Sunday 28th May 2017

Osinbajo Appoints New PenCom DG, BoI Chairman, MD Briefs G7 on developments in Nigeria Omololu Ogunmade and Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja Exercising his powers as Acting President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo last night made his first set of appointments since President Muhammadu Buhari

embarked on a medical vacation to the United Kingdom.

Osinbajo, according to an announcement made by the Presidency on its Twitter handle, @NGRPresident, about 7pm last night, approved the appointments of Dikko Aliyu

AbdulRahman as the Chairman, Governing Board of the Bank of Industry (BoI) and Olukayode Pitan as the Managing Director of the bank.

Pitan replaces Mr. Waheed Olagunju, who hitherto was the acting managing director.

He also appointed Ali Usman as the Chairman of National Pension Commission and Funso Doherty as the Director-General of the commission.

Osinbajo also appointed Manase Benga, who now joins

Ben Oviosun, Zaki Magawata and Nyerere Ayim, who had been previously appointed Executive Commissioners

by Buhari but had yet to go through senate confirmation.

Doherty was previously appointed PenCom chairman.

In the same vein, Emeka Nwakpa was appointed as the Chairman, Governing Board of the Consumer Protection Council (CPC).

The tweet added that besides Continued on page 8

In Gun Duel with Students' Kidnappers, 8 Policemen Shot, 3 in Coma ...Page 10 Sunday 28 May, 2017 Vol 22. No 8073

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Shettima: Boko Haram Degraded, Not Defeated Says 14m Northern youths roam the streets aimlessly Onyebuchi Ezigbo and Senator Iroegbu in Abuja Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, has said

contrary to claims, Boko Haram is not defeated but only degraded.

Shettima spoke in Abuja during the signing

of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Profoturo, a global charity organisation based in Madrid, Spain; the Northern

Nigeria Governors Forum (NNGF) and the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN).

The governor, whose state

was the epicentre of Boko Haram deadly activities, argued that whoever said the terrorists were defeated was being economical with

the truth. He said even though Nigeria had made a lot of gains in the fight Continued on page 8

APC, PDP Disagree on Midterm Scorecard Ruling party: We promised, we delivered Opposition: It’s been two years of monumental disaster

Onyebuchi Ezigbo As the country marks the second anniversary of the coming to power of the All Progressives Congress tomorrow, the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party has accused the ruling party of failing to fulfil its promise to the citizens, saying it has been two year of massive non-performance. This was as the President Muhammadu Buhari government and APC patted themselves on the back for doing a good job in the last two years.

APC said the Buhari administration had kept faith with most of the party’s campaign promises, which it said included principally a resolve to fight corruption, root out Boko Haram insurgency, and revamp the economy.

Speaking in Abuja during an interview with THISDAY, the national publicity secretary of APC, Mallam Bolaji

Abdullahi, said apart fighting Boko Haram to a standstill, the Buhari government had made significant progress in the fight against corruption and implemented several policies that were helping to revamp the economy.

Abdullahi stated, “I would like to say that there are three things that President Buhari promised as we went round the country campaigning.

One was he promised to fight corruption. Secondly, he said he will fight insecurity, especially, as it relates to Boko Haram, and, thirdly, he said he will create employment opportunities for the young people.”

The APC spokesman said a lot had been achieved in the military campaign to dislodge the Boko Haram insurgents from the North-east, which has been a nest of the Islamic sect’s rebellion since 2009. He said at the time the country was preparing for the general Continued on page 8

UNITING FOR GLOBAL PROGRESS...

L-R: Acting President Yemi Osinbajo (2nd right) and US President Donald Trump (3rd left), flanked by Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta (left), Guinean President Alpha Conde (2nd left), and Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn (right), during the G7 Summit in Sicily, Italy ...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 28, 2017

PAGE EIGHT SHETTIMA: BOKO HARAM DEGRADED, NOT DEFEATED against insurgency, a lot still needed to be done.

"We have to give it to this government that they have done marvelously well in containing insurgency, but they have not been totally defeated anybody. Who told you so is economical with the truth. But they have been degraded to such a level that they are no longer a threat to the corporate existence of this country.

"It is a work in progress, the commoners in the North are ever willing to cooperate with government agencies in returning peace and development of the country, because there cannot be development without peace," he said.

Shettima also dismissed the rumours of coup making the rounds, saying, "There will never be a coup in this country, we cannot return to Egypt, military coup my foot."

Meanwhile, the governor has raised the alarm that over 14 million Northern youths roam the streets aimlessly.

He noted that the project being championed through the MoU was all that was needed "for the North to get well, not minding where the support came from."

According to him, "This MoU will go a long a way in rekindling hope of over 14 million youths on the streets in Northern Nigeria who are aimlessly walking

the streets without hope of better tomorrow. There are 14 million of them as at the last count; so we whole-heartedly welcome this development, which will foster inter communal understanding.

"It is a welcome development and we see this as right step in the right direction to change our society to a better place, education is absolutely fundamental to repositioning the northern part of Nigeria."

"We are touched with this support from Profoturo because education lead to poverty most especially in the North East. The ratio of poverty in the North is also alarming compared to

that of the Southern states in Nigeria.

"While the quality of teachers most especially in the North-east is nothing to write home about, you cannot give what you don't have," he added.

Earlier, the Archbishop of Kaduna, Most Rev. Matthew Man- Oso Ndagoso, urged the Northern governors to return mission schools to their owners.

Ndagoso noted that, the quality of education had increased in Anambra state since the former Governor Peter Obi handed over the schools back to the missionaries.

"Whatever the intention the military had in taking over

schools anyway, we must not dwell on what happened in the past. I hope this will be the beginning of our partnership and reconciliation in education. So I am making this passionate appeal to you our northern governors on behalf of our other Bishops from the North, " he said.

In the same vein, the Archbishop of Sokoto Bishop Matthew Kukah, called for concerted efforts to improve the lives of Northern youths, saying, "It doesn't matter whether you are a Muslim or Christian, educated or uneducated the whole world does not treat us in isolation."

Kukah disclosed that, when the Profoturo met with the Pope on the need

for charity works across the world, "the Holy Father (Pope) said to him, my concern is the children in the street meaning that you can be in the backwater of anywhere in Nigeria and still compete with anyone in the world."

He however, appealed to the governors to ensure that the project to provide education to Northern children become successful.

Therefore, he said, the Nigerian Governors Forum would have to take this burden off us. "We will meet the commissioner of education with the 19 northern states. The difficulty will be with the bureaucracy…," he added.

from the people the progress that has been made in two years in those respective states. So, when you want to assess whether APC has delivered or has justified our being in existence, then you have to look at the totality of the federal, government and the 24 states that are governed by the APC. We believe that we have a lot of reasons to celebrate.”

However, Abdullahi acknowledged the tough times the citizens were going through due to the economic recession. But he assured that the APC administration was doing everything within its powers to end the recession and return the country to the path of economic growth.

He said, “The reality which we have acknowledged is that the economic recession has created difficulty and those hardship still exist

and nobody has ever denied that reality. We believe that in spite of this reality as a result of the hardship, we have enough reason to celebrate two years as a government.

“I believe very strongly that there is every reason to celebrate. I know that because of the difficulty that people are going through, there is a temptation to think that there is no much to celebrate.

But I think that if we look more closely, paying more attention to where we are coming from and where we were two years ago, you will see that we have more than sufficient good reason to celebrate.”

But the Senator Ahmed Makarfi leadership of PDP described the APC administration as a disaster that had brought untold hardship on Nigerians.

The party dismissed APC’s

assertions about performance, saying rather than making progress, the last two years have been a period of monumental setback for Nigeria.

Publicity secretary of the National Caretaker Committee of PDP, Dayo Adeyeye, said the APC government had failed in almost every aspect of the management of the country’s affairs.

He said contrary to APC's claim of degrading Boko Haram, a long period of inaction that trailed its assumption of power actually empowered the insurgents who had been almost defeated by the preceding PDP administration.

Adeyeye stated, "It was because when they came, they had no tact, there was lethargy, the president did not appoint any minister, and there was no action at all, that was why Boko Haram regained territory.

If the PDP had remained in government and continued with the massive attacks against Boko Haram, before December 2015, Boko Haram would have become history.”

He accused the Buhari government of worsening the security situation in the country by doing nothing to stop rampaging Fulani herders, who had even tended to kill more people than Boko Haram.

According to him, “In the area of security, to make matters even worse is the herdsmen attack, which we never saw before, which began to raise its ugly head since the APC came into power. If you talk about Boko Haram, it is confined to three states, but herdsmen are now in virtually all the states of the federation.

“It is also arguable whether more people have not been killed by the herdsmen than even Boko Haram. And to compound the problem of herdsmen attack is that not only do they kill the village people, they also pillage farms so that people cannot embark on agriculture, which is the means of their livelihood. So as far as security is concerned, I will score them negative.”

The PDP caretaker spokesman also scored the APC administration low in economy.

He stated, “Let us look at the issue of the economy.

First, it took the APC

administration a very long time to come up with its economic policy. If it took you two years to come up with an economic policy, how could you claim that you have achieved anything within that period? As far as the economy is concerned, it has been a disaster.

“Look at the indices.

Inflation quadrupled, the exchange rate skyrocketed, and industrial production declined completely.

Agriculture also declined considerably and every major sector of the economy suffered in the last two years, so much that the standard of living of Nigerians dropped drastically. Many of them are now committing suicide because of the economic hopelessness that we have now found ourselves in, in this country.

“Now the power sector has declined and so is every other sector of the economy.

For instance, in the transport sector, the only project that was commissioned by this government is the railway line from Kaduna to Abuja and that one was a project already completed by the former PDP administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.”

Adeyeye also said, “The APC government has not added one single meter of railway track. The same thing goes for the road transport sector. It has been a complete disaster.

Whereas, the administration of former President Jonathan expanded the road network from 5,000 km to 35,000 km.

The government has done nothing. Even to repair the existing ones has been a disaster for them.

“What is more pathetic is the issue of surging unemployment rate in the country. It has quadrupled.

What you get as a result is massive crime, kidnapping, and armed robbery in the country.”

On the anticorruption fight, Adeyeye accused the government of embarking on a campaign deliberately skewed against the opposition. He said, “The anticorruption fight, to say the least, has been a one-sided fight, which has been aimed basically to harass PDP members and to subdue the opposition.”

APC, PDP DISAGREE ON MIDTERM SCORECARD election in 2015, more than 50,000 square kilometres of Nigeria’s territory was occupied by Boko Haram, which declared a caliphate and planted their flag in the occupied areas.

Abdullahi said, “I remember that in trying to make a joke of it, it was said that the area occupied

by Boko Haram was the size of Belgium.

“Two years down the line, what is the size of Nigeria’s territory occupied by Boko Haram? Zero, including the dreaded Sambisa forest.”

Abdullahi said the Buhari government had proved beyond doubt that it was genuinely determined to tackle and possibly eradicate corruption in the country.

He said the president had done what was almost impossible in the previous administration.

According to him, “You hear people talking about whistle-blowers, people talk about huge amount of money being recovered, people being dragged before the court, former governors being remanded in prison custody for corrupt practices, you hear about former ministers being held in detention and prison for corruption.

“These are things that were almost impossible two years ago. The challenges are still there, but this is the progress we have made in two years.

“We would also like to argue that there is the tendency to look at the APC from the perspective of the federal government.

But the performance of APC as a party is the aggregate of the performances of our 24 state governments.

“You go to each of our 24 states and you will find out

OSINBAJO APPOINTS NEW PENCOM DG, CHAIRMAN, MD FOR BOI the pension commission's appointments, which were subject to Senate’s approval, all other appointments took immediate effect.

The tweet announcing the appointments was followed with a statement from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation signed by the Director of Press, Chris Okeke.

The appointment of a new DG for PenCom has laid to rest controversies surrounding the sack of the former DG of PENCOM, Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu.

Anohu-Amazu, who was sacked by Buhari on April 19, this year, was initially replaced with Dikko, but she was subsequently asked to hand over to Aisha Dahir-Umar in acting capacity pending Senate confirmation of Dikko, whose appointment has now been changed to chairman of BoI Chairman.

In another development, the acting president yesterday told the G7 Summit in Italy that Africa was confident of a prosperous future as a result of its current investment in education, good governance and an accountability system.

Osinbajo, who was invited to Italy by G7, a group of seven largest economies of the world, arrived Sicily in Italy in the early hours of yesterday and returned to the country later in the evening.

The acting president had been invited along with presidents of five other African nations, viz: Guinea, Tunisia, Niger, Ethiopia and Kenya.

Addressing the summit on the platform of G7 Summit Special Outreach Forum on Africa, the acting president said apart from the current investment in education, good governance and accountability, the productive talents and creative prowess of African youths in recent times had rekindled hopes of a prosperous Africa in future.

The acting president, according to a statement by his media aide, Laolu Akande, said Africa was undeterred by failure of the past but was rather motivated by "the incredible energy and talents of its bustling youthful population." He described emerging innovation and technology as the tools being employed by leaders to bring about the Africa of their dream.

"Africa is confident of the future because we have learnt,... we are investing more in education, insisting on good governance and holding ourselves to account. But the greatest reason for our optimism is in the incredible energy, talent and creativity of our young people, male and female, who are completely undeterred by the failures of the past and

are daily taking advantage of innovation and technology bringing about the Africa of our dreams," Osinbajo was quoted as saying.

The statement further said the acting president pledged to the G7 countries of Africa's increasing collaboration in trade, counter-terrorism and strengthening of democracy as never before.

He also commended the seven largest economies of the world for their support to Nigeria in the fight against terrorism, especially the United States, France and the United Kingdom.

Also describing them as effective partners in Lake Chad Basin, Osinbajo recalled what he described as the successes of "our joint intelligence unit," which he said had provided useful and timely intelligence in the war against terrorism."

Furthermore, the statement said Osinbajo briefed the summit on massive increase in rice production in Nigeria in the past two years as well as the distribution of fertiliser subsidies to farmers whom he said had also benefited from an e-wallet system, which guarantees the delivery of subsidies to the farmers.

He was also said to have told the group that the administration's NPower programme which had engaged "some of the up to 50,000 young previ-

ously unemployed graduates instalmentally as teachers, agricultural extension workers and public health professionals is a breakthrough in mass post-tertiary education."

The statement added that Osinbajo disclosed that participants in the N-Power programme were recruited online from all states of the federation using mobile phones adding that participants soon received their electronic tablet devices and could access an N-Power portal containing required training materials for acquisition of more skills to carry out their duties.

It listed other participants at the summit to include: the Chairman of the African Union and Guinean President, Alpha Conde, and heads of international agencies such as United Nations, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, International Monetary Fund, African Development Bank and World Bank.

The acting president was accompanied to the summit by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyema; Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Economic Matters, Dr. Yemi Dipeolu; and the Nigeria Charge d' Affairs in Italy, Mrs. Bisi Meshioye. Osinbajo returned to Nigeria Saturday evening.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ MAY 28, 2017

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SUNDAY COMMENT

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

DEMOCRACY DAY AND THE FRENCH EXAMPLE The French Presidential Election holds lessons for Nigeria

T

he recent election in France of a 39-yearold Emmanuel Macron who ran as an independent candidate has captured the imagination of the world and for a while, the main issue on the Nigerian social media. But as we mark the 18th anniversary of the current democratic dispensation—the longest in the nation’s chequered political history—and the mid-term of the Muhammadu Buhari administration, it is important for our country that we learn the right lessons.

Political education, progressive involvement of the people at the lowest strata of society in deciding what affects them and the redefinition or the role of “ideology” in politics are important elements in any attempt to drive popular participation. The French example will therefore serve us in Nigeria since it rests on an established political culture of choice, as well as the invocation, not invention, of extant democratic norms. At the end of the day, Macron won because majority of French voters cast their ballots for him in a clear rejection of extremism which the opposition represented. To a large extent, the 2015 election which brought President Buhari to power in Nigeria also approximated to popular will.

But that perhaps is where the similarities end.

In France, within hours of being sworn in, President Macron began to establish a balanced government and with that, he sent a clear message that those who seek power must do their homework and have an idea of where they want to lead their people.

His ministerial picks were drawn from a broad spectrum of the French society, including political parties with both right and left ideological leanings, and the civil society. Half of the 22 cabinet members are women with a 33 -year-old Mounir Mahjoubi, of

In France, within hours of being sworn in, President Macron began to establish a balanced government and with that, he sent a clear message that those who seek power must do their homework and have an idea of where they want to lead their people

Morocan origin, being the youngest.

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

here are many lessons in that for us in Nigeria. These are bipartisanship, gender balance, youthful energy, inclusiveness as well as urgency in tackling national problems. They are all critical success factors in government. If we use these yardsticks to measure how President Buhari’s stewardship has panned out in the last two years, as indeed we should, then we can understand why Nigeria is where we are today, despite the euphoria with which the government was ushered in. For instance, it took almost three months for Buhari to pick personal aides, six months to inaugurate a cabinet comprising mostly of his party men and the number of women appeared more as mere tokenism than any serious attempt at gender balancing. Meanwhile, there are several positions in government that are yet to be filled with many acting heads of critical agencies now also having to hand over to subordinates in acting capacities.

Beyond the issue of preparation - or lack of one - on which the Buhari administration has been sorely exposed, there is also the matter of popular participation which is the ultimate safeguard of democratic norms. Unfortunately, President Buhari conveyed the impression, both in his speech and action, that he is doing the Nigerian people a favour by being their leader. He is not. The position he occupies is neither his personal fiefdom nor anybody’s fiefdom. He therefore should listen more to Nigerians, operate an inclusive government as the new French leader has done and begin to rally together our people for the peace and prosperity he promised when he was campaigning for office.

Even if we concede that the health challenge that has kept him abroad for the better part of this year may have impacted negatively on his administration, the fact also remains that President Buhari has not shown enough understanding of the challenges that plague the nation nor has his government applied itself enough to meeting those challenges.

Therefore, the score card of the last two years is, to put it mildly, rather disappointing. But there are still two more years ahead. However, to advance the cause of our democracy, it is not only the executive that must buckle up. Much more is expected of the National Assembly and the Judiciary.

SUNDAY PHOTO

Lagos State Deputy Governor Idiat Oluranti Adebule (middle) assisted by some members of the State Executive Council to cut a cake with some children to commemorate the 2017 Children’s Day Celebration at Agege Stadium ....yesterday

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R Ëž RCH 19, 2017

SUNDAYNEWS

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In Gun Duel with Studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Kidnappers, Eight Policemen Shot t Three in coma t Kidnappers demand N400m ransom t Ambode vows to rescue victims Abimbola Akosile Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D; Chiemelie Ezeobio

No fewer than eight policemen were yesterday shot, with three in coma and five others in critical condition, after a gun duel with thekidnappersofthesixstudents of Lagos State Model College, Igbonla in Epe. This is just as the gang has demanded for N400 million for the release of the students who were identified as Peter Jonah, Isiaq Rahmon, Adebayo George, Judah Agbausi, Pelumi Philips and Farouq Yusuf.

The policemen who were injured were among those who

hadengagedthemilitantsinagun duel yesterday. THISDAY learnt that the policemen, who were on routine patrol, were said to have stumbledintothekidnappersand a gun duel ensued, at the end of which nine policemen were shot and 14 militants reportedly died.

It was gathered that the eight policemen who were seriously wounded have since been taken to a hospital (name with-held) for treatmentafterthegunduelatOde Omi waterway in Ogun state.

A police source, who spoke on anonymitysaid,â&#x20AC;&#x153;Policemenfrom the marine wing and other arms of the force were on the trail of the kidnappers, when the gun battle

ensued.Ourmenwereonarescue missionwhenthemilitantssighted them; opened fire on them, and a serious gun duel ensued. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The militants, who were over 50, engaged the policemen in a serious duel which lasted four to sixhoursonthewaterways.Atthe end, over 14 militants were killed but eight policemen were injured andthreeofthemarestillincoma now and they are being treated at a police facility. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Already, police will liaise with the navy on mop up exercise. We canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;tjustbegintopickdeadbodies in the creek, there will be a mop up, but we must be accompanied by the navyâ&#x20AC;?, the source added.

Meanwhile, the gunmen, who stormed the school on Thursday morning and whisked the pupils away, established contacts with their families around 4:30pm yesterday.

According to some of the parents of the kidnapped pupils, they were allowed to speak with their children, adding that the kidnappers told them to tell the schoolauthorityandgovernment toprovidethemoney.Theparents who spoke separately, appealed to the kidnappers to release the pupilsoncompassionategrounds.

One of the parents who spoke on condition of anonymity said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;They called me around 4pm.

They called the name of my son andaskedifIknewhim.Isaidyes and they gave him the phone to speak with me. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As we were talking, they took the phone and told me to go to the governmentandschoolauthorities andtellthemtoprovideN400million before theywouldreleasethe children.Thecalldidnotlastlong. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I called other parents whose childrenweretakenandtheyalso confirmedtheywerecontactedby thekidnappers.Weareappealing to them to release the children on compassionate grounds. If they have issues with the school management orthegovernment, they can look for another way to addressit.Theyshouldpityus,the parents and release our children. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I have not been able to sleep since Thursday. My wife has not stopped crying either. They should please have mercy on us,â&#x20AC;? the parent said.

However,theLagosstategovernor,Mr.AkinwunmiAmbode,has vowed to rescue the kidnapped pupils unhurt and restore them back to their educational process and their families.

The governor, yesterday, reassured Lagosians that the State governmentwoulddoeverything possible to ensure that six pupils who were kidnapped at Igbonla are rescued unhurt and reunited with their parents.

Ambode, who gave the assurance at this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Children Day

celebration held at the Agege Stadium, said the celebration would notbecompletewithoutrescuing those innocent pupils safely and bringing them back to school to continue their education.

He said top security arrangement was on course to guarantee their safety, pledging that his governmentwouldstopatnothingto ensurethatkidnappingandother criminal activities are put to an end in schools.

Represented by his deputy, Dr. Idiat Oluranti Adebule, Ambode said his administration was committed to protecting children in the state from any form of abuse, child labour or molestation by religiously implementing the Child Right Law and the Executive Order on Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy, adding that â&#x20AC;&#x153;it was important to protect our children today, so that they can protect us tomorrow.â&#x20AC;?

The governor, who said this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day celebration was a unique one as the state is equally celebrating the 50th year anniversary of its creation, called on the children to remain focused, believe in themselves and set target that would make them attain greatness in life, promising that his government willcontinuetocreateopportunities and implement policies that would help them to become the best of what they can without any barriers.

Rotary Begins Search for â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Face of Humanityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; CELEBRATING AFC @ 10 L-R: Founder, Nigeria and Entrepreneurship: Summit & Honors (NESH), Emeka Ugwu-Oju; President/CEO, Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), Andrew

Alli; Chairman, UBA Plc, Tony Elumelu; MD/CEO, Development Bank of Nigeria, Anthony Okpanachi; and founding Chairman, AFC/former CBN Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, as AFC celebrated its first successful decade with a dinner at the Dunes, Abuja...recently

Children Day: Senate to Parley State Assemblies on Child Rights Act Domestication t

Osinbajo cautions parents against harmful practices

Oghenevwede Ohwovoriole Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x152;Ă&#x;Ă&#x201D;Ă&#x2039; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D; Laleye Dipo Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2039;

Senate President Bukola Sarakiis expectedtomeetSpeakersofState Houses of Assembly very soon to press for domestication of the Child Rights Act at the state level.

TheSenatePresidentmadethis known at a forum organised by femalediplomats, career women andwomeninpoliticsduringthe fourth annual edition of SHE in Abuja.

SHE Forum is a registered Pan-African women development, leadership and life style organisation founded by Mrs. Inimfon Etuk.

Fatima Kakuri, who represented the Senate President on gender, said â&#x20AC;&#x153;Senator Saraki is a gender sensitive personâ&#x20AC;?, hence he appointed her to advise him on female gender issues in order to give women gender equality in Nigeria. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have passed the stage

of agitating for gender equality; we are now hoping on policies that will change the laws and we are hoping for a better societyâ&#x20AC;?, Kakuri, stated. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Senate President will be meeting with all the Speakers of thevariousStatesAssembliesthat are yet to domesticate the Child Rights Act, to discuss the issues militating against its domestication in their various States.â&#x20AC;?

The founder/Chairperson of SHE Forum Africa and the convener of the gathering said she founded the organisation to help girls and women; to help thegirlchildachievetheirdreams andletnothingholdthemback,to empowerandencouragewomen to be politically active.

She added, â&#x20AC;&#x153;SHE Forum is organisation that is set out to make sure that girl child is not limited by religion, culture or public policiesâ&#x20AC;?.

On politics she said women are peace lovers and that more

involvementofwomeninpolitics would reduce thuggery and violencethatmarelectionsinNigeria. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Women are peaceful people, meek and kind therefore their greater involvement in politics will go a long way in reducing thuggery and violence that we always witness prior, during and post elections in Nigeria.

For now we are not thinking of forming a political party but maybe sometimes in the future.

Wewanttobeinexistingpolitical parties for now and get what we wantbyactivelygettinginvolved,â&#x20AC;? she added.

ThewifeoftheSenatePresident, Mrs. Toyin Saraki, who was in attendance also urged the women to stop the pull-down syndrome that they exhibit when they see any woman who is up. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We women must learn to encourage ourselves by stopping our pull-down syndrome when weseeourfellowwomenmakeit to the top and start encouraging

them.Thatistheonlywaywecan catch up with the men.â&#x20AC;?

Meanwhile, Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, yesterday cautioned parents and the society against practices that can be inimical to the lives of Nigerian children.

Osinbajo gave the advice at the national Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day celebration in Akure, the Ondo State capital, in a message delivered on his behalf by Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, according to a News AgencyofNigeria(NAN)report.

The acting President said such acts include child marriage, child molestation and other forms of child abuse. He said the country would soon have a special telephone line where children could make distress calls for prompt intervention.

Osinbajo, who promised to protect and defend Nigerian children through the child rights law,however,advisedthechildren tobeobedientandhardworking.

TheRotaryClubofAbujaWuseII (TheMayors),District9125Nigeria has commenced a search for an exceptional personality that will represent the club as the Face of Humanity. As stated by the incoming President of the club, Rotn. Prince Igho Sadjere, the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Face of Humanityâ&#x20AC;? personality, which currently enjoys local and internationalendorsements,would beabrandoftheClubinthevarious projects to be executed.

The event for the unveiling of theâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;FaceofHumanityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;personality, scheduled for Sunday, August 27 at the Congress Hall of Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja will also host the Empowerment of 200 householdstoreceivestart-upgrants,the Mayorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Humanitarian Awards 2017, Fundraising, Investiture of 2017/2018 President and Board of Directors,CelebrationoftheClubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2nd Year Anniversary as well as Rotary Projects Exhibition spiced withOrchestra,MusicandComedy.

According to Sadjere, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The club is more determined to make a huge and lasting difference in our communities and the nation at large in line with the theme of the Rotary Year 2017-2018: Rotary Making a Difference. To this end, the Rotary Club of Abuja Wuse II will host her Empowerment & Fundraising Cocktail, with the theme â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Empowering Communities for a Greater Nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.

The Award categories include: theMayorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;HumanitarianGovernor Awards in the 6 Geo-Political zones;theMayorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Humanitarian Legislator Awards; the Mayorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Making a Differenceâ&#x20AC;? NGO Awards and the Mayorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; RoleModel Awards. The Rotary Club of Abuja Wuse II, District 9125, Nigeria is one of the vibrant clubs of Rotary International based in Abuja. The Club, since its charter, hasplannedandexecutedsuccessful projects and charity events within and outside Abuja.

NAHCO ClariďŹ es MDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Health Status

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Tributes as Dame Patricia Anenih is Laid to Rest

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Prominent Nigerians including top politicians, captains of industries, academia and personalities from other sectors of the economy yesterday converged on Uromi, the country home of former chairman, board of trustees of the Peoplesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Tony Anenih, as he bade farewell to his late wife, Dame Patricia Anenih.

Leading the guests at the Requiem Mass held at Saint Anthony Catholic Cathedral Uromi, Esan North-east Local Government Area of Edo state were former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan; Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa; former Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole; former Governors of Delta State, Chief James Ibori and Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan; and

Chairman, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote.

Also present were Senators Bananas Gemade, Clifford Ordia and Matthew Urhoghide, Binta Garba; former Senator Odion Ugbesia, Hon. Cairo Ojougbo, Deputy National Chairman, Modu-Sheriff faction of the PDP; and members of the Federal House and State Assemblies.

Delivering a homily at a Requiem Mass officiated by the Archbishop of Benin Catholic Metropolitan Sea, Most Rev. Dr. Augustine Obiora Akubeze, the Bishop of Auchi Catholic Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Gabriel Dunia admonished Christians to live a worthy life so that on the day they are being buried the preacher would not struggle to look for what to say about them.

According to him, â&#x20AC;&#x153;We who are alive should work hard so

that good things can be said about us. We should live a good life so that the preacher on the day of our funeral will not struggle to look for what to say about us.â&#x20AC;?

Bishop Dunia who extolled the virtues of late Dame Anenih, described her as a good woman who strived to ensure a peaceful home for the family she left behind, adding that the peaceful nature of the deceased was what endeared her not only to her immediate family, but also to her entire environment.

The Bishop further noted that these qualities of late Mrs. Anenih prompted the Papacy to confer on her, Lady of St. Sylvester (an Associate member of the Papal Knight of St. Sylvester), a honour usually bestowed on people because of their dedication to the church.

See photos on pages 80 and 81

States Celebrate 50th Anniversary in Grand Style Abimbola Akosile in Lagos, Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano and Bassey Inyang in Calabar

To celebrate fifty years of creation, Lagos, Kano, Cross River, and other states including Kwara and Rivers yesterday marked their creation in May 27, 1967 in various grand styles and displays.

While the Lagos State Government has concluded plans to climax the Lagos@50 celebrations with a spectacular display of fireworks on Sunday (today), both Kano and Rivers states honoured some of their past and present leaders with various awards in different categories.

Cross River state, led by Governor Ben Ayade chose to mark the anniversary with the release

of five inmates who were on death row, among other activities.

To mark the historical event, Kano state governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, bestowed special awards on 82 prominent Nigerians and expatriates, for their exceptional contribution towards the development of the state, as part of its golden jubilee celebration.

The honourees include former Heads of State, Gen. Murtala Muhammed and Gen. Sani Abacha, all past military and civilian governors of the state, the late Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s richest man Aliko Dangote, his maternal uncle Alhaji Aminu Dantata and Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo state.

Other award recipients

include Islamic religious leaders, public officials, traditional leaders, politicians, businessmen and so forth, who helped relentlessly in building Kano.

In his remarks, Governor Ganduje stated that individual and collective efforts of citizens, especially the founding fathers of the state and other patriotic people, had resulted in landmarks, by which Kano stands tall among its peers.

While rejoicing with recipients of the state honours, he said the awards would stimulate people to contribute towards development of the state, announcing that his administration would forward a bill to the state legislature to make the Kano Merit Awards a permanent affair in the scheme of things.

Akiolu Dismisses Report on â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Details of Encounterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; with Ooni The Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Okikiola Akiolu, has dismissed a THISDAY report that his alleged public snubbing of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, some weeks ago was connected to a past business encounter between both of them.

A letter by his solicitors, Okupe and Co, and signed by Alaba Okupe, described the report as libelous. It said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is sad to note that you did not bother to ascertain the true facts about the said article for your enlightenment and to aid your pursuit of due diligence in carrying out investigative journalism as your profession enjoins you to do.â&#x20AC;?

In dismissing the report, the letter said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our client never had any problem with the emergence of the Ooni nor did he jeopardise or attempt to jeopardise any project associated with the Ooni.â&#x20AC;?

With the attachment of a certified true copy of an order by an Ikeja High Court, dated April 12, 2017 in respect of a suit

between the Baale-elect of Ajah, Alhaji M.A Ojupon, and Chief Fatai Lawal Abiodun Olumegbon Ajinwon III, the Olumegbon of Lagos, it said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;You could easily observe on perusing the said court order that our client, His Royal Majesty, Alaiyeluwa Oba Rilwan Babatunde Osuolale Aremu Akiolu 1, is not a party to this highly complex court proceedings which led to the said court order.

The letter further stated: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;hot sensationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; you wanted to create and dwell upon by falsely and maliciously publishing the said article with a view to increasing the sales of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;THISDAY, the Sunday Newspapersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and thereby making a lot of money for your employers did not allow you to exercise a little bit of patience to be diligent enough to seek an interview with our client, who by his status in the society has his public relations officers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Instead, you chose to hurriedly publish the said article and rely on the usual â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;lazyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; journal-

Apology

istsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; clichĂŠ: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Efforts by THISDAY last night to get the palace of the Oba of Lagos to react to the allegation were futileâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. There was no need to rush to publish the said article but for your desire to create and dwell upon a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;hot and sensational articleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; as stated above.â&#x20AC;?

It further stated that as a successful businessman/the Oba of Lagos and a person, who occupies such a prominent position in the Nigerian society, the report constitutes a very grave reflection on his integrity and also a most serious and damaging libel on him as the Oba of Lagos. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our client has no objection to fair and honest criticism, but he is not prepared to remain indifferent to such libelous allegations on his personal character as you have made. These allegations are very serious and quite unfounded in every material particular,â&#x20AC;? the letter maintained, demanding an apology and a retraction of the said report.

In our edition of April 30, 2017, we published a report titled: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Details Emerge on Why Oba Akiolu â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Snubbedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Ooni in Publicâ&#x20AC;?. We hereby withdraw the report and apologise for whatever embarrassment it may have caused His Royal Highness, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, whom we hold in high esteem.

- Editor

14

Í°ÍśË&#x153; Í°ÍŽÍŻÍľ Ëž THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

OPINION Coup Scare: A Red Herring?

The era of military rule is over in Nigeria, contends Ikem Joseph

O

ne of the greatest dis-incentives to military coup in Nigeria is the liberalisation of the broadcast media. If you seize a radio station in Kaduna to announce a coup, another officer will seize a television or radio station in Kano, Lagos, Enugu, Ibadan or Rivers, to counter the coup. If you attempt a military putsch through an announcement on air in Owerri, someone else will make a counter announcement on radio or television in Abuja, Ebonyi, Jos, Ekiti or Bayelsa. It is no longer easy to plan a successful coup in Nigeria.

And to detect coup attempts is now so easy. Unlike the 60â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s to 90â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s when telecommunication lines can be cut in order to restrict access to information, as you mention your illegal attempt in one barracks, before you take two steps, the information has reached another barracks. So, how do you conceal a coup attempt in the era of GSM, WatsApp, Twitter, indeed, all agents of instant communication? And coup is an offence against your country, a high treason.

The experiences of men of the armed forces in the coup years of the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;60s to 90â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s have nearly destroyed esprit de corps. And so, how do you expect Ibo, Yoruba or Ijaw soldiers to obey orders from an Hausa officer to overthrow an elected government? In the same vein, Hausa soldiers will not obey illegal orders from Yoruba, Ibo or Ijaw to sack a civil government, no matter how good or bad the elected government is.

Drawing from the benefit of hindsight, Nigerians will prefer a devil in civilian dress to a saint in an

army uniform. It was military rule that brought the country to its knees. Indeed, while the civilians in the 60â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s allegedly stole in secret, the military governments looted the country dry, and openly. This country has not recovered from the pains of military regime and may not fully recover from the depredations foisted on the nation via coup dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;etats in the next 50 years because it is easier to destroy than build. For instance, the regular assault on civilians by some soldiers is hangover from the military rule. In developed climes, soldiers accord civilians regard and utmost respect to all constituted civil authorities.

Finally, a military coup in the present day Nigeria will only lead to civil war and disintegration of the country.

With Boko Haram, MASSOP, IPOD, OPC, MEND, NDA, etc., no soldiers will dare attempt an illegal occupation of Aso Rock and Government Houses across Nigeria. There is so much inter and cross ethnic suspicion in the country

Drawing from the beneďŹ t of hindsight, Nigerians will prefer a devil in civilian dress to a saint in an army uniform

such that any officer illegally occupying power will be viewed as that tribe trying to achieve by the barrels of gun what it could not achieve through the ballox box.

No section will be able to lay claim to monopoly of violence. Civil war will be the consequence.

Good or bad civilian government , the era of military regime is over in Nigeria.

The military is not the watchdog of our democracy and should not constitute itself as one. That role has been handed to the press by the constitution. The military is not an alternative government, being not a political party. The teachers are carrying out their lawful duties in the classrooms, the doctors and nurses are fulfilling their constitutional mandates in the hospitals, the farmers in the farms, so should the members of the armed forces fulfil their lawful duties of defending the country against external aggression and internal insurrection as permitted by the constitution and the Armed Forces Act in their barracks. This is the right and proper way to build a nation that we all can be proud of. The military cannot claim to be more important than teachers. Neither can doctors claim superiority over the police. Let everyone and every institution fulfil its constitutional mandate.

If one political party in power is not doing well, then let another political party replace it at the next general elections. That is the prescription in all civilised societies. Our country can only develop when all hands are on deck to deepen the current civil rule. â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Dr. Joseph, a social researcher, wrote from Abuja.

Interpreting Adeoye Akinsanya Ademola Adebisi pays tribute to the erudite scholar and professor of political science at age 73

T

he University of Ilorin is today, one of the most sought out Universities in Nigeria. This is because of the stability of its academic calendar and also for being on the fast lane of modernisation of its teaching and learning processes. On the other hand, to a faction of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in the University and its sympathisers , the university is a hotbed of ultraethno-religious conservatism and a citadel of intellectual primitiveness which deserves no other treatment than the kind of ostracisation and the scrapheap the national ASUU body has consigned it to.

While this obviously is an extreme view, one had, long envisaged the kind of division and clash that today prevail in the university. This was because, during the cold war era which fell within the period of its existence, particularly in the 1980s, the university also had its taste of polarisation and harboured potential for clash within the rank and file of its intellectuals even beyond the East and West ideological divide.

I could recall vividly as a student of the university between 1983 and 1987, that, among the lecturers, there were the liberals, the leftists, the centrists and Africanists. To the liberals, the individuals must enjoy their liberty and in most cases, they were pro-establishment and there were christians and muslims within their ranks. They were numerous.

Notable among them were Prof. Eyitayo Lambo, a Professor of Business Administration who later became a Federal Minister and Prof. Ifeyori Ihimodu, a Professor of Economics, who later became the Director-General of the Ilorin-based Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI). The banner of Africanists was carried by scholars like late Prof. (Mrs) Zulu Sofola and her late husband, Prof.

J. O. Sofola; late Prof. A. M. Obayemi, who later became the Director-General of the Centre for Arts and Culture; late Prof. Oludare Olajubu, a Professor of Yoruba Language and Mrs. Veronica O. Ofuyah. They believed so much in the African ways of doing things and they personified this. The leftists existed in several. Yet they were loud on the campus.

Their high sounding anti-capitalists language and the free socialist tracts and literature they circulated, attracted a good number of students, to their fold. Notable among them were Remi Medupin and Prof. S.O. Oduleye. They were critical of establishment; and they readily provided resistance to any perceived form of oppression by the university authority.

One was not therefore surprised that they spear-headed the resistance that led to the imbroglio that has today turned the university into a coat of two colours. The centrists were sizeable in number. They understood the limitations of liberalism or capitalism and socialism and chose to espouse realistic positions on issues as they unfolded. Yet, they believed in democratic socialism and they were progressive.

Prominent among them was our Head of Department then, that is the Department of Political Science, Prof.

Adeoye Akinsanya. He had a disciple in Prof. Arthur E. Davies who was his first Ph.D candidate at the University of Lagos. Outside the department were Prof. Olu Obafemi; and Dr. D.O. Atteh, among others. Because of their centrist position, they often acted on the breadth of evidence on issues. Prof. Akinsanya a progressive and an erudite scholar will be 73 on June 5.

Born on June 5, 1944 at Ikenne in Ogun State, Adeoye Akinsanya became a professor at the age of 38 years having taught at the University of Lagos before joining the services of the University of Ilorin. I cannot but celebrate a teacher whose style of teaching and carriage in class fired my long â&#x20AC;&#x201C;nursed ambition to become a â&#x20AC;&#x153;doctorâ&#x20AC;?. Putting us through his courses on Multinational Corporations (MNCs) and Nigerian Government and Politics was exceptionally rigorous, but highly rewarding. In his research, he has focused on political economy, international relations, public administration and Nigerian Government and politics, and in all these areas, he has extensively broken new grounds and generated issues for further intellectual engagement.

Although not a Marxist, in most of his works on political economy, he had pontificated on the exploitation being perpetuated by the MNCS and how the Third World Governments could curtail their activities. This line of thought is discernible in many of his engaging works notably, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Expropriation of Multinationals Property in The Third World and Multinationals in a changing Environment: A study of Business â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Government Relations in the Third Worldâ&#x20AC;?. He understands the intricate operations of capitalism, thus while he encourages the Third World countries to seek Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), he carefully sensitises them to the dangers of capitalism without offending the world bourgeois class that often finds his intellectual power and urbanity irresistible to engage for research and development. This moderate but progressive ideological temper can also be understood against the backdrop of the fact that he attended the University of Pittsburgh, and the University of Chicago for his Masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and Ph.D degrees respectively both in the USA, having earned his first degree in Political Science from the University of Ibadan.

On Nigerian government and politics he remains a doyen. This can be seen in his independent and joint works with Prof. John A. Ayoade and Prof. Olatunde JB. Ojo. This intellectual crew of three had in the recent times bestridden Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Political Science literature with works such as Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Critical Elections 2011; The Jonathan Presidency: The First Year; and The Jonathan Presidency: The Sophomore Year, among others. In Akinsanyaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

research engagement on Nigerian government and politics, one can sense in him a patriot who wants the Nigerian project to work. This is evident in his works on legislative -executive relations; local government administration; intergovernmental relations and administration of justice, among others. Yet, the intermittent and festering fissiparous tendency in our polity does provoke in him a second thought, hence his work with Ayoade and Ojo: Nigeria: Descent into Anarchy and collapse? Akinsanyaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s position on religion in our days at Ilorin was ambivalent.

Though he attended May Flower, Ikenne with Pastor W. Kumuyi where he tasted the morsel of atheism, yet he was neither one nor perfectly fitted enough for the services of the Pontiff. I later discovered his Anglican Christian upbringing when I attended the inhumation of his late mother years back. The picture of his devotion to God however became clear to me when his late lovely wife was sick and we used to pray together for her on-line. Clearer still today, he blesses me on WhatsApp almost everyday.

As his student, I found him intellectually a tough trainer. As a result of his quest for quality work and his bent on producing quality and employable graduates, passing through him was like passing through a furnace and which most of us did not immediately appreciate.

Writing good term papers for him was an herculean task for us. In his tactful way of getting us to write good term papers, he would in a swoop describe what all of us had sometimes written for him as thrash and he would therefore call for quality work. It is this indirect way of motivation that has minted many of his students into the shinning gold they are today. This should indeed be expected of a man who has taught Political Science for 48 years in close to a dozen universities across the world and is still teaching and researching; has about 137 publications to his credit; reviewed numerous works; supervised innumerable student projects or thesis; made numerous national and international conference appearances and won over a dozen awards, scholarships and honours. As a thoroughbred and devoted academic, he has no other stock in trade other than intellectualism.

As I wish Prof. Akinsanya a happy birthday, let me use this occasion to charge African political scientists to let us raise our theoretical consciousness to promote the study of political science. Over the years, Western scholars have been in the forefront of generating theories, paradigms and models some of which are not even relevant to explain our political plight. We must therefore, rise not only to generate autochthonous models, paradigms and theories, but also challenge the existing ones for superior reasons. â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Dr. Adebisi wrote from the Federal College of Agriculture, Akure, Ondo State.

15

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ MAY 28, 2017

LETTERS PRESIDENT BUHARI’S DELAYED APPOINTMENTS

T

he immediate selection and appointment of security chiefs, presidential aides, cabinet members, diplomats, heads and members of boards of parastatals and filling of sundry vacancies is a major priority of every new democratically-elected president to kick-start his administration. This task becomes imperative because the president needs men and women of sterling qualities who identify with his inspiration to drive his envisaged policies, both domestic and foreign.

Thus any delay in making such quick appointments gives a cause for concern within bureaucratic, military, diplomatic, political and business circles and the international community at large.

From bureaucrats who translate

the president’s vision into actionable programmes, policies and actions, the military and security forces who contend with security challenges, diplomats who oil the machinery of bilateral and multilateral relations, the political class which thrives on patronage, the business class that invests in the economy and the expectant citizenry all eagerly await such appointments to gauge and determine the policy direction of the new administration.

We have seen examples in the new democratically-elected governments of Donald Trump of the US and his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron and our next door neighbour Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana.

Nigerians and indeed members of the international community have become wary and unsure of the policy direction of this administration as

a result of the unavoidable delay in appointments by this administration.

Notwithstanding Mr President’s ailment, if he had made all the political appointments early enough, Nigerians would have long before now started enjoying fully the benefits of democracy dividends and who knows the economic recession would have since been nipped in the bud.

It is regrettable that two years and half way into his administration ,several appointments critical to the attainment of the change mantra are yet to be made while the few that were made, the appointees’ names are yet to be submitted to the Senate for confirmation while some are still hanging before the Senate.

The drama surrounding the Senate screening of Ibrahim Magu, Acting Chairman of the EFCC, the

controversial assumption of office of the newly appointed but unconfirmed Director General, Lottery Regulatory Commission Mr. Adolphus Joe Ekpe; Dr. Aliyu Dikko, the new Pencom Director General, and board members of the agency and a host of others are quite embarrassing and unsettling as they are indicative of an unhealthy relationship between the executive and the legislature. Furthermore, the two new ministers -designate who were recently cleared and confirmed by the Senate are yet to be assigned portfolio and inaugurated even with Prof. Yemi Osibanjo as the Acting President exercising full presidential powers. The situation is the same with the recently cleared and confirmed non-career ambassadorial nominees still awaiting postings to their various missions abroad. Ditto with the Chair-

man of NERC, Prof. James Momoh, whose name is yet to be submitted to the Senate. Another example is the reappointment of Mr. Elias Mbam as the Chairman, Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), whose name is yet to be forwarded to the Senate for screening almost one year after the announcement of his reappointment.

This is why members of the civil society, the media and the academia as well as concerned citizens have been voicing their fears and consternation at the inertia of government especially at this critical juncture of the nation’s development. This unnecessary delay is giving rise to avoidable criticism and dangerous speculations.

– Rebecca Omose, Gwarinpa, Abuja

BETWEEN IGBO NATION AND THE AGITATIONS FOR BIAFRA

A

ccording to the former head of state of the defunct Biafra, Emeka Odimegwu Ojukwu, in his short treatise, “why I am involved”, Biafra was a line of safety drawn, so that any Igbo who crossed into it could be safe from the punitive reprisals against them, in the immediate aftermath of the then, 1966 military coup, claimed to be master-minded by officers and soldiers of Igbo extraction in the Nigerian military. He further argued that Biafra was created as a last sanctuary and refuge for a people threatened with extermination and targeted for ethnic cleansing from the then Nigeria’s ethno-political configuration.

In other words, according to the late leader of the defunct Biafra, it was imposed on the Igbo nation as a last resort for survival following the collapse of the last lap of efforts at Aburi in Ghana, to work out a loose framework of co-habitation, pending restoration of confidence

in future. The proclamation of Biafra then, therefore, was an act of resistance rather than rebellion.

Given the short historical synopsis of Biafra as then a categorical desiderata for the existence and survival of the Igbo nation, how does the contemporary agitation for Biafra by the Indigenous peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Biafra Zionist Movement (BZM) and others, approximate to the existential need of Ndigbo in the present context of broad marginalisation of all working people, including peasants, artisans, professionals, women and children of all ethnic nationalities and social categories in Nigeria; aligned with the core issues around, the declaration of the defunct republic?

Biafra was not a political wild cart, played by dreamers of new empire or political manipulators seeking in a dysfunctional Nigerian politics, but an existential necessity,

forced on the natural instinct and impulse of a people to survive in the face of a mortal danger. The profound historical import and lessons of the defunct republic, most graphically illustrated in the Igbo adage of “ozo emezikwana” must not be lost to the contemporary purveyors of the restoration of Biafra: The Igbo nation did not ask for the sufferings, the human and material losses that accompanied the struggle for Biafra and is now, in no absolute mood to re-enact the tragedy of the defunct Biafra which then, had no other viable option or choice.

The contemporary decomposition and destruction of the Nigeria’s state, fuels all kinds of political imaginations, including separation and secessions but the alluring political semantics of separation or secession is only the first step in the overall illusions in seeking the construction of modern state, without the benefit of examining all of its several dimensions.

Among thousands of

Mediterranean Sea migrants today, are large number of Eritreans, who fought long war to separate from Ethiopian in 1991. Landlocked and reclusive, Eritrea’s former freedom fighters are voting with their feet in the long and perilous journey to Europe for an Eldorado that exist in their imaginations.

Even at that, Eritrea has more cogent reasons to seek separation from Ethiopia but the leadership is learning the hard way, that the easy rhetoric of separation and freedom, are not the same thing with the practical challenge of building a modern state with all the factors of internal contradictions and fast changing global geo-political and economic landscape.

Given the sophisticated ideological insight and liberation trajectories of the Eritrean leadership in the struggle for a separate state from Ethiopia, the current purveyors of Biafra are jokers, yet Eritrea is far from a successful experiment.

South Sudan, Africa’s newest

VERBAL ABUSE IN THE WORKPLACE

“M

anagement by fear never works; respect rules the day for optimal results...” LynnTaylor While we are addressing the rampant trend of domestic abuse cases in Nigeria, I feel it is crucial to draw our attention to a similar vice that many choose not to talk about, yet its impact in the society could be even more insidious.

There is no gainsaying the fact that verbal abuse is endemic in the workplace in Nigeria. This worrying trend cuts across many industries and incidentally gets even more toxic in the perceived “professional” circles. The banking industry is one of such arenas where a culture of abuse has not just gained access but has become well entrenched, to disastrous effect. Many are scared to turn up at work, not because of the tedious task awaiting them but in dread of the virulent assault they would have to endure. Many more live on the edge and trudge on at a great risk to their lives and relationships, in a desperate bid to retain their jobs.

In my banking career spanning

over 18 years, I encountered all sorts, from those who would hide under the facade of fatherly or spiritual guidance, to the brutes and even the downright deranged. Initially I was so hot-headed and wouldn’t back down but over time, I mastered the art of dressing myself, as it were, in hides as thick as the Rhino’s to silently but defiantly stave off the barbs.

“Shredding” is a term regularly used in the industry and conveys the image of the bully, just like a shredding machine, tearing the victim into tiny little pieces.

Oftentimes, you could see the glee in the eyes of the “shredder” as he rips into his prey. The delight heightens, when he senses fear as the victim cowers or whimpers in agony and helplessness.

Andy Teach, author of From Graduation to Corporation, reasons that workplace bullies are probably the same people who bullied their classmates in the schoolyard. “They have a need to push people around to get their way and if no one stood up to them in school, then they have no reason to stop their bullying now in the business world.”

Deny them the power of control and they will probably make full use of the authority they wield to get rid of the irritant.

They might however retreat and stay under the radar, if they perceive that their position could be under threat and look for other non-assertive targets they can prey on.

According to Kellie Holly, a clinical mental health counselor, the definition of verbal abuse can be expanded to include; “any language or behaviour that seeks to coerce its victim to doubt their perceptions or their abilities and subjugate themselves to the abuser.” She further posited that; “Verbal abuse is the most common way to attempt to control the behaviour, thoughts, and feelings of another human being. Controlling behaviours are designed to manipulate people into doing what the abuser wants them to do under the guise of love or respect or abject fear.”

Control is the key word in the quote above and brings home the fact that the perpetrator’s actions are intentional and modelled to upset, annoy or offend. They set out to bring in doubt and

confusion in the victim’s mind concerning their beliefs and perceptions. Then gradually but crucially progress to brainwashing and destabilisation of the mind.

This is a dangerous place to be and could lead to serious psychological effects like fear, anxiety, depression, stress, sleep/ eating problems, irritability, alcohol and drug abuse and even suicide.

The big question then is, if verbal abuse is indeed this dangerous, why then are many employers and leaders not concerned or are not doing enough to check this problem?

Could it be that many at the top of our organisations are guilty of the same vice and therefore easily turn a blind eye to this cankerworm that is debilitating the workforce? Whatever the case may be, our business leaders, who trivialise such incidents are doing a great injustice to their organisations and the society at large.

This is because such events in the workplace impacts negatively on employees’ personal lives and have been known to translate to domestic abuse.

Kene Okoye, Lagos.

and its 54th state is a continuing decisive debacle, having fallen into the abyss of murderous clannish discontents, barely a year, after gaining the long sought-for statehood from the former Sudan. Now, a repulsive killing field, more of South Sudanese have violently died or displaced than in the whole period of South Sudan’s struggle to separate from Sudan, which spanned more than 50 years of on-and-off wars. While the country is laid to waste by the horrendous sufferings of its people, its former freedom fighters and now its political elite elevate corruption and predatory politics to new and higher frontier. Even by the sheer longevity, sacrifice and consistency of their struggle, the freedom fighters of the South Sudan are head and toe, above the upstarts of the contemporary Biafra agitators but the mess they have made of their new country cannot be undone in several generations.

The Igbo nation is therefore, invited to closely interrogate their new “freedom fighters” on the motives, strategies and inquire even more rigorously their vision of what the new Biafra

will look like. And because, I am nwa-afo of the Igbo nation, I am concerned about these questions.

The Nigerian state and most other Africa’s states have been largely and incrementally dysfunctional, fostering bitter popular alienation of the majority of their peoples. The gradual degeneration of the formal state as the frontier of rogue public office holders, sap the modest popular legitimacy that the state enjoyed, in the aftermath of the collapse of colonialism.

The deficit of historical context of modern state in Nigeria and Africa, as compounded by free-wheeling post-colonial elite, who relapsed to the comfort zone, as political gladiators without the rigour to undertake the intellectual and political interrogation or question the then, new and strange edifice, they have just inherited.

Situating the then, new and emergent state in the context of Nigeria’s existential socio-political realities would have altered its subsequent trajectories, and even critically align it with the indigenous and our unique landscape.

––––Charles Onunaiju, Utako, Abuja

AMBODE’SINSPIRINGLEADERSHIP

F

ew political pundits gave him any slim chance to emerge as the gubernatorial flag bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the keenly contested race for the governorship of the Centre of Excellence. And fewer still reposed confidence in him to articulate any virile vision to pilot the affairs of Lagos State, should he eventually achieve that political feat. But that was then, back in 2015 and this is now, midway in 2017.

Interestingly, some two years down the line, not a few of his diehard critics have literally ‘eaten their words’. What with Lagos emerging as the 5th largest economy in Africa and one of the top 100 most resilient in the world? For millions of the good people of Lagos, it is a new swan song on their lips as they doff their hats for none other than the amiable, visionary, creative and resourceful, go-getting Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. As the

deluge of encomiums, plaudits and hearty felicitations from across the social spectrum greet his second year in office, it is worthy to highlight the leadership qualities that have stood him out in good stead.

The first of course, is adequate preparation for the onerous tasks of political leadership. That is, mentally, professionally and physically . It is never a tea party or a walk in the green, airy park.

No! As Jack Welch succinctly puts it:“Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others.”

On growing himself, having graduated from the University of Lagos at the age of 21, Ambode did not rest on his oars. He became a Chartered Accountant at the age of 24 with a Masters degree in Accounting. He founded Brandsmiths Consulting Limited.

–Ayo Oyoze Baje, Lagos

16

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž Í°ÍśË&#x153; Í°ÍŽÍŻÍľ

INTERNATIONAL

Two Years of Buhariplomacy and the Challenge of Change in Continuity

D

iplomacy under President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) (Buhariplomacy) in the past two years has been difficult because of the domestic foundations and the hostile external environment which made political governance quite difficult.At the domestic level, national security was threatened by the terror of Boko Haram and herdsmen, self-determinationdriven militancy, corruption-driven political chicanery, and economic malaise.

The most critical reason for the difficulty in political governance is the lack of continuity of objectivity of purpose. Every government that comes to power has its own agenda and does not generally seek to sustain existing policies. Every new government assumes that it has better policies and approaches to good governance. Most unfortunately, however, it is when a new government takes over power that it only begins to learn more about the limitations of its presumptions about governance and that they know that â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;what is behind six is more than seven.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; As at today, Nigeria is more divided geo-politically than ever before. The level of patriotism has sharply declined among the people.

Activities of underground men are reported virtually everyday. While the Nigerian soldiers are fighting tooth and nail to defend the territorial integrity of the country, foreign policy machinery does very little to defend them when they are wrongly accused of having violated humanitarian laws.

In fact, it is most ridiculous that it is the soldiers, represented by their spokesperson that has to come into the open to explain their own side of the story. Even if diplomacy is said to be normally carried out quietly, it must still be noted that diplomacy becomes meaningless if Nigerian soldiers are wrongly accused in the open and the defence will be allowed to be done secretly.

Perhaps more interestingly, after 18 years of continuous democratic succession, coup making has again been rearing its ugly head. Why coup making at this point in time in Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s political history? Is it simply an imagination or it is simply fabricated in order to take political advantage of it?

Many observers have ascribed the origin of the coup rumours to the May 16, 2017 caution given by the Chief ofArmy Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai to soldiers. He said that some politicians were discussing with some soldiers â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;for undisclosed political reasonsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.

This caution gave room for different interpretations, particularly, that of possible coup-making. This interpretation cannot be quickly thrown away in light of the selfishness that has come to characterise politics and professional politicians in Nigeria. They can belong to the Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Democratic Party (PDP) in the morning,All Progressives Congress (APC) in the afternoon,Alliance for Democracy (AD) in the evening, Progressive Peoplesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Alliance (PPA) at mid-night, etc.

No ideology. No scintilla of patriotism and altruism. Consequently, if politicians are seen to be fraternizing with officers of the Nigerian Army, there is no reason why speculations of a possible new coup would not exist.

Perhaps one major dynamic of such speculations cannot but be the perception that some powerful Nigerians do not want the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo to become the substantive President in the event of incapacitation of President Muhammadu Buhari. In the eyes of some people, the ultimate objective of the coup is to possibly nip in the bud such possibility.

The Director of Defence Information, Major General John Enenche reassured â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;the general public that there is nothing like that (coup dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ĂŠtat) and nothing like that will ever be supported and never be encouraged.

And if there is a sign of anything like that, there are extant and guarding rules and regulations, procedures which we normally follow.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; As good as the Generalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reassurance may be, it not only ignores the story of Judas Iscariot and Jesus Christ in the Holy Bible, but also unnecessarily assumes that any coup dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ĂŠtat at this time in Nigeria will fail.

Put differently, the rules, regulations and procedures being referred to by the Director of Defence Information can only be applicable if a coup dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ĂŠtat fails. When a coup dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ĂŠtat succeeds, both the Director and all strategically well-placed officers might be wiped off.

Apart from the most unfortunate case of coup-making, disobedience to court orders has also been a major feature in the first two years of the PMBâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;sAdministration. Illegal importations of arms into the country are now frequent. The challenge of small arms proliferation is another issue.All these constitute the elements of the domestic founda-

VIE INTERNATIONALE with

Bola A. Akinterinwa Telephone : 0807-688-2846

e-mail: bolyttag@yahoo.com

war has considerably impacted on the society. Nigerians now have an idea about who are looting and how public treasury is looted. There is also the weakening of boko haramism, and particularly the return of the Chibok girls.

More, if not most, importantly, there is the new Executive Order (EOI) issued by theActing President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo on Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria. On Wednesday, 24th May, 2017, The EO1 was predicated on five pillars: transparency, default approval, One Government, Entry experience of travellers and visitors, and Ports Operators.

In this regard, Professor Osinbajo considers that â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;any time we create obstacles for doing business, we attack the Nigerian democracy. Or we attack our prosperity as a nation. We also attack the future.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; With this reasoning, all MDAs are required between now and June 8, 2017, to adjust to all the obligations of the EO1 in such a way that there is efficiency in the provision of services,All MDAs are henceforth compelled to respond to all applications and enquiries very promptly or else the applications are considered approved by default after the approved time limit has lapsed. This EO1 has the great potential to assist in the area of implementation of economic development policies.

Beyond the foregoing areas of success, Nigerians have been witnessing a change in continuity of policies and implementation. The quest for good governance is continual but the required change in attitudinal disposition is not there. Nigeria has only been moving in vicious circles and different suggestions have been made.

At the economic level,Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has it that â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;no matter how long we pray and fast, our nation wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t grow until some of us decide to do the hard work that will make our nation workâ&#x20AC;Ś Every generation owes the next generation a debt and it is true when they say the future is in our hands.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; This point is arguable.

Way Out of the Vicious Circle

Buhari tion of Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s foreign policy and diplomatic practice.

Thus, at the external level, the perception of Nigeria was not good enough. Nigerians were victims of xenophobic attacks, especially in SouthAfrica. Many times, several Nigerians were deported from foreign countries. The number of Nigerians found guilty of immigration law abroad was on the increase. In fact, Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s candidate for the position of a Commissioner for PoliticalAffairs and Security at the level of theAfrican Union Commission was shamefully not voted for.

Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s foreign policy lacked strategic focus.

And most importantly, but also disturbingly, foreign policy direction has been so disarticulated to the extent that foreign policy stakeholders speak in conflict terms to the detriment of Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s international image. In fact, ambassadors-designate, for unknown reasons, are yet to resume duty in their receiving States. One major factor that often explains delay is that of agrĂŠment of the receiving States.

However, this explanation becomes untenable when agrĂŠments for some ambassadors-designate have been given and still, the concerned ambassadors are yet to be posted. Is the argument of economic recession a possible factor? Whatever is the case, buhariplomacy constitutes an impediment to good governance in Nigeria simply because of the various wrong signals being sent abroad, especially in terms of inability to protect Nigerians.

Tomorrow, May 29, 2017 will make it the second and midterm anniversary of the swearing in of Major General Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd) as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He was formerly Head of State, thanks to a coup dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ĂŠtat in 1983.As Head of State, he acquired a lot of patriotic experiences which he tried to bring to bear on his administration as President. However, the extent to which the experiences have helped in stabilizing the polity is, at best, another matter for debate.

What can be rightly observed is that, in spite of the foregoing challenges, two years of the Buhari administration have not been totally bad. There is no disputing the fact that the administrationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s anti-graft

There is no problem with the writing of any report, classiďŹ ed or not.

However, problems arise when a report is consciously predicated on malicious information and the Government to which it is addressed, not only accepts it without investigation, but also takes decisions on it.

Commitment to hard work or patriotism cannot thrive in this type of situation. All well-meaning patriots should help Nigeria by appealing to PMB to empanel an independent committee to investigate life and all the various allegations at the NIIA in order to establish the truths for posterity.This will ensure fairness and justice as basis of hard work and good governance. Without fairness and justice, the Acting Presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sermon of hard work cannot but only fall on deaf ears

Professor Osinbajoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s suggested approach is good only to the extent that the BuhariAdministration believes in hard work and honesty of purpose. The Buhari administration does not believe in dint of hard work, honesty of purpose, patriotic commitment to Nigeria because it condones and accepts non-investigated allegations and reports for decision-making. The Nigerian Institute of InternationalAffairs (NIIA) is a good case in point. For instance, why is the Government keeping quiet about allegations levied against the General Ike Nwachukwuled Governing Council of the NIIA? Why the silence of Government when there are also allegations of staff having multiple dates of birth, falsification of results of promotion examinations, removal of queries from personal files, involvement of the Governing Council in professorial assessments, etc. How do we explain the fact that General Ike Nwachukwu-led Council was supporting the staff against the Chief Executive that I was. Why is the Council more interested in money than anything else?

There was a 12-page allegation against me, to which I provided more than a 60-page clarification and explanation. The Ike Nwachukwu Council could only note them but unable to know who was right or wrong. Why did the SupervisoryAuthority, The Ministry of ForeignAffairs, refuse to act on the recommendations of the Special Panel set up to look into the various acts of indiscipline by staff which the Governing Council encouraged?

Why is Government keeping quiet about the inability of the Bar Beach Police Station to conclude its inquiry on the allegation by Associate Professor FredAjaAgu that I plotted to get him killed all in an attempt to get promoted through the Councilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s intimidation?

The owner of the telephone line who allegedly calledAssociate ProfessorAgwu on my behalf that he was coming to kill him is yet to be identified more than a year. The allegation that I did not follow due process in the construction of the International Conference Hall at the Institute is another issue. I maintained and still maintain that I followed whatever was called due process. I begged the Council to initiate a probe panel to investigate the whole process to determine the extent to which I had embezzled public funds or engaged in any act of serious misconduct in the management of the international conference centre and face lift of the institute. The Council refused to do so. What General Ike Nwachukwu and his council could do was to write a secret report covering up the truth in the erroneous belief that my survival depends on it and the NIIA. There is no problem with the writing of any report, classified or not.

However, problems arise when a report is consciously predicated on malicious information and the Government to which it is addressed, not only accepts it without investigation, but also takes decisions on it.

Commitment to hard work or patriotism cannot thrive in this type of situation.All well-meaning patriots should help Nigeria by appealing to PMB to empanel an independent committee to investigate life and all the various allegations at the NIIAin order to establish the truths for posterity. This will ensure fairness and justice as basis of hard work and good governance. Without fairness and justice, theActing Presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sermon of hard work cannot but only fall on deaf ears. The bitter truth which we all know is that honesty is sanctioned in Nigeria. Patriotism does not pay in Nigeria. My NIIAexperiences have clearly shown.

One way out of Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vicious circle is to instil fairness and justice, and culture of truth in the conduct and management of public affairs.

Government must deemphasize, if not prevent, the influence of all manners of esprit de corps, ethnic chauvinism, and kleptomaniac leaders who really are the main destroyers of Nigeria on decision-making processes.

(See concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com)

17

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ MAY 28, 2017

BUSINESS

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

LAST WEEK WEEK ForeignCapitalInflow

The total value of capital imported into Nigeria in the first quarterof2017wasestimated tobe$908.27million,according toareportbytheNigerianBureau of Statistics. It represented a 41.36 percent drop from the value recorded in the previous quarterandwasthesecondlowestvaluerecordedsince2007, although it was an increase of 27.75 percent relative to the samequarterof2016.TheNBS reportnotedthatthoughthere was a high-profile Eurobond salesdenominatedinaforeign currencyduringthequarter,the inflow has not yet reflected in the data.

OPEC

A recently completed rail project

Analysts Prescribe Recipes for Sustaining Growth Trajectory Kunle Aderinokun

With the new Gross Domestic Product (GDP) report of the National Bureau of Statistics, it has become more apparent that the economy is gradually steering its way out of the murky waters of recession.

The NBS, in its GDP Report released last Tuesday, disclosed that the economy recorded a negative growth of -0.52 per cent (year on year) in the first quarter, reflecting an improvement of 1.21 percentage points over the -1.73 per cent contraction in the preceding quarter. Economic analysts and market observers believe the Q1 2017 figures may be lending credence to the IMF projection that Nigeria’s economy would finish the year with a growth rate of 0.8 per cent and also CBN’s forecast that the economy would exit recession in the third quarter of this year. Although the GDP for Q1 2017 represented a contraction for the fifth consecutive quarter since Q1 2016, NBS noted that, during this year’s Q1, aggregate GDP stood at N26,028,356.03 million in nominal terms, compared to N22,235,315.29 million in the corresponding quarter in 2016, resulting in a nominal GDP growth of 17.06 per cent.

While federal government was excited about the improved outing of the economy, because the report showed that during the quarter under review, the manufacturing sector grew by 1.36 per cent and agriculture by 3.9 per cent, analysts and observers have identified factors that could adversely affect sustenance of the upward streak.

Besides, a school of thought blamed the nation’s stunted economic growth on fiscal irresponsibility, another one lamented that the little improvement in GDP growth rate recently achieved was yet to positively affect the lives of Nigerians.

Analysts at Eczellon Capital Ltd acknowledged that, going by NBS report, the economy was recovering from the economic crunch as output in the first quarter of the year showed signs of improvement compared to the previous quarter’s readings.

ECONOMY This, they added, also revealed that the total value of goods and services produced in the first quarter of the year had marginally increased compared to figures reported in the prior quarter.

According to the analysts, “The NBS’ figures were reflective of government’s policies in the first quarter of the year.

For instance, as part of efforts to bolster non-oil exports, the government restarted the Export Expansion Grant (EEG) which had encouraged local manufacturers to produce more in the reviewed quarter.

“Also, the issuance of the $500 million 15-year Eurobond in the first quarter was aimed at funding the implementation of the 2016 budget. We believed this had undoubtedly contributed to the rise in output in the period under review. Furthermore, quoted firms reported impressive results in the first quarter of the year. A look on these corporate reports showed increase in turnovers, profit-after-tax, and net asset value. We believe corporate results can be used to measure the economic health of the companies. Moreover, the CBN’s interventions at the foreign exchange market have had some positive results. The value of the local currency has improved and manufacturers now have more access to the dollar to import raw materials.”

The Eczellon analysts, however, cautioned that, in order for the economy not to miss the growth targets, recover and be on the path of growth and stability, the federal government needed to move swiftly and sign the budget, implement it and the growth plan to the letter, while CBN sustains its intervention at the FX market.

“The 2017 annual budget is yet to be signed; hence we suggest a swift signing and implementation of the budget to facilitate capital expenditure.

We believe the timely release of funds for the execution of capital projects will contribute to the recovery of the economy in forth coming quarters. We expect the

economy to rebound at a marginal rate in the quarters ahead. This will be buoyed

by CBN’s persistent intervention at the FX market, implementation of expansionary policies and swift execution of the 2017 annual budget,”they pointed out.

Similarly, in his view, Chief Executive Officer, The CFG Advisory Ltd, Adetilewa Adebajo, enthused that, the economy was moving away from the negative territory, but was quick to add that,“We still have a long way to go as GDP growth needs to reflect in the lives of the Nigerian people.”

According to him,“The -0.52 per cent GDP growth rate indicates that we are still in a recession. With a population growth rates of 2.6 per cent (according to worldmeters) the nation remains in a woeful state; ideally, The Q1 2017 figures may be lending credence to the IMF projection that Nigeria’s economy would finish the year with a growth rate of 0.8 per cent and also CBN’s forecast that the economy would exit recession in the third quarter of this year

the GDP growth rate has to be positive first, and then grow by double of population growth rate; at least 6 per cent.”

Noting that three major sectors came out of recession in Q1 2017: Manufacturing (1.36per cent), Construction (0.15per cent) and Transport (10.55per cent), Adebajo believed, “With the implementations of growth stimulating policies, we are hopeful that the IMF article IV GDP growth projections of 0.8per cent in 2017 would be attainable.”

Also, Director, Union Capital Ltd, Egie Akpata, noted that, with the oil production output still below prior year’s levels and the challenges the federal government faced passing or funding the 2016 budget, it is not surprising that economic activity was not back to a growth trajectory.

He acknowledged that, “When compounded with FX issues which the CBN

was not able to resolve in a timely fashion, it is possible that the recession might not end till Q3 2017.”

While also acknowledging that, it was positive that the rate of contraction had been steadily declining, Akpata noted that, “With recent improvements in the FX market and passing of the 2017 budget, momentum and positive sentiments seem to have returned to the economy.”

He therefore added that,“ To achieve more than anaemic growth for the remainder of the 2017, the CBN would need to find a way to get credit flowing back into the private sector rather than being totally crowded out by the government who is paying up to 23per cent per year risk free on treasury bills.”

“Unfortunately, the economic cycle in Nigeria is still driven by the oil market and its impact on FX accretion to reserves. Based on current policies, this oil dependency is clearly not over. On this basis, all projections are at the mercy of significant changes to the price of oil on the international market,”he, however, concluded.

For the Chief Executive Officer, Global Analytic Consulting Ltd, Tope Fasua, who said he was“usually suspicious of our figures because of our large informal economy and culture of opacity”, expected the economy to move out of recession this year“since some of our core indices are not doing badly, namely crude oil prices and volumes.”But the issue is that Nigeria still relies on that singular product, he added.

Fasua pointed out that,“The major drags on the economy remain fiscal irresponsibility and corruption, which continues to drain the lifeblood of Nigeria.”

“2017 budget has all sorts of expenditure items that should never occur in a country going through a recession. Our economic management continues to prioritise the egotistic demands of politicians; otherwise, we should not even be in a recession in the first place. Failure to correct our course is why we are in a prolonged recession,” he noted

TheOrganisationofPetroleum ExportingCountriesextended cutsinoiloutputbyninemonths toMarch2018tofurtherbattle a global glut of crude. Nigeria may benefit from an improved revenue as a result of the decision. OPEC delegates said the cuts were likely to be shared againbyadozennon-members led by top oil producer Russia, whichreducedoutputintandem withOPECfromJanuary.OPEC’s cutshavehelpedtopushoilback above$50abarrelthisyear,giving a fiscal boost to producers, many of whom rely heavily on energy revenues.

Manufacturing

TheManufacturersAssociation of Nigeria called on the Central Bank of Nigeria to drop the lending rate from 14 per cent to accelerate productivity and economic growth. MAN President, FrankJacobs,madethecall inLagosaheadoftheapexbank’s MonetaryPolicyCommitteeto review the lending rate downward at its recently concluded meeting.Hesaidthehighinterest rateregimehadstifledgrowth, productivity and competitiveness of manufacturers.

LendingRate

The Monetary Policy Committee retained the Monetary Policy Rate at 14 per cent due to current uncertain economic conditionsandhighinflation.The CBNGovernor,GodwinEmefiele, announced this while briefing journalist on the outcome of theMonetaryPolicyCommittee meeting.Hesaid eightoutof12 members were present at the meetingandtheyallvotedunanimously to retain the MPR and allothermonetaryindices.This means that the Cash Reserve Ratio still remains at 22.5 per centandLiquidityRatio,30per cent.Also,theAsymmetriccorridorisat+200and-500basis points around the MPR.

IMF

The International Monetary FundsaidNigeria’sindebtedness wouldclimbto24.1percentof its Gross Domestic Product by 2018.Nigeriaended2016with a debt to GDP ratio of 18.6 per cent while at the end of 2015, Nigeria’sdebttoGDPratiostood at12.1percent,accordingtothe IMF.TheFundmadethisdeclaration in its World Economic and FinancialSurveys.TheIMFsaid Nigeria’scurrentindebtedness would have reached 23.3 per cent of the GDP by the end of 2017.

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BUSINESS/ECONOMY

Compelling Dedication to Work, Enhancing Business with Executive Orders The executive orders recently signed by acting President Yemi Osinbajo emphasise a resolve to surmount obstructive official and unofficial procedures in the pursuit of economic recovery.

But the government must ensure their honest implementation, writes Vincent Obia

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n the wake of new policies, such as the executive orders issued by the acting president, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, on May 18, the public tends to react with enthusiasm. This was obvious when Osinbajo announced the three executive orders with specific instructions targeting the removal of obstacles to private business, government budgeting, and movement of people and goods between Nigeria and other countries. The orders aim to promote transparency and efficiency in the country’s business environment, support local contents in public procurement by the federal government, and ensure timely submission of annual budgetary estimates by ministries, departments, and agencies of the federal government.

The government ultimately aims to create an enabling environment for business. Nigerians are enthusiastic and they have bought into the vision of the government regarding the executive orders. But the people would be hoping for diligent and sincere implementation of the policies.

“This announcement alone would have excited an army of 21st Century young Nigerian entrepreneurs who have been facing depression based on rejection of their certified products by government agencies and parastatals,” chairman of Zinox Group, Dr. Leo Stan Ekeh, is quoted as saying. “It is a great development in our new Nigeria and I pray the federal government demonstrates the will to implement this to the letter in order to activate real and progressive development in the country.”

Transparency The first of the three executive orders emphasises the promotion of transparency and efficiency. It requires every federal government MDA to publish the comprehensive list of all requirements or conditions for obtaining products and services within their respective areas of responsibility. The information, which must be publicised and “conspicuously pasted on the premises” of the MDAs, include the requirements for permits, licenses, waivers, tax related processes, filings, and approvals.

To try to forestall sabotage and ensure accountability, the order states, “It shall be the responsibility of the head of the relevant MDA to ensure that the list is verified and kept up-to-date at all times. If there is any conflict between a published and an unpublished list of requirements, the published list shall prevail.”

To facilitate easy movement between Nigeria and other countries for business and tourism, the order directs that the Consular Office of Nigerian Embassies and High Commissions must process tourist and business visas to Nigeria within 48 hours of such applications.

It states, “A comprehensive and up to date list of requirements, conditions and procedures for obtaining visa on arrival, including estimated timeframe, shall be published on all immigration-related websites in Nigeria and abroad, including embassies and High Commissions, and all ports of entry into Nigeria.

“The processing of issuance of visas on arrival shall be carried out in a transparent manner. Visas on arrival shall be granted at all Nigerian ports of entry once applicants have met all the published requirements.”

The order seeks to stop the lawless acts of touting, bribery and corruption at the ports.

To restore sanity to the airports and seaports, the order tries to eliminate the unwieldy multiplicity of supervising agencies at the ports by merging their operations into a single interface centre for each entry or exit point.

The executive order directs the Corporate Affairs Commission to ensure complete automation of all business registration processes.

Osinbajo at a sensitisation meeting with civil servants on the Executive Orders... recently

Local Content On support for local contents in public procurement, which is the focus of the second executive order, the acting president directs that henceforth, all federal government MDAs “shall grant preference to local manufacturers of goods and service providers in their procurement of goods and services.”

The order says at least 40 per cent of the procurement expenditure must be on local goods and services for the following: uniforms and footwear, food and beverages, furniture and fittings, stationery, motor vehicles, pharmaceuticals, construction materials, and information and communication technology.

Budget In an attempt to overcome the protracted menace of delayed budgets, the third executive order directs all MDAs to submit their schedule of revenue and expenditure estimates for the next three financial years to the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Budget and National Planning before the end of May every year. It directs all MDAs to submit their budget estimates for the next financial year to the finance and national planning ministries before the end of July every year.

“Heads of agencies and chief executive officers of government owned companies shall take personal responsibility and be subject to appropriate sanctions for any failure to comply with this order,” Osinbajo states.

Hindrance The executive orders, undoubtedly, go to the heart of the issues that have for a long time

hindered investment in the country. They include the questions of transparency, inconsistency in tax policies, and irregular service charges. ConsulGeneral, United States Consulate, Lagos, Mr. John Bray, said on March 28 in Lagos, during the March 2017 edition of the Nigerian-American Business Dialogue, that American investors were being scared away by these concerns.

“If these concerns are not addressed, they will not put their money in Nigeria to create the jobs Nigeria badly needs,” Bray stated, referring to American companies, at the dialogue with the theme, “Improving the Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria.” He added, “Nigeria has the capacity and resources to fix the challenges I have listed; surely it will not be easy, but we will do it.”

The session was organised by the NigerianAmerican Chamber of Commerce.

Business Environment The federal government has of late engaged in conscious efforts to ease up the business environment as part of its plans to expand the level of economic output. To coordinate this effort, the government has set up the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council. In February, the PEBEC approved a 60-day national action plan to be implemented across its three priority areas, namely, entry and exit of goods, entry and exit of people, and government transparency and procurement. The action plan was intended to deliver tangible changes for small and medium scale enterprises in Nigeria, and help improve the country’s rankings on the World Bank Doing Business Index for 2018. Nigeria currently ranks 169 out of 190 on the index.

The federal government says it has recorded

achievements in the areas of starting a business, registering property, facilitating trade across borders, entry and exit of people, getting credit, and construction permits, based on the targets set in the action plan.

Worst Investment Inflow Despite the professed gains, the consequences of the obstructive features of the Nigerian business environment became apparent recently as the economy recorded its second worst investment inflow in 10 years. The capital importation report released on Wednesday by the National Bureau of Statistics shows that the country attracted a total investment of $908.27 million in the first quarter of the 2017 fiscal year. This is down from $1.55 billion, which the economy attracted in the fourth quarter of 2016, representing a whopping $641.73 million (41 per cent) decline in foreign capital inflow.

The capital importation is divided into three main investment categories by NBS: foreign direct investment, portfolio investment, and other investment. Other investment presents the largest component of the imported capital, accounting for $383.28 million or 42.2 per cent of the total in the first quarter of 2017. Loans continue to dominate the other investment category, accounting for 96.35 per cent of the investment type in the first quarter 2017.

The second largest component of capital importation in the first quarter of 2017, according to the report, is portfolio investment, which accounts for $313.61 million, or 34.53 per cent of the total. This represents a growth of 10.34 per cent relative to the previous quarter, and 15.71 per cent relative to the same quarter of 2016.

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BUSINESS/ECONOMY Compelling Dedication to Work, Enhancing Businesses with Executive Orders

Cont’d from Pg. 18

FDI is the smallest component of capital importation in the first quarter of 2017, as has generally been the case since 2013, according to NBS. FDI accounts for $211.38 million, or 23.27% of the total. This represents a quarterly decline of 38.66%, but a year on year increase of 21.17%.

NBS notes that there was a high-profile sale of bonds denoted in foreign currency during the quarter, explaining, however, that there is a “lag between subscription and actual payment.”

It says capital importation was particularly low in January, at $187.90 million, stressing that this is only the fourth month since 2007 in which capital importation was less than $200 million.

“The fall in FDI comes after four consecutive quarters of increase,” NBS states.

Cooperation Given the unsavoury foreign capital attraction statistics and the economic turndown that accompany it, greater ease in the process of doing business is certainly what Nigerians would like to see. The economic environment needs to be freed from the spectre of wanton bottlenecks.

Expectedly, the private sector has largely bought into the government’s plans to reflate the economy.

Director-general of Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Chijioke Ekechukwu, says regarding the recent executive orders, “From the perspective of the ACCI, the orders will allow entrepreneurship to thrive and encourage the growth of the economy. It will reduce the pressure on foreign currency, especially in the importation of goods and services.

“Once we are able to handle the issue of petroleum products importation, the pressure on exchange rates will be reduced. These are things that will drive our economy and also make a growth pattern plan work.”

Ekechukwu believes the orders on ease of doing business would help to eliminate the problem of multiple taxation, which has been the bane of many businesses in the country, especially the micro, small and mediums sized enterprises.

Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Group of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria has also lauded the executive orders, particularly as they relate to support for local content in public procurement. PMG-MAN chairman, Mr Okey Akpa, says the orders have the potential to make Nigeria achieve medicines security and boost national self-sufficiency in pharmaceuticals

L-R: Power, housing and works minister, Babatunde Fashola; Osinbajo; and Minister of Trade and Investment Okechukwu Enelemah at the sensitisation meeting

and related health commodities. Akpa calls for faithful implementation of the orders, which he believes can stimulate employment in the pharmaceuticals sector, improve the economy, and facilitate export of Nigerian medicines.

Ekeh says, “Granting preference to local manufacturers is a sure way of igniting the spirit of indigenous entrepreneurship. This is the standard the world over. Nigeria boasts a number of world-class companies whose products can

compete favourably with those of their foreign counterparts. The problem has always been the right form of support from the government.”

The support that the private sector craves is likely to come with the execution of the recent policies. The changes in the specific sectors mentioned in the orders are expected to ripple out and bring improvement in other areas.

The executive orders announced by the presidency on May 18, to all intents and purposes,

represent the most thorough and determined attempt yet by the federal government to remove obstacles to business, which are largely attitudinal and behavioural. The new policies are certainly an effective help in the efforts to actualise the economic vision of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

The next few months will be interesting as the world watches to see the implementation of the executive orders.

N701bn Stimulus: FG Moves to Buoy Electricity Generation As the Central Bank of Nigeria and Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc plan to begin disbursement of a N701 billion financial stimulus for generation companies, Chineme Okafor examines the impact of the incentive on the country’s energy production capacity

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eliable hints on developments in Nigeria’s electricity industry last week indicated that the Central Bank of Nigeria and Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc had firmed up arrangements for periodic pay-outs to the power generation companies from the N701 billion stabilisation fund approved for them by the federal government.

THISDAY gathered that the fund disbursements exercise might have begun, albeit behind closed doors.

This came just few days after the government, through the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, declared the “eligible customers” regime, which, according to NERC, would now allow the Gencos to sell their stranded generation capacities to willing consumers with minimal interference from the 11 electricity distribution companies. The development appears quite in sync with plans by the government to activate the competitive sides of the Gencos, which for long have allegedly operated in huge debts.

Although, the CBN and NBET could not confirm that they were about to disburse the fund to the beneficiaries, who are mainly gas producers that send gas to the Gencos for electricity production, but rarely got paid. But industry sources in Abuja confirmed that the payments were imminent.

They further explained that a final approval of this was expected from the federal government

after which the payments would commence, adding also that the Gencos are quite excited about the development.

Criteria Industry insiders 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 noted that the plan to pay the gas suppliers or companies directly for gas supplied to Gencos was adopted to avoid possible cases of Gencos failing on their financial obligations to the gas suppliers, a development could cause further setback for the sector.

According to the sources, the gas supply invoices for January and February, which the Gencos submitted for consideration by NBET and CBN, were ready for payment and could be taken up immediately the CBN commences disbursement.

An official of one of the Gencos confirmed to THISDAY that this was part of the arrangements, adding that going forward, the Gencos would be asked to submit their monthly gas supply invoices to NBET and CBN to validate and make payments directly to the gas suppliers, instead of paying to the Gencos to pay the gas suppliers.

The official also stated that the Gencos were

comfortable with such arrangement. He added that they would in this regard concentrate on producing power, expanding their generation capacities and bother less about meeting their monthly gas supply bills which the stimulus fund will mostly take care of.

Impacts The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, recently clarified that the N701 billion power intervention fund would be spread over the next three years to give relief to operators in the sector. Fashola stated that the Gencos would be expected to produce more electricity to put on the grid.

The minister had also noted that the objective of the financial intervention was to stabilise and steadily grow the output of the generation and gas subsectors of the electricity industry. He said that other initiatives in the areas of governance; audits; recapitalisation; revenue collections; and metering, which involved the distribution companies and Transmission Company of Nigeria, would be implemented alongside a new framework – Power Sector Recovery Plan – to improve performance of the market.

Debt THISDAY gathered that estimates by the power ministry showed that the total cumulative amount the market owed the Gencos and gas suppliers since February 2015, when the Transitional Electricity Market took off, might be about N495 million.

This means that if no concrete actions were taken, the huge amount could continue to grow by an additional N20 billion monthly in 2017.

Experts say the increasing debts may gradually erode the Gencos’ ability to sustain their current electricity generation levels.

A closer examination of the N701 billion stimulus package shows that while it would be drawn monthly, it would be paid to the Gencos and gas suppliers under amendments to their power purchase agreements and gas sales agreements.

The disbursements would equally strengthen, but not undermine, the contract provisions that currently govern the electricity industry.

Besides, as part of its payment cycle for 100 per cent of the energy component of their invoices, the proceeds will be disbursed by NBET, as may be agreed by the CBN, and the ministers of finance and of power, works and housing, as a matter of policy, which would also be subject to the level of revenue collection achieved by NBET from the Discos.

However, provisions in the stimulus programme also estimate that NBET will continue to collect up to 25 per cent of its monthly invoice from the Discos, and this was based on the last payment performances of the Discos, throughout 2017. NBET would, however, expect to see some gradually increase in the Discos’ remittances to it through 2018 to possibly 80 per cent, from which some kind of revenue equilibrium would have been achieved in the market, and at which point the stimulus may cease.

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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 28, 2017

BUSINESS/ENERGY

For Fuel Sufficiency, Kachikwu Stakes Job Following Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Ibe Kachikwu’s recent comment that he would resign as minister if Nigeria did not end importation of refined petroleum products by 2019, Chineme Okafor looks at the pressure on the minister

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ast week, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, disclosed that he would resign his ministerial appointment if in 2019 Nigeria did not meet the target he set to end importation of refined petroleum products. Speaking in a BBC programme, Hardtalk, in London, Kachikwu stated that he was certain his plans to get Nigeria to stop importation of petrol in 2019 would work out fine, saying he has set in motion measures to accomplish this. He explained that if in any case his plans failed, he would not hesitate to resign because it was an honourable practice expected of public office holders who fail to meet their mandates.

The BBC programme’s anchor, Stephen Sackur, was quite hard on the minister in requesting accountable responses to questions. But the fact remains that the government in which Kachikwu serves would end its first four-year term in May 2019, which makes his resignation plan immaterial.

Promises Accused by Sackur of making a lot of promises without really fulfilling them since taking over as oil minister, Kachikwu quickly refuted the claim and posited that every promise he made since he assumed office had been fulfilled. He listed such achievements and reiterated his drive to bring to fulfilment all others still outstanding.

Asked when Nigeria would be self-sufficient in petroleum products’ refining, which would see her exit importation, Kachikwu said, “I have targeted 2019, that is the target that I gave.”

He was then reminded that time was running out on the 2019 target and that a failure could, perhaps, come with costs which may blight his work records. The minister interjected, “Don’t worry, I put the date, I will work it.”

The anchor further asked him, “And if you don’t achieve it, you will walk (away)?” to which he said, “Yes, of course, that’s the reason why you are in government.” He further stated that it was necessary Nigeria stopped products importation and grow her domestic refining capacity.

According to Kachikwu, “It is wrong, we ought to process rather than ship out crude. If you look at the efforts, I have made in the last few months, including major efforts working with investors to begin to reshape the refineries that were comatose for many years. We have been able to get them (refineries) back to produce seven million litres versus zero that is not the 90 per cent template, we are now refurbishing the refineries.

I have just signed an agreement Agip to build a new refinery in Nigeria, we are focusing on multinationals.”

He further stated, “I have delivered on everything I promised when I took office. First, I took NNPC and moved it to a profit-making organisation, first time in history, I reshaped the organisation and I removed cash call deficit of over $6 billion and have re-negotiated it, everything that I have promised, I have delivered.

“I will deliver on the refineries and I am committed to that, and I will also deliver a future of oil that makes sense for Nigeria.

But bear in mind that one has been there for one and a half years, the president has been there for two years, I can’t pretend that we are going to solve in one day all the problems that happened in Nigeria in the past. We will solve the Niger Delta militancy problem, it was there, we sorted it out in one year.”

Caveat Kachikwu in a subsequent interview on Bloomberg reaffirmed his resolve to resign if the target wasn’t met, but added that accomplishing the target was dependent on certain conditions.

“People have focused more on the resignation than the fact of trying to get the refineries to work. For me, it is a no-brainer.

We absolutely have to have refineries work, but it is going to depend on so many things,” he said.

The minister added, “It is going to depend on the unions being with us on that; it is going to depend on the owners of the assets – NNPC – being able to stay on the speed at which I am going. I hope they will; it is going to depend on militancy remaining as calm as it is.

“If all those things are taken, and we are able to accomplish on those, my conviction is that we can still deliver on 2019.

“The reality is that when you repair all the refineries, there is probably still going to be a little gap in terms of actual consumption versus local refineries production, but we think that an upgrade would be able to remedy that. I have said that if that doesn’t happen by 2019, we have all failed and I will be on my way exiting.”

Industry Experts Industry experts have offered their perspectives on the import of Kachikwu’s resignation comment. Some preferred to offer their views anonymously. Their comments centred on the rationale behind Kachikwu’s choice of 2019 for resignation, an action they considered to be more political than economic.

They explained that the government’s continued hold on

Kachikwu the NNPC’s refineries was uneconomical primarily due to the fact that they had gone insolvent and unproductive from profligate management models. Most of the analysts advised that Kachikwu should rather push to have the refineries sold

to private investors to return them to profit-making centres, warning that at their current standings, the refineries may not be able to compete with Dangote Group’s refinery, when it eventually begins operation in 2019.

An oil industry expert, Dan Kunle, stated regarding Kachikwu’s resignation threat, “His resignation should be now and not 2019 because in August and September 2015, during his visit to Port Harcourt and Warri refinery sites, he publicly declared that the management of Port Harcourt refinery had used $10 million to fix the refinery as against the realistic figure of about $295 million offered by the original equipment manufacturers vendors/ engineers for the TAM program.

“He also declared that by the close of 2015, it was expected that Port Harcourt refinery and probably Warri would be working at 90 per cent capacity, thus, reducing petroleum importation and possibly eliminating the subsidy controversies. Till this moment, the crude oil refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna are yet to be fixed, needless to mention if they have ever attained up to 50 or near 90 per cent production capacity utilisation since he came on board.”

Kunle further stated that Kachikwu was yet to conclude the preliminary planning and necessary tender processes that will lead to the final award of contract for the turnaround maintenance of the refineries. According to him, “Between 2015 and 2016, Kachikwu made a public declaration that would-be investors should come to fix Port Harcourt refinery and invest in relocating any operational refinery of about 100,000 barrel capacity to be co-located within the facilities of Port Harcourt refinery and probably same for Warri refinery.

“Nigerian people have waited till this moment to see how such transaction would be consummated, but to no avail. Could this still be the new transaction he is trying to consummate with Oando and Agip? I am aware from records that Agip built Warri refinery and not Port Harcourt refinery, so how easy will it be for them to take over the Japanese plant in Port Harcourt against their own in Warri.

“Meanwhile, petroleum product importation and storage management have remained an endemic problem in Nigeria.”

WEF: Creating Mixed Livelihoods for Africa’s Youth Susan Mboya

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was honored to recently participate in the 27th World Economic Forum on Africa discussion in Durban, which provided a chance to reflect on both the pace of progress across our continent, and some of the stubborn challenges we must overcome. This year’s discussion centered on “Achieving Inclusive Growth” and addressed one of our most pressing priorities – ensuring that Africa’s bright future brings benefits that can be enjoyed by all, and that no one is left behind, irrespective of community, country, tribe, religion or language.

A critical step towards achieving this aspiration is ensuring that we create sufficient opportunities for Africa’s youth. During a discussion alongside private sector, NGO and government leaders, this topic came under intense scrutiny for very good reason. Today, while more 11 million youth annually enter the workforce, less than half this number of formal jobs are being created each year, leaving more and more young people unemployed. While this challenge feels acute today, it will be compounded over time by fast demographic growth. By 2060, it is estimated that Africa’s youth population will spiral from 198 million today to almost 400 million.

But there is a silver lining in that Africa is blessed with the most aspirational, innovative and educated youth population ever, giving us the opportunity to turn one of today’s most pressing problems into one of tomorrow’s most powerful strengths. Persistent high youth unemployment carries very high social and economic costs, and can irrevocably damage communities, whereas a motivated, economically empowered young labor force can accelerate economic growth and bring tremendous benefits to families, communities, nations and the continent as a whole.

This is a topic that The Coca-Cola Africa Foundation is committed to helping to address. At the corresponding WEF Africa summit in 2015, we launched the Youth Empowered for Success (YES!) initiative.

The program aims to help create employment opportunities, and also provide young unemployed and underemployed Africans with access to necessary skills and resources to generate income.

We set a goal of trialing the program in six African countries and reaching 25,000 youth within three years, before scaling to reach 500,000 youth by 2022. We had bold ambitions, but we also realized we had a lot to learn. Two years on, we now know much more than we did then. The YES! initiative is underway in South Africa,

Tunisia, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria and Uganda with 82 community YES! hubs working with almost 9,500 youth who have enrolled in the programme. The clearest learning we have gained is that the very nature of work has changed – neither traditional terms such as ‘unemployed’ nor ‘employed’ accurately reflect the status of millions of African youth today. For most, their economic reality dictates that ‘not working’ simply isn’t an option. Rather, most youth have developed what we refer to as ‘mixed livelihoods’ or a ‘portfolio of work’ - a series of different income streams that can straddle the formal and informal sectors, including family and micro-enterprises.

This mixed livelihoods approach is rooted in practicality, as young Africans navigate unpredictable labor markets, and benefits both youth needing income and employers who cannot commit to full-time employees. Although informal, and unstructured, this trend has shown a propensity to drive economies; as we have learned more, we noted that in Kenya, the monthly income of youth with two or more income streams is 70 per cent higher than those with just a single source of income, and it also means employers have more flexible talent that can help their businesses succeed.

While there are many admirable programs focused on youth across Africa, studies show that over 70 per cent of youth empowerment programs do not meaningfully reduce the incidence of unemployment.

It is, therefore, essential that we are cognizant of the way that today’s labour market is changing, and that we are not training youth for a world of work that no longer exists, and is rooted in nine-to-five single employment. We need to prepare Africa’s youth to take advantage of the opportunities around them while providing them with access to income-generating opportunities. We also need to see how local ecosystems can be created for youth employment by working with private sector, governments and civil society to create a model that benefits all and is creating jobs which reflect the needs of all.

This is an incredibly dynamic and complex area – and there is no one size fits all. The nature and make-up of any “portfolio of work” will vary substantially by individual and community, and can include different traditional job disciplines across a variety of sectors.

Therefore we all need to prepare youth with the foundational and transferrable skills that transcend one-dimensional jobs and allow them to navigate today’s new working world.

_ Dr. Mboya is President of The Coca-Cola Africa Foundation (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 28, 2017

SUNDAY INTERVIEW

PHOTOS: Julius Atoi

DIKKO UMARU RADDA

Lack of Capacity, Not Funding, Biggest Challenge Facing MSMEs Dr. Dikko Umaru Radda, director general/chief executive officer, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), oversees an agency saddled with the responsibility of promoting the development of the MSMEs sector of the Nigerian economy. The agency which he heads serves as a one-stop shop for the development of micro, small and medium scale enterprises – an economic sector that is the bedrock of development. In his interview with Tokunbo Adedoja, he speaks on the challenges confronting MSMEs, what the agency has been doing to help surmount these challenges and how MSMEs could help drive the job creation agenda of government

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t will be a year since you assumed office, how has it been managing such a strategic agency responsible for small and medium enterprises?

I have faced many challenges but I am equal to the task.

Basically the major challenges that I have is because most of the people that I knew, you know before I assumed this office I was at the National Headquarters of the APC, I was also the Chief of Staff to the Governor (Katsina), as a result of those offices that I have held before now I have links with a lot of people; so once I was appointed as the DG of SMEDAN - Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria - people started trooping in to see if we can give them empowerment materials. So many people came

here asking us to give them grants, loans; but they don’t know that SMEDAN doesn’t give out loans, grants or empowerment materials.

What SMEDAN does is more technical than all of those. Our major mandate is to provide basic entrepreneurship development training, business development support in terms of counseling, monitoring the activities of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and evaluating their business. In the area of policy framework, we develop policies for SMEs in the country and we also intervened in between MSMEs and agencies of government that has one thing or the other to do with MSMEs, like helping to facilitate access to finance through the Development Bank of Nigeria, Bank of Industry, Agriculture Bank of Nigeria, as well as commercial and microfinance banks. We also

facilitate access to raw materials. That is we try to guide MSMEs on where to get raw materials. We also do a lot of synergy and collaborative works with other sister agencies. Basically SMEDAN is not an agency that gives out loans or grants. But if you look at agencies like ours in other developing countries they combine the two, because even when you give them the necessary entrepreneurship and business development training the next thing they ask for is finance. They’re like, you’ve given us the training, give us access to finance, help us to get start-up capital; because basically our work is to facilitate the growth and development of small and medium sized enterprises in the country.

Growth and development in most developed societies were

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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 28, 2017

SUNDAY INTERVIEW

Lack of Capacity, Not Funding, Biggest Challenge Facing MSMEs Cont’d from Pg. 21 driven by SMEs. Why is this not happening in Nigeria?

Basically they are, but the kinds of enablers that the MSMEs need to fully play the role in Nigeria are not there for them. In any major economy of the world, MSMEs are the major mover of economic development; now in Nigeria, we are championing the need to diversify the economy, and how can you diversify without the MSMEs? You can’t diversify without the SMEs because diversification means producing locally for our people. If you look at developing economies like us and developed countries,agencies like us in the developed countries, I know this because we have undertaken a lot of studies, we found out that the major thing that is hindering development agencies in this country is that we depend solely on the national budget to execute our programmes. Had it been SMEDAN is an agency that generates funds, the agency will be better placed to execute our programmes without much funding challenges; and with the declining economy now the budgetary allocations to agencies like ours will be affected compared with the plethora of activities and requests that we get.

Let me give you a typical example. An agency like us in Brazil, a country that has a population like that of Nigeria, the agency’s budget in 2015 was $1.8 billion. SMEDAN was established in 2003, but has had a total budget of $20 million up until 2015. So you see that there is no basis for comparison between how an agency like us in Brazil is performing and how we’re doing. Recently, I was in South Africa, in that country, in every one kilometer square, there is a staff of an agency like ours there covering that one Kilometer square meter, that means all the small and medium businesses within that area are being covered by that man, and he guides them through all the business development services and all the other things that they may need. The man is always there looking out for them, monitoring and evaluating the businesses with the objective of helping to grow and develop the businesses to the highest level possible. But in Nigeria, in a state where we have more than 1000 micro, small and medium businesses, we have only one or two staff tending to those services; so you can see the sharp disparity.

When I came in as DG of SMEDAN, the first thing that I did was to have a retreat. At the retreat we saw the need to amend the Act that established SMEDAN to enable us to generate funds from outside of the budgetary allocation. We have done so much on that, the process has gone past the first and second reading at the National Assembly; we’ve held a public hearing, we’re waiting for the third reading and subsequent passing of the bill. We are looking at ways of generating fund so that we can establish the National Enterprise Development Fund, which the President will appointa board to administer the fund; the fund will serve as a loan, a grant and also to serve as a window for business development and capacity building activities. We can also place the money in commercial banks and microfinance banks to serve as guarantee so the MSME operators can access funding. If we can solve that problem we would have solved all the major hindrances militating against this agency with the passing of the bill. We hope the National Assembly, with the rate at which they are going, will pass the bill as soon as possible because they understand the need for the development of SMEs, which is key to their constituency, because most of these people reside in the constituencies and when we get it right we will not have this issue of poverty, we can create jobs everywhere.

Let me just give you an example. The last survey that we had in 2003 we had 37 million MSMEs in the country, by having 37 million MSMEs in the country, if you can assist them to grow, even if each of the 37 million SMEs employ one more person, that means we will have increased employment rate by 37 million jobs; so there is the need for government to put more effort in that direction. I must appreciate the present government for the things that they are doing for SMEs. The Vice President has been championing the cause of the MSMEs; one of such initiatives is the MSMEs Clinic, we go from one state to the other and during which we provide intervention to most of the problems of the MSMEs. Last week we inaugurated the MSME Council which is saddled with the responsibility of coordinating the activities of all the MSMEs and inter-agency networking towards solving some of the problems that have been identified. I think the recent establishment of the Development Bank of Nigeria which will only cater for the needs of small and medium sized businesses in the country is something we should commend the government for. I think the federal government has seen the need for the development of the economy and that is a good way to go.

What would you say are the biggest challenges facing SMEs in Nigeria?

If you asked the SMEs what are their challenges they will tell you it is funding. If you asked me I will tell you that it is capacity.

Many of the MSMEs have the money to do business but they don’t know how to do the business; the basic skills they need to do their businesses are not there and that is why the mortality rate of the MSMEs in the country is very high. Many of them just take their money and enter into businesses that they don’t know how to run, or how to manage; they don’t know how to keep records, how to keep accounts; they don’t know how to innovate and introduce new ideas into their businesses.

They don’t realize that there is the need for quality packaging, strategic marketing, all of these are required but many of them don’t know, they think the only thing they need to do business is money.

Federal and state governments have given a lot of incentives to people to improve their businesses but because they lack managerial ability and lack proper monitoring of their activities, some of them will even divert the money to other things away from the businesses that the money were meant for. But, I think that can be largely attributed to the fact that most of the small and medium businesses in Nigeria are informal. When I say informal, most of them are illiterates, most of them didn’t register their businesses, they don’t have bank accounts, they don’t have micro insurances for their businesses; they don’t

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have the managerial abilities; that is why the mortality rate is high.

From the statistics that we have, more than 90 per cent of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise in Nigeria are informal. This is not something you will find everywhere. I told you that I was in South Africa, I was talking to a colleague who heads an agency for small and Medium-sized enterprises there; I asked him what was the percentage of Small and Medium-sized enterprises that are formal, he told me that they don’t have any informal SMEs in their country.

What that basically means is that any business that is starting in the country you have to register it, it has to have bank accounts and all those things; but in Nigeria you don’t have all those things.

How can you access finances from the financial institutions if you don’t have a bank account. When you don’t even have proof of registration; we’re not even talking of CAC registration, even the business registration from Ministry of Commerce and Industry in the states, how then can they access finance? How will they know the procedure for accessing fund talk less of developing a business plan for assessment and subsequent development?

What is SMEDAN doing to address this problem?

When I came in we had that challenge and we talked to ourselves on how we can formalise the about 37 million micro businesses.

We acknowledged that it was a very large number but we have to start from somewhere. So we decided to introduce the Conditional Grant Scheme for Micro Enterprises. Why we said we should give them grants before we set the condition is, you know these people have very little income, they are largely in rural area so you must do something to motivate them for them to key into your programme and formalise their businesses, and that should be like an incentive, something that will attract them, because if you asked them to come so that you can get them organised they won’t. In the first place, they are not happy with you because they are looking for finance and other things which they couldn’t get, rather you are asking them to come and be registered; their feeling will be you want to add to their problems because they know that the moment they are registered there will be issues of taxes. But we told them that was not the essence of the scheme. So we had to motivate them with incentives to formalise their businesses. So that was the reason we came up with the Conditional Grants Scheme for Micro Enterprises.

With the Conditional Grants Scheme for Micro Enterprise we are targeting 550 micro businesses in each of the 774 local government areas in the country. What we intend to do is to give them a grant

The last survey that we had in 2003 we had 37 million MSMEs in the country, by having 37 million MSMEs in the country, if you can assist them to grow, even if each of the 37million SMEs employ one more person, that means we will have increased employment rate by 37 million jobs; so there is the need for government to put more effort in that direction

of N50,000, but before we give them the grant we want to formalise them by giving them certain conditions to access the grant. The conditions are you must register your business with CAC. We’ve already opened discussions with the CAC and they are ready to lower the cost of registering the businesses and as an agency we have promised the micro businesses that they will not have to pay a single kobo for the registration of their businesses. We will handle the registration and pay for them. Secondly, we have discussed with a lot of banks and a lot of them have showed interest, to go into the locations of those micro businesses and open bank accounts for them.

Thirdly, we have entered into an MOU with a lot of insurance companies to provide micro insurance cover for their businesses; and we as an agency we are offering them training in capacity building in the areas of managerial abilities, entrepreneurial training among others. So with all these conditions in place, we as an agency can now give them grant, but we will urge them to add two more people into the businesses. If the person is an akara (bean cake) seller, let two more girls help her sell the akara while she fries it.

What we’re doing invariably is that if we have 550 people that we give grant in every local government and each business takes in two people, that means we will have 1650 persons in each of the 774 local governments in the country, when you add it up you will have 1.5million people covered in that year and we want to continue with the programme for a period of four years. So if 1.5 million people are covered in one year, multiplied by four it means we will have about 6million people covered whom we have helped to formalise their businesses. And in the four years, other people that have not benefitted from the scheme will key into the scheme and they will see the need for what we are doing, and then continue on their own to formalise their businesses.

Again, as a function of the scheme we have provided a certain proportion of aid to serve as motivation so that we create a form of competition that will make participants aspire to meet the conditions set up by the agency.

The way this works is that we told them that after three months we will evaluate their businesses and then choose the best 10 in each local government, and then give the best 10 businesses additional N250,000 to invest in their businesses but this time around as a loan and not a grant even though it is a non-interest loan. The next time we will choose another set of best 10. What we are trying to do is to motivate them so that there will be competition and then everybody will want to meet the condition. Attached to that again is that, we thought, why can’t we develop a programme which we will call Human Development Entrepreneurship. Whatwe are doing with this is we are looking for persons with skills. So we said let us start with the medical doctors. So we said let us go to each local government, get two medical doctors who are indigenes of the local government areas and offer them a loan of N2.5 million to establish a local clinic at the local government area to achieve the following: One, bring healthcare closer to people at the grassroots level; secondly, we will be creating jobs for others; thirdly, we’re creating entrepreneurs, by so doing we will develop and have a very big hospital which can employ a good number of people and it will benefit the community at large. Besides, we will be reducing the rate at which people travel long distance to access simple healthcare facilities. Then if it is run by the local indigenes, they are in tune with the culture of that locality, so it makes it easier to interact and have a better relationship.

Recently, the CBN opened an FX window for SMEs, in a way trying to address one of the major challenges of operators in that sector of the economy. Are there areas of cooperation between SMEDAN and CBN? What form of

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ MAY 28, 2017

23

SUNDAY INTERVIEW

Lack of Capacity, Not Funding, Biggest Challenge Facing MSMEs

Cont’d from Pg. 22

synergy exist among relevant agencies of government with regards to MSMEs? When I came into office at the federal level, one of the first observations I made was that there was lack of synergy between agencies of government. Government must do so much to achieve that by facilitating a better synergy and direction between us (government agencies) because, let us not see ourselves as competitors, as if we’re competing, a situation where everybody wants to own his space and doesn’t want another person to come close to it. That shouldn’t be the case since we are all targeting Nigerians; the benefits go to Nigerians, not to me, not to Mr. President. We were all appointed by Mr. President so what we should do is to help the people that have the mandates of Nigerians to achieve their mandate by giving our best, by synergies, to collaborate between us to move the country forward.

Unfortunately some agencies don’t want to work with any other person, they want to do things on their own and own the programme so they can say this is mine, this is what I have done. But that is wrong. To me, what is needed is for us to synergise, we need to work together because we are not doing the work for ourselves, we are working for the benefit of Nigerians. In terms of collaborating with other government agencies, we have been doing a lot with other agencies of government. We are doing a lot of work with the Bank of Industry, we have a programme called NADEP, the National Entrepreneural Development Programme. It is a tripartite programme with BOI and Industrial Training Fund (ITF) and SMEDAN. We are also working with the BOI on the Small and Medium Enterprises Rating Agency of Nigeria; we are working with BOI and Nigerian Import and Export Bank (NEXIM) on that. We are also working with other agencies on the business training platform that was put together by the Vice President to ensure that all agencies that have one thing or the other to do with the MSMEs are brought together to interact with the MSMEs with a view to addressing their problems. We had a meeting on that platform in Plateau State last week, we will be having another in Kaduna State this week.

Essentially, we have made a lot of efforts to collaborate with other government agencies. I also took time to visit the CBN governor to see how we can collaborate with the CBN in so many areas especially on the Micro, Small and Medium Fund that is with the CBN. In fact, we are asking that we should serve as referral point because this is our constituency, we know these people; we can also provide independent monitoring and evaluation services and we can give the CBN report on the performances of the MSMEs. We also think we should provide entreprenurship training because this agency was set up to also provide entrepreneurship training. We areexperts in that, we have very capable hands that can provide the trainings, we have gone to various countries for entrepreneurship trainings; instead of contracting out to consultants who charge a lot of money, our staff should be allowed to facilitate the trainings.

This agency can provide the trainings for free, the only thing that we need is logistics, may be Basic Travel Allowance for our staff to go round the places. Doing so will reduce the cost of running the government. I believe these are the kind of areas that we need to synergise and collaborate on.

When I met with the CBN Governor, he set up a technical committee consisting people from the CBN and our people but so far there has been no progress on that for about eight months now; and as I said earlier, we must commend the Federal Government and the Federal Ministry of Finance for establishing the Development Bank of Nigeria, which is charged with making finances available to micro, small and medium enterprises. But what we are calling for is the need for us to work together with the Development Bank of Nigeria because the major mandate of the bank is to provide loans to MSMEs and the mandate of SMEDAN is to see to the growth and development of MSMEs in the country.

It is important that we work together so that we know the kinds of people that will benefit. Doing so will also help in accessing loans from the commercial and microfinance banks because we know commercial banks that are MSME friendly; we know the microfinance banks that are MSME friendly. So there is the need for us to have these kind of collaboration and we should be able to evaluate the performances of the people that will benefit from the loans and give the reports to the government. We should also be able to provide a window of linkages between the financial institutions and the MSMEs.

With the fall in oil revenue and the search by government for alternative source of funding, focus shifted to taxation.

Would you say that MSMEs are contributing a fair and proportionate share to the treasury?

I intend to visit the chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS), carry out some sensitization campaign at the various local markets and environments on the need for them to formalise their businesses because there is little they can benefit if they are not formal. We need to do a lot of mobilisation and sensitisation exercise to see how we can help; even the media houses have to come on board and help to facilitate initiatives like town hall meetings in the local communities, not in the urban centers so that we can let them know how they can register their businesses and the benefits that abound in doing so. In fact, the good news is that the FIRS has reduced the taxes that are payable by the MSMEs, which is a welcome development. The CAC has also reduced the fees for registering MSMEs; a lot of other banks are also willing to reduce cost of borrowing for MSMEs. However, what we need is to engage with each other more, we need to collaborate and sensitise the general public.

Can you shed light on SMEDAN’s One Local Government One Product programme and the industrial clusters?

The major hindrance is that we are trying to solve the basic problems as to what will immediately impact the work of our

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agency. However, we recognise the work of those ministries and agencies and that is why, in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade and Investment, which is our supervising ministry, we are trying to develop clusters. We are trying to organise organic clusters and some clusters that have common competitive advantage. That was why we developed a programme called One Local Government One Product (OLGOP).

The main aim of OLGOP is to identify an organic cluster in a given community; when we identify them we will provide them with common facilities. It could be a common machine that they can work with within the cluster and then we provide them with entrepreneurship training, monitor their activities, then provide them with access to market. That means we should get them off takers of their products. We have five pilot programmes of the OLGOP projects in the 2016 budget. One in Katsina State for kilishi production; in that place we will organise them into a cooperative society and then provide them with a common facility, we will also rent and pay for a place to warehouse the common facility, give them entrepreneurship training, then give them a working capital to start production with and then link them up with the market. As I said we have five pilot projects: One is in Abuja, the other ones are in Osun State, Anambra State, the other one is in Kaduna State for honey production. The one in Anambra State is for palm kernel processing; the one in Osun is for Irish potato farming; in Abuja it is for cassava processing into garri. Work is already in progress on the pilot project. We have secured locations for them, we have given them entrepreneurship training; what we are waiting to do in the next one week of two is to sign memorandum of understanding with them after which we will give them the necessary machine and the working capital to start work with.

We are looking at 109 centres in the OLGOP project in 2017, that is one in each senatorial district of the federation; then next year we are looking to set up one centre in each of the federal constituency in the federation and in 2019 we will target the local governments that do not have a centre. These are some of our plans. One of the things that we want to achieve with it is that we want to upscale their profession in a better and qualitative way, teach them how to brand their products and then have access to market where they can sell their products, which is the last and most important thing.

With the OLGOP programme I believe we will get somewhere because in each centre that we set up, other people that are also into any other form of production or food processing activities can learn from the beneficiaries of the OLGOP programme.

We also have IDCs. There are 23 of them in all; the IDCs are places set up to train people for industrialisation. Each of the IDCs have different workshops, there is the electrical workshop, mechanical workshop, electronic work shop, metal; some have woodwork workshop, textile production workshop and they have machinery that is suitable for the different workshops. Fortunately for us some of the workshops were established since the 1980s, but the centres have been left to rot. In some places, some centres don’t have roofing, the walls have cracked in some others. In some others the walls have fallen off; most of the machines have become obsolete while some have not been used even once since they were installed. We also found out that the capacity of some of the personnel that are manning the centres have become outdated. I believe we need to do so much to revive the IDCs because the idea of the IDCs was to provide common facilities like power, good roads, networking and link up space for the MSMEs. Unfortunately, in some of the places where we don’t have fences

around the centres, the land have been encroached on and in places where we have fences the buildings are dilapidated and the machines are obsolete, as I mentioned earlier. The good news is that the West African Development Bank has granted SMEDAN a grant of $1 million to carry out an in depth study of the 23 IDCs to give us a better understanding of how best to utilize the IDCs and the best way to have a PPP arrangement with some private companies so that we can revive the IDCs and upscale the production activities at the centres for better use and for the benefit of the country as is the case in other countries.

It’s about 14 years since SMEDAN was created, would you say that the agency is close to achieving its objectives?

In some areas we have really done good. In the area of entrepreneurial training the agency has done very well, we have trained quite a good number of people in entrepreneurial training. In 2016, we worked extensively with the Industrial Training Tund. ITF has trained about 10, 000 people in 15 states and equipped them with vocational and technical skills; SMEDAN then complimented that by giving the 10,000 people entrepreneurship training. The second stage of the entrepreneurship training for the other 18 states will be coming up this month (May). Again, we facilitate entrepreneurship training, capacity building around vocational and technical skill in collaboration with the National Assembly because members of the legislature domiciled their constituency projects with SMEDAN to provide entrepreneurship training and empowerment materials to people in their constituencies.

We have been doing a lot on that. This year alone, we have trained over 1000 aspiring entrepreneurs in different constituencies around the country. We have also done a lot of collaborations with other developmental partners. In December 2016, we launched a credit information portal in collaboration with Department for International Development (DFID). The importance of the portal is that any MSME can log on to the site and see a number of financial institutions that are willing to lend to MSMEs and the kind of loans that they have, the portal also has conditions attached to each of the loans and grants. Any MSME operator can also apply for funding through the portal. About 100,000 MSMEs have keyed into the portal in the last three months. What that clearly means is that you can get all the credit information available in the country on the portal from anywhere. That is a very laudable achievement; we have now written to the CBN to compel all financial institutions in Nigeria to key into that portal and provide all the credit information from their institutions and make it available on the portal to make it easier for the MSMEs to access.

We also launched the Business Development Services Providers Accreditation Framework in Lagos. It was done in collaboration with James Phillip of DFID. The essence of it is to regulate the activities of business development services providers in the country; what used to obtain was that anybody can come up with a name for himself and start providing business development services to local governments, state governments, federal government and even private enterprises.

Many of such people are not well trained, they don’t have what it takes to do it and this reflects in the quality of the services that they render to the small and micro businesses in the country. So we want to have an accreditation framework; we will have an accreditation committee such that anybody who wants to carry out the services of a business development service must pass the test of the accreditation committee for us to certify you to go into the practice of business development services provision.

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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 ËžMAY 28, 2017

FOR THE RECORD

The Nigeria Petroleum Industry Legislation as Passed by the Senate -Explanatory Memorandum for Governance & Institutional Reforms Background and Introduction his executive summary note narrates the principles and intent of the 2015 Petroleum Industry Legislation being prepared by the Technical Committee for submission to the National Assembly.

The Technical Committee mandates include: a. Review the Oil and Gas Policy approved in 2007, for appropriateness; Review all available materials and information of the past reforms the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) 2008, 2012 and in addition to the PIB version passed by the House of Representatives in May 2015; c Consult and engage as necessary; d. Debrief relevant authorities as frequently as needed to ensure alignment and adequate guidance; and e. Redraft, present and commence submission of the PIB 2015, ensuring alignment with the Policy.

It was expedient to go back and review the circumstances that led to the inability to establish an acceptable document and to enact the intended Petroleum Industry Bill in the past, which suffered a multiplicity of assaults from various players/stakeholders To arrive at the present proposition for the Petroleum Industry legislation-2015, this committee has employed thorough review of past documents, made comparative review of similar and competitive jurisdictions, and ensured international best practices in content and in style.

1.1 Role of Petroleum to National Growth and Development Oil and gas have been, and will remain for years to come, Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most important nonrenewable energy source, currently contributing over 90% of countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s foreign exchange earnings and about 80% of recurrent and capital expenditure. The industry is therefore critical to the economic and social development of Nigeria.

While the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vision and aspiration continue to target diversification of the economy, the petroleum sector remains the primary source of revenues to make that happen as well as sustain the country for the foreseeable future.

Nigeria currently produces about 2 million barrels of light, sweet quality crude oil per day, still the largest in Sub-Saharan Africa. It has proven oil plus condensate reserves of about 37 billion barrels. Both current oil production and reserves are far short of growth levels envisaged in the Vision 20:2020.

Similarly, Nigeria produces approximately 8 bcf of gas daily of which some 50% goes for export while 13% (mainly associated gas) is flared. Natural gas reserves are substantial at about 183 trillion cubic feet (TCF), representing 3 percent of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s total. Incidentally, gas is also not sufficiently addressed in the existing petroleum industry legislation.

2. History of Petroleum Sector Regulation The history of petroleum legislations may be classified into three periods:a) Pre- colonial, under the British Colony, giving authority to the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Crownâ&#x20AC;? for issuance of licences and taxation under the Minerals Ordinance Act of 1914; b) Post Independence Nigeria, (1960-1971), whereby only taxes were paid by companies involved in petroleum operations; and, c) Since joining the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in 1971, that created the enabling environment for greater involvement by the Government, taking equity in petroleum assets and in operations, and as a prelude, ushered authority from 1969 of the Minister to create an Inspectorate Unit in the then Ministry of Mines & Power, as well as promulgate rules and regulations for the sector.

This authority was upped by the 1977 legislation creating a commercial entity, the Nigerian National Corporation (NNPC), alongside with

T

Buhari the Department of Inspectorate, renamed, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), under the office of the Minister in 1991.

Since then, petroleum sector realised several ad-hoc legislations mostly on need basis without necessarily checking alignment with existing ones.

As at today, our nation is in energy crisis.

There has been a sustained imbalance between domestic Supply and Demand, not arising from lack of endowed energy resources but from inability to manage our resources efficiently.

We still import today over 90% of needed petroleum products (petrol and chemicals), flare substantial gas produced, have damaged our eco-systems and polluted our communities and cannot supply adequate electricity to homes and industry. This situation has undermined our citizensâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; standard of living, life expectancy, our national energy security and has resulted to other unforeseen fall-outs like: labour unrest; fuel queues; high cost of delivery of products; high cost of delivery of overall services in the total economy; and a share waste of unquantifiable productivity.

The Existing joint ventures (JVs) and PSCs fiscal policies, require review with respect to â&#x20AC;&#x153;windfall profitsâ&#x20AC;? to private companies based on incentives that have distorted normal market economics as well as need harmonisation because they are dispersed along the nature or type of product, company or project specific. In doing so, the indigenous â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sole Riskâ&#x20AC;?/ independent players, should command attention under the nations priority policy that ensures indigenous capacity expansion in the petroleum value chain in Nigeria.

The subsisting primary legislation that governed Oil & Gas in Nigeria are: A. The Petroleum Act, which came into force on 27th November 1969 and has been amended severally. From it , there exist subsidiary legislations (Regulations), as well as other related international Treaties. Accordingly, there are approximately 70 principal Legislations and 30 Regulations that govern the petroleum sector of Nigeria.

The following regulations, amongst others are subsidiary to the Petroleum Act: r .JOFSBM 0JMT 4BGFUZ 3FHVMBUJPOT 4UBUVUPSZ Instrument 1963 No. 45; r 1FUSPMFVN %SJMMJOH BOE 1SPEVDUJPO 3FHVMB-

Saraki tions, Statutory Instrument 1969 No. 69; r $SVEF 0JM 5SBOTQPSUBUJPO BOE 4IJQNFOU

Regulations, Statutory Instrument 1984 No. 1984; r 5IF 0JM 1JQFMJOFT "DU r 5IF 0JM 5FSNJOBM %VFT "DU r 5IF "TTPDJBUFE (BT 3F JOKFDUJPO "DU r UIF "TTPDJBUFE (BT 3F JOKFDUJPO BOE 'MBSJOH of Gas) Regulations 1979(as amended) B. The Petroleum Profits Tax (PPT) Act, which came into force on 1st January 1958, and has been amended many times. Its main purpose was to provide for the assessment and imposition of a tax upon the profits of enterprises engaged in the development and production of petroleum in Nigeria.

Some of the amendments include; r 5IF %FFQ 0GGTIPSF BOE *OMBOE #BTJO Production Sharing Contracts Act 1999 No. 9 (as amended); r 7BSJPVT JODFOUJWFT VOEFS UIF .FNPSBOEVN of Understanding (MOU) of 1986, 1991 and 2000, that were NOT enacted but put in place and implemented by the Tax authorities; C. The separation or distinction of crude oil and natural gas fiscal structure can be said to have begun with the introduction of incentives terms under the Associated Gas Framework Agreement (AGFA) of 1991. The terms promulgated under AGFA, as a policy and in context, attempted to further differentiate between Associated Gas (AG) and Non-Associated Gas (NAG). The existing legislations and fiscal incentives pertaining to gas are those of: r 5IF /JHFSJBO -JRVFGJFE /BUVSBM (BT "DU /P 39, 1990; r 5IF 'JOBODF .JTDFMMBOFPVT 5BYBUJPO Provisions) Act No. 18, 1998 (Amendment to Petroleum Profits Tax Act); r 5IF 'JOBODF .JTDFMMBOFPVT 5BYBUJPO Provisions) Act No. 19, 1998 (Amendment to the Petroleum Profits Tax Act) 3. The Nigeria Petroleum Industry Reforms Recognizing the positive contribution of the oil and gas industry to the Nigerian economy, the real and potential losses due to successive mismanagement of the sector, the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) launched a process of broad sector reform which commenced in the year 2000.

The reform was meant to put in place an updated Nigeria Oil and Gas Policy as well as a

legislative framework (Petroleum Industry Act) to enhance delivery of the sector objectives with emphasis on complete overhaul of the Nigeria petroleum industry, reforming the operational mechanisms for the upstream, downstream and natural gas sectors, redefinition of the roles and responsibilities of key institutions, enhancement of performance, accountability and transparency, (Governance), licensing and acreage management, bringing operations in line with international standards and, not least, improve on tax codes for both oil and gas.

Although the issues involved are complex, their resolution can be expected to have significant implications for investment flows, industry activity, and government revenues.

The overriding objective of the National Oil and Gas policy was â&#x20AC;&#x153;to maximise the net economic benefit to the nation from oil and gas resources and to enhance the social and economic development of the people while meeting the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s needs for fuels at a competitive cost, accomplishing all in an environmentally acceptable mannerâ&#x20AC;?.

Maximisation of the net economic benefit would include additions through appropriate fiscal regimes, sustained profitability of the sector, delivery of growth commercial activities, active local content policy and the development of improved direct linkages between the oil sector and the other sectors of the Nigerian economy.

4. The Nigeria Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) The Nigeria Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), has been around in one form or the other since 2008 when it was first introduced. During the 7th National Assembly, additional efforts were made to pass the 2012 version of the PIB but it unfortunately was unsuccessful, similar to attempts at prior parliamentary sessions.

Continuous stalling and delay in passage to law has hampered investments, keeping the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s future in limbo and denying Nigeria the unique opportunity as oil and gas leader in Sub Sahara Africa.

Specifically, the main objectives remain relatively the same, spanning the spectrum of the industry to:1. Enhance exploration and exploitation of petroleum resources; 2. Significantly increase domestic gas supplies

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ MAY 28, 2017

25

FOR THE RECORD The Nigeria Petroleum Industry Legislation as Passed by the Senate especially for power generation and industrial development; 3. Create a peaceful business environment that enables petroleum operations; 4. Establish a fiscal framework that is flexible, stable, progressive and competitively attractive; 5. Create a commercially viable National Oil Company; 6. Deregulate downstream petroleum business; 7. Create efficient regulatory entity; 8. Engender transparency and accountability; 9. Promote active Nigerian Content and make Nigeria the hub of the western African petroleum province, and 10. Promote and protect Health Safety and Environment.

Apart from content issues with prior versions, one of the major drawbacks to passage was the bogus packaging of the PIB as a single legal instrument.

Consequently, although this 2015 attempt contains enhanced quality work on content, the bill has been split into logical smaller pieces for submission to the 8th National Assembly, a complete departure from all prior efforts.

This way, the pieces can be expeditiously considered and passed one after the other. And where amendments are required in the future, the relevant piece can be separately considered rather than opening up the whole Act for review.

Accordingly, the following pieces of legislation will be considered for the Nigeria Petroleum Industry Bill - 2015.

1. Petroleum Industry (Governance & Institutional Reforms) Bill 2. Petroleum Industry (Upstream Petroleum Administration Reforms) Bill 3. Petroleum Industry (Downstream Petroleum Administration Reforms) Bill 4. Petroleum Industry (Fiscal Framework & Reforms) Bill 5. Petroleum Industry (Revenue Management Reforms) Bill.

A. Petroleum Industry (Governance & Institutional Reforms) Bill A1.0 Principles & Structure It is widely acknowledged that major reforms in the governance and institutional structure for the sector are necessary and urgent.

A major drawback of the existing framework is the lack of clarity of roles, self- regulation, conflicts and unnecessary overlaps.

For example, while the Minister is in charge of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, and indirectly supervises the Department of Petroleum Resources (supposed to be an independent Regulator), he is also the Chairman of the Board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) by law.

The Minister therefore operates in a quasi- executive capacity across all facets of government involvement in the industry giving ample room for sustained failures in governance and performance.

In addition, and in particular, the country is being robbed of huge revenues as a result of mismanagement of the NNPC, the intrusive control of the government in the affairs of the corporation, the confusion with the Regulator as well as funding difficulties. These continue revenues are needed primarily to grow the sector as well as support the much talked about diversification of the economy.

The key objectives of the Petroleum Industry (Governance & Institutional Reforms) Bill are to:a) create efficient and effective governing institutions with clear and separate roles for the petroleum industry; b) establish a framework for the creation of commercially oriented and profit driven petroleum entities that ensures value addition and internationalization of the petroleum industry; c) promote transparency in the administration of the petroleum resources of Nigeria; d) create a conducive business environment for petroleum industry operations.

In defining the new petroleum industry institutional landscape, the following principles were used to guide the overall framework:a) Clear delineation of government roles and responsibilities across the industry (Policy formulation, Regulatory oversight and Commercial operations); b) Simple and lean structure, devoid of unnecessary overlaps; c) Streamline the coordination role of the Minister; d) Creation of a single strong industry

Cont’d from Pg. 24

Kachikwu regulator; e) Unbundling of the existing NNPC to two Commercial entities limited by shares - the NOC, and the National Assets Management Company; f) Ensuring strong governance, transparency and accountability in all institutions.

Based on these principles, the institutions proposed in the Petroleum Industry (Governance & Institutional Reforms) Bill are as follows:1) The Minister, who shall be responsible for policy formulation and coordinating the affairs of the petroleum industry on behalf of the Federal Government.

2) The Petroleum Regulatory Commission, who shall be the industry Regulator and Watchdog, responsible for licensing, monitoring, supervision of petroleum operations, enforcing laws, regulations and standards across the value chain.

3) The National Petroleum Company, who will operate as a commercial entity, fully integrated across the value chain.

4) The National Assets Management Company, who shall ensure maximum value for the Federation through prudent management of the Federation’s oil and gas investments in assets where Government is relieved of upfront funding obligations; eg. PSC assets.

These institutions constitute the key structures necessary to assure effective governance and efficiency of the petroleum industry. It is recognised however that the following agencies do exist and contribute in one way or the other to the running of the industry.

1. The Nigerian Content Development &Monitoring Board (NCDMB) whose Act came into effect in April 2011 and already undergoing some amendment, hence remain as is.

2. The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) has responsibility for providing funds for human capacity development in the industry. A separate bill has been developed for this to institute appropriate legislative framework which was never in place.

A2.0 Institutions, Roles, Governance and Controls In line with the proposed structure of the industry, mandates, deliverables and control mechanisms, in particular for the effective governance of the various institutions are clarified in greater detail in the Bill.

This narrative simply provides high level characteristics of each of the new institutions proposed in the Petroleum Industry (Governance & Institutional Reforms) Bill.

A2.1 The Minister The Minister of Petroleum Resources will exercise general coordination powers and provide full diplomatic cover on all petroleum-related matters on behalf of the country.

A2.1.1 Mandates Specifically, the Minister shall:a) be responsible for the determination, formulation and monitoring of Government policy for the petroleum industry in Nigeria; b) exercise general coordination over the affairs and operations of the petroleum industry

subject to the provisions of this Act; c) report developments in the petroleum industry to the Federal Executive Council; d) advise the Government on all matters pertaining to the petroleum industry; e) represent Nigeria at meetings of international organisations that are primarily concerned with the petroleum industry; f) negotiate and execute international petroleum treaties and agreements with other sovereign countries, international organizations and other similar bodies on behalf of the Government g) promote the strategic interest of Nigeria in the global oil and gas industry.

The Minister will be empowered to source professional support on fixed term basis as needed without drawing resources from the Regulatory authority (e.g the DPR) or the National Oil Company (e.g. the NNPC) as currently is the case.

Consideration was given to creating a new institution within the Ministry to cater for this but was subsequently discarded as it does not fit with the civil service framework.

A2.1.2 Funding Funding of the office of the Minister shall be by appropriation by the National Assembly.

A2.2 The Petroleum Regulatory Commission A single and one stop shop Petroleum Regulatory Commission is hereby proposed for the petroleum industry, consolidating such roles currently largely resident in the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), and some environmental regulations driven by the National Oil Spill and Detection Agency (NOSDRA).

A2.2.1 Mandates The core mandates of the Commission are as follows:a. promote the healthy, safe and efficient conduct of all petroleum operations; b. promote the efficient, safe, effective and sustainable infrastructural development of the petroleum industry; c. ensure compliance with all applicable laws and regulations governing the petroleum industry; d. determine and ensure the implementation and maintenance of technical standards, codes and specifications applicable to the petroleum industry; e. subject to the provisions of this Act, execute Government policies for the petroleum industry assigned to it by the Minister; f. promote an enabling environment for investments in the petroleum industry; g. ensure that regulations are fair and balanced for all classes of lessees, licensees, permit holders, consumers and other stakeholders; and h. implement such other objectives as are consistent with the provisions of this Act. In addition to the above and other roles detailed out in the bill, it shall:i. undertake and promote the exploration of the frontier basins of Nigeria.

j. develop exploration strategies and portfolio management for the exploration of unassigned frontier acreages in Nigeria; k. identify opportunities and increase information about the petroleum resources base within all frontier acreages in Nigeria; l. undertake studies, analyse and evaluate all unassigned frontier acreages in Nigeria.

Detailed tasks, responsibilities and deliverables are listed in the Bill.

A2.2.2 Governance & Controls The size and powers of the Commission requires effective governance and controls to assure delivery as envisaged, in addition to reducing abuse to the absolute minimum.

At the same time, there is need to ensure maximum independence of the new Nigeria Petroleum Regulatory Commission and limit political interference in particular on technical decisions.

To this end, the Commission is proposed to be governed by a 9-man board comprised of politically autonomous individuals with proven integrity, relevant competencies and experience to effectively deliver on core functions.

These are: a) a non-executive Chairman; b) one non-executive Commissioner; c) the Executive Vice Chairman, who shall also be the accounting officer of the Commission; d) three Executive Commissioners; e) a representative of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources who shall not be below the rank of Director; f) a representative of the Ministry of Finance who shall not be below the rank of Director; g) a representative of the Ministry of Environment who shall not be below the rank of Director; All appointments shall be made by the President and confirmed by the Senate. It is expected that the Board will operate outside the 4-year electoral cycle to safeguard continuity.

The Board shall:a) be responsible for the general direction and supervision of the Commission; b) oversee the operations of the Commission; c) provide general guidelines for the carrying out of the functions of the Commission; d) review and approve the business, strategic and operating plans of the Commission; e) Consider and approve the budget of the Commission and monitor its performance; f) Approve the audited and management accounts of the Commission and undertake consideration of the management letter from the external auditors; g) determine the terms and conditions of service of employees of the Commission; h) stipulate remuneration, allowances, benefits and pensions of staff and employees of the Commission in consultation with the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission; i) structure the Commission into such number of departments as it deems fit for the effective discharge of the functions of the Commission; and j) carry out such other functions and undertake such other activities which in the opinion of the Board, are necessary to ensure the efficient and effective administration of the Commission in accordance with the provisions of this Act or as may be delegated to the Commission by the Minister.

A2.2.3 Funding The Commission shall ensure that all monies accruing from upstream leases, bonuses, lease renewal fees, assignment fees and concession rentals charged under any Act, enactment or any subsidiary legislation or regulation made pursuant to this Act are paid into the Federation Account.

However, the Commission shall establish and maintain a fund (‘the Fund’) from which all expenditures incurred by the Commission shall be defrayed. Such funds shall only be limited to the following sources:a) appropriation to the Commission from time to time by the National Assembly; b) fees charged for services rendered to holders of licences, permits or other authorizations; c) penalties and fines levied by the Commission d) income derived from publications produced by the Commission and from reviews of environmental impact assessment reports and environmental evaluation reports and other (see concluding part and complete legislation 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 28, 2017

NIGERIA’S TOP 50 STOCKS BASED ON MARKET FUNDAMENTALS

FCMB Group PLC: Remarkable performance brightens record despite harsh operating terrain

T

he reported financial performance of First City Monument Bank Plc (FCMB) for the full year 31st December, 2016 indicates a substantial growth of 15.63% in top-line earnings to N176.35 billion from N152.51 billion in the corresponding period of 2015. The bank’s net earnings also more than tripled on the back of considerable increase in other income.

The Bank which listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange in 2004 and issued her first public offering (IPO) in 2005 now has a record of 2 million customer base, over 270 branches in Nigeria and a licensed banking subsidiary in the United Kingdom (FCMB UK).

First City Monument Bank Limited has continued its strive towards enhanced customer experience through innovation acceleration, enhancement of performance and security boosting.

TRADING INCOME DRIVES GROWTH IN TOP-LINE EARNINGS Gross earnings for the 12 month period ended 31st December, 2016 grew by 15.63% to N176.35 billion from N152.51 billion in December 2015. The growth was impacted by an upsurge of 77.16% in non-interest income on the back of an extra-ordinary increase in net trading income largely driven foreign exchange income to N5.69 billion from N940m during the period under review. Interest income on the other hand, rose by a modest 1.23% to N125.11 billion from N123.58 billion over the period. This stemmed from decline in customers deposit by 6.08% which impacts on advances.

Interest expense for the period declined by 6.83% to N55.58 billion from N59.65 billion reported in December 2015.

Hence, net interest income increased by 8.75% to N69.53 billion from N63.94 billion over the period.

Fees and commission income declined by 6.92% to N17.68 billion in December 2016 from N19 billion a year ago, while fees and commission expense increased notably by 10.66% to N3.51 billion from N3.16 billion over the same period.

Due to decline in fees and commission income and rise in its expense, net fee and commission income decreased to N14.18 billion in December 2016 from N15.83 billion in December 2015; reflecting a change of 10.44%.

OPERATING INCOME AND TAXATION positively impacts profitability Total operating expenses increased by 23.51% to N101.30 billion in December 2016 from N82.01 billion in December 2015 primarily due to a massive growth of 136.29% in net impairment loss on financial assets to N35.52 billion from N15.03 billion recorded in December

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

2015.

Therefore, operating profit increased significantly by 107.94% to N15.98 billion in December from N7.68 billion a year ago. Pre-tax profit for the period grew massively by 109.19% to N16.25 billion from N7.68 billion year on year attributable to a considerable rise of 222.53% in income from investment in associates to N272m from N85m in the corresponding period of 2015.

Expectedly, profit after tax followed suit with a remarkable 201.19% increment to N14.34 billion in full year ended, 31st December, 2016 from N4.76 billion reported in the 12-month period of 2015. Also, the Bank’s impressive performance in the bottom line can be connected to substantial decline in income ASSET QUALITY REMAINS RELATIVELY FLAT The Bank’s balance sheet reflects steady progress in performance over the period. The Group’s total asset grew by modestly by 1.14% to N1.17 trillion as at December 2016 from N1.16 trillion as at December 2015. Notable changes in total assets includes: 359.01% in nonpledged trading assets to N9.15 billion from N1.99 billion, 5.08% negative

change in investment securities to N128.44 billion from N135.31 billion, 22.69% decline in other assets to N16.78 billion from N21.70 billion and advances to customers rose by 11.30% as at 31st December, 2016.

On the other hand, total liabilities decline by a negligible 0.32% to N993.91 billion as at December 2016 from N997.14 billion as at December 2015. Bank total deposits from customers and other banks shrank by 3.30% to N682.41 billion as at December 2016 from N705.68 billion as at December 2015; borrowings grew by 16.18% to N132.09 billion from N113.70 billion year on year.

However, shareholder’s equity increased by 10.15% to N178.87 billion as at December 2016 from N162.39 billion as at 31st December 2015 due to retained earnings growth of 88.91%.

CAPITAL AND LIQUIDITY RATIOS ABOVE REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS FCMB’s liquidity ratio stood at 31.2% as at December 31st, 2016 which is well above the minimum regulatory requirement of 30%. The Group’s Return on Average Equity (ROAE) stood at 8.40% as at December 2016 while Return on Average Assets (ROAA) stood at 1.23% over the same period.

The Group’s cost-to-income ratio at 56.1% while Net interest margin (NIM) grew settles at 8.4% in December 2016 from 8.1% in December 2015 while pre-tax profit margin and net income margin notably to 9.22% from 5.09% and to 8.13% from 3.12% respectively.

WE RECOMMEND A BUY The macro-economic headwinds of 2016 saw inflation grow steadily to a peak 18.6% in December, MPR at 14% and CRR maintained on all public sector deposits to 22.50% in November 2016. Nevertheless, FCMB delivered an impressive performance despite these harsh business environment and unstable monetary policies caused by the impact of naira devaluation, foreign exchange scarcity, rising commodity prices and the fuel price hike.

Based upon the Bank’s flexibility to the current regulatory policies and the macro-economic headwind, we believe that the Bank’s management adjustment plans that focus its effort towards an efficient performance which strengthens earnings, income generation capacity and growth in liquidity base. With strategic innovation and execution the bank will enhance its deposit balance and advances leading to an better improved interest income and

Valuation Metrics 26-May-17 Recommendation

BUY

Target Price (N)

1.67

Current Price (N)

1.19

Market Cap (N'm)

23,169

Outstanding Shares (m)

19,803

EPS (N)

0.72

PE Ratio

1.62x

Forward EPS (N)

1.03

Forward PE

1.13x Source: NSE Data, BGL Research

Full Year 2016 Audited Results Gross Earnings (N'm)

176,352

Profit Before Tax (N'm) Profit After Tax (N'm) Pre-tax Margin (%)

16,251 14,339 9.22

Source: Company Report 2016, BGL Research

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

152,507 7,768 4,760 5.09

Source: Annual Report 2015, BGL Research

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

8.27 21.05 6.73 63.95

Source: Annual Report 2015, BGL Research

income from fees and commission.

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

Based on the company’s performance, we cautiously make full year, December 2017 projection of N209.37 billion for gross earnings and N20.46 billion for net income. Using the Price to Earnings (PE) multiple of 1.13x, our valuation leads to a forward EPS of N1.03, and a 9-month average target price of N1.67. Since this represents an upside potential of 40.34% on the current stock price of N1.19, we therefore recommend a BUY.

27

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾MAY 28, 2017

NIGERIA’S TOP 50 STOCKS BASED ON MARKET FUNDAMENTALS

TOTAL OIL NIGERIA PLC: Oil giant beats projection with remarkable performance

T

otal Nigeria Plc is a Marketing and Services subsidiary ofTotal; a multinational energy company operating in more than 130 countries and committed to providing sustainable products and services for its customers.

For over 50 years,Total Nigeria Plc has remained the leader in the downstream sector of the Nigerian oil and gas industry with an extensive distribution network of over 500 service stations nationwide and a wide range of top quality energy products and services.

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

Total Oil Nigeria Plc recently released its full year result ended December 31st 2016, showing outstanding growth in performance indicators despite tough operating business climate in Nigeria.

The oil giant delights investors by consistently paying dividend twice every year; a half year interim dividend and a final dividend at the end of the financial year.

For the year ended December 2016, the Company has declared a total dividend per share (DPS) of N17.00, comprising of an interim dividend of N10.00 already paid in 2016 and a final dividend of N7.00 payable in June 2017.

REVENUE SURGES AS DEREGULATION HOLDS GROUND Total Oil Plc reported a substantial increase of 39.86% in revenue to N290.95 billion in December 2016 from N208.03 billion in the corresponding period of 2015.This impressive growth surpasses year on year growth of 13.41% recorded in 2015.

Growth in revenue was spurred by sales of petroleum products and lubricants which grew by 38.02% and 53.04% respectively during the period.The increase in revenue could also be attributed to the improved activities in global and domestic oil market during the year. Nigerian oil marketers were supported through government regulation in allocating petroleum prices that covers increasing foreign exchange risk and rising importation cost. Increment of importation cost is the direct result of depreciation of the Naira, and earlier by a sudden reduction in the regulated price of product in the domestic market without a clearer policy direction on how government intended to fund the eventual expanded subsidy implications. Hence, the various payment disputes surrounding the Petroleum Support Fund (PSF) allocation highlighted the cautious product importation by players includingTotal Oil Plc and the eventual scarcity that was witnessed in the last month of the quarter under review.

Expectedly, the Company recorded a

WITH RECENT ACTION AND POLICY BY MANAGEMENT OF TOTAL OIL NIGERIA PLC TOWARDS FURTHER REDUCTION OF ITS OPERATING COST, FINANCE COST AND BORROWINGS, WE EXPECT LESS OPERATION AND FINANCIAL DISPARITY WHICH ERODES PROFITABILITY AS IT OPTIMISE MARKET OPPORTUNITIES. THIS WILL LEAD TO A CONTINUA SUCCESS IN ITS FINANCIAL METRICS IN THE COMING PERIODS

massive growth of 98.36% in gross profit to N49.10 billion in December 2016 from N24.75 billion in the corresponding year of 2015, despite an increase of 31.96% in costs of sales to N241.85 billion in December 2016 from N183.27 billion in December 2015. The company was able to manage further growth in cost of sales through a rigorous cost saving and efficient operating structure as well as investment in research and development and training of employees on new measures and better production and service delivery techniques.

EFFICIENCY RECORDED IN COST MANAGEMENT For the year ended December 31st 2016, Total Nigeria Plc’s selling & distribution expenses increased by a negligible 0.99% to N4.72 billion from N4.67 billion recorded in the corresponding year in 2015.The company has struggled over the last few years to curtail increment in operational costs due to high overhead cost ranging from the cost of delivering its product through trucking to all its retails outlets to high personnel costs due to staff recruitment to meet with its expansion plans and to help achieve its goals and objectives. Administrative expenses grew by a 5.42% to N15.85 billion from N15.03 billion recorded in December 2015.

Hence, this reduction is an indication of management efficiency and success of its cost saving strategies. In addition, the Company continued to invest heavily in the promotion of its popular “Quartz” oil lubricant aimed at further strengthening the ‘Total’ brand across the federation.

This is in addition to expenses incurred on repairs, maintenance and upgrade of some of its retail outlets nationwide.

Furthermore,Total Oil records moves from a moderate 2.78% year on year increase recorded in December 2015 to a significant 20.33% increase in other income to N1.45 billion in December 2016 from N1.20 billion over the corresponding year of 2015.

Hence, operating profit for the year grew substantially to N20.93 billion in December 2016 from N6.26 billion in December 2015 indicating a percentage increase of 234.63%.

Valuation Metrics 21-Apr-17 Recommendation

BUY

Target Price (N)

337.22

Current Price (N)

260.00

Outstanding Share(m)

339.522

Market Cap (N'm)

92,656

EPS (N)

43.58

PE Ratio

5.97x

Projected EPS

57.16

Projected PE Ratio

4.55x Source: BGL Research

FINANCE COST FAILS TO FORESTALL MASSIVE GROWTH IN NET EARNINGS Record displays that both financial income and finance cost declined enormously year on year by 86.53% to N273.55m from N2.03 billion and by 52.43% to N851.86m from N1.79 billion respectively. Net finance costs declined to a negative N578.31m from a positive N240.38m during the period under review.

Profit before tax thus grew by 213.35% to N20.35 billion in December 2016 from N6.50 billion in the corresponding period of December 2015 while net income witnessed an extraordinary growth of 265.63% to N14.80 billion from N4.05 billion over the same period.The growth in net income was despite considerable rise of 126.93% in income tax to N5.56 billion in December 2016 from N2.45 billion in December 2015.

The company’s profitability and efficiency ratios dropped modestly. Return on asset (ROA) decreased to 4.84% from 5.54% in the preceding year while return on equity (ROE) followed suit, decreasing to 24.92% from 33.21% over the same year. Pre-tax margin also followed the downward trend dropping to 1.95% from 2.20%.

SIGNIFICANT DECLINE IN ASSET QUALITY As at December 2016,Total Oil Plc grew its total asset substantially by 63.68% in to N136.93 billion from N83.65 billion as at December 2015 while its total liabilities also increased by 68.16% to N113.36 billion in December 2016 from N67.41 billion in December 2015. Company’s shareholders fund followed similar massive increase as it rose by 45.11% to N23.57 billion from N16.24 billion year on year.

BUY RECOMMENDATION We recognise the management’s effort in curbing its expenses which has been a major burden hampering the profitability of the company in prior periods. In addition, as expected the Federal Government dispute with petroleum marketers over the Petroleum Support Fund (PSF) allocation in the short to medium term, which greatly disrupted the supply and sale of petroleum products in the industry and accounted for not too impressive performance of Total Oil Plc in the previous year is been

Full Year Financial Result 2016 Turnover (N'm)

290,953

Profit Before Tax (N'm)

20,353

Profit After Tax (N'm)

14,797

Pre-tax Margin (%)

7.00 Source: Company Data 2017, BGL Research

Full Year Financial Result 2015 Turnover (N'm)

208,027

Profit Before Tax (N'm)

6,495

Profit After Tax (N'm)

4,047

Pre-tax Margin (%)

3.12 Source: BGL Research

Shareholding Information Shareholders

% Holding

Total Societe Anonyme

45.24

Elf Aquitaine S.A.

16.48

Public Float

38.28 Source: Company Data 2016 AC, BGL Research

resolved. With recent action and policy by management ofTotal Oil Nigeria Plc towards further reduction of its operating cost, finance cost and borrowings, we expect less operation and financial disparity which erodes profitability as it optimise market opportunities.This will lead to a continua success in its financial metrics in the coming periods.

Considering the above, we project revenue of N322.48 billion and net income of N19.41 billion for December 2017.This leads to a forward EPS of N57.16. Using a combination of PE multiple and sustainable growth rate (SGR), we arrive at a target price of N337.22 and since this represents a 29.7% upside potential on the current price, we therefore place a BUYon the stock of Total Nigeria Plc.

28

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R Ëž ÍşÎ&#x20AC;Ë&#x153; ͺ͸͚Ϳ

MARKET NEWS

FBN Holdings Shares Gain 22% on Renewed Demand Goddy Egene One week after  FBN Holdings Plc  assured stakeholders that it would deliver better value in the years ahead, the shares of the company rose 21.95 per cent as investors renewed for the stock.

FBN Holdings Plc ended 2016 with a profit of N17.1 billion and paid a dividend of 20 kobo per share to shareholders. Â The performance was below expectations due to huge provisioning made for impairment charges.

However, the   Chairman of FBN

Holdings Plc, Oba Otudeko    two weeks ago assured stakeholders of better performance going forward.

And in apparent reaction to the assurance, investors renewed demand for the shares at the stock market last week. This high demand led to a growth of 21.95 per cent in the share price, rising from N4.01 to N4.89. Market analysts said some discerning investors are making early entry to position for the rebound in the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fortunes.

Otudeko had, at the annual general meeting (AGM)  said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I want to assure our esteemedÂ

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 â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;sharesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; on the

shareholders that FBN Holdings is actively preparing for the future and the challenges ahead with the advancement of the groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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.â&#x20AC;?

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

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 25-May-2017, unless otherwise stated.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;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,â&#x20AC;?

Otudeko said.

Speaking in a similar vein, Â the Group Managing Director, FBN Holdings Plc, Mr. UK Eke said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;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.â&#x20AC;?

According to Eke, the path to repositioning FBN Holdings has demanded razor-harp 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. â&#x20AC;&#x153;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,â&#x20AC;? 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 147.90 148.83 16.59% Nigeria International Debt Fund 219.03 220.32 3.31% 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 4.97% 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 18.16% 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 13.74 14.16 11.31% ARM Discovery Fund 313.92 323.39 9.31% ARM Ethical Fund 23.12 23.82 3.50% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 16.06% 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 120.20 121.04 14.28% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 17.58% 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 10.52 10.79 12.39% Women's Investment Fund 90.64 92.96 7.14% 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 18.56% 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 1,074.30 1,075.42 6.30% FBN Heritage Fund 123.44 124.32 10.65% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 17.79% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional $108.91 $109.39 5.68% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail $108.32 $108.70 5.79% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 126.93 128.67 12.69% 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 1.09 1.11 17.02% Legacy Short Maturity (NGN) Fund 2.73 2.73 6.23% 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 2,398.86 2,429.88 8.65% Coral Income Fund 2,253.94 2,253.94 7.11% GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 16.43% 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 18.58% Vantage Balanced Fund 1.87 1.89 11.13% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 17.72%

LOTUS CAPITAL LTD ďŹ ncon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.04 1.06 5.39% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,025.83 1,025.83 4.26% 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 11.03 11.12 14.12% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 17.13% 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 12.21% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 10.56 10.63 1.64% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 16.79% 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 117.71 118.24 15.40% 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 4.43% 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 1,950.88 1,961.24 6.52% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 158.59 158.59 3.01% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.83 0.84 8.44% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 198.33 198.33 6.12% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 138.69 140.61 6.87% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 18.46% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 8,031.49 8,120.97 5.88% 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 1.22 1.23 10.79% United Capital Bond Fund 1.31 1.31 15.55% United Capital Equity Fund 0.73 0.74 2.86% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.16 1.16 11.20% 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 11.18 11.37 15.59% Zenith Ethical Fund 11.86 11.98 8.53% Zenith Income Fund 17.86 17.86 8.04%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

11.41 126.87

1.01% 2.34%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

8.79 84.22

8.89 85.78

0.11% 11.13%

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 GrifďŹ n 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

3.39 7.14 13.58 16.70 129.58

3.43 7.22 13.68 16.90 131.58

22.86% 1.56% 12.95% 4.67% -0.23%

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 managerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website and FMANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator of the relevant fund and are published for information purposes only.

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ MAY 28, 2017

36

SUNDAY, MAY 28, 2017 ˾ T H I S D AY TR

UT H

& RE A S O

09067059433 (SMS only)

N

LIFE LESSONS WITH AYO AY AROWOLO LESSON

1

Don’t trivialise Your God-given Passion When I look at how I got into music, the only conclusion I could arrive at is this: God is the key influence that shapes us into who we ultimately become. He is the porter and we are just the clay. I was influenced into music from the church. I used to disturb the choir when I was still crawling, pulling their drums out, and they took notice of that. I became a member of the school band, and it was from there I noticed I was popular. When I gained an admission into the school, they would begin to shout “Obey, Obey”, which interesting enough was not my real name. I got that name from my classmates in primary school because I used to tell them to obey our teachers’ instructions which they were fond of transgressing. They knew me for

NO ONE IS DISADVANTAGED IN LIFE

–EbenezerObey

Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey Fabiyi, one of Nigeria’s living music legends, has remained in the consciousness of many music lovers for more than 60 unbroken years. Obey, who turned 75 recently, said he discovered his music talent through divine encounters when he was in the primary school.

He formed his own band in 1957.

Undoubtedly, Obey has pushed his music into the evergreen realm, having waxed many records that have continued to be admired especially on account of their philosophical lyrics. At some point in his music career, Obey branched into gospel music but he is back into his own unique dimension of music, though, still with spiritual undertones. During my interview with him in his Ikeja home, I asked him what he would regard as the secrets of his continued relevance in his trade. He said without mincing words: “Prayers, hardwork and unwavering commitment to my assignment.” I also asked him what he would like to be remembered for at the end of his life journey. His response: “I leave that to the public; I have done my part to the best of my knowledge. I cannot write my own epitaph….” Please enjoy the insights.

my expertise; I was good at beating drums, singing, and I used to be in the entertainment group –I was the main actor. Ultimately, I formed my own band in 1957, and I have done over 100 records till date.

The lesson is, don’t trivialise the passion God is planting in your heart; it could lead to something great.

LESSON

2

To prayers, add hard work and diligence Sometimes people ask me what I would regard as the key secret that has kept me relevant for 60 straight years in my music career. Without hesitation, I say prayers and hard work plus diligence.

Unfortunately, many people concentrate on prayers alone without adding the key virtues of diligence and hard work.

The three must go together. Hard work helped my ambition and aspiration. When you are asking, when you are praying, it doesn’t just happen. You have to combine this with hard work and unwavering commitment to your assignment. The great lesson I have learnt is, you must put your spirit into whatever you are doing.

And, when you combine this with prayers, success is guaranteed.

LESSON

3

God always sends helpers in times of troubles.

There is one reality we all have to embrace if we want to enjoy our lives. It is this: whether you anticipate it or not, expect crises to show up. Crises can come at any point in your career and in your life. Nobody has the power to say that he/she doesn’t want crises. At times they may affect you or bring you down, but you must not forget something – that God would also send helpers at the critical

ayo.arowolo@thisdaylive.com time. The greatest crisis in my career came when I made a bad business decision that left me bankrupt for 10 years. But God sent a man to get me out of bankruptcy.

He would not want me to mention this, but I have to specially thank Chief Mike Adenuga for allowing God to use him to help me. The level of financial intervention was so huge and consistent that I am afraid to mention it in figures. My prayer is that God will keep him alive and help him. I am also using this opportunity to thank my numerous fans and partners who have always helped in many ways.

LESSON

4

No one is disadvantaged in life One big lesson I have learnt is that nobody is disadvantaged in life.

Your background and where you come from have very little to do with what you eventually become in life: it is what you are able to make out of the little you have been given. Sometimes people ask me how come you speak good English when you did not have more than primary education. When I discovered I would not go too far without working on my intellect, I made it a project.

I started to read good books and interact with people who are knowledgeable. As I travelled round the world, I made it a point of duty to learn something new from every country I went and from individuals I met. Don’t let it ever cross your mind that you can fail. I also observed that some of the global billionaires we have today dropped out of schools. Some of them ended up engaging professors as staff. My advice: start with what you have, from where you are, and keep pushing.

LESSON

5

Don’t be attached to money This is one area where many people are missing it, especially when you look at what is going on in the country today where people are obsessed with making money by all means. Some are reported to have even kept money in burial grounds! Money is just a messenger, and you treat it so: send it on desired assignments. People pursue money for the sake of it because they lack understanding.

You must not allow money to become your master; you must be master over money.

If you want to buy a car, you send money on an errand. Once you start worshipping money, then corruption sets in.

LESSON

6

Make your spouse your partner This is one great lesson I have learnt. This is especially applicable to men: your wife should be your best friend. If you are going to succeed in life, you must make your spouse your friend and partner. To me this is key. The nature of my work required that I was on the road virtually all the time, moving from one show to another. What I did with my late wife was to sit down with her and craft what I regarded as the rules and principles for running the house and for raising the children. They were strictly biblical principles which we both agreed should be enforced. Whether I was around or not, my late wife enforced all the rules to the letter without exception and that helped us in raising good children and relating with each other with very minimal strains. We were very close. My wife’s death was very painful. I actually expected that I would die before her, but God knows all. We should all prepare

because death can come anytime. That informed why I have not remarried.

LESSON

7

Let the Word of God become a food you eat daily The word of God should be the food that every child of God should eat everyday. The Bible is God’s Word. It teaches one how to live in God’s ways.

When the Word of God dwells in you richly, you are removed from the magnetic field of Satan and placed within God’s protective radar. When you build your life on God’s Word, you are a wise person because when crises come, you will not be consumed.

Books that have helped me in life In pursuit of excellence

1 - Tom Peters

2 Myles Monroe’s books

Pastor Enoch Adeboye and 3 Pastor David Oyedepo books.

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE “When you see, pretend like you have not seen, when you hear, pretend like you have not heard, and when you know, pretend like you do not know, and you would gain more knowledge.” I got it from my father.

The Lesson? You would gain more wisdom if you can discipline yourself to observe and listen more than you talk. Those pieces of advice have saved me from much trouble.

MY WORST

MISTAKE

1

Not factoring in the legal angle into business transactions.

I learnt this in a very hard way when I wanted to expand my music business into production of compact disks (CDs). Good enough, there was a company in the US that wanted to sell its CD production line. We negotiated everything and we signed the deal. But just as we were about to start shipping the equipment to Nigeria, we discovered there was a legal issue we did not consider.

In short, we could not bring the equipment to Nigeria and I had borrowed money to finance the transaction. That was how I found myself in a messy financial problem.

The interest was mounting, salaries were being owed and even some newspapers published damaging reports about it. That lasted about 10 years until God bailed me out. So, I advise that you engage qualified lawyers in all business transactions.

2

I fell into the traps most celebrities have difficulties in escaping by having secret relationships outside marriage.

But thank God, my wife was understanding, and I became properly born again – old things have passed away.

30

T H I S D AY SUNDAY MAY 28, 2017

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We wish Lagos State and its people continued success, and a prosperous future.

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W WEEKLY EEKLY P PULL-OUT ULL-OUT

DONATUS OKONKWO THE LOVE STORY THAT BIRTHED TETRAZZINI

28.05.2017

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Okonkwo with his kith and kin at a public function

DONATUS OKONKWO

THE LOVE STORY THAT BIRTHED TETRAZZINI Out of his passionate love for food, Prince Donatus Okonkwo necessarily married a woman who knew how to carefully construct a pathway to his heart with a good and nutritious meal. However, it was a rewarding obsession that birthed one of the thriving indigenous quick-service restaurants, writes Nseobong Okon-Ekong

P

rince Donatus Okonkwo cuts the image of one who does not beat about the bush. And he does not.

Take for instance, his decision to go to a higher institution which was taken after he had left secondary school and became fully introduced to business. His older brothers were already doing well in commerce. He admired their outlook to and progression in life.

Therefore, he decided that it would not be particularly wrong to stand on the shoulders of these giants. It was just as well that in his teenage, he started to grapple with the rudiments of buying and selling. This was in Aba, the famed heartland of trade in eastern Nigeria. Having acquired the necessary experience, it was time to advance his formal studies abroad. Without giving it a second thought, he pitched his tent with a business school in the United Kingdom to study Business Technology.

Okonkwo has so much sentimental attachment to Aba, the land where he cut his teeth in business. However, there is a romantic side to his love for Aba. It was where he entered early adulthood and met his wife, Ngozi - who he fondly calls Nwanyioma, Igbo word for â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;the good or beautiful womanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; - who is also a graduate of business studies from the Abia State University. Their interest in business was not the only thing they had in common. Both of them had a healthy love for food. Theirs was a love story contracted, sustained and preserved

with familiarity for food. Nwanyioma may have other qualities he admired in his ideal woman, but her ability to produce appetizing meals was a towered above everything erlse Even in the early days of their courtship, it was a strong grip from which Okonkwo could not (and did not want to) release himself. Apart from satisfying him with nourishing meals, he was quick witted enough to appreciate the potential of a future business exploitation of her culinary skills.

Okonkwo himself also had a good background in cookery. Back in the day in the UK, to augment the financial support from home, Okonkwo took up a job at McDonalds, a global quick-service restaurant. The experience he acquired would later prove very invaluable when he decided to venture into food business.

The Ojoto, Anambra State born businessman disclosed that the investment began as a humorous way of advertising his wifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cooking to the world. If cooking were a game of football requiring 11 players, Okonkwo believes his wife would be in a world class cooking team. Although he cooks himself, having learnt from his mother and from serving his older brothers, his catering artistry was given further verve at McDonalds. However, he readily concedes the crown for the best and most innovative cuisine to his wife. Okonkwo who is a promoter of beauty pageants and entertainment fares, loves and is surrounded by beautiful women. But what would have been a

Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on pg.57

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MAY 28, 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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Okonkwo with his wife, Ngozi

bait to lead him astray has long been settled by his wife who knows that the way to his heart is to serve him a creatively designed meal.

He loves eating “everything as long as it is appetizing and nourishing; whether Nigerian or continental. Once, I settle down to my wife’s cooking, I forget the world. That is when I think deep and draw a lot of inspiration. I love cooking. I’m inspired by my wife’s cooking. She is one of the greatest cooks in the world. She will be in the top 11 best cooks in the world. Her cooking is extraordinary.”

He related how Tetrazzini started.

“Amazingly, I don’t know what language it is. But people say it is Italian. I got it from the dictionary. It means the best recipe. When we started the food business, I was searching for a name. I saw it in the dictionary, ‘Tetrazzini chicken’. It means the best chicken recipe; so when we started the restaurant, I named it Tetrazzini. When I was in school in the UK, I worked with McDonalds, a quick-service restaurant. When I came back to Nigeria, I found out that my wife was the best cook. I felt we should showcase to the world what she was doing well in private. Nothing was stopping us from going commercial with it.”

Tetrazzini was established in the fourth year of their marriage. While Okonkwo and his wife have lived together as one in the past 22 years, the business is 18 years. In the beginning, Mrs. Okonkwo developed the recipe and personally worked in the kitchen and behind the counter along with her husband to groom the first set of 17 staff with which they started the company.

From their flagship outlet at Ajao Estate off Airport Road in Lagos, the business has since grown to employ 1160 staff in 23 outlets.

However, that recipe by Okonkwo, which is still being used across board in all Tetrazzini outlets, remains the winning formula that keeps customers coming back, all these years.

Tetrazzini Foods has since given birth to other businesses. From the food company opened in 1999, it has become a group of companies.

Today, there is Tetrazzini Total Services, Tetrazzini Properties that develops properties for lease or sale; Tetrazzini Agro is involved in a lot of backward integration. There is a plan to develop its unique agricultural system. “We have a couple of other subsidiary company that I am a board member.”

If she was human, at 18 years, Tetrazzini would be an enticing and promising young lady today. Good to note that Okonkwo is not disappointed in his investment. “I have been a creative entrepreneur. I have been involved in wealth creation and building my businesses. I have been in the private sector. I have pioneered a company called Tetrazzini to be listed on Nigeria Stock Exchange. Tetrazzini Food Company which I am the chairman of

TETRAZZINI WAS ESTABLISHED IN THE FOURTH YEAR OF THEIR MARRIAGE. WHILE OKONKWO AND HIS WIFE HAVE LIVED TOGETHER AS ONE IN THE PAST 22 YEARS, THE BUSINESS IS 18 YEARS. IN THE BEGINNING, MRS. OKONKWO DEVELOPED THE RECIPE AND PERSONALLY WORKED IN THE KITCHEN AND BEHIND THE COUNTER ALONG WITH HER HUSBAND TO GROOM THE FIRST SET OF 17 STAFF WITH WHICH THEY STARTED THE COMPANY. FROM THEIR FLAGSHIP OUTLET AT AJAO ESTATE OFF AIRPORT ROAD IN LAGOS, THE BUSINESS HAS SINCE GROWN TO EMPLOY 1160 STAFF IN 23 OUTLETS the board is being listed on the stock exchange as a secondary platform. In no time, as the economy stabilises, it will be listed in the primary platform and it will be traded as a stock and blue chip company. Tetrazzini Food Plc has become one of Nigeria’s Fortune 500 companies. I grew the company from one outlet. I have been in the private sector for the

past 21 years, creating opportunities, wealth, businesses and employment for the citizenry.”

Okonkwo whose business acumen has been celebrated with several recognition and awards has created a couple of platforms to give back to society. He is passionate about education and raising leaders in business. There are several mentees who look up to him. “That’s what I do most. I believe that success without succession is entirely a failure. I have built a lot of entrepreneurial network to mentor people.

Regrettably, it’s very difficult but I never give up. It’s extremely difficult to mentor the young people today because their psyche is very disturbing. They are all looking for shortcuts.

So mentoring them step-by-step, line-by-line is very difficult. But I can’t give up. We have the AES, Academy for Entrepreneurial Studies, where I’m an executive member. They have a monthly, quarterly and yearly programme which I teach and sometimes I have the opportunity to teach at the Lagos Business School. I’m one of the Nigerians who didn’t have the opportunity to spend a lot of time in the university. I knew what I wanted. I wanted to be an entrepreneur; so I did not waste time studying anything else. I went straight to a business school in the UK and studied Business Technology.”

To celebrate his 22nd marriage anniversary and the coming of age of his business, Okonkwo has decided to do something different. He is planning a huge youth summit in Awka, Anambra State. The meeting would be a conclave for as many young people who have enjoyed his scholarship, either at Ojoto Boys High School where he built several classroom blocks, renovated and equipped the science laboratory or those who were baked in his entrepreneurial oven.

He has a surprise for them. They will have the rare opportunity of learning the Seven Life Lessons from the undefeated boxing champion of the world, Floyd Mayweather! “It is going to cost us a lot of money, but I believe those who will be there cannot ever be the same again after listening, first hand, to the grass-to-grace story of Mayweather. This is somebody who was not given any chance, but he beat all the odds against him. The lesson is, if Mayweather can, you can as well. He is coming to Nigeria between June 12 and June 14. The Igwe of Ogbunike, one the ancient kingdoms in Igboland, will confer him with a chieftaincy title. We are also taking him to Lagos and Abuja; after which he will continue his tour of West Africa to Ghana.”

With his fame and excellent reputation, Okonkwo believes Mayweather who is flying out of his Las Vegas base in the United States of America will immediately bring the attention of his over 15 million followers on Anambra State.

Although, he was taciturn about other plans to which the Mayweather visit may be converted, it is generally being touted that Okonkwo who has his eyes on the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Anambra State could be showing off the extent of his connection to persons with global influence.

One of the emerging enterprises from the Tetrazzini group is Zzini Media. With this platform, Okonkwo intends to aggregate all his entertainment, leisure and media related pursuits. Already plans are afloat to bring to Nigeria a world class female American musician in the last quarter of the year.

Okonkwo loves, listens and dances to all kinds of music. He is also looking forward to the day he can muster enough rewarding partnership to stage a Floyd Mayweather fight in Nigeria. He also loves watching basketball; plays table and lawn tennis actively to relax. His love for sports is highlighted by the fact that he has attended many Olympic Games and World Cup events.

One of the leaders of his community, Okonkwo, is however, well known and appreciated beyond his immediate community of Ojoto or Idemili. “ I’m the greatest community developer. I’m talking about my immediate community, that is, Ojoto and Idemili. I take a very strong concern in developing and supporting education. In the state, I have many students who are on my bursary sponsorship that I’m giving a lot of financial aid all over the place. I have developed a school in my community to become one of the best secondary schools in Anambra State.

It is called Ojoto Boys Secondary School. We built it back. People are now trooping into the school. When I met the school, there were about 30 students. It used to be our pride, but it went down to zero. We rebuilt the whole school. I missed attending the school by one year or so. I would have attended that secondary school. The school was not opened the year I was entering secondary school. They didn’t commission it then. So, I felt that school that used to be our pride should be returned back to its glorious years. It is now the pride of Anambra State.”

Apart from that school, Okonkwo has contributed his quota to the development of his community in several other ways. “We have committed unprecedented financial support to the community. But I’m focused. I know my people love business, entrepreneurship and trade. I believe a good entrepreneur is one that has a sound foundation because if you cannot calculate your money, how do you succeed? A good educational foundation is the best you can give to any entrepreneur. That is why I built the secondary school, so that even if you can’t make it to the university, you can read and write and be able to conduct your business”.

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Ě&#x201C;

͎ͯͯ͜ͲͲ͡ͳ͹ͰͲË&#x153; nseobong.okonekong@thisdaylive.com

At Launch of Secrets of the Streets, Teju Babyface Discloses Why He Stepped Away from Comedy Nseobong Okon-Ekong

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or over one decade, he registered his presence in the Nigerian entertainment space as a compere at public functions, and more importantly as a stand-up comedian.

But in recent years, his smooth, round face has been missing at comedy shows.

Unknown to many, Gbadewonuola Olateju Oyelakin, better known as Teju Babyface, had come to a major crossroad in his career. The question he had to answer was what he could do to be more impactful and leave a lasting legacy.

He told the delightful gathering at the launch of his book, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Secrets of the Streetsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; at the MUSON Centre, Onikan-Lagos, which included Professor Pat Utomi, Pastor Sam Adeyemi of Daystar Church, Basorge Tariah Jr., Julius Agwu, Azubuike Ishiekwene, Frank Edoho, Tee A, Debola Williams, Owen Gee, Lepacious Bose, Bunmi Davies and a lot of other top dignitaries, entrepreneurs, entertainers and friends who joined in the celebration that he had experienced a diďŹ&#x192;cult time during which nobody knocked on his door to ask for his services as a compere or comedian.

It was during this period that an inner voice began to relay messages on life experiences to him. Many of these were directly linked to his situation. For long hours, he would ignore his food and could not sleep. All he did was write messages as they came to him. These series of communication from his inner man connected with the meaning of the song, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Eri Okan/Conscienceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; by King Sunny Ade which has since become the signature tune for The Teju Babyface Show.

One of the biggest inďŹ&#x201A;uence to the new life he desired was Adeyemi. He acquired as many books and audio messages as possible from the preacher. He read various books written by him as many times as he could.

And listened to his speeches again and again.

Adeyemi who was later called to launch the book listened as Teju revealed how he deliberately schemed his way to become; ďŹ rst, his acquaintance and later, his friend. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Secrets of the Streetsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, points the way for Teju. Going forward, he would like to be known as an author of inspirational and motivational books and one who gives speeches that sparks something in people and moves them to positive action. The event started with photo session where guests took pictures with Teju, some got their books signed by him after which they proceeded to AGIP Hall for the commencement of the ceremony.

The book launch was compered by Oscar Oyinsan and after a brief introduction of the VIPs present, Teju was invited to talk about Secrets of the Streetsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.

The stand-up comedian cum writer, Teju Babyface highlighted the key moments in his life, starting with his decision to be a comedian. He further talked about his father who disapproved him of being a comedian and how

2BABA CROWNED KING AT MEGA MUSIC SHOW The Port Harcourt edition of the Mega Music Nationwide Tour sponsored by Globacom witnessed an unscripted drama as the duo of Peter and Paul Okoye widely known as PSquare â&#x20AC;&#x153;crownedâ&#x20AC;? the living music legend, Innocent Idibia, alias 2Baba as a new addition to the impressive list of Glo ambassadors.

The hall erupted in cheers as the enigmatic P Square, who had just finished their superlative performance returned on stage with one of the godfathers of modern Nigerian music, 2Baba in tow.

Svelte Ebube Nwagbo and Juliet Ibrahim had earlier been on stage to announce that there was a surprise for the crowd. As the stage light dimmed, Nollywood star jester, Victor Osuagwu, who made a celebrity guest appearance at the show, came on stage followed by P Square, who cheerily announced the presence of 2Baba.

The talented twins then symbolically initiated Idibia into the exclusive brand ambassadorial class by placing a crown gingerly on his head.

He subsequently began his first official performance as a Glo ambassador, taking the audience on a musical cruise that traversed his sojourn in the music industry from his days as one of the trio of the defunct Plantashun Boiz.

Mudi, Teju Babyface, Alariwo

he got into trouble several times for arriving home late after performing at shows. He said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Whenever I got home past 11 pm, I knew I was in for it. I would quietly open the gate and the door. I would try to sneak upstairs expecting my parents to be fast asleep but I was always wrong. My dad would catch me in the act and tell me to return to where I was coming from.â&#x20AC;?

Teju further explained that while he didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;the streetsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; upbringing, he learnt a lot from his friends who did. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Because I couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t speak pidgin, because I went to private a primary school-Corona and because I wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t a Niger-Deltan, some people underestimated me but here I am today, â&#x20AC;&#x153; he remarked.

He concluded by reiterating that while he was still in the business of bringing laughter to peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s faces, he is no longer a stand-up comedian. Throughout his speech, he dropped wisecracks and anecdotes that threw the audience into ďŹ ts of laughter. For instance, he made everyone believe he was going to play on the grand piano that adorned stage.

With their breath held, the audience waited to witness a display of a previously unknown talent of Teju. Alas, he struck a few keys on the piano, looked and threw up his hands. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I just payed it!â&#x20AC;? The unexpected burst of laughter continued for a few minutes before it decreased enough to allow continuation of the programme.

Teju Babyface and his mom

The singer-songwriter, record producer and entrepreneur also performed his hit single African Queen which seemed like opium to the crowd who sang along with him line-for-line.

2baba coonecting with fans at the Glo concert

OGBA ZOO OPERATOR CRIES OUT TO OBASEKI Ogba Zoo and Nature Park is Edo Stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s foremost conservation and tourism enclave, which for years was neglected and abandoned until 2000 when the administration of former Gov. Lucky Igbinedion under Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement ceded the management of the park to a private firm headed by one of Edo Stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s renowned tourism practitioner, Andy Osa Ehanire, with a promise to fund the rejuvenation of the park among others.

Ehanire and his management team have largely succeeded in bringing back from the brink the death the zoo, breathed life into it and make a growing concern and a tourist attraction attracting the interest of nature lovers, conservationists, fun and leisure seekers who daily, especially during festive periods, throng the nature and leisure enclave for entertainment.

While the management is still battling the Edo State government to keep it own end of the

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ENTERTAINMENT bargain in respect of funding the zoo, however, investigation revealed that Ehanire is fighting perhaps the greatest battle of his life, as he is engaged with both poachers of the zoo’ natural resources and land grabbers, who have in the last couple of years decimated the zoo.

Historically, Ehanire disclosed the wide reach of the zoo: ‘‘The Ogba Zoo, which we manage, was designed and developed in the early seventies by then military administrator of former Bendel State, the late Brig. General Samuel O. Ogbemudia. Its concept was an extensive biological garden, with potential for resort development. ‘‘Soon after Ogbemudia’s regime, the zoo suffered a long era of decline and eventual collapse, spanning the late eighties and nineties.

By the time of our private sector - led intervention in the year 2000, the zoo was already in the ‘mortuary’ and was like ready to be written off the books.’’

But the intervention of his firm, he said brought it back to life but without a prize: ‘‘The extent of its abandonment and decay, notwithstanding, Ogba Zoo experienced a painful rebirth through our rescue mission, which was purely self-financing, with no support from government. ‘‘But as challenging as reviving a moribund zoo was, there were other hidden challenges that can hardly be imagined in a sane society,’’ added Ehanire, who is also the secretary general of the Nigerian Association of Zoos and Parks (NAZAP), even as he narrated the several ordeals of the park. ‘‘It started as a minor incursion by community land grabbers into the zoo land until it was aided by official government instruments in the form of a gazette. All these years of battling the encroachment on the zoo, our private-sector led management was as good as left to solely tackle the growing menace unaided. ‘‘The land area encroached upon grew from about 10% of the zoo land that was ceded by the gazette, to more than 60% of the entire zoo.

It was like a horror movie seeing bulldozers leveling priceless flora in this pristine conservation heritage that had been a classic urban forest rarely found anywhere in the world.’’

Memos, he said were written to the state government and other concerned groups in the state, such as the state House of Assembly and the palace of the Oba of Benin. When no respite came from all those , he opted for court action where judgment was delivered in favour of the zoo but again, that didn’t deter the land poachers from plundering the land of the zoo, thereby destroying its ecosystem, flora and fauna resources.

Not relenting in his bid to rescue what is left of the plundered zoo, Ehanire spoke of efforts at drawing the attention of Gov. Godwin Obaseki to the plight of the zoo. ‘‘We have sent letters to the governor on the extant matters and maintained contacts with the solicitor general and the secretary to the state government on the issue,’’ he said.

Furthermore, Ehanire disclose that: ‘‘We equally sought and have been promised audience with the governor. We are, therefore, hopeful that the new governor will take a decisive approach to save the zoo from the grips of brigandage and looters. We are also anxious as to when specific government interventions would commence to save the zoo, before all that needs to be saved are totally destroyed. ‘‘We do pray that the forces of light will prevail over those of darkness in this nascent and very promising administration of Obaseki.’’

MEET B-RAY, ABUJA’S NEW SINGING SENSATION The nation’s performing art got a major boost recently as Abuja’s new singing sensation B-Ray, premiered an enthralling stage performance of her single debut entitled, “Don’t Run Away”. That evening, all roads led to Club Tarvan, opposite EMAB Plaza Wuse 2, venue of the command performance that was witnessed by the who-is-who, in the entertainment industry. The playlist included Washington DC, Dr. Aruba, Shortcut, Amb. Wahala, Mr. ODL, Gospel Alhaji, Yaksman and 3310 among others.

The unveiling was timed to coincide with B-Ray’s major launch into the entertainment circle not only in the Federal Capital Territory but in Nigeria in general. Speaking shortly after her captivating performance B-Ray whose real name is Peace Ebere Okoye Obianika, expressed her determination to succeed as an entertainer.

B-Ray as her fans call her, is from Nneni in Anambra State but was born in Abuja in 1986.

She began to sing when she turned 22. Asked what motivated her, she replied that she just likes singing. “I don’t just come out and sing.

My music comes through inspiration. I’m either inspired by God or my husband. When I remember how caring he is, I’m inspired to sing. I’d start singing either to say thank you or recognise and appreciate his love and attention.

That’ the source of my inspiration and how

hopeful stars, all vying to win the judges hearts and the grand prize of N250 million management deal, N10 million and a brand new car.

AROUND THE PARK WITH FOUR CHINESE JOURNALISTS –Yinka Olatunbosun

Owner of Amen Estate with Funke Akindele and JJC Skillz

How Funke Akindele Fueled Husband’s Dream No one knows how things would have played out had their paths not crossed. But one thing is sure, Nollywood star, Funke Akindele, better known as Jenifa is a mighty blessing to her hubby Abdul Rasheed Bello, better known as JJCSkillz; and he is not hiding it.

At the recent screening of their first joint project, a drama series which takes into account the travails of budding artistes, JJCSkillz disclosed that the project was gathering dust in his study until his wife breathed new life into it. The drama merged the world of music, movies and media into one.

Screening of the pilot episode of ‘Industreet’ which took place at IMAX Cinema

my music gets the desired content. I sing R&B and Afro Soul. From the inspiration, you’d find out that my lyrics are tilted towards love and thanksgiving. I have a track titled ‘Don’t Run Away,’ it’s a soul song and currently getting some airplay. It’s message of unity and love.

When couples quarrel or have a dispute, they fail to realise the need to quickly resolve the issue, because happiness is a necessary ingredient for marital harmony. The song is a soul-mender, it encourages married people to realise when they cross their boundary, and the need to say ‘I’m Sorry’ for peace to reign and for them to return to speaking terms again. The other track, ‘Ifeoma’ is dedicated to those about to wed, the newly wed and their ilk, to celebrate their day, a day that is special in the life of every woman. I mentioned my husband’s name Osita in the middle of the song as fitting tribute.

I like the way he talks, and what he does, so I acknowledge all these as I sing.” sing. g B-Ray y holds a B.Sc degree g in Business Administration from the University y of Calabar. After her studies, she moved to Ghana and then to South Africa before coming g back to work briefly y in the banking g and oil sectors of the economy. y Not g getting g the satisfaction she craved, B-Ray y quickly q y returned to her first love, music and singing g g and right g now, her single g track titled Don’t Run Away y has hit the airwaves with a bang. g B-Ray y now happily married, is a talented hot artiste whose brand of music will bring

B-Ray

Lekki attracted guests like, Joke Silva, Rita Dominic,Toke Makinwa, Ice Prince, Kayswitch, Kate Henshaw, Adunni Adewale, Moet Abebe, Ariyike Akinbobola,Mr and Mrs Gbadamosi of Amen Estate, Tosin Martins, Layole Oyatogun, Sam Onyemelukwe (MD Trace TV), the cast and signees of SOO Records (Gen Stones, Mo Eazy, Sonorous Martins Feelz and other prominent personalities.

At the end of the screening which lasted for 45 minutes, JJCskillz, who wrote and directed the TV drama, was full of gratitude to his wife, whom he said God used to make the dream a reality. His wife, Funke AkindeleBello, who produced Industreet for Scene One Production was full of praises of the cast and the crew.

joy to many homes and also add colour to the entertainment industry in Nigeria and beyond.

THRILLING SENSATION CONTINUES GCGT After an electrifying episode last week, God’s Children Great Talent (GCGT7) will roll its third episode on TV screens across Nigeria and United Kingdom with astonishing talents on display today.

For what promises to be a breath-taking television show, Episode 3 will showcase phenomenal talents from Port Harcourt who will battle to impress GCGT7 judges comprising award winning singer, Omawumi, music producer TY Mix and prolific dancer, Kaffy Last Sunday, five finalists emerged from Abuja region and moved on to GCGT7 semi-finals in Lagos. This includes nine year-old gospel rapper Enoch who charmed the hearts of the judges by raising the roof with his “hallelujah” rap dab, and eight-year-old Peter was absolutely amazing with how well he handled the instrument and left the audience amazed.

With the search open p to acts from ages g 5 to 20, GCGT has brought g the variety y format back to the forefront by y showcasing showcasing g unique q p perper rformances from across the th country. y The show is a true ccelebration ce lebration of creativity and a d talent, featuran r ing g a colourful array y of singers, dancers, comedians, comedians spoken p word artist aand an d

When the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) embarked on a Lagos tour with four senior Chinese journalists, one major challenge was to overcome the potent language barrier. Unlike the French language, the Chinese language is one of the least spoken languages by Nigerians.

Although quite recently, some private schools in Lagos have incorporated the language in the school curriculum, it is still perceived as a rather difficult language.

Defying the language barrier, the National President, NUJ, Abdulwaheed Odusile led the delegation to three destinations in Lagos for sightseeing and cultural understanding. Also in attendance was the Chairman, NUJ Lagos, Deji Elumoye. Muri Okunola and Freedom Park were visited before the team finally left for the state-capital based Ndubuisi Kanu Park.

Meanwhile, the Freedom Park holds a very important historical and cultural deposit of knowledge that the Nigerian journalists share with their Chinese counterparts. The interpreter had the burden of communicating correctly and quickly the meanings of the conversations that were directed at them. It was quite frustrating as one interpreter didn’t seem enough to perform that daunting task.

The four journalists from China were the Director of International Department of All-China-Journalists’ Association, Rong Changhen; the Deputy Editor-in-Chief, China News Service, Zhang Ming Xin; the Vice President, Shaanxi Daily Media Group, Fan Yanbin and the Deputy Chief Editor, Beijing Daily Group, Wu Yi Lin. The Chinese journalists’ faces bore different shades of emotions when they were told the story behind the Freedom Park. A former colonial prison which had a high mortality rate for prisoners, the park-in its modern architectural form still retains some vignettes of this sad history.

One of the security men at Entrance A offered a bit of the prison yard stories when he voluntarily accompanied the team to the museum where some artifacts had been preserved for cultural reference.

The walls of the museum were lined with the portraits of former fighters for Nigeria’s Independence from the colonial British government led by the Queen of England.

The pictures of Late Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Herbert Macaulay provided fresh topic for conversation with the Chinese journalists who were soaking in the details of the preindependence experience.

“Awolowo was a journalist and even Herbert Macaulay was a journalist,’’ Odusile added in the midst of the surrounding Chinese murmurs. For those of us who were curious, the interpreter was only doing a one-way interpretation since most of the experiences that amused the Chinese were lost on us.

The passage between the former prison cells were paved with interlocking blocks that led to the food court, an open-air space for drinks and small chops. The visiting journalists glanced up and down the trees which are labelled. The only building that they couldn’t access was the Kongi’s building since there was no event taking place at the hour.

When this reporter found a colleague from NAN speaking with the Chinese journalists, it became tempting to ask them their names in English. Good enough, they responded by writing down the names on the writing pad or by giving out their personal business cards.

Apparently, they understood some basic English expressions but would rather communicate more effectively in the mother tongue- a big lesson for us in self preservation.

YAW’S APERE HOLDS AT EKO HOTELS The 9th edition of the “Yaw Live on Stage” series tagged Apere holds today at Eko Hotels Convention Centre. Over the years, Yaw has transformed from being just a funny OAP and TV actor into a professional comedian and stage play actor. From the first edition of “Yaw Live on Stage” series, there has been a noticeable difference in his flair. His antics and delivery have become funnier and more relatable and you wouldn’t want to miss out on what he has planned out this year.

The AperePERE buzz has gone beyond the shores of Nigeria and Sound Sultan’s feature in the stage play has raised some eyebrows but reports have revealed otherwise. It is being said that musician and actor Sound Sultan will bring exceptional to the Apere experience.

Rumour has it that after Apere, he might delve into fulltime acting.

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IMAGES

I

t was indeed a celebration of life for the Late Madam Deborah Adunola Awokoya at Goodnews Baptist Church, Surulere, Lagos, where funeral service was held for her. Reception follows at the Classic Event Centre. Here are some of the personalities, who graced the occasion.

Photographs by Etop Ukutt L-R: Mr. Kola Awokoya and Mr. Dele Awokoya

R-L: Dr. Fola Awokoya, Dr. (Mrs) Folaweni Awokoya and Mrs. Oritsejafor

L-R: Prof. Osato Giwa-Osagie and Dr. (Mrs) Angella Giwa-Osagie

L-R: Mr. Oluwole Komolafe, Mrs. Rhoda Komolafe and Mrs. Yetunde Fawehinmi

Mr. and Mrs. Segun Koshefobamu

L-R: Mrs. Kemi Olufon and Mrs. Clara Olowude

L-R: Dr. and Mrs. Fola Awokoya and a guest

Mr. Dele Awokoya and his wife, Iyabo

L-R: Gbolahan Olufon and Olutola Mobolerin

ARTS & REVIEW A

PUBLICATION

A DELICIOUS DINNER WITHOUT THE MAIN COURSE (I)...

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28.05.2017

AND IT WAS THEIR WAY...

Teuta Nicholet and Joseph Oparamanuike doing a duet

EDITOR OKECHUKWU UWAEZUOKE/ okechukwu.uwaezuoke@thisdaylive.com

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MAY ͰͶ˜ Ͱͮͯ͵ ˾ THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

ARTS & REVIEW\\CONCERT

AND IT WAS THEIR W

Classical music aficionados defied all odds to attend the second edition of Steinway Piano Concert Series, which wa singer and A-listers of the local classical music scene, reports Okechukwu Uwaezuoke

A

ny lingering uncertainty about a successful concert ought to have been dispelled by now. For at about 6:20 pm, the Steinway’s Victoria Islandbased showroom can almost boast of having a full house.

Yet, the pre-concert anxieties seem justified. After all, it is a well-known fact that rain-drenched days and events like this do not normally consort so well together.

And this fact, a traffic-prone city like Lagos corroborates so well.

So it happens that Steinway Piano Concert Series stomps into its second edition on a sure-footed note. Could there have been a better entrée than Francesco Paolo Tosti’s “La Serenata”? Or, perhaps, a better time to flaunt the tenor Joseph Oparamanuike’s vocal talents? That Oparamanuike is at home with this Italian, later British, composer’s work is obvious. Likewise, he leaves no one in doubt about his expertise when he subsequently takes “Vainement, Ma Bienaimée” from Édouard-Victoire-Antoine Lalo’s notable composition for the stage, Le Roi d’Ys. For both performances, he is accompanied on the piano by one of the concert’s headliners, Nigeria’s most talented pianists, Tunde Sosan.

A brief reminder about Oparamanuike: his renown as one of Nigeria’s most talented tenors easily endears him to concert habitués.

Not any time soon would his formal training as a chemical engineer stand in the way of his lustrous musical career. Recall that this is a career he owes so much to. And that includes, among other things, seeing him perform before Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh during the 2014 Commonwealth Games as well as in several concerts, since 2012, in Germany, France, Italy, Austria, England, Scotland, China and Brazil.

As for Sosan, he is the MUSON Centre’s resident pianist. As the story goes, he owes so much about his musical career to the influences of his grandmother Arinola Sosan and his church organist and master of music at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Lagos, Mrs Tolu Obajimi. A graduate of physiotherapy at the Lagos University Teaching College of Medicine, he also holds a bachelor’s degree in music with a specialty in Piano and Organ performance of Trinity College of Music, Greenwich, England. He had in addition honed his skills under the tutelage of Raymond Banning, an ex professor of piano at the institution.

Back to the concert. A solemn note creeps into it with “Preghiera” (Prayer) in the Style of Padre Martini by Fritz Kreisler. Because it is a composition for violin and piano, this is a tailor-made opportunity for a re-enactment of the on-stage chemistry between the violinist Uche Nwamara and his elder brother Chijioke on the piano.

Of course, years of joint performances – which sometimes included their father, David Nwamara on the flute –had a lot to do with this chemistry. That both young talents took music lessons from Our Saviour’s Anglican Church’s music director/organist Theophilus Orkang might also explain a lot.

Yet, one must not discountenance their early inclination to music, which was nurtured by their father, who even as an engineer founded Orpheus Company Limited, the one-stop venue for musical instruments.

Besides, both brothers’ precocious predilection for music hints at pre-incarnation experiences.

As for Uche, not even the piano lessons taken at the age of six under Mrs Anna Ogunnaike could stop his switching over to the violin a year later. Thus, under the watchful eyes of Theophilus Orkang and

Foluso Nwamara sings a solo

Uche Nwamara performing Vania Sigridova, his budding musical skills blossomed. Chijioke, meanwhile, remained steadfast with piano and has since grown from strength to strength in the music world.

Tertiary education in the US might have

seen the Nwamara duo temporarily part ways with Chijioke studying to become an economist and Uche later enrolling for a law degree from Harvard. Nonetheless, their taproots remained anchored in music.

This would explain Uche’s further tutelage under Zina Gendel at the Washington Conservatory, Washington, DC and the late Janet Packer at the Longy School of Music, Boston, Massachusetts as well as under Susie

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž 28, 2017

ʜ ˺˺

WAY...

Ă&#x2039;Ă? Ă&#x2019;Ă?Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x152;ĂŁ Ă&#x2039; ĂĄĂ&#x201C;Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x161;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2122; Meszaros of the Chillingrian String Quartet in London. Add to these his performance opportunities with groups like the Mount Vernon Symphony Orchestra and the Harvard Mozart Society Orchestra.

Besides his many performances back in Nigeria, he also doubles a classical music critic for THISDAY newspaper.

Back on the stage, the highly decorous audience watches Chijiokeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s recital of Franz Schubertâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s familiar â&#x20AC;&#x153;Impromptu Op. 142 No. 2â&#x20AC;?. Schubertâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Impromptusâ&#x20AC;?, by the way, consist of eight pieces for solo piano.

Composed in 1827, they were published in two sets of four. While the first two pieces in the first set were published in his lifetime as Op. 90, the second set was published posthumously as Op. 142 in 1839 with a dedication added by the publisher to the prolific 19th-century Hungarian composer and virtuosic pianist Franz Liszt.

It is soon the turn of the promising soprano Foluso Nwamara, who â&#x20AC;&#x201C; accompanied on the piano by Tunde Sosan â&#x20AC;&#x201C; is set to burnish her concert credentials with her solo rendition of George Frederic Handelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Rejoice Greatly, Oh Daughter of Zion!â&#x20AC;? (from his Messiah).

The audience gets a full taste of Tunde Sosanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s musical skills, when he lunges into a solo recital of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Wedding Day at Troldhaugenâ&#x20AC;? (from Lyric Pieces Op. 65) by Edvard Hagerup Grieg, a Norwegian leading Romantic era composer and pianist.

The wedding mood lingers into the next performance as the concertâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s main headliner, the Swiss-born soprano Teuta Nicolet, sings â&#x20AC;&#x153;Deh, Vieni Non Tardaâ&#x20AC;? from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozartâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Le Nozze di Figaro. This, she follows up with â&#x20AC;&#x153;Quando Meâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;n Voâ&#x20AC;? from Giacomo Pucciniâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s opera in four acts, La Bohème.

Uche Nwamaraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s return for a haunting recital of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mitternachtsglockenâ&#x20AC;? (Midnight Bells), Arr. for Violin and Piano from the Austrian composer of operas and operattas Richard Heubergerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Der Opernball returns the audience briefly to enchanting world of the Romantic era with the accompaniment of Chijioke on the piano.

Joseph Oparamanuike follows up with â&#x20AC;&#x153;Si, Ritrovarlaâ&#x20AC;? from Gioachino Rossiniâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s operatic drama (dramma giocoso, literally: drama with jokes) La Cenerentola, which he prefaces with brief explanatory remarks.

He is accompanied on the piano by Tunde Sosan, who stays back for a solo recital of Aldo LĂłpez GavilĂĄnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Pan con Timbaâ&#x20AC;?.

GavilĂĄn is known for fusing the academic elements with the most popular rhythms without losing his essence: being Cuban.

Next follows Joseph Oparmauinkeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s anticipated duet with Teuta Nicolet.

From â&#x20AC;&#x153;Lippen Schweigenâ&#x20AC;? taken from an operetta by the Austro-Hungarian composer Franz LehĂĄrâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Die Lustige Witwe (The Merry Widow), they move on to â&#x20AC;&#x153;Solla Tombaâ&#x20AC;? from La sonnambula, an opera semiseria in two acts, with music in the bel canto tradition by Vincenzo Bellini set to an Italian libretto by Felice Romani and first performed on March 6, 1831.

The concert, figuratively speaking, turns full cycle with Joseph Oparamauike concluding the evening performance with â&#x20AC;&#x153;My Wayâ&#x20AC;?,a song popularised by Frank Sinatra, but whose lyrics were written by Paul Anka and set to music based on the French song â&#x20AC;&#x153;Comme dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;habitudeâ&#x20AC;? composed in 1967

by Claude François and Jacques Revaux, with lyrics by Claude François and Gilles Thibault.By the way, Ankaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s English lyrics are unrelated to the original French song, even when â&#x20AC;&#x153;My Wayâ&#x20AC;? is often quoted as the most covered song in history.

-This concert held on Saturday, May 30

The Inverted Pyramid; Adapted from a novel by Emeka Dike

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MAY 28, 2017 ˾THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

ARTS & REVIEW\\MEMOIR

A DELICIOUS DINNER WITHOUT THE MAIN COURSE (I) Daniel Uwaezuoke, 92, –in this series – pens down his experiences during the 20 years he worked in the then CID headquarters in Lagos, a turning-point period before he got to the zenith of his career in the Nigeria Police, as the Central Criminal Registrar…

The revelation only providence could make

E

ven a most lustrous career as a fingerprint expert and central criminal registrar had its own modest beginnings. Hence, it would not be out of place to relive those early years when I first knew what “fingerprint” was all about.

July 1945 had progressed into its second week. All new recruits had already gathered at what used to be called the Southern Training School (S. T. S.) in Enugu for a six-month course. Curiously, their fingerprints were taken and sent to the C.I.D. Headquarters in Lagos for clearance. This, our instructors informed us, would ascertain if we had been of good character. Of course, this information also came with the warning that those who were not cleared would not be allowed to continue the training.

How could a person’s character be known through his fingerprints? I wondered. I recall looking closely at my palms and fingers. May be, I thought, I could make some sense out of what they had to say about me or my future. Well, I could not at the moment. So, the matter had to be rested.

This scene blurs into sometime in January 1946. I had passed out from the S. T. S. and was posted to the Warri/Benin Police Province. It was from Warri that I was transferred to Forcados outstation, where every police personnel functioned as an investigator.

One remarkable day found me taking down the statement of a complainant.

Soon after I finished recording his statement, he had validated it with his right thumbprint. Afterwards, curiosity spurred me on to examine his thumb impression. A surge of excitement coursed through me, as I pored over the lines.

The whorls made by the lines – which I later came to know as “ridges” – were so distinct that I found myself wondering what they actually meant and also what our Creator intended them to be used for.

A few weeks later, the then Senior District Officer Mr Martin Davis was taking over the duties of the recentlytransferred Mr J. G. Kerry. The former had found himself too busy that he could not

Carter bridge street scene Lagos Island 1950s. Published by Federal ministry of Information attend to an invitation from Warri. This invitation requested interested constables to apply for a few weeks’ course at the C.I.D. headquarters, Lagos. There, the constables were expected to work in the Investigation Branch, which included how to take good fingerprints. But by the time my application managed to get to Warri, the deadline had passed.

May be Mr T. P. Philips, the superintendent in charge of Warri/Benin Province still remembered how useful he had found my “suggestions” when he wanted to introduce some changes. He therefore recommended that I be transferred to the C.I.D. This was accepted and almost soon after I got a telegram from Warri instructing our O/C to send me on transfer to the C.I.D. Headquarters in

AWARDS PRESENTATION

Director of Peter King College of Music, Badagry, Lagos, Peter King (on wheelchair), formally presents a scholarship award to Master Hunpe Maruton Abraham

Lagos.

August 22, 1947 found me in Lagos. I had arrived on board a creek mail boat, which had started its journey from Warri four days earlier on August 18.

The C.I.D. warmly received me with wide-open arms. I might as well have been one of them returning from a leave of absence.

But it was down to business on my Day Two at the C.I.D. headquarters, Lagos.

I was marched off straight to Assistant Superintendent of Police (Administrator) Biles. A. S. P. Biles informed me that I had three months to learn how to classify a set of fingerprints in order to qualify to be retained in the C.I.D. Otherwise, I would be sent back to my original province.

I didn’t need three months to show my special interest in fingerprints. It took me exactly 17 days to classify 34 sets of convicted prisoners’ fingerprints. This I was able to do so well that Inspector Akinyemi, who was the O/C Fingerprints Section, could hardly believe that I had never done fingerprinting before coming to the C.I.D. Ditto the entire personnel of the section.

Inspector Akinyemi’s face was wreathed in smiles as though he had won the first prize in a competition. Biles had to hear about this! He promptly marched me once more to Mr Biles to update him on what happened at the Fingerprints Section.

Beside himself with excitement, Biles told me there and then that I had been promoted to second class. This was because there was no establishment for a third class constable, which I hitherto was.

From then onwards to a period of three months, I was assigned the duty of recording LAST CONVICTIONS OF HABITUAL CRIMINALS in their files.

Inspector Akinyemi before long noticed that I was as efficient as his searchers.

This led to his promptly drafting me into searching. That means that I could now be relied upon to say whether or not a person had had a criminal record or not.

Shortly, I joined the Scenes of Crime teams whenever they were called to any scene. This was to initiate me into the skill of searching for fingerprints on smooth

non-absorbent objects, which criminals must have touched in a scene of crime.

This was no problem for me at all.

Fast-forward to early 1948. A Police Adviser (so, he was called) was on a visit to Nigeria from the Colonial Office, London. The C. I. D. Headquarters at Hunter Street, Lagos was one of the places in his itinerary. His entourage included the Commissioner of Police in Total Command of the Nigerian Police (now, he would be known as Inspector General) Mr T. V. Finlay.

A retinue of several senior expatriate police officers were also in the entourage. Among them were the Adviser’s personal assistant Mr S.P. George and all the superior police officers serving at the C.I.D. They were joined by the local pressmen.

As soon as the Adviser entered the Fingerprint Section, he asked Inspector Akinyemi to show him the most junior and, therefore, the least experienced searcher in his team. Inspector Akinyemi, without hesitation, pointed at me.

The Adviser nodded and moved over to one Lance Corporal Odukwe’s table. Here, he picked up one of the sets of fingerprints assigned to the latter to search. These, he brought over to me and asked me to classify and search.

I suddenly became the cynosure of all eyes. In less than three minutes, I was able to classify the set of fingerprints, searched and identify it to belong to a habitual with seven previous convictions. I was rewarded with a rapturous applause by everyone present.

After this incident, I became the talk of Hunter Street, where the C. I. D. Headquarters used to be. In addition, I also became a much-respected searcher, who was trusted enough to visit scenes of crime alone. Senior searchers were by this time seeking my opinion whenever they were in doubt about a ridge count or ridge-tracing of any fingerprint.

Everything was going swimmingly fine and I had nothing to worry about.

But this was not until Satan created one.

-Sir Daniel lives in Enugu

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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 28, 2017

CICERO

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

IN THE ARENA

It’s Half Way into Four-year Mandates After two years in power, several of the leaders who assumed office in May 2015 are still mumbling their mid-term scorecards, writes Olawale Olaleye

T

he performance rating of the Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government is not a debate anyone can win yet, either for or against and despite the swirling misgivings. Those on either side are still strongly willed about where they stand, regardless of the current state of the economy.

The fanatical fans of the president are quite resolute in their support for him. Apart from the latter day fans, Buhari’s relationship with his supporters dates back to many years, which gave rise to the famous ‘cult followership’ he today boasts. They have chosen to see only the good side of their ‘idol’ and by extension, the government he leads. Their fanatical stand is never changing. He remains popular with them.

Quite interestingly too, the anti-Buhari family owes their root of disavowal to many years of having come to know the man who is now behind the wheels. And curiously, they predicted many of the things that are going wrong in the country today, because such things appear to be the known signature of Buhari’s leadership style.

For some of them, therefore, it is not a question of sheer hate; they just do not believe Buhari has the gravitas to rule a country like Nigeria with its complex ethno-centric nature and numerous crises. Some others in this category do not fancy him just because of his alleged inclination towards a particular ethnic group.

But while these two classes of people continue with their hard line posture on the man, who embodies the leadership of the country today, an assessment of the two years of the Buhari administration is not much of a difficult one, especially if taken up on account of its promises to the Nigerian people, hinged on a tripod of security, economy and corruption.

Short of discountenancing the efforts of the administration in fixing the economy, the last two years has seen the economy flip-flop over lack of clear vision on how to steer this critical aspect of the system. With the nation’s currency on a free fall for so long, coupled with its widespread impact on other critical areas including staple foods, the last two years have hardly provided worthy tales about this administration.

But gradually, things are beginning to normalise in the last few weeks, especially since the take off of the economic recovery plan overseen by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, shortly before Buhari returned from his last medical vacation in March. The foreign exchange market too had stabilised in the last few weeks, albeit at a cut-throat rate.

Expectedly, the upswing in some of the critical ministries like power, works and housing, transportation, agriculture, Mines and Steel development, education, communications and science and technology, amongst others, will further impact on the economy and cushion the effect of the hardship in

the last two years.

Security is perhaps one area the government is believed to have done relatively well, although not without its downsides too. The most crucial security challenge the government knew it would confront even before assuming office was the war on terror as driven by Boko Haram. But soon after coming onboard, other related crimes like kidnapping, armed robbery and vandalism in the Niger Delta increased at an impossible pace. These negatively impacted the economy too.

But after gaining some sort of stability, government seems to be taking full control of the security of the country. The threat posed by Boko Haram has reduced as the terror group has been degraded and territories hitherto occupied by it reclaimed by Nigerian armed forces. The recent release of 82 Chibok girls, albeit through swap deals, is a pointer to the effort of the government in the area of security.

Other affiliate crimes too are daily being contained to ease life for the ordinary people.

But the fight against corruption is neither here nor there. That this all-important thrust of the administration has suffered political denotation makes it nearly impossible to see the efforts in that area.

With a style that typifies media trial, compounded by avoidable propaganda and stymied by wanton

credibility crisis, the anti-graft war, unlike the two others, may have been rated low, notwithstanding the many billions that are daily being announced as recovered loots.

With all these going on amid alleged nepotism and favouritism by the leadership in terms of political appointments, the state of the states too is a cause for concern as some of the state governments have not really helped in upping the game. While a majority of them inherited a backlog of salaries and pensions, efforts by the federal government to intervene through bailouts and other financial supports have been dogged by the controversy of diversion and abuse. That is not to say, however, that a few state governments have not distinguished themselves through the handling of the funds transparently and prudently. But many of the governors have actually failed the people. This, perhaps, is also a reflection of the level of developments in their various states as only a few of them, regardless of party affiliation, have brought about change to their people or exhibited capacity to govern.

Unfortunately, by next year, the nation would have moved away from talking about governance to discussing politics as another round of election would be knocking hard on the doors in the corridors of power.

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

Respite for Sanusi

T

Sanusi

he reported suspension of the probe of the Emir of Kano, Mallam Muhammad Sanusi II, by the Kano State House of Assembly following the intervention of some prominent Nigerians was not only timely, but well-reasoned. Those said to have intervened included the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo; former military rulers, Generals Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar; the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar

III, and the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, among others.

This, reports added, was on account of their pressure on Governor Abdullahi Ganduje to ask the state assembly to halt the probe in the interest of peace in the state.

Ganduje was believed to have instigated the probe in the first place. And promptly too, the assembly dropped the probe at his bidding. This also came on the heels of the plea by a coalition of civil society groups in the state, which had joined in calling on the legislators to stop the exercise.

Put succinctly, these interventions and the eventual suspension of the probe have not in any way absolved the emir of any wrongdoing, if at all there was any. The fact that the probe itself was largely believed to have been informed by politics other than the genuine intention of state institutions to discharge their responsibilities put so much at stake.. To have rubbished the emirate on such grounds would have been irreparable.

But, that said, the development is instructive for Emir Sanusi. It’s time to stop swimming in the murky water of politics.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ MAY 28, 2017

66

BRIEFINGNOTES Fayose’s New Narrative on Governor’sTenure Reported plans by Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State to test the nation’s constitutional democracy by seeking tenure extension through judicial interpretation of the invalidation of his removal from office in 2006 is a good national discourse and should be encouraged. Olawale Olaleye writes

A

lthough almost always in the news for different reasons, the Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has recently come up with a good topic for national discourse. He wants to test the strength of the courts and on that premise, seeking an extension of his current tenure beyond 2018.

This, he reckoned, would enable him to make up for his term that was abruptly terminated in 2006 through impeachment. The Supreme Court had quashed his impeachment. And now, as governor, who is due to leave office next year, Fayose wants an extension that would cover up for the lost grounds in 2006.

To a layman, this is as ridiculous as it sounds. But the technicalities of the law cannot encourage such a blanket dismissal of his intention. What if the court thinks he has a good case? What even if in the course of the proceeding, the court begins to see the case differently? That, however, would be the first leg to this potentially long haul and it is the legal aspect. There is yet the political slant to it. Those who have closely followed Fayose’s politics since he won his election in 2014 can tell that he had since stepped on sensitive toes and carelessly so. He had taken on President Muhammadu Buhari head-on on many occasions and has continuously battled his predecessor in office, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, and by extension, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

The reason Fayose is believed to be taking this nearly impossible route as part of his exit strategy is because too many road blocks are believed to have been mounted on his way, such that immediately after leaving office, he would battle seemingly endless litigations of various categories including but not limited to corruption charges.

Fayose, while speaking on the state television in Ado-Ekiti on the matter, reiterated that his decision to seek tenure extension would be to complete his first term that was truncated through an illegal impeachment. He contended that since the apex court said his impeachment in 2006 was illegal, he would then have to approach the same court to interpret what that ruling means and also consider seeking a re-election in 2018.

“The ‘continuity’ poster you see my image in and which is spreading across the state can be interpreted in two ways. First is the need for me to ask the apex court to explain its 2014 ruling that my so-called impeachment in 2014 was illegal, null and void and consider a re-election in 2018, so that I can complete my term. Second is for me to get our own, one who is like Ayo Fayose to continue after my tenure in 2018.”

Words are also going on in high places that as part of plans to tame the governor’s perceived excesses, Fayose has not been able to travel outside the country for many months. This development, it is believed, followed his last China trip, where he had written the Chinese government to disregard the request of the president and by extension, Nigeria. His action was said to have largely embarrassed the president, while Fayose has allegedly been flagged from travelling outside the country.

It is believed therefore that just as it happened in 2006, Fayose might have to leave town at the expiration of his tenure through unconventional means as his inability to travel might have propelled the need to seek other options, including the tenure extension litigation.

Away from the latent politics that supports this idea, it could also offer to strengthen the nation’s constitution by identifying some sections that might require amendments as well as open the eyes of the crafters of the constitution to some more relevant issues that should be accommodated during subsequent amendments.

Needless to admit that certain political developments in the country had actually helped to correct the system in their own ways, either by pointing out some of the lacuna in the constitution or beaming searchlight on some of the defects in the nation’s justice system. Perhaps, it is in the light of this that the Fayose debate can find a place in national discourse.

A few of the recent past developments also suffice.

Between 2005 and 2006, the Lagos State government under the governorship of Senator Bola Tinubu

Fayose...testing the waters was in a long drawn legal battle with the Olusegun Obasanjo-led federal government over the creation of additional local council development areas in the state. This development would later lead to Obasanjoled federal government withholding the statutory allocations due to the councils in the state for about 14 months.

The present governor of the state, Akinwunmi Ambode, was the state’s accountant-general then and was said to have drawn up the survival strategy at the time, while former governor Babatunde Fashola, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), was the Chief of Staff and one of the intellectual bulwarks of the state.

The matter was pursued up to the Supreme Court for clearer understanding of the roles, responsibilities and powers of the three tiers of government and at the end of the day the state government was vindicated on matters of local government. The late President Umar Musa Yar’Adua later paid back the seized allocation to the state. Importantly, a statement was made with that development and questions about who controls what, was automatically resolved.

The emergence of former governor of Rivers State, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, in October of 2007 was another case study in the political and democratic evolution of the country. Although Amaechi did not stand for the 2007 governorship election, he had won the nomination of his party at an election declared valid even by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which witnessed it.

His fight for justice later paid off, when the court recognised him as the rightful owner of the victory.

Whilst many still disagree with the Supreme Court ruling on the matter, it had since opened the eyes of the political class to the cost of cutting corners and

disregarding the rule of law. Today, no political party, having understood the technicality of that ruling, would repeat the mistake of the then PDP when deciding their candidates for political offices.

The one that was even the more instructive was the invocation of the “Doctrine of Necessity” by the David Mark-led National Assembly during Yar’Adua’s absence from Nigeria due to ill-health. Not only did he fail to properly hand over to his then deputy and former President Goodluck Jonathan, his incapacitation allowed room for all sorts of political maneuverings that literally threatened the co-existence of the different nationalities in the country.

Today, the present leadership of the country, whose case shares closely with the late Yar’Adua has obviously learnt from that era and is doing everything not to have a repeat of that experience. The two times that President Muhammadu Buhari has traveled abroad on medical grounds, he handed over to his deputy, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, as demanded by Section 145 of the constitution, although his last trip was not without avoidable controversies.

Just maybe this Fayose’s move could yield some interesting debates too (not necessary conceding to his plot) and if it did, the nation will be stronger for it, while the political class would have learnt greatly from it. This is because at a time, staging kangaroo impeachment had almost become a norm in this country. Once a governor falls out of favour with the man at the centre, impeachment proceedings are set in motion against the erring governor, and most times they got away with it.

Whether or not Fayose has a good case, the court will resolve that. And whichever way it turns out, it will benefit the nation’s constitutional democracy.

67

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ MAY 28, 2017

CICERO/REPORT

Day Aregbesola Accounted for His Stewardship Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, recently gave account of his stewardship so far, but not without some hints about his political future, writes Shola Oyeyipo

I

t was an interesting blend of important political discussion that boiled down to giving account of stewardship and a well-packaged entertainment penultimate Friday, which dragged till the early hours of Saturday, when the Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola held his usual ‘Aregbesola Till Day Break’. The musical interlude had ignited a typical party mood and the governor and other notable personalities at the event danced willfully to various music genre.

The event itself was a no-holds-barred question and answer session, which provided participants with the opportunity to ask burning questions on issues relating to all aspects of governance under the Aregbesola regime.

There was also the phone-in segment, where those watching the live televised event at home could call in to ask the governor to shed light on any issue of concern.

But just as in when a student passes an examination, Governor Aregbesola, claded in ash colour agbada attire, would take to the stage and dance happily while the crowd joined him in the numerous dance episodes that characterised the seven hours event held at WOCDIF Event Centre, Ring Road, Osogbo, the Osun State capital.

However, despite the fanfare that lighted the mood and prevented the audience from sleeping during the all-night long programme, the real intention of the initiators of the interactive gathering was not lost. Some very important issues were raised. Many questions were asked. Aregbesola too did not prolong his answers. He gave short answer to every question and they were apt and instructive.

For instance, on what the governor considered as his biggest challenge throughout his tenure as the chief executive in Osun State, he simply said it was money. That he never had enough to accomplish all he had wished to do.

“The biggest challenge that the government has ever faced over the years has been money. States cannot print money. Though a federating unit, it has no capacity for solving currency paucity. The capacity to internally generate revenue was at most N300m; we have jacked it up to about N700m but it is not enough”, he said”, adding that with the dwindling oil revenue and it consequences for the state, “The paradigm on which the administration projected its developmental agenda changed.”

Another sensitive question that was asked and one which members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been pushing for was whether or not he had been inflating the cost of the many roads embarked upon by his administration.

Aregbesola’s reaction to that was: “We are not inflating costs of projects in Osun as speculated by some people. We are prudent in the way we finance the roads we constructed. We constructed our roads at reasonable costs. We cannot specifically give the cost at which we constructed roads per kilometer because certain portions of the roads required special treatment. The structures of our roads are very superb and we cannot give the cost per kilometer.

“Check the cost of road construction in other states and compare it with the cost at which we are constructing roads in Osun. The roads we are constructing in Osun are the best and we built them at reasonable costs. Those that are accusing me of inflating contracts are not fair to me. As a governor of this state in the last six years, I don’t have a house in my hometown and I don’t spend money on women and other frivolities. I don’t eat too much and that is why I’m lean. As you can see, I’m not sick and yet I’m very lean. How many governors are lean like me? That tells you that I’m not stealing money.”

The administration has been commended severally for

Aregbesola...proud of achievements

the good quality of roads constructed. Prominent among such was by the paramount ruler of the state capital, the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun Larooye, who once described the various interventions of the governor as unprecedented in the history of Osogbo land and Osun in general. ”This administration has done what we never expected or dreamt of in Osogbo land. Osogbo is now gradually becoming one of the most beautiful cities in Nigeria because of the efforts of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. We shall continue to show our loyalty to this administration in all ways we can because our town is now the cynosure of all eyes for good things.

“The roads and schools that are being constructed are of high quality and standard that we are so sure will stand the test of time. He has also done so much in the health sector. Osun is also very safe and secure as at today,” the royal father was quoted to have said during a visit to the governor with his chiefs.

One other question the governor, who was Commissioner for Works in Lagos, answered cleverly but which still generated the feeling that the insinuations about his political future was correct was about his purported interest in contesting the Lagos West senatorial seat at the expiration of his tenure in Osun.

Though he didn’t give an affirmative response, he said: “When I told my relation that I was coming to wrest power from the incumbent (former governor Olagunsoye

Oyinlola) then my family warned that I should not embark on a suicidal mission. My relation could not even believe that it was possible. I was so determined to look at the incumbent. The incumbent said I was an irritant. From irritant I became a governor.

“I am as large in Osun as I am large in Lagos. Not many politicians can say they are large in one place and another.

So, if I have to contest, I don’t need to tell anybody. I can contest anywhere. It is not by my power, it is God in His infinite mercy, and the people of the two states. I pray that God will prolong my life to prove to the world that politics is a good calling. We are fanning sectarianism, pauperisation. If we are sincere about having regional integration, why are we critical where a Yoruba man comes from? So, Rauf can appear from anywhere when the time comes.”

He however added: But let me tell you, there is no such decision yet. When I finish on November 27, there will still be six clear months before any election; there will still be enough time to decide on what to do.”

The truth, however, is that the people are not convinced that the option was not already on the card. It was for same reason that many thought he was only being political and frugal with the truth and as such, they would not be surprised if he eventually becomes the APC candidate for Lagos West in the coming election.

When a journalist contended that the ‘Osunwon Omoluabi’ (a gauge for good virtues) which constitutes one of the cardinal programmes of his administration had failed. The governor disagreed. He argued instead that it is an ongoing concept that must be imbibed by all and sundry.

Arguing that the concept of Omoluabi is an attitude of modesty entrenched into every facets of societal life, particularly the aspect of commerce and social interaction, Aregbesola said, “It is an attitudinal thing and it has not failed. All of us must combine to make it work.

“You said by your own standard the ‘Osunwon Omoluabi’ has failed. No! It has not failed. We said we are bringing the omoluabi ethos into our commercial activities. It is either you want to accept how we trade without honesty – without accuracy in what we buy or sell.

It is unacceptable. In your judgment, it has failed; in my judgment, it is an ongoing process. We are the state of the virtuous. We believe whatever cannot be measured cannot be managed and that civilisation is about you ensuring that you meet up with global standard,” Aregbesola maintained.

On the struggle for his successor, which some say is already tearing the party apart, Aregbesola said, “Our party is as solid, strong and effective as any party could be.

There is no aspect of party organisation, administration and management that has suffered here in Osun APC. We are united, connected and we are working. If a party working over six years is as cohesive and the only opposition party is as scattered, dismembered and uncoordinated, where is your fear?”

When the APC chairman in the state, Mr. Gboyega Famodun, was called to the podium to speak on the coming 2018 election in the state, he corroborated the governor’s stance, saying the party has not chosen anyone as its candidate, adding that “There is no governorship aspirant in the party as far as I know. The insubordination of a few members of the party does not mean that the party is being threatened ahead of 2018 governorship election. We have a very strong structure in the state.”

Though the people had a fun-filled weekend with their governor, coupled with other issues that were discussed at the event, it will surely resonate in the minds of most of the participants for a very long time.

NOTES FOR FILE

The Coup Joke!

Buratai

When the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, recently issued a stern warning to all officers and soldiers in the Nigerian Army to steer clear of politics, because some politicians had been making frantic efforts to infiltrate them for various political “actions and gains”, those who knew the import of his statement didn’t gloss over it.

Yet, his warning was not unconnected with the growing uncertainty that has pervaded the horizon following President Muhammadu Buhari’s illness, which few weeks ago compelled his return to London, the United Kingdom for further medical treatment.

Buratai’s concern was equally believed to have informed the reshuffling of top military officers in the Nigerian Army recently. A statement by the Director of Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Sani Usman, said the army headquarters and the COAS had received information about such

“sinister plans”by certain politicians to derail the professional calling of some army officers.

Understandably, the country is going through a difficult period and in need of many things, including a hands-on leadership if it must sufficiently wrestle its challenges. It certainly does not need the military meddling in its affairs. A time was when such interventions could grudgingly pass. Not anymore! The world, today, has moved past such mundane, hopeless and typically corrupt interventions and Nigeria cannot be left behind on such accounts.

It is heartwarming, therefore, that some prominent Nigerians had quickly come forward and pushed back whatever threat such hobnobbing by soldiers with politicians posed. The Nigerian case is not hopeless and no such retrogressive intervention would be entertained.

The coup scare had better remained a hoax or at best, a joke!

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Redefining Governance in Edo Peter Ishaka, who visited Edo recently, writes about his experience

E

do State is intensely in a hurry to shape up. In the early hours of an evening recently, a taxi cab dropped off a passenger on the busy Ring Road, at the heart of Benin City, the state capital. Some three scruffy-looking young men appeared from nowhere and surrounded the cab, forced the driver out of the car and seized his car key. The plea of the apparently confused driver and other onlookers fell on deaf ears as they forced him into the back of the car and drove him to an unknown destination.

“Those guys you saw are just volunteers who are trying to help the government,” said Dennis Oloriegbe, the man charged with easing traffic in Edo, the state with perhaps the largest numbers of fairly-used cars on display after Lagos. “It is actually not their fault because we discovered there was so much aggression when this programme started on Ring Road. We can’t be everywhere because the manpower is not there now. But in another two weeks you will see brand new people with uniform who are going to talk to people. Such persons who will not even drag anyone: they will simply tell the offender: what you did is wrong; next time don’t do it. That’s the enlightenment process.”

In Benin, traffic could be a wild obstacle course, as chaotic as that of Lagos as many violate traffic rules with impunity. But the new leadership in the state has stated its unwillingness to tolerate the disorderliness of the old. It is imposing new rules which it intends to enforce religiously. In six months, two other areas, notorious for congestion - the Oba Market and King Square –had also been cleared of traffic. “Traffic management is about strategy,” said Oloriegbe, with 17 years experience earned in Lagos. “It is not a war but sometimes it could be aggressive, just like the way Oshodi in Lagos was taken over. You may see people with guns but the guns are not to be used, it’s just to frighten people.” With two hands up but apparently emphasising the growing cost consciousness of the new man at the helm, he said, “Traffic management is the basis of economic improvement of any society. Everybody wants to be in Lagos now because traffic management has been settled. That’s exactly what we want to do in Edo State. We want to manage the traffic so that the place will be free for the movement of the people, check security while people add money to their pockets.”

While on the campaign trail, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, the Governor of Edo State, made it clear that he would consolidate on the achievements of his predecessor, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, and make the state more productive and prosperous. Six months after assuming office, Obaseki seems committed to the goal. “For Edo people, six months already looked like six years,” said Osarodion Ogie, Secretary to the State Government. “I believe we have done so much and if we tell people we have been here for only six months they ask: how are you people doing it? People call this government wait and see. You wake up in the morning and you just see one government activity around you.”

Indeed, the government is addressing different issues in different ways. Take education for instance. The Oshiomhole administration has curtailed to an extent examination malpractice and moved the state up to the second and third position in NECO and WEAC examinations respectively. Obaseki is building on that legacy. In recognition of the impact technical and vocational education could make in holding down unemployment, the administration has decided to focus on the content of education. He has decided to restructure and upgrade the Benin Technical College and other such schools and make them functional institutions for the acquisition of skills. “We are revamping our technical colleges to produce certified and qualified artisans so that investors that come here will not need to go outside the country to hire people to work for them,” said Prof.

Julius Ihonvbere, a key figure inherited from the last administration.

“When we do that we will refocus basic education and see that there is a synergy so that the problem we have at the university level, at the level of polytechnics would be resolved by the quality of products that come from basic and technical vocational education.

In all the states of Nigeria, that is where the problem is. If you produce an ignorant student at the primary school, you will have an ignorant student in your class at the university and you will have an ignorant graduate who will rely on cultism, manipulation and bribery to graduate and you have an ignorant public servant and a dangerous person in anywhere the person is working. So we are turning the entire thing by looking at the foundation of education in Edo State.

Towards that end the government is establishing an industrial park to be attached to the Benin Technical College and “we have companies that are interested to come and establish their workshops and factories there so that these students can have practical experience and at the end they can be employees of those factories ,” said Ihonvbere. One of those who will likely earn a place in the new arrangement is Sandra Aguebor, Nigeria’s foremost female auto mechanic. Aguebor represents something rare and valuable.

Educated at one of the vocational colleges in the state, she has five motor mechanic workshops across the country and reportedly has empowered more than 1000 female mechanics who can match any of their male counterparts. She has since relocated from Lagos to Benin and has been given ample space close to Government House, where she trains and nurses many unhealthy vehicles, including government’s, to health. “I’m here to assist the government to achieve its objective in this regard,” she said.

Besides, the government is redesigning the entire education

Obaseki

infrastructure in the state to make it more effective. The State Universal Education Board (SUBEB) has been dissolved and all the staff posted out “because they focused more on contracts than on supervision of schools.” According to Ihonvbere, “everything that was wrong with education was there. We have been conducting interviews to replace the staff. We brought people from the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and we had an extensive discussion to know what was wrong with our basic education.

What we came to realise is that the mentality of the people working there did not meet our objective and the vision. We’ve also brought in new technology to track teachers and pupils.”

One of the innovative things done by the new administration when it came on stream was to set up a strategic planning unit to bring together critical stakeholders including technocrats, public servants, serving or retired ; opposition members, youths, NGOs, traditional rulers to what it called “strategic dialogue” to look at all sectors in the state and come up with clear implementable recommendations on how to do things differently. These touched on every spheres of the state economy. “It was the first time such dialogue session was held, billed to come up with principles with which the administration would be anchored,” said Ihonvbere. “Whether agribusiness, economy, infrastructural development, education, culture and tourism, all aspects were examined. I think the enthusiasm and the robustness of the conversations and the diverse suggestions and the willingness to draw examples from where we can talk of success stories - Lagos, Cross River, were very helpful. We had a session on environment and we brought Donald Duke as chairman of that session, to tell us what he did in Cross River that is keeping Calabar and other cities clean. We brought in Professor Oladapo Afolabi, former Head of Service of the Federation, to work on strategies and tactics of how to get things done; we had one on housing, brought in Ali Magashi of Aso Savings and Loans, and other critical range of people. We did one on health and the Minister for Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, was here. What we are doing in Edo now is that at any time before you change any sector, involve the practitioners, the professionals, the end users of that sector so that you can know what has gone wrong and those who made it go wrong will be there themselves and what should we do differently.

Now, in the next six months or one year, what you will see in Edo would be strategic development pointers that would move this state away from where it used to be. We are striving to be number one. We don’t have all the resources of Lagos or some of the major oil producing states, but we know it’s not necessarily money that promotes development. I think that strategic document that came out from the dialogue session informed the budget speech of the governor and so far it’s informing the implementation of government policy.”

One of the areas where the strategic document is being put to use is in diversifying the local economy. The government is

out with an ambitious programme for an accelerated agriculture development. It is seeking to make agriculture a business rather than just for self-sufficiency. Indeed, Obaseki’s promise of mopping many unemployed graduates out of the streets is largely hinged on agriculture. The government has cleared over 500 hectares of land for its agripeneur programme where interested persons are allocated portions of land in addition to seedlings. “We’ve picked up crops that will have comparative advantage,” said Joseph Eboigbe, coordinator of the state’s economic strategic scheme. “We have flagged off with maize and working on cashew. Agripreneur requires that people who have experience in managing businesses would come up to apply for certain chunk of land, minimum 50 hectares. From the database of Edo Jobs Initiative, we will pick those who are interested in agriculture. For every 50 hectares allocated to you, you get 10 youths assigned to you. We expect to have somewhere in the region of about 30,000 youths engaged across the state where we have identified farmlands. We have done land preparation, cleared the land, we had soil test to establish what variance of maize to be planted and the type of fertiliser that can be applied. We have engaged partners that will support the farm management process by way of bringing chemicals, pesticides, herbicides and above all, we’ve also established off-take arrangements. So the agripreneur that’s allocated 50 hectares would only need to meet the monthly stipends of the youths assigned to him or her. Four months gestation, the crop is harvested and sold and he gets his money back and the process continues for two years when the agripreneur and especially the youths would be in the position to go out and get their own land and the process continues.”

The state also intends to go into fisheries, piggery and vegetable farming, especially tomatoes. Besides, it is looking at increasing the land under cultivation for oil palm. Edo State hosts the two largest palm oil producing and processing organisations, Presco and Okomu. “We have committed budgetary amount from our capital expenditure to fund the initial activities that will significantly de-risk this processes so people now have access to land,” said Eboigbe.

To make the state more investor friendly, it has merged the public-private partnership (PPP) office, the economic team and the Ministry of Investment into an investment promotions bureau. “So when an investor comes to Edo, you don’t have to deal with the commissioners or the bureaucrats,” said Ihonvbere. “You go to the investment bureau with your proposal; there you have professionals and it’s a one- stop-shop. The Ministry of Land has a desk there, the Ministry of Environment has a desk there, the Edo Internal Revenue Service has a desk there, etc. You go there, discuss your business with the professionals in the relevant desk and in 24 hours you are before the governor to discuss how to implement whatever you came to Edo to do. Things that normally will take you six months will be done in less than a week, that’s the new Edo in the making.”

(See the concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com)

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Kongnyuy: Rescued Chibok Girls Fear Stigmatisation The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is one of the key organisations assisting the Federal Government in the rehabilitation and reintegration of the released Chibok girls. The Deputy Representative of the UNFPA, Dr. Eugene Kongnyuy, in this interview with Senator Iroegbu, reeled out programmes lined up to rehabilitate the recently released 82 Chibok girls in a nine-month programme designed in collaboration with the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development. He also made some insightful comments about the fears of the rescued girls. Excerpts:

H

ow will UNFPA help the girls reintegrate into society?

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 counselling. They have lost basically their childhood, missed three years of their adolescence 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 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.

Most of the girls have not been allowed to see their parents. To what extent has UNFPA been able to access the girls since they were released?

We have been able to see the 24 girls, and we had access when we requested 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 have frequent interactions with their parents, and with their spouses for those who were married before they were kidnapped.

In which area do you want the Nigerian government to step up services for the girls, considering, as you said, that the girls suffered serious trauma in captivity?

The government is providing all the support to all the girls. And of course, special attention is given to these girls, thanks to Senator Aisha, the Hon. Minister of Women Affairs, she has been marvelous in this regard. Her support has been really tremendous. In terms of medical care, they all went through some sort of medical assessment to identify the medical issues that they had. And, some of them had very serious medical challenges that required surgical operation. The government is taking care of that. I absolutely believe they have been receiving appropri-

claiming they would not come back, saying emphatically that they are satisfied staying with the terrorists. How do you see this scenario?

I haven’t heard that. That can be just speculation.

But, if the girls happen to be doing that way, refusing to come home, it means that they have been radicalised. And, it will mean taking the same approach we should take to someone who is radicalised by extremists.

These girls have spent three years in captivity, are you still hopeful that they can get to the peak of their academic career if they choose to go back to school?

I am very hopeful. Those who chose to go back to school, teachers have been recruited to fast-track their preparation for JAMB, to provide extra classes in bringing them up to speed with their education; to prepare them for the JAMB and get back to the university.

At what stage are they now on getting to write JAMB? With discussion with the Minister of Women Affairs, they are going to write JAMB this year.

Dr Kongnyuy ate medical attention.

You have been speaking on the initial 24 girls that were released, have you had access to the 82 that were released recently?

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.

Have you any fear over the girls’ reintegration into the society, given the trauma and other inhuman treatments they faced in the hands of their captors?

There are concerns about their reintegration because it raises stigma within their community.

When some of the girls who have children were asked the question whether they will go back to Chibok, they said even if they were going, they would not take their children along. Probably the reason is they feel that they will not be accepted if they go with children. So, they feel stigmatised.

UNFPA provides three-pronged approach.

Survival-based approach which we are doing, ensuring the survivors of this type of violence receive the necessary rehabilitation. But, we are also keen to ensure there is a human right-based approach to it, that the human rights principles are respected as this is happening. The last approach is community-based approach, which is ensuring the community accepts them for their easy integration, and that they can be reintegrated into the community.

This may take a bit longer, but the immediate

support is on-going. We need a long term strategy, how to work with traditional and religious leaders, together, with families and the entire community to accept them when they get back to their original towns and villages.

Abduction of these girls has been highly politicised. There are Nigerians who say it was a ploy to oust the government of former President Goodluck Jonathan by the present political party in power at the federal level. From what you’ve seen in the past few weeks in the girls, are you convinced they were truly abducted by terrorists?

I think when something happens like this, there is a lot of speculation. But, the truth is that these girls went through violence. Their rights have been violated. They are violated physically, emotionally, sexually. They have been traumatised; they lost part of their childhood, being under captivity, treated as slaves.

There are allegations of drug abuse and addiction in the terrorists’ camps. Did you notice any of the girls reacting to drugs?

For now, I haven’t heard any such information on any drug abuse among the girls. I haven’t heard that.

Is UNFPA comfortable with swapping of the girls with Boko Haram fighters?

The strength of UNFPA is on rehabilitation of survivors who have gone through this type of violence. I have mentioned the three-pronged approach which we use for the rehabilitation. We are not experts in how to get them released, but we are happy to have them released. We are truly happy, and we are hopeful that the remaining girls will be released soon.

Latest video showed the remaining girls

How do you see the shielding of the girls from the public by security officials, especially their relatives? Is it not infringing on their rights?

Certainly, UNFPA is following up, but that concern has been cleared by the Hon. Minister that the girls do have visitations from the parents and they themselves do go home to Chibok for visits.

While rehabilitating the girls, one of the approaches is human right-based approach. UNFPA’s approach has been followed, making sure that they have access to health care, which is human right. It is their right to have access to health care; it is their right to have access to education. It is their right to have access to food, psycho-social support; all of these are their rights.

It is also their right to have security, protection from the state. But for the moment, I’m hopeful that the government is doing all it can in doing this the right way.

We know that kidnap of Chibok girls has been symbolic, but there are other thousands of girls and women that have undergone the same abduction and its consequential inhuman treatments. Is UNFPA expanding its services to some of these other group of people that were released?

In fact, before the release of the Chibok girls, UNFPA had been doing some humanitarian works in the northeast, and continues to do the work. The rehabilitation of other girls and women who went through similar trauma and were released, we believe that these girls should receive equal treatment in terms of having different sources of rehabilitation including psycho-social, medical, physical and livelihood supports. We do have programmes in the northeast that provide these services for those who were released and were not in Chibok. After all, we are United Nations Agency.

How worried is the UNFPA about the use of these girls as suicide bombers?

We condemn such inhuman act. The situation is pathetic because we have seen some children being used as suicide bombers, not necessarily those kidnapped and released. That is why the situation in the northeast still remains volatile. It doesn’t necessarily involve those who have been kidnapped and released, but we have seen cases where children, they could be girls or boys and even women, that are being used as suicide bombers. So, it is a concern to us because it is a security issue.

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Ngige

Chris Ngige

Ngige: President Buhari Saved Nigeriafromthe‘VenezuelanBug’ Dr. Chris Ngige, minister of Labour & Productivity and a prominent figure from the eastern part of the country, is a quintessential patriot and by ideological leaning, an advocate of one indivisible Nigeria. In this interview with Iyobosa Uwugiaren, he took a critical look at the performance of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government in the past two years, the stakes and challenges and why the South-east geo-political zone seems to have been marginalised in the scheme of things. He also addressed salient other national issues of interest. Excerpts:

Y

ou were one of those leaders of APC, who went around the country, convincing Nigerians to vote for Gen. Muhammed Buhari. Two years after, do you regret what you did?

I don’t at all regret my role in enthroning this government. In fact, if the opportunity presents itself again, with what I have seen now, I will do exactly the same thing. So, if anything, I feel happy every day when I wake up and as I pray to my God, I asked him to enable me to take important decisions with him, guarding me. If not for this government, the government of Muhammadu Buhari, government of change, Nigeria would have been worse than Venezuela. The crisis you

have in Venezuela, the demonstrations in Venezuela, was as a result of the collapse of the whole economic firmament of that country.

Venezuela, like Nigeria, did not plan for the raining day. The leader was fighting America and showing off. He started establishing filling stations inside America and the Caribbean and giving petrol free. You come into Washington, into New York and Maryland, where I was staying, you’d see filling stations of Venezuela origins. They sell petrol free on certain days and they felt that they had arrived. So, when we went round the country, we saw what was looming but we didn’t know it was this bad.

But then, when that particular government of Goodluck Jonathan exited, what we would face was like a catastrophe. When we were going round, oil was selling then at about $70 per barrel. It had moved from $110 to

$105 to $100 a barrel, and so, we thought it was not just that deep; and that we would eventually edge up again to flatten at $100 average. So, we told the Nigeria people that the major problem that we will fight is security, terrorism, which was the hallmark of the security situation in the Northeast then.

The Niger Delta wasn’t cleared and was just there. Then we have the issue of the internal security, which is what every government promises and what have you – security – which will be done by the police, civil defence and the rest of them. But the armed aggression was in the northeast and as we came in, a place like Borno State, out of the local government there, 14 of them were no longer part of Nigeria territory. The terrorist, Boko Haram had planted their flags. You go to Adamawa State, they

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Igbos Paying for Not Investing in Buhari Cont’d from Pg. 70 more than N10 billion or N15 billion. That the Igbos are neglected. They also complain (about) our brother, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, that Foreign Affairs is a nonsense ministry; they told me they were not happy that Chief Ogbonnaya Onu, is the Minister of Science and Technology.

They ask: what is in Science and technology? But these are the issues and I know that in very civilised climes, in other places, where we imitate this democracy: USA, Canada and the rest of them all, Foreign Affairs Minister, the Secretary of State, are positions that are reserved to be given to seasoned persons. You have been a Senator, not just a Senator; you must have been a Senator but a keen crack member of the Senate Committee of foreign Affairs or Foreign Relations as they call it in America.

That is how you can become Secretary of State; that is how they consider it and usually give it to people who have the capacity to become President of America.

So it is a prime position; it is a number one position. If you go to the USA, the Labour Employment Secretary is about No. 4 Cabinet Minister. The last occupier of the office, Raymond Perez, is my friend. He is a Labour minister. You would see it because every economy is measured by its employment index. So, a Labour and Employment Secretary is a key man in any administration anywhere in the world, even in England. The same goes for the Science and Technology Minister.

So, what people are looking is petroleum so that he can give us an oil lifting contract, refinery by-product to sell, or even give us oil blocks. If you are not there, you are not a good minister. They also look for Works, so that you can give us contract in billions. If you are not a Minister for Works you are not there yet.

They also look for agriculture so that he can give us contracts on fertilizer or he can ask us to import fertilizer to the country so that we can manage to divert some or ‘edit’ some. They call it editing. These are not things we have to be looking at. What I’m saying obviously is that, in a presidential system, all power or allocation rest with the president and it is for the president to give whatever he likes to the people. And at the same time in doing that, he is supposed or bound by the oath he swore to.

had also taken it over. I can say, one third of the entire local government there. If you go to Yobe State, it was the same thing. If I look back, I’m happy because the President, being a former military general knew what it takes to do that kind of warfare.

How? First and foremost, the Armed Forces: the Air Force were re-equipped with better arms to face the terrorists and today, the terrorists have been decapitated, they are just lying down there; they are not doing much harm. They don’t have any Nigerian territory. That calls for cheers. We have been able to secure the release of at least half of the Chibok secondary school girls that were kidnapped. 82 girls got back recently in addition to the 21 that we have before. So, these are important symptoms and sign that we have done well in fighting those terrorists.

The government has done well. If you go to the issue of internal security, I can also tell you of the same thing; a lot of states in Nigeria now are doing well and better in terms of internal security. Know that the state governments have also synergised with the federal government to achieve such a feat, because the state governors, if you go, you will see some of them re-equipping the police – giving them staff welfare to boost their morale. The only area we did not anticipate to have problem in terms of security is the Niger Delta, why because of some wrong perception, maybe, some steps taken that were not very well calculated.

We now have an upsurge in militancy resulting in vandalism and disruption of oil pipeline infrastructure, especially the ones that have to do with oil pipelines, the ones that have to do with production and exploration of crude oil, which is the life wire and mainstay of the Nigerian economy. So, in terms of security this is our report card. There is also the issue of corruption. At the time we were campaigning, the President said he would fight corruption; he didn’t say that he would wipe corruption because corruption, as me and you know, is deep rooted down here. But what he said was he would diminish corruption and fight it frontally.

That, he has done, at least today.

If people are talking, they will know that this is the first time that government will get recoveries from corrupt people Ngige that were taking money away from the national treasury and the money so recovered will now be used to partly fund the national budget and to benefit the welfare of Nigerians. A lot of assets have also been forfeited to the federal government and these assets will also be used to the benefit of the people. A lot of government agencies that are trying to build offices and buildings are today benefiting from such forfeiture.

There is a non-governmental group, CDD, that created Buharimeters in order to monitor the performance of Buhari-led government.

Recently, the group came out with a report, which suggested that Buhari’s performance has been very low in all the promises that he made. Is that not food for thought?

I don’t know why the Buharimeter would score us very low. I don’t know who the people that constitute the buharimeter are. Maybe, it is the opposition people that constituted it. But, I know that when unbiased persons assess this administration, they will even score us more than what we have scored ourselves in terms of internal security. They will even score us A+. I mean Boko Haram had taken over all the part of northeast. They were in Yobe, they were in Borno, they were in Adamawa and a lot of people were rendered homeless.

There was no good life. The economy of the place was gone and infrastructure devastated. The people, who make up the human resources were displaced; millions of people were displaced from their home and they became homeless. But today they are going back. Some of them are going back to resettle themselves and government is also resettling them.

The women formed presidential initiative committee, donating things there including the infrastructure that was damaged; assisting the state government, and they said we have not done well.

I don’t know who the Buharimeters are. Internal security is only a holistic affair. The state governments are the chief security officers of their states, apart from being the chief executives. And if you are a chief security officer, if you go to section 14 of the Nigerian constitution, the first primary role of government, is the security of lives and properties and the welfare of the citizens. It is there in Section 14 of the constitution. So, in the state, the issue of security is not the sole responsibility of the federal government.

The federal government has the police as it is now. But, the police have been centralised to state commands and in those state commands, state governors play a major role.

Not only is the police involved now in the internal security as it is, the army and the air force are there to assist in maintaining the internal security milieu of the area. I don’t think we have not done well there. We have some bumping areas of turbulence in the Niger Delta and nobody envisages that it will come but we did what we were supposed to do in the initial stages. Come to think of it, there is nowhere in the world where criminals will say to the government: come, let’s fight. It’s never done.

If you looked at the appointments the federal government has made in the last two years, it tends to favour one part of the country. As a matter of fact, where you are from, the Southeast has complained hugely of marginalisation. Are you not worried that your zone has not been treated fairly by a government you contributed in bringing into power?

We are running a presidential system. A presidential system of government is different from a parliamentary system of government. The two constitutions are never the same. In the presidential system of government, the power is centralised on the president or the governor of a state. And, the authors of the Nigerian Constitution took their extra time to say which

positions that must be given to each state of the federation on equality of state and that; positions mentioned are the position of ministers, that there must be one minister to a state.

The constitution went further in Section 143, to say that there must be a reflection of the federal character in most of the things we do. Now, as you have rightly pointed out, that my area in the South-east gave 5% vote to Buhari during presidential election, we still didn’t even measures up to 25% for anybody to say that I won this state, or that this state supported me. The appointments that we were shouting about first, can mostly be regarded as personal to the President. These appointments are Chief of Staff, Special/Personal Assistants, Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Heads of Parastatals and agencies.

What confuses people is this idea of saying this is a juicy agency and that is not a juicy agency. So, when people are given positions, instead of looking at the position in terms of the productivity of that position, people will go and equate it with the material benefit that that will accrue from that position. I will give you an example. When Chief MKO Abiola, of blessed memory, zoned the position of SGF to the South-east, during the period he was deemed to be the president-elect, politicians from the South-east said the position of the SFG was the secretary that makes tea.

They called it tea maker.

That is what Chief Arthur Nzeribe said at the time. He is still alive. A lot of them called it tea maker. It was only people like Ralph Obiora that said the SGF position was not a tea maker; that the South-east can go for it. In fact, a majority of our people refused. And a lot of them who fought against Chief Abiola becoming president did that on that premise. So, they parted with the position they said it was not a juicy position. Today, a lot of people come to tell me that they sympathised with me, that I am the minister of Labour and Employment; that my capital vote is not

If not for this government, the government of Muhammadu Buhari, government of change, Nigeria would have been worse than Venezuela. The crisis you have in Venezuela, the demonstrations in Venezuela, was as a result of the collapse of the whole economic firmament of that country

To some of your people, the fact that you were made the Minister of Labour and Chief Ogbonnaya Onu, Minister of Science and Technology is not a favour, taking into consideration the role you both played in bringing this government to power. But do you think the Ndigbo feel the sense of belonging in this present government?

This is not a question that I should answer because I’m a politician.

But before these things happened, before the government of Jonathan failed, I went to all the Igbo fora to tell them that Jonathan government will fall. I went to our Eze Ndigbo in Enugu twice. They could not even reply to a letter written by the then General Muhammadu Buhari seeking for a meeting with them. The leadership continued playing games, cat and mouse. They refused.

I went to Lagos and conveyed an Igbo stakeholders’ forum in Williams Nwodo’s house in Ikoyi, Lagos in 2014, where I analysed the voting pattern in Nigeria; where I told them even if they don’t want to support Muhammadu Buhari, they should come and give him 25% of the votes.

And to make matter worse, there were no voting in most of the areas; they just allocated 5% to APC. It was that bad. It is too late to cry when the head is off.

Politics is business in a way. You invest in business and you reap profit. Yes, that is what it is. But all I want to tell you is that we (the Igbos) have done a bad politics; we have done a bad investment because they invested in the Jonathan presidency. They invested in Jonathan more than the South-south, where he hails from. I am not saying it is enough to marginalise them or not allow them come in, but we are there. I will speak for them and when there is anything for distribution, we make sure that the South-east gets its own portion.

But they will not get excess portion because even in our family, when the head of the family goes to the farm to harvest his yam and the harvesting is to be done by those who accompany him to the farm, when they bring back the yam, some of the yam will have damaged, and the pieces are put out in one section, then the whole are put into the barn. Some will be sent to the market for sale. And some will be sent to the family centrally for division among the family units.

Those ones that are in pieces, the extras will be shared among those that went to the farm. They will get the extras. We did not benefit from the extras with people, who went to the farm. We didn’t go to the farm in the South-east. But we are doing our political re-engineering so that in 2019, we will be in the farm carrying hoes, plenty of hoes and coming there and then to do the harvest and whoever is the candidate will harvest properly so that we will not miss out.

Another election year is fast approaching. What will be the basis for APC to campaign in 2019? What would you tell your people that the government and your party have done to deserve their votes again?

Oh my God! So you are in the group of those who are pessimistic, who have refused to see the wonders of this government? Well, I’m from the South-east, when we get there, we will show them that first and foremost we have fought corruption to a standstill and people cannot steal at will now, not to talk of keeping such monies at home. The movement is from the bank to the house but now that the homes have been raided maybe they will go to the farm to keep them. But people cannot steal money because there is no hiding place anymore. They cannot steal primitively like it was done before. The poor people of Nigeria are happy about this.

72

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ MAY 28, 2017

CICERO/REPORT

Officials separating the 440 pump action rifles from the POP powder in which they were hidden

Rising Apprehension over Illegal Arms Import With two container load of pump action rifles intercepted at the Lagos ports in a space of four months , with the latest coming after a statement credited to the military about some individuals approaching soldiers on a number of political reasons, there is growing apprehension as to the motive for such imports, writes Francis Ugwoke

I

n the past four months, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has recorded the seizure of two container loads of arms and ammunition. The first seizure was in January this year while the latest was just last week.

Although interception of arms and ammunition, including pump action rifles, pistols and cartridges has been common in the ports as they are found in personal effects belonging to some Nigerians returning finally to their home country after living overseas, the latest seizures were suspicious. The first seizure was made up of 661 pump action rifles concealed in 49 boxes and declared as steel doors. The importer was clever enough to have cleared the container out of the Apapa port. This must have been after bribing his way as usual.

But he was not lucky enough as customs operatives of the Federal Operations Unit Zone A, Ikeja, intercepted the container at Mile 2 area of Lagos. It was one incident that attracted national condemnation as some customs officers were involved in the deal. The Customs had declared some of its officers wanted following the seizure. Three other suspects, Oscar Okafor, Mahmud Hassan and Sadique Mustapha were all alleged as importer, clearing agent and freight forwarder respectively. The Customs Comptroller-General, Col. Hammed Ali (rtd.) had told newsmen, “after several days of waiting, on January 22, 2017, detectives attached to the roving team intercepted a Mark truck with registration number BDG 265 XG conveying a 1 by 40 ft container with number PONU/825914/3 along mile 2-Apapa road.

“The truck was immediately taken to the premises of FOU Zone A, Ikeja, where physical examination revealed 49 boxes

containing a total number of 661 pieces of pump action rifles concealed with steel doors and other merchandise goods.

“The rifles are under absolute prohibition; therefore its importation is illegal. Such deadly contravention of the Law is even more unacceptable considering the fragile security situation in some parts of the country”.

In the case of the latest seizure, the importer used the Tin Can Island port, a seaport, which, in the past, was very notorious and haven for illicit imports. This has since changed in the past two to three years with a lot of searchlight being beamed on the port customs controllers posted to the Command.

Yet, it appears that some importers were yet to be aware of this development. For the latest seizure of container containing pump action rifles, the offensive arms were discovered right inside the terminal unlike the Apapa incident where the container had left the seaport. The arms at Tin Can were concealed with POP powder used in house design. The rifles were of various designs and the importer was caught even before his agent could declare the goods for clearing.

The Customs Controller, Bashir Yusuf, said the arms were in form of Completely Knocked Down (CKD) parts to beat the Customs. The rifles were manufactured in the US and Italy, but imported from Turkey.

Yusuf said, “We have other accessories in this container, several parts dismantled but definitely to be reassembled. Investigations would go deeper so as to know where the factory for arms assemblage is located in Nigeria.

“The importer declared the consignment as Antisera and (chemical formula). Generally, anytime we have interception like this, it requires a lot of intelligence and profiling

of importers. The 21st Century calls for that.

You do not have to wait for things to start happening before you start working.

“POP is a very safe item to conceal weapons because it is not injurious to anyone. It is an attempt to distract customs officials, but whatever anyone might use, it would attract our attention”. To observers, Nigeria is lucky that the dangerous consignments were discovered and therefore seized before they could be put into use against innocent people.

Questions on Arms Import The latest seizure coming few months after the first seizure has raised concerns among many Nigerians. This is even more so with elections just two years away.

Besides, many are also worried about the consignment considering the recent statement credited to the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General T.Y. Buratai, who recently disclosed that some Nigerians had been approaching senior officers of the Army for a number of political reasons.

Buratai had in a statement issued by the Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Sani Kukasheka Usman, warned such persons to desist from these acts.

Indications are that the Army is probably investigating possible coup plan. Although the two containers of arms seized at the ports may not have anything to do with the 2019 election and the recent warning by the Army, one cannot but express concerns on the motive behind the importation. Yet, more concerns are even on the possibility that some of such containers may have been cleared at any of the ports in the country or at the border stations without being noticed.

With high level corruption in the ports and border posts, it could have been possible

for offensive arms imports to be cleared out of the system even without officers of the Customs knowing about it. The latest seizure at the Tin Can port would have been cleared if the leadership of the Customs Command was not on top of the activities and vigilant at the seaport. Owners of such goods are usually ready to pay any amount to have the goods released without 100 per cent examination.

Dealing with Suspects For the two seizures, the Customs has arrested about six suspects involved in the illicit trade. In the case of the 661 rifles, about three officers had a hand in the release of the container and were all arrested. There were also three other suspects, including the importer, clearing agent and another accompanying the container. In the case of the latest container, the Customs Command said at least a suspect was arrested. The question many ask is the extent to which the relevant authorities have pursued the first case to bring to book those connected with the crime. When contacted on this, the Customs Public Relations Officer, Mr. Joseph Attah, said the officers involved were currently undergoing processes of investigation. Attah said that the outcome of the investigation would determine what would happen to them. On the importer and other suspects involved in the first seizure, he said both consignment and suspects had been handed over to the Department of Security Service (DSS). According to him, it was left for the DSS to handle the case since it is a security matter. Industry stakeholders believe the best way to address such imports was for the DSS to begin to publicise the outcome of its investigation on such cases, particularly those convicted as a result.

73

MAY 28, 2017 ˾THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

PERSPECTIVE

Building a Nation that Works Atiku Abubakar

T

Unitary federalism, that is, our deformed federal system characterized by the centralization of power and resources, with the resulting excessive dependence on the centre by federating units. That dependence on oil revenues is also a major reason for the fractured and fractious relationship among our various regional, ethnic and religious groups. It has also created a perverse incentive system where rewards do not necessarily go to those who work hard. And the perverse incentive system as well as the mistrust arising from the fractured relationship among our diverse groups, has created entrenched interests, thereby making reform difficult.

What Went Wrong?

It wasn’t always this way. At independence we had many challenges, but we began to make steady progress. We had a federal structure with three powerful regions, which retained 50% of the revenues derived from their regions. With this they provided security, infrastructure such as roads, power, portable water, built healthcare facilities, schools and universities, and provided other social services. But when the political leaders tried to extend their influence beyond their regions of dominance, it precipitated a crisis that led to military seizure of power as well as a counter-coup, and ultimately a civil war. The military remained in power for all but four years in the period 19661999.

Among the measures taken by the military leaders was the fragmentation of the regions into states which now number 36; the centralization of power and concentration of resources at the federal level at the expense of the federating states; and the expansion of infrastructure provisioning.

Others include, the expansion of the government’s reach into various aspects of our national life, including the economy (not just as a regulator but as an investor in all sectors of the economy), and involvement in religion by subsidizing of religious pilgrimages. There were also the federal take-over of institutions and services hitherto belonging to the federating states such as schools and universities, hospitals, roads and power plants; and an activist foreign policy that saw the government intervening diplomatically and financially in the causes of African liberation and Black emancipation, especially in Africa and the Caribbean.

These measures were encouraged by a sudden rise in oil revenues in the early 1970s. The sudden oil wealth had other consequences, including relative neglect of agriculture. It created a mentality, which survives to this day, that oil wealth is here to stay and that we really need not engage in diverse economic activities, which governments typically tax for revenues. Thus, we got used to the notion of wealth without work, and government revenues that do not come directly from taxation. Thus, it has been rather difficult for citizens to hold governments to account. Currently also we have a situation where most of the states in the country are unable to pay their workers or provide basic services unless they collect monthly revenue allocations from the centre.

However, the decline in oil prices and revenues in the early 1980s, and periodically ever since, has exposed the folly of our ways. It has led to serious economic and political crisis including high level of unemployment and such associated social problems as crimes, including robbery and terrorism, militancy, decline in the quality of education, healthcare, and other social services, poor infrastructure provisioning. We also have agitations by different segments of the country against what they perceive

To build a Nigeria that works, therefore: We need to restructure our federal system to devolve more powers and resources to the federating units. It will encourage states to compete to attract investment and skilled workers rather than merely waiting for monthly revenue allocations from Abuja. This will also include the establishment of state police for the states that so desire so as to improve security.

We must be open to changing the nature of the federating units such as using the existing geo-political zones as federating units rather than the current 36, of which only a few are financially viable.

Political decentralization must be accompanied by economic diversification. We need to diversify our economy away from the dependence on oil.

We need to create opportunities for our people to engage in diverse economic activities which governments will then tax for revenues. But we can’t do that efficiently and effectively without accurate data. I have in the past called for an end to the self-defeating politics we play with census in the country. With all the data gathering and analytic tools in existence in the 21st century we have no good reason not to have accurate data on our people, down to the smallest unit, the individual.

Without data, we cannot plan properly and all of us will lose, including those who try to inflate their population figures and those who want to suppress those of others. Political decentralization will also help to deepen and strengthen our democracy as it will encourage more accountability. Citizens are more likely to demand accountability when governments spend their tax money rather than rent collected from an impersonal source.

To further strengthen our democracy, we need to reform our politics, especially by reforming our electoral system. Such reform must ensure that those who emerge as winners after an election are really those freely chosen by the people. The electoral reform should largely be along the lines recommended by the Justice Mohammad Uwais panel on electoral reforms. For example, funding the electoral umpire from the first line charge in the Consolidated Revenue Fund is critical; transferring the power to appoint the chairman of the electoral umpire from the President to the National Judicial Council will help, as will efforts to curb the role of money and godfathers in our elections. I have also been arguing that the declared winner of an election should not be allowed to assume office until all legal challenges to that election have been resolved.

The recent Supreme Court decision nullifying the election of a member of the House of Representatives and ordering him to refund the pay that he had collected as a member is an encouraging sign.

Hopefully that decision will serve as a disincentive to those aspirants and candidates who wish to engage in electoral fraud.

We also need to reform the anti-corruption agencies to help depoliticize them and make them really independent. This will help to strengthen the fight against corruption, which is critical in renewing our people’s belief in the integrity of public institutions and pubic officials. Such a reform will require changes to how the agencies are funded, how their heads are appointed and who they report to.

While not exhaustive, these steps, if taken, will help us to produce effective and public-spirited leadership and certainly help us to live up to our economic potentials and evolve into a nation where citizens and every segment of the population feel proud, welcome and committed to its long-term health and survival.

--Being excerpts from a speech delivered by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar while accepting the Hero of Nigeria Democracy Award conferred on him by Hall of Grace Magazine in Lagos recently.

he reality is that our nation does not work well whether we focus on security, education, economic production, employment generation and people’s welfare or we focus on governance and politics or the relationships among our diverse ethnic, regional, and religious groupings. Our government relies excessively on rent derived from a single export product, crude oil, for revenues. The consequences of that have included over-exposure to the vagaries of the world oil market over which we have little control. It has also led us to over-centralize power and concentrate economic resources at the federal level at the expense of the federating states. We have poor infrastructure and low investment, high unemployment and high level of poverty, as well as the highest level of out-of-school children in the world. We also have poor governance, lack of due process, lack of proper coordination of government processes, a high level of corruption, and a high level of insecurity characterized by armed robbery, kidnapping, militancy and terrorism.

While progress has been made in recent times in the fight against terrorism, the rate of other violent crimes remain unacceptably high. Then there are persistent cries of marginalization and unfair treatment by various ethno-religious and regional groups in terms of resource and power-sharing, investment and other government services.

Atiku as marginalization by the governments and the other segments. Excessive centralization has also led us to place a very high premium on political power, especially at the federal level, leading to instability in our politics, which in turn, scares away investors.

So How Do We Build a Nigeria that Works?

There is a saying that if you want to get out of a hole you dug yourself in you first stop digging. So, we need to stop our slide towards economic and political precipice. And one way to build a Nigeria that works is to identify what our people want and what they think our priorities should be. The next step is to assess whether the policies and strategies we currently pursue will adequately address those, and if not, in what ways they might be better addressed.

When you talk to ordinary Nigerians as I do regularly what they profess to be at the top of their priority list include the provision of and access to high quality education and training; infrastructure such as power, roads, railways and ports; security; employment and job creation; and accountability and reduced corruption. They also call for a reorientation of values, which, I think, will come mainly from the change of behaviour by leaders.

A Nigeria that works would be one that effectively and efficiently meets these needs. But there are two huge impediments to doing that.

Rentier economy: I believe that if we continue to rely on revenues from oil derived from mainly from three states of the federation, we will be unable to build an economy that works and will be unable to provide the education, security, and employment that our people desire and deserve. And we will be unable to adequately tackle the corruption and lack of accountability, which the dependence on oil facilitates. The fight over the sharing of oil revenues has also been a huge distraction from what we need to be doing to diversify our economy and secure our economic future. Although the Petronas Towers are there to remind us that Malaysia is still an oil producer we seem to forget that. The reason is because Malaysia has diversified its economy and reduced the influence of fluctuating oil revenues on its economic fortunes. Today oil contributes only 14% of Malaysia’s GDP. The industrial sector has taken over.

74

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R Ëž Y 28, 2017

PERSPECTIVE

What Won the 2015 Presidential Election?

Olujimi Morgan

I

n 1992, John Major, the Prime Minister from the Conservative Party who took over from Mrs Margaret Thatcher in 1990 when she was forced to step down, against most expectations won the General Elections of Great Britain against Neil Kinnock of the Labour Party. Elections are held on a Thursday and the Friday edition of the Sun newspaper trumpeted, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the Sun wot won it!â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Needless to say, after John Smith succeeded Kinnock as Leader of the Opposition and unexpectedly died, Tony Blair took over and allied to Gordon Brown, they ensured that the Labour Party won the support of the popular Sun newspaper and its Australian owner, Rupert Murdock. He later became a naturalized American citizen and owns News Corp and 21st Century Fox amongst others. Tony Blair in particular went out of his way to stay in the good books of the Sun newspaper when the Labour Party took over Government because he believed it had a continuing influence on the key swing votes of the white working class. In addition, Gordon Brown ensured that he retained the support of the business community that traditionally support the Conservatives.

Not many predicted the results of the 2015 Presidential elections as they turned out. Many hoped that General Muhammadu Buhari (GMB) would defeat Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GEJ), whilst probably a smaller number did not expect there would be a change.

I had predicted an election too close to call. In truth, I expected GEJ to win more states but GMB to win more of the popular votes. Each was expected to win at 25% in two-thirds of the states, in other words, 24.

So, I expected an unusual situation which would have required maturity and clarity of understanding in which the expected winner of more states lost to the winner of most popular votes.

My prediction was as follows: Table 1A: Prediction 3 Northern Zones

Table 1B: Prediction 2 Certain Zones in South

Buhari

Jonathan

by the AD in 1999 as the successor party to the UPN. If one includes Edo State which was part of the old Western Region, 3 out of the 6 states did not hold gubernatorial elections. Governors had taken office after winning at the election tribunals which revealed the historical tightness of the election results in the zone.

Table 1C: Expectation in swing Zone of the South West

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# ' # ' ! " % ! " !" " ! "# !

' ! " ( $ " ! $ !" " " ' #

" ' # ( ! " $ ! $ "! !" !#

' !! " $ #! & " '( )! ! % " !" % "! # "' ! !#

" ( ! ! " " '

% # " $ " ! % ' #" !#

Table 3: Detailed Statesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; PVCs, Voter Turnout and Votes Won State

PVCs Registered

PVCs Collected

Votes Cast

APC (GMB)

PDP (GEJ)

NORTHWEST Jigawa

1,831,276

1,071,889

885,988,

142,904

Kaduna

3,407,222

1,650,201

1,127,760

484,085

Kano

4,975,701

2,172,442

1,903,999

215,779

Katsina

2,827,943

1,481,714

1,345,441

98,937

Kebbi

1,470,648

715,122

567,833

100,972

Sokoto

1,611,929

876,369

671,926

152,199

Zamfara

1,495,717

780,179

612,202

17,620,43

15,999,398

144,833

8,747,916

7,115,149

1,339,709

Registered voters NORTH CENTRAL Benue

2,015,452

703,131

373,961

303,737

Kogi

1,350,883

439,287

264,851

149,987

Kwara

1,142,267

461,401

302,146

132,602

Nassarawa 1,242,667

521,641

236,838

273,460

Niger

2,014,317

844,683

657,678

149,222

Plateau

2,001,825

1,000,692

429,140

549,615

3,970,835

2,264,614

1,558,623

316,015

146,399

157,195

4,286,850

2,411,013

1,715,818

9,767,411

Not available

Registered voters

So, predicted scores going into the expectedly deciding zone of the South West were: NW: GEJ â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 0; GMB â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 7 NC: GEJ â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 4; GMB â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2 NE: GEJ â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2; GMB â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 4 SS: GEJ â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 6; GMB â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 0 SE: GEJ â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 5; GMB â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 0 Sub-total: GEJ â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 17; GMB 13 The South West was far more difficult to predict because of the Christian-Muslim mix, the large number of non-natives particularly those from the South East and long resident communities of the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;coreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;North, the absence of a contender from the area, the active involvement of strong men contending for opposite sides â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Ashiwaju Bola Tinubu with Lagos as his base and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbekola in Osun versus the Iroko Dr Mimiko in Ondo and the peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s champion, Ayodele Fayose in Ekiti. The Lagos base was under pressure more than ever before because of the popularity of Jimi Agbaje the PDP governorship candidate and the voluble determination of residents from the SE to make their number count on the GEJ (and Agbaje) side. In addition, there was the recent history of the zone which has experienced swings for and against the PDP ruling party from 1999 to 2011. Indeed for keen observers of the SW, the zone has historically fluctuated between contenders â&#x20AC;&#x201C; AG versus the NCNC, the AG versus NNDP, the UPN versus a relatively weak NPP and the SDP versus the NRC. This fluidity of allegiance was broken only by the UPN in 1979 and 1983 after the people had been able to compare Chief Awolowo to the military, and

FCT

So, SW guesswork was: GEJ â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2; TOTAL NATIONAL inclination: GEJ â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 19;

GMB â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 4 GMB â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 17

881,472 10,648,883

8,230,685

Reg voters NORTH EAST

VERDICT: Too close to call.

Indeed, was Nigeria going to undergo the American experience of 2000 when Al Gore of the Democratic Party won more popular votes but George W. Bush of the Republican won more delegates? And was adjudged President by a 5-4 split vote of the American Supreme Court stopping the recount in the state of Florida. The number of delegates from Florida decided the overall winner.

Nevertheless, I expected GMB to win more popular votes because of three reasons. One was the vast preponderance of PVCs â&#x20AC;&#x201C; permanent voter cards â&#x20AC;&#x201C; collected (and produced) in his areas of strength, the NW and the NE compared to the SE and SS where Jonathan was stronger. The other was that GEJ was unlikely to achieve the 25-30% support he needed to blunt the strength of GMB in the NW and NE. Third was that the SW which had the second highest in number of PVCs was a swing zone where the loser was likely to obtain at least 40% of the votes; even if GEJ were able to win 4 rather than 2 states hazarded.

Actual results were as follows: Table 2: Actual Results by Zones

'%- *%) (%+ +%' ,%' )%*

'%- )%* )%* +%' ,%' (%+

' ) ( ' ' (

" # " "

$ ! " "

GMB win; GMB won bigger than expected victory margins in Oyo and Ogun Actual Overall Result: GEJ â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 15 ; GMB â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 21 States

Adamawa

1,559,012

661,210

374,701

251,664

Bauchi

2,054,125

1,039,775

931,598

86,085

Borno

1,934,079

515,008

473,543

25,640

Gombe

1,120,023

473,441

361,245

96,873

Taraba

1,340,652

602,716

261,326

310,800

Yobe

1,099,970

491,767

446,265

25,526

3,783,917

2,848,678

796,588

9,107,861

6,655,444

Registered voters SOUTHWEST Ekiti

732,021

309,445,

120,331

176,466

Lagos

5,822,207

1,495,975

792,460

632,327

Ogun

1,829,534

559,613

308,290

207,950

Ondo

1,524,655

582,435

299,889

251,368

Osun

1,407,107

663,373

383,603

249,929

Oyo

2,415,566

928,606

528,620

303,376

4,539,447

2,433,193

1,819,416

Akwa Ibom 1,680,759

1,028,551

58,411

953,304

Bayelsa

371,739

5,194

361,209

Cross River 1,175,623

465,906

28,368

414,863

Delta

2,275,264

1,284,848

48,910

1,211,405

Edo

1,779,738

522,785

208,469

286,869

Rivers

2,537,590

1,584,768

69,238

1,487,075

5,258,597

418,590

4,714,725

13,731,090

9,238,713

Registered voters SOUTH SOUTH 610,373

10,059,347

7,710,015

Registered voters SOUTH EAST Abia

1,396,162

401,049

13,394

368,303

Anambra

1,963,173

703,409

17,926

660,762

Ebonyi

1,074,273

393,337

19,518

323,658

Enugu

1,429,221

585,632

14,157

553,003

Imo

1,803,030

731,921

133,253

559,185

815,348

184,091

2,464,911

29,432,075

15,424,921

12,853,162

7,665,859

6,621,341

68,833,476

56,431,255

2,

Registered voters National

RegisteredVoters 70,382,427

(See concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com)

75

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R Ëž Y 28, 2017

PERSPECTIVE

Is GE Still Guided by Global Best Practices?

Nduka Nwosu

I

t is just relevant to ask how much of global citizenship does the great General Electric still adorn given the Nigerian factor. In other words, does GE operate under the strict regulation of global best practices in corporate governance?

If the response is in the positive, it deserves a handclap from its admirers since it started its operations here.

On the contrary the critical audience can only allude to the picketing last April of GEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Victoria Island office by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN). Abel Agarin, PENGASSAN Lagos Zonal chairman who led the picketing workers of Arco Plc, said GE had given its commitment to the Minister of Employment, Labour and Productivity, Chris Ngige, to settle its outstanding debt to the workers last February but suddenly retreated at the moment of living up to its obligation. No reason was given for this condescending act but this is Nigeria and we live in a period where workers easily get short changed for the flimsiest excuse. But must GE, which Forbes Global 2000 in 2012 mentioned as the fourth largest company in the world, also be caught playing the Nigerian game?

Thomas Edison Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great inventor whose works on Electricity and corporate amalgamation brought GE to where it presently stands (all thanks to JP Morgan and Anthony Drexelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s company-Drexel Morgan & Co), would be weeping in his resting place to see his vision of what a Fortune 500 Company ranked 68th by gross revenue and 14th in profitability in 2011, should be - an ambassador of goodwill, being dragged to the local league.

Make no mistakes about it, GE in spite of its past legal issue back home, with a regulatory agency like SEC, remains a giant multinational that has benefited immensely here in Nigeria while making its own contributions. However should we be forced to ask if Donald Trumpâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s alleged currency manipulation of the US by China and a trade imbalance that favours the latter is also applicable to foreign multinational companies plying their craft in this Lugardian Republic?

GEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s action is a sore reminder of how a corporate citizen seemingly protected by the much celebrated and expected local content act was shortchanged in the selection of a less competent bidder for contract renewal. This brings to question the effectiveness of the local content act and the regulatory body - the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB). How effective are the laws put in place to accord â&#x20AC;&#x153;first considerationâ&#x20AC;? in the award of Oil and Gas related contracts and â&#x20AC;&#x153;exclusive considerationâ&#x20AC;? in the

award of contracts and services? When the Arco/Agip case came up was the NCDMB laid back or did it play a maximum role in defending the hallmark vision of giving exclusive consideration to local players who have distinguished themselves with content whether in the acquisition of intellectual property or technology or both?

But that is where its comedy of the absurd begins. Otherwise how does one explain a situation where issues of local content are decided in faraway countries outside the shores of the country the same way Chinua Achebe wondered why the fate of African literature and its content had become the exclusive decision of foreign experts and panels. Take the case of the Practical Nigerian Content meeting (PNC), which is an annual event initiated in 2010 with the aim of creating a meeting point for stakeholders in government and industry for discussions and debates on key issues surrounding the Local Content Act. The PNC arrangement, if it still exists, remains a partnership between Nigeria and a British group - CWC described as, a UK based global company that has for over a decade been providing top quality information and opportunities for government and industry players to come together and promote commerce and develop relevant skills. The registration fee for this meeting is 1890 pounds payable in a British account or bank. Now what value added of such offshore expenditures accrue to the local content players who are continuously shortchanged by the multinationals with the tacit participation of indigenous surrogates?

Are appointments to such lofty offices that drive organisations such as the NCDMB designed to work to the superior advantage of the foreign companies already dominating the system or to the advantage of indigenous companies for whom the act was passed?

All that is being postulated about the NCDMB and the local content act applies to the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) or the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB). Just recently the NNPC helmsman Maikantu Baru lamented the inability of the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s legislative body - the National Assembly to pass the bill into law creating uncertainty in the oil and gas sector with the attendant loss of business opportunities.

Baruâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lamentations must have been prompted by the revelations contained in the policy brief of the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), that the country has so far lost $200billion in business opportunities for non-passage of the PIB into law.

According to NEITI, projected but deferred investments yielded

a loss of $120 billion over time. Does NEITIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s observation that the lack of clarity and ambiguity of the rules, predictable policy-making and efficient regulations of the oil and gas industry, remind both players and keen watchers of the sector how long it took our country to stop flaring gas now another huge foreign exchange earner for the country?

It is interesting to hear Baru complain that the ongong review of the NLNG Act is a bad signal to the international community about how business is done in the country. Expectedly, the global LNG market could be taken to the next level of higher earnings with the passage of the PIB into law. Therefore, one can hardly fault Baruâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s line of contention; so can we for once challenge ourselves and begin to pull the wool in our eyes rather than play to the gallery of a rentier state?

Having watched the growth of Arco from a one manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dream that was planted as a seed in 1980 to a public limited company acquiring along the way both manpower and technology, it is only state support that can bring it and other indigenous companies of its kind to the same level if not greater height that was set in motion by Edisonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dream, the dream that is today the giant corporate octopus - General Electric.

While living in Somerset New Jersey and working in Manhattan, I took daily train rides from New Brunswick on the Northeast corridor of the New Jersey Transit to Penn Station and one of the stops was Edison Station a few stations to Newark, the border town between New Jersey and New York. That was where Thomas Edison brought about his great inventions and the birth of GE just as our own Arco Plc took root in Warri an oil city and port like Newark with its huge port complex, a city of commerce where a Nigerian Ugochukwu Nwaokoro is its deputy mayor.

GE over the years has become a giant and continues to prosper contributing two Nobel Laureates just as Arco, a good corporate citizen, has sponsored hundreds of Nigerian students to greater academic accomplishments as well as initiating a Hall of Fame for accomplished Nigerian scientists home and abroad among many other corporate social responsibility initiatives That is the type of news we expect from GE and Co, not owing peanuts it knows will cost it nothing to dispense with. Only recently GEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s global Chairman and CEO Jeff Imelt led a delegation on a visit to the NNPC CEO Baru, intimating him that GE was keen investing in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna refineries, pledging its readiness to work with the NNPC to make production in the off-shore fields profitable for the benefit of both companies and other stakeholders.

Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x; Ă&#x2039;Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153; Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x2039; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2018;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC; ĘĽĂ&#x2039;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x153;Ă?

Tunji Olaopa

A

n article like this necessarily must commence with a caveat. There is a usual angst when it comes to writing about public figures, and especially when these figures are politicians who are caught in the eye of the storm. If there is any political figure whose reputation has always hung in the balance, it is Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

There is therefore the likely expectation that one would be expected to toe the line of the regular Tinubu-bashing that has become the pastime of political commentators in Nigeria. My commentary will be more reclamatory than condemnatory. The leadership problematic in Nigeria requires that we pay adequate attention to rescuing what is given to us in terms of leaders and those who can be forced to achieve what is needed for the task of nation building in Nigeria. And all this becomes imperative despite their human frailty.

Asiwaju Tinubuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s significance straddles not only Yoruba affairs but also the postcolonial fate of Nigeria. He began as an activist-politician whose democratic audacity, together with the tenacious agitation of NADECO, caught the attention and hearts of Nigerians at the height of the aborted June 12 democratic saga in Nigeria. The significance of June 12, in my reckoning, goes beyond the truncation of the electoral victory of Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola. On the contrary, and like almost every political issue in Nigeria, it goes to the very heart of Nigerian national integration which lies at the heart of the national project. It was a crisis that almost consumed the soul of Nigeria. Its reverberation is still at the heart of party politics in Nigeria and the diversity of the political anomalies that ails us. It stands to reason therefore that those who fought the war of liberation, as it were, deserves a trajectory analysis that attempts to cumulate their contribution to the larger issue of the salvaging of the Nigerian nation.

Tinubu is no hero. On the contrary, he is a politician who cannot be understood within the regular understanding of politicking in Nigeria. I concede that he is a master of political gambit which is required if anyone ever hopes to survive the complex minefields of political intrigues that characterize Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s realpolitik. But it seems to me that calling Tinubu a political realist is the most consummate compliment one can ever hope to give him. And this is all the more so within the

Tinubu context of the complex relationship that links the governance of the Yoruba with the future of Nigeria. Whether we like it or not, the existence of the Yoruba nation, as well as any other nation within the Nigerian plural context of nationhood, is significant for the survival of Nigeria as we want it to be. If this is correct, then it stands to reason that we need a concept of leadership that has the capacity to hold Nigeria together in its plurality.

Asiwaju Tinubu is one leader out of many who has been involved in the turbulence of making Nigeria work.

He is unique not only because, like other politicians, he is concerned with the dynamics of power and power play.

On the contrary, Tinubuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s political gambit is usually tied in with the political fate of the Southwest within the overall development of Nigeria. Let us begin with the successful governance story of Lagos State. I suspect that any attempt at narrating the turning point of the governance story that transformed Lagos would have to factor the Tinubu governorship years into the Lagos governance history. But that is not imaginative in the sense that the development dynamics of Nigeria in itself requires sustainability if any governance creativity of one governor is to have any positive and continuing effects on the lives of the citizens of any state. Thus, Tinubu did not just end his tenure

as governor and then retired to savour his wealth and goodwill. His political gambit was to further that legacy of good governance through a calculated political engineering that brought in Babatunde Raji Fasola, and then recently Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. If godfathers exist to perpetuate good governance, then I am for Tinubu as a godfather. Lagos State therefore play host to a significant governance story which I have argued should be replicated throughout the Southwest as a critical response to the challenges of restructuring and anomalous fiscal federalism in Nigeria.

However, the Tinubu factor in politics is not just a Southwest brand alone. It is to his credit that a credible opposition could be mustered to dislodge a sit-tight political party with a slogan of ruling Nigeria for many years rather than empowering millions of poverty-stricken Nigerians who voted the party into power. Does this political clout for ideological politics in the midst of a pandemic of insane self-aggrandizement count for anything when considering the future of Nigeria? I have always been a student of leadership dynamics not only within the organizational framework or as a managerial necessity. Chinua Achebeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lamentation about the absence of leadership in Nigeria strikes a deep core in me. Leadership is the most cogent factor in any reform effort either at the organisational or national level. However, the search for this reform factor must be as realistic as the context within which the search is taking place. It will be an irresponsible expectation to think that Nigeria can ever throw up a saint or savior without sin who will take us to the Promise Land.

The fundamental question for me is: What can be done with or gained from Tinubuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s political capital as a significant dynamics come 2019? The type of political capital Nigeria requires for a significant national reform is definitely not one that deploys charisma for the purpose of dumb electoral victory. On the contrary, there is the need for an ideological arrowhead that could serve as the rallying point for a progressive recalibration of politics around which we can redefine democratic governance in Nigeria. With his Lagos governance success, Asiwaju Tinubu displays many political virtues that (a) speaks to the fact that he is his own person; and (b) ideology matters in good governance. A leader that moves with the tides of political maneuvers is definitely one without a backbone required to move ideas to practice. I see this clearly in Chief Olusegun Obasanjoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Continued on Page 76

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PERSPECTIVE

Ajimobi, Ibadan Chieftaincy Law and the Imperatives of Change â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Wale Sadeeq

C

hange, as the only constant in life, has become a universal aphorism. Nonetheless, humans are evolutionarily predisposed to resist change because of the inherent uncertainties. Organisations and people that donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t embrace change are bound to lose ground and stagnate. In the words of a late British Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;He who rejects change is the architect of decay. The only human institution which rejects progress is the cemetery.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; The hoopla that thus greeted the move by the Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, to carry out a wholesale review of the existing Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration and other related chieftaincies in Ibadanland because of its touted uniqueness, is nothing short of clinging to primordial sentiments. Nothing captures the hasty criticism from familiar quarters better than the words of John F. Kennedy, who once said that â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; The governor had on Friday, May 19, 2017, constituted a sevenmember judicial commission of inquiry headed by a retired High Court judge, Justice Akintunde Boade, to review the 1957 Declaration of Olubadan on Ibadanland, which, he said, was no longer in tune with the current realities and modern trend in Yorubaland.

The commission was saddled with the responsibility of reviewing the existing requirements and qualification for ascendancy to the throne of Olubadan, as well as to review the selection process of Olubadan from the two qualifying lines of Otun and Balogun.

It was also mandated to look into the possibilities of having more beaded crown Obas in Ibadanland, taken into consideration the present size and population of the city.

Ajimobi had made it clear that the review was long overdue.

The governor said the primary purpose of the review was to facilitate the development, modernisation and effectiveness of the traditional chieftaincy system in the ancient city in particular and across the state in general.

To disabuse the minds of cynics, he stressed that similar exercises were in the offing across the state, in order to create an enabling environment for active contributions of the traditional institution to the socio-economic development of the state.

However, the move by the governor had attracted criticisms from diverse quarters, ranging from the uninformed, the ignorant, to the mischievous. For instance, a former governor of the state, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, who is yet to see anything good about the Ajimobi-led administration, was the first to raise dust. He was soon to be joined by some political neophytes.

Ladoja, the Osi Olubadan of Ibadanland and chieftain of the Accord Party, anchored his vituperation on the same old belief that the tradition of selecting the Olubadan had become long-established and rancour-free and should not be tinkered with.

To Ladoja, who contested the governorship elections with Ajimobi in 2011 and 2015 and lost, the governor had left â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;other important issuesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; unattended to, only to be focusing on the Ibadan chieftaincy.

It is no longer surprising that people like Senator Ladoja, who are expected to know better, have chosen to allow political considerations to becloud their sense of judgment. They just must be at daggers drawn with the governor over virtually every policy being implemented by the state government smarting from their electoral defeats.

Suffice to state here that Section 26(1), (2), (3), (4) and (5) Cap. 28, Vol. 1, Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria empowers the governor to approve or review Chieftaincy Declaration of any chieftaincy in the state. To this extent, Ajimobi has not gone outside his mandate as far as the proposed review is concerned. And come to think of it, what has Ladoja and the anti-review band got to lose with the proposed amendments. The exercise will serve the larger interest of Ibadan people who have been yearning for a holistic development of the city.

With its vast population and cosmopolitan status, I dare to say that Ajimobiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ibadan, nay Oyo State, will not cling to antiquated customs no matter whose ox may be gored.

The germane questions are: Shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t a Declaration made exactly 60 years ago be modified, especially if the need arises? Was the

Ajimobi

Declaration not made by a particular government in 1957? Does the fact that no government had attempted to carry out the review mean that it should be left perpetually unattended to? Shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t there be room for dynamism? Is the law so sacred to the extent that no reasonable mortal must dare touch it? Was the Ibadan of 1957 when the Declaration was made still the same as we have today?

Shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t the status quo, therefore, be challenged to accommodate the changing face of the ancient city?

These are among the several questions begging for answers, particularly from those who may want to crucify Ajimobi over the development. It is sheer bunkum to whip up salary arrears sentiment to attempt to blackmail the governor into a state of helplessness over the governance of the state. It beggars belief that supposedly informed people will join the chorus of those suggesting that the governor should abdicate other responsibilities on the account of the four-month salaries arrears. The salary debacle, as we all know, is an ugly development that cut across almost all the states in the country today. With the ongoing spirited efforts by the governor, the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s workforce will soon begin to sing a new song to the shame of the traducers of the Ajimobi-led administration.

It may interest such people to know that Ajimobi is not a lone voice in his call for a review of the Olubadan chieftaincy. Those that have openly expressed similar views were a former Governor of Oyo State, Dr. Omololu Olunloyo; renowned historian, Prof.

Bolanle Awe; and a former Editor of Daily Times, Chief Areoye Oyebola. They bared their minds at a symposium organised by the state government as part of the activities for the funeral of the late

Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade I, held at the University of Ibadan on February 9, 2016.

These eminent personalities and illustrious indigenes of Ibadan were unanimous in their opinion that the Ibadan chieftaincy declaration needed urgent review â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;to encourage younger, educated and influential menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; to ascend the exalted Olubadan stool.

In a position paper on the theme of the event, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Issues in Ibadan Traditional Chieftaincy System,â&#x20AC;? Oyebola noted that the Olubadan chieftaincy system was fraught with complexities. This, he said, had made it impossible for any Olubadan to reign for long. He said it was not in the best interest of modern Ibadan city for a prospective Olubadan to wait for more than 35 years after becoming a Mogaji before becoming an Olubadan; since they must cross 22 or 23 promotional hurdles.

He said, ``A situation where you have more than 200 Mogajis waiting in line to become Olubadan and, to make the matter worse, majority of these Mogajis are not educated and competent enough to rule over a big city like Ibadan, calls for a review. ``I want to call for a review that will make it impossible for such people to become Olubadan. What I can advise the Olubadan-inCouncil to do is to assess the current Mogajis and separate those who are not competent to become Olubadan. Make them advisers to the Olubadan and remove them from the chieftaincy lines. Baales should henceforth nominate young, educated and successful men of between 35 and 40 years to become Mogaji. To wait for 35 years before becoming Olubadan and reign for few years is not in our best interest.â&#x20AC;?

Contributing to the discourse, Olunloyo said that the Olubadan chieftaincy tradition, Chiefs Law and Subsidiary Laws were replete with contradictions and obstacles that needed urgent review in order to make ascendancy to the Olubadan throne problem-free. Dismissing the age-old mantra about the Olubadan chieftaincy promotion, he said that the process was not without rancour as widely believed.

The erudite scholar cited examples of the contention by the Seriki family and Iyalode chieftaincy lines to be accorded due recognition as examples of unresolved issues in the chieftaincy.

Olunloyo said, ``There are six obstacles in the way of an Olubadan. Some of these obstacles are in the Chiefs Laws and some are in the Subsidiary Law. The system is semi-promotional.

There was this Akinyo crisis when the late Oba Akinyele wanted to become Olubadan. In fact, what the law even says is that the Olubadan-in-council can choose from the four most senior chiefs in any line to become the next Kabiyesi, not necessarily the most senior.

Something must be done to reduce the lines and the rung of the ladder. We also need to remove all obstacles in the Chiefs Law.â&#x20AC;?

Corroborating this stance, Awe said that in spite of its touted uniqueness, the Olubadan traditional chieftaincy needed to be rejigged to encourage younger men to become Olubadan. What more can one say?

It is on record that the late Oba Odugade waited for 42 years after becoming Mogaji before he was installed as the Olubadan at the age of 93. The reigning Olubadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, mounted the throne at the age of 87 after staying on the queue for 40 years, just to cite the most recent examples.

The need for more beaded crown-wearing obas, aside the Olubadan, is also hinged on the need for the paramount ruler to be assisted in the traditional administration of the city. This will further strengthen the position of the Olubadan as the paramount ruler and imperial majesty in Ibadanland as applicable in Ogun, Osun and Ekiti States.

Rather than crucifying Ajimobi for taking this bold step, he should be commended and encouraged to extend the exercise to other towns and cities in the state whose chieftaincy laws need similar review. And for genuine and constructive critics, they will have the opportunity of making their submissions in written form before the judicial commission of inquiry when it begins public hearing. No doubt, such robust contributions will help the commission in arriving at a position that will be in the overall interest of the stakeholders. For now, let the naysayers sheathe their swords.

--Sadeeq is the Senior Special Assistant on Media (Print) to the Governor of Oyo State.

t THE TINUBU FACTOR IN YORUBA AND NIGERIAN AFFAIRStContinued from Page 75 political character. Yet he became a toast of not only the Southwest but of the North.

Tinubu himself is far from a politician that is subject to the self-interested will of others. And leadership, for me, is first and foremost, self-evident will power.

More significantly, leadership requires an ideological fuel that ought to become the source of ideas and ideals that can motivate policy conceptions and implementations.

Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s present season of anomie and the manifestation of obscene corruption reveal that ideology dies within the dense atmosphere of political greed. Is it possible to extricate Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu from the rubric of corrupt politicking? That is a question we must wait for time and

chance to reveal. But it seems to me that there is more to the Tinubu factor than achieving a grim certainty that he is a corrupt politician. Of more interest is the need to delimit a sphere of progressive politics in Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the kind of thinking that led to the evolution of Alliance for Democracy and later the APCâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;that will accommodate all democratic and patriotic minded politicians and patriots around the possibility of making Nigeria a democratically viable and developed country. Thus, can Nigerians see the forest for the trees? Is it not time for us to commence reclamation of those who possess the political wherewithal to lead a silent revolution of leadership in Nigeria? Can Tinubuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ethnic commitment

be excavated into a national development dynamic? In what sense can politicians and national figures like Tinubu and OBJ become the central discursive point in a leadership theory in Nigeria which speaks to a pragmatic understanding of politics as determined by flawed characters?

With Tinubu, we have an opportunity to commence an articulation of a Nigerian leadership theory that commences from where Nigeria is at the moment and then moves on to what possible progress we can achieve with what we have in terms of people and capitals. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Leadership,â&#x20AC;? Robin Sharma tells us, â&#x20AC;&#x153;is not about a title or a designation. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s about impact, influence and inspiration. Impact involves getting

results, influence is about spreading the passion you have for your workâ&#x20AC;Śâ&#x20AC;? If we can get beyond the present disillusionment we now have with the crop of politicians who raid our votes and destroy the commonwealth, we may actually begin to find a means of rethinking a framework of political leadership which, however flawed it may be, provides the most available juncture from which we can move forward as a nation. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, I argue, provides a good starting point in that reflection. â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Dr. Tunji Olaopa is the Executive Vice-Chairman, Ibadan School of Government & Public Policy (tolaopa@ isgpp.com.ng; tolaopa2003@gmail.com)

77

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The Ambode Story, Two Years After Gbolahan Akintunde

L

agos State is currently celebrating 50 years of her existence as a State created in 1967 and at the same time, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode is due for a mid-term assessment having spent two years in the saddle as the 5th elected Governor of Lagos state.

In the first few weeks that Ambode assumed office in 2015, not a few Lagosians expressed doubts as to whether Ambode would be able to match the performance of his predecessor, Raji Fashola. The reason for their apprehension was obvious as everything seemed to be turning upside down in the state.

He got his baptism of fire in less than two weeks in office when about four major fire outbreaks caused by fuel tankers were recorded in different parts of Lagos State; there was upsurge in armed robbery, traffic jam in many parts of the city with attendant traffic robbery, kidnapping and other sundry crimes. As if these were not enough, there was water shortage in the state for about one month due to a major fault in the equipment of the Lagos State Water Corporation. There were complaints in almost all sectors and Ambode received bashing left and right while he was accused of ineptitude and incompetence.

Instead of being disillusioned with the hydra-headed problems and knocks he received left and right, they became his energiser and he confronted the problems headlong. He gave succour to the victims of tanker fire incidents and took steps to prevent reoccurrence. He confronted the problem of insecurity, traffic gridlock, decayed infrastructure especially roads, water, education and health infrastructures. In no time, Ambode found his bearing and gathered momentum as he set to work.

In assessing the Ambode administration in the last two years, it is important to note that Ambode keyed into the Lagos state Development plan and this he reiterated in his inaugural speech when he said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;In the spirit of continuity, I have keyed into the Development Plan of Lagos State which are grouped into four; Social Development and Security, Infrastructural Development, Economic Development and Sustainable Environmentâ&#x20AC;?. This is possible because of the unbroken chain of progressive civilian administrations in the state right from the Lateef Jakande era down to the Tinubu, Fasola eras which Ambode now inherited.

Under his Infrastructural Agenda, a first time visitor to Lagos today may not appreciate the transformation that has taken place in the city and its satellite towns in the last two years as somebody who visited Lagos two years ago. What will give any visitor entering Lagos from the Ibadan end through Berger bus stop an inkling of the transformation that has taken place in Lagos is the new long world class pedestrian bridge which has changed the face of that area previously known for its filth, rowdiness and traffic gridlock.

Berger pedestrian bridge which is well lit, is an edifice befitting a megacity like Lagos.

There is also the Ojota Pedestrian bridge, the Ajah flyover, the Abule Egba flyover, the Aboru/ Abesan link bridge which were all constructed and commissioned by Ambode. In conjunction with the Local governments, he has executed 114 road projects covering about 600kilometres in all the 57 Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas of the Statewhile at least, construction of two new roads per LCDA are ongoing. Slip road and lay-by were constructed in Ketu-Alapere while a Segregated Bus Park was constructed in Oworonshoki. The Ajido-Imeke Link Bridge in Badagry was completed.

A drive through the streets of Lagos at night will reveal that the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Operation Light Up Lagosâ&#x20AC;? is fully on stream as many areas that were hitherto in darkness have been lit up and everywhere is as bright as day. From Berger to Ikeja, Agege Motor Road, 7& 8 Bus Stop Inwards Murtala Mohammed Airport, Third Mailand Bridge, Lagos -Abeokuta Expresway, Capitol Road, CIPM Road-Alausa, College Road Ogba, Ile-Epo Inwards Ekoro-Abule Egba, Ipaja Road, Aboru/ Abesan link bridge, Abule Egba bridge, Ajah bridge and so many others are well lit. A noticeable feature of the roads constructed or rehabilitated by Ambode is that they all come with streetlights so this actually helped the light up project as this has also reduced crime and boosted night life once again.

Ambode had rehabilitated and erected streetlights in 366 locations in the state. He upgraded Tafawa Balewa Square, Tinubu Square, constructed blocks of classrooms in primary and secondary schools as well as mini-water works such as the Mosan-Okunola mini-water works to improve the level of water supply in the state.

The removal of six round abouts along Lekki-Epe Expressway axis and replacing them with trafficlight alternation system has resulted in traffic flow in that area. The Construction of Bus Rapid Transport garage in Ikeja is ongoing.

In the health sector, Ambode commissioned 20 Mobile Intensive Care Units Ambulances and 26 Transport Ambulances deployed across the various General Hospitals and 24 hour primary healthcare centres in the state. While more paramedic staff and medical coordinators were recruited, the General Hospitals were upgraded with manpower and equipment with standby generators purchased for each of them.

Under his Social Development and Security agenda, Ambode re-organised the civil service for more effective service delivery by realigning some ministries and scrapping others while appointing 19 new Permanent Secretaries. He ensured that the welfare of workers and pensioners is paramount and this is evident in prompt payment of salaries and other emoluments in a country where some oil producing states owe workers and pensioners as much as 8 months salary and allowances.

To ensure the security of lives and property of Lagosians,

Ambode Ambode moved boldly to purchase, launched and distributed security equipment to security agencies in the state in the month of November 2015 and May 2016. He purchased security equipment worth N6.8billion. These include, 100 4-Door Salon Cars, 55 Ford Ranger Pick-Ups, 10 Toyota Land Cruiser Pick-Ups, 15 BMW Power Bikes, 100 Power Bikes, Isuzu Trucks, three (3) Helicopters, two(2) Gun Boats, 15 Armoured Personnel Carriers, Revolving Lights, Siren and Public Address System, Vehicular Radio Communicators, Security Gadgets including Bullet Proof Vests, Helmets, Handcuffs, etc, Uniforms, Kits and Improved Insurance and Death Benefit Schemes for officers.

Aside this, more equipment worth billions of Naira, have been bought for the security agencies and this has largely helped in reducing crime rate in the state.

Recently, in order to encourage security agents to put their all in securing lives and property and if possible pay the supreme price, he presented cheques totalling N55 million to the families of officers who lost their lives in the Ishawo area of Ikorodu after an ambush by militants. Each family of the dead policemen and an army officer got N10 million each while an injured officer got N5m. Ambodeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s effort and encouragement yielded immediate result as crime was reduced to the barest minimum. The Ikorodu bank robbers escaped through the waterways with a speedboat but were apprehended few weeks after the incident while the prompt and professional rescue of the abducted Ikorodu school girls six days after they were kidnapped and the arrest of the kidnappers was prompt and remarkable.

Mrs Ruth Uche, the mother of three sets of twins whose husband absconded from home was rehabilitated and reunited with her husband. Similarly, there was a lifeline for the 2015 baby of the year who was diagnosed with a heart defect and underwent surgery.

To stem the tide of sexual and domestic violence in the state, the Governor convened a meeting with the Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) with a charge to intensify sensitization against the dastardly act to give a voice to the victims and also bring perpetrators to justice. The Governor approved the use of the 112 toll free line to report cases of rape, defilement, domestic violence, child abuse, neglect, maltreatment and other sexual assaults. Many destitutes and mentally deranged persons were rehabilitated and some were reunited with their families.

The Economic Development agenda is the efforts of the Ambode administration in taking the state out of recession such that it has become a model for the Federal government in its bid to take Nigeria out of recession. Ambode has reflated the economy of the state by embarking on more capital projects and also created a conducive environment for small and medium scale businesses to thrive during the period of recession.

The empowerment programme of the state government through the Empowerment Trust Fund saw many beneficiaries

who have since invested the fund to improve their businesses.

The launch of the LAKE rice sold to Lagosians at an affordable price is a joint venture between Lagos State and Kebbi State. This shows the government is thinking outside the box. The Operation of The Single Treasury Account (TSA) has tremendously improved the internally generated revenue (IGR) in the state with the state saving N3billion naira monthly. Ambode, who retired from the civil service of the state as the Accountant General has put his experience and financial wizardry into play by employing many revenue generating methods without actually imposing tax over burden on the citizens. This has tremendously increased the monthly Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the State to N23 billion from N20 billion generated in 2013 with a plan to hit the N30 billion mark in 2017 and N50 billion in 2018.

In his bid to attract investors to the state and make it the foremost investorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; destination, Ambode received the President of Namibia, Dr Hage Geingob the second day he was sworn in, whom he had fruitful discussions with about the desirability of Lagos State as investorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; destination. Since then, the Governor had met several groups of local and foreign investors including President of Dangote Group of Companies, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, investors from Dubai, United States of America, as well as envoys from several European and Middle East countries. The government has received approximately $43 billion investment proposition in the last one year.

Under the Sustainable Environment agenda, the efforts of the Ambode administration in ensuring a cleaner Lagos comes underfocus. The waste disposal system has been upgraded with the introduction of the new waste disposal regime aimed at ensuring a cleaner Lagos while illegal structures that constitute threat to human lives have been demolished. Water hyacinth removal equipment were purchased to make Lagos waters safe.

The traffic gridlock in the state was tackled with all seriousness.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASMA) was overhauled and the officers re- orientated with a view to making the agency have a human face and at the same time, ensure free flow of traffic. Mobile courts were inaugurated in the state to summarily try recalcitrant drivers and this has made the traffic situation in the state better.

Ambode has transformed the State owned Higher institutions like the Lagos Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) by constructing and equipping the Intensive Care Unit, Lagos State University (LASU) where he constructed the Faculty of Science Complex, the Faculty of Law Twin Duplexes and the LASU Radio which he has commissioned; Michael Otedola College of Primary Education.

For sure, space will not allow a comprehensive data of what Ambode has achieved in two years of being in the saddle.

But he has demonstrated leadership, unusual passion, more than enough capacity and unmatched pragmatism. Apart from rekindling hope in many Lagosians, he has in his words, â&#x20AC;&#x153;demystified governanceâ&#x20AC;?. With this, there is every reason to believe that the next two years would bring forth greater tidings. â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Akintunde, an economist, writes from Surulere, Lagos

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PERSPECTIVE

RCCGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Excel Conference and the Change Mantra Zik Zulu Okafor

I

t was not a conference of prophets. It was never heralded as one. But it turned out prophetic. The prophecy? Change!

And the fore-runner of this change to come is the Excel Conference.

This is the inspirational story of the Apapa family of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, under their leader, Pastor Idowu Iluyomade.

In 2007, the head of Apapa family, Pastor Asuquo Ernest Mfon, best known as Pastor Eskor, took a triumphant bow from mother earth. He was succeeded by a youthful, innovative and intellective lawyer, and pastor of the Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Court Parish of RCCG, Idowu Iluyomade, fondly called Pastor ID. For a family that today comprises over 1500 parishes spread across Africa, USA, Europe, Asia and Oceania, Pastor ID, through a spiritual odyssey, cut a vision to create a rendezvous for a yearly convergence of these parishes spread across the globe. Welcome to the Excel Conference. But beyond being a confluence of spiritual erudition and musical ministration, Excel turned out a divine revolutionary platform that triggered unprecedented Christian social responsibility, CSR and curiously raised a voice for Change. And for five years this family dwelt on the Change factor which many an observer would later dub a prophecy for what happened in the political scene in 2015.

The object of this piece however is not to interrogate the veracity of this political hypothesis. The focus rather is a post mortem as Excel turns the next page at ten.

And come Sunday, June 4, 2017, at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, beginning 7.00am, Excel will once again be re-enacted, as the General Overseer, Pastor Adeboye mounts the pulpit. But this will only be a climax to a decade of astounding unique spiritual experience capped annually with staggering charity projects.

Now, letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rewind. At the inaugural conference in 2008 with the theme Regrouping to Relaunch, the Apapa Family rebranded its social reformatory vehicles to become more relevant to society. Ten water bore-holes drilled for Nigeria Police Barracks at Alausa, MOPOL

Pastor Adebayo 22, Ikeja and MOPOL 20, Area F, all in Lagos, beamed a flood light into the beneficent heart of the Apapa Family. From this moment, this band of change agents would collaborate with Lagos state government and other public sector institutions in establishing projects in areas of healthcare, education, infrastructure, citizen welfare and capacity building.

This Family extended the boundaries of hope and altruistic love in 2009. Spurred by that yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Excel theme of Impacting Your World, these gallant soldiers for God worked alongside the quietly celebrated operators of the Mercy Ship, a 67-bed hospital in a ship which that year, berthed at the Port of Cotonou in Benin Republic. In a soul-lifting undiscriminatory gesture, the Apapa Family sent members of the public, irrespective of their faith or tribe for specialized surgeries on facial tumors, cleft lips, cleft palates and cataracts.

In the same year, Apapa Family endowed N50 million Professorial Chair in Mathematics at the University of Lagos, in honour of their General Overseer, Pastor Adeboye, who indeed holds a doctorate degree in Applied Mathemat-

ics. The endowment was first of its kind by any individual or faith-based organization in Nigeria. This family, in the next five years would endow professorial chair in Mathematics in honour of the G.O to the tune of about N250 million in leading Nigerian universities including University of Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo University, and University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

With political leaders and umpires calling the wrong shots, with public institutions, ministries, parastals and agencies showing palpable decay as corruption stank, and governance withered, Excel of 2010 revved a sound that is still today at issue. Leading Change was the theme. For the Apapa Family, it was clear that the social, economic and political prognoses of the time challenged both their faith and grace in the race to save a withering nation.

For this reason, at the Leadership Dinner that hallmarked the yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Excel, Apapa Family invited the young inspiring political figures of the time that included Raji Fashola, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi and Olusegun Mimiko, all state governors at the time, plus the world renowned Bahamian evangelist, speaker, author and Leadership Consultant, Myles Monroe (now late), who served as the Guest Speaker.

Together, they set an agenda for change through raising a new people to reconstruct their nation and sustain a march towards their envisioned Nigeria.

In 2011, the Apapa Family established the Cancer Screening and Diagnostic Centre in Suru-Lere, Lagos with the Excel theme of Impact Through Change, which indeed has screened over 100,000 people at subsidized rates.

With Change Catalyst in 2012, the Apapa Family raised the profile of their poverty alleviation programme, feeding about 60,000 people every Sunday in Lagos. This humane venture called A Can can Make a Difference which mainly touches people on the lower wrung of the ladder delivered over 400 million packs of food in the last 10 years. With about N682 million spent on this programme every year especially in the last six years, Apapa Family, has expended about N2.5 billion just so that those weak and vulnerable people that the vicissitudes of life have rendered destitute, may have a decent meal, at least, once a week.

This great family in a quiet revolution of

hope, broke new grounds and raised the bar in Christian Social Responsibility, CSR, as they installed solar-powered lights in five streets at Akala in Mushin, a suburb of Lagos. Then came 2013, Excel called on Nigerians to Be the Change as they set up Healing Stripes- Dialysis and Diagnostic Centre, which to date, has attended to over 13,000 patients at subsidized costs, irrespective of religion or tribe. Still it gives 30 free dialysis sessions every month and has carried out over 3,500 free dialysis since officially opened in 2013.

This massive medical initiative is complimented by Arise Women, an initiative of Pastor Siju Iluyomade, wife of the head of Apapa Family. Since its maiden conference in 2009, over 5000 women have been impacted and inspired to drive the needed change in their families while several thousands have benefitted from the Arise Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s free medical screening in the areas of HIV tests, Eye tests, cervical Cancer, Blood Pressure and Sugar Level tests among others.

Today, the Apapa Family is reconstructing and equipping an Intensive Care Unit, ICU, at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, to be named after the RCCGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s General Overseer and his wife, Pastors Enoch and Folu Adeboye.

The year 2015 ushered in the theme of Riding on the Wings of Change. This was the year that a Presidential candidate, using the Change mantra defeated an incumbent president for the first time in Nigeria. Questions were then raised on whether the Apapa Family was being prophetic, whether they saw tomorrow and whether they inspired the political party.

With Sustaining Change in 2016 leading to equipping of 350 primary schoolsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; libraries in Lagos with a promise to make it 500, the Apapa Family sits back after a decade of Excel to look at The Pains and Gains of Change.

But for pastor ID, it is all gain, for in his words, â&#x20AC;&#x153;it gives us infinite pleasure to contribute to Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work, assured as in First Samuel, Chapter 2, that â&#x20AC;&#x153;those who honour God, God will honourâ&#x20AC;?.

Long Live Apapa Family! Long Live Redeemed Christian Church of God! ---Zik Zulu Okafor, Nigeria Media Merit Award winner, wrote from Lagos.

In Defence of Nigerian Poets and the NLNG Prize Ikeogu Oke

F

ew things I have read in my nearly thirty yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; close association with poetry has elicited empathy for oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fellow talented, hardworking but unsuccessful human beings â&#x20AC;&#x201C; those whose promise is inhibited by their environment â&#x20AC;&#x201C; like this quatrain from Thomas Grayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Elegy Written in a Country Churchyardâ&#x20AC;?: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Full many a gem of purest ray serene,/The dark unfathomâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d caves of ocean bear:/Full many a flowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;r is born to blush unseen,/And waste its sweetness on the desert air.â&#x20AC;?

The quatrain conveys a message similar to that of Jesus in the parable of the sower: about seeds which â&#x20AC;&#x201C; not of their own making â&#x20AC;&#x201C; fell by the roadside, on rock or among thorns, and so either could not germinate or germinated but could not grow sustainably and eventually withered. Also, its purport is similar to that of the remark by the character in Chinua Achebeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Things Fall Apart who said that â&#x20AC;&#x153;those whose palm-kernels were cracked for them by a benevolent spirit should not forget to be humble.â&#x20AC;?

But here lies the uniqueness of poetry: it says something similar with language sculpted to perfection, in that telling and moving manner that makes it the heart and jewel of literature â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the most sensitive and beautiful exemplification of belles-lettres.

Truly, one cannot be a poet and be disposed to insensitivity, let alone cruelty. Both are symptoms of a malevolent heart; and a poet must have a good heart. For Gray could have chosen to tell us that the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s population of failures are those receiving their desserts for their â&#x20AC;&#x153;laziness, and mediocrityâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; two charges a certain Nigerian critic has levelled against Nigerian poets â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and who deserve the contempt of the successful. But he preferred, with such insight that perhaps only a poet can possess, to use their plight to draw our attention to the fact that among such people are those who would have been successful but for the harsh fate imposed on them by their environments.

In two related internet publications, the said critic pilloried Nigerian poets and the Nigeria Prize for Literature instituted by the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG).

First, in a publication entitled â&#x20AC;&#x153;The NLNG Prize for literature: Honouring phantom books, laziness, and mediocrity,â&#x20AC;? he remarked that â&#x20AC;&#x153;just TWOâ&#x20AC;? (his emphasis) â&#x20AC;&#x153;of the eleven booksâ&#x20AC;? shortlisted for the 2013 edition of the prize dedicated to poetry â&#x20AC;&#x153;were available for sale online or anywhere,â&#x20AC;? and then declared: â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is quite simply appalling, no, disgraceful, that the NLNG Prize is in danger of being given to a book that no one else but the judges has seenâ&#x20AC;Ś.It is a mockery of

literature and a huge farce that the NLNG will spend $850,000 annually to honour what amounts to laziness on the part of book publishers and writersâ&#x20AC;Ś.It is hard to justify giving $100,000 to an author for a book that only 20 or fewer people have read.â&#x20AC;?

In a further excoriation of the prize and its administrators that incorporates abuse, he said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I know Nigeria honours patriarchy and gerontocracy but the NLNG prize does not have to replicate such foolishness. There is nothing wrong with having one or two elderly professors on the judgeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s panel but â&#x20AC;ŚI am saying include someone really young and knowledgeableâ&#x20AC;Ś.â&#x20AC;?

Then he had this to say about two of the works shortlisted for the 2013 edition of the prize: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am sure that Nnadiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and Ogochukwuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s are â&#x20AC;Ś drop-dead gorgeous, offering awesome writing and deeply profound vision. It is just that we have not seen them.â&#x20AC;? How can a â&#x20AC;&#x153;criticâ&#x20AC;? say he is â&#x20AC;&#x153;so sureâ&#x20AC;? of the beauty and profundity of the vision of books he confesses not to have seen and yet expect to be taken seriously by anyone interested in objectivity?

Then, he begins a subsequent publication focussed on the 2017 edition of the prize with a snide remark about â&#x20AC;&#x153;the NLNG Prize â&#x20AC;Ś for Nigerian writers â&#x20AC;Ś with its attendant farce,â&#x20AC;? and explicates: â&#x20AC;&#x153;This year, it is the turn of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;poetsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; to fight over a whopping $100,000. Approximately 200 Nigerians pretending to be â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;poetsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; have applied for the $100,000. Of course, you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need a special certificate to be called a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;poetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;Ś just staple a bunch of words together, stamp an ISBN on it, voila you are a poet. I am pleasantly surprised to learn that we have 200 â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;poetsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; in Nigeria. It would be great to see the list of these beautiful souls. Of course, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all malu droppingsâ&#x20AC;ŚYes, $100,000 is an absurd amount to waste on just one individual. For what? What have they written?â&#x20AC;?

Indeed, as a Nigerian poet and someone who takes poetry seriously enough to consider it his occupation, I take exception to being characterised singly or together with my work among the said criticâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s malu (cow) droppings. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think we should ignore those who belittle or insult what we believe in. But beyond this, I am aware that a close scrutiny â&#x20AC;&#x201C; as I engage in here â&#x20AC;&#x201C; of his criticisms of the NLNG, its prize and Nigerian poets can reveal their utter lack of justification.

First, by trying to discourage the NLNG from awarding the prize to what he calls â&#x20AC;&#x153;phantom booksâ&#x20AC;? because, according to him, â&#x20AC;&#x153;only 20 or fewer people have readâ&#x20AC;? them, he unfairly transfers the blame for systemic problems of poor reading culture and book distribution to Nigerian poets and the NLNG whose prize can actually contribute to solving these problems by engendering

literary creativity, facilitating the discovery of literary talent, and uncovering hidden gems of writers and literary works a la Thomas Gray, whose subsequent exposure by other relevant stakeholders can improve access to such works and their readership.

Besides, a book can enjoy wide distribution, depending on the clout and resources of the author and publisher, without having literary merit, and vice-versa. And the NLNG insists that its prize is awarded strictly for literary excellence. Any criticism of the organisation or the prize outside this frame of reference is misplaced.

Then, disparaging such a â&#x20AC;&#x153;highâ&#x20AC;? population claim of Nigerian poets with a scornful remark that one does not need a special certificate to be a poet reflects inadequate understanding of how the world works. For instance, you also do not need a special certificate to be a marathoner. And 45, 000 people entered for the 2016 New York City Marathon, and annul event, which had a prize money of over $800,000, of which the male and female champions each received $100,000 like the winner of the NLNG prize. And if such a far higher number of uncertificated participants and prize money, which may be won by an obscure athlete, does not elicit gripe from the said critic, why would a similar case involving Nigerian poets and the NLNG prize?

Curiously, even having someone born in 1970, now 47 years old, among the judges for the prize this year could not dissuade him from recycling his criticism of the prize as â&#x20AC;&#x153;supervised by gerontocratsâ&#x20AC;?. The truth, however, is that age and the attendant experience are assets rather than liabilities in the adjudication of literary prizes, since an old and experienced scholar, writer or poet is more likely to have read more vastly and so more likely to properly assess any of the wide range of entries usually submitted for such prizes.

It is true that our country desperately needs improvement across sectors. But I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think the way to achieve this is by subjecting individuals, groups and organisations sincerely trying their best to create value with such criticism that offers as much hope as a venomous bite. If we choose not to love, commit and build, we would never lack something to complain about. This applies to our personal relationships as to our relationship with our country.

Anyone who lives in our country and so has had a first-hand familiarity with socio-political developments in it in the past two years would admit that it is one peculiar place where positive change can be difficult to bring about despite the good intention, commitment and hard work of whoever may wish to do so. But then the critic in question, Ikhide Ikheloa, does not live in our country.

Oke, a poet and public affairs analyst, lives in Abuja.

T H I S D AY SUNDAY MAY 28, 2017

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CICEROXTRA

P

rominent politicians, top government functionaries, captains of industry, family members and friends yesterday attended the funeral service of Dame Patricia Anenih, wife of former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih, at St. Anthony Catholic Cathedral, Uromi, Edo State. Here are some of the faces at the burial.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan (right) and Chief Tony Anenih

L-R: Former Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole and Alhaji Aliko Dangote

Chief Anenih and his son, Tony Anenih Jnr.

Benin Palace chiefs at the event

Chief James Ibori and his wife, Senami Sosu

Senator Abubakar Mahdi and his wife

Senator Stella Omu and a guest

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž Í°ÍśË&#x153; Í°ÍŽÍŻÍľ

CICEROXTRA

Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and Chief Anenih

R-L: Chief Anenih, his wife, Justice Maryann Anenih, and Gombe State Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo

R-L: Former Governors of Delta State James Ibori and Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan; Minority Leader, House of Representatives, Hon Leo Ogor; Dr. Cairo Ojuogbo, and the Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. SheriďŹ&#x20AC; Oborevwori

A cross-section of Chief Anenihâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s family members

Another cross-section of family members

Esama of the Benin Kingdom, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF LAGOS STATE (1)

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R Ëž ÍşÎ&#x20AC;Ë&#x153; ͺ͸͚Ϳ

NEWSXTRA Computer Glitch Forces BA to Cancel Lagos-London Flight, Others Chinedu Eze

UK mega carrier, British Airways has cancelled its LagosLondon and other flights around the world due to computer glitch. Thousands of passengers were stranded at Heathrow and Gatwick airports in London and other airports around the world.

In Nigeria stranded passen-

gers were disappointed that they could not leave for London last night even as the airline assured them that it would reschedule their flight as it moved to resolve the glitch.

THISDAY learnt that airline officials had to manually process passengers at airports including San Francisco, Seattle and Phoenix, delaying the departures

of dozens of London-bound transatlantic flights.

This means that passengers already booked on the BA flights could not travel as officials of the airline in Lagos were frantically working to reach virtually all the intending travellers on the problem which grounded the airlineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s operations worldwide.

TISDAY also learnt that

Abuja flight which left early yesterday was not affected because the computer glitch, as the airline said there was no evidence to indicate the airlineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s system was hacked.

BA Country Commercial Manager, Mr. Kola Olayinka was reported to have explained that Lagos flight expected to depart at 11.40pm Saturday was

cancelled as the plane could not leave London because of the problem. He was also reported to have explained that the Abuja flight departed shortly before the glitch. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tonightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s flight (Saturday night) has been cancelled. The Abuja flight left before the glitch.

They are trying to resolve the problem. The flight left before

the glitch. It will be resolved. Our flight tonight to Lagos has been cancelled and we are hoping to restore the problems as soon as possible. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are working closely with the airline to resolve this and are advising passengers to check the status of their flight before travelling to the airportâ&#x20AC;?, Olayinka was quoted to have said.

House Câ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ttee on Public Procurement Visits NPA on Oversight Function Anayo Okolie

Members of the Public Procurement Committee of the House of Representatives yesterday paid a visit to the headquarters of the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) in Lagos.

The visit was part of the oversight functions of the committee in order to ensure transparency in the activities of the maritime authority.

Chairman of the committee, Hon. Oluwole Oke, was accompanied by other members of the committee, which included Hon. Nasiru Garo, Hon. Kako Are, Hon. Gabriel Africa Onyenwife, Hon. Diri Douye, Hon. Mayowa Akinnifemi, Hon. Solomon Maren, Hon. Ibrahim Abdulahi Dutse, Hon. Nicolas Osai Osai, Hon. Mohammed

Nur Sheriff, and Assistant Clerk, Mrs Funsho Babalola.

They were received by the Executive Director of NPA, Dr. Dans Solwate, and his team.

Oke, during the meeting, noted that the mission of the oversight function was to improve the system by educating the authorities so as not to fall victim to any act of wrongdoing.

According to him, â&#x20AC;&#x153;the executive arm of government perceives the legislature as an enemy, whereas, we need synergy between the two arms to strengthen the agencies in adhering to the rule of law.â&#x20AC;?

However, members of the committee could not hide their dismay as the NPA management appeared not to be ready for the meeting despite the

committeeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s early notice of the visit.

The meeting, which was supposed to take place at the National Assembly, was shifted to Lagos because of NPAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ap-

peal that their procurement records were rather voluminous and would require a chartered aircraft to be conveyed to the National Assembly.

The first case ever deter-

mined on interpretation of the provisions of the Public Procurement Act 2007 stemmed from the activities of NPA, which led to the conviction of Chief Olabode George and six

others.

Since the NPA representatives were not ready, one of the committee members moved a motion for adjournment and to reconvene on Tuesday, May 30.

Caleb British Intâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;l School Bags Award The final of the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s annual Global Canvas Art and Poetry competition for children showcased a fabulous celebration of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Our Precious Planetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, the theme for this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s event, held at the Natural History Museum in London on March 23. Caleb British International School was awarded the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Best International Entryâ&#x20AC;? at the final exhibition.

Over 1,800 children from art groups and schools in the UK

and overseas entered the 2017 competition with a shortlist of 15 schools invited to display their work at Londonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s famous museum, Caleb British International School was the only shortlisted school from Africa. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Being one of the shortlisted finalists was a prize in itself as choosing the winners from so many inspiring and creative entries was a hugely difficult task,â&#x20AC;? says DSWF Education Manager, Jo Elphick. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Global Canvas Art and

Poetry competition is part of the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Art for Survival programme.

Established in 2004 it aims to encourage young people to express their concern for the environment and, in particular, endangered species with which we share our fragile planet. Of notable interest is the fact that a selection of our artwork submitted was created on Newspaper in an attempt to express the need for environmental sustainability and in line with our

IN THE HIGH COURT OF LAGOS STATE (2)

vision of becoming the first â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Green Schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; in Nigeria. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Art teacher, Prince Olusegun Adeniyi, is passionate about raising the standard of Art Education, encourage new talents and nurture creativity for sustainable development. He has prepared his art students for quite number of art competition and the Global Canvas Art and Poetry competition is the recent CBISâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s monumental achievement at global levelâ&#x20AC;?, he added.

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SUNDAYSPORTS

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

Arsenal Beat Chelsea, Win Record 13th FA Cup

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rsene Wenger secured his record seventh FA Cup final win as Arsenal produced a magnificent display to win a Wembley thriller against 10man Chelsea, yesterday. Alexis Sanchez gave Arsenal the lead in contentious fashion after only four minutes, when referee Antony Taylor overruled his assistant after he had flagged for offside against Aaron Ramsey.

The Premier League champions also claimed Sanchez handled in the build-up. And their task became even harder when Victor Moses was correctly sent off by Taylor in the second half after receiving a second yellow card for diving.

Diego Costa revived Chelseaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hopes of a repeat of their league and FA Cup double in 2010 when Arsenal keeper David Ospina failed to keep out his deflected shot with 14 minutes left. Arsenal, outstanding throughout, refused to be denied and were back in front inside three minutes when Ramsey, who scored the FA Cup final winner against Hull City in 2014, did it again with a header from substitute Olivier Giroudâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cross.

Wenger pumped his fists in delight at the final whistle, as a season that has brought so much criticism for the 67-year-old Frenchman, ended in Wembley glory with a record 13th FA Cup win for the Gunners.

After the match he said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;We had an outstanding performance from the first minute onwards. This team has suffered. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve united and responded. They showed strength and unity and played spectacular football today. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m proud to have won seven of these cups.

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m proud having done this - winning the championship without losing and winning seven FA Cups.â&#x20AC;?

On the other hand, Antonio Conte wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t so pleased with the outcome of the match. He said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think the first goal was very strange. The first half we didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t start well, we didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have the right approach and we suffered in first 25 minutes. We started to play better in the second half and the red card was decisive.

Ramsey (in red) scoring the winning goal for Arsenal yesterday

F1: Raikkonen Takes Monaco GP Pole, Hamilton 14th

Abdullahi Condoles with Kwara United over Death of Player

Kimi Raikkonen is on pole position for the Monaco Grand Prix as Lewis Hamilton took 14th at Formula 1â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biggest race. The 37-year-old Finn is at the front of the grid for the first time in nine years - his last pole was the 2008 French Grand Prix.

Raikkonen edged out team-mate Sebastian Vettel by 0.043 seconds, with Mercedesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Valtteri Bottas 0.002secs further back.

Jenson Button will start from the back after qualifying ninth on his return to F1 because of a grid penalty. Hamilton struggled with a lack of grip, and had to abort two laps after almost crashing, and then came across another crashed car on his final lap. The Mercedes driver had been struggling since second practice on Thursday afternoon and, despite setup changes for yesterday morning, he was still struggling going into qualifying.

He was 10th in the first session, 0.3secs off Bottas, but the second session began unravelling from the start.

Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has commiserated with the Kwara United Football Club over the sudden death of its player Saka Azeez during training. Abdullahi said he was saddened by the demise of the defender who was full of life and contributed to the success of the Ilorin-based team before his shocking exit. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;I understand that he was a good man and great footballer with bright prospects before his death. I was shocked by the news and could not imagine that a man who was so full of life and energy would just pass away just like that.

Raikkonen is on his ďŹ rst pole in nine years

Meanwhile Ferrari face a dilemma. As their main title contender, Vettel will start as a strong favourite for victory today, but Bottas is in the same place on the grid as he was when he won in Russia a month ago. Ferrari have never said that Vettel has number one status but it is widely believed within the paddock that he does.

Ferrari therefore face a conundrum - do they let the two drivers race and potentially have Raikkonen win, or engineer a situation that enables Vettel to take the flag and maximise his points gain against Hamilton, who is six points behind heading into the race?

Raikkonen said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;We know what we are doing. We are racing for the team. We have certain rules. We are allowed to fight but we cannot take each other off. People expect it to be something different from the last two years. Nothing has changed. People just try to make a stupid story out of nothing.â&#x20AC;?

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;I commiserate with the footballers, managements and fans of the team. I pray that God gives them the fortitude to bear the loss,â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; he said.

Abdullahi who is a former minister of sports also called on football and sports administrators in the country to ensure that all their players are fit and undergo regular medical check-ups to prevent the cases of sudden death of players. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I believe regular medical check-ups are essential for the safety, wellbeing and even performance of sportsmen and women. We should invest sufficiently in them and unfit footballers should not be fielded.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;

Badminton: Ex- President, Justice Senchi, Dismisses Allegation of Conflict of Interest President of the recently dissolved Board of Badminton Federation of Nigeria( BFN), Justice Danlami Senchi, has said his headship of the sports association as President for several years was not in conflict with his role as a Judge of the FCT High Court neither did he violate the code of ethics guiding the appointment and functioning of judicial officers.

Justice Senchi who was recently elected President of the Confederation of Badminton in Africa (BCA) was reacting to a news report in a national newspaper credited to one Folusho Davies, a former player who claimed to have dispatched a petition to the National Judicial Council asking the body to mete out disciplinary actions against the Jurist for alleged violation of code of conduct for judges.

In a statement in Abuja at the weekend

however, Justice Senchi said his assignment as President of BFN was purely a philanthropic activity adding the post did not attract any salary or emoluments. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Petition allegedly dispatched to the National Judicial Council asking the revered body to punish Justice Senchi for alleged violation of the rules by serving as President of the Federation is pure work of mischief, envy and malice. A copy of the petition was not availed Justice Senchi nor any member of the board as civilized conduct requires. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We wish to state emphatically that there is no conflict of interest neither is there any case of violation of code of conduct for judicial officers

by Justice Senchi as alleged in the report under reference. The Presidency of BFN does not attract salary or emoluments. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s purely a high level of sports philanthropy,â&#x20AC;? the statement read in part.

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R Ëž Í°ÍśË&#x153; Í°ÍŽÍŻÍľ

High Life

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...Amazing lifestyles of Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rich and famous

Blissful Matrimony! Gumsu Abacha and Husband Celebrate 18th Wedding Anniversary

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oth of them, for the ďŹ rst time in their lives felt something diďŹ&#x20AC;erent, extremely passionate, scary yet enjoyable. They basked and sojourned in the lush, blissful vales of each otherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s passion and warmth.

Despite the sneers and sniggers that preceded her wedding many years ago to a Cameroonian billionaire, Mohamadou Bayero Fadil, Gumsu, the beautiful and very outspoken daughter of late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, has weathered the storms and recently celebrated 18 years of marital adventurism. Together, the couple has ďŹ ve children, six stepchildren and one adopted son. To celebrate the milestone, the social media savvy beauty posted a throwback photo with her husband during their courtship on her Instagram and wrote, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Alhamdulillahâ&#x20AC;ŚIt all started in 1996. We tied the knot in 1999. Alhamdulillah, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been a wonderful 18years with 5 beautiful children, six step children and one adopted son. May Allah (SWT) continue to make it easy for us. Amin.â&#x20AC;? She continued, this time in vernacular, â&#x20AC;&#x153;18 years of marriage no be chinchin o ... Tolerance.. Love... Respect..

Patience... Prayers. To all those tatafo people, i still de inside kampe!! Una say i no ďŹ t stay for marriage... some say i be ajebutter that i canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t handle it... I heard all sorts of stories some even said e no go pass one week. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nothing i didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t hear..

Nothing people didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t say. Well a lot of una never even see husband up till now...... clap for una selves o. I am here and I will be here forever by Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s grace. Insha Allah.â&#x20AC;?

Dapo Abiodun

MULTIPLE CELEBRATION FOR DAPO ABIODUN Today would remain indelible in the minds of many of Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wealthiest men, especially those in the 40 to 65 age bracket. It is the birthday of debonair Dapo Abiodun, managing director of Heyden Oil and Gas. Actually, Dapo was born May 29th, which falls on a Monday this year. So, today is the day he has set aside to celebrate his 57th birthday and to officially declare open his new venture, an exclusive lounge called 12 Temple. Located in a serene part of Ikoyi, 12 Temple,

sources say, would operate a strict members-only door policy to allow an element of discretion and to avoid the raucousness associated with the jet-set and hip crowd. Primed to be a serious networking epicentre, 12 Temple is not for clients competing for the biggest drinks bill with the table next to them like kids in a sandpit competing to build the biggest castle. It is going to be a regular pit stop for decision makers, private jet-flying businessmen and aristocrats wanting a whirligig of an evening in a cool, chic place.

Trust Dapo, he has brought his cosmopolitan taste to bear on the new lounge. But there is more to be celebrated for Dapo who is eyeing the governorship seat of Ogun State in the next election beyond his birthday and opening of a new lounge. Business just got better as Heyden is among the consortium of indigenous oil companies that recently won the much-talked about Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, oil-for-product swaps.

You would recall that the NNPC recently signed the $6 billion worth of deals to exchange more than 300,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil for imported gasoline and diesel. According to reports, for this year, the contract is given to an international oil trader/refiner, who then partners an indigenous oil marketing company. And there were three more oil consortiums than last year, reflecting Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Gumsu Abacha with hubby, Fadil

increased reliance on the NNPC for fuel imports. The lucky companies are Trafigura, which is partnering A.A. Rano; Petrocam, partnering Ranoil and Falcon; Mocoh, partnering Heyden; Cepsa, partnering Oando; Sahara, partnering Societe Ivorienne de Raffinage, SIR; and Mercuria, partnering Matrix and Rahamaniya. Others are Socar, Litasco and Vitol, whose indigenous partners are Hyde, MRS and Varo respectively. It has long been established that Dapo knows how to throw a party; and those who were at his birthday soiree last year are still talking about it gleefully. Nothing ever runs out of supply; not even the extremely rare Armand de Brignac Brut Gold â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Dynastieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; collection of champagne favoured by his billionaire friends. Today promises to be grander.

alleged. The elated beneficiary has been celebrating the newest addition to his fleet, like he does his brother â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;achievementsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and activities on his Facebook page. While it is not out of place to get a gift from oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s brother, Governor Fayose and his siblings, especially Isaac, have never been cordial. Barely a year ago, Isaac, a motley businessman who claims to be â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;the first African man to get a phone dealership license via Umbrella Communications in the whole of Ireland with two branches in Dublin city at the age of 23 and as an asylum seeker â&#x20AC;&#x2122;, took his brother to the cleaners

AMIDST MOJI OLAIYAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S DEATH DRAMA, GOVERNOR AYO FAYOSE GIFTS BROTHER, ISAAC, A HUMMER SUV You hardly ever see Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti coming, literally. The gangling, brashtalking governor took the wind out of many peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sail when he decided to gift his younger brother, Isaac, a Hummer â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;truckâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.

The â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;surpriseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; gift was reportedly given to Isaac by his governorbrother as his birthday gift. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He just got a call to go pick the car from the Governor â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s residence in Iyaganku (Ibadan),â&#x20AC;? a source

Isaac Fayose

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R Ëž Í°ÍśË&#x153; Í°ÍŽÍŻÍľ

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HIGHLIFE

Folasade â&#x20AC;Ś Gbenga Ashafa Serenades Wife as She Clocks 60 Tommorow

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es, many years ago, they encountered each other and struck a blissful friendship, Gbenga Bareehu Ashafa, like the proverbial triple pillar of the world, became Folasadeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s version of the Aeolian Harp.

Folasade, like a practiced possessor and player of the Aeolian Harp, pulled at the strings of Gbengaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; heart. The eďŹ&#x20AC;ect was awesome.

If friendship was rewarding for the duo, falling in love with each other was liberating. Ask Bareehu. He will proudly tell you any day that loving Folasade was invigorating. The passion and devotion he shared with her exposed him to priceless adventures in the meadows and everglades of love. Loving her was cathartic. Ordinarily, the height to which Senator Gbenga Ashafa adores his wife, Folashade, should have been laid bare tomorrow as he harnesses his cash, contacts and connections to celebrate his lifelong partner as she turns 60. Though Senator Ashafa is a practicing Moslem, the birthday â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;girlâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is a devout Christian. Her birthday celebrations would tee oďŹ&#x20AC; today with an Islamic prayer session at the Grandview Plaza, Magodo. Tomorrow, Monday, there would be a Christian thanksgiving service at a choice events centre in the heart of

Victoria Island, Lagos. Knowing his social antecedents, one would have expected that the party would shake the roots of high society to its foundations and remain on the lips of guests for eons to come. However, in view of the fact that the fasting period has begun, sources said Senator Ashafa would not throw a giddy or gaudy feast; there would be no rivers of champagne and cognacs, or a long line of canapĂŠs and gourmet foods. Rather, after the thanksgiving service, there would be light entertainment for guests and the whole aďŹ&#x20AC;air is expected to last by 4pm.

Thereafter, the Ashafas and a sprinkling of guests would visit charity homes dear to them. Ashafa, the senator representing Lagos East, and Folashade have been married since 1979. While he has gone on to build an enviable political proďŹ le, Folashade, nee Edun, retired as an assistant director at the Federal Ministry of Information and Communication in 2005, after twenty-three years of service. Now a big time entrepreneur and philanthropist, Folashade runs two homeware and gift stores in Lagos while occasionally organising soup kitchens for the elderly and an annual Christmas celebration for less privileged children in Ibeju-Lekki.

with a scathing open letter where he accused him of among other things, abandoning his family, notably, their sister, Bimpe, who passed on some years ago. He wrote, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Gov. Fayose can rush to the media houses to place front page adverts of death wish for Buhari but cannot remember to place a quarter page advert in remembrance of his sister, Bimpe Sorinolu, who died of cancer exactly two years ago today. Shame!â&#x20AC;? The long-drawn battle of the Fayose siblings is very well documented. However, well-meaning individuals have mediated and they are chummy again. The Hummer Truck, many believe, is one of the dividends of their newfound cordiality.

FROM LAGOS TO OGUNâ&#x20AC;Ś TALE OF A POLITICAL ORPHAN Something is seriously wrong with Senator Olamilekan Adeola aka Yayi. The Senator representing Lagos West at the National Assembly, probably suffers a bad case of amnesia.

Maybe not. Maybe he has simply chosen to treat the lives and destinies of the Lagos West electorate with contempt just because they are helpless to curtail him. As your read, Yayi has launched a desperate and ill-advised campaign to emerge as the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Ogun State at the forthcoming gubernatorial election. Recently, he expressed his confidence in Yewa people of the state

Olamilekan Adeola

claiming he was sure that they would unquestioningly accept his candidacy soon after his anointment for the role by his partyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hierarchy.

It is still early in the day but the aspirations of Senator Solomon Adeola Yayi to govern Ogun State may be a stillbirth after all. Though a senator representing Lagos West, Yayiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sight has been set on taking over from Governor Ibikunle Amosun whose tenure runs out in 2019. There is no love lost between Yayi and Amosun despite both belonging to the same political party, the APC. He is seen as an interloper who

Gbenga Ashafa and wife, Folasade

wants to ride on his closeness to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to usurp the political arrangement in the state. Amosun does not fancy Yayi succeeding him based on this. The diminutive senator thought he could pitch his tent with the former governor of the state, Aremo Olusegun Osoba.

Osoba and Amosun have been estranged since the latter â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first term. In fact, prior to the 2015 elections, Osoba fought tooth and nail, even presenting a candidate on his rejuvenated Social Democratic Party, to upstage Amosun. Amosun eventually won the reelection battle. Seeing this lacuna, Yayi figured he was better off with Osoba. Thus, he has been patronising the Septuagenarian and currying the favour of the people around him. Yayi however went overboard, according to inside sources, when he started going about town, saying he had been endorsed by Osoba. Sources in Osobaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s camp have however disputed this claim, insisting that the former governor has no political arrangement with Yayi.

raucous clan. Trouble and disaster looms above the homestead of the late Ibadan billionaire as his 30 children, wives and extended family members slug it out in a no holds barred contest for his estate.

Highlife findings revealed that the late billionaireâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s children are divided into three camps, with each faction laying claims to his estate scattered across Ibadan, Oyo, Lagos and London, United Kingdom. While one of the groups is reportedly led by Khadijat Alao-Straub, Arisekolaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first daughter, the others have Ismaila, Arisekolaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first son

TROUBLE IN PARADISE...

INTRIGUES AS ALAO ARISEKOLAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S FAMILY BATTLE OVER HIS ESTATE Ëž

ËŞ

Things fall apart in the household of late AbdulAzeez Alao Arisekola. The centre cannot hold again amid his

Late Arisekola Alao

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Ë&#x153; Ëž MAY 28, 2017

HIGHLIFE

Pomp and Enchantment At Adeyinka Adebayoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Funeral ËžBuried in a blaze of glory

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t his exit, fades chapters of a world that had turned his life into part of its own projected biography. But while the world mourns the demise of General Adeyinka Adebayo, his son, Niyi Adebayo, accords him a grand and enchanting funeral rite.

General Adebayo could not witness his funeral; nobody ever does. And if, somehow, he earned a sneak peek, no one could know what he thought of it. All those ďŹ&#x201A;owers and all those wishes; the pageant train and wreath of sorrows unhesitatingly cast for a full life coming to a close.

The wistful wishes and pomp of homage probably elicited from his soul, the hapless tribute of a sigh and perhaps a gleeful tear.

The elaborate burial, penultimate Friday, of former Governor of the old Western Region, Major General Adeyinka Adebayo, was no show of decadence but a celebration of a life decidedly well lived. Adebayo died March 8th, a day to his 89th birthday. He was no ordinary Nigerian. The ďŹ rst indigenous Chief of StaďŹ&#x20AC; of the Nigerian Army, he was, until his death, the oldest living Nigerian Army oďŹ&#x192;cer and retired as a Major General in 1975.

And his life could not have been

and Abdullahi, the son of the late business mogul arraigned over allegation of N1.1billion oil subsidy scam. The children have been quarrelling with one another over who should control some of the properties, including their dadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tank farms in Lagos and flour mill in Ibadan.

Arisekola also has substantial investments in First Bank Plc among other blue chip companies in the country and these among other properties are being hotly contested by his wives, children and other relatives.

GRIND TO A HALT? NIKE OSHINOWO AND HER NUMEROUS BUSINESS INITIATIVES Everything she touches glows brilliantly at inception, only to dwindle to a dusky blush midway to full bloom. There is something wrong with Nike

Nike Oshinowo

more glittering and fulďŹ lling. His eldest son, Otunba Adeniyi, was Governor of Ekiti State between 1999 and 2003 while another son, Adesola, served as Commissioner for Works and Transport in the Dr. Kayode Fayemi administration in Ekiti State. His other children are equally forces in their ďŹ elds.

It beggared no surprise therefore that a glittering array of Nigerian aristocrats, top government functionaries and career socialites thronged the bucolic town of IyinEkiti, otherwise a blip on the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s map, to witness the state burial of a ďŹ ne oďŹ&#x192;cer and gentleman. The Adebayo patriarch was known for his ďŹ ne epicurean taste and his thoroughbred children honoured his memory by ensuring that they plied their guests with ďŹ ne and ďŹ tting entertainment. Who else, but juju maestro, King Sunny Ade, could have been on the bandstand to entertain the colourful guests, remind them of the memorable life of Adebayo, yet, keep them on their toes as they danced into the wee hours of the morning? For the Adebayo children, they merried, not mourned, in realisation that everyone dies, but not everyone lives. Their father lived, and very well too.

Oshinowo. Since she shot to national acclaim in 1991, when she was crowned the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria, she is yet to midwife a viable venture.

While she arguably remains one of the most visible ex-beauty queens in the country, Oshinowo, now in her 40s, is equally hailed as a style icon. But that is all there is to her glamour and persona, it would seem. Of her litany of ventures, the former beauty queen who is married to Dr. Tunde Soleye, has tried unsuccessfully to bring back the rested Miss Nigeria pageant. The emergence of her fragrance line â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Asabiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; in 2011 and the release of her first workout video: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Fit, Forty and Fabulous,â&#x20AC;? the first celebrity fitness DVD produced in the country, initially created the impression that Oshinowo is a creative and imaginative business entrepreneur until it failed to fly.

Her other dismal business ventures include an African restaurant, an under-rated TV show, Skin Deep, and a health and beauty spa which ran for seven years before it closed down. Though many suffer challenges in their various business which eventually shuts down, it was gathered that Oshinowoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s creative and innovative business ideas usually fails after she spends time and money and makes a public show of venturing into the businesses.

The Miss Nigeria dream, Asabi fragrance, Skin deep, a health and beauty spa, and her workout video suddenly grinded to a halt. What could be the cause of this fiasco or is the former beauty queen still trying out on what she will finally settle for at the end?

Late Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo

Only time will tell as we watch out for her next entrepreneurial venture.

NOT YET UHURUâ&#x20AC;ŚBUSINESS ASSOCIATES DEVELOP COLD FEET AS EFCC SWOOPS ON FORMER FIRST LADY, PATIENCE JONATHAN, ASSETS Those who summon the storm must never cringe from a storm cloud. But having beckoned the storm, Patience Jonathan cringes from its ravage like a spaniel fleeing the gusts of a snowstorm.

While her husband, Goodluck Jonathan, was President, Patience wore chaos like a crown and stirred the hornetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nest with reckless abandon. She elevated strife and cut-throat politics from an eyesore to an art form.

But no sooner did her husband lose his re-election bid than her impotence dawn on her. Patience is not so powerful and influential after all. Not with the incumbent government anyway. Little wonder she is on the radar of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Recently, the EFCC froze Patience Jonathanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s personal bank account titled â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Patience Ibifaka Jonathan.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; But while the spat between the EFCC and the former First Lady generates uproar, several businessmen and women who had done business with her in the past have developed cold feet. Many of them are reportedly planning to approach the EFCC and give themselves up to the anti-graft agency in pursuit of a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;soft landing.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is set to apply for the final forfeiture of choice properties allegedly owned by the former

first lady.

But the commission has been having difficulty in getting the original titles of the assets. They include Aridolf Resort, Wellness and Spa and eight others.

The anti-graft commission may ask the court to compel the agencies with the titles in Bayelsa and Rivers states to release them. These are indeed the worst of times for Patience Jonathan. It would be recalled that she held court and paraded herself like an empress while her husband was Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most powerful and influential figure. Soon she evolved to become the most powerful voice and conspicuous face of her husbandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s administration often to the detriment of her husband and former ruling Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Democratic Party (PDP).

Patience Jonathan

Sunday, May 28, 2017

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Price: N400

MISSILE Amaechi to Wike “What is the basis or criterion for Wike to give an award/honour to a man he has rashly attacked and called all sorts of unprintable names in the past two years” – Minister of Transport and former Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, rejecting an award given to him by his successor, Governor Nyesom Wike, as part of activities marking the state’s 50th anniversary

SIMONKOLAWOLE SIMONKOLAWOLELIVE!

simon.kolawole@thisdaylive.com, sms: 0805 500 1961

Biafra is Not a Dirty Word

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or the record, I was born after the Biafra war. Everything I know about it was what I heard or read from different sides to the conflict. Since I was not around to follow the events by myself and make my own call, I have had to rely on other people’s accounts in trying to understand what caused the war. Everybody tells the story to their own advantage. That’s natural. All said and done, though, I have consistently come to one conclusion: we went to war because our leaders were too young and too immature to manage conflict. We played dangerously close to the precipice. With no neutral elders in town and no experience to draw from, we fell headlong into avoidable bloodshed.

It’s now 50 years since the first shot was fired and 47 years since the war ended, but many of the issues are still on fire. The Igbo, in particular, believe that they are not receiving a fair deal in the union despite all the talk about reconciliation, rehabilitation and reconstruction. They believe the quota system and federal character are skewed against them, and the entrance requirements into federal schools are tougher for them compared to other parts of the country. The Igbo are also often at the receiving end of ethno-religious violence — although it is not limited to them these days. At some point, they always suffered the heaviest casualty.

In the meantime, while every geo-political zone has six states (the north-west has seven), the south-east has only five. That means when you pick a minister per state, they will always have only five. They also have the least number of local governments. Federal infrastructural projects that could boost the south-east economy, such as interstate roads, railway and the second Niger bridge, do not often get priority attention in Abuja. Under the current administration, Igbo influence at the federal level has diminished significantly, compared to the case under Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan when they held important positions, especially under Jonathan.

The elephant in the room, of course, is presidency. Will an Igbo ever become president of Nigeria again? Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, an Igbo, was governor-general of Nigeria from 1960 to 1963 and president from 1963 to 1966, but these were ceremonial positions without executive powers. Major-General JTU AguiyiIronsi, an Igbo, accidentally became military head of state in 1966 after the failed Major Kaduna Nzeogwu-led coup. Aguiyi-Ironsi ruled for six months before he was killed in the countercoup. Since then, no Igbo has been president, either civilian or military. However, the other major ethnic groups — Hausa/Fulani and Yoruba — have had their fill.

Now let’s face the fact: if I were an Igbo with such a long list of grievances, I would feel unloved and unwanted in the Nigerian federation. It is very easy for an outsider to dismiss these complaints. But the question to ask is: if you are a Fulani or Yoruba or Ijaw and you have a strong feeling that the system is skewed against the hopes, dreams and aspirations of your people, will you keep quiet? Who feels it knows it. I have said this a million times: I do not wish to live in any society where I am convinced there is a conspiracy to keep anyone down. I want to live in a society where there are no glass ceilings — no matter your ethnic origin, religion, beliefs, gender and accent.

Buhari

Despite their misgivings, I still believe the Igbo have made considerable progress since the end of the war. Many of my Igbo brothers never agree with me when I say a lot of reintegration has happened since 1970, but there were indeed efforts by the government to heal the wounds. A little history would be useful here. By 1975, Ndubuisi Kanu and Ebitu Ukiwe, two Igbo naval officers who fought on the side of Biafra just a few years earlier, were appointed members of the Supreme Military Council (SMC), the country’s highest decision-making body. Kanu, and later Ukiwe, were governors of Lagos state between 1977 and 1979. These were positive steps.

The integration progressed in the second republic, I would say, as the Igbo produced both the vice-president, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, and speaker of the house of representatives, Chief Edwin Ume-Ezeoke. The No. 2 and No. 4 positions going to the Igbo in 1979, less than 10 years after the war, ought to be viewed as a positive sign of reintegration.

In the army, meanwhile, it appeared there was an unwritten policy to prevent the Igbo from holding sensitive positions — perhaps because of the Biafra experience — but Ike Nwachukwu still managed to rise to the rank of major-general in 1987, becoming the first Igbo army two-star general after the war.

Under President Obasanjo from 1999 to 2007, Amb. Uche Okeke was DG of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA). That again was significant: key intelligence positions were a “no go” area for the Igbo until then. In 2010, the army jinx, permit me to use that word, was finally broken when President Jonathan appointed Major-General Azubuike Ihejirika as the chief of army staff. Ihejirika was the first army chief of the Igbo stock since 1965 when Aguiyi-Ironsi held the position. I saw that as the end of the “restrictions”. If an Igbo could be army chief again, I told myself, then the “reconciliation” was near complete.

Unfortunately, things have changed since 2015 and discontent is rising again.

But as we mark 50 years since the Biafra declaration, the final piece in the national jigsaw, for me, is an Igbo man or woman becoming president of Nigeria. There is some resistance, I know. These are the objections I normally hear people raise against the idea: one, the Igbo cannot speak with one voice or present one candidate; two, the Igbo are too ethnocentric and would completely take over federal institutions if one of them is in power; three, the presidency would become unstable in similar ways to senate presidency when it was zoned to the south-east from 1999-2007; four, the Igbo cannot be campaigning for secession and hoping to rule Nigeria at the same time.

All these objections are weak as far as I’m concerned. One, who says a zone must present a consensus candidate for president?

Did the Yoruba or Hausa/Fulani or Ijaw ever present a consensus candidate? Why should the requirement be different for the Igbo? Two, there is hardly anybody who has ruled Nigeria that has not been accused of sectionalism (before you say “President Obasanjo”, google what northern elders, such as the late Wada Nas, said about this during his tenure); three, there is no basis to compare senate presidency with presidency. You can’t change president every year. I, therefore, dismiss these objections as mere excuses.

The real inhibition, I believe, is No. 4: the fear of an Igbo with presidential powers. It’s a question of trust. The memories of 1966 have refused to fade away from both sides: the north is still paranoid and the south-east is still bitter. And when groups like MASSOB and IPOB come up with secession rhetoric, it further pushes away other parts of Nigeria. But then, Nigerians voted for a Yoruba as president in 1999 and 2003 in spite of the OPC threat.

Secession threats, therefore, should not be too much of an issue if indeed other Nigerians sincerely desire to support an Igbo for president.

Hence, I have not seen any good reason why a Nigerian president cannot come from Igboland.

My conclusions. One, to demonstrate that the wounds of the war have truly healed, the time has come for the Igbo to produce the president of Nigeria. Call it symbolism and I won’t argue with you. Symbolism serves its purposes. Two, since no part of Nigeria can do it alone, Igbo leaders must forge the right alliances and partnerships to make this happen. I believe that it was the emergence of the Niger Delta as a political force in 2007 that effectively relegated the Igbo in the nation’s scheme of things, but since virtually every part has held executive powers now, it is only fair for the Igbo to take their place in the political architecture of Nigeria.

Above all, Nigerians must stop seeing Biafra as a dirty word. Biafra represented secession in 1967. But today, I see Biafra as an attempt to rethink Nigeria. What gave rise to the Nzeogwu coup? What led to the countercoup? What caused the war? Have those issues been sufficiently addressed? Is Nigeria now a society where the aspirations of every unit are finding expression? Do we need to tinker with the political structure for improved governance? These questions matter because Nigerians are increasingly seeking self-determination in different ways: Sharia, resource control, fiscal federalism, etc.

No wonder, Chido Onumah, the writer and activist, says “we are all Biafrans”.

And Four Other Things...

MIDTERM BLUES It’s exactly two years that President Muhammadu Buhari assumed office, signaling, as it were, a new dawn for Nigeria. Promises were made during electioneering, hopes were raised after his victory and aspirations were renewed with his inauguration. Two years on and the enthusiasm is dying down. To change Nigeria is never going to be easy, and with Buhari failing to take off on a supersonic note, a bad situation became worse. Many have eagerly concluded that Buhari is a failure, but while I am also not too impressed with what I have seen far, I am conscious of the fact that good things take time. God granting him good health, I believe Buhari will come good. Halffull?

NWODO’S WORDS In case you missed this, this is the highlight of what Chief Nnia Nwodo, leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, said at the Biafra colloquium on Thursday: “Every part of Nigeria can survive as an independent country. The north with its mineral and agricultural potentials can build a strong nation. The west with its cocoa, oil, indomitable intellectual knowhow and commerce can build another Britain. The south-south with its oil… can transform before oil ceases to be a major FX earner. The east with industry, outstanding innovation and little oil may still emerge as the African wonder. But none of these little enclaves will rival the capacity of a united and reconciled Nigeria.” Brilliant!

GUN RUNNERS On Tuesday, Customs told us they seized 100 pieces of black tornado single barrel rifles, 75 pieces of silver magnum single barrel rifles, 50 pieces of altar pump action rifles and 215 pieces of black single barrel rifles illegally imported in Nigeria. They were classified as plaster of Paris by the importer. In January, Customs said they intercepted 49 boxes containing 661 pieces of pump action rifles. What came out of it?

They are still investigating? How long does it take to identify an importer, the shipper and the clearing agent? Is it me or does any other person feel there is no use telling us Customs has seized illegally imported arms when nobody ever gets punished? Nigeria!

FOR CHUKWUMA Death has paid journalism a morbid visit yet again, taking away one of our brightest. The death of Chukwuma Onuekwusi of Channels TV came as a big shock to some of us who did not know he had been down for a while. We interviewed President Muhammadu Buhari together in London last year and while I felt he did not look particularly healthy, I just thought it was part of the stress that comes with our job. He was one TV journalist I respected and admired so much, and one sad thing for me is that I never paid him that compliment and I will never have that opportunity again. My heart goes out to his family and loved ones. Adieu.

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