Sunday 12th February 2017

With Boko Haram on the Run, Yobe Holds First Council Poll in 4yrs Michael Olugbode Residents of the 17 local governments in Yobe State Saturday went to the poll to elect council officials, four years after such exercise was carried out due to deadly attacks by Boko Haram.

Yesterday’s council elections

recorded no security breach as voters filed out to exercise their franchise in large numbers.

A visit to some of the polling booths in highly populated Damaturu and Potiskum, showed that the electorate did not express any fear of suicide attacks, a clear indication of the improved security in the two towns.

While many polling booths witnessed large turnout, some others recorded low turnout of voters.

Speaking on the elections at his Yindiski polling unit in Potiskum after casting his vote, the Yobe State Deputy Governor, Engr. Abubakar Aliyu, said he was glad that

local government election could be held in Damaturu again after the delay caused by Boko Haram insurgency.

He said: “We have done this for the third time considering the situation we have been experiencing, which is the lack of peace in our state.”

He added that the state battled

Boko Haram crisis for six years but that it was good news that “peace has gradually returned to our state.”

Aliyu said despite the security challenge, Yobe was one of the few states in the country that have conducted elections into their councils for more than two times in recent years.

He said: “We have been organizing this exercise, this is the third time we have organized this.’

He added that: “The story is a positive one, that we are able to organize this election and there has not been any uprising and Continued on page 9

Religion Driving Nigeria Apart, Says Ooni of Ife ...Page 9 Sunday 12 February, 2017 Vol 21. No 7969

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Magu: 90% of the Cause of our Recession is Corruption Says if stolen money is substantially recovered, Nigeria will be out of recession NNPC GMD to remain in custody Vincent Obia in Lagos and Paul Obi in Abuja

the sole reason for the country’s current economic stump. In an interview with ARISE TV

yesterday, Magu said it was because of the central place of corruption in the present

economic woes that the federal government was paying a lot of attention to the recovery of

EFCC: Arrested ex-

stolen funds.

“I maintain that the economic recession is caused by corrup-

tion. About 90 per cent of the cause of recession is corruption,

Acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, has said that corruption is virtually

Continued on page 9

Buhari’s Wife Thanks Nigerians for Supporting the President Saraki, Sultan seek prayers for his safe return Tobi Soniyi in Abuja and Hammed Shittu in Ilorin Wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, has expressed gratitude to all Nigerians supporting President Muhammadu Buhari and also urged them to sustain the tempo.

“I want to use this opportunity to thank all Nigerians for the Continued on page 9

See THISDAY Style Inside…

A WORTHY PARTNERSHIP L-R; Managing Partner, Sub-Saharan Africa, for Group M, Gavin Duke; Founder/Group CEO, Algorithm Media, Mr. Seni Adetu; his wife, Janet; and Chairman, Fidelity ABIODUN AJALA Bank Plc, Mr. Ernest Ebi ,during the annoucement of the international partnership between Group M and Algorithm Mediia in Lagos ...recently

See Ismaila Isa Funtua Interview on Pages 77 -79

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Religion Driving Nigeria Apart, Says Ooni of Ife 'Ife, Modakeke war will never come up again' Ă‹Ă&#x;Ă– ĂŒĂ“ in Abuja The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Odunwusi, said yesterday that religion had become a poisoned chalice in Nigeria, which is driving the country apart. The Ooni spoke in Abuja as guest speaker at the National Defence College, Course 25. He spoke on the theme, “Socio-cultural Development and National Security: the Role of Traditional

Institutions in Nigeria.�

The Ooni's comment came amid worries by security agencies about the increasing spate of inflammatory religious comments, particularly, on social media.

According to him, though Nigeria is diverse culturally, such diversity is the melting pot and strength of the country.

He said, "Religion has continued to divide us apart, religion is tearing us apart,

we have to set aside religion, else, religion will continue to divide and destroy us."

The Ooni maintained that culture remained the most unifying instrument in nation building, stressing, "Traditional institutions play pivotal role in national security and development."

He told the gathering that through the adoption of traditional institutions as bridge builders and

peacemakers, he had been able to ensure that the “Ife, Modakeke war will never come up again."

The Ooni also told the participants that there was an urgent need to include traditional institutions in the process of law making, obviously reiterating the need for a constitutional role for traditional rulers in the country.

Earlier, the Commander

of the National Defence College, Abuja, Rear Admiral Samuel Alade, explained that the forum provided ample "opportunity to learn from the custodian and cherished traditional heritage."

Alade harped on the imperative of the traditional institutions, stating that they are dependable partners in national security.

Also, Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, represented

by Brig Gen Muhammed Sani Ahmed, stated that the traditional institutions were "functional to conflict management and political stability in Nigeria.�

He applauded the giant strides the Ooni of Ife had achieved so far since his ascension to the throne, stressing that his reign has ushered in some level of stability within the Yoruba Kingdom and beyond.

law that would stifle the freedom of worship in the country.

Saraki gave the assurance during the grand finale of the 31st National Quranic Memorisation Competition held at the Ilorin Metropolitan Square, along Asa Dam road, in Ilorin, the state capital.

The senate president stated that the nation’s apex legislative body would continue to “work to ensure that people freely practice their religion without fear. I want to assure you that the senate in particular and the National Assembly in general will not enact any law that will stifle the freedom of worship.

We will always work to ensure that people can freely practice their religion without fear�.

Saraki said he was delighted to join members of the Ulamahs and dignitaries across the country to celebrate contestants in the competition, which drew participants from 33 states of the federation.

According to him, the knowledge of the holy book is one of the best ways to spread the word of God, according to a News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) report.

“I am convinced that if we all forget about religion and look at the rationality of the words contained in the holy books, our world will be better. The holy books of the two major religions, the Quran and Bible, teach morality, justice, equity, love, compassion, and respect for elders. “They also teach making money through just and fair means and many other virtues, which if we all imbibe them, there will not be war, disease, poverty, squalor, deprivation, crime and injustice. The holy books further talk about the responsibility and burden of leadership. The books say those of us in position of leadership will have a lot to account for before Allah. “Also, it is true that all of us are in one position of leadership or the other. We are leaders at various levels and we will be held accountable.

Even as followers, we will be held accountable on whether we have played our role in

making our leaders lead with the fear of Allah," he said.

He enjoined participants at the competition, which was mainly the memorisation of the Quran, to help preach the word of God to the high and low in a peaceful manner. “Use your knowledge of the holy book to spread love, peaceful co-existence, understanding, tolerance, unity, compassion and genuine fear of Allah. Use your knowledge of the Quran to let the world know that those who discourage people from acquiring education are not good Muslims. “Let the world know that those who obstruct the peace of the world do not represent Islam. Let the world know that our holy Prophet lived peacefully with Christians and Jews. He taught us to even emulate him.

That is the essence of Hadiths.

If we have taken to the words of Prophet Muhammed, there would have been peace and development in our country and the world over,� he said.

BUHARI’S WIFE THANKS NIGERIANS FOR SUPPORTING THE PRESIDENT goodwill and support for my husband and Nigeria in general,� she said.

Mrs. Buhari made this call on her arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja from Saudi Arabia where she performed Umrah or Lesser Hajj.

According to her, she also said while in Saudi Arabia, she prayed for the peace, stability and progress of Nigeria.

A statement issued by the Director of Information, Office of the Wife of the President, Suleiman Haruna, said Mrs. Buhari who arrived the airport at about 3:15 pm local time, was received by the wife of the Senate President, Mrs. Toyin Saraki, wives of the governors of Kebbi and Kogi states, wives of the Service Chiefs as well as the former Deputy Governor of Plateau State, Mrs. Pauline Tallen.

In the same vein, the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, yesterday called on Nigerians to pray for good health and wisdom for President Muhammadu Buhari. He enjoined Nigerians to also “pray for peace, unity and

economic prosperity as well as political stability and general development of the country. “Let me use the opportunity of the gathering of distinguished members of the Ulamahs to ask that you all pray for our President, Muhammadu Buhari.

May Almighty Allah continue to give him good health, the wisdom and know how to lead this country in peace and to prosperity. “I also pray for our country to have peace, unity, economic prosperity and political stability and general development,� he said.

Also, at the same event in Ilorin, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa'ad Abubakar, enjoined all the people of the country irrespective of their religious inclinations to pray fervently for President Buhari’s safe return to Nigeria.

In his remarks, the Sultan said: “I urge Nigerians to offer prayers for President Muhammadu Buhari, our governors and leaders for God to shine His light upon them for them to live aright. We should offer special prayers for the president for him to come back safely and

continue to pilot the affairs of this country to greater heights.�

Sultan Abubakar also enjoined religious leaders in the country to always preach peace and unity.

According to him, “So we call on all of us to always preach peace, stability and love whatever religion we have in our minds. I want our political leaders to work on things that will unite us. Let us work together on common problems such as poverty, unemployment, extremism and so on and so forth�.

He stressed that, “There are so many of the challenges that are threats to peaceful co-existence but not religion.

We must use religion to bind all of us together. Let us face our common problems. “I urge all our political leaders irrespective of their religious inclinations to hold on to their religious beliefs; to administer the people as God put on their shoulders as best as they can.

With that I believe there will be no problem.�

Meanwhile, Saraki has assured that the National Assembly would not enact any

MAGU: 90% OF THE CAUSE OF OUR RECESSION IS CORRUPTION

because there was fund and people stole the funds and kept them where they cannot WITH BOKO HARAM ON THE RUN, YOBE HOLDS FIRST COUNCIL POLL IN 4YRS be reached,� the EFCC chairman anyone trying to stop the vote, the Northeast occupied by Boko the area also known as “camp the base for the planning and stated during the interview people have been moving from Haram until the Muhammadu zero�, was viewed as a great execution of terror attacks in programme anchored by ace polling units to cast their votes.� Buhuari-led government boost to the antiterrorism war. different parts of the North-east, broadcaster Jeff Koinange.

The deputy governor said: launched a military campaign The capture of Sambisa forest with Yobe and Borno being the Magu added that if a sizable “We thank God for the peace to root them out. followed sustained battles by worst hit. part of the funds looted from the we are enjoying; we thank President Buhari had last the military, which had earlier Insurgency in the region public treasury in Nigeria were our governor for giving us all December announced the launched what it called a final had claimed more than 15,000 recovered, the country would the support to carry out this capture of the last stronghold onslaught against the insurgents. lives since 2009 and until the be out of recession within a exercise.� of the Boko Haram terrorist sect, The Boko Haram insurgents assumption of office of President short period. “If we can lay Several towns and villages in Sambisa forest, in Borno State by had been holed up in Sambisa Buhari, Boko Haram controlled hands on this hidden wealth, Yobe were among territories in the Nigerian troops. The fall of forest for many years and used territories in the two states. we won’t stay for more than three months in this recession. It is sufficient for us to get out of economic recession,� he stated.

Appealing to all those still holding or hiding looted money to voluntarily return them, Magu said, “I think they should just come out and approach the government and say, ‘this is what I have.’ Our emphasis now is on the recovery of the looted fund. People should come out and give us full disclosure, we would go after it.�

On the suggestions in some quarters about possible amnesty for those who heed the call for the return of fleeced public assets, Magu said, “I’m not sure of that. But we encourage recovery if you can voluntarily bring out this thing, disclose this thing. It is the government that would decide. We encourage people to come out and disclose the looted funds.�

He said, “They should cooperate with the government.

They should come forward and declare what they have looted and the government will take its decision. “Everybody must join in the Ě‹ Ë? Ă?Ă˜Ă‹ĂžĂ? ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă“ĂŽĂ?Ă˜Ăž Ă&#x;ÕÙÖË Ă‹ĂœĂ‹Ă•Ă“ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă“ĂœĂ?Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂœËš ĂŽĂ“ĂžĂ™ĂœĚ‹Ă“Ă˜Ě‹ Ă’Ă“Ă?Ă?Ëœ Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă– ÓÖÙÞ Ă?ĂĄĂ?ÚËÚĂ?ĂœËœ ÖÒËÔÓ Ă“Ă–Ă–ĂŁ ĂŽĂ?ĂŽĂ‹Ă—Ă™Ă–Ă‹Ëœ fight against corruption. It’s very ĂŽĂ&#x;ĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹ Ă?Ă™Ă˜ĂŽĂ™Ă–Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă Ă“Ă?Ă“Ăž ĂŒĂŁ Ă?Ă˜Ă‹ĂžĂ™Ăœ Ă‹ĂœĂ‹Ă•Ă“ ÞÙ ĂŽĂ?ÎË×ÙÖË Ă™Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? ĂŽĂ?ËÞÒ Ă™Ă? Ă’Ă“Ă? ×ÙÞÒĂ?Ăœ Ă‹Ăž Ă’Ă“Ă? Ă–Ă™ĂœĂ“Ă˜ ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă“ĂŽĂ?Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ëœ ĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂ‹ ÞËÞĂ?˛˛˛ necessary for the future of this country, for a better tomorrow.â€? ĂŁĂ?Ă?ĂžĂ?ĂœĂŽĂ‹ĂŁ

In a related development, EFCC said yesterday that the former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mr. Andrew Yakubu, will remain in the commission’s custody until investigation into the corruption allegations against him were concluded.

Yakubu was arrested over an alleged discovery of about $9.8 million cash in one of his houses in Kaduna State

by EFCC operatives. Another ÂŁ74,000 was also allegedly found in his house.

The monies, discovered at Sabon Tasha, a slummy suburb located in the outskirts of Kaduna town, were suspected to be illicit funds and proceeds of money laundering. The house where the money was found was under the custody of one Mr. Bitrus Yakubu, a brother to the former NNPC GMD. EFCC’s head of media and information, Wilson Uwujaren, told THISDAY that Yakubu “will remain under custody� until thorough investigation was conducted, before he will be charged to court.

Uwujaren did not give details of the investigation and when Yakubu would be taken to court.

Yakubu had during interrogation by the EFCC said the money was “a gift� from a close associate.

He was the NNPC GMD between 2012 and 2014, when he was sacked by the then president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. His sack had raised controversy at the time, as some observers, especially from the opposition camp, attributed it to political witch-hunt.

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FEBRUARY 12, 2017 ˾ T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R

SUNDAY COMMENT

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

PRESIDENT BUHARI’S HEALTH Aspects of his private life that affect his performance in office are of public interest

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he current health status of President Muhammadu Buhari is a matter of serious public concern and interest. The president is first and foremost the pre-eminent citizen of our country who was elected by popular mandate. To that extent, while in office, the demarcation between his private life and public career is thin and can hardly be separated. While the president and his family are therefore entitled to the normal spheres of privacy, those aspects of his private life that directly affect his performance of the duties attached to his office are strictly of public interest.

However, we also recognise the fact that Section 14 of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act excludes the disclosure of information on the health of any person without his/ her authorisation. It is perhaps pursuant to that law that the acting president, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, told Nigerians that only the president can give information on his state of health. But that law has to be amended to compel elected officials to disclose their health status since they occupy public offices which do not admit of secrecy in any manner whatsoever.

In fairness to President Buhari, he has spared the nation any unnecessary anxiety and confusion by promptly transmitting to the National Assembly the requisite instrument of authority for the vice-president to continue to function in acting capacity in his absence. That indicates a strong belief in the legal basis of his power and authority as well as the elementary fact that the constitution as the ultimate law of the land is the definitive guidebook for the smooth and orderly running of Nigeria. In this respect, there will be no recurrence of the speculations and confusion that pervaded the prolonged

Forthoseentrustedwith public communication at the presidency, the challenge henceforth is to provide timely, credible and useful information on the president’s health to Nigerians and the rest of the world in order to avoid wild rumours and the usual mischievous imputations and computations for which the Nigerian power elite has become famous

Letters to the Editor

medical vacation of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in 2009/2010.

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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

hile this newspaper and the rest of Nigeria wish the president speedy recovery, it is incumbent on the acting president to continue to manage the affairs of state with the delicate balance of constitutional imperatives and political common sense. This is the best way to ensure that the president’s temporary incapacity does not translate into systemic dysfunction until he is well enough to return to the country and resume duties.

For those entrusted with public communication at the presidency, the challenge henceforth is to provide timely, credible and useful information on the president’s health to Nigerians and the rest of the world in order to avoid wild rumours and the usual mischievous imputations and computations for which the Nigerian power elite has become famous.

To the political class in particular, we urge greater restraint in both utterance and activity. That the president is ill and seeking medical solution abroad does not in any way affect the four-year tenure of our democratic cycle; nor does it affect the validity of the constitution. It would be a great disservice to the nation for politicians to conduct themselves in a manner that minimally conveys the impression that there is about to be a power vacuum in Aso Villa. Right now, there is none, at least not in the eyes of the law.

It is true that the nation is passing through difficult economic times. It is also true that not every campaign promise of the administration has been fulfilled. But we must not play politics with the adversity of our people; nor must we depart from the norms of our essential African humanism which dictates empathy with those in distress and solidarity in times of communal travail.

Moreover, when the head of the house is not at home in circumstances such as we find ourselves now, it is not time to engage in the hawking of blames, mischief making or unnecessary political rascality and power adventurism.

As matters stand now, Nigerians must meet two main requirements: abide by the letter and spirit of the constitution and let the machinery of government thrive under the acting president, Prof. Osinbajo while we continue to wish and pray for the speedy recovery of President Buhari.

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.

ANAMBRA’S APC AND FALLACY OF CONVICTIONS

I

s political party system not a component of representative government, globally? So we have one -party system, two- party system, multi-party system and others. In America, the country after which we modeled our presidential government, the Republican and Democratic parties are the major political parties that hold sway. But what is a political party? It is a congregation of people, who share similar political cum economic ideologies and beliefs.

Political parties present candidates for electoral contests in order to gain political power at different levels of government. And a political party ought to have a constitution and manifesto, which will guide its action and regulate the behaviour of its members.

Since the first political party, NNDP, came into being in Nigeria in 1922, party politics has become a constant feature of our political

history. In the first republic, we had such political parties as AG, NPC, NCNC, and others. And they had ideologies on which they are founded. The leader of the Action group, and premier of the Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, espoused the doctrines and teachings of democratic socialism in his treatises and writings. So during his leadership of the Western Region, he implemented welfarist policies that benefitted the masses.

Today, the beneficiaries of his free education policy constitute the pool of the Yoruba political elite and the intelligentsia. Some of the first republic politicians participated in the second republic politics that was abridged by the jackboots and brass-hats. And the third republic was still-born owing to the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election by the foxy General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd).

Now, we are in the fourth

republic; and over the years, our political culture as well as practice has evolved. It is now money-based.

Politics is no longer a contest and harvest of ideas. So a political party in today’s Nigeria is only a vehicle or platform from which a politician can climb to the loft of political power. In Nigeria’s context, a political party is a composition of strange bed-fellows, who are united by their quest and desire to grab political power at any costs at different strata of government. These political parties have no guiding ideologies, not to talk of their members being apostles of them.

Today, only a few political parties can lay claim to being truly nationalistic in outlook. And our politicians who behave in the same way as streetwalkers change political parties as often as belles change their underwear(s) and dresses.

They do not set store by political ideologies. And they are actuated

and motivated by selfish and ethnic interests, rather than altruistic and nationalistic feelings. Now many former PDP political stalwarts have defected to the ruling APC as PDP has lost political power at the centre?

Nigerian politicians are not known for their fidelity to ideologies.

The number of APC members nation-wide has swelled immensely, now. In Anambra State, APC has in its fold some notable and colourful politicians with intimidating political pedigrees and clout. These politicians each have the optimism that he would become APC’s governorship candidate and win the Anambra’s next governorship election. But as the APC, especially the Anambra APC, is a collection of strange political bedfellows, who set store by Machiavelli’s political axioms, it’s likely that the Anambra APC will self-destruct before it can oust Governor Willie Obiano from office. Can members of the

Anambra APC subordinate their self interests beneath the party’s collective good? From their life stories and political antecedents, the answer is a categorical no.

More so, the APC’s leadership of Nigeria is a disastrous outing so far. Our national economy has slipped into recession under the leadership of Muhammadu Buhari.

And since members of Buhari’s executive cabinet are second-rate, recycled, and tired political leaders and technocrats, they’re at their wit’s end as to how to get Nigeria out of the economic recession and move it forward. If APC, at the national level, cannot take Nigeria to a great economic and technological height, what guarantee do we have that Anambra’s APC can raise the bar of political leadership in Anambra State, if it wins the Anambra’s next governorship election?

––Chiedu Uche Okoye, Uruowulu-Obosi.

Anambra State

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ BRUARY 12, 2017

SUNDAYNEWS

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

FG to Resettle North-east IDPs Soon Chiemelie Ezeobi

THAT PEACE MAY REIGN R-L: Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike; Anglican Bishop of Evo Diocese, Most Rev Innocent Ordu; Methodist Archbishop of Port Harcourt, Most Rev Sunday Agwu, and Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, Rivers State, Most Rev Isaac Anyanasikike, as the CAN chairman was handing over the flag of peace to the governor after his investiture as the Apostle of Peace, in Port Harcourt...yesterday

Unknown Persons Destroy Foundation Stone of Military Base in Southern Kaduna John Shiklam in Kaduna

The foundation stone of a military battalion in the southern part of Kaduna state has been demolished by unknown persons barely a week after the Chief of Army Staff (CoAS), Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, and the state governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, performed the foundation-laying ceremony.

THISDAYgatheredthatsome unknown persons went to the proposed military barracks located at Ungwan Yashi area of Zangon, on the outskirts of Kafanchaninthenightandpulled down the foundation stone.

The federal government had approved the establishment of two military units in the area to check the incessant attacks and killings that have been going on unabated in the area.

Meanwhile,governorEl-Rufai has expressed disappointment overthedemolitionofthefoundation.Whilereactingtotheincident

inastatementbyhisspokesman, Samuel Aruwan, El-Rufai said the demolition of the foundation “furtherconfirmsthattheconflict entrepreneursaredeterminedto continue to create obstacles and setback to our stabilisation and peace building efforts.

“Ireceivedthenewswithshock overtheunfortunatedestruction offoundation laying structure of the proposed Nigerian Army battalion in Southern Kaduna.

The situation is unfortunate, condemnable and a setback to the government’s communal stabilisation and peacebuilding efforts,butwewillnotbedeterred.

“We urge our people that cherish peaceful coexistence to continue to be resilient, focused andresoluteinovercomingantics offorcesofdarknessandevil”,the statement quoted the governor as saying.

Thestatementaddedthatthose behindthedemolitionweredeterminedtoderailthecontributions of the security agencies, having

failed to spread their tentacles of hate, bigotry and penchant for divisiveness.

“I want to use this medium to appeal to all men and women of conscience to remain firm and optimistic, while government in collaboration with security agencies, civil society, religious and traditional institutions will continue to work assiduously for peace and security of life and property.

“Finally, all those that have their hands in the destruction of this structure will not go free.

Thesecurityagencieswillfishout theperpetrators,andthosefound tobeinvolved,orengagedinomissionsthatledtothedestructionof public property will be brought to justice without fear or favour,” the statement further quoted the governor.

Meanwhile, the Southern KadunaPeoplesUnion(SOKAPU), an umbrella body for ethnic nationalities in the southern part ofKadunaState,hascondemned

thedestructionofthefoundation ofthemilitarybaseinKafanchan.

SOKAPU in a statement in Kaduna issued yesterday said it was saddened by the destruction of the foundation, stressing that “as an organisation that has been vigorously pursuing an increasedpresenceofthemilitary in an area deliberately neglected and abandoned for a long time, we totally frown on such acts of recklessness.”

The statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the union, Mr. Yakubu Kuzamani, declared that SOKAPU will not support any act of lawlessness.

It urged the people of the area to abide by the laws of the land irrespective of ethnic, religious or political affiliation.

“SOKAPU stands on its quest forjusticeandfairness,anchored on the peaceful approach to all solution bedeviling our region and would not stand aloof and watch such acts being truncated by anyone.”

Trump Considers Issuing New Travel Ban Abimbola Akosile with agency report

The United States President Donald Trump is considering a new executive order to ban citizens of certain countries from travelling to the US after his initial attempt was overturned in the courts.

Trump told reporters on Air Force One that a “brand new order” could be issued as early as Monday or Tuesday, according to a BBC report.

The new development comes after an appeals court in San Francisco upheld a court ruling to suspend his original order, which barred entry from citizensfromsevenmainlyMuslim countries. It is unclear what a new US immigration order might look like.

According to the BBC report, Trump said it would change “very little”, but he did not provide details of any new ban under consideration.

Despite his suggestion on Friday, the US president’s administration may still pursue its case in the courts over the originalorder,whichwashalted a week ago by a Seattle judge.

“We’ll win that battle,” Trump told reporters, adding: “The unfortunate part is it takes time. We’ll win that battle. But we also have a lot of other options, including just filing a brand new order.”

A unnamed judge from the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals, which on Thursday upheld the stay on the original order, has called on all 25 judges of that court to vote on whether to hear the appeal again.

Technically known as an en banc review, a second hearing of the case would involve an 11-judge panel, rather than the three who initially heard the appeal.

Trump’s travel ban, which was hastily unveiled at the end of his first week in office,

caused chaos at US airports and sparked protests across the country.

On Thursday, the appeals court said the administration failed to offer “any evidence” to justify the ban, which the president said was necessary to keep the US safe from terror attacks.

However Trump insisted that the executive order was crucial for national security and promised to take action “very rapidly” to introduce “additional security” steps in the wake of the court’s decision.

He spoke as Virginia state lawyers argued in court that his policy “resulted from animus toward Muslims”.

Their challenge focuses on the travel restrictions imposed by the ban, rather than the fourmonth suspension of refugee admissions.

But lawyers for the US government in Virginia wrote that “judicial second-guessing”

amounted to “an impermissible intrusion” on Trump’s constitutional authority.

The appeals court ruling means that visa holders from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen can continue to enter the US, and refugees from around the world, who were also subject to a temporary ban, are no longer blocked either.

But the ruling does not affect one part of Trump’s controversial executive order: a cap of 50,000 refugees to be admitted in the current fiscal year, down from the ceiling of 110,000 established under his predecessor, Barack Obama.

Nigerians have been apprehensive over the recent travel ban although the country was not specifically listed among the affected nations under the ban, and several reports had stated that the visa procedures may also be reviewed for those travelling to the US from Nigeria.

With a review to reintegrate the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North-east region, the Federal Government has said plans are in earnest to ensure that they are resettled as soon as possible in their home communities.

The Federal Commissioner, United Nations Commission for Refugees, Migrants and IDPs, Hajiya Sadiya Farouq, made this disclosure at the recent comprehensive medical care outreach provided by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

Theoutreach,whichwasheld at the United Nations ground at Ikoyi, Lagos, was for the IDPs in Lagos. Over 500 IDPs from FESTAC, Satellite and Ajah camps in Lagos were subjected to various medical screenings and treatments conducted by personnel from NAF Medical Services.

According to the air force, the essence of the two-day medical outreach, themed ‘we care, we share,’ which ended yesterday at Ikoyi, Lagos, was so that the IDPscanhaveaccesstoadequate health care.

Asides Farouq, the acting Ambassador of Trinidad and Tobago, Garth Lamsee and NAF’sDirectorofHumanitarian Services,AirCommodoreHarold Onyechi, were also present.

In her speech, Farouq said the federalgovernmentalsohasplans to equip them with self-reliant skillssothateventhosethathave nowishtogohomecanstillhave means of livelihood.

WhilecommendingtheChief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar, and the Chief

of Medical Services, Air Vice Marshal SM Shinkafi, for taking the lead in providing medical care for IDPs across Nigeria, she said the NAF have lived up to its humanitarian duties.

Shesaid,“TheNAFisnotonly living up to its constitutional responsibilityofsecuringourland, airspace and overall territorial integrity, but also engaging in humanitarian assistance to our persons of concern.

“Plansareinearnesttoensure thattheIDPsareresettledassoon as possible in their home communities. There are also plans to equip them with self-reliant skills so that those of them who may not wish to be voluntarily relocated to their states when it is time, would have viable means of livelihood.”

According to her, the commission was conversant with the current spate of internal displacement in the North-east and the attendant issues being facedbythesepersonsofconcern intheareasofhealth,shelter,food, education, among others.

She said: “It is therefore one of the major policy drives of this government, to not only ensure that all persons of concern are properly catered for, but also proffer durable solutions, which encompasses resettlement and return of IDPs to their previous places of abode.

“This medical intervention is an important activity in a series beingcarriedoutincollaboration with NAF and is expected to be a continuous exercise, involving more IDPs in this zone.”

Some of the services rendered totheIDPsincludeeyetest,dental clinic, antenatal, general outpatientservices,laboratoryservices and outpatient pharmacy.

Ekweremadu Uncovers Plot to Tarnish His Image The Office of the Deputy President of the Senate has reportedly uncovered a plot by an Enugu-based lawyer, Mr. Tagbo Ike, in consort with some political forces around a judicial officer recently sanctioned by the National Judicial Council (NJC), to malign the person of Senator Ike Ekweremadu.

According to a release issued yesterdaybytheSpecialAdviser (Media) to Deputy President of theSenate,Mr.UcheAnichukwu, the Office noted that “the media campaign of calumny by these conspirators and character assassins to run down the person of the Deputy President of the Senateincludesthecirculationof afrivolouspetitiontotheFederal Government and its agencies.

“Mr. Tagbo, we have been reliably informed, alleged in

a rather show of ignorance and mischief, that the funds meant for the development of the South-east was hijacked by the Deputy President of the Senate as the political leader of the region and used to purchase 32 properties.

“Nothing can be farther from the truth. Their only goal is to run down the person of Senator Ekweremadu. This is to alert the mediaandmembersofthepublic to the endless machinations of the unpatriotic elements who are bent on getting even with a wrong target.

“TheOffice, therefore, callson the media, in particular, to be conscious of this orchestrated campaign directed at the person of the Deputy President of the Senate and treat it as mischief that it is”, the statement added.

Tambuwal Dissolves Board

Governor Aminu Tambuwal, has approved the dissolution of the management committee of Sokoto State Board of Internal Revenue. The former team, headed by Musa Muhammad Maccido, has been asked to hand over the affairs to the newly-appointed Interim Management Committee pending when substantive board will be appointed. According to statement issued by the Sokoto State Ù××ÓÝÝÓÙØÏÜ ÙÐ ÓØËØÍϘ ËÓÎß ×Ëܘ ÙÞÒÏÜ ÙÐÐÓÍÏÜÝ ÎÓÜÏÍÞÏÎ ÞÙ vacate their posts and return to their mother ministries for reassignment are Muhammed Nasir Binji, Bashar Abdullahi, Abubakar Zaki Tambuwal, Hajiya Amina Sani and Wadata Umar. Others include Muhammed Ahmed, Malami Ibn Labbo, Umar Mairiga and Badamasi Garba Giwa.

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ ͹ͺ˜ ͺ͸͹Ϳ

SUNDAYNEWS 20 Feared Killed in Renewed Clash between A’Ibom and Cross River Okon Bassey in Uyo

More than twenty persons were feared killed as the people of Oku Iboku in Itu Local Government area of Akwa Ibom State and Ikot offiong in Odukpani local government area of Cross River State again clashed.

The people of Ikot Offiong are Efiks speaking tribe of Calabar dislodged from their settlement at Ayadehe community, Oku Iboku in Itu Local government area years back.

THISDAY gathered that the clash between the two communities which started

Friday night was like ‘war’ as sophisticated weapons were used by both sides and unconfirmed number of people killed.

The highest number of casualties were said to have come from the people of Ikot Offiong as they were ambushed in the attack and chased to the neighbouring community in Odukpani local government area.

Travelers along the Calabar-Itu highway were held up for hours yesterday until soldiers chased the hoodlums away to clear the road for smooth movement of motorists and commuters.

Eyewitnesses bemoaned the action of the people of Ikot Offiong after both communities had entered into peaceful settlement since 2014.

A source that claimed anonymity said the attack about three times since December 2016 mush have been sponsored, as both communities had no reason to engage each other in war-like invasion since they inter-married.

“Yesterday’s (Saturday) attack was face to face. It was like war. When blood enters your eyes you don’t know who is involved”, the source said.

Crisis of Confidence Rocks Rivers APC Ugo Aliogo

The brewing disaffection and polarisation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) into three contending groups is threatening the survival of the party in Rivers State.

The rift, THISDAY gathered, is said to be noticeable among those loyal to the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; senator representing Rivers-East senatorial district, Senator Magnus Abe, and the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Adol Dakuku

Peterside.

THISDAY checks also indicated that things have so fallen apart in the relationship among the three contending forces in the state APC to the extent that the distribution of resources, shares to individuals or groups are measured according to the perceived quantum of loyalty to any of the three factional leaders.

While Amaechi is said to be counting on former local government caretaker chairmen, Peterside is alleged to be relying on past and present leaders of the National Union of Rivers State Students, as

well as the supporters put together during the 2015 election under the aegis of his Media Team.

On his part, Abe is resting his hope on the assurances of those considered to be fairly experienced politicians, who have held political offices in the past, but THISDAY was told that such support in the real sense of the word is not cast in stone.

Insider sources revealed that this degree of distrust and disaffection in the APC in the state can only be traced to lack of leadership and coordination.

NFPAWA Calls for Entry in Risk Management Writing Competition Omolabake Fasogbon

A group, NFPAWA, has called for entries from safety experts across Africa as it launched the maiden edition of its writing tournament. The annual competition is part of the group’s initiative at developing capacity in security, fire and safety risk management, with practising and aspiring risk management practitioners & emergency services professionals, security consultants and risk managers including students; and whether at the under-graduate, graduate or post-graduate levels, all expected to participate in the tournament.

In a statement made

available to TTHISDAY, the group’s Programme Director, Mrs. Anthonia Beri, stated that interested participants should submit essays bordering on any of the following topics: Accepted Standard, Benchmarks & Mitigative Measures for Information Communications Technology and Telecoms, Facilities & Critical Infrastructure Protection, Accepted Standard, Benchmark & Mitigative Measures for all Occupancy, Accepted Standard, Benchmark & Mitigative Measures for Security Systems in all Facilities, Scientific Guide And Accepted Methodology For Fire & Explosion Investigation as well as Guide for Organisation & Deployment of

Fire Emergency Rescue & Salvage Operations.

The competition will produce 12 winners comprising six students and six professionals who will have the opportunity to attend NFPWA certification programme for free in May 5 at the Oriental Hotels in Lagos. The programme is worth N250,000. In addition, winners will be privileged to meet with global experts in the field as they gather new depths, orientation and insights which will guide them in building sustainable macroeconomic development. All submissions must be made sent to writeups@nfpawa. com in PDF format on or before March 30.

Atere Charges Nigerians to Reciprocate God’s Faithfulness The Bishop of the Diocese of Awori (Anglican Communion), Rt. Rev. Johnson Akin Atere, has called on Nigerians to reciprocate God’s faithfulness in their lives by emulating Jesus Christ who remained faithful to God even at the point of death.

Atere, who made this remark at the recent 50th founder’s day anniversary of St. Timothy’s Anglican Church, Sango-Ota, Ogun State,

enjoined every Nigerian to remain steadfast and allow God into their hearts in faith for the country to overcome its ongoing challenges.

The Bishop appealed to Nigerians to be faithful to God in all their endeavours and equally prepare to suffer for their faithfulness to God, pointing out that the faithful ones would be vindicated at the end of the day regardless of the tribulations they might

have gone through in the course of their faithfulness to the Almighty.

The cleric, who noted that Nigeria had refused to progress significantly because of the people’s unfaithfulness to God, however, counseled Nigerians not to be afraid, but to turn to God in prayers and fasting for His intercession in all the ills plaguing the society by conquering and commanding the raging storm to be calm.

T H I S D AY SUNDAY FEBRUARY 12, 2017

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ͯͰ˜ ͰͮͯͿ ˾ THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

OPINION The Relevance of Nigeria’s Open Governance Plan A partnership between NEITI AND NDDC will bring out the best in the interventionist agency, argues Bob MajiriOghene Etemiku

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ast week, very senior officials of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, (NEITI) had a very productive meeting with the newly constituted Niger Delta Development Board (NDDC) board. Four key issues emanated from a press statement released therefrom. One was the prompting from NEITI to the NDDC to carry out a corruption risk assessment to help the commission strengthen its operations. The NEITI officials also urged the NDDC to carry out an independent project implementation audit, and to commit to good corporate governance, driven through with the principles with which the global extractive industries transparency initiative is run.

I believe that these are very valid considerations and from an organisational point of view, we have thrown our weight behind the planned partnership of these two agencies. Our support for the partnership between these two agencies is not a frolicsome one, more so when you consider that many government agencies promote waste and mismanagement in the governance process by working at cross purposes. While there are records to indicate that the NDDC and other development agencies set up to accelerate development in the Niger Delta - DESOPADEC, OSOPADEC EDSOGPACED, etc., have collected billions of naira, there are no commensurate projects on ground to account for the monies collected for those projects.

As a matter of fact, it has become a leitmotif for traducers of agitators for development for the Niger Delta region to be asked to justify these humongous monies and to channel their grievances elsewhere.

About a year ago, I wrote an article titled, Bring Back the BRACED Commission. In it, I wanted to draw attention to the need for the governors of the South-South in Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo and Delta - to close ranks and resuscitate the moribund BRACED Commission. Part of the need for governors to close ranks and work together in a regional bloc is closely related to that same reason why the NEITI and the NDDC have come together in an emerging partnership – the need for fiscal transparency, access to information and citizen engagement. When they work together, they close ranks, block any avenue for loopholes and engender accountability and transparency. But that has not been the case in the Niger Delta. Huge amounts allocated for development are mostly squandered. Some states in other regions like Kano State which do not produce oil have initiated and commissioned

a state of the art water and sanitation project akin to the ones in Europe and America. And while governors in the North close ranks and speak with one voice, others in the South-East and South-South and South-West are throwing bricks at each other.

But the real reason why I wrote that article was because I know that there have been several meetings in the European Union (EU) towards cutting their green-house gas emissions by at least 40%.

They also plan to stop buying our oil by 2030 – only 15 years from today. In those EU meetings, all 28 countries irrespective of the disparities of the languages and political philosophies resolved to boost renewable energy and improve energy efficiency by at least 27%.

By February 2015, a Southern Gas Corridor for the establishment of liquid gas hubs with multiple suppliers in Central and Eastern Europe was developed. Since most of Europe would soon depend absolutely on renewable energy – solar, biomass, wind and hydro power for their electricity needs, part of the plan of the EU Energy Union includes a full implementation of existing legislation

Part of the need for governors to close ranks and work together in a regional bloc is closely related to that same reason why the NEITI and the NDDC have come together in an emerging partnership – the need for fiscal transparency, access to information and citizen engagement

and market rules to integrate these renewable into all European markets, and a promotion of more research into renewable energy production and the decarbonisation of the transport sector. As soon as that happens, the relevance of the Niger Delta as a regional power house, contributing to the upkeep of Nigeria would come to an end. What would be left is an environment with ecological scars.

After that article, certain Nigerians have engaged me to see how we can get the big players to come to the drawing board once again. Together, we have sought the participation of some of the well-known actors who helped birth the BRACED Commission. Unfortunately, most are unwilling to talk about the BRACED Commission and how it can assist agencies of government to accelerate development in the Niger Delta and make it the economic nerve centre of Africa. My quest eventually led me to a Vanguard report of Tuesday, January 17, 2017, with the title, Why South-South Governors Forum Collapsed.

There it became clear as day that the development of the Niger Delta had been sacrificed on the altar of the political affiliations of the governors of the BRACED Commission. The argument is that the governors belong to different political parties and therefore cannot work together unfortunately.

This political challenge in the Niger Delta especially as stimulated by the feud of the political gladiators makes it difficult to expect any meaningful collaborative effort among the governors. And to that extent, we propose greater reliance on Nigeria’s Open Governance National Action Plan, envisaged to run from 2017 to 2019. President Muhammadu Buhari in the executive summary of that plan said that the plan ‘spans four key thematic areas of fiscal transparency, anti-corruption, access to information, and citizen engagement’. This is commendable.

On our part, we believe that if these plans are to be as ‘concrete’ and liable to be implemented, there would be no more need for the federal government to take the NDDC from the purview of the Presidency. Rather, it should encourage the NDDC to apply the key deliverables that our National OGP plan is hinged upon: open budgeting, open contracting, revenue transparency and accountability, the publication of a register of the contractors executing projects and for what sums. Fortunately, that emerging partnership between NEITI and the NDDC has already initiated the process.

––Etemiku, manager communications, ANEEJ, wrote from Abuja.

Rethinking Green Energy Chiemezie Okeke-Ojiudu argues for conversion of waste to energy as part of tackling the power crisis

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ne of the great challenges haunting the present administration and indeed all past administrations is and has always been the subject of Nigeria’s power deficiency. In Nigeria, power is erratic, unstable and outages are more than frequent. With an installation capacity of over 7,000MW, Nigeria barely manages to generate, on average, a dismal 3,800MW of electricity to meet the needs of its growing population. Over the years, several issues have been cited as major causes of Nigeria’s paltry power generation capacity and output, including pipeline vandalism, corruption, lack of adequate infrastructure, mismanagement and incompetence.

Just weeks ago, Nigeria’s power generation output dropped from around 3,959mw to 2,662mw. The sudden drop was attributed to low water levels at the hydro power stations and lack of gas due to pipeline attacks. And with a population of over 180 million people, Nigeria is only able to connect 40% of its citizens to the power grid. Lack of adequate electricity affects all strata of the economy, costing Nigeria billions per annum, while crippling the industrial, agricultural, & service sectors. This along with lack of adequate security, water and transportation is costing Nigerians an arm and a leg with devastating consequences for the road ahead.

Why have we as a people not solved this problem? Are we created differently from our western or far eastern counterparts? Surely all men are created equal, and if so, those saddled with the responsibility of solving these issues over the years have no excuse. Our natural resources are abundant, technology is obtainable, and adequate manpower is available. Why are we still in this quagmire? By comparison, South Africa has a generation capacity of 52,811MW; Egypt, 30,000MW; Canada, 130,000MW and the United States, 1.17 million MW. Despite their output, these countries are determined and projected to increase their generation capacity with set targets and innovative ideas to meet rising energy demands yet to come.

Along with the electricity conundrum, Nigeria also faces a serious waste problem. Waste is a harbinger of various

environmental impacts such as air, water, soil and pollution.

Along with numerous risks to life and health, the desecration and decay of local communities and cities ruins the aesthetic quality and natural beauty of each state and, consequently, our country.

Our answer over the years has been dumping our waste in open heaps and landfills, attracting vermin, disease and infection. Despite our pitfalls and mishaps, there is a solution to solving such foundational problems to the framework of our great nation. The answer lies in an effective and efficient waste-to-energy programme. By enacting a sufficient waste management initiative for Nigeria, we can create renewable energy that will help fuel economic development while adding value back to our natural ecosystem and biosphere.

Investing in waste to energy conversion will not only help reduce our waste management issues, it will also help alleviate the electricity problem by providing an alternative/ reliable source of energy.

With evidential benefits, waste to energy conversion policies in Nigeria should be pursued aggressively. The advantages for a country struggling with excessive waste and rampant power outages are enormous. Although funding a huge project such as a waste to energy incineration plant can be taxing for state governments, the federal government can render assistance by commissioning large scale projects; that along with private sector participation can help see such programmes through to fruition.

Currently, the two major power sources being used in Nigeria today are natural gas (70%) and hydro power (30%).

With hydro power, disturbances and disruptions are usually blamed on low water levels, while thermal power (natural gas) mishaps remain the result of pipeline vandalism.

Converting waste to energy on the other hand has none of the above stated weaknesses, and doubles as a waste disposal agent. Making sure Nigeria’s waste is put to good use, thus cleaning and lighting up the nation concurrently.

In Sweden, less than 1% trash ends up in landfills. This is due in part to the 32 waste-to-energy plants that have been setup across the country. These plants incinerate over

two million tonnes of trash annually; almost 50% of the waste produced by the country (the other 50% is recycled).

Waste-to-energy plants in Sweden provide close to a million homes with heating and electricity, and thus, are responsible for reducing the amount of trash that ends up in landfills, as well as helping to reduce Sweden’s reliance on fossil fuels.

The waste-to-energy project in Sweden is made more effective by the government’s insistence on the segregation of waste in both households and commercial institutions prior to incineration. Waste is a relatively cheap fuel and Sweden has, over time, developed a large capacity and skill in efficient and profitable waste treatment and management; so much so that Sweden imports 700,000 tonnes of waste from other countries yearly.

Besides incineration (combustion), other viable waste-to energy/bioenergy methods include: anaerobic digestion (biogas) and gasification (syngas). Both methods can be used on a much smaller scale to power local communities, industries and hamlets around the country. The private sector should be encouraged in areas such as this. The more people/organisations involved in the generation of power, the closer we are to powering the whole nation.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), bioenergy is the single largest renewable energy source today, providing 10% of the world with a primary energy supply. It also plays a crucial role in many developing countries where it provides energy for cooking. Apart from bioenergy, solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, and tidal energy are all forms of viable renewable energy sources. Diversification is important and Nigeria’s dependency on thermal energy is costing us dearly.

There is no set pattern or formula for energy expansion.

We can and should add to our current energy mix and capacity with great devotion. The United States for instance relies on natural gas (33%), coal (33%), nuclear (20%), and renewables (including bioenergy, hydro & solar) (13%) as energy sources respectively. The key is focusing on certain areas and working vigorously to achieve set goals.

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ FEBRUARY 12, 2017

LETTERS Progressive Trend in Lagos’ Justice Sector

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agos State is renowned as a pace setter, always coming up with breathtaking innovative concepts and reforms that have transformed governance into an art.

One sector that has tremendously benefitted from the novel and creative approach to governance in the state is administration of justice.

From 1999, when the current democratic dispensation evolved, administration of justice in Lagos has undergone progressive and significant transformation.

It is in an attempt to further consolidate on successes recorded so far in the sector that the Ambode administration recently held a two-day stakeholder’s summit with the theme: “Contemporary Trends: Catalysts for Justice Sector Reform in Lagos State.”

At the event, in which the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, was the guest speaker, it was established that the administrators of the nation’s justice system must begin to critically look into the damage being done to the economy by undue delay of justice. This is in view of the fact that effective judicial system is critical to economic growth and development of any nation. According to Osinbajo, adjournment of cases has become a major challenge that must be jointly tackled by stakeholders in the justice sector.

Mr. Adeniji Kazeem, Commissioner of Justice for Lagos State

The vice-president, who was represented by Abubakar Malami, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, challenged the actors in the system to embrace day-to-day trials and to place heavy sanctions on person(s) who deliberately drag down the wheel of justice. Osinbajo said it was also important for the judiciary to introduce significant costs for delay occasioned, especially by lateness, ill-preparedness or deliberate tactics.

On his part, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode affirmed that for any nation to experience economic growth, it must first and foremost have

a functional judicial system that would not only encourage local and foreign investors to invest in, but also guarantee conducive environment for such businesses to thrive.

Ambode said experience over the years has shown that societies with equal and unhindered access to justice have a better environment for economic growth and poverty alleviation than those that do not. This, he said, prompted his administration to prioritise justice and security reforms, not only to maintain law and order, but basically to carry out the various developmental projects that would make Lagos safer and more

prosperous.

Without a doubt, the administration of justice is a vital component in a virile democracy. For any government to achieve socio-economic goals of a safer, secured, nonviolent and more prosperous society, a functioning justice sector that guarantees not only the maintenance of law and order, the enforcement of human rights and freedom, protects investments and encourages economic development, is a necessity.

This explains why the Ambode administration has continued to embark on decisive reforms in the sector.

The establishment of mobile courts is one of the novel means through which the Ambode administration hopes to ensure quick dispensation of justice in the state. The courts were inaugurated to summarily try traffic as well as environmental offenders and mete out immediate punishments to those convicted. This is also a way to decongest the courts and not add to inconclusive cases that have been in courts for years.

Also, the state government has created an online platform where the Laws of Lagos State could be easily accessed.

This will be of a great service and benefit to investors and would-be investors in the state.

Not only will such a platform enable investors to make informed decisions about investing in the state, but it will also help them to appreciate

BEFORE APC’S NATIONAL CONVENTION

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ith the gradual but steady abandonment of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by its top shots to join the All Progressives Congress (APC), APC should not be in hurry to hold its national convention. PDP is interested in the fall of the APC and would want to plant its members in the ruling part.

APC too is working hard to ensure that the PDP does not gather weight again. PDP members, with frivolous reasons basically personal, not on convictions that APC is really working, are cross carpeting to obtain or maintain positions ahead of 2019 and beyond.

Ordinary President Ahmad Isa of Berekete Family would repeatedly say: “Be careful”.

APC said it will hold its national convention not later than April 2017, according to a statement issued by the party’s national publicity secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi. This was said to be the decision of the National Working Committee (NWC) meeting presided over by the party’s national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun. The convention would commence with congresses to fill vacancies in the state party structures across the country, such vacancies created from political appointments, deaths and resignations. The congresses,

in turn, would be followed by the national caucus meeting and capped with the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party, which will consider and set the date for the national convention.

Grand and impressive as this proposal looks, effective and critical strategies are required to put the ruling party on the path of success. Many politicians within the APC have started gathering interest in the 2019 presidential polls.

The former Vice President of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has been called upon to make himself available for the 2019 Presidential elections under the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), though he is seen as a staunch member of the ruling party. Former governor of Kano, Alhaji Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso is warming up. Others are yet nursing their interests.

Events are mounting up to oust the party ahead of 2019. Three former heads of state have thrown their weight behind a Southeast president. The Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio recently claimed that about 20 serving senators of APC have perfected plans to join the PDP once the leadership crisis in the opposition party is resolved. “All they want is return of peace to the party.

Once that is done I can assure you that 20 senators are on their way to joining the PDP,” he said.

The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu has been holding the position presumed to be for the ruling party and has resisted all pressures to dump PDP for APC. He accused those who left PDP for the APC in the Southeast as saboteurs and described them as contracts and employment opportunists.

He claimed that after the contracts and employments, they would know who is who in the Southeast. That is why the defections into APC open the room for scrutiny.

Though in politics permanent interest is paramount, those who had criticised the APC and its policies badly or had sat on the fence during the last general elections are now joining the party. Especially after the political upturn in Ondo, Edo and Rivers, it is sure that invaders and opportunists would prefer the ruling party.

Three governors of Abia, Enugu and Ebonyi States are said to be warming up to join the APC. This is according to a statement credited to Governor Rochas Okorocha, the only APC governor in the Southeast. Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State recently declared support for President Buhari ahead of 2019, even if it were to be his only vote in the state. The governor also claimed that the PDP will collapse if he leaves the party, with reports of his

secret arrangements with his deputy to move to APC. Former Gov. Orji Kalu of Abia state recently joined the APC, pledging full support to the party leader, President Buhari. Former Senate President, Ken Nnamani and ex-Governor of old Anambra State, Senator Jim Nwobodo, described their entry into APC as a good omen for Ndigbo just as they declared PDP dead. Recall that in October 2016, President Buhari named Nnamani the chairman of the electoral reform committee.

All of these Southeast entrees are pushing Ndigbo to join the APC with a view to reintegrating into the nation’s body polity ahead of 2019 general elections.

Chief Nnamani said the song had changed, thus his desire to change dancing steps. He noted that no political party was perfect but that APC can be panel-beaten and brought to near perfection. “I am in APC in the day and night. If you have skeleton or tribunal hanging on your neck, do not come to APC and sit on the front row. You can be a member of APC but not to be at the front line. A party is strong when it has large membership. PDP said it is democratic but it does not practice democracy. APC has all it takes to buy something good in the market”, he added.

––Muhammad Ajah, Abuja.

the various legal protections available for their persons and investment. This is particularly a reflection of the commitment of the Hon. Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem, to drive the administration of justice in the state through innovation and technology.

Having the Lagos State Laws accessible online presents everyone access to search, view and download the laws anywhere in the world by just the click of a button. The online platform is set to fulfil the obligation of the state government to create easy access to the laws, thereby promoting accountability and responsibility, and to enable investors to make informed decisions about their investments in the state.

As part of commitment to use technology to combat criminal tendencies, the state

government now has a Crime Data Register (CDR). The CDR is an electronic repository of information about suspects and offenders who pass through any of the prisons in Lagos State.

The CDR involves the participation of stakeholders in the criminal justice process, namely; the Lagos State Judiciary, the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, the Lagos State Command of the Nigeria Police and the Lagos State Command of the Nigeria Prison Service. Any convicted offender in the state will thus have his/her details electronically registered. We are strengthening this initiative and we will reveal the capabilities of this powerful tool for fighting and analysing crime.

––Kayode Oyekanmi , Ministry of Justice, Alausa, Lagos.

DESTRUCTION OR DEVELOPMENT ?

I

n 1947, Osaygefo Kwame Nkrumah arrived the then Gold Coast now known as Ghana after a 12- year sojourn in the United States and United Kingdom. He almost did not return as he had suspicions about the conservative leanings of the leaders of the United Gold Coast Convention.

He changed his mind shortly after realising that some huge political opportunities awaited him if he accepted the post of the SecretaryGeneral of the party.

In barely a decade, he led the nation to independence using the slogans of self-government now and seek ye first the political kingdom and every other thing shall be added unto you.

However, his maiden speech on March 6, 1957 turned out to be an anti-climax. He said that political independence is nothing without economic liberty. That statement has proven to be the bane of the development of the African continent. It was tragic that Nkrumah for all his Pan-Africanist movement efforts failed to draw up a road map for economic liberty.

The Bretton Woods Institution – the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development as well as the International Monetary Fund have been largely responsible for the underdevelopment of the continent. They coerced many African leaders to remove subsidy from two critical areas of the economy – education and healthcare which led to a mass exodus of the brightest brains to the West. Working in cahoots with the Ford Foundation, British Department for International Development, United States Agency for International Development, John & Catherine Mac Arthur Foundation, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Open Society, the United Nations and its various organs, they have spent hundreds of millions of dollars aggressively backing a depopulation agenda, abortion, stem cell research, gay rights, organ harvesting and all sorts of sinister liberal causes that has set

Africa backwards by over two centuries.

Let us cast our minds back to 1989 when the then Ibrahim Babangida -led government liberalised the nation’s banking sector. To have a banking license at the time cost N6 million. By 1990 it was N12 million and this saw the emergence of financial super power houses like Zenith, Diamond, GTB which have weathered the storm to become institutions valued at over a billion dollars while providing employment opportunities for thousands of people both within and outside the country. In 1989, a hit song was released by King Sunny Ade and Onyeka Onwenu titled ‘Wait for me, baby dance with me.’ A reliable source in my media network revealed to me that the United States Agency for International Development spent a whopping sum $300,000 to promote the song. Naturally I asked why and the answer was crystal clear that the song had a depopulation message which is a major agenda of USAID. Imagine if that amount of money was used to set up financial institutions or to back the real sector, the ripple effect would have been gargantuan!

History repeats itself because man learns the stories but never the lessons. During the slave trade era, the narrow minded African chiefs gladly colluded with the Caucasian overlords to sell their brothers and sisters into slavery for mere mirrors and gin.

That tragedy still happens today albeit in a more subtle form.

Corruption is touted by the west as the greatest plague of African States. They ignore the fact that they provide their banking facilities to aid the African kleptocrats. There is an ominous silence on their refusal to fully repatriate the loot stashed in their banks. Nothing is said of the crisis they cause in Africa and then they show up with placebos as ‘interventionists’.

––Tony Ademiluyi, Lagos

16

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͯͰ˜ Ͱͮͯ͵

INTERNATIONAL Contemporary Dynamics of Global Insecurity: The Case of National Self-deceit

P

rofessional students of international relations have generally pointed to why there has not been any World War since the end of the last one in 1945.

One main reason often given is that the nature of conflict has changed from being inter-state to intra-state. The rationale for this change has been traced particularly to the end of the Cold War in which the then two major superpowers (United States and the Soviet Union) and their allies were involved which led to the dismantlement of the Soviet Union and which prompted a post- Cold War era of civil wars By so doing, the big powers managed to put their differences at bay. Besides, the end of the Cold War was presented as putting an end to the proxy wars and the use of foreign countries, especially in Africa, as battle grounds. The immediate deductive implication of this, however, is that the big powers were actually responsible for the then global insecurity, from 1945 to1989, even though various reasons, ranging from bad governance, corruption, political dictatorship to economic poverty, ethnic chauvinism and marginalisation were also adduced.

In contemporary times, one major dynamics of global insecurity is national self-deceit which is hardly talked about but which, indeed, is a major rationale for political unrest, self-determination struggle and loss of interest in patriotism. National governance, like global governance is largely predicated on self-deceit. For instance, on the evening of Thursday, 9th February, 2017 (Nigerian time) there was a report on the sale of Venezuelan passports to people allegedly linked to terrorists. The Venezuelan whistleblower, Misael López, who is a Venezuelan by nationality and working in the Embassy of Venezuela in Bagdad, Iraq before he was relieved of his position, has consistently been complaining about the sale of valid Venezuela passports. His complaints have not been listened to and have therefore been to no avail.

On listening to the details of the report, what came to my mind was how the General Ike Omar Nwachukwu-led Governing Council of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) managed the affairs of the NIIA, how it completely destroyed the goodness with which the Institute had been known and associated over the years, how it particularly covered up acts of serious indiscipline by staff brought to its attention by the Director General of the institution, and how it bastardised professorship in Nigeria, and more disturbingly, how it can distort facts without fear of God. The CNN report also reminded of the role of the Supervisory Authority, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which not only set aside the report of a panel of inquiry in which a representative of the same Ministry, the Public Service Commission, Head of Service, etc, participated. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs never shown interest in the report. The interest of the Supervisor was to promote untruth by taking reports of the Ike Nwachukwu-led Council as truth without finding out about the other side of the story.

Put differently, governance in Nigeria is largely that of untruth.

Nigeria is a country where truth and peace does not inform national development simply because the political system is against honesty, it is against patriotism, it is against hard work. It is against merit. If the Muhammadu Buhari administration can have the luxury of receiving petitions and take decisions on the basis of the petitions without bothering to ask any questions from the person against whom the petitions are written, why should anyone expect to have peace? Can there be any enduring foundation for national development, good neighbourliness, commitment to national unity? In fact, how do you establish the truth with one version of ‘truth’??

There is no truth in the governance of Nigeria and that is why Nigeria’s problem is complex and that is also why all those world leaders purporting to be seeking global peace must be dreaming.

They want to fight international terror but they also consciously aid and abet it. They want global peace but they also intensify the manufacture of more sophisticated weapons. The sophistication of their weapons has even become a new threat to their own survival.

And true enough, President Donald Trump has become a political saga, a phenomenon that raises critical challenges to global peace and security, especially in the area of cyber warfare, nuclear war and international terrorism.

The sale of Venezuela passports with valid visa is not only a good pointer to impending and deepened challenges in the containment efforts of global terror in the near future. The sale also illustrates why and how global peace cannot but be far-fetched.

Like the Government does not appear to be interested in fairness and justice at the ordinary level of the honest people of Nigeria,

VIE INTERNATIONALE with

Bola A. Akinterinwa Telephone : 0807-688-2846

e-mail: bolyttag@yahoo.com

Onyeama, Minister of Foreign Affairs

the Venezuelan government has also not shown much interest in the allegations against it that its embassy in Bagdad is no longer a normal diplomatic mission but one that has actually become a centre for activities incompatible with the diplomatic status of the mission.

Put differently, if the Embassy of Venezuela is accused of selling its national passports, with the public insinuation that they are consciously being sold to terrorists directly or indirectly, why is the Government of Venezuela unable to disabuse the mind of the international community? Why is it silent over it since the past two years? If it is true that Venezuelan passports are put on sale, probably to raise funds for the mission, is Venezuela not a terrorist state because many countries do sponsor terrorism in international relations?

When governments engage in the use of terror, it is hardly talked about and it is hardly taken as a criminal offence. It is only when such governments are perceived to be weak or when individuals are involved that the use of terror is seriously taken as an offence or crime. The sale of passports directly or indirectly to terrorists is very criminally. It is a direct threat to the maintenance of global peace and security. It ought to be internationally investigated because of its implications for global security.

The Sale of Venezuela Passports The whistleblower, Israel López, is a lawyer and citizen of Venezuela. He worked as a legal adviser to the Embassy of Venezuela in Iraq from July 2013 to July 2015, but for acting as a whistleblower, he was dismissed in September 2015 for revealing ‘reserved, confidential or secret matters’ to which he had lawful access.

As reported, in November 2015, Israel López posted a video to YouTube and showed how other Embassy officials wanted him to participate in the commercialisation of the Venezuelan identification documents, and particularly in the sale of authentic Venezuelan passports with valid visas to the highest bidders in the Middle East.

As Israel López put it, he has ‘made public how, under the complacent eye of diplomats in the mission (in Baghdad) local employees delivered visas, passports, birth certificates, and other types of Venezuelan documentation to citizens of Syria, Iraq, Palestine, and in some cases, Pakistan.’ More important, Israel

For as long as untruth is allowed to be the foundation of political governance in Nigeria, for as long as people who are not leaders are allowed to frolic around and purport to be leaders, for as long as carpenters are called wood engineers, or call people professors but without having actually professed, or asking carpenters to determine the fate of surgeons or simply appointing someone a Field Marshall when he or she has never fought in any war, this cannot but be an expression of self-deceit in all ramifications

López said, ‘in many cases, they were tied to terrorist groups, most of the Shiites variety,’ and that the average price of any of such documents is US $15,000=.

In between 2008 and 2013, 173 Middle Eastern nationals acquired the controversial passports. What is important to note about the Venezuelan passport is that it can be used to travel to more than 130 countries without visa. this, undoubtedly, cannot but be a resultant of bilateral agreements that might have been done with several countries.

What is again noteworthy is that the Government of Venezuela has denied the allegations, thus raising the question as to who really is telling the truth. Let us imagine a scenario in which a Government sets up a panel of inquiry to look at allegations or petitions, and the panel makes enquiries at the level of the petitioners but failed to make any inquiry at the level of the accused, and yet the Government is presenting itself as an apostle of fair hearing and justice. In this regard, who will believe the apostle? What do you expect would be the reaction of the accused and the general public?

Israel López claimed that he drew the attention of the then Ambassador of Venezuela to Iraq, His Excellency, Mr. Jonathan Velasco, to the issue but nothing was done. Israel López has therefore been consistently drawing international public attention to his allegations but the Venezuelan authority is not seriously and much concerned about them. This attitude is an expression of self-deceit as international opinion can only be increasingly strengthened in its belief that Venezuela has been aiding and abetting the use of terror in international life with its attitude. This is why academic objectivity of purpose, patriotism, and peace cannot but be difficult to come by as clearly revealed in the case of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs and particularly as regards Venezuela.

The case of the sale of the Venezuelan passports is more about an intra-diplomatic saga in which a citizen disagrees with its government on the issuance of their national passports and other identification documents to terrorists. Israel López alleges but his government denies, so there are elements of doubts. If a government wants to engage in an activity against which citizens take a stand, what should be done? Government has sacked the whistleblower but the whistleblower has not stopped his whistle blowing.

As noted by the CNN editor, ‘a joint investigation by CNN and CNN en Espagñol uncovered serious irregularities in the issuing of Venezuela passports and visas. The investigation involved reviewing thousands of documents, conducting interviews in the United States, Spain, Venezuela and the United Kingdom, as well as tracking down various officials from Venezuela.’

From the perspective of the CNN, the thesis of Israel López appears to be valid. If this is so, why is the Government of Venezuela denying? What does the denial really mean for the maintenance of international peace and security? What is the place of untruth in the general conduct and management of international relations? And perhaps more disturbingly, is the engagement in untruth not an expression of self-deceit and indignity? How far can self-deceit go to promote trust on the part of another stakeholder with who one may be seeking to relate?

In other words, what can be the main rationale for selling passports beyond hypothesising the intention to aid and abet terrorism? There is no disputing the fact that a passport is not simply an instrument of identification, its possession also confers some privileges and rights, such as preferential treatments at the airports.

Apassport is used to control immigration, and particularly to prevent personae non grata from entering a country or to facilitate the entry of visiting friends of the country.

For instance, President Donald Trump placed a ban on holders of passports issued by some countries (Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Somalia, Yemen, etc) in an attempt to prevent them from entering the United States. If any citizen of the foregoing countries presents himself or herself at any of the ports of entry into the United States, but with a valid Venezuelan passport and with a valid visa, how will the American immigration authorities know that the visitor is not a Venezuelan, especially that he is not only holding a Venezuelan passport but especially that Venezuela is not among the countries banned by Donald Trump? If the holder of the passport has a terrorist inclination and is allowed into the United States on the consideration of his possession of a Venezuelan passport, how will the objective of the anti-terrorist war or struggle or policy be achieved and meaningful in this case?

National Self-deceit and Global Insecurity As shown above, there can be no disputing the fact that selfdeceit is a major dynamic of insecurity. The Americans are yet to accept that they made a fundamental error in electing Mr. Donald Trump as the 45th US president. With his election, rather than tow the path of making America great again, the great people of America are gradually treading the path of decline. Global hostility vis-a-vis the United States has sharply increased following the election of Donald Trump. Thousands of people in the United Kingdom have been protesting against Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK later in the year. His Executive Orders aimed at Making America Great Again have been challenged in the law court and have been suspended. Without doubt, the foregoing are manifestations of self-deceit that do not allow world leaders to see clearly the myopic character of their thinking in a world of globalisation.

(See concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com)

17

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ FEBRUARY 12, 2017

BUSINESS QUICK TAKES

Power Sector

Lekki-Ikoyi Link bridge.... an example of modern infrastructure project

With 780% Oversubscription of Eurobond, Nigeria’s Economy Remains Resilient, Attractive Kunle Aderinokun Not even the recession plaguing Nigerian economy could deter international investors from patronising the $1 billion Eurobond issued by the federal government last Thursday.

Investors swooped on the bond, which the federal government sold at the international market to raise $1 billion to finance capital expenditure and deficit in its budget, subscribing to it about eight times over. Given the success of the $1 billion Eurobond issue, which was subscribed to in excess of $7.8 billion, translating to an oversubscription of 780 per cent, analysts have posited that the development showed that the Nigeria’s economy is still resilient and attractive to foreign investors.

The $1 billion Eurobond, which is a borrowing with an annual coupon of 7.875 per cent over a period of 15 years is a third issue by the federal government with February 16, 2032 as maturity date for repayment on the principal. The precursors were issued in 2011 and 2013. The $1 billion Eurobond issued under Nigeria’s newly established Global Medium Term Note programme.

The government has said the offering attracted significant interest from leading global institutional investors.

The notes would be admitted to the official list of the UK Listing Authority and available to trade on the London Stock Exchange’s regulated market.

“Nigeria will apply for the notes to be eligible for trading and listed on the Nigerian FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange and the Nigerian Stock Exchange,” finance ministry said in statement.

According to the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, who spoke with journalists at the conclusion of the transaction, “The Eurobond is part of our funding strategy for our 2016 capital expenditure and will be spent on key infrastructure projects, in line with our economic plan.

“Over the last two weeks, I have been

ECONOMY privileged to lead a strong delegation including the Minister for Budget and National Planning, the Central Bank Governor, the DG of the Debt Management Office, the DG of the Budget Office and representatives of the National Assembly to engage international investors and we’ve been very pleased with the response. The investment community understands the strategy we are adopting and have been positive. That is reflected in the bond being almost 8 times oversubscribed.”

Adeosun enthused that, “The international capital markets are a key source of capital for us and our sovereign issuance provides a key benchmark for corporate borrowers looking to tap the ICM.” “Ultimately, we want to achieve an optimal mix of borrowing from the ICM and other external sources, including concessional funding from the World Bank and China, as part of the 2017 budget process,” she added.

This latest development has attracted the attention of economic analysts and market watchers, who have rated the bond as appropriately priced and described the bond’s outing as a very exciting one.

According the Chief Executive Officer, The CFG Advisory, Adetilewa Adebajo, “The Nigerian Eurobond Offer at 7.8 per cent was appropriately priced to offset the risk rating, therefore the over subscription did not come as surprise.”

Adebajo explained that, “What this illustrates, is the attractiveness of the Nigerian Sovereign bond to Global institutional Investors and the Nigerian Sovereign can tap the International Financial Markets to diversify our government debt portfolio.”

Pointing out that, “The domestic treasury bonds still have very high yields at 22 per cent,” the economist noted that, “The focus therefore should be on achieving the right balance in our debt portfolio with diversifying in The Domestic Markets, Euro Bond Markets and Concessionary

Finance from the Multilateral Agencies and Foreign Government Agencies, to reduce the current cost of debt service which takes out 35 per cent of our revenues.”

In his own analysis, Executive Director, Corporate Finance, BGL Capital Ltd, Femi Ademola, noted that, “The oversubscription and the very attractive yield of the FG 3rd Eurobond is a very exciting development.”

According to him, “This will lower the country’s risk profile and help corporate entities in Nigeria to attract foreign capital at good yields. It may also suggest that the economic recession is locally overrated.”

“However, I will say that the structure The Eurobond is part of our funding strategy for our 2016 capital expenditure and will be spent on key infrastructure projects, in line with our economic plan

of the debt programme and its implications may have helped to improve its attractiveness and lower the risk profile.

“Firstly, the size of the offer is small.

So that when compared to our foreign reserve and foreign earning capacity, the risk of default is considerably low. It could be a different risk profile if the size was $5billion or $10billion.

“Secondly, the tenor is comfortably low.

A fifteen year term indicates that whatever the country is going through now, it is expected to have been resolved before the repayment of the loan,” Ademola added.

Ademola also noted: “Another important thing is that the loan is tier to capital expenditure in the budget, that is, social/ economic investment which could in turn generate economic activities and attract tax revenue for the repayment of the loan. In other words, the application of the loan and the response from investors justifies the argument that debts are not a bad idea

for public investment purposes.”

“In all, we must thank the Government team led by the Minister of Finance and congratulate them for a job well done,” he concluded.

In the same vein, Director, Union Capital Markets Limited, Egie Akpata, said it was not a surprise that the issue was oversubscribed.

Akpata noted that, “The level of oversubscription seems high but it only tells us that there was a lot of demand well above the final issue price of 7.875 per cent”, pointing out that, “Demand of $1bn at say 9 per cent only tells us that an investor is happy with Nigeria risk at that level.”

Contending that, “It is not a vote of confidence in the country or the economy,” Akpata said, “On the contrary, the pricing of this bond issue shows that not up to $1bn is out there for a Nigerian Eurobond at substantially lower than 7.875 per cent.

This pricing is higher than what would obtain for a number of other similar rated emerging market sovereign issuers.”

Akpata explained: “It is worth noting that the only obligation of the Nigerian government for this issue is to pay the annual coupon of $78.75million. That is less than 1 day of oil output for Nigeria.

There is virtually no chance that the FGN will have difficulty paying the coupon over the 15 year life of the bond. That is why the bond was always destined to ‘succeed’ where success means getting investors to buy the entire $1bn at a ‘reasonable’ price.”

“It would be instructive to review the bond’s trading performance after 1 month.

It is very likely that some of that excess demand that missed out on the bond in the primary market will go into the secondary market to buy the bond and push its price up and hence reduce the yield it would fetch on the secondary market. Eventual yield of under 7.3 per cent in the secondary market would not be surprising,” he added.

ActingDirector-GeneraloftheBureau ofPublicEnterprises(BPE),Dr.Vincent OnomeAkpotaire,hassuggestedthat forthepowerprivatisationinNigeriato work,theindustry’sregulator-Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) must be allowed to perform its mandate without interference.

He spoke at a two-day stakeholders dialogue/workshop organized by the joint committees of the National Assembly on Power in Abuja. Akpotaire said that NERC must be allowed to fix tariffs in line with the Electric Power Sector Reform Act (EPSRA) without interference from any quarters and thatifthetariffsareconsideredhighthe governmentcoulddecidetomitigatethe effectsbytakingupapercentageofthe tariffsinsteadofoutrightcancellation.

TheactingDirector-Generalcautioned against the blame-game in the power sector and appealed to the Executive andtheLegislativearmsofthegovernment as well as other stakeholders to cometogether to find solutions to the sector’schallenges.Explainingwhythe Federal Government was being asked tosubsidisetheNigeriaElectricSupply Industry (NESI), he said that the loss levels at the point of privatisation of thepowersector,thatistheAggregate Technical, Commercial and Collection (ATC &C) loss of Nigeria was about 50 per cent on the average which could not be fully passed to consumers immediately to avoid rate shock and consumer rebellion.

Telecoms

TheSenatehastoldtheFederalGovernment that some telecommunications operatorsinNigeriaarerelocatingtheir NetworkOperationCentrestoIndia.The development,thelawmakerssaid,posed dangertonationalsecurity.Thewarning wascontainedinapressreleaseissued bytheSenateCommitteeonCommunications.Itsaidthecommitteeinformed the Minister of Communications, Mr. Adebayo Shittu, about the development when he appeared before the lawmakerstodefendthe2017budget of the ministry. At the budget defence session,ChairmanofSenateCommittee on Communications, Senator Gilbert Nnaji, was quoted to have said, “Some ofthecompanieshavestartedrelocating their Network Operation Centres from Nigeria to India, which has grave implicationonnationalsecurity,asthese centreswouldbemonitoredbyforeignersfromoutsidetheshoresofNigeria.”

Nnajiurgedtheministertourgentlytake necessaryactionstowardsarrestingthe situation before it degenerated into a national threat.

Manufacturing

TheZonalCoordinator,ZoneA ‘ ’oftheNigeriaCustomsService(NCS),Assistant Comptroller-General,Monday Abueh, has said the federal government may reversetheforeignexchangerestriction placed on 41 items imported into the country.AbuehdisclosedthisinIbadan during his familiarisation tour of the Oyo-Osun Commands as part of his visits to Customs formations under his jurisdiction. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in July 2015, restricted 41items,includingvegetableoil,poultry products,toothpicks,cosmetics,plastic andrubberproducts,amongothers,from accessing foreign exchange from the interbank foreign exchange market.

Importers of the restricted items are expectedtosourcetheirforexrequirementsfromautonomoussources.The CBNhashoweverdeniedknowledgeof theplannedpolicyreversal.Spokesman of the apex body, Isaac Okoroafor, told THISDAY that he was unaware of the basis for the Customs official’s statementaddingthatthepolicyhasbegun to yield result.

18

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ FEBRUARY 12, 2017

BUSINESS/INDUSTRY

Growing Small Businesses in Lagos State With a 5 per cent interest rate loan scheme, the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund seems poised to answer the call by Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise owners for an immediate rate cut to enable them access finance for business expansion, writes Kunle Aderinokun

L-R: Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode; Chairman, Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru; Beneficiary, Akintoye Adetona Andrea, and Executive Secretary, Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), Akin Oyebode, at the presentation ceremony for the beneficiaries of the LSETF loan Scheme at Agidingbi, Lagos…

T

he Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) scheme, which is a brainchild of Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, was set up to help drive economic growth and the resultant job creation by enhancing the capacity of the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises in the state. This is in recognition of their critical role as the engine of growth in any economy anywhere in the world.

To ensure that the scheme was institutionalised, Ambode sent a bill to the Lagos State House of Assembly to establish the LSETF by an Act of the House of Assembly. He also committed N25 billion to the scheme for the next four years.

The LSETF was thus mandated to provide access to very affordable financing and institutional support to MSMEs in the state, to help create a pipeline of entrepreneurs who would contribute to stronger economic prosperity of Lagos economy.

In the light of this, the LSETF is offering entrepreneurs within the Micro-Enterprise space - carpenters, hairdressers, electricians, automobile parts repairers, block makers, bakers, fashion designers, cake makers, food sellers, kerosene retailers, mobile money agents, painters, plumbers, photographers and light manufacturers of liquid soaps and water among others - a loan of up N500,000 at just 5 per cent interest rate to be repaid over 12 months. Similarly, small and medium scale entrepreneurs can get a

loan support of up to N5 million at 5 per cent interest rate per annum, to be repaid over 36 months. With the commercial banks offering 25 per cent interest rate on the facilities and the Bank of Industry a 9 per cent interest rate, the LSETF loan is by no means the lowest interest rate offerings in Nigeria today.

According to the LSETF Executive Secretary, Akin Oyebode,“The Fund’s strategic objective is to provide support to at least 100,000 MSMEs; create at least 300,000 direct and up to 600,000 indirect jobs by 2019”. Even more credible is the fact that every registered Lagos resident, irrespective of their ethnicity, religion, gender or any other affiliations is qualified to apply. The scheme which is free to Lagos residents, only requires evidence of registration with Lagos State Resident Registration Agency (LASRRA); registration with Lagos State tax agency; valid identity document; Bank Verification Number (BVN); Guarantors, amongst other relevant documents depending on how much loan is being requested.

To ensure transparency and unbiased process in accessing the fund, Oyebode said the LSETF had engaged partners to help with the selection, verification and disbursement of the loans to beneficiaries.“These partners include Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC) who verified all the applications and audit the processes.

Others include organizations such as the Fate Foundation, LEAP Africa, Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists

(NASSI), Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ), National Automobile Technicians Association (NATA) and Cooperative Societies, who provided applicants for the pilot scheme through their membership,” Oyebode said.

Already, 705 beneficiaries have been able to access up to N1 billion from the Fund. On January 26, 2017, Governor Ambode hosted a cheque presentation ceremony for the first batch of beneficiaries who were selected during the pilot phase of the scheme.“These beneficiaries are making history as the first set of beneficiaries of this Employment Trust Fund, and my charge to you is simple: You must use these funds responsibly, grow your businesses, create jobs for our unemployed youths and contribute to the growth of the Lagos State GDP. The idea is that for every N1million we disburse, we should create a minimum of five jobs around that business value chain.

“These loans have been provided at a very affordable rate of 5 per cent per annum, far cheaper than the prevailing bank interest of 25 per cent per annum. This is our modest way of reflating the Lagos economy, creating jobs and getting our youths gainfully occupied.

Those of you here today, the first beneficiaries of this initiative, will be the agents through which our country can overcome its current economic challenges,”Ambode said. He also enjoined market women and female artisans to take advantage of the opportunity as his administration was particularly interested in supporting women in business.

One of the beneficiaries Mr. Ahmed Ojikutu, who is also the President of Computer & Allied Products Dealers Association of Nigeria (CAPDAN) thanked Ambode for the initiative, saying, it was gratifying to note that the process was very transparent.

Another beneficiary, Mr. Chike Obi, revealed that he was sceptical that as a ‘non-indigene’ of Lagos State, his loan request may not be granted. “It shows that this is a transparent process”, he said. Obi revealed that he was attracted by the offer of a single digit interest rate as the fund would help him expand his make-up and beauty product business.

Commenting on the need for a pilot process, Oyebode stated that, “It is critical for us to test our process ahead of a full roll out. This is to ensure that we have an incident-free go-live and an unwavering confidence in our ability to deliver an unbiased, inclusive and transparent process to determine those deserving of being beneficiaries of the scheme.”

Significantly, the mandate of the LSETF also extends to improving the employability of our unemployed youths, through up skilling and job placements.

This is in addition to helping start-ups with creative, innovative and compelling business model with access to funding, world-class facilities and infrastructure, trainings and mentorship. To this, the Ambode enjoined the LSETF team to pay special attention to the entertainment industry and the Tech Hubs in Sabo, Yaba area. These are new areas with huge potential for growth and job creation.

19

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ FEBRUARY 12, 2017

BUSINESS/ENERGY

Profiting from Improved Crude Prices and Production Volumes In recent times, crude oil prices have risen, hitting $57 per barrel on the average, which when considered with Nigeria’s exclusion from an OPEC production freeze, may have increased accretion to the country’s foreign reserves. Chineme Okafor writes on how this positive development could impact the country’s economy

N

igeria’s approved crude oil price benchmark in its 2016 federal budget was $38 per barrel, but oil prices have averaged $57 per barrel, leaving an excess of about $19/b earned by

the country.

By existing laws, these earnings from such excess crude oil revenue from her exports should be swept into an Excess Crude Account (ECA) which has now been replaced with the sovereign wealth fund managed by the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA).

Following the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) September 2016 crude oil export records of 1.3mbpd, Nigeria may have earned an average of $9.1 million daily as excess oil revenue when prices of crude oil was $45.04/b, and $24.7 million now that prices are within $57/b.

In addition to the benefits gained from the oil price and gap in the budget benchmark, the country was also exempted from participating in a production freeze agreed on by members of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), and non-OPEC members led by Russia.

Within this agreement reached in December in Vienna, Nigeria is allowed to grow its oil production to 2.2mbpd to allow it recover from production disruptions she experienced in 2015 and 2016, and even though this has not been achieved yet, she has however continued to increase production from her oil fields.

As equally reported by the November 2016 monthly financial and operations report of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and further confirmed by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, daily oil production has continued to grow and was at 1.87mbpd in October. This production volume is however divided into various groupings as well as earnings from them.

Implications With an excess earning of $19 on every barrel of oil produced and exported daily by the country, Nigeria should have some accretion to her foreign reserves so far and perhaps grown its balance from its share of oil sales and tax on oil.

To buttress this development, the October monthly report of the NNPC indicated that 18,049,253 barrels of oil was lifted by the Federal Government, 35,207,694 barrels by the International Oil Companies (IOCs) and other Independents, while 128,000 barrels was lifted through Alternative Funding, to bring the total lifting for the month to 53,384,947 barrels.

Earnings from these in terms of royalties, tax oil and others would, if matched with the rising prices of crude oil, contribute to the country’s reserves.

The CBN also stated in its report of the 30-day moving average for reserves that $28,582,433,315 was grossed by it as at last week indicating a 2.49 per cent growth in the reserves.

Simply put by experts, the increasing reserves could spur some level of confidence in the government’s monetary and exchange rate policies, as well as provide the country with some good buffers against unexpected economic distress.

It will also enhance the capacity of the CBN to proactively intervene in the country’s foreign exchange market, thus providing some levels of control against adverse movement in the foreign exchange market to ensure stability of the economy.

In addition, the development provides some

Oil workers on a rig

comfort to participants in the economy and foreign exchange market that the naira was backed by a strong external assets base. This in turn impacts positively on the equity markets and foreign investments.

Riding on the back of the two developments, market analysts posited that Nigeria could as well continue to grow her reserves and record excess revenue intakes because oil prices may remain quite above the 2017 budget benchmark of $42.50/b.

Crude oil prices have maintained a consistent rise, from about $53.13/b since January to about $54.24/b and then $57.01/b, which was recorded last week. Also, the rise which followed OPEC’s agreement with non-OPEC members to cut crude oil production by about 1.2mbpd may not be threatened by developments in the politics of the United States.

Analysts rather stated that emerging trends in the relationship between the United States and Iran which was only recently freed from an international trade embargo placed on it by the United States, may incentivise a continued price rise. They said if the development got uglier and Iran was banned from bring its crude oil into the international market, it could impact global oil supplies and drive up prices.

Iran is the third largest oil producer amongst OPEC members with about 3.975mbpd of production. The country was recently accused by the US of conducting tests of its mediumrange ballistic missiles recently, with President Donald Trump saying the development could undermine the security, prosperity and stability of the Middle East.

The US also warned that it could take punitive measures against Iran, and had in this regard officially notified Iran that the development violated the United Nations Security Council

Resolution 2231 against it not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles.

Ending Petrol Import by 2019 While Nigeria currently benefits from the rise in oil prices, she also has her predominantly import-based domestic petrol consumption draining the forex she gets from oil sales and her reserves.

According to reports, petrol importation, which requires some good volumes of foreign exchange has so far been the exclusive remit of the NNPC with about 90 per cent of imports done by it and 10 per cent by other independent oil marketers.

The country’s refineries in Warri, Kaduna and Port Harcourt which are managed by the NNPC have largely done poorly, and as such forced the country to depend on imported petrol and subsequent reliance on the reserves to fund the import.

This according to Kachikwu, will however change in 2019 when he noted the country would quit importation of refined petroleum products.

Kachikwu said at a public hearing on the review of pricing template for petrol, which the House of Representatives organised, that the refineries had been revived to contribute about eight million litres of petrol from over 20 million litres that is consumed in the country daily.

He explained that foreign investors have been invited to partner the NNPC to repair the country’s refineries within a two-year period, and that by 2018, the NNPC should be able to cut petrol import by 60 per cent while the private refinery currently under construction by the Dangote Group would clear up the balance by 2019 when it comes on stream.

Kachikwu said: “This has consistently served as

a target for this government so that by December 2018, NNPC must be able to deliver on some of the terms given them, one of which is to reduce petroleum importation by 60 per cent.

Cognisant of the fact that Dangote is building one refinery, we expect to have an excess situation.”

He said the current habit of selling crude oil alone at the international market must be reviewed

by Nigeria to include sales of refined petroleum products, adding that other oil producers were already making the shift from crude oil sellers to sellers of refined products.

“The world is leaving that, every member of OPEC is leaving that because the pricing, volume and market challenges is now shifting from selling crude to selling refined petroleum products. That is what this country must do and there is a template we are working on,” Kachikwu explained.

According to him, the government would create an enabling environment to support local refining of crude oil.

He, however, noted that, “The issue is not giving licences to illegality, the issue is how do we ensure that we create an investment environment that pulls individuals from illegal creek activities to legal business activities?”

“We are looking at modular refineries, about 60 licences were given out just before this government came in and none of that was utilised because it requires a lot of money, land and crude security.

“But now we are going out to identify refineries, get individuals who can build refineries on the same platforms where our refineries are and identify some key specific modular refineries backed up by foreign investments working with state governments. Hopefully, this will address the restiveness you see in the Niger Delta,” the minister stated.

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ FEBRUARY 12, 2017

INTERVIEW Adeosun: We’ll Utilise Govt Spending Power to Stimulate Unprecedented Investment Drive Following the successful outing with the $1 billion Eurobond, which is the third issue by the Federal Government, Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, who spoke to journalists last Thursday in New York, is optimistic that the international borrowing would contribute significantly to funding the infrastructure deficit and prepare the economy for recovery

N

igeria experienced its first full recession in decades in 2016. What is the government’s strategy for economic recovery?

At the heart of the government’s economic strategy is a recognition that we have to restructure the way the government spends money. Over the last decade Nigeria has experienced relatively strong growth, but much of this was fuelled by high oil prices. The broader economy was not delivering the growth that it is capable of, and which is needed if Nigerians are to experience improving living standards. We have been far too exposed to oil price shocks and in 2016, we saw both a major price fall and a simultaneous reduction in output, which is why the economy fell into recession. We have seen how vulnerable our economy is.

One of the main reasons for this was clear deficiencies with the way the federal budget was structured.

Nigeria has a huge infrastructure deficit and we cannot deliver broad-based growth if we don’t address that. Our budget process for the last decade has had only a very limited focus on infrastructure spending. That is why the 2016 and 2017 budgets have been fundamentally re-structured to deliver 30 per cent of spending on infrastructure projects.

We want to utilise government’s spending power to stimulate an unprecedented investment drive and attract private capital. Already, in 2016, we have spent more on infrastructure projects than any previous administration.

At the same time, far too much of the federal budget was focused on recurrent expenditure, which had become inflated and inefficient, with much of the money allocated to the process wasted, or ‘leaking.’

That is why we have spent so much time focused on reforming how government collects and allocates funds. The TSA means we fully understand the cash generation profile of all government agencies and can far more efficiently allocate funds to where they are needed. The impact of every naira and kobo that we spend is far greater than it was when we started and we have far greater confidence in our execution capacity on projects.

Nigeria launched a new Eurobond programme

Adeosun

earlier this month. Can you tell us why, and what the outcome has been?

Our strategy for funding the 2016 and 2017 budget ensures that we utilise government revenue to deliver on recurrent expenditure obligations, while we raise long-term debt to fund capital spending.

The Eurobond is part of our funding strategy for our 2016 capital expenditure and will be spent on key infrastructure projects, in line with our economic plan.

Over the last 2 weeks I have been privileged to lead a strong delegation including the Minister for Budget and National Planning, the Central Bank Governor, the DG of the Debt Management Office, the DG of the Budget Office and representatives of the National Assembly to engage international investors and we’ve been very pleased with the response. The investment community understand the strategy we are adopting and have been positive.

That is reflected in the bond being almost 8 times

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ FEBRUARY 12, 2017

INTERVIEW

Nwankwo: We’re Aligning Long-term Debt with Infrastructure Needs Director-General, Debt Management Office (DMO), Dr. Abraham Nwankwo, in an interaction with journalists in New York, provided further insights on Nigeria’s debt strategy and the successful $1 billion Eurobond issue

T

he 2016 and 2017 Budgets include significant deficits that the government must fund by increased borrowing.

As the director-general of the Debt Management Office, this makes your role extremely important. Can you take us through the current government’s debt strategy and the motivation behind it?

What are the proceeds of the Eurobond going to be spent on?

The government has identified a clear focus on increased capital spending, with circa 30 per cent of the 2016 and 2017 budget’s allocated to capital spending. This is specifically designed to address significant structural issues and reset the economy. The Honourable Minister of Finance has spent considerable time ensuring that the system is ready to deploy these funds, with maximum efficiency and now is the time to invest.

The current Eurobond will be used specifically to fund critical infrastructure projects in the 2016 budget, with the objective of supporting activities in the real sector of the economy – agriculture, agro-processing, light manufacturing and solid minerals development.

First of all, we have to start from the position we are currently in. Our debt to GDP ratio is low compared to our contemporaries in Africa and other emerging markets. We have plenty of headroom to borrow further in order to fund growth, and that is the strategy that this government has adopted. But the emphasis of government is that proceeds of loans must be used to fund crucial infrastructure projects.

The value added has to be maximised.

Nigeria’s debt strategy is directly aligned to the spending plans of the Federal Government incorporated into the governments Medium Term Expenditure Framework. At the heart of the strategy is a clear recognition that Nigeria needs to deploy long-term, relatively cheaper capital to finance recovery and growth.

The Eurobond was priced at 7.875 per cent and over a 15-year term. Why ?

The government is very happy with the outcome from the roadshow and the transaction.

Not only did we get a good price for the debt, it was heavily oversubscribed. Investors remain confident in Nigeria’s outlook.

We elected to pursue a 15-year term because we need long term financing to enable infrastructure investment, and traditionally we have approached the market for 10-year money.

Over time and as we engage with markets further, we will be in a position to borrow on better terms, and over longer periods of time.

So Nigeria can afford to borrow further?

Absolutely, as I have said, we have a very low debt to GDP ratio; more importantly, the borrowed funds must be used to generate growth and employment and improve people’s living standards.

Where we need to focus, is on increasing government revenue so that the cost of servicing our debt portfolio decreases as a proportion of annual spending. We do not have too much debt, we simply do not have enough revenue, and that is the focus of this government and has been for the last 18 months.

What is the return we are going to get for all these debts? Is it worth it?

As a country, we need to fix our broken infrastructure. It is fundamental to achieving long-term growth and improved quality of life. Adequate infrastructure is essential for

Can we expect further borrowing in 2017? And from where?

Nwankwo diversifying revenue sources and making the economy more competitive. We are aligning long-term debt with those infrastructure needs and are committed to delivering an economy that works better for all of us.

What about the risks associated with borrowing in dollars given current forex liquidity issues?

We believe these risks are very manageable.

With loans of up to 15 years, at a relatively favorable cost, the competitiveness that will result from the improvement in infrastructure will enable the country to generate enough foreign exchange in the medium to long term to service these debts.

In essence, strategic long-term foreign borrowing at this time is imperative for overcoming the dependence on oil for almost all of the country’s foreign exchange earnings.

Yes. The 2017 budget includes a deficit of N2.32 trillion of which N1.067 trillion will be sourced from external sources. The Eurobond we’ve just completed was to fund the deficit and capital spending in the 2016 budget; for the 2017 budget we will be determining the optimal approach over coming months.

In addition, N1.254 trillion will be raised from the domestic capital markets giving us a 46:54 debt ratio between international and domestic borrowing to finance the 2017 budget deficit.

Adeosun: We’ll Utilise Govt Spending Power to Stimulate Unprecedented Investment Drive oversubscribed.

What are the terms of the Eurobond? Why is it better than domestic borrowing? Or borrowing from other external sources like the World Bank or China?

We have borrowed US$1 billion over a 15-year period, with an annual coupon of 7.875 per cent.

That compares to an average naira borrowing rate of 15 per cent. The international capital markets are a key source of capital for us and our sovereign issuance provides a key benchmark for corporate borrowers looking to tap the ICM. Ultimately, we want to achieve an optimal mix of borrowing from the ICM and other external sources, including concessional funding from the World Bank and China, as part of the 2017 budget process.

What does this mean for the man on the street? Does this make his life any easier?

We know that the state of the economy is creating challenges for people across the country. Inflation is high and so prices are rising. That’s why we have been working to ensure

our social intervention programmes are prioritised, and we have already started the conditional payments programme.

But we also know that the reason we are in this situation is because we have not taken the hard decisions to re-structure our economy and we must do so now, if we are going to offer the prospect of long-term improvement in quality of life for all Nigerians.

How can the government raise further foreign debt given the current challenges with foreign exchange liquidity?

The simple reality is that international debt is considerably cheaper than domestic debt and while we extensively utilise domestic debt instruments, we need longer term and cheaper debt to allocate to infrastructure spending. That is available from international sources, and we are seeking to maximise the tenure and minimise the cost of this debt so we get the best deal for Nigeria.

Why has it taken so long for the government to raise the Eurobond?

The Eurobond programme was approved as part of the 2016 budget, but that process began late, with final

budget approval only delivered in May 2016.

We’ve extended the 2016 budget spending cycle through to the end of March 2017.

The Eurobond, and the AfDB loan we secured late last year, are allocated to capital projects identified in that budget.

Is this the end of borrowing, or should we expect more?

The government’s debt strategy has been well defined and approved by the National Assembly. We are focused on re-balancing our debt profile to ensure we have longer term debt that can be used to fund infrastructure development.

You can expect to see us continue to raise international funds over the coming two years as we work towards an optimal debt profile.

Can we afford that level of debt?

Yes. We have one of the lowest debt-to -GDP ratios amongst emerging economies. We have the headroom to borrow, but we must not be complacent.

We must ensure that we are rapidly increasing government revenue at the same time to give us enhanced

Cont’d from Pg. 20

resources to deliver growth.

How are you going to increase revenue generation then?

We know we have to expand the tax base. Nigeria’s tax contribution to GDP is only 6 per cent, that’s one of the lowest anywhere in the world and reflects decades of the population’s unwillingness to contribute to government revenue, often because they don’t believe the money will be spent appropriately, or for their own good.

That is the situation we have to change, and it is why we spent so much of 2016 re-structuring the way government collects, allocates and spends money. We have to build confidence in that process, if we are to attract the kind of tax base that can deliver increased government revenue.

We believe that if we show Nigerians things can be done differently, then we can rebuild the social contract with citizens to pay their fair share of taxes.

We are already beginning to deliver on this, with a focus on improved customs collections, including migration to a single window (with support from the NSIA) and simultaneously strengthening controls in SOEs.

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22

BUSINESS/TRANSPORT

Passengers waiting to board a train in Lagos

Stimulating Economic Activities with Lagos-Ibadan Railway Apart from easing the nightmare that passengers face, on daily basis, travelling from Lagos to Ibadan as a result of traffic gridlock, the rail project will promote easy movement of goods among traders, writes Francis Ugwoke

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ven with the economic recession, the Lagos-Ibadan rail project will, any moment from now, kick-off. Thanks to the current arrangement, which the federal government has with the Chinese that will be involved in the funding of the project. Government is relying on a loan facility that will come from China.

Already, the federal government has paid N72 billion which is required as counterpart funding on the Lagos-Ibadan rail project.

Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, had explained that with the counterpart funding paid, the rest of the money needed for the project would be provided by the Chinese. Amaechi said: “On the construction of the Lagos-Ibadan Railway, the Minister of Finance has been kind enough to release the counterpart funding in full. I think in the history of Nigeria this is first time that we are releasing counterpart funds in full so that there will be no delay since the Chinese loan appears to have been approved.”

Amaechi had indicated that the project would begin any moment from this month.

And to ensure that the project is not delayed, he has appealed to the National Assembly to cooperate with the federal government by approving the $30 billion general loan as the amount required for the rail project is also part of it. According to him,“the only thing we need to do is to plead with the National Assembly to approve the $30billion loan. If you don’t encourage the National Assembly to make that approval, then, the economy

won’t be making the kind of progress we want it to make. So, I will enjoin you to persuade the National Assembly to kindly make that approval because they are tied to projects.”

The Ibadan rail project was awarded at the cost of $1.5billion (N458billon). It was awarded to the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, CCEC and it is expected that the project would be jointly funded by Nigerian and Chinese governments.

From 2006 to Date The rail project was the idea of the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who awarded it in 2006. Due to lack of funds, the administration did not execute the project. It was then picked up by the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2012. It was to be carried out in six phases. But again, Jonathan’s administration also failed after all the media hype. It involves the construction of a standard gauge rail line from Lagos to Ibadan.

The Managing Director, Nigerian Railway Corporation, Mr. Fidet Okheria, was reported as saying that with the counterpart funding already paid by the government, the Chinese is expected to release its own counterpart funds this month, meaning that any moment, the project will start soon. The Lagos-Ibadan rail is 156.65 kilometres. It will be double line, which by design will be the first phase of a new Lagos-Kano standard gauge line.

The Transport Ministry officials explained that it will co-exist with the old narrow gauge rail line. It is expected to be completed in

18 months.

Rail Lines and Seaports Apart from Lagos - Ibadan rail line, the federal government has also initiated other rail projects that will cover many parts of the country. The rail lines will be connected to the seaports in the country. The rail projects include those of Lagos-Calabar and Kaduna-Kano rail lines. Government had first signed the Lagos-Ibadan and Calabar-Port Harcourt rail projects after agreeing to cut the total cost from $11.917billion to $11.117billion. The Transport Minister explained that the cost was reduced after negotiating with the Chinese firm. He explained that, “the contract was awarded by the regime of former President Goodluck Jonathan for $11.917 billion. When we took over at the ministry, we renegotiated with the CCECC and we succeeded in reducing the contract sum from $11.917 billion to $11.117billion and we are able to save $800million after the renegotiation.”

There is also the Lagos-Calabar rail line.

Amaechi said the Chinese firm would begin the “construction of the first segment with Calabar-Uyo and Aba-Port Harcourt, and this will include all the seaports on this route.

But the entire contract covers Calabar, Uyo, Port Harcourt,Yenogoa, Otuoke, Ughelli, Warri, Benin, Agbor, Asaba, Onitsha and back to Benin, Ore, Sagamu and Lagos.”

Rail and Dry Ports One good thing about the rail projects is that once completed, it will be a big boost to the Inland Container Depots (ICDs)

scattered in the six-geographical parts of the country. Many of the concessionaires have been slow in completing the construction of the ICDs, otherwise known as dry ports, due to infrastructure issues. They consider the bad state of the roads and conveying containers from any of the ports in Lagos or the east to the dry ports as very difficult without rail. But following the serious efforts made in executing rail projects, many of the concessionaires have begun more serious efforts in construction work on the sites.

Modern port system without rail links has been described as incomplete, one of the reasons that the government is taking rail links to the ports very serious. The rail eliminates all the risk involved in travelling alone to far distances with the containers on trucks.

Answer to Gridlock The rail projects when completed, as government has promised, will be a big relief for many Nigerians travelling to any part of the country. Apart from reducing the transport fare for passengers, it will be easier for movement of various goods from one part of the country to another. It will benefit traders the more as it will be easier to move their goods through train than using vehicles. It is expected to bring prices of food down as a reflection of the affordable transport fare. It will also reduce the carnage that has also been witnessed on the road. Train accident hardly occurs and this explains why it is one of the best form of transportation. In advanced countries, it is the best form of inter-state transport.

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BUSINESS/ECONOMY

Looking at Biofuel Market for Forex Earnings Chaperoned by the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), Nigeria is beginning to explore the possibilities of earning foreign exchange from the increasingly competitive biofuel industry, in addition to providing cleaner energy fuel. Besides, the nation also plans to stimulate a domestic biofuel industry with $50 billion seed funding. Chineme Okafor writes

A

lthough hydrocarbon (crude oil and gas) has remained the backbone of Nigeria’s economy, providing up to 90 per cent of foreign exchange (forex), which the country relies on to balance her trade interactions in the global marketplace as well as sustain economic activities within her territories, it has however, contributed just about 30 per cent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), thus indicating that its hold on the economy though currently enormous, could be reduced if sustainable alternatives were found.

While the oil sector exerted so much influence on the country’s forex and yet minimal impacts on its GDP figures, agriculture has, on the other hand, contributed between 30 and 40 per cent to Nigeria’s GDP, and has reportedly employed more labour than oil has ever done, so far.

Essentially, Nigeria is an agrarian country, and has an estimated 71 million hectares of her land mass available for agricultural activities. Out of this much, she has also reportedly been able to cultivate about 40.5 million hectares, albeit not really on large scale mechanised level.

Even though she has largely been unable to maximise the values of its cultivated land areas, Nigeria last week initiated some bold steps that could see her leverage on the potentials of her agriculture to grow an alternative means to earning foreign exchange and provide clean energy for her citizens.

Currently driven by the PPPRA, an agency of the government that oversees and regulates pricing and distribution of petroleum products in the country, and the Renewable Energy Department of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the country launched a review and sensitisation of a national policy to develop biofuel production and usage in the country.

The policy as disclosed by the Acting Executive Secretary of the PPPRA, Mr. Victor Shidok, during a workshop in Abuja would set the pace for the development of a vibrant domestic and export-based biofuel industry.

The new industry would provide cheaper and clean energy fuel, reduce the volume of fossil fuel imported into Nigeria with the inclusion of bioethanol and biodiesel in the country’s petroleum products stock, as well as earn foreign exchange for the country.

The Choice and Justification Because Nigeria had relied heavily on hydrocarbon as her single largest forex earner, she has in this regard, become extremely vulnerable to the fluctuations in the global crude oil market square, which quite frankly occurs on a cyclical basis.

Besides the periodic fluctuations in her crude oil earnings, the country also spends huge forex importing almost all of the petroleum products consumed by her domestic economy.

This, on its part, hugely impacts her reserves and products’ supply stability.

She also relies on fossil fuel to provide her electricity. Eighty per cent of her public generated power come from gas plants while 20 per cent are from three functional hydro power plants up north. A vibrant biofuel industry would, in addition to helping Nigeria

the country. Basically, we have to plan and we are looking at the next two years to see this industry kick off if the policy is gazetted and passed into law by the government.

“We are looking at the West African region as our potential market to earn forex because we do not just want to achieve self-sufficiency but also export to our neighbouring West African countries,” he added.

Shidok also noted that a vibrant biofuel production could spur commercial industrialised agriculture in Nigeria, as well as a huge opportunity for the country to pivot to the biofuel export market, which experts said was growing on a fast trend.

His sentiments were also shared by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, who said at the workshop that, “Time has come for us to explore alternative energy and revenue sources with the abundance of land and great vegetation available at our disposal. I believe biofuels will soon become our foreign exchange earner if we can apply both our mind and might into it.”

Shidok

diversify her energy sources to include clean biofuel as an energy source, cut down her expenditure on petrol importation and reduce shocks from sudden revenue drop from oil price movements.

According to experts, biofuel presents an opportunity for Nigeria to now adjust its energy mix and revenue generation sources.

It also provides her a good platform to cut down her unemployment figures as she can gradually drive more of her young people to cultivate, process, and supply biofuel feedstock to operators or refiners.

Shidok said in his assessment of Nigeria’s biofuel potential, that its feedstock could be produced in almost all parts of Nigeria.

He said cassava, sweet sorghum, sugarcane, jathropha, and palm fruits which are the major feedstock for biofuel production can be grown in states across the country, while municipal waste are also generated from cities across the country.

He noted that PPPRA took up the government’s renewed interest in commercialising the biofuel industry, to bring stakeholders to review the policy which he said was initially import based, adding that it would now emphasise on domestic market and self-sufficiency in biofuel production for Nigeria.

According to him, the agency would coordinate the policy review and ensure that stakeholders’ inputs are comprehensively taken to achieve acceptability before launching the sector.

“This is to make people understand that there are other alternatives to fossil fuel, and

$50 Billion Kitty To support the new drive for a large-scale domestic biofuel production and Nigeria’s energy diversification, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) also disclosed at the workshop that the government would invest about $50 billion to the development of the industry.

The CBN said the $50 billion biofuel fund would be contributed by different government agencies and relevant development banks and institutions including the Bank of Industry (BOI), Bank of Agriculture (BOA) and Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN).

The CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, of course potentials that Nigeria can tap into who was represented by Mr. Lawrence Odeh, to make sure we diversify our earnings. The noted that the fund would provide credit area we have been looking at all these while facilities on favourable terms to the domestic is ethanol which has to do with biofuel,” biofuel industry.

According to him,“Fossil fuel have been and said Shidok.

“When we are through here, the next level will continue to be the dominant source of is to get experts to continue to interface energy for sometimes, but this category of fuels until we have an industry that will benefit are non-renewable and raise environmental concerns because they pollute the environment while others are renewable, non-polluting and therefore regarded as clean, thus, they a viable alternative to fossil fuel and Fossil fuel have been present if properly harnessed can be very beneficial. and will continue to be “Nigeria potentially has global competitive to be a major player in the industry. the dominant source of advantage In the phase of growing global concerns for energy for sometimes, but protecting the environment, funding biofuel as a commercial venture is this category of fuels are development becoming a developmental agenda, to that non-renewable and raise extent, the scope of funding sources have variable.” environmental concerns become “On the domestic front, it is important to because they pollute the note that the Nigerian biofuel policy and draft document has outlined funding environment while others incentives arrangements and incentives arrangements are renewable, non- for firms involved in biofuel production.

“Government envisages equity funding polluting and therefore arrangements to be known as biofuel industry regarded as clean, thus, equity fund of $50 billion and to be jointly by parastatals and development they present a viable funded banks including the Bank of Industry, Bank alternative to fossil fuel of Agriculture, and Development Bank of Nigeria,” Emefiele stated, adding that,“When and if properly harnessed established, the fund is expected to provide can be very beneficial credit on favourable terms to meet the peculiarities of the industry in Nigeria.”

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ FEBRUARY 12, 2017

BUSINESS/ECONOMY

Nigeria’s Textile Industry

Enhanced Productivity as Recipe for Economic Recovery In this analysis, James Emejo examines the need to address the variables, which had contributed to the country’s productivity challenges in order to aid a quick recovery from the current recession

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o doubt, productivity remains a critical phenomenon in trying to seek solutions to the recovery of the Nigerian economy as it plays a direct role in growth prospects among other parameters.

According to the BusinessDictionary. com, productivity entails “a measure of the efficiency of a person, machine, factory, system, etc., in converting inputs into useful outputs.

“Productivity is computed by dividing average output per period by the total costs incurred or resources (capital, energy, material, personnel) consumed in that period.”

It added that, “Productivity is a critical determinant of cost efficiency.”

Labour productivity refers to the quantity of manpower input required to produce a unit of output. High above productivity can be an important signal of the improvement in the real income (wages of workers), according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

Essentially, a country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has a direct correlation to the productivity levels in a given period.

However, the country’s labour productivity index had been greatly challenged in recent times as factors which contribute to its growth are equally handicapped.

According to the NBS, labour productivity for Q3 2016 remained low, rising margin-

ally compared to same period in 2015, largely due to several challenges that generally impacted output and labour, and indirectly on labour productivity, which kept it below optimal levels.

After some initial declines, labour productivity for the third quarter of 2016 rose to N713.7 per hour, compared to N636.3 per hour in the second quarter.

It’s important to note that labour productivity is critical to the overall productivity of the economy.

The NBS said: “Investment in the economy was still relatively low, though some government investments were recorded during the quarter; the volume of private investment and foreign direct investments was still considerably low compared to previous years.

“Power was relatively stable throughout the quarter, which partly accounted for the increase in labour productivity.

Though there was a contraction in the economy in the third quarter in real terms accompanied by an increasing unemployment rate, the growth in labour productivity implies a gradual increase in labour efficiency employed in the economy.”

The labour productivity index also showed that the agriculture sector recorded a growth of 4.5 per cent, the highest among any major economic activity, as the third quarter was the harvest season in the Nigerian calendar.

President, Time Economics Limited, Dr.

Ogho Okiti said exiting the recession would require that the government addressed issues of low productivity.

In his presentation titled, “Economic Downturn: Pathway to Long-term Economic Growth” which was delivered at the recent Economic Outlook conference in Abuja, he said going by available statistics and given that conditions for improvement in productivity levels had not improved, especially the high unemployment rate, it’s unlikely that the country would significantly exit the current recession this year.

According to the renowned economist, “Growth of 1 per cent in 2017 will mean Nigeria is out of recession and technically in recovery. However, this would only mean that the average Nigerian’s income would be at the same level as it was in 2011.”

Okiti noted that, “Therefore, in 2017, there won’t be any meaningful recovery for Nigerians. In order to grow sustainably over a long period of time and have this growth translates into more jobs and higher income for Nigerians, Nigeria needs to tackle the issue of low productivity.”

Nigeria’s long-term problems are symptoms of its low productivity and they will persist unless productivity is increased, he added.

He said majority of the problems associated with productivity levels had not been addressed by annual budgets.

Last year, delays in signing the 2016 budget into law, coupled with fiscal challenges occasioned by oil price fall and politicisation of development initiatives, the lack of coherence between monetary and fiscal policies among other things helped put the country in a recession.

Worse still, the high unemployment rate whereby youths remain idle and not contributing to national output posed a challenge.

According to Okiti, the poorly educated and unskilled labour with poor quality and insufficient infrastructure, low levels of technology adoption, inadequate public service provision and bad governance remain an obstacle to productivity.

Other bottlenecks, according to him, include: poor bureaucracy, low level of financial inclusion, low level of access to health services, low level of urbanisation and a large and fragmented informal sector.

Okiti added: “How to foster sustainable growth over a long period. That is growth that is not dependent on high oil prices.

How to make sure this growth translates to broad-based increase in incomes for Nigerians. How to create enough jobs for the millions of Nigerians entering the workforce every year.

“In theory, these are the problems that government budgets and policies should attempt to solve. Despite longest stretch of above 5 per cent growth 2004 – 2014, these problems remain …”

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ FEBRUARY12, 2017

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TRAVEL Eko offers Cuisine Across Continents for Valentine

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

Stories by Demola Ojo

E

ko Hotels and Suites in Lagos is holding a special Valentine’s Day dining experience for couples across six restaurants within the hotel on Tuesday.

The diverse country-themed dishes will“transport”partakers to different countries through culinary experiences unique to them.The Sky Restaurant is a fusion of French and Asian cuisine, the Grill Steakhouse is American, Red Restaurant is Chinese, Crossroads is Mexican, 1415 restaurant at Eko Signature is Italian, while the Lagoon Breeze restaurant offers continental dishes.

Each restaurant has special Valentine deals unique to them, which are priced accordingly.

They range from buffet-style candlelight dinner for two by the pool, to in-room dining at Signature with a butler on hand.

The common thread running through all restaurant packages include multiple-course candlelit dinners, complimentary glasses of wine or champagne (or in the case of Crossroads, free magaritas and tequilas) and probably the most exciting of all, a surprise gift for the lady.

Each restaurant has a unique gastronomic experience awaiting guests. For example Eko Signature’s Giaocchino Liguori revealed that a special exotic dessert known as D’amore will be served courtesy head pastry chef, Abdallah Outa.

D ‘amore was created to evoke the memory of cupid, the messenger of love.

Shedding more light on what couples should expect at Eko, Sales and Marketing Manager, Iyadunni Gbadebo added,“We have the Spa and they have put together something beautiful for Valentine’s. We are going to have room packages available with massages. It will fun. We advise couples to book ahead.”

According to Gbadebo, lovers will experience luxurious French style relaxation and unique holistic body therapy courtesy Eko Spa.

Crossroads is a Mexican restaurant at Eko hotel

Trump Ban to Hinder Business Travel

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trio of surveys suggest that president Donald Trump’s attempt to block travel from seven Muslim-majority countries into the US may depress business travel overall.Thirty-one percent of US companies say the ban could reduce travel in the next three months, according to a report by the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), with 28 per cent expecting a long-term negative impact as well.

“The economy will certainly take a hit,”says Michael W. McCormick, executive director and COO of the GBTA. “While we understand the need for security, GBTA is a strong proponent of risk-based security programs like theVisa Waiver programme. By facilitating travel and trade with 38 countries, the Visa Waiver programme spurs job creation and economic growth, while remaining the gold standard of security and efficiency in balancing the need to protect the American public while facilitating global business travel. We hope to have the opportunity to work with the [Trump] administration going forward to form policies that ensure safe, secure and efficient travel.”

A follow-on survey by GBTA found that half of European travel professionals predict that the ban will curtail business travel in the next three months.

Separately, a survey by the US Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) found that one in four members reported that “fear of traveller harassment” and “fear of reprisals” was causing travel problems for their companies. Overall, 39 per cent of ACTE members said the Trump travel ban could cause reductions in corporate travel.

“These percentages are way out of line for an industry that is constantly under pressure,”says ACTE’s executive director Greeley Koch.“Furthermore, business travel is about people. And people with bona-fide visas should not be subject to fear, delays, or harassment over their

visa document.”

While Eko Hotels lays bare as a prime destination, elite style connoisseurs will find Eko Signature most appealing, as masterful Liguori, with the support of Zuheir Dika, will serve a 4-course continental menu in a candle lit environment for two at 1415 Restaurant.

The continental menu offering is served with exotic dessert courtesy head pastry chef, Abdallah Outa whose symbolic dessert D’amore team leader, Liguori explained was created to evoke the memory of cupid, the messenger of love as a perfect moment to renew bonds and celebrate friendship.

At the Red Chinese, Scott is set with flaming hot speciality Peking dinner to tickle lovers while Sky Terrace’s Francois Pontu gets the chance to hit the skies and get your jaws dropping with a truly international selection for the palates.

ABTA Launches Fam Trips to Lagos, Addis

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he African Business Travel Association (ABTA) has announced its new Familiaristion trip initiative. Known as the Corporate Travel thought leaders within the African continent, ABTA’s new initiative aims to assist travel professionals to elevate their level of expertise by gaining authentic ‘on the ground’ knowledge of the destinations that they are sending travellers to.

Jeanette Moloto, ABTA’s Regional Manager: Africa, said“We are really excited to be creating this platform where we are able to inform and connect travel buyers within the African Continent, thereby giving them a higher level of travel management expertise.”

The first two fam trips are for Travel Buyers only and will take place to Lagos, Nigeria from 8-12 March and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 22-26 March.

Fam Trips will see South African travel buyers exploring

the city, experiencing new travel products and services, meeting potential new travel partners and networking with local industry professionals at ABTA’s Lagos Forum during the trip, whilst also gaining a keener understandng of the regions’ corporate travel trends, challenges and opportunities.

ABTA’s decision to kick off this initiative in Lagos comes as no surprise given Nigeria’s economic growth and the focus on this region by many South African organisations who currently operate in Nigeria or plan to be doing so soon. Local travel brands in Lagos and Addis Ababa have also extended fantastic support and Fam Trip delegates will be hosted by hotels including The Wheatbaker, Bon Hotels Ikeja and the new Marriott Renaissance property. Ethiopian Airlines will be the carrier of choice for the duration of the fam trips. Additional fam trips are being planned for Travel Management Companies (TMC’s) later in 2017.

Lufthansa to Offer 24 “Lighting Scenarios” on A350

L

ufthansa has fitted new LED lighting technology on its A350-900 aircraft, which it says will offer passengers 24 lighting scenarios in order to provide “the right type of light at the right time”.

The carrier’s new Airbus aircraft started commercial service on its route between Munich and Delhi from February 10, and Lufthansa says it will be“the first airline worldwide to use a range of different settings for the on-board lighting of the A350-900 which are designed to fit with the day and night-time biorhythms of their passengers.

The new lighting will also be used“to emulate a pleasant restaurant atmosphere on board during mealtimes”.

Commenting on the technology Dr Reinhold Huber,

responsible for “further development in the area of Customer Experience”said: “The well-being of our passengers is of particular importance to us. So it represents a real milestone for us that we can now achieve these improvements with this innovative lighting technology.”Lufthansa says it also plans to refit its Boeing B747-800 aircraft with the new lighting system.

According to the carrier“Warm light for relaxation is supplied during periods of rest, whereas cooler light provides stimulation for more active phases”. The lighting moods have been developed in collaboration with lighting designers from Kardorff Ingenieure in Berlin, and are “based on findings from research in the field of Chronobiology and on known effects of

our day and night-time biorhythms”.

The first ten A350-900s delivered to Lufthansa will be based at Munich, and will offer a total of 293 seats – 48 in business class, 21 in premium economy, and 224 in economy.

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ FEBRUARY 12, 2017

NIGERIA’S TOP 50 STOCKS BASED ON MARKET FUNDAMENTALS

TOTAL OIL NIGERIA PLC: Significant growth in top-line and bottom-line earnings despite macro-economic challenges

T

otal Nigeria Plc is a Marketing and Services subsidiary of Total; a multinational energy company operating in more than 130 countries and committed to providing sustainable products and services for its customers. For over 50 years, Total Nigeria Plc has remained the leader in the downstream sector of the Nigerian oil and gas industry with an extensive distribution network of over 500 service stations nationwide and a wide range of top quality energy products and services.

Total Nigeria Plc (RC 1396) was incorporated as a private company on September 1, 1956 to market petroleum products in Nigeria. In December 11, 2001, the company had a successful merger which paved way for sustainable growth and continuous development.

Total Oil Nigeria Plc recently released its third quarters result for the period ended September 30th 2016, showing significant increase in key performance indicators despite the tough operating business climate in Nigeria.

TURNOVER IMPROVES DESPITE HIGH INFLATION AND DECREASE IN PRICE OF CRUDE OIL Total Oil Plc reported a 38.24% increase in revenue to N220.22 billion in September 2016 from N159.30 billion in the corresponding period of 2015. Despite the challenging global and domestic oil market quagmires during the period, Total Nigeria Plc was able to record a magnificent rise in revenue. Most Nigerian oil marketers struggled to grow revenue during the first quarter due to the sharp drop in petroleum product supply following the rise in importation cost and scarcity of foreign exchange which resulted into the sudden upward review and partial deregulated of prices of petroleum in domestic market.

Costs of sales, therefore, grew by 33.84% to N188.21 billion in September 2016 from N140.61 billion in September 2015. The Company recorded a massive rise of 71.32% in gross profit to N32.01 billion in September 2016 from N18.69 billion in the

IN ADDITION, WE EXPECT THE MODEST LEVERAGE IN THE BOOK OF THE COMPANY TO ALLOW IT SIGNIFICANT ROOM FOR BALANCE SHEET OPTIMISATION AND IMPROVED EARNINGS PER SHARE TOWARDS ENSURING MAXIMIZATION OF SHAREHOLDERS RETURN IN THE DAYS AHEAD

corresponding year of 2015, EFFECTIVE COST MANAGEMENT LEADS TO FURTHER INCREASE IN PROFITABILITY For the third quarter period ended, September 30th 2016, Total Nigeria Plc’s selling and distribution expenses increased by 15.42% to N3.96 billion in September 2016 from N3.43 billion recorded in the corresponding year in 2015. Over the last few years, the company has improved its effort to curtail increase in operational costs due to high overhead cost ranging from the cost of delivering its supplies through trucking to all its retails outlets and others.

Impressively the Company was able maintain personnel costs, advertisement and promotion expenses as well as depreciation.

Rise in selling and distribution expenses was recorded due to increase in: changes in inventory of lubes, greases and refined products, custom duties, transportation of supplies and maintenance expenses. Also, the Company’s management succeeded in curtailing its administrative expenses which declined by 3.14% to N11.63 billion from N12.00 billion reported in September 2015.

Furthermore, Total Oil recorded a marginal rise of 0.91% in other income to N814m in September 2016 from N807m over the corresponding year of 2015.

Hence, operating profit for

the year as anticipated grew substantially to N17.24 billion in September 2016 from N4.05 billion in September 2015, indicating an enormous growth of 325.08%.

PROFITABILITY SOARS HIGHER AS FINANCE COST DEPLETES Financial income decreased notably by 87.06% to N277m from N2.14 billion while finance cost recorded similar feat as it dropped by 59.24% to N509m in September 2016 from N1.25 billion in September 2015. Therefore, net finance cost decreased massively by 126.05% to N232m from N891m over the period.

Hence, profit before tax and net income for the period grew substantially by 243.75% to N17.00 billion and by 319.91% to N11.63 billion in third quarter 2016 from corresponding figures of N4.95 billion and N2.77 billion respectively.

STRONG ASSET QUALITY Total Oil Plc reported an increase of 39.39% in total asset to N116.60 billion as at September 2016 from N83.65 billion as at December 2015 while its total liabilities grew by 39.18% to N93.82 billion in September 2016 from N67.41 billion in December 2015. The increase in total assets is attributable to: 96.07% rise in other receivables, 140.33% increase in inventories and a 63.98% in cash and bank balances; while on the flip side, rise in total liabilities is attributable to: 73.78% increase in trade and other payables and an increment of 200.10% in current tax liabilities. Also, shareholders fund rose significantly by 40.26% to N22.78 billion from N16.24 billion over the period.

The company’s profitability and efficiency ratios rose significantly. Return on asset (ROA) increased to 9.98% while return on equity (ROE) stood at 1.06%. Pre-tax profit margin rose to 7.72% as at third quarter 2016 from 3.11% a year ago.

HOLD RECOMMENDATION Total Plc’s management succeeded in curtailing its expenses in spite of growing prices and high cost of finance.

Hence, considerably improving profitability which otherwise

Valuation Metrics 10-Feb-17 Recommendation

HOLD

Target Price (N)

317.73

Current Price (N)

270.00

Outstanding Share(m)

339.52

Market Cap (N'm)

98,461

Rolling EPS (N)

38.02

Rolling PE Ratio

7.63x

Projected EPS

38.59

Projected PE Ratio

7.51x Source: BGL Research

Q3 September 2016 Results Turnover (N'm)

145,481

Profit Before Tax (N'm)

17,004

Profit After Tax (N'm)

11,632

Pre-tax Margin (%)

7.72 Source: BGL Research

Full Year 2015 Results Turnover (N'm)

208,027

Profit Before Tax (N'm)

6,495

Profit After Tax (N'm)

4,047

Pre-tax Margin (%)

3.12 Source: BGL Research

Shareholding Information Shareholders

% Holding

Total Societe Anonyme

45.24

Elf Aquitaine S.A.

16.48

Public Float

38.28 Source: Company Data 2015 AC, BGL Research

would be eroded. In addition, we expect the modest leverage in the book of the Company to allow it significant room for balance sheet optimisation and improved earnings per share towards ensuring maximization of shareholders return in the days ahead.

Based on the company’s current performance, we revised our revenue projection to N290.62 billion and also revised our net income projection to N13.10 billion for the full year ended, December 2016. This leads to a forward EPS of N38.59. Using an Industry PE multiple of 8.02x, we arrive at a six-month target price of N317.73 and since this represents a 17.68% upside potential on the current price, we therefore place a HOLD on the stock of Total Nigeria Plc.

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ FEBRUARY 12, 2017

NIGERIA’S TOP 50 STOCKS BASED ON MARKET FUNDAMENTALS

Sterling Bank Plc: Interest expenses slide leads to significant rise in net interest income

S

terling Bank Plc (Sterling Bank) is a full service national commercial bank in Nigeria with focus on consumer banking, trade finance, investment banking and capital market activities. It also provides wholesale banking services and offers banking products through its over 160 branches nationwide, 5,000 POS and 3,800 alternative delivery channels, 300 automated teller machines, telephone banking and other e-banking offerings.

In over 50 years of operations, Sterling Bank (formerly NAL Bank) has evolved from the nation’s pre-eminent investment banking institution to a fully-fledged commercial bank; and completed a merger with 4 other banks – Indo-Nigeria Merchant Bank, Magnum Trust Bank, NBM Bank and Trust Bank of Africa – as part of the 2006 consolidation of the Nigerian banking industry.

Popularly known for its “One Customer Bank” slogan, it evolved to a bigger bank upon its merger with the defunct Equitorial Trust Bank (ETB).

Sterling Bank Plc’s (Sterling) released their results for the Period ended September 30th, 2016 showing a modest decline of 2.64% in gross earnings to N79.65 billion from N81.81 billion in the corresponding period.

Consequently, the Bank has kept up with its regular dividend payment, and has recommended a total dividend payment of N2.59 billion (on the basis of N0.09 per share) for every 50 kobo share.

Gross Earnings was driven by Interest income which grew by only 12.40% to N68.89 billion in September 2016 from N61.29 billion in September 2015, due to increase in the Bank’s loans and advances to customers.

Conversely, interest expense decreased by 12.05% to N27.37 billion in September 2016 from N31.12 billion in the corresponding period of 2015. Expectedly, net interest income for the period rose considerably by 37.62% to N41.52 billion from N30.17 billion in the prior year of 2015, due to the earlier mentioned significant decrease in interest expenses and an increase of 12.4% in interest income. Furthermore, non-interest income reduced by 47.6% to N10.8 billion in September 2016 from N20.5 billion in September 2015 largely due to a 34.2% decline in

ALSO THE STRONG LIQUIDITY POSITION OF THE BANK AND POTENTIAL PROFITABILITY FROM INCREASED FOCUS ON LENDING WOULD CUSHION THE EFFECT OF THE LIQUIDITY WITHDRAWALS ON THE PERFORMANCE OF STERLING BANK

fees and commission income.

Increased operating expenses greatly impacts net income Total expenses during the financial period of 2015 increased by a modest 5.01% to N39.01 billion compared to N37.15 billion in the corresponding period of 2015. The main reason for the modest increase in total expenses was due to inflationary pressures but moderated by the bank’s strategic cost control measures during the financial year. Further breakdown of the total operating expenses showed that operating expenses increased by 16.81% to N10.44 billion from N8.94 billion which was largely driven by inflationary pressures during the period, Personal expenses for the period declined by 0.33% to N8.69 billion from N8.72 billion which was due to the deployment of outsourced services while depreciation and amortization increased by 8.21% to N3.10 billion from N2.86 billion due to the on-going investments in a number of technology-led services improvement initiatives across core and subsidiary systems and channels optimization.

The aforementioned rise in total expenses greatly affected the company’s profitability, as profit before tax dropped massively by 26.89% to N6.07 billion in September 2016 from N8.30 billion in the corresponding period of 2015. Net income also followed suit with a massive decline of 26.64% to N5.54 billion in September 2016, from N7.55

billion recorded in September 2015.

GOOD ASSET QUALITY Sterling Bank’s total assets rose by 11.36% to N890.30 billion in September 2016 compared to N799.45 billion achieved in December 2015. The significant increase was caused by a massive rise in Pledged financial assets to N125.77 billion in September 2016 from N69.34 billion in December 2015; reflecting a change of 81.39% and rise in intangible assets to N1.88 billion from N1.00 billion, reflecting a 88.14% change.

On the other hand, total liabilities increased by 14.80% to N808.04 billion from N703.89 billion in 2014. This was caused by a massive increment of 103.94% in debt securities issue to N9.31 billion in September 2016 from N4.56 billion in December 2015 and a rise of 20.28% in other borrowed funds to N72.51 billion from N60.29 billion in December 2015.

Furthermore, the banks total equity (shareholders fund) decreased by 13.93% to N82.25 billion in September 2016 from N95.57 billion in December 2015.

MODEST DECLINE IN PERFORMANCE RATIOS The Bank’s Return on Equity (ROE) decreased slightly to 6.73% in September 2016 from 7.90% in the corresponding period of 2015.

Conversely, Return on Assets (ROA) decreased slightly to 0.62% in September 2016 from 0.94% in the corresponding period of 2015. Furthermore, at a capital adequacy ratio of 10.7%, the bank’s CAR remains above the minimum regulatory requirements of 10%.

HOLD RECOMMENDATION MAINTAINED Despite the regulatory policies in the banking sector which threaten the Bank’s income generating capacity, we believe the management of the Bank will continue to focus its efforts towards strengthening income generation from financial intermediation. Also the strong liquidity position of the Bank and potential profitability from increased focus on lending would cushion the effect of the liquidity withdrawals on the performance of Sterling Bank.

The Banks top and bottom line performance narrowly missed our projection for the year modestly

Valuation Metrics 10-Feb-17 Recommendation

BUY

Target Price (N)

0.92

Current Price (N)

0.70

Market Cap (N'm)

21,017

Outstanding Shares (m)

28,791

Rolling EPS (N)

0.29

Rolling PE Ratio

2.40

Forward EPS

0.30

Forward PE

2.33 Source: Company Data, BGL Research

Q3 September 2016 unaudited ReGross Earnings (N'bn)

79.35

Pre-tax Profit (N'bn)

6.07

Profit After Tax (N'bn)

5.53

Pre-tax Margin (%)

7.65 Source: Company Data, BGL Research

Full Year 2015 Audited Results Gross Earnings (N'bn)

110.19

Pre-tax Profit (N'bn)

11.02

Profit After Tax (N'bn)

10.29

Pre-tax Margin (%)

10.00 Source: Company Data, BGL Research

Shareholding Information Shareholders

% Holding

Silverlake Inv. Ltd

25.00

State Bank of India

8.86

SNNL/AMCON

5.85

Dr Mike Adenuga

5.63

Public Float

54.66 Source: Company Data, BGL Research

in FY 2015. Considering the above, we revise our revenue and net income projection to N107.73 billion and N8.28 billion respectively the full year 2016, leading to an EPS of N0.30 for the year. Therefore, using the price to earnings multiples valuation method with industry PE of 0.59 consisting of peers companies in the same Tier II category (Fidelity Bank, FCMB, Diamond Bank and Skye Bank) in comparison to Sterling Bank’s PE ratio, we arrived at a 6-month average target price of N0.92 per share, which translate to a 31.43% upside potential on the current stock price of Sterling Bank Plc shares. We therefore maintain our BUY recommendation on Sterling Bank Plc shares.

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ ͹ͺ˜ ͺ͸͹Ϳ

MARKET NEWS

Forte Oil Lists N9.0bn Bond on FMDQ OTC Exchange Goddy Egene The FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange has listed N9.0 billion Forte Oil Plc Bond (Series 1 under a N50.00 billion Medium-Term Bond Programme).

The fixed income securities and debt exchange said this listing, which is the first corporate debt listing in 2017, attested to the largely untapped potential of the Nigerian debt capital market (DCM), which from inception, FMDQ has, through its systems

and other relevant market infrastructures, committed to making globally competitive, liquid, operationally excellent and diverse(GOLD).

According to the exchange, as part of its commitment to continually deliver exceptional value to the Nigerian financial markets and its stakeholders, it demonstrated its steadfastness as it again achieved swift time to market in the listing process.

The admittance of the Forte Oil Plc bond for listing

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

on the OTC Exchange, which was granted by the FMDQ Board Listings, Markets and Technology Committee, will be followed by a prestigious listing ceremony at the OTC Exchange in the coming weeks to commemorate this laudable achievement in honour of the issuer, Forte Oil Plc,” it said.

As the debt capital-focused OTC securities exchange in Nigeria, the exchange said it has continued to align its strategies and innovation to serve and provide the muchneeded succour to the players

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 9-Feb-2017, unless otherwise stated.

in the Nigerian DCM. “This has enabled even more issuers key into the offerings of the Nigerian DCM to boost their businesses and there from, build their corporate profiles. From its value-packed listings and quotations service to its unrivalled information transparency, the OTC exchange, through its tailored business services, is deepening the OTC markets, and this listing represents another milestone for FMDQ. By listing on FMDQ, investor

confidence is enhanced for the Forte Oil Plc bond, through the availed transparency, information disclosure, price formation and global visibility from the FMDQ-Bloomberg E-Bond System, the FMDQ website and FMDQ e-Markets Portal,” it said.

FMDQ added that as part of efforts geared towards aligning the markets within its purview to international standards, it , with the collective efforts of its varied stakeholders shall continue to deliver on its value-adding

initiatives, focused on product and market development, to build and standardise the Nigerian financial markets.

Forte Oil was the first company to announce its audited results for the year ended December 31, 2016. The company recorded a revenue of N148.6 billion, up by 19.3 per cent from N124.6 billion in 2015. Profit before tax fell by 24 per cent to N5.3 billion, from N7.0 billion, while profit after tax declined by 50 per cent to N2.9 billion, compared with N5.8 billion recorded in 2015.

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 aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 1 270 1680 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund 126.47 126.58 -0.57% Nigeria International Debt Fund 218.49 218.68 1.39% ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund 0.69 0.70 -1.17% AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 17.72% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 12.08 12.45 -2.13% ARM Discovery Fund 284.30 292.87 -1.00% ARM Ethical Fund 21.86 22.52 -2.14% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 17.33% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund 105.40 106.00 0.24% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 17.00% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Nigeria Global Investment Fund 2.16 2.21 -0.68% Paramount Equity Fund 9.31 9.55 -0.53% Women's Investment Fund 84.65 86.83 0.07% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 18.50% FBN CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund 1,103.07 1,104.30 1.17% FBN Heritage Fund 109.39 110.12 -1.97% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 15.86% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional $104.97 $105.22 0.68% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail $105.87 $106.10 2.22% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 111.44 112.87 -1.11% FIRST CITY ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD fcamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcamltd.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Equity Fund 0.93 0.95 0.00% Legacy Short Maturity (NGN) Fund 2.61 2.61 1.57% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Growth Fund 2,169.88 2,194.50 -1.80% Coral Income Fund 2,147.72 2,147.72 2.07% GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 16.58% INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 16.47% Vantage Balanced Fund 1.68 1.69 -0.28% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 15.18%

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 0.99 1.01 0.15% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,014.15 1,014.15 1.13% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund 9.60 9.68 -0.65% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 14.70% 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 1.06 1.08 0.67% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 10.40 10.43 -0.05% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 16.19% 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 111.00 111.95 2.59% 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 1.26 1.26 1.05% 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 1,810.34 1,820.07 -1.15% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 151.51 151.51 -1.59% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.75 0.76 -1.95% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 188.70 188.70 0.97% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 127.10 128.76 -2.10% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 17.68% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 7,234.59 7,322.01 -4.58% 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 1.13 1.15 8.00% United Capital Bond Fund 1.25 1.25 16.46% United Capital Equity Fund 0.65 0.66 -0.98% 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 9.65 9.82 0.28% Zenith Ethical Fund 11.07 11.17 1.43% Zenith Income Fund 17.00 17.00 2.92%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

11.41 124.56

1.01% 0.48%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

7.80 70.87

7.90 72.20

-11.10% -6.48%

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

2.40 5.29 11.52 14.44 133.22

2.44 5.37 11.62 14.64 135.22

-12.50% -24.61% -3.93% -9.41% 2.55%

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

LOVE GAVE THEM A SECOND CHANCE

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LOVE GAVE THEM A SECOND CHANCE After heartbreak, some say, comes true love.

Sometimes it takes more than a first kiss to live happily ever after. Many times, a kiss on the first frog hardly turns out to be the true Prince; even when he has all the charming and endearment of a true love.

However, the result is not always what we anticipate when put to the test. Given the jarring pains of heartache that accompanies a failed relationship, some choose to permanently relegate love as an illusion, while others are bold enough to take a second shot at love. Just when hope of finding true love seems like a mirage, Cupid takes a perfect aim that leads to that relationship that holds true happiness. For these couples, love is a risk worth a second or more chances. Usually, there is an irresistible presence of a basket full of sunshine to chase away the gloomy scars of heartbreak. As Valentine’s Day draws near, Nseobong Okon-Ekong and Vanessa Obioha chronicle 10 couples who, like the phoenix, rose from the ashes of a broken heart or a terrible loss to find a life filled with true love Stephanie Okereke-Linus: A Fairytale Love reviously married to Super Eagles defender, Chikelue Illoanusi, model, Nollywood actress and producer Stephanie Okereke- Linus finally found her missing rib in Linus Idahosa. If there was one thing Stephanie was so sure she wanted in life, it was her acting career. She revealed this at many meetings with the media.

Perhaps, there was a lingering feeling too to have a fairytale wedding. Not too long after, there were visible cracks in her three-year marriage to Illoanusi. The split was ugly. For a while, it seemed the rumour could not have enough of the messy details. Each day welcomed a new dirty linen of their private lives, clinically laundered by the media.

But all that changed in 2010 when Linus Idahosa, an international media mogul proposed to her. By then, she had fully recovered from the ghastly motor accident that left her with burns and a broken leg, and of course a broken heart.

In 2012, Stephanie finally had the fairytale wedding of her dream in Paris, France.

Everyone gushed about the panache of the wedding. From the decor to the couple, it was all praise and envy, and praise and more prayers for the newly wedded couple.

It’s nearly four years and their love has not waned, despite fears or prayers of many that the wedding would go down the drain like the previous one or like most celebrity weddings. Instead, the union has produced a cheerful baby boy, but more importantly, a union that has all the elements of an enduriing relationship.

P

Ituah Ighodalo: Love Cost a Thing February is more than the second month of the year to the Ighodalos.

It is the month they found love.

Coincidentally, they found love in the

Adams and Iara Oshiomole

month of love. Indeed, love smiled again on the savvy pastor of Trinity House, Ituah Ighodalo, 10 years ago when he took the bold step of walking former Lux soap beauty queen, Ibidunni, down the aisle.

It was his second attempt at marriage.

Their love tale is one plotted around rejection. Ighodalo was formerly married to Lucy Ann-Summer during his sojourn in United States of America. When he met Summer, it was believed that their union was a product of love. However, it turned out that it was all a veneer, for as soon as Ighodalo boarded the next flight to his home country, the love also took flight out of the window. Nursing himself back to life, Ituah opened his heart to love again. But this love cost him quite a bit. It cost him a family. After being remarried for two-anda-half years, Ighodalo was asked to leave the Christ Church Parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God that he was famed to have nurtured. The news of his sack made headlines. Society magazines fed on it with relish. However, all that is in the past as Ighodalo has found his one true love, Ibidunni. What’s more, they are tending a new flock of worshippers (and family) at the Trinity House.

Regina Askia: A Tamed Heart The on-screen diva of the 80s and 90s was a queen to die for. With her mesmerising beauty enhanced by her beautiful blue eyes, Regina Askia made many men adulterers in the confine of their living rooms. She was beautiful and sexy. Her beauty, however, came with a fear. Would she be tamed to leave the limelight? Charles Orie, her first husband tried but didn’t succeed.

Then out of the blue, an American, Rudolph Williams, came and swept her off her feet. The rest, they say is, history.

Today, Regina lives with her husband in the US with their two children. And she is a nurse!

Ooni of Ife, Enitan Ogunwusi and Olori Wuraola

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Richard and Jumobi Mofe Damijo

Monalisa Chinda: Doing it Right the Second Time Not all heartbreaks heal quickly.

Some leave indelible scars that can only be erased by the caring hands of God. Nollywood actress Monalisa Chinda’s first taste of marriage was bitter. In 2009, news broke that the actress and her husband Dejo Richards had gone their separate ways. Monalisa accused Richards of domestic abuse. The union produced a daughter.

Nevertheless, Monalisa took a vital lesson from that marriage with Dejo Richards: If she walked down the aisle again, she would do it right. Did she?

Apparently. And she did it in the month of love. She married her childhood friend Victor Tonye Coker in a star studded traditional wedding in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on February 20, 2016. Who would have thought that the love of her life would be someone she had known all her life.

But before she found her prince charming, she kissed Lanre Nzeribe. The media was agog with expectations of a possible union. The relationship only lasted for two years.

Monalisa finally sealed her love with her childhood beau in an exquisite white wedding in Greece in September, 2016.

Funke Akindele: A Second Chance Popular comedienne and actress Funke Akindele who goes by the moniker ‘Jenifa’ didn’t find love like in the movies.

When the news of her marriage to Adeola Kehinde Oloyede broke in 2012, not a few predicted that the union would not last. The reasons were not far-fetched.

Kenny as fondly called was rumoured to be polygamous in nature. Many wives and children were attached to his name but like puppy love, Funke believed her love would conquer all. Unfortunately, 14 months later, the worse became the reality. Kenny posted on Facebook that he had separated with Funke due to irreconcilable differences. Shortly

afterwards, the grapevines went to work, spilling juicy details of what might have caused the split.

Through it all, Funke focused on her career, scooping accolades here and there. Just when no one was looking, love found her again. This time, in the arms of rapper JJC Skillz whose real names are Abdul Rasheed Bello. They secretly got married in London last year.

Tchidi Chikere: Beauty is in the Eyes of the Beholder When it comes to physical beauty, Nuella Njubigbo’s will drastically pale in comparison to Sophia Chikere, ex-wife of Nollywood producer and director, Tchidi Chikere. But beauty, they say goes beyond appearance and surely dwells in the eyes of the beholder. After nine years of marriage that was blessed with three children, the director found love in the arms of another actress. At first, Tchidi and Nuella’s relationship was viewed as one of those office romance between colleagues at work. However, they shocked the world when they had their traditional wedding in 2014 and legally sealed their love in 2015. Although, Tchidi’s breakup with Sophia was not void of controversies, the two former partners had found love in different places.

Richard Mofe Damijo: A Dream Come True Those who worked closely with Jumobi Adegbesan at Daar Communications when she was an OAP on Raypower 100.5FM, would recall her dreams to be known as Mrs Mofe Damijo.

Well, like the boy band of yesteryears Westlife sang in one of their hits ‘Dreams Come True’, Jumobi had the love of her life proposing to her shortly after the demise of his first wife May Ellen Ezekiel in 1996. Although, Jumobi went under the radar after the marriage, Richard seizes every opportunity to celebrate the woman who has brought so much sunshine to his life.

Cont’d on pg. 57

JJC Skillz and Funke Akindele

Regina-Askia and husband , Rudolph Williams

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Stephanie and Linus Idahosa

Taiwo and Nomthi Odukoya

Adams Oshiomole: A Loss Restored You may have been gobsmacked or probably envious of the marriage of former Edo State governor Adams Oshiomole and his Cape Verdean beauty, considering the age difference between them. But the couple’s union is a proof that when it comes to love, there is no barrier. In a colourful ceremony in 2015, Oshiomole took Iara Fortes as his bride.

The couple’s love has continued to wax strong. Just recently, Adams and Iara returned from vacation at the end of Oshiomhole’s tenure as Edo State governor. Oshiomole lost his first wife Clara in 2010.

Ooni of Ife, Enitan Ogunwusi: The Queen of His Heart It is not every day that a man achieves success even in royalty. Certainly, not every woman has the elegance of a majesty; thus, the oracle’s decision that Enitan Ogunwusi should pick a new wife fit for his royal status. Before Wuraola Zynab Otiti came into the picture last year, Ogunwusi was married to Adebukunola Bombata for eight years.

Like any second marriage, rumours and scandals were rife, but the Ooni and his Olori are still intact.

Yeni Kuti and Theo Lawson: That’s the Way Love Goes You can hardly see one without the other. They are always in each other’s company. That’s Yeni Kuti and Theo Lawson. Those who were unaware of their relationship status coined all manner of stories until they came out to clear the air.

Unknown to them that the couple had known each other for a long while but not romantically; in the beginning.

Yeni was married to the late broadcaster Femi Segun. Theo was Femi’s friend and he was married, as well.

Then, Cupid aimed a perfect shot at their hearts few years later when they separated from their partners. They were finally free to explore the strings of love that was pulling them together.

After dating for over nine years, Theo, an architect and a gentleman surprised

his beau, Yeni, a dancer, TV presenter and daughter of the Afrobeat Legend Fela on her 55th birthday last year, by throwing her a surprise birthday as well as proposing a lifetime with her in the presence of her family members.

For his proposal ring, Theo gave Yeni his mother’s wedding ring, a ring he had worn round his neck. Now,,it rests beautifully on the finger of his ‘wife’.

The couple hinted they have no plans to throw an elaborate wedding ceremony, because they are married spiritually Taiwo Odukoya: On Love’s Wings Sometimes, the best way to overcome the unbearable grief of losing a loved one is to love again. It may take years but when the time is right, you need no conviction. Such is the case of the founder of popular Christian congregation, Fountain of Life Bible Church, Taiwo Odukoya who lost his admirable wife, Bimbo, in that tragic Sosoliso air crash in December 2005.

Few years later, a trip to London stirred his heart to a certain South African beauty, Rosemary Simangele Zulu. He wasted no time in showing his interest but the lady at the time was seeing someone else. As fate would have it, the lady’s relationship didn’t work out, paving the way for Odukoya to claim her heart.

On January, 2010, the clergyman took Nomthi as she is popularly called as his wife.

W.F. Kumuyi: We All Need Love In 2010, when the General Overseer of Deeper Christian Life Ministry took a second wife barely 18 months after the death of his first wife, Abiodun, not a few were surprised at his decision. His new wife, Folashade Blaize was a spinster of 65 years-old who dedicated most of her life working in the vineyard of God. At the time, she was also an administrator in Kumuyi’s church. It was speculated that Kumuyi was pressured to marry, as the importance of a wife in his life could not be overlooked.

Clearly,it was better for the Man of God to go with a bride who was closer to him.

They were married in a secret ceremony in London and are still together.

Victor and Monalisa Coker

Ituah and Ibidun Ighodalo

Tchidi and Nuella Chikere

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R Ëž ÍŻÍ°Ëœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍľ

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ÍŽÍśÍŻÍŻÍ˛Í˛ÍˇÍłÍąÍ°Í˛Ëœ nseobong.okonekong@thisdaylive.com

Take a Billionier’s Chance with Ireen Bill fusion, urban highlife, soul and jazz, all laced with her bass lines, solos and strong vocals. Ireen Bill describes her brand as one which ‘stands to showcase the creativity, beauty and strength of the African woman; inspiring and entertaining at the same time.’ The Album is titled B.I.L.L which is an acronym for Bass Inspiring Love and Life.

According to her, “It will feature African sounds, languages, loads of percussion, bass, strong vocals, soul and Afrobeat.

And it’s going to be hot like the African weather.�

Ireen is working hard to bring her compositions to the frontline by creating her own ‘body of works’- album and also host an Inspirational Bass-Charity-Concert for children in Nigerian IDP camps. Every year, she marks her birthday by organizing a local girl-child support programme.

In recent times, she has become more ambitious. “I want to do something bigger starting from this campaign, by going to some IDP camps in Nigeria and inspiring those kids with my story, music and charity donations.�

The Afro-Singing-Bassist is currently raising funds via a unique crowd-funding campaign strategy on Indiegogo, a creative pitch video and oering exciting and exclusive ‘bass-banging’ rewards in exchange. Some of these perks include; a private African bass concert in your living room, Ireen Bill cooking you an African dish for dinner live, executive producer credits, pre-ordering the exclusive signed CD album and digital downloads, 100years of immortality for you on the B.I.L.L Album, Ireen Bill Billonier T-shirts, two free tickets to Ireen Bill Concerts, one-on-one Skype chat/bass lessons and Ireen Bill’s Secret videos (including the Mystery-Bassman videos).

Nseobong Okon-Ekong

F

ast rising female double bassist, singer and songwriter, Ireen Bill ďŹ nally took her destiny in her hands when she decided to embark on crowd funding to support her African Music Project. Crowdfunding is a method of raising capital through the collective eort of friends, family, customers, and individual investors.

As part of her ingenuity, Ireen Bill has found an inspirational and motivational name for her fans and patrons. She calls them ‘billioniers’. She has set a target to raise $7,000 (N3. 5 million) on Indie-gogo to accomplish her African Music Project, without having to rely on any major label or limit her creative power while delivering unique contents to her fans. “My team and I decided to try this funding model, after we turned down some labels that approached us with contracts which were going to limit my creative power and connection to my fan base (the Billoniers). Planning this Crowdfunding campaign took more than six months. From producing a unique pitch video (featuring the mystery-bassman and message), crafting and editing the story, reaching out to family and friends, down to creatively planning out my exciting rewards /perks and budgeting the viable minimum amount needed. I hope people from all over the world and the diaspora would support me at reaching my crowdfunding goal, so other indie artistes can embrace this new music-business funding model, get creative, stop making excuses and help African music advance quickly,� said Ireen.

Her music borders on a rich mix of afroHISTORICAL ROMANCE MOVIE, ’76 GOES ON DSTVBOXOFFICE The critically acclaimed movie, ’76, starring talented actors; Ramsey Nouah, Rita Dominic, Ibinabo Fiberesima, Chidi Mokeme and Daniel K. Daniel, will be available for rent on DStvBoxOffice from tomorrow, February 13 for only N400.

The movie is set against the backdrop of the attempted coup of 1976 and the assassination of Head of State Murtala Mohammed, but the drama chronicles the lives of a young officer, Dewa (Ramsey Nouah) and his pregnant wife, Suzy (Rita Dominic) who are reluctantly caught up in events that rocked the whole country. The historical romance thriller speaks to the Nigerian experience, while exploring the themes of romance, inter-tribal marriage, betrayal and the triumph of love through it all.

The movie produced by Izu Ojukwu and Adonaija Owiriwa and directed by IzuOjukwu, has earned 14 nominations at the 2017 edition of the prestigious AfricaMagic Viewers’ Choice Award (AMVCA).

General Manager, Marketing, MultiChoice Nigeria, Martin Mabutho said the company is excited to make the movie available to its subscribers on the DStvBoxOffice platform. “Our mission is to provide value to our customers by making great entertainment more accessible and at an affordable price. The movie ’76 with its compelling story line, quality production and stellar cast, is a compelling portrayal of an unforgettable date in Nigeria’s history and we believe that it will make a great movie pick for the whole family�, said Mabutho.

FELA! BROADWAY MUSICAL RETURNS TO LAGOS It’s a great opportunity for fans and followers of music icon, Fela Anikulapo-

Ireen Bill

Ramsey Nouah in ‘76

Fela-Kuti musical

Kuti as urban music radio station, Smooth FM partners the Lagos State Government to present, ‘Fela!, a Broadway musical’ for a repeat performance in Lagos during the Easter weekend. The show was previously staged in Lagos, Nigeria in April, 2011.

Between April 13 and 15, Lagosians and Afrobeat music enthusiasts from all over the world will step into unforgettable nights of dance and music by the late Afrobeat maestro, Fela Kuti. The event which was conceived by iconic Bill T. Jones, will hold over the Easter weekend at the Eko Convention Centre In further celebration of the Afrobeat maestro, ‘Fela! The Concert,’ starring cast members of the Tony Award winning Broadway musical welcome music lovers and audiences into the extravagant and rebellious world of the Afrobeat legend.

Using his pioneering music, a blend of jazz, funk, African rhythm and harmonies, the musical explores Fela’s controversial life as an artist, a political activist and revolutionary musician. Featuring many of Fela Kuti’s most captivating songs and imaginative staging, this new show is a provocative hybrid of concert, dance and musical theatre. “Everybody say Yeah! Yeah!�

KUNLE AFOLAYAN IN ‘THREESOME’ FILM PROJECT Popular Nigerian filmmaker, Kunle Afolayan is currently working on a set of three films sponsored by Multichoice Nigeria.

The threesome; ‘Roti’, ‘Umogwo’ and ‘Tribunal’ will be shot back-to-back in order to fast-track their release, beginning from the first quarter of the year.

Originally planned as television productions, the ace filmmaker, however, secured the understanding of his sponsors for the films to explore the traditional channels of exhibitions, excluding DVD.

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ENTERTAINMENT TV on select aircraft and a selection of games, podcasts, and audiobooks.

Entertainment can also be watched in the palm of your hands thanks to on-demand Wi-Fi available on all flights, enabling a selection of films to be streamed to laptops as well as mobile and tablet devices.

Delta flies to four points in Africa, Accra, Ghana, Dakar, Senegal and Johannesburg, South Africa as well as Lagos, Nigeria. It also has sales offices in a number of additional markets, including Kenya and Uganda.

Members of The Barman Jury

Kunle Afolayan with Kate Henshaw on the set of Roti The films will make debut with an April 2017 cinema release, enjoy some festival routings before berthing on Africa Magic channels.

The three films have some A-list stars who are acting on Kunle Afolayan’s set for the first time. They include Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Kate Henshaw, Nobert Young, Toyin Oshinaike, Fathia Balogun, Dari Afolayan, Funsho Adeolu, Ade Laoye, Omowunmi Dada, Damilola Ogunsi, Ayo Adesanya, Yaw and Gloria Anozie Young among others.

In ‘Roti’ which stars Kunle Afolayan himself playing alongside Kate Henshaw, Toyin Oshinaike, Fathia Balogun and Dari Afolayan, the story is told of how, years after a couple loses their son called Roti to a brief illness, the wife sees a boy called Juwon who is an exact replica of her dead son.

In ‘Tribunal’, “Jimi Disu, a man in his fifties, is one of the bright- minded lawyers who co-establish a leading law firm in Lagos. However, he lost his sense of direction and strength after being hit by a series of personal challenges that question his resolve as a man. ‘Tribunal’ stars Omotola Jalade-Ekehinde, Funsho Adeolu, Nobert Young, Ade Laoye, and Damilola Ogunsi.

The third flick stars Ayo Adesanya, Yaw, Gloria Anozie Young and Omowunmi Dada is ‘Umogwo’, the story of Omotunde, a young Yoruba civil engineer, married to Raymond, an Igbo man. Coloured by different cultural backgrounds, drama ensues when Raymond’s mother, Chimanda, insists on performing Umogwo, an Igbo cultural practice by which the mother of one of the couples lives with the couple for a period of time to relieve the nursing mother of the pressures of convalescing and baby care.

NKECHI BLESSING, PAPA AJASCO ARE NIGERIA CARNIVAL USA AMBASSADORS As preparations for its second edition enters top gear, organisers of the Nigeria Carnival USA have unveiled its ambassadors.

At a media event in Lagos recently, the organisers announced Nollywood actresses, Deihlar Musa and Nkechi Blessing Sunday, also known as Omoge Lekki, and prolific comic actor, Abiodun Ayoyinka aka Papa Ajasco, as flag bearers of the annual event.

Also unveiled as ambassadors are Kannywood star Abdul Mohammed, teen reality TV prodigy, Ibukunoluwa Ayomikun Sobowale, and comedian, Kelly Ighoyota, also known as Kelly Blind.

The carnival, a yearly Nigeria music, cultural and comedy event in the United States of America, is an initiative of TKY Global Investment Limited. The oneweek long 2017 edition of the carnival, slated for July 23 - 31, 2017, will hold in Maryland, U.S.A. Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, Mr. Benson Akinkuebi, Chief Operating

Bartender Reality Show Kicks Off The journey to find West Africa’s top bartender kicked off with auditions on the 30th of January with over 80 competing bartenders from Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone & Liberia. The judges included Head Judge and Show Creator Caesario de-Mederios, Spirits Industry Professional, Founder AHL Marketing – a niche spirits activation agency operating in Nigeria, Ghana & Ivory coast, also a certified wine & spirits Educator, Lara Rawa, Lawyer & bartender, founder Enti cocktails and Lagos cocktail week & Chris Beaney, President of the Ghana Bartenders Guild and ex Manager Crazy Homies & Lucky 7 London Experienced Spirit industry professional and TV Presenter, Mark Barrett also joins the cast of The Barman TV as Show Host The season starts filming in April 2017.

Officer of the carnival, said the aim of the organisers is to promote Nigeria diverse rich culture and hertage.

“Apart from sports, there is no other thing that can bring Nigerians together than culture and entertainment. We are bringing Nigerians together through culture and make them cherish their culture like the Chinese and other culturallyinclined countries. We also want to sell our culture to the people of other culture across the world,” Akinkuebi said.

He noted that while many did not believe in their dreams when the project debuted last year, yet, they thank God that the maiden edition suceeded beyond their expectation as the carnival recorded over 300 participants and hope that there will be a significant increase this year.

Akinkuebi however allayed fears over the emergeance of President Donald Trump whose immigration policy has created a lot of concerns for visitors and US citizens alike.

“The law is there to guide everyone.

America is a country where true federalism is practiced. And besides, the Nigeria Carnival is a legitimate concern, more so, we are in the business of promoting culture, thus we have nothing to fear about the new administration of Mr. Trump,” he assured.

On the choice of ambassadors, Akinkuebi said, “ Since it’s a pan Nigeria thing, we have to bring everyone together. We picked Kelly Blind to represent the South-South region and also the physically challenged persons; Papa Ajasco from the South-West, Deihlar Musa and Abdul Mohammed to represent the North-Central and North-east, and Ibukunoluwa, who is 11 years old, to represent teenagers.”

Also contributing, Nollywood star actress, Foluke Daramola Salako, who is also the Public Relations Officer of the carnival, said: “The first edition has only one person (Yemi Blaq) as ambassador but we decided to expand it this year to capture nearly the whole Nigerian

“The Barman TV is a reality series born out of the idea that Africa is in need of a platform to develop and raise respect for the craft, this we feel will have more success than attempting to enlist African bartenders to international competitions as it does not provide a level playing field. We infused this serious agenda with a little bit of entertainment, nightlife and fashion and the TV show was born”explained Co creator , Chioma Onyenwe of ‘Ha! Ha! Media.’

The show has managed to attract the interest of several respected industry greats like; Hidetsugu Ueno who will be joining us from Tokyo, Dale Degroff, author of The Craft of the Cocktail and The Essential Cocktail and Tom Dyer multiple world flair champion who will be joining us from London to teach flair.

region. We were specific and precise in picking the ambassadors for the carnival so as to carry along everyone and to appeal to brands and relevant government agencies.”

She noted that as part of the activities leading to the Carnival, the team will be visiting royal fathers in different parts of the country to intimate them of the programme and the main carnival.

DELTA TAKES NOLLYWOOD TO THE AIR First it was Hollywood, then Bollywood and now Delta Air Lines is bringing Nollywood to the skies with Nigerian-made movies on board its flights.

The genre is being rolled out across Delta’s inflight entertainment system Delta Studio and will be complete in April.

The first films to be shown will be Bambitious andA Place Called Happy, with more titles coming later in the year. The movies will be available on 339 aircraft flying both internationally and on U.S. domestic routes, including Delta’s daily service between Lagos and Atlanta.

“As a global airline, we listen to our international customers to shape our product and services to offer what they want,” said Bobby Bryan, Delta’s Commercial Director for East and West Africa.

“We already offer African menus and the introduction of Nollywood films shows our commitment to this region and offering local customers popular local entertainment.”

Ayo Makun, producer and lead actor of ‘30 Days in Atlanta’, which is named in the Guinness World Records 2017 as Nollywood’s highest domestic grossing film said: “I applaud Delta for bringing Nollywood to a new global audience. Our films are already popular in Africa but I’m looking forward to more film fans becoming lifelong Nollywood fans too.”

Delta’s in-flight entertainment system, Delta Studio™, more than 1,000 hours of entertainment, including up to 300 movies, 750 TV shows, 100 foreign film titles, 2,400 songs, 18 channels of live satellite

ACCELERATE TV LAUNCHES THE SHADE CORNER Leading Nigerian online hub for entertainment and news, Accelerate TV recently launched a lifestyle talk show called The Shade Corner which features five young, interesting Nigerians from different creative industry sectors. The Shade Corner, which hit the screens on Wednesday, February 8, 2017, is considered an open discussion forum where young folks can express their opinions on different topics ranging from entertainment to lifestyle and further down to happenings and trending topics from all over the world.

The show’s cast, nicknamed the Shady Bunch, brings different perspectives to the table owing to their different professional, ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

Akah Nnani is a fast rising actor, TV host/presenter and blogger with a great sense of humour and a degree in Mass Communication from Covenant University. Makida Moka is an Egyptian-born Nigerian actress and model who won the inaugural “Face of Sleek Nigeria” in 2009 and featured in Emem Isong’s Code of Silence in 2015.

Adebayo Oke-Lawal is a well-known Nigerian designer behind the menswear fashion brand, Orange Culture, whose designs have featured in various magazines such as Genevieve Magazine, TW, FAB Magazine. Adebayo has also dressed celebrities such Tiwa Savage, Mo’Cheddah, and Ice Prince amongst others.

University of Maryland alumnus, Noble Ezeala is a lawyer and also a blogger for Style HQ, while Camille Shaiyen, a French-speaking brand consultant who holds a degree from the American University of Paris, works as creative director for a couple of fashion brands.

Speaking on why these individuals make the perfect hosts for The Shade Corner, Head of Accelerate TV, Colette Otusheso says, “Different industries especially entertainment overlook the importance of constructive criticism and open discussions in Nigeria. This is why these five young and eclectic personalities were chosen to represent the voice of Nigerian millennials who want to have a say on topical issues and trending topics.”

The first episode of The Shade Corner which premiered on Accelerate TV includes a review of some of the lessthan-flattering works of Nollywood actors who had ventured into music in recent times. Rare clips from music videos by Omotola Jalade, Nkem Owoh, Genevieve Nnaji, Jim Iyke and even Cossy Orjiakor were unearthed and played back with hilarious commentary and review by cast members.

With this show, Accelerate TV aims to further engage directly with its target audience of Nigerian millennials, by covering trending topics, controversies and news on celebrities that they care about, in a no-holds barred, bold and direct manner.

Considering the tide of television viewing is gradually shifting from regular home screens to web and social media, Accelerate TV is well prepared to take a position as an online haven for young Nigerian creatives, doers, thinkers, champions and even the misfits with shows like The Shade Corner.

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ FEBRUARY 12, 2017

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

Beyonce

Adele

Who Makes History Tonight at the Grammy Awards and BAFTA? Vanessa Obioha Grammy Beyonce? Adele? Drake? Or Demi Lovato?

The list goes on and on as musicians gather at the Staples Centre, Los Angeles, tonight to etch their name in Grammy Awards legendary fame.

Possible record breakers for this year’s event include Beyonce who already enjoys the spotlight as the most nominated female artiste in one night. If the pregnant diva can clinch eight awards tonight, then she will make an all-time history as the only artiste to win most Grammy Awards in one night, a title currently held by the late Michael Jackson.

While there is the possibility of Beyonce taking home all her nominated awards, British pop singer Adele poses a threat.

Since her first Grammy nomination in 2012, Adele has maintained a winning streak of scooping awards in every category she was nominated. This year, she will contend with Beyonce in the categories: ‘Record of the Year’, ‘Song of the Year’, ‘Best Pop Solo Performance’ and ‘Album of the Year’.

Newbie Demi Lovato might as well make history tonight as winning her first Grammy in her first nomination. She is nominated in the category ‘Best Pop Vocal Album’ for her fifth studio album ‘Confident’.

But most eyes would probably be on SIA and Ariane Grande who are also nominated in the same category. Although, they are past nominees of the Grammy Awards, they are yet to clinch any statuette. Will this year be different?

Perhaps, Drake can finally win in the Best Rap Song category, a category he had been nominated more than once. Last year, he lost to Kendrick Lamar. However, this year, he is up against Kanye West, Chance the Rapper, Fat Joe and Nico. Will he emerge victorious tonight?

As usual, the Grammy will be lit with dazzling performers. Straight from her Super Bowl striking performance, Lady Gaga will join Metallica on stage to perform. Adele, John Legend, Daft Punk, Bruno Mars, Carrie Underwood, A Tribe Called Quest, Katy Perry, Alicia Keys are just few of the artistes on the line-up that will set the stage on fire later tonight.

Damien Chazelle

Ruth Negga

streak like it did in the 2017 Golden Globes Awards?

All eyes are also on Ruth Negga, the shining star in the movie ‘Loving’ and her fellow nominee Tom Holland, in ‘Captain America: Civil War’. Both are nominated in the ‘Rising Star’s category It’s also been a good year for Casey Affleck, the leading character in ‘Manchester by the Sea’. He already won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor-Motion Picture, Drama. Perhaps, he may top his winnings by clinching BAFTA award for the ‘Leading Actor’.

Another tough category is the Animated Film category where ‘Finding Dory’, ‘Kubo and the Two Strings’, ‘Moana and Zootropolis’ will fight for the award.

Meanwhile, the legendary comedian Mel Brooks will be honoured with the highest honour of the Awards: BAFTA Fellowship.

Senator Warren Set to Publish Book After being silenced, then ignored on the Senate floor over her objection to the nomination of Jeff Sessions to a U.S District Court, the Massachusetts Democrat, Senator Elizabeth Warren will publish a new book.

Due on April 18, the book is titled ‘This Fight is our Fight: The Battle to Save America’s Middle Class’, will tell the story of how the United States built the greatest middle class in history and how big corporations and financial institutions overpowered the interests of poor, lower-income and middle class Americans.

Warren’s first book ‘A Fighting Chance’ was published in 2014.

Aretha Franklin

The Recording Academy will also pay tribute to pop icons, late George Michael and Prince who passed on last year.

BAFTA Coincidentally, the 70th annual British Academy Film Awards will also be holding tonight at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Like the Oscars, the competition is very tense in BAFTA with Damien Chazelle’s musical ‘La La Land’ leading with 11 nominations.

The film whose leading acts Ryan Gosling

and Emma Stone are also nominated in the ‘Leading Actor’ and ‘Leading Actress’ categories respectively, faces stiff competition in the category of ‘Best Film’, the most anticipated category of the Awards. It contends with ‘Arrival’, ‘I, Daniel Blake’, ‘Manchester by the Sea’, and ‘Moonlight’.

Also hot on its heels with most nominations in the awards are ‘Arrival’ and ‘Nocturnal Animals’ which both claimed nine nominations.

Will ‘La La Land’ continue its winning

Aretha Franklin Plans Retirement with a With Stevie Wonder Collabo Before the Queen of Soul finally takes a bow from the music scene this year, she will record one last album for release in September. The album she revealed in an interview will be produced by iconic singer, Stevie Wonder.

The award-winning legendary musician though declined to say if ill-health was part of her decision to retire. She, however, was grateful for her career achievements. She also said that she wants to have more time with her grandchildren and spend most of her retirement doing something useful.

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ ͯͰ˜ Ͱͮͯ͵

ON THE COUCH

CHIEF MATTHEW ADERIYE (ACCOUNTANT)

Mystery Photographer Became My Wife Interviewed by Funke Olaode What was your growing up like?

I am from Ado-Ekiti but I grew up in a polygamous family. The dream of every child then was to go to Christ School. After I passed the entrance examination, I was asked to pay a fraction of the total school fees which was 35 Pounds. I went to my father, who was a farmer. He dipped his hands into his pocket and brought out 10 shillings. She simply entered her room and brought out Two Pounds.

How was your mother able to afford your school fees?

She was a very enterprising woman but providence also played a key role. The cook to the principal of Christ school then, one Mr. Isaac Oviri, rented a shop in my father’s house in Ereguru area of Ado Ekiti. When we started in Christ School in 1956, that man took me to Rev. L.D. Mason, the then principal of the school and introduced me, saying that this is the son of my landlord in town and that it was his mother that was paying his school fees. And because of that introduction, Mason never sent me home for school fees throughout my five years in the school, my mother only paid the school fees when she was able to pay. I left the school in 1960 and went to Lagos to work for Barclays Bank where I spent about two and half years before I travelled to United States where I had my first and second degree before I joined Ernest and Young, accounting firm in 1971.

Why did you pitch you tent with E&Y considering your banking experience?

One was always proud to come home and contribute his quota. In my own case, I was looking for an organization that would have a spread that covers Nigeria.

I wrote letters to about three places and they were the first firm that invited me for interview and I was posted to an office where I was the first professional staff.

After that, I worked with the firm again in Detroit. One day, my managing partner

American from Indiana and here we are in Ado Ekiti.

Did you influence your children’s career choice?

No I only guide them. My first daughter studied Computer Engineering in Ife, where coincidentally she also met her husband. They are both in US now. My second daughter went to school in the US but she met her husband who is from Modakeke in US. My third child studied Human Resources; she is also married and based in the US. My only son studied Electrical Engineering and he is also based in US. He is not married. My last born is a teacher; she is into special education in the US.

called me and asked if wanted to go back to Nigeria that the firm was planning to set up an office in Nigeria. That was in 1972.

Before coming, I was told I would have to undergo a six months training in Oil and Gas in Oklahoma. This was necessary because Nigeria office was actually set up in 1972 because of Mobil. Then the office in Nigeria had no expert in Oil and Gas and they wanted somebody who would be groomed in that field to attend to the needs of Nigeria. That was how I was sent to Oklahoma for six months, where I leant the rudiments of oil and gas audit.

Of course there was E&Y in Nigeria before then but with a different name. I came back to Nigeria in 1973 and worked there for 32 years, got to the level of being the West Africa Managing Partner before I retired in 2002. Since I retired, I left accounting completely and started my own business

under Agro Nigerian Ventures Limited.

Why did you relocate to Ado-Ekiti?

It is my place and I know there is much to do here than a city like Lagos and Ibadan. I know I can contribute a lot to the development of this place. There are no essential amenities. For instance, since I choose to be in Agriculture, I have discovered that young men are running away from farming and they must be encouraged.

What are the major milestones you can remember in your life?

The first moment I cannot forget was the day I left the shore of this country. Another day was my first day on campus in August 1963, I was coming from Church wearing Agbada, when a young lady appeared from the blue and approached me to ask if she could take my picture and I said she was free. Five years later, I was sitting in my mother-in-law’s sitting room, I just got married and I saw a picture on the TV in a corner, which was mine. I moved closer to see clearly and I discovered it was a picture taken five years ago by someone I didn’t know from Adam, who is presently my wife. We have been married for 47 years and I don’t think I could have wished for someone better as a partner. She is an

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

FOCUS

Homeschooling as the New Deal Yinka Olatunbosun

I

f you are one of those who love to learn anything from the comfort of your home and at your pace, you are reading the right article. Actually, contemporary learning methods are tailored to fit individual lifestyle. Schools are becoming overrated. They have limited time for learning and sometimes a teacher’s temperament can either make you love or hate a subject. Ask people who loathe Mathematics, they often blame their teachers. But now, the days of transferring the blame are over for there are alternative learning styles aided by technology.

Right on the heels of the success of the e-learning language series, Lextorah, a leading electronic platform that connects capable teaches with learners is about to change the lifestyle of every day learners.

The platform came as a result of a growing demand by parents who fell in love with Lextorah language series which is a compilation of e-learning tools such as CDs for indigenous languages as well as French designed to redeem the lost interest in Nigerian culture. Online teachers were engaged and more demands came for

Lextorah to broaden the scope of e-learning.

That gave birth to Homeworks.ng, a special online platform that makes it possible for students to learn a wide variety of subjects conveniently. Due to the poor infrastructure problem, occassioned by poor network and power failure, tutors and students have complained that the online classes are expensive. To make learning affordable, Mrs. Mercy Taylor and her Lextorah team developed Homeworks to reach more students with dependable tutors.

Many parents are choosing to homeschool their children for different reasons. Some may want to protect their children from bad influences at school while others may do so for financial considerations especially at this economic recession period.

Ideally, tutors are sought within the student’s territory for convenience but some tutors don’t mind the distance as long as they get paid for the job. Usually, the Homeworks team will visit the client’s home and ensure it is safe to send a tutor to work there. But that’s not all the due diligence required by the company that is run by a trained lawyer.

Though the company is called Homeworks, the tutors do not help

Ms Nwanchukwu, Head, Enrollment Services, Homeworks, teaching a student.

students do their homework from school. Asides the conventional school subjects, the platform offers after-school tutorials in extra-curricular activities.

In addition to professional exams preparations,Homeworks have teachers for data programming, website design, music, photography as well as animation. And the policy is strictly payment-before -service, using an online registration and e-payment

system. Some parents prefer to pay to the bank but no parent is allowed to pay for the service through the tutors.

After each session, students can rate their tutors on the website. These ratings say much about each tutor’s performance and whether he or she would get more referrals. For Homeworks, the added service includes links to schools, scholarship offers, admission dates and deadlines.

ARTS & REVIEW

IN IT’S HER DAY, BOVI, KING OF NIGERIAN COMEDY, GOES TO THE MOVIES PAGE 63

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PUBLICATION

12.02.2017

MORACHI’S COMEBACK STORY Morachi

Cover continued on Page 64-65

EDITOR OKECHUKWU UWAEZUOKE/ okechukwu.uwaezuoke@thisdaylive.com

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž BRUARY 12, 2017

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Cast of the movie, It’s Her Day

IN IT’S HER DAY, BOVI, KING OF NIGERIAN COMEDY, GOES TO THE MOVIES Oris Aigbokhaevbolo

T

he Nigerian film industry loves the comedy form. It’s fast, it’s fun, it’s frequently foolish.

But foolishness has its uses. The last time somebody put a foolish Nigerian on the big screen, he made so much money his film ended up in Guinness World Records as highest earning Nollywood film at the box office.

That somebody was the comedian AY; the film was 30 Days in Atlanta—a film that irked so many but drew many more to the cinemas.

It would be unfair to say foolishness was that film’s strong point. It wasn’t.

AY put an average, albeit silly, Nigerian as the centre of his film. That average Nigerian was called Akpos, and before his cinematic debut, he had become the Nigerian everyman in jokes that showed up online. He was played by the comedian Bovi Ugboma as a clever but clueless character on AY’s comic version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire. But when it was time for Akpos’s appearance in Nollywood, AY chose to play the character himself. The rest is Guinness and Nollywood history.

This background is not necessary to

enjoy the film It’s Her Day, but it has some relevance because over the years Bovi has proven to be the very best of Nigerian comedians, even if he is (or acts like he is) not aware of his position. AY is a lesser talent with better PR and showbiz connections; Basketmouth, once the best, now is complacent. The country’s other comedians are more or less more names than quality.

With It’s Her Day, Bovi seeks to re-enact the success of 30 Days. He was the original Akpos; now he can be something else: something he has written himself. Forget the theory that says a director owns a film. Aniedi Anwah directs It’s Her Day. But when a Nigerian comedian writes and stars in a film, you better believe he is the auteur.

Bovi plays Victor who has just returned with his girlfriend Nicole (Ini DimaOkojie) from the west. She is a rich girl; he is a guy from a poor family who has made it. This matchup sets the stage for high drama—from which Bovi extracts comedy. He wants to give her the “fairy tale wedding she desires�. His friend Omonigho (Gregory Ojefua) objects but is told that “The wedding is not going to be as expensive as you think it is.� Being a Nigerian male, Victor needs to impress.

As he says, “I need to let them know say boys dey represent since 1892.�

Clearly, he’s overreaching. The bills pile and pile. And for all of the money he’s supposed to have, Victor is not the most stylish or gaudy individual. His fiancÊe by contrast is luminous and flashy. Her family is filled with bratty siblings, all female.

She is a glamour-hound, prone to selfies and seeking to capture each part of her life online. She hates his friend Omonigho who is fat, bearded and a touch shabby for her family. “He’s ugly and he’s cocky,� they say.

Omonigho hates them back, and takes Victor to Angela, his former girlfriend, played subtly and wonderfully by Omoni Oboli. Angela, with a name that hints at her divine qualities is what Nigerians call “wife-material.� She diagnoses Victor’s problem. “You are funny, you make people laugh,� she says, but adds that he is “so ashamed of [his] background.�

This line is uttered so matter-of-factly, one would be forgiven for entertaining the thought that what Bovi has written here is autobiographical, at least psychologically.

At the minimum, he can identify with Victor at far as humble beginnings go, and if the film was written in 2004 as Bovi has said, then perhaps he channelled some of his pre-fame experience into the narrative.

No matter. The difference between Oboli’s Angela and Dima-Okojie’s Nicole is one of the three central relationships

Preserving National Monuments Yinka Olatunbosun

O

n a recent visit to the site of the 190 year old Brazilianstyle edifice in Lagos, the Ă“Ă˜Ă“Ă?ĂžĂ?Ăœ Ă™Ă? Ă˜Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ—Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ and Culture, Alhaji Lai ÙÒË××Ă?ĂŽËœ Ă’Ă‹Ă? ĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂ˜Ă?ĂŽ ÞÒËÞ ÞÒĂ? Ă?ĂŽĂ?ĂœĂ‹Ă– Ùà Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž ĂĄĂ“Ă–Ă– Ă˜Ă™Ăž ÞÙÖĂ?ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ? ÞÒĂ? ĂŽĂ?Ă?ĂžĂœĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă? Ă˜Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă– Ă—Ă™Ă˜Ă&#x;Ă—Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŁĂĄĂ’Ă?ĂœĂ? Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂžĂœĂŁË› Ă’Ă? ĂŒĂ&#x;Ă“Ă–ĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘Ëœ ĂĄĂ’Ă“Ă?Ă’ ĂĄĂ‹Ă? Ă‹Ă?Ă›Ă&#x;Ă“ĂœĂ?ĂŽ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÑËäĂ?ÞÞĂ?ĂŽ Ă‹Ă? Ă‹ Ă˜Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă– Ă—Ă™Ă˜Ă&#x;Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž ĂŒĂŁ ÞÒĂ? Ă?ĂŽĂ?ĂœĂ‹Ă– Ùà Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă“Ă˜ ÍšÎ Í˝ÍžËœ

ĂĄĂ‹Ă? ĂŽĂ?Ă?ĂžĂœĂ™ĂŁĂ?ĂŽ ĂŒĂŁ Ă?Ù×Ă? ĂŽĂ?Ă Ă?ÖÙÚĂ?ĂœĂ?Ë› Ă? Ă‹ ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă&#x;Ă–ĂžËœ ÞÒĂ? Ă?ĂŽĂ?ĂœĂ‹Ă– Ùà Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? ĂŽĂ?Ă Ă?ÖÙÚĂ?ĂœĂ? Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă‹ĂœĂ‘Ă&#x;Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ùà Ă?Ăœ ÞÒĂ? ĂšĂœĂ™ĂšĂ?ĂœĂžĂŁ Ă“Ă˜ Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂžË› ËŠËŞ ĂĄĂ‹Ă˜Ăž ÞÙ Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; ÞÒËÞ ĂĄĂ? ĂĄĂ“Ă–Ă– Ă?Ă’Ă‹Ă–Ă–Ă?Ă˜Ă‘Ă? ÞÒĂ?Ă— Ă“Ă˜ Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂž Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂĄĂ? Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă‘Ă™Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÙ Ă‘Ă?Ăž Ă™Ă&#x;Ăœ ĂœĂ?Ă–Ă“Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂĄĂ? ĂĄĂ“Ă–Ă– ĂœĂ?Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂœĂ? ÞÒÓĂ? ĂŒĂ&#x;Ă“Ă–ĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÙ Ă“ĂžĂ? Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ—Ă‹Ă– Ă‘Ă–Ă™ĂœĂŁË› Ă? Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? ÞÒĂ? ÚÓĂ?ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ?Ëœ ĂĄĂ? ĂĄĂ“Ă–Ă– ĂœĂ?ĂŒĂ&#x;Ă“Ă–ĂŽ Ă“ĂžËœËŞËŞ Ă’Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ă“ĂŽË› Ă’Ă? Ă—Ă™Ă˜Ă&#x;Ă—Ă?Ă˜ĂžËœ ĂŒĂ&#x;Ă“Ă–Ăž ĂŒĂŁ ĂœĂ?ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ˜Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă–Ă‹Ă Ă?Ă? Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— ĂœĂ‹Ă¤Ă“Ă–Ëœ ĂĄĂ‹Ă? Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă“Ă›Ă&#x;Ă? Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă“Ăž ĂĄĂ‹Ă? a chronicle of the historical, cultural and Ă?Ă™Ă?Ă“Ă‹Ă– ĂœĂ?Ă–Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă’Ă“Ăš ĂŒĂ?ÞåĂ?Ă?Ă˜ Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂœĂ‹Ă¤Ă“Ă–Ë› ËŠËŞ Ăž Ă“Ă? Ă–Ă“Ă•Ă? Ă‹ Ă–Ă“Ă Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă—Ă™Ă˜Ă&#x;Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă™Ă? Ă™Ă&#x;Ăœ ÚËĂ?Þ˛

Ăž ĂĄĂ‹Ă? Ă‹ Ă—Ă™Ă˜Ă&#x;Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž ÞÒËÞ Ă?Ă˘Ă’Ă“ĂŒĂ“ĂžĂ?ĂŽ ÞÒĂ?

ĂœĂ‹Ă¤Ă“Ă–Ă“Ă‹Ă˜ Ă‹ĂœĂ?Ă’Ă“ĂžĂ?Ă?ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ? Ă‹Ăž ÞÒËÞ ÞÓ×Ă?Ëœ ĂĄĂ’Ă“Ă?Ă’ Ă“Ă? ĂœĂ‹ĂœĂ? ÞÙ Ă?Ù×Ă? ĂŒĂŁ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŁĂĄĂ’Ă?ĂœĂ? Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? ĂĄĂ™ĂœĂ–ĂŽË›

Ăž Ă“Ă? Ă‹ ĂœĂ?Ă—Ă?Ă—ĂŒĂœĂ‹Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? ĂĄĂ’Ă‹Ăž Ă™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă‹Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂœĂ? ĂĄĂ?Ă˜Ăž ĂžĂ’ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;Ă‘Ă’ Ă“Ă˜ Ă?Ă–Ă‹Ă Ă?ĂœĂŁ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÒÙå ÞÒĂ?ĂŁ ĂžĂœĂ“Ă&#x;×ÚÒĂ?ĂŽËœ Ă?Ă‹Ă—Ă? ĂŒĂ‹Ă?Ă• Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?ÒÙåĂ?ĂŽ ÞÒËÞ ÞÒĂ?ĂŁ ĂĄĂ?ĂœĂ? ĂĄĂ?ÖÖ̋ÞÙ̋ÎÙ˛ Ă’Ă? Ă“Ă—ĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ‹Ă˜Ăž ĂžĂ’Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă“Ă? ÞÒËÞ Ă‹ ĂšĂ?ÙÚÖĂ? åÓÞÒÙĂ&#x;Ăž Ă’Ă“Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂœĂŁ ĂĄĂ“Ă–Ă– ĂšĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă’ Ă Ă?ĂœĂŁ Ă?Ă‹Ă?Þ˛ Ă’Ă“Ă? ĂŒĂ&#x;Ă“Ă–ĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂĄĂ‹Ă? ĂĄĂ™ĂœĂžĂ’ ĂŒĂ“Ă–Ă–Ă“Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă™Ă? ĂŽĂ™Ă–Ă–Ă‹ĂœĂ? ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ă‹Ă&#x;Ă?Ă? Ă“Ăž Ă?ĂŁĂ—ĂŒĂ™Ă–Ă“Ă¤Ă?ĂŽ Ă™Ă&#x;Ăœ ÚËĂ?Þ˛ Ă™ Ă‹Ă—Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜Ăž Ă™Ă? Ă?Ă•ĂŁĂ?Ă?ĂœĂ‹ĂšĂ?ĂœĂ? Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ ĂœĂ?ÚÖËĂ?Ă? ÞÒÓĂ? Ă’Ă“Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂœĂŁ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹Ă–Ă– Ă“Ă—ĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ‹Ă˜Ăž Ă—Ă™Ă˜Ă&#x;Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž ÞÒËÞ Ă’Ă‹Ă? ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ă˜ ĂŽĂ?×ÙÖÓĂ?Ă’Ă?ĂŽË› ĂĄĂ‹Ă˜Ăž ÞÙ Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; ÞÒËÞ Ă˜Ă™ĂŒĂ™ĂŽĂŁ Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ ĂšĂœĂ™Ă?Ă“Ăž Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— Ă’Ă“Ă? Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă—Ă?ËœËŞËŞ Ă’Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ă“ĂŽË›

framing the film. The other two are between Victor and Nicole, and Victor and Angela.

Although given less time, the Victor/ Angela relationship is the best in the film because Bovi meets his equal in Oboli: she is as good an actress here as he is a comedian. The others are played for easy laughs since, of course, the rich girlfriend is exaggerated for effect, to ensure the audience knows who to root for. There is some sexism at play considering how bitchy and vain Nicole is—but the balanced portrayal by Oboli helps the film evade some accusations of misogyny. There is also the portrayal of Victor’s Aunty Fowe, who is what you have been told middle-aged women from south-south Nigeria are like. The actress Enajite Dede inhabits this character, managing to distract the viewer from the role’s stereotype. DimaOkojie is committed but her character is a hyper-spoilt cartoon, leaving her with too little to work with.

Nonetheless the film’s focal point is Bovi. A stand up comic, his best turn is a monologue delivered to his fiancÊe. His face, as it moves from resigned to quizzical to pissed is the star. It was always his weapon as Akpos, along with his quips. His scenes with Oboli are excellent—there’s both chemistry and a subdued comedy in their exchange.

It’s Her Day doesn’t always work, and sometimes the comic timing is off: There’s a supposedly clever meta-scene where Victor makes unflattering comments about Bovi, which really should be funny but is poorly written.

Also the editing within scenes is often jarring. But It’s Her Day is needed criticism, even if one-sided and promale/groom, of the Nigerian wedding industry. It is also quite funny, sometimes fast, and never quite as foolish as it could be in the hands of lesser talents than Bovi, the reigning king of Nigerian comedy.

-A version of this review appears online at This is Africa. Aigbokhaevbolo is winner of the AFRIMA award for Entertainment Journalism.

64

FEB ͯͰ˜ Ͱͮͯ͵ ˾ THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

ARTS & REVIEW\\MUSIC

MORACHI’S COMEBACK S

Emerging from a long break from music and a sojourn in the US, Nigeria’s hip-hop act Morachi seeks to pick th them. Yinka Olatunbosun reports

Y

ou may remember the 2006 smash hit, “Hapuya Like That”

by Morachi. A sure club-banger it was on arrival and is still a classic vibe anytime. If you wonder what had happened to Morachi since a decade ago, it’s a long break from music, but not a break-up with music.

Morachi was spotted recently at a Surulere lounge where he declared his official comeback to mainstream music industry. His return from Atlanta, USA, is a sure signal to his fans that he is committed to making more music after fathering a child in 2015.

“I have come to repossess my possession; take what belongs to me,” he began as he was surrounded by a flurry of flashing cameras. He considers music as his birth right, which was taken from him some years ago. He had no godfather or music mentor. He just made a song that went viral and successful in airplays but couldn’t get a spot at major music shows which is the real source of income for many Nigerian artists.

Calmly, he left Nigeria for Atlanta where he ventured into real estate as a source of livelihood. He also sold automobiles and brought some to Nigeria. As a result, he has travelled in and out of the country. But something kept pulling him back.

“The fan base I created with my first song was tremendous. I received very encouraging texts and emails,” he disclosed. “I don’t want to change my kind of music. I want to stay true to my kind of music. It doesn’t have to do with making money. My fans still believe in me and I am here to take the industry to another level.”

Morachi recounted how he had watched the industry crawl to global fame. From the era of afro-pop pioneers, Morachi had watched from the side-lines with the aim to beat all the players at their game.

“I was one of those who did great videos at the start of my music career.

I believe in hard work; you either work or you go home. Everyone who is on top his music career got there through hard work. I don’t believe in Illuminati.

“We had Plantashun Boiz, Azadus and I wanted to be bigger than them.

I started my own label and I didn’t do any promo CD. My video was directed

by Mexx who was my senior in secondary school. I made the hit without any hype.

“The music industry has changed but not as I expected. I am a visionary.

I want to come back to show everyone what it should be.”

Looking back at “Hapuyah Like That’’, Morachi claimed that the song is not exactly his kind of music. He had to play to the gallery as he was simply testing the waters.

“I tried to do my own kind of music but the industry didn’t welcome the song. Only one other song, ‘Iboyi’ was a bit successful. I wanted to incorporate a lion in the video to the song. The media thought I was fetish. I lost my sister and then some people began some ugly rumour around her death and the video. It would have been my next big song but the bad publicity killed the song.”

To make a meaningful impact, Morachi is focused on making a

Morachi

different sound. He is particularly impressed by the international recognition of Nigerian music and he believes that Nigerian music is the best in Africa.

In fact, he asserts that many American artists are seriously threatened by the

infiltration of Nigerian music on radio, social media and global music charts.

This is why he never divorced music even whilst minding other businesses.

“In Atlanta, I have a studio in my apartment,” he said. “I cook and I

record my music. I have a lot of people who believe in my dream in my team right now.”

What Morachi found to be disconcerting is the lack of regulating structure that ensures that Nigerian artists get

65

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž RUARY 12, 2017

ʜ ˺˺

STORY

Ă’Ă? ĂžĂ’ĂœĂ?Ă‹ĂŽĂ? Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— ĂĄĂ’Ă?ĂœĂ? Ă’Ă? Ă–Ă?Ę°

their royalties. Still, he is pleased to see that the average music artist is not “hungry�.

Having left the mainstream music scene for a while, he was asked how he feels about the new crop of music stars grown on Nigerian soil. “Davido grew on me. I love his music. I love Phyno, Flavour, Kiss Daniel, Star boy, Sugar Boi and a whole lot of them,� he said.

He doesn’t see any of them as competition for he has his own lane to ply as suggested in one of his songs, “On My Grind’’. This mid-tempo dancehall track is addictive; inspiring replay and attention. “Dem sey my time don go/ But I tell dem sey na lie,’’ he sang in this track which was released recently on a twotrack promo CD. The song promotes level-headedness, hard work and faith in God to make one’s life a success story.

The Inverted Pyramid; Adapted from a novel by Emeka Dike

66

FEBRUARY 12, 2017 ˾ THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

ARTS & REVIEW\\LITERARY CAFÉ

NIGERIA AND ITS INTERACTION WITH RELIGIOUS FORCES David C. Emelifeonwu

T

o suggest that Nigeria’s overall post-colonial performance has been less than stellar is stating the obvious. Sure in early 2014, Nigeria surpassed South Africa as Africa’s largest economy and has others things going for it such as the world’s second largest film industry, Nollywood, as well as diverse cultural communities.

These achievements however must be juxtaposed against the cumulative socio-political issues and problems facing the country. These include perennial gross mismanagement of the economy, the scourge of Boko Haram in the North-East, the enduring crisis in the Niger Delta over crude petroleum extraction, and more recently the agitation among elements in the Igbo community seeking to revive or enable the revival of Biafra.

It would appear that cultural groups want out of Nigeria, which is concerning.

In its post-colonial period, Nigeria has often been on the verge of disintegration yet somehow it has managed to limp on.

Consigned or living in a permanent crisis mode however is not sustainable.

The foregoing observations beg questions and understandings about some of the sources of Nigeria’s intractable problems and challenges? Fifty-seven years on and a civil war thrown in between, the Nigerian state and its societies have simply failed to forge an enduring sense of unity and national purpose. In fact, there has been a worsening vice improving quality to relations between the Nigeria state and its societies, which, by any measure, does not bode well for the country’s ability to live up to its vaunted potential. For the country to assume its much expected global position it is imperative that its leaders and societies gain not only a deeper understanding of the myriad path-dependencies that conspire against its progress but more significantly critically interrogate its past for relevant insights.

Prof Olufemi Vaughan’s Religion and the Making of Nigeria (Chapter 1) provides a refreshing examination into one of those critical path-dependencies, notably religion, that have adversely, depending on one’s perspective, affected state-societies relations in the country.

Drawing extensively on primary sources, this book does an excellent job of reminding the reader that some of Nigeria’s pathologies precede colonial rule, and on a certain level colonial rule was grafted onto and may have reinforced them. Take for example, Islam, in what later became Britain’s Northern Nigerian Protectorate.

It is a historical fact that the Sokoto Jihad spearheaded by Usman Dan Fodio from 1804-08 marked the beginning of the formal implantation of Islamic law and statecraft in the northern region. What is less widely known but excellently captured in Chapter 1 of Religion and the Making of Nigeria is the observation that Islam has had a longer presence in Northern Nigeria. As early as the 14th century, Islam had begun to make inroads into the area. The significance of this observation is at least two-fold: first, parts of Northern Nigeria were already connected to the global Islamic network. Second, when Christian Nigerians encounter Islam and war with it as they are often want to do, they ought to recognise that they are in fact interfacing with a faith that has been dominant and present in the northern half of the country for over five centuries.

Put in terms of Religion and the Making of Nigeria, the main point of emphasis is that Islam as a way of life and practice in the Northern region is not coincident with colonial rule but, channelling the French Annales School, a social development that merits the longue durée approach to its interpretation and understanding.

But much as it was a struggle for Nigeria’s colonial authorities to strike an effective balance between modernity and Islam in the North, the same challenge remains true in the post-colonial period. Regretfully, Nigeria’s post-colonial leaders have shown themselves not equal to the task of striking an effective balance between modernity and Islam, and deftly managing other religion-inspired sources of division. However, to their credit, the colonial authorities had only to contend with managing these tensions in just the northern half of the country. Discussions of some of the challenges between modernity and Islam during the colonial period, on one hand, and the broader management of both global faiths in the post-colonial period, on the other hand, are effectively addressed in Chapters 3 and 5 of the book.

Chapter 3 successfully examines the introduction of Christianity into the coastal regions of Nigeria, more specifically into the South-West region, and from the coastal regions onward to the borderlands of the Sokoto Caliphate. Two significant observations with implications for the country’s political and economic future emerge from the examination of Christianity in Northern Nigeria. The first was the implicit decision by British colonial authorities to halt the advance of Christianity into the core territories of the Sokoto Caliphate such that the modernisation of the region was delayed.

Fifty-seven years later the unintended consequences of this decision has continued to bedevil the country.

The second observation was the strategic reception of Christianity by nonHausa-Fulani communities in the Middle-Belt region of the country. The conversion to Christianity among Middle-Belters was a form of resistance to their Hausa-Fulani overlords and perceived as a lesser of two evils.

Observers of Nigeria’s post-colonial politics can glean from the discussions in Chapters 3, 4 and 5 some of the roots of the Middle-Belt region’s opposition to political parties perceived as belonging or dominated by HausaFulani elites. Interestingly, the notion of division and opposition was not limited to the Middle-Belt region. This phenomenon also played itself out in the supposedly monolithic North between the Sarautaelites and the mass of commoners known as the talakawa. The remarkable thing about both of these observations is their continued resonance into the post-colonial era; talk about the past is prologue.

Despite its many merits, I struggle to understand why the south-east region was left out of the book. It certainly was not because we can assume or infer that it shared similar patterns as the south-west region. Given the underlying focus of Religion and the Making of Nigeria, two questions ensue about the south-east region: first, why did Islam fail to make significant inroads into region? Second,

relative to other Nigerian cultural communities, what explains the slight preponderance of Catholics in the southeast region?

In closing, Religion and the Making of Nigeria is a refreshing and seminal piece of work and achievement. Its implications extend beyond Nigeria, and enjoin us as scholars of sub-Sahara African states and societies to critically examine and interrogate the dialectical processes and relations between pre-colonial, colonial and post-colonial states and societies in the continent. Among the noteworthy things to take away from this is perhaps greater empathy for Nigeria’s postcolonial rulers. Several of the country’s myriad pathologies are not necessarily of

their making and choosing. Though this may be true, they are culpable in so far as they have under-estimated or elected to ignore entirely the path-dependent nature of these problems. Prof Vaughan does an excellent job of drawing attention to just how Nigeria’s past has continued to shape its present in non-positive ways.

Nigeria’s current and future leaders and its societies owe it to themselves to read back into the myriad path-dependencies that have continued to shape the country in order to find ways to reconcile them to an envisioned future.

––Dr Emelifeonwu is an Associate Professor with the Royal Military College of Canada.

67

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R Ëž FEBRUARY 12, 2017

CICERO

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

IN THE ARENA

On the Onnoghen ConďŹ rmation Conundrum The unusual delay in the conďŹ rmation of the next substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria has raised political tensions that should have been avoided, writes Vincent Obia

I

n a break with prevailing patterns on government/ bench relations, the conďŹ rmation of the most senior justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Walter Onnoghen, as the substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria has involved a controversial and longdrawn-out debate. Acting PresidentYemi Osinbajo sent Onnoghen’s name to the senate for conďŹ rmation,Tuesday, February 7, just in the nick of time.

The transmission was sequel to a letter by President Muhammadu Buhari, who is currently on medical leave in London, authorising Osinbajo to forward the name of Onnoghen to the senate for endorsement before February 10, when his tenure as acting Chief Justice of Nigeria was to elapse.

Onnoghen’s tenure as acting CJN was also extended by another three months on Wednesday by the National Judicial Council, two days before the expiration on Friday of the three months within which he could constitutionally head the country’s judiciary in acting capacity.

NJC did the last minute extension to head off a constitutional – and political – crisis following an unusually long delay by Buari in the transmission of Onnoghen’s name to the senate for conďŹ rmation. He has served as acting CJN since November 10 last year, when he was appointed by the president to succeed Justice Mahmud Mohammed, who retired at the statutory age of 70 the day before.That appointment equally came after a brief interval of uncertainty.The normal practice had been to announce the successor before the retirement date of the incumbent CJN. If the senate gives the nod to Onnoghen’s appointment, he will serve till December 22, 2021, when he will be 70.

The name of Onnoghen, an indigene of Cross River State, in the South-south geopolitical zone, had since October 11 last year been forwarded to the president by the NJC. He was expected to promptly transmit the name to the senate for conďŹ rmation in line with the constitution. But he delayed it till last Tuesday.

The curious delay has met an angry response from an ethnically and religiously sensitive populace. It has

raised political tensions. Many have interpreted it as an orchestrated move to frustrate the emergence of the ďŹ rst CJN of southern Nigeria origin in 30 years. Such negative sentiments and the tensions that accompany them are certainly not what Nigeria needs at a time like this when everyone’s help is needed in the task of rebuilding the fabric of the country’s nationhood.

The tensions were clearly avoidable, and they could have been avoided if the Buhari administration had handled the sensitive constitutional duty of appointing a CJN with the great degree of circumspection it requires.

But the government chose to keep the whole country in the dark about its plans, until tempers began to rise.

Interestingly, however, the response to the delayed presentation of Onnoghen to the upper chamber for conďŹ rmation has not played out strictly along ethnic lines. Former military governor of Kaduna State, in the North-west, Colonel Abubakar Umar (rtd), has weighed in with words of support for Onnoghen and rebuke for Buhari. In a recent statement, Umar condemned the president’s refusal to forward Onnoghen’s name to the senate for conďŹ rmation as substantive CJN, describing it as unjust.“Without providing any cogent and plausible or believable reason for its failure to forward the name of Justice Onnoghen to the senate for conďŹ rmation, the presidency leaves Nigerians guessing and speculating about the reasons,â€?Umar stated in a release on February 2. He urged the NJC and the senate not to accept any nominee in place of Onnoghen for the CJN post.

Many Nigerians seem not very keen on continuing to allow needless politician-made tensions stick and divide them. Players in all arms of government should strive to encourage – and not dampen – this cooperative and patriotic spirit.

Now that it is the senate’s turn to take action on the Onnoghen issue, Nigerians expect the senators to act with fairness and dispassion.They should, during the conďŹ rmation hearing, try to douse all the tension that has surrounded the nominee’s emergence and demonstrate to Nigerians that they still have institutions that cater to all citizens, irrespective of tribe, tongue, and

faith.

From what has transpired, it is clear that some persons within the Buhari system do not want Onnoghen as CJN, which raises questions that may need to be redressed by the constitution.This is without prejudice to whatever may be the outcome of the conďŹ rmation hearing on Onnoghen in the senate, which is now on recess.

The criteria for the selection of the CJN are set out in section 231 of the country’s constitution. Former president of the Nigerian Bar Association, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, had in his interventions on the delay in Onnoghen’s conďŹ rmation argued that his appointment as acting CJN on November 10 last year by Buhari was from the beginning a misnomer.This, Olanipekun said, was because the president had ample time to perform his constitutional responsibility of sending the nominee’s name to the senate since October 11 last year, when the name was sent to him by the NJC.The former NBA president maintained that the issue of acting CJN could only have arisen if the president had sent Onnoghen’s name to the senate for conďŹ rmation and the latter was unable to take a decision before the date of the previous CJN, Mohammed’s retirement. He accused Buhari of creating a dangerous uncertainty.

Some had also, allegedly, contemplated the idea of bringing a legal practitioner from outside the Bench of the Supreme Court – probably from Onnoghen’s Southsouth – for appointment as CJN instead of him.Though, the constitutionality of this remains unclear, Olanipekun believed the idea should have no place in the current circumstance because the NJC had already recommended someone to the president for appointment as CJN. The National Assembly may need to look again at the relevant sections of the constitution to see if there are lacunas that would have to be ďŹ lled to make the process of the CJN’s appointment clearer and less prone to political discretion in future. As Nigerians await the senate’s decision on Onnoghen, it is right and proper for the lawmakers and, indeed, all stakeholders to begin to think of how to avoid a replay of the present controversies.

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

Nigerian Army’s Commendable Reaction to Soldiers’ Inhumaneness

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Usman

he Nigerian Army on Thursday court-marshalled two soldiers who assaulted a physically-challenged man in Onitsha for allegedly wearing a military camouflage shirt. Footage of the soldiers mercilessly whipping and booting the man in broad daylight and in the middle of the road went viral shortly after the incident on Tuesday.

But a statement on Wednesday by the Director of Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman,

said the Army had apprehended the soldiers and charged them with assault. Corporal Bature Samuel and Corporal Abdulazeez Usman were demoted to privates and sentenced to 21 days imprisonment with hard labour. This is commendable.

More of such disciplinary measures are needed to curb the brutish attitude of many military and police personnel towards the civilian populace in the country, which has become so pervasive that it is almost accepted as part of the uniformed or security service. – Vincent Obia

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ FEBRUARY 12, 2017

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Adeola

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Ogun2019:OgunWestAgitationGainsMomentum Femi Ogbonnikan looks at the effort by Ogun West senatorial district to produce the next governor of Ogun State and those in the forefront of the campaign

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s the 2019 general elections approach, potential aspirants are emerging for various elective positions, and they are engaging in wide-raging consultations with political leaders for advice and endorsement. In Ogun State, the political activity appears to be more intense in Ogun West senatorial district in their quest to produce the next governor of the state. No person from the zone has become governor in the Gateway State since its creation on February 4, 1976.

Considering the long years of neglect, the consequent infrastructural decay, and the domination of the political space by the other two senatorial districts, Ogun Central and Ogun East, the people of Ogun West have mounted a strong agitation for power shift to the area ahead of the 2019 governorship poll. Their slogan is “Yewa l’okan”, which in English means it is now the turn of the Yewa.

Demography Ogun West has a land mass of 6,297.64km, which is 37 per cent of the total land mass in Ogun State, and a population of 1,109,884, according to the national population census of 2006. The zone is economic hub of Ogun State, generating 75 per cent of the state’s internally generated revenue.

Ogun West, also known as Yewa/Awori land, is made up of five local governments, namely, Imeko-Afon, Ipokia, Yewa South, Yewa North and Ado-Odo/Ota local government areas. The sub - ethnic groups in the zone include the Yoruba, Eyo, Anago, Awori, Ketu, Ifonyin, and Egun. The people have viewed the dominance of the political space by Ogun Central and Ogun East as an affront, and they appear ready to deal with it this time.

Self-inflict Problem As the people make effort to have one of their own on the governorship seat of Ogun State in 2019, they are being counselled to eschew internal divisions, which has been identified as the bane of their governor aspiration.

A frontline politician from Ijebuland (Ogun East), Asiwaju Olajide Awosedo, blames internal disagreements for the failure of Yewaland to ascend the governorship seat at the 2011 general election, when they had an ample opportunity, which was, however, wasted with the division of their votes.

Two strong candidates, Gen Adetunji Olurin of the Peoples Democratic Party and Gboyega Isiaka of the Peoples Party of Nigeria, had emerged from the zone, thereby dividing the votes, and giving the then Action Congress of Nigeria candidate, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, the incumbent governor, an edge to emerge victorious.

According to Awosedo, who was the Labour Party governorship candidate in 2011, the problem of Ogun West is self-inflicted. In a recent interview with THIS DAY, he said what the Yewa people lack in their quest for the governorship is strategy.

But prominent indigenes of the state, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, have continued to support the

Ogun West governorship aspiration.

Aspirants Poised to actualise the zone’s political aspiration, come 2019, some aspirants of Yewa extraction have begun to emerge, though with no certainty yet as to their political platforms. Notable among them are the Ogun State Government Chief of Staff, Chief Tolu Odebiyi (scion of the Senator Jonathan Odebiyi dynasty); the incumbent Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Suraj Ishola Adekunbi; Senator Iyabo Anisulowo; Isiaka; Hon. Abiodun Akinlade; and Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (aka Yayi).

Adeola: A new comer in the contest for Amosun’s successor, Adeola is presently representing Lagos West senatorial district at the Senate. His permutations are said to be behind some recent defections to his All Progressives Congress. He is believed to be supported by Chief Bode Mustapha, Rt Hon Tunji Egbetokun, former council chairmen and ex-councillors, who worked for the emergence of Amosun in 2011. Yayi, a chartered accountant, was born on August 10, 1969 to the family of Mr and Mrs Adeola Ogunleye. He is an indigene of Ago-Isaga, Pahayi, of Agbole Onibata, Ilaro, in Yewa South Local Government Area.

But the hurdles before the Lagos West senator are many.

His alleged sour relationship with Amosun, who effectively controls the APC structure in the state, may pose a huge problem for his governorship ambition. Adeola enjoys the support of the national leader of APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who has a frosty relationship with Amosun.

Odebiyi: The entry of Odebiyi, the present Chief of Staff to Ogun State Government, appears to be reshaping not only the Ogun West aspiration, but also the whole governorship race. It is believed by many political watchers that his recent appointment as Chief of Staff by Amosun was actually meant to position him for emergence as the governor’s successor.

Odebiyi, an Ogun West senatorial aspirant in 2015, is the son of late Chief (Mrs) Kemi Odebiyi, who was Lagos State INEC Commissioner between 1999 and 2007, before her elevation as an INEC national Commissioner by ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, her primary school classmate at African Church School, Ita Iyalode, Abeokuta. A popular son of Iboro, in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State, he holds a BSc in Building Construction and Engineering Technology from Wentworth Institute of Technology, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America. He was Managing Director, Agbara Estates Limited, a development and investment company with over N20 billion in assets. At a time, he was Managing Partner of Travant Real Estate, a boutique real estate firm with a focus on residential and commercial developments, private equity investment and advisory. In recognition of his skills and competences, Odebiyi was selected to serve as a member of the think-tank transition committee on housing in Ogun State in 2003. He is currently a member of the Ogun State Judicial Service Commission.

Odebiyi is said to have previously spurned entreaties from Obasanjo to join the PDP and persuasion from the late Sir

Olaniwun Ajayi to be Senator Adegbenga Kaka’s running mate in 2007 on the platform of the Democratic Peoples Alliance. He is believed to have been invited by Amosun to join APC. Those who know Odebiyi say he has a passion for poverty alleviation and has been involved in various philanthropic programmes among his native Yewa. His pet project, Alajobi, set up in 2011, is dedicated to promoting the Yewa governorship aspiration.

An APC chieftain in Yewaland, who wants to remain anonymous, said, “Alajobi is s philanthropic organisation, which was given birth to, to take care of the need for a benevolent leadership, genuinely caring for each other. The organisation cuts across different political groupings. We have the PDP, LP, ACN, etc. The idea was to make a difference in the lives of the people of Yewa. We lack exposure.

We were to enlighten our people and also to empower them.

“With the genuine intention of Governor Amosun to hand over the baton to a Yewa candidate to succeed him in office, we are sure of the continuity of his good projects through industrialisation of the state. Sooner or later, Ogun State will record the largest number of industries sited in the country.

The greatest thing to do, for the successor, is to key in to this industrialisation drives, so that all the three senatorial districts will benefit.”

Odebiyi’s late father’s legacies and closeness to the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, may also be an advantage.

Adekunbi: He is another contender for the Ogun number one job. Born on March 5, 1975 in Aiyetoro, Yewa North Local Government Area to the family of Alhaji Rahmon and Madam Elizabeth Adekunbi, he holds an HND in Mechanical Engineering from The Polytechnic Ibadan and a Master’s degree in Project Development Implementation (MPDI) from the Federal University of Technology, Akure. Adekunbi tested his popularity in 2007, when he contested, though unsuccessfully, to represent his Yewa North constituency in the House of Assembly. He never gave up. Showing resilience and commitment, he re-launched the bid in 2011 on the platform of ACN and won. He was elected as the Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly on July 6, 2011.

Anisulowo: Anisulowo, 65, is a former Secretary to the defunct Egbado South Local Government Area, a two-time Ogun State Commissioner for Agriculture and Forestry, and an erstwhile Minister of State for Education. She was also the senator for Ogun West district at the upper chamber between 2003 and 2007. Anisulowo is a close friend of Amosun.

Isiaka: Isiaka (aka GNI) hails from Imeko, in Imeko - Afon Local Government Area of Ogun State. The 52-year-old politician had on two previous occasions contested unsuccessfully for the governorship on the platform of PDP. He is warming up for another contest in 2019.

Ahead of 2019, however, there are fears that the number of aspirants from Ogun West senatorial district may yet again ruin the zone’s governorship aspiration if not managed properly.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ FEBRUARY 12, 2017

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Abuja Airport Closure: Ndigbo Raise issues Over Collapsed Enugu/Otukpa/Ajaokuta Road Ahead of the planned closure of Nnamdi Azikiwe airport, Abuja, for repair works by the federal government, the people of the South-east are worried by the neglect of the virtually collapsed Itobe-Ajaokuta-Ofunene road in Kogi State, which is the only route from the zone to Abuja. Christopher Isiguzo, in Enugu, writes

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f everything goes according to plan, the federal government will on March 8, less than a month from now, shut down the NnamdiAzikiwe InternationalAirport inAbuja for six weeks. The closure is to enable the government build a second runway and carry out renovations. During the period, flights will be diverted to Kaduna airport and passengers will be required to travel by rail or road toAbuja. The reason is that the runway inAbuja is almost collapsing. The life span of a runway is 20 years and this particular runway inAbuja has been there for 34 years.

Even before the federal government shuts down the all-important airport, close political observers are already raising issues which in their views ought to be addressed by the government in order to reduce the possible adverse effects of the closure on commuters and motorists. Abuja airport is the second busiest airport in the country after Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos, in view of the influx of people to the federal capital territory. Most government officials, especially at the federal level, from the three arms of government, engage in their activities at the nation’s capital.

The anxiety over the proposed closure of the Abuja airport is understandable. This is more so when the alternative means of transportation in the country are hardly efficient. The rate of rail movement is still very small, while many of the roads are in a poor state.

Objection Though, many individuals and groups have opposed the complete closure of the airport in view if its implications on the national economy, the government has insisted on the closure.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariff, Senator Hope Uzodinma, has expressed concern about the decision of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria to close the airport. According to him, the closure of the only airport in the Federal Capital Territory would cause untold hardship to international and local travellers, and also dent the image of the country.

Uzodinma said, “A complete shutdown of the airport will impact negatively on international trade and related activities with multiplier effect that can exact further pressure on an already recessed economy.

“Plans to divert Abuja bound flights to Kaduna will throw up logistics and security challenges, including endangering lives and property of travellers. All options have not been exhausted to avoid the shutdown of the only airport in our national capital for six weeks.

This is including the option of a technical package to allow skeletal air operations at the airport while most repair work is executed at night.”

Deputy Senate Leader Bala N’Allah also said it was ridiculous that a capital city would be shut down because of renovation. He believed the shutdown would embarrass Nigeria, the most populous nation in Africa, and urged the government to think outside the box and reconstruct the runway in phases.

“If the news goes across the globe that the largest city is being shut down, it will create negative economic, political and social impact,” N’Allah stated.

Airlines operating in the country have equally stated that there is no need to close the Abuja airport to conduct repairs on its runway.

Chairman of Airline Operators of Nigeria, Nogie Meggison, said though his members would support any decision taken by the federal government to improve the state of airports in the country, the complete closure of the airport was unnecessary.

South-east Commuters But beyond the opposition from the Abuja axis, road users from the South-east states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu as well as those from Benue, Kogi and some parts of Kwara have also raised objections to the government’s plan to close the Abuja airport. They say measures should be put in place to ameliorate the hardship the closure would cause road users before the implementation of the plan.

Some of them who spoke with THISDAY said the federal government was making all necessary efforts to improve security on the Abuja-Kaduna expressway, which is expected to be busy within the period of the closure, while nothing was done to take care of the interest of South-east bound travellers from Abuja. Apart from security, the Abuja-Kaduna highway is also receiving major attention to ensure that travellers do not encounter any hitches.

While the Abuja-Kaduna axis is receiving a lot of attention, the other equally important road, which the huge number of commuters from the South-east largely use, the Otukpa-Ayimgba-Itobe-AjaokutaOfunene-Lokoja road, is completely abandoned.

National coordinator of South East Democratic Coalition, Dr Maduka Okebanama, called on the federal government to quickly repair the road from the eastern axis to Abuja in order to cushion the effect of the Abuja airport closure since most of the travellers from the area would depend on the road.

“You are not going to expect our people, who ordinarily should

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spend about four or five hours from Enugu to Abuja, to now fly to Kaduna and still spend about two hours coming back to Abuja.

That’s terribly out of order,” Okebanama said.

He stressed, “At the moment, the Otukpa-Ayimgba-Itobe-Ajaokuta-Ofunene-Lokoja road remains about the only road being used by travellers from Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu states to Abuja.

Also affected are travellers from Benue and Kogi states, as well as some parts of Kwara State. The implication of the present situation is that road users would continue to have terrible experience each time they travel to Abuja. Even lorry drivers that convey essential goods to the eastern part of the country from Kafuna and Abuja have continued to rain curses on government each time they go through the all-important road because of their near-death experiences.”

Okebanama urged the Minister of Works, Housing and Power, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, Minister of State, Aviation, Hadi Sirika, and the governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahya Bello, to close ranks and immediately look at the road with special emphasis on the three kilometres Itobe-Ajaokuta-Ofunene axis, near the Geregu Power Station in Ajaokuta.

He said, “Perhaps, the most important part of the road that requires urgent attention is the Itobe-Ajaokuta-Ofunene axis, about three kilometres, which has completely collapsed. The road in question is adjacent the Geregu Power Station, Ajaokuta. The road, which is supposed to be a dual carriage way, has not only been reduced to a one lane, but even the lane in use has also collapsed. Travelling through that portion of the road, which ordinarily should not take more than five minutes, now takes as much as one to two hours.

“I, therefore, wish to call on the Minister of Works, Housing and Power, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, Minister of State, Aviation, Hadi Sirika and the governor of Kogi state, Alhaji Yahya Bello, to immediately rise to the occasion and at least fix this three kilometres before the closure of the Abuja airport while further arrangements are made to repair the entire road.”

for our people down here, they can go to hell for all they care. This is what we’ve been talking about and we will not stop.”

In a similar vein, the president of the Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Rev. Ugo Chime, asked the affected ministries to show concern for the plights of road users from the east by fixing the road from Otukpa to Lokoja to reduce the pressure the closure of the Abuja airport would bring on the road.

Chime said, “It is a shame that even at this time in our national life, we are still talking about roads. In Nigeria, we plan projects in silos, ministry of transportation does not liaise properly with ministry of works, ministry of works does not liaise properly with others, what you see as one problem is a general malaise, it is a problem of the country that requires proper planning to find a way out of the problem. The economy of Abuja within the period of the closure will be literally wiped away. Within that period, there is going to be a major problem as a result of the closure. They would have found a palliative measure across board, not just Kaduna-Abuja.”

Perceived Marginalisation On his part, leader of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, Uchenna Madu, accused the federal government of further extending the marginalisation and neglect of the South-east by “totally ignoring calls for the repair or rehabilitation of the road leading from the eastern axis to Abuja before shutting down the Abuja airport.”

Madu explained, “As you can see, they are only interested in Abuja-Kaduna road. They are fixing the road day and night, they are putting security measures so as to take care of themselves. But as

Contradiction Fashola had during his recent tour of South-east roads noted that virtually all the federal roads in the zone were undergoing rehabilitation. He, however, did not comment on the Enugu-Otukpa Ajaokuta-Lokoja road, the only road leading to Abuja from the area.

On states that have rehabilitated federal roads in their areas, the minister announced that the federal government would raise bonds to refund billions of naira owed them, noting that the federal government has carefully assessed the various claims by the concerned state governments and has concluded arrangements to refund the money through the said bonds.

The minister also shed light on the Enugu government’s intervention on federal roads. He told the state governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, “We have also been briefed about your intervention on certain roads that are our roads. Your Commissioner and I have discussed about the outstanding claim from the federal government, and my message from the federal government is that we have completed the assessment of all these claims and the total amounts owed the states far exceeds the total amounts as to the whole country.”

Indifference Considering Fashola’s apparent indifference to the eastward routes from Abuja before the closure of the Abuja airport, Okebanama appeals to the Kogi State governor to intervene to fix the ItobeAjaokuta-Ofunene road and seek refunds later. That is if the federal government fails to respond in time.

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2019 and PDP’s Coalition Dream Onyebuchi Ezigbo writes on the coalition arrangements between the Peoples Democratic Party and other political parties ahead of the next general election

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he Peoples Democratic Party is planning a comeback to power at the centre. The opposition party last Wednesday began talks with some politicians and leaders of seven political parties on modalities for an alliance that enable them wrest power from the All Progressives Congress in 2019.

Coalition Talks Some of the political parties said to be involved in the new initiative to broker an opposition alliance include the Labour Party and the Social Democratic Party, which is led by a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Olu Falae.

The meeting with friendly political parties and associations, which was at the instance of the PDP, was held on Wednesday evening in Abuja, shortly after the presentation of the report of the Strategic Review and Inter Party Affairs Committee in a colourful ceremony witnessed by a large crowd of PDP stakeholders.

PDP muted the idea of going into strong alliance with likeminded political groups and individuals, apparently, to be able to wrest power from the APC. But the opposition was quick to state that such an alliance will not follow the pattern of the merger done by the ruling party. PDP also distanced itself from speculations that it was behind those mobilising to form a new mega party.

Report Chairman of the PDP Strategy Review and Inter Party Affairs Committee, and former Minister of Information, Prof.

Jerry Gana, while submitting the report of his committee restated that the alliance negotiations had nothing to do with the rumoured mega party.

Gana said, “We are pleased to report that our initial contacts have yielded positive responses from seven people-focused and social democratic parties. In fact, key leaders and selected delegates from the seven parties will be meeting at the invitation of the PDP. This is nothing to do with the rumoured mega party, but a separate and highly principled initiative of the PDP. Our desire is to have all genuine democrats and friends of the people to flow together and provide a fresh and trustworthy leadership to promote and ensure a people-friendly process of national development.”

He said the committee seriously considered how best to put in place a robust mechanism of inter-party relations so as to encourage the coming together of all genuine and peopleoriented democrats on the basis of shared principles and core programmes of national transformation.

There was no concrete decision taken at the end of the discussions among the parties. The talks were regarded as an exploratory exercise aimed at bringing about fruitful engagements in future. The meeting has no doubt set the ball rolling for the race for 2019. The PDP’s move is seen as a response to recent defections of its members to APC and moves by the ruling party to poach further on PDP’s turf, especially in the South-east, where APC has opened its books for fresh registration of members.

Optimism Gana said PDP was a strong sleeping lion that was now rising, warning that no one should under-estimate the capacity of the former ruling party to turn things around. This is, especially, given what he described as lacklustre performance of the President Muhammedu Buhari-led APC administration.

Other leaders of the party who spoke at the ceremony shared Gana’s enthusiasm.

Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, Senator Walid Jibril, said the party remained as strong as ever despite attempts by detractors to dismember it. He maintained that contrary to the notion that the PDP had split into factions, the party was a united family under the leadership of the national caretaker committee headed by Senator Ahmed Makarfi and national secretary, Senator Ben Obi. However, Jibril lamented what he described as an unprecedented animosity and wicked plot by a few members to destroy the PDP.

Highpoint A high point of last week’s reunion move by PDP was the surprise appearance of one of the founding fathers of the party and former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Alhaji Adamu Ciroma. The sight of Ciroma elicited a loud applause as he entered the hall at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, venue of the event.

Addressing the gathering, Ciroma went down memory lane to describe how PDP was formed. He said the party was formed to take care of the interest of all Nigerians, the poor and the rich alike. He said the party would have stayed longer in power but for some avoidable mistakes that altered its vision.

Speaking on the difficult position in which PDP had found

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itself as an opposition party, Ciroma advised the leadership and members work together to rediscover the past glory of the party.

He stated, “I feel very proud of being in the PDP and of being one of the members that played a critical role in its formation. I fell proud to say that the party is still alive today.

We must be very proud that we were able to maintain the position we are now. If we want to help the ordinary Nigerian, we must give him a government that respects his feelings and one that shares his pain as well understands what his aspirations.”

Another founding member of the PDP, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, described the event as a great milestone. He said PDP was a gathering of very illustrious personalities in Nigeria.

Iwuanyanwu, whose speech was punctuated by loud ovation from the appreciative audience, said one of the key decisions that should be taken was when to reopen the national secretariat of the party. He said the leadership must start the process of reclaiming its office, which, according to him, was illegally locked up. He also insisted that he was still in the PDP, describing the suggestion by the governor of Imo State, Chief Rochas Okorocha, that some of the leading members, including governors, were itching to join the APC as a fallacy.

Iwuanyanwu demanded that all those members who recently defected to APC be made to vacate their seats and re-contest under the party. “Frankly speaking, this is my happiest day. In the life of every person or organisation, there comes a time for change. This is the stage that the PDP is now.

I am telling the PDP members gathered here to trust in God, we are going to recover power Io 2019,” Iwuanyanwu stated.

the principle of internal democracy and that the days when impunity reigned was over.

One remarkable moment of truth for the PDP during the event was when the former Minister of Aviation, Fidelia Njeze, asked God in her prayer to give victory to the PDP in the 2019 election against the APC just as He gave David victory over Goliath, the giant, as it is written in the Bible. Also a former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, who anchored the event, described PDP as the party that brought democracy to Nigeria and sustained it, adding the party is poised to return power to ordinary Nigerians in 2019 by defeating the APC. Among those who attended the PDP stakeholders meeting were the party’s founding fathers, governors, lawmakers, former governors, ministers, and lawmakers from across the country.

Ovation There was a loud ovation when Makarfi stepped forward to receive copies of the committee’s report from Gana. It was as if PDP regained its lost voice, as the hall filled to capacity shouted, “Power to the People.”

In his short speech, Makarfi pledged to make the report of the Gana committee available to stakeholders for critical analysis before it would be adopted. He said the party needed to lay more emphasis on the manifesto it would be offering the Nigerian people in 2019. The former governor of Kaduna State said one of the strategies the APC adopted to distract the PDP and to prevent it from mobilising to take power back in 2019 was to fuel a leadership crisis by encouraging a few pliable PDP members to embark on a prolonged legal tussle.

However, Makarfi said the leadership of PDP had discovered that and had decided to move ahead with its activities without hindrance. The former governor also tried to woo those who might have been frustrated out of the party over past actions of the leadership to return. He offered an apology and urged them to give the party another chance. Makarfi said every effort will now be made to ensure strict adherence to

Youth and Women Wing One of the key recommendations of the strategy committee was the restoration of the youth and women wings of the party, which it said will help to energise that critical part of the party’s support base in future elections. The committee recommended new initiatives like the adoption of direct primary as well as other means of ensuring conduct of credible congress and conventions. It urged the party to do way with things that encourage impunity.

The committee also recommended the use of direct primaries in all elections. To this effect, the committee recommended guidelines for direct primaries. It also recommended situations where the option of indirect primary could be adopted, when direct primaries are deemed not feasible. The committee recommended strategies for the proper funding of the party, stating that funding under the rebranded PDP would no longer be left in the hands few individuals but should spread to all members under a funding system that will be worked out. In a bid to strengthen the party and put it in position to win elections henceforth, the committee said it had analysed the activities of the Independent National Electoral Commission and come up with strategies to respond to issues relating to the conduct of election, including the need for the party to adopt a rapid response mechanism and a situation room where elections are monitored and necessary actions taken to protect the interest of the party.

The committee further recommended that the party should convoke a national conference of democrats to create a network for the defence of democracy in the country, which will place the PDP in a position to act as a strong advocate of democracy in Africa.

There is no doubt that PDP is in earnest search for strategies to shore up its strength ahead of 2019. The alliance option is just one strategy. It will be interesting to see how the former ruling party’s plans would evolve ahead of the next general election.

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Nigerians protesting against economic hardship on the street of Lagos

Dissent of the Depressed On Monday, the economically distressed masses of Nigeria – home and abroad – took to the streets to protest the failure of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to effectively tackle the excruciating living conditions in the country. Gboyega Akinsanmi reports on the marches

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n March 31, 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari was declared winner of the 2015 presidential election. For many Nigerians, it was as if a saviour had come. Three reasons explained Buhari’s messianic perception. First, the former President Goodluck Jonathan administration had incurred public disapproval due to its failure to defeat the Boko Haram insurgency and rescue the abducted Chibok girls. Similarly, the Jonathan administration had become synonymous with corruption and impunity, which former chairman of National Human Rights Commission, Dr. Chidi Odinkalu, said was then a huge national burden. Besides, Nigeria was then plagued by acute infrastructure deficit, especially in the oil, power and transport sectors, which many citizens believed Jonathan lacked the political will to resolve.

Disappointment But 20 months after Jonathan relinquished power, Buhari’s public approval has dropped significantly owing to his failing to address the deepening economic crisis for which the previous administration incurred the wrath of the masses. Like the 2012 protests, Nigerians came out last week from Oyo to Abuja, Osun to Enugu, Delta to Kano and Lagos to London, among other places, to protest against what they perceived to be the administration’s misgovernace that caused so much hunger and penury among the masses.

Expectedly, the Nigeria Police banned the #IStandWithNigeria protest just after a hip-hop star, Mr. Innocent Idibia, unveiled his plan to lead a nationwide protest on February 5. Citing threat to his life, Idibia dropped the plan about 24 hours to the protest. But Idibia’s decision did not stop civil society groups – Enough is Enough and One Voice Nigeria – from embarking on the nationwide protest.

Emboldened by sections 39 and 40 of the 1999 Constitution, Nigerians from all walks

of life defied the police order and took to the streets to protest poor governance and the economic policies of the federal government.

Despite extensive public approval Buhari enjoyed before and after his election, the groups believed the Buhari administration had failed to fulfill electoral promises he made to Nigerians.

Justification For the ruling All Progressives Congress, however, there was no reason for the protests.

But credible economic indices tend to justify the decision of the masses to protest what they described as the failure of the ruling party to bring about change 20 months after it came to power. Rather than evolving pro-people policies, they alleged, the government kept blaming the previous administrations.

But at the time Buhari assumed office, according to the National Bureau of Statistics, Nigeria did not enter into recession until the first quarter of 2016. But the economy had shrunk repeatedly since Buhari took charge.

Its growth slowed down by 2.84 per cent in the third quarter of 2015 and by 2.11 per cent in the last quarter of the same year. By the first quarter of 2016, it slid by 0.36 per cent.

Effectively, in the second quarter of 2016, Nigeria entered into recession with a 2.06 per cent contraction. Similarly, an NBS report showed that the country’s national economy further contracted by 2.24 per cent in the third quarter of 2016. Given the unabated foreign exchange crisis, there are fears that the economic conditions may become worse.

Since Nigeria slid into economic recession mid-2016, its story has not largely been the same. From 9.6 per cent in January 2016, the NBS reported, inflation rose to 18.55 per cent

by December 2016. Likewise, unemployment surged to 13.9 per cent largely due to record job losses and relocation of some companies, which economists ascribed to the economic policies of the Buhari administration.

Food prices rose by at least 75 per cent, though it differed state by state. Also, the civil

society groups claimed the cost of living “is already unbearable under the Buhari administration.” Likewise, according to the NBS, the country’s foreign direct investments fell by 53 per cent in 2016. By inference, the fall suggests a loss of investors’ confidence in the country.

Failed Promises For Nigerians, the Buhari administration is another case of failed promises, which Odinkalu argued, had become “recurrent in the last 60 years of our statehood.” One after the other, Odinkalu explained the failure of the previous administrations to ensure stable power supply, revamp decrepit infrastructure, create opportunities for the youths and end the regime of corruption and impunity.

Odinkalu cited the failure of Buhari to fight dispassionately and fearlessly. He said the Buhari administration came into power to fight corruption. Yet, he said next to the president “is the man now known as the Grass Cutter General of the Federation. Nothing has been done about the Secretary to Government of the Federation, Mr. Babachir Lawal. Fire the SGF! Fire the grass cutter!!”

He explained, “It was because he promised a lot. Then, Buhari got into power and he has never addressed us. When he wants to talk to us, he gets into a plane; travels abroad and starts gossiping about us. Are we so useless that our president cannot address us? Are we so idiotic that our president cannot tell us that things are hard?”

Odinkalu pointed out a statement the Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, made before the 2015 elections. Fashola had then said a serious administration could fix power within six months. But after 20 months in office, Odinkalu said there “is still darkness in the land. Poverty is getting worse. We cannot buy bread. We cannot buy food. And we cannot find jobs.”

For Nigerians, also, the protest was no doubt a testament to the public disapproval of the Buhari administration and the ruling party.

In Lagos, for instance, the national coordinator

of Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, Mr. Emmanuel Onwubiko, said the protest was an excellent expression of the people’s determination “to change a system that is not working.”

Onwubiko lamented the failing economy, which he said, had been unduly regulated.

He decried the dysfunctional political climate, which he believed, “has not been working.

Nigerians, no matter how little they are in number, have come out to be heard by the government and tell it that enough is enough.”

He presented major demands, which he said, formed the core reasons for the protest.

As Onwubiko put it, the demands are, “We want transparency in governance. We want to know how much the states are getting. We want to know what happened to the bailout funds. We want to know how much the Federal Inland Revenue Service is collecting.

We want to know how much the Nigeria Customs Service made. We want to know how much the Nigeria National Petroleum Company is making. And we want to know how our government is spending it.”

Likewise, a leading actor for the Bring Back Our Girls Group, Mrs. Aisha Yesufu, said the purpose of the protest was “to demand for good governance. Citizens are tired of the state of affairs in the country. A lot of people are hungry.” In Ibadan, the labour groups, student bodies and civil society groups catalogued the woes of the suffering masses and demanded good governance.

Hope APC national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, admitted the harsh economic conditions, which he acknowledged the people “are currently facing in all parts of the country.” However, Tinubu defended the Buhari administration.

He pointed out that the damage of the last 18 years “cannot be fixed or reversed overnight.

Protests will not solve the problems our people are facing.”

(See the concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com)

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ BRUARY 12, 2017

PERSPECTIVE Labour, Boundaries and Appetites Dafe Otobo

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am not hesitant to pass a few remarks on current state of labour unity and trade union governance and the challenges of Boundaries and Appetites.

I think I should begin straightaway by drawing attention to the obvious fact that trade union governance substantially has involved a few persons representing the interests of trade union members and, as some might add, of working people generally.

But it is important, however, to point out that institutional representation itself was not invented by organised working people and their leaders.

Why so? Indeed and arguably, central to human existence is what we nowadays call “representation”, an inevitable social invention and device once each person realised he or she could not meet personal physical and other needs and requirements alone. Starting with the family unit, however defined and composed, parenting itself always embodied a representation function, representation phenomenon assumed greater significance and more widespread as social interaction, human societies and social organisations became more complex with each succeeding generation and century.

Representation has thus always dominated social, economic and political affairs and whichever historical period in question, it defined and created several processes, but we shall here focus on the following: i) leadership; 2) level and degree of participation in discussions leading to decisions which apply to clearly defined constituency; 3) decision-recording and implementing persons or the bureaucracy; and 4) decision-enforcing persons or bodies.

national bureaucracy but also effect changes in the composition of the latter and relevant organs of the trade union.

The other aspect of this is that dissensions at the national level over tactics and strategies tend to increase the chances or probability of branch and zonal union officials reaching mutually beneficial decisions, and sometimes not, with employers at those levels, sometimes rending them more vulnerable to all manner of pressures and inducements. This is particularly the case where two or more trade unions see themselves as the main drivers at the central level, which are themselves quarrelling, as it were, and require more resources for that purpose.

Union Bureaucracy, Boundaries and Appetites

The last thirty years in particular have witnessed the growth and development of trade union bureaucracies, their earlier predecessors referred to “non-elected” union officers or leaders. The creation and elaboration of union bureaucracies and structures have gone hand-in-hand with more systematic attempts at growing union assets, since more effective nationwide union governance consume more financial and other resources, aside from a growing number of union pensioners as they metamorphosed into small to medium scale employers of labour. Union employees see no reason not to have competitive compensation packages and families have Chris Ngige similar aspirations and social expectations, standard of living and cost of living like labelled “Appetites”. into two and later four central bodies those of other salaried worker in all sectors Appetites involve conscious, and some(ULC, IULC-NTUC, NWC, LUF), to the times unconscious, preferences, or actions formation of the second NLC in December of the economy. The point is that union bureaucracies would tend to systematise by and overt behaviour of any person. So, 1975 which the military regime refused growth of assets, depletion rates of assets, each person’s appetite for food generally, to recognise and “restructured” in 1978 influence appetites and thus choice of types of food, alcohol, sex, power, religious to include 43 so-called Industrial Unions tactics and strategies that have enormous practices, social and political visibility or as its affiliates, and some 19 senior staff consequences for Boundaries-maintenance ambitions, status, money and material associations denied affiliation to a central since they are the decision-recording and wealth, speaking the truth, and like-condi- body, and the 2005 formal registration of implementing groups. tions, is different and appetites, I suggest, the Trades Union Congress with senior Boundaries One thing that is common to these four impact on pattern of social interaction, and staff associations as its affiliates, bouts of the evolution and sustenance of Boundarformation of all-embracing central labour areas of focus, namely leadership, level Union Politicians, Union Leaders and ies. Equally important, is the connection organisations were short-lived indeed. and degree of participation in discussion Labour Unity between Appetites and Strategies and So, the current attempt by some largely leading to decisions, decision-recording Of course, one can be a union or labour Tactics, which we allude to below. private sector-based trade unions to form and implementing bureaucracy and leader without being a union politician. another central labour organisation follows Leadership has to do with position of decision-enforcing persons or bodies, is a well-worn route! the establishment of Boundaries authority and responsibility, and this occurs Labour Unity So, what about Labour Unity! I believe, . Such boundaries may be internal at all levels of the organisation or trade One common wisdom or, historiin terms of organisational politics, it is or external or both but the boundaries union. Union politicians, however, tend to cally, long-standing approach to Labour possible for the NLC to achieve wider are created via custom and tradition or have larger appetites for power, positions Unity, from the days of Karl Marx in membership if the dictates of Boundaries practice or precedent, or via deliberately and material comforts, drawing on ethnicthe eighteenth century to more recent and Appetites are reconciled in favour of and clearly stipulated and defined rules, ity, religion, political party affiliations or times, is that of all working people in one Boundaries. Without going into details, of sympathies, friends in all manner of high processes and procedures, or more usually country and in all countries forming and which few are in public domain, it is fairly places, half-truths, conflict situations and through a combination of all. belonging to one organisation or body.

Boundaries themselves are not End rationalisation of improbables.

This has been difficult to achieve for many certain were all boundaries - especially Products but Means by which objectives, Labour Unity lies in Unity of Purpose, reasons, mostly due to employers and state processes and procedures - faithfully followed at the last NLC elections, subsegoals, aspirations are met legitimately. The policies and the structure of local, foreign that is ameliorating workers plight, a quent schisms and acrimony would have boundaries proclaim or not whether corconstant goal and which expending increasand international economies, the stratified been largely avoided. In this wise, an rect procedures, rules and other prescribed nature of economic organisations but with ing union assets on the creation of multiple arbitrator or mediator, whether in the form labour centres and occupying positions norms have been followed in achieving a some failure on the part of workers and of experts/consultant or Labour Veterans, within them have not been remarkably sucstated objective, or any objective for that their organisations to form only one or matter. When boundaries are not duly fewer organisations. From this perspective, is only as effective as boundaries are seen cessful at doing since 1945. Such political followed, obviously the end-results of positions are transient and personal, while the existence of multiple workers’ organisa- to be maintained and thus accepted by such deliberations or actions may not be successful negotiation of national minimum tions - whether along “junior” and “senior” everyone as such. As all evidence from Nigerian labour history indicates, it is just wage, for example, affects millions of regarded as legitimate and likely to cause lines as in Nigeria, or “public sector” as that more difficult for factions to emerge confusion, ambiguities and conflicts. In workers and millions of others, and making against “private sector” unions, or “white and to sustain such division in a great other words, boundaries, as described leadership collective. Labour Unity is not collar” or “blue collar” or multiple central length of time when everyone agrees that having unanimous views on everything. here, insist that you do the right thing labour bodies or organisations - have due process has been followed. when you are doing what you are doing That is not even possible given differtended to be taken to mean and or The second evidence from Nigerian on behalf of others and for yourself too; ences in innate intellect, formal education, described as less labour unity. labour history is that even when hostile the procedure is no less important than experience and other competencies. Indeed In this sense, therefore, less Labour factions exist, at several critical times (like dissent and opposing views sharpen the the goal or objective.

Unity, or lack of unity in the Nigerian the 1964 General Strike), the exigencies intellect and increase the number of most labour movement is not new, as old as compel a unity of approach despite cost-effective methods, which enrich experithe labour movement itself. From the Appetites erstwhile different tactics and political ence and outcomes. Labour Unity is very Railway Workers Union and Marine All persons, including trade union alliances. easily achieved when all comply with rules Workers and National Union of Teachers members and trade union leaders, are Part of the reason is that trade union and procedures, these crucial boundaries, breaking away from the Civil Service genetically and psychologically different, bureaucracy is not homogeneous, given which protect you from yourself because of Union in the 1930s, then the breakaway as nature thrives on and reflects differena typical structure of any of the trade your certain uncontrollable appetites, and tiation and diversity, in plants and animals factions from the TUC after the 1945 unions. Unforeseen changes in tactics and protect you from others because of their alike. Social-psychologically and sociologi- General Strike, temporary truce in the positions have sometimes been pushed own potentially boundaries-subverting first NLC of 1948-9, then factionalisation cally, we all also behave differently even along by the expressed preferences of appetites. No society, no organisation, no where we hold similar or same beliefs and after the UNAMAG strike in 1949-50, and labour organisation depends on self-control temporary merger in the 1956 ANTUF (All union members and younger, mostly share a belief in certain cultural practices.

Nigeria Trade Union Federation), to further branch and zonal, officials who are closer, alone. I look forward to increased Labour What do I mean? Some persons are more at it were, to the “war front”.

Unity. factionalisation and reconciliation in the aggressive, more laid back, more intelIt further suggests that these levels of –– Prof. Otobo is of the Industrial 1959-60 TUC (Trade Union Congress), and ligent, more stupid, less accommodating, union bureaucrats and leaders may not Relations & Personnel Management more argumentative, more intense, and so 1962 Ibadan Conference where the hotly only checkmate national officers and Department, University of Lagos. contested emergent central body broke on. Many of such differences I have here

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PERSPECTIVE

Tinubu, Akande’s Visit: The Power in Pictures Tunde Rahman

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ith the release of the photographs taken last Thursday when the All Progressives Congress national chieftains, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Chief Bisi Akande, visited President Muhammadu Buhari in London, two things are now clearer about the president’s present health situation.

The first is the president is not dead as speculated and promoted in some quarters.

President Buhari may be ailing but he is not dead. The other is the president is in a residence in London, where his health is perhaps being attended to, not confined to a bed in a hospital as some would want to have us believe.

President Buhari received Asiwaju Tinubu and Baba Akande in the Federal Government’s official residence in London, called Abuja House.

Not in a hospital. Information Minister Lai Mohammed had told the nation the president is not nursing a life-threatening ailment and not in a hospital. Despite all the verbal attacks on his person for mounting a bulwark for Aso Rock, it seems the minister knows more than we thought he knew after all.

The shots were taken as Tinubu and Akande were received by Buhari in the living room, when they launched into a discussion with the president and when, as a mark of respect, he saw his guests off to the door. It is puzzling, therefore, that even after the release of the photographs, some have continued to live in disbelief and denial. The rumour mill has been agog with all kinds of speculations and innuendoes and conspiracy theories. I don’t need to dignify them by recounting all that here.

But real pictures don’t lie. It is dismaying, however, that some still doubt or disbelieve what they see in pictures? Why do some still live in denial, even after being confronted with live pictures? Let me hazard two guesses for this. One, having experienced something like this before, perhaps some Nigerians now, understandably, get skeptical when it comes to issues relating to their president’s health.

Remember the case of late President Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua. The information about the real

R-L: Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Chief Bisi Akande with President Buhari in London health status of President Yar’ Adua was hidden for so long. Nigerians were kept in the dark until it engendered a big crisis.

Two, you may say the way and manner the presidency has handled the present situation has not helped matters by not saying it all and you may be right. This may birth suspicions and engender speculations. But President Buhari told the nation he would use the opportunity of his vacation to undergo a check-up. Some other people will, however, choose to believe what they want even when confronted with facts.

Like every other mortal, the president may fall sick at some point or another.

For the life of me, is it out of place to expect a 74-year-old to have some health challenges? So what’s the big deal about the president falling ill?

I’m not saying here that the president is at

present enjoying the best of health. But why do we continue to distrust information around our leaders, particularly when they concern their health, even when we are presented with pictorial evidence to suggest that the situation may not be as bad as some would want us to believe?

Now, back to the photographs in question, the persuasive force is not only in the pictures themselves, it is also in the people in the pictures.

I mean the efficacy of the message is not borne by just the pictures. It is strengthened, in my view, by those captured by the camera, the political enigmas therein. This point becomes more salient when you recall that some others had visited Buhari before and the pictures rolled out with little effect. Within seconds of the release of Thursday’s pictures, they had become national and international headlines. They went wild on online platforms and social media. The major

newspapers in Nigeria slammed them on their front pages the next day.

Indeed, I cannot agree more with Amit Kalantri, who posited in his book “Wealth of Words,” that “a photograph should not just be a picture; it should be a philosophy”. What is the spirit behind the visit to Buhari and the pictures taken? In my view, it is to send a message to the whole world that though President Buhari may be ailing, his is not a bad case.

Those photographs are not just pictures, they have meanings; they convey messages of truth, messages of hope. But I also know that, as pictures, they will conjure memories in the future. They will conjure memories of this period in our national history.

––Rahman is Special Adviser, Media to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu

Appraising Nigeria’s ‘Valentine Governor’ Daniel Iworiso-Markson

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s we count down to the fifth anniversary of the Restoration Government in Bayelsa State on the 14th of February, not a few analysts and political watchers of the state will attempt to cast a retrospective look at the journey so far and take a stand. To be sure, some have already done so, even in some form of opposition politics but what is incontrovertible is the consensus that the last five years have witnessed a new order, a paradigm shift, rubbing off brightly on our socio-economic progress as a people.

Arguably, it has been a remarkable journey, tough and testy but the resolve of the leadership to make a difference has been most salutary. The Restoration team ably led by Governor Henry Seriake Dickson, has clearly etched its own brand of “Profiles in Courage”, a leadership metaphor denoting what really makes contemporary Bayelsa thick and indeed refreshing our thoughts on the importance of leadership and vision in the development of societies.

From 2012 when the Restoration Government came into being, we have seen a practical application of policies and programmes to create a vision of what the future could really be as opposed to the inherited jaded and broken order, and of course, the inspired idealism to make society work far better, because the leadership dreams greatly and strive to make such lofty dreams come true.

As Theodore Roosevelt puts it, this kind of leaders are those “who can kindle the people with the fire from their own burning souls”, reflecting practically why Governor Dickson is extraordinarily popular among the folks as the contriman governor or “talk na do governor”.

The above perspectives, I believe, are those compelling indices from which we can duly appreciate the last five years of purposeful leadership in Bayelsa State. Andaccordingly, we can also take proper cognizance of the lessons learnt so that the state does not slide into any form of confusion in the future on account of the usual combative politics as witnessed especially in the last election.

So it is in this context, I think, we can begin to look at the Legacy Projects of the Restoration Government in the last five years and mark them up not only in the overall contributions to development but also the thinking which shaped them as superior deductions in

formulating public policies in the state. The point has usually been about the essence of such policies as they relate to the needs of the people even in comparative terms. The people, the long forgotten Bayelsans, in far flung communities, have always come first.

Actually some of what we now see as solid achievements are products of the yearnings and aspirations of the people as they related them to the governor during the electionnering campaigns. Yes, we have seen and applauded by the people such wise andcompelling thoughts on the declaration of emergency in education, for instance, the answer to opening up the state for commerce by the novel construction of roads and bridges, massive infrastructure including what the government decided to do with the construction of so many institutional public buildings, and many more. Yet such good thinking is affecting the on-going provision of pipe-borne water across the state, never thought of because Bayelsa is literally floating on water but as they say, there is water everywhere but none to drink, on account of the health implications of drinking untreated water. This is what leadership and proper governance is all about.

Now, in specific terms, as we interrogate Governor Dickson’s Legacy Projects at this juncture in the life of the state, I think posterity will record the Restoration Government in bold stripes as farsighted by the singular action of declaring emergency in education in 2012 which was a logical step considering the huge rot in the educational system in the state. This has consequently improved education significantly as marked by the astronomical increase in enrolment because education is totally free in an unusual manner as well as performance going by the affirmation

by WAEC, for instance. We particularly remember with pride the re-introduction of quality boarding schools in all the senatorial districts, mouth watering scholarships at home and abroad, 21st century infrastructure to make learning conducive for both teachers and students and we can see a deliberate design to create a pool of very modern young population, articulate with the right education to fit into a knowledge economy and in whose hands the future of Bayelsa resides. Things can’t be the same again especially for future leaders of the state because the Restoration Government has created and entrenching a standard below which the people will raise objection.

The same strategic thinking informed the action on infrastruc-

ture making Bayelsa one massiveconstruction site as it were, leading to the greaterinterconnectedness we now have in the state, which is good for economic development. To the ordinary leader, the huge cost of building roads and bridges across the three senatorial districts in such a geographical location where water is everywhere was enough to scare such thinking on massive construction but the real leader of change, Dickson, thought otherwise and history will never forget his sense of leadership and abiding vision of making a difference.

In the area of empowerment, it has been all encompassing but really the women have had a better deal from the government.

However, the recent thinking and action especially in properly localizing agriculture to fit into the economic lives of the people is changing the narrative to affect a greater number of people. From modern and mechanized fisheries to rice and cassava cultivation to other economic occupations, government is refocusing big time to serve the economic interest of Bayelsans in a much more structured manner and we are getting results, reflecting a well-thought out diversification of the state economy beyond the preponderance of oil and gas as economic mainstay.

As we continue to look ahead for a far greaterrelevance and economic development in the comity of states, we cannot but think straight about the importance of having the international airport atAmassoma, a major economic decision now rounding off in the final phase of completion, which is likely torevolutionise how the key businessmen and women in the Niger Delta and the eastern zone transact business and engage in their social relations on account of the proximity of the airport to their destinations.

And, of course, this consideration rationalizes why Amassomawould be a preferred destination in logging their journeys. This is pure economic sense particularly when it is recognized that the airport is both cargo and passenger airport and with a strategic location as an advantage to those with economic interest in that corridor.

--Iworiso-Markson, Chief Press Secretary to Bayelsa State governor, sent in this piece from Yenagoa (See concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com)

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PERSPECTIVE

Governance – Re-Invented:The Ambodian Style Dapo Thomas

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here is a touristy frenzy in Lagos that is palpable.

Governance is being re-invented. The Ambodian government is in a class of its own. It is a government of hi-tech creativity: A government that operates with common-sense and uncommon ingenuity. It is a government that encapsulates democracy and its attendant dividends.

I am enthralled by the massive facilities and infrastructure at the disposal of the citizens of the state who seem overwhelmed with the evident and rapid development that is becoming the hallmark of the Ambodian administration.

Every government that has ruled and reigned in Lagos State since its creation in 1967 had played its part in the development process of the State. Such development had been unleashed with determination and driven by political goals. Such tendency for development in the past provoked zeal, promoted passion and genuinely ignited the inspiration for competition by successive administrations. The difference, however, is that the Ambode’s kind of development symbolizes its own finality and peculiarity.

It is what you can call “development ti o nsoro” meaning “development that speaks for itself”.

In less than two years, this man called Akinwunmi Ambode has lifted governance from its sleepy crawling condition to a level that excites and fascinates. When you look at the amount of energy and passion that drive this government, you will marvel at the trinity of ideas that characterizes the government.

From the political leadership led by the governor himself you see the commitment and vision that form the philosophy of the government. From the bureaucracy and the civil service, you see the enthusiasm and will that galvanize and stimulate the ideation that is the bedrock of the government. From the professionals and contractors who humanize and accentuate the political and bureaucratic ideas, you see the aggression and the honesty to move and deliver projects and programmes as conceptualized. In all facets of life, this government has shown that modern governance (pardon my qualification if it is hyperbolic) is scaffolded on frameworks that define the design and character of governments. These days, vision alone is not sufficient to drive ideas. These days, determination alone

Ambode is incapable of guaranteeing achievements. These days, energy alone is not able to generate the dynamic for movement. What drives a government in contemporary politics is the combination of all these attributes. What can vision do if there is no passion?

What can determination do if there is no energy? The novel thing about the Ambodian government is that it has been able to raise governance to a higher pedestal by stringing every relevant and useful exemplar and archtype into a model and template that will be complex to replicate and demystified. The Ambodian administration is an embodiment of all that is good about a government of the people.

In so many areas where government is supposed to touch

lives, the government has been responsive. In critical sectors where government is supposed to lift lives, the government has been pro-active. Take agriculture for instance, the government ab initio, placed much value on the quality of life of an average citizen. Realizing that nothing defines quality life better than food security and food sufficiency, the government took the initiative to partner with the Kebbi government in the production of the Lake rice which competed conveniently and proudly with imported rice (whether plastic or glass rice). There must be something in the Lake rice that was special considering the long queues that were formed at the selling points. This was about the first time that a government in the state thought of a synergy with another state government for the purpose of creating a sensation that would serve as an inspiration for other states in agricultural production.

In the health sector, the Ambodian government is shifting focus to the Primary Health Care (PHCs). The logic is that the PHCs are nearer the grassroots. Once the massive populations at the grassroots are managed by the PHCs, the pilgrims flocking to the General Hospitals with litany of ailments will reduce.

Hence, all the PHCs are undergoing comprehensive renovation to make them attractive and conducive for the patrons. Before now, emphasis and attention was on LASUTH and the general hospitals. Most of these hospitals have the best technology and facilities you can ever think of.

But this time around, the swagger is in favour of the PHCs which in the past seemed to have suffered critical neglect until this resurrection and resurgence. The face-lift is a motivation for the personnel whose morale was at the lowest ebb because of “historic” frustration.

In the area of security, the strategy for combating and reducing crime to its lowest level has been reconfigured. Unlike in the past when checkpoints were a narrative for crime ubiquity, today, the Ambodian government has placed premium on intelligence-gathering and pro-active operations. Police vehicles dot every flashpoint corner with policemen on amber alert in case of emergency situations.

––Thomas is a university lecturer (See concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com)

We are All Involved in the Forex Challenge Akachuckwu Emmanuel

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ne critical error made by the forerunners of newly emerging African states, was to have swallowed hook, line and sinker the Ricardian theory of comparative advantage as a basis for engaging into a particular line of productive activity.

In a very simplistic form, the theory states that a nation should engage in the production of goods and services, in which it commands relative comparative advantage (in terms of relative abundance of human and natural resources) relative to her trading partner countries. It is hardly surprising that these former colonial enclaves are still paying dearly for this sweetly coated half-truth.

Oblivious of the intricacies involved in the pursuit of national economic development, many of these former colonies took to the production and export of primary commodities such as cocoa, coffee, palm produce, cotton etc. to enable them import manufactured goods such as cars, electronics, machines and spare-parts.

Some economists, like Raul Prebisch and Han Singer, argued that, because the income elasticity of demand for manufactured goods eventually, is greater than those of low value-added primary commodities, therefore, the demand for manufactured goods increases more rapidly than for primary products.

It therefore means that overtime, the prices of primary commodities tend to decline relative to those of manufactured goods, which presupposes adverse terms of trade for countries that rely heavily on unprocessed primary commodity exports. It is important to note that, the emergence of petro-dollar windfall from crude oil exports has altogether been providing the country some cushioning effects against the revenue shortfalls from these primary commodity exports.

This scenario explains the boom-and-bust nature of most African economies, which is dictated mostly by the level of prices of commodities at the international market. Thus, at the period of higher prices, the economy booms, and at the periods of lower prices, it recoils into recession. Nigeria went through similar periods of falling commodity prices in the early 1980s, prompting the then President Shehu Shagari to enact the Economic Stabilisation Act, 1982. The Act, otherwise known as the “Austerity Measure” was characterised by forex restrictions.

This has been the dilemma that Nigeria has had to contend with, in the last four decades of our import substitution strategy experience. The situation was much more exacerbated by Nigerians’ insatiable taste for foreign imported goods, which was lubricated by huge inflow of petro-dollar.

It is hardly arguable that these primary commodities dependent countries are at pains to realise that given the present falling commodity prices, such frivolous taste is not sustainable.

These newly emerging independent countries ended up in return to reap macroeconomic instability with greater chances of suffering double (trade and fiscal) deficits.

It is in the light of the above discourse that the Godwin Emefiele–led CBN brand of import substitution strategy Anchor Borrowers’ Programme for rice and wheat production could rightly be adjudged as novel.

Confronted with the twin problem of high food import bill that averaged over N1 trillion in 2013 and 2014 and falling oil prices, the country was left with no choice than to design a strategy of domestic production of these food products in order to stem the fast declining foreign reserves.

As a strategy to raise the demand for these locally produced products, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) rolled out a complimentary policy of denying importers of 41 items that can be produced locally, access to forex from the official inter-bank window as incentives to local producers.

Besides, the programme has helped to stimulate local production of these food products, but has reinforced employment generation and wealth creation. More than anything else, the programme has yielded some appreciable results, as import bill on agricultural commodities is already declining. Already, the increasing large expanse of paddy rice already being produced in Kebbi, Ebonyi, Cross River, Niger, Anambra, etc. goes to suggest the likelihood of the attainment of self-sufficiency in rice production in short time than was envisaged.

Furthermore, the CBN ABP was carefully designed to avoid the pitfalls associated with the post-colonial import substitution strategy. The high import-dependent structure of these import substitution industries as crystalised in the 1980s, clearly shows absence of rigour in ascertaining the long-term effects of these industries on the macro economy. Given the huge cost of imported machineries, spare-parts and industrial raw materials needed to run these industries, it became apparent that the import-substitution industrialisation strategy was unsustainable.

The CBN ABP was designed to deemphasise dependence on foreign inputs with guaranteed local demand for the products and therefore reduces to the barest minimum any foreseeable bottlenecks from either the supply side or the demand side.

The scheme uses the already subsistence farmers who are grouped into clusters, which should be registered with the state government. The off-takers undertake to extend credit to the small-holder farmers on the agreement that the farmers produce and sell at an agreed price to the off-takers. The credit facility is basically in form of material inputs (seedlings, fertiliser and extension services) in addition to minimal cash to facilitate production.

The CBN ABP scheme has become a revolution of some sort and the rice crusade is fast spreading like a wild fire across the country. Revolution in the sense that the scheme is creating wealth and employment among the rural poor and at the same

time helps to save forex that would have been frittered away through rice importation.

The problem today is hardly the boom-and-bust (balloon) economy, but the dearth of effective policy response by the government in restructuring the economy into a form that is attuned to our production possibility potentials. There is also the absence of right attitudinal response from the people in moderating their consumption pattern to reflect domestic production realities.

This informs the vociferous, but bitter agitations by some interest groups against the CBN efforts to conserve the much depleted foreign reserves as explained by the flexible exchange rate policy and the withholding of access to forex for the importation of 41 items.

The bedlam of voices against the CBN is rather confusing, tending to douse clear analytical reasoning required to sort out the issues at stake. The call for the removal of the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, is simply misplaced and does not provide solution to the desperate need to restructure the productive base of the economy from oil to other non-oil exports.

As viable alternative to the current protestation against the CBN, Nigerians should consider seriously, improvement in the value chains of non-oil products such as rice, wheat, palm produce, cocoa, cassava, yam etc.

We should also take a hard look at other low hanging fruits such as the garment industry in Aba and leather works in Sokoto with a view to improving on the supply value chain of these sub-sectors. Closely related to improvement in supply value chain is the need to improve the business environment by way of adequate infrastructure to guarantee international competitiveness of these products.

This is the only way we can transform from importsubstitution to export-led growth strategy, diversify and enlarge our foreign exchange earning capacity, in addition to the existing crude oil export.

The government should on their part commence social mobilisation of the citizenry aimed at appealing to their sense of patriotisms to patronise made-in-Nigeria goods. Equally tangential to such mobilisation and appeal is the imperative for government at all levels to demonstrate good faith by ensuring that at least 30 per cent of government purchases are from locally made goods.

Let us therefore do away with the politics of who occupies the headship of Central Bank of Nigeria and get down to the more serious business of crafting a sustainable economic strategy that improves our naira exchange rate. That is a better way to demonstrate nationalistic feeling towards resuscitating the Nigerian economy, given the resurging nationalism the world over.

––Emmanuel lectures at University of Ilorin

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ BRUARY 12, 2017

PERSPECTIVE

Legalising Constituency Development Projects Chuks Okocha

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ast week’s public hearing by the Senate marked the final leg of the journey towards legalisation of constituency development projects and making it part of the federal law. This would end the unnecessary acrimony and bickering over the projects.

The controversy over the constituency projects since 1999 to date has become an annual ritual whenever the budget is being considered. So, the public hearing was significant and as well as historic because it makes Nigeria a member of the over 24 countries with such laws. It would address rural poverty and poor infrastructural development in all the about 469 federal constituencies in the country.

The constituency development system is operational in Ghana, India, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Southern Sudan, Honduras, Malawi, Liberia, Nepal, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zimbabw, Zambia and the United States of America. It is a funding arrangement whereby funds are made available from the central government directly to various constituencies for local infrastructural development and addressing the peculiar needs of the electorate.

It is a veritable way of addressing poverty and providing the immediate infrastructure that could have evaded the attention of the government at the centre. It is always initiated by the legislators from their various constituencies but executed by the executive arm of government.

Bernard Namario, writing on the Kenyan experience, on the topic, Constituency Development Fund, Merits and Demerits to Community Development, said community development is an engaging process meant to deliver beneficial change to the participating members of the community.

On a much wider perspective, the United Nations sees community development as a complex processes where the efforts of community members are united with those of governmental authorities in order to improve the economic, social and cultural conditions of the community and the nation at large.

But many Nigerians fear that the constituency projects could turn out to be white elephant projects for the legislators to use in lining their pockets. This was why Senate President Bukola Sraki took time to try to dispel the fears about constituency projects.

He assured that the new law on community development would not only ensure transparency and accountability but would also outlive the originators.

Declaring open the public hearing, Saraki, who was represented by the Senate Leader, Senator Ahmed Lawan, said the constituency projects initiative had often been a controversial aspect of the Nigerian budget.

According to Saraki, “It does always seem to be the bone of contention in the budget tussle between the arms of govern-

Saraki ment. This partly stems from widespread ignorance on what constitutional projects are their executions, their seeming lack of continuity and other similar issues.

“I think this bill couldn’t be more apt. The Constituencies Development Catalyst Fund (Establishment) Bill aims at creating some level of transparency and accountability in the execution and management of constituency projects. It seeks to establish the concept of continuity of projects, and ensure that projects are not abandoned over changes in political representations.

“Constituency projects will be made to succeed their originators and have prior consideration before any new project is introduced. The intent and purpose of this bill is to create a transparent framework for the introduction and execution of Constituency projects for a more accountable representation..

The reaction that trailed the introduction of the bill was to be expected, as it deals with one of the most sensitive and controversial aspects of legislative duty.”

He said the public hearing was organised to address the fears over constituency projects and assured that the senate would be guided by the stakeholders’ opinions.

Saraki stated, “The eighth National Assembly is committed to enacting quality and purposeful legislations through an all-inclusive process. As lawmakers and stakeholders in the democratic process, we have the responsibility to not only

make laws that will hold people accountable for their actions, but also ensure that laws promote confidence and support for governmental processes.

“This bill is hoped to be one of such laws that will seek to restore faith in government processes by creating some clarity in the concept of Constituency projects.5. The task of nation building, and consolidating on our democratic values and gains are the collective responsibility of each and every one of us. It is a task that we all must be prepared to perform for the purpose of leaving an enduring legacy for posterity.”

The senate president added, “On our part, we will strive to ensure that all submissions and contributions done today are carefully sifted and considered before further legislative actions.”

As in the Kenyan experience, the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) Act, 2003, was the law that first established the CDF fund in the East African countries. Originally, according to the act, 2.5% of the nation’s total revenue collection was to be channelled directly to the 210 constituencies through their sitting Members of Parliament. This was later revised to 3.5% in the 2006/7 fiscal year. The CDF Act has undergone a series of amendments over the succeeding years in order to keep up with the dynamics unfolding in the Kenyan society; consider Kenyans adopting the constitution in 2010.

The CDF fund is defined, according to the Act’s 2013 version, as a portion of the national annual budget devoted to Kenya’s 290 constituencies for the purposes of infrastructural development, wealth creation and poverty eradication at the constituency level (Constituencies Development Fund Act (No 30 of 2013), 2013).

From this definition, CDF can be seen as a fund that is meant to stimulate community economic development efforts at the constituency level. Community Economic Development (CED) is a subset of community development and it seeks to economically empower the residents of a constituency.

Constituency Development and Catalyst Fund is planned to empower local communities with funds from the national government and donors.

Opinions regarding the fund vary. Some believe the fund has had a transformational effect on their constituencies while others are of the opinion that the kitty is just another loophole that greedy politicians can exploit to siphon funds from the nation´s coffers.

But senators and other stakeholders at the public hearing saw the bill on CDF as a way of correcting geo-regional imbalances brought about by patronage politics by fighting poverty through the implementation of local development projects, particularly those that provide basic needs such as education, healthcare, water, agricultural services, security and electricity.

––Okocha is Special Assistant to the Senate President on Print Media.

(See concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com)

Of Security Helicopters and the Custom-made Lies Simeon Nwakaudu

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here is no gainsaying that leaders of the All Progressives Congress have a penchant for lies.

Their lack of the capacity for truth is well known.

If not, why would the Nigerian Custom Service and the Nigerian Air Force gather journalists for the sole purpose of churning out lies that belittle the entire country? Since May 2015, lying has become the nation’s official policy.

It is sad that the APC government has dragged the entire national security structure very low with orchestrated lies.

Several newspapers on Friday, January 28, reported that the Custom Service impounded two helicopters worth N9.7 billion.

The Custom Service claimed that the owner of the helicopters remained unknown as they handed the security helicopters to the Nigerian Air Force.

The APC script writers did not think through this lie before getting the Customs and Air Force to act. Why on earth would the Customs tell journalists that they did not know who imported the two armoured helicopters?

On January 29, Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, a senior member of the APC government and former Rivers State governor said he bought the two armoured helicopters. His statement came after the incumbent governor, Nyesom Wike, exposed the lies of the Customs Service through the release of inter-governmental communication involved in the purchase of the aircraft.

Amaechi blamed Wike and the immediate past president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, for the non-clearance of the helicopters.

Luckily, Amaechi admitted that Jonathan paid $15 million for the said aircraft. In his desperation to defend the lies of the APC government, he resorted to political blackmail and illogical mudslinging.

But nobody is deceived. The funds used to purchase the armoured helicopters belong to Rivers State. The former governor said he invested the resources at the time in the purchase of the helicopters to improve security in the face of growing militancy and criminality.

Rivers State is fortunate that at the close of Amaechi’s era, a transparent and pro-people leader took over the reins of leadership. The development deficits of the state are being diligently addressed across the state.

Development projects have been liberalised. Every local government area, irrespective of the political affiliations of its leaders, now has access to good governance. State-wide consultation is taking place on a regular basis and the governor is always at home.

The Rivers variant of the Amnesty Programme has been a huge success, with a state in the South-west already emulating Wike. The funding of the security agencies is second to none in the country. Security in Rivers State can only get better.

Wike has become a development revelation, a reference point in the face of unbridled negative propaganda sponsored by the APC. He is like the proverbial pot of soup that boils daily on the stove to the consternation of the jealous neighbour. The more they plot, the more Wike evaporates the aroma of good governance. The more they struggle to distract him, the more focused he gets.

Is it not surprising that nobody is holding the Customs Service and the Nigerian Air Force to account? Despite Amaechi’s admission, the media and the civil society have remained quiet.

The planned assault on Rivers State died on arrival. The propaganda attack dogs have been called back. The documents of the transactions silenced the evil planners.

It is necessary to bring to the fore how Wike busted the custom-made lies of the Nigerian Customs Service. After the ill-fated and poorly scripted press conference in Lagos on the two armoured helicopters, the governor brought the service back to reality. From the documents released, it was revealed that contrary to the claims by the Customs Service, they were aware of the transaction. They knew the owners of the helicopters.

It was obvious that the Presidency was also aware, having permitted the handover of the security choppers to the air force.

For example, through a letter with reference number ,RVSG/ GH/ACM/AF/VOL.1/001, dated March 14, 2016, Wike wrote to the Chief of Air Staff: “In view of the special nature of the operations for which they were acquired, the Rivers State Government considers it necessary to place and or transfer the aircrafts to the custody and management of the Nigerian Air Force.

“It is therefore, my pleasure to grant the Nigerian Air Force consent to take possession and management of the two Bell 412 helicopters.

“The Rivers State Government will execute necessary documentation on the management of the aircrafts in due

course.”

Similarly, the office of the National Security Adviser vide a letter with reference number NSA/452/S and signed by Brigadier General AT FAMADEWA for the National Security Adviser on November 3, 2016 to the Chief of Air Staff and copied Wike declared thus: “I am directed to respectfully refer to your correspondence NA/905/D/CAS dated 21 April 2016 on subject. I am to convey the National Security Adviser’s approval for NAF to take custody and manage the 2 x BELL 412 helicopters as requested by Rivers State Government.”

The above quoted texts of the said documents are explicit on what transpired.

With the above patriotic communication between the Rivers State Government and the federal agencies, what then went wrong? Why did the APC government resolve to throw caution to the wind and embarrass the security agencies by getting them tainted in unnecessary politicisation of Rivers security?

This custom-made lie was initiated for political reason. To ensure that even if the aircraft were handed over to the Air Force as requested by Wike and approved by the Presidency, the hand over process was done in a manner to exclude Rivers State.

It is pertinent to advise the spin doctors of the APC that the time for unnecessary politicking is far gone. They should emulate Wike and deliver on democracy dividends. Of what benefit will it be to the people that every single aspect of national life is politicised?

The sad aspect of the penchant to lie is that they show no remorse when caught. Simply because they control sections of the traditional media, they start throwing tantrums.

As they throw these deliberate tantrums, their sponsored hands in the traditional media divert attention from the obvious fraud.

The bottom-line of the entire engagement is: Wike formally handed over the aircraft to the Nigerian Air Force through the Presidency after the APC government refused to grant waiver for same to be cleared for security purposes. The deliberate falsehood that has now rubbished what is left of the Customs Service reputation may never be investigated.

In saner climes, all those involved in this official misinformation would have lost their jobs by now. Instead, the matter has been swept under the carpet.

–– Nwakaudu is Special Adviser to the Rivers State Governor, Electronic Media.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž BRUARY 12, 2017

Reections on Ogun State Youth Convention Soyombo Opeyemi

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nowledge is important, in fact, very important. But knowledge alone cannot develop a society. You need passion. You need foresight.

A leader who has consuming passion for the welfare of the citizens will always excel.

Yes, sometimes he may falter or fail because he is human, but ultimately his place in the pantheon of the great is assured. “What is left for this governor to do that he has not done? He has done all within his powers. We are not saying he has done all. But what is left to do within the limited resources available to him that he has not done?� asked a man during a chance conversation at the venue of the Ogun State Youth Convention, which ended on Wednesday in Abeokuta.

Apparently, he was impressed by the array of top-notch gurus in business, investment, agriculture, entrepreneurial, sporting and entertainment worlds that the governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, brought to the convention to share practical experiences with our youths. “If you cannot make it after this convention; if you return home to depend on your parents and cannot do something with your own hands, then you have no one to blame but yourself,� opined one of the youths at the event.

The government of Ogun has offered these thousands of youths a lifeline. It has done its best in the area of employment generation. Apart from the 10,000 youths that were given direct employment by the Amosun administration in one fell swoop in 2011, several thousands have also got into the public service through Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON). But the highest number of direct and indirect employment, estimated to be over 600,000, have come through the over 100 multi-billion naira companies that were established in the state in the last five years through the enabling environment created by the present administration. Indeed, no one has contradicted the fact that Ogun State has now become the industrial capital of Nigeria.

The governor made it clear in 2011 his belief in productive employment: “Our plan is to create an enabling environment for businesses to flourish so that thousands of our youths can be taken off the labour market. Therefore, we will invest massively in security, modern infrastructure and remove bottlenecks that drive away investors from this state.� Of course, his efforts were rewarded through

Amosun massive investments that flowed into the state within such a short space of time. One needs not mention here again that within three years, Ogun State, which in 2008 and 2010 was ranked the lowest in terms of Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria by the World Bank, emerged one of the five states “that made the biggest strides towards the national frontier of good practices.� (see World Bank Doing Business in Nigeria 2014) We complain that our youths run away from agriculture, including graduates of the discipline. Investment in Model Farm Estates is one of the major solutions. Now in Ogun, they have modern houses to live in, landclearing equipment instead of cutlasses and hoes and other agro-allied support provided by the state government. As the governor stated at the event, “Agriculture comes first for us in Ogun State because its value chain processes has a limitless capacity for employment and to create wealth... Currently, Nigeria loses billions of dollars every year to food imports. We cannot afford to continue to give jobs to the youths of other nations while our youths are unemployed. We recognize that mere words will not be enough to get our youths to consider agri-

culture. That is why we are seeking to stimulate their interest through policies and programmes which suit their needs.� One only hopes the current Farm Settlement Scheme, which once revolutionised agriculture in the old Western Region, will be sustained by the future governments of Ogun State.

Among the distinguished resource persons at the two-day event with the theme, “Ogun Youths: Exploring New Frontiers�, were Chairman of First Bank Plc, Mrs Ibukun Awosika, Founder of Faith Foundation, Mr Fola Adeola, Acting Managing Director of Bank of Industry, Mr Waheed Olagunju, Founder of Peter Akinola Foundation, Rev Peter Akinola (Rtd. Anglican Primate), Managing Director of Fidel Farms Ltd, Mr Bamidele Okunaiya, Chairman of Worldwide Sports Ltd, Mr Segun Odegbami, ace film maker and Chairman of Mainframe Production, Mr Tunde Kelani.

It was not a “talk shop� but “work shop�. Participants were divided into groups depending on their areas of interest after the general seminar and they had time to interact with the resource persons. Among the topics addressed were, Accessing job opportunities in a competitive market, Waste to wealth, Building a successful vocational career, Opportunities in agriculture business in Ogun State, Opportunities in sports and Opportunities in entertainment industry.

The Youth Convention aimed at enhancing employability of Ogun youths in formal and informal sectors, catalysing a mind-set shift towards hard work, professional ethics and values, improving the capacity of youths to translate commercial ideas and opportunities into marketable businesses, creating awareness and improving access to job opportunities available in Ogun State and beyond and identifying and cultivating intrinsic talents and interests of youths.

There is no doubt that the practical knowledge acquired from such notable entrepreneurs across virtually all fields of human endeavours will remain indelible in the hearts of these youths and stand them in good stead especially at these times.

One must commend the Special Adviser to the Governor on Trade and investment, Mrs Hafsat AbiolaCostello and other members of the team for assisting the state helmsman in putting together such a highly productive and rewarding event.

For Governor Ibikunle Amosun, the future belongs to those who prepare for it today. ––Soyombo sent this piece via densityshow@yahoo. com

Ă’Ă? Ă&#x;ĂœĂŽĂ?Ă˜ Ă™Ă? Ă‹ĂœĂ•Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÙ ĂŽĂ“Ă‘ĂŒĂ™ Ikechukwu Bismarck Oji

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n January 28, 2017, the All Progressives Congress (APC) held her South East stakeholder’s meeting at Owerri, the Imo State capital. From the tone of speaker after speaker, it was obvious that they have a moral burden- the burden of selling a bad product to their kinsmen.

President Muhammadu Buhari made the tough task even tougher by elevating the marginalisation and mistreatment of the South East to statecraft- as promised in Washington DC, USA. Governor Rochas Okorocha - the host governor summed it up in his own words, “You do not know what I have been passing through as a lonely child in APC�, alluding to the fact that he went into APC without his people - Ndigbo.

Consequently, he was being marginalized by the party he laboured to plant in the South East since he was an “orphan� as Ndigbo never hid their disdain for APC. Today, APC in the South East remains a pariah. Buhari has given the party an irredeemable image of an anti-Igbo party.

Nevertheless, Ndigbo should never be blamed for not warming up to Buhari or voting for him at the last election. His antecedents should be blamed. From jailing former Vice President Alex Ekwueme 99 years and placing President Shagari under house arrest, after his 1983 coup, to superintending over the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF), which gave the South East a paltry 6% of capital projects, Igbos were convinced that Buhari presidency would never augur well for them.

Today, they are right, for rather than extending the olive branch to Ndigbo, Buhari’s government appear to have deliberately made life difficult for Ndigbo through exclusion in the sharing of appointments, opportunities, and projects.

This is the first time since 1999 that Ndigbo have been shut out of the 11 man National Security Council comprising service chiefs and heads of other security agencies. Even IBB and Abacha never treated Ndigbo so badly.

President Obasanjo laid a precedent, which other presidents followed. He ensured that key government offices were fairly distributed among the six geo-political zones. But, today, none of the key ministries such as Finance, Power, Works and Housing and Justice was given to the South East. Even, Governor Rochas, despite being called names for campaign-

ing for Buhari, merely got a junior minister for all his efforts.

Prof Anthony Anwuka, a former university Vice Chancellor and a renowned academician was made a Minister of State for Education whereas the substantive Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, is a columnist who does not even possess a Ph.D! Imo State is the only APC state in the South East. Yet, even the blind can attest that in terms of all developmental indices, the PDP states such as Enugu and Ebonyi as well as the APGA state, Anambra, are better off. If Imo is the poster boy of the APC, then Ndigbo will keep snubbing that party. Today, Anambra, Enugu and Ebonyi have better road networks than Imo. In terms of agriculture, Anambra (an APGA State) has now joined Ebonyi as a net producer of rice. What will Rochas’ APC administration be remembered for?

The only news coming from Imo is that of workers and pensioners protests. Imo State Government is only keeping faith with its APC character of lies and propaganda. In his first tenure, Owelle Rochas Okorocha started the construction of 27 General Hospitals in the 27 Local Governments of the state. Till date, all of them remain abandoned. Recently, his administration claimed to have floated an airline, yet it cannot pay salaries. Earlier on, he was engaged in a running battle with town union presidents when he started what he called the “fourth tier of Government�. Little wonder Governor Willy Obiano was so embarrassed when Okorocha claimed that three South East governors were on their way to the APC. It was also for hard sell that APC is in the South East that probably pushed Senator Ken Nnamani to describe as an anomally for Ndigbo to be said to be occupying the office of the Deputy Senate President, when such a person could not attend APC caucus meetings because he was in PDP. He said Senator Ike Ekweremadu was only occupying the seat for his personal benefit. Nothing can be farther from the truth. Ekweremadu, even as Deputy Senate President in the opposition party in the last 19 months, has done for Ndigbo far more than what Chief Nnamani was able to do all his political career. The only road he did in the entire Igbo land and his constituency is a one kilometre road from the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway to his residence and housing estate in his hometown, Amechi Awkunanaw.

Besides, Ekweremadu has been a voice for Ndigbo in this dispensation. Unlike Nnamani, Ekweremadu has spoken out

against the alleged massacre of unarmed Igbo youths during protests. He has spoken severally against the herdsmen menace. He has spoken out against Igbo exclusion, etc. And he has done it with a mark of statesmanship.

Ken Nnamani claims that the APC is only for men of integrity and asserted that anyone with slightest blemish would not be welcome in the South East APC. Well, he needs to be reminded that Nigerians are quite over the handling of alleged corruption against the Chief of Army Staff, Gen Tukur Buratai; Minister of Interior, Gen. AbdulRahman Dambazzau (Rtd.); Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Engr.

Babachir Lawal; Acting EFCC Chairman; Ibrahim Magu; etc, does not mean they have cleared them of the allegations.

APC members are all saints because the so-called anticorruption war is sick with nepotism and selective persecution. Even Senator Shehu Sani of the APC has confessed that “When fighting corruption in the Judiciary, the Legislative and the larger society, the Presidency uses insecticides, but when fighting corruption in the Presidency, the Presidency uses deodorants�. God will bless the Sanusi Lamido Sanusi’s, the Shehu Sanni’s and Junaid Mohammed’s of this world, who despite being Northern Muslims are not eager to condone the ongoing mega corruption. According to Junaid Mohammed’s expose, Buhari’s relations are the ones running the Presidency and nepotism is a worse form of corruption. The result is the ugly corner we are in today.

Senator Nnamani said in September 2014 that no reasonable Igbo man would join the then opposition APC because PDP put food on our table. So, if today he has defected, it is because he and many other defectors are looking for lunch ticket. It does not necessarily mean they are begging for food. It could also mean that they need the party to facilitate their businesses to be able to put food on the table.

Otherwise, how can they call themselves Igbo leaders and clap for Buhari while he gleefully mistreats Ndigbo?

Last week, the new vibrant leadership of Ohaneze Ndigbo condemned the killing of unarmed Biafran agitators during the Pro-Trump Rally in Port Harcourt, asking for an independent panel of inquiry to be set up to investigate the issue. Apart from Orji Uzo Kalu, which of the Igbo APC chieftains, including Nnamani, has spoken up in support of the call? Dead silence. ––Oji is Executive Director, Centre for the Advancement of Literacy& Leadership (CALL)

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ FEBRUARY 12, 2017

77

SUNDAYINTERVIEW

Alhaji Funtua explaining a point during the interview with Jeff Koinange on ARISE TV

Ismaila Funtua: Blame the Elite, Not Buhari, for Economic Woes Alhaji Ismaila Isa Funtua is the chairman of Bullet International, a construction outfit based in Abuja, and publisher of Democrats Newspaper. In this interview with ARISE TV in Abuja, Funtua says the country’s elite are largely responsible for the poor state of the economy, explains why the second coming of Buhari is different from his first tenure in his approach to governance and believes that for Nigeria to progress, it must have a decent judiciary and respectable police force. Funtua, also speaks on the two decade-old legal tussle between the Federal Government and NPAN over the Press Council Decree which seeks to gag the media. Onyebuchi Ezigbo presents the excerpts:

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hey said you are a very good friend of the president; when was the last time you spoke to him?

Well, I believe you aren’t at liberty to interview me on Buhari.

But I have to ask you because you are a good friend!

You know whatever you say Nigerians will not believe you. The only thing they believe is when they see him and even when they see him they would say he looks like this and he looks like that.

But they are entitled to their opinions?

Absolutely. I am glad you said so and in the history of Nigeria how many presidents do take leave at

some point and allow their deputies to deputise legally. We have such problem in the country and this isn’t the first time he has done so. He went on his holiday and he went to do check-up. He is a human being; he isn’t a super human being and all the talks by people about it, I cannot understand.

Well, they have a history to refer to because it happened to President Yar’adua seven years ago, so do you think it is a deja vu moment?

Yes, it happened to Yar’adua. Did Yar’adua ever appoint an acting president? Did you know when he left the country? Do you know where he was?

That is the difference and people have seen President Buhari with his wife, people have seen President Buhari with Governor Amosun, people have seen

President Buhari with Danjuma, so what is all these noise about?

The state of the nation right now; Nigeria seems to be in a free fall; Naira is hitting new lows, the economy is sinking and yet they refer to this as Africa’s biggest economy. What do you think about this?

I am not an economist but at the same time I am not stupid. I go around the world, I know what is happening. There is a worldwide recession which everyone knows as much as I do and what do you expect out of Nigeria? This is a country where we are dependent on one single commodity for our foreign Continued on Page 78

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SUNDAY INTERVIEW t 8& "-.045 1"*% 8*5) 063 -*7&4 '*()5*/( 13&44 $06/$*- %&$3&& Continued from Pg. 77 is a civilian leader. That time he was leading by decree now he is leading by constitution so they can’t do things unconstitutional. If Nigeria is to progress we must have two good things; first you must have a good judiciary and secondly you must have a good police, once you don’t have a good police who will enforce the law and you don’t have judiciary that will interpret and implement the law as it is then you have a problem.

exchange. The CBN can’t under any circumstance print dollar and flood the market with dollar; it is illegal, it isn’t our currency, we have to earn it.

There was a time when we were selling crude oil at $140 a barrel, did we save?

The answer is capital no! Even if the federal government wants to save the governors won’t allow them save. They created what they call governor’s forum and they won’t allow the president do what he is supposed to do with the money.

Speaking of the judiciary, Hon. Justice Walter Onnogben’s name has just been submitted to the Senate as Chief Justice of Nigeria, what are your thoughts about him?

He is the most senior person in the Supreme Court so he should be confirmed as the chief justice of the country.

So they didn’t save, they just spent?

They just spent and they spend on what? Don’t ask me that.

And the other thing, Mallam, you know the story very well; $15 billion disappeared in tenders for oil.

No sign of product returned back to the country. How did $15 billion disappear?

I wouldn’t know how it disappeared because I am not their respective bankers who have been helping them possibly to take the monies out of the country. But other Nigerians I would like to see, who have the report of who stole what without bringing nothing; such people should be behind bars.

But why are they not, Mallam, why are they not in jail?

I am not in a position to say why because I am not the government.

If it were you…

They would know where they are, the money would be back, every dime would be returned to Nigeria. Their assets would be sold and they would go to prison for a very long time.

Because when you hear that $15 billion has disappeared when the country is floating just $1 billion bond, what is that?

That is what I am telling you, if you know the inner workings of government and you know that when this current government came in what people should ask the current government to tell them is when you came in what did you meet in the treasury in terms of real liquid cash; foreign and local? What commitment do you have on the table? Did you have money to pay salaries for three, four months when you came in? Maybe the answer may be no and the price of what we are depending on crashed to a very low level; from over a hundred to less than fifty. So your earnings have gone down, the country didn’t save all the monies they were earning and we reached a situation for the first time in the history of Nigeria where states couldn’t pay workers their salaries.

Do you think in this country that people got priorities wrong?

I may like to believe so because where is the money? What did we use it for? Where did we save it? How did we spend the money?

That’s all you have to say? You won’t say he is qualified, he is great, he would be a great addition?

What do you mean by that? I don’t understand you!

Will he make a great Chief Justice, Alhaji?

He has been judge from lower courts to the Supreme Court and his record speaks for him, I can’t speak for him.

Funtua

Does it disappoint you to know that this is Africa’s largest economy, this is the engine of the continent and yet it has been so disappointing time and again?

You know sometimes you have to be disappointed in order to rearrange your life.

You are going to be disappointed for 50 years?

I can’t talk about 50 years because during those 50 years there were good and bad times, but we were supposed to learn lessons, which we didn’t learn and I hope now we would learn it for the last time.

We keep saying we hope we learn it but are we not seeing signs?

You are an African like me, you come from Kenya and Kenya is no different from Nigeria. We are not holding our leaders accountable all along and why are we not holding our leaders accountable? Who pays tax in this country? We aren’t doing our social responsibility so if we aren’t really honouring our social responsibility our strength to fight our leaders is very limited and today if everybody would pay his dues to a large extent we won’t be crying so much even at the state level, the local government level they couldn’t pay salaries and when people are talking in this country of restructuring I am always amazed. What do they mean by restructuring? I am a Nigerian they shouldn’t turn us to educated illiterates.

They should come out and tell us restructure what from what level to what level? Now we have three tiers of government, local government was the third tear but now it is only on paper

When you talk about Nigeria sometimes, we the elites should be blamed for what is happening on our country for not rising up to make sure it is being addressed and for our needs we are living above our means.

Our needs are higher than our income.

Why should we live as a nation where ordinary tooth pick we are importing into the country and that tooth pick is being imported with dollar

because governors have turned local government like their own personal estates, the monies of local and federal account goes into their pockets, they spend it the way and manner they want.

Isn’t that illegal?

It is illegal.

But yet Nigerians are one of the most outspoken Africans and you don’t want to hold your leaders accountable?

In that case, our brothers and sisters in the rural areas, you cannot blame them, we should blame people like me and you who know what is happening, the amount of money that is been given every month which is published in all the national dailies in a form of advert by Minister of Finance and we are not asking our governors in our own respective states; “governor you are claiming to build this structure at N1 billion or N2 billion while we know the cost of this is N500 million’ where is the balance of the money. What did you do with it? “ We are the ones to lead but we don’t want to lead.

And why don’t we want to, what is the reason?

We don’t want to lead because generally the average Nigerian elite is comfortable, so as such he doesn’t want to go on the street to lead people to demand for their rights in a responsible manner.

So they don’t want to rock the boat?

You can say so!

And when will the boat be rocked?

I believe Nigerians should learn from civilised societies. They are free to air their views in a responsible manner without destroying what they have because whatever they destroy belongs to them and it has to be rebuilt one day with their own money again so they are slowing down development.

When President Buhari was a leader in this country under the military rule, he was feared, for lack of better words, everything seemed to be in order, people didn’t steal, this man was feared. But this time around people are disappointed that he isn’t cracking the weep like he did the first time around.

There is a wide difference, that time he was a military leader but now he

Is this country moving in the right direction?

I would like to believe so, but there must be an adjustment here and there.

And where is here and there?

When people talk of government, government alone can’t do everything without us. If I know you are a thief and you have stolen billions and you are sitting on it, we are all Nigerians we know ourselves, we know what everybody has to a large extent and we are not saying this person is dishonest and he has taken our properties. How do we want government to know everything?

But you know the people that have stolen, you do know people who steal money, buy private planes, buy all types of properties and nothing is done to them.

When you asked a question at the beginning about $15 billion and the report is there, all what Nigerians need to do, instead of demonstrating over nothing, they should demonstrate and ask or they should call on the government to prosecute those people and collect their money because the money belongs to them and not the government. What is the government about? The people!

You are also a good friend of President Buhari, aren’t you?

Please, I am here in my personal capacity to be interviewed.

So talking about the press council decree, please, tells us more about this?

You want me to tell you or remind you of the painful period we went through? There was a Press Council decree and up till now we are in court with the government right from Abacha era which has put a lot of us in trouble particularly myself, uncle Sam Amuka, Ray Ekpo and later we brought in Nduka Obaigbena into the show. Three of us took them to court because the Press Council decree is such that you can’t print these papers and circulate it without sending 10 copies in advance, they have to read and okay it before you circulate it, which we said over our dead bodies. We went to court but some of us almost paid with our lives.

How long did that go on, sir?

It went on for a very long time but up till now the decree is on the ground, it is still in effect but the problem is it has to be abolished, may be, by act of

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SUNDAY INTERVIEW t 8& "-.045 1"*% 8*5) 063 -*7&4 '*()5*/( 13&44 $06/$*- %&$3&& the National Assembly or whatever.

Even last week we were talking with the Minister of Information and he was asking me, NPAN that we should withdraw that case. We can’t withdraw that case, if they want that case to die they should just kill that legislation by themselves and then the association will withdraw that case from the court.

We won the first round in court and we are still there.

Tell us, how long have you been fighting this?

From 1995, which is about 20 years, but the law is still there.

Does it require printers, publishers to send those copies before they print?

No, because we are in court the court has stopped everything and since it has been stopped by the court it is up to the government now if they want the Press Council to function they should cancel the law legally and then the proof writers should withdraw the case from the court.

In your opinion, Alhaji, what is keeping them from doing so?

They don’t even remember this and the only thing they remember about this is because the Press Council isn’t functioning and the Press Council can’t function under that kind of law because you will go to jail if that Press Council is allowed to operate with that law that is on ground. So the government should abolish the law so that our members can join the Press Council and if they continue as long as the law is there, the Press Council will be boycotted by the association.

You talked about Sani Abacha moments ago and I can’t help but think that’s 20 years plus ago. Has Nigeria come a long way since then in your opinion in development, freedom, has it progressed?

There is a lot of development here and there but the development supposed to be more. The development can’t be compared to the amount of money that has been taken out of the treasury, especially by the state governments. The governors are emperors in their own states, the only thing is that they aren’t controlling is the oxygen people are breathing.

Some ex-governors, who were imprisoned overseas, come back home and become heroes, how does that work?

I don’t know what you are talking about.

James Ibori!

Well, I am not here to discuss James Ibori.

Alhaji Funtua (right) fielding question from Jeff Koinange

You can comment. You are a Nigerian, it is a free country.

Comment in what way? Assuming you say Ibori has gone to prison for money laundering or whatever you call it, is Ibori the only one that is supposed to go to prison?

No, there are plenty more.

So, why Ibori alone?

Because he was the only one that was caught and the others haven’t been caught.

Are you saying that because they are caught they are all in court? They were granted bail.

That is the difference between Nigerian court and English court, Ibori was jailed in the UK He was jailed in the UK but why don’t you wait till the case is finished?

He comes back and he was welcomed, what case? He is a hero here, he can run for President.

I can’t speak for Ibori, I can’t speak for the people who gave him hero’s welcome. That is his own community; maybe he has done something for his own community. Others, they stole but

I am sure that they would be stoned by their own communities.

Alhaji, you said you travel a lot, when you arrive at a foreign country and you say you are Nigerian what reaction do you get?

Do I need to tell everyone I am a Nigerian when I arrive?

I think that green passport gives it away I am proud of it and I would continue to be proud of it.

Are you proud of what your country men have done in the name of Nigeria?

I am not proud of what some of my country men did and they didn’t do it in the name if Nigeria, they did it in their own name but they happened to be Nigerians.

Looking forward, are you hopeful for the future of this nation?

I am very hopeful. I will give you a simple example; the previous year, few weeks ago about two and a half week ago there was Daily Trust lecture where the Minister of Finance indicated that when they came in, the recurrent expenditure that was N909 billion that

There was a Press Council decree and up till now we are in court with the government right from Abacha era which has put a lot of us in trouble particularly myself, uncle Sam Amuka, Ray Ekpo and later we brought in Nduka Obaigbena into the show. Three of us took them to court because the Press Council decree is such that you can’t print these papers and circulate it without sending 10 copies in advance, they have to read and okay it before you circulate it, which we said over our dead bodies. We went to court but some of us almost paid with our lives… It went on for a very long time but up till now the decree is on the ground, it is still in effect but the problem is it has to be abolished, may be, by act of the National Assembly or whatever

the following year they came in they brought it down to N306 billion, just a quarter of what has been spent on recurrent because 90 percent of that budget went for recurrent and only 10 percent for capital and there is no way any country can develop like that.

I expected the Minister of Finance to come out and tell Nigerians more about this kind of thing; this is how your money is being wasted and this is how your money is being saved. How can you spend 90 percent of the national budget on recurrent expenditure and that don’t include the states and local governments, that is only the national government.

What is the one thing you would say that is the most positive thing about Nigeria and Nigerians?

We are very resilient; we weather the storm under whatever situation. When you talk about Nigeria sometimes, we the elites should be blamed for what is happening on our country for not rising up to make sure it is being addressed and for our needs we are living above our means. Our needs are higher than our income. Why should we live as a nation where ordinary tooth pick we are importing into the country and that tooth pick is being imported with dollar. I was laughing and nearly hit my head on the bed when I was reading one guy’s tweet that I was being given dollar and I was making $1 billion every week and I said I wish they were giving me, I need it.

So you can see how the country was run, everything we bring in and even the people who are travelling nobody is saying you should restrict people from travelling but what are they travelling for? Where for example you take British airways from here to London to go and come back and if it is first class that is 11, 000 US dollars, business class a minimum of 8,000 US dollars.

All the people travelling what are they travelling for? You go to the airport; Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano airport and what have you and see the number of people travelling and I believe three quarter of the number of people travelling isn’t adding anything to the economic development of this country but the money they are taking out belongs to the nation.

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CICERO/TRIBUTE

For Tony Anenih, to God be the Glory Augustine O. Akubeze

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oday is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad…. I guess many of you have many reasons to thank God. These reasons may vary from person to person. The Eucharistic Preface says, “It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere, to give you thanks, Lord.” It is part of our Christian duty to give thanks to God everywhere and always. The Catholic understanding of thanksgiving implies that every season and every place are occasions for thanking God….

We are gathered here, today, to thank God for His steadfast love for Chief Tony Anenih… For all the achievements of Chief Anenih in over 80 years, we give thanks to God. Chief Anenih is a beneficiary of God’s mercies and healing power recently when he had a serious medical condition. The medical doctors’ prognosis was that Chief Anenih would not make it to this day. Well, the doctors did not add God to the equation; the doctors did not know of God’s steadfast love for Chief Anenih; they did not know about His endless mercies for him; they did not know that God’s love for him is new every morning; the doctors, my dear friends, did not know that the Lord is Chief Anenih’s portion; they did not know that Chief Anenih puts his entire hope in the Lord. This missing part of the equation in the doctors’ calculation is the reason we are here today to celebrate the life and achievements of Chief Anenih.

This celebration is an acknowledgment of the immense power and blessings of God upon Chief Anenih. Therefore, we can all say Ad maio rem Dei Gloriam! To God be the glory and honour!

The first reading of today is taken from John 2:3-11. Saint John says: “Beloved, by this we may be sure that we know Jesus Christ, if we keep His commandments.”

The other verses of the reading basically speak to this opening line of the reading…. …When we walk in the same way Christ walked, then we are sure that Christ abides in us. The infant Jesus is the true light that has come to disperse darkness away from our lives. If we want to abide in this Light, we must love our brothers and sisters like Christ loves them.

John tells us “He who loves his brother abides in the light, and in it there is no cause for stumbling. But he who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.”

The Evangelist Luke in today’s passage (Luke 2:22-25) presents Christ as the Light to the Gentiles. The parents of Jesus brought him to the temple in Jerusalem to perform the customary thanksgiving for the first-born child. When they presented the Child to Simeon, he blessed the parents and acknowledged the infant Jesus as the expected Messiah….

We are here today to thank God for Chief Anenih who responds to God’s invitation to follow him every day. Our celebrant is a man who has always been proud to call himself a Catholic. He has remained in the Catholic Church in good times and in most challenging times. He has never changed his church. Semel Catholicus Sempel Catholicus - once a Catholic always a Catholic.

Chief Anenih is one of the most generous persons anybody will ever meet on this planet earth. Some may argue that he is wealthy; that is why he is generous.

There are lots of wealthy people who are not generous even to their family members let alone give to others. Generosity is not about what you have; it is about your attitude to what you have. When we are attached to Christ we become detached from material wealth. If you are not attached to anything apart from God,

L-R: Most Rev. Dr. Donatus Ogun-OSA, the Bishop of Uromi Diocese, Chief Tony Anenih and Archbishop of Benin Diocese, Augustine O. Akubeze

then you enjoy true freedom greater than material wealth.

Dearly beloved in Christ, detachment and trust in God is what made our celebrant give a completed house to Archbishop Patrick Ekpu to serve as the residence of the bishop of Uromi when the Diocese was created; detachment and trust in God is what made Chief Anenih donate to many Church projects; detachment is what made him continuously support poor orphanages, detachment is what made him recently commit himself to personally pay for the re-building of the Cathedral in Uromi. Chief Dr. Anthony Anenih is ready to part with the diamond because he is not attached to material things.

The celebrant today has an autobiography recently published. The book is titled “My Life and the Nigerian Politics.”

I am not here to do a book review; it is interesting to note that the book chronicles his entering into the Nigerian Police Force; his business adventures; his burst into the political scene, the battle for June 12; his activities during the interim National Government; the Abacha Regime, and the Fourth Republic. Section three of the book is what I would like to dwell on briefly.

This section deals with the author’s legacy in his own words. In this book, he affirms his privileged position to help in the production of Presidents and Governors in Nigeria.

In this autobiography, there are some words that give the reader insights into the mindset of Chief Anenih. Some of what he said in this book shows his deep faith in and gratitude to God. I have read the book, but I will cite a few of his words to help us understand how his Catholic faith has been the compass that has guided his political decisions. In other words, the values of Chief Anenih flow from his Catholic belief. Our celebrant is a trustworthy person who never abandons his friends; even after death, he remains loyal. On page 148 of this book, speaking about his commitment to the late Musa Yar’Adua’s family, he writes: “I have taken it as a duty to see to the welfare of

Shehu Musa Yar’Adua’s family as long as I live.” This is a strong commitment that has not immediate benefit. There is no political benefit either.

Chief Anenih, the Iyasele of Esan land, is a man you can trust his words. In another instance, he recognises that all he has comes from God. On page 159 he says: “I feel exceedingly grateful to God that He has always fought my battles and He is a Leader that does not fail, if only you trust Him! I will continue to trust Him; continue to thank Him for all that He has done for me in life.” These are words of a person who believes that God empowers him to work for him through his career. Chief Anenih explains the reasons he remains ever generous.

On page 192 of this autobiography, and permit me to use his exact words again: “In all my life, I have always believed in the promotion of worthy causes and that it is better to give than to receive….

It is my belief also that generosity does not only consist in giving from the abundance of what we have but also in giving from the very little that we have.

God has blessed me in several ways and I am grateful to Him for that which He has given me. On account of this, I try to give for worthy causes.” This is the spirit that should guide everyone who wants to donate for a cause he or she believes in….

The political influence of our celebrant is not in doubt. Both those who agree with him and those who disagree all strongly hold that in politics you never take Chief Anenih for granted in any election. What is interesting about his political influence is that he is ubiquitous.

He is influential in every region in Nigeria. His influence is not in one region or section or ethnic block or one faith. He has been a political leader to people from diverse regions of Nigeria. It is rare to find such a political leader. It is rare to find a politician who is relevant to a President from the North, from the South West and from the South-South. Therefore, our celebrant belongs to few groups of people who have eschewed politics of ethnicity and religious bigotry….

I will like to use this forum to address a few words to our politicians and our faithful. Many people love the money of politicians but they don’t like how some of them get the money; many people want politicians as their political leaders but only few will accept politicians as the godparent or sponsors of their children; many people want politicians to attend their church for fund raising, for harvest, but they would not want the Priest to be too close to the politicians because they believe in their minds that politicians play a “dirty game.” Politics, many have tagged a dirty career. Do we have holy, saintly politicians? Do we have some politicians in heaven? Yes, there are politicians in heaven. In fact, Saint Thomas More, is the patron-saint of politicians.

Thomas More himself was an active politician who never allowed anything to compromise his faith. It is, therefore, possible to go to heaven as a politician. I recommend that all our politicians read the life of this great British Politician who, today, is in heaven….

God has put a new song into our mouths and it is a song of praise to him for his abundant blessings. Chief Anenih sings a new song to God. I invite all of us to learn to sing a new song in 2017.

A song that is full of gratitude to God, a song that is a prayer to God to bless Esan land and Edo State with influential men like our celebrant, Chief Anenih. Let our new song to the Lord express our hearts’ desires that political concession in election will become common in our land; let our new song express our petition to God that Edo will be peaceful in 2017; let our new song raise our petition to God that economic prosperity and job creation will be a reality in 2017; let our new song be addressed to God that there will be unity among the three-senatorial districts in Edo state in 2017.

- Abridged homily by Archbishop Akubeze of Benin Diocese delivered recently at the Thanksgiving Mass for Chief Anthony Anenih at St. Anthony Cathedral, Uromi, Edo State.

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ecently, the families of Mr. & Mrs. Alade Agbabiaka, SAN, and the Late Otunba Olusanya Awotesu & Chief Mrs. Olukemi Ibraheem witnessed the wedding of their children, Abimbola Agbabiaka and Oludare Awotesu. The engagement ceremony took place at the Bride’s family’s residence in Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos. The Solemnisation of the couple’s matrimony was conducted by the Christian Fellowship Centre at BICS Boat Club & Gardens, Lekki Phase 1, Lekki, Lagos followed by a reception at the Elizabeth Phillip Marquee at the same location. Here are some notable personalities at the event.

The Groom, Oludare Awotesu, and the Bride, Abimbola Awotesu nee Agbabiaka

The Bride, Abimbola Awotesu dancing with her father, Mr. Alade Agbabiaka SAN

L-R: The Groom, Dare Awotesu; former Governor of Cross River State, Mr. Donald Duke; the Bride, Abimbola Awotesu nee Agbabiaka; Mrs. Onarie Duke at the reception party

L-R: Mother of the Bride, Mrs. Anita Agbabiaka; Ms. Stella Amachree; The First Lady of Edo State, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki, and the Groom, Dare Awotesu, at the traditional wedding ceremony

L-R: The First Lady of Edo State, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki; the Mother of the Bride, Mrs. Anita Agbabiaka; and Mrs. Doris Cowan at the wedding reception

L-R: Chief Jamiu Awotesu; the Bride, Abimbola Awotesu nee Agbabiaka; and the Mother of the Groom, Chief Mrs. Olukemi Ibraheem, at the traditional wedding ceremony

L-R: The bridal train: Ladi Jackson, Yomi Adeyemi, Lanre Ogunmefun, Jemima Amachree-Broad, Seun Pelemo and Fatima Musa.

Prince Adetona; Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State; the Bride, Abimbola Awotesu nee Agbabiaka and the Groom, Dare Awotesu. Back row: Mr. Donald Duke; the First Lady of Edo State, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki; Mrs. Onari Duke

L-R: Mrs. Jackson; Mother of the Groom, Chief Mrs. Olukemi Ibraheem; and Mrs. Bajomo

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R Ëž ÍŻÍ°Ëœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍľ

High Life

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͎͎͜;ʹ͜͜ͳ;ͳͰ

...Amazing lifestyles of Nigeria’s rich and famous

Vintage Maradona! Ibrahim Babangida’s Nine Lives Ëž Ă˜ĂŽĂ™ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă? ÎÓÑÓÞËÖ ĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂœĂ‹Ă“Ăž Ă™Ă? Ă’Ă“Ă? Ă–Ă“Ă?Ă? Ëž ĂŒĂ“ Ă—Ă?Ă–Ă™Ă˜ĂŁĂ? ÞÙ ĂšĂœĂ™ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?ÚÓĂ?

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weary thing is sickness and its pains.

It almost snuffed out the life of Ibrahim Babangida and cast his family in the vicious grip of inconsolable grief. But thanks to providence, the former military president has bounced back to vitality. It could be recalled that news of his debilitating ailment hit the social space months back like an unconquerable ogre. Yes, Babangida is back in the country after a medical trip to Switzerland.

Babangida, who arrived the Minna International Airport penultimate Saturday evening, left the country on December

18, 2016. However, are we going to call it a visual biography or money making venture as Obi Emelonye, awardwinning Nollywood producer and director, has announced a new movie “Badamasi: Portrait of a General�, a work on former military Head of State, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida.

The filmmaker announced the project last Tuesday in Lagos.

He said “Badamasi�, which would be released later this year, would paint “intimate portrait’’ of IBB, the General that ruled Nigeria from 1985 to 1993�.

Emelonye is popularly known for directing films like “Last Flight to Abuja�, “The Mirror Boy� and “Onye Ozi�.

AFTER THE STORM...INTRIGUES AS FEMI GBAJABIAMILA AND NNENA UKEJE BURY THE HATCHET Ëž

Few months ago, they lunged and tore at each other like heat-crazed feral cats, but as you read, the bitterness and angst that seized their souls and drove them apart have dissipated, without trace.

Thus Honourable Femi

Femi Gbajabiamila

Gbajabiamila and Nnenna Ukeje are wiser now.

Having experienced the motions of the action and counteraction that ignites the reciprocal struggle of discordant powers, they have settled their beef and achieved harmony with the universe. Indeed, in politics, there is no permanent friend or enemy - only permanent interests.

The closeness of the House Leader, Gbajabiamila, and the Chairman, House

Ibrahim Babangida

Committee on Foreign Relations, Nnena Ukeje, these days, is generating increased attention on the floor of the House of Representatives. The two now work together, consult each other and are usually seen sitting together on the floor while proceedings are going on.

Ironically, Gbajabiamila is an All Progressives Congress lawmaker from Lagos State, while Ukeje is a member of the opposition

Peoples Democratic Party from Abia State. Before now, they were known to be sworn enemies. Ukeje, according to the reports doing the rounds, was said to have once vowed never to be on talking terms with Gbajabiamila. Their quarrel dated back to events that happened before the June 9, 2015 speakership election, which was eventually won by Yakubu Dogara. Gbajabiamila was a contestant and

Nnenna Ukeje

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R Ëž ÍŻÍ°Ëœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍľ

From Wedlock to War...Estranged Celebrity Couple, Toke Makinwa and Maje Ayida, Strap Up for War ˞The plot thickens as estranged husband seek legal redress against talkshow hostess over ‘defamatory’ memoir

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or Toke Makinwa and Maje Ayida, the sweet music of their love turned sour in record time, like the stale juice of pierced grapes left for too long in the sun. Soon after Toke, a celebrity talk show hostess, and Maje, a fitness coach, called it quits with their marriage, discordant tunes continue to waft from both divides of the separated parties. And the reason is not far-fetched; in a very controversial tellit-all memoir, Toke recently accused her ex-husband of infidelity, blaming him for giving her an STD. In response, Maje requested that she stopped the sale and promotion of the book.

The memoir which is titled: ‘On Becoming,’ details the topsy-turvy relationship between the two. Ayida made the request via a “Letter of demand,� written by his lawyers. The letter was allegedly sent last year, but it was not clear if Toke acknowledged its receipt. It will be recalled that Toke launched the book at a star-studded event last November, in Lagos.

Predictably, Maje was angry by her portrayal of him in the book, and he hired law firms in the UK and Nigeria to stop its circulation.

Maje’s counsel are CarterRuck, a UK law firm that also represents top figures

was positioned to get the seat. However, Ukeje was a staunch supporter of Dogara.

JIMOH IBRAHIM AT 50 Ëž

ͳ͎

Bliss nestles in the heart of Jimoh Ibrahim as you read. The former billionaire

Jimoh Ibrahim

Toke Makinwa and Maje Ayida

like Simon Cowell, Elton John and Chelsea FC; and Kemi Pinheiro of Pinheiro LP who is heading the legal front in Nigeria. Maje had “requested legal separation� from Makinwa “within 6 months� of their marriage in January 2014 “when it became clear that the marriage was breaking down.� Toke was also alleged to have signed a legal separation agreement in July 2014. The letter said hits the golden age of 50 with the shriek champions make at that point when their chests meet with the victory tape. He is no doubt an accomplished business titan and magnate However, on February 24, Jimoh Ibrahim will clock 50 with mixed feelings. The controversial billionaire will attain the golden age surfing on a gale of rumours and bad news. There is no gainsaying he has been through a lot in the last few years. While his loved ones rue his misfortunes in the political and business terrains, detractors of the dandy billionaire blame him for the series of tragic spells he suffered in his race for acclaim and selfactualisation. But love or hate him, Jimoh has made his mark in the business world. If you would forgive and overlook his gregariousness, you would understand that at 50, he has done very well for himself. This is why he and his loved ones are leaving no stone unturned to celebrate his 50th anniversary in a grand way.

We will keep you posted on the venue and theme of

it was well-documented that the couple had agreed to separate by July 2014, which the book failed to record. In the book, Toke accused her former husband of giving her STDs by being a serial cheat and adulterer. But the legal documents described the book as nothing but an “exaggerated fabrication� containing “defamatory words.� Maje therefore, asked Toke to retrieve the already-

sold books, stop all forms of distribution and deliver same at a place to be agreed upon by him for destruction. He said her failure to do so and tender a full page unreserved apology to him in three national dailies “will result in the commencement of legal action.� But Toke has called his bluff by launching the book in Ghana while planning to launch it in London during the summer holidays.

the event. Jimoh has been through a lot. Just recently, he ventured into the Ondo governorship race, but his aspiration hit a dead end following a legal tussle.

Mischief makers alleged that things got so bad that he had to sell off some of his petrol stations. They alleged that the media mogul and hospitality entrepreneur is flat broke.

According to them, his private jet is currently grounded and unable to fly due to his inability to pay for the millions of dollars required to service it and get it back in the air.

MARRIED TO THE FAST LANE...

LOUISE PRIDDY STAYS MARRIED DESPITE WILD PARTIES AND NIGHT CLUBBING Ëž

Given her wild partying and life on the fast lane, you could be forgiven for wondering how Louise Priddy has been able to stay married. If you dig deep enough, you would find she adopts the practiced wisdom of the ancients. It is the kind of wisdom that keeps the unrepentant socialite safe and stable in wedlock, even

Louise Priddy

as her peers crash and burn on tinsel lane.

A lot of folks didn’t believe Louise Priddy would still be married to her white husband, Mario, because of her fast paced lifestyle which includes serial clubbing and night prowling. Louise who was managing the family’s moribund night club years ago, was so popular among the island in-crowd. Back

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˜ ˞ FEBRUARY 12, 2017

HIGHLIFE

FiďŹ Ejindu Hits 55

H

ow long can you be cute?

For Fifi E jindu, the answer will probably go‌ ‘Eternally!’ The splendor of her womanhood and the earthly rind of her humaneness and poise resonate that ageless prettiness and ĂŠlan characteristic of the loveliest of fabled Greek goddesses. In a more romantic era, she would have become a poet’s delight, in this era; she flaunts an immense backbone of versatility and breadth of character that lures you to stare at her more closely than you are accustomed to in watching certain great women. But even at that, she is hardly given to fickle idolatry, unlike most of the women she shares the right to acclaim and celebrity status. Fifi is simply a delight to watch.

Now, as she clocks 55 in May, it promises to be celebration galore.

You couldn’t have forgotten so soon her

50th birthday; Dubai was listed to her grace for her 50th birthday at the Al Falak Ballroom of the prestigious hotel, Burj Al Arab. Indeed, ever since she left the shores of the country to enthrall Dubai by her classy ceremony, she has become the toast of not a few celebrity gatherings in the UAE. And not a few people look back in awe at the glamour and wonderful touch of class with which she has charmed the Arabian city. The royal birthday that has former President Olusegun Obasanjo in attendance is yet to be matched in terms of publicity, pageantry and fun. However, Fifi has made a great impact within the building and construction sector in particular. Fifi is the Chief Executive Officer of Building Support Systems, BSS. She is also the Principal Partner, Starcrest Associates, an architectural firm, which is also based in Abuja.

then, mention any wild partying with guys and town babes, and Louise’s name will come up. She was truly a rockerfella. Ask Maje Ayida, he will confirm this.

Despite admitting the up and downs of their union, Louise is full of happiness over marriage to hubby Mario. And she came all out to count the gains of the union in a public celebration of their union. Louise celebrated her husband and marriage in a post on social media platform some days ago. The public celebration of love signposts eight years of marriage and eighteen years together – with two children to the bargain.

As you read, she has substituted her old ways of frolicking and wild partying on the social scenes with some modicum of sobriety and reservation.

to maintain a low profile, it is not to say that he is not equally gregarious like his dad. Thus, when he got married to Omotola Olutayo a few years back, there was no doubting that the new couple had the world at their feet and savouring the bliss of their union was theirs for the taking. But darts were thrown into the couple’s balloon a few months after as Omotola died of breast cancer, shattering the world of the easy-going dude. The

FiďŹ Ejindu

young woman left behind a distraught husband and a hapless set of twins. Ever since, Deji has recoiled deeper into his shell. Some days ago, he celebrated his 50th birthday in Renaissance Lagos Ikeja Hotel, GRA, Ikeja. It was a classy event.

Likewise, Biola who had a running battle with her father many years till former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, intervened, celebrated her 50th birthday some days ago. She used to be the life and soul of

the party, the woman who will never go home while there is one man, woman or glass of anything not yet drunk. But today, she has taken a radical turn. She is no longer the social nymph she used to be. Back when she used to cruise at full throttle on Nigeria’s fast lanes, no party hosted in Lagos and Abuja, Nigeria’s entertainment capitals, is complete without the presence of Biola. She rocked every party like it was her last.

BIRTHDAY MATES, DEJI AND BIOLA OKOYA, THROW 50TH BIRTHDAY BASH Ëž

They are no relatives but they share same surname, like phenomenal twins from different wombs; and besides being born into affluence, the only other thing uniting Deji and Biola Okoya is a shared birth year.

For the duo, their claim to fame was the name of their fathers. Deji is the son of the late table tennis buff and noteworthy philanthropist, Chief Molade OkoyaThomas. Though Deji likes

Biola Okoya

Deji Okoya-Thomas

TR

Sunday February 12, 2017

UT H

& RE A S O

N

Price: N400

MISSILE Catholic Priest to Religious Leaders “My dear pastors and priests, our churches have largely contributed to the rot in the society.

Our messages of instant gratification have created a generation of people, who only want to see instant results, immediate relief, and a painless profit. This is not the natural course of nature or a normal way of doing things.”

– The Parish Priest of Saint Agnes Catholic Church, Ichida, Rev Fr. Boniface Ezeoke, urging religious leaders to avoid preaching about signs, wonders and prosperity to people.

SIMONKOLAWOLE SIMONKOLAWOLELIVE!

simon.kolawole@thisdaylive.com, sms: 0805 500 1961

The Drama Republic of Nigeria

Y

ou can conveniently call Nigeria the Federal Republic of Drama. Or the Drama Republic of Nigeria. It is one day, one drama. This is probably what keeps us flying in spite of this economic headwind. Three weeks ago, President Muhammadu Buhari boarded the presidential jet and left the country for vacation in the UK during which he would undergo medical checks — in his own words. Immediately his letter to the national assembly was read, effectively empowering Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo to act as president, the rumour mill went into production at full capacity. Vacation?

UK? Medicals? Acting President? Ah! Something is about to happen…

It did not take too long for the first rumour to be rolled out of the mill: Buhari is gasping for breath somewhere in a London hospital.

He had a failed kidney transplant. No. He had “cancer of the ear” that had spread to the rest of his body. Forget it, he won’t survive.

To the credit of the refined rumour mongers, they were patient and honest: they avoided announcing Buhari’s death very early. But the unprofessional rumour mongers wasted no time in announcing with authority: Buhari is dead!

In this millennium of fake news, it was soon all over town. I was busy enjoying an English premier league match when I got a WhatsApp chat authoritatively announcing Buhari’s death.

Those who know me as a journalist were soon bombarding me with calls to find out if “it is true”. My answer was standard: “Buhari is a Muslim; if he dies he will be buried within 24 hours.” He is not Oba of Benin who would be “communing with his ancestors” one full year before he is buried. It took me only one phone call to determine the president was alive, and I never looked back. My answer was not satisfactory to many of the callers, and I very well understood why. What they wanted to hear was that Buhari was critically ill or dead, and when you were busy telling them he was neither on hospital admission nor in the morgue, you were not worthy to be believed.

I heard a lot of people say Buhari’s media managers should have come out to tell Nigerians the “truth”. But there was nothing the managers could say that would be the “truth” — except to proclaim Buhari dead. Saying the president was alive, saying he was not in the hospital, saying he was receiving visitors, releasing his pictures to the public through the social media — these can never be the “truth”. The only “truth” that some people wanted to hear was that the third-day fidau would hold in his family compound at Daura, Katsina, “tomorrow”. Or that the body would arrive Abuja airport this evening. Any other thing was not the “truth”.

A friend who was genuinely worried about the situation suggested that the president send a video message to Nigerians to say he was alive. It looked like a brilliant idea until you realised that it would take “fact checkers” just two minutes to “bust” the video as something that was recorded in 1914. All the pictures Buhari took with his wife, Aisha, and Governor Ibikunle Amosun in London were “busted”. Even if Buhari appeared on CNN to confirm he was alive, “investigations” would still “reveal” that it was a body double. It was not a battle Buhari was going to win. He was dead and only an obituary announcement would be the “truth”.

Along the line, northern governors were supposed to have met in Abuja and resolved to force Osinbajo to resign as VP and allow Senate President Bukola Saraki to step in — so that power could remain in the north since Buhari had died or was dying. Two former

Buhari military leaders, Generals Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar, were reportedly at the meeting. Actually, northern governors met (in Kaduna, not Abuja) to discuss the security situation in southern Kaduna. In fact, both Babangida and Abubakar were out of the country (maybe they joined the meeting by Skype, who knows?) These rumour merchants got a lot of rebroadcasts on social media.

Could Abdulsalami really be part of a meeting where it would be resolved that a southerner must not be allowed to succeed Buhari? His antecedents do not suggest so, given the role he played in power shift to the south in 1999 and in working behind the scene to ensure Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan was allowed to step in as acting president in the absence of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in 2010. More

To the credit of the refined rumour mongers, they were patient and considerate: they avoided announcing Buhari’s death very early. But the unprofessional rumour mongers wasted no time in announcing with authority: Buhari is dead!

so, if a few chauvinistic northern governors truly wanted a “northern” president, would a Bukola Saraki be their choice? In the world of rumour mongering, everything is possible.

Facts are free, as it were.

Meanwhile, Buhari was busy scripting his own drama. Instead of coming out straight to tell us he was not in the hospital or Aljanna, he resorted to modelling jalabiya and skull cap for the social media. In one pose, he put his “feet up” (actually, on the coffee table) watching Channels TV with a phone stuck to his right ear. In another, he was having breakfast or lunch, maybe even dinner, with Amosun.

There is something about Buhari that I can’t understand — he likes to keep quiet while damaging accusations are pouring like rain.

If he thinks it is a virtue, then he still doesn’t understand that he is president of Nigeria in 2017 and not 1984.

Although Buhari paints the picture of somebody who doesn’t care about the rumours, in truth he cares. If not, he would not have engaged in a flurry of phone calls, like a customer service agent, with the Osinbajo, Saraki and Speaker Yakubu Dogara. He did not tell them to keep it secret. He would not have received Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Chief Bisi Akande and seen them off to the door. He did not tell the photographers not to shoot. So he cares. I believe all the pictures were deliberately arranged to prove to Doubting Thomases that he was alive, that he was not on any sick bed. So he does care what Nigerians say. What’s the issue then? Basic aloofness? Or ego?

To be sure, Nigerians have every right to know the state of health of their president. He is president of 180 million Nigerians (forget that infamous line about 97% vs 5%). His medical state means a lot to the political stability of Nigeria. His health has a direct impact on the economy. What the economy needs now is anything that will boost confidence — not kill the spirit. So it is not about Buhari, his family, his party, his part of the country or his ethnicity. It is about us. All of us. The actions and inactions of Buhari affect every single soul in Nigeria, so he cannot carry on with the attitude of “I don’t give a damn” (apologies to Jonathan).

It has been argued that Buhari should tell us exactly what is wrong with him. Good point. What I don’t know, however, is how we will receive this “truth”. Let us, for the purpose of this discussion, say that he has a terminal cancer, as speculated, and he discloses it. What will happen next? Let me guess: there will be a nationwide protest asking him to “honourably” resign because he is “too sick” to lead Nigeria. If, on the other hand, he says he is just diabetic, would we be satisfied? I can hear us sternly declare that he is not telling us the “whole truth”, like “can’t you see that he is very frail? Can he rule us with diabetes?”

Whichever way, he is damned.

All said and done, whether we like it or not, our democratic experience has been enhanced by the events of the last three weeks. For one, there has not been a power vacuum like we witnessed in 2009 when it seemed Nigeria had no president in Yar’Adua’s absence. The constitution was amended to avoid that scenario.

Even if Buhari had not written to the national assembly, Osinbajo would still have legally started acting as president after 21 days. And, really, Osinbajo has impressed me with the way he has handled the situation — even when he didn’t assume full presidential powers. He has spared us more episodes of the drama.

Good stuff.

And Four Other Things...

EURO BOOM The news that Nigeria’s $1 billion Eurobond was eight times oversubscribed sent a chill down my spine. So the outside world still has faith in Nigeria despite all the mess we have got ourselves in? You can argue that the 7.875% yield is very enticing to investors, but any interest in Nigeria at all is worth celebrating. I’m somehow sad thinking of what might have been. Many foreign investors were ready to swoop on Nigeria when President Buhari assumed office in May 2015 but lost interest and went elsewhere because of “ponderous policymaking” (copyright FT). Just imagine what could have been. Going forward, I trust Buhari to spend the Euro bond on infrastructure. Promising.

DOLLAR DUNGEON I’m certainly no longer a fan of media trial, but I just have to comment on the huge cache of foreign currencies allegedly recovered from Mr. Andrew Yakubu, former managing director of NNPC. In all, $9.8 million and £74,000 were reportedly recovered in cash. When I was told that many Nigerians are still keeping billions of dollars in raw cash or abandoned in bank accounts (no thanks to the BVN virus), I found it hard to believe. Now I believe. But how can we get the money back into the system? Are we going to get more whistle blowers? Or are we going to declare “go and sin no more” to make more substantial recoveries? Billions of dollars!

Mindboggling.

RUNAWAY ELITE The Nigerian elite will always take care of themselves. Have you noticed their staunch opposition to the closure of Abuja airport runway for reconstruction and the diversion of flights to Kaduna for six weeks? You would think the world is about to come to an end! They are afraid to travel between Kaduna and Abuja by land because of bad roads and insecurity. This is the road thousands of non-elite Nigerians take everyday without anybody complaining on the floor of the national assembly. Thank God, the ministry of works is working day and night to repair the road for our elite to use during the six-week closure. You see, they will always take care of themselves.

Naija!

SAVING ARIK The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) — you can call it the “bad bank” — has finally intervened to save Arik Air from a certain death. With reported debts of over N300 billion, and thousands of cancelled or delayed flights, it was so glaring that something had to give. Since the federal government is looking for a national carrier (which doesn’t make sense to me), Arik may have offered them an easier way out. Convert the debt to equity and get world-class managers and partners to run it. It would make no sense if the government saves Arik with such massive capital and still goes ahead to set up another airline. Options.

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