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AS INEC DEADLINE FOR CANDIDATES SUBSTITUTION NEARS:

Fresh Crises Rock APC, PDP Over Choice of Running Mates

FEATURES: AN UNWINNABLE WAR AGAINST HARD DRUGS?

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Getting the perfect body isn’t always just about inches. Some people might have an hourglass or athletic figure and are unhealthy, while others are shaped differently but are very healthy.

As a teenager, even though I had a chopping board for a stomach, my friends and I were talking about bodies one day, and one of them said, “Onah, you have the body of a growing child.” I was 19 at the time. While my friends boasted of 24inch-waistlines with hips of 36 inches, I was at 27 inches and 34 inches, respectively. So as far as this particular friend was concerned, my body wasn’t proportional as “the ideal difference between the waistline and hips should be 10inches.” So she said to me. Although it didn’t bother me, who’s to say what the perfect body is?

Now in my mid-forties, I have recently gone on a health and weight loss journey after I went from a UK size 8 to a size 16 in just a few months. Apart from the frustration of having to wear my 75-year-old mother’s clothes because I could no longer fit into mine, I also hated what I looked like and knew I had to do something about it.

It’s different for some people; they seem happy being full-figured and do not necessarily care that they are on the “plus-size side of life.” While that may be the impression they give concerning their size and weight, I can’t help but wonder if they are healthy and truly happy. I know I wasn’t.

And it doesn’t stop at the exterior; so much could be going on internally, including a fatty liver or weak heart.

And so this week, we talk about the summer body. Should we aim to have the perfect body just for the summer, or should it be a lifestyle? And there’s also the fundamental question of what really is the perfect body?

To each their own, they say, but I say, whatever size you choose, fat or skinny, your ultimate goal should be to remain healthy.

VOL 2 NO. 27 • JULY 3 - JULY 9, 2022

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Photo: Kola Oshalusi @insignamedia Makeup: Zaron

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Until next week, enjoy your read.

Onah Nwachukwu Editor, THEWILL DOWNTOWN @onahluciaa +2349088352246

Really; What is a

Summer Body?

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COVER

AS INEC DEADLINE FOR CANDIDATES SUBSTITUTION NEARS:

Fresh Crises Rock APC, PDP Over Choice of Running Mates

BY AMOS ESELE

A

s a concept, ‘Big is beautiful’ has been promoted in business to debunk the myth that a small business is the champion of prosperity and the foundation of democracy and job creation.

For both political parties, the raging issues vary.

Generally, personal and group interests are clashing with geo-political considerations mixed with heavy doses of religious and ethnic concerns.

Politics, as a contact sport, may do a lot to conform to that business idea as the two biggest political parties in Nigeria, the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) and the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are grappling with the choice of a running mate for their presidential candidates ahead of the 2023 general election.

PDP

The PDP, which had since concluded the process of electing a presidential candidate at its convention and picking its VP after a selection exercise, is currently reeling in the aftermath of the conclusion, while the APC is trapped by tough forces in finding a suitable VP. The emergence of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State as the VP to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar initially unsettled some interests in the party. Two weeks after, issues surrounding the party’s choice of a vice presidential candidate have festered into a crisis as aggrieved parties openly voice their grievances, thereby threatening the party's unity.

For the APC, the clash of interests over the choice of a suitable running mate for its presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has polarised the party.

ISSUES AT STAKE THEWILLNIGERIA

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For Atiku, the selection of Okowa was based on competence and capability because he wanted a potential president who is capable of standing-in for him. Explaining further, party chieftains like former PDP National Chairman, Usman Baraje and Segun Sowunmi, spokesperson of Abubakar, said the choice of Okowa, who is Delta Igbo, also fulfils the party’s plan to addresses the demands of the SouthEast for the presidency and the need to have a strong foothold in the South-South. But the naysayers think their interests are being treated with contempt. This aggrieved group belongs to Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, who believed he was cheated out of the race for the party’s VP. Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has best articulated the cause of this group all through last week.

“The problem some of us have and are complaining aloud is that taking many of us from our states as governors, ex-governors, Senate Committee members, former ministers and BOT members to be members of a committee and 14, out of the 17-member committee voted for Wike as VP, yet he went on to pick Okowa, who was second, was unfair. Okowa is qualified but bringing all us to do a job and you ignore

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it is bad. Atiku had the final say in who becomes his VP, but why did he not do so as he did in 2019 when he chose Peter Obi as his VP? Nobody would have complained if he went ahead to do so again without consultation,” Ortom said.

Explaining further, he said since politics is a game of interests and conflict management, he is bothered that Atiku is yet to do enough to address the fall-out of his choice of Okowa, arguing that the presidential candidate has to personally reach out to Wike.

Alarmingly, while Ortom was addressing the postVP selection issues, another storm broke. Other aggrieved party chieftains have dredged up other lingering issues that the party battled with and settled before the presidential convention was held on May 29, 2022. It was the issue of zoning.

Former PDP Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State (who was a member of the 37-member Committee of the party that recommended that the presidential contest of the party be thrown open, following an earlier recommendation by the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed-led committee that zoned the plum position to the North-East and South-East as two zones that are yet to have elected presidents) tweeted that he would support the emergence of a President from the South-South in 2023 because the party had chosen a northern presidential candidate. Fayose is a known supporter of Wike and he defers to Tinubu in the South-West.

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COVER

Fresh Crises Rock APC, PDP Over Choice of Running Mates It is widely believed that he has used his grievance over the Wike issue to plan for a working relationship with Tinubu, if not to defect to the APC soon.

Wike has travelled to Turkey along with one of his supporters, Governor Ikpeazu Okezie of Abia State.

He is said to have travelled to get some rest, but political pundits think he travelled to re-strategise, prompting a Lagos APC chieftain, Joe Igbokwe, a Tinubu ally and aide to Governor Babajide SanwoOlu, to insinuate via a tweet that Wike was visiting Tinubu in France.

Although the tweet had since been pulled down and Igbokwe failed to answer a phone call to him, one of his close friends who chose to remain anonymous told THEWILL on phone that the tweet was “pulled down because we realised that these things are an internal subject matter," adding, "But developments in the coming weeks will confirm the truth in the tweet.”

Tinubu, through his Media Adviser, Tunde Rahman, has however denied media reports that he met with Governor Nyesom Wike in France.

Responding to Igbokwe’s tweet, Rahman said; “We have seen a viral social media post made by one of the chieftains of All Progressives Congress in Lagos State and media reports emanating from same about a supposed meeting in France between APC Presidential standard-bearer, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and His Excellency, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State.

“It has become imperative to set the record straight.

Although Asiwaju Tinubu is presently in France, he didn’t have any meeting with Governor Wike whether in that country or anywhere whatsoever.

“This, however, does not detract from the fact that the APC presidential candidate holds Governor Wike in high esteem.

“And given the national and across-party lines appeal of Asiwaju Tinubu’s candidature, he will not hesitate to meet any important national leader when desirable.

“As made public earlier, Asiwaju Tinubu is in France for some important engagements. He will return to the country shortly.

“We would like, once again, to advice journalists to always cross-check their information with appropriate officers before rushing to press to avoid unintended errors.”

THEWILL investigation shows that Wike has been holding talks with Tinubu. In return for monetary contribution and votes for campaigns, Wike is said to be looking for a commitment from Tinubu on granting him immunity from prosecution should the former Lagos governor win the presidency. Wike is said to be working with Fayose. Moreover, he does not believe Atiku would honour any agreement with him. What is also clear is that the Rivers governor would remain in the PDP, more so when he has a governor and National and State Assembly members to deliver on the platform of the party.

Reacting to these developments, National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Debo Ologunagba, told THEWILL that what the mainstream "media, refers PAGE 8

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THEWILL investigation shows that Wike has been holding talks with Tinubu. In return for monetary contribution and votes for campaigns, Wike is said to be looking for a commitment from Tinubu on granting him immunity from prosecution should the former Lagos governor win the presidency.

Wike is said to be working with Fayose

to as crisis in the PDP exists in the imagination of those saying so," as he insisted that there is no crisis in the PDP. Asked how he would react to Ortom’s outbursts, Ologunagba replied, “I speak for the party. There are differences, which is the case within democratic politics. If, for some reasons, there are grievances, the party has a robust mechanism for addressing them. I can assure you that within the next 48 hours things will take a better turn for the party. Differences are being resolved, I can assure you.”

Ologunagba dismissed Igbokwe’s tweet on Wike meeting with Tinubu in France. “That is an information I cannot deny or confirm because I am not in France. So I can say that it is in the realm of conjecture and we are capable of responding to it.”

Referring to Igbokwe’s tweet, Ologunagba’s immediate predecessor, Kolo Ologbodiyan, said,”What do you expect? The APC people are masters of fake news since 2015. That is how they got into government. They know their man cannot stand Atiku, who has no sides identifying him with any religious bias and has a nationwide spread, which will make it easy for him to take decisions, unlike President Buhari who took sides. That is the mistake Tinubu has made with his now popular statement that it is the turn of the Yoruba.”

APC With about two weeks left to pick its VP and meet the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) July 17 deadline, the APC is mired in highwired politics as negotiations have opened up on many fronts to confuse the presidential candidate, Tinubu, who had to relocate to France for further consultations, away from the noise.

On one hand lies the issue of religion. Investigation shows that the cabal wants Tinubu to pick a Muslim as his VP, while the Christians within the party are kicking against it.

The current ethnic mistrust and fear of domination heightened by the current administration’s inclination to nepotism has made that proposition a dangerous

one as religious groups, such as the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Prof Isaq Akintola-led Muslim Right Concern (MURIC) have warned political parties against taking that route to picking candidates and to refrain from inflaming passions.

The cabal is insisting on its demand, probably to pick a VP from the North East but Tinubu is said to have his eyes on the North West.

This geo-political consideration that the cabal is using to cover its group interests is said to have ignited a counter- reaction from party officials from the NorthWest zone. They insist that having given the largest block vote of 39 per cent to the party during the 2015 and 2019 general polls, it should be considered in the choice of VP. There is also the fear that has put every other consideration in disarray, which is the possibility that President Muhammadu Buhari may be unable to command the block votes from the North in 2023, more so with the growing influence of the Kwankwasiyya Movement driven by a former Governor of Kano State and currently presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso.

Asked to respond to some of these constraining issues, National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Felix Morka , initially demanded to be given one hour for an interview. When he was called for the appointment, he refused to answer his call and then placed the phone on hold.

MOVES TO ADDRESS CRISES For the PDP, Atiku has said the party would address all lingering issues before the campaigns to the interests of all party members and stakeholders.

Okowa on Friday echoed Atiku by saying the process has already begun.

Ologbodiyan told THEWILL that he had personally called Governors Ortom and Wike and the prospects were bright.

“Somebody of Wike’s calibre should not be angry and I know he is a party man to the core. He has put his money, time and efforts into sustaining the party,” Ologbodiyan told THEWILL. Going personal, he said when the party's Zoning Committee recommended that the North-East and South-East geo-political zones be considered for the presidency, he did not like it because his NorthCentral zone had also not produced a President.

“But when the party agreed to the recommendation initially, before another one sat on it and recommended that the contest be thrown open, I had to fall in line.

The party is supreme,” he said.

For the APC, those pushing the Muslim-Muslim ticket appear to be winning in line with Governor Nasir el-Rufai’s position that competence and character should be considered above religion in the consideration for the choice of the VP. The final say rests with Tinubu as he has to bite that bullet soon when he arrives from France before the expiration of INEC's deadline.

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NEWS Customs Boss Urges Officers to Upgrade

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Chief of Staff, Prof Ibrahim Gambari (2nd right); SGF. Mr Boss Mustapha (3rd right); Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, and other Senators after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House on June 28, 2022.

Ohanaeze Seeks Inclusion of Ugwuanyi Inaugurates Rotational Presidency in Constitution Committee on Public Sector Reform

FROM CHUKWUMA ODU, ENUGU

A

pex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has called for the inclusion of zoning of the presidency in the Nigerian Constitution.

This was made known by the Chairman of the Elders Council, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu while interacting with journalists.

According to Iwuanyanwu, limiting the zoning of the presidency to the North and South is vague and should therefore be discouraged.

He submitted that rotating the presidency within the six geo-political zones should be made constitutional for the sake of equity, justice and fair play.

He said, “It is our strong view that issues of zoning the presidency should be put in the constitution and it should be rotated among the six geo-political zones.”

Chief Iwuanyanwu explained that the council believes that if it was agreed that the presidency should be zoned to the South in 2023, since the South-West and South-South had produced the country’s presidents, it was now the turn of the South-East.

According to him, the South-East leaders

did everything possible to convince the South-West and South-South leaders of the need to produce the country’s next president in 2023.

He said the leaders, including MiddleBelt leaders, agreed that it was the turn of the South-East and even made public statements to support the Igbo presidency in 2023.

Iwuanyawu noted that while the leaders agreed that it was the turn of the SouthEast to produce the next president at the end of President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure in 2023, the political class took a contrary decision.

“The political class, unfortunately, took another decision which made us feel terribly betrayed, not by the elders, but by the political class because we are sure that the elders in the whole South and Middle-Belt supported Igbo presidency in 2023.”

The elder statesman emphasised that though the South-East geo-political zone was disappointed that none of the two major political parties, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC), zoned its presidential ticket to the region, it would not boycott the 2023 general election as speculated in some quarters.

Kaduna-Zaria Road Sections Ready in 6 Months — FG

T

he Federal Government has said that it will deliver Sections II and III, of the Kaduna Zaria Road by the end of 2022.

The Director, Highway Construction and Rehabilitation, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Mr Folorunsho Esan, who led a team of officials from the ministry, gave the assurance at a two-day inspection of the Sections II and III of the project on Thursday in Kaduna.

The News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) reports that section II is a 146 kilometres, while section III is 14 kilometres and joins up with the Kaduna-Abuja section.

According to him, looking at the extent of work already done by the contractor, the work will be completed within the year.

“From what I’m seeing now, this project, THEWILLNIGERIA

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Section ll will be delivered before the end of the year.

“This section two and three will be delivered this year, it’s only Abuja, Kaduna project that will be left.

“It’s the same road and if you deliver a section of road that means you’ve finished part of the job.

“If you finish this section II, that means we can concentrate our resources on section I and by the time we get to section III tomorrow, you will see that that one is also going on very fast,” Esan said.

On possible challenges faced by the contractor, Esan said every challenge brought to the notice of the ministry had been addressed, adding that nothing would hinder the work.

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FROM CHUKWUMA ODU, ENUGU

G

overnor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State last Thursday inaugurated an eight-man Committee to coordinate the implementation of the recommendations of the 12 Sectoral Committees.

Inaugurating the Committee, Ugwuanyi, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Simon Otuanya, named Dr Kingsley Udeh as Chairman.

The governor also listed the Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture, Engr. Mike Ogbuekwe; former Chairman, Collation Committee on Sectoral Ad hoc Committees’ report, Prof Vincent Onodugo; and former Reform Manager, DFID PERL, South-East, Mrs Ucheoma Egwuatu, as members of the Implementation Coordination Committee.

Other members of the committee are former Member, Collation Committee on Sectoral Ad hoc Committees’ Report and former State Team Lead, DFID SPARC, Enugu, Barr. Sam Onovo Onyia; Retired Permanent Secretary and Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor, Mrs. Sylvia Onwubuemeli mni; Representative of the Attorney-General; and the Director of Administration, Office of the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Madueke Nsude, who serves as Secretary of the Committee.

Governor Ugwuanyi said that the committee’s responsibility was to coordinate the implementation of the recommendations of the 12 Sectoral Committees that articulated necessary reforms in the state public service.

He urged members of the newly inaugurated committee to bring their wealth of experience to bear on the assignment, “and thus, propel our state to an enviable height, while leaving indelible marks on the sands of time.”

The sectors earlier reviewed by tested technocrats drawn from various backgrounds include Education, Health, Public Service, Justice, Water, Security, Agriculture, Rural Development, Finance and Chieftaincy/Community Matters.

he Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (retired), says the promotion of officers will henceforth be tied to completion of a training course to meet international best practice.

According to Ali, the training course will be in the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College, Gwagwalada.

He said this at the graduation of 50 students of Senior Course 6, Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College in Abuja on Friday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the staff college was inaugurated in 2011, to prepare middle-level management officers for higher responsibilities.

He said that the directive became necessary following the need for the service to upgrade it’s human capacity to meet international best practice.

“Henceforth, the promotion of officers will be tied to attending this course of study, any officer that fails to attend this course will find it difficult to be promoted.”

The comptroller-general said that it was imperative for officers to upgrade their skills to fit into the numerous changes going on in the service.

He commended the graduands for successful graduation, saying, “we believe this will culminate in the modernisation of the service.”

Ali urged the graduands to go a step further by being outstanding on the field.

On reforming the service, Ali said a concession was recently signed on its modernisation programme to ensure a fully activated E-customs service “With all that is being put in place in the service, hopefully in the next three years, every activity will be paperless.

“This is a wake up call for officers who are not computer literate to take up courses to upgrade their knowledge of Information and Communication Technology.

“The service will give officers the opportunity to upgrade,” he said.

Ali, however, commended the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, who is also the Chairman, Board of Customs for her support in repositioning the service.

He also commended the management for the workable policies being put in place to upgrade the service.

The minister, who was the Special Guest of Honour at the event said it was evident that the customs service prioritises human capital development, which was a major development index.

“The comptroller-general’s holistic approach to capacity building and upward progression of officers speaks well of his commitment to an effective customs service.,” she said.

The minister, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Aliyu Ahmed, said the course highlight showed that it was rigorous and an engaging period of study.

She urged participants to showcase the knowledge acquired, adding “your contributions toward the service begins right now.”

Ahmed also called on the college to rejig its curriculum to remain relevant in carrying out its mandate.

On the economy, the minister said that more needed to be done to grow the nonoil sector, while making export more competitive in the international market.

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POLITICS

Kudos, Knocks For Ninth

BY AYO ESAN

T

he National Assembly in Nigeria, in line with bi-cameral legislature provided for by the 1999 Constitution, consists of the Senate and the Federal House of Representatives.

The two chambers were inaugurated on June 11, 2019 and the Ninth National Assembly marked its three years anniversary on June 11, 2022.

Led by the Senate President, Senator Ahmad Lawan and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, the Ninth Assembly has been credited with stable maturity because, unlike the previous assembly, it brought stability to the polity in the way that it has maintained cordial relationship with the Executive arm of government.

The present assembly, going by the profiles of its members, is arguably filled with the best trained and most highly skilled Nigerians in the history of the NASS. Both Lawan and Gbajabiamila, without any doubt, have acquired the necessary experience in legislative duties, having stayed for more than two terms in the Upper and Lower Chambers, respectively, before being saddled with the responsibility of leading the ninth assembly.

On resumption of duties after inauguration, Lawan and the entire leadership of the Ninth National Assembly have assumed that constructive engagements with the executive arm of government, particularly, the presidency, is the required approach for a resultsoriented relationship.

Perhaps talking about the rancorous relationship between the Executive and the National Assembly in the 8th National Assembly, Lawan in his inaugural speech three years ago emphasised the need for a shift in the working relationship between the legislature and the executive arm of government.

In the speech titled, A Senate that works for Nigerians, Lawan said: “We are going to work collaboratively with the executive arm of government to strengthen our planning and budget linkage that ensures effective service delivery and fulfilment of essential government obligations to the citizens, while taking care of the perennial delays in our annual appropriation bill passage and implementation.

“Within us as a Senate, our leadership will commit to partnership rather than partisanship and between us and the executive arm of government, we will choose unity of purpose over conflict and discord, while also working towards further strengthening and guar-

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The present assembly, going by the profiles of its members, is arguably filled with the best trained and most highly skilled Nigerians in the history of the NASS. Both Lawan and Gbajabiamila, without any doubt, have acquired the necessary experience in legislative duties

anteeing our independence and that of the judiciary…”.

The past three years saw Nigerians mounting pressure on the National Assembly to pass critical legislation to improve the country’s democracy.

The question we need to ask now is how has the parliament reacted to this, how has the parliament fared or put differently, how has the Ninth National Assembly fared in carrying out its legislative duties?

Nigerians are in unison that the Electoral Act Amendment Bill which was signed into law early this year by President Muhammadu Buhari was one of the key legislative items passed with the intention to entrench democracy by reforming the electoral process.

Although the resort to electronic voting and the resignation of political appointees before contesting election threatened to derail the entire process, the clause of electronic transmission of results was eventually passed. However Section 84 sub section 12, which states that, “No political appointee at any level shall be a voting delegate or be voted for at the convention or congress of any political party for the purpose of the nomination of candidates for any election without resignation” became a matter of litigation in court.

This was also put to rest with the Supreme Court’s recent pronouncement which upheld the decision of the National Assembly.

The later amendment to section 84 Sub Section 8 to allow statutory delegates to vote in party primaries is also yet to be assented to by the President.

Many Nigerians have yearned for the passing of this critical bill, believing it can sanitise our electoral system and stem irregularities like reform to avoid underage voting, violence, cash for voting among others. So the passage is definitely a positive one for the Ninth National Assembly.

Speaking on this development, the Executive Director of NESSACTION, Eniola Cole, said, “I think the main contribution that the National Assembly has made in the last three years is in passing the New Electoral Act and that has enabled us to do much more than we can do as civil society organisations than in the past.

Cole also said that civil society organisations also want the lawmakers to strengthen the judiciary. “The judiciary is one area that needs more strengthening, especially in terms of the electoral process and how things get distorted along the way,” she said.

Another landmark legislation to which the Ninth National Assembly gets commended is the Petroleum Industry Bill, which it passed.

This had defied efforts in that direction for the past 14 years.

While it may be seen that applause may be given for these landmark bills, some Nigerians still question the role of the National Assembly in improving the country’s democracy.

This concern will be largely due to the constitution amendments bill passed by the parliament, which excluded the improvement of participation of women in politics and government.

Despite weeks of protest at the gate of the National Assembly, which compelled the lawmakers to access the complex through the back gate, nothing changed.

Although the House of Representatives later back-tracked and reconsidered four of the five gender bills, this amounts to nullity as they were not passed in the Senate.

A look at the contribution of the Ninth National Assembly to the fight against corruption through its oversight functions has been brought to question.

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POLITICS

National Assembly @ 3 “In our Legislative Agenda, we had also promised to create a legal environment conducive for ease of doing business.

“We kept this promise by passing the Companies and Allied Matters Act, Cap C20 LFN 2004 (Repeal and Reenactment) Bill 2019 (SB.270),”Lawan said.

The Senate President assured that the upper chamber would, finally this month (June), pass the Petroleum Industry Bill after about 20 years of failed attempts.”

Many Nigerians believe that while the assembly may be given a pass mark in the law-making duty, it has failed in its performance of oversight function.

To many Nigerians, the actions of the Ninth National Assembly within the last three years, with regard to express approval of executive requests, more or less shows that it is a ‘rubber stamp’ to the executive arm of government.

Lawan

Gbajabiamila

Nigerians who belong to this school of thought came to the fore last year, during the one-day group focused discussions on citizens’ expectations from the Ninth National Assembly held at the temporary site of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies ( NILDS) in Abuja.

Speaking on this, the Executive Director of CISLAC, Auwal Rafsanjani, said, “In some of the places that members of the National Assembly are supposed to go and carry out oversight functions a lot of concerns are brought up.

“You cannot go to the oversight of an agency and it is that agency that will give you transport, that will give you what they called sitting allowances and so on. You have already compromised the essence of such oversight. The Assembly has a huge amount of resources at their disposal, why are they relying on the agencies for these allowances.”

While speaking with THEWILL, Constitutional Lawyer, Dr Olukayode Ajulo, said, “I did some consultancy as well as represented the National Assembly in some constitutional cases. Therefore, I cannot be seen to give an objective assessment of the Ninth National Assembly.

“However I say this as a fact that the leadership of the Assembly places a premium in doing whatsoever is done in accordance with the law. This has ensured that the National Assembly is properly guided at all times, hence the continued affirmation of every step that it has taken.”

With less than a year to the end of the tenure of the Assembly and while the politics gets thicker, it is the hope of Nigerians that the legislature will grow the country’s democracy to a proper oversight and ensure accountability.

The Ninth National Assembly under the leadership of Lawan was, in collaboration with the executive arm of government, able to revert the yearly budget cycle to January – December as against June – May yearly cycle in the past.

It has also successfully amended and passed the Deep Off-Shore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contracts Act Cap D3LFN 2004 (Amendment Bill 2009), which was specifically geared towards increasing collectable revenues from the proceeds of crude oil sales.

There are also many other development focused legislations aimed at boosting the national economy, such as the Public Procurement 2007 (amendment) bill 2019 , Companies and Allied Matters Act, Cap C20 LFN 2004 (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill 2019 etc, which were passed and assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Senate under Lawan’s leadership in the last three years and by extension, that of the National Assembly, has projected the legislative arm of government in Nigeria as the stabilising factor required in governance at the centre and it has been the face of a working democracy as against the rancorous and antagonistic one which characterised our polity in the recent past.

year, said a total of 742 bills were introduced by the Ninth Senate in the last two years.

According to him, out of the total number of bills introduced during the two sessions of the Assembly, 58 have been passed, while 355 bills have gone through first reading.

The Senate President further disclosed that 175 bills have also gone through second reading and have been referred to the relevant committee for further legislative business; with 11 bills referred by the House of Representatives for concurrence all passed.

According to him, “the bills cut across all the sectors and touch most areas of needs in the lives of our citizens.”

Lawan recalled that the Ninth National Assembly in its bid to rescue the nation's economy, embarked on the restoration of Nigeria’s budget cycle to the January to December timeline.

The move, according to him, brought about positive outcomes which made the country’s fiscal plans more predictable and boosted investors’ confidence.

He added that the passage of the Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contracts Act 2004 (Amendment Bill, 2009) was intended to increase Nigeria’s share of revenue from crude oil.

“Other laws that we passed that are having significant impacts on the economy include the Finance Bill 2019 (Nigeria Tax and Fiscal Law) (SB.140), which amended seven existing tax laws.

“

To many Nigerians, the actions of the Ninth National Assembly within the last three years, with regard to express approval of executive requests, more or less shows that it is a ‘rubber stamp’ to the executive arm of government

Ahmad Lawan, in a speech delivered during the special session last THEWILLNIGERIA

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Speaking at the occasion, the Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Abuja Chapter, Dr Kassim Umar, cautioned the leadership of the National Assembly on ‘the same page relationship’ it is running with the executive arm of government, since the three arms of government in a presidential democracy are meant to serve as check on one another.

“Harmonious working relationship among the three arms of government and in particular, between the Legislature and the Executive in a presidential democracy like Nigeria is a welcome development, but taking it to the realm of subservience by being on the same page with the executive on all issues is dangerous for good governance.

“In the light of this, Nigerians will want the Ninth National Assembly to be more assertive, thorough and resolute in exercising its constitutional duties as regards approval of proposals from the executive arm of government so as not to be seen as a rubber stamp and invariably creating a perception problem for itself.

“Effective oversight functions on the two other arms of government by the National Assembly is highly expected from them by Nigerians, which will go a long way in taking off whatever toga of rubber stamp many critics have put on them, ” he said.

Despite this perception by many Nigerians, the Ninth National Assembly strongly believes that a harmonious working relationship with the executive and the attendant ‘rubber stamp’ appellation is far better than frictional ones of the past, which yielded Nigerians and Nigeria nothing in terms of good governance.

Reacting to the rubber-stamp perception, Gbajabiamila said, “People, critics and members of other parties have said the Ninth Assembly is a rubber stamp of the executive. They may have told you that, too. You know what? It is better to be a rubber stamp and bring progress, than fight the executive without progress because when two elephants fight, the grass suffers.

“The fact is that the National Assembly is not a rubber stamp. This is a National Assembly that represents the interests of the people.

The people of Surulere did not elect me to fight the executive, but to engage and collaborate with stakeholders to bring the dividends of democracy.

“This is a new dispensation. There will be checks and balances.

There will be separation of powers. We will agree with the executive if we have to, and we will disagree if we have to. Our watchword is to protect the interests of the Nigerian people. That is the oath that my colleagues and I swore to.”

The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, had recently declared that the path chosen by the Ninth National Assembly to work in harmony with the Executive arm of government has benefitted Nigeria and Nigerians in so many ways through series of bills passed and assented to by the President and very important ones being worked upon with the hope and assurances of being assented to by the President, when transmitted to him for that purpose.

Viewed from different angles, one will agree that the Ninth National Assembly’s cordial relationship with the executive in the last three years has brought more progress and stability to the polity.

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POLITICS/INTERVIEW

APC, PDP Will Crumble Soon -Nwosu Chief Ralph Nwosu is the National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

In this interview with AYO ESAN, he speaks on the last presidential primary of the party held in Abeokuta, Ogun State and other issues. Excerpts:

H

ow did the ADC fare during the period of primaries?

The party is in the driver’s seat ahead of 2023. It has been challenging, but we are happy to have driven the vision thus far. By 2023, ADC will be crowned in the villa for the presidency and in most states of the federation. I can assure you.

Your presidential primary was a bit competitive this time around. How did it happen?

It is the attraction that the people have for the ADC. We had 13 presidential aspirants. At a point one person dropped. We negotiated with 12 aspirants. Two were disqualified and many others stepped down during the process. Mr Dumebi Kachikwu emerged as the presidential candidate in a very transparent manner.

I see a lot of passionate professionals in INEC, despite the fact that some political parties in power used to nominate their members to INEC. That is causing problems, but the reawakening that is coming up in the minds of every Nigerian should make INEC’s eyes open.

Nwosu

Nigerians everywhere are saying that they are tired of these two humongous political parties that have brought our democracy and our country to the lowest level. And you can see it manifesting.

One thing that you media people should note is that I have been a crusader with a clear mission that this will happen. Nigerians are saying this is not possible because these two political parties are this and that. But I said people will soon take over, you can see it was happening. Look at, for instance, what has happened with Mr Peter Obi. He stepped out of PDP and what happened? You see PDP is collapsing.

Some people have been trying to make this noise about the

Labour Party and the New Nigeria Peoples Party are planning an alliance. Is ADC also contemplating going into an alliance with another political party?

We started alliance and collaboration talks a long time ago. As we speak with you, the ADC that you know is not the ADC of the past. We have over 20 political parties that are with us. In ADC we have over 15 former Chairmen of political parties involved in ADC. So the collaboration that has come under ADC is big, but with collaboration and alliance you never put an end to it until the mission is accomplished.

What is your advice to INEC as we prepare for the 2023 general election?

INEC should listen to the cry of people. It should shine its eyes to see that Nigerians are saying enough is enough. Those who work in INEC are also Nigerians and Nigerians are tired of rigging.

They want something transparent for everyone to see in the coming general election.

How prepared is the ADC for elections in the states?

That is what I have just said. ADC is in the driver’s seat and come 2023, the presidency, our rescuing mission for the presidency will be accomplished. And in most states of the federation you will have ADC governors and ADC parliamentarians both at the national level and at the state level.

So I think the Nigerian elite should see that the citizens of this country are determined to force things to happen. That is just a glimpse of the determination of the people. The APC and PDP will crumble and they are already crumbling. And when we have seen what people can do and I tell you, ADC will eventually take over. I think a little of the sign has emerged that has manifested, is that it has shown what the people can do. Now the elites will now see that they are lagging behind when they do the analysis.

They can see that the people with vested interest cannot fill the space. They can’t fill the space. People are now saying enough is enough. And ADC will deliver, the Rescue Mission by 2023.

such a place to do anything stupid, even the old man would get up and get everybody arrested and dealt with. So the intelligence reports are there. We are building peace, our determination is to get this nation rescued. Enough is enough.

What is your advice to Nigerian youths ahead of the 2023 general election?

Before now, more than 50 youth groups had adopted the ADC as their party. That was why when our nomination processes came up, we said all aspiring youths should be given forms for free. We said once their constituency wants them to contest the election, they should be given tickets quickly and most of them got tickets to contest without paying a kobo. So ADC is their party already.

They own the party. I see a lot of things happening on social media and everywhere. And I wonder if they are just waking up.

We have been on this for a long time creating space where all the youths, women and People with Disability will occupy. You check the record and you would see that we are fielding a lot of young men and women. They are young men and women and they are very strong.

ADC primary, trying to create some disharmony in the party.

We will not allow that. The primary election was free and fair.

And the NWC of ADC will not be planning what Nigerians will call magomago. We took the primary election and national convention to a historical centre of the former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s presidential Library auditorium where intelligence security would monitor everything that we are doing. You go to

Are you surprised that the APC and the PDP are currently in crises?

They are always in crises. I don’t know if the latest crises have just started. The issues of power and money are keeping them together, but Nigerians are now saying enough is enough. And it will happen. We have been able to get the confidence of the people.

Benue 2023: PDP, APC Trade Accusations Over Fear of Violence

FROM KAJO MARTINS, MAKURDI enue State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have engaged themselves in a ‘war’ of words accusing each other of a plan to unleash mayhem in the state.

B

First to fire the salvo was the APC which claimed that it received information from reliable sources that the PDP – led government in Benue State has mobilized miscreants and thugs to organise protests across the state.

The APC said "The protest which is to be done in major towns in the state is designed and aimed at tarnishing the image of our party, and causing destruction to lives and property. We like to state that APC in Benue State will not involve in any form of protest and have consequently distanced itself from evil activities".

The State Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Daniel Ihomun in a statement in Makurdi, said, APC is well structured and organized from the National Working Committee down to the Ward levels and handles her issues amicably and does not resort to hiring miscreants to pose as protesters.

anyone or persons who will come out to protest in the name of APC and should alert security operatives at the sight of such a group around their vicinity so as to quell any impending civil disobedience in the state.

tary, noted that APC which rate itself high in the just concluded primaries in the state has several of its members in court challenging what he described as 'heist it conjured' as direct primaries.

The party reiterated its commitment to the course of bringing dividends of democracy to the masses and advised those yet to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards, (PVCs) to do so in order to vote out what it referred to as "government of incompetence, propaganda and deceit" in the state in 2023.

"Could there be anything more ridiculous than the claim by APC in that statement that they are 'committed' to bringing dividends of democracy to the masses as it was evident in the just concluded primary elections across the length and breadth of the state".

However, in a swift reaction, the PDP said, it read with a mix of pity and amusement, a press statement by the APC in which it raised alarm over a purported plot by PDP to sponsor protests using its name.

"How were dividends of democracy served the masses from that unbelievable show of primitivity APC labelled a primary election in Benue, where figures of votes were allocated even to someone who had left the party and couldn't have participated in any of its activities?".

"The statement could not even state the purpose for the purportedly planned protests. But we respond to it so that unsuspecting members of the public are not left exposed to the wiles of a political party which is inclined more to anarchy than anything democratic and decorous".

"We hereby, call on security agencies in the state to be aware and to be on the lookout and deal decisively with any group that will come out to protest as APC members".

"If the purported protests were to be a form of sabotage against APC, wouldn't such amount to flogging a dead horse since the opposition party has already hanged itself by its failure to conduct lawful primaries in Benue state to nominate candidates for the 2023 elections".

The statement further called on the general public to disregard

In a statement, Bemgba Iortyom, State PDP Publicity Secre-

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The statement points to the fact that, APC is now afraid of its own shadow and is sensing palpable anger of most of its members who were shortchanged during the humbug that was its governorship primary election, hence their resort to search for a scapegoat.

It said, Benue APC has by its own actions set out irreversibly down the tunnel to electoral doom in 2023, “but the party could still do itself some good by being penitent and thinking more about recovery in the post 2023 era, rather than spewing feeble lies against PDP. THEWILLNIGERIA

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POLITICS

Presidential Candidates And Use of Placeholders to blame as ineligible placeholder/candidates cannot substitute or bring about eligible candidates.

“You can’t place something on nothing and expect it to stand. This Lord Denning’s dictum in the celebrated case of Benjamin Leonard MacFoy Vs United Africa Company Ltd at the Judicial Committee of Her Majesty’s Privy Council on Monday, the 27th day of November 1961 is very instructive here,” Ajulo said.

Speaking further, Ajulo described the statement by some people that a running mate has no right of withdrawal in Nigeria’s Extant Electoral law as erroneous.

He said, “This is purely erroneous, and a fallacy that cannot stand and not supported by any provisions of our law and practice.

“Apparently the unknown writer of the statement under review utterly and shamelessly turns the law on its head. Verily, the statement, it must be cautioned, is targeted towards a premeditated end.

“The law on the nomination and withdrawal of a nominee and candidate in an election is clear and without ambiguity.

“Once a running mate is nominated he/she becomes a candidate of a joint ticket and as a candidate in an election, the law permits such a candidate to withdraw his candidature within a specified time.

Obi

Tinubu

“For clarity, here’s what the extant law says; Section 31 of the Electoral Act 2022 states thus;

BY AYO ESAN

N

igeria’s political space was heated up few weeks ago when two political parties and their presidential candidates openly announced that the names they submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as vice presidential candidates did not belong to those that would contest the presidential election in February 2023, but placeholders who would be changed within the available window provided by INEC and the Electoral Act. INEC had fixed June 17, 2022 as the deadline for submission of names of presidential candidates for the election. Many political parties held their presidential primaries close to the deadline for the submission of candidate names. To beat the June 17 deadline for submission of names of presidential and vice presidential candidates, some parties decided to submit the names of vice-presidential candidates who they described as ‘placeholders’.

Questions therefore arose as to whether the concept of a ‘placeholder ‘that some political parties and their presidential candidates have resorted to is backed up by the Electoral Act and the Constitution of the country.

Without a clearer picture on this, the Labour Party (LP) submitted the name of the Director-General of Peter Obi Campaigns Organisation, Dr. Doyin Okupe, as the interim vice presidential candidate of the party while the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, named Kabiru Masari as placeholder to stand in temporarily, pending when he would nominate a substantive vice presidential candidate.

While the controversy rages, the National Chairman of the APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, said the party did not breach any law in nominating its vice presidential candidate.

Adamu said the party took the decision after making “careful” legal consultations. However, speaking on the concept of Place holder, INEC’s Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, Barrister Festus Okoye, said the “placeholder is a unique Nigerian invention” for which there is no legal provision, adding that, the INEC could only replace a candidate if the person writes a “sworn affidavit stating that he is withdrawing from the race within the time frame provided by the law.”

He said, “The constitution makes it very clear that you cannot run alone as a presidential candidate. You must nominate an associate to run with you for that position. As far as INEC is concerned, the presidential candidates have submitted their associates to run with them in the presidential election.

“As far as we are concerned, there is no form submitted by the THEWILLNIGERIA

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“

However the rate and manner with which some political parties submitted names of some candidates in the name of “placeholder” without vetting and ensuring due diligence call for concern

presidential candidates where they said ‘we are submitting this person’s name as a place or space holder. The issue of space or placeholder is a unique Nigerian invention that has no place in our constitutional and legal framework.

“Political parties’ candidates have submitted names of associates to run with them, and that is the position of the law as at today and nothing has changed.

“For there to be a substitution of a candidate, the vice-presidential candidate must write to INEC, with a sworn affidavit stating that he is withdrawing from the race within the time-frame provided by the law. That’s the only way there can be substitution of candidates.”

Speaking with THEWILL, an Abuja based constitutional lawyer, Dr Kayode Ajulo, said ”A place holder in the political context under consideration is any person temporarily nominated to fill a position, with the understanding that he/she will not seek the office nominated for in their own right pending when a substantive nominee is presented as a substitute. It is primarily done to meet a deadline.

‘It is allowed in party politics and guides the administrative process.

‘However the rate and manner with which some political parties submitted names of some candidates in the name of “placeholder” without vetting and ensuring due diligence call for concern as in the long run, some indiscernible parties would have themselves

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“A candidate may withdraw his candidature by notice in writing signed by the candidate to the political party that nominated him for such election and the political party shall covey such withdrawal to the Commission not later than 90 days to the election” “The above provision also applies to the so-called placeholder.”

Also speaking with THEWILL, Comrade Charles Okogie, an Abuja-based public affairs commentator, said there was danger in what the APC, LP had done, stressing that the condition of the withdrawal of the so-called placeholders from the race required their conscience and being human beings, they may not be predictable.

He said,” Both APC and the LP are playing with fire. Assuming the two placeholders refuse to step down, what happens? Human beings are unpredictable. There is danger in what they have done. You know the law says that for such placeholders to withdraw from the race, the person must write a letter backed up by a “sworn affidavit stating that he is withdrawing from the race within the time frame provided by the law.”

The Resident Electoral Commissioner for Akwa Ibom State, Mr Mike Igini, said the argument on the issue of place holders is a needless one.

“My first reaction is that we are just a people that engage in a sterile debate about place holding, rather than focus on the weightier issue that defines the polity,” he said.

Igini said he agreed with Barrister Festus Okoye when he made the point that all the parties had submitted names of their vice presidential candidates and had done so as of the last day, which was on June 17, 2022.

“Now having done so , if after you have submitted the names of your running mate to the commission, perhaps you have a question about the choice you have made and you prefer to label it placeholder or by whatever name. That is completely a different thing because what is clear is that all the parties have met the requirements of the constitution. By calling it a placeholder, Festus Okoye, Falana and all other lawyers have said if you look at the constitution and the Electoral Act, you will not find the word placeholder.

“But what is important is that they have done the right thing. We are not ignorant of what is happening around the world. The fact is that in the United States, there is a system of place holding. It exists in America where a state governor could appoint a placeholder, pending when the election is conducted and that is where a placeholder is nothing more than a person appointed to occupy an office temporarily with the understanding that such a person will not occupy that office as of right. I am not aware that when the parties uploaded the names of their running mates, they wrote a letter to our commission saying they were submitting names of placeholders, nobody did that,” Igini said.

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EDITORIAL

Much Ado About ASUU/ FG Negotiation

L

ast Thursday’s appeal

by Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities to President Muhammadu Buhari, urging him to take over the negotiation between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), as well as with other unions in the country's tertiary institutions, over their lingering strike actions, is very timely. The call from the vice chancellors, who are operating under the umbrella body, Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, (CVCNU), could not have come at a more auspicious time.

The Chairman of CVCNU, Prof. Samuel Edoumiekumo, made the appeal on behalf of his colleagues while speaking at the public presentation of the Model Intellectual Property for Nigerian universities in Abuja.

Maintaining that the appeal became necessary because of the effects of the industrial actions, not only on the institutions affected, but also on the students as well, the vice chancellor said: “We plead that drastic action is taken to stem the haemorrhage that the system is currently witnessing. For the sake of our children and our society, we need a decisive decision.”

The vice chancellors made their views known on a day the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) also indicated its readiness to embark on a nationwide protest over the ASUU strike. NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, lamented the insensitivity of the Federal Government to the lingering crises in the nation's public universities and other tertiary institutions.

"The strike in the education sector is an eyesore. For now, running into four months, the children of the poor have remained at home. You would recall that the last decision we took was to the extent of writing to Mr President and we gave a 21-day notice for them to

convene a very high-powered meeting to be chaired either by the SGS or the Chief of Staff, for this issue to be resolved once and for all.

“That meeting was called, but from the reports that we received yesterday (Wednesday) from all the unions in the education sector, ASUU, NASU, SSANU, NAAT, colleges of education and polytechnics, we have found out that progress has not been made and the timeline of three weeks given by that committee for all reports to be turned in and for the government to be able to make decisions that have not taken place...

like some other aspirants. Unfortunately his presidential ambition was ''dead on arrival.''

A fortnight ago, the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chris Ngige, tried to give what later turned out to be a false hope to Nigerians when he said that university students who had been at home for the most part of the year would soon return to their classrooms. President Muhammadu Buhari also expressed hope in a possible resumption of academic activities in public universities, but it was dashed due to the inability of both parties to reach a consensus.

“Today, there has been an increase in issues of social vices and this can be traced to the fact that those children have been at home for four months and no progress has been made," Wabba explained.

These renewed calls are coming as there seems to be no end in sight to the industrial action embarked upon by ASUU, even as the negotiation between the university lecturers and the Federal Government appears to be deadlocked.

The ASUU strike, which started on February 14, 2022 as a four-week warning action, is still ongoing despite several assurances given by the Federal Government that the demands of the striking lecturers would soon be met.

Now, the strike is running into its fifth month. Sadly, officials of the Federal Government who are supposed to be on top of the matter are also tightliped. When the matter was raised a couple of weeks ago with the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, his reply was that the ASUU issue was complicated.

Earlier, in the middle of the crisis, former Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba, had abandoned the negotiation table and resigned his appointment to embark on a flight of fancy. He joined the presidential race of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC), just

The strike in the education sector is an eyesore. For now, running into four months, the children of the poor have remained at home... Today, there has been an increase in issues of social vices and this can be traced to the fact that those children have been at home for four months and no progress has been made

ASUU Chairman, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, has always insisted that the Federal Government was not sincere in its dealings with the union. The don's assertion may not be far from the truth, with the way the negotiations have been handled so far.

At a point when Nigerians felt that an agreement was about to be reached by both parties, some elements within government circles were waiting to puncture whatever gains that must have been made with their reckless, insensitive and arrogant outbursts.

While the allegation of using starvation to force university lecturers back to work, by stopping their salaries, is very weighty and highly condemnable, the apparent plan to destroy the public university education system in the country will not augur well for Nigerians.

It is sad to note that while the already existing public universities are being grounded through inadequate funding, the government has continued to give approval for the establishment of new ones as licences for new private universities are being rolled out from time to time.

It is unfortunate that the Federal Government is still finding it difficult to accept the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS), a payment system presented by ASUU as a replacement for the government’s controversial Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), despite several tests. This is one of the issues of contention between ASUU and the Federal Government, apart from the latter reneging on fulfillment of previous agreements with the former.

For the sake of the teeming Nigerian students in public universities and their parents, as well as other service providers who depend on the university system for survival, we call on President Buhari to personally intervene in the negotiation by ensuring that all bottlenecks to the quick resolution of the dispute that led to the four-month-old strike are removed.

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

Ariwoola’s Controversies And Contradictions

BY MARTIN ORI

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look at the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, Olukayode Ariwoola’s resume will unlock the intimidating record of a well-trained and roundly nurtured bencher. He is from the same political zone where the first Nigerian lawyer, Sampra Williams comes from. Of course, the likes of Nigeria’s first chief judge, Justice Teslim Elias, Richard Akinjide, the irrepressible human rights activist, Gani Fawehinmi, not forgetting the Hague International World Court guru, Prince Bola Ajibola, the election case expert, Wole Olanipekun and even the Great Rotimi Williams, as well as many others who contributed immensely to the growth and development of the country’s judicial system, especially its “legalise” as well as jurisprudence, were of Yoruba extraction.

Ariwoola’s controversial and contradictory trajectory is horrendous when considered against the backdrop of his outings as a judge of the Supreme Court. Surely, most Nigerians, who are not yet a victim of the malady that late Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu described in his book, ‘Because I am Involved’ as selective amnesia, can easily remember now that this acting CJN had a hand in the controversial January 14, 2020 Supreme Court judgement that ruthlessly sacked then Imo State governor, Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha and installed Senator Hope Uzodimma. That judgement and its subsequent installation of Uzodimma as governor is at the root of virtually all the misfortunes that have bedevilled Imo State ever since.

Afterwards, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Ihedioha went back to the Supreme Court and asked the justices to review the January 14 judgement, claiming that it was established that there were more than 100, 000 overvotes in the disputed 388 polling units. Again, Ariwoola was among the judges that said the highest court in the land could not reverse itself and on that grounds, said the review appeal lacked merit.

That judgement ought to have served as a reference point to all other cases pertaining to reviewing or reversing any case at the hallowed throne of Nigeria’s Supreme Court. Sadly, it never was and will never be.

In a manner that defied legal explanation other than personal or group interest, a plea for reversal, like the famed phoenix, variegated and bearing hydra headed complications, but standing simply came knocking once more at the doorsteps of the Supreme Court justices. It was the much discussed, historically documented and well celebrated case of the Guarantee Trust Bank against Innoson Motors Nigeria Limited. It was purely a case of a dog eating its vomit. It was a bait put forward against the apex court by unseen gods and other elemental forces. The snare was never dislodged without harvesting a gem.

Shockingly, the Supreme Court that stood down PDP and Ihedioha’s reversal appeal, acrobatically reserved itself. In January this year, the Supreme Court reversed

its earlier dismissal of an appeal by Guarantee Trust Bank against N2.4 billion judgement given to Innoson Motors Nig Ltd by the Court of Appeal in Ibadan, Oyo State.

In a judgement delivered by a five-man panel and headed by Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, the apex court held unanimously that the Supreme Court erred and must reverse itself on the ruling of the February 27, 2019. The five justices upheld that the Registrar misled the Justices by failing to promptly bring to the notice of the panel that sat on the case that GTB had already filed its applicant’s brief of argument. The justices said they relied their judgement on Order 8 Rule 6 of the Supreme Court. What a joke. What a country. What a law.

Two different rulings on the same reversal plea: the first failed, the second went through. Can you now see the controversial metamorphosis of Ariwoola? His penchant for contradictory judicial pyrotechnics is really truly awesome, even philosophically entrenched.

The acting CJN can still prove his critics wrong by toeing the path of honour and integrity. He has all it takes to instill professionalism and orderliness, as well as restore the people’s confidence in the apex court. Anything short of this, Ariwoola will only end up confirming the fear of the citizenry that he is inconsistent.

Shaba Mohammed: Administrator Par Excellence

BY MUSA DISO he challenges of leaving footprints on the sand of time are enormous and daunting. However, it takes diligence, focus, perseverance, commitment and God's blessing to transform these challenges into reality that can be appreciated and grasped by the people.

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There is no gain saying the fact that with the appointment of Shaba Mohammed B. Pharm, MBA, FCIA, FICEN, FIMC, CMC, at the headship of the Kano Office of the National Agency For Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on March 2018 with over four years in the saddle, the story has changed completely and it has been so far so far good. It is a story of a experience and maturity embellished with the administrative prowess of a man who has seen all. It is also a story that showcases experience, commitment and humanness.

According to an expert, if there is one appointment that the management of NAFDAC got right since the inception of the agency, it is the choice of Pharm Shaba Mohammed as Coordinator of the Kano office of the agency.

Under Mohammed’s watch in the last four years Kano NAFDAC has made some remarkable achievements in the various departments of its operations. He has also done well to reposition the vital sector for maximum service delivery.

NAFDAC, in collaboration with other relevant bodies in Kano, has had it so well because we always have understanding.

The primary objective behind the establishment of NAFDAC was to protect, promote and safeguard public health thereby enhancing the economic strength of the country.

Shaba Mohammed was born on December 1, 1966 in Bida, Niger State. He is of the director cadre of the Federal Civil Service.

He obtained a Bachelor of Pharmacy (B. Pharm) Degree from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1989 and a Masters in Business administration (MBA) from the Business School of Netherlands, Buren, Netherlands in 2009, among several management certificates.

Mohammed is a fellow of the Institute of Corporate Administration (FACIA), the Institute of Corporate Executives of Nigeria (FICEN) and the Institute of Management Consultants (FIMC) and a Certified Management Consultant (CMC). He is a member of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (MPSN).

With his sterling achievements in his in office, Mohammed has left no one in doubt that he is indeed a round peg in a round hole. He has designed and undertaken many activities and programmes aimed at developing and uplifting the agency’s activities in the state.

Mohammed started his professional career as an intern pharmacist with the General Hospital, Minna in Niger State in 1989. He served with the General Hospital, Mubi in the defunct Gongola State in 1990/91. He was the pharmacist in charge of General Hospital, New Bussa, Niger State between 1991 and 1993. He joined Pfizer in April 1993 to March 2000 from where he resigned as a principal regulatory officer and member of the Federal Task Force on Counterfeit and Fake drugs and unwholesome processed food (FTF).

Promising to ensure there is no hiding place for fake drugs in the state, Mohammed also devised strategies in the last four years aimed at fighting the scourge and positive results have been recorded.

He was at the Port Inspectorate Directorate and at different times managed NAFDAC activities at Apapa Port and the Murtala Muhammed International Airport till 2013.

It is not easy to achieve so much within a very short time without endurance and perseverance crowned by hard work. Leadership is about service to humanity and a leader is one who combines astuteness, intelligence, skill to produce events that shape life. No leader can achieve anything near his full potential without cooperation from the stakeholders. The war against fake drugs cannot be fought single-handedly by the agency.

He was moved to narcotics and controlled substance and returned to investigation and enforcement and the federal task force in June 2014 to March 2018. He is currently the NAFDAC Coordinator in Kano State, where he collaborates with various security agencies, stakeholders and the traditional institution to address the menace of drug abuse and challenge of substandard and falsified medical and other related products.

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Mohammed was instrumental to many innovative port reforms on importation and exportation of NAFDAC regulated products, investigation of celebrated cases of counterfeit medical products and other NAFDAC regulated products, the creation of several standard operation procedures, guidelines and regulations. He was the face of cutting edge technologies which gave NAFDAC global recognition as an innovative regulatory agency in drug detection technology.

He is widely travelled and has participated as international speaker on several anti-counterfeiting activities among which are the International Institute Against counterfeit medicines (IRACM) Paris (April, 2016), World health organisation surveillance and monitoring system of substandard and falsified (SF) medical products Addis Ababa (August, 2015; Rx-360 on "fighting fakes" Washington DC (June 2015); APEC activities on medical products integrity and supply chain security in Philippines (January and August 2015), Seoul, South Korea, (May, 2013), Singapore (2012); the Indian patient safety, drug technology detection and criminal investigation program new Delhi, (September 2012), Pfizer collaboration on anti-counterfeiting ascoli piceno, Italy, (May 2013) and international regulatory Forum, Ottawa, Canada (October 2011) among others.

Mohammed was a Federal Government delegate to the 6th Nigeria-Cameroon Joint Commission, Yaounde (April 2014). He has travelled to China, Thailand, Ghana, Malaysia, etc, to conduct factory GMP inspection on foods drugs, cosmetics, medical devices and other regulated products of importation into the Nigerian and other African markets.

Apart from his fellowship of professional bodies, Mohammed is a member of Ikoyi Club 1938 for his recreational activities. He was conferred with the National Merit Award in 2019 as an "icon of national building in recognition of immense contribution and selfless service to humanity by Northern peace tourism journalist. He was also recently awarded a "certificate of achievement" as "most understanding NAFDAC state coordinator in Northern Nigeria 2020" in recognition of the outstanding role and contribution towards national development, by Arewa media practitioners on 18th February, 2020.

He loves playing golf, swimming and travelling.

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JULY 03 - JULY 0 9, 2022 T H E W I L L N E W S P A P E R

H1 2022: Equity Investors Gain N4.75trn in 21% Market Surge

BY SAM DIALA

Nigeria: Over 50 Airlines Collapsed in 5 Decades

BY ANTHONY AWUNOR

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igeria has lost no fewer than 50 airlines, cutting across commercial, charter and cargo carriers in the last five decades. These airlines, most of which go under, usually close shop, within a spate of 10 years after commencing operations.

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Existing Airlines As of date, there are about 10 major airlines running commercial operations in the country. They include Air Peace, Aero Contractors, Arik Air, Dana Air, Azman, Max Air, Ibom Air, Continues on page 17

As an important component of a country’s economic and financial set-up, stock markets reflect and mirror the conditions of an economy at a given time. They are termed “barometer” because changes in the stock market index are indicative of the concurrent changes in the economy.

Some market watchers and stakeholders wonder if the market operators descended from an environment that shares no neighbourhood with Nigeria as all the economic indices work against the country. Inflation has hit an all-time high of 17.71 percent with the local currency exchanging for over N600 per Dollar in the parallel market amid severe forex shortage.

The unruly trajectory of insecurity has remained the buzzword with rallying cry and refrain which suggest that the country is heading towards an unimaginable precipice. Multiple and high exchange rate regimes have left investors spooked, putting a damper on the inflow of foreign capital into the economy. There is low production capacity exacerbated by an unprecedented high cost of food and diesel – two basic factors that drive GDP growth and production.

Trapped in such a frightening socio-economic scenario, therefore, for Nigeria to emerge the best performing stock exchange in the world deserves some interrogation. At least, it will assist in enlightening the minds of the ‘uninitiated’ who are battling with the paradox and, also, watching the complex interplay of the stock market fundamentals from the sidelines. As of May, 2022, Nigeria’s stocks emerge Africa’s best performers with 24 percent returns

MORE INSIDE UBA Among Highest Traded Stocks Last Weekend

Continues on page 17

NCDMB Partnering Shell, Exxon, NAOC in Oil And Gas Parks – Wabote

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CBN Agric Guarantee Hits N131bn PAGE 19

Wabote

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igeria’s equity investors witnessed a bumper harvest of N27.94 trillion in market capitalisation in the first half of the year (2022), creating N4.75 trillion or 21 percent returns for the profit hunters compared with N23.19 trillion the market opened with on January 4, 2022. This was the offshoot of an unprecedented bullish trend that pushed the market to a height never recorded since the 2008/2009 global crisis with the All-Share Index (ASI) rising to 51,817.59 from 43,026.23 at the beginning of the year’s trading.

The equity market indicators also revealed a sustained bullish trend year-to-year as investors gained N8.18 trillion or 41.4 percent returns compared with N19.77 trillion market capitalisation and ASI of 37,907.28 in H1 2021. Investigation revealed that the nation’s bourse had not recorded a premium height in market growth even before the 2008/2009 global financial crisis during which ASI fell from a height of 66,000 basis points in March 2008 to less than 22,000 points by January 2009. Over N8 trillion or 70 percent of the total market capitalization of the Exchange was wiped out during the period.

Thriving in Anomalies?

The high performance of the equity market has remained baffling to many especially since the historic 2020. Many observers are still perplexed over the unusually bullish trend that earned Nigeria the best performing stock exchange in the world in 2020 – a year that businesses experienced the worst operating environment.

By conventional wisdom, the stock market is a barometer of the economy.

ajor international operating oil and gas companies, notably Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and Exxon Mobil Nigeria, and the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) have made significant investments in support of the ongoing development of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Parks Scheme (NOGaPS), the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr Simbi Kesiye Wabote has revealed.

Continues on page 18

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AVIATION/CAPITAL MARKET Nigeria: Over 50 Airlines Collapsed in 5 Decades

H1 2022: Equity Investors Gain N4.75trn in 21% Market Surge

Continued from page 16

Continued from page 16

Overland, United Nigeria Airlines, Green Africa.

Seven of these carriers have crossed the 10-year ceiling, a period whereby most of the airlines usually go under.

For instance, 63-year old Aero Contractors, which was established in 1959, is still flying.

Also Overland, Arik Air, Dana Air, Max Air and Azman, also established in 2002, 2004, 2008, 2008 and 2010, respectively, are still in the skies.

Others are Ibom Air, Green Africa, United Nigeria Airlines, which were established a few years ago.

However, aviation experts have expressed worry over the development in the aviation industry; which they said signalled a bleak future for the industry in Nigeria. In what looked like the last traces of airlines" closure, First Nation which started operations in 2011 suddenly ceased operations in 2018, seven years after.

Most recent is that of Medview Airlines which commenced operations in 2007. The airline laid off 90% of its employees between November 2017 and June, 2018. It finally suspended international flight operations in April 2018. As of August, 2019 Medview shutdown all operations, just as the company promised to bounce back soon.

Catalogue of Moribund Airlines In the last 50 years, quite a number of airlines have operated in the country, some of which are no longer operational. Some of these moribund airlines include: Nigeria Airways

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Stakeholders have attributed closure of airlines to lack of government support, high cost of JetA1, multiple taxation, forex issues, lack of corporate governance, infrastructure deficit, harsh operating business environment, multiple Designations granted foreign airlines amongst others THEWILLNIGERIA

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which commenced operations in 1971 but later ceased operations in 2003. African International Airways which commenced operations in 1971 also shut down in 1972; ADC Airline was founded in 1984 and ceased operations in 2006.

Two major airlines, Bellview Airlines and Chanchangi, ceased operations in 2010 and 2017, respectively. Both started in 1992 and 1994.

Okada Air commenced operations in 1982 and ceased operations in 2002, while Sosoliso Airlines started in 1994 and stopped operating in 2006.

Others are Capital Airlines, Central Airlines, African Trans Air, Afrijet Airlines, Afrimex, Air Atlantic Cargo, Air Nigeria, Albarka Air, Al-Dawood Air, Amed Air, Amako Air, Arax Airlines, Axiom Air, Barnax Air, Capital Airline, Central Airlines, Chrome Air Service, Dasab Airlines, Earth Airlines and EAS Airlines, among others.

The rest are Flash Airlines, Freedom Air Services, Fresh Air, GAS Air Nigeria, Hamsal Air, Hamzair, Harco Air Services, IAT Cargo, Intercontinental Airlines, Kabo Air, Mangal Airlines, Meridian Airlines, etc.

Stakeholders' Views Stakeholders attribute the closure of airlines to lack of government support, high cost of JetA1, multiple taxation, forex issues, lack of corporate governance, infrastructure deficit, harsh operating business environment, multiple Designations granted foreign airlines amongst others.

To others, aviation is seen as an industry that is over-regulated, a situation that puts the operators in tight corners.

On the aspect of regulation, the Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt Musa Nuhu has repeatedly emphasised that as a regulator, the agency will continue to do its best to see that the airlines are regulated accordingly, and not just out of business.

According to Nuhu, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority will not compromise in the enforcement of safety standards, regulatory requirements and SARPs in conformity with all regulatory requirements and ICAO’s Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) in the initial issuance and renewal of all Air Operators Certificate (AOC) irrespective of the personality or and organization involved. NCAA will continue to operate within its mandate to the safe, secure and efficiency of the industry as enshrined in the 2006 Civil Aviation ACT".

•Continues online at www.thewillnigeria.com THEWILLNIGERIA

that beat market expectations.

Factors Behind Market Surge Several reasons account for Nigeria standing like an oasis in the desert during the COVID-19 ravaged year among global stock markets which has remained in the equity market.

First was the sudden bullish trend created by the exodus of investors from the low interest environment of the fixed income market. The Nigerian government had ‘decreed’ low-yield returns for the T-Bills and Bonds instruments. This, in its wisdom, was to discourage the influx of investors to the safe haven of the fixed income market incubating idle assets.

The low-yield interest rate environment ignited an increase in stocks’ valuation leading to a good number of stocks recording price gains compared to their prerally status. This included stocks outside the bellwether group such as insurance which used to flood the dormant equities and ‘kobo’ stock league. Not less than 30 stocks were identified among those that rewarded investors with impressive returns year-to-date; occasioned by the “induced” rally in the stock market. In other words, many dead stocks resurrected and injected more strength into the raging bull at a time many expected the bear to dominate the stage.

Another factor that led to the stock market quantum leap in 2020 was the palpable ‘frustration’ of foreign investors who could not access foreign exchange (forex) to repatriate their profits or import raw materials. They “had no better choice than to reinvest in the stock market”, said Uche Uwaleke, Professor of Capital Market at Nasarawa State University.

Evidently, the biting forex scarcity discouraged investments even in the real sector.

Other factors, according to Uwaleke, include the favourable prices of oil in the international market which has boosted the share price of many quoted companies.

“I attribute the positive sentiments that prevailed in the last six months to a Favourable International crude oil price which boosted share prices of companies in the oil and Gas sector like Seplat. The Russian Ukrainian crisis chiefly accounts for the surge in crude oil prices.

“Positive GDP growth reflecting in particular in the Telecom sector where stocks like Airtel Africa and MTNN have largely benefited. There is also a trend of relatively strong external reserves which has sustained the interest of some foreign investors in our markets. Furthermore, CBN's accommodative monetary policy reflected an MPR which was held constant at 11.5% from September 2020 until May 2022 when it was increased to 13.5%. Associated with this is relatively low fixed income returns to the advantage of the equities market,” Uwaleke told THEWILL in a note.

“

Many observers are still perplexed over the unusually bullish trend that earned Nigeria the best performing stock exchange in the world in 2020 – a year that businesses experienced the worst operating environment

The Doyen of the Stockbrokers and Director at UIDC Securities Limited, Mr Sam Ndata, attributed the surge in the equity market to the current political season which has seen a high level of election-related spending. Ndata told THEWILL by telephone that many politicians are rushing to the capital market to “hide” their election-related loot as a sure way of safeguarding their assets.

“It happens every political season.

Some of the politicians receive the election windfall and squander it, but the wise ones will hide them in the capital market.”

Impending Moment of Reality Experts believe that the current bullish trend in the Nigerian equity market is not indicative of a strong, productive economy. They believe that the continued shortage of dollars and high exchange rate force investors to the equity market, hence the surge does not reflect in the overall economy. They predict a quick reversal to reality when the economic uncertainties give way.

“I attribute the positive sentiments that prevailed in the last six months to a Favourable International crude oil price which boosted share prices of companies in the oil and Gas sector like Seplat. The Russian Ukrainian crisis chiefly accounts for the surge in crude oil prices.

“Positive GDP growth reflecting in particular in the Telecom sector where stocks like Airtel Africa and MTNN have largely benefited.

There is also a trend of relatively strong external reserves which has sustained the interest of some foreign investors in our markets.

Furthermore, CBN's accommodative monetary policy reflected an MPR which was held constant at 11.5% from September 2020 until May 2022 when it was increased to 13.5%.

Associated with this is relatively low fixed income returns to the advantage of the equities market,” Uwaleke told THEWILL in a note.

•Continues online at www.thewillnigeria.com

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BUSINESS NEWS Airport Concession: FG Initiates Request For Proposals

BY ANTHONY AWUNOR he Federal Ministry of Aviation has entered the Request for Proposals (RfP) phase of the Nigeria Airport Concessions Programme (NACP), which commenced on the 1st of June, 2022.

The stage is in line with the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (establishment, etc.) Act, 2005, and global best practice.

To this end, FG has informed all stakeholders, local and international, development partners, and members of the media, that the RfP has already started.

So far, shortlisted bidders have since been notified in writing and via the transaction portal.

According to a statement issued on Friday by the Special Assistant on Public Affairs to the Minister of Aviation, James Odaudu stated that the RfP stage of the programme will close on the 5th of September 2022, adding that "all shortlisted bidders are thus encouraged to ensure that they make their submissions in a timely manner and as per the detailed guidelines included in the bidders’ package".

Speaking to members of the media on the eve of the NACP bidders conference, prior to embarking on a stakeholders tour of notable international airports in Brazil and Turkey, the Honourable Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika expressed his confidence in driving a transparent and robust concession programme to competition before the end of the year.

“We are delighted to inform all stakeholders and indeed, all Nigerians, that a critical milestone in this programme has now been reached.

We anticipate that the programme, including the final negotiations stage will be concluded before the end of the year, thereby allowing for the affected assets to be handed over to the absolute best private sector operators well before this administration hands over to a new, duly elected government”.

The bidders conference, hosted by the Federal Ministry of Aviation and the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission – the substantive regulator for all infrastructure concessions in Nigeria, took place on the 20th of June 2022 at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja and marks a critical milestone in the process of concessioning Nigeria’s four international airports and associated assets, comprised specifically of passenger and cargo terminals. Delegates of preferred bidders flew into Nigeria from no fewer than four countries, with the majority joining online via the NACP’s virtual conferencing facility.

Speaking at the event, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Aviation Abel Enitan added, “We are delighted to see this level of genuine interest in Nigeria’s infrastructure concession programmes and in particular this airports concession programme. As the global aviation industry recovers, this level of interest Nigeria enjoys from emerging market investors, is testament to the sheer scale of opportunity Nigeria offers long-term investors who share a positive vision of the nation’s future. We wish all bidders well as they conduct their own due diligence and prepare competitive bids for the various assets.”

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L-R: Delegates and senior officials from the NCDMB at the Nigerian Content Sensitization Programme for Law Enforcement Agencies, organised by the NCDMB in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

NCDMB Partnering Shell, Exxon, NAOC in Oil And Gas Parks – Wabote Cargo Vessel Berths Continued from page 16

He stated this recently at the Nigerian Content Sensitization Programme for Law Enforcement Agencies, organised by the NCDMB in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State with a view to strengthening the existing collaboration with various law enforcement organizations and sister agencies and leverage their expertise and partnership to accelerate Nigerian content compliance in the oil and gas industry.

He gave a breakdown of the Board’s achievements and initiatives and hinted that NCDMB was developing the oil and gas parks in conjunction with key operators in the oil and gas industry.

According to him, Shell funded the provision of power and utility cables deployed at the oil and gas park located at Emeyal -1, Bayelsa State, while Exxon Mobil provided the electrical infrastructure for the park at Odukpani in Cross River State. Also, NAOC had earlier partnered with the Board to develop the 10-megawatts gas power plant that would supply electricity to the Bayelsa park when completed, in addition to providing uninterrupted electricity currently to the Nigerian Content Tower and some strategic infrastructure owned by the Bayelsa State Government.

The Executive Secretary also confirmed that the Board had signed an agreement with the Gas Aggregation Company of Nigeria (GACN) to establish a gas-fired power plant at the Odukpani, park – to provide the park with constant electricity. He assured that the power facility will be ready before the end of 2022, about the same time the Emeyal-1 and Odukpani parks would be completed, ahead of commencing operations in early 2023. He announced that the Board had started inviting interested manufacturing companies and other firms to apply for spaces in the parks. The parks would have dedicated power supply and shared services and were conceived to domicile equipment components manufacturing in-country, to meet the needs of the oil and gas industry and sectoral linkages as well as create jobs for the nation’s teeming youths.

Wabote also indicated that the Board

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was also working to develop oil and gas parks at Oguta in Imo State, at Onna in Akwa Ibom, Ilaje in Ondo State and in Delta State, and work was progressing in different stages at the identified locations. He confirmed that the completed oil and gas parks would be managed by professional facility managers, to ensure their sustainability.

He also stated that the Board is partnering with the Nigeria LNG Limited to develop the Brass Island Shipyard as a Capacity Development Initiative. He hinted that the feasibility study, geotechnical survey, and site selection study had all been completed.

In addition, the land valuation and perimeter survey had also been completed and the plan is to construct the shipyard in two phases, he added.

Speaking further on the rationale for organising the workshop and engaging with law enforcement agencies, the NCDMB boss noted that “when you are speaking the same language with Customs, they will guard against the importation of goods that can be produced incountry, while immigration will help in terms of expatriate quota management.”

In his welcome address, the Head, Legal Services NCDMB, Barr Naboth Onyesoh, said the Board recognizes the power of collaboration and the impetus it generates for the attainment of its mandate and that is why Compliance and Enforcement is one of the five pillars of the Board’s 10-year Strategic Roadmap, formulated to drive Nigerian content growth to 70 percent by 2027.

He remarked that “collaboration and stakeholder engagement was also identified in the same 10-year Roadmap as one of the four enablers to attain the 70 percent Nigerian Content growth target.”

He maintained that since the oil and gas industry serves as the mainstay of Nigeria’s economy, all stakeholders of the industry should support the implementation of the Nigerian Content Act to ensure that Nigeria derives maximum value from the oil and gas industry while it is still relevant in the global energy mix.

At Calabar Port With Trucks, Others FROM BASSEY ANIEKAN, CALABAR

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190ft long general cargo vessel has berthed at the Calabar Port in Cross River State with 204 trucks and 22 cubic meters of general cargo.

The cargo, MV Value Tyler, set sail from Singapore and arrived Calabar Port at about 19:00 hours on Thursday evening.

Speaking on the ground breaking feat, Festus Olumati, the Port Manager, said the berthing of MV Value Tyler is a record breaking feat by the port.

Olumati said that MV Value Tyler’s arrival in Calabar Port was a breakthrough and it underscored the viability of the port and attributed the feat to the support given to it by the Managing Director of the NPA, Mohammed Bello Koko.

He said, “The significance of the berthing of this vessel is to tell the world that the Calabar Port is not dead but active. Also that the rumour going on that nothing is happening in Calabar Port is completely fake.

“The length of this vessel is 190 feet which has never happened in recent time in Calabar Port the cargo on board is 204 trucks, 22 cubic meters of general cargo especially pipes.

“I was sent to Calabar by the Managing Director (Mohammed Bello-Koko) to revive the port and source for customers. In the managing director’s wisdom, he has graciously given us equipment, materials, everything to go and work.

“He has also given us a pilot cutter, which will be commissioned tomorrow and we are very happy with him,” he said.

He added that the implication of the berthing of MV Value Tyler in the port is that the vessel would generate revenue and create employment.

He said the concessionaire, ECO Marine, is doing a lot to bring shipping lines to the terminal and the port has started receiving vessels on a monthly basis.

On his part, Engr. Edward Akpan, the general manager of ECM Terminals thanked the NPA management for its support to ensure the Calabar Port thrives.

He said the general cargo vessel was meant for one of its clients who sees the Calabar Port as a preferred terminal based on service delivery.

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BUSINESS NEWS CBN Agric Guarantee Hits N131bn

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L-R: Chairman, Smartcash PSB Ltd, Dr. Kingsley Umadia; Lagos State Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Rabiu Olowo; Chief Human Resources Officer, Airtel Africa, Rogany Ramiah; Group Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Africa, Dr. Segun Ogunsanya; Special Advisor to the President on Social Investments, Mrs. Maryam Uwais; Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Surendran Chemmenkotil and Chief Executive Officer, Smartcash PSB, Muyiwa Ebitanmi at the launch of Smartcash PSB at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos on June 30, 2022.

Photo: Peace Udugba.

UBA Among Highest Traded Stocks Last Weekend

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million in 689 deals.

The third place was The Oil and Gas Industry, with a turnover of 72.996 million shares worth N1.862 billion in 1,799 deals.

Trading in the top three equities namely Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc, Living Trust Mortgage Bank Plc and Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (measured by volume) accounted for 484.839 million shares worth N 2.414 billion in 2,410 deals, contributing 35.97 per cent and 9.86 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

Thirty-four equities appreciated in price during the week, higher than 16 equities in the previous week.

Twenty-nine equities depreciated in price lower than 56 equities in the previous week, while ninety-three 93 equities remained unchanged higher than 84 equities recorded in the previous week.

BY ANTHONY AWUNOR

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tarting from March 1, 2023, all freight forwarders, air carriers, express couriers, and postal operators transporting goods to or through the European Union (EU) (including Norway and Switzerland) will be required to submit advance cargo information in the form of a complete Entry Summary Declaration (ENS), under the second phase of the EU’s new customs pre-arrival security and safety programme – Import Control System 2 (ICS2) Release 2.

The EU Import Control System 2 (ICS2) is a large-scale initiative to enhance customs oversight of the movement of goods prior to their arrival at the EU external borders (air, maritime, land and inland waterways).

ICS2 enables customs authorities to identify high-risk consignments that necessitate early intervention, while facilitating legitimate trade into the customs territory of the EU, Norway, and Switzerland.

According to EU, economic operators involved in handling, sending, shipping and transporting cargo, express or postal consignments to or via the EU by air have to comply with new advance data reporting requirements for pre-loading and pre-arrival customs risk assessments.

By collecting data about all goods entering the EU prior to their loading and arrival, ICS2 supports effective risk-based customs controls while facilitating free flow of legitimate trade across the EU’s external borders. ICS2 will simplify the movement of goods between customs offices at the first point of entry and final destination in the EU. For economic operators, ICS2 will streamline requests for additional information and pre-departure risk screening by customs authorities.

In addition to air carriers’ ENS filing responsibilities under the multiple filing regime of Release 2, freight forwarders, express couriers, and postal operators will also be legally responsible for providing data. They either have to share it with the air carriers, who will then complete the ENS filing requirements, or submit the data directly to ICS2.

Uzoka

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nited Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc was among the largest traded volumes on Friday (July 1) as investors scramble for the stock of Africa’s Global bank to round off the week’s transactions for the month of June.

Data from the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) showed that UBA joined its peer, Guaranty Trust Holdings to record the highest volume of 22.2 million and 23.5 million traded shares respectively. Others were Sterling Bank (7.41 million) and Oando (7.33 million), respectively.

The data also revealed that UBA’s 22.2 million shares occurred from 211 trades as market capitalization stood at N253.07 billion.

The bank’s FY 2021, Q1 2022 impressive results and its consistent dividend history endear the Tier1 bank to profit hunters who are expecting a good H1 performance result in a couple of weeks.

The NGX Weekly Report showed that a total turnover of 1.348 billion shares worth N24.487 billion in 22,155 deals was traded last week by investors on the floor of the Exchange, in contrast to a total of 1.121 billion shares valued at N13.703 billion that exchanged hands in the previous week in 22,350 deals.

The Financial Services Industry (measured by volume) led the activity chart with 1.009 billion shares valued at N 6.796 billion traded in 11,352 deals; thus contributing 74.87% and 27.75% to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively. The Conglomerates Industry followed with 79,616 million shares worth N144.549

EU Sets New Rules For Inbound Air Shipments

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he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has guaranteed the sum of N130.

90 billion loan to farmers under the Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme Fund (ACGSF) between its inception in 1977 and May, this year. The Chairman of the Board of the ACGSF scheme, Mr. Stephen Okon, disclosed this at the 2021 National Best Farmers of the Year Award, held in Abuja, Thursday According to him, “The ACGSF Scheme has proved relatively successful in derisking the agricultural sector in Nigeria as evidenced in the number of loans guaranteed from inception to date.

“A total of 1,232,326 loans valued N130.903 billion were guaranteed from inception to May 2022 out of which 973,646 beneficiaries had repaid a total of N98.91b.”

The chairman said that the federal government and the CBN both contributed to the Fund in the ratio of 60% and 40% respectively, with the CBN doubling as the Managing Agent and the Secretariat.

Mr. Okon said that the timing of the event was apt, given the fact that countries across the globe were experiencing challenges, resulting from the Russian – Ukrainian War “Its impact being – global oil and food crises affecting the agricultural sector which has contributed to disruptions in domestic food supply chains and other shocks affecting food production.

“This has led to the loss of incomes, food security risks, inflationary trends, and creating serious tensions in many countries,” he said, adding that achieving food security not only carried significant benefits for human health but also served as the basis to achieve sustained economic growth.

“Awakened by a potential rise in food insecurity, many countries and organizations are mounting special efforts to keep agriculture safely running as an essential business,” he emphasised.

In his remarks, the Abuja Branch Controller of the CBN, Mr. Michael Ogbu, said that the successes achieved under the ACGSF had led to significant improvement in Deposit Money Banks’ (DMB) lending to the agricultural sector and to a remarkable growth in the agri-business value chain in Nigeria.

He stressed the determination of the Management of the CBN towards supporting farmers to grow exponentially, saying, “ that way, Nigeria can actually grow what she eats.”

The ACGSF was established by Decree No. 20 of 1977 to guarantee agricultural credit facilities granted to farmers. The Scheme encourages Deposit Money Banks and Microfinance Banks to lend to those engaged in agriculture by providing guarantees.

It mitigates risks associated with banks’ lending to agriculture by guaranteeing to pay banks 75 per cent of the net amount in default in accordance with the provisions of the enabling Act. Mr. Peter Okonkwo emerged overall winner of the 2021 National Best Farmer of the Year. He was said to have taken an N8.

050 million facility under the scheme for the procurement of additional agricultural plants, machineries and packaging in 2018 and with it, generated N15 million income and a profit of over N2,7 million.

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ECONOMY

Mid-2022: Cloudy Times Yet Ahead

BY MARCEL OKEKE

S

omehow, the Nigerian economy has tottered and wobbled through the first half of the year 2022 (January to June), with practically all the indicators exhibiting worrisome trends. Rather than abet, most challenges of the economy at the dawn of the year got exacerbated owing to many local policy-induced pitfalls and a number of exogenous happenstances.

From all indications, the public sector borrowing spree—a hallmark of the Government of the day—continued during the period under review, even with greater gusto. For the umpteenth time, the Bretton Woods institutions—the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF)—have raised alarm, alerting the Government of the dangers laden in their policy initiatives and programmes.

As the first half of 2022 ends, Nigerians have lost count of the sources and assortment of loans being taken by the Federal Government—with outstanding public debt now projected to hit about fifty trillion Naira by the close of the year. More worrisome is the fact that about ninety percent of Government revenue is already going into debt servicing—leaving the Government practically cash-strapped perpetually.

Absence of local refining of Nigeria’s crude oil and total dependence on imported refined oil products (which implies and sustains the duplicitous fuel subsidy policy) drains the country of almost its entire export proceeds. From a mere N443 billion budgeted for fuel subsidy in the Federal Government’s 2022 Appropriation Act, the subsidy incubus now guzzles trillions of Naira. It is already being projected that fuel subsidy would gulp nothing less than six trillion Naira by the close of 2022.

In a recent interview with Bloomberg’s Mike Cohen, President Muhammadu Buhari reportedly defended the fuel subsidy policy, saying: “my government set in motion plans to remove the subsidy late last year (2021). After further consultation with stakeholders, and as events unfolded this year, such a move became increasingly untenable. Boosting internal production for refined products shall also help.” The President went further to assure that “capacity is due to step up markedly later this year and next, as private players and modular refineries come on board.”

“

Available records show that the NNPC paid a whopping N327.06 billion as fuel subsidy in May, representing over 20 per cent increase from the previous month (N271.59 billion)

Even with this assurances, the distortions and hardship already unleashed on Nigeria and Nigerians by the Buhari fuel subsidy regime are sure to linger. In the fiscal domain, the hard earned resources that would have been channelled into programmes that enhance the overall wellbeing of the people are rather ‘cornered’ to a cesspool of corruption and malfeasance that is the fuel subsidy process. The huge deficit projected in the 2022 Appropriation Act is being made to shoot through the roof by practically the indeterminate amount of money that is being pumped into fuel subsidy.

Unfortunately, in all the defences and explanations given by Mr President regarding fuel subsidy, nothing was said about Nigeria’s four giant refineries that have been shut down for long and left to lie fallow.

Already, according to the national oil company—Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC), Nigeria has incurred an estimated petrol subsidy of N2.2 trillion in the first six months of this year. Indeed, burdened by the huge fuel subsidy bill, the NNPC is no longer able to meet its remittance obligations to the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC).

Pray! Who says that a few ‘private’ refineries that are ‘expected’ to come on-stream later in the year will be able to reverse the damage done by the extant fuel pricing regime— PMS scarcity and discretionary prices in various parts of the country; prices of diesel that have gone up manifold and still rising; aviation fuel scarcity and its high prices that almost put all airlines out of business.

Available records show that the NNPC paid a whopping N327.06 billion as fuel subsidy in May, representing over 20 per cent increase from the previous month (N271.59 billion) and the highest on record this year. Indications are that the subsidy bill will be getting higher in subsequent months, given the impact of the exchange rate of the Naira in the foreign exchange market and the high price of crude oil in the global market as well as the rising landing cost of the imported petrol.

All these have translated into an unimaginably high cost of transportation, consistent rise in the prices of all manner of consumable goods and services. In fact, rising cost of food items alone has pushed not a few Nigerians into penury and destitution. Thus, all through the first half of 2022, inflation rate had spiked beyond every reasonable expectation— thereby rendering the disposable incomes of many households inconsequential.

The NNPC’s inability to make obligatory remittances to FAAC means that Nigeria is not only paying subsidies with today’s crude oil earnings, it is borrowing against future incomes to meet up fuel subsidy obligations. Again, according to the NNPC, the value of shortfall on the importation of petrol recovered from May 2022 proceeds is N327 billion while outstanding balance carried forward is N617 billion. And so, “the estimated value shortfall of N845.15 billion is to be recovered from June 2022 proceeds due for sharing at the July 2022 FAAC meeting”, says the NNPC.

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country’s peculiar challenges including oil theft, vandalism on oil facilities and other opaque practices in the oil and gas industry, Nigeria is no longer able to meet its allocated oil (production/export) quota by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)—of which it is a key member.

Consequent upon these unique challenges, rather than reap the bounties or ‘windfall’ arising from the very high oil prices engendered by the war, Nigeria is practically getting impoverished. The controversial oil subsidy and humongous sums for public debt servicing have for all intents and purposes left Nigeria searching for funds/loans from all corners of the globe.

It is against this backdrop that the recently appointed acting Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Chukwunyere Anamekwe, described as “worrisome” Government’s high level of borrowing to buoy budget shortfalls and pay salaries and wages, saying it was a “glaring evidence that the country is facing a huge financial crisis”.

The acting AGF who spoke during a retreat by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation for members of the Technical Sub-committee on Cash Management (TSCM) said: “we have to borrow to augment payment of salaries and wages…we are in difficult times, and Government income is highly challenged.” And for making this “worrisome” truth public, the new acting AGF has since been relieved of his duties and ‘redeployed’ to one ‘obscure’ office in the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation.

In the face of these frightening realities, the backdrop of worsening insecurity in the land is even more unsettling.

Variegated gangs of bandits, terrorists, brigands, kidnappers, ritualists, and armed robbers keep ravaging practically every part of the country, with swathes of what is Nigeria reportedly seized and occupied by these ragtag groups.

From about 12 per cent earlier in the year, the consumer price index (CPI) as issued by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) stood at 17 per cent in May, with every indication that it will go higher in the remaining part of the year. This is because apart from policy-induced drivers of the rising inflation, many extraneous factors that push up the CPI are still very much at play.

It is doubtful if this ugly situation will improve pretty soon.

Also, contrary to Mr President’s optimism about more refined petroleum products later this year and a stabilizing exchange rate, worse scenarios are more likely to play out. Nigeria is in the throes of a pre-election year, and its deleterious implications are already impacting the economy. And truly, the closer the election time gets, the more havoc ‘desperate’ politicians are most likely to wreak on the economy—not only through ‘dollarization’ but also likely sinister roles in ‘exploiting’ the deteriorating security situation countrywide.

The raging Russian-Ukrainian war and its impact on the prices of crude oil and global (import and export) trade generally is beyond the ken and purview of Nigeria. Indeed, because of the

•Okeke, an economist, sustainability expert and business strategy consultant, lives in Lekki-Lagos. He can be reached at obioraokeke2000@yahoo.com THEWILLNIGERIA

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JULY 03 - JULY 09, 2022 T H E W I L L N E W S P A P E R • www.thewillnigeria.com

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

L-R: Chief Risk Officer, Bank of Industry (BOI), Ezekiel Oseni; Executive Director, Micro Enterprise, BOI, Toyin Adeniji; Managing Director/CEO, BOI, Olukayode Pitan; Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), Temi Popoola; Divisional Head, Business Support Services, NGX, Irene Robinson-Ayanwale and Divisional Head, Capital Markets, NGX, Jude Chiemeka, during the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between BOI and NGX in Lagos on June 29, 2022.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu (middle) flanked by his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat (left); lawmaker representing Lagos East Senatorial District, Senator Tokunbo Abiru (right); Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire (2nd right) and others, during the presentation of financial grants to farmers, facilitated by Senator Abiru in Lagos East Senatorial District at the Mini Stadium, Epe, on June 30, 2022.

L-R: Group Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Africa, Dr. Segun Ogunsanya; former President, Olusegun Obasanjo and Vice President, Corporate Communications and Corporate social responsibility (CSR), Airtel Africa, Mr. Emeka Oparah at the 85th birthday and book launch of Prof. Mark Nwagwu, retired Professor of Cell and Molecular Biology, in Lagos on June 30, 2022.

L-R: First runner-up, MTN Junior Tennis League Boys U-16, Seun Ogunsakin; General Manager, Treasury and Finance, MTN Nigeria, Ishmael Nwokocha; Senior Manager, Sponsorship & Promotion, MTN Nigeria, Osaze Ebueku and the winner, MTN Junior Tennis League Boys U-16, Mubarak Ganiyu, at the final of the MTN Junior Tennis League, held in Lagos on June 25, 2022.

L–R: Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Nestle PLC, Mr. Wassim El-Husseini Chairman, Nestle PLC, Mr. L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Access Global Partner, Mr. John Olajide; Ekiti State Commissioner for Finance and David Ifezulike and Company Secretary, Nestle PLC, Bode Ayeku, during Nestlé Nigeria Plc 53rd Annual General Economic Development, Mr. Akin Oyebode; Ekiti State Governor-Elect, Mr. Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji; and Country Meeting (AGM) held at the company’s head office in Lagos on June 29, 2022.

Director Nigeria, CAVISTA, Mr. Dele Odufuye; during Oyebanji's visit to the company in Lagos on June 30, 2022.

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JULY 03 - JULY 09, 2022 JULY 03 - JULY 09, 2022 T H E W I L L N E W S P A P E R • www.thewillnigeria.com THEWILL NEWSPAPER • www.thewillnigeria.com

GBENGA ADEYINKA

Comedy Merchant With a Difference

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JULY 03 - JULY 09, 2022 T H E W I L L N E W S P A P E R • www.thewillnigeria.com

Popular stand-up comedian, Gbenga Adeyinka, speaks with Shade Wesley Metibogun about comedy, his love for Bola Ahmed Tinubu, how he rose to become the most sought-after master of ceremony in Nigeria and sundry issues. Excerpts:

I AM THE ONLY UNSERIOUS PERSON IN MY HOME - GBENGA ADEYINKA H

ow does it feel to be the most sought-after master of ceremony in Nigeria?

It is a very humbling experience. I am grateful to God for it. I have always worked towards it. I thank God and the people who patronise me because they have given me the opportunity to realize that dream.

What are you doing differently that others are not doing?

I think it is grace. I also try to do a lot of research on the kind of event I am doing. I do research and background check on the people coming for the event I will be anchoring. For instance, in preparation for the event I anchored yesterday, I searched Google for the identities of all the traditional rulers in the South-West so that I can recognise them when they step into the event hall without asking the organisers for the names of the dignitaries. That has helped me a lot in handling most of the events that I anchor.

What will you consider to be your staying power over the years?

Be very faithful to your art. Don't let it get into your head.

Be the same person you have always been. Humility helps a lot, too. Also, know that you are only as good as your last job. Try to go above your level. For instance, I learnt from my colleague, Atunyota Alleluya Akpobome aka Ali Baba. If you are a master of ceremony, ordinary things that should not concern you should be of concern because if anything should go wrong, it will affect your job. Things like microphone check, sound check, getting in tune with the musician. Those little things should be considered. I shouldn't be telling you my entire secret.

How challenging is it being a master of ceremony?

There is no gain without pain. There is nothing you do in this world that is not challenging. Even when armed robbers jump into a property without knowing what is at the other end, they do it at a risk. It is a lot of work. Like I always say, if you are not afraid to make money, you should be ready to work. A lot of people do three jobs abroad, why don't we do it in Nigeria and pray that God smiles on us as we do it cheerfully.

If you were asked to choose between standup comedy and master of ceremony, which of the two would you choose?

I have always wanted to be a standup comedian that could be a master of ceremony or a master of ceremony that could make jokes. That is what I set out to be from day one. If I have my way, I will keep doing what I have been doing. It will make me last longer in the industry. If you are a standup comedian, you blow people away and you cannot function as a master of ceremony. That is not good enough. Nigerians get tired easily. You have to keep reinventing yourself so that you can stay longer in the industry with God on your side.

Over 10 years ago, you set out to build young talents from the South-West. How far have you gone on that project?

I think God has been extremely kind to my platform, which is known as ‘Laffmattazz With Gbenga Adeyinka and Friends’.

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ka Adeyin Without being immodest, I think that all the comedy greats from the South-West came through our platform. From Ibadan to Abeokuta. It is just that I believe one should not blow his trumpet.

Can you mention some of the talents you have mentored to greatness?

I would like them to say it themselves so that it will not look as if I am taking the glory. As a Christian, I believe no man should take glory. Whatever they say is okay by me, but believe me, they are quite a few. I am happy to be associated with such things.

Are you thinking of extending that dream to other parts of the country?

I am also a realist. One of the biggest challenges of building a platform or structure is funding and sponsorship. As it were, building the platform in the South-West has taken a heavy toll on my finances, but if I get some form of sponsorship from corporate bodies, I will definitely do just that.

I do six shows every year now. We used to do five but this year, we added Lagos to it. If I get more sponsorship, we will be able to conquer Nigeria.

Adeyinka

Skit makers are doing so well that it seems they are taking the shine off stand-up comedians. Is it right to make such an assertion?

Comedians are also content creators. So it all boils down to how intelligent you are with your content. I have content that is over 12 years-old. I can conveniently start a television station with the contents that I have. Skit makers have grown in leaps and bounds, but then, the sky is wide enough to accommodate everybody. There was a time when it looked as if stand-up comedians were all over the place. Now that the time has come for skit makers to shine, let them enjoy their time. I know that we are an industry that keeps evolving, but I must say I don't think anybody is taking the shine off others. It is just that a set of new people came with something different and it is accepted. The truth is that it is not everyone that does skits that can do stand-up comedy, just like it is not everybody who does stand-up comedy that can do skits. They are two different things. Some can do skits, but they cannot stand in front of a crowd to do stand-up comedy.

When are you planning to retire from stand-up comedy?

I don't know. Maybe when I become the president of Nigeria or the governor of Ogun State, I might decide to stop. For now, I will still keep going.

Does that mean you are nursing a political ambition in the nearest future?

I am very sure of that because I believe that we all have a duty to determine how we are governed or who governs us. I may not be the one contesting, but I will be actively involved with the person contesting. If I am the one contesting,

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definitely I will be actively involved in it. I have always been involved in politics. I just felt that it is important to have a source of income so that you don't become a political jobber.

It is important so that one can have something to fall back on if things don't work out in politics. By the grace of the Almighty God, if people say they need me just like they used to say in politics 'people called me and I answered the call,' why not?

Is that the reason for your closeness to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu?

I have always been close to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. I started working for him in 1999. He has been extremely good to me.

And I see capacity in the man. When you know somebody first-hand and you know what he can do, you will do anything to advertise him. People who know me and know what I can do advertise my craft a lot. There are some events that I will get to and they will say they don't know the juju I have done that a particular person just insisted I must anchor his event. For instance, at the event I attended in Owo, Ondo State over the weekend, I was told that one man in the family insisted that I must anchor the event, no matter what it would cost. When you also have the opportunity to sell a good material, you should do it. I believe that if Tinubu is given the chance to lead the country, he will change Nigeria for good.

What exactly has he done for you that you are singing his praise?

He has been a big supporter of my brand over the years.

I handle the majority of his family's events. I have done a couple of things for them. It is a family I know very well.

They have helped me to build my career and brand. I have been working for him since he became the governor of Lagos

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Are any of your children taking after you careerwise?

All my children are serious people. I am the only unserious person in my house. But they have the same humour gene that I have. But none of them will do this. As of now anyway, let me not say never, I don't see them doing it. They are involved in much more "serious things" than their father. I am the only unserious person in my house.

State. His wife is like a mother to me. People don't like the term pay back, but if someone has been good to you, you must be good to the person, too.

A lot of people have criticised you because of your choice.

How do you feel facing such backlash?

I don't care. I posted a statement on my Instagram page about it. One of the songs I like so much is Oun to baa wu anybody lo le fenuwon so (people are free to say whatever they want to say).

As a human being, I have the fundamental right to association. Just like when someone comes to me and says he is supporting Anini or Shina Rambo who are die hard criminals. I feel it is their right to choose who they love.

But they cannot criticise me for what I believe in, just like the way I shouldn't criticise them for what they believe in. I think the biggest problem we have in Nigeria is that we want everybody to think the way we are thinking. And we want to bully people into accepting our point of view. If at my age, I still allow people to bully me, then my parents should have a meeting and ask themselves if they are truly my parents.

Let me give you an example. I have a lot of friends who are Christians, I have a lot of friends who are Muslims and traditional worshippers, should I stop being friends with them because we don't belong to the same religion? Some of my best friends are supporters of Atiku Abubakar. Let me give you an example in Lagos State. The guy contesting against Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu is my very good and close friend. I will not like to disclose his name. We belong to a couple of groups and associations, but he is aware in his heart that Governor Sanwo-olu is my preferred candidate. I have made it known to him, but it has not affected our friendship.

I am sure if I say this on social media, some of his supporters will come and abuse me, those who love Jesus more than Mary. We still need a lot of education in Nigeria. Who I chose to support should not be a source of fight. When I see the repercussions, maybe I can change my mind. That is how I live my life, nobody can bully me.

Bola Ahmed Tinubu is one of the people who brought a failed government into power. Don't you think that is enough reason for people to oppose his political aspirations now?

That is subjective. He thought he saw someone who could make Nigeria greater. Is it every decision in your life that turned out right? If things didn't turn out right, will you stop living because of that? Will you stop being who you are?

If you recommend someone for a job and the person failed woefully, does that mean you should not apply for a job? The fact that he supported this present government and things did not work out as planned is just one out of a hundred instances. More so, you are not supposed to score a hundred percent all the time.

If you fail in one place, you turn around and move. I wouldn't call Buhari a total failure because he is not. He is not a total failure, nobody has done the infrastructure that the president has done in this country since the days of Awolowo, you can verify yourself. I am not a Buharist, but if I see anything wrong, I will say it out loud. If Asiwaju becomes the president today and things are not going right, I will still talk.

That is why my own followership is different.

I campaigned for Buhari, but when I noticed that they were getting some fundamental things wrong, I spoke up.

Anyway, anybody supporting anyone will have a reason for supporting that person. I am very clear and open- minded about that. I remember when I first started my career, a man didn't want to pay the remaining fees. Guess what? He said I was sweating at the event, which is the reason for not paying me in full for working for him. People will also have a reason for doing what they do, but then, it is between them and their God. If you don't want to vote for Asiwaju, don't vote for him. If it is Peter Obi that you like, you can go ahead with it. I will respect you for that. I have endured all kinds of abuses on my social media handles because of my support for Tinubu and I have never gone to anybody's page to write such things about them. They abuse me and my children's children. I find that so barbaric. Do you understand the perspective I am coming from? I have my choice. If I don't want to wear clothes and be moving about naked, it is my problem. Charley Boy has a nose ring, tongue ring, earring, belly ring, that is his choice.

Are you happy and satisfied with the way the country is being run under the All Progressives Congress?

Nigeria can be better, no doubt. Anyone who tells you the country is okay is lying to you. And I know and I am convinced in my heart that the person that can set Nigeria right is Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. He can do it because of his capacity. We have made a few silly mistakes, but we cannot say because some people got it wrong, we should now throw away the baby with the bath water.

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Do you often feel bad that none of them might take over your legacies?

No, I don't. It must not be my children. I have more children in the comedy industry than I have at home. By building those other ones, the industry is still moving forward. It is not a monarchy. It doesn't have to be my children. Even if I stop doing laffmattazz today, I might decide to give the franchise to someone else to run. It doesn't have to be my children. That is the mistake that a lot of people make. if my children are not interested in it, they will not do it to the best of their ability. My son wants to be a pilot, my daughter is in Human Resources and she is enjoying it, my last daughter is in Mass Communication, she is on radio and she is enjoying it. If I now force them into something they don't want, I won't even do that. I don't force what they will do on them, I don't believe in it.

You ventured into confectionery a while ago, how is the business doing?

We are doing well. We have had our ups and down. You know when you are new in business, Nigeria will show you pepper. I had some staff that almost frustrated me, but we are in a new location now. We have gotten our NAFDAC accreditation. I believe in being slow and steady. I don't even have all the money in the world to invest in it. We are doing well but not as much as I wanted to when we started. You know when you start a business, you will have so many ideas but turning them to reality is the main thing.

Adeyinka

How are you juggling everything together?

If you have good managers, you don't have to be everywhere.

All you need is a good manager and that was the challenge I had at the beginning. I can't be in the bakery and still be preparing for my shows. It took me a while to get the bakery stabilised, but we seem to making a lot of progress right now.

“

I have always been close to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. I started working for him in 1999. He has been extremely good to me. And I see capacity in the man.

When you know somebody first-hand and you know what he can do, you will do anything to advertise him

Don't you think he is old and his health will deprive him of functioning well?

It's like you don't like him, too. Asiwaju is not older than Biden. Age is not a form of competence. We have seen younger people in government who are doing rubbish, I don't want to mention names but you know. When people mention age, they have forgotten that everyone will grow old one day. Should society cast them aside because they have aged?

Let us leave politics, I can go on and on about it. I just pray that the best person that will lead Nigeria right will be our next president. But deep down within me, it is Asiwaju. If God says he is not the person, so be it. He has the ability to identify talents and put them in the right place. I will not go and burn anybody's house or fight anybody because of it.

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STORIES BY IVORY UKONU

O'odua Investment Ventures Into Oil And Gas Business

WOLE OLANIPEKUN IN EYE OF THE STORM

Olanipekun

D

uring the week, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Wole Olanipekun’s law firm came under fire for allegedly attempting to 'steal' a client from another prestigious firm like his, thus violating Rule 39 of the Rules of Professional Conduct, prohibiting self-advertising and solicitation by Nigerian legal practitioners or making comparison with or criticising other lawyers, including any statement about the quality of the lawyer’s work, the size or success of his practice or his success rate.

Saipem SPA, an Italian multinational oilfield services company, one of the largest in the world and formerly a subsidiary of Italian oil and gas supermajor, Eni, with operations in Nigeria, alongside Saipem Contracting Nigeria Ltd, were in court with the Rivers State Government over an alleged conspiracy to cheat and with intent to defraud the state of the sum of $130 million, being advanced payment for the construction of the OCGT power plant in Port Harcourt. Both companies were represented by the law firm, Ajumogobia & Okeke, owned by former Minister of State for Petroleum, Odein Ajumogobia. thinking that they could possibly make a kill from the lawsuit and also provide the two companies a soft landing so that they would end up not paying the total amount they were being sued for, Adekunbi Ogunde, an employee of Wole Olanipekun & Co, who was made leading partner in the oil and gas practice area in the law firm in December 2021, decided to do the unthinkable. She wrote to Mr Francesco Caio, the Chief Executive Officer of Saipem SPA, attempting to steal the case from the original representative for her law firm. Unknown to her, the case was no longer in court. It had already been settled out of court about two months before she wrote to Caio, which was on June 20, 2022.

While marketing her law firm, she cast a bad light on Ajumogobia & Co as a law firm with less influence and clout in favour of her law firm, which she considered more influential and prestigious. An excerpt from her letter to Caio read in part, "..I believe that you need a more influential lawyer/ law firm to prevent a potential huge pay out to Rivers State Government THEWILLNIGERIA

and without doubt, I believe my law firm, Wole Olanipekun & Co can help in this regard.

It will also reveal that the presence of our lead partner, Chief Olanipekun SAN, OFR, in the matter, will significantly switch things in favour of Saipem.

“Chief Olanipekun SAN, OFR is currently the Chairman of the Body of Benchers, which is the highest ruling body in the Nigerian legal profession. In other words, Chief Olanipekun SAN, OFR is the head of the entire legal profession in Nigeria. Wole Olanipekun & Co has helped other multinationals avoid huge pay cuts in more complex, sensitive and highly political matters."

Dismayed, Caio forwarded the letter to his company's attorney who was to say the least, miffed that Wole Olanipekun & Co could descend so low as to want to 'steal' his client from him. Ajumogobia immediately wrote to Olanipekun, expressing extreme disappointment and utter disillusionment that a letter of that nature could emanate from his chambers, given his stature at the bar generally and as the current Chairman of the Body of Benchers, in particular.

The former minister was all the more disappointed that Olanipekun would be willing to use his position to influence Justices of the Supreme Court, Presiding Justices of the Court of Appeal and Chief Judges, thus committing gross misconduct of the worst kind. What annoyed Ajumogobia the most is the fact that the case was made public and personally known to Olanipekun and his firm.

According to Ajumogobia, Olanipekun had asked him about the matter during a dinner that they both attended a few months ago.

Ajumogobia demanded a written apology to his firm from Wole Olanipekun & Co and another letter to Saipem top management retracting the initial letter. Olanipekun's law firm quickly retracted the letter and apologised to Ajumogobia's law firm.

It disassociated itself from the email, expressing disgust and regret that it emanated from a partner in their firm who acted without authorisation.

But the apology has done very little to remedy the situation, especially among the Nigerian legal community who have expressed dismay and anger over Olanipekun’s unethical act.

First, lawyers are unanimous with their concerns that the disclaimer from Olanipekun fell short of expectation, was incredibly offensive, derogatory and extremely disrespectful to Ajumogobia, who is also a SAN. They wonder why Olanikpekun would detail two junior associates to sign the apology letter disassociating his law firm from his employee's action and addressed to Ajumogobia when he could have signed the letter to show good faith.

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Secondly, the lawyers expressed the opinion that what Olanipekun’s law firm did was a serious breach that needed to be addressed to safeguard the integrity of the profession.

According to them, if the matter was left without reprimand, it would open a floodgate for all sorts of things and it won’t be long before the profession is destroyed. Finally, they begged to differ that the senior partner, Olanipekun, claims ignorance of the letter soliciting Saipem, as a case of such magnitude would naturally require a higher authorisation and not be left in the hands of junior associates. All eyes are currently on the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee, to see if they plan to act on the matter between Olanipekun and Ajumogobia and dish out the appropriate sanctions or if it will be swept under the carpet because of Olanipekun's perceived standing in the society.

Be that as it may, this isn't the first time Olanipekun has been in the eye of the storm over his unethical ways of practising law. A few months ago, Lucius Nwosu SAN, petitioned the Nigerian Bar Association to restrain Olanipekun from bidding for the position of chairman of Benchers, which is the professional body concerned with the admission of prospective students into the Nigerian Law School. The body also regulates the call of Law School graduates to the Nigerian Bar and the regulation of the legal profession in Nigeria.

In a letter addressed to Olumide Akpata, the NBA president, Nwosu accused Olanipekun of engaging in unprofessional conduct contrary to the provisions of section 3 of the Legal Practitioners Act Cap L 11, which provides that a Body of Benchers member should be of the highest distinction in the legal profession, a test that Nwosu says Olanipekun has failed repeatedly.

According to Nwosu, Olanipekun has unfortunately, over the years, progressively carried on a practice, which has culminated in his condemnation in unanimous decisions of the Supreme Court and final court of the land in the strongest of terms, particularly where Olanipekun sought for a review of the Supreme Court judgement on the Bayelsa State governorship election of 2019.

Olanipekun and Afe Babalola SAN, who both represented David Lyon, the Bayelsa governorship candidate and the All Progressives Congress (APC), were fined N30 million by the apex court over the application.

Olanipekun, according to Nwosu, defiantly refused to pay the fine, adding that his refusal is even more complicated, given the fact that the Chief Justice of the federation and all the learned law lords of the Supreme Court are statutory members of the Body of Benchers, including all the heads of strategic courts in Nigeria. This and many more, Nwosu considered an act of indecency on the part of Olanipekun, enough for him not to even think of applying to sit as chairman of the highest policy body where ethics and regulation of the legal profession will be discussed and formulated. But the NBA was past caring and Olanipekun eventually emerged the chairman of the body.

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Chinyere

SOUTHERN SUN HOTEL ACCUSED OF KEEPING THIEVES AS EMPLOYEES

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he prestigious Southern Sun Hotel in Ikoyi, Lagos, has been accused of harbouring thieves under the guise of employees, turning a blind eye to the pilfering of lodgers' properties and pretending to be unaware of complaints from the victims. About a week ago, a mobile phone belonging to a prominent cleric, Apostle Chibuzor Chinyere, was stolen when he was lodging in the hotel.

Rather than make an effort to find out how the phone got stolen and possibly find a way to retrieve it, the management of the hotel preferred to play dumb and by extension, shield the thief who made away with the phone. After waiting endlessly for a solution from the hotel without getting a response, Apostle Chinyere, who is the General Overseer of Port Harcourt-based Omega Power Ministries decided to call out the management for gross negligence and insensitivity to his situation. He revealed that he had told the management to question the worker who cleaned his room on the day before he checked out of the hotel and who he suspects must have stolen the phone, which contained sensitive documents, his bank applications and his hundreds of contacts which he said he did not backup, but his suggestions fell on deaf ears.

He said he had decided not to reveal the name of the hotel in the hope that his complaints would prompt its management to do the needful and fish out the thief, but seeing that they chose to ignore him and were not inclined to help him to recover his phone, he had no choice but to publicly call them out.

Although the cleric claimed that he had lodged a formal complaint to the police, he vowed never to step foot in the hotel again since its management could not guarantee the security of property belonging to its guests. He also swore not to let the matter go until he recovers his phone, even if it takes him 10 years to do so. He also warned that if push came to shove, he would drag the name of the hotel in mud, beginning with a press conference with all the major radio and television stations in the country. He however publicly appealed to the thief not to reset the phone to factory settings as the contacts saved in the phone are not only important to him, but also they could possibly affect so many lives. He promised to pay the thief three times the cost of the phone and if possible, give him a free slot on the list of people he sends to university overseas via his church/foundation's scholarship, if the thief is benevolent enough to return the phone. Known for his philanthropic gestures, Chinyere doesn't shy away from lending a helping hand when and if the need arises. He personally reached out to and rehabilitated the parents of Deborah Samuel who was lynched in Sokoto State for alleged blasphemy, three siblings whose mother was killed in the Owo Catholic Church attack and a social media sensation popularly referred to as Mr Spells who returned to the streets to beg for money to meet his needs after the buzz around him on social media died.

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he appointment of Bimbo Ashiru as the Board Chairman of O'odua Group, a conglomerate owned by governments of South-West states seem to be a blessing that is already yielding positive results as barely a week after his appointment, the conglomerate received its oil prospecting license. During the week, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission issued Petroleum Prospecting Licences to successful awardees of Marginal Fields in a bid that began in 2020 and 161 companies shortlisted as winners of the 57 marginal fields put on offer, which spanned onshore, swamp, and shallow water.

O'odua Investment had sought an oil prospecting licence through its subsidiary company, BITA Marginal Field covered by PPL 249 to Bita Exploration and Production Company Limited. BEPL is jointly owned by O'odua Ashiru

Investment and Pioneer Global Resources Limited. The outfit will operate the issued license in the Nigeria upstream petroleum sector. Some of the companies which emerged as winners include Matrix Energy, AA Rano, Andova Plc, Duport Midstream, Genesis Technical, Twin Summit, Bono Energy, Deep Offshore Integrated, MRS, Petrogas and SunTrust Oil which has former banking doyen turned monarch, Ebitimi Banigo, as its chairman.

How O'Tega Ermehor's Interest in Local Politics Affected Fortunes of Standard Alliance Insurance

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’Tega Ermehor may have made giant strides in the banking industry with First Atlantic Bank Plc and First Inland Bank as chairman and vice chairman, respectively, before First Monument Bank acquired the latter but the same cannot be said about his interest in the insurance industry where he started out well but lost focus along the way.

During the week, the National Insurance Commission, NAICOM cancelled the certificates of registration of his insurance company, Standard Alliance

Ermehor

Insurance Plc, RIC – 091 and that of Niger Insurance Plc, RIC – 029.

While the Commission did not give any reason for its action, pundits believe it may not be unconnected to the companies' inability to pay out claims, damages over the past few years. The commission has since appointed Kehinde Aina Esq, as the Receiver/Liquidator for his insurance company, Standard Alliance Insurance Plc. While some may argue that the prevailing economic situation in the country mitigated against Standard Alliance Insurance Plc, operating optimally, one cannot also discard the fact that in the last few years, Ermehor has paid very scanty interest in the company instead, channelling his energy to his other companies, one of which includes SunTrust Oil where he is a director. Also, the businessman has gotten quite busy with local politics, forcing him to spend more time in Delta State where he comes from and where he has made unsuccessful attempts to become the governor, rather than finding ways to salvage his company.

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STORIES BY SHADE WESLEY-METIBOGUN

How Femi Gbajabiamila Marked His 60th Birthday

MEET BLESSED UZOCHIKWA, MERCY CHINWO'S FIANCE

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he social media was agog last week after gospel singer Mercy Chinwo announced her engagement and introduced her handsome fiance. Many had been eager to meet the man rocking the world of the singer who has been discreet about her love life since she came into the limelight.

Blessed Uzochikwa, the lucky man who won the heart of the gospel artiste, is a clergyman. He is a pastor at Waterbrook Church, an arm of House of Freedom, a group of ministries comprising This Present House, The Waterbrook, God Bless Nigeria Church, all founded by Dr Tony Rapu, a medical doctor and life coach.

Uzochikwa is the resident pastor of Waterbrook Church located in Lekki, Lagos State, where a handful of celebrities such as Bankole

Wellington, also known as Banky W and his wife, Adesua Etomi worship.

Others are Lala Akindoju, Chioma Omeruh, known as Chigul, Jemima Osunde, etc.

An indigene of Delta State, Uzochika graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science at the University of Port-Harcourt. He also studied Advanced Management and Project Management at Stanford University in California. The cleric is also a Microsoft certified IT professional with an advanced Project Management certificate. He has worked in various capacities as an IT specialist. He worked with Tetra Pak as an IT administrator and was later made the Network Engineer at Micro software Solution/ IBM

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his wife became Erelu Osi Asoju Oba of Egbaland. The erstwhile commissioner was honoured for his contribution to the growth of Egbaland and Ogun State in general. His coronation ceremony was held at the palace of the Alake and it was witnessed by illustrious sons and daughters of Ogun State, sport administrators, political office holders, captains of industry and people from different walks of life.

The guests were entertained at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Tolu Obe, son of iconic singer, Evangelist Ebenezer Obey, entertained the guests at the event while Gbenga Adeyinka was the master of ceremony.

Olopade is known for his giant stride in sports as he is the brain behind the prestigious Access Bank

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Uzochikwa Partners. He was an IT/business support for South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa in AstraZeneca.

Uzochikwa is also a human rights activist as he supported the fight against xenophobia in South Africa in 2020.

The cleric and Chinwo have been friends for some years now. The singer has been invited on several occasions to the Waterbrook Church for singing ministrations.

On one occasion, he introduced her as a very dear sister whom he loves very much. Since he made the introduction, many have been suspecting there was more to their friendship than being a brother and sister in Christ.

Alake of Egbaland Honours Bukola Olopade With Chieftaincy Title ukola Olopade, otherwise known as Ozogula, the former Commissioner of Sports under the Gbenga Daniel Administration in Ogun State is now a traditional title holder. The sport enthusiast and his wife, Yetunde, were honoured by the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Dr Michael Adedotun, the paramount ruler of Egbaland with the title of Osi Asoju Oba of Egbaland while

The Olopades

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Lagos City Marathon, Abeokuta 10km race, Remo Ultra race, Ijebu Heritage half Marathon and other notable events across Nigeria.

During his tenure as commissioner for sports, the state hosted the best National Sport Festival ever in 2006. His wife is a director at Nilayo Sport Management Limited. She is also the Chief Executive officer of Gracebell Event, a company into decoration and event planning.

he Speaker of the Federal House of Representative, Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila, has clocked 60. Many had expected the politician to roll out the drums in celebration of his birthday, but he chose to mark it with a general prayer at the Ansar–UdDeen Central Mosque, Wuse 2, Abuja. The prayer session was attended by dignitaries and political bigwigs in the country.

The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State and party stalwarts were in attendance.

Gbajabiamila became the speaker of the House of Representative in 2019,

although his political journey as a lawmaker started in 2003 when he was elected into the House to represent Surulere 1 Constituency of Lagos State on the platform of the APC. He was later re-elected in 2007. He served as the minority leader of the House in the 7th Assembly and also the head of the House Ad hoc Committee investigating claims by the Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON) on the N140.9 billion debt owed by Zenon Petroleum and Gas and Forte Oil Plc. Gbajabiamila

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the mother of two in December 2021 in the hope of using it during the Christmas festivities.

The hair vendor promised to deliver the hair in two weeks but six months after making the order, she was yet to receive the hair she paid for from the entrepreneur.

Onuzulike claimed that she had to call the customer care department of the hair company, but all she was told was that her order got lost. She wasn't given another hair in return and her money was not refunded.

Another customer, Juliet Eigbedion, accused the hair vendor of neglecting her despite her complaint about the product she got from her.

She claimed she bought the hair, but when it was delivered, it wasn't in good condition. She

Clients Call Out Nwanneka Nkumah Over Sales Gone Sour wanneka Nkumah, boss of Hair by Wanneka, a thriving hair weave, extension and wig business, has been called out by some aggrieved clients who are obviously not happy with the way he treated them. A customer, Anita Onuzulike, claimed she ordered hair from

Nkumah

called the customer care line and the representative from the company claimed nothing happened to the hair and that the hair was looking as if it was not in good condition because she (the customer) did not comb it well.

Eigbedion tried to make further inquiry on how best to maintain and treat the hair, but her call was abruptly cut short during a conversation with the company's representative. All attempts to call back have been abortive since then as her calls were not answered.

While responding to some of the allegations, the hair boss made a video where she informed her clients that she was closing all online sales on the last day in the month of June. She requested one month’s grace to sort out all pending issues so that her clients can be satisfied with their products.

Deji of Akure Dethrones Olu of Ilado

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hief Kayode Johnson Ajomale, the Olu of IladoIgbatoro community in Akure, Ondo State has been dethroned by the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi.

Ajomale was accused of violating constituted traditional authority and for alleged gross traditional misconduct.

His dethronement was announced by the Deji of Akure last week without any prior warning by the monarch. Many were shocked after receiving the news of his disgrace from office.

It was alleged that the real reason Aladelusi

made the move was because he wanted to favour his own candidate, Chief Ifedayo Joshua Afelumo, who is a rival and enemy to the deposed chief.

Afelumo and Ajomole have been rivals for a couple of years before Ajomole was favoured over him for the chieftaincy title. They have also been involved in a legal battle for some time over a land dispute.

But the Deji of Akure is in support of Afelumo and has always wanted him to take over as the Olu of Ilado in Akure North Local Government Area.The monarch made his move, despite a court

ruling that he has no authority to dethrone or enthrone any lesser monarch in the state.

He was reported to the Ondo State Government by the Olus-in-Council who accused him of illegally installing a rival Chief Ifedayo Joshua Afelumo. It was revealed that his action has caused a crisis within the local government area.

Before Deji of Akure removed the chieftain, the state government had also followed the directive of the court and warned him from installing and removing minor chiefs without the consent of the state Aladelusi government.

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JULY 03 - JULY 09, 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

Tukur Buratai Turbaned as Garkuwan of Keffi

OONI OF IFE INTERVENES IN TINUBU, AREGBESOLA FEUD

Tinubu

Aregbesola

Adeyeye

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he ongoing war between the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and his former 'godson,' the former governor of the State of Osun, Rauf Aregbesola, may soon come to an end. The Oni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi has stepped in for the second time to broker peace between the warring

parties. The royal father was in Abuja last weekend to meet with the two parties behind closed doors, but they didn't arrive at a logical end before the meeting ended.

It was gathered that another meeting will take place when Tinubu returns from France. This is not the first time that the traditional ruler will be making efforts to reconcile Tinubu and Aregbesola. The first reconciliation move took place in March before the unfortunate demise of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi. The two Yoruba monarchs made efforts to settle the rift between the Minister of Interior, Aregbesola and Tinubu.

Aregbesola had a closed door

meeting with the two monarchs but Tinubu was not in attendance.

The presidential candidate claimed he wasn't invited to the meeting and kept away from the peace keeping mission.

The cold war between the two began brewing after Adegboyega Oyetola, the incumbent governor of Osun State, reversed some policies implemented by Aregbesola during his tenure.

Aregbesola felt betrayed that his former Chief of Staff would make some moves that would turn the people of the state against him, he therefore made a vow not to support Oyetola's second term bid. He anointed Moshood Adeoti, the former Secretary to the state government as his own candidate, a move that his political godfather, Tinubu was not pleased with.

Tinubu felt betrayed that Aregbesola, who was his political 'godson', would turn his back against his anointed candidate (Aregbesola). The rift however turned to an open friction during the APC primaries when Aregbesola openly accused Tinubu of placing himself in the position of God in the party.

Christie Igbokwe's Seun Rere Used as Theme Song For American Movie

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ate Christy Udak EssienIgbokwe, otherwise known as Lady of songs, may have been long gone but her legacy still speaks 11 years after her demise.

One of her hit songs, Seun Rere has been made a theme song for American film, Rise, which was directed by Nigerian director, Akin Omotosho and produced by Arash Amel.

The movie, which was released as a Disney original on June 22, 2022, is an American -Greek biographical sport-drama film adapted from a true life story of three young Nigerian-Greek brothers, Giannis, Thanasis and Kostas Anetokounmpo who migrated to THEWILLNIGERIA

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the United States and rose to fame and success within the National Basketball Association. It also catalogues their family's struggles and their Nigerian-Greek origin.

The film features international movie acts such as Dayo Okeniyi, Yetide Badaki and other notable acts. Playing at the background of the film is Seun Rere, Christiana Igbokwe's hit song which was sung over two decades ago in the music album Ever like my Person.

The song remained one of the evergreen songs released by a prominent Nigerian artiste. The Nigeria lady of song took her last breath in June 2011 after a brief illness.

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Igbokwe

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Marshal

ormer Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen Tukur Buratai (Retd.), will be turbaned as the Garkuwan keffi of Keffi town, Nasarawa State by the Emir of Keffi, his Royal Highness, Alhaji Dr. Shehu Chindo Yamusa III in conjunction with the Emirate Council in Keffi.

The event will take place on July 8, 2022 in Keffi in the presence of dignitaries and other top military personnel. Although Buratai is from Borno State, he was chosen for the royal title because of his love for Nasarawa State and Keffi town in general and his contribution to the development of the town while he was in active service as the Chief of Staff of the country.

Just as the name of his title Garkuwan connotes compassion, loyalty, the retired military officer has shown exceptional love and loyalty towards Buratai

Keffi town when it was under heavy insurgency attack. The former military officer recently came under attack after it was alleged that billions of cash meant for the purchase of arms and ammunition to fight Boko Haram was found in his home in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory. The retired officer however refuted the claims through his legal team.

rovidence has not stopped smiling at Temilade Openiyi, otherwise known as Tems, since her debut in the Nigerian music industry. The artiste who started her sojourn in the industry in 2018 has witnessed a steady rise in the music scene that it seems she has been in the industry for more than a decade. With the success she has recorded so far, the accolade would continue for a few more years.

She was recently crowned the first female artiste to win a Black Entertainment Television, BET award with her recognition as

the Best International Act and the Best Collaboration category for her feature in Ayo Balogun, aka Wizkid's hit song Essence. She defeated musical greats such as Tiwa Savage, Omawumi, Waje, Teni and other Nigerian female artistes to be the first female to win such an international award.

No doubt, Wizkid's collaboration was a catalyst for Tems' rise to the height she has attained in the industry today.

Since she had that collaboration in Essence, her profile has not stopped rising as she gained more exposure and experience as a singer. She gained International relevance with the collaboration as it earned her a first Grammy award as the Best Global Music Performance and also a NAACP image award as an Outstanding Music Video /Visual Album.

The moment Essence became a hit, Tems also earned a global voice and musical giants in the International scene started jostling to have collaboration with her.

She has been featured with other international acts such as Aubrey Drake Graham in the song Fountain and Wait for u, which also recorded massive success and debuted on Hot 100 chart, making her the first African female artiste to top the chart.

K1 DE ULTIMATE MARKS 50 YEARS ON The Rise of Temilade Openiyi STAGE P

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uji maestro, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, otherwise known as K1 De Ultimate, rolled out the drums in celebration of his 50th year on stage on Sunday, July 3, 2022. The iconic music act has paid his dues as one of the most popular singers in the Fuji genre. Most high profile shindigs are incomplete without the Mayegun of Yorubaland gracing the stage. The event staged to mark his 50 years on stage was done in collaboration with Freelance and Independent Broadcasters Association of Nigeria FIBAN Nigeria show, which took place on Sunday at DLK Event Centre, Abiola Way Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The celebration was attended by other prominent Fuji musicians and crème de la crème in the society. Ayinde Marshal took interest in music when he was eight years old. By the time he was 15, he had won various musical competitions and was gradually becoming a force to reckon with in the music industry. He became a member of late Ayinde Barrister in 1975 and later set up his own band.

By the time he was 23 years-old, he had mastered his craft, travelled to Mecca and released one of his greatest hits Talaso in 1984. After which he has won so many accolades and remained the most relevant Fuji musician in Nigeria. The music act might have made a mark in the music industry but he has not recorded the same level of success in the home front with the way he goes after beautiful and well-endowed ladies and fathering many children from different women.

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JULY 03 - JULY 09, 2022 T H E W I L L N E W S P A P E R • www.thewillnigeria.com

FEATURES

An Unwinnable War Against Hard Drugs?

It is a tough job for chairman of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency retired Brigadier General Mohammed Buba Marwa. He is not finding it funny at all as the number one man charged with sniffing out barons and dealers or smoking out those who patornise them.

In a recent appearance on Channels Television, he let on that even politicians work hand in glove with drug cartels.

(One was tried and jailed recently by a Lagos court.) As governor of Bornu and Lagos states separately, Marwa had his way and applied the rod when necessary.

But since his appointment as chairman of NDLEA in January 2021 by President Muhammadu Buhari, there have been frustrations along the way. Nevertheless, the agency under him has recorded some smarting victories against barons, suppliers and consumers. The problem, as any social worker will tell you, is not the barons or dealers but the dope heads and coke heads looking for an angry fix.

Michael Jimoh reports…

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I get high with a little help from my friends,” so goes the inscription on a famous Bob Marley poster. Of course, the self-acclaimed patron saint of marijuana had one spliff clenched between his index and forefinger touching his lips in the said poster, smoke clouding part of his angular visage. Without his supplies from wherever, the reggae icon insinuated or suggested, he might never attain that mellow-high state he so much cherished for much of his adult life.

But there is also another side to it: without pot heads like Bob Marley and the millions of coke, heroin or crack addicts all over the world, barons and dealers could be very well out of business.

The logic is, as any economist can attest, sans demand, sans supply. Asked once why he repeatedly sold marijuana after been busted severally by the police, a drug dealer said the very obvious thing: “Because there are always junkies out there.”

There are always junkies out there! That seems to be the major problem facing hard drugs busters like retired Brigadier General Mohammed Buba Marwa chairman of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency. On request, barons and dealers are ever ready to give hard drugs abusers their required fix – a pinch of heroin or a snort of cocaine, a roll of weed or those syrupy medicines young people now relish swigging.

From seedy corner streets and slums in Ajegunle or Mushin, at bus stops and motor parks in Ogun state, public school fields in Kaduna or Kano, young people are turning to hard drugs more than ever before. Two decades or so back, most teenagers would have been appalled to learn that their classmates smoked pot. It is a different picture today, as anyone can see at bus stops in most state capitals. But the most damning instances of drug abuse by young people are to be found in Psychiatrist Hospitals across Nigeria, where they recline, wasted, undergoing rehab. Some

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make it. Some others do not. And yet, the craze for psychotropic substances is on the rise. Also disturbing to NDLE chairman is the growing involvement of politicians and security agencies in hard drugs trafficking in Nigeria.

Appearing on Channels Television recently, Marwa intimated that NDLEA has arrested politicians “who either are holding political office or have retired. Recently one of them was jailed in Lagos, he was trying to smuggle 1kg of heroin, maybe to use it to run for office,” insisting that “cartels also participate in political institutions; they actually fund candidates into the various levels so that the correct laws (that favors them) are enacted.”

Still fresh in memory was the arrest of former head of IRT, Abba Kyari, by NDLEA officials last February. What was his crime?

He asked a colleague to assist him in siphoning part of a cocaine seizure by offering a bribe of $61, 400 in cash which was recorded.

Four days after last Christmas, drug traffickers disguised as men of security outfits were arrested in Bornu state. Gimlet-eyed operatives of NDLEA thought something was amiss when they routinely searched three men and found one of them to be a fake army officer. The impersonator, Yakubu Kotri, was caught with a car loaded with over 427 kilograms of illicit drugs in Bornu.

Another impostor, Salisu Mohammed, wore the uniform of another security outfit. He was caught with hard drugs for distribution in the Federal Capital Territory. Other arrests have been effected, as well, of traffickers taking tramadol to the FCT. Among them is Dada Adekunle, Usman Isa, and Alfred Aminu.

Writing on Marwa’s 69th birthday anniversary last September, Senior Special Adviser Media and Publicity to PMB, Femi Adesina, used the occasion to laud some of the achievements of the chairman, the seizures and arrests made of barons, dealers and abusers.

Headlined “Buba Marwa Gives Them Bloody Nose” in Vanguard, Adesina reeled off the number of arrests of traffickers and barons at the time: 9,355 and six drug barons and more than 5,000 drug offenses cases filed in court. Also, more than N100 billion worth of drugs and cash have been recovered with an astonishing 2.7 million kilogrammes of assorted illicit drugs seized in 10 months.

About 5,579 drug users have also been counseled and rehabilitated.

Continuing, PMB’s spokesman said: “mind boggling seizures and interceptions made include 230 tons of cannabis in Edo State, 451,807 Captagon tablets at Apapa seaport, in Lagos, 1,994,400 capsules of Tramadol, 144,400 bottles of codeine syrup, 32.9 kg of cocaine worth over N9 billion in October alone, and the biggest single seizure from an individual in 15 years, 26.840 kg of cocaine smuggled from Brazil.”

These figures clearly show that Marwa is on top of his game. Last year, for instance, at the 3rd Annual Colloquium of Galaxy Clique in Offa, Kwara state, the retired army officer let it be known that the agency under his watch confiscated N60billion worth of hard drugs in the last two months. It is a record in the history of NDLEA since inception in 1989.

Tagged “Hard Drug Abuse and Insecurity: A Siamese Twins,” Marwa was represented by Babayeju Kayode, Kwara State Commandant of the agency. According to him, infallible intelligence sources have “established a clear nexus between drug abuse and terrorism (Boko Haram) in the north east and other security challenges across the country.”

He couldn’t be more correct. Before embarking on any operation, criminals have been known to embolden themselves with a cocktail of hard drugs. Cannabis, Marwa disclosed through the Kwara commandant of NDLEA, had been the only illicit drug locally produced in Nigeria for years. “But this has changed with Continues on page 29 THEWILLNIGERIA

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FEATURES

BY SAMPSON UHUEGBU

A

lthough former majority leader in the Imo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Stanford Onyirimba is no more, one of his towering achievements that is worthy of praises today is the reconstruction of the once impassable Amaraku-Obollo-Umueze 2-Afor- Oru Road.

Onyirimba, who represented Ehime Mbano Constituency, cannot be forgotten in a hurry for making a strong case that prompted the project's immediate execution, as approved by the then Governor of Imo State, Achike Udenwa.

It is heartening to learn that the solidly-built Amaraku/Obollo Road is now the shortest access to Ehime Mbano from Owerri and neighbouring towns.

Before 1999, Duru- Owerre, the boundary between Ehime and Isiala Mbano Local Government Area, linking St. Dominic's Secondary School, Ugiri, was a nightmare. It only took the redemptive intervention of Udenwa's administration to rehabilitate the road and make it motorable.

The Ekeahiara-Aba-Branch Road was built by the first civilian Governor of Imo State, Samuel Mbakwe. Regrettably, it has fallen into decay and appears to have been abandoned by the authorities.

The road had stood the test of time.

It would be recalled that sometime in June, 2022, the incumbent Governor Hope Uzodimma had a stakeholders' meeting with traditional rulers, opinion leaders, professors, town union leaders, women/youth leaders, religious and political leaders drawn from the 11 wards that made up Ehime Mbano LGA. That delegation was led by Prof Maurice Iwu, Chief Tony Chukwu, Senator Frank Ibezim, and Stanford Onyirimba (now late), among others, wgho begged the governor to see to the rehabilitation of the Aba-Branch (Ehime Mbano)- Ekeahiara Road linking Umuezeala, headquarters of the local government area, to Owerri through Mbaise.

They requested Uzodimma to caution and direct the contractor handling the Ehime Mbano Rural Access and Mobility Project

Amaraku/Obollo/Umueze 2/ Afor- Oru road.

Is Ekeahia-Aba-Branch Road Project Forgotten?

(RAMP) to return to site. They reported that the contractor abandoned his work since February 2020, despite having collected mobilisation funds.

Indeed, that road is crying out for either rehabilitation or complete reconstruction. Its present decaying state has negatively affected the socio-economic activities of the people of Ehime Mbano and motorists using it.

due to its deplorable state. He regretted that the present condition of the road had negatively affected his business. He pleaded with Governor Uzodimma and other well-meaning sons of the area to fix the delapidated road for the sake of travellers.

The road is said to be captured in the Imo State Community Priority Projects by the Ministry of Works, under the supervision of the Commissioner for Works, Barr. Ralph Nwosu.

Efforts made by this writer to reach out the Transition Committee (TC) Chairman of Ehime Mbano LGA, Barr. Chidi Okechukwu, hit a brick wall as his mobile phone number was not reachable as of the time of filing this report. But let us bear in mind that local government area does not have the power to embark on the rehabilitation of that road without an official approval and possible funding from the Federal Government or Imo State Government.

The nonchalant attitude of some prominent sons and daughters of Ehime Mbano to the rehabilitation of that road has left a dent on their images. That project could be single-handedly funded by any goodspirited person who sees the need to give it a facelift for the sake of motorists and road users.

A 95 year-old stockfish seller, Mama Veronica Onyenezite, lamented that constant flooding of the road had seriously affected her trade. She pleaded with the state government to fix the road so as to enhance easy movement of vehicles from Aba branch to Mbaise and other places.

A commercial bus driver who operates on the Ekeahiara-Aba-Branch Road disclosed that motorists have completely avoided the main road

Efforts made to reach the commissioner of works for his reaction to the issue were not successful.

Continued from page 28

...War Against Hard Drugs? the establishment of clandestine laboratories in several parts of the South-East and Lagos.”

Now easily available on corner streets are illicit substances like codeine, methamphetamine, rophynol, tramadol, etc.

“This is followed by codeine (cough syrup), tramadol, Rohypnol, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, valium 5 and 10,” the NDLEA boss said. More worrisome to the chairman is the age bracket of drug abusers. “The statistical analysis of these drug-dependent persons shows they were of age 15 to 64 years bracket.”

Marwa also said at the colloquium that “since the agency began operation in 1990, over 9.5 million kilogrammes of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances have been seized with over 27,000 drug traffickers convicted”, insisting that the “economic consequences of the cultivation, processing or manufacturing, packaging, smuggling, retailing and peddling of narcotic drugs and psychotropic drugs are disastrous. It causes destruction of national economies, the frustration of monetary and fiscal controls and inflation due to laundering of proceeds of drugs.”

Apart from the economic consequences of trade in illicit drugs is the effect on Nigeria’s democratic process. “A major implication of the vast financial assets from the drug trade,” Marwa said, “is its influence on political decisions which has led to the overthrow of legitimate governments and the creation of ‘Narco Democracy.”

In the early to mid-nineties, Bolivia’s democracy was similarly threatened by ‘Narco Democracy. To fight it, the government set up a plan called Dignity, which consists of four pillars, according to Dr. Guido Nayar Parada, Minister of Government at the time.

The four pillars are development of alternative crops, prevention, prohibition and eradication. The plan worked so well that formerly coca-based regions began cultivating food crops.

“So far, we’ve had historic results,” Guido Naraya said at the time. “More than 8, 000 hectares of coca plants have been THEWILLNIGERIA

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destroyed while developing 100, 000 of alternative crops in the El Chapare region. Before the plan, police couldn’t even get into that area. Today, it is a law-abiding region where the cocaine-based economy has been replaced by one based on food.”

To understand Marwa’s equally rising stature, profile as chairman of NDLEA, it might help to go back to his roots, his formative years through adulthood to what he has become today.

A retired Army officer, Marwa was born into a soldierly family, starting with his grandfather and then his own dad. Though from Michika Local Government Area of Adamawa state, he was born on September 9, 1953 in Kaduna state. Sired by forebears who were in the military presupposes that he would join the army.

Marwa did, beginning his military career at Nigeria Military School, Zaria, then Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna.

It has been said that Marwa distinguished himself at both institutions, staying solidly in the top five all through his classes.

Of course, all that would be a prelude to a firmer educational base and brighter career. He was still in the Nigeria Army when he made it to Pittsburgh University where he studied International Relations and Harvard where he obtained a Masters’ degree in Public Admin.

Marwa has held several executive and diplomatic positions both in the Nigeria Army and for the Nigerian government. He was Aidede-Camp to Lieutenant General Theophilus Danjuma, Academic Registrar of NDA. He has also worked as military attaché in the Nigerian Embassy in Washington DC. Marwa also held diplomatic posts in a number of African countries such as Lesotho and South Africa.

Commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant in the Nigerian Army Reconnaissance Corps, he soon repaired to Armoured Corp. Two of his instructors later became Nigerian rulers. The first, Ibrahim Babangida, appointed Marwa as Military Administrator of Bornu state where Marwa left his indelible footprints for the period he was the number one in the north eastern state.

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When IBB stepped aside and Sani Abacha took over, the goggled general needed a tough man to take charge in a tough state. He looked no further than Mohammed Marwa who had performed well in his own natal state. Faster than a rifle shot, Abacha sent Marwa to Lagos to put things in order in the littoral state.

True enough! Bursting at the seams with human population and vehicular movement marred by bad roads, Marwa came up with “Operation 250 Roads” to contain those two perennial problems.

It was not only roads he turned his attention. As one observer put it, Marwa “revamped public health institutions, and ensured that free malaria treatment was available to residents of the state”.

But it is the famous ‘Operation Sweep” that was most effective.

For those too young to know, a combined team of the army and the police, Operation Sweep was set up by the MILAD to tackle the menace of armed robbery in the state. Did he succeed in this?

Very well. Criminologists recorded low levels of crime at the time, from random robberies to carefully planned and well executed operations by men of the underworld. All through his tenure as MILAD of Lagos state, Marwa had zero tolerance for criminals.

In fact, the success of Operation Sweep led to criminals bee-lining it to neighbouring states. “The fear of Operation Sweep,” hardeyed criminals used to say then, “is the beginning of wisdom.”

For all his plans to make Lagos state a better place, to make it a more livable space when he was MILAD, several assassination attempts were made on his life. On one occasion, in February 1998, Marwa himself was compelled to make that announcement on radio and television.

Unknown persons were again trying to assassinate him, the statement read, and that he and his entourage had been the target of several bomb attacks starting in 1996. But he said that he would not be intimidated. His most concern for now, as a promotional ad of NDLEA proclaims is that “a drug-free society begins with you.” If that doesn’t happen, then dealers will be in good business as long as there are “junkies out there.”

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NEWS XTRA EU Kicks Off N1.3bn Nigeria Green Economy Project

T

he European Union (EU) has inaugurated the ‘Team Europe Initiative (TEI) Nigeria Green Economy’ project aimed at stimulating sustainable climate-smart agriculture and renewable energy for economic growth and diversification.

L-R: Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Prof Ibrahim Gambari; Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and his wife, Salamatu Gbajabiamila, arriving at the Ansar-Ud-Deen Central Mosque, Wuse 2, Abuja for a special prayer session organized in honour of the Speaker to mark his 60th birthday on June 25, 2022.

Be Patient, Bayelsa Deputy Archbishop Kaigama Decries Killings, Bad Governor Tells Etelebou Road Network Gas Field Stakeholders

T

he Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has urged a group of oil and gas producing communities in Yenagoa local Government Area, known as Opolo and its environs to be patient as government is addressing their differences with Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).

Ewhrudjakpo made the call last Monday when he embarked on a special site inspection visit to some areas of the vast Etelebou oil and gas fields in the Yenagoa LGA. The deputy governor explained that the visit was to enable government verify the claims made by the communities and SPDC over gas pipelines blocking natural canals and making life unbearable for people of the area.

Ewhrudjakpo said government, through the on-the-spot assessment, had identified the issues involved and was convinced that de-silting of the blocked canals would ensure free flow of water and also alleviate the sufferings of the people.

He therefore urged the SPDC team to without any further delay kickstart the process of awarding the de-silting contract and furnish his office with the timelines for commencement and completion of the project.

While calling for transparency and commitment on the part of SPDC, Ewhrudjakpo appealed to the host communities to remain calm and lawabiding.

The Bayelsa number two man said the present administration was always available to mediate between the oil firms and their host communities, noting that the duty of government is to promote peace and take burdens off the shoulders of its people.

He said, "There has been a lot of contention. The issue is that the activity we did because of the gas gathering plant

PAGE 30

involving Etelebou, clearly has caused some blockages to the natural canals, which have deprived the communities access to their farmlands and other resources.

"Due to blockages, the host communities have been deprived of farming, fishing and other rights have been stifled.We have been able to identify the issues and we are convinced and indeed have agreed that de-silting will be the first thing to do.

"We want to appeal to the communities that they should remain calm while we take all the processes that are required to get the contract awarded and executed.

"We also need the support of the SPDC and the contractor to ensure that the desilting takes place as agreed. It is in the best interest of all parties that it is done as agreed.

"As for the SPDC, I want them to be as transparent as possible. We want to achieve the milestone that we achieved with the Kolo Creek gas turbine issue.

All of us must put our hands on deck to deliver on the project."

In their separate remarks, the member representing Yenagoa Constituency 1 in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Oforji Oboku and the spokesman of the host communities, Mr. Jamabo Wozi, thanked the Deputy Governor for the visit, expressing hope that his efforts would bring about justice and succour to the impacted communities.

On his part, the Head of Asset Management and Integration, SPDC East, Mr Teifa Biotu, said the company was committed to working closely with the host communities to de-silt the blocked canals.

He expressed appreciation to the deputy governor for his tireless efforts at resolving the conflict amicably, promising that SPDC would work on the project timelines and make them available to the Deputy Governor as soon as possible.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that members of the TEI Green Economy Project are: Denmark, France, Germany and the Netherlands.

According to the ambassador, the TEI Green Economy consists of 60 projects of different nature to be executed across the agricultural and energy sectors by 2027 and is valued at 1.3 billion Euros.

T

Isopi said the project was aimed at improving the competitive advantage of Nigeria’s agriculture and energy sectors, with emphasis on access to clean and renewable energy as well as job creation, skills and capacity development.

He also lamented the lack of motorable roads in Benue State and called on the Federal Government and the states to rise up to the challenge of reconstruction to aver mishap.

She added that the project was a result of collaborative efforts with the EU and member states, private and public sectors and the development financial institutions.

FROM KAJO MARTINS, MAKURDI

FROM DAVID OWEI, YENAGOA

The EU ambassador to Nigeria and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Ms Samuela Isopi, unveiled the project at the 8th EU-Nigeria Business Forum tagged: “Nigeria and the New Economy” on Friday, in Lagos.

he Archbishop of Abuja province, Most Rev. Ignatius Ayau Kaigama, has decried the killing of catholic priests and other Nigerian clerics across the country in recent times.

Archbishop Kaigama, while addressing the congregation after the installation of Most Rev. Isaac Bundepuun Dugu as the Bishop of Katsina-Ala Diocese in Benue State on Friday, also condemned the persecution and killing of innocent Christians, especially Catholic priests in the country.

Concerned that the Makurdi-Wukari Road is a death trap, he said, "I, therefore, urge you Governor Ortom to take proactive measures to ensure that the roads are constructed.

The condition of the roads in the state are very bad. Even the road to this place (venue of the event) is also bad. As I was coming here, I observed how bad the road is. I urge you to construct these roads to make them motorable. The ones you cannot do, take them to the Federal Government. Even link them to my state, Taraba."

Archbishop Kaigama who called for sustained prayers to end killing and abduction of Catholic priests, lamented the worsening insecurity in the country and called for an end to it.

He warned Christians in the diocese against divisive tendencies that would bring about crisis in the church and urged them to work in harmony with Bishop Dugu to the peace and development of the church.

Responding, Governor Samuel Ortom pledged support to the development of the church; saying the deplorable condition of federal roads, especially the Gboko-KatsinaAla Road, which was in bad shape and promised to take the matter to the presidency for necessary action.

The governor commended the cordial working relationship that existed between his administration and the church and pledged sustenance and prayers for peace to reign in the state and country at large.

She assured continued support for the Nigerian government in the implementation of its economic diversification policies and new partnerships with the private sector.

“In line with the EU’s Green Deal, the Green Economy Initiative will support the Nigerian government’s efforts to diversify the economy by combining support to enhance access to renewable energy for productive uses and boosting the development of the agricultural sector.

“Collectively, the actions will help Nigeria attain the SDGs and put the country on a sustainable development path.

“The initiative will offer support in areas of expertise and strong European contribution such as climate-smart agriculture, technological and digital solutions, vocational training, employment and entrepreneurship creation as well as access to sustainable energy,” she said.

She said the TEI would forge new partnerships with member states interested in supporting Nigeria’s circular economy efforts.

Ms Inga Stefanowicz, EU Team Leader, Green and Digital Economy in Nigeria, said the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Development Financial Institutions would assist various players in the value-chains in the agricultural and energy sectors.

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SportsLive

Awoniyi's EPL Chance This Transfer Season

BY JUDE OBAFEMI

O

n June 25, with the football transfer business in full swing across Europe, the news broke that the long-desired wish of Nigerian forward, Taiwo Awoniyi, to play football in the highly lucrative English Premier League (EPL) was being realised with the formal confirmation of his move to EPL returnees Nottingham Forest.

In early February, THEWILL reported on Awoniyi's dream for an opportunity to play in the Premiership and detailed how that dream appeared to have been scuttled by fate and circumstances. The article, written just after the Super Eagles were unceremoniously booted out of the TotalEnergies 2021 Africa Cup of Nations by a Tunisian lone goal, affirmed the desire of the 24-year-old to return to the English Premier League with a chance of demonstrating his value for whichever club that would offer him a place in its squad.

The story of Awoniyi’s first chance to achieve this dream and the circumstances that conspired to initially deny him that opportunity speaks of resilience, transfer cycles, humility, hard work, determination and accomplishment as he joins a growing set of Nigerians plying their trades in the EPL.

It was well and good for the goal sensation, as he also decided to seek his fortunes outside Liverpool with the avowed determination to work his way back from Germany to the Premiership with single-minded purposefulness. By February, it was already proving to be a wise decision. Awoniyi took to the Bundesliga with fiery disposition the moment he stepped in as a permanent starter in the Die Eisernen side. In 28 games, the Nigerian international had notched up a balanced set of goal involvements, boasting 14 goals and 14 assists.

Aoniyi’s scintillating performances in the German top flight did nothing to dampen his burning desire to play in England, which he never concealed from the Bundesliga club he represented. And, it was for both football and familial reasons, neither of which was unreasonable for the Nigerian striker. He revealed the thinking behind his EPL desire when he said: “The Premier League is my dream. Everyone knows that, even here in Union. The decisive difference for me is that if I lived in England, it would be easier for my wife and kid, not just because of the language. In addition, my sister and brother live there.”

Writing prophetically in February, THEWILL had noted with equanimity that if he maintained his current form and continued to score the goals that can propel Union Berlin towards European football, there will be no shortage of options for him to make the transition to England, as many EPL clubs are looking for strikers who can deliver on a continuous basis, as evidenced by the interest in Victor Osimhen.

Awoniyi did just that and his consistency is being rewarded with a dream-come-true move that has brought him back to England where, in the 2022/2023 season, he will lead the frontline of a English side with a penchant for giving EPL sides a tough 90 minutes of football. This was evidenced in their sensational run in last season's FA Cup competition. Steve Cooper, who used to be a Liverpool Academy coach, took his side to a successful triumph over FA Cup holders Leicester City, at time when Brendan Rodgers and his charges were playing remarkable football in Europe, before defeating Mikel Arteta's resurgent Arsenal side.

Forest then surged past fellow championship side Huddersfield to set up an uphill quarter-final berth against the overly technical Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool. Yet, Forest were neither intimidated or outplayed when they met, matching Liverpool in all departments but losing by a lone goal. They raised some good money for their run and carried that momentum into the culmination of the Championship, which saw Nottingham Forest overcome Huddersfield Town at Wembley in what became the mostwatched EFL game on record.

That is the team to which Awoniyi has come to in marking his dream return to actually play in the EPL. The impact of his presence in the team is already being felt as Nigerians on social media have immediately made their intentions to be unflagging in rooting for Forest next season because of Awoniyi. Their social THEWILLNIGERIA

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Awoniyi

In 2015, Awoniyi, who featured at the 2013 Under-17 World Cup, signed a contract with Liverpool, but he was mostly loaned out to teams in Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. A reason for the regularity of the loaning was because the Nigerian star was also unable to play for the Reds due to his inability to obtain a work permit. After six frustrating years at Anfield, he finally received his permit in the 2020/2021 season, but Liverpool could no longer fit him into their squad and decided to sell him off to Union Berlin where he had impressed the previous season on loan.

media accounts have gained new followers and the reactions to videos and pictures of the signing ceremony, where emotions almost got the better of the Nigerian international, and his unveiling in the colours of Forest, have been seeing increased numbers as more Nigerians learn of the move.

Awoniyi has the chance to get into the Super Eagles' starting XI especially under new coach Jose Peseiro, who has shown a willingness to give players that are on form the chance to win their places in the squad he is building to accomplish his first objective of winning the country a fourth continental title in the upcoming 17th edition of the TotalEnergies 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), billed to take place in Ivory Coast from June 23 to July 23 next year.

Fans of the Premiership will be consoled by Awoniyi's return especially after the conclusion of the 2021/2022 season saw the reduction of the Nigerian Super Eagles' players presence in England's top flight by four players with the relegation of Watford. Striker Emmanuel Dennis, midfielder Oghenekaro Etebo, defender William Troost-Ekong and goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, who recently joined up with the team from the Eredivisie side Sparta Rotterdam, will all be missing from the array of stars contesting for honours in the prestigiously attractive Premier League unless they can gain from the transfers currently ongoing and get snapped back up in a transfer move to a team that will be playing EPL football next season. There is still some time as the transfer window will remain open for business up until Monday, September 1. However, as things currently stand, there has been scant interest in any of these Watford stars and goalkeeper Okoye is only just resuming with the Hornets and cannot be on the lookout for another transfer for next season, at the very least.

Dortmund's Erling Haaland, Darwin Nunez has taken Sadio Mane's spot in Liverpool and Gabriel Jesus is on the verge of being confirmed for Arsenal. Still, Osimhen's draw has not dampened with news that Newcastle United and Manchester United are still in the race to bring the Napoli striker to England.

This is because the 23-year-old has demonstrated his knack to get results through his goals that saw him scoring 17 goals and dishing out six assists in 30 appearances across all competitions for Napoli last season.

In order to improve their league standing starting in the next campaign, Newcastle are trying to sign a new striker, while Man United are looking to replace Edinson Cavani and, depending on Erik ten Hag's preference, allow Marcus Rashford to leave the rebuilding that the new manager is attempting. Before deciding to accept a deal, Napoli might be waiting for an offer to surpass their £100m valuation, which Newcastle is now anticipated to be able to finance under its new ownership. Even if Osimhen may have sidestepped answering a direct question about where he sees his future with all this EPL interest for his services, there is no denying that, much like Awoniyi, after playing in the Bundesliga, Belgium, and then Ligue 1, the Nigerian record-setting goalscorer is also eager to feature in the Premier League and open to a lucrative move should one present itself.

The Super Eagles' star that has generated the most interest so far is Napoli's goal machine Victor Osimhen, who is in the form of his career for club and country and who has seen his valuation peak as a result. The allure of the Premier League is also behind attempts by English clubs to attract a player of Osimhen's form into their squad. His name as inextricably tied to the summer transfer business of almost all top EPL sides especially for his valuation, which Napoli bunched up to about £100 million to stave off interested sides.

There are the regulars in the EPL who have not been involved in transfers in, around or out of their respective sides such as Leicester's Kelechi Iheanacho and Everton's Alex Iwobi, although a move to a club higher up the EPL ladder was expected for Iheanacho's Leicester teammate Wilfred Ndidi this summer.

So far, nothing of the sort has materialised even if the player's midfield quality is not in doubt. In more expected but delayed transfers included a Premier League push for the Glasgow Rangers' duo of Super Eagles' stars: Joe Aribo and Calvin Bassey.

After Rangers and Nigerian defender Leon Balogun was let go at the end of his contract, there was a possibility that the club could be without all three of its Nigerian contingent with which it reached the final of the UEFA Europa League, where they lost 1-0 to Eintracht Frankfurt, but defeated Hearts 2-0 to lift the Scottish Cup for the first time in 13 years. As attractive prospects as Aribo and Bassey both are, there has been not much traffic of transfer business in their direction just yet.

With the transfer market in full swing much of that interest has been cooled as Manchester City have brought in Borussia

Perhaps, it might just be Awoniyi's year. And, he has the chance to make the most of it when the season begins.

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Time To Reject Politicians With Missing, Phoney Certificates L ast week, anyone anywhere in the world, who was online to get news about Nigeria, would have stumbled on the very grim revelation that was splashed across the front pages of newspapers where the current vice presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Kabiru Masari, boldly claimed that his school certificates were missing. It was uncannily reminiscent of claims by the substantive presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who had earlier used the very same narrative.

It was embarrassing to realise that the men, upon whom the responsibilities of leadership for no fewer than 200 million Nigerians could potentially be placed could not be responsible enough to provide copies of their basic academic credentials for public scrutiny, if indeed they attended the schools where they claim to have studied.

The brouhaha began when on Friday, June 24, INEC publicly published the personal information it received from the 16 presidential candidates vying for the highest public office in the land in the February 25, 2023 presidential election as mandated by the Constitution.

The constitutional requirement is meant to give the general public the opportunity to check the accuracy of the candidates' claims, regarding their qualifications and suitability for office. Therein, it was discovered that Tinubu not only omitted the details of his primary and secondary education, but also failed to include his tertiary education certificates. Admittedly, the more questions about the legality of his candidature were being raised, the more these glaring omissions are scrutinised and theories as to why he was unable to include these details started picking up the pace.

However, this is not the first time that Tinubu’s academic credentials have generated controversies. In fact, it was the APC presidential candidate that started it all with his misleading claims contained in filings with the electoral commission decades ago.

In his recent filing, his INEC form contained an affidavit in which he stated that his credentials were stolen after he was forced into exile by the late Sani Abacha's military junta. It reads, “I went on self-exile from October 1994 to October 1998. When I returned, I discovered that all my property, including all the documents relating to my qualifications and my certificates, in respect of paragraph three above, were looted by unknown persons. My house was a target of series of searches by various security agents from the time the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was forced to adjourn, following the military takeover of government of November 17, 1993. I was the chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, banking and finance. I was also a plaintiff in one of the two suits against the Interim National Government in 1993. I went on exile when it became clear to me that my life was in danger."

It brought back memories of the legal battles that Tinubu had to fight in the past about his credentials. In his papers with INEC when he stood for governorship of Lagos State election in 1999 and 2003, he repeated the same claim of certificate loss. He did, however, claim to have attended the St. Paul Children's Home School in Ibadan from 1958 to 1964 and Government College, Ibadan (GCI) from 1965 to 1968 before moving on to Richard Daley College in Chicago from 1969 to 1971 and the University of Chicago.

However, during Tinubu’s first term in office as Governor of Lagos State, the media questioned the validity of the credentials he submitted to INEC for the 1999 election, accusing him of perjury and certificate fraud. The late human rights advocate, Gani Fawehinmi, prosecuted a case of certificate forgery and perjury against Tinubu until the Supreme Court dismissed the case on the techni-

cal grounds that the governor was immune from legal prosecution.

The court ruled that only the state House of Assembly had the authority to look into the claims against Tinubu and punish him if it was discovered that he had engaged in any illegality. The Lagos State House of Assembly set up a committee to probe the investigations, but the petitioners failed to appear. On his part, on September 23, 1999, the governor made an appearance, according to the committee's report. He was said to have accepted responsibility for the discrepancies in his credentials that evoked suspicions of fraud and forgery. He supported his claim by tendering a form he submitted in 1992 when he contested for senatorial elections under the Social Democratic Party and to which he had attached copies of certificates of his credentials from both Richard Daley College and Chicago State University. He did not tender any documents showing that he attended primary or secondary school as he claimed in the INEC filing.

Tinubu and Masari are not the only politicians who have been embroiled in this “missing certificates” brouhaha.

In fact, there are many active politicians who are getting away with these missing certificates tales with some even carrying forged academic certificates.

This development has sparked the need for us to ask very serious questions about the sort of personalities that should be involved in this democratic process, in the first place. Playing the same hand used by Tinubu, Masari deposed an affidavit with INEC to explain the absence of copies of his credentials at the primary and secondary school levels. It read, “That sometime in January 2021, while on transit within Wuse Area, FCT– Abuja, I discovered that my original Certificate of Occupancy of plot NoKT 17522, GRA Katsina Estate; Certificate of Kaduna State Development Centre from 1994-95; Grade 11 Certificate from Katsina Teachers College from 1979-83 and First Leaving School Certificate issued by Masari Primary School, Katsina State from 1972-78 got lost. That all efforts made to trace the documents proved abortive, hence this affidavit. That this affidavit is required for record purpose and for all authorities and persons concerned to take note. That I make this declaration conscientiously, believing same to be true and in accordance with Oath Act 2004 LFN.” It boggles the mind to think that the ruling party could field two candidates for the top two jobs in the country, who will be charged with managing the country's vast human and natural resources, but who, on one hand, cannot fulfill basic requirements of the position and, on the other, are showing themselves to be at sea in making the required efforts to get fresh copies of these most important documents, especially for individuals seeking public office, investing in public trust and counting on public faith. These excuses for any other job are enough grounds to make the candidate using them already appear unserious and ill-prepared for the responsibilities of the role. Yet, these are not just any other jobs; they are jobs that come with constitutionally-backed requirements that are passed into law by the National Assembly and which hold as the law of the land.

Instead, what we see in the Constitution is a very direct, unambiguous and all distinct requirement for office of President. Section 131 of the Nigerian Constitution states: “A person shall be qualified for election to the office of the President if -(a) he is a citizen of Nigeria by birth; (b) he has attained the age of forty years; (c) he is a member of a political party and is sponsored by that political party; and (d) he has been educated up to at least School Certificate

level or its equivalent.”

Section 318 (1) of the Constitution went further to explain the meaning of “Certificate level” required in section 131.

It read: “According to the section, a certificate is defined as the following: (a) a Secondary School Certificate or its equivalent, or Grade II Teacher’s Certificate, the City and Guilds Certificate; or (b) education up to Secondary School Certificate level; or (c) Primary Six School Leaving Certificate or its equivalent and- (1) service in the public or private sector in the Federation in any capacity acceptable to the Independent National Electoral Commission for a minimum of ten years, and (11) attendance at courses and training in such institutions as may be acceptable to the Independent National Electoral Commission for periods totaling up to a minimum of one year and (111) the ability to read, write, understand and communicate in the English language to the satisfaction of the Independent National Electoral Commission; and (d) any other qualification acceptable by the Independent National Electoral Commission."

I don’t even want to get into the ridiculous and absurd educational requirements for the job of president and vice president as enacted by the National Assembly and signed into law by the President. Yet we wonder why the country is being run aground.

Those who jumped in support of the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari when the issue of his own missing certificates became a front-burner issue in 2018, before the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) was forced to issue a quickly hashed certificate with the picture of old Buhari to boot, were very quick to use the explanation of Section 318 to gloss over the need for those who come to equity to ensure that they are exemplary people with many a sign of infringements or cause for concern of fraudulent activity.

After Buhari's certificate mess, the country does not need Tinubu's and certainly could do without bringing in Masari's case or any other candidate for office to the fore.

In Delta State, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, is enmeshed in school certificate fraud after significant discrepancies were discovered in his academic certificates.

We cannot be a country serious about getting it right, going forward, when basic factors like satisfying the bare necessities of job requirements are left to the mercy of affidavits and phoney certificates that cannot stand under proper scrutiny.

The missing certificates misadventure is one too many and a subject that ought to be given the seriousness it merits at the highest levels of lawmaking.

When in February the House of Representatives deliberated on a bill sponsored by Adewunmi Onanuga (APC, Ogun) to increase the minimum education qualification required to run for some offices in Nigeria passed unanimously for second reading, there was a very pertinent question that Ms Onanuga posed as she sought to amend Sections 65, 106, 131 and 171 of the 1999 Constitution in querying why school certificate should be the basic requirement to rule the country. She asked: “If a Managing Director who holds an equally strategic position in a company within this country, cannot be employed without a university degree or its equivalent, why should the above political offices be held by people without a university degree or its equivalent?”

I join her to ask, "Why should we trust those who cannot get their school certificates and who ask us to trust their affidavits? Enough is enough!"

We cannot be a country serious about getting it right, going forward, when basic factors like satisfying the bare necessities of job requirements are left to the mercy of affidavits and phoney certificates that cannot stand under proper scrutiny PAGE 32

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