Recalling of the workshop, Kagh insists it was during the workshop he “realised that this is a profession, you have to have a style. You have to be unique to be a cinematographer. That was what I learnt from that workshop.”

Prior to the time spent in the East African country, Kagho had met Bolaji Akran who had seen a job he had done for a friend nduka Onyeka. “Immediately I walked up to his house and opened the door, the first thing he said was “hmmm, you look like a cinematographer.

I didn’t know why he said that but it opened a new window in my mind. When I was leaving his house that day, he gave me a book called Cinematography and that was the book that changed my life. That was the book that made me see that cinematography is a profession, it is a calling than just being a cameraman. That book was a life changer. It profiled the great cinematographers around the world. It prompted me to start researching about other cinematographers. I now saw their process, styles…But during those times, it didn’t really make sense until I went to One Fine Day Film. One Fine Day Film was where all those studies about cinematography came into context where I had a chance to see practically how cinematographers present themselves, how a cinematographer should have his own style, how a cinematographer should have his own eyes…That’s where my journey started. See where I am today.”

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MAY 22 - MAY 28, 2022 T H E W I L L N E W S P A P E R • www.thewillnigeria.com

SportsLive Barcelona Femini Changing Face of Women’s Football

BY JUDE OBAFEMI

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Women used no less than 31 different players in the league.

he iconic "Invincibles" of North London, Arsenal Football Club, have been celebrated for the unprecedented feat they accomplished in the 2003/2004 season, when they inarguably earned for themselves the right of being considered the greatest English Premier League team to have played in England's top flight. Even if a Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United-coached side won the league more times than any other club and Pep Guardiola's 2017/2018 Manchester City squad was able to set a new record for the most points obtained in a single campaign, none of these great sides and their equally great managers could boast, like Arsenal, going the entire season without tasting defeat.

The exploits of the Catalan women began to earn them some of the recognition they deserve as they progressed impressively this season. It was particularly noteworthy as they drew attention to the rise in the status of female football. One way this happened was the record record-setting number of fans their matches drew to the stands.

A record of 90,185 fans turned up to witness the 1999 World Cup final between the United States Women's National Team (USWNT) take on the China Women's team and the record stood untouched until March 30 this year when Barca Femini clashed with Real Madrid's Women's team while a record crowd of 91,553 fans cheered them on. In less than a month, precisely 23 days later, Barca was to break the record that had appeared impossible to supercede. Some 91,648 fans turned up to see Barca's UWCL semi-final first leg against Wolfsburg on Friday, further pushing the envelope of world attendance record for women's football.

As a result, the Gunners have been extolled every season ever since with fans going overboard to remind everybody of what the club accomplished in that momentous 2003/2004 campaign. Every other team with title credentials have also striven to replicate that record without much success.

There have also been some other unbeaten records in the United Kingdom, such as Steven Gerrard was able to accomplish with the Glasgow Rangers in the 2020/2021 season to match their arch-rivals' Celtic's unbeaten run in the 2016/2017 campaign with Brendan Rodgers. Yet, all of these pale into insignificance when compared to the feat of the current squad of Barcelona Femini.

The all-conquering female team of Barcelona Football Club ran an overwhelmingly dominating campaign this season with an enviable goals record (159 in their unprecedented perfect League run), wins (the most of any side in Spain by a long shot), stadium attendance (not once but twice in one European football season) and still are on track to defend their UEFA Women's Champions League title against another fantastic European female side, Olympique Lyonnais in Turin, the capital city of Piedmont in northern Italy, on May 21. With Nigeria's own Asisat Oshoala finishing at the top of the scorers chart in the Primera Iberdrola despite a three-month injury layoff, it is small wonder why this class of Barca players is being considered the generation to elevate the status of the female game in Europe and beyond.

Yet, their overarching dominance in Spain and across Europe has evoked concerned questions about the contemporary nature of women’s football with the debate around the question of whether Barca are simply heads and shoulders above the rest of the field in terms of quality or if the quality of women's football as a whole still leaves a lot to be desired.

A breakdown of the feats that Barcelona achieved in this triumphant season reads like a litany of excellence.

As already mentioned, Barca defended their Primera Iberdrola title with the perfect 30 wins out of 30 games played, they accomplished that with 159 goals while conceding just 11 for an incredible goal difference of 148. The ladies averaged 5.30 goals per game with their biggest win coming away from home when they beat Sevilla 10-1 at the Jesús Navas Stadium. Also, they had a conceding average of just 0.36 per match.

Behind Oshoala's highest-scoring record was Best FIFA Footballer of the Year, Alexia Putellas, who finished second with 18 goals. She also provided another astounding 15 assists for a goal contribution total of 33.

On the other hand, Oshoala ended the season with 23 THEWILLNIGERIA

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The ladies averaged 5.30 goals per game with their biggest win coming away from home when they beat Sevilla 10-1 in the Jesús Navas stadium. Also, they had a conceding average of just 0.36 per match

goals and three assists, which makes hers 10 fewer than that of Putellas. However, the team was nigh impossible to keep from scoring with as many as 20 different players getting on the Barca women's scoresheet during the prolific season.

While they dominated in every statistics, the very strenuous demands of the game took its toll on the players.

They had their fair share of injuries, which forced several first-choice players to be sidelined for different lengths of time, with Oshoala one of those twice affected. In all, coach Jonathan Giráldez had to apply tactical nous, in his debut season as the Barca Femini manager, to see that they successfully defended their title and did not slip, as they disappointedly did in the previous season, and hold tenaciously to their winning streak to the very end. He did this while juggling players in different positions to cater for injuries such that, at the end of the season, Barça

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It is worth reckoning with that Oshoala and her teammates have become a reference point in the golden history of the women's game as what seemed an impossible task has been achieved.

With esteemed female players like Putellas, who is both the Best FIFA women's footballer of the year and the Ballon d'Or winner, and Oshoala, who won the Pichichi Award for this year and was congratulated by FIFA Women's World cup body, the Barca team is reaching into the type of hype and following that has made the men's game the global phenomenon that it currently is. The feat of 30 wins in 30 games is a testament to this drive and will be talked about for a long time to come as the record that caught the attention of the world.

There have obviously been female teams that have gone through a season without dropping points. In 1998 Asker of Norway went through the season winning all 18 of their matches. There have been others such as FC PAOK Thessaloniki, which won all 24 of their games in the 2010/2011 season as did French side Lyon in the 2014/2015 season for all 18 matches. Others are: NSA Sofia of Bulgaria (20 matches, 2017/2018), PAOK again in 2018/2019, Zhytlobud-1 Kharkiv of Ukraine (18 matches, 2018/2019), Sofia again in the 2018/2019 season, Lithuania's Gintra Universitetas (20 matches, 2020), Sofia (3rd time, 26 matches 2020/2021), Albania's Vllaznia (22 matches, 2020/2021) and in the same year, Italy's Juventus (22 matches). Yet, none were competing against 16 other teams and could not have reached Barca's outstanding 30-win perfect record.

It is a daring feat. It is remarkable in and of itself that they could have achieved it in the previous season but were short by one victory only, which marred their run of a treble of trophies: Primera Ibedrola, Copa del Rey and the UWCL. It is inconceivable to think they will be denied another treble this season as they are on course to maintain their reputation as one of the greatest female sides in contemporary football. As they keep the extremely high standards they have set for themselves the process of elevating female football to bring it to the level of the game in the men's category. The equal pay granted men's and women's footballers in the US is a step in that direction. Barca Femini will be playing their role in making this a standard as they continue to dominate the game in every competition they play in. One can only feel for their opponents.

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www.thewillnigeria.com • May 22 - May 28, 2022

Beyond Banning Okada in Our Towns

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couple of violent outbursts in the country recently and, for the umpteenth time, threatened to rip the feeble shred of fabric keeping the nation from degenerating into an all-out war of attrition across tribal cleavages.

While one of these incidents was triggered by religious fanaticism, with the unfortunate lynching and burning of Deborah Samuel Yakubu to death, there were two others, in Lagos first and subsequently in Abuja, that had to do with violence associated with operators of the commercial motorcycles that have become an ubiquitous part of the average Nigerian's daily commute.

Unfortunately, in the initial case in Lagos, there was another lynching and burning to death, this time in the elite suburbs of Lagos. A young sound engineer, David Imoh, was the unfortunate victim and when the gruesome details of his demise went viral, it was not long before hashtags like #JusticeForDavid began to trend on Twitter over various eyewitness accounts of what led to his death, which were making the rounds.

There are different accounts of the circumstances that led to Imoh’s grisly end. Whichever version that gains prominence will largely depend on which account is read. An early account claimed that there was a disagreement between him and a commercial motorcyclist over a paltry N100 meant to take care of the transport fare and which ultimately led to an altercation that devolved into the lynching and burning of the young man, but there were several head-scratching holes in that account.

It is unbelievable that a seeming minor dispute over that amount of money was enough to enrage a motley band of motorcyclists to rain blows on Imoh and set him ablaze. How could this have happened in a part of the state that is not as crimeprone as the more densely-populated mainland?

Did the sad event occur in an isolated area? If it did not, as the account made it seem, how could the violence be allowed to go on uninterrupted until Imoh was killed? And where were the law enforcement agencies?

There was a lack of believability in the series of events that the first account sold to people, but it did not get any better when a more corporate account became public. From this second account, it turned out that there were more lives in danger than just Imoh's. It happened that on Thursday, May 12, the deceased was at an upscale leisure facility in Lekki, known as Beer Barn, with his colleagues, who were hired as a live band to provide musical entertainment for its patrons before the incidents that would lead to his untimely end.

The management of the facility revealed that policemen deployed to rescue the deceased failed in their task. Their statement detailed conscious efforts to save Imoh’s life and that of his colleagues.

Beer Barn staff alerted three naval officers when trouble broke out, but they were heavily outnumbered by the mob of irate motorcyclists bent on dealing with Imoh and his crew for ‘killing’ one of their own via what they believed to be diabolical

means.

According to the Barn account, although the ‘dead’ motorcyclist later regained consciousness on his own, without third-party medical attention, it was already too late to save Imoh. They had assumed that he was a "Yahoo Boy" and had traded the life of their fellow motorcyclist for "blood money."

Four other members of Imoh's crew were locked in their car and surrounded by the blood-thirsty mob of motorcyclists desperately trying to deal with them for being his cohorts. Sensing further trouble as more motorcyclists arrived with the same purpose, the management of the Beer Barn called the police. But, by the time the Rapid Response Team arrived to help the outnumbered naval officers, they were in turn outnumbered.

Seeing that one of Imoh's colleagues, Philip Balogun, was in danger of death, the police were forced to fire into the air to forcefully disperse the crowd and to avoid further bloodshed.

Irrespective of which account is an accurate rendition of reality, one common denominator remains: the mob mentality of these commercial motorcyclists and their penchant to resort to jungle justice at the first sign of slight. The danger of such an illegality is immediately apparent. There cannot be a society of law and order where a group can snuff out the life of a citizen without recourse to the extant laws of the land.

Following calls for action and the extent of the vital hashtag, #JusticeForDavid, the Lagos State Governor, Babjide Sanwo-Olu, acted swiftly to impose a ban on commercial motorcycles in six local government areas of the metropolis in order to curtail the unruly activities of these riders. This led to the immediate seizure of some of motorcycles operating in the affected areas by the Lagos State Taskforce. It was an action that was met by forceful resistance and further violence.

Not a few Lagosians were apprehensive about reprisals from the affected motorcyclists rendered jobless with the impounding of their bikes. This line of thought prompted the traditional ruler in Lekki, the Oniru of Iruland, Oba Omogbolahan Lawal, Abisogun II, and the residents of his Community to highlight the urgent need to avert a security breach in the area and, by extension, the state, with the threats posed by these motorcyclists, who were on the verge of becoming their own law enforcement agents.

The Oniru, a former police chief, based his warning on intelligence reports from security service providers. He called for proactive measures to nip any threats before they blow out of proportion, while being on red alert across the six LGAs and nine LCDAs covered by the ban. The warning extended to other parts of the country experiencing conflicts between law enforcement agents and commercial motorcyclists, as Abuja had become involved in the day that followed the Lagos ban.

The truth is that a blanket ban cannot be the panacea for a problem of this magnitude and it is already obvious in the fight being put up by the

motorcyclists, the sympathetic stance of Nigerians, whose daily commute depends on that mode of transportation and those who are afraid that the idle hands of the banned motorcyclists will simply turn to crime.

Although, this is neither Governor Sanwo-Olu’s first ban nor is his the first public statement by a governor of Lagos banning commercial motorcycles from major roads in the state. The fact that they remain operational demands more practical solutions than fiat bans that engender conflict.

My position has always been for a more structured and comprehensive application of sensible steps in any aspect of governance, if we desire to see results. The same should apply in this instance.

We have laws that govern road use in Nigeria and it is time to make these rules work.

I suggest that only licensed individuals should be allowed to operate any motorised vehicle on our roads. This will ensure that the practice of buying motorcycles as a "poverty alleviation" measure must go hand-in-glove with ensuring that every motorcyclist, car driver, lorry driver, tricycle handler and powerbike adventurer must pass the stipulated tests and be certified as capable of respecting road signs and traffic rules before they can get on their motorised vehicles and ply our roads.

Secondly, motorcyclists that are so certified must be restricted to the inner roads and streets. Every motorcyclist will be required to belong to a recognised and registered association within their daily plying routes. Licence plates must be registered in their names and each must be assigned a unique code, which will be a combination of the abbreviation of their area of operation and a unique number. This will be stored on a database of statebased motorcycle system and visibly imprinted on the fuel tank of each motorcycle for easy identification. It should be possible to trace a motorcyclist by cross-checking this number with the database and triangulated with the identity of the motorcyclist by confirming it with the license plate.

Any motorcyclist that does not fulfill these requirements and any others that may be introduced by the relevant authorities must not be allowed to operate in the state. This will go at length to curtail acts of recklessness that have characterised the use of motorcycles and have been one of the reasons it was banned by Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and his successor Babatunde Raji Fashola during their tenures as governors of the state.

It was also mentioned recently by the current Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, when he said that "about 45 percent of accidents in the first quarter were caused by 'okada' [commercial motorcycles]. And most of the victims are between the ages of 30 to 39.”

Also, my recommendations will bring this imposter syndrome, where their mob mentality and power in numbers, gives these daredevil motorcyclists the tenacity to think they have become law unto themselves.

It is unbelievable that a seeming minor dispute over that amount of money was enough to enrage a motley band of motorcyclists to rain blows on Imoh and set him ablaze. How could this have happened in a part of the state that is not as crime-prone as the more densely-populated mainland?

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