Sunday 16th July 2017

National Assembly to Amend Constitution Item by Item Adopts separation of office of AGF from minister of justice Agrees president, governors must attach portfolios to names of cabinet nominees Shola Oyeyipo in Lagos and Senator Iroegbu in Abuja Ahead of the proposed amendment of the 1999 constitution, the Senate, the House of Representatives and all the 36 state Houses of Assemblies, at the

weekend in Lagos, adopted what was described as “incremental approach” to the amendment exercise by taking the contentious issues in their respective bits and dealing with them differently from time-to-time to prevent the entire amendment from being

thrown out altogether.

To this end, all the state and national legislatures, at a threeday retreat in Lagos, concluded work on 23 distinct bills, which deal with some of the critical and pressing issues to be presented to the National Assembly for

consideration during the amendment exercise.

Deputy Senate President and chairman of the committee, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who spoke at the end of the retreat held at the Intercontinental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, said the

decision to separate the bills was borne out of the need to prevent the entire amendment from being thrown out altogether.

“We believe we have done sufficient work. This is an incremental approach that we have adopted in the amendment

of the constitution. So, what we are saying therefore is that after we have finished with this, if we still have more time before election issues come up otherwise maybe the next assembly will Continued on page 9

Restructuring? Watch the Debate Live with Heavyweights on ARISE TV at 9pm on DStv 416, GOtv 44 Sunday 16 July, 2017 Vol 22. No 8123. Price N400

www.thisdaylive.com TR

UT H

& RE A S O

N400

N

FLYING COLOURS...

Front Row, R-L: Former SGF, Alh. Yayale Ahmed; Alh. Lamido Abubakar Bayero representating the Emir of Kano; former DG, NIPSS, Prof Akin Akindoyeni; Chairman, Pace Setter Schools, Barr Ken Imasuangbon, and wife, Director of Schools, Mrs Kate Imansuangbon, at the graduation /speech and prize giving day of Pace Setters’ School in Abuja...recently

US Moves to Seize 200ft Yacht, Other Luxury Properties from Kola Aluko, Others Alison-Madueke to Kola Aluko: “If you want to hire a yacht, you lease it for two weeks or whatever… You don’t go and sink funds into it at this time when Nigerian oil and gas sector is under all kinds of watch.” - Intercepted recording of an apparent phone conversation between former oil minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, and oil trader, Kola Aluko Demola Ojo with agency reports US prosecutors on Friday moved to seize $144m in assets including a 200-foot yacht and a Manhattan condominium one block from Central Park, calling them the fruits of an international bribery scheme that involved the former Nigerian Oil Minister, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.

The justice department action targeted Nigeria’s oil man, Mr Kola Aluko’s vessel, Galactica Star, which its builder bills as the “world’s largest fast displacement yacht”, along with condominium units in Manhattan and real estate in Southern California located just three miles from the Pacific Ocean.

From 2011 to 2015, two

Nigerian oil men, Kolawole Aluko and Olajide Omokore, alledgedly conspired with others to bribe the country’s minister for petroleum resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, in order to win oil production contracts worth $1.5bn, according to a civil forfeiture complaint. At the time, along with controlling the country’s state-owned oil

company, Mrs. Alison-Madueke, also headed the Vienna-based oil cartel, OPEC. Nigeria’s federal high court earlier this year charged her with money laundering and she has previously denied any wrongdoing.

After awarding government contracts to shell companies owned by the two men, Mrs. Alison-Madueke — known

as “the madam” or “Madam D” — was rewarded with a “lavish lifestyle”, according to the US Department of Justice.

Alison-Madueke has since denied any wrong-doing in her relationship with Kola Aluko and Jide Omokore.

A civil forfeiture complaint is merely an allegation that money or property was involved in

or represents the proceeds of a crime. These allegations are not proven until a court awards judgment in favour of the US. “The United States is not a safe haven for the proceeds of corruption,” said acting assistant attorney-general Kenneth Blanco.

“If illicit funds are within the Continued on page 9

2

T H I S D AY SUNDAY JULY 16, 2017

T H I S D AY SUNDAY JULY 16, 2017

3

4

T H I S D AY SUNDAY JULY 16, 2017

T H I S D AY SUNDAY JULY 16, 2017

5

6

T H I S D AY SUNDAY JULY 16, 2017

T H I S D AY SUNDAY JULY 16, 2017

7

8

T H I S D AY SUNDAY JULY 16, 2017

9

T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JULY 16, 2017

PAGE NINE

Onnoghen: Legal Practitioners Promoting Impunity, Heating up the Polity Counsels SANs to discipline themselves, avoid filthy lucre ÖÏâ Øß×ËÒ in Abuja Amid growing criticism of the attitudes of some lawyers and judicial officers to the attempts to give Nigeria a socio-economic and political revamp, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, yesterday accused members of the legal profession of being major contributors to a rising culture of impunity in the country. Onnoghen made the assertion at the 2017 Annual Dinner and Honours Night of the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Abuja chapter, held in the Federal Capital Territory.

The CJN advised the senior lawyers to guard against controversial briefs and filthy pecuniary pursuits that bring indignity to the profession.

Onnoghen stated, “We should try our very best to leave the

trouble waters of impunity because if you look inward, you will know that we are part and parcel if it. The legal profession is part of the culture of impunity.

“We represent politicians who come in with all sorts of jokers in the name of brief and we help them heat up the polity, heat up the judiciary and cast aspersions on judicial officers.

We say all sorts of things on the pages of newspapers and television.”

The federal government has received a lot of criticism in recent times for allegedly ignoring court orders to release certain persons being detained, especially with regard to corruption and security related trials. Some lawyers and judges have also been arrested of late on allegations of corruption and

aiding corrupt practices.

But the CJN cautioned the Senior Advocates to always put the interest of the legal profession above parochial and personal interests, stressing that no amount of money from a client is worth bringing disrepute to the practitioners and the profession.

“We must discipline ourselves and discipline our stomachs,” he told the SANs. He urged them to reciprocate the respect accorded them by the judiciary by helping to make the work of the courts easy.

Onnoghen berated lawyers who complicated the job of the courts by filing frivolous suits and motions.

“How much do you think a client will pay you that will worth you lowering your standard to the extent that you are not an appellant but

you are prevailed upon to file a motion or file a notice of withdrawal of a case you never filed,” he asked. “You didn’t file yet you are briefed to file a motion to withdraw that appeal; a respondent withdrawing appeal filed by an appellant. And you are a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.”

In a similar vein, the BoSAN chairman, Abdullahi Ibrahim, decried the level of indiscipline and professional misconduct among lawyers. Ibrahim stated that if the legal profession must continue to succeed and excel, the senior lawyers must show good example.

He said, “The future of the legal profession is in the hands of the senior lawyers and it is imperative that we lead by example. The senior lawyers are those who ought to set

the standards for the younger generation to follow.

“It stands to reason that where senior lawyers are not seen compromising the ethics of the profession for their own personal enrichment, the junior lawyers will not even dare to engage in any unethical practices.”

Ibrahim denounced the plans to bypass justices of the Court of Appeal in the appointment of justices of the Supreme Court.

He said, “We must also ensure that a group in the profession is not unnecessarily given a bad name and denied opportunity which many of them have stood and worked for, only to be told without real justification that their ambitions for working in a particular area and so well cannot be achieved.

“Take for example, the on-going discussion about

appointments to be made to the highest court of the land, the Supreme Court, although this has happened in the past but in a very few occasions. Is there any justified reason for the competent Justices of the Court of Appeal to be denied elevation to the Supreme Court because of some changes about to be implemented?”

He said while the on-going reforms in the judiciary were a good development, they should not be allowed to erode the gains of earlier reforms for which two outstanding retired justices were been celebrated

by BoSAN. Ibrahim said the immediate past CJN, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, and Justice Suleiman Galadima (JSC Rtd.) were honoured for their milestone contributions to the judiciary.

about the restructuring of Nigeria. One of the components of restructuring is that they are saying that there is too much power in the hands of the federal government and we need to strip some of them from the federal government, so what we have done is to look at the nitty-gritty, issue where some of the items which they actually need will be removed from the exclusive list to the concurrent list where the federal and the states can make laws regarding some of those items.

“So, things like railways will have to be moved to the concurrent list. The idea is that states can build railways within their states and then a couple of states can then decide to build railways across their states. The federal government can also be building railways across the country and make policy around it. That is why we moved it to the concurrent list so that both the state and federal government can make law to guide it.

“On the issue of labour, there was an argument that each state should be able to decide their minimum wage, that there should be minimum wage for both the public sector and private sector, that is to say, if it is N5000 don't pay any person less than N5000 because they can be increased. That is to say if Lagos has more money they can pay beyond the minimum wage. All those who don't have money cannot pay below the minimum wage, no matter how poor they are. So, in that way, we have a minimum standard for workers in Nigeria.

“We also looked at the removal of the Joint local governmentstate account. The challenge there has been how do you take care of the issues of teacher salaries, because it is from that joint local government-state account that primary school teachers’ salaries are paid. So, we wanted to be sure that if we remove the joint local government-state account, we will not jeopardise the payment of teachers’ salaries.

“So, that is a very contentious issue, so we said we have to do further consultation with the National Union of Teachers (NUT) and other stakeholders before we can take a decision on that to be sure that we don’t create more problems when we are trying to solve an existing problem. So, that is not part of what we are going to present to the National Assembly when we get back,” he added.

Ekweremadu, however, commended the efforts of his colleagues and hoped that the

bills see the light of the day before electioneering resumes.

“What we plan to do is that over the next one week, we should have this laid before the National Assembly and then before we go for our holidays on July 27 at the National Assembly, hopefully, we will vote on it and we will send it to the state assemblies and we are going to meet with the leadership of the state assemblies so that we can agree on when we will be able to vote on each of the items and give us their own reports.

“The idea is that we want to ensure that we finish the process of this constitution amendment before the end of 2017 so that it would not be bugled down by election issues once we get to 2018, so, everything being equal, before the end of 2017, we would have finished with what we have done so that people can focus on elections.

“Let me say that all that we have said here are all going to be recommendations to the National assembly. So, nothing is final.

So, we are going to still debate them at the National Assembly and then we will vote on each of the items. So, unless any of them scales through the threshold required by the constitution, we are going to vote and ensure that each of them gets at least two-third votes of the members of the Senate and House of Representatives.

“It is the items that scale through that requirement that will be sent to the state Houses of Assemblies and in the Houses of Assemblies, we are going to get a simple majority in twothirds of the states. So, each of the items will still have to go through such success in at least 24 states before it emerges as addition to the constitution.”

The joint retreat of the nation’s lawmakers at all levels also approved as suggestion for amendment, the separation of the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) from that of the office of the minister of Justice.

This, in the view of the lawmakers, was to deepen the country’s democracy by insulating the chief law officer of the federation from politics.

In the same vein, the lawmakers agreed on a provision that would see future presidents and governors in the country attach portfolios to the names of their nominees for appointment either as ministers or commissioners before sending same to the legislature for confirmation.

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY TO AMEND CONSTITUTION ITEM BY ITEM decide what to do,” he said, while addressing journalists.

According to him, “We have broken all the issues into specific bills. We have looked at about 23 separate bills with separate issues. The idea is to ensure that by the time we vote, each of them succeed or fail on its own. And we conclude the work and send it to the house to approve and we will return it to the National Assembly; then we will collate and ensure that the provisions of the constitution have been fulfilled regarding the alteration and we will send it to the president for his assent.

And the president will decide which one to assent or not to assent.

“The implication therefore is that if he assents some, then those ones become another part of the constitution. And the one he refuses to assent, then we might decide whether to veto it. So, we want each of them

to have a separate life on its own. And this is based on our own experience in the last exercise, where everything was in one single bill and when the president withheld his assent, all of them collapsed. This is just an improvement on what we did last time. It is something we innovated based on our experience in the last exercise,” he said.

Among other things, he said the committee had looked at “some specific issues like the time timeframe within which a governor or president will be able to assent to a bill. If you look at our constitution, I think Section 58, if you pass a bill, you need to send it to the president for his assent and he has to assent it within 30 days.

But the law did not state what will happen if after 30 days he fails to assent to it. So, we have introduced a time frame based on the provisions of the American

Constitution.

“In the American constitution, if you send a bill to the president and he didn’t sign it within 14 days, it automatically becomes law because we believe that within 14 days, the president would have made up his mind to assent or not. Now, we have also increased the threshold to 30 days. So, if the president refuses to sign or withholds his assent within 30 days and has not made return to the National Assembly; that is if he keeps the bill; he refuses to sign it or brings it back after 30 days, it becomes automatic law.

“The other issue is the timeframe within which the president can authorise expenditure from the revenue fund of the federation or state as the case may be in the case of governors where they have to pass appropriation bills.

“The argument is that the constitution as it is today, if

budget had not been passed, the president or governor can authorise expenditure up to six months into the year. We feel that is too long because the problem there is that that is why the executive will not bring the budget on time, because they believe that the previous budget was not quickly dispensed with.

“And so, the National Assembly take their own time, now there will be the grace of up to three months because you cannot operate the previous budget beyond three months of the year. With that the executive will now be compelled to bring the budget beyond three months into the year and the National Assembly will now be compelled to pass the budget not beyond the three months into the year.

“We also tried to withdraw some powers from the exclusive list to the concurrent list. You know we have been talking

US MOVES TO SEIZE 200FT YACHT, OTHER LUXURY PROPERTIES FROM KOLA ALUKO, OTHERS reach of the United States, we will seek to forfeit them and to return them to the victims from whom they were stolen.”

Though known as “a small time trader” who had previously earned around $500,000 annually, in less than three years, Mr. Aluko purchased more than $87m of US property and the $82m yacht, according to the complaint, filed in US district court in Houston. According to the complaint, in a conversation with Mr Aluko that prosecutors say Mrs. Alison-Madueke recorded, she criticised him for his lavish spending. “If you want to hire a yacht, you lease it for two weeks or whatever,” she said. “You don’t go and sink funds into it at this time when Nigerian oil and gas sector is under all kinds of watch.”

The two businessmen allegedly purchased millions of dollars worth of property in and near London for the oil minister and her family and then furnished the homes with furniture, artwork and other luxury items from Houston-area stores that she fancied. In January 2011, the Nigerian businessmen and unidentified co-conspirators bought a Buckinghamshire home known as “The Falls” for £3.25m.

Two months later, as Mr Aluko was meeting with Nigerian oil officials to discuss a contract, he arranged to buy two properties near London’s Regent’s Parks: a £1.7m home at 39 Chester Close and 58 Harley House on the Marylebone Road for £2.8m. The first property, upgraded with an elevator and new stone flooring and countertops, was intended for

the use of Ms Alison-Madueke’s mother and her son, according to the complaint. The men that month also purchased a £3.7m flat at 83-86 Prince Albert Road for the oil minister. Ms Alison-Madueke appears to have favoured furniture stores in the Houston area, which she patronised on periodic visits to the US oil industry capital. On a single day in May 2012, Mr Aluko wired $461,500 from a Swiss bank account to one furniture store and spent an additional $262,091 at a second on the oil minister’s behalf, the complaint says. The case was brought as part of DoJ’s kleptocracy asset recovery initiative. Mr Aluko and Mr Omokore created two shell companies in the British Virgin Islands — Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Nigeria and Atlantic Energy Brass Development — to handle their oil contracts. Though the companies, which prosecutors say were “unqualified”, failed to fulfil the terms of their deals, they were allowed to produce and sell more than $1.5bn worth of Nigerian crude oil. The pair then created additional shell companies to launder the proceeds through the US, prosecutors said. Mr Aluko’s last known address was in Porza-Lugano, Switzerland, while Mr Omokore is described as a resident of Lagos.

According to the Justice Department, the complaint announced Friday demonstrates the Department’s commitment to working with our law enforcement partners around the globe to trace and recover the proceeds of corruption, no

matter the source.”

“Business executives who engage in bribery and illegal payoffs in order to obtain contracts create an uneven marketplace where honest competitor companies are put at a disadvantage,” said Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, Andrew W. Vale. “Along with the Department of Justice, international law enforcement partners and other US federal agencies, the FBI is committed to pursuing all those who attempt to advance their businesses through corrupt practices.”

The US government also stated that Aluko, Omokore and others funded a lavish lifestyle for Alison-Madueke.

According to the allegations, they purchase millions of dollars in real estate in and around London for Alison-Madueke and her family members, then renovated and furnished these homes with millions of dollars in furniture, artwork and other luxury items purchased at two Houston-area furniture stores.

In return, the US government said Alison-Madueke used her influence to direct a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to award Strategic Alliance Agreements (SAAs) to two shell companies created by Aluko and Omokore: Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Nigeria Ltd. and Atlantic Energy Brass Development Ltd. (the Atlantic Companies).

Under the SAAs, the Atlantic Companies were required to finance the exploration and production operations of eight on-shore oil and gas blocks. In

return for financing these operations, the companies expected to receive a portion of the oil and gas produced.

However, according to the complaint, the Atlantic Companies provided only a fraction of the agreed upon financing or, in some instances, failed entirely to provide it. The companies also failed to meet other obligations under the SAAs, including the payment of $120 million entry fee. Nevertheless, according to the allegations, the companies were permitted to lift and sell more than $1.5 billion worth of Nigerian crude oil.

The government contends the Atlantic Companies then used a series of shell companies and intermediaries to launder a portion of the total proceeds of these arrangements into and through the US. “Today’s announcement would not have been possible without the remarkable work conducted by a group of dedicated investigators, attorneys and international partners who were committed to leaving no stone unturned in this case targeting international corruption,” said Assistant Director of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, Stephen E. Richardson.

“This case demonstrates that the FBI will not tolerate American institutions and property being used to launder proceeds of foreign corruption and today’s filing is an important step towards recovering identified funds. This should serve as a warning to other corrupt foreign officials that the United States is not open for their business.”

ÜÏËÎ ÞÒÏ ÍÙØÍÖßÎÓØÑ ÚËÜÞ ÙØ ááá˛ÞÒÓÝÎËãÖÓàÏ˛ÍÙ×

10

JULY 16, 2017 ˾ T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R

SUNDAY COMMENT

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

FOR PDP, A SECOND CHANCE The PDP has another opportunity to change the political landscape

E

ver since it lost the 2015 general election, the in-fighting within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has robbed the nation of a viable opposition platform that could serve as a check on the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). But the crisis may now be over with the Supreme Court ruling that has put paid to the antics of the former Borno State Governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff who had held the party by the jugular. Coming just four days after the party won the bye-election to fill the Osun West Senatorial seat earlier held by the APC, the PDP seems wellpositioned to bounce back to reckoning as a serious opposition party. But it must first put its house in order.

Instructively, in condemning the multiplicity of court applications filed in the course of the crisis that lasted Aside nudging the 14 months, the government towards Supreme Court more people-centred chided Sheriff policies by giving voice for demonstrating “an infantile to the concerns of the desperation to lead people and proffering the PDP by filing alternatives, a strong almost 10 different opposition can serve as applications in a watchdog to ensure various courts”, government functions adding that these frivolous applicawithin the confines of tions “shall forever the law. That has been dust in the missing in our country in gather judicial archives.” the last two years Notwithstanding, Senator Ahmed Makarfi - whose responsibility it is now to reconcile the disparate factions of the PDP into a cohesive whole - has a job on his hands.

Besides, the party must begin to invest in ideas and values for it to regain the trust of the Nigerian people.

Many of the ills of recent years could be located in the mismanagement of both the polity and governance by the PDP - vices often associated with prolonged incumbency. In the absence of any strong opposition for many years, the party got away with a lot of sleaze and ineptitude until it was eventually voted out in 2015. Yet, as we have

Letters to the Editor

argued several times on this page, without any viable alternative political platform to the ruling party, democracy risks a slide into authoritarianism, traces of which are already emerging in the country.

I 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, PATRICK EIMIUHI ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS HENRY NWACHOKOR, SAHEED ADEYEMO CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI GROUP HEAD FEMI TOLUFASHE ART DIRECTOR OCHI OGBUAKU II DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com

ndeed, it would appear as if the current APC administration is taking its template from the PDP it defeated. For instance, multiple court rulings on human rights violations have been routinely ignored while some federal agencies behave as if they are law onto themselves.

Therefore, the best way to strengthen institutions and uphold democratic principles is when the critical roles of the opposition are not stifled either by government in power or by its own acts of omission or commission as it has been with the PDP in recent months. Aside nudging the government towards more people-centred policies by giving voice to the concerns of the people and proffering alternatives, a strong opposition can serve as a watchdog to ensure government functions within the confines of the law. That has been missing in our country in the last two years.

However, now that the PDP has been given a new lease of life, we hope the party has learnt sufficient lessons from the past. The problem of the PDP arose from the subversion of rules by its leaders whose dictatorial tendencies undermined internal democracy in the party. With the benefit of state power for 16 years, its leaders developed a disposition that led them into trampling on the democratic rights of members and the ordinary citizens. Even after losing power, this culture of impunity remained and was largely responsible for the crisis now resolved by the Supreme Court after so much damage has been done to the image of the party.

While it is important for the PDP to mend its ways, what we advocate is not opposition for its own sake because the government in power must have the latitude to get on with the onerous responsibility of running the country. But when a government does not have anyone asking salient questions, that can easily lead to tyranny and we must guard against that. That is the value the PDP, with all its own internal contradictions, now brings to the table.

TO OUR READERS Letters in response to specific publications in THISDAY should be brief (150-200 words) and straight to the point. Interested readers may send such letters along with their contact details to opinion@thisdaylive.com. We also welcome comments and opinions on topical local, national and international issues provided they are well-written and should also not be longer than (950- 1000 words). They should be sent to opinion@thisdaylive.com along with the email address and phone numbers of the writer.

WHILE WE ARE PRAYING FOR NIGERIA

A

t my son’s school it was science exhibition last Saturday. And one of the teachers narrated a story about a friend travelling from Nigeria to Dubai. While hovering over Nigeria as they flew, it was darkness, pitch darkness, but as they hovered the Dubai airspace, there was light everywhere. I thought all we need do is pray. Pray we get there!

We pray a lot in this clime. Last month, adherents of the two major faiths were engrossed in prayers. I wonder what they prayed for; who prayed what, who they prayed to, and for whom they had prayed. So, a man prays for a wife, he gets it, proceeds on a conjugal bliss on his bed and then prays that his manhood rises; what will we not pray for; we defend, endorse, pray and hold thanksgiving services for certified thieves because of ethnic cleavages and wail persecution because “na my brother”, and play

rhetoric of crass marginalisation.

While we are praying, civil servants are committing all sorts of crimes.

Students will not read, they are told to pray for retentive memory and bind the demon of failure and the rest is simplicita! Our football teams and sports representatives do not make preparations for tournaments; they just lay about and ask Nigerians to pray for them.

A president is sick, we don’t use the situation as an opportunity to tackle our chaotic glorified- patentmedicine- store health system but we pray for him. Maybe, we should in prayers call on the terrestrials above to punish even to five generations of those who through their actions insist that Nigerians will not have constant, reliable electricity.

We should beseech the god of our ancestors to punish in full measure, leaders, teachers, and professors, parents that have contributed to a fallen

standard of education. Those that have contributed to the educational rot ask Ifa to make sure they watch their wards rot away.

Be they in PDP, CPC, ACN, JNI, CAN, traditional institutions, youth bodies, and opinion leaders and all that trouble Nigeria and conspire to keep it perpetually on her knees. We must pray that Orumila exposes them, brings them to justice, as we have by our actions accepted that we cannot do anything much but pray.

Let’s do nothing but pray against those enemies that are responsible for potholes, death traps on our roads, that they will meet their waterloo on those roads that they could have facilitated their repair but chose to turn a blind eye to.

While we face hard and trying times, tightening belts in almost disappearing waists, we pray that those whose harmful designs of cannibalistic theft have denied the larger

populace quality healthcare, infrastructural development, clean and potable water, good roads and functional education will be cut off in gruesome manner, like horror movies their lives will be a crate of unprecedented disaster, both in public and private.

Enemies of Nigeria, whether Igbo pastoralists, Fulani herdsmen or Yoruba meat choppers, let us pray they are beseeched with problems beyond them. You are a contractor, you have collected the upfront, shared it with the ruling party, the governor’s wife, son and aides, and the drugs were not supplied – God will not forgive you.

In prayers, let us shout, you rapist, kidnapper in an Evans mould, armed, and pen robber. You sell question papers for qualifying exams, you are a crooked pastor, imam and voodoo priest, may the Almighty Allah reward you in same portion you have dealt others with.

We are so concerned about the president, when a host of us will never meet or have never met our local councillor to demand accountability of any form. Many do not even

know the name of their local government chairman, except he is a brother or relation that has denied us one borehole contract or given us one to come “join and chop”.

We lambast the president (because his inaction makes that task painfully easy), while our local streets are paved deathtraps. We celebrate everything, from going to Mecca and coming back as strangers to traversing Jerusalem or Rome; pray the heavens down during Jumat services and Sunday worship.

A nation geographically endowed, well-situated, yet continually cloned with masquerades as leaders and people. My simple summation is that we, you and I that spend hours praying, doing nothing, praying for leaders that are ordinarily from amongst us but become tin gods and are ready to pounce on us, telling us that no court can try them, living in stupendous splendour with no care and fleecing us, are the problem.

––-Abiodun Komolafe, Ijebu-Jesa, Osun State.

T H I S D AY SUNDAY JULY 16, 2017

11

12

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ ULY 16, 2017

SUNDAYNEWS

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

Obasanjo: I Left Prison Broke in 1998 t Reveals how Ford, Turner rescued him from ‘financial mess’ t Speaks on his pastoral work in prison

Gboyega Akinsanmi

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has disclosed that he left prison broke in 1998, after he was released by former Head of State, General Abdusalami Abubakar following the death of General Sani Abacha, then head of state on June 8, 1998.

Obasanjo, who claimed he had no money by the time he regained his freedom after serving in Kirikiri, Jos and Yola prisons for about four years however revealed that the Ford Foundation and the founder of the Cable News Network (CNN), Mr. Ted Turner, surprisingly gave him a lifeline through the sum of $150,000 that was donated to him and which enabled him to settle the tuition fees of his children, whose studies were almost trun-

cated by his incarceration.

The former president, who shared agonising memories of his prison experience at a recent programme organised by Christ The Redeemer’s Friends International (CRFI) of the Redeemed Christian Church of God at the Intercontinental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, however revealed how he became born again in prison and won souls for Christ.

Obasanjo was sentenced to life jail in 1995 by the Abacha junta after he was tried by a military court on trumped-up charges of felony and conspiracy to overthrow the Abacha government, an allegation the former president denied with evidence.

But exactly one week after Abacha passed away on June 8, 1998 under unclear circumstances, Obasanjo was released from

the Yola Prison by the administration of Abubakar.

Giving the testimony on how God rescued him from Abacha’s plot to inject him with viral poison at the fellowship recently, Obasanjo said he was broke immediately after he regained his freedom from the Yola Prison, revealing that he had no cash at that time to settle the tuition fees of his children, who were studying in the US. Before he left the Yola Prison, Obasanjo said he resolved “to live a new life – quiet, peaceful and possibly private. But it was surprising when I got to the airport; a presidential aircraft was already waiting for me. I did not believe it. When I arrived Lagos, two cars with pilots were waiting to convey me to my residence. I held my peace.”

Shortly after he returned home, Obasanjo said he decided “to travel to the US for two reasons. First, I needed to see my children. When I was in prison, they could not pay their tuition.

One of them was not allowed to continue because he could not pay his tuition.”

On this ground, the former president said it was very urgent that he travelled to the US to visit his children, even though he was confronted with the paucity of funds to settle their tuition.

“I did not have money after I returned from prison. And the experience was agonising. I did not even have money to settle their tuition and upkeep. As a father, I decided to travel first to see my children after a long time and second to encourage them, even though I did not have much

with me at that time.

“To my surprise, the federal government provided me a presidential aircraft to take me to the US. I was equally surprised at the way the federal government then treated me. My transformation was so sudden. I said this is not ordinary. It is God in action.”

Obasanjo cited the need to appreciate former US President, Jimmy Carter, an American media mogul, Mr. Ted Turner, Ford Foundation and other associates that tirelessly fought for his freedom as the second reason he decided to travel to the US. He disclosed that he first visited Carter, whom he said, played (See concluding

Devise Alternative Strategies for Social Sector Funding, FG Urged Abimbola Akosile

HOUSING BOOST L-R: Chairman, Crown Realities Plc, Chief Ferdinand Alabraba; representative of Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Alh. Umaru Jubril; Executive Director, Commercial and Investment Banking, Sterling Bank, Mr. Lanre Adesanya; and Managing Director, Crown Realities Plc, Mr. Chibuzor Dari- Uzu, during the inauguration of Crown Court Estate, Durumi in Abuja...recently

APC Leaders Move to Expel Banire Anayo Okolie

Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Mushin constituency of Dr. Muiz Banire, at the weekend called on the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party to consider as a matter of urgent importance, the removal of Banire, first as the National Legal Adviser of the party, and subsequently expel him from the party.

In a statement issued by the duo of Kehinde Babatunde and Tayo Williams, the party leaders

said the urgent call was predicated on several embarrassing and morally deficient situations that Banire had exposed himself to and which had largely affected the image of the party, and in most cases unbecoming of a principal national officer of the party.

Listing some of the alleged untoward activities of Banire, the APC leaders identified his approach to the court recently to secure a judgment against the party in Odi-Olowo local government, after threatening

the party to go all out against it as the fallout of council primaries in the state.

“The build up to the judgment as regards the Local Government Elections in Odiolowo was not lost on us. In suit No ID/1838/GCM/2017 before Hon. Justice Okuwobi, Dr. Banire as the National Legal Adviser assigned a legal representative for the defence of the party in the suit, and instructed the legal representative to disavow the party.

“This was evident in his response to the party chairman’s

August Leadership Lecture An initiative, The August Leadership Lecture, aimed at entrenching leadership qualities withintheranksofpublicofficials at different levels of governance, with focus on local government chairmen in recognition of the importanceofthesectortonation building,istoholditsmaidenedi-

tion soon. The lecture, according to the convener, Ekene Igwekile, willplaceparticularemphasison evidencebasedleadershipstrategy andexploretheconceptofleadership excellence in an individual andorganisationalcontext.Itwill alsoexaminethebehavioursthat underpin leadership excellence and the implications of those

behavioursonstatesandnational leadershipwhilealsobuildingthe discussion around challenges of leadership in the country.

Keynote presentations at the lecture will provide insights into provenandinnovativeapproaches toleadershipbypastandpresent accomplishedleadersinthepublic sectorwhilecorporatesectorlead-

statement against this highly unethical behaviour, wherein he categorically stated that yes he instructed the legal representative to do so, disregarding the possibility that his action could cause the party losing the forthcoming elections.”

Apart from this, the leaders also accused Banire of instigating one of his close allies named Ayo Adeluola to sign a full page advertorial in the Punch newspaper, referring to the party and theirleadersas419,amongstother uncomplimentary remarks. ers will share their leadership development strategies that has enabledthemattaingreatheights in the private sector.

Meanwhile,theeventwillalso witnessthepublicpresentationofa bookwrittenbyIgwekileandtitled ‘36YearsinthePoliticalArena:An Appraisal’,whichdocumentsthe lifeofChiefTonyAnenihinpublic service.

significant roles in the global campaign for his release and subsequently Ted Turner, whom he described as his good friend.

“Both Carter and Turner fought hard for my release. When I got to Carter, he was happy to see me. Before we started discussing, he asked me if I had seen my friend, Ted. I said I had not seen him. He said Ted had been asking of me. He advised me to visit him before I travelled back to Nigeria.

I assured him that I would visit him. He also told me about the roles Turner played to secure my release from Abacha’s claws. He said he really tried for me and that I should visit him in appreciation. part on www.thisdaylive.com)

The Federal Government has been urged to seek and adopt new measures and strategies to ensure continuous funding for the country’s vital social sector; to provide a viable alternative to the dwindling funding from donor countries and international organisations.

Also, members of the National Assembly and civil society organisations have been urged to partner the government in proffering holistic solutions to the current trend and challenges facing adequate and sustainable social sector financing, coupled with the need to harness and strengthen domestic resources for social sector financing in the face of dwindling donors’ funding.

The calls were contained in a release issued by the Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Mr. Auwal Musa Ibrahim aka

Rafsanjani.

Rafsanjani made the calls ahead of a one-day workshop for National Assembly Members on ‘Understanding Nigeria’s Lower-Middle Income Status and Unlocking Potential for Local Resource Mobilisation for Social Sector Financing’, jointly organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation in conjunction with CISLAC, which is holding on Monday, July 17 at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja According to him, “The current but unpleasant trend arising from dwindling donors’ resources leaves Nigeria, which is one of the major beneficiaries, with a challenge and no option than to proactively brainstorm, provoke critical discussions and harness potential for domestic resource mobilisation for sustainable social sector financing to inform appropriate legislative decisions and policy directions in Nigeria.

PDP to Hold National Caucus Meeting Tomorrow t BoT, NEC meet Tuesday Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said it would hold an expanded its National Caucus, Board of Trustees (BoT), and National Executive Committee (NEC) Meetings on Monday and Tuesday respectively.

In a statement jointly signed by the Secretary of the National Caretaker Committee, Senator Ben Ndi Obi and Secretary of the PDP Board of Trustees, Senator Aminu Wali, the party

extended invitation to former Presidents and Vice Presidents, PDP Governors, NEC members, BoT members, National Assembly members, former PDP Governors, former PDP Ministers and all former National Officers of the Party.

THISDAY gathered that the meeting of the PDP leaders would be used to discuss the report of the Prof. Jerry Gana reform committee as part of efforts to revamp the image of the party.

RETRACTION In a report titled ‘Wike and the Trouble Within’ published in our July 9, 2017 edition, we erroneously attributed the following quote: “Wike does not have any good dream for Rivers State. Most commissioners serving under Governor Wike can no longer pay the school fees of their wards. Governor Wike is running a one-man show government and I’ve decided not to be part of such government again,” to Dr. Austin Tam-George, former Commissioner for Information in Rivers State. We have discovered that this was a fabricated quote trending on the social media. We hereby retract the quote and apologise for any embarrassment it might have caused Dr. Tam-George.

- Editor

T H I S D AY SUNDAY JULY 16, 2017

13

14

T H I S D AY SUNDAY JULY 16, 2017

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

15

NEWS Brace up for More Flooding, NiMet Warns Abimbola Akosile in Lagos and Kasim Sumaina in Abuja The Director-General, Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Prof. Sani Mashi, has warned Nigerians to prepare for more flooding in different parts of the country, which can lead to poor crops production and harvest this year.

Mashi, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, said more states would be susceptible to flood as the rainy season continued.

According to the NiMet boss, there would be a prolonged spell of dry season toward the end of the growing season when there will be no rainfall.

He said only few crops could tolerate excess amount of water, adding that some crops could be completely washed away, if they were submerged for long period, since they survive on sunshine.

Meanwhile, the agency’s Acting General Manager, Mrs. Theresa Oshie has alerted the public to brace up for an impending flood, in which parts of the country will be affected when the torrential rain begins unabated.

The NiMet Seasonal Rainfall Prediction (SRP) indicates that the first part of July, 2017 will witness significant heavy rain across the country.

This was as result of the line separating the dry Easterly winds and the moist South Westerly winds

(Inter Tropical Discontinuity) oscillating between latitude 16o N and 19.5 o N with mean position of 17.9 o N. The Northern Hemispheric High (Saharan High) weakened in the period with a gradual retreat to the Mediterranean Sea/Europe in favour of the northward push of the Inter Tropical Discontinuity.

Mashi emphasised the effects of the downpour: “Those crops that may be able to stand and survive flood may be caught up by the dry spell that will eventually occur and there may be serious damage to crop yields. During flooding, crops are forced to absorb water more than necessary and the implication is that many crops cannot survive and if they survive, the yield will be seriously affected. Cocoa, for instance, is rain forest crop; but unfortunately, it does not survive in the rain forest areas that receives higher amount of rainfall because of seasonal flooding. If you have serious case of flooding, it means the standing crops will be forced to accommodate water more than they can absorb which will affect the performance of the crops.

Unlike the cereal crops that can be submerged, cocoa cannot be submerged completely.’’ The agency, in its 2017 Seasonal Rainfall Predictions (SRP), had warned that the recent trend in climate would result in tremendous alteration in the rainfall pattern in the country. He said while rainfall was expected to be spread

over a long period of time, because it started late, high amount were received in the early part in the part of the season. The implication is that if higher amount of rain is received, it means more rains is received more than what the ground can contain. “It means that chances of flood generation will be high; we have alerted that there is going to be risk of flooding, especially in areas that there are major rivers.

Recently, you recall that it happened in Tafa in Suleja, because it is within the region of River Gurara and that is why it was vulnerable to flooding.�

In order to mitigate the effects of the flooding, the agency cautioned members of the public to desist from blocking the water ways and flood plains (building of structures, refuse dumping and other unwholesome acts) and ensure that drainage systems in their environment are cleared.

The NiMet report revealed that, “The Southern Hemispheric High (ST. Helena High) encroached northwards with its 1015 hPa Isoline extending to the coastal cities of Nigeria thus enhancing the influx of moisture inland at the surface as well as in the vertical at the 925 hPa level (approx. 900m above ground) level up to 850hPa (1500m) were engulfed by moist maritime winds in the period except on the 4th that continental winds were observed at the 850hPa.�

Agusto & Co, GCR Assign Forte Oil Investment Grade Ratings Obinna Chima Foremost ratings and research agencies, Agusto & Co. and Global Credit Rating Co. (GCR), have affirmed Forte Oil Plc investment grade rating.

In addition, both agencies stated that the long term outlook for the oil and gas company remained stable.

A statement yesterday revealed that the above credit ratings were accorded to Forte Oil Plc based on the company’s top-tier position in the Nigerian downstream sector, underpinned by a strong and visible brand, significant assets across the energy value chain, and strong relationships with suppliers, strong corporate governance framework, and an experienced and stable management team.

Commenting on this feat, the Group CEO, Forte Oil, Mr. Akin Akinfemiwa, said: “This is an affirmation of trust in the company. It further reinstates that the company is on a solid financial footing and is navigating the difficult business environment within the country today through prudent management and presence in strategic parts of the energy value chain. “This rating provides additional comfort to all stakeholders that their investment in Forte Oil

is safe and secure in line with our vision of being the investment of choice in the energy sector.�

Forte Oil had reported improved results for the first quarter (Q1) ended March 31, 2017. It reported profit after tax (PAT) of N1.9 billion in Q1 of 2017, showing a jump of 98 per cent from N1 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2016.

In all, Forte Oil had recorded a revenue of N33 billion, down 7.3 per cent from N35.67 billion.

Cost of sales was reduced by 11.7 per cent from N30.8 billion to N27.2 billion, while distribution expenses was reduced by 45 per cent from N911 million to N501 million, leading to a growth of 20.8 per cent in gross profit to N5.8 billion, from N4.8 billion in 2015.

Operation expenses had also declined by 9.8 per cent to N2.8 billion, from N3.1 billion, net finance cost rose by 37 per cent from N1.1 billion to N1.6 billion. The company posted post tax profit of N2.0 billion, up 57.5 per cent from N1.3 billion. A reduction in tax by 52 per cent from N300 million to N200 million made the profit after tax to grow fast to N1.9 billion in 2017, compared with N1.0 billion in 2016, showing a jump of 97.5 per cent.

In bid to reduce its finance cost, Forte Oil Plc last year raised N9 billion bond under its N50 billion

Onwubuariri for Burial July 28

bond issuance programme, to refinance existing short term commercial bank loan obligations. The funds were also meant to refinance its retail outlet expansion.

The company has three main subsidiaries which are the downstream subsidiary, the power generation and Upstream Services. The downstream business operates a network of 500 retail outlets spread across the Country with major fuel storage installations at both Apapa (Lagos State) and Onne (Rivers State).

This subsidiary also markets a premium grade lubricants manufactured from its Lube Blending plant located in Apapa, Lagos State. The Plant has the capacity to produce 50,000 metric tons of over 100 different grades of lubricant oils annually. Its Aviation Terminal in Ikeja and Joint Aviation depots in Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano makes it one of Nigeria’s leading providers of aviation fuel for local and international airlines.

The company in 2013 acquired a 51 per cent stake in the Geregu Power Plant located in Kogi State along with its partners including Shanghai Municipal Electric Power Company (SMEPC). The power plant has a generating capacity of 435mw and has just undergone a successful major overhaul.

Ă’Ă? ĂœĂ?Ă—Ă‹Ă“Ă˜Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă?Ă˜Ă?ĂœĂ‹ĂŒĂ–Ă? ĂšĂ’ĂœĂ‹Ă“Ă— Ă˜ĂĄĂ&#x;ĂŒĂ&#x;Ă‹ĂœĂ“ĂœĂ“Ëœ Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ—Ă?Ăœ Ă’Ă‹Ă“ĂœĂ—Ă‹Ă˜ Ă™Ă? Ă—Ă™ ÞËÞĂ? Ě™ Ă’ĂœĂ“Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă‹Ă˜ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă&#x;Ă?Ă–Ă“Ă—Ěš Ă“Ă–Ă‘ĂœĂ“Ă—Ă? Ă?Ă–Ă?Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă™Ă‹ĂœĂŽ Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— ͯ͡͡ʹ ÞÙ ÍŻÍˇÍˇÍśËœ ĂĄĂ“Ă–Ă– ĂŒĂ? ĂŒĂ&#x;ĂœĂ“Ă?ĂŽ Ă™Ă˜ ĂœĂ“ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁËœ Ă&#x;Ă–ĂŁ Í°ÍśËœ Ă“Ă˜ Ă‘Ă‹ĂŽĂ‹Ëœ ĂžĂžĂ‹Ëœ Ă•Ă?ĂŽĂ&#x;ĂœĂ&#x; Ă™Ă?Ă‹Ă– Ùà Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă—Ă?Ă˜ĂžËœ Ă—Ă™ ÞËÞĂ?Ë› Ă?ÞËÞĂ?Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă“Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?ĂŽ ĂŒĂŁ Ă’Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ëœ ĂœË› Ă?ĂžĂ?Ăœ Ă˜ĂĄĂ&#x;ĂŒĂ&#x;Ă‹ĂœĂ“ĂœĂ“Ëœ Ă?Ă‹Ă“ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă?ĂœĂ‹Ă– Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ Ă“Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ—Ă?Ă˜Ăž ĂĄĂ“Ă–Ă– ÞËÕĂ? ÚÖËĂ?Ă? Ă‹Ăž Ăž ÒÙ×ËĂ? Ă˜Ă‘Ă–Ă“Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ Ă’Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă’Ëœ Ă‘Ă‹ĂŽĂ‹ ÞÞË Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă“Ă™Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă•Ă?ĂŽĂ&#x;ĂœĂ&#x; ĂŒĂŁ ͯͯ˛͎͎ ˲ײ ÞÒĂ?Ăœ Ă?Ă Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ? Ă?Ă–Ă‹ĂžĂ?ĂŽ ÞÙ Ă—Ă‹ĂœĂ• ÞÒĂ? Ù×Ă? Ă‹Ă–Ă– Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ—Ă?Ăœ Ă–Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă‹Ă– ĂŁĂ˜Ă™ĂŽ Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ?ĂžĂ‹ĂœĂŁ Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă“Ă™Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? ĂĄĂ?ĂœĂœĂ“ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă“Ă™Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ Ă™Ă&#x;ÞÒ Ă™Ă™ĂœĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‹ĂžĂ™Ăœ Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă–Ă&#x;ĂŽĂ? Ă‹ Ă?ĂœĂ Ă“Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă™Ă˜Ă‘Ă? ĂŒĂŁ ÞÒĂ? Ă•Ă?ĂŽĂ&#x;ĂœĂ&#x; Ă–Ă?ĂœĂ‘ĂŁ Ă?Ă?Ă™Ă?Ă“Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă˜ Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁËœ Ă&#x;Ă–ĂŁ Í°ÍłËœ ĂŒĂŁ Ͳ˛͎͎ ڲײ Ă’Ă?ĂœĂ? ĂĄĂ“Ă–Ă– Ă‹Ă–Ă?Ă™ ĂŒĂ? Ă‹Ă˜Ă™ĂžĂ’Ă?Ăœ Ă?ĂœĂ Ă“Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă™Ă˜Ă‘Ă? Ă“Ă˜ Ă’Ă“Ă? Ă’Ă™Ă˜Ă™Ă&#x;Ăœ ĂŒĂŁ ÞÒĂ? Ă’Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă’ Ă™Ă˜ Ă?ĂŽĂ˜Ă?Ă?ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁËœ Ă&#x;Ă–ĂŁ Í°Í´Ëœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍľ Ă“Ă˜ Ă’Ă“Ă? ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă“ĂŽĂ?Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă˜ Ă‘Ă‹ĂŽĂ‹Ëœ ÞÞË ĂŒĂŁ Ͳ˛͎͎ ڲײ Ă?Ă˜Ă?ĂœĂ‹ĂŒĂ–Ă? Ă˜ĂĄĂ&#x;ĂŒĂ&#x;Ă‹ĂœĂ“ĂœĂ“Ëœ ĂĄĂ’Ă™ Ă—Ă?ĂœĂ“ĂžĂ™ĂœĂ“Ă™Ă&#x;Ă?Ă–ĂŁ ĂœĂ?ĂžĂ“ĂœĂ?ĂŽ Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— Ă‹Ă?ÞÓà Ă? Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ Ă“Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă“Ă™Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? ĂĄĂ?ĂœĂœĂ“ Ě™ Ă˜Ă‘Ă–Ă“Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ Ù××Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă“Ă™Ă˜ĚšËœ ĂŽĂ“Ă?ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜ Ă’Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă–Ă?Ă?Ăš Ă“Ă˜ Ă’Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂžĂœĂŁ ÒÙ×Ă?Ëœ Ă‘Ă‹ĂŽĂ‹ ÞÞË Ă™Ă˜ Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁËœ Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă? ÍŻÍśËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍľËœ Ă‹Ăž ÞÒĂ? Ă‹Ă‘Ă? Ă™Ă? ;ʹ˛ Ă? Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ Ă“Ă Ă?ĂŽ ĂŒĂŁ ĂĄĂ“Ă?Ă?Ëœ Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?Ă’Ă“Ă–ĂŽĂœĂ?Ă˜Ëœ Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă–Ă&#x;ĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂœË› Ă?ĂžĂ?Ăœ Ă˜ĂĄĂ&#x;ĂŒĂ&#x;Ă‹ĂœĂ“ĂœĂ“ Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?ĂĄĂ? Ă‘Ă?Ă˜Ă?ĂŁ Ă™Ă? Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ Ě™ ĚšËœ ͯͲ Ă‘ĂœĂ‹Ă˜ĂŽĂ?Ă’Ă“Ă–ĂŽĂœĂ?Ă˜ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹ Ă’Ă™Ă?Ăž Ă™Ă? ĂŒĂœĂ™ĂžĂ’Ă?ĂœĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă“Ă?ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ?Ë›

16

ͯʹ˜ Ͱͮͯ͵ ˾ THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

OPINION The Anti-Graft War and Magu’s Burden

I

Onyema Omenuwa argues that the retention of Ibrahim Magu as EFCC boss constitutes a moral burden to the administration

t is not strange for a government to commit the kind of inadvertence that has happened in respect of adherence to the legal provisions for appointment of substantive chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

After all, a government depends on human beings as a vehicle to actualise its programmes and human beings are prone to mistakes. Under the EFCC Act, specifically section 2, subsection (3), “the Chairman and members of the Commission, other than ex-officio members, shall be appointed by the President and the appointment shall be subject to confirmation of the Senate.”

Ordinarily, this provision is crystal clear and the reason for such a double-barrelled pre-appointment requirement, as in many other statutes, is obviously to guard against the president pushing his lackey to the headship of such a critical agency. Significantly, the establishment of the commission in 2003 by the President Olusegun Obasanjo administration had been hailed as a positive and patriotic response to the country’s yearning for a strong and purposeful structure to stem the tide of corruption and concomitantly accelerate economic growth.

The jury is still out on whether the requirement, stringent as it seems, has achieved its purpose of securing the EFCC from presidential manipulations or even discouraging the successive chairmen from obscene display of loyalty to the president, rather than engage in an unbiased discharge of their mandate.

However, successive presidents have observed the requirement for appointment and in accordance with it, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu was appointed and served from 2003 to 2008; Mrs. Farida Waziri, from 2008 to 2011, and Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, from 2012 to 2015. Presently, the commission has an acting chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, who has remained in that acting capacity since 2015 because President Muhammadu Buhari’s proposal for his eventual appointment has got entangled in a web of controversies.

The Senate has twice denied him confirmation, on December 15, 2016 and March 15, 2017, on the strength of a damning report on him by the Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria’s integrity watchdog, whose hurdle certain categories of nominees for public office must scale, to be qualified.

At the last rejection of Magu, the Senate was blunt on its seriousness with the DSS report, which, among other things

was categorical that “Magu has failed the integrity test and will eventually constitute a liability to the anti-corruption drive of the present administration”. Though, it wouldn’t be the first time in our political history that a president’s nominee would be rejected by the Senate, the embarrassment associated with Magu’s, considering his DSS-cited deficiency in the very attribute that matters most for such appointment, has the potential to humble even the most arrogant government. Government has been left in quandary ever since: should it re-present Magu to the Senate for the third time or discard his nomination? The latter option would be tantamount to eating the humble pie and so, a very difficult one, in view of the obvious supremacy battle between the Buhari-led executive arm of government and the National Assembly, particularly the Senate leadership.

With this development, analysts, legal and otherwise, on both pro-President/Magu and pro-Senate leadership divides have inundated the discourse with multifarious views, with each and every view, of course, advancing support for the divide it inclines towards. But rather than abate, such inconsistencies would rather intensify the logjam, until the intervention by Femi Falana (SAN).

With the unabated controversy that has trailed his nomination and the emphatic double rejection by the Senate, the wide world would have already taken notice of Magu, albeit in a negative light, and his appointment, despite such recognition, would be greeted with outright cynicism

Very much reminiscent of the late Gani Fawehinmi, Falana’s brilliant view would provide a decider, or so it seemed. The learned Senior Advocate has unravelled the inconsistency of the EFCC Act, with the 1999 Constitution, on the provision for appointment to public office, in the category where Magu falls. Section 2, subsection (3) of the EFCC Act is at variance with section 171 of the 1999 Constitution on presidential appointments. The section provides: ‘(1) Power to appoint persons to hold or act in the offices to which this section applies and to remove persons so appointed from any such office shall vest in the President. (2) The offices to which this section applies are, namely – (d) Permanent Secretary in any Ministry or Head of any Extra-Ministerial Department of the Government of the Federation howsoever designated….’

Anybody that has primary knowledge of law would know that any law or provision of any law that is in conflict with the constitution or a constitutional provision is a nullity and of no effect. Strangely, this obvious conflict seems to have escaped every lawyer’s notice, since the inception of the EFCC Act in 2003! And with such oversight, every EFCC chairman that was appointed subsequent to the enactment of the act has had to be subjected to Senate confirmation.

Yet, if it was thought that with Falana having solved the problem, as it were, Magu would now have a smooth sail to substantive headship of the EFCC, the persistence of the controversy has proved otherwise. However, this state of affair would be understandable, when viewed from the broader perspective of the DSS report, which originally posed a clog in the wheel of Magu’s ascendancy to the EFCC chair. In fact, with the Falana eye-opener, it has ceased to be a legal or constitutional issue whether or not Magu is qualified to head the EFCC. It has become a moral issue. But would the Buhari administration, even when it has in many instances condoned overt acts of official misconduct on the part of its appointees, be comfortable showcasing a man who “has failed the integrity test and [who] will eventually constitute a liability to the anti-corruption drive of the present administration”? For sure, it has not been forgotten that the administration was propelled to electoral victory, majorly on its promise to deal corruption a deathly blow.

––Omenuwa, a lawyer, wrote from Abuja.

Who Is Afraid of Restructuring Nigeria?

Thecountryrequiresconstantdialogueandconstructiveengagementtoremaintogetherasanation,writesGozie Irogboli

N

igeria as a country is an amalgam of many nations crudely strung together for the administrative convenience of the imperialist Britain in 1914 without the consent of the disparate groups that make up the country. The British, too, subtly sowed the seed of discord by their divide and rule tactics designed to make the country weak and perpetually dependent on them. Therefore, it will require constant peaceful dialogue and constructive engagement to remain together as a nation.

A country like Nigeria that is a conglomeration of many nations with different histories, cultures and worldviews is a relationship among diverse people that should be nurtured constructively and like all relationships, one of the most essential tools to manage it is periodic reviews. Reviews are necessary for many reasons. First, it enables us to look at our resources, capabilities, competencies and device the right strategies for nation-building. It will enable us to define our basis for existing together, take a critical look at the past and make appropriate plans for the future in the light of the current realities. It will enable us identify our weaknesses, past mistakes and mitigate them. It will also present opportunity to learn and copy appropriately from other people. Reviews help us make correct internal analysis, identify the right things we are doing, sustain them and avoid the wrong things, the ultimate aim being for the greater good of the people: to maintain peace, unity and maximise social welfare. It is a veritable tool for stakeholder engagement that creates a sense of belonging for every group within the polity. That is why even in homogenous entities, constitutions and laws are reviewed to reflect current realities in order to strengthen the state apparatus.

A truly patriotic citizen of this should be concerned about the state of the nation as ugly things are happening in quick succession.

It is symptomatic of the fact that all is not well with polity. There is discontent and palpable fear in the land. The South-east is feeling marginalised and angry. The South-south is feeling exploited and frustrated, the North is agitated, albeit unnecessarily. The South-west is watching and moderating, apparently, as the pendulum seems to be swinging in their favour. There is recrimination and mutual suspicion among the various ethnic groups. There is palpable tension and the polity is heated up with endless agitation and youth restiveness.

Evidently, the present political imbroglio is a pent up anger against a government that has betrayed the masses; that has abysmally failed to usher in positive social change; that has not kept its campaign promises. The masses are hungry, dispirited, disappointed and disillusioned. Our economy is in the doldrums, national unity is

shattered, and insecurity and crime rate have assumed egregious dimensions.

More than ever before, the recklessness and obnoxious policies of this administration have dangerously exposed our fault lines and ethnic fissures so much so that it may not be wrong to say that Nigeria is on the brink of disintegration unless urgent step is taken to avert that.

The democratic gains we have made these past 16 years have been wiped out within a space of two years. The culture of impunity has been elevated to an egregious degree. The executive is reckless and tactless. Court orders are flouted with impunity.

There is no harmonious relationship between the executive and the other arms as it appears the executive has declared war against the legislative and the judiciary. Elections are no longer free and fair, as they are either rigged or declared inconclusive. Fulani herdsmen to whom the president is patron have been lionised into a terror squad that is ravaging communities across the nation. The government is making a charade of the anti-corruption thing. All we hear is anti-corruption war that is targeted at perceived political enemies.

Orphaned monies have been discovered in burial ground and sundry other bizarre places. Very soon, it is speculated that monies may be discovered in refuse dump sites, uncompleted buildings or worship centres. The opposition has been intimidated and browbeaten into submission. More investment is made into stifling criticism and free speech than in health, education and essential services. We have corrupt lopsided appointments, ethnic cleansing, as officers from the South, especially Christians, are being weeded out of security services. The Ministry of Information and its cyber hirelings have continued to insult the sensibility of the citizens with lies and inane propaganda.

Worse still, there is no clear-cut plan of action or programme from the government to tackle the myriads of problems it has accentuated. The government seems not to believe in the principles of constructive engagement and stakeholder engagement, as it appears the only language they understand is nuisance value.

Thus, all these have led to the strident call for restructuring in order to make the nation safe and habitable for all. The call for restructuring is, indeed, a patriotic one and it is heart-warming that many eminent citizens, like Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and many others, have lent their voices for restructuring.

On this note, the request by the Senate to review the report of the 2014 National Conference is not only encouraging but commendable. By this act, the Senate has actually demonstrated

that they are on the side of change. Despite the various acts of distraction, intimidation and blackmail coming from different quarters, the NASS has continued to function effectively. I sincerely commend the leadership of the National Assembly.

The Acting President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and the Senate President Senator Bukola Saraki have spoken on the need to maintain our national unity. I cannot agree more with them. They have done their bounden duty as those occupying the highest offices in the land. While I commend their sense of patriotism, I must also state unequivocally too that if we must continue to stay together, the basis of that must be properly negotiated and the right time is now. The unity of the country is negotiable. Nobody shall live like a slave in the country he calls his own at this time and age. We shall not have a country where law-abiding citizens are treated like slaves; where anarchists prance around with ethnic arrogance, and where mediocrity is preferred to merit. Yes, we cannot live in a system where hardworking people live in penury while drones, dunces and dunderheads enjoy the wealth of the nation. Nigerians cannot continue to live like hostages and aliens in the country they call their own. Mba nu!

It is said that there is strength in diversity but, unfortunately, our diversity has become our worst weakness. Our diversity has created an adverse socio-cultural factor that has hamstrung our development process and made it almost impossible for the right leadership to emerge.

Yes, the world is talking about multi-culturalism. The new world order is about multi-culturalism that is based on ethical ideals and principles of equity, fairness and mutual respect, not on primordial claims to racial superiority. Our national ethos should be based on the principles of equity and rule of law. Why must some people think that it is their right to lead while others must follow even when they have no moral or intellectual content to do so?

Why would the government arrest and release unconditionally suicide bombers while those on peaceful protest are mowed down by the minions of the state? Why would the government negotiate with those who have taken up arms against the state and not those making peaceful and lawful agitations? Why would the government prefer nuisance value to constructive civil advocacy?

What moral right has a government to arrest and try its citizens for treason when the actions, pronouncements and body language of the key persons in the government now and in the past are heinous and treasonable?

––Irogboli is an Economist and Public Policy Analyst.

17

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JULY 16, 2017

LETTERS HOW RECESSION HAS CHANGED US

I

t has once been said, and I think it is now fully confirmed, that Nigerians are one of the happiest people in the world. Suffering in silence and complacent, almost to a fault. Legendary music maestro, Fela Anikulapo had a perfect understanding of Nigerians, when he sang that punchline Suffering and Smiling in 1977. Decades later, we remain who he said we were. Though one might argue that this ability to remain happy in spite of everything shows we are distinctively created by God. However, at the moment of writing though the dollar rate is coming down, prices of commodities have refused to come down. Majority of Nigerians are plagued with uncertainty, misery and lack. Our youth are confused and bewildered and many of them bereft of ideas.

Does the question “How

Buhari

did we find ourselves in this quagmire?” mean anything to the discerning mind?

It is obvious that as a people we refused to

prepare for the rainy day. Therefore, having no umbrella, we must get ready to be soaked and drenched. How come we all did not heed the

creeping warning of this recession? At the onset, the few dissent voices were silenced. Yet, some saw it coming but kept mute - after all, if the heavens fall, it will be on everyone. Now the heavens have fallen and everyone is seeking solace at all costs.

People look up to lodging to someone’s extra room in place of hotels, when they travel.

Common staple foods are no longer common.

Foodstuffs such as garri, beans, rice, tomatoes and so on have skyrocketed to exactly twice their former prices. Formerly inexpensive garri now competes with beans.

Even local garden vegetables have leapt up in prices. This has forced some homes to adjust their eating formula from 1-1-1 to 1-0-1 and even to nil daily, in severe cases.

What can we say, except that it is so sad and pathetic that a country richly blessed with natu-

OSUN, UNICEF AND SOCIAL PROTECTION

C

onscious of the State of Osun’s leading roles in the enhancement of livelihoods and a life of dignity among Nigerians, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) recently led Lagos, Delta, Zamfara and 12 other states to Osun to understudy how its policies and programmes, anchored on the administration’s Six Integral Action Plan, have positively impacted the lives of its residents.

To start with, that Osun’s hitherto sordid pass was as a result of the ineptitude of its past leaders and elders who preferred failure to bestowing a legacy worthy of remembrance on their words and deeds is no longer news. Also unhelpful were the global oil glut and the protracted currency collapse, which have forced many countries around the world to adopt painstaking measures to fill gaping holes in their public finances. That Governor Rauf Aregbesola was able to force a hole in a stone, in spite of its hardness, is a feat that must be commended by all.

In Osun, there are varieties of activities on social protection that have galvanised and driven the administration more rigorously.

Prominent among them is Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES). It’s a radical, robust, market-development and character-building programme put in place by the government to tackle the annoying scourge of unemployment among our youths. Apolitical in concept and all-embracing in process, the Omoluabi ethos-inclined scheme has succeeded in mopping up more than 40,000 youths off

our streets for productive engagement.

Next is the Osun School Feeding and Health Programme, aka O’MEAL. Formerly known as Home Grown School Feeding and Health Programme (HGSFP), OMEAL’s capacity has been strengthened under this administration to accommodate more beneficiaries. And, as at December 2016, the state government has spent more than N10 billion to provide over-200 million plates of highly nutritious meals to pupils in its elementary schools across the state.

One major achievement of the scheme is the eradication of avoidable diseases among our students. For instance, before this administration came to power, it was discovered that eight out of every 10 students had scurvy. But that has disappeared with the advent of OMEAL! Not only that, the scheme has never recorded any incidence of contamination or food poisoning since inception. Added to this is the reduction in unemployment through the absorption and empowerment of over 3000 community caterers.

Welcome ‘Agba Osun Elderly Persons Welfare Scheme’, proactively designed to cater to the needs of the elderly as well as enhance the socio-economic status of the critically vulnerable senior citizens in the state.

Through Osun Destitute Rehabilitation Programme (O’REHAB), mentallychallenged individuals are identified, rehabilitated and reunited with their families and the society. Not only that, previously mentallychallenged persons are taken through skills acquisition

training in addition to moral and financial support, all geared towards ensuring proper reintegration into the society. O’REHAB also undertakes public enlightenment campaigns on the causes and treatment of mental disorder.

State of Osun’s Free Medical Programme is also worthy of mention. Government’s intervention in this sector is geared towards alleviating the burden of ill-health as well as reducing the indirect costs of diseases and disabilities, such as lost years in income, care of family members and lower productivity, to mention but a few.

What of Osun Ambulance Services (O’AMBULANCE)?

With one ambulance in each of the-then 30 local government areas, plus one administrative office; and 19 sophisticated ambulance buses in strategic locations in the state at inception, I’m sure those with the faith of Thomas concerning government’s commitment to reducing accident rates and saving lives in the state will have a rethink.

Here comes Osun Microcredit Agency, an agency established to aid the economic expansion of the state through the provision and disbursement of credit facilities, primarily, to cooperative groups of artisans, traders and medium-scale agroallied enterprises, among others. For instance, more than N3 billion has so far been injected into the state’s economy through its activities even as cheaper funds have been made available, compared to interventions before its establishment. This intervention has also led to better utilisation of borrowed

funds among the beneficiaries and an improvement in the capital of the participating Microfinance Banks (MFBs).

Also worthy of mention are ‘Walk-to-live’, an embodiment of team work, mental alertness and physical exercise that richly adds value to the health of the citizens; and Osun Calisthenics Programme which has been preparing Osun students for the future through “a variety of movements often performed rhythmically and usually conducted in concerts with stretches to depict symbols.”

It is interesting to note that, apart from the introduction of Calisthenics into Osun schools’ curriculum, other states like Lagos have identified with this laudable initiative.

Lest I forget, one of the important contributions of the state government to the agriculture sector, which is now famously described as the prospective backbone of Nigeria’s economy, is the establishment of Osun Rural Access and Mobility Project (O’RAMP). It is an agency which sees to the construction of rural access roads in our farm settlements.

The overall intention of this initiative is to enhance massive production of food crops in the state.

The O’UNIFORM, a regime of uniform identity for all the students in the state’s public schools, has also done a lot in eradicating discriminations among the students; in addition to maximising economies of scale on the part of the local suppliers of the uniforms to the buyers.

–– Abiodun Komolafe, Ijebu-Jesa, Osun State.

ral and human resources feeds like ants, where they could conveniently munch as elephants?

Uncountable small and medium scale businesses have shut down due to the harsh economic realities. As a matter of fact, some people have been forced to go back to the hinterlands and villages since they are unable to live decently in the cities.

These past few years, we have lost jobs as well as savings and to top it all, we have lost faith in the ability of government to address the situation. We ask ourselves severally, does Aso Rock understand the urgency of our condition? Does Aso Rock appreciate that some hitherto decent ladies now roam the street at night, half-naked desperately waiting for the brake lights of passing cars selling their souls, just to feed their bodies?

Are they aware that as I write, some dwell with extreme malnutrition - shrinking cheeks, thinning legs and protruding abdomens?

Are they aware that parents are now moving their children to substandard, more “affordable” schools? Are they aware that people, with lofty jobs are losing them and are being evicted from their rented apartments?

Do they know of the countless people on the streets, with no roof over their heads? Are they aware of unprecedented increase in unemployment? Do they understand the gravity of the scarcity of foreign exchange on businesses?

Can they fully grasp the impact of poor electricity supply on the masses, who cannot afford to run generators 24 hours, every day of the week?

Are they aware of the influence overdependence on importation and high cost of doing business in Nigeria has on the people? What of the unending increase in the crime rate and kidnapping? How much does the government really understand its people and the situation?

We implore the Topmost Rock in the land to do the needful to ameliorate the anguish of the masses. Nigerians are peaceful people with peaceable hearts. Who needs war? Ask the Syrians, the Iraqis, and many others the effects of war on their countries.

Liberia is still feeling the impact of war on their country - decades after the ceasefire. I cannot agree more with Martin Luther King, Jr when he said, “Violence as a way of achieving racial justice is both impractical and immoral. I am not unmindful of the fact that violence often brings about momentary results. Nations have frequently won their independence in battle.

But in spite of temporary victories, violence never brings permanent peace.”

Despite our negative situation, there is thankfully a traceable positive. From the look of things, the recession has changed almost everyone. Not a few people have come to embrace small scale farming such as piggery, snailery and poultry, among others. Others have been forced to start small businesses that require very little capital.

While others have delved into sales of food items, transportation business, vegetable and food crops as well as handcrafts such as bead making, hat making, bespoke tailoring, soap making, etc. As they say, it is a survival of the fittest and it eliminates the unfit.

This goes to show that we as Nigerians can create a new Nigerian dream, where abnormal profits, poverty, resentment, tribal sentiments, religious bigotry, war drums and all forms of nepotism are thrown into extinction. Nevertheless, our government has a major role to play - a role to stop poverty and famine. A role to create the good environment for Nigerians to flourish.

A role to stop injustices, for which the generations coming behind would be proud of us.

––Olusanya Anjorin, Lagos

BATTLE OF THE REFINERIES?

T

he federal government said in 2016, through the Honourable Minister of Petroleum Resources, that Nigeria was putting in place measures in the oil sector aimed at meeting the needs of Nigeria’s local consumption before the year 2019.

There is also information to the effect that the federal government is

planning the concession of some of our refineries.

If that is the case, and if by the year 2019 private oil companies begin refining crude oil, our refineries will no longer be useful.

The federal government should ensure that our refineries work side by side the proposed private refineries.

–– Assurance Ovie, ICT Dept, ANEEJ, Benin City

18

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͯʹ˜ Ͱͮͯ͵

INTERNATIONAL Bakassi and Nigeria’s Foreign Policy of Non-protection

W

hen James Ngugi wrote in his Weep Not Child that a white man is always a white man but a Black man is not always a Blackman, he must have had the Nigerian man in mind. In the same vein, whenAlan Paton advised the people ofAfrica to cry against the maltreatment of the Black people in his Cry, My Beloved Country, he too must have had the situation of Nigeria in mind. Nigeria? Of course Nigeria and always Nigeria, because in the eyes of European observers nothing is impossible in Nigeria. The possibility of everything happening in Nigeria implies not only the existence of what is good but also what is bad. In fact, when it is said that nothing is impossible in Nigeria, the intended to connotation is actually negative, that is, wickedness, 419s, corruption and indiscipline.

These negative aspects largely inform the hostile attitude of foreigners towards Nigeria and Nigerians. The impact of the negative perception of the Nigerian is now to the extent that Nigerians are regularly mistreated internationally and Nigeria’s foreign policy makers appear to have more arguments justifying the mistreatment than arguments seeking to protect the concerned Nigerians. It will be useful to ask if Nigeria’s foreign policy has now become that of non-protection of the Nigerian.

This question is pertinent at this juncture, because Nigeria’s foreign policy focus in the area of protection of the Nigerian is, at best, obscure.

At times, efforts are made to deal with issues of protection.At other times, and, for that matter, in very serious cases, the Foreign Minister keeps silent and gives a wrong impression of nothing is happening.

Many times, he did the appropriate things.

For instance, the efforts being made to prevent renewal of xenophobic attacks on Nigerians living in SouthAfrica are quite commendable, but the foundations of the efforts are, at best, misplaced.

However, the efforts still clearly portray that government is trying to protect its nationals. On the contrary, the attitude of government to the case of the Bakassi returnees and the lackadaisical attitude to the maltreatment of the people of the peninsula by Cameroonian gendarmes are far from being commendable. It is unpatriotic and does not suggest any seriousness of purpose in terms of protection of Nigerians.

It is useful to recall here that there was the time HonourableAbike Dabiri-Erewa, Senior SpecialAssistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora, advised Nigerians to exercise caution to allow the coast to be clear before seeking to travel to the United States, especially in the absence of any urgency. The reaction of the Foreign Minister, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, was not only to suggest untruth about the deportation of some Nigerians from the United States, thereby disputing the hard facts revealed by Honourable DabiriErewa, but also to unnecessarily raise questions about who should have the responsibility for advising on foreign policy matters. His reaction was miscalculated and faulty.

The truth is that every Nigerian owes it a national duty to draw attention of government to any issue considered of interest to the individual, particularly when life and survival is at stake. The most unfortunate aspect of the saga was that, as at the time Foreign Minister Onyeama was declaring that no Nigerian was ever deported from the United States on the basis of President Donald Trump’s Executive Order, banning immigrants from some seven countries, not less than four Nigerian deportees were at the airport in Lagos. Foreign Minister Onyeama’s denial of non-mistreatment of Nigerians and the self-presentation by some victims of deportation to the press in Lagos only embarrassed the people and the Government of Nigeria.

But again, the same Onyeama did well in the areas of his submission and position at the meeting held at the SouthAfrican Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation in Pretoria on Monday, March 13, 2017. The meeting took place within the framework of bilateral cooperation and the cardinal focus was to forestall possible xenophobic attacks on Nigerians. Nigeria, reportedly, was represented by Onyeama, Nigeria’s Minister of the Interior,Abdulrahman Dambazzau, and Nigeria’s Chargé d’Affaires in SouthAfrica.

SouthAfrica’s Foreign Minister, Maite Nicoana-Mashabane, her HomeAffairs counterpart, Malusi Gigaba, and SouthAfrica’s High Commissioner in Nigeria, Mr. Lulu Louis Mnguni represented their country.

In resolving to set up an Early Warning Unit aimed at nipping in the bud any threats of xenophobia, Mr. Onyeama’s point of submission is noteworthy.As reported by Iheanacho Nwosu in Pretoria, three clear foreign policy positions were articulated (Daily Sun, Tuesday, March 14, 2017, p.8). First, Mr. Onyeama said ‘unfortunately, for some time now, there has been this incidence of attacks and Nigerians have been victims, and we, as a government, have known that this was not state-sponsored and that the SouthAfrican Government always condemn this, and it was very often the action of a small minority, a small criminal minority.’

One deductive possible rationale for Nigeria’s soft approach to

VIE INTERNATIONALE with

Bola A. Akinterinwa Telephone : 0807-688-2846

e-mail: bolyttag@yahoo.com

We also recognise that not all Nigerians in SouthAfrica are engaged in unlawful activities. The vast majority are contributing enormously to creating the dynamic SouthAfrican society. The vast majority feel very much at home in SouthAfrica and this is the narrative we also want to pursue.’

Put differently, the Minister is underscoring the point that, under no circumstance should all Nigerians or every Nigerian be seen as criminals or criminal. Hence, foreign policy should seek the protection of the non-criminally-oriented Nigerians. This is a very good policy stand and good logic that should be further articulated and sustained.

The third position is a deductive suggestion that there should be reliance on whatever the Government of SouthAfrica says. Mr. Onyeama has it that ‘we have received assurances as a government and people of Nigeria that the government and people of SouthAfrica are fully with us, fully supportive of Nigerians in this country, and are taking all the necessary measures to ensure that Nigerians stay in peace, and that their properties and rights will always be respected.’

This point is quite debatable. It does not reflect the situational reality of the bilateral relationship. Time will sooner than later tell whether Nigerians will stay in peace and their rights and property will be respected.

What we know for sure is that countries hardly respect the fundamental rights of foreigners at the time of trouble. For instance, to what extent has Cameroon been able to respect the Green TreeAccord signed in execution of the ruling of the International Court of Justice on the dispute between Nigeria and Cameroon over the Bakassi peninsula?

What we also do know is that there is no month in which there is no reckless mistreatment of the Nigerian in different parts of the world.

By mistreatment, we are not suggesting that criminally-oriented Nigerians should be protected or that Nigerians should be encouraged to flout the immigration laws of other countries. True, the common offences for which Nigerians are charged are essentially related to immigration. However, until proved guilty, suspects cannot but remain suspects, and therefore should not be presumed or treated as convicts. Hence, there is the need to investigate and address Nigeria’s current foreign policy dilemma.

The Current Foreign Policy Dilemma Onyeama

the maltreatment of Nigerians in SouthAfrica is therefore the belief that the Government of SouthAfrica has not been involved in the attacks on Nigeria. This belief is in itself most unfortunate for many reasons: the Government of SouthAfrica gives public impression that it recognises the roles of Nigeria during the anti-apartheid struggle.

However, in virtually all public functions in SouthAfrica or at the United Nations, all countries that took active part in the struggle were always recognised with the exception of Nigeria.

One explanation given by the government is that those attacking Nigerians are said not to know much about the roles played by Nigeria because there were two categories ofAfrican National Congress (ANC): national and international. Nigeria related much with the international group, so the nationally-basedAfrican National Congress knew little about Nigeria’s status as a Frontline State.

Additionally, but perhaps, most unfortunately is that the international members of theANC are now very old and many of them have passed on.And yet, none of them has been able to educate theirANC compatriots back home on this subject matter. Is there any publication on the history of the anti-apartheid struggle in SouthAfrica in which any focused attention is given to Nigeria? Whereas, inAbuja, there are different streets and places named after SouthAfrica and its leaders.

Most disturbingly, Nigeria’s Foreign Minister unnecessarily ignores the existence of duplicity in international diplomacy. He ignores that a country can declare a policy while doing precisely the contrary.

Put differently, there is no way anyone can predict or justify the action of any government on the basis of assumptions.Are there no states sponsoring terrorism while at the same time publicly condemning it?

Did Russia hack the US 2016 election processes or not? How do we also explain Qatar’s current relationship with its immediate neighbours? Is their current mésentente not derivable from allegations of aiding and abetting terrorism levied by the neighbours against Qatar?

My point here is not about pointing fingers at the SouthAfrican government. The point, on the other hand, is that it may not be sufficient for Onyeama to adopt a foreign policy on the erroneous consideration that the SouthAfrican Government has been condemning xenophobic attacks on foreigners. There is no big deal about public condemnation but there is always a big deal on factors empirical attitudes.

The second foreign policy position of Nigeria deductible from Mr. Onyeama’s submission is ‘the narrative to be pursued.’ In the words of the Foreign Minister, ‘unfortunately, the events have taken place.

Secondly, Cameroon has little or no regard for the sanctity of the Green Tree Agreement.The disregard for the accord necessarily vitiates any obligation created for Nigeria. Consequently, the Government of Nigeria has a legitimate basis to seek protection of the very people having allegiance to it. Most unfortunately, the protection was and is never there. About 100 people were reported killed last week and the National Assembly is said to be currently investigating it.This initiative is commendable but it is medicine after death at the level of the Government of Nigeria

The problem now is that Nigeria’s foreign policy appears to be conducted on the wrong assumptions that all mistreated Nigerians are guilty ab initio. When assumptions are not based on preliminary inquiry and facts, there cannot but be unintended consequences. For instance, how do foreign airlines treat passengers travelling to and from Nigeria?Are the services provided on the Nigerian route as good as the services provided on other routes?

Last week, there was the case of the KenyaAirways who took passengers from Nigeria and kept their passengers for more than 24 hours in transit without accommodation, without water or any form of convenience. This is one area that foreign policy protection is needed, especially when there are reported cases. The Kenyan case must be investigated and the outcome made known publicly.

Besides, from various estimations, not less than 300 Nigerians are deported in any month in recent times. On Thursday, 29th June, 2017, 29 Nigerians were deported from the United Kingdom. Not less than one thousand Nigerians were deported between February andApril 2017 from Cameroon, Italy, Libya and SouthAfrica. From the investigations of the National Daily Newspaper as reported by Odunewu Segun, Cameroon has the highest deportation figure of Nigerians in Africa in the past two months with 517 deported Nigerians.

As reported by Nairaland Forum on December 12, 2010, 3000 Nigerians were deported from the Niger Republic. While Gbenga Adesuyi, a cleric, believed that the ‘United States deports 80 Nigerians weekly, others have submitted an increased number: 380 Nigerians per week. Even though the figures might have been exaggerated, the point of interest here is protection of the affected Nigerians, regardless of the number of affected Nigerians.

The type of protection required in this type of situation is the preventive one, which requires general public enlightenment at the level of the constitutive states of Nigeria. Mostly affected by these deportation orders are Nigerians from the South-east. They travel out for business without adequate education on travel regulations.

In most cases, they travel with the Nigerian mentality of going to visit their brothers and sisters as defined inAfrica, especially going to people without notice.

Foreign policy protection should therefore begin at the internal level. The Foreign Ministry should have a general guide to international travels that should be distributed to the various state governments for onward distribution to their citizens. Protection after deportation does not and cannot have any good meaning.

The perception of government by deportees, as explained in two of their statements, can be a major source of threats to national security in the near future. The first deportee said: ‘I’m not a drug addict, I did not fight. I did not commit any crime. You sent me back to my country and you think I would be happy.’ This is an expression of anger vis-a-vis the deporting authority.

Another deportee said: ‘Our embassy would be supporting the deportation while otherAfrican nationals are everywhere. We have Senegalese, Cameroonians, Malian, Gambians, a lot of them. Now that we are back home, they should provide jobs for us. Or do they want us to come and become a nuisance and terrorists? Is that what they wish?After taking the worst risk of life to enter Europe and we came back empty handed, and you think I would be happy with anybody. I cannot be happy with anybody.’

(See concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com)

19

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JULY 16, 2017

BUSINESS

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

LAST WEEK WEEK POWER Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, said the country will experience an increase in power supply from August.Fashola,whiledeliveringa lectureattheUniversityofLagos, saidtheadditionalsupplywasexpectedfromtheincreasedvolumes of water due to the rainy season.

OPEC LibyaandNigeria,bothoilproducing nationsexcusedfromproduction cut agreement reached by the OrganisationofPetroleumExportingCountries,maybeaskedtocap theircrudeoutputsoon.Kuwaitoil minister,IssamAlmarzooq,saidthe decision was in an effort to help rebalance the oil market. OPEC and non-OPEC producers were reported to have invited the two Africancountriestotheircommittee meetinginSt.Petersburg,Russia, on July 24, to discuss the stability of their production.

A barrel of crude oil

NBS: Crude Oil Prices Averaged $48/b Early July Kunle Aderinokun with agency report Crude oil prices - that is, Brent crude, Bonny Light crude and WTI Midland crude- averaged $48.07 per barrel, $48.40 per barrel and $44.43 per barrel respectively the previous Thursday, July 5, the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics has said.

According to data from NBS, a week prior to this, on June 29, Brent crude sold for $47.08/b, Bonny Light crude price at $47.66/b and WTI Midland crude price stood at $44.08/b and ended with Brent crude price of $47.63/b, Bonny Light crude price of $47.80/b and WTI Midland crude price of $44.43/b on July 5.

However, crude oil price broke its streak of seven consecutive higher daily highs, falling to $46.10/b on Friday. It rose modestly the following Monday but rising drilling activity in the United States and uncertainty over Libyan and Nigerian production cuts clouded the future supply outlook.

Brent crude futures rose 0.6 per cent to $47/b while US crude oil futures were yesterday up 0.7 per cent at $44.51/b. Brent crude prices are 17 per cent below their 2017 opening level despite strong compliance by OPEC with the production-cutting accord.

Nigeria and Libya have been invited to a joint meeting between OPEC and non-OPEC on

ENERGY July 24 in St Petersburg, Russia.

Six ministers from OPEC and non-OPEC nations, including Kuwait, Venezuela, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Russia and Oman, will meet on July 24 in St. Petersburg, Russia, to discuss the current situation in the oil market.

Two days after (Thursday), oil prices were higher after evidence of stronger demand balanced reports of higher production by key OPEC exporters in a downbeat report by the International Energy Agency.

Brent crude rose 63 cents, or 1.3 percent, to $48.37/b by 2:40 p.m.

ET (1840 GMT) while U.S. light crude ended the day’s session up 59 cents, or 1.3 percent, at $46.08/b, CNBC reported.

There is evidence world oil demand is picking up, notably in the United States and China, the world’s two biggest oil consumers.

According to CNBC, China imported 8.55 million barrels per day (bpd) of oil in the first six months of this year, up 13.8 percent on the same period in 2016, making it the world’s biggest crude importer ahead of the United States.

“We are definitely seeing robust demand growth” in China, said Neil Beveridge, senior oil analyst at Sanford C. Bernstein.

The Paris-based IEA issued a stronger outlook for global oil demand, with consumption in Germany and the United States increasing in recent months.

Still, oil inventories in industrialised nations remain high despite a modest drop in May. OECD stocks are still 266 million barrels above the five-year average, the IEA said.

The agency warned the oil market could stay oversupplied for longer than expected due to Brent crude sold for $47.08/b, Bonny Light crude price at $47.66/b and WTI Midland crude price stood at $44.08/b and ended with Brent crude price of $47.63/b, Bonny Light crude price of $47.80/b and WTI Midland crude price of $44.43/b on July 5.

rising production and limited output cuts by some members of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.

“Each month something seems to come along to raise doubts about the pace of the rebalancing process,” the IEA report said.

“This month, there are two hitches: a dramatic recovery in oil production from Libya and Nigeria and a lower rate of compliance by OPEC with its own output agreement.”

OPEC said its production rose by 393,000 bpd in June to 32.611 million bpd, thanks to extra

output from Nigeria and Libya.

That came despite a pledge

by OPEC to curb production by about 1.2 million bpd between January this year and March 2018, while Russia and other non-OPEC producers say they will hold back about half as much.

OPEC’s compliance with cuts slumped to 78 percent last month from 95 percent in May as higher-than-allowed output from Algeria, Ecuador, Gabon, Iraq, the UAE and Venezuela offset strong compliance from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Angola, the IEA said.

OPEC said last Wednesday the world would need only 32.2 million bpd of its crude next year, down 60,000 bpd from this year and about 400,000 bpd less than it pumped in June.

Oil prices have dropped in recent weeks to levels not seen since the end of last year as investors lost faith in a deal between OPEC and non-OPEC producers to reduce output, while U.S. shale oil production has risen sharply.

Prices responded only minimally to data Wednesday showing that U.S. crude oil inventories dropped last week by the most in 10 months.

“The market is having difficulty picking its head up,” said Gene McGillian, manager of market research at Tradition Energy in Stamford, Connecticut.

FX Market CentralBankofNigeriaonMonday injected $142.5 million into the inter-bankforeignexchangemarket, daysafterinterveningintheretail segmentofthemarketwith$254.3 million.Thatwasasthenairaslightly lost ground against the dollar few days earlier. A breakdown of the interventionindicatedthattheCBN offered$100milliontodealersin the wholesale segment and $23 million to the Small and Medium Enterprises segment. Invisibles, such as tuition fees, medical payments,businessandpersonaltravel allowancesreceived$19.5million.

Free Trade Zones TheWorldBankandotherinterest groupsmadeacasefortheestablishmentofasingleregulatorybody to oversee the operations of Free TradeZonesinthecountry.Senior OperationsOfficeratWorldBank, CraigGiesze,saidcountriesseeking tobringtheirFTZstocomplywith internationalbestpracticesmust adoptthesingleregulatoryauthority regime based on knowledge gatheredovertheyearsandwhat foreign investors look out for in an economy. He made the call at a public hearing by the House of Representatives Committee on Commerce held in Abuja Federal Obligations The Federal Executive Council approved N2.7 trillion for paymentofthefederalgovernment’s discountedobligations.Themoney consistsofN740billionofoutstanding pensions and promotional salary arrears (not discounted) and N1.93 trillion (discounted) of otherobligations,includingduesto federalgovernmentcontractorsand suppliers.MinisterofFinance,Mrs. Adeosun, said the obligations accumulatedoverthelasttwodecades andwillbepaidthroughbondsand promissorynoteissuancetoresolve longoutstandingduesandtoalso stimulate economic activity.

DMO TheDebtManagementOfficeraised N106billionthroughtheFederalGovernmentofNigeriaBonds.Thefunds raisedwillsupporttheimplementation of the federal government’s N7.44 trillion 2017 budget, which has an allocationofN2.36trilliontocapital expenditure.Thefundswereraised aftertheDMO,inlinewithitsmandate, conductedanauctionofFGNBondsto providefundsfortheimplementation ofthebudget.

20

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JULY 16, 2017

BUSINESS/ECONOMY

The OnlyGamein Town Obinna Chima reviews the issues discussed by the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, during a recent interview on Arise TV, a sister broadcast station of THISDAY

C

redit for the title of this article is to no other person than the Chair of former president Barack Obama’s Global Development Council, Mohamed El-Erian, who in his book with the above title highlighted the challenges that confront central banks globally.

El-Erian noted that central banks had been considered the only game in town and wondered whether the very high expectations placed on them might backfire in the future.

According to him, ever since the 2008 global financial crisis, central banks had ventured, not by choice, but by necessity, ever deeper into unfamiliar and tricky terrain of unfamiliar unconventional monetary policies as well as heavily intervened in the functioning of markets. He also revealed that during the 2008 financial crisis, in the US, “a myriad of emergency funding windows were opened to enable cash to be injected into the financial system, and from virtually any and all directions.”

Indeed, central banks globally are confronted with varying degree of challenges.

In Nigeria, faced with the challenge of the slump in crude oil prices in 2014, which thereafter snowballed into a foreign exchange crisis, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had to continuously adjust its policies to achieve the desired results. In addition, the delay by President Muhammadu Buhari in forming his cabinet months after he was inaugurated in 2015 then put the responsibility of managing the economy on the shoulders of the central bank.

Since last year, policy makers have been battling to lift the economy out of a biting economic recession. Nigeria’s first quarter 2017 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) showed that the economy contracted by 0.52 per cent (year-onyear) in real terms, indicating five consecutive quarters of contractions since the Q1 2016. This was however 0.15 per cent higher than the rate recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2016 (revised to –0.67 per cent from –0.36 per cent) and higher by 1.21 percentage points from the rate recorded in the preceding quarter (revised to –1.73 per cent from –1.30 per cent) There are predictions that the decelerating

When IMF and World Bank are coming into the country and you are only advising us about what to do with the forex, it becomes suspicious. What the CBN is saying is that naturally, it is going to take a set of policies to come out of the crisis and not a one-track approach. I think what they did was right because you have to look at your system in order to come out with what would work for you and not necessarily off the shelf policies

Emefiele inflation and negative GDP growth, as well as increased capacity utilisation and agriculture output are all signs that the economy was on the path to recovery.

But for the CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, the regulator has been developing home-grown policies to surmount challenges that confronted the economy in recent times.

Speaking on Arise TV, a sister broadcast station of THISDAY, recently, Emefiele said the CBN would intensify its intervention in the foreign exchange market in order to ensure price stability.

He also disclosed that over the last 10 years, the CBN had invested over N2 trillion in funding agriculture, SMEs and other manufacturers in the agriculture value chain.

He insisted that the demand management forex measures of the CBN had worked.

Responding to a question on why the CBN did not adopt the forex model that was adopted

by Egypt, Emefiele said: “What we are doing is that we are developing home-grown solutions and I truly would not like to bring down any other country because they are adopting their own solutions.

“A couple of people have said why didn’t we adopt the Egypt model and I said they should leave us to adopt our own solutions and our own Nigerian options because we have our own peculiarities.

“Inflation in Nigeria, the CBN had a target of 6-9 per cent. Unfortunately, it grew to as high as 18 per cent, until we began to reverse it downward and I am hopeful that it is going to go down further.

“Now, compare Nigeria and Egypt. October 2016, Egypt’s inflation was 13 per cent, April 2017; Egypt’s inflation had grown to 31 per cent.

I can tell you that at 18 per cent, Nigerians had been complaining that what are these people (CBN) doing.

“It got to 18 per cent and we started to take certain actions to reverse it. So, that would tell you that we are adopting our own home grown solutions and you can see whether it

is working or not.”

He said the bank had also done well in shoring up the national currency, explaining that it had improved from N525/$ to around N360/$.

“I am happy that we are doing our best and we are beginning to see home-grown solutions. I believe that with more hard work, Nigeria would get better,” the CBN governor told Arise TV. He, however, stressed the need for the federal government to continue to implement policies that would help diversify the economy, from heavily relying on oil to agriculture and the real sector.

He said the central bank would continue to support operators in the agriculture, SMEs and manufacturing enterprises through its development finance initiatives, with a view to complementing the federal government’s efforts at diversifying the economy and ensuring that the nation is self-sufficient in food production.

He added: “We have opened the forex market up for more and more people who are interested.

That was why we introduced the I & E window.

We said if you want forex you can go to that market and buy it once it fits the pricing structure of the goods or whatever you want to do.

“And that has helped to some extent in complementing the flow of forex into the market and has resulted in the appreciation that we have seen. It is the market that determines the direction of the exchange rate.”

He urged policymakers and others in leadership positions to be focused on nation-building as well as improving the well-being of those placed under their care.

He reiterated that with the improvement seen in Gross Domestic Product (GDP), barring any other shocks within and outside the economy, it would record improved growth before the end of this year.

Looking Inward The Chief Executive Officer of Global Analytics Consulting Limited, Mr. Tope Fasua, reckoned what the governor meant by his statement that

the central bank adopted home-grown policies to confront the economic crisis that hit the country was that the CBN did not follow the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank recommendations like Egypt.

Fasua argued that the IMF and World Bank are too fixated on liberalisation of the forex market.

This, he said does not work in all economies.

“And in my view, when they (IMF and World Bank) are coming into the country and you are only advising us about what to do with the forex, it becomes suspicious. What the CBN is saying is that naturally, it is going to take a set of policies to come out of the crisis and not a one-track approach.

“I think what they did was right because you have to look at your system in order to come out with what would work for you and not necessarily off the shelf policies. Off the shelf policies have never worked and would never work,” he added.

He, however, pointed out that the central bank has been walking on a tight rope, in view of the economic situation.

On his part, the CEO of Economic Associates, Dr. Ayodele Teriba, noted the build-up of investor confidence in the economy.

He, however, urged the federal government to implement policies that would insulate the economy from the volatility in crude oil prices.

Teriba said: “It is good news that whereas the first half of 2016 witnessed severe cyclical downturn, the first half of 2017 has seen an upturn which is lifting both investors and consumers confidence.

“Yes, the central bank and other policy agencies have cause to be happy that the measures they have put in place have contributed in part to these improvements that you have seen.”

Nevertheless, he pointed out that the main source of concern about the Nigerian economy happens to be the price of crude, saying much of the Nigerian story revolves around that single variable.

“The deterioration we saw last year was as a result of the collapse in the price of crude oil.

Much of the improvement we have seen in the first half of this year was as a result of oil price moving in the opposite direction.

“The key question is now that the oil price is higher than it was last year, is it going to remain high for Nigeria’s recovery to garner the required momentum?

“So, we need policies that would help to insulate the economy from crude oil price movement,” Teriba said.

However, a report by Lagos-based Financial Derivatives Company Limited (FDC), a financial advisory and research firm, noted that despite the fact that the Nigerian economy is on the path of growth, its weak per capita income is not growing as fast because of its population growth rate. The report pointed out that as the economy slowly crawls out of a recession, there are evidence to show that Nigeria is afflicted by general poverty, but abject poverty in the North-eastern part of the country. This it attributed to the concentration of insurgency in the region.

The report noted that Nigerian politicians in recent times seem obsessed with the lexicon “restructuring,” but do not know that “you cannot restructure poverty.”

It added: “The Nigerian economy is growing again. Income per capita not growing fast enough.

Population growth higher than GDP growth.”

It revealed that the country’s Gini Coefficient as at 2016, at 48 was below the benchmark of 50.

Nevertheless, there is need to stress that monetary policy is not ultimately a very effective tool in solving economic issues, but must be complemented with fiscal policies. Both monetary and fiscal policies must be seen always to be collaborating in order to steer the economy to progress and help unleash the untapped potentials of its citizens.

21

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JULY 16, 2017

BUSINESS/TELECOMS

As Etisalat Nigeria Transforms to 9Mobile...

The name change in the brand identity of Etisalat Nigeria to 9Mobile has continued to elicit responses from stakeholders, who are of the view that the move, which is inevitable, may create some financial burden on the telecoms company, but it is not an evolutionary phase that cannot be weathered, writes Emma Okonji Few hours after the adoption of a new brand identity, THISDAY gathered that contractors have started sending their business quotations to the management of 9Mobile for contracts ranging from supply of stationery, T-shirts, logo design and colour, product branding and the branding of its friendship centres across the country, to reflect the new name

W

hen an organisation with high reputation is faced with the unexpected, which is threatening its continued existence as a corporate body, such organisation must rise to decisively deal with the situation, in order to maintain the confidence reposed in it by its followers, and such is the case with the former Etisalat Nigeria and its over 20 million subscribers, that culminated in a new brand identity, 9Mobile, last week.

Worried that the change in brand identity would pose additional financial burden on the telecoms company that is struggling to address its financial mess, the company has made bold to say that it saw the name change coming. The name change became inevitable, following the withdrawal of AbuDhabi-based Emirates Telecommunications Group Company (Etisalat Group), from the shareholding structure of Etisalat Nigeria, leaving the other two core investors, Mubadala Development Company of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Emerging Markets Telecommunications Services (EMTS), made up of Nigerian group of investors.

Such situation that proved inevitable, forced the former Etisalat Nigeria to change its brand identity to 9Mobile, last week.

Name Change Last week, Abu-Dhabi-based Emirates Telecommunications Group Company (Etisalat Group), which hitherto owned 45 per cent stake and 25 per cent preference shares in Etisalat Nigeria, gave EMTS a three-week ultimatum to stop using the Etisalat brand name for its telecoms business in Nigeria.

The ultimatum, which was announced by the Chief Executive Officer of Etisalat International, Mr. Hatem Dowidar, is sequel to the group’s earlier withdrawal from the shareholding structure of Etisalat Nigeria, following the collapse of negotiations between Etisalat Nigeria and its lenders that are made up of 13 local banks, who had in 2013, gave Etisalat the sum of $1.2 billion loan for its network upgrade and expansion. Citing economic downturn of 2015-2016 and naira devaluation, which negatively impacted the dollar-denominated component of the loan, Etisalat wrote its creditors informing them of its intention to halt the repayment of the loan in installments, until such a time that it was able to raise more money.

Unsatisfied with the excuse from Etisalat, the banks threatened to take over the operations of the telecoms company should it fail to meet its payment obligations.

The situation forced Etisalat to enter into negotiations with the banks, but such negotiations eventually collapsed, leading to the withdrawal of Emirates Telecoms Group, and the resignation of every member of the former Etisalat Board and its former management staff.

Although the ultimatum to stop using Etisalat brand name came barely two weeks after the group’s withdrawal, EMTS told THISDAY that it expected such pronouncement, having pulled out of the shareholding structure. It however said it would not wait till the expiration of the three weeks ultimatum, to adopt a new brand identity for the Nigerian operations.

True to its statement, EMTS, last Thursday,

Managing Director, 9Mobile, Boye Olusanya had a meeting in Lagos, where it adopted 9Mobile as the new brand identity for its Nigeria operations.

Choice An insider source, however, revealed that the choice of name, though impromptu, was pretty difficult to decide on, bearing in mind, the philosophy of the telecoms company and its targeted youth audience.

The source said 9Mobile was coined out from one of the companies earliest television commercials (TVC), 080-9ja4life, which was used to roll out its commercial service in the country in 2008, making it the fourth entrant of telecoms operators into the Nigerian GSM space.

The TVC, which was released by popular musician, Banky W. on September 29, 2008, made a great hit among Nigerian youths and was used by Etisalat to usher in its brand identity in Nigeria.

It was gathered that EMTS, after a long deliberation on the choice of name, settled for 9Mobile and adopted it as its new brand identity for its Nigeria operation, following the three weeks ultimatum given it.

Some of its subscribers, however, suggested that 9jaMobile would have been an ideal name change, if EMTS had consulted widely.

Implication Worried that the name change in the brand identity of 9Mobile may cost the growing telecommunications company a huge sum of money, some stakeholders are of the view that the situation may further plunge the company into more difficult financial situation, since branding of complete identity, comes with huge financial obligations.

In the first instance, the company will design and launch a new logo, change its brand colour and rebrand all its friendship centres across the country. It will change stationery, branded products, including newspaper and online adverts, to reflect the new brand identity, and all these, come with huge financial obligations, an industry expert told THISDAY. An insider source said a media campaign break on the telecoms company was due to run on all major newspapers this week, but that the company had to put it on hold, with plans to redesign the artwork to reflect the new brand identity.

In line with the thinking and fears of its subscribers, the Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo, also told THISDAY that corporate brand change comes with huge financial obligations, but said such is the challenge that the telecoms company

must face in order to free itself from the situation it finds itself. “It is unfortunate that the former Etisalat Nigeria has to go through the rigour of brand identity, but the truth is that it has to deal with the situation and come out of it, while still in business,” Adebayo said.

He, however, advised the management of 9Mobile to try and cushion the financial effect that will come with it, by addressing the name change in phases, rather than wanting to change everything concerning the telecoms company at the same time.

He wished the management of 9Mobile success in its moment of trials and assured management of ALTON’s support for the brand.

Contractors Few hours after the adoption of a new brand identity, THISDAY gathered that contractors have started sending their business quotations to the management of 9Mobile for contracts ranging from supply of stationery, T-shirts, logo design and colour, product branding and the branding of its friendship centres across the country, to reflect the new name.

An insider source, who confirmed it, said although the management is yet to decide on the contract and supplies, it is something that it must have to contend with.

22

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JULY 16, 2017

BUSINESS/ENERGY

Barkindo

Kachikwu

Production Cap Exemption: Nigeria Addressing OPEC’s Worries Amid growing uncertainty in the global oil market, which continues to threaten the production cap deal reached by OPEC members and their allies, led by the Russian Federation, Chineme Okafor looks at how the condition of the market is trying to redefine the debate over the exemption from the cap granted Nigeria and Libya

T

he Kuwaiti oil minister, Issam Almarzooq, recently said that the exemption granted Nigeria and Libya with regard to the output cuts set for members of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries and nonOPEC suppliers might soon be withdrawn. Almarzooq, who chairs the committee monitoring compliance with the production cap, said both countries could be told to cap their crude oil outputs in an effort to keep the production agreement intact. The output cuts started in January, which were extended by nine months to March 2018 in May, after the landmark deal reached last November failed to solve a global oversupply problem, was to rebalance the crude oil market.

Almarzooq said the cartel and its allies might hold fresh discussions with Nigeria and Libya on their production outputs. This followed reports that oil prices had dropped below OPEC’s $50 per barrel expectation, amid concerns that the production cutbacks were only partially affecting prices due to supplies from Nigeria, Libya, and the United States’ shale output.

“We invited them to discuss the situation of their production. If they are able to stabilise their production at current levels, we will ask them to cap as soon as possible. We don’t need to wait until the November meeting to do that,” Almarzooq, reportedly said.

He further stated, “It is too early to discuss deeper output cuts by OPEC/non-OPEC producers participating in the agreement to curb production.

We just finished the meeting in May and we need to give it more time.”

Worry Almarzooq’s comments indicated that the cartel and its allies might be worried that the market had not responded significantly to the output strategy.

They also suggested that the group might be looking for a quick way out, with production cuts from Nigeria and Libya as potential elixirs.

But Almarzooq’s position appears not to enjoy the support of experts, including OPEC’s Secretary-general, Mohammed Barkindo, who told reporters at the World Petroleum Congress in Istanbul that giving Nigeria and Libya production cut exemptions was a collective decision, and any proposal to include them in OPEC’s plans will also require a joint decision.

Another oil market expert, and Kuwait’s former representative to OPEC, Abdulsamad Al-Awadhi, faulted Almarzooq’s suggestions. Al-Awadhi was reported as saying, “Capping Libya and Nigeria might help but won’t cut the supply by much.”

He added,“OPEC needs to have better compliance, and it must respect the right of Libya and Nigeria to go back to the market. Other countries that raised output while Libya and Nigeria are out should do more and give space to these two countries to go back to the market.”

Diplomacy Having comprehensively participated in the processes that led to the output freeze deal, Nigeria opted to diplomatically attend to the worries, stating then that it would not unsettle the deal, but make it work better. The country, however, called on OPEC and its allies to recognise its challenges with growing back its production, which, according to it, had not significantly improved, but was, in fact, far below its 2017 budget benchmark for oil production.

Addressing journalists on the development in Abuja, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, stated that Nigeria would in due time join in the production cut to stabilise the market.

He added, however, that the country’s production levels were still too unpredictable to guarantee a timeframe for joining the deal. He sought more understanding from the cartel.

Kachikwu explained that the country was committed to the deal and would do whatever would be required to keep it intact.

The stated, “We’re fairly in consensus. There is no disagreement on that. But just to set the record straight, the price of oil today is hovering around $44.70 cent per barrel, so there is a bit of upsurge

trajectory, which is good.

“Definitely below the $50 mark which is where we’ll feel comfortable and a lot of the reasons for this are the aggressive shale production, and obviously barrels coming out from Nigeria and Libya because of the exemption. It is true that Nigeria has begun to recover but that recovery has been gradual.”

He explained,“Over the last one and a half months, we’ve basically began to recover some of our assets that were vandalised and we’ve been getting a lot more cooperation from the militants that they are letting us continue to try and grow those barrels.

But that recovery is going to be gradual. We’ll still have below the benchmark set for us by OPEC and I think that over the next one or two months, hopefully, we can get to that point when we can say the recovery has been tested, is systemic, and predictable.”

Reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to the agreement, the minister stated,“We need to watch that for a couple of months so that we can get

Having comprehensively participated in the processes that led to the output freeze deal, Nigeria opted to diplomatically attend to the worries, stating then that it would not unsettle the deal, but make it work better

to a predictive comfort and then we voluntarily go to OPEC and see how we can contribute. But make no mistake about it; Nigeria is a very firm member of OPEC. We’ve been very active in this organisation for 46 years and we’ll continue to be very active. We’re the brains behind some of the cut analysis and strategies that were gotten from Saudi Arabia and the rest.”

Budget Uncertainty Kachikwu disclosed that the growing uncertainty in the oil market would affect Nigeria’s execution of its 2017 budget. He noted that already the country had come short of the 2.2 million barrels per day projected oil production levels the budget was built on.

Kachikwu explained that a couple of capital projects in the budget might be affected by this development. He, however, said the Ministry of Finance was working on measures to cushion the effect of the shortfall from oil production on the budget.

He stated that while the oil production benchmark in the budget was 2.2mbpd, the country was currently producing about 1.7mbpd of oil without condensate, but was still within the price band of $42.50 per barrel which the budget has.

According to him,“In terms of the budget impact, definitely, it is predicated on the number of 2.2 million barrels per day and a price index of $42.50.

Within the price cap, I think we’re still reasonably within range. Obviously, we’ve lost quite a lot of months, at least two or three in which we didn’t produce what the budget had projected. So there is definitely going to be differential...

“But the Ministry of Finance is aggressively looking for ways to cover some of these shortfalls, part of that is efficiency, how do we cut down our expenditure.

“Obviously, certain capital items will be affected.

If we don’t have money, we can’t do certain capital projects that we have in the budget. There is no gainsaying the fact that budget will be impacted but we are working hard with the Federal Executive Council to see how we can forecast or predict that sort of impact and see how we can recover.”

23

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JULY 16, 2017

BUSINESS/AVIATION

Aero Moves to Save Local Airlines Huge Costs with C-check Facility As Aero Contractors upgrades its hangar to carry out C-checks locally, Chinedu Eze writes on the impact on the domestic aviation industry

T

here are three critical things a country needs to have an operational hub: a major airline or airlines, easy access to aviation fuel, and a maintenance facility.

All the countries in Africa that are major air transport destinations or the countries that play a major role in air transport in the continent have these requirements. They include South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Morocco, and Algeria.

Setback One of the main setbacks in the development of air transport in Nigeria is the absence of major maintenance, repair and overhaul facility in the country, which forces domestic airlines to ferry their aircraft overseas to fix at twice the cost if it were done in Nigeria.

The airlines spend a lot of time on overseas checks and lose about N5 million a day for the weeks and, possibly, months the aircraft would be at the maintenance facilities abroad.

Before Aero’s upgrade of its maintenance status, Execujet has started carrying out C-checks on business jets, as the Managing Director of Quits Aviation, the operator of Execujet in Nigeria, Sam Iwuajoku told THISDAY that the facility, had carried out C-checks on business jets and the spokesman of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Sam Adurogboye said,“The facility has our approval to do major repairs. Be assured that the industry is well monitored to ensure the game is played according to the rules.”

Aero to the Rescue But Aero Contractors, which is the oldest airline in Nigeria, is about to change the aviation industry’s story. For some years now, the airline has been carrying out aircraft maintenance in its facility located at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. It started with its rotary wing, the helicopter division, and graduated to carrying out the first major maintenance check, which is the C-check, on fixed wing aircraft, Bombardier Q300 and Q400.

Aero Contractors has now sought the approval of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority to carry out C-check maintenance on Boeing B737, which is described as the workhorse of the Nigerian aviation sector because Boeing is the highest number of aircraft fleet in Nigeria. Aero said it would start the checks with Boeing classics, which include the Boeing B737-300, B737-400 and B737-500, in addition to Bombardier Dash 400.

On Thursday, NCAA visited the Aero facility to inspect it and renew its AMO certification, which would enable the airline to carry out the maintenance of its own aircraft and those of other airlines up to the level of C-checks. NCAA told THISDAY that Aero already had the regulatory body’s certification for the maintenance of smaller aircraft, including helicopters, and to carry out A and B checks on bigger aircraft. The civil aviation regulator says now that the airline wants to do major maintenance on bigger aircraft, NCAA would audit its facility, manpower and other requirements to ensure that what the airline is able to do meets international standards and practices. The inspection was done on Thursday.

Readiness THISDAY spoke with the CEO of Aero Contractors, Captain Ado Sanusi, who gave details of the airline’s readiness to do C-checks on Boeing 737, saying it has 58 years aviation experience, which is what it would bring to bear on the new effort to carrying out C-check maintenance of Boeing 737 aircraft.

Sanusi said, “We have agreement with my management team on how to conduct C-checks in Nigeria. We are confident that this will be achieved within the next six weeks with our skills and

Aero Contractors plane in a hangar manpower. We have sent manuals to NCAA for variation to conduct checks on Boeing 737 classics.”

He explained that the maintenance hangar the airline had now was being expanded to fully take in a B737 aircraft and a discussion was already on with a parts and tooling company to extend the hanger.

“We have signed Memorandum of Understanding with the company and we are talking with companies with established MRO, like South Africa Airways (SAA) Technical, to ensure that our maintenance meets international standards,” Sanusi said.

Cost Saving The head of AMO, who is also the base manager of Fixed Wing and leader of the team for C-check in Aero Contractors, James Ominyi, said local maintenance of aircraft up to the level of C-check would save Nigerian airlines huge amounts of money. He said there were many expenses associated with ferrying aircraft overseas for maintenance, including over flight permit, depending on which country the airline is going to.

Ominyi said,“You need to seek the over flight permit of the country. And then, depending on the distance you have to pay for fuel. But I know it will not be less than $50, 000.You also will have to pay for landing and fuelling, which is called technical stop. For example, if you are going to Shannon in Ireland, you will have to go through Spain, land, pay for landing, pay for all the handling charges and then fly from there to Shannon. But if you are doing it here, you save all that cost.”

Cost of C-Check Ominyi explained that generally MROs could charge up to $600, 000 for C-check, depending on the scope of work. He noted, however, that the airline may end up paying up to a one million dollars or more because there could be findings that would be beyond what was captured in the

agreement in the C-Check and then the airline would have to pay for them.

According to him,“When they open the engine and they open the side wall panels, they may see cracks that are beyond what is agreed on, which they have to rectify and this will be at extra cost.

I have seen a C-Check that had cost up to a million pounds in UK. That is possible because the moment they open up the aircraft, they will see so many things that ought to be done that was not tracked before.”

Describing the raising of Aero’s maintenance level to C-check as variation, Ominyi stated, “We are bringing in variation. We want to add B737 C-check. We have been doing C-check on Bombardier, Q400, but we wish to start doing C-Check on B737.”

Forex By carrying out C-checks in Nigeria, Aero would be saving Nigerian airlines millions of dollars every year and reduce pressure on the naira, as every cost outside fuelling and salaries is done in foreign exchange and that is dollars.

Ominyi explained,“I know that if you ferry your aircraft overseas for maintenance, a C-check facility can tell you they will finish in 19 days but this can extend to two or three months and your technical representative has to be there.You have to pay for his hotel and pay him his allowance and his transportation and all that. If as a company I am going to source for $500, 000 to pay for a C-check but now I don’t have to source for that $500, 000 for C-check, rather, I could come to Aero Contractors and do the checks and then pay them in naira. So all the hassles, applying through your bank and the foreign exchange process, is solved.

“Another thing is, if a C-check facility charges you $500, 000 and you end up paying one million dollars, that difference is mainly in man hours for extra findings, known as non-routine findings. So

a C-check facility can get you to pay the extra $300, 000 or more for those routine findings and it is because in their man hour rate you are going to pay in dollars. But if it is done here you are paying in naira and the labour rate here is cheaper.

Also shipping parts to the MRO facility overseas will cost you money but if it is in Nigeria, you just walk across.”

Manpower On manpower, Sanusi and Ominyi said the company would reabsorb the engineers that were on redundancy. Any time there was C-check job to be done the company deployed more personnel to do it.

According to Ominyi,“Generally, I have been to many MRO facilities around the world. No MRO facility has all the manpower they need as permanent staff. When the job comes then they hire manpower for that job on contract basis but the important thing you need to mention is the fact that our experience and knowledge will increase because we have been taking these aeroplanes to foreigners to do and they are gaining more and more experience at our expense. The tech rep that goes with the aeroplane is not allowed to touch anything. He is only there to look and to report, but then, once we start doing it here, all those areas that we were not exposed to, we will have the experience from performing those tasks. Whenever there is going to be C-check we will engage manpower of about 50 people.

“We are optimistic that when we do our own C-check for our planes others will see reason to bring theirs for C-check. If I can get something for N200 while should I go elsewhere and pay N300.”

Among operators of domestic airlines, there is optimism that the Aero Contractors’initiative marks the dawn of a new hope in aircraft maintenance.

How far Aero can go in sustaining this optimism remains to be seen.

24

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JULY 16, 2017

BUSINESS/ENERGY/PERSPECTIVE

How FG Will End Fuel Imports by 2019 Ibe Kachikwu The Present Situation To appreciate the gravity of our situation, let’s look at the statistics. Our national average production of refined products is currently about 6 million litres per day out of an estimated 35 million litres needed to meet domestic demand. Between January and December 2016, we spent approximately N3.35 trillion to import 20 metric tonnes of imported petroleum products. Also, about 30% of foreign exchange given by the CBN goes to the petroleum sector for imports - a huge amount of foreign exchange drain on the country.

The country experienced massive fuel shortages late 2015 and early 2016. We were only able to fix this difficulty when we moved onto the new liberalised pricing formula. But unless we focus on long term sustainability in refining and local supply of products, we are going to continue to face some potential challenges in terms of product supply.

Challenges that Demand Urgent Action Pressure on NNPC’s books: NNPC which has taken up the responsibility as the last resort importer of petroleum products still continues to take a lot of heat. Though we have stopped the upfront payment of subsidy, some of that will continue to show in the books of NNPC. Uncertain investment climate: There is a lot of uncertainty in terms of investment climate.

Those who want to invest in refineries want to know what will happen after they invest and begin to produce. They are concerned about whether they would be able to sell at prices that are competitive in the market.

Looming threat of job losses: A huge amount of job losses happens when refineries are not fully utilised. Yes, there is some level of job security, and people have been able to keep their jobs within the industry. But in a fairly competitive environment, if we do not get these refineries to work, new private sector driven refineries would come in and take up the market place. This will lead to redundancy and massive job losses.

Not enough transparency in the importation and distribution system: The process of one sector, one corporate entity importing all the products and dishing out allocations does not create the level of transparency that is essential to grow this business and expand the market place.

The Central Objective We decided to do one specific thing: target 2019 as the year that we would cease importation of petroleum products. By doing so we hope to help conserve foreign exchange, create jobs and ensure stability of the market place in terms of pricing and production. In addition, we hope to earn some credibility as an OPEC member, an oil producing country which has been able to transit from importation to local refining and processing.

Mechanisms to Achieve the Objective We must thank President Muhammadu Buhari who was clear from the start of this administration that he does not want to sell the refineries as scrap. He instructed us to seek financing to repair them and push to a later date the decision on what to do with them when they are working at full capacity.

1. Seek massive finance to repair & upgrade refineries: First we looked at our refineries: Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna.

We are seeking financing to repair these refineries so they can work at optimal capacity and deliver value to Nigerians.

We have done extensive consultations within the global investing community and received a lot of interest from serious investors who have expressed willingness to support us in the financing of these repairs.

The plan is basically to finance repairs. We are going to establish refinery upgrade and maintenance companies who were involved

Oil refineries initially in the building of these refineries: SAIPEM in Warri, CHIODA in Kaduna and they will help to do the work. But the financing and the support management after the refineries have been repaired would go to individuals who win the bids.

What we are doing is financing. It is neither a concession nor is it a sale. It is basically bringing in private investors with no stake in equity to bring the money that is required to get these refineries working to optimal capacity.

2. Support Greenfield investors: We are also engaging and supporting potential Greenfield investors. Dangote is working toward a 2019 target for its refinery. From the meetings we have held, there is a strong chance of meeting the delivery time-frame.

If they succeed, that will bring in 650,000 barrels of locally refining capacity. If we add that with the 450,000 refining capacity that we would have after repairs then our collective refining capacity would be in excess of a million barrels. With that we would be able to meet 100 percent of our local consumption needs and begin to explore exports to other countries.

3. Mainstream modular refineries: We also plan to work with those who have modular refinery licenses to see what support they need in terms of finance and access to crude to enable them to get them started.

A Transparent Process The process for financing these important repairs is very transparent. We have reached out and consulted especially with big refinery owners abroad to support us. We have developed the engineering analysis to show what needs to be done and have come up with a cost that we think is reasonable to achieve this objective.

A technical committee led by NNPC that reports to me as Chairman Steering Commit-

tee is looking at all these. The board of the NNPC and the FEC will be involved in the governance of approval and ratification.

So once we have done that, we would advertise for those who are to bring their consortiums and bids on the basis of the engineering and financial specifications. The more people we have participating, the better we can create commercial terms that are favorable to government. So it’s not going to be child’s play.

No Company Has Been Awarded Any Refinery

News reports of an award to any company upfront are simply not true. The process hasn’t gotten to that stage yet. We have had lots of expressions of interest and we encourage anybody who is interested to be bullish about it because ultimately we need them to achieve these goal

Strong Local Community Participation Is Central We have had issues of host communities seeking clarification about how they can participate in the process. The model that the technical committee has developed includes a robust, aggressive local content participation level that will be felt at the community level.

Govt Committed to Strong Engagement with the N’ Assembly We recognise the strategic relevance of the National Assembly to the work that we have set out to do. We intend to build on our existing engagements with the legislature to deepen them even further so they are fully informed about the actions that we are taking.

Organised Labour We also recognise that organised labour

is very important to our work. We have been proactive in carrying them along. But obviously, we would need to engage them on the refineries revamp project, reassure them and appeal for their understanding that the alternative to not doing this is going back to what they are afraid of which is job losses.

How Nigerians Can Support Refineries Revamp Project First is to understand what we are trying to do. It’s a lot of work. We encourage Nigerians to make effort to understand the benefits of what we are doing. It is for a better today and a stronger future.

Second, is to support us based on this knowledge of the process and how critical it is to the country. Sourcing and mobilising foreign investment in this difficult time is tough. So we need to ensure that we do not frustrate the process.

Third is to ask questions and understand what the issues are before we get sensational.

We also encourage the media to come to us with their questions to avoid inaccurate and sensational headlines that are a disservice to Nigerians.

Overall, as optimistic as we are, we cannot deliver on the 2019 deadline of exiting importation of petroleum products if there are difficulties in terms of approval processes and delays by relevant agencies. We thank the President for his support on the fast track process. We need to continue that fast track process.

2019 will be realizable if all of us work together to deliver it. For the Nigerian people, if there is something that we need to deliver as of yesterday, it is getting these refineries to finally work, produce for the Nigerian people, create jobs, save foreign exchange and stabilize the downstream sector.

––Dr. Ibe Kachikwu is the minister of State for Petroleum Resources.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JULY 16, 2017

25

SUNDAY INTERVIEW ISMA’ILA ZAKARI

To Curb Corruption, FG Must Strengthen Controls in the System Alhaji Isma’ila Muhammadu Zakari is the 53rd President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and chairman, ICAN Governing Council. Despite occupying the exalted position as the number one chartered accountant in Nigeria, Zakari exudes humility and maintains a calm demeanour.

Though a man of unassuming disposition, he left no one in doubt that he was cut out for the leadership position. Little wonder Zakari, who has been a member of the governing council since 2004, has also served on several ICAN committees. For instance, he was the chairman, Professional Examinations Committee and also deputy chairman, insolvency and corporate re-engineering faculty. A fellow of ICAN, Zakari is also a fellow of Business Recovery and Insolvency Practitioners Association of Nigeria (BRIPAN) where he serves as council member. He is currently the Managing Partner of Ahmed Zakari & Co. (Chartered Accountants), a firm he co-founded in 1998, providing auditing & assurance, tax advisory, insolvency and business consulting and business valuation services to a wide range of clients in Nigeria. Zakari, in this interview with Kunle Aderinokun, reviews the anti-corruption fight of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration and assesses the recently launched Voluntary Asset and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS). Besides, he expressed his view on the Financial Reporting Council’s decision on the tenure for heads of non-profit organisations as he reveals the institute’s plans under his leadership.

26

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JULY 16, 2017

SUNDAY INTERVIEW

To Curb Corruption, FG Must Strengthen Controls in the System

Cont’d from Pg. 23

A

s the new president of Institute of Chartered Accountants, what do you want to do differently from the other presidents?

As the President of Institute of Chartered Accountants for 2017/2018, I am not actually doing anything different from what other ICAN presidents have done. I am the number one chartered accountant today and chairman of the governing council of the institute. So, my responsibility is to lead the council and the council’s responsibility is to govern the institute and the accounting profession in Nigeria. That is what we are going to do. But specifically in what areas are we planning to intervene? It is to continue with the work that other presidents have done over the 53 years of the existence of this institute. Presidents don’t just come and change the direction where the institute is going, but rather continue from where the immediate past president stopped. So we are going to continue to imbibe professionalism and high quality standards of operation by all chartered accountants in Nigeria by ensuring the continuous adoption of international standards in every aspect of where we work like in audit, accounting, public sector, accounting education and because we are members of international federation of accountants, one of the requirements of maintaining our membership is that we should comply with the provisions of those standards and we shall continue to do that.

Other areas that we are going to work with is to strengthen the quality of the work that our members do, give them support including how to manage their practices especially small and medium practitioners. Right now, they are the face of the profession all over the place, chartered accounting firms and if we want to improve the standards and quality of the profession, we have to work on that.

We are going to service our members and improve the quality of services that are our members are getting from us as an institute and also improve the quality of services to students to support them on how to become chartered accountants because that is our responsibility.

Other area that we want to improve is to come up with accountability index because accountability in Nigeria is a major issue. We want to support the government in curbing the issue of corruption and also improve accountability especially in public sector financial reporting. In that regard, ICAN intends to come up with ICAN Accountability Index, which will become an annual kind of rating of the best in terms of compliance with constitutional requirements for accountability in governance. We are going to make sure that index will be able to rank public sector institutions as to how they are doing. At the end of the day, the aim is to improve on the quality of accountability and the timeliness with which it is delivered.

Another area which is part of our public interest mandates is to support the government in curbing what we considered one of the most serious problems government is facing today, which is youth unemployment. We want to use our influence to put together like-minded stakeholders to support the government to come up with some solutions on how to curb unemployment problem.

What is ICAN’s relationship with Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria?

Our relationship is a very cordial one and

Zakari

I want to say it is reciprocal. They have the mandate to regulate financial reporting in Nigeria.

We have the mandate to regulate profession of accounting, which goes beyond financial reporting. We have two seats on the board. The council nominates, who will serve on those seats, representing Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria. Also, our members fall within the ambit of regulation of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria. It means we are under Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria in terms of making sure that the regulation is okay.

Why I asked the question is because in your acceptance speech, you talked about having succession plan for small and medium-scale enterprises, which means setting tenure for chief executives of these companies. This, we know, is in the purview of FRC. Why are you trying to do what FRC is doing?

I think you did not understand what I meant by succession plan. We are not setting any tenure.

You know also that companies are created under the Companies and Allied Matters Act and this has made provisions for ownership of the compa-

If I have more than N500,000 at hand, I am involved in money laundering. So what I am saying is that pay into bank. I think it is very important to publicise that law and not just assume that ignorance of the law is not an excuse. A lot of Nigerians need to know what it is but in terms of fighting corruption, we are in support of government. However, they are chasing what has already passed, but right now, we need to strengthen controls around the system; we need to do more institutional work towards plugging the holes in the system than the post mortem. The whistle blower is working, but it appears they dwell more on what has happened and not what will likely to happen. I think we need to scuttle the plans of some people in relation to corruption before they happen, nip it in the bud before it happens.”

nies. If you want to create a company, you are a shareholder and if you no longer exist, you pass on or you want to leave the company, you can sell your shares. So, what we are talking about succession plan is that a company that is operating and successful should not die just because the owner has died or left the company. We want to be able to support companies. If you look at what is happening outside, there was intervention by the Securities and Exchange Commission in respect of Sheraton Hotels, Ikeja. That is what we are talking about. Sheraton Hotels, Ikeja was doing well, there was no problem until somebody died, and suddenly after somebody died, there was a board crisis. What we are saying is that we will support, encourage, give ideas and encourage companies that are existing and successful. We are not setting any tenure for them.

Let’s look at your members’ compliance with laws and regulations. Talking about the global whistle-blowing standards, how many of your members have been found wanting?

The truth is that I talked about this standard, which is a pronouncement called non-compliance with laws and regulations. It has not yet taken effect. It is a new pronouncement. What I am saying is that, we are aware of that new pronouncement and under my leadership, the council will look into that pronouncement and adopt it. We have already adopted it at the last council meeting held on the 29th of June. And what that new pronouncement is saying is that with effect from the effective date of the implementation of that pronouncement because the pronouncement is an amendment to the accountants’ ethical code under which we operate as professional accountants, we must comply with code of professional ethics and guidelines for members in Institute of Chartered Accountants. If we don’t comply with it, it is considered to be a case of professional misconduct. With effect from 15th of July 2017, we are required to comply with this new pronouncement and what that means is that previously, one key principle of our accountancy ethic has been confidentiality, meaning that you cannot come here as a journalist and ask me some information about my client and for me to relay that information to you. The profession does not allow me to convey

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JULY 16, 2017

27

SUNDAY INTERVIEW

To Curb Corruption, FG Must Strengthen Controls in the System Cont’d from Pg. 26 my client’s information to any third party unless there is a subpoena by the court. Even if a police come to ask me that, I cannot do that.

Now, the profession itself has gone forward to change that principle to say that in the event that we come across either as chartered accountant or auditor or as employee of a company, come across a case of non compliance with a law or regulation of the land and such a person is now expected to breach the confidentiality rule, first bring it up with those concerned with governance in the company. If I am an auditor, I will bring it up with the management of the company, board of the company, audit committee of the company. Not only will I bring it up, I will also proffer solution of how to remedy that non-compliance situation. If they don’t accept it, the ethical codes now require me to report to the regulator or law enforcement agents.

So, from 15th of July, accountants all over, either in practice or employment have a duty to comply with that NOCLAR requirement. We have adopted it already and we are now in the process of publicising it across members and developing appropriate training to our members whether in practice or employment on how to handle those situations.

In addition, there could be risk associated with complying with that standards and that is, there could be some harassment or threats to the members or they can even sack him from his employment. We have a whistle blower fund, which has been in place since 2014, we will release it to support our members and fight for their rights.

Back to FRC. Sometimes ago, there was an issue about tenure of chief executives for non-profit organisations, which affected religious bodies. From what we learnt, the executive secretary overreached his mandate and acted unilaterally. Was ICAN in the know of what he did?

Secondly, is he an ICAN member?

If yes, what has been done to him after his sack?

You are talking about the corporate governance code. First of all, one of the mandates of the Financial Reporting Council is to come up with corporate governance code for the entities that they regulate and they came up with three corporate governance codes. One is for listed companies, the other one is for other companies and one is for non-profit organisation where we have the church, mosques, religious bodies and other charities. I think for me, what the FRC did was not in breach of any law or regulation. They just acted to the effect that they have a mandate under their law to come up with corporate governance code and non-profit making organisations are under their mandate and so, they have the right to produce a code of corporate governance for them.

Corporate governance code for us in Institute of Chartered Accountants is important to the functioning of the economy. We are interested in corporate governance at all levels because the higher the corporate governance, the better the management of those organisations and their sustainability.

My understanding is that there were some complaints about the content of the provisions of the code for non-profit organisations by some stakeholders and they had complained and my understanding also is that, as at the time that matter was on, there was no board.

The president had dissolved the board. It was the executive secretary that was running the board of FRC

Zakari

under the directives of the minister.

I don’t think that his sack has to do with any misconduct of professionalism but it may have something to do with misconduct about his employment and with regards to the directives not complying with the directives of the minister, of the ministry or the government who are his employers. I think that is where the problem is. So, we have not received a report. If there is a case of professional misconduct, what are we expected to do? The minister of trade and investment is also a chartered accountant, what we expect is that he can report to the institute but we cannot act without any report detailing the professional misconduct that the man has committed.

Kindly review the anticorruption fight of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration. In answering the question, I will like to know your view on the government’s whistle-blowing initiative.

On anti-corruption, we are fully in support of the government’s efforts towards curbing corruption in Nigeria. No economy can survive with corruption and therefore, whatever the government is doing, we as Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria are in support and agreement with what they are doing.

What we will say is that a lot of these things need to be publicised.

For example, some of the money laundering laws, the threshold of some of the issues about money

laundering or how much cash that can be handled under the law. Right now, in an informal economy such as Nigeria, it is money that is moving around in the hands of people. If I have more than N500,000 at hand, I am involved in money laundering.

So what I am saying is that pay into bank. I think it is very important to publicise that law and not just assume that ignorance of the law is not an excuse. A lot of Nigerians need to know what it is but in terms of fighting corruption, we are in support of government. However, they are chasing what has already passed, but right now, we need to strengthen controls around the system; we need to do more institutional work towards plugging the holes in the system than the post mortem. The whistle blower is working, but it appears they dwell more on what has happened and not what will likely to happen. I think we need to scuttle the plans of some people in relation to corruption before they happen, nip it in the bud before it happens.

That is the addition that we need to work on.

The government should work on Whistle Blowing Act such that if they are encouraging whistle blowing, they should also provide solid protection to whistle blowers including physical protection. In other climes, where people blow whistle, serious physical protection are giving to them and I don’t see the government working towards that direction.

It is only our governors that are more protected than the ordinary citizens, who are not given the kind

of protection I think they should be given.

Recently, the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo signed an executive order on Voluntary Asset and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS), which was launched some days later by the government. What is your take on it?

The Acting President Yemi Osinbajo signed an executive order, which is encouraging citizens of Nigeria who are required and mandated by the constitution to pay their taxes and this voluntary initiative is that citizens, in the past, who have not been complying with all relevant tax laws should come forward and declare themselves and pay taxes and for that, the government is giving them some waivers, they can split and pay the taxes they have come to declare over a period of three years, the government is not going to prosecute you and so on. I think it is a very brilliant idea. The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria is in support of this, ICAN will be speaking to the public and our members will be encouraging everybody to comply with the tax laws. Right now, taxation is the source of revenue that the government needs to be able to govern the country.

Government cannot control oil revenue.

This is encouraging those who are previously not in the tax net to come forward or those who have previously paid less tax than they should pay to come forward and pay the balance. If it is implemented, I believe it is for the better of Nigeria and Nigerians.

28

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JULY 16, 2017

TRAVEL

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

As NTDC Strategises to Stimulate Nigeria’s Tourism...

Demola Ojo

T

he stark reality is that while plane loads of foreigners come to Nigeria on a daily basis, majority on those plans come strictly for business and are usually holed up in their hotels until they return to base.

Nigeria is hardly mentioned as a destination to travel to for leisure. On the flip side, Nigerians are known to be avid travellers, going to the furthest parts of the planet not only for business but also for pleasure.

The reasons for this phenomenon are usually given as lacking infrastructure, poor security and ill-maintained tourism sites.

While some of these reasons might have some merit, the biggest problem has to be that of perception; a focus on the negatives, rather than the possibilities. Nigeria is neither the murder capital of the world, nor its kidnapping or terrorism. Some of the cities that bear these tags still welcome hundreds of thousands of leisure travellers annually.

The Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), believes that the way to stimulate travel to Nigeria – while infrastructure is being upgraded – is to change the perception that Nigeria doesn’t have much to offer leisure travellers. This will be achieved through ‘Tour Nigeria’, a new brand name to market the country’s tourism assets.

Established in 1992, the NTDC is an agency under the Ministry of Information and Culture and the apex tourism agency in Nigeria.

It is charged with marketing and promoting Nigeria’s tourism and make tourism a major pillar of the economy.

Speaking at the Tour Nigeria brand launch in Lagos last week, the Director General of the NTDC, Mr Folorunsho Folarin-Coker, said; “The brand is an ambitious attempt at promoting tourism in Nigeria that aims to shape the narrative on Nigeria as a major destination for tourism, hospitality, arts and entertainment in Africa.”

At the core of Tour Nigeria is the belief that domestic leisure travel is the key to the tourism industry’s revival in Nigeria. According to Coker, the Tour Nigeria brand was conceived to drive domestic consumption of Nigeria’s tourism products, create new tourism markets, add to the nation’s GDP, create employment, and increase spending in

the economy.

Part of his mandate when he assumed office he continued, was to reverse the negative conversation about Nigerian tourism, galvanize commercial tourism, promote Nigeria’s diverse multi-cultural heritage, innovate new channels of tourism markets whilst promoting Nigeria in a positive light and shaping a positive perception of its citizens.

To help achieve this, the NTDC has prepared a roadmap with short, medium and long-term objectives. This is distilled into a five-point action plan with the acronym CHIEF. CHIEF represents Corporate Governance & Regulations; Human Capital Development; Infrastructural Development; Events and Marketing; and Finance & Investment.

Narrowing down further, some of the plans under CHIEF include; A review of the NTDC Act of 1992 and all tourism laws; a review of the National Water Transportation policy and seek the support of the National Inland Waterways Authority to promote and monitor tourism on the waterways; ensure the ease of entry and exit of tourists in and out of the country with prompt, accessible and affordable access to visas; recommend the introduction of tourism education as a course across secondary schools and higher institutions in Nigeria; champion the upgrade of beaches and waterfronts across Nigeria’s coastline; empower a business development team to manage and optimise internally generated revenue, among many others.

An interesting tactic under the CHIEF strategy is to harness digital and online communities like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to promote destinations and tourism activities in Nigeria.

The impact of these social media platforms cannot be overemphasised, with their speed and reach of dissemination a boon in helping to project world-class Nigerian assets like the Wikki Warm Springs in Yankari, Bauchi.

The digital space has given birth to a new movement; young Nigerians connect through social media, travel the country and post pictures which in turn stimulate more travel.

Some budding brands selling tours include, Social Prefect Tours, Irinajo.com, Tripzapp, Naija Nomads, Unravelling Nigeria among others.

Part of the NTDC’s strategy is to co-opt these private enterprises and others in the tourism value chain to work together and drive the

Coker Tour Nigeria brand.

“The brand will leverage on the best of Nigeria. Nigerians are known to be intelligent hard-working people, we are also known for our “can-do” and “never-say-never” attitude, which is complimented with a friendly and accommodating spirit. We are proudly the most populous black nation on Earth, home to the second largest film industry on the globe whilst also being the fashion, technological and creative hub in Africa.

American Airlines Ends Codeshare with Qatar, Etihad over ‘Illegal Subsidies’ American Airlines is ending its codeshare agreements with Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways over an ongoing dispute about Gulf states’ support for the carriers. The airline said last week that the decision would not have a material financial impact and “is an extension of our stance against the illegal subsidies that these carriers receive from their governments.”

American and two other US carriers argue that Gulf states are unfairly subsidizing state-owned carriers, driving down prices and crowding out competition on key routes, accusations those carriers deny.

The decision comes soon after Qatar Airways said it wanted to buy up to a 10 percent stake in American.

Etihad Airways is a flag carrier and the second-largest airline of the United Arab Emirates, based in Abu Dhabi.

Qatar Airways is the state-owned flag carrier of Qatar.

American’s full statement reads:“In light of our ongoing dispute over the Open Skies agreements, American

Etihad airline Airlines notified Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways on June 29 of our decision to terminate our codeshare relationships.

Given the extremely strong public stance that American has taken on the ME3 issue, we have reached the conclusion that the codesharing relationships between American and these carriers no longer make sense for

us.

“This decision has no material financial impact on American and is an extension of our stance against the illegal subsidies that these carriers receive from their governments. We are committed to doing everything we can to continue to support our team members and ensure that there is fair competition between American and the Gulf carriers.”

“We have designed and populated our calendar of events with unique festivals and events that cut across the various entertainment channels of food, music, sports, religion, fashion and cultural festivals,” Coker said.

To create further public awareness for the Tour Nigeria brand, the NTDC will embark on a bus tour across the six geo-political zones from the first week of August. This and other events will peak with the year ending ‘Countdown Nigeria’ celebration.

Wakanow Rewards Customers with Vacations Last week, 15 lucky customers on Tuesday received prizes in the Wakanow Bumper Reward Promo organized by Nigeria’s leading online travel booking portal. The promo, which ran from March to April, was among the many initiatives powered by Wakanow those who made a booking worth a cumulative spend of N250, 000 and above within the promotion period.

During the electronic draw held earlier in Lagos, the lucky customers won all-expenses paid summer vacation for two to top destinations like New York, London, Zanzibar, Dubai and Cape Town.

Speaking on the promo, Managing Director of Wakanow FinTech, Mr. Kingsley Ulinfun, said the promo is part of a larger customer satisfaction and loyalty program that allows the brand deepen its connection with its numerous customers.

He said: “First, we are excited by the massive participation recorded by the promo. As a business, not only do we appreciate our customers’ unwavering loyalty to our brand, we are equally committed to continually delighting and rewarding their loyalty. The Wakanow Bumper Rewards Promo is one of our numerous initiatives to put smile on the faces of our customers.”

29

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

MARKET NEWS

Neimeth Pharmaceuticals Fetches Investors 24% Capital Growth Goddy Egene Renewed demand for the shares of Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals Plc at the stock market led to an appreciation of 24 per cent in the price last week.

The equity appreciated from N0.65 N0.81 per share, indicating that investors recorded a capital gain of 16 kobo or 24 per cent. Market operators said investorsí renewed positive sentiments stemmed from current attractive price weighed against

its future prospects.

The company bounced back to profitability, recording a profit after tax of N65 million for the year ended September 30, 2016, compared with a loss of N335.684 million in 2015. Neimeth has had a rough patch in recent times following the challenging operating environment. However, the Chairman of the company, Dr. ABC Orjiako, had at its last annual general meeting (AGM), announced plans to overhaul the corporate structure of the company in such a way that it will refocus

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

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

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

it for a meaningful and sustainable growth.

Going by the 2016 performance of the company, the restructuring efforts have started to yield fruits as the company has returned to profitability for the full year.

Turnover rose from N1.461 billion in 2015 to N2.002 billion in 2016, showing an increase of 36 per cent. Gross profit grew from N684.6 million to N1.225 billion, while administrative expenses reduced from N600 million to N527 million. The

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

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

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

GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 12-July-2017, unless otherwise stated.

company also reduced finance costs from N92 million to N89.6 million in 2016. The company ended with profit of N95.361 million compared with N315.77 million loss in 2015.

Explaining the impressive performance, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Ebere Igboko-Ekpunobi, who is the first female CEO of the company, said it was a fallout from the companyís three strategic imperatives anchoring on a short term transformation, cost reduction and optimising

efficiency.

According to her, the company employed three strategic imperatives to anchor its transformation in short -term.

They are: revitalise sales and generate more revenue, reduce costs and optinmise efficiency and transform the organisational culture towards a new Neimeth.

She said cost of sale was 38 per cent of sales, enabling a 62 per cent production margin, which exceed the budget expectation of 56 per cent as a proportion of sales and last

year’s performance of 47 per cent production margin.

Igboko-Ekpunobi disclosed that significant investments were made to re-engineer manufacturing operations.

New practices were adopted which contributed to better inventory management, production planning and coordination between manufacturing and sales activities most importantly, and the organisation culture was transformed toward a new Neimeth, she stated.

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

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

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

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 1 270 1680 Fund Name Afrinvest Equity Fund Nigeria International Debt Fund ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name ACAP Canary Growth Fund AIICO CAPITAL LTD Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name AIICO Money Market Fund ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name ARM Aggressive Growth Fund ARM Discovery Fund ARM Ethical Fund ARM Money Market Fund AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund AXA Mansard Money Market Fund CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD

aaml@afrinvest.com Bid Price 163.55 226.45

Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 163.68 28.58% 226.54 6.48% info@acapng.com

Bid Price 0.74

Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 0.75 5.59% ammf@aiicocapital.com

Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 100.00 100.00 18.88% enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 15.57 16.04 26.14% 339.68 349.92 18.28% 24.26 24.99 8.58% 1.00 1.00 17.49% investmentcare@axamansard.com Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 132.65 133.58 26.12% 1.00 1.00 18.92% 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 10.87 11.15 16.14% Women's Investment Fund 91.85 94.21 8.58% 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 19.11% 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 1,095.80 1,096.89 8.27% FBN Heritage Fund 131.75 132.85 18.17% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 17.95% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional $108.46 $109.18 5.36% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail $107.48 $108.20 5.14% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 142.08 143.92 26.09% 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 1.26 1.28 35.11% Legacy Short Maturity (NGN) Fund 2.80 2.80 8.84% 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 2,606.19 2,649.36 18.25% Coral Income Fund 2,304.07 2,304.07 9.50% 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 14.22% 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 17.46% Vantage Balanced Fund 1.99 2.01 18.48%

Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 18.26% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.07 1.09 8.69% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,045.21 1,045.21 6.18% 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 12.59 12.67 30.14% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 19.08% 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 1.13 1.16 14.50% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 10.68 10.73 2.70% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 17.27% 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 119.36 120.49 17.31% 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 1.33 1.33 6.52% 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 2,066.52 2,078.10 12.85% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 162.92 162.92 5.82% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.92 0.93 20.13% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 203.05 203.05 8.65% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 155.47 157.60 19.79% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 18.57% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 8,863.82 8,963.63 16.86% 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 1.27 1.28 6.45% United Capital Bond Fund 1.36 1.36 15.15% United Capital Equity Fund 0.79 0.81 -3.61% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.13 1.13 11.51% 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 11.82 12.01 21.94% Zenith Ethical Fund 12.56 12.69 14.77%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

11.41 128.42

1.01% 3.59%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

9.76 95.86

9.86 97.63

11.10% 26.48%

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

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS Fund Name Lotus Halal Equity Exchange Traded Fund Stanbic IBTC ETF 30 Fund

VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697 Fund Name Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

3.87 7.59 15.07 19.26 131.03

3.91 7.67 15.17 19.46 133.03

40.00% 7.92% 26.39% 20.62% 1.64%

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

30

JULY 16, 2017 ˾ THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

INFOGRAPH TR

UT H

& RE A SO

N

LIFE LESSONS ayo.arowolo@thisdaylive.com

WITH AYO AROWOLO

YOUR WEALTH IS IN YOUR PASSION

09067059433 (SMS only)

Dr. Emmanuel-Sunny Ojeagbase, Chairman, Complete Communications Limited, Publishers of Complete Sports, came from unusual quarters (a recruit in the Nigerian Army) about four decades ago and launched a solo campaign that catapulted sports stories into the front pages of The Guardian Newspapers, a fever caught quickly by other newspapers in the country.

Significantly, too, Ojeagbase has also shattered the usual refrain that ‘journalists do not make good entrepreneurs,’ having created a successful media empire which he started 33 years ago with just N6,500. But here is the best of all: Ojeagbase has also created a “factory” - Success Attitude Development Centre (SADC), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) run with his wife and business partner, Esther, where they “manufacture” millionaires.

Evidence: Akin Alabi of Nairabet; Oyeleke Toye, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Instant Web-Net Technologies Limited; Samson Olatunde of Business Impact; Princess Efe Imiren, CEO, ServiceForts Group; and many more.

His life lessons, shared below are laced with uncommon wisdom.

Enjoy.

–Sunny Ojeagbase LESSON

income, no matter the pressure, I mean you God/Spirituality: Recognize that should always stay within your budget, GOD is your only Source. which must be tailored to what you can It took a while before this vital lesson afford. Some people, if at all they have a sank in me. I was the type that was always budget, spend way above it out of their own depending on another man, what the Bible weakness, or because they are under pressure calls “the arm of flesh,” for my needs. Once, from their peers.

I recall telling my wife: “I am going to see When I turned 50, our business wasn’t Mr. So and So. If he doesn’t assist me with doing well. Cash flow was tight, and we had the money we need, then we are done for.” creditors breathing down our necks. I knew That was how deeply I trusted man to be my there was no way I could comfortably splash helper. I didn’t know money on a better then. And, as it party on that was usually the case, occasion. man always proved Instead, I invited that he didn’t have the 25 couples to a capacity to meet all my birthday dinner needs. Only GOD does.

I tagged: “The Since November 1997 Closest 50 when I made a U-turn People In My and rededicated my Life.” I didn’t life to Christ, I have have to pay enjoyed peace in every for an event area of my life. I became venue. We had totally debt-free and a hall at SADC financially free, to that could the extent that even barely hold if don’t do anything the 25 couples again, I can’t be poor that I invited. again. I confidently Total budget: recommend to anyone N150,000.00. reading my Life Not a kobo of LIFE CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS(LCSF) Lessons to embrace it came from GOD as their only KEY MAX MY our struggling Source. You will never AREA SCORE GUESS business. And regret doing so. life continued 1 Academics/Education 10 8 n o r m a l l y 2 Career/Business/Investment 10 9 afterwards.

LESSON 3 Friendship/ networking skills 10 8 By the time I Money and 4 Mentoring 10 10 was 60, I could Investment: 5 Significance/Giving back 10 10 afford to host Refuse to spend 6 Parenting 10 8 1,000 guests at more than you can 7 Health 10 5 my birthday afford.

8 Marriage 10 9 party. And we Some people find this 9 Happiness/Fulfilment 10 10 did. Most of the difficult to do. And Spirituality/God 10 9 guests didn’t they end up living a remember, that miserable life. By not Total 100 86 10 years earlier, consuming all your

1

2

said a simple prayer to GOD. The prayer consisted of three important parts. The first was that GOD should establish the business, prosper us through it, and make it to survive us. The second component was that those who come to work with us in the business and those who sell our products should prosper also. And the third part was that GOD should always replenish the pockets of those who buy our products.

I believe that it is GOD’s answer to our prayer that informed the business running on autopilot today. I stopped managing Complete Communications Limited on a day-to-day basis since December 1997. That I am not currently on the ground because of my ill-health does not make any difference.

The company has highly resourceful, loyal and focused managers, led by Mumini Alao, the Group Managing Director. And, of course, we have a structure in place that any new manager could easily follow and fit into our system.

LESSON

6

Health: It’s not a cliché: health is wealth!

You have heard it over and over. Your good health is your most precious asset.

Until you lose it, you will never get the full import of that statement. I should know. I have battled with ill-health on and off for 15 straight years, starting from May 2002. And this is not an exaggeration.

I don’t have enough space here to share with you how I got sick in 2002, and how GOD has kept me alive despite dozens of close calls with death. I am already detailing that in a book I pray to GOD to strengthen me to present to the public in December this year.

Don’t joke with your health.

It will stunt your growth if you have a dream for a great future as I do. I really can’t say much more than that now. The Bible says we should forgive our offenders. That is a good admonition to heed.

LESSON I wasn’t even able to host one-tenth of that figure. Taking steps like this has helped me to keep my head above water.

LESSON

3

Personal Development: Make quality investment on life essentials.

Life’s essentials are the things that keep body and soul together here on earth and guarantee secure passage to eternity with the Christ. Having a personal relationship with GOD, maintaining good health, having peace of mind and becoming financially free - these things rank high on my priority list. And they kept me awake as a young man growing up. I was always working at figuring out how to have these life essentials.

These things are always on top of my mind all the time. I am not surprised that GOD has blessed me with them. So, desire them and work hard to get them with the help of GOD.

LESSON

4

Community service: Create avenues for giving back.

Apart from providing for your family, one other compelling reason that should guide your pursuit of wealth is to give back to the community where GOD blessed you.

This was our motivation when my wife and I co-founded Success Attitude Development Centre in 1995 and made the commitment to channel part of what we earn from our publishing business to run it. We have maintained that empowerment vehicle.

The mission of the NGO is to raise and nurture successful entrepreneurs. To the glory of GOD, SADC/SuccessDigest has produced many millionaires today who are creating jobs and helping the Nigerian economy to grow.

LESSON

5

Business: Create a structure to make your business outlive you.

Before we went into business, my wife and I knelt before our opened Bible and

7

Build a strong tie with your family.

I have always believed in investing in my family. The reason is because I realized early that a time would come when I would need them more than they would need me.

What I didn’t know was that the time would come sooner than I anticipated. In 2012, I took seriously ill. And for five straight years, my wife practically left everything to care for me. I have asked myself on many occasions: what if we were not close? Your family is your backbone, better believe this!

WORST MISTAKE You may not believe this: I once seriously thought of marrying two wives. I thank GOD that I got rid of that fantasy. I would have regretted it all my life if I did. I wouldn’t want my children or proteges to even think about it.

BEST PIECES OF ADVICE From my great mentor, Alhaji R. A. Adejumo, of blessed memory, who told me as I was starting my entrepreneurship career to keep a good record of every financial transaction in my business. That advice has saved me from many embarrassments.

I got the second great advice from Bishop David Oyedepo in one of his ministrations who said that regardless of how far you have gone, at any point you discover you are on a wrong path, make a U-Turn. Every bus stop is a wrong one on a wrong journey path. That has lived in my heart since I heard it.

BOOKS 1. The Bible 2. Seven Laws of Success, by Herbert W. Armstrong 3. Think and Grow Rich, by Napoleon Hill 4. Books authored by Kenneth E. Hagin, Kenneth and Gloria Copeland; Pastor E. A. Adeboye’s Open Heaven and Bishop David Oyedepo’s ministrations.

A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

16.07.2017

ERICA NGOZI NLEWEDIM

MODEL, ACTRESS, ETC.

32

T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R ˾ ͯʹ, Ͱͮͯ͵

COVER

ERICA NGOZI NLEWEDIM

MODEL, ACTRESS, ETC. Four years is an unbelievably short time to post such amazing results: Huge in-your-face banners and lead roles in feature films and rom-com. That is the make-believe stardom. In real life, Erica Ngozi Nlewedim admits that she is on her way.

Nseobong Okon-Ekong reports

H

er cheerfulness is infectious.

She is not acting it. You can feel that unaffected decency and transparency. She has only been with me for less than 10 minutes and already I can tell she laughs a lot. Her childlike innocence immediately wins me over.

She is sociable and does not need persuading to loosen up. That is good for me. It is a sign that we are going to have a great conversation. Her hair is combed out straight, falling on the back of her neck like a pile of fine black wool.

This is not the girl in the photos that were earlier sent to me. I express my reservations about the difference in her look. The beautiful girl sitting beside me is unlike the person in the photos; not that she is any less pretty. The makeup and her hair account for the variance.

She is used to this kind of comment and tries to help me understand her appearance. “I went to the spa recently. I was supposed to stay off makeup for some time, but I didn’t. That is why my face is reacting.” There a few bumps on her face that are highlighted by her light complexion.

Her explanation shows that she is trusting and unsuspicious.

The pimples do not in any way subtract from her beauty. By any standard, she is very attractive; nice-looking in that kind-of-pure way.

She is wearing a black lacy blouse on blue jeans.

Her high heels give her an eight-inch advantage over her actual height of 5’7”. The blouse confers on her a playful sexual attraction. When we walk downstairs from where I was working, I note that she throws her legs in that almost robotic and apparently arrogant gait that is associated with models. My attempt to link that pace to sessions on the runway brings the fighter in her to the fore. Still laughing, but instilling a stiff clarity, she says, “I am a commercial model. I am not a runway model.”

Erica Ngozi Nlewedim is making quite some impression in Nollywood and she does not come tip-toeing. In her third year as a student of Business Administration at the Covenant University, the opportunity she always wanted comes. She is ready for the opening, partly because she searches for it and partly because nature prepares her for it. One can conclude that the break is hers since she is the one who nurtures the idea of becoming a model and searches the internet for the top modeling and advertising agencies in Nigeria, following which she is asked to send in photographs of herself.

On the other hand, Nature also plays a part for gifting her with a gorgeous appearance.

Her first modeling job is for a furniture company. It fetches her N50000, but her agent takes the customary 30 per cent. She is so proud of herself for earning an income at 17 years.

She is in her third year in the university. Her friends in school usually get that kind of money from their parents. The excitement from that first triumph still lives with her. Her next work is a television commercial in which she is not flattered at all. “I don’t think I even appeared for up to two seconds in that commercial.”

Maybe it is good for her to make a fleeting appearance, after all. The authorities at Covenant University do not tolerate such exuberance that is known to cause unruly behaviour in other institutions of higher learning. Participating in modeling may not be an outright misdemeanor

by the school policy, but no one is sure what the ground rules are. So, students like Erica are discreet about any activity that might beam the searchlight of the school’s disciplinary committee on them, for fear of expulsion. Certainly, there are social events on campus during which students’ model on the runway, but Erica is now a proper model who is being assigned contractual engagement. Word about her elevated status spread fast in school, even if it is in muffled tones.

Her photos are on the website of Jumia and other popular brands. Her face is gaining more recognition in school, attracting more people to say ‘hi’ to her.

Her biggest break yet happens as soon as she leaves university. “Immediately I graduated, I got my big break. My agent sent me for a casting and he asks, ‘hope your hair is full and long’ and I said, ‘yes’. I went for the casting and they liked our hair. They said my natural hair was very nice so they picked me for the Natures Gentle Touch hair advert. They checked if I could memorise the script and I did it well. We were down to two girls - another beautiful girl and I. What gave me the edge was that my hair was fuller. They picked me and I did the commercial. The next year, in 2014, I had to do a photo-shoot and all of a sudden, I saw my pictures all over billboards.”

She emphasizes the exhilaration that welcomes her announcement on huge commercial banners. She precedes the description with that signature laughter that stirs the soul of her companion. “First time I saw myself on a billboard, I was in a bus. I was so tired and I saw my face. I was like ‘wow!’ I am not supposed to be entering bus now, that kind of a thing. It was funny to me.”

For the Arochukwu, Abia State-born model and actress, her face, more than her name is what people remember. “I have not gotten name recognition yet. People say your face looks familiar. ‘Are you the girl in the skit on African Magic where a girl slaps a guy over and over?’

People know me more from that. They say, ‘you are the girl from Royal Castle’. People send me a lot of messages on Instagram and emails from all over the world. The billboard used to bring the face recognition, but my face is being recognised on television and movies as well. I am in a taxi, next thing, the taxi guy is like, ‘is that you?’ You have to add more money.”

Contesting as Miss Kogi in the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria, MBGN, in 2014 is another landmark that defines her career. She did not win the overall crown in the beauty contest, but her sectional trophy as Miss Photogenic was enough to unlock many doors. “I was most busy in 2015 because I had done the MBGN the previous year, so a lot fell on my plate. I kept getting more jobs. I did stuff for the Jumia Fashion line, Stanbic-IBTC for their Valentine’s Day shoot. I did another job for Etisalat, Airtel and Diamond Bank. The exposure MBGN gave me brought all these recognition. I got my first acting job in a TV series called ‘Secrets and Scandals’. It was produced and directed by Elvis Chuks. After that I did ‘Royal Castle’. I also did the movie called ‘Poka Messiah’ directed by Ernest Obi. I went to Enugu for that. In 2016, I did the movie called ‘Once Upon a Night’. This year, I have been doing my modeling. I did adverts for Hollandia and Peak Milk.”

While her teeming fans are increasing by the day, one person who watches from the sideline,

57

JULY 16, 2017 ˾ T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R

COVER I WAS MOST BUSY IN 2015 BECAUSE I HAD DONE THE MBGN THE PREVIOUS YEAR, SO A LOT FELL ON MY PLATE. I KEPT GETTING MORE JOBS. I DID STUFF FOR THE JUMIA FASHION LINE, STANBIC-IBTC FOR THEIR VALENTINE’S DAY SHOOT. I DID ANOTHER JOB FOR ETISALAT, AIRTEL AND DIAMOND BANK. THE EXPOSURE MBGN GAVE ME BROUGHT ALL THESE RECOGNITION. I GOT MY FIRST ACTING JOB IN A TV SERIES CALLED ‘SECRETS AND SCANDALS’. IT WAS PRODUCED AND DIRECTED BY ELVIS CHUKS… perhaps with subdued admiration is her mother.

As an only child, Erica is all she has. Her concern for Erica’s welfare is therefore within reasonable logic. Sometimes, her expectation drives the daughter up the wall. Erica admits they have had a few head-butts. “We are two different persons.

My mother is prim and proper, while I am more carefree. I am under pressure to be successful. As far as she is concerned, acting or modeling is not the way to go. She thinks I should get a nine-tofive job. She is always harping on the fact that all my mates have good paying jobs and that if I was working somewhere in the past four years, I would have been promoted, at least, once. I am sure if she had other children she would probably focus on them and not just me. All her hopes and dreams for her children is just on me. If there is any disappointment, there is no other child to take the disappointment away.”

Her mother may be struggling to deal with her perceived rebellion , but Erica has her priorities ordered on her own terms. She is willing to make a few adjustments, here and there, to accommodate her mother. However, there are certain areas she cannot compromise, no matter the odds. “I need to be successful so that my mother will have a successful child. I need to be successful for myself, as well, don’t get me wrong, but it is added pressure when you are constantly reminded of certain things. Now, I have to work with her on her procurement business just to calm her down.

I am not doing it because I enjoy it. I am doing it so that she will be satisfied that I have a source of income apart from acting. Last year, I had a nine-to-five job at Page Omni Technology Limited, an IT company. I wasn’t as busy as the previous years. I wasn’t able to do acting and the modeling like I wanted to. I had too much free time and I didn’t just want to stay idle most of the time. With modeling and acting, it is only good when you know that you have some money saved and that you are getting money from somewhere else. I love acting but right now I cannot say it is my only source of income. It is not easy for people who are just starting to rely on acting as their only source of income. It is only when the job starts coming regularly that you can sit back and rely on acting only.”

She continues to talk about the moral weight her mother brings to bear on her. “There is pressure from her to get married. She has been telling me to get married since I graduated from school. Before now, it was ‘let me not see you talking to any boy until you have your certificate when you have your certificate you can do what you want’. Immediately I got my certificate, it changed to ‘when you are done with your NYSC you should be engaged’. What? I was like,’ is that how people get engaged?’ People just don’t get married to please other people. I want to get married when I find somebody that I can be with for the rest of my life. It is not just about someone making me happy. I can be happy now, what if I am not happy with the person later?

People change, I have seen people change. I want to be sure. I want to be ready. I want to be emotionally ready before I get married. I need to achieve the things I want in my life. I want to be somebody. I don’t just want to be known as my husband’s wife. I want to be known for my own achievements.”

The love of being her own boss is one of the reasons she studied Business Administration. She wants to be a very successful business woman and a respected actress. “I studied Business Administration because I always wanted to own my business. I wanted to know what it feels like to manage a business and not work for anyone. I never saw myself working for anyone, but now I know that if you want to succeed you have to learn some things. In school, I was very young. I was in a hurry to do what I wanted to do, so; I got the information I wanted and shut out the rest.”

Erica finds a creative and beneficial way to deploy her free time. To shore up her knowledge and understanding of her professional interests, she is always online watching tutorial videos on how to do different things. “I check for cosmetology videos; how to take care of the skin.

I will like to have a skin care business. I take tutorials on online acting. I ask fellow actors for tips. I send them clips of myself. I tell them to watch me and give me constructive criticism.

I always want to improve and keep growing better. This industry is very competitive. I want to

be the best. I don’t want to be famous for fame sake. I want to be respected.” Sometime in the future, she hopes to return to a formal school for a Masters degree in Public Relations and Advertising. She thinks her comprehension of these discipline will stand her in good stead to achieve her overall goals. “What is drawing me to that area of study is that whatever one is doing, be it acting or production of any goods or service; every brand, every company needs PR because production is not complete until it reaches its target market. And how will it reach the target if there is no advertising? Even if it reaches the target, how will they keep coming back? What will make them loyal to you? It is PR. PR is more believable than marketing. Every brand needs PR.” At the core of her belief is a strong conviction that is driving her steady rise. The markers are there for everyone to see: In your face presence on billboards all over the country and lead roles on popular rom-coms and feature films in about four years. One can say she has had a good run!

She says, “I want people to believe that they have seen the next Nigerian sweet heart in acting and modeling. I am a very good actress; even if I say so myself. Other people have seen me at work and they believe this also. I have done auditions and I came out tops.”

One thing Erica has going for her is that selfpropelling self-love that motivates from within.

“Apart from being a good actress, I think I have a great personality; a loveable personality. I have marketable face; the face of a model. It all adds up. I have the face of a model plus the talent of an actress plus a nice personality, so what is not to love about me? It is mostly about the personality.

I have what it takes to keep people interested in me.” In a few hours of being together, she is able to sell herself to me. If you are reading this article, Erica has got you!

Now, I understand the laughter is her PR tool. When she is meeting her agent; discussing with a movie director, she exudes so much charm that she makes hustling for commercials and movie roles look easy.

The undemanding route would have been to become a video vixen, but Erica would have none of it, except it is scripted to her order. “I have never been in a musical video and I don’t want to be in a musical video. If I will ever be in musical video, it will be with an artiste that I really love, may be, Wande Coal and I am going to act in the video. The video must have a story line. Not all these videos where girls are just dancing. I don’t want that at all. I just don’t think it is classy to dance in videos. I can never see myself as a video vixen.”

My interaction with her starts at Eko Hotel.

We go on to the residence of the American Consul General in Ikoyi-Lagos for that country’s independence cocktail. The proper sit-down interview takes place at Bogobiri Hotel in Ikoyi, later that evening. A two-man band is playing all genre of music and the vocalist who also doubles on the keyboard encourages us who were listening to request a song or grab the microphone to sing. I toake his challenge and sing The Beatles’ ‘Hey Jude’. My effort is applauded, perhaps, out of courtesy. After me, I prod Erica to sing. She tells me earlier that she loves House and Techno music. But when she has the microphone, she chose to render a complex Beyonce song, not any of the popular ones. I didn’t even know the song. Owing to the intricacy of the tune, the excellence and projection of her voice can be appreciated. This is one thing she did not tell me.

I discovered it myself. Erica can sing!

Our conversation covers everything. I will betray her confidence if I disclose all. Much of the information is for my ears only. However, it is safe to share her response when I ask the most daring thing she is willing to do as a model or an actress. She says, “I can’t think of anything that I cannot do; that is, anything sensible. I don’t think there is anything I consider too daring. I can take off my clothes; if it is for a story line that is impactful. Maybe a story about rape, a story that teaches something. I will not pose nude or shoot a sex scene just for the effect. That is pornography. That does not add any value to the movie or impact on the lives of people. I can strip nude for something that is impactful; something that makes a lot of sense and something that is educating.”

NLEWEDIM

58

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

Ě“

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

Fela

Exploring the Kindred Spirit Between Wyclef and Fela Nseobong Okon-Ekong ĂĄĂœĂ“ĂžĂ?Ă? ÞÒËÞ ÞÒĂ? Ă‹Ă“ĂžĂ“Ă‹Ă˜ ĂœĂ‹ĂšĂšĂ?ĂœËŞĂ? Ă—Ă‹Ă•Ă?Ùà Ă?Ăœ Ă™Ă? Ă‹ Ă?Ă–Ă‹ Ă&#x;ÞÓ Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă‘ Ă“Ă? Ă—Ă™ĂœĂ? ĂžĂ’Ă‹Ă˜ Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă˜Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ åÓÞÒ Ă‹ Ă•Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂœĂ?ĂŽ Ă?ĂšĂ“ĂœĂ“Ăž

F

orty-four years after it was first recorded in 1973 on Afrodisiac label, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti’s song, ‘Eko Ile’ has been given fresh impetus for a vibrant new life by Haitian rapper, Wyclef Jean. The song is said to be the first single release from his forthcoming album, ‘Carnival 111: The Rise and Fall of a Refugee’. Wyclef has re-named the song, ‘Fela Kuti’ and it is for a good reason. His rationale is compelling and it is something that should make every Nigeria proud. He said, “I decided to name it ‘Fela Kuti’ because for me, I feel like we be thinking of [Bob] Marley, we give a lot of people from our past props, so when the kids hear ‘Fela Kuti’, I really want them to Google it.�

The new album is a sequel to a series that began in 1997 with, ‘The Carnival-Wyclef Jean Featuring Refugee Allstars’. That album would be remembered for such memorable hits as ‘Pablo Diablo’, ‘Down Lo Ho’ and ‘Gone Till November’. Having explained the reason behind the choice of the song title, it is curious that he prefers ‘Eko Ile’ as the initial teaser to generate an expectation of things to come from the album. No doubt, this must be his best foot that he is putting forward for critical acclaim. ‘Eko Ile’ was originally delivered in Yoruba. In the song, Fela reects on his many travels outside Nigeria and reaches a nostalgic conclusion which sums up the often quoted refrain, ‘East or West, home is best’. Wyclef retains Fela’s voice, singing the ďŹ rst line of the song, “Koma si’bi ti mo le fo’ri leâ€? (There is no place to lay my head).

The song is actually one of the tributes to the city of Lagos (or Eko) composed by Fela. Lagos was home to Fela and in ‘Eko Ile’, he laments that he can’t ďŹ nd comfort in New York or in London, except in Lagos. In typical Fela satire, he highlights the peculiarity of Lagos. He said your knowledge of driving, for instance, in London, may not serve you well in Lagos because if you think you are seeing, ‘turn left’ in Lagos; take a good look because you may very well be seeing ‘turn right’. Fela would extend this notion of the chaos that is Lagos traďŹƒc in another composition ‘Confusion Break Bone’ where he paints a picture of Ojuelegba in Surulere-Lagos as the

Wyclef

centre of disorder.

Wyclef would have found it near impossible to deliver the song in Yoruba, but it is ingenious of him to retain, at least, one line in the language of the original composer and singer. This provides the necessary connect and longing for the good old times for those who are old enough to remember. There are lots of memories that would resurrect with Wyclef’s ‘Fela Kuti’. It would most deďŹ nitely bring back recollections of Soul Brother No. 1, the inimitable James Brown whose musical inuences were fused into highlife and jazz to produce Fela’s unique sound called Afrobeat.

For a versatile artiste like, Wyclef, ‘Eko Ile’ nay ‘Fela Kuti’ is not a particularly diďŹƒcult song to recreate. The noticeable dierence from the original includes a session of clapping and a creative rendition of the drums at intervals.

The character of the song is preserved by the consistency in the horns section, which remains essentially the same in both versions.

Wyclef opens with a dramatic line, “lights, camera, action/everyone is a superstarâ€?. His mellow voice contrasts with Fela’s coarse vocal and the fast pace of the instrumentation and attracts the listener to pay attention to the lyrics. The dierences in mood are given a smooth appeal with deft production skills. The hip hop delivery of vocal play and somersaults exhibited by Wyclef will appeal to both the new friends and old lovers of the song. In 2017 as in 1973, ‘Eko Ile’ is still an exciting musical composition that takes the listener on an intense and blazing journey of African sounds and imagery.

Another reason Wyclef sampled a Fela composition is probably to draw attention to the interest of the two men in the social engineering of their countries. Like Fela, Wyclef took a shot at the highest political oďŹƒce in his country. Again, like Fela whose father was a minister of the gospel, Wyclef is a preacher’s son. His father, the Rev. Gesner Jean preaches in

a conservative evangelical church in New Jersey.

Another meeting point for the Haitian musician and Fela is how the American society revolutionized them. The turning point for Fela was the 1969 meeting in Los Angeles with Sandra Isidore who introduced him to the radical Black Panther Movement. Wyclef was an immigrant in New Jersey when he discovered himself and his strength through music. Like Fela, Wyclef is an exhibitionist who sometimes does not mind to be seen in public in his underpants.

But Fela is not the ďŹ rst music icon that Wyclef has paid a tribute to. He has also recorded a song, ‘Hendrix’ as his way of immortalizing the famous American guitarist, Jimi Hendrix who he acknowledges as one of his inuence. Like Hendrix, Wyclef also plays the guitar.

Wyclef has made a couple of visits to Nigeria since his ďŹ rst in 2004 which was made possible

by Guinness. Charly Boy was the head of the umbrella group of Nigerian musicians at the time and he made a huge show with a convoy of power bikes and colourful motorcade that welcome Wyclef to Nigeria. Among the Nigerian musicians who have a good working relationship with Wyclef are Sound Sultan and 2Baba. 2Baba and his former teammate in Platashun Boiz, Faze were featured on a song from Wyclef’s ‘Welcome to Haiti: Creole 101’ album titled ‘Proud to be African’. They have both gone ahead to collaborate on two other projects: ‘King of My Country’ and ‘People Bad’.

Apart from music, Wyclef has also registered his presence in the Nigerian movie industry. He played Timi a kidnapper of the ‘United People’s Front for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta People of Nigeria’ in the ďŹ lm, ‘Black November’ directed by Jeta Amata.

The last time he came to Nigeria was three years ago in 2014. On arrival, he posted photos of himself surrounded by Nigerian security agents and said they call him the ‘Haitian Nigerian’ and that he feels at home in Nigeria.

In a freaky coincidence, multi-award winning artiste, Jay-Z also has also recently released an album ’4:44’ (‘Eko Ile’ is 44 years) in which Fela is prominently mentioned in one of the songs, ‘We Family’.

JULY 16, 2017 ˾ T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R

59

ENTERTAINMENT

Guess What’s Back? MTV Shuga

Tuface FOR THE LOVE OF IDPS, 2BABA, OTHER STARS PERFORM AT ABUJA EARGASM Ever since, Efe Omoregbe’s Buckwyld Media introduced its love themed concert, ‘Eargasm’, many have taken note of the word, particularly for its sexual undertone.

This could have been deliberate as the show was originally planned to take place around Valentine’s Day. Yes, the idea is still about deriving a sense of pleasure, but this time from listening to music. The intention was to give lovers a remarkable experience.

The first edition was held last February at Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos and everyone who attended agreed it was seductive and entertaining.

The headline artiste, 2Baba had promised no less and he went ahead to deliver on his pledge. In recent years, 2Baba has been associated with good causes which have translated him from a phenomenal artiste to a respected crusader. Increasingly, he has been associated with projects that seek to make the Nigerian society a better place for everyone. Months before the last general election, he traversed the country on a voters’ enlightenment campaign called, ‘Vote Not Fight’.

Although, he beat a retreat with his last effort to awaken the conscience of Nigerians to the shenanigans of politicians, many still praised for making an effort. This time, 2Baba is rallying his friends for a good cause.

The plight of Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs has touched the famous musician’s heart, therefore, he has asked songstress, Waje, Styl Plus and Kelly Hansome to join him in a special charity performance to raise funds for the welfare of these unfortunate Nigerians.

The Congress Hall, Transcorp Hilton, Abuja is the place to be on July 22 for the second edition of the critically-praised Eargasm. 2Baba has promised to deliver another evening of mind-blowing entertainment and pleasant surprises.

Eargasm: Special IDP Charity Edition is the first of many fundraising events lined up by The 2Face Foundation and UNHCR as part of its commitment to raising funds to support the IDP intervention programs.

Proceeds from the event will go to assisting fellow Nigerians living in IDP camps across the country.

Like previous Eargasm editions, fans of diverse music tastes, genres and generations will be treated to a unique and unforgettable experience through the rendition of classic tunes with fresh twists. The fact that this edition is designed to raise IDP intervention funds and awareness makes it significantly more worthy of attending.

The 2Face Foundation is a non-governmental organization focused on peace building in Nigeria through projects like ‘A Million Voices for Peace’, ‘The 2Face Peace Awards’, ‘Vote Not Fight’ and now this IDP support initiative with the UNHCR. UNBRIDLED FUN FOR ABEOKUTA RESIDENTS AT LAFFTA FEST For residents of Abeokuta and neighbouring communities in Ogun State, it was unbridled fun when the popular comedy concert, Glo Laffta Fest came to the city.

The show which was held at the Silver Jubilee Hall had an interesting blend of established comedians and up-and-coming talents pushing to make a mark in the comedy industry. The performance of the two categories of artistes ensured an unforgettable evening of fun and laughter for Glo subscribers and other guests at the event.

Leading the pack of humour merchants who performed at the show was Glo ambassador, Godwin Komone, popularly called Gordons. Also on the train were Bash, Acapella, Helen Paul, and Still Ringing which is comprised of Ojo Ladipupo Daniel and Ogunsina Ayodeji Samuel.

Complimenting the big names were new comic talents including Bishop, MC Sogo, MC Mike and MC Black. MC Sogo thrilled the audience with ingenious jokes around the shortcomings of Nigeria’s movie indus-

By Vanessa Obioha It’s official! Long-running pan African television drama series, MTV Shuga, is returning to Nigeria this year for its highly anticipated 6th season. Nigeria was home to the third and fourth season of the hit show.

MTV Shuga garnered vast attention when MTV Staying Alive Foundation commissioned the first season in 2009 that had Kenyan awardwinning actress Lupita Nyong’O playing the lead character Ariya. It was an instant hit and has been broadcast in over 61 countries across the world, showing on 179 channels and reaching over 720 million people.

The new season which is currently in pre-production centres around topics relevant to the modern African society, especially urban youth culture. Fusing family planning, contraception, HIV prevention, sexual health education and gender based violence, the upcoming show puts a spotlight on family planning and real issues that affect young people and the challenges they face from day to day, with a particular focus on adolescent girls.

Speaking on the return of MTV Shuga to Nigeria, Executive Director of the MTV Staying Alive Foundation, Georgia Arnold, said: “We are thrilled to be bringing MTV Shuga back to Nigeria. Nigeria is Africa’s most populous nation with a vibrant, colourful and energetic urban youth culture and we can’t wait to share the exciting new story lines and important messaging on family planning and sexual health that we’re touching on this

season. We’ll explore more issues that affect young people and highlight the reality faced by many adolescents in their everyday lives, as well as the choices they can make to empower themselves.”

Alongside key partners, the MTV Staying Alive Foundation is set to deliver a hard-hitting series, filled to the brim with gripping narratives and important sexual health information.

With the support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Nigerian government, MTV Shuga will aim to affect positive change in the perspectives, behaviours and health of young people across the Continent. MTV Shuga has a verified proven impact on society. Following the results of a World Bank study on the series, it was revealed that after six months of watching MTV Shuga, Nigerian viewers were more than twice as likely to go to centers to get tested; and that the rate of girls with chlamydia who watched MTV Shuga was 58% lower than those who didn’t; season 6 will be hoping to realise similarly impressive results.

Also returning to the hit show are former cast members Sharon Ezeamaka, Timini Egbuson and Jemima Osunde, as well as MTV VJ, Ehiz Okoeguale featuring in the launch and teaser videos. Award winning writer/filmmaker of popular TV Show, AM Hush and producer of Shuga season 4, Chris Ihidero, will be producing the upcoming series in Nigeria.

MTV Shuga 6 is slated to hit TV screens early in 2018 in Africa, Europe, America, Asia, Australia and the Caribbean.

Scene from Shuga try, while Bishop’s jokes centered around Nigerian musicians. MC Mike and MC Black on their part joked about the rising love for money in Nigeria and young ladies who spoke bad English.

Leading female comedian Helen Paul, who made her debut appearance in the Laffta Fest concert at the Abeokuta edition, introduced a new twist into the performances by offering N50,000 prize money for any lady who could come on stage to remove her wig. A number of ladies rushed out in a bid to snatch the offer, and Helen Paul proceeded to conduct a mock beauty pageant, throwing a series of hilarious banters along the way. She ended up giving out more than N50,000 to the ladies.

Acapella took over from where she stopped, and yet again was outstanding in his delivery. He opened his performance with a series of hilarious wisecracks before taking on the political arena, making jokes out of current issues in the country, including the

present economic recession.

Bash came on the stage next and made jokes of some popular typecast mannerisms associated with people from different ethnic backgrounds while using the Automatic Teller Machine (ATM). The master of the evening Gordons took over next, and led the audience on a comedy journey with interesting and hilarious jokes.

EBONYLIFE TV MARKS FOURTH ANNIVERSARY WITH TV AND FILM FESTIVAL In commemoration of its fourth anniversary, EbonyLife TV held a one-day TV & Film festival. Joining Mo Abudu---who has been on a one-woman mission to redefine the TV and film space in Nigeria---to mark this great landmark were celebrities like Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Sola Sobowale, Ireti Doyle, Don Jazzy, Tiwa Savage, O.C Ukeje, Innocent and Annie Idibia, Toke Makinwa, Ayo Makunwhile invited guests were treated to the new

L-R: DJ Lambo, MI Abaga, MD, CRA David Osaro, Faithful Omoigui and Victoria Kimani at the launch of the first Nigerian mobile call taxi app, CRA

season premieres of hit TV series: On The Real, Sons of the Caliphate, The Governor and Life 101 and Fifty – the series.

Since its inception in 2013, over 4000 hours of original Pan African content has been created and produced by Ebonylife TV. The TV channel has expedited the process of production backed by a team of highly trained and qualified staff. Within this timeframe, TV series have been dished out to much critical acclaim. The first seasons of On the Real, Sons of the Caliphate, Dere and The Governor have been widely successful leading to an order of second seasons for the aforementioned.

In 2015, Ebonylife TV joined the fray of the movie scene with its first offering titled, Fifty. The movie went on to generate 400million return on investment shattering a litany of records in the process.

Dissatisfied by the status quo and unrelenting in the ruthless pursuit of excellence, another movie was released in 2016. The Wedding Party would go on to break even more records, some set by the initial offering. It grossed a whopping 450million from the box office alone earning it the number one spot on the highest grossing Nigerian movies of all time. Both movies have led to much anticipated spinoffs. A sequel to The Wedding Party is billed to be released December, 2017.

CHOCOLATE CITY GANG STAR AT CRA LAUNCH It was a night of glamour as guests walked into Crush Café in Abuja all dressedup in fine attires waiting for the event to start. The purple carpet was rolled out were invited guest filed in their numbers one by one for photo up and interviews about CRA, a mobile app which can be downloaded on playstore, with which an individual can call for the services of an executive taxi to destination of their choice in Abuja.

The promoters of this public transportation service promise that it will grow to cover major Nigerian cities in due course.

The launch event which featured all the start from the famous music stable, Chocolate City kicked off with a round of rib-cracking jokes from a host of comedians. Suddenly, there was a hush by the MC announcing the arrival of one of Chocolates City’s finest, Ice Prince Zamani. His presence threw the crowd into a frenzy. Many struggled for space on the purple carpet to have a glimpse of their favourite star.

They were still enjoying the presence of Ice Prince when the Chairman, MI Abaga, Africa’s No. 1 rapper walked in quietly. He was followed by other members of Chocolate City. The night was charged everyone was eager to see their favourite artiste on stage. DJ Lambo took the lead to perform.

Her projection of fine, danceable music on her playlists was well appreciated by the audience. Her performance was followed by an official launch of the app by the Managing Director of CRA. More entertainment continued with Victoria Kimani. She sent the male guests over the edge with are erotic performance.

They couldn’t get enough. They wanted more, but she had to yield the stage for Ice Prince who was applauded by mail and female guests. Things were getting really hot when MI climbed the stage. He ended the night with his super lyrics sending the guests into pure ecstasy.

It was a memorable night. Every guest had a swell time.

Comedian, Helen Paul (kneeling), surrounded

by Glo subscribers and contestants in a fashion accessory competition, during her performance at the Abeokuta

60

T H I S D AY SUNDAY JULY 16, 2017

ARTS & REVIEW A

AN ARTIST’S CATHARSIS PAGE 64

PUBLICATION

16.07.2017

IN CELEBRATION OF THE MAN Waiter by Emmanuel Isiuwe

EDITOR OKECHUKWU UWAEZUOKE/ okechukwu.uwaezuoke@thisdaylive.com

62

JUL ͯʹ˜ Ͱͮͯ͵ ˾ THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

ARTS & REVIEW\\EXHIBITION

IN CELEBRATION OF THE With his forthcoming solo exhibition, the artist Emmanuel Isiuwe hopes to beam the spotlight on the Okechukwu Uwaezuoke writes

A painting by Emmanuel Isiuwe

T

his is home...

Emmanuel Isiuwe didn't exactly say that.

He didn't have to because his visitor already knew where he was coming to.

This spartanly-furnished living room of the nondescript storey building's ground-floor flat proclaims that loudly and clearly enough. ...And studio too.

Those stretched canvases stacked against the walls, the paintings adorning virtually every available space are the tell-tale signs that this is more than not just a home, but also his working space.

An exhibition looms.

This time, it isn't going to be a joint show with his wife Angela. Back then, in July 2013, the duo courted the aficionados’ attention with an exhibition, titled Our World: Human and Equestrian Life, at Didi Museum in Victoria Island, Lagos. That outing was, for the couple, a joyful affirmation of a union that dated all the way back to their student years at Auchi Polytechnic and was eventually sealed with the tying of the nuptial knots. Rather, it will be a solo show, through which the artist wishes to beam the spotlight on his

Fulani Herdsmen by Emmanuel Isiuwe gender...Man. His cursory memory scan tells him that female forms and landscapes dominate the Babel of visual recent artistic expressions.

Where is the man in all this? This became the refrain of the recent theme song of his studio practice. One that was picked up by his 18-year-old daughter, who would have noticed this oversight from a cursory glance at the paintings adorning their home.

The subtext: man deserves more attention than he gets currently in the art world. It shouldn’t be just about the woman and her awe-inspiring form. Nor should it be just about landscapes or abstract forms. In other words, this exhibition concerns itself more about man and his environment. This is without necessarily carping about the imbalance in gender-representation.

Yet, the artist seems convinced enough about this to invite his pied-piper retinue of devotees once more to Didi Museum from Friday, July 28. The exhibition, which runs for just five days, is simply titled Man. Actually, the specious assumption on which the solo show pivots can easily be refuted by a quick flashback into history.

If indeed the artist successfully skirted around the depiction of the male forms in his previous outings, dating as far back as to 1993, it would be presumptuous to generalise this trend.

Indeed, many among his colleagues in the

contemporary Nigerian art scene have been known to have feasted on the male figure, albeit in stylised forms. So have to a certain extent such artists of the older generations as the late Uche Okeke, Yusuf Grillo, Bruce Onobrakpeya, Demas Nwoko and Obiora Udechukwu, among others.

More recently, even the overall prizewinning work of the 2011 edition of the annual Life in My City Art Festival (LIMCAF) was a sculptural piece of a male figure carrying a famished child in his arms. The work, titled “Save the Child and Save the Nation”, was produced by Eyo Emem Effiong.

Obviously, the decision to celebrate man and/or his figure was the fall-out of an artistic whim.

For not even Isiuwe can deny having albeit a handful of works depicting the male form in his many exhibitions held in Auchi, Lagos and the Beninese commercial capital, Cotonou. Surely, his very stained-glass works on the Twelve Apostles of Christ Jesus and the Transfiguration of Christ could not have been based on the female figures!

He attributes his “desire to celebrate man” to an observation made by a collector during his last outing in 2013.

The latter had drawn his attention to the dominance of the female forms

in that exhibition. That goaded him to correct the apparent imbalance.

Nonetheless, it’s been a while that any artist has made such an audacious assertion. And easily-grasped themes like Man lend themselves to multifaceted interpretations. Hence he could already extrapolate the theme’s inexhaustibility.

There is bound to be a sequel to this exhibition, he tells his visitor.

But the sequel would be have to be preceded by further road trips. Already before this coming show, he had had to travel by road to the south-western towns of Abeokuta and Ibadan as well as to the Delta State communities. The snap-shots he took along the road formed part of the creative raw materials he needed for his paintings.

Curiously, all the talk about celebrating male forms seems to have been shoved aside in one of the exhibits he titled “Thick and Thin”. In this work, a smudge of lush impasto suggests a cock fight, featuring a blur of red and black cockerels.

“It was inspired by [the] Black Lives Matter [Movement],” the artist explains.

But the viewer fails to see how.

Flip over to another painting he titled “The Wedding List”. A reclining figure in a pensive mood holds a white sheet of paper in his hand. The paper contains the list of the things a man needs to buy for

63

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ Y 16, 2017

ARTS & REVIEW\\EXHIBITION

E MAN male sex and his activities.

his wedding. He must make a decision and this has to be soon.

The next painting, “The Waiter” shows a fuzzy image of a man in white shirtsleeves and a black bow tie. The backdrop suggests that he is really a barman.

The other work, “Fulani Herdsmen”, looks rather too obvious. It depicts two cattle Fulani men holding their staffs, with not even a cow in sight. It is probably the only water colour painting in the lot.

Most of his other paintings, done in either oil or acrylic, seem to conceal forms beneath a lush impasto of colours. This gives the impression that they are either hurriedly done or even unfinished. But Isiuwe apparently only obeys a creative whim.

Perhaps, there is also an emotional impulse. For why otherwise would he demand that the male sex be acknowledged for his supportive role both as a family bread-winner and a loving husband, who stands by his wife during her pregnancy? Indeed, the exhibition’s theme drips with the potential to ignite a gender war.

Sponsored by Arian Capital Investment, the exhibition is an affirmation of the artist’s signature impressionist style.

The Inverted Pyramid; Adapted from a novel by Emeka Dike

64

JULY 16, 2017 ˾THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

ARTS & REVIEW\\ART-LOGUE PROSE

DIMGA’S PLACE (I) Nduka W. Dike

Self portrait by Adeola Olagunju

AN ARTIST’S CATHARSIS Yinka Olatunbosun

F

or about a year, Adeola Olagunju was terribly ill, admitted at a hospital and dependent on others to perform tasks as basic as eating and bathing. She had a tumour in her throat and had it removed by a surgical procedure.

Upon her recovery, she resumed photography, a profession she has practised for over a decade. This determination to conquer personal challenges has led to her first solo exhibition in Lagos. Titled, Redemption, Adeola is largely influenced by her personal struggle against both physical and psychological constraints. Her juxtaposition of reality and imagination is embodied in this new body of works that lined the walls of Whitespace Gallery, Ikoyi.

“For me, creating some part of this work was born out of taking my attention from the pain that I was going through,” she began as she led the way to the ground floor where some of her self-portraiture had been displayed.

“The whole surgical process took away my ability to use my mouth,” she recalled. “I couldn’t eat, I couldn’t talk. I was weak and tired. So, I began to tell people around me to photograph me. Visual arts became a therapy for me.”

The artist, who hails from Osun State, had to deal with speculations around her illness and the probable cause. Torn between finding answers between medical science and traditional world view, she explores the underlying debate about the efficacy of both, resulting in works such as “Irapada” “Olumoroti” and “Fall out”.

Through “Irapada” which means Redemption, she carefully makes an incursion into the ritual performed for persons who are gravely ill and believed to be dying.

“I began to re-stage these experiences using my own body as a reference. The second body of works is titled, ‘Navigating the Dark Space’. After my year long illness, I was dealing with post traumatic stress. I was very paranoid. That moment of depression was like a dark space.”

Meanwhile, Adeola had taken part in group exhibitions internationally. From Kenya to Germany, her raging passion for photography has shown. Even in her state of ill-health, there was rage. She came to accept overtime that bad things happen to good people.

The third part of the show is titled, “Home Is…” which is a product of her recent art residency in Germany.

“I was invited to explore the colonial past and I decided to work from my own experience,” she said.

“In Germany, the feeling of non-belonging was so prevalent among the blacks. I mean as a black person, you will be aware that some people would not want to sit beside you in a public place. Due to this feeling, you will be looking for what is familiar. I couldn’t feel at home. So, I decided to stage an African festival in their land through photography. After all, home is where I make it. I had to rewire myself to be comfortable by bringing what is familiar into the foreign space with colours and costumes.”

Other works at the show include “Resistance”, “Aurum I, II and III” as well as “Rage” which shows the artist's hand, strapped to a hospital bed.

Aside self-portraits, the artist sometimes focus her lens on a part of the human body to communicate a strong message. For instance, in the “Messenger”, she reveals a foot immersed in water. Though it has biblical allusion in the character of John the Baptist, her attention is centred on using the works to counter stigmatisation while giving hope to others who live with long-term illnesses

Fashola Photographic Foundation Set for Launch Come August 5, Lagos will witness the launch of the Fashola Photographic Foundation which is aimed at supporting, promoting and developing the art and technology of visual arts- photography, cinematography and videography in Nigeria. The launch is set to hold at the Banquet Hall, City Hall in Lagos.

Prior to the August launch, there will be a series of contests and workshops for emerging and professional photographers to raise awareness and develop critical thinking in contemporary photographic art in Nigeria.

The week-long workshop, which include street photography, documentary-making and portraitures, will further provide a supportive and inspirational community where photographers of all levels can build confidence in their creative and technical skills.

The Fashola Photo workshop is an annual tuitionfree professional workshop aimed at nurturing emerging talent from Nigeria. For every edition, 15 participants will be selected from across the region to participate in an intensive week-long workshop conducted by international professional photographers who volunteer their time and expertise to be a part of this initiative.

The inaugural photo contest will be held annually and, based on selected themes, will provide a platform for participants to gain recognition for their artistic and technical achievements. The theme for this year is “Dialogue with Nature and Nostalgia Portraits”. The Foundation is a befitting tribute to the late Alhaji Ademola Fashola by his children, as it celebrates their father and his great love for photography.

ShewasthefirstthinghesawasheenteredDimga'splace.Shewasstandingby thecat-fishtank,staringintentlyatthefish.Awaiterstoodbesideherpointingatthe fish,willinghertomakeachoice.ShehadherbacktoEbube,buthewassureshewas beautiful–somethingaboutthewayshestood.Herhandswereonherwaistand herheadwasslantedtooneside,likeamodelonarunway.Hershorthairdyedlightbrown–acoupleofshadeslighterthanhercaramelskin–glitteredintheorange, eveningsun. Sheworeablacksinglettuckedintoaloose-fittingpairofAnkarashorts.

Hetorehiseyesawayfromherandallowedthemrestonthecompound.“Dimga's placeisalwaysfull”,hisfriend,Ade,hadtoldhim“youmightnotevenfindatable.”

Helookedaroundthetablesscatteredacrossthecompound,theywerealltaken, allbutone.Hemadeforthetableandsatdown.Henoticedthebookonthetable afterhehadsatdown,itappearedthatthetablewastaken.Hehopeditwasonlyone occupant,hewouldaskifhecouldsharethetable.Hepickedupthebook,SefiAtta's EverythingGoodWillComeandhewascertainitbelongedtoher.Hewasprovenright whenshejoinedhimatthetable.

“Doyoumindifwesharethistable?”heaskedasshesatacrossthetablefromhim.

“No,”shesmiled,“notatall.”

Herfacewasperfect,herlonglashes,hercarefullycarvedbrows,thedarkpurple lipstick;eventhepimplethatsatonhershortnosewasperfect.Heavertedhiseyes, calledforthewaiterstandingnearby.

“Goodevening,whatdoIgetyou?”thewaiteraskedwhenhecame “AplateofNkwobi,”heanswered.“DoyouhaveOrijin,thesmallbottle?”

“Wedon’t,it'sthebigbottlewehave” “Youshouldhavethepalmwine,”thegirlsaid “Palmwine?”

“Yes,it'sveryfresh,itwastappedtoday,”sheassuredhim.Ebubewantedtoask howsheknewwhenthewinewastapped,ifsheworkedatthebar,buthesaidinstead “Iwillhavepalmwine”.

“Okaysir,”thewaiternodded.

“Wait,howdoyousellit,inbottlesright?”

“Yes,inbottles.”

“Justonebottlethen,”Ebubesaid,thenadded,“Ihopetheyarenotverybigbottles.”

“Youcanfinishonebottlesir”,thewaiterlaughed,sodidthegirl,alightchucklethat endedwithagrunt,averyfaintgrunt.Helovedherlaugh.

“Auntyyounko?”heaskedthegirl “MyPoint-and-killisontheway,”sheanswered.

Thewaiternoddedandwalkedaway.Asaxophonesolofilteredthroughthe eveningair,thegirlshuthereyesforamomentandswayedtothemusic.Ebube smiledwhenherealiseditwasFelaKuti'sGentlemanandhefoundhimselfmoving hisheadtotheAfro-jazztunes.

“Whynkwobi?”

“Eh?”Ebubeasked,takenabackbythequestion “WhyNkwobi?”thegirlrepeatedherquestion.“Dimga’splaceispopularforthe point-and-kill,nottheNkwobiyoujustordered.”

“IwasassuredtheNkwobihereisverygood” “Itis,butthePoint-and-killiswaybetter” “Idon’teatfish” “Makagini?”

“Nothingreally.”

“Doesitdoanythingtoyou?”

Ebubechuckled“itdoesn’t,Ijustdon'tlikefish” “Youwilllikethisone.”

“Doyouworkhere?Orperhaps,doesyourfatherownthisplace?”Ebubeasked.

“Youaredoingagreatjobsellingit.”

Shelaughed,notalightlaughthistime,adeep,throatylaugh.“Iliveinthenext compound,”shepointed.“IcomeherewhenIhaveenoughmoneytospare.Trustme; thepoint-and-killhereispureheaven,especiallywhentakenwiththechilledfresh palmwine.” “Ihearyou,”Ebubesaid.“It…”hecontinued,butshecuthimoff.

“Holdon,Ilovethispartofthesongsomuch,”shedeclaredandsangalong:“Africa hot,Ilikeamso,Inowantwear…,butmyfriendsdon’tknow.Youputonsocks,you putonshoe,youputonpant,youputonsinglet,youputontrouser,youputonshirt, youputontie,youputoncoat,youcomecoverallwithhat,youbegentleman.Yougo sweatallover,yougofaintrightthere,yougosmelllikeshit,yougopissforbodyyou nogoknow.Me,Inobegentlemanlikethat,IbeAfricanman,original…”

“Youaredressedfortheheat,”hesaidwhenshestoppedsingingalong.

“Youtoo”,shesaid. Hewaswearingashirtandshorts,theheathadbeensomuch hehadn’tbotheredtowearasinglet.“Itistoohot,”hesaid.

ThewaiterreturnedwithEbube'sorderinatray.Heplacedthesmallmortar containingthepiecesofmeatdrenchedinspicyoilpasteandpalmwinecontainedin asmallEvawaterbottle.

“Yourpoint-and-killisalmostready,aunty,”thewaitersaidashefilledabasinof waterforEbubetowashhishands.Heleftafterwards.

“Joinme”,hesaidtoherashewashedhishands“beforeyourscomes” “Thankyou,butIdonotwanttospoilmyappetite”,shesaid“anditisjustoneplate” “Iwillordermore” “Youshouldtrytheisiewu”.Hesmiledatherthendippedhisfingersintothemortarandemergedwithalargepieceofmeatcoveredinoil.Thearomafilledhishead andhismouthwatered.Hebitintothechunkofmeatandtorefleshoffthebone.His eyesclosedinvoluntarily,histastebudscamealiveashechewedthemeat,crushing anonionringtoo.Thepeppersethistongueonfiresothatwhenheswallowedthe pieceofflesh,hismouthmisseditsomuchandsohetoreanotherandanothertillall thatwasleftwasaninediblepieceofbone,suckedofalltheoilandsweetnessitwas preparedwith.Heopenedhiseyesandshewassmilingathim.

“ThisisthebestNkwobiIeverhad”,hesaid “WaittillyoutastethePoint-and-kill,”heshruggedandtookanotherpieceofmeat todevour.Thewaitercameagainwithanothertrayandcarefullyplacedthecat-fish peppersoupbeforeherandherbottleofpalmwine.

“Canyoubringanotherspoon?”sheaskedthewaiter.“He’sgoingtobeeatingwith me.”Thewaiternodded,Ebubepouredhimselfaglassofpalmwine.

“Doyouhaveisiewu?”heaskedthewaiter.Themannodded,“Bringusaplate.”

“Us?”sheasked.

“Iameatingyourfishwithyou,”hesaidasthewaiterleft,“it'sonlyfair”.

Shenodded,thenhummedalongwithFela'sSorrows,tearsandblood.

“It'smybirthdaytoday,”Ebubesaid.Hehadnotplannedtotellher,hejustwanted tosaysomethingtoher.

“Ohreally,”shesaid.“Atoastisinorderthen.”Shepouredherselfaglassofpalm wineandraiseditup.Henoticedthenherdaintyfingersandherblacknailpolish.He admiredthebraceletsonherwrist,theywerehandmade,thekindthatspeltnames, thefirstonespeltYUGEEandthesecondMMA.Heknewshemadethemherself.

“To,”shewassaying“what’syourname?”

“Ebube.”

“ToEbube,”heraisedhisglasstoo“Iwishyoulonglifeandprosperity,Iwishyou happinessandjoy,goodhealthandstrengthandmanymoreyears”,theirglassesmet.

Ebubesippedthecold,sweetwineandheknewhewouldkeepcomingbacktothis place.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ LY 16, 2017

65

ARTS & REVIEW\\LITERARY CAFÉ

WARRIOR ENSLAVED BY HISTORY Festus Adedayo

A

number of books have been written on the collapse of the Nigerian First Republic. Not even one has had the historical temerity to posit that the destructive feud between Chief Samuel LadokeAkintola and his erstwhile boss and friend, Chief ObafemiAwolowo, was not the primary reason for the collapse, a process which Awolowo himself called a “journey through the dark and dreary tunnel.” Femi Kehinde’s Samuel LadokeAkintola: Abiography and postscript is a credible addition to the historical reconstruction of that “fierce and howling storms,” again apology toAwolowo. The storm swept off peace from the prosperous and hitherto peaceful Western Region and eventually became the fire that burnt into ashes Nigeria’s first, and I dare say, only successful practice of an appropriate system of governance fit for her plural peoples – federalism.

Divided into nineteen chapters, the book, which apparently set out to be a biography of one of the most misunderstood, yet most formidable politician in the history of Nigeria, unwittingly became the rendition of the history of Nigeria’s immediate post-colonial government and the most incendiary political turmoil that engulfed Nigeria shortly after the lowering of the Union Jack. Scholars have posited that the years between 1962 and 1966 could unarguably be said to be the most politically tumultuous for the Western Region.

Nigeria eventually partook of the turmoil, with the overthrow of the First Republic by the military and since then, in the words of John Keats, things have fallen apart for the country as the centre has found it difficult to hold.

The 19 chapters of the book are divided into themes like, the growing up years of the young Ladoke, Ogbomosoland, the people and society,Akintola as teacher and youth activist, his early political career, his voyage into politics and sojourn at the federal parliament, his time as Premier, the crisis in the Western Region, among others.

Of all Nigerian leaders, especially those who contributed to the struggle against colonial rule and who thereafter became heirs to the emerging leadership of Nigeria,Akintola is undoubtedly one of the most understudied. There is sparse knowledge of him. The most dominant story that is paraded about him is his stiff-necked stand-up to his political party, theAction Group, in defiance of the parliamentary system of government which brought him into power. Little is known about the consummate polyglot who spoke Nupe, Hausa, Yoruba and English very fluently, the extremely witty polemicist who, according toAwolowo, could argue the two sides of an issue with equal dexterity, the deft administrator and lawyer, the pithy, firebrand writer and the Editor of one of the most consequential newspaper organs at the time called the Daily Service.

In the nineteen chapters of the book, Kehinde situated the essential LadokeAkintola, revealing a Yoruba irredentist who meant well for the future of his people but who became imprisoned in the labyrinth of volatile party politics which eventually set the Yorubaland he loved so much on a path of destruction. The author traced the genealogy of a mutual friendship betweenAwolowo andAkintola which manifested in SLAand his family living in Awolowo’s Oke-Bola, Ibadan home for almost three months after he became Premier and how the two families were closely-knit and bonded inseparably. However, this brotherly bond eventually glided towards anAristotelian concept of tragedy, a concept which goes thus: Two good men began a jolly good friendship that was primed towards a good ending; the two friends hit their feet against the stone and the gods destroyed their land for this.

TheAristotelian tragedy was not only that S. LAkintola, Tafawa Balewa, SirAhmadu Bello and other Nigerian leaders were killed by the coupists of January 15, 1966. The Western Region itself partook largely of the tragedy in the freezing of its growth and development within this period. Between 1962 and 1966, the Region witnessed its own version of the September 11, 2001American twin towers destruction, for on that same day in 1963, pursuant to the crisis,Awolowo was jailed for 15 years. To understand the enormity of the tragedy that befell the Western Region through the friction betweenAwolowo andAkintola, one can only imagine the level of development that would have further accrued to the West if Awolowo, the great administrator andAkintola, the builder of men, had jointly collaborated to administer the region after 1959.

Till today, scholars have sought to understand what exactly led to the acrimony between the duo which eventually consumed a Western Region that hitherto witnessed one of the most effective political growths inAfrica, a growth fertilized by an enviable amity of its political leaders.Anumber of reasons have been averred for the schism. While Billey Dudley, in his book entitled,An introduction to Nigerian government and politics (1982) puts the schism to an ideological disagreement over the running of government and theAction Group, and Professor Eghosa Osaghae, in his book, Crippled giant: Nigeria since independence(1988), also attributed it to the combative, anti-Northern stance ofAwolowo as Leader of Opposition in the Parliament which incensedAkintola and other crucial members of theAction Group, Bola Ige, in his book, People, Politics and Politicians of Nigeria (1940 - 1979) published in 1995, put it to the decision byAkintola to act independently of theAction Group by building his own political base and structure, abhorring the idea of basking under the political sunshine ofAwolowo who had vacated the Premiership for him.

In the book under review, Kehinde, like previous writers before him, also averred that the friction was due to the desire by SLA Akintola to approach the governance of the Western Region with a master-of-his-own-game approach.Awolowo himself, in his

book, My march through prison (1985) gave credence to Kehinde’s submission. Though it may sound intangible,Awolowo said Akintola was angry at being welcomed to functions by the slogan, Awo!, which was hitherto the sloganeering of theAction Group.

On one occasion, specifically onApril 3, 1960, at the installation of Oba SikiruAdetona as theAwujale in Ijebu Ode,Awolowo, quoting a source, said thatAkintola, in a discussion with his wife, Faderera, after arriving the venue of the installation, had said: “This kind of unseemly behaviour must stop; and he must do something about it. In his response, SLAsaid that the crowd (was) extremely discourteous; they had treated him with contempt by shouting ‘AWO’ on him. That was not the first time that this kind of thing had happened, since he became Premier; indeed, he was determined to do something about it, without further delay. He declared, and assured his wife: ‘Give me six months, and no one will hear the shout of ‘AWO’ in this Region again.’And the wife promptly commented: ‘That is how it should be!’

Kehinde’s Samuel LadokeAkintola:Abiography and postscript, while also contributing to the debate on what indeed led to the friction, submitted that, in the clash between the spouses of the two gladiators of the Western Region, could be found one of the reasons for the crisis. Even though the claims of a spousal causation of the crisis are unsubstantiated, they have been too strident to ignore. The book affirmed that the distributorship of Coca Cola that was hitherto solely handled by Chief Mrs. HIDAwolowo, which Mrs. Faderera Akintola, as the wife of the new Premier, wanted to change hands, was a major cause of the friction. It was also alleged thatAkintola’s wife’s disavowal with the alleged overbearing attitude ofAwolowo on the Western region government, even while in Lagos as Leader of Opposition, aggravated the clashes of personality that eventually snowballed into an unwholesome crisis in the region.Akintola’s wife, Faderera, in Femi Kehinde’s book, encouraged him to defy Awolowo’s alleged overbearing hold on the Premier.

In contrast to all these, however,Akintola believed that, having been vested with the Premiership, he ought to be left alone with all the full paraphernalia of his office whichAwolowo enjoyed in his own time as Premier of the region. Olarinmoye O. O, in a PhD dissertation submitted to the University of lbadan, entitled, "The politics of ethnic mobilization among the Yoruba of South Western Nigeria", had quoted the late Premier to have said in Yoruba: “ti a ba fi agbo fun eegun, a jowo okun e,” translated to mean that, if a ram is given to a masquerade, it is consequent upon the giver to let go of its leash.

One major missing point which the book, Samuel Ladoke Akintola:Abiography and postscript failed to mention is that, apart from advisers and self-serving politicians, the newspaper press was responsible for the aggravation of the crisis betweenAkintola and his friend,Awolowo. Indeed, many scholarly works have said unequivocally that the press was one major grenade that was used effectively to bring down the First Republic.

One cogent reason why the humongous contributions of SLAAkintola to the development of the Western Region and the immense footprints he left in today’s South West have remained unappreciated (he was instrumental to the establishment of the University of Ibadan, for example; he established theAirport Hotel; he had a hand in his government’s acquisition of the Cocoa House, and many others) is because his developmental contributions were blanked out by the press and thereafter, chroniclers of history

followed suit. This was solely because, even though he was a veteran journalist,Akintola went into that war without a newspaper press of his own to back him up.

This point was corroborated by Bola Ige, in his book earlier mentioned, when he said: “SLA(Akintola) did not have any newspaper support to back him in 1962 when he went to war against Awo. He may have been a veteran journalist, but the Daily Service was now a weekly magazine; and, worse for him, it was being edited by L. K. Jakande, one of the group whom SLAso much disliked. The other newspaper sympathetic to theAG and its government of the West was the very popular Daily Express. But the editor-in-chief was Bisi Onabanjo who had never liked SLA. In addition, the financial backer of that paper was Chief S. O. Shonibare whom SLAwas planning to put into trouble withAwo. In Ibadan, there were three newspapers – Southern Nigerian Defender which was as good as dead, and the Nigerian Tribune and Irohin Yoruba which were Awo’s newspapers. When SLAand his group started Morning Star and Irawo Owuro in 1963 for NNDP purposes, it was too late and his new government newspaper, Daily Sketch… could not help him much…”

Indeed, the Service, whichAkintola once edited, had turned full circle against him.At this time, it was being edited by one of his students at the Baptist Academy and one ofAwolowo’s trusted allies, Bisi Onabanjo, who used his column calledAyekooto in the newspaper to persistently pillory SLA’s policies.

Akintola was only in control of provincial leaflets named Morning Star and Irawo Owuro. By the time Akintola woke up to establish the Sketch in 1964, the war had been won and lost.

Kehinde’s book, while featuring ChiefAwolowo’s alocutus in the presence of Justice Sowemimo during the treason trial, also revealed an essential contemporary issue which the late Premier briefly touched on.Awolowo had said in the allocutus: “I have been an unyielding advocate of federalism in this country. I believe that only in federalism can we find happiness for all the people of this country.” This is a word from Awolowo to all those who have stood sternly against restructuring of Nigeria.

What this book by Femi Kehinde did was to show the other Akintola, which posterity has not adequately shown to generations after him. In lucid prose, he revealed the late Premier as a man with a genial heart who loved Yorubaland to a fault. For the first time, through sources who spoke to him and were close to the late Premier, Kehinde revealed to the readers thatAkintola was most likely fed up with the destructive outcome of the Western Region crisis and had begun to wonder if the whole shedding of blood and probably, his long-drawn battle with his old friend and leader, ObafemiAwolowo, was worth it after all. WhileAwolowo lost his first son during the crisis,Akintola also lost his own bosom daughter, Mondole and SLA’s health had lost its erstwhile bubble. His hands, said the author, had started shivering and he could no longer append his signature on a straight line. SLAhowever never lived to make amends. Indeed, he had told one of his aides,Adewale Kazeem, who suggested his resignation, soberly that,Adewale, O ti bo, iku lo ma gbeyin eleyi, meaning,Adewale, it is too late, it is only death that will end this feud.

Femi Kehinde’s Samuel LadokeAkintola:Abiography and postscript is a book which every home, every library, every school deserves to keep on their shelves. Those who desire to go into government and those already paddling canoes of states need to read about this consuming schism in the West. It is didactic and contains unheard of revelations aboutAkintola and how the late Premier was far from being what the press of the time said he was.

Told in very lucid prose with adequate supply of memorable dates in history to back it up, the fluid manner in which the story was written could be ascribed to the often-said pithy manner in which the subject of discourse,Akintola arrested his audience with his depth and ability to talk, while alive.

I recommend the dirge sang by the late Dadakuada exponent, OdolayeAremu, for the lateAkintola, whose cognomen wasAjalagbe, to you. He had sang, Mo ranti Ololufe mi o, Akintola Premier Western Region Iku o, tii je a dagbere fe’nikeji eni, ko to mon mu ni lo Mo ranti Olola ti sakeke, mo ranti olola ti fabaja…

An pe won o mon paa, won paa dandan, Won pa’gbe tan, aye a r’aro da mon o, Won si paluko tan, aye o kosun, Won wa pa lekeleke, aye o kero efun…

Translated, the musician said that the death of the greatAkintola significantly affected the Western Region. Even his enemies agreed that the Yoruba people lost a great administrator.

Having said all these, Femi Kehinde’s Samuel LadokeAkintola: Abiography and postscript could do with some more attention to its editing as it contains avoidable typos. However, this shortcoming is not able to whittle down this historical masterpiece from the stable of the master story-teller himself.

--Dr. Adedayo delivered this book review at the launch of a biography on the formerWestern Region Premier entitled SLA Akintola: In the Eyes of History, at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, on July 10, 2017, Akintola’s posthumous 107th birthday

66

T H I S D AY SUNDAY JULY 16, 2017

67

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JULY 16, 2017

CICERO

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

IN THE ARENA

The Horror of Floods The menace of flooding is a problem that vulnerable cities deal with every time it rains, especially with the changing climate. In Nigeria, however, the havoc done by heavy rains of last week in some parts of the country requires urgent actions. Olawale Olaleye writes

L

ast week’s flooding in some parts of the country wasn’t peculiar to Nigeria or its supposedly vulnerable cities.

Many cities around the world – from London to America, Peru, India and Pakistan amongst others – also had their frightening share of the ugly experience. For some, therefore, it was no more than a universal repercussion of global warming as a result of the changing climate.

But a review of the damage done by the unceasing downpour for nearly seven days threw up caution as a majority of the consequences were fallout of poor administrative procedures as against hiding behind the effect of climate change.

From the reports on the effects of the rain in Ikoyi and Lekki areas of Lagos, Suleja in Niger State and Ibadan in Oyo State, a lot of homes were not only submerged in the flood that rose exponentially, but also thrown into darkness.

There were also reports of deaths, at least, 11 people reportedly died in Suleja and other towns in Niger State put together.

As a result of the impact of the flood, residents of the swanky Victoria Island, Nigerians with a new flood experience Lekki and Ajah parts of Lagos were still through Bakin-Iku, Chanchania and Yaro College, submerged in flood as at Monday, hoping it Kantoma, Kuspa, Angwa Gwari, and Angwa Juma. would recede as quickly as possible. In fact, many Niger State Emergency Management Agency residents in the vulnerable part of the state were (NSEMA) Director-General Ibrahim Ahmed said warned to vacate the flood-prone areas, because two bodies were found and that search and rescue of the expected intense rains. operation officials were at the site to recover the It was to this end that the popular Ahmadu remaining bodies. He said the identities of the Bello Way was shut down with residents resorting victims were yet to be ascertained, but confirmed to the use of canoe to move around. The Lagos that 11 people had been declared dead between State Police Command announced the shutdown Saturday night and Sunday morning. of the Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island. A stateThe case of Ibadan was not different either, ment by ASP Olarinde Famous-Cole, Police Public except that no case of death was recorded as it was Relations Officer, Lagos State Police Command, in Lagos. However, properties worth millions of informed the public that Ahmadu Bello Way was naira were reportedly destroyed after five hours temporarily closed as a result of the flooding. of continuous rainfall. Many crop farms and fish Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment, ponds were said to have been swept away by the Babatunde Adejare, who inspected the affected flood. Mostly affected by the flood were Odo-Ona areas, however allayed fears of residents and said Kekere, Arapaja, Akala Way and Gbekuba. government had activated its emergency response Although it had been predicted that there system to react efficiently where necessary. He would be a major rise in sea level and increased was certain that the floods would recede after levels of precipitation both of which could lead to a period of time, but attributed the cause to the mass flooding, with an estimated average of over high tide of the lagoon slowing down the flow of 320mm of rain, the normal wettest month of June rainfall from drainage channels. had extended into July, thus throwing up devastatNiger State was terribly hit by the floods after ing rainfall. five hours of rainfall. Nine people died in ChechThe Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) eniya and one in Kuala, Suleja. Another person predicted early rainfall and early cessation in died in Ayin-Nassarrawa in Tara Local Governmany parts of Nigeria in its 2017 Seasonal Rainment Area of Niger State. Here, houses were fall Prediction (SRP). In a public presentation submerged, while properties worth many millions of the agency’s 2017, SRP, the Director-General, of naira were destroyed in Kaltuma and Angwan NiMet, Prof. Sani Machi, disclosed that “Extended in Suleja. The worst-hit areas were Kaduna Road

rains of three to eight days are predicted for areas in and around Adamawa, Ogun, Edo, Niger Delta and low-lying areas such as Lagos.”

Importantly, however, is the fact that the damage done by this year’s rainfall may have been made possible by the dispositions of people and the government. These include poor building regulations, poor and in some cases, no drainages during construction, illegal dumping of refuse in non-designated places, haphazard dropping of plastics and nylons in gutters and drainages, causing blockages, the sand-filling of the ocean and Lagoon without proper impact assessment, in most cases.

This much was confirmed by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in Ibadan, when it blamed the flooding on the failure to obey town planning rules and consequently recommended demolition of structures built on waterways to prevent incessant flooding and loss of lives.

The price yearly paid for flooding in the country is too much to overlook some of the causes, especially those that can be identified as lack of enforcement of rules and regulations by the government. This is therefore a challenge to government, that it must take very seriously, the human causes of flooding and complement this with the issue of climate change through intensified campaigns for better understanding of the import of climate change.

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

Ending Presidency, N’Assembly Feud

T

Osinbajo (right) and Saraki

he complex rivalry between the executive and legislature has gone on for too long and indeed, becoming a child’s play taken rather too far. Neither of the two arms of government needs to be told that the lingering disagreement between the both of them is unhealthy for the nation at this time especially, and should be halted forthwith.

Wait a minute, what is the crisis about? About powers of appropriation and oversight? Aren’t both arms part of the same government? What

is difficult in understanding their respective roles as defined by the constitution and extant rules and playing according to rules?

If the executive and the legislature are unable to partner on simple issues of budget and confirmation of nominees without flexing muscles or calling each other out, how can they cooperate on matters of governance and development in the overall interest of the citizenry? It is time to cut the crap and move the nation forward. Two years without significant achievements is enough to trigger productive reflection on all sides.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JULY 16, 2017

68

BRIEFINGNOTES Does Osun Signal the Resurgence of PDP? The outcome of the bye-election in Osun West senatorial district, Osun State penultimate Saturday wasn’t just the result of a contest between the All Progressive Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party, but the manifestation of a discreet power tussle within the ranks of the ruling party APC. Olawale Olaleye writes

M

any surprises were thrown up by the defeat of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at the recent senatorial byeelection in Osun West, Osun State, penultimate Saturday. But one particular surprise trumped the legion others.

The real surprise was not that the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Ademola Adeleke, who could have been the ‘baby of the APC’ eventually won the election, it was the fact that the leadership of the APC and its emotional followers didn’t see their loss coming. Everything – from every angle of the various analyses pointed to a PDP victory and so it was.

Apart from having grown to be arrogant since coming to power, the Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, has also failed in the area of rudimentary governance, evidently since he secured his re-election in 2014. The fervor that typified his rise to power in his first coming in 2010 had waned.

The ship of state had become almost rudderless; reality check was a distance away from the seat of power and gradually, like one whose fall was being prepared by the gods, Aregbesola lost touch with the very people through whom he gained prominence in the first place.

With the benefit of hindsight, Aregbesola’s re-election was in reality a miscalculation.

Had he left office, leaving behind the mess he spent his first four years creating, the stench of his palpable ineptitude would have been blown away with time and by now the focus would have been on his successor. The truth is that Aregbesola went into his second term election very broke. But with financial help from different sources and aided by the propaganda machine of the change movement, which was made possible by President Muhammadu Buhari’s larger than life image, he managed to waltz through.

But it was not going to take long before these inadequacies started to manifest. Even longer than it happened in his first coming, it would take Aregbesola about two years before constituting his cabinet in the name of cost-saving without a commensurate effect on the people he claimed to be serving. He was the sole administrator for two years and single-handedly ran the affairs of state with a practically non-existent legislature. A visit to Osun during this period was disturbing.

Poverty could be seen literally lurking around people’s abodes. Not even the bailout could change this misfortune of the Osun people. Instead, allegations of fund diversion became the newspeak, even though it has not been proved against the government.

And regardless of the degenerating gover-

Adeleke, Senator representing Osun West

nance in the state with practically everything on hold, the Aregbesola leadership did not cease to be arrogant in its disposition. His ownership complex grew instead. The feeling that he could do everything and get away with it would not let him read the equation accurately. The arrogance of power exhibited by him knew no bounds. His claim to stand astride in both Osun and Lagos and do as he chooses sums it up. But he was oblivious of the fact that time changes and that people’s patience was inelastic.

Thus, coming from APC’s avertible miscalculation in Ondo, which was also borne out of the party’s sheer arrogance of always calling it quit where and when it could not

have its way, it was simple arithmetic that the Osun bye-election should have been approached more cautiously, especially given the run of emotion that trailed the passing of the former occupant of the office, Senator Isiaka Adeleke.

Not only were unfounded allegations leveled against his government following the sudden death of Senator Adeleke, who was later discovered to have died of painkiller overdose after a postmortem was conducted on him, a female commissioner-designate, Ms Idiat Babalola, was mobbed and almost stripped naked, save for the timely intervention of the Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, who rescued her., during Adeleke’s

burial.

Sadly, all these happened at a time civil servants and pensioners were crying about unpaid salaries and allowances, typified by constant protest and agitation. With scenarios such as this, it could be taken for granted that any smart politician would have taken his time in approaching an election that was crucial to a major one which is just months away. But the distance between the Aregbesola leadership and reality, occasioned by his sheer arrogance left out the application of this emotional intelligence in being able to tell crystal clearly what to do and what not to do at such a delicate time.

Unfortunately, from the results of the election, the governor and his team need a lot of introspective thinking, moving forward.

With just a local government – Ejigbo – recorded against the name of their party and candidate, Senator Mudashir Hussein, even though it was keenly contested by the PDP and its candidate, Adeleke, when compared to the voting pattern in Ede 1 and 2, control is fast slipping off the grip of the APC and Aregbesola in the state.

Most instructively is the fact that the election was more of a contest within the APC than one between the party and the opposition PDP. Clearly, the same side that won the Ondo election was the side that defeated the Osun governor in the bye-election. Certainly not the PDP and it is curious. The seed to this ugly denouement was sown during the intrigues that characterised the primary, which compelled the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC to get the election committee to clear Hussein.

But what this could mean is that there is an internal revolution against a section of the APC leadership and the winning wing of this power subtle appears to have an upper hand, not because it is better positioned but because it realised early enough that the Darwinian approach to politics is fast losing its relevance and that popularity and goodwill lie with the people, ultimately.

Although there are speculations that the losing camp of the APC power tussle is considering a defection to the Alliance for Democracy (AD), a platform it tried during the Ondo election and lost and which it almost tried again during this bye-election as Hussein was said to have been prepared to defect the Monday he was eventually cleared to contest the primary, nothing points to the fact that the idea would turn out a good option.

However, lest they learn from this particular experience – the second in a row – even more debilitating embarrassment awaits them. Then, there may not be another opportunity to redeem this growing demystification. The game is on!

NOTES FOR FILE

Thumbs Up to the Nigerian Police The Inspector-general of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, last week, sacked four policemen attached to the Ijebu-Ode area command in Ogun State for extortion. The affected officers are Mufutau Olaosun, Adebayo Temitope, Bakare Taiwo and Adesoye Ayokunlehin. They were found guilty of extorting N50,000 from a man arrested on trumped up charges.

A statement by the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mr. Abayomi Sogunle, who heads the police public complaints rapid response unit, said the men were dismissed after they were found guilty in an

orderly room trial at the area command headquarters, Ijebu-Ode. They were charged with discreditable conduct and corrupt practice under the first schedule of police act and regulations Cap. P19 laws of the federation of Nigeria 2004.

Shogunle said the money had since been recovered from the four dismissed officers and given back to the man exploited. Unlike the rabid celebration that greeted the arrest of Mr. Chukwudi Onuamadike alias Evans, a development such as this provides a good ground to launder the battered image of the Nigeria police. Indeed, the news is a breather!

The highhandedness of a majority of policemen, whether at the stations, police posts, checkpoints or during patrol is the last experience anyone, who comes across any of the badly behaved ones wants to take home.

But while the attitudinal disposition of a few of the men of the police force cannot be taken in isolation of the corruption that pervades the entire formation, identified cases of good leadership like this one have positive impacts on the image of the force and it is expected that more genuine and conscious approaches such as this are embraced frequently in the overall interest and image of the police force.

Police IG, Ibrahim Idris

69

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JULY 16, 2017

CICERO/REPORT

For Makarfi Leadership, a Lifeline Last Wednesday’s Supreme Court judgment recognising the Ahmed Makarfi leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party provides a second chance for the party to play a key role in the polity.

Onyebuchi Ezigbo reports

L

ast Wednesday’s affirmation of the National Caretaker Committee headed by Senator Ahmed Makarfi as the authentic leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by the Supreme Court has no doubt brought back to life, the crisis-torn party. With that judgment, PDP is in a better place to take up its position as the main opposition party in the country. Members of the party will now have a leadership to rally around and galvanise efforts towards challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2019 general election.

The APC-led administration had in the last two years operated virtually without a major opposition party tracking its activities, except for occasional criticisms from a factionalised PDP, which were mostly feeble and lacking in depth and necessary follow-up. The situation has also affected governance as the ruling party could not get a virile opposition to give it the necessary push and to put it on its toes any time it slacks.

It is for this reason that many have welcomed the Supreme Court ruling of last Wednesday, which has restored normalcy to the leadership of the PDP. The implication is that a more united PDP would now change all that and will most likely constitute a major threat to the APC ahead of the 2019 general election.

If in the last two years, a factionalised PDP was able to exert influence in the legislature and was able to literally dictate terms during the formation of the leadership of the National Assembly, and if without a recognised party leadership, the governors of the PDP and its legislative caucus still mustered enough unity and cohesion to tackle APC, it could then be imagined what would happen now that the PDP will be operating under one national leadership courtesy of the Supreme Court judgment.

Political calculations for the 2019 general elections will definitely change and politicians will have to adjust their plans. This includes those who defected to the ruling party and others contemplating such moves may have to reconsider their stand now that a new window has opened for the PDP to try and get its acts together once again. Definitely, the coming back of the PDP will trigger off a lot of political activities in the coming days.

Thus, one of the immediate pre-occupation of the restored Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee would be to embark on full reconciliation of its aggrieved members nationwide. It would also be focusing on how to actualise its mandate to organise a credible national convention for the party before their tenure elapses in August. Similarly, before it got immersed in the bitter leadership tussle, the PDP had endorsed some reforms as recommended by the postelection committee headed by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekwerenmadu.

Perhaps, the party might be taking another look at some of the issues contained in that report as part of measures to rebrand its image and to do away with the mistakes of the past.

Under the prevailing political climate, a resurgent PDP has no choice than to adapt to new ways of doing things. The days of impunity in the affairs of the party has gone, perhaps, as Makarfi and other leaders of the party have always echoed.

Henceforth, it may not be business as usual for politicians from both sides of the divide, the PDP and APC as well as any other party, as any mistake could be very costly. An example could be drawn from what happened in the last senatorial bye-election in Osun State, where the APC had issues with its selection process for its candidate in the election and paid dearly for it.

This would serve as a lesson to other parties.

The Challenging Path to Reconciliation The first major pre-occupation of the PDP national leadership is definitely going to be that of reconciliation of aggrieved party stakeholders.

How to go about it will be a major challenge for the Makarfi committee especially, bearing in mind that several peace efforts failed in the past

Makarfi...an opportunity to begin again

to achieve the desired result. Makarfi and other party leaders will have to first decide what to do with the various reports of the peace panels established in the recent past.

One of such peace panels was the one headed by the Governor of Bayelsa State, Hon. Seriake Dickson. Another of such efforts was the committee headed by the former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana, whose membership was more than 100 and was drawn from virtually all the organs of the party. Apart from considering reports of previous peace efforts, the party has to find ways of reconciling issues with the former national chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and those who stood by him in the leadership tussle.

The task of reconciliation in the PDP becomes very challenging and delicate, when one realises that the division and disaffection within the party have gone very deep even to the state chapters. Most of the states, especially those without the PDP government in place, have had their structures factionalised just as it happened at the national level. Even in some of the states presently under PDP’s control, the leadership of the party has also been factionalised with some having issues to settle in courts. It may require a holistic approach, where the leaders come together and adopt a workable template for restoration of peace in the state chapters which will be acceptable to most stakeholders.

Another issue will be how to deal with some of the commitments and actions already taken by the former chairman during the leadership crisis.

For instance the party’s candidates list already submitted to electoral bodies by the sacked Sheriff leadership, especially those for local council elections in Lagos State. Reconciliation is therefore very crucial if PDP is to live its dream of coming back to relevance and to possibly retake power in 2019.

Reactions First to respond to the Supreme Court judgment last Wednesday was Makarfi, who immediately offered an olive branch to all aggrieved party members, declaring that there was “no victor, no vanquished”. He said efforts

would be made to enthrone a true and genuine reconciliation that would be based on fairness, justice and legality.

“I am happy that the Supreme Court has brought this protracted leadership tussle to an end today. There is no victor and there is no vanquished, but a collective victory for our party and the nation’s democracy. No democracy can prosper in the absence of a virile opposition or under the extreme hardship Nigerians have faced over the past two years. Citizens deserve a viable alternative.”

Makarfi led a team of party leaders including Professor Jerry Gana, Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose; former Jigawa governor, Sule Lamido; former Anambra Governor, Peter Obi; Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and many others from the Supreme Court premises straight to the Wadata Secretariat, where they met with other stakeholders of the party, already waiting for them.

The former Kaduna State governor, who is saddled with the responsibility of bringing the party back to life, again, spoke about his plans.

“We are open to reconciliation. But for us, reconciliation does not mean we will take what belongs to Mr. A and give it to Mr. B. We will do reconciliation based on equity, equality and value.

You cannot get what you didn’t earn.”

Speaking to a crowd of supporters, which gathered at the national secretariat of the PDP, Makarfi said the reconciliation would not mean denying people positions that are legally theirs, adding that he and his committee would be meeting with stakeholders in the days ahead to chat the way forward.

“The battle we fought was not a battle for PDP alone. It was a battle for democracy; it was a battle for supremacy of party men and women to decide their destiny. And it’s a battle to do away with dictatorship in political parties and this will never repeat itself”.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan, while reacting to the Supreme Court judgment echoed the position of the Makarfi-led NCC, saying it is “no victor and no vanquished policy”. Writing on his Facebook page, the former president said “I

thank God for this day of Justice and may God bless Nigeria. While urging truce and forgiveness for those that may have taken disagreeable positions, Jonathan said the PDP that gave Nigeria the largest economy in Africa is a party whose heart is large enough to find a place for all Nigerians.

“Today’s verdict is a judgment, where there are no winners or losers. It is a verdict that will bring our party together. We should all thank the Supreme Court of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I believe in our jurists. We may have issues with some individuals but the Nigerian judiciary deserves our respect and commendation. They have served this country well.

“The PDP is an inclusive vehicle not an exclusive one. We see Nigerians as human beings deserving of the rule of law, separation of powers and a free market economy that provides a level playing ground for all. As a senior member of the party, I hereby call on all those, who left the party because of its leadership issues to return to their natural home and build the PDP”.

On his part, Ekweremadu said the Supreme Court judgment ushered in a new dawn of peace, reconciliation, and recovery for the party, saying “It is heartwarming that calm is returning after the storm. I salute millions of our party faithful and Nigerians, who stood firm to weather the storm for their courage and loyalty, and sincerely appeal to those, who left for one reason or the other to return to our big political family.

“Importantly, I call on our party leadership and elders to immediately initiate an all-inclusive peace, reconciliation, and rebuilding process to reunite everybody under the big umbrella and reinvigorate the biggest party in Africa to bounce back to the rescue of the suffering masses of Nigeria come 2019”.

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike said the judgment of the Supreme Court was a victory for democracy as the nation will now have a viable opposition. Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday, Wike said: “This judgment shows that there will be opposition in Nigeria. I am very happy. Rivers people are very happy, because we have no other party aside the PDP” Former ministers, on their part, described the judgment as “one of the most celebrated cases of our time” adding that it was in tandem with the wishes of party members. Addressing newsmen after their meeting in Abuja, the chairman of the ministers’ forum, a former minister for special duties, Tanimu Kabir Turaki, thanked the Supreme Court over the judgment and said it had established itself as being able to rise to any challenge in critical times.

“The judgment is hope for democracy. The opposition will continue to survive. Without opposition, government won’t be able to sit up and do the work that is expected of them. We urge the committee to make necessary arrangement to consolidate the gains. Bring all members back to the fold. In our last press briefing, we said no matter the outcome of the judgment, there is no winner or loser. This temporary setback should not be seen as excuse to allow the unnecessary gap to continue.”

On what advice they would give to Sheriff, the ministers’ forum said, “For Sheriff, who is my brother and friend, I know he is a democrat. I remember that on more than one occasion, I have heard him say he will abide with the decision of the court. I will encourage him to do that and to talk to his members to come back home.

Judgment has been given and it has settled all the issues. The committee has a mandate they are working on which is to oversee credible convention”.

However, the man in the thick of the crisis, Sheriff, was not available for comments and when contacted, his Deputy, Cairo Ojougboh, said he had no comment to make yet until they meet to review the development.

As it is, the PDP already has its life back, with a rare opportunity to play a major role in the polity that is in dire straits. How the party makes use of this golden opportunity is up to it and certainly, would go a long way to determine whether or not it truly desires to return to power in 2019.

70

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JULY 16, 2017

CICERO/REPORT

The Curious Raids on Sambo’s Residence The repeated raids carried out on the Kaduna residence of former Vice-President, Namadi Sambo, a few weeks ago by operatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission have continued to elicit reactions, writes John Shiklam

I

n spite of his alleged romance with the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration, former Vice-President Namadi Sambo seems to be on the radar of the anti-corruption agencies, especially, the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). Just recently, the anti-corruption agency invaded one of his Kaduna residences located on Alimi Road, where they embarked on a thorough search of the house.

According to Sambo’s spokesman, Mallam Umar Sani, it was the fifth time the house was being searched in six months by the ICPC. Days after the latest search, which occurred about two weeks ago, Sambo had raised the alarm over the persistent invasion of his house, maintaining that the frequent raid could be a plot to plant something incriminating against him.

Operatives of the commission had on Wednesday, June 28, 2017, stormed the house which is more like a guest house of the former Vice President and searched the place for two hours. The operatives were accompanied by heavily armed security personnel from the Department of State Security Services (DSS) and the Special Anti-robbery Response Squad (SARS), who blocked all roads leading to the area and prevented other residents along the street from accessing their homes during the period the search lasted.

They were said to have arrived the house with a court order, authorising the search.

A copy of the court order was said to have been handed over to the Chief Security Officer (CSO) at the residence, who allowed them in. But after two hours of search and alleged destruction of fittings and other valuables in the house, the operatives were said to have confirmed that nothing incriminating was found at the residence.

They further attested to this by signing at the back page of the copy of the court order that was given to the CSO. Sani, had while reacting to the incident, told THISDAY that the invasion of his boss’ house was not news as it has been the practice by the commission in the past six months.

Sambo however maintained that in spite of the persistent invasion of his home by the anti-corruption agency, nothing incriminating was found against him, adding that the invasion was more of a plot to plant something incriminating in the house and have a reason to bring him in.

“At the end of the whole exercise, the officers, who carried out the search were satisfied that nothing incriminating was found. As a law-abiding citizen, the former Vice-President did not raise any alarm in the previous invasions in view of the fact that he has nothing to hide.

“The recent desperation exhibited by some security agencies in carrying out a raid on an unoccupied residence blocking all entry and exit points, in a commando-style and coming along with a bullion van speaks volume of the clandestine intention of the security operatives.

“It is therefore worrisome to note that the consistency with which the searches occurred and the intervals between them portray a desire of a fault-finding mission. We are apprehensive that a repeat of such episode will not be surprising if an incriminating object is planted in his residence in order to willfully and deliberately incriminate him.

“It is against this background that we wish to draw the attention of the unsuspecting members of the public to this phenomenon.

The desperation of some of the security agencies is glaring by the number of times such searches were conducted and still counting. We hope it is not a way to try to give a dog a bad name in order to hang it”, the statement said.

Namadi...says raid is a ploy to go after him

Since he left office in 2015, Sambo’s Abuja home and office had been searched by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for incriminating files and documents. While serving as Vice-President, he was the Vice Chairman of the National Privatisation Council (NPC) and supervised the sale of strategic and critical national assets, especially within the power and rail transport sectors.

The Buhari administration is said to have been suspicious about the manner some of the contracts were awarded and many top officials of the Jonathan administration were being investigated for alleged corrupt practices. Observers are therefore of the view that the raids on Sambo’s home may have been informed by the role he played in the sale of some of the national assets.

But many Nigerians have criticised the manner in which the Buhari government is going about the fight against corruption, especially among some members of the opposition PDP. Mixed reactions immediately trailed the invasion of Sambo’s residence with many saying it had political undertone while some argued that Sambo had no political clout that could warrant being targeted.

Danjuma Sarki, the Kaduna State Youth Leader of the PDP told THISDAY that the frequent raids on Sambo’s house, like several others, are politically motivated. He alleged that the government was using the anti-corruption agencies to intimidate and weaken the opposition.

“I can say very clearly without an iota of doubt that the incessant raid on the former Vice President’s residence is nothing but a political weapon of vendetta aimed at silencing him. Not only him, but the members of the opposition in the country are being unnecessarily harassed because of the belief that as a former vice president, there is no way he would not have some

corruption tied to him. They have been doing that many times without finding something against him, but they continued to do that in order to malign him and the PDP,” Sarki said in a telephone interview with THISDAY. According to him, the Buhari administration and the APC have failed woefully and the anti-corruption agencies have become a tool in the hands of the government to use against the opposition.

“Our fear is that as we approach 2019, they may attempt to give a dog a bad name in order to hang it. They are intimating people. If they invite you for any questioning, they know Nigerians are very gullible and they can crucify you at the slightest allegations made against you without any evidence or proof. I think this is a very sad situation in our country.

“The anti-corruption agencies do their work very poorly without thorough investigation and they keep embarrassing people. They should be honourable enough to tender an apology to people that they did not find anything incriminating against them after arresting them or raiding their homes,” he said.

The PDP youth leader stressed that “despite Sambo’s romance with some of the APC chieftains, I want him to know that they cannot protect his interest. They are looking for ways to tarnish his image and reputation.

“If he will heed my advice, I will suggest that he should come out and play his role as an opposition leader so that we can rescue this country. Nigerians are looking up to people like him to find a direction for this country. He should not allow himself to be intimidated. He should speak out like other leaders,” Sarki added.

But the President of the Arewa Defence League and the spokesman of a faction of the Kaduna faction of the APC, popularly

known as APC-Akida, Murtala Abubakar dismissed insinuation that the raid was politically motivated, because according to him, the former vice-president has no political value and therefore, it was wrong to make such insinuations.

“There is no politics behind what happened. Nobody should insinuate political motive to the search on the former vice-president’s residence, because Namadi Sambo has no political relevant. Even in Kaduna State, he has no political influence. When he served as a sitting vice-president, he could not influence anything in his home state. Is it now that he is not holding any position and he does not interact with anybody?

He just locks himself at home like a prisoner; everybody knows that he has no political value,” Abubakar said.

He, however, condemned the activities of the anti-corruption agencies, noting that their fight against corruption lacks strategy and mechanism for intelligence gathering, stressing that because of their ineffectiveness, they ended up embarrassing people.

“Personally, I am not happy with the way they anti-corruption agencies are going about this so-called fight against corruption.

The fight lacks strategy; it lacks tact and mechanism for intelligence gathering. That is why they always embark on fire brigade way of doing things and at the end the day, it backfires and there is nothing to show for it.

“This happened in the case of Senator Goje and the judges, whose homes were raided by the EFCC among several others. At the end of the day, they were acquitted by the courts. So, you can see that essentially what the anti-corruption agencies do is just to traumatise and portray people in bad light.

“They should be able to get concrete leads or water tight evidence before raiding homes or offices of individuals. Their actions appeared to be based on speculation and they go about raiding to get evidence, which in most cases they don’t find. To me, it is true that the past administration did so bad in terms of looting the treasury, but you must have evidence before you bring them to book,” he said.

Abubakar also dismissed insinuations that Sambo was romancing the APC and maintained that his interaction with some APC personalities does not mean that he was romancing the party.

Sambo’s appearances at the birthday celebrations of the APC leader, Bola Tinubu, and his presence (on the invitation of Governor Nasir El-Rufai) at the recent commissioning of the Zaria Water Project had fueled speculations that he was planning to dump PDP for APC. During the ceremony, Sambo had blamed the PDP administrations that succeeded him as governor of Kaduna State, including his estranged political godson, for abandoning the water project. Since he left office, Sambo seemed to be sliding into political oblivion.

Sources believe he has remained aloof in the PDP in Kaduna State.

“When he came back from medical treatment abroad and we went to greet him in his Abuja home, he told us that he needed some rest and will not want to be involved in politics. Being a former Vice President, he is supposed to be one of our top ranking leaders in the PDP not only in Kaduna but the entire north, but he doesn’t have that clout.

“He doesn’t command any followership.

That is why you hardly see anyone coming out to condemn what the government is doing to him,” a prominent member of the PDP in Kaduna State, who pleaded anonymity told THISDAY. Effort to get Sani’s reaction on the issues was unsuccessful as he never called back as he promised when our correspondent contacted him on phone.

71

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JULY 16, 2017

CICERO/ONTHEWATCH

South-east and South-south governors at the meting in Enugu

As South-east, South-south Governors Unite for Inter-regional Integration...

Governors of the South-east and the South-south zones met last Sunday in Enugu with a resolve to strengthen inter-regional cooperation and integration. The meeting which was the first of its type clearly signposts positive things to come, writes Christopher Isiguzo

L

ast Sunday’s meeting of the South-east and South-south Governors in Enugu State during, which the governors expressed their commitment to inter-regional cooperation and integration has been welcomed as a good development and a huge sign of positive things to come as the 2019 general election draws near. The meeting came on the heels of a similar one by political leaders from the South-east in Enugu a week earlier.

Apart from the Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, and his Edo State counterpart, Godwin Obaseki, who were absent, as well as Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State, who was represented by his Deputy, Dr. Nkem Okeke, the remaining eight governors, four from South-south and four from South-east graced the maiden meeting.

The governors present include Chief Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Rochas Okorocha of Imo State. Others were Emmanuel Udom (Akwa Ibom), Ben Ayade (Cross River), Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa) and Nyesom Wike (Rivers).

The two meetings have also been seen from different quarters as having serious political undertone especially when viewed from the point that the two major outings came at a time some separatists groups including the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Movement for the Actualisation of a Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) have intensified their agitation for the creation of a Biafran Republic and by so doing, causing serious tensions in the polity.

The proposed Biafra Republic, according to its promoters, would involve states from the South-east and South-south zones, hence the significance of the Enugu parley. The agitation had assumed a new dimension when on May 30, the IPOB and MASSOB ordered one of the most complied sit-at-home in the South-east and some South-south states, thus taking the Biafran consciousness to an all-time high.

In response to these developments, some Northern youths, under the auspices of Arewa Youths, on June 6, issued a quit notice for

Ndigbo living in the Northern parts of the country to vacate the region before October, 2017.

That eviction notice would eventually result in various groups holding meetings, to possibly come up with the most appropriate response to the rising tension in the land. Some major issues including the need to restructure the country, the unity of the country among others had featured prominently.

The South-east and South-south governors Forum meeting in Enugu was therefore one of such regional meetings which came with high expectations of possibly reviving the age-long brotherly bonds, political and economic integration and cultural relationships devoid of mutual suspicions among others.

Briefing newsmen at the end of the three-hour meeting, which took place at the Nike Lake Hotels, Governor Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom State said the governors resolved to pursue inter-regional cooperation and integration for the economic benefits of two zones.

According to him, they also agreed to politically work together and realign the people to achieve common heritage, culture and affinities.

The governor also disclosed that the meeting unanimously elected him as the new chairman of the forum, adding that the next meeting of the Governors’ Forum would take place in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on August 27, 2017.

THISDAY checks however gathered that the meeting could not reach an understanding on such critical issues as restructuring, Biafra agitation and unity of Nigeria. A source at the meeting told THISDAY that when the governors could not agree on some of the major issues, they resolved to move the meeting to Rivers State next month.

Earlier, during the brief opening ceremony, the host governor had set the stage for a robust discussion when he said the people of both regions are one people joined by history, culture, values, geography, brotherhood, friendship and more recently, common challenges.

“What God has joined together, not even the Niger or delineation for administrative convenience will put asunder. We are essentially one.

We are brothers joined by the same geography,

one brotherhood and one friendship.

“We also have common challenges. We believe that this meeting will fundamentally help us to understand ourselves better, rekindle the spirit of brotherhood, strengthen ties and cooperation with common vision and set agenda for economic and political development of our regions.

According to Ugwuanyi, they would also deliberate on the welfare and security of the two regions, bearing in mind that criminals crisscross the regions in carrying out their nefarious activities.

Citing the deplorable state of federal roads in the two zones, such as East-West road in the South-south and Enugu-Onitsha and Enugu Port Harcourt expressways in the South-East, Ugwuanyi regretted that the two zones still suffer infrastructure decay.

He equally noted with regrets that there were no connecting flights between the two regions, a development that has hampered the socio-economic integration and the development of the two regions.

Ugwuanyi recalled that the South-east governors and Igbo political leaders at a meeting about a week ago, declared support for a united Nigeria, where peace, love, fairness, justice, equity and equality of opportunity are paramount regardless of creed, ethnicity, gender or political affiliation, adding that the meeting condemned all hate speeches and conduct emanating from any section of the country.

He said the Igbo political leaders lent their full support to the restructuring of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the basis of fairness and equity and called on the federal government and all Nigerian leaders to commence a process of dialogue among Nigerians on the modalities of achieving this pressing question within a reasonable time.

He also appealed to the governors to lend their support to the proposed South East Development Commission (SEDC) presently before the National Assembly, noting that like the NDDC, it would foster rapid development in the south east. He therefore called on South-south governors to support South-east’s call for the restructuring of the country to ensure

equity, justice and equality.

He also called for their support to persuade the federal government to include the South-east in the loan obtained from China Exim Bank for the development of eastern corridor, which he said stretches from South-east, South-south, North Central and North East.

Ebonyi Governor and Chairman of South-east Governors’ Forum, Umahi, on his part said, they were meeting for the first time as governors of South-south and South-east to brainstorm on various but salient issues affecting the two zones.

“We are meeting as brothers to talk about regional integration and find lasting solution to intermittent outbreak of inter-state clashes arising from boundary disputes among the two regions.

“We are also talking about economic survival of the two regions and look at possible ways of bringing our ingenuity and making use of our huge deposit of both human and natural resources to attain economically viable zones in Nigeria.

“There is also need to discuss security, peace and unity of the two regions and find lasting solution to various salient issues that affect our unity in Nigeria.

“It is a meeting borne out of love and desire to find cohesion among the two regions and I am happy that my brother governors responded to the call even at the shortest notice given to them,” he said.

He stressed that issues to be discussed by the two zones were not limited to the zones but also things pertaining to regional and national interest.

It is however expected that the coming together of the two zones would go a long way in strengthening brotherly ties and end the cold war that had existed between them since after the civil war.

By the time the two zones unite strongly with their eleven states and possibly bring the South-west along, with the middle belt likely to show interest, they would have formed a strong political bloc that would effectively checkmate their counterparts from North East and North West, some political observers had viewed. But how far all these will go is firmly left in the hands of time.

72

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JULY 16, 2017

CICERO/INTERVIEW

Clark...devolution of power is the way to go

Clark: Nigeria’s Unity is Being Taken for Granted To different people, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark means different things. But to friends and foes alike, the elder statesman and leader of the Ijaw nation is an enigma. What is even the more curious about this Ijaw son is how at 90, he still combines the wisdom of his age with the vibrancy of the youth to culture the challenges that come with old age. Articulate, cerebral and innately fearless, Clark has been involved in the affairs of Nigeria from the onset.

He has the history of the country at the back of his palms and recalls with ease, presence of mind and amazing accuracy, past occurrences in the polity. At 90, Clark remains very relevant and his views are still much sought after on national issues. In this interview at his Asokoro, Abuja residence, Clark bares his mind to Funke Olaode on the state of the nation, the Niger Delta, and the restructuring debate, amongst other issues. Excerpts:

A

s you celebrate your 90th birthday, what are your reflections on the state of the nation with respect to the many agitations going on at the moment?

Agitations, restructuring are not new to this country. My return from London as a qualified lawyer coincided with the first coup. And prior to that, we were at Igbosere on Lagos Island attending the Law School and I remember some of those who were involved in the coup were very close to me. The likes of Jide Alo, a civil servant and diplomat in Accra, Ghana, used to visit me and we would talk about what was going on in other parts of the world. When the coup took place in 1966, I was in Delta, practicing law and after the counter-coup a conference was constituted through elections. The delegates were elected from the Ward and I won and was a member of that Constituent Assembly in Benin.

What did we discuss? There were four papers: One was in white which says do you want the Unitary form of government. Another one in yellow asks whether we want a confederation. The third paper in blue says do we want a Federation while the last paper asks whether we want a breakup of the country. That was 50 years ago. We argued and sat down in Benin City to debate the future of Nigeria.

The late Anthony Enahoro, who was one of the youngest parliamentarians then, had just been released from prison and he became our leader.

The conference at the national level was conveyed to debate these papers. We had three delegates from mid-west in the person of Ehahoro, Chief Onyia, who represented the Igbo speaking side. We went to Lagos to debate the proposed four papers mentioned earlier. The tendency, particularly the West and even the North, was that the country should break. But our team led by Enahoro (though I was one of the advisers) said we wanted one Nigeria that we should remain together. Let us have a federal system of government.

Colonel Ejoor was the Military Governor of Mid-Western state.

After the death of Adekunle Fajuyi, the late Major General Adeyinka Adebayo became the governor of Western Region.

Ojukwu was first the governor of Eastern Region before the war broke out. What was the war about? It was an agitation for the Biafran Republic. As said earlier, the agitation going on is not new. After the invasion of Biafra led by Ojukwu into the Mid-west, one Okwonkwo was later appointed as Military administrator by Ojukwu and the Mid-west was renamed the Republic of Benin. We all knew the massacres that happened in those days.

My take is that people should learn a lesson, because we have gone through this before and so many people died.

And the clamour for restructuring going on, I think people are misunderstanding what is called ‘restructure’ because there has always been restructuring in this country. Even the military carried out restructuring: creation of more states is a restructuring, creating more local governments is a restructuring, adopting one type of government is a restructuring.

What people are saying today is that Nigeria is a federation.

After the Richard Constitution in 1946, Nigerians kicked against it. Then Macpherson came in 1950, where decision was taken to adopt a Federal system of government considering the fact that Nigeria was made up of three regions: The West, East and Northern Regions. In 1960, we had independence, which had all these constitutions. What we are saying now is that let us go back to the 1960/63 constitutions, which stated the devolution of power and physical federalism. If in the past, western Nigeria was selling cocoa at high price and was able to introduce free primary education, able to establish the first television in Africa, built roads, Cocoa House, industrial estates in Ikeja and Apapa, Liberty Stadium, University of Ife. In the Northern Region, Ahmadu Bello was able to do the same thing in the North. Azikwe was able to do a little with

73

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R Ëž JULY 16, 2017

CICERO/REPORT t A$-"3, /*(&3*" 4 6/*5: *4 #&*/( 5",&/ '03 (3"/5&% t Continued on Pg.72 building of University of Nigeria, Nsukka. It was only University of Ibadan and University of Lagos that were established by the federal government. The lesson is that, that era of self-governance at each region put all the three regions on their toes to be the best, and two, that each region should develop at its own pace. That is why Western Nigeria got self-governance in 1959.

The point is that there should be (fiscal) federalism, that is, half of what you produce in your area should be used to develop your area; 20 per cent should go to the federal government and the remaining should be divided among the three. Again, in 1963, there was Republican Constitution and it didn’t change. And the Mid-west was created. I remember the West refused to share the assets and liabilities on the ground that they (Mid-west) did not contribute to the economy of the old Western Region. I was the Commissioner of Finance at that time. Today, Oodua Group of Company is one of the largest in the country and is being enjoyed by the six Yoruba-speaking states.

You mentioned that going back to the 1963 constitution is the only solution to the current agitations. But some Nigerians have argued that the country is indivisible. Again, experience has also shown this is an illusion because injustice has caused countries and unions to be dissolved. Don’t you think the unity of Nigeria is being taken for granted?

Yes, it is being taken for granted. Before, we used to say that the unity of this country is not negotiable. I can’t stay in a country, where I am a second class citizen. You can imagine a situation where every position exclusive of the areas that produce the resources of this country is being occupied by some people. This cannot work. We must sit down and dialogue. This agitation didn’t start now. It has been on since Jonathan was there, when Obasanjo was there. We wanted a National Conference.

Alao Aka Bashorun of blessed memory and others were agitating for Sovereign National Conference (SNC). It is when you have SNC that the decision is final like they had in the Republic of Benin, when they took a decision and the president had to leave office. But that has been the fear of various governments though. We agreed that we should have a National Conference, which we had in 2005 under the administration of Obasanjo. And because he Obasanjo wanted a third term and was not achieved, he threw away the reports and recommendations.

In 2014, Jonathan set up another National Conference, where 492 Nigerians of various ethnic groups converged on Abuja. We arrived at 600 recommendations and resolutions. Some of them to be included in the constitution while others were to be implemented such as having two accountant-Generals: One for the federation and the second for the federal government.

There are so many things to be done but Buhari’s administration has aggravated the situation whereby all appointments are from one area.

For instance, NNPC with its headquarters in Abuja has nothing to do in Abuja here.

That NNPC should have been in places like Port Harcourt, Warri or so because it deals with oil exploration and industry. Today, NNPC has a board of nine directors as members in which six members of the nine came from the North and only one from the Niger Delta. If there had been a groundnut

oil board and you appoint five members from the south, you know what will happen.

We have to sit down and talk about where to go from here.

What is your assessment of President Buhari’s approach to the Niger Delta agitations?

Well, we have no problem with that now, because when they started in 2015, I think the immediate reactions they had was that we were being misrepresented. We were former president Jonathan’s people and that certain steps should be taken. You know our boys were being arrested, account of Tompolo was frozen, our boys were removed from office, they are being probed, soldiers were taken to our place, because there was so much vandalism of pipelines and they thought they could solve it with military. The place was occupied by the soldiers.

There was a time I was coming back from Warri and saw the present Chief of Army Staff, who came to greet me. I asked what was happening and was told that the Chief of Army Staff came to Sapele to launch Operation Crocodile Smile, which means the soldiers will go to the rivers, the Creeks and all that. They did it but the production of oil was going down. They couldn’t reach the boys until I went in and called a meeting of our people that ‘enough is enough’ that we all belong to Nigeria and shouldn’t have the impression that because Jonathan is no longer the president of Nigeria everything should collapse.

After the meeting, we formed the Pan Niger Delta Forum and met for the first time in Warri last year August 2016. There were so many clubs but we managed to collapse everybody into one body. On November 1, 2016, I led a delegation of about a hundred to Aso Rock to meet the president, where we presented 16-Point Programme for dialogue. We have been waiting for that when the Vice-President decided to visit the Niger Delta. The boys have agreed to stop

bombing and vandalising the pipelines. The government has now realised that military intervention will not solve the problem but dialogue. What we are saying now is that dialogue should take place as soon as possible.

With the dialogue on the way, does it mean you don’t foresee a return to the pre-amnesty armed agitation and restiveness in the Niger Delta?

Mind you, we have not discussed. And that is why I am calling on the federal government for dialogue on the 16-point programmes. Once they have agreed to open the Maritime University, we will have 15-Point programmes left to be addressed.

The acting Vice-President made a statement that all companies should move their headquarters to the Niger Delta. If that is done we will discuss the remaining 14.

The Senate in May passed the first leg of the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill. Are you worried that the issues in the oil producing communities of the Niger Delta that necessitated the petroleum industry bill in the first place might have been defeated or even complicated? What does this imply for the Niger Delta?

It is chaotic. It spells dangerous situation.

We would not accept it. The bill passed recently by the Senate only provides, who should occupy certain positions and so on. They have renamed that one they said would impact the other. I am happy that the House of Representatives has disagreed with the Senate. Number two, this bill has been in that house for over 10 years and they have not been passing it, playing with the host communities. The bill said 10 per cent equity should go to the host communities so that they will know that their resources belong to them.

With that, the restiveness will go down because they cannot destroy what belongs to them. But some people in Abuja here believe

Yes, it is being taken for granted. Before we used to say that the unity of this country is not negotiable. I can’t stay in a country, where I am a second class citizen. You can imagine a situation where every position exclusive of the areas that produce the resources of this country is being occupied by some people. This cannot work. We must sit down and dialogue. This agitation didn’t start now. It was on when Jonathan was there, when Obasanjo was there

we are there for them to exploit. We say no that the host communities must be considered and that is what Senate is running away from. And that is why they picked one and renamed it the governing or governance.

This is unacceptable to us. We are not going to accept it and we have issued a statement to that effect that they should revisit it.

What do you reckon can be done to return Nigeria to the path of greatness?

In my own view, it is very simple: sincerity, equality and honesty of purpose. People should consider Nigeria first by being patriotic before their religion, ethnicity, and self.

It is because we have all the powers in this world vested in the federal government that we have corruption today. There wouldn’t have been corruption if there is not too much money at the centre. That is why the country must dissolve power to the states. A situation whereby the local governments become the affairs of the federal government, which is not in the constitution, is unfair.

Bayelsa produces 30 per cent of the oil in Nigeria and have only eight local governments while Kano State has 44 local governments. When you come to the center to share the resources among over 700 local governments, you can imagine what comes to Balyesa State. We have been asking that the 13 per cent derivation should be increased. We have held several conferences and in the last conference, 18 per cent was approved. Today, nothing has been done to that effect. For us to belong to the same country that we will be proud of, we must love one another and be patriotic.

At 90, what are your reections about Nigeria?

I’m not really happy. We are pretending that all is well while we are actually muddling up things, marching on without a purpose. I have regrets because the country I knew between the 50s and mid-60s was better than what we have today. All the physical developments you see in the three regions were product of yesteryears, because each looked after itself (though we are Nigerians living together but operating different constitutions and ideologies.)

Today, you have Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, JAMB, which cannot be relied upon. Education standard is going down. People talk about agriculture; that, I can’t see. As far as I am concerned, we have to restructure this country so that more power can go to the states. More money should be given to the states. Once they have more money, health, education and agriculture will go back to the states just like the days of old and Nigeria will be better for it.

74

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ LY 16, 2017

PERSPECTIVE Restructuring for National Cohesion and Good Governance Atiku Abubakar

I

have spoken a few times over a long period of time about the need to restructure our federation in order to make it stronger.

Our founding political leaders agreed on and erected a federal system of government. They believed, quite rightly in my view, that such a structure was the only guarantee of national cohesion in view of our diversity, varying resource endowments, varying levels of development, and the centrifugal forces threatening our unity. Over the years that structure which we inherited has been changed towards greater centralization of power and concentration of resources at the centre at the expense of the federating units. This has had enormous consequences, including a culture of fiscal dependency of the federating units on the centre, an over-extended federal government dominating virtually every aspect of our national life. Others are the cries of marginalization by virtually all segments of our country at different times, rising dins of demands for restructuring, fiscal federalism and even violent extremism. There have also been voices opposed to those demands and agitations.

Restructuring, to me, therefore, means effecting changes to our current federal structure to bring it closer to what our founding leaders erected in order to address the very issues and challenges that led them to opt for a less centralized system. It means devolution of more powers to the federating units with the accompanying resources, and it would involve greater control by the federating unitsof the resources in their areas. It would mean, by implication, the reduction of the powers and roles of the federal government so that it focuses only on those matters best handled by the centre such as defence, immigration, customs and excise, foreign policy, aviation as well as setting and enforcing national standards on such matters as education, health and safety.

Good governance, in a democratic setting, would mean that the government effectively and efficiently delivers on its constitutional duties and promises to the electorate in a fair and equitable manner.

It also includes meeting other challenges that emerge in the society during the government’s tenure. And it includes government being accountable to the people and recognizing and effectuating the people’s right to know. Thus transparency is at the core of good governance. Good governance is a requirement for a country’s development which, to me, means improving the society’s productive capacity, improving the people’s welfare and enhancing their freedoms. As we know, governments do not often voluntarily offer transparency, which is why a viable opposition and a vibrant and independent news media are essential ingredients of good governance. Above all, perhaps, good governance requires a vigilant and demanding electorate.

In contemporary Nigeria, good governance would involve addressing the country’s economic stagnation and crisis, including transitioning the economy to a post-oil/commodities trajectory, ensuring security, fighting corruption and restructuring the polity, including the structure of the federation and government institutions.

National cohesion refers to a sense of unity and oneness by citizens of a country to the extent that, despite their diversity, they see themselves as forming a nation. That sense of solidarity encourages them to invest economically, socially, politically and emotionally in the wellbeing of the nation-country. National cohesion does not mean the absence of disagreements but those disagreements play out and are resolved within the parameters laid out by the country’s laws and regulations and in a manner that preserves that sense of oneness.

The organizers of this event wanted me to answer the question of whether Restructuring is the Panacea for National Cohesion and Good Governance.

Well I do not believe that any one single thing is the panacea for national cohesion and good governance in Nigeria, but I have no doubt that effecting necessary changes to our existing federal structure will help to promote national cohesion and good governance. Some have argued that what our country needs is just good governance, not restructuring. That is misleading.In fact you may have good governance without necessarily having national cohesion, and vice versa. Yes people want good governance, but often they also want to feel part of the governance process. They like to have a sense of belonging. They do not just want to see good governance; they also want fair and equitable governance. And they want to be respected as bona fide members of the society. People like to see themselves represented in those doing the governing.

Let’s not forget that some of the most efficient and effective governments in history were also exclusionary brutal dictatorships which maintained national cohesion until those regimes collapsed.

Equally important is that while restructuring our federal system would help ensure good governance, the latter does not depend on restructuring alone. People and communities at every level must continually demand good governance from their elected officials.

About a week before the last Ramadan, a small business owner in Yola complained to me about how poor power supply was hurting her restaurant business. She wondered why the power

Atiku situation remains very bad and pleaded with me to do something about it. I explained to her that our country’s generation and distribution capacities are not anywhere near enough and that even the little that is generated is sometimes sabotaged by attacks on the pipelines that supply gas to the power plants in the Niger Delta.

“Why should we in Yola rely on power from the Niger Delta?, she wondered aloud. “Why can’t we have our own power plants in Yola or Adamawa State? Am I supposed to go the Niger Delta to complain?”, she fumed.

I am aware that the current government is working hard to improve the power situation in the country but this woman’s questions and statements capture the pitfalls of the excessive centralization that has been foisted on our country over the years. It must be reversed if we are to set ourselves on a path of sustainable development, peaceful coexistence, and national cohesion.

Ever since the creation of this country out of diverse peoples, cultures, histories and geographies, we have had our differences and conflicts, and early in our history we tried to resolve those differences through negotiations and compromises. Our resolutions were never perfect but they didn’t have to be. Human relationships evolve; they change as they seek perfection. Our diversity encouraged our founding leaders to opt for a federal system of the government which they hoped would allow the federating regions the space to control their resources and to develop at their own paces according to their peculiar situations. At a point in our history those negotiations and compromises broke down and we had a military take-over of power and subsequently fought a civil war.

Military rule and the civil war led to the steady erosion of our federal structure. The increasing centralization of power and concentration of resources at the federal level, in the context of rising oil revenues and neglect of other revenue sources, weakened and relatively impoverished the states. As Vice President and Chairman of the National Privatization Council, I saw firsthand what an overly centralized federal government can do wrong. Having confiscated the bulk of national revenues, the federal government proceeded to insert itself in a dominant manner in virtually every aspect of our national life, including the economy where it became an investor in all manner of businesses rather than facilitating the emergence of a vibrant and thriving private sector.

Although we have succeeded in privatizing many public enterprises, we still engage in what I call institutional escapism and duplication/ multiplication. Rather than fix existing challenges in existing ministries and departments we create new ones to carry out the same functions as the existing ones. If the Federal Ministry of Works is not functioning well, we create FERMA. If the police is not doing well with respect to traffic management, we create Federal Road Safety Corps. Again we create a Civil Defence Corps in response to police shortcomings in providing security rather than decentralizing the police among other reforms. The list goes on and on. We claim that state governments would abuse state police, yet we hypocritically accept their donations of equipment and funds to

the police commands in their states, pretending we don’t know that those donations have relational consequences.

As you deliberate, there are three things I suggest you pay serious attention to.

1. People have a Constitutional Right to Peacefully Agitate for Restructuring, so focus on Identifying the Reasons for the Agitations We are now in a democracy and democratic freedoms allow people to express themselves freely, including questioning the political and economic structures of the country and their place in it. We should try to understand the basis for the agitations and calls for a new compact rather than vilify the agitators. It is disingenuous to accuse everyone who calls for restructuring as trying to break up the county. History tells us that that kind of cheap blackmail will not work as long as the underlying reasons for the agitations persist.

2. It is Ok to have Different Positions on Restructuring Yes restructuring may mean different things to different people.

Like all things with political and economic implications, those calling for restructuring have varying positions, which is not a bad thing. But we won’t really find out how close our positions are to those of others until we sit down with them and start to talk and negotiate. The biggest challenge seems to be that we seem to be allowing moderate voices on this issue to be drowned out by the reckless utterances of a few rabble rousers on all sides who may be tools in the hands of those who do not wish this country well.

These are some of the people who arrogate to themselves the toga of spokespersons of our diverse groups.

3. Restructuring will Contribute to National Cohesion and Good Governance.

I have no doubt that restructuring our federal system would contribute the following among other things: a. Devolving more powers to the federating units and transferring more resources to them will help to decongest the centre and enhance greater manageability, efficiency and accountability. There will be more clarity in the division of powers and responsibilities between the centre and the federating units, and there will be a reduction in the attention paid to the center. In my view, there should be no federal roads, therefore states will be responsible for road construction and maintenance and people will know that. The same would go for schools and hospitals. State police (for states that so desire) will help improve security. States that do not want their own police forces will work out arrangements with the federal authorities over cost-sharing for policing in their jurisdictions.The key thing is that federating units will have greater resources, authority and capacity to tackle localized problems with national impact, including education, health care, roads and insecurity such as the herdsmen-farmers clashes, armed robbery, kidnapping, militancy and other forms of insecurity that may manifest themselves as cultism or other anti-social behaviors. That would be good governance.

And the incentive for states in a region or zone to pool together to provide services will be stronger when we pull the federal government out of direct involvement in these. And there’s nothing that says we must maintain a 36 state structure. We obviously can’t go back to the former regions because of minority rights concerns.

So we should explore the option of using the geo-political zones as federating units. With devolved powers and resources they will be more viable than the existing states. And their current make-up is more suited to addressing minority concerns. b. Restructuring will ensure greater accountability. People are more likely to hold their state and local governments to account once those governments are no longer able to convincingly blame the central government for their shortcomings. c. Restructuring will promote healthy competition among our federating units, which will encourage them to diversify their revenue sources. d. Restructuring will ensure greater fairness and a perception of same among our constituent parts. e. Beyond these, there is also another huge economic imperative for us to restructure: oil, which underlined and underwrote our excessive centralization and fragmentation into numerous unviable states, and which has been at the centre of much of our squabbles, seems to have reached its peak as source of revenues for our country. In fact, long-term, it seems to be on a downward trajectory.

And even if its contribution to our revenues were to remain at current levels in the long term, it still spells trouble for our economy and the unsustainable structure which it has supported for nearly 50 years. The states or zones of the country that are most dependent on oil revenues have a greater urgency to decouple themselves from that dependency now that there is still some oil revenue to assist them in the transition. That window may not remain open for a long time, which may then make the inevitable transition much more painful and chaotic.

-Being excerpts of speech by Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria at the 3rd Policy Monitoring Dialogue Series on National Unity, Integration, and Devolution of Power/Restructuring,” organised by the Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development, at Ladi Kwali Hall, Sheraton Hotels and Towers, Abuja.

(See concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com)

75

JU ͯʹ˜ Ͱͮͯ͵ ˾THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

PERSPECTIVE

Biafra and the North: In Defence of Igbo Leaders Solomon Obele

“Behind crisis anywhere in the world is injustice.

The solution to that crisis is justice”- Maitama Sule

D

uring a congratulatory visit by lateAlhaji Maitama Sule to the then President-Elect, Mohammadu Buhari, on 10th May 2015, he pleaded with him in the above words to be President of all Nigerians.

Sule said: ‘‘What has recently happened to Nigeria is an act of God. Nobody expected that the elections would be peaceful. Nobody expected that the elections would not lead to the disintegration of the country.

He continued: “Behind crisis anywhere in the world is injustice.

The solution to that crisis is justice. The world itself can never be governed by force; never by fear. Even, never by power. In the end, what governs is the mind. What conquers is the spirit. And the weapons of the mind that conquers the spirit are justice and fair play. Don’t compromise justice with anything.

“Mr. President, I know you will not discriminate against any part of Nigeria, but I am only asking you to do justice to all the parts of Nigeria. Justice will bring about peace. Do justice to us. Do justice to them. Do justice to everybody” President Buhari had the opportunity to reunite this country and be our own Nelson Mandela after a highly divisive election. But when in July 2015 the President Emeritus of The Fund for Peace, Dr. Pauline Baker, asked him at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), Washington DC how he would ensure security, amnesty, peace, and inclusive development in the Niger Delta, he responded: “I hope you have a copy of the election results. The constituents, for example, that gave me 97 percent (of votes) cannot in all honesty be treated on some issues with constituencies that gave me five percent”.

Thus began Buhari’s undiluted, primitively discriminatory, and vendetta-driven leadership that has left the country more divided then ever. But when confronted by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on the issue of lopsided appointments, he said: “If I select people whom I know quite well in my political party, the people I have confidence in and I can trust them with any post, will that amount to anything wrong?” Pray, why did he aspire four times to lead a people he did not trust?

The Niger Delta Avengers soon responded by the bombing of oil facilities, which brought oil production to an all time low and nearly crippled Buhari’s administration. The Avengers’ message was probably this: Get resources from your preferred 97 percent to fund the 97 percent.

Ekweremadu These retrospections were necessitated by the recent penchant of some Arewa Youth and elders, such as Prof. Ango Abdullahi and Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, to blame Igbo leaders for the Nnamdi Kanu’s separatist agitations. They justified the quit notice and derogatory/ hate languages by the Arewa Youth on the Igbos on what they deemed the failure by Igbo leaders to call Kanu to order and their visits to the IPOB leader in prison.

But, at what point did some Igbo leaders start visiting Kanu in prison? Was it before or after Buhari told the world he would not release him, contrary to court orders? What did the northern elders say when Buhari became the prosecutor and jury in one? Besides, could the visits not have been part of the efforts to broker some truce between Kanu and FG? Have they quickly forgotten that it was Buhari’s obstinate, continued detention of Kanu that transformed the young man from a nobody to a cult figure among millions of Igbos, who felt unloved by Buhari regime? Has the Biafra Day sit-at-home ever seen a total compliance as the last one before Buhari’s regime?

Why blame Chief Ike Ekweremadu and South East Senators for helping to perfect Kanu’s bail and granting him audience thereafter?

The northern elders and FG should be grateful to the Senators

for helping them to solve a problem it created by an unlawful detention resulting in restiveness in the East. No doubt, the audience granted Kanu must have given him some elderly advice on his bail conditions. Whether he takes it is another issue.

Meanwhile, except by a stroke of providence, which saw Ekweremadu return as Deputy Senate President, the South East has no reasonable office in the present administration, from the Presidency to the legislature, and judiciary. Not even the two House Members from Imo were considered for any principal office like Majority Whip.

No Igbo man was given any meaningful ministerial portfolio.

Former Chairman of one of the legacy parties that formed the APC, Chief Ogbonnaya Onu, was appointed Minister of Science and Technology, while Chief Chris Ngige, an experienced doctor, former governor and Senator was appointed Minister of Labour (Aluta).

What did Ango Abdullahi and Yakassai say?

The Army, Air Force, Police, Immigration, Customs, National Security Adviser, Directorate of State Security, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and virtually all the security apparatchik are in the hands of the Muslim North, while the Igbos are totally excluded from the security table. Where were the northern elders?

Mr. Calistus Obi was removed as Acting Director General (DG) of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) four days after he was appointed and was replaced with Alhaji Haruna Baba Jauro. Former DG of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Emeka Mba, a high flying performer, was humiliated out of office after ingeneously raising N34 billion for the Digital Switch Over. Mallam Mobibbo Kawu was appointed. Also, Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu was removed as DG of the National Pension Commission (PENCOM) midway, even though she raised the pension assets from N2.9 to N6.5 trillion in less than three years.

To add salt to injury, Aliyu Dikko from North West and later Funsho Doherty from South West were nominated as her replacement in clear breach of Section 21 (2) of the Pension Act 2014, which provides that “In the event of a vacancy (for the chairman, DG or other members of board), the President shall appoint a replacement from the geo-political zone of the immediate past member that vacated office to complete the remaining tenure.” What did northern elders say?

The Igbos took to the streets in the face of Kanu’s ill-advised arrest/continued detention and the administration’s 97 percent/5 percent apartheid policy. The Amnesty International alleged that at least 150 unarmed pro-Biafra activists were killed in cold blood by FG’s security agents between August 2015 and August 2016 alone.

It based its allegation on an analysis of 87 videos, 122 photographs, and 146 eyewitness testimonies relating to demonstrations and other gatherings in that period (https://www.amnesty.org/en/ latest/news/2016/11/peaceful-pro-biafra-activists-killed-in-chillingcrackdown/). What did the northern elders say?

Executive, Legislative Rift: Issues and Reasons Mohammed Isa

T

he hallmark ofany democracy istheexistenceofthelegislature.

Removeitandyouareleftwith civiliandictatorship.

By its nature and responsibilities, the legislature, as an independent arm of government was meant to offer a check on the executive, make laws for good governance and ensure equitable and fair distribution of the nation’s resources through its power of appropriation.

With that enormous and clearly defined responsibilities, an occasional friction and struggle for supremacy between the legislature and executive that is always seeking to dominate and have its way in governance is considered normal.

However, such envisaged disagreements when occurred are expected to be resolved in favour of national rather than self, group or partisan interests, using mutual and legally acceptable conflict resolution mechanisms.

Since the return of democracy in Nigeria 18 years ago, the nation has at various times witnessed such bickering between the two arms, with many of them resolved amicably to move the nation forward.

However, the current face off triggered by several issues had become a source of concern to many, not because it came up at all but rather the way and manner it is being handled by the Executive and its external instigators.

Some of the current contentious issues are but not limited to the rejection of the nomination of Ibrahim Magu as chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) by the Senate and the “restructuring” of the 2017 budget to ensure a balanced and equitable distribution of projects.

While those issues could be argued one way or the other to favour any of the contending arms of government, also with or without substance, some online warriors and sympathetic commentators on the side of the executive already putting several spins on the disagreement. One of their spins is the

alleged plot to impeach the Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, and install the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, either as Vice President or as the Acting President’s replacement.

These could at best be described as nonsensical as they are merely designed to rattle’ or distract the legislature. The sycophants behind these fabrications include those desperately seeking to create an ‘Osinbajo’s cabal’, since that word is now the fad in governance now.

Magu’s Rejection The Senate in rejecting Magu had not done anything new to warrant the blackmail and name calling being heaped on it. Those attacking the legislators are venting their anger on the messenger, rather than the message.

What was the reason that cost Magu his confirmation? Is it not an indicting reports by the constitutionally charged agency for vetting and clearing any nominee; the Department of the State Security (DSS)? Was there any nominee indicted in the past by DSS that was confirmed by the Senate? Is there any instance anywhere in the world where a man with such record as painted by the equivalent of DSS eventually got the job without a change of the report? By going ahead to confirm Magu for that sensitive job, what message is Senate passing about the credibility of the nation’s security and intelligence agency?

A fair minded person, while looking at the issue dispassionately would have appreciated the stand of the Senate for standing on the side of an institution rather than bootlicking for the executive by turning a blind eye to the DSS reports and confirming Magu to please those who want him for their parochial motives. If the executive believe that without Magu its anti-corruption fight would fail why don’t they simply get the DSS to change their report and then resend the name of the indispensable anti-graft Tsar.

2017 Budget On budget, as contentious as the issue since 1999, the current face off is a different one that gave the lawmakers a moral edge over the executive. Passing

the 2017 budget proposal in its original proposal the way the presidency wanted it would have amounted to a shortchange of majority of the sections of the country in favour of one or two others.

As the spokesperson of the Senate, Sen. Abdullahi Sabi, noted, “the National Assembly acted in the national interest to ensure equity and fairness is achieved in the distribution of projects and to ensure that all sections of the country have representation in the national budget as guaranteed by the Nigerian constitution” Sabi had explained that, “in the spirit of consensus building and effective stakeholder engagement, the leadership of the Senate met with key relevant stakeholders, including the Ministries of Works, Power and Housing as well as Finance. It was agreed that we should give the Private Finance Initiative a chance to complement government’s resources in the delivery of critical infrastructure assets across the country”.

He added that, “hence, in this year’s budget, we have engaged with the government and private sector groups who have assured that they will resume funding of the project. So, we only provided the fund in the budget that would ensure work does not stop before the funds from the private sector start coming in.

“What we reduced from Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in the 2017 budget estimate was spread on Oyo-Ogbomoso road in the South-west, EnuguOnitsha road in the South-east, and two other critical roads in the North-East and North-West; and this was done to achieve equity. The Minister should realise that he is Minister for the entire country and not just that of Lagos State.”

While shedding more light on the highlights of the budget, he noted that when Fashola accused the National Assembly of importing projects into the 2017 budget, he did not mention that these included the 26 projects which the Federal Government had approved in the 2016 budget, awarded contract for them in January 2016, but were totally omitted in the 2017 budget.

On this note, he cited the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano road as one of the projects, saying “these ones would have become abandoned projects. We reduced

funds across board to make provision for these omitted projects that are of critical importance to the socio-economic development of the country in line with equity and fair play.

Phantom Plot To Impeach Osinbajo On the laughable phantom plot to impeach the Acting President, one would not dissipate his energy refuting it as those who are fabricating such claim were only out for mischief and painting themselves as promoters and defenders of the acting President.

These people are toying with the emotions of Nigerians who they believe are gullible and will believe anything.

Impeachment, as a constitutional matter, had been adequately addressed by the constitution on why, when and how to execute it and none of the prescribed conditions exist for now. The Acting President as an elected official enjoy mutual respect from members of the National Assembly. In any case, the legislators would not want to create panic, raise national tension or foment crisis by thinking of anything like that.

It is high time Nigerians called on these mischief makers to allow the elected officials both in the legislature and the executive to focus on issues that have bearing on the welfare of Nigerians.

For the smooth running of government that will actualise the campaign promises of the Federal Government, it is imperative for the executive, particularly the acting president to caution those mischief makers who are masquerading themselves as his defenders and promoters and allow the principle of separation of power to prevail and refrain from further denigration of the National Assembly.

For our democracy to survive and grow, Nigerians must not only acquaint themselves with the role of the legislature in enthroning good governance, but they must also be ready to support and promote an independent legislature in the sprit of rule of law, which the present National Assembly is struggling to uphold.

Isa is a Special Assistant to the Senate President

76

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ LY 16, 2017

PERSPECTIVE

A Story of True, Pure Love Bisi Daniels

I

n one corner of a town in Osun state, he stands, hands in pocket, looking at a lady with both inward and outward beauty that swings his heart like a pendulum. He knows her well and was sure about his choice because he had visited her home often to see a friend as a decoy.

As a handsome undergraduate, a photographer and a sportsman with an athletic frame and full hair, he has no problems getting women, but there is always the special woman, who could be taken home to meet a man’s mother.

Unfortunately, unlike hers, his family home is the poorest in the neighbourhood, where he dared not take her. His elder brother admitted recently they were the poorest among the poor in town. But the secret cannot be kept for too long if he has to live his dreams with her. He knows from Intel (intelligence gathering) that three men, one, a lawyer who had a car, desperately wanted to marry her. He is the fourth and the poorest.

To his greatest shock, she talks about seeing someone like him near a storey building during a drive-by and wanted to know if that was home.

Shocker! But time to let cat out of the bag.

He looks her in the eyes, and says: “Ahh, who dash monkey banana?” (How could I possibly live in a storey building?).

Please listen; I have nothing, no money, no house, no influence, nothing! If I have anything at all, it is the little brain God gave to me.”

She is surprised, but not disappointed, because she is trained to be understanding and humble. She starts to think, but he won’t allow her. He continues: “I have nothing to offer you except myself. If you will marry me, you will have me to yourself completely.”

Hmmmmm! How does she marry the poorest of her suitors? But again, she had been trained at home and at college to know that some human values are worth more than gold. Additionally, she has the benefit of spiritual discernment. She had known him for a while, but could she trust the promise?

Another voice in her suggests a careful consideration of his honesty. A rash of thoughts! Finally she decides, “Because you are so honest, I will marry you.”

(True story, but the scene of the encounter created by the writer for story flow). In some other homes, that would be described as a crazy decision and she would be warned to keep away from the poor suitor. But she is comfortable with the decision.

She was born on July 13, 1948 to the family of Jacob Adelusi Adeyokunu, a Methodist minister and teacher and Felicia Morounfola Adeyokunu in Ilesha. Her parents were God-fearing and they ensured their children were bought up in the ways of the Lord.

They married in 1967, the year he graduated from University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, with a degree in Mathematics.

He is Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, now leader of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG); and she is Pastor, Mrs. Foluke Adenika Adeboye, who turned 69 on July 13.

Her decision to marry for honesty turned out to be a

Mrs. Adeboye blessed one. The young man, who knew education was the only way to break the vicious circle of poverty in his larger family, was also hardworking. He rose fast and soon became a lecturer of mathematics in the university. Kids started coming and they were a happy family. Although, habits like drinking were not allowed in the white Bible she had given her as a birthday gift before they were married, she was a praying mother of husband and kids. He himself had countless experiences suggestive of God’s special interest in him, but they were largely ignored. God has a way of “arresting” people He sets aside to use, in a way that evokes complete devotion and commitment.

One of their sons would fall ill and after exploring several alternatives, he could only find a cure in a church he had earlier ridiculed.

That was to be the game changer!

They walked into God’s purpose for them and not even fasting and prayers would stop his ordination as a pastor, and soon after, the divine promotion to be General Overseer of RCCG, now a mega church with world-wide presence.

But the promotion initially dropped the family into poverty again. From their palatial residence at University of Ilorin, where Pastor Adeboye taught, he moved to Lagos into a one-room apartment in Mushin, a Lagos suburb with a high crime rate. Much later, the family moved into a jungle of “robbers and snakes,” which is now the popular Redemption Camp.

Initially, they were so poor that they lacked even basic necessities of life, as this testimony of Pastor Adeboye shows: “In those early days of the Redemption Camp, sometimes my wife used to prepare dinner for the children without meat and I was touched. I remembered those days, when

our mothers used to make okro meat. They would take okro and cut off its head and bottom, and throw it into the okro soup. That was okro meat, very sweet.

“One day, I reminded my wife how I used to tell her to cut cow skin meat, popularly called pomo in local parlance, into small bits, especially the very thick ones, so that it could go round.”

But again, the prayerful and hardworking Mrs. Adeboye’s rare qualities shone through, supporting and stabilising her family. Many would have chickened out even at that stage.

Many women still do during hard times.

Great woman! She packs so many fine qualities, sometimes when I see her at the Camp, tears of God’s goodness well my eyes. I still can’t explain it.

A family friend of theirs, Femi Adelegan, an author, writer, publisher and leader at the Sword of the Spirit Ministries, gives an instance of how supportive she still is: “Pastor (Mrs.) Adeboye commences her day with communion with God at about 3.00am. She remains in the place of prayer till 6am, when she switches over to participate in the family devotion.

“She is so much committed to praying that whenever her husband goes to minister and she has to stay at home, she would go into her prayer closet, urging God to help Daddy G.O. in his ministration. On more than one occasion, she would welcome her husband back and tell him some of God’s moves at the ministration she never attended. Her husband would be surprised.”

But, of course Pastor Adeboye knows and appreciates those qualities better. When he decided to commence the construction of a world-class Prayer Mountain in Ifewara, he told her to handle it. A gifted organiser and manager of people, she took up the challenge.

A few years later at the opening of Mount Carmel Prayer Mountain, he said of her: “… To ensure that the dream would not die, and efforts that had been made would not be fruitless, I called my wife and gave her the responsibility to build this prayer mountain. My prayer for all of you here today is that God will give you a good wife; a wife who will be like a mother.”

On her birthday is 2015, he was reported to have posted this message on Facebook: “Happy birthday to my sweet baby, my friend, my sister, my lover, my confidant, my pali, my only wife, my mummy and my partner in Christ. Love you today and always.”

Mrs. Adeboye holds top leadership positions in the church including President of the Redeemed Women Fellowship (God Women Fellowship), Director of Education. She is blessed with rare gifts of administration, planning, hospitality, counseling, mentoring, ministering comfort, care, and encouragement to many, bringing hope, love and succor to the hopeless.

A missionary and minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ, she is a powerful intercessor, Bible Teacher & role model for lots of women and a pioneer of multiple projects, ministries and missions to the glory of God. Fondly called Mummy G.O and Mother-in-Israel, she is so passionate about Nigeria, the segment of prayers for countries at major RCCG events is reserved for her.

That is the great woman many people around the world celebrated last week!

– Bisi is the author, writer and journalist

After Supreme Court’s Victory, What Next for PDP? Tony Amadi

T

he People’s Democratic Party has been given a lifeline by the Supreme Court which decided that the Makarfi wing of the party was the genuine PDP, rather than Senator Modu Sheriff who fought vigourously to consign the party to the scrap heap of history. And if the excitement that returned to Wadata House after the victory is anything to go by, the party may be heading straight to the presidential mansions after losing tragically to the All Progressive Congress in the 2015 elections.

It was Comrade Bello Godspower Osaretin of Better Nigeria Group, BNG, who asked the crucial question “PDP Victory, What Next?”, immediately after the Supreme Court came up with its earth shaking verdict that settled the fourteenmonth crisis of the People’s Democratic Party. Another member of the group in their Whatsapp App exchanges replied: “Consolidating the Victory, Reconciliation of members and organising immediate National Convention”. The Makarfi led PDP has been working hard at consolidating the party’s effectiveness that led to the creation of the Jerry Gana led team that was asked

to prepare the party for government. Gana did a fine job and just about when the party was roaring to go, the Court of Appeal put the skids on their track.

The embattled Chairmen moved to Supreme Court where Sheriff caught the jitters and tried to stop the apex court from hearing the other side of the story. Unfortunately the court guarded their independence jealously and went ahead with the case. If Sheriff had won, it would have been the beginning of a one party state in Nigeria and politics would no longer be the same as it has been over the past 53 years since independence.

It may not be an uphill task considering that the party was facing extinction over the past one and a half years in the doldrums, having lost the presidential elections and devastated by charges of wholesale corruption by the government of the All Progressive Congress. It is now obvious that July 2017 will be regarded in the party’s history as their luckiest month ever. This is because its candidate in the Oshun West senatorial districts bye election, Mr Adeleke, surprisingly won the election and replaced the late senator and former Governor of the State from the APC who died in May 2017.

The PDP was entitled to bask in the euphoria of their victory but it was certainly not out of the woods yet in their bid to take

back the power they lost to the rival APC. The ruling party may be sinking like the sunk Titanic, but it was still capable of hurting the former ruling party over the level of corruption that prevailed during their 16 year reign, but Nigerians were now facing the return of the old foxes of the PDP against the pervading cluelessness of the APC whose economic performance has left Nigeria facing its worst recession in more than fifty years. Certainly a rejuvenated PDP with its better experience in governance and economic management is capable of taking power back in less than two years when the 2019 elections is up.

Senator Ben Obi, the Secretary of the Party, said that the party has begun a series of meetings with all the stakeholders as the first step to take in the immediate aftermath of the Supreme Court Victory. However it is certain that the first move would be to organise credible elections to appoint the party executives that will husband the electoral process in the coming years. That election will be a test case for Chairman Makarfi who will be expected to relinquish his present position as the next Chairman must come from the South, having zoned the presidency to the North.

The battle for the presidential candidate of the party will attract all the timbers and calibres (apologies to the great Kingsley Ozuomba Mbadiwe) of the first republic.

Sule Lamido has already taken a pole

position in the race for the nation’s top job with the likes of former Governor Shekarau, Bafarawa and the rest of the top players. Although his body language is not showing it, Makarfi could well be the man to beat if he decides to get into the presidential fray, having shown good example when he was governor of Kaduna State.

But the reality on the ground is that the leading opposition party must shine its eyes and ensure that its candidate for 2019 must be widely acceptable to the whole country. In fact the APC and PDP has an equal number of great politicians who have made positive marks in the country and who can easily pick the ticket to serve the country as President. What is clear now is that Nigerians will not enter a one chance ride again as the voters have learnt their lessons from the recent performances of the leading parties.

For the PDP, the judgement of the Supreme Court should spur them to action to perform better in 2019. If it can take two of the immediately outstanding elections in Anambra, Osun and Ekiti, it would have signalled the intention that ‘changing the change’ as their new slogan suggests is a doable proposition.

–––tonyamadi2009@yahoo.com

78

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ ˾ JULY 16, 2017

77

GAVEL TO GAVEL

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

Southern senators forum storyW

As Southern Senators Form a Power Bloc…

Senators from the southern part of the country recently came together as a body to forge a common interest. But several reasons are already being adduced to the sudden resurgence of this hitherto dead forum, writes Damilola Oyedele, who argues it may not be unconnected to the power tussle between the North and the South

S

erving senators from all parts of Southern Nigeria recently came together as one group and formed the Southern Nigeria Senators Forum. While the group or rather caucus may be considered new by some, it was actually first formed during the fifth assembly under the leadership of Senate President Ken Nnamani. But it has since remained inactive, somewhat.

However, announcing the re-enactment of the forum on July 5, 2017, at a media briefing, Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio said the caucus was a response to the Northern Senators Forum, which he observed has ensured unity among the Senators from the North. He added that the caucus was borne out of a need to ensure cohesion among Senators from the South as well as enhance their unity.

“Today, we have the Northern Senators’ Forum and they have been having meeting and discussing issues connected with the North. But we have not had concerted views from the southern part of the country.

“We have not been able to ensure total unity; so that we can sit at a go with our brothers in the North; so that when they take on issues in the North, we will also take on issues in the southern Nigeria. From there, we will have a united voice and front in order to consolidate the unity of this country and bond together more.

“So, the Senate today has also decided that there is the need to birth a new caucus, which is called Southern Nigeria Senators’ Caucus, just like we have in the North. At the end of the day, whatever we discuss as South that affects us, we will also listen to our brothers from the North and bring them to the floor

of the Senate for expeditious treatment,” Akpabio said.

Executive officers of the caucus are Senators Hope Uzodinma (Chairman/ South-East), Lanre Tejuoso (Vice Chairman), Mathew Uroghide (Secretary General/ South-East), Solomon Olamilekan (Treasurer/South-West), Ovie Omo-Agege (Financial Secretary/South-South), Mao Ohuabunwa (Publicity Secretary/South-East), Duro Faseyi (Auditor/South-West) and Stella Oduah (Welfare Officer/South-East).

Jonathan, at the time, was working to build a support base, against strong opposition from Northerners on his intention to contest the 2011 presidential polls. Most Northern groups, including elders from the region, had wanted a candidate from the north to ‘continue’ the Yar’Adua/North ‘turn’ of the presidency.

The forum was almost non-existent in the seventh assembly, even though the Northern Senators Forum had always remained.

Understanding Caucuses

While it may be almost impossible for Akpabio to have disclosed the real reasons for the re-emergence of the forum, other than to balance the force of the Northern Senators Forum, which has been considered active, THISDAY gathered that there are many other reasons beyond that which was made public.

It may not be unconnected with the current power tussle going on in the presidential villa, which is seemingly the North versus the South, as usual.

A lawmaker, who spoke off record said the health circumstances of President Muhammadu Buhari and the increasing possibility of an Osinbajo presidency may have been a major reason for the re-emergence.

“If you notice, Southern Leaders have been converging lately, making pronouncements.

Not just because of the agitations in different parts of the country, but also because of the awareness that the northern cabal in the presidency is bent on frustrating the possibility of a Southern presidency.

“Whatever the reasons are, at the end of the day, it’s basically back to the need for a balance of power. If Buhari for some reasons is unable to continue, Osinbajo would need all the support to fully assume power. Yes,

With different nomenclature in different assemblies, this is not the first time such a caucus is established. A similar caucus was first formed in the fifth assembly (2003-2007) following pressure on the Olusegun Obansajo government to ensure the presidency was ceded to the North, at the end of his second term as civilian president.

Northern alliances against Obasanjo, spearheaded by now late Senator Idris Ibrahim Kuta (Niger East) had been formed and were active. Kuta, considered an influential Senator, at the time, seized every public opportunity to disparage Obasanjo.

In response, Obasanjo allegedly pressurised Senator Ifeanyi Ararume and Senators Arthur Nzeribe to facilitate the creation of Southern Senators Forum, to balance the attack from the alliance of Northern Senators.

The Southern Senators forum emerged late in the sixth assembly (2007-2011) under the Senate leadership of Senator David Mark, and was allegedly instigated by then President Goodluck Jonathan to assist in the power tussle, which emerged following the death of President Umar Musa Yar’Adua in 2009.

Now, the New Postulations

the Senate may be the most unlikely place to look for support, because of the constant crises, but it is not necessarily about him, it is about regional interest,” he added.

Again, the group may have been revived due to a need for the lawmakers from the South to be seen as a united front, and take collective positions on issues. But this premise remains an extension of the never ending North versus South politics.

“We would be stronger this way, collectively as the Southern lawmakers. It would balance the North versus South thing. We figured this would be better than having South-south group or South-east or South-west,” the lawmaker said.

According to him, “The very good thing about Northerners, not just among politicians, is that when something good is coming, they put aside all differences, come together to collect it. After that, they can now go back and split due to religious or other interests. But they hardly split along political lines, no matter what their affiliations are. They remain united in that regard, so we want to work towards that too,” he said.

Another lawmaker said the forum would be crucial to lobby during budgetary distribution of projects with the scarce resources at the country’s disposal.

He cited the most recent case of the 2017 budget, where he noted that the proposed allocation for the Lagos-Ibadan expressway was slashed to accommodate projects from the North. “…including dead abandoned projects like the Baro Port, and the Dutse rail line, which has been abandoned for decades. They used their influence to ensure these budgetary cuts and reallocation. So, we cannot just close our eyes and go to sleep,” he added.

78

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ ˾ JULY 16, 2017

GAVEL TO GAVEL/ BILLS, MOTIONS, ET AL.

House members in a friendly mood before the plenary

An Obnoxious Bill for Treasury Thieves A bill introduced recently by Hon. Linus Okorie, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party from Ebonyi State in the House of Representatives, seeking amnesty for treasury looters has continued to receive flaks from all corners, writes James Emejo

A

bill for an Act to establish a scheme to harness untaxed money for investment purposes and to assure any declarant regarding inquiries and proceedings under the Nigerian laws and for other matters connected therewith has passed the first reading in the House of Representatives.

If passed into law, corrupt officials and treasury looters including tax evaders will no longer account for their crimes or face any form of prosecution, probe or inquiry in the country.

Sponsor of the controversial bill, Hon. Linus Okorie (PDP, Ebonyi) is seeking a comprehensive amnesty structure for suspected looters of public treasury as well as shielding them from any prosecution; and “shall not be compelled to disclose the source of their looted funds’ as long as they invest their wealth in Nigeria.”

Okorie claimed the bill was “proposed as a practical, though temporary solution to a national cankerworm known as corruption – which has afflicted all generations of our society, since independence and forced us continuously down the development pyramid.”

However, the bill appeared to be dead on arrival, going by the verbal antagonism and body language of most of the lawmakers in the green chamber.

The draft legislation provides that “any person may make, on or after the date of commencement of this Scheme but before a date to be notified by the Central Bank of Nigeria in an Official Gazette, a declaration in respect of any income chargeable under the income-

tax law for any assessment prior to the enactment of this Act.” Another section of the bill stipulates that “Where the income chargeable to tax is declared in the form of investment in any asset, the fair market value of such asset as on the date of commencement of this Scheme shall be deemed to be the undisclosed income for the purposes of sub-section (1).”

In lieu of prosecution, it details that “The amount declared from the undisclosed income shall (after payment of the tax, surcharge in respect of the declaration) be invested in Nigeria by the declarant in any sector of the Nigerian economy” adding that “Being an interventionist Scheme, the bill proposes a time-frame of three years for the commencement of its implementation unless extended by the Executive, through the Central Bank of Nigeria

The bill provides a window to the quagmire facing all repentant (past and present) actors, who may have assets and resources within and outside Nigeria and find it difficult to acquit themselves under extant anti-corruption and related criminal laws of the land

(CBN).

Essentially, the bill seeks to pardon anyone, who seizes the opportunity of the amnesty to disclose his loots and invests same in the country. So, Nigerians who ought to have benefited from the funds in the first place could still benefit anyway.

But many people have wondered why the proposed legislation was allowed to sail through first reading in the House and not thrown out.

In a country, where corruption is largely endemic and where people have long hoped to see an end to the menace through severe retribution and prosecutions, the news of a possible leeway to acquit treasury looters of their crimes may have shocked many Nigerians, who have long waited for a system that would finally hold people to account for their stewardship at various capacities, given the level of rot in the system.

Nigeria is consistently associated with corrupt practices in the eye of the international community and has struggled to improve its ranking in the global corruption index.

One of the first opponents to the bill was the Executive Director of SERAP, Adetokunbo Mumuni, who in an open letter to the House urged the Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, not to accommodate the bill but allow justice and accountability prevail in grand corruption cases.

He argued that the amnesty bill for suspected looters unquestionably conflicted with Nigeria’s obligations under the UN Convention Against Corruption to establish territorial criminal jurisdiction over corrupt acts, prosecute offenders, and apply prescribed sanctions through fair trial.”

Furthermore, almost all the lawmakers in the lower chamber who have had to express their views dissociated themselves from the legislation, fearing possible backlash from the people.

Majority of the lawmakers, who spoke to THISDAY appeared not be totally aware of the bill while others are still trying to establish its merit.

This is partly because the bill may be queried for deviating from the current administration’s trajectory on fighting corruption.

There are several bills on anti-corruption, which emanated from the executive arm to the legislature and awaiting passage. Some of them carry severe punishment for treasury looters as well as other forms of financial crimes – a situation which further calls Okorie’s draft legislation to question.

The proposed bill further states that, “Outside the exception on grounds of national security, no declarant shall be required to state the source or sources of the assets or income declared.”

Okorie is of the view that the bill “Provides a window to the quagmire facing all repentant (past and present) actors, who may have assets and resources within and outside Nigeria and find it difficult to acquit themselves under extant anti-corruption and related criminal laws of the land.”

But as the lawmakers and Nigerians alike continue to wait for the resurgence of the controversial bill on the floor of the House, its inherent flaws may have heralded its defeat on arrival. Indeed, the proposed bill is better dismissed as a comic relief before it presents Nigeria as a nation of clowns before the outside world as it is not acceptable, both in form and content.

79

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ ˾ JULY 16, 2017

GAVEL TO GAVEL/LAWMAKER

Ashafa: Giving Representation a New Face One of the three Senators from Lagos State, Senator Olugbenga Bareehu Ashafa stands out as a quiet achiever, who has stayed away from the familiar attention-seeking approach to representation in the legislature. From a quiet lifestyle as a civil servant in Lagos State to the murky waters of national politics as a two-term senator, Ashafa comes across as a worthy example in effective representation, writes Olawale Olaleye

B

y the sheer stroke of personal decision, Senator Olugbenga Bareehu Ashafa, Lagos East, has refused to catch the bug of ostentatious representation that often typifies the style of most Nigerian lawmakers, who would rather pay more attention to media exposure than the content and quality of their representation.

Away from the craze for media events often tagged empowerment programmes or town hall jamboree, which have remained some of the avenues to reach out to the people, result has always been the profound desire of Senator Ashafa. And with a defining style, peculiar to his philosophy and upbringing, he has achieved more by choosing to be discreet and yet focused – a disposition that flashes more in terms of substance than mere rhetoric or photo-ops.

With the half of his second term in office gone, Ashafa can only look back in fulfillment as he winds down on this very mandate. His understanding of the demands of his office, not just as a lawmaker but what has come to be known today as ‘legislacutive’, meaning a lawmaker, who combines his roles with that of the executive and is delivering on both without either of the two suffering neglect. The coinage arose from the reality today that lawmakers have gone beyond just making laws; they also execute projects to the delight and excitement of their constituents.

Ashafa, interestingly, appears to have it all covered. His career as a successful civil servant in Lagos, where he made his name as a top notch player in the land ministry, is believed to have prepared him for his present task. Not only is he good at managing human resources, Ashafa is also reputed as having resounding human relations such that everyone, who has come across him often tells of his large heart Ashafa...redefining legislative representation and generosity. the liberty of uploading a very detailed and Although politics was said to be the last comprehensive version on my website (www. thing on his mind, however, he took the call to gbengaashafa.com) for your further study,” he service in 2011 with the poise of one detersaid. mined to succeed with whatever life throws In addition to chairing the Senate Committee at him. Besides, he has never been associated on Land Transport, Ashafa is also an active with failure and thus, the challenge to represent member of the Senate Committees on Constituthe people of Lagos East, perhaps, the smallest tion Review, Water Resources, Establishment of the Lagos senatorial districts, came more as (Pension and public services), Foreign Affairs, honour for him.

Legislative Compliance and National Security And with six years already in the bag as & Intelligence. Thus, starting with bills and a Senator, Ashafa’s mid-term report, which motions that were pushed to his credit, he saw was released recently sums it all up in terms to the passage of the Nigerian Railway bill, of effective and efficient representation with 2016, being the Senate Committee Chairman record-breaking achievements in practically all on Land Transport. the boxes of expectations flung his way.

According to him, the new law represents a “Dear good people of Lagos East senatorial radical departure from the norm by effectively district”, he said as he presented his scorecard breaking down the railway sector into the recently. “It is my humble privilege to present Regulatory and Operations components in this mid-term stewardship report for my line with international best practices, thereby second term activities in the senate of the creating a level playing field for private and National Assembly,” adding that “the eighth state sector participation. When implemented, senate is still work-in-progress. With two years it is forecast that the new law would attract left, I can assure you all that we are not resting the largest infrastructure developments in on our oars in providing legislative guidance the Nigerian rail sector, attract foreign direct towards steering the ship of state to calmer investments and ultimately translate to millions waters after many years of sailing through the of Jobs. storms of corruption.”

In addition to co-sponsoring other bills, What the statement above showed was Ashafa recorded that he had directly that Ashafa was not oblivious of the prevalent sponsored six bills since June 2015. They are the resentment amongst the people over the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act seeming inability of the government of the day Amendment Bill 2016; the Chartered Institute to live true to its billings, in terms of delivering of Logistics and Transport Bill 2016; the City change, which encapsulates the worries and University of Technology Bill 2016; Sporting dreams of the average Nigerian people. But Tax Holiday Bill 2016; the Nigerian Postal he gave hope, not minding too that the people have not been particularly happy with the state. Service Bill 2017; the Nigerian French Language Village Establishment Bill 2017 and a bill for the He was not going to digress. amendment of the National Sports Act, 2017.

“The purpose of this mid-term stewardship Some of the bills he co-sponsored included report is to provide a basis for an assessment a bill for an act to establish Lagos State Special of service delivery in the spirit of accountability Economic Assistance Programme By and responsibility required of public servants at Senator Oluremi Tinubu; a bill for an act to all levels of government. This report is a highly amend The Prisons Act Cap P.29 By Senator summarised account of my activities over Oluremi Tinubu; a bill for an to provide the the past two years as a second term senator Establishment of National Animal Identification from June 2015 till June 2017. I have taken

and Management Bureau By Senator Abu Ibrahim; a bill for an act to amend the Electoral Act No 6 of 2010 as amended by Senator Monsurat Sumonu; a bill for an act to Repeal the Prison Act Cap. P29 of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and enact the Nigeria Prisons and Correctional Service, to make provisions for the administration of prisons in Nigeria as well as the Awaiting Trial Persons and for Related Purposes 2015 by Senator Shaaba Lafiagi.

Also, during engaging debates on issues of national importance, Ashafa said he had contributed meaningfully to such debates and motions put up for discussion by some of his colleagues. His contributions can be seen in such areas as a Motion on Fuel Tanker Tragedies on Nigeria Highways; Motion on Nigerians involvement in illicit Global Drug Trade and increase in Domestic Abuse by Nigerian Youths; Motion condemning the rising incidences of Jungle Justice in Nigeria; Motion on urgent need for the Nigerian police force and other security agencies to intervene in the increased rate of kidnapping in the Lagos East senatorial district and securing the waterways and Motion on the Outbreak of Meningitis: Urgent need to curb the spread and stop further deaths.

To his credit too were Motion on the Unity of Nigeria by Senate Leader, Senator Ahmed Lawan (Co-sponsor); Motion on the urgent need for the federal government to redeem Local Contractors Debts, by Senator Oluremi Tinubu (Co-sponsor) and Motion on the need to avoid imminent disruption of full academic activities and closure of Federal University of Maiduguri, due to rising insecurity occasioned by the spate of suicide bomb attacks by Senator Kaka (Co-sponsor).

On the welfare of his constituents, Ashafa said he had through his legislative office at the National Assembly and the constituency offices situated in all the local government areas within his senatorial district facilitated many town hall meetings, empowerment sessions

for SME owners in Lagos East and the siting of capital-intensive projects targeted at empowering a minimum of 10,000 of his constituents in the East part of the state.

According to him, his actions were driven by a firm belief that one of the primary responsibilities of government was to implement economic policies that would lift millions of the people out of poverty, and to use the resources at its disposal to create safety nets for the poor and vulnerable in our society.

So far, as part of his contributions, Ashafa claimed to have donated to his people, 500 units of Sewing Machines, 100 units of Tricycles, 200 units of Grinding Machines, 20 units of Block Making Machine, 150 units of 1.2KVA Generators, 10 units of 6.5KVA Generators, 2 units of Transformers (already installed in Somolu and Epe) and an ongoing construction of an ICT Centre with the supply of computer systems at Oreyo Secondary School, Igbogbo, Ikorodu.

Other interventions, according to him, included the construction of solar boreholes in 7 locations (Somolu, Bariga, Ojota, Isheri-Magodo, Agbede-Ikorodu, Ketu, Ibeju-Lekki), Town Hall meetings at Kosofe, Ikorodu and Magodo, free medical outreaches across all the LGAs in Lagos East senatorial district in December, 2016, distribution of educational kits and back-to-school materials to more than 3000 pupils in Lagos East in December, 2016, awards of scholarships, financial assistance and medical assistance to constituents under the Gbenga Ashafa Trust Endowment (G.A.T.E).

He also donated security equipment to complement existing efforts at ensuring adequate security for two schools in Epe and Ikorodu and an agricultural entrepreneurship programme in conjunction with Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria for the first batch of (250) constituents of Lagos East and the subsequent distribution of seed funds to beneficiaries in February this year.

While the efforts towards the advancement of his people had earned him awards and accolades all over, Ashafa believes that nothing could be too much for the industrious and hardworking people of Lagos East, especially when so much more could be done.

“I am grateful for the support we have received from our dear constituents so far. For our constituents, who feel we haven’t addressed their concerns, we hear you and promise to do even better in the next half. I am equally aware that the myriad of socio-economic challenges facing the people in our local communities can best be tackled through the synchronised efforts of government at the federal, state and local levels.

“I recognise the efforts of all entrepreneurs and business owners, who are contributing in no small measure to building the kind of trickle-down economic growth we are witnessing in Lagos State. I also commend those in the NGO space and civil society, who continuously speak the truth to people in power and provide development opportunities for the less-privileged in their various communities. I wish to end by encouraging you all to continue to contribute your quota to nation building in what you do and wherever you find yourself,” he said.

Ashafa may not be your everyday politician, the fact that he has triumphed where many first-timers had failed when it comes to real politicking speaks much more to capacity and the ability to manage both human and material resources for collective good. He has shown, in unmistaken terms, that leadership is not esoteric as much as effective representation of the people in a critical arm of the government.

As he counts down to the rest of his mandate due to end in 2019, Ashafa is not oblivious of the compelling need to write his name, not just in gold but importantly, in the sand of time as one senator, whose era in the representation of his people was well carved out and delivered to the letters.

80

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JULY 16, 2017

CICEROEXTRA

T

he former Miss Ayomide Giasat Amosun got married in Abeokuta, recently, to Mr. Oladipupo Habeeb Dabiri. The bride is the daughter of Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State and his wife, Olufunso. The groom is the son of Dr. Kola Dabiri and Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa. Traditional engagement and Nikkah ceremonies were held in the morning of Saturday, July 8th., 2017, and a reception was held in the afternoon at The President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) Estate. Here are some of the personalities at the reception.

Photographs by multiple award-winning Director of Photography SUNMI SMART-COLE.

˾ ÒÏ ØÏáÖã̋áÏÎݲ˛˛ ÖËÎÓÚßÚÙ ËØÎ ÒÓÝ áÓÐϘ ãÙ×ÓÎÏ

˾ ÍÞÓØÑ ÜÏÝÓÎÏØÞ Ï×Ó ÝÓØÌËÔÙ˜ ÖÏÐÞ˜ ËØÎ ÞÒÏ ÐËÞÒÏÜ ÙÐ ÞÒÏ ÌÜÓÎϘ ÙàÏÜØÙÜ ÌÓÕßØÖÏ ×ÙÝßØ

˾ ÓÐÏ ÙÐ ÞÒÏ ÍÞÓØÑ ÜÏÝÓÎÏØÞ˜ Üݲ ÙÖËÚÙ ÝÓØÌËÔÙ˜ ËØÎ ÒÏÜ ÒßÝÌËØΘ ÜÙÐÏÝÝÙÜ Ï×Ó ÝÓØÌËÔÙ˛

˾ ÒÏ ×ÙÞÒÏÜ ÙÐ ÞÒÏ ÑÜÙÙט ÙØ˛ ÌÓÕÏ ËÌÓÜÓ̋ ÜÏᢠËØÎ ÐÙÜ×ÏÜ ÜÏÝÓÎÏØÞ ÖßÝÏÑßØ ÌËÝËØÔÙ

˾ Üݲ ÌÓÕÏ ËÌÓÜÓ̋ ÜÏáË ËØÎ ÒÏÜ ÒßÝÌËØΘ ܲ ÏÑßØ ÜÏá˲

˾ ÒÏ ×ÙÞÒÏÜ ÙÐ ÞÒÏ ÌÜÓÎϘ Üݲ ÖßÐßØÝÙ ×ÙÝßؘ ʮËØÕÏÎ Ìã ÒÏÜ ÐÜÓÏØÎݲ

˾ ÒÓÏÐ ÓÝÓ ÕËØÎϘ ÖÏʰ˜ ÞÒÏ ÒËÓÜ×ËØ ÙÐ ÖÖ ÜÙÑÜÏÝÝÓàÏÝ ÙØÑÜÏÝÝ ̙ ̚˜ ÒÓÏÐ ÙÒØ ãÏÑßؘ ËØÎ ÒÓÝ áÓÐϘ ÓÍÞÙÜÓË

˾ ܲ ÏÑßØ ÑÌËÔϘ ÖÏÐÞ˜ ܲ Ï×Ó ÞÏÎÙÖË ËØÎ ÖÒËÔÓ ÖÓÕÙ ËØÑÙÞÏ˛

˾ ÒÏ ÐËÞÒÏÜ ÙÐ ÞÒÏ ÑÜÙÙט ܲ ÙÖË ËÌÓÜÓ˜ ÖÏʰ˜ ËØÎ ÞÒÏ ÚÏËÕÏÜ ÙÐ ÞÒÏ ÙßÝÏ ÙÐ ÏÚÜÏÝÏØÞËÞÓàÏݘ ÙØ˛ ËÕßÌß ÙÑËÜË

˾ ÙÜ×ÏÜ ÒÓÏÐ ßÝÞÓÍÏ ÙÐ ÓÑÏÜÓ˘ ÙØÙßÜËÌÖÏ ˛ ˛ ÖÐË ÏÖÑÙÜϘ ÖÏʰ˜ ËØÎ ÌË ÎÏÎËÚÙ ÏÔßÙÝÙ˜ ÞÒÏ ÝÓÖÏ ÕÏ ØË ÙÐ ÑÌË̋ÖËØβ

81

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͯʹ˜ Ͱͮͯ͵

EXTRA

˾ ÙÜ×ÏÜ ÏËÎ ÙÐ ÞËÞϘ ÒÓÏÐ ÜØÏÝÞ ÒÙØÏÕËؘ ËØÎ ÒÓÝ áÓÐϘ ËÜÑËÜÏÞ˛

˾ ÙÜ×ÏÜ ÜÏÝÓÎÏØÞ ÖßÝÏÑßØ ÌËÝËØÔÙ˜ ÖÏÐÞ˜ ËØÎ ÙàÏÜØÙÜ ÌÓÕßØÖÏ ×ÙÝßØ ÙÐ ÑßØ ÞËÞÏ˛

˾ ÓØÓÝÞÏÜ ÙÐ ÞËÞÏ ÐÙÜ ÏÞÜÙÖÏßט ܲ ××ËØßÏÖ ÌÏ ËÍÒÓÕáߘ ÖÏÐÞ˜ ËØÎ ÙàÏÜØÙÜ ÕÏäÓÏ ÕÚÏËäß ÙÐ ÌÓË ÞËÞÏ

˾ ÏØËÞÙÜ ÒÏÒß ËØÓ˜ ÖÏʰ˜ ËØÎ ËÔ˛̋ ÏØÏÜËÖ ÕÏ áËÍÒßÕáß ̙ÜÞβ̚˜ ÐÙÜ×ÏÜ ÓØÓÝÞÏÜ ÙÐ ÙÜÏÓÑØ ʥËÓÜݲ

˾ ÒÏ ÖËÕÏ ÙÐ ÑÌËÖËØΘ ÌË ÎÏÎÙÞßØ ÌËÎÏÌÙ˜ ËØÎ ÒÓÝ áÓÐϘ ÖÙÜÓ ÎÏÞÙÕßØÌÙ˛

˾ ÒÏ ÙØÓ ÙÐ ÐϘ ÎÏãÏãÏ ÑßØáßÝÓ˜ ÖÏʰ˜ ËÝÞÙÜ ÞßËÒ ÑÒÙÎËÖÙ ËØΠܲ ÙØãÏ ÙÖϘ ÒÓÏÐ âÏÍßÞÓàÏ ÙÐ ËÒËÜË ÓÖ˛

˾ ÙàÏÜØÙÜ ÙÞÓ×Ó ÕÏÜÏÎÙÖß ÙÐ ØÎÙ ÞËÞÏ ËØÎ ÒÓÝ áÓÐϘ Ïʵã˛

˾ Üݲ ÙÖË ÙÕÏܘ ÒÏÜ ÒßÝÌËØÎ ÓÎÏ ËØÎ ÙØ˛ Ï×Ó ÌËÔËÌÓË×ÓÖ˲

˾ ÙÜ×ÏÜ ÙàÏÜØÙÜ ÎË×Ý ÝÒÓÙ×ÒÙÖÏ ÙÐ ÎÙ ÞËÞϘ ÖÏʰ˜ ËÝÞÙÜ ßØÎÏ ËÕËÜϘ ÐÙÜ×ÏÜ ÙàÏÜØÙÜ ÖËÑßØÝÙãÏ ãÓØÖÙÖË ÙÐ ÝßØ ÞËÞϘ ËØÎ ÙàÏÜØÙÜ ÌÓÕßØÖÏ ×ÙÝßØ˛

˾ ܲ ËãÙ ÕÓØÚÏÖß ˜ ÖÏÐÞ˜ ËÝÒÙÜßØ ÏÖÏ Ù×ÙÎß ËØÎ ÏØËÞÙÜ ÙÕßØÌÙ ÐÓÕßãÙ×Ó˛

83

82

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JULY 16, 2017

CICEROEXTRA

˾ ËÝÒÙÜßØ ÏÖÏ Ù×ÙÎߘ ÖÏʰ˜ ÖÒËÔÓ Ý×ËÓÖË ßØÞߢ ÓÝÝ ÌËÓÑÌÏØ˘ ÒÏÜ ÐËÞÒÏܘ ܲ ÎßÕË ÌËÓÑÌÏØ˘ ËØΠܲ Ë× ×ßÕ˲

˾ ܲ Ï×Ó ÑßØÌÓãÓ˜ ÖÏÐÞ˜ ËØÎ ÐÙÜ×ÏÜ ÜÏÝÓÎÏØÞ ÖßÝÏÑßØ ÌËÝËØÔÙ

˾ ܲ ÓÙÎßØ ÒÙÌËØÔÙ˜ ÖÏʰ˜ ËØÎ ÙàÏÜØÙÜ ×ÙÝßØ˛

˾ ܲ ÓÖÏáË ÎÏÌËÔÙ˜ ÖÏʰ˜ ËØÎ ÙàÏÜØÙÜ ÙÎáÓØ ÌËÝÏÕÓ ÙÐ ÎÙ ÞËÞÏ˛

˾ ܲ ßÚÙ ÒÙØÓÌËÜϘ ÖÏʰ˜ ËØÎ ÒÓÏÐ ãÙ ÎÏÌËØÔÙ

˾ ÏØËÞÙÜ ÖÙÜßØØÓ×ÌÏ Ë×Ùܢ ÖÏÐÞ˜ ÏØËÞÙÜ Ó× ÎßÎߘ ËØÎ ÏØËÞÙÜ ÏØ ÌÓ˛

˾ ÙÜ×ÏÜ ÙàÏÜØÙÜ ÌÏØÑË ËØÓÏÖ ÙÐ ÑßØ ÞËÞϘ ÖÏʰ˜ ݲ ÙÎÏÖÏ ËÜËÐË̋ ßÝßÐ ËØΠܲ ËÚÙ ÌÓÙÎßØ

˾ ܲ ÓÎÏ ÙÕÏܘ ÖÏÐÞ˜ ËÖÖË× ÌÎßÖ Ë×ËÎ ËÌÓߘ ܲ ËãÙ ãÏØÓ ËØΠܲ ÕÏÍÒÓ ãÙ ÜÙÍÒÏ˛

˾ ܲ ßØÎÏ ËÍ̋ ÖËÌÓ˜ ÖÏʰ˜ ܲ ÏÑßØ ÎÏÑÌË×Ó˜ ܲ ßØÎÏ ÏÖËØÓ ËØÎ ÞßØÌË ÏÔÓ ÝÓÌÙÎ߲

ܲ ËÓ ÜÓÙáÙ˜ ÖÏʰ˜ ܲ ßØÎÏ ãÏØÓ˜ ܲ Ï×ÙÖË ÏÜÓÕÓ ËØÎ ÓÜÖÓØÏ ËÚÞËÓØ ÙÝË ÕßØÌÙܲ

83

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JULY 16, 2017

CICEROEXTRA

ÏØËÞÙÜ ÖÙÜßØØÓ×ÌÏ Ë×ÙÜË ËØÎ ÒÓÝ áÓÐϘ ÖËØÖÏÝÓ˛

˾ ÙÜ×ÏÜ ÓÜÝÞ ËÎã ÙÐ ËÑÙÝ ÞËÞϘ Üݲ ÌÓ×ÌÙÖË ËÝÒÙÖ˘ ÖÏÐÞ˜ ËØÎ Üݲ äÏÏÝËÞ ÓÔËØÓ˛

˾ ÏØËÞÙÜ ÌÙÖËÒËØ ËÎË ËØÎ Üݲ ËÎ˲

˾ ܲ ÏÑßØ ÎÏÑÌË×Ó˜ ÖÏÐÞ˜ ËØÎ Þ˛ ÏØÏÜËÖ ÖËØÓ ÕÓØÜÓØËÎÏ ̙ÜÞβ̚˛

˾ ËÖÖË× ÌÎßÖÝË×ËÎ ËÌÓߘ ÖÏʰ˜ ܲ ËãÙ ãÏØÓ ËØÎ ÒÓÝ áÓÐϘ ßÞ߲

˾ ÓØÓÝÞÏÜ ÙÐ ËÌÙßܘ ÒÓÏÐ ÒÜÓÝ ÑÓÑϘ ÖÏʰ˜ ËØÎ ÒÓÏÐ ×ÏÕË ØãËÙÕߘ ÐÙÜ×ÏÜ ÏÍÜÏÞËÜã ÏØÏÜËÖ ÙÐ ÞÒÏ Ù××ÙØáÏËÖÞÒ

ÒÏ ËØËÑÓØÑ ÓÜÏÍÞÙÜ ÙÐ ÏáÝÚËÚÏÜݘ ܲ ØÓÙÖË ÏÖÖÙ˜ ÖÏʰ˜ ÙÑßØËØ ÙÕÙÞÙ ËØÖËÎÓ ËÕÙ ËØΠܲ ÌÏØÑË ÎÏÐËãϘ ÏØÏÜËÖ ËØËÑÏܘ ËØÑßËÜÎ ØÏáÝÚËÚÏÜÝ

˾ ÙÜ×ÏÜ ÓÑÏÜÓËØ ÏÖÏàÓÝÓÙØ ßÞÒÙÜÓÞã ̙ ̚ ØÏáÝáÙ×Ïؘ ËØÞÓ ÌÙÜÙᢠÖÏÐÞ˜ ÓÏØÏ ÖÖáÏÖÖ̋ ÜÙáØ ËØÎ ßÞÒ ÏØË×ËÓÝÓË̋ ÚÓ˲

˾ ÙÜ×ÏÜ ÏÚßÞã ÙàÏÜØÙÜ Ï×Ó ÏÎÜÙ ÙÐ ËÑÙÝ ÞËÞϘ ÖÏʰ˜ ËØΠܲ ÙÖß ÕÓØ̋ ÖßÑÌËÎÏ˛

˾ ÜÙÐÏÝÝÙÜ ËÞÜÓÍÕ ÞÙ×Ó˜ ÖÏÐÞ˜ ËØÎ ÒÓÏÐ ÙÒØ ÎÏãÏ×Ó˛

84

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾JULY 16, 2017

SUNDAYSPORTS

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

Wimbledon: Federer Targets Record Title against Cilic

R

oger Federer will attempt to become the first man to win eight Wimbledon titleswhenhetakeson Marin Cilic in the final today. The Swiss, 35, can overtake the mark set by Pete Sampras in 2000, and Williams Renshaw in 1889, with victoryinhis11thWimbledonfinal.

Cilic,28,heldmatchpointsagainst Federer at last year’s Wimbledon and hopes to add to his 2014 US Open win. “It makes me really happy,markinghistoryatWimbledon,” said Federer.

“It’s a big deal. I love this tournament. All my dreams came true here as a player. To have another chancetogofornumbereightnow, to be so close now at this stage, is a great feeling.”

Federer had to wait five years to take his Grand Slam tally to 18 titles with his stunningAustralian OpenvictoryinJanuary,andjustsix

months later he is the favourite to make it 19. The oldest male finalist sincethe39-year-oldKenRosewall lost to Jimmy Connors in 1974, the factthatFedererisamonthshortof his36thbirthdayhasbeenirrelevant to his form on court.

It is 14 years since Federer won his first major title when he beat Australia’s Mark Philippoussis on Centre Court, and five since he beat Andy Murray to win his last Wimbledon title. “I don’t feel like [2012] is that long ago, to be honest,” said the Swiss.

“2003 feels like ages ago, because oftheponytail,thebeard,whatever, you name it. This one is different.

I kind of look the same as back in 2012, or at least I hope so.”

Hishairstylemighthavechanged but Federer’s game is, if anything, better than ever in his mid-30s. He hasyettodropasetandhaslostjust fourservicegamesoverthecourseof sixmatchesattheAllEnglandClub.

Cilic will provide a familiar challenge, with Federer leading their head-to-head 6-1, but their last two meetingssuggestaclosefinalcould be in prospect.

Federerfoughtbackfromtwosets andthreematchpointsdowntowin their Wimbledon quarter-final last year,whichfollowedCilic’sthree-set demolition job on his way to winning the 2014 US Open. “He was confident and feeling it and seeing it,” recalled Federer. “It was very, very impressive.”

However,theseven-timechampion remainsthefavouritehewaslabelled beforethetournamentbegan.“Unbelievably excited,” is how Federer describedhismood.“IhopeIcanplay one more good match.

“Eleven finals here, all these records, it’s great. But it doesn’t give me the title quite yet. That’s why I came here this year. I’m so close now, so I’ve just got to stay focused.”

Federer

Muguruza Stops Venus to Win Women’s Title

S

Muguruza

pain’s Garbine Muguruza won her first Wimbledon title with a straight-set win over five-time champion Venus Williams yesterday.

The 23-year-old saved two set points and won the last nine games in a 7-5 6-0 victory under the Centre Court roof.

Muguruza denied the 37-year-old a first major

title for nine years, which would have made her the oldest female Grand Slam champion in the Open era.

It is 14th seed Muguruza’s second Grand Slam title after her French Open triumph over Serena Williams in 2016.

“I had the hardest match today against Venus,” said Muguruza. “She’s such an incredible player. I grew up watching her play - sorry,” she added, to the watching

American.

“I feel incredible to be able to play her here. Of course I’m nervous because I always dreamed about winning it, but I was composed.”

Having lost to Serena Williams in the 2015 final, Muguruza becomes the second Spanish woman to win the Wimbledon singles title after her coach, Conchita Martinez. She is also

the first woman to beat both Williams sisters in Grand Slam finals.

A close contest was forecast, and for 40 minutes it proved impossible to separate the two finalists as their impressive serves dominated. Williams had her chance to take control but failed to convert two set points at 5-4, and her challenge faded dramatically as the last nine games went to Muguruza.

85

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

High Life

͎͎͜;ʹ͜͜ͳ;ͳͰ

...Amazing lifestyles of Nigeria’s rich and famous

Mileage of Colours as Governor Amosun’s Daughter Marries Abike Dabiri’s Son

A

beokuta, the historic capital of Ogun State, famous for producing some of Nigeria’s most famous personalities, wore a new garb of fame and festivities last Saturday, July 8. It was the day set aside to join in holy matrimony Ayomide, the winsome daughter of Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, and his beautiful wife, Olufunso; and Oladipo, son of Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Diaspora Aairs. Prior to his emergence as governor, Amosun was never really a social buttery, being reputed more for his fastidious religious beliefs.

But it was a dierent Amosun that gave out his daughter last Saturday.

He did not just divest himself of the toga of a socially conservative man, he danced beautifully with the bride to contemporary music. Cheered on by the guests, he was a sight to

behold on the dance oor.

So were the two mothers who showed that being in their 50s has not in any way robbed them of their dancing skills. It was a gathering of Nigeria’s richest and most powerful and most inuential.

From former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President Bukola Saraki, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara to Governors Akinwunmi Ambode, Abiola Ajimobi of Lagos and Oyo respectively among others; politicians, public oďŹƒce holders, industrialists and businessmen of note, they all converged on Abeokuta for the new couple. Baba Obasanjo, as father of the day, was in his element, and even without prompting grabbed the microphone to belt out a couple of songs in his hoarse voice to the admiration of guests.

Indeed, it was a spectacular show of glamour, power and opulence.

BROTHERS AT WAR... IFEANYI UBAH, EMEKA OFFOR SET TO LOCK HORNS The drumbeats of war resound across the nooks and crannies of the Igbo nation, like the stirrings of medieval blood-fests between warring ethnic giants. But unlike the carnages of old that shaped and malformed the histories of great icons and civilisations, the ongoing spat between Ifeanyi Ubah and Emeka Offor may incite no bloodbath. Weeks after he was released from detention, Capital Oil and Gas founder, Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah, is finding it easier to forgive his acclaimed enemies than to forgive his purported friends; those that smile and eat with him yet, orchestrated more harm with a smile plastered on their faces.

Ifeanyi Ubah

Ubah was arrested by the State Security Service May 5 over alleged diversion of petrol kept in his tank farm in Lagos by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC. He spent six weeks in detention.

Late last week, he allegedly coughed out N2billion out of the N11bilion he owes the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC. That is however not the story. The Anambra State native is reportedly very peeved with the role another prominent Igbo businessman and vice chairman of Chrome Group, Sir Emeka Offor, allegedly played in the whole saga.

Aside that a man he calls his own brother as both hail from the same village didn’t lift a finger while his ordeal lasted, Ubah allegedly has

Emeka Oor

Oladipo and Ayomide during their engagement ceremony

privileged information that Sir Offor allegedly gave sensitive information to the security agents leading to his arrest. This was one betrayal too much, Ubah reportedly contended.

As things stand, Ubah is spoiling for a showdown and he has good grounds for his grouse, his posse told this reporter. It was gathered that Ubah would do anything at this juncture to recover a loan he was said to have advanced Sir Offor when he buried his father late 2016. Knowing his controversial predilection, there is no gainsaying that this portends a fight the battleweary Offor might find hard to win.

FOR THE LOVE OF ART‌OYIN ADEYEMI THROWS WEIGHT BEHIND WANDERLUST Where her peers stay content in being ordinary, billionaire, Group MD of StillEarth Limited, Oyin Adeyemi, seeks to be extraordinary.

She does not wish to appear the best, she seeks to be the best.

But despite her predilection for excellence, the beautiful woman with tiny frame and mammoth reputation does not seek to become a Nigerian Oprah Winfrey, neither does she intend to model her exploits after the great deeds of mankind’s deceased heroines, Oyin simply wishes to be her own woman; a 21st century heroine cut from a rare stock. She does not turn a blind eye to the needy. Rather she pays good mind to their needs.

And in this respect, his generosity proclaims her. She is indeed generous at heart. Oyin embarks on a humanitarian odyssey like a kind of poet and painter whose imagination is unclipped. She paints

picturesque scenes in lives severely marred by squalor; she encrusts bleakness in shiny varnish and, as she is able, she seeks to mend small damaged lives here and there. Little wonder, her company, StillEarth, a construction and realties giant, was one of the major corporate sponsors of VIP Art Exhibition opening of WANDERLUST, presenting works

by Chidi Kwubiri, Emeka Udemba, Junkman from Afrika, Jimmy Nwanne, Unoma Numero, Yetunde Ayeni-Babaeko. The event hosted by WheatBaker, Lagos, on the 8th July, was well attended .

Chidi Kwubiri is a Nigerian artist. He has been drawing and painting since his childhood in Umuahia, Southeastern Nigeria.

At school, he devoted his time and energy to learning the basic

Oyin Adeyemi

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

Ͷʹ

Mr. Modesty! Kola Abiola Marks 55th Birthday ˾How he turned birthday to a master class in humility

I

ndeed, we must not measure greatness from the mansion down, but from the manger up.

Many a rich man giddy with power, carry himself with a false sense of modesty but Kola Abiola is remarkably different. He clocked 55 some days ago and contrary to the norm and expectations within the social circuit, he did not roll out a marching band or host a celebrity-styled soiree to celebrate the coming of age.

In the halcyon, starry-eyed days of youth, Kola, scion of late colourful businessman and presumptive winner of the June 1993 presidential election, Chief MKO Abiola, would have pulled all the stops to celebrate his birthday in any part of the world he desired.

After all, he is the first son and heir apparent to a billionaire dynasty. But beefy Kola has come of age. When he clocked 55 Saturday, July 1st, those who knew his social streak back in the days envisaged a lavish gathering where champagnes and

principles of perspective, still life and figurative drawings.

A QUIET, YET GLAMOROUS 60TH BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR LADUNNI AKIN-OLUGBADE Like the early dew which moistens blooming bougainvillea, Ladun Akin Olugbade ornamented Nigeria’s high society with uncharacteristic verve and aplomb.

So dazzling was her presence and her gait that she effortlessly became the centre of attraction at every social event she graced.

Being married to one of Nigeria’s wealthiest men is by no means a criterion to throw gaudy parties at will, especially if you have a hubby that panders to such whims. Chief Ladunni Akin-Olugbade, the wife of billionaire Aare Bolu AkinOlugbade, is a different kind of billionaire’s wife after all. When she turned 60 recently, the self-effacing

Ladunni Akin-Olugbade

cognacs and canapés would flow like a river. Though Kola, who in recent years has become less visible on the social scene, hasn’t changed band, he has only added a couple of seats to the horn section. It was mum from his household.

Except for a handful of associates and his siblings Deji, Agboola, Bolaji and Wura who placed adverts in some dailies to celebrate him, there was no indication that one of Nigeria’s understated, yet, thoroughbred, life-loving silver spoons was marking his day. Sources said he spent the early part of the day offering prayers to his maker and spending the rest of the day with his immediately family in his palatial mansion in the exclusive Osborne Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos. Close associates surmised that were Kola’s wife, Olayinka (nee Onileere) alive, it would have been a different story entirely.

She would have spared no expense to fete and celebrate the remarkable life of her hubby. Olayinka died in 2010 in Los Angeles while on lawyer opted for a low key but quality gathering.

As age is strictly a case of mind over matter, she didn’t mind what many might say about her decision not to roll out the drums in typical wealthy family fashion, what matters to her is the attainment of 60 in good health. But her family still caused her to be celebrated because attaining age 60 is by no means a little achievement.

To set the ball rolling, a dinner party was held for the ‘birthday girl’ who has a Master’s degree in International Law and Diplomacy by her husband and three sons at the luxurious George Hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos, which prides itself as a signature hotel in the tradition of the finest hotels in the world. This was followed by a thanksgiving service at First Baptist Church, Lagos, where the family are ardent worshipers.

Another classy breakfast party followed, attended by only close family friends, a clear departure from when her husband clocked 60 in April, 2016.

Dr Akin-Olugbade, a successful lawyer with a doctorate degree in Company Law from Cambridge University, and an unabashed lover of high-end Rolls Royces, ferried relatives, friends and associates to exclusive Brazilian Restaurant, FOGO DE CHAO, in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles for his own birthday.

It was a typical billionaire ball with exotic entertainment on display for the privileged guests. However, don’t commit the faux pas of addressing Dr Akin-Olugbade a billionaire as he once stated in a dated interview that he does not like the appellation because he is worth only $250 million in cash and a few more millions in other currencies!!!

Kola Abiola

vacation. She was reported to have slumped and died immediately. Olayinka was in her mid-40s. Her sudden and shocking death came NOBODY MAKES A LOVELY CORPSE…MO ABUDU LOSES MOTHER IN LAW...BURIES HER GRANDLY Few people get to transit from being utterly indispensable to “eternally unforgettable.” A real mother does. And if she is some father-in-law to treasure, he may be succeeded but he can never be replaced. This truth amongst so many others manifested in the manner in which Mo Abudu buried her late mother in-law.

Nobody ever makes a lovely corpse but when she was alive, she characterised the essence of loveliness and more. They might have been separated for close to a decade. However, Alhaja Raolat Adenike Abudu, the late wife of legal luminary and astute businessman, Chief Olatunde Abudu, was the only mother-in-law known to media entrepreneur and

three years after Kola lost his beloved daughter, Labake, at the age of 16. It is almost ten years now but Kola never quite recovered. owner of Ebony TV, Mo Abudu.

Alhaja Raolat was the mother of Tokunbo Abudu, also a lawyer and businessman, whose marriage to Mo broke down irretrievably about a decade ago. She was aged 85. The final burial ceremony was held in Abeokuta, Ogun State. In spite of her very busy schedule considering her new vocation as a filmmaker, the enterprising and wealthy Mo ensured that she played her wifely role well, regardless of her separation from Tokunbo.

Alongside her daughter, one of the products of the union, Temidayo, Mo was up and doing, attending to guests and ensuring they enjoyed the celebration of the life of the departed Abudu matriarch. Notable among the guests are close friends of Mo like Ruth Osime, Vivien Chiology-Shittu, Debbie Oghene, Pat Faniran, Ayana Trimmel, Ndidi Ayanye, Grace Osime and many others. Tokunbo’s friends were equally well represented.

A DAY THE OONI OF IFE WOULD NEVER FORGET

Mo Abudu

The ceremonies have ended. The husband has taken his wife home, savouring without restraints or inhibitions each other’s warmth and company, as the process of increasing Nigeria’s population is intensified. For the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the wedding of Ayomide, Ogun State governor Ibikunle Amosun’s daughter, and Oladipupo, son of Hon. Abike Dabiri, former House of Representatives member and Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Diaspora Affairs, it was a day he would not forget in a while.

Despite being surrounded by a phalanx of palace adherents, the

87

˜ ˞ JULY 16, 2017

HIGHLIFE

Royal Decision... Who Becomes Ogbeni Oja of Ijebuland?

F

or the towering magnate, the path to honour doesn’t lay out in flat miles, it’s riddled with trials of fortune and intrigues of commerce. Eventually, it’s the imagination with which he perceives industry and the gestures by which he honours it that stands him out from his peer. Armed with this ageless wisdom, notable sons of Ijebu land sought their niche in the world of commerce. And having attained acclaim and global deference in the cutthroat world of industry, they silently seek good graces of their kingdom’s paramount ruler, Oba Sikiru Adetona, the Awujale of Ijebu. As you read, illustrious sons of Ijebu are being considered for the kingdom’s highest honour for merchants and a son of the soil. The title: Ogbeni Oja of Ijebu land (Leader of Commerce and Industry in Ijebu) is currently in contention and Oba Adetona is no doubt having a hard time deciding who, among his subjects, is worthy of the much coveted honour.

The title, which is one of the biggest titles in Ijebu is bestowed on recipients according to the prerogative

Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi

Ooni mysteriously had his phone stolen at the expansive venue. This unwholesome incident, happened as the Ooni soaked in the merriment of the day. He was not alone. His brother-in-law, Jide Fadairo, also fell victim to the wily ways of the miscreants whose access into the venue, despite the burly, stone-faced security operatives and gun-bearing policemen, beggars understanding.

Ooni Ogunwusi was very much upset by the incident while his followers were more devastated.

But there was nothing they could do about the mystery behind the theft and the daredevil(s) that could have perpetrated it.

DEWUNMI OGUNSANYA’S FIXATION WITH LUXURY PROPERTIES...BUYS SUJIMOTO’S LUXURY PROPERTY IN IKOYI When successful businessman and founding chairman of

of the Awujale. It is usually given to a very successful businessman who is accomplished in his chosen career. In recent history, the two men who have held the title were accomplished men of immense means. The first Ogbeni Oja was late Chief Adeola Odutola, an Ijebu icon who in his lifetime was easily one of the most successful industrialists in Yorubaland.

When he died, the Awujale made Otunba Bayo Kuku, the next Ogbeni Oja. And he again was a very rich and successful businessman. He died two years ago. Since then, that seat has been vacant. At the moment, we have in contention for the title the Fototek boss, Chief Adegunwa. Adegunwa is very rich and close to the Awujale. He is from Ososa.

Could it also be Oba Otudeko?

The latter, a successful industrialist, is close to the Awujale as well. He is a highly respected operator in the private sector with business and social connections. He is seen as a strong contender.

Another likely contender for the title is Chief Sonny Kuku. Kuku is currently the Olorogun of Ijebuland. He is an accomplished Medical Doctor and businessman. This Multichoice, Adewunmi Ogunsanya, completed his fetching fortress on Queen’s Drive, Ikoyi, Lagos, he envisaged that he and his beautiful wife, Moji, had a sumptuous, befitting place they would grow grey together in. Death had other more sinister plans as it snatched Moji through a debilitating cancer in March 2014. The Ogunsanya home, with its expansive outlay and expensive finishings, is regarded as one of the most beautiful houses in the elite neighbourhood and it underscores the foremost lawyer’s taste in luxury properties. The last three years have indeed been a mixture of sorts for the 1984 law graduate of the University of Kent, Canterbury, UK. He was bestowed with the prestigious Senior Advocate of Nigeria title in 2016 and was later appointed chairman of Heritage Bank. In the years under review, Ogunsanya

Oba Sikiru Adetona

illustrious son of Ijebu is also seen as a strong contender.

But while Ijebu’s royal circuit mull the likely recipient of the esteemed title, not a few people are wondering has revved up his love for acquiring luxury properties. Recently, he added to his property portfolio, a high-rise apartment building in Bourdillon, Ikoyi, where real estate firm, Sujimoto Construction LTD, had planned to build Lorenzo, a 25-storey building which stands as the tallest residential building model in Lagos. A man that bats no eyelid when it comes to splashing the cash, as Ogunsanya continues to pile up successes, speculations continue to mount about the billionaire as regards whether he would remarry or not. He has indeed become a highly sought widower in Nigeria’s high society as hordes of women are engaged in a frantic jostle to win his love and attention. Most of them are professing their noble intent to offer him ‘emotional support’ and take his mind off the loss of his late wife.

So desperate are these women that they now engage in a battle of wits to outsmart one another and find marital refuge in his palatial home.

if the Awujale would risk making the title one family’s birthright by replacing a Kuku with Kuku as the Ogbeni Oja of Ijebu land. Only time will tell. rotund shape has nothing to do with a bun in the oven. Many have blamed her roundness on her sedentary lifestyle. According to them, she is adding weight because she often sit for too much.

Rather than get up to see to her affairs, she loves to remain on her seat while dishing out orders and instructions about everything she wants done. To meet her needs, she is reportedly surrounded by sycophantic adherents who are in the habit of milling around her.

Despite these presumptions, news about her pregnancy has been making the rounds.

Speculators have it that she would soon be travelling out of the country for proper medical attention. However, if the tales are anything to go by, then these should be joyous moments in the life of the pastor.

IS PASTOR ANSLEM MADUBUKO’S NEW WIFE’S PREGNANT?

Dewunmi Ogunsanya

Until the rumour is verified, nosey-parkers will do well to abide by famous English playwright Francis Beaumont’s memorable quote - “Plot me no plots�particularly when the issue pertains to Pastor Emmy Kosgei, the new wife of Pastor Anslem Madubuko, Senior Pastor of the Revival Assembly Church.

As you read this, the rumours are rife that the wife he got married to sometime back, is pregnant.

Tempting as it is to pay heed to the rumour, a sizeable number of the pastor’s congregation is quick to denounce the speculation. Left to them, Pastor Emmy’s increasingly

Anslem Madubuko

Sunday July 16, 2017

TR

UT H

& RE A S O

N

Price: N400

MISSILE Soyinka to FG “Sometimes when people say negotiate, what they really mean is restructure.

Should Nigeria break up? And my answer to that is no, but please don’t tell me that Nigeria as it stands is not negotiable. For me, it is a fallacy. The nation has got to be negotiated. Negotiation includes ensuring that there is no marginalisation.”

– Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, faulting the view that Nigeria’s unity is not negotiable.

SIMONKOLAWOLE SIMONKOLAWOLELIVE!

simon.kolawole@thisdaylive.com, sms: 0805 500 1961

Restructuring Nigeria is Non-negotiable

M

y 72-year-old mother, widowed since 1976, has not received her pension from the Kogi state government for over a year now (we have, let me confess, lost count of the months). Insult plus injury, she has not been paid her gratuity since she retired in 2006, despite all manner of verification and re-verification she has been undergoing — travelling from Lagos to Lokoja, the state capital, all the time. I was so worried about her frequent travels and the stress at some point that I told her: “Mummy, enough of this trouble. Whatever your gratuity is, I will give you double.” She looked at me and said, rather sorrowfully, “But it is my sweat.”

I was close to tears.

In other news, the Kogi government has just spent about N12 million on newspaper advertising to “debunk” a claim made by Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu on the constitutional provision for the recall of Senator Dino Melaye, the bosom-friend-turned-bitter-foe of Governor Yahaya Bello. From the feedback I am getting from home, a lot of money was distributed to get voters to sign up for the recall. Some say billions, but I have no way of finding out. One thing I know, at least, is that I get SMS from despondent people everyday asking for “family support” as salaries have not been paid for… how many months? I’ve lost count. Could the “recall budget” have been better spent?

Pardon my naivety, but whenever I hear millions and billions, I always think about potholes and boreholes. I spend days and nights thinking about hospitals and schools.

I am always fascinated by laboratories and libraries. It’s an obsession. Each time I go round Nigeria and I see the afflictions of the lowly and the vulnerable, I am overwhelmed with sadness. Is this the best we can give to these people? Go to the primary healthcare centre nearest to you, go to the nearest general hospital, go to the nearest public school. Kindly tell me if this is what the people of this country deserve. Kindly let me know if this is how civilised societies are run.

And that is why, today, I am joining the ongoing campaign for the restructuring of Nigeria. It has become urgent, inevitable and non-negotiable. I have said, time after time, that the current structure is not working for the masses of the people. A structure that breeds unemployment and insecurity will only continue to ruin us. I show you a doomed system: a system where ex-governors are on million-naira pension for life, and are promptly paid, while a civil servant who devoted 35 years of his life to public service is owed arrears of pension that probably come to N20,000 a month. Any society built on inequality, injustice, wickedness, waste and elite hijack is hopeless.

In 1992, Freddie McGregor, the Jamaican reggae crooner, released a song, “To be poor is a crime”, which would pass as one of his best ever. Was he describing the perfidy in Nigeria?

Who gets the best healthcare today? Whose children get quality education? Who has security protection, complete with police escorts? Is it the market woman or the commissioner in Delta state? The cab driver or the special adviser in Oyo state? The cleaner or the governor’s relative in Imo? The cobbler or the lawmaker in Zamfara? The yam seller or the senator in Benue? The barber or the governor in Bauchi?

Is this the structure that will make Nigeria fit for human habitation?

Maybe I am speaking Greek. In 1981, one

Buhari Mrs Ukeje, a widow, launched a court case when her husband died and her in-laws took control of the husband’s assets. It took 35 years for her to get justice. Thankfully, the Supreme Court ruled in her favour. There was also the case of Mrs Mojekwu who was widowed in 1966. It was not until 1997 that she got justice. In this same system, politicians can get two Supreme Court judgments in 24 hours.

Thousands of innocent people are in prison for decades awaiting trial for stealing noodles, but “big men” accused of stealing billions get bail in hours. Do we want to continue with such a perverted structure?

Maybe I’m speaking Chinese. In the last few months in Ikorodu, Lagos state, hapless Nigerians have been murdered in their sleep for ritual. The police in the community, according to accusations, often looked the other way and released suspects because the traditional rulers and their chiefs are allegedly behind the ritual. How many commissioners, special advisers, governors, ministers and lawmakers have been killed by ritualists? As at last count, a whopping none! They have dedicated police officers looking after them 24/7. Who bears the brunt? Of course, the ordinary people who are not counted as human beings in their own country.

Maybe I’m speaking Latin. Kidnappers have been operating on the Abuja-Kaduna road for ages, grabbing defenceless Nigerians at will and extorting their families. But when the Abuja international airport was shut down for the reconstruction of the runway, government suddenly realised that human beings would soon start plying the road to use the Kaduna airport in the interim. They quickly flooded the highway with security personnel, spiced with air patrol. They even repaired the road since it was now going to be used by human beings. As soon as the

Abuja airport reopened, security was toned down and kidnappers have since reported for work. Is this a human society?

All said and done, the truth is that Nigeria is not working for the poor and the powerless, wherever they are, whatever state or region they come from, whatever religion they practise, and whatever language they speak. Nigeria is working only for the rich and the powerful, especially the people in power and their cronies, wherever they are, whatever state or region they come from, whatever religion they practise, and whatever language they speak. That is the real struggle going on in Nigeria today, putting aside the politically motivated heat wave. Any talk about restructuring must encompass how to correct this grievous injustice across the length and breadth of Nigeria.

I have been following the debate on restructuring Nigeria lately. As to be expected, views are divergent. There are those campaigning for a return to the 1963 constitution, said to be the most federalist ever. Restructuring, to some, is to return to regionalism. To others, it is resource control. Many think it is fiscal federalism, state police, introduction of Sharia or disintegration. If you look at the different positions objectively, maybe the campaigners have a point. But since Nigerians are frustrated with the state of the nation, the elite are capitalising on this to promote their own narrow, divisive political and economic interests under the guise of “restructuring”.

Nonetheless, my contribution to the debate is that any restructuring we are going to design must look at the pervasive social injustice.

The Nigerian structure, as it stands, is skewed against the vulnerable, against the oppressed.

The victims of the system cut across every nook and cranny of Nigeria. And the beneficiaries are all over the landscape: the rich, the powerful and their friends, families and associates.

Therefore, if state police would mean better protection for the masses, why not adopt it? If it will stop the police from perpetrating illegal detention, carrying out extra-judicial killings and working hand-in-glove with criminals, why not?

More so, if regionalism will provide quality education — meaning primary and secondary schools can now be attended by the children of public officers — why not go for it? If fiscal federalism means the powerful people can start attending general hospitals and receiving the kind of treatment meted out to the poor, why argue against it? If it is resource control that will address corruption in high and low places, and lead to the provision of potable water to the deprived people in the creeks, what is wrong with that? If Sharia will keep cholera at bay and contain polio and meningitis, isn’t that a beautiful thing? If boundary adjustment will pay my mum’s pension, isn’t that lovely?

If restructuring Nigeria — be it in the form of 1963 constitution, regionalism, Sharia, resource control or Biafra — will not address the wickedness in high places, the repression of widows, the dehumanisation of pensioners, the bastardisation of justice, the violation of the value system and the shedding of blood in communal conflicts in various states, including Ebonyi, Taraba, Kaduna, Cross River and Delta — then we need to go back to the drawing board. We need a structure that will improve the quality of life of the Nigerian. If we return to regionalism or break up without restructuring our brains, our latter end will be worse than our current situation.

And Four Other Things...

BEASTS OF NO NATION Mrs Aisha Buhari, the first lady, recently treated us to a cryptic message on Facebook. I initially thought it was a spoof because of its highly political nature, but it has not been denied. She wrote: “God has answered the prayers of the weaker animals. The Hyenas and the Jackals will soon be sent out of the kingdom. We strongly believe in the prayers and support of the weaker animals.” She was following a similar “animal talk” by Senator Shehu Sani who spoke about hyenas, wolves, jackals, lioness and tiger in Aso Rock, as well as crocodiles, cheetahs, leopards, pumas and jaguars on the outside. Are we now running an animal farm in this Federal Republic of Drama? Coded.

DANGOTE’S COWS Nigeria’s No. 1 monopolist, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, is about to set up another monopoly: dairy farming. According to reports, his proposed farm will boast of 50,000 cows by 2019 and produce 500 million litres of milk per year. He is putting $800 million into dairy production in the next three years. Since we currently import 95% of our milk in Nigeria, the new monopoly will save us several millions of dollars in forex flight, help grow the naira, create jobs and meet nutritional needs.

Meanwhile, many Nigerian billionaires have plenty monopolies waiting for their investment in agriculture, but they would rather buy penthouses in New York. I hate monopoly but I’m loving this. Opportunity.

MAMBILLA MASSACRE Nigeria has become such a pathetic society that when human lives are dastardly snuffed out, our first, and often only, interest is the religion or tongue of the victims and the perpetrators. The value of human life means nothing to us, insofar as the perpetrators speak our language. This is again evident in the Mambilla killings in Taraba. One side said it was Fulani herdsmen that killed people from other ethnic groups, and the other side said it was genocide against the Fulani. In Nigeria, some people only find their voice when their kith and kin are at the receiving end. Herdsmen kill farmers, great. Farmers kill herdsmen, genocide. And vice-versa. Is ours a sane society? Sickening.

NHIS WAR Are you following the war between Prof.

Usman Yusuf, the executive secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), and Prof. Isaac Adewole, the minister of health? Here’s a recap: Yusuf was accused of fraud and has been suspended by Adewole but Yusuf says the minister has no power to remove him and has vowed to disobey the directive, maintaining that he was suspended because he refused to “play ball” with the minister. I will be surprised if processes and procedures have been breached in this matter. If indeed the minister does not have the power to suspend (not sack) him, then this will be a major embarrassment to this government.

Waiting…

Printed and Published in Lagos by THISDAY Newspapers Limited. Lagos: 35 Creek Road, Apapa, Lagos. Abuja: Plot 1, Sector Centre B, Jabi Business District, Solomon Lar Way, Jabi North East, Abuja .

All Correspondence to POBox 54749, Ikoyi, Lagos. EMAIL: editor@thisdaylive.com, info@thisdaylive.com. TELEPHONE Lagos: 0802 2924721-2, 08022924485. Abuja: Tel: 08155555292, 08155555929 24/7 ADVERTISING HOT LINES: 0811 181 3086, 0811 181 3087, 0811 181 3088, 0811 181 3089, 0811 181 3090. ENQUIRIES & BOOKING: adsbooking@thisdaylive.com