Sunday 14th May 2017

FG Directs Oil Companies to Renew OMLs Not contemplating issuance of new oil blocks

Chineme Okafor in Abuja

As a sign of its willingness to allow oil firms to continue to operate existing oil mining leases (OMLs), the Federal Government has directed operators to renew their expiring leases.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, who dropped this hint, also confirmed that, while the government had identified up to 45 marginal oil fields it would put out for competitive bid this month, it was not in a

Says legislative squabbles delay quick passage of PIB

hurry to issue out fresh oil blocks to new investors or operators in 2017.

Kachikwu, who spoke to select journalists at the just concluded 2017 edition of the annual Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston

Texas, United States, disclosed that, the government had written to holders of all expiring OMLs to come forward and update their licences.

Besides, the petroleum minister confirmed reports that there were bits of internal

disputes between the Senate and House of Representatives about the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

He, however, informed that he had intervened to get the legislative processes going on the bill, which the National

Assembly has failed to pass into law for years now.

An OML is one of the two types of licences issued by Nigeria to oil producers in her oil fields, and they are often Continued on page 8

Amid Registration Challenges, 57,000 Candidates Commence UTM Exams Nationwide ...Page 10

Sunday 14 May, 2017 Vol 22. No 8060

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DR Congo Ebola Outbreak: FG Launches Preventive Actions Intensifies surveillance at ports Directs healthcare providers to report suspected cases NCDC to unveil preparedness level tomorrow

Senator Iroegbu, Paul Obi, and Kasim Sumaina in Abuja Following the confirmation of an outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease in the Central

African country of Democratic Republic of the Congo by the World Health Organisation, the Nigerian government has launched a series of preventive activities aimed at eliminating

the likelihood of the spread of the disease to the country.

Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, disclosed this in a statement yesterday by the ministry's director of media and

public relations, Mrs. Boade Akinola. Adewole directed port health officials to step up surveillance processes at all entry points to the country and report any person suspected of having

the disease to the relevant state epidemiologists for prompt tests.

He said, “The symptoms to look out for include fever, fatigue, weakness dizziness and muscle aches. Patients with

more severe cases show bleeding under the skin, internal organs or even from bodily orifices like mouth, ears, and the ears.

Continued on page 8

Threat by Released B'Haram Suspect Puts Prisoner Swap Deals in Jeopardy It’s terror sect’s empty propaganda, says military

UNIMAID hit by third suicide attack in four months

Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri and Paul Obi in Abuja A threat by one of the recently swapped Boko Haram leaders to launch attacks on Abuja is fuelling apprehension and reservation about the viability of the prisoner exchange deals under which 82 Chibok schoolgirls were freed by the terror group about a fortnight ago. Shuaibu Moni, one of the Boko Haram commanders the federal government said it released in exchange for the girls, hinted in a new video released by the terrorist sect that there might be imminent bombing of the federal capital. He also issued threats to President Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian authorities.

The threat of fresh attacks by the freed suspect caused apprehension in Abuja at the weekend, as residents feared for their lives. It also raised doubts among Nigerians about the effectiveness of the swap deals, which many feared might Continued on page 8

HAPPY 60TH BIRTHDAY

L-R: Celebrant's wife, Mrs. Eki Igbinedion; celebrant, former Edo State governor, Chief Lucky Igbinedion; former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Alfa Belgore; celebrant's father, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion; his wife, Mrs. Cherry Igbinedion; and their grandchildren, during Lucky's 60th birthday celebration at his residence in Asokoro, Abuja ...yesterday

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T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R • MAY 14, 2017

PAGE EIGHT DR CONGO EBOLA OUTBREAK: FG LAUNCHES PREVENTIVE ACTIONS “Nigerians are urged not to panic as the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control is on ground and equipped to secure the health of citizens. The agency has for a while now been strengthening states capacities to detect, manage and respond to haemorrhagic fevers, including Lassa fever.”

Director-general of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, also confirmed the existence of measures to forestall spread of the disease. Ihekweazu

stated, "We are aware and in communication with colleagues via formal channels.

“We will make a statement on preparedness levels on Monday."

Adewole had earlier told THISDAY, “We are in touch with our port health services and reactivating surveillance. Travel history to be closely monitored.

Hand washing should be the routine for all." He said, “All cases of fever must be handled with care.”

The minister called for vigilance and increased

awareness efforts on the symptoms of haemorrhagic fevers. He said healthcare providers and the general public must immediately report any sign of the illness to public health officials to forestall a reoccurrence of the disease, which killed eight people in the country in 2014.

Adewole called on states to begin social mobilisation and media awareness efforts via television, radio, print and social media. He urged state health ministries to strengthen their supervision services and escalate

any incident appropriately. He also directed all Nigerian health workers to maintain a high index of suspicion by screening all for Ebola and other haemorrhagic fevers.

Adewole advised members of the public to observe a high level of personal hygiene, including regular hand washing.

WHO declared an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on Thursday following the death of three persons from the disease.

WHO’s Executive Director

THREATS BY RELEASED B'HARAM SUSPECT PUT PRISONER SWAP DEALS IN JEOPARDY also swell the depleting ranks of Boko Haram commanders.

The federal government has said it is still pursuing the prisoner exchange option to achieve freedom for all the over 200 schoolgirls kidnapped from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, in Borno State, on April 14, 2014 by Boko Haram.

But the Nigerian Army yesterday dismissed the Boko Haram video as mere propaganda meant to seek relevance.

Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier-general Sani Usman, said, "In the video circulating on social media platforms, the Boko Haram sect threatened to intensify attacks, boasting about the terrorists' return to the dreaded Sambisa forest in the North-east.” Usman told the public not to panic, saying the video is a mere publicity stunt by a terrorist organisation on its last legs.

In a related development, tension heightened at the University of Maiduguri yesterday following a bomb attack on the campus in the early hours of the morning, which killed four persons, including a security officer. It was the third time the university would be so attacked since the January 16 bomb explosions in which a professor was among those killed. Many have vacated the school for fear of more attacks.

The Army statement read, ““The attention of the Nigerian Army has been drawn to two video clips released by one of the released Boko Haram terrorists in exchange for the

abducted Chibok schoolgirls.

"In the first clip, the terrorist, among other things, made boastful and spurious allegations, while the second clip was about alleged indoctrination of some of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls in captivity.

"We wish to state that the terrorist has lost touch with current realities. It was aimed at seeking relevance and attention."

Usman stated regarding Moni, "As you are all aware, he was a direct beneficiary of the process that led to the release of 82 of the abducted girls, and does not have a say or capacity to do anything. Therefore, his threats should be ignored.

"We would like to assure the public that the Nigerian Army is totally committed to the federal government’s determined efforts of rescuing all abducted persons and peace in the country. We will not relent our determined efforts of clearing the remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists as manifested through the on-going clearance operations.

"The Nigerian Air Force is unrelenting in its bombardment while other security agencies are equally doing their best.

"Therefore, we wish to solicit for more support, cooperation and understanding of the public, particularly members of the press.

"We should not give in to terrorists’ propaganda and empty threats. We have come to a very critical stage of the fight against terrorism and insurgency in Nigeria that requires more patriotism and security consciousness by all and sundry. Gone were the days when people glamorised

fiends or foes?

terrorists and their criminal acts."

At the University of Maiduguri the semester examinations had already been postponed due to the Computer-Based Test for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination being conducted in the school. Yesterday’s explosion caused low turnout of candidates for the examination, according to staff of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board.

One of the staff, Kaka John, told journalists that the six test centres in the university recorded low turnout following the attack.

He said the examination did not commence on time because of the early morning bomb blast, which made many candidates to stay away.

John said, "We were supposed to start very early at 9am but I think because of the fear, the students did not show up. This made us to start around 10am.”

He said the security agencies did not also come in time because many of them went to the scene of the blasts.

One student of the institution, who spoke anonymously, said many students left the campus after the attack.

Spokesman of the North-east office of the National Emergency Management Agency, Malam Abdulkadir Ibrahim, confirmed the attack on the institution, in a statement in Maiduguri.

Ibrahim stated, "Today at 1:10am, three suicide bombers, two men and a woman attempted to gain access into the University of Maiduguri, but were sighted by the university security who stopped them for interrogation.

"While interrogating them, the two suicide bombers detonated their explosive devices, which injured one of the securities and killed another.

"The third suicide bomber who hid close to the vicinity of a building in the university later detonated her explosive which affected the structure of the building with no casualty.

"The injured was taken to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital after administration of first aid while the corpses were deposited at Borno Specialist Hospital."

The Borno Police Command also confirmed the incident.

The spokesman of the command, Mr Victor Isuku, in a statement in Maiduguri, said, "In the early hours of today, about 0130, three male suicide bombers gained entry into the premises of University of Maiduguri, and advanced towards the mechanical workshop of the university.

"They were intercepted by the university security personnel and soldiers on duty."

Isuku added, "In an attempt to apprehend them, the suicide bombers hurriedly detonated explosive strapped to their bodies, killing themselves and a university security personnel in the process.

“A soldier was reported injured in the explosion, and is currently receiving treatment at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.

"The command's EOD teams were despatched to sanitise the scene and vicinity of the campus for general safety, while normalcy has since been restored."

L-r: former Kaduna state governor, senator Ahmed Makarfi, in a handshake with former Borno state governor, senator AliModu sherrif, as they briefly set aside their tussle for PdP national chairmanship, at the 60th birthday party of Chief Lucky igbinedion in Abuja ...yesterday

for Emergencies, Dr Peter Salama, said in a statement, “An investigation team led by the Ministry of Health (in DR Congo) and supported by WHO and partners has deployed and is expected to reach the affected area in the coming days.”

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, the National Emergency Management Agency, and the Ministry of Aviation said they were on the alert for any fallout of the outbreak in DR Congo. Acting General Manager, Corporate Affairs, FAAN, Henrietta Yakubu, told THISDAY yesterday that the country still had in place the preventive measures activated at the international airports following the 2014 Ebola outbreak. “Passengers still fill that form to ensure that everybody arriving the country through our airports is not a potential carrier of deadly diseases,” Yakubu said.

She said the thermal scanner had become a permanent apparatus at the arrival points.

According to her, "There are sanitisers at our arrivals with the scanning apparatus, called thermal scanners, being installed by the port health services.

"The scanners have camera monitor that displays pictures aside the capturing of temperature. The port health officials are always at alert and we will also inform them of the need to increase their surveillance."

Yakubu added, "We don't have direct flight from Congo, we only have from Rwanda and Askier Airline from Younde, Cameroon.

But I want to assure that we still have all preventive measures in place at our airports. There is no cause for alarm."

In a similar vein, Head of Media and Public Relations, NEMA, Sani Datti, disclosed that the agency had started consultation with relevant stakeholders on how to manage any eventualities.

Datti said, “When you talk of Ebola, it’s not something new. We have already started monitoring the situation and relating with the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Aviation, which are the major stakeholders.

“On our part as an agency saddled with the responsibility of managing emergency in the country, we are already gathering information about what is happening in the Democratic Republic of Congo as regards the recent outbreak of Ebola virus in that country from our Situation Room."

Deputy Director, Press/Public Affairs, Ministry of Aviation, Mr. James Odaudu, also disclosed that the ministry was synergising with relevant stakeholders on prevention of the spread of Ebola to the country.

The Ebola virus was introduced into Nigeria on July 20, 2014 by an infected Liberian man, Patrick Sawyer, who came in through the Lagos, airport.

Dr. Ameyo Adadevoh, who treated Sawyer, was among those who died of the disease. The Ebola outbreak was successfully contained, with WHO officially declaring Nigeria Ebola free on October 20, 2014.

FG DIRECTS OIL COMPANIES TO RENEW OMLS with validity period ranging from five to 20 years.

Reports, however, indicate that a good number of OMLs including those held by major oil firms could be up for renewal.

The 2015 annual oil and gas report of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), which is the latest on its website, stated that there were 109 OMLs operated either on Joint Venture (JV), Sole Risk (SR) or Production Sharing Contract (PSC) basis by oil companies in the country.

Their term limits were, however, not stated in the report.

According to Kachikwu, “My understanding is that by the end of May we should have all the data on the marginal fields.

We have identified about 40 to 45 marginal fields, we hope to increase those, we will go forward to a bidding process.

“OMLs renewals, yes we are, we have already sent out letters on those for existing OMLs but in terms of issuing new blocks we are probably not contemplating that for the rest of this year. But marginal fields we will deal with by end of May we should have all the data that we need.”

The petroleum minister also talked about the passage of the PIB by the National Assembly vis-à-vis the legislative differences between members of the House and Senate.

The House as understood had insisted on undertaking its own legislative exercise on the PIB despite the Senate’s request that it (House) adopts what it (Senate) had done at its committee stages with the bill to save time and perhaps financial expenses on repeating the same process. This, it was learnt had not gone down well

with the House.

“It is a long story, the Senate has gone quite far and believes it is more of the Senate’s responsibility, and when they finish, they get their colleagues in the House on a joint committee to pass the bill, but the House doesn’t believe that. The House says: ‘no, we are willing to do ours’,” explained Kachikwu.

“The Senate has gone very far, and one of the things I have done is that I have held a meeting with the leadership of the House to try to get them to start their process to catch up with the Senate and they can adopt what the Senate has and look at it rather than begin a fresh process, and I think we are almost aligned on that and they are likely going to adopt what the Senate has and then the joint committee can come up maybe in July,” he further stated.

When pressed to speak a bit on the final expectations from the bill, Kachikwu noted: “I won't go into the details for obvious reasons because I don't want to be seen jumping ahead of the Senate. I am happy so far with the cooperation going between both of us. I am also happy that a lot of the initiatives that we created have actually been adopted as part of their PIB.” “From everything that we are doing when PIB is done and dusted, we should be able to transit very smoothly during the one year transition period, which the minster is supposed to help manage. But I don't want to go into specifics, the bill is still in its third reading but everything I have seen so far in terms of collaborative work has been very positive,” Kachikwu added.

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R • MAY 14, 2017

SUNDAY COMMENT

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

THE PLIGHT OF NIGERIAN WORKERS

T

Conversations for a new wage cap should consider the need for fiscal federalism

he last May Day protest in Abuja and some other places in the country was another demonstration of the growing anger in the land. Frustrated by their worsening conditions, the workers turned a commemorative event into a rowdy conference of agitation for better life, demanding immediate increment in the country’s minimum wage and more respect for them by the government, at all levels.

With high inflation and an economy in distress, many average Nigerians are having a downturn in their living standards, barely able to meet their basic needs. Worst off, however, are workers, particularly those in government employment, whose meagre wages, some unpaid for upwards of 10 months, have been overrun by galloping inflation.

No doubt, the workers had a legitimate cause even if their protest could have been better expressed. Promulgated in 2011 by the Goodluck Jonathan administration, the minimum wage law was due for review in 2016 as it provides for such exercise every four years. Earlier that year, the Muhammadu Buhari administration removed the subsidy on petroleum products, promising, however, to alleviate the negative impact of the policy on the people with N500 billion worth of palliatives. That promise, as the workers noted correctly, has not been kept as government complained about low prices of oil and its subsequent inability to meet its revenue targets.

Meanwhile, the implementation of the N18, 000 minimum wage has been bedevilled by acute difficulties. Many states protested the cap, arguing that they were not solvent enough to pay. It took a national strike by labour to convince all the states to accept it. Even then, payment has been haphazard with many states

As the federal government discusses the new minimum wage with the workers, we recommend a frank consideration of the need to empower states to look inwards, increase their productivity and generate what they require to meet their obligations

Letters to the Editor

A

frican parenting culture, doesn’t exactly seem to be bosom friends with the feminine gender. A girl child in Africa, is widely considered a future property of her potential suitor, so the need to prepare her (at least marketable enough) for marriage, becomes inherent! Let’s tarry a bit on gender responsibility, as required by the average African society.

A man is often regarded as the sole administrator of the home, who’s revered and religiously served by his wife.

Little wonder, he’s saddled

owing many months in arrears of salary.

T

S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R EDITOR TOKUNBO ADEDOJA DEPUTY EDITORS VINCENT OBIA, OLAWALE OLALEYE 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, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU GROUP FINANCE DIRECTOR OLUFEMI ABOROWA DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS PETER IWEGBU, FIDELIS ELEMA, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR 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

he viability of the demand for an upward review of the minimum wage to N56, 000 in the circumstances becomes suspect.

If majority of the 36 states find it difficult to pay N18, 000, how will they pay the new wage? Yet the reality on the ground is that the prevailing rate can no longer take any worker home. We therefore believe that the conversation has to go beyond minimum wage and should include resource generation and management as well as increase in productivity, which would herald a viable economy that can sustain not just a living wage that the workers are demanding, but can also support the development and growth of the nation.

To do this, there is an urgent need to overhaul the current resource mobilisation and allocation model in order to allow the country explore and exploit its full economic potential. Besides, the demand for new wage cap reopens the debate on the need to restructure not just the nation’s federalism but also its fiscal template. Indeed, the argument for states to be allowed to exploit their natural resources and manage them to meet the needs of their people have become more compelling in view of the financial impotence of several states in the face of surplus resources at the disposal of the central government, so much so that it dabbles into matters, which ordinarily should be in the province of local governments.

It is obvious that unless the states and local governments improve their resource mobilisation and become less dependent on federal allocation, meeting the obligations to their workers and the people would remain illusory. Incidentally, labour is in disagreement with fiscal federalism in so far as it translates into removing wage matters from the exclusive legislative list of the 1999 Constitution as amended. But this in our view is the way forward, so that every state generates and pays what it can afford.

As the federal government discusses the new minimum wage with the workers, we recommend a frank consideration of the need to empower states to look inwards, increase their productivity and generate what they require to meet their obligations. That, we believe, is the only enduring way forward.

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.

HOW PARENTS TEACH GIRLS TO BE SLAVES with the huge responsibility of providing satisfactorily for his household (whether in a financially favourable time, or a toxic economy).

On the other hand, the traditionally female line of work for women in many parts of Africa, cuts across: acquiring a reasonable level of formal education; committing wholly to the hunt for a husband (either physically/ spiritually); speedily bearing his children; raising the kids, and promptly attending to the scary heap of domestic chores all in quick succession, in a way that’s unarguably considered ‘hard working and efficient!’ Any other duty performed by

an African woman (such as pursuing a career or nursing a day job) is perceived as complimentary or surplus to requirements (depending on the rationality of her husband).

Meeting up with these huge marital demands to prove to society that a female is capable and ‘marriageable’, requires quite a rigorous parental upbringing. Any doubts to the length an African parent can go towards achieving this? Gender slavery is first learned at home, before it undergoes transition into marriage. A female is constantly reminded of her future wifely roles of serving

her husband, so no trait of ‘laziness’ is tolerated by her parents, as she’s regularly yanked off the bed (earlier than normal), while the males are permitted to get some more sleeping time.

A female is intensely taught to multitask heavily with chores, while males are mostly excused. The females are motivated with statements like: “You have to learn to do all of these as a woman, so you can be useful in your husband’s house!”

Really? I guess, this has prompted a high demand for the very few males who can come correct on a meal they prepared themselves! African parents, absolutely require a

new wave of enlightenment against gender discrimination. There’s a lot more to a female, than solely being of sexual/domestic service to her husband.

The male and female, should be trained accordingly, and incorporated into domestic chores, such that, both are accustomed to lending a helping hand, and it doesn’t turn out weird when an ‘African Married Man’ decides to take out the thrash and wipe the dishes, while his wife changes the baby’s diaper (which by the way, stinks to the high heavens!)

Nimi Princewill, princewill.nimi@yahoo.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 • MAY 14, 2017

SUNDAYNEWS

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

House: N’Assembly N125bn Budget a Shortfall • Lawmakers justify increases in appropriation • House C’ttee directs NNPC to disclose cost of imported petrol

Abimbola Akosile in Lagos and James Emejo in Abuja

The spokesman of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abdulrazak Namdas has said the N125billionbudgetappropriated to the National Assembly still represented a shortfall when compared to the prevailing exchange rate.

His assertion came against a backdrop of criticism by the public over the huge allocations to lawmakers in recent times as wellasthe2017budget,wherethe National Assembly had further raised its appropriation by N10 billion.

The 2017 budget of N7.441 trillion is also N143 billion higher than the N7.29 trillion proposed

by President Muhammadu Buhari to lawmakers in December 2016.

Namdas told THISDAY that the National Assembly ought to have restored its budget to N150 billion as obtained previously in view of the current exchange rate fluctuation but reconsidered its thought given that Nigerians are currently feeling the impact of the recession.

He said: “Let me tell you, before I came into the National Assembly, it used to be N150 billion. When I came, I realised N30 billion had been taken off. It was N120 billion and later N115 billion but I want to tell you that even if we had brought it back to N150 billion, it still shows that we are running a shortfall because the exchange rate at that time is not the same as this particular time.”

He said he doesn’t believe the N10billionincreasewastoomuch on the part of the legislators.

He said: “Go back and look, when it was N150 billion, what wastheexchangerateatthattime and what’s the value of the naira?

And now that we are taking it at N125 billion, what’s the value today?

“I think we should be very calculative here; we are still working below the N150 billion, in fact, if you look at it, it’s within N70 billion as at the time it used to be N150. There are issues; we have a lot of legislative activities to be done here and additional N10 billion, I think it’s not much.”

Namdas said the 2017 budget was “One of the most beautiful budgets ever passed by the National Assembly. We are happy we finally passed the budget,” he said.

Furthermore, the Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Works, Hon. Amuda Abuba-

kar Garba (APC, Kwara) told THISDAY the 2017 budget was a significant improvement over previous appropriations given that 30 per cent was budgeted for capital projects and 40 per cent for recurrent spending.

Garba said previous budgets had a whopping 60 per cent to 65 per cent allocation to recurrent vote. He argued that the N143 billion increase in the entire budget was justified following the review in the oil benchmark from $42.50 per barrel to $44.50 per barrel as well as projected increase in production volume.

He further expressed optimism that the 2017 budget will help the country spend out of the current recession.

Also reacting to the budget, Chairman,HouseCommitteeon Ethics and Privileges, Hon. Ossai Nicholas Ossai (PDP, Delta) said

EXECUTIVE VISIT L-R: Minister of State, Aviation Senator Hadi Sirika; Acting President, Prof. Yomi Osinbajo, SAN; Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Dr. AbdulMumin Kabir Usman,

the budget had been scrutinised by the appropriation committee, blocking all possible leakages.

He expressed confidence that Nigerians will feel the impact of the budget in view of the capital component which had been significantly increased.

He described the 2017 budget as a consolidation on the previous appropriation as well as the country’s gradual exit from the current recession.

Meanwhile, the House’s Ad hoc Committee on Review of PumpPriceofPetrolhasdirected theNigerianNationalPetroleum Corporation (NNPC) and its subsidiaries to make public the true cost of imported petrol.

The Chairman of the Committee, Rep. Raphael Igbokwe, gave the directive in an interview withtheNewsAgencyofNigeria (NAN) yesterday in Lagos.

Igbokwespokeonthesidelines of the committee’s visit to Lagos depots of some private operators involved in transportation and distribution of petrol from the ports to the consumers.

The depots visited by the committeeincludedFolawiyoEnergy Ltd, WOSBAB Energy Solutions, First Royal and Stallionaire Oil & Gas Limited.

According to him, NNPC and its subsidiaries sourced 90 per cent of petrol while private marketers sourced only 10 per cent of the product into the country.

“The reason for our curiosity and unannounced visit to some depots is that our investigation shows that importation of petrol is no longer profitable to the private marketers and dealers.

“The issue is how come that

Kano Anti-Corruption Commission Suspends Own Probe of Emir over Assembly Intervention

and Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State, during the acting President’s courtesy visit on the monarch in his palace in Katsina...recently

Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano

Amidst Registration Challenges, 57,000 Candidates Commence Week-long UTME Exams Nationwide

The Kano State Public Complaint andAnti-corruptionCommission yesterdaysaiditsinvestigationinto theprobeoftheKanoEmiratehas been suspended.

Chairman of the Commission, Mr.MuhuyiMagajiRiminGadotold THISDAYonphoneyesterdaythat thesuspensionofthecommission’s investigationwasinlinewithSection 6 of its operational guideline.

Muhuyi said, “We could not continue as the House was also conducting an investigation.

We wrote to the House seeking details about the content of their investigations”.

The Chairman said the law whichestablishedthecommission could not allow them to continue withtheinvestigationwhenthere wasanotheragencyorinstitution orthestateAssemblyisalsodoing their own inquiry.

“The reply of the letter sent to theHousewilldeterminetheposition of our investigation. We will

• Special preference given to Seventh Day Adventist worshippers Funmi Ogundare in Lagos and Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

Despite a hectic registration exercise for candidates, the Joint and Matriculation Board (JAMB) yesterday commenced its week-long Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) where no fewer than 57,000 candidates sat for the 2017 examinationin642centresacross the country.

Yesterdaymarkedthefirstday ofthe2017editionoftheentrance examination into the nation’s tertiary institutions in which about 1.7 million candidates are participating.

Many candidates had complained that this year’s registration was one of the most hectic they experienced as they had to labour for hours and days to register.

The registration process begins with purchase of elec-

tronically-generated personal identificationnumber(PIN),and ends with obtaining a print-out afterregisteringpersonaldetails.

Following complaints, the board had extended the closing dateforregistrationtoMay5,and by midnight that day, 1.7 million candidates had been registered.

The board also noted that “More than 1.2 million registered in 2016”.

Addressing newsmen at the Digital Bridge Institute in Abuja yesterday, theRegistrar ofJAMB, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, noted that the examination was starting off with two sessions rather than three, to allow the centres cover for any contingencies.

According to him, the examination started late in few centres including the Digital Bridge Institute centre, where the first session started at about 8 am, an hour behind schedule.

While noting that the UTME

will not hold on Sunday, the Registrar said special preference was granted to candidates who worship with the Seventh Day Adventist church, as they had been reassigned to write their examinations on Monday.

“The first day we are having a little above 57,000; we want to be skeletal today. We do not want to have the three sessions today, this is the first day and we expect that they will have some wiring problems because we know that most of the centres have been abandoned since last year but

by Monday, we will start three full sessions.

“I have heard what is happening all over the country and we are pleased with what is happening. Technology is reliable; to have technology failure is an exception. What is normal is for technologytoworkproperlyand I think it has worked properly and now we are enjoying the

value of technology,” he said.

Oloyede also disclosed that four centres, which were confronted with challenges caused by some individuals who were out to sabotage the process, were being closely monitored to forestall further hitches.

“Out of 642 centres, we have problems with four. We have two problems in Bauchi, one in Kano, one in Ekpoma not from technology problem but from those who are cutting corners in the centres, those who have not put the centres in place and for the ingenuity of certain people and criminals that do not know that we have put technology in place to detect what they are doing.

“Therewasalittledisturbance in Ekpoma and we are monitoring what is going on, there is a little problem in Uturu; we are monitoring what is happening there too,” he added.

only the government agencies are engaging in the importation and supply of petrol? This will make us to compel them to open their (NNPC and subsidiaries) books for Nigerians to know the truecostofimportationofpetrol,” Igbokwe said.

The chairman said the committee would find out from neighbouring countries and refineries the cost of petrol per litre. He said the committee got authentic information from a reliable source that the price of petrol was around N230 to N250 per litre in neighbouring countries.

Igbokwe noted that the official landing cost of petrol was about N130 to N135. He said the committee, however, received information that the landing cost of petrol was higher than the N145 official rate fixed by government.

Igbokwe commended the managementofFolawiyoEnergy and WOSBAB Energy for being diligent in their operations. He directed the management of First Royal to appear before the committee on May 26 to present its record of operation and explain why it failed to honour two previous invitations by the committee.

AccordingtoIgbokwe,officials of the Directorate of Petroleum Resources (DPR), had on Thursday sealed Stallionaire Oil & Gas depotatSatelliteTown,Lagosdue to inadequate storage facilities.

He said the committee would not shield any depot firm frustrating government’s efforts at making fuel available and affordable to Nigerians.

brief the public on the outcome”, he added.

It could be recalled that the state anti-corruption agency was investigatingallegedmisuseofN6 billion by the Kano Emirate.

THISDAY observed that the Speaker of the state house of Assembly, Hon. Kabiru Alhassan Rurumhaslaunchedaneight-man committeetoinvestigateactivities oftheEmirofKano,Muhammadu Sunusi II. House member, Hon. Ibrahim Gama tabled the motion before the house last week which unanimously agreed to conduct an investigation.

Some of the allegations were “financial misappropriation, defamation of character, breach ofoathofoffice/oathofallegiance, abuseofofficeprivilegesandprotocol, and political and religious interference”.

It was also learnt that the interventionoftheHousehinderedthe Commission’sinvestigationintothe emiratecouncil’sfinancialactivities.

APOLOGY

In our edition of April 30, 2017, we published a report titled: “Details Emerge on Why Oba Akiolu ‘Snubbed’ Ooni in Public”. We hereby withdraw the report and apologise for whatever embarrassment it may have caused His Royal Highness, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, whom we hold in high esteem.

-Editor

T H I S D AY SUNDAY MAY 14, 2017

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T H I S D AY SUNDAY MAY 14, 2017

Book Review

YOUTH ENTERPRISE WITH INNOVATION IN NIGERIA

The 80/20 Principle by Richard Koch.

My Business Story

Three Young Graduates Set To Shake Up Power Industry Three friends, all engineering graduates, launch a business that might turn the power sector on its head entrepreneurs have embedded proprietary electrical circuits in their own system.

The standard prototype, which according to Adeyinka is able to generate 5kva of power, also requires fewer batteries and panels to operate. And under the company’s “rent a solar power” option, the consumer does not have to “own” the system to enjoy the service.

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L-R: Amurawaiye Adeyinka, Busari Oluwasegun and Oguntunde Oluwaseyi

h i l e t h e government is at its wit’s end over how to provide regular electricity, and energy costs are going through the roof, three young graduates are on the verge of what might be a major breakthrough in the power industry.

Adeyinka Amurawaiye, Oluwaseyi Oguntade and Segun Busari, graduates of Covenant University, have designed solar-based renewable energy prototypes, which consumers don’t even have to “own” to use.

Currently, consumers, beset by poor power supply on the one hand and the noise and pollution of generators on the other, are forced to buy tons of heavy-duty batteries and acres of solar panels with inverters for their energy needs.

And the systems don’t come cheap .

Adeyinka, the team leader of Intellectric Systems, recalled how they started what might turn out to be Nigeria’s first pay-as-you-go solar-power system: “Seyi and I had previously discussed the nonuniformity that exists in the renewable alternative power market. We agreed that the reason why people don’t buy from solar and battery systems was that there was no proper and simple enough standards on what to expect. We also asked ourselves how we could make the system cheaper for consumers.”

Even when Adeyinka, Seyi and Segun saw what they thought was a market gap, they still spent weeks contemplating their next move.

Their engineering minds (Adeyinka studied Chemical Engineering, while Seyi and Segun studied Computer Engineering) were restless, but thanks to a chance programme Adeyinka watched on Bloomberg TV, they held back from jumping the gun. They decided to test the market first.

Business Brief: Started: 2015 “Something struck me from the programme,” Adeyinka said. “I discovered a business strategy we could use to enter the market.

We could promise to cut the consumer’s energy bill from the first month and, instead of making them buy and own batteries, panels and all the paraphernalia, rent it to them for a monthly flat rate.”

Adeyinka and his friends carried out a market survey, covering bank managers, frozen food sellers and shop owners, and the idea was well received.

They pooled their savings, but had barely finished the first prototype when they ran out of cash. They approached an investor for N5million.

The investor asked for proof of concept. When they told him it was still work in progress, he gave them N870, 000 with which they produced a prototype that could generate 3.5kva – enough to light up an average threebedroom flat with television and perhaps a medium-sized fridge, depending on the rating.

Intellectric Systems’ solar-power system is like the normal solar and battery system with an inverter supplying the final output of power. The difference, however, is that the

“

Our intention is to focus on users who are currently spending a lot of money on power. We would like to help them save up to 30 per cent of their monthly bills right from the first month

Adeyinka said, “Our intention is to focus on users who are currently spending a lot of money on power. We would like to help them save up to 30 per cent of their monthly bills right from the first month. We would start with small businesses.”

As the product nears market launch, Adeyinka and his partners have spent the last two months testing the system.

He said experts in the different components have also been invited to review the prototype, which will soon be subjected to further stress and field tests.

With a smile, Adeyinka said, “We’re coming into the play with a 24-hour system. It is not expected to discharge. It’s an autonomous system that uses solar power to make things sustainable.”

The billing system will also be different. It will be a flat rate on the capacity installed in the building – the higher the capacity, the higher the rate.

The currents of the journey have not been without their high-tension moments.

“People in Nigeria are used to seeing finished products, which are usually imported,” Adeyinka remarked. “When we tell potential investors that we have working prototype just about to enter the market, it doesn’t make sense to them.

That is a major barrier.”

A number of failed experiments also gave the team sleepless nights. “Those were our lowest moments,” he said.

Out of the ashes of those failures, however, Intellectric Systems has grown and Adeyinka and his teammates have also grown with it.

Looking to the future, Adeyinka said: “We expect the business to contribute up to 500kva of stable electricity to the country through different private applications in the next three to five years. We’re in a major growth industry and we’re playing for the long term.”

How anyone can be more effective with less effort by learning how to identify and leverage the 80/20 principle--the well-known, unpublicized secret that 80 percent of all our results in business and in life stem from a mere 20 percent of our efforts.

The 80/20 principle is one of the great secrets of highly effective people and organizations.

Did you know, for example, that 20 percent of customers account for 80 percent of revenues? That 20 percent of our time

accounts for 80 percent of the work we accomplish?

The 80/20 Principle shows how we can achieve much more with much less effort, time, and resources, simply by identifying and focusing our efforts on the 20 percent that really counts. Although the 80/20 principle has long influenced today's business world, author Richard Koch reveals how the principle works and shows how we can use it in a systematic and practical way to vastly increase our effectiveness, and improve our careers and our companies.

The unspoken corollary to the 80/20 principle is that little of what we spend our time on actually counts. By concentrating on those things that mean more, we can unlock the enormous potential of the 20 percent and transform our effectiveness in our jobs, our careers, our businesses, and our lives.

Source https://www.amazon.com/8 0-20-Principle-SecretAchieving/dp/0385491743/r ef=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=14 94602814&sr=81&keywords=richard+koch+ 80+20

Ask the Expert Simple Questions Successful Entrepreneurs Ask Before Starting Anything New –

11. Where can I turn for mentorship and advice?

There are lots of people who have done some aspect of what you’re trying to achieve.

They have the scars and stories to prove it. Learning from their mistakes and getting sound external 7. What’s the opportunity? counsel will be a critical Business is about balancing component to your success.

Where are those people, and risk and reward. So what’s can you access them? the upside? If the opportunity is not 12. Do you have the two significant, you either need most important skills? to make sure your risk is low All startups require some or abandon ship. combination of technical 8. Who is going to buy and expertise and marketing. why?

While you don’t have to be a Getting people to part with master at either, your company needs to have a money is incredibly challenging, and, outside of proficiency at both. If you your family and your closest don’t have the skills, how are you going to get them? friends, no one cares what you’re doing. Get very Note: Your answers are just specific about the type of for you. Remember to be buyers you’re trying to honest with yourself, and reach, their motives, and while you might paint a rosy your ability to reach them. picture of affairs to the What methods are you public, never deceive going to use to acquire yourself. customers, and what is the This is the concluding part of acquisition cost? the article written for Forbes 9. Can the concept be magazine by Brent Beshore, easily described and Founder/CEO of Adventur.es easily understood?

Nothing complicated goes Visit our website anywhere. If your potential www.youwinconnect.org.ng customers, employees or for more contributions from partners can’t easily understand exactly what our Experts. you’re doing, you’re in big Send your business trouble. questions under the 10. What’s my cash header 'Ask the Expert' requirement? to: What resources will you admin@youwinconnect.o need to purchase to be rg.ng. Questions, plus the successful? Whatever you just estimated, triple it. How author's name, location long will it take to start and phone number, bringing in significant revenue? Whatever you just should not be more than said, quadruple it.

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13

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R • MAY 14, 2017

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By Leke Alder

ntrepreneurs around the w o r l d d e s e r v e commendation. They take risks where others fear to tread, they think out of the box, they are not afraid to try new ventures, and they are usually champions of innovation. In a developing country such as Nigeria, the risk is even greater as entrepreneurs assume all the risks and rewards of launching a new business. The high degree of initiative required to manage any enterprise goes to show that entrepreneurship is no mean feat.

Many times, entrepreneurs find themselves struggling in a competitive market. From a business point of view, it’s a case of dog-eat-dog, and the entrepreneur is faced with two major challenges – the need for continuous innovation and the need to maintain enough stability in a rapidly changing environment.

There is a steep learning curve between starting a business and keeping that business alive.

In Nigeria, small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) make up 96% of businesses, according to a survey conducted by the International Finance Corporation (IFC). A study carried out by the Federal Office of Statistics places this figure at 97%. However, they contribute to only approximately 48% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

How Is Branding Relevant to An Entrepreneur?

Simply put, as an entrepreneur, your brand is your promise to your customer.

It tells customers what to expect from your products and services, and it differentiates your offering from your competitors’.

Your brand strategy is how, where, when and to whom you plan on communicating and delivering your brand messages. Where you advertise is also part of your brand strategy, as are your communication distribution channels. What you communicate visually and verbally is important too.

An effective brand strategy gives you a major edge in competitive markets.

Consistent, strategic branding leads to strong brand equity. Brand equity is the added perceived value bestowed on your products or services that allows you to charge more for your brand than what identical, unbranded products command.

How Should Entrepreneurs Brand Their Businesses?

Defining your brand is like a journey of business self-discovery. It can be difficult, time-consuming and uncomfortable. It requires, at the very least, that you answer the following questions: 1. What is your company's mission?

2. What are the benefits and features of your products or services?

3. What do your customers and prospects already think of your company?

4. What qualities do you want them to associate with your company?

5. Do your research. Learn the needs, habits and desires of your current and prospective customers. And don't rely on what you think they think. Find out.

In branding a business, it is also important that entrepreneurs find a “voice” that reflects their business. This “voice” should be applied to all written communication and be incorporated into the visual imagery of all materials relating to the business. The “voice” should be reflected in the attitude and disposition of all who represent the business. For example, an enterprise with a performing customer service team can be said to be projecting a reliable and efficient “voice”.

There should be a clearly defined vision and mission which drives the operations of the enterprise. To cite a Nigerian example, Guaranty Trust Bank, a leading financial institution, identified a number of problems in Nigeria’s banking sector, and set up shop with the aim of restoring the ethos of service in the banking industry.

Today, the bank has positioned itself as Nigeria’s favourite bank for millennials.

Guaranty Trust Bank emphasises customer service, visual brand standards and technology.

What Can Be Gathered from All This?

From the thoughts highlighted above, there are a few pointers that budding entrepreneurs should pay attention to: a) Identify the needs of the market as well as the general perception of the product you are selling. b) Define your target audience and niche. c) Have a carefully laid-out mission and vision that guide the business. d) Develop a “voice” that reflects the direction and spirit of the enterprise. e) Draw up an efficient strategy that communicates that voice consistently across multiple platforms.

In conclusion, every business needs a brand identity to achieve all-round success in a market that is never short of competition. Every enterprise must have that distinguishing feature that sets it apart from others who provide similar services. From logos to taglines to standards of service, creating a brand identity is necessary to avoid getting lost in the crowd of businesses and service providers.

Leke Alder is credited with introducing branding as a discipline to Nigeria. He is the Principal of Alder Consulting and has consulted on branding and brand policy both locally and internationally.

Visit our website www.youwinconnect.org.ng

This enterprise education page is an initiative of the Federal Ministry of Finance

Oracle: Nigerian Banks, Others Lose N127bn Annually to Cybercrime Chineme Okafor in Abuja

Financial institutions and other firms dealing with finances in Nigeria lose up to N127 billion every year to hackers on the cyber space, multinational computer technology corporation, Oracle Nigeria has said.

The firm also stated that while this happened, banks in the country kept quiet to it, pretending they never did. It warned that cyber fraud has become a real threat to Nigeria and would need to be tackled with good cyber security measures. It equally noted that the country’s cyberspace was one of those that were recently hacked into for data by hackers from North Korea.

Speaking recently when it inaugurated its Abuja office, the Managing Director of Oracle Nigeria, Mr. Adebayo Sanni, stated that a recent report on the level of hacking done on organisations across the world indicated that twothird of the world’s organisations are frequently hacked without their knowledge.

Sanni, who spoke alongside two of Oracle’s top management team – Shane Fernandes,

leader, Oracle systems in West and East Africa, and Cherian Varghese, Vice President and Managing Director, Oracle Africa, explained that Nigeria would have to step up its adoption and management of technology to enable its segue into world’s top 20 economies.

“This is really very critical.

The opportunity for Nigeria to be one of the largest 20 economies in the world is inevitable, but to get there, we need to ensure that we drive digital revolution which means that first we need to move and improve on how we are adapting technology. We need to improve on our efficiency and to become a paperless economy,” said Sanni.

He further stated: “If you look at what is going on in organisations today, there is a study that was done that said two-third of organisations get hacked and they are not even aware that this happened.

“We have seen the threat from North Korea where the leader put together a number of hackers called Lazarus and what they did was to actually attack several targeted countries and Nigeria was part of

that, a lot of banks lost millions of dollars in the process, they kept quiet but this happened.

“What this means from the Nigerian perspective is that we are facing cyber fraud on a regular basis whether the banks agree with this or not, this is what it means. What Nigeria loses on a yearly basis is N127 billion to cyber fraud and you can imagine the threat which is actually real.”

Sanni equally noted that Oracle was working with governments across the country to improve their efficiency levels and cut down wastages in public sector expenditure. He said through this, Nigeria could grow its services sector to begin to contribute hugely to her Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

“Oracle as a company can become a partner to the government in this journey, this didn’t start now but started with the commitment from the presidency that the country would truly run a transparent and accountable government. Once that is a priority, every other thing to enable that is where technology comes in and we already doing a lot with the government on this,” he added.

George: Telecoms Operators Breaching National Security Olawale Olaleye

Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and aspiring national chairman of the party, Chief Olabode George has alerted the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) about alleged brazen breach of national security by many of the telecoms operators in the country, a development he said the commission might not be aware of.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with THISDAY and published in today’s edition, George said in the bid to minimise cost and maximise profit, some of the telecoms operators are now cutting corners with international calls, a situation he reckoned could make it difficult for the security agencies in the country to trace any such calls if made by terrorists.

According to him, “Now, if you initiate a call from abroad, I am saying this for the DG of

NCC to investigate this, because it is the greatest shock to our national security. If you initiate a call from abroad, once it hits their terminal, either Glo, Etisalat or the rest, when it shows up on your phone it is a local number that shows.

“So, how do they trace the number? What are these people doing to our national security? It would never happen anywhere in the civilised world, more so with international terrorism.

These people are flouting the laws of the land – financial crime and security issue – no nations will play around with its national security.”

Linking this to corruption as seen in some of the advertisements placed in CNN by some of the nation’s local banks and their unfounded relevance to the nation, George maintained that, “Like this one I told you about lack of national security on this issue of communication, people are wasting our money on CNN.

“ABSA Bank in South Africa, which is bigger than all our banks put together in terms of their capital base, how many times have you seen them on CNN advertising and burning the dollar that we are crying is not enough? Are they paying CNN naira? So, the issue of corruption, whether it is one-sided or not, let’s leave that till towards the election – we will come up – we are observing now.”

While noting that such issues would definitely come up in 2019, when the All Progressives Congress (APC) would be asked to tender its performance sheet in four years, George said, “Their scorecard, they must showcase and what they still intend to do. We have our manifesto. We have learnt our lesson. We have been there before and that is the beauty of democracy. Every four years, you go back to the people to renew your mandate. So, they decide whether they want you to continue or shove you aside.”

Rotary Club Ikoyi Donates Furniture Rotary Club of Ikoyi Metropolitan, with support from Forte Oil, has delivered on the promise made by its President, Rotarian Florence Ayoola Egbeyemi to the Obalende /Ikoyi community in Lagos to provide chairs and desks to pupils in schools within the locality. According to Egbeyemi, Basic Education & Literacy is one of the focus of the Rotary Organisation and the donation of the furniture was to ease the sitting

and studying of pupils in public schools. The first set of schools that have received the furniture items are Dodan Barrack Primary school and Army Day Primary school. She urged other organisations to emulate this laudable deed of Forte Oil. During the event, the Rotary District Governor (DG 9110) Patrick Ikheloa commended Egbeyemi the 15th President of RC Ikoyi Metropolitan on her

PRINTER’S DEVIL

17th project launch and thanked the representative of the CEO of Forte Oil, Mr. Seye Alabi for his company’s support as a socially responsible corporate citizen. “The Rotary club of Ikoyi Metropolitan really appreciates the efforts of great organisations such as Forte Oil in partnering to deliver this project and helping to nurture and assist the future leaders of our great country,” Ikheloa said.

In our lead story yesterday titled: “10 Hours of Laughter, 1000 VVIPs, 35 Private Jets, Tons of Bi-partisan Goodwill in Minna”, we observed that Bi-partisan was wrongly spelt as Bypartisan. The error is regretted.

-Editor

14

MAY 14, 2017 • THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

OPINION

Osinbajo and The Coordinating Mandate

PresidentBuhari’slettercitedtherelevantsectionoftheconstitutionandthat’swhatmatters,arguesCarl Umegboro

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resident Muhammadu Buhari transmitted a letter of notice to the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for a medical vacation in the United Kingdom a while ago. The construction of the letter which contained among other terms, ‘coordinating’ has been subjected to severe criticisms among the political class and finally down to the masses, questioning the rationale behind the use of such term in place of ‘acting’ as previously used during Buhari’s earlier vacation. The observation was raised by Senator Mao Ohuabunwa (PDP) representing Abia North senatorial district at the Senate plenary when the letter was read, and vehemently condemned the term, indicating his smell of a rat at the presidency. Since then, other politicians alongside the masses particularly from the opposition have continued to dwell on sundry insinuations pointing at gigantic skeletons in the cupboards at the presidency.

The enabling constitutional provision is clear on the matter. Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, provides, “Whenever the President transmits to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives a written declaration that he is proceeding on vacation or that he is otherwise unable to discharge the functions of his office, until he transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary such functions shall be discharged by the Vice-President as Acting President.” Clearly, the above provision did not give the President powers to recommend, appoint or make his vice an acting-president; instead, it simply gives an outline on how powers can be transmitted from the president to the vice on temporary basis, especially while indisposed to discharge duties temporarily. As a matter of fact, President Buhari needed not to inform or be at peace with his vice for the office of acting-president to come on board.

As long as a letter is transmitted pursuant to Section 145, it is immaterial if the letter mentioned vice-president or not, and will be automatically incumbent on the Senate to invoke or apply the constitutional provision as the office of the president makes no room for vacuum.

By implication, the president does not need to mention either ‘acting’ or ‘coordinating’ in his letter to the Senate as long as the letter clearly pointed to vacation or shortterm unfitness. The constitution is supreme. It explicitly states that on such situation, once a formal communication is transmitted to the upper chamber of the National

Assembly by the president, powers shift to the vice pending the resumption accordingly. Thus, the needful is for the president to formally transmit a correspondence on his vacation. To even use the word “acting’ in the letter by the president is akin to a directive or directions to the Senate.

Incontrovertibly, the Senate knows that the legitimate step is to declare Professor Yemi Osinbajo as acting-president pending when counter-correspondence is received from the president on his readiness to resume duties. Professor Osinbajo can only do mere ‘coordination’ if no correspondence was sent to the Senate on the medical trip.

The hullaballoo is therefore uncalled for, and reduces the architects as mischief makers. Nigeria as a nation should face important issues that would bring substantial dividends of democracy to the people. Criticisms are essential characteristics of leadership especially in a democracy but when they lose constructive elements and values; it becomes bickering, loquacity and pull-down syndrome. The hate politics in Nigeria in recent times is monumentally

As long as a letter is transmitted pursuant to Section 145, it is immaterial if the letter mentioned vicepresident or not, and will be automatically incumbent on the Senate to invoke or apply the constitutional provision as the office of the president makes no room for vacuum

grotesque, bizarre, barbaric and egoistic. The country is greater than any individual or political affiliations, and therefore national interests should be utmost priority.

All that most critics are desperate to hear is president’s death or resignation due to his unwavering dispositions on corruption. The unprecedented discoveries recently of public funds in billions of naira, dollars, pounds inside pits, septic tanks, uncompleted buildings, serviced-flats, locked-up shops and others amidst economic recession in a society where most average families and pensioners are facing hell meant nothing to the critics. The sole target of these detractors is to plant seeds of discord between President Buhari and Acting-President Osinbajo whose working relationship since inauguration has remained cordial, exemplary and brotherly despite religious differences, ethnicity and careers. President Buhari and Prof.

Osinbajo will complete the missions Nigerians entrusted to them.

The cleansing and change must continue until a new country is reborn. The challenges facing the nation are enormous, and therefore unacceptable for the red chamber to concentrate on such irrelevancies.

There are numerous executive bills awaiting legislative processes, as well as other relevant sensitive issues to address towards improving the standard of living of the citizenry. The uproar is a futile exercise. In the first place, Nigeria’s president presently does not have constitutional powers to appoint acting-president but strictly affairs of the Senate, and the presidency understands it clearly.

Secondly, the section of the constitution cited in the letter made the intention of the president unambiguous.

Thirdly, the perception and claims that President Buhari didn’t appoint Prof. Osinbajo to be acting-president is ridiculous and naive. The office of the acting-president is provided in the constitution and the prerequisites clearly spelt out. It is an office recognised in law and invoked exclusively by the lawmakers on meeting a specified condition - transmission of a notice by the president. He doesn’t do the ‘appointing’ but can only create the way by transmitting in writing his vacation or inability to discharge official duties. Importantly, the office of the acting-president does not fall within the appointments designated for the president as ministers and aides. It is sacrosanct on the vice-president. There is no space for unnecessary distraction.

Umegboro wrote from Abuja

Lessons From The Election of Emmanuel Macron Simbo Olorunfemi argues that the leadership recruitment process must be standardised

W

ay back, as a student of Comparative Politics, I was quite fascinated by the French political system. I never really fully understood it. It is not easy to understand from the outside.

There are peculiar elements to it that seems to straddle it in between full-blown presidential and parliamentary systems. Some refer to it as a presidential-parliamentary system, a hybrid of sorts or a semi-presidential system. It simply does not sit in a box like many others. It simply fascinates.

But it is the elaborate leadership grooming/preparation process carefully entrenched in the system that fascinated me more, back then. Even now, with the emergence of Emmanuel Macron as president, it is even more intriguing to me. More than what is obtainable elsewhere, to some extent in Britain, with its Etonian heritage and a long list of leaders to have emerged from Eton, the French have a structure for churning out political leaders, who have been deliberately and carefully put through the crucible of preparation in select schools and eventually through the civil service as pathway to eventual political leadership.

Perhaps of the mind that political leadership should be entrusted to the care of philosopher-kings as Plato prescribed, political leaders are well prepared and groomed in France.

Leaders don’t just happen there. They have rarely happened by accident, if ever, since the onset of the 5th Republic in France.

Leaders emerge through a well-defined and structured process.

They go to particular schools in preparation. Only the best make it to those schools and out of them, with the best heading up in specific ministries and agencies of government in preparation for political leadership. An accident is unlikely to occur. Emmanuel Macron might be only 39 but he did not happen by accident.

Macron’s educational journey through the élite Lycée Henri-IV in Paris, where he completed high school and undergraduate programme in Philosophy at the University of Paris-Ouest Nanterre La Défense, which some of its famous alumni include Nicolas Sarkozy, former President of France; Dominique StraussKahn, former Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, and Christine Lagarde (both former ministers in France) was well-programmed with a clear end in mind.

For his Masters’ degree, Macron attended Sciences Po whose long list of distinguished alumni and former staff include 28 heads of state or government, specifically the last five French presidents- François Mitterrand, Jacques Chirac, François Hollande, Nicolas Sarkozy - although he didn’t graduate and now Emmanuel Macron. For training for a career in the senior civil service, he schooled at the École nationale d’administration (ENA), one of the highly selective and prestigious schools known as ‘The Grandes Écoles’ created in 1945 ‘to democratise access to the senior civil service’. Graduates of these highly selective and prestigious institutions and their graduates often dominate the private and public sectors of the French society. Some of the high-profile graduates of ENA include former heads of state, Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, Jacques Chirac, François Hollande and former heads of Government Laurent Fabius, Michel Rocard, Édouard Balladur and Alain Juppé.

“Following a two-year intensive programme combining high-responsibility internships and examinations, ENA ranks students according to their results. Students are then asked, by order of merit, the position/body they want to join. Top-ranked students (between 12 and 15 students) usually join the so-called “grands corps” Inspection générale des finances, Conseil d’État or Cour des comptes, usually followed by the French treasury and the diplomatic service. Other students will join various ministries and administrative justice or préfectures”. Macron was one of the top-ranked and worked as an Inspector of Finances in the French Ministry of Economy between 2004 and 2008. As the barrier between civil service and politics is fluid in France, Macron was a member of the Socialist Party (PS) from 2006 to 2009 even as he paid €50,000 to buy himself out of his government contract in 2008, leaving to work as an investment banker with Rothschild & Cie Banque.

Between 2012 and 2014, he was deputy secretary-general of the Élysée, a senior role in President Hollande’s staff. In 2014, he was appointed as the Minister of Economy and Finance.

He left the Socialist Party in 2015 and announced himself an Independent. He launched the independent political party in 2016 in preparation for his 2017 Presidential bid which led to his emergence as President of France. Evidently, all through

Macron’s journey, it is obvious that, even at 39, the system had adequately prepared him. He did not come from nowhere to become the President of France.

Indeed, every system has its strengths and weaknesses.

It has its structure and process. Making the system work for itself or against its entrenched interests require first an understanding of the system. A Macron does not emerge simply by wishful thinking. And it is not a question of age.

After all, while to break with the norm, France opted for a 39- year- old- man with little previous experience in public office, America opted for a 70-year old-man with no previous experience in public office to break away from the norm. Age was not the determinant. The French prepared themselves for a Macron. They also prepared Macron for a day like this, possibly earlier than thought or envisaged. But they did prepare him.So, when people ask the question - Can a Macron emerge in Nigeria? The answer, in the context of the Macron presented here, is unfortunately in the negative. Nothing in our system takes the process of leadership recruitment and grooming seriously. We have no visible plan for succession planning. Nothing prepares our leaders for the demands of the offices, except for some informal grooming mechanism, head-hunting for all sorts of motives, making it a family affair or and generally leaving it, just as we do with everything else, to a game of chance.

If it is in the case of the system throwing up and setting on the stool a 39-year- old this deliberately and rigorously prepared for leadership, nothing in our system lends one to the optimism that such might emerge soon. Systems matter.

They determine what is possible and circumscribe how far one’s hand can reach. Some offer a greater chance for a Macron to emerge than others. We continue to make a case for a parliamentary system as it offers us a less expensive, lean structure and a greater chance for the emergence of a Macron, prepared outside the system to be able to take on an anaemic system haemorrhaging rather than nourishing the nation.

––Olorunfemi works for Hoofbeatdotcom, a Nigerian Communications Consultancy and publishers of Africa Enterprise

15

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R • MAY 14, 2017

LETTERS The Ikoyi Rape Scandal

T

he shock, hues and cries that attended the social media story of the Ikoyi secondary school rape story is still an indication that our sensibilities have not been completely seduced and eroded by the growing and near boundless laissez-fair attitude of the modern era. Implicit in the consternation and anger is a realisation that over the years we have descended into complacency and have slowly been giving way to a creeping liberalism that would ultimately drag down our society into the cesspool of unguarded and godless moral relativism. Are we surprised about this school rape story? It is bound to happen.

It is a trite saying that when the head is rotten, it spreads to the rest of the body. Our society has descended into decadence.

Many of our parents no longer set values and live by them. Our political institutions are marred by corruption and some of our churches and mosques dens of 419. Musicians and entertainers are modelling their lives after their European counterparts with their skewed and perverted sense of morality. Our youths have made the forceful taking of citizens through kidnapping a business.

We celebrated the meaningless and morally corrosive Big Brother Naija that does not add anything useful to our national life. Our

Magu

children are daily exposed to the soft porn on our televisions and the crude and vulgar lyrics on radio. Some newspaper write-ups are no different. Are we surprised about the increasing rape of our little kids by very sick old men almost on a daily basis? Our young girls are induced, seduced, deceived, coerced, abducted and taken to baby factories and forced

to be impregnated by unknown and perhaps, unkind men, to produce babies for the rich. I hope we are aware that large scale deadly cult groups are no longer the exclusive preserve of our universities and lately, secondary and primary schools. We now have them on our streets made up of teenagers and youths. We have sown the wind and we can only

reap the whirlwind.

The danger of modernism is that it is able to look back with scorn at where it is coming from, forgetting that without the old, there is no new as the new is only a refinement of the old. The forces of today and tomorrow are engaged in an unrelenting battle against the values of yesterday and today. It is a cultural war with imperialist capitalist motivation being primarily the basis of this engagement. Weak, underdeveloped, and depended nations have fallen prey to the imperialist cultural onslaught, a natural consequence of neo -colonial and neo-liberal dependency. Billions of dollars are spent every year in Europe and America for the production of contraceptives. The movie, music and entertainment industry is equally humongous in value.

The implication of this is that in the constant search for markets, the right kind of environment has to be created abroad for the reception of these products. The Middle East, in most parts, strong economically and religiously very conservative has been a closed society to foreign values and the loose liberalism of the west. This is in spite of the heavy foreign capital inflow into countries like Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Dubai, etc., and in spite of the throngs of Western and American tourists

EDO’S DEBT PROFILE: THE DYNAMICS OF GOVT FINANCE

S

atistics have a deft way of creating one impression or the other, sometimes for good, and at other unwelcome times, for bad.

The latest Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) Quarterly Review shows Nigeria’s debt profile and indicates a drastic drop in the revenue profile of most states of the federation. In the South-South Zone. The report ominously avers that the debt profile of the state governments is on the increase, consisting of domestic and external debts between December 2015 and June 30th, 2016.

For instance, Lagos state has the highest cumulative debt of N603.25 billion as against the state’s revenue of N410.5bn for 2016. The second on the debt table is Delta State with N331.95 billion growing debt as against N142.78 of the state revenue. Akwa Ibom state occupied the fourth place on rising debt profiles with N161.23 billion.

What cannot be ignored in the NEITI report is that it clearly vindicates Edo State on both domestic and foreign debts. The World Bank loan Edo State took is cheaper to service and attracts about 1% interest rate compared to domestic borrowing that attracts 18% interest rate. The report maintained that “considering that most states already have a high debt burden, the possibility of even higher debts for the states remain quite

high.”

Among the subnational governments, Lagos, Kaduna, Edo, Cross River and Ogun states retained the top spots on the list of foreign debtors. If Nigerian external debt accounts for 20% of Nigeria’s debt profile, how does Edo’s debt constitute one of the highest? Is 20% more than 80%? Is the external debt stock of $11.41 billion (N3.48trillion) which accounted for 20% more than the domestic debt stock of $45.98 billion (N13.88trillion), which accounted for 80%?

A clarification is necessary here. The total debt profile of $57.39bn is made up of external debt stock of $11.41 billion (N3.48trillion) which accounts for 20% and domestic debt stock of $45.98 billion (N13.88 trillion) which accounts for 80%. The external debt of 20% cannot amount to the highest. Analysts should stop categorising Edo State as the most indebted states in Nigeria. The rate of the rise in foreign debt has been slower than that of domestic debt. In recent times, the Federal Government has been making attempts to increase the proportion of foreign debt, because of the higher interest rate charged on domestic debts.

Edo state is just as privileged as Lagos state in Sub-Saharan Africa to access World Bank loans at less than 1% for 20 years, and in some cases, 10-year moratorium.

For a shared understand-

ing of Nigeria’s domestic debt, a major source of concern is that Nigeria’s public domestic debt has experienced rapid growth over the past 10 years and that debt service outlay is quite high. The domestic debt-GDP ratio is only about 10%; the total public debt-GDP ratio is 12.25%, and compares favourably with the peer group threshold of 56%.

Although the debt service-revenue ratio is high, the problem needs to be unbundled so we can all agree on the appropriate solution path.

Indeed, following the rebasing of Nigeria’s GDP in 2010, the DMO observed that the increase in the GDP did not enhance the country’s ability to service its debts. Nigeria’s tax revenue-GDP ratio is still below 6% compared to the average for the country’s peer group, which is 18%.

Essentially, therefore, from this perspective, what is being experienced is a revenue problem which impacts the debt servicerevenue ratio.

Already the Federal Government is set to raise its domestic and foreign borrowing ratio under the new Debt Management Strategy (DMS) unveiled by the DMO for the next four years. The DMS is about how funds are borrowed, internally and externally. It is a medium term project from 2016 to 2019 setting out the broad guidelines for four years.

A review of the new debt strategy shows that it

would slant significantly in favour of external borrowing than domestic borrowing.

As Mr. Nwankwo said, domestic and external borrowings would now be in the ratio of 60:40 per cent as against the previous ration of 84:16 per cent respectively. The new borrowing strategy, he explained further, would progressively increase the percentage share of external financing, taking into account the need to moderate foreign exchange risk in the short to medium term.

He said the reason for the shift towards more external borrowing was because external borrowing was cheaper, apart from the advantage of lower cost of fund to avoid the risk of crowding out the private sector.

In all these things, it must be recalled that Investigation showed that only Edo, Lagos, Delta, Ebonyi, Anambra, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Kano and Enugu States have paid their workers’ salaries and allowances up to April and are therefore not owing their workers.

From the foregoing, there can be no doubt that Edo State is on the right path with its borrowing for the development of the state. It is one borrowing ideal that does not commit the state to punitive debt burden that generation unborn will have to bear.

Comrade Onaivi Cephas, Benin

and business people all over the Middle East. A large swathe of Asia, economically weak, politically unstable and dependent on foreign capital has suffered some form of coerced cultural reversal while Japan, Hong Kong and a few others have become increasingly liberal. China has been able to put some check on the spread of pornography by restricting internet access to the population.

A major casualty in this battle to redefine certain moral components of society is the family.

But the loss ultimately is that of mankind. For when you destroy the family, the base on which the society stands, you destroy that very society. The gay rights agenda, the very overt fixation with sex and nudity in Europe and America and the continuing attempt to sexualise children in Africa as well as the increasing effort to pass laws in Europe and America to allow incest and possible marriage between father and daughter, mother and son, brother and sister, etc., are some of the clearest danger faced by the family today. In the last few years we have seen an increasing normalisation agenda of these contradictions in the content of foreign films available to the African viewing public. Uncontrolled and x-rated pornography has become the lot of these films.

Unfortunately, there is no keeping of our children away from these dangerous items as those people and institutions who should help in making our space more sane, safe and friendly are either wallowing in incompetence and mediocrity or have been compromised. The Nigeria Broadcasting Association (NBC),

I

it would seem, has caved in.

But perhaps the greatest danger is coming from the various Education Ministries all over the country that are now manifesting a distorted and perverted sense of understanding of their responsibilities. Encouraged by the nebulous patronage of special liberal agenda setting foreign NGOs the Education Ministries have embarked on the very dangerous part of sexualising our children in the most odious and deceptive manner. The contents of some of the books being given to very young and impressionable children, some in primary school are nothing short of scandalous. We must see the Ikoyi secondary school rape incident in the context of the various socio -economic contradictions that are today assailing the Nigerian society.

The increasing inability of parents to provide for the basic needs of the family has left them in a vulnerable situation with regard to effective parental control and supervision. Others, better financially endowed, have abandoned their primary responsibility of better care of the home and have subsequently left their children to the unbridled influence of the media, both new and old. The Ikoyi incidence is frightening, detestable, distasteful, reprehensible and severely punishable.

The boys who engaged in such unwholesome conduct are not too young to know that what they did is inherently unlawful, bad and morally dirty. By their conduct they have decided that they prefer the walls of prison than to exist in the world of free men and women.

Achike Chude, Lagos.

NPF: C ALL P OLICEMEN IN J OS TO O RDER

want to use this medium to make a passionate appeal to the Nigerian Police and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Idris, in particular, to please call the trigger-happy policemen in Jos to order. It was recently reported in March, 2017, that a policeman identified as Isa allegedly gunned down one Abubakar Wushishi, who was part of a group conveying the remains of a deceased person to the burial ground. An eye witness who narrated to some human rights activists stated, that a fracas ensued, when the police accused some youth of violating traffic rule near Angwan Rogo Police Station, and in the course of the fracas, that particular police man is alleged to have repeatedly made a statement in Hausa that he would kill somebody “today”, and he later fired a shot that killed Abubakar who was away from the scene.

Again, a 27-year-old plumber identified as Adamu Isah Mamma lost his life on May 5, 2017, due to injury he sustained from live ammunition allegedly fired by one of policemen from C Division, Jos, who were undergoing a patrol to enforce the ban on motorcycles around Yan Taya Junction, Terminus, Jos on Tuesday, May 9, 2017. In this situation also, the deceased was only a passerby who went to terminus market to make purchase for a plumbing job he was undergoing.

There is no point that innocent

citizens should lose their lives for no reason. This is very dangerous and should not be happening in a volatile city like Jos, which has just started experiencing peace from years of unrest. I therefore call on the Nigerian Police Force in general; the IGP, who has received both national and international recognition for his good work; and all authorities concerned, to investigate and ensure that the policemen who partook in perpetrating these unprofessional, unpatriotic and inhuman acts are punished to maintain discipline, professionalism and respect for human lives in the police. This is very important to prevent any negative reaction from the youth, who are supposed to be handled with care. It could be recalled that after the death of the first victim mentioned above, the Angwan Rogo Police station had to be guarded for several days by soldiers to protect the police from the unknown. sSo, punishing these erring policemen will not only protect the constitutional right to life of the innocent citizens of Nigeria, but it will also go a long way in building public trust in the police, and protecting the lives and safety of police officers themselves.

I also want to call on fellow citizens of Nigeria, especially the youth, to be law abiding and avoid causing disturbance or exposing themselves to any danger.

Hussaini Hussaini, Abuja

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18

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER • MAY 14, 2017

INTERNATIONAL Unending Political Intrigues: Osinbajo as Acting President or Coordinator of Governmental Affairs

T

he mania of political governance in Nigeria does not send good signals to the international community.

First, Nigeria is generally seen as a country with great potentials but the great potentials have not been allowed to be translated into manifest power. It is not that the potentials are difficult to be translated into manifest power but because the power that be simply refuses to do what is appropriate.

Second, what makes life and development difficult is how issues are perceived and dealt with by political leaders and those associated with them. Besides, leaders hardly tell the truth in Nigeria.

Civil and public servants create problems for political leaders, who themselves are more self-seeking than service rendering.

Political followers also do not help the matter. They aid and abet bad governance, especially corruption, in different ramifications. In fact the generality of the people also acquiesce to it.

As a result, Nigeria has been moving in vicious circles in which everyone complains but the complaints regularly fall on deaf ears.

In fact, political governance in Nigeria has become that of the blind leading the deaf and dumb. In Lagos State, for instance, motorcyclists and commercial buses do not respect traffic light. More disturbingly, they drive against traffic and the traffic wardens pass them first.

This is one societal indiscipline that everyone sees and that foreign embassies consider in dealing with Nigerians seeking entry visas into their countries.

Is it that Nigeria’s leaders do not have eyes to see? True enough, they do have but they simply refuse to make the eyes see. Many leaders do not want Nigeria to survive or for the political system to work efficiently. Many advisers of government are in this category. So are many chief executives, chairmen of governing boards of parastatals, permanent secretaries, and political party leaders. This is why there are many issues in political governance begging for attention that is far-fetched. The most recent issue is that of the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo.

The elected president of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB), has returned to the United Kingdom for further medical treatment. Can it be argued that PMB is not in the position to perform the functions of the President and hence the directive to the Vice President to stand in? Our immediate response is that, yes, PMB, for reasons of ill health, is not able to discharge his lawful presidential functions.

But in standing in for PMB, is it as acting president or as coordinator of governmental affairs? What really are the differences between acting capacity and coordinating capacity? Does PMB has the right to appoint the Vice President as Acting President or as coordinator of government affairs?

The Constitution of Nigeria as amended does not provide for specific duties for the Vice President. His duties are essentially as directed by Mr. President. Is the use of the word ‘coordinator’ in the letter transmitted to the Senate President mean that PMB will be in charge of political governance in Nigeria while receiving medication abroad? What really is the meaning of a ‘vice-president’ in a presidential system and democratic governance?

Vie Internationale observes that constitutional provisions on the issue are not ambiguous and that, without any sophisticated interpretation, PMB is unable to perform his functions as President of Nigeria. It is because of the inability to perform that he complied with Section 145 of the Constitution. Put differently, there was no need transmitting any notice of absence from duty, and for that matter, without specific date of possible return to resume duties, to the Senate. PMB simply acted in compliance with the law. The compliance necessarily admits inability or incapacity to act.

Regarding the use of the word ‘coordinator’, the implication is that Professor Yemi Osinbajo should oversee the affairs of Government in his capacity as Vice President and not as an acting President. As a coordinator, the Vice President is not a plenipotentiary. He is expected to coordinate under the future directives of PMB wherever he may be. This point raises the question of what we should understand by the word ‘Vice.’

In administrative science, there is a clear cut difference between and among ‘assistant,’ ‘deputy’ and ‘vice.’ When the position of a substantive officer is vacant, a deputy is required to fill the vacancy.

An assistant cannot. Besides, a deputy is superior to an assistant. A Vice can be synonymous with an assistant or a deputy, especially if and when there is no provision for the position of a deputy. However,

VIE INTERNATIONALE with

Bola A. Akinterinwa Telephone : 0807-688-2846

e-mail: bolyttag@yahoo.com

Osinbajo going by Section 142 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, Professor Osinbajo is Deputy President of Nigeria by constitutional force majeure. He is an associate of PMB. As provided in Section 142 of the Constitution, ‘... a candidate for an election to the office of President shall not be deemed to be validly nominated unless he nominates another candidate as his associate from the same political party for his running for the office of President, who is to occupy the office of Vice President and that candidate shall be deemed to have been duly elected to the office of Vice President if the candidate for an election to the office of President who nominated him as such associate is duly elected as President...’

Many points are noteworthy here: first, like a man is considered incomplete without his spouse, so is an elected president incomplete without the Vice in a presidential system of government. The constitution makes it crystal clear that the nomination of any candidate for the presidency is not valid without factoring in that of the associate or Vice President. Now that both candidates have been jointly elected, whenever PMB is not available, it is natural that the Vice President should simply step into PMB’s shoes without any equanimity or any application of the doctrine of necessity. In fact, there cannot be any good basis to prescribe what exact functions the Vice President should be preoccupied with.

However, because the Nigerian system never allows truths to prevail, because political leaders create unnecessary myths around presidents, because the system is made to create jobs for very empty so-called leaders who simply should have been allowed to be frolicking around rather than giving them appointments on the boards of government parastatals, and because the Government of Nigeria also aid and abet anti-Nigeria elements by refusing to investigate allegations contained in reports given to it, individuals have become more powerful than the Constitution of the land. That is why people now talk about cabals in the presidency. That is why even PMB can talk about the Vice President as a coordinator of government affairs.

Because the Nigerian system never allows truths to prevail, because political leaders create unnecessary myths around presidents, because the system is made to create jobs for very empty so-called leaders who simply should have been allowed to be frolicking around rather than giving them appointments on the boards of government parastatals, and because the Government of Nigeria also aid and abet antiNigeria elements by refusing to investigate allegations contained in reports given to it, individuals have become more powerful than the Constitution of the land. That is why people now talk about cabals in the presidency. That is why even PMB can talk about the Vice President as a coordinator of government affairs

Our view here is that PMB’s appointment of the Vice President as a coordinator of government affairs is illegal. It is an abuse of interpretation of Section 145 of the Constitution and PMB will need to exercise greater caution in the discharge of his functions as President of the whole of Nigeria and not simply as President of a section or group of people.

Section 145 of the Constitution

The Section stipulates that ‘whenever the President is proceeding on vacation or is otherwise unable to discharge the functions of his office, he shall transmit a written declaration to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives to that effect, and until he transmit to them a written declaration to the contrary, the Vice President shall perform the functions of the President as Acting President.’ Again, there are many understated issues in the provision.

First is the inability to discharge presidential functions. In this regard, is PMB proceeding on vacation or he is unable to discharge his functions? In whichever way vacation is interpreted and in whichever way we want to look at inability to perform, both cases largely bother on physical presence or absence of the president. PMB said in his transmitted letter to the Senate President, that he would be going on medical vacation and that the length of his staying away would be determined by his doctors. More significantly, PMB said that when he would be away, ‘the Vice President will coordinate the activities of government.’ Whereas, in the first declaration sent to the National Assembly when he first went on medical vacation, PMB said Professor Osinbajo should ‘perform the duties of (his) office.’ This time, he says he should coordinate government affairs.

Is the performance of presidential functions or duties of (his) office different from coordinating government affairs? Performing the duties of the president has a presidential aura. Coordinating role does not have such aura. Essentially, it is the associate of the president that has to act in both capacities in the absence of the president.

In other words, whenever presidential functions would not be performed as a result of absence of the president, the President is simply required to inform the Senate President and the Speaker of the House through a declaration. But what is declaration in this context?

It is not an agreement in the context of international law, but ordinarily a statement on the rationale for absence.

Secondly, the Constitution is quite silent on what the Senate or the House should do on the declaration of PMB: should it be debated for possible approval or rejection? In other words, it is just sufficient for PMB to transmit a statement on his intended absence from duty to leaders of the National Assembly for an obligation of transfer of the baton of power to the Vice President.

Thirdly, the coinage of the following part of the provision is noteworthy: ‘...and until he (PMB) transmit to them a written declaration to the contrary, the Vice President shall perform the functions of the President as Acting president.’ The word ‘until’ implies duration.

It is about the duration from the time of expression of either leave of absence or inability to discharge one’s functions to the time of return for resumption of presidential duties.

What the Constitution is saying here is that whenever a president is not available for whatever reasons (please note the words, ‘or is otherwise unable’ to discharge), the Vice President is required to act the office of the President. This is made clear and implicit in the provision of the Constitution. In other words, in the absence of any new declaration or statement or affirmation negating the first declaration transmitted to the Senate President and the Speaker of the House, ‘the Vice President shall perform the functions of the President as Acting President.’

Perhaps more interestingly, even if PMB returns to the country and does not transmit a new declaration on his resumption of duty to the leaders of the National Assembly, the Vice President owes it a lawful obligation to continue to be Acting President. The use of the word ‘until’ raises the issue of when, tenure, beginning and end, and most importantly, transfer of authority to act as president without PMB having to so decide.

It is useful to caution against bringing personal sentiments to constitutional obligations. Some newspapers have it that the Vice President declared during his visit to Katsina State that PMB has been treating him well as a son. In other words, the occupation of Aso Rock by PMB and the Vice President is on the basis of a father-son relationship. As good as this may appear to be, political governance of Nigeria should not be run on the basis of father and son relationship.

In many cases, it has been detrimental to national unity and development.

How do we explain the situation in which the attention of the PMB administration was drawn to a case in which the Major-General Ike Nwachuku-led Governing Council of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs has not only bastardised, but has also destroyed the Institute beyond repairs but there is silence over it? How can a government claiming to fight corruption and seeking to build a new Nigeria that will be free from political chicanery keep silent on a Director of Administration and Finance, Ms. Agatha Elochi Ude, who is accused of removing queries from her file and falsifying examination results in favour of some ethnic staff? How do we also explain the refusal of Government to investigate allegations of non-compliance by the Director General with the due process in the construction of the new international conference centre? One explanation that is not far-fetched is this type of father-son relationship, camaraderie or esprit de corps relationship, ethnic solidarity relationship, etc.

(See concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com)

19

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R • MAY 14, 2017

BUSINESS

Editor Vincent Obia Email vincent.obia@thisdaylive.com (08054681757)

LAST WEEK WEEK

Domestic Flight

Domestic flight operations declined by 67 per cent in the first quarter of 2017, compared to the same period in 2016, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority said.

NCAA’s Consumer Protection Department, in a document on Monday, disclosed that 10,366 flights operated in the first quarter of 2017 compared to 15,434 flights operated in 2016 by the same eight domestic airlines. The domestic airlines, the agency said, are Aero Contractors, Arik Air, Air Peace, Azman Air, Dana Air, First Nation, Med-View, and Overland.

Gas supply

A fruit market in Lagos

Inflation to Maintain Downward Streak in April, Say Analysts Kunle Aderinokun With the expected Tuesday’s release of numbers for April consumer price index (CPI) by the National Bureau of Statistics in view, economic analysts and market watchers have released their projections for the index, which gauges inflation. Essentially, they expect to see a continuation of the downward trajectory in the index, which began in February when it plunged to 17.78 per cent (year-on-year) from 18.72 per cent in January and subsequently dropped to 17.26 per cent in March. NBS had attributed the decline for the two consecutive months to the effects of stabilising prices in already high food and non-food prices as well as favourable base effects over 2016 prices.

While The Economic Intelligence Group of Access Bank Plc forecast that the CPI would drop further to 17.05 per cent in April from the 17.26 per cent level it stood in March, analysts at FSDH Research has estimated that the CPI would be 17.11 per cent when NBS released the figures on Tuesday. Also, the CEO, Nigeria Competitiveness Council of Nigeria (NCCN), Matthias Chika Mordi, who is also CEO, Accender Strategies, estimated a CPI of 16.75 per cent for the month in preview with a 25 basis points error of margin, based on macroeconomic indicators and Q1 surveys.

According to the Access Bank analysts, “As usual, our methodology adopts an autoregressive analysis of past prices, while it recognizes all the assumptions used by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in its computation of monthly composite consumer price index (CCPI).”

The analysts noted that the group’s inflation forecast was driven chiefly by anticipated downward movement in the food and core sub-indexes. Besides, they identified price movements for major commodity groups in the food basket which makes up over half of the CPI basket remained muted in April.“Based on an independent survey, vegetable oils, rice, and flour trended downwards, while the price of garri, potatoes and noodles were stable.”

ECONOMY Similarly, they stated that, “Core inflation, which excludes the prices of volatile agricultural produce, is expected to extend its downward trend in April. This partially reflects the effects of currency appreciation in the parallel market. Month-on-month, the naira appreciated by 8.32 per cent as the Central Bank maintained the tempo of interventions in the forex market.”

On probable market impact of the projected further inflation decline, The Economic Intelligence Group noted that, “With short-term secondary market T-bill yields currently around 16 per cent – 19 per cent, the downtick in inflation may prompt investors to take positions in short term securities and divest from equities.

They also said, “Despite the easing inflation, we expect the apex bank to maintain rates in an attempt to anchor the downward inflation trend. In the March Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) statement, the CBN governor made it clear that loosening the policy rate will worsen price pressures, while tightening of rates would be detrimental to already-weak economic growth.”

As for the FSDH analysts, they said, “Although we noticed increases in the prices of food and non-food classification for the fourth consecutive month, the base effect in the CCPI in April 2016 will be responsible for the drop in the inflation rate.”

According to them,“The Naira gained by 0.16 per cent at the inter-bank market to close at US$/N305.85 while it lost 0.25 per cent at the parallel market to close at US$/N396 at the end of April. The fall in the international prices of food helped to counter the effect of the depreciation in the value of the Naira at the parallel market.

“The appreciation of the Naira in the inter-bank market and the drop in the prices of food at the international market led to a moderation in the prices of consumer goods in Nigeria. The prices of food items that FSDH Research monitored in April 2017 moved in varying directions. The

prices of tomatoes, garri, sweet potatoes, beans, Irish potatoes and yam were up by 56.78 per cent, 8.47 per cent, 6.94 per cent, 6.08 per cent, 5.64 per cent and 3.33 per cent respectively.

“Meanwhile, the prices of onions, vegetable oil, palm oil, rice, meat and fish were down by 27.11 per cent, 7.78 per cent, 6.67 per cent, 2.48 per cent, 2.22 per cent and 1.33 per cent respectively. The movement in the prices of food items during the month resulted in 2 per cent increase in our Food and Non-Alcoholic Index to 234.34 points.

“We also noticed increase in the prices of Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas & Other Fuels divisions between March 2017 and April 2017. Our model indicates that the general price movements in the consumer goods and services in April 2017 would increase the Composite Consumer Price

Participants in the FX market are now accessing the FX via the CBN’s IEW at a relatively affordable price and without exhausting same. By implication, the IEW has led to the reduction in cost of production and has translated to the marginal decline in the prices of items

Index (CCPI) to 226.01 points, representing a month-on-month increase of 1.48 per cent.

“We estimate that the increase in the CCPI in April will produce an inflation rate of 17.11 per cent lower than the 17.26 per cent recorded in March 2017.”

In their view, analysts at Eczellon Capital expect the April 2017 inflation rate (year-onyear)“to ease slightly given the marginal drop in the prices of some food and non-food items and CBN’s intervention in the Forex market.”

“Consequently, the Apex Bank had introduced an Investors and Exporters Window (IEW) poised to boost liquidity in the FX market and ensure timely execution and settlement of eligible transactions for manufacturers and related constituents. Prior to CBN’s intervention, the cost of accessing the FX was extremely high as it was mirrored in

the prices of items.“Conversely, participants in the FX market are now accessing the FX via the CBN’s IEW at a relatively affordable price and without exhausting same. By implication, the IEW has led to the reduction in cost of production and has translated to the marginal decline in the prices of items. Additionally, the recent manufacturing PMI for April 2017 indicates that the manufacturing sector had advanced at 51.1 index points showing expansion in the manufacturing sector after three months of contraction, though the non-manufacturing sector dragged sluggishly at 49.5 relative to 47.1 index points. Subsequently, the improvements in these sectors spur us to believe that the costs of items in the market are retracting gradually,”the analysts explained.

Furthermore, the Eczellon Capital analysts added,“the historical behaviour of Nigeria’s inflation rate over the past three months had shown a downward trajectory of 0.94 per cent point and 0.52 per cent point for February and March apiece. For that reason, we foresee the CPI plunging further in April 2017.”

Also, in his projection, Chief Executive Officer, The CFG Advisory Ltd, Adetilewa Adebajo, is hopeful of a continuity in the downward trend in CPI “provided the CBN continues with its policies aimed at improving forex liquidity, Naira/$ rate appreciates further, and fiscal stimulus is maintained.”

“We can therefore estimate a further downward trajectory in consumer price index, however, by smaller percentage points relative to the first two months, due to relative stability in prices of some food items and falling demand for other items.

“Month-to-Month inflation still on the rise. There appears to be the need to monitor CPI for the next few months to fully ascertain the downward trend in inflation,”Adebajo pointed out.

“Month-to-Month inflation still on the rise. There appears to be the need to monitor CPI for the next few months to fully ascertain the downward trend in inflation,”Adebajo pointed out.

Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and its partners evolved a scheme to grow gas supply for domestic consumption by 285 per cent. NNPC said this in a statement by its Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Ndu Ughamadu, in Abuja on Wednesday. Ughamadu said the gas growth was expected to rise from three billion standard cubic feet per day (scf/d) to five billion standard cubic feet per day (scf/d) by 2020. NNPC said the federal government had directed it to aggressively pursue gas development to aid the country’s economic development.

BoI

The Bank of Industry introduced zero-interest loans for members of the National Youth Service Corps under its Graduate Entrepreneurship Fund programme.

BOI said the zero per cent interest, from 9% previously charged, was part of measures to encourage entrepreneurship and aid business growth. According to BOI, the GEF scheme, being implemented in partnership with the NYSC, is currently on the second edition and has recorded over N262.9 million disbursements to 177 successful candidates.

The bank said the zero per cent interest charge took effect from May 1.

Capital Market

Securities and Exchange Commission set aside N5 billion as seed capital for the take-off of the proposed Nigerian Capital Market Development Fund. The commission warned that it would henceforth prosecute investors who use false identity for share subscription. The apex capital market authority also indicated that its shares dematerialisation programme had run its full course, achieving a 100 per cent dematerialisation of shares with over 2.2 million investors mandating their accounts for e-dividend.

Leasing industry

Leasing firms in the country braved the odds and generated N1.26 trillion in 2016. The industry recorded 14 per cent growth in outstanding lease volume from N1.1 trillion in 2015. Consequently, experts believed the Nigerian leasing industry had remained vibrant and continued to provide succour to many organisations across all sectors of the economy, despite the current economic difficulties.

Stakeholders said leasing was still attractive to new investors with massive diversification by existing players in the industry.

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INTERVIEW

Omoigui-Okauru

OMOIGUI-OKAURU Nigeria Needs Automated, Harmonised Tax System to Expand Revenue Base The huge decline in crude oil prices, unfavourable future price forecasts, and their great toll on the economy, obviously, make diversification of revenue sources a matter of utmost urgency for governments in the country. Yet, Minister of Finance Kemi Adeosun, in a shocking revelation recently, said only 214 Nigerians, out of a population of about 180 million, paid taxes of N20 million or more. To reverse the trend and maximise tax revenue, former Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service and Chairman of Lagos State Employment Trust Fund, Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru, says Nigeria must move away from a collection mind-set and manual tax processes, which leave room for inefficiency and leakages, and embrace automated procedures that integrate all tiers of government, with an eye to long term economic benefits. Omoigui-Okauru speaks with Vincent Obia. Excerpts:

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INTERVIEW

Economic Calculations Should Be Based on Things We Have Reasonable Control Over

Cont’d from Pg. 20

T

he huge decline in crude oil prices, unfavourable future price forecasts, and their great toll on the economy, obviously, make diversification of revenue sources a matter of utmost urgency for governments in the country. Yet, Minister of Finance Kemi Adeosun, in a shocking revelation recently, said only 214 Nigerians, out of a population of about 180 million, paid taxes of N20 million or more. To reverse the trend and maximise tax revenue, former Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service and Chairman of Lagos State Employment Trust Fund, Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru, says Nigeria must move away from a collection mind-set and manual tax processes, which leave room for inefficiency and leakages, and embrace automated procedures that integrate all tiers of government, with an eye to long term economic benefits.

Omoigui-Okauru speaks with Vincent Obia. Excerpts:

Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, stated recently that research showed only 214 Nigerians, out of a population of nearly 180 million, paid taxes of N20 million or above, despite the myriad millionaires and billionaires in the country.

Why are Nigerians not paying tax? Why do Nigerians not like to pay tax?

I would like to ask one question before answering. How many people should have been paying tax? What percentage of those who should be paying constitutes 214? I don’t know if the Ministry of Finance addressed that, because it would be nice to know. I don’t have those facts, so whatever we are going to say is just general.

But if you do a random sampling of 10 or 30 people, you probably would find that in that mix very few want to pay tax. But that is normal in any country or economy. I don’t think people willingly pay tax. But they pay tax only if, for example, they see the value of the tax they pay. I recall, when I was in office, one Scandinavian country, where even though your tax was supposed to be like 50 per cent, some people would even pay 80 per cent. What is the reason? They are making a lot of money, they don’t need to pay for education, they don’t need to pay for healthcare. At the end of the day, they have such spare cash that they feel, what am I doing with all this money, I might as well contribute more to the government so it can do more for the public. So in that sense, if we go back to the question, why are people not paying, or why do people not like paying? I believe most people don’t like paying unless they see that there is a reason to pay.

Nigeria does not have a robust tax base from where it can effectively demand tax. What do you think is responsible for the seeming lacklustre attitude of government towards the maximisation of tax revenue?

I don’t know whether it is really an issue of government not exploring ways of increasing tax revenue. I think recognition of the need to do that is there at the federal, state, and local governments because they feel that they need more revenue to survive. What I suspect may be a little bit of a gap is that there is a disconnect between wanting more revenue and knowing what to do to raise revenue. You rightly said that you need a strong tax base from which to derive tax revenue. The disposable income in the hands of your populace is very important for you to be able to derive tax.

How many of us have engaged as government in research to see where the pockets from which to develop a strong tax base from are.

I don’t think we have seen tax as a very scientific and professional process that you can do research around and come with logical conclusion. I think, perhaps, more of the constraint is that we see tax more as a collection thing – collect as opposed to administer.

So it is more of collection, where do we collect money from? I hear this people have money, let’s collect, I hear those people have money, let’s collect. It doesn’t work that way. Sometimes because people have money, you may actually reduce the tax they pay so that you can encourage them, for their businesses to do better, so that way, they can give more revenue to their staff, who in turn expand the tax base and give you more money.

There is a difference between having a collection mind-set and a larger mind-set that is more administrative and long term in nature, to say, what would the implication of this action on the revenue of this company be? Would they be able to employ more staff? And if they employ more staff, would that add to the tax base and, therefore, would the multiplier effect of whatever decision I take now come back to me as additional revenue? I’m not sure we have put in place that rigour and discipline to go through the whole hog. That is why I think we need to shift from mere collection to the totality of administration of tax.

Do you subscribe to the view that the oil revenue has been a disincentive to developing ample interest in taxation?

Yes, it has. Oil revenue now has dropped. But what we did over the years – I’m not discussing now or even the last five years – is that we formed negative habits, habits that do not encourage you to explore other sources of revenue because we have money from oil. You could call it part of the oil curse. It has affected our capacity to act; it has affected our comfort level.

So moving out of our comfort zone now is a little bit more difficult than if it were we didn’t have oil. I agree with you that it has been a disincentive.

But my own philosophy in life is, let’s accept that that is what has happened, but we need to move on. Oil is not there anymore.

Even the forecast for oil in the years ahead shows that we are in for a low oil price for quite some time to come. Unless something happens, this is the possibility. But we shouldn’t also be managing ourselves based on possibilities. We should manage ourselves on those things that we believe we can control as much as we can and have a much more diversified revenue base so that if any shock happens, we can rely on other sources of revenue.

Omoigui-Okauru

What can be done to maximise tax revenue in Nigeria?

I subscribe to the See-Do-Get paradigm. That’s from Franklin Covey’s copyrighted material. What the See-Do-Get means is that how you see things affects what you do, which in turn affects the result that you get. I think a lot of times we only play in the Do-Get realm – if you do this, you get this result – without fundamentally asking ourselves, the way we have been seeing things, shouldn’t it change? I won’t spend time, therefore, emphasising the things we do because I’m not even sure we’ve started thinking differently so that we can do those things that would give us better tax revenue. At the See level, it’s not about tax collection, it is about tax administration.

It’s not about tax consultants, it’s about tax professionals; it’s not about manual tax processes, it’s about automated tax processes.

Because anywhere in the world, the more manual your system is, the more the level of leakage. And the less connected we are as government, the less taxes we can collect.

There is no magic that efficient tax systems do other than the fact that, if for example, you took your child to school, your national identification number would show that your child is in A school, and because A school, too, is on the database, they know what kind of fees A school would charge you for you to keep your child in the school. And then, you leave school and go to the hospital, you still use that national ID system, it revolves around you and they know which hospital you go to for your child. And you go to the supermarket, again that card or visa card you are using to pay is linked to your national ID card, so they know how many purchases you have been masking. Your whole life is linked electronically. So if you file a return and say, I only made N100, 000, how would the system know that it’s only N100, 000 you made if the systems are not linked?

Data is the major driver of tax revenue. We need to get certain things right, we need to harmonise our ID system, link the banking system to the tax ID, national ID, and ensure everything is on the same platform. Until we recognise that when you demand a service from government, you need to see, too, that taxes are paid, we cannot even move forward because the system will not allow you to move forward. That realisation forces you to make certain payments along the line, not a human being forcing you.

Until we see that it’s not the amount of time you put into solving a problem, but how effective your system and processes are to generate the revenues that are there, it’s not going to work. And until we see that it’s not about federal or state or local government.

It’s all federal, state, local governments connected to each other that would make the system work. It’s not about, you have N100, 000, I’m going to grab N20, 000 from it today. That would only work for a while, it’s not sustainable.

What do you see the role of legislation here? Do you think the country has adequate laws to effectively drive the tax system?

We have enough laws. I think it is more of implementation. That

is not to say that laws cannot be improved. You can improve the company tax laws, personal income tax laws, etc. But even with the laws that we have, we can do more. That’s why I’m saying the level of automation should be improved. And these are not short term measures. It’s not an FIRS thing, or a state internal revenue service thing, it’s a national thing.

Everybody coming together to work together towards contributing to each other, exchanging information to ensure that revenue from tax is maximised at the federal, state, and local government levels.

How do you see the issue of deducting tax and not remitting, which is a commonplace practice in many organisations?

It’s a problem. It should be dealt with.

How best can it be dealt with?

At the relevant levels that do the monitoring. Again, the more automated your systems are, the better. If, for example, every time such monies are deducted, just like the way you get an alert when money is withdrawn from your account, there is an alert that goes to the federal or state inland revenue service, as the case may be, then that triggers monitoring. But if there is no alert, and there is no way of knowing that the company has done this, without the staff themselves speaking up, then you are leaving it to human beings. And when you leave a system to human beings, everything around the human instinct affects the outcome. May be the human beings are afraid to report the company because that is where they get their salaries, they don’t want to lose that small salary, they don’t want to be sacked. So they don’t want to give feedback to the revenue authorities on what is going on. May be the company happens to have friends in high places, so even if they know this is happening, they turn a blind eye. We should not leave our tax system to the imaginations of human beings.

Are there other things you would like Nigerians to know about the issue of tax revenue?

Whatever I’m going to say is not new. The payment of taxes is a civic responsibility. It’s the license that says that you belong to a country and gives you a voice to speak about that country.

Therefore, payment of tax should be seen as not even something that should be forced, it should be seen as a responsibility, so that when we complain, we have backed up our complaint with the moral right to make such complains. I know it’s tough, particularly now, to ask people to pay tax. First of all, their baseline revenue has been significantly eroded. I don’t envy the people in the revenue service at this time.

The incomes of companies have gone down, people are being laid off, costs are on the increase. I think it is a time for mutual understanding and collective views as to what we need to do.

These are rough times, but for as long as you are a citizen of this country, you need to pay something, no matter the level of tax, but at least pay something.

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INTERVIEW

Rafsanjani: Nigeria Should Establish Trust Fund to Manage Recovered Assets On the sidelines of the just concluded 2017 Spring Meetings of the World Bank Group/International Monetary Fund in Washington, D.C., Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, executive director of Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), a nonprofit organisation based in Abuja, shares his views on critical economic matters in Nigeria, including taxation, women empowerment, and corruption. In this interview with Funke Olaode, he also expatiates on some of the issues that came up at the five-day policy dialogue sessions, which the two international financial bodies held with civil society organisations at the Washington meetings. Excerpts:

H

ow would you describe your experience at the just concluded meetings in Washington?

The WBG/IMF is a forum where policies and issues which have a direct bearing on the citizens of various countries are being discussed and at the end of the day, suggestions and recommendations are made. Therefore, it is an opportunity for civil society to interact with the global financial institutions and also ensure that policies and programmes are not designed to undermine their countries. For me, as a Nigerian, I have been coming to this meeting for the past 10 years, attending different functions to make the civil society views and perspectives known to the financial institutions and invariably to draw the attention of our government, because sometimes you don’t have access to our government officials and IMF/World Bank is a place where you can rob minds with them and discuss what is to be done. And if they are not implementing things correctly, one can suggest and advise them on issues such as unemployment, poverty reduction, reckless spending, corruption and what is needed to overcome some of these challenges.

The issue of women empowerment came up at the meetings. How can this be effectively tackled in the face of the various inhibitive traditional beliefs and practices?

The topic about women is empowerment and favourable taxation because we have realised that the only way to erase the inequality gap and poverty is to empower women and design programmes and policies that will enable women to access loan facilities. And talking about women empowerment, education is also key, as the general saying goes that if you educate a woman you educate a nation. And whatever tax policy government wants to embark on must be friendly and the tax should be a channel for meaningful development.

It is generally agreed that corruption is the bane of development in Africa, particularly, Nigeria. Do you think the question of corruption got sufficient attention during the meetings?

Yes. In one of the policy forums we discussed extensively the implication of corruption, particularly, linking it up with the on-going situation in Nigeria, where some powerful corrupt individuals have actually created artificial recession and also underdeveloped the country by stealing in a crazy manner. We say, as civil society, we will continue to support any positive intervention of government until we overcome corruption in Nigeria. We have always emphasised that there must be a national strategy/policy that would include every Nigerian both in public and private sectors in the fight against corruption. Otherwise, if you reduce the fight against corruption to individual or institution it will not have positive impact. We are encouraging the Nigerian government to continue its effort in the fight against corruption. As said, corruption undermines development, it plunged Nigeria into recession, violent extremism. Given the importance of Nigeria and its relevance in Africa, we believe once Nigeria is able to get it right many countries will get it right. God has blessed us with both human and natural resources and there is no reason we should continue dwelling in perpetual poverty. The fight against corruption is important and necessary. Many Nigerians who have shown interest in political power have turned looting into a machinery.

In the past if people know you as a treasury looter they wouldn’t want to associate with you, but because of the collapse of integrity people are now embracing criminals that have looted the country. We want to erase that notion, to turn Nigeria into a nation that promotes honesty, integrity, commitment and patriotism.

The Nigerian government has accused the international community, especially U.S., UK, Switzerland and France of being complicit in the looting of public

Rafsanjani

funds in the country by providing safe havens for the looters. How big a problem do you think this is? And how can the recovered funds be invested to ensure the greatest benefit for the masses?

We have told the Nigerian government several times that the looted money must not be re-looted when it is recovered.

Not only that, we want to see specific projects that have a bearing on the average Nigerian. We have participated in the recovery of Abacha loot during the Obasanjo administration.

I must confess that the money is not being accounted for and no specific project can be pointed. That is why we say this time we want to see that if the money is back, there must be an integrity trust fund established to channel these resources in terms of health, education, sanitation and water resources.

Also, we want to ensure that in the integrity trust fund, civil society is represented to ensure that there is accountability.

We are worried about the complicity of these developed countries and their private commercial banks in safeguarding the looted money. What we have started with the Swiss government is to use our colleagues in the non-governmental organisations sector to get the money back. We are also determined to use our colleagues in America, Asia and European countries to ensure that the stolen money is returned. And that is why CISLAC Transparency in Nigeria is running a project which will ensure proper audit of beneficial ownership so that whoever has a company and property in Nigeria or abroad will be listed. With this move, there won’t be a hidden place for treasury looters to divert public funds. Apart from working with our CSO colleagues in America and Swiss, CISLAC has been successfully registered in America and has a status of a civil society or NGO in America. It is a national registration but our operation will

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BUSINESS/INTERVIEW/TRAVEL

Nigeria should Establed Trust Fund to Manage Recovered Assets Cont’d from Pg. 22 be based in New York, Washington, D.C. and other cities. We want to see how African democratic institutions can be linked with these countries. We have the legal recognition and we will use the opportunity to push positive agenda for Nigeria and Africa at the level of United Nations and other institutions to strengthen its capacity to ensure that Nigeria is not short-changed.

and that is why we are calling on the government to institutionalise it so it can protect the whistle blowers. It will also create proper information that will be disseminated because we don’t want any information that will not lead to anything.

It has been said that the fight against corruption in Nigeria would remain largely unsuccessful if the country does not build a proper system to prevent graft? What is your view on this?

The civil society should continue to play its role by continuing to support policy against corruption and educate the public about the negative consequences of corruption in our country. If you look at the teaching hospitals across the country, they are malfunctioning.

No doctors, no drugs and infrastructure are dilapidated and likewise the education sector. All the past leaders attended public schools but they have underdeveloped the institution. If you look at our roads, they are like a death trap.

It is a shame that Nigeria has no national carrier because of looting. We have been playing our role in advocating transparency, accountability and policy that will prevent corruption. We have been supporting anticorruption agencies to carry out their duties without fear or favour.

That is why we are advocating for more institutions to fight corruption and saying that the established institutions that are saddled with the responsibilities, such as EFCC, ICPC, Code of Conduct Bureau and all other relevant agencies, should be independent and well-funded. They should be given enough power and capacity to carry out their duties, irrespective of political party that is involved, as it is done in developed countries. Also, the judiciary must be resuscitated and restored so that Nigerians can have confidence in the judicial system.

Many judges have been found wanting. It is very funny, those who pervert justice seek perpetual injunction for known corrupt official.

This is not healthy. It calls for worry and concern. For us in the civil society community, we are worried by that kind of kangaroo judgements that have been delivered by some of these judges. That is why we think the judiciary should be on board with determination to clean itself and create confidence in Nigerians and the international community that it is not harbouring corruption. The same thing with the legislature, we want a situation whereby they will be in the forefront fighting corruption as well as carrying out legislative duties, such as laws that would checkmate abuse and plundering of our resources.

Why do you think it has been very difficult to successfully tackle corruption in the country?

The reason is that in the previous administrations there were a lot of interests that made it difficult for the presidency to go after corrupt officials. For instance, a lot of people who are either appointed or elected are having corruption allegations levelled against them.

In that kind of situation, it is difficult for government to deal successfully with such people being accused. Now, there is no room

What specific role should civil society organisations play in the anticorruption fight?

Rafsanjani

for corrupt individuals, as we can attest to the fact that for the first time, the untouchable people are being questioned. We pray and hope that it would be institutionalised and done in a manner that would erase and eliminate corruption in public offices.

How would you assess the effect of corruption on Nigeria’s ability to attract foreign investment and aid?

Definitely, corruption has dealt a big blow to the country’s image and it has its consequences on the economy. For instance, the international community is interested in investment but the mind blowing corruption and looting being reported on the pages of newspapers every day is scary.

But with the sanitation going on, it has curbed the impunity with which people deep their hands into the treasury and steal money.

It has a negative impact. In the past once you carry a Nigerian passport they see you as a suspect. But this is changing gradually in the last one and a half years. But we need to intensify effort to ensure it surpasses this regime so that Nigeria can get back its image among the committee of nations.

And this, no doubt, will have positive impact on foreign investment. No investor wants to invest in a country where corruption is the order of the day. The Malabu saga is still on-going but with time we will get it right.

You just said the country’s image had improved, but not long ago, former British Prime Minister David Cameron said Nigeria was “fantastically corrupt”, and the country ranks 136th on the corruption index.

Only last week there was a revelation that certain former leaders in Nigeria were involved in high level corruption. So it will be difficult for us to dismiss such allegation by the former British leader. It is something that is happening and the kind of money that is being buried in soak away, wardrobe, underground houses of former office holders is scary. Just recently, about N13 billion was recovered from the house of “Unknown Landlords”.

It is difficult to fault such revelation from a foreign leader.

The current administration can only be rated high if the tempo continues. The whistle blowing is good but it is not institutionalised

What is your take on the recent attack on the Abuja office of Amnesty International by some groups protesting against alleged anti-Nigeria bias by AI?

It is unfortunate that some fake, faceless, hired and rented people masquerading themselves as civil society carried out such shameless protest.

We are actually at the Amnesty Office demanding for the faces of those who said they should leave Nigeria. Amnesty didn’t say anything contrary to what is enshrined in our constitution, which is to protect against human rights abuse. These rented crowds went to the office to give ultimatum for them to leave Nigeria. This is laughable.

Therefore, this also contradicts the stand of the military because it has set up a committee to review the allegation made by the Amnesty International and other civil society organisations in Nigeria about inhuman treatment, torture and other human rights violations in Nigeria.

What the rioters did was rather unfortunate and security agencies haven’t come out openly to disassociate themselves. This is worrisome.

What is more important is that the president and vice president have talked severally about their readiness to protect the human rights of every Nigerian.

Emirates’ Profits Drop 70%, Cites US Restrictions Demola Ojo with agency reports

A

mid shifting global economic forces, political change, and security issues, Emirates, the Dubaibased airline is feeling the squeeze. As an annual report from the Emirates Group reveals, profits for the airline dropped by over 70 per cent over the past fiscal year, a change the airline attributes to forces beyond its control, including a number of Trump administration policies placing restrictions on travel from the Middle East.

The Emirates Group—which runs the airline and dnata, a ground services provider—still posted an overall profit this year of $670 million, but as Reuters reports, it’s the first year-over-year decline in the past five years. The group said that its 29th consecutive year of profit was achieved “despite a turbulent year for aviation and travel”.

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, a member of Dubai’s ruling family and the CEO and chairman of Emirates Group, attributes the 70 percent drop in overall profits to a number of global events, but says prior success fueled the company’s resilience: “We now reap the benefits as these strong foundations have helped us to weather the

destabilizing events, which have impacted travel demand during the year—from the Brexit vote to Europe’s immigration challenges and terror attacks, from the new policies impacting air travel into the US, to currency devaluation.” Al Maktoum also points to the effect of a “sluggish” oil and gas industry on overall business confidence.

The “new policies” Al Maktoum references include President Trump’s travel ban for citizens of six Muslim-majority countries

and, perhaps most significantly, a March DHS regulation that bans passengers flying from eight Muslim-majority countries in the Middle East and North Africa, including the UAE, from carrying large electronics in their carry-ons.

“We remain optimistic for the future of our industry, although we expect the year ahead to remain challenging with hyper competition squeezing airline yields, and volatility in many markets impacting travel flows and demand,” he continued.

Emirates which was on an aggressive push to expand offerings to the United States, quickly reacted to the electronics ban by loaning laptops to all passengers on Dubai-US routes, but it apparently wasn’t enough. Last month, the airline cut the frequency of five of its 12 US routes.

The Emirates airline division reported a record 56.1 million passengers over the year (up 8 per cent) – load factor was 75.1 per cent (down from 76.5 per cent the previous year), although the carrier said that this was “relative to the strong 10 per cent increase in seat capacity by Available Seat Kilometres (ASKMs), and also in part due to lingering economic uncertainty and strong competition in many markets”.

The group also said that “The relentless rise of the US dollar against currencies in most of Emirates’ key markets had an AED 2.1 billion (US$ 572 million) impact on airline revenue, and to the airline’s bottom line”.

A total of 35 new aircraft were delivered during the financial year (19 A380s and 16 B777-300ERs), with 27 older aircraft being retired, and Emirates moved to an all-A380 and B777 fleet.

The carrier also launched six new passengers destinations over the period – Fort Lauderdale, Hanoi, Newark, Yangon, Yinchuan and Zhengzhou.

24

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R • MAY 14, 2017

BUSINESS/MONEY

L-R: Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Dr. Demola Sogunle; Chief Executive, Standard Bank, Rest of Africa, Mrs. Sola David-Borha; Chairman, Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC, Mr. Atedo Peterside; and Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC, Mr. Yinka Sanni; during a special sendoff dinner in honour of David-Borha which held in Lagos...recently

Learning from Atedo Peterside’s Legacy

The hallmark of a great organisation is its flexibility, the ability to transition authority and adapt to changes effortlessly. Such agility is made possible by the quality of personnel on board at such organisations and the well-crafted strategic direction. Kunle Aderinokun writes

T

imeless organisations like Standard Bank, with over 154 years of rich heritage, Coca-Cola, Ford Motors, and Tata Group all managed to master the art of attracting and retaining top-flight talents early on, which explains why they have remained successful brands hundreds of years after establishment. Their in-house talent pool is such that these companies have a wide variety of experienced talents to choose from to lead the line, in good or bad times. The ability to retain talents is mostly dependent on the business’ skills at articulating a robust growth prospect for employees.

Standard Bank and other enduring brands understand this so well, which is why they have well laid out leadership training and succession plans. Such plans not only give peace of mind to the employees and the brand, they help unleash unlimited growth potential while creating tremendous value in the form of brand equity.

Succession planning is a key plank in corporate governance and it is important that organisations understand this even as the agitations for corporate governance practices by firms continue to grow. While many Nigerian businesses struggle with succession planning, perhaps there are a few lessons to be drawn from the recent leadership changes at one of Nigeria’s financial services giants, the Stanbic IBTC Group.

The Stanbic IBTC Changes Chairman of Stanbic IBTC, Atedo Peterside, and Chief Executive, Mrs. Sola David-Borha, both resigned their appointments to take up new roles in Standard Bank.Yinka Sanni and Demola Sogunle were elevated as CEs of the Holding company and the bank. These changes were done seamlessly, with the precision of a well-drilled military formation, much like the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, United Kingdom.

Indeed, it was obvious there exist a well-honed transition template. The succession template must include a grooming period to prepare each officer for leadership.

Sanni has functioned across the key business units of Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB), Personal and Business Banking (PBB), Asset Management, Pension Administration and Trusteeship in Stanbic IBTC Group.

Sogunle, with over 24 years’experience, has functioned in Treasury, Risk and Compliance, Investor Relations and Pensions, among others. The new helmsmen are fully couched in the ethics and culture of the Stanbic IBTC Group and will no doubt adapt readily to their new

roles as they looked to consolidate on the Stanbic IBTC strengthen. As a result, Peterside was“very confident that those behind are more than capable to steer the ship in the right direction.”

Atedo Peterside’s Legacy The important role played by the erstwhile chairman in ensuring the business growth and market relevance through the institution of a robust succession plan cannot be overemphasised. Indeed, Peterside’s legacy at Stanbic IBTC is not only profound, it is worthy of constant celebration. To fully appreciate his indelible imprint, it is important to put in perspective the key role he played in transforming Stanbic IBTC to what it is today.

Peterside founded what is today Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC (then IBTC) in 1989 at age 33. As Chief Executive Officer of the Bank from inception until 2007, he was able to achieve an unprecedented growth, which saw the organisation became the number one investment bank in the country. Following the CBN-mandated banking consolidation of 2005, IBTC became Stanbic IBTC and Peterside transitioned seamlessly from CEO to chairman of the bank from 2007 until 2012, and later chairman of Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC till March 2017.

To his lasting credit, Peterside built Stanbic IBTC on the principles of equal opportunity, where every employee with the right qualifications has equal chance at career growth and leadership, regardless of their background. This dispassionate approach threw up Sola David-Borha to replace him and now Sanni and Sogunle wield the authority. This was totally against the “conventional practice” where a founder grooms and positions a family member or someone from his region to replace him.

His influence permeates the financial services industry and his expertise at projecting his bank and the industry beyond the country earned him local and international acclaim.“Over the years, I’ve come to appreciate Atedo’s style and the culture that he has created at Stanbic IBTC. I have come to appreciate his immense value and be inspired by his person. He has taught me the power of an integrated life. I’ve observed the seamless way in which he integrates his knowledge of Nigerian, African and Global financial services, his passion for good corporate and civic governance, his family and national identity,” Chief Executive, Standard Bank Group, Sim Tshabalala, said of Peterside.

To underline the respect he commands and his passion for corporate governance, the Securities and

Exchange Commission in 2003 appointed Peterside to head a Committee set up to develop a Code of Best Practices for Public Companies in Nigeria. The code, which was voluntary, was expected to entrench good business practices, accountability, corporate discipline and transparency in companies.

Avoiding Lopsided Succession Planning One common mistake of succession planning is often to focus only on the C-suite, the top echelon, while neglecting the middle and low level staff. This leaves gaping leadership holes when the time comes for an organisation to promote internal candidates into C-suite roles. To prepare an organisation for the future, there should be a deliberate succession planning for every step in the organization’s hierarchy.

Beyond the top echelon, Stanbic IBTC has shown it has a robust succession plan, encompassing every aspect of the business, in place, no doubt, drawing from Standard Bank’s vast experience and knowledge in succession planning and corporate governance. In the various business units, CIB, Wealth and PBB, internal talents are regularly given the opportunity to lead the line. For instance, when Sogunle moved to the bank, a talent from within took charge as chief executive of Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers. It was a similar story at the stockbroking arm of the business.

Stanbic IBTC Group has always prided itself as an equal opportunity organisation, a place where everybody is given the opportunity to aspire to leadership; where staff are exposed to quality and regular trainings to update their knowledge and skills, starting from its graduate training academy, where new intakes are exposed to the institution’s work ethics and core values, to the executive training programmes in Nigeria and overseas.

Staff equally gain valuable cross-border experience and skills via postings to the different countries across Africa where the group operates.

Benefits of Succession Planning Succession planning benefits all stakeholders: owners of the business in terms of attraction and retention of high quality talents; employees in terms of trust in the business and possibility of attaining the highest positions; trade partners in terms of consistency and processes; clients in terms of quality service; investors in terms of a strong brand; and above all, the business in terms of stability and ability to innovative and grow and attract the best minds in the industry.

Indeed, the business stability that a well-articulated succession plan engenders cannot be overemphasised.

Stanbic IBTC has benefitted immensely in terms of growth as staff continue to show an uncommon dedication to duty and a passion to help project the Stanbic IBTC brand.

The financial scorecard over the past few years also showed a consistently impressive performance. Many of the subsidiaries have become market leaders and continue to show strong performances. Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers, for instance, grew to become the largest pension fund administrator in Nigeria and continues to consolidate this leadership, with asset under management now in excess of N1.8 trillion and over one million retirement savings account holders signed on. Stanbic IBTC Stockbrokers won the Nigerian Stock Exchange CEO Award for three consecutive years to 2016 for its strong performances in trading at the exchange. Stanbic IBTC Asset Management Limited currently has under its management the Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund, Nigeria’s largest mutual fund, among other leading mutual and ethical funds.

In recognition of Stanbic IBTC’s strong corporate governance practices, strong liquidity position, highly trained workforce and adoption of technology to drive its processes, Fitch Ratings recently reaffirmed the triple A national ratings of the bank and its holding company, a rating it has consistently achieved over the past three years.

It is equally clear from the Stanbic IBTC example that succession planning is not about imposing a family member on the business, in the wrong notion that the founder’s interest is better protected. That is often the case with many businesses in the country. What usually happens in such a situation is that disenchantment sets in leading to the loss of the best hands.

The Great Place to Work Institute, a global research/ consulting firm which produces the Fortune 100 Best Companies list in the US and similar lists in other countries, defines great workplaces as“companies where employees trust the people they work with, take pride in their work and enjoy a good relationship with their colleagues. Companies that constantly feature on the Fortune 100 Best Companies list like Google, Cisco, etc. are companies with solid succession plans, whom employees trust to provide a “degree of support for their personal and professional lives.”“ The bottom line is, organisational growth is a function of great leadership. So, it is important for businesses to be intentional about who leads the organisation in say 15,20,25 years from today. That is the only way great institutions that transcend owners, generations, periods and eras are built.

25

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R • MAY 14 2017

TRAVEL

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

Ethiopian Airlines Leads Singapore’s Charm Offensive in Nigeria The Singapore Tourism Board recently showcased delights awaiting Nigerian tourists in the Southeast Asian country at an event in Lagos. However, tour operators highlighted a burning issue that needs to be addressed, reports Demola Ojo for tourist dollars. This asides the fact English is the official language. Another selling point is the city-state’s multiculturalism which is reflected in its cuisine, art and architecture. It is a shopper’s paradise, a family destination with a vibrant nightlife all wrapped into a carefully-planned green city.

Singapore is also big on nature and wildlife and offers night and river safaris, with a quarter of the 2,800 animals in its world famous zoo are considered threatened.

Singapore hosts many sports events with the Formula One race at Marina Bay one of the biggest.

Held in September, it is usually the best time to enjoy the country as so many events are held around this time, including concerts featuring the world’s biggest entertainers. Of course this also translates to paying a premium for hotel rooms.

The Singapore Grand Prix is unique because it is a street race held at night. The racing cars drive through the streets rather than a racecourse. It means tourists can see the race from their hotel rooms. This year will mark the 10th anniversary of the Grand Prix at Marina Bay, so it’s expected to be bigger than ever.

Another smart move by Singapore to attract tourists is by positioning itself as a gateway to other countries in Southeast Asia through cruise holidays. There are packages that enable tourists see up to five other countries in the region including Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Cambodia and more.

Changi Airport in Singapore is a destination in itself. Being such a tiny country made up of dozens of islands, all flights are international flights. Due to its location (and vision) it is a major hub connecting east to west and one of the world’s busiest airports. Changi the airport with the most awards in the world and amenities like a rooftop swimming pool for traveller’s to relax is just one of many reasons why.

Rooftop infinity pool at Marina Bay Sands Singapore

A

new drive to entice Nigerian tourists to Singapore is being spearheaded by Ethiopian Airlines in collaboration with the Singapore Tourism Board.

Africa’s leading airline (fleet size, fleet age, connections and more) has being making commercial flights into Nigeria from the time of Nigeria’s independence.

As an organization that preaches pan-African, Ethiopian Airlines has made its mandate to connect Africa to the rest of the world. It flies to 94 international destinations and more destinations in Africa than any other airline. In recent times, it has helped ease access to Far East destinations like Japan and China.

The airline serves Nigeria from four locations (Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Enugu) with the most

modern planes in the world; the Airbus A350, the Boeing 777 and 787 Dreamliner.

Ethiopian recently announced plans to reinstate flights from Addis to Changi Airport in Singapore.

Starting June 1, Ethiopian will fly to Singapore five times a week. Marrying Africa’s leading travellers with one of the world’s most attractive destinations makes good business sense; especially when the pitch includes reduced time of travel between Nigeria and Singapore at more competitive rates.

In a bid to showcase what Singapore has to offer Nigerians, key travel personnel from the Asian country were present in Lagos last week for a roadshow that attracted leading tour operators in Nigeria and the travel media. The roadshow was a collaboration between Ethiopian Airlines and the Singapore Tourism Board.

Representing the four main nationalities in the multi-cultural country (Chinese, Malay,

Indian and Eurasian) were Neo Wei Shan, a manager at Changi Airport, Sidney Chua and Dilshaad Buhariwata from the two leading tour companies in Singapore, and Mohammed Firhan, Area Director Middle East and Africa for the Singapore Tourism Board. Together, they sold Destination Singapore to all present.

Singapore’s Allure Despite being a small island of 5.5 million inhabitants, Singapore welcomed 16.4 million tourists last year, more than three times its population. However, the percentage of that number from Nigeria and Africa in general is minute; it is a number the Tourism Board will like to see increase.

Being an all-year round destination with a tropical climate is just one of the many advantages Singapore has over other destinations competing

The Visa Snag After the presentations which wowed the audience, Nigeria’s leading travel agents and tour operators were unanimous in their observation.

They all concluded that Singapore isn’t a hard sell and doesn’t even need much marketing because the product is world class. However, the difficulty in getting visas, even for high net worth individuals, has limited the number of Nigerian tourists to Singapore. Businessmen have had to contend with single entry visas, including those who have visited up to twenty times, while the High Commission doesn’t sit in Nigeria.

If the visa process is seamless they suggested, there would be a stream of Nigerian tourists to Singapore, with E-visa being the answer. “It is the prerogative of the immigration authorities in Singapore,” Mohammed Firhan said. “We’re in dialogue with them to ease the visa process not only for Nigeria, but for other parts of Africa.”

US Laptop Ban to Extend to European Flights

T

he US laptop ban prohibiting travellers from certain Middle East countries from bringing laptops and other electronic devices on flights to the US as carry-on luggage is“likely” to be extended to include some countries in Europe, according to media reports citing government officials.

News agency Reuters is reporting that six US and European officials have said they expect the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to make an announcement on expanding the

ban soon, though specifics of when this will be remain unclear. Government officials have been meeting with US airlines on a nearly weekly basis to discuss the topic and a decision could come in the next few weeks, according to CBS News.

It currently remains unclear which European countries could be included in the expanded laptop ban, though media reports suggest the UK could be among them. The New York Times, meanwhile, is reporting that the ban could be extended to all flights to the US from Europe.

Last month, Homeland Security secretary John F Kelly told a US Senate committee that the

laptop ban could be expanded to include more airports. According to reports, one of the key factors under consideration is how to ensure a large number of lithium batteries, which are used in laptops and tablet devices, don’t combust when stored in aircraft holds. Many airlines currently have restrictions on placing spare lithium batteries in checked baggage.

If confirmed, the move would expand the electronics ban that the Trump administration imposed back in March, restricting travellers on flights from ten airports in the Middle East from bringing electronic devices larger than smartphones onto flights in carry-on. The UK

followed suit on the ban shortly after, though it targeted slightly different routes from those affected by the US ban.

In response to the ban many airlines, including Emirates, Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines, began offering free laptops and iPads or laptop handling services to travellers on affected flights.

It remains to be seen whether affected airlines flying to the US from Europe would implement similar policies in the event of an expansion of the ban.

Full details of the restrictions currently in place on flights to the US can be seen on the Department of Homeland Security website.

26

MAY 14, 2017

• THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

INFOGRAPH

ADVERTISEMENT

FG's 2017 BUDGET As Approved by the National Assembly FISCAL FRAMEWORK Deficit

N2.35tn Capital Expenditure Other Revenue

N2.174tn N277bn 5.59% INCREASE OVER 2017 PROPOSED BUDGET

Other FG Recoveries

N206bn Recurrent Expenditure (Non Debt)

BUDGET SIZE

Domestic Recoveries, Asset +Fine

N7.44tn

N2.64tn

N262bn Debt Servicing VAT ( FG's Share)

N1.663tn

N242bn Sinking Fund ( Bonds)

N178bn Revenue from FAAC (FG's Share) Statutory Transfers

N3.29tn

N434bn

4.31% INCREASE OVER 2017 PROPOSED BUDGET

3.58% INCREASE OVER 2017 PROPOSED BUDGET

FG Independent Revenue

Special Intervention

N808bn

IN

N350bn

OUT

N5.08tn N7.44tn TOTAL REVENUE

TOTAL EXPENDITURE Infographics by:

Source: NASS info@eienigeria

EiEnigeria

@EiEnigeria

info@yourbudgit.com

BudgITng

@BudgITng

www.yourbudgit.com

27

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R • may 14, 2017

MARKET NEWS

MorganCapital to Facilitate Fund Raising for Omoluabi Mortgage Bank Goddy Egene MorganCapital Group is to lead a consortium of investment banks that will facilitate the process of raising fresh funds for Omoluabi Mortgage Bank Plc. The fund raising exercise will solidify the bank and enable it transform to national mortgage bank.

Chairman, Omoluabi Mortgage Bank Plc, Alhaji Adebayo Jimoh disclosed this after sounding the closing gong at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) in Lagos recently.

According to him, the bank has its eyes set on becoming a national mortgage bank and will therefore undergo a fundraising activity anytime soon, with a consortium of investment banks led by MorganCapital Group to activate the process.

“With the impending investment inflow into the mortgage sector, the bank is positioning itself to maximize such opportunity effectively.

The transformation in the bank is not going unnoticed

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

while corporate governance has improved greatly. The quality of management staff has also improved. The bank is currently one of the most liquid mortgage banks in the sector with quality risk assets,” Jimoh said.

The board and management team of the bank were received by the Executive Director, Capital Markets, NSE Mr. Haruna Jalo-Waziri to share the expansion and growth strategies of the bank.

Speaking on the

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

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

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

GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 11-May-2017, unless otherwise stated.

development, the Chief Executive Officer, MorganCapital Group, Mr. Olumuyiwa Adeyemi, said the market was excited that an investment bank of MorganCapital competence is involved in this transaction.

“Our Group provides a comprehensive range of investment banking and financial advisory services to private, public sector, corporate, and institutional clients, while we also focus on providing unbiased financial advisory and investment banking services to

individuals and institutions that are seeking to invest in Africa or already involved in investing in Africa,” he said.

Omoluabi Mortgage Bank Plc, which is a state primary mortgage institution, was formally wholly owned by the Osun State Government.

However, the state government divested from the Bank in 2013 same year the bank did a fundraising via initial public offer which further diluted the interest of the state in the bank. The bank was listed on

the Nigerian Stock Exchange in 2014 and has since been performing optimally.

On the hand, MorganCapital is a full fledge investment banking, securities trading and principal investments firm, with licenses from the Nigerian Securities & Exchange Commission and the NSE. The company provides a comprehensive range of investment banking and financial advisory services to private, public sector, corporate, and institutional clients.

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 144.85 145.69 14.16% Nigeria International Debt Fund 224.15 225.31 4.24% 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 0.73 0.74 4.46% 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 18.06% 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 12.82 13.21 3.83% ARM Discovery Fund 299.51 308.54 4.29% ARM Ethical Fund ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 15.62% 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 118.94 119.78 13.08% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 18.09% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 0.00% Paramount Equity Fund 10.27 10.27 6.96% Women's Investment Fund 91.15 91.15 5.06% 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 18.00% 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 1,068.63 1,069.75 5.78% FBN Heritage Fund 120.51 121.36 8.02% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 17.62% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional $108.34 $109.06 5.25% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail $107.99 $108.71 5.63% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 125.57 127.18 11.43% 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 1.07 1.09 14.89% Legacy Short Maturity (NGN) Fund 2.71 2.71 5.56% 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 2,333.26 2,362.55 5.66% Coral Income Fund 2,240.02 2,240.02 6.45% 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 17.45% 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 18.28% Vantage Balanced Fund 1.84 1.86 9.57% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 17.72%

LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.04 1.06 5.02% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,021.30 1,021.30 3.81% 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 10.83 10.91 12.02% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 15.60% 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 1.10 1.13 11.70% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 10.54 10.60 1.38% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 16.84% 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 115.53 116.43 13.45% 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 1.30 1.30 4.12% 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 1,927.96 1,938.26 5.27% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 157.98 157.98 2.61% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.82 0.83 7.14% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 197.05 197.05 5.44% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 136.84 138.73 5.45% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 17.68% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 7,865.79 7,958.14 3.73% 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 1.18 1.19 9.83% United Capital Bond Fund 1.27 1.27 15.36% United Capital Equity Fund 0.67 0.69 2.22% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.11 1.11 11.72% 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 10.90 11.10 12.84% Zenith Ethical Fund 11.68 11.79 6.88% Zenith Income Fund 17.74 17.74 7.36%

REITS

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

11.41 126.75

1.01% 2.24%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

8.73 82.41

8.83 83.95

-0.57% 8.75%

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

3.13 6.71 12.99 16.58 128.86

3.17 6.79 13.09 16.78 130.86

13.57% -4.53% 8.11% 3.93% -0.78%

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.

28

T H I S D AY SUNDAY MAY 14, 2017

A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

14.05.2017

WHEN MUSIC & FOOTBALL FUSED…

30

T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R • May 14, 2017

COVER

Franco Maria Maggi, Kanu Nwankwo and Victor Ikpeba

Yemi Alade on stage

Team Charles

WHEN MUSIC & FOOTBALL FUSED… Nseobong Okon-Ekong and Vanessa Obioha were part of an exclusive audience that witnessed the novelty of blending the entertaining aspects of football into a stream of musical entertainment called The Fusion

N

igerians are known to have three passions, sports-particularly, soccer; entertainment, mainly, music and religion. Because the latter often drives them to giddy heights and insensitive considerations, music and soccer, ironically offers the bond that holds the people as one. Recently, a novelty was introduced into the entertainment scene.

The conceptualizers executed an ingenious project by capitalizing on the advertised craving of Nigerians-soccer and music. To be sure, it was not the first attempt by a brand to benefit from the proclivity of Nigerians towards entertainment and lifestyle products.

However, with the ever changing trend in pop cultures, the stakes get higher.

Thus, the strive to reinvent the wheel and maintain market dominance remains a constant race. This seemed to be the clear motivation for Star Lager beer, the flagship beer brand from Nigerian Breweries Plc. Over the years, Star has not

kept consumers entertained with such sparkling television commercials like ‘Be star bright for life’, its recent ‘shine shine bobo’ jingle caught the mood on the street.

Arguably, the Star beer brand has done more for music than any other Nigerian brand, sustaining a couple of musical entertainment products for more than a decade. Its recent history in this respect includes the launch of Nigeria’s pioneer mobile music platform, Star Music.

Nigerian Breweries’ Marketing Director, Mr Walter Drenth, described it as an avenue of positive engagement for music consumers in Nigeria.

Star is credited with the creation of one the most credible music talent hunt shows called, Star Quest, which was rested after running for 12 years. The show which birthed in 2002 provided the much needed platform for KC Presh, Asa, Psquare, Timaya and Mr. Raw who have since become superstars. It produced winners like KC Presh (2002), D’Accord (2006), D’Jewels (2007), Diamonds (2008), The Pulse (2009), JukeBox (2010), D’Beat (2011), and Crystals (2012).

As entertaining and engaging as Star Quest was, it was replaced with, Star The Winner Is, which combined musical talent with the spontaneity and unpredictability of a game show. It was not the first time, Star would wrench a tasty musical offering from the mouth of hungry Nigerians. Star Mega Jams, an annual world class concert featuring international musicians from around the world, performing side-by-side with Nigerian superstars was cancelled after 10 years.

The Star Mega Jam concerts had presented performances by international renown musicians like Awilo Logomba, Shaggy, Usher Raymond, Koffi Olumide, Ja Rule, Kevin Little, LL Cool J, Aeon, Kanye West, T-Pain, Nas, Nelly, Busta Rhymes, Ludacris and R.Kelly. Many watchers of the Nigerian entertainment scene argue that the Star Mega Jam platform provided Nigerian musicians the confidence the needed to go global, particularly striking working relationships that resulted in musical collaborations. Last week, its pan Nigerian concert, Star Music Trek, which brought entertainment to rural

cities across the country, availing local and upcoming artistes an opportunity to be on the spotlight with superstars artistes, has been swept into history.

On the football scene, Star has consistently sponsored broadcast of international soccer matches over the years. It delighted football fans with Star Super Fans Show and took it a notch higher by partnering with notable European football clubs, particularly the ones with huge fan base in Nigeria.

Having identified with these two vocations that pool crowd as well as entertain, its latest trump card is a fusion of both fields in a splendid combination that will possibly signpost its dominance of these fields of entertainment and leisure.

The script seemed interesting and innovative. Named ‘Star Music the Fusion’, the concept revolves round a series of music and football concerts that combines the fun and excitement of Star Music Trek and Star Super Fans show on one platform.

Six teams comprising of a football legend or On-Air Personality, two top

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COVER

L-R: Colin Udoh, Franco Maria Maggi, 2Baba, Anne Chijiene and Jayjay Okocha

Que Peller

music artistes and a DJ will compete in three music concerts across Nigeria which the fans will decide an eventual winner through a voting process. The six teams will be named after the brand’s partnered football clubs: Arsenal, Manchester City, Real Madrid, PSG, Juventus and Barcelona.

For its first outing, the organisers put up panoply of music, football and fashion last weekend. The Balmoral Marquee of the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos where the event held to a captive audience of football and music fans, was transformed into a befitting setting embellished with designs that depict football and music.

The spectacle began right outside the Marquee. A green rug similar to a football field with a five-a-aside post tempted guests to try their soccer skills on the pitch.

Those with stiff joints were attracted to the human-like sculptures of footballers donning the jersey of different EUFA clubs. Not a few of the guests stopped by to take selfies with the sculpted football idols. The hallway had a life of its own. This is where guests were welcome to a world painted in blue; blue being the colour of the brand, Star: The blue carpet, blue posters of the different teams on the wall with the blue illumination combined beautifully to create a sobering blue effect. If a guest did not go any further, he would still have a good hint what the event was about. A DJ was dishing out hot music and there were a few round leathers on the floor. Even those who would not normally kick a ball could not do otherwise when the round object of play rolled on their path. At least, they tapped on it to get it out of the way.

Everyone carried the air of a celebrity, what with the strong urge to pose for photographs.

As one is wont to do before going into the arena for a football match or a concert,

there were smartly dressed vendors in a shimmering blue outfit inviting guests to purchase dockets for drinks and fingers foods.

Inside the main hall, it was a struggle to get a seat. Most of the white seats were taken. Thanks to the early birds who thronged the venue on time despite the over two-hour delay. The stage was dimly lit with the live band and back-up singers silhouetted. The attention was supposed to be on them, as it were. The stage screens would later be used for aesthetics and videos as well as displaying actions on the stage.

Expectedly, ace comedian and compere Gbenga Adeyinka, was the host of the night. After his opening remarks, he introduced the String Quartet who entertained the audience with two performances. Then the first team of the night, Team Victor Ikpeba, took centre stage. In this team were Humblesmith, the Osinachi crooner, Mavins star, Korede Bello, and DJ Big N. They represented Manchester United. For some reason, Ikpeba seemed lost in the first few minutes of his introduction. It appeared as if his teammates were not following the script.

After much back and forth on stage, he left the stage and a troupe of dancers stormed in.

They tried to re-enact each football scene on the screen which showed mainly the tackle on the field as well as the cheers that accompany a goal. After their performance, it was time for the other members of the team to perform.

Humblesmith and Koredo Bello dished out their favourite songs with the live band. Ikpeba set the pattern for what was to happen the rest of the night. Each team leader would come on stage to the accompaniment of the team’s anthem, playing on the screen. It was Manchester United’s ‘Glory glory Man U’ that walked Ikpeba on stage.

The following teams performed in similar transitions with each team vying to give an outstanding presentation through their themes, costumes and performances.

Team Kanu Nwankwo representing Arsenal FC played with royalty. The football legend waltzed on to the stage in a shimmering robe. After his royal entrance, his dancers interpreted a cheerleaders theme. Playing on his heart foundation, a heartbeat sound echoed in the hall before his team mate the Mushin-born musician, Wande Coal came on stage to perform his popular song ‘The Kick’. His performance segued into Yemi Alade’s who, by the way, glowed in her ensemble.

The next team on the block was Team Colin Udoh. Collin is a sports journalist and television presenter. His team stood for Barcelona FC. The team boasted of music artistes FalztheBahdGuy, Reekado Banks and DJ Lambo. Their presentation relied mostly on Falz’s performance.

Anne Chijiene, former goalkeeper for the Nigerian female football team was the only team led by a woman. She was loudly applauded. Her team represented Juventus FC. Her dancers dressed in a cameo uniform performed the defunct Destiny Child’s song ‘Survivor’. Her team mates, musicians, Adekunle Gold and Ycee did enough to dazzle the crowd with their captivating performances which brought the crowd to their feet while DJ Neptune scratched the wheels of steel.

It seemed the writers of the script deliberately favoured Team Jay Jay Okocha which represented the French team, PSG. Jay Jay was allowed the privilege of talking more than any other team leader. From him, the audience got the hint that the night will hit a climactic, dramatic end. What followed was a combination of a mini fashion show with models on stage, a magic stunt from Que Peller and the electrifying performances from iconic artiste 2Baba and Kiss

Daniel, including a surprise remix of Kiss Daniel’s ‘Woju’ by 2Baba, and a show of football juggling skills by the team leader.

Notwithstanding, it was Jay Jay’s speech about borrowing his name to iconic American rapper Jay Z that got people laughing.

However, Team Charles Anazodo comprising ‘JAMB Question’ singer, Simi, Chairman of Chocolate City, MI, and DJ Sose who represented Real Madrid FC that gave the outstanding performance of the night. The script required them to simulate goings-on at a bar when enjoying a game of football. The setting was not only intimate but creative, as well.

Their presentation kicked off with the host Adeyinka engaging Charles Anazodo in a chat about the uniqueness of his club Real Madrid. While Charles reeled out his answers, two ballet dancers danced, salsa style, to the club anthem playing on the screen. They were immediately followed by another group of dancers who danced to DJ Sose’s mix of Chris Brown ft Lil Wayne and Busta Rhymes ‘Look at me Now’. A small interlude saw Simi looking all seductive in her shimmering outfit being asked by Gbenga what she knows about her club. Her answer was to launch into one of her popular hit ‘Jamb Question’ which she unfortunately didn’t deliver well. She appeared to be the weak link in the team. Nevertheless, M.I. was able to increase the tempo with his energetic performance. Dishing out a medley of his popular songs like ‘Africa Rapper No 1’, ‘Anoti’, he set the roof on fire as the crowd went crazy, jumping, screaming, singing his lyrics back to him as if they wrote the song. The whole hall went into a frenzy with his performance.

Not a few waited for the overall winning team to be announced, but that was not to be the case. It seemed a faulty voting metric robbed..

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entertainMent

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

Why VVIP Returned to Kennis Music Nseobong Okon-Ekong

K

ennis Music has announced its readiness to work with Ghanaian hip-life group, VVIP, (formerly VIP-Vision in Progress) who it introduced to the Nigerian market many years ago when they came out with Ahomka Womu which became a monster and continental hit. After that it seemed everything went quiet. VVIP went commercial in 1998. VVIP has transformed from being a four member group to a three-man band, following the exit of Promzy. However, Joseph Nana Ofori (Prodigal), Abdul Hamid Ibrahim (Lazzy now Zeal) and Reggie Rockstone are keeping the flag flying.

Recently, has released another hit which is making waves in Ghana. It has also recorded a wave-making single called ‘Alhaji’ with Nigerian superstar, dancehall and regge artiste, Patoranking.

The ‘Alhaji’ song caught the ear of Kenny Ogungbe, CEO of Kennis Music who got in touch with them. “What are you guys doing?,” he inquired of them.

The line of communication was open.

The group sent all the promotional materials required to make the music known in Nigeria and Kennis went about promoting it.

Mr. Ogungbe returned to Nigeria from the United States of America in the 90s with his friend, Dayo Adeneye. Together they hosted a radio show on Raypower FM. The show went on to television.

The duo would later form a music label which has been credited with shaping a certain era of Nigerian music by shaping the career of artistes like 2Baba, The Remedies, Sound Sultan, Eedie Remedy etc.

Kenni who is fondly called ‘Baba Keke’ holds the rank of a director and non-executive director at Daar Communications, owners of AIT and

FUJI SUPERSTARS OBESERE, MALAIKA SPICE UP LAGOS INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL Inspiro productions organizers of the annual Lagos International Jazz festival (LIJF) pulled off another feat not only by parading over 50 musicians on their stage but also by the inclusion to their lineup two of Nigeria’s indigenous music heavyweights of the Fuji genre, paramount king of fuji Obesere & fuji superstar Malaika. The three day event was part of celebrations to mark the 50thanniversary of Lagos at the festival themed 505050JAZZ Lagos@50 special edition. The event though very successfully executed wasn’t without its own share of hitches which the organizers expertly addressed as they appeared to deliver yet another grand event. The event was planned to climax at the end of The April Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM) which happened to be on April 30 International Jazz Day celebrated worldwide. Prior to the main festival, three Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM) session events and three empowerment workshops were conducted at various venues in the city including the SPAN academy of Jazz & contemporary music, The Posh Renaissance Hotel GRA Ikeja, Southpaw Lounge Gbagada, and Industry Nite at The Spice Route Victoria Island, Lagos. This year also the festival committed to raise funds to support two charities namely The Down Syndrome Nigeria Foundation and Sesor Foundation for Internally Displaced Persons.

The main festival was held at the Freedom Park, Lagos Island and kicked off on Friday the 28th April with exciting performances from Jazz & Jazz related artistes like master percussionist Samson Iroko, fellow of London School of music saxophonist Olumide Shobowale, soft rock and alternative music guitarist Nathmac, Piano Duke, master bassists duo D-Bass & Joshua Fashina (Agbar Joshu), Ajaga Master Ade Piper, Clintonic the violinist, Celeste, Wole Jesutomi and trumpeter Jesse Ibidun. Day two of the

VVIP

Raypower has recently announced the birth of his own private radio station, Kennis 104.1FM. He told this reporter at a public function recently that he has the understanding of VVIP to return to Kennis music, but he would not disclose the duration of the working relationship.

“It is going to be the same relationship as we first signed. They have a record company in Ghana called Vision in Progress and again, they are international acts based in Accra, Ghana. But in Nigeria, Kennis Music is their record label meaning Kennis Music will promote, market and sell their works in Nigeria. If anybody is interested in having VVIP, you’ll call Kennis Music. Even if you call them, they will say call Kennis Music. We can then negotiate and bring them back to Nigeria for performances.”

Kenny Ogungbe

Naijazz Highlife Trombonist Femislide & His Band Performing At the Lagos International Jazz Festival 2017 505050JAZZ Lagos@50 Special Edition festival fielded artistes like Afro Gospel Sensation Kenny Kore, Ace Saxophonist Dotun Dina, Afro-Highlife Trombonist Femi Slide, Nathan, Oluchi, Multiple Percussionist Aje Band & Saxophonist Justin Ige perform. The third day and grand finale of the festival was well attended, lived up to its billings and wore well into the early hours of the morning with an array of acts which included the Organic Jazz Band, Bass Master Bright Gain featuring Jojo Body Beats, Afrocentric musician Elfreda, dynamic Afrobeat/Highlife Multi–Instrumentalist Seun Olota, KenBaze, Damilare Sax, Afro-Jazz/Highlife Guitarist Adeh and the delectable Moyeen. The audience were in ecstasy when the paramount King of Fuji Music Obesere mounted the stage about 11pm. For over an hour he thrilled the crowd with hits from his repertoire over the years which surprisingly had generality of the crowd sing and dance to. As his performance ended the Fuji superstar Malaika

and his orchestra of native percussions and other musicians got onstage to close the festival. His was a superlative performance and magnificent crowning of the 3 day 505050JAZZ Lagos@50 Special edition of the festival. Also during the event and in a rare display of solidarity the LIJF founder Ayoola Sadare welcomed on stage the founder of Satchmo Jazz Dolapo Ajayi who had just organized an international jazz day event at Othello’s lounge in the city. PMAN national president Pretty Okafor also mounted the stage to give his brief goodwill message to the audience and organisers. When asked why the choice and addition of indigenous artistes especially the fuji musicians to this year’s lineup, festival director and LIJF founder Ayoola Sadare said “we decided to look inwards to recognize and honour our own indigenous music and musicians that are making a mark no matter the genre. The likes of fuji, apala, sakara, juju, afrobeat, highlife and others are our own Jazz or what

we have termed NAIJAZZ. Other countries celebrate their musicians on their stages and we shouldn’t be the exception.” Sadare further stated “as a tourism based international event, we are developing a tourism and cultural offering that visitors can’t get anywhere in the world except on our stage.

As the festival progresses hereafter we hope to be able to add more of our rich cultural and indigenous genres from all part of the country to the offering so that international patrons who should form a large part of our audience can experience and enjoy our own blend of contemporary indigenous music. The Jazz component will not be removed but complemented with these various genres. It’s dynamic, innovative and of course relevant. It also allows the music to reach other audiences that it would not normally not get to. Many collaborations and partnerships have already been formed from this festival and we are satisfied”.

The LIJF 505050JAZZ Lagos@50 Special Edition festival was supported by Helping Hands International, PMAN, Freedom Park, Megapluxglobal, Configure Systems, Nineplus Afrika Limited, Efizzi Worldwide and Ultrasight.

AFRICA COMMUNICATIONS WEEK Africa Communications Week, an annual global campaign open to communications professionals with an African focus/expertise is scheduled to host a series of conferences, workshops and webinars around the world to encourage Africa focused communications professionals to connect, engage and reflect on the role of communications in Africa’s development.

A special report examining the impact of communications on Africa’s development will be published featuring the research and informed opinions of communication experts from over 40 countries. The Nigerian leg of the event will hold on May 27, which is globally celebrated as Africa Day. AfricaCommsWeek is powered by a virtual international team of multi-talented communications professionals who share a

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ENTERTAINMENT vision for transformative change in Africa through strategic communications.

KUNLE AFOLAYAN PREMIERES ROTI Rave filmmaker, Kunle Afolayan has dazzled fans with another master piece titled ‘Roti’. The film which screened to the public for the first time as part of the Lagos@50 celebrations, received a rousing applause during a glamorous premiere at the Filmhouse IMAX Cinema, Lekki, Lagos.

“Does reincarnation really exist? This is one of the things that bothers me at times, and this thought has just been put out in this movie,” said Afolayan, during the curtain call. The film is one of the three projects produced through a collaborative effort of Africa Magic and Afolayan’s Golden Effects Pictures.

‘Roti’ tells the story of a couple battling with the loss of their only son, Roti.

Years after they lost him to a brief illness, the wife finds a boy called Juwon, too identical not to be their dead son. She initially receives the experience in wonder and hope of a reunited future with her dead son, but, after she discovers roughly that Juwon is entirely not her dead son, she is washed anew by grief, depression and desperation.

Her desperation spirals for the worst as the decision-making on her future with Juwon becomes rather irrational and reckless. The film features Kunle Afolayan, Kate Henshaw, Toyin Oshinaike, Faithia Balogun and Afolayan’s son, Dari in his debut movie role.

According to Afolayan, the movie will be released in cinemas across the nation from June 30, 2017. Last Friday’s premiere of ‘Roti’ followed the release of ‘Omugwo’ currently showing in the cinemas, while the third film in line, “Tribuna’ is expected to be out within the year.

YEMI ALADE HAS THE VOICE Renowned Nigerian songstress, Yemi Alade, has been confirmed as the newest star to occupy the famous red chair as a coach on Season Two of The Voice Nigeria.

Ms. Alade joins the trio of Timi Dakolo, Patoranking and Waje who reprise their roles as coaches who critique contestants’ performances and guide their teams of selected artistes through the remainder of the season whilst also competing to ensure that their act wins the competition.

Speaking on Yemi Alade’s addition to the panel, the Director, M-Net West Africa, Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu, said: “Yemi Alade is widely recognized as one of Nigeria’s biggest musical exports with incredible appeal across the continent and in other international markets. Not only is she an amazing vocalist, Yemi is also recognised for her energetic and entertaining performances on stage. We are thrilled to have her join The Voice and we cannot wait for the contestants and our viewers to experience her on the show.”

Yemi Alade replaces another ace Nigerian musician, Innocent Idibia, popularly known as Tubaba, who leaves the show to pursue other commitments. Since its original launch in 2010, The Voice has won audiences in countries like the US, Australia, South Africa and the UK, where other renowned artistes have occupied the show’s famous red chairs as coaches. In the first season, A’rese of #teamwaje emerged victorious winning the grand prize of an SUV and a recording contract with Universal Music.

Auditions for the second season of The

. Kanayo O. Kanayo flanked by Juliet Ibrahim (left) and Mercy Johnson Okojie

Basketmouth, Bovi Bring Laffta Fest to Owerri

By Yinka Olatunbosun

The Trade and Investment Centre in Owerri received a huge crowd of jubilating residents of the Imo State capital when the Glo sponsored Laffta Fest comedy anchored its ship filled with humour merchants in the city. Some of funny men who brought their rib cracking skills to Owerri include Bright Okpocha popularly known as Basketmouth and Bovi Ugboma while svelte Juliet Ibrahim and Nollywood diva, Mercy Johnson Okojie anchored the show. The customer-reward show also paraded AB Simple, 2CanTalk and Senator.

Another comedian who performed at the show, Frank the Don averred that Globacom is contributing its own quota to busting stress among the populace with the introduction of Glo Laffta Fest. He opined that Globacom should be appreciated for its role, without which the effect of the harsh economy would have been more biting on the populace and practitioners of the entertainment industry.

In the same vein, Nollywood legends including Patience Ozokwor popularly known as Mama G, Kanayo O. Kanayo (KOK),

Ace comedian, Basketmouth, Glo Subscriber, Imelda Anumber, Comedian, Bovi and Glo Subscriber, Joy Okoro

NCAC TEAMS UP WITH BOI The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the National Council for Arts and Culture

Yemi Alade Voice Nigeria recently held across Nigeria in Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt and Enugu, and preparations are in top gear for the show’s return to television.

Angela Okorie and Victor Osuagwu made guest appearances which excited the already charged crowd to no end. The show similarly compensated its subscribers in different categories. For instance, early arrivals to the venue went home with exciting Glo-branded gift items. Pius Eke, a student of the University of Technology, Owerri was among the earliest to arrive the venue. Other highlights of the show were dance and quiz competitions. In the dance contest, Favour Arinze, a student, emerged the best dancer in the female category followed closely by Umeh Adaora, a banker who wowed the audience with her dancing skills. In the male category, Anagboso Francis was adjudged the winner while Ani Chinedu emerged as the first runner-up. All four winners went home with exciting branded gifts.

Glo Laffta Fest continues its nationwide tours this Sunday in Warri, Delta State. Other major locations which would host the show in the coming months include Awka, Ikeja, Ikorodu, FESTAC , Ajah, Asaba, Calabar, Enugu, Aba, Suleja, Kubwa, FCT, Ibadan, Ijebu Ode, Abeokuta, Ekpoma, Kaduna, Akure, Lokoja, and Anyigba.

Lekan Babalola

(NCAC) and the Bank of Industry (BoI), which makes available 300 million Naira loan for stakeholders in the Creative Industry, will create 200,000 jobs in the sector. The Minister said this when the Director General of the Council, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, pre-

sented to him the MoU, which was signed earlier in the day.

“I have been reliably informed that top on the list of the benefits that will accrue from this landmark MoU is that it will create over 200,000 jobs for the sector. This is epochal, and it is in line with one of the cardinal programmes of this administration, which is job creation and empowerment. ‘’The MoU will also act as a catalyst for the development of the country’s craft industries, create a financing window and make available loanable funds to be accessed by all NCAC stakeholders, as well as assist the stakeholders in capacity building,” he said.

Alhaji Mohammed said the MoU will equally enhance the capacity of producers of cultural products and services to work towards attaining the standard of modern practice in the packaging of their cultural products, to enable them compete favourably at the global markets and earn the nation’s Artists a decent living.

The Minister commended Otunba Runsewe for putting together ‘’this momentous event’’ just a few days after assuming office as the NCAC DG , and also thanked the Acting MD of BoI, Mr Waheed Olagunju, for his support for the Creative Industry.

In his remarks, Otunba Runsewe described the MOU as a milestone in the creative sector, being the first time in history that the sector will access funds from a financial institution with a single digit interest rate.

“Today, we have come to make a historymaking presentation to the Honourable Minister. Today happens to be a day that will create a change and we are going to tell our story the way it should have been told some few years ago,” he said.

LEKAN BABALOLA EMBARKS ON EBO TOUR Nigerian Grammy award-winning percussionist, Lekan Babalola, has unveiled plans for his 2017 concert series tagged Ebo Tour. Ebo which translates in Babalola’s native Yoruba language as a ‘traditional offering,’ is a beautiful nexus between the percussionist’s funk music and his Ifa way of life. The anticipated concert has been scheduled to tour major cities in the UK from June and will be powered by the Sacred Funk project and his agency, Temple Management Company.

The Ebo Tour kicks-off on Saturday June 17th at Somerfest Festival, Somerset featuring spoken word by Dr. Olu Taiwo. The Sacred Funk train moves to Mostly Jazz And Funk Mosley Park in Birmingham on July 9th. It makes its next stop in Manchester at Band On The Wall on July 27, 2017.

Other schedules include Colchester Arts Centre, Essex on Sunday, September 24thh, Vortex Jazz Club, London on Thursday, September 2017 and The Canteen, Bristol on September 30th. A protégé of the late Fela Kuti, Lekan Babalola has twice won Grammy Awards with artists Ali Faka Toure and Cassandra Wilson. Babalola, who is based in Birmingham, UK, is currently touring the world with the Atomic Bomb - The Music of William Onyeabor featuring the likes of David Byrne (Talking Heads), Money Mark (Beastie Boys), Alexis Taylor (Hot Chips) and many others.

GOD’S CHILDREN GREAT TALENT (GCGT) SEASON 7 PREMIERES TODAY God’s Children Great Talent (GCGT) season 7, Africa’s biggest gospel youth talent competition is set to bring an exceptional viewing experience to your TV screens. The premiere episode airing today will give viewers an opportunity to connect with the contestants and their journey through the regional auditions.

Watch mind-blowing performances of music, comedy, dance and spoken word as presented by children and young people between the ages of 5 and 20 years.

The seventh season of GCGT promises to be phenomenal. Over 5,000 talents participated in the regional auditions held in Port Harcourt, Abuja and Lagos. Only one winner will take home the grand prize of 10 million Naira cash, a brand new car and a 25 million naira management deal.

Speaking ahead of the broadcast premiere today, GCGT celebrity judge Omawumi said; “There are astonishing talents to look out for on this season’s show.

They will leave viewers feeling blessed and amazed.” GCGT is an initiative by City of David Parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God in partnership

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ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

Former US President in Talks for Film Adaptation of His Debut Novel Vanessa Obioha

Bill Clinton has his eyes on Hollywood and he’s very serious about it. He is already talking to filmmakers about his upcoming book ‘The President is Missing’ which he co-wrote with renowned author James Patterson. Clinton who has written three books since he left the White House in 2001 has been a great admirer of Patterson’s works and an avid reader of mystery and thrillers. The pair started working on the book late last year, immediately

after the election. While details of the plot is scant, the former President is bringing his experience in the White House and with the creative touch of Patterson, the book promises to be a bestseller.

Although the book is set to debut in June 2018, the pair is already talking to Hollywood film makers for a possible book-to-film project. They have already retained CAA’s Richard Lovett to handle the rights. There will also be a book tour and media interviews to promote the book.

Clinton

HAND-DRAWN MAP OF DISNEYLAND UP FOR AUCTION A map of Disneyland drawn by Walt Disney and a friend Herb Ryman in 1953 is headed to auction on June 25. Described as a frantic effort by Disney to secure a funding to build Disneyland back then, the roughly three feet by five feet map depicts areas of the fantasy land that did and did not materialise in the final layout. For instance, in the original map, there was supposed to be a Lilliputian land. There is also the present-day castle which was originally positioned in the corner instead of the centre. Van Eaton whose gallery is the venue for the auction estimates that the pencil-and-ink drawing could fetch between $750,000 to $1 million. The map is said to belong to a Disneyana collector, Ron Clark who bought it from a former Disney employee Grenade Curran.

CANNES AND NETFLIX FACE-OFF Ahead of its opening on May 17, Cannes finds itself at war with Netflix over the streaming service recalcitrance not to show its two movies ‘Okja’ and ‘The Meyerowitz Brothers’ vying for the Palme D’Or in the festival at French theatres. Netflix has been a sticker to its rules of either showing movies by streaming and theatre or streaming only. Its decision not to have a French theatrical release apparently upset the French audience. In its defence, Netflix argued that the film will be open to subscribers on its platform since a French rule requires a 36-month delay between a film’s release in theatres and on streaming platforms. It also accused Cannes of establishing a closing rank.

But the festival organisers said they have tried to ask Netflix to bend its rule and allow the films to be released in theatres in France but to no avail. It is against this background that the festival added a new rule which requires that all future competition films will have to commit to distribution in French movie theatres. Meanwhile, French cinema owners criticised Netflix for not fully participating in France’s unique system in which a percentage of box office revenues go toward funding new films.

Late Jackie Collins

THE VOICE GETS A NEW COACH... JENNIFER HUDSON Straight outta her The Voice UK win, the singer will be joining Blake Shelton, Adam Levine and Miley Cyrus for the 13th season of the reality singing competition Interestingly, Hudson came to the limelight as a contestant on The Voice rival, American Idol which is making a comeback this year. The two shows have been facing off on TV ratings with The Voice still taking the lead and scooping awards for NBC. It is also a comeback for Hudson who recently co-starred in the network’s ‘Hairspray Live!’ production. Other celebrity judges who have been on the show include Usher, Shakira, Ceelo Green, and Gwen Stefani.

GRAMMYS RETURN TO NEW YORK CITY 15 YEARS LATER New York City will once again host the Recording Academy for its 60th Grammys next year. The last time the Grammy was held inn the city was in 2003 before it got glued to Los Angeles where majority of its members reside.

The Hollywood Reporter reports that plans to move the venue back to NYC started earnestly in February, shortly after the appointment of Julie Menin as commissioner of the Mayor’s office of Media and Entertainment. The Grammys are expected to bring $200 million in economic benefits to the city, $82 million in direct spend and $120 million indirectly, as well as an additional several $100 million in tourism.

The event will hold in January 28, 2018 at Madison Square Garden and will air on CBS. JACKIE COLLINS ART COLLECTION, BOOKS UP FOR AUCTION Over 1,000 pieces belonging to the famed English novelist Jackie Collins will be up for auction on May 16 and 17 at Bonhams Auction House in Los Angeles.

The pieces which comprise of the late writer’s exquisite pieces of jewellery, novels as well as her extensive art collection is estimated to be worth $3 million.

A portion of all the proceeds will be donated to support the empowerment of young women in the arts and education. Collins died in 2015 at the age of 77 after a battle with breast cancer.

Jennifer Hudson

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SUNDAY, MAY 14, 2016 • T H I S D AY TR

UT H

& RE A S O

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LIFE LESSONS ayo.arowolo@thisdaylive.com

WITH AYO AROWOLO

09067059433 (SMS only)

LESSON

2

Never lose confidence in yourself Whatever happens and whatever the circumstances you are facing, don’t lose faith and confidence in yourself. Once this is intact and you believe there is God who is always ready to work with you, you’d find that things become a lot easier. When you lose faith in yourself, ultimately, depression sets in and when depression sets in, you just discover that even what you knew you could do, you start to find it difficult.

We tend to underrate our abilities during crisis times; and once you do that, you would lose much ground which may take a considerable effort to recover. You would be astonished as to what you can do in crisis times once you don’t lose faith in yourself. Believing in yourself is a key step in coming out of failure.

LESSON

3

Use crisis times to reinvent yourself Every single day I wake up, I gain more understanding about life that I could not have got without a crisis. In crisis times, usually every hope appears lost. This is usually the situation when you focus on the challenge instead of the opportunities that abound around you.

But when you reinvent yourself and refocus, you would discover that there is always a little opening which if you recognise is usually planted by the Higher Power to take you out of that situation. I must say that my challenges were so overwhelming that I could not see any ray of hope anywhere.

My advice is this: It is important that in tribulation, you should put yourself in a position to look for that little opening. This may be tough but keep looking and searching.

With introspection, there will always be one.

Once you find that little opening, don’t let it go; cling to it with all your might.

"NOTHING IS PERMANENT"

–Olu Abosede

disappeared at the slightest challenge. I blamed the press whom I thought did not give me fair-hearing. I blamed everyone else except myself.

But the more people I blamed the more depressed and miserable I became. For more than four years, I was angry with everybody and myself. I was even developing health problems in the process. Everyday as I blamed other people; I got the problem on the ground magnified.

LESSON

5

There is no odd job in a crisis You don’t have wisdom and experience if you don’t have crises. I am talking of a situation where you are left with absolutely nothing -no influence, no privilege, no position and your name counts for little.

And things can turn bad very rapidly. I remember a time when things were still very good, a leasing company invited me to be on its board. I offered to nominate someone to represent me, but the company insisted that they wanted me because of my name and the goodwill I had built over time. That was gone during the crisis and my name really meant very little.

I learnt this truth in a hard way. To get out of a crisis especially when your back is on the wall, survival is the name of the game. No job can be considered odd in crisis times and you will multiply your sorrow if you sit down brooding over your former position and privileges.

To get out of the hole, the wisdom is in looking at your current position and seeing what you can do gradually to build up from that ground floor. Come to terms with the fact that you are on the floor. You must flush out anger, bitterness, envy and jealousy.

LESSON

6

Nothing is permanent When I was the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), it never occurred to me that a time would come when I would not be able to do anything I felt like doing. I was hit by stroke some two years ago and with it all the dreams I had carried in my head, becoming a mirage. I have many things I want to do, but I do not have the energy and health to make them happen. The lesson is this: take every opportunity to make things happen when you have the energy; you cannot guarantee you will be able to keep it forever.

LESSON

7

Don't be bitter with people

Our guest this week is Mr. Olu Abosede, Founder and former Managing Director This may be hard to understand but of a wholly indigenous, quoted company, Aboseldehyde Plc. The company was one lesson I am learning rather late is that when I am bitter with any human once used as a reference point for other local entrepreneurs who would want their LESSON Take Responsibility for every being, I am actually working against myself. companies listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE). Within a period of 14 challenge you face When things were okay with me, my house years, the company had become a very strong brand in the country in its niche area.

Learn to take responsibility for any was a beehive of activities. I had helped many Things were also pretty good for our guest who built his first personal multi-million situation in which you find yourself. people. I sponsored some to schools. But Naira house at age 28 and the second at 32. His children were in choice schools When my ordeal started, I threw the when things went bad, they were the first to locally and abroad. His house at Gbagada, in Lagos State, was a beehive of activities by friends and associates who regularly showed up on weekends to treat themselves to some choice wines in his well-stocked personal bar.

Then, in a sudden twist, from 2000, there was a gradual but irreversible slide of fortune, starting with the forced take-over of his company by creditors. hile in that situation, I just reflected on a statement made by Dr. And the rest came in quick succession. His two houses in Lagos were razed Christopher Kolade when I invited him to be on the board of my by fire, leaving him with no option than to move into a rented apartment. company. I felt that with his goodwill bringing him on board would Four times our guest attempted to commit suicide. In our first meeting, six years make a lot of difference to the company. But in our first meeting, he said: “I ago, Abosede shared some life lessons with me, some of which are documented below. But a few weeks ago, when I located him to update the interview, he could not know what you want to do; you want me to take responsibility for the success communicate much as he is at the moment battling with stroke. But with the help of of the company. But you are responsible for the success of your company.” I his second wife, he was able to put a few more lessons across. Enjoy the insight. continued to echo that statement. I later realised that placing responsibility on others for whatever happens to you would invariably mean you have lost your LESSON personal power which the Higher Power has given to everyone. You are in this that my rapid rise was as a result of Better believe this: there is God! Few years back, I would have argued my own ability, personal intelligence world for a purpose, and that purpose can only be realised by you and the Higher that there was nothing like God or any and intellectual capacity.

Power. It means that any action you take is yours.

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BEST PIECE OF ADVICE

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external forces that get involved in the affairs of men. I had it very good early in life. I graduated at the age of 25 as a Chemist with multiple jobs waiting for me. I eventually picked up a job in one of the conglomerates then, as a Laboratory Chemist. And, within a short span of time, I moved steadily to the top. I had a car with a driver attached to me 24 hours.

I never used one car for more than two years.

I was exposed to a lot of training locally and abroad. In my own calculation, I had thought

It was after I had run out of options and I decided to just reflect more that I started to discover a startling fact: that the universe is governed by natural or spiritual laws which would work for you when you align yourself with those laws and would work against you if you contravene them. God is ever present in every little thing you do.

One lesson I have learnt is that there is a superior force that shapes things in the physical realm; and it is to one's advantage to believe this.

responsibility on everyone else except myself. I blamed the banks that did not give me enough time to restructure the company and meet my outstanding obligations to them.

I blamed friends who refused to sympathise with me and lend me helping hands when I needed them most. I blamed relatives who trooped in when the going was good, but

desert me. I was bitter, and I still have a bit of bitterness towards them. However, as I am learning bitterness erodes health.

Book that has shaped my life: 1

The Bible

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BETWEEN OBESERE AND LAGOS INT’L JAZZ FESTIVAL...

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14.05.2017

NLNG PRIZE

ALL EYES ON 184 POETS L-R: Prof. Emenyonu, Dr. Eresia-Eke and Prof. Ayo Banjo

EDITOR OKECHUKWU UWAEZUOKE/ okechukwu.uwaezuoke@thisdaylive.com

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ARTS & REVIEW\\LITERARY CAFÉ

NLNG PRIZE: ALL EYES ON 184 POE “T

The annual literary tradition of rewarding writers embodied in the NLNG Prize for Literature will run its course th poetry, writesYinka Olatunbosun

he heights by great men reached and kept were not attained by sudden flight, but they, while their companions slept were toiling upward in the night,” says a famed American Poet named Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. To a very large extent, those words have remained powerful and true, even when taken out of moral context. That is the power of deep thoughts, insight, sound thinking and economy of words which are some of the hallmarks of poetry. Undoubtedly, poetry played significant roles in literary history and humanity. Hence, today, it is still appreciated in its variants namely performance poetry, published anthologies of poetry, rhythmically applied poetry, amongst others.

To reward the mental perseverance and artistry involved in the production of poetry in Nigeria, the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas, sponsors of the Nigeria Prize for Literature, has recently declared that 184 entries will compete for the whooping sum of $100,000 for the 2017 edition. That prize money remains the largest African literary prize since 2011 when it was so declared. Last year, the author of Season of Crimson Blossoms, Abubakar Adam Ibrahim won the coveted prize for his first and only published novel.

In a convivial gathering of journalists at the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, the entries were formally handed over to the Chairman, Advisory Board of the NLNG Prize for Literature, Professor Emeritus Ayo Banjo before lunch hour.

Another interesting discovery about the NLNG Prize for Literature is that though there is a concerted and conscious effort to seek out a winning entry, it is not every year that a deserving winner is found.

For instance in 2015, no winner emerged from the competition where 109 entries were received for the Children’s Literature category.

Some of the reasons given for this include grave editing and publishing errors.

This year, 184 entrants will wait in phases till the final announcement of the winner slated for October. Usually, there will be a long list before a shortlist is revealed. At the formal handing over of the entries, the NLNG’s General Manager, External Relations, Dr Kudo Eresia-Eke, disclosed that the prize has inspired some 1,630 books of which 533, representing 32%, were submitted in the poetry category since the inception of the prize in 2004.

“The number of entries for the 2017 edition exceeded the 2016 numbers, showing a six percent rise in the number of entries received and increasing interest in one of the biggest literary prize in the world.

Some of the contestants

Literature Prize Advisory Board Chairman, Professor Emeritus Ayo Banjo, hands over entries for the 2017 The Nigeria Prize for Literature to Chairman, Panel of Judges, Professor Ernest Emenyonu as Dr Kudo Eresia-Eke, General Manager External Relations (NLNG) and Dr. Razinat Mohammed, member, panel of judges, look on This has been the trend since 2005,” he observed.

There’s no denying the fact that some writers actually set out to win by writing. This has made the competition very stiff and Eresia-Eke didn’t seem to mind.

“We believe that the prize has inspired writers to want to deliberately win the prize. This has led to the proliferation of books and increased the quality of books. The spiralling ef-

fect of this is the boost to literacy and education in the country, the foundation of cultural and socio-economic revolution. The impact of the prize is easily discernible and we believe that it supports our vision to help build a better Nigeria,” he remarked.

The organisers revealed that the entries, which came in response to a call for entry published in the national newspapers as well as the online platforms in February 2017, will be

examined on their merits of excellence in language, creativity and book quality.

The panel of judges led by Professor Ernest Emenyonu, also received the entries which will be subjected to close scrutiny. That shouldn’t evoke fear in anyone, by the way for they are in good hands. Professor Emenyonu is a Professor of Africana Studies at the University of Michigan-Flint. Prior to that, he had served as Deputy Vice-

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L ETS

his year as the spotlight falls on Chancellor, University of Calabar between 1988 and 1990, and Provost (Chief Executive) Alvan Ikoku College of Education, Owerri, between 1992 and 1996.

Other judges are Dr. Razinat Mohammed and Tade Ipadeola. Dr Mohammed is an Associate Professor of Literature at the University of Maiduguri. She teaches African Literature with specialisation in Feminist Literary Criticism and Theoretical Approaches. She is an accomplished writer as well.

Incidentally, Tade Ipadeola won the Nigeria Prize for Literature in 2013 in the Poetry category with his third volume of poetry, The Sahara Testament. A poet and a lawyer, Ipadeola has won several awards and is a resource person for the Rockefeller Foundation around Africa on building resilience.

Invariably, these judges might also “toil in the night’’ to examine each text against the benchmarks. This year’s award will run concurrently with NLNG’s Prize for Literary Criticism for which only five entries were received for this year’s competition. Introduced in 2013, the literary criticism prize is a yearly award and carries a monetary value of N1 million.

The Advisory Board for the Literature Prize, is well-decorated with names such as Prof. Jerry Agada, former Minister of State for Education, former President of the Association of Nigerian Authors; and Professor Emeritus Ben Elugbe, former President of the Nigerian Academy of Letters and President, West-African Linguistic Society from 2004 till 2013.

Since 2005, The Nigeria Prize for Literature has rewarded eminent writers such as Gabriel Okara (co-winner, 2005, poetry), Professor Ezenwa Ohaeto (co-winner, 2005, poetry); Ahmed Yerima (2006, drama) for his classic, Hard Ground; Mabel Segun (co-winner, 2007, Children’s Literature) for her collection of short plays Reader’s Theatre; Professor Akachi AdimoraEzeigbo (co-winner, 2007, children’s literature) with her book, My Cousin Sammy; Kaine Agary (2008, prose); Esiaba Irobi (2010, drama) who clinched the prize posthumously with his book Cemetery Road; Adeleke Adeyemi (2011, children’s literature) with his book The Missing Clock; Chika Unigwe (2012 – prose), with her novel, On Black Sister’s Street; Tade Ipadeola (2013; Poetry) with his collection of poems, Sahara Testaments and Sam Ukala (2014;Drama) with Iredi War. The Nigeria Prize for Literature, Africa’s most prestigious literary award rotates annually amongst four literary categories of prose fiction, poetry, drama and children’s literature.

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

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ARTS & REVIEW\\MUSIC

Paramount King of Fuji Obesere Performing at the Lagos International Jazz Festival 2017.

Lagos@50 Special Edition

Naijazz Highlife Trombonist Femislide & His Band Performing at the Lagos International Jazz Festival 2017

BETWEEN OBESERE AND LAGOS INT’L JAZZ FESTIVAL…

Yinka Olatunbosun

C

uriosity was the chief reason why this reporter waited till midnight last fortnight to watch Abass Akande Obesere in performance at the Lagos International Jazz Festival 2017. The show started quite late; although most of the performers arrived in time. The usual ensemble for the festival is like a hat trick-three stages in one venue, Freedom Park.

However, the size of the crowd and the stage that night spoke volumes about the budget for this edition.

Constrained by lack of sponsors, the LIJF should have been the most exciting because for the first time in three years, there was no fuel scarcity on the days of the last festival. Also, the next day after the grand finale of the show was a public holiday; hence, ideally it shouldn’t have been difficult to fill Freedom Park to the brim.

It turned out that a lot of jazz music lovers were hanging around at the venue, drinking and conversing before the show began. It was the biggest stage at the park that was lit, unnamed and managed by the Inspiro Productions. Not long into the show, Obesere, one of Nigeria’s frontline Fuji musicians, showed up in company of his band members and manager. With the exception of a few, if not negligible, grey hairs around his chin, Obesere has not changed physically.

Unlike some successful artists with airs around them, Oberese sat humbly in the audience, watching patiently and applauding the younger artists who were performing.

It wasn’t long before this reporter caught up with him to have a brief talk on his career and involvement with the jazz festival. Of course, anyone would wonder how Obesere could possibly perform jazz music but the respected entertainer was poised to show the relationship between Jazz and Fuji. His band members and admirers were standing so close until he asked them if they had been invited for the interview.

Expecting them to take the question as their clue to maintain some distance, he adjusted in his chair and gave this reporter an undivided attention.

“I feel good to have been invited to the Lagos

International Jazz Festival. Any artist should be appreciative when invited for this kind of show,’’ he began, as camera flashes shone on his face.

Describing himself as the paramount King of music, Obesere didn’t think it was out of place to mix jazz with Fuji. As a matter of fact, he insisted that there’s an element jazz in Fuji.

“I never thought I didn’t fit in to the Jazz festival. I believe that there’s jazz in traditional music and for being invited here, I believe traditional music is recognized and still appreciated. Although as a professional artist, I am known for Fuji music. But I appreciate my God for being here,’’ he added.

Obesere has been a performing artist for 33 years and most people don’t know this. He is famed for nicknames such as “Omo Rapala”’, “Baba Tosibe’’ and “Oba Asakasa”’ (meaning the King of dirty slangs).

Before the virtual world developed the code name for words associated with intimacy and romance, Obesere had long composed songs with lyrics that adequately supplied sufficient code words for adult usage.

He gained much popularity with the hit album “The Introduction’’ and his graphic lyrics are not solely responsible for it. Oberese played his part as a very humorous lyricist, making references that are either exaggerated or simply unimaginable. In one of his songs where he sang in Yoruba “Mori bi ton ti yagbe sabo…’’ is a claim that the artist once saw people defecating in food plates. True to his words, this assertion of his is not just a passing commentary on street life particularly, sanitation deficiency but a common sight in overcrowded shanties and tanker driver dominated streets in Lagos today.

He is unperturbed by the choice of traditional Fuji artists to experiment with hip-hop. In his view, hiphop has paved way for many artists to have a voice in world music.

“I think hip-hop is a plus for us in Nigeria. Before now, we didn’t have hip-hop on most radio stations in Nigeria except for the ones produced by foreign artists. But now, 90 percent of the songs played on radio and television today are from Nigerian musicians.

Hip hop has made more talents to emerge in Nigerian music,’’ he insisted.

Meanwhile, Obesere couldn’t escape questions

about his fascination with female anatomy in his music videos and lyrics and he made a good defense but in words and later on stage.

“They are there to entertain the viewers. That’s what we call entertainment. We don’t want it to be boring for anybody. Women are very important and without them, we can’ have this world that we live in,’’ he argued.

If this reporter had ideas on more interesting staple for exciting music videos other than scantily-dressed voluptuous women, they were kept personal. It made no sense to argue with him as his show which began without female dancers became totally inflamed when two female dancers from Inspiro crew arrived on stage to add some spice to the show. Definitely, Obesere knew his onions. He would later sing a song which suggested a curse for someone who doesn’t like women.

Having enjoyed the mentorship of Alh. Arisafe Aremu for almost four years, Obesere ventured into solo music career in 1983 and dominated the scene for many years before international tours took him away from the frequent view of the music fans in Nigeria. He believes that anyone who is not naturally gifted cannot have a successful career in music.

“You don’t learn music. Although there are schools for music, but you have to have passion for it. But if you insist on it, people will know that you have no gift in music,” he said.

Like hip-hop, rivalry is rife in Fuji music but Obesere said he has no rival. Married with five children, Obesere doesn’t discuss his personal life in the media. But he revealed that three of his children may be interested in future careers in entertainment although he advises them to focus on education before pursuing a career.

Obesere has no fewer than 20 albums including “Live in Europe’’, “Asakasa”’, “O.B.T.K.’’, “Mr. Teacher’’, “Omorapala Overthrow’’, “Okokoriko’’, “Effissy’’ amongst others.

Later on stage that night, Obesere, accompanied by his band members performed songs-some of which had sexual innuendos. One moral lesson that most critics of his music miss is that he asks if his desired lady wants “it”, he doesn’t just take “it”. So, read Obesere between the lines.

LITERARY CAFE

EtisalatPrizeforLiteratureholdsFinalists’1stBookReading

Yinka Olatunbosun

Nairobi, capital city of East African country, Kenya was the destination of the book reading for the finalists of the 2016 Etisalat Prize for Literature last weekend.

While in the country, the shortlisted authors will participate in a series of literary events including book donations, media visits and interviews as a prelude to the 2016 Etisalat Prize for Literature Award Ceremony scheduled to take place on May

20, 2017, in Lagos.

The finalists are Jacqui L’A nge, author of The Seed Thief; Jowhor Ile, author of And After Many Days, and Julie Iromuanya, author of Mr & Mrs Doctor.

The book reading sessions took place at Riara University and PAWA254 in Nairobi, and will serve as a platform to further motivate African writers and literary enthusiasts to show more interest in literature and publishing.

Commenting on the Nairobi book tour, Director,

Brand and Experience, Etisalat Nigeria, Elvis Ogiemwanye, said the choice of Kenya was in keeping with the pan-African vision of the Etisalat Prize for Literature.

“We at Etisalat are delighted to lead the new literary revolution in Africa by empowering and celebrating writers in all parts of the continent through the Etisalat Prize for Literature. We believe that the tour will give the finalists a wider reach and broaden their experience because the literature horizon is unrestrictive.” he said.

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• MAY 14, 2017

CICERO

Editor Olawale Olaleye Email wale.olaleye@thisdaylive.com, SMS: 08116759819

IN THE ARENA

Understanding the FG, B’Haram Swap Deal A recent swap deal between the federal government and the Boko Haram terrorist sect, which traded detained member of the group for the release of 82 of the kidnapped Chibok schoolgirls, is neither strange nor peculiar to Nigeria. Olawale Olaleye writes

T

he excitement that greeted the release of 82 of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls, who had been kept in captivity since April 2014, did not undo the debate woven around the circumstance of their freedom. Certainly, the release of the girls could not have come at a better time, especially for the government. For an administration battling many crises at different fronts, more so at the risk of its goodwill and credibility, the release of the girls provided some respite.

Yet, the elated atmosphere of the release of the girls has not discountenanced the debate about the circumstance of their freedom amongst the generality of the people, some of whom reckoned the swap deal was in a way trading a part of the authority of the government as a sovereign state.

A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, confirmed that the girls were released in exchange for some Boko Haram suspects, who were hitherto held by the authority.

He added that the release was a follow-up to the earlier freedom of 21 girls in October last year, after which he said the president tasked security agencies to sustain their efforts until all the girls were freed and reunited with their families, noting that the president had since then been receiving briefings from the Director-General of Department of State Services (DSS), Lawal Daura, on the negotiation progress.

“The President is pleased to announce that negotiations to release more of the Chibok Girls have born fruits with the release of 82 more girls today. After months of patient negotiations, our security agencies have taken back these abducted girls in exchange for some Boko Haram suspects held by the authorities.”

This immediately attracted knocks and kudos for the government. One of the first condemnations came from the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which claimed the prisoner swap deal was inadvertently strengthening the terror group.

Similarly, a former National Vice-Chairman of the PDP and currently the Deputy National Chairman of the Sheriff-led faction of the party, Cairo Ojuogboh, said former President Goodluck Jonathan was the first to initiate the move to swap the kidnapped girls for the captured Boko Haram terrorists but the attempt was scuttled by a prominent Borno government official he declined to name.

But quickly, the federal government through the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, fired back and described the opposition party’s reaction as “indecent, inhuman and ill-timed”, accusing the PDP of insensitivity for attempting to douse on the altar of politics, the universal joy that has greeted the release of the girls abducted from their school on April 14, 2014.

A prisoner exchange or swap deal is not a practice peculiar to any nation, indeed, it is a common development in developed climes. For instance, in 1955, Israel released 5,577 Egyptian prisoners of war in exchange for the release of an Israeli pilot and three soldiers.

Recall that after the 1967 Six days war between Israel and Arab, the Israeli army took 4,338 Egyptian soldiers and 899 civilians, 553 Jordanian soldiers and 366 civilians, and 367 Syrian soldiers and 205 civilians captive. They were exchanged for two Israeli soldiers and the dead body of another.

On April 4, 1975, Israel released 92 terrorist held in their custody, in exchange for the dead bodies of 39 of their soldiers, while on November 23, 1983, six Israeli Defense Force soldiers were exchanged for 4,700 Palestine terrorists.

On May 25, 1998, the dead body of Itamar Ilyah, an Israeli soldier was exchanged for 65 living Hezbollah terrorists. Over 400 Palestinian and 30 Lebanese prisoners, including Hezbollah leaders ash-Sheikh Abdal-Karim Obeid were exchanged in 2004 for the bodies of three dead IDF soldiers captured in 2000.

On October 18, 2011, captured IDF soldier, Gilad Shalit was released by Hamas in exchange for 1027 Hamas terrorists. And as recently as 2014, Sergeant Bowei Bergdahl of the US army in Afghanistan was released by the Taliban in exchange for five notorious

Taliban commanders, held at Guantamo bay by the US government. The US sergeant was kidnapped and held hostage by the Taliban since June 30, 2009.

Essentially, a swap deal appears unacceptable, especially from a conservative point of view as it seeks to reduce the sovereignty of the nation at the receiving end. But on moral ground and in good conscience, it is also difficult for anyone to disagree with the idea of swapping the terrorists for the young girls, who had been stolen from their parents since 2014.

Unfortunately, since a swap deal is the last resort by the Nigerian government if it must keep to its promise of securing the release of the girls, government can only be commended for summoning the courage to do so. Although the idea of a swap deal by the Jonathan administration was frustrated by the then opposition party on many grounds, the approach should have been informed by what it is now: the safety and freedom of the girls.

It is therefore hoped that in discharging this onerous national assignment, the national security of the country and her pride as a sovereign state have not been compromised in the process. The government had treaded the most difficult path and moving forward, it must ensure that any situation that could put itt in such an uncomfortable corner is envisaged and tackled head-on, even as the negotiations continue for the release of the remaining girls.

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

T

Osinbajo

Semantics of Power Game

he insertion of the phrase: “coordinating the activities of government” as against “performing the functions of my office” in the letter transmitted

by President Muhammadu Buhari to the National Assembly raised avoidable but justified hoopla amongst the Nigerian people, a majority of who reckoned there

was an intended mischief in the couching of the language.

But by also and clearly stating that the letter was transmitted in compliance with Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, it should unarguably put to rest wild speculations about the status of the Vice President in the absence of the President. This was the position of the Senate when the letter was deliberated

upon and that has helped to nip in the bud a brewing political controversy.

It must be stated, however, that in a politically volatile environment like Nigeria’s, wielders of power must be sensitive to the connotations of the choice of language in official communication to avoid any form of ambiguity that may stoke political controversy.

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Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, Buratai and others during the launch of operation Harbin Kunama II in Southern Kaduna

Gradually, Peace Returns to Southern Kaduna The military operations flagged off last month by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, in Southern part of Kaduna State may have begun to engender the much needed peace, writes John Shiklam

P

eace seems to be gradually returning to the southern part of Kaduna State following a recent launching of a military operation codenamed: “Operation Harbin Kunama II” onApril 19, 2017 by the Nigerian army. In the past five years, armed bandits had been terrorizing the area, killing and destroying property.

Hundreds of people, mostly women and children were said to have been killed during the attacks, while property estimated at billions of naira were said to have been destroyed following the frequent invasion of villages by the herdsmen.

Those who survive the attacks were rendered homeless while their farms were destroyed and the farmlands often taken over by the herdsmen. Worst affected by the killings were communities in Kaura, Sanga and Jama’a local government areas. But the launch of operation “Harbin Kunama II” was the latest security strategy aimed at stopping the killings.

Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, while speaking during the exercise said the aim was to ensure that Southern Kaduna was kept safe. He said with the operation, there would no longer be any hiding place for armed bandits in the state.

He explained that the exercise was specifically meant to dislodge the herdsmen out of their hideouts in the bushes and on top of the hills, noting that the operation would last one month during which “the troops would go into the nooks and crannies of this area, the hills and valleys to flush out all the criminals, bandits and cattle rustlers, including kidnappers.”

He stressed that the army would continue to coordinate its activities to ensure that communities understand each other so as to provide the needed security and the right atmosphere for economic and social activities to thrive.

The Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, who was at the flag-off, while regretting the killings, urged the Southern Kaduna people to embrace peace in order to end the violence, noting that “violence can only end when people decide that violence does not work”.

The governor noted that, “Somalia has been at war for decades, but war is not yet over. People must understand that is why the Chief of Army Staff and his officers are ready to flush out the bandits. We must be ready to tolerate one another.

“Our job as a state government is to provide the necessary support to the security agencies to preserve peace and to prosecute all those involved in any crime. My appeal as always is that let us recognise our common humanity.”

Few days after the operation was launched, it started yielding results as large cache of arms and ammunition was recovered. The discovery was made when troops embarked on cordon and search

of Gwoska, Dangoma, Angwan Far and Bakin Kogi communities in Jama’a local government area.

Weapons recovered, according to a statement by the Director of Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Sani Kukasheka Usman, include 73 dane guns, four locally made rifles, one locally made machine gun and one locally made pistol.

Others, according to the statement include 260 cartridges, 14 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, 63 rounds of 9mm ammunition, one locally made small machine gun magazine, a pair of worn out military boot and some quantities of assorted improvised ammunition and pyrotechnics hidden in dug out pits.

Usman said “while efforts are ongoing to track down the owners of the arms and ammunition, it is imperative to state that the good people of the area have been very supportive and cooperated fully with the military, which led to these unprecedented findings.”

Last week, the Kaduna State Security Council, after reviewing the security situation in the in Southern Kaduna, lifted the 12 hour curfew that was imposed in Jama’a and Kaura local governments.

The State Security Council at its meeting presided by El-Rufai noted that two weeks after the launch of the military operation, the security situation has greatly improved.

Samuel Aruwan, spokesman to El-Rufai, in a statement after the meeting, said “The meeting received and reviewed reports from the security agencies, which pointed to improvements in the security situation (in southern Kaduna).

“Therefore, the Council upheld the security recommendation that the curfew be removed with immediate effect. The State Security Council expressed the hope that all communities in the area will embrace the opportunities offered by the improved security situation to make sustained moves for peace and harmony”.

But in spite of the seeming return of peace, it was learnt that in some communities, many people still could not go to their farms as the farming season approaches due to isolated cases of killings or attacks in the bushes, especially in Jama’a local government area.

According to the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Kafanchan, Rt. Rev. Markus Dogo, about two weeks ago, two people were killed on the way to the farm.

“Somebody in Pasakori village was going to cut his palm fruits but he was killed near Gidan Waya by herdsmen. Two people were also killed in the bush around Gidan Waya area about two weeks ago. Some women went to cut Palm fruits they were chased away by herdsmen and were asked never to come to the area again. So, there are some villages, where people are scared of going to the farm,” the clergy man told THISDAY in a telephone interview.

Dogo, who noted that peace was gradually being restored, said some of the bandits were still hiding in the bushes and urged the security agencies to flush them out. He said in some communities, people have returned to the farms while in some, people were

scared of going to their farms because of the fear of being killed by the bandits, some of whom he said were still in their hideout in the bushes.

He therefore appealed to the military to comb the bushes thoroughly to flush them out so that people could commence farming activities. Also commenting on the security situation, the Southern Kaduna Zonal Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Venerable John Bwankwot, agreed that the security situation seemed to have improved.

“We have not witnessed any attack for some time now apart from some isolated cases of killings in one or two communities.

Many communities have started going back to the farms, but others cannot because of fear of being attack by some herdsmen, who are still hiding in the bush” Bwankwot said in a telephone interview with THISDAY. He also appealed to the security agents to sustain the tempo of their operations, stressing that there was need to dislodge those bandits that were still in their hideouts.

Interestingly, in the Atakad area of Manchok, Kaura local government, economic activities have fully resumed as people now go to their farms freely. In a telephone interview with THISDAY, the Vice-President, Atakad Community Development Association, Mr. Enock Andong said his community had no security challenges for now following the activities of security operatives.

Although he said the herdsmen were still on the hills, he added that the Atakad community has been making effort to meet with the herdsmen to discuss the way forward for peaceful and harmonious coexistence.

“We have no any problem even though the herdsmen are still on top of the hills. They are grazing on top of the hills and we felt we should meet with them. We were supposed to meet with them and discuss peaceful and harmonious coexistence. Our people are back now in their farms without molestation. We want to meet with the herdsmen and discuss how we can sustain peace,” Andong said.

This notwithstanding, schools in the area, especially government owned schools are yet to reopen since they were closed down following the crisis. El-Rufai has always expressed his determination to arrest and prosecute those behind the pogrom in Southern Kaduna.

According to him, one of the reasons the crisis has continued unabated is because those involved have neither been punished nor prosecuted in the last 35 years.”

He regretted that the impasse was prolonged by the nonprosecution of the sponsors of the crises over the years, stressing that no patriotic chief executive would allow his state to be on fire.

It is therefore expected that government and all stakeholders would join hands and do everything humanly possible to ensure lasting peace and the security of lives and property of all in the area.

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SUNDAYINTERVIEW Bode George/after the Supreme Court Acquittal

George...Farida Waziri was recruited to jail me

Photos: Sunday Adigun

My Prison Experience “I have seen the best of times and the worst of the valley”, said Chief Olabode Ibiyinka George as he rounded off with an emotion-laden voice,thisinterviewsessionwithOlawale Olaleye andShola Oyeyipo.Arguablyoneoftheseasonedandpopularpoliticiansaround, the former deputy national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who is currently aspiring to chair the party, is a mobile reservoir of knowledge. For a man, who was a key political figure during former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s regime, coupled with his background as a retired naval officer and former military governor of the old Ondo State, George’s understanding of the power game and its inherentintriguesisnotindoubt.HeclearlyhadalotbottledupashetookquestionsonvarioustopicalissuesincludingthePDPcrisis,the stateofthenation,thehealthofPresidentMuhammaduBuhariandtheallegedconspiracythatsealedhissojourninprison.Aboveall,this interviewanswersafewquestionsonhowhe’sbeendealingwiththereminiscencesofhisuglyprisonexperience.Excerpts:

A

few months ago, when your party proposed to hold its national convention, you were almost on the verge of becoming its national chairman before the unexpected happened and since then the PDP has not known peace. Is there a future for the PDP, to start with?

I believe there will be a future for the PDP, and let me look at it from two prongs: politically and spiritually.

Politically, we needed this shock therapy – the experience of lack of

collective responsibility – when some people can arrogate certain powers to themselves to drive a massive organisation like this party.

We learnt a lesson that not one tree can make a forest. We have been in government for about 16 years and we then assumed that we were on a cruising level, not knowing the fact that in the outer space, sometimes, you can hit the cloud. We switched off our radar to tell us those bad areas and we learnt our lesson.

No individual can control a massive organisation. It is a movement. Do your bit. In building blocks, build it and let others build.

But when you think you can be there in perpetuity, this happens.

That was the lesson politically. And if we have learnt from history, we would have avoided the pitfall of the past. Individualism in politics is madness. We are trying to build an egalitarian society, where our children, grandchildren will be able to build on whatever we are doing. So, politically, it is a lesson for us. The experience of that Port Harcourt convention – we came out losing election, we headed into another – double jeopardy.

So, we were almost sent to the canvass. We got a bloodied nose but not a technical knockout. Thank

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God we went to the courts and we are awaiting the judgment of the Supreme Court to tell us, who is legally by the constitution – the grundnorm of our party – the legal head of the party today? That is all we are there for.

And spiritually, you know I told you two fronts. Spiritually, when you go through tribulation and you have the fear of God in you, at the end of it, if you trust your God, you go through certain trials – certain experiences in life, at the end of it, you become a better person and anybody in life, who has never gone through trials is just a free flopper, because it is just like you see a fine gold, for it to become that fine gold, it must have gone through a lot of heat – batching and all that, the same thing with precious metals.

The amount of heat, trials, temptation, experiences, tribulations, they allow you to grow. That is the spiritual prong.

So, on the two prongs, it is a good omen for our party. God is a God of second chance. If we go and have a second chance, some of the attitudes exhibited in the past will never be repeated. We forgot the centerpiece of our manifesto – the people of Nigeria. Individuals just came up, masquerading and they are saying that they are the alpha and omega. Even some people, who nominated some characters into one position or the other, believing that without them there can’t be a party. So, I learnt a lot from the charade.

Nobody could have believed that within a short time this story would be like Nollywood. Not any single individual can do it; it is a collective responsibility.

Like you rightly said, the case is currently at the Supreme Court. Do you have worries about the possible outcome?

The important thing is this, why are we in the Supreme Court?

This goes to the heart of our party: who went through the due process as stipulated by the constitution of our party? Is it Sheriff?

Is it Makarfi? Our own constitution states very clearly that the convention is the highest authority. Whatever is decided at the convention, it is only another convention that can reverse it. So, that is our Supreme Court. To become the national chairman, you must be endorsed and elected at the national convention. If you are not, you’re just perching on the seat – temporary acting. They can kick you out anytime but once you are elected at a national convention, it is only another national convention that can remove you.

What they have gone to now is for the highest court in the land to decide whether Sheriff and the other people with him were ever endorsed or elected at any convention or Makarfi caretaker committee was duly elected at a national convention. And one of the tenets of the national convention is that it can set up any committee it deems fit with a stipulated period. So, that is why everybody is waiting. I believe the truth will be told.

Nigerians are not benefiting from having a very strong and healthy opposition. No party can go on without checks and balance, which we don’t have for now. We are battling going in and out of court. We must be able to represent ourselves that we have learnt a lesson. As a soldier, it is not that you will not fall down but take your gauntlet and keep going and we will. So, we hope that the Supreme Court will come looking at the details of whatever we are presenting: who is officially and legally in charge of this massive organisation called PDP? Let’s build a bit of safety into these extrapolations. What if the Supreme Court judgment goes south?

I told you the process had eaten deep into the core of our constitution, the convention being the highest level. If they now decide that Sheriff is the authentic chairman, then it means that the party constitution is no longer sacrosanct. I mean the effect is how do you guarantee political activities in a democratic dispensation? If you now tell us that you throw that to the dustbin – that anybody can just walk in and takeover and emerge, where are we heading to? It means anarchy. APC itself has its own guidelines. You cannot just come and say I am now the leader of this organisation. It is so important for the development of democratic practice.

In the interim, do you have an alternative platform as

backup plan?

That will be like joining illegality. Then it will be like they have disrespected our grundnorm. It is like one knows our constitution, the dos and don’ts and laws and you flouted them. They must grab you; go before a court and pay. If you can’t serve the time, don’t do the crime. It is not animal kingdom. For me, I will come back to my house and take a bow that I have done my bit. If anything goes wrong, the party leaders will meet. But that we will continue? No! It is going to be two years since the APC took over the saddle of leadership, are you impressed?

No. Why? The APC is a party with strange bedfellows. They had existed with their fixation on their cultures and norms and they said they wanted to be a political party. Who gives room to what? Power, now you got power. They have not been able to really melt up as one entity – a divergent mindset, divergent interest rather than national interest. Unfortunately, the leader, who should have been driving is not really very well. I worked with him. I know him. He has his own style and his own mindset. But his own concept of operation is it the same as you go from the corners of this country with the others that are working with him? So, it is like you are pulling to the right, left.

What is the rate of naira to dollar as compared to when we were there? Investors, where are they? And the one that bothers me is this issue of religion. Religion is personal. It has nothing to do with governance but people go under the umbrella of religion. What has that got to do with the price of commodities? That is one area we need to work on.

Now, if you initiate a call from abroad, I am saying this for the DG of NCC to investigate this because it is the greatest shock to our national security. If you initiate a call from abroad, once it hits their terminal, either Glo, Etisalat or the rest, when it shows up on your phone it is a local number that shows. So, how do they trace the number? What are these people doing to our national security?

It would never happen anywhere in the civilised world, more so with international terrorism. These people are flouting the laws of the land – financial crime and security issue – no nations will play around with its national security.

Yoruba will say trusting in human is nullity. I didn’t realise it until this experience.

It is only God. And looking back, it was worth the while because I’d stayed in bedroom of the president of this country. The inside-inside of the villa; I’d worked there. I have seen it all. I sat on the bed of the president talking to Baba while he was asleep and I’d also seen the worst of the valley

Their scorecard, they must showcase and what they still intend to do. We have our manifesto. We have learnt a lesson. We have been there before and that is the beauty of democracy. Every four years, you go back to the people to renew your mandate. So, they decide whether they want you to continue or shove you aside.

The APC came on steam on a tripod of security, economy and corruption. I would like to take you up on the aspect of corruption. What do you think? Do you feel the government is really discriminatory in its approach?

I want to reserve my gun powder. Like I said, as a Christian, God said “whoever that is in government – whoever is your head, pray for them. The time to start serious analysis is not now. We will wait, but occasionally like this, we would say this is an observation.

They may still be corrected. Like this one I told you about; lack of national security on this issue of communication. People are wasting our money on CNN. ABSA Bank in South Africa, which is bigger than all our banks put together in terms of their capital base, how many times have you seen them on CNN advertising and burning the dollar that we are crying is not enough? Are they paying CNN naira? So, the issue of corruption, whether it is one-sided or not, let’s leave that till towards the election – we will come up – we are observing now.

In the aspect of economics, we must deliberately go back to the South-south to assist those boys so that oil production can continue.

The approach is negotiations, discussions and not military action.

They are Nigerians. They are not our enemies. And we in Lagos State too, now, we are working a little bit because just outside of our waters, there has been a discovery of a lot of large deposit of crude oil. We are not just going to be a member of the oil producing states, large scales deposit, I was told – just outside our waters.

So, west of the escravos, east of the escravos, this country is blessed. And the leaders – if the government does that, peace will be ours. They can control who gets what because we have some people, who just stumbled into our wells. They were given the free wells and they are all over the place. Our wells were taken from pockets and dashed. How much have those people paid back to the system? I don’t know. But, like I said, pray for your leaders: Romans 13. Pray for whoever is there so that when they come up with policies and programmes, those policies and programmes will not decimate you. So, we will continue to pray for our leaders and I pray for my oga, President Buhari, that God will give him quick recovery so that he can come and handle his mandate. Nobody can wish anybody evil. God is the one who makes and unmakes. We must pray for his soul so that he will come back and do what he promised Nigerians.

So, it is futuristic. When it is time to play politics, we will examine their policies and the failures but I want to advise that we must get back, talk to those boys in the South-south. That is why our economy has been completely down. Whether they voted for him or not, they are Nigerians. They are not enemies. As a Naval officer, having been around those areas, if you see the environment there and we are still flaring the gas. If we have been able to capture all the gas, that is a lot of energy being wasted! We have been talking – paying lip service; we will capture it.

What about all the 18 turbines that Obasanjo bought, where are they? Power is still about 3,000 megawatts that they said would be at 10,000 megawatts? Those turbines are now there but where is the gas to fire them? They are being burnt off and God gave us people who are sound – educated all over. Why can’t we attract them and utilise them to make the resources of this nation for the benefit of Nigerians – 170 million people. Out of every 10 Africans, we are about 8 or so. You mention any profession in the world you will find one Nigerian, who is an expert. So, what is going on?

Does it matter where you come from? Christian, Muslim, atheist or whatever, let’s bring our best minds together for our benefit.

In what context did you see the recent release of 82 Chibok girls?

I don’t want to make comment on that. It is a general comment

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on this issue of religion. What has it got to do with which religion you belong? If you are born into one family, you would probably adopt that religion, you get over 18 or 21, you can opt to go and become whatever you want. So, what has that got to do with the economic development of your nation? What has it got to do with the utilisation of the resources of your land for the benefit of the people? Do you put it that I am a Christian, I am an atheist or I am Muslim? It doesn’t matter! That one is for another day because it was a negotiation. I was told that they released some Boko Haram people to get the children back. There must have been a lot of discussion behind the curtain to get that done.

Let’s come back to your party again. Across the states of the federation, the party is literarily non-existent, is it the same national crisis that has eaten into the state chapters?

We have a saying in my part of the world, if the head is not well, what will happen to the other organs of the body? But it is not that they have disappeared, no, they are just dormant. It is the fact that all of a sudden, this wind just came and took charge of the whole party and was heading to hell. So, everybody is asking what is going on. Even me, they see me at the airport and say “what is going in our party? Oga, make sure that this party doesn’t die o!”

So, it is not a reflection that people have abandoned the party, but once our head is back on the platform and they now know that we can go back to our convention, do our normal processes, you will see people will come back. They are dormant now waiting for this most important judicial decision. Remember there was a time one case will be in Lagos, another one will be in Abuja another one in Port Harcourt. But this will be over soon.

Now, let’s get a bit personal. A couple of years ago, 2013 to be precise, the Supreme Court affirmed that you were wrongly convicted in 2009, how have you coped with the reminiscence of this ugly experience?

I like the word you used, ugly experience, but to me, it was positive. When God wants to use you, He will send you through tribulation, He would test your faith. He will test your will. It came like an ill-wind; like some kind of unexpected blow on my face. I was a part-time chairman, the management was quarreling. They came and reported to me. The Executive Directors with the Managing Director were quarreling, of course, they would come to me.

Now, some people were jealous of the achievements by that board.

You know NPA never had a board for a long time. We resuscitated the normal processes of managing an organisation with that kind of capacity. Department by department, due process was enshrined.

Memos must come to the board; discussion, approval and all that.

We noticed the amount of wastages in NPA and one of my Executive Director, Operation, Captain Abidoye, a brilliant young man, came up with this concept – you know, he is a Master Mariner, well qualified – he came up with this issue of concessioning the ports to companies, rather than the usual contracts issued

by NPA. What are the advantages and the disadvantages and they were presented to the board. So, if you win the concession for a particular jetty, you have a fixed amount you will pay yearly to the ports authority and for every tonnage that goes through your jetty, you pay a certain percentage.

It means rather than NPA spending money, money is coming to government. Brilliant idea! We sent the paper up, they approved it and we set up the bidding. When that was going on, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) was then looking at ports area by area that they can designate the hub for West Africa, the hub for East Africa and so on. They have to come and inspect our ports.

You know Nigeria is the biggest in West Africa. We have about 200 or 400 miles of sea lane.

So, the Executive Director, Engineering, then came up, because they had to repair all the bollards, jetties and all those things to say that we have digitalise the handling of cargoes before they can say you are a hub. In other words, a hub means every big vessel coming from South America or from the Middles East would come to Nigeria, discharge all it was carrying and smaller vessels will then come in here and take them to other smaller West African countries and the big vessels will then return to base.

That was going to be a big money for this country. So, we needed to prepare. He brought a memo that the time of the visitation was too short. So, let us take Lagos – the company will do Lagos. We wanted to do Warri, Port Harcourt and Calabar. Brilliant suggestion, we agreed. So, when the EFCC now came because when the executive was fighting they came and said what is the problem? That was the little way the problem started. I remember, Baba called me and said Bode, one Sarumi is coming – that the man they want as minister has recommended that they should disband the management and that Chief Sarumi is coming and that since Chief Sarumi is from the South-west as if he is also from Lagos, it is like somebody from North-west: one is Kano, one is Sokoto, the other one is Kaduna, they say they are from the North-west and therefore, the MD will be different from…and I said as your lord pleases sir.

Then they did the investigation. Ribadu came up with a report; remember one time he said if you have a political problem with Chief Bode George go and solve it, there is nothing wrong with what they have done in NPA. That was the report of Rbadu. They said Baba said that they should do forensic. To all intent, I didn’t even know what was going on and I was working assiduously for this man. After they said Baba said they should do forensic, so the thing was hanging there. I didn’t know. So, Mallam Gwandu Bello came to me and said, they have been to EFCC, they did this, they said that.

Then Ribadu said it was a systemic failure because if you give approval that your limit of expenditure is N1, how many N1 can you spend within a quarter? It is not stipulated. MD, N2. How many N2 can you spend? No limitation. That was the systemic

George

failure, which Ribadu reported. You should now go and put a ceiling on what you can spend. That had nothing to do with me.

Day-to-day running of the place didn’t concern us.

When Obasanjo left, I was DG of the PDP national campaign.

We won the election. They had decided that the chairmanship should go to the South-east. That was Obasanjo. President Yar’Adua said okay sir, you and I are going to work together. That meant Chief of Staff. Once the pundits heard that, they then brought the report that there is a problem in NPA. They now organised and brought this Waziri girl, who must deal with me. I am saying it, so, she can challenge me now, because I am coming out now and saying this for the benefit of the younger generation. When you go through the path of perfidy, you will end up in hell.

I am not bitter, because it was a good experience for me. I have seen the top of the mountain and the worst of the valley. It is a building experience that you cannot wish away. Suddenly, I came back from abroad, they stormed my house, came to carry me.

They said Mrs. Waziri wanted to see me. That night, that was how they took me into their custody. What was the offence? They said we split contract. That is the same contract of building these jetties based on IMO visitation. You know that contract was not awarded before we left – before they disbanded the board. No money was stolen or missing.

We discussed it at the board; we agreed on it, but nothing was given to nobody. So, which contract was split, by who and when?

That was how we were railroaded before Justice Bunmi Oyewole.

He is alive today! I am told his godfathers have put him also in Court of Appeal. Such characters shouldn’t be on the bench, because in his judgment he said there was no kobo stolen – no kobo missing but he still sent us to jail for 18 months. It was the greatest charade; the greatest ill-wind! I think I want to quote Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe here: “If man to man is quite unjust, I do not know who to trust. I trusted too many to my sorrow – friends today, enemies tomorrow.” That was during the Ejika bank something – Eastern Nigerian Bank.

All the people they brought as witnesses against us said we were in line with the procedure, we didn’t commit anything. They said we split contract. They can go back and check it. No contract was awarded. They were then bringing the minute of the meeting.

What is the name of this Jankara lawyer, Keyamo, he was shouting.

They hired him. Most of the lawyers within the EFCC said no, this cannot fly. The first one that said it, Waziri sent her back to the police and she ended up at the Police Training College. She removed her.

Then the other man, who was coming to court, suddenly she removed that one too and brought Keyamo from outside. And where did Keyamo get the fiat to try us? Lagos State Government to try a federal officer in a federal organisation. Eventually they sent us to Kirikiri and because people saw it, Kirikiri became a Mecca.

The number of eminent Nigerians coming to see me, I couldn’t believe it.

You were there when we were released. Since the first time we entered that prison, till the 18th month that I left, I was never sick. I didn’t go to see any doctor. I didn’t get out of that prison to go and visit any hospital. I believe it is by grace. A night before the day I was leaving, the Commissioner of Police then, with the DSS, with all the area commanders, with the zonal commander of prison, they came to my block and said I should go home now.

Mustapha was there. He said oga, this was my experience. Don’t go anywhere! And I said of course I wouldn’t go anywhere. I came here in day light and I would leave in day light.

To go in the night, I said no. To be like a thief, they could say you are running away and get you shot. 7 o’clock, they lock the prison doors until the next 7 – they came by 9, everybody got up and started asking what is going on? The zonal commander of the prison came; he wanted to see me. I saw the commissioner of police, Director of the State Security, all the area commanders, they were there. They said oga, we will take you home. I said which

home? Unless you bundle me from here, I am retired general and I would sneak out of here like a thief in the night. I came here in day light and I would leave here in day light, not knowing that the security situation in the state was that there was going to be riot, because they saw the crowd that had been coming.

I said riot for what? Vengeance is not mine. Vengeance is God’s.

The people came to show their love. That is the beauty of it. They knew you were just being punished for doing nothing. Of course, my political enemies are happy that they locked me up; that we shouldn’t come back. I said I am not going anywhere. They said there is environmental. I said whatever time it is, I will leave. My family will come and carry me home. We all went back to our cells and they locked the door. In the morning, the crowd was everywhere in the corner.

The day I was going, the whole area commanders, the commissioner of police, the SSS – followed my car all the way to the Cathedral Church to thank God. Is it my making? But at the end of a dark tunnel comes a glorious dawn. And I remember the allocutus of Baba Awolowo: “Blessed be your verdict and blessed be your sentence. This nation will be in darkness but at the end of this long tunnel, there will be a glorious dawn. My only concerns are the programmes that I have started for the benefit of the people of this country, I wouldn’t be able to continue but if it is the wish of the almighty, someday, I will be back. Did it not come up?

And the worst part of it was Baba now came. He came to church. He said they deceived him to come. This is a man that if it is 120 per cent loyalty to give to someone, I think I gave him 200 per cent. I was shocked when he reacted that I was celebrating criminality. I couldn’t believe it! Kobo I never took from him. Me, criminality? What is the offence we committed? I am writing my memoirs. It will be quite interesting. That chapter will be very interesting of man’s inhuman behaviour to man. When I came back, I kept on fighting. You know it is not cheap to fight all the way to the Supreme Court.

Lastly, what was that one thing you took away from your prison experience?

That in whatever, wherever, whatever position you find yourself, the things you do, will you be able to defend it years after before your creator. Will your children be able to look at you and say these things, what did you do? Why did you do that? And thank God that I came from a political home – the Herbert Macaulay and all that. Politics has been part of our making. Many people didn’t know, because I was in the military. And trusting human beings – Yoruba will say trusting in human is nullity.

I didn’t realise it until this experience. It is only God. And looking back, it was worth the while because I’d stayed in bedroom of the president of this country. The inside-inside of the villa; I’d worked there. I have seen it all. I sat on the bed of the president talking to Baba while he was asleep and I’d also seen the worst of the valley.

And I quote the wordings of Mandela in his last book before he died. He said, “The prison cell is the best location for you to rediscover yourself.” 27 years he spent there. The prison cell is the best place to rediscover yourself.

The period that I was there, I saw so many young men, who should be given a second chance. We were able to assist a few.

There was a man, he was a hunter. He saw what seemed like an antelope; he shot it, when he went to carry it, he saw that it was not an antelope; it was a human being. He was condemned to death.

He had been in prison for 28 years on death row. I used to see him in the church always dancing and rolling on the floor thanking God. So, I called him one day and asked: what was the offence you committed? Where are you from? So, he said he was from Ondo. In fact, they plucked out one of his eyes struggling for food.

Mimiko came to visit me one day and I told him. He had forgotten.

I think during one of the end of the year activities, he just gave that man a pardon and sent the Ondo State Government car to take him.

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CICERO/REPORT

L-R: Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Okorocha (Imo), Umahi (Ebonyi), Obiano (Anambra) and Ikpeazu (Abia)

S’East and Its Integration Agenda Governors of the South-east geo-political zone resolved recently to come up with a roadmap for the social, economic, political and security integration of their region, an initiative that could yet give the people a new sense of direction with a healthy competition, writes Christopher Isiguzo

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he recent resolve by the five South-east governors to pursue an economic agenda that could help better the lives of the people of the region and Nigeria in general has suddenly brought a glimmer of hope for a people once celebrated, albeit notoriously given their penchant for working at cross purposes.

After becoming moribund for almost two years, the zeal with which the governors now work especially since the emergence of a new leadership under the chairmanship of the Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, is gradually trying to put a lie to insinuations in some quarters that Ndigbo could not agree to work together on matters of collective interest.

The governors including Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, Rochas Okorocha of Imo, Willie Obiano of Anambra and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu have already set up an economic team made up of two representatives, each from the five states to fashion out the roadmap towards the economic integration of the zone.

Before Umahi’s emergence on February 26, 2017, as its new leader, the forum has been inactive over matters of common concern to the people of the zone left attended to with required seriousness they deserve. The forum packed up soon after the 2015 general election. Even before the general election, the forum had almost become deputy governors’ meeting as many of the governors preferred to stay away in what was seen as obvious muscles-flexing over who should lead them.

The situation further worsened as the leadership of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, which used to articulate and coordinate the affairs of the people of the South-east was equally enmeshed in leadership crisis.

But with the revival of the governors’ forum and the election of a former information minister, Chief John Nnia Nwodo as the President-General of the body, which happened almost simultaneously, it is a signpost of better days ahead for the zone.

It is believed that the coming together of the South-east governors once again portends good omen, more so coming at a time the crisis in Ohanaeze Ndigbo seemed to have been put to an end.

Political analysts believe that the present scenario is a positive development as the governors, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and other allied groups could now work together to pursue common goal in terms of socio-cultural, political and economic development of the zone.

This is a zone that has consistently complained of neglect and marginalisation in the scheme of things in the country. There’s obvious dearth of basic infrastructure in the area. The two major highways in the zone – Enugu-Port Harcourt and Enugu-Onitsha – are death traps as a result of long years of abandonment, whilst ecological disasters have become commonplace in the five states in the zone with Enugu alone parading about 500 erosion sites. No doubt, federal presence in the South-east is almost non-existent.

In the area of political appointments, the present day Nigeria has no Igbo man at the top echelon of national security, including the Army, Navy, Airforce, Police, Department of State Security, Civil Defence, Immigration, Prisons and Customs amongst others. The highest political position presently occupied by anyone from the

area is the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu.

In a recent security and economic summit organised by former Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji in Enugu, the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu lamented that, “Today, there is no Igbo man in the commanding heights of the security architecture to the extent that they can’t attend Security Council meeting”.

Thus, it has become imperative for the leadership of the zone to take their destiny in their own hands. It is as a result of this that the new-found unity among the South-east governors and the election of a new leadership for Ohanaeze Ndigbo are expected to chart a new course for the development of the zone.

Since the resuscitation of the forum, the governors have met three times in February, April and May, the first since the advent of the nation’s democracy. During their meeting in February, the governors resolved to work together in the interest of the people of the zone after receiving briefings from the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Nwodo on the activities of the organisation and also from the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu on provisions of infrastructure development for the zone in the 2017 Appropriation Bill.

Umahi told newsmen that the governors had resolved to work together, going forward in order to improve the lots of the people of the zone and also take a critical look on a number of burning issues.

According to him, the meeting was mainly focused on security and economic integration of the zone in order to improve on the security of the five states and also tap from the abundant economic potential in the area.

On security, the governor said, “We’ve agreed to compare notes.

We agreed to talk to the Commissioners of Police in our respective states on security integration so that such issues as kidnapping, armed robbery and other insecurities are looked at together with a view to addressing them.

“We’ve noticed that whenever a kidnap occurs, say in Ebonyi State, the victim is taken to another state and vice versa. The only way to arrest the situation is for us to work together and team up.

That way, we’ll be able to secure lives and property of our people,” he said.

On the economic front, Umahi said they also agreed on the imperativeness of working together, adding, “We agreed that each of the governors will direct his commissioner for economic planning to also begin to compare notes and come up with a blueprint on how we will come up with proper integration of the zone. We have abundance wealth in our area and we can harness them if we come together.

“We also agreed to work together to compare notes and imbibe the spirit of peer review mechanism. Ebonyi learns from Imo, Abia, learns from Enugu, Anambra learns from Ebonyi. With that, we will be able to come together for the good of our people. We also declared our support for the new leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and ask our people to give them all the necessary support,” he said.

Penultimate Sunday, the governors rose from their third meeting in a row with a pledge to find lasting solution to the problem of power supply in the zone in order to kick-start the economy of the area. The governors also constituted an economic team saddled with the responsibility of driving the zone’s economic integration plan.

Members of the economic team who will be inaugurated on June 4, 2017 were drawn from the five states of the zone.

Prominent members of the committee include former Minister of Power, Prof Barth Nnaji and a former Economic Adviser to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Prof Osita Ogbu, among others.

Umahi, at the end of their meeting, said the forum had opened discussion with experts in the power sector.

The governors have also interacted with the Geometrics Power Limited, Aba as well as slated a future date with the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) to know the challenges of the company and how to help them. They insisted that power was vital to the economic development of the zone, stressing that something urgent must be done to tackle the epileptic supplies in the zone.

“We have invited the team of Geometrics. You know Geometrics set up power plant in Aba and we want to know the reasons these things have not been injected into our system and that injection will help the entire South-east. It can power the entire South-east and with further assistance in the area of cement, our commerce and railway.

“We have invited the team to come and discuss with us. We have also discussed with the EEDC and in due course, we are going to interact with the team to find out their challenges and find out the way we are going to improve distribution in the South-east”, he said.

Umahi said the meeting effectively discussed the economic agenda for the South-east including the economic integration of the states and certain other projects in the zone like the railway and seaports, stressing that necessary step had been taken to ensure that the matter was handled by the economic team of the forum.

“We also interfaced with the bank of agriculture, the bank of agriculture is very important to the agric programme of the Southeast. They gave us some few briefings and we asked them to put down their capacities and programme and give to each of our state governors, and state what and what we can benefit from them.

“But what is important is that the anchor borrower’s scheme of the central bank is being handled by them. So, we want to get the much we can get from them. They are not happy that the funds to the South-east is not the way it is supposed to be and they are very happy with the governors for this initiative, because through the governors, we will be able to get our share of the agric funds”, he added, explaining that each state had nominated two representatives to the economic team of the forum, which would be inaugurated next month.

There’s no doubt that the resolve by the governors will go a long way in uniting the zone more so as they have equally agreed to reach out to members of the National Assembly, ministers and other highly placed persons from the zone with a view to getting them involved in their work plans. They also plan to get the traditional rulers and Presidents-General of communities involved.

A Public Affairs Analyst based in Enugu, Chukwunonye Okereke, summed up the present situation as a new dawn for Ndigbo, noting that “There’s the saying if you want an outsider to help you, you must show signs of your readiness to be helped. What they are doing now is good for our zone. They are telling the rest of Nigeria that we are not pushovers any more. You cannot take us for a ride any longer. We are now awake. Unity is indeed strength.”

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CICERO/TRIBUTE

X-raying Ekweremadu at 55 Uche Anichukwu “It is always better for us to get close to know somebody because in our meets in the 7th Senate, we were far apart, but in this current Senate, I am the first person to tell people that Senator Ekweremadu is a perfect gentleman, and I repeat that many times. He is the type of Nigerian that we will want to continue to serve because he only sees things for the good of Nigeria” - Senate President Bukola Saraki

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he man, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, is like an elephant explored by nine blind men.

You appreciate him from the point of his personae that you have experienced or explored.

To his teachers; former students at the Faculty of Law, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where he taught Constitutional Law and Labour Law; to those who have listened to him present his many public lectures or read his books, he is an intellectual.

To those accustomed to the arrogance that goes with power in Nigeria, Ekweremadu is humility personified.

I went in search of his teachers to interview them for his 50th birthday documentary. Prof. Charles Ilegbune (SAN), his lecturer at UNN, said that besides being intelligent, Ekweremadu had maintained an uncommon humility despite his achievements.

To especially the beneficiaries of his life-saving interventions through free medical care or beneficiaries of Ikeoha Adult Literacy Scheme, Ikeoha Scholarship and Bursary Scheme, youth empowerment scheme, widow outreach and empowerment programmes, etc, he is one man who has an overflowing milk of human kindness.

Those aware of his charity and empowerment outreaches were therefore not surprised when the video of a widow, with an open bible in her front, invoking divine intervention for Ekweremadu emerged on the day he was arraigned with the Senate President on trumped up charges of conspiracy and forgery of Senate Standing Rule. It was like the story of Tabitha in the Bible. The widows, orphans, and poor, practically compelled Peter to bring Tabitha back to life because her death would spell doom for the countless less-privileged, whom she fed and clothed.

Meanwhile, to those who have followed his legislative odyssey, he is a lawmaker per excellence. Nominating Ekweremadu for re-election as the Deputy President of the 6th Senate in June 2011, Senator Zainab Kure (Niger South), described him as “a legislative wiz kid”.

Elected Senator for four consecutive times since 2003, Ekweremadu who had served as Local Government Chairman, Chief of Staff at Enugu Government House and Secretary to Enugu State Government, also emerged as Deputy President of the Senate for a record third time in 2015. Next, June 2017 marks his 10th anniversary as a presiding officer of the National Assembly, making him the longest serving presiding officer in the history of the national parliament.

He is like an old broom that knows every corner of the house and has brought this wealth of experience in governance at all levels and the legislature in particular to bear in his service to the nation. For instance, the quest for the amendment of the 1999 Constitution appeared jinxed until he took over the process in 2007.

He piloted the First, Second, and Third Alterations of the 1999 Constitution in that 6th Assembly alone. The amendments resulted in far-reaching electoral reforms such as financial and administrative autonomy for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), timeframe for determination of election petitions, etc.

The credit for the emergence of the opposition as ruling party today substantially goes to those amendments that freed INEC from the apron strings of the presidency.

To the people of South East in general and Enugu West Senatorial District in particular, Ekweremadu is quality representation personified. His role in bringing to fruition an international airport for the South East is well known. As for his Senatorial District, the President of the University of Ibadan Alumni Association, Dr. Kemi Emina, captured Ekweremadu’s factor in the development of his part of the world most vividly during the last annual lecture of the Association delivered by his the Senator in Ibadan.

He said: “Many years ago when I got there, it was like the end of the world, but when I got there again recently it was as if it was the gate to heaven.” Such is the transformational touch of Ikeoha phenomenon.

Ikeoha West Africa, as some prefer to call him for his splendid tenure as the Speaker of the Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS Parliament), brought the hitherto little known parliament to the consciousness of the peoples of the sub-region.

He traversed the lengths and breaths of the sub-region, meeting heads of states, national and regional parlia-

Ekweremadu ments, building partnerships and vigorously canvassing the enhancement of the powers of the Community Parliament. Today, ECOWAS Parliament has transformed from a mere talk shop to a semblance of a parliament because Ekweremadu passed through it.

Even more endearing is that in an environment of door-die politics, Ekweremadu represents hope that politics of common good, principle, and without bitterness is possible in our clime.

For instance, many expected Enugu to go up in flames ahead of the 2015 general election, but the Ekweremadu factor ensured it was politics of wits, not one of guns, bows, and arrow. Two issues particularly raised the political temperature. One was the false story that Ekweremadu was scheming for the gubernatorial seat.

The other, which could be an offshoot of the former, was the decision to, therefore, unilaterally retire him along with some ranking members of the National Assembly from Enugu State.

Indeed, in retrospect, the political faceoff ahead of the 2015 general elections, which started as early as 2012, was totally avoidable. For instance, since we are in a democracy, all that was needed to retire whomever the system wanted to retire was simply to vote them out in a free and fair primary. That would have been the real test of their popularity. Going by way of decree, was tantamount to a battle line and political humiliation.

So, for Ekweremadu, it was a battle for political survival. If somebody brings war to your doorstep and right into your bedroom, you do not run away from your house because you don’t like war. In fact, it is a kind of war your ancestors and God of Heaven would fight for you.

However, in one of our conversations ahead of the elections, Ekweremadu made three statements that earned him my respect the more. And they underline his political philosophies. One, he said it was going to be a battle of wits, not gunshots. Two, he said that no matter how we tried, if God said his days at the National Assembly were over, there was nothing we could do about it. At the same time, if God decided otherwise, then nobody would be able to stop him. Three, he said that the Ikeoha political family would nevertheless make the necessary sacrifices to ensure that the Enugu PDP went into the 2015 election united if it eventually had the upper hand.

To underscore his firm belief that power comes from above, he thereafter kick-started his reelection bid with

visits to major churches in the state to seek the face of God. Those who still remember would readily agree that the events that followed were nothing short of miracles.

The rest is history.

Although there were immense pressures on him by many of his supporters and associates to take total control and also ensure that some persons from particularly his senatorial district used to fight him did not get PDP ticket, Ekweremadu maintained that since an understanding had been reached to forgive, he would not be a party to forgiving some, while nailing others on political cross. That is the kind of heart he has.

Indeed, besides special grace, Ekweremadu’s kind of heart is one reason Heavens always intervenes and wrought for him political feats, which his return as Senator and most unimaginably, Deputy President of the Senate against all odds represent.

Importantly, Ekweremadu’s brand of politics, as captured by the Anglican Archbishop of Enugu Ecclesiastical Province, Emmanuel Chukwuma, during the Senator’s family thanksgiving at Mpu in December 2015, is one driven by national interest and loyalty to constituted authorities. That national interest underlines his continued clamour for true federalism, genuinely convinced that it is the surest route to a united and prosperous Nigeria.

The Bishop said: “Ekweremadu is not a threat to anybody. I want to say to Mr. President (Buhari), there is no need to fear him. Ekweremadu will neither say you are PDP nor that you are APC. He does not discriminate against any religion. He is not tribalistic. He is a perfect gentleman who has a heart to serve”.

Instructively, although Senator Saraki who later spoke at a civic reception organised for Ekweremadu by his kinsmen the same day was not at the church service, his testimony (used as opening quote above), collaborated Bishop Chukwuma’s statement. And according to the holy book, by the testimony of two, the truth is established.

Born May 12, 1962 in the rural community of Mpu, Aninri LGA, Ekweremadu is a living testimony that good things can come out of Nazareth.

Happy birthday my master, brother, mentor, kindhearted leader, and the calm river that wears off the mighty rock.

––Anichukwu is Special Adviser (Media) to Deputy President of the Senate

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R • MAY 14, 2017

CICEROEXTRA Former Miss Halima Babangida, daughter of former President Ibrahim Babangida, got married on Friday, May 12, 2017 to Alhaji Auwal Lawal Abdullahi (Sarkin Sudan Gombe). The wedding fatiha took place at the residence of the Babangidas, IBB Way, Minna, Niger State. Reception followed shortly after the marriage ceremony. Here are some of the personalities at the reception Photographs by Contributing Editor by Sunmi Smart-Cole

The couple, Mrs. Halima Abdullahi, nee Babangida and her husband, Alhaji (Prince) Auwal Lawal Abdullahi.

• Halima and Auwal with the bride’s maternal aunts (standing), Mrs. Jumai Sambo, left, and Ms. Hadiza King.

Former President, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd.) ... father of the bride, left, and former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd.

Former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Former Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), General Gado Nasko (rtd), former Chief of Army Staff General Muhammadu Wushishi (rtd.), and former Chairman of the now defunct Chartered Bank Plc. and General I.B.M. Haruna (rtd.) now a lawyer

Former Chief of Army Staff and National Security Adviser, General Aliyu Mohammad Gusau, left, and Alhaji Aliko Dangote, founder and President of Dangote Group.

Former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Professor Jubril Aminu, left, and the Chairman and Publisher of Vanguard newspaper, Mr. Sam Amuka-Pemu.

Former governor of Anambra State, Chukwuemeka Ezeife, left, and former Vice-President (Alhaji) Namadi Sambo.

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Former First Lady Ajoke Muhammed and Mrs. Folorunso Alakija, the oil magnate.

Former First Ladies, Mrs. Turai Yar’Adua, left, Hon. Justice Fati Abubakar and Dame Patienc e Jonathan

Former Director General, National Pension Commission (PenCom), and the Chief Hostess and elder sister of the bride, Hajia Aisha Babangida.

Former First Lady of Nigeria, Victoria Aguiyi-Ironsi, left, and former Niger State, HajiaTurai Babangida Aliyu.

The Erelu of Lagos, Princess Abiola Dosumu, and Iyom (Mrs.) Josephine Anenih

Former Minister of Women and Social Affairs, Mrs. Emily Aig-Imoukhuede, left, and Hajia Maryam Salihu-Ibrahim

Businesswoman Hajiya, Bola Shagaya, left, and veteran fashion designer, Alhaja Abah Folawiyo.

Mrs. Tumi Akogun, left, Mrs. Marie Fatayi- Williams and Mrs. Aisha Lemu.

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R • MAY 14, 2017

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Alhaji Ibrahim Nasidi, left, Senator Sanusi Daggash, Prince Nduka Obaigbena, Chairman and Publisher THISDAY Newspaper and former governor of Bauchi State, Alhaji Isa Yuguda.

Former National Security Adviser, General Halilu Akilu, left, Alhaji Farouk Musa, senior Media adviser to President Babangida, Prince Kassim Afegbua, Mr. Sam Amuka-Pemu and Mallam Ibrahim Ismail, Managing Director, Heritage Press Limited.

Businessman, Captain Hosa Okunbo, left, former Managing Editor of Guardian Newspapers/photographer, Sunmi Smart-Cole, businessman, Dr. Tunde Ayeni and Alhaji Mohammed Abacha

AVM Hamza Abdullahi (rtd.) left, and businessman Alhaji Umaru Ndanusa.

Businessman Benson Uwatse, left and Mr. Tunde Folawiyo, Chairman and Chief Executive of Folawiyo Petroleum.

Businessman Alhaji Rabiu Abdulsamad, left, and businessman, Sardauna Habib.

The Tafida Gusau, Alhaji Bello Usman, a former Minister, left, Senator Ben Obi, a politician and businessman; and Mr. Kayode Komolafe, Deputy Managing Director, THISDAY Newspaper.

• Veteran broadcaster and former Director at the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Mr. MacDonald Emakpore, left, and former governor Victor Atta of Akwa Ibom State.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • MAY 14, 2017

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Former governors Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State, left, Olagunsoye Oyinlola of Osun State and Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State.

Veteran journalist and a retired senior civil servant, Mr. Eric Teniola, left, former governor General Tunde Ogbeha (rtd.) of the now defunct Bendel and Akwa Ibom States andVeteran pilot and airline owner, Senator Musa Adede

Former governor Okwi Nwodo of Enugu State, left, former governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State.

Alhaji Faruk Musa, left, and Alhaji Mansour Ahmed, executive director Dangote Industries Ltd.

Businessman, Chief Bishop Okonkwo, left, and politician and businessman Chief Reagan Ufomba.

Alhaji Sani Dangote, vice president, Dangote group, left and Alhaji Iro Idris Danfuloti , Sarikin Folutin Katsina

Chairman of Daar Communications/AIT Limited, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, left, and businessman, Alhaji Awwal Tukur.

Businessmen Prince Segun Oniru, left, and Mr. Tayo Amusan.

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The proud father of the bride, General Ibrahim B. Babangida, right, and former President Goodluck Jonathan

A happy president of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, right, at the event

Former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice S.M. Alfa Belgore and a friend

Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State, centre, exchanges greetings with former governor Bola AhmedTinubu

Immediate elder brother of the bride, Mr. Aminu Babangida, left, and Mr. M. Wushishi

Senior Advocate and traditional ruler, left, and former governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State.

Senator Rabiu M. Kwankwaso, Kano State, left, former governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, and Senator Shehu Sanni, Kaduna

Mr. Francis Ogboro, a businessman and former captain of the Lagos Polo Club, left, and Alhaji Abdul Keremi Rabiu, also a businessman.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • MAY 14, 2017

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Folashade Brent conduct the cutting of cake.

The couple in a happy mood after cutting their cake.

A friend take selfie of Aisha Babangida, centre, her brother, Aminu, second left and friends

The Babangida brothers, Muhammed, left, Aminu, right, with the couple.

Lawyer and Chief of Executive of Heritage Press Ltd. Mallam Ibrahim Ismail and his wife, BInta, also a lawyer, and Head of Chambers, Binta Bello Ismail and Company.

Mrs. Bola Olagunju, left, Ms. Hadiza King, and her younger sister, Mrs. Jumai Sambo.

Former Minister of State (Agriculture), Mrs. Asabe Ahmed, left, and Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Special Assistant to the President (Diaspora Matters).

Princess. Adama Dania , Mrs. Tumi Akogun and Senator Grace Folashade Brent

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• MAY 14, 2017

CICEROXTRA

A Battle to Sanitise Abia LGs There is a conscious move by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State to make the local government administration in the state more effective and responsible. Emmanuel Ugwu reports

D

emocracy returned to the 17 local governments in Abia State last December after almost nine years of absence.

It was hailed as a major achievement of the administration of Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, who actually fulfilled one of the campaign promises by providing the state independent Electoral Commission (ABSIEC) to conduct the council poll on December 16, 2016.

But with the democratically elected executive and legislative arms of the grassroots government effectively in palace, the focus now is directed at sanitizing the system as the rot has reached the dimension of the Augean stable. The process of cleaning the system had commenced before the road was prepared for a smooth ride of democracy back to the councils.

The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Chief Charles Ogbonnaya, had set up a staff verification committee led by the former deputy Speaker of the state legislature, Hon Alwell Asiforo Okere. Members of the committee, whom the commissioner described as “men and women of honour and integrity”, however came out with “explosive findings” as expected.

The decay in the Abia council system was enormous and could weigh down democracy in the grassroots like it did before when the chairmen elected in January 2007 left a cumulative unpaid wage bill of over N3 billion at the end of their tenure. Endemic corruption and other malpractices in the system were blamed for the rot.

With hindsight of the happenings in the councils, Ogbonnaya was in good stead to carry out the sanitisation exercise in the local government system. He knew what to do to bring in sanity.

He had headed Umuahia North local government during the military era and was deputy chief of staff in the office of the deputy governor during the administration of Senator Theodore Orji.

So, when he was nominated by Governor Ikpeazu as one of his commissioners, Ogbonnaya had told the members of the State Assembly during his screening that the local government system was stinking and he was going to clean things up. Eventually, he got the portfolio of presiding over the ministry of local government and chieftaincy affairs. He set about doing what he said he would do to restore sanity and discipline in the local governments.

The verification committee discovered that 1,642 persons secured employment in the local government system with fake certificates while over 300 employees were found to have manipulated the system and extended their service by upwards of three years after they were due for retirement.

According to the commissioner, other mindboggling revelations were still coming out after the Asiforo Okere committee had submitted the report of its findings. These new revelations, he said were coming out from “whistleblowers” engaged in the various local governments.

For instance, Ogbonnaya cited Bende local government, where it emerged that seven members of staff were all pursuing their various endeavourer in other places, even outside Nigeria. He said when each of the ghost workers was contacted on phone it was discovered that one was in the United States of America, another in Malaysia while one was teaching at a school in Imo State.

Among the ghost workers, the only one with the nearest proximity to Bende local government is a medical doctor serving at the federal medical centre (FMC) Umuahia, yet he was listed among the staff of Bende local government and had been earning salary like other ghost workers. The local government commissioner noted that it was either the seven ghost workers were never employed or had left the services of Bende local government for other pursuits but they were fraudulently retained on the payroll.

“The unfortunate thing is that they are being covered and protected by the officials of the local government,” he said, adding that the official who keeps attendance register was found to be signing for the non-existent workers and was getting a monthly reward of N10,000 from each of the ghost workers. It was also the same officials that arranged the files and brought people that came

Ikpeazu acknowledging cheers from the crowd and posed as the supposed workers during the verification exercise.

In that way, they were able to beat the system to perpetuate their fraudulent activities. The certificate fraud was so pervasive that not even Christian morality could deter the criminally-minded persons from circumventing the system. For instance, the wife of a bishop of one the mainstream churches, was among the local government employees that got job with forged certificate.

The husband was said to have been raging with anger when his wife’s name was listed among those to be sacked over fraud. The cleric not knowing that he was married to a fraudster was said to have called and complained to Governor Ikpeazu, who directed the commissioner to look into the complaint.

Unfortunately for the bishop when he was confronted with the facts that all the certificates in his wife’s file were forged, he ate his words in shame. The disgraced woman confessed before her husband and the couple left the ministry of local government in shame. There was also the case of a staff that had set a world record of earning salary on grade level 27.

According to the commissioner, the fraudulent staff achieved the infamous feat after he was employed as a level 14 staff in one of the local governments but still retained his job in the state ministry of health as a staff of General Hospital Amachara on grade level 13. The staff was able to beat the system and retain the two jobs in the two tiers of government, earning a cumulative salary of a level 27 officer until the bubble finally burst during the verification exercise.

The fate awaiting the fraudulent local government employees is dismissal or retirement as the case may be. The State Executive Council had in a memo dated December 20, 2016 authorized the ministry of local government to embark on the sanitization exercise to weed out fraud and its perpetrators in the local government system. It was also mandated to instill discipline, maintain a comprehensive data system for staff and issue unified identity cards that contain information on date of birth and expected retirement date of every employee.

But Ogbonnaya has raised the alarm over moves to scuttle the implementation of the report of the verification committee. He was disgusted that some government officials and other interested parties were trying hard to persuade the governor to jettison the report and “pardon” the fraudsters in the local government system. It was learnt that the government officials, who are hell bent on saving the jobs of certificate forgers have even employed blackmail by warning of scary

political consequences for the governor should he go ahead with the purge.

Labour is also in the vanguard of the campaign for clemency. The National President of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Comrade Ibrahim Khaleel has also joined the ranks of those seeking pardon for employees of Abia local government system found to be perpetrating corrupt practices.

Last month, when he was in Abia for NULGE solidarity visit, he pleaded with Governor Ikpeazu to overlook the sins of the council employees found guilty of certificate fraud. The state president of Abia NULGE, Comrade Ijioma Onyenucheya, said the union was indeed “looking up to the governor to do something about it”.

He told THISDAY that while “we condemn the act totally because it cannot be justified” NULGE was pleading with Governor Ikpeazu to forgive the erring workers on humanitarian ground.”

He said if murderers could be granted pardon by state chief executives, there was no reason NULGE members, who forged certificates should not be pardoned. “We are pleading with the governor to forgive them,” he said, adding that sacking a large number of workers in the local government system would worsen the economic situation of the affected workers and their dependants.

Onyenucheya said instead of outright dismissal, Governor Ikpeazu could consider downgrading the affected council employees. He is however hopeful of obtaining executive pardon for his members as according to him, Governor Ikpeazu has promised to take the matter back to the state executive council, which had taken decision to sack the fraudulent workers.

Not only is the governor under enormous pressure to jettison the impending purge, the local government commissioner, also confessed that he was being buffeted by those not comfortable with the idea of sanitizing the councils. “I’ve been receiving knocks here and there with people pouring aspersions on me for, according to them, not doing what I was asked to do. But I leave everything to God and to Abians,” he said, adding that he has been receiving threats from opponents of the verification exercise, even though the commissioner appears not to be deterred.

After he received the interim report from the verification committee, he told THISDAY that he possessed the political will to carry out the sanitization exercise to its logical conclusion.

“Many people talk about politicians not having the political will or liver to do things but these ones (fraudulent activities) are glaring. You cannot prosecute a politician elected into office for forging certificate, going to court to remove him and then

you spare a civil servant that came into service with fake certificate. There are a thousand and one of them”.

Ogbonnaya appeared to be unfazed, saying he had expected there would be opposition to his sanitization exercise and had carried all stakeholders along. He said: “I realised where the problem would come from. The first thing I did when I came into office was to liaise with the stakeholders.

First of all, I called all NULGE officials for a meeting, all of them from state chapter to the 17 local government branches.

“I brought them here (ministry) and told them the problem and asked them whether they have anything against sanitizing the system. We had a communiqué and they gave me the go-ahead to sanitise, because they are the people feeling the pains in the system”.

He claimed to have also “invited the HoS, the HPMs, the treasurers, auditors. I asked them the same question and they, said go ahead if you can sanitize the system. I then invited the local government Service Commission because according to law, they are the people responsible for recruitment and punishment of staff, I then told them the problem on the ground and how they have masterminded these problems. They argued but I gave it to them; I showed them evidence”.

The widespread corrupt practices are already taking their toll on the local government system.

The over bloated workforce of 17,400 gulps N2.2 billion monthly wage bill. But the commissioner said paying such huge bill was not always easy as the federal allocation usually falls short of the total wage bill, citing the last allocation which was N1.7bn.

He said a leave allowance of N700 million is equally hanging on the heads of the local governments while primary school teachers are waiting for their N520 million unpaid allowance.

Chief Ogbonnaya said he was saddened that job opportunities were not being created in the local governments, because those who were due for retirement had fraudulently circumvented the system and stayed put. “Unemployed Abia youths with good education are roaming the streets while those with fake certificates are taking the jobs,” he lamented.

The fate of the certificate forgers is still hanging in the balance. Governor Ikpeazu has already told NULGE that they are criminals in the local government system and they must be sanctioned.

Despite the criticism of the verification exercise and the impending sack of workers, the local government commissioner has continued to insist that “what we are doing is right” but added that political will was needed to push it through.

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• MAY 14, 2017

CICEROXTRA

Oyediran: Story of an Accomplished Medical Scholar Moses Adebayo Alao

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very life has a story supporting its existence. And, interestingly, every story has its own peculiar narratives, uniquely structured and patterned to reflect the individual’s earthly sojourn.

In other words, such narratives are usually interlaced with intrigues and other defining suspense, all of which coalesce to form the distinct identity of the individual: his success, his failure, indeed his entire persona, for which he would be assessed, admired, respected and honoured and even condemned.

The life of Professor Allen Bankole Oladunmoye Olukayode (ABOO) Oyediran follows this uniquely designed pattern as contained in his autobiography, He Leadeth Me: Autobiographical Testimonies of Olukayode Oyediran, that will be unveiled on Tuesday, 16 May, 2017 at Oritsejolomi Thomas Hall, University of Ibadan International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, Oyo State, as part of the activities to mark his 78th birthday.

His life’s narrative, as the book will reveal, has a large dose of dramatic intrigues and suspense and divinely structured to evoke inspirational desire. It is a story of a distinguished academic career both as a scholar and administrator filled with honours and accolades, a remarkable exploit as a medical professional and an enviable success as a family man.

To present this remarkable story of a celebrated medical administrator at the unveiling ceremony scheduled to begin at 11.00am are: Professor Akinlawon Mabogunje, (Chairman); Professor Oyinade Odutola-Olurin (Chief Presenter); Chief Akin Dosu and Dr Oba Otudeko, who will stand in as co-presenters. Professor Oyewole Tomori will have the singular honour of reviewing the 17-chapter book that vividly captures the remarkable adventure of the medical scholar.

But Oyediran’s journey, as remarkable as it is, is not without its own challenges. Through the book the public will learn ,for instance, how the subject learned the lesson of wise counselling right from his early years in the choice of career by following through the wish of his father who wanted him to become a medical doctor.

Oyediran After successfully completing his secondary education at CMS Grammar School, Lagos in 1954 and the Cambridge Higher School Certificate (HSC) at King’s College, Lagos, the young Oyediran had opted to study Medicine, therefore, fulfilling his father’s career wish for him. This plan was bolstered when, through the interplay of divine consideration and hard work, he won a scholarship from the United African Company (UAC) to study Medicine at London University (Guy’s Hospital Medical School); interestingly, Oyediran had earlier been offered admission by the University of Ibadan to study the same course. Thus began his adventure in medicine in 1959, reluctantly though at first, but which he finished with remarkable success in 1964 and went on to acquire a higher degree with distinction from Edinburgh University in 1969; London University (School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene) 1970 and Nigerian’s

premier university, University of Ibadan, 1975.

Oyediran’s high intellect has been one of the defining divinely endowed qualities in his narratives. His high cerebral gift has earned him rewards and accolades often. Apart from the full UAC scholarship which he enjoyed, he also had the singular privilege of being awarded the Commonwealth scholarship for Medicine from 1968 to 1970. He, of course, never failed to repay such scholarly benefactions in full measure. For instance, Oyediran is the first ever recipient of D.T.M & H with distinction from the Edinburgh University and the Greig medal of honour from the same university in 1969. He was also the recipient of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Travel Fellowship, among other such recognitions.

With an academic career spanning over four decades, this resourceful personality has made tremendous contributions to the quantum of research in medicine, particularly in the area of tropical and preventive health, which he deliberately specialised in to address the grave health needs and challenges of modern Nigeria and Africa. As a professor of Preventive and Social Medicine at the University of Ibadan, Oyediran was not only faced with the task of ensuring adequate researches on that field of medicine, he was also required to regenerate future medical experts and scholars like himself. A task which he carried out efficaciously judging from the array of medical scholars and practitioners that passed through his academic guardianship and guidance primarily at the University of Ibadan and in other places he has served.

Between 1998 and 2001, he served as the Director, Malarone Donation Programme (MDP) based in Kenya. The programme was the combined initiative of WHO, UNICEF, UNDP, The World Bank and Rockefeller Foundation executed through Task Force for Survival and Development based in Atlanta. And Oyediran was responsible for the overall design and execution of the programme. But before then, he had served in various administrative capacities at the University of Ibadan and its teaching hospital, University College Hospital (UCH) as acting Chief Medical Director before attaining the zenith of academic ambition by being appointed the Vice Chancellor of one of Africa’s finest universities and Nigeria’s first, University of Ibadan.

For four years, from 1991 to 1995, Professor ABOO Oyediran rode the crestwave of University of Ibadan’s administration. It was during the military era of General Ibrahim Babangida and the nation’s was in the thick of economic crises and political agitations. The University of Ibadan had only recently then survived a closure aftermath a bloody nationwide varsity students’ campaign against the government’s Structural Adjustment Policy (SAP). Thus Oyediran had his work well cut out for him from the beginning. Interestingly, also, he would also later inherit the national agitations for revalidation of June 12 1993 presidential election which was annulled by the Babangida government and which threw the nation’s tertiary campuses in flames. But Oyediran did not allow all these distractions to override his projected vision for the university. He blazed the trail by computerising the famous Kenneth Dike Library, creating the position of second deputy vice chancellor, as well as completing many landmark projects in the institution.

The story of Oyediran is an interesting one, which has even become more cinematic with age, a well-scripted happy-ending drama, an uncommon tale of grace and achievements and honour. It is a story that would not have been complete without the equally outstanding support from his soul-mate and companion, Reverend Omotola Oyediran and their children. Her solid support provided the needed elixir and boost for his academic and medical profession conquest.

Today, though retired as a public servant, Professor Oyediran has continued his life of service by promoting a non-government organisation, Nigeria Network for Awareness and Action for Environmental Health (NINAAFEH), whose interest is primarily to draw attention to the health benefit of a cleaner environment in the promotion of good health. He is a member of Rotary Club and a former President of the Ibadan West of the social organisation in the 1992-1993 Rotary Year.

He is the Ba’asegun of Offa, a chieftaincy title that recognises his sterling contributions to Medicine and scholarship and has served his country well in many areas of health, environment and other interventions.

––Alao, a media professional, is based in Ibadan.

Ojudus’s Peace, Unity Tour of Ekiti

AllProgressivesCongressinEkitiStateisstagingacomeback,toreclaimpowerfromPeoplesDemocraticParty,asSpecialAdviser tothePresidentonPoliticalMatters,BabafemiOjudu,stormsthestatewitha‘unitytorepossess’message.AnayoOkoliewrites

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kiti is a state of about three million people traditionally reputed for their literacy, bravery, and dignity. Whether as Fountain of Knowledge, as the state was formerly nicknamed, or as Land of Honour, as it is currently called, Ekiti conjures up images of sophistication, refinement, and decency. That is under normal circumstances.

But today, under the Peoples Democratic Party government of Governor Ayo Fayose, Ekiti State is increasingly being made an object of ridicule by many standards. What with dilapidated infrastructure, failed promises, poverty, and hopeless, the lot of the people have not been a happy one since the about two and a half years of the present administration in the state.

future both for ourselves and our children,” he stated.

As a mark of the unity of purpose among the youth, the reception for Ojudu had the participation of youths from across the state. The youth of Ekiti State converged on Ikole, the Ikole local government headquarters, to receive the former senator, who is now in the Presidency as adviser on political affairs.

Royal Reception

Ojudu and his entourage moved from the palace of the Elekole of Ikole, Oba James Adewumi Ajibade Fasiku, the Aladesekole 1, paramount ruler of Egbeoba Kingdom, where they were given a royal welcome, to Ipao Ekiti, Odo Oro, Usi and back to Ikole, venue of the reception, with the message of cohesion and unity. The youth acknowledged lack of unity as the bane of development in the state.

Unity Tour

Worried by the condition of his people, Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Babafemi Ojudu, recently made a strategic and symbolic visit to Ekiti State. Ojudu was on a mission to strengthen the unity of his party, All Progressives Congress, in the state and properly position it for victory in the next political battles. He was determined to dissect and appreciate the internal and external problems of the party and find a lasting solution with a view to reclaiming the governorship seat APC lost to PDP in 2014, and restoring order, sanity, and good life in the state.

The visit was at the instance of some youths in Ekiti North senatorial district. During the visit, Ojudu held consultative meetings with stakeholders at various levels, and undertook visits to party chieftains and traditional rulers. He wants to sanitise the APC and prepare it for the governorship election slated for June 2018.

Clarion Call

Ojudu

Facilitators

Engr. Michael Oluwagbemi was one of the facilitators of the tour. Oluwagbemi said, “The suffering is much; the poverty is so endemic that we need to throw in our caps, as youths and technocrats in the state, to find a way around the current shenanigans going on. Our people are being blindfolded to real governance. Daily, they are being annoyingly shielded from the actual realities of governance and we are here saying enough is enough.”

Oluwagbemi said the fight for fairness in Ekiti State was not a move by any one political party. “It is a fight we must collectively engage in, as youths of Ekiti State to ensure as well as guarantee a better

Speaking at the palace of Elekole, Ojudu declared, “I’m glad to pass this message of hope to leaders of our great party, the All Progressives Congress, in Ekiti State. I am glad to speak to millions of our supporters, our sympathisers, our members, our potential allies and the amazing people of Ekiti whose hope has been dashed and who, as I can see, are anxiously waiting to benefit from the new dawn across the nation.

“My message is straight and simple. First, I wish to thank our leaders and our compatriots for their steadfastness and their perseverance. I must commend your efforts over the years. I thank you for keeping the flag flying, regardless of the major setback in 2014.

“The poverty and want in our land is staring us in the face. The misery in the land is tormenting. We have to provide the required alternative, driven by the people. We have a bigger challenge before us.

We have a mountain to climb. We have a destiny to fulfil. Our people in Ekiti are waiting for us. As 2018 approaches, the electorate are anxious. But they are also worried about the real and imagined divisions among us.

“The future of our great party lies in our unity. We are getting ready for another pitched battle. We cannot afford to go to the field divided. We need unity of ideas, unity of personalities.”

Dialogue

Ojudu’s call for unity set the ball rolling, as the APC leaders and members spoke about their grievances by turns and also tried to proffer solutions. Everyone was eager to see a formidable APC front ahead of the next governorship poll in the state.

There were meetings with the party’s state executive committee, APC Youth Movement, religious leaders, community leaders, students, professionals, artisans, market women and men, etc. The meetings dealt with the issues inhibiting the party and how to resolve them to be able to present a common front ahead of the poll, where Fayose would be seeking a second term.

An APC chieftain in the state, Abejide commended Ojudu for the peace initiative. Abejide said, “This is a good initiative and I have been waiting for this day to come. But beyond this visit, you people at the top that all of us are watching in Ekiti must close ranks. When people see you dining together it will trickle down and all the divisions will disappear and our party will be strong, very strong again to present a common front to unseat the PDP in our state.”

In a similar vein, Bunmi Ogunleye, who received Ojudu, the state executive members, and youth leaders from across the state at his residence, promised to support the ace journalist.

(See concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com)

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GAVEL TO GAVEL

Edited by Olawale Olaleye Email: wale.olaleye@thisdaylive.com, SMS: 08116759819

After the Long Wait for 2017 Budget, What Next?

The National Assembly finally passed the 2017 N7.44 trillion budget last week, with the highlight being the opening of its own N125 billion budget to the public. Damilola Oyedele reports

A

Saraki and Dogara at a joint session of the National Assembly

lmost five months after it was laid before it at a joint session of the National Assembly

by President Muhammadu Buhari, the Senate and the House of Representatives on Thursday passed the N7.441 trillion spending bill concurrently. The document was also transmitted to the presidency same day, for presidential assent, which would effectively make it law.

The passage, however, came with an increment of N143 billion inputted by the National Assembly, deploying its powers of appropriation, from the proposal of N7.298 trillion. The lawmakers increased statutory transfers to the sum of N434.4 billion from N419.02 billion proposed by the Executive, while the appropriation for debt service was increased to N1.841 trillion from N1.66 trillion.

Sinking fund for maturing bonds was retained at N177.4 billion, while non-debt recurrent expenditure was increased to N2.99 trillion from N2.98 trillion contained in the budget proposal. The National Assembly appropriated N2.174 trillion for capital expenditure, which is exclusive of capital expenditure in statutory transfer, “for the year ending on 31st December 2017”. The executive had proposed N2.24 trillion for capital expenditure inclusive of capital in statutory transfer.

The Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing received the lion share of the budget with N586,535,786,168, followed by the Ministry of Interior with N472,597,817,561, and the Ministry of Education with N455,407,788,565.

Opening with Own N125bn Budget The legislature has constantly faced a barrage of criticism for its decision to keep its budget closed to the public, usually preferring to present a single line item in the federal budget. The

last time the public was able to scrutinise the legislative budget was in 2010. Senate President Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara finally bowed to sustained pressure and provided details of the budget. The legislature’s total N125 billion budget, increased by N10billion from the proposed N115 billion, was summarised in 10 line items.

Even though the National Assembly made its budget public, it did not provide the Senate and House overhead costs, or the budgetary sub-head for overheads, fuelling suspicion that this is where the lawmakers get paid the quarterly running cost for each of their offices.

The 33-page document containing the line by line details of expenditure for the Senate was made available on the twitter handle of the Nigerian Senate, @NGRSenate.

The Management of the National Assembly is allocated N14.9billion with N6.7billion for personnel cost, N6.2 billion for overhead and N2 billion for capital budget. The Senate budget is N31.4 billion with N1.856 billion for personnel, translating to N17 million per annum as salary for each Senator. The Senate also got N25.1 billion for overhead costs and N4.4 billion for capital projects. The House of Representatives got a total of N49 billion, with N4.9 billion for personnel cost (N13.7 million per member per annum), N39.6 billion for overheads and N4.5 billion for capital projects.

A total of N2.4 billion is proposed to the National Assembly Service Commission with N961 million for personnel costs, N1.1 billion for overhead and N310 million for capital, while legislative aides office was proposed the sum of N9.6 billion with N8.9 billion for personnel cost, N535 million for overhead and N150 million as capital component.

The sums of N119 million and N142.7 million were proposed for the Public Accounts Commit-

tees of the Senate and House of Representatives respectively, while the sum of N12.6 billion was proposed for general services with N11.7 billion for overhead and N817 million for capital. The National Assembly Legislative Institute received a proposal of N4.3 billion with N416.5 million for personnel costs, N1.2 billion for overhead and N2.72 billion as capital. The sum of N391 million was budgeted for service wide votes.

The N143bn Increment Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Danjuma Goje explained the increase of N143 billion to the executive proposal. He noted that the crude oil benchmark was increased to $44.5 dollars per barrel while the 2.2 million bpd benchmark was retained.

“We were in contact touch with the Executive. When we raised the benchmark by $2, the executive contributed, because all three tiers of government have to benefit from this increase. It is the federal government share of N131 billion that was applied to the federal budget,” he said.

Goje also noted that the National Assembly made some interventionist inclusions into the budget. These include the sum of N10 billion for the take-off of a second runway at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, N10 billion for the resumption of work on the abandoned Alhaji Bwari-Delta (FCT) railway line, and N5 billion for the completion of work on the abandoned Baro Inland Water Port, Niger.

Other inclusions are the addition of N10billion to the N65 billion proposal for the amnesty programme, N4 billion for the upgrading of the Abeokuta airport to make it a viable alternative to the Lagos airport, N25 billion to the budget for roads construction and rehabilitation, and N2.5 billion for the Economic Recovery Plan.

Goje said the budget for the commencement of work on a second runway at the Abuja airport

is not expected to finance the whole project.

“We added to the Amnesty budget to ensure sustainable peace and stability in the Niger Delta region,” he added.

The Chairman also absolved the legislature of the blame for the delay in the passage of the budget. He explained that the document was submitted two days before the lawmakers embarked on their annual recess.

“So, we did not touch it until we came back.

In line with the Fiscal Responsibility Act, it should be submitted about four months before.

It means even the constitution envisages that it would take about four months for a thorough job to be done. So, if it is submitted in September, then we would pass it by December or January,” he said.

Senate spokesman, Senator Sabi Abdullahi said some increments were made to the budget corp members’ allowances.

“There were some deficits regarding personnel costs. During budget defence, many MDAs heads had complained about this. These are some of the interventions because this is the essence of the budget in the first place. It is people centered and it is pro-poor, and we included items that would support economic recovery,” the Senator said.

Conclusion The 2017 budgetary process went on with little hitches and more co-operation between the Legislature and the Executive arms of government. This was unlike the process of the 2016 budget, which culminated in the refusal of President Buhari to assent to the document, delaying the process, with allegations of abuse of the budgetary process.

It is, therefore, hoped that the presidency would give assent to the 2017 budget ahead of the June 5 constitutional expiration of the lifespan of the 2016 budget, to avoid a constitutional crisis.

T H I S D AY SUNDAY MAY 14, 2017

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NEWS

UNITED IN FOCUS

L-R: Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) General Secretary, Rev. Dr. Musa Asake; President, Rev. Dr. Samson Ayokunle; Catholic Bishop of Kafanchan Diocese, Bishop Joseph Bagobiri, and CAN Vice President, Elder Prof. Joseph Otubu, as the CAN leaders paid a courtesy visit to Bagobiri in Kafanchan...recently

RECOGNISING NZAMUJO L-R: Deputy President, South-East South-south Professionals of Nigeria (SESSPN) Chike Okoroafor;

Founder, Songhai Centre, Fr. Godfrey Nzamujo, and Past President, SESSPN, Emeka Ugwu-Oju, as the body presented a plaque to Nzamujo, on the sidelines of the Feed Nigeria Summit in InterContinental Hotel, Lagos...recently

Military Arrests Fleeing Soldier for Shooting Judiciary Worker

Orji Hails S’Court Judgment, Says Win for Ikpeazu is Victory for Abians

Okon Bassey in Uyo

Anayo Okolie

Authorities of the Nigerian Army yesterday said the soldier that attempted to kill a Judiciary staff member of the Akwa Ibom State Government, Mr. Godwin Udoaka last Wednesday, has been arrested.

Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, Captain Shuaib Umar, who disclosed this in a statement issued in Uyo, hinted that Regimental Inquiry was in progress.

He said the Commander, 2nd Brigade Nigerian Army, Brig-General Abdu Ibrahim Hassan had visited the victim at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH).

During the visit to Udoaka in

the hospital, Hassan was said to have assured him that the Command would provide necessary support to ensure his quick recovery.

Umar in the statement disclosed that the soldier (identity undisclosed) involved has been arrested and Regimental Inquiry was in progress to ensure appropriate disciplinary measure is taken in order to prevent future recurrence.

Responding on behalf of the family, Mrs. Udoaka thanked the Commander for finding time despite his tight schedules to visit her husband in the hospital. “I want to thank you very much sir on behalf of my husband and my children. God will bless you sir’, she declared.

Udoaka, a driver attached to the State Judiciary narrowly escaped death as he was shot at close range by the soldier attached to Wizzchino Engineering Ltd, Uyo. The incident happened at about 12:45pm on Asutan

by Udo Street junction, close to the Secretariat of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists’ (NUJ), Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

While Udoaka was immediately rushed to the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH) by sympathisers where he is receiving treatment, the soldier was said to have disappeared with the company vehicle before mob attack.

An eye-witness said the

driver of the Judiciary vehicle and his counterpart of Wizzchino Engineering Ltd had arrived the area from an opposite direction at the same time, but they could not initiate their way out due to double packing of cars on the streets.

In a minor exchange of words over the right of way, the soldier who sat in the front seat of the vehicle reportedly fumed over the judiciary driver’s insistence that the driver of the Wizzchino Engineering Company should go back for him to pass.

The soldier was said to have stepped out from the Toyota Hilux Van with the registration number: ABC 222 AY and shot the Judiciary driver on the face.

FG to Give Preference to Indigenous Consultants

Set up Security Trust Fund, SGS Urges States

Wale Ajimotokan in Abuja

Mohammed Aminuin Sokoto

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said the Federal Government will soon adopt a policy to give the right of first refusal to indigenous consultants in its projects.

He disclosed this in Abuja when he received the Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria (PR-CAN) on a courtesy visit to his office. He said even when a foreign consultant is coming into the country the company must involve indigenous consultants.

“I remember that at the last Federal Executive Council Meeting, it was hotly debated that in all forms of consultancy we should as a matter of policy insist that no consultant should come without his own Nigerian partner. That way we believe that it will make it easier for us to develop the capacity, skills and the expertise of our home-grown consultants,’” Mohammed said.

He said when enacted, the policy will not only give impetus

to job creation but it will also assist in the development of the capacity of the indigenous consultants.

“When you involve your own consultants in your projects, you are not just taking expert advice, you are also employing people who have already bought into the project and who appreciate the fact that the success of that project is the success of the country.

“We believe in skills and technology transfer but if you don’t give your people a chance, who is going to give them a chance? People argue that the Nigerian consultants don’t have the requisite experience. Even if that is the case, how will they get it if you continue every time to shun them and you prefer foreign consultants? These foreign consultants got to where they got to because they were given the opportunity from their country,” the Minister said.

He said once the policy is active, government ministries and agencies will begin to involve consultants like PR-CAN in their programmes.

Secretaries to Governments of All Progressives Congress (APC) States (SGSs), yesterday rose from the 2nd Quarterly meeting under the auspices of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), and urged governors to set up a Security Trust Fund, with a view to improving security in the country.

This call was contained in a communique read by the Secretary to the Sokoto State Government, Prof. Bashir Garba, made available to THISDAY in Sokoto at the weekend.

The communique advised that member States should adopt and adapt the Security Trust Fund model law produced from PGF’s Legislative Expert Session. It also recommended that at least one per cent of total costs of all contracts awarded by States and Local Governments be paid into the Trust Fund.

The meeting acknowledged the critical need for

enhanced revenue base of States and recommended that States should adopt the Collection and Administration of Revenue Model law to establish an Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

According to the communique, this is to enhance the generation of resources in each of the APC states to engender implementation of policy initiatives. It also urged APC state governments as a bloc to align their agricultural policies with those of the Federal Government to maximise their benefits.

“The States should also work with the private sector to strengthen all year farming through increased investment in irrigation, farm mechanisation, expand land utilisation and introduce smart and precision agriculture. There is also the need to develop clusters of farmers within and across states and provide supports to the clusters across the value chain,” the communique read.

The immediate past governor of Abia State, Senator Theodore Orji, has urged Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to be magnanimous in victory irrespective of an agonising campaign of calumny he suffered from the opposition.

Orji, who represents Abia Central senatorial district in the Senate, also praised the aptness of the judiciary especially the Supreme Court, saying their precedents have contributed immensely to sustenance and preservation of the nation’s democracy since 1999.

In his congratulatory message to governor Ik-

peazu signed by his Media Adviser, Don Norman Obinna, Orji said those who seek redress in court of law in a perceived “injustice” did nothing wrong as it is their inalienable right to do so.

According to him, “there is neither victor nor vanquished in this contest as victory for Ikpeazu is victory for all Abia State indigenes.”

He, however, enjoined the opposition and other aggrieved members of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) to take the judgment of the Supreme Court in good faith and support Ikpeazu in his toil to take Abia State to her next level of development.

Oil and Gas Transparency Group Backs Reforms in NCDMB Emmanuel Addeh in Yenagoa

The Transparency in Petroleum Exploration and Development Initiative, (TIPEDI) a group of experts monitoring operations in the nation’s oil and gas industry, yesterday backed the current reforms going on at the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).

TIPEDI, in a statement by its Secretary, Dr. Michael Amaegberi, said the review of the organisational structure and competency assessment of staff members in the organisation, being carried out by KPMG, would ensure efficiency and better service delivery.

It noted that the restructuring being carried out by the Executive Secretary, NCDMB, Engr. Simbi Wabote, would ensure that the organisation is ahead of big organisations being monitored in terms of capacity.

“The review of organisational structure, we understand will help define clearly, departments and units and requirement for

officers to occupy various positions. Also, after the exercise, the Board will be able to determine where additional manpower will be needed”, the group said.

The oil and gas transparency group lauded all staff members and particularly top management for submitting themselves to the recently completed competency test.

TIPEDI also commended KPMG for a thorough study of the job description of all staff, their current capacity and what is required to function in their respective offices.

According to the group, this will help reveal where there are inadequacies on the part of staffers and where the NCDMB management can deploy the training budget after identifying appropriate and relevant training programmes.

It called on management to sustain the ongoing conduct of staff verification, which was started before the appointment of Wabote, to rid the Board of the employment of those it described their process as faulty.

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NEWSXTRA

WORTHY RECOGNITION R-L: Emir of Kano, HRM Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, presenting a staff of office to the Founder,

Paseda Legacy Foundation, Otunba Rotimi Paseda as the Garkuwan Hausawan of Ogun State in Kano...recently

BRAND NEW FELLOWS L-R: Editor-in-Chief, S.C Report, Mr. Layi Babatunde, SAN; Chairman, Board of Trustees, Professional Excellence Foundation of Nigeria (PEFON), Prince Julius Adelusi Adeluyi; Mrs. Joke Layi-Babatunde, and Mr. Dipo Opeseyi, SAN at the award of honourary distinguished fellowship of the Foundation to Babatunde and Opeseyi in Lagos...recently

Lagos @ 50: Govt’ll Never Betray Trust of Lagosians, Says Ambode Abimbola Akosile

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday graced the Lagos @ 50 Community Day and Carnival Celebrations, assuring all stakeholders that his administration will continue to run an all-inclusive government where all Lagosians can have and feel a sense of belonging regardless of party affiliation, creed or colour.

The Community Day and carnival celebrations were held simultaneously in 20 venues spread across the local governments in the State and featured series of fanfare activities including parade of various street carnival group parade, traditional dancers, children calisthenics display, dance competitions, among others.

Ambode, who spoke at the

Ago Hausa, Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government Area venue, said through the various infrastructural upgrade in areas that were hitherto neglected, government was demonstrating that Lagos is a State of inclusion in which all law-abiding, hardworking and honest persons will earn their fair rewards.

He said: “Almost two years after you gave our party, the All Progressives Congress your vote, the majority who had their way and the minority who had their say can attest to the fact that our government has operated like the sun that shines brightly on everybody.”

While pledging his administration’s commitment to continue to deliver the dividends of democracy, the governor attributed the successes the State has recorded in the last 50 years to the

good citizens who see Lagos as “a collective responsibility, an unfinished business that is always developing capacity to serve the citizens by making them safer, happier and wealthier” Ambode also said the efforts of law abiding citizens have given his administration the confidence and courage to boldly combat the problems confronting the State.

“Whether it is crime, filth or social nuisance, we have left no stone unturned because you have entrusted to us your lives, day and night. I pledge, here and again, that we shall never betray that trust.

“So let us be merry even as we re-dedicate ourselves to the journey towards greater prosperity that lies ahead of us. Let our communities help our Local Council Development Areas and

our Local Government Areas to rise to the challenge of a greater Lagos of our dreams”.

He said the Community Day Celebration was devoted to acknowledging the millions of families who live together and work together to create communities of peace and bliss and who according to him is the most important asset.

“It is a duty we owe because you are the men and women who hold this State together; you are the workers who keep the industries running; the traders who make our markets boom; the public officials who support us to render services. Among you here today are people of diverse professions, religions and ethnic backgrounds. We are all united by the great citizenship that residing in Lagos State confers.

‘Chibok Girls’ Release, Big Tor Tiv: Cattle Ranching Only Solution to Herdsmen/ Morale Booster to the Military’ Farmers Clashes terrorists to the negotiation table.

Sunday Okobi The Tor Tiv and Chairman, Benue Council of Chiefs, Prof.

James Ayatse, has said cattle ranching was the only solution to the incessant clashes between herdsmen and farmers.

Ayatse said in a statement yesterday in Makurdi that the ranches, aside minimising the clashes, had multiplier effects like employment for youths that would work in companies that would produce feeds for the animals.

The statement, signed by Mr. Freddie Adamgbe, his media assistant, quoted the monarch as urging the Federal Government to enact a legislation that would effectively back up ranching so as to save lives and protect farms from destruction by cattle.

He commended the Benue House of Assembly for passing the Anti-Open Grazing Bill, and assured the lawmakers of the full support of the Benue Council of Chiefs.

Ayatse also spoke on the violence in some parts of the country and blamed that on the

poor economy and joblessness among the youths. Noting that most youths were neither educated nor trained in any skill, he called for a population policy that would regulate births and ensure that Nigerians gave birth to only children they could cater for.

“Part of the nation’s problem is that our population is far beyond our resources; we bring on children without any definite plan for their future. Parents must limit the number of their children to a figure they can feed, train and cater for. When children are thrown into the streets, they get desperate for survival and become willing tools in the hands of desperate politicians.

Such youths are equipped with dangerous weapons and are used as thugs to achieve evil schemes,” he said.

He tasked government to initiate steps to recover arms currently in the wrong hands so as to minimise violence and save the lives of Nigerians, according to a News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) report.

The Concerned Professionals’ Congress (CPC) has said the successful negotiated release of 82 Chibok schoolgirls from Boko Haram terrorists is a major morale booster to the courageous Nigerian troops currently engaged in counter-terrorism operations in the North-east.

Theciviladvocacygroupwhich stated this yesterday in a statement made available to THISDAY, said against the backdrop of the girls’ release and the changes in the leadership of Operation Lafiya Dole, the successful negotiations for the girls’ freedom is a major morale booster to the troops.

In the statement issued and signed by CPC Chief Media Strategist, Emeka Nwakpa, Coordinator of the group, Tukur Musa Tilde, said apart from boosting the morale of the troops, the release of the girls has further raised the profile of the Nigerian military without whose determined resolve and resilience to hunt down the members of the sect, it would have been impossible to force the

The group maintained that Sambisa Forest finally fell following the military’s sustained ground and air bombardments resulting in several heavy casualty suffered by the terrorists which led some of their commanders to be captured, injured or killed, “a situation which forced some of the sect members to surrender in droves to embrace the Operation Safe Corridor which the military high command created as a facility to absorb them for rehabilitation, re-integration and de-radicalisation.”

According to CPC, “The point is worth-stating that but for the determined efforts of our troops some of whom have paid the supreme price, it would have been near-difficult, if not impossible, for the Boko Haram terrorists to agree to come to the negotiation table. Our military has proved to be as asset to the nation at this crucial, critical and defining moment in our history as a nation.

The girls’ release is a reward for their courage, hard work and professionalism.

Tussle over Daily Times Ownership Resumes Ahead of 91 Heroes Award ceremonies of Daily Times of Nigeria Plc, disagreement again emerged at the weekend over the rightful owner of the company.

The ceremony is being organised and sponsored by Mr. Fidelis Anosike and Mr. Noel Anosike.

But a statement by the Company Secretary of Daily Times, L.A. Idu, alleged that Fidelis Anosike and Noel Anosike were impostors and are not officers of The Daily Times of Nigeria (DTN).

According to the statement, “The certified true copies of

Status Report of DTN issued by Corporate Affairs Commission on Friday May 12, and addressed to the Inspector General of Police, Director General, State Security Service and the Chairman EFCC, shows the current officers of the company and Fidelis Anosike and Noel Anosike are not among the officers of the company.

“The general public is hereby warned that any person or organisation that participates in any manner whatsoever will be complicit in a criminal conspiracy for which appropriate legal actions shall be applied.”

Holiday Hub Nigeria Kicks off at UNILAG Ugo Aliogo Holiday Hub Nigeria (HHN), an initiative with the vision of equipping Nigerian undergraduates for career success has berthed at the University of Lagos.

The maiden event titled, ‘Study Outside the Box’ held between May 4 and 6 at the university.

Dignitaries that graced the event included experts drawn from different industries including; Mrs. Arinola Akinseye, Head ER & IR/HR Business partner at Addax Petroleum, Mrs. Obasemola Temitope, PMP, Procter & Gamble South-west Business Development Manager (fmr); Mr. Adeniran Adetunji Baby an Emerging Channel Lead at Procter and Gamble Nigeria, and Mr. Olajide George, Sales and Strategy Development Manager at Merit Abode

Nigeria Ltd. The founder of the initiative, Ayoola Oladipupo was the best graduating student of the Department of Electrical Electronics, UNILAG in 2015. He, his board of directors and facilitators are young people with the passion for self-development who have joined hands to contribute a solution to the employment gap in Nigeria today.

Participants at the event were taught project management, career development, business growth planning and strategic selling. In addition to these, there were practical training sessions on graphics design, computer programming, computer networks and business development. The last day also featured CV review, project presentations and mock interview sessions.

Ex-US Marine Joins Guber Race Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti As preparations for the Ekiti State Governorship election reach top gear, a United States Marine, Capt.

Sunday Adebomi, has called on proponents of zoning of governorship ticket to bury the agitations.

He advised the All Progressives Congress (APC) to throw the battle open to all contestants regardless of zone, so that the contest can be all-embracing.

Adebomi said zoning has no roots in the 1999 constitution,

urging aspirants from the South senatorial district, who were in the forefront of the agitation to put their house in order to be able to clinch the ticket.

He said the main focus of his government would be how to tackle the menace of youth unemployment ravaging the State, revealing that he had offered himself as a rallying point for all the youths and promised to offer leadership that would turn around their fortunes in the politics of the State.

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SUNDAYSPORTS Ethiopians Dominate 2017 Okpekpe Road Race

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

Duro Ikhazuagbe in Okpekpe and Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

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his year’s edition of the 2017 Okpekpe 10 kilometres road race has been won

by Ethiopians in the male category, while in the female category two Ethiopians and a Kenyan emerged winner.

The Ethiopian trio of Luel Gebrasilasis (29mins 28 secs), Jima

Bekele (29.34), and Dawit Fikadu (32.22) made a clean sweep in the male category yesterday even as Gebru Azemra ran 33. 59 to win the women’s event.

The 5th edition which was better packaged by Pamodzi Sports Marketing, the franchise owners of the IAAF bronze label race, lived up to billing with Veronica Maina (34.19) and Alice Timbili (34.39) winning the second and third positions to complete an East African clean sweep. The

top three finishers got $15,000, $10,000 and $7,000 in both the male and female categories.

Interestingly,whiletheNigerian men failed in their bid to make the top eight in order to get a share of the dollar prize money at stake, Civil Defence Corp athlete Deborah Pam ran 38.15 to finish 7th overall to qualify for $2,000 prize as well as the N250,000 on offer for the Nigerian category.

Nasarawa State athlete, Elizabeth Nuhu also made it to have

a share of the dollars on offer.

Nuhu ran 38.41 to place 8th and qualify for $1,500 and N100,000.

Rose Akushio (38.55) of Plateau came in as third female Nigerian but only qualified for the local category prize money as she came 9th.

Overall winner of the male event, Gabrieselasie was excited as the top runner here in Okpekpe. He was particularly happythathewasabletosurpass the second position he attained

at the 2015 edition.

“I am very happy winning the 2017 Okpekpe 10 kilometer race.

I was here in 2015 and finished second,” gushed the top runner from Ethiopia. He however said thathewouldhavelovedtoerase the course record but the weather was very unfriendly for such.

There were other categories such ras unning for cancer, running for orphanages, running for women empowerment and running against cultism.

Immediate past Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole commended Governor Godwin Obaseki for sustaining the Okpekpe race.

“I know several programmes that have been abandoned by governors who took over from previous administrations. This Okpekpe race is one project aimed at empowering those in the grassroots” stressed Oshiomhole who ran alongside Obaseki at this edition.

Agbakoba, Falana Battle for BOA Lawyers League Title Duro Ikhazuagbe

The final game of the 2017 BOALawyers Football Tournament scheduled for today is a repeat of last year’s finalists as Olisa Agbakoba Legal and Falana & Falana return to settle scores. Last year, Falana & Falana smiled away from the Astroturf 2000 venue with the ultimate prize after defeating OAL in a thrilling final game.

For the players from Apapabased Agbakoba, the rematch is payback time as they cannot afford to play second fiddle a second consecutive time.

Last weekend, OAL showed their determination to succeed with the ruthless manner they dispatched Templars in the first semi final. Owolabi Dare scored a hat trick in the 5-0 crushing of Templars.

Now, the war song in OAL camp is vengeance. They are determined to wrestle the trophy from the grip of the defending champions.

Falana & Falana on the other

hand remain unfazed by the boasting coming from Agbakoba camp. A top official of the law firm told THISDAY that they are not bothered by whatever high goals OAL may have been firing before the final.

“You know we are not bothered by whatever anybody may be saying. We are capable of winning the cup again on Sunday (today),” stressed the team official.

Agbakoba won the 2015 edition before being dethroned by Falana last year. Both teams qualified from Group B pairing to get this final.

The 15th edition of the annual Bankole OlumideAluko (BOA) Football Tournament for law firms kicked off on Sunday, February 26 at the Astroturf 2000 Facility in Ikoyi, Lagos.

The tournament is held in memory of the late notable lawyer, Mr. Bankole Olumide Aluko, a founding partner in the law firm of Aluko & Oyebode (A & O).

Sia-One Academy Niger Delta Football Talent Hunt Kicks off Olawale Ajimotokan

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heSia-OneAcademy football talent hunt for the five Niger Delta states will kick off tomorrow in Abia, Akwa Ibom, Cross Rivers, Rivers and Bayelsa states respectively. The programme which has the full backing of the federal government via the Amnesty Programme will attract young players between the ages of 15 -20 across the five mentioned states.

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Samson Siasia, the founder of Sia-One Sports Academy, explained the essence of staging this talent hunt exercise. “We are starting with five states for now and the target is to discover players while still very young from between the ages of 15 and 20. The purpose is to engage these young, talented footballers early using sports and most especially football as the starting basis.

“Everyone should present their birth certificates when coming because you can’t participate if you don’t have one. We have qualified coordinators in all the five riverine states mentioned and our target is to screen and pick 30 players for the final talent hunt that will take place in Uyo, Akwa Ibom on May 20”, Siasia disclosed.

He explained further that the programme is also designed to incorporate education into sports by training the selected players thus preparing them for a better future.

Harry Kane (left) and Dele Alli have powered Spurs to second place this season

Tottenham Welcome Man United for Last Match at White Hart Lane

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ottenhamHotspurwill aim to consolidate second place in the Premiership as they host Manchester United in the last match to be played at White Hart Lane as they make plans to move to a new ground. Today’s encounter isexpectedtobeahighlyemotional affair with Tottenham vacating the stadium that has been their home for 118 years and Mauricio Pochettino says his side are ‘focused’.

Hesaid:“We’restilldisappointed about last Friday. Training from Monday to Wednesday was difficult. We missed a big chance to put pressure on Chelsea. Before that game, we thought it was possible to win the title. We are okay now. We are focused on United.

“Sunday (today) will be special foreveryonewholovesTottenham, but the future is exciting. It is important we take the soul, smell of WHLto the new stadium. It’s sad and exciting.”

United boss Jose Mourinho says that with just 15 players available, changes should be expected with the hectic final weeks his side face where they will play four games including the Europe League final against Ajax.

Mourinho said: “I have to give

someminutestoeveryonebecause we have only 15 players, we don’t have more, so I have to play them.

But I have to play them mixed.

I have to play them by periods and I don’t have another solution.

“We can win a trophy and by winning that trophy we can play ChampionsLeaguenextseason,so that’sthegame.Wearenotgoingto say that matches are not important matches. They are important. But wehaveonethatismoreimportant than others.”

Tottenham’s Danny Rose will miss out on a farewell appearance atWhiteHartLaneashecontinues his recovery from a knee injury.

The left-back has been sidelined sincethe0-0drawwithSunderland on January 31 and though he has returned to first-team training, the 26-year-oldisshortofmatchfitness and won’t be risked.

Pochettino will be without three youngsters for the match; Cameron Carter-Vickers (USA), JoshuaOnomahandKyleWalkerPeters (both England) have joined up with their respective nations in preparation for the FIFA U20 World Cup. AlongsideRose,EricLamela(hip) and Harry Winks (ankle) continue their rehabilitation and will not feature in the remaining games

of the season.

MarouaneFellainiservesthefinal game of his three-match ban and EricBaillyislikelytostartfollowing his red card against Celta Vigo on Thursday.

Luke Shaw (foot), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (knee), Marcos Rojo (knee), Ashley Young (hamstring) and Timothy Fosu-Mensah (shoulder) are out for the season and the

United boss could be tempted to includeU23starletsAxelTuanzebe andScottMcTominayafterthepair made their debuts againstArsenal last weekend.

Spurs’ only win in their last 15 home Premier League games against Manchester United came in last season’s 3-0 victory (D6 L8). That 3-0 defeat for United is the only time they’ve conceded

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R • MAY 14, 2017

High Life Y

85 with LANRE ALFRED 08076885752

...Amazing lifestyles of Nigeria’s rich and famous

Pride of a General…Ibrahim Babangida’s Daughter, Halima Marries in a Grand Style

es, IBB has shown that in or out of high office, he is still a man of his people.

Nigeria’s high society was agog as one of the most powerful and influential families in Nigeria, the Babangida clan, hosted the country’s aristocrats to the high octane wedding of former President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida’s daughter, Halima, married to Alhaji Auwal Lawal Abdullahi, who holds the traditional title of Sarkin Sudan Gombe, on Friday.

Halimat is the second daughter and last child of the family. She was born 31 years ago by former first lady Maryam Babangida at First Consultant Hospital, Obalende, Lagos, while IBB was military president. Delivered by Dr. Benjamin Ohiaeri, Halimat was named in a ceremony attended by high octane individuals, who are today, drivers of modern Nigeria. And last Friday, they thronged the Niger State capital in a show of love to the former president, 24 years after leaving office.

The wedding ceremony, held at the hilltop residence of General Babangida in Minna, was indeed more like a political gathering.

The colourful ceremony was an an assemblage of movers and shakers in Nigeria. About 35 private jets and four police/air force aircraft landed at the Minna Airport, while the police provided air surveillance and security in the city.

The carnival-like ceremony saw former President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife Dame Patience, leading A-list guests that included former military Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar and his wife, Fati Lami, Senate President Bukola Saraki, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and business mogul, Aliko Dangote.

Also in attendance were former

Nasiru Haladu Danu

TO WHOM HONOUR IS DUE… TURBANING NASIRU HALADU DANU AS THE “DAN AMANAR DUTSE”

Industry is a taxing field, in which the degree of brilliance in the performance is left to the merchant’s honour. In full acknowledgment

governors Sule Lamido of Jigawa State, Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, Attaihiru Bafarawa of Sokoto State, Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State, Mohammadu Shinkafi of Zamfara State, Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State, Abubakar Dakingari of Kebbi State, Oserheimen Osunbor of Edo State and Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State.

The list of serving governors who attended the ceremony included Rochas Okorocha of Imo state, Aminu Tambwal of Sokoto State, Dairus Ishyaku of Taraba State, Simon Lalong of Plateau State, Tanko Almakura of Nasarawa State, Nasir El- Rufai of Kaduna, Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara, Ahmed Abdulfatah of Kwara, Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano and Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger State.

Other dignitaries were former NSA, Gen. Aliyu Gusau, the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris; former first lady, Justice Fati Lami Abubakar; Professor Jubril Aminu; Mohammed Abacha; former Senate president Anyim Pius Anyim and Dr. Ekwesileze Nwodo. Among the business moguls in attendance were Tony Elumelu, Tunde Folawiyo and Bola Shagaya.

The dowry was paid by Gombe State Governor, Ibrahim Dankwanbo, who received the bride from former Chief of Army Staff, General Mohammad Inuwa Wushishi.

N500,000 cash and ten cows was paid as bride price. Sheikh Imam Wushishi subsequently performed the joining of the couple, while a special prayer was offered for the couple by Sheik Kabiru Gombe.

IBB, known for his unabashed classiness and penchant to play the infallible host anytime the occasion calls for it, treated his daughter to an unforgettable wedding of this fact, top politician and businessman, Alhaji Nasiru Haladu Danu, was turbaned as the Dan Amanar Dutse. The Durbar took place on the 4th of May at the Emirs’ Palace. The two-day event included a Gala Night at the Royal Golf Course and was concluded by the turbaning and dinner hosted by the Jigawa State Government at the Government House Dutse.

Some of the guests in attendance were Hon Yakubu Dogara (Speaker House of Reps), the Ooni of Ife, Oba Ogunwusi, and so many other dignitaries. Every guest was given the royalty treatment. However, the centre of attraction that night was no other person than Nasiru who bowled everyone over at the event with his infectious candor and charisma. Unlike too many individuals stuck in the role of minor casts or fleeting characters in their own stories, Nasiru leaps from the pages of history as a fully formed and rounded character; he conceived, wrote and stars in this breakthrough masterpiece, cementing his place as one of the most daring and phenomenal creative minds of his time.

Halima Babangida Abdullahi Photo: Sunmi Smart-Cole

ceremony. The elated father of the bride personally wrote letters to a few Nigerians inviting them to the ceremony. The joy of the newlywed couple knew no bounds as they swooned with joy and excitement.

The pair waltzed across the reception arena like two royal scions at the threshold of their dreams.

Every detail about their wedding was undeniably gorgeous. The rich LORD HAVE MERCY! THE STORM WITHIN MERCY AIGBE’S FAMILY •WHY HUSBAND WAS REMANDED IN IKOYI PRISON

Not every storm cloud falls as rain hence the war of attrition violently wreaking the popular Yoruba actress, Mercy Aigbe,

Mercy Aigbe

and enviable social contacts and affiliations of the former President were fully displayed and amply felt by everyone present at the occasion as the his residence was packed full with the crème of the pack of Nigeria’s business and political high societies. There were fever pitch dances and splatters of beautifully dressed men and women as they began their matrimonial odyssey. and her husband, Lanre Gentry, may become much more than the couple and any arbiter can handle. Indications arose several weeks ago that all is not well with the couple when Mercy accused her husband of being a deadbeat husband and a wife beater. No sooner than she made her claim, her husband responded in kind claiming she was delusional and mentally unstable. Known for his sudden mood swings, the wife has learnt to read the warning signals and whenever he arrives home with his eyes flashing and nostrils flared, she finds a way to calm him down. All is clearly not well with the Gentry family. However, Lanre Gentry, has been remanded in Ikoyi prison custody after failing to meet his bail conditions. Gentry, who was alleged to have physically assaulted his wife, Mercy, appeared before the court last week and pleaded not guilty to the charges leveled against him by the Lagos State Government.

It would be recalled that the State Government waded into the alleged domestic violence after the actress reported her attack to the Lagos State Government through Domestic

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HIGHLIFE

Presidential Treatment! Mike Adenuga Hosts Ghana’s Former President, John Dramani Mahama, in His Banana Mansion

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t is often said that he who rides the tides of industry influences the thought of his times. Eventually, he commands the epochs that follow and impresses his name on eternity. Such an individual no doubt sways the applause of listening Senates.

If he is cut of the rare stock that Dr. Mike Ishola Adenuga, GCON, CSG, hails from, he effortlessly attracts the patronage of leaders of men.

Thus it was hardly surprising that Adenuga earned the good graces of the former President of Ghana, Dr. John Dramani Mahama. In a rare show of amity, the African richest billionaire took time off his busy schedule to dine with Mahama and some friends in his Banana Island sprawling mansion last Monday. The former president knew he was dining with a man of charisma, an industry titan well attuned to the grandeur of elite sovereigns and leaders of men.

The VIP guests had undiluted fun in the billionaire’s home to their satisfaction and to their host’s delight. Yes, Adenuga is something of a visionary.

But at the core of his vision is a deep sense of scale; a profound passion for industry and respect for the universe, in their separate immensities.

The Forbes-certified billionaire businessman nurtures abiding love and respect for fellow humans, particularly those whose minds can somehow span the depth of his industry and citizenship of humanity.

Mike Adenuga and John Dramani Mahama

Adenuga embodies a revolt against tiresome ego and false modesty. He also understands that false modesty is a learned affectation. It’s just like decals. As soon as the world shakes the falsely modest person against the wall, that appropriated reserve will drop off them. Adenuga lives as if his intimidating billions doesn’t get to him. He hasn’t tried to become anybody else’s idea of a billionaire. He

and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT). During the court proceeding, the trial magistrate, Mrs. Y.O. Aje-Afunwa, granted the defendant bail of N500, 000 after he pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Aje-Afunwa added that Lanre must also provide tax verification and two sureties, one of whom must own property in Lagos State, just as she adjourned the case till July 12.

In fact, some of his old friends have also shunned him, leaving him to his fate, consigning all memories of the good times spent with him to the trashcan.

has remained himself, with earnest grace, tenderness and sense of humour. His power lies largely in his selfawareness and wit. Adenuga’s true appeal, though, lies in his meekness and transparency.

Frequently likened to a champ and sometimes, a business genius, Adenuga naturally depicts the image of a modern day titan of industry.

Having recorded a series of remarkable firsts in the highly real estate business with choice properties scattered in high-end areas both on Lagos Mainland and Island and a very big Auto shop on Akin Adesola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos. As you read, he has once again become the toast of old friends, associates and sycophants who ridiculed him when the going got tough.

SANDRA SOLEBO SOFT PEDALS

A lot of women who have accepted or had imposed upon them girlhood, the old, conservative styles

VICTORY AT LAST! MIKE INEGBESE GETS SECOND-TIME LUCKY

The good times are back for Mike Inegbese. The Esan, Edo Sate-born auto merchant and owner of Ine-Mic Motors has chanced on mother luck again after suffering a series of bad luck. Prior to his travails, the Edo high chief with an uncanny love for bowler hat and gold-plated walking staff loomed above the social scene with pomp and panache. So aweinspiring was his personage that he became the toast of the drivers of industry as well as the nation’s ruling class. He was courted by all and sundry and his presence automatically added glamour to every social event. Then, like shrapnel from a deadly mine, news of his ill-fortune pervaded the air,

Sandra Solebo

Mike Inegbese

casting a dark pall on his otherwise brilliant world. The rumour mills were put to work and news of the millionaire-auto magnate’s imminent doom filtered into the atmosphere. Mischief makers blamed his purported ill-luck on an alleged business deal gone sour. His showroom, located on Kingsway Road, Ikoyi that used to be home to fleet of exotic automobiles became a shadow of itself thus lending some sort of credence to the rumour.

Today, Chief Mike Inegbese has bounced back and he is now into

Sandra Solebo

competitive world of local and international commerce, there are no more worlds for Adenuga to conquer. Adenuga has created a legendary brand in Globacom, Africa’s biggest telecommunication network which is both a burden and blessing. But rather than submitted to the rigours and pressures of commerce, he towers in excellence thus creating a powerhouse that Africa can be proud of. of careful modesty in speech and aplomb, with much understatement, have behind their masks an appalling and impregnable conceit of themselves; unlike Sandra Solebo the beautiful wife of Femi Solebo.

Sandra, who runs the much-talked about Homeshop, isn’t wrought of such detestable narcissism. She does not blow her own trumpet and it is not because she feels you are not fit to listen to the performance.

The sultry beauty is many things to many people hence her portrayal in variety of favourable portraits. On account of her enviable pedigree and social contacts, she has been described as one of the most respected silver spoon kids. You could be forgiven for thinking that a woman imbued with such elegance and class will undoubtedly become a permanent feature of Nigeria’s high society, but that is hardly the case with Sandra. Although few years ago, she graced high society circuits with enviable grace and aplomb, she has withdrawn into a shell today. In effect, Sandra no longer appears in party circuits and celebrity journals.

It is unclear how long she would keep off the high life but for a long while, she will remain an enigma in the annals of Nigeria’s high society.

The colourful array of exquisitely finished interiors on display in her outfit, without doubt, has put her on the front page of ace soft interior décor merchants in the city.

T H I S D AY, T H e S u n D AY n e w S pA p e r • MAY 14, 2017

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HIGHLIFE

Four Years after… Deji Falae’s Wife, Ese, Battles What Killed Him

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or Ese, the widow of late Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in Ondo State, Deji Falae, the battle continues. Though it might take an eternity for the wound and agony to heal, Ese is embracing life again and giving her three kids all the attention they desire. On Thursday, October 3rd, 2013, Deji had led the state government’s delegation to accompany the corpse of former Ondo State governor, Chief Olusegun Agagu, from Lagos to Akure for the state burial only for the Associated Airline plane to crash barely minutes after take-off from Lagos. While Agagu’s son and son-in-law survived the crash, Deji and others did not. Watching them bemoan their fate, you could feel the intensity of their misery and almost touch it. Take Ese for instance, it’s a disposition that seems to say: “silence the pianos and muffle the drums, bring out the coffin and let me mourn.”

However, the family of Deji has asked a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos to hold that Associated

FROM LONDON TO BENIN… TONYE PRINCEWILL GIVES FATHER IN-LAW A GRAND FUNERAL TO REMEMBER

Few people get to transit from being utterly indispensable to “eternally unforgettable.” A real mother does.

And if she is some father-in-law to treasure, he may be succeeded but he can never be replaced. This truth amongst so many others manifested in the manner in which billionaire businessman, Prince Tonye Princewill, is planning to bury his father-in-law, John Osoba Iyamabo. Nobody ever makes a lovely corpse but when he was alive, Princewill’s father in-law characterized the essence of loveliness and more. Now that he has passed on, Tonye’s wife would fight the battle of her life never to let go the wonderful, sweet memories bequeathed to her by her late father. The ceremony would attract the crème-de-la-crème of Nigeria’s high society and business community who would troop out en masse to commiserate with one of their own. There was a Service of Songs at Jesus House, 112 Brent Terrace,

Tonye Princewill

Aviation Nigeria Ltd and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, were responsible for his death in an air crash through negligence. The late Falae’s wife, Ese and her three teenage children are claiming damages from the defendants for alleged negligence. They are claiming $100,000 as general damages and N219,906, 250 which the deceased would have earned in 15 years as a lawyer had he not died. The plaintiffs are seeking in the alternative, N108,527,750, £160,740 and $19,000 as special damages for alleged breaches of the defendants’ respective duties under the Civil Aviation Act 2006, Fatal Accident Act 1846 and Fatal Accident Law of Lagos State.

They are also praying the court to award N5 million as cost of filing the suit and legal fees, and 10 per cent interest on the postjudgment sum. According to the family, “The first defendant flew its Flight 361 in such a manner as to cause danger to the occupiers of the aircraft and indeed cause the death of the deceased.”

Brent Cross, London NW2 1LT, U.K, and reception at 22 Oakhill Avenue, Pinner, Middlesex HA5 3DN, U.K, last Saturday. At the event in London, the goodwill enjoyed by Princewill was brought to full display as many of his friends, family, political and business associates trooped out to participate in the celebration of life of his departed father-in-law. The ceremony brought out one of the largest crowds in the London’s high society. The event boasted a cool list of guests mingling the worlds of politics, business, entertainment and high society. The much-loved politician sought to break tradition and redefine pomp and lavish celebrations as he treated his guests to the best of a good time. However, come Friday 9 June, there would be lying in state at No. 9, Tony Anenih Road, Off Boundary Road, G.R.A Benin City, and Funeral Service at R.C.C.G Abundant Life Parish, Boundary Road, G.R.A Benin City, Edo State.

ALL ABOUT AMAL FASHANU… WHY LONDON RICH GUYS WOULD NOT LET HER BE •Blessed with lovely figure that could Bring tears to the eyes of an eunuch

With her porcelain beauty and selfawareness, Amal Fashanu, the beautiful daughter of John Fashanu, could make even the simplest of fashions look effortlessly glamorous. She epitomizes contemporary style with enviable abandon, with poise and confidence that inspired the likes of Gisele Bündchen, Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista, Beverly Johnson, Heidi Klum, Kate Moss, and Jean Shrimpton to mention a few.

But how could one model inspire so many uniquely evocative visions? The most obvious explanation, of course, is that the artists and photographers charged with the task of capturing her have immense creative powers.

But there is also a more subtle reason for the strength and variation of the portfolio: The subject is not just any model. She is Amal Fashanu, the next best intriguing and enduring model of

Ese Falae

Amal Fashanu

our era, a human canvas upon which fashion designers, photographers and artists have felt compelled to work and will often feel compelled to work more often than not. Amal, young, brainy and dramatic, is one of the select few models quietly and yet very glamorously making her way towards a bright and fruitful career in the United Kingdom (UK). Despite her mounting success in the world of modeling, Amal remains a stranger to the pains and misery behind the glamour. However, in the city of London, rich men wouldn’t let her be. They want her friendship if for just a minute, pursuing her with all they have and generally making them swallow a cascade of spittle in quick succession. But Amal doesn’t have time for frivolities - so we heard.

house that was once beautiful is dead.

Ochuba and her husband have lost their home located at Somolu close, Alakuko, Ijaiye in Lagos. When the couple built the house and moved into it, six years ago, they never knew that there stay in it would be short-lived. Unfortunately for the couple, the house was built on a land sold to them by fraudulent means.

When the owners of the land took Mr Akinlade to a Lagos high court, the court ruled in favour of the plaintiff and issued an order in October asking the Akinlades to vacate the house. Ochuba and husband have since vacated the house. “I think two factors are working against the place…it is a mansion and few people can afford to maintain such a place as a rented property in that part of town and secondly the controversy associated with it also makes prospective tenants stay off once they become familiar with the history of the place” an insider explained. Checks revealed at a point after he moved out, Akinlade was offered the place again by the man who instituted the case that forced him out but he spurned the chance to return.

CHINENYE OCHUBA AND HUSBAND LOSE LAGOS HOME

“No man can lose what he never had,” said Izaak Walton, late English writer. But Chinenye Ochuba, Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN), and her husband, Kunle Akinlade, had a beautiful house and they lost it. Music they heard together in that house has been lost; all they did together in that

Chinenye Ochuba and husband

Sunday, May 14, 2017

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Price: N400

MISSILE Ambassador Obiozor to FG

“Within 56 years of the country’s existence, three system of government parliamentary, military and presidential, have failed to solve the country’s national leadership problem or guarantee the nation’s long term existence as a nation.”

– Nigeria’s former Ambassador to the United States of America, Prof George Obiozor calling for the restructuring of Nigeria or perish on the idea of one Nigeria

SIMONKOLAWOLE SIMONKOLAWOLELIVE!

simon.kolawole@thisdaylive.com, sms: 0805 500 1961

Predators as Nigeria’s Ultimate Saviours

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or decades, I have been holding on tenaciously to the belief that Nigeria would develop someday. I like to be practical, so I come up with all kinds of thoughts on how this would or could be achieved in real life. However, I have seen my hypotheses and postulations disintegrate one after the other. For instance, I would think democracy was a prerequisite for development, but the Second Republic was not particularly a great advert for the link between democracy and development. The military took over and we celebrated “benevolent dictatorship” by Gen. Ibrahim Babangida but, in the end, we were praying for the soldiers to just pack their jackboots and guns and return to their barracks.

In 1999, I campaigned and voted for Chief Olusegun Obasanjo under the illusion that as a retired military officer who once ruled Nigeria and lived an austere life thereafter, he could return the country to the path of disciple and development under a democratic setting. But he was caught in his own contradictions. With his eight years in office, we still kept importing petrol and kept shouting “Up NEPA” everyday.

He remained captive to the buccaneering elite in a consensus relationship. I was defeated by Obasanjo’s mediocrity — which, ironically, is still the best we’ve got since 1999. Imagine someone who scored 39% emerging the overall best student!

Undaunted, I started postulating that if we had a graduate at the helm of affairs, our development would be accelerated. Not only did we get President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua who read sciences and had a master’s degree, we also had Dr. Goodluck Jonathan with a PhD as his deputy who also went on to lead the country for five years after Yar’Adua’s death.

Through it all, the predators still held Nigeria by the throat. I thought President Muhammadu Buhari was going to offer something significantly different, but after the ‘initial gra gra’ (otherwise known as IGG), it seems normal service has resumed. The firmament is getting polluted yet again.

But I’m somebody who never gives up. When my hopes are dashed, I dust myself up, pick up my cap and float to the next dreamland. It was my friend and big brother, Dike Dimiri, who drew my attention to this trait sometime in 1996.

I had done a project that failed spectacularly.

I was really, really down. It is one moment of my life I don’t wish to remember. I spent a whole day lamenting to him. After offering words of comfort, he asked me what next. I said I was going to try again. I outlined my plans for the second phase. Dike looked at me and said: “You know what I like about you?

You never give up.” He might have forgotten but I will always remember those kind words.

Sure, I know enough, and I have seen enough, to make me conclude that the development of Nigeria is an impossibility. The very nature and structure of our system is anti-development.

Even if you motive is pure and you want to contest for an office, the way you get the party’s ticket and win the election is itself an obstacle to good governance. The governance system you will work with is designed to fail — or, at best, programmed to stunt development. The civil servants have no business with development. It’s not their cup of tea. Most political appointees are only looking for what to eat and drink.

If you say you want to clean up the system, frustration will be your trophy.

So with all that, how can anyone say Nigeria will become a developed country? These days, my mood swings effortlessly. One moment, I am excited by the prospects and potential of

Buhari Nigeria; the next I am shaking my head in gloom and screaming “it is finished”. Just as I have seen enough to make me conclude that we are doomed, so also have I seen enough to make me believe that we are going to make it, and that we are actually on our road to progress, no matter how little and how slow things appear to be today. You don’t want to be caught in conflicting emotions and thoughts as I have found myself. I don’t envy myself at all.

But let us look at these issues in another way.

We have had our fair share of the argument over who to blame for Nigeria’s underdevelopment — the leaders or the followers? Many think it is the leaders, and that if the leaders lead us aright, the followers will fall in line. Others say it is the followers, and that we get the kind of leaders that we deserve. All my life, I have always believed that it is leadership that

I know of many otherwise intelligent, focused and upright Nigerians who become something else when they get into public office.

They tell you: It is not as easy as those of you outside think! There is a difference between theory and practical!

conceives and delivers development, and the followers will nurture it. There is a role for leaders, the bigger role at that, and there is a role for followers — in my considered opinion.

Nigerians have demonstrated over time that they are ready to follow the leader.

If you agree with me that leaders should be the ones to show the way, you may also agree that our leaders have been mainly predators and have been showing us the wrong way. What most of them care about is how to abuse their oath of office, enrich themselves and their cronies, and leave the ordinary followers short-changed.

Followers, beaten and battered, hardly see beyond their noses: they are ready to sell their votes to any bidder just to afford the next meal. So we go in a circumlocution, blaming bad leadership for our underdevelopment, blaming the voters’ choices for bad leadership, and blaming our underdevelopment for the voters’ choices.

No nation can develop without good leaders.

Are we agreed on that? Development is planned.

Development does not happen by accident.

Human beings sit down and design a plan, the same way an architect designs a building.

Human beings decide what they want to do with infrastructure, how to build it and how to expand or maintain it. It can never happen by accident. But what happens when human beings plan and allow self-interest and greed to distort and destroy the plan? Nigeria has always had wonderful plans. The problem, we all know, is implementation. There will be no fidelity to implementation when greed is the motivation of the planners and the leaders.

Many will say we need a new crop of leaders.

But all you need to do is talk to the so-called “new leaders” and you will discover many of them are more predatory than the people they are trying to replace. I know of many otherwise intelligent, focused and upright Nigerians who become something else when they get into public office. They tell you: “It is not as easy as those of you outside think! There is a difference between theory and practical!” I would have accepted their excuse if not that I am currently seeing theory and practical embrace each other in Rwanda, Ethiopia and Botswana. In Nigeria, theory and practical are mutually exclusive, according to the “new” leaders.

What then? So I have been thinking lately.

Since we need good leaders to develop, since we have mostly predators as leaders, since we cannot apply for re-colonisation, maybe it is the same predators — the same buccaneers — that we would have to look up to for our salvation. I think the elite will have to come to their senses one day and use the same twisted brain for the purpose of developing Nigeria. They will have to divert their mental and physical energies to positive use. It will have to be a consensus among them. One of them will just say one day: “You know what guys? Enough is enough!

It’s time to put Nigeria first!” And that will be the turning point.

I know what you are thinking: this is impossible. You are saying the same “predatory elite” can NEVER become “developmental elite”.

I cannot expatiate on my thinking today, but remember the “Road to Damascus”? Paul was the mastermind of the killing of early Christians. Yet he became arguably the most influential convert.

He ended up being killed for Christ. The same buccaneers pillaging Nigeria today can actually have a conversation with their conscience and become the architects and builders of a new Nigeria. They have the competence but lack the patriotism. What they need is the “Road to Damascus” experience, like Saul. Are you still with me?

And Four Other Things...

GOING FORWARD Now that President Muhammadu Buhari has decided to go on medical leave, may we now focus the national debate on how the country can move forward as we play catch-up with other developing countries? Politicians must, of needs, politick, but everything cannot be politics and politics cannot be everything.

We all seem to have been sucked into the everlasting intrigues of elections, forgetting other issues that should be a welcome distraction — issues such as epileptic power, epidemics and unemployment, as well as general infrastructure that aids economic growth and development. And what about hundreds of unfilled vacancies in key federal agencies? Agenda.

SECTION 145 (1) There was one hell of a controversy over the letter sent to the national assembly by President Buhari on his medical vacation last week. Invoking section 145 (1) of the 1999 constitution, Buhari said “the vicepresident will coordinate the activities of the government”. The wording is different from that of a similar letter in January in which he said “the vice-president will perform the functions of my office”. The insinuation is that he did not want the VP to be “acting president” this time around but “co-ordinator”.

The language of the latest letter may be suspicious, but since it is section 145(1) that has been invoked, anything else is irrelevant.

Osinbajo is acting president. QED. CHIBOK GAMES The recent release of 82 Chibok schoolgirls, rather than elicit all-round excitement, has led to allegations that the Buhari administration is only playing games and creating a diversion for its failings. There is even this fantastic conspiracy theory that the girls (by the way, they are now women, going by Nigerian laws) were kidnapped in 2014 by APC as part of the strategies to win the 2015 elections, and they are now being released in batches anytime the government is running low on popularity. I do not believe this theory; I think we’re taking politics too far. More importantly, though, the parents of the released abductees are not complaining. Perspectives.

CHICKEN CHANGE Nicholas Ossai, a member of the house of representatives, says the N125 billion appropriated to the national assembly in the 2017 budget is inadequate — despite the addition of N10 billion by the lawmakers to their own budget. According to him, the legislature requires more money to carry out its “oversight” function effectively. He lamented: “The committees are carrying out national functions in line with section 88 of the constitution to expose corruption.

Committees not only expose corruption, but block leakages. Definitely, we need a lot of money to address these issues,” Can somebody help us beg the lawmakers to “manage” the chicken feed? Times are hard.

Please

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