Sunday 7th August 2016

Evacuate Immediately, NEMA Tells Communities on Bank of River Niger Warns repeat of 2012 flood disaster likely Flood Alert

Senator Iroegbu in Abuja In response to intense rainfall and rise in water level, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has advised communities along the River Niger to evacuate

immediately to safer ground over the likelihood of floods that may occur at any moment.

The Director General of NEMA, Muhammad Sani Sidi, who raised the alarm in

a statement yesterday, said the agency had received alerts of the flood from information given by the authorities in the Republic of Niger that the present water level in the river had reached a point that might result in the flood that

could be compared with the unfortunate experience of 2012.

Sidi said that, “Niger Basin Authority (NBA) notified Nigeria that rainy season, which started in the Middle Niger (Burkina Faso and Niger Republic) in June, 2016, has

led to a gradual rise of the level of River Niger in Niamey, Niger Republic.

"This high level of water in Niger Republic is already spreading to Benin Republic, and invariably, to Nigeria”.

He further said that the level

of water in all the hydrological monitoring stations across the country as at Friday, August 5, 2016, have already exceeded the corresponding values at that time, which is an alarmContinued on page 6

Obasanjo: Factionalised PDP 'Gasping for Breath' ...Page 6

Sunday 7 August, 2016 Vol 21. No 7774

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Going for Gold: Team Nigeria's Medal Hopefuls at Rio Demola Ojo and Olaseni Durojaiye As the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, gets into full swing, many Nigerians will be hoping that the country’s contingent

– across 10 different sports – will at least match the record attained in Atlanta 96 when the country achieved her best performance in the history of the Games. Nigeria won two Continued on page 6

Obi ...captain of Team Nigeria Okagbare ...Athletics

Quadri...Table Tennis

Adekuoroye ...Wrestling

In Surprise Attack, Armed Bandits Kill 11 Military Personnel in Niger State 1 officer, 8 soldiers, 2 airmen among the dead

Senator Iroegbu in Abuja The Nigerian military recorded fatalities outside its Northeast theater of operation on Saturday as armed bandits ambushed its troops in the North Central state of Niger killing 11 military personnel.

Confirming the deadly attack which occurred in Continued on page 6

TODAY’S EVENTS Highlight Football: Nigeria vs Sweden at 11pm Other Events Boxing Starts at 15:00 Canoeing Starts at 16:30 Handball Starts at 01:50 Hockey Starts at 00:30 Judo Starts at 14:00 Swimming Starts at 02:03 Table Tennis Starts at 00:30 Tennis Starts at 14:45 Weightlifting Starts at 14:00

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FLYING THE NATIONAL FLAG IN TRACKSUITS

Nigerian delegation on parade at the opening ceremony of the 2016 Rio Olympics... It is reported that the national attire for the opening ceremony never made it to Rio

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

07.08.2016

‘HALLELUJAH’ SONG SHOOTS A’RESE TO STARDOM

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Obasanjo: Factionalised PDP 'Gasping for Breath' Sheriff Balogun in Abeokuta and Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja In reaction to reports in some sections of the media that he had recently attended a meeting of his former party, Peoples Democratic Party, in Abuja, former President Olusegun Obasanjo said yesterday that he was never part of any such gathering.

Obasanjo dismissed the report as a lie, saying his decision to leave PDP is final.

The former president, who was chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, had resigned from the post owing to irreconcilable differences with some leaders of the party. He later left PDP without joining another political party and went on to announce his retirement from partisan politics. In February last year, he publicly tore his PDP membership card in Abeokuta, in apparent fit of anger following alleged attempts by some PDP leaders in his native Ogun State to hu-

miliate him prior to the last general election.

So the reports alleging Obasanjo’s presence at a PDP meeting was surprising to many.

He denied the report, in a statement by his media aide, Mr. Kehinde Akinyemi, stating, “Those who know me, know that I have publicly announced quitting partisan politics.”

He said anyone “who will believe the purported story will believe anybody who tells him that his or her mother is not a woman.”

Insinuating that recent happenings in PDP had sounded the death knell for the party, Obasanjo said, “If I quit a party when it was alive and seemingly united, how could I go back to a now divided, factionalised party grasping for breath?"

The former president said he was surprised when his attention was drawn to the photonews story, allegedly spotting him at a PDP event at the Shehu Musa Yar'adua Centre, Abuja.

The news had gone viral

on the social media on Friday. He said those behind it only wanted to annoy and embarrass him.

Obasanjo added that anybody hoping to drag him back will fail like any man feeding mice to a dead cat.

However, to set the record straight on what transpired at the Shehu Musa Yar'adua Centre, Akinyemi explained in the statement, “On the invitation of the Commodities Association Stakeholders, His Excellency was invited to the 'Zero Hunger Nigeria' event at the Centre.

"He arrived about 10am and immediately moved to the meeting. The meeting commenced but few minutes into the session, his attention was drawn to the presence of some people walking up to where he was seated.

"At closer glance, he recognised them to be politicians and they exchanged pleasantries, saying they came to greet him and they walked out again from the meeting.

"The former president cracked jokes with them, calling them ‘invaders and gate crashers’.

"The programme ended and immediately he and his entourage headed back to Lagos. He was barely hours in Lagos when he started receiving calls from both far and near, wanting to find out about his presence at a political party programme in Abuja.

"The photo news in circulation, which claimed that he was spotted at a political party event is therefore mischievous, as a responsible journalist ought to have gone further to ascertain his actual destination among the number of venues at the centre and not taking photograph of his alighting from his vehicle to read another meaning. "it is shocking also to note that the picture was actually taken while on his way out of the Centre after the programme he had attended had finished.

"This is the height of irresponsible journalism."

IN SURPRISE ATTACK, ARMED BANDITS KILL 11 MILITARY PERSONNEL IN NIGER STATE Bosso Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger State, Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Col. Sani Usman, said it was carried out by suspected gunrunners and armed bandits.

The slain military personnel were on “cordon and search” operation in the area when they were ambushed by the armed bandits.

Among those killed was an officer whose rank was not stated. Eight soldiers of the Nigerian Army and two airmen of the Nigerian Airforce were also killed. As at press time, a soldier was still missing.

Explaining how the tragic incident occurred, Usman, in a statement, said, "following covert surveillance and intelligence reports on the activities of some gun runners and armed ban-

dits in Kopa, Dagma and Gagaw villages of Bosso LGA, Niger State, troops of 31 Artillery Brigade, 1 Division Nigerian Army, in conjunction with Nigeria Air Force detachment on Internal Security Operation MESA went on quick cordon and search in the affected areas to recover suspected weapon cache and arrest the suspected persons and the armed bandits."

He said, “while approaching and deploying to carry out their lawful duty, the troops came under simultaneous and sporadic shootings in all the three locations. They however responded as necessary in line with the rules of engagement.

"Sadly, an officer and eight soldiers of the Nigerian Army and two Airmen of the Nigeria Air

Force lost their lives in the line of national duty. Additionally, one soldier is still missing while two of their colleagues were seriously wounded."

The Army Spokesman said that the suspected gunrunners and armed bandits also burnt down four operational vehicles and vandalised two others.

He said the suspected bandits carted away four AK-47 rifles and one Fabrique Nationale (FN) rifle belonging to the slain soldiers.

The troops, according to the defence spokesman, however killed eight of the armed bandits and arrested 57 others. Also, large quantity of arms and ammunition were recovered.

Armong the weapons recovered, according to Usman, were: “three AK-47

rifles,10 Local AK-47 rifles, nine locally made pistols, six revolver guns, which fires 7.62mm (Special ammunition), 45 loaded dane guns, 10 clubs and cudgels, 41 arrows, 18 bow cases, 122 cutlasses and machetes as well as 20 daggers.”

Other items recovered include 31 axes, 63 rounds of 7.62 (special) ammunition, 10 Bajaj motorcycles, assorted charms and amulets, two vehicles, 38 mobile telephone handsets, a wristwatch, five identity cards, passport photographs, the sum of N23,870.00k, five Japanese Yen and 35 different denominations of old Nigerian currency, 15 catapults, eight torchlights, two gun powder bottles, four empty cases of ammunition and 41 cartridges.

He said the troops also seized a military waist belt

GOING FOR GOLD: TEAM NIGERIA'S MEDAL HOPEFULS AT RIO gold medals at that event, the first by Chioma Ajunwa in the long jump, and the second in the men’s football competition.

Ever since the feat of the 96 football team, there has always been expectations, regardless of how impressive or otherwise the team has prepared. To this end, it should be no surprise that followers of Nigeria’s most popular sport expect the team to win a medal, especially since Nigeria won silver at the Beijing Games in 2008.

The feel-good factor is already in the air, as the men’s football team vanquished Japan 5-4 three days ago in a thrilling opening game, in spite of barely making it to Brazil from Atlanta due to administrative lapses.

Today’s game against Sweden will give a clearer picture of how far the team can go but Nigerians will be optimistic that their football team led by Chelsea’s Mikel Obi can help erase the sad memory of the London Games in 2012, when Nigeria failed to win a single medal.

Apart from football, Nigeria will compete in Athletics, Basketball, Boxing, Canoeing, Rowing, swimming, table-tennis, weightlifting and wrestling. Below are some of

those Nigeria would be looking up to, to make the country proud.

Blessing Okagbare: After posting a dismal outing at the London 2012, Okagabre has been a stand out performer at the Common Wealth Games held in Glasgow Scotland bagging two gold medals in the 100m and 200m at the track event of the competition..

Aruna Quadri: Aruna Quadri who starts his campaign today, has been a revelation in table-tennis since 2014 when he was named best player of the year in the country. He has been enjoying a good run of form since then, becoming the continent’s number one table tennis player and leap frogging notable players in global ping pong ranking along the way. Though largely considered an outsider, he remains the country’s brightest medal hope in the sport.

Ese Brume: The 20 year old jumped to glory at the last Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where she won gold although she was unimpressive at the All Africa Games held in Brazzaville and came fifth.

Ese has recorded a personal best of 6.68 meters, a

fair distance from the world record of 7.52 held by Galina Christyakova of former Soviet Union, Nigerians are looking up to her acclaimed talent and youthfulness to out-jump the tournament favourites, and cart home a medal for the country.

Odunayo Adekuoroye: Odunayo comes highly rated and pundits have described her as very professional and immensely gifted in her chosen sport. Based in India, she is the number one female wrestler in the Indian Wrestling League. She qualified for the Olympics in stunning style during which she posted three victories over highly rated opponents.

Not new to the medals podium, she won gold at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, and bronze at the World Wrestling Championship in 2015. Pundits who dream of the Green-WhiteGreen flag of Nigeria fluttering from the medals podium are betting on her to make that dream reality.

Antwon Hicks: Antwon Hicks is an American/Nigerian track and field hurdler who started his career competing for the United States before switching to Nigeria barely two years ago.

He competes in the 110-me-

ter hurdles and was the gold medallist in that event at the 2002 World Junior Championships in Athletics, the first American to do so.

A regular participant at national events in the US, he came close to Olympic selection on two occasions, coming fifth at the 2008 United States Olympic Trials and fourth at the 2012 United States Olympic Trials.

At the 2008 event he recorded his lifetime best of 13.09 seconds in the semifinals. This time ranked him fourth in the world that year and moved him into the alltime top thirty hurdlers.

Hicks never competed on the global stage as a senior athlete, despite ranking near the top ten in the world in the period from 2008 to 2013. He was a prominent athlete on the professional track circuit, however, and won the Bislett Games during the 2009 IAAF Golden League season. He ranked seventh at the 2009 IAAF World Athletics Final.

Nigerians will be hoping he has saved his best performances for last, as he pushes to win an Olympic medal in his first Olympic Games. He set a new Nigerian national record of 13.27 secs which helped him qualify for the Rio Olympics.

He said the former president was calling for investigation on the publication and sanctioning of anyone involved "to serve as deterrent to others who may want to be used either by omission or commission to misinform the public on such sensitive issue.”

But reacting to the insinuations about the state of PDP, the secretary of the National Caretaker Committee of the party, Senator Ben Obi, told THISDAY that he would vehemently disagree with anyone who describes PDP as a dying party. “Can't you see the attention the party is getting and the growing interest shown by party members and Nigerians in the repositioning of the party, certainly that cannot be a party that is dying,” Obi said.

In a similar vein, the PDP apokesman, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, said by telephone that there was nothing to indicate that PDP was going under. Adeyeye said, "I did not hear former President Obasanjo describe the PDP as a dy-

ing party. I listened to the news where his statement was being relayed and I did not see where he said such a thing. However, I do not think that it is right of anyone to say PDP as a dying party.

"If the PDP is a dying party there will not be all the struggles by people to identify with it. Don't you see how many leaders of the party that attend its functions and how the party has been making steady progress in its rebranding and repositioning efforts?

With all the attention and interest it has so far generated from stakeholders, PDP certainly cannot be described as dying.”

Adeyeye had while answering questions from journalists covering the inauguration of the party's national convention committees on Friday in Abuja also said that PDP had become an enigma in the sense that despite all the leadership crisis threatening to tear it apart, none of its key leaders and members had dumped the party.

and a pair of military combat boots.

Usman said the nefarious activities of the gunrunners and the armed bandits had direct bearing on the influx of weapons and general insecurity in some parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the Northwest geo-political zone of the country.

The military officer said the same gunrunners had been confirmed to be the suppliers of arms to armed robbery gangs that were involved in series of robbery attacks on Minna-Bida road and along that axis.

Although, he said, the situation was under control, the defence spokesman added that the mili-

tary would not rest on its oars until all those involved were arrested and brought to justice.

Noting that contrary to statements attributed to "some questionable vested interests", the troops were on legitimate official duty aimed at safeguarding lives and property of citizens in the area, Usman urged all law abiding citizens “to go about their lawful duties as the cordon and search operation continues in the general area and if necessary expand to other identified areas to keep our people safe.”

He assured that the military would continue to deal with any violent threat to national security.

FLOOD ALERT! EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY, NEMA TELLS COMMUNITIES ALONG RIVER NIGER BANK ing situation that requires the prompt and coordinated action of all governments and stakeholders.

According to him, "if the heavy rainfall continues in intensity and duration within these regions of the River Niger, it is imminent that flood situation similar to that of the year 2012 may occur."

Against this backdrop, the NEMA boss called on all stakeholders to take necessary actions in line with their various mandates.

Sidi said the states and local government were to ensure observance with the threat in order to avert imminent loss of lives and properties that might certainly arise in the event of flood .

He identified the states along the river Niger belts as being the most vulnerable as well as those along its major tributaries that includes Benue river belts , the confluence states and downstream to the Atlantic Coast.

The agency’s Zonal and Operation offices, he said, had been instructed to continue with advocacy visit to the state governments and also urged the state to utilise the flood vulnerability maps given to them earlier by NEMA to identify safer ground for

temporary shelters in time of evacuation as well as reviewing all their contingency plans.

The 2012 flood disaster, which started in July and ended in October, killed 363 people and displaced 2.1 million people, was described as the worst in about 50 years.

According to NEMA, the flood affected 7.7 million people across 30 of the 36 states of Nigeria and caused damages and loss totalling N2.6 trillion.

Following the flood disaster, donations and humanitarian services poured in from institutions and individuals.

President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, donated N200 million to victims of flood in Nigeria’s Kogi state.

The donation was made of N50 million food items and N150 million cash, a total of $1,250,000.

CORRIGENDUM In the promo section of an interview with the Managing Director/CEO of First Bank, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, published in our edition of July 31, 2016, his name was wrongly spelt as Adedotun instead of Adeduntan. We regret the error.

Editor

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SUNDAY COMMENT

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

INEC: BEYOND INCONCLUSIVE ELECTIONS President Buhari should enhance the performance of the electoral body by giving it more commissioners

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ince the advent of the Muhammadu Buhari administration in May last year, there has been a very disturbing pattern at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC): inability to conclude elections as scheduled. For instance, only one of the five re-run elections held on July 23, 2016 in Imo and Kogi States was concluded within regulation time while others had to be concluded six days later after supplementary polls. The senatorial and state constituencies re-run elections initially scheduled for July 30, 2016 in Rivers State was also postponed for a second time within five months.

Explaining this new trend, the INEC Chairman, Prof.

Mahmood Yakubu, argued recently that electoral contests were much more comThough the petitive in Nigeria such that emerging “every vote counts”, and competitiveness for that reason, final results of our electoral could not be announced uncontests may til all the polling units were for. He contended be a welcome accounted that rather than being a departure from weakness, this should be the ignoble past of seen as a testimony that landslide victories, Nigeria’s electoral system it should not be was becoming cleaner and an excuse for more transparent.

Though the emerging the inability to competitiveness of our conclude elections electoral contests may be a within regulation welcome departure from time the ignoble past of landslide victories, it should not be an excuse for the inability to conclude elections within regulation time. For, as the INEC boss also explained, the real culprit is the zero some nature of our electoral contests, leading to violence, ballot box stuffing/snatching and mutilation of results sheets. These unfortunate developments have become an entrenched feature of the electoral process in Nigeria to our collective shame. But there are other problems.

Perhaps the greatest challenge of INEC today is the fact that there are no Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC) in 20 of the 36 states thus necessitating a situation in which the commission has had to be rotating REC from one state to another anytime there are elections. Even for

Letters to the Editor

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ith utmost respect, I write this letter as a suggestion considering the downturn in our economy due to incessant pipeline vandalism and the slump in the price of oil.

As the day goes by, joblessness in our country increases. More and more firms are laying off workers and the rate of unemployment in our country keeps rising. At this point sir, I think farming and establishment of industries are the way to go. Please find my suggestions. I believe strongly that if properly planned and followed through, Nigeria will reap the benefits.

First, every region/state should choose a particular product to produce, and let the states provide the landed prop-

national commissioners, there are only seven members left as against the constitutionally stipulated 13, meaning that there are six vacancies to be filled. This situation has only made the job of the commission rather difficult. We therefore urge President Buhari to fill the vacancies in INEC without further delay.

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S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R EDITOR TOKUNBO ADEDOJA DEPUTY EDITORS VINCENT OBIA 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

owever, there is also a lot to say about the shortcomings of the commission. Quite often, logistics challenges obstruct early distribution of electoral materials, leading to delays in starting the exercise early enough to ensure that eligible voters cast their ballot on time. Yet, such delays are quickly exploited by unscrupulous politicians to manipulate the process, and with that, violence becomes inevitable.

The situation was worsened by the persistent failure of the security agencies to decisively deal with the problem.

Not only did they fail to nip electoral malpractices in the bud, they also failed to arrest and prosecute the violators of the process as provided by law. The overall implication of this negligence is the impression created that electoral manipulation and violence pay in Nigeria because there are no punitive consequences for the perpetrators of these criminal acts.

This newspaper has always maintained that electoral manipulation and violence are not only violations of the law, they also constitute abuse of the constitutional right of the people to choose their leaders. In the case of Rivers State for instance, the abuse has persisted for one year as the threat of violence has occasioned an indefinite postponement of the senatorial and federal constituencies rerun elections in the state, effectively shutting out the people’s right to be represented at the National Assembly.

The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) as amended recognises the right to choose as a fundamental right and mandates government to protect it.

We therefore urge the federal government whose agencies are responsible for the enforcement of the constitution to rise to the challenge of its duty. Electoral fraudsters, be they politicians or thugs, must be shown that impunity is not rewarding.

Happily, Yakubu has assured Nigerians of a clear road map to conclusive elections as we approach the gubernatorial elections in Edo and Ondo States to be held in September and November this year. We can only urge him and the federal government to walk the talk.

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.

OPEN LETTER TO MR. PRESIDENT erty. This can be done in phases, either region by region or state by state. Second, factories should be built but a law should be put in place concerning employment quota. Every local government should be properly represented, and social responsibility should be appropriately enforced. Third, we should seek for foreign assistance to start off and agree on the number of years this should be before handing over to qualified Nigerians. This foreign assistance should be in form of an arrangement with companies or firms that already have industries running and thriving.

The aim is to ensure that they bring their experience to manage the industries/farms.

Four, a Nigerian should understudy (and probably go for hands- on -training in their already running industries/

farms) in the beginning. Fifth, employment quota should be done with transparency. Sixth, youth corps members should be posted to the industries/farms for youth service. All this will help alleviate poverty in Nigeria.

It will create job opportunities for Nigerians and also make food readily available and affordable to all Nigerians. The establishment of these industries/ farms will provide jobs for both skilled and unskilled Nigerians.

It will move Nigeria from an oil -based economy to an industrialised/agricultural economy.

Besides, it will put an end to Nigerians fleeing the country in search of greener pastures as jobs will be readily available. If this is properly planned, it will help restore Nigeria’s image.

How do we hope to achieve all this?

This can be done in three phases: set up a committee to be supervised by the president.

This committee will exist at two levels. A presidential committee that will report to the president, directly or as the president chooses and a sub – committee at the region or state level as the case may be; establish a law backing the committee putting checks and balances in place; agreement/ contractual documents should be drawn up; agreement with host community/host state or region reference, compensation, social responsibility, employment quota for both skilled and unskilled workers.

Whatever is agreed must be adhered to in order to avoid restiveness in future; source the country/firm to assist in the setting up, depending on

what the states/regions decide to produce; draw up contractual agreement regarding funding expressly stating percentage to be funded by the government and percentage to be funded by the companies/firms that we are partnering with.

The second phase should include land acquisition, erection of property/factory/farm/industry, purchase of machinery while the third phase should include the employment of skilled and unskilled workers; agreement with host community/state/ region via employment quota.

The fourth and final phase will be the commencement of manufacturing/production.

God be with you as you steer the ship of this great nation to her destiny.

––Hanna Joseph, A concerned Nigerian

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SUNDAYNEWS

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

Vicampro, BlackPace, Kiremko Sign $45m MoU for Potato Processing Plants in Nigeria Abimbola Akosile

BOOST FOR POWER L-R: Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN); Director, Mojec International Ltd, Prof. Pat Utomi; Managing

Director/CEO, Ms. Chantelle Abdul, and the Chairman, Board of Directors, Mrs. Mojisola Abdul, during a facility tour of the meter company by the minister and his team, in Lagos...yesterday PHOTO: Kola Olasupo

Military Intensifies Raid on Lagos, Ogun Creeks as IG Visits • Mops up three target posts, recovers weapons Chiemelie Ezeobi

After several aerial assault by the Air Wing of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), the ground forces of the Operation Awatse Joint Task Force stormed the dreaded headquarters of the notorious Arepo pipeline vandals, THISDAY can exclusively gathered.

The Joint Task Force comprises elements of the Nigerian Navy (NN), the NAF and the Nigerian Army (NA), alongside the Department of State Security Services (DSS), the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Nigerian Police Force (NPF).

The mop up is coming after bombardments by Airforce jets and the MIG 34-aircraft and subsequent reconnaissance by their Beecraft aircraft, which helped in capturing videos of the bombed areas.

Speaking to THISDAY, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Fergusson Bobai, said the ground forces were able to access and mop up the headquarters of the vandals after rockets had demolished the structures.

He said given that the surveillance videos had identified four key targets, which have been gunned down already, the ground forces were able to mop up three of them, since the vandals have been displaced.

He said the forces will Monday, continue with the mop up and take control of the entire area, given that the vandals had fled after the Air Force dropped their missiles on the area.

He also said no further arrests have been made, apart from the 11 who were initially arrested by the JTF. The suspects have since given the JTF useful statements that will help in the fight against pipeline vandalism.

Also THISDAY gathered that during the mop up, two locally made guns, two generator sets, eight dane guns, 32 live ammunition, two laptops, a General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) magazine, AK 47 rifle, I8 cutlasses, Police badges and voters’ cards were among the items recovered.

‘Operation Awatse’ (a Hausa word for scatter) is the ongoing anti-pipeline vandalism exercise, at the creeks and mangroves of Ishawo and Igando areas of

Ikorodu in Lagos State; then Arepo, Awawa, Elepete and Ibafo areas of Ogun State.

Although the Navy chairs the JTF, the aerial bombardment, surveillance and reconnaissance is being carried out under the leadership of the AOC Logistics Command, AVM Sani Ahmed, who coordinates the air component of the entire exercise.

With so many targets in the creeks, it was gathered that the vandals had set up observation posts, which are manned by their heavily armed duty post guards. All these posts have been brought down now.

Meanwhile, in two separate operations, the Inspector General (IG) of Police, Ibrahim Idris and the FOC Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Bobai, visited the creeks in Lagos and Ogun States, formerly occupied by the notorious pipeline vandals.

While the IG had gone straight to Ishawo in Ikorodu to see the extent the Operation Awatse Joint Task Force had gone, the FOC had however extended his tour not just as Ishawo but to Arepo, Ibafo and Elepete.

Bobai, who is the chairman of the JTF, again reiterated the

resolve of the military to rid the area of their responsibility of pipeline vandals, who constitute economic sabotage on the nation’s resources.

He also said given the numerous successes recorded by the joint task force, they were encouraged to sustain the operation and ensure that all the books and crannies of the creeks were scoured.

Following the success of the aerial bombardments, the ground troops would be deployed to enter the hinterland part of the creeks and mop up the remaining suspects He said, “We went for an on-the-spot assessment and following the success of the aerial bombardment by the Air Force, the ground troops will now be deployed to go in and mop up.

So far, the operation has been successful with the arrest of 11 suspects so far in our custody.

We will sustain the tempo however. The job is not over yet. But be rest assured, we will finish it.” On the other hand, the IG ordered for the immediate demolition of houses used by pipeline vandals in the Ikorodu area of Lagos after some of the buildings used to siphon fuel were discovered by the JTF.

To help diversify the economy successfully as promised by the government of President Muhammadu Buhari, an initial Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) worth $45 million has been signed between Vicampro Farm Ltd, BlackPace B.V and Kiremko B.V. for the setting up of the largest potato processing plant for French fries and potato flakes in Nigeria and the West Africa sub-region.

The Vicampro Farm Potato project in Plateau and Kaduna is aimed to be one of the largest in sub-Saharan Africa, producing between 30,000 and 40,000 tonnes annually with a capacity of 5,000kg per day, for local consumption and regional export. Kiremko is the processing plant manufacturer with over 50 years in processing plants and based in the Netherlands.

According to a financial expert and investor, Mr. O’segun Paul Andrew of the Paul Andrew Group, who brokered the deal, Vicampro Farm ventured into the Nigerian space two years ago and today has the largest potato farm by landmass - for both farming

and processing plants, with a planned investment of more than $67m (N20billion).

In a chat with selected journalists in Lagos, Andrew said one of the key sectors that tends to shape the economy away from oil & gas is agriculture. “Of recent, a lot has been put into play by successive governments with various favourable policies and incentives to lend credibility and support the industry. It also has helped direct foreign investors into the enclave and one of the efforts is the Vicampro project.

“Whilst making Nigeria a robust agricultural economy, we are lending support to government’s economic blueprint for a sustainable and diversified economy. The Vicampro Farm project will add about 50,000 jobs into the economy and also increase economic activities in the retail end of the economy.

It will also save foreign exchange through importation of French fries which currently accounts for 90 per cent of Nigeria’s domestic consumption as well as save the nation of about $200 million of forex that goes out to import French fries”, he added.

In Brief GE Search: IRC Ranks Top 3

IRC Global Executive Search Partners, a global professional alliance of executive, has been named Top 3 global executive search services provider in terms of geographic coverage.

Leading Edge Consulting is a member firm of IRC Global Executive Search, currently the fastest growing Executive Search alliance in the world, and operates as IRC (Nigeria) with Dr. Ije Jidenma as its Managing Partner. In the Global 25 rankings, recently released by Hunt Scanlon Media, IRC Global Executive Search Partners is the third largest network of executive search offices worldwide, currently represented by 80 offices across six continents creating a unique opportunity for clients to receive top quality service wherever their needs appear.

Atiku in Jos to Take a ‘Rest’ Former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is in Jos, Plateau state to relax and take a rest, THISDAY has gathered. Atiku, who reportedly arrivedJosquietlyonFridaynight,wassaidtohaveinformedtheGovernor of the state, Mr. Simon Lalong that he was in his state to take a time out to rest and would therefore not entertain many visitors and would not want to talk with the press. The Governor however allegedly paid him a callathisprivateresidenceatAtikustreet,Rayfield,Jos,wheretheyhad a brief close-door meeting. Though many believe that there was more to his visit than just to ‘rest’, and that it may not be unconnected with his consultations towards 2019 general elections, his close associates maintainedthathewasinJostorest,andnothingmore.

Mbaka: President Buhari’s not the Author of Nigerians’ Hunger • Blames Jonathan for current hardship

Christopher Isiguzo in Enugu

In less than 36 hours since he publicly challenged President Muhammadu Buhari to rise up to the challenge of addressing the crisis facing the country, fiery Enugu Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka yesterday engaged in a sudden volte-face and said the president was not the author of the hunger and hardship presently being faced

by Nigerians.

The priest, who dismissed media reports about his attack on Buhari, was reportedly quoted as having asked

the president to buckle up or risk being thrown out in 2019 insisting that Nigerians were dying of hunger.

But, in a statement he issued through his spokesman, Barr.

Maximus Ike Ugwuoke, the cleric rather accused former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration of being responsible for the myriads of problems facing the country.

Mbaka maintained that he didn’t attack Buhari but told him the situation of things in the country and as well suggested ways out.

He stated that “the news

headline is not only sensational but also a censorious media colouration and hype of the message of the cleric titled ‘Bless and Be Blessed’ for whatever ends.” While admitting that he lamented the level of hunger and suffering in the country, the fiery priest said it was followed by another message where he explained that Buhari was not responsible for the situation but the previous administration.

He declared that the ‘Bless and Be Blessed’ message that was misunderstood was followed by a message titled “Mega Change of Conditions”.

According to him, the second message, where he absolved

the President of blames over the hunger situation in the country read: “There is sword that is moving about in the country. People are dying like flies. The sword of hunger is eating the land. And as I have told you this is just the beginning. If anybody is telling you it is going to be well very soon that person is deceiving you. This is because many of us were among those that were alive during the years of the past government. The past PDP government was a grasshopper and locust to Nigerian. The past government was a disaster to the land of Nigeria; the past government was cancer to this

country. There is no need trying to cover their incalculable and iniquitous mess. If you don’t feel it now, you will feel it later.

“The impact of their horrific mess is yet to be felt. It was a regime where hooliganism became a political slogan; where looting became the order of the day; where the neglect of youths became a pattern of administration. The result is what we are passing through now. Hunger is everywhere; the hunger was created before this new government came in. Buhari is not the maker of the hunger.

“I am just telling president Buhari that people are hungry because he cannot not come

to the street like me and notice people’s feelings. But Buhari is not the author of the hunger.

The past government planted the tree of hunger and they want to come back to water it.

If it is in a developed country by now from the Senatorial to the Reps to the governors, all who participated in the last administration should have resigned with apologies to our youths, otherwise the youths one day will begin to stone them.

“The hunger was created during the Jonathan PDP administration but Buhari should abate the long procrastination, bureaucracy and slow methods in tackling it.”

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T H I S D AY SUNDAY AUGUST 7, 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 • AUGUST 7, 2016

NEWS

FOR BETTER HOUSING GUBER ASPIRATION L-R: CEO, Brick and Brain Properties Limited, Mr. Kingsley Umeojiaka; CEO, Waterstone Constructions, L-R: An All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Ondo State, Prince Ademola Adegoroye Mr. Harvey Igboanugo; CEO, Nedcom Oaks Limited, Mr. Kennedy Okonkwo, and Manager, The Place, Mr. Frank Papas, at the launching of Victoria Crest Estate in Lafiaji, Lekki, Lagos...yesterday

receiving his nomination form from the National Director, Administration Senator Osita Izunaso at the party’s secretariat in Abuja...recently

NNPC: Saudi Arabia’s Price Cut Not a Threat to Nigeria’s Oil Sale • Claims retention of committed oil off-takers, market Chineme Okafor in Abuja

Nigeria is not in any price war or struggle for market share for crude oil with Saudi Arabia, top official sources at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) told THISDAY yesterday in Abuja.

The sources stated that the country has a satisfactory hold on its crude oil off-takers in both Asia and Europe, as well as other market destinations for its oil, and as such cannot be in contention with the Saudis.

Recently, Saudi’s Aramco disclosed that it has priced its September shipments to its Asian customers at $1.10 below the continent’s benchmark. Bloomberg reported that the discount was $1.30 lower than the price for August shipments and 10 cents lower than estimates made by refiners and commodity traders

it polled.

But one top official source at NNPC told the paper that the corporation was not disturbed by the recent market decision of Saudi Aramco to discount its future oil sales to its Asian customers in a bid to gain more market share.

He maintained that the NNPC has its market intact, but refused to disclose further details on this. According to him, it was confidential trade information he would not divulge.

Another official source who also spoke with THISDAY on the development said even with the discount, Nigeria still has offtakers who are loyal to its Bonny Light crude.

He disclosed that these offtakers often get unannounced discounts on crude oil sales to them, adding that NNPC has firmly committed crude oil con-

tracts with them.

The NNPC sources also stated that other than the country’s current challenges of keeping her production stable due primarily to facility vandalism in the Niger Delta, the corporation was quite comfortable with its existing crude oil transactions.

“For us the primary focus is on production because of the challenges we have in the Delta, we have contracts that are firmly committed,” said one of the anonymous sources.

He further explained: “Standard industry practice or sales practice is that you react to what is happening in the market place, but we have some advantage here.

“The Saudis have similar advantage but the quality of our crude - the Bonny Light, is highly sought after around the world

and every now and then we find ourselves in a situation where we have to do a bit more discounting but it doesn’t have to be as deep as some of these other countries.”

The source also failed to provide more details on NNPC’s customers and the sort of discounts they get from their trade with the corporation. He rather preferred to say: “Other than the challenges from the Niger Delta, we still have some level of comfort and we are not that desperate. Our focus is getting production level to 2.2 million barrels per day.”

Similarly, the other source said what the Saudis had done was transactional and driven by supply outstripping demands, or possible desperation for more market shares. According to him, Nigeria was not in that sort of competition with the Saudis.

He noted that Nigeria does not have oil volumes that could be hanging and looking for

Ken Nnamani Set to Formally Join APC Abimbola Akosile and Anayo Okolie

Barring any last minute changes, former Senate President, Senator Ken Nnamani, may formally join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) this August, THISDAY has reliably gathered.

Senator Nnamani resigned his membership of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in February 2016, citing impunity and corruption of the party’s values.

In a widely published letter to the party’s leadership titled “PDP, the Burden and My Conscience”, Nnamani said he was quitting politics in the interim as “I do not

believe I should continue to be a member of the PDP as it is defined today; I do not also believe that the PDP as it is managed today will provide an opportunity for me to continue to play the politics of principles and values which I set for myself as a young man”.

However, his resignation drew a backlash of public criticism among Nigerians and party faithful who saw it as a ploy to join the APC rather than stay to help rebuild the party that helped him become the Number Three man in the country.

A political analyst, Engr. Chidiebere Nwobodo, said whereas the likes of Nnamani’s resignation

was welcome since “they cannot even win councillorship election in their wards, their false claims and holier-than-thou attitude annoy”.

He had wondered if Nnamani would “have quit if the PDP had retained power at the centre”.

“Ken’s resignation is another case of opportunism. He actually dumped his original party - the All Peoples Party (APP) - after the party lost the Enugu governorship, National Assembly and presidential elections in 1998. He was APP’s senatorial candidate. But, rather than stand with the party in the time of need and help rebuild it into a strong opposition voice, he left for where the pasture was

Oloyede’ll Revolutionise JAMB, Says Okebukola Senator Iroegbu in Abuja The new Registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Is-haq Oloyede has been described as the man who is capable of revolutionising the examination body.

The vote of confidence was given by the former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commis-

sion (NUC), Dr. Peter Okebukola, in a statement issued and signed by him.

According to the statement, “With about nine years as head of JAMB, Professor Dibu Ojerinde has done exceptionally well. The transformation which he took the Board through is huge. He modernised the operations of the Board at such a dizzying pace that I used to fondly call him the “magician” in JAMB. I

note that he worked with exceptional directors and I should single out Dr. Yusuf Lawal who oversees Test Administration.

“With the appointment of Prof.

Is-haq Oloyede as the new Registrar, JAMB is in for a revolutionary time in terms of delivering more effectively onitsmandate.Prof.Oloyedeparades excellent credentials to lead a whole sector like education in Nigeria hence

greener (PDP) to become Senator in 2003 (when President Buhari vied for President)”.

He also faulted Nnamani’s claim that he would no longer be able to play politics of principles in the PDP, noting that the former Senate President was part and parcel of what went wrong with the PDP. “He (Nnamani) came hard on anyone who cautioned Chime against arrogating to himself the power over life and death. He even told the National Assembly Members to forget any 2015 ambition because Emperor Chime had so decreed or they would be committing political suicide.” asking him to head a parastatal in education is like asking a 5-star, battletested general to quell a fight between two area boys in Ajegunle!

“Oloyede ran University of Ilorin as a model for the Nigerian university system and served dutifully as Chairman of the Association of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities and at the continental level, as President of the Association of African Universities.”

Indorama : We’re Not Sabotaging National Security Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt and Senator Iroegbu in Abuja The Management of Indorama Eleme

Fertiliser & Chemicals (IEFCL) Ltd has refuted allegation by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj-Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd) that the company and another fertiliser firm are sabotaging national economy and security through their export of fertilisers at the detriment of farmers in Nigeria.

The company stated that all its domestic supplies to customers so far were in accordance with the approval of the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Farm Input and Supply Services (FISS) department in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

“Indorama Eleme Fertiliser & Chemicals Limited (IEPL) and its sistercompaniesinNigeriaarenot, and have not, and would never be directly or indirectly involved

in any activities to undermine or sabotage the economy or security of the nation,” the company stated.

The company, in a press statement issued in Port Harcourt and signed by the Head of Corporate Communications of IEFCL, Dr. Jossy Nkwocha, noted that its brand-new world-class fertiliser plant built at a cost of $1.5 billion - one of Nigeria’s largest Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) in the downstream sector - started precommissioning production only recently at only 75 per cent capacity, and in the past one month has been giving priority to the domestic market.

According to the statement, “the plant is still awaiting official inauguration. Our brand-new fertiliser plant has capacity for 1.5 metric tonnes of fertilisers per annum which is designed to serve Nigeria’s entire domestic requirement and the surplus is for export markets.

UNWTO to Help Boost Tourism in Nigeria Demola Ojo

The UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) has rolled out a number of measures, including technical assistance, capacity building and the revision of the country’s Tourism Master Plan, as part of efforts to ensure the development of tourism in the country.

The UN Agency announced the measures, which also include the organisation of international conferences in Nigeria and the certification of tourism courses, at the end of a recent two-day meeting between the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, and the global tourism agency in Madrid, Spain.

At the meeting, held at the

Boska in Delta

headquarters of the UNWTO, Nigeria also expressed interest in hosting the 60th meeting of the global Agency’s Commission for Africa in 2018 in order to attract global attention to tourism in the country.

In addition, the global agency is widening access to its e-library for Nigerian tourism officials and offering support for relevant tourism institutions and agencies in Nigeria.

Under the UNWTO’s technical assistance programme, Nigeria will be assisted in the area of data collection for the elaboration of tourism statistics, rural tourism development, hotel classification and in designing programmes to create awareness for tourism.

A major painkiller company, Dexa Medica, makers of Boska, has conducted another wave of its ‘Pain Free Day’ initiative in Delta. The initiative, recently staged in Asaba, according to the firm, was aimed at improving consumers’ health and also raising the awareness of the risks associated with not taking adequate care of oneself. The Boska Brand Executive, Mr. Uche Aghado, said from qualitative research, they observed consumers need to be aware of how to keep good health, and to know what the best health solution is during the rainy season, given that it is a season that comes with lots of flu-like illness. He noted Boska team provided the opportunity for consumers to see health experts who provided full range of health services for free, which included prescribing drugs to treat eye, ear and nose defects. Aghado further explained that besides rendering free health services, Boska team also leveraged the opportunity to educate

T H I S D AY SUNDAY AUGUST 7, 2016

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AUGUST 7, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

OPINION NDLEA and The Fight Against Methamphetamine Production Methamphetamine, a mind altering drug, is increasingly finding its way into the country, writes Ofoyeju Mitchell

N

igeria has been tackling the problem of illicit drug production, trafficking and abuse with significant results over the years. Numerous spectacular drug seizures and high profile arrests have been recorded by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) since inception. Cannabis which is popularly known as hemp or marijuana was the only locally produced drug in the country while other drugs like cocaine and heroin are smuggled into the country from producer nations. This situation is gradually changing following the recent discovery of several clandestine laboratories by the NDLEA. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) 2015 report, Africa continues to be used as a transshipment area for smuggling cocaine across the Atlantic into Europe. West Africa is equally fast becoming an established source of methamphetamine smuggled to East and South-East Asia via Southern Africa or Europe, with new trafficking routes linking previously unconnected regional methamphetamine markets. The rise in drug seizures by the NDLEA in the past two decades clearly underscores the desperation of Drug Trafficking Organisations (DTO) to pursue their selfish ambition to the detriment of the larger society.

Drug cartels are driven by inordinate quest for materialism at the expense of public health and welfare. In order to check their activities, the NDLEA was established by decree 48 of 1989, now referred to as NDLEA Act Cap N30 laws of the federation of Nigeria 2004. The agency is charged with the responsibility to enforce laws against the cultivation, processing, sale, trafficking and use of hard drugs.

In addition, it has power to investigate persons suspected to have dealings in drugs and other related matter in order to arrest, seize drug exhibits, trace and confiscate illicit drug proceeds. This way, drug barons are financially incapacitated to quit the criminal act. The discovery and closure of methamphetamine production laboratories in Nigeria by the anti-narcotic agency is both apt and commendable. It will strategically disrupt the planned shipment of methamphetamine out of the sub-region by enemies of the state.

Methamphetamine is a powerful and highly addictive stimulant that affects the central nervous system. It is a white, odourless, bitter tasting crystalline powder that easily dissolves in water or alcohol. Meth, as it is commonly called, is produced in clandestine laboratories using precursor chemicals. It is commonly inhaled, smoked and injected with adverse consequences on users. Some long term effects of methamphetamine include psychosis, severe dental problem, hallucination, weight and memory loss as well as aggressive or violent behaviour.

The search for clandestine laboratories in Nigeria can be traced to 2009 when significant seizures of methamphetamine leaving the country were made at the airports. This happened without a

corresponding inward seizures of methamphetamine into the country.

Suspicion of possible local production also heightened following cases of precursor chemical diversion recorded by the agency as well as a meth production recipe found on a Nigerian deportee from China.

Subsequently, the first methamphetamine clandestine laboratory was detected by the NDLEA in 2011 at Ojo, Lagos. The agency through collaboration received two forensic experts from the United States who assisted in dismantling the laboratory. This led to capacity building programmes for officers on how to detect, dismantle and suppress the proliferation of clandestine laboratories. These deliberate efforts by the NDLEA soon resulted in the discovery of more methamphetamine laboratories in the country.

Official statistics of the NDLEA show that 11 methamphetamine laboratories have so far been detected between June 2011 and March 2016. The laboratories are concentrated in Lagos, South West and Anambra, South East States of Nigeria. They had five laboratories each while one was found in Delta State. The latest laboratory detected in March 2016, along Ibuzor Road, Asaba, Delta State has been described by experts as a ‘super’ laboratory. This is because it has a whopping production capacity of between 3,000kgs and 4,000kgs of methamphetamine per production cycle.

Unlike the previous 10 laboratories that can only produce between 20kgs and 50kgs per production cycle, one significant feature of the super laboratory is that it operates on chemical synthesis process which is also more technical and sophisticated. The arrest of four suspected Mexican drug lords and methamphetamine production experts further validates the large scope of the laboratory. Meanwhile, three Bolivian methamphetamine experts were also arrested by the NDLEA in a clandestine laboratory at Satellite Town, Lagos, in 2012.

The arrest of foreigners is a reflection of the desperation of local drug cartels in forming unwholesome alliances with North American drug cartels.

All nine accused persons, four Mexicans and five Nigerians have

Some long term effects of methamphetamine include psychosis, severe dental problem, hallucination, weight and memory loss as well as aggressive or violent behaviour

been arraigned by the NDLEA at the Federal High Court Asaba for their alleged roles in the super laboratory. They are Chief Chibi Aruh, William Ejike Agusi, Umolu Kosisochukwu, Izuchukwu Anieto and Anthony Ckukwemeka Umolu. Others are Mexicans, Cervantos Madrid Jose Bruno, Rivas Ruiz Pastiano, Castillo Barraza Cristobal and Partida Gonzalez Pedro.

It was gathered that at the time the laboratory was raided, methamphetamine production was in progress. Items recovered at the laboratory include 1.5kg of finished crystal methamphetamine and 750 litres of liquid methamphetamine. Other items found in the laboratory include industrial pressure pots, gas cylinders, gas burners, facial masks and numerous chemicals. Also recovered from the accused persons are Toyota Tundra, Mercedes Benz Jeep ML and a Toyota Corolla car. As methamphetamine production is increasing in Nigeria and West Africa, apprehension is rife over the inimical socio-economic, cultural and political consequences for the world. Observers are concerned over the negative effects of methamphetamine production in terms of increased trafficking, use, toxic waste and related crimes.

There has been a phenomenal rise in the recruitment of unemployed youths as drug mules. Official figures of the NDLEA show that about 162 suspected drug traffickers were apprehended at the nation’s airports with 982.424kgs, almost a tonne of methamphetamine between 2009 and March 2016. Mass production of the drug also has the tendency to increase the number of persons in prisons on drug related offences both within and outside the country.

Methamphetamine production poses a serious threat to humanity because of the toxic nature of chemicals used. The toxic waste generated pollutes the environment. About three to six pound of toxic waste is created for every one pound of methamphetamine. This can contaminate the water table and affect plants and mankind within the production areas. A regular laboratory contains pyrophoric reagents capable of igniting spontaneously on exposure to air and carcinogenic chemicals having the potential to cause cancer.

Local consumption of methamphetamine is low today because it is more profitable to sell in Asia and Europe where prices are higher. This situation may be short-lived due to price volatility.

Efforts must therefore be intensified in tracing more clandestine laboratories in the country. Methamphetamine operations are hazardous, capital intensive, requires operational logistics and strategic planning. Entering such laboratories without adequate protective masks can cause serious damage to major body organs.

Even, a house used for methamphetamine production is said to be medically unsafe for habitation because of contamination by poisonous gases and chemicals ––Mitchell wrote from National Drug Law Enforcement Agency

Is Nigeria Part of Turkey?

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Joshua Ocheja argues that the directive of the Turkish ambassador that their schools in Nigeria be shut is misplaced

hese are indeed interesting times in Nigeria. The Turkish ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Hakan Cakil, is the Prime Minister of the Turkish Nigerian republic.

He recently called on the Nigerian government to close 17 Turkish schools in the country. That was quite audacious.

I am sure my able president, Sai Baba, must have smiled when the news reached him. Let me paint a likely scenario. Minister of Education: “Sir, the Turkish ambassador said we should close Turkish schools in Nigeria” Buhari: “Mr. Minister, you meant to shut the Turkish Embassy in Nigeria?

Minister of Education: “Sir, the Nigerian Turkish International Colleges, the Nigerian Turkish Nizamiye Hospital and even the Nigerian Turkish Nile University that 11 Nigerian students graduated with a first class recently” Buhari: “ Kai, please call me my Chief of Staff.”

The door opens. “Your Excellency sir.” Buhari: “How many countries are in Nigeria? Kyari: “Just one sir” Buhari: “Is Turkey now a part of Nigeria? Kyari: “Haba ran ka dede, that is impossible walahi.” Buhari: “Impossible and the Turkish ambassador is telling me to close down schools in my country?” Kyari: “Ran ka dede, it was a slip of tongue.” Buhari: “It had better be”.

I created the above scenario to interpret the request by the Turkish ambassador Mr. Hakan Cakil to the Nigerian government. Nothing can be more ill-mannered than this. I am sure the ambassador was under some form of pressure when he made that request. But whatever the case maybe, that request was in “poor taste, baseless, spurious and unfounded” according to the statement released by the management of the Nigerian Turkish International Colleges (NTIC).

I struggled to come to terms with the request for three reasons: one is that the NTIC schools do not belong to the Turkish government but to a group of private investors from Turkey who

have been in Nigeria since 1998. Two, the schools are not in Turkey, and three, Nigeria is a sovereign country. And even if we are not sovereign enough in the eyes of Turkey, at least we know what is right for us as a country. If the schools belonged to the Turkish government, the Turkish government does not need permission to close down the schools. All they needed to do was notify the Nigerian government of the closure of its schools in Nigeria.

As far as I can remember, we don’t share boundaries with Turkey because the distance between Nigeria and Turkey is about 2646 miles with a travel time of five hours, 30 minutes by air. Nigeria is a sovereign country. We gained independence 56 years ago, and the three major languages in Nigeria are Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba and not Turkish, Kurmanji, Arabic or Zazaki.

What were the reasons brought forward? “The 17 Turkish schools in Nigeria have links with the Hizmet movement involved in the July 15 failed coup attempt in Turkey.” Unyielding allegations that no country should take likely. But on second thought, what is the relationship between schools and hospitals in Nigeria with a strictly military affair in Turkey? I am sure the Turkish ambassador needs some enlightenment. Or are we that gullible as a people?

I also learned that the parents and guardians of students of the NTIC met with the press recently and condemned the action of the Turkish ambassador. I think it was the rational thing to do in this circumstance. We all know what this is all about; it is not about the activities of the NTIC schools in Nigeria, it is simply Turkish politics, and it would only be common sense if the Turkish president leaves Nigeria out of this.

For some of us that have one or two experiences with the Turkish community in Nigeria, we have nothing but admiration for them. I have attended events organised by UFUK Dialogue Initiative; I have witnessed the distribution of relief packages by

NTIC Foundation to Internally Displaced Persons in camps; I have visited the Nigerian Turkish Nizamiye Hospital on several occasions and I have also been to the Nigerian Turkish Nile University. And I make bold to say that Nigeria is indeed blessed to have these people here. Some of us might not be aware; the Nigerian Turkish International Colleges didn’t start big. They commenced in 1998 in a rented apartment in Abuja with less than 20 students. Their works stood them out, and they expanded. Today, over 5000 Nigerians are schooling in the NTIC schools with over 3000 Nigerians gainfully employed.

Interestingly, there is an NTIC School in Yobe State and guess what? In the thick of the Boko Haram crisis, the school didn’t close down. The management of the school ensured adequate security for its students. What more can we ask? Do we need to talk about the state of the art Nigerian Turkish Nizamiye Hospital? Or the prestigious Nigerian Turkish Nile University? I strongly feel insulted as a Nigerian.

At the last count, over 1043 schools and dormitories in Turkey shut down, 35 hospitals closed down,15 universities closed and over 1,229 associations and foundations shut down because they follow the teachings of Islamic Scholar Fethullah Gulen that emphasise dialogue, love, and tolerance. Nigeria should be left out of this madness. In one of the books written

by Fethullah Gulen, he said “It is impossible for me to know the number of schools that have been opened in Turkey and abroad. Since I have only recommended and encouraged such actions, I do not even know the names of many companies that opened schools or where the schools are located.”

I hope the relevant authorities will not only rebuke the affront of the Turkish ambassador but also issue a stern warning to the Turkish government because Nigeria is not a part of Turkey!

––Ocheja wrote from 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 • AUGUST 7, 2016

LETTERS THE LAGOS/KEBBI RICE PARTNERSHIP

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t is no longer in contention that Nigeria is going through economic recession, evidenced by many states’ inability to manage their statutory responsibilities. Yet, no nation can thrive without the development of her agricultural sector.

This is a sector of the economy that has the capacity to provide employment for over 80% of the population, if given the deserved attention. Universally, the relevance of food to man’s sustenance cannot be over emphasised.

Thus, in the world, nations that are considered as truly great and developed give earnest consideration to agriculture. In the United Kingdom, for instance, food is the least of their concerns, as a result of the practice of mechanised farming. Hence, farmers are well respected and well to do in that clime.

Here, in Nigeria, it is, however, sad that farmers are frustrated and short-changed largely because of pitiable access roads, poor transportation system and above all, lack storage facilities. Thus, over the years, the practice of agriculture has been dealt a fatal blow. The result is over

Ambode

reliance on food importation which subsequently depletes our foreign reserves.

Between 2005 and 2015, Nigeria monthly import bill rose from N148 billion to N917 billion. Sadly, most of the imported food items can be produced in Nigeria.

The crash of crude oil price coupled with activities of militants has exposed the helplessness of the nation as a monolithic import-dependent

economy. Unlike in the 1960s and early ‘70s when agriculture supported about 55% of the nation’s economy, same sector currently contribute 19% to the economy. With oil not able to sustain the economy anymore, renewed interest is expected to be on agriculture.

In an urban centre like Lagos, the story is almost saddening as large expanse of land that used to provide food and employment for both

young and old gradually gave way to housing estates, filling stations, hotels among others.

In the early 70s, Lagos used to boast of agricultural settlement such as Dairy farm, Agege and many others in Ikorodu, Epe and Badagry. They were established to provide healthy food and employment for people.

With a growing population of about 20 million, Lagos residents consume about 50% of food supply in the country.

Characteristically, rice is the staple food for most homes in Lagos and, indeed, Nigeria.

Therefore, rice importation is rampant in the country as billions of naira is spent annually on it. Sadly, local rice production suffers huge negligence.

Local rice producers are not encouraged and as such there is dwindling production.

In a renewed bid to ensure food security/ sustainable development, the Lagos State Government has entered into partnership with Kebbi State Government with the intent of boosting rice production.

In light of steady increase in Lagos State population without a corresponding increase in food production, the partnership is, indeed,

APC’S LEADERS OBSESSION WITH EKWEREMADU “If Ike Ekweremadu’s removal will help stabilise the economy, then, they should do all within their power to remove him. If Ekweremadu’s removal will stop Nigerians from losing their jobs, then, it is a task that must be done. If Ekweremadu’s removal will stop Fulani Herdsmen from killing helpless Nigerians, then, Ekweremadu should vacate both his office and Senate immediately. If Ekweremadu’s removal will stabilise prices of food and commodity in the market, then, I am joining them in asking Ekweremadu to vacate Senate. If Ekweremadu’s removal will make Buhari to abandon his 95% and 5% policy, stop him from seeking to turn Nigeria to a fiefdom where the only capable hands are only from certain part of the country, then, Ekweremadu’s immediate constituency should recall him from Senate. But, where the reverse is true, all the APC Governors and its leaders seeking Ekweremadu’s removal should tender their resignation letters and handover notes.

God bless Nigeria” - Pete Edochie’s Facebook Wall

A

fter stumbling on the above thoughtprovoking quote from Edochie’s Facebook Wall, and a reflection on recent undemocratic cum anti-Igbo utterances emanating from Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State against Deputy Senate President Dr Ike Ekweremadu vis-à-vis the recent goofing of publicity secretary of Lagos State APC, Mr Joe Igbokwe on Channels TV as regards

unfolding conspiracy to get rid of Ekweremadu, I decided to highlight the insufferable obsession of the APC’s leaders with Ekweremadu.

It will be recalled that since the APC “won” recent senatorial election in Imo North district where its candidate—Mr Ben Uwajumogu was declared winner by the INEC against the PDP candidate, Senator Achonu Nneji, Gov. Okorocha hardly finishes any speech without mentioning the “national urgency” of replacing Ike Ekweremadu with the senator-elect from Imo North senatorial zone as the next deputy Senate president. What he has not told us is how he planned to remove an elected deputy senate president in the Red Chamber where majority of senators across party lines are still loyal to the Saraki/ Ekweremadu-led Senate.

Many political watchers from the South-East geo-political zone are still flabbergasted as how Gov. Okorocha found his voice against Senator Ekweremadu immediately his puppet won a controversial senatorial rerun in Imo North (which is still subject to judicial validation via election petition tribunal). The same Gov. Okorocha that has kept mute in the face of gross marginalisation of people of South-East zone

by President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC government has suddenly woken from his slumber, not to fight for the cause of Ndigbo in Abuja but to conspire with external forces on how to move a political mountain Everest called Senator Ekweremadu.

The irony of unbearable hypocrisy cum sycophancy of the charade being exhibited by anti-Igbo elements like Gov. Okorocha and Joe Igbokwe, is that they always find strength,

courage and voice to speak against fellow Igbo person, just to impress external forces. These two APC leaders from SouthEast have never advised or openly criticise President Buhari for his lopsided appointments that are skewed in favour of the core North to the detriment of South-East geo-political zone.

Gov. Okorocha is yet to explain to Imo State people political calculations of the APC that saw a professor of Education and former Vice-Chancellor of a University, Prof. Anthony Onwuka (who happens to be his in-law) becoming Minister of State, Education while the full-fledged Minister, Adamu Adamu’s only qualification for the plum job was offering media support to President Buhari as newspaper columnist.

Gov. Okorocha never uttered any word of opposition or raised a finger of disapproval to this dehumanising treatment and crass show of nepotism against his in-law. Gov. Okorocha and Joe Igbokwe were nowhere to be found when tens of unarmed Igbo youths were gruesomely murdered in cold blood in the South-East and South-South zones simultaneously by security agents of state, just for remembering fallen Biafran heroes. To rob salt on injury, some of these administration’s atrocities took place under the watchful eyes of Gov. Okorocha in Imo State. This explains why he was thoroughly embarrassed

by Igbo youths in London during a town hall meeting of Imo indigenes residing in United Kingdom.

When some communities in Igboland were invaded by marauding Fulani herdsmen which resulted in the slaughtering and maiming of hundreds of innocent Igbos, where were

Okorocha and Joe Igbokwe?

When President Buhari silenced the entire Igbo nation in the appointment of Service Chiefs, where were Okorocha and Igbokwe? When the South-East zone was marginalised in allocation of capital projects in 2016 Budget, where were Okorocha and Igbokwe? Insufferable and chronic hypocrisy of these APC’s leaders from South-East is nearing boiling point. There is no argument that one of the reasons Ike Ekweremadu is being persecuted today is his unrelenting condemnation of gross neglect of Igbos by the present administration—which Gov. Okorocha and Joe Igbokwe are part and parcel of.

It is very unfortunate that Gov. Okorocha has been producing, packaging and selling lies in sealed branded cans and has succeeded in deceiving gullible Imo people that Senator-elect Ben Uwajumogu, a novice in the nittygritty of legislative functions, is coming to take over from the highly experienced, popular and well-respected Senator Ike Ekweremadu as deputy senate president against ranking rules of the National Assembly.

Those neophytes who bought this extremely conjectured dummy were also given bonus of fallacy that Ben Uwajumogu is being positioned to emerge as Senate president if Senate Bukola Saraki is removed. What a world of delusion! Even the dumbest political nincompoops won’t fall for this crap! This Nollywood movie could only be scripted by Gov. Okorocha, directed by Joe Igbokwe, acted

by Ben Uwajumogu and filmed in cinema called Imo State Government House, where Gov. Okorocha holds sway.

––Nwobodo Chidiebere, Abuja

a welcome development.

Lagos has the population, the purchasing power, processing plant as well as manpower to translate whatever amount of rice that is produced from Kebbi State to finished consumable of international standard.

One cannot but recognise and appreciate the efforts of the Lagos State Government in rice production at Itoikin, Igbogun around Lekki Local Council Development Area coupled with the presence of the multi-million naira rice mill at Imota. However, outputs from these places are grossly inadequate in meeting local demands.

The Lagos-Kebbi rice partnership, in line with national call for economic diversity, is intended to bring about national food sufficiency, security as well as creation of employment and wealth distribution for the benefits of both states and the nation as a whole. It is a partnership that thrives on making pragmatic use of available resources of both states for the common good of citizenry. Kebbi, for

I

instance, is endowed with vast arable land suitable for production of rice, wheat, maize, sorghum, groundnut, etc’, while Lagos, on the other hand, has capacity to process whatever is produced at the rice mill located at Imota, in Ikorodu for both local consumption and export.

Lagos’ huge population provides a huge market for rice production. According to the State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, Lagos has the required market and the purchasing power to stimulate rice production in the country.

Outside the food security and economic benefits of Lagos, Kebbi agricultural partnership, other benefits may include introduction of best agriculture practice to maximise yield, infrastructural renewal of agricultural settlements, improved transportation system such as railway network which has the capacity to move produce en-mass without undue interference.

––Bolaji Odumade, Ministry of Information & strategy, Alausa, Lagos.

OGUN F REE HEALTH ACCESS CARD

t looked like the ATM card at a distance. I drew closer to some of the pregnant women and officials of the Ogun State Ministry of Health in order to assess it. Indeed, it was like the ATM or National Identity Card. The biometrics of the beneficiaries was captured in the cards. The poor pregnant women at the event caressed them and offered gratitude to the Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, for a new lease of life.

From that day, Monday, July 11, 2016, when the Araya Scale-up (Community Based Health Insurance Scheme) was launched at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Abeokuta, the card qualifies them to visit any of the designated Health Care Providers in their respective local councils and access free health care without paying a dime.

The free health treatment covers all manner of local endemic diseases that contend with the health of pregnant women, mothers and their children. Ante natal and post natal services are assured. They will equally not have to worry about payment for diagnostic tests as this is also covered by the scheme.

This is the first of such scheme in the history of Ogun State. With the Ogun Araya Access Card, according to the Commissioner for Health, Dr Tunde Ipaye, the pregnant women who belong to the lower 25 per cent of the population, living on less than two dollars a day and their children under the age of five, have access to free health services without any form of payment.

This is not a scheme in the pipeline. Many pregnant women in Abeokuta North and Abeokuta South Local Government Areas are already enjoying the free health facilities, including free drugs.

This social insurance scheme, once again, highlights the welfarist

policy of the Ibikunle Amosunled administration in Ogun State.

As the governor often says, we are here because of these people.

From July till the end of the year 2016, over 20,000 pregnant women and their Under-five children will go to any four designated Health Care Providers (private and public) in their respective local councils with their Araya Access Cards and get free health services anytime, any day, 24/7! And to underscore his commitment to the free health scheme, the governor has already released in advance funds for this scheme till the end of 2016.

The leadership of the National Health Insurance Scheme and Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole, were so impressed by this innovation and practical commitment demonstrated by the state government that they pledged to collaborate with the current administration. And if they make good their promise, as we expect them to do, the 20,000 number should double by the end of 2016.

It should be mentioned that this community- based health insurance scheme (for pregnant women and under-five children) is a subset of the Ogun State Health Insurance Scheme, which will be for the entire residents of the state. Ordinarily, in any insurance scheme, participants ought to pay a premium. But for the peasant pregnant women and their U-five children, the Amosun administration has offset the premium. Once the Ogun State Health Insurance Scheme operates full steam, the entire vulnerable community in the state is guaranteed of free health care services.

We congratulate the governor of Ogun State for adding another feather to his cap. As it is said, a healthy nation is a wealthy nation.

––Soyombo Opeyemi, Abeokuta.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER • AUGUST 7, 2016

INTERNATIONAL

Edited by Demola Ojo e-mail: demola.ojo@thisdaylive.com

Why POTUS is Not for B.S. Artists

T

he Hillary Clinton camp enjoying a convention bounce that has given the candidate a double digit edge over Donald Trump has been warned not to rest on its oars, under the illusion the election is as good as won. The office of the President of the United States of America (POTUS), which Hillary is aspiring to attain, is not for B.S. artists, according to eminent scholars of the American genre. (More of this later).

It is understandable why the Hillary fans are concerned-getting laid back could be costly at this time despite the fact that current polls including Gallup, the GOP inclined Fox News and CNN/ORC are giving Hillary a margin that goes beyond the expected convention bounce.

Yes the Donald is down but it does look like he is not totally out. His ‘allies,’ Russia and Julian Assange, may come to his rescue by leaking some damaging document that would be to Trump’s advantage and imperil Hillary Clinton’s promising ratings over her Republican opponent. Assange has given notice to the effect that more damaging emails against Clinton should be expected. Whatever happens, Trump’s sympathisers cannot say their superman’s posture of not stooping to conquer is the best approach to win the coveted title of POTUS. Instead he refuses to walk back his forced errors, doubling down on virtually every mistake that can be explained away or neutralised through an apology.

The supporters of the Republican candidate claim Clinton and the DNC have set Trump up with the backing of the media using the Khan family convention speech as an example. Even if it was a war of words between Khan and Trump, the argument goes, that would have been a mild incident with many attributing it to the usual Trump

Trump tendency to respond to every issue that comes his way. A Trump insider revelation that the man is perpetually glued to the network and poll sites that tell him what he wants to hear, makes interesting reading. Anything to the contrary, in praise of Trump that is, wakes his narcissistic disposition on the reverse side; he would go on tweeter to fight Crooked Hillary and her gang! Except that this time around he went to the extent of declaring war on the mother of a fallen hero, not a prisoner of war like McCain, insinuating her Islamic faith

prevented her to speak up leaving the job to her husband. Obviously that was when Trump fell off the gangway.

Trump in his characteristic style of infallibility and playing the strong man who does not apologise but would rather double down did just that and went beyond bar when Khan mounted the DNC convention podium to query Trump if he actually was conversant with the American Constitution especially on provisions related to immigration and immigrants. Rather than keep the fight man to man, Trump blamed Kazir Khan’s wife for keeping silent during the convention. In escalating the discourse, Trump not only cast himself in bad light as an unfeeling public figure but un-presidential for the most powerful seat in the world. Trump. He even scolded a crying baby in a recent campaign and ordered she should be sent out of the arena!

Trump’s oft-repeated tendency of going off the curve has given Clinton an oft-repeated campaign weapon-the man does not have the temperament of being called the commander in chief of the most powerful country in the world. With the nuclear codes of the atomic bomb on his fingers who knows what he could do if he woke up on the wrong side, competing with the North Korean boy leader whom he admires along with Vladmir Putin. That matter was even highlighted last week when MSNBC host of ‘Morning Joe’, Joe Scarborough claimed that several months ago Trump asked a foreign policy expert who had come to advise him why he could not use nuclear weapons. Thrice he asked about the use of nuclear armaments and why the US was not making use of it. “Three times he asked at one point if we had them why can’t we use them,” It is not just because of this disclosure that fears have become rife Trump cannot be trusted with nuclear codes which he can use in one moment of indiscretion, of losing his temperament to press the

trigger. The Trump camp has vehemently denied this but his utterances and admiration for those he considers to be strongmen have lent credence to the fact he could be an unfolding danger to humanity, a Hitler in the making. Trump had queried why Japan, South Korea and Saudi Arabia could not be equipped with nuclear weapons, what experts say runs counter to America’s policy of eliminating from the human race, weapons of mass destruction; on another occasion he had asserted he would not just be committed to NATO until he had reviewed the relationship of members with the US on a one and one basis.

A few days ago, President Barack Obama gave Trump a hard flogging with a footnote: he did not have the clout of a President like Mitt Romney and John McCain, but Newt Gingrich, one of his intellectual power advisers, who proposed a “Contract with America,” which helped to dismantle the four decade hold of the House of Representatives by the Democrats, disagreed. Gingrich, a former House Speaker, believes the Presidency is not all lost to Clinton if only Trump can become less unacceptable than Clinton to the American electorate in the next few weeks. ”While Trump could still always win, all of this is badly hampering his ability to broaden his appeal, casting doubt on the notion that he can prevail simply by being slightly less unacceptable than Clinton,” Gingrich said.

What a desperate advice!

Columnist Greg Sargent knows why Trump cannot be less unacceptable in November, his: pathologically abusive tendencies, his hair-trigger overreaction to criticism and slights both real and imagined, and his mental habit of sorting the world into the strong and the weak — the dominant and the submissive.

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SUNDAY AUGUST 7, 2016 T H I S D AY

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER • AUGUST 7, 2016

INTERNATIONAL

Coup inTurkey,Turkish Schools in Nigeria, and Implications for Nigeria’s National Security

D

emocracy is quite better than dictatorship mainly because it has more merits, more advantages in the areas of protection of human rights. Amongst the advantages is the peace and security.

However, these arguments are valid only to the extent of the attitudinal disposition of the political players in the democracies. This is because democracy, as a system of government, does not by itself help political stability. It is how democracy is operated that largely defines the extent of achievable peace, cooperation and security.

The recent coup in Turkey therefore raises many questions as to why democratically-elected governments are easily toppled in a manu militari fashion.

Turkey played host to four coups d’état before the July 15, 2016 case. The first military incursion into politics in Turkey was on May 27, 1960 when a group of 38 young military officers ousted the democratically elected government of the Democratic Party. The second coup took place on March 12, 1971 reportedly to restore orderliness following an economic downturn provoked by a widespread unrest. In the same vein, another army coup took place on September 12, 1980 following clashes between left- and right-wing groups. February 28, 1997 witnessed another destabilising coup in Turkey but the seriousness of the destabilisation is not as much as the last coup against President Erdogan when he was on holiday at a resort in South West of Turkey on July 15, 2016. In terms of the aftermath effects, the coup was unprecedented in reactive crackdown..

For instance, at the level of the coupists, the Turkish Parliament and the Ankara Presidential Palace were bombed. 14 naval vessels were declared missing as at July 19. At the level of the elected government, 15,846 suspects were detained and so were 2,745 judges.

More disturbingly, 48,222 workers were suspended, 16 television stations, 23 radio houses, 45 newspapers, 29 publishers and 3 news agencies were closed down.

15,000 education staff were suspended, while licenses of 21,000 teachers working in the private sector were revoked for alleged loyalty to Fetullah Gulen. 50,000 passports issued to coup suspects were cancelled. In fact, a 3-month state of emergency was declared.

In the eyes of the international community, this crackdown by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey is excessive or unnecessary. This probably explains why President Erdogan’s speech to his supporters, who wanted to hold some rallies in Cologne, Germany, was disallowed by the Government. Even though Turkey joined the NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) as far back as 1952, the implication of which is that it is entitled to collective support by virtue of the consideration that an attack on any Member state is an attack on all others, repression of human rights has not allowed for steady support.

The United States was fingered at as having possibly aided and abetted the coup. This suspicion may not be far from the consideration that the 77-year old Fetullah Gulen had been living on self-imposed exile in the United States since 1999. The United States has denied any involvement and has, in response to the Turkish President’s request for the extradition of Fetullah Gulen to Turkey, insisted on the provision of concrete evidence of his involvement before consideration of his extradition.

True, Gulen is generally considered a moderate

Buhari

VIE INTERNATIONALE with

Bola A. Akinterinwa Telephone : 0807-688-2846

e-mail: bolyttag@yahoo.com

Muslim, leading the Hizmet, a popular movement, and promoting interfaith dialogue and social development in any countries of the world. He has established secular co-educational schools and universities. For President Erdogan, the Hizmet is a terrorist organisation. He has held the Gulen-led Hizmet mainly responsible for the failed coup. Gulen has vehemently denied it. In an interview he granted Fareed Zakaria of the CNN, he explained that he had ‘always been against coups’ and that he curses ‘people who resort to coups against democracy, liberty and republic.’ More significantly, he noted further that ‘if there is anything (he) told anyone about this (coup attempt) verbally, if there is any phone conversation, if one-tenth of this accusation is correct ... (he) would bend (his) neck and would say “they are telling the truth. Let them take me away. Let them hang me.” Probably on this basis, the Washingtonian government is strengthened in insisting that there should be convincing evidence of complicity before consideration of his extradition.

Besides, it has been argued by some observers that the US-Turkey agreement on extradition clearly provides that an act or offence must be extraditable before anyone can be extradited. Treason as presented by President Erdogan is not listed as an extraditable act in the treaty.

The relevant point from the foregoing is that President Erdogan has also asked the Government of Nigeria to close down all Turkish schools in Nigeria allegedly because Fetullah Gulen was the main architect of the failed coup in Turkey. Is this request in Nigeria’s national interest? In which way is the Turkish failed coup likely to impact on Nigeria’s national security? How important is Nigeria-Turkish relations in the country’s overall global relations?

Nigeria-Turkey Relations

Turkish Request and Nigerian Perspectives The Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency, Mr. Hakan Cakil, was reported in Daily Trust of Friday, July 29, 2016 to have informed the Vice Charman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator Shehu Sani, when he visited the Ambassador, that Turkey had formally requested Nigeria, being a strategic partner, for the closure of the 17 Turkish schools in Nigeria for one main reason: terrorism.

In the words of Ambassador Cakil, “all the schools in Nigeria belong to the Gulen movement and not the Turkish government. They are using the schools to recruit followers for terrorism. This is threatening the peace in our (Turkey) country as they are using funds they are generating in Nigeria for terrorism.” More significantly, Ambassador Cakil had it that “Gulen is a

Erdogan

terrorist organisation using rhetoric of dialogue, peace and partnership to deceive people. It is being presented as a kind of Muslim missionary but they are abusing religion. they misled the public by putting Turkey in the name of their schools. We don’t have schools in Nigeria, we have in other countries but not in Nigeria.”

Many observations are derivable from this statement.

First, the use of the name Turkey necessarily implies ownership and possession. Second, citizens of Turkey do not have any right to use the name to qualify any private asset. Third, the alleged strategic partnership between Turkey and Nigeria should allow the subservience of Nigeria’s sovereignty to that of Turkey. Fourth, the Turkish request seeks to undermine Nigeria’s sovereign laws under which the 17 alleged schools were registered. Fifth, the statement presumes, and most unfortunately too, that the schools were Turkish and not Nigerian. Sixth, and perhaps most significantly, are the schools really or not instruments of terrorism?

Mr. Cemal Yigit, the spokesperson of the NigerianTurkish International Colleges, sees the request as a mere campaign of calumny against the schools. As he put it, “the NTIC, Niamiye Hospital, Nigeria-Turkish Nile University under the First Surat Group of Companies are privately invested here by private investors.

These groups of companies have nothing to do with the Turkish government and they are not governmental and non-political companies. Their responsibility is to the Nigerian authorities. The schools and hospitals are open. There is no way they could be closed. This is just misinformation disseminated by the Turkish ambassador to Nigeria.” If there is no official support, particularly by way of funding or investments, on what basis would the Turkish request be justified beyond the possible change of name, Turkey? To what extent can the Turkish law override that of Nigeria? Should the schools be closed by the Government of Nigeria?

The Way Forward

The dominant viewpoint of the Nigerian diplomatic community is that there is no good basis for the closure of the schools. I shared this position only if it can be proved beyond reasonable doubts that the schools are truly not being used as accessory to terrorism. The Turkish request should be understood in two different ways: to punish by way of containment of the influence of the Gulenists or to advise Nigeria to stop the use of its territory for terrorist activities. This means that the allegations of the Turkish government must first be investigated. In the first instance, the Turkish president must substantiate the allegations against Gulen.

Secondly, the evidences must be linked to the schools in Nigeria. Nigeria must learn from Epichamus’ saying in his Fabulce Incertoe that “the wise man must be wise before, not after, the event.”

Many observations are derivable from this statement. First, the use of the name Turkey necessarily implies ownership and possession.

Second, citizens of Turkey do not have any right to use the name to qualify any private asset. Third, the alleged strategic partnership between Turkey and Nigeria should allow the subservience of Nigeria’s sovereignty to that of Turkey. Fourth, the Turkish request seeks to undermine Nigeria’s sovereign laws under which the 17 alleged schools were registered.

Fifth, the statement presumes, and most unfortunately too, that the schools were Turkish and not Nigerian. Sixth, and perhaps most significantly, are the schools really or not instruments of terrorism?

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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 • AUGUST 7, 2016

BUSINESS QUICK TAKES Tax Evasion

The federal government last week announced that it had lost about $1 trillion to tax evasion and avoidance by multinational companies.

The Minister of Information and Culture,LaiMohammed,whodroppedthe hintaftertheFederalExecutiveCouncil (FEC)meetinginAbuja,saidtoaddress the problem, multinationals operating in Nigeria would be compelled to provide reports on their operations in other countries.

Thefederalgovernmentalsoapproved the construction of a bigger seaport in Badagry, Lagos State, which will be built by the private sector.

Onthestricterregulationofcorporate taxation,Mohammedstressedthatthe government approved an agreement to compel all multinationals operating in Nigeria to file accounts on their operations in other countries, so as to enable the Nigerian tax authorities determine that such multinationals are not hiding taxable incomes from Nigeria.

Mohammadwhoaddressedjournalists alongsidetheMinisterforPower,Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, and MinisterforTransport,RotimiAmaechi, said two memoranda were approved

by FEC.

Fresh Capital Barrels of crude oil

Bonny Light Crude Projected to Hit $55/b by December Kunle Aderinokun Analysts at FBNQuest, an economic research and investment banking arm of FBN Holdings Plc, has predicted that the price of Bonny Light crude oil at the international market would hit $55 per barrel at the end of this year and further projected that for 2017 Bonny Light would sell at US$60/b (average) and would hit US$70 per barrel at end-2017.

Bonny Light crude oil is a high grade of Nigerian crude oil with high API gravity (low specific gravity), produced in the Niger Delta basin and named after the prolific region around the city of Bonny.

The firm, which recently released its Economic Outlook for August, obtained

by THISDAY, also put the average price of the Bonny Light crude at $50 per barrel.

“We see an average price for this year for spot Bonny Light of US$50/b, with US$55/b at end-year,” it said.

Noting that, “The price was below US$30/b as recently as January, “ FBNQuest stated that, “Our take is that the market had oversold following the international deal with Iran.” The pick-up, it however added, could only be “gradual since the global supply and demand dynamics will not be supportive until late 2017.”

FBNQuest noted that production losses (leakages) were “unparalleled” for Nigeria, a leading oil producer, pointing out that “In 2014 they reached up to 300,000 bpd, which would have been equivalent to the entire production from, say, Gabon. This year losses have soared with an upsurge in sabotage and militancy, climbing to 750,000 bpd on occasions.”

“For the uninitiated, we should explain that these huge losses are a combination

ENERGY of artisanal theft and larger criminal operations. A local act of “bunkering” can lead to the closure of a main pipeline and the declaration of force majeure.

We see average output (including condensates) this year at 1.90mbpd, and so well below the 2016 budget assumption of 2.28mbpd. We assume a modest recovery in 2017 to 2.05mbpd on measures by the administration to tackle some of the worst production leakages and tighten security in the Niger Delta,” it explained.

FBNQuest explained: “The Saudi-led OPEC decision in November 2014 to leave its production quotas unchanged is having some impact. Some shale oil producers in the US are going out of business because they cannot compete at the lower prices, and many US banks have become less free with their credit.

The picture is uneven, however, and some companies have stronger balance sheets than others in the fracking industry in North America. Nigeria is, of course, a member of the global village, and vulnerable to negative movements in world financial and trade flows.

“Its credit event in 2009 was, however, home-grown and caused by the failings of its own banks rather than borrowings from foreign banks. It also enjoys some insulation from those movements by virtue of its low external indebtedness, both public and private sector. For these reasons and because in production terms Nigeria is a non-oil economy, the damage from the slide in the oil price has been less acute than in, say, Angola or Russia.”

FBNQuest also expected the economy, which contracted in the first quarter

(Q1) of this year, to also contract in the second and third quarters of the year.

In fact, it projected that, “for the year as a whole, we see contraction of -1.2 per cent year-on-year.”

The firm expressed confidence that fiscal policy of the federal government will be “decisive”. Besides, it stated that, “sectoral reforms and the dramatic move on the exchange rate in June should also underpin an economic recovery.” As such, it forecast “growth of 2.5 per cent for next year, and a robust turnaround thereafter.”

FBNQuest, which pointed out that, “The healthy GDP growth through to 2014 was based in expenditure terms on We see an average price for this year for spot Bonny Light of US$50/b, with US$55/b at end-year robust household consumption,” however, stated that, “Given the paucity of indicators, we have noted the difficulty in testing this statement. The manufacturers are guided by their own very detailed and private research into consumption trends.”

According to the company, “Consumption growth has slowed as a result of insecurity in the north east, fiscal pressures arising from the slide in the oil price, currency devaluations (in November 2014, February 2015 and June 2016), and dull global growth. Unfortunately for Nigeria, the developed economy with the best growth prospects is the US, which has become self-sufficient in oil production.”

Also, the FBNQuest in its August edition on the research on the economy, expressed

the need for the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to communicate better its policies and successes.

“We give the Buhari administration the benefit of the doubt, and recognise that the pace of reform has been slowed by virtue of the APC being a coalition and by institutional and other vested interests. Expectations are high and many of the plans will only have an impact over time, which together reinforce the need of the FGN to communicate better its policies and its successes,” it stated.

According to the report, “There are some achievements to trumpet. We note therefore the recapture of almost all territory held by Boko Haram, changes at the top of the NNPC, the corporation’s greater transparency, its planned experiment with self-financing JVs in the oil industry, the fuel price reform in May and the exchange-rate reform in June.

The latest distribution by the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) points to a marked improvement in non-oil revenue collection.”

It specifically stated that, “The administration will be judged on its fiscal policy because it has pushed an expansionary agenda with ambitious capital spending plans (when governments in Ghana, Angola and elsewhere in similar circumstances have opted for austerity). The 2016 budget assumes an average oil price of US$38/b, which now appears sound. We cannot say the same for the output assumption, given the pick-up in sabotage.

“To make good the fall in revenues from the oil industry, and to attain its capital spending plans without a soaring deficit, the FGN has to come close to hitting its aggressive target for its tax take from the non-oil economy.”

Diamond Bank Plc and First City MonumentBankLimited(FCMB)have disclosed plans to raise fresh capital.

Diamond Bank said it is considering raising fresh capital and selling some assetsinordertostrengthenitscapital base,itschiefexecutive,UzomaDozie, said last week.

Dozie said the bank’s capital plan will ensure it meets all regulatory requirements both in the short term and in the future. Diamond Bank’s capital adequacy ratio had fallen to 15.6 per cent of assets by mid-year from 18.6 per cent a year ago.

“We are doing a capital management planandthatwilldeterminehowmuch capitalwewanttoraise,tenorandsize,” Reuters quoted Dozie to have told an analysts’ conference call.

“We don’t have any need to grow our branch network any more.We are also looking at some assets that we can dispose of and we are a long way into that,”hesaid.Inarelateddevelopment, FCMBplanstoraiseN10toN15billion ($47million)oftierIIcapitaltoboostits balance sheet and will target its retail investors for the offering, its chief executive officer, Ladi Balogun, said last Wednesday.

Balogunsaiditscapitaladequacyratio was close to the regulatory limit of 15 percent ofassetsatmid-year,andthat it was undertaking the capital raising to provide an additional cushion.

Foreign Airlines

The Country Manager of British Airways,KolaOlayinka,hasdisclosedthat foreign airlines operating in Nigeria lost N6.4billion in the N157.6 billion ($800)oftheirrevenuestrappedinthe Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) when the Naira was devalued from N197 to N280 by the apex regulator.

The BA Country Manager explained thatthetotalamountofmoneytrapped in CBN before the devaluation was $800 million and for every $1million the airlines lost N80million.

Olayinka made this known on last week during the Aviation RoundTable (ART) Breakfast Meeting in Lagos. He explained that the fares Nigerians pay for international destinations have increased because more naira is exchanged for dollars, but passengers still pay the same fare in dollar denomination.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R • AUGUST 7, 2016

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BUSINESS/MONEY

Deepening Nigeria’s Payment System

In this report, Obinna Chima writes on the latest efforts to further strengthen the payment system

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igeria has over the years witnessed efforts aimed at creating a robust financial system framework through several reform initiatives targeted at fostering stability, sanitising governance and restoring confidence in the system, by the banking system regulator. A sound payment system infrastructure, where banks and their customers can transact business with confidence and convenience, trust and timeliness, underpins many of the reforms.

In 2007, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) launched the Payment Systems Vision 2020, which identified series of recommendations to increase the resilience of the payment system infrastructure in order to encourage the usage of electronic payment methods.

Clearly, the economic benefits of migrating from cash-dominated environment to an electronic payment market are unquestionable. That is why experts have stressed the need for operators and the regulators to continue to build and make safe and efficient services available as well as also ensures that regulatory framework encourages innovation, but protects the stability of the payment system.

Electronic payment refers to technological systems that enable bank customers perform financial transactions electronically.

Therefore, experts have identified smart regulation and increased innovation as critical factors to achieving the objectives of the nation’s Payment System Vision 2020 (PSV 2020).

The central bank recently stressed that attaining the PSV 2020 would be the catalyst to revolutionise the payment system in Nigeria.

The Director, Banking and Payment System Department, CBN, Mr. Dipo Fatokun, pointed out that achieving the PSV 2020 would help facilitate economic activities as well as boost the financial inclusion drive of the CBN. Promoting Innovation As part of efforts to further strengthen the payment system, the central bank last week directed commercial banks and other financial institutions to allow their customers that are savings account holders to lodge in cheques in their accounts.

Fatokun stated this in a circular posted on the central bank’s website. According to the CBN, savings account customers with Bank Verification Number (BVN) should be allowed to deposit cheques not more than N2 million in value per customer per day into their accounts.

The banking sector regulator explained that the decision to allow cheques in savings accounts was in furtherance of its efforts at strengthening the Nigerian payments system. Furthermore, the CBN announced the removal of fixed interest rate on credit cards and discontinued the actual address verification in account opening, for customers with BVN. It also asked banks to begin to embed BVN biometric data in payment cards issued henceforth, to facilitate off-line BVN verification and biometric-based customer authentication on payment devices as ATM, Point of Sale (PoS), kiosks, etc.

“Banks should begin to embed the BVN on all payment cards issued henceforth to facilitate off-line BVN verification and biometric-based customer authentication in such payment devices as the Automated Teller Machines, Point of Sale Terminal, kiosks etc.

“Savings account customers with the BVN should be allowed to deposit cheques

Customers transacting in a banking hall

not more than N2 million in value into their savings account per customer per day. Please be guided and ensure strict compliance with the content of this circular,” it stated.

Journey Towards PSV 2020 As part of efforts to achieve the PSV 2020, the CBN last year inaugurated the payment system strategy board, the payment scheme boards, the initiatives working groups and the special interest working groups.

The CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, who inaugurated members of the respective groups, had described the feat as another giant leap in realising the vision of facilitating economic activities.

He said it was expected to provide safe and efficient mechanisms for making and receiving payments with minimum risks to the central bank, payment service providers and end users.

Emefiele explained that members of the groups were selected to serve in any of the new initiative working groups, such that one member from each industry vertical, comprising of the user community, banks and other service providers.

“The groups will work on the principle of identifying quick wins for an initial period of two years, with an option to extend for another two-year term, subject to the level of achievements.

“These groups have laid the foundation for moving to the next level of scheme governance, which is a significant shift of responsibility from CBN to the participants in the Nigerian payments system. This, no doubt, will enhance self-regulation and engender the efficiency of the payments system,” he had said.

He pointed out that having put in place the aforementioned initiatives working groups and the governance scheme boards, best practice recommends that, there should be a senior and superior body that oversees

all payment systems activities.

“It is in this respect, and to provide strategic direction for the National Payments System, that the Payment Systems Strategy Board (PSSB) is being put in place.

“This body will replace the National Payment Systems Council (NPSC) and will be the pinnacle organisation for the governance, management and operation of the Nigerian Payment Systems,” he added.

The terms of reference included to provide strategic direction and drive the overall

As part of efforts to further strengthen the payment system, the central bank last week directed commercial banks and other financial institutions to allow their customers that are savings account holders to lodge in cheques in their accounts…

Furthermore, the CBN announced the removal of fixed interest rate on credit cards and discontinued the actual address verification in account opening, for customers with BVN

National Payments System Strategy, to provide cross-scheme priorities and resource allocation, among others.

The board, which shall be chaired by the Governor of the CBN would have the Minister of Communication Technology; the Accountant General of the Federation; the four Deputy Governors of the CBN; the Chairmen of the four Payment Scheme Boards; independent Directors from the end-user community represented by the director generals, NACCIMA and Consumers Protection Council; the Director Generals of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).

Others include the chairmen of two sub-committees of the Bankers’ Committee (Payments Infrastructures and Financial Literacy subcommittees); the Executive Chairmen of the Nigerian Communication Commission and Federal Inland Revenue Service; the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice.

The Head/Project Manager, PSV 2020, Mr. Sam Okojere, stressed that the cashless policy was the future of payments in Nigeria. He also noted that the PSV 2020 initiatives were aimed at instituting a robust national payment system that is nationally utilised and internationally recognised.

Experts argued that Nigeria had witnessed an impressive growth of electronic payments and a shift from dominance of cash as a means of payment. Furthermore, they listed the deployment of the real time gross settlement systems where transfer of money or securities takes place from one bank to another on a real time, the adoption of mobile money as a major channel, the implementation of the Treasury Single Account; and migration of all payment cards from magnetic stripe technology to Chip-and-PIN, otherwise known as EMV, as some of the steps towards achieving PSV 2020.

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BUSINESS/MONEY

Skye Bank: Bracing for Financial Breakthrough

Following Skye Bank Plc’s publication of its 2015 Audited Annual Report and Financial Statements that show unimpressive performance, Kunle Aderinokun writes that there are renewed efforts by the board and management recently appointed by the Central Bank of Nigeria to return the bank to profitability

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kye Bank Plc recently released its 2015 Audited Annual Report and Financial Statements. This followed a prolonged delay, due, mainly, to integration of Mainstreet Bank, which it acquired last year, with its operations.

The audited financial results as at December 31, 2015, showed that the bank posted gross earnings of N163.878 billion in 2015, an increase of 12 per cent over the N145.178 billion recorded in the previous year. This was boosted by 19 per cent rise in interest expense to N127.908 billion to N107.847 billion. However, this was watered down by interest expense of N76.993 billion, having risen by 73 per cent from N44.572 billion in 2014.

A further look at the financials revealed that Skye Bank has made a total provision of N34.681 billion for impairment charges for the year ended December 31, 2015. While N27.536 billion impairment charges out of the N34.681 billion were for loans, the remaining N7.145 billion was set aside as impairment charges for other financial assets.

Following the record total impairment loss, amongst others, which weighed seriously on its earnings, the bank’s net operating income for the review period stood at N50.403 billion, having dropped by 35.6 per cent from N78.311 billion.

And after employee benefit and compensation cost, totalling N38.229 billion, administration and general expenses (N40.874 billion), and depreciation and amortisation (N8.946 billion) as well as taxation of N3.080 billion were deducted from the net operating income, the bottom line moved to the negative territory as the bank recorded N40.726 billion loss after tax compared to N18.717 billion profit after tax in the previous year.

Analysts believed the challenge Skye Bank faced was mainly the unimpressive performance as recorded in its 2015 financial statements.

According to them, the poor outing was as a result of high loan impairment charges due to aggressive loan growth combined with negative macroeconomic trends that have negatively affected its loan books as businesses in oil and gas, power, telecommunications, manufacturing and financial services face serious short-term challenges.

One of the analysts posited that, the fact that the bank declared a loss did not mean that it was in distress or that it will not be able to meet its obligations to customers. “Skye Bank is not in distress. The Governor of the CBN confirmed this in his official statement. The Bank is able to meet its obligations to customers and the Governor of CBN also confirmed that all customers’ deposits are safe.”

Another analyst believed “resolution of the issues around Yola Disco between a prominent

Ahmad

Abiru

shareholder and the federal government as well as the entry of General T.Y Danjuma as an equity investor in the NATCON (ntel) consortium may all have positive portfolio benefits for the bank.”

“One of the factors that may have impaired the bank’s liquidity would probably be its acquisition of Mainstreet Bank at a time it had also aggressively grown its risk assets, while the economy was moving into an economic downturn and now a recession,” the analyst added.

Realising Skye Bank’s liquidity was impaired, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) recently intervened in the bank, which it classifies as one of the eight Systemically Important Banks (SIBs) in Nigeria.

The CBN effected changes in key personnel on the board and management of the bank on July 4, 2016, which affected the chairman, all non-executive directors as well as the managing director, deputy managing director. It also affected the two longest-serving executive directors on the management team.

According to the apex bank, “These proactive moves have become unavoidable in view of the persistent failure of Skye Bank PLC to meet minimum thresholds in critical prudential and adequacy ratios, which has culminated in the bank’s permanent presence at the CBN lending window. In particular, Skye Bank’s liquidity and non-performing loan ratios have been below and above the required thresholds, respectively,

for quite a while.”

Disclosing that, “chairman and some board members have decided to resign their appointments from the bank,” it stated: “Consequently, by virtue of the powers vested in the Governor of the CBN, we have decided to reconstitute the Board and Management of the bank, and appoint new members with the sole responsibility of ensuring the speedy restoration of the health of the bank. “ “To this effect, the chairman of the board, all other non-executive directors, the independent director, the managing director, the deputy managing director and two longest serving executive directors have voluntarily resigned their appointments with immediate effect.

“In their place, we have selected industry experts and people of high integrity whom we believe can turn the bank around.

In this regard, we have selected M. K. Ahmad to be the new chairman while Mr. Adetokunbo Abiru would be the new managing director. The more recent executive directors will be allowed to remain to ensure continuity and a smooth transition,” it added.

Ahmad and Abiru as well as the new directors have since resumed. They are very optimistic of the bank “given its vast potentials and its strategic position in the economy.”

According to a statement addressed to customers and stakeholders, signed by Ahmad and Abiru,

“the bank is well-positioned to deepen the retail and commercial banking services in the economy, having put in place the critical building blocks to win in this sector. Our immediate priorities are to quickly begin to leverage the huge invetsments in the enhanced branch network, technology and alternative channels to improve stakeholder value in a sustainable manner.”

The bank assured its customers and stakeholders of its commitment to “preserve your investments and deposits” adding that, “we further assure that the support and backing of the Central Bank of Nigeria and other relevant stakeholders have been obtained in this respect.”

While also assuring the customers that “Skye Bank remains sound and your deposit are safe”, the bank management, recalled that, “this much was assured by the CBN.” “We therefore urge you to eschew unfounded rumours about the bank. We count on your continued support and patronage, while we commit to improved stakeholder value in the medium term.”

As part of efforts to improve the bank’s liquidity and help return it to profitability, CBN has injected about N100 billion into its operations.

Confirming the injection, Abiru said the bank received the money to shore up its operations.

The fund, which is in form of a loan, repayable in one year, would is expected to prevent a run on the bank.

Besides, the bank is in discussions with a number of strategic investors to raise up to N50billion in fresh capital. The fresh capital, according to sources, is expected to strengthen the bank’s capacity to do more business, while also diversifying its shareholder base.

Skye Bank is currently having a new business focus. Working with McKinsey & Co, the bank developed a new business strategy to focus on the commercial and retail business segment.

This, sources believe, is sustainable, and will increase the bank’s revenue and profitability in the medium-long term. According to sources, “the steady growth in the commercial and retail deposit in the last 6 months confirm that we are in the right direction.”

Similarly, the bank planned improved service delivery and business synergy. With a more expansive branch network, and strategic investment in relevant cutting edge technology, the bank is well positioned to deliver better products and services to its ever-loyal and prospective customers, improve its brand equity, ensure sustainable profitability and enhance shareholders value in a sustainable manner.

More importantly, the bank would undertake aggressive recovery of our loans & intensify loan collection efforts. It is expected that recovery of provisioned loan will directly impact the bank’s profit position during the year.

Firm Introduces Gas Fueling for Vehicles Nseobong Okon-Ekong

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ew entrant into the Nigerian oil, gas and logistic industries, THLD International Logistic Limited says its coming into Africa’s largest commercial nerve centre, is to enable Nigerians use gas (LPG) as a viable replacement for the more expensive petrol and diesel.

According to the CEO of THLD, Olusegun Olajuwan, ”I have lived in the UK most of my life and have seen how Europeans and Americans, even the Asians, live and use their natural resources to full capacity. But that has not been the case with Nigeria and Nigerians, where there are more deposits of oil and gas than the nation needs. It is, to help, in putting some of these maladies into correction that THLD was brought to Nigeria.

“Where we would strictly limit ourselves to oil

and gas, the company is to encourage Nigerians to cultivate the good habit of making use of gas/ LPG for their machines. These include cars and all manners of vehicles. It is cheaper and safer using gas to run your cars, power your generators and cook at home.”

On the viability of marketing and promoting the use of LPG / gas for domestic use and for machinery, including vehicles in Nigeria, Olajuwan added: “We know the market. We have been in the business of selling LPG trucks to Nigerians, from our England base. The Nigeria market for LPG usage is big. We would attend to all Nigerians and to the world.

“Our top of the class factory built on over 21 plots of land in Otta Ogun state is under construction.

That is where all LPG trailers, bobtail, skid tank, cylinders, auto gas tanks and storage tanks will be fabricated and built locally in Nigeria. This shall invariably be the first of its kind in the whole of Africa. With this, we are providing job opportunities

for Nigerians and encourage made in Nigeria goods.

“Our conversion centres will be strategically located all over Nigeria where cars, vehicles, heavy duty trucks, buses and generators will be converted to run on both LPG and CNG. “This is going to be transported to generations to come. We want to show how things are to be done.

With our college of expatriates and international liaison, things shall begin to change for the better, in Nigeria. Here, our solicitation goes to all and sundry, to give us their support; that includes the government.

“We have invested enough to be proud of. This is without the banks or government. We are going to make the difference.”

Olajuwan promised that there would be a legacy left on the sands of time for his children to emulate.

With vast business interest all over the world, THLD is fully owned by Nigerian investors, with an overwhelming indigenous control. In the discharge of its obligations, THLD is in liaison with the best

of corporate organizations worldwide.

The company has in its stock, expatriates with vast knowledge and expertise in their chosen fields of endeavour. There is no gainsaying the fact that the company is in the verge of redefining and repositioning the business atmosphere in Nigeria.

It shall be doing that, by prompt delivery of logistic services and the satisfaction of its customers, in all other areas of its professional coverage.

Apart from the provision of general logistics services, the company is a respected focal point for the marketing, sales and distribution of Liquefied Petroleum Products (LPG).

THLD is also versed in the conversion of generators and vehicles from PMS to LPG powered. This feat or vocation would enable Nigerian automobile owners and users minimise their overall expenses on the purchase and use of Petrol or Diesel for that of Liquefied petroleum products, gas. This includes the sales and service of all types of domestic and industrial generators.

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BUSINESS/ENERGY

An oil refinerry

Has Saudi Arabia’s Marketing Strategy Worsened Nigeria’s Oil Revenue Woes?

Last week, Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest oil exporter, lowered the pricing terms for its Arab Light sold to Asia. The development comes at a time refineries are dealing with falling margins and global oversupply of oil. Chineme Okafor in this report examines the impact of this development on Nigeria, a country already in serious economic downturn

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audi Arabia’s state-owned oil company, Saudi Aramco, announced a week ago that it would sell cargoes of its Arab Light in September at $1.10 per barrel below Asia’s regional benchmark.

This brutal market shares strategy leaves Nigeria, especially, and other oil producers with a sudden market related challenge to deal with. As it is, Nigeria will have to immediately find alternatives to mitigate this challenge or risk losing its share of these market routes.

At the moment, one of the routes, Asia is one of Nigeria’s reliable trade destination besides Europe. The United States used to be on top, but the country has since lost it.

The pricing cut which a Bloomberg data said was $1.30 from August, represents a market share battle between Saudi Arabia and other member countries of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), and particularly Iran which is ramping up its crude oil exports after sanctions on it were eased in January.

As it is known, Saudi Arabia earlier inspired a decision by OPEC to maintain production levels to drive out higher-cost producers like drillers in the US. It however indicated with the price cut, that there is a new fight for market share, one that some OPEC members may find it quite difficult to cope with.

Data compiled by Bloomberg also stated that the price cut was the biggest drop since November 2015, and a continuous attempt by producers for Asian customers, mostly independent refineries in Singapore; China; and South Korea that are cutting operating

rates following a slump in their margins and rising supply from state-owned companies like China Petroleum and Chemical Corp.

The Bloomberg data also mentioned that in China for example, independent refiners are already operating at less than half their capacity, indicating a shrink in supply outlets.

In many ways, the development would impact on Nigeria’s take from oil. It could first induce a large crude inventories again from what have built up over the past two years of low prices. It will also push Iran to take similar measure to match Saudi’s market challenge. Anyway, Nigeria may not be in a very comfortable position to deal with this particularly in the long run.

Aramco raised the pricing of all grades except its Extra Light to Northwest Europe and the Mediterranean, it however reduced its official selling prices for Asian clients, with the biggest cut being $1.60 for Extra Light crude. It also ensured that pricing for its Light and Extra Light grades for clients in the United States were cut by 20 cents and 40 cents respectively, while the Medium and Heavy grades were unchanged.

On that development, oil prices have dropped below $40 per barrel in New York for the first time since April. Expectedly, the drop was based on concern that the global supply glut was about to return.

Also based on supply disruptions from Nigeria and Canada earlier in the year, the Brent crude which had climbed 14 per cent, even though prices were still 20 per cent lower than it was in the past year, was beginning to see some movements.

Tough Time for Nigeria Industry analysts who have examined the development indicated that this puts Nigeria on a very tough turf at a time it has so much internal production challenges to deal with.

According to them, it means Nigeria would have to either offer discounts on her grades to its customers on that same route to be able to secure its market share, or find other means to address Saudi Arabia’s strategy.

Either way or strategy the country adopts will result to lower revenue for the government, especially at a time the country’s production is unstable following resumed militancy in the Niger Delta.

They declared that any price reduction in Saudi Arabia’s grades had huge impacts on crude oil sales across the globe. According to them, Nigeria has a bulk of its oil going to Asia and Europe, but with less competition for market share in Europe.

The competition, they noted resided in Asia and America, the two destinations Saudi Arabia has taken strategic market decisions on, thus making it unavoidable for Nigeria to devise a counter strategy against the Saudis.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) could not be reached for a response on what options it could be considering on this, however, reports from Reuters showed that August bookings from Nigeria and other West African producers to Asia has dropped.

The Reuters report indicated that all in all, booking from Asia was already in question because refinery had lost margins from a growing excess of refined products. It explained that there was a significantly big difference from

a year earlier in bookings made for India, due in part to the unpredictability of Nigerian oil loadings.

It said on the strength of a fierce Saudi-inspired competition; shaky demands; and disruptions in Nigerian loadings, at least one cargo loading has been cancelled, while a total of 55 cargoes for 1.685 million barrels per day (bpd) were booked to sail to Asia in August.

The total, Reuters said, was just below two per cent lower than the planned bookings in July, and more than eight per cent lower than that of August 2015.

Similarly, the Managing Director of Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc, Mr. Austin Avuru, in Lagos warned that crisis in the Niger Delta was beginning to weigh in heavily on Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

Avuru spoke at the opening session of the 2016 Nigeria Annual International Conference and Exhibition (NAICE) of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), and said about 70 per cent of oil and gas production in the region were locked in from the traditional onshore and shallow water terrain.

He noted his optimism that production could fire up by 2020, adding however that he was not aware of any real solution to end the crisis in the Delta soon.

“A year ago, we were battling with the drop in crude oil prices. Today, we are battling with zero production; zero revenue and zero everything. For upwards of five to six months, some companies operating in Nigeria have not been producing.

“Some of us no longer check the oil price; it has become irrelevant. Oil price is only relevant when you produce,” Avuru explained.

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BUSINESS/INTERVIEW/CONSUMER

Sanni: FG Must Enforce Ban on Importation of Finished Furniture

Chief Executive Officer of Solamith Nigeria Ltd. Mr. Tunde Sanni, insists that the local woodwork industry, with proper legislation, can provide huge revenue for Nigeria in this period of economic stress, despite the importation of contraband furniture products into Nigeria by some Asian and European businessmen. Abimbola Akosile captures his views

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hat is your impression of the woodwork industry in Nigeria?

In the early 2000s, Nigeria became known as the epicentre for the woodwork industry in the West African market and created millions of private-sector jobs. The boom was the result of several converging factors. Firstly, construction activities were on the rise, leading to increased demand for wood products. In addition, many mainstream Nigerian banks were expanding, setting up branches and offices around the country, offering project opportunities to woodwork companies and making it easier for the companies to obtain loans and manage their capital. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the Federal Government in 2004, under President Olusegun Obasanjo, introduced a new policy banning the importation of furniture into the country.

This policy was a response to stalling economic growth and to promote local production of furniture. After relying heavily on income from crude oil business between 2005 and 2015, the federal government was not prepared for the huge drop in oil prices in 2016. Not only has the country’s economic growth stalled, Nigeria now finds itself in deep fiscal crisis.

One of the biggest challenges affecting the economy is that it is import dependent. A number of companies that should have engaged in local production also were importing finished products for domestic projects, which reduced gross domestic product, and increased unemployment throughout the country. The effects were felt in all sectors, but the woodwork industry was one of the hardest hit.

What should be done in this regard?

It was clear something had to be done. The government’s solution was to introduce structural reforms to keep jobs and sales within the country, with the ultimate aims of economic growth, fiscal stability, and reduced reliance on the oil business. One important aspect of the reform was the introduction of a policy that banned the importation of finished furniture into Nigeria,

Sanni

mitigating the lost domestic income from this sector and giving the woodwork industry, among others, a much-needed opportunity for growth.

Changes to taxes, tariffs, and interest rates were also beneficial for woodwork companies as they started to rebuild towards a stronger economic position.

The policy changes had a palpable impact within the Nigerian woodwork industry and throughout the country as a whole. The boom attracted a lot of investment capital into the country, and local investors also began to show more interest in the woodwork industry. Furniture factories were set up all over the country, most notably in Lagos state, which had the highest number of established furniture factories in the country.

The rapid and significant growth in the industry created employment opportunities especially for the youths across the country.

Of course, the increase in both supply and demand meant that competition between furniture manufacturers was at an all-time high, and manufacturers scrambled to design and develop newer, better ranges of furniture.

During this time, Nigerians’ taste in furniture changed faster than the Paris fashion scene!

Consumers came to demand ever higher standards of quality, appearance, feel, practicality and durability of furniture. Desperate to make their mark, furniture manufacturers reacted by investing in new smart technologies, functions and features to meet these ever-changing needs.

Some companies in the woodwork industry took the opportunity to actually show their customers how their exclusive furnishings are manufactured, with demonstrations of the high-tech processing centres and software programmes they use to maintain the highest quality. These companies became known in the market as specialists in equipping luxury properties with top-quality interior fittings.

For a while, the growth of the industry and its future seemed well assured. But recent developments have seen a downturn in investments and growth in the industry. While initially the boom encouraged healthy competition in the woodwork industry and actually increased the quality of the end products, high manufacturing costs meant that over time some woodwork and construction companies began to take short cuts and adopt ugly practices in the name of saving money. This in turn reduced investor confidence and reduced capital investment in the industry, further increasing the pressure felt by small woodwork companies. These ugly practices only further contribute to the root cause of the economic challenges currently being experienced in Nigeria and counter the effort of the federal government.

How do you see the decline in investment in woodwork industry?

This decline in investment in the woodwork industry was compounded by the gradual failure of the government’s structural reform. While the principles behind the reform were sound, poor leadership and weak institutions meant that the policy was poorly implemented, and traders took advantage of the fact. Despite the potential barrier posed by legislation, Nigeria remains a primary target market for countries looking to export cheap furniture. Business traders found

ways to get around the legislation by importing furniture products into Nigeria in containers, with blatant disregard for new laws and policies. Illegal importation of contraband furniture products in Nigeria is now rampant. In particular, many Asian and European countries have taken advantage of the opportunity to export large volumes of finished furniture.

It is common practice for Nigerian construction companies undertaking major projects like luxury mixed-use buildings and hotels to buy furniture components, including kitchen fittings, direct from international manufacturers. It has become difficult, even impossible, for Nigerian furniture companies to match the prices these international companies were able to offer. Illegal trading of international furniture products in Nigeria has created a volatile business environment where domestic furniture manufacturers cannot secure or recover the capital they have invested into setting up and running their furniture factories.

Like an aggressive cancer, the illegal importation of furniture products and the ugly practices some Nigerian woodwork companies are adopting just to try to stay competitive are slowly eating away the fabric of the furniture industry in Nigeria.

The Nigerian economy is stagnant. Yet in the face of this clear present and future crisis, the current federal government seems to be turning a blind eye, refusing to confront the cancer that threatens to destroy the industry entirely. Already many furniture factories have been forced to make the tough decision to close their doors, leaving thousands of Nigerian youths out of work.

It’s time for the Federal Government to revisit and re-introduce the policies that created growth in the woodwork industry. If it fails to do this and robustly enforce the ban on importation of finished furniture into Nigeria, soon there won’t be an industry left to save. Proper implementation of legislation with appropriate methods of enforcement will force construction companies and traders to observe the relevant laws and policies. Only then can Nigeria expect to see its economy stabilise and its employment levels rise.

It’s not too late. With the right intervention and urgency, the Nigerian woodwork industry can return to the success of its glory days.

Peak….Reaching out to All Strata of Society

Abimbola Akosile

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o the discerning mind, it is not surprising why leading milk producers in Nigeria, like Peak milk, a premium brand in the stable of Friesland Campina WAMCO, has been channeling huge capital and human resources to intensify the campaign for wider consumption of the product in the country.

The campaign for more milk consumption is hinged not essentially on profit motives, but on the urgency for Nigeria to attain a high level of wellbeing among its citizenry, which subsequently will enhance productivity and real economic growth.

Milk has become man’s most needed diet of all times; it is now part of man’s lifestyle. This creamy white liquid is not only widely used, but is highly nutritious. Whenever used, at breakfast, lunch or dinner, milk gives vitamins, proteins and carbohydrates. The vitamin and minerals include calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, zinc, vitamin A, B, D and riboflavin (1).

Whether in evaporated or powdered form, milk consumption offers a well-rounded supplementation to necessary body functions like building bones and teeth. Milk benefits the body as a whole and is mostly known for improving the calcium levels.

It also promotes bone growth in children, while also maintaining the bone strength in adults. Vitamin D is also needed for the body to absorb calcium, so milk consumption reduces the effects of vitamin D deficiency.

Spearheading the revolutionary vanguard to deepen milk consumption in the country and also create wider awareness. Peak Milk, has equally impacted greatly in the market in the last sixty years and has tasked itself on doing more. But can Peak milk truly do more for the Nigerian consumers? This question becomes pertinent in view of the challenges faced by the average Nigerian consumers on consumption attitudes and culture.

However, looking at the innovative ways and usages that Peak milk and its handlers have been championing the cause of deepening milk consumption in the country, it can be taken for granted that Peak can do more.

It is in this spirit that the brand recently organised the art of milk recipe initiative in schools. Ten schools were shortlisted after keen competition by over 100 schools by the panel of judges which comprised notable chefs, nutritionists, representatives from the Ministry of Education as well as members of the Peak milk team.

The bench mark used in selecting the winning recipes included personal appearance, sanitary mannerism,

creative use of milk, understanding meal planning, nutrition knowledge and team work. The contestants were exposed to cooking in an interactive way that involved home- based cooking activities.

There were also mouth-watering prizes for selected schools’ recipes which included branded LED Screen, air conditioning units for six classrooms and three classrooms in different orders. All the schools and their supporting teachers who participated in the contest got gifts for the professional creativity exhibited with milk. At the end of the epochal event, Yabatech Secondary school emerged winner of the competition.

Stressing on the importance of the event, Marketing Manager, Peak, Dolapo Otegbayi explained that “the celebration of the World Milk Day in Nigeria by Friesland WAMCO with school children was to challenge them to get creative with cooking and to teach quality nutrition.”

She added that the cooking competition had exposed the children to what quality nutrition is all about and enable them understand balanced dieting to prevent stunted growth”.

According to Otegbayi, “the objective of the competition is to talk about the versatility of milk. We all know that as Nigerians, we use milk basically for tea, cereals and pap, but there are lots of other ways milk can be used because it is beneficial to human beings, as it is one of the vital sources of minerals

and vitamins that helps enhancement of growth, mental and physical performance. It is one of the cheap sources of protein.”

She further explained that the company had taken the milk awareness project to about 500 schools in Lagos State alone, disclosing that there were plans to take the message of milk consumption for mental alertness and high performance to other states across the country.

From its many initiatives, it is evident that Friesland Campina WAMCO Nigeria which produces Peak evaporated and powdered milk which equally contains vital vitamins and nutrients, is all out to deepen the consumption of its brand by spreading the message of ‘Plan A Day’s Meal With Milk’ not only in schools, but among the adult population in the country.

And with more brands like evaporated (liquid) milk in sachets and smaller pocket-friendly sachets and its latest Peak Milk pack with inscriptions of ‘Sweet Mother’ ‘Thank You’ and ‘I Love You’ in celebration of Mother’s Day, added to its kitty, the campaign for more Peak milk consumption may have only begun for the proactive company.

Milk also helps in weight loss as studies have found that a glass of milk during dinner aids weight reduction, just as women who drink skimmed or low fat milk lose more weight easily.

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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 • AUGUST 7, 2016

BUSINESS/ECONOMY

Central business district, Marina Lagos

The Renewed Search for Foreign Investment The Central Bank of Nigeria is leading the efforts by Federal Government to attract foreign investments to Nigeria in a new bid to steer the economy from the path of recession, write Kunle Aderinokun and Olaseni Durojaiye

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s the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) revved up its drive to attract foreign investments into the country with the road shows to the United States and United Kingdom, where it had gone to woo international investors, brief them on measures that are in place to safeguard their investments and reassure them of the viability of investing in the country, signs that the country’s economy may be on a recovery path may have begun to show.

The investment campaign, which was led

by CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, and assisted by Deputy Governor, Economic Policy, Sarah Alade, met with over 140 investors in London, about 50 in Boston, close to 90 in New York and 10 in Los Angeles. That Emefiele personally led the team underscored the determination of the apex bank to woo back foreign investments both in terms of foreign portfolio investments (FPIs) and foreign direct investments (FDIs).

The outcome of the meetings was encouraging as the investors were “all enthusiastic to receive the governor and other members of his team, given their interest in Nigeria,” according to a CBN official, adding that “with the clarity provided, they were more amenable to trading in naira in a few weeks or months from now.”

Before the latest initiative, the CBN

had earlier deployed some strategies to address the situation in the economy and attract foreign investments into the country. In June, it announced a more flexible FX regime, which allows the market to determine the exchange rate. In July, after the meeting of its Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting, it increased Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) all in bid to attract foreign investment and boost stability in the FX market.

While announcing the market-driven flexible exchange rate sometimes in May, Emefiele stated that “The [central bank] will not allow the system to be undermined by speculators and rent-seekers,” adding that the apex bank would continue to intervene in markets to defend the naira’s value “as the need arises.”

Flexible FX regime scored good with the many analysts when it was introduced and some who argued that it was long overdue.

Others described it as a bold step towards restoring investor confidence in the economy but structural impediments have continued to weigh down on its efficacy, which necessitated the foreign road show that the CBN management had embarked on.

Leading global rating agency, Fitch Ratings, also lauded the introduction and insisted that the decision of the CBN to end currency peg and shift to a more flexible FX regime will support growth and could help the country to adjust to lower oil prices.

CBN Measures Yielding Results There are indications that the efforts of the apex bank are yielding results after all.

CBN has said there had been a gradual improvement in market liquidity, the claim a treasurer with one of the leading banks corroborated. The CBN attributed the improvement to the decision of the CBN to truly float the currency as well as the recent investment drive in the US and UK, pointing out that both helped to restore confidence among some investors who had been sitting on the side-lines.

The treasurer of the leading bank had stated that the average rate of naira dur-

The investment campaign, which was led by CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, and assisted

by Deputy Governor, Economic Policy, Sarah Alade, met with over 140 investors in London, about 50 in Boston, close to 90 in New York and 10 in Los Angeles

ing trading last week was N318.81 to the dollar adding that “It is noteworthy that the CBN’s contribution to the market was only three per cent of the total volume that was traded.”

Market analysts and watchers who see an improvement also point to the exchange rate at the interbank market as pointer to the conclusion. Indeed there was perceptible improvement in liquidity on the interbank spot FX market last week, recording a turnover of $196.14 million, with an average daily volume of $39.23 million between July 25 and 29.

Besides, sometimes last week, the naira strengthened to N311.03 to the dollar at the interbank FX market higher than N316.83 to a dollar the previous day.

Causes of FX Shortages The FX shortage in the economy was caused largely by the fall in oil price in the international market. However, renewed militancy in the oil producing Niger Delta area of the country has further compounded the issue leading to Angola overtaking Nigeria as Africa’s largest oil producer.

According to Bloomberg, destruction of oil facilities in the Niger Delta has resulted in daily loss of around 70,000 barrels per day amounting to 1.52 million barrels monthly loss in July. Insiders in the oil industry agreed that the interplay of output and price is deeply affecting the nation’s export receipts.

Other causes include over reliance on importation and poor receipts from

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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 • AUGUST 7, 2016

BUSINESS/ECONOMY The Renewed Search for Foreign Investment

Cont’d from Pg. 24

non-oil exportation. THISDAY findings revealed that, in 2015, the steep fall in non-oil export receipts was caused by two factors: unfavourable FX policy and lack of incentives, particularly the indefinite suspension of the Export Expansion Grant (EEG) even as non-oil exporters now boycott the Nigeria Export Promotions Council (NEPC) and embrace illegal exportation.

According to statistics, in 2015, while the value of imports into the country declined by nine per cent compared to 2014, that of export declined drastically by about 40 per cent in the same period.

The imbalance has further precipitated the FX shortage leading to huge pressure on the exchange rate.

Expectedly, the shortage and pressure on the exchange rate continue to impact the economy negatively with the real sector being the most hit. Operators in the sector lamented that the FX shortage has led to reduction in capacity utilisation, closure of many businesses and retrenchment in the sector.

Analysts Express their Views Even as the apex bank continues in its drive to improve FX liquidity in the economy, and to some extent achieving its desired result, stakeholders and analysts have continue to debate a sustainable panacea to FX challenge in the economy.

Lagos based analysts with a foremost economic advocacy group, Wilson Irume, contended that the solution require that government reduce the country’s reliance on importation as well as address structural challenges facing the economy if the nation must achieve adequate FX in the economy and “ensure exchange rate stability.”

Irume who noted that “increasing interest rate is only short-term bait and is not a sustainable way to maintain exchange rate stability” added that “clearly, this is beyond the actions of the CBN alone. The fiscal authorities must address the structural challenges facing the economy if we are to ensure exchange rate stability. “ Speaking further, he argued that “In 2015 alone, Nigeria spent over N1 trillion (US$5 billion) importing items such as vegetables, live animals, beverages, foodstuffs among others. We must look inwards and determine how to support local products, especially in times of economic hardship.

“Our fiscal authorities must set clear targets and timelines to end importation of certain products, and ensure proper value chain development of such products to increase local production. Improving the business environment to ease doing business in Nigeria, addressing the infrastructure gap, and specifically driving key reforms in the manufacturing sector is much needed,” he stated.

On his part a research analyst with a lagos-based economic advocacy group, Oyelere maintained that the solution to fixing the FX shortage is in two phases, short term to medium term and the long term. According to him the shot-term will entail government addressing the renewed militancy in the Niger Delta with a view to restoring crude production output to 2.2 million barrel per day which is the budget benchmark arguing that this would increase steady inflow of the USD to the CBN. Speaking further, he maintained that another low hanging fruit require incentivising non-oil export by restoring the Export Expansion Grant (EEG) which he argued would encourage non-oil exporters to return to legal exportation.

“The solution to solving the FX shortage in the economy will appear in two phases - short term and medium to long term. In the short-term, government must address insecurity in the Niger Delta with a view to restoring output to 2.2 million barrels a day, (which is) the budget benchmark.

This will improve steady greenback flow to the CBN. “Another quick win on the table is incentivising non-oil exporters. If governments restore the EEG, non-oil exporters will be induced to go back to legal exportation which is another means of earning the greenback,” he stated.

President Muhammed Buhari

Continuing, Oyelere stressed that, “from the medium to the long term, there is need to open up critical sectors of the economy for investment. Infrastructure and solid minerals are two attractive sectors but the challenge is the current provisions of the law which must be reviewed. National Assembly is already reviewing some laws that inhibit foreign investment into these sectors but the pace needs acceleration.

Foreign investors are waiting on the side-lines to invest in the rail sector and solid minerals if the environment becomes more conducive. We need to reduce our import content; this will be realised if manufacturing activities is scaled up.”

Also proffering a sustainable solution to the FX situation, Director-General, West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management (WAIFEM), Prof.

Akpan Ekpo, said part of the solution is to produce goods locally and export same to earn foreign exchange.

According to him, “The Naira is not a convertible currency so the economy would never have enough. It is the responsibility of the apex bank to manage the foreign exchange market. In the long- run the economy must be diversified away from oil.

In the short-term the demand for foreign goods must be curtailed either by total ban of certain items or a high tariff should be placed on them.”

He also suggested that, “another approach would be to approach the IMF for a short-term facility but we hope it will not get to that.”

Commenting on the FG’s latest investment campaign, Ekpo told the CBN to “convince foreign investors that the new forex regime would promote investment and that Nigeria is good economy to invest in.”

Analysts at Eczellon Capital Ltd, led by its chief executive officer, Diekola Onaolapo, also have their opinion on how to sustainably handle the forex situation to the advantage of the economy.

The analysts said: “The first key step would be to try to achieve convergence between the parallel market rate and the interbank rate. In our view, this can be done by allowing the 41 restricted items to access the interbank market, which would prune the volume of demand at the parallel market and thus drive down the cost of naira at that market. Once there is a tightened spread between both markets, it sends a clear signal as to what the true range of the country’s currency is.”

This, they pointed out, would “invariably

Emefiele

support investors’ confidence and quickens the needed USD inflows into the country as investment planning is made easier. “ Aligning with many of their colleagues, the Eczellon Capital analysts posited: “A sustainable approach however lies beyond monetary policies, and require complimentary efforts from the fiscal side.

For instance, rather than restricting sales of FX to the 41 items on the CBN’s list, the fiscal authority could step in and place an outright ban on its importation into the country since the argument of the CBN is that such items can be produced in the country. Over the longer term, the country would have to diversify its export earnings, and invest heavily in building its infrastructural base so as to encourage the production of many of the goods it currently imports. This would go a long way to curtail the demand for FX and invariably boost the nation’s FX reserves. “ Nevertheless, the analysts said they “believe the decisions of the CBN in recent times have been consistent with respect to attracting portfolio investors into the Nigerian financial markets.”

“This largely influenced its decision via its Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to hike the benchmark interest rate in the economy to 14.0 per cent, which is expected to make the Nigeria’s financial instruments more attractive and compensate for any associated risk of investing in them.

What is required at the moment is for the CBN to remain consistent and ensure transparency in the implementation of the new FX regime. This should gradually garner the required confidence needed to keep the FX market active and increase its liquidity level over time,” they noted.

For the Macroeconomic and Fixed Income analyst at FBNQuest, Chinwe Egwim, the desired impact of the CBN’s new flexible, market-driven FX policy would likely be felt over time, given that the CBN is still the predominant supplier of FX. “Autonomous suppliers (other than the oil majors) are expected to enter the market tentatively and, until they return in good numbers, it is not clear to what extent the CBN can sustain FX liquidity.”

She however cautioned that, “The longer these players hold back from supplying FX to the new market, the greater the pressure on the naira exchange rate.” as “FX demand is still significantly higher than what is obtainable in the market.”

According to her, “FX inflow from autonomous players as well as the offshore community will certainly serve as part of

the solution to the FX sourcing challenges.

The MPC hiked its policy rate by 200bps at its meeting in July; real yields across the curve were unattractive due to the surge in the headline inflation rate. Ideally, the decision to raise the MPR should encourage portfolio investors to re-enter the market.

However, most of them still remain on the side-line.”

“In addition to this, a pick-up in oil receipts will also boost FX supply in the economy. Granted, oil prices remain relatively low; however, curbing vandalism in the Niger Delta will increase production which should ultimately improve oil exports thus leading to increased oil receipts which are dollar denominated,” she also said.

An analyst, who is also an investment manager, Tola Odukoya, pointed out that, “in the short term raising interest rates in order to attract foreign portfolio inflow may help.” He, however, added that “ this is a short term fix at best as it leaves the economy vulnerable to foreign investors such as what we have experienced in the recent past.”

“On the other, and unfortunately,” Odukoya also said, “the only other probable option is for a rise in oil prices and domestic production given that oil is the primary earner of forex for the government.”

Just like the other analysts, Odukoya expressed hope that “we use this as an opportunity to build and promote local industries in order the curb the seemingly insatiable domestic appetite for imports thereby reducing the demand for forex and strengthening the domestic currency.”

Going Forward Interestingly, stakeholders in the private sector insisted that the sustainable solution require that Nigeria must continue on the path to industrialisation and painstakingly implement targeted policy to support the manufacturing sector, ensuring it produce substantially to meet local demand, contributes significantly to the country’s Gross Domestic Product and create job opportunities for residents.

While they opined that this will help to berth an export driven economy, they added that it is a multi-stakeholder task that everybody including policy makers, private sector operators, nongovernmental organizations, development partners and the citizens must embrace and support local output as this is what will reduce demand pressure for importation.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R • AUGUST 7, 2016

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BUSINESS/ECONOMY

Optimism as FG Seeks New Investor for Ajaokuta Steel

The return of the ownership of Ajaokuta Steel Complex to the federal government and quest for a new operator may have raised hope for the resuscitation of the moribund company, writes James Emejo

Ajaokuta Steel Rolling Mill

A

fter years of legal tussle, the Federal Government finally signed a renegotiated concession agreement with Global Steel Holdings Ltd (GHL), an Indian firm for the management of the Nigerian Iron Ore Mining Company (NIOMCO), Itakpe. GHL operates through its subsidiaries in some countries in Africa, Europe and Asia-Pacific.

The previous privatisation efforts had been hampered by litigation at the International Court of Arbitration between the Federal Government and the GHL, which had sued the former for unlawfully abrogating a sale agreement. The new deal followed a truce between both parties and effectively returns the steel company under the government control while a management contract was renewed with Global Steel.

By the new development, government is to commence the process of getting a new investor with proven technical and financial capacity to manage the company.

Essentially, government is looking to undertake a process to either privatise or concession the Ajaokuta Rolling Mill to make it economically viable for growth and job creation.

The concession of Ajaokuta was previously undertaken by officials of government who concessioned the company without taking inventory of the assets.

The BPE was however, approached to convert the concession into a Share Sale Agreement as things became difficult.

Global Steel was then contracted to manage the company for a while before the sale

agreement was abrogated by the government, prompting the former to seek redress at the international court of arbitration and claimed that the contract was terminated without following due process.

Ever since, the attorney general of the federation had been diligently prosecuting and pursuing an amicable resolution of the matter.

The development caused major setbacks in the subsequent quest to reposition the company to meet the local needs of manufacturers who continued to rely on importation of raw materials for steel requirements in the country.

Experts however welcomed the new development, expressing hopes that the government will eventually get a competent operator to turn around the fortunes of the company.

However, Executive Director, Corporate Finance, BGL Capital Limited, Femi Ademola, said there was still nothing to cheer about until a capable investor is appointed.

He said: “I don’t think there is anything to cheer at this time. For a very long time, the government wasn’t able to do anything with the company. The privatisation which was said to be done without due diligence has also failed.

Since the government evidently can’t handle the business, it should be privatised and done transparently with due regards to capacity of the concessionaire. The concessionaire should be a renowned company in that field.”

He said: “The government could also consider partnering a competent organisation to complete and run the business on a management contract.

There will be something to cheer only when the company is fully operational.”

But Associate Professor of Finance and Head, Banking & Finance, Department, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Dr. Uche Uwaleke, said government now has fresh opportunity to reposition the company.

He said: “It is indeed a positive development coming at a critical time the country is in dire need of diversifying away from oil. It is quite unfortunate that in spite of the huge sums expended on the Ajaokuta Steel Complex and the

The takeover of Ajaokuta Steel Complex now affords the federal government a good opportunity to concession the facility to a competent operator such that in a few years’ time, Nigeria would be producing the much needed steel for industrial growth with positive multiplier effect on the economy notably, job creation, enhanced foreign exchange receipts as well as growth in GDP

Nigerian Iron Ore Mining Company (NIOMCO) at Itakpe, the country’s industrialisation pace has remained stagnant.

“The takeover of Ajaokuta Steel Complex now affords the federal government a good opportunity to concession the facility to a competent operator such that in a few years’ time, Nigeria would be producing the much needed steel for industrial growth with positive multiplier effect on the economy notably, job creation, enhanced foreign exchange receipts as well as growth in GDP.” Also, economist and former acting Unity Bank Managing Director, Muhammed Rislanudenn, said getting the right investor to manage the company could save the country the scarce foreign exchange.

He said: “Finally there is truce after years of legal challenges to the ownership. Given the current efforts towards supporting growth in real sector, this is a positive news. This also has long-term potentials of meeting local need of steel thereby saving the scarce foreign exchange hitherto used in importation of the product.

“It will also support growth in GDP as well as reduce unemployment rate, currently at 12.1 per cent without even adding underemployment. It also has huge backward integration advantages. However, actualisation of this dream requires huge capital outlay which is currently scarce. Government can quickly partner genuine committed investors with proven capital to restart the project.”

No doubt, the resuscitation of the steel mill will cause immense economic stimulation through the provision of jobs for Kogi residents and Nigerians in general.”

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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 • AUGUST 7, 2016

BUSINESS/MARITIME

IMO’s New Container Policy: Dilemma of Nigerian Shippers Nigerian shippers appear to be in dilemma over a safety measure known as the container weight verification policy for all export shipment introduced by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) as they have to pay additional cost for the service, reports Francis Ugwoke

T

he International Maritime Organisation (IMO), recently introduced a new policy on container weighing for all goods on transit to any part of the world. The policy came into effect on July 1.It is a policy that has taken Nigeria and many other African nations unaware. It is a security measure in which all shippers will be responsible for weighing their goods ready for shipment. The policy as it affects Nigeria was adopted in 2014 by IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) as part of the changes in the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) convention. The policy is to ensure that shippers have container weight verification requirements for all their shipment. The policy is traced to the United States, Denmark, the Netherlands as well as the World Shipping Council (WSC), which in 2012 sponsored a proposal to the IMO to amend an existing convention, which will ensure that the weight of all packed containers are verified before being loaded on-board any vessel for export.

The WSC had led a group of five maritime associations as part of the sponsorship of the proposal. Following this, a sub-committee of the MSC, the Dangerous Goods, Solid Cargo and Container (DSC) sub-committee, had okayed the changes in the SOLAS convention. The new policy was also as a result of decades of what was regarded as mis-declaration of container weights. Apparently worried about this development over the decades, the World Shipping Council (WSC) and the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) had first pointed out the problem in which they wanted the IMO as an apex maritime body to address.

The solution therefore was the resolution that from July 1, shippers as it applies to any part of the world will have to be responsible for weighing their goods ready for shipment.

Nigeria’s Readiness As a maritime nation, Nigerian shippers are also part of the implementation of the new policy. Incidentally, the policy took the Nigerian shipping community unawares. Many shippers and freight forwarders expressed surprise when the Secretary General of the Global Shippers’ Forum, Mr Chris Welsh, disclosed it at a forum organised in Abuja. It was an event to dialogue on how to reduce cost of shipping in West and Central Africa and organised by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), when the visiting Secretary-General, Global Shippers Forum , Welsh, informed shippers who are into export to be ready for this responsibility. It was a disclosure that was greeted with objection about its take-off date. But the point of objection was directed at the wrong persons and wrong time too. They had requested a change of date in the implementation. But Welsh informed them that IMO would not be in a position to suspend what it has agreed on just for the sake of the sub-region. It was a global issue and affects every shipper in any part of the world. The shippers had argued that there was not enough awareness creation on the matter.

Implications, Options of Container Weighing Welsh, who was in Nigeria recently apparently on the invitation of the Nigerian Shippers Council, to throw more light on the implementation of the container weighing policy of IMO, recalled the roles of the traditional shipper who engages a freight forwarder or agent who undertakes so many transactions on his behalf. He explained that for the purpose of the container weight verification rules, the

RORO Port, Lagos

shipper is the person or party who enters into a contract of carriage with the ship-owner.

He explains, “accordingly, the shipper will consequently enter into contract of carriage with the ship-owner and will be the named shipper on the bill of lading, sea waybill or relevant transport document. The shipper will therefore be responsible for verifying the gross mass of the goods, packing and securing materials and tare weight of the containers to the ship-owner or the ship-owner’s terminal representative in accordance with the container weight verification rules. This may be different if the freight forwarder acts as a principle”.

He advised: “Where the freight forwarder performs container handling, packaging and stowage services, including weighing the container and goods on behalf of the shipper, it is recommended that the shipper enters into a clear contractual agreement with the forwarder. This is important because where the forwarder carries out services for the shipper as an intermediary, the shipper also enters into direct contractual relations with the other parties that perform those services.”

He also advised that in the absence of a specific contractual agreement between the shipper and the forwarder, the forwarder will be entitled to procure freight services and pack and stow goods in accordance with the forwarder’s terms and conditions”.

Welsh added that under the new policy, the shipper must exercise due diligence to ensure that the forwarder who is providing the container weight verification observes the rules. He explained that this was because the shipper “is ultimately responsible for the provision of an accurate verified gross mass weight for each packed container to the carrier or its terminal representative regardless of who packs the container”.

Challenges Welsh also pointed out that the verification

policy presented challenges for the consignees/ importers who, under a contract of sales with the seller/exporter at the country of origin assume the role of the shipper. He explained that, “where under some trade terms, the consignee/importer enters into a contract of carriage with the ship-owner and their name appears on the ship-owner’s master bill of lading or any document, the importer/ consignee will be responsible for verifying the gross mass of the container and goods at the port of origin.”

He added further,“ in some circumstances the importer/consignee under FOB, FCA and FAC sales contract arrangement can be responsible for arranging shipment from the country and port of origin. If they enter into the contract of carriage with the ship-owner at the port of origin and their name appears on the carrier’s bill of lading, sea waybill or other relevant transport document the importer/consignee becomes the shipper and will therefore be responsible for verification of the gross mass of the loaded container in accordance with the container verification rules determined by the competent national maritime administration in the country of origin.”

Payment for Container Weighing As members of IMO, governments of many trading nations have made efforts to educate their shipping community on the importance of complying with the apex regulatory body’s policy. This is even more so where export trade is involved. But the issue at stake has been whose responsibility it is to provide the weighing equipment. Initially, speculations were that the government was considering the possibility of constructing weigh-stations in the ports, but this has been debunked.

In some parts of the world, terminal operators have taken advantage of the new policy to impose charges on shippers. This was reported recently to GSF during their annual general

meeting in Colombo, Sri-Lanka. Among the countries that reported such charges were Nigeria, China, Sri-Lanka, UK and Ireland.

In China, shippers are made to pay $12.75 and $25 for 20ft and 40ft containers respectively.

In Nigeria, it is N20, 000 and N40, 000 for both sizes of containers. The Nigerian Shippers Council, had reported Grimaldi Agency for the charges. The council said it is still to confirm similar charges from other terminal operators.

The APM Terminals had announced its readiness to provide container weighing services in 35 ports, including Nigeria. The company said it had put in place controls to ensure containers loaded with a shipping line for export has a valid Verified Gross Mass (VGM). Only South Africa, Morocco and Kenya were ready to implement the new policy as at July 1. Nigeria, Ghana, Angola, among many other countries were not ready for the implementation, which was the reason for their demand that the date of implementation be shifted.

Welsh, in his reaction to the implementation of the new policy, said shippers worldwide support the safety goals of the container weighing requirements and committed to fulfilling their regulatory measures, but said this should not be used by supply chain partners as an excuse to impose unjustified fees.

At a recent forum in Abuja involving shippers drawn from West and Central African, stakeholders agreed that for the effective implementation of IMO rules on container weighing, member countries should advise their governments to set up a technical committee to carry out the relevant consultation, documentation and development of guidelines for enforcement. Member countries were also advised to sensitise relevant stakeholders on the importance of compliance with the IMO rules on container weighing as part of the urgent implementation. Since July 1, the NSC has been involved in sensitising shippers and other stakeholders on the IMO rules.

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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 • AUGUST 7, 2016

NIGERIA’S TOP 50 STOCKS BASED ON MARKET FUNDAMENTALS

Diamond Bank PLC – Significant increase in impairment dampens income further

D

iamond Bank Plc’s in its released financial results for the first quarter ended; March 2016 reported a modest rise in gross earnings by 1.80% to N52.47 billion from N51.54 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2015. The insignificant growth in revenue impacted on profitability which recorded a notable decline of 19.63% to N5.76 billion from N7.17 billion recorded in the first quarter of 2015. The poor performance reported by many financial institutions can be attributed to the tough operating environment and the prevailing unstable macroeconomic variables during the first quarter of the year.

Diamond Bank commenced operations in March 1991. It assumed the universal banking status in February 2001, and was listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) in May 2005 and is one of the top 35 capitalized stocks. The Group has 302 business locations across Nigeria, Benin Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal, Togo and the United Kingdom.

FEE AND COMMISSION INCOME DRIVES GROSS EARNINGS

Gross earnings grew by a marginal 1.80% to N52.47 billion from N51.54 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2015. The rise was uneventful and betrayed by unstable operating environments which disrupt economic activities and delayed investment decisions.

The Bank’s interest and similar income which usually drive earnings failed in the first quarter of 2016 as it declined notably by 11.80% to N35.71 billion from N40.49 billion in the corresponding period of 2015. However, interest and similar expense did not decline but increased by 10.29% to N10.44 billion in March 2016 from N11.64 billion reported in at the end of March 2015. The growth in interest expense was driven by a continued high interest rate environment due to the tight monetary policy which led to increased interest payment on bank’s deposit and long term debts. However, despite an increased interest expense compared to a decreased interest income, the bank’s net interest income increased by 10.29% to N25.26 billion from N28.85 billion over the period.

The main driver of the gross earnings performance is the

WE RECOGNIZE THE BANKS GROWTH POTENTIAL THROUGH AN EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT OF VARIOUS EXPENSES AND SUCCESSFUL EMPLOYMENT OF AGGRESSIVE TACTICS TO INCREASE DEPOSITS, WHICH WILL LEAD TO SIGNIFICANT GROWTH IN LOANS AND ADVANCES TO CUSTOMERS THAT WILL YIELD SUBSTANTIAL GROWTH IN INTEREST RELATED INCOME

noteworthy 14.96% rise in fees and commission income and the extra-ordinary increase in net trading income to N5.99 billion from a reported loss of N17m in March of 2015. Fee and commission was impacted negatively by a 202.23% increase in fees and commission expenses, thus net fees and commission reported a decline of 4.44% to N7.99 billion in from N9.23 billion in the corresponding period of 2015. Also, other income decreased by 91.63% to N153m from N1.84 billion during the corresponding period.

DECLINE IN OPERATING INCOME FURTHER ERODES PROFITABILITY

Total operating income declined by 6.05% to N30.59 billion in from N32.56 billion recorded in the first quarter of 2015. On the flip side, total operating expenses contrary to expectation dips by a borderline figure 1.23% to N23.90 billion from N24.19 billion in the corresponding period of 2015. Further breakdown of the company’s expenses revealed the drop was spurred by other operating expenses which declined by 4.65% and 1.92% decline in personal expenses to N13.34billion from N13.99 billion and to N8.42 billion from N8.37 billion respectively over the period under review.

Due to the decrease in operating income compared to stable figures reported for total expenses, the Bank’s profit before tax declined significantly by 20.00% to N6.69 billion in March 2016 from N8.37 billion in March 2015. Also, net income followed suit with a decline of 19.63% to N5.76 billion from N7.17 billion over the period; despite a 22.19% reduction in income tax expense from N1.20 billion to N933m in March 2016.

Asset quality wanes despite increase in total asset The Bank’s balance sheet shows an increase of 3.90% in total assets to N1.82 trillion as at March 2016 from N1.75 trillion as at December 2015. The increase was spurred by a significant rise in loans and advances to banks by 64.49% to N98.86 billion from N60.10 billion as at December 2015, and an increase in loans and advances to customers by 2.16% to N780.15 billion from N763.63 billion over the period. Although, there were recorded declines in other asset items, however the impacts of such declines on total asset figure were cushioned by the significant increase in loans.

Conversely, total liabilities followed suit with a 4.06% rise to N1.60 trillion from N1.54 trillion over the period. This was primarily triggered by increase in current income tax liability, other liabilities, and borrowings which recorded significant increase of 62.23% to N2.75 billion from N1.70 billion; 38.49% to N61.87 billion from N44.67 billion; and by 14.93% to N118.05 billion from N102.72 billion respectively over the period under review.

Shareholder’s equity for the three month ended, March 2016 improved by 2.70% to N220.41 billion from N214.61 billion as at December 2015, largely due to increase in retained earnings.

Return on equity (ROE) and return on asset (ROA) declined to 2.61% and 0.32% as at the first quarter ended, March 2016 from 3.34% and 0.41% as at the first quarter ended, March 2015 respectively; reflecting the decline in profitability recorded during the financial period.

WE MAINTAIN OUR HOLD RECOMMENDATION

We recognize the banks growth potential through an effective management of various expenses and successful employment of

Valuation Metrics 05-Aug-16 Recommendation

HOLD

Target Price (N)

1.34

Current Price (N)

1.51

Market Cap (N'm)

34,972.19

Outstanding Shares (m)

23,160

Rolling EPS (N)

0.11

Rolling PE Ratio

13.68x

Forward EPS

0.06

Forward PE

23.71x Source: BGL Research

First quarter - 2016 Unaudited Results Gross Earnings (N’m)

52.47

Profit Before Tax (N’m)

6,693

Profit After Tax (N’m)

5,760

Pre-tax Margin (%)

12.76% Source: Company Data 2016, BGL Research

Audited Full Year - 2015 Results Gross Earnings (N’m) Profit Before Tax (N'm)

217,092 28,101

Profit After Tax (N'm)

25,485

Pre-tax Margin (%)

3.27%

Source: Company Report 2015, BGL Research

Shareholding Information Shareholders

% Holding

CSSAF DBN Holdings

17.75%

Stanbic Nominees Nig. Ltd

17.21%

Kunoch DB Limited

9.25%

Diamond Partners Limited Public float

6.10% 49.19%

Source: Company Report 2015, BGL Research

aggressive tactics to increase deposits, which will lead to significant growth in loans and advances to customers that will yield substantial growth in interest related income.

Considering the above, we project gross earnings of N243.01 billion for the full year December 2016 and forward earnings per share (EPS) of 0.07. Using the PE valuation method, we arrive at a 6-month target price of N1.31 per share.

Since this presents a downside potential of 11.23%, we therefore maintain a HOLD recommendation on the shares of Diamond Bank Plc.

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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 • AUGUST 7, 2016

NIGERIA’S TOP 50 STOCKS BASED ON MARKET FUNDAMENTALS

FCMB Group PLC: Positive performance despite macroeconomic headwind

F

rst City Monument Bank Plc (FCMB) in its reported half year, June 2016 financial result recorded a growth of 14.13% in top-line earnings to N88.28 billion from N77.35 billion in the corresponding period of 2015. However, bottom-line earnings rose substantially on the back of considerable increase in other income.

The Bank which listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange in 2004 and issued her first public offering (IPO) in 2005 now has a record of 2 million customer base, over 270 branches in Nigeria and a licensed banking subsidiary in the United Kingdom (FCMB UK). First City Monument Bank Limited early this month announced the upgrade of its service delivery platform to Finacle Core Banking solution version 10 to enhance customer experience through innovation acceleration, enhancement of performance and security boosting.

RISE IN TOP-LINE EARNINGS DESPITE TURBULENT BUSINESS TERRAIN

Gross earnings grew by 14.13% to N88.27 billion in the half year of 2016 from N77.35 billion reported in the same period 2015.

Gross earnings growth was impacted by a 110.34% upsurge in non-interest income to N27.73 billion from N13.77 billion recorded over the same period in 2015. The increase was mainly driven by an extra-ordinary 1115.02% increase in foreign exchange income to N16.73 billion from N1.38 billion during the period under review. Interest income on the other hand, dropped marginally by 4.76% to N60.55 billion in the half-year 2016 from N63.58 during the same period of 2015.

However, interest expense for the period was lower by a notable 17.63% to N24.01 billion from N29.14 billion reported in June 2015; hence, resulting in a remarkable 6.12% rise in net interest income to N36.54 billion from N34.44 billion over the period under review.

Fees and commission income grew by a significant 19.73% to N8.82 billion from N7.36 billion during the period under review, while fees and commission expense increased significantly by 41.90% to N1.77 billion from N1.24 billion over the same period. However, despite a higher percentage increase in fee and commission expense compared to fee and commission income, net fee and commission income increased to N7.05 billion in June 2016 from N6.12 billion in June 2015; reflecting a change of 15.22%.

SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN TOTAL OPERATING INCOME AND TAXATION IMPACTS PROFITABILITY

Total operating expenses increased by 23.50% to N46.22 billion in June 2016 from N37.40 billion in June 2015 due to

BASED UPON THE BANK’S FLEXIBILITY TO THE CURRENT REGULATORY POLICIES AND THE MACROECONOMIC HEADWIND, WE BELIEVE THAT THE BANK’S MANAGEMENT IS EXECUTING ADJUSTMENT PLANS THAT FOCUS ITS EFFORT TOWARDS AN EFFICIENT PERFORMANCE WHICH STRENGTHENS EARNINGS, INCOME GENERATION CAPACITY AND GROWTH IN LIQUIDITY BASE

over the period. The Group’s total asset grew by 10.95% to N1.29 trillion in June 2016 from N1.16 trillion from December 2015. The growth in total assets is attributable to the following: a massive rise of 463.67% in non-pledged trading assets to N11.24 billion from N1.99 billion, a rise of 26.21% in investment securities to N170.78 billion from 135.31 billion, a 33.97% in derivative assets held for risk management, and a 66.28% increase in other assets to N36.09 billion from N21.70 billion during the period under review.

Total liabilities on the other hand, rose by 11.21% to N1.11 trillion in June 2016 from N997.14 billion in December 2015. The rise in total liabilities is largely attributable to a massive rise of 667.21% in customer deposits to N41.90 billion in June 2016 from N5.46 billion in December 2015; retirements benefits obligations also grew by 141.69% to N122m from N50m over the same period.

However, shareholder’s equity increased by 9.36% to N177.60billion in June 2016 from N162.39 billion in December 2015 due to growths of 74.69% and 11.92% in retained earnings and other reserves respectively.

CAPITAL AND LIQUIDITY RATIOS STILL ABOVE REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS

increased cost of operation and primarily due to a massive growth of 259.93% in net impairment loss on financial assets to N13.49 billion from N3.75 billion recorded in June 2015. However, profitability rose on the back of total operating income grew significantly by 195.08% to N18.92 billion from N6.41 billion in June 2015.

Therefore, pre-tax profit for the period grew by a substantial 70.28% to N16.29 billion in June 2015 from N9.57 billion recorded in the half-year 2015 attributable to a substantial 217.05% increase in other income to N18.60 billion recorded in the half-year of 2016 from N5.87 billion in the corresponding period of 2015.

Expectedly, profit after tax followed suit with a massive 88.77% increment to N15.67 billion recorded in half-year of 2016 from N8.30 billion reported in the six-month period of 2015. The Bank’s impressive performance may be connected to the massive decline in total income tax expense by 50.96% to STRONG ASSET QUALITY

The bank’s balance sheet reflects steady progress in the bank’s performance

FCMB’s liquidity ratio stood at 35.9% as at June 30, 2016 which is well above the minimum regulatory requirement of 30% while capital adequacy ratio stood at 16.1% which also remained well above the minimum statutory requirement of 10% for non-systematically important banks where FCMB belongs to.

The Group’s Return on Equity (ROE) stood at 8.82% as at June 2016 while Return on Assets (ROA) is 1.22% over the same period.

The Group’s cost-to-income ratio declined to 40.3% compared to 74.2% recorded in the first quarter of 2016. Net interest margin (NIM) grew marginally to 9.2% in June 2016 from 8.8% in March 2016 while pre-tax profit margin and net income margin notably to 18.52% from 12.45% and to 17.81% from 10.81% respectively.

WE RECOMMEND A BUY

The macro-economic headwinds of 2016 saw inflation rise to 16.48%, MPR at 14% and the further increase of CRR on all public sector deposits to 22.50% in June 2016 from 20% in February 2016. Nevertheless, FCMB delivered an impressive performance despite harsh business environment and unstable monetary policies.

Based upon the Bank’s flexibility to the current regulatory policies and the macro-economic headwind, we believe that the Bank’s management is executing adjustment plans that focus its effort towards an efficient performance which

Valuation Metrics 1-Aug-16 Recommendation

BUY

Target Price (N)

1.92

Current Price (N)

1.28

Market Cap (N'm)

25,347.47

Outstanding Shares (m)

19,803

Rolling EPS (N)

0.61

Rolling PE Ratio

2.10x

Forward EPS (N)

0.66

Forward PE

1.95x Source: NSE Data, BGL Research

Unaudited Half year 2016 Results Gross Earnings (N'm)

87,970

Profit Before Tax (N'm)

16,288

Profit After Tax (N'm)

15,668

Pre-tax Margin (%)

18.52

Source: Company Report 2016, BGL Research

FYE December 2015 Audited Results Gross Earnings (N'm) Profit Before Tax (N'm) Profit After Tax (N'm) Pre-tax Margin (%)

152,507 7,768 4,760 5.09

Source: Annual Report 2015, BGL Research

Shareholding Information Shareholders

% Holding

Capital IRG Trustees Ltd. Stanbic Nominees Ltd. AMCON Public Float

7.87 28.80 6.73 56.60

Source: Annual Report 2015, BGL Research

strengthens earnings, income generation capacity and growth in liquidity base.

Furthermore, in line with its ongoing target to translate foreign exchange differentials to bear positively on the Bank’s business, maintaining its current level of NII and NIR despite a challenging macro-economic environment that is easing up as well as a good record of expenses management.

Based on the company’s performance, we project gross earnings of N163.12 billion and net income of N12.13 billion at the end of the current financial year ending December 2016, leading to a forward EPS of N0.66. Using an industry price to earnings multiple (PE) of 4.49x, we arrive at a 6-month average target price of N1.95.

Since this represents an upside potential of 49.72% on the current stock price of N1.28, we therefore recommend a BUY.

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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 • AUGUST 7, 2016

TRAVEL

Edited by Demola Ojo Email demola.ojo@thisdaylive.com

Chesney’s Understated Quality

Demola Ojo

food.

s most experts in the travel industry will tell you, Lagos has a deficit of hotel rooms.

Apart from costs incurred from generating their own power, this is a reason for the absurdly high prices rooms go for. Some Nigerian-owned hotels are now plugging the gap though. They offer similar world class standards as the well-known international brands at more competitive prices, due to their know-how in the unpredictable Nigerian terrain.

The 50-room Chesney hotel on Saka Tinubu in the heart of Victoria Island is one of these modern Nigerian hotels swiftly becoming a valid option for the business traveller and corporate guests used to global standards. In half a dozen years of operation, Chesney has attracted guests without fanfare but rather, through quality, personalised service.

Conceptually, Chesney is understated. The cream-coloured building is nestled behind trees on the Akin Adesola end of Saka Tinubu. Its tranquillity is a far cry from the other end of the street which is a bustling, commercial area, with multiple electronic and gadget shops lining the street. The restrained theme is also evident in the absence of an obvious signpost or board other than the street number, 37.

The hotel is surely a reflection of the owner, Ken Obinna, a soft-spoken entrepreneur who earned his spurs in banking. He has transmitted his unpretentious attributes to this hospitality establishment, making sure that its substance and quality speak for it.

From the gate - where your car is checked with an inspection mirror, through the revolving doors, to the lounge where separate buttons indicate what particular service you want from the barman, the attention to detail – a hallmark of any boutique hotel worth its salt - is evident.

For example, the bright yellow board that alerts guests to the depression into the restaurant, or the sign by the staircase which says ‘Please use handrails’. Another is the prominent telephone directory just above the intercom in the room.

Rooms Chesney has five categories of rooms.

The no-frills base room (silver) is spacious and comes with an earthy motif; shades of brown are dominant. On the wall is an African painting of two gourds of differing sizes. There’s a lampshade on the long wooden desk complemented by a comfortable wooden chair (ideal for writing). Two lampshades flank the bed, with the switch conveniently located on the board above.

There is also a comfortable lounge chair with a glass table. The higher the room category, the more chairs and space.

Other pluses include a wide range of channels, seamless power switchover (not to be taken for granted), competitive pricing for drinks and superfast room service. Apparently, Chesney places a lot of importance on quality as well as the speed of delivery of

Food According to the hotel’s business service manager (read GM), Malvin Okorafor,Chesney has kept pulling in new guests with food.“Everything here is made fresh,” he insists, despite meals being delivered in no time. In a week’s time he says, 25 per cent would be cut off buffet prices.“We are a service, people-oriented hotel. IF the guests are not happy, the staff is not happy.”

The menu is wide ranging. Usual suspects like options of English or Nigerian breakfast, beef, chicken, seafood and vegetarian, burgers, sandwiches and pizza. Then there’s the special Nigerian menu, where the attention to detail comes to the fore again. Ofada rice, boli (roasted plantain), asaro (yam porridge, beans porridge, Dundu (parboiled fried yam) and the full complement of Nigerian soups (Efo riro, egusi, ogbono, afang, bitter leaf, oha and white soup).

Also on the menu are Nigerian delicacies like asun, nkwobi , peppered snail and a platter that includes all these and more.

A

Target According to Okorafor, 95 per cent of the hotel’s guests are corporate clients. The calm ambience is certainly one reason for this.. The quiet is great for cerebral pursuits.“We have neither live bands nor photo shoots,”he says, unlike some other hotels in the same market segment. Importance is placed on maintaining the quiet.

The hotel has a modern conference room that can seat up to 20 for corporate meetings, complete with the latest audio visual equipment and facilities which include a built-in LCD projector & screen, plus complimentary wireless internet access.

It isn’t all business at Chesney though. The hotel has a V-lounge for execs to relax after a hectic workday, while the Chesney Garden with the adjoining pool sits next to the restaurant and bar. In keeping with the serenity, the music - whenever it comes on – is low. The Chesney space is a peaceful place that creates clarity and promotes productivity.

Chesney garden

Poolside of Chesney hotel

Reception

Wet Summer Series Debuts at Maison Fahrenheit Lagos’ snazziest boutique hotel, Maison Fahrenheit, was the ideal setting for the takeoff of the Wet Summer Series, a platform to showcase pool parties across Lagos.

Penultimate Friday (August 29) showed another side to the Maison, which is famous in Lagos for its thriving, tastefully-designed, fourth-floor rooftop lounge.

However, the Maison’s poolside showed an ability to attract revelers as the huge turnout at the event proved. Starting around eight in the evening, it was huge credit to booking/ communications agent, Kemdy McErnest ( CEO of The McErnest Company) and Titans Entertainment that they could draw a crowd made up of upwardly-mobile middle and upper class citizen of Lagos to a pool party on a Friday night.

In truth, it was more of a jump off, with manty taking advantage of the presence of premium vodka brand, Ciroc, to start off the evening on a merry note. As is the practice in Lagos though, it was a poolside party rather than a pool party. It took the promise of a prize – an iphone to be precise – to get anyone in the pool.

First to take up the challenge was a middle-aged European executive of a multinational who threw caution to the wind, stripped to his shorts right after calling his daughter to tell her Daddy would be winning a new phone for her, and jumped into the rose petal-filled pool. It was a noble act that helped raise the excitement levels as DJ Java ensured spirits stayed high with the right blend of music.

Kemdy McErnest of thr McErnest company has laid down plans for more summer parties across Lagos

A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

07.08.2016

‘HALLELUJAH’ SONG SHOOTS A’RESE TO STARDOM

32

T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R • August 7, 2016

COVER

‘HALLELUJAH’ SONG SHOOTS A’RESE TO STARDOM Nseobong Okon-Ekong and Vanessa Obioha capture the defining moments of transformation as another talented Nigerian youth is rewarded for staying true to her passion

Q

uite a few persons may be credited with the soaring success of A’rese (Agharese) Emokpae, who has pushed her whole body through the doorway of Nigerian entertainment industry to stand in a place of honour. One of those who are readily acknowledged is Bolanle Austen-Peters, owner of Lagos-based culture hub, Terra Kulture, whose BAP Productions may be credited with honing A’rese’s skill as a performer.

BAP is increasingly known for its production of musicals as exemplified by its flagship creation, ‘Wakaa’ in which A’rese shone like a million stars. Certainly, Bolanle deserves some praise for recognising the talent in A’rese and casting her in the extravagant and charming role as Kike in ‘Wakaa’ the Musical.

Of course, A’rese won the hearts of many with her rendition of songs like Adele’s ‘Hello’ and the peerless interpretation of her part as an overly pampered daughter of a wealthy man whose ambitions tilted towards luxury and opulence. All that is in the past now. A new A’rese has evolved. For now and probably in the timeless book of history,

A’rese… Suprised, shocked

Photos: AKIN FARINTO

the 28-year-old stage actress’ fame would be rooted in The Voice Nigeria. Perhaps, ‘Wakaa’ will just be an appendage.

In a keenly contested show, filled with tension and elation, A’rese emerged winner of the first edition of The Voice Nigeria last Sunday.

Her victory came as a surprise to many.

It would appear as if the odds were stacked against her, in many instances. A critical look at her journey in the reality TV show hardly favoured her in finding a place in the top four.

With the likes of Brenda, who apparently had the unflinching support of her coach, 2Baba to wear the crown and Chike’s name being chanted in the echoing hall, A’rese’s chance of winning was very slim.

Interestingly, during these tension-soaked moments, the only thing on the songstress’ mind was the song ‘Hallelujah’. She kept hoping that she would get a chance to sing her second choice for the night. The rest she left in the hands of the Almighty God. Little did she know that the song, irrespective of the public votes would be her hat-trick. Even those who expressed mixed feelings towards her emergence as the winner couldn’t help but admire the power of emotion she infused into the song made

INTERESTINGLY, DURING THESE TENSIONSOAKED MOMENTS, THE ONLY THING ON THE SONGSTRESS’ MIND WAS THE SONG ‘HALLELUJAH’. SHE KEPT HOPING THAT SHE WOULD GET A CHANCE TO SING HER SECOND CHOICE FOR THE NIGHT. THE REST SHE LEFT IN THE HANDS OF THE ALMIGHTY GOD. LITTLE DID SHE KNOW THAT THE SONG, IRRESPECTIVE OF THE PUBLIC VOTES WOULD BE HER HAT-TRICK. EVEN THOSE WHO EXPRESSED MIXED FEELINGS TOWARDS HER EMERGENCE AS THE WINNER COULDN’T HELP BUT ADMIRE THE POWER OF EMOTION SHE INFUSED INTO THE SONG MADE POPULAR BY THE AMERICAN SINGER-SONGWRITER JEFF BUCKLEY

T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R • August 7, 2016

57

COVER T

The winning moment

popular by the American singer-songwriter Jeff Buckley. The song was originally performed by Leonard Cohen. With A’rese’s delivery, there is no doubt that her cover of the song will be much admired.

Unknown to many, she rendered the song as a mark of respect to her father. She knew it would resonate certain emotions in him. “I sang that song because of my father. I knew, without looking at him in the audience that he was crying. The emotion of the moment, getting that far made me so grateful, appreciative, so happy to be there, it all came out on stage and I just let it flow.”

‘Hallelujah’ was just one of the few songs that A’rese thrilled her audience with. Having the privilege to choose her own songs for the ‘live show’ gave A’rese the opportunity to showcase her kind of music, which she described as eclectic.

“I am attracted to the kind of songs that most people would not expect me to listen to because of my age. I’m influenced by a lot of things. People go through my playlist and the reactions sometimes are like ‘Who is this artiste?’, ‘What kind of weird song are you listening to?’ There are times they are like ‘I haven’t heard such songs before, tell me or show me more’. I think I influence people that way and that makes me different.”

One of her explosive performances that expressed her versatility in the show was ‘Hide and Seek’. A very technical song which her coach Waje feared would be misinterpreted by the audience. Surprisingly, it earned her great applause.

In a way, A’rese shared a special bond with Waje. Throughout the competition, Waje would always save her at precarious moments. A’rese would rather see Waje’s actions towards her as mentorship than

favouritism.

“I think Waje believes in uniqueness.

She understands that just because you don’t sound like everybody else doesn’t mean you are not good at what you do. I think she sees something in me that was worth coaching and rooting for. And that save at the end was the biggest vote of confidence I could ever ask for, because all through the season I had been fighting to stay in the competition. You can understand my appreciation when she saved me in that critical moment.”

Apart from her unique ability to sing, A’rese also leveraged on her skills as a stage actress; interpreting the songs to evoke emotions from her audience.

To be sure, A’rese entered the competition with an open mind. A friend notified her on Whatsapp about the competition and by the time she went for the audition, she knew she would want to be part of the amazing experience the show offered. She was also buoyed by the prominence of the franchise, which is an adaptation of ‘The Voice of Holland’.

On April 10, 2016, thousands of eyes glued to Africa Magic Showcase for the premiere of the Voice Nigeria Reality Show which began with 48 contestants.

Expectations were very high. Media hype and buzz lent credence to the heightened anticipation.

Having been adjudged the best music reality TV show since its debut in 2011 in USA, Nigerians were eager to see the outcome of the local adaptation.

Not a few wondered if the selected judges: 2Baba, Timi Dakolo, Waje and Patoranking, would meet up to par with the American version. It is a known fact that the NBC show is famous for its emotional

rollercoaster intensified by the twists and turns caused by both the contestants and judges. The creators clearly rewrote the script of music competitions by making its judges a major part of the show. But its beauty lies in the selection process and format that made previous popular reality shows look like child’s play. Little wonder that it knocked off ‘American Idol’ in its first year.

As indicated in the name, the show is simply about the voice. Judges are made to listen to the contestants with their ears only. With backs turned, they go through the rigorous process of identifying with the contestant through their voice. If they found the sound pleasing to their ears, they press a button on their seat which automatically spins to face the stage where the contestant is belting her song with all her being and hope.

If the contestant is lucky enough to have at least two seats turned, he/she will be put in a difficult position to choose a judge.

At this juncture, the judges will have to employ their marketing skills to make the contestant choose them. This process of selection is called the ‘blind auditions’.

The selected contestants for each judge form a team and proceed to the next stage called the ‘battle rounds’ where the judge pair contestants in her team in duets for further pruning. However, the judges have the opportunity to save a contestant who they feel is good enough to remain in the competition.

The competition follows a pattern of saves by the judges and the voting process to the grand finale where the winner goes home with a record deal with Universal Music Group, $100,000 cash prize and other additional gifts.

With all these in view, not a few had

ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN DAYS LATER, THE SPOTLIGHT IS ON A’RESE WHO SMILED HOME WITH A RECORDING DEAL WITH UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP AND A N7 MILLION SUV, COURTESY OF AFRICA MAGIC; A BRAND AMBASSADORSHIP DEAL WITH AIRTEL, AND A 4-DAY ALLEXPENSE PAID TRIP FOR TWO TO ABU DHABI COURTESY ETIHAD AIRWAYS, WHICH, BY THE WAY, SHE INTENDS TO GO WITH HER YOUNGER SISTER

T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R • August 7, 2016

58

COVER APART FROM HER UNIQUE ABILITY TO SING, A’RESE ALSO LEVERAGED ON HER SKILLS AS A STAGE ACTRESS; INTERPRETING THE SONGS TO EVOKE EMOTIONS FROM HER AUDIENCE. A’RESE ENTERED THE COMPETITION WITH AN OPEN MIND. SHE KNEW SHE WOULD WANT TO BE PART OF THE AMAZING EXPERIENCE THE SHOW OFFERED

lingering doubts that the Nigerian version would live up to the bill.

So on this special Sunday evening, families, music lovers and fans, art and entertainment critics and other silent observers tuned in to Africa Magic on DStv Channel 151 to watch the much-anticipated show. By the end of the first episode, the Voice Nigeria got its first round of applause on social media, particularly on Twitter.

Positive commentaries lauded the show; even the judges who didn’t look too promising got a thumbs-up. For instance, Timi was nicknamed Pastor/General Overseer in the show.

Perhaps, the most focused feature of its premiere was its stage. Re-enactment of the popular stage gained nods but not for too long as Nigerians would later express their disappointment in having the show filmed in South Africa.

Although, the organisers relied on the unfriendly business and economic situation in the country as reason to rob Nigeria of the benefits of filming the show in the country, the show nevertheless garnered much viewership. According to the Director, M-Net West Africa, Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu, over two million votes were collated in the grand finale.

One hundred and fifteen days later, the spotlight is on A’rese who smiled home with a recording deal with Universal Music Group and a N7 million SUV, courtesy of Africa Magic; a brand ambassadorship deal with Airtel, and a 4-day all-expense paid trip for two to Abu Dhabi courtesy Etihad Airways, which, by the way, she intends to go with her younger sister.

Looking resplendent in her bright orange dress and green shoes that matched the charming flash of her white teeth, A’rese arrived the Wheatbaker Hotel in Ikoyi, Lagos venue of meeting with journalists and presentation of prizes with a confident smile, perhaps a feature, one of the sponsors of the show, Close-Up toothpaste, should consider.

Her crown of natural hair, styled in afro locks stood her out. She’s been grooming it for six years. Besides that, her quiet mien also added to the mystery of her personality. This, she said, is one of the attributes that makes her different. However, it doesn’t limit her social skills. She revealed that she formed a friendship bond with the other seven contestants who made it to the Top 8. A’rese modestly refused to accept that her current

status makes her better than her fellow contestants.

“I think everybody that went past the blind auditions was special and talented in their own way and they have something different they brought to the table. From the beginning, we all knew there is going to be one winner but we know we are worthy in our own way. So we kept that in mind. Just being ourselves.”

Her name, A’rese in Bini means ‘I am born well’ and she believes her new found fame justifies her name. The eldest of four children, A’rese hopes to return to her first love, ‘the stage’, soon.

“I knew eventually that I would start making my own music. That was why I auditioned for The Voice. The Voice came at the right time, when I thought I was ready to share my music with the world. Stage has always been my first love but I’m going to focus on my music for now. I will definitely go back to stage sometime.”

She was unable to join her ‘Wakaa’ cast for the London premiere last month due to the competition. She was replaced by Nengi Adoki.

So far, The Voice is the biggest platform she has ever showcased her talents. “I have been doing stage as long as I can remember.

Some musicals, a bit of acting, so it’s a brand new experience for me. One of the biggest values The Voice taught me is to stick to your truth, to be yourself 100 per cent because that is what will resonate with people. I also learned a lot about production and music and how TV works.”

She hopes that Nigerians would be receptive to her kind of music.

A’rese may be the overall winner of the show but Chike, Brenda, Cornel, Dewe, Viveeyan, Nonso and Patrick are not leaving empty-handed. They will become Airtel ambassadors. Mr. Enitan Denloye, the Vice President, Brands and Advertising for Airtel Nigeria, described A’rese as, “A deserving winner who embodies the spirit of youth, passion, skill and perseverance.”

Also speaking at the press conference, Mr. Dozie Okafor, the Media Manager, Coca Cola Nigeria hinted at deeper partnerships between CocaCola and The Voice contestants from season one, and for future editions of the show that may witness their participation in the CocaCola created Pan-African music platform known as Coke Studio.

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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 • August 7, 2016

Onoshe

airtimeplus98@gmail.com

Nwabuikwu

The Voice Nigeria Finale Was a Blast

T

he Voice Nigeria, season one has come to an end. And 28-year old A’rese (Agharese) Emokpae from Team Waje emerged its first winner. This you must already know if you have had a passing interest in The Voice Nigeria.

But I was in Johannesburg, South Africa for the finale of The Voice Nigeria which held Sunday July 31, 2016. Hopefully, I can give you something from the show that wasn’t entirely on TV. I was part of a media team which comprised mainly online media reps and we were at the studios just before the show to see all the action before the show went live to the rest of the world.

While the online guys, young and savvy media entrepreneurs were busy tweeting and snap chatting away, my analogue self was busy doing my best fly on the wall prep, observing and writing my story in my head. I did manage to send out a picture of me with Patoranking, and another of me with Chike or Chike Ranking.

•The Coaches in their Den Before seeing anyone on The Voice Nigeria, host IK Osakioduwa was the first person we ran into. And he was as gracious as a good host can be. He couldn’t have been more welcoming even if we had called ahead to arrange the meeting. And it was off to see the coaches.

Timi Dakolo, coach and head of Team Timi was the first person we met in his den. The man was being groomed; his hair was being cut and all that. As viewers have discovered since April 10, 2016 when the show began Timi is a very jovial/lively person. Responding to compliments on how good his hair looked, he said he didn’t know looking good could be so painful.

His family was also present. His beautiful wife Busola was there with their three kids. Mind you, I put all of this together after we left his space. Because everyone seemed to do a double take when they saw Timi’s wife. In fact, someone had jokingly asked: Timi, what did you tell this beautiful woman to make her marry you? Without missing a beat, Timi came back with a funny quip. He actually started the exchange of banter when he called his wife his ‘side chick’. Which was believable if you didn’t know her: young, beautiful.

Certainly didn’t look like the mother of three children.

Then it was on to Patoranking (Patrick Nnaemeka Okorie) coach and head of Team Patoranking. The usually outgoing performer was quiet, looking subdued, like he had a long stressful day. But not enough not to stop him from announcing that August 1 should be declared a public holiday because God Over Everything or GOE, his debut album was going to be released on that day. Or that the next ‘bus stop’ was “jumbo syana” after his ‘atlantic and pacific’. Don’t ask me what jumbo syana means though.

And then we went to see Waje or should I say Queen Waje (Aituaje Iruobe) coach and head of Team Waje. Who also happened to have produced the winner of the first edition of The Voice Nigeria.

In spite of all the primping and grooming that was going on, Waje was warm and one could easily think of her as a long lost ‘bestie’. I had to leave the room, even though I wasn’t asked to, when she asked for her team (Arese and Patrick) in order to pray with them before they went on stage.

One fallout from the The Voice Nigeria was the transformation of Waje before our very eyes. Between the Blind Auditions and the finale, she’d trimmed down considerably

and gotten ‘fiercer’.

2Baba (Innocent Idibia) was the only coach I didn’t enter his space. He was said to be sleeping. When next I saw him, he was eating. And the air was thick with smell of Nigerian food - from ogbono to ‘burning’ beans.

•Meeting the Finalists I should begin with the no-shows.

Brenda (Adigwe) and Viveeyan (Chisom Vivian Udeh). Just like their coach 2Baba, they were nowhere to be found.

Everyone else was being extra friendly: Chike, Nonso Bassey (Team Pato Ranking), Cornel, Dewe (Team Timi) A’rese and Patrick (Team Waje). Dewe seemed to always have a smile on his face.

A’rese was warm and a little shy. They posed for several pictures for the media team. Did videos, took selfies, basically did everything they were asked even when it was out of their comfort zone. Still, considering the impending show and how nerve wracking that must be, they handled things very well, all things considered.

Anyhow my one assignment was to fulfill my teenage daughters’ request for a selfie with Chike. But he went one further and sent a video message.

•And the winner is…

The finale show itself began on schedule and I had a good view with a front row seat just to the right of the coaches. I was the lady in red.

From the coaches who performed with their own contestants, to the finalists themselves, it was a blast. Plus, it was refreshing to watch the finale of a musical reality show whose performances weren’t dependent on external ‘big name’ performers.

Don’t know how you saw the show.

Or how you heard the singing for that matter. But it was amazing from the inside. Kept thinking this must be what the coaches hear that we don’t hear from home. Because sometimes when coaches praise contestants, the viewer can be left wondering if their hearing was okay. Fact is, everyone (or almost everyone) who made the Top 8, deserved to be there. Any one of them could have won a prize even if not the ultimate prize.

Surely, Viveeyan deserves a prize for such an understated yet a punch-inthe-stomach performer when she gets on stage. There’s Cornel who should be making records already. And Nonso Bassey. And Patrick’s hunger grabs you. Dewe whose shy look can make you overlook him comes alive on stage.

Brenda is the total performer. I think of her performances of Meghan Trainor’s All About That Bass and Cynthia Morgan’s I’m Taken. One fan was happy she didn’t win so she can proceed straight into the industry without being held back by any obligations to the organisers as a winner.

A’rese who became the eventual winner was already the stage maestro before The Voice Nigeria. And she didn’t disappoint as she took musical risk after musical risk. Well, it all paid off in the end: A recording contract with Universal, an SUV valued at N7m and a 4-day allexpense paid trip with a partner to Abu Dhabi. And that’s just the beginning.

•Waje & A’rese: Two Powerful Edo Women Ordinarily, this wouldn’t be a point to push. But in the light of the bad rap Edo women get, it makes sense to point out and celebrate Edo women who are positive role models. Imagine that

during the last election - one politician’s wife promised to stop Edo women from prostitution or some foot in the mouth gaffe like that.

How cool is it therefore that both Coach Waje (Aituaje Iruobe) and A’rese (Agharese Emokpae) are strong talented Edo women?

And me of course! Hopefully, outgoing Comrade governor Adams Oshiomhole is going to honour them!

•Why South Africa?

The fact that The Voice Nigeria held in South Africa was a sore point for quite a few people. But why was the show held in South Africa? We could hazard a few guesses. But I could never hold brief for the organisers.

Suffice it to say that as a viewer, I was

first and foremost drawn to the high production quality of The Voice Nigeria.

When I was ‘oohing’ and ‘aahing’ about the quality of The Voice Nigeria, and how well it had kept to the international standards of The Voice, I didn’t know it wasn’t being shot in Nigeria. Would that have made any difference? That’s moot now.

Still, this shouldn’t degenerate into a Nigeria vs South Africa free for all melee.

Everyone has a point: Those who wanted the show produced in Nigeria for patriotic and economic reasons vs those who just want good quality. Should viewers, after paying to have satellite TV, resign themselves to mediocre TV programming because of patriotism? Is there a middle ground?

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entertAinment

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

Which Nigerian City Will Host Afrima?

As preparations for the third edition of the All Africa music Awards (AFrimA) enters top gear, there is a likelihood of shift in venue from Lagos which hosted the past two editions. Nseobong Okon-Ekong reports

Ghanaian artiste, Wiyaala taking a ride on a powerbike on stage

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he 2016 edition of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA)-the third in the series is likely to be the last time Nigeria will have the honour of hosting the Pan-African reward event for the creative industry; having hosted it for the maximum number of three times allowed any country. From its maiden show in 2014 at the Oriental Hotel in Lagos to the 2015 edition at Eko Hotel in Lagos, the organizers have set a standard of excellence that can only grow in the coming years.

Scheduled for November, hosting of the third edition of AFRIMA will be a keen contest among four Nigerian cities.

According to a disclosure at the recent Africa Union Summit in Kigali, Rwanda, the African Union Commission (AUC) and the International Committee of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) named the four potential hosts as Calabar (Cross River State), Lagos (Lagos State), Port Harcourt (Rivers State) and Uyo (Akwa Ibom State).

The Commissioner for Social Affairs, African Union Commission, Dr. Mustapha Sidiki Kaloko said, “The main purpose of the host city partnership is to showcase the tourism and economic potential of one of the great cities in Africa and promote its strengths to global audience which in turn adds to the GDP of the state and the continent at large.”

While urging the considered cities to passionately vie for hosting privileges, the AUC official pointed out the immense advantages for the host city which include ‘long term investment and job

DORIS UNVEILS CHRISTIAN MOVIE Doris Ariole, a Nollywood filmmaker has unveiled her captivating Christian romance movie titled ‘Benevolence’ in Orlando Florida at an African Art Gallery and Event Centre called the 3-Mask Inc. She relayed the experience on the phone to this reporter.

Doris who is increasingly known for making movies that celebrate God’s love and grace in every situation, described her genre the as ‘Christian Romance’.

‘Benevolence’ is about a young woman called Ruth, her tenacity to hold on to her faith in God despite hard times, to keep her hope alive for a better tomorrow and insist on the kind love that she believes she deserves. It’s partly inspired by Ruth and Boaz’ story in the Bible. Doris is currently in Orlando Florida, pro-

F Ladysmith BlackMambzo

South Afircan singing sensation, Busiswa

creation; adoption of new benchmarks for city development; increased civic pride and community empowerment; increased tourism and publicity’.

“Ultimately, there is an opportunity to tap into the millions of participants and followers of the booming African music,” said Kaloko.

Also, AFRIMA Director of Sponsorship/ Communication, Ms. Matlou Tsotetsi, explained that these four states are capable of creating global brand equity for Africa.

She said, “The host city will be one that is willing to create value and deep brand equity not only for Nigerians but Africans.

It must have the most motivation to host AFRIMA in line with its values; have the strongest vision in tourism, culture and entertainment; have the most adequate facilities, surrounding infrastructure, security and tourist attraction to host the event and should have hosted successful events in the past that attracted both national and or global audiences.”

Another significant development which Dada said would further the course of

AFRIMA is the recent launch of a single, common electronic passport (e-Passport) for all Africans.

It also applauded the ultimate goal of the single passport which is set to realize the dream of visa-free travel for African citizens within the African continent by 2020.

Reacting to this development, President/ Executive Producer, AFRIMA, Mike Dada, said, “The African Union’s plan to allowing free movement of citizens within the African continent is a stepping stone towards building.”

Meanwhile, submission of entries for this year’s edition of the continental awards which opened on Monday, May 30 closed on July 30.

During the period, the AFRIMA secretariat was flooded with a deluge of entries, suggesting a huge increase in awareness and anticipation for the award in the past couple of years. This was confirmed by the enthusiastic response of African music artistes, music professionals and journalists who have flooded the AFRIMA website with entries from across the continent and from Africans in the

moting the movie. A world premiere is scheduled for August 12, followed with screenings for two consecutive weekends in August.

Benevolence was selected and nominated for ‘Most Inspirational Feature Film’ at the International Christian Film Festival in Orlando last April. After it screened, she was approached by Ronyai Hawkins and Nicole Hawkins who offered to put together the premiere and screening events.

Going back to her growing up years to understand how she became a film maker, Doris recalled watching movies like Sound of Music, Grease and the James Bond series. In nursery and primary school, she featured in school plays. At 13, she started weaving up stories and went on to be the president of the Drama Club and Debate Society in my senior high

school, which was a surprise as she tended towards the sciences.

Therefore, the natural expectation from family and friends was that she will study a professional course like Medicine or Law or Pharmacy. Unable to summon the courage to live her dream, Doris went through university only wishing should could write and act, but never being able to do it.

She took an irreversible step in 2006 when she sold her first script. “I discovered I preferred being behind the camera in 2007 when I started professional training in filmmaking under the late Amaka Igwe.

Initially I majored in writing and production, directing

Diaspora for the 2016 All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA tagged “AFRIMA 3.0”.

Explaining further, The Regional Director, Central Africa, Ernest Ewanee, said: “I must say we are impressed with the level of participation by African artistes especially the big artistes. This is an encouraging success marker for us considering the fact that we have surpassed the number of last editions.”

Speaking further on what to expect, the President and Executive Producer, AFRIMA, Mike Dada said, “We would not want to distort the calendar for this year’s edition.”

The 13-person AFRIMA jury which represents the five regions of Africa, the Diaspora and the African Union Commission will use one week in August for the adjudication process for the crucial responsibility of screening, categorising, assessing, adjudication and selecting nominees from the body of works submitted for award consideration.

Concluding the adjudication process, on August 22 will be an announcement of the nominees.

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ENTERTAINMENT was later on. In Christmas 2007, I was home alone and was lead to read the book of Esther. I did so many times. That was how I got the name Hadassah, as my studio name.

It happens to be Queen Esther’s Jewish name.

NIGERIAN TEAMS CONTEST FOR WORLD HIP HOP CROWN Nigeria will be represented by two teams, The Clique and The Future at the World Hip Hop Dance Championship in Las Vegas, USA which begins today. This will be the first time that Nigeria will be represented by two teams since inception of the World Dance Olympics in 2002.

The contest is produced by Los Angeles based Hip Hop International (HHI), which is famous for producing the popular MTV’s Randy Jackson presents America’s Best Dance Crew, the World Battles and Urban Moves Dance Workshops. Hip Hop International is represented by official licensees in 50 countries who conduct their events and competitions under the auspices of Hip Hop International and also qualify street dancers and dance crews to represent their country at the World Hip Hop Dance Championship and World Battles (Bboy, Popping, Locking and All Styles). Hip Hop International Nigeria (HHIN).

Team Nigeria had been sourced amongst dancers from The Craft, FFD Reloaded and Bold5ive, who are incidentally the winner, first and second runners- up respectively at the 2016 Nigerian Hip Hop Dance Championship. The team will be led by the Technical Director of Hip Hop International Nigeria, Mr. Mike Oseghale.

The Country Director for Hip Hop International Nigeria, Ademola Owolabi stated that this is the third time that his organization will sponsor dancers from Nigeria to the championship, adding that preparations had been in top gear since May. Although he is optimistic that the dancers would made Nigeria proud, he expressed his displeasure for that fact that the initiative is yet to enjoy support from Nigerian government and the corporate sectors.

E

K1 de Ultimate on the Fuji

New ‘King’ of Fuji Emerges

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ope Ajani from Akure, Ondo State has won the Season Four of Goldberg Fuji t’o Bam music talent contest, after months of rigorous drills, excitement and tension, The final showdown was witnessed by over 1,500 fans at the Trans Amusement Park in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Ajani, whose stage craft and renditions excited everyone at the event – will now wear the Wura 1 crown which comes with a cash reward of N1,000, 000.

Saheed Ishola, from Sango-Ota, grabbed N750,000 as the first runner up, while Mufutau Alabi, from Ibadan went home with N500, 000 as the second runner up after the battle of wits where three other contestants, Shina Akanni; Kuteyi Sikiru; and Alausa Olalekan, also tested their mettle.

the opportunity to live out their dream opposite well-known stars in a short M-Net Movies production, the winner of this competition will win a seven day trip to Hollywood for them and their partner, all of which will be filmed by the M-Net Movies team.

This competition is open to DStv Premium customers older than 18years. The shoot will take place in the week of 26 September. The first step is to show-off your acting skills by re-enacting a scene from any movie currently showing on the

The night kicked-off with Ewi rendition before the contestants took turns to display their mastery of various Fuji theatrics to the admiration of the judges and the audience that thronged the venue of the event.

The high point of the event was the impressive performance by the International Fuji icons, King Wasiu Ayinde (KWAM1), 9ice and Pasuma, who thrilled the fans with various hit songs from their rich repertoire.

The night also witnessed a gathering of the best of Fuji celebrities and respected Yoruba movie actors and comedians like Odunlade Adekola, compere of the event; Alhaji SK Sensation, Adebayo Faleke and the winner of the third season of Fuji t’o Bam, Akeem Okiki.

M-Net Movies Channels: M-Net Movies Premiere (Channel 104); M-Net Movies Smile (Channel 105); M-Net Movies Action + (Channel 106), M-Net Movies Showcase (Channel 107); M-Net Movies Action (Channel 110); M-Net Movies All Stars (Channel 111) and M-Net Movies Zone (Channel 139). Thereafter, you need to upload a video of your re-enactment onto Facebook, Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #MMGreatest. And then, very importantly, you have to go to www.mnet.tv to fill out an entry

form to validate your entry. This needs to happen within the first week of posting your video on social media.

The closing date for entries is Saturday, August . panel of experts will pick the top 24 actors from these casting videos, who will then go up for the public vote.

M-Net Movie fans will be able to vote for their favourites from Tuesday 23 August and the twelve actors with the most votes will find themselves stepping into the opportunity of a lifetime – acting in a real production, spearheaded by the reputable television and film production company Bomb Productions, whose success stories include dramas like Isibaya and Jacob’s Cross.

THE DIFFERENCE IS JATA Jata Event and Resort Hotel, one of the latest hospitality establishments in the Awoyaya area along Lekki- Epe Expressway has been described as a different neighbourhood that is so alluring.

From the cooling sea breeze that whistles and gently caresses one, the absolute tranquility that envelopes one as he alights from the vehicle and the general mien, all look so enthralling; and many have come to salute the vision of Alhaji Jamiu Bosun Salau, a business mogul who at first contact was struck by the serene environment and decided to build a resort on it. The edifice was conceived as a befitting relaxation centre to cater for people like him who cherish quietness and peaceful milieu.

Today, the two-storey building with a detached twin duplex, stands imposingly in the area and provides first class hospitality to lovers of nature. Situated at Km 39 Lekki-Epe Express way, opposite Coscharis Motors – Awoyaya, Lagos, Jata Event and Resort Hotel prides itself with 36 luxuriously furnished rooms and houses six conference rooms, one of which has a gallery and can conveniently sit over 1000 guests. The exquisite setting is simply better experienced than imagined.

“Jata Events and Resort is a hospitality concept developed out of insistent and urgent need for an exquisite all-in-one event and entertainment resort. We recognise the need for a serene environment, that is why Jata is tucked away from the busy cosmopolitan traffic of the city and offers extensive comfort and luxury in the true tradition of hospitality,” Salau said.

Demola

“GREATEST MOVIE EVER MADE” M-Net Movies channels on DStv have created a fun-filled, unique new competition, inviting undercover movie stars of Africa to participate in the “Greatest Movie Ever Made” casting competition. While the twelve best aspiring actors will get

2face Idibia Visits Milan with Manager and Former Publicist Ayeni Adekunle. L-R: Abayomi Ajao, Efe Omorogbe, 2Baba and Ayeni

Salau

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ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

Selma Director Ava Du Vernay Makes History

Vanessa Obioha

It was a historical moment for Ava DuVernay last Tuesday as she became the first woman of colour to direct a live-action film that boasts a budget over $100m.

The film, a Disney production ‘A Wrinkle in Time’ penned DuVernay for directing since February but was officially announced on Tuesday.

DuVernay is now the third woman to direct a $100m film.

Kathryn Bigelow was the first with her 2009’s K-19: The Widowmaker followed by Patty Jenkins for the upcoming Wonder Woman.

However, DuVernay thinks she

is not the first coloured woman to achieve that status, at least not by a long shot. She tweeted her gratitude to Disney for helping her break the glass ceiling.

The film centers on the bespectacled Meg Murry and her courageous quest to save her scientist father.

Jimmy Fallon Replaces Ricky Gervais in 2017 Golden Globes Ricky Gervais won’t be hosting the Golden Globes Award for the fifth time next year. The host of NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Fallon is to host the 2017 Golden Globes ceremony on 8 January 2017.

The announcement was made by

the NBC Entertainment chairman, Robert Greenblatt at the Television Critics Association’s press tour in Beverly Hills last week.

It is the first time the comedian will be hosting the award ceremony. He has previously hosted the 2010 Primetime Emmy awards and lauded greatly by critics.

He is the preferred choice for Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which hosts the annual event and picks the awards because of his friendly disposition with celebrity guests on his late-night show.

Jackie Chan

Beethoven

BEETHOVEN’S EROICA IS THE GREATEST SYMPHONY OF ALL TIME According to 151 conductors across the globe, the thrilling electrifying piece of music by Beethoven is the best symphony of all time. Eroica topped BBC’s Music Magazine 20 Greatest Symphonies with this survey. It is followed by Beethoven’s ninth symphony ‘Choral’ while Mozart’s last symphony, No 41 ‘Jupiter’ occupy the third position.

Eroica, third symphony from Beethoven was written in 1803, and originally dedicated to celebrate Napoleon . Beethoven wanted to call it the Bonaparte, but changed his mind when he heard that Napoleon had declared himself emperor.

The British conductor Jonathan Nott, music director of the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, told the magazine the Eroica was boundary-breaking. “This symphony is not about the glory of God, it’s about humans – our struggles, challenges and victories.

You come away having experienced the power and joy of being alive.”

Other winners in the list include Mahler, Brahms, Berlioz, Tchaikovsky and others.

BRADLEY COOPER IN TALKS WITH HBO FOR ‘THE RISE OF ISIS’ MINISERIES Never underestimate the power of a book. After reading the griping story of Joby Warrick’s 2016 Pulitzerwinning book ‘Black Flags: The Rise of ISIS’, Academy Award-nominated actor, Bradley Cooper was inspired to bring the book to screen.

Ava Duvernay

producer credits.

Bradley Cooper

The book highlights the rise of the feared terrorist group, from its origins in a remote Jordanian prison to its groundbreaking transformation and celebrated success in Syria, alongside the arduous task of international agents assigned to clamp it down.

For this particular project, Cooper is partnering with HBO and will executive produce the film alongside Todd Phillips while Gregg Hurwitz (‘Orphan X’, ‘Wolverine’) will pen the adaptation and also executive produce the miniseries. ‘Game of Thrones’ Tim Van Patten will direct and also share the executive

JACKIE CHAN TO DIRECT FIRST SCI-FI MOVIE In summer 2017, Jackie Chan’s first directorial sci-fi movie ‘Bleeding Steel’ will be released. Chan stars as the main character: a spy assigned to protect a witness involved in a life and death conspiracy. The film also stars Ou Yang Nana, Show Luo, Callan Mulvey, Tess Haubrich and others.

Show Luo whose life-long dream is to act alongside Chan is ecstatic about his role in the film. He will be the investigator trying to find the truth in the whole feud. Chan however revealed that Lou’s name came up after he read the script because of his ability to process humour effectively.

Chan also produced the film.

EMPIRE’S STAR TERRENCE HOWARD SUED OVER PAYMENT DISPUTE In a new lawsuit against the Empire’s actor, Authentic Talent and Literary Management disclosed that it saved the Oscar nominee from being fired from the hit hip-hop series Empire.

Howard who played the role of music executive mogul Lucious Lyon in the series has been in one scandal or the other following his messy divorce scandal with his second wife Michelle Ghent in 2013.

The talent management company is suing Howard for unpaid dues and seeking $250,000 plus 10 percent of his future earnings with the show.

Terrence Howard

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FOCUS

From Broadcasting to Public Speaking

By Funke Olaode

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he is gradually carving a niche for herself. Ayanfeoluwa Lawal, CEO of Quints Diction and Social Polish Academy, is becoming an authority on etiquette. Within a few months, she has built a stream of Ivy league clients, as her services have become much sought after by highbrow secondary schools across Lagos State. The clergy are not left out of the teeming number of professionals who contact her in a bid to project a positive image through public speaking.

For Lawal, a trained broadcaster turned diction coach, her newfound love was borne out of her passion to see a transformed society through public speaking.

Lawal is a passionate and creative professional with valuable experience in broadcast journalism spanning over a decade. She has traversed the whole gamut of vocations on radio and television; serving at various times as a newscaster, presenter, reporter, as well as producer.

Much of these services were rendered between DBN Television and MITV. She has also developed strong capacity in communication skills and consultancy on diction, elocution and social polish.

She has certificates on Presentation from the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) Training School, which is the foremost institute in Nigeria on Phonetics training and broadcast presentation.

She also has a Masters degree in

assistant editor nseobong okon-ekong senior correspondent funke olaode correspondent vanessa obioha designer wahab akintunde CONTRIBUTORS onoshe nwabuikwu, temilolu okeowo, kelechi nduka THISDAY ON SUNDAY editor adetokunbo adedoja deputy editor vincent obia STUDIO art director ochi ogbuaku jnr THISDAY NEWSPAPERS editor-in-chief & chairman nduka obaigbena managing director eniola bello deputy managing director kayode komolafe

Communications Art from the University of Ibadan and has attended several trainings on diction, public speaking and social polish.

To further the frontier of passion, she recently launched a book ‘The Diction Book’ which comes with an audio CD. It teaches elocution and gives all the necessary tips on how to speak righty. The book contains over 200 commonly mis-pronounced English words Lawal anchors her passion on her background. The daughter of a retired Baptist clergy, she was raised in a pastoral environment which has influenced her behaviour in public.

Initially, she thought of retiring into diction coaching, which was a vision she thought she would push into retirement.

But she had to resign her appointment and then proceeded to give life to her vision.

Throwing more light on what her company does, she said. “Our area of focus is voice and diction training, accent reduction and accent neutralisation because you have people with a very thick accent which is peculiar to different cultural settings.

“We also teach the rudiment of managing freight and nervousness.

No matter how much you can speak, if you do not pay attention to your grammar and vocabulary people won’t take you seriously.

I had to conquer my own family and made them believe in me because they didn’t understand.

But I think when your passion is big and strong enough you face your fear and launch out. They can see the result of what I am doing and their confidence in me is restored.”

Tunde Kelani Institutes Legacy with Film School

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espected filmmaker, Tunde Kelani (TK) and team members of his film school, Mainframe Film and Media Institute (MFMI) recently graduated the first set of students and presented certificates to them in the presence of notable personalities such as Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, Segun Odegbami, Kunle Afolayan, Mr. Segun Adaju, Dipo Famakinwa, Mr. Tunde Adeniji, Chimaobi Agwu, Femi Odugbemi, Ropo Ewenla, Seye Oyeleye and many others.

At the ceremony that had filmmaker and pioneering head of jury for Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Award (AMVCA), Femi Odugbemi delivering the keynote address, many other notable stakeholders in the industry enjoined students to put to good use during the eight-week course.

Filmmaking, according to Femi Odugbemi, is a powerful drill. He said “Use it to make a hole…Make films to make a point. Make films that matter. Filmmaking is first and foremost an artistic endeavour.

It is a thoughtful, disruptive endeavour that seeks to influence the minds of its audiences. It is primarily entertaining but its real power is that it causes society to reflect on its history, its sociology, its ideology but much more its empathy and humanity.

Filmmaking is not a trade; it is not some easy vocation for the dimwitted or something to do because you couldn’t pass JAMB.” Kunle Afolayan, a filmmaker, who has drawn so much from the well of wisdom of TK, emphasised the need to have mentors. In driving home his point he said, “Filmmaking is a collaborative effort. You need the input of several people to make qualitative films.”

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IMAGES

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he Edu family gathered recently for the funeral of their late son, Chief Babatunde Edu, who died on May 31, 2016, in Ghana. Wake keep service was held at his residence in Accra, Ghana, while funeral service followed at All Saints Church. He was interred at Lashibi Funeral Home, Nungua-Lashibi-Ashiaman Road, Accra. Memorial ceremony took place in Lagos at Yetunde’s Apartments, Park View Estate in Ikoyi.

Photos: Ibrahim Adewale

Late Babatunde Edu’s children

Former Minister of Special Duties, Yomi Edu, and wife, Maureen

L-R: Wives of the deceased: L-R: Mrs. Turrie Edu and Nwando Edu

L-R: AmbassadorTayo Ogunsulire and wife, Soba

L-R: Former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Alhaja Sinatu Ojikutu; Ms. Bisi Fashanu, and Mrs. Aina Sowemimo

L-R: Chief Peter Arigbe; Mr. Soji Otuyelu and Chief Ayo Iroche

L-R: Lady Maiden Ibru and Mrs. Nneka Okeke

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PUBLICATION

TIWA SAVAGE REDEEMS SELF ON SOPHOMORE ALBUM… PAGE 69

07.08.2016

IN CELEBRATION OF WORDS EDITOR OKECHUKWU UWAEZUOKE/ okechukwu.uwaezuoke@thisdaylive.com

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IN CELEBRATION OF WO

At the Agip Hall MUSON Centre, the Lagos party in honour of the first eleven shortlisted authors for the 2016 Nigeria Prize for Literature paraded books and not booze; muse and not music, writes Yinka Olatunbosun

K

Cross-section of celebrants at 2014 Nigeria Prize for Literature finals udo Eresia-Eke, the General Manager, External Relations, Nigerian LNG, is the man to give credit to for the above witty line. He was one of the first arrivals at the venue last Sunday as writers, readers, publishers and other stakeholders in the book industry gathered to celebrate the first 11 shortlisted authors for the coveted prize which no author qualified for last year. Endowed by Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), the prize revolves around four literary genres namely, poetry, prose, drama and children’s literature. This year, the prize goes to prose fiction. To that end, the 11 books that passed the litmus test of the judges at this 13th edition are Burning Bright, by Maryam Awaisu, A Bit of Difference

by Sefi Atta, The Parable of the Lost Shepherds

by Mansim Chumah Okafor, Night Dancer by Chika Unigwe, The Fourth World by Ifeoma Okoye, Born on a Tuesday by El-Nathan John, Sorrow’s Joy (A Passage through Cancer) by Ogochukwu Promise, Season of Crimson Blossoms by Abubakar Adamu Ibrahim, Daughters Who Walk this Path by Yejide Kilanko, On the Bank of the River by Ifeoluwa Adeniyi, Eniitan - Daughter of Destiny by Aramide Segun. There’s no gainsaying that the judges namely Prof. Charles Bodunde, Dr. Razinatu Mohammed and Prof. Uwemedimo Enobong Iwoketok, will definitely make tough decisions this year what with the quality of writers on their initial shortlist.

It’s in Nigeria LNG’s DNA to throw its

weight behind developing Nigeria’s knowledge economy in supporting writers across the three main literary genres every year with the award of $100,000. Yes, you read right. Despite the worsening state of foreign exchange in Nigeria, the organisers had promised to keep the prize money at the same figures. While they cannot control the figures of writers who get into this competition annually, it has also been observed that most of the shortlisted authors are Nigerians in diaspora. Now, that sparked some curiosity. Could it be that the best of Nigerian writers are seeking comfortable space outside their home for creative expression? Come to think of it, the bulk of our outstanding writers lived abroad and wrote some of their masterpieces while they were away from this terrain of epileptic power, exhausting city and traffic congestion and other competing social realities. Without making excuses for the generation that seems to be more materially-inclined than literarily, the stage was set to revitalise the creative energy last weekend in the spirit of artistic expression echoing through the performances and book reading executed by select actors. This party which was held for the first time in 2009 for poetry at the seaside venue of the Goethe-Institut then in Victoria Island, has always been done to build a growing audience for book discussions.

The Secretary-General, Committee for Relevant Art (CORA), Toyin Akinosho gave the party a rousing start when he dropped some hints around the works that are being perused for the prize and addressed the issue of dwindling readership in Nigeria, which is really becoming over-flogged by the way.

“But other than this one liner that some of us

have that People Don’t Read, why don’t we look at the fact of our collective lives; is it not possible that the infrastructure of reading, if they once were, have collapsed around us?

“CORA believes in the building of the soft infrastructure of the book industry; the presence and improvement of book reviews in the old and new media, the availability and utility of a functional library system, the efficiency of distribution and the profitability of the vocation of writing,” he stated.

He also observed that the first 11 novels long-listed for the 13th edition of this award, collectively feature a range of human issues, from love through religion, to terrorism and the triumph of the will. The writers, through their works, examine the anxieties of youth, the terror of knowledge as well as the tyranny of state apparatus. For him, intellectual parties will inspire necessary conversations about books.

“Everyone knows that we produce remarkably good books in our country. But we also know that we don’t discuss them enough, we are not made aware of them enough. The soft infrastructure of the book reading culture is not aggressively under construction. Most book readings in the country happen with the effort of the writers themselves. Our country should get past that; we should develop a community of book readership enablers; organisations that exist just to spread the joy of reading. Book readership promotion should go beyond Big showpieces as Bring Back The Book Campaigns or Book Festivals. It should be

about how we as citizens engage the organs of book development in our communities,” he argued.

Only eight of the 11 authors participated during the interactive session. Maryam AwaIsu, Ifeoluwa Adeniyi, and Omowunmi Aramide were physically present while El-Nathan John, Ifeoma Okoye, Abubakar Adamu Ibrahim, Yejide Kilanko, Mansim Chumah Okafor were virtually present via skype. Regrettably, Chuka Unigwe was ready for the conversation by skype but technical hitches delayed her participation. Ifeoma Okoye, 79, is often described as a matriarch of Nigerian literature whose ANA winning 1984 novel, Men Without Ears was a stridently anti-corruption novel set in the profligate era of the Second Republic.

She spends her time between Nigeria, the UK and The United States, where her children and grandchildren are spread. She writes in the preface to her book that it was in her children’s comfortable homes that she completed much of the manuscript. She is in one of those homes now, out of the country and when she was reminded by the chair of the interactive session, Dami Ajayi that she is the oldest author of the initial shortlist, she promptly responded, “Age has nothing to do with it.’’ The angst of the vulnerable ones in her society is her authorial preoccupation in the work which she hopes to win the prize money for and perhaps, the real life characters in the book will be the beneficiaries of the mouth-watering prize money.

For El-Nathan, raising the issue of prize money and how it would be spent was “irrelevant and born out of poverty mentality”. Call

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ORDS

him a shortlist veteran, he has been on the final list of the Caine Prize for African Writing in 2013 and 2015. His writing has been published in Per Contra, Evergreen Review and Chimurenga’s Chronic. He is a 2015 Civitella Ranieri Fellow and though he is based in Abuja, he lives at present in Germany. He thought more questions should have been asked around the books that majority in the audience were yet to read.

This edition has more women finalists than ever before. Eight of these finalists are women and they cut across three generations of post-independence Nigerian writing. Asides Okoye, Promise Ogochukwu, an author, publisher, Literature Festival organiser, a visual art painter, who is an Azikiwe Fellow, Fellow of Stiftung Kulturfonds and the Iowa International writing programme is also on the initial shortlist of 11. Also on the list is Sefi Atta who lives in the United States with her family. She came into literary spotlight after winning the Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature with her debut, Everything Good Will Come.

Her collection of short stories, Lawless, won the Noma award. Atta is frequently described as the one author whose writing captures The Lagos Spirit.

Born in Kaduna, Maryam Awaisu, a radio presenter at Liberty TV/Radio wrote her first novel at 11 though it wasn’t published.

She joined the debate on issues that provoke contemporary African writing as well as the challenge of getting published as a debut writer. The 37-year old Abubakar Adam Ibrahim’s work is scored by readers for the bravery in subject and content while Aramide Segun is another strong contender for the prize. Her debut novel The Third Dimple won the ANA prize for fiction 25 years ago.

With strong pedigree in arts, this author’s uncle is a poet, filmmaker and former Director of Culture, Frank Aig-Imokhuede while her mother is a prolific Children Literature writer Mabel Segun, who has won this Prizeyes, the Nigeria Prize for Literature as well.

Will she restore glory to the family name?

Time will surely tell.

The competition also has history of winners who return to contest. One of such history makers is Chika Unigwe who, in 2012, won the prize with On Black Sisters’ Street.

Unigwe has over 10 published works, most of them novels. She has won BBC Short Story Competition, Commonwealth Short Story and has been shortlisted for Caine Prize. She has written a novel about Olaudah Equiano and early this year, she was appointed as the Bonderman Professor of Creative Writing at Brown University in Rhode Island.

Ifeoluwa Adeniyi, an on-air personality on Splash FM, also made the list. This graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University published her first novella, The Twin Sisters, at age 11 and holds a Masters degree in Literature from the institution. She is entering this competition with her debut novel which has received endorsements from important personalities In Nigeria including Olusegun Obasanjo, himself a serial author of non-fiction, Femi Gbajabiamila, Femi Adesina, to name a few.

Mansim Okafor wouldn’t want to be called medical doctor as he cautioned through the conversation with him on skype.

He is Associate Professor of Anatomy and Physiology and Chair of Natural Sciences Department at the St. Catherine College in Kentucky State, United States with a literary portfolio that includes two books, Chinelo (Forth Dimension Publishers) and Elma: This Will Heal the World (Createspace). His most recent work, Chinua Achebe, The Art of Fiction, and a Bottle of Guinness (a tribute to Chinua Achebe) received critical acclaim.

Born in Ibadan to Nigerian parents, Yejide Kilanko, one of the female shortlisted authors, has lived abroad since 2000. She has been writing poetry since she was 12. Her entry for the NPL is her debut novel.

Side-by-side with this is the Nigeria Prize for Literary Criticism to encourage scholarly contributions to book discourses.

The winner of this international prize gets N1million.

ARTS & REVIEW\\EVENT

COMIC

From this edition, the comic strip, The Inverted Pyramid, based on a novel by Emeka Dike with the same title, will be serialised in these pages

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BITING REALITY Yinka Olatunbosun

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n a world where truth is scarce, finding a fictional narrative with a close depiction of reality is difficult. But the debut novel by a Nigerian lawyer, Edify Yukusak titled, “After They Left’’ revealed sordid truths about the volatile part of Nigeria with its existential theme of survival.

Set in Jos and Abuja, the writer ’s imagination of a family caught in the middle of inter-ethnic and religious crises is vivid, if not agonizing. Yukusak displayed a masterful skill in the use of suspense to narrate the bitter experiences of the victims of massacre, survivors in IDP camp and the terrorizing nature of a kidnapping and human-trafficking syndicate.

The central characters Mafeng and her daughter Kim had been vested with such dynamism that they developed brilliantly along the linear plot which bore a few flashbacks, dark humour and snatches of romance. Mafeng bears two children, Kim and Jugu, to her first husband who offered her a cold matrimonial home that reeked of unbridled infidelity. As compensation, she was given material things which are no substitute for love and intimacy. He died in company of commercial sex workers, leaving a trail of accumulated debts from his outlandish lifestyle.

Mafeng remarries her first love Samuel who, by her mother ’s judgment, was not rich enough to marry her at first. After three months of losing her first husband, she found love again which angers Kim. Kim, who is shielded from the ugly truths about her father, dislikes her mother ’s husband who is transporting them from the comfort of Abuja to the temperamental Jos. She loathes him every day for his invasion of her mother ’s life and attention.

When tragedy strikes, Mafeng loses almost everything, but not the memory of her children. Her strong-willed nature forced her to do the unthinkable just to find her missing children. Raped in the presence of her husband, Mafeng’s love for her children preserved her sanity till the end of the narrative.

Her shock at discovering that the IDP is a bane of corruption and inhumanity tore her heart as much as the thought of not seeing her children anymore did.

Fast-paced, the story is a movie director ’s choice in its captivating plot structure, characterisations and verisimilitude. Women who are usually portrayed as vulnerable in violent attacks are the heroine of the narrative. They are strong, resilient, intuitive, discerning and intelligent. Of course, the author is not sentimental in the portrayal of women as she has balanced this larger-than-life picture of a woman with the vain one in the character of Linda, who is Mafeng’s sister. Inspite of the war in Jos, she arrives in Jos, dressed to kill. Her love for her sister, whom she had separated from after her marriage to a rich man makes up for her weaknesses. She is quick to accept fate but respects her sister ’s determination to know the whereabouts of her lost children. From hospitals to police stations, they comb the devastated city of Jos without much clues initially until

a runaway teenage boy gave them a lead in their investigation.

The author captures gut-wrenching horror using very graphic language, finding equilibrium in her effort at toning down the details of the rape. In the author ’s treatment of the police characters, they are shown as real people who are handicapped by a failed system that poorly equips and rewards them for the job of securing lives and properties. Perhaps the author ’s strongest point is to bring an Ibo character in the form of a taxi driver who conveys Kim and Jugu to the police in a bid to reunite them with their aunt in Abuja.

When the police refuse to take the recovered children into their custody, this Ibo taxi driver takes them home and shelters them. That is a winning shot in preaching unity and love.

Still on language, the narrative articulates Hausa, pidgin English and English languages in reaching the heart of the reader with emotional truth. Asides the language, the author ’s sense of landscape came in handy in the scenes of pursuit, thus situating the story

in the actual cultural context, assigning delicate tasks to each character, while detaching self from the narrative using the third person point of view.

The author of this contemporary novel also shows the disconnection between the police and the army which creates a gulf in their gathering intelligence towards solving crimes. The war profiteering nature that German playwright Bertolt Brecht portrayed in the character of heroine of the drama titled Mother Courage and Her Children is exemplified in Madam Mati who pretends to care for the IDPs but conspires with human traffickers to violate girl-children.

The author, Yukusak’s aim of writing this story has been to draw the attention of relevant authorities to find a permanent solution to the crises that rock Northern Nigeria. After They Left is not a reckless venture; it is surprisingly entertaining inspite of the overall gloomy atmosphere of the tale. With hints of tragedy on its blood-stained cover, After They Left delivers gruesome revelations on paper and the quest to change status quo in the psyche.

New Chapters on Nigeria Yinka Olatunbosun

The Beauties of Nigeria, a new literary effort has received official endorsement of the federal government as a relevant contribution to Nigeria’s perception management as well as for showcasing investment opportunities in the country.

The author of the book, Mr. Bonaventure Melah, in a statement issued on Monday, said he had submitted the manuscript of the book to the government for assessment after which an official endorsement was received from the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture.

According to the statement the book is a projection of Nigeria’s unique selling points to the world. It showcases Nigeria’s mouth-watering cuisines; unique art collections and the nation’s fashion revolution, while serving as a massive platform for the unveiling of the future of Nollywood, the best of Nigerian music as well as the exploits of the nation’s stand-up comedians.

According to the author, the 400-page book contains the various investment opportunities in the country, list of solid minerals deposits in Nigeria, what the federal government is doing to encourage investors, top fun/adventure/exotic sites in Lagos and Abuja as well as tourist sites and festivals in all the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The author noted that although the book is meant to tell the story of Nigeria to the rest of the world, it serves as evidence to Nigerians themselves that their country has many good things for which they should be proud of.

“It was a deliberate decision to deploy simple and plain English language in trying to present the accurate narrative about Nigeria and to project the nation to rest of the world, making use of mainly pictorials with classical aesthetics and perfect finishing in an attempt to ensure that anyone who picks the book will enjoy pleasure reading, and end it all, cover to cover, within one hour.”

“We have in the book, list of Nigerians, wherever they may live in the world, who have impacted, or are impacting positively on humanity in science, medicine, literature, sports, music, the art, among other fields, the nation’s heroes and successful business leaders and those whose public service records are loud and visible,” he said.

The book serves as a tourist guide, as it contains the addresses and contact details of Embassies and High Commissions in the country, where and how to obtain Nigerian Visa, the process of business registration, the various tax regimes and how to pay tax in Nigeria, as well as other strategic regulatory agencies dealing with foreigners including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), amongst others.”

Melah said the book is not meant to be sold but would serve as national souvenir to visiting presidents and diplomats, tourists, students, foreign investors and any other person coming into the country adding that he is working with institutions, corporate organisations and some concerned Nigerians to make the book available to all relevant publics of the project.

“We are working to distribute 20,000 copies of the book, free of charge at its first public presentation as a side event to the 2016 Independence Day Anniversary in October.

Subsequently, we hope to distribute a total of 100,000 copies of the book by the end of this year and a target of 1million copies in the next five years,” Melah said.

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TIWA SAVAGE REDEEMS SELF ON SOPHOMORE ALBUM Oris Aigbokhaevbolo

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ust when it seemed her first two singles—”Kele Kele Love” and “Love Me 3x”—exist only to prove that Tiwa Savage once had it, her new album R.E.D forces a reconsideration. Early Verdict: She still has it. As this is only the lady’s second album we can’t quite call it a comeback.

Because Ms Savage’s personal life has been much discussed on blogs and in tabloids, her audience knows that in the time between albums she got married, gave birth, and got over the disappointment of her debut album Once Upon a Time (2013). So if her reemergence on R.E.D is a comeback it is merely a comeback from the maternity ward.

Good news is she has returned the way she went in. On R.E.D, Tiwa is sassy, sophisticated but brash, narcissistic and horny—all qualities she showed way back when. (Which, for the moralist portion of her audience, means bad news.) The years have been kind to the lady’s body given that she could still wind up the Nigerian internet when she appeared in a clingy flesh-coloured outfit in the video for “Wanted” two years ago.

The years have been even kinder to her voice, that breathy instrument that always sounded made for the bedroom and nowhere respectable. Now less airy, that voice wraps the listener’s ear, propelling you to dance or make love. Or make lust—since Tiwa Savage is perhaps the most adult of our love-song singers in her readiness (impatience even) to admit the sexual component of romance. Not for Ms Savage the hypocrisy that is Nigeria’s emblem in sexual matters.

For example, she had a song, “Written all over your Face”, about oral sex on Once Upon a Time. A thematically similar song is on R.E.D. She went about the topic solo on “Written all over Your Face”. And maybe that was seen as masturbatory because for R.E.D, there is the song “Go Down” where she has company: label-mate Reekado Banks. “Go down,” she implores, as she exchanges lines

with Reekado. “I like it when you go down.”

Unfortunately, her companion can’t muster the conviction needed on such a song.

Reekado, youngster that he is, may know something about such a presumably adult activity but pop music is about conveying it, even when this means faking it honestly.

Reekado’s unwanted talent is to make the listener think he may be too squeamish to be on the song. Like a certain kind of Nigerian male, he forgoes foreplay for actual intercourse.

2baba (formerly known as 2face) is more successful as a featured artist on “Love me Hard”. He produces a great verse over the song’s reggae beat, reworking a famous line from his own sophomore album Grass to Grace. “We go carry dey go, carry dey go,” he sings. “I will love you like you never been loved before o. Because…, “As you see me so, Tiwa. As you see me so, Tiwa I too send you o” (Translates roughly to: “Tiwa I care a lot for you.”)

If 2face has seemed past it on his recent solo projects, he is the opposite on cameos.

He almost single-handedly salvages the noisy repetitiveness of DJ Xclusive’s “Jam It”; and one of the better songs from Wande Coal’s Wanted was the 2face duet “Make You Mine”.

With the delightful “Bang, Bang”, “Kolobi”, and the pre-released “My Darling”, Tiwa hardly needs help. But she gets some from the album’s major producer Don Jazzy, the aforementioned 2baba, Iceberg Slim, Olamide among others, most delivering well.

Even the regularly derided D’Prince gives a good account of himself on “Before Nko”, in which Tiwa, backed by an updated afrobeat production, boasts that a man would need burantashi (a local aphrodisiac) to match her in bed. Taking his “Oga Titus” and the verse here, D’Prince has spent the last few singles cleaning up his songwriting and how it shows.

The unevenness of Ms. Savage’s own songwriting is the one sore spot on R.E.D. Lyrically, she depends a tad too much on how her body gets attention from the boys. Little

of the sharp writing that made us listen to those first two singles remains.

At the time she could rescue a line like “You think because I’m pretty I’m dumb, dumb” from cliché just by repeating that terminal adjective twice.

We aren’t so lucky this time. “You and your boys dey look my body, e dey do me totori,” (You and your boys are ogling, making me tickle) she says on “Rewind”. The line sounds like a Yemi Alade throwaway.

“Why you dey look my bobbi,” (why are you looking at my breasts) she sings on “We Don’t Give a Damn”. The nadir is “Birthday”, where she raps, carrying her Beyonce fascination too far: “He said my body sweet like lemonade.”

Er…What?

Savage (Her colleague Seyi Shay is more successful in the ‘Yonce-imitation contest. She mimics Bey reasonably well on the song “Mary” from her Seyi or Shay album. Also, Seyi or Shay featured Cynthia Morgan but there is not a single female artist on R.E.D. Tiwa doesn’t believe in keeping rivals close. Or maybe she just likes to play with only boys.) When Tiwa sings about “nothing to watch if I’m not on TV” on “Birthday”, it is clear that she will make voyeurs of us all. In one key way she’s right. As a pop star given to an array of carnal tics on television, Tiwa Savage has always been one to watch, right from those pre-verse, perverse moans on “Kele Kele Love” to the risqué video for “Love me 3x”, and then

the infamous “Wanted” video. By now we know her act. Still we watch. This time, thankfully, Ms. Savage has produced an album deserving of the attention she craves.

One way narcissistic performers do what they do is to act like no one is watching. But Tiwa is a true exhibitionist: she hands out invitation cards. Ms. Savage may be making love to another, but she has her eyes on us the whole time.

-Aigbokhaevbolo, Entertainment Journalist of theYear at the 2015 All Africa Music Awards, is West African editor at Musicinafrica.net

THE EVOLUTION OF AFROBEAT: THE GREAT 80’S

Zainab Omaki

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orn from a fusion of Jazz, highlife, funk, and traditional Nigerian music, the Afrobeat genre burst onto the Nigerian music scene in the 1960’s, changing it forever. Created by legendary performer Fela Ransome- Kuti- one of the greatest musicians in Nigerian history, Afrobeat quickly made waves spreading across the world with its killer sound and vibe, influencing generations that would come after.

Afrobeat was distinct from other genres.

It combined high-energy, electric, groovy music with political undertones creating a mass appeal that had people thumping and chanting in the streets.

Hypnotic, mystical and untamable, the Afrobeat pioneer Fela used it to propel messages of social change, African identity and revolution.

“With music I create change… I am using my music as a weapon,” he once said.

Fela was undeniably addictive in personality and unmatchable in music. He created such memorable hits as “Yeye De Smell”, “Gentleman” “Lady” and “Zombie”, while still having the free time to perform such legendary personal acts as forming the Political Party Movement of the People (MOP) and running for president twice, and infamously marrying 28 women in a single ceremony and eventually divorcing them all.

He affected dozens of musicians both

Fela during his lifetime and after. Paul McCartney who travelled to Lagos in the 70s to see him perform, hailed him and his band “The best band he had ever seen alive.”

Virtually every Nigerian artiste from a range of generations, including Tuface and Wizkid, have been influenced by him in some way.

But Fela was not alone. The eighties saw a height of Highlife music; a jazzy combination of western instruments and African expressions. Beginning in different parts of West Africa like Ghana, Sierra Leone and Nigeria in the 1920’s, Highlife combined instruments like the African drums, harmonicas, guitars, trumpets and accordions to produce sound that delighted people for decades. Records

like High Life by Sonny Okosun, Yellow Sisi

by Dr. Orlando, Sweet Mother by Prince Nico Mbarga, Gowon Special by Jim Rex Lawson changed the landscape of music, making it that much sweeter.

Much celebrated and immeasurably talented Highlife Singer Victor Olaiya, and his band the Cool Cats, later renamed the All Stars Band, actually hold a place in history, performing for Queen Elizabeth the Second during her visit to Nigeria and during the Independence and Republic celebrations in the 60’s. A renowned trumpeter, Dr. Olaiya is still active today, collaborating with Tuface in as late as 2013 for the song “Baby Mi Da”.

One of the most influential musicians of our time and Master of Juju music, King Sunny

Ade also has roots in Highlife, tutored by Moses Olaiya, more popularly known as comedic genius Baba Sala at the beginning of his career. He evolved, becoming one of the greatest proponents of Juju music in history. In fact, the release of his album Juju Music to overwhelming critical acclaim, cemented him as a critical music icon of our time. The New York Times credits him with beginning the “world beat movement” in the United States. The first African to be nominated for two Grammys and a pioneer in sound and technique, he continues to inspire a new wave of musicians such as Lagbaja.

And who can forget Michael Jackson?

The undisputed King of Pop, undoubtedly one of the best performers of all time, the eighties were an integral period in Michael Jackson’s career. He created some of his most beloved songs “Thriller”, “Billy Jean”, “Bad”, “Beat it”, “Smooth Criminal”... The list is seemingly endless.

Even after his death, he’s remembered as the one of the most beloved musicians and innovators in his music, fashion and dance moves. Everyone knows the moon walk.

All this great music was pushed on the then revolutionary new technology, the compact disc- CD’s. Created in a joint effort between tech giants Sony and Phillips, it became the primary method of distributing music for the next thirty years. In that time over 200 billion CD’s have been sold.

But all this was just the beginning. If the eighties brought revolution, the nineties brought magic.

- Omaki writes from Lagos

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER • AUGUST 7, 2016

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CICERO

Editor Vincent Obia Email vincent.obia@thisdaylive.com, SMS: 08054681757

IN THE ARENA

The Troubling Abuse of Children and Minors Government at all levels should set up appropriate institutions and strategies to address the rising incidence of cruelty towards children and minors by parents and guardians. Vincent Obia writes

T

wo news stories of child abuse featured prominently in the last three weeks. Both were particularly heart-wrenching. The first told of a nine-year-old boy who was chained and starved for one month at a church by his pastor-father. Korede Taiwo was accused of stealing, and he was said to have been chained to exorcise the spirit of stealing from him. He was rescued at Ajibawo village in Atan-Ota, Ado-Odo Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State by men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps. The police later arrested the “pastor”, who had bolted as soon as the story of his brutish conduct became public knowledge.

In another report, barely a week later, a 10-year-old girl, Promise Udeh, was chained by her auntie in Adigbe area of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital for, allegedly, stealing N4, 000. The girl was said to have been chained and kept in an uncompleted building before she was rescued by the police after a tipoff by residents of the area.

Reports like these have become increasingly prevalent. On each occasion, there is usually a kind of curious silence and indifference by neighbours, who should know about the evil. This aggravates the cruelty. And leaves everyone wondering what has happened to the traditional communal spirit of seeing the guidance of children as the responsibility of the entire community – and not just of their parents. That the perpetrators of the wickedness are parents or guardians, like in the above cases, makes the situation all the more serious.

It is commendable that in the recent cases of mistreatment of children, the security agencies intervened to save the victims. It is also laudable that the relevant authorities moved in to bring the victims to shelter and sustenance.

Taiwo, who was seriously malnourished at the time of his rescue, was adopted by the Ogun State government. The government undertook to take care of the boy’s welfare. Udeh, too, was, reportedly, taken in by the Stella Obasanjo Motherless Home in Abeokuta. Beyond that, however, more effective legal and institutional processes need to be put in place to safeguard children and minors against ill-treatment.

The Child’s Rights Act 2003, passed by the National Assembly in July 2003 and assented to by the then president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, in September 2003, contains a generous amount of provisions aimed at preventing the abuse of children. The Act is a follow-up to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which the United Nations General Assembly adopted on November 20, 1989, and the African Union Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, which the AU Assembly of Heads of States and Governments adopted in July 1990. Nigeria has signed both instruments, and it ratified them in 1991 and 2000, respectively.

The two international instruments contain a universal set of standards and principles

P O L I T I CA L N OT E S

ezeibe.aguwa@thisdaylive.com 08093842953

for the survival, development, protection and participation of children in socio-economic activities.

The Child’s Rights Act basically provides, among others, “Every child is entitled to respect for the dignity of his person, and accordingly, no child shall be— subjected to physical, mental or emotional injury, abuse, neglect or maltreatment, including sexual abuse; or subjected to torture, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; or subjected to attacks upon his honour or reputation; or held in slavery or servitude, while in the care of a parent, legal guardian or school authority or any other person or authority having the care of the child.”

There are effective sanctions against the above violations. Those who perpetrated the latest brutalities against children should be made to face the full weight of the law, at least to serve as a deterrent to others.

But many states have not domesticated the Child’s Rights Act by signing it into state laws – though Ogun State is not one of them.

Chief Legal Officer of National Human Rights Commission in Plateau State, Mr Kiyenpiya Mahuyai, stated in January that 12 states were yet to domesticate the Act. They are Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Enugu, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara.

There is need for all the 36 states to rise above every cultural and religious inhibition to

enact the Child’s Rights Act into their respective state laws. This would make for common purpose and coordinated strategy on the safeguard of the rights of children and minors.

Further than the Child’s Rights Act, however, there should be a more forceful system of public enlightenment to educate both victims and observers of child abuse on what they can do in such situation. This would require regular radio and television jingles as well as enlightenment programmes in newspapers and the new media.

More institutions dedicated to safeguarding the rights of children also need to be established close to the people. The federal and state governments should mandate schools to establish family desks, where children suffering abuses can relate their experiences in a more welcoming atmosphere before the cases are taken up more formally by higher authorities.

Research shows that most domestic cruelties, like mistreatment of children and minors, are not reported because many of those who fall victim or notice such ills are ignorant of what to do.

A recent public opinion poll on domestic violence conducted by NOIPolls, in partnership with Project Alert, also proves this.

There should be a deliberate attempt by the federal and state governments to make laws and institutions on the protection of minors accessible to the public.

The Brilliant Feat of Scholarship by Ex-agitators

T

Gen. Paul Boroh (rtd), Amnesty Coordinator

he brilliant performance by some ex-agitators from the Niger Delta who graduated recently from British universities is an eloquent testimony to the great potential of the country’s youth. It also bears testimony to the huge possibilities in peace and development open to Nigeria if its leaders can engage in sincere efforts to reclaim young people from pursuits incentivised – consciously unconsciously – by idleness and insensitivity on the part of the state.

Nicholas Goodness and Terubein Fawei graduated from

the University of Bedfordshire with First Class Honours in public relations, and telecommunications and networking engineering, respectively. And Lucky Azibanagein graduated, also with First Class Honours, in mechanical engineering and robotics from the University of Liverpool. Eighteen others graduated with Second Class Honours, Upper Division in various disciplines.

The graduates, who had turned their backs on armed struggle and embraced an amnesty offer by the federal government, were sponsored under the latter’s Niger Delta Amnesty programme.

– Vincent Obia

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Grazing Reserves: Kaduna Makes Pleasant U-turn Following opposition to its initial plan to create grazing reserves for cattle herders, the Kaduna State government has decided to go for the establishment of ranches, which appears to be more popular and profitable. John Shiklam, in Kaduna, writes

T

he decision by the Kaduna State government to establish cattle ranches instead of grazing reserves seems to have calmed down apprehensions hitherto expressed by people in the southern part of the state, who were resolutely opposed to the idea of reserves. The southern Kaduna people, under the umbrella of Southern Kaduna People’s Union (SOKAPU), were among groups that expressed resentment to the creation of grazing reserves.

Change

However, the Kaduna State government has now chosen to go for ranches instead of grazing reserves.

The issue of grazing reserves also generated a lot of controversy across the country when the federal government tended to push the idea as a solution to the bloody clashes between Fulani herdsmen and farmers.

Kaduna State Commissioner for Agriculture and Forestry, Dr. Manzo Daniel Maigari, told THISDAY by telephone that the state government had since abandoned the idea of grazing reserve because it is no longer sustainable. He said, “In Kaduna State we are not really looking at grazing reserve because that is no more sustainable. We are looking at upgrading the grazing reserves to ranches, where investors can come and establish ranches.”

Maigari noted that nomadic pastoralism was no longer sustainable, stressing that the times have changed and there is need to move with the times by adopting new ways of doing things. “If the times have changed, we have to adopt and move ahead with the time.”

He explained that even when the Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, said the federal government “want to do grazing reserve, the whole idea is to settle the Fulani in one place so that there will be no conflicts between them and farmers.”

The commissioner said no government would be happy to see conflicts among its citizens, pointing out that the whole idea behind the grazing reserve is to find solution to the problems between herdsmen and farmers.

“You should expect that a government should have the courage to stop these conflicts between herdsmen and farmers. If you settle herdsmen in ranches they don’t have to go to people’s farms and spoil the farms. So it is the solution that government is looking for,” he said.

Enough Land

Maigari said virtually every state in northern Nigeria had grazing reserves, and Kaduna State had 17 grazing reserves with a total area of 172,000 hectares. To him, the state government has enough to land to do whatever it wants to do and will not forcefully take land belonging to any community.

“Whatever we want to do, we will just pick land from there. Whatever needs to be done will be done in those existing grazing reserves, nobody is going to lose any land.”

One of the biggest reserves in Kaduna State is the Ladugga reserve located in Kachia Local Government Area, founded in 1944.

Maigari said, “We have two functional reserves in southern Kaduna – Kagarko and Kachia. There are Fulani who settled there. We have more than 50,000 settled Fulani there. We have sufficient land and we have Fulani settled in four of them. The remaining are there, even though there is no substantial number of Fulani there, we will not take anybody’s land.”

He, however, warned, “If anybody wakes up and wants to stop government from using land that is statutory government land, you know what that means.

This is land has been gazetted by law.”

Already, the state government has set up machinery for establishment of the ranches. Just recently, Maigari launched the distribution of Tinapiar grass in the Laduga grazing reserve. The Napier grass seedling, according to him, “is the most promising and high yielding grass fodder which is also very nutritious. It has shown, as demonstrated, an increase in milk production from one litre to 3.5 litres, that is even using the old system.”

He explained that the government was looking at a system whereby all lactating cows would not go out to graze but would be kept in one place to conserve their energies and channel them to milk production. According to him, if cows are kept in one place, “they will end up producing up to five to six litres of milk per day.”

Napier Grass

The state government says the essence of the Napier seedling is to empower key stakeholders and players in

El-Rufai

Maigari

the rural economy, as the rural economy accounts for 80 per cent of Gross Domestic Product of Kaduna State.

Agriculture is generally seen as the key driver of the Kaduna State economy, with smallholders as dominant participants in the sector. Maigari said the Laduga grazing reserve was the key engine room of the economy of Kaduna State and it cannot be ignored, stressing that the state government is committed towards empowering the Laduga community. He disclosed that the state will soon start fuel livestock development centres and turn them into models, adding, “Once we expose them to animal husbandry we’ll encourage investors to come and work with them. We started with the overall view of improving feed. We heard about the Napier grass, which improved livestock in Kenya, we went and brought it and today we have officially launched it in Laduga where it will be extended to other states.”

factories for ginger, we want loan facilities to encourage the production of ginger, honey and other agricultural products.”

The SOKAPU president wondered why government should be promoting the private business of herdsmen above others. “These are private ventures. When you go to other places, you don’t see cattle all over the place.

Pastoralism is a private business, why will the government be interested in promoting it?”

Preventive Measure

National president of SOKAPU, Mr. Solomon Musa, said there was opposition to the idea of grazing reserves because of the havoc the Fulani herdsmen had caused.

He said the southern Kaduna people were not opposed to agricultural development, noting that agriculture development should be a product of the yearnings of the people. According to Musa, who is also a lawyer, the people were not carried along in the proposal for grazing reserves for herdsmen.

He said, “Our position is simple in southern Kaduna.

We have what they called Laduga grazing reserve in Kachia local government. If for any reason there would be grazing reserve, the minimum standard that we expect is that the communities should be carried along. Let the communities be involved. We are not in a military dictatorship, we are in a democracy, there is the need for the people to be carried along.

“We are not entirely saying no to agricultural development, but agriculture development should be a product of the yearnings of the people. We are very much ok with the pronouncements by the state and federal governments that they will not take or compel any community to donate its land for grazing reserves.”

Level Playing Field

Musa said the southern Kaduna people also rear animals like pigs and expressed the hope that they will be given land to start breeding them.

“Our people rear pigs, we are interested in that. The question is, if a southern Kaduna man requires land in Giwa or Zaria local government area to rear pigs, will the government create reserve for him?”

Besides, he said the best ginger in the world was being produced in southern Kaduna and “we want to see

Preventive Measure

Many believe the establishment of ranches and settling of the herdsmen in defined places will reduce the conflict between the cattle tenders and crop farmers. The opposition by most communities to the idea of grazing reserves was informed by the massive attacks and destruction of lives and property by the herdsmen.

The people in the southern part of Kaduna State have been victims of Fulani attacks. Communities have been raided, resulting in the killing of people and destruction of property by armed Fulani herdsmen.

SOKAPU said in a recent statement that between 2011 and 2015, there were over 200 documented attacks on different communities in the area by Fulani herdsmen, with over 4,000 people killed. According to the statement, in most of the affected communities, women and children were brutally murdered in a most barbaric manner. While in some cases they were hacked to death, in others they were burnt alive and or blown up with explosives, the group stated. “They killed or dismembered some and threw them into wells! And the same people suspected of carrying out these genocide that has nothing to do with grass for cows, are the ones being given the government’s approval to sit on annexed land within communities that are completely agrarian,” SOKAPU protested.

“We expected the government to have carried out wide consultations and sampled opinions of the people of southern Kaduna. But from our senator, members of the House of Representatives, Assembly members, SOKAPU, our royal fathers, down to tribal unions, none was consulted on the issue of grazing reserves.“ The group added, “Our people survive on tilling our lands, and the herdsmen on their herds. How will it feel to take herds and give to farmers, if the farmers were the ones maiming the herdsmen?

“If the siting of the grazing reserves is mutually tied to investment potentials and other developmental incentives to our people, we are constrained to oppose it if the cost also includes human lives. This is because of the mutual suspicion that currently exists between our people and the herdsmen.”

The protest might have informed the decision of the state government to turn to ranching.

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Dogara

Oyegun

Jubrin

As APC Wades into Budget Padding Controversy Onyebuchi Ezigbo and Damilola Oyedele write on the efforts of the leadership of the All Progressives Congress to halt the raging controversy over budget padding in the APC -controlled House of Representatives

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he leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) last week intervened in the raging conflict between its members in the House of Representatives over the budget padding scandal, but the move to reconcile the key actors - the Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon. Yakubu Dogara and former Chairman of the Appropriation Committee Abdulmumuni Jibrin – has not yielded positive results. The party had summoned the two key actors in the ongoing crisis to appear before it and brief the panel it set up to resolve the matter in-house. But after hours of separate meetings with the duo, the party said it was yet to resolve the issues. Both sides have continued with their diatribes despite the party’s intervention, an indication the crisis is far from being over. Although the party tried to extract a commitment from the warring parties that they would refrain from further excalating the conflict through media exchanges, it remains to be seen how they have complied with that order.

Before the meeting with Jibrin, the party first met with the Speaker in his residence where they discussed extensively on the conflict between him and Hon. Jibrin.

The party also explored possible compromise as way of stemming the crisis in the lower legislative chamber.

Speaking shortly after meeting with Jibrin which lasted about three hours, the Deputy National Chairman (North), Senator Lawan Shuaibu, said that all the party wanted to know was really what went wrong and that the panel tried to see how it could handle the situation.

Lawan said that contrary to insinuations that the party was summoning Jibrin to discipline him, there was no basis for such. He added that APC believes that immunity covers whatever happens in the House of Representatives or the Senate.

Explaining further, he said: “We are discussing with them and it is an ongoing consultation, we are not done with them, we sat with the speaker, we just finished sitting with him and we would continue to sit with him.

“I want to say that what we discussed, honestly speaking, was to get a better brief on what is happening because we have to be carried along. They are our members, we should know from them directly what is really going on so that we can see how we can handle the situation without necessarily making it a town square dance. In respect of what is going on in the House of Representatives which you people know more than all of us but I asked him to come and brief the party, honestly speaking we never thought it would be covered by the media.

“I that summoned him, the national secretary of the party and the national vice chairman of his zone sat down to discuss, there is nothing like passing any Judgment on any member of the party, we only play

our role as the umpire in this matter to see how we can create some atmosphere of peace and unity among our members. But when certain things go wrong of course, the party needs to call it’s members to know how best to unite any feuding member and that is exactly what we did.

“What we did actually was that we heard from him. We have heard earlier from the speaker but because it was not in the newspapers, like you just went and published nobody knew we held a meeting with the speaker.”

On his part, Jibrin who was apparently not at ease with the party’s embargo on him not to make public statements on the issue, managed to utter a few words to journalists. He said the meeting with the APC panel was centered on the budget padding crisis that has pitted him against the Speaker and the leadership of the House of Representatives.

“I’m here on the invitation of our party, the APC. We discussed extensively on the crisis in the House of Representatives. We will continue to discuss and engage ourselves, I will continue to honour the invitation of our party and I am sure that whatever it is we decide you will know in due course,” he said.

The lawmaker who was decked in a white brocade with cap to match, entered the party secretariat in company of a team of lawyers and aides at about 2: 05 PM in a Black Land Cruiser with registration number BWA 768 AM, and headed to the office of the Deputy National Chairman, Sen Lawal Shuaibu, where he was received by the NWC led by the party’s National Secretary, Mai Mala Buni, National Treasurer, Bala Muhammed Gwagwarwa, and National Vice Chair, Inuwa Abdulkadir.

The APC leadership under the National Chairman, Chief John Oyegun, had come under heavy criticism for its lukewarm attitude towards the unfolding developments in the National Assembly, especially the prosecution of the Senate leadership for forgery and now the face-off over allegations of budget padding in the House of Representatives. Among the critics is the Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Timi Frank, who blamed the party leadership for its silence, which according to him, has enabled the conflict to fester.

“Yes I commend them for this but I feel it’s already too late. This is what they ought to have done before the whole issue. Why I said this has become too late is that, it is very clear that this is like medicine after death and it is sad we allowed it to get to this level. This still boils down to my earlier statement about the incompetency of our party leadership. …

“Whether we like it or not as a party, what is happening to Honourable Dogara, the Speaker of the House of Representatives is not just embarrassing to him as the number four man in Nigeria but embarrassing to the APC leadership and Nigerians at large who have confidence in our party.

“At this point in time, I want to use this opportunity to advise my party leadership, we must not let this type of mistake to repeat itself again, we must be prompt to respond to issues before they get to the public.”

But Shuaibu, the man who along with the other members of the NWC have been saddled with the task of negotiating a peaceful settlement, has promised that everything possible would be done to stop the matter from escalating. He explained that the panel had only conducted preliminary findings on the conflict areas, adding that the next stage of engagement will be to bring the warring parties to meet face-to-face on a round table discussion that will smoothen the rough edges and possibly laid the matter to rest.

The Controversy

The House has been embroiled in crises following the removal of Abdulmumini by Speaker Dogara, over mismanagement of the 2016 budget passing process.

Abdulmumini, employing a scorched earth policy after his ouster, accused Dogara, Deputy Speaker Yussuff Sulaimon Lasun, Chief Whip Alhassan Ado Doguwa and Minority Leader Leo Ogor of allocating N40 billion to themselves out of the N100 billion appropriated for the National Assembly, and making “senseless’ insertions into the 2016 budget”.

He also petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the Nigeria Police, demanding the arrest and prosecution of the speaker, three principal officers, and 11 committee chairmen for corruption and abuse of office.

The 11 chairmen listed in the petition are Chairman, Committee on Federal Capital Territory, Hon. Herma Hembe, Chairman, Committee on Basic Education, Hon. Zakari Mohammed, Chairman, Committee on Health Services, Hon. Chike Okafor, Chairman Committee on Power, Hon. Dan Asuquo, Chairman, Committee on Interior, Hon. Jagaba Adams Jagaba, Chairman, Committee on Police Affairs, Hon. Haliru Jika, Chairman, Committee on House Services, Hon. Babanle Ila and Chairman, Committee on Public Petitions, Hon. Uzoma Nkem Abonta.

Before the fallout, Abdulmumuni and Dogara were allies, with the former contributing to the emergence of the latter as Speaker of the House. Infact, Abdulmumuni was the spokesperson for the Consolidation group, backers of Dogara during the tussle for the distribution of principal officers positions. It was therefore not a surprise that he was appointed Chairman of the most coveted committee, Appropriation.

Resignation not an option for Dogara

Last week, there were reports in the media on the undercurrents in the House over the budget padding

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Esele: Our Priority is to See APC Win Edo Guber Poll Former President-General ofTrade Union Congress, Mr. Peter Esele, who was a governorship aspirant on the platform oftheAllProgressivesCongressinEdoState,inthismediainterview,spokeonhisexperienceinpoliticsandmadecase for the emergence of the party’s candidate, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, as winner of the upcoming gubernatorial election.

Y

ou were among those who vied for the All Progressives Congress, APC, ticket ahead of the forthcoming governorship election in Edo State. Can you relate your experience against the backdrop of the mixed feelings that trailed the exercise?

The exercise tells much about how our democratic system works and how it is structured. At the end of the day, the fact that I accepted and congratulated the winner does not mean that I don’t feel that there were some infractions during the primary election. The way I am wired is that I have to look at the big picture and it means that the party structure is bigger than individuals.

No matter how I feel about it, I prefer an APC governor than someone from the other party. The education I have gotten in this process cannot be quantified financially. I know the country faces a lot of challenges politically but I did not know they were that deep. I am talking about our structure and value system. I also found out that sometimes being intelligent is a crime. I have heard some comments about people saying ‘I am fantastic and good’ but that they can’t guarantee my loyalty. At the end, what gives me joy is that I was not running for the sake of it. I did that for the state because I have a blueprint for Edo based on my vision. I looked at 20 years from now and the challenges that will manifest and how the state will be able to take on the challenges.

My blueprint was on how to navigate through that in various areas like agriculture, education, IGR, among others. All these were the reasons I wanted to govern Edo. I really had a wonderful experience.

Were there specific lessons you learnt from the exercise that you think do not conform to the general principles of party primaries?

We didn’t have access to the delegates. Having access to talk to them was cumbersome; it was not easy. A lot of money was involved in the process and every aspirant is guilty of that. Some of us were smart enough not to throw in so much money in that process. The bottom line is for one to ask why so much money was being spent. If someone spends so much to become a governor, why would you complain if he is taking your money when elected? In the process of the campaign, delegates were pressured; I met delegates and had to negotiate with those

Esele at the top to make it easier for you to talk to the delegates.

When you finish with the delegates, they will tell you they have been told who to talk to and not to talk to. I don’t think that was democratic enough. We also have people who, at the end of the day, were pressured. One of the things I learned from where I am coming from is that no system is perfect. In a previous interview, I said that if I emerged, I will do a thanksgiving and if I didn’t emerge, I will still do same. I know Edo better now and their challenges. Going to over 190 wards across the state provided more knowledge about my state. One of the reasons I joined the APC is that I want to add value to the party. My wish is that Obaseki becomes the next governor of the state.

What informed this wish of seeing Obaseki become the next governor?

The most important thing is that we have listened to our flag bearer. We want to see our party succeed. The party is bigger than individuals.

Just like my training in the labour movement, the way I am wired is that we can slug it out, we can debate, we can argue, but, at the end of the day, we must not lose sight of the fact that we need the platform, the APC.I think it is

something we have to address, but my appeal to most of our people is: Politics is not a race. So, the fact that you did not get what you wanted today does not mean you won’t get it tomorrow.

What I have always said is that when you see a society where people are preoccupied with primordial sentiments, such as ‘it is our turn,’ it means there is no equity in development. If there is equity, you won’t hear people saying that.

So, those who are complaining in Edo Central have the right to do so. Their complaint is justified. So, it is now left for the party leadership to look at these complaints objectively and see how to assuage their feelings. For me, I think that is important. The attitude of politicians, who think of their interests and not how to put food on the table of the people, is dangerous for Edo and Nigeria in general. A society where politicians reduce governance to individual interest will sooner or later fall apart. I think the challenge right now is for people to look beyond that narrow angle. It is also up to the party to assuage the feelings of the people of Edo Central.

Sincerely speaking, I have always looked at things from a broader perspective. But I find out that in politics, it is a different ballgame.

There is a feeling that the failure to pick the deputy governorship candidate from Edo North where you come from does not reflect equity and such may work against the APC at the polls. What do you think about that?

The people of Edo Central are not comfortable.

I think it is something we also have to look at.

But my appeal to most of them is: Politics is not a race, politics is a marathon. So, the fact that you did not get what you want today does not mean you won’t get it tomorrow.

What I have always said is that; when you see a society where people are talking about ‘it has to be my turn’ or ‘it has to be our turn’, what you will need to also look at is that there is no equity in the development. If there is equity in the development, you won’t hear people saying ‘it is my turn’ or ‘our turn’. So, for those who are complaining in Edo Central, they have the right to complain. So, it is now left for the party leadership to look at these complaints objectively and see how to assuage their feelings. I think that is important. What I will also tell them is; it is not a matter of individuals’ position. You know, most times, when we talk about these things, even if Peter Esele is deputy governor today, the first thing is that Peter Esele is from Edo Central. If I

was governor today, one thing is clear: How do we ensure that he brings development, employment? I think that should be the focal point. I have always grown to look at things from that perspective. How do you put food on our table?

Since I started this journey into politics, I found out that it mainly doesn’t put food on our table.

And that is very dangerous for Edo and also dangerous for our country, because a situation whereby we have now reduced governance to an individual aspect of it, where everybody now thinks only of ‘my own’, and not ‘our own’, it is a matter of fact that society will fall apart. I think that is the challenge right now; that people should look beyond that narrow angle. And it is also for the party to assuage the feelings of the Central.

What do you think your party should do to assuage the feelings of those in the Central?

I have always looked at things from a broader perspective but I find out that, in politics, it is a different ball game. What I have learned in all of these things, and my years of experience of leading people is that, if they tell you anything, you can be sure eight over 10 will be right. But, in my political journey, I found out that if they tell you something, you will be lucky if two is right out of the 10.

And they are so proud of it. And that is the danger because that is a signal you are sending to the young ones. That yes we play politics and it is acceptable to lie. It is acceptable to manipulate.

It is acceptable to do whatever you want as long as you get what you want. To me, that is wrong.

So, Edo Central has a case because what we have is a tripod. We have Edo South, we have Edo North and we have the Central. One of the legs of the tripod is gone and then what are you now using to assuage the feelings before September 10, 2016? That is why I need to come in.

As an individual, what I try to do is to let the people see a broader aspect of it. And I am also going to sit down with our flag bearer. I will also let him have my view and what I think we should do because the campaign in the Central right now is that the APC really doesn’t care about them. But, that may not be entirely correct.

We need to do something that will make sure the people don’t feel that way. So, it is now left for us in the APC to go ahead and convince them on the direction they want to take people from the Central to.

• As APC Wades into Budget Padding Controversy • Continued from Pg. 72 scandal. There were even reports of alleged moves to effect leadership change or to force the speaker to resign. But Speaker Dogara has ruled out the possibility of resigning over the scandal. In a chat with State House correspondent on Friday, the speaker said padding was not an offence under the Nigerian law, and as such he had not breached any known law.

He said he had not heard the word ‘padding’ until now, even though he studied law and had been in the legislature for some time.

Divergent views on way forward

As the controversy continues to rage, there are however divergent opinion on the way forward.

The Nigeria Labour Congress, in a statement by its National President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, sums the feelings of many Nigerians that developmental projects are not need based, but prioritised on the basis of ‘who is who’ in the political arena.

It however cautioned against using the crises to settle political scores, a move it noted could weaken the National Assembly.

“It also reveals the imperfections and the distrust in project identification/ implementation system and consequent failure of the present model of capital budgeting without a development plan framework.”

“The on-going controversy over the padding of the 2016 budget is an incontrovertible evidence of the inherent weaknesses in our budgeting process and accordingly underscores the need for a thorough revisit.”

Sebastian Hon, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, called for a thorough investigation which he however cautioned should be unbiased and un-political so as not to be regarded as a product of scheming from fifth columnists to change the leadership of the National Assembly.

The Abuja based lawyer emphasised that budget proposals or estimates submitted to the National Assembly by the Executive, do not have to be taken hook, line and sinker, else there would be no purpose for having a legislature.

“The National Assembly is there to vet what the Executive has brought and to make inputs. So if those inputs are made, I do not at this stage see any criminality in the allegations being made by him,” he said.

Hon added that all the issues raised by Abdulmumini are in the realm of allegations, and proving them are a completely different ball game.

“I will quickly add that even I do not know the facts so well, but looking at them on the surface, I have to say he is just trying to raise a red herring, unnecessarily, because he lost out.

Considering the moral aspect of his

outing, he has been part of the so-called budget padding and he did not cry wolf until he was removed from office, it means he is not someone who should be trusted. This also goes to his credibility even on those allegations, because he was wining and dining with the Speaker and the leadership of the House and enjoying the perks of office. He did not complain until he was removed. He has cast a big cloud on his credibility and character, so much so that he should not be believed at this stage,” he said.

President of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) Comrade, Marwan Mustapha Adamu, also called for investigations into allegations and counter-allegations raised on both sides, but insists Abdulmumuni has no moral standing to point fingers at his colleagues and accuse them of ‘senseless’ budget padding, when he did exactly the same thing.

“He claims others inserted into the budget, then he should explain how the Kano film village entered into the budget.

The fact that the project has entered controversy means he did not even consult with the constituency first, means he simply used his power, ‘senselessly’ as Chairman of Appropriation, to insert what he wanted into the budget.”

Civil Rights activities and social media commentator, Kayode Ogundamisi, on his twitter handle said the embattled lawmakers serves a purpose, even if he is

a hypocrite.

“Even hypocrite @AbdulAbmJ serves a positive purpose for the people, we must assist him in bringing down his fellow rogues.” Tunde Asaju, Canada-based social commentator and columnist, said it was too early to start to consider the legal implications of the actions of Abdulmumuni, as the drama was still unfurling.

“For one, it is difficult to buy Abdulmumini’s presumptive moral high ground here. We would need more consistency to take this seriously. What is his track record? What happened to turn a boy against his master/hero? Is it ego? Was he losing out before deciding to save face?

Is this pure posturing or Saul’s conversion on the road to Damascus? We need answers to all these questions.”

Asaju called on journalists to resolve the questions and profile Dogara and Abdulmumuni: , who are they? What were their antecedents? How have they voted on issues of public importance?

What is their political pedigree? What’s at stake here?

“With answers to these questions, we’ll know if this is another posturing that could give birth to another Farouk Lawan denouement? No legal implications that I see, not with APC attempting to pull in a gag order. It’s another circus and the audience are laughing at the tragi-comedy that spins daily from one arm of our national embarrassment,” Asaju added.

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Okorocha, Ekweremadu and the Next Battle for Deputy Senate President The recent public spat between the chairman of Progressive Governors Forum and Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, and Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu underscores another round of battle for the latter’s position, which the ruling All Progressives Congress continues to insist should rightly be occupied by one of its own. Christopher Isiguzo, in Enugu, reports

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he recent court-ordered rerun election for Imo North senatorial election opened another vista in the controversy surrounding Senator Ike Ekweremadu’s occupation of the post of deputy senate president, despite coming from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party. Ekweremadu had emerged against the traditional practice of having someone from the dominant party in such position.

The ruling All Progressives Congress has not hidden its opposition to Ekweremadu’s occupation of the position since the inauguration of the eighth Senate last year. APC sees the emergence of Ekweremadu as second in command in the senate where the APC has a majority as an aberration. They has, allegedly, taken different steps to change the composition of the upper chamber’s leadership.

Controversial Statement

So when the chairman of APC’s governors’ forum and Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, said recently that he would ensure that Ekweremadu was removed as deputy senate president and possibly replaced by Hon. Ben Uwajumogu, now senator-elect for Imo North senatorial zone, many opposition elements saw it as part of an orchestrated plot.

Uwajumogu, the former Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, defeated the candidate of the PDP in the rerun and supplementary elections for the zone.

Okorocha’s remarks has been seen as a follow-up to an earlier statement by the APC national chairman, Chief John OdigieOyegun, that APC had nothing against the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, apparently, referring to his on-going trials at the Code of Conduct Tribunal and the Federal High Court, Abuja, but would stop at nothing to ensure that Ekweremadu was removed from office.

Odigie-Oyegun was quoted as saying in the recent interview, “I think the thing that rankled us most was the election of Ekweremadu as deputy senate president. Saraki is a member of the APC, much as the main line of the party would have wished a different result and a different scenario. But we all find it very, very difficult to accept the emergence of a PDP person as his deputy.”

Similarity

Though, Saraki, Ekweremadu and two others were recently arraigned at the Abuja High Court for alleged forgery of the Standing Rules of the Senate, political watchers have given different interpretations to the court action.

But the scenario at the senate also played out in some Assemblies where APC is the minority party. Terkimbi Kyange of the minority APC emerged Speaker of the PDP-dominated Benue State House of Assembly and Peter Azi also of the minority APC became Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly in June 2015 in the legislature dominated by PDP.

Imo Rerun

Okorocha said during the rerun election that Ekweremadu would soon be ousted from office. He also slammed the deputy senate president for allegedly relocating to Imo State during the election.

The APC had no senator from the South-east prior to the imo North rerun election, as the PDP produced all the 13 senators from the zone, while Anambra Central seat is still vacant. The situation had, reportedly, made it impossible for the APC to get any person from the zone to occupy any of the plum positions in the eighth senate.

The Imo State governor, who spoke through his chief press secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, stated that the position of Ekweremadu was threatened, as the APC senator in the waiting from Imo State, Uwajumogu, would take over the seat.

“Senator Ekweremadu had known that such development was not only feasible but inevitable and that was why he fully funded the candidate of the PDP in the re-run senatorial poll in Okigwe zone and also re-located to the state three days to the election date,” Onwuemeodo stated.

He added, “The victory of the APC in the re-run poll for Okigwe senatorial zone is a victory for the whole of South-east APC in particular and the people of the geopolitical zone in general.”

He noted that with the results recorded in the recent re-run election in the affected areas showed the new spirit of APC in the state.

But reacting, Ekweremadu said the Imo State governor was on a wild goose chase. In a statement issued by his special adviser on media, Mr Uche Anichukwu, the deputy senate

Okorocha

Ekweremadu

president said he was not bothered by the emergence of an APC senator from the South-east.

Ekweremadu said contrary to the allegation by Okorocha that he was in Imo State during the rerun poll to influence the result, he was actually in his constituency for his annual Ikeoha Scholarship and Bursary Awards/Adult Literacy Day on the election day, June 23. He said the last time he visited Imo was last year.

Anichukwu stated, “The Senate has a ranking rule, and if Okorocha was not able to secure a principal office, even Deputy Majority Whip for the two House of Representatives members from Imo State, it is left to imagination how he would be able to appoint a Deputy President for the Senate. He is on a wild goose chase.”

He advised the Imo governor and APC leaders in the South-east to “preoccupy themselves with ending the invasions and killings by purported herdsmen, gross marginalisation of Ndigbo in the distribution of opportunities and the blessings of democracy as well as the worrisome trend of inconclusive elections.”

at Ezeagu, Enugu State, on the same day the rerun was taking place, even APC confirmed that in a statement. How then was he seen by Okorocha in Imo state, did he double himself?

Ikeoha Foundation

Ekweremadu also spoke on the matter when over 30 traditional rulers from his Enugu West senatorial zone presented him with the traditional ofor, a symbol of authority. They vowed that no matter the efforts of those seeking his “downfall” he would emerge stronger from his travails.

Ekweremadu spoke at his Ikeoha Foundation Adult Literacy Day and 2015/2016 Scholarship and Bursary award ceremony, his pet project, at Ezeagu Council Headquarters, Aguobu-Owa, where over N40 million was spent on scholarships and bursary to over 400 indigent undergraduates. Two hundred and fifty sewing and grinding machines were also presented to widows at the event.

Addressing his constituents, Ekweremadu said, “I decided to handover N400, 000 to each of the 20 students as scholarships for their education for four years. Ordinarily, it would have been N100, 000 each year but since I am not sure if I will continue as deputy senate president until tomorrow, we have decided to give it out at once to ensure that nothing happens to the education of these young ones.

“Whether they succeed in chasing me out or not, you will continue to go to school. But, I have to assure you that nobody will remove me. It is not by power or by might but by the Grace of God. Our trajectory is from God. Nobody will do us anything.

No matter what is happening, I can assure you that we shall survive them all.”

A former Majority Leader of Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Jonny Obidinma, has also reacted to Okorocha’s remarks.

He dismissed the governor’s comments on Ekweremadu’s alleged relocation to Imo State as laughable.

Obidinma said, “On election days, the police restricts movement within the area an election is taking place; in this case within Imo North senatorial zone, that law is binding on everybody. Is he saying Ekweremadu disobeyed the law? We have also acknowledged that Ekweremadu was at a function

In Ekweremadu’s Defence

Kinsmen and Ekweremadu’s constituents numbering over 3,000, comprising youths, old men, women, traditional rulers and the political class have also risen to the defence of the deputy senate president. They accused the federal government of deliberately attempting to silence the lawmaker and by extension, the opposition PDP. They spoke during a solidarity rally in honour of the deputy senate president at the Enugu West senatorial headquarters, Awgu, Awgu local government.

The people alleged that the on-going trial of Ekweremadu was a “political persecution” and vowed to resist any attempt to oust Ekweremadu from his position.

In a position paper delivered by a prominent traditional ruler from Okpanku in Aninri local government, who is a former director-general of the Nigeria Defence Academy, Prof. Sam Ukpabi, the people said the stakeholders in the senatorial zone had reviewed the state of the nation, especially the “political bitterness, nepotism, hate and crushing economic hardship, with a narrow cabal in the All Progressives Congress,” and resolved to condemn the “politically motivated persecution” of Ekweremadu on trumped up charges of forgery.

They said, “While the current political persecution has not come to us as a surprise, the Attorney-General of the Federation is yet to tell the world how he generated the names of Senators Ekweremadu and Bukola Saraki for trial, when the petitioners, all senators and National Assembly bureaucrats interrogated by the police, and indeed the police report itself did not mention or indict Senator Ekweremadu or Saraki in any way.”

Edochie

A move in defence of Ekweremadu also came from a rather usual quarter. A renowned actor, Pete Edochie, left some words for the APC leaders, especially the party’s governors’ forum, on his Facebook wall.

Edochie stated, “If Ekweremadu’s removal will help stabilise the economy, then, they should do all within their power to remove him. If Ekweremadu’s removal will stop Nigerians from losing their jobs, then, it is a task that must be done. If Ekweremadu’s removal will curtail Fulani herdsmen from killing of helpless Nigerians, then, Ekweremadu should vacate both his office and the senate immediately.

“If Ekweremadu’s removal will stabilise the prices of food and common commodities in the market, then, I am joining them in asking Ekweremadu to vacate the senate. If Ekweremadu’s removal will make Buhari to abandon his 97% and 5% policy, stop Buhari from seeking to turn Nigeria to a fiefdom where the only capable hands are only people from a certain part of the country, then, Ekweremadu’s immediate constituency should recall him from the senate.

“But where the reverse is true, all the APC governors seeking Ekweremadu’s removal should tender their resignation letters and handover notes. God bless us and God bless Nigeria.”

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Banire: It’s Undemocratic for LGs to be Governed by Sole Administrators Dr. Muiz Banire is the National Legal Adviser of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). A former commissioner for transport and later environment in Lagos State, and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Banire spoke with Oladipupo Awojobi on several issues including democracy at the local government level and within the party, performance of APC government 14 months after inauguration, and allegations of corruption against judicial officers. Excerpts

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the chances of your party, the APC in view of the fact that people are criticizing the performances of Governor Adams Oshiomhole in the last eight years?

It is not Comrade Oshiomhole that is contesting, it is Mr. Godwin Obaseki. Obaseki is a product of the party’s primaries. If you look at what Edo State was before now and where it is now, you would see a lot of differences. Actually no government can solve all the problems of the people, otherwise there would be no need for government anymore. So, Oshiomhole believes he has done his bit and he has somebody, who can take it further.

hy did you go out of circulation politically since 2011, when you left as a commissioner in Lagos State?

My profession as a lawyer is a very challenging one and it has pre-occupied me for some time now. Secondly, not much is equally going on in the political arena except that we are all trying to add value to the system and there are so many ways to add value to the system.

For example, we have an organisation called United Action for Change that we have been using to assist the society at large. We believe that we do not need any public office to improve the lot of our people. We have been doing a lot of programmes consistently in Lagos and outside the state.

Most state governors in the country appoint sole administrators to run the local governments and some people are against this. How would you react to this?

The constitution of Nigeria, I think in Section 7, says that all local governments in Nigeria must have democratically elected officials.

This means that anyone that occupies such an office without election is doing so illegally. If you look at the trend now, even in APC states, sole administrators are being appointed to head local governments. Election was recently held into the local governments in Adamawa State, and probably in Sokoto State.

We are encouraging governors of APC states to conduct elections into the local governments. We must be a party and government of the rule of law. If the constitution states that local councils must be run by democratically elected leaders, you must abide by it.

Number two is on of primary elections in the local governments.

For instance, in Lagos State here, they say there would not be primaries before nominations at the local councils. Article 20 (II and III) of the constitution of the APC make it compulsory for primaries to be held even for the positions of councillors. If you fail to do that, it would be a violation of the APC Constitution. Anybody that is aggrieved with the outcome of the primary elections can go to court to challenge the outcome. Once you petition the national body of the party and they fail to come to your aid, you can go to court. There is a provision that enables you to go to court on the constitution. I am even planning to convene a meeting of all the legal advisers of the APC across the states to tell them to start advising their people on the dictates of our constitution. It is also part of our constitution that to be a member of the party, you must have subscribed to the internal democracy of the party. In Article 21.

It is an offense for you to sideline internal democracy in the party.

It is unconstitutional under the platform of the APC to impose candidates on the party without conducting primaries. It is part of the basis of being a member of the APC. If you don’t believe in it, you cannot be our member.

The constitution is explicit on this. We need to be cautious, when we are handling things in the party. I know how many seats we lost in the states houses of assembly, senate and the House of Representatives in the last election due to lack of internal democracy. I always advise them that we should democratise local government elections because someone can rise up one day to challenge all those that have ruled the councils that were not democratically elected and it would be a doom for all of them.

What is wrong in doing primary elections, and I am glad that a lot of APC states are already taking that position. I have personally written a legal opinion on this at the national level, and I believe that all our states would conduct local government elections before the end of the year.

Your government has spent over one year in office and a lot of people are complaining that not much is happening on the economy, and that it is like the APC did not prepare for power. What is your take on this?

I must tell you that we have been putting in our best on the leadership of the country, particularly those in the executive arm of government. I would like to say that what we should concentrate on now is to lay a solid foundation for the country. Not so much could be achieved in four years, so they are laying a solid foundation, which needed to be done otherwise whatever we build on it would crumble. For that to be successful, people should be ready to pay a price. Everybody, including the President, knows that Nigerians are going through a very hard situation unless the person is deceiving himself. The people are suffering, which is the reality. I have not seen anyone that is not affected. We, the professionals also feel it not to talk of others. We have to leave it as it is now, a lot of adjustments have to be made now. My own appeal to the people is that they should bear more with the government. The government is trying to push out some shock absorber and palliatives. It is not as if those in government are living extravagant life in the midst of poverty that is being experienced by the people. I have been to

How would you react to insinuations that some of the leaders of the APC are being alienated such as the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, based on the issues they have with the party?

That is not correct, you must draw a line between government and the party. Nobody can say he or she has been alienated by the party because there is a procedure for such an alienation. But, if you are talking about what is happening in the government, I cannot say much on that. When people come to me for appointment, I always tell them that it is not my duty to influence such.

Banire

Aso Rock Villa severally and I see the way they live there too. All those allowances are no more there. We are all going through one excruciating situation or the other now. But, a foundation is being laid on which our future lies.

People are saying that the government should have soft pedalled on Treasury Single Account (TSA) as it has led to job loss in the banks...

I do not know so much about TSA, but I do not see how it would affect jobs in the banks. The only thing about it is that the accounts of the government are now being centrally controlled, which is what I think has changed. The money is still being kept in the banks.

It is believed that the Federal Government is partial in its anti-corruption fight as many people believe that they are only probing those in the PDP, while APC members, who were in one office or the other in the past, are being spared.

What is your view on this?

I would disagree with that on one ground because under the Act of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), there is a portion that says if you have any allegation against a particular person, you are at liberty to write them against the person.

Let those people bring their copies of allegations against the people they feel are corrupt. You cannot castigate the President on that. It is only in this country that we don’t respect institutions. The laws that established the EFCC stipulate its powers and procedures. You are now saying the President does not order the arrest of some persons thereby giving him the powers he does not have and when he starts wielding the power you would start complaining.

He doesn’t have it. If the EFCC is failing, let us challenge them. If I have a petition against anybody, I would come out with it.

The issue of budget padding in the House of Reps seems to have exposed certain things, but it is like it is now being treated like a family affair by the APC as stated by some people. Do you agree with them?

It is not as if it is being treated as a family affair, people always think we want to do such a thing. We are not a party like the PDP, where such is being done. You see, let me emphasize that there is rule of law, which all of us must respect. We must allow the rule of law to prevail at all times. The alternative to the rule of law is the rule of man and that would lead to anarchy and chaos.

So, we must not allow it, the former chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin, has submitted his petition to the EFCC, it is now left for them to go and investigate the allegations. The best you can do is to submit a petition against the man or else we cannot go against the process of investigation or the judicial process, it is not in the character of our party.

The Edo State election is fast approaching. What are

The issue of state police is coming up again with the state of insecurity in the country with increase in killings and kidnapping, would you want the government to consider this.

Also, what is your take on the demand for self determination by some groups?

Under the law, you have a right for self determination, but there is a process for that.

On state police, I believe in it, I also believe in community police, which is the one in the local governments. They are important for the country. Once the states say they can fund state police, why can’t we allow them to establish it. They are not asking the Federal Government to help them fund it. All that they need to do is delineation of jurisdiction about areas where the federal police would cover and where the state police would cover. The excuse they usually give is that state police would be abused. Once they have identified the problem, it is easier to be solved, diagnosis have been made, so, you can easily have the prognosis, we can work out the modalities to checkmate the potential abuse. You would not prevent the merit of state police because of that.

You did well in your days as commissioner for transport and later environment in Lagos State. Where do we see you in the nearest future?

I am not cut out for any elective office, even the other time people were spreading rumour that I wanted to contest for the governorship of Lagos State, I just kept quiet. Not all of us are cut out for such things, we are not ready to compromise and be involved in anything that is ungodly. Also, some of us cannot stand the stigma arising from holding such positions. I am highly sensitive to somebody calling me a thief. If anyone calls me a thief, I would feel bad about it. Truly, if I don’t want to steal, I cannot be a governor because how much is the salary of a governor. I know how much I need for my responsibility to take care of my immediate and extended families. I know how much I need in a year not to talk of other ones. So, the next option would be to compromise my standard. But, I prefer to face my private work that would provide for me and my family. If I become a governor, except I want to compromise, there is no way I can sustain myself and family, then I would be forced to start compromising. Also, in Nigeria, we have not started practicing politics of issues. Until we get to politics of issues that some of us would even have some ideas, and encourage people to buy into it, we cannot be part of it. I don’t know where people get money to throw around, when they want to contest elections. I would never share money to people all because I want to go to a public office to serve them. It shows you want to go there to steal, so it is not an attraction to me.

Talking about your constituency, the judiciary, people believe there is a lot of corruption there, especially in the bench, is this true?

It is lack of understanding of the workings of the judiciary to say that. Judiciary, to the best of my knowledge, and I need to be corrected if I am wrong, is the least corrupt institution in Nigeria.

The mere fact that you have one or two people that are corrupt does not mean they are all corrupt. I have been practicing law for some time now and I practice in the Federal jurisdiction and I swear I have never given money to any judge for a case. Sometimes, if you are handling a case in the court of a judge that knows you, you would end up losing the case so that it won’t appear as if he is biased. I have some of my friends that are judges and they told me that once they put my matter before them, I should ask for transfer because they would not hear it.

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Shinkafi: Tribute to a Security Intelligence Guru Bukar Usman

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he passing away of Alhaji Umaru Aliyu Shinkafi on July 6 was a blow to the Nigerian security intelligence community that not long ago was thrown into mourning by the death of Alhaji Muhammadu Dikko Yusufu, the former Inspector General of Police. Shinkafi, like his predecessor, Yusufu (popularly known as MD Yusuf), left an indelible mark on the security intelligence community. Both of them served creditably in the Nigeria Police and the intelligence agency of the country. So much has been written about Yusufu’s life and times, particularly after his demise; my focus in this tribute is Shinkafi.

I first came across Shinkafi when I was posted to the Cabinet Office, Lagos, way back in 1972. Before then I only heard of his brilliance in intelligence operations in the war front during the Nigerian civil war. I went on to have a long association with him, which lasted for over 40 years.

Yet, I never came across a write-up of up to two or more pages on his life or public service. This is notwithstanding his stint in politics after a brilliant and distinguished career in the security system of Nigeria.

Also, in spite of our intimacy it was after his death that I learnt that though he hailed from Shinkafi village in present day Zamfara State, north-western Nigeria, his lineage is rooted somewhere in present day Yobe State, north-eastern Nigeria.

It was my schedule at the Cabinet Office that made me to relate with Shinkafi intimately. My interaction with him since then confirmed the positives I heard about him. “Yaya dai Bukar,” that is “Bukar, how is it?” was his usual line to start a

Shinkafi conversation with me. He kept to that style to herald our communication ever since.

With Yusuf as commissioner at the head of the former Special Branch and Mr. Ekpo as his deputy, Shinkafi, Mr. AOA Adesuyi, and Alhaji M. Gambo, the former Inspector of Police, were the next third tier level of senior intelligence officers of the ranks of Assistant Commissioners of Police.

Given his brilliance in security intelligence matters, Shinkafi rose steadily to head the nation’s intelligence agency and also held at separate times the portfolio of minister responsible for internal affairs.

A self-made man, Shinkafi was endowed with exceptionally high and deep sense of self-discipline. Not satisfied

with his professional competence, he went on to improve his performance and status by studying law at the University of Lagos.

He did so while diligently performing his official duties and eventually qualified as a lawyer.

Burning with desire to further contribute to public service, Shinkafi ventured into politics and was at one time a presidential aspirant. This was no surprise for a person who in his privileged position had seen and heard it all and thought he could make a difference. He was not as lucky as some intelligence chiefs in USA and Russia, among other foreign countries, who found their way to the number one political post. The Nigerian political system is quite different. Shinkafi’s political venture was one of those instances that support my long held view that there are several people like him, who though quite sound and qualified, are usually side-lined in partisan politics because they abide by the truth and are not given to compromise and self-interests.

Having met the brick wall in politics Shinkafi was relentless in his desire to share the benefits of his professional security intelligence experience with the public. Hence, he threw his weight behind the advocates of state police as one of the viable solutions to the security problems of Nigeria. He took to the print media to plead that cause. So far, his campaign for state police born out of his formidable practical experience as a crack security intelligence officer is yet to be heeded.

Alas! It was a cry in the wilderness.

Needless to say he had done his bit. Only time will bear him out.

The Nigerian security system is fashioned largely after that of the British.

Shinkafi and other Nigerian security chiefs should be credited for establishing

for Nigeria a sound security intelligence structure. This fact may not have been appreciated before July 13, when Mr. David Cameron, former British Prime Minister, during his final Prime Minister’s Question Time, announced with pride to the British Parliament that he had improved on his country’s security structure by creating a National Security Council for Britain. National Security Council is a body enshrined in the Nigerian security structure and the Nigerian constitution several decades ago.

Those who may have reservation about the operational effectiveness of the Nigerian security intelligence structure may note that there are complementary roles to the operation of any country’s security system: intelligence procurement on the one hand and political action on the acquired intelligence on the other.

Members of the security intelligence would be bold to state that there was hardly any major upheaval the security intelligence had no sniff of. However, it is one thing to procure intelligence, it is another to act on it. This leads me to recall an appeal by Alhaji Adamu Suleiman to the government, while he was the Inspector General of Police. He said that while it is his responsibility to catch a thief, he should be given the wherewithal to do so.

A keen polo player, Shinkafi, who was honoured with the traditional title of Marafan Sokoto by the Sultanate of Sokoto, would be remembered best by the security intelligence community and the country at large as a first class security intelligence officer who operated and led the security intelligence community with a high standard of professionalism.

––Usman is former Permanent Secretary in the Presidency.

Monguno: Demise of a Principled Politician Bukar Usman

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hettima Ali Monguno, elder statesman, educationist, politician and international public servant, passed on at the age of 90, on July 8. I received several calls from friends and associates who expressed their condolences. They knew that I held him in reverence: a great man of gifted rare qualities worthy of emulation.

Trained as a teacher in Bauchi and Katsina colleges, Monguno also attended the Nigerian College of Arts, Science and Technology, Zaria, which was about the highest educational institution in Northern Nigeria of the time. He was later educated at the Moray House College of Education and the University of Edinburgh. For more than 50 years, he offered distinguished public service to the Nigerian government, international organisations, educational institutions, and various social groups.

Whoever came across him would have found in Monguno a simple gentleman who was clearly transparent, doubtlessly honest and possessing genuine attributes of excellent leadership. My impression of Monguno I formed from the rare privilege of my encounters with him since my school days in Maiduguri. I first encountered Malam Ali Zankali or simply Ali Monguno, as he was then known, when I was a school boy in the late 1950s.

He was then, a teacher, later a bursar before being elevated to an Education Officer in Maiduguri. He came to play football and hockey with us, the students, almost every evening at the Borno Provincial Secondary School old site, situated along Dandal Way, Maiduguri. He was remarkably quite agile, in spite of his huge well-built

carriage and commanding stature. He usually addressed us in and outside the games field. We admired his soft measured speech and good command of English. Since then, I have held him in high esteem.

He left the education profession for politics and was elected to the House of Representatives in 1959 and deservedly got a ministerial post in the First Republic under Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. As is well known, the First Republic was terminated by the military intervention of 1966.

The subsequent government of Gen. Yakubu Gowon saw his return to service still in a political position at the onset of the Nigerian civil war in1967. He held the post of a Federal Commissioner responsible firstly for Trade and Industries and later for Mines and Power. It was at the SixStorey Building Broad Street, Lagos, housing the Ministry of Mines and Power that we again met in 1970s.

I was then holding the post of an Assistant Secretary, a fairly junior post in the Federal Service. That encounter gave me another rare opportunity to further interact with him at close quarters.

What struck us most at the ministry was Monguno’s transparent, honest and humble leadership. His predecessor in office was Dr. Russell A. Barau Dikko, the first medical doctor in Northern Nigeria. They both offered exemplary leadership, which left lasting impressions on us, the staff serving under them. Though they were both responsible for the all-important petroleum resources portfolio, they showed nothing but unqualified transparency and resourcefulness in managing the ministry and government business generally. They shunned all temptations, greed and trappings of high public office. Monguno, like Dr Barau Dikko before him, accounted to

Monguno the last kobo money given to him to attend meetings of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), which he served as President from 1972 to 1973. He paid back to the treasury any unspent amount of public money upon his return from official overseas trips. One cannot but be guided by his exemplary conduct.

Of course, I have had several other encounters with Monguno ever since he left his ministerial appointments.

One of these was my meeting with him about two decades ago in the foyer of one of the highbrow hotels at Abuja. He had flown in from Maiduguri in respect of a visa application for his spouse; the embassy had wanted to prove the genuineness of their relationship. He could have used some contacts in government without personally coming to Abuja, but he rightly and humbly handled the matter as a private affair.

Our paths crossed again when

Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, awarded both of us honorary doctorate degrees in 2014. I had looked forward to our meeting at the award ceremony.

Unfortunately, he could not make it to the event due to old age. He sent a representative, however, and his long and rich citation read at the event was quite impressive. Briefly put, he was honoured in recognition of his being a “widely acclaimed educationist and philanthropist who established schools to assist the less privileged in addition to donating text and exercise books to various schools and indigent students. He is also known for his selfless service to humanity and his vicarious concern for the victims of the Boko Haram insurgents by offering to negotiate with the insurgents at the risk of his life.” It was, indeed, an honour and privilege to be associated with such a great personality.

Monguno, as one of the earliest northerners to receive Western education, once recounted the warm and jubilant reception accorded him by his native town, Monguno, when he turned up as a minister. In acknowledgement of the joyous reception, he said he was surprised to note that it was in sharp contrast to his parent’s strong objection to his enrolment in school in 1935. Nothing succeeds like success, one would say.

Monguno would be sorely missed for the able leadership he provided the Borno Elders Forum up to his last days. He graciously signed my letter of appointment as a member of that forum in 2013. Monguno, D. Litt, LLD, CFR, who was also honoured with the traditional title of Shettima by the Shehu of Borno, would be remembered as a principled politician and a highly respected elder statesman.

–– Usman is a former Permanent Secretary in the Presidency.

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Buhari’s Choice of Dialogue in Niger Delta Shows Strength Emeka Nwankpa, a journalist and development activist, is chief media strategist of the Concerned Professionals’ Congress, an advocacy group promoting good governance and democracy in Nigeria. Nwankpa speaks with some journalists in Lagos on the situation in the Niger Delta. Sunday Okobi captures the interview. Excerpts:

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he country has been wobbling from one crisis to another with devastating effects on the lives of the people. How can Nigeria get out of this seeming cycle of crisis?

A country of over 250 ethnic nationalities of different beliefs, backgrounds and preferences, a nation of over 170 million people of over 200 languages, different history, cultures, traditions and faiths, is a humongous lot. Even the teeth and tongue do clash but they settle because both need each other. There will be altercations and disagreement between people from time to time, either intra or inter. It is normal. But societies have progressed because of the tolerance and understanding existing among them.

The Niger Delta agitations did not start today and so cannot spiral out of control.

It is the violence and destruction of national assets that I find very vexatious and disturbing. Yes, we may have grievances but does that mean that we should destroy our national assets? The answer is no. The Nigerian people do not deserve this treatment and that is why we believe there is more to it.

Why would some people endanger the Niger Delta people? Are they not polluting the already-polluted region? We may soon discover the politics of these attacks.

There’s more than meets the eye but that is for the security and intelligence people to get the facts and move with the facts.

characters have changed. Events have moved beyond that now but it is food for thought. It is good that the government seized the initiative of the dialogue option, bowing to public opinion. It is laudable, though some argue that the situation could have been stemmed. Anyway, no time is too late as long as it is in the right direction. The end justifies the means.

More militant groups in the region are buying into the dialogue. At least, the efforts are paying off. We praise the team for the effort. The dialogue should be sincere, genuine and frank.

Are you suggesting that some people may be collaborating with the militants?

I have not said so, it is just my guess.

Some think agitations are normal but the majority see the wilful blowing up of oil pipelines as criminality, which is outside genuine agitation. Try to examine some of the demands of the Avengers; are they different from what we had before? The pattern has not changed, only that the

You said the present situation in the Niger Delta was avoidable. How could it have been avoided?

Without generalising, we think that the elders, political and community leaders and youths of the Niger Delta did not do enough to check the renewed militancy in the region. This is not an allegation of general complicity. More could have been done to prevent the attacks. But for a few voices, the initial conspiracy of silence

Do you think the intelligence agencies have the capacity to unmask the alleged masterminds of the attacks?

I do not think that our intelligence and security forces are doing little. I do not doubt their capacity. If you doubt it, the North-east is a living example of their gallantry and efficiency. Right now, Boko Haram’s capacity to launch attacks and hold territory has been considerably degraded, according to Country Reports on Terrorism for 2015 released recently by the United States Bureau of Counterterrorism and Countering Violent Extremism.

It is an international commendation of the Nigerian military’s anti-insurgency operations under the present Chief of Defence Staff. Our soldiers have displayed conspicuous gallantry in their multiple operations across the country, especially in the North-east where they have worked under very strenuous conditions.

issue is concerned. We commend the leadership of the Nigerian military for standing down their force. Pragmatic leaders always win by sticking to principles and soft on methods. The president, as the Commander-in-Chief, can deploy troops but what remains his overriding goal is to preserve every part and parcel of the federation. This is pragmatic leadership. You will also discern from the comments of the CDS, Gen. Olonisakin, in Port Harcourt recently urging the militants to drop violence and peacefully articulate their grievances to the authorities.

This shows the leadership mind-set of a people-oriented military. It also goes to show that Mr. President means well for the region, actualising the long-awaited oil clean-up of the Niger Delta in line with the Kaiama Declaration and the Ogoni Bill of Rights. We must embrace peace and halt these drumbeats of war so that our people can get on with their lives.

How would you rate the commitment of the major stakeholders in the Nwankpa region to the resolution of the conflict? across the region emboldened the miliThe government has the constitutional tants. Don’t forget that these militants live responsibility to secure lives and property among the people? The place is now more of the Nigerian people, including our polluted due to the bombings that have national assets, and that is why the further endangered the livelihood of the military force must remain there and people. Who’s killing who? Not to talk of also patrol the waterways. We trust our the havoc on the rest of the country which military to be professionally thorough in has been thrown into darkness arising observing their rule of engagement. We from the huge drop in power generation are proud of them. The law-abiding and and the national oil production output that innocent people of the region have nothhas been crippled by half. Must they get to ing to fear, except those who are working this point to get attention? It rankles. against the rest of us, who are blowing up oil pipelines.

So you believe dialogue is the best We commend the oil majors operating option? in the region for staying on despite threats Absolutely. It is a masterstroke. Dialogue of continued bombing and destruction is strength. It is a win-win option and of their facilities. It is important that the we commend the government for this.

Niger Delta activists utilise this window Remember, a workman is as good as his of the dialogue, ventilate their feelings to tool. I believe that this tool of diplomacy bring lasting peace so that the people of and dialogue speaks volumes about the the region can get their lives back and live capacity of the government as far as this in peace in the communities.

Ode to Prof. Somayina Nwoko Idowu Ajibade

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reat men are often remembered not just by what they do but what they say. In death, their words resonate more loudly in somewhat mournful sobriety. So it is for Prof. Somayina Gabriel Nwoko, the Isogba of Idumuje-Ugboko, who died last week at the age of 86.

His reflections on contemporary national issues portrays a man with deep concern about the future of his country. Indeed, the late Nwoko, a professor of Agricultural Economics was a man of many parts. He would be remembered as an entertainer, poet, politician and teacher. His patriotic fervor, peace tiding all bear testimonies of a man who has been described as a legend.

At independence, the flag proclaimed liberty. It proclaimed inheritable dreams of greatness. Nigeria was then nicknamed “giant of Africa,” was how he reminiscence of Nigeria’s national flag in one of his recent articles. Even when he was outside the country, in faraway University of California, United States of America where he lectured, he cannot stop ruminating on the future of his country. “Today the human rodents in the nation have attacked the giant from different angles,” he once wrote.

“Even though I was then a third year economics student in the University College Ibadan,” recounting his experience at the nation’s Independence in 1960. “I can recollect some of our hopes as recounted by Prof. Onitiri. We dreamt of consolidated unity, country wide market, an excellent net-work of transportation system, complementary products from areas with comparative advantages, cultural harmony, wide international

markets with friendly nations, education for all, and for leadership, industrialization with locally sourced raw materials with multiplier effects, locally brewed democracy and democratic institutions, excellent defense system, impeccable legal system and a lot more. These dreams and aspirations could not have turned our people into Zombies only obeying orders without reasoning, and looting the national treasury without remorse.

No, we are bound to reason we are bound to disagreed, we are bound to dialogue, we are bound to come to progressive consensus among states, and zone as to ways, means, and speed. According to Barack Obama, “These arguments we have are a mark of our liberty”.

Such was the subtlety with which Prof. Nwoko rapped boiling national discourse in his piece title: “Flag Revolution” published in February 8, 2013. He believed in Nigeria’s unity, but his conviction on the sanctity of human freedom and liberty is even stronger. “It was liberty that forced Biafra to declare attempted secession,” he wrote. Adding: “It was liberty and leadership that forced General Gowon to declare in succession, clinical police action and then war of unity. It was love that moves the All Highest to end the war. It was liberty that forced a group of Northern politicians to state their readiness to make Nigeria ungovernable under President Jonathan. It was liberty that forced some people to organize themselves into terrorist groups. It is liberty and leadership responsibility that will force Jonathan to adopt the most effective option that will end terrorism. But he has no liberty to surrender to the terrorists. He has no liberty to make terrorism a living part of Nigeria. He must follow the old track of greatness to achieve peace and harmony in Nigeria. Liberty is the cause of our problems. Liberty and leadership are the solutions to our problems.

In the words of the late professor of Agricultural Economics, “We are in search of a globally dominant high ground with constellation of excellences on which we can stand as elders, and beacon at our children. Most of what we see are neighborhood lofty grounds which are crowded by ethnic and religious apologists and criminals at high places who have eyes for causes but are totally blind to the cause of causes. The causes of a problem provide ways to solve the problem. The cause of the causes makes a problem to solve itself. This knowledge belongs only to the Divinity and his messengers. But far, far beyond the neighborhood heights, at a telescopic height, stands an inanimate, collectivized and idealized bridal authority, colorfully robbed in immutable green, white and green. We can march there effortlessly in perpetuity with joy, peace, harmony in every step we take without tiredness. That was his challenge to Nigerians. Now he is no more. Gone for good, to the great beyond.

Born in 1933 to the royal family of Nwoko in IdumujeUgboko, Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State.

He rose as a pupil teacher to trained teacher grades 3 and 2 in 1950 and 1954 respectively.

He won federal government scholarship to the University of London in 1958. He later bagged Bachelor Degree in Economics from the University of Ibadan in 1961. He later worked in federal audit department that year. Studied and worked as Assistant Professor at University of California, USA. He retired as Agricultural Economics professor in 1974. On retirement, in 1998 while on sabbatical, he was appointed to Delta State University, Abraka where he continued on contract appointment until 2002. He is survived by two wives and many children and grand-children.

Idowu Ajibade writes from Abuja.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R • AUGUST 7, 2016

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CICERO/TRIBUTE/RIGHT OF REPLY

At 57, Service to the People Remains Okowa’s Watchword Victor Efeizomor

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n July 8, 2016, Governor Ifeanyi Arthor Okowa turned 57 years. The governor disappointed those who expected him to shut down the state for elaborate banquet.

Okowa instead elected a subdued, altruistic celebration that was consistent with his philosophy of life and politics.

Rather than roll out the drums, he temporally handed over state powers to his deputy, Barrister Kingsely Otuaro and quietly traveled abroad for a three week vacation.

No doubt, the break afforded him the opportunity of having deep thoughts and reflection over his achievements and the challenges ahead as the Executive Governor of Delta State. The holiday, it’s believed, also gave him the opportunity of staying very close to his immediate family members, away from the rigours and burden of leadership.

The celebration of the birthday of such a highly placed personality, as the Executive Governor of Delta State, would have called for pomps and pageantry, most especially having emerged victorious in a highly contested election, on a tidier wave of popular vote in the state.

But Governor Okowa , not unmindful of the economic realities of the time, exemplified humility, personal moral, meekness, selflessness, kindness and capacity recognize the pains of the people, elected for a low key celebration outside the comforts of government house to mark his 57 birthday.

A year ago, he exhibited the same selfless spirit when he turned 56. He told his associates and friends not to waste funds placing congratulatory messages in the media for his birthday anniversary, he rather instructed that such monies should be sent to the less privileged homes to care for those who are in need.

As he marks yet another birthday, he has asked Deltans to pray for him and the state to get God’s favour and guidance in the journey of governance rather than waste valuable and scarce resources for lavished birthday parties.

By these actions, Governor Okowa has reaped goodwill from the people, network of devoted friends, admirers and allies in return for putting the people first.

By this act of humility, he has reaped the divine bounty of a good family, and excellent health, he has reaped the love of his people, spiritual resilience, uncommon energy and wisdom.

On the political front, Governor Okowa has sowed services, compassion, excellent leadership, conscientious governance and a commitment to the dividend of democracy to the people of Delta.

While other governors were busy pumping champagne and organizing state banquets to mark one year in office, Governor Okowa crisscrossed the length and breadth of three senatorial districts in the state, commissioning projects.

Governor Okowa’s score card within one year in office has both breadth and depth: the major ones are the resurfacing of Asaba Airport run way, dualisation of Warri/Sapele from

Okowa

Amukpe roundabout, dualisation of Ughelli /Asaba road sector A, construction of the following roads; Ejinere-Orodje Orereopke, Onomigbo street Orerekpe, Dederu street Warri, Akemu street Warri, Okere-Urhobo road, Warri, Uduophori road (phase 1), Patani, Jeddo-Ughoton road , Okpe, OznogogoAlisimie road, Ika South, Dr. White street, Agbor, IdumuUgboh street, Ikokogbe- Idumu- Izomor road, Owa Oybu, Ika North East.

Other projects executed by Governor Okowa with one year in office include; the construction of faculty of law complex of Delta State University, Orerokpe ultra modern market, construction of Olympic size statdium at Ozoro polytechnic, construction of Cable point road, Asaba, construction of Okpanam road/ drainages, distribution of tractors to 64 cooperative societies while another set of 106 cooperative societies got melon sheller, 18 other cooperative societies received outboard engines and fishing gears support packages.

In the area of wealth creation Governor Okowa has created 17,000 jobs, N556 million has been disbursed via micro credit scheme to 3,110 beneficiaries, various starter parks have been distributed to trainees under the job and wealth creation scheme.

The glowing glory of Governor Okowa’s stewardship in the last one year is that he has systematically rebranded Delta State by making it investors friendly. So profound is this revolution that the finger of God has suddenly become destination for international and local investors. Just after North China

Construction Company expressed its readiness to invest $30million (about N6billion) in infrastructural development in the state, two other companies are ready to pump another $35(about N7billion) into the proposed Delta Commercial city.

Governor Okowa is not called ‘Ekwueme’ for nothing. His politics is about empowering the people. He has since identified human being as the permanent variable in politics, hence the burning desire to transform the entire landscape of Delta state into an enviable land flowing with milk and honey.

He was inaugurated as Governor on 29 May 2015 after winning the state elections conducted in April 2015. Before his Governorship, he was elected Senator for Delta North, in Delta State, Nigeria, in the April 2011 national elections. He ran on the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) platform. He is an Ika from Owa-Alero, in Delta State. He is also the first person from Anioma to clinch the governorship position of Delta State.

Okowa was born at Owa-Alero in Ika North-East Local Government Area of Delta State. He attended Edo College, Benin City (1970–1976), then went on to the University of Ibadan where he studied Medicine and Surgery, graduating in 1981 with an MBBS degree. After leaving the National Youth Service Corps, he worked with the Bendel State Hospitals Management Board as a Medical Officer. He entered private practice as Director, Victory Medical Centre, Igbanke in 1986.

Okowa became Secretary to the Ika Local Government and then Chairman of the Ika North-East Local Government Council (1991–1993). He was Delta North Coordinator of the Grassroots Democratic Movement (GDM). He joined the PDP in 1998, and assisted in Governor James Ibori’s campaign in 1998/1999. He served as a Commissioner in the Delta State government for Agriculture and Natural Resources (July 1999 – April 2001), Water Resources Development (April 2001 – May 2003) and Health (September 2003 – October 2006).

Okowa resigned to contest in the 2007 PDP primaries for Governor of Delta State, but did not succeed. In June 2007, Ifeanyi was appointed Secretary to the Delta state Government.

Governor Okowa was elected Delta North Senatorial candidate in the January 2011 PDP primaries with 942 votes, but the result was challenged by party leaders who favoured Marian Amaka Alli as candidate. He was re-elected in a rerun where he scored 1,446 votes, against 108 votes for Dr. Maryam Alli. In the April 2011 election for the Delta North Senatorial seat, Governor Okowa won 98,140 votes, ahead of runner up Prince Ned Munir Nwoko of the Democratic People’s Party, who won 67,985 votes. It was reported that there was still tension regarding the election in January 2013. Governor Okowa finally clinched the ticket for the gubernatorial election in 2015 under the PDP with 406 votes on 8 December 2014. He won the Delta State Gubernatorial elections 2015 in April 2015 with 724,680 votes.

He was inaugurated as Governor on 29 May 2015 and has since then resumed active duties.

Ekwueme , as you progress in the flight of life and business of governance, I wish you a happy birthday, good health and God’s guidance.

- Prince Victor Efeizomor is Governor Okowa’s Print Media Assistant

Re: Victor Umeh at 54 Augustine Anagu

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ur attention has been drawn to a publication in the THISDAY, Sunday Newspaper edition of July, 24, 2016 titled Victor Umeh: A Dogged Fighter at 54. This publication, amongst others, seeks to ascribe to Umeh numerous accolades: a philanthropist, political maestro, APGA warlord cum kingmaker and chairman for 13 years as well as other uncountable local chieftaincy titles.

We do not want to join issues with Umeh on all those peripheral assemblage. But we have observed lately that each time Umeh talks to the press about his strengths, bravery and political sagacity, he tries to drag into the discourse the name and person of our respected principal, Senator (Mrs.) Uche Ekwunife, who clearly won the Anambra Central senatorial election. He does this to try to buttress his point and massage his political ego. Umeh knows deep inside him that he lost that Anambra Central election clearly to Ekwunife.

For the avoidance of doubt and for posterity, the nullification of Anambra Central senatorial election is seen by all and sundry as pure injustice, one that is unheard of in modern day judiciary. Both the Bar and Bench agree that this

travesty of justice is unprecedented. There were several judicial precedents prior to the judgement in this regard, that a candidate of a political party cannot challenge the nomination of another candidate from another party where he was never a member or participant in the same primary election that was the reason for the nullification of the election. That judgment was one which no Nigerian has understood the basis. Is it not clear that the appeal tribunal went into fishing to assume jurisdiction on a matter it subsequently declined same in the case of similar senatorial cases before it. This was a clear case of absurdity.

Where then was the electoral malpractice being touted by Victor Umeh?

Enough of this falsehood! To put the record straight, Anambra Central has over 720,000 registered voters. And out of the total votes cast, Ekwunife polled over 97,000 votes while Umeh scored about 83,000. This represents about23% of total registered voters. Looking at the figures, even a layman would know that the election was free, fair and credible. Our heart bleeds each time we remember the prayers, hard work, commitment, zeal, sincerity of purpose and rigorous political campaigns Ekwunife put in during the electioneering campaigns. And for the appeal court headed by Justice Yahaya to have murdered the sleep of not just the constituents of Anambra Central but majority of Anambrarians by that singular abnormal judgement, posterity

will surely vindicate the just.

It is high time Umeh hid his face in shame that in spite of huge financial investments by the state and local government machineries and all other government apparatuses, inclusive of adverse state legislations, he still lost the election to Ekwunife. Even in the state constituency, which both shared, Umeh still lost to Ekwunife in the state Assembly election conducted two weeks after the senatorial election. If Umeh is sure that the election was manipulated, let him carry his Bible and, as usual, go to the TV and swear. Both Ekwunife and Umeh are well known to Ndi Anambra and elections are never won on the pages of the print or electronic media. We are all privy to the avalanche of financial, material and legislative support enjoyed by Umeh from the APGA- led state government and despite standing for the election both as the national chairman and senatorial candidate, Ekwunife, amidst all attempts to intimidate her, still floored him at the Anambra Central election. His anger is not unconnected to the fact that Ekwunife refused to be intimidated. This is the same Umeh that brags about as the kingmaker that enthroned, Mr. Peter Obi and Chief Willie Obiano as governors in Anambra State. Yet he was unable to enthrone himself as a senator. Does this not speak volumes for his political ineptitude? We are sure that if the opportunity presents itself again, the people’s senator will beat him again and again. Umeh

Umeh should, therefore, be man enough to accept the glaring truth. That is why his main focus is to ensure that Ekwunife does not face him again in another election.

We in the campaign organisation have taken this infamous appeal court judgement as that of man and not of God. When God speaks, there shall be no appeal.

At 54, therefore, Umeh should be advised to celebrate his life and ruminate on his so-called giant political aspirations and leave our respected principal alone. Enough is enough!

––Anagu is director-general, Senator Uche Ekwunife Campaign Organisation.

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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 • AUGUST 7, 2016

CICERO/ISSUE

The Murder That Upset Plateau Seriki Adinoyi, in Jos, looks at the killing of a first class traditional ruler in Plateau State by unknown gunmen

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he peace of Plateau State was disturbed recently when unknown gunmen ambushed a first class traditional ruler, the paramount ruler of Bokkos, the Saf Ron Kulere, Chief Lazarus Agai, killing him and his two aides, including his police orderly.

The first suspects were the Fulani herdsmen in the area. The suspicion was rooted in the way the monarch was killed, which the youth of the area alleged was similar to the pattern of killings by the herdsmen. They said the assailants, with masked faces, suddenly emerged from the bush and shot at the monarch’s vehicle when he and the others were returning from his farm at Sha, killing him and the two others.

That account was, however, contradicted by another report that Agai was not shot but rather strangled and his body left floating on a nearby stream.

Everyone knew the killing of such a prominent man, who had been on the throne for over 42 years, was going to elicit crisis. So everyone was on their guard. Even the governor of the state, Mr. Simon Lalong, who was away from the state on leave, had to cut the holiday short. He hurried back to take charge of the situation.

Captain Ikedichi Iweha, said following the killing of the traditional ruler by unknown gunmen, “some youths blocked the roads leading to Bokkos and started burning tyres and harassing innocent citizens.

The situation got out of hand when the youths attempted to lynch the Ardo of Bokkos, but security operatives swiftly came to the rescue of the man and other innocent citizens and it was in the process that some of the youths opened fire on the security operatives. This development prompted the security operatives to fire into the air to disperse the youths and in the process some of the youths lost their lives while some security operatives sustained various degrees of injuries.”

Silence

Though there is currently a semblance of peace in the area, it may only be temporary, as the youth appear determined to take their pound of flesh. They are probably yet to be convinced that there monarch was killed by the Fulani.

Grazing Controversy

The latest development has seemed to yet again bring the on-going controversy about the issue of establishing grazing reserves for the herdsmen – rather than have them set up ranches for their animals – into focus. The indigenous Plateau people have reiterated their resolve not to accommodate grazing reserves in the state. They say they will not host a people with the kind of murderous tendencies the Fulani herdsmen have exhibited in the state.

Condemnation

Lamenting the murder, the senator for Plateau North senatorial zone, Senator Jonah David Jang, condemned the renewed onslaught on the people of the state “by those who are hell-bent on dispossessing us of our God-given heritage.”

A statement by Jang’s aide, Comrade Clinton Garuba, described the murder as heart-rending, “especially at a time when our dear state is going through a challenging time when his wealth of experience and the core values which he stood for are direly needed.”

Many believe Jang’S statement was also pointing at the Fulani herdsmen, who had in the past wreaked similar havoc on communities in the state. Jang further reiterated his call on Plateau people not to cede their land for grazing reserve to a people that will eventually turn round to kill them.

Also condemning the murder of the paramount ruler, the senator for Plateau Central zone, Chief Joshua Dariye, who incidentally is from Bokkos, appealed for calm. He charged the security operatives to unmask the perpetrators, whom he believed live in the locality.

The Christian Association of Nigeria, northern zone, also condemned the murder. It described the monarch as a devoted Christian, in a statement signed by its chairman, Rev Yakubu Pam. He lamented the way Christians in the North were being killed and tasked President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure that Christians were protected across the northern states.

The state government in a statement signed by the governor’s Director of Press, Emmanuel Nanleg, equally condemned the killing. It reassured the people that those bent on rubbishing the peace the government had achieved for the state will fail. It also appealed to citizens to keep calm, saying the security agencies are working to expose and punish the killers.

The governor, who visited the community, also appealed to the youth to sheathe their sword and allow the security agents do their work. He reassured that the enemies of Plateau that would not want peace to reign in the state will be put to shame.

The state House of Assembly also condemned the murder. The Assembly said it was tired of hearing the concept of unknown gunmen charged the security

Saf Ron Kulere, Chief Lazarus Agai

agencies to bring the perpetrators to book.

Following a valedictory session for the monarch, the lawmakers said his murder could not be swept under the carpet as another unknown gunmen attack.

before the police investigations were concluded. He lamented that “our homes have been utterly destroyed and burnt”, urging the police to bring the youths to book.

Anger

Security Agents’ Draconian Reaction

Unsurprisingly, the Fulani herdsmen in the area, being the first and immediate suspects, were to bear the brunt of the youths of the community. The irate youths unleashed mayhem on them and their property, destroying and burning their settlements. They quickly escaped and took refuge at the police station in the area.

Several people, including the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Mohammed Sa’ád Abubakar III, condemned the reaction of the youths, querying how they immediately concluded that the herdsmen were the assailants even while investigations were still on-going.

Though the Sultan was in Jos for a separate reason, he seized the opportunity to condemn the murder of Agai, whom he described as “our brother”, and the needless attack on the herdsmen. He lamented that “the press just jumped into conclusion that he was killed by herdsmen without waiting for the police to investigate.”

The sultan said, “Whoever did that is a criminal and he must be fished out and dealt with. That is why we should all resolve to come together, whenever a crime is committed by anybody, whoever that person is, let us call him a criminal and we all come together and bring that person out and deal with him, no matter how big he thinks he is, no matter which tribe he belongs to, no matter which religion he professes.”

He charged the security operatives to ensure that the murderers were uncovered and dealt with as criminals.

Corroborating the sultan’s view, the state chairman of Myetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Mallam Nuru Mohammad, blamed the press for the attack on the herdsmen. He said the press was too quick to suspect herdsmen

Not pacified by the several appeals from different quarters, the irate youths went after the Fulani the following day.

They demanded to lynch the Ardo (Fulani leader) of the area, but the security agents would not succumb to that. And as they engaged in fracas with the security agents over the Ardo, the security men shot and killed four of the youths on the spot and injured several others. The youths retreated, went and prepared and launched an attack on the police station in the area.

Then another two among the youths were killed.

To prevent an escalation and breakdown of law and order, the state government quickly imposed a 24-hour curfew on the area.

Since after the incident, reactions and suspicions over the identity of the murders, and the killing of the six youths by the security agents have continued to reverberate.

Many believe that the security agents should have been more civil with the youths considering that it was their monarch that was killed. They said it was bad enough that the community lost their paramount ruler and two others, adding that killing additional six people in the community was unpardonable. They alleged that the same Fulani had killed two village heads in the area recently and wondered how the same security agents that could not protect the people would turn round to kill them.

But the security agents alleged that they could not fold their arms and watch lawlessness in the name of reprisal against the Fulani. They added that they would have also been blamed if they allowed the hoodlums to kill the Fulani leader in their custody, a development that would have escalated the already bad situation.

Spokesman of the security agents,

Scenarios

But people have continued to appeal to the youth to understand the Fulani may not be responsible for the traditional ruler’s death.

An elder statesman, who preferred anonymity, said the Fulani were not likely to be the killers of the monarch. He said whenever the herdsmen had problems with neighbouring Barkin-Ladi and Riyom communities they usually ran to take refuge in Bokkos under Agai. “How can the same Fulani turn round to kill the man that provided refuge for them in times of trouble; what do they stand to gain?” the elder statesman wondered.

He urged the security agents to look beyond the herdsmen in their investigation, bearing in mind that there could be some other groups that may have committed the havoc for other reasons. “Who knows, such people could have committed the havoc for selfish motives, such as eyeing the stool of the traditional ruler,” he added.

Also trying to exonerate the Fulani, some believe the enemies of the herdsmen may have killed Agai, knowing that he loves the Fulani and may have supported the grazing reserve policy in the state.

Amid the conflicting suspicions, the police have promised to bring those that killed the traditional ruler to justice.

Deputy Inspector General (DIG), Operations, Mr. Joshak Habila, appealed to the angry locals to exercise patience, as “two wrongs cannot make a right”.

Habila said the police were deploying more policemen, including CIDs to Bokkos, for reinforcement. He also said there would be helicopter surveillance in the area.

But Plateau citizens have sufficient reasons not to trust the police and other security agents and their promises. Several attacks have occurred in the state where many lives were lost without anyone being apprehended. All the citizens got were promises upon promises. They fear that this latest killing may go the same way others went.

The onus is on the police and other security agencies in Plateau State to prove the suspicious natives wrong.

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PERSPECTIVE

We’ll Soon Have a Jolly Ride on Train Yusuph Olaniyonu

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n July 26, when President Muhammadu Buhari commissioned the Abuja-Kaduna rail line in Idu Station, Abuja, what was playing on the minds of two people in the crowd that witnessed the ceremony was the ambitious plan they also have for reviving the rail sector.

Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki and his colleague, Senator Gbenga Bariu Ashafa were enthusiastic about the commissioning of the rail track because they were sure the new Nigerian Railways Authority Bill 2016 which the Senate just passed will provide the enabling legislative platform for train services to become a key, reliable and profitable means of transportation in Nigeria.

Since the early 1980s when rail transportation went into comatose in the country, the national economy had suffered several setback. Apart from the manner in which the situation had slowed down movement of goods, services and machinery, lack of efficient railway system had signposted the underdevelopment nature of our country’s economy. It has put pressure on our road infrastructure and led to a near total collapse of the roads. The result of this is the avoidable road mishaps and the attendant loss of lives and limbs.

The rail system collapsed because the government refused to bring the operation up to modern standard and international best practices. For example, the law that was repealed and replaced by the Senate last month was last reviewed in 1955 when a large majority of the Senators were not born. That law made railway system an entire business of government. And this is at a time when governments all over the world are restricting their role in the economy to creation of enabling environment while the private sector is assigned the responsibility of running businesses.

Therefore in line with the Legislative Agenda

Saraki of the eighth Senate to comprehensively review the institutional, regulatory and legislative instruments affecting businesses in Nigeria, its Committee on land transportation was charged with preparing a bill which will create an efficient rail service, pave way for involvement of the private sector, promote healthy competition among many service providers, encourage infrastructural development, implement national policies and establish regulatory framework.

The nine-man committee decided to consult widely with stakeholders like professionals in the sector, civil society organizations, development partners, organized private sector, labour, professional groups like the Nigerian Bar Association, Ministries, Departments and Agencies with responsibility on rail matters as well as the financial institutions.

Apart from holding a public hearing to source varied opinions on what to dump in the old law and new ideas to add to the new law, the committee also worked with a technical group

which eventually knocked the bill into a modern shape.

Eventually, the bill creates a Nigeria Railway Authority (NRA) which shall be a body corporate with the power of succession to the activities of the current Nigerian Railway Corporation with respect to ownership, operation, maintenance and the provision of railway services. The bill also creates a Governing Board that shall be “ responsible for the determination of the general policy of the Authority with the regard to the financial, economic, commercial and operational programme of the Authority “. The management of the authority shall be headed by a Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer.

The new NRA is expected to warehouse the operational properties of the old NRC and then concession same to private investors. Clause 10 and 11 of the new law guarantees and contemplates issues of concessions and private sector participation in the provision of train services.

The bill incorporates the various other laws like the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission Act, Public Enterprises (Privatization and Commercialization) Act and such other laws relating to and governing concessions.

Under the new law, the NRA shall have power to enter into agreement with states, local government and individuals since it is a body corporate under the law for the provision of railway services either through concession, joint venture, private-public-partnership or other arrangement. The minister is now merely to provide policy formulation and facilitate foreign agreements on behalf of the federal government.

He can no longer interfere with the day to day running of the Authority.

The regulator will now be the National Transportation Commission (NTC) which will be created pursuant to the passage of another bill with the same name. The bill is already in second reading in the Senate. This will separate the NRA which is an operator of the rolling stock from the regulator and thereby create a level playing field for all investors. The regulator will be charged with the responsibility of licensing operators.

Section 43 of the proposed law provides for

the modalities for the participation of states and local government councils in the rail transportation sector. Here, the approved standard that would be required to construct and operate railways as well as develop infrastructure for the provision of services within the territory of states and LGAs are well spelt out.

For the purpose of ensuring safety, the new law provides for the appointment of the Chief Inspector of Railways who is to issue an elaborate guidelines to operators. Also, Part XI provides modalities for ensuring that rail tracks concession to private investors by NRA and those consequently constructed by investors are accessible to all. The regulator is saddled with the duty of ensuring track access agreements and access charges that are applicable.

Part XII regulates competitive disposition and discourages the emergence of a monopoly . Part XIV spells out the duties and powers of railway operators. Part XV deals with appointment of railway accident investigators, their functions and mode of operation. It also prohibits conflict of interest.

Part IX dwells on acquisition of land for construction of Railway Infrastructure. It empowers the NRA not only to access the land but to also compulsorily acquire any land required for the construction of railway infrastructure. The last part deals with the offences and penalties with regard to safety and operations of the Railway.

The implication of the bill which is awaiting concurrent passage in the House of Representatives and ascent by the President is that very soon massive job creation opportunities will be available to the people through the railway sector. Also, the growth of thriving local economy around train stations will soon be witnessed in our rural areas. More importantly, safety on roads and mass movement of people and easy distribution of food items from the producing areas to the consuming areas will now be possible.

It is then that we can all have a jolly ride on the train.

-Olaniyonu is Special Adviser (Media and Publicity) to Senate President.

Understanding the National Assembly Recess

Chuks Okocha

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he National Assembly is currently on recess and it is expected that the federal lawmakers would resume their legislative duties on September 13. But it does not imply that the National Assembly has been shut down.

No, the National Assembly is on break, but members of both chambers – the Senate and the House of Representatives – are on daily basis busy doing their legislatives duties.

Even before proceeding on their annual break, the President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki, announced at plenary of that committees of the senate should endeavour to use the recess to complete their outstanding oversight duties.

This is one unique aspect of the legislature that Nigerians are yet to fully appreciate. This can be attributed to the country’s several years of military rule. The work of the legislature does not start and end with the plenary sessions. No, like all legislative assemblies across the globe, their duties do not end with the plenary sessions. The bulk of their duties are done at the committee level.

So, it would be absolutely wrong to say that because the members of National Assembly sit in plenary from Tuesday to Thursday every week, that should be the basis for computing the number of days they sit to make up the mandatory 181 days that they are expected to sit in a legislative year. No, it is not so. Majority of the legislative duties are performed at the committees’ level, when they do their oversight func-

tions.

If not, how could the Senate be on break, to resume September 13, and the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs is busy screening the ambassadorial nominees submitted by President Muhammadu Buhari. When the Senate commenced its annual break, it does not mean that the activities of the National Assembly have been shut down. This is because any committee of the Senate, indeed the National Assembly, that has outstanding duties are obliged to use the opportunity afforded by the break to complete its oversight functions over government parastatals.

It was in this regard that while the National Assembly was on recess, the presiding officers continued their day to day duties, as if nothing had happened. For instance, while on break, the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, were busy attending state duties, like the inauguration of the rail transport between Abuja and Kaduna. In fact, other members of the transport committees of both chambers that have oversight functions were also in attendance at the inauguration.

Also how come that the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs under the chairmanship of Senator Monsurat Summonu in conjunction with other senators were able to screen the 47 ambassadorial nominees. Buhari had on June 9 submitted the names of 47 career Foreign Service officers to the senate for screening as well as confirmation as Nigeria’s envoys to other countries.

The Senate, though on recess, was able to screen all the career ambassadors, who were subsequently granted audience by the Senate President after the screening exercise.

Within the same week of their break, the Chairman of the National Assembly, Saraki, inaugurated the committee on the budget review under the chairmanship of the Senate Leader, Senator Muhammed Ali Ndume.

The event had members of the House of Representatives and the National Institute of Legislative Studies (NILS) who are members in attendance. Also, the Senate President received the Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs who was on a diplomatic business shuttle to Nigeria in his office.

So, despite being on recess, there are no doll moments at the National Assembly, whether on break or not. It would be unfair to the legislators to say that by going on recess they have not completed the mandatory 181 legislative days that they are expected to sit. So also, it would be absolutely wrong for Femi Falana, SAN, to call on the Accountant General of the Federation to ensure that federal legislators who have not met the mandatory 181 days to refund the money collected for the number of days they failed to sit at the National Assembly.

Falana went further to state that the federal lawmakers were embarking on incessant recess. He said the Senate sat for only 96 days, while the House of Representatives sat for 104 days out of the 181 mandatory days the two chambers of the National Assembly are expected to sit.

For the avoidance of doubt, and for the information of Falana and others of that ilk, details of the legislative calendar for the period, June 9, 2015 to June 9, 2016, show clearly that the Senate sat for 181 days. The document signed by the Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, and the former chairman of the Senate Committee on Rules and Business,

Senator Babajide Omoworare, and the Clerk of the Senate, Barrister Solomon Ntuen, shows that the Senate sat for 181 legislative days between June 2015 and June 9, 2016.

According to the records of the senate, the senate sat for four days between June 9 and June 12 before embarking on a two-week break. It resumed from break on June 23 and had legislative sittings for three days before embarking on break again to resume July 28 and sat for 13 legislative days and thereafter embarked on its annual vacation for six weeks.

The senate resumed from its annual break on September 23 and sat for six days before going on break to observe the October 1 independence day for a day. It resumed again on October 5 and had its plenary nonstop to December 17, 2015 before adjourning for the Christmas and New Year break. Within this period, it sat for 53 days. The Senate resumed on January 12, 2016 and worked for another 52 days before going on break for the Easter holidays for eight days. On resumption from the Easter break, it worked for another 50 days that ended on Thursday, June 9, 2016. These are verifiable dates. So why the unnecessary outburst by the learned Senior Advocate of Nigeria that the Senate only sat for 96 days!

It is equally an over exaggerated statement to state that the Senate was shut down to enable the senate president attend his trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal. Most of the tribunal sittings were conducted either on Mondays, or when the Senate was on break.

Besides, the Senate has a deputy senate president, who presides when the president of the senate is unavoidably absent.

–– Okocha is Special Assistant to the Senate President on Print Media

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AUGUST 7, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

PERSPECTIVE

Who is the Best Man for Edo State Guber?

Christian Oronsaye

H

istory plays a role and shapes our future. Today, I share with you my interactions with the two leading candidates for the Edo State Gubernatorial Election, Osagie Ize-Iyamu and Godwin Obaseki.

Firstly, it was around 2001-2002 that I first met Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu. We had gone to appeal to him concerning the closure of Ambrose Alli University (AAU). For those of you who cannot remember, AAU was closed down after students legitimately protested against Management high-handedness and, in the process, cornered a Coca Cola truck.

We asked for his intervention to support the re-opening of our school. He told us that AAU students were bad; that we were thieves, cultists and never-do-well. Based on that flawed generalisation, he said he supported the decision of the governor on the closure of AAU as a punishment for our misconduct and “Sins”.

While the government of the day was using the conduct of the students as an excuse, the real reason for the closure was lack of funds to pay staff of AAU. As you all know - and as a direct consequence of this action – we, the students, at that time lost over two years of our lives to this unnecessary and unwarranted closure. That memory never left me!

Again in 2004, after I was elected as President of the Law Students Association, I embarked on an audacious and daring task to Honor our First and Foremost Dean of the Faculty of Law, the Late Professor D.O. Aihie. The Late Aihie - as Dean and, later, Vice Chancellor of the then Bendel State University (now AAU) - saw the formation and growth of the Faculty of Law. His legacies and achievements are overwhelming. As at that time, it was 10 years post death, so we thought about hosting a lecture and dinner in his honour. We wanted to do this so that the labor of our heroes past will

Ize-Iyamu

Obaseki

not be in vein. We wanted to show others - his family, the school community…and so on…that we were proud of his time as Dean and, later, Vice Chancellor. Several Speakers were selected for this event and Osagie Ize-Iyamu was one of them. He was selected because of his profession as a lawyer and then a possible role model for would-be lawyers.

As President, I personally went to his office with an invitation letter, and also asking for his support towards the program. After waiting for several hours, he came out, reviewed the letter, asked questions and then told me that he didn’t think the Late Aihie achieved anything worth celebrating. I explained to him that the very foundation of excellence at the Law Faculty was laid by this same Aihie, and that - in any case - this was worth celebrating. In fact, our theme was “For Our Today, He Gave Us His Yesterday”.

At that point he lost his temper and asked me to leave his office.

As far as he was concerned, who was I to argue with an SSG? He made me sadder than I came in. Not only did he demonize my school, he shattered the legacies of our hero, Aihie.

Mind you, the same document I gave to him

was the same that I gave to Prof. Sagay, the Ugbesias (who overwhelmingly supported the event), Tony Anenih, etc. They were, indeed, very delighted; at last, someone had found the courage to honor an author of excellence.

Now fast-forward to 2007, I graduated from the Law School and emerged as the Law School All-Time Best - breaking all records previously held before me. I graduated with a First Class Honour, the first student from AAU and Edo State to make that history at the Nigerian Law School. Yes, I was from AAU, a school that Ize-Iyamu and his government characterised as a school for thieves, thugs, prostitutes and the never-do-well.

That year, my set at the Law School will never forget the standard set by AAU students at the Nigeria Law School. Even Lucky Igbinedion - the then governor who claimed AAU was no good, shut down our school, made us lose two years of our school lives – praised my success as part of his achievements in office.

In November 2007, the Late President of Eghosa Old Boys Association (EGHOBA), Dr. Ekhator of blessed memory, invited me to receive an award. At the award ceremony, I was honoured alongside Godwin Obaseki. That

mission, RMFAC and the Federal Ministry of Finance. They too had converged on Abeokuta from Monday, July 25 for their conference.

All of these within a week that also saw Abeokuta hosting about 300 participants for a workshop preceding the flag off of the Federal Government School feeding program in Ogun State. Of this number there were delegates from the relevant federal government agencies, over 20 private sector organisations represented as well as representatives from the State Universal Basic Education Board, farmers cooperatives, health officials and several others.

Indeed, national conferences and summits of this nature are gradually becoming a common place in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, leading to a situation where some now describe the gateway state as a Mecca of sorts.

Earlier in the month of July, the state capital also played host to not less than 93 Rectors and Provosts of Polytechnics and Colleges of Education. There was also the conference of Vice Chancellors of Universities in Nigeria, which was also hosted in Ogun State in June 2016.

The state is also playing host to the national conference of Finance and Administrative teams of the West African Examination Council, WAEC, in early August.

Equally on the plate for August is a national conference of Pharmacists as well as the first national annual conference of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ. So why is Ogun State now the darling of conference and Summit organisers from across the country and even beyond? The answer is not far-fetched. Since he assumed office as Governor in 2011, Senator Ibikunle Amosun has invested heavily in security. His is an administration that generously provides the police with logistics, political, moral and financial support to bring out the best in them at all times. Predictably, the result of

this sort of effort is the peaceful and secure environment that the state now enjoys.

But that is not all that is responsible for the recent attraction to Ogun State. There is also the fact that the Governor Amosun-led administration has so far developed Ogun State and transformed its major cities to places that are attractive to local and international tourists as well as investors.

What did the magic can be easily traced to the massive infrastructural development drive of the Governor Amosun administration. Indeed, infrastructural development is a critical component of Governor Amosun’s Mission to Rebuild Ogun State. Little wonder, therefore, that in the last five years, several hundreds of kilometres of roads have been constructed, expanded and resurfaced.

The vision of the governor is to create an environment that enables businesses to thrive, attracts investment and opens up new (and existing) areas for growth.

To make this happen, the Amosun government constructed the Ibara-Totoro Road, the first international standard six-lane road in Ogun State. It also built the flyover at Ibara, Abeokuta, the first constructed by any administration since the creation of the State in 1976. The first 10-lane boulevard, which begins at Sokori and opens up into the elaborate Itoku Bridge, is a stamp of modernisation affixed to the state capital by the current administration.

Without doubt, this is one of the reasons the bikers chose Abeokuta as venue for their annual convergence. They met in Abeokuta for the first time in 2015 and fell in love with the standard of roads in the capital city. But they soon realized that this was not limited to the capital city. Those who rode their bikes through the other two senatorial districts of the state also attested to the quality of roads in those areas too. That’s why they returned this year and its also reason why some of them are already suggesting that the gateway city be made permanent

The Beautiful Bride Called Ogun

Adejuwon Soyinka

T

hey converged on Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital from different parts of the country.

As at the morning of Saturday, July 30, not less than 250 of them had arrived the state capital.

Some of them came from Kogi State, there were those from Owerri, Imo State; Port Harcourt, Rivers; Abuja, neignbouring Lagos and several other states and capital cities across the length and breadth of Nigeria.

There was something they all had in common. They arrived Abeokuta on power bikes. They are members of the different association of bike riders in different parts of the country and they were meeting in Abeokuta from Friday, July 29 to Sunday, July 31, 2016.

Called the Bikers Converge, the three-day meeting was a carnival of sorts that saw the bikers, their friends and lovers of bike from all over the country taking up hotel accommodation all over Abeokuta and generally contributing to the economy of the state.

Shortly before the bikers came, there was the 3rd Quadrennial National Delegates Conference of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria also held in Abeokuta. An affiliate of the Trade Union Congress, TUC, the delegates’ conference drew attendance from all the states of the federation. They came in the evening of Tuesday, July 26 ahead of the opening session of the 3-day conference on Wednesday, July 27.

Members of the Joint Tax Board, JTB, preceded the senior civil servants. The JTB is made up of the tax authorities of all the 36 states of the federation, including the Nigerian Customs Service, the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Allocation Com-

was the first time I met Godwin Obaseki in person although I had heard about him, particularly because I was working in a leading law firm and had the opportunity to be the lawyers advising the buyers of some assets where Afrinvest, a company founded

by Obaseki, was the financial adviser. In fact, at that time, the major financial advisers on big-ticket transactions were either Afrinvest or Vetiva Capital.

After I received my award, Obaseki, in spite of his wealth and standing, walked over to where I was with humility, congratulated me and gave me his card and personal email address. In his words, “would you like to join my team? Send me your resume before Wednesday so I can get an interview scheduled for you”. He didn’t bother himself about the school I attended or who I was or where I came from. Rather, he saw excellence and wanted to reward excellence.

I was invited for the interview, hired and then I turned it down after I spoke with my mentor about my plans for my future. The offer was mouth-watering, and even higher than the pay I was receiving then, with perks that would drive you crazy. Obaseki called me some days later when he heard that I turned down the offer. He asked me if I wanted more pay so that I will join his team, then I explained to him about my plans and he welcomed the idea, then wished me good luck. After that time, I saw him several times at meetings and public functions.

I put before you two candidates: one IzeIyamu, who had the opportunity to reward excellence but rather chose to demonise AAU in order to appease his pay masters and destroyed every fabric of our hero, Prof.

Aihie, and the other, Obaseki, who had the opportunity and took it to reward excellence.

Won’t you rather Vote Obaseki than an Ize-Iyamu? For those of you who know me, I promote and support excellence. I Support Godwin Obaseki as governor for Edo State!

- Oronsaye is a lawyer

host of the annual bikers’ converge.

The massive infrastructural development also attracted other businesses including international standard hotels and resorts that now dot the different parts of Ogun State.

Indeed, a combination of these factors appear to have conspired into making Ogun State an irresistible bride and destination of choice not just for people and organisations seeking a great venue for conferences, summits, seminars and retreats, but also for industries.

This, perhaps explain why, in the last five years, Ogun State has attracted not less than 100 industries that have invested in excess of $100m into the local economy.

Beyond those big multinationals, the Amosun-led administration has also created an enabling environment for small and medium scale enterprises to thrive in Ogun State.

The resultant effect is that today, Ogun State has the enviable record of the state that recorded the highest level of increase in Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, in the country.

And the governor is not resting on his oars. He is set to commission the Palm Mall, Ota, said to be the largest of those stores, in terms of landmass in Nigeria.

Not only that, Governor Amosun is also currently working on the construction of the Abeokuta city center which will include yet another Palms Mall, a Cinema, Convention Center and several other facilities that will further enhance the status of the city as a destination of choice for both individuals and corporate organisations.

- Soyinka, Senior Special Assistant (Media) and spokesman for Governor Ibikunle Amosun, is a multiple awardwinning journalist and former Editor with TELL Magazine.

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Edited by Demola Ojo Email demola.ojo@thisdaylive.com

Fireworks at the opening ceremony

How Brazil Made Something out of Challenges Vanessa Obioha brings home a vivid account of how the Olympic spectacle became reality for Brazil, while chronicling the controversies leading to the games

T

he odds were cruelly stacked against her. Looking at the prevailing circumstances, nothing was in their favour. From the Zika Virus to economic crises, everything looked so gloomy for the South American country.After a nine-year wait to host the Olympics, her moment of glory arrived. Finally, Brazil became the first South American country to host the Olympics.

In place of the usual celebration and excitement accompanying what many countries would consider good news, Brazil struggled with despair and frustration. Staring at her boldly in the face was the mosquito-borne Zika Virus which made Australian top-golfer Jason Day pull out of the sporting event. There was also the pollution of the Guanamara Bay where the sailing sports will hold.

Away from health and environmental plagues, the country had to contend with economic and political issues. Early this year, President Dilma Rousseff was forced to vacate the presidential seat following allegations of complicity in a money laundering scandal at the state-controlled oil company Petrobras. Recession was at its peak and terrorism was a present danger.. Just two weeks before the Games, an Islamic jihadist group was busted by the Brrazillian police.

Besides its internal problems, other participating countries had their own issues that impacted on the reputation of the games.. Russia, an active participant in the games waited till the eleventh hour to know her fate following the doping crisis.

They were initially banned from the games as most of their athletes failed the doping test. Almost one -third of the athletes were not allowed to take part in the games.

Perhaps, the biggest hurdle for Brazil was its initial budget of $18 billion for the games. In 2012, London spent $15 billion on Olympics while Sochi spent $21. 9 billion in 2008. Brazil however will be the first country to host the Olympics for a lesser budget of $13.3 billion since1960. With

a per-capita income of $8, 802, the country was forced to revise her 2016 budget to $170 billion reais. At the end of the day, the country could only cough out 10 per cent of London’s budget.

Yet, hope was kept alive for the SouthAmerican country. Friday came with a beam of hope despite the protests in some parts of the city that forced the Olympic torch bearers to change course.

In Rio de Janeiro, the host city of the XXXI Olympics, a large crowd had assembled, taking in the breathtaking view of the Maracana Stadium.

Lights and fireworks were already on display.

Behind the stadium stood the magnificent Christ the Redeemer statue, standing like an eternal sentry watching over the city. Situated at the Corcovado Mountain, overlooking the city, the orgnisers found other aesthtetic uses for statue; projecting light in the green and yellow natiionl colours of the country, which illuminated the city at night.

The splendour of the 38 metres tall statue seemed to offer redemption to the groanings of the city.

At exactly 20:00 Brazilian time (00:00 Nigerian time), the world became a stage for the opening ceremony of the Olympics. For the next couple of hours, Brazil forgot its woes and basked in the glory of its rich culture.

Starting with a video of a wave crashing into a beach, the video gave an aerial tour of the city, highlighting its popular sports played on the beach, roof-tops of buildings, including its historical Amazon forest and the streets of the city. It was followed by a countdown. At the count of zero, the whole stadium erupted in a colourful and magical display of fireworks and lights, eliciting thunderous cheers from the thousands of spectators gathered there.

Before the spectators could snap out of the reverie of the fireworks, the choreographers marched in, shimmering in their silvery attires.

With the map of the country boldly displayed on the floor of the stadium, the metallic paper carried by the performers created an illusion of waves.

More fireworks were ignited in the stadium as

the drum rolled, for once dimming the various controversies that had riddled the country in the past weeks leading to the event.

Brazilian singer Paulinho da Viola performed the Brazil National Anthem while the flagpole seemed as if it sprouted from the ground of the stadium.

Portraying the image of a happy people with more athletes and youngsters coming on stage, the organisers took the spectators on a historical journey.

The history and development of the South American comany through the years was reenacted on stage. Themed ‘The Birth of Life’, the journey began in the land of the palm trees.

Enveloped by projections of clouds or waves, followed by insect-like puppets and a swarm of yellow butterflies, the choreographers showed the lifestyle of the people who lived in the forest.

An indigenous representation of their heritage in theAmazon followed suit with the use of elastic surgery band which at first looks like a spider web but transformed to three pyramidical structures that represents the traditional huts of that time.

In came the ships, showing the arrival of the Portuguese and their use of trees to change the landscape. The African slaves were the second to arrive and left great footprints in the sand of the time. The arrival of the Arabs further showed the mixed ethnicity in the country. Amajor takeaway from the history lesson is the role of the Japanese in Brazil. The Japanese population in Brazil is greater than anywhere else except in Japan.

The old Brazil soon gave way to a contemporary ‘Box City’ with the erection of buildings nd structures similar to a modern city. Sprightly gymnasts were seen jumping over the burgeoning metropolis represented by the big thick boxes.

The city comprises of 73 stacked boxes which are used as mini-stages. At this juncture, there were more trees on display.

Rapidly, the dancers began to stack the boxes to reveal the historical air plane inventor from

Brazil, Alberto Santos Dumont ready to take off in his iconic 14 Bis. He is believed by Brazilians to be the original inventor of the flying craft. He was represented by another man and flew further than his 60 metres in 1906 within the stadium.

While he was enjoying the scenery of the beautiful city, Uber model Gisele Bundchen catwalked the length of the stage to Daniel, who performs his grandfather’s (Tom Jobim) popular song ‘Garota de Ipanema’ (Girl from Ipanema) More performances followed before the 11,000 athletes representing the participating countries marched in, waving their flags with pride. Ahead of each country was a Brazilian cycling in colourful tricycles. The athletes were also given seeds which they left in a trail, signifying the legacy they will leave behind after the games. The seeds would later form a brilliant green version of the Olympics rings.

The organisers also seized the opportunity to campaign against global warming.

The Olympic cauldron was finally lit by former marathon runner Vanderlei Cordeiro de Lima.

And off went the fireworks igniting the kinetic sculpture of the cauldron in brilliant kaleidoscope of lights. Designed by American artist Anthony Howe, the cauldron is a hybrid that moves itself through the wind and reflects fire. It represents the sun, a major source of renewable energy.

What Brazil lacked in funds, they gained in setting. In the words of Leonardo Caetano, Rio 2016 ceremonies director: “We had much less budget than any of the most recent opening ceremonies - we used that to our benefit,” the Brazilians gave the world an unforgettable show.

But the implication of this is feared to have an adverse effect on the people. The protests so far were from civil servants who moaned the non-payment of salaries and lack of infrastructure in the city.

Will the momentary glory of the opening ceremony override the rising tides of multifarious colossal problems before the end of the games?

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Rio Olympics 2016... Rio Olympics 2016... Rio Olympics 2016...

Former Brazil marathoner Vanderlei Cordiero da Lima lit the Olympic cauldron in the absence of football superstar, Pele, who was not well enough to do so

The Maracana stadium was lit by fireworks during the opening ceremony

Nigeria’s dream team celebrating their first goal against Japan

Brazil’s history of slavery being portrayed by dancers

Colourful costumes referenced Brazil’s carnival tradition

Leicester, Man United Kick-off English Season at Wembley

P

remiership champions Leicester City take on Manchester United in the Community Shield at Wembley today for the traditional start-of-season showpiece with Jose Mourinho out to make a statement of intent as he looks to reinvigorate FA Cup champions United.

The 20-time top flight champions have bolstered their squad considerably in the summer, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic the capture that has attracted all the attention. United’s pre-season was disrupted by postponements in China, and results on the pitch have been mixed, with a 4-1 defeat against Borussia Dortmund a low point.

With fewer games than expected, Mourinho admitted he will use today’s encounter to give some players who are short of match practice some valuable minutes.

“We can make six substitutions instead of three, so that gives me the chance to

give minutes to people,” Mourinho said.

“It also gives me the chance to play some players I know can’t play 90 minutes, as they have no condition to play for 90 minutes.”

The doubters have been circling for most of the summer, but Claudio Ranieri refuses to let such talk of Leicester not being able to handle the heat at the top get to his side, and is relishing the chance to take on a stronger-looking United today.

“I forgot what happened last season,” Ranieri said.

“Now my focus is on the new season.

We’re ambitious but know it will be very hard. This is not a friendly. We will give the maximum and also Manchester United will too. Both teams want to win it.”

While the loss of N’Golo Kante was a blow, keeping hold of Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez will give fans a boost, and club-record signing Ahmed Musa looks to be in fine form ahead of the new

season, with his stunning solo effort against Barcelona in their 4-2 friendly defeat getting Foxes fans fired up and ready to go.

Jamie Vardy faces a late fitness test ahead of today’s encounter. The England forward got through 45 minutes against Barcelona unscathed, and Ranieri revealed that he has been training well since. Otherwise, Ranieri has a full squad to choose from.

Mourinho has plenty of attacking options to chose from, but is likely to go with Ibrahimovic as the focal point of the attack, with Wayne Rooney just behind.

Timothy Fosu-Mensah is a long-term absentee with a calf injury, but Chris Smalling could play some part after working his way back to fitness from a muscular setback.

Bastian Schweinsteiger will almost certainly miss out, as he doesn’t appear to be in Mourinho’s plans, and is training on his own.

Musa scored a terrific brace in the pre-season friendly defeat to Barcelona

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Edited by Demola Ojo Email demola.ojo@thisdaylive.com

Fireworks at the opening ceremony

How Brazil Made Something out of Challenges Vanessa Obioha brings home a vivid account of how the Olympic spectacle became reality for Brazil, while chronicling the controversies leading to the games

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he odds were cruelly stacked against her. Looking at the prevailing circumstances, nothing was in their favour. From the Zika Virus to economic crises, everything looked so gloomy for the South American country.After a nine-year wait to host the Olympics, her moment of glory arrived. Finally, Brazil became the first South American country to host the Olympics.

In place of the usual celebration and excitement accompanying what many countries would consider good news, Brazil struggled with despair and frustration. Staring at her boldly in the face was the mosquito-borne Zika Virus which made Australian top-golfer Jason Day pull out of the sporting event. There was also the pollution of the Guanamara Bay where the sailing sports will hold.

Away from health and environmental plagues, the country had to contend with economic and political issues. Early this year, President Dilma Rousseff was forced to vacate the presidential seat following allegations of complicity in a money laundering scandal at the state-controlled oil company Petrobras. Recession was at its peak and terrorism was a present danger.. Just two weeks before the Games, an Islamic jihadist group was busted by the Brrazillian police.

Besides its internal problems, other participating countries had their own issues that impacted on the reputation of the games.. Russia, an active participant in the games waited till the eleventh hour to know her fate following the doping crisis.

They were initially banned from the games as most of their athletes failed the doping test. Almost one -third of the athletes were not allowed to take part in the games.

Perhaps, the biggest hurdle for Brazil was its initial budget of $18 billion for the games. In 2012, London spent $15 billion on Olympics while Sochi spent $21. 9 billion in 2008. Brazil however will be the first country to host the Olympics for a lesser budget of $13.3 billion since1960. With

a per-capita income of $8, 802, the country was forced to revise her 2016 budget to $170 billion reais. At the end of the day, the country could only cough out 10 per cent of London’s budget.

Yet, hope was kept alive for the SouthAmerican country. Friday came with a beam of hope despite the protests in some parts of the city that forced the Olympic torch bearers to change course.

In Rio de Janeiro, the host city of the XXXI Olympics, a large crowd had assembled, taking in the breathtaking view of the Maracana Stadium.

Lights and fireworks were already on display.

Behind the stadium stood the magnificent Christ the Redeemer statue, standing like an eternal sentry watching over the city. Situated at the Corcovado Mountain, overlooking the city, the orgnisers found other aesthtetic uses for statue; projecting light in the green and yellow natiionl colours of the country, which illuminated the city at night.

The splendour of the 38 metres tall statue seemed to offer redemption to the groanings of the city.

At exactly 20:00 Brazilian time (00:00 Nigerian time), the world became a stage for the opening ceremony of the Olympics. For the next couple of hours, Brazil forgot its woes and basked in the glory of its rich culture.

Starting with a video of a wave crashing into a beach, the video gave an aerial tour of the city, highlighting its popular sports played on the beach, roof-tops of buildings, including its historical Amazon forest and the streets of the city. It was followed by a countdown. At the count of zero, the whole stadium erupted in a colourful and magical display of fireworks and lights, eliciting thunderous cheers from the thousands of spectators gathered there.

Before the spectators could snap out of the reverie of the fireworks, the choreographers marched in, shimmering in their silvery attires.

With the map of the country boldly displayed on the floor of the stadium, the metallic paper carried by the performers created an illusion of waves.

More fireworks were ignited in the stadium as

the drum rolled, for once dimming the various controversies that had riddled the country in the past weeks leading to the event.

Brazilian singer Paulinho da Viola performed the Brazil National Anthem while the flagpole seemed as if it sprouted from the ground of the stadium.

Portraying the image of a happy people with more athletes and youngsters coming on stage, the organisers took the spectators on a historical journey.

The history and development of the South American comany through the years was reenacted on stage. Themed ‘The Birth of Life’, the journey began in the land of the palm trees.

Enveloped by projections of clouds or waves, followed by insect-like puppets and a swarm of yellow butterflies, the choreographers showed the lifestyle of the people who lived in the forest.

An indigenous representation of their heritage in theAmazon followed suit with the use of elastic surgery band which at first looks like a spider web but transformed to three pyramidical structures that represents the traditional huts of that time.

In came the ships, showing the arrival of the Portuguese and their use of trees to change the landscape. The African slaves were the second to arrive and left great footprints in the sand of the time. The arrival of the Arabs further showed the mixed ethnicity in the country. Amajor takeaway from the history lesson is the role of the Japanese in Brazil. The Japanese population in Brazil is greater than anywhere else except in Japan.

The old Brazil soon gave way to a contemporary ‘Box City’ with the erection of buildings nd structures similar to a modern city. Sprightly gymnasts were seen jumping over the burgeoning metropolis represented by the big thick boxes.

The city comprises of 73 stacked boxes which are used as mini-stages. At this juncture, there were more trees on display.

Rapidly, the dancers began to stack the boxes to reveal the historical air plane inventor from

Brazil, Alberto Santos Dumont ready to take off in his iconic 14 Bis. He is believed by Brazilians to be the original inventor of the flying craft. He was represented by another man and flew further than his 60 metres in 1906 within the stadium.

While he was enjoying the scenery of the beautiful city, Uber model Gisele Bundchen catwalked the length of the stage to Daniel, who performs his grandfather’s (Tom Jobim) popular song ‘Garota de Ipanema’ (Girl from Ipanema) More performances followed before the 11,000 athletes representing the participating countries marched in, waving their flags with pride. Ahead of each country was a Brazilian cycling in colourful tricycles. The athletes were also given seeds which they left in a trail, signifying the legacy they will leave behind after the games. The seeds would later form a brilliant green version of the Olympics rings.

The organisers also seized the opportunity to campaign against global warming.

The Olympic cauldron was finally lit by former marathon runner Vanderlei Cordeiro de Lima.

And off went the fireworks igniting the kinetic sculpture of the cauldron in brilliant kaleidoscope of lights. Designed by American artist Anthony Howe, the cauldron is a hybrid that moves itself through the wind and reflects fire. It represents the sun, a major source of renewable energy.

What Brazil lacked in funds, they gained in setting. In the words of Leonardo Caetano, Rio 2016 ceremonies director: “We had much less budget than any of the most recent opening ceremonies - we used that to our benefit,” the Brazilians gave the world an unforgettable show.

But the implication of this is feared to have an adverse effect on the people. The protests so far were from civil servants who moaned the non-payment of salaries and lack of infrastructure in the city.

Will the momentary glory of the opening ceremony override the rising tides of multifarious colossal problems before the end of the games?

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Rio Olympics 2016... Rio Olympics 2016... Rio Olympics 2016...

Former Brazil marathoner Vanderlei Cordiero da Lima lit the Olympic cauldron in the absence of football superstar, Pele, who was not well enough to do so

The Maracana stadium was lit by fireworks during the opening ceremony

Nigeria’s dream team celebrating their first goal against Japan

Brazil’s history of slavery being portrayed by dancers

Colourful costumes referenced Brazil’s carnival tradition

Leicester, Man United Kick-off English Season at Wembley

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remiership champions Leicester City take on Manchester United in the Community Shield at Wembley today for the traditional start-of-season showpiece with Jose Mourinho out to make a statement of intent as he looks to reinvigorate FA Cup champions United.

The 20-time top flight champions have bolstered their squad considerably in the summer, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic the capture that has attracted all the attention. United’s pre-season was disrupted by postponements in China, and results on the pitch have been mixed, with a 4-1 defeat against Borussia Dortmund a low point.

With fewer games than expected, Mourinho admitted he will use today’s encounter to give some players who are short of match practice some valuable minutes.

“We can make six substitutions instead of three, so that gives me the chance to

give minutes to people,” Mourinho said.

“It also gives me the chance to play some players I know can’t play 90 minutes, as they have no condition to play for 90 minutes.”

The doubters have been circling for most of the summer, but Claudio Ranieri refuses to let such talk of Leicester not being able to handle the heat at the top get to his side, and is relishing the chance to take on a stronger-looking United today.

“I forgot what happened last season,” Ranieri said.

“Now my focus is on the new season.

We’re ambitious but know it will be very hard. This is not a friendly. We will give the maximum and also Manchester United will too. Both teams want to win it.”

While the loss of N’Golo Kante was a blow, keeping hold of Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez will give fans a boost, and club-record signing Ahmed Musa looks to be in fine form ahead of the new

season, with his stunning solo effort against Barcelona in their 4-2 friendly defeat getting Foxes fans fired up and ready to go.

Jamie Vardy faces a late fitness test ahead of today’s encounter. The England forward got through 45 minutes against Barcelona unscathed, and Ranieri revealed that he has been training well since. Otherwise, Ranieri has a full squad to choose from.

Mourinho has plenty of attacking options to chose from, but is likely to go with Ibrahimovic as the focal point of the attack, with Wayne Rooney just behind.

Timothy Fosu-Mensah is a long-term absentee with a calf injury, but Chris Smalling could play some part after working his way back to fitness from a muscular setback.

Bastian Schweinsteiger will almost certainly miss out, as he doesn’t appear to be in Mourinho’s plans, and is training on his own.

Musa scored a terrific brace in the pre-season friendly defeat to Barcelona

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R • August 7, 2016

High Life

85 with LANRE ALFRED 08076885752

...Amazing lifestyles of Nigeria’s rich and famous

Emir Of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, Celebrates 55

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t 55, the Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, is every inch a gracious champ. Like most champs, he makes a good first impression. As he clocks 55, his story pulsates with a pleasurable lore of labour, perseverance, re-invention and accomplishment. It projects the fate of a man immune to the proverbial fatal weakness of character oft derided by conservatives as carefree folk’s Achilles heel. Lamido, the former CBN governor, personifies a classic success story of the man who grew to be titan under the heavy weight of daunting odds, along the torturous path to acclaim.

Lamido clocked 55 some days ago.

His candid cadences, touch with just the faintest whiff of reticence, amplifying his graceful modesty and ability to navigate the tricky slopes of toil, acclaim and humane ethics - whether THE FASCINATING STORY OF MIKE OGHIADOMHE

It is fashionable to be scarce if you are significant enough to be missed. But when you are forced to live in despair and endure the plague of insolvency, without hope of some immediate succour, then disappearing from the scene may be the next best alternative for you, particularly if you were once part of high society. It is uncertain whether Mike Oghiadomhe’s current disappearance from the sociopolitical scene is attributable to the import of the preceding reason, but hardly anyone would dispute the fact that the former Chief of Staff (CoS) to President Goodluck Jonathan may have run into hard times.

You couldn’t have forgotten so soon how he was booted out of office.

Mike suffered what many would call a very rude awakening to the utter fleetingness of political perks and splendour. Predictably, he cried blue murder and his supporters wailed like starving werewolves but their heartfelt protests were hushed and smothered in the raucous din of the powers that be. Until his hard luck, Mike was said to be former President Jonathan’s ally, a friendship that dates back to when both were deputy governors in their respective states. Most people’s opinion of Mike was

Mike Oghiadomhe

in the cutthroat world of commerce or social politics, he meanders the fiddly inclines with the grace of a saint. He was born into the Fulani Torodbe clan of Kano on 31 July 1961. He was crowned 8 June, 2014 as the Emir of Kano, succeeding his late grand uncle, Dr. Ado Bayero.

However, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi is no superman after all. Like the average man next door, he loves a rosy cheek; he admires coral lips, and lusts for the spark of star-like eyes. He is just human! He has blood running in his veins too. Behind the steely, plainspeaking demeanour that has become identifiable with him, he is soft inside.

There are women who make his heart flutter and palpitate uncontrollably with passion. He is married to Rakiya Sanusi, Maryam Sanusi, Sadiya Ado Bayero and Sa’adatu Barkindo-Musdafa.

discouraging, except a certain governor from the South-south, Jonathan’s home zone.

In his 50s and with looks that good money and good living have helped to further burnish, you may call him an Adonis or a dandy for his drop-dead dress sense and expensive taste in designer apparels especially Saville Row suits.

JENNIFER’S CROSS OR BROKEN DREAMS...

• Will Peter Salah Marry Jennifer ObayuWana?

Ornament is often the deceptive shore to a most dangerous sea; the beauteous scarf that imbues a timeless troll with the silhouette of an oriental beauty. When applied to love, it becomes the seeming truth, which the cunning adorns to entrap the wisest of men or women. But Jennifer Obayuwana does not know this. Hence the daughter of Polo Luxury CEO, John

Emir Sanusi

Obayuwana, has given her heart to a man widely believed to be too clever for comfort.

Jennifer’s recent announcement of her engagement to Peter Salah, CEO of Tilt Group, generates a whirlpool of feelings even as you read. But while her enthusiastic display of a dazzling ring has left many awe-struck and sincerely happy for her, more people have offered her congratulatory messages tongue-incheek. And the reason is not far-fetched.

It is believed that Jennifer’s beau, Salah, does not love her as much as she believes he does. It is believed in cynical circles that his engagement to Jennifer is a calculated attempt at consolidating his wealth and not really because he is truly in love with her. But the aspiring bride has ignored the naysayers and their negative insinuations.

She would rather savour her blossoming relationship with Salah. It was hardly surprising therefore, that she proudly showed off Salah during her recent birthday party. Pictures of the

couple flooded the social media, depicting the duo as inseparable. Jennifer went as far as posting a photo of how her man woke her up to wash her legs with a bottle of champagne on her special day before he treated her to the best of romantic indulgences and display of unparalleled affection.

But despite the widely held belief that Salah would walk her down the aisle and make a decent woman of her in a grand wedding ceremony in November last year, the couple could not consolidate their union in wedlock thus eliciting spurious speculations of goings-on between them and the recent trajectory of their love.

Cynical minds and marketers of mischief are undoubtedly having a ball analysing why Jennifer’s dream of getting married to Salah suffered a stillbirth. Let’s hope Salah would put mischief makers to shame and marry Jennifer while her heart still skips for him.

Jennifer and Peter

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R • August 7, 2016

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HIGHLIFE

Who is After Aisha Buhari?

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ngels fly because they take themselves lightly.

They do not think too much of themselves, so does Hajia Aisha Buhari. Like an angel, the woman who simply wishes to be called “Wife of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria” takes herself very lightly despite her social and political weight. There is no gainsaying the wife of President Muhammadu Buhari belongs to the league of Nigeria’s most humble women; she wears her badge of temperance and humility in the shape of a bow of ribbon thus affirming that she isn’t what many of her disparagers make her out to be. Contrary to misconceptions about her character, Hajia Aisha, according to sources close to her, is actually a modest, compassionate, accommodating and understanding woman. Her only shortcoming, if at all it could be considered ‘shortcoming,’ is her good fashion sense and lack of tolerance for sycophancy. Some days ago, a black crocodile skin Hermes Birkin handbag toted by Mrs. Buhari caused a social media

storm, as Nigerians took to different social media platforms to express their mixed feelings.

Mrs. Buhari was spotted, at the airport in Washington D.C., with the 35cm Porosus Crocodile bag, said to be expensive. Of course, some recalled that Mrs. Buhari had always had taste for good things, alluding to the expensive Cartier Baignoire Folle 18-carat white gold wristwatch which she wore at her husband’s inauguration in May 2015. But wait a minute! Because every woman always like expensive bags and jewelry, there are possibilities that she may have gotten these items even before her husband became President. The bag might even be a gift to her. Aisha’s womanliness commands the respect and admiration of her closest associates and even passing acquaintances. However, what makes her peerless has little to do with her gracefulness, beauty and infectious modesty; it has more to do with her towering humility, forthrightness and capacity to admit to imperfections that remain a blight to the most lovable mortal.

EKUA ABUDU GETS HER GROOVE BACK • channels passion into school following failed marriage

folks they had known before they came by power.

Ultimately, they choose to live lives of quiet displeasure if they no longer have access to the corridors of power. Caught amid ordinariness, if they do not blow their own trumpets, it is because they feel you are not fit to listen to the performance.

However, Erelu Bisi fayemi, former First lady of Ekiti State, is remarkably different from such characters. Since she left office with her husband, Kayode Fayemi, Bisi is now into private businesses. She now runs ‘Gele outfit called Skente.

According to her “I have been doing Skente Gele for more than a year now. I have always liked Gele and people keep calling me “Erelu Skente” and it was like, why don’t I start something along this line called “Skente Gele?” It has been launched already and women have been rocking it to events. We are having a proper launch soon.” A very nice and decent woman, she maintained a life of pleasant decorum and sociability while in office and even outside the corridors of power. Beneficiaries of her friendliness testify that when she was the first lady, she honoured all invitations to events and high-octane parties.

Eventually, even the fiercest storm abates in life’s tempestuous gulf. Hence it is hardly surprising that malicious rumours about Ekua Abudu have finally dissipated from the social arena. Ekua is no longer the butt of mean jokes and juicy gossips as her marriage has been let off the hook of controversy. And like the proverbial rampart in the thick of storms, Ekua Abudu’s faith in God provided her a worthy solace in those trying times. The fact that her marriage to Wale Abudu hit the rocks due to ‘irreconcilable differences’ is no longer a hot button issue. Ekua has moved on with her life and is currently savouring the success her career yields.

Having suffered a raw deal by wedlock, the founder of Greenwood House School, a private nursery and primary school in Lagos, has focused her attention on her educational project and business venture. Even though she failed woefully at marriage, she has distinguished herself as a force to reckon with in the world of education and industry.

KAYODE FAYEMI’S WIFE, BISI, GOES INTO ‘GELE’ BUSINESS

Many a man or woman who had won and tasted power or had it imposed upon him or her, with much understatement, find it extremely difficult to adjust to life without power. Stripped of the accoutrements and delightful frills of office, they wander about donning masks of moral fiber and nurturing behind their masks, an appalling and impregnable conceit of themselves. They find it even more cumbersome to relate with ordinary

Ekua Abudu

` FRIENDS SERENADE IBORI AT 58 Old sins cast long shadows, claims a popular school of thought, but that may not apply to James Ibori, the former governor of Delta State who is currently serving a jail term in London. Last Thursday, August 4, James was 58. His children, friends and associates remembered him by putting up placards with inscription #BringBackJamesIbori#. The day presented another opportunity for real followers of the Oghara-born

Bisi Fayemi

Aisha Buhari

politician to register their support and admiration for the confined man. It had been hoped that only few people would remember his birthday, but it was not so as thousands of his admirers and followers remembered the most vocal advocate of ‘Resource Control’.

They went to town to display their loyalty for the UNIBENtrained Economist /Statistician in a media carnival that saw them place conspicuous congratulatory advertorials in many Nigerian newspapers and magazines. While contents of some of the advertorials expressed thanksgiving for another year added to Ibori, many used the advertorials to offer prayers that the man who fled Nigeria to escape from the probing claws of EFFC be set free from his present travails. These shows and showers of affection underscore the fact that though he is confined abroad, his fame is legendary back here at home.

WHERE IS FAYSAL HARBS, JUMOKE ADEMOKOYA’S HUBBY? •Kwara socialite disappears from social scene High society pulsates as you read.

The gist revolves around Faysal Harbs. The prominent socialite and magnate’s whereabouts has kept the social media buzzing for a while. Like shy elves hiding from the traveler’s eye, Faysal suddenly disappeared from the social radar, hiding out where no one but his close family members knows. Harbs had once made Ilorin, the capital city of Kwara State, his oyster. He remains yet a prominent player in the city’s

James Ibori

economic and social spheres. Not only does he call the shots in the city’s social scene, his wife, Chief (Mrs.) Jumoke Harbs, is also a famous socialite and a highly regarded woman.

Lately, the well-connected dude seems to have little or no interest in social affairs. Faysal, who used to be the rallying point of major social functions in Ilorin, hardly attends social events these days, no matter the status of the people involved.

While no one seems to know the reason for his sudden sabbatical from the social scene, rumour has it that Harb’s businesses are facing some hard times. Due to this, he is committed to resuscitating his business while staying away from the eyes of the public. Others have, however, countered the rumour, insisting that Fayasal remains financially solid. His wife, however, remains a regular face in social circles.

YEMI BENSON’S LIFE WITHOUT GBENGA EDEKI It is often said that “a maiden marries to please her parents, a widow to please herself,” but after her husband, Gbenga Edeki, died, Yemi has remained in an anonymous cocoon. Yemi contradicts the African widow stereotype in more ways than could be imagined. She is not a symbol of neglect nor is she caught in a perpetual vortex of misery and lack. Impressively, Gbenga’s widow is holding firm even in the face of life’s scariest vicissitudes. However, cancer is a deadly thing indeed. Were

Jumoke Ademokoya

August 7 • T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R

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HIGHLIFE

Buhari, Tinubu Back Together as President Brings Ex-Governor’s Men on Onboard

• How Awujale settled the rift between them

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here is no gainsaying Bola Tinubu’s influence; be it in politics or the country’s business circuit, the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), looms large in the nation’s psyche, as the galaxy’s Milky Way above stratuscumulus clouds. As the clouds and blue expanse of the skies arouse questions about their vastness in every curious heart, Bola Tinubu provokes inquiry and endless streams of speculations about the limits and otherwise of his influence.

As you read, the storm is over between President Muhammadu Buhari and All Progressives Congress (APC) national leader, Bola Tinubu. Ill wind has deserted the midst of the two prominent leaders of Nigeria’s ruling party, like evil mist at the searing blaze of celestial light. Rabble rousers may hold their peace now; Buhari has wooed Tinubu. The strained relationship between Buhari and Tinubu, who played a major role in his emergence as presidential candidate of the APC, has been trending since the inauguration of the present government last year. And that was not unconnected with the fact that Tinubu lost out in the scramble for cabinet slots and other key positions for his men when Buhari was constituting his team. Even though two former governors, Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos and Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti, who are prominent faces in Gbenga Edeki, former top executive of Shell, gifted with the voice of Homer to sing off0 terminal cancer, he might have escaped the harsh, cold hands of death. He might have escaped the excruciating pangs of the disease that has killed more persons than were bumped off when Troy was sacked.

Alas! Gbenga couldn’t, thus he

Benson family

President Buhari and Tinubu

the Tinubu political family, made the cabinet list last year, they clinched their respective slots without the blessing of their political leader. That was believed to have further strained the relationship between the President and Tinubu. Not even the appointment of Mr. Babatunde Fowler, a close associate of Tinubu, as FIRS boss last year could quickly mend their strained relationship. Finally, Mr. President has decided to bring more Tinubu’s men

onboard. Last week, he appointed Tinubu’s former Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Wale Edun, as chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Trust Fund for the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP). He also appointed Tinubu’s media aide, Mr. Sunday Dare, as an Executive Commissioner of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

Before then, Buhari had appointed a close associate of Tinubu, Mr. Pius

is lying six-feet under the earth. The husband of a popular society lady, Yemi Benson, one of the Benson sisters, succumbed to the cold arms of death after fighting a futile battle against cancer for months. Gbenga’s tragic demise cast a dark pall over the entire family of the rich scion of the Edeki clan. Today, all that has been

confined to history as the she is getting her groove back. It is insinuated that the adorable lady is at present being confronted with the temptation of giving marriage a second shot. Several attractive suitors have been crowding her porch but she has managed to keep every one of them at arm’s length.

EKU EDEWOR PREGNANT FOR ODOGWU? Asking society watchers to be nuanced about smouldering TV gal, Eku Edewor, and her twin sister, Kessie Edewor-Thorley, is like asking a middle-schooler to discuss etymology.

Impossible. And there is really so much to talk about the British-bred twin sisters. These thoroughbred twins are effortlessly beautiful, stylish, brilliant and connected.

And they are hugely sought after by men who want to have them for keeps forever but they are not in a hurry to exit the singles’ club.

Yet, not a few men would pray to just touch their arms and claim to their friends that they have touched an angel.

On top of these, they are very active on the social scene. Eku and Kessiana Edewor-Thorley (Thorley being their grandfather’s British name) are the daughters of Juliana whose father was the late Itsekiri powerbroker, philanthropist and business mogul, Chief James Edewor. Since her major

Akinyelure, as a member of the newly constituted board of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), while Mr. Tokunbo Abiru was made the Managing Director of Skye Bank when CBN reconstituted the bank’s board and management team.

HighLife however gathered that the rift between Buhari and Tinubu was mended when a prominent traditional ruler in the South West, the Awujale of Ijebu, Oba Sikiru Adetona, intervened.

Eku Edewor

break anchoring Studio 53 Extra on MNET, Eku has continued to give vent to her talent and training as a theatre artiste. Now the lastest news is that Eku is pregnant for Chini Odogwu, one of the sons of Chief Sunny Odogwu. They are not married though. According to an insider from the Odogwu family, Chini and Eku are not planning to get married after all.

Eku will just be his babymama.

Eku and Chini have shared numerous photos of each other on their respective Instagram accounts.

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NEWSXTRA

CALL TO BAR L-R: An Abuja-based Public Affairs Consultant, Ike Willie Nwobu, with his daughter Chidimma Nwobu who

was called to the Bar at the ceremony, which held at the International Conference Centre, Abuja...recently

CHILD EMPOWERMENT L-R: Pupils of SUBEB Model Primary School, Akure, receiving souvenirs from

Commissioner for Transport, Ondo State, Otunba Nicholas Tofowomo; Executive Secretary, Arrive Alive Road Safety Initiative, Mr. Ike Okonkwo, at the NNPC/ Chevron JV child safety campaign launch organised by the Initiative in Akure, Ondo State...recently

Budget Padding: NLC, Others Advocate Caution, Equality, Peace DamilolaOyedeleandPaulObiin Abuja,SheriffBaloguninAbeokuta andSegunAwofadejiinBauchi Following the ongoing controversy surrounding the padding of the 2016 National Budget, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday urged President Muhammadu Buhari’s government to do some soul-searching and find a strategic way of perfecting the flops that have continued to befall the national budget.

NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba said there was an urgent need to address the current crisis bedevilling the 2016 Appropriation.

He said: “The ongoing controversy over the padding of the 2016 budget is an incontrovertible evidence of the inherent weaknesses in our budgeting process and accordingly underscores the need for a thorough revisit.

“It also reveals the imperfections and the distrust in project identification and implementation system and consequent failure of the present model of capital budgeting without a development plan framework.”

Wabba stated that the current model “shows that projects are not implemented according to needsvalue or priority but who is behind which. In light of the foregoing, we wish to state that instead of going after individuals, government

should do a soul-search as well as x-tray a budgeting system that fails to address the needs of the people.”

The NLC warned against settling of political scores and weakening the National Assembly, stating that “we caution against the use of the present development to settle political scores or unduly weaken the National Assembly.

“A strong National Assembly is a necessity for a vibrant democracy.

We urge Nigerians to be slow to anger in matters of this nature even as they have little or no reason to be too trusting of any political office holder, so that in the end, they do not end up victims of other peoples’ wars.

Wabba further urged caution, “because how the issues in contention are resolved will shape the direction of our democracy; deepen or weaken it. Equally important is the fact that it avails us an opportunity to revisit our budgetary system and the need for development planning,” he said Also, the lawmaker representing Warri Federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Daniel Reyeneiju (Delta PDP) has calledforequalmonetaryallocation to all lawmakers for their constituency projects.

This, he said, in the face of reported padding of the 2016 budget and the crises it has generated particularly in the lower chamber.

Ekweremadu to Deliver US Constitution Day Lecture Anayo Okolie The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, will deliverthe2016editionoftheUnited States of America (USA) Constitution Day Lecture entitled the ‘Influence of the U.S Constitution on African Democracies’.

This was announced by the US Law Library of Congress, the organisers of the annual event, at the weekend.

By this, Ekweremadu, who is both the Deputy President of Nigerian Senate and Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution for a record third term, will be the first non-US citizen to deliver the august lecture commemorating the ratification of the world’s oldest written constitution on September 17, 1787.

The statement reads in part: “In commemoration of Constitution Day, the Law Library of Congress will host a discussion about the influence of the U.S. Constitution on African democracies. The event will feature Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, the Deputy President of the Senate of Nigeria, and immediate past Speaker of the Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States.

“He will explore how elements of the US Constitution have influenced the rise of democracy in Africa and how these rising democracies have expanded upon rights inspired by the US Constitution.

“The discussion will take place at noon on Wednesday, Sept. 7, in room LJ-119 of the Library’s Thomas JeffersonBuilding,10FirstStreetS.E., Washington, D.C.”

Reyeneiju, in a telephone interview with THISDAY, described the crises as unfortunate, painful, and avoidable. “...but for the pitiless degree of greed that has bestride the various institutions in the country, including public office holders,” he said.

The lawmaker lamented that the accusations and counter-accusations have brought the legislature into unmitigated disrepute with the generality of members feeling very disappointed and betrayed by those who may have orchestrated the ‘padding or forgery imbroglio’. “....particularly that the action of padding is strewed with unimaginable degree of moral turpitude which cannot be protected, dismissed, nor defended by hiding under the subterfuge of ‘law’, nor the principle of collective responsibility in the National Assembly.

Reyeneiju described the 2016 budget as is an Act of the National Assembly which ideally should remain sacrosanct, and thus imperative on the executive arm of government to implement based on the availability of funds.

“Thus, since the 2016 Budget is painfully strewed with deficiency of morality, its assumed inviolability and immutability can no longer be taken for granted. In the face of such fundamental flaw specifically that immoral acts have been identified, it is my sincere view that the

presidency (that is constitutionally empowered to implement) should opt for the honorable path by ensuring that all members of the House are place on equal pedestal by ensuring that they are allocated equal amounts for constituency projects of which N100 million is hereby suggested.”

“Such suggested action will not in any way undermine the 2016 Budget as an Act of the National Assembly; moreso that the NationState is currently reeling under the paucity of funds,” Reyeneiju said.

Meanwhile, the Senator representing Bauchi South senatorial district in the National Assembly, Senator Ali Wakili has urged Nigerian politicians to stop over-heating the polity with regards to budget padding crisis in the House of Representatives, asking them to sheathe their swords in the overall interest of the country. The senator who spoke yesterday during an interview with newsmen in Bauchi, also warned politicians to guard against unguarded and provocative utterances concerning the crisis at the national assembly which he said was becoming embarrassing and uncalled for.

According to him, “It is regrettable that some of the utterances by some politicians concerning this budget padding crisis are divisive and overheating the polity.”

My US Trip Funded with Sponsorship Grant, Personal Funds, Says Aisha Buhari Chinedu Eze

Wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari yesterday explained that her ongoing trip to the United States was not being funded with public funds, according to online media reports.

Speaking in an interview with the Hausa service of the Voice of America, Mrs. Buhari said the trip was being funded with personal funds and sponsorship grant, adding that “We sponsored even the government officials that came with us on this trip”.

The president’s wife explained that the Buhari administration was not funding her

office and that her role was just a supportive one to complement her husband’s services to the country.

She said the office of First Lady had become a tradition in almost all nations of the world, not just Nigeria. “All that we are doing is to help our husbands,” she said. The president’s wife also explained that the Nigerian government had put in place a special programme to help women. She said she held a meeting with the Minister of Women Affairs, Aisha Alhassan, before embarking on her U.S. trip on how to sensitise women on ways of taking advantage of the new policy.

Okonkwo: Youth Can Help FG to Alleviate Unemployment Rate Anayo Okolie Chief Executive Officer of Nedcomoaks Limited, Mr. Kennedy Okonkwo, yesterday urged Nigerian youths to stop depending on government, saying that it is killing their potentials.

Okonkwo, who stated this yesterday during the unveiling of Victoria Crest Estate 1, one of his newly constructed estates in Lafiaji area of Lagos, said he resigned his job at Amazon Energy after he lost a mega contract.

Fear of the unknown is no doubt, what is seriously affecting the potential of the youths because they are scared of taking risk. According to him, the youths must learn how to take risk, think and create something for themselves.

Okonkwo, who incorporated his own company Nedcomoaks, a property development company eight years, said he started with build, operate and transfer at the Oniru area of Lekki and later moved on to the Lekki Phase I area.

He later ventured into property development proper, doing the design, build and sell from Majek in Bashorun area of Lagos State.

He believes that his real estate company since inception in 2008 has met the housing needs of many Nigerians through provision of affordable and quality housing in

different parts of Lagos State.

“We can meet housing needs effectively when there is finance.

When developers have financing, they can assist government in providing housing for many people in Nigeria. When government gives additional incentives to developers in term of land, it will help developers to build more housing units for people in different parts of the country.”

Further, Okonkwo said “government needs to rise up to its responsibility to ensure that financing is made available to developers. Government need to partner notable and qualified developers to make sure that land is made ready available for them to build and also build infrastructure like roads. When people have more roads made available, developers can go to different areas in satellite towns and government will take accolades for it.

“We have been able to create employment directly and indirectly for over 2,000 Nigerians in different areas and places we build. That constitutes most of our achievements. When people have employment, security, menace and crimes will reduce because people are employed.

We have also been able to achieve developing communities because we have built roads and houses in many communities.”

Adefeko Appointed into AWR Advisory Board

The Advisory Board of the African Wealth Report (AWR) has announced the appointment of Mr. Ade Adefeko to the Board in a non-executive capacity.

The appointment is with effect from July 30, 2016. Adefeko, according to a release, is a respected agricultural chain and food expert, as well as a brand and communications exponent. He is currently Vice President and Head CorporateandGovernmentRelationswithOlamNigeria,aleadingagribusiness and food company in Nigeria, which is a subsidiary of Singapore based Olam International a company with global presence in 70 countries organised into 16platformscomprising47Agri-commodities.Aforemostexternalrelations andstakeholdermanagementspecialist,AdefekobringstotheAdvisoryBoard of AWR intimate knowledge of policy issues all over Africa, strong linkages andfamiliaritywithkeyleadersandGovernmentfunctionariesatthehighest level.HisappointmenthasbeenreceivedwithjoyatAWRastheorganisation hopes to take advantage of his skills and strengths in the coming years. The Chairman, AWR, Mr. Paul Andrew said, “It is a pleasure having Mr. Adefeko on ourAdvisoryBoard.Heisanamazingandamiablegentlemanwithmulti-lingual skills in French, Portuguese, German and Spanish that play to his role as an enabler in Africa’s HNWI’s space.”

NUATE Passes Vote of Confidence on NAHCO

NationalUnionofAirTransportEmployees(NUATE)haspassedavoteofconfidence onthecurrentboardandmanagementofNigerianAviationHandlingCompany Plc(NAHCO)ledbyitschairman,MalamSuleimanYahyah.NUATEdeliveredtheir messageofsolidaritysignedbyitsNationalPresident,ComradeD.M.Safiyanu toNAHCO,atitsrecentannualgeneralmeeting(AGM)inAbuja.Theunionnoted thatNAHCOisan“outfitwithitsextremeimportancethatservesasanintegral part of the overall success of the industry that provides essential services to the airlines, which enables such airline enhance its on-time performance and turnaround time.” Acknowledging the significant investment the board and management has made in human capital development, NUATE urged them to “invest more in training and retraining and encourage your employees and the management to key into the vision and mission of those airlines that you service more so to enhance its safety culture.”

Sunday August 7, 2016

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Price: N400

MISSILE

PDP BoT Chair to Delegates

“This party is not for sale to the highest bidder. This party must be a party of very conscious people. We are telling every delegate to reject anybody that comes with money. We need a honest and upright person.”

– Chairman, Board of Trustees ((BoT), of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Walid Jibrin, urging delegates to the party’s forthcoming national convention to shun aspirants who offer money in exchange for their votes.

SIMONKOLAWOLE SIMONKOLAWOLELIVE!

simon.kolawole@thisdaylive.com, sms: 0805 500 1961

All Said and Done, Nigeria First

I

n November 2014, I penned an article, “My Grouse with President Jonathan”.

I highlighted his major achievements in agriculture, infrastructure, finance and education. I, however, said Jonathan was not doing two things the right way: the fight against corruption and the war against Boko Haram. I called these “my grouse” with him.

I concluded: “Mr. President, without brutally tackling corruption and caging Boko Haram with everything at your disposal, the job is not yet done. We need to free our resources for development, and we need peace and security to attain that goal.” Naturally, I came under heavy bombardment from rabid partisans from different directions.

The PDP mob, who believed Jonathan could do no wrong, classified me as an “opposition writer” with immediate effect, and called me names that are not on my birth certificate. Their most recurring argument was that APC chieftains were behind Boko Haram. The APC gang, who said Jonathan had achieved absolutely nothing in office, went wild, accusing me of campaigning for his re-election. As political narratives go in Nigeria, Jonathan was either 100% bad or 100% good. When you say, “Come on, Jonathan had good and bad attributes”, you are accused of “engaging in doublespeak”, “sitting on the fence”, etc. Thank God, you can’t be accused of blindness.

Unfortunately, I have observed that as we discuss and debate the progress of Nigeria, many of us have been turned to blind extremists, unable to submit our consciences to fairness in our assessment of our leaders. We take a position and stand by it, even when the facts don’t agree with us. We indulge in a lot of self-hypocrisy, justifying things we normally would condemn, and condemning things we ordinarily would justify — all because of politics, all to validate our biases and prejudices. So I am asking myself all the time: at what stage do we put the national interest first, no matter whose ox is gored? At what point do we rise above the fray?

Our pre-occupation as Nigerians, in my view, should be how our country can march to greatness. Not partisanship, not the president’s accent. Those are pre-election matters. As soon as a president is in situ, we have to put our divisions behind us and engage constructively as Nigerians. Same prescription for presidents and governors. It should no longer be about PDP or APC, north or south, Muslim or Christian. I illustrated today’s discussion with my November 2014 article for one reason: the same PDP/APC bitterness tints our spectacles till today. We are behaving as if the 2015 presidential election is still on — or was inconclusive (apologies to INEC).

Corrosive partisanship is a major impediment to our development. I have nothing against partisanship. To be sure, party politics is one of the strongest pillars of democracy. Plurality of opinion and choice must never be compromised.

But things get corrosive when we blindly take positions not backed by accurate facts and sound logic. We don’t know the point at which to put the national interest above political sentiments.

This does damage in at least two ways: one, the political leadership, on assuming power,

Buhari seeks to undo what a previous administration has done, purely to score a political point; two, public debate becomes destructive, heating up the polity.

Indeed, there is often this tendency for a new administration to discard the policies of the previous one — because of politics. Let it not be said that it is the ideas of my predecessor or the other party that I am implementing. Thus, good policies and programmes are demonised, reversed or abandoned. It usually starts during electioneering when you say the incumbent has not achieved anything. So it becomes difficult to eat your words and continue with the same policies when you take over power. To me, though, as soon as the election is won and lost, partisanship should take the back seat in governance. Without shame, Nigeria should come first.

That is why I’m glad President Muhammadu Buhari has not dumped many of the projects started by Jonathan, despite the political discomfort. The deployment of BVN, which was a Jonathan project, has become the biggest weapon in the anti-graft war. The treasury single account (TSA) is being fully implemented.

The reconstruction of the Lagos-Ibadan road, started by Jonathan, has resumed. Most of our projections on self-sufficiency in food production by 2017 are based on what was on the ground long before Buhari came in, dating back to the days of President Olusegun Obasanjo. The Kaduna-Abuja rail remained on track all through the years. Nigeria first, after all.

The notion that a previous administration is totally useless has been dragging us backward for decades. We deny them credit and discard their policies. The inimitable military dictator, Gen. Sani Abacha, was a bad man, in all fairness to him. How can we ever forget the political persecutions, the state-sponsored assassinations and the destruction of the refineries? Yet, it has to be said that he did more projects with fuel price hike than any other government before or after him. Also, he made the final investment decisions for the multi-billion dollar Trains 1 and 2 of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG). In our anger, though, we fail to grant him any particle of credit.

One of the biggest mistakes of Obasanjo was discarding Vision 2010 produced by the Abacha government. You see, it was not written by

Abacha. It was produced by some of the best brains in Nigeria. When Obasanjo came in 1999, he did not want to touch anything Abacha, so he fed Vision 2010 to the shredder. He produced his own Vision 20-2020, which subsequent governments have effectively avoided — as if it is an improvised explosive device. With Obasanjo’s Vision 20-2020, we were supposed to have hit 10,000mw by December 2007. But the change in government halted the plan. No matter the justification, it was a monumental set-back.

On our part as followers, I’m amazed that some people are desperately praying for Buhari to fail. They want the economy to continue its humpty-dumpty fall. They are praying fervently that oil prices would never recover so that the economy does not get a lifeline. They are hoping Boko Haram would stage a strong comeback. They are happy to see the Niger Delta militants continue avenging whatever.

They are eager to see Buhari unable to do any meaningful project. All because they want to gloat at the end of it all. They want to have the “last laugh” and declare: “Didn’t we warn you?” It doesn’t occur to them that we will all suffer the consequences.

Of course, it was a similar situation under Jonathan. From day one, many were very passionate to see him fail. They worked to pull him down. They had this bitterness that he shouldn’t have stepped in after the death of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, and this resentment shaped their wishes for Jonathan’s government throughout. An APC member told me in 2014 that she hoped Jonathan would not be able to rescue the Chibok girls before the 2015 presidential election so that it won’t sway votes in his favour. If her daughter was among those abducted, would she be saying such a prayer? At what point do we put aside political bias for the greater good?

Do not get me wrong: I am not suggesting that anybody who criticised Jonathan had sinister motives. I am not saying anyone criticising Buhari is corrosively partisan. I want to be clear on that. There are several cases of disappointed love. There were, and are, people who expected far more than they got or are getting in terms of performance. I have nothing but respect for this community of critics. My grouse is with the community of those hoping and praying and working for the failure of our leaders just because of prejudices. Just because of biases.

Just because of politics. They do everything possible to distract, discredit, destabilise and demonise whoever is in power.

As we continue to discuss and debate the progress of our country, I appeal to the nonpartisans to remain calm and constructive, even if they are called names. We must always keep our eye on the ball. In all our arguments and anger and misgivings, the progress of Nigeria must remain the motive — and the motivation.

Whenever I sit in front of my laptop tapping the QWERTY with determination, the last thing on my mind is party politics or religion or ethnicity. I worry more about the country my children and grandchildren will inherit. My generation inherited a disjointed and demoralised country. Should the next generation inherit the same nonsense?

And Four Other Things...

AISHA’S ANSWER Ekiti Governor Ayo Fayose once told Nigerians that Mrs Aisha Buhari, the president’s wife, would not dare step into the US because she is the same “Aisha Buhari” mentioned in a US court paper as having transferred $170,000 to Williams Jefferson, a US congressman who is currently in jail after an FBI sting operation. Well, Aisha arrived in the US on Thursday and she is yet to be arrested at the time of writing this.

The focus of the argument has changed, not unexpectedly, from the Jefferson case to the price of the “designer bag” she carried on the trip. Politics.

ZAMFARA HELL Recent reports tend to suggest that Zamfara is becoming one of the least secure states in Nigeria. Bandits are having wicked fun without let or hindrance. The Dansadau emirate, according to those who have been there, is the new definition of hell. The bandits reportedly launch attacks on the people at will, steal their farm produce and rape the women in the full glare of their husbands! Villagers run into the bush at night to escape the wrath of the marauders, and often feed their children with sedatives to prevent any sound that would alert the bandits.

Tragic.

DOLLAR RAIN Going for hajj? God bless you. Get your dollar at N197 — the rate the CBN once said has ceased to exist with the introduction of the so-called “flexible” exchange rate of N380/$1. BudgIT has calculated that the subsidy for the 65,167 pilgrims amounts to N11.92 billion at a time we are cutting down on expenditure because we don’t have money. Christian pilgrims got theirs at N160, we’ve been reminded to show “balance”. You know what? The Qur’an prescribes hajj only for Muslims who can afford it. And Christian pilgrimage is alien to the Bible. So what’s the point? Nigeria!

OLYMPIC FIASCO Watching the national U-23 football team beat Japan with a beach soccer scoreline in their Rio Olympics opener really gladdened my heart. Having endured the international embarrassment of being stranded in Atlanta, US, and only arriving for the match a couple of hours to kick-off, they showed the Nigerian never-say-die spirit in taking a 5-2 lead before petering out as the Japanese ended strongly with two late goals. A lot has been said about who should be held responsible for the flight fiasco, but nothing surprises me about Nigerian sports authorities anymore.

Typical.

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