Sunday 1st May 2016

Shiites Insist on Zakzaky’s Release as Precondition for Appearing Before Commission Senator Iroegbu in Abuja The Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) has told the Northern State Governors Forum (NSGF) that the group will not appear before the Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up by the Kaduna State Government to investigate

the December clash with the military in Zaria until its leader, Sheik Ibrahim Zakzaky, is released.

Zakzaky has been in government custody since the violent clash between his group and the military which led to the death of scores of his members.

Kaduna State Government had

Commission of Inquiry but the Islamic sect in a statement yesterday signed by its spokesman, Mr. Ibrahim Musa, gave the release of its leader as a pre-condition for such cooperation.

"We appreciate the governors’ call, at least it is an acknowledgement on their part

while appearing before the commission revealed that no fewer than 347 dead bodies were given a mass burial after the violent clash between the sect and the Nigerian Army.

The NSGF in a communiqué issued at its meeting on Friday had called on the Shiites to cooperate with the Judicial

that something unfortunate in the history of the North happened in Zaria that if not handled fairly and justly could have long-term consequences for the region and the country in general," Musa stated.

However, he said, IMN made their points for staying away from the commission

very clear and would like to remind the governors and the general public that none of the reasons had been given consideration or addressed by any of the relevant authorities, including the NSGF and all those clamouring for the Continued on page 6

Workers' Day: Falana Tackles Buhari, APC over Failed Promises... Page 84

Sunday 1 May, 2016 Vol 21. No 7676

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Military Vows to Deal with Killer Herdsmen Like Boko Haram To launch joint operations soon

Senator Iroegbu in Abuja The Nigerian military has vowed to deal decisively with marauding herdsmen that

have been terrorising people and killing in different parts of the country, the same way it is dealing with the Boko Haram insurgency, Niger

Delta militancy and other acts of criminality.

The Director of Defence Information (DDI), Brig-Gen. Rabe Abubakar, gave the

assurance yesterday in response to THISDAY enquiries into the gruesome murder of over 40 farmers of Ukpabi Nimbo Community in Uzo-Uwani

Local Government Area in Enugu State by the suspected Fulani herdsmen.

Abubakar said the military would collaborate with

the Nigerian Police and other security agencies to ensure the security of lives Continued on page 6

Osinbajo: 2016 Budget Will be Operational in Few Days Udoma placed on standby to receive clean budget copy from National Assembly today president for rehashing 1984 ‘command and control economics’

Ezekwesili slams

Iyobosa Uwugiaren, Tobi Soniyi , Chineme Okafor and Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said the 2016 budget would become operational in the next few days, an indication that the grey areas in the budget estimates may have been resolved and President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to assent to the appropriation bill soon.

Osinbajo, who disclosed this yesterday at The Platform, a non-denominational conference, sponsored by the Covenant Christian Centre in Abuja, said once the budget was assented to by Buhari, government would immediately go to work, completing power projects that were left uncompleted by the immediate past administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

THISDAY also learnt from a presidential aide that Buhari would sign the 2016 Appropriation Bill into law this week Continued on page 6

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CELEBRATING TOGETHER...

L-R: Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal; Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara; and Nasarawa State Governor, Umar Tanko Almakura; during the wedding fatiha of Abdulahi, the son of Bauchi State Governor, Mohammed Abubakar, at Alfurqan Mosque, Nasarawa GRA, Kano State...yesterday

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

ZAINAB SALEH

HER LOVE FOR KARATE

01.05.2016

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SUNDAY, MAY 1, 2016 • T H I S D AY T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R

PAGE SIX OSINBAJO: 2016 BUDGET WILL BE OPERATIONAL IN FEW DAYS as the National Assembly is expected to conclude work on the controversial document today. The source said Buhari would give assent to the budget latest Wednesday.

Buhari, last Tuesday night held a closed-door meeting with the leadership of the National Assembly to find a final solution to the 2016 budget impasse. Consequent upon this meeting, a 20-man committee, comprising 10 members from the executive and 10 from the National Assembly, was formed to review the entire budget.

THISDAY gathered yesterday that members of the joint committee from the National Assembly, headed by the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Yusuf Lasun, are expected to finish work on the budget today.

The committee would then give room to members of the committee from the executive, headed by the Minister of National Planning/Budget, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, to take a second look at it before presenting the document to Buhari for assent.

“From the report we received today (Saturday),

it is clear that members of the National Assembly have almost done with the budget.

In fact, 80 per cent of what the president wants corrected have been done. And we have been told the clean copy will be ready tomorrow (Sunday).

“As a result, the president has asked us to be on standby, in case the National Assembly members finish working on the budget, so that we can take a second look at it before presenting it to the President for signature. I can tell you the President is in a hurry to resolve this issue once and for all,” the presidential aide told THISDAY. Asked why it is taking a long time to resolve the budget impasse, the presidential aide said the distortion of the budget by Senator Danjuma Goje and Hon. Jubril Abdurahaman, Senate Committee Chairman on Appropriation and his counterpart in the House respectively, was huge.

According to the source: “Even Senate President Bukola Saraki and the Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, were embarrassed by the action of Senator Danjuma Goje and his counterpart

in the House, Hon. Jubril Abdulrahamn.

“Two of them virtually rewrote the entire budget, and smuggled in many constituency projects that were not in the original bill, for their personal interests. That is why both of them - the appropriation committee chairmen, were forced to issue a joint press statement last week to suggest the way forward.

“Many Nigerians thought it was because of the LagosCalabar railway project that the President refused to assent to the budget. No, it went beyond that. In an attempt to pad the budget, they also did a wrong calculation; they overshot the total budget - what they designed - with N50 billion.”

The presidential aide, however, added that President Buhari had moved beyond the current controversy surrounding the budget, and is in a hurry to resolve the issue finally.

According to him, “the President thought by now we would have gone far in the implementation of the 2016 budget in the first quarters because some of the projects are time-bound. And it is also

affecting the preparation for 2017 budget. By our calculation, we are expected to present the 2017 budget bill to the National Assembly first week of September.’’

Buhari, who received the 2016 budget passed by the National Assembly few weeks ago, declined to give assent to it, claiming it was distorted by the National Assembly. He later returned the document to the Assembly, saying some grey areas needed to be reviewed.

The President had earlier on Tuesday met separately with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dogara, before an enlarged meeting involving the President of the Senate and other principal officers followed.

After the meeting, which was held at the Presidential Villa, in Abuja, Senate President Saraki and Minister Udo Udoma, spoke briefly with State House correspondents saying the executive and legislative arms of government had now found a way of resolving all the grey areas in the budget.

Osinbajo, who spoke on the theme: ‘What do we have in our hands, tapping

MILITARY VOWS TO DEAL WITH KILLER HERDSMEN LIKE BOKO HARAM and properties in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s directives following the public outrage that greeted the massacre.

"The issue of security of lives and property rests solely on the Armed Forces and other security agencies, not only to tackle the herdsmen, but also any other criminal gang internally and externally cannot be tolerated," he said.

Consequently, he said efforts were now being channeled towards ensuring that there is security of lives and property in the areas where such despicable killings by herdsmen are being perpetrated.

He said: "You could recall that the President has given us a directive and it is something we must comply with like in other cases. We deployed our men for Operations against cattle rustling tagged Sharandaji, which is to ensure that no herdsmen involved in criminal activities are spared.

"Each and every one of us has a role to play: physical security, giving information, synergising with other

stakeholders. That is what we are going to do like we are doing in the North East, Niger Delta and other parts of the country. It would involve not only the military."

Speaking further, Abubakar said the military and other security agencies would do everything to ensure that the security of lives and properties of Nimbo community in particular and that of Nigerians in general were sustained.

He said that the security threat and challenge posed by the suspected killer herdsmen was a top priority for the authorities, and promised that those behind the dastardly acts would be apprehended.

The military, he said, has condemned the incident and vowed to do everything to contain further escalation, including apprehending those responsible and bringing them to justice.

"We must live in peace and be our brothers keepers in this time as conflict cannot be seeing as the answer to problems," he urged.

On how the operation will

be structured and commanded, Abubakar said it would take the Joint Task Force (JTF) format but that they were still perfecting the details.

He however noted that tackling the emerging security challenges would require the cooperation and support of all stakeholders including the security agencies, political and as well as community leaders.

According to the Defence Spokesman, the military has been proactive and successful in most of its operations, saying that current threat by herdsmen will not be different.

He said: "We have been very proactive in the operations and a lot of successes have been recorded. The current resurgence of this issue of herdsmen is something which must be given a priority now that there is a glaring security threats to lives and property, which the Armed Forces and other security agencies cannot close its eyes to.

"The issue of security of lives and properties is very important and should not be politicised.

The locals must ensure that

they cooperate with the security agencies, who are deployed to ensure that there is maximum security of lives and property."

In the same vein, Abubakar said that the issues of other persons coming from other neighbouring countries to aide the local herdsmen cannot be ruled out completely because of the porous nature of the borders.

"I believe, with what we are planning to achieve, the issue of herdsmen’s threat would be drastically reduced," he said.

Continuing, he said: "We are doing all we can to ensure that maximum measures are put in place to ensure that this kind of things are completely stopped and peace and order restored…

"And I believe the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), being the number one officer in the country, was briefed, and I believe we will come out with our own strategy in collaboration with other security agencies, on how to stop the excesses of the perpetrators of these killing of villagers and our citizens.

It cannot be tolerated."

SHIITES INSIST ON ZAKZAKY’S RELEASE AS PRECONDITION FOR APPEARING BEFORE COMMISSION Islamic sect’s appearance before the commission.

Foremost among the reasons, he noted, is “the continued incarceration of the leader of the Islamic Movement, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky, who we all know was attacked in his own house towards midnight in what the Army termed ‘cordoned and search’ operation without any justification.”

He said: "The crux of the matter is that there is simply no rational basis for the soldier’s attack in his residence in the first place. In effect justice demands that Sheikh Zakzaky is supposed to be a free man so that he can give his own input to the Commission on his own volition.

"As things stands now, those who are accused of killing at least 1000 people including

women and children are roaming about freely, despite admission that they buried at least 347 of those in a night burial in a mass grave in an attempt to hide their crime."

On the other hand, Musa said, Sheikh Zakzaky and hundreds of his followers who are victims of the brutal military attack are behind bars, with some standing trial for alleged culpable homicide.

According to him, this smacks of gross injustice and bias on the part of the government that set up the Commission, adding that "IMN firmly believes that for justice to be seen to be done, Sheikh Zakzaky should be promptly set free unconditionally".

Musa also raised the group’s allegations of the lopsided composition of the commission, which he said

was done in a way that suggests that the final report had already been determined.

“We have already pointed out to the government and the public that among the ’13 wise men and women’ of the Commission are three people who are well known in their hate campaigns against the IMN. This has not been addressed too,” he said.

He further stated: "What we had expected the NSGF to have dwelt up is not our absence from the proceedings of the Commission but the disturbing facts emanating from the confessions of the Kaduna state government in the mass burial of 347 people and the denial of such a war crime by the soldiers involved.

The Army admitted before the panel that it handed ‘few corpses’ for the mass burial.

Our records shows that close to 400 others remain unaccounted for.

"Thus the NSGF ought to be sufficiently disturbed that a ‘few’ of their citizens were secretly buried in mass grave by one of their members and even more disturbing is the majority of the victims are yet to be accounted for. Did they task Governor Nasiru Elrufai to explain?."

"The Islamic Movement sincerely believes it is not too late for the NSGF to demand for the immediate release of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky and other members of IMN in detention. It is only when victims of the military attack in Zaria are savouring their freedom just like their attackers that justice might be expected from any judicial commission of inquiry."

into dead capital’, criticised Nigerians, most of whom now have mixed feelings about the 'Change Agenda' of the federal government, saying they were unnecessarily impatient with an administration that was working behind the scene to correct the ills that had been inflicted on them over the years.

"People now wonder where is the 'Change' where is the change that formed the crux of our electioneering campaigns during the elections, but they fail to understand that patience is also a virtue that they must have as a people," the vice president said.

“We have a leadership, a leader that is ready to challenge the rotten system, one that has said he is ready to kill corruption rather let corruption kill us.”

"We believe that though it may not be easy, though the early signs may be confusing and sometimes discouraging, there has never been a better opportunity than now to turn the country in the direction of success," he added.

Osinbajo said now that it had been established that oil resources could no longer guarantee the sustenance of the economy, owing to fall in its price at the international market, the federal government would spearhead the diversification process where most states were found wanting.

According to him, such diversification will begin from key sectors of agriculture, technology and innovation as well as entertainment.

He explained the benefits inherent in the agricultural sector, noting that Nigeria required an average of 7 million metric tonnes of rice to feed its population, annually but that foreign exchange that went into rice importation was between N4billion to N5billion each year.

He said such statistics forced government to invest about N7billion in Kebbi State rice plantations, which he said currently produced one million metric tonnes of rice at an estimated value of N63 billion.

On power infrastructure, Osinbajo noted that it was somehow inconsistent for power tariff to increase when power services were poor but that customers must imbibe the atitude of regular payment of bills in order for the system not to collapse entirely.

Meanwhile, the former Vice President, Africa Region of the World Bank, Dr. Oby Ezekwezili, has lampooned Buhari for applying the same economic philosophy of command and control he used when he was military head of state in the 1980s.

Ezekwesili said at The Platform that the same policy adopted by Buhari then saw the country witness the worst era of economic development, adding that it failed woefully.

The former minister explained in her presentation that the same 1984 economic policy, which Buhari adopted, was what he had again chosen to use to govern Nigeria, saying that it was still failing now.

According to her, the philosophy failed to work in 1984 and resulted to high inflationary rates, dip in economic growth as well as jobs losses.

She added that the same policy could not possibly work in the current global economic phase which is much more integrated than it was then.

She stated that Nigeria's economic growth rate was at 5 per cent and 7 per cent until 2014 when the oil price declined and Nigeria appeared to have been unprepared for the fifth time for an oil price shock.

"How terrible can that be? In the 70s we suffered the price shock, we went down, in the 80s, in the 90s, in the early 2000 we managed to buck the trend because in that era, a mechanism called the Excess Crude Oil Account became entrenched, even though unconstitutional, but it made common sense."

The former minister of education under former President Olusegun Obasanjo added: “If the writers of our constitution were hostile to the culture of savings, common sense should know that we would say no to that. How can the constitution of a country find it offensive to save?

“When the oil price shock started in 2014 with oil price getting to the lowest level in seven years and losing its value as much as 60 per cent from the previous decade, it was clear that Nigeria needed an adjustment consistent to the approach and method of economic development that it had become used to, except that something fundamental happened.”

She noted that the fundamental thing that happened was that a new president was elected in 2015 but who has an implicit connection to the idea of collectivism.

“Our president has an implicit connection to the idea of collectivism, he believes that state command and control is an effective way of ensuring discipline, not that departs from the premise that economic principles have observed that the discipline of the market place is much more effective in the allocation of scarce resources for production and ultimately for distribution.

“We found ourselves in a command and control system here again, the foreign exchange market has diverged and distorted the incentives system for allocation of resources by citizens, by businesses.

“If the economic philosophy is command and control, it must be only defended on the basis of empirical and analytical evidence of how well it has worked, how well it worked in the past and therefore, how well we expect it would work now,” she stated.

She further said: “Well, during the first time of our president as Head of States in this country, the command and control approach was the economic principle that he led, I don't think that many people have been able to tell Mr. President that during that era, inflation spiked, during that era, jobs were lost, during that era, the economic growth level dipped, that era wasn't the best of eras in economic progress.”

“What did not work in 1984 cannot possibly be a solution in a global economy that is ever much more integrated,” she explained.

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SUNDAY COMMENT

Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com

ARMS AND THE HERDSMEN The authorities could do more to curb the growing problem of illegal proliferation of arms

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ecently, soldiers of the Guards Brigade of the Nigerian Army arrested a truckload of herdsmen in Abuja. The herdsmen, according to the army, said they were on a mission to recover their stolen cows. Assorted ammunition, including pump action rifles, was recovered from them. Although the army said the herdsmen were in custody, pending further investigations, it is worrisome that dangerous weapons, including high calibre firearms, are in massive circulation among non-state actors who have been terrorising citizens.

In times past, the nation had been informed of similar arrests of gunmen as well as large cache of arms that were never Such feeling of followed up as there was insecurity and the no known arraignment compelling urge for or conviction of the citizens to arrange culprits. We hope that for their own defence this latest arrest will be can only worsen different as we await the the situation on the speedy conclusion of the ground. Private investigations promised arrangements for by the army to be folsecurity against lowed by a diligent prosgunmen would ecution of the criminal require private suspects by a competent accumulation of court of law. We make arms. In this bid to this minimum demand balance terror, our because the dangers of country runs the proliferation of illegal risk of becoming arms and ammunition home to massive are too obvious and the illicit arms with consequences too grievassured disastrous ous to contemplate. consequences In recent times, violent crimes, including armed robbery and kidnapping have been on the increase. And of more concern is the spate of violent inter- and intra-communal clashes leading to death and maiming of hundreds of citizens. The most dangerous trend, however, is the marauding herdsmen who have virtually declared war on farming communities in both the north and the south of the country, killing hundreds of people and in some instances, sacking whole communities.

Letters to the Editor

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S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R EDITOR TOKUNBO ADEDOJA DEPUTY EDITORS VINCENT OBIA, FESTUS AKANBI MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN

T H I S DAY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU, EMMANUEL EFENI, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU GROUP FINANCE DIRECTOR OLUFEMI ABOROWA DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS PETER IWEGBU, FIDELIS ELEMA, MBAYILAN ANDOAKA, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS ERIC OJEH ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS HENRY NWACHOKOR, SAHEED ADEYEMO CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI GENERAL MANAGER PATRICK EIMIUHI GROUP HEAD FEMI TOLUFASHE ART DIRECTOR OCHI OGBUAKU II DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com

n Monday, the Ukpabi Nimbo community in Enugu State was invaded by these rampaging herdsmen who killed and maimed several of the villagers. Although President Muhammadu Buhari and other stakeholders have made the usual statements to condemn the brazen act of mass murder with a pledge to investigate, we believe that these violent crimes would not have been of this magnitude if the criminals did not have access to arms. The authorities, therefore, must curb this growing problem of illegal proliferation of illicit arms. A starting point in resolving the problem is to determine the source of these arms and how they get into the hands of the herdsmen.

Our security agencies, particularly the police, Department of State Security Services, the Nigeria Customs Service and the Nigerian Immigration Service, need to up their game and find answers to nagging questions with a view to permanently stopping illicit importation of arms into the country. They must find the perpetrators of this gun-running crime and bring them to justice.

There are compelling reasons why the authorities must act very swiftly. Following the lackadaisical attitude of the security agencies and the federal government towards reining in the sophisticated gun-wielding herdsmen, there is a growing perception that otherwise law abiding citizens may have to make their own security arrangements to secure their lives and property. This feeling that help would not come from official quarters have intensified with the extension of the aggression of the herdsmen to the southern part of the country as more farming communities fall under their unprovoked attacks.

Such feeling of insecurity and the compelling urge for citizens to arrange for their own defence can only worsen the situation on the ground. Private or community arrangements for security against gunmen would require private accumulation of arms. In this bid to balance terror, our country runs the risk of becoming home to massive illicit arms with assured disastrous consequences.

It is for this reason that we call on the federal government to prep up the security agencies for the task of checking the menace of illicit arms in the hands of criminal elements, be they herdsmen, kidnappers or armed robbers. This task is urgent and the consequence of failure is too grave for the imagination.

TO OUR READERS Letters in response to specific publications in THISDAY should be brief (150-200 words) and straight to the point. Interested readers may send such letters along with their contact details to opinion@thisdaylive.com. We also welcome comments and opinions on topical local, national and international issues provided they are well-written and should also not be longer than (950- 1000 words). They should be sent to opinion@thisdaylive.com along with the email address and phone numbers of the writer.

EDO 2016 AND THE OBASEKI AGENDA

s the current administration winds down in Edo State, the people are beside themselves, singing “thank you” to the governor, Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, for a job well done. For obvious reasons, the only exception are members of the opposition who seem to see nothing good in all the amazing development witnessed across every nook and cranny since its inception in 2009.

At the moment, the state and its diverse people have more than enough reasons to shout “Halleluya” to the high heavens for making him the governor at a time they almost gave up hope that nothing good can ever come out of the ruling elite. None of them has forgotten the hopeless days where life meant residing alongside forgotten streets and abandoned public infrastructure, including roads,

schools, hospitals and other public infrastructure. They now rise daily to behold evident testimonies to the breakthroughs the administration recorded in all sectors.

Beyond the dexterity with which Oshiomhole handled development issues, spreading same across the state particularly at a time the country went through an unprecedented economic malaise, there is no doubt that “Oshio Baba”, as he is fondly referred to by his horde of admirers, equally invested so much in human capital. This is very evident in the calibre of aides he appointed into the office to help him drive his people-oriented policies.

They are the behind-the-scene hands that constantly whispered reminders into his ears just to ensure that plans remain on course particularly in the light of the state’s lean resources. For their roles, the state never defaulted in all its obligations even when some of

its richer counterparts were unable to meet recurrent obligations.

One of them is Godwin Obaseki, a very quiet investment banker, heading the administration’s economic direction.

As a mark of the confidence reposed in Obaseki, the governor did not only ensure he served out the role successfully in the first term, he also received the mandate to play same duties during the second term re-election campaign. The governor retained him to continue to fill in as the administration’s economic and investment eyes and ears after securing a second term in office to once more, fulfill the promises he made to the people.

Arguably, the place of Benin-born Obaseki is like that of the Ibo adage which says that a woman needs no better praise for preparing a good meal than seeing her husband clears out every morsel. If praises follow Oshiomhole for his outstanding perfor-

mance in terms of service delivery at a time the entire nation went through a debilitating economic downturn, the man who played a key role must smile.

No doubt, Obaseki deserves some praises and must smile from ear to ear for helping to nurture an impressive governance record. Indeed, given the praises that trail the performances of the Oshiomhole administration, there is evidently no reason for any sane thinking individual or group to doubt the fact that he has done well.

For so long, the issue that dominated the state’s political space is Obaseki’s aspiration for the ultimate seat as governor of the state. The real issue is that what ordinarily is a legitimate aspiration is deliberately jaundiced mainly on the supposition that he is the governor’s favoured heir. Thus tagged, the suggestion remains that he lacks the moral right to aspire to lead the state in the next dispensation. Curiously,

however, those tagging him want to wish away the fact that he is as good, if not better than anyone else nursing the same ambition. Deliberately too, they ignored the fact that if their claim is true, it does not remove the fact that he has every legitimate right as a citizen to nurse any leadership ambition, particularly when such aspiration is within the ambit of extant laws.

In quickly putting a tag on Obaseki, his traducers also forgot that it is not an accident that democracy prescribes rules with which it must be practiced.

No cares to echo the fact that none of the laws excludes him. In other words, they deliberately ignore the fact that he is, by the rules, a qualified and bonafide aspirant. One is, therefore, distressed to realise that the man is being tagged by those who seek to see their own aspirations as appropriate.

––Ernest Omoarelojie, Benin City

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R • MAY 1, 2016

LIFE AND TIMES OF OBA EREDIAUWA

End of an Era Following the announcement of the transition to glory of the Oba of Benin, Oba Erediauwa, Adibe Emenyonu, in Benin City, looks at the reign of the Edo paramount ruler

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mo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Erediauwa CFR, Oba of Benin, had a fulfilled and vibrant reign.

His death, which was announced on Friday, ended a three and a half-decade rule marked by peace and principled engagement with the state and society. It was the end of an era.

The passing of the traditional ruler was announced on Friday afternoon by the Iyase of Benin Kingdom, Chief Sam Igbe. Symbolically, a native chalk was broken in the palace grounds to indicate that the paramount ruler of Edo State had joined his ancestors.

Oba Erediauwa was born in June 1923 and was crowned the 38th Oba of Benin on March 23, 1979.

Prior to his ascension to the throne, he was Prince Solomon Igbinoghodua Aisiokuoba Akenzua.

As tradition requires, he relinquished his name, Solomon, immediately he became Oba.

Education

Oba Erediauwa attended Government College, Ibadan (1939–1945), and Yaba College before he proceeded to King’s College, Cambridge.

He had the throne as his cradle. Apart from the usual traditional palace tutorials, which begin at birth, he went to Government School, Benin, after which he proceeded to Government College, Ibadan in 1939 and graduated with flying colours. He had his London Matriculations, which qualified him to gain admission into Yaba College in 1945. After the completion of his course at Yaba, he was admitted into King’s College, Cambridge to study Law and Administration.

Career

The Oba returned to Nigeria to join the Eastern Nigeria Civil Service as a District Officer in 1957.

He later transferred his services to the Federal Civil Service and rose to the position of Permanent Secretary.

He retired from the service as Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, in 1973, and became the regional representative of Gulf Oil Company.

He was appointed Commissioner for Finance in the military administration of Major-General George Innih in 1975.

Oba Erediauwa’s early retirement from the service was to enable him gain adequate exposure to the intricacies of the administrative challenges that would confront him in the performance of his duties as Oba of Benin.

Dukedoms

During his reign, Oba Erediauwa created dukedoms to ensure effectiveness in the administration of the kingdom. The dukedoms were spread in the seven local government councils of Edo South senatorial district, which is inhabited by the Bini.

He installed his younger brothers as Enogie of each dukedom to help administer the kingdom effectively.

It was the first of its kind, and it helped him achieve peace in the kingdom through the revival of most Benin cultures and traditions, which were fast eroding before his ascension to the throne.

Cultural Revival

One of the traditional festivals revived by the Oba is the Ugie-Ewere festival, which is celebrated annually to herald the beginning of every New

Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Erediauwa I (1923 - 2016) Year in the kingdom. The Benin traditional worship centre, known as the Holy Aruosa, was strengthened during his reign. Also, traditional courts were set up in the kingdom to settle rifts, such as chieftaincy and land disputes in communities, in such a way that once judgement is pronounced by the palace, it becomes final. Anyone who decides to head to the civil courts would be termed as not only an enemy of the kingdom, but also a challenger of the Oba’s authority.

Even as he reinvented certain traditional festivals, Oba Erediauwa’s reign witnessed drastic reduction and eradication of ritual killings in the kingdom.

He was able to achieve this through spiritual curses invoked upon such perpetrators. These curses were administered by Chief David Edebiri, the Esogban of Benin, who is the Odionwere of Benin Kingdom, in collaboration with some other powerful palace chiefs in the kingdom.

Erediauwa N’Oba used his kingly office to improve the welfare and the fortunes of his people.

He was an unwavering pivot around which the lives of his subjects revolved. Over the years, he discharged his responsibilities with wisdom and courage.

It is said that men and kings must be judged by the testing moments of their lives. Oba Erediauwa’s refusal to succumb to the administrative tantrums to change his stance against military dictatorship is seen as a proof that he rated the welfare of his people far above his personal sentiments or pride, even above his interest.

Transformation

Oba Erediauwa gave effective leadership to his subjects. On his coronation day, he pledged to unite all Edo-speaking people, including those in the diaspora. His main focus was to re-establish the great Edo culture and tradition in line with acceptable norms of a modern society.

Soon after his ascension to the throne, Oba Erediauwa appointed the late Justice S.O. Ighodaro as the Iyase of Benin. Justice Ighodaro was the first Benin graduate and lawyer who became Minister

Continued on Page 10

R-L: Oba Erediauwa as a young prince, his wife, and father, Oba Akenzua II

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R • MAY 1, 2016

LIFE AND TIMES OF OBA EREDIAUWA

...A New Era Beckons

W

ith Oba Erediauwa’s passing, and the primogeniture of ascension to the Benin throne, his first son, now Edaiken N’Uselu, takes over as the new paramount ruler of the

Benin Kingdom.

The Edaiken is the heir apparent to the apex throne of the Benin Kingdom. The title, according to Benin traditional history, first came into existence during Oba Ewuare’s reign in 1440.

The first Edaiken was Prince Kuoboyuwa. As the eldest son of the Oba and heir apparent to the Benin throne, he is groomed in the art of governance in form and practice at Uselu, a town of about five kilometres from the Oba’s Palace.

As tradition demands, the Edaiken normally has his own set of chiefs and his administration at Uselu is a replica of what is in Benin City.

About the age of puberty {sometimes after 16 years of age} the Oba introduces him to all Edo people. The introduction ceremony involves the invitation of all categories of chiefs in the kingdom, important citizens, members of the royal family and well-wishers. This ceremony establishes for the last time the person of the Edaiken to the people and thereafter there can be no doubt about who is the heir apparent to the throne of Benin Kingdom. It is not unlikely that this ceremony was established in order to avoid the needless power struggle between rival princes in the past, which had resulted in unpleasant situations. Before the Edaiken is invested with all the powers of his office, he must be initiated to the royal palace society of Iwobo, where he would be conferred with the title of Ukoniwebo.

Thereafter, he must be invested as Edaiken before he proceeds to live at Uselu his official residence.

According to oral tradition, Edaiken is one of the Uzama who belong generally to the group of Chiefs usually referred to as kingmakers but in actual sense they officiate at the crowning ceremony of a new Oba. In Benin parlance, kings are born and not made.

When an old king passes away, the Edaiken remains in his position until the royal funeral

• End

of an

ceremonies are over and he is proclaimed as king and crowned. The royal funeral rites of the departed and the coronation ceremonies of the new Oba that immediately follows the King’s demise last about three months.

Preparation

His Royal Highness Crown Prince Eheneden Erediauwa, was on October 14 last year conferred with the title of Uko N’ Iwebo in accordance with the Benin custom. The ceremony, which is seen as one of the initial rites in preparation for a new

Era • Continued from Pg. 9

of Justice and Attorney-General in Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s Action Group government of Western Region in the First Republic. After his demise, West Erhabor, also late, succeeded him as Iyase. Chief Samuel Igbe, a retired Commissioner of Police Commissioner, is the present Iyase of Benin.

The Iyase, according to Benin custom, is the head of Eghaevho N’Ore (town chiefs). The position of Iyase is like that of Prime Minister, who is the spokesman of the Bini before the Oba. The Oba usually honours a worthy subject or citizen with the title of Iyase whenever the need arises.

Apart from the Iyase, a position that is open to all indigenes of repute, the Oba created titles to honour some of his prominent subjects drawn from various backgrounds. Some of the titles are hereditary, some are achieved and some are pronounced to commemorate specific events in accordance with the Oba’s political or social perspectives.

Tradition

Heir apparent, Edaiken N’Uselu

king’s ascension, had in attendance traditional rulers, palace chiefs and members of the public.

On March 12, the Crown Prince of Benin was formally installed as the Edaiken of Uselu in Benin City, the Edo state capital, following the successful completion of the mandatory traditional rites. The event attracted a large crowd of people that thronged the palace, while shops and other business outlets were shut temporarily as a mark of honour and solidarity with the Crown Prince.

The Oba market and some streets as well as roads housing some traditional shines were cordoned off by security personnel and manned by colourfully dressed palace chiefs.

The movement was assisted by officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps and other traffic policemen to ease human and vehicular movements of persons.

During the installation, women groups adorned in Benin traditional attire, drummers and entertainers, youths and visitors, palace chiefs, including politicians and government officials led by Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole, defied the scorching sun to usher in the Crown Prince.

The arrival of the convoy of the Crown Prince, in company of some first class Benin Chiefs, from his private residence in Benin to the palace marked the commencement of the ceremony.

About 4pm on that day, the heir apparent to the traditional stool rode with a long convoy, accompanied by Oshiomhole and his deputy, Dr. Pius Odubu, and other top government officials as well as palace chiefs, to the Edaiken palace, situated at Uselu in Ego Local Government Area.

The Edaiken is expected to go through some traditional rites before he is assumed to have taken the traditional stool of Edaiken of Uselu, which will become his temporal place of abode.

Crown Prince Eheneden Erediauwa, born 1953, had served as Nigeria’s Ambassador to Norway as well as Ambassador to Angola. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Sociology from the University of Wales. He is a member of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs.

Since 1987 Crown Prince has been active in leading positions within the Nigerian business community, especially the oil and gas industry.

Only the Oba possesses the rights and privileges to create and confer titles on his subjects. The titles are certainly not for sale to non-indigenes mainly because of the traditional and cultural roles of the titles. Chiefs are selectively distributed into the palace societies of Iwebo, Ibiwe, Ihogbe, Egaevbo N’ore, Eghaevbo N’ogbe. The seven king makers – Uzamas – include the Edaiken, the heir apparent. Their titles are also hereditary.

There are also the dukes – direct blood relations of the Oba – who preside over their dukedoms.

These titles are hereditary, too. Some of the traditional deity priests who take care of state shrines across the kingdom also enjoy hereditary roles. The Oba definitely sits over a complex machinery of state that makes him a political, spiritual and social leader of his people.

Without the Oba, the machinery of state grinds to a halt. You cannot banish, exile or dethrone an Oba of Benin. When an Oba joins his ancestors, who are also presumed to be a part of the machinery of state, his oldest son – Edaiken (heir apparent) – steps in and continues from where his father stopped.

Diplomat

Oba Erediauwa was a known peacemaker and a great diplomat who rarely spoke. He was dogged and uncompromising when it comes to issues that affect the lives of Nigerians. For instance, during the regime of late General Sanni Abacha, when many first class traditional rulers in the country were coerced into backing Abacha’s attempted self-transition to a civilian president, Oba Erediauwa was one of the few traditional rulers who remained resolute in their belief that the military should go so that the nation could enthrone democracy. Even with the threats from Aso Rock, the monarch remained resolute in his stance. When he spoke, his words were few. Based on this and other qualities, he earned the respect of most political leaders in the country.

Oba Erediauwa’s attributes as a man of peace was further demonstrated in March 2004 when a serious crisis brewed between the then governor of Abia State, Dr Orji Ozor Kalu, and former chairman, Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Tony Anenih. The crisis, which drew the attention of many Nigerians, was settled when Oba Erediauwa decided to wade in.

In the words of the former governor, “When I visited my counterpart in Edo State, Chief Lucky Igbinedion, I decided to sheath the sword when His Royal Majesty told me to stop. When he asked me to stop the war of words and resolve the matter, who am I when our Royal Father has spoken? I had to stop my war with Chief Anenih, who is a respected party leader.”

When he was crowned as the 38th Oba of Benin, Erediauwa was just about 56 years old. He passed on at the age of 93. He will be remembered for his flexibility, integrity and regal mannerism that endeared him to the ordinary people in the kingdom.

He was one of the most respected Africa monarchs, an author, writer, and advocate of peace. His high educational background helped bring to light the correct history of Edo people and the ancient Benin Kingdom, one of Africa’s oldest kingdoms.

Oba Erediuwa at his coronation

Some palace chiefs paying homage during Ugie Ewere at the Oba Palace in Benin City

T H I S D AY SUNDAY MAY 1, 2016

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R • MAY 1, 2016

SUNDAYNEWS

News Editor Abimbola Akosile E-mail: abimbola.akosile@thisdaylive.com, 08023117639 (sms only)

FG Prioritises Road Projects, Focuses on North-South Arterial Highways • Plans to complete 206 already awarded roads Chineme Okafor in Abuja

North-South arterial highways, which include the Ilorin-JebbaMokwa road and Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, are top on the list of 206 road projects that the federal government will concentrate its energies and finances on in 2016, Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, has said.

Fashola said his ministries had proposed a budget of N433 billion to the National Assembly, out of which N268 billion will go to roads in the country, N99 billion for power projects and N66 billion for housing.

In a statement by his media aide, Mr. Hakeem Bello, yesterday in Abuja, he said the focus this year would be to complete already awarded roads across the country with priority given to those carrying heaviest traffic.

He said these roads were about 206 which the government will focus on completing.

He described as wrong the past practice of lumping budgets for roads with the whole capital budget with each road allocated just little fund no matter the extent of rehabilitation needed.

“For me, that is not the way to go. The strategy I recommend is that let’s take the roads that carry the heaviest traffic and phase them; take Phase 1 this year finish them or push them to near completion. Then next year Phase 2, third year, Phase 3 and in each phase let us ensure that at least every geopolitical zone in the country gets something,” he said.

He noted that some of the roads were more compelling than others, and described the Ilorin – Jebba Road as a lifeline for agricultural products and lots of other supplies from the North to the South.

He said: “Now, as far as the states of the roads go, I started a tour and I started from the North Central. I visited all the six states, inspecting power formations, road formations and civil works projects that we were doing there and I saw our people, literally trying to salvage their vegetable products that had perished because they were stuck there for four days.”

He said because of the impassable state of the Ilorin – JebbaMokwa Road, “there was endless queue of trucks carrying all sorts of things, construction materials, petrol, pipes and so on which got stuck there for days. The only way I could pass was through a bush path, through an elevated detour.”

According to him: “None of the articulated trucks could pass that; those who did just tipped over and people slept there for days.”

He said although the contract for the 98 kilometre road was awarded, but the contractor wasn’t paid for a year and half and when he was paid the 15 per cent mobilisation fee, they only paid him half of it.

“Now this road has the entire contract sum of N14 billion. What did we do with money at that time? If we had paid the contrac-

tor, he would have finished that road,” he said, adding that for the whole of the country the last administration budgeted only N18 billion for roads when one road alone costs about N14 billion.

“So I start this year with those roads that carry the heaviest number of vehicles, that carry other critical services that other departments rely on to survive; agriculture, for example needs that road,” he said.

On whether the funding of the roads would be strictly from the budget, Fashola explained: “Essentially we can do most of those roads because we proposed

a budget of N433 billion to Parliament for my three Ministries and our plan was to use N268 billion for Roads, N99 billion for Power and N66 billion for Housing.”

Noting that the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway concession was now the subject of a court case, Fashola explained further: “Injunctions have been obtained to stop the arrangement put in place by the last administration to finance the road through the private sector and the injunction was granted by a court in Nigeria saying that nobody should raise money to finance the development of the road.”

“Thankfully, there is no injunction on government building

its road yet; I hope there will be none. So government is hoping to finance the road. It is part of what we put in the budget for this year. But I got a message from the lawyers last night suggesting to me that the action has been dismissed but I haven’t seen the judgment since he said it to me; this was late last night,” he said.

He also hinted that governmentwouldtollsomeoftheroads it intends to build or reconstruct.

“We should stop being pretentious that roads can be had for absolutely freeeverywhere.There will be toll roads if we want to get out of this situation. There will be alternative roads as well so that people can choose,” he added.

Anyaoku, Others Mourn Oba of Benin Abimbola Akosile in Lagos and Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja

Former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku and Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, yesterday joined other personalities to mourn the passage of the late Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Erediauwa.

In a statement titled ‘Farewell to a widely revered Monarch’, Anayoku said “The passing of Oba Erediauwa represents a landmark in the epoch of revered monarchy in the ancient kingdom of Benin.

“As a well-educated Prince Akenzua, he had distinguished himself in the public

service in many parts of Nigeria having attained, strictly on merit, the rank of Permanent Secretary. And when he succeeded to the historical throne of his ancestors, he served his people and his wider nation with unequalled dignity and devotion.

“I recall his unrivalled patriotism and deep sense of caring for the well-being of Nigeria in his communications with me as Commonwealth Secretary-General during the national crisis engendered

by General Abacha’s dictatorship. My wife and I join his family and our compatriots in the Benin Kingdom in mourning the passing of this rare and much respected Monarch”, he added.

T H I S D AY SUNDAY MAY 1, 2016

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MAY 1, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

OPINION Open Governance and Development Open governance will address the country’s socio-economic inequalities as well as strengthen its democracy, argues Chidi W. Nwachukwu

I

t is always common for analysts to recommend constitutional amendments virtually on every public discourse on Nigeria’s development, while they hardly discuss lack of open governance in our leadership, a culture that is impeding developments and hurting our people especially the poor. Agreed, the constitution may require amendments sometimes to correct some anomalies, but what about compliance? It supposes that even if we have the best constitution in the world, it still makes no sense if they cannot be complied with. The quickest that comes to mind is the fundamental rights provision under the chapter four of the 1999 Constitution. This provision has been observed more in the breach as suspects or accused are still being detained for as long as possible at the whims of powerful individuals with police collaboration. People are still being deprived of their liberty and many other provisions that are violated daily.

Even when courts grants bail to suspects or accused sometimes, they would still be held by security agents. This is evident in the cases of the former National Security Adviser Col. Dasuki Sambo (rtd) and Nnamdi Kanu of IPOB. Amending a constitution or any law may require some rigourous legislative process and endless political debates, but if people in charge of government business can be a little open and transparent, governance will be better.

Open governance principle requires that government will be open in all its dealings with the people especially in an environment where majority are illiterates and may not have easy access to those that govern them. Governance is a collaborative engagements between the government and the governed for effective dividends delivery. It becomes even more than necessary in a multi-ethnic makeup as Nigeria with often flawed electoral process that produces unfavourable self-serving representatives.

The people become partners who give information to government as it affects their immediate environment for effective policies either in the area of security or for the provision of physical infrastructure. It equally includes that elected officials and government people should throw their doors open to

whoever wants to interact with them on issues of importance, rather than build Chinese walls around themselves immediately after assumption of office. Let me also state that open government policies no longer refer to those that only promote accountability.

New modes of citizen engagement and efficiency in government services now share the spotlight with the older goal of governmental accountability, which once had this felicitous phrase all to itself. In an attempt at legislating for an open governance policy the Jonathan administration passed the freedom of Information Act 2011.The act generically empowers any Nigerian to access any information without hindrance from any government institutions.

What is left to be seen is the favourable collaborative efforts with those who will make these information available, in this case the civil servants and the likes. I recall that sometime ago someone requested from the budget department of the National Assembly, the National Assembly budget of the previous years. I was disappointed at the kind of response she got. For many who work in the National Assembly it is one document that is not in the public domain and demanding for it was like asking for the impossible.

Even though she was asked to put her request in writing, she still hasn’t t received any response as I write even though it’s over two months now.

The importance of open governance cannot be overemphasized especially in Africa nay Nigeria. In 2015, South Africa became the co-chair of the open government partnership (OGP), an initiative

Eligibility to join open government partnership is determined by a country’s performance in four key areas: fiscal transparency, access to information, public official asset disclosure and citizen engagement

launched in 2011 to encourage governments to become more open, accountable and responsive to citizens. Growing from eight countries in 2011 to 66 countries in 2015, the OGP has an ambitious international agenda that chimes with evolving political theory and policy approaches to technology, governance and citizenship. Eligibility to join the OGP is determined by a country’s performance in four key areas: fiscal transparency, access to information, public official asset disclosure and citizen engagement.

Nigeria is not yet a member of the OGP for reasons that are quite obvious especially in the area of citizen engagement and fiscal transparency using the constituency projects allocated to the federal lawmakers each budgetary year. This is particularly interesting to me given that federal and state governments often attract mountainous criticisms for failing her citizens in the areas of minor infrastructural provisions such as boreholes, solar powered electricity, primary health facility etc., while little or nothing is said about the legislators.

A cursory look at the previous appropriations reveals that each senator or House member is allocated certain amount of money often in hundreds of millions for purposes of meeting their constituents pressing needs. Each project depending on the nature is domiciled in the relevant government agency for execution. For instance, roads projects are usually domiciled at the Ministry of Works. The ministry after due diligence, i. e. advertising the jobs, award them to the appropriate contractors who may have met all the criteria.

The unfortunate thing however is that the communities involved are never aware that such projects have been awarded for execution in their communities. And there are several cases where contractors awarded the contracts never executed the jobs and no questions asked.

––Nwachukwu, a lawyer and development strategist is the special adviser on Research and Strategy to Senator Ben Murray-Bruce

Gains of Pastoralism in Nigeria

Even with its limitations, pastoralism has contributed immensely to the economy, reckons Junaidu A. Maina No-one ever ploughs a field in their country, or touches a plough handle. They are ignorant of time, law or settled existence and they keep roaming from places in their wagons. If you ask one of their children where he comes from, he was conceived in one place, born far away and brought up still further off.

–The Histories (Source R. Blench)

A

bove is a close description of what many Nigerians think of pastoralists. This is far from the truth. What is however true is that pastoralists are in difficult times today. They are subject of innuendos and aspersions, accused of robbery, cattle rustling, rape, kidnapping and even scorched earth policy. To compliment these accusations our national dailies often carry a picture of a non-Nigerian (perhaps South Sudanese) herdsman with an AK 47. This has lately created a media frenzy resulting in calls and agitations for legislation to ban cattle movements (aka pastoralism). This idea which can lead to our cattle industry’s self-destruct is regrettably gaining grounds. Perhaps a better understanding of this least understood production system may help in having an informed national conversation.

Pastoralism can be categorised into nomadic, transhumance or agro-pastoralist based on the degree of movement. Transhumance pastoralism, the category under discussion is defined as the regular movement of herds between fixed points to exploit seasonal availability of pastures. This mode of production in Nigeria involves sending part or all of the herd to access crop residue in adjacent farms or graze in open range and in some cases even move further southwards as the dry season becomes more severe and returning home (North) with the advent of the rains.

Pastoralism is the main production system in sub-Saharan Africa (SHA) where pastoralists live in arid and semi-arid zones.

The system has proved over time to be a very successful strategy in coping with uncertainties due to climate change, epizootics, build-up of parasites and other related challenges. Ranching, an intensive enclosed pastoral production system that obtains in the Americas, Australia and African countries like Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe, has unfortunately not proved successful in SHA. The failures of World Bank loans on ranching in many SHA countries including Nigeria can attest to that. These amongst other explain why ECOWAS Heads of State endorsed transhumance pastoralism in 1998 (ECOWAS Decision A/DEC.5/10/98).

Nigeria has an estimated 19.7 million cattle. Nigeria is the biggest consumer of meat in the ECOWAS, with Lagos as the largest livestock market. Over 30% of meat consumed in this country comes from our neighbouring countries. Nigerians have come to

take meat availability in their local markets for granted without having to bother on the production challenges and sacrifice of the primary producers. Although beef is on import prohibition and the challenges in the North Eastern zone of Nigeria which has the largest livestock population, neither shortage nor dramatic increase in price of beef has occurred. Thanks to transhumance pastoralism with its low production costs, today a kilo of meat costs between N1000-N1200 in the country. Another significant contribution of pastoralists is to the rural economy in terms of supporting their households and in supplying meat and milk to rural dwellers at even cheaper prices. Add to all these, employment opportunities it creates in the downstream sectors of transportation, abattoirs, suya spots, farm power, etc.

How are our pastoralists able to meet our meat demand with this level of efficiency without government subsidy unlike the crop farmers?

Nigeria has a land mass of 98.3 million hectares, 82 million hectares of arable land of which about 34 million hectares are currently under cultivation. In crop farming, human beings only directly utilise about a quarter of the total biomass. The other three quarters is in the form of crop residue and low quality crop, which is useless to humans. However, cattle (ruminants) convert these into high quality meat and milk. In addition to this, our cattle also utilise grasses on fallow lands, non- arable poor quality lands, open ranges and fadama in the same manner.

Cattle however have to move to these locations to access these opportunities. To further facilitate this movement, governments over the years developed grazing reserves and demarcated interconnecting stock routes that have been in existence for very long time.

For access to crop residue on farm, pastoralists usually negotiate with farmers. If, however any conflict arose from this arrangement including from encroachment of farms into stock routes, these are usually amicably resolved, with the pastoralist sometimes even paying fines. The frequency and level of current “self-help” to justice by killing cattle, attacking herders or herders attacking farmers is unusual. It has almost destroyed the harmonious socio-economic equilibrium of the mixed farming system.

Interestingly even in UK today some form of transhumance pastoralism exists. Transhumance sheep in UK are transported in trucks between rough grazing on highland areas and lowlands for grazing. Another example is in wealthier countries such as Oman and Saudi Arabia where the state provides vehicles at subsidised rates to pastoralists to assist with animal transportation between grazing lands. In the USA there are still winter and summer ranges.

Let me further illustrate the economics of pastoralism. The UK has 9.7 million cattle in 2014 and it imported livestock feeds

worth £899 million (N249.5b) to maintain its beef and milk industry. Today a kilo of beef in the UK costs between £10-44 (N2,775-12,210). This livestock feeds import figure exposes the fallacy that the UK cattle are raised on grass produced on UK farms. What casual observers fail to notice is the existence of silos that mainly contain imported feeds in many farms. Grass produced on farms is never sufficient but always need to be supplemented with feed concentrates. British cattle survive on Argentinian feeds.

Don’t get me wrong, am not trying to romanticise pastoralism. I am only explaining some of the salient, often unknown or appreciated economic realities of pastoral livestock production system and why it remains resilient. It is therefore too simplistic to think that Nigeria can do away with it by banning cattle movement. A more practical approach would be to critically assess pastoralism, the issues associated with it and proffer feasible solutions.

The major challenges confronting pastoralism today is increase in population, urbanisation and some element of xenophobia. Population increase has resulted in more land being put to arable farming. Urbanisation on the other hand has resulted in the increased infrastructural and industrial developments, which also take a lot of land.

Xenophobia may be arising from land use conflicts, politics and long held prejudices.

The irony is that the same population growth and urbanisation have also increased the demand for food of animal origin which in turn calls for expansion of animal production. One of the indices for economic development of a country is measured by the amount of meat consumption per person. Therefore, as our economy improves so will the demand for more cheap meat and milk by all including those calling for the heads of pastoralists today.

Another paradox is this. Historically pastoralists even in pre-colonial Africa are known to be generally law abiding. They paid cattle tax (Jangali) and any other legitimate state tax, for right of passage and also to secure state protection. Understandingly, a person with a big mobile capital (cattle) sometimes accompanied by family, will pay any amount for protection against bandits. He is also unlikely to invite unnecessary trouble.

However, globally pastoralists are reputed to be difficult targets and not just because they are mobile. They have what sociologists call “culture of honour”. When threatened or attacked, they will fight to protect their honour, family and assets.

And when they fight, they fight hard because they can lose everything and also need to make the point that they no weaklings or ease preys.

––Dr. Maina is a former director, Federal Department of Livestock

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R • MAY 1, 2016

LETTERS DISTURBING TREND IN RADIO PROGRAMMING

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istening to the radio is often an exciting experience for many.

Not least because of its great capacity to entertain, enlighten, orientate, educate and inform. In all of these, radio has overtime played a major role at ensuring that the listener’s views and world-view, perspectives and perhaps sentiments are shaped into thinking, acting or behaving in a specific manner. We have read of how radio was used by belligerent nations in the Second World War,

with a view to galvanising citizens of various countries in support of the war-aims elucidated by their leaders.

We also know how after World War II, through the independence and liberation struggles, radio remained a tool for mobilisation of peoples to the competing ideologies espoused by the various ideologues. Today, the role of radio has not changed much; it has only evolved to cope with the changes which the world is undergoing in the 21st century.

In Nigeria, radio’s role

has markedly evolved since its introduction in the 1930s, particularly after the liberalisation of the electronic-media space in 1994. We have seen radio being used by various owners to not just propagate the politics of its owner/ founder; we have even seen it being used to promote, endorse and even prop up candidacies of individuals; even beyond politics and government, into the arena of sports, business, academia and other human endeavours. There is however a disturbing trend which is

gradually gaining ground on radio especially within the Lagos area, which if left unchecked could spell doom for peace, stability and order within the polity.

Some radio stations have resorted to inciting the populace into acts that amount to discouraging patriotism, loyalty and nationalism. Indeed, many on-air personalities on the bill of specific radio stations (many of them private) have become so reckless that they are openly advocating protests, civil disobedience, lack of support to the

TOBACCO INDUSTRY, FOREX AND EFFECTIVE REGULATION

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here are strong indications that the Nigerian economy is tottering as evidenced by the significant depletion of the nation’s foreign exchange reserves which many have attributed to the sharp decline in global oil prices. The diminishing financial inflow from oil has seen the nation’s forex reserves increasingly depleted. Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves dropped from $31.459 billion in July 2015 to $27.870 billion in March 2016.

This development has ignited concerted calls for the regeneration and diversification of the nation’s economy through the revival of local industries. Recently, there was an outpouring of patriotic zeal on the need to patronise madein-Nigeria goods in a bid to shore up the value of the naira. To this effect, the media has been awash with the hashtag BuyNaijaToGrowTheNaira, a slogan used for the campaign.

The campaigners seek to sensitise Nigerians to embrace locally produced goods while discouraging heavy reliance on imported products and the consequent depletion of scarce foreign exchange.

It is hoped that by patronising local businesses, foreign exchange will be reserved for only essential purchases.

Interestingly, the campaign has caught the attention of the Senate.

The upper legislative house is presently working on the procurement bill, which seeks to bolster local production of goods and, in turn, grow consumption by mandating government agencies and offices to patronise Nigerian products.

As the Senate settles down for business, one area which it must critically examine is the impact of the ECOWAS trade liberalisation scheme (ETLS) on the nation’s forex reserves. The ETLS is the main ECOWAS operational tool for promoting the West Africa region as a free trade

area. One of its objectives is the “establishment of a common market through the liberalisation of trade by the abolition, among member states, of customs duties levied on imports and exports, and the abolition among member states, of nontariff barriers.” Often times, manufacturers have hidden under the garb of the ETLS to import products that are, and can be, locally produced in the country, thereby further putting strains on Nigeria’s ailing forex reserves.

As lofty as the ECOWAS trade treaty may be for the economic integration of the sub-region, it must be said that local economic interest should not be sacrificed on the altar of regional interest.

It will be inexpedient to give precedence to regional interest over local needs, considering the fact that the country does not have enough forex to meet all its local demands at this critical period.

A few months back the media was awash with advertorials of the alleged entry, last year, of leading tobacco manufacturer, Philip Morris International, into the Nigerian market where cigarettes are locally produced.

Phillip Morris, whose West Africa production market hub is in Senegal, only allegedly imports cigarettes into Nigeria thereby evading statutory taxes and levies that local producers pay. In addition to this, the advertorial alleged that the entry of the global leader in tobacco production is in total disregard of the provisions in the Tobacco Control Act (TCA), which sets stringent conditions for all intending operators to do business in Nigeria’s tobacco industry.

This action constitutes a breach of a key provision of the TCA in Section 29, which stipulates that anyone importing cigarettes should register with or obtain a licence from the Ministry of Health written by the Health Minister and the Standards Organ-

isation of Nigeria (SON), among other statutory bodies. Regrettably, this condition was, last year, circumvented by PMI which took advantage of the delay in the appointment of a minister of health, to obtain its licence from only SON to import five brands of cigarettes through its subsidiary, Philip Morris International Nigeria Limited.

It was alleged in the said advertorials that the subsidiary, which was registered as a company in December 11, 2014, was certified by SON in May 2015 to import the following brands, Marlboro, Marlboro Gold, Chesterfield Mint Burst, Chesterfield Blue and Bond Street. It secured approval from the Federal Ministry of Finance to import 122 million units of cigarettes and has since increased the quota. This transaction has been described by health experts and industry watchers as a breach of the TCA. It has the potential of nullifying efforts at regulating the industry and promoting youth access to cigarettes.

Besides, it also questions the wisdom in licencing a foreign manufacturer of a product whose local production sufficiently meets local demand.

Moreover, this breach may make more operators and distributors more brazen in undermining the law with the attendant consequence of exposing the nation to illicit tobacco and banned cigarette brands, among them flavoured cigarettes. This also has the high potential of reversing recent successes made in stemming illicit trade in tobacco. The volume of illicit tobacco in the country is about 20 per cent, valued at an estimated N40 billion annual loss. These figures may have risen in view of the resurgence in illicit tobacco in the country lately.

Another point worthy of note is that there are huge socio-economic benefits in the localisation of production. A strong nexus exists between the

tobacco industry and the agricultural sector, which has a high potential for employment creation.

Like tobacco, there are locally available products that have come under forex pressures and have been threatened by smuggling activities but the renewed drive for re-industrialisation of the country have started turning around their fortunes. An example that readily comes to mind is the local tomato pastes industry where local production has been given a boost. Only recently, leading local tomato paste manufacturer, Erisco Foods Ltd, opened a new factory.

It currently has a production capacity of over 400,000 metric tonnes, and plans to raise its staff strength from 1,900 to 9,000 in the next three years.

Sadly, the Nigeria’s economy has been dominated by substandard and cheap tomato paste smuggled across the borders.

––Nkemdilichukwu Nwadike, Lagos.

national team, disregard for values and hostility to authority. This they do, on the platform of ‘freedom of expression’. If this worrying trend is allowed to continue and left unchecked and unchallenged, Nigeria as a country may be in for some real turbulence. Only recently, a Rwandan was sentenced to many years in jail for broadcasting hate messages and encouraging members of his tribe to go kill members of another on radio. We haven’t yet reached that here, but it may not be far away if we do nothing.

Even when such troubling statements are made by guest analysts or commentators, what we knew to be the practice was that radio stations would distance themselves from such positions as non-representative of the views of the agency.

But when it is the stations’ employees that have become this irresponsible, and regulators do nothing for fear of being labelled as stifling freedom of speech, one can only hope that the

nation will not be the worse for it. Where is the age-old tradition of gatekeeping and self-censorship? Have all these things gone with the wind?

More disturbing, is the fact that most of these on-air folks are young, with a near faultless command of the English language; and they appear to have mastered the art of creating a following among their kind, tapping into the apparent dissatisfaction in society to stimulate the listener. Alarmingly, they do not appear to appreciate the power of the microphone in front of them.

It is therefore imperative for professionals, (particularly veterans) owners/ founders of radio stations, regulators and other concerned stake-holders to rise up quickly to articulate a clear-cut set of broadcast norms that will, while guaranteeing free ‘expression’, do so in a way that would not further contribute to the evident fracture in society.

––Akin Akinyemi, Ita-Eko, Abeokuta.

Mohammed

HERDSMEN AND THE GRAZING COMMISSION

I

t was tears galore recently at AgadamaUwheru community in Ughelli North Local council of Delta State as one of the 31 persons killed by suspected Fulani herdsmen, Stephen Omamuge Ajaita, was buried.

The victim, a father of three, was one of the 31 persons killed between 2012 and 2015 by suspected Fulani herdsmen in Uwheru kingdom.

He was said to have been shot severally in the head with an AK 47 rifle as he and other persons tried to ward off the herdsmen from their farms.

Meanwhile in a bid to end the incessant murders and “clashes” between herdsmen and farmers, the federal government is proposing to pass “The Bill for an Act to Establish the ‘National Grazing Route and Reserves Commis-

sion’ - to establish and control grazing routes and reserves in all parts of Nigeria.”

The bill if passed into law shall empower the commission to take any land in any part of Nigeria it deems fit for ‘purpose’; purpose being the provision of forcefully acquired land for the well-being of the cattle owned by private businessmen, a business dominated by our beloved president’s kinsmen - the beautiful Fulani ethnic group.

However, it is to be noted that those whose lands are “taken” shall be given compensation on terms to be independently determined by the “Grazing Commission”.

Any person or group of persons aggrieved by the expropriation of their land, shall be required to seek the permission of the Attorney-General of the Federation (an appointee

of the President) before seeking legal recourse.

In the event such a warrant is somehow miraculously secured, the judgment of any court of competent jurisdiction (to which redress is sought), shall be subject to the ratification nay approval of the Attorney-General of the Federation before it can be executed.

Thus, without the permission of the AGF, no Nigerian shall or can challenge the forceful take-over of their land by the commission for the benefit of these private businessmen and their precious cattle, if this nationalistic bill becomes law.

We salute the efforts of the current administration to address this long-lingering problem, may wisdom be granted them in the discharge of their duties.

–Joseph Amasike, Abuja

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R • MAY 1, 2016

BUSINESS

Editor Festus Akanbi Email festus.akanbi@thisdaylive.com

QUICK TAKES Trade Development

The federal government has tasked Africancountriesontheneedtodevelop global reach in their trade as a means of improving their economies.

It specifically called on the West and Central African sub-region to rise up andtaketheirshareoftheglobalmarket by developing a global reach in trade and enterprises in their economies.

Inordertoaccomplishthis,theMinister of State for Transportation, Senator Hadi Sirika, who spoke on behalf of the federal government at the recent sub-regional workshop on Transport Cost and Regional Connectivity of African Countries in Abuja, noted that this requires connectivity among the countries.Theministeraddedthatthis will include a multimodal, integrated and sustainable transport system in order to foster quality connectivity within the West and Central African sub-regionandindeedtherestofAfrica.

Henotedthattheportsalonewerenot enoughtoconnecttothemarkets,adding that other modes, including road, railandairtransport,inlandwaterways and inland ports were essential since trade logistics now involves door-todoor or factory to warehouse movement of goods in international trade transactions.

A typical local market... Respite may not be on the horizon as prices of food item continue to rise

Further Rise in Inflation Imminent as Economy Hurts James Emejo

F

ollowing the rise in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which measures inflation for three consecutive months to 12.8 percent in March, experts have cautioned that the index is likely to maintain its upward trend in April.

The headline index had increased to 11.4 per cent in February from 9.6 percent in January, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

The latest increase had been blamed on an increase in the prices of goods and services across the country, the highest year-on-year rise since July 2012.

The statistical agency also pointed out that the planting season, transportation costs as well as foreign exchange movements contributed significantly in the upward movement witnessed on the food index in March.

The inflationary pressure was further compounded by the knock-on effect of foreign exchange movements, which in turn affected the prices of imported food and non food items, the importation of Premium Motor Spirit as well as the adjustment in the electricity tariffs nationwide had resulted in a surge of rates.

As a result, price of commodities in the local markets have continued to spiral out of hand, making it difficult for the ordinary Nigerians to afford basic needs as prices have more than doubled while more workers, particularly in the real sector lose their jobs as companies shut down under unfavourable operating conditions worsened by the foreign exchange crisis and the restrictions placed on the importation of some essential items, which could be produced locally.

The delay in the passage of the 2016 budget is also believed to play a significant role in the rise of both inflation and unemployment rates in the economy.

Experts however, warned that the

ECONOMY present hardship could endure because the factors which had fueled inflation were still much around.

Speaking in an interview with THISDAY, economist and ex-banker, Dr. Chijioke Ekechukwu, said the revival of the real sector was crucial to taming inflation and resetting the economy.

He said:”In an economy that is dwindling like Nigeria, except there’s frantic effort made to build the real sector of our economy, the unemployment situation may not improve for now.

And if that is so, we also see that the inflation rate will also be going up just because, of course, the value of the naira is going down and people are just buying things at a higher rate; and so on gradual basis, inflation would be increasing.”

He said:”I have mentioned before that for inflation to start dropping gradually, the country has to do everything to stop the importation of petroleum product because that’s actually what’s putting so much pressure on the value of our currency.

“And because that’s putting so much pressure on the value of our currency, inflation would keep increasing. And like I said, until the real sector, which is the manufacturing sector starts producing, and at very reasonable capacity, we are not going to have our employment situation improve: don’t also forget that the main bane of the real sector growth is electricity-and I know that government is making certain efforts to improve on the electricity of the country but you’ll see that we are no where yet-and until the electricity sector is improved in this country, the real sector cannot grow. And until the real sector grows, employment cannot grow-and so these are the issues that are actually affecting the two areas just mentioned.”

He also said government must help young entrepreneurs get easy access to

financing and free them from the hostile interest rate regime from commercial banks.

Also speaking in an interview with THISDAY on the implications of the galloping inflation on the economy, an Associate Professor of Finance and Head, Banking & Finance, Department, Nassarawa State University, Keffi, Dr. Uche Uwaleke, said the rising inflation rate which is cost-induced has the capacity to further reduce the standard of living of Nigerians.

According to him,”of course, you know the overall impact of inflation in an economy is negative. It increases the cost of goods and services and it would make it more difficult for the common man to survive.

“In essence it reduces the standard In an economy that is dwindling like Nigeria, except there’s frantic effort made to build the real sector of our economy, the unemployment situation may not improve for now

of living of the people. Of course, the inflation we have in the country right now is principally a direct consequence of the energy and foreign exchange shortages that we are having.”

“In my view, it is more of a cost-push inflation than demand-pull inflation, because demand pull is where you have money chasing few goods but there’s no money in the economy and so it is more of cost-push because foreign exchange is scarce-and we import virtually all that we use here-and even for commodities you think have inelastic demand is becoming difficult for even the producers to pass on the high cost of these commodities to the ultimate consumer; because as I said, the demand is not there and so it is more of cost-push inflation,” he added.

Warning that the headline index could further rise in the coming month, he raised concern over the fact that the monetary

policy rate (MPR) is currently lower than inflation.

According to Uwaleke:”And that’s also why you find the Central Bank of Nigeria increase the monetary policy rate last time from11 percent to 12 percent, it’s all in a bid to tackle inflation.

“Right now, the inflation rate is around 12.8 percent, the highest we’ve seen in recent times and the monetary policy rate is 12 percent. So monetary policy rate is less than inflation rate-and the CBN governor has hinted recently that it is not normal for the MPR to be lower than inflation.”

He said:”So that means that there’s also the likelihood that the MPR would be increased at the next MPC meeting and you know the MPR is the benchmark interest rate in an economy. If it goes up, it also means interest rates are going up and if interest rate goes up, not also means more businesses cannot access loans at cheaper cost-the cost of accessing loans would be high and that also means the cost of production in the country would be high and cost of doing business would be high-you would find that the things is a vicious cycle.

According to him:”The unfortunate aspect of it again is that while inflation rate is also going up, you can see the impact on the economy; unemployment rate is also going up. We have in Nigeria today, a case of taxation-where inflation and unemployment rates are all going up.

“And I told you why unemployment rate is high-because the demand for good is not there-and because the demand is not there, most of these companies have stock of inventory-they are not selling-and at the same time, they cannot lower the cost of those goods because they must break even.

“The high inventory has also resulted into low capacity utilisation and because of all these, you find them retrenching workers...And so the budget has also not been implemented yet and so there’s no money.”

Lagos Ports

Activities at the Lagos ports have gradually come to a grinding halt as the foreign exchange restrictions announced last year by the Federal Government takes a heavy toll on the nation’seconomy. Thissituationhasleft many who depend on Africa’s hitherto busiest ports for living to idle away.

The Nigerian Ports Authority recently released a report of its performance, with the Managing Director, Habib Abdullahi,sayingthenumberofoceangoing vessels that called at the ports had declined by 8.1 per cent.

Hesaidatotalof5,090vessels“called attheportsin2015,whichisadecrease of 8.1 per cent when compared to the 5,541 recorded in 2014.”

This drop has also affected the NPA’s revenue as it generated N11.9bn in 2015, indicating a drop of 1.7 per cent from the N12.1bn generated the previousyear. Initslatestreportonthe issue,theNationalBureauofStatistics said that Nigeria’s imports decreased by 24.7 per cent in December 2015.

The Chairman, Shipping Association of Nigeria, Mr. Val Usifo, was quoted in a report by the Financial Times as sayingthatmembersofthegroupwere feeling the pressure of low imports.

Rail lines

Many existing structures will be demolished in order to link rail lines with seaports across the country, the Federal Government has said.

TheMinisterofTransportation,Rotimi Amaechi, disclosed this in Abuja while receivingateamfromtheWorldBank, led by the Senior Transport Engineer, AfricaRegionTransportUnit,Tesfamichael Nahusenay Mitiku.

The minister said the measure was aimed at revamping the rail transport sector, adding that the rail lines currently being constructed would be linked to the ports like in other countries.

Amaechi was quoted to have stated in a statement that the major problem envisaged for the project was that a lotofdemolitionofexistingstructures along the rail lines would take place, adding that this would attract huge compensation on the part of government. He, however, noted that when completed, the whole country would have been linked by rail, as this would addressthechallengesassociatedwith the movement of goods and services in Nigeria.

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Achieving Sustainable Resource Flows by States

For the umpteenth time, the states have asked for bailout to assuage their financial hardship. Kunle Aderinokun writes that such measure is not the sustainable way to go as the remedy to the malaise plaguing the states lies in looking inwards

A cross section of the state governors at the meeting with Buhari last Thursday

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he state of finances of the states, to say the least, has been precarious. Most of them have not been meeting their obligations, specifically pay workers’ salaries and fund day-today activities of their governments.

But whose fault? Economic analysts and observers believe the states had been laid back and are not forward-looking. They premised their argument on a scenario whereby nearly all the states are depending on hand-outs from the centre; all they always ask for is to share all revenue accruing to the consolidated revenue fund (CRF) without leaving any amount for saving. Besides, the experts observed that, except for Lagos, Edo, Kwara and may be one more state, the rest are not generating revenue internally and have no known mechanism to even do so in the foreseeable future.

The situation in the states is so bad that sometimes in February this year, six months after the Federal Government bailed out 19 of the 27 states that were enmeshed in financial crisis, states were seeking another bailout.

They were hit by another cash crunch as a result of the prevailing economic realities.

THISDAY checks had revealed that most of the states that benefitted from the N400 billion intervention fund, in the form of loans offered by the Federal Government through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), had approached the presidency and the CBN for another bailout.

However, investigation revealed that Lagos State government had refused to join the states seeking bailout. This is an obvious indication of the buoyant finances of the state,

which generates about N23 billion monthly as internally generated revenue (IGR).

Apart from the CBN intervention, there were other reliefs endorsed by President Muhammadu Buhari and shared to the states, which included the $2.1 billion Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) proceeds that accrued to the Federation Account.

Following the CBN intervention fund the distressed states received in July 2015, which attracted repayment with interests, deductions are being made in earnest. However, given the dwindled revenue accruing to states from the federation account occasioned by the crash in the prices of crude oil at the international market coupled with the fact that most of them are already neck deep in debt to commercial banks, what remains, after all deductions, amount to almost nothing. States are now seeking more concessions.

Relief however came their way last week when the Federal Government decided to suspend deduction of their loan payments from their monthly allocations in order to allow them pay workers’ salaries.

Rising from the meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC), the Federal Government said its decision was premised on the reality that the states did not have enough resources to meet their obligations.

This was more evident in the sharing of a new low of N299 billion, which was approved by the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) and shared amongst the three tiers of government namely, the federal, state and local government.

”There is an update on the financial situation in the states.

It was discussed extensively that currently the federation accounts receipts are among the lowest that has been seen in recent memory.

“We are looking at N 299 billion this month and that is because of the very low oil prices recorded in February and January, if you remember oil prices went as low as $28 and $31 and that has affected through to a very low federation account figure,” the Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun, said.

Despite this relief, the state governments, in another spirited move, renewed their call for bailout. Under the aegis of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) chaired by Governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari, had asked the Federal Government to do more to help their situation. The NGF chairman was supported by Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, who chaired the committee that worked on the fiscal restructuring plan.

According to a statement by Senior Special Assistant (Media and Publicity) to the President, Garba Shehu,“The governors told the President that while they had resolved to take other measures to boost their internally-generated revenue, the implementation of the Fiscal Restructuring Plan will help them to deal with their funding problems on short, medium and long-term bases.”

“They said that if the plan was adopted and implemented by the Federal Government, states of the federation will become more financially empowered to fulfil their constitutional responsibilities.”

Apparently, President Muhammadu Buhari had acceded

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BUSINESS/ECONOMY Achieving Sustainable Resource Flows by States to their request as he had promised to make more money available to the states to assuage their prevailing financial difficulties.

This followed the presentation of a fiscal restructuring plan by the states at a meeting with the President, asking for a review of the nation’s revenue sharing formula that would put more money in their coffers.

According to Shehu, “President Buhari said that he was very disturbed by the hardship which state government workers across the country and their families were facing due to the non-payment of salaries.

“To ameliorate the hardship being faced by affected workers, the President said that the Federal Government will strive to make more funds available to the states by expediting action on refunds due to them for the maintenance of federal roads and other expenses incurred on behalf of the Federal Government.

“President Buhari also said that he will establish an inter-ministerial committee to study a Fiscal Restructuring Plan for the Federation which was presented to him by the governors.

“The President said that the committee will review the plan to improve the finances of state governments and make recommendations on how proposals in the plan should be dealt with by the Presidency, the Federal Executive Council and the National Assembly through legislation.

“President Buhari urged the governors, however, to understand that while he was ready to do all within his powers to help the states overcome their current financial challenges, the Federal Government also has funding problems of its own to contend with.”

The development has attracted the attention of economic analysts and observers, who consider the loan payment suspension and bailout as temporary reliefs. The experts contended that the states are only postponing the evil days, except they wake up from their slumber and devise creative ways of forestalling future occurrence of the prevailing scenario.

One of them, Managing Director of XDS Credit Bureau Ltd, Mobolanle Adesanya, who welcomed the development said the bailout would afford the states the opportunity to settle arrears owed to banks, contractors, amongst others as well as prevent some of them from retrenching a proportion of their workforce According to her, “A bailout on the other hand, might have afforded the states to do much more as it would have been felt by all and sundries including the banks, contractors, private entrepreneurs etc. For instance, contractors to state governments who have outstanding receivables for job done as well as civil servants who have taken loans from banks and other financial institutions will be able to pay down some of their indebtedness. It could also have reduced the tendency of some entities especially in the manufacturing sector from laying off more staff due to decreased revenues.”

Adesanya however pointed out that, “the downside of a bailout is that affected state governments may not be encouraged to face the hard reality of cutting down their cost of governance since the Federal Government is always available to provide bailout instead of them looking for alternatives sources of creating revenue for their states.”

She posited that, “even though the suspension of loan deduction is just for one month and no bailout, the government might likely see its positive impact on the economy and decide to extend it to help the current challenges so as to keep the economy moving. Hopefully with this initiative if it continues, it might allow states now strategise and better plan themselves.

Stressing that, “the suspension will serve as a respite to the states while still struggling with their finances especially in light of falling oil prices which has affected their monthly revenue allocation,” she lamented that, “most states are still finding it difficult to meet their obligation to workers and also provide basic amenities for their states.”

“In some states, workers’ salaries have not been paid for several months. This suspension of loan deduction will allow more funds to be available to the States to enable them pay salaries of their workers and also cater for other obligations they might have. This will in turn also allow workers to service any obligations they

Cont’d from Pg. 18

Buhari ... concerned about states’ inability to pay bills

might have.

“This availability will stimulate the economy a bit via spending. They will be able to engage in expenditure which in turn will have a multiplier effect on goods and services they regularly consume. Thus the companies producing consumer goods as well as some other commercial entities will experience improvement in sales revenue,” she explained.

But the Managing Director of Savvycorp Limited, Okechukwu Ezeh, holds a different view from Adesanya on the development saying “the deferment of states’ loan deduction is ostensibly the government’s answer to the increasing insolvency of many state governments.” “This approach while expedient in the short time translates to postponing the evil day in the long term.

One of the fiercest criticisms levelled against the present administration is its seeming reluctance in drastically cutting the cost of governance.

“Various levels of government still parade unwieldy, multi-layered expensive bureaucracy. In a macro-economic environment typified by dwindling resources, the natural impetus would have been to implement a broad range of cost-cutting, value-for-money measures in all aspects of government but in this clime where government has been for too long synonymous with waste and profligacy, many operators of the system still want to it to be business as usual hence the clamour for the suspension of the states’ loan deduction.”

Ezeh however noted that, “the initiative could be beneficial for a few states with compelling cases where resources that could have gone to debt servicing in the immediate term could be re-channelled into targeted projects that could be economic growth catalysts that would in the intermediate term generate the resources needed to pay down loan obligations and deliver consistent growth.”

Nevertheless, he added that “this is not the case with most of the states as their feeding bottle mentality sees them craving for more and more funds just to pay salaries, maintain basic services and pursue even more white elephant projects and therein lies the danger.”

According to him, “What the federal government needs to do is not to grant a blanket moratorium on loan repayment but to work out a case-by-case relief package to

each state government that is anchored on the attainment of certain fiscal deliverables such as reduction in expendable running costs, investments in economically regenerative projects and a general value-for-moneyaudit certification in all areas of project implementation funded with borrowed and or allocated funds.

“While some may baulk at this as interference, this will go a long way in encouraging prudence among the states and ironically secure them economic and financial independence in the long run.

Similar guidelines should be worked out for disbursement of funds from the Excess Crude Account. Drawdowns from the ECA should mandatorily serve as an economic stimulus package to be channelled to critical infrastructure and productive sector invest-

Rising from the meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC), the Federal Government said its decision was premised on the reality that the states did not have enough resources to meet their obligations.

This was more evident in the sharing of a new low of N299 billion, which was approved by the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) and shared amongst the three tiers of government namely, the federal, state and local government

ments rather than to fund bureaucracy and profligacy at the state level pending when another oil boom arrives. However the move to expedite reimbursement of funds owed states by the FG on account of federal projects in their domain however is salutary.”

Also, Executive Director, Corporate Finance, BGL Capital Ltd, Femi Ademola, stated that, “this may not be a sustainable development,” however, pointing out that, “it is a very good stop gap for the states to adjust their finances through cost optimisation and increased IGR or for income from national sources to increase.” “All in all, it is a good development and a good temporary relieve to the state workers.”

Ademola recalled that, “between 2010 and 2014, Nigeria experience a period of significant oil price increase of up to $113/ barrel,” noting that, “rather than save the extra monies, the government of the shared the funds among the federating states leading the state government to increase fixed expenses such staff counts and salaries. They also embark on gigantic infrastructure projects financed by loans (bonds) that are expected to be repaid from future income.”

He added: “However the sustained decline in the price of oil has reversed the earlier gains as income accruing to the Nigerian government decline precipitously. Unfortunately, the fixed costs from the states government have to be met despite the reduction in income hence the current problem. However since loan repayments are usually taken out from source, it follows that salaries of workers would suffer as currently experienced.”

Stating that, “the way out of the challenge is to either increase income (which is not currently feasible) or reduce expenses (through staff rationalisation),” Ademola pointed out that, “since none of the choices are likely to be agreeable to the FG decided to suspend loan repayment for this month so as to allow more fund to the states and allow them to pay salaries.”

Reasoning along the same line with Ademola, Managing Director, Dunn Loren Merrifield Asset Management Ltd, Tola Odukoya, posited that, “generally, this not a good development for the capital markets, the debt market in particular. This pronouncement will significantly weaken investor-confidence thereby bringing serious headwinds to issuers’ ability to issue bonds in future.”

He however added that, “to the extent that the FG has undertaken to redeem the existing indebtedness of the states that have issued bonds - particularly those being owed by the FG, investors can be assured that they will recoup their investments as at when due.”

For the former managing director of Guinness Nigeria Plc, Seni Adetu, “I think this is a mixed bag of positives and negatives.

Without the Federal Allocation Committee’s decision to defer the implementation of Irrevocable Standing Payment Orders (ISPOs), some states would get almost zero or inconsequential allocations from the federation account.”

Adetu explained that, “quite a number of state governments have a backlog of salary and pension payments due to workers and retirees, and this deferment will seemingly ameliorate the hardship being faced by these Nigerians.

“It makes it possible for distressed state governments to meet salary and pension obligations in the short term and to fund other recurrent expenditures, thus preventing the machinery of government from totally grinding to a halt in about 27 out 36 states.

However, this will not have any direct bearing on infrastructure development, implying that our long term economic desires are still not guaranteed.”

The former Guinness boss however said, “with this development, local lenders are denied inflows running into several billions of Naira this month,” pointing out that, “it may aggravate the liquidity ratio of lenders exposed to these state governments, and also impede lending to the productive sector of the economy.”

“Recall that these same lenders no longer have access to slush public sector funds, thanks to the Treasury Single Account (TSA).

A potential fall out of the deferment of ISPOs is increased cost of funds (rate hike) and a sustained increase in the general price level of goods and services,” he added.

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As FG Plans Huge Cut in Oil Sector Contracting Cycle

As recently disclosed by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, the federal government plans to cut the long contracting cycle in Nigeria’s petroleum sector. Chineme Okafor writes on what this means for the sector

R

ecently, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, disclosed that the federal government plans to cut the contracting cycle in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry from its current stretch of two to four years to just six months.

Kachikwu at a stakeholders’ interactive workshop on Nigerian Content Policy which was organised by the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream) in Calabar, explained that the long contracting cycle in the country’s oil and gas sector was a major challenge to its productivity.

He noted that it contributes to the high cost per barrel of the Nigerian crude oil when compared with the outputs costs of other member countries of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

Listing these challenges, Kachikwu said they include multiplicity of bidders, application of manual tools in bid evaluation and divergent tender requirements by approving entities such as the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), National Petroleum Investment and Management Services (NAPIMS) and the international operating companies (IOCs).

Represented by the Group General Manager, NAPIMS, Mr. Sajebor Dafe Stephen, Kachikwu said contract approving entities in the country’s oil and gas sector were already implementing his directive for them to strategise and develop a single contracting procedure, which would soon be issued to the industry.

He had said at the last Oloibiri Lecture Series and Energy Forum (OLF) in Abuja that he was working hard to achieve this, saying that project planning and execution were becoming more challenging due to this singular reason.

The minister who confirmed plans to categorise companies that had invested heavily in the economy as local content champions for specific work scopes

in a way that would facilitate contract opportunities and enhance transparency and further boost investor confidence, explained equally that the dictates of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, otherwise known as local content law, would be given prior attention in the planned review.

He said the Act’s provision of first consideration for Nigerian owned assets shall always apply in tenders related to utilisation of rigs or marine vessels, thus assuring a good number of Nigerians who had been motivated by it to invest in the sector for safety of their investments.

With the emergence of a new crop of indigenous owners of marine vessels, he stated that the new focus was on the local construction of vessels, adding that an assessment of shipyards was ongoing and government will provide incentives and enablers that will make local yards to construct vessels at competitive cost.

But why now?

Perhaps realising that there are stiffer competitions around the corner, and that in the last couple of decades, operating costs in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector had consistently escalated through either long approval cycles or other challenges related to security, the government opted to act quickly before it was too late.

Of course, industry stakeholders have often faulted the country’s long contracting cycle as a huge albatross on production efficiency, the fact that oil prices fluctuations was cutting deep into the country’s take from her production and no new investment commitments are made either may have forced the government to begin to think out of the box.

In itself, the dip in oil prices is a huge challenge to the survival of Nigeria’s oil industry which desperately needs to improve on its operational excellence to stay up and afloat.

Industry operators have consistently averred that the industry in Nigeria needs to develop an

Kachikwu operational model that enables extant processes, people and system to interact and support each other to achieve optimum results.

Such system according to them is almost non-existent in Nigeria, thus making attempts to prioritise production efficiency as often done by the government almost impossible.

“If those approval cycles could be reduced, it would have a positive impact in reducing project costs. Other high expenditure uncertainties relate to the security cost of protecting people and installations as well as the time value of possible disruptions of the work,” said Mrs. Elisabeth Proust who is the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Upstream Companies of Total in Nigeria.

Proust had at a function in the recent past stated that in terms of exploration, there was stiff competition

in Africa, especially between West African producers and Mozambique, Tanzania and Kenya.

She noted that in Nigeria, contractors integrated the cost of uncertainties and the time lag of contract approval cycles in their bid offers, saying it was one of the most critical challenges they would be called on to meet in the coming years.

Additionally, industry operators said the recent crude oil prices drop may not just be the sole driving force behind the need for operational excellence which could come with cut in long approval cycles.

According to them, it is more of a call for action because while other OPEC countries like Saudi Arabia leverages on their reported low production costs to achieve huge market gains, Nigeria with its high production cost can only manage to bring in production outputs at rates that may not guarantee good returns.

Currently, Nigeria’s oil and gas sector is being choked by the unusually lengthy contracting cycle.

This ensures that competing African oil producing countries who conclude the same process in shorter periods would get first priority when investment decisions are made and taken by oil and gas investors.

This slow and winding contract processes leave investors with very little options with regards to Nigeria, thus costing the country billions of dollars in oil and gas investment to competing nations.

The decision by the government, notwithstanding reported opposition from oil workers union, could give Nigeria and operators in the oil and gas industry some good openings to target production upswings in a measured and profitable way.

It has the potential of winning back for the country, oil and gas projects and investments which had been diverted away or still kept in abeyance by such acts of long approval cycles.

Thus, with her frequent environmental incidents, declining performance, and drop in prices of oil, Nigeria must take actions that are not only

Say No to Nuclear Energy in Nigeria Arese Carrington

I

read an article on April 26, 2016, in a Nigerian newspaper “Nuclear power not safe for Nigeria by Sen. Shehu Sani.” I hope his voice will not be a lone voice on this issue while the citizens he is trying to protect look on. Although I don’t live in Nigeria, it is my native land and I love my native land, the people are my people and thus their predicament my concern.

Despite the efficiency of the Japanese government and its people, their advancement in technology and history of excellent disaster management preparedness the nuclear disaster in Japan is proving to be one of the worst nuclear disasters, since Chernobyl.

History is the study of the present and the past to project into the future.

Nigeria’s history of disaster management or maintenance culture in the past and the present has much to be desired of, so how can it want to project into a future of nuclear energy with all the attendant risk.

It does not take an expert in Nuclear energy to be able to state basic obvious facts that are glaring.

Any major mishap involving radiation leaks from nuclear energy can lead to a disaster of catastrophic proportion that could lead to thousands of death, long term health problems, spikes in cancer incidents and birth defects. The devastation of a nuclear disaster in a highly populated country like Nigeria would send shock waves around the world. A breach in the nuclear containers of a nuclear reactor or a nuclear meltdown would release nuclear materials into the atmosphere and ground and could literally obliterate parts of the country and turn them into waste lands and “ghost lands”.

No matter how prepared even the extremely prepared and efficient countries are, in a case of a nuclear disaster they can only try to mitigate the damage, so what chance would Nigeria have if a nuclear melt down were to occur in the country.

Even if the argument is that the likelihood of a nuclear disaster is minuscule, should Nigeria of today, the way it is, subject its people to that risk?

The risk out weighs the benefit.

Thirty years on the Chernobyl disaster is still vivid in our minds and the impacts of the damaging effects are still being felt.

Was it not in Koko, Delta State, that someone shipped in containers of nuclear waste?

Countries try to get rid of their radio-active waste, yet a Nigerian shipped it into his country and dumped it amongst his people. The community, struggling under their daily routine for survival did not sense the eminent danger and instead opened up the containers, used them to collect water and for other domestic use. By the time the government brought it to public knowledge, the people in the affected area of Koko had been exposed to radiation. When scientist came with Geiger counters to measure the amount of radiation in the area and also on the people, a lot of them did not understand what was going on and had little understanding of the dangers of nuclear radiation. Have the people of Koko been followed? Have longitudinal studies been done on their health status? Were children born in that area since the episode monitored? Is the soil in that area still being tested regularly or have the people of Koko been forgotten? These are but a few of the questions.

It took about four hundred children to die before something was done about the lead poisoning saga in a rural community of Zamfara State. Sadly the

Fashola... Power Minister Chibok girls are still missing. All they wanted was to get an education so they could carve out a better future for themselves and yet their country could not protect them. Their safety could not be guaranteed against Boko Haram. What is the guarantee that these nuclear plants can be adequately protected?

The people deserve constant electricity power but do not deserve to die for it. Which state and whose “backyard” are the nuclear power plants going to be built in? The people need to understand the imminent danger of a nuclear power plant being built in their “backyard”. Constant electricity supply is important for economic development. The 2billion naira that has been allocated for nuclear plants in the 2016 budget should be used for safer methods

of electricity generation.

Nigeria is blessed with sunshine; it can invest in solar energy. It has vast areas of empty flat land so it can invest in wind energy by using turbines.

It has valleys and lakes thus it can invest in hydro electric power by building dams. Kainji dam is one of the longest dams in the world. Was the dam ever maintained? Are all the hydro electric turbines working? Even if the dam is drying up, additional new hydroelectric dams can be built. Hydro-electric power stations if properly maintained can be a relative inexpensive source of power supply. There are a lot of hydro electric power stations around the world today. Sun, wind and water, these are all safer renewable sources of energy. Nuclear power is not child’s play and even the developed and prepared countries have seen that.

The birth of a child is a time of great rejoicing, yet what type of country are we bringing that child into.

Is the planet being sustained for future generations?

As a country do we plan a future for that child? No matter their socio-economic status is the child assured of basic human rights such as health, education and shelter? Will they be able to get a job or have the ability to generate income when they grow up?

It seems that sayings like “A good name is better than riches” and “honesty is the best policy” have gone down the drain in Nigeria. Nigeria needs good governance, accountability, honest people that are truly vested in the people. The future of the country must not be discounted. What have we chosen to do with the truth? As a nation and as individual we must begin to speak the truth because the truth shall set the nation free.

– Dr Carrington, an International Public Health Consultant, is wife of former US envoy to Nigeria, Ambassador Walter Carrington.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R • MAY 1, 2016

21

BUSINESS INTERVIEW

Okunbo

PHOTOS: Julius Atoi

Okunbo: Nigeria Operates a Wrong Model, Govt Should Cede Pipelines to Private Companies

Penultimate week, Minister of Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, recommissioned the 60km Escravos-Warri crude line and Bonny-Port Harcourt line which had not worked for several years due to vandalism. The repair work was undertaken by Ocean Marine Solutions. The company’s Chairman, Captain Hosa Okunbo, in this interview with Tokunbo Adedoja and Chineme Okafor, speaks on how his company got involved in the repairs of the pipelines, challenges faced in the course of carrying out the repairs, the integrity of the existing pipelines, how they can be protected against vandalism and the model that is sustainable in the long run. He also spoke on the controversy that trailed the marine vessels contract awarded to his company by the last administration for the transportation of crude oil to the refineries which was canceled by the current government

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R • MAY 1, 2016

INTERVIEW ‘WE FOUND MORE THAN 70 LOADING POINTS ON THAT LINE AND OVER 20 DYNAMITE BLAST POINTS’

Cont’d from Pg. 21

L

ast week, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Kachikwu, recommissioned the 60km Escravos-Warri crude line and Bonny-Port Harcourt line which your firm repaired, could you explain the terms of your involvement in these jobs?

The pipelines have not been working for 10 years and were seriously vandalised.

There was no political will to get them fixed. Sometime in 2009 when the NNPC got frustrated in fixing the pipelines and a lot went into repairs, NNPC set up a project team to look at the possibility of moving crude by marine vessels because they were losing more than 40 per cent of the crude that was being pumped through these pipelines through valve insertions and all kinds of vandalism.

When they throw in a million barrels of crude, 600,000 barrels get to the refineries and 400,000 barrels get missing through valve insertions by oil thieves.

They got frustrated and said they wanted to use the marine vessels option.

We were invited as a maritime security contractor but a company called PPPFM won the contract for using marine vessels and we were just there providing security with the help of the Navy whom we have partnership with in protecting offshore oil assets.

We are the biggest in the industry and have developed capacity overtime, so we were called upon to offer this service to NNPC. That actually came into fruition in 2011 when the project started after the bid processes.

Two months into that project, the company, PPPFM, could not deliver crude anymore due to their lack of capacity and commitment and there we were as security company watching from the sidelines what was going on and we found out that 600,000 barrels of crude oil was stuck in Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) and another 100,000 barrels was in the MR berthed at the jetty for over one month without discharge.

On enquiry, we found out they had problems settling third-party debts, and of course in maritime law, whatever is on board your vessel and you are not able to pay for freight cost, you can sell off to offset your freight costs and that was the option that they were going to exercise against the government which we noticed.

We refused that to happen and when they approached us to say they will go to court, we told them that it was not possible to go to court for Nigerian crude, and more so, we were contracted to protect this crude and so there was an impasse kind of.

Because we didn’t want that sort of embarrassment for the government, we sat the Israelis down and negotiated with them to say, “listen, we know you don’t have the capacity and commitment to do this, would you be glad to sell the company to us?”

It was a model we wanted to support because we know it would work. We are mariners and these guys were just business guys. We bought the company and paid all the third party bills they were owing and for which they would have sold the crude.

If they had sold the crude then, the government would have lost about $70 million at the price of crude then, and so we approached the management of the NNPC and they told us to go ahead but in doing that we actually lost $7 million but knew that with time we could recover once we create value. Money will come when you create value and that is our business model, we don’t believe in money first but value first.

The simple definition of business to us is creating value for people to make money, and when you want to make more money, you have to create unusual value.

And so we decided to take it up and there was a project team that was attached to us and it was not just movement by marine vessels alone, there were other things that were attached: ship-to-ship operations, all kinds of securities and even the channels which were challenging with their draught to prevent the MRs from loading full capacity, and so we had

Okunbo

to be creative and it took a while with the project team to perfect that act and once we perfected it under the prove of consent, we started delivering crude to Warri and were saving the country up to the 40 per cent loss.

Because of the record we had created in Warri, we got Port Harcourt which was even bad because they throw a million barrels and nothing gets to the other end.

They saw this model as being successful in Warri, they wanted to extend to Port Harcourt and, of course, we had to sit down and negotiated under a template and a contract was put in place to cover these areas and that was the contract we were doing.

We sat with petroleum economists at the NNPC, a team headed by Dr. Tim Okon, a very strict but straightforward man, and a contract was put in place.

We started moving crude but at the end of the day we were not fully utilised for almost seven months because the contract had fixed and variable costs, and for that period, we were on fixed cost and was not getting any value because crude was not allocated to us to move.

There was also no value to the NNPC because the refineries were not getting crude and it was no use having that structure set up. As at the time they cancelled that contract, in four years, we had actually moved for the NNPC, about 65 million barrels of crude, and the value for it in terms of the 40 per cent loss they incurred was 26 million barrels, that is what NNPC and government would have lost and in looking at the financial value then, it was $2.6 billion that would have been lost, so we saved that for this country.

When the new government came, the contract was no longer delivering value and the GMD had to cancel it under a term, and rather me get upset that my contract was cancelled, I got closer to him because I like to create value and asked him, “what do we do?”

He actually called for a renegotiation and perhaps creation of another model which I knew was going to take time, so I suggested to him to let us take advantage of the present phase to fix these pipelines which had been problems and I asked him if we had the political will to fix the pipeline because if he does, we could fix the pipelines.

These pipelines are very old. Pipelines life is a maximum of 25 years, most of these pipelines are well over 30 years and so the integrity is a problem. That is why we are quite cautious about the pressure we put in there. These pipelines when they are brand new, we could put in up to 75 bars but when we were doing our pressure testing, we made sure we did not exceed 22 bars, so we were cautious about that

Of course, most people thought that wasn’t going to work and that was how I got into it. I was sent to the PPMC which only gave me a letter of comfort to embark on this project, both Escravos to Warri and Bonny to Port Harcourt.

The perception of what had happened before drove me and I want people to know that I create value and my integrity is very important to me. Money doesn’t mean anything to me more than my values, and that was how I went there with my team.

It was very challenging on that line between Escravos to Warri but we provided security because that is what we do. Port Harcourt wasn’t as difficult as Warri though.

We also invited the communities along the right of way of the line in Warri, over 50 communities, to a meeting and explained to them our desire to do this work as well as the government’s resolve to take down

anybody that will stand on their way.

We also told them that we were ready to work with them and they had options to either work with us or allow the government come hard on them. I also have some goodwill down there and so we were able to mobilise and move people into the pipelines with a lot of insertions and blast points.

Sometime ago when we were ready for the pressure testing of the line, we had a blast and I was in the creek that day but it was a close call. That was some of the risks we faced.

Today, it is back even though nobody believed it was possible. I thank God for this and Mr. President who gave the political will, as well as Dr. Kachikwu who is doing a lot to this industry.

What were the terms you negotiated with the NNPC on this job?

I was not paid a dime, it was only a letter of comfort that was given to me. I also want to thank the NNPC taskforce which was set up to work with us because we couldn’t determine a scope for the job because we found blast points and loading points every day along the line. We found more than 70 loading points on that line and over 20 dynamite blast points.

Coupled with the integrity of the pipes, it was a tedious job but were able to deliver it. Now, they are pumping crude to Warri and Port Harcourt and for me, it is more than money, even though I have not been paid, now we will start talking because the scope of the job was totally captured by the taskforce that worked with us, it is not just anything any one can lie about.

The taskforce monitored us all through, they were in the creeks with us for that long and I want to thank those guys because they were with us and their commitment was so solid. Whenever we found any insertion, we called them and they signed off before we fix, and of course this is not the first time that the NNPC was fixing pipes, there are benchmark figures for pipe repairs and so it is not anything that anybody will throw in any figure and expect to be paid. NNPC has a benchmark and so we will negotiate.

Are you doing any other thing on the line now?

We are constantly policing the lines.

I have engaged several youths in all the

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R • MAY 1, 2016

INTERVIEW ‘UNTIL NOW, THERE WAS NO POLITICAL WILL TO FIX PIPELINES, TACKLE VANDALISM’

Cont’d from Pg. 22

different communities along the right of ways to check on the lines. We have actually assigned sections of the lines to each of the communities to monitor and if anything goes wrong in their ends, there are people we will hold responsible for them.

As you explained, you had a contract that was not working in the last dispensation, was there a time you suggested the possibility of fixing the pipes to the government? if you did, was it very well received?

I personally had thrown it to the former GMD before to lay a new pipeline all together that could go six meters down all the way to the refineries, and that could be done through directional drilling given to a contractor to finance it and regain when you pay throughput for the products that will pass through them and, of course, you have to also guarantee that you will use the pipeline.

I had proposed that earlier and even before the crude contract was fully put in place, I proposed that not in writing but discussion. But I don’t think there was the will in the last dispensation.

Like I told you, they went in to fix this pipeline in 2009 and it was impossible because there was so much indiscipline.

There are talks within the sector that most of NNPC’s pipelines are old and their integrity in question.

In carrying this repair works, are you able to attest to the integrity of the pipeline?

These pipelines are very old. Pipelines life is a maximum of 25 years, most of these pipelines are well over 30 years and so the integrity is a problem that is why we are quite cautious about the pressure we put in there. These pipelines when they are brand new, we could put in up to 75 bars but when we were doing our pressure testing, we made sure we did not exceed 22 bars, so we are cautious about that.

But looking forward, I think the minister is thinking about a new model of actually building new pipeline network using the private sector. What is actually happening in the industry is that the minister is driving the industry and NNPC in a profit oriented fashion.

Pipelines are constantly broken. What sort of sustainable solution would you advise the government to adopt?

What will be sustainable would be for the government to actually award these lines to private firms, let them go there and lay new pipelines deep inside the ground and let them charge throughput for use of the pipelines which you have to guarantee.

No one will use his money to build the pipelines without guarantees that certain quantity of products will be passed through them. That should be the model because everywhere in the world, governments don’t build pipelines, they are done by established companies and everybody use the lines and pay throughputs.

It is companies that own pipelines and not government, it is a wrong model and government should cede the pipelines to private companies, that is the only way out of it because when private people own pipelines, individuals and communities that are angry with the government can no longer break pipelines because it is no longer a government asset.

But then, the pipelines pass through communities who attempt to extort because of that?

We have pipeline networks already and the good thing about this is that they have rights of way already established.

You are not creating new rights of ways.

They are there and had been paid for and compensated. Let them use the same right of way that exist.

There is actually a robust pipeline system in Nigeria but because of vandalism and all that it is not working. In those days, the government didn’t take note of all these because we were mostly peaceful and they didn’t think about laying the deeper, most of them are actually on surface areas.

Was there some sort of bid process from which you were qualified to fix those lines?

Okunbo

Let me tell you that people actually wrote petitions that pipeline works were given to people without due process but what would have happened would have been that this pipeline would not have been ready.

We started this work in November and we completed it now, in April. Sometimes a bid process takes more than eight months and by the time they stopped marine vessels in October and the refineries were fixed, there was no feedstock to the refineries.

The choice they would have had was to go back to the marine vessels and if I you couldn’t pay at $100 per barrel, I wasn’t ready to go back to that contract at $40 per barrel or less, and so I would be deceiving myself if I thought you were going to meet your obligations because as at the time I left, you were owing heavily on a $100 per barrel, so $40 barrel was an impossibility and the refineries were now being fixed and there was no feedstock, it was an emergency deployment.

Good enough, there was no payment. I can tell you that there is hardly no company that would do what I had done but I did it without collecting a dime first. In our industry, there is what we call proof of consent; there is what we call cure-and-pay, that means, you cure it and then you ask for payment, and if you don’t you will lose your investment.

If I did not deliver these lines, I would have lost my investments and in going through the bid process, the refineries would have been hanging there for the next one year while the bid process lasts.

So, without a bid process, a taskforce was formed and deployed because it was an emergency work.

You said you employed a carrot and stick approach in doing the job, what really were they?

The carrot was in working with community, engaging them and making them to work for you. That way you pay money for that, you pay money for intelligence and communities are working with us.

That is the carrot which means you get paid for what you are doing.

Now the stick is when you don’t work and I paid you to work and you destroy the pipeline for which we had paid you to watch, that is where the stick comes in because the government will not take that lightly. We will report to the government the community that breaches the pipeline

and the government will move into the community.

So, this means that that stretch of pipeline is free from vandalism?

By the grace of God. By the system we have put in place now and also let us have the resources to sustain what we have put in place because we have a huge maintenance team along that stretch, as well as security, surveillance and community and the day you are not able to pay them,

What will be sustainable would be for the government to actually award these lines to private firms, let them go there and lay new pipelines deep inside the ground and let them charge throughput for use of the pipelines which you have to guarantee. No one will use his money to build the pipelines without guarantees that certain quantity of products will be passed through them.

That should be the model because everywhere in the world, governments don’t build pipelines, they are done by established companies and everybody use the lines and pay throughputs

they may go back to their old ways.

Is this sustainable, and for how long because it costs a lot of money?

At least for now until we are able to do new pipelines and with time they will start getting used to these things working again and of course we too will begin to devise and deploy some new technologies of security because it is definitely better than losing a barrel of oil.

How serious is the impact of oil prices dip on your operations?

Of course, you know over time the cost of production in Nigeria has gone up unlike those days when all the challenges were not there like oil theft.

You produce and lose lots of your volumes and still sell at a lower price, at a time in 2008 and 2009, we sold for $40 per barrel and we lived in this country.

How much of local content do we have in the services end of this industry, are we where we should be?

That is one thing I really applaud the previous government for. Everything about the government was not bad and I appreciate the local content drive of the last government, otherwise so many of us would not have had the chance to improve or even develop capacity in the industry.

Nigerians were not given a chance and everything was done by foreign firms but through the Local Content Act, everybody was able to develop lot of capacity and even though some people that were given the capacity abused it, it was a very good thing and where oil is produced, the locals should be given opportunities to develop their capacity.

Vandalism is seen more as criminality than agitation and after the South-South got the presidency in 2011, people thought that the spate of vandalism we recorded were more of criminality, would you agree with that?

Well, after amnesty, everything was criminality. If government has given you amnesty and you still went back to vandalism, you are a criminal. Everything after amnesty was criminal, that is the way I see it and there was no will to move against the criminals.

If you declared amnesty and you are still vandalising, then you are still a criminal, otherwise, what are you agitating for.

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R • MAY 1, 2016

BUSINESS PERSONALITY

X-raying Elumelu’s Take on Africa’s Development It’s fitting to call Tony Elumelu a goodwill ambassador for Africa. It is a perfect complement for his role in getting Africa the best bargain on policy interventions from different countries outside the continent, particularly the United States and the United Kingdom.

The billionaire’s business model for Africa adds up too. Adeola Akinremi writes

O

utside the main conference room, people curled around him like a ribbon. It was for the usual lobby conversations and networking that Harvard scholars are known for.

As expected, majority of those who gathered to hear him speak were having a first glimpse of the billionaire’s face.

So having quick hugs and handshakes was the very first job the founder of Tony Elumelu Foundation had to do on his arrival at Cambridge, Massachusetts on a recent Saturday. It was not his first time there, but Elumelu was billed to speak to an audience different from the past.

At the Kennedy School of Government inside Harvard University, hundreds of people packed inside the science building hall to listen to him.

On pathway to progress, the theme of the summit, where scholars and experts in international development focused their hearts and minds on Elumelu’s moving speech of the day, the shrewd entrepreneur and philanthropist said, “policy, knowledge and resource combination are the pathway to progress. The three are critical to development,” His response to aid for Africa has been a focus on how private sector can play critical role that can crystallize economic opportunities for Africans without continued setback, stagnancy, sickness and failures common with the past foreign aid.

The gripping statistics of loss by the African continent to the low cost export of raw materials that is sadly followed by importation of related finished goods is one reason Elumelu thinks there’s need for a rethink.

So the conference at Harvard helped Elumelu to send a strong message of good partnership and value chain principle for engagement in Africa.

“The traditional approach to development has been for donors and governments to invest in basic health, education and access to food in developing countries, with the hope that the beneficiaries will eventually become self-sufficient. But I also believe that if we help people become self-sufficient, they will purchase those same basic goods and services, I’ve mentioned, that governments and donors are struggling to provide.

“Basically, humanitarian assistance and economic opportunity are two sides of the same development coin. Yet, we tend to focus on the former at the expense of the latter, with limited results,” he said with a sense of purpose.

And like a man on a mission, he pressed home his demands for better deals in Africa with a case study.

He said: “Over the last decade, even development agencies have learned the value of leveraging and incorporating private sector capital for economic opportunity with impressive development outcomes.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), for instance in 2008, only leveraged 8% of its programming budget with private capital to support its programs. By the end of 2013, it was leveraging 42% of its budget with private capital to achieve its objectives.

“The result has been that US taxpayer dollars that were spent on foreign assistance went further, allowing it to expand its focus from small interventions, like micro-enterprise and feeding programs, to large scale capital intensive infrastructure programs like power plants, regional highways and ports.

This is aptly demonstrated by President Obama’s USAID-administered Power Africa Initiative to expand access-to-electricity in Africa for the 600 million people living without it.”

Elumelu’s co-traveller, a renowned economist from Rwanda and a former President of Africa

Elumelu

Development Bank, Donald Kaberuka, equally followed in his footsteps to ask for better deals for Africa but with a call on African leaders to reform policies for entrepreneurship growth— a gospel that Elumelu has been preaching to African heads of states.

“A good policy is like a triangle. It must be technically sound. Development is about the choice a country makes. Development is not lack of knowledge. It is not something that can be imported. It has to be homegrown. It is an internal process,” said Kaberuka, a former Finance Minister from Rwanda.

The difference between a country making progress and others at the bottom according to Kaberuka is about choices they make in development. “Those choices are possible,” he added.

Kaberuka gave example of the successes India had in green revolution, the deregulation of the telecommunication sector in most parts of African countries and how they triggered economic progress.

“You have the business, you have the government, business invests, provides solution, government provides support, regulates and you have progress.

So it can’t be lack of knowledge. It must be lack of something else, when a country is not moving forward. In the 1990s, when we asked the government to deregulate the telecoms sector, there was explosion and with the explosion, businesses have improved. We have tried to replicate this in the energy sector. It worked in some countries, but failed in others. It can’t be lack of knowledge and it can’t be lack of money,” he explained.

And besides, both Elumelu and Kaberuka asked for realignment of interest for progress in Africa, making case for collaboration among stakeholders.

The model of Africapitalism pioneered by Elumelu for Africa’s development piqued the interest of participants at the conference who

asked varied questions on how innovative ideas can trigger development.

Over the course of the discussion, the billionaire businessman shared ideas on the promotion of entrepreneurship development and his economic philosophy of Africapitalism which encourages long term private sector investments in strategic sectors of the economy that create economic prosperity and social wealth.

For instance, his philanthropic arm, The Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme (TEEP), a 10-year $100m commitment to help identify and empower 10,000 African entrepreneurs with the aim of creating one million jobs and adding $10 billion to African economies is one of the ways Elumelu is working to turn African continent to a truly prosperous economy that will change the statistics.

As he paused the speech for a question and answer session, Elumelu’s digital diary sent him a reminder of his next schedule. The Columbia University in New York will be his next destination.

While at the Columbia University, Elumelu shared the story of STB which he founded from the ashes of Crystal Bank and how the bank grew, merged with UBA and how the UBA has moved from being a bank with operations in a single country to a global financial services behemoth, operating in several countries in Africa, France, the US and the United Kingdom.

“While Entrepreneurship is key to development, Africapitalism an economic philosophy that encourages long term investment in key sectors that create economic prosperity and social wealth is also critical to sustainable development.

“In 1997 some of us came together and acquired a distressed financial institution and turned it around.

We set out with three strategic intents. The first was to turn the bank around. The second was

to become a leader in the continent and the third was to expand globally.

“Today we have achieved all. UBA is operating in 19 countries in Africa and we are in three global centres: London, Paris and here in New York. In fact, we are the only African bank operating in the US. What started as a not so huge investment in 1997 has grown exponentially, creating wealth for us and other stakeholders.

“The lesson here is that there was an overriding drive and the need to invest long term in a key sector-financial services- and helped to democratise banking by creating access to financial services for all.

“No one but us would develop Africa’. It is this belief that is driving a lot of the things that we do.

We have to move away from the concentration of resources in the extraction. Value creation has been lacking in the exploitation of our resources.

Consequently GDP growth figures for African countries are not really felt by our people.

“Africapitalism and entrepreneurship including the entire ecosystem of it in my view will lead to development in Africa,” he said.

On Tuesday, April 26, after travelling in Africa to help support education in Senegal and getting recognition in Cote d’ivoire for the changes he’s bringing to Africa, Elumelu returned to Washington DC to make case for investment in Africa’s agrarian communities where there’s a basket of opportunity in a world where food security is becoming a challenge.

In Senegal, the United Bank of Africa—where Elumelu serves as the Chairman—is helping to construct 18,000 rooms for the students of University of Dakar. It holds true for what he believes and has been canvassing in his voyage to get Africa the best deals.

“Africa needs to be transformed and Africa’s transformation must begin with the education of our youth. Africa’s youth is its future. And I am delighted that the Government of Senegal is doing this for our youth, because no one but us will develop Africa and that development must begin with our youth. This realisation that our youth must be educated and in a conducive manner, is why United Bank for Africa is pleased to finance this noble goal of H.E. President Macky Sall’s Government to provide 18,000 rooms for the students of University of Dakar. Occasions such as this demonstrate that indeed Africa has come of age and that solutions to Africa’s challenges can be found in Africa by Africans when our public sector and private sectors work together for the benefit of our people. That is what I call Africapitalism,” he said.

For his goodwill, Elumelu’s image looms large in Africa. Last week, the Ivorian National Council of Employers, General Confederation of Enterprises of Côte d’Ivoire (CGECI) presented with its 2016 CGECI Lifetime Achievement Award at an event attended by the Prime Minister of the French country in its capital, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. It was a direct message for Elumelu to lengthen the cords and strengthen his stakes in helping Africa to overcome its challenges.

And with that message in mind, he arrived at the Ronald Reagan Building on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington DC to speak passionately to a large number of people populated by experts and scholars in agriculture and urbanization with layers of policymakers and think tank.

With the rapid growth of cities putting pressure on food systems globally, mechanism for growing

Cont’d on Pg. 25

25

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ MAY 1, 2016

BUSINESS PERSONALITY/INTERVIEW

!"#$%&'(()*+,-,.-/0+(12(%(3.4#,1.+( ,.(5.#21+"(61+%+7*(89.:4*;

Natanel Florens, an integrated real estate services firm, has a thriving rent-to-own model of home acquisition. In this interview with Bennett Oghifo, the company’s Chief Investment officer and Executive Director, Oguche Agudah, a former Special Adviser to Nigeria’s Minister of Industry,Trade and Investment,, says rent-to-own is a revolutionary way to sustainable housing in a depressed economy

W

hat do you think are the major issues with real estate financing in Nigeria?

The first issue is that the financial system is awash with short- term capital which is used to finance long-term assets in the form of property.

That creates a mismatch, which many banks and developers are currently struggling with.

The second issue is the cost of funding. This is usually in the high double- digit space. The effect of this is an increased cost of residential houses to individuals. It is therefore not a surprise that approximately 85 per cent of the Nigerian population are renting the places they live in.

People have worked for years, and they cannot get their own houses, because of the financing model for real estate in Nigeria.

On the retail end, there is a dearth of affordable mortgages in the market. Statistics show that mortgage loans represent less than 1 per cent of Nigeria’s GDP and there are less than 100,000 mortgages written in the market. Furthermore, in a depressed economy, like we’re in, it’s difficult for individuals to drop lump sums for the purchase of their houses.

How do you intend to change this with your Rent- to -Own model?

The core of this model is that prospective tenants/homeowners pay the rent they are used to paying and own it over time. The beauty of this model is that it comes with 0 per cent interest and it begins to give hope to many Nigerians who never thought they could own a home. This model essentially seeks to integrate the informal rental market with the formal financial system.

There are millions of Nigerians who have been paying their rent consistently over the years.

What we are saying is that you can own a home, based on your integrity and consistency in payment of rent. This system is complimentary to the mortgage market, as it instils the need to

fixed assets like houses and the rest. So this model helps to develop the financial system and also integrate the formal and informal markets and foster a better credit culture. In addition, we have rent default insurance that covers loss of job, disability and death. This scheme also helps to integrate the insurance industry and generate more business for them.

What’s your overview of the property investment market in Nigeria and how can investors benefit from the Rent – to- Own scheme?

Agudah

pay consistently and data can be shared among financial institutions to create a larger database and discourage recalcitrant debtors.

What happens in the event of default?

The first thing to note is that we are working with credit bureaus in the market. Every potential tenant is checked with these bureaus, and if they have overdue debts with banks, utility companies and other organisations that keep their record with these bureaus, we will not enlist them in the scheme.

Furthermore, if they default, their names will be submitted to these bureaus for circulation within the financial system, and this deters them from getting credit in other places. When this begins to evolve overtime, individuals will realise that it is better to be up to date with your rental, credit card, or personal loan payments; because this is the only way you can guarantee the purchase of

The housing deficit in Nigeria is well documented. The World Bank estimates that there is a 17 million housing deficit, estimated to grow at 2 million annually. So, residential real estate will always be a growing and profitable asset class. Furthermore, the rapid urbanisation and Nigeria’s young and growing population, means that the current housing stock in the country cannot meet our future and current needs. So, the case for investing in residential housing is compelling. However, this space is practised in the traditional, archaic model of “buy for rental” or “buy for sale”. This comes with the hassles of managing tenants, facilities, infrastructure and administrative issues which investors ordinarily shouldn’t get involved with.

Many times, real estate investors buy or build houses and wait for many months before they can get quality tenants.

However, the entrenchment of The Rent – to – Own concept in Nigeria, will allow typical real estate investors to enjoy; 100 per cent occupancy ratio on residential properties, because of the huge rental market, growing middle class and the promise of ownership to potential homeowners.

They will also be able to improve their returns from the typical 3- 4 per cent rental yields to 17 per cent yield per annum.

The current administration has stated its intention to build a million houses annually,

how do you think they can achieve this?

This can be achieved by fusing traditional housing development and modern finance in order to create new stocks of houses and enable Citizens own them through a 0 per cent Rent – to –Own concept. In addition, both state governments and the Federal government can use this concept to generate hitherto hidden sources of revenue and also reduce the amount of public funding that is allocated to building of new houses. We are currently speaking with some state governments to use this mechanism to deliver new houses for citizens and give them out on a Rent – to –Own model.

Your version of Rent – to- Own is Rent – Own –EarnTM. Tell us a bit more about this?

Again, Rent-to-own is not an entirely new concept.

It’s practised in various forms across the globe. It’s just a way of enabling prospective homeowners pay for their property in instalments without any interest charge. The version that we’re rolling out in Nigeria enables the potential homeowner to begin to earn from their rental payment in a number of ways; First, when they have finished paying their obligation under the rent, they can begin to earn annual returns on the value of their houses even while living in it.

The second is that, at any point in time, during the life of their occupancy, they can decide to capitalise their rental payments over the years and sell their option to buy that property to another individual and then move to another house on a rent- to- own basis. What this means is that individuals can live in a number of house in their lifetime, if they can be consistent in the payment of their rent.

The truth is that the current system of housing development, finance and ownership has only produced perpetual tenants and we must begin to devise creative ways to solve social problems, and the Rent – to –Own concept is definitely the way to go.

!"#$%&'()*+,-.+,/0)1$2.)3')45#&6$/0)7.8.+39-.':))))Contí d from Pg. 24 food for growing cities has become a preoccupation for think tank like the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.

So Elumelu was called by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs to deliver the keynote speech of the symposium to a large audience with interest in Africa and he carefully chose his words.

To break the ice, he talked about the paradox of global food security, describing it as a “very sad one.” While many go to sleep on empty stomach, Elumelu says “there are surpluses in mountains of grain, pyramids of meat and rivers of milk in some world region.”

But the difficulties faced by farmers means low output and while cities continue to explode the world faces the need to increase the output in order to feed a global population of 9 billion people by 2050.

For Africa, the intervention from the outside must be favourable and increase economic opportunities for the people.

“Basically, I believe that if we transform the agriculture sector, we will transform the African continent. While the high rate of rural urban migration in Africa has become a socio-economic, security and environmental concern, it is important to understand that these young people are not fleeing from farming as an occupation. They are fleeing from poverty,” Elumelu said.

Mr. Elumelu said the gap between infrastructure and farming in Africa will need to be sorted out for necessary progress.

True, the infrastructure challenge has limited African farmers over the years and has made the

urban market.

“We also need investments in energy for processing and preservation, particularly to support the cold chains required to meet the new dietary demands of urban consumers,” he added.

The founder of Tony Elumelu Foundation also canvassed for financing to support the change needed in agriculture sector in Africa, saying, “we know that African governments do not have enough capital to deliver on these infrastructural needs alone. The private sector however has and can access the capital, expertise and discipline to help meet these needs. Africapitalism provides a bridge to the solution.”

And for its past support for Africa, Elumelu thanked the United States, especially President Barack Obama, for his Africa power initiative and those in the Congress and the Senate who have shown support, but not without a task for the incoming president to change the rhythm of its foreign policy towards a “courageous decision” to pass bills that “fight famine with flexibility.”

“The approach needs to change from viewing farming as merely an aid program, to capitalizing Tony Elumelu (2nd right) Donald Kaberuka, fmr African Development Bank President (left), Professors on agriculture as a lucrative business capable David Gergen (2nd left) and Thomas Patterson (right) both of Kennedy School of Government at Harvard of harnessing functions in energy, technology, processing, manufacturing, and distribution for University during the Harvard Development Conference Cambridge, Mass. USA increased efficiency.

“I believe that agriculture is an inherently profitable sector because people must eat. Prioritizing continent a net importer of agricultural products, sectors do not operate in isolation.

“They are interdependent on each other. In and transforming this sector in Africa is not just making farming unattractive.

“But we cannot achieve this transformation without order to boost agriculture sector, we need invest- a moral imperative, it is a smart business strategy addressing the critical nexus between strategic sectors ments in roads to facilitate the transportation of that will save lives, unlock jobs, grow economies of agriculture, transportation and power. Economic produce and finished goods from rural areas to and stabilize regions,” he enthused.

26

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R • MAY 1, 2016

NIGERIA’S TOP 50 STOCKS BASED ON MARKET FUNDAMENTALS

GlaxoSmithKline Plc: Performance impacted as top-line and bottom-line earnings decline

G

laxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria Plc (GSK) result for full year ended December 2015 indicates a decline in its top-line and bottom-line earnings.

The company which is an affiliate of GlaxoSmithKline worldwide commenced operation on the 1st July 1972, under the name Beecham Limited and was subsequently quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) in 1977 and is currently one of the 30 most capitalised stocks on the exchange.

The Company has constantly advance innovations in products development and branding such as: the recently developed smaller pack sizes of inhaler devices for Asthma patients- Ventolin Rotacaps. Ventolin Rotacaps uses a re-engineered version of the established GSK inhaler technology that is five times less expensive to produce. The new inhaler has been made available in four markets –The Philippines, Indonesia, Kenya and Nigeria.

MARGINAL RISE IN REVENUE The top-line earnings detailed by GSK as recently released in its full year 2015 results ended December 31st 2015, which shows a mild rise in revenue by 0.37% to N30.63 billion from N30.52 billion in December 2014. The slight increase in top-line may not be unconnected with the domestic economic headwinds and the resultant cautionary spending by households in the run-up to the general elections in the second quarter of the financial year. This arguably resulted in reduced consumption of healthcare consumer goods.

In addition, the GSK faced stiff competition from cheap imported healthcare and consumer goods from China and India besides local competition. Insurgence in the North Eastern part of the country also restricted access and hence reduction in sales in that region of the country. In relation to competition, we are of the opinion that the Company’s flagship brands, especially Lucozade and Ribena have enjoyed every weak market penetration promotion and visibility in recent times.

Cost of sales increased by 2.99% to N20.31 billion from N19.72 billion as a result of an increase in prices of drug related raw materials used by the Company. Due to the increase in cost in comparison to revenue, gross profit declined by 4.40% to N10.32 billion from N10.80 billion recorded

POSSIBLE CHALLENGES WITH SALES ARE OBVIOUS AND STIFF COMPETITION FROM UNWHOLESOME PROLIFERATION OF CHEAP INDIA AND CHINESE HEALTHCARE CONSUMER PRODUCT PRESENTS SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM. NONETHELESS, GSK STILL ENJOYS SIGNIFICANT PATRONAGE ACROSS ITS PRODUCT BRANDS AS REFLECTED IN ITS REVENUE

in the same period of 2014.

Increase in operating expenses greatly erodes EBIT Operating profit declined substantially by 40.99% to N1.76 billion in December 2015 from N2.98 billion recorded in December 2014, due to a 9.56% rise in total operating expenses to N8.57 billion in December 2015 from N7.82 billion incurred in December 2014. Further breakdown of the Company’s total expenses figure revealed that Administrative expenses and Selling& distribution expenses rose by 1.08% and 31.51% to N5.70 billion and N2.87 billion, from N5.64 billion and N2.18 billion respectively over the period. The rise in selling and distribution expenses was incurred due to increased promotional activities by the Company’s management in a bid to further deepen the GSK brand and increase its market share in the

highly competitive market in which it operates.

INCREASE IN FINANCE COST FURTHER IMPEDES PROFITABILITY Pre-tax profit declined by 57.94% to N1.16 billion from N2.75 billion in the period under review and net income also followed the same trend with a decline of 16.63% to N965m from N1.16 billion over the same period. The company incurred finance costs of N3.70m for the year ended December 2015 from N5.12 in the preceding period of 2014 indicating a decline of 27.61%.

In addition, finance income also declined by 61.35% in September 2015 to N44m from N114m, despite a significant rise in cash and short term deposits by 50.05% to N2.45 billion from N1.63 billion over the period.

SLIGHT IMPROVEMENT IN ASSET BASE THOUGH THE COMPANY MAY BE HAVING TROUBLES WITH RECEIVABLES Total assets rose by 11.92% to N31.33 billion for the year December 2015 from N27.99 billion in December 2014. The growth was driven primarily by the substantial increase in cash & bank balances, and trade & other receivables of 114.46% and 25.30% respectively.

Total liabilities also increased by 20.60% to N18.14 billion in December 2015 from N15.04 billion in December 2014. However due to a higher growth in liabilities over asset, the Company’s net assets increased slightly by 1.83% in the period under review to N13.18 billion from N12.95 billion recorded in December 2014. Profitability ratio however dropped significantly.

Return on asset (ROA) and return on equity (ROE) reduced by a substantially to 7.32% and 3.08% from 8.94% and 4.14% respectively in the corresponding prior period in 2014.

WE RETAIN OUR HOLD recommendation The performance of GSK for the full year ended December 2015 has not been impressive due to increase in operating expenses and finance cost, and reduction in other income puts pressure on the Company’s profitability. Possible challenges with sales are obvious and stiff competition from unwholesome proliferation of cheap India and Chinese healthcare consumer product presents significant problem. Nonetheless, GSK still enjoys significant patronage across

Valuation Metrics 29-Apr-16 Recommendation

HOLD

Target Price (N)

22.59

Current Price (N)

24.97

Market Cap (N'm)

29,861

Outstanding Shares (m)

1,195

EPS (N)

0.81

PE

30.94x

Forward EPS (N)

0.85

Forward PE

29.46x Source: BGL Research

Audited Full year December 2015 Turnover (N'm)

30,634

Profit Before Tax (N'm)

1,157

Profit After Tax (N'm)

965

Pre-tax Margin (%)

3.78 Source: BGL Research

Audited Full year December 2014 Turnover (N'm)

30,521

Profit Before Tax (N'm)

2,752

Profit After Tax (N'm)

1,848

Pre-tax Margin (%)

9.02 Source: BGL Research

Shareholding Information Shareholders

% Holding

Setfirst Limited

27.31%

SmithKline Beecham Ltd Stanbic Nominees Ltd Public Float

19.11% 10.08% 44.67%

Source: Company Data, BGL Research

its product brands as reflected in its revenue. The Nigerian economy is an attractive market for consumable goods, largely supported by the growing population size of about 170 million people, which provides vast consumer demand. Appreciable policy that supports consumer protection and domestic producers would benefit the Company greatly.

Considering the foregoing with respect to intense of and other macro-economic factors, we have valued the GSK’s share using a Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) of 4.61%, which resulted in a 6-month price of N22.59 per share.

Since this represents a downside potential of 9.53% on the current stock price, we maintain our HOLD recommendation on the Company’s shares.

27

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R • MAY 1, 2016

NIGERIA’S TOP 50 STOCKS BASED ON MARKET FUNDAMENTALS

TOTAL OIL NIGERIA PLC: Macroeconomic headwinds greatly impacts performance

T

otal Nigeria Plc is a Marketing and Services subsidiary ofTotal; a multinational energy company operating in more than 130 countries and committed to providing sustainable products and services for its customers.

For over 50 years,Total Nigeria Plc has remained the leader in the downstream sector of the Nigerian oil and gas industry with an extensive distribution network of over 500 service stations nationwide and a wide range of top quality energy products and services.TOTAL NIGERIA PLC (RC 1396) was incorporated as a private company on June 1, 1956 to market petroleum products in Nigeria. In December 11, 2001, the company had a successful merger which paved way for sustainable growth and continuous development.

Total Oil Nigeria Plc recently released its full year result ended December 31st 2015, showing significant decline in key performance indicators due to the tough operating business climate in Nigeria.

The oil giant delights investors by consistently paying dividend twice every year; a half year interim dividend and a final dividend at the end of the financial year. For the year ended December 2015, the Bank has declared a total dividend per share (DPS) of N14.00, comprising of an interim dividend of N2.00 already paid in 2015 and a final dividend of N12.00 payable in June 2016.

CAUTIOUS TRADING ON GLOBAL AND DOMESTIC CHALLENGES DEPRESSED REVENUE

Total Oil Plc reported a 13.41% decline in revenue to N208.03 billion in December 2015 from N240.62 billion in the corresponding year of 2014.This was due to the challenging global and domestic oil market quagmires during the year.

Most Nigerian oil marketers struggled to grow revenue due to the sharp drop in petroleum product supply following the rise in importation cost as a result of the depreciation of the Naira and the sudden reduction in the regulated price of product in the domestic market without a clearer policy direction on how government intended to fund the eventual expanded subsidy implications. Hence, the various payment disputes surrounding the Petroleum Support Fund (PSF) allocation highlighted the cautious product importation by players includingTotal Oil Plc and the eventual scarcity that was witnessed in the last month of the quarter under review.

Expectedly, the Company recorded a decline of 9.17% in gross profit to N25.35 billion in December 2015 from N27.90 billion in the corresponding year of 2014, despite a reduction of 14.12% in costs of sales to N182.68 billion in December 2015 from

. IN ADDITION, WE EXPECT THE MODEST LEVERAGE IN THE BOOK OF THE COMPANY TO ALLOW IT SIGNIFICANT ROOM FOR DEBT DRIVEN GROWTH THROUGH BALANCE SHEET OPTIMISATION WHERE THE INDUSTRY IS FULLY DEREGULATED AND MARKET OPPORTUNITIES EXPANDED

N212.71 billion in December 2014. The company was able to prevent a growth in cost of sales through a rigorous cost saving and efficient operating structure as well as investment in research and development and training of employees on new measures and better production and service delivery techniques.

OPERATIONAL EXPENSES DAMPENS EBIT

For the year ended December 31st 2015, Total Nigeria Plc’s selling & distribution expenses increased by 2.52% to N4.67 billion in December 2015 from N4.56 billion recorded in the corresponding year in 2014. Over the last few years, the company has struggled to curtail increase in operational costs due to high overhead cost ranging from the cost of delivering its product through trucking to all its retails outlets to high personnel costs due to staff recruitment to meet with its expansion plans and to help achieve its goals and objectives. In addition, the Company continued to invest heavily in the promotion of its popular “Quartz” oil lubricant aimed at further strengthening the ‘Total’ brand across the federation.This is in addition to expenses incurred on repairs, maintenance and upgrade of some of its retail outlets nationwide. All of these factors greatly impacted on operating profitability.

Furthermore,Total Oil recorded a moderate 2.78% increase in other income to N1.20 billion in December 2015 from N1.17 billion over

the corresponding year of 2014. In addition, Operating profit for the year dropped substantially to N6.26 billion in December 2015 from N9.11 billion in December 2014 despite a moderate rise of 2.52% and 1.40% in selling & distribution expenses and administrative expenses respectively.

REDUCTION IN FINANCE COST FAILS TO FORESTALL DECLINE IN NET EARNINGS

Financial income increased enormously by 492.26% to N2.03 billion from N342m while Finance cost decreased significantly by 31.69% to N1.79 billion in December 2015 from N2.62 billion in December 2014. However, despite a higher rise in Finance income over Finance cost, net finance costs decreased massively by 110.55% to N240m from N2.28 billion during the year under review.

Profit before tax dropped by 4.94% to N6.50 billion from N6.83 billion, due to the aforementioned rise in other income. However, net income declined by 23.50% to N4.05 billion in December 2015 from N5.29 billion in December 2014, due to a massive rise of 58.73% in income tax to N2.45 billion in December 2015 from N1.54 billion in December 2014.

The company’s profitability and efficiency ratios dropped modestly. Return on asset (ROA) decreased to 4.84% from 5.54% in the preceding year while return on equity (ROE) followed suit, decreasing to 24.92% from 33.21% over the same year. Pre-tax margin also followed the downward trend dropping to 1.95% from 2.20%.

SIGNIFICANT DECLINE IN ASSET QUALITY

Total Oil Plc. reported a decline of 12.42% in total asset to N83.65 billion in December 2015 from N95.51 billion in December 2014 while its total liabilities declined by 15.29% to N billion in December 2015 from N81.58 billion in December 2014.The decline in total assets is attributable to the following: 36.84% decline in other receivables and 31.18% decline inTrade and other receivables while on the flip side, the decline in total liabilities is attributable to the following: 13.36% decline in other borrowings and 17.97% decline in trade and other payables.

However, despite the respective decline in both assets and liabilities, the company’s shareholders fund rose slightly by 1.96% to N16.24 billion from N15.93 billion over the year.

WE MAINTAIN OUR HOLD RECOMMENDATION

We recognise the management’s effort in curbing its expenses which has been a major burden hampering the profitability of the company. In addition, we expect the Federal Government to resolve the recent dispute and disagreement between them and petroleum marketers over the Petroleum Support Fund (PSF) allocation in the short to medium term, which greatly disrupted the supply and sale of petroleum products in the

Valuation Metrics 29-April-16 Recommendation

HOLD

Target Price (N)

157.60

Current Price (N)

152.09

Outstanding Share(m) Market Cap (N'm) EPS (N)

339 53,508 11.92

PE Ratio

13.22x

Projected EPS

12.10

Projected PE Ratio

13.03x Source: BGL Research

Full Year 2015 Results Turnover (N'm)

208,027

Profit Before Tax (N'm)

6,495

Profit After Tax (N'm)

4,047

Pre-tax Margin (%)

3.12 Source: BGL Research

Full Year 2014 Results Turnover (N'm)

240,619

Profit Before Tax (N'm) Profit After Tax (N'm) Pre-tax Margin (%)

5,558 4,424 2.31 Source: BGL Research

Shareholding Information Shareholders

% Holding

Total Societe Anonyme

45.24

Elf Aquitaine S.A.

16.48

Public Float

38.28 Source: Company Data 2015 AC, BGL Research

industry and accounted for not too impressive performance ofTotal Oil Plc so far in the year.

In addition, we expect the modest leverage in the book of the Company to allow it significant room for debt driven growth through balance sheet optimisation where the industry is fully deregulated and market opportunities expanded.

Considering the above, we project revenue of N217.54 billion and net income of N4.11 billion for December 2016.This leads to a forward EPS of N12.10. Using an Industry PE multiple of 16.49x, we arrive at a target price of N152.09 and since this represents a 3.50% downside potential on the current price, we therefore maintain a HOLD on the stock ofTotal Nigeria Plc .

28

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R • MAY 1, 2016

BUSINESS/CONSUMER/MEDIA

Mamador Partnering Nigerian Heart Foundation Kunle Aderinokun

A

ccording to a United Nations, in the next 37 years 70 per cent of human beings will be living in urban areas. Today, 49.6 per cent of Nigerians are living in towns and the rate of urbanisation in the country is 3.75 per cent per annum. The social and economic changes, which urbanisation bring about impact our lifestyles. Even less economically well-off urban dwellers spend a lot of time commuting; they walk less, cook less and consume more processed foods, including snacks as well as a host of foreign food items. More than ever before, more Nigerians have sedentary physically less demanding jobs which involve spending a lot of time behind desks.

The Nigerian Heart Foundation, an affiliate of the World Heart Federation, Geneva is a registered charity, which promotes the health, and socioeconomic wellbeing of Nigerians especially as it concerns heart health through research and the public education about heart health. One of the NHF’s tools is educating the public about healthy food choices, a key determinant of general and hearth health. Registered in Nigeria In 2009, the NHF has over the years evolved its methods of achieving its objectives, recently adopting the global trend of collaboration with like-minded food manufacturing companies to promote messages about heart healthy food choices amongst the public. It signed an innovative partnership agreement recently with Mamador Cooking Oil, a vegetable oil brand made in Nigeria by PZ Wilmar, a joint venture between PZ Cussons and the world’s largest vegetable oil maker, Wilmar International. The first stage of the partnership involved the Nigerian Heart Foundation subjecting Mamador to a rigorous scientific test to ensure that it is free of cholesterol and contains other healthy benefits like Omega 3. This entitles Mamador to carry the “NHF Approved” logo which signifies to consumers that the product is heart friendly. This is a trend in food labelling in the world as healthy diets become a concern to citizens as well as government agencies and health economists wishing to cut health expenditure through preventive promotion of healthy lifestyles.

There is a unity of purpose between non-profit

L – R: Vice Chairman, Nigerian Heart Foundation, Dr. Femi Mobolaji-Lawal; Director General, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research,Lagos, Professor Innocent Ujah; Executive Director,Nigerian Heart Foundation, Lagos, Dr. Kingsley Akinroye; Marketing Director, Food & Nutrition, PZ Wilmar, Mr. Kalyan Bandyopadhyay during the signing of NHF-Mamador Cooking Oil Partnership to promote Hearth-Healthy Lifestyles charities like the Nigerian Heart Foundation and for-profit businesses that make products like Mamador Vegetable Oil. These food manufacturers are aware that consumers are increasingly looking for healthier diets and lifestyles, they therefore make products that organisations with scientific authority like the NHF can certify as good for the health and submit the products for the rigour of certification. Secondly, makers of food products empower their consumers with information about healthy eating and lifestyles.

It’s a striking coincidence that both the Nigerian Heart Foundation and Mamador Vegetable Oil websites contain tips and recipes for healthy eating. Companies like PZ Wilmar has a bigger marketing budget compared to charities, therein lies the attraction to foundations like the NHF- if they can be successfully partnered, the messages about healthy diets and lifestyles that the charities are seeking to promote will reach many more millions of Nigerians faster.

According to the Executive Director, Nigerian Heart Foundation, Dr. Kingsley Akinroye, a lot of research was carried out to ascertain vegetable oil is indeed cholesterol free and it has taken NHF five years to come up with a conclusive position that Mamador Vegetable Oil is healthy for the heart. He stated that “The process of approving Mamador as healthy oil for the heart presented a very unique challenge as there have been disagreements about how good vegetable oil is for the heart, it has taken a lot of hard work but now we are glad to approve Mamador Cooking Oil after passing all the tests.”

He further noted that science is dynamic and keeps evolving so constant research is necessary to update knowledge.

PZ’s Marketing Director, Food & Nutrition Mr. Kalyan Bandyopadhyay, commented on the NHF approval of Mamador: “On our part, this again is a promise made being fulfilled today.

The NHF approval is a demonstration of the

commitment of PZ Wilmar to make products that are relevant and beneficial to the consumers in each local market.

All the benefits and claims of the brand which include its Cholesterol Free claim, vitamins fortification and Omega 6&9 where all tested and adjudged to be true claims and therefore certified by NHF as a brand that promotes Heart Health. This attestation is in addition to the country’s food agency (NAFDAC) confirmation of Mamador cooking oil benefits’’. According to Bandyopadhyay, the brand is able to deliver the heart health benefits, which include Cholesterol Free, Omega 6&9 among other things because of the company’s expertise in manufacturing the right oil suitable for consumers of each local market and because of its world-class standard technology deployed in production. Mamador Cooking Oil is manufactured by PZ Wilmar Ltd, a Joint Venture between PZ Cussons and the world’s No.1 vegetable oil maker, Wilmar International.

Mamador was launched into Nigeria’s importdominated vegetable oil market three years ago.

The General Manager, Marketing, PZ Wilmar, Mrs. Bukky Bandele, said the partnership with the Nigerian Heart Foundation provides a solid platform to educate Nigerians about diets and lifestyle changes that promote heart health and general wellbeing. She stated that Mamador believes Nigerians should enjoy their food, including local delicacies, without worrying about their health.

Hence, the brand is working with the NHF and nutritionists to develop and spread awareness about healthier recipes and methods of cooking foreign and Nigerian staples and delicacies.

Bandele mentioned that the brand will be unveiling the Mamador Million Hearts Mission , the initiative which it will use to champion its healthy lifestyle messages. According to her, the Mamador Million Hearts Mission will encourage and empower Nigerians to become more discerning about their diets and adopt more active, healthier lifestyles. She explained that this will involve modest changes like taking a break to move around for a few minutes while at the desk at work or in front of the television at home.

The Nigerian Heart Foundation expressed the hope that more vegetable oil makers and other food manufacturers will step forward to seek NHF’s approval and partner it in the urgent task of promoting healthier diets and lifestyles in Nigeria.

LASAA: Undaunted in Regulating Outdoor Advertisement

Gboyega Akinsanmi

R

ecently, an enforcement team of Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA) came under assault. At least, two of the agency’s enforcement operatives, Mr. Julius Apoboyen and Mr. Onus Clifford, were affected while enforcing compliance with the LASAA Law, 2006.

But their lawful assignment incurred anger in some parts of the state. In one instance, a private guard, Mr. Uche Napoleon, attached to Emglo Suite, Festac to provide basic security for customers and staff members of the hotel, reportedly unleashed the assault, against the enforcement officials.

Apparently, Napoleon went beyond his job description the day he assaulted the enforcement officials. He went out of his primary assignment and attacked LASAA’s enforcement officials, an act which violated the provisions of LASAA Law, 2006.

However, on whose directives did the private guard act really? Obviously, the private guard was acting on the directives of Emglo Suite’s management, which according to reports, might have emboldened him to treat LASAA’s officials with disdain.

The victims of the assault did nothing to warrant such treatment, according to LASAA’s Head of Enforcement, Mr. Siraj Bello. He explained that the enforcement officials were operating within the regime that set up LASAA. Legally speaking, he added, LASAA is a legal entity primarily set up to manage the state’s outdoor advertisement.

Even though the mission of LASAA’s enforcement officials was not unclear to Emglo’s management, Bello acknowledged that the attack on LASAA’s enforcement team was led by the private guard. He said the private guard descended on the state’s officials when the enforcement officials attempted “to remove illegal banners placed on Emglo’s frontage.

Sanusi

“Our enforcement officials are empowered to discharge responsibilities as provided for in the LASAA Law, 2006. But they were attacked and assaulted in the course of doing their jobs.

From our finding, they did not go beyond their brief. They were removing illegal banners and billboards in line with the provision of LASAA Law,” Bello explained.

But Bello said the rationale for the aggression against the state agents is not far-fetched. He ascribed it to Emglo’s indebtedness to LASAA. He said Emglo Suites “is indebted to LASAA with outstanding due for advertisement permit fees.” He thus explained that the visit

by LASAA’s enforcement team was part of effort “to ensure quick settlement of all the outstanding debt owed the agency.”

The private guard did not just assault the state officials, according to reports. Also, the agency’s head of enforcement disclosed that the private guard also threatened LASAA’s

enforcement officials with “a pump action rifle which was later seized by the mobile police team attached to the agency.”

In a strongly worded statement, Mr. Mobolaji Sanusi, the agency’s managing director, condemned incessant attacks on LASAA’s enforcement officials, who he described as the representatives of the state. Consequently, he warned members of the public “to desist from physically attacking the state’s officials in the course of discharging their responsibilities within the state.”

He therefore described the incessant attacks on LASAA’s enforcement officials as barbaric and crude. For any reason, he argued that it was illegal for any private guard or resident “to descend on the officials of the state in their effort to remove an illegal banner within Emglo Suite premises.”

Sanusi noted that an attack on LASAA staff members “is an attack on the state. The last attack or any subsequent ones on the agency’s officials will be accorded all seriousness it deserves.” By implication, he explained, the state government will not entertain any form of illegality.

The managing director pointed out that there “is consequence for every act of illegality in the state.” Already, he said those behind the recent attack on the agency’s enforcement officials “have been arrested and handed over to the Lagos State Task Force on Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement Unit) for necessary legal action.”

Likewise, Sanusi revealed the resolve of the state government “to prosecute any individual or corporate bodies that violate the state’s extant laws.” He thus noted that an attack on LASAA’s staff members “is an attack on the state. It is unacceptable and we will not condone such act of illegality.”

The recent attack on LASAA’s enforcement team was not the first the agency would experience since its establishment under the administration of former Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Incessant assault on the agency however became rampant

during the last electioneering process.

Before the general election, the campaign organisation of former President Goodluck Jonathan arbitrarily placed posters, billboards and hoardings on the advert spaces that had been paid for in different parts of the state. As a result, attempts to enforce the LASAA Law, 2006 were resisted with the use of political thugs apparently working for the then ruling party.

The state government described the decision as a violation of LASAA Law, 2006. The decision compelled some advertisers to terminate their contracts with the agency. It thus cost a colossal loss of over N500 million. Consequently, it triggered legal action, which sought to determine the institution with requisite power to regulate outdoor advertisement and recover what the state government had lost due to contracts that were terminated.

Despite what the agency had suffered since its establishment, Sanusi has put in place some strategic measures for effective outdoor advertisement. Sanusi said the agency “has deployed warning signs at strategic locations in the state.”

He also explained that any apprehended person deploying posters illegally “will be referred to the state task force.”

On the cleanup, the managing director said the agency “has already achieved 55 percent cleanup on major and minor roads weekly across the state.” However, he admitted that the agency could have achieved more in the area of cleaning up Lagos megacity if not because of the poor attitude of some residents to the management of outdoor advertisement The managing director thus observed that the recalcitrant attitude of those pasting posters “has been a real challenge. As soon as posters are removed from a spot and the cleaning team leaves the spot, another set of posters is deployed on the cleaned surface by faceless individuals.”

Commending Governor Akinwumi Ambode for his continued support to the agency, Sanusi assured that LASAA was determined to achieve the purpose of its enabling law.

A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

ZAINAB SALEH

HER LOVE FOR KARATE

01.05.2016

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Zanaib Saleh

ZAINAB SALEH

HER LOVE FOR KARATE Nothing in her appearance suggests that she may not be the right person to pick up a fight with. Looking a bit chubby and always cheerful, Hajia Zainab Saleh, immediate past president, International Women Society, IWS, is as tough as a nail. Having engaged in active martial arts training for over 35 years, she told Nseobong Okon-Ekong that she has the knowledge to seriously injure anyone who tries to attack her and why she has instituted a self-styled international women Karate competition

T

he motion of flying hands and fists stabbed the space between us frequently during the interview as she gestured to drive home her point. Everything she was saying converged on one spot: Love drove her to do it. Love for the sport that has taken her over since she was 10 years.

Hajia Zainab Saleh, immediate past president, International Women Society, IWS, is a woman of many parts, but every activity of hers is securely anchored on her passion for Karate. It is the one thing that she has firmly put her name and sought to perpetrate it beyond a lifetime. Like many children her age, at the time, her 10 year old mind was impressed by the quick action and assumedly invincibility of martial arts icon, Bruce Lee. Saleh lived then in Mexico City

with her father who was a diplomat.

Convinced she wanted to be like Bruce Lee, she approached her father and told him. Her request was obliged.

Along with her brother, they were enrolled in a Karate school in Mexico City. And thus began a lifelong romance with the sport.

The alertness was not only observed in the quickness of her hands, there was vigilance in her eyes.

She was attentive to the reporter and yet she was alive to her environment.

We were in the restaurant of CheckIn Hotel in the Wuse area of Abuja.

She had earlier excused herself from a meeting to field my questions. As we continued to talk, a few persons wanted her attention. Without getting up or truncating the discourse, she simply acknowledged their presence with a nod or a wink and continued talking.

Saleh may not be as active as she

used to be when she was younger.

With more responsibilities in her work place, she does not have as much time to train. As she began to number a few of the executive caps that she wears, one could not help but wonder at how she was able to cope as Managing Director of Brains and Hammers Facility Management Limited, Managing Director of File Right Limited and Executive Director of Check-In Hotel. But she has not stopped training altogether. Her commitment is far greater. For as long as she lives and enjoys good health, she will always find the time to train.

There may be interruptions in training, but she can never let go of the sport.

More importantly, she has taken her interest in Karate to another level with her passion to develop the sport in Nigeria.

As the daughter of a diplomat, Saleh was privileged to see the world,

travelling as frequently as her father was posted. Today, she is even more appreciative of the privileges that Karate has afforded her. Being the Chaperon for the Nigerian Karate Team and also a member of the technical committee of the Nigeria Karate Federation, she made quite a few trips. She is the Technical Director of the Karate Association in Lagos State, as well and a continental referee in Karate. It is particularly a thing of pride for her to be recognized in Africa for the sports she loves.

With her love for Karate, Saleh has broken the cast of the typical woman from the conservative Northern Nigeria. She had been primed to do this with her secondary education at Queens College, Lagos and the United Kingdom. She would later earn two degrees in Bio-chemistry and another in English Literature from the Ahmadu Bello University,

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EVENT

With incidents of rape and other forms of physical abuse against women on the rise, Saleh would encourage females to get serious with Karate

Zanaib Saleh

Zaria. Such amazing diversity in academic pursuits is one of the things that make Saleh intriguing. “Oh, I have always been arts and science inclined,” she said laughing. It is even more fascinating to hear her confess that she has done nothing with those degrees. Rather she has found herself working in the hospitality industry.

She is also into facility and document management.

Beyond her nine-to-five jobs, in 2014, Saleh decided to have an all-female Karate championship in order to address her belief that female sport tend to be a little bit more underdeveloped than their male counterpart. “We don’t compete together, but we may train together.”

For long, she had agonised over how to develop female karate in Lagos and in the country at large. A big burden of responsibility was lifted off her mind the day she decided to sponsor a female karate event which would be internationally acclaimed; and would follow international standard. So far, there’d been two editions and she is happy and proud with the outcome. “I have single handedly sponsored these events. We are going into the third edition. Every year, it increases in attendance and participation. This year, we decided to add a little twist to it by bringing in a Japanese master who is a Fifth Dan in Karate. That is endearing the practitioners of the sport to try as much as possible to come to the event, which is taking place between June 3 and 5 at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.”

Karate has transformed in many ways since the early days. She explained the change. “There is a big difference between sport Karate and traditional Karate. In those days, you

LIKE MANY CHILDREN HER AGE, AT THE TIME, HER 10 YEAR OLD MIND WAS IMPRESSED BY THE QUICK ACTION AND ASSUMEDLY INVINCIBILITY OF MARTIAL ARTS ICON, BRUCE LEE. SALEH LIVED THEN IN MEXICO CITY WITH HER FATHER WHO WAS A DIPLOMAT. CONVINCED SHE WANTED TO BE LIKE BRUCE LEE, SHE APPROACHED HER FATHER AND TOLD HIM. HER REQUEST WAS OBLIGED. ALONG WITH HER BROTHER, THEY WERE ENROLLED IN A KARATE SCHOOL IN MEXICO CITY. AND THUS BEGAN A LIFELONG ROMANCE WITH THE SPORT

were always taught to make sure that your stances were correct, your hands movements were correct, but as you go into Sports Karate, some of these stances have to change, in terms of your goal being to win your competition. Sometimes we see some differences in terms of techniques.”

With incidents of rape and other forms of physical abuse against women on the rise, Saleh would encourage females (and also encourage males) to get serious with Karate for many reasons. Number One, it is a sport; two, it teaches self-defense; three for the discipline; four, for its exercise value. “It is such a disciplined sport that you don’t get up anyhow and say that you are going to practice your Karate on anybody because of the discipline in the way you are taught to perform your art. It is a sport like any other; like football, like judo, like basketball.

As a sports person, I would encourage everybody, especially females to try and do something. I know what I have gained from it. I know what people can gain from it. I would definitely encourage women to practice Karate.

It is important because you learn to defend yourself. Because you have trained over and over again, it comes naturally to you. If I find myself in a dire situation, there are certain things that would just come naturally to me; quick movements here and there, it is because I have done that over and over again, it has become part of me.

As you train over and over again, you would be able to defend yourself against rapists, if they attack you. It is a sport to encourage. It is a sport that I would encourage anybody, especially women to take an interest in.”

Saleh further explained the difference in the various types

of martial arts -Karate, Jijuitsu, Taekwondo. “It is a question of where they originated from. Karate originated from Japan, while Taekwondo originated from Korea. At some point in time, the Japanese were the colonial masters of the Koreans.

What happened is that they took their traditional sports and taught it to the Koreans, especially to the military, when the Japanese left, they did not want to have any association with the Japanese, so they remodeled what they had learnt and that is how Taekwondo came about. You find that in terms of how they execute certain things-like how they stand and their kicks, they differ from ours. We are more traditional in ensuring that our kicks are proper, our stances are low; whereas in Taekwondo, they are always up and they use their kicks a lot.”

Fortunately, Saleh has never had to use her knowledge of Karate to defend herself. “That is where the discipline comes in. Even if you are challenged and you know somebody is looking for a fight, you walk away.

We have been taught that if anything threatens you, the first thing you do is to run away. If you can’t get out of that situation, then you stay and fight.

Everything we learn is a potential danger to an opponent. I can crack his ribs. I can remove his eyes. I can sprain his neck or his back, from certain movements that we do. Hardly would you find a practitioner of martial arts involved in a street or domestic fight.

They won’t. They are disciplined enough to ignore or walk away from that situation. They are that deadly.

They can cause serious bodily harm if they have to stay and fight. I have

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COVER never had to fight anyone. I thank God that I don’t have to and I pray that I won’t have to.”

Saleh grew from traditional Karate to Sports Karate. In her younger years, she used to go for various competitions to represent Queens College and her club. But Sports Karate has developed. “Majority of the time when we were going for competition, we made sure that whatever attack or defence we were using was properly executed and they were more based on traditional techniques. In traditional Karate if you make a punch, you expect that your punch goes straight, but when you are fighting, you don’t take all that time to ensure a punch is straight.

It takes too long to execute in sports.

In traditional, they want to see the movement and then you bring it back.

You can see the difference if you are somebody who is quite observant.

There are differences in how you are expected to execute your techniques.”

Saleh espouses a pan-Nigerian vision that does not restrict her sports development effort to her home state of Borno. “It is difficult to develop the sports there. The best I can do is to encourage our athletes to attend the various programmes. For example, this particular championship is not just open to Lagos State, it is open to everybody in the nation. What we try to do is make sure that we get the message out. The only way we can develop the sport is to make sure that we have enough competitions for people to take part in. That is what we lack. We don’t have money. It is a general problem for sports in Nigeria.

If you are not football, nobody wants

BEING THE CHAPERON FOR THE NIGERIAN KARATE TEAM AND ALSO A MEMBER OF THE TECHNICAL COMMITTEE, SHE MADE QUITE A FEW TRIPS. TODAY, SHE IS THE TECHNICAL DIRECTOR OF THE KARATE ASSOCIATION IN LAGOS STATE AND A CONTINENTAL REFEREE FOR THE SPORTS OF KARATE. IT IS PARTICULARLY A THING OF PRIDE FOR HER TO BE RECOGNIZED IN AFRICA FOR THE SPORTS SHE LOVES. WITH HER LOVE FOR KARATE, SALEH HAS BROKEN THE CAST OF THE TYPICAL WOMAN FROM THE CONSERVATIVE NORTHERN NIGERIA Zanaib

to hear. To get money from the ministry is difficult. Nobody wants to give you anything. We have to rely on individuals and some organisations for sponsorship. When I was very active in the Karate Federation of Nigeria and we were trying to look for sponsorship, I went to an organisation and they asked why they should sponsor Karate. They wanted to know what they would get out of it. They thought Karate was not a viewer sport. The question is how many people would go and watch Karate?

The problem with that is, if you don’t reach out to people to let them know what you are doing, how do you know that they are not interested in Karate? In Nigeria, we haven’t really marketed ourselves. In other countries around the world, everybody talks about Karate or Taekwondo or some sort of martial arts. They try as much as possible to let people know what they are doing. This is one of the things that we lack. The more we are able to get the information out to everybody, the more people are going to come to the sports. If we are able to set up competitions that are of international standard, that is one of the best way that we can develop that sport of Karate in the nation. We need the competitions.

A lot of people who practice Karate are not from affluent homes. That is also a problem in other sports as well. Majority of practitioners can’t buy tickets to train abroad. Who will give them the money for ticket, accommodation and feeding? To travel out of the country now, you are talking about over N500,000 for a ticket. Where would they get that kind of money from? That is another part of my thinking. If we can’t go international, let international come to Nigeria. That is the essence of this competition and I have named it after myself because I am the sponsor and I want it to be kept within the principles of what I want to achieve for that event, that is to ensure development of the sport and that it meets international standard and to make sure what is due to the athletes get to the athletes. If you don’t cut corners, it helps the coach. It helps the referee. It helps the official and, of course, the athlete. These are some of the reasons I am quite guarded about the competition. I am not saying I don’t want sponsorship, but I want to have a little bit more control. I have seen how things work in this country. Whether we like it or not, I am just saying the truth. It upsets me to see what these athletes have to go through. It is because of the love I have for it. I have seen what people go through because they want to excel in a particular sport. Nigeria has talents.

The truth is there is nobody to develop them. They are thinking of what to put in their stomach. They are thinking of petrol. They are thinking of kerosene.

They are thinking of light. They are thinking of how to send their children to school. These are distractions and then you are talking of sports.”

Saleh shuttles between Abuja and Lagos frequently. Her partner lives in Lagos.

She had encouraged her daughter to love the sports. But after a while her interest waned. The youngster appears to be more fascinated with swimming and tennis. And that is fine with Saleh who also swims very well and plays squash. “With age, I have become more conscious with how I exhibit myself in public. I will swim if it is a private pool.”

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Strictly Exclusive Soiree

with LANRE ALFRED

08076885752

Love Across the Rims

Pageantry and class as Abubakar Atiku’s son marries Ghanaian bride

Aminu Atiku and wife, Nana

The couple dancing

For the first dance, the groom stared into the eyes of his bride as if he meant to rediscover a familiar treasure trove. Aminu Abubakar stared into Nana Akyaa’s eyes wondering how many wonders subsist in the two shiny orbs and windows into her soul. It was a charming, corny, over-the-top moment at an event most noteworthy, perhaps, for how it drew the crème of Nigeria and Ghana’s high societies to celebrate with the new couple.

Aminu looked like he would mesh with Nana. Nana looked even more ready to interlock with him in body, mind, spirit and soul. The couple filled up each other ’s glances with muted affectation of undying love.

Since news of their engagement floated in from across borders and seas, the social media, broadcast and print media buzzed with gripping narratives of their fairy tale romance.

Their story is the stuff dreams of grandeur are made of. Aminu hails from an enviable pedigree; the son of Nigeria’s former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, presented as a wonderful hunk worthy of the love, high lust and devotion of several rich, glamorous heiresses. Nana is ravishing and lovable. By the end of her wedding day, she had provoked endless streams of well wishes, accolades and the way her curves flared in her dazzling bridesmaid’s dress.

Nigeria and Ghana were fascinated with the Nigerian prince marrying the Ghanaian princess.

The splendid, majestic state of being rich, unapologetically splendid and royal. The high society wedding provided a chance for the ex-VP Atiku to flaunt his amazing wealth and international clout.

Aminu Atiku Abubakar and a king in Ghana

a guest Aminu Atiku Abubakar and wife, with

The lavish wedding and reception took place in Kumasi, Ghana. The ceremony was well attended by dignitaries from both Ghana and Nigeria including wife of the former VP and the groom’s mother, Titi Abubakar, Governor of Adamawa State, Bindo Umaru Jibrilla. Ghanaian monarch, Asantehene, HRM Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, also attended the ceremony. The Asante monarch’s palace served as venue for the traditional wedding of the Abubakars.

Aminu is a product of Atiku and his Yoruba wife’s marriage. He is the last child of the couple.

The elaborate wedding, brought together three different cultures – the Hausa, Yoruba and Ghana cultures. At the ceremony, treasures and wonders were much in evidence. As the dark-haired bride, floated down the aisle in splendid silk, Aminu eagerly awaited her arrival, standing on his pew to get a bird’s-eye view of his ravishing bride.

Nana looked every bit a princess. Even so, she cut a different portrait from the deviously glorified pony show of a princess that is spoonfed to girls at a very young age. Companies such as Disney and Mattel provide a wide line of stories and products that promote fairy tales painted in pink. But Nana, unlike the popular princess stereotype wouldn’t have to give up her voice to be royalty, not in this day and age. She is a far cry from the Disney movie princess and mermaids. Nana has a voice; and by its resonance, she attracted and subsequently ensnared her knight in shiny armour, Aminu.

The wedding unfurled like a performance-art project set in a modern-day enchanted hall.

Granted, it was an expensive one. Press accounts

pegged the affair’s price tag at millions of naira.

Tested, able hands oversaw all aspects of the event, from décor to lighting, to conceiving an expensive keepsakes for attendees and selecting its design, in part, to evoke the pedigree of the uniting families.

Very imaginative minds were put in charge of the setting’s visual elements. Guests literally gasped as they emerged into the venue of the ceremony, which a glade in which luscious greenery and hanging garlands conferred a medley of color and a sense of undulation. The event maestro handled most of the logistics and floral treatments, creating an immersive atmosphere. It was grand in its scale—but beautiful, not gross or overwhelming.

As guests sat on comfy chairs carted in for the occasion, cameramen operated video booms, and Aiye crooner, Davido, performed, rendering soulful ballads like the proverbial sonorous balladeer. Some dignitaries shed a few tears as they were rendered totally awestruck by the splendour of the celebration.

The marriage ceremony was no doubt intended to celebrate the families astounding wealth and the couple’s unblemished love.

While the affair received plenty of unflattering press beforehand, the blogosphere began to hyperventilate once word got out about the high octane celebration.

From the start to finish, scores of guests indulged in bedazzled documentation. Not a few dignitaries in the consummately wired crowd were pleasantly enthralled by the very well-heeled couple’s ingenious way of declaring their undying love for each other and cementing it in holy union—albeit with enormous helpings of fairy tales, expensive perks and elan.

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enteRtAInment

V

Dele Ojo Gets Legendary Celebration

eteran juju highlife artiste and evangelist Dele Ojo will on May 15, be celebrated on stage in a one-of-akind concert. Holding at Nelo’s Event Place, Ikeja, Lagos, the veteran will be celebrating 55 years on stage with friends like Jimi Solanke, Orlando Julius and others.

Themed ‘Last of the Originals’, the concert is a production of Evergreen Musical Company, a company well-renowned for its conscious efforts to celebrate and honour musicians of yesteryears.

Dele Ojo will join the robust list of iconic artistes like Victor Olaiya, Fela AnikulapoKuti who have been celebrated by the company in similar events.

In a well-articulated speech, the chairman of Evergreen Musical Company Femi Esho spoke passionately about the legend. “Dele Ojo is one of Nigerian unsung music legend.

We want to tell the whole world that he is very much alive and is still waxing strong with his music. He remains the man that introduced bass guitar into juju music with his evergreen song ‘Bouncing Bonna’.

SEUN KUTI’S SIGNS JUGGERNAUT TO HIS RECORD LABEL

He goes by the name Juggernaut and wishes to be very controversial.

There is no other way he would like to be known in the industry.

Demilade Egbeolu is the new and first artiste signed unto Black Haus Label, Seun Kuti’s new record label.

He was formerly with Kalakuta Records.

A graduate of Counselling and Psychology, Juggernaut is poised to set the music industry on fire with his style. He has been in love with music right from childhood. At Kings College, he was known as a dancer before he discovered his ability to sing as well. He described himself as a versatile artiste, a trait he shares with Seun and which also influenced his decision to sign with the label.

“Seun is a fully enlightened person.

He doesn’t just focus on Afrobeat alone. He likes all kinds of music.

He likes how I combine words and

Simi

wIth nseobong okon-ekong 08114495324, nseobong.okonekong@thisdaylive.com

In the picture are Mr Batik( Lasu), Mr Akin Fatunke( Public Affairs Manager Mobil Oil, Prince Yemisi Shyllon ( Oyasaf), Mr Femi Esho ( Chairman Evergreen Musical Company), Dele Ojo.

Ojo’s musical career has spanned over five decades.

Some of his popular songs include ‘Tere Na’, ‘Eniyan bi Aparo’ among others.

He will be joined on stage by former Chocolate City Label artiste, Brymo to perform sounds. He inspires me, he is a very principled boss.”

Before his path crossed with Seun, the Ogun state indigene had been an underground singer at the Kalakuta museum, home to the late Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. It was during one of those days that Seun stumbled on him. He was freestyling when Seun singled him out of the crowd to work with him on a project.

Their relationship had blossomed ever since.

Without giving much information on the terms of the deal, Juggernaut disclosed that he will be getting an automobile this year. He however was quick to point out that his contract was not based on material things alone. He emphasised on the importance of putting good music out there.

Already, his single ‘Obirin Asiko’ is receiving magnanimous air play, as well as the music video.

APPRECIATING ARTISTIC ELEMENTS IN THE SPECIAL ONE

a duet ‘Iya Ni Wura’, one of timeless hits. Chief Ebenezer Obey will also be performing at the concert with his band.

Other artistes billed to perform include, Simi, Edaato, Topstick and others.

A compendium of Dele Ojo

musical works will also be unveiled at the concert.

The Last of the Originals is an annual concert that seeks to celebrate Nigerian and other African musical legends whose works have remained timeless and original.

Painted faces...meet the Special One

The blitzkrieg of entertainment and artistic fair that followed the public presentation of the new Guinness African Special is still the subject of hot debate in many quarters.

As the launch team travelled to Enugu, Port Harcourt, Abuja, Ibadan and Lagos, it excited residents of those cities who turned up in their numbers to appreciate all the elements that make the drink proudly African, particularly its projection of African culture through the Ankara design, the herbs and spices grown on African soil, the graffiti design was done by a Nigerian, including the design and packaging.

Ahead of its arrival, a lot of suspense and anticipation was created in readiness of the unique experience.

In Port Harcourt, the event took place at the Aztech Arcum. It was the turn of the Polo Park, Shoprite in Enugu.

Ibadan had two venues, Club GQ, Apollos and Latitude. The Abuja event took place at Harrow Park, while the grand finale was a colourful spectacle at the GET Arena, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The major fixtures at all the shows were DJ Spinall with his energetic line up. Olamide and Phyno who are Guinness MadeofBlack ambassadors were the headline acts. Godwin Strings, graffiti artist Osa7 and DNMT dancers added creativity and colour to the event.

Guests also got a chance to make the night their own with an instant T-shirt making experience and UV body painting. Every night at all the venues was alive and full of colour, creativity and energy.

Guinness Africa Special is the latest addition to the Guinness family. It is the distinctive quality of Guinness stout blended with Natural African Extracts giving it a vibrant and refreshing taste that is alive with our African spirit.

LOUD WHISPERS WITH ALI BABA AT THE MUSON

The Muson will today witness the unveiling of Ali Baba, the prominent comedian as a serious thespian. Ali Baba the undisputed father of Nigerian Comedy will push the boundaries

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ENTERTAINMENT

SHINA PETERS, OMO BABA THRILL CAMPARI AUDIENCE

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otable Nigerian public figures recently came together with marketers and distributors of Campari across the country at the Classique Events Centre, Oregun, Lagos for the Campari Distributors Awards organized

by Brian Munro Limited, Nigeria’s sole distributors of Campari.

The annual event, which is aimed at recognising and rewarding outstanding distributors of Campari across Nigeria featured a show-stealing performance by Legendary Afrojuju crooner, Sir Shina Peters, a surprise performance by 2Face Idibia and a memorable stand-up set by comedy hotshot Omo Baba as 40 distributors were rewarded with the latest edition of brand new cars before a packed audience.

Speaking about the purpose of the awards, Marketing Manager Brian Munro, Abayomi Ajao commented, “The intention behind the Campari Distributor Awards is to show our esteemed distributors that the Campari brand values its relationship with them and to show why they their continued loyalty to Campari is worth it. We want to show that Campari is not only about making sales but also about adding value to all its stakeholders and I am sure everyone present here tonight can attest to that.”

Winner of the night, Ndubuisi Onyenanu commented, “I feel really honoured and happy to be in his enviable career by taking up the lead role in Loudwhispers the much anticipated stage adaptation of the book written by Investment Banker, Joseph Edgar.

The play according to Olisa Adibua who doubles as its Producer has been in the making for the past two years after prompting from the highly respected Bolanle Austen Peters of Tera Kulture. The Book which is a compilation of a series of articles written by Edgar in his weekly column and published by Thisday Newspapers takes a lighthearted look at Nigeria and Nigerians, throwing barbs laced with humorous anecdotes while delivering acerbic punchlines to an increasingly satiated reading public.

The play sees Ali deliver some of the ‘sweetest’ performances seen on a Nigerian Stage with his mesmerizing

2Baba entertaining guests

recognised like this here tonight and it fills me with joy to know that my work with Campari is valued to this extent. It’s always very nice to know that someone is taking note of the devotion and hard work you put into what you do and I hope to continue having

a good business relationship with Campari.”

Notable faces at the awards include Director, Brian Munro Limited, Brian Voakes; General Manager, Olusola Ajayi; Managing Director, Paul Wilson; Executive Director, BML, Demola Kolade; Head

of Marketing, Abayomi Ajao; National Sales Manager, Paul Omekwe; Sales Development Manager, BML, Bola Lofindipe; Area Manager, Campari International, Michael Reder, and Chief Accountant, BML, BT Ajayi among many others.

commentary on happenings within the Nigerian socio political arena, taking the audience through the ever present issues of fuel scarcity, political hobnobbing, insecurity within the country and finally nestling with the seemingly intractable issue of the Chibok girls. Laced with spicy song and dance routines, the 40 man cast and crew are set to storm the stage with very powerful but lithe performances putting on display the very best of Nigerian craftsmanship, paying homage to our varied culture while still throwing up our challenges as a people and subsuming itself within the cacophony of multiple characterization in obedience to the traditions of Nigerian theatre.

The play which will unfold in three shows today at the Iconic Agip Recital Hall.

This work is Executive Produced

by Joseph Edgar and Co-Produced by Versatile entertainement Impresario, Olisa Adibua, Shina Peller of Quilox and Mofoluwake Edgar.

about their good times.

In this movie, Uche displays knowledge acquired from her training in production at a popular Nigerian television music channel and the Vancouver

Film School in Canada. The film was written, shot and directed by her. She has already entered a working relationship with Eastside Productions for her second film, ‘3 for Back’.

UCHE ODOH BECOMES FILM PRODUCER

Ali Baba

From being a model to appearing in music videos of popular artistes and an increasing interest in photography, Uche Odoh has come up with a creative product she can really be proud of. With the release of her debut movie, a short, titled, ‘Without You’, she has entered the league of movie producers.

Featuring a two person cast of Elma Mbadiwe and Akah Nnani, the movie relays how a young man deals with the loss of his girlfriend. He returns to their favourite place to reminisce

Uche Odoh

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ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

NBCUniversal Acquires Dreamworks Animation Vanessa Obioha

J

effrey Katzenberg is a happy man and he knows it. After being dismissed by Walt Disney in September 1994, Katzenberg reached an agreement on a deal last Thursday with Comcast’s NBC Universal that is worth $3.8 billion.

The contract will see NBCUniversal acquiring Katzenberg’s company Dreamworks Animation. The company will also pay DreamWorks Animation shareholders $41 in cash for each share of their DreamWorks stock.

After the deal closes, Katzenberg will hand oversight of his company to Chris Meledandri, head of Universal’s animation division Illumination Entertainment. He will become chairman of the newly-formed DreamWorks New Media, made up of the firm’s stakes in the YouTube teen network AwesomenessTV and the technology company Nova. Katzenberg also will serve as a consultant to NBCUniversal.

Katzenberg founded Dreamworks in October 1994 with Steven Spielberg and David Geffen. The initials of their name SKG is boldly displayed in the company’s official name. In 2004, Dreamworks churned out a series of animation, ‘Kung Fu Panda’, ‘Madagascar’, and ‘Shrek’ that made it a reckoning force in Hollywood.

It also launched an interactive studio that developed ‘Jurassic Park’ - themed video games, started a record label that released splashy albums like George Michael’s ‘Older’, and announced plans for a 1,000acre studio facility in Playa Vista that would have included 18 soundstages and a lake. However, by 2014, the company’s profits plummeted and Katzenberg was forced to lay off 20 per cent of his staff members, following stiff competition from rival companies.

With this new deal, Katzenberg now has a net worth of $1 billion, putting him on a rarefied air among Hollywood’s elite. The deal is expected to close later in the year.

Beyonce performing at her Formation Tour

DRUG OVERDOSE SUSPECTED IN PRINCE’S DEATH

Investigations on the singer’s death on April 21 are suggesting a drug overdose.

According to CNN, authorities investigating the death found opioid medication on his person and in his Minnesota home. The authorities are also asking for help from the DEA. Meanwhile, the artiste’s multi-million dollar estate would be managed by a financial company, Bremer Trust since Prince didn’t leave a will. This was reached following the Minnesota law that allows surviving siblings of the deceased to inherit his wealth if a person dies without a will and with no surviving parents, children or grandchildren.

Prince wasn’t married and had no known living children at the time of his death. His sister Tyka Nelson who is the apparent heiress is washing her hands clean off. She would rather Bremer Trust handles her late brother’s assets and properties.

BEYONCE KICKS OFF FORMATION TOUR WITH HUSBAND JAY Z

Despite rumours of break-up between the power couple following Beyonce’s newly released Lemonade album, that is laced with infidelity and break-up lyrics, Beyonce kicked off her Formation tour last Wednesday in Miami with husband in tow.

Jeffrey Katzenberg

A happy Beyonce thanked her husband in front of the motley crowd at Marlins Park as she performed ‘Halo’. Two Saturdays ago, Beyonce took her fans unawares when she released her sixth album on her husband’s Tidal streaming platform.

The release was preceded by a visual album shown on HBO Networks. The album consists of collaborations with The Weeknd, Kendrick Lamar, James Black and Jack White of the White Stripes.

WHITNEY HOUSTON IS COMING BACK TO LIFE

Oscar-winning Scottish director Kevin Macdonald is set to direct the theatrical feature documentary about the life of the legendary singer, Whitney Houston. It will be the first documentary to be officially authorised by her estate since her death in 2012.

The project will see collaborative efforts from fellow Oscar-winning producer Simon Chinn and his Emmy-winning cousin Jonathan Chinn. Their Lightbox Media banner along with Lisa Erspamer will oversee production.

According to Macdonald, the film will capture Whitney’s life in totality, from her humble days to superstardom days. It will include an interview with Clive Davis, founder and president of Arista Records, currently chief creative officer of Sony Music Entertainment, who is best known for bringing Whitney to prominence.

“We have access to never-before- seen footage of Whitney that charts her whole life from her beginnings singing in her Church’s gospel choir to the day of her tragic death at the age of 48, and three decades of her music including exclusive demo recordings, rare performances and audio archive.

“Although we won’t shy away from the darker parts of Whitney’s life - her descent into addiction - I want audiences to walk out of the cinema and feel positive about Whitney and her music. I want to reveal a woman that even her most die-hard fans never knew; and a woman those new to her life and music will never forget,” he said in a statement.

The film will be introduced at the Cannes film Festival by Altitude Film Sales, with

Whitney Houston

U.K. rights acquired by Altitude Film Distribution. Will Clarke, Andy Mayson, and Mike Runagall are executive producers.

PAPA WEMBA TO BE BURIED ON TUESDAY

Burial arrangements are concluded for the King of Rumba rock, Papa Wemba.

The revered artiste from Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) died last Sunday during a performance on stage FEMUA Urban Music Festival in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.

An all-night concert was held in honour of the great artiste in Abidjan, and on Thursday morning, a large crowd welcomed his body at Kinshasa’s airport in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). He will be buried on Tuesday after a lying-instate ceremony on Monday.

Born Jules Shungu Wembadio Pene Kikumba, Wemba was the pioneer of soukous music in Congo. His unparalleled music achievement is greatly celebrated by African leaders and music stars as well as fans. He was aged 66.

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EVENT

W

Unveiling AJ

ith ‘Remember Me’, a soon-to-be released Nollywood movie, a couple of things are happening for the first time. It is Uru Eke’s first production credit, having made her mark as an actress. More importantly, it is the first time, O.C Ukeje, one of the lead actors, would talk glowingly about any movie.

Belosah Ajisola Abiola was born in London, U.K. An only child of a loving mother (Lawyer/Banker) and enterprising father (Engineer/ Businessman), he spent his youth under the care of his mother living in Lagos after which he furthered his education abroad, living, studying and working in Manchester, Nottingham, London and Abu Dhabi where he concluded his film studies at the New York Film Academy Ajisola (NYFA).

Video production has been a brooding passion for Abiola, and competent team of trusted fondly called “AJ” by his professionals. NoVex also offers admirers. He has been directing a rich portfolio of audio visual high quality production with consult and services to support, ease and consistently for nurture, and grow business with years before he entered into strong emphasis on excellence. partnership to birth NoVex It has a high level clientele Africa Productions, which he which cuts across various says was borne out of his desire areas - Music, Nollywood, to redefine video production in Advertising, Sports, Publishing Nigeria and take it to the next and Online entertainment. level. NoVex Africa Productions NoVex’s portfolio also includes is designed to provide high-end conferences, concert and entertainment/video production large scale corporate/public services backed by a dedicated gatherings.

A thoroughbred professional cum Cinematographer, AJ studied Business Studies at the University of Gloucestershire, United Kingdom. He is also a Harrybaker Professionals certified PRINCE 2 Project Manager -APMG. He was the TV show director in charge of the cast and crew of ‘Igbo Amaka’ a television talk-show for Africa Magic Igbo channel, filming 30 episodes for its piloting season. His skills and strengths are grounded in good

leadership qualities, creative, strategic management skills acquired through participating in team activities and setting timelines and deliverables.

Having a strong analytical and mathematical instinct in problem solving and decision making skills, AJ developed himself while studying Biochemistry at the University of Nottingham, United Kingdom reshaping his worldview.

When asked his unique selling proposition and target in the next five years; AJ says, “Over the years, I have produced content for the Web and Television and my five years plan is to become a noteworthy content producer based in Nigeria but working across the continent. Our industry has developed to the point where we cannot use the excuse of lack of infrastructure. Our only hindrance is not to make the effort.”

Having exposed himself to different cultures from around the world, AJ has gradually made his way to and is locked in Media sphere, working with reputable production companies and brands. Undertaking Film, TV, and commercial work under his own imprint soon followed, along with increased attention from the media. AJ stands poised at the edge of a promising career, drawing on his past to help guide him to a brighter future.

Interbond Industries CEO Gives Daughter out in Marriage

I

t was a gathering of celebrities and captains of industries when Chief Sonny Nlewedim, Chairman/CEO, Interbond Industries Ltd, hosted friends and business associates at Umuahia, Abia State during the traditional marriage ceremony (Igbankwu) between his daughter, Adaugo Gold Nlewedim, and her heart-throb, Arize Chigozie Umeh, recently. The occasion was also graced by some Nollywood stars including Ejike Asiegbu, Emeka Enyiocha, Rita Edochie, and Oby Okafor. Below are faces at the event

The couple, Prince Arize Chigozie and Princess Adaugo Gold Umeh.

The couple flanked by their parents ,Eng. Cyril and Mrs Dorothy Umeh[left] and Chief Sonny and Chief [Mrs] Joy Chioma Nlewedim

The bride, Princess Adaugo being led to her seat by friends.

The couple flanked by the bride’s brothers

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R • MAY 1, 2016

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TRIBUTE

Wemba Goes with a Bang

Papa Wemba

Nseobong Okon-Ekong and Vanessa Obioha

T

wo days after the world lost virtuoso musician Prince Rogers Nelson, better known as Prince, the African continent was thrown into gloom as one of its finest musician, Papa Wemba left the earthly plane.

Papa Wemba like the late Mother of African Music, Miriam Makeba died on stage while performing with his band, Viva La Musica in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.

Like Makeba, Wemba was said to have expressed a wish to die performing.

Makeba died on November 9, 2008 in Castel Volturno, Italy, having just performed at a concert.

Last Sunday, on the last day of the FEMUA Music Festival, his morbid desire was realised to the consternation of the world.

The concert pooled thousands of music lovers to Abidjan, to watch eclectic performances by renowned artistes. This year featured artistes like Too Fan, Daddy Lumba and others It took a while before the dancers realised that the artiste slumped on the ground was not performing any theatric; that he was indeed comatose. Desperately, they began to fan him before the medical team arrived, a bit too late to save the Rumba King.

Tributes poured in from African leaders, music stars and fans, including Angelique Kidjo (who collaborated with him on one of his hits), Femi Kuti, Samuel Eto’o, Diamond Platnumz (who revealed they were working on

Performers at the tribute concert for Papa Wemba in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire

a song together on his Instagram page) among others, who donned the artiste with different accolades. Some regarded him as the ‘Voice of Africa’, others called him ‘The King of Rumba Rock’.

A simple man, Wemba was not one who fancied titles. It was ironic, therefore, that he would be decorated with many titles in death. While alive, he wished to be remembered only as ‘a singer ’.

On the news of his death, his wife, Marie Lozolo flew to Abidjan the following day to see the

remains of her beloved husband.

An all-night concert was held in honour of the great artiste and on Thursday morning, a large crowd welcomed his body at Kinshasa’s airport in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). He will be buried on Tuesday after a lyingin-state ceremony on Monday.

Aged 66 (although some reports say he was 70), Papa Wemba was recognised as one of the foremost musicians whose influences in music paved the way for young musicians. He is the pioneer of

modern day Soukous, a genre peculiar to Congo which has beamed spotlights on artistes like Koffi Olomide.

In many aspects, Papa Wemba shared similarities with Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.

They were both prolific, rebellious and culture influencers.

Born Jules Shungu Wembadio Pene Kikumba, Wemba entered the music world in 1969, at a time his country was still struggling to get her footing as a free nation.

Grief from wars and assassina-

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R • MAY 1, 2016

TRIBUTE WEMBA GOES WITH A BANG tions still cast a plaintive mood on the country after 10 years of independence. But the musicians of that era found peace in the music they made. They gave the country a soothing balm on their scars.

With artistes like Franco, Dr. Nico, making waves in the music scene, Kinshasa became the music capital of the continent. They came up with the Rumba sound a dynamic blend of Latin, Cuban and traditional African music whose popularity traversed the continent.

At the time, Papa Wemba was still groping with his own identity. His father wanted him to be a lawyer or a journalist.

But his mother ’s tenor voice as a professional mourner at funerals intrigued young Wemba. He would later decide to pursue music instead. His conviction to conquer the music world came from his days of singing in religious choirs.

But there was a huge difference between the type of music he sang in churches and the type the society wanted. Making music was very competitive in his generation. The heavyweight musicians were revered in Congo, people loved their sound and music, everybody wanted to be like the Francos and Tabu Leys of their time.

However, Wemba had a plan.

It was simple. If he had to make an impression with his music, he had to think outside the box.

Together with other aspiring musicians, they formed the band Zaiko Langa Langa. The band revolutionised the Rumba sound by experimenting with different combos of Western rock and the traditional sound.

Their unique sound signaled the birth of Soukous. Within months, they were the talk of the town.

The band’s success was greatly attributed to Wemba who wrote most of its popular hits. They toured Zaire and other parts of Africa.

At the height of their fame, the prevalent pecuniary issues in music bands reared its ugly head and Wemba left with some group members. This was in December 1974, a month after boxers Muhammad Ali and George Foreman fought in Kinshasa’s ‘Rumble in The Jungle’. He only spent four years with the band.

Together with Bozi Boziana, Evoloko and Mavuela Somo, they formed the Isifi Lokole and later Yoka Lokole, but both bands only survived for a year.

Perhaps, if he wasn’t incarcerated in prison for allegedly being involved intimately with the General’s daughter, he would have resolved the artistic ego tussle and money issues between members and remained in the band. But when the band performed without him, Wemba felt they threw a dagger at his heart and revengefully started his own band Viva la Musica in 1977.

Viva la Musica struck gold instantly with hits like ‘Mabele Mukonzi’, ‘Bokulaka’. With this new band, Wemba was inventive.

First, they were young unknown artistes which Koffi Olomide was

Cont’d from pg. 64

Wemba

one of them. Then he introduced the ‘Lokole’ into the mix, a traditional instrument made out of a hollowed out tree trunk and hit with sticks. His piquant tenor also became more distinctive.

By this time, Wemba was revered in his home town. His family home became a gathering for youths who admired his style and loved his music. This gathering set in motion the formation of SAPE - Societe des Ambianceurs et des Personnes d’Elegance or Society of Ambiance-ists and People of Elegance. Members of these fashion cults were regarded as Sapeurs. They were well known for their elegant style of dress.

Their style of dressing was widely reported to be influenced by the Japanese designer Issey Miyake and Yohji Yamamoto.

Wemba wanted his fashion cult to promote high standards in fashion and attitude.

“The Sapeur cult promoted high standards of personal cleanliness, hygiene and smart dress, to a whole generation of youth across Zaire. When I say well groomed, well shaved, well perfumed, it’s a characteristic that I am insisting on among the young. I don’t care about their education, since education always comes first of all from the family.”

Unfortunately, the Sapeurs couldn’t live up to the high demands of their leader. They eventually gave in to begging to the dismay of Wemba.

While Wemba recorded much success in Africa, he wasn’t satisfied. So he took some of his members to Paris and other European countries looking for a wider audience. He would later have two factions of his band.

The international acclaim he was looking for came in 1995 when he

went on tour with Peter Gabriel.

His successful album of all time ‘Emotional’ released under Peter Gabriel’s label did not only record high sales for him but also drew international interest to him. His style of blending Cuban, Western and African sounds earned him an enviable reputation that set him apart from his counterparts.

On more than one occasion, Wemba’s integrity was questioned. His complicity in smuggling immigrants into Europe through his band fetched him an arrest in Paris in 2003. He was later bailed but was convicted again in 2006. Wemba reportedly did not consider his actions a crime; rather he considered it as help to his people who were trying to escape the hunger and distress that engulfed his country.

He would later sing about his ordeal in prison in his single ‘Numero d’ecrou’ from his 2003 ‘Somo Trop’ album.

Apart from music, he also dabbled into acting. He played the lead male character in the successful Zairean film ‘La Vie est Belle’

by Belgian director Benoît Lamy and Congolese producer-director Ngangura Mweze. He also appeared in a cameo role in the 2012 Belgian drama film ‘Kinshasa Kids’.

Papa leaves behind a body of work that spans decades and rivals some of Congolese great musicians. His discography is made up of, at least, 42 records on which he sang on or composed.

Jimi Sadare, CEO, Effrakata Entertainment, a company that aggregates Francophone music through a telecommunication based in South Africa described Wemba’s demise as “a great loss to Africa”. He threw more light on the last moments of the music

icon.

“The concert he performed at was promoted by Magic System.

Immediately I heard the sad news I called my contacts and I was told he had done two tracks and was about to perform the third track when he collapsed. It is very unfortunate. We were in the process of bringing him to Nigeria.

One of my musicians had started talking to him. I never got to meet him but I am very much in touch with Koffi Olomide whose visit to Nigeria I have facilitated many times.

“Olomide was due in Nigeria this weekend. Everyone knows Wemba was Olomide’s mentor.

Being educated and a graduate of Mathematics from a university in Paris, Olomide had become increasingly popular and this brought about a friction between them. The bitterness was so bad that Olomide had to leave Paris and return to Kinshasha.

He pioneered the Tchao Sound.

They later made up and waxed a reunion album, ‘Wake Up’.”

In a tribute, the President and Executive Producer, International Committee of the All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, Mr. Mike Dada, said, “we feel a sense of humongous loss since the announcement of the death of Papa Wemba. This is the time we at AFRIMA and Africa at large need him the most.

He was one of the African music legends that had shown interest in attending AFRIMA 3.0 in November. He was an icon of African music and epitome of Africanness.

His pride and commitment to African music and sense of dressing were part of the narratives of African culture. These are the African narratives we shared and are propagating across the world.”

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ON THE COUCH

OLUWAROTIMI AKEREDOLU, SAN (LAWYER)

My Argumentative Stance Influenced Me to Law Interviewed by Funke Olaode What was your growing up like?

I grew up in Owo, Ondo State. I am from an average and respected family. My father was a primary school headmaster.

He was a disciplinarian. We viewed the strict upbringing as punishment and we didn’t enjoy it.

state. Provision of accessible and affordable medical care for the people is also important.

Also, the rural areas should be opened up; so that they can have access to qualitative education, health care services and good roads to access their farms. The nation is tilting towards farming as another reliable source of revenue. I will ensure that cocoa, which Ondo State is known for, is resuscitated.

How did that discipline shape your life?

It became a guiding principle to moderate my views and to be modest as we grew older.

My father was very courageous and I imbibed that courage. For instance, having a father who was a teacher placed my foot on the pedestal of education early. I had my early education in my hometown in Owo before proceeding to Loyola College in Ibadan, which was one of the best colleges then. I later went to Great Ife, University of Ife now Obafemi Awolowo University where I studied law. I am a practicing lawyer and I have been a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) for almost 20 years. The influence to study law was inspired by a teacher who noticed my argumentative prowess during Higher School Certificate in Aiyetoro. This guardian and counsellor saw that I loved to argue, I loved to express myself and he advised that the best career choice for me was law.

How do you intend to realise your ambition since you are in the opposition?

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State does not have an upper hand. We thrashed them in the last presidential elections. Today, my party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has two senators and members of House of Representatives. We are on ground. What you see from the opposition is fantasy. By the grace of God, I am the next Governor of Ondo State.

What lessons have you learnt in all of these?

The great lesson I have learnt in my life trajectory is never to take things for granted. You don’t put trust in people. What one needs to make a success out of a particular endeavour are trusted people, people who believe in you and your ambition, especially in politics.

Does your hyperactive nature influence your personality?

It has been part of me since my childhood. I am approaching my 60s but nothing has changed.

I like being active, happy and making people around me happy.

As a successful lawyer, why did you embrace politics?

Going into politics is a service to humanity. I have occupied all the positions anyone can be in this country. I have been a member of the Body of Benchers and the rest.

And when there was a clarion call from my people who suggested that I should to go into politics, I yielded to their call.

But it seems the opportunity to become Governor of Ondo State is eluding you?

I almost won the last time.

I have not lost hope because I have studied the terrain and by the grace of God Almighty, this time I am going to win. Politics has not seen the last of me in Ondo State. Then, I was more of a professional in politics. I have the support of my people and I know

when the time comes, they will support me.

If you could turn back the hands of clock, are there things you would do differently?

Probably there are. But I have no regrets about life because God has been good to me. If I could turn back the hands of the clock?

I will continue to give thanks and praises to my Maker.

Given the opportunity, what would you do differently?

I plan to focus on job creation.

A government must be concerned about empowerment and security of its people. I believe that a stable economy and infrastructural development will help the growth of my

What is your philosophy of life?

You must be prepared to serve, give your best in the service of your people bearing in mind that the lifting of your people is worth your efforts. Give what you have and have the conviction that God, in His own time, will reward you.

EVENT

New Date for PMAN ‘Festival of Change’

A

new date for the Performing Musicians Employers Association of Nigeria (PMAN) FCT Chapter event tagged ‘The Festival of Change’ will soon be communicated to the public, according to a statement by the association’s Governor, Solomon Nda-Isaiah and its secretary, Vincent Omoko.

The officials said the event

was postponed to give room for involvement of more stakeholders.

“The postponement is to give room for proper planning to make us have a very big and successful event,” Nda-Isaiah explained.

The event has the capacity to promote peace and unity and to enhance awareness for government programmes, while attracting the interest of other players.

assistant editor nseobong okon-ekong senior correspondent funke olaode correspondent vanessa obioha designer ibirogba ibidapo CONTRIBUTORS onoshe nwabuikwu, temilolu okeowo, kelechi nduka THISDAY ON SUNDAY editor adetokunbo adedoja deputy editor vincent obia STUDIO art director ochi ogbuaku jnr

Ndah-Isaiah

THISDAY NEWSPAPERS editor-in-chief & chairman nduka obaigbena managing director eniola bello deputy managing director kayode komolafe

ARTS & REVIEW A

PUBLICATION

BENSON IDONIJE A MUSIC CRITIC PAR EXCELLENCE

Idonije

UNITED FOR HEALTHY LIVING...

PAGE 70

01.05.2016

EDITOR OKECHUKWU UWAEZUOKE/ okechukwu.uwaezuoke@thisdaylive.com

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MAY 1, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

ARTS & REVIEW\\MUSIC

BENSON IDONIJE: A MUSIC Yinka Olatunbosun reports on an illuminating session with Benson Idonije, Nigeria’s most revered music critic, ace broadcaster and first manager to the music legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, who turns 80 in June and is specially honoured at this year’s Lagos International Jazz Festival

I

Idonije t takes a lot of grit to be a music critic. First, you must know your onions. Next, you articulate your views and finally, you voice them in total confidence. And heaven help you if you are wrong. In the case of Benson Idonije, his views always count where music is concerned for they are based on good knowledge, sound judgment and his benefit of hindsight. On June 13, he will be 80 years old. Undoubtedly, those years bore some significant history worthy of documentation which prompted this reporter to visit his FESTAC home recently.

There is a rumour that seems to be very true that he doesn’t grant interviews. This reputation travels ahead of him too many times but this writer summoned the courage to call him and surprisingly, he was accommodating.

He was also patient to allow a couple of rescheduling and finally, we met. But he wasn’t dressed for a photo-shoot. In a few minutes, he left for the bedroom to change to a native garb and was prepared to reveal the details of his life and career that were actually turning points in Nigerian music and broadcasting history.

It’s no news that Idonije is passionate about jazz and highlife; much to the chagrin of his own critics who think he only loves classic sounds but not contemporary music. There sat a man who

Photos: Akinwunmi Ibrahim had studied music chronology, its composition and had worked with artists. He got his “grooming in the turf” when he secured a job at the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Ikoyi as an engineering assistant in the 50s after his study at the Yaba College of Technology. He buried his head in the music library, acquiring knowledge that would come in handy later as an on-air personality what with his successful radio programme, “Big Beats”. Idonije was part of the pioneering team for Radio Nigeria 2 known today as Metro FM, Nigeria’s first FM station. His friend Tony Ibegbuna, who died five years ago, was running shifts with him at the station where the likes of Jacob Akinyemi Johnson later cut their teeth.

Justifiably, he can’t and shouldn’t enjoy poorly arranged music. Since 1960, he had pushed the development and evolution of jazz through his music programmes on radio. Till date, he keeps tab on music as it has evolved into new forms. He is on top of his game, writing informed reviews on music, albums and performances.

“This generation is doing very well, I must say,” he began. “They play hip hop now. When they started, they were imitative of foreign music but they are beginning to be themselves; to be African and Nigerian.

However, they need to improve on their lyrical content because they don’t arrange and do proper instrumentation. All that they do is to compose and sing. They should pay attention to song-writing and making message-driven songs, the kind that makes

sense and will endure instead of ‘love, love, love’, ‘Fokasibe’ and the likes.”

The tale of how he waited so long to get on-air should inspire hard work in young people today. What typically qualifies most job seekers for the job of OAP is now a foreign degree, foreign accent, whether it takes off as cockney and lands as Southern American drawl or better still, the candidate’s father knows the owner of the station. But for those who have been at a disadvantage in getting desired jobs, Idonije thinks there is no substitute for hard work and resilience.

In his days of broadcasting, there were specialized music programmes for every genre. There could be an hour or less dedicated to country, fuji, juju, highlife, reggae and many more; a time that afforded the presenter to give the background to the music for the listeners. Today, everyone is presumed to be capable of research through online search engines and all kinds of songs are played on radio without recourse to the time of the day. Mid-tempo music programmes were scheduled then for evening belt of programming in the past but today, you can listen to fast-paced rap or even heavy metal rock on radio even as you lay your head to sleep. Idonije thought the metamorphosis came with the proliferation of private radio stations.

“Initially, it was only the government that owned broadcasting stations so it was possible to stick to these ideals

at that time,” he said. “But now, it has become highly commercialized and people could do whatever they like just to make money. You will discover that it was when this proliferation started in the mid-90s that the radio programmes were fashioned to suit the station owners, running away from the ethics of the profession. I do not really blame them because they have to make money. But we lost specialized programmes because ideas such as more music less talk came.

“As a matter of fact, in those days especially for radio, you will find out that there were features and documentaries, they were also magazine programmes and proper interviews. They were discussion and drama programmes. We called them production format and that was what I used to teach at the FRCN training school when I was heading the production department of the training school. Maybe, times have changed and life patterns have changed and people don’t have time listen to serious programmes anymore. But there is a lot to learn from them because it took time to build such programmes. To do a feature programme could take six months. Same goes for the documentary programme.”

One of the moments that shaped his career was when he met Fela Ransome-Kuti in 1963. For someone as level-headed as the eloquent Idonije, his association with Fela might seem a bit strange and hard to picture. On his wall, this reporter

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ARTS & REVIEW\\MUSIC

C CRITIC PAR EXCELLENCE found an actual picture of the young Fela and Idonije; both of them were sporting Afro hair and clad in the attire of the 60s. The musician was young but wasn’t as radical as he was in the 70s. Fela was just a very handsome musician who just disbanded his group in London and headed for his home country.

“I was presenting a jazz programme called ‘NBC Jazz Club’,” he disclosed.

“Fela had listened to my programme on radio for a month. Then, one Thursday night, he drove down to the broadcasting house in Ikoyi to see who was behind the show. He came to the studio and introduced himself. That was how we became friends. He admired my knowledge of jazz and I admired his musicianship. He was a fine trumpeter.

From that night, we bonded.

“We nurtured the idea of a quintet. I helped to assemble his new band until 1965 when his mother advised us to go back to highlife. In London, Fela was playing highlife before he began playing jazz. We went back to highlife. It is a very long story and we called the band ‘Koola Lobitos’. I was more familiar with the Nigerian music scene then so I helped him to manage the band.

“I managed the band till 1969 when he travelled on international tours. I still managed his band till the early 70s.

My management work with him was on the basis of friendship and not exactly a business deal. I had to advise him, show him the rope and generally guide him because he was easily provoked.

I worked with him from 1963 till 1974.

But I didn’t quit. He just didn’t need a manager of my type anymore. He needed managers abroad that would link him into big shows. We were still friends till he died.”

Fela became a very controversial artist when he pulled out of the momentous Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC) in 1977. Idonije recalled that Fela, as a member of the Planning Committee, suggested that indigenous artists should be sourced in all the states and be selected for the performances only on merit. But the government officials disagreed.

“The government officials had their own way and corruption set in. So, he pulled out of it. They didn’t like him for that. Yes, he did not perform at FESTAC but his shrine where he was performing was even bigger than the festival itself. All the big musicians came to his shows and he had a mini-FESTAC at the shrine every night. As a matter of fact, he was FESTAC,” he said, smiling as he recalled the event.

On what accounts for Fela’s big stature in music till today, Idonije believed that Fela’s unusual talent and good knowledge of jazz elevated his musicianship in his varying styles over the years.

“It is music that speaks for the future,” he declared. “The fact that you make a lot of money doesn’t make you the best musician. There are a lot of guys today who make good music and their works are not patronized.”

Idonije also recalled some of the ideas Fela sold through his music. In the record, “Buy Africa”, he urged Nigerians to buy domestic products, a reality that has kicked in recently in the face of devalued Naira. Idonije also observed that all Fela’s personal experiences, including the explicit, constitute the themes for his music. Although some would argue that they preferred Fela in his Koola Lobitos days before he began militant music, his stance against the government remains peerless, making his music one of the best-selling, posthumously.

As Fela’s friend, he was supportive

Idonije to the artist when in confrontation with the law enforcement agencies. He would accompany him to court alongside his lawyers such as Tunji Braithwaite and Femi Falana. And when he suffered brutilisation, he paid visits to encourage him.

Incidentally too, Idonije has been living in FESTAC town since 1977. FECTAC Town is a reserved community built especially for the artists across the world who participated in the festival and Idonije had won the ballot that the government instituted to allocate the building to new occupants at the close of the festival. He is well-known on his street and fondly called the chairman. However, what many do not know about him is the fact that he could have been a musician as well. He studied and passed the Grade Six of the Associated Royal School of Music (Theory) and plays piano. It was when he began to try his hands on the saxophone with the help of Fela that his girlfriend whom he later married raised a questioning eyebrow. He made a pivotal decision to choose between the love of his life and his passion. He’d probably chosen wisely, routing his passion to another platform and through his genes. Idonije introduced this reporter briefly to her before the hour-long chat.

“When I was courting her, she would come to the house and find me practicing the saxophone, the scales and exercises.

At that time, musicians were seen as never-do-wells, charlatans and all that. I was discouraged to pursue that passion. If I had kept at it, I would have been a very

good saxophonist today. A lot of things I learnt came from being a participant and observer. I loved going out every night.

Fela and I would go to all the night clubs and sometimes, we would go to Ghana twice in a month and hang out with the musicians there. So, I knew the musicians and the movement of the music. From 1960 till date, I have participated in all the movement, the ebb and flow of music in Ghana and Nigeria.

At the Goethe-Institut, where he joined the team that trained a handful of journalists on culture writing skills, he proved to be a patient teacher. Most cerebral individuals lack the right temperament to impart knowledge but he drew the strength from Train-the-Trainer courses and workshops mounted by BBC to employ the right methodology in training young people with calm.

Although Idonije is most introduced nowadays as Burna Boy’s grandfather, he doesn’t mind even though he engraved his name in history before the grandson’s birth. In 2012, he received a Lifetime Award for Media Excellence from the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism. Asides, broadcasting and artist management, he had co-ordinated the monthly Highlife Party dubbed Elders’ Forum run by O’Jez Club at National Stadium, Lagos.

“This generation doesn’t know who I am,” he said. “You know me because you are art-conscious. It is only my age mates and the people who had read what I write in Guardian and listened to my

programmes that know me. You’d be surprised that Burna Boy is more popular than I am. He is known in South Africa.”

To unknot the riddle caused by the argument on Twitter shortly after Burna Boy performed in his white underwear in honour of Fela at the 2014 Felabration, this reporter asked if Fela had ever performed on stage in his underwear and his answered matched Seun AnikulapoKuti’s.

“Fela never performed on stage in his underwear. Burna Boy was just being a young boy that he is and he just wanted to entertain and he got the attention he wanted. I listen to his music. He is good and different from his contemporaries. He is not as popular as Davido and Wizkid but he is big abroad. He will be touring in July in Europe and America.”

A reprint of his latest memoir titled, Dis Fela Sef: The Untold Legends of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti will be released for his birthday celebrations slated for June.

There was so much to talk about with Idonije on music and new media and, like people would say these days, “let’s continue the conversation on twitter”, but will he?

“I am not a social media person. I am on Facebook. I have a lot of unread messages. I receive a lot of messages daily and I delete a lot of them. I have not been very active on Facebook for fear of being bombarded,” he responded cheerfully before enduring the few minutes of photo shoot in and outside his cosy apartment.

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ARTS & REVIEW\\TELEVISION TRIBUTE

Back to the Roots

Yinka Olatunbosun

Willie

UNITED FOR HEALTHY LIVING

Yinka Olatunbosun

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he Edak Willie Empowerment Foundation has shown to all that the art platform is relevant in the campaign for healthy living. This explains the recent collaboration with artists in a workshop organised in Lagos recently to mark the World Health Day at the Nigeria Institute for International Affairs (NIIA), Victoria Island, Lagos titled, “LASSA FEVER/Environmental Hygiene Sensitization Workshop for young Nigerians.”

The members of the audience were predominantly students drawn from various institutions in Lagos to educate them on the need to imbibe daily hygienic practices to counter viral diseases that spread and kill swiftly.

Edak Willie had been a television presenter and writer whose desire is to reach the heart of young people through programmes in audio-visual format, face-to-face conversations and the print medium. Against this background, she had set up the Edak Willie Foundation

to address the needs of young people and promote unity and development.

“We set up Edak Willie Foundation to actualize a couple of dreams I had which centred around sustainable growth and development for Africa and Africans especially Nigerians because it is my country, my primary constituency,’’ she said while opening the morning session at the workshop.

“The challenges are the same wherever you go in Africa, save for a few variations, usually so, as a result of socio-cultural differences, religious slants or ethnicity. Our belief at Edak Willie Foundation is that the answers, though not necessarily simple are more readily available when we join hands; work together to create lasting solutions.”

Speaking at the gathering, the Nollywood actor, Segun Arinze told the audience about the Nollywood has produced several movies to sensitise the public on the dangers of viral diseases.

One of such movies is 93 Days. The movie, starring Danny Glover, and a raft of brilliant actors, recounts the story of the brave Nigerian doctor, Mrs. Stella Ameyo Adadevoh who averted a disastrous spread of Ebola Viral

Disease in Nigeria. Arinze said movies are powerful tools of reaching a mass audience simultaneously in the campaign for healthy practices.

For Yinka Davies, the workshop is not enough. She thought it is best to enlighten market women, artisans and people in rural communities about how community health matters can degenerate into a nationwide health liability.

The keynote address with the theme “Lassa Fever: A product of Unkempt Environment’’ was delivered by Dr. Charles Elikwu of the Department of Microbiology, Babcock University Teaching Hospital. He stressed that Lassa fever is endemic; reoccurring for almost five decades in Nigeria. One of the preventive measures against the killer disease is hand washing.

In his intervention, the Commissioner for Health, Akwa Ibom State, Dr. Dominic Ukpong suggested social distancing as well as basic hygienic practices in combating the spread of viral diseases.

The workshop was given life with the performance by Iroko, an enchanting drummer who diffused the sombre nature of the gathering with his powerful beats.

Over the years, Yoruba parents have been accused of creating a gap between their children and their roots as they neglect the use of the language at home. This formed the crust of the deliberations at Yoruba Lakotun, a quarterly cultural programme at the Ethnic Heritage Centre, Ikoyi.

Mr Ayoade Okedokun, author of Ika Abamo, Omo Elede and other books observed that, “there are certain words that cannot be translated into Yoruba language because it has no equivalent in English and vice versa’’. He explained that Yoruba parents have mixed up the role of the school with that of the home.

“The payment made in the school is to teach the children English language; while the children should learn Yoruba language from their parents and immediate community. Unfortunately, many people muddled up these roles which are distinctly separate. Parents should ensure that their children understand the language; children should not be separated from their roots,’’ he argued.

Similarly, Ms Adebunmi Adeniran, the Chief Executive Officer of Nailangs, a virtual keyboard that can type 12 Nigerian languages with the tonal marks, expressed concern at the rate at which Yoruba parents make their children speak English compulsorily whereas the Yorubas in Diaspora are keen on making their children understand the language.

“Our mother tongue needs to be a reference point for many generations to come and we have to ensure that it is preserved with the use of technology and also orally, as it is passed down from one generation to another’’.

Adesewa Oyinkansola, a student of Yaba College of Technology Secondary School, who performed two poems in Yoruba language explained how she rose up to the challenge of expressing herself in her mother-tongue.

‘I challenged my mum that I do not want to be a stranger to my culture.

My mum agreed and today, I prefer to read my Yoruba Bible and wear Yoruba clothes.’

The programme was dedicated to Benin Republic, a country where Yoruba language has just been adopted as the second language. Although, there is a slight variation in their version of the language, still it is generally conceived as a right step in the right direction.

Ebony Life Films Unveils The Wedding Party The Wedding Party, a romantic comedy, directed by award-winning filmmaker and New York Film School alumni, Kemi Adetiba will hit the cinemas nationwide in December.

Written by Tosin Otudeko, ‘The Wedding Party’ is the product of the collaboration of Africa’s leading film powerhouses EbonyLife Films, FilmOne Distribution, Inkblot Productions and Koga Studios.

Set in Lagos, The Wedding Party is a riveting tale of the complexity of love. The plot tells of a 24-year-old art gallery owner Dunni Coker who is the only daughter of her parents.

She plans to marry the love of her life, Dozie, an IT entrepreneur. The lovers take a vow of chastity and anticipate a ground-breaking first night together as a married couple.

The date is set and the bride’s parents, who have recently enjoyed a surge in their fortunes decided to make the wedding a memorable one.

Dunni’s mother-in-law in waiting, Obianuju is having second thoughts about allowing her son marry into a humble family.

This truth and other intrigues make the drama a very fascinating one. The Wedding Party is the second offering from EbonyLife Films after last year’s FIFTY. FIFTY reportedly has the biggest premiere in the history of the Nigerian Movie Industry and is the top grossing Nigerian film of 2015.

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CICERO

Editor Vincent Obia Email vincent.obia@thisdaylive.com

IN THE ARENA

As 2016 Budget Heads for Resolution...

WiththedeclarationofanendtothebudgetstandoffbetweenthePresidencyandNationalAssembly,bothparties must now adopt a more flexible and imaginative approach to the document to ensure its quick and successful implementation. Vincent Obia writes

T

he saying, “When elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers,” is remarkably appropriate to Nigeria today, at least with regard to the bickering between the Presidency and National Assembly over the contents of this year’s national budget. The bickering had raged beyond the constitutionally prescribed period for an amicable settlement, raising fears about a more severe degeneration of the relationship between the two arms of government.

But on Tuesday officials of the National Assembly and the Presidency said all disagreements regarding the budget had been resolved and the document would be ready for the president’s assent in a few days. That was after a meeting between President Muhammadu Buhari and the leadership of the legislature.

The agreement reached between the executive and the legislature on the passage and subsequent assent to the budget is commendable. But it would, certainly, not be a cure-all for the challenges that have dogged the budget and others that may potentially arise in the course of its implementation. That is why the executive and the National Assembly must consciously avoid anything that could further impede the budget, whose long delay has extensively held up socio-economic activities in the country.

The Buhari government must hit the ground running, when the budget is eventually signed into law, on the execution of the key policies of the administration.

The government has consistently claimed that its core policies have been delayed by the budget stalemate.

Prior to the resolution of the disagreements, the executive had sought to withdraw the budget and rewrite it to accommodate certain projects it believed were removed from the appropriation bill it submitted to the National Assembly. The budget of N6.08 trillion, which was passed by the National Assembly on March 23 with some adjustments and later transmitted to the president for his assent, was rejected and returned to the legislature by the president following the latter’s observation of alleged omissions and insertions by the former.

The Presidency had first argued that the appropriation bill passed by the National Assembly and sent to him consisted of mere highlights and lacked details. Then it contended that some core projects in the administration’s socio-economic agenda, which were in the budget proposal, had been removed or unduly altered by the Senate and House appropriation committees headed by Senator Danjuma Goje and Hon. Abdulmmumin Jibrin, respectively. Some of the affected projects are the N60 billion Lagos-Calabar rail project, which was allegedly removed by the National Assembly; Lagos-Ibadan Expressway budget, which was allegedly reduced by N24 billion; Second Niger Bridge, which was devalued by N3.9 billion; BeninSagamu Road, whose proposed cost was cut by N800 million; and Kano-Maiduguri-Ngala rail project that was reduced by N260 million.

But in the National Assembly’s view, it was constitu-

P O L I T I CA L N OT E S

THE PR

ESIDEN

tionally wrong for the president to rewrite a budget that had been passed. It, therefore, argued that the president should sign the budget transmitted to him and later propose an amendment to the appropriation law to accommodate the said omissions.

The arguments raged until April 22, the expiration of the constitutional 30 days interval within which the president must give his assent to the appropriation bill or have his veto on it overruled and the bill passed into law by two-thirds majority votes of the two chambers of the National Assembly.

Nigerians feared that the National Assembly and the Presidency were headed for more collision through the application of strict legality. But both parties decided to change course on the issues. How they steered a course between their seemingly incompatible interests during the meeting Tuesday night, which was said to have lasted only about 10 minutes, is difficult to determine.

But both parties could well have resolved the issues much earlier and saved the citizens from the current harsh economic conditions. The budget standoff has brought economic activities to a complete standstill, as everyone tends to wait and hope that the issues would pan out well. One of the most affected has been the construction subsector, where government debts of over N600 billion to contractors have resulted in the stoppage of activity at the sites. President of the Federation of Construction Industry, Mr. Solomon Ogunbusola, said recently that his members were yet to receive anything from the N350 billion the federal government had in March promised it would

NASS

Anisulowo and the Bloodcurdling Insecurity

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Anisulowo

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inject into the economy through settlement of contractors debts to try to stimulate economic activities.

In addition, acute nationwide petrol scarcity has shot up living expenses to levels not seen in recent history.

Generally, the standard of living has fallen to terrible new lows, and the response of the All Progressives Congress federal government to many of its campaign promises has become a source of bad jokes.

But the Buhari government says the future is bright, and it pins its hopes on the budget.

As Nigerians continue to absorb the harsh realities of the budget impasse, it is necessary to examine some of the issues in the imbroglio. This is so that, ezeibe.aguwa@thisdaylive.com 080938422953 perhaps, the executive and legislature can take a lesson or two on political harmony, which is indispensable in the successful implementation of the budget by the executive.

Even though the legislature has powers under the constitution to approve projects in the budget, it does not have the right to initiate projects. Projects are initiated through the budget by the executive after the due processes of costing, evaluation, and other feasibility studies by experts. Legislators can recommend projects to the executive, but they cannot stay in the National Assembly and initiate projects for the executive. It is never done, as such projects would necessarily be lacking in due costing and evaluation.

The National Assembly should remove the illegal injections in the budget done by its committees and return the document to the president for assent. After assenting, the executive can then, in the spirit of give and take, present a supplementary budget to take care of the legislators’constituency projects and their other interests within the limits of the law.

To achieve the harmonious relationship between the executive and the legislature, which is needed for a smooth implementation of the budget, each arm must be willing to accept some of what the other wants and give up some of what it wants.

As Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Emeka Ngige, put it, “Insistence on strict legalism might not achieve the solution that the country needs. What the situation calls for is give and take on the part of the two arms of government in the interest of the masses and to move the country forward.”

he kidnap Wednesday of former Minister of State for Education, Senator Iyabo Anisulowo, exacerbates the already overwhelming sense of insecurity which many Nigerians currently feel in their country. Anisulowo was, reportedly, abducted in the Igbogila area of Yewaland, Ogun State, about 8.30pm along with her security aides while returning from her farm.

These kidnappers from hell – along with their visceral cousins in crime, the killer herdsmen – who have taken over the country’s bushes, must

be smoked out from their hideouts for Nigerians to return to economic production and lead normal life again. They have terrorised the country for too long, while the security agencies feel, unfortunately, helpless.

The President Muhammadu Buhari government must rise to its responsibility of protecting all Nigerian citizens, irrespective of tribe, tongue, and religion. The administration’s protracted failure to discharge this responsibility is pushing the country to a dangerous state, where everyone would need to be a security apparatus unto himself. This will not augur well for Nigeria.

– Vincent Obia

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R • MAY 1, 2016

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CICERO/REPORT

Mohammed

Amaechi

Fashola

Kachikwu

Buhari: Time for Stocktaking Though last Monday’s town hall meeting in Lagos provided the federal government an opportunity to reassure Nigerians that it is is working to effect change, many remain sceptical, reports Shola Oyeyipo

I

t is less than 30 days to the completion of 365 days since the All Progressives Congress government took over the mantle of leadership and tongues are already wagging in various directions. Though the administration has shown the propensity to do things differently, not a few Nigerians are of the opinion that the government is yet to take off and quite a number of people are of the view that the ruthless in-fighting in the APC is an albatross to progress.

But in what was designed to acquaint Nigerians with the activities of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, along with five other ministers and other government functionaries kick-started a town hall meeting in Lagos last Monday. It is expected to go round the six geopolitical zones to discuss issues affecting Nigerian politics and reassure the people that the government is still on track.

Anti-insurgency War

Briefing the gathering on what the government had been able to achieve since assuming office on May 29 last year, Mohammed said the APC, which campaigned on three broad areas of tackling corruption, ensuring the security of lives and property, and reviving the economy, had made noticeable impacts.

He said this was particularly in the area of tackling the Boko Haram insurgency that has killed thousands of Nigerians.

According to him, “Though our country has faced the challenges of ethno-religious violence, armed robbery, cattle rusting, kidnapping for ransom, militancy and violent agitations, the most daunting security challenge that we have faced in the past seven to eight years has been the Boko Haram insurgency. That explains why the president’s first trips outside the country, after he was sworn in, was to rally the support of our neighbours – Benin, Cameroon, Chad and Niger – for the efforts to tackle the insurgency.

“The president also rallied the support of the international community, starting with the G7, and then the US, France and the UN. Today, the president’s efforts have paid off. Boko Haram has been defeated. This is a rare feat. The insurgents have lost their capacity to carry out the kind of spectacular attacks for which they became infamous. This did not happen by accident. It was the result of purposeful, credible and courageous leadership being provided by President Muhammadu Buhari, who started off by ordering the relocation of the command and control centre of the battle against insurgency from Abuja to Maiduguri, rallied regional and global support for Nigeria’s efforts and boosted the morale and fighting capability of the armed troops.”

Mohammed, however, noted that the war against the outlawed group was still on-going and it must be sustained.

“No insurgency ends overnight,” he said. “Because it is not your usual conventional warfare, no agreement is signed to silence the guns. Therefore, there will still be pockets of cowardly attacks against vulnerable targets here and there.

These are isolated and cowardly attacks targeting motor parks, worship centres, IDP camps, etc. This is not a surprise since the insurgents have been dispersed and many of them

have simply melted into the population. But with a sustained anti-terror campaign, heightened intelligence gathering as well as the cooperation and vigilance of all citizens, even the attacks will fizzle out with time. The major challenge we face now is reconstruction, resettlement and rehabilitation that will see many of our people in the various IDP camps return home.”

Anticorruption War

The minister said though government was committed to stopping corruption in the country, it was untrue that the fight against corruption had been carried out without adequate attention to the economy. He stressed that without eradicating the culture of corruption nothing meaningful could happen in the economy.

Mohammed stated, “I have heard many commentators say that this administration is only fighting corruption without paying attention to the economy or any other thing. Of course, this is not true, but even if it is, it is patently justified. Why? Because unless we fight corruption to a standstill, nothing else we do will yield positive results. It was corruption that prolonged the war against Boko Haram and dispatched many soldiers and civilians to their early graves; it was corruption that ensured that while oil was selling for over $100 per barrel, we had nothing to show for the windfall; it is because of corruption that even though our budget has increased from less than a trillion in 1999 to over 6 trillion in 2016, poverty has grown almost at the same rate that the budget has increased; It was corruption that gave us darkness, instead of light, while we supposedly pumped millions of dollars into the power sector.”

He said the government had taken on corruption squarely and was winning the battle, explaining that there is need for Nigerians to join hands with the government to successfully prosecute the anticorruption war.

“The situation is serious and no government can fight the battle alone. That explains why we have launched a nationwide sensitisation campaign to make Nigerians to buy into the anti-graft war. In this campaign, our focus is not to vilify anyone, but to put a face to corruption instead of talking about it in the abstract.

“That was why, in launching the sensitisation campaign in January, we released what many have now called a bombshell: that between 2006 and 2013, just 55 people allegedly stole a total of N1.34 trillion in Nigeria, an amount that is more than a quarter of the 2015 national budget!,” he added.

According to Mohammed, the Nigerian economy poses a great challenge because the country has lost a considerable quantum of its earnings to the massive crash in the price of oil but the government is working round the clock to turn the misfortune to fortune.

“While these efforts are on, the administration has decided to plug all financial loopholes through the Treasury Singles Account into which over N2 trillion has accrued so far. Funds that ordinarily would have gone into private pockets are now finding their way into the public treasury, to be used for the benefit of all. Also, about 36,000 ghost workers have been discovered and weeded out, saving the government millions of naira,” he explained.

2016 Budget and Social Intervention

On the 2016 budget, the information minister said with capital expenditure increased to 30 per cent and the six social intervention areas included, the budget was prepared to directly touch the lives of millions of citizens and lift them out of poverty.

According to him, when the budget is fully implemented 500,000 graduates are to be employed and trained as teachers; 370,000 non-graduates (artisans, technicians) would be trained and employed; one million people (farmers, market women, etc) would be granted loans to set up small businesses; conditional cash transfer to the most vulnerable people will be fulfilled; school feeding targeting 4.5 million school children and bursaries/ scholarships for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) students would be provided.

Foreign Gains

On his part, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, said Buhari had achieved very much for the country with his foreign trips. Onyeama noted that one major factor responsible for the trips was the challenge posed by the Boko Haram insurgency, particularly, regarding the need to form a coalition with other African countries since it has evolved into trans-border insecurity and the anti-corruption fight. He stressed that the president had to get the support of the international community because terrorism is a global phenomenon that requires concerted effort to tackle.

In the area of using the foreign trips to fight corruption, Onyeama said money stolen from the country’s vaults were often stashed away in foreign lands and Buhari needed to establish a working agreement with some of these countries to ensure that the money was returned to Nigeria and the characters involved were unravelled.

The minister said the effort had been yielding results, noting that the foreign trips have led to the coming of foreign investors.

His trade and investment counterpart, Okechukwu Enelemah, said as a way of creating an enabling environment that would boost the confidence of investors, the government is looking at other various indices that would involve collaboration with ministries of government and states. Enelemah said the government was planning to launch the Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan, which would be carried out in collaboration with various organisations in the country.

Housing

The Minister of Works, Housing and Power, Babatunde Fashola, who is the immediate past governor of Lagos State governor, admitted that the housing sector was his most difficult responsibility due to lack of an existing housing model or plan to work with. But he assured the people that government was working on a veritable template. “Very soon we will get it in place. We are trying to develop a cultural model of housing that can be used to kick-start our industrial base for housing.”

On the dwindling power supply, which is a major concern among Nigerians, Fashola pleaded with the people for more time

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The Bloodletting by Herdsmen in Enugu Blood flowed freely at the agrarian community of Ukpabi Nimbo in Uzo-Uwani local council of Enugu State last Monday as herdsmen invaded the community, causing unimaginable carnage and destruction of property, and fear of even worse reprisals. Christopher Isiguzo, in Enugu, writes

T

he events of April 25 in Ukpabi Nimbo community in UzoUwani Local Government Area of Enugu State have left deep scars. The pain caused in the community by the killing of children, mothers and fathers by cattle herders that fateful Monday morning will take a long time to heal.

Invasion

The herdsmen had invaded the community in the early hours of Monday and attacked no fewer than seven villages in Nimbo, including Nimbo Ngwoko, Ugwuijoro, Ekwuru, Ebor, Enugu Nimbo, Umuome and Ugwuachara.

In the process, scores of lives were wasted while those who managed to escape sustained varying degrees of injury, especially deep cuts on their foreheads, necks, arms and legs. Most of the injured were rushed to different hospitals, including Royal Cross Specialist hospital, Bishop Shanahan Hospital and Nsukka District Hospital in Nsukka, about 30 kilometres away from the area. The community has no hospital.

Those whose wounds were more severe were rushed to the National Orthopaedic Hospital and Parklane Hospital in Enugu.

Apart from the human carnage, 10 residential houses and a church belonging to the Christ Holy Church International, Onueke Nimbo Odozi Obodo sect, were also burnt by the herdsmen. Vehicles were burnt and domestic animals like goats, cows and sheep were killed. A young man whose name could not be ascertained was burnt inside a commuter bus belonging to one Ejima, near the Christ Holy Church, Nimbo.

Students writing the West African Examination Council’s School Certificate examinations abandoned the exams and ran for their lives.

The bodies recovered from the scene of the attacks included those of an old man aged about 85, and another young man whose throat was slit. One of the victims, who was simply identified as Mr Ajogwu, the father of the former councillor for Nimbo Ward 1, Sunday Ajogwu, had his left hand severed while another former councillor for Nimbo Ward 2, Kingsley Onyebuchi Ezugwu, was among those seriously injured. One victim had his stomach ripped open with the intestines outside.

The situation at the once peaceful agrarian community on that fateful Monday was indescribable as blood flowed freely, with people wailing out their hearts. Not even the arrival of the police commissioner, Ekechukwu Nwodibo, and the Area Commander for Nsukka, Monday Kuryasi, among other top police officers to the troubled community could reduce the tears.

Tension

Before the attacks, it was gathered that the herdsmen had vacated the area with their cattle in the early hours of Saturday, before the attackers who reportedly came from Nasarawa State, near Abuja, started killing the Nimbo people.

There had been anxiety in Nimbo following reports that about 500 Fulani herdsmen were assembling to attack the area. It was gathered that Fulani herdsmen at Adani had at the weekend imported about 500 others from Nassarawa State to help them invade Nimbo community. They alleged that some of their cattle were missing in the area.

As a result of the development, stakeholders from the local government met weekend in Enugu to find a solution to the incessant attacks by Fulani herdsmen on communities in the local government, including the kidnap of over 15 persons and raping of several women from the area along the NsukkaAdani- Umulokpa road in the last six months.

Those kidnapped paid ransoms ranging from N500,000 to about N5 million before they regained their freedom.

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi(3rd left); General Officer Commanding 82 Division of the Nigeria Army, Major General Ibrahim Attahiru (2nd left); senator representing Enugu North senatorial district, Senator Chuka Utazi,(behind); Commissioner of Police, Nwodibo Ekechukwu (3rd right); and State Commandant of Nigeria Civil Defence Corps, Mr. Steve Lar,(2nd right) when they visited the scene of the massacre by the herdsmen at Nimbo

President Buhari and Governor Ugwuanyi at a parley on the killings in Enugu Herdsmen had on February 9 also invaded the Abi community in UzoUwani about 4pm from a neighbouring community of Kogi State, killing and destroyed property and farmlands valued at several millions of naira.

It was learnt that the attack, which led to the death of four persons, was carried out by over 20 armed men. The herdsmen were said to be retaliating the alleged death of one of their members said to have been killed during a clash in the farm.

But when the report about plans to attack Nimbo community was received, it was gathered that the chairman of the transition committee of Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area, Cornell Onwubuya, alerted both Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and the Commissioner of Police, Ekechukwu Nwodibo.

Onwubuya also alerted other stakeholders who met leaders of the Fulani community in Enugu State to address the issue of the impending attack.

Speaking at the emergency meeting held penultimate Saturday evening, Onwubuya said the meeting was convened to address the allegation that Fulani herdsmen planned to import about 500 of their tribesmen to enable them invade some communities in Uzo-Uwani. He noted that the local leaders

of the Fulani community also confirmed that there were attempts to bring in mercenaries to attack some communities in Uzo-Uwani, adding that the Fulani leaders in Enugu had complained that some of their people were killed within the axis of Nimbo and Abbi communities in the recent past.

In his speech at the meeting, Enugu State leader of the Fulani community, Alhaji Haldo Saidu Baso, said he had lived in Enugu State for over 33 years and would not be alive to witness the type of crisis that they were talking about. The Fulani community later resolved to talk to their people at different communities in the state not take the laws into their hands but to report disturbing issues to the traditional rulers of the communities.

“We will travel to Nassarawa State to talk to the cattle owners and stakeholders to warn the rustlers in Enugu State to stay away from trouble in the state,” Baso said, adding the local Fulani leaders at Uzo-Uwani had not reported the issues to the state leaders of the Fulani community over the matter.

Despite the arrangements made to forestall the attack, the herders not only invaded the villagers but also operated unchallenged, leaving tales of woes behind.

Condolence

Expectedly, the community has been receiving various personalities on condolence visits.

Ugwuanyi was on Tuesday accompanied to the community by Senator Chuka Utazi representing Enugu North senatorial zone; the GOC, 82 Division, Major General Ibrahim Attahiru; Ekechukwu, among other security chiefs.

The governor had also declared a two-day fasting and prayers in the state to seek divine intervention.

The governor broke down in tears upon sighting a fresh corpse of one Ugwu Ogbu said to be a teacher from Enugu Ezike in Igboeze North council who was posted to Nimbo community. The corpse was recovered by villagers that morning. He donated N5 million as immediate relief to the area as economic activities were totally shut down.

The governor also undertook to take care of the hospital bills of those receiving treatment as a result of injuries sustained during the attack.

“We are going to seek for God’s intervention in this matter. It is my belief that this too will pass away. The entire people of Enugu State are with you in this moment of grief,” the governor said.

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The governor explained that upon receipt of the report that there were plans to attack the community by the herders said to be coming from Nasarawa State, an emergency security council meeting was summoned on Sunday where far reaching decisions were taken to ensure that lives and properties were protected.

“A combined team of police, soldiers, civil defence operatives were despatched to the community but on Monday, we heard that they still carried out the threat resulting in the situation we are presently facing. No matter what, we are hopeful that God will save us from the present situation. That’s why I’ve declared fasting and prayers in the state for the next two days,” he told the people.

The governor also visited the traditional ruler of Nimbo community, Chief John Akor. While suing for peace, the governor assured the people of the community and the state at large that efforts were being made to find a lasting solution to the problem. He appealed to the people, especially the young men, not to take laws into their hands by engaging in any form of reprisal attack.

One of the community leaders, Dr Ajokwu George, appealed to the state government to come to their aid as their community had become a hunting ground for the herders. He said, “We are not really happy because our community is under threat, we have been burying our loved ones. We are more worried because in this case, we even alerted the security that these people were planning to attack us but nothing was done. As we speak, we’ve recovered over 20 corpses and we are still recovering more. Several others are in the morgue and in the hospitals. What did we do to deserve this? We are really pleading that something be done. Our women have been raped and killed and nothing has happened.

“What has happened is just a tip of the iceberg because we know they will come again. The way they invade our community and rape women before their husbands is worrisome. We need security here not just for a day or week but for months to protect us. We thank you for coming to empathise with us and we want you to deliver our people from this problem.”

Twist

A new twist to the story emerged on Wednesday when the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, visited the community and it was discovered that a police officer, one Corporal Chukwu, had been collaborating with the herders to inflict mayhem on the people.

While vowing to find a lasting solution to the problem posed by the activities of the herders, Arase ordered the detention of the policeman, directing that he be properly investigated. The IGP said once the allegations against him were confirmed, he would not only leave the police but will be prosecuted.

He also pledged the readiness of the police to do all in its powers to ensure that those involved in the gruesome murder of the villagers were arrested and prosecuted.

Arase said, “I am not happy about what has happened and that is why I have decided to come and have an on the spot assessment of the situation. I have been discussing with the senator from the area and others to enable us find lasting solution to the problem. I have been able to see what happened and we should be able to find solutions. I can assure Nigerians that nobody has the right to take the life of any other Nigerian and go free with it. We are going to make sure that we catch them and prosecute them and we will create the enabling environment for peace. On our way here, we saw where we are trying to put a police station to increase police visibility in this area.”

The IGP also visited the palace of the traditional ruler of the community, His Highness John Akor, and advised the community to remain law abiding and vigilant.

Protest

Some concerned citizens of the state on Wednesday took to

A survivor of the attack being treated at a hospital the streets of Enugu in a peaceful protest against the invasion, killings and destruction of property belonging to villagers of Nimbo community by herdsmen. The protesters numbering more than 20 marched from New Market through Okpara Avenue, to Holy Ghost Park, to Edinburgh Street, to the House of Assembly, and Government House, Enugu.

Some of the placards read, “stop the killings. No more human blood for cows”, “Ndigbo are part of humanity, stop the herdsmen massacre at Uzo-Uwani”, “stop killing Ndigbo, Fulani must go, Gburugburu wake up from your sleep”, “stop the killing, Buhari sit up, Fulani must go, Ugwuanyi speak up” and “operation stay alive, leave Igbos alone,”.

The spokesman of the group, who were also members of an online group, Advocates Online, Dr. McGinger Ibeneme, decried the incessant destruction of farmlands, killings, rape and kidnapping of people of the South-east by Fulani herdsmen. Ibeneme said, “The crux of the matter is that every day people go to their sleep and Fulani cattle herdsmen will come and slaughter them. Just few days ago, over 200 people were massacred in their village in Uzo-Uwani. There has never been any arrest; if anything, the Awgu indigenes were arrested for chasing away the invaders. They had to bail themselves. Their women were raped, men being abducted.

“We have heard about a Catholic priest being abducted, we have heard about churches being burnt, we have heard about women being raped. Every single day, day-by-day lives are lost. The federal government has refused to say anything; the presidency has been quiet over the Fulani. Are cows worth more than our lives? Why are they killing us, is it a crime to be a Nigerian? We just want answers. When will the killings stop?

Why hasn’t the president sent the army, why hasn’t the president deployed the intelligence?

“They call them hoodlums, who are the hoodlums? Do the hoodlums have an army, that they invade a village and kill in

hundreds? Were the Nigerian police asleep? Have there been any arrests?

“My appeal to the people is to open their eyes, to be alert, to be vigilant, to protect themselves against the invaders as the government can no longer protect us. It’s only a tree that will hear that it will die and it stays put. We are human beings; we have to shout for the whole world to hear us. The genocide is going on. There is a systematic killing of our people. After the massacre the government will now send the police to come and calm us down so that there will not be reprisals. We are dying in our numbers.”

In a similar vein, the Anglican Arch-Bishop of the Enugu Ecclesiastical Province, Dr Emmanuel Chukwuma, on Wednesday led a peaceful protest against the recent killings by herdsmen in the South-east. He was joined by other clergymen and residents of the coal city on the protest march.

Speaking with newsmen, Chukwuma encouraged Christians to intensify prayers to conquer the challenge as “the Igbo cannot stay in their land and become strangers.

“The people of South-east should stop patronising, empowering and engaging strangers in menial jobs so that they will stop killing our people. The state governor, Chief Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, said that we should pray and fast but prayer without action is nothing. So we are praying and matching it with action to sensitise our people to rise to this situation because `enough is enough’. If these senseless killings continue unabated, we will not hesitate to go after the herdsmen anywhere they are and we shall declare serious war against them. If Boko Haram subsides in the North, they cannot come down to the east and disguise themselves as herdsmen.”

The government and the security agencies are trying to calm frayed nerves. But tension remains high, and there are fears that there may be retaliations if appropriate security measures are not put in place.

• BUHARI: TIME FOR STOCKTAKING • Continued from Pg. 72 to get the sector in order. He said the current 5,000 megawatts was not enough for the country. He also disclosed that the administration had put necessary plans in place to address the challenges in road transportation.

“There is not enough power – 5, 000 megawatts for over 170 million people?” Fashola bemoaned. The former Lagos state governor, who made the first presentation, decried the citizens’ ways of measuring success in his ministry, saying, “Results are measured by how many roads have been completed.

How much power do we have? How many houses have been provided?

“We hear you loud and clear and we are working backstage to ensure that everything comes out well.”

Transport

The Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, urged Nigerians to be patient with the government, reiterating that the government would soon deliver on the Lagos to Kano

rail line, which he said will run through Lagos-Ibadan-Ilorin-Mina-Abuja-Kaduna-Kano.

“Imagine the enormity of jobs this alone would create when it is completed,” he said.

On the proposed agreement with General Electric for a University of Transportation to be established in Nigeria that will produce graduates in railway, marine and other transport sector professions, the transport minister said, “These agreement with China will also include building of locomotives for the country here in Nigeria.” He, however, noted that when the project starts it would likely involve demolition of structures.

He added that the government was also trying to improve the aviation sector.

Fuel Crisis

On the lingering fuel crisis, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, assured that the government was working seriously on intelligence solutions in collaboration with the security agencies. He disclosed that

as part of measures to resolve the problem of petrol scarcity, the government was planning to install trackers on all trucks lifting the products from the depots and also register the depots and filling stations they are meant to supply so that if they fail to offload the quantity required, there will be a record of the anomaly.

Kachikwu, who is also the Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, said over 30 per cent of petrol lifted from the depots was diverted to neighbouring countries like Chad and Cameroon.

He said while about 400 petrol trucks were sent to Lagos last week, only about 250 offloaded their contents. He also reiterated that the federal government’s payment to petroleum marketers, which was over N1 trillion, had been reduced to zero.

“I appreciate your patience. We didn’t cause it but we are working towards solutions,” Kachikwu said concerning the petrol scarcity.

He disclosed that NNPC’s average loss, which was over N300 billion per month,

had been reduced to N3 billion and said the Offshore Processing Agreement programme had made a savings of over $1 billion.

Audience Participation

Some participants at the event urged the ministers to expedite actions on measures to alleviate the suffering of the citizens. They also appealed to Nigerians to give the government time to accomplish its laudable projects.

Former Minster of Works, Alhaji Femi Okunnu, called on Nigerians to give the administration up to two years to put its policies in order, stressing, “One year is too short.” In a similar vein, the chairman, Lagos State chapter of Christian Association of Nigeria, Apostle Alexander Bamgbola, said the Buhari administration must be wary of the way it handles religious affairs.

Obviously, the issues raised by Buhari’s men are reassuring, but for most Nigerians, the real assurance would come when the various programmes are successfully executed.

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Olufunso Amosun: The Golden Girl at 50

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Soyombo Opeyemi

do not know what constitutes the highest moment for the Wife of the Governor and

founder of the Uplift Development Foundation, Mrs OlufunsoAmosun, in the last five years. But one event has remained green in my memory - the reception held in honour of the 20 Best WAEC Students in the 20 Local Governments of Ogun State after a two-week leadership training trip to the United Kingdom. The training was organized by the Uplift Development Foundation and the children were hosted by the Executive Council of the State inAbeokuta on Friday, December 7, 2012. It was a red-letter day.

A line from the remarks of the Wife of the Governor at the ceremony has continued to ring in my memory since then: “We had to write to the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to obtain the authentic results of these children so that our initiative would not suffer any discredit.” For me, the clause “so that our initiative would not suffer any discredit” captures an aspect of the personality of Mrs Amosun, which is integrity.

An analysis of that statement, with the management of the Foundation, also indicates that she’s a consummate administrator, highly organised and forward-looking.

The entire programme, Uplifting the SSS3 Students, has profound ramifications. The initiative was the first in the annals of the State. In the words of Dr. Dalhatu Sarki Tafida, the then Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, who received the children on November 27, 2012,“This is a laudable initiative that is worthy of emulation by other states in Nigeria. Let me state categorically that this is the first time ever that students are being brought to the United Kingdom on educational merits. We have had student excursions here and there. But this is the first time students who have performed excellently well in their West African Secondary School Certificate Examinations are being brought to the United Kingdom for the purpose of leadership training programme. Ogun State is taking the bull by the horns in preparing our youths for future leadership roles.”

The 20 children, who secured the best WAEC results in the 20 local councils of Ogun State, were all from public schools. They were, essentially, from poor homes, and no one was certain what could, ultimately, have been their fate had Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, not “renegotiated” the return of the mission schools. What we knew was that there were over 20,000 children that could have been thrown into the wilderness of life because of inability to pay school fees. But we should not make any mistake about it. Amosun, being a product of mission school, was never averse to the return of those schools to the Voluntary Agencies, as they were then called. He regards them as partners in progress. The argument was on time and timing.

Where do we put those thousands of children from poor homes, those already in school and those yet to gain admission to primary and secondary schools since government had been in charge of the schools for several decades? So, he only pleaded for time.

Recently, I visited one of the schools as a private citizen. The government pupils, who could not be less than a thousand from my reckoning, pay N900 (nine hundred naira) each, but the mission pupils, who were less than two hundred by my estimation in that same school, pay above N30,000 (thirty thousand naira) each. The government children got free textbooks while the parents of the mission students had to buy the books in addition to payment of school fees. I recall vividly that the governor was persuaded by the PTA Executive in 2012 during a visit to the Governor’s Office to allow parents to contribute a token as part of their commitment to the overall development of the sector. The caveat was that no child must be sent home on account of inability to pay the PTA fee. “Education,” according to Governor Amosun, “is a social service which in the end serves the public good...”

The Uplifting the SSS3 Students scheme has been a source of inspiration for thousands of school children.

Indeed, when it became real that the 20 best students would actually travel to the United Kingdom for leadership training, the news spread like a wild fire on a sunny day across communities in Ogun State.

And the children, the target of this programme,

Amosun began to nurse a day it might be their turn to travel abroad; one could feel the burning passion to excel in their studies. One of the most potent ways to secure the attention of children or their commitment to any cause is a reward system. In this case, Mrs Amosun’s Uplift Development Foundation is unimpeachable; it is exceedingly a success.

Among other laudable programmes of the Uplift Development Foundation is the focus of the Wife of the Governor on sustainable environment.

Global warming is here with us; the effect of several decades of burning fossil fuels and deforestation. The greenhouse effect is getting stronger and the earth getting warmer. Recently, we experienced some heat wave in the country.

I recall that while growing up, we knew, in fact, could predict when harmattan would set in; we knew the period of rainy season and dry season. We knew when to anticipate heavy rainfall. The weather was predictable. But nowadays, nothing seems certain anymore. Harmattan sets in at an unexpected time; one is not exactly sure of the seasons and this has adversely affected farming, hence food production in the country. Indeed, our climate has changed!

I suppose it was in the appreciation of the powerful

force children could become in the campaign against global warming that led Her Excellency not only to launch the Green Education For The Youth (GEFTY) but authored a book on Green Education.

She has launched a state-wide campaign against environmental degradation and opened the eyes of residents to the innumerable benefits associated with going green - tree planting, use of clean or renewable energy and turning waste into wealth. Mrs Amosun organised a “Going Green” conference at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Abeokuta in April 2013. The two-day conference had in attendance renowned environmental activists, representatives of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation, Nigerian Conservation Foundation and Friends of the Forest, among others. It was in recognition of her unflagging devotion to a sustainable environment that the Novona University, Ogume, Delta State recently conferred on her Honourary Doctorate Degree in Environmental Management Science.

Dr (Mrs) Olufunso Amosun, who turns 50 tomorrow, is The Golden Girl in the Golden Years of Ogun State. She attains the golden age at a period that could be pronounced as development renaissance in Ogun State, a throw-back to the golden years of the Western Region. The award of the Governor of the Year to Senator Ibikunle Amosun by the Vanguard Newspapers, among many other laurels, is also a testament to this.

Mrs Amosun is not given to frivolities. She is disciplined and knows her onions. She’s equally genial; indeed capable of disarming spontaneity, as revealed in one encounter with her a couple of months after my book presentation.

“Good afternoon ma. I was looking something up in my laptop and stumbled on your picture at that book launch; your dressing for the event…”

She cut in, “Really, was it of Ogun Standard?!”

In other words, did it meet the standard set by your oga, an international standard, global best practices, and a model for others? (Plenty of laughter!)

Happy birthday to Her Excellency, Dr (Mrs) Olufunso Amosun, The Golden Girl!

––Soyombo, a media practitioner, sent in this piece via densityshow@yahoo.com

Angulu: Exit of an Incorruptible Anti-corruption Crusader Folu Olamiti

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n a very cold Sunday morning, April 3, 2016 to be precise, at Salt Lake City in Utah, United States of America, I was fighting idleness by scanning my Facebook when my eyes caught a post by Amina Angulu-Tswanya, one of the daughters of Ambassador Uriah Angulu. It was an ominous post that sent chilling sensations down my spine. Amina had posted on her wall a beautiful picture she took with her father, with both father and daughter beaming with smiles, and wrote: “Finally at rest with Jesus...My Hero.”

I swallowed hard as I took a second look at the picture. Again, I shivered. Though it seemed unbelievable at that moment, I had to jerk myself to the realization that no daughter would ever crack a joke about the father passing away. That done, I struggled to admit that Papa Angulu, who I saw earlier this year at a revival hosted by the Cathedral Church of The Advent at Gwarinpa, Abuja, was no more! He has gone to have his deserved rest in the bosom of His Maker.

In retrospect, and with profound regrets, I remember the countless times I had promised to pay him a visit at home but had failed to make the trip at each point, no matter how hard I tried. I wish I had fulfilled those promises. My faltering notwithstanding, Pa Angulu never took offence. Rather, the next time we would meet in church, he would still embrace and greet me smilingly even as he would enthuse: “My brother come and visit me. As you can see, my health is failing, and I’m here looking for spiritual healing.” We would pray, and I would assure him that his healing had been made perfect by the resurrection power in the blood of Jesus. We both said “Amen”, and went our different ways. Sadly, I never knew that would be the last time I would see or speak with him.

Ambassador Angulu was an embodiment of integrity. He lived this attribute through and through, both in private and public life.

I was privileged to relate closely with him at the Independent Corrupt Practices And Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) where I was Resident Consultant (Media) and he was ICPC Acting Chairman. That was in 2011. He came into limelight during this period when he got enmeshed in a controversy that ensued while he was trying to protect the independence and autonomy of ICPC from undue interference by some powerful elements in government at the time.

He believed the war against corruption should be fought totally in accordance with the Act that set up the ICPC. I recall that the ICPC in 2011, got a petition against some principal officers of the National Judicial Institute (NJI) alleging a N6billion fraud. Some

Angulu NJI officials were invited for interrogation. Just then, Ambassador Angulu got a letter purportedly from the office of the then Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Katsina Alu, asking Angulu to suspend further action on the probe and come to CJN office for discussion.

Angulu was furious. He was not the type that would be taught how to do his job. He would not condone sensing undue interference in his job. Consequently, he disobeyed the order. He refused to honour the invitation. Rather, he wrote back to the CJN telling him that for him to be sighted anywhere near the CJN office at a time the NJI was under probe, would be sub-judice, and it would impinge on his integrity and that of his office. Instead, he suggested that the meeting should be held in his office at the ICPC Headquarters.

The CJN office considered Angulu’s response an affront and directed the office of the Justice Minister to deal with the issue.

In a split twist, a spurious letter emerged from Justice Minister Office, signed by one Abdullah Yola, asking Angulu to proceed on leave and hand over to another board member, Dr. Mrs. Roseline Abang-Wushishi. Angulu consulted widely whether to ignore the directive or take up a fight. Considering his integrity against the mounting pressure to quit, he wisely decided to leave with his integrity intact. Though the Justice Ministry came out with a volte- face press statement signed by its Chief Press Secretary, Mr.

Ambrose Momoh, denying that Angulu’s removal was related to the ongoing probe of an alleged N6bn fraud in the NJI. What became of that probe after the exit of Angulu is now history.

I was happy to listen to a video where Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said that the war against corruption was going on satisfactorily even though corruption had been fighting back. That the government was satisfied with the agencies charged with the prosecution of the war against corruption, that the anti-corruption war “is still on course in Nigeria” signifies that Nigeria is at the threshold of greatness. It is also gratifying to note that the present government has restrained itself from interfering with the anti-graft agencies in their relentless war against corruption and corrupt tendencies. This was what Ambassador Angulu stood for, and sacrificed his position for as he refused to make undue compromises. Angulu’s integrity remained intact till he breathed his last.

Nigerians would remember him as a man of impeccable character.

Ambassador Angulu, 79, came from a deeply religious home.

His father was Reverend Canon John Angulu, popularly known as Papa Doko. Throughout his life, Angulu amply demonstrated his religious commitment to the Anglican Communion. He would be greatly missed by the leadership of the Church of Nigeria, Primate Nicholas Okoh, clergymen, and many Anglican faithful who saw him as a role model and adored him for how he kept faith and loyalty with his wife of many years. For Mama Angulu, the demise of the husband would be a shattering experience; a great loss. For as long as I knew them, both husband and wife always related like Siamese twins.

At the Church of Advent, the couple, on many occasions, had been showcased as role model for those aspiring to attain excellence in marriage. They had openly shared the secret behind the success of their marriage and how they both fought bravely to overcome the ups and downs of life. Pa Angulu survived many life-threatening accidents. Yet, by acts of divine intervention, he lived to give his mother a befitting burial.

Papa Angulu was an embodiment of patience just as he was an epitome of wisdom and integrity. Not once did I see him get angry in my many years of acquaintance with him. And he never bore grudges against people. If he was not happy with you, he would tell you straight to your face. He would never allow the sun to go down with any bitterness in his heart. He was always smiling, yet highly cerebral.

Pa Angulu, a former Nigeria Consul General to the United States, bagged the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) in recognition of his meritorious services to his fatherland. What else can I say of this great Nigerian? I guess we can never eulogise the Dan Gatan Nupe enough. Papa, enter into your rest in the bosom of the Lord till we meet to part no more. Adieu sir.

– Mr. Folu Olamiti, Media Consultant, wrote from Abuja.

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Edited by Demola Ojo Email demola.ojo@thisdaylive.com

Leicester Aim to Win Title at Old Trafford as United Press for Champions League Qualification

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eicester head to Old Trafford today knowing victory over Manchester United will make them arguably the most unlikely league champions in history. Claudio Ranieri has fashioned a modern day football miracle which will become complete if the Foxes take the three points they need to take the title.

But it is more than 18 years since the

RESULTS & FIXTURES

PREMIERSHIP Everton Newcastle Stoke Watford West Brom Arsenal

2–1 1–0 1–1 3–2 0–3 1–0

Bournemouth Crystal Palace Sunderland Aston Villa West Ham Norwich

12:00pm Swansea vs Liverpool 02:05pm Man United vs Leicester 04:30pm Southampton vs Man City LA LIGA Real Sociedad Atl Madrid Real Betis

0-1 1-0 0-2

Real Madrid Rayo Vallecano Barcelona

Foxes last won at Old Trafford and they will have to do it without top scorer Jamie Vardy after the FA banned him for an additional game for improper conduct - although his replacement Leonardo Ulloa starred in his side’s 4-0 thrashing of Swansea last Sunday.

Manchester United will not want another club winning the league on their own turf when they are so used to lifting the trophy themselves and have shown a recent improvement in form, which has seen them book their place in the FA Cup final and cling onto hopes of muscling in on the top four and in the process qualify for the Champions League next season.

United will be brimming with confidence after booking an FA Cup final place with a last-gasp Anthony Martial winner against Everton at Wembley last weekend.

Beating the leaders could play an important role in boosting their chances of qualifying for Europe, with Manchester City and Arsenal, third and fourth respectively and five points clear, still to face each another.

Louis van Gaal has no fresh injury concerns. Only Bastian Schweinsteiger and Luke Shaw remain sidelined. The Dutchman hinted that the England defender has an outside chance of play-

ing in the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace on May 21 during his pre-match press conference.

Shaw has been sidelined since September after he suffered a double fracture of the right leg in United’s Champions League group stage defeat to PSV Eindhoven.

Vardy remains banned for the Foxes

after the England star was handed an additional one-match ban by the Football Association following his reaction to referee Jon Moss after he was sent off in the 2-2 draw with West Ham this month.

Leicester City have now won 22 league games this season - their highest tally in a top-flight season, overtaking both 1928-29 and 1965-66.

NPFL: Ikorodu Utd End 11-Match Winless Streak Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) new boys Ikorodu United halted their 11-game run without a win by defeating Heartland 3-1 at the Agege Stadium in Lagos yesterday.

Playing in the first game of the NPFL doubleheader for Week 14, the Oga Boys, still without influential player Harrison Egbune, were tipped to continue their winless streak considering Heartland’s pedigree.

Heartland head coach Alphonsus Dike could afford to leave Emeka Ogbugh on the bench and even play three at the back with Emeka Atuloma drafted in the three alongside Chinedu Efugh and Zoumana Doumbia.

The opening 10 minutes confirmed the reason Ikorodu United are bottom of the

standings and without a win since February 28 when they defeated Lobi Stars 1-0.

On 10 minutes, Benin Republic striker Anthony Oussou nodded Heartland into the lead following a well-worked ball with Atuloma delivering the cross.

Howeve, in added time of first half, Ikorodu fought back and Junior Merenini side-footed in Ebiye’s pass to level the score at 1-1 and end the first 45 minutes even.

Twenty minutes into the restart, Ikorodu United were 2-1 up. It was the first time they would score twice in an NPFL game this season. Efugh and Doumbia in the Heartland defence hesitated in clearing their lines, and Ebiye, Ikorodu United’s best player on the day, stole in to score.

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NEWSXTRA Clerk Appointment Deepens Cold War between Senate, House Leadership Clement Danhutor

The appointment of the Clerk of the National Assembly is deepening a nascent gulf between the leadership of the Senate, headed by Senate President Bukola Saraki, and that of the House of Representatives, headed by Hon. Yakubu Dogara. THISDAY learnt that both men are backing different candidates for the post in the succession battle following the notice of intent by the Clerk, Mr. Salisu Maikasuwa, to proceed on terminal leave on May 14 ahead of his retirement in August.

The appointment of Mr. Mohammed Sani-Omolori as Acting Clerk by the National Assembly Service Commission under the chairmanship of Mr. Adamu Fika has been dogged by controversy.

But Saraki has thrown his weight behind the appointment of the deputy clerk, Mr. Benedict Efeturi, to succeed Maikasuwa on grounds of seniority. Dogara, however, wants Sani-Omolori appointed, obviously, but has

been quiet so as not to be seen to be going against the senate president.

A reliable source in the National Assembly told THISDAY, “After all, all the good press for Sani-Omolori is being coordinated from the speaker’s office, by his media aides. If he is not backing Sani-Omolori, I doubt if any of his aides would have the temerity to do propaganda on the man’s behalf.”

Saraki had written to Fika directing him to reverse the appointment, a directive shunned by the commission on grounds that Efeturi would also proceed on terminal leave in August this year.

A source said the commission might be right in shunning the directive.

“The senate president has no business giving orders to the commission. His role is simply advisory,” the source said.

The commission itself is divided on the clerk appointment issue, as some commissioners have accused Fika of deliberately favouring Sani-Omolori against Efeturi.

There are, however, allegations of financial inducement on both sides. The bribes are allegedly being sponsorsed by both candidates, who are said to be desperate to secure the position.

The tension caused by the on-going tussle is already polarising the staff, and there are fears it may also polarise the lawmakers, or pit the lawmakers against the bureaucracy at the National Assembly.

A top bureaucrat said the best solution may be the appointment of a neutral person as CNA, as the on-going situation is already generating tension in the management of the National Assembly management, and among the staff.

The source said, “Seniority is not the only determinant of appointments at this level. For instance, the present Head of Service was one of the most junior permanent secretaries when she was appointed.

There are several factors that come into play: team spirit, rapport with the National Assembly leadership, the commission, the staff, as well

as the media, legislative aides.

All these have to be taken into consideration.”

A source cited several instances when the House leadership negated the Senate, despite the fact that both leaders emerged under similar circumstances. Feelers indicate that Dogara may be working to warm his way back into the heart of the party, All Progressives Congress, after emerging as Speaker against their wishes.

“The House was quick to display the copy of its budget after the senate declared its copy missing in January.

When the senate said it was done with the budget and any additions should come by way of amendment, the House said it was ready to reexamine the document. The speaker seems to have positioned himself as someone the executive can approach.

He even met with President Buhari in the afternoon of Wednesday, first, on the budget issue, without Saraki, before the main meeting at night which barely lasted 10 minutes,” a source explained.

Workers’ Day: Falana Tackles Buhari, APC over Failed Promises Paul Obi in Abuja

LawyerandHumanRightsactivist, Femi Falana, SAN, yesterday took the President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives

Congress (APC) government to the cleaners over failed promises since the president and his party ascended into power. This came as a university don and Emeritus Professor of University Ife, Prof.

Toyo Olorode accused Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole of sliding away from his labour and pro-poor background to fester the interest of capitalists in the country. He also accused Minis-

ter of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola of advancing the interest of the corporate world and capitalists with his support for electricity tariff increment.

Olorode also accused the APC-led government of pursuing a selective anti-corruption crusade where some ruling elite such as former top military officers, top APC party members and close allies have been shielded from facing corruption charges permanently.

Falana, who was the Guest Lecturer at the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) Pre-May Day Lecture in Abuja enumerated the failure of the government to fulfil the promises it made during the 2015 presidential campaign; one year after assuming office.

The Lagos lawyer, who was represented by Chairman, Partners for Electoral Reforms, Ezenwa Nwagwu carpeted most policies and decisions recently made by government in the last year of the administration.

He said: “Under an economy controlled by market forces the majority of citizens have been denied access to security, welfare and happiness. In an arrogant manner, the few public officers and their cohorts who have cornered the commonwealth turn round to impose austerity measures on the people.

“In addition to the diversion of public funds by a handful of public officers the government has continued to take toxic loans from foreign financial institutions to fund the escalating costs of running an unproductive bureaucracy. “The on-going investigation into the mega looting of the treasury has shown that if the resources of the nation had been judiciously managed an effective welfare programme could have been established and run in the interest of the people.”

Senator Bamaiyi is Dead Former Senator, who represented Kebbi South district in the Senate during the Third Republic, Danladi Bamaiyi, is dead.

Online reports quoted his family as stating that the late Senator died in the early hours of yesterday in Abuja after a protracted illness.

Bamaiyi was a senator

between 1999 and 2003 and during that tenure he reportedly chaired the Senate Committee on foreign contracts verification.

The late senator, who was a relation of a former Chief of Army staff, General Ishaya Bamaiyi (rtd.) was survived by a wife and three children.

Ogun PDP Holds Three Parallel Ward Congresses Sheriff Balogun inAbeokuta

Ogun State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday held its ward congress where three different factions of the party conducted parallel congresses in the 236 wards across the state.

The three factions include: Members of faction loyal to the Senator representing Ogun East, Senator Buruji Kashamu/Chief Bayo Dayo-led state exco; members loyal to former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, and the third faction led by a member of the House of Representatives for Remo Federal Constituency, Ladi Adebutu.

The party crisis initially came up last Friday when nine members of the 14-man State Executive Committee threatened to organise parallel congresses, alleging that the leadership of the party had sidelined some party members by taken over their functions.

The nine aggrieved exco members led by the State Organising Secretary, Folashade Filani alleged that the Chairman

of the party, Adebayo Dayo and his Secretary, Semiu Sodipo had been running the party in the state without carrying the others along.

However, the faction led by the state PDP Chairman held their congresses while the nine aggrieved exco members also organised separate congresses.

Meanwhile, Sodipo told journalists that the congresses were conducted by a committee approved by the National Working Committee of the party, adding that the State Working Committee of the party had no role to play in the conduct of the exercise.

“A committee has come from Abuja and they are moving round and I don’t think they will recognise that or attend to any other congresses except the one they are conducting. Anything of such will just be a pocket of small thing here and there and might not worth talking about,” he said. In his assessment of the conduct of the ward congresses, Chairman of the 11-Man Congress Committee, Muhammad El-Yakub expressed satisfaction with the exercise.

In Brief Fidelity Bank Cooperates on Investigation

The Management of Fidelity Bank Plc has re-emphasised the bank’s commitment to cooperate with the authorities in respect of the investigation into transactions undertaken by the bank in the normal course of business in 2015. In a release, the bank said “Our attention has been drawn to reports in the media on investigation into transactions undertaken by the Bank in the normal course of business in 2015. The said transactions are now the subject matter of investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The Management of Fidelity Bank Plc hereby re-emphasises the Banks commitment to resolution of the matter at hand. “To this end, we shall continue to cooperate fully with the EFCC in the process of investigation. Based on the foregoing, we appeal to our customers and other stakeholders to understandthatFidelityBankrespectsthesanctityoftheinvestigation processandwillnotmakestatementsthatmayhampertheprocess.As soon as investigations are concluded, the bank shall update our various stakeholders”,itadded.

GTBank Holds Food & Drinks Weekend

GTBankisunveilingthebestofNigeriafoodsinLagosatatwo-dayevent tagged GTBank Food & Drink Weekend, scheduled to hold on May 1 and 2, which is designed to offer a wide variety of cuisines. The event will be headlinedbytwoacclaimedinternationalchefs,MarcusSamuelssonand Raphael Duntoye. Ethiopian born and Swedish raised, Samuelsson is a James Beard Award-winning chef, New York Times bestselling author, andajudgeforthehighlyratedTVshowChopped.NigerianbornRaphael Duntoye is the chef patron and owner of Le Petite Maison with outlets in London, Dubai and Miami.

NITAD Lagos Conference

The 2nd Annual Trainers’ Conference of the Nigerian Institute of Training and Development (NITAD) Lagos Chapter is coming up in Lagos from May 3 to 5, at the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON), Badagry, Lagos. The theme of the event, according to the Chairman of the conference planning committee, Mr. Benson Aruna, is ‘Learning and Development: Catalyst for sustainable value creation’.

Pa Afolabi for Burial

A philanthropist and community leader Prince Michael Ola Afolabi Olatunji popularly called ‘The Governor’ bade this world farewell on February 12, 2016 at age 85. He will be buried on May 7 at the Christ Cathedral Church cemetery at Ijero-Ekiti; his hometown in Ekiti State.

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High Life T

with LANRE ALFRED 08076885752

...Amazing lifestyles of Nigeria’s rich and famous

Will the Wedding Bells Toll for John Obayuwana and Ene Maya Lawani?

heir love leaps like a wolf - it is prideful, strong and courageous, thus eliciting envy and extreme jealousy by the brilliance of its flare. Like a silver light, the love espoused

by John Obayuwana and Ene Maya Lawani dazzles on their faces and seeps from their being into the air with resonant peal.

It sheathes them, warms them, and becomes every inch of them.

Until they fell in love, everybody deemed them an unlikely couple. But despite their differences, the bond between the two has strengthened over the years. In the last few years, luxury goods merchant, John, and his sweetheart, Ene, have been an item - though neither of them has come

forward to admit to their hot but muted romance.

The age difference that exists between the pair may be as expansive as the distance of one end of the Safari Desert to the other, but this does not impede the flow of their romance in any way.

At a recent high society wedding, John and Ene were sighted together.

They were all over each other at the wedding, like two love birds lost in their private world of ecstasy.

The intimate gazes exchanged by the duo echoed their deep-seated love for each other. Ene, who has been linked with quite a number of dudes in the past, is unabashedly in love with John. But only time will spell out the longevity of the affair.

Bola Shagaya

THE RETURN OF BOLA SHAGAYA In Bola Shagaya, everybody sees ravishing beauty and then they ask for her name. Her smile is addictive, like the liquid courage that frees male inhibitions and lets a rat sing poetry to a hummingbird. Indeed, there are many ways to describe Hajiya Shagaya. You could choose to describe her using qualities that project perseverance, hard work and determination or you could address her as a woman with infectious depth and specialisation.

No matter what life casts her way, Shagaya will always find a way to remain on top of her game. You will recall that during the tenure of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Shagaya skyrocketed in stature; she became one of the most connected women

in the country by her friendship and close relationship with former first lady, Dame Patience Jonathan.

However, since Jonathan lost the presidential election few months back, Shagaya, who is also a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader in Kwara State, chose to maintain a low profile, perhaps to restrategise and repackage her personality and brand. Last week, she made a stunning return as she resurfaced in high society, like a phoenix rising from its ashes. She was one of the female celebrities who brightened up the 60th birthday soiree of Foluke AbdulRasaq.

Like a ravishing fairy with magical mystique, Bola has become synonymous with immeasurable charm and grace.

There is no gainsaying that the beautiful woman has appreciated in womanliness and that rare humanity that distinguishes the regal from the inconsequential.

The captivating beauty was at her ravishing best when she was sighted at the party.

…AND MUNIRA MARWA TOO Every day in the life of Munira Marwa portends a fresh adventure; it’s enchanting, melodic, like the coming together of lovelorn soul mates caught in an interminable whirlpool of passion. Perhaps it’s her captivating beauty, maybe it’s her capacity to win and tame even the most frigid heart that enchants her husband and binds him to her love – for each day spent in her presence necessitates a fresh wooing.

And her husband, Brigadier General Buba Marwa, former military administrator of Lagos and former Nigerian ambassador to South Africa, is definitely up to the task. Every day, he treats

Ene Lawani and John Obayuwana

Hajia Munira to fresh treat and goes out of his way to ensure that she enjoys the best their marriage can give. However, Munira’s joy is two-fold; while she savours the joy of her blissful marriage, she is making a momentous return to the social scene.

It would be recalled that before she disappeared from the social arena, Munira was a preeminent personality and guest at many high octane shindigs where her very colourful lace materials caught the attention and admiration of all and sundry.

Munira is back with a bang and she is set to reclaim her prized spot in the social circuit.

days ago.

Abdulmumin Jibrin

Munira Marwa

A courteous woman, Munira incontestably occupies respectable spot in the pantheons of Nigeria’s high society. She is enthrallingly beautiful, approachable and very fashionable too thus making her the darling of the high society. She was at Foluke AbdulRasaq’s party

INTRIGUES AS HON. ABDULMUMIN JIBRIN EATS THE HUMBLE PIE Dandy lawmaker smarts from scathing allegations of betrayal Politicians are often considered the scum of the earth in every country. They are like a vile scum on a pond. Their slop to a great extent, epitomises the stealth, lyrical mumbo-jumbo dodging behind clumsy wile and paradox. In Nigeria particularly, a politician personifies a milieu in which altruism and integrity is impossible.

This is why Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin is having a hard time convincing the citizenry of his innocence amid a barrage of scorn. In the whole of the 2016 budget controversy one name that resonates more than others in the whole fiasco is Hon. Jibrin’s.

Jibrin, a ranking member of the house, was the former chairman,

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HIGHLIFE

Mojisola, Gbenga Obasanjo’s Ex-wife, Gets a Second Shot at Power…Her Husband is Lagos Most Popular Commissioner

A

fter the storm and hassles of her scandalous marriage to Gbenga Obasanjo, Mojisola, former daughter-in-law to ex-president, Olusegun Obasanjo, has attained her second chance at the limelight. Mojisola is back in the nation’s power circuit as her current husband, Mustapha Akinkunmi, is the commissioner of Finance in Lagos State.

Mojisola was equally at the receiving end of virulent criticisms as her estranged husband, Gbenga, following the latter’s allegation of an incestuous affair between Mojisola and her father and his own father, former president Obasanjo.

It would be recalled that Gbenga’s allegation shocked

House Committee on Finance and presently Chairman House Committee on Appropriation.

However, the fun loving millionaire and lawmaker, said to be one of the youngest and promising stars in the National Assembly, is faced with the question of credibility over the budget fiasco. He has been accused of removing the CalabarLagos Rail project and allocating the project funds, worth billions, to his constituency and northern part of the country.

Jibrin continues to deny the allegations even as you read. Highly informed sources revealed that the lawmaker is at the moment fighting the battle of his life to clear his name of the ignominious charges. Jibrin is peeved that some of his colleagues, especially members of the standing committees of the house that provided data for the budget, have failed to rise in his defence even though they are aware of his innocence. The Abuja big boy who has a huge reputation has since eaten a humble pie.

MERCHANTS OF MALICE! HIGH SOCIETY TROLLS MOOT IMAGINARY WAR BETWEEN SKYE BANK CHIEFS High society trolls would summon a war to tarnish the promise of a peace-filled dawn.

They would see battles rage while the blackout curtains are drawn.

They would incite shields to clash and blades to slaughter where peace unfurls like a verdant dale.

Oftentimes, they get trapped inside arenas without warriors and they become audience to invisible soldiers wielding spears of words in unending wars.

As you read, the high society grapevine is agog with rumours of a bitter spat between the immediate past Managing Director (MD) of Skye Bank, Kehinde Durosimi-Etti, and the current MD, Timothy Adetayo.

The duo are reportedly embroiled in a dirty fight and battle of might.

It was rumoured that since Timothy took over, he has been

his loved ones and rattled the entire country.

Moji, who wept profusely in public as she laboured to deny the grave allegations and save her reputation, had to take a break away from the monumental scandal after which she came back to defend herself in court.

The onus of denial however, fell on Moji alone as neither Gbenga’s father nor her father came out to douse the tension created by the allegation which was leaked to the public when Gbenga went to court to sue for the dissolution of their marriage. Those dark days have been put behind her now as she has found in her new husband, what she couldn’t find in Gbenga power or a semblance of it.

Moji Obasanjo and husband

accuse Tiwa Savage’s mother of witchcraft even as he pilloried the music diva for her unfaithfulness and disrespect to him as a husband. As you read, fans of the celebrity couple are lusting for a juicier riposte from Tiwa Savage and the music stars she allegedly committed adultery with. Indeed, the last has not been heard of the unfurling slugfest.

Tiwa Savage and Teebillz

busy changing his predecessor’s policies and replacing his men, especially those occupying key positions. Etti is reportedly unhappy about this development.

However, those in the know have defused the tension, insisting that there is no conflict whatsoever between the two banking gurus.

DIRT AND THE MUSIC DIVA! INTRIGUES AS TIWA SAVAGE’S HUSBAND, TEEBILLZ, ACCUSES HER OF ADULTERY

•CELEBRITY MARRIAGE HITS THE ROCKS AS DIVA’S HUBBY TAKES TO INSTAGRAM TO EXPOSE HER

If you ask Tunji Balogun aka Teebillz about his wife, Tiwa Savage, he might say he found paradise within her smiles and rib cage but Satan hid ill-bliss between her thighs. There is no gainsaying Teebillz was enraptured by the beauty and blatant sexiness of his wife until very recently. Tiwa, a popular music diva, effortlessly enthralled her husband and had him on her beck and call until they fell out with each other recently.

In a radical twist to their widely publicised celebrity romance, Teebillz went to his Instagram page to reveal shocking truths about his marriage to Tiwa.

In a venomous and highly controversial post, Teebillz wrote:

“I hope the fucking in (sic) Tiwa savage brand brings you peace.

I used my money, soul and everything I had for you and everyone knows how I hustled hard with passion for you to get to where you at (sic) today. You will never find peace in your career.”

He further alleged that Tiwa Savage had intimate relations with three music stars. Predictably, Teebillz posts has generated buzz on the internet with major bloggers publishing his posts on their websites. Teebillz went on to

Dame Abimbola Fashola and the celebrant Folake Abdulrazak

FOLUKE KAFAYAT ABDULRASAQ CELEBRATES 60TH BIRTHDAY As a child, Foluke Kafayat AbdulRasaq was a pretty girl whose sweetness benumbed even the most impervious soul and those in the know would attest to this. And now as an adult, she is simply stunning; she parades the kind of beauty that confounds many. Not a few people, irrespective of age and gender, continually marvel at the surreal streak of loveliness that distinguishes her from the prettiest women in her class. And it gets better even as she clocked 60.

She is the darling of her peers, and even the younger generation love to be around her. They consider her a friend, benefactor, confidant and mentor to mention but a few. But even at that, she is hardly given to fickle idolatry, unlike most of the women she shares the right to acclaim and celebrity status with. However, her heart is like a singing bird whose nest is in a watered shoot; her heart is like an apple-tree whose boughs are bent with thickset fruit; her heart is like a rainbow shell that paddles in a halcyon sea; and her heart is gladder than all these because she lives to be 60.

On Saturday, April 16, 2016, time froze in honour of the founder and Executive Director of Bridge House College as she turned 60. The landmark celebration which held at Nasfat Eti-Osa proposed central mosque site, Lekki, attracted several dignitaries from within and outside the country. Reception and luncheon party with friends and family followed immediately at

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HIGHLIFE

Pitiful Joys and Guile of Nigeria’s Single Celebrity Mothers

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hatever gimmick they sell to hide their grief, Nigeria’s single and successful mothers parade a cold breast and serpent smile behind the unfathomable gulfs of guile they flaunt as heartfelt smiles. They would wear their joys upon their sleeves if it were truly possible for them to chance on bliss.

Notwithstanding their piteous fates, they make the best of their situations and present a fascinating show of it to the world. They are Nigeria’s league of single mothers. Although society and culture consider their status a predicament, they do not see themselves as severely disadvantaged; rather they consider their inability to keep a husband and have a stable home a benefit of sort.

Many of them would passionately argue that if they had stayed married, they wouldn’t have attained the fame and success they flaunt today. They have tasted marriage, it didn’t just work for them hence they dumped their husbands like a bad habit.

Some of them still take care of

their children, live large and flaunt fantastic jobs. They don’t want to remarry because they enjoy the freedom that comes with being single mothers.

Ask Aisha Babangida, Biola Okoya, Bimbo Arawole, Biola Thomas, Elvina Ibru, Funmi Omitowoju, Eno Olafisoye, Sade Kazzim, Nike Animashaun, Funke Kuti, Gbemi Saraki, Toyin Lawani, Ekua Abudu, Lola Young and Ronke Ademiluyi. Curiously, however, despite keeping a decent distance from matrimony, Biola Okoya most of them still keep their ex husband’s names.

Perhaps it’s due to the immense benefits enjoyable from their retention of such names – like the prestige associated with answering to such names - that they are reluctant to revert to their maiden names. Not a few women are ‘guilty’ of this because it seemingly makes it easier to maintain and run a bank account and retain the membership of an elite club or a prestigious social class and more. For others, it makes things less confusing for everyone, especially the children Elvina Ibru from their former marriages.

Toyin Lawani

Bimbo Arawole

HighLife gathered that the doomsday rumour is a poorly choreographed bunch of lies.

Ben is not putting it up for sale.

He bought Shell OML 29 months ago for $2.7 billion. In the mafiaesque oil and gas industry, with its unwritten and understated Omerta, Benny is a primus inter pares.

Obscenely wealthy, Benedict is versed in the art of putting money

Alero Fafowora

Bridge House College water-front garden. It was indeed a celebration worthy of an icon.

AND ALERO GETS HER GROOVE BACK...

She has dragged through the deepest cycles of grief. Clawing through desolateness and pain, she emerged stronger and radiant like the proverbial parson who has made peace with her grief, after a lifetime of hurt. As you read, brilliant spokes of bliss and innate peace beam from Alero Fafowora like the incandescent shine that bleeds through the clouds and bathes the night in a promising dawn.

At her husband’s death, Alero was inconsolable. Family and friends became apprehensive as the founder of Hallero Couture seemed to descend into eternal grief and darkness. But soon after she waded into the depths of personal anguish and disaster, Alero, by determination and a subtle twist of fate, rediscovered the will to live. The popular socialite has decided to make the best of what life has thrown her way.

Hence her bright smiles are back and her optimistic and

infectious personality revitalised after a long spell of gloom. Just recently, she moved her outfit, Hallero Couture, from Bishop Oluwole Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, to her new private mall located in Lekki area of Lagos. The ultra modern shopping mall called Pak Place already has most of its spaces taken. For Alero therefore, things are looking up and life can only get better.

STOP THE RUMOUR! BENNY PETERS IS NOT SELLING SHELL OML 29 “It takes your enemy and your friend, working together, to hurt you to the heart; the one to slander you and the other to get the news to you,” said Mark Twain, U.S. writer and humorist. Billionaire oil mogul behind Aiteo, Benny Peters, probably needs to take a cue from the late writer now.

While good news picks its way laggardly across the world, bad news leaps across the world’s remotest stretches at the speed of light. Little wonder, news about Benny Peters selling his muchtalked about Shell OML 29 is making its way across the social and political spaces at alarming speed.

a pod; inseparable, indubitably in love, seemingly bound by a common fate. That was until October 22nd, 2005, when a Bellview Airline flight from Abuja crashed in Lisa, a blip-on-themap of Ogun State, killing among other prominent Nigerians, Waziri Mohammed, then Chairman of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) and one of then President Olusegun Obasanjo’s closest allies.

Waziri’s wife, Zainab, was predictably inconsolable. Her alter ego and better half was gone for good. There was no one to confide in or let loose her emotions on again. Life became insipid and inimical. For many years, the heartbroken widow waxed sorrowful and tear-inducing dirges about her dead love.

Those close to Zainab feared for her life. They feared she would never survive one year without Waziri. But they thought wrong.

Time heals all wounds. Time has obviously healed Zainab’s deep gash. She is now married to Hon. Sabo Mohammed Nakudu from Jigawa.

Ben Peters

to good use for the enjoyment and pampering of self and to the benefit and betterment of humanity. Interestingly, if fortune can be harvested as gold and silver grapes and blessings flourish like leaves and silver fleurs-de-lis, the life-path and home of Peters would glitter like a barn full of treasure and a life well spent.

Peters is the founder of Aiteo Group and is responsible for managing the company in terms of strategic development, policy formulation and execution.

LOVE ACTUALLY! WAZIRI MOHAMMED’S WIDOW, ZAINAB, FALLS IN LOVE AGAIN They were like two peas in

Hajia Zainb Mohammed Waziri and Hon. Sabo

Sunday May 1, 2016

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Price: N400

MISSILE

NLC to Governors

“Some are asking if there’s justification for wage increase in view of the current situation on ground. The answer is yes. When we renegotiated the minimum wage then, the exchange rate was N145 to a dollar...as we are talking now, there are governors that are still flying private jets.”

– NLC Vice President, Comrade Peters Adeyemi, insisting there is no going back on the Congress’ demand of N56,000 as the new minimum wage for Nigerian workers.

SIMONKOLAWOLE SIMONKOLAWOLELIVE!

simon.kolawole@thisdaylive.com, sms: 0805 500 1961

Four Herdsmen, Gunmen and Madmen And Other Things...

M

y earliest memories of the “Bororo” — that is what we call the Fulani nomads — are not pleasant at all. It was in the late 1970s. The community had provided a large grazing area for them on the outskirts of town. There is a river, called Oyi, which courses through my village, so the surroundings offer green pasture virtually all year round. Indeed, the Bororo became part of our community. Or so we thought.

Villagers bought calves from them under a special arrangement: the baby cows would remain in their care and we would pay for the nurturing until they were big enough to be sold. It was a very good investment. Or so we thought.

My grandmother bought one for me. On Saturdays (the “open day” as declared by the herdsmen), she would take me to their camp to see my “baby”. I would touch it playfully, timidly. Thereafter, we would enter the huts, take some complimentary cow cheese (“wara”) and head home. But I got back from school one day and met my grandmother in a bad mood.

What happened? The herdsmen had disappeared without a trace! They disappeared with all the cattle, including my precious little “baby”!

They had duped a whole village! Those who invested their life savings in the livestock were left crying and cursing. It reads like “Ali and the Angel” or “Tea without Sugar”, doesn’t it?

The Bororo could never endear themselves to the community again. The trust was all gone.

No-one would give them grazing land again.

But worse things were to come. Nobody could stop them from wreaking havoc on the farms.

In an annual ritual, these nomads would herd their cattle into people’s farms, from one village to the other, and destroy their plants, crops and everything therein. If you challenged them, they would aggressively attack you with their poisoned knives and arrows, even though they were at fault. Once in a while, there would be fatalities. We also had hunters who often fought back with their dane guns. I was a little boy then, but the memories linger.

Clearly, the destruction of farms, leading to confrontation with pastoralists and occasional killings, has been with us for decades, long before President Muhammadu Buhari came to power. Although it was more common in the north, it was a national malaise. The criminality has gone unchecked by virtually every government. Little wonder then that in the last few years, the story has taken another turn. We are no longer discussing the herdsmen in the vocabulary of knives, machetes and dane guns. We are now seeing AK47s hanging dangerously on their backs. We could soon be discussing improvised explosive devices.

And that is why we should all be worried.

Of course, I am aware of the narrative out there that the increasing wave of dastardly attacks should be blamed on Buhari — who himself is Fulani. I read somewhere that it is part of the Fulani agenda to conquer the rest of Nigeria and wipe out non-Muslims, using herdsmen. Conspiracy theories are two for a kobo in Nigeria. But the president’s silence has worsened the perception problem and strengthened the conspiracy theory, even if some of us know it cannot true. It is more

Buhari disturbing that Buhari needed to issue an order to the IG to do his job. Protection of lives and property is the only job of the police. Why didn’t the police act all along?

The question that I am really struggling to deal with is: why the surge in mass killings by “gunmen”? In July 2015, 30 persons were killed by “gunmen” in Kokeya and Chigama villages, both in Birnin-Magaji LGA, Zamfara state. In February this year, “gunmen” invaded 10 villages in Agatu, Benue state, and killed an estimated 300 people, including women and children.

In March, “gunmen” killed nine persons in Fanteka village in Daraga district of Maru LGA, Zamfara state. And most recently, “gunmen” killed nine persons in Nimbo community, Enugu state. The emerging pattern should alert us to the fact that something sinister is going on.

I would suggest that, first, we should stop branding these killers as “Fulani” herdsmen.

It creates a mental picture of an ethnic conflict — instead of the pure criminality that it is. By giving it an ethnic coloration, we would end up politicising such a major security challenge like we did with Boko Haram. One major failing of our politicians between 2011 and 2015 was the way they framed Boko Haram. The PDP, with eyes on 2015 elections, portrayed the insurgency as a creation of the “Muslim north” against President Goodluck Jonathan.

The APC, also with eyes on 2015, said Jonathan and PDP were behind Boko Haram. They kept playing politics while Boko Haram kept killing.

I would also suggest that we begin to ask

This is not the time to play up APC and PDP cards.

This is not the time to say how bad Jonathan was or how good Buhari is. Let us learn from the Boko Haram mistake when we stupidly chose politics above security

deeper questions. Are these criminals really mere herdsmen? We need to be sure. When Boko Haram started, we thought they were mere religious zealots. We underestimated them.

They would later mutate into an Al-Qaeda franchise. Only God knows how many lives have been lost since then. Only God knows the irreparable damage they have done to Nigeria and Nigerians. That is what happens when we don’t do a proper, dispassionate and intelligent handling of a social phenomenon.

We all suffer the consequences. We must never go this route again. We must establish the identity and motives of these “herdsmen”.

If they are truly herdsmen, we must seek to understand the upsurge in their aggression and their newfound thirst for blood. Why are they carrying AK47? Is it to protect themselves against cattle rustlers? Is it out of desperation to protect their livelihood at the expense of farmers and host communities? Where are they getting the arms from? Their ethnic affiliation is irrelevant in this matter: criminals are criminals and should be so treated. Nobody should try to justify this murderous behaviour. Can you imagine the national carnage if everybody starts carrying AK47 to protect himself against the herders? That’s why we must stop the madness now.

If they are not herdsmen, could they be Boko Haram in disguise? I have read a lot of commentaries suggesting that we have entered into the post-Boko Haram phase. If it is true, then Boko Haram could become child’s play.

Statistics already suggest that these “gunmen” have killed more Nigerians in 2016 than Boko Haram. And while Boko Haram carried out most of its attacks in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and Kano, the “gunmen” or “herdsmen” could easily move all over the country to strike. The security agencies must thoroughly investigate what is going on and act resolutely so that we do not repeat the Boko Haram mistake.

Finally, I would plead with Nigerians again and again that we should not politicise this unfolding threat to our lives and property. This is not the time to play up APC and PDP cards.

This is not the time to say how bad Jonathan was or how good Buhari is. Let us learn from the Boko Haram mistake when we stupidly chose politics above security. We must learn to confront a national challenge with a national consensus, with one mind and one voice in one accord. The politicisation of Boko Haram hurt us immeasurably. It is so fresh in our minds that we normally shouldn’t need any reminder as we face yet another threat to our survival as individuals and as communities.

This is the time for people of goodwill to come out against this bloodletting. I have seen spirited attempts to explain away the killings with tenuous arguments. I don’t know when we are going to learn our lessons. We made similar arguments about Boko Haram, about their lack of employment, about their “original” innocence — until they brought Nigeria to its knees. Our house was on fire and we were busy arguing about the source and colour of the fire rather than trying to put it out. Whatever the cause of these mindless killings by the herdsmen, the solution is all that matters now. But, first, we must stop the bleeding. Decisively.

‘LOVE MY COUNTRY’ Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu says ‘love for country’ is the path to Nigeria’s development. He has put his thoughts together in a book, ‘Who Will Love My Country’, which was launched on Wednesday in Abuja. Quoting Albert Camus, who once said “I should be able to love my country and still love justice”, Ekweremadu does some self-criticism as a leader who has been in the public sphere since 1999. The book touches on a wide range of reform proposals covering government culture, electoral processes and resource sharing. It is an insider’s account, done frankly, with an open invitation for sincere debate.

Invigorating.

SARAKI’S FATE To quit or not to quit? As Senate President Bukola Saraki undergoes trial over allegations of false declaration of assets, pressure is mounting on him to vacate his position on “moral grounds”. Will his colleagues also ask him to step aside? I don’t think so. You see, in Nigeria, everything is politics. His supporters argue that if he had not defied the APC leadership in the senate presidency contest, he would not be facing trial today. They are probably right, but the real question should be: is he guilty or not? The courts will still have the final say. Loading...

ENTER RAPE-AXE In this season when the horror of rape (“sex without consent”) has become a major topic of discussion, we were reminded of an anti-rape female condom in a google chat group last week. Rape-aXe, developed by a South African over 10 years ago, is a latex sheath embedded with shafts of sharp, inward-facing barbs.

It will painfully “clip” the instrument of the attacker, who will then need surgery to remove it. Why is this device not gaining popularity, if it can deter rape and lead to the arrest of rapists? Culture?

Religion? Fear of abuse? Fear of accidental misuse? Medieval?

THANKS, ALL On Friday, April 29, TheCable.ng clocked two. I was genuinely overwhelmed by the congratulatory messages. The idea of a professional online newspaper first crossed my mind in 2006, but I was discouraged by the commercial constraints.

It’s been a challenging two years for TheCable, with hits and misses, but we’ve been kept going by readers, well-wishers and advertisers who believe in our vision.

It is a unique market where professional standards are ridiculously low. The stereotype is that online journalism is about scandals, blackmail and extortion.

Nevertheless, we’re moving on to higher grounds. As Mr. Nduka Obaigbena, my boss, would say, “Keep walking!” Gracias!

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