THEWILL NEWSPAPER July 17, 2022

UBA to Boost Subsidiaries’ Revenue as Dubai Branch Opens

Seplat: Travails of Indigenous Firm With Uncommon Energy

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JULY 17 - JULY 23, 2022 • VOL . 2 NO. 29

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SURVIVING THE NIGHTMARE

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2023 PRESIDENCY:

Muslim-Muslim Ticket Threatens APC's Dominance in Strongholds

45 Years of Impactful Scheme

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Intervention Fund, created in 1977 to stimulate growth in key sectors of the economy, has proved a success story among the states and the FCT, as Benue and Kogi (in North-Central) showcase in this edition … pages 20-21

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IS NOW WHOLLY DIGITAL I

Photo: Kola Oshalusi @insignamedia Makeup: Zaron

had often wondered why the new generation wouldn’t simply stick to the term Afrobeat coined by the legendary Fela Aníkúlápó Kuti. As far as I was concerned, he created that genre of music and, as such, should be the term used to describe Afropop or Nigerian Afrojazz or anything that sounded like Fela’s music, for that matter. And I wasn’t willing to have it any other way. Call me old-fashioned.

It wasn’t until recently that I realised that Afrobeats with an ‘S’ is not an attempt at creating a new music genre but a term that categorises any kind of music fused with an African beat. Whether Afro-jazz, afro-pop, afrodancehall, or afro-fusion, Afrobeats is like a house that hosts the different sounds that these artists create and fuse with beats that originate from Africa.

Over the last couple of years, Afrobeats has become very popular across the globe, partly because of streaming platforms and, most recently, TikTok. The app could single-handedly take credit for, within seconds, placing Afrobeats and other sounds in the faces or, should I say, devices of everyone who owns a mobile phone that connects to the Internet.

And so this week, we look at the coming of age of Afrobeats. The now highly sought-after and celebrated sound in the music industry, the future of Afrobeats, and our artists and their stage performances. Read pages 8 through 10.

I must say, though, that our artists have a lot of work to do in the area of live performance. I find that they don’t perform in the true sense of it, so it came as no surprise when a fan ranted about a particular artist and his colleague’s international performance or lack thereof, on social media.

Our other pages—fashion, beauty and living, are packed with exciting and enlightening content. And the movie review page sheds light on Thor: Love And Thunder. Not so sure I will be heading to the cinema after reading this review. But that’s just me; I’ll let you decide.

Until next week, enjoy your read.

Onah Nwachukwu Editor, THEWILL DOWNTOWN @onahluciaa +2349088352246

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

SPECIAL EDITION • MONDAY APRIL 11 – 16, 2022

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Austism Spectrum Disorder

THIS SOUND CONNOISSEUR WAS BORN FOR MUSIC

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THEME:

Unlocking Opportunities in Nigeria’s Non‑Oil Export Business

Watch Live on YouTube: https://bit.ly/ZBTradeSeminarLive

Jim Ovia, CON

Founder & Chairman, Zenith Bank Plc

Mr. Olusegun Awolowo Trade Expert

Bibhu Nanda

Managing Director, WACOT

Mr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu

Group Managing Director/CEO, Zenith Bank Plc

Mr. Godwin Emefiele, CON Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria

Mr. Naved Zafar

Mr. Kayode Pitan

Managing Director, Bank of Industry

Managing Director, APM Terminal/WACT

Agboola Olugbenga

Alhaji Adeyemi M Adeniji

Founder/CEO, Flutterwave

Wamkele Mene

Secretary‑General, AfCFTA Secretariat

Managing Director, Starlink Global & Ideal Ltd

Mr. Mohammed Bello‑Koko Managing Director, Nigeria Port Authority

Santosh Phenany

Managing Director, First Patriot

Prof. Benedict Okey Oramah President/Chairman, African Export‑Import Bank

HRM, Adaku Chidume Okoro Managing Director, GACON Ltd.

Alhaji Aliko Dangote

Chairman, Dangote Industries

Johan Van Der Merwe

Group Managing Director, Tulip Cocoa

Philip Yila Yusuf

Director, Development Finance, CBN

For more details, visit www.zenithbank.com/exportsem Mr. Babatola Faseru

Chairman/CEO, Colossus Investment

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Segun Ajayi‑Kadir

President, MAN Association

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Mr. Bamidele Ayemibo

Senior Consultant, 3T Impex Trade Centre

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HACK ATHO N

eNAIRA: AFRICA'S GATEWAY TO A DIGITAL ECONOMY

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COVER

2023 PRESIDENCY:

Muslim-Muslim Ticket Threatens APC's Dominance in Strongholds

BY AMOS ESELE he political difference between an intention and practical reality started dawning on the critical leaders and stakeholders of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) since last Sunday when the party’s presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a Muslim, announced Senator Kashim Shettima, also a Muslim, as his vice-presidential candidate in the 2023 general election.

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The Muslim-Muslim ticket has ruffled some feathers within the leadership and the rank and file of the APC, with resignations from its Presidential Campaign Council and calls from aggrieved party chieftains to President Muhammadu Buhari, urging him to undo the perceived damage by aborting the ticket.

With the July 15, 2022 deadline for the submission of substitute party candidates past and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) having closed its registration portal, the APC is facing a potential crisis from within that may threaten its dominance in the party’s political strongholds across the country.

interests and advance the cause of their community as many have repeatedly shown in their support for even dodgy politicians and corrupt public officials facing arrest or a stiff competition and contest against rivals. But the factor stoking the fire against the same faith candidacy appears to be lack of sufficient consultation by Tinubu.

According to a top APC chieftain who confided in THEWILL, “The way Tinubu took his decision was tantamount to a slap. You do not look people in the eye and say you cannot do anything to the decision you have taken. Anybody who is defending that choice is trying to be clever by half. Why did the party respect religious balancing of the ticket in 2015 and 2019? Is it now when there are cries of marginalisation everywhere because of religious disharmony and ethnic bigotry, that the party would say there is nothing wrong with the choice?

Nigerians have always feared marginalisation and the ticket has deepened that fear. Balancing the ticket as we did in previous elections would have fulfilled the constitutional requirement of representation.”

Investigations by THEWILL show that the party’s MuslimMuslim ticket has put the proverbial knife on the things that once held APC together across the six geo-political zones and posing a serious threat to the plan to retain the presidency in the February 25, 2023 election.

The politician stated that the choice has brought religion to the fore of national discourse, arguing further that, as a party man, he knew that Tinubu held the view long ago of a Muslim-Muslim ticket in the thinking that he would take care of the Christians. “What does he mean by saying I will take care of Christians?” the chieftain asked.

Ordinarily, Nigerians who are generally given as religious would readily grab the next opportunity that serves their

The choice, according to the politician, will certainly affect the chances of the party in the 2023 poll except some

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practical steps are taken to address the fears of aggrieved party members and concerned Nigerians.

Another big wig in the party told this newspaper that what made the Muslim-Muslim ticket audacious was the thinking in party circles that Tinubu had long zeroed in on Shettima and was only waiting for the appointed time, close to statutory deadline for the submission or substitution of names, to give no room for options.

The reason, he said, was both personal and strategic, according to the argument. Shettima, the former Borno State governor has had a good working relationship with Tinubu for a long time, while his North-East geo-political zone also came into the cold calculations.

GROWING DIVISIONS A few weeks before Shettima’s emergence, political leaders in the vote-catching North-West geo-political zone, comprising the swing states of Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Jigawa, Zamfara and Kaduna met in Kaduna to pitch for the VP position, flaunting their collective electoral strength in the face of argument for the position. They contended that the geo-political zone had always produced over 20 per cent of the total votes for the party nationwide. In the 2019 general election, for example, the voting strength of the North-West alone was over 20 million, representing 24 per cent of the national spread, while the North-East boasted a little over 11 million votes, which represented 13.44 per cent.

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COVER

...Muslim-Muslim Ticket Threatens APC's Dominance in Strongholds Moreover, the North-West zone has the majority of the 13 APC governors in the North, who decided Tinubu’s candidature and victory at the party’s convention on June 8, 2023 when the presidency cabal was determined to foist President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, on the party as consensus candidate.

This is the main reason, THEWILL has gathered, that put some of the governors from the zone like Nasir el Rufai of Kaduna State and Abubakar Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State in contest for the VP ticket. They believe Shettima’s emergence was due to loyalty rather than competence, integrity, fairness and innovation as canvassed by Tinubu under the political cover that the North-West had had its fill of democratic leaders since the Second Republic, with Shehu Sahagari, through Umaru Yar’Ardua and President Muhammadu Buhari as against only First Republic Prime Minister, Tafawa Balewa, who was from Bauchi.

The situation in the North-West has opened the zone to the looming threat posed by former Governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso and his New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP). Apart from Governor Mohammed Matawale of Zamfara State, all the six other governors are concluding their second tenure, which means that they will not be strong enough to resist the pressure from Kwankwaso and his radical Kwankwassiyya Movement. The movement has spread across Kano, Jigawa and Kaduna States.

Also, waiting in the wings is the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, who also lookspoised to benefit from the APC crisis. In the North where the Muslim-Muslim ticket has thrown up the religious argument, his ethnicity as a Fulani has become more pronounced. That was one of the points highlighted by a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, in his rejection of the choice of Shettima, when he said, alongside party members from 19 states in the North, that apart from complicating campaigns for other positions of APC candidates of the Christian faith in the North, the Muslim-Muslim ticket would favour Atiku who would be seen by the grassroots, as “one of their own.”

Even the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, is said to be getting more than a passing glance among the Christian communities in the North, following this development in the APC. This means that there is a likelihood of a four-horse race in the North, which will eat deep into APC strongholds in the zone, in particular.

It is against this brewing crisis in the two core North geopolitical zones that the Muslim-Muslim ticket exploded on the party since last Sunday’s announcement, with Christian leaders within the party already voting with their feet and opening the zone’s vote to the candidates of other rival parties. This may seriously erode the popularity of the APC in its strongholds.

THREATS IN APC STRONGHOLDS Apart from the geo-political jealousy between the votecatching North-West and the North-East, Christians and sympathisers from the North Central through the entire northern zone, which some aggrieved party leaders now call the “Christian Middle Belt” could also hurt the APC over the same faith ticket issue.

Luka Binyat, spokesperson of 67 ethnic groups in the North, told THEWILL that with this crisis in the APC over its choice of vice presidential candidate, the days are gone when Christians were unable to assert their political rights.

He sees the Muslim-Muslim ticket as a good omen. His group, he said, are ready to accept the evidence of their marginalisation and inequity as demonstrated by APC approval of the same faith ticket. “They are ready to speak and act with one voice now, “he said.

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Investigations by THEWILL show that the party’s Muslim-Muslim ticket has put the proverbial knife on the things that once held APC together across the six geo-political zones and posing a serious threat to the plan to retain the presidency in the February 25, 2023 election

ready to take their grievances? APC Christians leaders’ protest against the ticket has merged with the stand of many religious organisations which warned the governing party against the same faith ticket before political parties held their various conventions between May 29 and June 8, 2022.

With 18 political parties taking part in the 2023 general election, the voting choice is democratic enough to bounce off the protest against the Muslim-Muslim ticket. But as investigation revealed, the anger against the same faith choice has rubbed off on the government because it is the governing party with a majority of 22 governors in the 36 states of the country, 66 Senators out of 108 and 211 out of 360 representatives. The decision of the same faith choice thus makes it look like it is a policy of the governing party.

Contacted for comments, the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Felix Morka did not pick calls to his phones.

Moreover, politics in Nigeria is a zero sum game because of the winner-takes-all system. This makes people and groups weigh the options guardedly.

This political Middle belt, which coincides with a Christian enclave, according to Binyat, runs through 13 states out of the 19 northern states. They are, according to him, in southern Kaduna, southern Kebbi, Gombe State, Adamawa State, southern Borno State, Taraba State, Benue State, Plateau State, Bauchi State, Niger State, Kogi State and Kwara State.

“This is about our rights, our future,” Binyat said.

Explaining further on the electoral value of the Christian vote in 2023, he said the voting population of this “Christian Middle Belt”, is between 15 and 20 million. “With this bloc voting strength, we are going to send a message to those who want to paint Nigeria as a Muslim state to the world,” he added.

“This is the time to declare our collective power and make people who made this choice pay with our votes,” said Senior Pastor of Realm of Glory International Churches, Sam Aiyedagbon. “They say they are tacticians. We are going to show them our power with our votes. For a party where the leadership of the National Assembly, Presidency are Muslim and most appointments are determined by religion, this Muslim-Muslim ticket is a direct assault on our rights. I feel pained.”

When told that Tinubu said he voted for competence, integrity and in adherence to excellence in choosing his VP, Binyat disagreed: “How can Tinubu say Muslim is more competent and has excellence. In education and industry, Christians are not wanting? How can he say balancing does not matter? Even President Buhari with his chunk of 12 million votes contested election three times until he did the needful. If Tinubu wants to take it for the first time, let him go ahead.”

In making his choice based on certain qualities and status of his preferred candidate, Tinubu said last Sunday: “Having now listened to the sage, careful advice of a broad section of the party and of the nation, there are a few points I feel I must make about the exceptional and extraordinary person with whom I will share the APC ticket and the principles of open and good governance that informed this choice.

“I realise the momentous times we have entered. I know what lies in the balance. I also know that our political choices and activities send both intended and unintended signals to portions of the Nigerian electorate.

“All my life, my decisions regarding the team around and supporting me have always been guided by the principles of competence, innovation, compassion, integrity, fairness, and adherence to excellence.

“Our focus, therefore, must be on getting the job done; and that means getting the very best and competent people to do it. In this crucial moment, where so much is at stake, we must prioritise leadership, competence, and the ability to work as a team over other considerations.”

WALKING THEIR TALK How prepared and how far are the aggrieved party leaders

That future is Now. The leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) is said to be taking active part in mobilising the community against the ticket, even though there is no indication that a particular political party would be made the beneficiary of the mobilisation.

Tinubu’s point men however think the choice is realistic.

Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State said the buck stops at the table of the President and if Tinubu were to win, the presidency would handle public affairs with fairness and equity, calling on people to see the ticket as a political strategy to win election and nothing more.

Another Tinubu ally like Akeredolu thinks otherwise.

That is Babachir Lawal, former SSG, who was Tinubu’s campaign manager before the party’s national convention and until his revolt against the ticket, a member of the Presidential Campaign Council of the APC, who even submitted the blank list of VP to Tinubu.

“I would love Bola to be our next President. But, I am afraid, a Moslem-Moslem ticket will be ‘dead on arrival’. And the arrival date, according to INEC’s election timetable, is February 25, 2023. This ticket will drag down the whole APC members to the pit. We should all reject it,” he said.

Tinubu, in addition to giving reasons for his choice, described the protest as a storm in a tea cup. Asked about the likely effect of his choice of the party’s chances in the upcoming poll, he said; “We shall win the election, Insha Allah.”

Breaking his silence on the same faith ticket for the first time since his nomination last Sunday, Shettima said on Friday night to a group of professionals who paid him a visit: “I want to reassure Nigerians that we are not about to start Islamising Nigeria. Tinubu married a wife who is a pastor. He did not impose his religion on his children. I think we should look at the larger picture, which is to make Nigeria work for our people.”

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NEWS No Nigerian Child is Too Dull to Achieve Success – Robert FROM DAVID OWEI, YENAGOA

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riday, July 8, 2022 will remain indelible in the memories of the staff and pupils of Baptist Day Primary School, Port Harcourt in Rivers State. On that day, a former pupil, Azibaola Robert, FNSE, paid a visit to the school in company with his wife, children and some of the staff of Zeetin Engineering Limited.

During the visit, Robert paid glowing tribute to the school, which he claimed to have attended in early 1980s and reminisced on the time he spent there.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu (middle), with Director-General, National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Otunba Olusegun Runsewe (4th left); Lagos state Commissioner for Tourism, Art & Culture, Pharm (Mrs.) Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf (3rd left) and others during a courtesy visit by the NCAC DG at Lagos House, Marina on July 14, 2022.

Bayelsa Youths Shut Down C'River Offers Free Crude Oil Production Facility Medical Services to Victims of Communal Crisis

FROM DAVID OWEI, YENAGOA

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here is rising tension in Koluama community in the Southern Ijaw local Government Area of Bayelsa State, following the closure of oil facilities operated by ConOil Producing Limited by angry youths over an alleged nonimplementation of a Memorandum of Understanding with host communities.

THEWILL gathered that the breached oil facility known as Ango 2 field and operated by Conoil since 2013, has a crude oil production capacity of over 30,000 barrels per day.

The aggrieved residents of the community, including women, youths and elders, caught security personnel stationed at the facility unawares and invaded with placards bearing inscriptions, such as ‘No MoU, No Crude oil exploration,’ ‘ConOil pack and go, we are tired of suffering’ and ‘Koluama people are suffering.’

The people demanded the shutdown of operations at the facility, among others.

Their demands were supported by

members of the Koluama Oil and Gas Committee, who insisted that the oil multinational failed to implement the Memorandum of Understanding, which spelt out the social obligations of the oil firm to its host communities.

The Chairman of the Koluama Clan Oil and Gas Committee, Chief Jonathan Amabebe, who spoke with THEWILL from the breached oil facilities, said some of the community’s demands include a clean-up of the sites of oil spillage in the various communities and medical outreach to communities affected by oil spill.

According to Amabebe, others are the issuance of employment letter to one of the community’s qualified indigenes, who was successful in Conoil’s last employment exercise in 2015 and award of contract across the five host communities in Koluama Clan, namely, Tamazo, Koluama 1, Koluama 2, Olobia and Kalaweiama, as mentioned in the MoU.

Rector of Nekede FEDPOLY Charges New Students on Good Behaviour

FROM SAMPSON UHUEGBU, OWERRI

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he Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Nekede in Imo State, Dr Michael Arimanwa, last Thursday charged newly-matriculated students of the institution to be of good behavior and to ensure that they are found worthy in character and learning.

The rector reminded the students that the Academic Board of the polytechnic would pronounce them graduates only if they were found worthy through their conduct.

"This means that your character must define your personality and achievements. It must all times be clean and unquestionable so that you will not constitute an embarrassment to yourself, family, department and the Institution," he said, even as he disclosed that 40 students of the polytechnic are set for the Innoson Manufacturing company at Anambra State for their Industrial Training (IT).

Dr Arimanwa advised the new students THEWILLNIGERIA

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to avoid indecent dressing, examination malpractice, cultism, co-inhabitation saying the penalty is instant rustication.

He urged the Students' Union Government of the institution to see the management as partners in progress as he congratulated and wished them well in their stay in the polytechnic.

In his address at the occasion, the Chief Executive Officer of the Innoson Karia Academy, Mr Ndubuisi Ezengwa, said the academy was the training arm of Innoson Manufacturing Company.

Ezengwa said the company had trained both private and sponsored candidates under the Federal Government, saying that the company's collaboration with the polytechnic would be beneficial.

Pastor Onyema Ubaka, who was the former Public Relations Officer of the institution, lauded the rector and congratulated the matriculated students.

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FROM BASSEY ANIEKAN, CALABAR he Cross River State Government has offered free medical services to victims of the Nko/ Onyadama Communal crisis.

The is to help curtail the plight of the people and prevent possible disease outbreaks.

The Director-General of the Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Janet Ekpenyong, led the government’s team to the warring communities.

The Director-General of the Cross River State Emergency Agency, Mr Princewill Ayim, and the Permanent Secretary, Cross River State Ministry of Health, Dr Iwara Iwara, were also on the team.

Speaking during a courtesy visit to the Obol Lupon of Ugep, Ekpenyong praised the role and timely disposition of the traditional ruler, which helped to douse the tension in the affected communities.

She said the team had to spring into action to help alleviate the sufferings of the people, besides offering prompt medical assistance, especially to children, women, and expectant mothers in both Communities.

She further called on the Federal Government and other partners to, as a matter of urgency, support Governor Ben Ayade’s gesture.

On his part, Iwara admonished the people to live together in peace in order to enjoy the numerous healthcare facilities and other benefits provided by the state government.

He said that more support would be made available to them as the state government was concerned about their welfare.

Iwara added that the records of the damages from the crisis would be assessed and a formal report made so that the government would know know where to provide support.

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"I am visiting my alma mater today to reconnect with my academic roots where parts of my childhood journey began. I brought with me my children so that they will know their father’s educational roots started here," he said.

Robert stressed that Baptist Day Primary School gave him the solid foundation that he currently leverages in his life’s trajectory.

He said that he was visiting the school not only to motivate the pupils, but also to give the teaching staff a pep-talk on how to motivate schoolchildren and to reassure them that perseverance could usher in a bright future, as well as urge them not to despair or worry about the future.

He said, "l want the children to believe in themselves, take their studies seriously, aim high and God willing , they will succeed. No child is too dull to succeed.

"I have told them that none of them has any reason to be left behind.

Showing them a good example of myself is the best gift for this young generation. I am also here to give back to my alma mater in recognition and in appreciation of the value it added to my life."

One of the visitor’s children could not hold back her joy. Yepaye Robert said that it felt nostalgic to accompany her father to his alma mater.

She said, "The energy from the pupils in the school was highly infectious.

They were happy excited and energetic to welcome us warmly.

"I was astounded by their ability to find joy and contentment with the little they have. l will never forget the little time l spent with them, the memories have a permanent place in my heart".

Welcoming the visitors, the Head Mistress of the school, Mrs Briggs Inoma John, lauded Azibaola Robert for his gesture. She urged others to emulate him as the school would always beckon on old pupils for assistance since government alone cannot solve its teething problems.

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POLITICS

2023: INEC And Challenges Ahead

BY AYO ESAN

A

s politicians across party divides in the country are strategising on how to secure victory during the 2023 general election, Nigerians are also looking towards the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deliver a free, fair and credible election.

Many Nigerians feel that INEC’s conduct of general elections in the past has not been satisfactory and they are yearning for an improvement. This position was corroborated by the European Union Election Observer team in its report on the 2019 general elections. It said that the elections were marred by severe operational shortcomings and lack of transparency. The group also lamented the inability of INEC to release results on time due to logistic challenges.

In its own reports, the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room equally expressed disappointment on the poor showing by INEC and various security agencies during the 2019 general election.

It said that despite expectations that the 2019 presidential poll would be well organised after the initial postponement, the exercise was marred by serious lapses on the part of the electoral umpire and security agents.

“Situation Room is, however, disappointed by the serious lapses observed with the conduct of the presidential and National Assembly elections held on Saturday, February 23, 2019.

“Despite the elections being conducted against a background of an earlier postponement on February 16, 2019, on grounds of logistics challenges, it still suffered from major logistic lapses.

Although INEC had been commended for its good performance in off-cycle elections, especially in the 2020 governorship elections in Ondo and Edo States, Yiaga Africa has equally, in its review of the conduct of the 2021 governorship election in Anambra State, lamented that the election was marred by delays in the deployment of materials to polling units and general logistic challenge and called for concerted efforts to avoid a repeat of such lapses in future elections.

But despite this skepticism about the performances of INEC, a high turnout of eligible voters was recorded during the continuous voter registration exercise across the country which, made INEC to extend the deadline for the registration by 60 days from the June 30, 2022 deadline.

This is an indication that the citizens had shrugged off the past disappointments of INEC’s performance and they are ready for the coming election.

It was gathered that the recent signing of the Electoral Act 2022 by President Muhammadu Buhari, which granted power to INEC to use electronic transfer of election results had made many Nigerians to believe that their votes will count this time around.

Also the use of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, (BVAS) has given the people the confidence that votes will count and future elections will be free, fair and credible.

Thus with great enthusiasm, the youth thronged various registration centres to register and obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to enable them vote in the 2023 general election.

The first challenge facing INEC is how it will satisfy everybody who wants to register, by registering them and ensuring that they obtain their PVCs before the general election takes place between February and March 2023.

One of the biggest challenges facing INEC is the worsening insecurity across the country, which has led to the burning of its offices and materials in various parts of the country.

There is also the challenge of expanding voter access to polling units in the context of a growing population and the growth of new settlements across the country..

INEC on its own has also identified the challenge of vote buying as one of the issues that may serve as major obstacles ahead of the 2023 general election, if not addressed early.

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“In addition, the election was marred by violence, security lapses and instances of overreach. Other challenges include compromised INEC officials and partisan security operatives,” Clement Nwankwo, Executive Director, Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre and Convener, Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, said.

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The recent signing of the Electoral Act 2022 by President Muhammadu Buhari, which granted power to INEC to use electronic transfer of election results had made many Nigerians to believe that their votes will count this time around

Speaking on this, the former Oyo State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of INEC, Dr Mutiu Agboke, gave the warning recently when he said vote buying, amongst other issues, remains a major concern for the Commission in preparation towards the 2023 General Elections.

He, however, gave the assurance that INEC is working with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to ensure the prosecution of persons arrested in the recent Ekiti governorship election, which he described as an assault on Nigeria’s democracy.

Agboke added that action would commence as soon as the EFCC completes its investigation, urging all security agencies and political class to continue to join hands with the commission to tackle the menace.

Other obstacles to major elections, as identified by the former Oyo REC, include transportation of INEC officials and materials, issues of logistics, late opening of polling units, technical challenges, payment of ad-hoc staff and security challenges.

He noted that within the four and half years he had served as REC in Oyo State, the problem of transportation of its officials and materials were usually created by the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), noting that now that the union had been proscribed in the state, the commission would have to source vehicles elsewhere to move the electoral materials on election days.

Agboke appealed to the media to be factual, objective and professional in reporting the forthcoming general election in the state.

He urged the media to encourage the electorate to collect their unclaimed PVCs, adding that the introduction of BVAS by the commission, which he described as a game changer, would put an end to snatching of ballot boxes and forging of election results in the electoral process.

Agboke affirmed that the commission would ensure a transparent, credible, free and fair 2023 general election.

In an interview with THEWILL, a public affairs analyst based in Abuja, Nduka Anthony, also described the lingering insecurity across the country, epileptic power supply and general infrastructure deficit, as well as logistics problems, as challenges facing INEC. The commission is not in denial of these obstacles, but it has said that it is determined to tackle them headlong.

INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, told THEWILL that the commission is aware that the 2023 general election will come with challenges and it is determined to surmount these challenges and conduct a free, fair, credible and inclusive election.

He said, “The growing insecurity in several parts of the country THEWILLNIGERIA

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POLITICS

...INEC And Challenges Ahead

and the increasing number of IDPs will pose the biggest challenge to the conduct of the 2023 general election. So many of the IDPs are living in the houses of friends and relatives and they have lost their PVCs. It is almost impossible to recreate their polling units.”

Okoye assured that INEC would do its best to address all the challenges ahead of the election, including technology, logistics and people living with disabilities.

On the operational challenges of technology, Okoye said the commission would continue to learn from issues and challenges that arise from the deployment of technology and it would continue to innovate and improve on them.

“The commission will not be looking backward, but it will continue to improve on its technological base and innovations. It will continue to work with security agencies to protect our equipment and personnel.

“With the BVAS (Bimodal Voter Accreditation System) and the uploading of polling unit level results, violence has left the collation centres and reverted back to the polling units. The commission will expand the base of the training of its ad-hoc staff to acquaint them more with the workings of the BVAS and other technological innovations of the commission,” he said.

He also gave the assurance that the commission would reverse the challenge of logistics and open the polls on time to enable Nigerians to have a good voting experience.

He said that INEC was addressing the issues of security under the auspices of the Inter Agency Consultative Committee on election security.

“The commission is also addressing the huge issue of transporting a large cache of security personnel on Election Day. “The commission has through its Gender and Inclusivity Desk been relating to the various associations of persons with disability to collect data for the purpose of deploying assistive materials appropriately and strategically to the polling units.”

He also promised that INEC would deploy power generating sets to its registration area centres and deploy GP tanks, buckets, mats and toiletries to these places because of infrastructural deficit.

Okoye agreed that some of the schools and public places used as polling units and registration area collation centres are in a very terrible state, saying the commission will supply a comprehensive list of these schools and public places to the local and state THEWILLNIGERIA

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governments for remedial action.

He said that of great concern to the commission is how to increase voters turnout in future elections.

He particularly expressed satisfaction with the recent high turnout of voters across the country, adding that one of the challenges facing INEC is the large number of uncollected PVCs. Okoye urged the media to help to educate Nigerians that it is not only important to register, but also more important to collect the PVCs when they are ready.

Despite the challenges facing INEC, Nigerians expect nothing less than a credible general election in 2023.

Speaking with THEWILL, the Presidential Candidate of the Na-

“

With the BVAS (Bimodal Voter Accreditation System) and the uploading of polling unit level results, violence has left the collation centres and reverted back to the polling units. The commission will expand the base of the training of its ad-hoc staff to acquaint them more with the workings of the BVAS and other technological innovations of the commission

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tional Conscience Party (NCP), Mr Martin Onovo, described INEC as one of the major enemies of democracy in Nigeria.

“INEC has continued to violate the integrity of the ballot and the rule of law in many ways. INEC must not push Nigeria from a failed state to a collapsed state. In the past, INEC has disenfranchised voters; INEC has registered under-aged voters; INEC has allowed under-aged voters to vote; INEC has allowed voting without accreditation; INEC has falsified election results; INEC has frustrated the audit of election results. My advice to INEC is to maintain its independence and follow the highest paths of integrity and transparency at every stage of the elections”.

Also speaking with THEWILL in an interview, former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party , (PDP) , Chief Olabode George, thanked President Buhari on the new electoral law, which he said would end the era of physical movement of election results, which creates room for changing figures from point A to point B. “I am throwing a bold challenge to the chairman of INEC, Prof Mahmood Yakubu. I know him personally. We have worked together before and he is trustworthy. He has the fear of God in him, but I need to remind him that he is concluding the apex of his career as Chairman of INEC. He has built a good career; he should let the concluding part be in gold.

“Despite whatever challenges, he must be honest as he used to be. He was the treasurer of our conference, the 2014 National Conference organised by former President Goodluck Jonathan and he performed well. I am challenging him openly, he should help this nation. I watched the French election held recently, they started exactly at 7am in the morning and by 7pm the voting closed. By 7:15pm the lady that lost the election congratulated the other party and I was impressed. Didn’t we have the competence to do that in this country? That is the question.

“INEC should conduct an election that will be acceptable to the winner and the loser. That is a challenge I am posing to the INEC and its chairman”, George said.

Former Nigerian Ambassador to the Republic of Philippines, Chief Yemi Farounbi, advised INEC to prove that it is unbiased, independent and impartial electoral umpire.

“It must avoid inconsistency and policy somersaults that will give people the impression that it is working for and with any political party”, he added.

How INEC, despite its pledge to perform creditably, will be able to overcome its challenges and give the nation a credible election, only time will tell.

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POLITICS/INTERVIEW

Nobody Can Convert Nigeria to Islamic State – Okechukwu The Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria, Osita Okechukwu speaks on the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s choice of a Muslim presidential candidate and a Muslim vice presidential candidate, as well as on other matters, in this interview with AYO ESAN. Excerpts:

About two weeks ago , there was an attack on Kuje Prison in the Federal Capital Territory, and the same day an attack was carried out on the advance team of the president, Muhammadu Buhari in Katsina. How do you see these developments? Are you concerned?

I am worried and up till now sad over the incident. I am worried about the insecurity in all the geopolitical zones.

he APC’s Muslim-Muslim ticket has attracted condemnation from many Nigerians who describe it as an act of insensitivity and disregard for the diversity of Nigeria. What is your position on this?

Let me start by saying that we should play down on the fault lines of rotation convention and faith balance, please. For we are in a multiparty democracy and history data didn’t record that all Christians and Muslims must vote for only Christians or Muslims.

There was a time when he came out of the Aso Rock Villa after meeting with the then President Goodluck Jonathan and shouted openly to the Presidential Villa Press Corps that Boko Haram was better equipped than the Nigerian Army. His proclamation was due to frustration as Governor of Borno State. It was a pity that Boko Haram had more arsenal than our own army. I think that as a vice president he may have a better solution to the insecurity in the land.

And nobody can deny the fact that Tinubu himself, like Shettima, has the talent to contain the challenges. I am not saying they are the most competent, but for choosing somebody like Prof Zulum as his successor and for Tinubu to choose Fashola who had done well, showed that these are talent hunters. And when you are a talent hunter, you can do better than somebody who is even more competent. That is my submission. So let us look at the material condition and search for solution providers.

As a patriot, I am truly concerned. What I am saying is that it is not a Muslim-Muslim ticket that established that and not absence of it. If you assess somebody like Shettima Kashim, when he became a governor he set up the civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) and funded it.

T

Don’t forget that there are many stakeholders in our great party, the APC and each person, especially the northern governors, must have made his input. Therefore, it took Asiwaju about three weeks to consult and he even had to go for what can be called a retreat in France.

I ought to know that in his own judgement, he must have looked into all the variables before making the choice. I want to say that broadly speaking, both Tinubu and Shettima to start with are moderate Muslims, not extremists.

Like I said before, I share the Christian position that it should have been a Muslim-Christian ticket. But the point is you know that in politics there are certain calculations which must have made Tinubu to go for Shettima Kashim.

The Kashim I know did very well as a state governor. He unbundled about N70 billion, utilised it to procure farm implements, skill acquisition equipment and set up the Civilian JTF. That is the truth. The consolation is that both of them are not religious extremists. They are moderate Muslims, like I said earlier. I don’t see Tinubu, who is married to a Christian, trying to promote an Islamic state.

For God's sake a lot of people did not even know that even Saudi Arabia is not strictly an Islamic state, Egypt is not strictly an Islamic country. So nobody can convert Nigeria to an Islamic state. We are in a multi-party system. It is not only the APC that is on the bloc. We have our sister political party, the PDP that also injured somebody like me for breaching the zoning convention.

One of the bonds holding our democracy is that after a southern President you go for someone from the North and after a northern President, we rotate south, until we stabilise. There is going to be a time when we will not be talking of the fault lines of region or religion. In fact, if we want to be honest to ourselves, it is only the Labour Party that has obeyed the zoning convention and has obeyed the Christian–Muslim ticket. The PDP failed on the rotation, which is the bedrock of our unity. PDP breached its own constitution, ignored good conscience and natural justice.

The PDP failed on that and we failed on the fielding of a Muslim–Muslim ticket. But truly our concern should be how best to address the material conditions which propel the subsisting challenges that Nigeria is facing. If you cast

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As a Christian I would have preferred if it was a Muslim – Christian ticket, but with my experience I ought to know that as a seasoned politician our presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, must have done his homework and consulted widely in terms of choosing the person he will work with.

“

The good news is that the OBIdient Movement has rendered the PDP prostrate in the South and with Shettima, the North-East is no more left open for PDP your mind back between 2010 and 2015, you will see that we have had a Christian President and a Muslim Vice President, but the challenges facing our nation continues.

Between 2015 and today we have a Muslim President and a Christian Vice President, a pastor for that matter and we are still bedeviled with the same challenge of insecurity, gross unemployment and epileptic power supply.

A lot of people are trying to drive our matter as if the APC is the only political party in the country. They are saying that if we win, the insecurity in the country will be compounded.

No, that is not the case. We should look out for who has the capacity to put an end to the insecurity, unemployment and epileptic power supply that we are contending with.

If you listen to me, I think our major concern should be how to contain the insecurity in the country, the epileptic power supply and gross unemployment. I don’t think only the same faith will be the solution.

As I said before one would feel better if Tinubu had picked my good friend Boss Mustapha, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation or His Excellency, Simon Lalong, the Governor of Plateau State. In reality that does not mean that one will benefit more. There are those who came late in President Buhari’s camp, but benefited more than us. That is a fact of life.

I have gone through election data and all the registers of elections since 1922 when we started the elective voting, I didn’t see where all Christians voted one way or all Muslims voted one way. So nobody will convince me that because you have Muslim – Muslim ticket, the Muslim would vote one way and all Christians would vote one way. We are in a multiparty state. Let us downplay the feud; APC is not the only party in the race. And like Bishop Kukah said, there is nothing to lose your sleep for.

Does the APC, feel threatened by OBIdient Movement and the youths rallying support for Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party?

We are not threatened at all because there are about 180,000 polling units and we are the main party, covering all the nooks and crannies of our dear country. The Labour Party is yet to cover such mileage. But we must thank Peter Obi and his OBIdient movement for their innovation. One they will knock off PDP from their traditional electoral base. This gives the PDP goose pimples.

Secondly, the OBIdient Movement has captured the imagination of our youths who were hitherto despondent and almost hopeless and luckily made them to think positively about Nigeria. One sincerely commends them really for this feat. Even if OBIdient does not achieve anything, they have already achieved something for the Nigerian state. It is not easy to capture the imagination of our cynical youths.

Now they are talking of the President of Nigeria and on behalf of APC, we promise to sustain their hopes with good governance. I appreciate them but we are not threatened, for we have the number - 22 governors and majority in the National and state Assemblies.

The good news is that the OBIdient Movement has rendered the PDP prostrate in the South and with Shettima, the NorthEast is no more left open for PDP. PDP is also in a crisis over the choice of Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa as its vice presidential candidate. Is this not an avoidable crisis?

PDP is a very unlawful party which breached Section 3 of its constitution where rotation is expressly stated, They had violently breached that and will be punished by the zones which over the years invested in the party, even when His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar was a sojourner in APC. THEWILLNIGERIA

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POLITICS

In Search of a Focused Nigerian Leader

BY SAMPSON UHUEGBU

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Nigeria is rated as Africa’s largest producer of oil and sixth largest oil producing country in the world, yet there is nothing to show for it. Hospitals and educational facilities are in a sham. Our professionals are massively exiting the country for greener pastures in other countries due to unemployment, non-payment of workers’ salaries, nepotism and government’s hostile attitude towards workers.

s Nigeria approaches the 2023 general election, President Muhammadu Buhari is also preparing to bow out of office.

Buhari’s emergence as number one citizen of the country came as a shock because of former President Goodluck Jonathan's show of maturity and sincerity of purpose.

Jonathan's lack of desire to hang on to power, even though he had the wherewithal to do so, should be emulated by everyone aspiring to lead the country.

Nigerian university lecturers have been on strike for the past five months. One wonders why the Federal Government cannot and will not meet the demands of ASUU. At present, only private universities have been in session.

President Buhari’s government had for long been battling many challenges, such as insecurity, high cost of living, inflation, hunger, extreme poverty, et cetera, while its inability to tackle these problems is being rocked by reactions from the people who are at the receiving end.

With an estimated population of over 200 million and more than 100 tertiary institutions producing over 200,000 graduates per year, Nigeria has all it takes to tackle some challenges facing it.

The situation has forced man people to resort to cutting corners in order to survive the excruciating hardship in the country. Continuous hikes in the prices of goods and services have thrown the citizenry into confusion.

As we look forward to the general election, there is urgent need for the Federal Government to resolve its issues with the Academic Staff of Universities (ASUU) and other problems that it is having with civil servants working in the federal ministries, agencies and parastatals.

Despite the fact that the country is generously endowed with natural and human resources, the majority of the people are wallowing in abject poverty, while unemployment and insecurity are on the rise. The economy has been dwindling.

Bad leadership is a major factor why Nigeria has not been developing.

It is not a laughable matter that fuel pump price is still high despite the cries of Nigerians. Even the cost of liquid cooking gas, kerosene and diesel has been quite unimaginably hiked. Against this backdrop it would take the grace of God for the country’s economy to bounce back to normalcy.

Now that the President is rounding-off his eighth-year tenure, what will he be remembered for? Good or bad administration, you might say. If he had succeeded in making life meaningful for most Nigerians, it would have been a feat that would remain evergreen in the collective memory, thereby writing his name on the sands of time as a leader that made positive impacts.

The endless killings in the country could be attributed to hunger and hardship on the part of the perpetrators. It is possible because a starving man can do distasteful things,

Buhari

The country’s higher institutions have been under lock and keys over a little matter that could have been amicably settled without allowing it to snowball into a full-blown crisis.

In the areas of agriculture, commerce and industry, transportation and employment, Nigerians have never felt any positive impact from this government.

which, more or less, depict transferred aggression.

Many Nigerians have lost their lives in their prime due to the collapse of the economy. From 2015 till date, it has never been easy for many Nigerians because their cost of living is on the high side.

We have not forgotten that Nigeria is endowed with enormous natural and human resources sufficient to place it among the developed countries of the world. Unfortunately, mismanagement has consistently stunted the growth of this country.

A focused leader is desperately needed to rescue Nigeria from the depth of barrenness. A better leader will change this ugly narrative. We want the seventh democratically- elected President to be a person with a firm character, integrity and determination to turn Nigeria around.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Election observers, security operatives, the mass media and other groups that play prominent roles during the exercise should avoid being used to manipulate the elections.

Furthermore, youths should shun restiveness and other vices during the forthcoming election which could trigger - off crisis thereby leading to destruction of lives and property.

Presidential candidates of the APC, LP, PDP and other political parties should conduct themselves in a responsible manner and advise their supporters to trade with caution in order to ensure that a free, fair and credible election is conducted.

2023 Presidency: Lament No More, Wait For History's Verdict, Ohanaeze Tells Ndigbo T

BY CHUKWUMA ODU, ENUGU

he President General of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Professor George Obiozor, has called on Ndigbo to stop the lamentation over the denial of the presidential tickets by the two major political parties, namely, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Ohanaeze President, however, admonished Ndigbo not to lament much but wait for the verdict of history and expressed conviction that in the end, the political manipulation would end in "a pyrrhic victory for those who rejoice and celebrate injustice."

The South-East presidential aspirants in the two mainstream political parties had lost in the primaries with some not getting any vote despite the overwhelming agitation for the region to produce the next president based on equity, justice and fairness, and in the spirit of rotational presidency between the North and South.

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While Senator Bola Tinubu, the former Lagos State Governor from the South-West, emerged the presidential candidate of the ruling APC, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar from the North-East emerged the PDP presidential candidate in primaries that were allegedly ‘dollarised’, that is, for the highest bidder.

tice, has failed the Rotary Club International four-way tests, “which are: first of the things we think, say or do: Is it the Truth? ,– Is it fair to all concerned? , will it build goodwill and better friendship? and – will it be beneficial to all concerned?”

However, Obiozor, who had remained silent about the outcome of these primaries, broke his silence penultimate weekend in a statement titled: “What does Nigeria want from Ndigbo?”

"While urging Ndigbo not to lament much but wait for the verdict of history, he expressed conviction that in the end, this political manipulation would end in a Pyrrhic victory for those who rejoice and celebrate injustice.”

The former Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States of America, said, “Now it is clear that the Nigerian national political elite have successfully orchestrated to deny the South-East an opportunity to produce the president of Nigeria come 2023. By this machination, some Nigerian leaders have demonstrated gross historic injustice towards Ndigbo, beyond our expectations.”

Obiozor, stressed that Nigeria, by its deliberate injus-

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Obiozor, who conveyed his statement through the National Publicity Secretary of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr Alex Ogbonnia, commended Nigerian statesmen and patriots across the country, who supported the idea for the South-East to produce the president of Nigeria in 2023, based on Nigerian proven history of rotation of power between the North and the South as well as commitment to equity, justice and fairness.

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EDITORIAL

Recurring Pangs of Petrol Scarcity

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or the second time in 2022, the country has been thrown into another chaotic situation arising from the scarcity of premium motor spirit (PM S). This, happening about four months after Nigerians suffered a similar experience in February as a result of the importation of sub-standard petrol that caused severe damage to people’s vehicles, amid serious environmental hazards, has become a recurring decimal.

Although the bad fuel had to be withdrawn from circulation, the result was prolonged scarcity and increase in the cost of transportation.

the Russia-Ukraine crisis creating supply hiccups and the naira slumping deeper in the foreign exchange market, it was obvious that the independent marketers could not afford to sell petrol at the official price of N165 per litre.

This time, the scarcity, which began to show the signs in June, spilled into July with long queues at the few petrol filling stations that had the product to sell.

Some motorists queued for long hours while others spent one or more days at the filling stations waiting for the arrival of the product. Black market operators had a field day selling petrol between N350 and N400 per litre to anxious motorists in desperate need for petrol. In some cases, the petrol ‘dispensed’ by the roadside hawkers turned out to be adulterated. The price in the upcountry was equally high.

For five consecutive months, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (N N PC) Limited, made zero remittance to the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) as at May 2022. This anomaly was caused by the huge sum of money spent in the payment of petrol subsidy, which eroded the gains that the firm earned. This suggests that Nigerians are in double jeopardy over the importation of petrol as they lose the social services which the FAAC proceeds accord them, while they pay higher for petrol either directly or through escalated transportation cost.

The recent petrol scarcity reportedly occurred as a result of the challenge of high cost of crude in the international market, which has implications on the importation of refined products by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited – the sole importer of the commodity. With

With the N4 trillion provision for fuel subsidy, the government is now projecting to spend N7.35 trillion more than it will earn this year as it makes room for a ninefold jump in petrol subsidy costs than earlier budgeted. By this, the country will be recording the highest budget deficit in 23 years

This brings to the fore the economic disadvantage of Nigeria continuing with the payment of subsidy on imported petrol.

According to the N N PC, which is struggling to generate enough oil revenue to cover the soaring cost of subsidising the product, Nigeria has incurred an estimated petrol subsidy of N2.1 trillion in the first six months of this year.

This is about 50 percent of the N4 trillion budgeted for subsidy in the national budget for 2022.

(since 1999), which amounts to about 5 percent of the GDP. The implication of the increased budget deficit in 2022 is that the Federal Government will end up spending less on capital projects and human capital, which are critical in stimulating economic growth and creating jobs. The government will borrow more to accommodate the widening budget deficit which the oil subsidy has aggravated. This means that a higher portion of the revenue (presently over 80 percent) will be used to service the debts. This is another stark reminder of how the petrol subsidy bills continue to drain the earnings and worsen the cash-strapped governance.

The improvement seen in the petrol scarcity occurred because oil marketers unilaterally raised the pump price of petrol from N165 per litre to N185 in disregard to the Federal Government approved pump price of N165 per litre

We have argued in our previous editorials that the high cost of subsidising imported petrol is a huge waste of public funds. And it should be discontinued. Nigeria’s four refineries are idle, yet they consume enormous resources in terms of “maintenance” and payment of employee emoluments. No nation makes economic progress by indulging in this statutory waste, which is fuelled by systemic corruption, mismanagement and inefficiency.

The refineries should be sold outright and licences given to investors who genuinely want to establish refineries to meet local consumption and, perhaps, for export.

Government should liberalise the importation of petrol. Allowing the N N PC to be the sole importer and supplying to the independent marketers will not solve the problem. They must add sufficient margin to accommodate their running costs and multiple taxes, especially amid deteriorating infrastructure such as poor road networks. If this is done, the law of demand and supply will take its course, while competition extracts the needed efficiency in the sector to the benefit of the government and the citizens.

The improvement seen in the petrol scarcity occurred because oil marketers unilaterally raised the pump price of petrol from N165 per litre to N185 in disregard to the Federal Government approved pump price of N165 per litre. The hike came a day after the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) said the current price was no longer realistic. This is what liberalisation does.

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

2023: Poor Leadership as Number One Enemy of Nigeria

BY JEROME-MARIO UTOMI

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ddressing a gathering in Taipei in August 1995, Prof Samuel Huntington of Harvard University was, among other things, asked about his impression of Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew’s effort to develop Singapore and he simply said: “The honesty and efficiency that Lee has brought to Singapore are likely to follow him to his grave.”

However, not only did Lee’s efficiency survive him, but also history has since assisted in providing answers to the correctness, or otherwise, of Huntington's declaration.

Two years after the observation, Singapore’s Gross Domestic Product of $3billion in 1965, increased to $46billion in 1997, making it the eighth highest per capita GNP in the world, according to World Bank’s ranking. This was clearly unprecedented.

What is left for those who are living to do is either learn a lesson from such history and become wiser or ignore it and continue to wonder in a dilemma.

Essentially, the crux of this piece is to use Prime Minister Lee Quen Yew’s account to analyse and understand the essential ingredients of foresight in leadership and draw a lesson as to how the leadership decision making process involves judgment about uncertain elements and differs from the pure mathematical probability process.

From accounts, aside from the fact that the story of Singapore’s progress is a reflection of the advancement of the industrial countries, their inventions, technology, enterprise and drive, a united and a determined group of leaders, backed by practical and hard-working people who trust them made it possible.

It is part of the story of a leader’s search for new fields to increase the wealth and well-being of his people. From this new awareness, comes the major difference.

When one juxtaposes the above account with the current situation in Nigeria, without minding what others may say, it points in one direction: Nigeria’s current security and socioeconomic challenges are more man-made than natural, more of leadership gaps than lack of resources. The challenges are further compounded by a misguided view of amalgamation by some segments of Nigerians as more of a historicised occurrence without any advantage to the nation, a mindset that further promoted the deliberate demonstration of impunity and superiority by one group or region against the other.

But in dramatising this superiority, the point that the people

seem to have forgotten is that never should one be so foolish to believe that you are stirring admiration by flaunting the qualities that raised you above others. By making them aware of their inferior positions, you are only stirring unhappy admiration or envy that will gnaw at them until they undermine you in ways that you may not foresee. The sad news is that this avoidable situation was allowed to complete its gestation and finally gave birth to what is now known and addressed in our political domain as ‘call for restructuring’ or agitation for resources control.

But on a more significant level, it is the leadership performance deficit that has plundered the socio-economic affairs of the nation to a sorry state, an occurrence that stems from an unknown leadership style described by analysts as neither ‘systemic nor method based’ without anything exemplary or impressive.

Looking at commentaries, one can discern that the above fact is largely responsible for the youth’s restiveness and tribal aggressions as the masses continue to fight in order to register their grievances against state-sponsored socio-economic deprivations.

As Nigeria races towards the 2023 general election, it is also of considerable significance to this discourse to note that this leadership challenge has visited Nigerians with not just poverty, but what analysts described as ‘Island poverty’ or poverty in the midst of plenty; which has in turn promoted both hopelessness and powerlessness among innocent Nigerians.

But, in all, one thing seems to stand out: Our leadership challenge or bad governance was implanted by the leaders, encouraged by our unquestioning obedience to the authorities and can only be reduced or erased by Nigerians.

While this appalling situation daily unfolds on our political landscape, the global leadership stage is littered with telling evidence about leaders that have demonstrated leadership sagacity and professional ingenuity that our leaders have refused to replicate their resourcefulness on our shores.

Having discovered the challenge threatening the continued existence of our country, it becomes imperative that whatever measure the nation may want to use in tackling this challenge can only succeed if it probably puts in place steps that will guarantee leadership restructuring.

For instance, in 1932, Franklin D Roosevelt, the Democratic Party candidate, United States of America, was elected president in the midst of the great depression. At the time of inauguration in 1933, one-quarter of the labour force was out of job, with many impoverished. Industrial production had fallen and investments had collapsed.

Above all, to completely put things right, the Federal Government must recognise and position Nigeria to be a society of equal citizens where opportunities are equal and personal contribution is recognised and rewarded on merit, regardless of language, culture, religion or political affiliations.

If we are able to achieve this, it will once again, announce the arrival of a brand new great nation where peace and love shall reign supreme as no nation enjoys durable peace without justice and stability, without fairness and equity!

But within two years of his administration, he revived the economy and moved to the next stage of his agenda. He signed the social security act, which introduced the modern welfare state into the United States, pension at retirement, unemployment benefits and some public health care and disability benefits. When asked how? he responded: ”Extraordinary conditions call for extraordinary remedies” To me, this is leadership accomplishment worthy of emulation.

Regrettably, here in the country, the leadership challenge is given a boost by our ‘leaders’ penchant for corruption and nepotism since independence, a development that is gradually becoming a norm and a state of affairs vast majority of Nigerians claim was responsible for the inability of the nation’s successive leaders to alleviate the real condition of the poor, the deprived, the oppressed or get into their lives and participate in their struggle.

Part of that effort will entail recognising that the solution to our leadership challenge may afterward not be based on argument or debate, but by the quality of the people in charge. This will be followed by frantic effort to create a ‘civil society' that will help to sort out the irresponsible from the response in terms of leadership. Another solution to this leadership problem will demand the development of a mindset for details and history necessary for today’s leadership.

Above all, in this electioneering season, Nigerians must not wander in a dilemma. They must recognise that poor leadership is their common enemy.

•Utomi is the Programme Coordinator (Media and Policy), Social and Economic Justice Advocacy (SEJA).

Is Peter Obi an Option For Nigerian Workers?

BY AJ DAGGA TOLAR

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nable to match Atiku's $20,000 dollars to each delegate in attendance at the recent Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Convention/Presidential Primary held at the Eagles Square in Abuja and other big spenders, the same Atiku to whom he was a running mate in the 2019 general election, Peter Obi chose to defect to the Labour Party (LP). With little or no competition, he was able to fulfill all the demands of the party’s leadership to become its presidential candidate.

This tradition of putting up a political party’s ticket for sale to the highest bidder has continued to hold the Labour Party down since 2002, when it was registered. This has also made the party completely unattractive to Nigeria’s working masses.

Up until now, the leaders of the LP have preferred to keep the party locked up in a box, completely irrelevant to the challenges, struggles and aspirations of the Nigerian worker, only to open it at intervals, especially during electoral periods, for bourgeois refugees who lost out in the primaries of their preferred political parties.

The question to ask is how much did Peter Obi dole out to catapult himself as the presidential candidate of the LP less than a week after he became a member of the party?

So what is this Peter Obi rebranded Labour Party that is generating so much interest across the country, which has even made some “socialists” endorse the call to join the electoral train? What has Obi brought to the party that has made it different from what it was in the past and at the same time elicited joy and excitement at the possibility of an end to the dominance of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the PDP. It is undeniable that eligible voters have desperately flooded designated registration centres in Lagos and other urban areas in different parts of the country, seeking to be registered. Also, there is the possibility that the 2023 general election could witness an unprecedented mass turnout. This cannot be divorced from the emergence of Obi and the birth of a growing crowd of followers identifying themselves as “Obi-dient”, with THEWILLNIGERIA

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the character of a mass movement, mostly in the urban centres.

So what has Obi brought on board the LP that has given rise to all these?

Should this be taken to mean that a qualitative shift has occurred in terms of a programme that would fundamentally change the course and history of the country, with the potential of meeting the aspirations of the working population? It is appropriate to acknowledge the trends observed above and admit that there is a quantitative new entrant into the LP, which is indicative of the desire of “change seekers” to have little or nothing to do with the APC and PDP. It appears that these change seekers know what they don’t want. This, however, cannot now be taken to mean that the people have now hit on the magic wand that would transform the fortunes of Nigerian workers.

While welcoming the call by the trade unions for workers to join the party as part of the process of reclaiming the party, there is no assurance that this call will automatically propel workers to join the party. Many workers still have fresh in their consciousness the refusal of labour leaders to consistently provide the needed leadership in their struggle against the ruling class and their ruinous policies of deregulation and privatisation.

If anything is significant about the name Labour Party, it is that it should be a party for workers and the poor masses, a party that should allow the working class the opportunity to take on the ruling class and not trade it to members of the ruling class to pretend that they are the same and one with the working class and can so represent their interest and should be voted for.

Interestingly this is not the first time Peter Obi is presenting himself to the electorate. There is nothing significant about him that has changed when he contested and was governor of Anambra State for two terms on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), crossed over to the PDP and contested as Vice President to Atiku in the 2019 general election. Interestingly the latter is now one of his opponents. In terms of ideas and philosophy, he does not differ from Atiku

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of the PDP or Tinubu of the APC. He is a supporter of big business and neo-liberal ideas of the capitalist class, defending a continued domination of the key sectors of the economy by private capital, both foreign and national.

As a state governor, his reluctance to pay the new minimum wage shows that he is not in any sense workers-friendly. It is painful and sad that this is the very person now presented to workers as the presidential candidate of the LP. A political charter for the labour movement should be defined by first and foremost an independent political organisation of the working people and for the working people. Such should be free from control by the members of the ruling class, defending not just the right to vote but the right of workers to stand as candidates to be voted for, campaigning on a programme and a manifesto that seeks to mobilise the entire working class and all of her allies to fully come on board the arena of struggle so as to build the necessary force that can take on the ruling class, dislodge it from power and commence on the road to a social revolution, to accomplish and build a new country for all on a socialist manifesto.

To call workers to join the LP is nothing more than a call to vote for Peter Obi and endorse his neo-liberal and capitalist ideals.

This is also not the first time the people will be presented with a supposed “fresh face” or “fresh breath” as Goodluck Jonathan was so branded, with nothing whatsoever to show for it and leaving the working masses worse off in the end.

Muhammadu Buhari was similarly repackaged in 2015 and presented to the electorate as someone who was feared because of his hatred for corruption to the extent that the creed of governance remained that of promoting big business and the continued dominance of the economy as opposed to a total break from it. While we will not fundamentally oppose the call for workers to reclaim the Labour Party, this cannot be defined and limited to the context of the 2023 general election. Joining merely for the purpose of canvassing and voting for Peter Obi completely defeats the purpose of the call.

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JULY 17 - JULY 2 3, 2022 T H E W I L L N E W S P A P E R

•

www.t hew i llni g eri a. c om VOL .2 N O.2 9 SEPLAT FUNDAMENTALS 2017-2021 (N'bn)

2000BN

Gross Profit (N’bn)

1,600.00 bn

1,000.00 bn

766.67 bn

799.55 bn

500BN

1.311.00 bn

1000BN

Profit Before Tax (N’bn)

100BN 114.21 bn

Profit After Tax

46.93 bn

13.45 bn

(N’bn)

-30.71 bn

0

28.87 bn

44.83 bn

44.86 bn

64.00 bn

71.0 bn

89.91 bn

85.01 bn

121.45 bn

80.59 bn

119.75 bn

81.11 bn

50BN

-50BN A

Brown

A

2017

B

B

2018

C

C

2019

D

D

2020

Total Assets

E

E

(N’bn)

2021

Source; Company's Annual Reports

Seplat: Travails of Indigenous Firm With Uncommon Energy

BY SAM DIALA

Caverton Offshore Support Group Moves to Reposition Subsidiaries

BY ANTHONY AWUNOR

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hen Caverton Helicopters was established 20 years ago as a charter, shuttle and maintenance company, the intention of the promoters was to bridge the gap in the onshore helicopter service sector. In the past two decades, the helicopter

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company made strides in the offshore support (oil and gas) industry by providing logistics support to the major players.

However, most operators in the aviation industry were negatively affected when Continues on page 17

Nigeria, which is an established, high-quality operation with a highly skilled local operating team and a track record of safe operations, producing 95 kboepd (W.I.) in 2020 (92 per cent liquids).”

Orjiako noted that upon completion of the acquisition process, the deal will create one of the largest independent energy companies on both the Nigerian and London Stock Exchanges, and bolster Seplat Energy’s ability to drive increased growth, profitability and overall stakeholder prosperity.

Elaborating further, the retiring pioneer chairman of Nigeria’s largest independent oil firm said: “This will be a transformational acquisition for Seplat Energy, increasing our production by 186 percent and 2P oil reserves by 170 percent (based on 2020 numbers). The acquisition will also provide significant undeveloped gas potential of 2.9 Tscf, which could pave the way for the Company to expand domestic production and export opportunities.”

“It will also provide Seplat Energy with dedicated and secured export routes which would further reduce the risk profile of our business. Seplat Energy is fully committed to working with the Nigerian Government to bring these strategically important national assets fully into Nigerian ownership alongside the NNPC.” Chief Executive Officer, Seplat Energy Plc, Mr. Roger Brown, added a voice of good hope to the retiring chairman’s message.

While reviewing the company’s unaudited results for the three

MORE INSIDE AFCAC Elects Adefuke Adeyemi as Secretary-General

Continues on page 17

UBA to Boost Subsidiaries’ Revenue as Dubai Branch Opens

A

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Stock Market Weekly Summary PAGE 18

Uzoka

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hen Dr A.B.C. Orjiako, the immediate past Chairman of Seplat Energy Plc, addressed the shareholders of the firm at its 9th Annual General Meeting (AGM) on May 18, 2022, he expressed optimism about the company’s prospects during the year. His tough-minded confidence hinged on the exponential growth that Seplat was going to witness, following the assets acquisition deal with ExxonMobil announced earlier in the year.

Seplat Energy Plc announced in February that it had agreed to acquire some of ExxonMobil Corporation's assets in the country for at least $1.28 billion. The acquisition which would almost triple Seplat's production volumes by adding about 95,000 barrels of oil equivalent a day, was adjudged the largest of such transactions in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

Orjiako said that the year 2022, marked a major turning point for Seplat Energy and would usher in a new Governance era, following the retirement of the founding CEO, Mr. Austin Avuru, two years earlier and his own retirement as the founding Chairman from the Board after the AGM. “It is also the year in which Seplat Energy is set to complete the transformational corporate acquisition of the entire share capital of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (“MPNU”) from Exxon Mobil Corporation, Delaware (“ExxonMobil”) (“Transaction”), having been adjudged preferred bidder in a competitive process.

“The Transaction, which is subject to Ministerial Consent and other required regulatory approvals, encompasses the acquisition of the entire offshore shallow water business of ExxonMobil in

frica’s Global Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc is set to boost its subsidiaries’ revenue as the Tier-I bank inaugurates its branch in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The Nigerian tier-1 bank is extending its operations to the oil-rich Middle East country with the official launch of its new branch at the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) in Dubai.The move by the bank marks its presence in 24 countries globally and on four continents.

Continues on page 18

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AVIATION/OIL & GAS Caverton Offshore Support Group Moves to Reposition Subsidiaries

Travails of Indigenous Firm With Uncommon Energy

Continued from page 16

Continued from page 16

COVID-19 broke out in 2020, in addition to the effects of a harsh operating environment, multiple taxes, foreign exchange issues and the high cost of Jet A1.

Just at a time when most companies were on the verge of recovery, Caverton Offshore Support Group Plc, the parent company of Caverton Helicopters Limited, released its unaudited 2021 financial results, recording a whopping N4.3 billion loss after tax, compared to profit after tax of N1.1 billion in 2020. Industry watchers attributed this to COVID-19, which caused significant reduction in activities by International and local oil and gas companies who are its major clients.

The situation was worsened by the jet A1 crisis, which was largely triggered by the war in Ukraine. It was compounded by the devaluation of the naira, resulting in a huge blow to operators in the sector.

These developments had negative effects, not only on Caverton Helicopters but also other operators, such as OAS Helicopters, Bristow Helicopters and others in that segment.

In May, 2022, for instance, Caverton lost its Chevron contract to Bristow Helicopter, a situation that is expected to negatively impact its dwindling revenue for the second quarter of 2022.

However, the company is not resting on its oars.

In what industry pundits see as a rescue mission, Caverton is already making rigorous efforts to reposition its subsidiary companies, including Caverton Marine and Caverton Helicopters. To address the changes and challenges within the

“

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aviation, marine logistics and fossil energy sectors, Caverton Offshore Support Group recently made changes in the management of some its subsidiaries.

To this end, the company recently appointed Ibrahim Chafe Bello as Managing Director and Accountable Manager of Caverton Helicopters Limited, with effect from July 1, 2022.

According to the Chief Executive Officer of Caverton Offshore Support Group, Olabode Makanjuola, the changes are in line with the company’s goal to reposition its subsidiary companies.

Bello has over 34 years of continuous aviation experience in various sectors. He started his aviation career with the Nigerian Air Force in 1987 and served with the Presidential Air Fleet, Abuja as an Aircraft Maintenance Officer, rising to become the Chief Engineer of the Hawker and Gulfstream Fleets, respectively.

He retired from the Nigerian Air Force in 2004 meritoriously with the rank of Squadron Leader and proceeded to Delta Connection Academy, Florida, USA where he obtained his Fixed Wing CPL Multi/ IR in 2004.

Bello joined Caverton Helicopters in September 2011 as an EC155 and AW139 pilot. He served as a Line Training Captain on both types. In June 2012, he was appointed the Base Managing Pilot, overseeing Port Harcourt Shell operations until his appointment as the Shell Contract Manager in August 2014.

In September 2015, he was appointed the Director of Operations, a position which he held until his new appointment.

Bello holds the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Aircraft Maintenance License with various ratings and the ATPL Multi Engine license from the FAA and NCAA. He holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) degree from the Nigeria Defence Academy and he is also an IATA certified Dangerous Goods Instructor. He has earned various medals and awards from both his military and civilian careers.

The Board also approved the appointment of Rotimi Makanjuola as Group Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Lolade Abiola as Executive Director of Training for Caverton Helicopters.

As COO, Makanjuola, according to the company, will oversee planning and implementation of business strategies for growth across the Group (marine and aviation).

•Continues online at www.thewillnigeria.com THEWILLNIGERIA

months ended 31 March 2022, Brown said the parties were still awaiting the government’s next line of action as this is a condition precedent for the parties to move ahead with the deal.

“We are still awaiting the necessary approvals from government and regulators,” Brown said, adding that the “proposed acquisition of MPNU remains on course,” and that the deal is expected to be completed in the second half of 2022.

“The effective date of January 1, 2021 means we will benefit from higher recent oil prices and as we have previously reported, the addition of MPNU will nearly treble our production and double our reserves on a pro forma 2020 basis.

“The acquisition will reinforce our leadership of Nigeria’s indigenous energy sector and enable us to generate strong future cash flows that will underpin our investment in Nigeria’s energy transition and improve our overall stakeholder returns. It will also bring a significant undeveloped gas resource base which, alongside our ANOH gas project development, will underpin Nigeria’s energy transition and drive domestic and export revenues when developed,” he said.

Unfortunately, the transaction failed to sail through. The anticipated ministerial consent needed to conclude the deal was not granted by the authorities.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd later opted to exercise its right of first refusal as contained in the Joint Operating Agreement (JOA) of the JV + details of NNPC’s position on the planned sale of ExxonMobil shares to SEPLAT Energy Plc. The NNPC consequently notified Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited of its intention to exercise a Right of Preemption on ExxonMobil’s planned sale of its entire asset in Nigeria’s onshore and shallow waters.

NNPC’s decision effectively means the sales agreement between SEPLAT and ExxonMobil has hit the rocks, at least for now. The right of pre-emption is a legal right to parties in a joint venture to be the first to be considered for any planned sale or takeover of assets in the JVs if either party chooses to trade them off.

In a letter signed by Group Managing Director, Mele Kyari and addressed to ExxonMobil, the NNPC reiterated its resolve to take over ExxonMobil’s share of the assets. The NNPC would be required by terms of the joint venture JOA, to fully match the offer of the winning bid.

This means that the state-owned oil firm must not, based on its exercise of the right of first refusal, pay below the $1.583 billion mark.

The NNPC also reiterated in the letter that it had transformed from being a corporation to being a profit-driven company and that it now has the capacity to buy over the share of ExxonMobil in Joint ventures.

“

The acquisition will reinforce our leadership of Nigeria’s indigenous energy sector and enabling us to generate strong future cash flows that will underpin our investment in Nigeria’s energy transition and improve our overall stakeholder returns

In a worsening turn of events, the NNP recently secured a court decision temporarily blocking ExxonMobil Corporation from selling its assets in Nigeria to Seplat Energy Plc. An Abuja High Court granted NNPC an “order of interim injunction” on July 6, 2022, barring Exxon “from completing any divestment” in a unit that ultimately operates four licenses in Nigeria.

It was reported that NNPC wished to block the transaction and to take over the permits itself.

Bloomberg reported that NNPC had sued Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited on July 5, 2022, asking the Federal High Court either to order that a dispute had occurred between the parties over preemption rights, or to order them to take the matter to arbitration. Seplat, which was not party to the lawsuit, was reported as saying that its deal with Exxon was “still valid” and the company “remains confident that the matter will be brought to a proper conclusion in accordance with the law.”

Rebounding, Resilience Notwithstanding, Seplat maintains a robust presence in Nigeria’s energy sector, especially in the production and supply of gas with activities that underline corporate sustainability in line with its corporate mission: “To deliver sustainable energy solutions for society.”

The company stated as its corporate purpose that Nigeria’s large and growing population is hampered by its relatively poor access to energy, especially in rural areas beyond the reach of its gas infrastructure. It said that the country’s dependence on imported diesel creates a drain on economic resources as hard-earned currency leaves Nigeria to fund an expensive, inefficient and polluting fuel. “By providing accessible, reliable and sustainable energy, fuelled by Nigeria’s abundant gas and renewable resources, we will drive Nigeria’s social and economic prosperity now and in the future”.

•Continues online at www.thewillnigeria.com

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BUSINESS NEWS AFCAC Elects Adefuke Adeyemi as Secretary-General

BY ANTHONY AWUNOR

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L-R: Director, Air Peace, Engr. Ben Adeyileka; Chief Operating Officer, Air Peace, Mrs. Toyin Olajide; representative of Chinese Communities in Nigeria, Mr. Rush Wang and Ground Operations Manager, Air Peace, Mr. Adeyemi Ayodeji, during Air Peace inaugural flight ceremony from Lagos to Guangzhou, China, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos on July 13, 2022.

Photo: Peace Udugba.

UBA to Boost Subsidiaries’ Revenue as Dubai Branch Opens Stock Market

Weekly Summary

Continued from page 16

Applauding the expansion of its footprint to the United Arab Emirates, the bank said it hopes to serve its teeming customers across the Middle East as it officially becomes the first Pan African bank to establish a branch in Dubai directly from Nigeria.

“The birth of @UBADubai is in line with our vision: Global in outlook and competence, African by heart and knowledge, and a bridge to the world economy. Over the years, the Gulf, especially the UAE have become an important hub for global trade & also a trade gateway for Africa. “@UBADubai will serve our customers across the Middle East with a core focus on correspondent banking, trade & Treasury, whilst harnessing the opportunities the region has to offer to unlock our untapped economic potential and support our continent’s development,” the bank tweeted.

Speaking on the unveiling of the new branch, the Group Chairman, United Bank for Africa, Tony Elumelu, said that what started as an ambitious dream is today a reality as the bank has expanded its operations beyond Africa, the United States, and Europe to the United Arab Emirates.

He tweeted, “Dubai’s strategic position as a thriving global trade hub at the intersection of Asia, Europe and Africa makes it an ideal market for our 35 millionplus customers to leverage their businesses and boost their global footprint.”

Subsidiaries of UBA – the offshore operating segments of Africa’s Global Bank – collectively generated over N1trillion revenue in five years (20172021), data from the bank’s annual reports have shown. The result, which reflected a continued trend in the upward performance trajectory, revealed that the bank hauled N976.63 billion revenue in its African operating segments, except Nigeria, while N88.32 billion was earned from offshore locations in the rest of the world. This brings the subsidiaries’ total revenue haul to N1.1 trillion in the 5-year period.

Cumulatively, the subsidiaries’ component accounts for 38.8 percent of the lender’s overall N2.8 trillion

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revenue for the review period. Further analysis of the data gleaned from the annual reports of the financial services firm showed that the subsidiaries’ total revenue rose from N163.35 billion in 2017 to N300 billion in 2021, reflecting a 55 percent growth.

Specifically, in 2017, the subsidiaries recorded a total revenue of N163.34 billion which rose to N166.15 billion or 1.73 percent in 2018; it climbed further to N184 billion reflecting a 10.74 percent rise in 2019. Notwithstanding the COVID-19 challenges, the subsidiaries’ total revenue grew 36.85 percent to N251.8 billion in 2020 against the N184 billion of 2019. For the 2021 financial year, the segments pooled a total revenue of N300 billion which represents a 20 percent jump from what was achieved in the preceding year.

On the Profit side, the subsidiaries’ total Profit Before Tax (PBT) which recorded a mere N54 billion in 2017, shot up to N105.4 billion in 2021, representing 95 percent growth. Trending on the same growth trajectory, total Profit After Tax (PAT) for 2021 was N75.35 billion as against N40 billion in 2017 reflecting a growth of 88.25 percent. Furthermore, the total PAT of N266.5 billion generated by the subsidiaries during the 5-year period was 54.34 percent of total N473 billion for the period.

The bank’s Loans and Advances, a critical component of the balance sheet, recorded a tremendous growth both in 2021 FY and the 5-year review period. For the first time, the lender’s Total Assets crossed the 8 trillion mark to hit N8.54 trillion in 2021 against N7.7 trillion in the preceding year, representing 11 percent increase. For the 5-year period, UBA’s Total Assets rose from N4.1 trillion in 2017 to N8.54 trillion in 2021 – a significant growth of 108.3 percent.

Commenting on which factor contributed more to the impressive performance of the subsidiaries – quality of the bank’s corporate governance, or the operating environment, Mr Sam Ndata, Chief Dealer/COO at Hedge Securities and Investment Co. Ltd, attributed the results more to the overall corporate governance which cascades through its hierarchy.

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t was a brief trading week as the Federal Government of Nigeria declared Monday 11th and Tuesday 12th July 2022 as Public Holidays to commemorate the Eid el-Kabir celebration.

Meanwhile, a total turnover of 504.322 million shares worth N7.517 billion in 12,393 deals was traded last week by investors on the floor of the Exchange, in contrast to a total of 822.404 million shares valued at N10.366 billion that exchanged hands last week in 20,643 deals.

The Financial Services Industry (measured by volume) led the activity chart with 270.549 million shares valued at N 2.940 billion traded in 5,730 deals; thus contributing 53.65% and 9.11% to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively. The Services Industry followed with 74.980 million shares worth N168.626 million in 954 deals. The third place was The Oil and Gas Industry, with a turnover of 42.664 million shares worth N262.001 million in 798 deals.

Trading in the top three equities namely Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc, Caverton Offshore Support Grp Plc and United Bank For Africa Plc (measured by volume) accounted for 164.202 million shares worth N1.859 billion in 1,937 deals, contributing 32.56% and 24.73% to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

For ETP, a total of 2,414 units valued at N962,254 were traded this week in 10 deals compared with a total of 5,099 units valued at N267,772.87 transacted last week in 17 deals.

For Bonds, a total of 747,022 units valued at N775.089 million were traded this week in 23 deals compared with a total of 156,646 units valued at N158.716 million transacted last week 41 deals.

The NGX All-Share Index and Market Capitalization appreciated by 1.27% and 1.28% to close the week at 52,215.12 and N28.158 trillion respectively.

he African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) on Friday confirmed the appointment of Ms Adefunke Adeyemi who has been elected as the new SecretaryGeneral of the Commission.

The African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) is the specialized agency of the African Union mandated to oversee matters related to civil aviation across Africa.

In an official statement issued last Friday, the Commission said, “The Bureau and the Secretariat of AFCAC have the honor to inform AFCAC member states, international organisations, state partners and all aviation and affiliated stakeholders that Ms Adefunke Adeyemi has been elected the new SecretaryGeneral of the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC).”

Adeyemi’s election was announced at the 34th AFCAC Plenary in Dakar, Senegal.

The new AFCAC secretary-general takes over from the former Secretary-General, Mr Tefera Mekonnen Teferra, whose tenure ended in January 2022, following which Ms Angeline Simana steered AFCAC as Interim Secretary General.

In her remark shortly after her election, Adeyemi stated that that her objective was to build on the progress already made by previous Secretaries General and teams of AFCAC to see a new dawn for change through positive action for AFCAC and African aviation.

“The vision for African aviation is to enable a fully connected, prosperous and united Africa. We have made so much progress and we must stay the course and build on current momentum to strengthen existing partnerships and create new mutually beneficial relationships. We are stronger together and I am fully committed to collaboration, multilateralism and fostering cooperation with all States, partners and relevant stakeholders to move African aviation forward,” she said.

With an international career spanning over 20 years, Adefunke began her career as a lawyer in Nigeria and then as Company Secretary and General Counsel to Virgin Nigeria Airways before joining the International Air Transport Association (IATA) where she has worked in different roles over the last 12 years. In her current role as Regional Director, External Affairs and Sustainability for Africa, she advocates the sustainability of air transport, trade, tourism and business across the region, highlighting its positive socioeconomic impact and value as strategic enablers and accelerators of development and growth across Africa and beyond.

Up until her appointment, Adeyemi has been the IATA focal point for the implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) and a Private Sector Champion of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA), two strategic policy initiatives of the African Union designed to promote intra-African connectivity and trade to secure Africa’s integration and prosperity.

“We must all work together to tackle the challenges that African aviation has faced and harness the opportunities that abound to translate Africa’s aviation potential into reality. The time is now. Africa must fully connect, for its own survival and prosperity.

Civil aviation must continue to focus on its core areas and also work much closer with the tourism and trade sectors. This synergy, which must be intentional, will ensure that African aviation survives, grows and thrives for the benefit of Africa and its citizens,” she said.

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AGRIBUSINESS

Food Crisis: Alarms, Alerts And Predictions

BY MARCEL OKEKE uring the first half of 2022, not a few global and regional agencies with focus on agriculture stridently raised the alarm at the subsisting food crisis in Nigeria and predicted a worsening trend as the year drags on. Notably, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) warned that about 20 million Nigerians could face food crisis and nutrition insecurity by August this year. ECOWAS’ Executive Secretary, Rice Observatory, Dr Boladale Adebowale who raised this alarm at a recent function in Ibadan said the food crisis was being fueled by the fact that crop production is not meeting population growth, while the nation’s agricultural sector is threatened by insecurity, adverse weather conditions, and climate change, among others.

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The ECOWAS chief added that the food crisis was also being exacerbated by low mechanization, poor seed quality and varieties, low access to agric credit, low agro-processing capacity, low investment in agricultural research, high prevalence of systemic inefficiencies and low productivity.

In a similar vein, the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Akinwumi Adesina, also raised the alarm that the Russia-Ukraine war would create global problems, particularly for Africa, which imports a huge percentage of its food from the two countries.

He said, “Already, the price of wheat has gone up about 60 per cent; maize and other grains will also be affected.” The AfDB boss also feared that “there may be a fertiliser crisis, as there would be about two million metric tons deficit, and that will affect food production by about 20 per cent. Africa will lose $11 billion worth of food, and coming shortly after COVID-19, that would be rather serious,” he said.

Dr Adesina who made these startling disclosures in Abuja while speaking on what he called the “AfDB’s $1.5 billion Africa Emergency Food Plan” said: “We were not ready for COVID-19, but we are now planning to avert food crisis on the continent; there is a plan to help farmers cultivate wheat, maize, rice, sorghum, and soybeans—to mitigate the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war.”

On its part, the United National Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) warns that 19.4 million persons would face food insecurity across Nigeria between June and August 2022. The FAO report jointly produced with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) and other stakeholders focuses on acute food and nutrition insecurity in the Sahel and West African region.

The report said the food crisis will affect Nigerians in 21 states and FCT, including 416,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), adding that about 14.4 million people including 385,000 IDPs in 21 states and FCT of Nigeria were already facing the food crisis by May 2022.

In yet another report by Boston Consulting Group (BCG), it is feared that Nigeria and 44 other countries around the world are severely exposed to the Ukraine war-induced food crisis.

According to the BCG report, Nigeria and the other affected countries faced severe levels of extreme poverty, compounded by the ongoing economic and social challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional factors worsening the food crisis identified in the report include: heavy reliance on food imports, high import bills, high inflation, a high debt burden, climate risks, and civil unrests.

The Managing Director and Partner at BCG Nigeria, Stefano Niavas, while commenting on these findings, said, “the impact of the Ukraine war on our food systems calls for critical and immediate review of our budgetary allocations.

“Currently, Nigeria spends over 27 times of its agriculture allocation to service its debt. Compounded with the Ukraine war and the lingering challenges of COVID-19, the average debt-to-GDP ratio across the continent is expected to rise from 60 per cent to 70 per cent.

“To minimise the impact of the crisis on Nigeria’s food systems, the government and all critical stakeholders should ensure stabilising the rising cost of food and fertiliser by the provision of viable seedlings, supporting the growth of alternative nutritious grains, driving the adoption of innovative farm practices. The introduction of alternative THEWILLNIGERIA

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“

On its own part, the United National Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), warns that 19.4 million persons would face food insecurity across Nigeria between June and August 2022

sources of fertiliser will help reduce the country’s reliance on food imports,” he said.

Without any doubt these alarms, alerts and warnings by concerned agencies and organizations across the globe should be regarded as a red flag for Nigeria where the twin problem of insecurity and climate change is already making farming hopelessly unattractive to the people.

The seeming enthusiasm of President Muhammadu Buhari and his justification for unilateral border closure (for a long time) was too simplistic to explain the unfolding dangerous trend in the nation’s agriculture. According to the United National Food and Agriculture Organisation, about 19.4 million people will face food insecurity across Nigeria between June and August 2022.

At the risk of re-stating the obvious, Nigerians are already thoroughly traumatised by raging terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and sundry criminality that make farming and other economic activities most deadly adventures. A direct consequence of this is a food crisis, long predicted in a 2020 Global Report on Food Crises, jointly released by the Food Security Information Network and other groups. The report had warned that Nigeria was set to experience a lean food supply crisis as more than seven million people would suffer acute hunger.

Subsequently, a World Food Programme report said that 15 countries, including Nigeria, were currently afflicted with “very high levels of hunger.” It admonished world leaders to

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be proactive, as conflict and economic crises could escalate the situation. Regrettably, the advice was not heeded in Nigeria as the country was already unavoidably deep in a food crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic had also hit hard on the economy. Already, food prices have risen very sharply, worsened by high energy and transportation costs.

Among other factors, the FAO had identified insecurity, especially insurgency in many northern states as drivers of the lingering food crisis, noting that no part of the country was free from the “blood-soaked grip of insecurity.” Details of the FAO report show that in November 2020, about 76 peasant farmers were gruesomely massacred by Boko Haram insurgents in Borno State.

The insurgents claimed the attacks were carried out as retribution for the farmers’ cooperation with the Nigerian military. The Presidency even blamed the farmers for not getting clearance from the military before going to their farms. Similar experiences were replicated in Benue, Taraba, Nasarawa, and Plateau states, where farmers have been on the receiving end of a seemingly endless orgy of violence orchestrated by murderous herdsmen forcibly evicting farmers to make way for their cattle.

The ‘World Wealth Report’ published in 2019 had identified three main reasons for lack of access to food – conflict, climate change and a weak economy. All are present in Nigeria, and regrettably exacerbated by poor governance. Unarguably, efforts should be made to crush insurgency and criminality.

Aside from the insecurity that practically eliminates the farmers, the poor state of infrastructure in the rural areas where a large percentage of the farming population resides is a major deterrent to the country’s efforts at ensuring food security. The compelling need for providing good rural roads, off-grid electricity, using solar energy, so as to make life and living more conducive for the rural populace, cannot be overemphasised.

And truly, state governments need to accord topmost priority to rural infrastructure and agriculture with strong private sector participation. All said, the current situation, if allowed to persist, is obviously a leeway to arriving at the predicted doom of food crises. We pray the predictions do not turn an ineluctable fate for Nigeria.

•Okeke is an economist, sustainability expert and business strategy consultant. He can be reached via obioraokeke2000@yahoo.com

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45 YEARS OF CBN INTERVENTION

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SOME PROJECTS IN BENUE AND KOGI STATES

he real sector development initiatives of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), were introduced to stimulate and sustain growth in key sectors of the economy, revive moribund sectors, empower the youth population, explore the untapped potential in various economic landscapes, and enhance foreign exchange inflow.

These interventions have significantly contributed to the overall growth of the Nigerian economy. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Central Bank of Nigeria also granted loans to households and small businesses to cushion the effect of the pandemic across the country.

In recognition that access to finance is a key limiting factor to innovation and development of the global economy in Nigeria, the CBN’s key development finance interventions are targeted at priority sectors/segments which include: 1. Agriculture 2. Manufacturing 3. Infrastructure 4. HealthCare 5. Youth and Entrepreneurship Development 6. Export 7.Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

In Benue and Kogi states, the CBN has financed about 18,980 and 13,967 projects, respectively.

Below are high points from a few of the beneficiaries of CBN interventions in Benue and Kogi States.

The Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP)

BENUE STATE

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Agribusiness Small and Medium Enterprises Investment Scheme (AgSMESIS)

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he Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP) was established to create economic linkages between gribusiness Small and Medium Enterprises Investment Scheme (AgSMESIS) was small holder farmers (SHFs) and reputable companies (anchors) involved in the production and established to support the Federal Government’s efforts at promoting agricultural business processing of key agricultural commodities. The core objective of the programme is to provide /small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as a vehicle for sustainable economic development loans to small holder farmers, boost agricultural production, create jobs and reduce food import bill and employment generation. towards conservation of foreign reserves.

Name: Alh Ibrahim Fulani Jimoh Intervention: AgSMEIS Thrive Agric is one of the beneficiaries of this intervention in Benue State.

Sector: Micro, Small & Name: Thrive Agric Medium Enterprises (MSME) Intervention: Anchor Borrowers Location: Benue Programme (ABP) Sector: Agriculture Mr. Ibrahim started as a roadside Location: Benue State tyre merchant /vulcanizer in Benue state, after accessing the AgSMEIS Thrive Agric is an agricultural loan, he set up a highly automated technology-driven company vehicle service centre and over established to support the Federal time his business has grown. He is Government’s food security currently an employer of seven staff. policy. The company provides a linkage between farmers and off-takers, providing increased yield. Thrive Agric believes that he Central Bank of Nigeria introduced the Targeted Credit Facility (TCF) as a stimulus smallholder farmers are the key package to support households and small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. to unlocking the continents’ food One of the beneficiaries of this facility is Mrs. Sewase Tewase. production possibilities.

The company accessed a facility under the Anchor Borrowers’ Programmme (ABP), and has produced and traded over 500,000MT of grains, onboarded 250,000 farmers, cultivated 35,000Ha of land and has Name: Tewase Sewase so far created 9,000 jobs. Through the company’s efforts, farmers now have access to local and global Intervention: TCF Sector: Agriculture (Piggery) markets for their commodities.

Targeted Credit Facility (TCF)

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The Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme (CACS)

Location: Benue

Name: Mikap Nigeria Limited Intervention: CACS Sector: Manufacturing Location: Benue State Mikap Nigeria Limited, one of Nigeria’s largest agricultural and agro-chemical manufacturing companies benefitted from the CACS intervention. The funds were used to boost the rice production arm of the business. Since accessing the loan, the company has grown in scope, manpower and commodity output.

Mikap prides itself in leveraging the latest available technology in crops and livestock development to boost large-scale food and agro-chemical production, a feat made possible through the CBN-CACS Intervention.

Microfinance Bank Ltd (NMFB). The fund assisted in the setup of her pig farm and aided her to conclude the perimeter fence, construct stalls and purchase pigs for breeding.

She has been able to hire a manager and a veterinarian. She expressed her profound gratitude to the Federal Government for developing initiatives targeted at empowering youths in the country.

C

She heard of the loan through

ommercial Agriculture Credit Scheme (CACS) was established to promote commercial a colleague and applied agricultural enterprises in Nigeria by providing single digit interest loans to commercial players in online through a dedicated the agricultural value chain. website managed by NIRSAL

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45 YEARS OF CBN INTERVENTION KOGI STATE The Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP)

Name: Mangal Industries Intervention: RSSF-DCRR Sector: Manufacturing nchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP) is also a sourcess in Kogi over the years, specific Location: Kogi State focus under the ABP has been on agricultural commodities that have potential for significant economic benefits. These include: cassava, cocoa, cotton, tomato, aquaculture, rice, maize, poultry, livestock (dairy), wheat and oil palm.

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One of the beneficiaries of the ABP in Kogi State is Crest Agro Products Limited(CAP), a company that produces high quality cassava starch for food, pharmaceutical, and textile industries.

The company aims at promoting commercial cassava farming and industrial processing to bridge the domestic demand-supply gap in starch.

Mangal Industries Limited is located in Kogi State. The project was part-financed to set up a 6000tons per day greefield intergrated cement factory and to install a 50MW captive power plant. The company’s annual production capacity is estimated to be about 2 Million tones.

Specifically, the new plant is expected to increase the company’s capacity by an additional 1.9 Million tons per day thereby reducing the demand-supply gap and stablizing cement prices in the country, in addition to this, the project would create huge job opportunities for Nigerians.

Name : B.N CERAMICS Intervention: RSSF-DCRR Sector: Manufacturing Location: Kogi State

Crest Agro Products Limited has grown to a fully automated processing plant with a capacity of 21,600MT annually of High Quality Casava Starch (HQCS). At full-scale production, CAP produces 100,000MT of starch annually and creates employment for about 3,500 people across the cassava value chain.

The Power And Airline Intervention Fund (PAIF)

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he Power and Airline Intervention Fund (PAIF) was established to fast track the development of the power and aviation sectors in Nigeria. Other objectives of the PAIF include: improving the stock of the nation’s power, enabling infrastructure, generating employment, enhancing the standard of living of citizens through consistent power supply and stimulating private sector investments in the power and aviation sectors.

Name: Geregu Power PLC Intervention: Power and Airline Intervention Fund(PAIF) Sector: Energy Location: Kogi State Geregu Power Plc is one of Nigeria’s leading electricity generating companies (GenCos) that uses gas turbines as a clean energy source to generate electricity. The plant was constructed by the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) and privatized in November 2013 to Amperion Power Distribution Company.

The plant comprises of three units of Siemens V94.2, STG5-2000E simple cycle gas turbine generation with total insatlled installed capacity of 414MW which generates electric electricity and supply supplies to the National Grid managed by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN)

B.N Ceramics is a manufacturer of ceramic and porcelain tiles in Nigeria. The company owns a prodcution base with two authentic polishng automatic lines at Ajaokuta, Kogi, specilaizing in a wide range of products in ceramics and porcelain polishing categories.

The Agri-Business Small And Medium Enterprises Investment Scheme (AgSMEIS)

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he Agri-business Small and Medium Enterprises Investment Scheme (AgSMEIS) was established to support the Federal Government’s efforts at promoting agricultural business / small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as a vehicle for sustainable economic development and employment generation.

Name: Ayodele Abimbola Intervention: AGSMEIS Sector: MSME Location: Kogi State

Abimbola is a passionate caterer who began her business in a classroom space due to unavailability of capital. By virtue of accessing the AgSMEIS loan offered by the CBN, she was able to secure a bigger business space he Real Sector Support Facility (RSSF) was set up to fast track the development of critical which she uses for her business sectors of the economy, such as manufacturing, agriculture value chain and the service sub- and as a classroom where she trains sectors of the Nigerian economy. It is aimed at increasing output, generating employment, over 100 students. diversifying the revenue base, increasing foreign exchange earnings and providing inputs for the industrial sector on a sustainable basis. Under this intervention programme, priority is accorded to Accessing the loan gave her the projects with high local content, import substitution, foreign exchange earnings and potential for job opportunity to employ more creation. workers and train more trainees.

The Real Sector Support Facility – Differentiated Cash Reserve Requirement (RSSF-DCRR)

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Chikwendu

Aigbe

Williams

Fani-Kayode

Gentry

Balogun

Eke-Faani

Eke-Fanni

SURVIVING THE NIGHTMARE

Entertainers, socialites who suffered, survived domestic abuse –pgs 22-27 Chinda-Coker

Richards PAGE 22

Adesanya

Hassan

Esoro

Adebutu

Franklin

Obasanjo THEWILLNIGERIA

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JULY 17 - JULY 23, 2022 T H E W I L L N E W S P A P E R • www.thewillnigeria.com

ENTERTAINERS, SOCIALITES WHO SUFFERED, SURVIVED DOMESTIC ABUSE

Domestic violence, one of several reasons why many have quit their marriages, has been on the increase among prominent Nigerians. SHADE WESLEY-METIBOGUN takes a look at a few people who were lucky to exit their marriages before it turned ugly and those who were not lucky enough to stay alive Precious Chikwendu ormer beauty queen, Fmarried Precious Chikwendu, got to the former Minister

of Aviation, Femi FaniKayode in 2014 and ended the marriage in 2020 on allegations of domestic abuse.

Chikwendu went through hell while her marriage lasted. She had to battle a series of court cases instituted by the former minister before they eventually had an amicable resolution.

She was allegedly beaten by her husband and locked up for a long time. According to her, Femi kicked her belly when she was pregnant and threatened to remove the child in her womb. She was subjected to so much fear that she could not leave the marriage for a very long time. When she was done, she picked her bag one day and never returned to the house. She released several pictures of the bruises she sustained in the hands of her estranged husband. After she left, she was prevented from seeing her four children. She had a long running messy court case with him until her friends and family stepped in and she was given the opportunity to reunite with her children again.

estranged wife. The couple lived together for almost 10 years before the marriage broke up via a messy divorce in 2014. Even after the divorce, both of them were still at each other's throat. There were accusations and counter- accusations. Daddy Freeze posted several pictures of injuries he sustained when still married to Opeyemi on social media. He alleged that Opeyemi once tried to strangle him as they engaged in an altercation.

According to him, each time she got angry, she would pick up an object and throw it at him and he sustained injuries as a result of that.

He claimed that his former wife had a faulty background, which affected her emotionally and psychologically. Opeyemi on the other hand alleged that she was the victim of domestic violence in her marriage. She was admitted in a hospital for treatment in 2006 after sustaining injuries from a fight with her estranged husband. Their first son once had a kneecap injury while trying to shield his mother from the series of beating she was receiving from Daddy Freeze. He would record the act while beating her and scream at her to leave the marriage, but Opeyemi stayed because she had no escape strategy and nowhere to go. When she could no longer endure the beatings, she packed her things and left. The two former love birds had two children before they were divorced.

Uche Eucharia Ojukwu

lisha Abbo, the lawmaker representing Adamawa North Senatorial Eassaulting District in the National Assembly, came into the limelight after a lady in a sex toy store. The act was captured by CCTV camera

and it went viral on social media. Although he was charged to court for the assault, he wasn't repentant as barely 19 months after the first incident, he was caught again on video slapping a young man repeatedly in his hometown. After Abbo pleaded for forgiveness, his late wife's sibling, Eunice Nkechi Ojukwu, revealed that her sister died as a result of the illtreatment she suffered in the hands of the lawmaker.

Abbo, who was once married but divorced, married late Uche Eucharia Ojukwu in 2009. They met in Yola, Adamawa State where she went to enroll for a Master's degree after completing the mandatory National Youth Service in Nasarawa State. After the marriage, he started assaulting her physically. He would beat her, tear her dress and lock her outside their home half-naked. Neighbours who tried to intervene were threatened with guns. The lawmaker would also rape his wife and force her to have anal sex with him, which often resulted in more injuries and several stitches on her body. Despite being HIV positive, he hid it from her when they were getting married and still went ahead with the marriage. Uche kept having medical complications after contracting HIV from her husband.

When she discovered that she was HIV positive, she confronted him and got the beating of her life for doing so. All efforts made by her family to get her out of the abusive marriage proved abortive as she was adamant that things would get better. She was later diagnosed with osteomyelitis, an infection of the bone. The many injuries inflicted on her, which were not well treated, had led to that infection. She was also diagnosed with kidney failure before her unfortunate death in 2013. Seven years after the unfortunate incident, the lawmaker remarried for the second time.

Chacha Eke Faani

Olujonwo Obasanjo

Ifedayo Olarinde and Opeyemi Oni

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omestic abuse in marriages is not limited to women alone, some D men are also victims of abuse in their marriage. Former broadcaster, Ifedayo Olarinde, also known as Daddy Freeze, is one of the few men who battled several domestic abuses in his first marriage to Opeyemi Oni, his THEWILLNIGERIA

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ust like Daddy Freeze, Olujonwo, one of the sons of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has been a victim of domestic violence. He was once married to Temitope Adebutu, daughter of billionaire businessman and Premier Lotto founder, Chief Kessignton Adebutu. Their wedding was the talk of town in 2017 because of the drama and controversy surrounding the union. It was a union between two influential families.

The mother of the groom, Mrs Taiwo Obasanyo, had opposed the marriage. She had revealed that she received a spiritual warning that her son should not have an elaborate wedding. She dragged both families to an Ikeja High Court because of it, but lost the case. As if the mother of the groom had seen the future, the marriage crashed 13 months after it was contracted. The groom accused his wife of violently attacking him, claiming that it was the reason why he decided to leave his matrimonial home on several occasions.

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he Nollywood actress walked down the aisle in 2013 to her movie Tof reference director husband, Austin Faani. Their lives and marriage was a point to fans and colleagues who admired their union because

everything looked good and perfect on the outside. Fans were however shocked when in 2020 the actress announced the end of her marriage.

The couple was fast to save the situation claiming the actress had bipolar disorder as a result of pregnancy. There was a rumour about domestic violence, but the mother of four quickly refuted that while revealing that her husband had never beaten her or raised his voice against her. It was even alleged that the actress severed ties with her family and labeled her brother a devil because he insisted that she had had enough abuse in the marriage.

The couple even had a fourth child amid the controversy. Two years later, Chacha turned around to reveal that she was finally done with the marriage. She stated that she wasn't willing to die or go inexplicably missing. She also revealed that the welfare department and police force have recorded videos of her statement and the things she went through in her marriage. As expected, Faani denied her allegation, insisting that he had never raised his hands against his wife.

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Osinachi Nwachukwu

Faithia Williams And Saidi Balogun

Muma Gee

Nollywood power couple, Saidi Balogun and Faithia FLagos,ormer Williams got married in 2000 at the Ikorodu Marriage Registry, but the marriage did not last. The couple broke up in 2006

as a result of infidelity and domestic violence from both parties.

The once happy couple had it rough in their marriage as they both physically battered each other. The couple once put up with one of their colleagues, Remi Oshodi, also known as Remi Surutu, before they became financially stable. The actress had to throw them out of her residence because they constantly engaged in physical altercation that usually left them with injuries and wounds to nurse. It took seven years after their separation before Balogun officially filed for divorce in 2013.

The marriage was officially dissolved in 2014. Their union was blessed with two children, Khalid and Aliyah, but the two had children from previous relationships.

he gospel singer is unfortunately one of the few victims of Tmarried domestic violence who didn't live to tell her story. The singer was to her abusive husband, Peter Nwachukwu, for more than

cum actress, Gift Iyumame, otherwise known as Muma Gee, got SLocalinger married in a flamboyant ceremony in 2011 in Odiabidi, Ahoada East Government Area of River State, to her colleague, Prince Ekeh. She

10 years. After her death in April 2022, the tale of the in-human treatment she suffered from her husband was revealed. Her death was caused by the violence meted out on her by her husband particularly on her chest.

The singer’s children opened a can of worms when the Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, paid them a condolence visit. They narrated how their father pushed their mother down from a moving car and didn't give her money to transport herself home. Despite the fact that she was the breadwinner of her family, she was denied access to the money she made from her singing ministry and her relatives were prevented from having access to her. After her death, the Federal Government charged her husband to court for culpable homicide and domestic violence.

Monalisa Chinda-Coker

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ollywood actress and philanthropist, Monalisa Chinda-Coker, had her first marriage in 2004 to a showbusiness promoter, Segun Dejo Richards. The two were married for five years before the marriage crashed on grounds of domestic violence. On one occasion, the actress attended a public event with bruises sustained from the beating she received from her husband, which angered her colleagues and fans.

Segun Richards often denied his wife access to members of her family, except to Alex Ibeh, otherwise known as Mr Kool, a popular music act in Nigeria who is an uncle to the actress. Sometimes Segun would seize Monalisa’s car and watch her trek or hop on a motorcycle to movie locations. When she couldn't take it anymore, she packed her things and moved to Mr Kool's house. The marriage was blessed with a baby girl, Tamar before it packed up. Chinda later found love in the arms of a Germany-based businessman, Victor Tonye Coker in 2016.

walked out of the marriage after six years of enduring pain and agony from the man who once meant the world to her.

The mother of three sacrificed her music career just to build her home.

She became a full time housewife. Unfortunately, her sacrifice did not yield positive results as her husband almost killed her on two different occasions. Once he attempted to strangle her to death. When she could not endure the pain any longer, she filed for divorce while posting pictures of her bruises on social media as evidence of the torture she suffered from the union. She was forced to return to her abandoned music career in order to cater for her three children after her husband moved out of their matrimonial home.

Suzanne Emma Mercy Aigbe

uzanne Emma suffered domestic violence in her 17 years of Steacher marriage to Nollywood actor, Emeka Ike. The Dutch-Nigerian got married to the actor in 2000. They had four children before

their messy and controversial divorce in 2017. Emma accused Ike of molestation, torture and incessant beating. His first time to physically assault her was in 2014 and then again in 2015. When the mother of four couldn't take the abuse again because her health was at risk, she filed for divorce in 2015 at a Lagos Island Customary Court.

The estranged couple had one of the most controversial divorces in the history of the movie industry which lasted for two years. It was riddled with accusations and bitterness. They were finally divorced in 2017. As expected, Ike denied the allegations labeled against him and blamed his marital woes on some members of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, the association where he was a factional leader.

ollywood actress, Mercy Aigbe may have found love for the N third time in the arms of movie producer, Alhaji Kazim Adeoti, otherwise known as Adekaz, but her second marriage ended as a

result of domestic violence. The actress got married to her hotelier husband, Lanre Gentry in 2013. The marriage lasted six years and they had a son, Juwon before it packed up. The actress suffered consistent beating in the hands of Gentry. She was once battered in the presence of her designer, Abiodun Folashade Tokunbo, popularly known as CEO Luminee. Aigbe had gone to her house for fittings but her husband came over to the place to beat her and forced her to go back home with him. She left the marriage with a broken and bleeding nose.

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Foluke Daramola

Ayo Adesanya

Hadiza Zaaki

ell-endowed actress, Ayo Adesanya and her colleague, Goriola W Hassan, were live-in lovers for a long time before they secretly got married in 2000. However, the actress did not enjoy the eight years she spent in the marriage. The mother of one suffered domestic abuse in the hands of her aggressive lover, prompting her to pack out of their home in the middle of the night when Hassan was busy clubbing. The violence she experienced in her marriage affected her acting career for some years before she eventually relaunched it in 2016.

After leaving the marriage, she granted an interview in which she revealed that apart from the fact that her ex-husband could not handle the success of her career, she also left to safeguard her life from the series of abuses meted on her by the actor.

adiza Yadoo Zaaki, wife of music act Zaaki Azzay, also had it rough H in her eight-year of marriage to the singer. Yadoo married the love of her life in 2004, but the marriage hit the rocks in 2012. She

oluke Daramola was also a victim of domestic violence in her first Fformer marriage to Tunde Sobowale, son of Professor Idowu Sobowale, Commissioner of Education and Special Assistant to the former

Governor of Lagos State, late Alhaji Lateef Jakande. She got married to Tunde in 2005 and left in 2008 on the ground that she was physically abused and battered by her husband. However, Tunde claimed that she was unfaithful in her marriage. The couple had two children, Ibukunoluwa Ayomikun and Oluwapelumi Akande, before going their separate ways. Few years after calling it quits, the two found love again and have moved beyond their first bitter experience.

Tiwa Savage Tiwatope Savage also swallowed some bitter pills of marital Sbeforeinger violence in her marriage to Tunji Balogun, also known as Teebillz, it packed up. The now divorced couple tied the knot in 2014

Chika Ike

married when she was just 22 years-old to a man who was almost two times her age. The abuse started before the marriage, but she felt he would change once they got married. Unfortunately, he never turned a new leaf. He would beat her, send her packing and harass anyone who offered to accommodate her in their home. Whenever her mother came visiting, he would search her luggage to make sure that she did not make away with any of his personal effects.

Zaaki once attempted to strangle Hadiza in the presence of one of his band boys. He often threatened her with a machete. Her case was reported to Project Alert on Violence against Women who got her a lawyer to oversee her divorce proceeding and also to represent her in court when her husband reported her to the police alleging that she took thugs to the house to beat up his cousin. The two had three children, Zara, Didoo and Mimi, before the marriage ended.

Lilian Esoro

in Dubai. However, in 2016, a year after Tiwa gave birth to their first son, Jamil, their marriage started facing a crisis as the two made some allegations against each other. The singer later filed for divorce in 2018. After she quit the marriage, she disclosed that her ex-husband used to hit her before and after they got married. She also revealed that she had bruised eyes and swollen lips as a result of the physical assault she received.

flamboyant wedding, actress Lilian Esoro and her husband, Ubi TstandheEkapong Ofem, also known as Ubi Franklin, had in 2015 did not the test of time. It packed up barely a year after. The marriage was built on a shaky foundation right from the day Ubi proposed to her. She rejected the ring at first, but was later cajoled before finally agreeing to marry the lawyer turned entertainment entrepreneur.

Before their wedding, Ubi learnt that she was having an affair with another man. The revelation led to an altercation which resulted in some beatings and she got some bruises to show for it. She made up her mind not to stay in such an abusive relationship where she was already being battered before a wedding ring got to her finger. The actress who was already pregnant had her son, Jayden a few months after the marriage. But she never returned to her matrimonial home after having her son in the United States of America. Their divorce proceeding was finalised in February 2021.

ctress Chika Ike got married to her ex-banker husband, Tony Eberiri A in 2006 and she stayed in the marriagedespite all odds for six years before putting an end to it. The beautiful actress kept mute about

her marriage tillthe divorce proceedings started and the former love birds started attacking each other on social media. The actress revealed that she was domestically abused on several occasions. She was beaten several times by her husband, but she stayed because she was young and naïve when she got married. She lost her mind and her pride and battled low self-esteem for a very long time. She later ran for her life when the two had a heated argument and her husband threw a glass jar at her that almost smashed her face. The actress lost a pregnancy as a result of the beatings she got from Eberiri. Although she has since recovered from the trauma inflicted by the failed marriage, she does not seem to be in a hurry to get married again.

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STORIES BY IVORY UKONU

Fifi Ejindu Settles For Quiet 60th Birthday Celebration

WHY JOKE SILVA SEES BABAJIDE SANWO-OLU AS HER MINI-GOD

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ast Monday, stakeholders in the movie industry, politicians, technocrats, businessmen and women, gathered to celebrate one of the Nigeria's movie industry's veterans, Olu Jacobs. It was his 80th birthday celebration and despite the fact that he suffers from dementia with lewy bodies, a degenerative disease that affects the brain, almost like Parkinsons disease, his wife, Joke Silva, deemed it wise to celebrate him.

When she announced a few days before the party that the birthday party would take place at Glover Memorial Hall, many naturally assumed it was because the place holds fond memories of having hosted stage plays in the past and with Olu Jacobs himself also a stage actor, it kind of made sense that the party would take place there. What most people did not know was that Glover Memorial Hall was concessioned to Lufodo Productions by the Lagos State government. Lufodo Productions, an entertainment company, is owned by both Olu Jacobs and Joke Silva. In fact, the day of the birthday celebrations marked exactly one year the concession took place in 2021. But Joke is quick to insist that their production company won the bid to take over the building, fair and square.

A historical monument, Glover

Memorial Hall was built in 1887 on a piece of land donated by Madam Tinubu and named in honour of Sir John Glover, the then Governor of Lagos Colony.

Not only was it built to be the place for Lagos social life and as a cultural hub, notable artistes such as Kola Ogunmola, Oyin Adejobi and Hubert Ogunde premiered their productions at the hall. The first film ever produced in Nigeria was also screened there.

In addition, on two occasions, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had come to Joke Silva’s rescue when she had no one else to turn to.

The first time, was when she was in dire straits and needed to pay some money to the Lagos State Government but couldn’t. However, when she put a call through to Sanwo-Olu, informing him about her problem, he rallied around and bailed her out.

The second time was during the EndSars protest that rocked the nation in 2020. Lufodo Academy for Performing Arts, which was set up in a rented apartment at City Hall, was ransacked and equipment valued at N12 million was destroyed. The hoodlums took every single part of the equipment.

The production company was just getting back on its feet after it had been shut down for three years with

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Silva a year's rent already paid. Again she called on Sanwo-Olu and he, in his magnanimity, bailed her out.

Aside from these kind gestures, Joke has always been involved with any initiative set up by the Lagos State Government as it concerns the entertainment industry. Back in May 2020 in the heat of the COVID-19 pandemic, the actress was appointed Chair of the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture COVID-19 Pandemic Review Committee to reactivate the state’s creative industry.

Also, during erstwhile governor Akinwunmi Ambode's tenure, she was appointed as a board member of the Lagos State Council for Arts and Culture. The board at that time was tasked with generating local and international events to showcase and promote the state’s diverse talents in the field of creative arts, music, entertainment and sports, as well as to promote and preserve the rich cultural heritage while being sensitive to the diverse cultures of the citizens of the State.

ocialite and business woman, Princess Offiong Ejindu, more popularly known as Fifi Ejindu, has joined the 60s club. Contrary to wide spread reports that she will throw a lavish birthday celebration, Fifi chose to have a very quiet day devoid of any fare.

She did thank God for her life, feted a few close associates and family members and that was it.

This is in sharp contrast to how she celebrated her 50th birthday ten years ago.

Fifi spared nothing to give herself a befitting and luxurious party. She had flown some carefully selected guests, one of who was former president Olusegun Obasanjo to Dubai, for a fairy tale birthday party in the world’s only seven-star hotel at the Burj Al Arab. It was the first known Nigerian party held in the hotel at that time.

To prove that it was one party that shook the Nigerian social establishment to its foundation, the party is still being talked about till date. Before that party, in 2021, she had staged one of the most prestigious weddings by any Nigerian in London at the prestigious Cathedral in West London and the iconic Dorchester Hotel, venue of the reception. Her former best friend and fellow socialite, Nkiru Anumudu, widow of Globe Motors founder, Sir Willie Amumudu, was her chief bride's maid.

Fifi's decision not to throw an elaborate party may not be unconnected to her resolve to quit the social scene since she relocated to Abuja. While in Lagos, she was a willing guest

at most high profile parties and she was always in the company of her former best friend Nkiru. But after they parted ways and she relocated to the capital city, she concentrated on her business and shunned the social scene which is virtually non existent in Abuja by the way. Then coupled with her running battle with her now estranged husband, Amaechi and both now having to live separate lives, it is little wonder Ejindu that she was in no mood for a lavish celebration.

Fifi, who boasts a solid pedigree, is the daughter of late Prof S. Una, the first Health Minister in the then Eastern Region. Her mother, the late Obongawan Ekpa Una, was a notable woman leader in Calabar. She is the great-grand daughter of King James Ekpo Bassey of Cobham Town in Calabar.

Her mother’s grandfather was crowned King of Cobham Town

by Queen Victoria in 1893.

She goes by the title of Her Highness Obonganwan King James, a title she inherited

from her late mother. A lady of impeccable class and style, Fifi is an American trained Architect who runs Starcrest Group of Companies which she started in 1995. It comprises of Starcrest Investment Ltd, Starcrest Associates Ltd and Starcrest Industries Ltd, all involved in real estate, oil and gas, and building construction respectively.

Fifi, who once floated a fashion line, Fifi Collection, is also a philanthropist and via her NonGovernmental Organisation, Hope Centres, youths from across the country have found a haven for skill acquisition.

life with a new fervour and she is savouring her freedom with gusto.

Gone is the holier-thanthou image that she projected when she was married to the Ooni and in its place is the image of a good girl gone bad.

She has pushed aside everything that could possibly remind her of the past as a former queen.

She no longer wears white dresses, but prefers to explore with colours and various eye-popping and jaw dropping designs that are far removed from some of the more decent outfits she adorned as a queen and her favourite designer, Abiodun Folashade Tokunbo, aka CEO Luminee, is living up to the task of meeting her demand for different designs.

As for preaching the gospel, an act

she was very fond of indulging in while still married to the Ooni, the frequency has long been reduced as she now prefers to listen and dance to 'worldly' music.

Judging by her new disposition, it is obvious that the 29 year-old has no intention to return to the palace.

Prior to her marriage to the Ooni, Naomi was a prophetess who ran her own church, En-Herald Ministries, an interdenominational Christian Ministry based in Akure, Ondo State. Her marriage to the Ooni was greeted with a lot of condemnation as many expressed concerns on how an acclaimed Christian prophetess and the custodian of Yoruba tradition and culture could live together in peace amid differences in religious belief. Naomi was quick to shut down the concerns, insisting that what matters is the love she shared with the Ooni and never about their different religious beliefs or the fetish traditional practices she engaged in, which were at variance with her Christian belief.

Ooni's Ex-Wife, Naomi Groom Absent at Traditional Wedding Silekunola, Sheds Olori Image

to Dotun Ojelabi’s Daughter

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ast weekend, Pastor Dotun Ojelabi of Covenant Harvest Christian International Ministry, gave out his daughter, Fehintioluwa’s hand in a traditional marriage ceremony that had a lot of big wigs in attendance. The event, which took place at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos

The Ojelabis

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happened without the groom, Isaac Kouzhaya, in attendance. No reason was given for Isaac missing his own traditional wedding. But his friends were very much available and they filled the gap created by his absence as best as they could.

The groom's absence notwithstanding,

the traditional ceremony was well celebrated with everyone in high spirits. The bride smiled all through the ceremony, seeing the effort her family put to cushion the effect of her groom's absence. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo walked her into the ceremony, while serving as the 'father' of the day. Some of the dignitaries in attendance were Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, Nollywood actress, Sola Sobowale, former beauty queen, Helen Prest-Ajayi, Mrs Bola Obasanjo, Bimbo Ashiru, Chairman, Oodua Investment Company Limited; Dr Jimi Agbaje, Mrs Jumoke Pedro, wife of Otunba Femi Pedro, a former deputy governor of Lagos State, Princess Olatorera Oniru etc. On the bandstand to thrill guests was Chief Ebenezer Obey. The white wedding held two days ago in Dubai and thankfully, Isaac was physically present. Unlike her parents who are workers in the Lord's vineyard, Fehintioluwa is an author.

Silekunola

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ollowing the drama that characterised her separation from the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ọjájá II as his third official wife, Silekunola Naomi seems to have embraced

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STORIES BY SHADE WESLEY-METIBOGUN

Nigerian-Born Olukemi Badenoch Eyes Britain’s Prime Ministerial Position

DR KASHIM AKOR BAGS CHIEFTAINCY TITLE T

he Director-General of the National Productivity Centre, Dr Kashim Akor, has been honoured with a chieftaincy title by the traditional ruler of Ojoku, the Onu of Ojoku, his Royal Highness, Mallam Mohammed Ogbe.

He was conferred with the title, Achema Onu Ojoku. The event took place at the palace of the Onu of Ojoku in Ankpa Local Government Area of Kogi State last week.

Akor was honoured for his dedication and commitment to the development of Ankpa town and its environs.

The DG had engaged in different community services by providing empowerment skills, development and infrastructure to the people of the area.

Seamless employment opportunities and distinctive representation at the federal level has also been done by Akor for the community. High powered solar street lights, installation of transformers to address the insecurity challenge Ankpa was battling with among other laudable feats were done for the people of Ankpa in Kogi State. The event was graced by other traditional rulers all over Kogi State.

Last year, Akor was honoured with an award of Excellence by Ankpa Elders forum in the community. Akor who is a productivity expert and consultant of over two decades was re-appointed as the Director-General of NPC in 2019 by the president, Muhammadu Buhari.

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Jalade-Ekeinde

OMOTOLA JALADEWhy Ataoja of Osogbo Supported Ademola Adeleke EKEINDE RELOCATES T ABROAD, EYES HOLLYWOOD Akor

he Ataoja of Osogbo in Osun State, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun Oyetunji has never hidden his support for the Ademola Adeleke, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the governorship election that just took place.

About two weeks ago when Adeleke and his campaign train visited his palace, the traditional ruler boasted that he had pitched his tent with Adeleke and warned the opposition not to disrupt the peace of the state in the name of politics. He also prayed that the PDP candidate would emerge victorious at the poll. He specifically warned the Chairman of Olorunda Local Government chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Kazeem Oyewale, also known as Asiri Eniba, against orchestrating violence in the town.

THEWILL gathered that the royal father supported Adeleke not because of personal reasons but because of a favour some members of the party he represents did before he became the Ataoja of Osogbo.

Oba Olanipekun Olatunji became the Ataoja of Osogbo in 2010, but his emergence was not without opposition. Some members of the ruling house disowned him, claiming that he does not belong to any of the ruling houses in the town. There are five ruling houses in Osogbo who rotate the title of THEWILLNIGERIA

Ataoja of Osogbo. The Laarooye's, Sogbo Dede, Matanmi, Lahanmi and Oyipo. When king makers suggested his name as the most eligible candidate, he was vehemently opposed by some members of the ruling house who threatened to stop him if chosen.

The former governor of Osun state, Olagunsoye Oyinlola who is a chieftain of the PDP and the regional representative of PDP in South- West, Alhaji Tajudeen Oladipo prevailed with the king maker and ensured OlanipekunOlatunji became the king against all odds.

Oyinlola and Olanipekun-Olatunji had known each other even before the issue of kingship came up. When it came up, Oyinlola had no choice than to support a friend who had always been there for him. Even after he was crowned king, some of the ruling houses who did not support his kingship took him to the Osun State High Court. The court ruled in their favour twice but OlanipekunOlatunji kept appealing the case until the Appeal Court sitting in Akure, Ondo State reinstated him.

While he became a Oyetunji THEWILLNG

regular caller at the court, Oyinlola and Oladipo didn't forsake him.

They were solidly behind him and gave him the necessary support needed to win the case.

After the Appeal court reinstated Olanipekun-Olatunji, he made a vow to reciprocate the kind gestures of the two PDP chieftains if not individually, at least to the party they both represent. That is why he canvassed for support for Adeleke.

So far, indigenes of Osogbo and Olorunda Local Government who are subjects of the Ataoja, who used to support the All Progressives Congress (APC) in previous elections are now rooting for PDP because of the Ataoja's influence.

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N

ollywood actress, Omotola Jalade- Ekeinde, popularly known as Omosexy, may have left the shores of Nigeria for good. The actress is now abroad and she is enjoying her stay over there without thinking of coming back anytime soon. The mother of four relocated to Los Angeles in the United States in 2021 and has spent almost one year there without looking back. It was gathered that she has been making efforts to break into Hollywood with the help of a talent hunt manager.

Omotola made her acting debut in Hollywood in 2013 in a VH1 drama series titled Hit the Floor. The actress was part of the cast for the fifth episode of the first season of the drama series. She was chosen to act as Senegalese-American singer Akon's date in the series.

The thespian has paid her dues in the Nigerian entertainment scene, having put in over 25 years of hard work and dedication to her career before moving to the US.

ast week, the British Prime Bank of Scotland Group as a Minister, Boris Johnson, system analyst before working as resigned his appointment an associate director at Coutts. after he was caught up in a She was also a director of The parliamentary expenses scandal Spectator magazine. Her foray and breaking of lockdown into politics started in 2005 at rules in 2020, among other the age of 25 years. Her first allegations. experience at the polls was in Following his resignation, 2010 when she contested the Nigerian-born Kemi Badenoch, Dulwich and West Norwood who is a member of the constituency against Labour's Conservative Party, signified Tessa Jowell and came third. interest in taking over Johnson's She served as the Minister of seat. Badenoch was the Minister State for local Government, Faith of State for Equalities from 2021 and Communities and Minister to 2022, but she resigned her of State for Equalities between appointment because of her 2021 and 2022. She is married interest in the British Prime to Hamish Badenoch, a banker Minister’s job. with Deutsche bank and they Born in Wimbledon, London have two daughters. to Nigerian parents, Mrs Femi and Feyi Adegoke, she grew up in Lagos State, but returned to the UK when she was 16 years. Her father is a medical practitioner while her mother is a professor of Physiology. She obtained her A Levels from Phoenix College and later studied Computer Systems Engineering at the University of Sussex.

She worked as a software engineer at Logica and later Badenoch moved to the Royal

Olu Jacobs' Daughter In-Law Absent at His Birthday Celebration

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lessing Boma Douglas, daughter in-law of veteran actor, Olu Jacobs was conspicuously absent at the birthday party of the seasoned actor which took place last week.

Many who witnessed the event expected to see Blessing since she has denied having any marital squabble with Olusoji, the first son of the actor.

Blessing had revealed, in a question and answer session with her social media followers, that her marriage, which was contracted in 2018, had crashed.

She turned around later and

Douglas

claimed that she was still married to Soji.

She said that she was sarcastically responding to people who were making insensitive inquiries about her marriage. Her response notwithstanding, it seems that all is not well with the three year-old marriage as the mother of one totally shunned her father in-law during his birthday celebration.

Blessing wasn't in the family picture taken to mark Jacobs' 80th birthday. She was also nowhere to be found during the ceremony. Also, she did not celebrate the actor, despite the fact that her husband and mother-in-law were all doting on the patriarch on social media. Her mother-in-law had celebrated with her when she turned 30 years a few days before her father-in-laws' birthday. She posted her picture and called her the daughter God gave to her. Preparations had started in earnest for her father in-law's 80th birthday celebration when she turned 30, but she looked the other way and totally shunned it. Her timeline is filled with pictures taken to mark her 30th birthday without a single picture of her father-in-law.

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

L-R: Non-Executive Director, Beta Glass Plc, Ms. Lola Adefope; Company Secretary, Beta Glass Plc, Mrs. Bola Adebisi; Chairman, Beta Glass Plc, Otunba Abimbola Ogunbanjo; Chief Executive Officer, Beta Glass Plc, Darren BennettVoci; Non-Executive Director, Beta Glass Plc, Mrs. Claire Omatseye and Non-Executive Director, Beta Glass Plc, Dr. Seun Oni, at the 48th AGM of Beta Glass Plc, help in Lagos on July 5, 2022.

L-R: Corporate Relations Director, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Rotimi Odusola; Corporate Affairs Director, Nigerian Breweries, Sade Morgan; Chairman, Beer Sectoral Group, and CEO Guinness Nigeria Plc, Baker Magunda and Corporate Affairs Director, International Breweries plc, Temitope Oguntokun, during the launch event of the 4th edition of BSG Smashed Project in Abuja on July 7, 2022.

L-R: Head of Treasury, Titan Trust Bank Limited, Mr. Uche Ugboh; Acting Managing Director/CEO, Dr. Adaeze Udensi; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Head, Corporate Banking, Tomilola Onasanya and Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Sam Egube, during a courtesy visit to the Governor of Lagos state on July 13, 2022.

L-R: Ondo State Governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu SAN; President, Nigerian Bar Association, Olumide Akpata; first female Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief (Mrs) Folake Solanke, SAN, and Ekiti State Governor/Chairman Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Dr Kayode Fayemi at the commissioning of NBA Institute Building in Abuja on July 14, 2022.

Imo State Governor, Sen.Hope Uzodimma (m); His Deputy, Prof Placid Njoku (2nd L); Chief Judge of Imo State, Justice Theresa Chikeka (2nd R); President, Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Uchenna Okorie (left), and Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr COC Akaolisa (R), after the swearing-in of Chief Judge, in Imo State on July 13, 2022.

L-R: Father of the day, His Royal Majesty, King Igbikingeri Ngowari Cornelius; President, Women in Energy Network (WIEN), Mrs Funmi Ogbue, Group Executive Director (GED), Upstream NNPC , Engr. Adokiye Tombomieye, during WIEN Supernova Girl initiative scholarship and Science Fair Programme, held at Townhall Bille, Rivers State on July 9, 2022.

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ARTS

ARTSPLIT Hosts Modern And Contemporary Nigerian Arts Auction A

RTSPLIT, the pioneering art trading platform for African art, kicked off its maiden MOCONA - a Modern and Contemporary Nigerian Arts Auction in Lagos from 15 July running through 31 July.. This firstof-its-kind auction, titled Ode to Mastery, is featuring five prominent Nigerian artists who are key drivers of the contemporary art scene on the continent: Abiodun Olaku, Duke Asidere, Edosa Ogiguo, El-Dragg Okwoju and Oliver Enwonwu.

The ARTSPLIT app allows users to own fractions of prominent African artworks, also known as "Splits," and keep or trade them on the app if they win the "Split Auction."

The Splits allow multiple people to co-own a single iconic piece of art, which no other art platform allows. Users can also participate in a 'Lease Auction' on the app to win physical custody of these split artworks for a set period.

The MOCONA auction is a split auction, followed by a lease auction of individual works from these five artists. Both auctions will run for two weeks (July 15th- July 31st). The works will also be available for physical viewing at Hourglass Gallery - 979 Saka Jojo St, Victoria Island 106104, Lagos for the auction duration from July 25th till July 31st and online from July 15th.

Market Day in Dalston, London by Edosa Ogiugo, Oil on Canvas 2017, 119 x 89cm

The event follows the successful inaugural auction held in May, where Ben Enwonwu’s 1977 artwork ‘Agbogho Mmuo’ from the Ogolo series was valued at $105,000, as well as ARTSPLIT’s debut at the 59th Venice Biennale, where the platform partnered with The African Art in Venice Forum (AAVF) and the South African pavilion at the 59th Venice Biennale in 2022.

Famed for his highly-finished and detailed depictions of Nigeria's cities and landscapes, Abiodun Olaku is generally considered one of the country's most accomplished oil painters. Olaku largely works in the traditional medium of oil; however, his work is not stuck in the past. The artist explores new horizons within established methods and techniques open to innovation.

Rite of Passage by Oliver Enwonwu, Oil on Linen 2022, 101.5 x 76.25cm

El-Dragg Okwoju is an esteemed oil painter known for his vibrant depictions of Nigerian culture. Women are the subject matter at the core of Okwoju’s practice, often caught in an abstracted and ephemeral moment of ordinary life like dancing and celebrating life.

Duke Asidere expresses himself in thick, bold strokes through various media, including pencil work, oil, acrylic, pastels and transparencies. Having been raised in a female household, he has become known for his inquisitive portrayal of women in works that explore concepts like politics, society, culture and psychology – his architectural series offers a fresh perspective of Africa and his number plate and spray series have underlying political statements.

Edosa Ogiguo is one of Nigeria's most famous artists for his large canvasses of equestrian and dancing scenes. His fascination with horses began after a visit to his wife's family in northern Nigeria. For Ogiugo, the technical challenges of mastering his subject matter inspire him more than anything else.

Oliver Enwonwu comes from a long line of remarkable artists, such as his grandfather, a reputable traditional sculptor, and his father, Ben Enwonwu, widely known and celebrated as Africa’s most celebrated pioneer modernist. Enwonwu interrogates the complex layers of history between Africa and the West in his work.

The complete list of works available at the auction includes: Abiodun Olaku, ‘The Seeker’ (Portrait of a beggar), 1994 THEWILLNIGERIA

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The Death of Honour by Duke Asidere, Oil on Canvas 2022 96 x 96cm to a new set of diverse art collectors and investors, which would ultimately boost the status of both their works and the platform. Indeed, this is the new ART ECONOMY!

Euphoria by El-Dragg Okwoju, Oil on Canvas, 2022 165 x 137cm El-Dragg Okwoju, Euphoria, 2022 Duke Asidere, The Death of Honour, 2022 Edosa Ogiugo, Market Day in Dalston, London, 2017 Oliver Enwonwu, Rite of Passage, 2022 By presenting MOCONA, ARTSPLIT said it intends to raise the profile of these artists further and introduce them

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ARTSPLIT is an art trading technology company driven by one common goal; enhancing the investment status of African art by allowing users to co-own rare and valuable artworks on a platform that guarantees price discovery and market liquidity. Our mission is to position African art & artists as the preferred alternative investment choice by developing the African art ecosystem through technology and co-ownership.

We believe that in this way, we can make wealth accessible through alternative investments.

The platform (ARTSPLIT mobile app) allows art lovers to own fractions (also known as Splits) of prestigious African artworks, which they can trade in real-time. ARTSPLIT also provides opportunities for owners of investment-grade African art to list their works and have them evaluated and sold to members of our community. ARTSPLIT also offers advisory and management services for art collectors, which are personalised to requirements to manage art portfolios online fully and on offline platforms.

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ARTS

Nigeria’s “Flag Of Our Fatherland” TheForce-Olamzy O Poem Trends Globally

gunyemi Temitayo Olamide is an award winning Nigerian artiste who hails from Ekiti state. He was born and raised Lagos State. He is a rapper, singer and songwriter whose musical journey began from his secondary school. This young man whose songs have been invading the music industry both locally and internationally is surely a force to reckon with.

Career wise, Olamzy has attained certain feats, from having an ever increasing number of streams to obtaining award nominations and wins from Note-worthy Award organisations, then to topping music charts. In 2021, Olamzy grossed over a total of 180,000 streams on Spotify.

As at May this year Olamzy has gathered over 83,800 streams on the audiomack and has over 483 monthly listeners on the platform. Olamzy has also bagged 6 award nominations during his career and has won 3. He has also topped music charts such as, - ReverbNation Hip Hop charts for Lagos, NG. 2020 as no. 38, and much more.

A

BONNY AMADI

Poem on Nigeria titled “Flag of our fatherland, Nigeria” written by Mrs Margie Chinyere Offoha, Nigerian -American citizen, a Novelist and poet, has gained a pride of place in global highly rated allpoetry.com.

The trending poem, which is just one out of Offoha’s numerous poems, is currently generating so much views on the platform as it reflects a form of Ode to the Nigerian flag. The beautiful unifying Green white and Green colours, which literally appeared to be losing its unifying and friendly powers driven by peace and unity.

Besides these, Olamzy is doing progressively well beyond the shores of Nigeria. He is a versatile artist who can easily switch styles from Hip hop to Rap to Afro beats to R&B. Olamzy is creating a new sound which is influenced by both the Western and African cultures. His sound aims at kicking against the clash of cultures and it spreads peace through music.

The poet, through the poem, appealed to Nigeria through its national symbol, the flag, Nigerians and the leaders to work assiduously towards restoring the peace and conviviality for which the country and her citizens are known for, as they seem to be eluding the citizens. Strife, the poet in the poem, worries, seems to be overtaking the brotherhood, and promises of nationhood, the country promises.

Mrs Margie Offoha in a comment made available to our correspondent, said that the poem “Green white and Green” is in her effort to bringing global attention to Nigeria’s prevailing security problems, helping the people and the government save lives.

The poet, raising concerns on the prevailing state of affairs in the country, started with a question, “Oh, mighty flag of our fatherland, are you still there? Reflecting the cover the flag hitherto gives to Nigerian citizens’ in every part of the country and the world at large.

The poet went further to query, “Oh, mighty flag of our fatherland can you see the pain and suffering your children are enduring? Oh, mighty flag of our land, can you hear our cry? Oh, mighty flag, what happened to the promise you made, many years ago? United you promised us but divided we are”.

our homeland, hear our cry. Rise and bring your children under your shade again”

While calling for stronger action to save lives and build a more united country, the poet in stanza three wrote ‘’Peace and unity have eluded your children. The echo of one Nigeria, one Nigeria, is now met with doubt as many no longer believe.

Oh, mighty green, white, and green, the flag of

Carl Scott Harker, a poet and literary enthusiast commenting on the poem in allpoetry.com platform wrote, “This is a powerful poem which speaks directly to the pain felt in Nigeria, but I suspect, reflects the condition in too many countries in this world. Well done’’

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Ogunyemi

Offoha

She said “Even though I am in America, I follow the events happening in Nigeria passionately.

As a great empath, I carry other peoples’ pain in my heart. I think this is a time for people living outside the country especially poets and artists of various kinds to use their voices to bring global attention to Nigeria, who knows it may make a difference in the lives of poor Nigeria citizens who are forever suffering”

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SportsLive

CAF Nominations Expose Lapses in Nigerian Sport Administration

BY JUDE OBAFEMI

When Emmanuel Adebayor won the CAF Player of the Year award in 2008, he scored 24 English Premier League goals, to help sustain Arsenal's title hopes. He achieved the highest individual return of his professional career with a total score of 30 in all competitions. Despite this outstanding individual achievement, he could not help Togo qualify for the 2008 AFCON. At that tournament, Mohamed Aboutreika was sensational throughout and helped Egypt to their sixth continental title with a 1-0 final victory against Cameroon.

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he publication of a long list of nominees for continental football awards by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Thursday, June 30, 2022 did not augur well for the football community in Nigeria, especially in the men's segment. The list for the 2022 CAF Awards in the men's game had six categories with about 80 nominees and Nigeria, which used to exhibit strength in numbers in the categories could only manage two nominations. Nantes’ Simon Moses was nominated in the Player of the Year category, while Akinkunmi Amoo of FC Copenhagen had a nomination in the Young Player of the Year category.

Due to Aboutreika's MVP performance, he was the clear favourite to win the Best Player Award, but CAF decided to go with the more well-known and famous Adebayor, who did not play the AFCON. It begs the question of the criteria applied in not only deciding who makes the long list, or the short one, but who eventually takes home the prize because

by Monday, June 11, there was no Nigerian anywhere in the shortlist after the initial nominees were trimmed down.

By implication, there were no other players of Nigerian origin found worthy enough in the season that just ended to earn a place in those two categories and these three other categories: Interclub Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, Club of the Year and, with the country's poor showing at the year's TotalEnergies 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, there was no surprise that Nigeria was not nominated in the National Team of the Year category as well.

Indeed, while the country's football pedigree has been on a decline in recent times from the dizzying heights of the 1990s, the reverse has been the case on the continent as other countries have quickly worked assiduously to fill that vacuum.

When nominations in all the categories are computed, a clearer picture emerges of where contemporary footballing strength lies on the continent. Morocco, powered by its local clubs' excellence in CAF Competitions, led with 14 nominations, followed by the AFCON finalists Senegal and Egypt with eight nominations each. Burkina Faso and Mali had five apiece, while the Gambia, Guinea, Tunisia and Cameroon all had four nominations. And, Nigeria could only muster just two.

There is a glaring sense of weighed benefits granted to players that particularly distinguished themselves in continental competitions this year and it is to be expected, given that it is a CAF-led reward process, but it has not always been that way. Those who question the exclusion of some names from the long list have a reason to be suspect of CAF's criteria for inclusion.

The most eyebrow-raising omission was Napoli's Victor Osimhen.

The striker's glowing performances for the Naples side saw them contest strongly for the Scudetto in Serie A, the Europa in Europe and qualify for next season's UEFA Champions League to the pleasure of team manager Luciano Spalletti, who never stopped singing Osimhen's praises at every opportunity. So brilliant was the 23-year-old that his displays earned him the Italian Serie A Most Valuable Player (MVP) for footballers aged 23 and under.

Then, there is the Belgian League and Racing Genk's Cyriel Dessers, who spent the last season on loan at Feyenoord in the Eredivisie, the top flight Dutch League. He was largely instrumental in seeing Feyenoord reach the final of the maiden edition of the UEFA Europa Conference League, their first-ever European final appearance in 20 years. The striker scored 10 goals in 11 matches to take Feyenoord to the final of the Europa Conference League and a place in Feyenoord’s record books, as no striker had ever scored double figures for the Dutch side in any European competition, a significant milestone for a club boasting a historical pedigree of some of Europe's excellent strikers, such as Pierre van Hooijdonk, who had the previous record of nine, Dirk Kuijt, Harry Bild, and Robin van Persie. Dessers’ brace against Ligue 1 side Olympique Marseille in the first leg of their Conference League semi-finals and spectacular match-winning performance earned him the UEFA Conference League Player of the Week award and his double made him the first player in the newly formed Conference League to score 10 goals. The Nigerian forward finished the competition as the leading scorer and was recognised by UEFA for that accomplishment.

Yet, winning the Best Young Player Award in Serie A, one of the top five leagues in Europe, in the case of Osimhen, and winning the UEFA Highest Goal-scorer Award for the Conference League, in Dessers' case, were both insufficient for at the very least, a recognition from CAF in the long list of nominees for the top award, Player of the Year, in the men's segment. There is the caveat to keep in mind while querying the manner of their exclusion from CAF's long list. Neither player, of the two deserving examples above, were part of Nigeria's Super Eagles' THEWILLNIGERIA

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The responsibility for this obvious decline in Nigeria's footballing fortune is due to poor sports administration in the country

squad that featured at the AFCON in Cameroon earlier this year.

While Osimhen was getting back to fitness after his facial surgery and contracted COVID-19 in the build up to the tournament, which effectively ruled him out, Dessers was not even extended an invitation to participate. Interim coach, Augustine Eguavoen, relied on the provisional list submitted by sacked coach Gernot Rohr and left out Dessers, even though the team needed tested goal-scorers.

When queried about not bringing in Dessers, Eguavoen excused himself poorly, claiming that he was yet to witness the former Heracles attacker in action and that he would like to get a better look at him before including him in his selection.

As Nigeria made an abysmal showing in the competition's knockout stage, after emerging as the best team from the Group stage in the absence of players, such as Osimhen and Dessers, on the team selection, it must have been to CAF's discretionary implementation of the cognate legalities that exist in determining who is nominated and who is not. Even if, for the year in question, two of Africa's best in the Senegalese Sadio Mane, now of Bayern Munich, and Egypt's Mohamed Salah of Liverpool, helped their respective countries to reach the final before Egypt buckled during the ensuing penalty shootouts, it will not be the first time that the Federation has stepped beyond outstanding performances during AFCON to reward the best player for the year.

In 2013, the Ivorian Yaya Toure was named, beating the overwhelming favourite, Nigeria's John Obi Mikel, despite the Super Eagles’ AFCON feat and Mikel’s commanding display.

After beating Cote d'Ivoire to the trophy, Nigeria dominated that award ceremony in Lagos and won virtually everything except the biggest prize on the night to the disappointment of many.

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The responsibility for this obvious decline in Nigeria's footballing fortune is due to poor sports administration in the country. The imbroglio over firing Rohr and the subsequent blowout that followed all the way to an embarrassing exit from AFCON present a vivid example of the seeming ad hoc manner with which sports is run in the country, in general, and the way football is going precipitously off the cliff.

Although followers of the game in Nigeria queried Rohr's matches and believed the German was unqualified to handle the Super Eagles, they expected the Nigeria Football Federation to act expeditiously and get another coach for the team before crucial games like the qualifiers for AFCON and the World Cup. Just as fans were settling for Rohr the NFF sacked him and on the eve of the commencement of the biggest football showpiece on the continent, Eguavoen was named as Technical Adviser to act on an interim basis as the NFF went in search of a substantive coach.

After liaising with AS Roma's iconic manager, Jose Mourinho and his previous arch-rival and now FIFA official, Arsene Wenger, as they claimed, a Portuguese, Jose Peseiro, was announced as Nigeria's new coach. Due to how close it was to AFCON, he was to go with Eguavoen and the squad to observe and contribute from the sidelines. Thereafter, Eguavoen would hand over to Peseiro to take over and work towards set targets and goals, only for Eguavoen to impress during his stint as coach to make the undecided federation renege on the appointment of Peseiro and make Eguavoen permanent coach. It took failing to qualify the country for the World Cup over two legs against Ghana to bring the axe on the Eguavoen gamble and send the NFF back into coach hunting behaviour after an apology to Nigerians for failing to qualify for Qatar 2022. At the end of this unfortunate series of rigmarole, the NFF went crawling back to beg Peseiro to accept its offer.

This is but a smidgeon of an inkling of what goes on in the country's sports administration. It is frustrating for many athletes and footballers to find that their sports federation is not interested in taking care of them. Internal wrangling often means that the very duties and responsibilities that require the attention of these administrators are neglected until it snowballs into an avalanche that is inescapable and will take many along with it. For the most part, the sportsmen and women take the brunt and more often than not, their performances reflect this shoddiness to the embarrassment of the athletes and the country, in the same way that success applies.

While it is incumbent on the football players to up their game for successes that can accrue to them if they excel, sports administration also has to wake up to making the best of our sportsmen and women even better with support, organisation, financing and preparations at all levels of football including from inter-house sports to the NUGA Games, from club football in the NPFL to home-based Eagles and from the Super Eagles to the Super Falcons to restore the glory days of Nigerian excellence in football.

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www.thewillnigeria.com • July 17 - July 23, 2022

PDP, Atiku's Political Miscalculations And Tinubu's Choice of Muslim-Muslim Ticket I n two previous articles, at least, published in my backpage column and live appearances on both television and radio stations in the run up to the presidential primaries of the political parties, I counseled the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to respect the concept of zoning and rotation of power between the predominantly Muslim North and the predominantly Christian South, especially at this time that ethnic and religious divisions amongst citizens is nearing an all-time high.

My counsel was premised on the fact that since President Muhammadu Buhari, whose eight-year tenure ends in 2023, is a Fulani Muslim from Katsina State, the leading political parties should respect the widely acknowledged and accepted power sharing deal between the North and the South to foster the country’s unity. This agreement is, indeed, in the constitution of the PDP, even though the party, in its desperation to return to power, jettisoned it and chose Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, another Fulani Muslim from the North, because of the superior voting strength of the region. The uproar over this irresponsible decision has not abated till date in the party and in the country.

Nigeria's very deep political cleavages were again bubbled up to the surface recently when the presidential candidate of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a Yoruba Muslim from the South-West, against wise counsel from influential party members, top clerics (Christian and Islamic) and notable persons from all walks of life across the country, decidedly picked another Muslim from the North as his running mate, effectively strapping the APC with a hard-sell Muslim-Muslim ticket for next year's presidential poll. Expectedly, his decision has become the subject of renewed debates about the role of politics in a nation that is split along fault lines of religion and tribe.

Most of the concerns of the voices that were raised against the Muslim-Muslim ticket converged on the same issues. The decision was considered insensitive in a country with a relatively even balance of Muslim-Christian ratio over population figures, give or take marginal increases on both sides across time.

Furthermore, the APC’s Muslim-Muslim ticket was deemed to lack a fair and decent notion of equity as it prominently and predominantly favoured one subset of the population over and above all the others to the point of ostracism, especially at a time when there was the most need to heed the clarion call for unity and give each part of the country a deeper sense of belonging. There was also the concern that it pulled at the worn-out fabric of strained relations between Christians and Muslims in the country, further seeming to pitch one against the other in the unrelenting religious conflict that Nigeria is peculiar with.

Of the concerns raised, the most significant implication was the rationale of political expediency, where it is insinuated that a northern Muslim in Nigeria will not accept or vote for a fellow northerner, who is Christian and running as Vice-President or paired with a non-northern Muslim.

The non-northern Muslim in this equation was Tinubu and his politically sagacious mindset laboured over this agreeably skewed but mostly practical reasoning, while mulling over his eventual pick for Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima.

Tinubu had that political expediency in mind and was making political calculations to give him all the edge he needed to claim victory against all odds at the polls next year.

This political calculation is made even more pertinent when other elements are factored into the equation, such as running against a political heavyweight like Atiku with more than a hefty political base in the predominantly

Muslim North and against a political party with significant party structure in the predominantly Christian South.

I am convinced that the power play in Tinubu’s mind was not that he could not find a Christian northerner strong enough to deliver votes from the North, but that going toe-to-toe against someone of Atiku Abubakar's standing required a lot more than simply balancing the ticket for the sake of it. He looked at the practical notion that faced with the options of a Christian vice presidential candidate and a northern presidential candidate, and not just any northern candidate but the Turaki of Adamawa, there was little doubt where an average northerner's vote would go.

To correct this imbalance and provide a countervailing force that will tip the scales back in his corner, Tinubu's choice was made for him. He could not fulfill his selfstyled long-life ambition of becoming President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria if he did not make the most of the hand he had been dealt and go the Muslim-Muslim ticket route after critically weighing the consequences.

That is why, in my overarching perspective, I believe Tinubu's move was cast in stone the moment Atiku emerged as the presidential flagbearer of the PDP. The failure within the ranks of the PDP to insist on zoning the presidency to the South gave impetus to Atiku's candidacy, which immediately put all opposing candidates at the peril of losing the northern vote en masse to the former Vice President or making desperate moves to counterbalance their own ticket. Tinubu decided on the latter.

It is not without precedent. That act of political expediency was at play way back in 1993, when at the polls deemed to be the freest and fairest in the country, the renowned presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, from the South-West, ran for the country's top post alongside Ambassador Babagana Kingibe on a Muslim-Muslim ticket that was wildly successful and welcomed across the length and breadth of the country.

MKO, as Abiola was popularly known, was successful at the polls, after running a vigorous nationwide campaign that brought many first-time voters to the polling units to give the Muslim-Muslim ticket victory, 29 years ago in the poll that was annulled by General Ibrahim Babangida headed military dictatorship. There was understandably widespread acceptance of the candidacy of the business magnate and philanthropist. And MKO balanced that with the choice of Kingibe to ride to victory. There are similarities in that campaign that Tinubu with his contentious wealth intends to replicate with his choice of Senator Shettima as he plots to defeat Atiku and a surging Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) whose candidacy is being propelled by a highly enthusiastic herd of supporters.

This ploy is the bread and butter of politics. Only the naive will think otherwise. Even in this very primary electioneering campaign, it has been at play. Each one of the leading candidates in every conceivable position, more so at the presidential level, is constantly analysing their positions of strengths and weaknesses in juxtaposition with those of their strongest opponents. It was the basis for regularly postponed congresses and primaries of the two major political parties as each was doing its utmost to first see where the other pitched their tents so as to determine the exact measures and precise calculations to gain the upper hand and win the hearts and minds of the voters involved to their side.

Even with repeated warnings from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that the deadlines for

the conventions will not be extended, the parties continued to play a dangerous game of musical chairs in a bid to first see where the other party is headed before making their own moves until the very end when PDP blinked first, thinking the deadline was immutable, only for INEC to provide an injury-time extension that ended up favouring the party in power.

These actions are considered expedient to the political process because, above everything else, the bottom line for politicians is victory at the polls. Everything else is subservient to this ultimate goal. Their actions, moves, calculations, motions and objectives are all geared towards ensuring that they win the next elections and retain popular power at the expense of everything else.

For the politically aware, it is this lonesome drive towards victory that must always be front and centre whenever a politician's motives and decisions are scrutinised to see beyond the smokescreen of political promises and political campaign sideshows. If this is applied to Tinubu's case, it is immediately clear that opting for a MuslimMuslim ticket was an act of desperation to counter Atiku, who was chosen in the opposition party's desperate act to regain political power after its shutout for eight years.

It can be reckoned as the catalyst that forced the hand of Tinubu to pick Shettima, even though, as the ruling party, the APC is expected to not play by the opposition's playbook but maintain the high moral ground.

Such self-serving tactics, mostly devoid of emotions and made in cold-blooded determination to seek power for itself rather than for service, go against everything that the true essence of leadership demands. Often, the desperation behind bare-faced political moves that care nothing for party policies and gentlemen's agreements, in Atiku's case, elevates divisions along religious lines and in Tinubu's response, point to a selfish desire for leadership that does not carry with it a call to service, which is what leadership verily is meant to be about.

It is instructive to note that whenever desperate acts like these are involved, it is the people that ultimately pay the biggest price as they lose out in getting the best hands to run the affairs of government, with the country consistently being mediocre rather than aggregating from a pool of the very best.

As a people, we deserve better leaders at all levels. We deserve a President with the moral fortitude, intellectual capacity, political sagacity, consummate maturity and ability to create wealth for Nigerians and grow the economy.

If we elect one, the ripple effect will happen at the state and local government levels.

We want a President that will steady the ship of the country going forward and begin the hard work of turning us away from a dangerous decline to anarchy back on the path to peace, security, progress and prosperity. These are the issues on the ballot for next year. It is expedient for Nigerians and eligible voters to keep them front and centre as we continue to critically scrutinise the options available and make choices of our own, not founded on desperation as these politicians are wont to do, but based on what is best for us, our families, our communities and the country as a whole.

I must also add here that INEC has officially announced that the ongoing voter registration exercise would end on July 31, 2022. The commission said it has made arrangements to register people every day of the week until the last day of the month. This is the last opportunity to get registered and to be eligible to vote in 2023. So go out and register now if you have not done so. Don't wait till the last day. Do it today and avoid the rush.

As a people, we deserve better leaders at all levels. We deserve a President with the moral fortitude, intellectual capacity, political sagacity, consummate maturity and ability to create wealth for Nigerians and grow the economy PAGE 32

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