Monday 21st May 2017

INEC in Dilemma Over APC Midterm Convention NWC meets governors Wednesday Jonathan's minister, Edem Duke, defects to APC

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja and Bassey Inyang in Calabar

The Independent National Electoral Commission faces a dilemma over what to do about the All Progressives Congress following the ruling party’s

failure to hold a midterm convention within the timeframe prescribed by its constitution.

INEC has kept its silence on the issue, fueling suspicion as to whether the commission would have the will to take on the ruling party on the issue.

Already, there is a constitutional crisis looming in APC as it struggles to agree on a date for its National Executive Committee meeting preparatory to the now overdue midterm convention. Efforts to get the reaction of INEC on the APC

situation were unsuccessful, as none of the commission’s officials agreed to comment on the issue.

A plan by APC to hold a NEC meeting this week hit the rocks at the last minute, THISDAY learnt. But as part

of remedial measures to try to mobilise resources and support for the national convention, APC governors will be meeting with the party’s National Working Committee in Abuja on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, former Minister

of Culture and Tourism, Chief Edem Duke, yesterday defected from the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party to APC. Duke served in the administration of immediate past

Lucky Igbinedion: At 60, I Feel Fulfilled ...Pages 72 & 73

Continued on page 9

Sunday 21 May, 2017 Vol 22. No 8067

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In Emotion-laden Event, 82 Chibok Girls Reunite with Families

UN agency gives details of rehabilitation programme Girls to undergo 9-month recovery process Says many of them elect to be psychotherapists

Olawale Ajimotokan and Senator Iroegbu in Abuja Two weeks after they regained

freedom from Boko Haram, the 82 Chibok schoolgirls yesterday reunited with their families in Abuja.

Although journalists were not invited to the reunion, THISDAY gathered that it was held at the Department of State

Service (DSS) Clinic in Abuja.

A statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information, Mr. Joe

Mutah, described the reunion as “emotion-laden’.

The statement said the 82 girls were first reunited with 24 other

girls, who were rescued by the Federal Government last year.

Continued on page 11

Acting President Leads Farewell to Adebayo, a Nigerian Army Original Adebayo on Nigerian civil war: “I need not tell you what horror, what devastation, and what extreme human suffering will attend the use of force. When it is all over, and the smoke and dust have lifted, and the dead are buried, we shall find, as other people have found, that it has all been futile, entirely futile, in solving the problems we set out to solve.”

Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti Amid a flurry of tributes, Nigeria, yesterday, bade farewell to Major General Robert Adeyinka Adebayo, former governor of the defunct Western Region and one of the nine indigenous Nigerian officers in the entire Royal West African Frontier Force.

RWAFF was a multi-battalion field force formed by the British Colonial Office in 1900 to garrison the West African colonies of Nigeria, Gold Coast, Sierra Leone and Gambia.

Adebayo, who joined the RWAFF in 1948, was number seven (NA 7) among the nine

The First Nigerian Army Officers

Fred Ugbonah (Nigerian Army 1) Duke Wellington Bassey (NA 2) Aguiyi Ironsi (NA 3) Samuel Ademulegun (NA 4) Ralph Sodeinde (NA 5) Babafemi Ogundipe (NA 6) Adeyinka Adebayo (NA 7) Zakari Maimalari (NA 8) Omar Lawal (NA 9)

indigenous Nigerian officers in the entire RWAFF in 1954 - a period all other officers were Britons. The eight other Nigerian officers were Fred Ugbonah (NA 1), Duke Wellington Bassey (NA 2), Aguiyi Ironsi (NA 3), Samuel Ademulegun (NA 4), Ralph Sodeinde (NA 5), Babafemi Ogundipe (NA 6), Zakari Maimalari (NA 8) and Omar Lawal (NA 9).

The Nigerian regiment of the RWAFF, which was also known as the ‘Queen's Own Nigeria Regiment’, formed the nucleus of the Nigerian Army at independence in 1960.

Adebayo was buried with full military honours in his hometown, Iyin Ekiti, on Saturday. He had a brilliant military career, holding pioneer command positions at home and in the United Nations Peacekeeping Force during the Congo crisis. He was aide-de-camp to the last British Governor General of Nigeria, Sir James Robertson. He later became the first Nigerian Chief of Staff (Army) in 1964 under the last Continued on page 9

FAREWELL GEN. ADEBAYO

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo and son of the deceased, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, during the funeral service for the late former Military Governor of old Western Region, Major General Robbert Adeyinka Adebayo (rtd), at All Saint's Anglican Church, ABIODUN AJALA lyin-Ekiti, Ekiti State ...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 21, 2017

PAGE NINE ACTING PRESIDENT LEADS FAREWELL TO ADEBAYO, A NIGERIAN ARMY ORIGINAL British GOC of the Nigerian Army, Sir Welby Everald, and was the first Nigerian GOC under Major General Aguiyi Ironsi.

At his funeral yesterday, President Muhammadu Buhari, represented by the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, was among the dignitaries that paid glowing tributes to him.

The president named the Federal University, Oye Ekiti after him as a mark of honour.

Osinbajo, who led the federal government delegation at the funeral service held at All Saint's Anglican Church, Iyin Ekiti, while extolling the virtue of Adebayo said his impact reverberated beyond the military.

The acting president noted that the renaming the Federal University after the late General Adebayo was done to immortalise him for his immense contributions to the unity and development of the Nigerian nation.

The town was agog as top Nigerians from all walk of life, including state governors, business moguls , politicians and

foreign nationals had besieged the town to honour the Iconic Nigerian.

Osinbajo, said the President, who had harmonious relationship with the late General Adebayo would have loved to witness the ceremony, but for the present situation at the presidency, apparently referring to the president’s medical vacation in London.

He said General Adebayo fought relentlessly for the unity of the country during the civil war that ravaged the country between 1967 and 1970, saying the late general mooted the suggestion that the federal government should opt for dialogue rather than the use of force.

Noting that the ceremony was a celebration of life of sacrifice and dedication to one’s community and nation, Osinbajo said General Adebayo was a fine gentleman, who Buhari had harmonious relationship with.

“To let you know how respectable this man was to President Buhari, the President personally instructed me to be

here. General Adebayo had demonstrated that one must learn how to impact on the community where he has the opportunity of serving. As a military officer, he did well and as a military governor, he served the people selflessly.”

Osinbajo also noted that, “As one of the pioneers of Nigeria’s most enduring institutions, the military, General Adebayo played a critical role in rescuing Nigeria from the abyss of disintegration. Not only did he advise against the use of force in resolving the Biafran crisis, in what turned out to be one of the most clairvoyant statements on the war, he declared in a broadcast before the war thus, “I need not tell you what horror, what devastation, and what extreme human suffering will attend the use of force. When it is all over, and the smoke and dust have lifted, and the dead are buried, we shall find, as other people have found, that it has all been futile, entirely futile, in solving the problems we set out to solve.”

“But General Adebayo was

no peacenik. When the situation demanded as Governor of the West, he worked hard alongside others to protect the region from the onslaught of the rebel army by halting the advance into Lagos in Ore. Immediately the civil war ended though, he was readily at hand to play the role of the post-war conciliator, as the officer requested by General Yakubu Gowon to chair the Committee on the reconciliation and integration of the Ibos back into Nigeria.

By most accounts, he handled the task admirably,” he added.

Osinbajo further noted that, “Even in retirement, he remained passionately committed to the unity of Nigeria. His life of meritorious service to God and country is a testament of faithfulness, diligence, humility and integrity. His impact has clearly reverberated beyond the confines of his first love – the military and across all spheres of life.”

According to him, “Many remembered his role during the dark years of military rule as one leader who supported

INEC IN DILEMMA OVER APC MIDTERM CONVENTION President Goodluck Jonathan on the platform of PDP. The former minister registered as a member of APC at his Edem Odo ward in Akpabuyo Local Government Area of Cross River State during a ceremony attended by former PDP member and ex-Special Adviser on National Assembly Matters, Senator Florence ItaGiwa, and other APC chieftains.

APC held its last national convention on December 10, 2014, when incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari emerged as the party’s presidential candidate ahead of the 2015 general election. Going by the APC constitution, the party ought to have held another convention before now.

Article 25 (A) (i) of the APC constitution states, "That the National Convention of the Party shall be held once in two years at a date, venue and time to be recommended by the National Working Committee and approved by the National Executive Committee, subject to the giving of the statutory notices to the Independent National Electoral Commission and at least 14 days’ notice given to members eligible to attend.”

THISDAY gathered from a highly reliable source within APC that following pressure from some members, the party's NWC had decided to hold a NEC meeting before the Muslim Ramadan fast to iron out issues relating to the midterm convention and other important national matters.

However, it was learnt that the party had to drop the idea after a failed bid to convince the acting president, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, to pick a date for the NEC meeting on behalf of Buhari, who is on medical vacation abroad.

A presidency source disclosed that Osinbajo and National Chairman of APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, had met thrice last week but could not agree on a date for the NEC meeting. The source said Osinbajo's reason for refusing to go along with Odigie-Oyegun on the convention matter was that Buhari had earlier told the party he was not disposed to holding the NEC meeting at

least for now. It stressed that the acting president did not want to overturn the president's decision on the matter.

Odigie-Oyegun and the NWC had sought an audience with Buhari in March shortly after his return from a 51-day medical leave in the United Kingdom but could not succeed before he travelled out again for medical treatment.

A presidency source, who confided in THISDAY, said, “It is not likely that the NEC meeting will hold this week. The truth is that there are conflicting signals from the Presidential Villa. The last time the NEC meeting was proposed, the party’s leadership was told that the president was not disposed to the meeting. That decision was not reviewed before the President Buhari travelled again for medical treatment.”

A top official of the party told THISDAY yesterday on condition of anonymity that the situation had left the APC leadership in a dilemma. The source stated, “When the party chairman met with acting President Yemi Osinbajo recently, I think because they have managed to blackmail him with the fact that he has to be careful and not be seen to be taking decisions ahead of Mr. President, he has been cowed and he kept saying that the decision of the president before he travelled was that he was not ready for the NEC meeting.

He didn't want to be the one that will say, ‘go ahead with the party meeting.’”

The source believed the leadership of APC was conscious of the implication of not getting the presidency's nod before proceeding with the NEC meeting and convention activities, and did not want the events to be boycotted. It said the APC national leadership had, therefore, resolved to do more discussion and consultation on the matter after which it might be forced to hold the NEC meeting and subsequently the midterm convention with or without the presidency’s input.

But the dilemma now is that even if the party succeeds in getting the president's nod to

go ahead with the NEC meeting and convention, it does not seem to have the needed funds to organise the two events. It would still have to wait for its governors to raise money.

Some APC chieftains who spoke on the issue gave divergent opinions on the likely consequences of the failure to hold the NEC meeting and convention.

Estranged Deputy National Publicity Secretary of APC, Timi Frank, described the seemingly indefinite postponement of the mini-national convention as a shameful act. In a statement, Frank said failure to hold the national convention was a breach of the party’s constitution on the part of the NWC. Frank said the reason APC experienced difficulties in raising funds for its activities was the lack of trust in the present leadership of the party. He called on prominent members to speak up before the situation worsened.

"I'm calling on prominent members of the party who are still keeping quiet to speak up, else, this mismanagement might lead the party to unexpected end,” Frank stated.

However, another chieftain of the party who did not want to be mentioned said the APC constitution was not being breached by the failure to hold the NEC meeting and national convention. He said there was even a provision in the constitution that said in-between conventions NEC could act on behalf of the convention.

According to him, “The constitution said that there shall be a convention within two years, the same way it said that NEC must meet every quarter but NEC must not meet every quarter if there is no need for the meeting. It is a midterm convention, it is just a semblance of a national convention but it is not an elective convention.

“So what is compulsory is the elective convention where officers will relinquish office after four years, whereas a midterm convention is devoted to effecting constitutional amendments or approving any new initiative.

“How can there be violation when the same constitution said that in the absence of the convention NEC can act on behalf of convention? That is a safeguard for the party in case the convention is not held.”

In the meantime, Duke was formally admitted into APC yesterday during an event at the party’s state secretariat in Calabar, where the state secretary of the party, Bishop Victor Ebony, represented the chairman, Mr. John Ochalla. The former minister was handed over to the party's national vice chairman, South-south, Mr. Hilliard Eva, who presented him with the symbol of the party, the broom.

Duke said passion for the country was behind his decision to join APC. He said, “It is a declaration of my passion and determination that this country of ours requires the commitment and cooperation of all and sundry. I am one who is always passionate about the development of my community. Having taken a look at the political landscape of Nigeria, I believe I cannot be an inactive observer in the trend of development in our country today. It is a call to duty for us to salvage our country and that is principally the issue that influenced my declaration for the APC today.

“What I see the APC doing is rekindling hope in Nigeria and encouraging those who have active years left to join the task of constructing and reconstructing the various strata of our social, economic and cultural development and I think that I am a relevant player in all of that.''

In his remarks, Eva said, "I will not rest until Cross River is safely in the pocket of APC by 2019.”

Ita-Giwa said Duke was not defecting from PDP because the party no longer existed. She stated, "I want to correct an erroneous impression here. Edem Duke is not decamping from what doesn't exist. There is no political party known as PDP. He is only declaring his association with like minds because he is naturally a progressive.”

the struggle in various ways, unafraid to speak truth to power with his house serving as the foundational headquarters for NADECO – the National Democratic Coalition.

“It was a fitting recognition of his steadfastness that his first son, Adeniyi, was elected as the first civilian Governor of his native Ekiti State.

“In the last years of his glorious life, though General Adebayo remained an unapologetic nationalist, he challenged the leadership of the South-west of Nigeria, to relive and revive the glories of the Old Western Region.

As he said, “Awolowo earned the respect of the people by leaving an enduring legacy that defined the Yoruba heritage, the Yoruba political elite is now compelled to do better.” He was particularly concerned that the West had fallen behind in education, in Agriculture and in the provision of social services and urged that a renaissance of the Western Region was called for and immediately necessary.

“The good General is gone.

But as scripture says a good man leaves an inheritance for his children's children. That inheritance is not money or property, it is a legacy of character, of patriotism, love of country, and service to the people. We thank the Lord for the life and times of this good man.”

The Primate of Anglican Communion, Most Reverend Nicholas Okoh, who officiated at the funeral service, described Adebayo as a forthright , disciplined, focused and a man of human disposition.”

Former Governor Niyi Adebayo and son of the deceased thanked Nigerians for the support the family had got since the patriarch died on March 8, 2017.

The highly-sobered Adebayo showered encomiums on the federal government and Governor Ayodele Fayose for immortalising his father, saying he was overwhelmed by the prompt action.

Fayose had earlier named the Governor’s Lodge at Oke Ayoba and the General Hospital in Iyin Ekiti, built by the deceased while in the saddle as the military governor after him.

The former governor said: “Though the shoe my father left behind might be too difficult for me to wear , but I promise to live up to expectations. I will do my best for my father to be happy with me in heaven.”

The military paid the late General Adebayo last respect with a parade at the church and at the site of the tomb.

After the church parade, his casket was draped with military flag .

The men of the Nigeria Army, led by a Major General, who represented the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Tukur Yusuf Buratai, also performed the same military ritual at the site of the tomb, where they engaged in exchange of flags and match past in honour of the late general.

The Major read the military oration to pay last respect to the first Chief of Army Staff and the number seven military officer in the history of the country.

Adebayo’s body was lowered into the tomb at about 2.45 pm, after which the ashes-to-ashes and dust-to-dust was done by the Primate of the Anglican

Communion.

Meanwhile, the burial programme for General Adebayo presented a platform for PDP and APC to contest for relevance.

Fayose had earlier taken shine off the All Progressives Congress (APC) by organising a state burial programme at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium in Ado Ekiti in honour of the late general on Friday, but this didn’t dissuade members of the APC from fighting for relevance as well.

APC members from Ekiti State, led by its Deputy Chairman, Mrs. Kemi Olaleye, were all clad in Ankara in honour of one of their leaders, Otunba Niyi Adebayo at the church procession.

However, leaders of the party, including the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, and APC deputy National Chairman, Chief Segun Oni , former commissioners, House of Assembly members, appeared in white flowing agbada to denote them as holding the family with great respect and honour. Those belonging to Fayose’s camp wore Aso Ebi adorned with the deceased’s portrait and occupied a section of the town where they danced to the music supplied by a local musician.

Members of the APC were also had their own at Eyemote Comprehensive High School along Ado Ekiti, where they were being entertained by a popular musician, Yinka Ayefele.

Roll Call at the funeral service included: Acting President Osinbajo, Governors of Ondo, Edo, Ogun , Ekiti and Oyo States - Rotimi Akerele, Godwin Obaseki, Ibikunle Amosun, Ayo Fayose and Abiola Ajimobi respectively.

Also present were Fayose’s wife , Feyisetan; wife of Edo State governor, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki; Mrs. Onari Duke; Mrs. Bisi Fayemi; former Governors of Edo State, Ogun, Delta, Edo , Ekiti and Osun - Adams Oshiomhole, Aremo Segun Osoba, James Ibori, Lucky Igbinedion, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, respectively, were also present.

Others were former deputy governors of Ogun and Ekiti, Segun Adesegun and Chief Paul Alabi, respectively; Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun; Minister of Budget and Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma; CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele; Chairman of THISDAY Newspapers, Mr. Nduka Obaigbena; business mogul, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; Mr. Segun Awolowo; Afenifere leader, Chief Ayò Adebanjo; Chairman of UBA, Tony Elumelu.

Others were: former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Azubike Ihejirika (rtd), Lt Gen. Alani Akinrinade (rtd), Major General TM Abraham, GOC 2Div, representing the Chief of Defence Staff; Brig Gen Charles Ofoche, Maj. General Ike Nwachukwu (rtd), General Zamani Lekwot (rtd), retired General Chris Garba; Chief Ayò Ogunlade; former EFCC Chairman, Mr. Nuhu Ribadu; Mr. Odein Ajumogobia; a Chief Ademola Seriki; Alhaji Sanusi Daggash, Mr. Tunde Fowler, Retired General David Jemibewon, and Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele, among others.

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MAY 21, 2017 • T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R

SUNDAY COMMENT

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

TO THY COMMUNITIES O POLICEMEN! Sending federal policemen to their communities may be a great idea, but it is also laden with grave perils

T

he Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, said at a security stakeholders’ meeting in Lokoja last week that majority of the 150,000 policemen to be recruited over the next five years would serve in their respective communities of origin. While the intention behind the idea may be noble, we are nonetheless worried that in a bid to solve an old problem we may unwittingly be creating a new one that could have serious implications for national security.

Four years ago, the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) in making a call for state police also alluded to this idea albeit within the context of state police.

The then Ekiti State governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who is now the Minister for Mines and Steel Development, spoke for the 36 governors after their meeting. “Each of the federating units (which are the states) should have control over their own security apparatus.

That is not to say that we still won’t have a federal police which responds to federal issues but in terms of wider knowledge of what obtains in my locality, the best person to use is somebody from that locality who has a much better, much richer understanding and will be faster in response to the immediate needs of that environment,” argued Fayemi at the time.

The position of NGF was supported by the late Alhaji Umaru Shinkafi, a former Director General of the National Security Organisation (NSO) who argued that state police would improve the management of internal security and the maintenance of law and order. The Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Babatunde Akiolu, a retired Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of police, gave full endorsement. According to the duo, such policemen and officers would have knowledge of the environment and would be more effective in dealing with local crimes, protecting

It may be more productive for the IGP to assist the executive branch with a draft legislation that seeks to establish state police forces with community content. That may prove more effective in fighting crimes than a posting regime that localises federal police

law and order and in intelligence gathering.

These strengths notwithstanding, the idea of posting policemen to their local communities needs some clarity of thought and the benefit of historical hindsight. Our slide towards the civil war in 1967 was accelerated when policemen and soldiers were asked to return to their regions. The division of the nation into ethnic and geo-political enclaves and the slide into hate rhetoric and divisive propaganda quickly followed. The then Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon realised the grievous error only after a very costly but avoidable civil war from which we are yet to fully recover after half a century.

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

SUNDAY PHOTO

he greatest legacy of the post war era is the emergence of a national military and police. The personnel of these federal institutions live and operate alongside colleagues from across the nation in mixed barracks and operational formations. The lines that dangerously divided the polity and threatened national cohesion are thus blurred as the central command takes precedence over regional or ethnic nudging. We must not threaten that balance in the efforts to reform the police.

Given the security challenges on ground, we may opt for state police or enlightened vigilantes as Lagos State has recently done.

But the power of the federal police should not be dissipated in areas that ordinarily belong to the jurisdiction of the 36 states.

Besides, there is no theory of modern policing that indicates that local cops are necessarily more effective in crime control than well trained cops drawn from all over the nation.

While local policemen may understand the terrain and know the neighbourhood kids better, the efficacy of such knowledge works best in static rural societies. In modern societies with access to the latest communication gadgets, criminals roam free and are extremely mobile. That perhaps explains why of late, we have suffered more violent infractions from migrant herdsmen all over Nigeria than from local thieves.

All factors considered, the idea of sending federal policemen to their communities of birth may offer little or no practical solution to the problems at hand. Therefore, we believe it may be more productive for the IGP to assist the executive branch with a draft legislation that seeks to establish state police forces with community content. That may prove more effective in fighting crimes than a posting regime that localises federal police.

L-R: Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa , presenting the winners’ trophy of the maiden edition of Zenith Bank Delta Principals’ Cup to the Captain of Master Care International School, Master Louis Ndukwe Jr...weekend

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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 21, 2017

SUNDAYNEWS

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

CBN, NBET May Begin Disbursement of N701bn Power Stimulus this Week

• Ministry wants special fund for power sector Chineme Okafor in Abuja

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET) may begin disbursement this week, having concluded arrangements to periodically draw down on the N701 billion stabilisation fund the government approved for the power generation companies (Gencos),

THISDAY has learnt.

This is however coming few days after the government through the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) signed off the ‘eligible customers’ regime, which according to it would now allow the Gencos to sell their stranded generation capacity to willing consumers with minimal interference from

the 11 electricity distribution companies (Discos).

Industry sources, who spoke to THISDAY yesterday in Abuja, confirmed the development and explained that a final approval of this was being expected from the government after which the payments would then commence.

They, however, stated that,

as part of the arrangements for the disbursement of the N701 billion financial guarantee approved by the government to support NBET’s financial commitments to the Gencos, payments could be made directly to gas firms, who supply gas to the Gencos, to offset Gencos’ debts to them instead of paying to the Gencos.

They also said the gas supply invoices for January and February from the Gencos were ready for payment and

CELEBRATING EYO FESTIVAL

L-R: Co-Chairman, Lagos @50 Committee, Mr. Hakeem Fasinro; Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa; Governor Akinwunmi Ambode; Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu I; APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and Elegushi of Ikateland, Oba Saheed Elegushi, Kusenla III, during the Eyo Festival as part of activities marking the Lagos @50 celebrations at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos...yesterday

In Emotion-laden Event, 82 Chibok Girls Reunite with Families One of the photos showed some of the rescued 82 girls in joyful mood when they reunited with the 24 others rescued last year.

According to the statement, Minister of Women Affairs, Jummai Alhassan, represented by the Director Planning, Research and Statistics in the ministry, Mrs. Abidemi Aremo, said a group of experts had been put together to address the girls’ psycho-social support and medical needs.

“The children are being rehabilitated and we believe that in due course they will be properly aligned with their families.

“Intensive medical attention is being administered and as soon as they are done, they will be enrolled into a remedial programme,” the statement quoted the minister.

Alhasan disclosed that the 24 others who were rescued last year were currently undergoing psycho-social counseling and remedial programme preparatory to their enrollment in school next academic session.

“For the 21 and three girls that were earlier released, I wish to inform us that their psycho-social counseling is still in progress and of course they have started remedial classes. They are being taught

five subjects, which is designed with a view to getting them back to school come the next school session, which is in September this year. They will be settled in various schools and I am sure they will continue their education from there,” she said.

She stated that the federal government had intensified efforts to rescue the remaining girls in captivity.

The statement quoted the chairman of the parents of the abducted school girls, Yakubu Nkeki, as saying their joy had no bounds and thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for wiping away their tears.

Nkeki said he had high hopes that very soon the remaining girls still in captivity would be rescued.

Also yesterday, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) gave more insights into the rehabilitation process which the rescued girls are currently undergoing.

The Deputy Representative of the UNFPA, Mr. Eugene Kongnyuy, in an interview with some select journalists on the efforts of the agency to rehabilitate the girls, said the Federal Government would formally handover the released 82 Chibok Girls after concluding the ongoing medical assessment on them.

Kongnyuy said that the 82 girls were currently under the care of the Ministry of Women Affairs and when all the necessary assessment were concluded, they would be officially handed over to the agency in addition to the 24 of them they are currently catering for.

“I had a bilateral meeting with the Minister of Women Affairs, that was last week (May 8) and they were still undergoing medical assessment at that point in time. We in UNFPA have not been able to see them because they said the girls were undergoing medical assessment because they had similar medical cases as with the previous 24.

We are hopeful that once the assessment is done, the necessary training is given, then, they will go to where they are supposed to live and that they will take similar nine-month rehabilitation programme as the previous 24 girls, “ he said.

He said that when the girls eventually come under their custody, they would be provided with physical, medical as well as psychological rehabilitation.

Kongyuy assured that UNFPA would help the girls reintegrate successfully into the society and highlighted some of the efforts currently put in place to achieve that, includ-

could be taken up immediately the CBN commences disbursement.

An official in one of the Gencos explained to THISDAY that these were parts of the arrangements, adding that the Gencos would be asked to submit their monthly gas supplies invoices to the NBET and CBN to validate and make payments directly to the gas suppliers instead of paying to the Gencos to pay the gas suppliers.

He also stated that the Gencos were very comfortable with such arrangement, noting that they would in this regard concentrate on producing power, expanding their generation capacities, and bother less on meeting their monthly gas supply bills.

When contacted for comment on this development, the mobile number of the Managing Director of NBET, Dr. Marilyn Amobi, could not be reached while a short message service (SMS) to the mobile number was not responded to as at the time of filing this report.

Similarly, the Executive Secretary of the Association of Power Generation Companies (APGC), Dr. Joy Ogaji, told THISDAY over a telephone conversation that the terms for the fund disbursement were still being worked out and she could not confirm when payments would commence.

The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, had recently clarified that the N701 billion

power intervention fund would be spread over the next three years to give comfort to the operators in the sector.

Meanwhile, the ministry of power has advocated the provision of special funds for the power sector, as well as an approval by the government for its ministries in charge of the country’s infrastructure to utilise all funds released to them even after expiration of a financial year.

A communiqué issued after a three-day retreat held by the ministry of power, works and housing, which was sent to THISDAY, indicated that regarding the power sector, the ministry also noted that the problems associated with the privatisation of the sector would be resolved through the power sector recovery programme, which the government has worked in union with the World Bank to develop.

It noted that other resolutions reached at the retreat included the need to ensure that power consumption in the country ought to commensurate with the tariff paid by consumers; the need to conduct a survey to develop an accurate data base of energy consumers in the country, as well as an order to the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA), and NBET to work together and come up with a position paper on lasting solution to the inadequate metering facilities in the country.

Continued from Page 1

ing education and vocational training.

He also disclosed that the rehabilitation process was necessary because several of the girls suffered trauma due to three years of physical, emotional and psychological abuse by their captors.

He said: “As you are aware, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) support is for the 24 Chibok girls that were released, 21 plus three, and now 82 girls have also been released. And, they are under the safekeeping of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs.

UNFPA received a request from the Ministry on certain specific areas that UNFPA has comparative advantage. These include physical rehabilitation, medical rehabilitation, psychosocial rehabilitation as well as livelihood support.

“Basically, the physical rehabilitation is to provide the girls with their personal effects needs, which include culturally appropriate dressing and other clothing materials. In terms of medical support, some of the girls had series of medical treatment where they went through medical screening and diagnosis, and they were all treated. In terms of psychosocial support, they had serious psychosocial trauma, as such they all needed

counseling. They have lost basically their childhood, missed three years of adolescenthood and gone through violence: sexual, physical and emotional.

And, they needed psychosocial rehabilitation.”

“In terms of nutrition, many of them were malnourished; they needed some balanced diet to get them back to normalcy. They also needed a shelter where they can stay and be looked after.

Government is providing that.

And, UNFPA also provided livelihood support through the government.”

The UN official noted that “the girls were asked question whether they wanted to go back to school, formal education, or they wanted to follow a vocational training track. They divided themselves into two groups. Those that decided to pursue formal education, teachers were recruited to actually fast-track their preparation for JAMB because they were kidnapped, as they were about to write their JAMB, so that they can proceed to university”.

“Those that wanted vocation training, many of them chose to be trained as psychotherapists, some of them are undertaking ICT training. So, these are the different forms of trainings they are offered so that they can prepare for their future in

establishing small businesses or get job when they get themselves integrated back into their communities.”

Speaking further, Kongnyuy disclosed that most of the earlier released 24 girls had been reportedly allowed to see their family from time to time.

“We have been able to see the 24 girls, and we had access when we request through the minister . According to the discussion we had with the minister, the girls have frequent interactions with their families.

“Their families do visit them where they are, and they do go back to their homes in Chibok from time to time, depending on when they choose to. They do have frequent interaction with their parents, and with their spouses for those who were married before they were kidnapped,” he explained.

Altogether, 106 Chibok schoolgirls have been rescued through the prisoner-swap deals brokered on behalf of the federal government by the government of Switzerland and the International Red Cross.

The girls were abducted in April 2014, from their dormitories at Government Secondary School

by Boko Haram that waged war of terror on the North-east of Nigeria in a bid to establish an Islamic caliphate in the region.

12

T H I S D AY SUNDAY MAY 21, 2017

Quiz Sense

YOUTH ENTERPRISE WITH INNOVATION IN NIGERIA My Business Story

Business Terms

Araoluwa had to seek creative ways to address. It seems to be paying off now because Aramanda boasts an average of 200 clients a month. The clients include celebrities such as Ali Baba, Selebobo and Mozez Praiz.

I

Business Brief: Started: 2012

DEA: Araoluwa Popoola's venture into fashion designing was triggered by common sense. As a university undergraduate at Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State, Araoluwa used to design his own wear or redesign what he purchased because he very often could not find readyto-wear clothes that fit.

a 9-to-5 job. So I asked myself if I was going to keep doing fashion on the side or just take it up full time. Although I was making money from both ends, I decided it would make more sense if I could just give up the paid job and concentrate on the fashion His trouser length measures business,” Araoluwa said.

44.6inches, while his sleeve cuts the tape at 26 inches, nearly Sourcing highly skilled staff three inches above the normal. who understood, and were willing to conform to “I always had issues getting my Araoluwa's ambitious vision size because of my long legs and was an initial challenge. He longs arms, so I needed to had to comb the length and always design my outfits and breadth of Nigeria and even give to a tailor or buy big outfits went as far as Ivory Coast to and amend them to my size. source staff.

After a while, I thought, instead of just making those clothes for BREAKTHROUGH myself alone, I can actually MOMENT: “After 5 years of make them for people.” working with over 150 tailors, I now have the perfect team.

For the 32-year-old graduate of This is because everybody Microbiology, necessity appears calls themselves tailor but the to have coincided with passion. cut, the stitch and the Araoluwa kept making more and delivery, makes the more friends among tailors and difference,” he said. took his first job after graduation with a fashion outlet in Abuja.

SETBACK: Power supply, funding and sourcing WHAT NEXT? Between 2008 materials (which he gets most and 2011, he did several paid of the time through merchants jobs, while maintaining his from Turkey and Vietnam at fashion design business by the ridiculous prices) to meet highside. In 2012, however, he end clients' demands, were decided to concentrate on being also initial challenges a fashion-design entrepreneur.

Armed with N150,000, two I have worked with over sewing machines and an 150 tailors; that is incredibly unconventional because, basically, business model, he moved back everybody calls to Ibadan where he grew up and themselves tailor, but started Aramanda International the cut, the stitch and Couture Limited.

“

“I wasn't satisfied with the idea of

the delivery make the differences

CURRENT STATUS: It is not often that a five-year-old fashion outlet would claim to be one of the best in the business. But Araoluwa believes that his design now has a definite signature recognised and respected by his clients: “I can say we have mastered the art. We make sure the thread lines are never seen. When we make an outfit, it is so perfect that even your identical twin brother or sister cannot wear it. What is for you is for you; it is totally bespoke.”

As part of his business model, Araoluwa refers to himself as the “team lead” of his 15-staff Aramanda Couture because he doesn't subscribe to the idea of “oneman business”. His approach is that of mentoring and teamwork, so that the absence of a member does not affect general output. This is a necessary approach, considering how often the team lead travels to source materials and meet clients.

“We are the convenient tailors, so I travel a lot. I have been able to meet with clients that cannot leave their shops or offices or even their States. I have been able to cater to all those clients.

For instance, I can fly to Abuja and back for just one outfit for my client,” he stated.

Although Aramanda Couture is based in Ibadan, Oyo State, Araoluwa frequents celebrity hangouts and events in Lagos and elsewhere as part of his marketing strategy. The reason is simple: despite a turnover of over N5million in 2016, he has his eyes on further growth and growth in the high-end fashion industry means hobnobbing with celebrities.

2

2 3

1 5 6

3

5

4

Across 1. the result of an action 2. an official plan or statement of how things should be done in a company 3. concerned with money and the exchange of goods and services 4. a charge for a service 5. another name for administration

Down 1. a major part or division of the economy 2. the money used in a particular country 3. a legal agreement 4. money received 5. a company ____ shares on the stock exchange 6. a special offer to move people to take a desired action

KEY Across 1. consequences 2. policy 3. economy 4. fee 5. management

He was compelled to make bespoke designs for himself; now he's making them for others

Und Env

4 1

Down 1. sector 2. currency 3. contract 4. income 5. sells 6. incentive

How Necessity Forced Me To Start A Successful Fashion Business

http://edtools.mankindforward.com/crosswords

Ask the Expert Q: I sell mainly imported products in my supermarket.

With the fluctuating exchange rate, how can I maintain my profit margin?

make my business more competitive?

Yes. An effective home delivery is always an added advantage to any business, even if it will come at a minute cost or, better still, A member of our free to the buyer or Advisory Board and co- customer. This is what founder of Ebeano chain of supermarkets, the likes of Jumia and Konga are leveraging Mr. David Ojei, upon. It is a known answered this week's fact that everyone questions: likes comfort and easy IIt is important that life. An average you be in touch with customer will not want the market to know to stress himself or the current prices of herself to drive or items. This helps you walk down to your to know how to mark store when you can up so that, at the end, deliver at little or no you will still be able to cost at all to that restock. You should customer. also know the exchange rate at your Visit our website purchase time, and youwinconnect.org.ng when it goes up for more contributions harmonize your cost to from our Experts. fit into the new rate.

It's your replacement Send your business cost. questions under the header

Q. Should I add home delivery to my list of services? Does it

'Ask the Expert' to: admin@youwinconnect.org. ng. Questions, plus the author's name, location and phone number, should not be more than 140

T

business complete means a w

A busines vacuum. I resources of all thes the busine

The busi can be d external influen perform business.

On the ba with a bus factors m categorie two types environm and exter external to it.

The inte consider because t over thes change s resource, functional mix to suit

The exter and larg company. factors su socio-cult legal fact are there uncontrol worthy to have com internal fa possible factors.

Althoug consists o environ entrepren the extern

Now let's elements environme

1. INTER

a) Phy technolo Physical equipmen capabiliti competit importan efficiency

13 13

T H I S D AY SUNDAY MAY 21, 2017 T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R • MAY 21, 2017

Academy

NEWS TEARS OF JOY AS FREED CHIBOK SCHOOL GIRLS RE-UNITE WITH THEIR FAMILIES IN ABUJA...YESTERDAY

Understanding Your Business Environment - Part 1

The business environment therefore can be described as the sum of all external and internal factors, which influence the development, performance and outcome of a business.

On the basis of the extent of relationship with a business entity, the environmental factors may be classified into different categories or levels. There are broadly two types of environment: the internal environment, i.e., factors inside the firm; and external environment, i.e., factors external to the firm which have impact on it.

The internal factors are generally considered as controllable factors because the company has direct control over these factors; it can amend or change such factors as its human resource, machinery, organisation and functional means as well as marketing mix to suit the environment.

The external factors, in contrast, are by and large beyond the control of a company. The external or environmental factors such as the economic factors, socio-cultural factors, government and legal factors and demographic factors are therefore generally regarded as uncontrollable factors. However, it is worthy to note that a firm may not always have complete control over all the internal factors while it is sometimes possible to change certain external factors.

Although business environment consists of both the internal and external environments, many young entrepreneurs often confine the term to the external atmosphere of business.

Now let's take a look at critical intrinsic elements of both sectors of the business environment.

1. INTERNAL ENVIRONMENT a) Physical resources and technological capabilities Physical resources such as plant and equipment as well as technological capabilities of a firm determine its competitive strength, which is an important factor determining its efficiency and unit cost of production.

c) Management structure The organisational structure and the composition of the management are important factors influencing business decisions. Some management structures and styles delay processes while some others facilitate quick decision-making. The management team in most cases sets the direction for the profitability of a firm while also overseeing the performance of the organization. The quality of this team is a very critical factor for the growth and profitability of a company. MSMEs present extreme cases in this respect.

At one end, there are businesses with highly qualified and responsible board and, at the other end, there are entities which do not possess a competent management team. d) Human capital The characteristics of the human resources such as skill, knowledge, commitment, attitude etc. could contribute to the success or failure of an organisation. The human capital of every firm is critical, especially for startups, considering the fact that most start-ups have only a few employees.

The strength of a firm's employees is an essential internal business factor.

Motivated, hardworking and talented workers generally produce better results than unmotivated, less-talented employees. Your business processes and relationships between departments and employees also significantly impact business effectiveness and efficiency. In a highperforming workplace, employees not only have talent, but they work well together and collaborate on ideas and resolutions. e) Company image and brand equity The image of the company matters while sourcing for finance, forming strategic alliances, franchising and launching new products etc. Brand equity is also relevant in several of these cases. Brand equity refers to a value premium that a company generates from a product with a recognizable name when compared to a generic equivalent. Businesses can create brand equity for their products by making them memorable, easily recognizable and superior in quality and reliability in comparison to others.

Oh, my daugther!

We are united again

Did you Know?

Kneeling in gratitude

To be continued….

This enterprise education page is an initiative of the Federal Ministry of Finance Welcome back, dear sister

Small Stuff

A business organization cannot exist in a vacuum. It needs living persons, natural resources and places to exist. The sum of all these factors and forces is called the business environment.

Research and development (R & D) capabilities of a business determine its ability to introduce innovations which will in turn enhance profitability. b) Vision, mission and objectives The business domain and policy of every firm including priorities are guided by the vision, mission and objectives of the company. This strategic planning component helps start-ups define their dream, set their goals and define ways to meet those goals.

Fact, Quote & Definition

T

he first time Fyneface Abiowei heard the words “business environment”, he thought it meant his business address or the neighbourhood where his business was located. Well, he was not completely wrong, but the phrase means a whole lot more.

Evidence from archeological discoveries ha that there was a history of human existence i as far back as 9000 BC. The Nok civilization 500 BC – 200 AD) is the earliest known civ here.

- Answers Africa (http://answersafrica.com/)

“In my experience in Africa there is a spac innovation. And you don’t have to look fa especially when you are at a disadvantag around you. You might be experiencing a that is a need in the community” - Sizwe Nzima, founder of Iyeza Express in Khayelitsha, South Africa

Employee Audit:

This is a crucial tool deployed by employers to ver resource practices in the business enterprise. Th involves a comprehensive analysis of personnel the company/enterprise.

14

MAY 21, 2017 • THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

OPINION

Is Corruption The Problem with Nigeria? (1) It is not, argues Wilfred Usani

T

he very popular opinion is that Nigeria’s greatest challenge is corruption and that when it is effectively checked the nation’s development will progress more rapidly. Indeed the current All Progressives Congress- led federal government of President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) anchored its “change” campaign on three thematic areas namely - corruption, security and the economy. In fact for the administration, corruption is the foundation of the problem. This is the thinking of most Nigerians and indeed foreigners. Nigerians have the unenviable reputation world- wide as being corrupt people. The recent labelling of the country as being “fantastically corrupt” by the immediate past British Prime Minister Mr. David Cameron comes to mind.

It is true of course that corruption has become endemic in the Nigerian national life. It is pervasive and has permeated all facets of society and not just the public sector. But is corruption the problem with Nigeria or is it a symptom of a deeper national malaise? In considering this question a number of real life scenarios come to mind. First, while I lived in Lagos I participated actively in my neighbourhood residents association, the Onikan Residents Association. These types of associations are very popular in residential areas in Lagos. All the residents of Onikan in Lagos Island were members of this Association.

We contributed money to provide common services in the neighbourhood such as security in particular, waste disposal and sanitation, sometimes electricity and water.

The executive committee of the association consisted of Nigerians. The executive committee never mismanaged the money contributed by members. In fact they usually strived very hard to justify the confidence their neighbours had reposed in them.

At the monthly meetings they gave full and detailed account of their activities and how monies were expended on projects. If for any reason they failed to give account, the members demanded it of them. Everyone who aspired to the executive committee aspired to provide service and never to enrich himself or herself with the money of the association. The members also always strived to select the most reputable of their neighbours to lead the executive committee. Wherever there was a case of mismanagement or embezzlement which was very rare, the members sanctioned whoever was responsible. In fact if a case of theft of the money of the ssociation was established against any executive member, such a member would likely be ostracised from the neighbourhood! Contrast this scenario with what happens at, for example, the Lagos Island Local Government. The citizens of Lagos Island including Onikan residents actually expect the

Chairman of the Local Government Council to enrich himself from the funds of the council. The more successfully he does so the more he is acclaimed as successful by the citizens. An aspirant to the office of chairman of council actually expects to enrich himself and his family members and cronies from that office.

The occupant of that office will usually be invited to be the chief launcher at occasions and functions of family, friends, churches and other civil societies. People will say “it his turn to chop” and hail him for being “lucky”! Yet if the Local Government Council functioned properly, associations like the Onikan Residents Association will be redundant or even unnecessary. Secondly, I come from Ugep in Yakurr Local Government Council of Cross River State. It is a large town that has anecdotally been referred to as “the largest native village in West Africa”. One reputation of the town among many is that it is a town that has grown from or as a result of very strong communal cooperative effort. The town had a community development association known as “Ugep Union” (later Ugep Development Council). All able-bodied and working men and women were expected to belong to and contribute to this association. The proceeds were then used to undertake developmental projects in the town including training students in schools.

I recall the pride in my father’s voice when he told me what this association accomplished for the town - the Ugep Community Secondary Grammar School, the Girls School, the now General Hospital in Ugep, pipe borne water, scholarships and so on. It was a matter of personal pride and a sign of responsibility and accomplishment to be a contributor to this fund and so enforcement was

Nigerians are fiercely loyal and committed to themselves, their families and friends, their communities and associations, to their own things to which they have developed a sense of ownership and belonging

usually not necessary. Those who did not contribute or tried to dodge this responsibility were looked down upon as failures and unsuccessful people. The association had an executive committee which managed the money and made sure it was appropriately utilised for its purpose.

There was no question of embezzling the funds. If you tried it and were still alive after that, you would be ostracised from the town and your family stigmatised forever. The most reputable people in the town were usually selected to be members of the executive committee. The federal government in the course of time then created “Ugep Local Government Area”. This Local Government Area included Ugep Town and other surrounding communities. The irony was that anyone who was elected Chairman of the Local Government Council was expected by the community to enrich himself as much as possible from that office. In fact if he did not, his kinsmen will call on him very early in the morning to query him! He was considered as “lucky” to occupy the office and so it was “his turn to chop”. I couldn’t hide my shock when a relative of mine was measuring the successful local government chairmen by the size and quality of their private houses which they built when they became chairmen.

The bigger your private house, the more “successful” you were adjudged to be. A particular local government chairman who was unable to build a house for himself after serving as chairman is till date the laughing stock of the town and the local example of a failure! Nobody takes pride in paying taxes or levies to the local government council. In fact the least tax you paid the smarter you were. Only second class citizens paid tax. The real “sons of the soil” cannot pay tax! They are too well connected to do so!

The third scenario that comes to mind is the situation with the national football teams of the country. Whenever any national football team is playing everyone in the country cheers the team to victory. Nobody cares or minds where the individual players come from.

In fact there has never been any cry of “ethnic marginalisation” when it comes to the national football teams neither has the principle of “federal character” ever applied. The only criterion that is important to Nigerians is that a member of the team can play well.

–– Mr. Usani is Senior Partner in the Law Firm of Ethan & Magdiel and former member of the Cross River State Executive Council (See concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com)

The City of Allure, Sin and Gambling

I

Las Vegas, United States, is a place to visit, writes Folu Olamiti

’m a Christian, a firm believer in God and His majestic power to order the affairs of man on this plane of existence according to His perfect will. It, therefore, goes without saying that I’m also a firm believer in providence, which Wikipedia describes as “the foreseeing care and guidance of God or nature over the creatures of the earth.”

It was this providence that, once again, catapulted me to Las Vegas, in the state of Nevada from December 20, 2016, to January 30, 2017. In case, you have forgotten, Vegas is widely believed to be the money basket of the United States of America. Some people prefer to dub it the world headquarters of gambling. The city is sparklingly attractive.

I found myself by providence in this enthralling city as Lawrence Bisong, my son-in-law, relocated to the place from Salt Lake City in the State of Utah, the citadel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS Church), whose parishioners are known as Mormons.

I won’t sue you for defamation if you liken my journey from Nigeria to Vegas to the well documented biblical journey of the Israelites from Egypt to The Promised land; a journey that, all things being equal, ought to have taken them only 40 days but which took them 40 solid years! Did you say ‘why’? Well, as I could not afford to pay over a million naira for an economy return ticket, courtesy of the terrible crash of the naira at the foreign exchange market, I opted for a cheaper ticket. My son-in-law got me one on Ethiopian Airline.

This is how the trip went. After taking off from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at about noon on December 20, we had an hour stop-over at N’Djamena in Chad, ostensibly to refuel.

Thereafter, the big bird took off for an over five hour-flight to Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital. In case you didn’t know, Addis Ababa has become the hub of most international flights to almost every part of the world. Aviation is certainly a money-spinning industry for Ethiopia. In Africa, Ethiopian Airline is a clear leader. The airline operates two fully booked flights to Nigeria daily, i.e. to Lagos and Abuja.

Anyway, at the Ethiopian capital, we hopped into another Ethiopian airline plane to begin a 10-hour flight to Dublin, Ireland, where we had a stop-over of one hour. When the plane lifted up, it was for a straight 14 hour-flight to Los Angeles. After immigration formalities, I had to wait to connect a 40-minute flight to my final destination, Las Vegas. Then, the unseen hands of nature came in. My flight was delayed for six solid hours due to bad weather. When we eventually

took off after the long spell, we landed at Vegas after just 40 minutes.

In total, I flew almost half of the world for more than 35 hours. Boy, was it a pleasurable adventure for someone my age? Sincerely, I don’t think so.

But there is one interesting aspect of the long haul that I like: it afforded me the opportunity to mingle with different nationals.

Almost all the airlines were fully booked. Some who missed their scheduled flight were rescheduled for the next flight. I was curious to know why the rush for Vegas, especially on a Friday. I got the answer from a friend I met on the trip, who introduced himself as Steve, and who told me that 99 per cent of the passengers throng to Vegas, including himself, were chronic gamblers who flood the various casinos dotting the city on Fridays to fulfil their passion gambling. “The temptation to stake your money for winning jackpot is so high you never think of any possibility of losing,” Steve told me categorically. “And when you lose, the money, your loss, goes to the government because the casinos are heavily taxed.”

Steve further told me that some hitherto terrible impoverished people had become millionaires overnight through gambling and their testimonies are a veritable source of encouragement to other gamblers to rush to the city that does not sleep and where their lives could be transformed overnight. However, the flip side is not too exciting to the heart and the ears as some who came with their life savings had not only lost all but also ended committing suicide. “When you hear of a SIN CITY, here you are,” Steve told me without betraying any emotion.

Not only gamblers love Vegas. Airlines too. According to those who know, airlines make a hell of money flying to Vegas. They operate the cheapest flights to the city round the clock. I got a foretaste of the city shortly after I disembarked and headed to baggage claim to pick my luggage. I saw gambling machines at strategic points in the hall with some passengers gambling right there. What an infectious habit, I mused to myself. Planes were landing and taking off every five minutes, and the interesting thing is that you could not see any sigh of stress on any of the passengers.

Again, I couldn’t stop wondering how the airport could cope with hundreds of passengers in less than 30 minutes interval without any commotion. The answer is not far-fetched. Vegas is in an arid land where you see kilometres of virgin desert land sprawling before

you.

The Vegas McCarran International Airport is located in an area called Paradise, 10 kilometres away from the main city. In size, the airport is three times bigger than our Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. Yet, the huge size is not peculiar to the airport alone but also to all the landmark structures and monuments in Vegas; ranging from hotels to hospitals, universities, etc. The planners of this city put into generous use the God-given expanse of land. I equally noticed that not only commercial planes were on the tarmac but hundreds of private jets of different colours too.

As I said, gambling in Vegas does not discriminate against class.

The vice is not class sensitive. From the poor, to middle class, to millionaires, you see all classes of people trooping into various casinos/hotels to gamble. One Mr. Scott told me how a known millionaire whose businesses were going bankrupt came in with what he said was his last savings, $5 million, to stake for a jackpot but got just $3 million, losing $2 million.

What about a Chairman/CEO of a notable courier service, who according to those who know him sensed his company was going under and felt that the only way to salvage the terrible situation was to stake his last $20,000. He was lucky. According to my narrator, he gambled with the money and raked over one million dollars; just like that! What do we call that? Luck? Or providence? Help me out, dear readers. Still that is not all about the frills and thrills of Vegas. It is an unwritten rule that any hotel in the city should have a casino. The super markets are following suit too having realised that nine out of 10 visitors to Las Vegas are casino freaks. Maybe in the nearest future private homes will join the epidemic.

Ten top Casino Hotels in Vegas that make averagely N20 million dollars a week are Las Vegas, Nevada, Aria Resort, Mam Grand, Bellagio, Stratosphere, Treasure Island, The Venetian, The Mirage, Mandalay Bay, Tuscany Suites, The Cosmopolitan and Mandarin Oriental. Room rates at these hotels range from $300- $1000 per night. Most of the hotels are not smoke free while few are. The hotels are fully booked.

––Olamiti, a Media Consultant, wrote from Abuja

(See concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com)

15

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R • MAY 21, 2017

LETTERS HOW GOVERNMENT STEALS FROM THE POOR

L

ast Thursday, May 18, 2017, I got a distress call from a young single mum of three children who ekes out a living by hawking fresh fruits somewhere in Wuse Two, Abuja.

This call came at about 8am, the moment I settled into my office desk to begin the day’s work.

The purpose of the call was to report that the armed operatives of the Abuja environmental authority seized her articles of trade and arrested her.

She was forced to cough out N5000 before she could be let off the hook but the men went away with her entire business

W

hen Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said during the inaugural quarterly civil service lecture in February this year that civil servants were sometimes called “evil” servants, it was not to deride the service. Osinbajo, who delivered a thought provoking speech at the occasion, warned that no country could afford a corrupt civil service. He said where civil servants subvert the service for personal gains, “it is the greatest tragedy that a nation can experience.”

Yet, unfortunately, many would argue that this is exactly the type of government bureaucracy Winifred Oyo-Ita inherited in January 2016 when she was sworn-in by President

wares.

This lady by name Evelyn has a toddler she still breastfeeds in addition to the other two children who are in public school even as she relies on the petty trading to take care of them.

She wept uncontrollably and urged that our group should intervene so her wares can be released. But our effort was fruitless.

This is because upon our investigation those governmentsponsored armed thugs who brazenly took her wares had gone to their various houses with the loot and we were even told that she was lucky to have escaped being dumped into a decrepit detention facility

administered by this notorious agency.

Many persons languish for days before bribing their way out of these dungeons that aren’t fit even for wild animals.

These detention centres are scattered all over Abuja and Abuja can’t boasts of vibrant non -governmental group that thematically focuses on the plight of the poorest of the poor. Most platforms are politically inclined.

Pathetically, we saw how even the armed operatives of the Nigerian navy and army in addition to the regular police and civil defence were part of the squad of these Abuja environmental department’s staff.

Their daily routines include roaming about the streets of Abuja chasing petty traders out of the streets, looting their wares, imprisoning them so as to extort some money from those severely disadvantaged and economically deprived Nigerians.

This is pure governmentsponsored road side armed robbery and must stop except governance in Nigeria is meant to rob the poor to enrich the few privileged elite.

This was the basis for a letter we sent to the Abuja Minister and the Senator heading the Committee on the Federal Capital Territory Mr. Dino Melaye but both of these men have taken no action to stop this day light robberies that have gone on for

NIGERIA CIVIL SERVICE AND CHANGE Muhammadu Buhari. It’s a civil service where productivity, efficient and timely service delivery are low on priorities.

It is a service where corruption, poor service ethics, nepotism and self-aggrandizement reign supreme.

Reforming such a bureaucracy and changing the service orientation of personnel is no doubt a daunting task. Yet this is what Oyo-Ita hopes to do and is doing. Her strategy for success appeared to have been informed by personal experience and the experience of her predecessors.

A reform premised on high-handedness and militarystyle discipline hardly endures.

It may work in the short term, but it is usually a sociological strategy that can bring lasting

change. Only a subtle, humane, welfarist and sustained model can reform our bureaucracy to deliver suitable service for national development.

This appears to be the strategy of the current Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Oyo-Ita. Quietly but steadily, Oyo-Ita is reforming the service and repositioning it for the task of national development. Oyo-Ita is trying to motivate civil service personnel for higher productivity and service delivery.

She seemed to believe that an ill-motivated work force can never be an asset for national growth. A country that doesn’t priorotise the welfare of its citizens and especially its work force is doomed to stagnation.

One of the most effective

ways of checking corruption and motivating labour is to priorotise its welfare.

Oyo-Ita had pledged that under her the service would chart a new course driven by efficiency, productivity, transparency and the interest of the citizenry. She seemed determined to deliver by making workers welfare paramount and meeting service demands simultaneously.

The office of the head of service has pursued with such uncommon vigour, the Federal Integrated Staff Housing (FISH) Programme, which culminated in last month’s signing of an MOU with major stakeholders to provide affordable housing for federal civil servants. The mortgage refinance agreement was signed between Federal

CORRUPTION AND THE POWER OF HABIT

T

hree individuals – Burrhus Skinner, Carl Gustave Jung and Sigmund Freud – are the usual suspects whenever theories of personality are discussed. Each has his strong area. As a matter of fact, each suspect has tried to put their own ideas forward as vigorously as possible to the extent that an ardent student can easily discern a point of convergence of their erudite postulations. For me, I have often found Sigmund Freud’s analysis of why we are what and who we are very interesting. In his seminal work, Beyond the Pleasure Principle, Freud set out a concept to explain how the human mind works. According to Freud, the human mind has three layers of operation – the Id, Ego and Superego.

As human beings, there is often a dark part of our lives which nobody can access. I have one and you have one as well. Freud said that it resembles the brain of a child, which will crave for something and insists on getting it or we raise hell in tantrums or we sulk.

‘It is the dark, inaccessible part of our personality...it is filled with energy reaching it from the instincts, but it has no organisation, produces no collective will, but only a striving to bring about the satisfaction of the instinctual/

ages.

The current FCT minister Mohammed Bello who headed the Islamic Pilgrims welfare board before his kinsman redeployed him to the juicier position of FCT minister is rated as the weakest point in this current political dispensation.

For two months that we sent him our letter demanding an end to these broad day harassment of petty traders by the government’s armed thugs, he has neither replied nor adopted any panacea to check the trend which is making governance in Nigeria to look like organised crime against poor citizens.

––Emmanuel Onwubiko, head, Human Rights Association of Nigeria

primordial needs subject to the observance of the pleasure principle’, Wikipedia has said of Freud’s idea of the Id. But as we mature, we find out that there’s a chasm between what’s real and unreal, and between what’s obtainable and what’s not. We begin to get practical. We separate the short from the long term. Freud says that this is the surface of the personality, the part you usually show the world. This part of our lives is fashioned after the disposition of an iceberg. We see only the tip, while the mass of our being lurks down there under the silent but deadly waters of our existence.

Freud says our Ego is vis-à-vis the Id is like a man on horseback holding and steering a horse out of control in check. Cool as this may sound, this part of our being is under the jurisprudence of our environment, our need for perfection and the primordial instincts of childhood. The other, the Superego usually wants to be perfect. It is our conscience, that part of our lives which tries to make up its mind between good and evil.

At this moment of our lives as a nation, we usually put the blame of corruption at the doorstep of mismanagement.

But as a matter of fact, we are all basically corrupt people with very few exceptions – black or white, Jew or gentile. A lot of us

are driven by base instincts, the Id, and we either mask or hide these instincts because time and chance have not given us availability and opportunity. We want this, and we must have it even though we have not invested in the factors for the production of that that we crave for.

Corruption therefore is a craving based on either the development or underdevelopment of our minds. A poor man – and I use the word ‘poor’ without its pecuniary connotations – who gets within the corridors of power and has access to public funds will dip their fingers in the public purse. So will a ‘rich’ person. It’s all up there in our minds: the desire to build big houses, and buy fancy cars and drive around with beautiful women is driven by a craving. A craving is a thing that you always do without thinking, especially something that is hard to stop. According to Duhigg in The Power of Habit – why we do what we do and how to CHANGE (Random House Books 2012), cravings are basically driven by routine.

A routine is what is carried out consistently over time with the anticipation of a reward. A policeman who is poorly paid will still go to his beat knowing that on that his beat, there will be delinquents whom he can exploit.

Once we allow our cravings to control us to the point of making

them a routine and get rewarded somehow, corruption therefore becomes a strong habit. Habits are not demographic, gender sensitive and have no respect for class, race or creed. Once a habit takes hold, it becomes a parasite feeding on a host, and begins to ensure the survival of that host only because it wants to survive.

Development will not take place if our minds are not developed first. All development comes from the mind, whether physical, spiritual or otherwise.

But we must break the deadly habit of corruption by adhering to certain principles outlined in Duhigg (2012), to wit, that a habit can break if we change its loop of occurrence. Typical habits survive via a chain wherein there is a craving routinely executed and which mostly produces rewards.

In his golden rule of habit change, Duhigg suggests that if we must, we must keep our cravings for the good things of life whatever they may be because some of these craving can be drivers of change.

But he insists that we all must insert a new routine. We must try to do things differently, break the routine transform our minds.

A smoker will not quit smoking if there’s no alternativethat will replace the reward the smoker gets from smoking.

––Bob M.Etemiku, @ DsighRobert

Government Staff Housing Loans Board (FGSHLB) and Nigeria Mortgage Refinancing Company, at the 2017 FISH Housing Summit organized by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.

A second MOU was also entered between Family Homes Funds which is another government institution to provide affordable housing and the Federal Integrated Staff Housing (FISH) Programme.

Oyo-Ita, who declared the Summit open said it was organized to deliberate on sustainable pathways for the successful implementation of the Federal Integrated Staff Housing Programme (FISH-P) as well as unearth new sources of funds for the programme.

The MOU were signed towards approving loan that would make it possible for some Federal Civil Servants to purchase houses under the Government’s backed FISH programme.

The new administration has also prioritised payments of salaries. Oyo-Ita seemed to have agonised over delay in the payment of staff salaries as demonstrated in her last May

Day speech to workers. She said the Buhari administration was concerned about the welfare of workers and would leave no stone unturned to meet their ‘rightful demands.’

She stated: “As the nation’s economy bounces out of recession and returns to the path of sustainable growth, attention will be paid to the other welfare matters of the Nigeria Workers in line with the 2017-2020 Economic Recovery and Growth Plan” She disclosed further that efforts were on to pay arrears of salaries owed federal workers.

While she pursues workers’ welfare, she has also vigorously taken reformist steps to modernise the civil service for effective and efficient service delivery. She has been working, as her predecessors, with the National Planning Commission, the Federal Civil Service Commission and the Bureau of Public Service Reforms to develop a new, robust performance management system.

––Ume wrote in through james@channelkoos.com (See concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com)

PROBLEMS WITH NIGERIA’S RURAL COMMUNITIES

N

igeria’s urban communities are plagued by slums and disagreeable landscape problems but the rural communities face a different sort of challenge, namely low return on manpower input into subsistence agriculture. That is why Nigeria still relies heavily on food importation to feed its teeming population.

The rural communities of Nigeria are patches of small homesteads spread over wide areas and their effective land use coefficient is near zero.

Why continue like this?

Especially now that there are bands of marauding terrorists out there in these wide expanses who

constantly menace these rural folks. What should be done is the collapsing of these rural communities into one contiguous urban mass with in-built lebensraum and slumfixing parameters using low-tech appropriate resources.

Government or largescale private interests should take over food production, processing, and distribution. The teeming rural mass would now devote resources to basic education and basic healthcare; basically, education and health translate in the long run to wealth.

––Sunday Adole Jonah, Department of Physics, Federal University of Technology, Minna.

16

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T H I S D AY SUNDAY MAY 21, 2017

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER • MAY 21, 2017

INTERNATIONAL China Association for Friendship and Counter-terrorism in the Lake Chad Basin Region

T

he newly established Bolytag Centre for International Diplomacy and Strategic Studies (BOCIDASS) in Yaba, Lagos, played host to the first official visit of the delegation of China Association for Friendship (CAF) on Wednesday, 17th May, 2017. The delegation, comprising six people (four males and two females), was led by Mr. Sang Linyu, the Secretary General of CAF. Other members were Mr. Li Yubin, the Deputy Section Chief of Foreign Affairs of CAF; Lv Zhuo, the Deputy Section Chief of the Research Department of CAF; Gao Jiaze, Deputy Section Chief of Administration of CAF; Ms Guo Lihua, interpreter for the CAF delegation; and Ms Shao Weijie, attaché.

The CAF came on a three-day visit to Nigeria (15th-18th May) to seek contributions towards the international conference it is organising on counter-terrorism in the ‘Lake Chad Region.’ The international conference is scheduled to take place in Beijing in November 2017. The conference is a follow-up to the Beijing 2015 conference on the Boko Haram. It is within this context that the BOCIDASS, which is established as an international diplomatic laboratory for the diagnosis of international life, and particularly to make Nigeria the leading epicentre for training in diplomatic practice in Africa, organised a one-day brainstorming session on ‘Money Laundering and Counter-terrorism in West Africa,’ and the Lake Chad region.

There were two lead papers. High Chief (Dr) Ona Ekhomu, the President of the Association of Industrial Security and Safety Operators of Nigeria (AISSON), presented the first paper on ‘Counterterrorism in Nigeria: ACase Study of the Lake Chad Region.’ The second paper, which focused on ‘Challenges of Money Laundering and Counter-terrorism in the ECOWAS region,’ was presented by the Director General of GIABA(Intergovernmental Action Group Against Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing in West Africa.’

The Head of the Nigerian office of the GIABA, Mr. Timothy Melaye, stood in for his Director General who was on official visit to Morocco.

The brainstorming session was interesting from many perspectives. First, it raises new questions about the main objectives of international politics. Second, it raises the new need for adoption and development of citizen diplomacy in Nigeria. Third, and perhaps more importantly, it raises the problem of global friendship deficit and global insecurity recidivism. Most importantly, the visit of the CAF delegation was specially marked by the response to the visit in two interesting ways. On the one hand, many participants - Ambassador Joe Keshi, Major General Adewunmi Ajibade (rtd), Ambassador Gboyega Ariyo, Ambassador Sola Onadipe, Professor Kunle Ade Wahab, Professor Victor Ariole, Professor Yomi Akinyeye, and Ambassador Wole Coker who was Nigeria’s former ambassador to China - raised the issue of good governance, collective responsibility and approach, and particularly, leadership, as major dynamics of an effective counter-terrorism strategy.

On the other hand, the CAF delegation was made to acknowledge Nigeria as the terra cognita of Africa’s hospitality. While, for instance, Chief Jacob Wood, a Member of the Federal Republic, gave a welcoming dinner à la chinoise on the day of the arrival of the delegation on Monday, 15th May, Ambassador Wole Coker and Navy Captain Folarin (rtd) and Mrs Oluwatoyin Jaiyeola treated the delegation with lunch and dinner party à la nigériane respectively. The delegation had a feel of the goodness of the Nigerian lifestyle. The ultimate objective is to lay new foundations for the development of friendship between the two peoples of Nigeria and China However, one major objective of international politics is selfprotection and survival. The means of self-protection and survival varies from adoption of principles, peace-building principles and compromises, treaties and militarisation to adoption of protectionist policies, disregard for international law, and even war-making.

Most unfortunately, however, no country has been able to ensure self-protection and survival in spite of the various methods they have adopted. As a result, international politics has been largely characterised by mutual suspicions and political intrigues.

One rationale for this is the conflicting nature of national interests, which necessarily makes international politics a conflict system.

In this regard, are conflicts preventable? How do we explain the existence of crises and conflicts? Von Clausewitz has it that if you want peace, prepare for war. This simply means that war is nothing more than an instrument and beginning of peace process. One French saying also has it that ‘ordre et contre ordre égalent désordre,’ that is, ‘order and counter order amount to disorder.’

In other words, there is no way an order and counter order will not amount to disorder: when one person issues an order and the

VIE INTERNATIONALE with

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longer the exclusive preserve of states to have weapons of destruction. The non-state actors also acquire them illegally or with the connivance of states. In fact, the world is currently under nuclear threats. The main principles of peaceful existence as espoused in the 1955 Bandung Conference are also gradually being thrown into the garbage of history. Multilateralism is also gradually giving way to nationalism, with much influence of the consideration that terrorism can be more effectively contained if international migration remains in the hands of national authorities.

And without gainsaying, international migration has also been capitalised upon by terrorists and terrorism has been a critical problem since 2001, following the terrorist attacks on the twin towers of New York. How best can terrorism be contained? What role should be played by the people and particularly by friendship associations?

It is the contention of the BOCIDASS that the development of friendship at the level of people has the great potential to drastically reduce the thirst for violence. Friendship in this regard cannot but involve the exchange of ideas, approaches and joint research on issues of peace and security. This is why the visit of the CAF to Nigeria is significant. The visit marks the beginning of conscious pursuit of citizen diplomacy by the BOCIDASS, not only to assist official diplomacy, but to also provide new foundations for peace-making devoid of violence. For a world of peace and security to exist as well as endure, the nature of terrorism must first be well understood before seeking to counter it.

Nature of Terrorism and Counter-terrorism

Zhou Pingjian response to it is counter order, an encounter necessarily follows. The encounter cannot but create a friction. When the management of the encounter fails or creates a problematic, disorderliness cannot but also be the outcome. This is why it has been quite difficult to have peace and security in the world as at today.

In the same vein, if in the quest for self-peace and protection of the national interest, one has to prepare for war, then there is no need pretending that peace as an objective can ever be achieved. At best, crises and conflicts can only be managed and controlled but cannot be avoided. This is where, in managing and controlling conflicts, the factor of people appears to be the most critical.

It has been acquiesced to, that peace and war begins from the mind of the individual and for peace to be sustained and war to be brought to an end, it is still the same mind that has to be managed and controlled. When the United Nations Organisation was set up in 1945, the cardinal objective is to prevent humanity from a new scourge of war. In the eyes of many people, the organisation has succeeded in its objective because there has not been a new world war. There have been no inter-state wars since 1945.

Most erroneously, however, polemologists and strategic analysts have refused to consider intra-state conflicts as elements of a new world war in a different setting. In other words, a world war does not necessarily mean it has to be inter-state in character. When an intra-state confusion or crisis or conflict has implications for many countries and regions of the world, plurilaterally and multilaterally, it can be argued that a world war is already in the making. War should be seen as a continuum of violence the crescendo of which is hot war.

War is made by people. And to a great extent, if crises are promptly prevented from degenerating to conflicts, the potential for peace to reign cannot but be high. This is particularly where the role and place of friendship in international relations is located.

Regarding friendship in contemporary international relations, there is paucity of sincere friendship geared towards international peace making. The threats to international peace and security are decreasingly state actors and increasingly non-state actors. It is no

Nigeria and her neighbours appear to have won the battle against the use of terror but is yet to win the war on it. Winning the war cannot be easy without the involvement of the people in all ramifications.

Terrorists are part of the people. Consequently, counter-terrorism must begin from the level of every given stratum of society. It must be addressed from a bottom-up approach. Greater emphasis must be placed on the development and use of citizen diplomacy. This is where the importance of the visit of the China Association for Friendship (CAF) should be appreciated and further underscored

Terrorism is an act of cruelty, an act of using terror to intimidate and protest, as well as to make political demands. It is internationally outlawed. And perhaps most disturbingly, it is generally an act of non-state actors, and therefore generally asymmetrical. It can be national in preparation and international and transnational in execution. The target of terrorism is the political leadership. Terrorism is an illegal method of political negotiation. As a method of negotiation, it is very destructive. For an act to be terroristic, it must be cruel and the purpose must also be political. Individuals and groups, as well as organisations engage in terrorism in their individual or group capacity.

Even though states also do engage in acts of terrorism, the bottom line is that terrorism, right from its beginnings with the use of letter bombs, parcel bombs, kidnapping, hijacking, skyjacking to the modern day use of more sophisticated weapons and engagement in a sort of guerrilla warfare, is not acceptable as an instrument of correct relationship both interpersonally, governmentally and non-governmentally.

Consequently, in countering terrorism, its understanding as a problematic must first be put in context because of the complex and multidimensional nature of terrorism. In this regard, it is important to note that terrorism is a resultant of the mindset, and therefore, no one can control the use of terror unless one is able to also control the mindset of the individual from who the quest for use of terror is coming. In other words, whether or not there will be use of terror in human interactions, the human factor or attitudinal disposition of the individual cannot be ruled out.

Secondly, terrorism is not only about language problem and communication, it is also about philosophy, psychology of human differences and disorderliness, and therefore, a resultant from order and counter-order as noted above, and particularly from how the resultant encounter from order and counter-order is managed.

Thus, when talking about how to engage in counter-terrorism, the approach should not be simply limited to containment of physical assaults and engagement in battles. There will be need to address terrorism from all dimensions, especially from the perspective of use of language, belief-system, psychology of human differences and application of law. For instance, how do we address the challenge from non-belief in law or in a national constitution, when the same law or constitution is precisely aimed at ensuring peace and orderliness?

In talking about counter-terrorism in the Lake Chad region, that is, about the efforts of Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon in not only containing boko haramism but also preventing other international terrorists from infiltrating Nigeria and its immediate neighbourhood, how best should the problem of terrorism be addressed nationally and internationally, especially that the Boko Haram does not only disregard Nigeria’s constitution, does not recognise Nigeria as it is, but does not also accept the sanctity of human life? What role can the Nigeria-China FriendshipAssociation (NICAF), especially as wanted

by Chief Jacob Wood, the Chairman of the Chinese Community in Nigeria and current Chairman of NICAF? Without iota of doubt, Nigeria and her neighbours appear to have won the battle against the use of terror but is yet to win the war on it. Winning the war cannot be easy without the involvement of the people in all ramifications. Terrorists are part of the people. Consequently, counter-terrorism must begin from the level of every given stratum of society. It must be addressed from a bottom-up approach.

Greater emphasis must be placed on the development and use of citizen diplomacy. This is where the importance of the visit of the China Association for Friendship (CAF) should be appreciated and further underscored. This is also why the Nigeria-China Friendship Association (NICAF), founded by Ambassador Victor Chibundu has a major role to play and why the BOCIDASS has involved the NICAF, being the pioneer association promoting friendship between Nigeria and China at the level of business and culture.

(See concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com)

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R • MAY 21, 2017

BUSINESS

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

LAST WEEK WEEK FX Market Central Bank of Nigeria on Monday injected $457.3 million into various segments of the foreign exchange market. The spot and forwards segments garnered $267.3 million, while the wholesale segment got $100 million. CBN’s acting director, corporate communications department, Isaac Okorafor, said the Small and Medium Enterprises and invisibles segments, comprising basic travel allowance, tuition fee and medicals, got $50 million and $40 million, respectively.

Naira closed at N383 to a dollar at the parallel market.

A view of Marina in the central business district of Lagos

With Declining Inflation, Analysts Want CBN to Sustain Strategies As MPC begins meeting tomorrow

Kunle Aderinokun As the monetary policy committee begins its two-day meeting tomorrow, analysts have suggested that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) should sustain it’s strategies which had ensured the consumer price index (CPI) assumed a downward trajectory for three consecutive months.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has said the CPI, which gauges inflation, increased by 17.24 percent (year-on-year) though at a slower pace in April, translating to 0.02 percent points reduction from 17.26 per cent recorded in March. According to NBS, the decline in the headline CPI, which is occurring consecutively for three months, has exhibited effects of some easing in already high food and non-food prices, as well as favourable base effects over 2016 prices.

Analysts, who have made suggestions on the outcomes of the MPC meeting, urged the apex bank to maintain its policies and strategies with a view to sustaining the declining momentum in the CPI. In his estimation, , the Chief Executive Officer, The CFG Advisory Ltd, Adetilewa Adebajo, enthused that,“We are over the worst now as high inflation rates have bottomed out at 18.72 per cent and it is moving towards a downward trajectory.”

“Howbeit, the decline is still at the bud stage and could easily be reversed. Sustained policies would be needed to maintain the momentum in the downward trend. If we can maintain this steady decline in inflation rate, the CBN would in turn, reduce MPR, thereby stimulating growth,” he however suggested.

Adebajo noted that the CBN approach at taming inflation was working but cautioned that the trend should be monitored for some time to fully ascertain the effect.

According to him,“The CBN sought to control inflation by keeping a high MPR (at 14 per cent). One can say that we are seeing the result of this in bottoming out and the successive decline in inflation for three consecutive months; however we need

ECONOMY to monitor CPI for the next few months to fully ascertain the effects of the CBN’S approach.”

Similarly, Director, Union Capital Ltd, Egie Akpata, noted that, the overall inflationary trend is down and it seems“the CBN strategy of constraining Naira liquidity and flooding the market with US dollars is having a positive effect.”He believed, “It will take a few more months of this sustained strategy before inflation is brought closer to the CBN target range.”

Generally, he pointed out, inflation was falling a lot slower than predicted, even though,“the rise in annual food inflation coupled with a few disease outbreaks affecting a number of key crops is worrying.”

“Unfortunately, the CBN strategy has resulted in extremely high risk free rates making it very difficult for liquidity and credit to flow to the private sector. If GDP growth remains negative or very weak, the CBN would have to loosen liquidity and cut rates in the next few months so as to be seen as supporting the Federal Government’s effort to reflate the economy,”Akpata submitted.

To the analysts at Eczellon Capital Ltd led

by Diekola Onaolapo, if the CBN maintains its policy that brought down CPI, which also consistently decreased for three months, the economy may witness further drop in the index in the months ahead, resulting to stability and exit from recession.

“The three months consistent decline in Consumer Price Index (CPI) after fifteen months uninterrupted upsurge in inflation rates indicates the CPI may drop slightly as prices become stable. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) decisions had targeted price stability in their previous meetings, and this is reflecting in the CPI numbers. If this policy is maintained in the coming months, the CPI may progressively drop further as the economy stabilizes and bounces back from recession,”they submitted.

The analysts expressed the belief that,“The drop in the CPI gives investors insight into

the general price level. The diversification of economy, investment in infrastructures, significant boost in agriculture and general boost of local production will ultimately be the drivers of price stability, growth and improvement in general living standards,” they concluded.

In his projection, Director, Corporate Finance, BGL Capital Ltd, Femi Ademola, noted that,“The outlook for inflation in 2017 is an expectation of a low rate compared to 2016. This is due to the combination of high base rate, moderating exchange rate and improving liquidity to manufacturers.”

“In addition, the commencement of harvesting period will lower food prices; thus supporting the falling inflation. Inflation is likely to decline further in the coming months.”

According to him,“This is the first since the Analysts, who have beginning of the year we are experiencing made suggestions on the outcomes of the a decline in the rate of inflation in the real MPC meeting, urged the sense of it. This is because theYear onYear apex bank to maintain headline inflation which declined to 17.24 its policies and strategies per cent in April from 17.26 per cent in with a view to sustaining March is measuring the rate of increase over the declining momenan historical period of 12 months. However tum in the CPI the most current measure of the rate of change in price increases is the month on of the Nigerian economy. CBN hopes to month inflation which declined to 1.60 per further strengthen the Naira with its continued cent from 1.72 per cent over the period. intervention. The sustainability of the above However, we are still deep in the high is however still subject to debate. The CBN inflation momentum. initiated an Investors and Exporters FX window, “This is because according to the NBS, as one of the mechanisms of FX market the inflation for April was due to ncreases in intervention. However this seems not to have prices of bread, cereals, meat, fish, potatoes, had much impact on the market as Naira yams and other tubers, coffee, tea and cocoa, to the USD seems to have maintained a milk cheese and eggs and oils and fats. value over the past fortnight.”

This would mean that the reported low “As we have argued in the past, monetary inflation rate would have been much policies alone will not solve the overall issues higher but for the high base effect over in the Nigerian economy. Having said the 2016 prices. It follows that the improved above, even the monetary policies should economic activities is helping demand be further reviewed and a more market especially for food which experienced an driven approach, with reduced government increase in inflation to 19.30 per cent in April intervention be explored as this would be the from 18.44 per cent in March. However, more sustainable approach over the long term. the moderating exchange rate effectively The CPI is still very high and more practical tempered the rate of increase in prices of methods should be explored to reducing imported food.”

future rates. Fixed-income investors always analyze their investments based on the released CPI figures as it is imperative to keep current yields ahead of inflation, otherwise real wealth will fall.”Specifically, they projected that,“The Monetary Policy Committee would fix the next Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) based on the direction of the CPI.This is to ensure that the MPR is in line with the CPI.“ Besides, the analysts were also convinced that, “The slight improvement in the CPI and the slackening inflation may not be unconnected to the CBN’s intervention in the Foreign Exchange Market.”

According to them,“You will recall that crisis in the FX environment has largely driven increase in inflation over the past months, as a reflection of the import dependence

Inflation The Consumer Price Index, which measures inflation, declined by 0.02 per cent in April. According to the National Bureau of Statistics in its new report, the inflation rate, put at 17.24 per cent, declined a little further from the 17.26 per cent recorded in March. This represents the third consecutive month of a decline in the headline CPI rate, indicating some easing in high food and non-food prices.

Economy The average price of imported rice decreased by 7.22 per cent in April, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

NBS, in its “Selected Food Price watch data for April 2017” in Abuja, noted that one kilogramme of rice was sold for N250.30 in April, from N418.71 in March. It also stated that between April 2016 and 2017, the average cost of 1kg of rice (imported high quality sold loose) increased by 29.98 per cent in the month under review. This is according to prices collected from the 774 local governments across all states and the FCT from over 10,000 respondents.

Aviation Nigerian operator, Medview Airline, was banned from operating within the airspace of the European Commission.

A statement released by the commission said 181 airlines had been banned from EU skies. “Today the European Commission updated the EU air safety list, the list of non-European airlines that do not meet international safety standards, and are therefore subject to an operating ban or operational restrictions within the European Union,” said the commission. The commission will, however, allow banned airlines to operate within the EU using leased aircraft of other airlines.

Pump Price Despite the challenges in the downstream oil sector, the Nigerian government said it would maintain the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) at N145 per litre.This was contained in an address by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu. He stated that the issues of freighting and docking had been addressed last month.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R • MAY 21, 2017

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BUSINESS/ECONOMY

Buhari presenting the 2017 budget to the National Assembly

As Budget Awaits Presidential Assent...

As 2017 Appropriation Bill awaits presidential assent, Vincent Obia looks at issues in its implementation

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hen on December 14 last year President M u h a m madu Buhari presented the 2017 budget to the National Assembly, he tagged it a “budget of recovery and growth.” Buhari is profoundly interested in leading Nigeria out of recession, which the country slipped into about a year ago on his watch. The National Assembly, too, controlled by the president’s All Progressives Congress, is not aloof.

The National Assembly passed the 2017 Appropriation Bill on May 11, with Senate President Bukola Saraki highlighting “the level of consultations and the good working relationship and cooperation that exist between us and the executive for us to get to this point.

This is a remarkable difference from what we saw in 2016 and it shows that the entire country is better for it.”

The National Assembly raised the budget from N7.298 trillion proposed by Buhari last December, to N7.44 trillion. This represents 22.8% more than last year’s budget of N6.06 trillion.

Catch Up Despite the improved legislative-executive cooperation that went into the passage of the 2017 Appropriation Bill, it is a budget that would be running behind schedule, like virtually all federal government budgets since the inception of the Fourth Republic in 1999.

By the provisions of the 2016 Appropriation Act, the 2016 budget expired on May 5, 2017, having been assented to by Buhari on May 6, 2016. The 2017 budget was passed five days after the expiration of the previous budget.

Following Buhari’s medical leave, the acting president, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, has indicated a willingness to assent to the budget when it is received from the National Assembly by the Presidency. No matter how promptly this process is carried out, the government would need to work harder to make up for lost time in the implementation of the budget.

It would also have to address the obvious infraction occasioned by the delayed budget.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Danjuma Goje, was in March quoted as saying regarding the budget timeframe, “As far as the bill that was signed into law by Mr. President is concerned, there will be no mop up on 31st March 2017 since the validity period for the 2016 budget ends midnight May 5th, 2017...“If that is done, it

will be a violation of the Act. We carefully created the clause that made provision for May 5, 2017. The Act says that the 2016 budget will run for 12 months starting from the date the bill was assented to and it was assented to on May 6th 2016.”

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, and member of the appropriation committee, Aliyu Abdullahi, blames the delayed passage of the 2017 budget on its late submission by the executive.

Abdullahi says the Fiscal Responsibility Act provides that the budget should be presented to the National Assembly by September of the previous year at the latest. But the 2017 budget was presented by Buhari on December 14, 2016, just like the 2016 budget that was presented on December 22, 2015.

Uncertainty Experts say the lack of uncertainty regarding the timeframe of the country’s budgets is fraught with negative consequences for the economy. “It makes our economy to be unattractive to foreign investors. Foreign direct investors invest all over the world, and developing countries compete for these investments.

The investors look at certain key parameters before they invest,” says chairman of Anchoria

Investment and Securities Limited, Chief Olusola Dada.

“In a country where things are not certain, you are discouraging foreign investors, even we, domestic investors. It doesn’t allow for proper planning, because the Nigerian economy is a government led economy. A lot of things depend on government because government is the highest spender.”

Dada, whose company is listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, explains, “If the expenditure and revenue cannot be determined in time, the private sector will be affected because, like I said, government is the highest spender and whatever we are doing relies on government, too. So the delay in the passage of the budget is very inimical to the economic progress of this country.”

Abdullahi also acknowledges, “Certainty is very critical for every economy. If you have a certain timeframe, and people know at this time, this would happen, people can use that provision to plan for their businesses.”

Former Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Dr. Obadiah Mailafia, says, “If the economy is to calculate the cost of delaying the budget, it comes to almost 30 per cent of GDP. If it continues to almost half of the year, there is a lot time wasted, and time is money.”

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R • MAY 21, 2017

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BUSINESS/ECONOMY As Budget Awaits Presidential Assent...

Funding Issues There are fears about the capacity of the government to finance the budget. Of the budget of N7. 44 trillion, statutory transfers are estimated to take N434.4 billion; debt service takes N1.84 trillion; recurrent expenditure N2.99 trillion; and capital expenditure N2.18 trillion (about 30% of the budget).

The approved budget is based on a benchmark crude oil price of US$44.5 per barrel (up from US$42.5 per barrel pegged by the president); crude oil production of 2.2 million barrels per day, and an exchange rate of N305 to a dollar.

While presenting the budget last December, Buhari said the aggregate revenue available to fund it was N4.94 trillion, 28% higher than the projections for 2016. Oil is projected to contribute N1.985 trillion of this N4.94 trillion.

Non-oil revenues, mainly Companies Income Tax, Value Added Tax, Customs and Excise duties, and Federation Account levies are estimated to contribute N1.373 trillion. Independent Revenues are expected to contribute N807.57 billion, while N565.1 billion is projected to come from recoveries as the government intensifies its anticorruption drive. Other revenue sources, including mining, would contribute N210.9 billion.

The projected deficit for the 2017 budget is N2.36 trillion (about 2.18% of GDP). Buhari stated in December, “The deficit will be financed mainly by borrowing which is projected to be about N2.32 trillion. Our intention is to source N1.067 trillion or about 46% of this borrowing from external sources while, N1.254 trillion will be borrowed from the domestic market.”

Many believe the monetary additions to the budget by the National Assembly may create funding difficulties in the budget implementation.

The National Assembly increased its own budget by N10 billion, voted N10 billion for commencement of work on the second Abuja runway, and N4.5 billion for renovation work on the Abeokuta airport as an alternate airport to the Lagos airport. It voted N13 billion to resolve financial obligations relating to the National Youth Service Corps, N5.1 billion to cover gaps in the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System, and N25 billion as addition to the road sector.

Other interventions made by the National Assembly include financial allocations to the Amnesty Programme and for continuation of work on the abandoned Bwari-Aladja rail line.

But Mailafia says, “It is the executive that knows how much it is able to spend, and anything involving adding by the National Assembly gets me very worried.”

Besides, the $305 to a dollar exchange rate seems way off the mark, with the recent parallel market exchange rates of between N370 and N380 to a dollar. Most Nigerians buy foreign currencies from the parallel market.

“I believe in a market determined exchange rate. It’s a bit of an exercise in self-delusion because what is happening in the market out there is different from what we are setting as an assumption,” says the former CBN deputy governor.

Analysts say the allocation of 37% of total projected revenue, and 24% of the total budget to debt servicing also looks quite unhealthy for economic growth.

Tax Base To effectively finance the budget, the government needs to expand its extractive capacity. The country needs a much more diversified revenue base. More people need to be made to pay tax and leakages need to be blocked.

Dada says, “Government has a very good opportunity to make the budget realisable.

The loopholes should be blocked. There are many people that are supposed to be paying tax that are not paying. There are many areas government is supposed to collect revenue for services, but they are not paying. There are too many loopholes in Nigeria.”

But the reliance on manual tax processes, as against automated tax processes, at all levels of government in the country, and the lack of proper coordination through a

Cont’d from Pg. 20 expansion in manufacturing sector activities after three months of contraction. Ten of the 16 sub-sectors reported growth in the review month in the following order: appliances and components; food, beverage and tobacco products; textile, apparel, leather and footwear; chemical and pharmaceutical products; cement; nonmetallic mineral products; printing and related support activities; furniture and related products; electrical equipment and plastics and rubber products. The paper products; primary metal; computer and electronic products; fabricated metal products; petroleum and coal products and transportation equipment sub-sectors reported decline.

The PMI is computed from the result of a monthly survey of purchasing and supply executives of manufacturing and non-manufacturing organisations in 13 locations in Nigeria – two states in each of the six geopolitical zones, and Abuja.

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria has also reported an increased production capacity to more than 50 per cent, from about 35 per cent in 2016.

Economic experts believe the positive signs indicate that the 2016 budget was well-designed.

“Going into 2017,” says Chief Executive Officer, Fortune & Class Limited, Niyi Akinsiju, “I am hopeful that we have an anchor in the performance of 2016.”

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo

Finance minister, Kemi Adeosun

national biometric database remain a big challenge.

Former Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service and Chairman of Lagos State Employment Trust Fund, Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru, says, “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.”

PPP With a deficit ratio of 2.18% to GDP in the 2017 budget, Nigeria remains bankable in terms of access to loans. But many believe the government can free itself from the heavy debt burden that comes with borrowing by going into public private partnerships in the execution of infrastructural projects.

Nigeria is cash-strapped and certainly needs a lot of private sector involvement

to be able to finance its budgets. Even with the additions made to the 2017 budget by the National Assembly, it is still hard to see how the budget can be adequately financed.

In the area of works, for instance, there is an outstanding debt of N600 billion owed contractors. This makes the capital allocation to the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing only a drop in the ocean, despite the N25 billion addition by the National Assembly.

Expansion But regardless of the delayed budget and the challenges of implementation, the economy has shown signs of recovery.

The Purchasing Managers’ Index for April published by the Central Bank of Nigeria increased marginally to 51.1%, from 47.7% in March. CBN says the increase implies an

Business Environment Many believe that the current improvements would be sustained in the short-to-mediumterm if the government pursues policies that increase access to credit and create an enabling environment for business. The executive and legislature are working hard to improve the country’s awful 169th position (out of 190 countries) on the World Bank Ease of Doing Business index for 2017. The Ease of Doing Business Council anchored by the Presidency, and the National Assembly Business Environment Roundtable are trying to change Nigerian business environment narrative.

NASSBER, in partnership with the Nigeria Economic Summit Group, is pursuing strategic engagements between the legislature and the private sector on critical laws and public policies that would improve the economic environment.

The National Assembly has of late prioritised the enactment and review of critical bills that would help the economic recovery process and improve Nigeria’s doing business ranking.

The Senate has given attention to key bills designed to reposition the economy. They include the Company and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) amendment bill, which seeks the establishment of State Corporate Affairs Commissions, to register businesses at the state level; the Nigerian Ports and Harbour Bill, 2017, which seeks to improve efficiency, transparency and accountability in ports across the country; the Petroleum Industry Bill; and Public Procurement Act Amendment bill.

Others being pursued for enactment or amendment are the National Development Bank of Nigeria (Establishment Bill); Nigerian Roads Fund (Establishment Bill); National Transportation Commission Act; Investments and Securities Act; Warehouse Receipts Act; Federal Competition Bill; National Road Authority Bill; and Customs and Excise Management Act. As part of efforts to encourage local manufacturers, the National Assembly has amended the Procurement Act to provide that all ministries, departments, and agencies of government must give the right of first refusal to Nigerian products.

If this amendment is signed into law and becomes operational, it is only when required products are not available locally that the MDAs can consider importation. Abdullahi says the Procurement Act amendment bill would soon be sent to the president for assent.

There are indications that the economy is on an upswing. But the country still needs to do a lot more to make the economic environment more attractive, accommodating, and reliable in order to achieve the recovery anticipated in the 2017 budget.

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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 21, 2017

BUSINESS/MONEY

The Changing Faces of Banking

With the aggressive drive for digital banking solutions, which reflected in the recently released financial performance of the banks, Obinna Chima ponders whether the era of brick and mortar branch expansion is over

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lobally, digital banking has become a powerful tool for building more inclusive, stable, and secure financial sectors. The potential of mobile technology to improve people’s lives has continued to grow exponentially. In fact, experts have stressed that digital banking has the potential to drive financial inclusion by providing efficient transaction options and greater reach.

Mobile money is also a tool for economic growth and development, if fully explored. Clearly, Nigerian banks have seen the opportunities as well as the cost-saving benefits of this system of banking and have in recent time been aggressively deploying alternative banking channels.

Digital Banking Revolution Usage of alternative banking channels such as ATMs, credit cards, internet banking services, mobile banking, among others, have risen significantly because of the convenience they offer to customers. A major driver in this banking industry change is the consumer demand to be better connected to their money. This was evident in the recently released 2016 audited financial statements of some commercial banks in Nigeria.

For instance, Fidelity Bank Plc’s 2016 audited results showed that its online banking products grew by over 200 per cent, which led to a 41.3 per cent growth in its e-banking revenue.

The digital banking revolution also led to the recent closure of 74 branches by Ecobank Nigeria Limited, in THE quest to improve its alternative banking channels. Managing Director of Ecobank, Mr. Charles Kie, said the move was part of its drive to create a fundamental shift in its banking activities to digital channels, as well as improve customer experience, while also reducing the cost of serving them. This, Kie said, also supports the bank’s financial inclusion strategy and the cashless policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Similarly, the two newly licenced commercial banks, Providus Bank Limited and SunTrust Bank Limited, have continued deemphasise brick and mortar expansion, with their focus on digital banking strategy for their penetration into the market.

According to the Division President and Head of Financial Inclusion for International Markets at Mastercard, Daniel Monehin, technology has the power to drive real, impactful and inclusive change, particularly, in the provision of financial tools that allow greater numbers of people to be economically active and part of the financial mainstream. Monehin noted that the financial industry was at a tipping point, stressing that advancements in technology and increased uptake of mobile banking have seen the sector increasingly move to a world beyond cash, where the potential to create solutions that make payments faster, simpler and safer than ever before is immense.

The development has heightened debate about the future of brick and mortar branch expansion. While some experts argue that there is no need for further brick and mortar branch expansion in the country and support the aggressive deployment of digital tools to meet customer satisfaction, others say because of the country’s low level of financial literacy and inclusion, banks should continue to deepen their branch network to meet the financial services needs of most Nigerians, especially, in the rural areas.

Digital Disruption Research carried out by Deloitte on leveraging digital financial services in Africa showed that Nigeria and the rest of the continent were crying out for digital disruption. The research revealed that the first wave – mobile money – was paving the way for future innovations.

According to the World Bank, mobile money services helped to deepen financial inclusion in sub-Saharan Africa from 24 per cent to 34 per cent between 2011 and 2014. As mobile penetration continues to grow on the continent, the impact of mobile payment solutions on fostering financial inclusion also continues to rise.

Another report, titled, “Financial inclusion insight (FII),” by InterMedia, stressed that digital financial services (DFS) could play a key role in managing expenses and setting up individuals and households to stay out of poverty permanently. According to the report, through digital technology, financial services can reach billions of new customers quickly and efficiently. It noted that digital accounts cut the costs of transactions by as much as 90 per cent.

In addition, it showed that digital accounts give people the ability to save and budget for the first time in their lives, allowing them to withstand financial shocks and direct money toward specific uses, such as education and healthcare. Also, new customers and financial interactions have a domino effect of growth, touching providers, merchants, service providers, among others.

“When cash transactions that once circulated outside the formal economy are channelled within it, merchants and providers have new customers and new revenue, which can inspire more services and innovation. DFS gives people a secure way to save, which allows them to build cushions against financial shocks that would otherwise pull them right back into poverty,” the report added.

Furthermore, it showed that more than 90 per cent of the world’s poor are covered by a mobile signal, which allows people to conveniently make payments digitally rather than in person. It pointed out that Africa was living proof that DFS can effectively reach the unbanked, stating that in Cote d’Ivoire, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe,

ATM banking more adults used mobile money account than traditional account at a financial institution. In Tanzania, ownership of mobile money accounts surged from one per cent of the population in 2009 to 32 per cent in 2014, according to the report. Also, 60 per cent of Africans live in rural areas (according to the United Nations). DFS is the only way to reach them cheaply, affordably, and at scale.

“In total, the worth of Africa’s mobile money market is expected to top US$14 billion in just another five years,” as a result of greater adoption of DFS. Based on its findings that four out of 10 adult Nigerians do not have access to any form of financial services, it concluded that “life is not only more difficult, but also more expensive” for these set of people.

“These individuals must rely on informal services, which are not always trustworthy, such as: keeping their savings hidden — in pots, under mattresses, in fields where they constantly worry about thieves; sending money to a family member in another village is risky and can take days; obtaining even a small loan for an emergency is often impossible.

“When they do use a formal service—like cashing a check or sending money—they often pay high fees and conduct transactions in person, which can mean giving up valuable time and traveling long distances,” it added. Its findings on trends in mobile money and other digital financial services in Nigeria showed that the potential for increasing financial inclusion is ripe—particularly among young people. The report said, “Those who are unaware of mobile money are largely young (15-34 years, 60 per cent), educated (70 per cent), and employed (60 per cent). This group has the financial skills and equipment required to register and use mobile money, and could potentially use the service to pay school fees.

“More than four in 10 Nigerians experience some form of economic vulnerability, and financial inclusion is needed to create resilience. Most of the vulnerable are numerate and few are literate. Nine in 10 are poor and nearly two-thirds live in rural areas.”

Future of Conventional Bank Branches Aligning itself with the wave of digital transformation, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Diamond Bank Plc, Mr. Uzoma Dozie, said the bank had since stopped to expand its physical branch network.

He pointed out that the bank had been aggressive in its deployment of digital banking tools.

Dozie stated, “Diamond Bank has stopped building branches. In the last two years, I have built only three branches and that was probably as a result of relocation of the branch or if the market moves, you move that branch out of that location and replace it. But our outlets have increased because we now have sales agents and we have agency banking.

“So, there is no need to build branches. We have enough branches to take care of the needs of those in the metropolis and you cannot use that same model in the new places you are going to. People have been using their phones for transactions for a very long time. If you look at today, Diamond Bank has seven million customers.

“But two million out of that are using mobile apps or mobile channels to do their transactions. That is close to 40 per cent of our customer base. That is quite high for a country where a lot of people don’t

know how to use smart phones. Then, when you understand that only 20 per cent of our transactions are done through the branches because everybody has to use their cards, it means that, discoverability is actually happening.”

Similarly, Group Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the United Bank for Africa Plc, Mr. Ugo Nwaghodoh, said the pan-African bank had also slowed down on its brick and mortar branch expansion.

Nwaghodoh said, “We are investing significantly in electronic banking operations and services to our customers and improving our channels.

Channel-penetration is increasing. We try to reach our customers from various touch-points. We are pioneering the move away from brick and mortar banking and focusing on moving with the trend. Today, banking globally is going digital and we have created digital banking suits and we are expanding that by ensuring that our customers have access to UBA every hour of the day, through many of our platforms.

“So, we try to reach our customers through channels such as the ATM, the PoS, mobile banking solutions, internet banking solutions and through the USSD. There are so many products on the pipeline because we have put together several people that are working very hard and their job is to continue to evolve solution on digital banking.

In the last few months, we have trained several people at Harvard on digital banking and the kind of disruptions we expect to see in that space.

“So, we are preparing the bank to be able to compete and provide solutions that would enable UBA to win in this space and competition evolves. What this does is that we are seeing significant uptick in transaction volume.”

The CEO of Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo, said the bank realised about N800 million by introducing electronic banking products in 2016. “This year alone, we should be able to double that and we would continue to introduce innovation along that line,” he added.

The move was part of the financial institution’s drive towards digital transformation.

In the same vein, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Wema Bank, Mr. Segun Oloketuyi, pointed out that the difficult economic environment was part of the reasons for the closure of physical branches in the country.

According to Oloketuyi, “The pace at which things are changing in the digital world is rapid. Therefore, every forward-thinking brand is always looking to improve on their digital offerings. With ALAT, a digital banking platform, Wema Bank has offered Nigerians everywhere in the world a bank that is designed to meet their needs.

“For Wema, 2020 would be phenomenal and what we are seeing is over three million customers on the ALAT platform and over $200 million in revenue and best in class in cost to income ratio.”

Caution But Director General of the West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management (WAIFEM), Professor Akpan Ekpo, cautioned banks to be careful with the deployment of digital banking services.

While Ekpo pointed out that electronic banking channels were not bad, he held the view that a large fraction of the country’s population resided in the rural areas and lack basic infrastructure required to access digital banking.

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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 21, 2017

BUSINESS/ENERGY

Gas being flared at an oil facility

Way to Go Following from the repeated call for a priority attention to gas, the government has said it was shifting its focus on oil to gas, and would, in this light, enact new policy for a standalone gas industry.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, stated at a function in November 2016, that new terms that will provide business clarity around Production Sharing Contract (PSC) for gas will be initiated by the government to make exploration and production of gas separate from oil.

Kachikwu also said the government had developed a draft national gas policy, which will include new and improved penalties to discourage flaring and wastage of gas. He said gas had a big place in the government’s ‘7BigWins’ policy direction for the country’s oil and gas sector.

He, however, explained that the government would prioritise gas as a stand-alone business, separate from oil, in the new policy, and that the new PSC gas terms were designed to ensure robust gas production and supply growth over a long-term period for the country.

According to him, government will also clear the bottlenecks in gas production and utilisation as reported in the old Petroleum Act, and discourage Greenfield investments without clear-cut plans for gas.

“Government has developed a draft national gas policy which will be released to stakeholders for consultation.

“The draft gas policy promotes a competitive business environment for both current and new investors, it articulates our vision for the sector and sets policy goals, strategies and implementation plans for our medium to long term targets for gas,” Kachikwu said then at a function in Abuja.

He added that,“In order to ensure robustness in gas supply over a long-term, the following initiatives will be pursued – gas terms for PSCs will be produced before the end of 2016, exploration and development of new gas supply sources from inland and offshore basins will be actively encouraged, a national gas flare commercialisation plan will commence in the first quarter 2017.”

The minister explained that government planned to make Nigeria an attractive gas based industrial nation, with specific attention on meeting local gas demands and then developing a significant presence in the international market.

“Emphasis is tilting towards local application. The priority of the government is the utilisation of natural gas for domestic needs with the power sector as key priority end user.

“Demands from the industrial, commercial and transportation sectors will also be focused on,” Kachikwu noted.

He, however, stated that the gas growth plan would be led by the private sector while the government would set the environment and support investors with appropriate infrastructure to bring their projects to fruition.

“Our policy challenge is therefore to develop a policy, the institutions and legal and regulatory frameworks Economic Strength that is attractive to private sector.

In 2015, energy experts projected that the economic “Over the years, we have really focused on oil and strength in gas was fast heading towards exceeding neglected gas, but having seen the recession today, that of oil, and on the back of Qatar’s achievements it is clear to us that if we develop a two window of with it, advised the federal government to give serious economic earnings, a lot of emphasis will move to attention to it. gas,”the minister added.

Similarly, frontend economic evaluations of the gas Providing more details into the draft policy, Kachikwu industry by these experts, referenced the country’s stated that there would be a lot of institutional reforms takes from the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) in the sector.

Limited, which as a joint venture gas company between He said it would address issues that are critical to the country and oil firms, has paid a lot of value to government and investors such as gas flaring, pricing, the country from gas that could have been flared. wholesale gas market development and basis for Before now, the government had in a bid to boost licensing activities throughout the gas value chain. the country’s gas sector has set up the‘Gas Master Plan’ “A simplified licensing regime will be introduced which is a strategic framework towards achieving a for different activities including but not limited to wholly competitive market-driven domestic gas sector. constructing and operating gas processing plants, The plan also sought to drive investment towards liquefaction plants, gas storage facilities, transportation provision of gas grid infrastructure, with the intention network operation and distribution networks and to make gas available all the time to industries across retail trading of gas. major industrial hubs in the country. Its overall goal “There will be a liberalised entry into the midstream. was to drive Nigeria’s economic growth through In order to move the market towards wholesale gas, and not necessarily oil. competition, producers will be encouraged to focus It also sought to have the country’s electricity their investments and activities more on the upstream generation grow with improved gas supplies to gas while entering into the midstream will be liberalised power generation plants, which make up about 80 and incentivised to allow private sector players to per cent of Nigeria’s power generation capacity. This invest in process, transport and storage of gas,”he said. was also planned to encourage further investments in According to him: “The new fiscal policy we are power generation being that gas, which is primarily working on will make gas a stand-alone separate a cheap fuel source would be made available at all from oil and not consolidated on oil taxation. times to the generation plants.

“Our intention is to retain the current pricing Beyond the benefits to electricity generation for framework for a limited period. It will end when the country, experts have also said the country’s gas sufficient gas volumes are built up to a level that resources can be deployed to the transport sector as will underpin a competitive gas market. Under such Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) for both heavy-duty condition, wholesale gas price will be market led.” and lightweight haulage of people and goods across He said on the planned increase of gas flaring the country, sent to homes and other commercial penalty:“We will be increasing the gas flaring penalties centres as Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) to replace to an appropriate level sufficient to de-incentivise other sources of heating and cooking fuels, as well the practice of gas flaring. Our focus really will not as used in fertiliser blending plants to improve the be on penalisation, we will seek quite frankly to country’s food production from its farms. simply stop it and not you throwing money at us.”

Ending Nigeria’s Wasteful Habit of Gas Flaring

Nigeria could not net about N523 billion worth of revenue from the volume of gas hydrocarbon companies flared between 2015 and 2016, thus indicating how wasteful she has been with the prized resource she ironically needs to grow her economy, writes Chineme Okafor

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atural gas is now often regarded as the new oil, but Nigeria appears quite ignorant of this and still burns a lot of it away in her oil fields.

Recently, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) disclosed that the country lost N523 billion to gas flaring between 2015 and 2016, to simply indicate that the frequently burning oil fields in the Niger Delta are economic incomes burning off into the atmosphere.

DPR’s disclosure of such financial loses also included the forfeiture of 3,500 megawatts (MW) of electricity to the unwholesome practice, yet the country struggles to maintain a daily electricity generation capacity of 4,000MW. It came just when the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) stated that the percentage of gas flared in the country has been cut down to 10, dropping 26 per cent points from 36 in the last 10 years.

NNPC’s Chief Operating Officer, Upstream, Mallam Bello Rabiu, who disclosed this, noted that, as at 2006, Nigeria was flaring 2.5 billion standard cubic feet (bscf) of gas, and consuming just about 300 million standard cubic feet (mscf) gas per day.

Notwithstanding, the DPR stated that, in 2015, Nigeria lost $850 million (N306 billion) to gas flaring, while the NNPC in a separate report indicated that monetary losses to the practice in 2016 was N217 billion.

The NNPC also explained that oil and gas firms operating in Nigeria’s oil fields flared a total of 244.84bscf gas in 2016 alone. These losses were in addition to reports that oil majors in the country had failed to pay about $14.298 billion to the country as penalty for flaring gas between April 2008 and October 2016, a period of eight years.

The country, according to the DPR, also lost about $400 million worth of carbon credit to the practice within these periods.

Long Years of Failed Attempts Nigeria enacted the first regulatory framework to cut down gas flaring in the Associated Gas Reinjection Act of 1979. As part of its provisions, the Act required every oil and gas producing company in Nigeria to submit to the minister for petroleum detailed programmes in relation to the re-injection of produced associated gas or programmes for the use of produced associated gas.

It also provided for the deadline for gas flaring in Nigeria as stipulated by the government to be 31 December 1974, this has, however, been extended a number of times between 1974 through a couple of amendments, which now make the final deadline of 2020 quite uncertain.

In that regard, Nigeria has continued to burn off gas from her oil fields and losing economic benefits associated with gas.

The law also provided for application for permits to be granted by the minister for as long as the applicant paid the amount prescribed by the minister, without providing for strict measures to ensure its effectiveness. Also, penalties for gas flaring have been quite low, thus ensuring that flares are done with less concern to the penalties.

The current Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB) which metamorphosed from the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), and has been on the floors of the National Assembly for years now, is also expected to address the issue of gas flaring.

The bill reportedly has in it, provisions for gas flaring measurement, that is, a specified number of days for which a permit would be issued to an applicant as well as the requirement for a gas flaring plan to be submitted by all oil and gas operating companies.

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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 21, 2017

INTERVIEW Danbatta: We’re Still Not Satisfied with Service Quality across Networks Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, spoke on the state of the telecoms industry during an interactive session with journalists in Lagos recently, where he expressed dissatisfaction over poor service quality. Emma Okonji brings the excerpts:

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What is the state of development with the MTN fine of N1.04 trillion, following its refusal to deactivate 5.2 million unregistered SIM cards on its network, which was later reduced to N330 billion, after several plea bargain?

hat is NCC doing to auction the remaining eight slots in the 2.6GHz spectrum?

The 2.6GHz spectrum was advertised for auction some time ago because we needed to drive deployment of 4G LTE broadband services, in order to improve broadband penetration in the country. But unfortunately, only MTN participated in that auction and it eventually emerged winner of six slots out of the 14 slots contained in the 2.6GHz spectrum. NCC had since allotted the six slots to MTN and the money was paid in naira denomination, at N200/dollar, which was the exchange rate as at the time of auction, even though the spectrum licence was advertised in dollar denomination. In order to find out why operators declined to bid, leaving only MTN, we carried out a postmortem test. After the postmortem analysis, we discovered that the reserved price for the auction of the spectrum was on the high side, and that it affected the interests of other operators to bid, as well as the prevailing harsh economic situation, hence several operators declined to bid.

The remaining eight slots will be auctioned on a later date, and we will restrict the auction process to only licensed mobile network operators (MNOs). We have written to all the licensed MNOs, informing them of the commission’s intention to auction the remaining eight slots at the same exchange rate N200/dollar, even though the exchange rate has increased currently. The intention is not to make huge profit, but to provide an enabling business environment for MNOs to thrive. The process is ongoing and as soon as it is completed, we will make it public.

MTN had since complied with the payment arrangement of the fine and it has so far paid N110 billion, based on the structure of the payment agreement reached between it and the federal government. It initially paid N80 billion, and recently paid additional N30 billion into the recovery account of the federal government. The payment structure was staggered and spread over three years and MTN, to the best of my knowledge, has not defaulted in the staggered payment structure.

But let me say this that the financial position of MTN has improved, having recorded about 7 per cent growth according to its financial report.

Recently, it was alleged that MTN Nigeria partnered a UK company to generate and operate its own electricity consumption. Does the law allow MTN to do that?

The law does not permit MTN to generate its own electricity in partnership with a foreign company. What is actually going on is that the UK company is providing solar electric energy for Nigerian consumers and they are using the MTN network to determine if the consumers are actually getting the service and they are riding on the MTN network. So MTN is not directly involved in electricity generation.

NCC recently raised the alarm on the danger of ‘Wannacry’, a ransomware that is targeted at disrupting global organisational activities.

What level of protection is NCC providing in this regard?

What are your plans to address the issue of poor service quality in the telecoms sector?

Service quality has improved slightly even though there is still a gap between the standard set by NCC and what the operators are offering currently, with regards to Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), as set by the NCC. In the last quarter of 2016, the service quality improved slightly, but we are no where near the stipulated standard set out by the NCC. Although we are going to enforce full compliance of service quality, but there are no deadlines for the implementation because NCC has a tradition of consulting with the operators through its open guideline policy.

In the next few weeks, NCC will be publishing the performances of operators for the first quarter of the year, in terms of service quality and the subscribers will see the performances of their service providers. We will first present the scorecard to the operators, discuss it with them, before making it known to the public.

Recent statistics released by the NCC, shows that subscriber teledensity is decreasing. What are the plans to reverse this new trend?

The truth is that the decrease in number is not affecting only subscriber teledensity, but it is also affecting subscriber number and mobile internet penetration in the country. The statistics shows that subscriber number is decreasing from its initial over 200 million across networks, to about 152 million currently. The reason behind the drop in number is that Nigerians are migrating from 3G services to 4G LTE services that are currently being offered by telecoms operators. Consumers are migrating because they are looking for services that will enable them make free WhatsApp calls and get data bundle at a relatively cheap rate to boost their data communication and browsing pattern. Consumers are no longer comfortable paying so much for voice and data services on the 3G network, hence the migration to the 4G LTE, and we see a situation where more Nigerians

Danbatta

will continue to migrate and drop some of their 3G lines. So the migration is affecting teledensity growth, subscriber growth and internet penetration.

What happened to the suspended data price floor that was initially introduced by the NCC?

The introduction of the interim price floor for data by the NCC, was meant to usher in certain levels of development in the telecoms sector. It was introduced to stem unhealthy competition among telecoms operators. So the interim price floor was introduced as a regulatory measure to address certain ugly incidences in the telecoms sector and to protect the subscribers from undue exploitation. The price floor was not meant to hike data price in the first instance, but to protect the telecoms subscribers. As regulator, we welcome competition but frown against unhealthy competition that could stifle telecoms growth.

So based on public outcry, the NCC decided to suspend it, and returned to our consultant who is currently doing a cost-based assessment in order to come up with acceptable price floor for data.

But one thing subscribers must bear in mind is that low price floor will lead to slow speed of connectivity and the eventual poor internet service, while moderate price floor will lead to high speed connectivity. So subscribers should be able to know what they want.

What is the current development with the Etisalat loan indebtedness to 13 banks and the threat by the banks to take over the business of the telecoms company as a result

of its inability to pay the $1.2 billion loan?

Negotiations between the management of Etisalat and its creditors are ongoing. Abu Dhabi’s leading strategic investment company, Mubadala, a major shareholder in Etisalat Nigeria, is in Nigeria to negotiate the $1.2 billion bank loan with the lending banks. The Mubadala team met with NCC and the CBN to discuss the renegotiation plan of the repayment of the loan. I will not want to disclose the details of the renegotiation plan, but what I can tell you is that discussions are on going on new measures to repay the loan. Mubadala will also be meeting the management of the 13 banks to further discuss how they intend to repay the loan.

I am sure that the issue will be resolved very soon.

What is NCC doing to ensure that Etisalat and other telecoms operators have access to forex to enable them invest more in telecoms business?

The issue of forex scarcity is not affecting only Etisalat as a telecoms company, but it cuts across other licensed telecoms operators in the country.

What NCC has done in this regard was to secure a priority window for forex for telecoms operators, which has never happened before.

The NCC had to step in and engaged directly with the financial regulator, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and an agreement was reached for a priority window for telecoms operators to enable them have access to foreign currencies in the midst of scarcity. So far, a couple of operators have been able to enjoy that priority window, and NCC will continue to push for more availability of forex for telecoms operators.

It is a global cyber threat and 99 countries had already been attacked with the ransomware, hence we decided to alert Nigerians on the danger of the virus and the possible measures to address it.

NCC, in fulfilment of its statutory mandate to assure the security and integrity of the national telecommunications network, decided to alert all telecoms operators and their respective subscribers of the recent outbreak of a Ransomware Virus known as “WannaCry”.

The Ransomware is capable of infecting and encrypting all files on a system or any smart device until an amount is paid for a decryption key, or other means of retrieval, which may lead to data loss, are used to recover the system as an alternative. This situation demands that proactive measures be taken by all players in the telecommunication eco-system to forestall the hazards of critical data loss, financial losses and ultimately network/business disruption.

We have advised all operators to obtain software patch released by Microsoft in March 2017 to fix the Ransomware Virus, and to also plan scheduled penetration tests on their networks and systems to ensure protection and availability at all times.

Subscribers who use their smartphones as substitutes to computers for internet access should protect themselves and their devices by not opening e-mail attachments/links from unknown sources, by not clicking pop-ups and applets on unknown websites, and by installing effective antivirus software for their mobile devices.

The measures are proactive ways to make telecoms operators and subscribers, stay several steps ahead of global hackers who are currently on rampage to destroy established institutions in the financial and telecoms sectors.

All operators should continue to ensure that their backup/ disaster recovery strategies are in place and up to date, and ensure continued deployment of effective firewalls, login passwords and antivirus management regime. (see concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com)

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R • MAY 21, 2017

TRAVEL

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

The National African American Museum building

PHOTOS: Funke Olaode

At the African American Museum in Washington

The newly commissioned black museum in Washington, D.C. is an eye opener to understand American history through the lens of the African American. Funke Olaode, finds out during her visit to America’s capital city that it is a gallery that digs into the past through stories and images

F

or a first time visitor to the quiet and serene Washington, D.C. the seat of power of the American government, there is always an urge to explore something new just as each passing day opens a new vista in the city.

The front of expansive White House is always a beehive of activities as every visitor wants to catch a glimpse of America’s seat of power. The newly commissioned four storey building of National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) located on 14th Street, Madison Drive is beginning to attract visitors from all walks of life to have insight into the lives of an average African American before liberation.

The 2017 Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Group provided me the opportunity to visit the newly opened gallery.

After an intense weeklong high profile meetings, I chose Saturday afternoon to pay homage to the black root.

NMAAHC is the only national museum devoted exclusively to the documentation of African American life, art, history, and culture. Commissioned in Sep-

tember 24, 2016, in a ceremony led by the former U.S. President Barack Obama, the gigantic edifice has welcomed more than 1 million visitors in the last eight months.

Divided into Concourse and Levels, each floor provides its visitor a sense of history through stories and images. Concourse 1-3 is a history gallery which tells the story of slavery and freedom, the era of segregation, a changing America, Atrium, contemplative Court, Opera Winfrey Theatre, Special Exhibitions Gallery and Sweet Home Café.

The Level 1 where Heritage Hall is situated has Corona Pavilion, Welcome Centre, Museum Shop and Lockers. Level 2 with bold inscription ‘Explore More’has explore your family center, center for Africa, American Media Arts, Learning Centre classrooms, interactive gallery, research library and archives. The most powerful one among the Levels is Level three with a sigh board “Making a way where there is no way” is a community gallery that houses the power of place, The African American Military experience and sport with an inscription, leveling the playing field.

Level 4 located on the upper (fourth floor) is also an emotional abode that reminds visitors of how

African-American broke even in music.

According to history, there were no African Americans before the Transatlantic Slave Trade. A new culture emerged out of the trauma of that history and through traditions made and remade on new shores. This self-creation is everywhere in the day-to day lives of African American. It’s in the food eaten, the language spoken, the art created, and many other forms of cultural expression. Held within and passed through families and communities, African American culture reflects beliefs, informs behavior, foster creativity, and most of all, and sustains the spirit during times of overwhelming adversity. With this sense of history on display already prepares visitors ahead of what to encounter touring the expansive museum.

Having gone through all the galleries, I decided to pitch my tent with Level 3 and Level 4 located on third and fourth floor respectively.

By the entrance of Level 3 (third floor) is a big screen that shows the image of the first black President Obama delivering speech. And on the sign board is an inscription “Making a way where there is no way”. The text on the board throws back questions to its readers, how do you make a way where there is no way? Of course, the answer is

simple. For generations, African American worked collectively to survive and thrive in the midst of racial oppression. And through education, religious institutions, businesses, and voluntary associations, black men and women created ways to serve and strengthen their communities.

They established networks of mutual support, cultivated leadership, and improved social and economic opportunities. They also developed a traditional activities that paved the way for broader social change.

African American Medal of Honour recipients/Segregated Military On the far right in this gallery on the third floor is the African American Military experience: Here are African American Medal of Honour Recipients and Segregated Military. As the story goes, a segregated military African Americans’service from the American Revolution to the civil war helped secure for them freedom and citizenship, but not equality. From Indian wars of the 1860s to the start of the Korean War, African Americans continued to fight bravely in every American conflict. But they also served in a segregated military that reflected the racial

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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 21, 2017

TRAVEL

Statue inside the sport arena in the museum

Henry Boyd furniture

The P-Funk Mothership is one of the most iconic stage props in the history of popular music

One of Chuck Berry’s Cadillacs on display

At the African American Museum in Washington prejudice and exclusion of society at large. But in 1948, a relief came to the black race (army) through an executive order 9981 that began the process of military integration.

On display in this section are African American medal of honour recipients. The medal of honour is the nation’s highest military award. In 1996, the Pentagon determine that some African Americans had been denied the medal because of race. During the World War l and ll, no African Americans received the medal, an oversight the Pentagon corrected in 1997. The men engraved on the wall in the gallery epitomized their nation’s call for selfless service and the medal’s requirements for“gallantry”and actions above and beyond the call of duty were awarded posthumously.

Sports Arena: leveling the playing field.

The third floor also houses the sports arena with an inscription: leveling the playing field. Here, various jerseys, snickers, boots are on display. Likewise, statues of young athletes stood still in the midst of sport kits.

Very close to the ceiling is large screen with video of past and present outstanding African American athletes such as Carl Lewis, Michael Johnson, Bob Beamon and several others. Of significant note in this arena is the large portrait photograph of the legendary boxing titan and activist, the late Muhammad Ali with a bold inscription“I shook the world.”

Here, visitor is taking down memory lane of Ali’s exploit beyond sport. No doubt, Muhammad Ali was a force of change and was one of boxing’s greatest champions. Ali’s legacy transcends the world sport.

In the 1960s and 1970s, he offered unwavering critiques of racism, heightened the profile of the Nation of Islam, and raised awareness of theVietnam War. After his boxing career, Ali continued to work globally as a force for change, eclipsing his success in the ring and triumphing as a social activist, cultural critic, and humanitarian. His name would remain evergreen not only in the African American history but as a global icon.

Evolution of African American music Having satisfied my curiosity, I took my exploration to the last floor. Here, there is a display of cultural expressions, taking the stage, musical crossroads and visual art. The arrival of the first Africans on these shores set a new path for American music. For over 400 years, African American musical creativity and innovation has generated, transformed, contributed

Cont’d from Pg. 25

to, and enriched a vast array of musical forms. This center tells the story of the musical creations of African Americans, through a narrative of hope and struggle, faith and perseverance, culture and tradition, and pride and liberation.

Apart from new generations of African American music diva such as Beyoncé, Ciara, Kelly Roland, Jay-Z, Chris Brown etc., the late pop icon, Michael Jackson was accorded a prominence space in this museum. The memorabrelia of the late musician were neatly displayed in an open transparent glass which brings the old memory of the legend who ruled the music world until his passage in June 2009.

Mothership On display is mothership. The P-Funk Mothership is one of the most iconic stage props in the history of popular music. The mothership delivered an unmatched visual spectacle for the audience and represented the spirit behind P-Funk’s music.

Figuratively, the Mother ship emancipated the audience members and transported them to a plane free from racism and earthly constraints-it remains a symbol of the liberating power of music.

Chuck Berry’s Cadillac...breaking the jinx Another music legend which you can’t miss in this

music theatre is Chuck Berry who was renowned and owned a fleet Cadillac’s. He loved his wonder wheel so much that he mentioned them in his songs.

This Cadillac was driven on stage at the Fox Theatre in St. Louis in the documentary hail! Hail! Rock and Roll! The same theatre had turned Berry away as a child because he was black.

Power of vision (Henry Boyd and Garret Morgan) After almost three hours touring this Museum, the take away is power of self-discovery, belief in oneself, don’t give up in the face of adversity and fighting for one’s right. The story of Henry Boyd’s, a, entrepreneur from Kentucky and inventor Garret Morgan from Ohio caught my eyes. Both were African American.

Henry Boyd owned a manufacturing company.

Born into slavery in Kentucky in 1802-1886, craftsman and entrepreneur Henry Boyd became one of the most successful African American businessmen of the 19th century. From 1836 to 1863 his furniture factory in Cincinnati, Ohio supplied hotels and households throughout the South and West with “Boyd’s Bedsteads,”popular for their solid yet easyto-assemble design. Boyd’s experience illuminates the

economic contributions of the black entrepreneurs and their role in the struggle for racial equality.

Garrett Augustus Morgan (1877-1963) worked within and against the racial constraints of his time to build a successful business in Cleveland, Ohio. He patented several inventions, including a firefighting safe hood and a traffic signal, and developed hair-care products for black consumers.

To market his inventions, Morgan recruited investors from the black community and formed partnerships with white businessmen.

He also published a newspaper and was active in organization promoting black social and economic advancement. He died over five decades ago, his contribution to the America’s economy and the black community cannot be over-emphasized.

As I stepped out of the building the lesson learnt really is not about the slavery, which is irreversible but the monuments which are neatly arranged. With over two centuries of history, several generations have come to have a near glimpse of the liberation of African American through perseverance.

This is far from what we read in the paper or in the work of make believe (the movies). It is the power of visionary leadership of a country that fails to dump everything in the dustbin of history.

Tour Operators Set for Accra Weizo Travel Expo

O

rganisers of Accra Weizo travel Exhibition have announced that over 70 tour operators and travel professionals will be attending the 3rd Edition taking place on May 26 and 27.

The tour operators will be hosted to a familiarization trip by Ghana Tourism Authority from May 23 to 25. They will visit the famous Cape Coast of Ghana where GTA has lined up activities to entertain them. Some of the tour operators will also be hosted at Ridge Royal at Cape Coast.

A welcome dinner will be hosted by GTA in Accra after a city tour, while La Palm and Kempinski Hotels will host

foreign delegates to cocktails and dinner.

Accra Weizo is targeted at the growing travel business in West Africa and is a sister event of the annual Akwaaba African Travel Market held in Lagos.

Despite being the most populous region in Africa with over 350 million people, West Africa receives the least number of tourists while also generating the highest number of outbound travellers In Africa.

One of the goals of Accra Weizo travel fair is to encourage West Africans to travel within the region and help generate tourism revenue.

Themed “Seamless Travel in West Africa”, this year’s edition will be held over two days. The first day will be a seminar on Aviation while the second day will be

dedicated to digital training on the use of social media to grow travel business with portals such as Trip Advisor, Google, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

One hundred leading tourism personalities in West Africa will be honored at Accra Weizo. The list of leading players in the industry includes representation from Senegal, Cape Verde, Gambia, Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Togo, Benin and Nigeria.

The event is supported by Jedidah Promotions, Africa World Airlines, South Africa Tourism, Medview Airlines, Ridge Royal Hotel Cape Coast, Air Peace, La Palm Royal, Kempinski Hotel, Staple Tours, TOUGHA and atqnews.com.

27

T H I S D AY SUNDAY MAY 21, 2017

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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 21, 2017

MARKET NEWS

FBN Holdings Assures Stakeholders of Better Future Performance Goddy Egene Chairman of FBN Holdings Plc, Oba Otudeko last Friday assured shareholders and other stakeholders of better value in the years ahead. FBN Holdings Plc ended 2016 with a profit of N17.1 billion and paid a dividend of 20 kobo per share to shareholders. The performance of FBN Holdings would have been better but for the huge provisioning made for impairment charges.

However, in his address to

shareholders at the 5th annual general meeting (AGM) of the group in Lagos, Otudeko said: “I want to assure our esteemed shareholders that FBN Holdings is actively preparing for the future and the challenges ahead with the advancement of the group’s innovative projects and continuous extraction of the opportunities that abound in our holding structure. Overall, we are better positioned to deal with the shocks to our businesses and to sustain our growth momentum.”

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

He noted that together with management, the board remains resolute and are confident that opportunities abound in their chosen markets.

“Our brand remains strong and our workforce posses the necessary skills, vigour and experience to reposition the group for the future. We are forging ahead with greater optimism and determination, knowing that we are well positioned to meet the aspirations of our stakeholders,” Otudeko said.

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 18-May-2017, unless otherwise stated.

In his own address, the Group Managing Director, FBN Holdings Plc, Mr. UK Eke said: “Having completed the most challenging period of our journey which saw us recognize an outsize impairment charge and now that we can clearly see improved results beginning from 2017 financial year, shareholders have every reason to be optimistic of higher return on their investment.”

According to Eke, the

path to repositioning FBN Holdings has demanded razorharp execution discipline, hard work, dedication and unwavering commitment to the course.

He said as the group managing director, his greatest responsibility was to hold firmly the compass and help the group navigate the murky waters in reaching the desired destination that addressed the interests of numerous stakeholders.

“Similar to other years,

2016 presented the group with limitless opportunities, wrapped in challenging economic conditions. During the year we have had to battle escalating operating cost in an inflationary environment and we sought to grow our operating income in a recessionary environment. In all of these, we have shown resilience and dedication o the grand agenda ensured we surmounted these challenges, rebuilding the institute, one brick at a time,” Eke said.

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 146.28 147.17 15.30% Nigeria International Debt Fund 218.55 219.79 3.08% 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 4.82% 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 18.12% 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 117.34 118.17 11.56% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 18.07% 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 10.46 10.73 11.78% Women's Investment Fund 90.29 92.61 6.73% 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 18.48% 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 1,070.89 1,072.01 5.99% FBN Heritage Fund 121.73 122.59 9.11% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 17.60% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional $108.77 $109.14 5.49% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail $108.12 $108.49 5.59% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 125.61 127.27 11.49% 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 1.08 1.09 15.43% Legacy Short Maturity (NGN) Fund 2.72 2.72 5.90% 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 2,376.01 2,406.42 7.61% Coral Income Fund 2,247.13 2,247.13 6.79% 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 17.41% 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 18.15% Vantage Balanced Fund 1.85 1.87 10.02% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 17.63%

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 1.05 4.83% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,022.30 1,022.30 3.91% 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 10.99 11.08 13.66% 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 1.11 1.13 11.92% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 10.54 10.60 1.39% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 14.41% 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 118.59 119.50 16.45% 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 4.39% 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 1,939.36 1,949.63 5.89% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 158.15 158.15 2.72% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.82 0.83 7.14% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 197.69 197.69 5.78% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 137.27 139.18 5.78% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 18.37% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 7,934.45 8,025.28 4.62% 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 1.20 1.19 9.60% United Capital Bond Fund 1.31 1.31 18.88% United Capital Equity Fund 0.72 0.71 4.59% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.14 1.14 11.39% 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 11.08 11.27 14.54% Zenith Ethical Fund 11.78 11.90 7.83% Zenith Income Fund 17.80 17.80 7.69%

REITS

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

11.41 126.75

1.01% 2.24%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

8.63 82.96

8.73 84.49

-1.70% 9.46%

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

3.23 7.12 13.35 16.71 129.14

3.27 7.20 13.45 16.91 131.14

17.14% 1.27% 11.07% 4.74% -0.57%

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.

SUNDAY, MAY 21, 2016 • T H I S29 D AY

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R • MAY 21, 2017 TR

UT H

& RE A S O

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LIFE LESSONS WITH AYO AROWOLO

ayo.arowolo@thisdaylive.com

09067059433 (SMS only)

meet all their legitimate needs depending on salary alone, irrespective of their level. The reason most people indulge in funny things, including abusing privileges and disappointing those who have trusted them is simply because their income cannot sufficiently meet their needs. For salary earners, that source may suddenly end or you may have other challenges and you begin to go from grace to grass. So, it is wisdom to create multiple streams of income in your active years.

LESSON

5

Most Enduring Investment - Human Beings and Relationships I can state this without an iota of doubt: the most enduring investment anyone can make is in human beings and in building relationships. The returns are long-lasting and for all seasons. I have made many investments in businesses that have failed or from which I receive no benefits or dividends. I have placed money in banks and financial institutions that have been lost. But I have discovered that most of the investments I have made in human beings have been profitable and have continued to yield benefits and returns.

In my active service, I decided to invest financially in a lot of people - family members, friends, associates, and so on. Today, most of them have become the ready sources of help when I need them. Invest time in building relationships and invest in those relationships financially and emotionally.

THE POWER IS IN YOUR VISION

– Sam Ohuabunwa Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, former Chairman/CEO Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals Plc, Lagos, our guest this week, took the industry by surprise in 1997 when he and his colleagues spearheaded the Management-Buy-Out of 60 per cent equity holding of Pfizer Inc. New York, USA in Pfizer Products Plc. A dreamer and visionary leader, he rose from the position of a sales representative at Pfizer Inc. to the position of CEO within 15 years of joining the company. He spent 33 years in the Pharmaceuticals industry, 18 of which was at the level of the CEO before he retired in 2011. Beyond his work as the CEO of his company, Ohuabunwa also played leadership roles in a lot of private sector organisations, including Chairman, Manufacturers’ Association of Nigeria, Ikeja Branch; President, Nigerian Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA); Chairman, Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG); and a host of others. Mazi Sam is an entrepreneur, leader, nation builder, author, lay-minister and social worker, all rolled into one. Enjoy the insights

LESSON

1

The Power Is in Your Vision.

The overriding lesson I have learnt in life is that with a well-defined vision and a focused mind, you can achieve practically any worthwhile thing you put your mind to. And without a vision, success is not in sight. When I joined Pfizer in 1978, I determined I was going to spend five years so that I could go into business with my uncle. I purposed in mind that in those five years, I would know everything I needed to know about manufacturing in a multinational organisation. In my fifth year while I was getting ready to leave the company, I had an encounter with the Chairman of the company who thought I had been in the company for at least 10 years.

When he was reminded that I had been there for just five years, he couldn’t believe it because I had risen to middle management in five years from Pharmaceutical sales representative. That interested him. After that encounter, I changed my mind and decided I was going to continue and that I would like to be like the Chairman. I

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE From my late uncle, Mazi D.O. Ochonma, who advised me to study a professional course, like Pharmacy instead of a general course.

pasted the picture I took with the Chairman on the wall in my office. Each time I came into my office, I looked at the picture, said a silent prayer and said to myself that someday I would be the Chairman of the company. From that day, it took me 10 years to become the Chairman/CEO of the company in fulfillment of the vision. The major determinant of success in life is vision; determine the end from the beginning.

LESSON

2

Negotiate Everything.

When we were doing the ManagementBuy-Out in 1997, between Pfizer International and the management of the local company, we made a mistake: we thought it was a business transaction between a father and a child. We thought Pfizer was our father, we were the children, and so we didn’t negotiate properly. And those who were negotiating for Pfizer took advantage of our naivety to put a very difficult agreement that nearly stifled our company. That taught me a lesson that you

never expect anybody to offer you anything.

You probably need to ask or demand before you get something reasonable. We renegotiated the agreement, and we got a deal that was much in our favour. So, I say negotiate everything.

LESSON

3

Do not Die in Your Mistake.

If you discover that you are walking on the wrong path, you should make a U-turn and change your situation. I found out that we made a mistake by accepting the terms of that agreement and it was making us to work so hard with very little returns. We were virtually working for Pfizer. We were paying royalties, buying their products, their raw materials at their own price and generally conducting the business as if it were still a Pfizer business when it has actually become a Nigerian business. At some point I took the decision that I was going to break out of the Pfizer agreement, set up our own products, promote our own brands, stop paying royalties for their brands so that we could go to the international market and buy our raw materials at a price that could give us decent returns. So, between 2005 and 2010, we launched a major effort at local products development. It was not easy initially, but over time we were able to develop our own brand. Be bold to make a U-turn when you discover that you have made a strategic mistake.

LESSON

4

Develop Multiple Streams of Income To gain financial independence, I discovered from my personal experience that one cannot rely on one source of income. You need to create and nurture other streams to augment the first. Most people cannot

LESSON

6

There Is Great Reward in Service.

In my life, I have had so much honour bestowed on me. I have two National Awards (MON and OFR). I have received uncountable awards from my profession, my community and from the Church. Often I have been elected or appointed to leadership positions and I receive the respect and acknowledgement of my contemporaries and seniors. When I try to find out what it is that I did to deserve all these, I came to two conclusions: God's extraordinary grace in my life and my willingness to serve and to make sacrifices for the common good. I became Chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), President of the Nigerian Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), and so on, even when I ran only a struggling medium-sized business. According to God’s Word, servant leadership attracts honour and the humble is often exalted.

LESSON

7

Recognise the God Factor This actually should be the first lesson. I have found out that there is something called the God factor in life. In business school, they don’t teach you that. They will teach you everything about how to run businesses, how to navigate a difficult business terrain, but nobody tells you that there comes a time when all the rules, all the plans and all your programmes can fail even with your best efforts. I encountered that in my career several times and I was like giving up because we’ve done everything that they say we should do in the business school and business books. Luckily for me, I have had the privilege of getting to know the power of God and I have always found that the power could leverage your performance. That power could come at a time of greatest need.

MAJOR MISTAKES & WRONG DECISIONS

1 2

Not giving my life to Christ earlier. I gave my life to Christ at age 39 and prior to that time, I did many foolish things and took unnecessary risks that almost cut short my life. I wish I had become born again much earlier.

The decision to take a foreign currency denominated loan some time in my career without fully understanding the ramifications of the repayment options. While we thought that the loan had a long tenor, it turned out that the lenders had the leeway to call in the loan at a very short notice. And they did. The scares of this transaction still remain with the company till date. So, I counsel people to be wary of taking foreign loans in an unstable exchange rate environment.

3

Failing, with dire consequences, to heed what looked like rumours about the person of the individual I had anointed to take over from me. Do not dismiss rumours and gossips off handedly without a proper investigation, especially before making very important decisions like succession planning.

Books that have shaped my life: The Bible

1 – God’s Holy Spirit 2

Cry My beloved Country - Alan Paton

3 The Purpose

Driven Church - Rick Warren

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T H I S D AY SUNDAY MAY 21, 2017

RIVERS STATE GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA

w w w.r iversat50.ng

RIVERS STATE GOLDEN JUBILEE STATE HONOURS LIST

Pursuant to the Provisions of the Rivers State Honours Law, 2017, the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, CON has approved State Honours for the following distinguished personalities: GRAND SERVICE STAR OF RIVERS STATE (GSSRS) 1. His Excellency General Dr Yakubu Gowon, GCFR 2. His Excellency Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR 3. Her Excellency Dame (Dr.) Patience Ibifaka Jonathan 4. HRM King Alfred Papapreye Diete-Spiff, OFR 5. Maj. General Zamani Lekwot 6. Rear Admiral Suleiman Saidu 7. His Excellency Chief Melford O. Okilo (Posthumous) 8. DIG Fidelis Oyakhilome 9. Brig. Gen. Anthony Ukpo 10. AVM Ernest Adeleye 11. Maj. Gen. Godwin Abbe 12. His Excellency Chief Rufus Ada George 13. Col. Dauda Musa Komo 14. Col. Musa Sheikh Shehu 15. Group Capt. Sam Ewang 16. His Excellency Dr. Peter O. Odili, CON 17. His Excellency Sir Celestine N. Omehia 18. His Excellency Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, CON 19. Chief Harold J.R. Dappa-Biriye (Posthumous) 20 Chief P.G. Warmate (Posthumous) 21. Chief, Hon. Emmanuel J. A. Oriji (Posthumous) 22. HRM Emmanuel N.B. Opurum, JP 23. Senator, Dr. Obi Wali (Posthumous) 24. Chief Sampson Igobo Adoki (Posthumous) 25. Mr. Kenule Beeson Saro-Wiwa (Posthumous) 26. Chief, Barr. Nwobidike Nwanodi SAN (Posthumous) 27. Chief Edward N. Kobani (Posthumous) 28. Chief Frank Opigo (Posthumous) 29. Major Isaac Adaka Boro (Posthumous) DISTINGUISHED SERVICE STAR OF RIVERS STATE (DSSRS) 1. His Excellency Dr. Frank Eke (Posthumous) 2. His Excellency, Chief Dominic Anucha 3. His Excellency, Sir Sumner K. Dagogo-Jack (posthumous) 4. His Excellency, Chief, Sir Gabriel T. G. Toby 5. His Excellency, Engr. Tele Ikuru 6. Her Excellency, Dr. Mrs. Ipalibo Harry Banigo 7. Senator Dr. Mene Cyrus Nunieh 8. Senator John Azuta Mbata 9. Senator Adawari Pepple 10. Rt. Hon. Chibudom Nwuche, OFR 11. Rt. Hon. Austin Opara, OFR 12. Senator George Thompson Sekibo CON 13. Hon. Betty Apiafi

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Hon Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte, CON, CFR Hon. Dr. Josiah A. Jamabo (posthumous) Hon. Justice Mary Ukaego Odili, CFR, JSC Hon. Justice Sotonye Denton-West, JCA Rtd. Hon. Justice Obie Daniel-Kalio, JCA Hon. Justice Biobele Abraham Georgewill, JCA Chief Nabo Graham-Douglas, SAN (Posthumous) Chief Ambassador Chukwudi Dickson Orike Chief Godfrey Kio Jaja Amachree, QC (Posthumous) Chief, Dr. Victor Odili, OON High Chief Olu B. Lulu-Briggs, OON Chief Albert Korubo Horsfall, OFR Alabo Tonye O. Graham Douglas Chief, Dr. Ombo Isokariari Rt. Hon. Roseberry Robinson Briggs (Posthumous) Rt. Hon. Glory Joseph Tuesday Kemeagbeye Rt. Hon. Talford Ongolo Rt. Hon. Ezekwem Stephen Rt. Hon. Tonye Harry (Posthumous) Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Amachree Rt. Hon. Adams Dabotorudima Rt. Hon. Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani Hon. Justice Opubo Inko-Tariah (Posthumous) Hon. Justice Sir Michael H. F. Holden (Posthumous) Hon. Justice Ambrose Ezeolisa Allagoa (Posthumous) Hon. Justice Donald Graham-Douglas (Posthumous) Hon. Justice Koripamo D. Ugbuku (Posthumous) Hon. Justice Felix N.N. Ichoku Hon. Justice Iche N. Ndu, OFR. Hon. Justice Daisy Wotube Okocha Hon. Justice Adama I. Iyayi-Lamikanra Chief Onueze Chukwujinka Joe Okocha, MFR, SAN, JP Chief Barinua Moses Wifa, OFR, SAN Mrs Christiana Owiyeba Graham-Douglas Chief Emmanuel Aguma (Posthumous) Chief Hon. Alfred Dagogo William-Jumbo (Posthumous) Chief Ferdinand Alabraba Chief Mike Amachree Pastor Shyngle Wigwe Dr. Garrick Leton (Posthumous) Professor TekenaTamuno (Posthumous) Professor Ebiegberi J. Alagoa, NNOM, OON Professor Kelsey Harrison, NNOM Professor Emeritus Otonti Amadi Nduka Professor Kay Williamson (Posthumous)

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Professor Mildred Amakiri, MFR Professor Claude Ake, NNOM (Posthumous) Chief, Capt. Elechi Amadi (Posthumous) Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah, CFR Bishop E. T. Dimeari (Posthumous) Arch Bishop Ignatius C. O. Kattey Most Reverend Camillus Etukudoh Pastor David Ibiyeomie Most Reverend Dr. Sunday I.O. Agwu Apostle Geoffrey Dabibi Numbere (Posthumous) Professor Ndi Okereke-Onyuike Ms Amal Pepple, CON Engr. Dr. Dame Fabiya Amakiri Mr Amin Habib (Posthumous) Cardinal Rex Jim-Lawson (Posthumous) Mr Herbert Wigwe Eddy Van Den Broeke Gabriele Volpi Mr Manish Mundra Mr Pierre Vandebeek Mr Ndagene Akwu (Posthumous) HRM Eze Edmund Ashirim-Unosi (Posthumous) Paul N. Birabi (Posthumous) Chief Uche O. Ekonokot (Posthumous) Chief D.A. Okwosah (Posthumous) Chief, Dr. Shed A.I. Opusunju (Posthumous) His Eminence, Dr. Chukwumela Nnam Obi II, OON, JP Oba (Eze-Ogba) of Ogbaland 86. Mrs. Agbani Darego-Danjuma GOVERNOR’S MEDAL OF HONOUR (GMH) 1. Hon. Mrs. Daisy West 2. Hon. Mrs. Evangeline Ezekiel-Hart 3. Mr. Tein Jack-Rich 4. Chief, Barr. Adokiye Amiesimaka, MON 5. Ms. Annkio Briggs 6. Ms. Ibiba Don-Pedro 7. Ms. Hilda Dokubo 8. Frank Pepple (Posthumous) 9. Dr. George Ogan (Posthumous) 10. Mr. Joseph Yobo 11. Mr. Ibifuro Asawo 12. Ms. Ethel Jacks 13. Mrs. Obia Okumgba Inengiyikabo Lenient

Notes: (i) The Honours will be conferred on the recipients on Saturday, 27th May 2017 by His Excellency, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, CON, by 4.30 p.m. at the Main Bowl of Alfred Diete Spiff Civic Centre, Moscow Road, Port Harcourt. (ii) Each recipient is entitled to two guests only. (iii) Guests are to be seated by 4.00 p.m.

Congratulations

Dr. Abiye Sekibo

Chairman, Awards/Honours Sub-Committee

A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

MONALISA AZEH FROM LAW PRACTICE TO SHOEMAKING

21.05.2017

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T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R • MARCH 21, 2017

COVER

MONALISA AZEH

FROM LAW PRACTICE TO SHOEMAKING

M

Totally transformed into her new vocation of shoemaking, Monalisa Azeh does not look like one called to the Nigerian Bar in 1985 or who practiced law for almost two decades. Nseobong Okon-Ekong and Vanessa Obioha write that she is one of the most sought after Nigerian shoemaker

onalisa Azeh does not wear the look of a conventional CEO. There is no power suit adorning her tall, big frame. Not that she does not like to wear suits. Going by her original profession as a lawyer, she should appear in formal outfits daily. But she dropped her wig and gown, the day she earned it. Rather, you find simplicity and elegance stylishly oozing out from a dress. Her shoes are her major statement.

Colourful and vibrant, she walked long and far in search of footwears, often, she returned frustrated. Her feet were just too big for the shoes!

Keeping a consistent appearance, there’s certainly no airs around her. She exudes a cool demeanour. It is possible to find her seating on her table in the luxury showroom of her shoe brand, Mona Matthews, in the exquisite Eleganza Building along Ikorodu Road, Lagos, tapping and clicking on her laptop while keeping an eye on the happenings around her. Her attention is snapped once a first-time shopper/customer walks in. With one glance, Monalisa can tell her customer’s need. For a first-time buyer, this can be done in a matter of minutes. She welcomes you with a smile while mentally assessing your personality. She’s listening to your needs, while simultaneously taking in details of your appearance-the bag, the shoes, the dress, and more importantly, she is listening to every word you say. Her keen eyes hardly miss a thing. This uncanny ability helps her offer solutions to customer.

In her 15 years of running her luxury fashion brand, Mona Mathews, she has inculcated the habit of seeing her customers like human beings more than a naira or dollar sign. On many occasions, she has given free advice to customers which may lead to no purchase. It could be a referral to another retailer who has the customer’s specific need or simply advising the customer to stick to what he or she has. Rather than view it as a counter productive business mannerism, she believes it does not hurt her in any way.

Instead, she is proud of her empathy trait, something that was instilled in her right from her home, but was properly groomed at the Business School of FATE Foundation.

The seeming simple acts of care have, however, anchored her on good relationships.

For instance, The Glitterati team witnessed her dialogue with one of her customers, a middle-aged woman. It was friendly and relaxed. The woman had come to mend her shoes, while seeking advice on the best heels for her age.

“I relate to my customers as human beings. Your first instinct should be to help them. Do not see them as a Naira or Dollar sign but as human beings who need your professional help. It’s become a way of life for me. So when people come, they don’t feel like they are coming to spend money, rather they feel they are coming to see a friend.

One of my customers came in the other day to pick up her shoes and bag. She looked at my leather bag collection. What she actually needed was a pouch. I looked in my drawer and found one and gave it to her. She was very grateful. Because people will remember you for those acts of kindness and good services. People will even trust you more because they will find out that you are not after every penny of theirs, it’s more about relationship. They will bring their friends, family members and colleagues to you. They may end up being your ambassadors. There is really nothing like integrity. Once people know you are honest, that is it. They stick with you for life.”

Paying attention to the lifestyle of her customers is one of her trump cards in business.

“One of the things we do is to produce shoes to suit our customers’ lifestyle and it is very deliberate because we want to retain the customer. When I design, I’m designing with the particular need of that customer. So at the end of the day, I have something that is functional but at the same time aesthetically attractive and suits my customer’s lifestyle.

We want you to think about us when you need any shoe, not one specific type of shoe.

I imagine the average customer thinking of what to wear on Sunday to church, on Monday to work, on weekends, as well, maybe on holidays. For instance, an average customer could be a parent in their forties. We try to make school shoes for their children.

When they come, they can get shoes for their children, and because we are quality conscious, we give you durable shoes that can last for more than one year. What we envisage is all your footwear needs in one place. So you are not stressed from the effort put into looking around.”

She relayed this example of two satisfied customers. “It was Dobrina’s first time in Mona Matthews and she had such fun trying on the shoes and picking her preferred types.

She was like a little girl in a candy store.

Judith is an old customer but even though she kept trying to control herself and not buy too much; I am not sure she succeeded. We even had to design a sandal named after Dobrina.”

Monalisa obtained her Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Lagos in 1984 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in August,

1985. She worked for the (then) Nigerian Industrial Development Bank (Now Bank of Industry) as well as the firm of Adebo –Kiencke & Co. for the mandatory NYSC year. Thereafter she continued with Adebo-Kiencke & Co. until she set up her own firm, Mona. A. Eperokun & Co. In 1993, she joined the firm of Norma Jackson-Steele & Co and worked in chambers as the only other lawyer in the firm apart from the principal.

In 2002 as she began her shoe designing Company, Monalisa Abimbola Azeh attended Fate Foundation where she obtained Entrepreneurial Training when she took part in the Aspiring Entrepreneurs Program (AEP) She also attended the Lagos Business School (EDC) in 2009 as a Goldman Sachs Scholar where she obtained a Certificate in Entrepreneurial Management and she brings the skills she acquired from her formal and informal education to bear on her current business, Mona Matthews.

The Mona Matthews brand provides jobs for several shoemakers and bag makers as well as other service providers along the value chain. It also conserves foreign exchange because people who have discovered the brand no longer have to depend on foreign shoes. Monalisa Abimbola Azeh hails from Ekiti State and is happily married to Mr. Charles Azeh from Delta State.

Monalisa did not set out to be a shoemaker. By profession, she is a lawyer.

Nowadays, most people know her by her business name Mona Matthews which she coined from her first name and her father’s first name. It all started with her passion for shoes and the inability to find her shoe size in the market. She described the first shoe she made for herself as very ugly, but she wasn’t discouraged. Someone else introduced her to another shoe maker who did a better job. From one trial to the other, she suddenly found herself making shoes for others. She described her transition into the shoe business as a smooth one.

“When the idea came, I was advised to do a business course. That, to a very large extent, helped the transition because I acquired knowledge I didn’t have until

MONALISA DID NOT SET OUT TO BE A SHOE-MAKER.

BY PROFESSION, SHE IS A LAWYER. NOWADAYS, MOST PEOPLE KNOW HER BY HER BUSINESS NAME MONA MATTHEWS WHICH SHE COINED FROM HER FIRST NAME AND HER FATHER’S FIRST NAME. IT ALL STARTED WITH HER PASSION FOR SHOES AND INABILITY TO FIND HER SHOE SIZE IN THE MARKET

MARCH 21, 2017 • T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R

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COVER that time. It opened my eyes to the world of entrepreneurship. It made me learn certain things. Of course, I learnt on the job which is what you do as an entrepreneur.”

Her shoes have a wide variety of colours and styles, made from exotic raw materials like raw silk, satin, Swarovski crystals and different types of leather. She also makes bags for different occasions for women.

Getting credible shoemakers posed a threat back then but she was determined to stand out in an industry that paid more attention to the male practitioners. “One of the things that I set out to do when I delved into shoe business was to make the best good-looking shoes. I was already 15 years in practice as a lawyer so there was no way I could make run-of-the-mill kind of shoes for my colleagues, who were my first set of customers. Quality has always been part of me and to achieve that we needed consistency, so we hired people who are very good in their craft and we needed to pay them well. I settled with the idea that I couldn’t serve everybody but I wanted to serve those I could serve very well. Most of my colleagues became my clients.

My mum is my oldest and most favourite client.”

She considers herself a front office person, not a back-office personnel. She hired excellent shoemakers to turn her creative designs to finished products.

When it comes to sourcing raw materials from local markets, she does not make compromises.

Most of her embellishments are bought abroad. The market has considerably changed since Monalisa forayed into the business. A foresight by one of her lecturers in the business school prepared her for the change.

“I remember back then in Business School, one of the facilitators said that a time will come when people will have internet on their phones. It sounded Greek to us because back then. We didn’t have

internet in our homes. We had to go to cyber cafes to access the internet. I also remember back then that to keep up with trends, we had to buy Vogue and similar magazines.

Now, you don’t have to leave the comfort of your bedroom to run your business. You can transfer money to your suppliers, receive money from your customers, stay in your virtual showroom and market online. We’ve been able to keep up and embrace those changes.”

Today, Mona Matthews has a huge client base that spreads across the pond. There are plans in the pipeline to expand and meet the different needs of her clients. The thought of partnering with other international luxury brand has never crossed Monalisa’s mind.

She explained why.

“I never really thought of it because the way we wear shoes and clothes is first of all determined by our culture and then I believe that we have our own taste, aesthetics. But there is a possibility. It might look interesting to say we want to partner with them. But one of the things I’m doing is to fill in the gap between what they are doing and what the mass markets provide. The services I’m rendering deals with what people can’t find out there.”

That she is a creative person is not in doubt. Keeping her distance from the law profession, she now describes herself as a shoe designer and industrial consumer of processed hides and skin. Note that the second phrase in her description, ‘industrial consumer of processed hides and skin’- that, to her, is as important as wearing her name tag right. The instincts of a conservationist, rights activist and artist in her would not allow for flimsy starters.

Unknown to many, Monalisa has another passion which she is craving to give as much attention as shoe making; and that is promotion of live jazz music. She enjoys live theatre, as well; but it is the live jazz music mixed with sultry vocals, dim lights, laughter and drinks that sparks something in her. It goes back to when she cultivated the habit of going to a Piano Bar along Allen Avenue called Pintos. To fulfil this passion, she has promoted a couple of exclusive live jazz shows, usually for an exclusive

gathering of friends and colleagues, much like in the fashion of Pintos, that was used to.

However, she dreams of the day, she would find the finance to promote a major jazz festival in Nigeria. For her, music; jazz music to be precise has a sentimental attraction.

Interestingly, it was the same love for music that sometimes kept her out all night that God used in His infinite wisdom to cement her bond with Him. To many a social media denizen, Monalisa habitually causes difficulties for others, especially as a matter of humour (although some like to think it is out of malice). Every now and then, she plugs into the social barometer and rides on the wings of the current discourse to up tantrums that attract love and hate to her in equal measure.

For instance, her comment on the Ikoyi-Lagos secondary school mass rape saga will suffice.

Not a few persons came for her with a baton when she questioned the veracity of the story thus, “My question about the rape story is this; are we sure it’s true?”

Not all her comments are as bitter.

Sometimes she can be downright witty; like this one in which she took a jab at the propriety of the English spoken by the younger generation. “The word was ‘wow’.

It became ‘waoh’. Now it’s ‘wawu’. I just tire for una. We found more amusing yarns in her humour bag. “A doctor told me that according to research, mosquitoes bite the fairest and most attractive.” We were still laughing when she spurn another one, all the time managing to keep her face straight; only managing to communicate her consternation through facial expressions. “What if the money found in Ikoyi was MMM money that they changed to foreign exchange but couldn’t take out of the country?” Some friends who find her very funny are currently persuading her to record a couple of comedy skits and broadcast it on YouTube to test the waters. They are convinced she can find profitable space on the Nigerian comedy stage.

Her caricature of the finals of the recent Big Brother Naija reality television absolutely hilarious but thought provoking, as well. “I drove home during the finals. Everywhere was deserted and NEPA(?) was playing

ball. You could have danced ‘kokoma’ on my street, hardly any cars in sight. No pedestrians either. Big Brother fans, how will you recover from withdrawal syndromes?”

Before we moved on to other matters, she threw in a clincher. “Honest whistle blowers should blow the whistle but forgo the prize.”

WHEN I DESIGN, I’M DESIGNING WITH THE PARTICULAR NEED OF THAT CUSTOMER. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, I HAVE SOMETHING THAT IS FUNCTIONAL BUT AT THE SAME TIME AESTHETICALLY ATTRACTIVE AND SUITS MY CUSTOMER’S LIFESTYLE

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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 21, 2017

entertainMent

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

You Don’t Have To Be Lewd To Be Funny, Says Ali Baba Nseobong Okon-Ekong

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opular Nigerian stand-up comedian, Atunyota Alleluya Akpobome, who is better known as, Ali Baba has categorically said he does not need to spin lewd jokes to elicit laughter from his

audience.

Ali Baba who is also an actor, a radio presenter and generally acknowledged for his pioneering role in shaping a comedy industry in Nigeria was reacting to a question on the increasing prevalence of vulgar jokes by his colleagues. He said, “First things first, a joke is a joke. That is, it’s anything that is supposed to cause one to laugh.”

As comedy belongs to that class of entertainment that many are comfortable to enjoy with the entire family including children, it is nothing short of an inappropriate surprise when they are made to endure vulgarity.

For many families, what they get at some of these shows is definitely not what they expect. Without any warning, children (and adults who did not bargain for those kind of jokes) are confronted with the most shocking, explicit tales. Although, it may be argued that some of these shows have given sufficient hint in the general theme of their shows with titles like ‘Live and Naked’, ‘Unscripted’, ‘Wet and Raw’, many Nigerian comedians seem to be in a competition on who will come up with the most unambiguous label for their shows.

However, these explicit signs do not prepare many audience members for the astonishment that follows.

There is no doubt that Nigerian comedians have succeeded in wowing audiences with their jokes, leading to a quantum leap in the financial fortunes of many comedians, but their shows are not always so cultivated.

Threading a cautious and non-committal part, Ali Baba said, “there are different tastes in lifestyle just as in love for jokes, leading to a matter of choice. If you cannot make someone change his sexual preference, don’t you think it definitely would be equally hard if not harder to define what he finds funny?”

Continuing his submission, he argued that, “there are different pathways to achieving or eliciting laughter. What one finds funny will not even get a chuckle with another. Lewd jokes fall in this CALABAR RESIDENTS WELCOME SIX TOP ARTISTES Residents of Calabar and environs recently savoured the Glo Mega Music Nationwide Tour, Nigeria’s biggest musical concert as half a dozen top artistes took turns to thrill attendees for hours with the duo of Kiss Daniel and Mad Over You exponent, Runtown, exceptional in their performances.

The Calabar Cultural Centre, venue of the show had in attendance top celebrities including the First Lady of Cross River State, Dr. (Mrs.) Lynda Ayade, the former Minister for Arts, Culture and Tourism, Edem Duke, Cross River State Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Comrade Asu Okang, the Chief Executive Officer of Hit FM, Calabar, Patrick Ugbe, the General Manager of Transcorp Hotels, Calabar, Mr. Chuma Mgbojikwe, his wife, Adaku, officials of CUSO International Organisation, a Non-Governmental Organisation, Richard Khawaja, Ginette Potentier and Akvia Repiakion among others.

The Calabar edition of the show which was compered by two Nollywood icons, Juliet Ibrahim and Mercy Johnson Okojie, with the trio of Nollywood legends, Victor Osuagwu, Richard Mofe-Damijo, RMD and Patience Ozokwor, aka Mama G, making celebrity guest appearances, featured five AListers such as Di’ja, Omawumi, Kiss Daniel, Runtown and Timaya. Katch, a fast rising hip hop music star also performed.

Local artistes based in Calabar opened the show with beautiful performances which drew appreciative applause from the

Ali Baba in bow tie on stage in Loud Whispers

equation or divide. Personally, I don’t do dirty jokes. But I have heard and do know a lot of same. However, I decided to go on the path least followed. Bill Cosby, is still funny. He never needed to and doesn’t need to curse or do dirty jokes to get a laugh. There are people who find lewd jokes appalling while others find them appealing.

Sadly, the number of lewd joke lovers is on the increase, same way the number of people who use profanity.”

Ali Baba’s theory of choice speaks to the standing ovation that frequently follows the performance of Nigerian comedians speaks to the availability of a range of jokes covering all walks of life from politics, governance, personalities and the professions.

With the brazen reference to sex and sexual activities, many audience members no longer see the performance by these comedians as purely telling the jokes.

crowd. They were followed by entertaining dancing competitions in the male and female categories and the first major act of the night was Katch.

Marvin Records female vocalist, Di’Ja’s appearance on stage was alluring and her performance electrifying as she increased the tempo of the show and by the time she ended her performance with her latest track, “One Talk”, Di’Ja remained the butt of discussions.

The legendary afro-wearing Itshekiri-born hip-hop singer, Omawumi, was next and she wowed attendees with a combo of her sono-

Ali Baba and wife, Mary

rous voice and stage crafty as she rendered track after track from Love Wan Tintin to other hits such as Megbele, If You Ask Me and kokoma and Bonsue.

Quintessential ladies man, Kiss Daniel, took the stage after Omawumi and increased the tempo of the show and dazzled with tracks from his New Era album. His Mama, Gbese, No Be You I Carry Come hit tracks which transformed the Hall into a big party.

His sterling act was complemented by his resourceful dancers who gave pulsating

L-R: Timaya, Kiss Daniel and Runtown doing a collabo Calabar edition of Glo Mega Music Nationwide Tour

Atilogwu like acrobatic displays. Kiss Daniel then lived up to his name by inviting a lady onstage and performed his most popular track, Woju O, while kneeling down in a mock proposal to his quarry.

The next act, the master of dancehall, Runtown, was wholesome as his Mad Over You track threw the crowd into a frenzy as he thrilled them with Walahitalahi, Bend Down, Superwoman, Babaynanso, Fijogbowo and on popular demand, ended with Mad Over You. The show reached its climax when theEgberi Papa 1 of Bayelsa, Timaya took the stage with his Babalawo Power signature tune. The Ogologoma m¬aster finetuned the already charged audience with Ukwu, Call Me Timaya, Shake your Bombom, I Concurand Money No Dey. Timaya seasoned his performance with intermittent prayers and praise songs to give the night of fun a divine touch.

YOUNG AFRICAN LEADERS MEET MO IBRAHIM ON MTV BASE TODAY Young African leaders will be having a candid chat with visionary Sudanese, business leader and philanthropist, Mo Ibrahim on an inspiring episode of “MTV Base Meets.”

The exclusive chat is hilarious, insightful and ground breaking as Mo Ibrahim explores everything from clean governance to Africa’s broadband deficit.

These trailblazing young leaders include Mariam Yinusa, a Nigerian economist and financial analyst who was inducted as a Mo Ibrahim Leadership Fellow in 2016;

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ENTERTAINMENT from Ghana, activist Ritchie Teye-Mensah (Richard Kweitsu) an entrepreneur and CEO of Kurdle Limited. Robtel Neajai Pailey from Liberia, who is a post-doctoral researcher at Oxford University; Tunisian Blogger activist Aya Chebbi who calls herself a “full-time Pan-Africanist” and Moroccan Web entrepreneur, Hamza Aboulfeth who is Chairman and CEO of Genious Communications which he started when he was only 17 years old.

Moderated by MTV Base Africa VJ, Sizwe Dhlomo, the episode will see the VJ preside over a select group of young people quizzing and comparing notes with Mo Ibrahim on how Africa can overcome its most pressing challenges. They also find a way to share a transgenerational African dream for the world.

The name of Mo Ibrahim has long since become synonymous with progressive leadership on the African continent and philanthropy. He has made it his business to name and fame African leaders in governance who are doing good. He says in this wide-ranging conversation, “politicians who are doing amazing things must come out of the shadows!”

Alex Okosi, Executive Vice President & Managing Director for Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) Africa, said “MTV Base Meets provides a unique and youthful platform that connects ground-breaking innovators and leaders with young people from across the continent, who want to understand what it takes to be successful.

The light-hearted yet in-depth spirit of the conversations give audiences a never-beforeseen side to the leaders who shape not just our continent, but the world.”

Previous participants in the MTV Base Meets series have included Former US First Lady, Michelle Obama, Winnie Mandela, musicians Alicia Keys, Akon and Hugh Masekela; Sir Richard Branson, President Jacob Zuma of South Africa, President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, businessman and entrepreneur Aliko Dangote and recently Bill Gates.

The exclusive special will be broadcast today at 17:00 WAT on MTV Base (DStv channel 322) and MTV Base (ROA) at 19:05 WAT. DELE ODULE, CHARLES INOJIE STAR IN ‘THE IN-LAW’ Nigerian movie lovers will soon be thrilled to an entertaining and family friendly movie which will soon be hitting the cinemas titled ‘The In-Laws’.

Produced by Bolakale Oba Sa’ad who is also the Chief Executive Officer Film Service Media, the movie revolves round an oldschool lawyer’s daughter who is set to marry a retired policeman’s son. Their parents’ deep suspicion and disapproval turn the lovebirds into strange bedfellows.

Sa’ad is prominent in Nollywood for movies like ‘Alakada Reloaded,’ produced by actress, Toyin Aimakhu, and some TV commercials in the country.

Working with various hands especially in South Africa, Bolakale, has been able to infuse his craftsmanship into film production with the intentions of giving the industry a new lift in terms of quality and market value.

The movie is directed by Charles Nwagbai and also feature top actors like, Dele Odule, Benita Ayo Mogaji, Chris Attoh, Charles Inojie, Ngozi Nwosu, Toyin Aimakhu, and others.

ACROBATIC DANCERS, OUTSTANDING SPOKEN WORD PERFORMANCES AND MORE ON GCGT SEASON 7 Viewers are in for a big treat as God’s Children Great Talent (GCGT) Season 7 kicked off last week on a very high note with incredible performances from amazing contestants.

Hosted by delectable Olive Emodi, the premiere showcased talents between the ages of 5 – 20 years in music, comedy, dance and spoken words.

The broadcast showed highlights of auditions from three regions with the first stop in Abuja. The contestants had to impress talent scouts which included multiple award winning gospel artist, Asu Ekiye; Pioneer Nollywood actor, Francis Duru; popular On-Air Personality, Matilda Duncan; Marion Ahmed, Dayo Benjamins-Laniyi, Six Foot Plus and Gospel on the Beatz, before getting the blue ‘congratulations card’ and proceeding to the regional finals.

Master Onyechukwu, a spoken word artiste, who got a blue congratulations card believes he might win this year’s grand prize after wowing the city scouts with his oratory skills.

For many contestants the blue ‘congratulations cards’ brought a feeling of super confidence, but will their talents continue to shine through the remaining stages of the competition? Only time will tell.

In Port Harcourt, the GCGT auditions also recorded an impressive turnout of contestants

Beyonce

Tekno Miles

Beyonce, Wizkid, Tekno, Aka for BET Africa Awards 2017

Nominations for the 2017 “BET Awards’ which will broadcast across Africa on BET (DStv channel 129) Tuesday, 27 June 27 has been announced, with Beyonce topping with seven nominations, Bruno Mars takes five and followed by Chance the Rapper, Solance and Migos with four a piece.

The 2017 “BET Awards” honors eight leading African artists who are blazing up the African music scene. Holding up the torch for South African hip-hop is chart topping don, AKA, rising star, Nasty C and the inimitable dance and house music sensation, Babes Wodumo. Nigeria enjoys a strong representation with Wizkid who is no stranger to the awards, the infinitely talented Tekno, enterprising singer, MrEazi, singer and producer Davido and one of the leading reggae and dancehall artists, Stonebwoy from Ghana rounding up the nominees for the Best International Act: Africa.

Said Monde Twala, Vice President for BET, Youth & Music, “Africa has a rich cultural heritage and the BET Awards reflect the power of our culture through music. This annual celebration puts the spotlight on African artists and exposes their amazing talent to the world. We wish the nominees well and congratulate them for the hard work and effort over the last year.”

This year’s broadcast marks 17 years of unexpected performances, trailblazing moments, super dope talent, and

Acada Reloaded cast and crew

who met with Nigerian gospel artiste Preye Odede; Radio Presenter, Elder Xtra Large; talented gospel singer, Preye Omayuku; Nigeria’s beloved singer, Freke Umoh; gospel artiste, Afy Douglas, singer and choreographer, Bobby Blankson, Season 2 winner of Nigerian Idol, Mercy Chinwe and popular Nigerian comedian, K.O Baba.

entertainment’s most provocative players.

The iconic show continues to be a cultural rule breaker steeped in reinvention with some of the most memorable moments in Award show history. In 2016, Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar surprised guests with a groundbreaking performance of “Freedom,” Sheila E. and Mayte Garcia performed during the Prince Lifetime Achievement Award tribute and Jesse Williams’ brought the audience to their feet with his dynamic and ever-viral Humanitarian Award acceptance speech. The 2017 “BET Awards” has set the standard for one of the most intently unconventional, news-provoking broadcasts.

Beyoncé dominates this year’s nominations with a total of seven including ‘Best Female R&B/Pop Artist,’ ‘Best Collaboration’ with Kendrick Lamar for “Freedom,” ‘Video of the Year,’ and ‘Album of the Year’ for Lemonade. Bruno Marsfollows with five nods including ‘Album of the Year,’ ‘Best Male R&B/Pop Artist,’ and ‘Video of the Year’ for “24K Magic.” Other nominees include Solange, nominated for four awards and who is up against sister Beyoncéfor ‘Best Female R&B/Pop Artist.’ Chance the Rapper and Migos receive four nominations as well, Chance the Rapper nominated for ‘Best Male Hip-Hop Artist’ and ‘Best New Artist’ and Migos for ‘Best Group’ and ‘Best Collaboration’ for their #1 hit “Bad and Boujee” with Lil Uzi Vert.

A 19 year-old Esther came all the way from Delta state for the Port Harcourt auditions. She blew the scouts away with her fruity voice as she sang “Great is Thy Faithfulness” by Chris Rice. Esther said she is confident and knows what it takes because God has given her a talent that she must not bury.

There were a few participants who returned

for another shot at their luck. Tega participated in the GCGT auditions last year and was this time, determined to beat her past performance and hopefully make it past the regionals this year. Like the saying goes “If you do not make it the first time, try again”.

Dance group X3M FLUX who are no strangers to talent competitions also showcased their awesome dance moves to earn the blue card.

One of the highlights of Port Harcourt audition was the discovery of multi-talented artiste, Immaculate Benibo who dances, sings and raps in one breath. She believes her talents were specially given by God. Immaculate certainly charmed the city scouts with her lovely voice.

The GCGT audition then berthed in Lagos, which is home to Nigeria’s entertainment hub and recorded the highest number of contestants.

The struggle among spoken word artistes at the audition was real, but only a small number were able to delight the Lagos scouts that consisted, vocal expert, Benneth Ogbeiwi (Uncle Ben); gospel artiste, Enitan Adaba; singer Moz; gospel musician, Mairo Ese; recording artiste, Nosa Omoregie; Gospel Praise & Worship leader, Odunayo Aboderin; choreographer, Ibrahim Suleiman; comedian Frank Onero and broadcaster cum singer, Gloria Maduka.

A dance group called “Jesus freak” impressed the scouts greatly when they infused dance with playing the violin.

19-year-old Joshua brought a different flavour to the competition with his beat boxing skills. Joshua believes his talent is very unique, especially in Nigeria. He definitely left audience in awe with his performance, which got him a blue card from the scouts.

A five year-old pianist, Munachi Mso left the judges astonished when he played the piano blindfolded. This was one of the highlights at the Lagos audition.

TOYIN ABRAHAM, LILLIAN ESORO, WOLI AROLE, SMALL DOCTOR, OTHERS AT ‘ALAKADA RELOADED’ PRIVATE SCREENING The much talked about comedy movie ‘Alakada Reloaded’ had its private screening on Thursday, May 18 at the Filmhouse Cinema, Surulere with celebrities, film makers and the media.

The screening was attended by Lillian Esoro, Small Doctor, Woli Arole, ChinnyLove Eze, Biola Oba, Baddy Oosha, Lami, Toyin Abraham herself and many others.

The movie which is produced by Toyin Abraham and Film Service Media is the third production in the popular Alakada series; the first released was in 2009, while the second was released in 2013. It follows the story of Yetunde Animashaun, a young girl from a poor family background who as a result of her inferiority complex, engages in the act of making up stories and lying about her financial and social status in order to fit in with the crowd.

This comedy movie parades a star-studded cast both from the English and Yoruba sector, not excluding Nigerian comedians and music artiste. They include Toyin Abraham, Ali Baba, Odunlade Adekola, Kehinde Bankole, Peteru, Woli Arole, Nedu OAP, Small Doctor Helen Paul, Lilian Esoro, Annie Idibia, Bidemi Kosoko, Liz Da Silva, Kemi Lala Akindoju, Mr Latin, Iyabo Ojo and Gabriel Afolayan.

Speaking at the Filmhouse Surulere, immediately after the movie screening, the producer Toyin Abraham stated ‘I am grateful for the support of everyone that came around for the screening. I appreciate the cast members, my director and everyone here for coming to show their support. It is an honour. I am equally excited because I have been getting good reviews from people since we came out of the hall. It is certainly encouraging when your work is appreciated.

This movie will blow everyone away and I am confident that the audience are going to love it ’.

The comedy movie will make its cinema debut on Friday, 26th May.

AKA

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ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

A Historic Night for a Basquiat Painting Vanessa Obioha In an impressive night of bidding, a Basquiat painting made history as the most expensive painting by an American artist sold for $110. 5 million at an auction.

A 1980 powerful work of Jean-Michael Basquiat was auctioned at Sotheby, New York and became the sixth most expensive work ever sold at auction, surpassing the $60 million mark by critics.

About four bidders bid for the painting but a Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa who bought one of Basquiat’s painting (which also made history by selling at $57,285,000) last year won the bid. The

billionaire posted on Instagram the moment he won the bid, declaring his excitement, gratitude and love for the art.

Basquiat’s paintings are known for their social commentaries and graffiti-a signature of the late artiste who started out as a graffiti artist. The conjunction of various media is an integral element of Basquiat’s art. His paintings are typically covered with text and codes of all kinds such as words, letters, numerals, pictograms, logo, map symbols, diagrams, etc.

He was mostly described as a Neo-expressionist artist.

The ‘Untitled’ painting also made history as the first work created since 1980 to make over $100 million.

NBC’S WORLD OF DANCE PROMISES ELECTRIFYING PERFORMANCES The dance competition TV series premiering on May 30 has all the elements of electrifying moments and adrenalin rush. Put together by international pop star, actress and business woman Jennifer Lopez, the show will feature different dancers from different parts of the world competing for the cash prize of $1 million.

In a video shared on Twitter, JLo showed snippets of the show as well as interviews with her fellow judges Derek Hough and Ne-Yo. Describing the show as the Olympics of dance, JLo who is also a judge on the show said, “It was important for me that everybody on the show is authentically linked to dance.”

Ne-Yo is an acclaimed RnB singer and dancer while Derek Hough is a renowned choreographer. Host Jenna Dewan Tatum is an actress and a dancer.

Carefully selected from qualifying events and online submissions, the competitors are divided into three divisions: Junior (17 years and under), Upper (groups of 1-4 18 and older) and Team (groups of 5+, 18 and older). They will be judged based on their performance, technique, choreography, creativity and presentation. The competition also consists of five rounds: Qualifiers, duels, the cut, division finals and the grand finale.

The 10-episode series is in partnership with prominent global dance brand, World of Dance and produced by Universal Television Alternative Studio and Nuyorican Productions. Other executive producers of the show include Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas and Benny Medina.

BLACK CROWS DRAMATISES LIFE UNDER ISIS In commemoration of the Muslim’s holy month Ramadan, Arabs most watched satellite channel MBC 1 will air a 30-part dramatic series.

Titled ‘Black Crows’, the series is the first of a kind to be boldly set entirely in the militants’ world. The series mirrors the frightening lives of people forced to live under the terrorist Islamic State . According to a video made available to New York Times by the Arab network, the series depict recruits as victims while women who challenge the militants’ control are heroes. It is a deliberate effort by the producers to have women stories dominating the series because they provide a robust dramatic material and form the majority of the channel’s viewers.

Most of the intriguing plots in the series include a journalist who went undercover and pledged to abandon her Christian faith and blow up a church when her fiance became a suicide bomber for the terrorist group. Another tells the story of a woman who murders her husband for infidelity and flees to join the Islamic State with her two sons. But she will eventually struggle to escape after one of her sons is killed and the other sexually abused.

The network director of TV Ali Jaber is confident that the series will harness the influence of popular television to undermine the narrative that the Islamic State uses to entice recruits. While many considered the production a risk and may avoid sponsorship of the programme, Jaber, however, sees the idea as a change agent to challenge the jihadist’s message.

The show will be broadcast in Arabic while plans to produce an English-language version is in the pipeline.

BILL COSBY HINTS ON RACISM BEING BEHIND HIS SEXUAL ALLEGATIONS With less than a week for his sexual assault trial to begin, actor and comedian Bill Cosby gives a rare interview on SiriusXM radio. In the company of his daughters, Cosby, now 80 years and blind suggested that racism could be behind the dozens of accusations against him.

His view was first hinted by his daughters Ensa and Erinn who believed that their father has been unjustly and cruelly accused in the court of public opinion.

Cosby also said that he did not wish to testify because it will lead him to open Pandora’s box which may not go lightly with his lawyers. He, however, said he had not lost the support of his wife. The jury for his trial will be chosen tomorrow in Pittsburgh then insulated in Philadelphia. The trial may last for two weeks.

Emma Watson in Beauty and the Beast movie

World of Dance Judges and host

Bill Cosby (middle)

ARTS & REVIEW A

READING ROUTE 234 THE FRANCO-GERMAN WA...

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PUBLICATION

NOTHING SLOW ABOUT SLOW COUNTRY

Mojeed

21.05.2017

EDITOR OKECHUKWU UWAEZUOKE/ okechukwu.uwaezuoke@thisdaylive.com

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ARTS & REVIEW\\MOVIES

NOTHING SLOW AB SLOW COUNTRY I

Movie director Eric Aghimien ups the ante with his sophomore effort, Slow Country, and thereby proves he crime genre in Nollywood, Toni Kan argues

n literature, Shakespeare’s Iago in the play Othello is often regarded as the quintessential evil character, who is evil for evil sake, a real spawn of the devil.

Watch Eric Aghimien’s sophomore effort, a crime caper, starring a few faces from his debut, A Mile from Home, and you may just add Tuvi to the list.

Tuvi is evil, that whom we may call in Nigeria parlance the bad guy par excellence. He tells his father that “life is full of open and shut gates. You are a shut gate”, then proceeds to commit patricide.

In an opening scene that evokes Good Fellas and The God Father, Tuvi murders his childhood friend in cold blood and right after giving him a familial hug and pat on the back. Tuvi is that evil genius who says “Well done” before stabbing you in the back, literally.

But the fictional character that Tuvi approximates most is Omar from the TV series, The Wire and it is these constant references by Eric Aghimien, the peeka-boo and hey, haven’t-I -seen-it-before moments that make Slow Country such a beautiful, familiar movie.

Once you see Sambasa Nzeribe and Tope Tedela, anyone who saw A Mile from Home will have a déjà vu moment.

Slow Country is full of movie tropes and clichés but they neither wear thin nor grate because Eric Aghimien has found a peculiar means of appropriating them and making them his.

They say that to become a good writer, you must read a lot of books. I think also that to become a good director, you must see a lot of movies. Quentin Tarantino recalls that he cut class to see horrible B movies all of which now form part of his shtick; the brilliant elevation of cheap movies which would in the hands of someone less deserving unravel into farce or melodrama or both.

Eric Aghimien’s Slow Country is a love story told in blood. Tuvi meets a young single mother and makes her an offer which she doesn’t take but when her child falls sick, Kove (Ivie Okujaye-Egboh) is forced to do Tuvi’s bidding and so begins her enslavement. The master-servant binary and her apparent powerlessness comes to the fore in three key instances.

First, when she says to Tuvi – “You say you love me but you prostitute me and use me to traffic drugs.”

Second, when Tuvi says to her – “See that’s Seyi Bucknor, telecom big boy. He is your man for tonight. I need his money.”

But, finally, it comes out from Tuvi close to the end when he says “There are three things you can never do without in this world; love, trust and help. That is why I can never let you go. I will give you one more chance to return to your chain.”

As a philosopher once noted, there is no given freedom, every slave must work out his freedom with fear and trembling. That is the fate that awaits Kove and her love, Peter, who are caught like surprised deers in the glare of Tuvi’s bright lights.

Eric Aghimien is a superb storyteller with an eye for detail and a good ear for nuance. That which is not said is as important as that which is proclaimed. His

A scene from the movie

Another scene from the movie characterisation is spot on and there are no contrivances not even when he proselytises.

His anti-tobacco campaign is prosecuted as a joke and with laughs coming fast and strong.

Majid Michel’s character is a chain-smoker who says he does not believe in cancer because “he believes in Jesus.”

The same even-handed approach to weighty matters is apparent in his treatment of prostitution and human trafficking.

Tuvi is a type; a man who has struck his fist against his chest only to discover that his heart has, like Othello the Moor, turned to stone.

Ola is a whore. Poor, ill-educated, she is happy to have a pimp and ready to sell her body. When she is hard done by a nasty customer she is more perplexed than bitter and instead of seeking vengeance all she does is ask – “What is wrong with you

people?” Her right and wrong antennae are poorly developed.

Kove is an educated woman pushed to the rough side of the tracks but she must use her education and street smarts as well as feminine wiles to outwit her pimp, lover and slave master.

Brasco is another character, imported in many ways from the Samuel L Jackson movie with two names – The 51st state or Formula 51. He is funny and yet dangerous.

But it is in the character of Femi played by the handsome Femi Agunbiade that Eric shows his understanding of motive, action and characterisation. Femi is the youngest of Tuvi’s gang. If Tuvi was gay, Femi could have passed for his love interest (See another parallel to Omar in the Wire). Femi is also the most squeamish. He shows disgust in the opening scene when Tuvi’s childhood friend is shot; practically saves Peter’s life at the club when he pushes him back and says “Go, you wan die.”

One is left wondering why a criminal with a heart is cavorting with Tuvi but we find out later at the end that his actions were like establishment shots foreshadowing what was to come.

Peter is the proverbial anti-hero who ends up getting the girl. He is the coward who stands and points at the ruins of a great man’s house.

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e is the undisputed king of the

A Mile from Home announced Eric Aghimien’s entrée as a director to watch.

With Slow Country he has shown that he is not a one trick pony while announcing without equivocation that he is king of the crime genre in Nollywood. Eric’s A Mile from Home and Slow Country are master classes. They have all elements of a classic crime thriller and they don’t fail to thrill.

His use of what appears to be video co-pilot for his visual effect has improved notches higher from “A Mile from Home” and it is baffling that other directors are not engaging him to help provide the same realistic special effects features for their own movies.

There are, however, a few contrived scenes that that do not pass the test of credulity and cinematic verisimilitude.

In what part of Lagos (Nigeria even) will a child hear a knock on the door then open the door just like that? That was as, Huckleberry Finn would say, is a stretcher.

To close, one must quickly suggest that Sambasa Nzeribe find a different role to play, one that will not see him cast typically as the villain even though he wears the garb of villainy with aplomb and it is from his finger that drips the blood in which this riveting story of life and love, violence and ambition, fear and action is written.

-Toni Kan writes from Lagos.

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

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ARTS & REVIEW\\LITERARY CAFÉ

L-R: Ingo Albert, Steve Ayorinde and Laurent Polonceux at the reading of Route 234 last weekend

READING ROUTE 234 THE FRANCO-GERMAN WAY… Yinka Olatunbosun

E

arlier that evening at Freedom Park, in Lagos Island, a passer-by called out excitedly to this reporter that he had read the book in her hand titled, “Route 234”. It’s a good feeling to see a growing followership for this thrilling travel writing collection by select Nigerian journalists. Later that evening, precisely last Sunday, most of the contributing authors to the book converged on the premises of the German Consulate, off Walter Carrington, Victoria Island where the French and German Consulates have scheduled to hold the book reading.

Preceded by a warm cocktail, with an assortment of finger foods to chew, the reading was a wholesome session and an opportunity to chew upon issues that are light-hearted but serious in varying dimensions. The hosts seemed very kind, even concerned about their guests’ preferences in their largely western cuisine.

The Consul-Generals for German and French Embassies, Ingo Albert and Laurent Polonceux sat with veteran journalists Sola Balogun and Ozolua Uhakheme to read some pages off the book that was published exactly one year ago, in May 2015. Compiled and edited by Pelu Awofeso, winner, CNN-Multichoice African Journalist Awards in the Tourism category, the book has enjoyed positive reviews on the web. Route 234 has basic dra-

matic elements of suspense, plot, humour, satire and a unifying theme of identity.

No wonder Awofeso made a declaration at the back page of the book that every reader is likely to agree to.

“Reading through the stories, I encountered every possible emotion a traveller could come face to face with in a new destination-from delight to awe to apprehension,’’ he stated. Oyefeso’s career as a travel writer began as a travel journalist with a knack for preserving cultural truths found in every destination. And like the compere, Funke Treasure-Akintoye rightly pointed out, Oyefeso has the “staying power’’. Not only did he take up the task of seeing the book published after a decade of preproduction, he ensured the book good into good hands such as those of the host Consul-Generals. Completely, driven by passion, Oyefeso was the magnet that held the other writers who inspite of their busy itinerary turned up for the reading.

Polonceux, a very animated personality, assessed the motive of the travel writers in the light of their literary documentation.

“It is not only where to go across the border; it is not just a geographical journey but also to discover other culture and to fight against extremism,’’ he said.

The contributing writers are Kole Ade-Odutola, Olumide Iyanda, Olayinka Oyegbile, Eyitayo Aloh, Molara Wood, Steve Ayorinde, Pelu Awofeso, Jahman Anikulapo, Tunde Aremu, Nseobong Okon-Ekong, Akintayo

Abodunrin, Ayeni Adekunle, Funke Osae-Brown, Sola Balogun and Ozolua Uhakheme.

Stories such as Osae-Brown’s “Inside the Eiffel Tower”, and Uhakheme’s “Hitler’s House of Horrors” were read in full. Meanwhile, the reading of “The Good Samaritans of Nice” and Eyitayo Aloh’s “Literary Frankfurt” brought some laughter to the space as the writer; Balogun relived the memories of his adventurous journey to France with his wife in attendance. He inadvertently punctuated his reading with additional comments. It seemed that everyone who had read the story is curious to know if Balogun returns the money he borrowed in Nice to procured ticket after missing his flight to Lagos as the chorused question rang forth during the interactive session.

Other pieces that were read in parts include, OkonEkong’s “Trekking the Mambilla Plateau” which is the only story that is set in Nigeria. Inspite of his retinue of international travels, Okon-Ekong’s contribution to the book is to unearth Nigeria’s hidden treasures in the heart of Taraba State.

In concluding the session, Jahman Anikulapo expressed concern over the widespread shrinking of art and culture pages in most national newspapers. In his submission, this trend is an indicator of the place the media puts the creative sector- which is being considered as Nigeria’s next pot of gold after fallen crude oil prices.

Route 234 is a product of writings published in several national newspapers by 15 Nigerian journalists.

MUSIC

Gospel Band Set for Int’l Tour

Yinka Olatunbosun

Though physically-challenged, a musical group of young creative, Jesus People Enabled Band, also known as T. Kay band Nigeria is set to tour Europe, beginning from the United States of America.

Later, they will perform in South Africa.

The CEO and leader of the band, Mr. Tokunbo Oyejobi revealed recently in a statement issued on behalf of the group.

The band which also has a few able-bodied members is exciting to watch for its captivating choreography. Essentially a gospel band, “T kay band” never leaves the fans in want of good music what with the dash of other musical spices like jazz, hip hop, highlife and reggae. As expected, the songs are largely loaded with inspirational and motivational lyrics that are soulful.

“That is exactly what we preach through the

music. It is a way of showcasing our ability despite the disabilities that we have,’’ Oyejobi said.

Each band member is a multi-instrumentalist and can multi-task. The band leader, armed with 18 years of experience in music, wasn’t born into a family of music. He believes he has a strong spiritual backing for this music artistry.

“I didn’t really like music at first but I found out that I was called by God and I yielded to it. I was not a member of any choir. I was called to be a voice to the voiceless,’’ he recalled.

Creating signature music has become his style since he glided away from his course of study at the University of Lagos- namely Linguistics.

“Anyone that has been on the influence of my performance knows that the opera is overwhelming because I am not an entertainer, I don’t sing because I want people to dance. I want people to have a feel of what God can do in their lives. I am always

happy when miracles happen when I am singing that someone is healed of deafness, blindness, and other ailments.

“These things happen all the time when we are performing, at other time people that have lost hope in life-when they see us perform, have given their lives to Christ and motivated to have a new lease of life,’’ he claimed.

Oyejobi, who is also a Minister in the church, had to struggle to pay his university bills and feed himself.

A music video titled, “Lift him Up” and another recent effort titled “Dance De Jesu” which is in French, English and Yoruba languages are currently available online. Few weeks ago we released another single titled, “New Name”, performed by 10 people with different physical disabilities. The video to that will be released soon.

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CICERO

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

IN THE ARENA

Ganduje Vs. SLS: When Traditional and Political Institutions Flex Muscles…

The probe of the finances of the Sanusi Lamido Sanusi-led Kano Emirate by the State government has brought to the fore the interplay between political and traditional institutions, writes Olawale Olaleye

T

he recent announcement by the Kano State Public Complaint and Anti-corruption Commission that its investigation into the Kano Emirate was suspended had earlier brought some kind of relief to the emirate.The respite was however fleeting as the State House of Assembly is equally investigating the emirate.Thus, in line with Section 16 of the Commission’s operational guideline, the state agency had to suspend its own action for the legislature.

Chairman of the Commission, Mr. Muhuyi Magaji Rimin Gado, told THISDAY in a phone conversation that the suspension of the investigation by the commission had become both imperative and compelling, saying “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,”he said.

He would later hint that the agency had achieved 80 per cent success into the investigation of alleged misapplication of N6 billion by the Kano Emirate Council, adding that the commission had also recorded a“water tight case against the emirate council”over the allegations of financial misappropriation. We have also identified our primary suspect in the course of the investigation,”he said. He however declined to name the suspect.

He reiterated that the commission had only suspended the probe to avoid a“crisis of concurrent investigation with the state House of Assembly and possible litigation by interested parties.”He would go on to add that the commission had discovered that“all the monies allegedly spent were not appropriated for contrary to the Kano State Emirate Council Law 2004.”Yet, the law requires the council to prepare annual budgets and submit same for appropriation by the legislature.

But the Kano Assembly, which recently set up an eightman committee to investigate some of the allegations against Sanusi has tried to rationalise its intervention.

Speaker of the assembly, Kabiru Alhassan Rurum, constituted the panel following a point of order raised by the member representing Nasarawa constituency, Ibrahim Ahmad Gama.The lawmaker alleged that Sanusi had spread false information on the trip of the Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, to China recently to hold discussions on a light rail project in the state. He also insisted that the statement attributed to the emir was capable of tarnishing the governor’s image, the state government and that of the assembly.

“The emir during his speech in Kaduna, alleged that the Kano State governor and his entourage, including me as the Chairman of the House Committee on Works, wasted one month in China seeking a loan to construct the light rail project.The emir’s statement was not true, we spent only four days in China, and our visit was to find out the capacity of the company to handle the rail project.

“His allegation has brought a lot of insults to my person, the state government and the House of Assembly by the general public in and outside the state,”he said, further taking a swipe at the emir for sending his daugh-

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

ter to represent him at a function organised by the Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) group in Abuja. He described it as inimical to the tradition of the Emirate Council.

“There are many responsible Emirate Council members, who could have represented him at the programme.

This is the first time we are seeing such in the history of the traditional home,”he added.

Importantly, he accused Sanusi of getting involved in political issues, the misappropriation of the Emirate Council’s funds and making statements against President Muhammadu Buhari. It was this submission that gave rise to the committee mandated to investigate the allegations.The committee was given two weeks to report back to the assembly.

Conversely, there is nothing wrong in making the emirate accountable especially where it is established that the leadership is profligate. But there is something curious and indefensible about the timing, coupled with the issues that are muddled up against Sanusi, in what appears a premeditated move to nail him.

Had the probe agency or the assembly taken this initiative prior to Sanusi’s statements that were later found to be politically offensive, this debate about the probe would have been unnecessary. But clearly, what he said at the Kaduna Summit was what gave rise to the move to probe him, perhaps, to silence him completely and make him defer to the state government.

In Abia, It’s a Closure to Politics

T

Ikpeazu

There is no debating the fact that the emir is truly neck-deep in completely extraneous political issues and is also expected to tread carefully in that slippery turf.

But to want to clandestinely gag a man of his status and standing would be counterproductive to the emirate and also lead to the perception of the government as grossly intolerant.

Both the state agency and assembly sound like they have an axe to grind with Sanusi. It is therefore unlikely that the probes would serve the cause of justice due to the perceived biases of those involved. Indeed, it appears that the probes are aimed at serving the interest of the government, which seems not comfortable with Sanusi.

Interestingly, there is a very sensitive political slant to this also. Sanusi was installed emir by former governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, who also made sure his former deputy, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, succeeded him. Sadly, both Kwankwaso and Ganduje are no longer in good terms.Thus, leading to the view in some quarters that the probe is a proxy war between the two political gladiators. It is against this backdrop and other unintended undercurrents that the state government must approach the matter with circumspection. While the entire emirate and state government await the outcome of the probe, the issue should be handled with great caution so as not to plunge the emirate and the entire state into crisis.

he Supreme Court ruling in the matter challenging the legitimacy of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State was long in coming.

The drama that dogged the suit would remain a worthy example in the political history of the state for many years to come. It has taken two wasted years for Governor Ikpeazu to continue in office without as much worrying about what lies ahead. But, all

of that has ended now even with his main challenger, Uche Ogah, conceding to the validity of his election, although he had no options as all possible judicial avenues had been exhausted.

Unfortunately, for the period the litigation lasted, the state suffered serious crisis of development. Whilst the governor had tried to downplay the effect of the distraction, which was said to have eroded the trust of investors and the confidence of development partners, the truth about

governance not taking shape was still evident, not on account of capacity but the mere distraction that the litigation constituted.

Curiously, the delay occasioned by the litigation would not form part of the scorecard the governor would take to the people in accounting for his stewardship the next time he goes to them for mandate renewal. This is why he must buckle up his chin strap and get really busy for the remainder of his mandate.

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BRIEFINGNOTES

Boko Haram’s New Propaganda The latest threat of attack by Boko Haram has raised the need for government to be more circumspect in the ongoing prisoner swap deals with the deadly sect, writes Olawale Olaleye

T

he prisoner exchange programme had never gone down well with an average Nigerian in the first place and the ill-feeling towards the idea didn’t start with the Muhammadu Buhari government. A majority of Nigerians consider the idea a subtle way of yielding to the caprice of a group that constitutes huge threat to the socio-political and economic fabric of the country. Yet, it is not one that is peculiar to Nigeria.

A fortnight ago, the federal government secured the release of 82 of the remaining kidnapped Chibok schoolgirls who were abducted in 2014. The news though enlivened the hitherto drab political atmosphere in the country, especially coming at a time the presidency was dealing with the health challenge of President Buhari. Curiously, it was not a feat recorded through military campaign; it was by negotiating with the terror group and in exchange for the release of some of their men held by government for various acts of terrorism.

President Buhari government had chosen to swap the 82 girls with Boko Haram prisoners as against paying a ransom to the terrorist group. The government, it was learnt, did not want a repeat of ransom payment, as the case was during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

But soon after the deal was struck, the Boko Haram commanders, who were swapped with the girls threatened to bomb Abuja in a new video obtained by Ahmad Salkida, a journalist believed to have access to leaders of the terror group.The video, released by the Abubakar Shekau faction, featured one Shuaibu Moni, a Boko Haram commander, who was one of those allegedly swapped for the girls.

In the video, Moni issued threats to the Nigerian government and President Buhari and also dismissed the story that only five insurgents were released in exchange for the Chibok girls. He then warned of imminent bombing in Abuja and insisted there’s been no dialogue with government and that there won’t be any.

Expectedly, the threat to launch attacks on Abuja had quickly fuelled apprehension and reservation about the viability of the prisoner exchange deals. The threat had also raised doubts among Nigerians about the effectiveness of the swap deals, which many feared might also swell the

depleting ranks of Boko Haram commanders.

But, in the midst of this, the federal government has reiterated that it was still pursuing the prisoner exchange option to secure freedom for the rest of the schoolgirls.

And sensing the import of the fresh threat, the Nigerian Army too came out to dismiss the Boko Haram video as mere propaganda meant to seek relevance. Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier-general Sani Usman, told the public not to panic, saying the video is a mere publicity stunt by a terrorist organisation on its last legs.

He said, “As you are all aware, he (Moni) 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 on 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 glamourised terrorists and their criminal acts.”

In the same vein, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Abayomi Gabriel Olanisakin, said the terror group would soon be history. He stated this when the staff and members of the United Kingdom Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS) led by Major General Lawrence Craig paid a visit on him at the Defence Headquarters Abuja. He was represented by the Chief of Defence Policy and Plans, Air Vice Marshal Bashir Saidu.

“Terrorism and insurgency are global security challenges and the Defence Headquarters has recorded significant victory over the Boko Haram terrorists, who hitherto halted socio-economic activities in the Northeast,” he said, adding that “with the reinvigorated armed forces of Nigeria and the collaboration of the Multinational

Joint Task Force, the Boko Haram terrorists menace would soon be over.”

Understandably, one of the downsides to the exchange deal, which some have identified as strategic is the fact that the federal government is dealing with a divided group, complicated by leadership rivalry. What this means in effect is that even if a faction plays along in whatever discussions, the other faction could choose to throw spanner in the works, thus compounding such moves.

Although details of the deal are not known to the public yet, what is clear from the latest development is that government has not had a profound negotiation with the sect while the emerging threat from them proves that the deal, whatever the terms were, might have put the sect in a position of strength.

It could be convenient for Usman and Olanisakin to dismiss the threats by the sect for argument purposes.

They are serious threats and cannot be wished away. It is pertinent to state that apart from the fight against corruption which government is still struggling with, the fight against terror is another area designated as its strength and cannot afford to take incalculable risk that would undermine national security and pride.

Therefore, the news that government is still talking to the group with respect to securing the release of the rest of the girls is cheering. It is important that it has learnt from this very experience and that in moving forward, negotiations cannot further weaken the position of the federal government, while bolstering the sect. Evidently, the fight against terror is far from being over but certainly not impossible.

Importantly, government must note that the process of debriefing the girls is a very serious one that is germane to the successful fight against terrorism. Otherwise, the girls, having spent about three years with their abductor are as useful for the insurgents as they are good to be back in the embrace of their friends and family. A close monitoring of the girls is therefore a major security concern that cannot be taken with levity. There is no doubting the fact that a majority of them might have developed affinity with their abductors, the reasons some of them were said to have refused to return home. What this implies is that the debriefing and monitoring process are going to be unending until the grey areas are certified safe. Government would have failed should the girls become useful to the terrorists than the state.

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SUNDAY INTERVIEW

Kuru

PHOTOS: ETOP UKUTT

Ahmed Lawan Kuru

300 NPLs Account for 70% of 14,000 Bad Loans Acquired by AMCON

Mr. Ahmed Lawan Kuru, managing director of the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria, does not have an easy job. The entity, which he heads acquired non-performing loans (NPLs) of banks and in pursuit of the corporation’s mandate as provided by the AMCON Act 2010, he is constantly interfacing with men of power and influence who could not meet their debt obligations to financial institutions. From banking to aviation, his footprints are obvious as he goes about recovering bad loans. This has cost him treasured friendships in some cases and expanded the camps of those who loathe his resolute commitment to his assignment. But he says he is unperturbed by this as he sees his work as crucial to growth of the economy and national development. His finance sector background prepared him for this current assignment. A budget analyst with the Federal Ministry of Finance in the mid-80s, Kuru started his banking career over three decades ago with Habib Bank. Prior to his appointment as the chief executive officer of AMCON, he was the Group Managing Director of former Enterprise Bank Limited. At his waterfront office in Marina, Lagos, this alumnus of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, who will be two years in the saddle in three months, shares his experience with Tokunbo Adedoja and Olaseni Durojaiye. Excerpts:

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SUNDAY INTERVIEW

300 NPLs Account for 70% of 14,000 Bad Loans Acquired by AMCON Cont’d from Pg. 67

H

ow has your background as

situations currently we cannot sell some off the assets because if we sell them we’ll have more attrition in terms of recovery rate.

AMCON’s work basically is banking related. Of course you know that AMCON was set up to purchase Non-performing loans away from the financial institutions.There’s this joke in the banking sector that when everybody is tired ofyou, in those days banks don’t sack people anyhow, due process has tobe followed, it is a recent development that you wake up one day andyou hear that they have sacked 300 people; in those days you follow quite a number of processes. If within the system there is somebody that is not performing in marketing, not performing in the back office, what we used to do in those days is to send them to debt recovery department ormedia department or credit worker department, because those places arelike a dumping ground of the banks. Now AMCON has the misfortune ofbuying all those credits and basically that is what we do day in dayout.

So I can tell you that the experience that one has garnered in the banking sector is very relevant to what one does now; all one needs to add to that is to sharpen one’s negotiation skill, sharpen your restructuring skill, sharpen your resolution mechanism and also develop a more broad mindedness because more than what happens inthe banks, here you also try to see the possibility of breathing life back into those credits.

So I can tell you that what we’ve learnt in the banking industry has tremendously helped us with what we’re doing here and that is why the majority of our staff is from the banking industry.

The three banks taken over by AMCON - Enterprise, Mainstreet and Keystone Bank – have been successfully sold, but why did it take a longer time to get Keystone off your plate?

a seasoned banker helped as Managing Director of the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON)?

What is the number of bad loans in AMCON’s portfolio and the percentageof non-performing loans in the banking industry at the moment?

AMCON purchased roughly around 14, 000 loans the financial institutions and we paid about N1.7 the loans were valued then at about N3.3 trillion, and other hand we also provided financial accommodaabout N2.2 trillion.But the funny thing is that about those 14,000 loans which is less than five per cent, acfor more than 70 per cent of the total outstanding of loans that were purchased. So if I focus on the 300 I attacking more than 70 per cent of my loan book. So see that there is more preponderance of the heavy more than the smaller loans.

As you are aware, the non-performing loans in industry at that time was more than 40 per cent and was why AMCON was created so that AMCON buy the non-performing loans and provide liquidity banks so that the banks will have the opportunity to liquidity back into the economy; and at that time we able to reduce the non-performing loans to less than cent regulatory requirements as set out by the Central Nigeria (CBN).

Recovery of NPLs is a Herculean task, particularly society where people take loans without any intenrepay. What is the recovery rate so far and what challenges faced in the course of doing that?

I think it has to do with the process and the economy at the time. At the time that the first two banks were sold the economy was not badly hit by what we now like to call recession and when we started that process was when it was declared that we had recession.

When we started the process there were more than 26 entities showing interest but one by one they dropped off because the economy at the time wasn’t doing very well and when the economy is not doing very well the banking industry is about the most badly hit. It was a very tedious process for the advisers based on what they set out to achieve particularly because, as I said before, the interest that it generated at the beginning; so by the time that the economy started to contract it affected their ability to keep to the programme.

Even after the process was completed the regulatory clearance also took a while because the regulators also needs time to verify certain things and get approvals before it was announced; but for us what is most important is that there must be a process that is dependable and transparent and that we can defend the process. I think that was why it seemed like it took longer time.However, I can tell you that, because I was MD of Enterprise Bank whenit was being put up for sale, it look longer time to conclude the saleof Enterprise Bank compared to Keystone Bank. It took more than one year, almost two years to conclude that one, but because there was so much information around during the process of selling Enterprise Bank people didn’t notice that it was taking that long. When we did the analysis, we realised that it took longer time because Enterprise Bank was the first to be sold; of course Mainstreet Bank took shorter time.

But in terms of when the process was started and when it was completed the process of selling Keystone Bank took shorter time than when Enterprise Bank was sold.

from trillion, on the tion of 300 of counts t h e will be you can loans t h e that could to the lend the were five per Bank of

in a tion to are the

Like you rightly pointed out, debt collection is one of the most difficult thing that you can go through. If you have a neighbor and he comes to you and say borrow me N 1 0 , 000 when I get my salary I will pay back and you lend him the N10,000, the moment salary day is approaching you’ll begin to see some friction between you and your neighbour because typically he doesn’t want to pay. If you now transposed t h a t into the corporate level you will be surprised at the kind of challenges that we go through in terms of debt recovery. Let us not forget that the basic role of the financial institutions Kuru is to lend money; if you look at the balance sheets of most of the banks more than 60 to 70 per cent of revenue are from interest earnings, which means loans are very key to the profitability of financial institutions. Now the only thing that will make a financial institution to sell a loan tells you that they have lost all manner of hope of that loan coming back. More than 80 per cent of the loans that comes back to AMCON have been restructured and restructured over time.

Like I always say, some of the loans were brought to AMCON inside the incubator, some were inside ICU (Intensive Care Unit) and some of them were already inside the coffin.

In some of the banks, they had written off the facilities but suddenly there is an opportunity to get some liquidity out of some of the facilities so they went into their warehouses and dusted the documents and they sold it to AMCON. Now it is thought that there is a magic wand in AMCON such that when you knock on somebody’s door and say pay your debt, the person will just bring out his cheque book and write you the amount he owes. And like I said, quite a number of those companies are already dead. So the recovery process was and is still very tedious.

Again, the assumption at the beginning was that if I buy a loan with a book value of N3.2 trillion and I pay N1.7 trillion and I provided for financial accommodation of N2.3 trillion, it presupposes that, with our inflationary trend in Nigeria, property that owes N10, if you kept it for three to four years, usually it should appreciate to about N30 to N40 based on our inflationary

AMCON has done well in the financial services sector, especially with the rescued banks all of which now have new owners. How optimistic are you that the corporation will replicate same level of success in the aviation industry with the takeover of Aero and Arik air?

trend, but unfortunately in the last couple of years things slowed down a bit, so the assumption that we will be able to get more value for some of the asset – because the N1.7 trillion were backed up with assets while the N2.2 trillion which is the financial accommodation is not backed up with asset – the assumption was that the excess from N1.7 trillion will take care of the N2.2 trillion that is not backed up by asset; however, the contrary happened.

So we are left with no option than to communicate, negotiate and litigate. In the last six years we’ve been talking to people, in the last six years there were instances where we put money in the businesses and nothing has worked. So we’re now left with no option than to litigate because we can’t arrest people on the street. If you have been talking to somebody for the past six years and it is not achieving any results, the only option left is to resort to the courts which is why more often than not you see us going to the courts because many Nigerians are not ready to pay back their loans; and if I told you that less than five per cent (of loan defaulters) accounts for more than 70 per cent of the total loan portfolio, so that tells you that they are not ordinary people, even though ordinary people also don’t like to pay back loans; we’re talking of billions and billions of naira.

So in terms of recovery rate we’ve been able to achieve 35 per cent of our recovery in terms of forfeiture and cash because what we also do is if you have an asset and you are unable to pay us, we ask you to forfeit the asset to us. We have quite a number of those assets that we’re holding and because of the economic

The aviation sector is another ball game altogether. When I think of the aviation sector I get worried and I’ll tell you why. Any sector of the economy that you cannot say there is a business or company in that sector that has successfully operated in that sector for more than 10years, then there is a problem somewhere. You can’t pick one airline and saythis airline has successfully operated for more than 10 years; that tells you that there is a structural problem more than the entrepreneurial calling. Some of the guys that have invested in the aviation industry have invested in other sectors and they’ve been successful meanwhile there are issues in the aviation industry.

So to my mind, I think more than the businesses, there is the need to look at the structure of the aviation industry from the regulatory perspective and from the government perspective, and I think the Minister of Aviation (Mr. Hadi Sirika) has realized that.

I think he is doing a good job of looking at some of those issues in terms of providing infrastructure, looking at some of the fees to ensure that it applies to standard.

Unfortunately, it is one of the industries that are heavily dependent on foreign exchange. If you want to buy, even a plug, it is foreign exchange related. So there must be availability of foreign exchange to run an airline. So if you have to go and get FX at the rate of N400 or N450, you have to struggle to get aviation fuel - it actually accounts for more than 45 per cent of their expenses; then they have to go and borrow money at the rate of 30 per cent and also deal with some of the regulatory charges. We really need to take a critical look at the industry template. I believe that is where the

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SUNDAY INTERVIEW

Our Intervention in Arik is not a Debt Recovery Move, But to Keep the Airline Flying Cont’d from Pg. 68 solution to the problem of the industry lies.

As a journalists, ask yourself or attempt an analysis of what has happened to the Okada, Kabo, Chachangi, Sosoliso, ADC, Albarka and the likes; what has happened to all of them? Of course there are issues of corporate governance because some of them were ran like one man business where the owner of the business is the chairman, the MD and the Director of Finance; you do have those issues because there is always a link between governance and performance; but I believe the problem of the industry is a combination of so many things. The good thing is the minister of Aviation is currently looking at these things given the information that we have.

Apart from Aero and Arik, are there any other airline that are of interest to you in terms of non-performing loans?

Yes. AfriJet is still with us, IRS is still with us, same thing with Bellview, Air Nigeria is with us and I am talking of those that are already down; substantially from the old ones but thankfully new and good airlines are also entering the market. Like Medview, Air Peace; they are helping to reduce the pressure as to what is happening in the aviation industry. But like I said it is important that the reform that the minister is looking at is thoroughly looked at because the issues confronting the industry are still there.

There is the need to look at availability of aviation fuel, there is the need to look at the rate at which they borrow money which translates to cost of transportation. From Lagos to Abuja if you’re not careful you’ll pay as much as N35,000. Now N35,000 is a lot of money for many Nigerians and even at that rate the airlines are barely breaking even. N35,000 is a lot of money for many Nigerians and even at that rate the airlines are bleeding.

Thank God the CBN has been working very hard and we’re beginning to see some traction, supply of FX to the aviation industry is becoming easier so they can import spare parts, tires and have maintenance checks abroad. If they want to do C-Check the cost runs into millions of dollars; by the time you convert that into Naira, then when they bring back the aircraft, to recoup that money also takes a lot if you consider the load factor. There are few lucrative routes, if you take away Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt the airlines are merely doing balancing on some of the other routes because they also need to network. So it is a challenging industry.

There is an ongoing controversy over the debt profile of Arik. There are claims and counter claims on this. What is the actual debt profile of that company and is its debt far more than its assets as claimed?

I think there has been a lot of communication around that even though when it comes to the Aviation industry you have to be very careful not to put too much out there because it is an industry that rely so much on safety, and I am very happy that Aero and Arik pay very high premium on safety issues, they also have very good maintenance facilities locally.

That said, AMCON’s exposures to Arik is in excess of N142 billion. AMCON intervened in Arik to ensure that Arik continues to fly. Arik was beyond just being a business, the airline just needs to continue to fly because it is one of the few airlines that connect almost every part of Nigeria.

The airline used to have about 30 aircraft but by the time we intervened their fleet had reduced by more than 70 per cent; and we could see that if we had not intervened at the time we did, based on information available to us, the airline would have stopped to operate in two or three weeks thereafter.

So intervening in Arik was not a recovery move like go into a place, appoint a receiver and we sell what we can sell and move out. It was more to ensure that the airline continues to fly and I can assure you that we’ve been doing so much to ensure that the airline continues to fly; we will continue to add to the fleet but of course we must have an exit strategy because AMCON will never manage or participate in managing any business because that is not our call; our call is to pursue companies for the recovery of our money and if in the pursuit of that money there is the need for us to get involved in running that business what we do is we go and look for professionals in the industry who people cannot ordinarily question their choice.

In Arik for example, we went for Captain Roy Alagbado - he is one of the finest guys you can talk about in the industry - to go and manage it, independent of AMCON because we have no interest in the managing of the business; and that is why it is surprising when people alleged that AMCON has taken over Arik. AMCON has not taken over the airline.

I can’t manage an aviation business, manage businesses in food and beverage industry, manufacturing, financial services, and still go after business in the oil and gas sector, real estate and more; how would I have the skills.

We’re only a resolution company. But of course if I have to go into any industry for recovery effort I will look for professionals in that particular industry for the holding period; only for the holding period while I work out my exit strategy.

Controversial as the intervention in Arik may have become, depending on who you are talking to, I think we are all witnesses to what Arik had become at that stage in terms of delayed flight, total cancellation of flights. Certainly if you were servicing a route with 20 to 30 aircraft and suddenly you only have seven, eight or nine certainly you can’t keep your commitments, yet your overhead is fixed. So there must be some kind of intervention to protect the airline and I think AMCON’s intervention actually saved Arik because if our intention was to recover our money we will simply take possession of aircraft and then put it up for sale; and we will leave trade creditors to Arik Air to deal with. Contrary to that, our intention was to ensure that the airline continues to fly and I think we have kept to that intention; what we now

need to do is to work out what is the next stage for the airline.

Recently, the Finance Minister disclosed that some investors were expressing interests in Aero and Arik, the two airlines that were taken over by AMCON. Can you shed more light on that and how soon do we expect to get these airlines to return to the path of profitability?

There has been quite a lot of interests. Even yesterday I had a meeting with some of the previous owners. We have received tremendous, serious proposals from people that have shown interest in both Aero and Arik; in a country of 160 to 170 million people, a country that is very wide and diverse, means of transportation is very key. And while we are trying to get the train network back on track, air travel will continue to be relevant.Good enough, quite a number of the interests that we have received areinterested in budget travelling, such that if you are going to Abuja you should

Like I always say, some of the loans were brought to AMCON inside the incubator, some were inside ICU (Intensive Care Unit) and some of them were already inside the coffin. In some of the banks, they had written off the facilities but suddenly there is an opportunity to get some liquidity out of some of the facilities so they went into their warehouses and dusted the documents and they sold it to AMCON. Now it is thought that there is a magic wand in AMCON such that when you knock on somebody’s door and say pay your debt, the person will just bring out his cheque book and write you the amount he owes. And like I said, quite a number of those companies are already dead. So the recovery process was and is still very tedious

be able to book a seat for N5000 or maximum of N10,000; so there are quite a lot of interests. When you go to a place like Europe you find such airlines that are cheap so that people can be able to afford them.

And like I said, we are talking to people, even the owners, to try and make it easy for people to invest because whether we like it or not, both airlines require the injection of fresh money and that money must not come by way of debt because it will kill the company, it must come by way of cash. It must come by way of equity because if you borrow money at the rate of 20 to 25 per cent, what is your margin? You don’t make profit margin of five or ten per cent in aviation. If you borrow money at the rate of 20 to 25 per cent and then you still have to deal with some other related issues, like your expenses, it further depresses your margin.

So there are quite a lot of interests and our initial projection was that within the first 90 days we should be able to work out something that will be long lasting and we are still working along that line. I expect that within this year we should be able to achieve our goal because these are legacy airlines that are very strong brands that we can’t allow them to fizzle away; we must ensure that they remain in operation profitably and these has been our objective.

There speculations that the two airlines would likely form the takeoff platform of the proposed national carrier by the federal government. How true is this?

It is not possible and people that are familiar with the way financing work will tell you the same. If an airline has a debt obligation of almost N300 billion, how do you create a national carrier out of it?

If I have N100 billion I can set up a brand new airline unencumbered, without any problem. Like in Arik, everyday you have new claims on the business, you can’t fly Arik international now because they have debts and over there if they don’t play, they can impound the aircraft.

Let me shed more light on how airline business works. For example if you pick Arik, Arik may have 30 aircraft, but many of the aircraft belong to different entities, may be 10 belong to AMCON, another five may belong to Zenith Bank, another number belong to Access Bank, the aircraft all have different owners; the way the airline business is structured is too complicated.

That said, I can tell you categorically that it has never been discussed and I don’t think it makes any sense at all to propose the two airlines as take off platform for the new national carrier being proposed. If government wants to set up a national carrier, they are better off starting afresh and I think they are aware of that, they recently appointed advisers regarding that. If they have N100 billion they can lease 50 aircraft, you don’t need more than N10 billion to set up a structure and build a terminal, then you can go and get new, small bodied aircraft on lease agreement that can fly from one place to another.

Thinking of converting Arik or Aero into a national carrier will be a disaster, that, I can tell you and nobody has ever thought about that, it is all gist from the street.

There was the issue of a N50 billion naira loan involving Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim and Union Bank, how was this

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• MAY 21, 2017

SUNDAY INTERVIEW

On Average, I Make Five Enemies Every Week in the Pursuit of My Assignment Cont’d from Pg. 69 But I can tell you that nobody is under any kind of illusion now that government will bring out money to go and buy over non-performing loans, I don’t think so. The best that can happen is to have a private sector driven kind of mechanism whereby a kind of pool is created so that people can come and cherry pick.... AMCON didn’t cherry pick, AMCON bought all manner of rubbish. But I don’t see any situation where the kind of thing that happened with AMCON will happen again

resolved eventually?

Unfortunately we are in court on the matter and I will not be able to enter into discussion on that. The corporation’s objectives include buying up non-performing loans from the banks, re-capitalising them, and finding buyers to run them in a transparent way, are you confident that these objectives have been carried out well by the corporation in a manner that would discourage a reoccurrence of the circumstances that led to their acquisition in the first place?

I think these are two different situations. When AMCON was set up it was a reaction to the global economic crisis. You will recall that that was not the first time that the Nigerian banking sector will go into crisis; there was the failed Banks Tribunal in the past where people were taken to and prosecuted. Banks were allowed to fail in Nigeria; government had never been involved with injecting money into financial institutions before but due to the global financial crisis of 2008 and 2009, governments were inclined to put money into businesses. Even in the US, the Obama administration put monies in companies, banks, General Motors and others because of the financial crisis and because they couldn’t allow the economy to fail and they know that the financial institutions are the bedrock of any economy, once you fail to protect the financial institutions against failing, once you fail to provide financial liquidity to the financial institution to be able to jumpstart the economy with, that becomes a problem for the government too. So it was a totally different situation at that time and it was a kind of global framework that was applied here in Nigeria at the time.

But I can tell you that nobody is under any kind of illusion now that government will bring out money to go and buy over non-performing loans, I don’t think so. The best that can happen is to have a private sector-driven kind of mechanism whereby a kind of pool is created so that people can come and cherry pick.

There are equity firms that have funds for bad loans, they will come sit down with you and look at the loans, then they will cherry pick some of the loans that they want to buy, buy them, then turn the loans around and then walk out of it.

AMCON didn’t cherry pick, AMCON bought all manner of rubbish. But I don’t see any situation where the kind of thing that happened with AMCON will happen again.

Are you confident that you have handled the issues involved in a way that banks will not indulge in those practices again?

There are two things here. Whether banks will engage in booking credits that are not good is another issue and it is for the regulators to deal with and I think the CBN is working on that to make sure non-performing loans remain within the regulatory framework.

Whether if those loans crystalise and there is a structure in place that will go and take over collaterals for the loans, I don’t think that one will happen again. That is not the mood of this government; I don’t think this government will use public money to safeguard private entities.

Indeed your tenure has been very active with debt recovery, often times involving top shots and big influential Nigerians, have you had to pay a price for taking on such people, in terms of threat to your safety?

I can tell you that it has not been a very smooth ride because

we are dealing with big men. On the average I make five enemies every week. Everybody has a perspective as to how he feels his issue should be resolved and they don’t realize that AMCON has a limitation as to what kind of resolution they should accept because there is a recovery rate; once it is below that, AMCON’s discretion ceases from there because these are structures that was set up by the CBN. There’s a joke that I share with my friends that the assignment that my colleagues and I carry out at AMCON is a very dangerous one because we’re telling people that are not used to being told to come and pay their debts that they just have to come and pay.However, what has made our job easier and somewhat tougher is that with the current government you cannot go and curry favours from anywhere then come here to put anybody under pressure. Nobody interferes with what we do here and nobody dares to do that because the system is not created to tolerate such. We have tremendous support from the CBN, we enjoy fantastic support from the honourable minister of finance; we have excellent support from the government; all they tell us is that you go and do your job. Nobody comes here to tell us that go and do this and that to that person, and that makes it easier for us to do our job.

On the flip side it puts you under a lot of danger because people are used to doing things with impunity, people like to curry favours in some places and when they tell them in those places that they should go and settle with AMCON it presupposes that it is only AMCON that can give the kind of concessions that they are seeking, meanwhile AMCON doesn’t even have the concession, and so at that stage it becomes personal. There are quite a number of people that we don’t even talk anymore.

Additionally, from where we’re coming from some people have certain expectations of what they believe AMCON is capable of doing or the extent to which they believe AMCON is capable of supporting them. Unfortunately AMCON is not.

And by my own calling, I have the misfortune of telling people as it is and that sometimes create problems because people feel that you’re being difficult; they fail to realize that we have limitations.

If I bought a loan of N100 million and the loan is with me, I don’t have the powers to collect N80 million from you. As the MD of AMCON I may have a recommendation power but for me to recommend something it must also make sense to the people that I’m recommending it to. So you see that it is a very tough job. I always tell people in a joking manner that AMCON is like the commercial side of EFCC. Nobody wants to pay debt, then again quite a lot of people here that needs to pay don’t have the means to pay. Some that have the means to pay still don’t want to part with their assets. But from AMCON’s perspective the words that you cannot pay does not exist; the moment that it exists in our record, that in itself begins to hinder the ability of the debtor to pay. What we know is how much can you pay? What concession can we give? What waiver can we give you? But you must pay.

We spent a lot of money purchasing the loans and there is

always collateral, the model permits that if you cannot pay you forfeit the collateral on it and I sell the collateral to recover my money. Yet, a lot of people have issues with that.

Again, most of these businesses are in bad shape. Now if you have a very bad loan of N100 million and I purchase that loan from Bank A and there is a collateral supporting that, I can tell you that it is practically impossible for you pay back the loan within the scope of that business; you have to do asset forfeiture because that business is already challenged, that is why it is with AMCON. Now for you to give me a promise that I should give you three or four years that you will pay from that business is not possible. That is why 90 per cent of the restructuring proposal that we have entered into with people is not working because the business has failed even before it came to AMCON. 95 per cent of the businesses that we have tried to inject money in is not working.

When people say that AMCON has taken over Aero, I say to them that even before AMCON intervened in Aero the airline had been challenged. If the airline is not having problem it won’t end up with AMCON. AERO had problems with Oceanic Bank that is why it is with AMCON, (there is a N24 billion loan that was used to purchase the loan. When it came to AMCON, we came to realise that there is no way that you can run the business and pay back the N24 billion loan; the airline’s revenue cannot even service the interest alone, more so 70 per cent of the airlines’ aircraft are under lease.

So when AMCON realized that they can’t pay the loan and they are not paying, there are two options: One, you fold your arms and allow the airline to go dead completely and then you lose the airline and you lose the N24 billion with which you purchased the loan because it is an airline that is built on lease structure.

The second option is for you to go in there and see if you could use some initiatives to save the airline and then you say let us convert some of the debts to equity and then about N14 billion of the debt was converted to 60 per cent equity in the airline. By so doing, you have reduced the debt and you have also reduced the interest because AMCON borrowed money to buy the loans so there will continue to be interests. With all of that you could see that it is already a challenged airline. There were issues within the legacy owners, there were stealing from inside.

So without AMCON going into Aero there wouldn’t have been any airline called Aero today; we would have been referring to it as we refer to ADC. Many people think because AMCON is there, cases should be fast-tracked, they don’t realize that AMCON is not a bad bank; it is a bank that warehouses bad bank loans. It has to be understood from the very beginning that if the business is doing very well it won’t be in AMCON. If the business is doing well some of the financial institutions would have approached AMCON with offers to buy the loans. But people feel because it is government money you must continue to pump money into it; if you must pump money into an entity it must make business sense.

The only area that we entered into what does not make business sense is Arik because it was important for us thatArik doesn’t fail because Arik goes to some areas that no other airline goes to.

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• MAY 21, 2017

CICERO/REPORT

How Chime’s Defection is Ruffling Feathers in Enugu PDP The defection of a former governor of Enugu State, Sullivan Chime, to the All Progressives Congress seems to be ruffling some feathers in the Coal City, writes Christopher Isiguzo

T

he recent defection of former Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State to the All Progressives Congress (APC) has suddenly ignited political activities in the state as top political leaders within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have commenced moves to possibly whittle down the impact of the former governor’s exit from the party.

Prior to his exit from the PDP sometime in March this year, the former governor had maintained a low political profile almost two years after he handed over the reins of governance to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

Even though he has always been in the state, he had hardly featured in political activities within the period.

Perhaps, the only major engagements he had after May 29, 2015, when he handed over power were the countless solidarity visits by different groups from across the three senatorial zones in the state during which they applauded his 8-year reign as governor.

One of such groups then, the Udi people led by all who mattered in the state – the traditional rulers, political leaders, opinion moulders, and religious leaders – had welcomed Chime back and presented him with a warrior-statue, which according to them, showed that their son had successfully taken the state to the next level. They also told Governor Ugwuanyi not to deviate from the development path but ensure that he maintained his campaign promises of running a government of seamless continuity and consolidation.

But suddenly, with the former governor’s exit from the PDP and formal defection to the APC, even those who had rolled out carpets to receive him when he left office have hurriedly returned to roll back their carpets and in the process “pressured to take back their kind words”.

For instance, a group from Umuneke Udi, same kindred with Chime and led by a former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Gary Eneh, came out to dissociate itself from the former governor’s defection to the APC, accusing Chime of poor performance during his time as governor. They went ahead to pledge their allegiance to Governor Ugwuanyi, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu and Hon. Denis Amadi representing Udi/Ezeagu federal constituency.

Another set of people also came from Udi North and alleged that their area was abandoned during Chime’s reign. According to them, the construction of the long stretch of Eke-Ebe-Egede-Umulokpa-Afa road by Chime’s administration was not enough.

But undaunted by the attacks which according to him were intended to stop him from joining the APC, the former governor on May 6, organised a registration awareness rally at the expansive Community Secondary School, Udi-Abia, where the state literally stood still.

The rally, which was seen as the first of its kind in the South-east for APC, attracted an unprecedented crowd of party faithful from the 17 local government areas. In attendance were the party’s National Chairman, Chief John Odigie Oyegun; Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal; National Organising Secretary, Senator Osita Izunaso; and Chief George Moghalu amongst other members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).

There were also the national vice-chairman, South-east, Chief Emma Eneukwu; former Speaker of the State Assembly, Eugene Odoh; Chime’s opponent in the 2011 governorship election, Okey Ezea; and the Director General, Voice of Nigeria, Osita Okechukwu.

Former Senate President, Ken Nnamani (who

Chime...exploring new grounds

was out of the country at the time); former governor of old Anambra State, Jim Nwobodo,; former National Secretary of the defunct United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP), Gbazuagu Nweke Gbazuagu; Chief Baywood Ibe; and veteran actors, who were out of the state sent their goodwill messages.

After personally receiving Chime into the party, Oyegun said: “I have been to the east several times but this is the greatest visit. Change has finally come to Enugu State. South-east is special because for too long you have been yearning for change,” expressing optimism that the APC would sweep the South-east in the next general election and dismissed insinuations that the former governor joined the ruling party to escape EFCC prosecution.

“The coming Anambra State governorship election will be a test of what I am saying.

We have Anambra in our pocket. Abia is in our kitty. Or is it Ebonyi?” said Oyegun, who extolled the virtues of Chime, whom he said was the best performing governor during his dispensation and expressed joy that he has found his right direction by joining the progressives.

“I hope to return to the east very soon. This is more like the semi-finals. We are coming back here for the finals very soon,” he said.

National vice chairman, South-east of APC, said Chime was a big loss to PDP and a soothing gain by the APC. “Chime left PDP on his own volition. He did not leave because of any threat or intimidation. It is because of the calibre of man like Chime that the national officers led by the national chairman stormed Enugu to receive him into the party.”

But not done with Chime, another crowd of people under the aegis of Udi Consultative Forum led by Mr. Eric Chime stormed the Government House on a solidarity visit to the governor barely 24-hours after Chime’s registration rally in Udi. The group, which had traditional rulers and notable politicians including the Deputy Senate President, Ekweremadu, in its team expectedly took a swipe at the former governor insisting that his defection to the APC was akin to a political suicide.

Specifically, Ekweremadu identified political inexperience as the cause of Chime’s current travails and explained that if Chime were experienced in politics, he wouldn’t have taken a “voyage into the APC”. Ekweremadu refuted Chime’s claim that his (Chime) kinsmen, who have been opposing his entry into the APC were sponsored, noting that the people of Udi were independent-minded people.

Ekweremadu said Governor Ugwuanyi will go for a second term in office since the other two senatorial zones of Enugu West and Enugu East did two terms each. He also said it was not true that it was because of the crisis in the PDP that made Chime leave the party, adding that the former governor would have consulted the people and the PDP before leaving. He told the crowd that the problem in PDP would be resolved soon and that however the matter goes, their views would be sought before next line of action. Chime had in a pre-defection media conference given the reasons behind his decision, explaining that he informed all the people that needed to know about his exit from PDP. He however said “unless something remarkable happens”, his new party will clinch the governorship seat of the state by 2019, and declared the PDP a dead party. He said he was not yet sure, who would become the party’s candidate by then.

He also berated Ekweremadu for allegedly sponsoring protests and campaign of calumny against him with the sole intention of stopping his inevitable defection to the APC, while using the forum to dismiss as false and mischievous, recent claims by Ekweremadu that he did not provide appointments to people from his Aninri council during his reign as governor. He accused the senator of peddling falsehood against him and also sponsoring some political hirelings to rain abuses on him.

“PDP is dead and anybody running as PDP candidate will be wasting his time. There is going to be an election in Anambra State this year and the PDP may not even have a candidate. The Anambra election will teach them a lesson. Every serious politician in Anambra has already moved. I expect Peter Obi to end up in APC if he still wants to be politically active. Let’s

not speculate what will happen between now and then but I can assure that the change has come to Enugu State. PDP is now part of history in Enugu State.”

Chime, who spoke on a wide range of issues, equally decried the level of negative media reports against him, which he insisted were totally sponsored.

He said, “In about four weeks’ time, it will be exactly two years since I left office. Between then and now, a lot has been said about me, mostly negative. Most of the stories were being sponsored by whoever. I decided to stay away not just from the media but from politics. But events have formed me out from retirement.

“A lot has happened and not too long ago, I announced my resignation from that party, the PDP. Technically, you can say I left the party but actual fact, the party left me. The party left me because the party introduced to me in 1999 no longer exists. That party no longer exists. That party was badly run down, mismanaged. The party abandoned its constitution that used to guide us. The party eventually came to where it is today – dead. It is no longer a functional party.”

Speaking further, he said, “Today, we have two groups, each are laying claim to the leadership so wrongly, so unconstitutional. The one by Ali Modu Sheriff, he was appointed, never stood for any election, just to serve out the tenure of Bamanga Tukur after the exit of Adamu Mu’azu. That was how Sheriff came in. That tenure has since elapsed. But he is still claiming to be the chairman.

“On the other hand, Makarfi is claiming to be the chairman of a non-existing body he calls the caretaker committee. There is no provision for caretaker committee in PDP constitution. The makers of the constitution never envisaged the situation that later arose, so illegal, so unconstitutional. PDP is now a party without leadership; it has become a party without leadership and anything without leadership cannot be functional. They cannot even call for NEC. “I challenge them to call for NEC tomorrow.

I was a member of NEC as a serving and as a former governor. BoT is more or less advisory organ of the party, but there is no government in power, so the BoT is moribund. I’m not sure you will find any founding member of the PDP still in the party; they have either left the party or retired from politics out of frustration. So, in a nutshell, because of the collapse of the PDP, people started leaving. It was like embarking on a journey of no destination. People are disembarking from the vehicle called PDP, joining other vehicles to take them to their destinations.

On his decision to join the APC, he said “I have made my consultations; I have met with all the ward chairmen in the State. I met with all the local government chairmen. I have also met with all the members of the State exco of the party as well as the national leadership and they assured me that I have a place; that I can come in. They are excited having me in the party and I’m excited joining them.

“APC is the only viable party in the country that can take any politician to his destination. As of today, (we pray what happened to the PDP will not happen to the APC), APC is the only national party. They have governors in all the zones of the country. It is a national party, not a local party, so we are happy to join the party. I didn’t leave the PDP because of any other reason but because the party died. I said it before, may be the INEC is taking time. This is the time to formally deregister the PDP. The party that no longer plays by the rules should be deregistered.

Let them go to court but the question is: which of the factions will go to court?

(See the concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com)

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• MAY 21, 2017

DOWN THE MEMORYLANE Lucky Igbinedion

Igbinedion

Photos: Godwin Omoigui

At 60, I Feel Fulfilled Chief Lucky Nosakhare Igbinedion, a former governor of Edo State, started his political career at the grassroots in 1987 when he was appointed mayor of Oredo Municipality. Having made impact on the lives of his people at that level, it wasn’t difficult for him to clinch the governorship ticket of the National Republican Convention - one of the two registered political parties in the aborted Third Republic. Though his opponent and candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, was returned by the electoral body as winner of that gubernatorial poll, Igbinedion was declared winner by the election tribunal. But for the Court of Appeal, which upturned that decision, he would have been the first civilian governor of Edo State. He took that unfortunate decision in his strides and went back to his private business, though still keeping close tabs on the politics of Edo. In 1999, he had another date with history when he emerged winner of the governorship election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party. And for eight years, he administeredtheaffairsofthestatehavingbeenre-electedafterthefirstfouryears.Sinceheleftofficein2007,Igbinedion has been quiet politically. Penultimate Saturday, however, his family, friends and political associates gathered at his Asokoro residence in Abuja to celebrate his 60th birthday. In this interview with Iyobosa Uwugiaren, he speaks on how it feels to be 60, his experience in politics and his activities since he left office. Excerpts

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ixty years is a long journey. How do you feel right now?

I feel great; I thank God for health and I’m very happy. I just feel generally very terrific.

In getting to where you are today, what are those things you want to

remember?

I remember the good times and the turbulent times; but all in all, it has been very fulfilling. It has been satisfying.

It has been a very happy life for me - all encompassing. I have left no stone unturned in wanting to achieve different goals; I have achieved, both in the public and private sectors, which I have fully being into. I still have many more years ahead of me to actualise more dreams but the past dreams that I have actualised, I am grateful to God for and to those that have been my role models, those I have come across on the path of life. I am very satisfied.

What was the driving force in all these things?

My driving force has always been that there is no room for failure, and failure is not an option. I have always believed in hard work. I believe in my comfort; I believe in my independence both financially, politically and physically. I tend to work hard because I tend to do what gives me joy and not necessarily what I must do; but I look for things that give me joy; that will impact on my own life positively and the lives of other people.

Who really influenced you; who was the mentor that was behind you - in your struggle to be somebody in life?

Well, the major influencer of my life is my dad of course, and my mother, who goes everywhere in prayer before I get there. But my dad has always been my role model.

Obviously I have many other role models in the private and public sectors. Growing up, my dad set the rules; ensuring that I got education because at a very early age,

he told me, ‘listen, all what you see does not belong to you; it does not belong to your siblings,’ and that it belongs to him and he can do whatever he wanted with it; that the way to success was sound education. He told me that the only thing he owed us was education. I was very happy with that; and that opened my eyes. I have also tried to pass those values and message to my children today: work and don’t wait for handouts, or people telling you that you cannot do it because there is nothing that is not achievable.

If you can dream it, you can achieve it and once you set your mind on it, you will definitely achieve it.

Apart from your determination to succeed in life, I am sure your father’s identity as the Ezama of Benin Kingdom, really opened different doors for you?

Oh! Definitely. The solid foundation that he laid with some hard work, humanitarian gesture, and philanthropy activities definitely opened a lot of doors for me, and he has not soiled his name in any way. First and foremost, becoming the Mayor of Benin City, the ride was easy

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• MAY 21, 2017

DOWN THE MEMORYLANE • Unlike Private Sector, there iS Betrayal in PoliticS •

Continued on Pg. 72

say one thing in the morning, in the afternoon and in the night, they change. And you can even have meetings with them at by 1am and before 6am, they change their positions. I cannot deal with such people. That is why I have decided to shift more into the private sector, where I understand the people, where people are more civil, where people are more trustworthy, and where people say what they mean and do what they say. I am not saying there are no honourable men in politics, there are quite a few honourable men; but majority of them are just clowns.

I hate people that cannot just be man enough to their intentions – say the truth, speak the truth and abide by it.

In the private sector, I am still impacting in people’s lives, maybe even greater than as a governor because I can now employ people at my own time; and that is what actually gives me joy - when I see people that I employ and are undergoing my tutelage. Now that I am 60, I am setting up a foundation that will be impacting on the lives of ordinary people - as my own way of giving back, even though I believe the greatest way of giving back is creating jobs for people.

because of his name; becoming the Governor of Edo State, the ride was easy because of his name. So, I owe a lot to him for creating that solid foundation. If I was able to see further, it was because I was standing on a shoulder of a giant. Definitely, he has impacted a lot in my life; he has opened doors; he has created opportunities, and above all, he has not been restrictive in what I intend to do, he has let me to be and to set my own path. Even though I believe in the family businesses and I play my role, I believe it is also normal for me to cast the net wider and capture more territories in terms of business and political associates.

Right from the days as Chairman of Oredo Local Government Council and later the Governor of Edo State, is there anything you did that you think if you had another opportunity you’d do differently?

Well, definitely; we all learn from experience. There is no better teacher than experience. There are many things I did that I’m very proud of. I left legacy in the arena of governance. I don’t have any regret because everything I did, I did with an open mind, I did with all purposefulness. I am one person that sincerely believes in the continuity of government. The situation nowadays where you see people personalising the act of governance, was never my philosophy. I always believed that the little you did should be built upon by successive government rather than being condemned and abandoned. We have a lot of abandonments in government nowadays, and this is not good for our people because the idea of governance is for the people and not to glorify yourself because it is the people’s money you are spending. And so, no matter what any government does, you should find a way to continue. I believe this is the reason why our economy is still stagnant, why our development is still stagnant and why we appear to be walking backwards instead of taking steps forwards. You will find in most of the states, even at the federal government level, when you start castigating those that came before you, not realising that what you are actually doing is stemming the growth and impact on the people that the project is meant for. There are many examples that abound. Industries that were set up got crippled because they were initiated by previous government, they are completely abandoned. This is not personal; they create jobs and economic activities for the people. As for me, I don’t have any regret because I led by example; I led with an open heart; I led with all transparency and I built on past legacies, I did not come to destroy. Ambrose Alli University was formally Edo State University. I came and pumped in money into that place, built hostels, lecture theatres, improved on the roads and water system, and then I named it after Professor Ambrose Alli of blessed memory. Ogbemudia Stadium used to be called Ogbe

Lucky Igbinedion Stadium; it was completely run down and full of reptiles; the swimming pool was full of frogs; it was none usable but I came and extended it. I built an indoor sports hall; revamped the swimming pool, did the tracks, did the seating with modern seats and named it after General Samuel Ogbemudia. I did not start building new structures and abandoned existing ones because I believe in continuity and impacting people’s lives. The people that were not being paid before, I paid them including the pensioners.

I started doing promotions and employed more people into the teaching service. The policy of self-sustenance was discontinued because I believe that if you are government, government should pay you what is your due.

There are people you apparently helped to bring to power but were said to have betrayed you somewhere along the line. Does that change your perspective on how you now relate with people politically?

That is why I prefer the private sector; in the public sector or politics to be specific, you have a lot of betrayals.

People that are hungry and cannot stand the test of time, that don’t have integrity, people that believe politics is there as a means of being vindictive or a weapon of oppression. There are too many dishonest people, they

In other words, you are done with politics?

Politics, you can never be done with politics. It is just that you play different roles from different angles. Even business is politics and like they say: ‘all politics are localised’. I am not gunning for any elective post and as for being done in that manner, yes. I am done with politics, but definitely not when people come for advice.

Will I be voting? Yes. Am I still a member of a party, I am still a member of a party, not actively because I am not seeking for any elective post. If I am going to be seeking for any elective post, there is only one more left for me. I have done the first two that is significant in any election.

Is there anything you miss today—as being a governor of Edo State?

It is difficult to say because there was nothing I was doing as governor that I am not doing now, maybe even more. So, there is nothing I am really missing. Everything I did as governor, I am still able to do them today. Maybe apart from the executive power, but I have executive power over my staff members and my family; and I still impact positively. Governance is to impact positively on the lives of the people, giving them direction and leading by example. So, I am still carrying that responsibility. I am the first son of the Esama of Benin Dynasty, so I also have that responsibility to carry and the obligation to ensure that I continue in that good stead. Being a governor for eight years, I give thanks to God and I am glad I did it. There is no better experience than experiencing the act of being a leader of men; and I am doing what I have to do to ensure that I impact positively on the lives of people.

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

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he remains of former Military Governor of old Western Region, Major General, Robbert Adeyinka Adebayo (Rtd) was buried in lyin Ekiti, Ekiti State yesterday.. Before the body was interred, a funeral service was held at All Saint’s Anglican Church. There after, a reception took place at the family compound where guests were entertained by King Sunny Ade. Here are some of the faces of the personalities that attended the burial ceremony.

Photographs by Abiodun Ajala and Etop Ukutt Otunba Niyi and wife, Angela

L-R: Mr. Bamidele Olumilua and Chief Olu Falae

L-R: Pa Ayo Fasoranti and Chief Ayo Adebanjo

L-R: Chief Segun Osoba and Mr. Godwin Emefiele

L-R: Mr. Nduka Obaigbena and Comrade Adams Oshiomhole

L-R: Olori Ladun Sijuwade and Princess Funmi Ayodokun

L-R: Mr. Dele Alake and Mr. Demola Seriki

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Governor Abiola Ajimobi and wife, Florence

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo (left) and Otunba Niyi Adebayo

L-R: Mrs. Kemi Aseosun and Mr Segun Awolowo

L-R: Mr. Kayode Ojo and Mallam Nuhu Ribadu

L-R: Senator lke Nwachukwu and General Azubuike lhejirika (rtd.)

L-R: Ms. Enitan Akerele and Mrs. Adeola Yesufu

L-R: Mrs. Tokunbo Ajanaku-Ogunsanya, Mrs Bose Bakare and Mrs Dupe Adelaja

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L-R: Senator Chris Ngige and Governor Ayo fayose

L-R: Retired General David Jemibewon and General Alani Akinrinade (rtd)

L-R: Mr. Udoma Udo Udoma and Mr. Femi Ojodu

L-R: Chief Michael Ade-Ojo and Alhaja Sinatu Aderoju Ojikutu

L-R: Pastor ltuah lghodalo, Mr. Kassim lbrahim-lmam, Mr. Nduka Obaigbena and Mr. Chukwuma

L-R: Mr. Suresh Chellarams and Mrs. Onari Duke

R-L: General Chris Garuba and wife

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L-R: Mr. Tony Elumelu, Chief Segun Osoba and Alhaji Aliko Dangote

Cross section of member of Adebayo family

Governor lbikunle Amosun and his wife, Funso

L-R: Mr. Osagie Okunbor and Mr. Sam Nwajokwu

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo(middle)flanked by Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (left) and Gov. Ayo Fayose

L-R: Mr. Toyin Okeowo and Mr. Tunde Ayeni

L-R: Governor Aminu Tambuwal and Mr. Fidelis Anosike

L-R: Prof. Ayo Akinlua and Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele

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GAVEL TO GAVEL

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

House of Representatives in session

Startling Revelations at Public Hearing into Abuse of Due Process The House of Representatives Committee on Public Procurement recently conducted a public hearing into the alleged breach of the Public Procurement Act 2007 in the engagement of consultants for pre-shipment inspection, monitoring of crude and gas exports. The revelations are disturbing, writes Damilola Oyedele

T

he Public Procurement Act (PPA) of 2007 was enacted to ensure probity, accountability and transparency in the procurement process, through the application of fair, competitive and transparent standards and practices for the procurement and disposal of public assets and services.

Enforced by the Bureau of Public Procurement, the Act is also intended to promote cost effectiveness and professionalism in the public sector procurement system.

The PPA is considered one of the most effective tools that can be deployed in the anti-corruption fight, as it is also intended to ensure that only companies that adhere to regulations and enacted legislations secure government contracts to provide goods and/

or services.

The Act however continues to be violated often by government officials themselves, allegedly so, when awarding contracts. They are said to willfully award contracts to firms that have defaulted in their tax requirements, and who do not meet their obligations to the Pension Commission of Nigeria, Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund and Industrial Training Fund, among others.

In some cases, such as found during a recent investigative hearing into procurement processes in the Niger Delta amnesty programme, firms that were not registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), were discovered to have been awarded contracts running into millions of dollars.

The latest discovery by the House of Representatives Committee on Public

Procurement is that companies that did not meet the PPA requirements were engaged by the Ministry of Finance as Pre-shipment Inspection Agents (PIAs) for pre-shipment inspection and monitoring of crude oil and gas exports from Nigeria.

Allegations of Breach of PPA The investigation followed a motion on March 1, 2017, and sponsored by Hon. Babatunde Kolawole (Ondo PDP) in view of allegations that the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, had overseen a process that saw to the selection of non-responsive companies that did not meet basic statutory requirements like possession of valid PENCOM Certificates as required by the Public Procurement Act. President Muhammadu Buhari, in June

2015, in a memo obtained by THISDAY had approved that the Finance Ministry could process engagement of pre-shipment inspectors through selective tendering approved by the Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP).

He specifically directed that only companies that are experienced and already active preshipment agents should be shortlisted, thus rejected a recommendation, in the memo, that new set of pre-shipment inspection agents should be engaged. Due to the directive, 65 companies were selected to participate in the bidding stage.

Interestingly, however, in what has been interpreted as disobedience to a presidential directive, the Minister of Finance, in December 2015, reportedly cancelled the tendering process on the grounds of lack of transparency, accountability and on the

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Dogora

basis of a formal complaint from the BPP. The Ministry thereafter initiated a fresh tendering process, which was fraught with allegations of abuses, lawmaker Kolawole noted, adding that the entire pre-shipment process was being undermined, and could lead to significant revenue losses.

Understanding the Pre-shipment Act While the Ministry of Finance has taken over the process of pre-shipment inspection of crude oil and gas exports from Nigeria, the pre-shipment of Exports Act 1996, actually puts the responsibility on the Central Bank of Nigeria. Section 13 of the Act reads (1): The Central Bank shall be charged generally with the responsibility for the administration of the provisions of this Act. (2) The Central Bank shall make regulations and prescribe such forms as may be required for the purpose of carrying out the intendment of this Act. The Act also provides that a special account for the purpose shall be established and maintained by the Central Bank, for “all expenses relating to the remuneration, fees and other charges payable to the inspecting agents shall be defrayed from the special account”. The account is named Nigerian Export Supervision Scheme (NESS) account.

Thus, the role of the Ministry of Finance in pre-shipment inspection, according to the Act, is to serve on a technical committee to assist the CBN in its administration of the Act. Other agencies on the technical committee include the Federal Ministry of Commerce, the Federal Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of Petroleum Resources (Inspectorate Division), the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Nigerian Customs Service; and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control.

It is therefore an aberration, the lawmakers reckoned, that the Finance ministry has completely taken over the administration of the Act, and relegated the CBN to a member of the technical committee.

Revelations at the Investigative hearing The Minister of Finance, Adeosun failed to honor the invitation of the Committee, on Monday, to explain the alleged infractions, she however sent the Ministry’s Director of Legal Services, Mr. Chris Gabriel, to represent her. Gabriel however told the committee that he had no position paper to present on the issues raised, as he got the directive to represent the minister, very late.

Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Olu-

Cont’d from Pg. 80

Oke

wole Oke (Osun PDP), lamented that the minister failed to honour the invitation of the parliament despite letters sent to her.

He also frowned at the many alleged infractions of the PPA and other legislations, at a period when the government had put the anti-corruption fight at the fore-front of its administration.

Hon. Gabriel Onyewife (Anambra APGA) expressed disappointment at the manner members of the executive disregard invitations to public hearings by the legislature. His sentiment was echoed by several members, who voted that the representative of the minister should not be allowed to stand in for her, particularly as he was not prepared to tackle the questions that could arise in the course of the investigative hearing.

While presenting the opening remarks, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, maintained that preshipment inspection is necessary to determine actual value of export goods.

Dogara, who was represented by the Deputy Minority Leader, Hon. Chukwuma Onyema, added that the engagement of contractors for the process must be in tune with the requirements of the PPA. “The House of Representatives has always been worried about transparency and accountability in the lifting of crude oil in Nigeria. The World Bank also estimated that $300 billion of government funds generated from crude oil cannot be accounted for, as it may have found its way into the pockets of some individuals,” he said.

At the investigative hearing, however, the committee also found out that all of the Pre Shipment Inspection Agents (PIAs) qualified by the new process, lacked one requirement or the other like Tax Clearance and PENCOM certificates.

Documents from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation detailing payments to PIAs between January 2011 and April 2017, showed that Trobell International Ltd was paid N2.53billion while JBIS Integrated Resources Ltd was paid N15.2 billion. Both companies were found to have evaded tax remittance, and did not have PENCOM certificates.

Cobalt International Services was paid N11.3 billion, while Swede Control Intertek received N5.62 billion. Both firms are in breach of the requirements from the NSITF and were not registered with the fund, documents revealed. It was also revealed that Stera Maritime Agency, Opsmoserve Global Limited, Q & Q Control Services Ltd and Ghengis Development International

Ltd were not registered with the NSITF as required by the PPA. It was further revealed at the hearing that over $163.7 million had been expended to engage pre-shipment agents to monitor crude oil and gas export between 2009 and 2016 without appropriation by the National Assembly, in violation of Sections 80/81 of the 1999 constitution, as amended. Breakdown of the figure includes $46 million (2009), $17 million (2010), $20 million (2011), $20 million (2012), $20 million (2013) and $20 million (2014).

The lawmakers therefore frowned at the failure of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to remit its contribution of N25 billion, into the NESS account, alongside the non-remittance of unspent $20 million back to the federation account, at the end of the 2016 financial year.

The hearing also revealed that most of the appointed Pre-Inspection Agents, at inception, failed to carry out inspection of export terminals where all exports are carried out by the NNPC, revealing also that inspection of crude oil and gas shipments

At the investigative hearing, however, the committee also found out that all of the Pre Shipment Inspection Agents (PIAs) qualified by the new process, lacked one requirement or the other like Tax Clearance and PENCOM certificates

is part of the mandate of the Department of Petroleum Resources. The agency’s position paper said it had employed a digital platform to monitor crude oil production and export in Nigeria. The platform said National Production Monitoring System is expected to go real time very soon.

“That infact DPR is better positioned with the NPMS to sustain the capacity to effectively monitor crude oil export than the Pre-Shipment Inspection Agencies (PIAs) engaged by the Ministry of Finance,” he said.

This therefore raised the pertinent questions as to why the responsibility requires engagements of contractors, constituting a waste of scarce resources.

The lawmakers also grilled the new Director General of the Bureau of Public Procurement, Mr. Mamman Ahmad, who admitted that the process for the engagement of the inspectors was flawed. He added that the entire process ought to be cancelled if not that the services were time bound. He however drew the ire of the lawmakers when he queried why the aggrieved parties petitioned the presidency over the flawed process.

Speaking with THISDAY in a separate interview, Hon. Oke lamented that government officials, who are supposed to be at the fore-front of the campaign to uphold the PPA, are the ones found to be violating its provisions.

“It would be impossible to fight corruption if our procurement processes are not foolproof. If we are not ready to adhere to the Act, we could as well jettison the anticorruption fight. We have cases where some of these companies did not even pay tax, which is a duty even private citizens owe the country, talk less of these firms that are making millions from the country. We have conducted investigations and found that some companies did not even meet the most basic requirement of being registered, yet they were awarded contracts. These should not be unheard of,” he added.

Oke assured that the people that the committee would not be deterred in its bid to ensure that public sector officials adhere to the requirements of the PPA. “It is our mandate spearheaded by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, and our Legislative Agenda at the beginning of the eighth assembly, that we must ensure thorough oversight of Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government. This is necessary as a way to strengthen the institutions and deepening our democracy,” the chairman added.

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Falana: FG Should Prosecute Politicians Infiltrating Military for Treasonable Felony Abimbola Akosile and Sunday Okobi in Lagos, Paul Obi in Abuja and Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

Senior Advocate of Nigeria and human rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana, yesterday urged the Federal Government to fish out those peddling rumour over an alleged plan to take over President Muhammadu Buhari’s

administration and prosecute them for treasonable felony.

He, equally called for the arrest and prosecution of the civilian collaborators of the “coup plotters”.

Delivering a paper titled ‘Politics, Leadership and Accountability: The Role of the People’, which he delivered at a colloquium on Kwara@50 organised by The Movement

for Genuine Change in Ilorin, Kwara state capital, Falana also warned the political class to stop playing into the hands of potential coup plotters.

He said, “The enemies of democracy are desperately trying to exploit President Buhari’s health to truncate the democratic dispensation. But in view of the ruinations of our economy, the bastardisation of

our politics and the devaluation of our national morality by previous military dictators, the Nigerian people must be prepared to reject the coming into power of another fake salvation army.

“Notwithstanding the glaring shortcomings of the fragile democratic process the people should be allowed to take advantage of the democratic structures to take their political

WHA: African Health Ministers Strategise to Improve on Success against Polio, Ebola Senator Iroegbu in Abuja

The Health Ministers of the African Union (AU) have urged member States to ride on the successes recorded in curtailing wild polio and Ebola virus spread in the continent through surveillance, trained staff members and routine immunisation to ad-

dress other health emergency outbreaks.

The Director Media and Public Relations, Ministry of Health, Mrs. Boade Akinola, in a statement yesterday, said the decision was reached at the first coordination meeting of Member States of the African Continent in preparatory for the 70th World Health Assem-

bly (WHA) meeting scheduled to start on Monday, May 22, in Geneva, Switzerland.

Akinola said the body believed that the gains from various investments in controlling wild polio could be effectively and efficiently deployed for other health related purposes.

She said the meeting,

which was chaired by the WHO AFRO Regional Director, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, also emphasised the need to strengthen the health system especially by addressing the human resource gap, acceleration of local production and supply of vaccines in Africa to meet the urgent local demand.

Communication Minister Leads Talk at Marketing Edge Summit As preparations for the Marketing Edge National Marketing Stakeholders’ Summit 2017 edition gather momentum, the Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu has confirmed his participation as the Keynote

Speaker and Special Guest of Honour at the event scheduled to hold Friday, June 16.

The Minister said he is excited to be a part of the annual event especially given the theme of this year’s award, which he said is a fall-

out of industry’s appreciation of President Muhammadu Buhari’s economic recovery and restructuring plans aimed at making Nigeria a self-dependent and selfreliant country.

The theme for the summit

which holds at Federal Palace Hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos is ‘Brand Marketing and Marketing Management in a Recovering but Restructured Nigerian Economy: Challenges and Implications for Marketing Services Providers’.

destiny in their own hands.

“On their own part, the political class should stop playing into the hands of potential coup plotters. While the decision of the Army chief to alert the nation of the devilish plot is appreciated, the authorities should proceed to fish out the coup plotters and their civilian collaborators with a view to trying them for treasonable felony”, he added.

On the controversy surrounding who will sign the 2017 appropriation bill into law, the legal luminary insisted that only the acting President. Prof.

Yemi Osinbajo SAN is constitutionally empowered to sign the document.

“The President is not competent to sign any bill into law while he is on vacation. The constitution did not envisage that a president who is on vacation and an acting president who is standing proxy for him will be exercising presidential powers simultaneously.

“To that extent, pending the resumption of duties by President Buhari, the acting president, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo is competent to sign all bills validly passed by the National Assembly.”

On the economic front, Falana called for the resuscitation of the Peoples’ Bank to give loans to indigent citizens who could not access loans in commercial

banks, in order to cushion the effect of the economic recession.

“The Islamic Bank and others which are not going to charge interests should be established. In addition, the federal government should spend the fund recovered from corrupt public officers and their privies on job creation and fixing of hospitals and schools as well as the funding of other social services.

“It has to be pointed out that the economy of the country cannot be transformed in favour of Nigeria on the basis of the dangerous prescriptions of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. Nigerians should therefore be prepared to challenge the recycled neo-liberal managers of the economy who continue to insist on the dominance of market forces which have been discredited by the crisis of global capitalism.”

“The Nigerian people should be organised, empowered and mobilised through their unions associations and collectives to rebuild the country”, Falana added.

Meanwhile, another Senior Advocate of Nigeria and human rights lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome, yesterday also called for thorough investigation of a report about an attempt by some politicians to infiltrate the military, specifically, the Army for “undisclosed political reason.”

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RECOGNISING EXCELLENCE R-L: Deputy Head of Mission, Andrew Davidson, representing the Deputy British High Commissioner; Director Operations, Cambridge, Neil Mask; former Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, his wife, Olukemi; Director, British Council, Nigeria, Connie Price; Director International Network, Cambridge, Janet Morris; and Director, Examination, Sub-Saharan Africa, British Council, at the Cambridge Learners Award presentation for outstanding students in Lagos…weekend

REWARDING PERFORMANCE L-R: Chairman, Meadow Hall Foundation Board, Mr. Demola Aladekomo; Winner, Inspirational School

Leader of the Year, Mrs. Oluremi Tanimola; Chairman, Board of Directors, Meadow Hall Group, Mr. Andrew Nwani; 1st Runner-up, Inspirational Teacher of the Year, Mr. Tolulope Odunsanya; Group Managing Director/CEO, MHG, Mrs. Kehinde Nwani; Vice Chairman, MHFB, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo; Winner, Inspirational Teacher of the Year, Ms. Odueke Abiodun; and Head of Meadow Hall Foundation, Mrs. Kemi Adewoye, during the presentation of cheques to winners of the Inspirational Educator Awards 2017 at Harbour Point, Lagos…recently

Kukah: Nigeria Should Remain as One Entity Laleye Dipo in Minna

The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese Archbishop Hassan Kukah has stated that there is no alternative for the country than for Nigeria to remain as one nation.

Kukah made the remark in Minna Niger state yesterday while speaking at the ‘Interfaith Dialogue and Engagement’ organised by the Development Initiative of West Africa and the Kukah Centre. He advised Nigerians to put aside the past and forge ahead for the unity and progress of the country.

“There is a lot we can do together to build a better and peaceful Nigeria and leave it as a legacy”, the respected clergyman

said. He charged Nigerians to be patient and tolerate one another saying that “there is the need for the people to put the past behind them and forge ahead in building a peaceful and stable nation.”

Kukah suggested that to achieve a stable country government should work towards improving the quality of conversation between Muslims and Christians, saying that “if the problem can be dealt with at the university level the nation would have achieved a lot.

“Universities are the incubators of the leaders of tomorrow.

The reason we are having confusion in the country is because we have not dealt with this problem at the university level; the conversation between Christians and

SDGs: FG to Partner NBA, Donors on Justice, Inclusive Society

• As Orelope-Adefulire refutes alleged senatorial ambition Abimbola Akosile

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, (SSAP-SDGs), Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire has given strong assurance of a strategic partnership with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and other development partners in a bid to attain the relevant goals in the SDGs framework.

The presidential aide disclosed this at a meeting of the NBA with development partners held in Abuja recently, according to a press release issued by the media strategist for the Office of the SSAP-SDGs (OSSAP-SDGs), Mr. Desmond Utomwen.

According to the SSAP-SDGs, the strategic partnership would help accelerate efforts towards the attainment of Goals 10, 16 and 17, which deal on issues of access to justice, peace, inequalities, inclusive society and partnership for sustainable development.

“With, inequality still prevalent and large disparities apparent in access to health, legal, education services and other assets, efforts by stakeholders must

be upped and sustained towards lifting people out of poverty and protecting the most vulnerable in the society. To reduce inequality, policies should be universal in principle paying attention to the needs of disadvantaged and marginalised populations”, Orelope-Adefulire stated.

Also speaking at the event, the President of the NBA, A.B Mahmoud said the partnership would ensure that the association bequeaths to the nation a reformed and legal system and a society, where justice and equity prevails.

The meeting, which also reviewed public interest programmes of the association in line with its strategic plan that was recently adopted, had in attendance representatives from various development organisations and donor agencies.

Meanwhile, the presidential aide has refuted an allegation that she is nursing an aspiration to become a senator come 2019.

The refuttal was contained in another release issued yesterday

by Utomwen and titled, ‘Reports of Orelope-Adefulire’s Senatorial Ambition, Unfounded’.

Muslims at the universities has to improve.”

He submitted that: “whether the nation likes it or not, the next leaders of the country are the almajiris and the youths who are roaming the streets aimlessly.”

Niger state Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello in an address at the event warned of the imminent danger that faced the nation with the large number of children roaming the streets in the country especially in the north.

Bello said in the process of trying to prevent crime, the nation was indirectly breeding crime with the perpetuation of the almajiris policy, adding that: “the number of children roaming the streets across the nation

is becoming alarming and must be addressed.

“It is sad that while we are trying to prevent crime in the country, we are breeding it indirectly.

We must be concerned with the number of children roaming the street. The danger is that the next generation we are breeding are generations of children on the streets with these children, we are breeding danger particularly in this present dispensation”, he added.

The governor, who was represented by the Special Adviser on Religious Affairs, Mallam Ahmad Tanko said “the reason why most children are still on the streets is because parents have failed in the discharge of their responsibilities.”

NAHCO Upgrades Workers’ Welfare Pay Blessing Abah

The Nigerian Aviation Handling Company plc (nahco aviance) has upgraded the welfare package of its workers, THISDAY has learnt.

According to sources familiar with the development, the increment was one of the high points of the resolutions of the Board which met on Wednesday, May 17, 2017. Another outcome of the meeting was the voluntary resignation of the MD/CEO, Mr. Norbert Bielderman, who told the Board that he needed time to take care of his health in his native Netherlands.

With the increment, our correspondent over the weekend gathered that staff members on ‘D’ scale, the lowest cadre in the company, would receive as much as between 10 to 15 per cent, depending on the step; while staff on ‘C’ scale would receive eight per cent increase. Supervisors on ‘B’ scale would receive six per cent increase while Managers on ‘A’ grade will receive four per cent salary increase. Senior Managers will get anything between two or three per cent depending on the level of seniority.

The Chairman of the Board of the Company, Arc Usman Arabi Bello met with workers

unions after the meeting to break the news to them. The Unions’ officials reportedly thanked the Board for the gesture while promising to communicate the decision to their members.

The Manager, Corporate Communications and Services, nahco aviance, Mr. Tayo Ajakaye, when contacted by THISDAY, confirmed the story. He however said the Human Resources unit of the company was still working out the details and that once this was done, a full press statement would be issued.

On a report that some lower cadre workers were still not happy with the increment as announced, Ajakaye said such a report was speculative and that everyone knows that Nigeria’s economy is still in recession, and so for any employer to have increased workers’ salary at this time, such an employer deserves praise and not condemnation.

Although he said he cannot rule out the hands of mischief makers in such a situation, he nonetheless challenged our reporter to feel free to contact any nahco staff member on the development as he was sure majority of them appreciate board and management’s gesture on the salary raise.

Edo Commences Reconstruction of Lucky Way Residents at Lucky Way in Benin City, the Edo State capital, can now heave a sigh of relief due to the ongoing rehabilitation work to reconstruct their roads by state governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki.

The link road, connecting Ramat Park to Upper Mission, had been in horrendous shape for years and had caused severe heartache, with several motorists and residents noting that the road could not get any worse.

The stretch of the road is three kilometres from the Ramat Park end to Upper Mission, the terminal point of the job. A new side drain will be done and be channelled underground to the drainage located at Auchi-Benin Road. A deep manhole of about 12 meters depth will be constructed to take the entire water to Ikpoba dam.

Describing the ongoing rehabilitation as long-awaited, Madam

Peace Paulinus, whose tailoring shop was along Lucky way, said the road was in such a condition that rains rendered it virtually unmotorable, according a release by the Chief Press Secretary (Interim) to the Governor, Mr. John Mayaki.

“The absence of tricycles is a big challenge to all because it makes it difficult to get to your destination. I was the happiest person when l noticed that government had deployed contractors to Lucky Way Road to rehabilitate the road. I will be glad if the road is rehabilitated.”

For his part, Benedict Okeke, a tricycle rider plying lucky way lamented the road’s condition, saying: “We take our tricycles for repairs on daily basis because of the dilapidated state of the road.

Most importantly, we the riders left no longer find passengers to carry. The road is a death trap to motorists and tricycle riders.”

Ume-Ezeoke for Nigerian Entrepreneurs Award Anayo Okolie

The MD/CEO of Homes & Homes Real Estate Solution Limited, Dr. Ikem Ume-Ezeoke has been nominated for the prestigious NigerianEntrepreneursAward.

Before Ume-Ezeoke’s nomination for the Nigerian Entrepreneurs Award, he has been decorated with various local and international awards, among them the African Achievers Awards, the Integrity International Award, and the Leadership Awards for Excellence.

He was also recently nominated for the prestigious Black Caucus Award for Leadership by the US Congress in the city of Georgia and among others.

The Nigerian Entrepreneurs Award seeks to celebrate and honour the achievements of those who

are spurring growth, development and creating new economic opportunity for citizens and communities, as well as inspiring the new generation of innovators shaping theNigeriaeconomy.

Ume-Ezeoke’s rise especially in the housing sector didn’t come as a surprise. He is one man who doesn’t give room for regrets even though it is bound to happen.

He is well experienced in international real estate and has traded actively in foreign markets including the United Kingdom, South Africa, Dubai, Ghana, and presently is working as a consultant to deliver the proposed Farmington Height project in Liberia.

His company Homes & Homes has working relationships with international real estate development companies like Kings Lands and Fairfield.

SMEDAN, ITF Devt Programme May 23 The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) in collaboration with the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) will on Tuesday, May 23 kick-start the second phase of its National Industrial Skills Development Programme (NISDP) under its National Enterprises Development Programme (NEDEP) training in eighteen states of the federation. A press statement issued by the Corporate Affairs unit of SMEDAN stated that the flag-off ceremony will be performed by the Director General CEO of SMEDAN, Dr. Dikko Umaru Radda. The NIDSP programme is being undertaken under a tripartite arrangement between the ITF, SMEDAN and Bank of Industry (BoI).

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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 21, 2017

SUNDAYSPORTS

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

Man City, Liverpool, Arsenal Jostle for Two Champions League Spots in EPL Finale

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ith the Premier League title race settled in Chelsea’s favour, Tottenham guaranteed to finish second and the three relegation places filled by Sunderland, Middlesbrough and Hull, it is the battle for the lucrative remaining two places in Europe’s elite club competition that will command the attention today.

Arsenal against Everton is the pick of today’s final matches as the Gunners face the possibility of missing out on the Champions League for the first time in 20 years. The gunners are fifth, one point behind Liverpool and three adrift of Man City.

Arsene Wenger will be praying for an unexpected slip from either Man City or Liverpool asArsenal try to salvage their troubled Premier League campaign by snatching a Champions League berth in today’s season finale.

Rocked by Arsenal’s failure to live up to his expectations and battered by mounting criticism from furious fans, Wenger has been under fire like never before in his 21-year reign - and the lowest moment of all is likely to come at the Emirates Stadium today.

If Liverpool beat relegated Middlesbrough at Anfield and City avoid defeat at struggling Watford, then, even if Arsenal win, Wenger’s side will be consigned to the indignity of Thursday nights in the unglamourous

Europa League next term.

Having refused to confirm if he will accept Arsenal’s offer of a new contract, Wenger this week said this will be settled when he meets the club’s powerbrokers after the Gunners’ FA Cup final date with Chelsea on May 27.

Reports suggest Wenger is planning to stay and if that is the case the 67-year-old could do with boosting his plunging approval ratings by somehow gate-crashing the Champions League party.

Asked on Friday if the Everton clash will be his last game in charge ofArsenal at the Emirates, he gave a sarcastic response.

“Of the season...yes,” he said. “I think what is the most important for us is to win the football game we play on Sunday. After that, what happens to me is less important. I’m here to serve the club and the best way to do that is to win the next game.”

Meanwhile, a fourth successive City victory will see them hold on to third place and go straight into next season’s Champions League, while a draw would also be enough to ensure a top-four finish.

However, City could still miss out altogether if they lose, Liverpool defeat Middlesbrough and Arsenal improve their goal difference by at least five in the process of beating Everton.

Calling for one last push after an underwhelming first season in charge, City boss Pep Guardiola said: “We still have 95, 96

Sanchez will be pivotal if Arsenal are to steal a Champions League place today

minutes to fight to do one thing that’s so important for the club and the future. It’s a crucial game for us. It’s a final. Every game has pressure, but it’s in our hands.

“It doesn’t depend on Arsenal or Liverpool. It depends on us.

We have to go there and win the game.”

Liverpool will compete in the Champions League for the first

time since 2014-15, and only the second time in eight years, as long as they match Arsenal’s result.

Reds boss Jurgen Klopp is well aware the subsequent boost to Liverpool’s profile would be a major help in signing his top transfer targets.

“The Champions League, for different reasons, is a wonderful

competition. It would be the icing on the cake,” Klopp said. “It is important for players because that is what they want to play in.

“We will be successful in the future but for this we need the players, of course. We have very good players and we need a few more.”

Already certain to finish sixth, Manchester United will send out

a team largely comprised of youth team players as boss Jose Mourinho keeps his senior stars fresh for Wednesday’s Europa League final against Ajax.

If United win the Europa League they will claim a place in the Champions League, giving Mourinho the last laugh while his old rival Wenger faces a troubled future.

Kane, Lukaku, Sanchez Tokyo 2020: Grandmaster Makes Sponsorship Appeal for Taekwondo Race for Golden Boot

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he race for the Golden Boot will go down to the Premier League’s final match day with Harry Kane entering in position to defend the honour from last season. Kane, who scored four times in Tottenham Hotspur’s 6-1 victory over Leicester City on Thursday, boosted his total to 26 goals this season. That’s one more than he had last season despite playing in nine fewer games because of ankle injuries.

The 23-year-old became the 13th player, and the first for Tottenham, with five career Premier League hat tricks.

And, with his third hat trick of the season, he drew level with Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski and Napoli’s Dries Mertens for the most in PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES Arsenal

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Man United

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domestic league competitions this campaign.

Until Thursday, only Robbie Fowler, Alan Shearer, Thierry Henry and Robin van Persie had scored 25 goals in consecutive Premier League seasons.

Kane enters Tottenham’s game away against Hull City today with a two-goal advantage on Everton’s Romelu Lukaku, with Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez three goals off the lead.

Van Persie was the last player to win the Golden Boot in consecutive seasons when he did so in 2011-12 and 2012-13.

From Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

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randmaster Kim Jin Beom has appealed to the National Sports Commission (NSC) to support Nigerian Taekwondo in the build up for the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2020.

Kim noted that with better preparations, Nigeria would win medals at the Games, following the non-qualification of any of its athletes in taekwondo event at the last Games in Rio, Brazil.

The South Korean, who also incidentally is the High Performance

coach of the national team, shared insights with THISDAYyesterday at the Taekwondo Belt Grading Test held at the Korean Cultural Centre, Abuja.

Over 40 athletes attended the one day session and were upgraded to the next belt categories after they were assessed by coaches led by Abdulmalik Mohammed. Five of them were also given special prizes.

Kim, who has been with the national team for four years, stressed Nigeria is capable of podium outing Tokyo if the ministry of sports cushions its training programme with sponsorship to enable them camp and attend international

Aubameyang Ends Season as Bundesliga Top Scorer

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abon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang struck a late penalty for Borussia Dortmund on the final day of the season to finish as the Bundesliga’s top scorer with 31 goals.Aubameyang scored twice to help Dortmund beat Werder Bremen 4-3 - his first coming three minutes before the break and his second from the spot in the 89th minute. It put the 27-year-old one goal ahead of Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski who failed toscoreintheGermanchampions’ 4-1 win over Freiburg.

Aubameyang becomes only the second African player to win the

Aubemeyang golden boot in Germany after Ghana’s Tony Yeboah achieved the feat twice whilst playing for

Eintracht Frankfurt - in the 199293 season and the following year in 1993-94.

tournaments. ‘’The team is young very capable of excelling at Tokyo 2020. It boasts of talents, but the athletes can only excel if the preparation is proper and intensive. We need the right engagement and of course, the support of ministry of sports, because I am sure we can win medals at the Olympics,’’ the national team technical instructor said. He added that the display

by the children and adults at the exercise reinforced Nigeria’s potential to be a force in world taekwondo.

The master instructor also said the Korean technical centre in Abuja would be upgraded to impact on improvement in training programmes and techniques to the standards of Kukkiwon, the world taekwondo headquarters.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R • MAY 21, 2017

High Life

85 with LANRE ALFRED 08076885752

...Amazing lifestyles of Nigeria’s rich and famous

For Lucky Igbinedion, Feuding Makarfi and Sheriff Sit Under One Gamp

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or months, they lunged and tore at each other like heat-crazed feral cats, but as you read, the bitterness and angst that seized their souls and drove them apart may have been doused, thanks to Lucky Igbinedion’s 60th birthday bash. Yes, apart from reuniting many old friends, the former Edo State governor Igbinedion’s 60th party also holds the distinction for bringing together the warring factional chairmen of the People’s Democratic Party, Ahmed Makarfi, and Ali Modu Sheriff.

Perhaps because of the merry mood of the party, the two former governors who are both laying claim to the chairmanship of the former ruling party were unusually chummy and cordial. They shook hands heartily, backslapped like long lost buddies and threw jibes at each other as their heads swung back in deep-throated laughter helped perhaps by the relentless flow of bubblies. Ironically, both had been in court for several months to determine who should helm the PDP, and barely looked at each other throughout court sessions. Indeed, in politics, there is no permanent friend or enemy only permanent interests.

Who knows, this mature gesture from the two politicians may signal a permanent end to the current impasse in the party.

However, the jury is still out on which of Nigeria’s present and former governors throws the gaudiest and giddiest parties. So IT’S LOVE ACTUALLY…PASTOR TOM SAMSON FETES WIFE, LANRE, ON HER BIRTHDAY IN AMERICA

In terms of flamboyance and penchant for expensive automobiles, even an accustomed American rock star has nothing on Pastor Tom Samson, General Overseer of the Christ Royal

Pastor Tom Samson and wife, Lanre

Ahmed Makarfi in a handshake with Ali Modu Sheriff. (Behind them is Lucky Igbinedion at his 60th birthday party).

many names have been thrown up but, so far, the mentions of former Edo State governor, Lucky Igbinedion, are tearing through the roof. The silverspoon heir of billionaire businessman, Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion, knows the essentials of putting together

parties that would remain on the lips of many for eons to come. Even as afar as South Africa, a party he organized some years ago is still being used to gauge other society parties. Last Saturday, May 16th, Igbinedion, who ruled Edo State between 1999 and 2007, threw a

Family International Church with branches across Nigeria and beyond. The gangling man of God, known for his bold proselytizing, showed his romantic side recently when he hosted family and friends in Maryland, USA, to celebrate Lanre, his wife of many years.

Soft-spoken Lanre and Tom were

high school lovers and started from the bottom. Today, the ministry has a chain of hospitals and schools – kindergarten, nursery, primary, secondary and College of Education – and is proposing to build a University.

During a church service at the Dominion Church in Upper Malboro, Maryland, United States, owned by the very humble and anointed man of God, Pastor Mike Olawale, Pastor Tom recalled how they have stuck together through the vagaries and vicissitudes of life, even when she was shot and 14 bullets were removed from her nose some 11 years ago. Thus, within the ambit of his faith, Pastor Mike Olawale rolled out the drums to celebrate his beloved friend and wife.

After entertaining guests, the couple visited Gaylord National Resort, Oxon Hill in Maryland, holding hands, cooing into each other ’s ears and giggling like teenagers in love. However, The Senior Pastor of the Dominion Church, Pastor Olawale, unlike his devious and ungracious peers, does not deceive his flock.

Rather than mislead them on the primrose path that leads to eternal doom, he guides them on to the steep and thorny way to heaven.

lavish party to celebrate his 60th birthday at his Asokoro residence in Abuja. Everything that makes a party grand was in effusive supply.

Lighting up the atmosphere was Eki, the beautiful wife of Lucky, who had been anonymous since her husband left government.

WILL GOVERNOR AJIMOBI’S WIFE RUN FOR SENATE?

You could be forgiven if you think that there is no masculine power or privilege that could surmount Florence Ajimobi’s ethereal femininity and prettiness.

Gradually, step by step, the woman whose ravishing beauty is oft likened to a mythical Greek goddess’ is ascending the nation’s political ladder. In and around Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, it

Florence Ajimobi

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Agony of an Octogenarian…The Tragedies that Broke Tony Anenih

ike an ill wind that blows no good, death afflicted Chief Tony Anenih in the strangest of ways, in the last one month. It claimed the two most precious people in his life. News of their death filtered to the ears and consciousness of the foremost politician as the wind chime spreads its stillness on a joyous homestead, wiping out all traces of gaiety and love. Who would Tony Anenih lean on now? Who would be there for him as he enters the twilight of a most eventful life?

In his early 80s, who would console the People’s Democratic Party chieftain, who lost his wife and first son three weeks apart?

The grief and agony are unimaginable. But at a time like this, only the amazing grace of the Almighty can ease the

pains of bereavement.

Last Sunday, Eugene, Anenih’s first son had slumped during a game of table tennis and efforts by his friends to administer CPR on him proved abortive. Sadly, the Anenih family was still mourning the death of their matriarch who passed on last month and was in the morgue awaiting burial. Eugene was making huge plans for his mum’s burial before his own death. His funeral rites began Thursday, May 18th, with a Service of Songs at Catholic Church of Divine Mercy, Lekki, Lagos, followed by funeral mass and internment at Vaults and Gardens, Ikoyi on Friday. He left behind a wife and kids.

Eugene, a 1990 BioChemistry graduate of the University of Benin was the chief executive officer of Nova Finance and Securities Limited.

is being discussed overtly and covertly by those conversant with happenings in the political circuit that Florence, the half-caste wife of Governor Isiaq Abiola Ajimobi, is mooting the idea of contesting for a Senate seat in 2019. She is eyeing the Oyo South Senatorial seat, occupied at the moment

by Soji Akanbi, a brilliant politician who is also eyeing the governorship seat about to be vacated by Ajimobi. Governor Ajimobi served as Oyo South Senator between 2003 and 2007 and was deputy minority leader.

Florence, originally a Lebanese, was born and raised in Nigeria.

She has been married to Governor Ajimobi for more than 35 years.

At the moment, the news is still in the realm of speculations, but inside sources say the woman is serious about her aspirations considering that her husband is purportedly not interested in running for public office again because of age. Ajimobi will be 70 in 2019.

Curiously, however, there were attendant benefits to being a sacred cow. One, sacred cows simply carried on with impunity, no matter the nature of their acts and whose ox was gored.

The benefits, unpopular as they seemed, were endless. In Nigeria, the fear of sacred cows or those not a few people have learnt to identify as tin-gods was in fact the beginning of wisdom.

They got away with just about anything. With the outburst of criticism that hallmarked the rumoured ambition of the first lady, predictably, the criticisms have thinned out to a negligible drone.

MASTER OF HIS UNIVERSE… WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT

Tony Anenih

CHAMPION ANTHONY JOSHUA SERENADES IGHO SANOMI AT 42ND BIRTHDAY

If the World Heavyweight Boxing Champion, Anthony Joshua, had his way, he would raise Igho Sanomi, billionaire oil businessman, a dais of silk and fluffy feathers. He would ornament it with vair and craft it in gold and silver doves as he attains yet another milestone.

There is much to admire in Igho Sanomi. His realistic bent, his wittiness, and charming demeanour. Add to that, his infectious tenacity and blithe disposition, which has so far, endeared him to the international business circuits, and you have an ideal portrait of charisma and panache in a 42-yearold. Interestingly, the World Heavyweight Boxing Champion, Anthony Joshua, joined the Bobby Moore Fund and leaders in business and charity around the world to salute the 42nd Birthday of Igho Charles Sanomi II. Sanomi, Founder and Chairman of Taleveras, quietly celebrated his 42nd birthday on 17th May. This coincided with the conclusion of the “Touch A Life Today”, GIPLC campaign funded by Sanomi which during a 3-week period reached over 1000 identified vulnerable Nigerians in Abuja, Delta and Benue States, who received financial support to cover their medical bills; and with an exclusive interview with Forbes. Increasingly recognised for his philanthropy, Sanomi has also donated substantially to cancer research through the Bobby Moore Fund in the UK to help fund prostate and bowel cancer research; a gesture that earned him the Martin Luther King Legacy Award for

Anthony Joshua

Philanthropy and International Service in 2015. Sanomi was also appointed Honorary Chair for the 25th anniversary of the International Salute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, which took place in Washington, DC in 2016.

Anthony Joshua, the British Nigerian boxing champion, congratulated Sanomi on his birthday saying: “Happy Birthday to a humble Nigerian Brother, always concerned for the less privileged! Well done for all you have been doing over the years to help & sponsor Cancer Research UK, The Bobby Moore Fund & the many medical patients across Nigeria who couldn’t pay their medical bills.” Stephanie Moore, widow of Sir Bobby Moore and

founder of the Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research, wrote a personal letter in tribute, she said: “Thank you for your generous support of the Bobby Moore Fund...I am confident that the money raised will make a significant contribution to our pioneering bowel cancer research programme and I am indebted to you for the part you are playing in ensuring this will be a huge success. “I understand today is also a significant date for you may I take this chance to wish you a very Happy Birthday!

Thank you again, I value your support enormously. One day we will beat bowel cancer.

With your help, we can make it sooner.” Birthday greetings continue to come from around the world from United States Black Caucuses in Congress, members of UK parliament, prominent young entertainers globally, business colleagues, employees and people who have been touched by Sanomi’s generosity and philanthropy. Taking the opportunity to thank everyone for their birthday wishes, Sanomi said: “Today marks another year in the life of ICS II - God’s Soldier forever. Thank you all, for your kind wishes and prayers.”

NEPAL OIL BOSS, NGOZI EKEOMA, CELEBRATES 45TH BIRTHDAY IN STYLE

Ngozi Ekeoma could be enchantingly sweet. When she talks, her voice wafts like rosefragrance waltzing in the wind. In such blissful moment, the oil and gas big girl, metamorphoses into a silhouette of delightful colors captivating everyone in the path of her charm, like an old minstrel delightfully pawing at her mandolin. But she is no minstrel

T H I S D AY, T H e S u n D AY n e w S pA p e r • MAY 21, 2017

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Turai Yar’Adua Steps Out Again

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hat former military president, Ibrahim Babangida, drew the crème of Nigeria to his sprawling hilltop mansion in Minna, Niger State, for the wedding of his daughter, Halima, penultimate weekend, is no longer fodder for the tabloids. Indeed, it is easier to count on one’s fingers preeminent Nigerians that did not attend the wedding than to do a roll call of those in attendance. Days after, echoes of that lavish wedding still reverberate across the nation.

Joining the felicity of the occasion was former first lady, Hajia Turai Yar’Adua. Not surprisingly, she was welcomed into the wedding venue by contrived smiles, especially from the tableau of treacherous men that deified her husband, late President Umaru Yar’Adua, but fled the moment he passed on. It is still pretty fresh in many memories how Yar’Adua, struck by a debilitating cancer that made him unable to rule the country effectively, became a pawn in the hands of self-serving politicians otherwise known as a cabal, as they feathered their nests with

reckless abandon. The nucleus of this cabal was at the wedding.

When Yar’Adua passed on eventually in May 2010, all those who swore by him and worshipped the grounds Turai trod, disappeared into thin air only to reappear at the doorsteps of the new leadership and by extension, at Halima’s wedding. Forever fresh as a daisy, Hajia Turai did not betray any animosity. She swayed gracefully, an easy grin nestling on her visage, as she greeted guests in her native Hausa language.

It had been a while Hajia Turai made a public appearance. Her last public appearance was a visit to former President Olusegun Obasanjo in his country home in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

She went with businessman and Obasanjo’s in-law, Kenny Martins.

It was reported then that she had a private meeting with Baba, lasting about one hour, over matters relating to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC’s investigation of her daughter. Nothing was heard about the case again. And Turai returned to her Katsina cocoon.

TOP LONDON HANGOUT, STEAM BAR, CLOSES SHOP

Ngozi Ekeoma

neither does she feverishly paw at the strings of any mandolin; all she has is her charm and her smile – which makes her a woman and entrepreneur to die for. However, for leading a life worthy of accolades, it was no surprise that high society turned out in droves to felicitate with Ngozi Ekeoma, managing director, Nepal Oil and Gas Service, as she clocked 45.

Venue was the Oriental Hotels, Victoria Island, Lagos. Looking celestial yet courtly, while appearing livelier than a beehive, Ngozi proved that she is not just a billionaire’s wife, she knows how to organize a feast fit for royalty.

She ensured that all the guests had a whale of a time and danced till late in the night. Married at 16 to billionaire businessman, Elder Eme Ekeoma, Ngozi is a law graduate of the University of Lagos. She has been lauded for taking Nepal, founded by her husband, to astronomical heights while equally taking care of the home front.

Steam Bar, the chic and ultracool fun spot situated inside the Hilton Hotel, Paddington, London, has closed shop. Reports reaching HighLife posit that the management decided on this line of action considering that fun loving Nigerians and wanton women have turned the place into a boxing ring and when they are not fighting, their raucousness irks other revelers.

Whilst this may not be the entire reason, it was pivotal to the decision. More so, clientele had dwindled in recent time due to incessant complaints about the security guys at the bar who are usually very rude to women and harass men for tips and the expensiveness of their drinks and menu. When it was in operation, Steam Bar was the go-to place to immerse yourself in the London nightlife with a bar that excels with its martinis and champagne cocktails featuring glamorous takes on classic martinis like the

Steam Bar

Turai Yar’Adua

silky boost - fresh strawberries muddled with vanilla vodka, coconut cream among others.

A visit to the bar before it was closed down was somewhat an experience and what was seen is better imagined. Nicely stacked ladies with the morals of alley cats whistling at men, overdressed and over made-up babes playing at hookers. Skimpily clad nubile creatures who‘ll give a vicar impish ideas and brings hot tears to eunuch’s eyes, itsybitsy beauties, sex sirens and vixens, shapes and curves mobile -literatures and babes displaying sheer attitude, you name it, Steam bar had the cream.

JAMILA ATIKU BACK ON THE SCENE

Wife of former vice president Atiku Abubakar, Jamila, who has been in self-hibernation for a long time seems to be crawling out of her hole. Jamila was a guest at the event organized by the British High Commission in honour of Queen Elizabeth’s birthday. She

mingled freely and had a swell time before exiting hours later.

The dark-skinned beauty had cleverly evaded the social strobes for as long as we can remember.

Her absence from the public glare, many posit, may not be unconnected with her husband’s atrophying political influence.

Atiku, a perennial presidential aspirant, was supposed to be an influential member of the ruling All Progressives’ Congress party.

However, his decision to contest the ticket of the party at the primaries against the eventual winner, President Muhammadu Buhari, reportedly pitted him against the power brokers in the party and have subsequently relegated him to the periphery.

Atiku’s romance with social media, especially twitter, where he shares his ideas on various topical issues also rankles and rattles the political class. Called to the Nigerian bar in 2014, the former Miss Jennifer Iwenjora and Atiku’s fifth wife, is a mother of three, Abdulmalik, Zahra and Faisal.

Jamila Atiku

Sunday, May 21, 2017

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MISSILE Gen. Akinrinade (rtd.) to Military

“It is a misadventure that virtually destroyed the military as an institution and left our country crawling in the race to modernity. The military knows that even the populace will confront them and I’m not discounting the likelihood that the military itself has diverse reasons to oppose any move to truncate our rickety democracy.”

– Gen. Alani Akinrinade (rtd.) advising the military to stay away from politics following claims by Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen.Tukur Buratai , that politicians were trying to infiltrate the military.

SIMONKOLAWOLE SIMONKOLAWOLELIVE!

simon.kolawole@thisdaylive.com, sms: 0805 500 1961

What Happened to Transparency?

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need your help please. At the annual Nigerian jamboree to the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston, Texas, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, the minister of state for petroleum resources, told a “world press conference” on May 5, 2017 that Nigeria’s refineries would soon have new investors. He said 26 investors had indicated interest in the epileptic refineries. “By September, we will unveil the investors for the refineries,” the minister said smoothly, typically. “When we came onboard, the refineries were not working but as we speak, we have sizeable investment portfolio for them to an extent that we don’t know who to partner with for the investment.”

Let’s say I didn’t go to school at all. Or let’s say it was evening school that I attended.

These would still be my takeaways from the minister’s proclamations: one, our refineries are now in a position to attract investment; two, 26 investors have indicated interest in taking over the refineries (on a repair, operate and maintain, ROM, agreement); three, we have not taken a decision yet because there are so many suitors to choose from; and four, we will announce the favoured investors by September. Without attending Harvard Business School, I would still conclude that it appeared the process was going to be competitive and transparent.

On May 11, 2017 (six days later, right?) Mr. Wale Tinubu, the CEO of Oando Plc, told the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) that the group had received approval of the government to “repair, operate and maintain” the Port Harcourt Refinery together with “our partner” Agip, a subsidiary of ENI, the Italian company indicted in the Malabu/OPL 245 affair. Tinubu said: “We plan to increase the refinery capacity from 30 per cent to 100 per cent.” Great news, as far I am concerned. We need the refineries back as soon as possible; we have had enough of the endless TAMs gulping billions of naira and spewing out virtually no products for decades.

Now this is where I need your help. The last time I checked, with the help of Google, May and September are different months. There are June, July and August in-between. With the help of Google, I also discovered that the gap between when Kachikwu spoke in Houston and when Tinubu spoke in Lagos was a whopping six days — or, to make it simpler, less than one week. There are usually four weeks in a month, and from May 5, when Kachikwu spoke, to September, there are 17 weeks, according to the all-knowing Google. With Tinubu’s disclosure, should we assume that May is the new September? Or that September came early for Oando, Agip and Kachikwu?

But I think Google is overrated. There were so many questions it could not answer. For instance, I asked: “Is Oando among the 26 investors Kachikwu boasted about in Houston?”

I could not make head or tail of the results.

Google came up with “FOX 26 Houston KRIV”.

Nonsense. But I got more gibberish for other questions: did Oando and ENI send in a bid?

Was it an unsolicited bid? Was it selective tendering? If it was competitive bidding, how many bids were received for Port Harcourt?

How much did Oando/ENI bid? How much did others bid? How much did the bidders promise to invest? How many years will the ROM run? Are there concessions for the new operators?

I can understand why Google got stuck — that almighty search machine likes transparency.

If you do not make your information public,

Kachikwu

it cannot make it public for you. The best, or should I say the worst, Google would do is to suggest answers that it thinks are related to your questions, even when there is no connection whatsoever. If you google most of the major concessions and major contracts awarded by this government, you will get irrelevant answers on the process. For the same reason: transparency is very scarce in these major deals. We just wake up one day and hear that one company has been awarded a job. Not a word on the process.

Don’t get me wrong: I’m not saying Oando should not take over the Port Harcourt Refinery. I have devoted a significant part of my column-writing career to promoting the cause of Nigerian companies. I believe that one day, made-in-Nigeria will be enjoyed all over the world. I want Nigerian companies to fly our flag honourably. Even though I have been called names and subjected to sickening innuendos for promoting Dangote, Globacom,

I sympathise with the government over the limitations imposed by procurement rules, particularly the constraint of speed, but this government has been in power for nearly two years, which means a lot could still have been accomplished over the years in spite of the constraints

Oando and Innosons, among others, I am not about to repent. Americans are proud of their Apple, Microsoft and Chevron, and my dream is that our people and our companies will become global brands too.

That said, though, I am very worried about an emerging pattern in this administration.

President Muhammadu Buhari campaigned on the strength of correcting the mistakes and misdeeds of the previous government, but I am seeing too much repetition for it to be coincidental. There is too much secrecy in the way many important things are done, and corruption, need we say, thrives on secrecy. Take away competition, take away transparency, take away accountability, and you have a perfect recipe for corruption. We cannot be sealing deals under the table without revealing the details to Nigerians and then claim we are building an open society.

We just woke up one day to learn that GE had secured the concession to take over the railways. How did it happen? What are the details of the deal? Is this the best possible deal Nigeria can get? We were just watching TV one evening and learnt that the federal government had finally signed a renegotiated concession agreement with the Global Steel Holding Limited (GSHL) for Ajaokuta Steel.

Up till today, we don’t know the details. Ask questions and what you get as answer is: who paid you to ask? As a journalist, I’m used to the blackmail. I would have quit this job the day I joined if I had to pay attention to personal attacks.

By the way, I know a bit about the procurement options. I know of “sole sourcing”, where you go to one provider only because no other provider does it — like buying a Rolls Royce from the maker. “Selective tendering” allows you to approach a few providers who meet certain criteria. There is “repeat procurement”, where you return to earlier provider because of time constraints and because they did a previous job well. All these need strong justifications because you are restricting competition, which is a major element of procurement. And then there is “competitive bidding”, where you throw it open to all. In all, Nigerians deserve to know the process adopted.

Get me right. I am not saying anything illegal is being done in the case of the Port Harcourt Refinery. It just lacks transparency. That’s my point. And what about other moral issues?

ENI again? As I write this, many Nigerians are being prosecuted or wanted by the EFCC for their involvement in the OPL 245 deal. They are being accused of taking part in an elaborate bribery scheme. But ENI, which is at the centre of it all and is being prosecuted by an Italian prosecutor for its role in the $1.3 billion affair, is cornering more deals in Nigeria without getting as much as a slap on the wrist. The impression being created is that our anti-graft war is very narrow.

I sympathise with the government over the limitations imposed by procurement rules, particularly the constraint of speed, but the process was designed for a purpose. More so, this government has been in power for nearly two years, which means a lot could still have been accomplished over the years in spite of the constraints. And, remember, there are many options that can shorten the process which the government has been using for a while now.

The biggest headache, though, is that there is too much opaqueness for us to conclude that transparency is a guiding principle. The chaos over the concessioning of Port Harcourt Refinery is a very good example. Dissonance.

And Four Other Things...

NORTHERN ELDERS Dr. Junaid Mohammed, the northern “elder” who promised Nigerians hell if power did not return to the “north” in 2011, is at it again.

This time, the “elder” says if Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo becomes president, for any reason, before 2019, the “north” will insist on getting fresh two terms starting from 2019. What an elder! Any society with this character as an elder is doomed. He is certainly not my elder. It may interest him to know that no part of Nigeria can produce a president all by itself. Go and check the 2015 election results. Buhari would not have won by northern votes alone. Statements like this can set the nation on fire. Reckless.

BUDGET SIGNING The 2017 federal budget is now ready and, all things being equal, the next thing is presidential assent. Since President Muhammadu Buhari is on medical leave and Prof. Yemi Osinbajo is the “co-ordinator” of activities, many have asked: “Who signs?”

Alhaji Lai Mohammed, information minister, said “that decision will be taken when the budget is transmitted to the presidency”. On his part, Senator Ita Enang, special adviser to the president on national assembly matters, said, before backtracking, that “the budget will be transmitted to Mr President and the president will assent to the budget.” Have these guys ever read section 145 (1) of the 1999 constitution at all? Amusing.

MACRON WAVE Hurray! The national assembly is planning to amend several sections of the 1999 constitution to allow younger people to contest for office. In the wave of the election of 39-year-old Emmanuel Macron as French president, the #NotTooYoungToRun campaign has been reborn in Nigeria. The proposal is to reduce the qualification ages from 40 to 30 (presidential), 35 to 30 (governorship) and 30 to 25 (national assembly). But wait. We often think the law is our problem, yet how many 30-years-olds get appointed as ministers despite the fact that the constitution allows it? In any case, changing the law is easier; preparing our youth for leadership is the real deal.

Imperative.

BEST AND WORST Patrick Asadu, a member of the house of reps, has said the worst PDP government is better than the current APC administration.

The lawmaker from Enugu state said: “The PDP government was not and could never have been perfect, and [only a] few human endeavours are totally perfect, but the worst of the PDP government is 100 times better than the best of the present APC government.” Given that the PDP ruled Nigeria for 16 years, during which the country did not exactly become South Korea, and APC has only ruled for two years, can Asadu be more circumspect? I agree that APC is fumbling, but it is not as if PDP set the world on fire in its first two years either. Exaggeration.

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