Sunday 25th and Monday 26th December 2016

Kachikwu: FG Mulls Saving Oil Revenue in SWF Chika Amanze-Nwachuku and Ugo Aliogo Minister for State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, has said the Federal Government is considering plans to ‘lock up’ revenues

realised from the oil sector and save them in the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF).

Kachikwu, who made the disclosure yesterday at the unveiling of Heyden Petroleum’s mega petrol station in VGC, Lagos, said efforts

were being made to convince President Muhammadu Buhari to buy into the idea in order to save for the future generation.

“We will convince the president to lock up every kobo we have in this country and put it in the SWF and spend

something else, so that we can begin quite frankly. When I met with The Netherland Ambassador, he said, today, they have the highest sovereign wealth fund in the world and they have decided that whatever they have from oil,

they are not going to spend it; instead they will save every penny of it and rely on the interest and other sources.’’

The SWF was created to manage and invest funds on behalf of the government. The fund, which started operations in October 2012, was set up

with an initial $1 billion as seed capital, by the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority Act, which was signed in May 2011.

Essentially, SWF was established to invest the savings gained on the difference between the Continued on page 6

THISDAY Style on The Best of 2016 to be Published Wednesday Sunday/Monday 25-26 December, 2016 Vol 21. No 7920.

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Buhari: B’Haram Effectively Defeated, Sambisa Falls Troops take over ‘Camp Zero’ President praises gallant soldiers

Tobi Soniyi and Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja The last stronghold of the Boko Haram terrorist sect, Sambisa forest, in Borno State, has finally fallen to the Nigerian troops. The area fell about 1.30pm on Thursday, when the terrorists’ heartland within the forest, also known

Search for Chibok girls continues

as “camp zero”, their last and most guarded base, was taken over by the soldiers. It was a great boost to the antiterrorism war.

President Muhammadu Buhari sent a message to the military yesterday, praising them for their gallantry in the capture of the Sambisa terrorist Continued on page 6

…Seeks Prayers for Divine Guidance at Xmas Tobi Soniyi, Omololu Ogunmade and Damilola Oyedele in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has called on all Nigerians to pray for divine guidance to get over current challenges.

In his Christmas message to Nigerians, the president said,

“There is no better time than now in our nation’s history to pray for divine guidance to get over our current challenges.”

He said the immediate priority of his government was to alleviate the poverty of Continued on page 6

TO OUR READERS In line with our tradition, your favourite newspaper, THISDAY, will not be on the newsstands on Boxing Day, Monday, December 26, 2016, but will be back in circulation on Tuesday, December 27, 2016. We wish our esteemed readers Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

- Editor

Special Report on 2016… Pages 51–62

L-R: Managing Director/CEO, Heyden Petroleum Limited, Dapo Abiodun; Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu; and DG, Budget Office of the Federation, Ben Akabueze, during the opening of Heyden Mega Filling Station VGC, Lekki-Epe Expressway, Lagos… yesterday kunle ogunfuyi

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PAGE SIX BUHARI: B’HARAM EFFECTIVELY DEFEATED, SAMBISA FALLS nest. But Buhari said efforts should be intensified to locate and free the remaining Chibok girls still in captivity, even as he prayed God to protect the girls.

Two hundred and seventy six schoolgirls from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, had been kidnapped

by Boko Haram in April 2014, but 57 were said to have escaped.

Two of the girls were found and rescued in May, while 21 were released by their captors on October 13. The whereabouts

of the remaining 196 remain unknown.

The capture of Sambisa forest followed sustained battles by the military, which recently launched what it called a final onslaught against the insurgents. The Boko Haram insurgents had been holed up in Sambisa forest for many years and used the base for the planning and execution of terror attacks in different parts of the North-east. But in his Yuletide message recently, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Turkur

Buratai, told troops of Operation Lafiya Dole, the code-name for the military operation in the North-east, to ensure that the terrorists were completely rooted out of Sambisa forest and other fortresses by the end of the year.

Buhari reiterated the December deadline during a recent meeting of the Panel of Heads of State at the Third Dakar International Forum on Peace and Security in Africa, in Senegal.

The fall of the Sambisa terrorist nest is a tremendous boost to

the military and the Buhari government.

In a message to the military yesterday, Buhari said, "I am delighted at, and most proud of the gallant troops of the Nigerian Army, on receipt of the long-awaited and most gratifying news of the final crushing of Boko Haram terrorists in their last enclave in Sambisa forest."

The president commended the resilience of the troops of Operation Lafiya Dole in their final attempt to crush the

remnants of the Boko Haram insurgents at “camp zero”, which is located deep inside the Sambisa forest.

"I was told by the Chief of Army Staff that the camp fell about 1:35pm on Thursday, December 22, and that the terrorists are on the run, and no longer have a place to hide."

He urged the soldiers to sustain the tempo by pursuing the terrorists and smoking them out of their hideouts, with a view to bringing them to justice.

Buhari called on the citizens to cooperate and support the Nigerian Armed Forces and the other security agencies by providing useful information that would expose terrorists hiding among the populace.

He also specially congratulated and commended the leadership of the Nigerian Army, in particular, and the Armed Forces, in general, for taking over the forest.

“This, no doubt, will go a long way in improving the security situation, not only in the North-east, but the country in general. But we must not let our guards down.

"Once more, congratulations to our troops and all who, in one way or the other, contributed to this most commendable and momentous effort. May the Almighty continue to be with you," the president declared.

In a similar vein, the senate president, Dr. Bukola Saraki, yesterday commended the

Nigerian Armed Forces and Buhari for the defeat of Boko Haram at their final enclave in the Sambisa forest. In a statement by his special adviser on media and publicity, Mr. Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki said he was delighted by the news of the capture of Sambisa, stressing that it is a great way to end the year.

The senate president stated, “The news of the Nigerian Army defeating Boko Haram in their most dominant stronghold is truly gratifying. This is a gift to all Nigerians as we enter this festive season and round off this year.

“I want to congratulate President Buhari for his leadership, and his dedication to crushing the insurgency in the country. I want to also commend the Nigerian people for believing in our men and women in uniform, and supporting them and their families through prayers and goodwill messages.

“Of course, more work needs to be done to stamp out the remnants of Boko Haram that may be hiding amongst us.

However, the downfall of the notorious ‘camp zero’ in Sambisa is something that we must all celebrate at this time.

“As we celebrate this win by our men and women in uniform, we must not forget those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice in service of our dear nation.

We must all come together to celebrate their memories as we mark this win.”

KACHIKWU: FG MULLS SAVING OIL REVENUE IN SWF

merry christmas

Christmas decoration on Ajose Adeogun Road, by Zenith Bank, Victoria Island, Lagos

…SEEKS PRAYERS FOR DIVINE GUIDANCE Nigerians by quickly stimulating the economy.

"I assure Nigerians that our government is doing its best to make life easier for all," he added.

While rejoicing with Christians on the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, Buhari said it was appropriate to reflect on the love of God aptly espoused in the teachings and lifestyle of Jesus Christ.

He recalled that during his earthly sojourn, Jesus Christ repeatedly reminded his disciples and followers of peace that comes in the midst of trials and tribulations on earth.

He said: "We can have peace in Nigeria if we all learn to tolerate and appreciate one another, respect constituted authority; and be our brothers’ keepers in word and deed.”

The president beseeched Nigerians to remember to offer special prayers to God for all heroic citizens who paid the supreme price to restore peace and security in the North East and other flash points in the country.

“Let us also remember in our prayers the security forces in the frontline in the continuing battle to rid our nation of terrorism and violence," he urged.

He further urged Nigerians not to forget the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in their midst and those who had suffered untold hardship as a result of activities of insurgents and terrorists.

In their own messages, Senate President Bukola Saraki, his predecessor, Senator David Mark and Deputy Senate President

Ike Ekweremadu, called for rededication, religious harmony and expression of true love in accordance with the teachings of Jesus Christ which they said emphasised selflessness, piety, brotherly kindness and love towards one another.

Saraki, according to a statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, said the Eight Senate would ensure the country regains her pride in the comity of nations through the enactment of relevant and timely legislations. He said the nation would get out of the woods when the citizenry imbibes the teachings and doctrine of Christ.

"This is the season of love and forgiveness. It should not be seen only as a merrymaking period but as a time to pray fervently for a peaceful and prosperous nation. As a nation, we have passed through a series of challenges but the fact remains that we can only surmount our economic crisis if we stay united, extend hands of fellowship to one another and be law abiding.

"We must also rededicate ourselves to the ennobling virtues of faith in God, love for one another, honesty and peaceful coexistence. It is time to make these virtues more evident and practical in our daily lives," Saraki stated.

In his goodwill message signed by his Media Assistant, Mr. Paul Mumeh, Mark harped on religious harmony, peace and unity as necessary ingredients for development as he appealed to religious leaders to preach

the message of peace, unity and good neighbourliness to make the society a better and safer place for all.

He also appealed to Christians to imbibe the teachings of Jesus Christ particularly sacrifice, love, prayer and forgiveness.

He urged Christians not to allow the central message of sacrifice, forgiveness and love to be lost in the euphoria of merriment, pointing out that more than ever before, Nigeria needs prayer and perseverance to overcome the current socioeconomic challenges.

In the same vein, Ekweremadu in a statement by his Special Adviser, Media, Uche Anichukwu, urged Nigerians to show love to their neighbours at Christmas, saying doing so is the fundamental message of the Yuletide. He said without the expression of love, Christmas would be empty as he observed that love was part and parcel of African culture.

"The spirit of sharing is an African tradition that generates happiness and ensures social stability in the absence of a formal social security mechanism that caters for the less privileged in our society.

“I grew up in a system that had an inbuilt social security mechanism where we were our brothers' keepers and cared for one another. If you didn’t have a tuber of yam, you shared from your neighbour’s; and you could go to your neighbour’s house to get fire and light your house; and when somebody got admission to study at the

university, people contributed money to ensure the person got education. One person’s problem was everybody’s problem in those days. And that is exactly the tradition we are trying to keep alive,” he said.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara in a statement issued by his spokesman Mr. Turaki Hassan urged Christians to emulate the life of Christ, who exemplified love and peace.

He added that the growth and stability of the nation would be guaranteed if Nigerians imbibe the virtues of love, unity, sacrifice and peaceful coexistence.

Dogara admonished Christians to use this period as one for sober reflection on the acute challenges facing the nation and to see how they could apply the virtues of Jesus Christ in fashioning out workable measures aimed at pulling Nigeria out of the quagmire she has found herself at this critical time.

Similarly, Deputy Speaker Yussuff Sulaimon Lasun urged Nigerians to emulate the life of Christ and eschew violence and corruption that is capable of pulling the country down.

Rather, Nigerians should imbibe virtues that would develop the country, Lasun said.

In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Oyewole Oladimeji, the Deputy Speaker also appealed to Nigerians to give President Muhammadu Buhari a chance to right the wrongs in the country.

budgeted and actual market prices for oil to earn returns that would benefit future generations of Nigerians.

Saving oil money in the SWF had been a subject of controversy.

Apart from the seed capital, which was contributed by the federal and state governments, attempts to save more oil money in the fund by the administration of the former President Goodluck Jonathan were vehemently resisted by the state governors, who insisted all revenues must be paid into the consolidated revenue fund and shared.

Kachikwu, who attributed Nigeria’s present economic quagmire to her dependence on oil revenue urged the people to go back and look at the resources inherent in other areas and begin to make money for future generations.

According to the minister, rather than rely on oil receipts, government should focus on the interest elements from oil, while leveraging monies from other sources to spend. ‘’There is too much reliance on oil with state governors fighting over allocations and sharing patterns. People must go back and look at the resources inherent in those areas and begin to make money for future generations. For the oil industry, I'm determined to touch anything touchable, whatever can be changed to dramatically change’’, he said.

He stated that every sector of the economy is in search of direction, stressing that there is need to recognise the abundant opportunities in the country and put behind us the challenges posed by the recession.

He noted that when these monies were saved for the future generation, there would be great transformation in the economy, adding that Nigerians naturally are entrepreneurs who are ready to work and develop the economy given the right platform and opportunities.

“Recession is a blessing in many respects, such as checkmating how we spend money. In my one year in office, I have gone through removing subsidies, which is saving about N1.4 trillion for the federal government. We have gone through cash crunch, which is expected to save about $9billion yearly. Therefore, there are lots of opportunities. The average Nigerian lives above his means.

“The culture has to change.

One of the ways to change this culture is what President Buhari is doing to change those fundamentals. It may be very tough, and seem as if nothing is happening because it is a lifestyle we have lived over 30 years. We will drive gas incomes so that we don’t depend on oil alone.

We will continue on this road path with a lot of work and we hope that in another two years, the country will be transformed.”

Kachikwu added: “The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has changed dramatically. We are not where we should be, but we have changed.

We have good managers who can run establishments. We are going to get law to back the system up so that the individuals are left long enough on their jobs to make policies work, it can become political appointment.

There is a lot that is going to happen.

The minister expressed the commitment of the present administration to reposition the oil industry, adding that if this is achieved, the country would be exporting petroleum, rather than importing.”

According to him, “The drive of the administration is to ensure that we will not be buying petroleum products, rather exporting. There is a lot that is going to happen.”

Kachikwu explained that the administration was working to ensure there was abundant gas for domestic use, particularly, power generation.

In his remarks, Managing Director of Heyden Petroleum, Dapo Abiodun, stated that the station was strategically positioned to serve the Victoria Garden City (VGC) and environs, adding that with the 29 pumps, out of which 24 would be serving fuel, the station will address the issue of fuel shortage in the area owing to few petrol stations in that axis.

He noted that the investment of downstream petroleum sector has paid off due to the incentives provided by the current administration and the deregulation of the sector, which was a problem in the past.

“Kachikwu and the present administration did everything possible to reduce the burden of subsidy. We are committed to ensuring the improvement of the downstream sector,” he pledged.

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

CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS IN NIGERIA!

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We must hold on to the hope that we will overcome our challenges

oday, Nigerian Christians will join their counterparts all over the world to mark Christmas, a spiritual festival that enjoins goodwill to all men. But beyond the conspicuous consumption, the decoration of streets and houses with special festoons and rosettes, exchange of gifts and singing of carols, this Christmas should compel deep reflection by many Nigerians, especially those in authority. They must begin to ask the hard question: What can we do to lighten the burden of the people?

In specific terms, this season, more than anything else, urges all Christians to re-live that historical event which took place more than 2000 years ago, when Christ was born in the relatively humble town of Bethlehem, Judea. That birth, as well as the mission of salvation connected Christmastime with it, was at once a is a season of joy. promise of redemption from spiritual It is a period for death, a declaration family to stay of an end to the reign of together. It is a darkness and a call to time to regain mankind to embrace the our laughter light of God. Besides, Christ, after whom and sense of humour. And it is Christians ought to themselves, a period we must model was an embodiment of all share. The humility and service ultimate lesson to others - enduring is that while life virtues that are in short supply in the world we may sometimes live in. be cruel, our As we therefore optimism must mark Christmas, the never wane privileged in the society must take into account the fact there are many for whom this season is just another reminder of their woes. In our country today, the plight of the under-privileged is steadily worsening and many go to bed with less than a survival diet. The unemployment crisis has created a lost generation of graduates who cannot find jobs. Many of them are exasperated. Public officials at all levels should therefore pay serious attention to the

Letters to the Editor

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agos State has always carved a niche for itself as the nation’s centre of excellence in every perspective. For instance, the state has the key that could add N (Nigeria) to the BRICS to transform to BRINCS. BRICS refers to the emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Today, the state is not just warming up for her golden jubilee anniversary but has presented the 2017 budget proposal of N813 billion to the State’s House of Assembly. The budget tagged: “The Golden Jubilee Budget” in view of its coinciding with the state’s 50th anniversary, is the biggest ever for any state government in Nigeria as it reveals an increase of N150 billion from the previous budget. From the audacious budget, recurrent expenditure is expected to gulp N300.535 billion while capital expenditure stands at N512.464 billion, representing

challenge of those who cannot celebrate this season because they have no means to do so.

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

t is sad that while a few Nigerians are living in scandalous opulence, many are suffering in abject penury, frustration and hopelessness. This Christmas once again affords our leaders the opportunity for sober reflection and on what they must do to make a difference. If Jesus Christ came to serve and not to be served, our leaders should learn to bring light to the dark land; hope to the hopeless; justice to the oppressed and integrity to the wasteland. And that cannot happen in an atmosphere where senior government officials are stealing money meant for the most vulnerable of our society who, after surviving the brutality of Boko Haram, find abode only in internally displaced camps.

On the spiritual front, Christmas gives the believer a unique opportunity to re-examine himself/herself. Unfortunately, the death on the cross, which is an invitation to put the seal on one’s conviction at all times, is now replaced by a Christianity that seems eager to dispense with the cross in pursuit of wealth and personal pleasure, most often at the expense of the larger society.

To re-live the exemplary virtues that featured at the first Christmas, we must truly love our fellow human beings and that must reflect in our service.

This is a lesson that will serve us today given the difficulty most Nigerians experience. We must eschew hatred, rancour, greed and avarice. We must build an ethic of human solidarity aimed at promoting the common good and the welfare of fellow men and women.

Finally, Christmastime is a season of joy. It is a period for family to stay together. It is a time to regain our laughter and sense of humour. And it is a period we must all share. The ultimate lesson is that while life may sometimes be cruel, our optimism must never wane. The life of Christ to whom this season is dedicated is a demonstration that no odds are too high to surmount so as individuals and as a nation, we must hold on to the hope that we will overcome our challenges.

We wish all our readers a joyful and peaceful Christmas.

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.

L AGOS’ GOLDEN JUBILEE BUDGET about 63% of the entire budget.

According to sectoral breakdown of the budget, N205.85 billion is for general public services, representing 25.32 per cent of the budget, N36.43 billion for public order and safety, representing 4.48 per cent, while economic affairs receives a lion share of N295.84 billion, representing 36.39 per cent.

Also, the environment got N56.31 billion, representing 6.93 per cent; health gets N57.29 billion, representing 7.05 per cent; while education receives N92.4 billion, representing 11.37 per cent of the budget.

While presenting the budget, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, revealed that his administration is committed to infrastructural renewal and the enhancement of the state as one of the foremost tourism and investment destinations in Africa. The statement captures the very essence of what his administration meant to achieve

through the budget. From the governor’s statement at the budget presentation, it is clear that the budget is set to open up the hinterland as a result of the massive investment in rural road construction, rehabilitation and maintenance. The budget is also geared towards sports development as new stadia are to be built while also targeting youth empowerment schemes and other promising social development programmes.

One may look at the budget from the mirror of current economic situation of the country and conclude that it would be a herculean task to fund it, but the truth is that Lagos is not waiting for Nigeria. The state has its own template and development plan. This 2017 budget proposal is one which did not, all together, come as a surprise to many people, least of all analysts of the governor’s economic policies. This is because long before the budget was conceived, the

trend of development in the state and the pronouncements of the governor overtime have already shown clearly that a sizable budget was in the offing in the second year of his administration.

One thing we need to quickly comprehend about the proposed golden jubilee celebration is to appreciate it from the perspectives of what it truly stands for. A proper golden Jubilee is one that ushers in golden opportunities for the populace to testify and celebrate a state that is committed to progress, justice, security and prevalence of equity in a true democratic dispensation. This, indeed, is what the state government hopes to achieve both with the 2017 budget as well as the golden jubilee celebration.

Today, one could look back and conveniently conclude with a sense of satisfaction that Lagos is working. Lagos, in the last 17 years, has really lived up to expectations as a frontline state in our

nation. The structural transformation of Nigeria’s former capital city in terms of infrastructure renewal, capital and human development has been phenomenal.

The crux of this essay is that as the state approaches her golden jubilee, the populace could look into the future with positive hope. With progressives in the mould of Mr. Ambode at the helms, things can only get better. In Ambode’s political lexicon, impossibility is nothing. Balancing development with economic realities is likewise not a headache, considering the governor’s vast experience in financial management. The focus, which is a pointer to the school of thought of administration he belongs to, is scientific planning and implementation of policies and programmes that will benefit the people.

--Rasak Musbau, Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Lagos.

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SUNDAYNEWS

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

Atiku, Tinubu, Govs, Others Preach Peace, Unity, Love at Christmas Our correspondents

As the world celebrates Christmas Day today which showcases the birth of Jesus Christ, Nigerians have been urged to embrace peace and unity at this period, and to love one another for the sake of the country’s progress and growth.

In a press statement on the celebration of Christmas titled ‘Love is the gift of the season’ former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, said “Year after year, we join our Christian brothers and sisters around the worldtocelebrateChristmas,the birth of Jesus and the beginning of what was to be an exemplary life.But,thisyear,morethanever, Nigeriansmustpaykeenattention to the message of love, peace and sacrifice, which Jesus preached during his time on earth.

The Turakin Adamawa said “Overthepastmonths,anumber of dark forces have combined to accentuate divisions in our country. In the areas of politics, religion and tribe, there seem to havebeenconstantfractiousness and restiveness, with people of different groups exchanging threats or actual harm.

“That is why we need to rememberthelovethatJesustaught.

We must love our neighbors as ourselves, do good to them and mean them well, whether or not theybelongtoourgroup.Nigeria cannotmoveforwardasacountry until each and every one of us realise that what is good for one shouldalsobegoodfortheother.

In the same vein, we must seek peace with all mankind, as Jesus taught.Wemustbeourbrothers’ keeper”, he added.

In his own message, the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Stalwart and Jagaban Borgu, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, called on Nigeria and Nigerians tobecomeshiningexamplesand beaconsofhopetoothernations.

Tinubu, in his message titled, ‘Let’s Become Example, Beacon to Other Nations’, said “Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, which makes it one of the most precious days of the year. Yet, Christmas is also what we make of it. Too often we are directed to focusing on the superficial and material aspects of what has become the modern celebration of this revered day.

This season, we have a choice to make:wecancontinuetocelebrate the commercial Christmas that hasbeengivenusorwecanreturn to the wellspring and the true meaning of this special day.”

“At this moment, it is time for all Nigerians, Christians and non-Christians alike, to set aside the artificial differences that too often divide us and pit brother againstbrother,neighbouragainst neighbour. We must dedicate ourselves to focusing on our common humanity because we all seek much the same thing for ourselves and loved ones.

“Thus, may we all embrace and spread the gospel of love, tolerance and forgiveness this season and into the New Year.

We must commit ourselves to peace and unity. Let us eschew all bitterness and bigotry. The challenges that face the country aredifficultones.Butwekeepup thehope.Wemustlearnfromthe example of Jesus who faced and overcamethegreatestevil.Wealso canovercomewhatnowfacesus, anddosoinamannerthatelevates the nations to become its better self. We can do so in a way that, how we overcome, becomes an example and a beacon to other nations.ThisiswhatJesuswould want of us. This is what we must do!”, Tinubu added Immediate past President of the Senate, Senator David Mark hasagaincanvassedforreligious tolerance between and among different faithful in the country, saying that it will be the antidote to the occasional conflicts.

Senator Mark in his goodwill message to Nigerians to commemorate this year’s Christmas celebration,stressedthatreligious harmony,peaceandunityarethe needed ingredients for developmenttothrive.Tothisend,hetold religious leaders across board to preachthemessageofpeace,unity andgoodneighborlinesstomake thesocietyabetterandsaferplace for all, in a statement issued and signedbyhismediaassistant,Mr. Paul Mumeh.

Meanwhile, Lagos State Governor,Mr.AkinwunmiAmbode hasenjoinedNigerianstoembrace the virtues of love and peaceful coexistence that the season symbolises.

TheGovernor,inhisChristmas goodwillmessage,signedbyhis Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Habib

CELEBRATING PROMOTION Newly-decorated senior officers of the Defence Headquarters with Chairman House Committee on Navy, Hon. Abdussamad Dasuki; Chief of Policy and Plans Defence Hq, Air Vice Marshall Saidu, and Hon. Danladi Baido after the decoration of the w newly promoted officers at the Defence headquarters in Abuja...recently

Aruna, urged Nigerians to also seize the moment to reach out to fellow Nigerians who are in distress at this period of the nation’s history. He said despite theeconomicchallenges,Nigeria wasstillmakingsteadyprogress, urgingNigeriansnottolosefaith intheirbeliefthatthenationwould experience better days ahead.

Also, Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has called on Christians and indeed all Nigerians to embrace peace andloveinalltheirdealings.The governorstatedthisyesterdayin a Christmas message signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Adejuwon Soyinka.

The Governor urged all Nigerians to reflect on the life and timesofJesusChristandemulate hislifestyleandteachings.“With love and understanding, we can overcomethechallengesoftoday and build a united, prosperous nationwhereallNigerianscanlive inpeaceandharmonyregardless oftheirethnic,politicalorreligious differences,” Amosun said.

Cross River State governor, Senator Ben Ayade, enjoined Christians not to despair in the face of the current recession, but rather should look to the future

withrenewedhope.Ayadeurged theChristianfaithfultoreflecton theimportofChristmasbrought about by the birth of the saviour, Jesus Christ and its redemptive hope to billions of Christians around the world.

In a goodwill message signed byhisSeniorSpecialAssistanton MediaandChiefPressSecretary, Mr. Christian Ita, Ayade urged Christianstousetheopportunity of the celebration to rededicate themselves to the values of love, peace, sacrifice and tolerance as embodied in the birth of the Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Meanwhile,RiversStateGovernor,NyesomWikehasfelicitated withthepeopleofthestateonthe peacefulandjoyfulcelebrationof Christmas,assuringthemthatthe success story of the state would continue unhindered.

InaChristmasMessage,Wike urged the people of the state and otherNigerianstoimbibethevalues of Christmas by promoting peace,love,friendshipandunity.

He assured the residents of the state of adequate security before, during and after the season’s celebrations. He said the State Government has put in place the right security architecture

to protect the people of the state.

Also, Kwara State governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed has urged Christians to use this remarkableperiodofChristmasto pray for divine guidance, favour and protection for the country.

InaChristmasmessagesigned by his Chief Press Secretary, AbdulwahabOba,theGovernor admonishedChristianstoimbibe the lessons of the birth of Jesus Christ, submit themselves to righteousness and allow the doctrines of the holy book direct their course.

Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano has called on Nigerian Christians to open their minds and allow the love of Jesus Christ renew their faith in Nigeria this Yuletide season and beyond.

InaChristmasMessagesigned by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, James Eze, Governor Obiano observed that Nigerian Christiansshouldalwaysremember that having Jesus Christ as “the author and finisher of their faith” is a guarantee of victory over all trials and tribulations in all seasons.

Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, in his Christmas

Southern Kaduna Crisis: FG Deploys More Troops John Shiklam in Kaduna and Dele Ogbodo in Kafachan

The federal government has deployed more troops to Kaduna state to ensure peace and stability during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

The state government has also relaxed the 24-hour curfew imposed on Jema’a, Kaura and Zangon Kataf local government areas of the state, following the recent crisis that erupted in the areas.

A statement signed by the

• Police send helicopters, 500 personnel Spokesman to Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Samuel Aruwan, said thedecisiontodeploymoretroops to the state was taken following credible intelligence reports suggesting possible threat to peace and the need to nip it in the bud.

Accordingtothestatement,“In order to strengthen security in SouthernKadunaandthestateat large,moretroopsandoperatives comprising the Nigerian Army, Department of State Security (DSS), and other intelligence

personnel/investigatorshavebeen deployed to ensure the security of citizenry and maintenance of law and order.

“The Nigerian Police has also deployedvariousunitsofMobile Police, Counter Terrorism Units (CTU) as well as many units of bothconventionalandundercover policetoadequatelyprovidesecurity to the people. You may recall that the Governor had met Mr. President regarding the security situationintheareasandtheintel-

ligence reports at the disposal of security agencies.”

Onthe24-hourcurfewimposed on the three local government areas, Aruwan explained that the curfew has been relaxed to 12 hours; from 6am to 6pm with effect from December 25 and 26, adding that the 24-hour curfew continues in the affected local government areas on December 27 till further notice.

The statement also said citizens of the state can contact

securityagenciesonthetelephone numbers: 0703-967-5856 and 0807-539-1105 in the event of any emergency.

According to Aruwan, Area Commanders in the Kaduna Central Senatorial District could bereachedontelephonenumbers 0803-385-0043and0803-433-1872 while those in Kaduna North Senatorial District (Zaria) and Southern Kaduna Senatorial District (Kafanchan) can call 0803-317-4270, 0806-128-6619 and0813-262-0315,0803-632-9263 respectivelyduringemergencies.

message, assured the people of the state of a crime-free yuletide celebrationasheurgedChristians toalwaysbetheirbrothers’keeper.

In a message signed by his ChiefPressSecretary,PetraAkinti OnyegbuleinLokoja,thegovernor calledonChristiansinthestateto always abide to the word of God adding that as a good Christian it is always important to follow thewordofGodaccordingtothe Bible.Healsocalledonmotorists to always drive carefully during and after Christmas celebration by observing traffic regulations whileontheroadinordertoavoid accident and loss of lives.

Ondo State Governor elect, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN yesterday prayed for God’s immeasurable blessings in Nigeria andOndoStateinparticular.Akeredoluin hisChristmasmessage signedbyhisMediaAdviserYemi Olowolabi,enjoinedthepeopleof thestatetoliveinpeaceatalltimes in obedience to the teachings of JesusChristwhoseexemplarylife andredemptiveministrycontinue to inspire millions of people all over the world.

(See concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com)

In a related development, the Inspector General of Police (IGP),Mr.IbrahimIdris,yesterday deployed 3 Police helicopters and a Joint Tactical Squad of 500 Police-men to restore peace inKafachaninSouthernKaduna, recently engulfed by sectarian crisis which THISDAY learnt had claimed several lives and propertiesworthseveralmillions.

The Governor, Mallam Nasir elRufaiandhisconvoyincluding theChairmanofKafachanLocal GovernmentArea,wererecently attackedduringapeacemending mission in Kafanchan.

T H I S D AY SUNDAY/MONDAY DECEMBER 25-26, 2016

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SUNDAY/MONDAY DECEMBER 25-26, 2016 T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY SUNDAY/MONDAY DECEMBER 25-26, 2016

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DECEMBER 25-26, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SUNDAY/MONDAY NEWSPAPER

OPINION

Year 2017 and Committee of 127

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Tola Adeniyi predicts 2017 will be a tougher year

t is not my practice to go public with my predictions and prophesies. But those close to my chambers know that I have been making very accurate predictions and prophesies since over 50 years ago. Those with deaths hanging round their necks and those that would be governors and ministers up to 10 years after my prophesies and predictions have had my predictions actualised.

Nobody needs any prophesy about Nigeria in 2017.

Morning shows the day as the saying goes and the morning for Nigeria has shown not only the day, but also the days to follow.

The country or the landscape called Nigeria is in dire straits but unfortunately all those who should know or are in position to do anything about the situation are merely chasing shadows. They are busy applying medication on craw-craw while their body is being swallowed up by leprosy.

They are talking of fiscal federalism, restructuring, return to parliamentary system, state police, and regionalism. The problem on hand of course is greater and more encompassing than all those details. The first problem is to dissolve the unholy alliance called Amalgamation and agree, if we must, to live together in a country to be forged. This implies that the peoples occupying the landscape called Nigeria have voluntarily agreed to create a country and live peacefully in it.

Let us go back to what 2017 portends. Readers may want to Google what I wrote for year 2016 titled 2016 will be tough and rough. That was my prediction, not prophesy on January 3, 2016.

2017 shall be worse than 2016. Unemployment will double and suicide rate will also be doubled. More marriages will break up and single mothers shall face serious agonies and frustrations as there would be no shoulders to lean on. The media will experience their worst year ever as many newspapers and magazines shall fold up and a great number of brilliant journalists shall be forced to find something else to do. Radio and television houses shall lay off substantial number of their staff and many families shall go in disarray.

Banks and similar finance houses shall face serious threats and such threats will lead to many banks and financial institutions folding up. Naira will hit the roof at about 800 naira to the dollar and import-dependent businesses shall fold up in drones. Many ‘Nigerians’ will try to leave the country but unfortunately, the Western world which itself is going through similar mess shall stiffen their immigration laws.

A good number of students in tertiary institutions shall drop

out because parents and guardians will not be able to pay fees.

In similar vein, hundreds of thousands who shall be qualified to proceed to tertiary institutions shall be denied admission. Those admitted will not find fees to pay. The cumulative effect is that armed robbery and kidnapping will reach unprecedented heights and daylight abductions shall be common and rampant.

Anybody who thinks that these predictions are over-exaggerated is certainly ignorant of history. Countries that collapsed went through these stages, and we are on the very last stage of our collapse as a confused colonised entity that was put at the disposal of internal slave masters. There will be more agitations, demonstrations, confrontations, civil unrest, religious extremism, and clamour for secession in 2017. In fact this place called Nigeria shall be dragged to both the UN and the World court in 2017.

The only thing that can save this place called Nigeria from going up in flame is the immediate composition of a 127 Save-our-Soul Committee to address all issues dating from Year 1914!

For now let our president be a Visionary leader and a Man who will make history. He should for a moment forget that he is Fulani and belongs to the class of favourites to whom Lugard gave the tail of a tiger tied to the post. Our president should recognise this place

All the talk of corruption or anti-corruption, agriculture and famine, education; whether nomadic or sedentary, whether Quranic or Biblical and the fight against insurgency and terrorism, and all the other big grammar about structure and restructuring will only have meaning and relevance after, only after resolving the National Question

called Nigeria as an entity in chains, and about to fall into ruins.

Our president should be made aware, that is if he is not already aware, that most of the nationalities that make up the territory called Nigeria are just waiting in the wings. They have their match sticks with them and are only waiting for the right moment to ignite the bomb of rebellion; Southern Zaria is a case in point while the indigenous people of Plateau are fed up completely.

Members of the 127 Committee shall be drawn from the six geopolitical zones with each zone supplying 20 people.

The remaining seven shall be made of one each from the Bar, preferably a retired Chief Justice; the Media, preferably the oldest and most distinguished practising journalist; the Engineers, preferably a retired leader from that constituency; from the Military, preferably a four-star General that never participated in any coup; the medical profession, preferably a politically articulate senior member of the NMA; from the arts, preferably a renowned theatre practitioner; the National Council of Women Societies, preferably a former president of that body, and from the tertiary institutions, preferably an untainted former NANS/NUNS President. Labour shall provide the Secretary of the Committee.

The terms of reference shall be one, whether the nation states/ nationalities/indigenous peoples that occupied/occupy the landscape called Nigeria wish to live together in one country and two, in what form/format do they want to live together in freedom, equality, and justice and three, whether they want to retain the title/name of Nigeria.

All the talk of corruption or anti-corruption, agriculture and famine, education; whether nomadic or sedentary, whether Quranic or Biblical and the fight against insurgency and terrorism, and all the other big grammar about structure and restructuring will only have meaning and relevance after, only after resolving the National Question.

In about two weeks’ time, and before common sense compels us to convocate the 127-member Save Our Soul Committee, let me welcome all of us to Year 2017 of continuous agony and suffering, continuous suicides and collapsed marriages, continuous mass unemployment and scarcity, continuous youth restiveness, continuous armed robbery, kidnapping and ritual killings, continuous celebration of large scale corruption and senseless and insane stealing, of more frivolity, perfidy and disloyalty and the total drowning of the helpless orphan, the naira.

--Chief Adeniyi is former Managing Director of Daily Times.

Why We Celebrate Christmas

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The central message of Christmas is joy to the world and peace to men of good will, writes Ademola Orunbon

t is another Christmas. This year’s Christmas is the 2016th edition since the first Christmas heralded the birth of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. The stage for that was set in Bethlehem, a small town in Judea. The cast included Joseph, Mary, the shepherds and the angels. Baby Jesus, whose birth is synonymous with Christmas, is the central issue of Christmas. The message of Christmas is that of joy and peace. That was the heavenly message brought by the multitude of angels who appeared in heaven and overwhelmed the shepherds in the field.

The angel’s message was straight- “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill towards men!”

Luke 2:14. That was the message from heaven that marked Christmas. Therefore, any other issue, concern, expectation, desire or want that is not in tandem with this eternal message is not for Christmas. Any desire not geared towards giving God Glory and in turn promoting peace and goodwill towards men on earth contradicts the spirit and purpose of Christmas.

On that note, it is right to ask what your expectations at Christmas are. Are your expectations geared towards mundane things or focused on the message of Christmas? Many people have varied expectations at Christmas - some good, some bad. Some are expecting gifts from someone. Some want to go for exotic shopping spree. Some want a new car.

Some want to complete their house. The expectations are many and varied. For many, unless their expectations are met, there is no Christmas in their subconscious.

If your expectations fall short of the central theme of Christmas, which is joy, peace and goodwill, you should retract it and have the right spirit. Remember that Christmas has no end. As long as the earth exists with human beings, there will be Christmas celebration. In a matter of 12 months from now, there will be another Christmas. So, nobody should kill him or herself because of this year’s Christmas.

Mellow down/lie low; take life easy. What will be will be with or without you. Thank God specially that you are alive to celebrate another Christmas. That is the greatest gift.

One of the main features of Christmas is mass movement of people from one place to another. There are international travels across the continents, regions and countries. Over and above that are the domestic travels within the country.

In Nigeria, for instance, the traditional movement at this

time is from the West to the eastern states and then north to the southern states. There is this air of hurry, hurry, hurry! Many people appear to be in a hurry to reach their destination, meet certain goals/targets before the year ends.

The event of Christmas, which comes on DECEMBER 25-26, just six days to the end of the year accentuates this haste.

Somehow, there is false feeling in some individuals of if ‘I don’t accomplish the set objective, meet a target or goal, there won’t be another chance.’ But that is completely fallacious. There is no particular Christmas that would mark the end of Christmas, opportunities, expectations and targets. Soon after Christmas comes the New Year that opens a brand new world of opportunities. Those that lost their lives during Christmas “rush” don’t ever get another chance to celebrate another Christmas.

I am a bit hesitant to adduce “rush” to Christmas because there was nothing in the first Christmas that suggested “rush”, especially for mundane things. The duo of Joseph and Mary, on their way to Bethlehem to get registered in a census ordered by Caesar Augustus (63 BC-14 AD), the Roman Governor were travelling on a donkey, that walked normally. The shepherds were in the field keeping night watch over their flock under a serene atmosphere when the multitude of angels appeared with the message of Christmas. It was only after the angels had departed back into heaven that the Bible said the shepherds “went with haste” to Bethlehem to confirm what the angels had said.

The rush was geared towards meeting Baby Jesus in the manger and not for any material purpose. I have dwelt on the issue of rush at Christmas because it is the cause of many deaths on the roads in Nigeria during this season.

The high rate of road accidents that has become another nightmare in Nigeria worsens during Christmas. This is very sad.

Recently on my way to visit my family members in Lagos, at about 8:30 am, I saw two accidents on a stretch of Epe/Ajah-Lagos Road that is less than 10 kilometres away.

The first one involved a yellow passenger mini bus that hit a private car from the back. The argument that ensued between drivers, their passengers and members of the public who gathered caused an unexpected traffic holdup early that morning. We managed to wriggle out.

These accidents are happening because people are rush-

ing to their destinations. I am sure that all plans made for that car’s use this Christmas were suddenly truncated that morning because the driver didn’t exercise restraint while on the wheel. The truth is that there is no need rushing to do anything during this festive period. It is not mandatory that one must travel. It is better not to travel and stay alive for another Christmas than get oneself into trouble.

It is important to point out that the way Christmas is celebrated in Nigeria is different from the way it is celebrated in other climes. In the Western world, for instance the prices of goods are slashed apparently to make things affordable to all and sundry. Shops open Christmas sales where every imaginable item is sold at rock bottom price. That culture promotes and brings joy to millions at Christmas.

But here in Nigeria, the stakes are high. Once it is December 1, the prices of every item in the market skyrocket beyond measures. Everything from food items, clothing, shoes, household utensils, etc., have their prices raised. Many business men stock pile goods to be sold at Christmas, for that is when they make very high profit. The price hike is also extended to transport fares.

Travellers pay through their nose. Criminals have a field day during Christmas. The culture of profiteering during Christmas negates the spirit and purpose of historic event.

Rather than promote joy, millions, among our famished citizenry are made sad during Christmas. The joy is denied them by circumstances beyond their control.

As many embarked on travelling, partying, eating and drinking, nobody should forget the central message of Christmas, which is joy to the world and peace to men of good will. While the joy is to the whole world, the peace is only for men and women who have goodwill towards others the only way to be a partaker of this peace is to eschew bitterness, rancour and acrimony. To the tension enveloping Nigeria’s polity we say peace. Let peace and joy reign in the hearts of all men as a prelude to peace in the country. The gift of Christmas, which is Christ, is love. His message is joy - the joy that surpasses understanding.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in advance.

--Orunbon, a public affairs analyst, wrote OkePosun Epe, Lagos State.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY / M O N D AY N E W S PA P E R • DECEMBER 25-26, 2016

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LETTERS

President Buhari and The South-East

T

o all intents and purposes, President Muhammadu Buhari is a great man. The mark of this greatness is the way he doggedly contested for the Presidency, a record four times before victory. He has that inner push, sustained by a desire to make changes in the life of Nigerians and encourage them to do things differently.

Like his counterpart in the United States who would be sworn in on January 20, 2017, Muhammadu Buhari, when he was to contest against the former ruling party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its then incumbent President, Goodluck Jonathan, his candidature did not excite bookmakers.

In fact, few people gave him a chance.

However with the dogged support of the progressive political coalition, the All Progressives Party (APC) which was new on the political stable, coupled with his personal integrity, determination and focus, and with the commitment and sacrifice of his foot soldiers and party faithful, Buhari and his party, the APC surpassed and surprised themselves.

The rest is history.

Since he took office in May 2015, PMB as he is popularly called, has courageously implemented policies that no leader in Nigeria’s democratic history so far has been able to do and the people of Nigeria have largely agreed with him even when the outcome of those policies have been painful.

Nigerians understand nonetheless, that though they

Buhari

are practically swallowing the bitter pill of unemployment, job loss, delayed salaries and pensions, inflation and recession, the condition of the nation and its people would have been practically unbearable had Buhari not come the time he did. For this reason, all patriotic Nigerians, chief among whom are the hardworking people of the South east geo- political zone, have come to see in PMB, the type of leader that complement their industrious and entrepreneurial disposition.

PMB is a leader that brings out the best in people. He is honest and straight and does not play games with the resources of the country.

As a man who believes that Nigeria should strive to be self- sufficient and less dependent on importation, the leading component of his change mantra is diversification.

President Buhari believes

that Nigeria cannot continue to claim to be a rich country based on its dependence on a single natural resource, crude oil, whose price she does not control and which over the years she has been unable to develop a reliable refining ability and capacity. It was for this reason that not long ago, the president declared that Nigeria is broke and not a rich country urging the people to change their expectations and lifestyles for something more realistic.

President Buhari expects Nigerians to work hard to develop their country. He also wants the people to form the habit of self- reliance which is second nature of the people of the Southeast.

The Southeast zone is the home of self- reliance and indigenous technology and manufacturing and with the proper encouragement and leadership has the capacity to emerge as a manufacturing and technological hub in

Africa. Policies being put in place by PMB in the long run will challenge the creative ingenuity of Nigerians and enhance the survival instinct.

These would pave the way for progress in industry, agriculture and commerce.

There is however a huge deficit in infrastructure, notably roads, railways, seaports, airports and special economic zones. It has been found out by Nigerians since the coming of PMB, that previous governments have only been paying lip service to the provision of infrastructure across the nation. Under PMB, whose government is to a large extent transparent, it has become clear that most parts of the country especially the Southeast is in dire need of reliable infrastructure like roads, bridges and railways.

Previous governments before now used the slogan of infrastructure for political purposes while budgets made for the purpose were largely stolen. There have been suggestions that in view of the dilapidated nature of infrastructure including power for industry and daily living which are grossly

U

contribute a great deal to the much needed reform of the judicial system and stand for the rule of law at the national level. But it is ironic that the executive arm of government where Osinbajo is the second in command has no regard for the rule of law. Buhari and Osinbajo had made many attempts to derail the rule of law and democracy with utter disregard to valid and lawful court decisions. And this has given some government agencies like DSS the audacity and temerity to be disobeying court orders that are not in their favour.

According to human rights lawyer, Ebun Adegboruwa, “Mr. Buhari, a former head of a military junta, which ruled the country in the 1980s with an iron fist, proved by his open defiance of the judiciary that he remained a dictator at heart.” But it is unfortunate that Osinbajo who has taught law at University of Lagos from 1983 to 1986 as a senior lecturer and who has served as an adviser (legal advice and litigation) to the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Bola Ajibola is now conniving with Buhari to resort to self-help. Then once we resort to a situation where the

leadership is breathing down lawlessness, then anarchy will come because if a president will not obey a court order, he cannot expect businessmen, policemen, politicians and ordinary citizens to obey it, and given that the president and our senior advocate vice-president assumed office through the rule of law, it is totally uncharitable to be humiliating the judiciary by their actions and inactions.

“Under Section 287 subsection 1, 2, &3 of the 1999 constitution, it is stated that “The decisions of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and Federal High Court shall be enforced in any part of the Federation by all authorities and persons, and by courts with subordinate jurisdiction to that of the Supreme Court.”

Therefore there is little or no difference between the jungle justice that takes place on the streets and the president in agreement with vice-president who, on live TV, displayed his lack of regard for court orders on the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu and former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki in spite of the bail granted them by the courts.

In the same vein, worthy

reconstruction of infrastructure in the war- ravaged Southeast thus making the area to lag behind other parts of the country. The effect of this beggar policy was also to reduce the contribution of the war- ravaged Southeast to national development and generally set the nation back by failing to harness and galvanise all its potential.

The Southeast people who are enthusiastic Nigerian citizens who do not discriminate about where the call home and where they invest in the Nigerian federation appear set to witness exciting and meaningful changes under President Buhari.

Interestingly, President Buhari took part in the civil war as a young combatant and this writer believes that as one who was a witness to all the tragedy that befell the nation on account of the war, he is in a good position to appreciate the clarion call of the Southeast people for the change which he espouses as a philosophy of governance to be applied to the Southeast to end the double- standards and neglect of the area.

--Louis Okoroma, Abuja.

GOV. ORTOM: STOP BLAMING SUSWAM

L

et me begin this piece by stating very clearly that Benue people, at least majority of them including myself, rejected former Governor Gabriel Suswam in the last general elections.

All that he represented was rejected including Hon. Terhemen Tarzoor whom he handpicked to be his successor.

YEMI OSINBAJO AND THE RULE OF LAW

ntil he became the Vice-President of Federal Republic of Nigerian on May 29, 2015, Professor Oluyemi Osinbajo was a Senior Partner with SimmonsCooper Partners, a commercial law practice. He was also the Pastor in charge of the RCCG Lagos Province 48, Olive Tree provincial headquarter parish, Ikoyi.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Professor of Law , vice-president Osinbajo is one of the nation’s leading experts on the Law of Evidence, National and Regional Corporate Commercial Laws and Public Law. However, since he assumed office as vice-president, his background as a legal luminary and as a pastor has not been felt in this confused Buhari government.

As the vice-president, he is expected to oversee the economic planning team and report, as well as make recommendations, to the president who takes the final decision. Because of his legal background and antecedents as Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos State between 1999 and 2003, many expect that he will

lacking, Ministers of Works and Power since 1999 should be summoned to give account of what they did with budgetary allocations in these areas.

The failure of previous governments to provide a reasonable level of infrastructure for the people is a criminal disservice to the people of Nigeria. Without infrastructure, economic activities will remain at best, rudimentary while large sections of the hardworking population of the country would be cut off from one another thereby stifling economic activities and robust economic interaction which encourages production on a large scale.

The Southeast is the most neglected in this politics of infrastructure provision.

Most of the infrastructure in the zone predates the civil war and not much effort was put into their rehabilitation or reconstruction. In fact, at the end of the civil war, the then federal government under now retired General Yakubu Gowon deliberately failed to honour its own commitment to embark on the rehabilitation and

of mention is the issue of President Buhari’s tacit endorsement of the death of the Shiites who stood in the way of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai where about 350 of them were buried in a mass grave. And what about the death of the pro-Biafra protesters who were cut down by police bullets as they ran for their lives? All these and others are happening between May last year and this outgoing year.

And recently, the issue of Justice Walter Onnoghen who was recommended by National Judicial Council (NJC) to President Muhammadu Buhari for appointment as the CJN in line with its rules, on October 13, and which the President Muhammadu Buhari refused to send to the Senate for confirmation from becoming the substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria, due to the reason best known to him is another attempt by Mr President at muscling democracy by subduing the judiciary. And Mr. Osinbajo being a lawyer should have prevailed on the president to do the needful due to his good knowledge of how things work in the judiciary.

--John Tosin, Lagos.

The people had endured what, at that time, was the worse handling of the state by a governor. Suswam simply ran the state into the ground with impunity. Amongst other acts of mismanagement, perhaps Suswam’s greatest undoing was the issue of nonpayment of salaries because the state’s economy revolves around salaries despite an agrarian status..

The people voted massively for Governor Ortom because he said he would lead them in another direction. The people queued up in the rain to vote for Governor Ortom and probably stayed overnight to protect it. The results of that election were instructive – the people established that Suswam was wrong and wanted someone who will right those wrongs.

Having inherited a long list of problems from his predecessor, it was understandable that Governor Ortom would grumble once or twice but little did we expect that it will take centre stage of his administration and almost obscure it.

It is surprising and sickening that almost two years into Governor Ortom’s administration, blaming Suswam is now a major strategy of governance in Benue State and whilst we can tolerate the nuisance of this strategy, its peddlers and constant animosity with “the opposition” and concerned ordinary members of the public alike, it is pertinent to note that the continual blaming of Suswam cannot absolve Governor Ortom from his responsibilities.

There are serious unanswered questions concerning the monies received by the government in the name of

Paris and London clubs debt refund. These questions have been put forward without any answers from the government whose media aides respond to every trivial banter from the opposition on social media with multiple press releases.

Whilst the questions are still hanging, the government is attempting to bombard the media with allegations that former governor, Gabriel Suswam collected and mismanaged $24 million as debt refunds from the Paris Club during his tenure and how the government intends to probe it.

It is unfortunate that the government thinks that blaming and accusing Suswam of mismanagement absolves the present administration of accountability to the people. We, the ordinary people would say, “thank you very much for exposing the nefarious ways of the former governor but we are still interested in knowing what is happening with our commonwealth now.”

If a pastor preaches the same sermon at every church service, it is because the congregation has not changed, so permit me to ask the same questions I’ve been asking in the last three days without an answer.

One, at a press conference two weeks ago, the state Commissioner of Finance, Mr David Olofu, said the following about the 25% of $181 million that was being expected by the state government as debt refunds from the Paris and London clubs: --Ushakuma Anenga, Makurdi.

(See concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com)

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY/MONDAY NEWSPAPER • DECEMBER 25-26, 2016

INTERNATIONAL Managing Sit-tight Leaders at Christmas Time in Africa: from The Gambia to the DRC

S

it-tight leaders are Heads of State or Presidents who try to stay in power beyond the approved tenure by manipulating the law, using force and other excuses to suppress any opposition to prolong their stay in power or to legitimise it.

In this regard, many of the sit-tight leaders have spent nothing less than two decades in power without adding new values. President Itno Idris Déby of Chad has spent 22 years eleven months in power, compared to President Omar Hassan al-Bashir of Sudan’s 24 years, five months. During the tenure of Al-Bashir, the International Criminal Court has indicted him for engagement in crimes against humanity and war crimes, all of which he has been denying. Blaise Compaore of Burkina Faso, during whose regime has warranted much resistance and the torching of the parliament, has spent 26 years one month.

Even though traditional kings are normally not elected and owe the occupation of their offices to arguments of inheritance, the truth remains that their regime is still that of sit- tightism in nature. King Mswati the III of Swaziland has been on the throne for 28 years seven months, which is about seven months more than Yoweri Museveni of Uganda’s 27 years, eleven months. Denis Sassou Nguesso of Republic of Congo (Congo Leopoldville) has done 29 years and nine months in power.

President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe is the longest sit-tight leader in Africa with 33 years, 7 months, followed by President Theodoro Obiang Nguema Mbassogo of Equatorial Guinea with 33 years and three months. José Eduardo Dos Santos of Angola has been in power for 33 years 2 months while President Paul Biya follows suit in the category of those who have spent more than three decades in power with 31 years And true, sit tight politics, which makes a mockery of democracy and also bastardises the will of the people, thrives in Africa for various reasons. At the time of independence, there was the euphoria of a newly independent status and the need to exercise self-restraint, especially with the leaders who were faithful to the people. In other words, the foundations of democracy were quite weak in the 1960s when most African countries became independent. By that time, one-party political system was in vogue. Many of the leaders enjoyed popular support either because of the roles they played during the independence struggle of their countries or the development policies they put in place. There was also the factor of their former colonial masters.

For instance, the long stay of President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe is interesting. He played very active roles in his country’s struggle for independence. This factor explains the support for his political party and his election. He has been the only president of Zimbabwe since the time of independence in 1980. One major dynamic of his unending stay in power is the far-from-good relationship between Zimbabwe and Britain, largely prompted by the non-respect by Britain of the financial compensation for land grab by the white Zimbabweans as provided in the London Lancaster agreement.

Explained differently, the British promised to pay an agreed compensation but made part payment for the land to be conceded to the white farmers in Zimbabwe. It should be noted that the policy on land, the Chimurenga, categorised land into five types and the best land in terms of fertility was reserved for the white people. This was the basis of the dispute between Robert Mugabe and the British. Robert Mugabe enjoyed popular support for his anti-British position and therefore has taken advantage of this support to renew his stay in power many times. Even when he is believed to have overstayed his welcome, Robert Mugabe used other different pretexts to prolong his stay in power, including the use of election.

What is important to note here is that, various efforts have been made nationally and internationally to unseat President Mugabe, but all the efforts have been to no avail. This raises the question of how do or should African leaders manage sit-tight colleagues in Africa? How do we explain the fact that sit-tight leaders also enjoy enough support to stay in power? On the one hand, sit-tight politics is legitimised by law when the Constitution is reviewed to allow for longer tenure but many opposition parties would protest against it. In this regard, the incumbent government would resort to the use of force to maintain law

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President Joseph Kabila

and order.

On the other hand, a sit-tight leader might simply defy any logic or persuasion or even pressure not to engage in politics of sit-tightism, a situation that has prompted international interventions and calls for forceful regime change. The case of Muammar Gaddafi of Libya and Laurent Gbagbo of the Côte d’Ivoire are living examples. In this regard, after the regime changes, political cohesion in the affected countries has not been entrenched. Addressing this problem promptly is necessary because The Gambia in West Africa and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in Central Africa are cases of sit-tight leadership that have the great potential of precipitating disorderliness, unrests and conflicts in the two regions.

Without doubt, Christmas time is supposed to be a time of love and peace making. It is a time differences are required to be set aside and allow for forgiveness and living without the heaviness of the mind. However, the electoral crises in The Gambia and the DRC are gradually degenerating into conflicts in which love and peace is thrown into the garbage of little concern.

The ECOWAS already sent a delegation, comprising the ECOWAS Authority Chairperson, Ellen-Sirleaf-Johnson, the outgoing president of Ghana, John Mahama, the Sierra Leonean leader, Ernest Bai Koroma, and Nigeria’s leader, Muhammadu Buhari. Following its consultations with the principal stakeholders in The Gambia, the regional body further appointed a 2-man mediating team with President Buhari of Nigeria as head and the President of Ghana, John Mahama, as member. Is it not possible for Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari, in his capacity as the ECOWAS mediating team to begin to address the issue of sit tightism in the region in addition to seeking immediate resolution of the electoral saga in The Gambia? Is it also not logical to later broaden the mediation team to include some other leaders in the Central African region to also look at the problem at the level of the DRC? Sit-tight politics is a major threat to political stability and

The critical issue in the DRC (Congo Kinshasa) is the intention of President Joseph Kabila not to respect the interpretation of the new electoral law which limits the presidential terms to only two. President Kabila has done two terms, if we reckon with his first term before the adoption of a new constitution in 2006. In fact, his second term expired on Tuesday, 20th December 2016 going by the old constitution. However, he never made any arrangement for election, not to mention admitting the possibility of any successor. President Kabila, who took over power in 2001, following the assassination of his father, Laurent Kabila, has the intention of interpreting the Constitution in such a way as to be allowed to have a third term contrary to the spirit of the present Constitution

development in the whole of Africa. The international politics of it necessarily under-develops Africa in the immediate and long run. The cases of the DRC and The Gambia are relevant examples.

DRC: the Issues Involved

The critical issue in the DRC (Congo Kinshasa) is the intention of President Joseph Kabila not to respect the interpretation of the new electoral law which limits the presidential terms to only two. President Kabila has done two terms, if we reckon with his first term before the adoption of a new constitution in 2006. In fact, his second term expired on Tuesday, 20th December 2016 going by the old constitution. However, he never made any arrangement for election, not to mention admitting the possibility of any successor. President Kabila, who took over power in 2001, following the assassination of his father, Laurent Kabila, has the intention of interpreting the Constitution in such a way as to be allowed to have a third term contrary to the spirit of the present Constitution.

According to the Congo Research Group, which recently carried out a survey of 7,500 people across the country, almost 80% of the Congolese population rejected any attempt to change the constitution to allow for a third term for President Kabila. As noted by Alyoscia D’Onofrio, former Representative of the International Rescue Committee in the DRC (2004-2008), on December 19, 2016, there is the need for all actors in the DRC ‘to listen to the voice of Congolese people and respect the rule of law, human rights and democratic participation to avoid continued and widespread suffering. The International community must double-down in unison on its commitments to Congo.’

President Kabila, as a major actor, does not appear to have any listening ears in this case, which has prompted the opposition leader, Etienne Tshisekedi, to call for peaceful protests to oust President Kabila. In September 2016 the opposition opted to take to the streets following the failure of the Electoral Commission to fix a date for the presidential election. Tshisekedi put his call thus: ‘ I launch a solemn appeal to the Congolese people not to recognise the ... illegal and illegitimate authority of Joseph Kabila and to peacefully resist his coup d’état.’ First, the protests have been far from peaceful as several people, not less than ten, have been killed on both sides of the divide: Government agents and opposition members.

Secondly, the protesters have not only set the headquarters of the ruling party in Kinshasa into fire, but are also demanding the resolution of all the issues involved: fixing an immediate date for election; releasing the political prisoners; dropping criminal charges against the opposition leaders, Moise Katumbi, who allegedly ‘fled the country as authorities announced plans to prosecute him for allegedly hiring mercenaries,’ etc.

There is also the issue of closing down of the camps of the Internally Displaced People. Several reasons were given by Laingulia Njewa, the Head of the National Refugee Committee (CNR) of North Kivu which is in charge of the closures: need for people to return to their homes following the stabilisation of North Kivu; some of the camps had become a new area for breading violence; some of the camps were new safe havens for anti-government activities; and the need to control the work of NGOs and stop their wastage of financial resources incurred on ‘projects government and community do not have oversight.’

It can be rightly argued that Joseph Kabila has not shown, and is not likely to show, any preparedness to give any concessions, especially that western diplomats in Kinshasa have advised their non-essential nationals to leave the country and because of Government’s directive that social networks, including the Facebook and WhatsApp, be closed. Al Jazeera has it that in a letter from Congo’s Posts and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (ARPTC), there should be a ‘temporary blocking of sharing of images, video, and voice data over the network from 11.59 pm local time (59 GMT) on Sunday.

However, in cases where partial blocking is not possible, the requirement is to block access to the relevant social networks entirely.’ This is why everyone is expecting the worst scenario of violence in the country of about 70 million people who have not known political stability since their independence from Belgium in 1960. In a Constitutional court ruling, considered by some observers as controversial, Joseph Kabila ‘may remain in office beyond the end of his mandate.’ As the ruling has an optional character, ‘may remain,’ Kabila has simply refused to step aside the Ibrahim Babangida style.

And perhaps most importantly, there is the issue of the Constitution itself the conflicting interpretation of which has not helped matters. In 2005, there was a referendum on a proposed new constitution in which new electoral conditions were provided for. The UN-assisted referendum took place on December 18th and 19th, 2005. As recorded by the African Elections Database, the proposed new constitution was approved by 12,461,001 voters, representing 84.31% as against 2,319,074 voters against, and representing 15.69%. Total registered voters were 25,021,703 while total turnout was 62%. It was on this basis that the presidential elections took place in June 2006, thus putting an end to the transition period.

(See concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com)

T H I S D AY SUNDAY/MONDAY DECEMBER 25-26, 2016

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SUNDAY/MONDAY DECEMBER 25-26, 2016 T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY / M O N D AY N E W S PA P E R • DECEMBER 25-26, 2016

BUSINESS QUICK TAKES Aviation

It has been projected that airlines, air travellers and aviation agencies lost about N48 billion in 2016 to operational hiccups, inadequate supply of aviation fuel and the attendant high prices.These losses were said to have been incurred by passengers who lost businessesduetoflightdelaysandcancellations;airlinesthatcancelledflights afterexpendingmoneyonlogisticsand equipment and aviation agencies that lost accruals on charges because of limited flight traffic due to paucity of the product. Industry operators who spoke toTHISDAYon the condition of anonymity, said that the losses were really difficult to quantify because it made travellers to lose confidence in the airlines, as the travellers have to pay almost double what they used to pay because the airlines have to pass exorbitant prices of aviation fuel to the passengers.

Equities

A container-laden ship

Nigeria Recorded N104Billion Negative Trade Balance in Q3 Kunle Aderinokun The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has disclosed that Nigeria recorded a negative trade balance of N104 billion in third quarter of this year.

NBS, which newly released the data in its ‘3rd Quarter 2016 External Trade News: Trade Intensity Index/ Re-Exports Analysis’, put the total value of Nigeria’s external trade in the third quarter at N 4.721.9 trillion. It pointed out that the figures consisted of exports worth N2.309 trillion and imports worth N2.413 trillion, indicating a slight negative trade balance of N104 billion.

Giving a breakdown, it noted that, “As in previous quarters, the sector, which contributed the most to total trade was crude oil, which was all for exports,” stating that, “In total this sector accounted for N1,944 billion, or 41.2per cent of the total trade in the third quarter of 2016.”

“The manufacturing sector had the second largest share of total trade, accounting for N1,218.3 billion or 25.8per cent of the total, but in contrast to Crude Oil, was dominated by imports. Other Oil products was also a prominent sector, and accounted for N1,029.4 billion, or 21.8per cent of the total. The remaining sectors were a relatively small proportion of total trade. Raw

ECONOMY Materials accounted for 6.37per cent of the total, Agriculture accounted for 4.43per cent, Solid minerals accounted for 0.43per cent, and trade in Energy goods was negligible at N0.1 billion,” it added.

On the export intensity index with major trading partners, the statistical agency explained that, the index “compares the share of exports to each country in Nigeria’s total exports, with the share of world exports going to that country, and therefore gives a measure of the importance of that country to Nigeria as an export destination.”

Accordingly, it noted that, “A higher number denotes a stronger relationship, and an index of one indicates that exports to that country are what would be expected given global trade patterns. In quarter three, Nigeria had a particularly strong export relationship with India, with export intensities of 5.6, 8.3 and 3.9 July, August and September respectively.

“Spain was also a key export market with intensities of 3.6, 4.4 and 1.9 during the same months.

Despite more exports going to the US than Spain, this was due to the importance of the US as a global market, and the country nevertheless had lower intensities, of 1.2, 0.7 and 0.9 . France and the Netherlands

were the other two largest export destinations, and recorded intensities of 0.8, 3.6 and 0.6 for France, and 1.1, 1.8 and 0.9 for the Netherlands.

As for the import intensity index with major trading partners, the NBS noted that, “This index mirrors the export intensity index, and measures the importance of Nigeria as an export destination for other countries. “ According to the agency, “Nigeria’s major trading partners in terms As in previous quarters, the sector, which contributed the most to total trade was crude oil, which was all for exports.

In total this sector accounted for N1,944 billion, or 41.2per cent of the total trade in the third quarter of 2016

of import were China, Belgium, Netherlands, United States and India. During the quarter, the import intensity of Nigeria with China was 1.09, for July 1.08 for August and 0.65 for September.

These figures, it explained, were around one, and therefore indicated that China’s exports to Nigeria reflected the global share of imports accounted for by Nigeria.

“By contrast, Belgium – the next leading consumer of Nigeria’s products – showed high import intensities with Nigeria, of 4.35, 3.54 and 2.19

for the months July to September, denoting a stronger relationship.

The Country’s import intensities were also high with India (2.57, 2.49 and 1.28) and the Netherlands (4.38, 2.57 and 1.04) during the same months.

“However, the import intensity of Nigeria with United States and Spain were lower, with indices less than one other than for Spain in August. This is possibly a result of the mix of products imported from these countries, which may have been affected more by the CBN import regulations,” it added.

Besides, in terms of the major import partners, NBS stated that, “As in previous quarters, the country that Nigeria imported the most goods from in the third quarter of 2016 was China. In total, China accounted for N478.7 billion, or 19.8 per cent of total imports.”

Nevertheless, it added, “this is a lower share of total imports than the country accounted for in the previous quarter.”

“Belgium and the Netherlands were the next most important import partners, and accounted for N331.1 billion (13.7 per cent) and N299.7 billion (12.4 per cent) respectively.

They were followed by USA, India and France, which recorded N165.5 billion (6.86 per cent), N121.3 billion (5.03 per cent) and N91.3 (3.78 per cent) respectively,” it pointed out.

The equities market appreciated slightly on late last week by N16bn astheNigerianStockExchangemarket capitalisationclosedatN9.105tnfrom N9.089 trillion. The NSE All-Share Index also rose to 26,464.82 basis points from 26,418.11 basis points as a total of 188.684 million shares worthN1.387billionexchangedhands in 3,161 deals. The Nigerian bourse clungtoaslimgain,haltingathree-day downtrendlargelyonthebackofarally intheoilandgassector.Theoilandgas sector snapped a five session losing streak to lead the pack in Thursday’s session, buoyed by firm gains in Forte Oil Plc, Conoil Plc and Oando Plc by 10.24 per cent, 10.20 per cent and 4.29 per cent, respectively.

Also,the financial services sector slid further albeit marginally asdeclines in UnitedBankofAfricaPlcandGuaranty TrustBankPlcby1.09percentand0.56 per cent, accordingly, were watered down by gains in FBN Holdings Plc, FCMB Group Plc and Access Bank Plc.

OPL 245

Italian prosecutors havewrapped up a probe into the head of Italian oil major, Eni,andothersoverallegedcorruption in Nigeria, legal and judicial sources were quoted by Reuters as saying.

Theprobeinvolvesatotalof11people, including the Chief Executive Officer, Eni,ClaudioDescalzi,andaformerCEO, Paolo Scaroni, as well as Eni itself and Royal Dutch Shell.

Oil Prospecting Licence 245, an offshore oil block in Nigeria, was said to have been purchased in 2011 by ShellandEnifor$1.3bn.Butcorruption scandal trailed the transaction.

UnderItalianlaw,thoseunderinvestigationhavethreeweekstoshowwhythey should not be charged. Prosecutors gave no indication they intended to drop the case, according to Reuters.

In February this year, Shell headquarters in The Hague were searched by Dutch police and prosecutors as part of a new strand of investigation.

In2014,aMilancourtplacedEniunder investigation over the purchase of the oil block, and the prosecutors later widened their investigation to include its CEO, Descalzi.

Eni and Descalzi denied any wron doing, with the state-controlled oil company saying it dealt exclusively with the government of Nigeria, paid fees into a government account and did not use intermediaries for the transaction.ItwasreportedthatItalian prosecutors were working jointly with an anti-fraud team in the Netherlands in order to determinewhether thetwo oil companies paid bribes to obtain licences for the Nigerian site.

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY / M O N D AY N E W S PA P E R • DECEMBER 25-26, 2016

BUSINESS/ECONOMY

Optimism, Commendations Greet Proposed 2017 Budget

The estimates of the proposed 2017 budget submitted to the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari have elicited reactions from analysts and stakeholders in the economy, who have rated it as yet another ambitious budget but are expectant and optimistic of better deals from government, reports Kunle Aderinokun

P

resident Muhammadu Buhari has submitted to the National Assembly federal government’s proposed budget of N7.298 trillion for 2017 fiscal year.

The budget, representing 20.4 per cent increase over the 2016 estimates of N6.08 trillion, is based on a benchmark crude oil price of US$42.5 per barrel and an oil production estimate of 2.2 million barrels per day at an average exchange rate of N305 to the US dollar.

Taking cognisance of these assumptions, aggregate revenue available to fund the federal budget is N4.94 trillion. This is 28 per cent higher than 2016 full year projections. Oil is projected to contribute N1.985 trillion of this amount.

Non-oil revenues, largely comprising companies income tax, value added tax, customs and excise duties, and Federation Account levies are estimated to contribute N1.373 trillion.

As proposed, the government has set a projection of N807.57 billion for independent revenues and receipts of N565.1 billion from various recoveries.

Other revenue sources, including mining, amount to N210.9 billion.

With regard to expenditure, the government proposed N7.298 trillion which is a nominal 20.4 per cent increase over 2016 estimates. 30.7 per cent of this expenditure will be capital in line with government’s determination to reflate and pull the economy out of recession as quickly as possible.

This fiscal plan is expected to result in a deficit of N2.36 trillion for 2017 which is about 2.18 per cent of GDP. The deficit will be financed mainly by borrowing which is projected to be about N2.32 trillion. The intention of government is to source N1.067 trillion or about 46 per cent of this borrowing from external sources while, N1.254 trillion would be borrowed from the domestic market.

President Buhari laying the 2017 appropriation bill before the National Assembly

economic growth”, pointing out that,“these capital provisions are targeted at priority sectors and projects.”

“Specifically, we have maintained substantially higher Breakdown allocations for infrastructural projects which will have Further details revealed that the federal government a multiplier effect on productivity, employment and has proposed an aggregate expenditure of N7.298 also promote private sector investments into the trillion which will comprise statutory transfers of country,” he explained.

N419.02 billion, debt service of N1.66 trillion; and Key capital spending provisions in the Budget sinking fund of N177.46 billion to retire certain include: Power, Works and Housing, N529 billion; maturing bonds. Non-debt recurrent expenditure Transportation, N262 billion; Special Intervention has been estimated at N2.98 trillion; and Capital Programmes, N150 billion; defence, N140 billion; expenditure, including capital in Statutory Transfers water resources, N85 billion; industry, trade and budgeted at N2.24 trillion. investment, N81 billion; and interior, N63 billion.

For the Statutory Transfers, Buhari disclosed that, Others are education, N50 billion; Universal Basic “we have increased the budgetary allocation to the Education Commission: N92 billion; health, N51 Judiciary from N70 billion to N100 billion.” billion; Federal Capital Territory, N37 billion; Niger Delta This increase in funding, he explained, was“further Ministry: N33 billion; and Niger Delta Development meant to enhance the independence of the judiciary Commission, N61 billion. and enable them to perform their functions effectively.”

According to the president,“N100 billion has been As for the recurrent expenditure, Buhari noted that, provided in the Special Intervention programme as “a significant portion of recurrent expenditure has seed money into the N1 trillion Family Homes Fund been provisioned for the payment of salaries and that will underpin a new social housing programme. overheads in institutions that provide critical public This substantial expenditure is expected to stimulate services.” construction activity throughout the country.”

The budgeted amounts for these items are:“N482.37 billion for the Ministry of Interior, N398.01 billion for Reaction Ministry of Education, N325.87 billion for Ministry of FBN Quest Ltd, the investment banking and Defence, and N252.87 billion for Ministry of Health.” research arm of FBN Holdings Plc, which described The president said the government had maintained the proposed budget as “a second, larger dose of personnel costs at about N1.8 trillion.“It is important fiscal expansion”, posited that, Nigeria’s exit from that we complete the work that we have started, of recession depends upon its expansionary fiscal stance, ensuring the elimination of all ghost workers from and the monetary policy committee will not play a the payroll. Accordingly, adequate provision has been supporting role unless it performs an about-turn made in the 2017 Budget to ensure all personnel from its communiqué in November. that are not enrolled on the Integrated Personnel The firm of analysts noted that,“the headline figure Payroll Information System platform are captured.” in the budget is total FGN spending of N7.30trillion “We have tasked the Efficiency Unit of the Federal (US$23.9billion), compared with N6.06trn in the Ministry of Finance to cut certain overhead costs by 2016 budget and, more significantly, an outturn of 20 per cent. We must eliminate all non-essential costs N2.42trillion in H1 2016.” so as to free resources to fund our capital expenditure.

It contended that, “Not for the first time, an Analysis of the capital expenditure showed that it outperformance on the oil price may compensate was estimated at N2.24 trillion (inclusive of capital for an underperformance on production,” stating in Statutory Transfers), or 30.7 per cent of the total that, “The FGN may pursue an“engagement with budget. Buhari enthused that the proposed capital the oil producing communities”but will surely have budget reflected government’s“determination to spur to compromise with the various parties responsible

for the sabotage.”

FBNQuest noted that the FGN budgets tend to work with the exchange rate in effect at the time of submission, and for good reasons.

According to the firm, “The rate is, of course, effectively administered and not the floating model envisaged in June. We have to move to a flexible arrangement if the FGN’s economic vision is to be realized and we doubt very much that the rate would then remain at N305.

It pointed that the company’s watchlist for 2017 and beyond includes“the standard VAT rate of 5 per cent, the mounting burden of debt service, the external/ domestic mix of FGN borrowing, its personnel costs and disbursements under its flagship social interventions.”

Nevertheless, it added: “Among events outside the FGN’s control, we have to single out the impact of the Trump presidency on US interest rates and on the Chinese economy in addition to the oil price.”

While welcoming “the relatively early submission of the budget to the assembly”, FBN Quest also“recall the suggestions from the federal finance ministry that the regrettable delay in the final sign-off on this year’s budget (to May) was balanced by important procedural victories at the expense of the legislature, and hope that these successes are visible in 2017.”

“The assembly has a track record of pursuing its institutional agenda ahead of the policies of the political parties in whose names its senators and representatives have been elected.”

To the Executive Director, Corporate Finance, BGL Capital Ltd, Femi Ademola, “this is another very audacious budget like we had in 2016.”

According to him,“Despite the current economic challenges and the declining revenue to the nation, the Federal Government has gone ahead to increase spending estimates by about 20 per cent. Although it is arguable if this is actually an increase considering that the value of Naira had decline by more than 20 per cent over the last one year, it is still a significant amount of money when we factor that fact that it contains a deficit of about N2.36 trillion.”

Pointing out that, “the critical infrastructure sectors are being considered for large expenditure outlay which is also a very good plan,”Ademola, however,

said,“it is only a good budget if it is implemented to the letter.”

For instance, he pointed out,“with the 2016 budget, most of the recurrent portion of the budget are being met while the capital budget suffers. If successive governments have implemented the small percentage set aside for capital budget, the huge infrastructure gap won’t be there and the country may not have fallen into economic recession at this time.”

Apart from ensuring that the budget is implemented, especially the capital votes, Ademola noted that, “financing the budget deficit also requires a critical review.”

According to him,“A situation where about a quarter of the budget is used for debt servicing may not be productive at this moment. And it is important that in considering the budget and the borrowing plan to finance the deficit, all stakeholders must be carried along to ensure seamless approval and implementation to the benefit of the citizenry. Once it is agreed that the government need to borrow locally to implement most of its fiscal reforms, monetary tightening by the Central Bank would appear to be counterproductive.”

“Hence, it would be necessary for all the parties to agree in principle the interest rate environment that is needed to support the planned activities and what level of inflation is permissible before monetary policy tools are deployed, especially our monetary policies are ineffective in combating inflation now,”he added.

Ademola therefore posited that, “it would be nice to see how the government implement this budget before it can be adjudged as good or otherwise”.

Also, Chief Executive Officer, The CFG Advisory, Adetilewa Adebajo, acknowledged that, “The revenue assumptions are very optimistic considering the uncertainty with oil prices and the problems of the Niger Delta.”

Besides, he added,“The current budget also had a 50 per cent revenue shortfall that the government had not been able to finance,”however stating that, “The good news is that the government no longer has to fund the JVs and the certainty around funding with the new arrangement will increase the level of investment by the IOCs and also the level of oil production to the projected budgetary levels.”

“The current deficit has still not been financed and carried over to next year. The delay with the Eurobond is affecting the deficit financing. There is however no increase in the deficit from the new budget.”

Speaking on the implications of the proposed budget, Adebajo noted that,“The key issue is implementation to provide the much need stimulus to jumpstart the economy.

The implication for the economy is not the budget, but the alignment of policies; fiscal, monetary, trade, investment and finance. Unfortunately the inability to align policies has been the Achilles heel of this government and its inability to restore confidence to both investors and the economy.”

In the same vein, an analyst and investment manager, Adetola Odukoya, said,“Given the sustained contraction in economic output over the last one year, one would understand why the fiscal authorities are planning to increase spending in order to reflate the economy.”

Odukoya, however, pointed out that, the primary challenge remained“the ability to generate adequate foreign exchange from oil sale against the backdrop of the headwinds and volatility in that sector.” According to him,“opinion that a proper optimisation of the channels of generating non-oil revenues i.e. taxes, levies, duties, means that the revenue expectation from this stream is achievable if not surpassed.”

Odukoya added that,“Another major challenge is the deficit and the borrowing that comes with it,”stressing that, “In view of the high interest rates within the economy, which makes borrowing very expensive, it’s obvious that both monetary and fiscal authorities need to find a balance regarding the trade-off between economic growth and inflation, which that may result from the expansion in government spending.”

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY / M O N D AY N E W S PA P E R • DECEMBER 25-26, 2016

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BUSINESS/ENERGY

One of Nigeria’s refineries

NNPC’s Vacillating Stance on Nigeria’s Three Moribund Refineries

After reportedly spending huge sums of money in various Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) operations on its three refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) again said it would, in 2017, completely overhaul the loss-making refineries. Chineme Okafor writes

L

ast week, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) said it would no longer undertake short and stop-gap repairs of its refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna, but will from 2017 embark on a comprehensive rehabilitation of them to achieve optimal capacity utilisation.

According to a statement from the Group General Manager Public Affairs of NNPC, Ndu Ughamadu, NNPC’s Chief Operating Officer of Refineries, Mr. Anibor Kragha, said this at the Annual General Meetings (AGM) of the three refineries in Abuja.

Indicating that the corporation was determined to move away from the approach of quick fixes, Kragha stated that a comprehensive revamp of the plants which have for long traded in deficits would be undertaken from next year.

He noted that once the exercise was achieved, the refineries would in due course draw up a chart for their routine Turn Around Maintenance (TAM). The NNPC had reportedly spent huge sums of money in the TAM for the refineries, without improvements in their economics.

Data from the corporation’s monthly financial and operation reports have consistently confirmed the inability of the refineries to produce optimally even after repeated TAMs on them.

“The plan for next year is to get the comprehensive rehabilitation programme done. The situation is like having three cars in your garage that have not been maintained for 15 to 20 years while you expect optimal performance from them.

“Changing one fuel pump here, one compressor there, is not helpful. What we are doing now is to step back and take a holistic approach

and do a full rehabilitation of all the refineries,” Kragha stated.

On plans to have other refineries co-located with the existing refineries, Kragha said though the plan was still on course, none of the projected co-location refineries would come on stream in 2017 based on existing timeline for assemblage of the plants.

The Refineries Economics Notwithstanding the 2017 plan of the NNPC for the refineries, their economics in the last 21 months have, with regards to data from NNPC’s reports, remained poor.

Captured by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) in its recent publication on transparency in Nigeria’s oil industry, the refineries have between January 2015 and September 2016 operated on an average capacity utilisation of 8.55 per cent.

The NEITI report stated that the refineries did not process crude oil at all in seven out of the 21 months it reviewed their operations, and that their consolidated capacity utilisation was above 20 per cent only in August 2015 when it achieved 24.08 per cent.

It also noted that Kaduna refineries had been the poorest performer while the Port Harcourt refinery remained the best performer.

Similarly, out of the 245.48 million barrels of crude oil that NNPC received for domestic supply in 21 months, only 24.78 million barrels were delivered to the refineries for processing, amounting to only10.06 per cent of what the NNPC received for domestic consumption.

NNPC, however, attributed the low capacity utilisation to prolonged TAM issues and pipeline vandalism. They also contributed immensely to

the N418.97 billion operational deficit recorded by the NNPC within the period.

Experts’ Views Though the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu has repeatedly said the government will no longer spend its money in repairing the refineries but will invite private investors to co-invest and manage the refineries to profitability.

Kachikwu emphasised his stance when he recently hosted members of the National Assembly, stating that he would soon jet off to the Gulf States to convince their investors to invest in Nigeria’s domestic petroleum refining sector.

The Gulf State members include Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

The minister equally stated that the refineries will not be concessioned or privatised but will have private sector investment which could lead to a joint ownership and management arrangement for greater efficiency.

He noted that for the purpose of efficient management of the refineries, government money will not be committed to the refineries any more, adding that prospective private investors will bring in their money, take part in managing the refineries and from there, recoup their investment.

But in a separate interview with THISDAY, an oil and gas investment advisor, Mr. Dan Kunle, stated that such plan by the government and NNPC would need to be carefully considered on the back of the refineries’operational statuses.

Kunle explained that the country had lost huge resources after it scuttled a prior plan to privatise the refineries.

He added that one of the investors who got approval to buy and refurbish the refineries, Dangote Group, was already building its private refinery in Lagos, which would when completed in 2018, render the country’s three refineries useless if they were still aground.

According to Kunle, finding a lasting solution to the refineries challenges would require the government taking its hands off it, and allowing for sound economic decisions to be made on them.

He said: “The government violated the sales purchase agreement for those two refineries before. Ironically, the same government goes abroad to do road shows looking for investment forgetting that violating contract agreement is counterproductive.”

“The more you politicise the privatisation of the refineries, the more those refineries are technically going obsolete and decadence, that no credible investor will come near them anymore. In fact, they become worthless because they have become technically insolvent.

“When you have assets that have become technically insolvent, it means, if you want to buy it you are buying liability because all the equipment you are supposed to produce with are obsolete. They have decayed, corrosion has taken place.

“That means you are going to invest money in building a new refinery. So, why will an investor come and take such a technically liable refinery.

Not only that the refinery is technically insolvent, the refinery is socially insolvent. That is, the labour problem you are going to have in the refineries, unless government insulate you away from all these labour issues, and take away all the staff and pay them,” said Kunle.

22

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY / M O N D AY N E W S PA P E R • DECEMBER 25-26, 2016

INTERVIEW

Puchercos: We’re Quite Optimistic All Economic Indices will be Better in 2017 Having spent about eight months in Nigeria as the Chief Executive Officer of Lafarge Africa Plc, Mr. Michel Puchercos, speaks with Eromosele Abiodun about his engagement with Lafarge, business and the cement manufacturing environment as well as the Nigerian economy

I

n the short time you have stayed, what can you say about Nigeria?

Nigeria cement market is dynamic and has great potential for continued growth, despite the current economic challenges.

The huge market and population, level of infrastructural development, and massive desire for housing are positive indicators.

Focus on infrastructure development by current government is quite encouraging. The people are warm and committed. Hence, there is great focus and high expectations from the LafargeHolcim Group.

Please elaborate on LafargeHolcim’s commitment to continue to do business in Nigeria despite the challenges?

It is a known fact that we have been in business in Nigeria for over five decades now. Following the backward integration policy of the government, our operations grew from 3 million tonnes in 2008 to 8.5 million tonnes capacity in 2012, with investment of over 1 billion euros.

Further investment of over $565 million is currently being made in the additional 2.5 million tonnes capacity cement plant in Mfamosing, Calabar, Cross River State. The plant will be officially commissioned soon.

With this, we have a combined capacity of 10.5 million metric tons of cement from our operations in Ashaka Cement (Gombe State), UniCem in Cross River State, WAPCO operations in Ogun state and Atlas Cement in Rivers State.

We have announced plans and performed a Ground Breaking Ceremony for a 2.5 million tonne-expansion in plant capacity at Ashaka. In addition, we are constructing an N11 billion Captive Power plant also at Ashaka, Gombe State.

We are the leading ready-mix concrete producer through our Lafarge Ready-mix Nigeria operations in Lagos, Ewekoro, Abuja, and Port-Harcourt, with plan to spread to other states of Nigeria in the near future to contribute innovative solutions to the building and construction industries. Outside the Oil & Gas and Telecommunications industries, LafargeHolcim is the largest foreign investor in Nigeria.

How would you assess Lafarge Africa in 2016?

No doubt, 2016 has been a challenging year, not just for Lafarge Africa, but for all businesses in Nigeria, for obvious reasons. For us, the reasons are mostly external – gas supply, logistics challenges due to the nature of our of roads, lack of spare parts, increase in fuel costs, little or low access to explosives as well as foreign exchange, inflation and devaluation.

Despite the external challenges this year, we have had a very positive, very promising and better cost performance improvement compared to last year. We look forward to improvements in these areas for the rest of the year.

What projections do you have for Lafarge in 2017?

We are quite optimistic that all the indices will get better in 2017, and there will be overall improved performance.

How do you access doing business in the Nigerian environment?

This is a very complex environment and more than complex, it is also a very promising environment. With our locations in the North, South-south, South-east and South-west, we are in very promising regions.

There is Ashaka in the North and government wants to develop the North-east where we have a plant. In South-west , we have double capacity and ready to grab all opportunities of development. For me, we have efficient plants well located and in all these regions and we have potentials which, of course, is hidden by the 2016 recession and foreign exchange. For the time being, we are coping with this situation. Of course, if it becomes national drama, we would most likely be impacted as well but we are still managing, we have improved everywhere we needed to improve and the Q4 results would show

Pucherous

it. We are just getting ready to grab the wonderful opportunity Nigeria offered us and will offer us for sure. No doubt, in infrastructure, housing, and roads, there are needs everywhere.

A big input cost for cement manufacturers is energy and power. How has your company been coping with the issue of energy and power supply in Nigeria?

Supply availability and cost of energy (fuel and electric power) have been major issues for cement manufacturers in Nigeria over time. Over the years, we have invested on projects that guarantee fuel flexibility in all our operations.

Apart from the consideration of economics, the use of natural gas as our main energy source has turned out to be effective in the goal to reduce the carbon footprint of our industrial process, compared to other fossil fuel. Alternative sources of energy (biomass, industrial waste, municipal waste, tyres, and coal). We have a 310MW Power Project (of which 90MW is already completed) in Ewekoro, as our contribution to the current power generation in Nigeria.

A good number of companies have been reporting negative results in recent time due to the economic downturn. Now that you are here, what do you intend to do to improve the company’s books and meet shareholders’ objectives?

For me, it is simply by motivating the team for improved performance, by being anticipatory, and by making the right investments within available budget. We also need to be mindful of our costs and avoid ‘business as usual’. Our NGN loan has been refinanced at a cheaper rate, while we are currently restructuring the USD loan.

The delisting of Ashakacem is currently been concluded. Could this be as a result of the economic recession?

The delisting of AshakaCem is a transaction initiated by its Board of Directors. It is not due to current economic recession, which we believe is a passing phase. Recent evolution of the shareholding of AshakaCem has meant that today, the free float

(tradable shares) of the Company on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) is below the minimum threshold permissible. Minimum Free Float permissible by the NSE Listing rule is 20 per cent, Ashaka currently has 15.03 per cent. The directors of the company decided to be proactive to launch a voluntary delisting rather wait for a regulatory delisting.

The media was recently awash with news of your recent SERAS Awards and the National Literacy Competition. What is the motivation behind your organisation’s corporate social responsibility?

Our corporate social responsibility is neither philanthropic nor ad-hoc, but intrinsic to our business strategy with focus on our 2030 Plan, stakeholder management, community development, national CSR projects, volunteering, donations, and sponsorships. Lafarge Africa’s Social investment for its host communities is needs-based, strategic, and highly sustainable.

Our CSR approach recognises the host communities as strategic partners to whom we accord mutual respect, believing that our footprints should, in its overall assessment, be a blessing to our neighbours.

Lafarge Africa continually makes investments woven around health and safety, economic empowerment, education, shelter and community support as a good corporate citizen. Our track records speak volume with several notable awards to show for them.

How much of your raw materials are sourced locally?

I can tell you limestone is sourced here one hundred per cent and it is the number one raw material. I mentioned local coal earlier. Iron-ore comes locally already. Honestly, everything we can source locally, we do. As for remains and spare-parts, sadly there are no skills in cement industry in Nigeria, so most of the spare parts come from abroad. There are some talents, when we need to recruit people, which I don’t know if it can be equated to raw materials. But everything that needs to be sourced locally is sourced locally.

With issues of foreign exchange in Nigeria,

what solutions are being proffered to cushion this effect?

How do you manage risks in safety? The best solution is to eliminate the risks. In this case, how do you eliminate the risk? It is by buying more Naira rather than Dollar. We find ways of reducing the risks by removing the US dollar suppliers and putting naira suppliers, and having people pay in naira. So this is our strategy.

Another way is to export, because if that is done, we would have access to US dollar and it would help us. So we are exploring all these avenues and eliminating the risks.

Who is Michel Puchercos and what experience are you bringing into Lafarge Africa and to Nigeria?

My name is Michel Puchercos. I am a French National. I am an Engineer by training, and a graduate of EcolePolytechnique and the National School of Rural Engineering, Waterways & Forests in France.

I have worked in South Korea, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and France. I speak various languages including French, English, Korean, Spanish and Swahili.

In the course of my career, I have had extensive operational and strategic experience both at Junior and Senior levels with small and medium organisations, cooperatives and multinationals organisations.

I have worked in the French Ministry of Agriculture and later as General Manager and Executive Vice President in the Biochemistry and Food industry before joining the legacy Lafarge.

I came into Lafarge as Head, Strategy and Purchasing in Orsan, Lafarge Biochemistry and in 1998 became Director of Cement Strategy and Information Systems, Lafarge Gypsum. In 2003, I became the Director of Cement strategy, Lafarge Group in France. I moved into cement operations in 2005 as the CEO for Lafarge operations in Kenya and Uganda while doubling as the Chairman of Tanzania operations.

After four years in Sub-Saharan Africa, I moved to Asia as the President and CEO of Lafarge South Korea, where I remained for seven years. I came into Nigeria as Country CEO for Lafarge Africa Plc in April, this year.

23

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY / M O N D AY N E W S PA P E R • DECEMBER 25-26, 2016

NIGERIA’S TOP 50 STOCKS BASED ON MARKET FUNDAMENTALS

Guaranty Trust Bank Plc: Remarkable third quarter performance points ahead

G

uaranty Trust Bank Plc (GT Bank) is an internationally focused commercial bank providing a range of banking products and services to corporate, commercial, and retail customers in Nigeria, West Africa, and Europe. The company focuses on acquiring and managing strategic businesses that create long term shareholders’ returns and socioeconomic impact.

The Bank’s management recently released third quarter result for the period ended September 30th 2016, the performance metrics shows substantial positive growth in revenue and profitability compared to the corresponding period of 2015 despite a protracted economic recession caused a number of tough macroeconomic factors which includes: unstable foreign exchange terrain, unexpected increase in prices, decline in income and expenses, and easy adjustment and absorption to changing banking regulation,.

TOP-LINE EARNINGS ROSE SIGNIFICANT AMID ECONOMIC SITUATIONS Guaranty Trust Bank Plc posted a significant rise of 43.56% in gross earnings to N329.28 billion in September 2016 from N229.38 billion in the corresponding period of 2015 largely driven by other income which grew by a remarkable 1250.32%, and interest income which grew by a 5.17% to N181.91 billion compared to N172.96 billion recorded over the same period of 2015.

Interest expense on the other hand grew by dropped by 6.95% to N49.16 billion in September 2016 from N52.83 billion recorded in September 2015.

The high and constant interest rate environment throughout the period and an unchanging Banks’ Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) resulted in increase in competition for deposits amongst banks but GT Bank was able to manage its interest expense. Expectedly the bank’s net interest income grew notably by 10.50% to N132.75 billion in September 2016 from N120.13 billion in the corresponding period of 2015.

OTHER INCOME AND FEES EARNED LEADS TO SIGNIFICANT GROWTH IN NON-INTEREST INCOME The Bank reported non-interest income of N147.37 billion for the third quarter ended, September 2016 from N56.4 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2015; reflecting a substantial growth of 161.25%. This was an impressive performance as fee and

WHILE THIS POLICY AIMED AT CONTROLLING MONETARY LIQUIDITY IN THE ECONOMY FORESHADOWS HUGE NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE BANKS’ OPERATIONS, THE BANK’S MANAGEMENT IS CAPABLE OF INCREASING PERFORMANCE THAT WILL FURTHER STRENGTHEN EARNINGS, INCOME GENERATION CAPACITY AND GROWTH IN LIQUIDITY BASE

commission rose by 27.11% on the back of substantive increase in income generated from e-business products and services which suitably replace the phased out Commission on Turnover (COT) by the CBN; a hitherto significant source of income to banks.

Also, growth in non-interest income was despite decrease in net gains on financial instruments classified as held for trading which decreased by 69.23% to N3.01 billion from N9.79 billion over the period reviewed.

IMPRESSIVE GROWTH IN PROFITABILITY ON THE BACK OF EFFICIENTLY MANAGED OPERATING EXPENSES The Bank’s well venerated operational efficiency is a tradition that GT Bank strongly upholds. The Bank has been able to consistently sustain its effective cost management strategies and hence profitability.

Despite running a leaner branch network compared to its peers, the Bank conveniently generates more competitive profit year after year. This renowned efficiency is also sustained in the period under review as the Bank grew operating expenses by a modest 8.24% to N79.93 billion from N73.8 billion recorded in 2015, while operating income rose by a considerable 478.74%

to N96.96 billion from N16.75 billion over the period.

The combination of efficiently managed operating expenses and substantial growth in gross earnings steered profitability higher. Thus, pre-tax profit grew significantly by 52.98% to N140.84 billion in September 2016 from N92.06 billion in in the corresponding period, September 2015, while net income grew substantially by 59.56% to N119.93 billion from N75.16 billion over the same period.

IMPROVEMENT IN ASSET QUALITY AND KEY FINANCIAL METRICS GT Bank maintained its leading position in terms of margin and cost efficiency. Pre-tax profit margin declined slightly to 42.77% from 41.93% over period while net income margin also followed suit with an increase to 36.42% from 34.23% during the same period. In addition, the Bank’s cost to income ratio also declined marginally to 36.20% in September 2016 from 44.51% in September 2015. At 37.62%, the Bank’s liquidity ratio remains above the minimum regulatory requirements of 30% while capital adequacy ratio remains strong at 18.10%, well above the regulatory requirement of 15%.

In relation to assets quality, nonperforming loan (NPL) ratio rose to 4.13% in September 2016.

Furthermore, the Bank shareholder’s fund improved by 19.01% to N492.20 billion in September 2016 from N413.56 billion in December 2015.

The Bank’s return on assets and shareholders’ equity rose remarkably.

Return on average asset (ROA) grew to 4.27% in September 2016 from 3.06% in December 2015 while return on equity (ROE) grew to 26.48% from 18.76% over the period under review.

HOLD RECOMMENDATION DESPITE BRIGHT OUTLOOK The CBN’s monetary tightening policies have resulted in limited income generation and high cost of funds within the Nigerian financial system. The CBN has maintained the CRR at a high level with a view to maintaining price stability and support the stability of the Naira exchange rate.

Despite the regulatory headwinds prevalent which saw inflation soar to 17.70% as at September 2016 from 9.4% a year ago, MPR at 14% and the CRR on all public sector deposits at 22.5%, GT Bank delivered another impressive performance. While this policy aimed at controlling monetary liquidity in the economy foreshadows huge negative impact on the banks’

Valuation Metrics 23-Dec-16 Rating

BUY

Target Price (N)

27.81

Current Price (N)

23.43

Market Cap (N'm)

691,338

Outstanding Shares (m)

29,431

Rolling EPS (N)

4.90

Rolling PE Ratio

4.79

Forward EPS

5.77

Forward PE

4.07 Source: NSE Data, BGL Research

Unaudited Q3 Results 2016 Gross Earnings (N'm)

229,372

Profit Before Tax (N'm)

92,062

Profit After Tax (N'm)

75,160

Pre-tax Margin (%)

40.14

Source: Company Report Q3 2016, BGL Research

FYE December 2015 Audited Results Gross Earnings (N'm)

301,900

Profit Before Tax (N'm)

120,695

Profit After Tax (N'm)

99,437

Pre-tax Margin (%)

31.98 Source: Annual Report 2015, BGL Research

Shareholding Information Shareholders

% Holding

Citibank Nigeria (GDR)

10.54%

Stanbic Nominees

25.90%

Public Float

63.56%

Outstanding Shares (m)

29,431.17

Source: Annual Report 2015, BGL Research

operations, the Bank’s management is capable of increasing performance that will further strengthen earnings, income generation capacity and growth in liquidity base.

We maintain our projection of N339.48 billion for gross earnings and net income of N111.29 billion for the financial year ending December 2016, leading to a forward EPS of N5.77.

Using an industry price to earnings multiple (PE) of 4.41x, we arrive at a 3-month average target price of N27.81. Since this represents an upside potential of 18.69% on the current stock price of N23.43, we therefore recommend a BUY.

24

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY / M O N D AY N E W S PA P E R • DECEMBER 25-26, 2016

NIGERIA’S TOP 50 STOCKS BASED ON MARKET FUNDAMENTALS

ZENITH BANK PLC: Growth in top-line and bottom-line earnings indicates efficiency

Z

enith Bank Plc (Zenith Bank) recently released its third quarter results for the period ended September 30th 2016, showing an impressive performance in profitability and gross earnings.

This was despite continuing tough operating environment faced by businesses in the ongoing financial year.

The Bank offers its clients a wide range of corporate, investment, business and personal banking products and solutions. The Bank is one of the biggest and most profitable banks in Nigeria. The bank was established in May 1990 and started operations in July same year as a commercial bank. It became a public limited company on June 17, 2004 and was listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange on October 21, 2004.

NON-INTEREST INCOME IMPACTS POSITIVELY ON TOPLINE EARNINGS Gross earnings for third quarter 2016 grew by 12.91% to N380.35 billion from N336.86 billion in the corresponding period of 2015; driven by a 18.18% increase in noninterest income to N94.68 billion from N80.12 billion over the same period.

Interest income grew notably by 11.27% to N285.67 billion from N256.74 billion in the third quarter of 2015, spurred mainly by a substantial 70% growth in interest from government bonds while growth in loans and advances also rose by 11%, indicating a notable rise in the last two quarters in spite of a borderline 1% rise recorded in the first quarter 2016.

Interest expense as expected grew by a negligible 0.55% to N95.86 billion from N95.34 billion reported a year ago; influenced by impressive declines of 32.92% and 14.47% in the first quarter and half year respectively. A breakdown of the components of interest expenses shows that the decrease was triggered by a decline of 22% in interest expense on time deposits to N56.27 billion from N72.36 billion and 33% decline in interest expense on current account.

Hence, net interest income rose impressively by 17.61% to N189.82 billion from N161.40 billion recorded at the end of third quarter 2015.

The rise in non-interest income

SIMILARLY, WITH REINFORCED COMMITMENT TOWARDS AN INCREASED AND EFFECTIVELY MANAGED INVESTMENT IN TECHNOLOGY AND PRODUCT INNOVATIONS, CUSTOMERS’ BUSINESS ACTIVITIES, SOLUTION AND SATISFACTION WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCED; HENCE WILL RESULT IN SIGNIFICANT GROWTH IN ZENITH BANK’S NON-INTEREST INCOME

was driven mainly by other income which grew by an outstanding 229.68% and a 3.12% growth in trading income. Unexpectedly, commission on turnover and credit related fees recorded declines of 15.08% in the period ended, September 30th 2016.

EFFECTIVE EXPENSE MANAGEMENT COUPLED WITH GROWING OPERATING INCOME FURTHER IMPROVES OF PROFITABILITY Zenith Bank’s pre-tax profit grew by a striking figure 16.55% to N121.28 billion in September 2016 from N104.05 billion in September 2015. This was recorded as total operating income rose by a noteworthy figure of 13.2% to N262.64 billion from 232.00 billion, exceeding the 10.5% increase recorded in total operating expenses over the nine-month period to N141.36 billion from N127.95 billion in September 2015.

This is an indication of effective performance by the management as it effectively curtails its expenses while growing income despite tough operating terrain.

Net income, therefore, increased significantly by 20.44% to N100.07

billion from N83.09 billion in the corresponding period 2015.

Furthermore, the bank maintains a borderline rise of 1.13% in income tax to N21.20 billion in third quarter ended, September 2016 from N20.97 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2015.

BANKS PERFORMANCE FAILS TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY RATIOS As at third quarter ended, September 2016, Zenith Bank grew its total assets by 16.16% to N4.65 trillion from N4.01 trillion recorded as at December 2015. The growth in loans and advances reflects the Bank risk nature as it appeared to have reacted appropriately to the current operating environment through a more cautious outlook on risk involved in each financial intermediation activities as it aims at reducing its non-performing advances which has been maintained at the 2.2% threshold from December 2015; with general commerce leading in loans and advances and also having the highest rate of non-performing loan.

Similarly, total liabilities rose by 16.01% to N3.96 trillion as at September 2016 from N3.41 trillion as at December 2015. The increase resulted from a 5.24% growth in total customer deposits to N2.69 trillion from N2.56 trillion at the end of full year 2015.

Impressive financial ratios reflect the Bank’s performance. Return on average equity (ROAE) currently stands at 15.52% while return on average assets (ROAA) at 2.31%.

BUY RECOMMENDATION MAINTAINED Despite the macro-economic headwind in most African countries and Nigeria CBN’s startling monetary tightening policies in a recession period, which results into high cost of funds within the financial system, the Bank will be able to record more outstanding performance in line with general expectation if it continues to operate an efficient liquidity and cost cutting strategy as it strives to maintains a low NPL ratio. Similarly, with reinforced commitment towards an increased and effectively managed investment in technology and product innovations, customers’ business activities, solution and satisfaction will be significantly enhanced; hence will result in

Valuation Metrics 23-Dec-16 Rating

BUY

Target Price (N)

18.42

Current Price (N)

14.45

Market Cap (N'm)

440,493

Outstanding Shares (m)

31,396

Rolling EPS (N)

3.91

Rolling PE Ratio

3.59x

Forward EPS

4.92

Forward PE

2.85x Source: NSE Data, BGL Research

Unaudited Third Quarter Results Gross Earnings (N'm)

380,352

Profit Before Tax (N'm) Profit After Tax (N'm)

121,275 100,074

Pre-tax Margin (%)

31.88 Source: Company Data 2016, BGL Research

FYE December 2015 Audited Results Gross Earnings (N'm)

432,535

Profit Before Tax (N'm) Profit After Tax (N'm)

125,616 105,663

Pre-tax Margin (%)

29.04 Source: Annual Report 2015, BGL Research

Shareholding Information Shareholders

% Holding

Jim Ovia, CON

9.38%

Stanbic Nominees Nigeria Limited/C011 - MAIN

7.38%

Stanbic Nominees Nigeria Limited/C002 - TRAD

7.24%

Stanbic Nominees Nigeria Limited/C001 - TRAD

5.75%

Free Float

70.25% Source: Annual Report 2015, BGL Research

significant growth in Zenith Bank’s non-interest income.

While we believe Zenith Bank will enhance its profitability in the coming months, envisage forward earnings per share (EPS) of N4.92.

However, using the current PE multiple and net assets valuation, we arrive at a 3-month target price of N18.42 and therefore recommend a BUY since this represent an upside of 27.47% above the current price of N14.45.

T H I S D AY SUNDAY/MONDAY DECEMBER 25-26, 2016

25

26

SUNDAY/MONDAY DECEMBER 25-26, 2016 T H I S D AY

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27

• DECEMBER 25-26, 2016

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY / M O N D AY N E W S PA P E R

MARKET NEWS

SEC, EFCC to Collaborate on Capital Market Infractions Goddy Egene

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) are working on a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that will provide an efficient policing of the capital market and check infractions in the market.

The Director General of SEC Mounir Gwarzo, stated when the management of SEC of visited the acting Chairman of the EFCC Ibrahim Magu in Abuja.

According to him, there has

been a close relationship between the SEC and the EFCC, noting that the Commission cannot discharge its responsibility effectively without collaborating with the anti graft agency.

He said:”We are by provision of our law mandated to protect investors on developing the market but the way our law is structured we have limitations over criminal cases and that is why in the last 10 years there has been a very great collaboration between both agencies. We hope that when the MoU becomes fully operational it will assist in reducing market

A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager.

Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return.

An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the

infractions to the barest minimum.”

Gwarzo said the collaboration with the EFCC has been of tremendous benefit to the SEC especially in areas of investigation and enforcement adding that effective policing of the market is one of the ways of retiring investor confidence.

“One of our agenda is to bring back the retail investors to the market and there is no way they will agree to return if they are not sure of the safety of their investments,”Gwarzo said.

In his remarks, Magu expressed delight that the

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg.

Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 22-Dec-2016, unless otherwise stated.

collaboration between both agencies has yielded enormous benefit for the growth of the capital market adding that his agency will continue to provide assistance where required.

Magu said the EFCC has been instrumental in investigating several cases of fraud in the capital market and recovered funds which were returned to investors and assured the SEC of the agency’s continued support.

The commission recently announced its collaboration with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of World Bank Group to strengthen

market integrity with a standardised Corporate Governance Scorecard (CGS) for public companies.

The CGS will identify strong performers through enhanced disclosure, strengthen investor confidence and encourage foreign investments in the country.

CGS are quantitative tools used to measure the level of observance of a code or standard of corporate governance. The scorecard was developed using indicators from the SEC code of corporate governance and will assess individual, sectorial and market-wide level of compliance with standards of best practices.

In 2014 IFC and SEC partnered to develop the Nigerian CGS, which was launched in November 2015. Following the launch, both institutions have jointly trained various stakeholders to prepare for implementation.

These stakeholders include: Chief Finance Officers, Company Secretaries, Audit Committee and Board Chairpersons. The training sessions generated awareness for the new disclosure requirements of SEC. These disclosures will be used annually to assess corporate governance practices of listed companies in the country.

Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or ETF are bought by investors.

Bid Price: The price at which Investors redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total return an investor would have earned on his investment. Money Market Funds report Yield while others report Year- to-date Total Return.

NAV: Is value per share of the real estate assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 1 270 1680 Fund Name Bid Price Afrinvest Equity Fund 125.28 Nigeria International Debt Fund 221.80 ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price ACAP Canary Growth Fund 0.69 AIICO CAPITAL LTD Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price AIICO Money Market Fund ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name ARM Aggressive Growth Fund ARM Discovery Fund ARM Ethical Fund ARM Money Market Fund AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund AXA Mansard Money Market Fund CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Nigeria Global Investment Fund Paramount Equity Fund Women's Investment Fund FBN CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.fbnquest.com; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name FBN Fixed Income Fund FBN Heritage Fund FBN Money Market Fund FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund FIRST CITY ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.fcamltd.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Legacy Equity Fund Legacy Short Maturity (NGN) Fund FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Coral Growth Fund

100.00

aaml@afrinvest.com Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 126.31 15.02% 223.21 10.83% info@acapng.com Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 0.70 11.93% ammf@aiicocapital.com Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

100.00

17.95%

enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Bid Price 12.33 287.71 22.35

Offer Price 12.70 296.39 23.02

Yield / T-Rtn 1.16% 2.94% 1.36%

1.00

1.00

16.80%

investmentcare@axamansard.com Bid Price 105.01

Offer Price 105.75

Yield / T-Rtn 5.38%

1.00 1.00 15.38% investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Bid Price 2.14 9.18 83.37

Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 2.19 5.10% 9.42 -6.81% 85.50 2.78% invest@fbnquest.com

Bid Price 1,081.51 110.42 100.00 $104.29 $103.52

Offer Price 1,082.71 111.18 100.00 $104.53 $103.76

Yield / T-Rtn 5.49% 4.79% 14.99% 7.85% 7.08%

113.19

12.44%

111.68

fcamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Bid Price 0.91 2.56

Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 0.93 1.10% 2.56 10.11% coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com

Bid Price 2,182.13

Offer Price 2,206.76

Coral Income Fund 2,098.04 INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price

Yield / T-Rtn 0.30%

2,098.04 10.89% enquiries@investment-one.com Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund

1.00

1.00

15.86%

Vantage Balanced Fund

1.67

1.69

2.45%

LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.00 1.02 12.42% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,005.22 1,005.22 0.52% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: www.meristemwealth.com ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund 9.55 9.63 -2.40% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 14.98% PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 1.05 1.06 6.28% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 10.34 10.44 3.89% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 15.09% SCM CAPITAL LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital Frontier Fund 108.68 109.06 6.50% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.24 1.24 9.86% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 1,821.62 1,831.77 8.46% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 153.27 153.27 4.21% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.76 0.77 2.00% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 186.13 186.13 9.69% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 129.50 131.12 -4.30% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 17.09% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 7,512.92 7,610.62 4.51% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD unitedcapitalplcgroup.com Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 803 306 2887 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund 1.14 1.15 8.20% United Capital Bond Fund 1.22 1.22 16.92% United Capital Equity Fund 0.66 0.67 -1.23% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 13.00% ZENITH ASSETS MANAGEMENT LTD info@zenith-funds.com Web: www.zenith-funds.com; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Equity Fund 9.80 9.96 2.61% Zenith Ethical Fund 11.10 11.20 -3.09% Zenith Income Fund 17.10 17.10 6.56%

REITS

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

11.58 123.32

3.99% 6.44%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

8.75 75.43

8.85 76.86

-8.62% -9.36%

Fund Name FSDH UPDC Real Estate Investment Fund SFS Skye Shelter Fund

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS

Fund Name Lotus Halal Equity Exchange Traded Fund Stanbic IBTC ETF 30 Fund

VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697

Fund Name Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

2.70 6.96 12.07 15.61 127.80

2.74 7.04 12.17 15.81 129.80

18.03% 8.86% -2.62% -18.64% -

The value of investments and the income from them may fall as well as rise. Past performance is a guide and not an indication of future returns. Fund prices published in this edition are also available on each fund manager’s website and FMAN’s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator of the relevant fund and are published for information purposes only.

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WEEKLY PULL-OUT

IT’S YULETIDE AGAIN

25-26.12.2016

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T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY / M O N DAY N E W S PA P E R • December 25-26, 2016

COVER

L-R: Minister for Aviation, Rotimi Amaechi; Ghananian President and Ovation Chaiman, Dele Momodu at the 2016 Ovation Red Carol

IT’S YULETIDE AGAIN! Heralded by a plethora of fun events, the Christmas season is always a season for celebrations. It is now a tradition for event organisers to key into the happy mood as well as the accompanying frenzy for commerce. From chorales, fairs to music concerts, the joyful bells of Christmas can be heard from any part of the country.

Lagos, being a commercial and tourist attraction has become a home to many of the landmark events. The month of December is always a busy one in the mega city. Nseobong Okon-Ekong and Vanessa Obioha report on some of the highly anticipated events during the Christmas season

F

Rhythm Unplugged or 12 years, Rhythm Unplugged has continued to raise the bar with musical entertainment. Produced

by Flytime Productions and urban radio station Rhythm 93.7FM, and now sponsored

by Pepsi, the concert created a niche with its unique surprise twist, which often is an international artiste. Last year, it brought sensational R&B singer, Trey Songz. Past events have seen various international acts like Wyclef Jean. The seven-hour entertainment spectacle is a fusion of comedy and music. This year’s edition held on December 23 at Eko Hotels and Suites. A homecoming performance featured Wizkid, where the Starboy performed alongside Davido, Tekno, Olamide, Cobhams Asuquo, and P-Square among others.

The Headies Dubbed Nigeria’s Grammy, The Headies made a name for itself as one of the most anticipated controversial shows of the Yuletide period. It debuted on the Nigerian music scene in 2006 as Hip Hop Awards and received great accolades for recognising outstanding achievement in the Nigerian music scene. However, the awards has had its fair share of highs and lows. From location to logistics, Ayo Animashaun, the convener and owner of Hip TV, has remained undeterred. In 2010, no one hosted the show and in 2012, the name was changed to The Headies. The past three editions of the show have been held during the yuletide period. Last year, the event was held on January 1, 2016 and was riddled with the controversy between Olamide and The Mavin Crew.

This year’s event which took place on Thursday, December 22 had its fair share of controversies as well.

Carnival Calabar Initiated by former Governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke, in 2004, the Carnival Calabar has become a tourism spectacle that draws people from within and outside Nigeria. Kicking off on the first day of the last month of the year, the carnival is characterised by a street party, boat regatta, fashion shows, traditional dances, a Christmas Village as well as the annual Ekpe Festival. It also hosts music and Nollywood artistes. Although Duke has long left office, the Calabar Carnival still resonates in the beautiful city owing to the commercial and tourism boost it provides. Each celebration is planned by a committee that deliberates on the theme for the year. For 2016, the theme is ‘Climate Change: Bigger, Bolder, Better’.

The committee aims to continue its efforts to entrench the culture of preserving the environment and emphasise the effect of doing so on individual lives. Divided into four weeks namely: Millenium Week (1-10 Dec), Sports Fiesta (12-17 Dec), TINAPA Family Fun Festival (19-24 Dec), and the Carnival Week (25-31 Dec), there will also be a Green Initiative. This comprises a Green Ball that will celebrate government’s efforts in combating climate change; Green Symposium that will discuss and educate the populace on climate change and the Green Carnival which is a campaign to plant 10, 000 trees.

One Lagos Fiesta Last year, the Lagos state government under the new administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode

Calabar Carnival 2016

introduced a new kind of entertainment to its citizens. Called One Lagos Fiesta, the concert is held simultaneously in five different locations in Lagos: Agege, Badagry, Ikorodu, Epe and Victoria Island.

With the aim to create a unique spirit of oneness among Lagosians, culture and character of Lagosians, the concert offers the best of music performances by A-list artistes. The line-up of this year’s edition include music performances, food contests, Lagos Got Talent open mic contests, special kiddies events and other fun activities. The climax of this year’s event which will kick off on December 24, is targeted at the special appearance by the governor. OLF targets to unite 20 million residents across the state through a celebration of culture and arts.

history of the show, Momodu held two shows in different locations (Lagos and Accra) in 2015. The events were both headlined by Wizkid. It held its ninth edition recently which was attended by the president of Ghana John Mahama.

At the event, King Sunny Ade, Mike Adenuga were inducted into the Ovation Hall of Fame while the Family of OJB Jezreel and Cymbals Dance Crew were honoured with cash awards. A Ghanaian, Mr. Richard McCarthy was also rewarded with a cash sum of N500,000 for taking kids off the streets of Ghana through boxing.

Music performances came from Flavour, King Sunny Ade and American legend Cameo who performed for the first time with his band in Africa.

Ovation Christmas Carol In 2008, the Publisher of Ovation International Magazine, Chief Dele Momodu ushered in a new way of celebrating Christmas. He launched the The Red Carol now Ovation Christmas Carol and Awards which is held every December. It has become one of the most popular annual Christmas events that comprises of musical performances, drama, fashion shows and award presentations for varying charitable causes.

Momodu has continued to uphold this tradition and never missed a year except in 2010 because of the impending elections. In 2013, Momodu took the event to Ghana, a country which he has very strong ties. The event was graced by former president of Ghana J. J. Rawlings with Wyclef Jean as the headline act with many other international and Nigerian performers. For the first time since the

Akwa-Ibom Christmas Carol Festivals This event made history in 2014 when it broke the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest gathering of carol singers in the world. About 25,272 carol singers gathered at the Akwa Ibom Stadium, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria on December 13 and made history with their performances.

The event kicked off in 2012 and has since become a gospel spectacle for holidaying families. It has featured great gospel artistes like Donnie McClurkin, Jesse Jackson, Don Moen, Angela Christie, Sinach and Lionel Peterson. The 2016 edition enjoyed performances from Don Moen, PRM band, The Kayamba Africa Choral Ensemble, Kenya Boys Choir, Sammie Okposo, Buchi, Steve Crown, Elijah Oyelade, Aity Dennis Inyang, Rev. Fr. Patrick Edet, Esther Edoho and other singers.

DECEMBER 25-26, 2016 • T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY / M O N DAY N E W S PA P E R

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COVER

Industry Night For the first time since its inception, Industry Nite had a Christmas event which it tagged its ‘Grand Finale’.

Matthew Ohio, the convener came up with a weekly activity that pools both new and established artistes, music executives and influencers in the entertainment industry every Wednesday night for more than three years. It recently had its first Christmas event which was headlined by Davido and his DMW Crew at the Oriental Hotels, Lagos.

Beat FM Christmas Concert Urban radio station, Beat FM kicked off its Christmas concert last year with international acts like Krept and Konan, Skepta and other local acts. Its 2016 edition was held at Federal Palace Hotels and Casino recently and featured performances from Wstrn, Migos, Krept & Konan, Davido, Falz, Wande Coal, Simi, Ycee, Adekunle Gold, Lil Kesh and a host of other Nigerian artistes who gave a show stopping performance.

Cool FM Christmas Praise Jam From being a major Sunday morning programme, Cool FM transformed its Praise Jam to a Christmas affair more than a decade ago. The show holds on Christmas Day and features stellar performances from both local and international acts. Usually hosted by the radio’s OAPs, the event also creates a meet-and-greet for its die-hard fans.

Olamide Live in Concert The singer/rapper notorious for his street lingo made a name for himself in 2014 when he kicked off his self-titled concert. He came up with a concept

that beautifully combined music performances, theatrics and comedy.

Since that first edition, his followership has increased.

The third edition is billed to take place at Eko Convention Centre, Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos on December 26. A collaborative effort of Achievas Entertainment, YBNL Nation Entertainment and Right Entertainment, OLIC has grown to become one of the anticipated shows of the Christmas period. Promising surprising thrills for his fans and music lovers, he proclaimed that this year’s event will be the best of them all. Some of the artistes billed for the night include Lil Kesh, Viktoh and Adekunle Gold.

‘Christmas Live In Benue’ Concert Benue State known as the food basket of the nation plays host to top comedians in a Christmas themed entertainment event, tagged: ‘Christmas Live in Benue’ which holds at The Dream Center in Makurdi.

‘Christmas Live in Benue’, is an end of the year music and comedy event organized by Dream Center, led by popular entrepreneur and media personality, Love Idoko. The event which will hold on Tuesday December 27, 2016 will star top comedians and musicians such as Gordons, I Go Dye, Osama, Adilarings, MC Fresh Boi and a host of others.

A Benue state indigene reminisces that Benue state has witnessed impressive entertainment events in past years where the likes of Basketmouth, 2face, Gordons, Banky W, Desmond Elliot , Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, Jackie Appiah, and a couple of other stars attended.

Davido performing at the Beat FM Christmas Concert

Nollywood artistes at this year’s Calabar Carnival

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ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

Celebrities Who Welcomed a Baby in 2016

Vanessa Obioha

2016 is the year of babies!!! Most celebrities embraced parenthood this year with open arms.

They couldn’t help but serenade us with lovely pictures of their bundle of joys on social media. As we celebrate the joy of Christmas today, below are 12 celebrity couples who welcomed a baby this year.

Mick Jagger and Melanie Hamrick: At age 73, the legendary member of the band Rolling Stones welcomed his eighth child from girlfriend Melanie Hamrick. They’ve been dating for more than two years but only announced in July that they were expecting. Jagger’s newborn, a baby boy was born on December 8.

Adam Levine and Behati Prinsloo: On September 22, frontman of the pop rock band Maroon 5 Adam Levine welcomed a baby girl from his girlfriend Behati Prinsloo. It is the first child for the couple. The Voice judge started dating his Namibian Victoria Secret’s wife in 2012 and officially tied the knots in 2014. Their little girl is named Dusty Rose.

Olivia Wilde and Jason Sudeikis: Actress Olivia Wilde had her second child for the Saturday Night Live alum Jason Sudeikis on October 11.

She officially announced that she was expecting in April on an Instagram post. Wilde started dating Sudeikis the same year she divorced her ex-husband Tao Ruspoli, an Italian filmmaker.

Although she has two children with the comedian and actor, they are just engaged.

Rob Kardashian and Blac Chyna: The only male in the Kardashian clan became a father this year.

The TV reality star who had dated other celebrities like Rita Ora finally hooked up with model Blac Chyna, early this year. Their relationship did not impress Rob’s sisters, particularly Kylie who was dating Chyna’s ex. However, Rob went on with the relationship. He got engaged to Chyna after three months of dating. Chyna confirmed she was pregnant the following month after the announcement. The couple welcomed their first child together, a baby girl named Dream Renéé Kardashian. Excited about their bundle of joy, the couple hardly miss a moment to post adorable pictures of their baby on social media. Things unexpectedly went sour when Chyna accused Rob of hacking her account and left him. News of a possible split filtered around but the couple is reportedly back together.

Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis: The two stars who met on the set of ‘That 70s Show’ had their second child, a baby boy named Dimitri Portwood Kutcher on November 30. Though a love spark was ignited on the set, the two never went past the friend zone. Mila went on to date the ‘Home Alone’ star Macaulay Culkin while Ashton married another actress Demi Moore. Both didn’t last in their individual relationships and would later get engaged in March 2014. By September of same year, the couple welcomed their first child, Wyatt.

Alec and Hilaria Baldwin : The actor who plays Donald Trump on Saturday Nite Live added a new member to his family on September 12. The 58 year-old daddy admitted that his second wife’s third pregnancy was a surprise to him. Alec met Hilaria, a Yoga instructor in 2011, eight years after he divorced his first wife Kim Basinger whom he

Rob Kardashian and Blac Chyna

had a daughter, Ireland, with.

By 2012, they were married and had their first child in 2013. The newest addition is named Leonardo Angel Charles Kerry Washington and Nnamdi Asomugha: The ‘Scandal’ actress gave birth to her second child on October 5, 2016. Married to a NigerianAmerican football player, Nnamdi Asomugha, the baby girl is named Caleb Kelechi. Their first child Isabelle Kelechi was born in 2014, after their marriage in 2013.

Ne-Yo and Crystal Renay: Three weeks after tying the know with his second wife Crystal Renay, R&B singer Ne-Yo welcomed his first child with new wife. Named after him, Shaffer Chimere Smith Jr was born on March 15. Ne-Yo is already dad of daughter Madilyn, 5, and son Mason, 4, with ex-fiancée Monyetta Shaw.

John Legend and Chrissy Teigen: ‘All of Me’ crooner welcomed his first child with model Chrissy Teigen on April 14. Teigen gave birth to the lovely baby girl Luna Simone Stephens through In Vitro Fertilisation. She revealed that she practically picked the girl embryo. John Legend proposed to Teigen in 2011 after four years of dating. They tied the knots in 2013 in Lake Como, Italy.

Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively: The couple who met on the set of the film ‘The Green Lantern’ in 2010 welcomed their second daughter, Ines on September 30. They tied the knots in 2012 in South Carolina and gave birth to their first child, James in December 2014. The family stepped out recently when Reynolds was honoured with a Hollywood Walk of Fame star.

Tyra Banks and Eric Asla: On January 27, 2016, former international model and businesswoman Tyra Banks welcomed her first child named YorkBanks Asla through a surrogate. She got engaged to Norwegian photographer Eric Asla in 2013.

Megan Fox and Brian Green: The 30 year-old actress gave birth to a baby boy on August 4, 2016. Journey River is the third child of the couple who have two boys. Earlier, Megan had filed for divorce from her husband after five years of marriage. The pregnancy of her child however calmed the storms in her marriage.

assistant editor nseobong okon-ekong senior correspondent funke olaode correspondent vanessa obioha designer ibirogba ibidapo CONTRIBUTORS onoshe nwabuikwu, temilolu okeowo, kelechi nduka THISDAY ON SUNDAY editor adetokunbo adedoja deputy editor vincent obia STUDIO art director ochi ogbuaku jnr THISDAY NEWSPAPERS editor-in-chief & chairman nduka obaigbena managing director eniola bello deputy managing director kayode komolafe

Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds with their kids

John Legend and Chrissy Teigen with daughter

Adam Levine and Behati Prinsloo

T H I S D AY SUNDAY/MONDAY DECEMBER 25-26, 2016

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THE INVERTED PYRAMID; ADAPTED FROM A NOVEL BY EMEKA DIKE PAGE 41

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25-26.12.2016

SAM EBOHON’S LINEAR SECRETS Ebohon in his studio

EDITOR OKECHUKWU UWAEZUOKE/ okechukwu.uwaezuoke@thisdaylive.com

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DECEMBER 25-26, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SUNDAY/MONDAY NEWSPAPER

ARTS & REVIEW\\VISUAL ARTS

SAM EBOHON’S LINEAR SEC

One of the Lagos art scene’s leading artists, Sam Ebohon engages his audience in a recently held so Okechukwu Uwaezuoke reports

W

hy Open Secrets?

This was the kind of question Sam Ebohon could have been asked at least once since his solo exhibition opened on Sunday, November 27. Perhaps, even several times… It was one of those questions you’d wager that an art journalist would ask. Almost clichéd, albeit relevant to his audience…

His mirth poured forth effortlessly… from somewhere within him. He had suddenly ceased to be just the frontline renowned Lagos-based artist. Imaginary mental snapshot images of him flash before the viewer, trailing each other in no particular order. In one vein, he was one jolly good old fellow, who seemed impervious of the vagaries of existence which assailed him. In another, he was a teacher trying to impart the secrets of his cryptic works on his listener.

Through Open Secrets, the artist invites the viewer to a less superficial observation of his environment. Often times, so many objects – or even happenings – in our surroundings are glossed over as ordinary but, on closer examination, swarm with meanings. Life, he explains, is full of such ciphers, which only reveal themselves to those who would take the trouble to unearth them and, perhaps, also see their connections to other objects or happenings.

Actually, for this exhibition – whether it was the third or fourth in his almost three-decade long career, he couldn’t recall anymore – it’d be better to think less about secrets and look more closely at those paintings. Before any of his paintings that, until Friday, adorned the walls of Rele Gallery in Onikan, Lagos, a viewer needed to linger a little longer than he would have wished to.

Those colourful thick brushstrokes, he’d later discover, are actually words.

Yes, phrases, even sentences… Beneath what appears to be a tangled undergrowth of those letters lurk the actual figures. The figures depict faces, females, indeed whatever forms that grip the artist’s fancies. So, the paintings are not exactly as abstract as they look at first.

Ebohon is a figurative artist, really. This has been his technique – or, should one call it his style? – as far back as he could remember since the inception of his studio practice.

His studio practice actually kicked off – “officially,” he thought it was important to add – in 1990, the year he graduated from Yaba College of Technology, Lagos with a Higher National Diploma in painting. Before then, he had of course been as active in the studio as one would reasonably have expected from an art student.

As a matter of fact, the Lagos-born artist, whose roots are in Edo State, has always had a predilection for the visual arts. He recalled how as a child he would gather his piggy bank savings to buy art materials. Fate, he emphasised before his interviewer, egged him on along this course. No influences along the path were strong enough to divert him from the ultimate goal of becoming an artist.

Shortly, before enrolling at the Yaba College of Technology, a neat weaving of fate brought him in close acquaintance with an informally-trained artist. It was the latter who encouraged him to get involved in practical studio work even before he officially enrolled as a student at the institution.

Ebohon has since graduation at the Yaba College of Technology clawed

Possibilities (Oil on Canvas) 50 By 50 inches 2016 (details) his way upwards to become one of the respected members of the Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA). This is in addition to his membership of the more exclusive Guild of Professional Artists of Nigeria (GPFAN). In 2000, he would add a teacher’s technical certificate from the Federal College of Education (Technical) in the Akoka area of Lagos to his credentials.

In the course of his studio practice, he won several awards both within and outside Nigeria. Perhaps, the most prestigious of his many laurels was the first prize of the Caterina (or Catherine) de Medici painting award competition. This was a prize he clinched in 2009.

Of course, he had participated in numerous group exhibitions even in the global stage. Despite his having held only a handful of solo shows, his name is etched in the collective consciousness of the contemporary Nigerian art scene.

Indeed, virtually every art space in Lagos worth knowing displays his paintings, which are easily recognised by their patented bold linear brushstrokes, which also form words.

“This is a way of making my paintings speak,” Ebohon was telling his interlocutor at the Rele Gallery last week. “When you look at the words [written on the paintings], you almost hear their sounds in your head...”

Both the visuals and the letters join forces for eloquent expressions. Even such titles as “Possibilities”, “Woman (1 to 6)”, “Identity”, “Say Yeah Yeah”, “Response and Stimulus”, “Silence”, “Soul Search”, “Breathe” and “The Lord’s Prayer” offer themselves to a literal reading, and eventual understanding, of their cryptic messages.

And he is not done yet with his trademark style of expression. He has been at it for too long already and hopes to continue with it for years, possibly decades, to come. He is almost certain about one fact: that he has not fully discovered the best this technique has to offer. In other words, his masterpieces are yet to come…

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SECRETS

tly held solo exhibition in Lagos.

In his artist’s statement, he declares: “There comes a time in the craft of an artist when his art begins to dictate where he should lean./ The time when the creator becomes a medium hypnotised and with a burning passion to do something far from his comfort zone./ And he just can’t explain why/ That’s where I am.”

At 50, the artist does not seem inclined to learning new tricks. Or, more precisely, acquiring new techniques… He told his interviewer he no longer panders to the whims of his audiences. Yet, he hopes to please the same audiences with the products of his sincere uninhibited expressions.

ARTS & REVIEW\\VISUAL ARTS The Inverted Pyramid; Adapted from a novel by Emeka Dike

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• DECEMBER 25-26, 2016

CICERO

Editor Vincent Obia Email vincent.obia@thisdaylive.com, SMS: 08054681757

IN THE ARENA

Ondo: A Lesson on Political Transition The spirit of camaraderie with which the Ondo State governor and the governor-elect are approaching the imminent transition of power highlights a commendable culture of change that the country’s politicians should imbibe. Vincent Obia writes

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enultimate Wednesday, the governor-elect of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, visited the incumbent governor, Olusegun Mimiko, at Government House, Akure, in a gesture meant to ensure a smooth transition from the latter’s Peoples Democratic Party administration to the incoming All Progressives Congress government. The handover will take place next February, but the groundwork for the event is being jointly laid by both leaders.

Akeredolu was declared governor-elect by the Independent National Electoral Commission following his victory at the November 26 election in the state. He defeated the candidate of Mimiko’s PDP, Eyitayo Jegede. It was a bitter contest in which the ruling PDP in the state and the opposition APC put in everything they had to try to win.

But after all the election brouhaha, Mimiko and Akeredolu decided to bury their differences. They chose to forget their personal feelings and focus on the big picture: the peace and ezeibe.aguwa@thisdaylive.com 08093842953 development of Ondo State. of every elected political office holder in the country is “We are here as indigenes of Ondo who are conto determine his successor. cerned about the progress and development of the But it was former President Goodluck Jonathan who state,”Akeredolu told the outgoing governor during tried to expand the national experience of political the visit.“We all owe you debts of gratitude for your transition last year, when he handed over to President service to this state and to Nigeria. Whether we like Muhammadu Buhari. Jonathan had also called Buhari it or not, you have a track record that I’m not too sure to congratulate him, even before the declaration of the many people can surpass.” final result, as the outcome of the presidential election It was a rare moment of camaraderie that the became clearer. country’s politicians at all levels should learn from.

Jonathan’s approach to the 2015 transition was Reconciliation is difficult but not strange. The ability an example for Africa. Buhari appreciated this in his to see beyond personal gain and look at the general inaugural speech on May 29 last year, as he thanked interest of society lies at the heart of all questions of the former president “for his display of statesmanship political reconciliation. in setting a precedent for us that has now made our Interestingly, the developing story of amicable tranpeople proud to be Nigerians wherever they are. With sition in Ondo State is the continuation of a culture of the support and cooperation he has given to the transipolitics that appears to be taking root, particularly at tion process, he has made it possible for us to show the the presidency, as the country tries to steady itself on world that despite the perceived tension in the land we the path of change from one democratic government can be a united people capable of doing what is right to another. Nigeria has a limited experience of such for our nation.” political transition.

When recently Gambian President Yahya Jammeh, The change was seamless from the dawn of the reportedly, called his victorious opponent in the Fourth Republic in 1999 to 2015, perhaps, because it December 1 election, Adama Barrow, to congratulate involved the transfer of power from one PDP governhim and concede defeat, many saw it as part of the ment to another. It was more like an exchange of power between godfather and godson. A typical vision good effects of Jonathan’s exemplary attitude on the

continent’s politics.“What Jonathan did is already yielding fruit. That’s the first time in Africa. What Jonathan did touched the whole world,”said former Osun State Deputy Governor Iyiola Omisore. Though, Jammeh has since made a U-turn, in what is widely seen as an afterthought.

Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State and his predecessor, Kayode Fayemi, had also tried to present an instance of amicable transfer of power in 2014. Fayose had paid a courtesy visit to the then governor, Fayemi, at Government House, Ado-Ekiti, to work out a strategy for smooth transition of power from the APC government to the incoming PDP administration.

These are lofty political ideals worthy of emulation by all politicians in the country.

Political instability in Nigeria has gone down. The country has broken the jinx of military intervention in politics. But the politicians need to go further to establish a character of fair play and good sportsmanship. This is needed to ease the tensions that often mar democratic contests and tend to destroy both interpersonal and group relationships.

What is happening between Mimiko and Akeredolu in Ondo State is a good step forward. Nigerian politicians have a lot to learn from it.

P O L I T I CA L N OT E S

The Kind of Christmas God Wants

T President, Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev. Samson Adeniyi

oday is Christmas, the day Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. It is a day for sober reflection on the virtues of Jesus Christ, the virtues of sacrifice, love, peace, humility, compassion, and forgiveness. The kind of celebration God desires for the season, and the type that would edify Nigeria, therefore, is a sober assessment of the country’s situation by all and sundry, and a deliberate decision to, “Remove the chains of oppression and the yoke of injustice, and let the oppressed go free. Share your food with the hungry and open your homes to the homeless poor. Give clothes to those who have nothing to wear, and do not refuse

to help your own relatives.” Isaiah 58: 6-7, Good News Translation (Today’s English Version).

Happily, the month of Christmas is also the time when Muslims mark the festival of Eid-El-Maulud, to celebrate the birth of Prophet Mohammed. The celebration of this year’s Eid-El-Maulud about two weeks before Christmas is something that should teach Nigerians an important lesson on the unity of the faiths.

Both Christ and Mohammed preached love, peace, and sacrifice. If Christians and Muslims remain faithful to the import of those messages, Nigeria will certainly be a better place for all to live.

– Vincent Obia

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SUNDAY/MONDAY DECEMBER 25-26, 2016 T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY / M O N D AY N E W S PA P E R

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• DECEMBER 25-26, 2016

CICERO/REPORT

L-R: Mrs. Funso Adegbola, Muyiwa Ige and wife, Oyinda...The late Ige’s children at the symposium

15 Years After, Ige’s Ghost Still Haunts Nigeria Political killings and the weakness of Nigeria’s criminal justice system were the focus of discussions at the annual Bola Ige symposium held in Lagos last Tuesday, as speakers condemned the inability of the state to find the late minister’s killers. Funke Olaode reports

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olitics and political competition are the dominant features of democracy. On the field of politics, various political interests engage in a lot of things to show how powerful they are, apparently, as a warning to real or potential opponents. Of course, in Nigeria, like many other underdeveloped climes, such muscle flexing often degenerates to dangerous acrimonies, leading to crimes, like political killings. In such extreme situations, the gladiators try all within their powers to ensure that the perpetrators are never found. It takes a strong, impartial criminal justice system to stay ahead of such nefarious plots.

But Nigeria has been very unlucky not to have such justice system. This was the general conclusion and regret of speakers at this year’s Bola Ige symposium held at the Airport Hotel, Ikeja. It is an annual event organised to commemorate the death of Ige, who was murdered on December 23, 2001 at his home in Ibadan, in what was widely suspected to be a political killing.

Campaign for Justice

In the last 15 years, Ige’s family, his followers, and human rights activists have held the annual lecture to immortalise the man who was called the Cicero of Esa Oke and continue to put pressure on the authorities to find his killers. This year’s symposium was attended by hundreds of politicians, lawyers, and rights campaigners from different parts of the country. They were led by Ige’s children, Mrs. Funso Adegbola and Architect Muyiwa Ige. Among the dignitaries at the event were renowned lawyer and activist, Festus Keyamo, Mr. Gbenro Adegbola, Mrs OyindaMuyiwa-Ige, Ms. Yemisi Ransome-Kuti, Senator Shehu Sanni, and Mrs. Adeola Rotinwa, who represented the Lagos State First Lady, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode.

The occasion was also used to re-present the book, Kaduna Boy, a childhood autobiography of the late Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

Political Killings

This year’s lecture, titled, “Political Killings and Our Criminal Justice System: The Impediments,” was delivered by Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

In his lecture, Fagbemi examined political killings in the country vis-à-vis the workings of the justice system, taking a keen interest in the shortcomings of the system that has made resolution of political killings a mirage. He advocated urgent steps by stakeholders to move the criminal justice system forward.

Fagbemi described Ige as a political colossus whose reputation and personality had remained engraved in the political psyche of Nigerians since he entered the political scene a few years before independence, and at a stage became a rallying point for progressives. He said that such a man could be killed without any trace of his murderers was a shame to the country.

He observed that prior to Ige’s assassination Nigeria had witnessed a series of politically related killings, dating back to

the 1960s. Despite the frequency of the killings, the murderers are hardly found, he said. “Though no matter the justification canvassed for the action and more particularly, the justification of the school of thoughts for and against the killings, one thing stand constant, the killing was political.”

Fagbemi stressed that political killings were also carried out by the solders. But he said while it was relatively easy to bring the military perpetrators to book, it was not easy to find and nail the committers of such killings among politicians.

Between Judiciary and Criminal Justice System

Fagbemi said there had always been a misconception that the criminal justice system was synonymous with the judiciary, or that the court is the determining factor on issues of administration of criminal justice. Thus the public is quick to conclude that the judiciary mostly undermines the system by not convicting or promptly convicting accused persons, he observed.

But Fagbemi clarified that while the judiciary constituted a major aspect of the criminal justice system, it was like the last leg runner in a relay race, whose performance depends largely on the performances of its forerunners. He said the judiciary was the last step in the effort to remedy an already bastardised situation, adding that judges and courts are not magicians because a situation where there are no facts, evidence and a well-presented case for the court to work with, the only inevitable result was an unprovable accusation.

According him, “Therefore, that our courts have not been able to convict most of the few persons that have been accused and arraigned in some of the listed political killing cases is a failure, not of the court, but of the whole criminal justice system.”

Recommendation

While it is a common practice in the developed world for citizens to provide useful information, the reverse is the case in Nigeria, as Nigerians rarely demonstrate the ability and readiness to assist the security agencies in the investigation and detection of crime, Fagbemi lamented. This reason, he said, is not far-fetched, as their security is not guaranteed.

While establishment’s interference, unavailability of modern equipment to combat crime, inadequate funding and lack of requisite training for the police have been an impediment in resolving high profile murder cases, moving forward, Fagbemi recommended that useful information should be provided at all times. He advocated provision of up-to-date forensic and bio data laboratory, separation of office of attorney general from office of minister for justice, and protection of crime scenes. In all, Fagbemi stated that the system could only work as expected if there was sincerity of purpose.

Pressure to Reopen Ige Murder Case

Some of the guest speakers at the occasion urged the President Muhammadu Buhari government to institute fresh probe into the murder of Ige. Among those who held this position were chairman of the senate committee on foreign and domestic debts, Senator Shehu Sanni, human rights activist, Mr. Festus

Keyamo, and wife of the Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode.

Sanni urged the Buhari government to urgently open up fresh probe into the murder of Ige so that justice could be done in the matter.

In his intervention, Keyamo, in what looked like a compelling proof of the need to reopen the matter, explained that it was not too late for the government “to institute fresh probe in the murder of Ige. If we do not do it, the spirit of Ige will continue to hunt Nigeria until justice is done.”

Sanni lamented that it had almost become the pattern that whenever a high profile murder was committed, the police would be serious for a while, only for them to cool down after the attention of the media in the case had waned.

He assured that when the Senate was back from recess, he would sponsor a motion on the floor of the upper chamber to pressurise the government of Buhari to open fresh probe into the murder of Ige. Keyamo, who played a key role in the efforts to unravel what led to Ige’s murder, alleged state complicity in the murder of the late attorney-general and called for a fresh probe. He explained that the state “is culpable in Ige’s murder. Ige as a serving attorney general and minister had eight days earlier, before he was assassinated, been assaulted publicly by a top politician at Ooni’s palace. As a result of that, a red flag should have gone up in the security sector to protect him. The government of the day should have known and protected him. How can you have a minister of justice assaulted outside and nothing was done about it?”

Keyamo regretted that the police accused him of tutoring the prime suspect, Fryo, on what to say when the evidence were there to show that he was saying the right thing, adding that before Ige was murdered, a top politician in Osun and others had celebrated his humiliation at the Ooni’s palace in a hotel in Osun. He added that instead of the police to act on Fryo’s evidence to nail the culprit in the murder, the police were struggling to disprove the confessional statement of Fryo because the statement he made was seen as unpalatable to the palace.

Optimism

Ambode, who was represented by Rotinwa, decried the murder of the former attorney-general and also called on the Buhari government “to ensure that the masterminds are brought to book.” She said the failure to arrest the suspects had worsened the matter, saying, however, “We are still hoping that justice will be done. The criminal justice system has a huge task and that is that killers must be brought to book.”

In her vote of thanks, the late Ige’s daughter, Mrs. Funso Adegbola, said she was still optimistic that justice will prevail one day. “I haven’t given up. For me, one can’t have closure, and up to 50 years’ time it will remain open until there is a final conclusion to it,” she said. “The matter is not going to go away. The killers are human beings and no matter how long it takes, I am hopeful that justice will prevail.”

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• DECEMBER 25-26, 2016

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The Final Onslaught Against Boko Haram The Nigerian military has again given a deadline for the ultimate defeat of Boko Haram and several measures have been put in place to achieve that goal. But would the goal be achieved this time? Senator Oroegbu tries to find out

Nigerian soldiers

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he Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Turkur Buratai, recently mobilised the troops of Operation Lafiya Dole in the North-east for a final onslaught against Boko Haram terrorist remnants still entrenched in parts of Sambisa forest and areas around northern Borno State bordering the Lake Chad region.

Final Push

Buratai, in his Yuletide message, charged the soldiers to adopt aggressive measures to ensure that the terrorists were wiped out before the end of December 2016, adding that he wants to see the troops back to the barracks by 2017.

He stated, “I wish to make this call to action and wake up call to you all and to emphasise that we must immediately begin to embark on the final aggressive action and comprehensive sweep of the operational theatre with a view to ending the operation on a very high note.

“In this regard, no stone should be left unturned. I therefore call on all officers and soldiers to buckle up and ensure that remnants of Boko Haram terrorists are completely cleared.”

The army chief also urged all commanders to plan and embark on effective patrols, raids, ambushes and deliberate attacks in conjunction with other services, especially the Nigerian Air Force and Nigerian Navy, to rescue all those abducted by the terrorists.

He reminded the troops that captured and surrendered Boko Haram terrorists must be treated humanely and fairly and in strict accordance with the provisions of International Humanitarian Law and Laws of Armed Conflict.

Buratai emphasised “that December is a month of decision”, adding, “it is either we succeed in clearing the remnants of Boko Haram terrorists or we continue to live in perpetual circle of their atrocities in the North-east.”

He called on the troops to remain focused, disciplined, loyal, dedicated and patriotic to their duties and to President Muhammadu Buhari.

Buhari Echoes Deadline

Buhari made a similar statement before the Panel of Heads of State at the Third Dakar International Forum on Peace and Security in Africa, in Senegal. He backed Buratai’s assertions on ending Boko Haram terrorism by the end of the year.

The president stated, “About a month ago, I spoke with the president of Chad and I was pleased that a number of Chadians and Nigerians that were Boko Haram members are surrendering to him en-masse. The good news I have is that the end of the rainy season has come in the north eastern region of Nigeria.

“Members of the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) are in their respective positions and at an agreed time they

will move simultaneously and spontaneously for us to see the end of Boko Haram. We are now operating in the Sambisa forest and as far as Boko Haram is concerned in the Lake Chad Basin area, I think they are done for.”

He also highlighted the gains of the cooperation among the Lake Chad Basin Commission countries (LCBC) comprising Chad, Niger, Cameroon, Benin Republic and Nigeria.

According to him, “Those who live in the North-east know that Boko Haram is no longer holding a single territory in the 774 LGAs in Nigeria. But they have a system of using improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and they indoctrinate mostly teenage girls and send them to soft targets to churches, mosques and market places. That, too, is becoming very rare.”

Buhari observed, “Boko Haram shot themselves in the foot when they gave their ideology a religious connotation by killing children in their schools, people in the mosque and churches and shouting Allahu Akbar.

“This is a major contradiction, as no religion advocates hurting the innocent. You can’t kill people and say Allahu Akbar. You either do not know what you are saying or you don’t believe it.”

But there are doubts about the ability of the federal government to root out the insurgents within the specified period.

This is due to some obvious realities.

Depleting Arms

There is the issue of depletion of existing arms and ammunitions.

Sources within the military say that since its assumption of office, the Buhari government has yet to procure any arms and add to the existing stockpile. The ones currently being used, which were mostly bought towards the end of the former President Goodluck Jonathan administration, are being exhausted because of the intensity of the operations, they sources maintain.

According to the military insiders, the ground troops, in particular, will need more of the T-72 battle tanks that have been effective against the terrorists as well as mine sweepers and resistance vehicles.

An informed source also observed that more would be required to deal with the guerrilla and asymmetric nature of the conflict as the terrorists lose more territory.

The source, a senior officer, stressed that the weather would favour both the military and terrorists in equal measures as the dry season offers opportunity of movement as well as the challenge of dusty and hazy atmosphere that could blur vision and operations.

He said, “It will not take the military too much to take out these terrorists but a lot depends on what we have at our disposal. We need more T-72 tanks, MRAPS, mine sweepers as we contend with saboteurs, informants and bad weather.

“Then what are the other measures that have been put on ground for eventual defeat of the terrorists by end of the year. Are these measures on ground and enough.”

Bringing in Air Force, Navy

The measures put in place for the final onslaught to flush out the Boko Haram terrorists include expanded roles of the Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Air Force. The Nigerian Army are involved in most of the battles. However, there is increasing participation of the other military services in combat operations.

It is, however, appropriate to note that the special forces of the Navy and Air Force have been in active combat duties and ground operations with their Army counterparts for a long time. But the difference in the recent strategy is that both services have more permanent and independent platforms working in tandem with the Army and other security agencies for the overall goal of the operation.

Lake Chad Naval Post

The Nigerian Navy, for the first time since the counterterrorism and counter-insurgency operations against Boko Haram began, officially established a presence and platform to help secure the volatile maritime area of the Lake Chad region in support of the overall military activities in the North-east.

Last month, the service commenced the deployment of its personnel and other logistics to Lake Chad Basin Naval post, to effectively counter the activities of Boko Haram terrorists and other criminal elements that have been very active in northern part of Borno, especially around Lake Chad, Abadan area of the state, and Dinfa boundary region of Niger Republic.

Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, disclosed the decision during the inauguration of the 2016 CNS Strategic Directive 2, at the naval headquarters in Abuja. He revealed that the “movement of the advance party to protect Nigeria’s territorial interest on the Lake, bordering Nigeria and countries in the Sahel region commenced last month…

“And it will interest you to know that the NN has commenced deployment to Lake Chad Basin to help fight maritime crime related issues arising around its environs.

This signals the presence of the NN in that area.”

According the CNS, “The participation of special boat services is to counter insurgency operations, and to make sure that the Boko Haram terrorists are ramped out of that place.

“Also it will strategically improve economic values as well.

With all this, we ensure that the duties of the Nigerian Navy will further be enhanced.”

Buhari had on March 22 approved the establishment of a naval command post in the Lake Chad region in a bid to

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY/MONDAY NEWSPAPER • DECEMBER 25-26, 2016

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CICERO/ISSUE/TRIBUTE

Helen Ukpabio’s Palace Temple: A Tribute

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Obong Akpaekong ll roads on November 19 led to Liberty Gospel Church, along Ndidem Usang Iso Road, Calabar, where Helen Ukpabi o, lady apostle, firm producer and general overseer of the church, was dedicating her ultramodern international headquarters. The round-shaped Palace Temple, as the edifice is known, can sit some 5,000 worshippers while the platform can conveniently sit some 50 clergies and elders.

Many know Ukpabio to like doing the extraordinary and going into areas others dread. The building of Palace Temple is one example. When the building plan came out some years back, many did not understand where she was heading. Some said the structure she had in mind resembled an entertainment empire. Others saw the woman of God trying to embark on a project structured like a mosque. Some fellow preachers even doubted whether the enormously round structure would ever be completed and put to use.

The dedication of the church, performed by Effiong Bob, senator representing Uyo senatorial district, also known as Akwa Ibom North East district, from 2003 to 2011, actually called for celebration by members from the 250 branches across Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroun, Kenya, United Kingdom and elsewhere. Located few metres from the metropolitan Ndidem Usang Iso highway, the church has become not just a tower of refuge and modern-day sanctuary in Christendom but also one pointed edifice that has added beauty, veritable tourism value and monumental fragrance to the city of Calabar.

Palace Temple is, indeed, a plus to the proud residents of Calabar, a city that is indisputably one of Africa’s cleanest.

Needless to say, the event brought many of Ukpabio’s fans, Nollywood celebrities and Christian leaders from across the globe to the former Nigerian capital. It was heart-warming to hear them respond with joy to Ukpabio’s now very familiar proclamation of “Alleluia be to Jesus.”

In his speech at the occasion, Bob, who was also the chairman of the dedication committee, said Ukpabio was not only a source of inspiration to the African woman but one of the best in Africa. He said he was not at the event by mistake, as he had equally witnessed the church’s foundation-laying ceremony. Bob said he came in contact with Ukpabio at an evangelistic crusade she held in Oron town many years back and finding her to be upholding the high standard of God’s word, decided to stay around her. “Everything about Lady Apostle Helen Ukpabio is abnormal. This shows how God uses the abnormal to perfect the normal. When God blesses you it will show. This tabernacle is indeed a palace temple,” Bob said. He promised to assist in overhauling the sound system of the church and supplying more air-conditioners.

“God’s temple is supposed to be cool and to shield from heat from the outside,” he said.

Preaching at the occasion, N. E. Moses, serving overseer of Overcomers Ministry in Lagos, called on Nigerians to yield their hearts to God, so as to attract the blessing of God for themselves and the nation. Moses commended Ukpabio for

Ukpabio the building, which he said had a unique appeal. “There are many beautiful buildings in Lagos, but none of them is like this,” he said.

Ukpabio later led in a brief session of prayers for the nation. There was prayer for salvation of Nigerians and revival of the church; prayer for the leadership and end of the current recession.

Interestingly, Palace Temple is fast becoming the choice centre for some significant Christian activities. Barely two weeks after the dedication, the church hosted a thanksgiving service called by Minister of Niger Delta Affairs and a pastor of the church, Usani Uguru Usani,. Three governors – Ben Ayade of Cross River State, Rochas Okorocha of Imo State and the newly elected Godwin Obaseki of Edo State – graced the occasion. A large number of federal and state officials also attended the service with the governors taking their turns to commend Ukpabio for the distinctive structure, and praying God to continue to guide her in ministry.

While many pastors will not want to physically confront anyone, whether child or adult that is dubbed witch, Ukpabio from time to time, conducts deliverance for them.

In such sessions, mostly during the church’s annual retreat in December, she would stand on a platform and call out, “If you are a witch, come out here for your deliverance,” and then, one after the other and sometimes in an amazing rush, adults and young people will in broad daylight, walk up to meet her for deliverance prayer. This rare mission gift, somewhat, has stood her out among preachers of the gospel the world over.

However, this gift has created many enemies for her.

Between 2010 and 2013, while the building of the auditorium was going on, Ukpabio and members of her church faced a lot of attack from social media users across the world. It was the result of a campaign against her mission to deliver witches. A United Kingdom-based non-governmental organisation, Stepping Stones Nigeria, in tandem with another in Esit Eket, Akwa Ibom State, Child Rights and Rehabilitation Network, said churches in Akwa Ibom State were branding children witches, and were “capturing”, torturing and even killing them during the process of deliverance. Ukpabio, they said, led the pack.

Stepping Stones Nigeria took the campaign against Ukpabio’s church beyond the shores of Nigeria. The result was a gang up against Ukpabio by atheist organisations and individuals in the West sympathetic to the children, allegedly, dubbed witch and thrown into the street by parents and guardians. They contributed huge sums of money into Despatches: Saving Africa’s Witch Children account, created

by Stepping Stones Nigeria and CRARN for the upkeep of the children quartered at CRARN. These sympathisers rained abuses on Ukpabio and called her all manner of names on social media. She was molested on a number of occasions during trips to the United Kingdom and United States with many urging national governments to deny her visa. With time, Stepping Stones Nigeria and CRARN fell out over money issues, and indeed, the sharing of monies realised from Despatches: Saving Africa’s Witch Children.

Stepping Stones Nigeria director, Gary Foxcroft, put out a disclaimer of CRARN. They parted ways.

Then Governor Godswill Akpabio later set up a commission of inquiry into the issue of child abuse by churches and, indeed, Liberty Gospel Church dubbing Akwa Ibom children witches. The commission in its findings vindicated Ukpabio and his church of the allegation. It said the two NGOs were dubiously collecting money from the public in the name of rehabilitating abused children. The state government declared CRARN illegal and directed the Ministry of Women Affairs in Uyo, the state capital, to take over the children in its custody.

Ukpabio’s ordeal with Stepping Stones Nigeria and CRARN is the subject of her latest work, a 250-page book titled Akwa Ibom State Child-witch Scam. It is a revealing narrative on how the Briton and the management of CRARN swindled the global community in the guise of saving African children.

As a young student nurse, Ukpabio worshipped in the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star and became a most committed faithful of Olumba Olumba Obu, the late spiritual leader of the organisation. After her new birth, she left the organisation and few years later received the ministerial call and established Liberty Gospel Church. She now has a large following across Nigeria and Africa. They include those who have been blessed one way or the other by her film ministry.

With some 250 church branches in Nigeria and across the world, she, doubtless, fits Senator Bob’s description of “one of the best in Africa.”

––Akpaekong is a former Senior Associate editor of Newswatch

• ‘The Final OnslaughT againsT BOkO haram’ Continued from Pg. 46 strengthen the fight against insurgency in the North-east.

Director of Information, Nigerian Navy, Commodore Christian Ezekobe, told THISDAY that the naval post was to secure the territorial integrity of Nigerian around the region and protect the surrounding islands.

He emphasised that the military post was solely a Nigerian arrangement and not under the LCBC and MNJTF agreement.

“This is being set up with a view to checkmating the illegal entry of the Boko Haram terrorists through the Lake Chad and surrounding boundary area. This is also to ensure the security and territorial integrity of the islands within Lake Chad,” Ezekobe said.

New Attack Aircraft

The NAF authorities have, as part of the combined efforts to end the insurgency, increased its aerial assault against the terrorist enclaves in the two key remaining strongholds in Sambisa forest and northern Borno. But achieving the goal of this operation requires suitable fighter jets and helicopters for sustained aerial bombardment and effective surveillance.

To this end, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, confirmed that NAF had been given approval to acquire and induct at least 10 attack aircraft into its arsenal.

Abubakar said the expected aircraft included four Mi-35m attack helicopters from Russia, three Super Tucano from Brazil, and three JF-17 Thunder from Pakistan. In addition, he said another 10 Super Mushack primary trainer from Pakistan would be inducted into the NAF service – some of these were inducted recently at the NAF Base, Kaduna, with Pakistani trainers provided for free under a quid-pro-co arrangement.

Abubakar also assured that the on-going US arms embargo will not stop the countries in question from selling

the A-29 Super Tucano fighter aircraft to Nigeria like it did to Israel in 2014. He further assured that despite the arms embargo, the US had in recent times shown willingness to assist in the country’s counter-insurgency efforts in the North-east.

The Air Force chief said NAF was not resting in the efforts to make the service more self-reliant. He said in line his leadership vision, the air force had reactivated about 13 aircraft that were hitherto grounded for years due to lack of maintenance and questionable flying status.

“These aircraft include three Mi-24V/35P, two EC-135, one Beechcraft, one falcon, one Super Puma, one DA-42, two DO-228 and two A-109LUHs,” he said.

Abubakar said NAF had trained over 700 personnel, comprising of 40 pilots, overseas and 27 pilots within the country. He said the service had increased its platforms and increased recruitment into the service from 500 to 2,500, as well as “approved the creation of four regiment groups under our newly created Special Operations Command, which will soon take off in Gusau, Owerri, Bauchi and Ipetu Ijesha”.

He revealed that the service trained 325 special forces in anti-hijacking, counter terrorism and Very Important Personality (VIP) protection, with some already in the North-east operation.

Final Onslaught

Many have expressed worry over the seeming difficulty in rooting the Boko Haram terrorists from Sambisa forest.

However, the military authorities have on several occasions explained that Sambisa is an expansive area, like the size of Enugu State and part of Ebonyi state combined.

Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj-Gen. Leo Irabor, while addressing the issue during a press briefing at the Military Command and Control Centre (MCC),

Maiduguri, recently said Sambisa onslaught, which is tagged “Operation Rescue Finale”, was part of a larger “Operation Crackdown”, which was launched early this year for the same purpose.

Irabor said, “The troops of Operation Lafiya Dole have continued to clear several Boko Haram terrorists in their hideouts and recorded huge successes. Since the last brief till today, our troops have moved deeper into Sambisa forest on many fronts.”

He noted that since its commencement on November 2, the troops had continued to make progress into the heart of Sambisa forest.

The theatre commander assured that the directive given by the army chief and the president to end the operation by end of the year was on course, adding, “the COAS goodwill message to the troops titled “No More Time To Waste”, which has been relayed...has boosted the morale of troops”.

He said, “Let me, therefore, reiterate my earlier admonishment to the misguided BHT elements to give up their ignoble adventure. They are advised to surrender to the military or other security agencies without further delay.”

Sense of Deja Vu or Push for Victory

There is no doubt that the military are putting up their best efforts to realise with the government directives to end the Boko Haram terrorism by the end of 2016. However, a similar effort had ended in disappointing results in the past.

It would be recalled that the famous December 2015 deadline for the military to defeat Boko Haram failed.

Curiously, that failure was dressed in a garb of “technical defeat” of Boko Haram.

Security experts have faulted the idea of issuing timelines and deadlines in an asymmetric warfare of the type going on in the North-east, saying it is unpredictable and highly fluid.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY / M O N D AY N E W S PA P E R

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• DECEMBER 25-26, 2016

CICERO/TRIBUTE

Honour for a Quintessential Policeman Sam Akpe

P

eter Ayodele Fayose, the stormy governor of Ekiti State, is well known for his bold utterances. Those who may not like his guts believe he is damn impudent. But a typical Fayose does what he wants based on his convictions and then thinks about the repercussions just as the ripples of his acts gather momentum. It is this unusual combination that makes him a headliner whenever he opens his mouth.

You may not like how he said what he has said, but you are not likely to ignore or forget in a hurry what he said. A lot of people like him for different reasons.

Little wonder he could easily stage a come-back and regained the governorship post a few years after he was sent packing under questionable circumstances.

His utterances towers far above his average height and are most times more analytical than his intellect can fathom.

Fayose brought these contradictions to the public domain about a week ago when he spoke at the end of career thanksgiving service and a reception organised by friends in honour of Ayotunde Ogunsakin, a recently retired Assistant Inspector General of Police.

The event held at Ikere, in Ekiti State.

The governor was not at the church service. He sent his deputy, Dr Olusola Eleka. The reception party started at a few minutes past 1pm. But it was when everybody thought the feasting was over and it was time to go home that Fayose noiselessly entered the venue of the event. Some of his aides confirmed that though the governor was not formally invited, he had sent a word to the conveners that he would gate-crash; and he did. As late as he was to the event, the people of Ikere, both young and old, rose to cheer their prince.

Meanwhile, a lady compere who said the event must be devoid of any political colouration almost drew the ire of the irrepressible Fayose who countered with the explanation that the young woman should be forgiven “because she is not a politician.” His conclusion was that: “when a governor is somewhere, or anywhere the governor is, politics is there.”

That statement sent the crowd screaming in excitement. Looking at Ogunsakin straight in the face, Fasoye came short of saying: I am free to say what I like after all you did not invite me here. Instead, he told Ogunsakin matter-of-factly, to the consternation of everyone present: “I am not here because I love you; but I am here because you are one of our leading lights in Ekiti.” That again sent the crowd yelling in cheers. It was Fayose doing what he does best: moving the people to frenzy.

Ogunsakin’s first shock of the day however was at Saint Peter’s Anglican Church, Ikere Ekiti where he listened to the sermon by Venerable A. O. Ayodele, the Vicar and Archdeacon of Ikere. The preacher observed that throughout his interactions with Ogunsakin in the past, the police chief had always refused to laugh. The best he had ever seen on his face had been a shortlived smile. “But today, in this church, I have seen him smile and even try to laugh,” he said.

While advising the celebrant not to dabble in politics so as not to soil his professional integrity – an advice that went down well with Ogunsakin and his wife, Chinyere, the preacher asked the retired policeman to use his influence and ensure that Ikere produces the next governor of Ekiti State. He went ahead to explain that Ikere was tired of always producing a deputy governor when it has capable people to occupy the high office.

He however noted that Ogunsakin, in almost 34 years in the police force, has obeyed orders as a junior officer; enforced discipline as a boss; showed humility in leadership and led by example. In addition, he told the congregation that by God’s grace, the retired AIG has battled the storm but was not consumed; has tasted fire but was not burnt to ashes; has demonstrated discipline and mercy without compromising standards; has been to the war front and has returned alive; “this is why we must thank God because he has brought honour to Ikere people and to his family.”

At the reception ground, a former Minister of State for Works, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, said the image of the Nigeria Police Force would receive a boost when men with moral integrity are given opportunity to join the force. He described Ogunsakin’s service to the nation as exceptional; adding that though he did not crown his effort with appointment as Inspector General of Police, “we thank God for his distinguished career in the force.”

Shortly after he spoke, there was a joyous stir in the two massive canopies set up for the event. It was the arrival of two prominent traditional rulers from Ondo and Ekiti State. The Ogoga Ikere-Ekiti, His

Ogunsakin and wife Chinyere at the church service

Royal Majesty, Samuel Ademujimi Adu Alagbado, the Agirilala Ogbenuotosoro 11, was accompanied by the Osemawe Ondo, Dr. Kiladejo.

For someone who once said: “the last thing I wanted to be was a police officer,” Ogunsakin narrated that his hatred for the force was based on what he witnessed during the national protest by students in 1978 when he was still at the then University of Ife. The protest tagged “Ali Must Go” was based on certain introductions into the school system that did not go down well with the Nigerian students. He said he witnessed first-hand, how police officers carried out deadly attacks against the students and he did not understand why it should be so.

His opinion however changed shortly after bagging a bachelor’s degree in political science and history. He met an exceptional police officer on official duty who treated him with respect and with a smile. He decided that perhaps getting into the system would be a better way to handle the ills of the force instead of criticising from outside. He enlisted in 1982 and rose through the ranks to the top.

Ogunsakin’s specialisation in money laundering law enforcement started when he joined the Interpol in 1989. From that moment, he started meeting Interpol officers from across the world and also passed through restricted training on money laundering and other complex fraud investigations and prosecutions. His money laundering fight took him to several parts of the world where he teamed up with colleagues from other countries to investigate and prosecute suspects.

Back in Nigeria, he was entrusted with investigation of sensitive fraud cases both local and international.

His bio-data reveals that he has served as head of operations at both the ICPC and the EFCC before serving as commissioner in charge of the Special Fraud Unit where he joined forces with other international bodies to fight economic crimes. His excellent records led to his adoption by the University of Cambridge since 2012 as a resource person at the Cambridge International Symposium on Economic

Crime.

At the reception in his honour, both serving and retired police officers spoke of his deep sense of professionalism particularly in the area of financial crimes, his bold initiatives and the high profile cases he handled in the course of his service to the nation and at the global level. They individually described him as a quintessential crime fighter.

Thanking his friends and guests, Ogunsakin observed that all over the world, policemen are not liked; “but you can’t do without policemen.” He noted that in accepting to be a policeman, “it means you have accepted to die.” This is because, as in other forces, policemen stay awake while others sleep; “that means what you sign for is actually a duty to die for others to live. You sacrifice your own life so that others can live. The society must recognise that we have chosen to die in service to the nation.” He described his wife as his greatest inspiration and a pillar of strength who kept encouraging him to do the right thing.

Back to Fayose, as the beautiful event drew to a close. The high-spirited governor regretted that Ogunsakin, in spite of his services to the nation, was not made the Inspector General of Police. However, he was so sure that Ogunsakin’s exit from the force was divine. He said (paraphrased): your stepping aside from the Nigeria Police Force is not by mistake. One day you will look back and thank God for leaving at the time you left. You will watch with your eyes why God took you away at the time He did.

Still in a prayer mood, he told Ogunsakin: your time will come. I know that it’s not easy for a uniformed officer out of office; but God will guide you. God will give you direction. He will support you. On my part, when I retire, I’m not going to the Senate like other governors. I will remain here in Ekiti. I’m not running to America. This is where I will remain. With that, he dropped the microphone, got into his car and left in the same manner he arrived.

Akpe is an Abuja-based journalist

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY / M O N D AY N E W S PA P E R

49

• DECEMBER 25-26, 2016

CICERO/RIGHT OF REPLY/PERSPECTIVE

Re: Mimiko: Reading Louis Odion’s Diatribe Ayodele Ogunwale

T

he amazing thing about outgoing Governor Segun Mimiko of Ondo State is his sneaky ways and his cult-like hold on those now popularly described as “political slaves” assembled in his “information ministry” required to churn out juvenile lies in manner that not only defies commonsense but also assaults their human dignity as a person.

Having got his fingers burnt in the November 26 polls in Ondo State, Governor Mimiko or “Iroko to gbabode” (bewitched Iroko) appears resolved to spend his last days in office deploying these “bare-foot slaves” or “eniyan jaku jaku” (despicable characters) according to Mr. Anthony Orimolade, to rationalize his Judas roles in the recent past. No wonder the few wise ones among them prefer to answer fake names.

I say this based on my extrapolation from the latest example of two obviously commissioned “rejoinders” to an article by The Nation columnist, Mr. Louis Odion, on December 2 with the title “Mimiko: Profile in treachery”.

As compulsive reader of fine columnists paraded by The Nation, I had read Odion’s original take on the Ondo polls and dare say that it is consistent with the objectivity and courage Odion has been known for, for upward of 17 years of column-writing.

But rather than answer the charges of perfidy, treachery and infamy mentioned in the column, Mimiko and his media “running-dogs” have resorted to more lies and personal attacks.

So incompetent, this bunch of intellectual “Agbero” (touts) made further fool of themselves by peddling fabrications and idiotic lies as gospel, against facts that are clearly well known about the columnist. Who, for instance, does not know that Mr. Odion voluntarily resigned his appointment as Information Commissioner under the action governor Comrade Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State after four years of unblemished service and goes down in history as the only Commissioner in Oshiomhole’s entire eight glorious years reign to be formally honored with a state banquet before exit. You may be entitled to your opinion, but certainly not your own facts.

I thought the posers by the columnist was clear enough: did Mimiko betray the workers by selling Labour Party to PDP? Of course, the answer is yes.

Did “Iroko to gbabode” betray Dr. Segun Agagu who made him SSG or not? The answer is yes. Did he betray Asiwaju Bola and Jimoh Ibrahim who had offered him moral and financial support? The answer is yes. Did he in 2012 cut off the access road to Adaba FM station which ironically provided him a platform while fighting PDP in

Mimiko

2007/2008? The answer is yes!

Today, Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has demonstrated good faith by standing by Mimiko in his hour of trauma and depression. The same Fayose who Mimiko, a doctor not known to have administered an injection in the last two decades other than playing Judas politics, used to refer to as “school drop-out”. What a traitor!

First to bare his crooked fangs was one “Imefv Efuda” who claimed to be writing from “Abuja”. Another stormtrooper joined the orchestrated attack on the columnist on Sunday (December 18) in THISDAY with another hatchet job entitled “Mimiko: Reading Louis Odion’s diatribe” under the pen-name “Tunde Olosunde”. From their tones, one does not need to be clairvoyant to know that they are the handiwork of the “bare-foot slaves” operating from the smoke-filled propaganda (sorry, Information) ministry in Akure.

Well, I believe Odion, a multiple award-winning writer who became an editor at age 26 in the famous Concord newspaper in 1999, is competent enough to defend himself against the slew of slander and libel by this band of never-do-well and “e-rats” and their discredited paymaster.

The reason why I say Mimiko is irredeemable is another bare-faced lie by his publicists in their “rejoinders” on the National Leader of APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. The columnist had listed Tinubu among those who helped Mimiko while he was struggling to reclaim his mandate between 2007 and 2008. As a keen watcher of Ondo politics, I have my own testimony. I recall that Mimiko was often holding press conferences in Lagos

during the “struggle days” with the assistance of some Tinubu boys and was a regular face at Asiwaju Tinubu’s Bourdillon home.

In fact, I recall running into him twice or thrice at Tinubu’s residence looking famished and desperate in his faded Batik shirt, shino trousers and sandals with worn soles, with a colonial-style reading glasses tied round his then ostrich neck with a rope. He would eat lunch and dinner there before leaving for where to sleep for the night, only to come back the following day. Like snake, he cleverly hid in the grass before he struck.

It is also public knowledge that Asiwaju not only provided him material resources but also moral support. How treacherous of Mimiko today to now try and downplay the help he received from Asiwaju. To now insinuate like “Olosunle” did that Mimiko did not ask Asiwaju to go extra mile in raising a crack legal team for his case is the most satanic thing to say.

Also, how Godly is it to suddenly turn around and label your old benefactor a “godfather” in 2012 when it was yet pleasurable and convenient for you to eat from his table in 2007/2008? If you are incapable of gratitude to man that is visible and alive for help, how are we to believe you sincerely believe and appreciate God that Has never been seen?

Pray, if Mimiko now claims Tinubu played no role in the retrieval of his mandate in 2008, can he also swear that he was never at Tinubu’s Lagos residence at all and received no kobo and did not eat any rice or “amala”?

We know he is a fake Christian and so will not ask him to swear by Bible. Like someone already suggested, I also dare him to swear by the “Otumokpor” (local deity) in his native Ondo. I know Mimiko will be scared because that one answers “by fire, by thunder” instantly.

When someone harbors this kind of shamelessly deceitful mindset, one is at a loss whether it is the same Mimiko pictured recently in many national dailies bowing piously before the Daddy G.O of Redeemed Church, Pastor E. Adeboye, during the December Holy Ghost week at the Redeemed Camp in Ogun State. Lord have mercy! Or was the traumatized and bewitched Iroko actually in search of spiritual help?

How convenient to demonize Asiwaju today. But without Tinubu’s extra-ordinary effort to help you Mimiko fight that injustice, would you have been governor in 2008?

Well, there is God o!

Given his treacherous pedigree and fear of being taken on by EFCC, I can bet with my last kobo that Mimiko will soon decamp to APC, forget that he was allegedly responsible for the media brouhaha over Buhari’s school certificate in 2014. It is a question of time.

––Ayodele Ogunwale wrote from Owo, Ondo State.

Preparing Amnesty Programme for Safe Landing

A

Paul Tarela Boroh

s the end of year approaches, it naturally lends itself for reflection. A stocktaking which in a sense, is the circle of life itself; a constant process of inevitable change which ensures that there is a progression towards desired goals.

The Presidential Amnesty Programme which began in 2009 is an effective strategy for Conflict Resolution.

With my experience as the last Commanding Officer of ECOMOG in Sierra Leone and as the Chief of Staff of the United Nations Mission in Liberia, the Nigerian Amnesty Programme is a master stroke of Political Engineering put together by the Federal Government.

The UN spends lots of money on its peace programmes in West Africa because Amnesty by its very nature, is a very expensive programme therefore the Federal Government should be commended for being able to execute such a magnificent programme. But no amount of efforts, time and resources spent to achieve peace is too much. It is a commendable achievement for our country to disarm thousands of youths and attain a high measure of peace which has enabled the Ministries of the Niger Delta Affairs, the Environment, and the NDDC to move into the Region to carry out development projects like the massive Ogoni Clean-Up Project.

Amnesty is a tasking process of Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) for which the last phase being Reintegration, is in fact, the most difficult. The phase actually comprises five parts; Reorganization, Reconstruction, Rebuilding, Reinsertion, Reconciliation - of aggrieved persons- leading to sustainable Reintegration.

One of the major achievements the Amnesty Office has made this year is to put in place offices where we have embassies to manage beneficiaries. We also established a Twenty Four-Hour Call Centre to handle

complaints and reports from across the world, as well as provide the needed Real Time Information. We have also gotten representatives in various states where we operate a Liaison Office manned by an Information Manager who also liaises with Agencies, groups and individuals in the Region.

Another outstanding achievement is the domestication of almost all the training programmes of the Office including those on formal Education, Vocation and Post-Vocation Training. This has reduced costs - as the Foreign Exchange component is drastically reduced thereby enhancing it also means that more youths can be trained. Large numbers of the Amnesty Beneficiaries have graduated or are graduating this year, and another major bulk is scheduled to graduate in 2017. The implication of this is that more people are being empowered because we consider a University Degree as empowerment. It also means that a steady flow of beneficiaries will exit the Programme. We have also conducted a biometric verification of beneficiaries in some areas of the Niger Delta, and we are spreading the exercise to all other states covered by the Programme.

We have also invested in entrepreneurial programmes under which beneficiaries are trained in areas of their choice, and are given starter packs by the Office to establish their own businesses and become not only self -employed, but also employers of labour.

The focus of the present administration under His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR on agriculture has become a winning formula for us in the Amnesty Programme. Working with agencies like the Bio- Resources Centre at Odi, Bayelsa State we have sent Beneficiaries to be trained in Improved Technology Agriculture. On Tuesday December 20, 2016, 97 Beneficiaries graduated from the Centre. Four hundred and three others will graduate in the next four months.

By way of challenges, this year, there has been some reoccurrence of oil facilities vandalism. To stem it, at a point, I relocated to the creeks in order to reach out

to elders, youths, stakeholders Traditional Rulers and various camp leaders. We have recorded some success with this approach. More importantly, the Presidency is addressing directly, aspects of complaints from the Niger Delta Region which sprout from the genuine concerns of the people. The importance of this is underlined by the Presidency’s on-going engagement with the Pan Niger Delta Elders Forum (PANDEF) There are of course aspects that are pure criminality which have nothing to do with the aspirations and interests of the Niger Delta people. This is being addressed by the Security Agencies. It is appropriate at this point, to advise people in the Niger Delta to always take the path of dialogue and negotiation in resolving issues. We must work for peace, sustain and develop it if we hope to develop the Niger Delta Region.

There is also the challenge of Small Arms and Light Weapons proliferation; this is of course a Continental, if not a Global challenge. We at the Amnesty Office are working with concerned Agencies like the Presidential Committee on Small Arms and Light Weapons Proliferation and the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Development in Africa to curb this menace.

The Amnesty Office is seeking various ways to meet the challenge of unemployment by bringing Job Placement Vacancies to the attention of youths in the Region, encouraging them to develop their employability skills and encouraging them to take to Agriculture. This is a sure way of gainful Self-Employment contributing to Food security in the country and revamping the country’s ailing economy.

It is our prayer that the New Year 2017 shall be a happy and rewarding one for all of us and our dear country, Nigeria.

-Brigadier General Paul Tarela Boroh (Rtd) is Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY / M O N D AY N E W S PA P E R • DECEMBER 25-26, 2016

PERSPECTIVE

Of Senate, DSS’ Report and Magu’s Non-confirmation Hamisu Abubakar

T

he non-confirmation of the nomination of Mr Ibrahim Magu as Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) by the Senate has created some hysteria in the polity.

This is the first time that such a fate would befall anyone primed for that sensitive position. Those who had served in that office before him, from Nuhu Ribadu, through Farida Waziri to Ibrahim Lamorde, did not have issues with their screening and confirmation by the Upper Legislative Chamber of the National Assembly.

The decision by the Nigerian Senate is, therefore, to me, tantamount to a vote of no confidence in the anti-corruption czar. The no-confidence vote is, rooted in a security report authored by the Department of State Services (DSS), which raked up a number of allegations of corruption around and against Magu. As it is, the security report is more than mere allegations. It is a serious indictment.

This is what makes the issue very critical. It is horribly shocking for someone, who is saddled with fighting corruption, to have condoned and embraced it in the forms and shapes indicated in the security report widely circulated in the media.

Thus, it was not difficult for the Senate, on the basis of the report, to return the “no screening, no confirmation” verdict. The verdict by the Senate represents essentially Magu’s burden. It may well be his denouement if the probe instituted by the Presidency into his indictment by the DSS does not absolve him eventually. The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice has the difficult task of looking into Magu’s indictment.

What this means is that the outcome of DSS’ profiling of Magu is being subjected to a second opinion.

This is understandable, given the implications of Magu’s indictment for his survival in office as well as for his police career.

It will be interesting to see how the office of the AGF will handle this intricate issue. It is intricate because, even though Magu is being probed as an individual, the institution of the EFCC which he has presided over in acting capacity during which time he allegedly committed the infractions in the DSS report, would suffer credibility deficit, should Magu fail this second chance at critical integrity test.

The Senate, which screened and confirmed the other four nominated members of the EFCC leadership, said that Magu was denied that opportunity

Magu because he failed the integrity test conducted by the DSS. The test is very important. It comes in the form of security checks on public office holders on the basis of which reports are written on such prospective and/or incumbent public office holders.

Every legislator, for instance, is profiled by the DSS. It is thus not out of place for the Senators to take DSS report about nominees before them very seriously, particularly as it is coming from a credible office.

Therefore, I am not in bed with those who are of the view that the Senate probably has an axe to grind with Magu and which was why it rejected his nomination. This is not the issue. The issue is very clear. The Senate only acted on the DSS report.

Interestingly, this is the first time the confirmation of the EFCC Chairman would be caught in the intriguing webs of unfavourable security report.

The Senate, which has the power to confirm or

reject presidential nominees, had done its bit in the circumstances in which it had found itself. The pressure being piled on the Senate by pro-Magu elements that he must be confirmed is misplaced. It is irresponsible to take such position; and personalities like the Chairman of the Presidential Action Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Professor Itse Sagay (SAN), should be well advised that his person and office get demeaned when he vigorously gives verbal vent to such a position. His outburst on the issue is selfish.

There are many Nigerians who are probably misguiding Magu and giving him a false sense of invincibility and infallibility. Sagay is certainly one of them. If he knows he cannot focus any longer on the terms of reference of his Committee rather than sticking out his neck in defence of Magu, he had better resign so he can take up Magu’s brief in the event he is found culpable, relieved of his job and charged to court for sundry acts of corruption.

Prof. Sagay could, as well, look for another job for him. Getting Magu another job presupposes that returning to the Nigeria Police Force, where he is an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), may not be advisable, given the bitterness that will dwell in him on account of his disgraceful end at the EFCC. The Police Service Commission should naturally be expected to recommend him for compulsory retirement because there is no way he can be neutral in the performance of his police functions thereafter.

He may use his office as a police officer to settle scores with those he perceives to have blocked his chances of being confirmed as EFCC Chairman.

These are the scenarios that the non-confirmation of Magu by the Senate on account of the DSS report has thrown up. And, it will be quite interesting how the entire saga plays out in the days and weeks ahead. In the meantime, the Buhari Government is on trial. It is bearing a moral burden that has put it under intense pressure. This is the big moment for it to mount the big stage and make a statement to the world that its fight against corruption is not a joke. It can make that statement by wielding the big hammer as quickly as possible, if Magu and other officials are found to have compromised their positions, no matter how minimally. Buhari should not make the mistake that the former President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, made while in the saddle of leadership, by unreservedly protecting top functionaries of his government whose official activities were questionable.

Hamisu Abubakar can be reached via Hamisuabubakar4real@yahoo.com

They Love The Blood

I

Femi Fani-Kayode

just watched a horrific video of hundreds of young men in the traditional orange prison garb.

They were in shining new handcuffs and their eyes were filled with the darkness of hopelessness, helplessness and sheer terror.

They reminded me of sallah rams and christmas turkeys just before the slaughter.

Their bodies were hung upside down on a butchers meat-hook whilst their throats were slowly slit wide open with a sharp long knife and their blood drained into a metal gutter by a group of jihadist terrorists.

I was badly traumatised and pained as I witnessed the life flow out of them and heard the bloodcurdling screams, the frightful moans and groans and their pitiful and child-like begging as the blood streamed down their bodies in gallons and fed the waiting gutter.

After that came the powerful water hose, like those that are used in a modern abbatoir, to wash away the blood and clean up and drain the metal gutter.

The whole thing was cold, clinical and barbaric and it made my heart beat ten times faster.

These were not animals that were being butchered and diced like Chinese fried pork but human beings, each of whom had their own dreams, hopes, aspirations and loved ones.

It was worse than a horror movie: it

was today’s harsh reality.

That sight and those sounds will never leave me. They are a living and undeniable testimony of man’s inhumanity to man.

They are incontrovertible and irrefutable evidence of the fact that, as the Holy Bible says, “the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel”.

That pain conjured up a living force in me and inspired and moved me to write the following words.

I struggled desperately to get into the minds of the barbarous beasts that have dedicated their lives to the devil and that commit such heinous and mind-boggling crimes with such passion and ease.

They reminded me of those in our own nation that share a similar disposition and that are given to shedding innocent blood at the drop of a hat either in the name of their god or for the sake of their cows.

What I discerned and saw and what came to my spirit was as follows.

They love the blood. The blood is life.

The blood is sweet. They love to see it flow. They love to see it sprinkled. They love to see it spattered all over the walls.

They love its smell and its warmth.

They love it even more when it is the blood of infants and babies. They thirst for it. They yearn for it. They cry for it.

They lust for it. They crave for it. They kill for it. They love the blood.

They love sharp knives and cutlasses.

They love violence and aggression. They love tribulation and turmoil. They love tears and hardship.

They love fire and they love to burn.

They love to watch others suffer and they love to inflict pain and misery.

They are the children of the Amalekites, the first born of Al Qaeda and the bastard offspring of ISIS and the Taliban.

They are the blood brothers of Al Shabab, Hamas and Islamic Jihad. They are the headhunting herdsmen that come in the dead of the night spreading terror and carnage and riding on the wings of the Angel of Death all in the name of grazing their accursed cows.

They are the Janjaweed of Darfur, the Barbarians of the Rhine and the frenzied hordes of Atilla the Hun and Ghengis Khan all rolled into one.

They are Hell’s most loyal and faithful: the sevants of Samaliel, the Lord of Flies.

They are the seed of destruction. The children of perdition. The enemies of humanity.

The purveyors of poverty. The merchants of slavery. The slayers of children.

The drinkers of blood. The eaters of human flesh and the mockers of our faith.

They are debased, dehumanised, depraved and devoid of any feeling or compassion. They are totally evil and evil is their name. They are indeed the darkness that seeks the darkness.

Permit me to conclude this insight with a brief word on the tragic and unfolding events in southern Kaduna which has been plagued and afflicted by attacks from these same herdsmen and lovers of cows.

The bitter truth is that Southern Kaduna has been turned into a blood-

bank for those who delight and deal in the shedding of human blood.

What people need to understand is that those that are funding carnage, that are behind it and that are encouraging it are using the killings and the blood of the people of Southern Kaduna and the Shiite Muslims as a ritual sacrifice.

They will never stop it. They need it. They want to be President in 2019 and they are paying for it with the blood of Christians and Shiite Muslims today.

Others did the same in 2011. All the killings that took place then were necessary for the relevant person to ascend the throne by 2015.

Some even sacrificed their own children. This matter is deeper than most people think or appreciate. It is not political. It is not religious. It is spiritual.

Blood is the currency in the spirit realm. They need it to get what they want and to feed the vampires and demonic entities that they slavishly worship.

They are pagans. Worshippers of Molech: the demonic deity that delights in the shedding of human blood and the sacrifice of infants and babies.

May God deliver us and rid our land of these bloodsucking human bats and evil vampires. They are the darkness that seeks the darkness.

––Fani-Kayode is former Aviation Minister

2016 A RECAP A S P E C I A L R E P O RT

Like every other year, 2016 was ushered in with pomp. There were high expectations from all and sundry. For Nigerians, the year took off with great promise and uncertainties. A new regime was just settling in at the dawn of the year when it was confronted with the stark reality of an imminent economic recession. And by the middle of the year, the country had plunged into recession with all its dire effects. From the release of 21 of the kidnapped Chibok girls, raids on judges’ residences, victory of the glorious Falcons to the terrorists attacks and fratricidal killings around the country, the year had its fair share of glad tidings and awful news. Also around the world, there were notable incidents that shaped the outgoing year. All these combined to make 2016 a year of controversies, unprecedented incidents and painful deaths.

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T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY / M O N DAY N E W S PA P E R • DECEMBER 25-26, 2016

2016: A RECAP

ECONOMY

Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun, IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde and CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele after a meeting between the FG and IMF in Abuja in January

Harsh Operating Environment Depresses Economy

Various sectors of the economy, during the year, operated under tough conditions with sub-optimal capacity, which weighed down outputs and reflected lacklustre performance, reports Kunle Aderinokun 2016 would remain in the annals of this nation as the most challenging and turbulent year economically. This year, the economy entered a recession, hitherto witnessed 29 years ago. The economic recession, which is a period of stagflation, low productivity and unemployment, was long foretold by pundits.

Although indicators pointed in the direction of the downturn, there were no deliberate policies by the federal government to mitigate the challenges in the economy, but only rhetoric by officials. While the gross domestic product (GDP) entered the negative territory in the first quarter of this year when the economy contracted by 0.36 per cent, it maintained the downward streak in the second quarter and the economy officially entered recession, having recorded a negative growth of 2.06 per cent.

And by the time the GDP data for the third quarter was released by the National Bureau of Statistics, the data lent credence to the reality that the economy, which recorded a negative growth of 2.26 per cent had sank deeper into the quagmire.

The government has attributed the recession to the dwindled fortunes of crude oil revenue, occasioned mainly by the continuous attacks on oil facilities in the Niger Delta. Oil, which is still the mainstay of the economy failed to lift it up because of the untoward activities of the militants in the Niger Delta, which for most part of the year, dealt a debilitating blow on the revenue accruing therefrom, coupled with impact of the crisis at the global oil market.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, oil production which had been benchmarked at 2.2 million barrels per day in the 2016 budget, averaged at 1.63mbpd, lower from production in second quarter of 2016. It got worse at various times of the year when production fell to abysmally low levels. For instance, sometime in May, crude production plummeted to about 1.4 mbd having lost about 750,000bd, at a time a barrel was being sold for about $47 with a budget benchmark of $38 per barrel.

Nevertheless, the non-oil sector, largely driven by the activities of agriculture (crop production), information & communication and other services, with a growth of 0.003 per cent, did not also muster enough contribution to impact economic growth. This is even despite the fact that interventions by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and some development finance institutions appeared to have gone some ways in providing succour for the agriculture sector, a major component of the non-oil sector.

However, the government continued to pay more of lip service to diversification of the economy to the non-oil sector as the necessary ingredients to enable participation in the much mouthed diversification seemed elusive.

The manufacturing sector, which would have been given the requisite fillip to stimulate the economy remained comatose during the year under review. While the CBN has announced a concession for the sector, opening up to them a special window in the foreign exchange market, whereby it directed banks to allocate 60 per cent of their FX for their needs, the impact, however, appeared to be unfelt by the operators as they continue to groan under FX challenges.

After a long wait, the federal government, in its bid to tackle fiscal challenges and lift the economy out of recession, unveiled a 10-point fiscal roadmap, designed to stimulate the economy and set it on the path of recovery and growth.

Highlights of the roadmap were rolled out by the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, who represented the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, at the annual dinner of the Lagos Business School. Adeosun itemised the fiscal policies and actions being taken to tackle the key barriers to economic growth.

A major component of the roadmap is to replace administrative measures on the list of 41 items with fiscal measures to reduce demand pressure on foreign exchange (forex)

at the parallel market. CBN, in its wisdom, had barred importers from assessing forex, particularly the United States dollars, for the 41 items via the official window, a measure, which had generated intense controversy. Though the measure was applied in good faith by the monetary authority, it pushed importers to sourcing forex from the parallel market, which led to forex shortage and inadvertently affected the value of the naira and the economy.

But with the federal government’s decision to reconsider its policy on the 41 items, the expectation, according to the roadmap, is that there would be a reduction in the demand for US dollars to ramp up forex supply.

Highlights of the developments or issues that shaped different sectors of the economy within the last one year:

Money Market One of the major policy initiatives of the federal government and CBN in the banking segment was the implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) which had put banks’ liquidity positions under stress. This was so because banks were in custody of trillions of naira in public funds, which even accounted for 80 per cent of liquidity in some banks.

Another major milestone in the year under review, which shaped the money market was the introduction of the flexible foreign exchange regime to resolve exchange rate crisis and an array of policy measures intended to achieve stability of the naira. The banks have had to count their losses and gains since the new regime was launched and others had incurred financial sanctions for various infractions from the CBN. Also, rising inflation had been a major source of concern to the CBN which had on several occasions resorted to tightening of monetary policy to curtail the headline index.

There were further efforts to boost credit to

the real sector of the economy through various interventions in aviation, agriculture and power sectors by the apex bank.

The increasing proportion of non-performing loans (NPLs) in banks was also a serious concern during the year as falling oil prices made it difficult to recover massive exposures of the financial sector to the energy and to a greater extent, the power sector.

The period further marked an interesting chapter for the Bureau de change operators which had come under fire from the apex financial regulator which had tried to sanitise the segment as a way of fixing the exchange debacle.

Capital Market The FX crisis greatly affected trading activities in the capital market in the year under review. Experts particularly blamed it for the low inflow of foreign investments in the country. Foreign investors are not incentivized to bring in their investments as there are no clear cut assurances that when such foreign investments are brought in they can be easily repatriated when they feel the need. This really impacted the level of trading activities on equities during the year.

Another factor that has affected the Capital Market has been a generally weak economy.

The weak economy is largely traced to low oil price and low production due to resurgence of militancy and attacks on oil assets in the oil rich Niger Delta region as the country’s economy is largely dependent on receipts from the oil sectors.

Trade and Investment As part of efforts of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, it unveiled the strategic masterplan for the growth and diversification of the economy. Essentially, it seeks to create an enabling environment

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T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY / M O N DAY N E W S PA P E R • DECEMBER 25-26, 2016

2016: A RECAP

ECONOMY

Packets of Dollars

Power-plant

to improve the ease of doing business and implement the Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP) as well as providing support for Micro- Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to enhance job creation; promoting trade and investment as engines for growth as well as promoting a digital economy.

If substantiated, the recent claim by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enalemah, that the country recorded over $20 billion investment inflows in the last one year, should be a plausible feat for the ministry and the country in general.

Notably, the Bank of Industry (BoI) has been outstanding in the period under review with several innovations which had increased credit to community projects and small businesses across the country.

But the challenge remained that foreign investments in particular had not been forthcoming as expected, with rising unemployment and discouraging foreign trade data and high inflation.

A recent capital importation report suggested FDI accounted for the smallest share of imported capital at $340.64 million, or 18.69 per cent of the total in the third quarter of the year.

Agriculture and Rural Development The year witnessed the launch of the “Green Alternative: The Agriculture Promotion Policy 2016-2020”, which is a four-year blueprint on growing and repositioning agriculture for critical economic transformation.

The document, widely celebrated by stakeholders does not only seek to achieve food security but also enhance the country’s capacity to produce and export items in order to earn the badly needed foreign exchange.

Another notable development during the year was the sustained campaign to find lasting solution to the recurring cases of herdsmen and farmers’ clashes across the country. Although, the grazing reserves bill is yet to be passed into law by the National Assembly, several state governments had since volunteered and released large expanse lands for grazing purpose.

Also of note was the landmark initiative by the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) with the support of the ministry of agriculture on the commencement of an innovative scheme which would allow the movement of cattle from the northern parts of the country to markets in the southern region by railways, which was further targeted to reduce instances of herdsmen clashes as well as improve the economic well-being of Nigerians.

Manufacturing Sector The manufacturing sector performed ‘poorly’ in 2016 as a continuation of its appalling outing in the preceding year when it contributed only 5 per cent to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product. According to data obtained from the office of the Director-General, West African Institute of Financial and Economic Management, “In developed countries where the real sectors are thriving, manufacturing contribute as much as between 35 and 40 per cent to the GDP. For instance, in Malaysia, the manufacturing sector contributes about 45 per cent to the GDP.” Political and economic factors contributed significantly to the decline in the manufacturing sector. For instance, poor infrastructure and epileptic power supply are key impediments to the industry. The industry as a whole operates on more than 70 per cent of energy it generates, using

NIRSAL facilitates cattle movement from farms in the North to markets in the South generators. And operating these generators significantly increases the cost of production of goods. Power supply has remained abysmally low on account of low gas supply and other sundry operational issues in the sector. The administration-led by Buhari inherited an average power generation mark of 4000MW. This rose to 5074MW for the first time ever in February but subsequently dipped and now hovers around 3800MW. Other factors include increase in the prices of petroleum products used by industries, multiple taxation, unabated smuggling and inadequate access to finance, both locally and abroad.

Arguably the sector that was most hit by the foreign exchange challenge in the country has been the real sector. For the better part of 2016, operators in the sector lamented the negative effects of scarcity of FX on their operations. Operators in the sector could not access FX, especially the United States Dollars, at the official rate and had to resort to the parallel market for the needs. The situation persisted even after the adoption of the market-driven flexible exchange regime in June.

The FX challenge has led to the closure of several industries and manufacturing concerns in the country while the surviving industries are doing so at reduced capacity utilisation.

Two major fallouts of this has been increase in prices of finished products and mass layoff of workforce leading to increase in the unemployment ratio in the country.

Financing has also been a major challenge for the real sector in the outgoing year.

According to operator, cost of lending ranges between 30 and 36 per cent. This, many of them argued has discouraged many businesses in the sector from accessing finance for manufacturing activities. The firms who braved the odds eventually pass on the costs to the consumer in form of hiked prices.

Yet another factor that literarily crippled the real sector within the year was the effect of the suspension of the Export Expansion Grant (EEG) policy. Many export-based businesses that would have helped to generate forex in the year could not do so due to backlog of receipts that they were unable to access and this

compounded their operations during the year.

Oil & Gas During the year, petrol supplies remained stable through the price modulation exercise which is expected to lead to the full deregulation of the downstream petroleum sector. This has also kept the regular queues for fuel in check but has also seen pump price increase from N86.50 that he met it to N145 per litre.

Also, during the year under review, the NNPC restructuring and reintroduction of a productive business model within which a ‘20 fixes’ model (later trimmed to ‘12 fixes’ by current NNPC GMD, Dr. Maikanti Baru) were initiated. The reforms Kachikwu initiated before handing over to Baru saw to the monthly publication of the operations and financial flows of NNPC. It also resulted in the NNPC recording some margins of profit albeit momentarily for the first time in a very long time.

Also drafted was a national oil and gas policy, which would be harmonised with the omnibus Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) to create for the industry a reformed and up-to-date policy instrument..

Besides, processes for a far-reaching resolution of the Niger Delta issues which would see the region becoming peaceful for business and development commenced in the year.

Also, the process of a new funding model to end the perennial Joint Venture cash call problem in the sector commenced with the petroleum ministry negotiating a $1.7 billion discount on the $6.8 billion cash call arrears owed international oil companies by the country. Similarly activated were the processes to have new investors co-locate new refineries and share facilities with existing refineries in Kaduna, Warri and Port Harcourt.

However, the refineries have continued to remain unproductive irrespective of the federal government’s promises of revamping them.

Fuel is still being imported as recent data from the National Bureau of Statistics indicated that N595.5 billion was spent on fuel importation in the first six months of 2016,

rising by N34.3 billion from the amount spent in the last six months of 2015.

Aviation Three major issues characterised the aviation industry in 2016. One is concession, the second is the plan to establish a national carrier, a protracted plan, which the present administration has given vigour and enthusiasm and the third issue is the threat of extinction of Nigerian airlines.

During the year, government came up with the plan to concession airport so that the private sector would participate in the infrastructure development of the sector, as government’s lean finances could not continue to fund such facilities. It also gave given new vigour to the quest for national carrier.

There are many who support the establishment of national carrier because they believe it would reinforce Nigeria’s reckoning in air transport in Africa and beyond and when successful it would check the outrageous fares charged by international carriers that operate in the country.

Those who oppose it insist that the idea of a national carrier has become old fashioned, advising government to support indigenous airlines so that they could expand capacity and become profitable in their operations. This year may be one of the worst for Nigerian airlines.

Acute shortage of forex, paucity of aviation fuel sold at exorbitant prices to airlines and depletion of passenger traffic due to the present economic recession have put Nigerian airlines in a quandary.

Economic crunch forced Nigerian oldest airline, Aero Contractors out of schedule services and it is currently threatening the existence of others. There is limited capacity as many aircraft due for check could not be ferried overseas for maintenance because of lack of forex. Domestic flight service is characterised by flight cancellation and delays, leaving thick fog of uncertainty in the mind of passengers.

2016 may not be a good year for the aviation industry because nothing significant was achieved. What could be asserted as development are mere promissory notes, which are the usual rhythm of every government.

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T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY / M O N DAY N E W S PA P E R • DECEMBER 25-26, 2016

2016: A RECAP

POLITICS

A Year of Controversies, Unprecedented Actions It is said that a day is a long time in politics. If so, a year is a very long time indeed. This year has seen a lot of significant happenings. The year has seen the All Progressives Congress trying to master the art of governance, and the Peoples Democratic Party trying to find its feet in its new role as opposition party. Both parties have had difficulty playing their new roles.

Below are some of the major political stories in the year Budget Controversy The year opened with a budget controversy, which began soon after President Muhammadu Buhari presented the 2016 budget of N6.08 trillion to the National Assembly in December 2015. The budget was dogged by allegations and counter allegations of unlawful insertions and deletions by the executive and the legislature.

This led to adjustments in the appropriation bill. On October 25, the president sent a letter to the National Assembly seeking N180.8 billion in virement for line items in both capital and recurrent expenditures.

Abdulmumin Jibrin resigned as chairman of the House appropriation committee on July 20 after raising controversial allegations of irregularities by principal officers of the National Assembly in the making of the 2016 budget. He was suspended from the House on September 28 following an investigation.

PDP Leadership Crisis The Peoples Democratic Party was embroiled in a leadership crisis that had its roots in the resignation of the former national chairman, Adamu Muazu, before his term was due to end in March 2016. Muazu’s resignation kicked off a succession war that saw the new opposition party going through several battles for survival. Senator Ali Modu Sheriff was selected in February as national chairman of PDP for initial three months’ tenure to stabilise the party in preparation for the election of substantive national officers.

The party’s national convention scheduled for May 21 in Port Harcourt ended in controversy. It failed to hold elections into national offices, but replaced Sheriff with Ahmed Makarfi, who was appointed chairman of a national caretaker committee mandated to oversee the affairs of the party pending the election of substantive officers. A parallel convention was held in Abuja on the same May 21 by a faction of PDP. PDP held another convention in Port Harcourt on August 17, but also failed to elect national officers.

The party’s national headquarters in Abuja was sealed off by the police, as the opposing sides in the crisis tried to physically take control of the office amid multifarious court orders.

APC Crisis The crisis, which had brewed in All Progressives Congress since June last year, when the principal officers of the National Assembly were elected against the wish of the ruling party, blew open. The Ondo State governorship poll became a theatre of battle, as contending forces in the party feuded over the emergence of APC’s candidate for the November 26 governorship election. The APC national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s nominee, Olusegun Abraham, was defeated

by Rotimi Akeredolu, the eventual winner of the governorship poll, amid allegations that the September 2 primary election had been fixed by elements with support from Abuja.

Piqued by the allegations of fraud in the primary, Tinubu in a letter released September 25 by his media office titled, “Oyegun’s Ondo fraud: The violation of democracy in the APC,” asked the man who was suspected to have masterminded the rigging, the national chairman, John OdigieOyegun, to resign.

Supreme Court Verdicts on Governorship Elections The year saw the settlement of litigations arising from the April 11, 2015 governorship elections and other rescheduled governorship

A cross section of the 21 Chibok school girls released by Boko Haram

polls by the Supreme Court. On February 3, the Supreme Court upheld the election of PDP’s Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, upturning the verdict by the Court of Appeal on December 31, 2015, which had sacked the governor and declared Alex Otti of the All Progressives Grand Alliance as the duly elected governor.

On the same February 3, the apex court endorsed the election of Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State and set aside the December 18, 2015 ruling of the Court of Appeal that had nullified Emmanuel’s election. The election of Emmanuel, the PDP candidate, was challenged by the candidate of the APC, Umana Umana.

The Supreme Court on January 27 upheld the election of Nyesom Wike of the PDP as governor of Rivers State, upturning the decision of the appeal court. The appeal court had on December 16, 2015 affirmed the October 24, 2015 verdict of the Rivers Governorship Election Tribunal that nullified Wike’s election and ordered a fresh poll.

On November 8, the apex court affirmed Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, the candidate of PDP, as winner of the December 5, 2015 and January 9, 2016 governorship elections in the state.

Governorship Elections On September 28, governorship election was held in Edo State, with the APC candidate, Godwin Obaseki, beating his main challenger, Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the PDP. The election had been shifted from September 10.

On November 26, the people of Ondo State went to the polls to elect a new governor. Rotimi Akeredolu of APC won, beating his closest rival, Eyitayo Jegede of the PDP.

Chibok Schoolgirls Rescue Twenty one of the nearly 300 schoolgirls from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, in Borno State, who were kidnapped

by Boko Haram terrorists in April 2014, were rescued by the military on October 13.

Two others had been found before then, one on May 17 by local vigilantes helping the military in the war against terrorism, and another about 24 hours later.

Two governorship elections and several rerun polls were held during the year

Arrest of Judges for Alleged Corruption On October 8, two Supreme Court justices, Sylvester Ngwuta and Inyang Okoro, and two judges of the Federal High Court, Adeniyi Ademola (Abuja Division) and Muazu Pindiga (Gombe Division), were arrested on corruption allegations by operatives of the Department of State Services. Their houses had been raided by the DSS in the early hours of that October 8 during a sting operation.

Coronation On October 20, Prince Eheneden Erediauwa was crowned as the 40th Oba of Benin Kingdom at a colourful ceremony in the Edo State capital.

Fratricidal Killings In February, bands of armed men Fulani

herdsmen attacked several villages in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State, killing about 500 locals. Though, the figure has been disputed by the police. On April 25, rampaging Fulani herdsmen killed about 48 natives and injured 60 others in Ukpabi Nimbo community, in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enu Enugu State.

Prominent Politicians Who Died Olorogun Michael Ibru died on September 6 at the age of 85.

The senior special assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on economic matters, deployed to the vice president’s office, Ayodele Adu, died on August 12.

Minister of State for Labour and Productivity, James Enojo Ocholi, SAN, died on March 6 in an auto crash. He was killed with his wife, son and aide-de-camp, along the Kaduna-Abuja road.

The member representing Warri South State Constituency 1, Mrs Omawumi Udoh, died on December 14.

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T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY / M O N DAY N E W S PA P E R • DECEMBER 25-26, 2016

2016: A RECAP

ARTS

Unforgettable Arts and Culture Moments The year 2016 will be remembered for cultural arousals, controversies and indefatigable creative energy, writes Yinka Olatunbosun The echo cannot be louder: Nigeria is diversifying into creative economy as the next major revenue-earner. For this reason, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed initiated town hall meetings and conversations around building a larger-than-life industry that- will compete with the extractive industry.

But what does the Nigerian art and culture sector have to offer the world? The year 2016 was replete with the answers to this question as Nigerian creative ideas delivered with ingenuity and resilience a parade of Nigerian art in spite of the biting effects of economic recession. In no particular order, here is a retrospective account of the unforgettable moments in art and culture for 2016.

One of the most brilliant creative ideas of the year is ARTX, initiated by Tokini Peterside.

The debut international art fair in Lagos which lasted for three days in November was a huge success in terms of attendance and organisation.

Fourteen galleries and select individual artists of international repute showcased eclectic pieces in visual and media arts while artists’ talks featured the University of Nigeria, Nsukka-based art professor emeritus El-Anatsui and the priceless painter, Bruce Onobrakpeya.

Still on the visual arts, the Life in My City Art Festival and competition (LIMCAF) held its 10th anniversary celebrations at a new venue in Enugu. This year, the annual visual arts event – which has the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, as its patron and Elder K.U. Kalu as its chairman – was able to attract the Honeywell and FBN Holdings chairman Chief Oba Otudeko to its grand premiere. Also at its grand premiere were the Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Professor El- Anatsui.

The Arthouse Contemporary Limited successfully held its bi-annual auctions at The Wheatbaker Hotel in Ikoyi, Lagos. This was in addition to an affordable at the Kia Showroom in Victoria Island, Lagos.

In performing art, Lekki got a new theatre space in Theatre Republic which was opened in the last quarter of the year to the public. In spite of its size deficiency, the building has been designed to accommodate art administrative offices, artists in residence and trainees. It is managed by Wole Oguntokun, a trained lawyer and practising theatre artist.

For Nigerian television, Funke Akindele’s Jenifa’s Diary was an addiction for many viewers of the television series, which was first broadcast on the digital network but is currently broadcast on terrestrial television as well as online channels.

The series is star-studded, with each episode ended at a well-timed climax. Jenifa’s Diary is a comedy around the character of a crude Yoruba lady in search of success in Lagos. The plot is woven around themes of global relevance such as human trafficking, love, fraud, prostitution, drug abuse and survival. Also, the MTN Project Fame season nine sustained its tempo for being one of the most sought after music competition while giving its platform free for “an enthusiastic

wannabe” in one of the elimination nights.

The British Council held the biggest theatre festival in Lagos that brought many theatre companies together. What is most instructive about this festival is the use of space. Many parts of Freedom Park were transformed into acting arena as no fewer than six performances took place simultaneously on a daily basis at the venue.

Dancers seemed to have migrated gradually from the Shoki to dab dance. The trend became very popular especially at curtain calls in many dramatic performances. It is competing with the new Bugatti dance but the dab is internationally recognised as a celebratory dance which gained popularity among soccer stars and hip hop artists.

Wakaa the Musical, produced by Bolanle Austen-Peters Production, was staged in Shaw Theatre, West London making it a major cultural export of the year for Nigeria. The show enjoyed many international as well as critical reviews as the Minister of Information was among the audience at its London Premiere. The same production company launched its first movie, 93 Days, which is based on the recent history of Ebola Viral Disease in Africa’s most populous city, Lagos.

The MUSON festival continued its bigger and more inclusive run this year before a growing audience. Ditto the two-day Lagos Jazz Series, which held at the Muri Okunola Park in Victoria Island, Lagos and the Moorhouse Sofitel Hotel in Ikoyi.

One of the most disconcerting moments of the year was the demolition of some parts of the Artists’ Village at the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos. In the wake of the Minister’s plans to remove the shanties that hide criminals around the Ijora axis, some pre-emptive bulldozers launched their sharp teeth into the earth, destroying art works, dance and art studios leaving a sculptor, Smart Ovwie, injured with a bullet shot from an angry police man. He was refused treatment at the hospital as he could not obtain a police report as required by the law.

This led to a meeting convened by the Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka to condemn the cycle of impunity that follows police brutality and mass demolition and dislocation of people from their comfort zones. The Minister of Information waded into the matter quickly to calm the angry artists who were about to lead a massive protest into the busy streets of Lagos, with a promise to rebuild the village and support artists who have contributed to Nigeria’s glory beyond our shores.

The controversial performance artist, Jelili Atiku, was arrested after performing in Ejigbo with fliers that point accusing fingers at the community head. The call to release Atiku was ignored by the Nigeria Police and he was charged to court on a four-count criminal charge including felony, causing an outrage in the art community. He has since been released following a favourable court judgment in Lagos.

Likewise, controversy crossed border as an artist from the Republic of Benin, Imorou Sanda accused Signature Gallery, Ikoyi of publishing

his work in an auction brochure without his permission and altering one of his paintings with the imposing of lizards. He claimed that the gallery had not fully paid him for the work in question and THISDAY investigated the matter, examining the legal implication of artist-gallery owner transaction. Chief Rahman Akar who owns the gallery refuted the claim and promised to appear at the Citizens’ Mediation Centre where the matter was being resolved. In the latest finding, Sanda had been recruited by Quintessence Gallery and his works were part of the displayed works at the ARTX Lagos.

In the second quarter of the year, the National Summit on Arts, Culture and Tourism was convened in Abuja to reposition the sector as Nigeria’s next pot of gold. Artists, policy makers, ex-governors, ex-ministers and other stake holders converged on the Transcorp Hilton for three days as they charted a new path for the wheels of progress.

One great shock for writers came when the well-decorated musical legend, Bob Dylan, was honoured with a Nobel Prize in Literature for his lyrics. Many argued that it was not a sign of good judgment to elevate this genre of art over the conventional literary writing. This initiated arguments and counter-arguments with a view to rethinking what qualifies to be called literature.

It was one of the issues raised at the Lagos Book and Art festival in November.

Felabration, an annual posthumous celebration of the Afrobeat musician, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti took place as usual in Lagos, activating debates and musical performances in the week-long event.

Although no foreign artist was invited this year due to paucity of funds, Felabration retained its place in Nigeria’s cultural calendar and has recently won one of the best festivals in the world.

The annual music concert offers employment opportunities for thousands of people while boosting the city’s tourism potential. Same goes for Africa Meets Reggae, a day music concert initiated by Victor Essiet of The Mandators’ fame. Like many music concerts of the year, the concert experienced shrunken audience but set a record for secured venue, well-arranged seating area for the audience with affinity for young and talented artists. Though Ras Kimono, Orits Wiliki and Majek Fashek, the reggae revolutionary who checked into a rehab earlier in the year were not at the last edition, the presence of Seyi Shay, Malaika and Nkulee Dube made up for their absence.

Sax Appeal, organised by Mike Aremu made good its promise to bring the African-American soul musician, India Arie to Lagos. Arie praised Nigeria for her wealth of brilliant artists and unwittingly prolonged her performance for the sake of her pocket-size fans who sang the lyrics of her songs along with her at the concert.

Wizkid, Nigeria’s famed afro-pop artist earned his first Grammy Nomination after winning big at the MTV Africa Music Awards. It came as no surprise at all to those who have critically reviewed his songs. He is the first home grown Nigerian artist to entire the Album of the Year

category with a collaborative work done with Drake in “Views”.

The IRep documentary film festival was one of the first cultural highlights of the year that include workshops and film screenings. But the euphoria of the festival had since been lost on film buffs, who are currently moving in throngs to the cinema to see the historical movie titled ‘76, produced by Adonaijah Owiriwa and Izu Ojukwu with the latter as the director. It stars in the lead roles Ramsey Nouah, Chidi Mokeme, Rita Dominic and Ibinabo Fiberesima.

The film culture in Lagos was given another twist with the homecoming of Newton Aduaka, a Nigerian based in England who screened his award-winning movie, Ezra for the first time in Nigeria at the Nigerian Film Institute, Ikoyi. Also, the Toronto of The Wedding Party at the Toronto International Film Festival is good indication for the movie industry in Nigeria as having great international impact on international cinema. The glamorous movie, directed by Kemi Adetiba, later premiered in Lagos before the Nigerian society’s crème de la crème, is star-studded and is based on the theme of love and infidelity. In terms of solid thematic structure, Nollywood is gradually shifting towards balancing glamour with message.

The Lagos at 50 celebrations provided a platform for masquerade displays, discourses and cultural reverberations. Held at strategic cultural locations in Lagos including the Glover Hall, the arts and culture community used the event as canvas for painting other cultural events such as stage plays, film screenings as well as the “Vision of the Child” art competition targeted at primary school-age children who are passionate about art and writing.

Public spaces were given a facelift with the annual photography festival titled, “Lagos Photo’’ organised by the African Artists’ Foundation and sponsored by Etisalat. The event remains the largest for photography and this year’s edition featured the best of African photo artistry. The best thing that happened to Lagos Photo was the presence of Jonathan Mannion in Lagos.

The legendary hip hop photographer who had worked with the likes of Jay-Z was on a tour to celebrate the 20-year anniversary of his career.

The Abuja Carnival was held at the Federal Capital Territory against the odds of logistics and state funding with Kogi State emerging the best overall state. The carnival featured contemporary dances, three-day music concert, boat regatta, children fiesta, masquerade display and durbar performances. The international carnival remains rooted in fostering national and global unity, projecting Nigeria as a tourism destination while creating value for Nigeria’s creative industry.

Finally, the year witnessed the shocking demise of great artists such as the octogenarian actress, Bukky Ajayi; the playwright and scholar, Elechi Amadi, Henrietta Kosoko, Festus Aguebor, , Elder Maya Martins Njubuigbo, as well as upcoming actors such as Fred Ekata Isiaka Adewale Najeem and Abdul Lateef Ashimiyu. It was also a year that witnessed the demise of art patrons like Sammy Olagbaju and Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi.

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T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY / M O N DAY N E W S PA P E R • DECEMBER 25-26, 2016

2016: A RECAP

SPORTS

Nigeria’s Olympic Dream Team celebrating their Bronze win

A Year of Promise, Despite Broken Promises Demola Ojo

Regardless of the fact that two leading lights in Stephen Keshi and Amodu Shuaibu were lost to the cold hands of death, the outgoing year in Nigerian sports should be remembered as one of promise in spite of it being littered with administrative missteps.

Keshi and Amodu – both handlers of the national football team, the Super Eagles – died within days of each other in June.

Keshi, who passed away at 54, was the first Nigerian to win the African Cup of Nations both as a player and a coach. He was captain of the Super Eagles to the 1994 Cup of Nations’ which Nigeria won after beating Zambia 2-1 in Tunisia.

Keshi became coach of the Nigerian National Team in 2011 and led Nigeria to the 2013 African Cup of Nations hosted by South Africa. His charges went on to win the championship defeating Burkina Faso 1-0 in the final.

He also qualified and led Nigeria to 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil where the Super Eagles made it to the last 16 before being eliminated by France.

As Nigerians were coming to terms with the loss of Keshi, Amodu who had paid a condolence visit to the late tactician also passed away two days later. The five-time coach of the Super Eagles died aged of 58.

Amodu was until his death, the director of technical for all the national teams in Nigeria.

In separate stints as national team handler spanning two decades (on five different occasions), Amodu qualified Nigeria for two FIFA World Cups in 2002 and 2010 but was sacked before the showpiece occasion both times.

Incidentally, Amodu’s name was in the frame a few months earlier when a salvage job was required in the aftermath of Sunday Oliseh resigning as national team coach.

Among many issues, non-payment of salaries was a major reason Oliseh left the team in the lurch in February, a few days before a crucial AFCON qualifier against Egypt.

Another former manager Samson Siasia was appointed for the double-header, which Nigeria eventually lost, thus missing out of qualification for AFCON 2017.

Siasia who had previously qualified the Nigerian U23 football team for the Olympic Games in Rio returned to his initial brief, taking charge of the team in preparation for the Rio Games.

However, the team was in the news again for the wrong reasons, as they were ‘abandoned’ in Atlanta by the sports ministry

Victorious Falcons protesting non-payment of theirr allowances

and barely made it to Brazil for their first game.

Disputes over salaries and bonuses between sports officials and those flying Nigeria’s colours in international competitions turned out to be a recurring theme through the year.

In true Nigerian spirit though, the ‘Dream Team’ stunned Japan 5-4, after only arriving Brazil from their Atlanta base a few hours before the match. The team’s exploits drew attention from around the world including that of a Japanese philanthropist who was so impressed, he promised the team monetary reward commensurate with how far they went in the competition.

The Dream Team eventually won a bronze medal, the only medal Nigeria mustered at the 2016 Olympics. It confirmed football as the preminent sport in the country, with very little to cheer from other sports.

The Dream Team were duly rewarded by their millionaire admirer, Katsuya Takasu.

Nigeria finally got a substantive coach for the Super Eagles in the person of Gernot Rohr. A German national, the 63-year-old Rohr who has previously coached Gabon, Niger and Burkina Faso, has had an impressive start, with wins over Tanzania,

Zambia and Algeria.

The latter two matches were Russia 2018 World Cup qualifying matches, ensuring Nigeria have a good head start in qualifying first out of a group that also includes Cameroon.

Potential qualification for the 2018 World Cup and the emergence of Nigerian players as a force in the English Premier League especially, have helped in lifting spirits, and reducing the disappointment of missing back-to-back African Championships.

For the first time in a while, Nigerian stars feature prominently in the feats of the top teams in most watched football league in the world. Victor Moses has been a stalwart for league leaders Chelsea, Alex Iwobi a revelation for fellow London club Arsenal, while Manchester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho has had one of the highest goals-to-games ratio across Europe this year.

Good news is that these players are young; Moses is 26, Iwobi and Iheanacho are both 20. Even better is the fact that they have all played vital roles in the improved fortunes of the national team. And he best news of all?

There are more young players of Nigerian extraction in England’s top teams.

Ola Aina (20) of Chelsea, Tosin Adarabioyo

(19) of Manchester City and Sheyi Ojo (19) of Liverpool are three of these young guns that could bolster the Super Eagles and make them a force to be reckoned with for years to come.

Of course, these players need to be sure they’re making the right choice by committing to Nigeria. Stories of officials reneging on promises and owing coaches and players money will not help in attracting Nigeria’s best talents.

Right from Oliseh’s resignation, to the Dream Team’s participation at the Olympics, to Samson Siasia, it has been a year of broken promises by the sporting authorities.

The debacle involving Nigeria’s female national team, the Falcons, and the sports authorities over unpaid entitlements despite winning a record eight African title was the nadir.

The African champions had to embark on a sit-in (in their hotel) and a march to the National Assembly before getting government’s attention, and finally getting some – but not all – of their entitlements.

If Nigerian sports (especially football) will deliver on its promise in the incoming year, the culture of broken promises sports administrators must be banished with 2016.

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T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY / M O N DAY N E W S PA P E R • DECEMBER 25-26, 2016

2016: A RECAP

INTERNATIONAL

The Year Nationalism Trumped Globalisation

Trump

Demola Ojo As the year 2016 comes to a close, one name more than others rings loud: Donald Trump. With it come so many connotations, but nationalism and protectionism stand out.

The American President-elect’s campaign was run on the tagline, Make America Great Again, and he repeatedly told his audience that it was time to “take our country back.”

Among many of Trump’s messages was his intent to build a wall along America’s border with Mexico. The logic behind it was that rather than send its best, Mexico sent “rapists and drug dealers” to America. Trump’s rhetoric may have been informed by characters such as El Chapo.

One of the first - and most captivating – global stories of the year was the recapture in January of the Mexican drug lord, real name Joaquín Guzmán.

Considered the “most powerful drug trafficker in the world” by the United States Department of the Treasury and the “most ruthless, dangerous, and feared man on the planet”, by the US government, El Chapo was recaptured in Mexico after he had escaped from prison about six months before.

El Chapo has exported more drugs to the United States than anyone in history and in 2013, the Chicago Crime Commission named him “Public Enemy Number One” for the influence of his criminal network in Chicago. The last person to receive such notoriety was Al Capone in 1930.

Twenty-sixteen was the year Iran completed its journey from international pariah to being welcome back to the comity of nations as the International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed in January that the MiddleEastern country had adequately dismantled its nuclear weapons program, allowing the United Nations to lift sanctions immediately.

Later in the month, the World Health Organization announced an outbreak of the Zika virus, a virus spread by daytime-active mosquitoes. Among other ways, Zika can be transferred from a pregnant woman to her fetus, prompting countries like Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Ecuador, El Salvador, and Jamaica to advise women to postpone getting pregnant until more is known about the risks.

This year has witnessed a more belligerent North Korea. The Asian country launched a long-range rocket into space in February, violating multiple UN treaties and prompting condemnation from around the world.

Later in September, it conducted its fifth and reportedly biggest nuclear

Castro

test. World leaders again condemned the act, with South Korea calling it “maniacal recklessness”.

In March, three coordinated bombings in Brussels, Belgium killed at least 32 and injure at least 250. ISIS claimed responsibility for the attacks. Later in June, the same terrorist organization claimed responsibility for attacking the Atatürk Airport in Istanbul, killing 45 and injuring around 230.

In April, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) and the German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung published a set of 11.5 million confidential documents from the Panamanian corporate, Mossack Fonseca, that provided detailed information on more than 214,000 offshore companies, including the identities of shareholders and directors, including noted personalities and heads of state.

Known as the Panama Papers, it was leaked by an anonymous whistleblower called John Doe, and revealed that some of the shell corporations were used for illegal purposes, including fraud, kleptocracy, tax evasion, and evading international sanctions.

Tragedy struck in May when an EgyptAir Flight 804 crashed with 66 people on board over the Mediterranean en route from Paris to Cairo. There was a fire and some reports claim an explosion.

The cause of the crash is still being investigated.

In the same month, former Chadian President Hissène Habré was sentenced to life in prison for crimes against humanity committed during his tenure from 1982 to 1990. It was the first time an African Union-backed court convicted a former ruler of a country within its jurisdiction.

In what could be seen as a sign of things to come later in the year, the United Kingdom voted in a referendum to leave the European Union. The vote, known as Brexit, was the first in a new wave of “rebellions” against an increasingly globalised world. A fallout of Brexit was Theresa May replacing David Cameron as Prime Minister of the UK. One of the most viewed – and talked about – events of the year was the 2016 Summer Olympics held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in August.

But it wasn’t the only major news emanating from the South American country that month. A few days after the Games ended, the Brazilian Senate voted 61–20 to impeach the President Dilma Rousseff.

It was the culmination of a process that had seen the Vice President, Michel Temer, assume presidential powers and duties as Acting President during Rousseff’s suspension. Temer took office for the remainder of Rosseff’s term.

Jammeh

There has also been a changing of guard in other countries. One of the notable instances is in the Philippines, where seventy-one year old Rodrigo Duterte rode to power aided by his vocal support for the extrajudicial killing of drug users and criminals.

Following criticism from United Nations human rights experts that extrajudicial killings had increased since the election, he threatened to withdraw the Philippines from the UN and form a new organization with China and African nations.

West African countries Ghana and Gambia also recently held elections with similar outcomes but different reactions.

In Ghana, Nana Akuffo-Addo of the opposition New Patriotic Party was elected President, defeating incumbent President John Mahama of the National Democratic Congress.

In Gambia, opposition candidate Adama Barrow also defeated long-term incumbent Yahya Jammeh in what was seen by many as a surprise. More surprising was the concession of defeat by the incumbent who had held power for 22 years.

However, a week after congratulating his victor, Jammeh insisted on a new election. The international community has advised him to cede power to Barrow.

The most enthralling presidential contest was that of the United States where Republican candidate Trump defeated Democratic candidate Hilary Clinton in a result that went against most predictions.

The presidential race was one of the two dominant topics of 2016 in the US. The second was the Black Lives Matter campaign.

Black Lives Matter is an international activist movement, originating in the AfricanAmerican community, campaigning against violence and systemic racism toward black people. There were protests against police killings of black people and broader issues of racial profiling, police brutality, and perceived racial inequality in the United States criminal justice system.

Twenty-sixteen saw the exit of two champions of the African community, Muhammed Ali and

Fidel Castro.

Born Cassius Marcellus Clay, Ali was an American professional boxer and activist. He was widely regarded as one of the most significant and celebrated sports figures of the 20th century. From early in his career, Ali was known as an inspiring, controversial, and polarizing figure both inside and outside the ring.

Castro was a Cuban politician and revolutionary who governed the Republic of Cuba as Prime Minister from 1959 to 1976 and then as President from 1976 to 2008. Politically a Marxist–Leninist and Cuban nationalist, Cuba became a oneparty socialist state and ally of the USSR under his administration, to the irritation of the US. He reportedly survived 638 assassination attempts by the CIA. He is remembered as a friend, ally and, in some places, a savior in Africa, where he supported many liberation movements including the fight against apartheid. Castro is however seen as a dictator in some quarters, a notion trumpeted by Trump.

The American President-elect’s combative style and nationalistic/ protectionist views have helped to make him one of the world’s most powerful men. He has been crowned TIME Man of the Year. If any one word defines the international political landscape of 2016, it has to be Trump.

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T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY / M O N DAY N E W S PA P E R • DECEMBER 25-26, 2016

2016: A RECAP

…And They Took the Final Bow

As sure as the sun rises daily from the east, there will be painful passages, while many of these personalities are quietly mourned by a close circle of friends and family members, others, through their eminence become a collective loss, eliciting an anguish that transcends their immediate environment. Nseobong Okon-Ekong and Vanessa Obioha recall some of the leading lights whose candle fluttered and died this year.

DAVID BOWIE: THE ECCENTRIC ROCK ‘N’ ROLL LEGEND

Just two days after his 69th birthday and release of his 25th studio album, ‘Blackstar’, the British eccentric rock ‘n’ roll singer bowed to the grueling hands of cancer.

Born in London on January 8, 1947, Bowie is notable for his bohemian and liberal mind which transcended eras and cultures.

He explored various themes in his music from rebellion, paranoia to a heart-rending yearning, Bowie spoke with a commanding voice that could not be ignored. He lived a very private life and never disclosed the type of cancer he had till he died on January 10, 2016. He is survived by his international model wife Iman, their daughter Alexandria Zahra Jones and a son from a previous marriage ‘Duncan Jones.

and wife Rima Horton.

OLAMIDE DAVID: A DEADLY PLAY

Young and talented actor Olamide David’s death was one of the shocking news that kicked off the year in Nollywood. He died on January 18, after sustaining an abdominal injury from a football game. The 14 year-old David gained popularity for his charming role in the TV series ‘Cobweb’. He later won the award for the ‘Best Male Actor ‘ at the 2015 Best of Nollywood Awards.

NOMORELOSS: NO MORE LOSS FOR THE OSINUGAS

PAPA WEMBA: THE KING OF RUMBA ROCK

ALAN RICKMAN: THE ELEGANT BRITISH ACTOR

Same week Bowie died, the British entertainment world lost one of its brilliant actors, Alan Rickman. Rickman was the enigmatic villain on screen and adorable seducer on stage. Rickman’s credits are many but his memorable role was the mean, sarcastic instructor Severus Snape in Hogwarts school in ‘Harry Potter’. On stage, Rickman was famous for his role in Shakespeare’s Company’s 1985 production of Christopher Hampton’s ‘Les Liaisons Dangereuses’. He gave life and action to the character Vicomte de Valmont which earned him a Tony Award.

Born to a working class family on February 21, 1946 in London, Rickman attended the Royal Academic of Dramatic Art before training as a dresser with the Shakespeare’s Company. He would later embrace acting completely. He directed and featured in TV shows. Although, Rickman did not win any Oscar during his lifetime, his shelf is not void of other awards. Rickman died on Thursday, January 14 after a futile battle with cancer. He was aged 69 and survived by three siblings

made an emergency landing at Illinois to attend to his health. He was reportedly fighting flu. Born Prince Rogers Nelson on June 7, 1958, his music was greatly influenced by a blend of pop, hip-hop, funk,jazz, R&B, soul, disco. He was regarded as the pioneer of Minneapolis sound and known for his fashion eccentricities. His obsession with the colour purple earned him the moniker ‘The Purple One’. Prince sold about 100 million copies of his songs during his lifetime and the figures have accelerated since his death. The 57 year-old music icon married and divorced thrice without an offspring in his lifetime.

This caused some controversy on who will inherit his estate which was recently valued at $200 million. The estate has long been metamorphosed into a museum.

On March 21, the music industry was rocked to the devastating news of Olumuyiwa Osinuga popularly known as Nomoreloss.

Nomoreloss was among the pioneers of the new music industry that had the likes of Ruggedman. Born in the 70’s, his love for music spawned from an early age and he mastered his musical skills under the wings of celebrated jazz saxophonist Kunle Ajayi.

Prior to his death, he was a judge on the MTN music reality show, Project Fame. A very close friend of the late OJB Jezreel, he championed the ‘Save OJB campaign’ during the producer’s kidney ailment in 2013.

There were speculations on the cause of his death but the artiste, MC, composer, producer, comedian, music video director will be remembered for body of works such as his most popular hit ‘Iyawo Asiko’. He is survived by his daughter, Motunrayo Osinuga.

PRINCE: THE PURPLE ONE The death of the purple one on April 21 shook the world. Prince was said to have died in his Paisley Park home of opioid overdose.

Prior to his death, the virtuoso musician, multi-instumentalist, actor, director’s airplane

Three days after the world lost virtuoso musician Prince, the African continent was thrown into gloom as one of its finest musician, Papa Wemba left the earthly plane.

Papa Wemba like the late Mother of African Music, Miriam Makeba died on stage on April 24, while performing with his band, Viva La Musica in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Born Jules Shungu Wembadio Pene Kikumba on June 14,1949, Wemba entered the music world in 1969, at a time his country, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was still struggling to get her footing as a free nation. He is the pioneer of SAPE-Societe des Ambianceurs et des Personnes d’Elegance or Society of Ambiance-ists and People of Elegance: a group of young men known for their elegant style of dress and are called Sapeurs. Wemba left behind a body of work that spans decades and rivals some of Congolese great musicians.

His discography is made up of, at least, 42 records on which he sang on or composed.

OBA EREDIAUWA OF BENIN: A ROYAL EXIT The Omo N’Oba n’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa, joined his ancestors on Friday, April 29 after battling with an undisclosed ailment since last year. Oba Erediauwa was born in 1923 and became the 38th Oba of Benin, traditional ruler of the Edo people in Benin City, in Nigeria on March 23, 1979, when he took over from his father Oba Akenzua II.

MUHAMMAD ALI: THE ICONIC PUGILIST After spending three decades of his life battling Parkinson’s disease, death rang the final bell on the legendary boxer on June 3.

Ali ‘The Greatest’ was said to have died of septic shock. Born Cassius Marcellus Clay on Jan. 17, 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky, to middle-class parents, Ali started boxing when he was 12. He won Golden Gloves titles before heading to the 1960 Olympics in Rome, where he won a gold medal as a light heavyweight. The pugilist is notable for using a litany of insults on his opponents before physically beating them up. Ali stirred a controversy when he picked up his Muslim name, inspired by Malcolm X and refused to be drafted into the American Army during the Vietnam war. harsh. He was stripped of his boxing title, convicted of draft evasion and sentenced to five years in prison. Released on appeal but unable to fight or leave the country, Ali turned to the lecture circuit, speaking on college campuses, where he engaged in heated debates revolving round the hypocrisy meted on blacks. Ali is survived by his nine children.

HENRIETTA KOSOKO: A CELEBRATION CUT SHORT

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T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY / M O N DAY N E W S PA P E R • DECEMBER 25-26, 2016

2016: A RECAP Not many believed that the wife of veteran actor Jide Kosoko had passed on that fateful June 6. It was a staggering shock for she had just marked her 53rd birthday the previous shock. As mysterious as the news of her death was, Henrietta who came into the spotlight when she played the lead role in the Yoruba movie ‘Omolade’ in 1995 was said to be suffering from diabetes. On the day she died, she slumped in her home but confirmed dead by the time she was taken to the hospital. Last year, she cheated death by surviving a fatal accident along the Sagamu-Abeokuta way.

Just when his fans, friends and family were eager to sing his rebirth and celebrate his 50th birthday, the Grim Reaper visited OJB Jezreel. He suffered from a relapse of kidney failure that threatened his life since 2013.The musician, song-writer and producer is credited for shaping the burgeoning career of famous artistes like 2Baba, Ruggedman, Durella, Wizkid. Survived by three wives and eight children, Babatunde Okungbowa was born on July 4, 1966. He died on June 14, 2016.

the fight against terrorism. Before his untimely death, Ali was promoted to a Major. He joined the Nigeria Defence Academy in 1998 and became a commissioned officer in 2003. The Kogi state indigene is survived by his wife and three children.

LEONARD COHEN: AND THE HEAVENS SANG ‘HALLELUJAH’

ELECHI AMADI: A LITERARY ICON

STEPHEN KESHI: THE BIG BOSS

Super Eagles former coach’s death was one of the heartfelt loss the nation suffered this year. Fondly called the Big Boss, Keshi had complained of a leg ailment while on a vacation at his home in Benin, Edo state. He died on the way to hospital in wee hours of June 7.

Born January 23, 1962, Keshi’s robust career celebrated great feats on the field. He captained the Super Eagles into victory in the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations and would later manage the Nigeria team to victory in 2013 for the same tournament. As a coach of the Togo football team, he achieved success by qualifying them for the FIFA World Cup in 2006. Keshi also set an impressive record in African football by being the first African coach to successfully qualify two African nations (Nigeria and Togo) to the World Cup Finals. He also helped Nigeria become the first country to achieve an African Cup of Nations trophy and World Cup qualification, both in 2013. The ex- international lost his wife of more than three decades, Nkem Kate Keshi to a prolonged battle with cancer in. December 2015.

He is survived by four children and his mother.

One of the first generation of African writers and novelists kicked the bucket on June 29. Captain Elechi Amadi was born on May 12, 1934 and attended Umuahia College before studying at the University of Ibadan for a year. He would later teach before joining the Nigerian Military during the civil war.

Amadi although belonged to the class of Wole Soyinka and Chinua Achebe, he did not gain wide popularity like them. However, his novel ‘The Concubine’ earned him international fame. Some of his career achievements include teaching, land surveying, and writing plays and essays. He remained in the service of the government, even appointed a Minister of Education in his home state, Rivers until he retired in 1990. He was made a Member of the Order of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2003 and survived a kidnap attempt in 2009. Amadi had been married twice and had 12 children.

BUKKY AJAYI: A PAINFUL EXIT

The Canadian poet, novelist and international singer-songwriter died during his sleep following a fall in the middle of the night on November 7. Born Leonard Norman Cohen on September 21, 1934, in Westmount, Quebec. He learned guitar as a teenager and formed a folk group called the Buckskin Boys. He pursued a career as a poet and novelist during the 1950s and early 1960s, and did not launch a music career until 1967, at the age of 33. Cohen is famous for his ‘Hallelujah’ song which was first released on Cohen’s studio album ‘Various Positions’ in 1984.The song had limited initial success but found greater popularity through a 1991 cover by John Cale, which formed the basis for a later cover by Jeff Buckley. ‘Hallelujah’ has been performed by almost 200 artists in various languages.

Cohen released his final album, ‘You Want It Darker’, a month before his death. He was aged 82.

kill him failed . The mood surrounding the news of his death that Friday, November 25, was mixed. For some, it was an answer to a long-said prayer while for some, the world had lost one its greatest men. Castro was the fearless revolutionary who defied the US mighty hands of power which led to a huge gap in their international relationship.

However, there was a reunion last year, spearheaded by the outgoing US president, Barack Obama.

In his hometown, Castro was painted in different shades: from a hero to a traitor.

He was just 32 when he overthrew the brutal dictator Fulgencio Batista and poised himself as a saviour to his people, only to subject them to his dictatorship for 47 years. Not until he was bedridden by an intestinal illness in 2006, did he relinquish his power to his younger brother Raul.

He was born on August 13, 1926 and survived by his wife and nine children.

David Hamilton: A Suicidal Shot The British photographer and film director is best known for taking nude photos. He died in his Paris home on November 25, although reports suggested he committed suicide. The controversial photographer faced rape accusations by a model who had worked with him as a child a week before he died. Born on April 15, 1933, in London, Hamilton worked as an architect, a graphic designer for Elle magazine in Paris, an art director of Queen magazine and Printemps department store in London and France respectively. It was in France that the photographer who had no formal training in the field, began photographing commercially.

In the film field, Hamilton directed five erotic movies that largely centered on blossoming sexuality in flower-crowned girls. The nudity prompted a number of boycotts and prosecutions, though in most cases the charges were dropped or the verdicts overturned.

He was aged 83 and had no progeny.

OTUNBA AYORA BOLA KUFORIJI OLUBI: A WOMAN OF MANY FIRSTS

SULTAN IBRAHIM DASUKI: A NOBLE BOW

AMODU SHUAIBU: SHOCKING EXIT

He had barely returned from a condolence visit to the Keshi’s family, when death claimed his life. The former head coach had gone to bed on the eve of his death complaining of chest pains and died in his sleep on June 10. Amodu managed the senior national teams for most part of his career and was appointed the national technical director by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) before his untimely death. He was aged 58.

OJB JEZREEL: END OF A BORROWED LIFE

One of the most memorable moments of Bukky Ajayi for many would be her emotional outpouring at the 2016 AMVCA where she was honored with the Industry Merit Award. Sitting on her wheelchair, she appreciated the love and respect bestowed on her and asked for forgiveness from those she may have offended. That single act in retrospect was a sign that the veteran actress was about to leave to the great beyond.

For a long while, the revered thespian and broadcaster battled with diabetes, cancer and hypertension until she gave up on July 6. Born February 2, 1934, Ajayi was born to Christian parents but later converted to a Muslim and adopted the name ‘Zainab’.

She began her career as a presenter and newscaster for Nigerian Television Authority before moving into the film industry with the TV series, Village Headmaster. She had featured in many films including Witches, Mother of George and Final Whistle.

Former Sultan of Sokoto bowed to the grueling hands of death on November 14.

Dasuki was the 18th Sultan of Sokoto and the first from the Buhari line of the house of Dan Fodio. The late Sultan was deposed in 1996 during the regime of the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, after he was installed during the regime of Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida, in 1988. He ruled for eight years before his deposition and banishment to Zing, in Taraba State. He was aged 93.

To say, the noble technocrat and former minister of Commerce lived a trailblazing life would be stating the obvious. During her lifetime, she shattered many glass ceilings by occupying lofty positions that were mostly kept for men. Some of the major landmarks she achieved include being the first female president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, ICAN, and the first woman to serve as chairperson of the United Bank of Africa.

She died on December 3, barely two months after she clocked 80.

IZU JOSEPH: A TRUNCATED DREAM

FIDEL CASTRO: A MIXED CELEBRATION

MUHAMMED ABU ALI: A FALLEN HERO Many who knew little of him were moved to tears when they read about his heroic bravery in the battlefield. Muhammed Abu Ali made history as one of the few soldiers who evoked great sympathy and admiration from the public. Born on August 15, 1980, Abu Ali died on November 5, in an ambush laid for his troops by the terrorist Boko Haram sect.

He was the commanding officer of 272 Tank Battalion and earned the respect of his superiors and colleagues for his valiance and gallantry in

CNN tagged the former Cuban leader as a legendary survivor after 600 attempts to

The life of the young talented player of the Oluyole Warriors of the Ibadan Shooting Stars was cut short by soldiers were said to have been on a raid of some parts of the community in search of suspected militants. Izu Joseph who was on vacation in his home town Okakhi-a border town between Bayelsa and Rivers states-was killed by a stray bullet on October 16. Born February 24, 1992, he joined Shooting Stars in 2014 from Bayelsa United when the Ibadan club were still in the second-tier Nigeria National League.

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T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY / M O N DAY N E W S PA P E R • DECEMBER 25-26, 2016

High Life

with LANRE ALFRED 08076885752 …Amazing lifestyles of Nigeria’s rich and famous

THE SOCIAL BAROMETER OF 2016...

Taking stock of the events that shaped high society

As the year, 2016, fades to an end, for some, it ends with a whimper. And for a few privileged folk, it ends with a bang. But for the rich upper class and nouveau riche of Nigeria’s high society, the outgoing year leaves them with varied blessings and mixed feelings. A bad beginning means a bad ending for some even as it eventually transforms to a blissful ending for others. And too many folks for whom the year started out well, are desperately wishing it away as they struggle to reorder their lives from the several bad turns they suffered, even though 2016 seemed promising and packed with goodies from the beginning. Whatever your fate or that of your loved ones, hardly anyone would forget the interesting incidents that shaped Nigeria’s high society; the bliss and tragedies that marked the lives of natives of this aristocratic divide resonate far beyond their gated mansions and posh neighbourhoods. The following stories no doubt highlight the varied fates and mixed blessings that shaped Nigeria’s high society in 2016...

WEDLOCK OF THE GODS… In this year, high society pulsated with excitement, pomp and grandeur as Nigeria’s most prominent and powerful families cemented their political and social affiliations by arranging marriages among their children.

President Buhari’s Two Daughters Married In One Month Interval Nigeria’s high society was agog as the most powerful and influential family at the moment, the Buhari clan, hosted the country’s aristocrats to the high octane wedding of President Muhammadu Buhari’s second daughter, Fatima, to Malam Gimba Kumo, the former Managing Director of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria.

Kumo took Fatima Buhari as his fourth wife in the ancient town of Daura, Katsina state. The wedding ceremony held at the Maiaduwa resident of the president at the GRA was indeed more like a political gathering. Top political and business leaders, and members of the diplomatic corps witnessed the wedding ceremony. One month later, Zahra Buhari got married to Ahmed Indimi, son of billionaire magnate, Mohammed Indimi. Nigeria’s circle of the filthy rich was enlivened like medieval Rome, as Maiduguri oil Baron and billionaire Mohammed Indimi treated his son, Ahmed, and Zahra Buhari to an epic wedding celebration, among other treats.

T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY / M O N DAY N E W S PA P E R • DECEMBER 25-26, 2016

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2016: A RECAP

HIGH LIFE

FROM THE GODS WITH LOVE… HOW IFA ORACLE PICKED OONI OF IFE’S SECOND WIFE, WURAOLA

Culture and tradition meets modernity as the social space buzzed with news of romance and royal marriage between the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi and Olori Wuraola, a ravishing beauty from the ancient Benin Kingdom. The new queen of Ife kingdom, reportedly emerged by a supernatural procedure; she was handpicked by the divine oracle of Ile Ife. It would be recalled that before the Oba Adeyeye emerged as the Ooni, his marriage to his estranged wife, Adebukola had already hit the rocks but they lived together.

Soon after his marriage with Olori Wuraola, Adebukola relocated to the United Kingdom.

LOVE TAMES GOVERNOR AMINU TAMBUWAL AS HE TAKES TROPHY WIFE

Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi and Olori Wuraola

Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State married Maryam Mairo Mustapha, and his first wife, Mariya Tambuwal, was happy about it. Further findings revealed that Governor Tambuwal decided to marry Mairo, an I.T. expert because he needed a woman that’s ravishing and active to serve as his first lady. It would be recalled that Governor Tambuwal was hardly seen in company of his first wife even while he served as a member and Speaker of the House of Representatives.

While his colleagues attended social functions, with their wives, Tambuwal arrived alone at such events.

SUPERMAN! UNVEILING KOGI GOVERNOR, YAHAYA BELLO’S 3 WIVES AT 40

At 40, Kogi governor, Yahaya Bello, defied notions of valour applicable to his peer by playing husband and ardent lover to three wives even as he grapples with the challenges and headaches of running Kogi State. He reportedly exerts himself considerably well in measuring up to the task of running a large home and expansive state. The wives are Aminat Bello, the MD of FairPlus, a company she started with her husband in 2007. Rashest Bello, is the FirstLady of Kogi State and the last one is Hajia Hafi Bello.

THE SHINDIGS...

Heaven Can Wait! COZA’s Pastor Fatoyinbo Throws All White Yacht Party in Dubai

Pastor Fatoyinbo of the Abuja-based Common Wealth of Zion Assembly (COZA) church celebrated his birthday at the seven-star Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai on January 22, 2016 in a grand way and he followed it up with an all white yacht party which had Dr Mike Murdock, Pastor Korede Adams, Tye Tribett, Anny, among many others in attendance. It was a classy affair and one of the most expensive parties in Dubai this year. Pastor Fatoyinbo thus affirmed the notion that contemporary Nigerian pastors are always ready to rock as their vanity dictates. They nurture no restriction in living up the high life.

EXPENSIVE FOLLY! NIGERIANS HALT WASTEFUL PARTIES ACROSS THE SEAS As the economic recession bites harder, Nigerians stopped hosting extravagant and prestige parties overseas. Highlife findings revealed that several socialites in the high society desisted from such extreme measures as acquiring loans at expensive interest rates to finance ill-advised parties overseas. Most of them retraced their steps and applied strict restraints on their spending patterns.

FAILED MARRIAGES AND OTHER BICKERING… Dirt and the Music Diva! Intrigues as Tiwa Savage’s Husband, Teebillz, Accuse Her of Adultery

OONI OF IFE VS OLUGBO OF UGBO...

TWO THRONES, TWO KINGDOMS, ONE GIANT EGO! Sadly, war brews between the royal circuits of Ugbo and Ile Ife, like badly brewed beer. It gives a heady whiff, intoxicating the two kingdoms and goading them into a protracted and very dirty supremacy tussle and slugfest. The major characters are the Olugbo of Ugbo, Oba Obateru Akinruntan and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.

TROUBLE IN PARADISE AS LATE DEHINDE FERNANDEZ’S FAMILY FIGHT DIRTY

Late Dehinde Fernandez’s family fights dirty over the large estate he left behind.

High society was agog with sordid news of the brewing war in the household of the late powerful Yoruba man.

OLUNLOYO BEGS PASTOR ADEBOYE TO FORGIVE HIS DAUGHTER

During the year, former governor of Oyo State, Omololu Olunloyo, apologized publicly to Pastor Enoch Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, for the statement his daughter, Kemi, made against the cleric on the social media.

Kemi had once openly called Pastor Adeboye a murderer, so when her father heard the man of God was coming to one of the RCCG parishes in Oluyole, Oyo State, he rushed there so that he could apologize to the RCCG pastor and also ask him to pray for him. In response, Pastor Adeboye said: “I’m not sure of what you are talking about.”

ONE SENATE, TWO LAWMAKERS… ON SENATOR DINO MELAYE’S SHAMEFUL SPAT WITH OLUREMI TINUBU

ROYAL RUMBLE! SUPERIORITY RIFT DEEPENS BETWEEN AWUJALE OF IJEBU AND ALAKE OF EGBA LAND

Tiwa Savage and Teebillz If you ask Tunji Balogun aka Teebillz about his wife, Tiwa Savage, he might say he found paradise within her smiles and rib cage but Satan hid ill-bliss between her thighs. There is no gainsaying Teebillz was enraptured by the beauty and blatant sexiness of his wife until very recently.

Tiwa, a popular music diva, effortlessly enthralled her husband and had him on her beck and call until they fell out with each other recently.

In a radical twist to their widely publicised celebrity romance, Teebillz went to his Instagram page to reveal

shocking truths about his marriage to Tiwa. In a venomous and highly controversial post, Teebillz wrote: “I hope the fucking in (sic) Tiwa savage brand brings you peace. I used my money, soul and everything I had for you and everyone knows how I hustled hard with passion for you to get to where you at (sic) today. You will never find peace in your career.”

He further alleged that Tiwa Savage had sexual relations with fellow MAVIN record label mates, Don Jazzy and Dr. Sid and popular music star Tuface Idibia.

Oba Sikiru Adetona, the Awujale of Ijebu land, and Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, the Alake of Egba land, went to war over issues of prestige and seniority. Oba Adetona threw caution to the wind and publicly lambasted his royal peer, Oba Gbadebo, over what he termed a misrepresentation of history and facts. The Awujale ridiculed the Alake of Egba land, calling him a junior King. The Awujale reportedly lost his cool over a controversial ranking of the Yoruba Obas by the Alake of Egba land.

The latter ranked him low on the royal ladder thus inciting his wrath.

SINGING SENSATION, P-SQUARE, REFUSED TO GROW UP

Like ordinary livestock, the singing sensation, Peter and Paul Okoye aka P-Square, bickered persistently and hawked news of their imminent break up in the social media in undisguised quest for constant media mention and applause.

Their antics soon became irritating to music buffs who felt they were simply playing to the gallery and cooking up break-up stories to remain in the news.

Dino Melaye and Remi Tinubu Senator Oluremi Tinubu of Lagos and controversial drama king representing Kogi, Senator Dino Melaye, engaged in an ugly fight in the country’s legislative chamber. Dino Melaye was allegedly rude to his colleague, Oluremi. The latter was allegedly bullied and disrespected by Dino who reportedly threatened to beat her up and impregnate her.

SOUR GRAPES… INDIMI’S DAUGHTER, RAHMA, BEWAILS FAILED MARRIAGE TO MOHAMMED BABANGIDA

The marriage of Mohammed Indimi’s daughter, Rahma, and former military president, Ibrahim Babangida’s son,

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T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY / M O N DAY N E W S PA P E R • DECEMBER 25-26, 2016

2016: A RECAP Mohammed, hit the rocks. But since their estrangement, Rahma has known no peace even as Mohammed rediscovers joy in the arms of his first love, Umuani. During the year, Rahma reacted to the leaked audio of Mohammed and his wife purportedly posted online by her. She said she wasn’t the one who leaked it and does not in any way support the action.

ROYAL INTERVENTION! HOW AWUJALE SETTLED BUHARI, TINUBU’S PERCEIVED BEEF

Awujale of Ijebu land, Oba Sikiru Adetona attempted to settle the rift between President Muhammadu Buhari and All Progressives Congress (APC) national leader, Bola Tinubu. HighLife gathered that Oba Adetona settled the perceived beef between them over issues of betrayal and deceit.

HIGH LIFE PASTOR ANITA OYAKHILOME BREAKS OUT WITH FRESH SCENT

Anita Oyakhilome, estranged wife of Christ Embassy founder, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, overcame the grief of her broken marriage to rejuvenate, heal and give scent, like a fresh petal of flower, breaking out in full bloom.

Anita reemerged in social circuits at an event in London eliciting catcalls and stifled groans of desire and admiration from both married and unmarried men as they continually drooled over her at the event.

SO SAD! TOKE MAKINWA FILES FOR DIVORCE

Toke Makinwa, ravishing broadcaster rues the cost of her expensive marriage and her divorced Maje Aiyida, her estranged husband. Toke’s 18-month marriage to Ayida hit the rocks when the latter impregnated his longtime girlfriend, Anita Solomon. Her new book, On Becoming is still talk of the town even as you read.

Ogbara was the younger brother of Folorunso Afusat Alakija.

SO SAD! TIMELESS LESSONS IN OJO MADUEKWE’S SUDDEN DEATH Also during the year, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, former Minister of Transport and Foreign Affairs, embarked on a trip

of no return few minutes into his arrival in the country for his wife’s 70th birthday.

Friends and family of the 71-year old tread with heavy steps to his final resting place although few minutes before his demise, they were preparing to hit the dance floor with him in celebration of his beloved wife’s 70th birthday.

AND THE OTHER STORIES… Global Sweetheart! Facebook Founder, Mark Zuckerberg, Craves for An Encore

THE BEREAVED...

Stella Oduah Loses Son In the hitherto enviable and exotic world of former minister of Aviation, Senator Stella Oduah, the sky is no longer a silvery and opalescent delight; it is now pitch black and brackish. And sadly, it would take

almost forever for things to return to normalcy for her.During the year, her son died after a brief Illness. It was a devastating and distasteful death that plunged the entire Oduah clan into a pall of gloom.

President Buhari and Mark Zuckerberg (right)

Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg, had the time of his life in Nigeria during the year and judging from his body language, he was not prepared to leave the shores of the country early that time. It’s no longer a hot button news that the Facebook founder and 7th richest man in the world,

Mark Zuckerberg, met with Nollywood celebrities and media personalities in Lagos, during the year. Richard MofeDamijo, Tolu ‘Toolz’ Oniru-Demuren, Kunle Afolayan, Basketmouth, Rita Dominic Yemi Alade, Florence ‘DJ Cuppy’ Otedola, Stephaine Okereke-Linus and others were present.

PRISON TURNS YESTERDAY’S TIN-GODS TO TODAY’S COWARDS

Like a lion who died of an ass’s kick, their impotence did not catch up with them until they got caught. By the time they gathered their wits, Nigeria’s most powerful men and women had been reduced to minions and cowards behind the nation’s prison walls. At the last count, prominent men and women that paraded themselves as deities during the tenure of former President Goodluck Jonathan had been ushered behind bars for one grand felony or the other - thanks to incumbent Head of State, President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption campaign.

Stella Oduah and her late son,Toritseju

HOW KUFORIJI OLUBI HOSTED THE PARTY OF HER LIFE, JUST BEFORE SHE DIED

Otunba Kuforiji Olubi was a lucky woman. Unlike her ill-fated peers, she did not evaporate without an eyewitness. She did not groan in dying, twisting the sweaty sheet around her chest. She did not gasp for breath feeling as if her senses drowned while she thrashed alone in the dark.

Nobody has such terrible memories of Kuforiji-Olubi. Kuforiji-Olubi died on December 3, at Lagoon Hospital, Lagos.

She was aged 80. She died soon after she celebrated her 80th birthday with family and friends at a high-profile thanksgiving at the All Saints’ Church in Yaba, Lagos Mainland.

SAD! EX-EFCC BOSS FARIDA WAZIRI LOSES DAUGHTER

During the year, Farida Waziri, former EFCC boss, lost her daughter, Jackie Ifidon-Ola, to the cold hands of death in Abuja. It was a devastating and distasteful death that plunged the entire Waziri clan into a pall of gloom.

TRAGEDY OF THE RICH... IBRU DYNASTY BUCKLES TO DOUBLE CALAMITY

Three tragedies in quick succession are too close to call for a family attuned to bliss and comedy. Ask the Ibru family.

That the scion of the Ibru dynasty, Olorogun Michael Ibru died recently is no longer news. Earlier in the year, Felix Ibru, a former senator and ex-governor of Delta State, died at 80.

AGONY OF A LAWMAKER...

SENATOR MARAFA LOSES TWO CHILDREN TO GHASTLY ACCIDENT

Death, the hideous grim reaper, sauntered into the life of Senator Kabir Marafa, representing Zamfara Central, and plucked two beautiful flowers from his orchard. The Senator representing Zamfara Central Constituency in the Senate, lost two of his children, Awwal and Maryam, to a motor accident along Dandotton Tsafe, on their way from Kaduna on November 7, 2016.

LIKE A THIEF IN THE NIGHT! DEATH STEALS FOLORUNSO ALAKIJA’S YOUNGER BROTHER

Even the garden loses its glamour, and the elder tree, its precious shade.

The almond branch loses it avian tenants and the desultory sunlight eventually recedes. In the same vein, happiness and life deserts the Ogbara clan of Ago Ikorodu, Lagos as the family mourned the death of their beloved, Barrister Olawale Dawood Ogbara. He passed away on September 16 at his Lagos residence, after suffering an asthma attack. He was aged 58.

JUNIOR ‘TITANS’ NOT ALLOWED! PRESIDENT BUHARI IGNORES PROMINENT MAGNATES, POLITICIANS FROM PRESIDENTIAL DINNER

To dine with President Muhammadu Buhari, you have to cut the perfect portrait of a deity or industry god. The Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces would not be seen in company of lesser known gods and he made this known by restricting the invite to this year’s Ramadan Iftar to a select few political titans.

LIKE A THIEF IN DAYLIGHT...

TOYIN AIMAKHU’S EXBOYFRIEND, SEUN EGBEGBE, ARRESTED FOR SHOPLIFTING

The former boyfriend of Toyin Aimakhu, Nollywood actress, was arrested for stealing phones at Computer Village in Ikeja, Lagos.

According to an eyewitness, Seun Egbegbe stole the phones from Keelcech Innovations, a store in Computer Village. Egbegbe, who reportedly stole two iPhone 7 and some iPhone 6 plus, attempted to make away with the gadgets before he was apprehended by the sales attendant and other workers in the store.

HOW FEMI OTEDOLA ESCAPED KIDNAPPERS’ TRAP

Three men, including an official of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, were arrested by the Police for attempting to kidnap a businessman, Mr. Femi Otedola. This was disclosed in a statement signed by Mr. Don N. Awunah, Force Public Relations Officer. According

Femi Otedola to the statement, the kidnap attempt was foiled by the Inspector-General of Police’s Intelligence Response Team (IRT). The arrest, the Police explained, was achieved through coordinated intelligence gathering and deployment of technical investigative tools that spanned several weeks.

THE STAMP OF HIS HONOR...HOW MIKE ADENUGA BAGS GHANA’S HIGHEST NATIONAL AWARD

Yes, Adenuga, GCON, CSG, is something of a visionary. But at the core of his vision is a deep sense of scale; a profound passion for industry and respect for the universe, in their separate immensities. The Globacom boss and billionaire businessman nurtures abiding love and respect for fellow humans, particularly those whose minds can somehow span the depth of his industry and citizenship of humanity. But there are nations and individuals that appreciate his worth too. Thus in October, he was conferred with Ghana’s highest national honour, The Companion of the Star of Ghana (CSG), by President John Dramani Mahama.

HARD TIMES! DECLINING ECONOMIES HUMBLE NIGERIA’S OIL MOGULS AND SUPERRICH

As oil price crashes worldwide, the fund wells dried up and eminent Nigerian deep-pockets bemoaned their dwindling fortunes; this made them less charming to their bevy of concubines and beneficiaries. Within their luxurious circuits, there was no more vulgar display of wealth. No more extravagant expenses.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY / M O N D AY N E W S PA P E R • DECEMBER 25-26, 2016

NEWSXTRA

CBN: Poor Macroeconomy Constrained Financial Inclusion Strategy in 2015 James Emejo in Abuja

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said existing macroeconomic conditions provided a less favourable environment for financial inclusion developments in 2015 than in previous years.

Nevertheless, it said in spite of lower economic growth, many financial inclusion initiatives managed to progress in the period under review. Specifically, it noted that despite modest achievements so far recorded, gaps still existed between the actually achieved values and the

Buhari Hails Appointment of Dorgu as 13th Bishop of Woolwich President Muhammadu Buhari has described the appointment of a Nigerian, Mr. Woyin Karowei Dorgu, as the 13th Bishop of Woolwich, by the Church of England as gladdening and reassuring.

The commendation was contained in a congratulatory message sent on his behalf by the Senior Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Hon. Abike DabiriErewa to the new Bishop.

“Your appointment is gladdening and reassuring being the first black man to be so appointed in 20 years. This is an attestation to the fact that Nigerians in the Diaspora are excelling in their various fields of human endeavour, thus projecting a good image for the country abroad”, Buhari said in the letter.

The President expressed hope and prayed that Dorgu’s appointment as a Bishop would serve as a catalyst for others in the region as well as enhance Nigeria’s spiritual rejuvenation.

“You have worked really hard and earned the respect of the Church of England to be so appointed. With you on this, we are sure you will continue to contribute your quota to the success of the Church”, he added.

The SSA expressed the willingness of President Buhari to receive Dorgu in Nigeria and rejoice with his unique feat which has made Nigeria proud of him.

Dorgu will be consecrated at Southwark Cathedral on March 17, 2017. Born and raised in Nigeria, he trained as a medical doctor in Lagos before being ordained in the UK. He has since served as a minister in various London parishes.

Dorgu said he hopes to embrace the diversity of Woolwich, which hosts a significant Nigerian expatriate community, and to encourage more ethnic minorities to participate in the ministry, which is predominantly white.

targets set for 2015 for several key performance indicators.

The apex bank stated in its 2015 Annual Report on National Financial Inclusion Strategy, which was obtained from its website, that the current economic situation, particularly the low oil price, fiscal constraint and limited economic growth failed to provide the most favourable environment for financial inclusion to thrive.

However, it maintained that “financial inclusion is a driver of economic development and as such, all stakeholders need to commit more

resources to the implementation plans.”

While the number of electronic payment transaction accounts increased by 5.3 million or 7.8 per cent from 2014 to 2015, it was not clear whether the target of 53 per cent of the Nigerian adult population having and using an electronic payment product was reached.

“This is mainly because of a lack of unique identification of customers across financial institutions and data constraints as at December 2015,” it stated.

Among other things, the

report recommended further commitment to financial inclusion targets; enhance financial inclusion database and focus on dispersion in deployment of financial access points.

According to the report, the number of savings-related accounts increased by 5.6 million or 7.8 per cent in 2015 compared to the previous year adding that “It is not clear whether the 2015 target was achieved because of the issue of a lack of unique identification of customers and data constraints at the time of writing.”

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Tragedy Averted as Two Fuel Tankers Collide in Lagos Abimbola Akosile A major tragedy was yesterday averted by the combined efforts of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and the Lagos State Fire Service when a tanker fully loaded with 33,000 litres of premium motor spirit (PMS) fell on the Anthony Bridge inward Gbagada.

According to an eyewitness account, the incident, which occurred at about midnight on Friday, was due to two trucks struggling to overtake each other and eventually colliding, leaving the fuel tanker falling on its side while the other one reportedly sped away.

The General Man-

ager of LASEMA, Mr. Adesina Tiamiyu who confirmed the incident, said at about 12:15am, a call came at the agency’s call centre to alert about the accident.

“We discovered that the fuel in the tanker was leaking heavily from the three compartments and men of the Lagos State Fire Service were on ground to blanket the fuel with chemicals and foam to reduce the level of combustible capacity to explode.

We traced the path of the leaking fuel into the compound of Greensprings Schools in Anthony and thus also run through the underground gutters emptying this into the Obanikoro canal.

TR

Sunday/Monday December 25–26, 2016

UT H

& RE A S O

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Price: N400

MISSILE Anglican Bishop to Nigerians “At this stage of our national development, when there is growing insecurity, unbridled acrimony, deep-seated hatred, unparalleled selfishness, tribalism, corruption and economic recession, listening to this wise Counselor and walking in His ways is the only option left for us.”

– The Bishop of Okigwe South Diocese of the Anglican Communion in Imo State, Bishop David O. C. Onuoha, advising Nigerians to embrace the teachings of Christ.

SIMONKOLAWOLE SIMONKOLAWOLELIVE!

simon.kolawole@thisdaylive.com, sms: 0805 500 1961

The Welcome Party for Ibori

P

redictably, many Nigerians are disgusted with the jubilation that greeted the release of former Delta governor, Chief James Onanefe Ibori, from UK prison on Wednesday. His friends and associates were over the moon. His community rolled out the drums. There were eulogies here and there.

In my estimation, the celebration was sincere and affectionate. And that exactly was what irked many Nigerians: how could people genuinely celebrate the release of a convicted money launderer and fraudster? Shouldn’t they be appalled? Shouldn’t they stone him? Shouldn’t they ostracise him? What is this world turning into? These are the questions pervading the social media.

His supporters cannot understand the outcry over their in-your-face celebrations. Are they supposed to be crying that their hero had been freed from prison? They are asking: if prison is meant to punish, and he has served the punishment, does he not deserve a second chance? We should also note that even though he had been in prison since 2010, he was effectively still in control of Delta politics, installing governors, senators, reps, house of assembly members, commissioners and boards of agencies. It is even reported that he was determining the choice of contracts and contractors. Ibori was, clearly, loved by his people.

The UNIBEN-trained economist cannot even understand the “noise”. While he was governor, he often asked journalists why he was being cast as the most corrupt politician in Nigeria. He named a number of governors who were very corrupt — and asked why the press was protecting them and casting others as devils. He believed he was a victim of President Olusegun Obasanjo’s vendetta. Ibori and other PDP governors had famously tried to stop Obasanjo from getting the party’s ticket to go for a second term in 2003. The ultimate casualty was their ally, Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, whom Obasanjo stopped by all means from succeeding him in 2007.

Ibori’s supporters may well have a point, but their hero’s case is very, very complicated. He has a history. Unforgettable history. He had been convicted for credit card fraud and theft twice in the UK — in 1991 and 1992. Then in 1995, he was allegedly convicted for criminal breach of trust in Nigeria. Being an ex-convict, he was constitutionally not qualified to run for governorship in 1999, but he beat the system all the same. The 1995 conviction by an Abuja area court was a thriller. The name of the convict was James Onanefe Ibori. In 2004, he denied being the same person and court records would soon be blurred. It was certainly one of the mysteries of modern times.

The judge who passed the sentence identified him as the convict. But all the way to the Supreme Court, our judiciary ruled that it must be another James Onanefe Ibori. In yet another twist, a truck driver who called himself “James Onanefe Ochuko Ibori” materialised from the moon and claimed to be the convict in question. The drama had no equal.

The then Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Tafa Balogun, finally gave Ibori a clean bill. That ended Season One, which I would call ‘The Appetiser’. That Balogun himself was later removed and convicted on corruption charges on a different matter might not be unrelated to Obasanjo’s anger at his handling of the Ibori affair.

Season Two started in 2006 — or 2007 if you

Ibori will. Dr. Bukola Saraki, then governor of Kwara state, and Ibori, his pal, would play a key role in the election of Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua as the president of Nigeria. Ibori reportedly claimed to have spent N50 billion on the campaign. Yar’Adua’s campaign team was filled with Ibori’s men. Indeed, Mr. David Edevbie, who would later serve as Yar’Adua’s principal private secretary, was Ibori’s commissioner for finance in Delta state. All was set for the capture of Yar’Adua and the recording of Season Two, which I call ‘The Avengers’. Their first port of call was to destroy the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Why? EFCC, under Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, was a potent instrument in the hands of Obasanjo in the anti-graft crusade. The war was unquestionably selective and vindictive — but there were no trumped-up charges. The allegations were concrete.

With a certain Mr. Ibrahim Magu leading key investigations into politically exposed persons, there was a mountain of evidence against leading political actors in Yar’Adua’s government. The only workable option was to weaken the EFCC. They did it by hook and crook. Mr. Michael Aondoakaa, Yar’Adua’s attorney-general, started out by seeking to take prosecutorial powers away from the EFCC. He did not succeed.

While we were at it, EFCC started proceedings against former governors who no longer enjoyed immunity. Ibori was arrested at the Kwara state governor’s lodge in Abuja — while enjoying the company of Saraki, his bosom friend who is today the Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. They had to move fast. Ribadu, who had been re-appointed EFCC chairman by Obasanjo shortly before his presidential tenure ended in 2007, was asked to go back to the senate for another confirmation screening — in the hope that he would not be confirmed (did you just fast-forward to Magu’s fate in 2016?), in the hope

As for those who want Ibori ostracised after his release from jail, I ask: who has ever been ostracised in Nigeria for corruption?

that his menace would end quickly.

Along the line, Yar’Adua remembered that Ribadu was promoted to the rank of AIG without having gone to the mandatory National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS). Ribadu was asked to go to Kuru immediately. He was eventually demoted from AIG to DCP, humiliated and dismissed — with Ibori publicly boasting “we are in charge”. Ibori, meanwhile, argued in court that if he stole Delta money, he should be tried in Delta. In 2009, a federal high court was quickly created and built in Asaba to try him, and he was cleared by Justice Idowu Awokulehin as the EFCC, now under Mrs. Farida Waziri (appointed to replace Ribadu, with the help of Aondoakaa), started a new era.

Season Three, I call it ‘The Journey’, started in 2010 when the government of President Goodluck Jonathan re-opened the case and Ibori, in an attempt to escape another trial, ran to Dubai — into the waiting hands of Interpol — from where he ended up in the UK and went on trial for money laundering.

He quickly pleaded “guilty” to the same charges he pleaded “not guilty” to in Nigeria, perhaps knowing that the British judicial system was more difficult to fool around with. We now seem set for ‘The Return’, the Season Four of the Ibori franchise.

With Magu, his investigator, still at EFCC, Ibori’s file may be dusted up. I will, thus, be shocked if senate eventually confirms Magu.

As for those who want Ibori ostracised after his release from jail, I ask: who has ever been ostracised in Nigeria for corruption? In 2002, when Mohammed Abacha was set free by the Supreme Court on fraud charges, he was received by a jubilant crowd in Kano and driven away in a convoy of luxury limousines and police vans. He later reneged on the deal to return $1.5bn Abacha loot — and almost became governor. In 2007, Bayelsa went berserk with joy when ex-governor Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha was freed after serving time for fraud. In 2011, a lavish church service was held to celebrate Chief Bode George’s release from Kirikiri.

Let me conclude. To Ibori’s supporters who think their hero is being unfairly treated, he has a history: he set himself up to be cast as a villain.

His dare-devil scheming must rank among the most audacious in our history. He overplayed his hand.

And as for those appalled at the welcome party, let us stop being hypocrites: we organise welcome parties for our own Iboris every day. They get front-row seats in churches. We defend them because we are of the same tribe and tongue, region and religion. Sentiments are always at play. Until we reach a national consensus on hating corruption with perfect hatred, the in-your-face welcome parties will keep rolling.

For readers who want to understand our contradictions when it comes to confronting corruption in Africa, I recommend the timeless essay, ‘Colonialism and Two Publics in Africa: A Theoretical Statement’, written by Prof. Peter Ekeh in 1975. It defines our problematic relationship with public resources in Africa. We have two sets of morals: one for the civic domain, which we see as a colonial creation, and another for the primordial domain, which is where we operated as Africans before colonialism. What we adjudge as immoral (such as stealing) in the primordial domain we see as perfectly normal in the civic domain. We think public money is nobody’s money after all!

And Four Other Things...

THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT My fondest Christmas memories were my childhood years in the village. Months ahead, we would go deep into the bush to gather firewood in preparation for Christmas Eve. After the re-enactment of Nativity in church, friends and family would gather in our compound, wrap up in warm clothing, make bonfire to fight off the Harmattan, roast yam, tell tales, share riddles and jokes, blow up bangers, set off “bisco” lights and generally have fun till the wee hour of December 25.

I’ve not done any Christmas in my village in 23 years, and I have been wondering what the definition of communal fun would be for the kids in this age of Facebook. Sharing.

LION HEART I’m an emotional person — I know — but seeing the movie, Lion, last week tore me to shreds like a drama film had never before done to me. It is the true story of an Indian boy, Saroo, who went missing from home at the age of five but reunited with his mother 25 years later. It is a story of poverty, deprivation, child labour, exploitation, sibling loss and pains of motherhood. I could not control my emotions throughout the screening because I could relate the story to what poor women and deprived children go through on a daily basis in my own Nigeria — where poverty is worsening by the day and dislocating lives. Heartbreaking.

DÉJÀ VU? Seeing Lagosians queue up to buy “Lake Rice” at “controlled price” during the week reminded me of 1984 when we regularly queued up at the town hall to buy essential commodities (“essenco”) such as rice, milk and soap. Because of the economic crisis, there was no forex to import these commodities, so government became the importer and seller! The commodities were sold at “controlled prices” and you were only entitled to rations. People would buy, hoard and resell at a higher price in the underground market — which is to be expected in such situations. Even though things are generally rough for Nigerians today, we pray 1984 would not repeat itself. Amen.

REMEMBERING AGBROKO On December 22, 2006, Mr. Godwin Agbroko, then chairman of THISDAY editorial board, was shot dead in Lagos. It was a single bullet to the neck. Was it hired killers? Armed robbers? Stray bullet? Police are yet to provide us with a clue. In truth, the case is closed. And only God knows how many murder cases are buried in Nigeria every year. In December 1996, Agbroko was detained in an underground cell by the Abacha government. He was there for five months, but he came out unbroken and unbowed. They don’t make them like Agbroko anymore: first-class journalist, excellent writer, meticulous editor, dogged fighter and upright character. Exemplary.

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