Sunday 29th October 2017

Joshua Retains Heavyweight Titles, Stops Takam in 10th Round British Nigerian world heavyweight champion, Anthony Oluwafemi Joshua, stopped resilient French-Cameroonian Carlos Takam in the 10th round to successfully defend his IBF and WBA heavyweight world titles in Cardiff. The

Briton made it 20 victories from as many bouts in front of an estimated 78,000 at the Principality Stadium.

Joshua’s nose was cut in the second round by the head of Takam, 36, who replaced Kubrat Pulev 12 days before

the bout. Joshua, 28, then cut Takam’s eye in the fourth, but it took until round 10 for the Cameroon-born boxer to be stopped.

Takam got the fight at the last minute, a replacement for the injured mandatory

challenger, Kubrat Pulev, and he made the most of his opportunity.

In the months ahead, Joshua and his promoter, Eddie Hearn, will do their best to get Deontay Wilder to put his WBC belt up against the WBA and IBF

versions owned by the British champion. It is inevitable, even if the date is uncertain.

Takam, who fought without fear against the likes of Alexander Povetkin and Joseph

Joshua

Continued on page 9

TCN: Power Transmission Contracts Top List of Abandoned Infrastructure Projects… Page 14 Sunday 29 October, 2017 Vol 22. No 8228

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People Around Buhari Not our Members, Says PDP Tells ruling party to stop the blame game and face governance Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that attempts by the ruling All

Progressives Congress (APC) to put the blame of its failure on previous government will not save it from the verdict of the people.

Reacting to claims by the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd), that the administration of

President Muhammadu Buhari derailed because PDP members are those calling the shots in the government, the party's Spokesman, Dayo

Adeyeye, said APC was merely lamenting its failures.

Ali had said during the opening of the campaign office of the Buhari Support

Organisation in Abuja on Friday that about 50 percent of PDP members were in the Continued on page 9

Obasanjo: Maina Saga Not in Tandem with Anti-graft War Document shows EFCC notified AGF of ex-pension task force boss’ indictment in August 2016 Iyobosa Uwugiaren, Onyebuchi Ezigbo, and Paul Obi in Abuja, and Ademola Babalola in Ibadan Former President Olusegun Obasanjo said yesterday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, that the botched recall of a former chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, was not consistent with the avowed war on corruption. Obasanjo said this at the 2017 Foundation Day Public Lecture titled: “Corruption and the Challenges of the African Child”.

The lecture was organised to mark the 14th anniversary of Dorcas Oke Hope Alive Initiative (DOHAL).

The former president also identified corruption and poverty as the two major contributors to the formation of Boko Haram terrorist sect in the Continued on page 9

Former Army Chief, Victor Malu, Buried amid Encomiums … Page 14

MARITAL BLISS… L-R: Mother of the bride, Mrs. Toyin Saraki; bride, Oluwatosin; groom, Olatunde Olusanya; father of the bride, Senate President Bukola Saraki; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; and his wife, Dolapo; at the engagement ceremony of Saraki’s daughter and Olatunde at Eko Hotel, Lagos ....yesterday

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

PAGE NINE OBASANJO: MAINA SAGA NOT IN TANDEM WITH ANTI-GRAFT WAR North-east.

Meanwhile, THISDAY has obtained a document, which shows that the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, was officially notified last year of the indictment of Maina following an investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The contents of the document contradict Malami’s claim that he acted in the interest of the law and the country by recommending the recall of Maina, who had been dismissed from the federal civil service for alleged involvement in fraudulent practices.

He was dismissed in 2013 by the Federal Civil Service Commission following a recommendation by the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation. But Maina was reinstated as director in charge of human resources in the Ministry of Interior under controversial circumstances that came to light recently. Following nationwide condemnation of his recall, President Muhammadu Buhari promptly ordered his sack and also queried the head of service.

Speaking in Ibadan yesterday, Obasanjo said, “Corruption must be punished, and must be seen to be punished.

Any accomplice in corruption and cover-up and any failure to punish must also earn punishment.

“We cannot afford to have sacred cows in the fight against corruption. The Maina saga should never have been allowed to occur. It is not in tandem with the fight against corruption.”

Referring to his days in office, Obasanjo said, "When I was elected President in 1999, my administration took the issue of corruption very seriously and we established Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission as well as Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, among other anticorruption initiatives. These institutions were provided the political support needed to

fight corruption and they did their best.

"But once we left office, they became very politicised and weakened to the point that they were unable to discharge their duties. In fact, one of the governors, who had been labelled and gone to jail for corruption, was to look for replacement for Nuhu Ribadu (the pioneering chairman of EFCC), and you know the type of replacement he would get.

"There is need to support and strengthen these institutions, especially in the area of prosecution. The law enforcement agencies or the government alone cannot fight corruption. They must be supported by a judiciary that is upright and transparent. It is very demoralising to law enforcement officers when they painstakingly investigate a case and the culprit finds his way around the judiciary to escape.

"Individually and collectively, we have to be mentally restructured. We must change our mind-set as a people. We must all return to our core values of hard work, honesty, integrity, justice, equity, fairness, humanity and communality.

In other words, we need to go for more rearmament.

"We cannot continue to celebrate criminals, who enrich themselves from our commonwealth, and think that corruption will disappear.

Those who loot the public purse must be seen and treated as undesirable in the community, rather than celebrate them. They should not be made to feel welcomed in our families, religious bodies and societies. If a person strips himself or herself of humanity and dignity by stealing public or private funds, we should not clothe them, respect or admire them.”

Speaking further, the former president said, "This is where many of our religious leaders have to discriminate in favour of teaching the scriptures and our cultural values.

They anoint criminals for their

PDP: PEOPLE AROUND BUHARI ARE NOT OUR MEMBERS Buhari administration and members of the party were the ones calling the shots, thus the reason for the derailment of the government's change agenda.

However Adeyeye who spoke to THISDAY in a telephone interview yesterday, described Ali's assertion as unfounded, adding that among the cabal around the presidency, none of them has ever been in PDP. "You can't eat your egg and still have it. They are APC and they are APC. The people I see around President Muhammadu Buhari have never been in the PDP, the cabal around the presidency, none of them has ever been in PDP. Among the ministers in the Buhari's cabinet, 99% are APC and I don't see PDP there.

"The fact is that majority of those running the government are APC members. It is a stupid statement, it is still the nature of blaming PDP for everything that they got wrong.

He said that the PDP was not surprised at the statement credited to the Customs boss because he himself had been a failure since he started managing the affairs of the customs service.

"So it is the same thing because when these people

fail, the only thing they think they can resort to is to blame the PDP. We have said it that they are bereft of ideas and the only things they can do is to turn round and start blaming the PDP. "They need to re-examine themselves. PDP that was in power for 16 years had tremendous achievements to show for it. APC has ruled for almost three years with no concrete achievement whereas the PDP recorded achievement from its first year in office.

"So this blame game is not working, they have failed. I have never seen a government which has made it the sole business of blaming the previous government for its failures in the whole world. Most of the time what we see is that people come to office and say yes, there are some inadequacies which they have come to fix and once they get there, they commence work and deliver on their promise.”

Adeyeye said Ali was one of the liabilities of this government and they are holding Nigerians to ransom.

"But by the grace of God, all of these will soon end; the people will have the opportunity to elect a new government into office," he added.

ill-gotten wealth, and demonise the poor. We must show our young people that there is dignity in labour and reward in transparency and integrity.

Perhaps, this is one area where organisations like DOHAL must continue to invest. We must celebrate and promote our young people, who exhibit traits of transparency, integrity, honesty and accountability. This will encourage others to emulate their examples.

"There is a need to make the youth an integral part of the fight against corruption.

Young people are the greatest assets of any country. They have the energy, the passion to act as change agents if they are well nurtured and included in the fight against corruption. The added advantage of youth inclusion in the anticorruption process is that they have technological tools that make transparency and accountability easier.

"But I see hope and a great future ahead. There are Nigerians of world-class standards, characters, attributes and performance, if we'll only look deep. We should encourage them and celebrate them wherever we may find them."

While noting that the solution to corruption and poverty is in building strong institutions, Obasanjo said his on-going research for a degree in Christian Theology had helped him to uncover how corruption that subjected the masses to abject poverty led to the formation of Boko Haram, solely established to kick against the Western education that produced the corrupt people.

According to the former president, "Corruption breeds poverty, crime, insecurity, instability and generally inhibits growth and development. It underdevelops and kills. I am currently researching on the situation in the north-eastern Nigeria for my thesis in Christian Theology. And what I found is most alarming.

"One of the reasons that members of the extremist group, Boko Haram, gave for their insurrection is that they became disillusioned, when they saw how corrupt Western educated leaders were.

According to them, if those who occupied government offices by virtue of their Western education would corruptly enrich themselves and deprive others of the basic things of life, then that education is 'haram', which means forbidden.

"I am told that when Mohammed Yusuf, the original leader of Boko Haram and his

early followers first started, they all gathered and tore their certificates, because they said a certificate, which could not fetch them a source of livelihood, is useless to them.

Similarly, they saw Western education as corrupting the individuals.

"We may not agree with their position, but the disappointment and disillusionment of citizens over the inadequacy or poor performance of their leaders is real. Adding rising corruption to other inadequacies in leadership and we'll see the instability and insecurity, which we have witnessed in the North-east in recent years.”

Obasanjo identified measures that could curb corruption with a view to safeguarding the future of the country, saying, "We must strengthen our law enforcement, and justice system, and encourage them to complement each other in the fight against corruption.”

In the meantime, a report

by EFCC has shown that the AGF was officially notified over a year ago that the antigraft agency had indicted the former pension boss, but still went ahead to recommend his recall from sack.

Malami had in reaction to public condemnation of his role and that of Minister of Interior Abdulrahman Dambazau in the saga said he acted lawfully and in the public interest in recommending the reinstatement and promotion of Maina. Apart from his dismissal, Maina was also declared wanted by EFCC for alleged fraud, though Malami claimed he was not aware of any law infracted by his recommendation at the time it was given.

But a new document revealed Malami’s awareness of a prior indictment of Maina by the EFCC. The document showed that a damming report of an investigation carried out by EFCC on the alleged fraud in the administration of the Federal Civil Service Pension Scheme was submitted to the office of AGF in a letter dated August 1, 2016 with reference no.CR:3000/EFCC/ ABJ/FAFI/VOL.1/128.

Though Malami has been summoned by the Senate over the Maina issue, the latest revelation constitutes yet another step forward in the efforts to unravel the legal and moral do-si-do that is threatening to damage the President Muhammadu Buhari government’s anticorruption war.

The summary of the commission's report, which is

contained in the letter to the AGF shows that Maina fictitiously owned and operated several accounts with a bank using names, such as, Cluster Logistics' Drew Investment and Construction Limited and Kongolo Dynamics Cleaning Limited. Other names used are "Dr" Abdullahi Faizal, Aliyu Yeldu, and Abdulraheed Abdullahi Maina.

EFCC said that an analysis of the listed accounts revealed a total of N2.7 billion was involved, stressing that 95 per cent of deposits made into the allegedly fraudulent accounts are cash deposits made by bankers in their own names and other fictitious names.

In another revelation, the report also indicted the bank, saying that Maina fraudulently opened and operated all the accounts with the active connivance of the staff of the Private Banking Department of the bank.

The EFCC report showed how in many instances the beleaguered former pension reform taskforce chairman helped himself with the pension fund through fictitious transactions.

A copy of the investigative report obtained by THISDAY yesterday in Abuja gave details of how officials of the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation allegedly siphoned pension funds.

According to the EFCC, it acted based on a request by the OHCSF in June 2010 to assist in the verification/biometric exercise of the federal civil service pensioners.

The report stated that between 2008 and 2013, N14,374,236,846.09 was stolen and laundered using various fraudulent means, including fictitious contracts (N5, 761, 150, 608.44), ghost pensioners (829,902,260.40), collective allowances (1,365,821,942.91), payments to states pension boards (4,192,825,310.99), National Union of Pensioners and Association of Federal Public Service Retirees (2,290,593,322,.35).

Following the findings of the investigators, EFCC said that it charged to court all suspects who were staff of the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation and their associated companies and persons in the pension fraud, including Maina.

"Additionally, investigation revealed that Abdulrasheed Maina was deeply involved in stealing the same pension funds he was tasked with protecting by using staff under him and their associated persons and OHCF contrac-

tors to receive payments for non-existing biometric enrolment contracts, inflated contracts and collectives, amongst other questionable payments worth hundreds of millions of Naira, which are remitted in cash,” the report stated. "It was also discovered that Mr. Maina was involved in a complex web of money laundering involving him, his family members, corporate entities used by him and his account officers” and some staff of the private banking unit of the bank.

EFCC said all efforts to interrogate Maina during its investigation were unsuccessful, adding that Maina failed to honour invitations extended to him before eloping to the United Arab Emirates with members of his family.

The commission said it was at this stage that it sought an arrest warrant against Maina and he was declared wanted.

It added that it sought the assistance of the Interpol with a view to arresting Maina to come and answer charges brought against him.

The report said in the course of the EFCC investigation, it established the involvement of some individuals and corporate entities and charged them to court. The anti-corruption agency said it had so far filled 12 cases against 19 suspects and corporate entities involved in the pension fraud.

THISDAY gathered that a special audit conducted by the Auditor-General of the Federation also confirmed the violations investigated by the EFCC. Maina recently claimed that he went into hiding to save his life from alleged pension thieves who had vowed to silence him for asking the former Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, to stop a multi-billion naira monthly allocations being shared under the guise of paying pensioners. Maina, who spoke to Berekete Family, an Abuja-based Radio Show anchored by Ahmed Isa, said he was ready to come out from hiding to spill the beans with relevant documents if Buhari would provide him adequate security.

All efforts to get the AGF to react to the issues proved unsuccessful, as calls to his cell phone did not go through. His special assistant on media and publicity, Comrade Isah Oathman Salihu, could also not be reached for comments, as he did not pick his calls or return them.

JOSHUA RETAINS HEAVYWEIGHT TITLES, STOPS TAKAM IN 10TH ROUND Parker, trusting the strength of his left hook and right cross, was respectful to the point of near absence in a quiet opening but warmed to the task.

A pair of careless headbutts drew blood from the champion’s nose in round two, which sparked Joshua into life, and the punches started to flow. He said beforehand he expected a physical confrontation; he probably envisaged something more conventional.

Having tasted the best that Wladimir Klitschko had to offer, Joshua seemed unnecessarily cautious, perhaps restrained by thoughts of shipping a shock finisher from the rank underdog. Takam, cut near the right eye after a heavy exchange in the fourth, went over briefly but he showed his fighting heart in a doomed

exercise from that point on.

Joshua set about cutting down his wounded prey in the fifth, and the referee, Phil Edwards, asked the ringside doctor to inspect Takam’s blinking right eye before allowing them to resume. The blood was pouring freely but he soldiered on.

Takam, cut on the left eye now, landed a couple of minor bombs in the seventh, but Joshua was in cruise mode.

The crowd had grown restless, though, and craved a knockout.

Joshua had delivered 19 of them since turning professional and, jabbing to the body to bring down his opponent’s guard, he wanted another to keep his perfect stoppage record.

The doctor took another look at Takam’s eyes before

the start of the ninth round and allowed the battle to continue.

He swung with even more urgency now, suspecting the cuts would end his challenge.

Joshua staggered him with a succession of head shots that rocked him to his boots in the 10th, and, even though he would not go down, the referee moved between them.

He had seen enough – although it was not entirely clear that the crowd had.

The referee’s decision was booed by the crowd in Wales, who clearly felt it was premature, but Joshua said he has “no interest” in what the officials do.

“I come to fight, I don’t sit on the edge and make decisions,” he said. “It was a good fight until the ref stopped it, so I have the utmost respect

for Takam.

“I have no interest in what is going on with the officials, that’s not my job. I think people want to see Takam unconscious on the floor, and that’s what I was trying to get to.”

Watford fighter Joshua confirmed his nose had been broken by Takam when the pair clashed heads in the second round. “I had to keep my cool,” added Joshua. “I’ve got a few months to heal it up. I’ll go and see some good doctors to crack it back in place.

“If I showed any signs of weakness, the ref could have jumped in. That’s what he (Takam) tried to do, but the ref stopped it.”

Takam said: “I want a rematch, I made my preparations with 12 days to fight Anthony.

I want to box him again. I want

10

OCTOBER 29, 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

THE CONCLAVE OF SOUTHERN GOVERNORS The Southern Governors’ Forum meeting is a commendable move towards a viable bloc consensus

T

he meeting, last Monday, of the Southern Governors’ Forum (SGF) is a pointer to the rising awareness of the need for structural rebalancing of the Nigerian federation as an imperative condition for pulling Nigeria out of its prevailing stagnation. It is all the more significant that the meeting, 12 years after the last one, came against the background of current agitations in the country.

Highlighting the outcome of the meeting attended by 16 of its 17 member-states, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, said the forum was committed to the indivisibility of Nigeria but proffered what it called ‘true federalism’ and devolution of powers as the basis for the sustainability of the unity and economic prosperity of the country.

No doubt, the forum only added its voice to the current debate on the debilitating effects of the subsisting pseudo-federal system in the country, upon which there is almost a consensus.

Most Nigerians are agreed that it is the system that is at the root of the internecine strife that has not only worsened Nigeria’s social and economic conditions, but has also persistently threatened to disintegrate it.

Incidentally, not much success has been achieved in the formal efforts to change the unitary nature of Nigeria’s federation. The outcomes of the 2014 National Conference inspired by the last administration, which in the main recommended the rebalancing of the federation through the movement of several items on the exclusive to concurrent list in the 1999 Constitution, was never acted up by President Goodluck Jonathan.

And it has been consigned to the shelf by the succeeding President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

A more recent effort to delist some of the exclusive functions and add them to the concurrent list also suffered defeat in the National Assembly as both chambers killed the devolution of powers constitution amendment bill.

However, the persistence of the clamour for the restructuring of the federation to a more workable arrangement in spite of its rebuff by the formal institutions of government threatens to stagnate economic growth and development as the people seek alternative ways out, some of which have manifested in the form of secessionist movements whose activities have consistently put the country on the edge.

T

Our charge to them is to go beyond seminal pronouncements and take concrete actions that would facilitate the birth of a more workable arrangement that will not only decongest the central government but also allow the states to develop at their own pace

Letters to the Editor

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

o stem the drift towards anarchy, continuous conversations over restructuring, including fiscal federalism are encouraged and it was the spirit behind the Lagos meeting. “States are disparaged for always carrying begging bowls to Abuja in quest of hand-outs from the federal government. This is a function of our present national constitution that burdens the federal government with activities and responsibilities that rightly fall within the province of states. The productivity and revenuegenerating capacities of most states are thus stifled, thus turning them into no better than street beggar states incapable of even meeting routine obligations of paying workers’ salaries and pensions without federal support,” said one of the governors.

With states within geopolitical zones in the country finding that their needs are related and could be collectively met, they are coming together to take advantage of the principle of economy of scale to leverage on their areas of strength and subsequently impact positively on their region as they mutually benefit from their comparative advantages. Politically, the regional coalitions give the states a better opportunity to work together to wrestle more powers from a centre that has continued to entrap the enormous resources needed for the economic development of their people.

The Lagos meeting, in the circumstances, is a commendable move towards a more viable bloc consensus as it seeks to unite the three regional blocs of the South - the South-west, South-east and South-south - for a more effective conversation on the need for a more workable federation that would unlock the stranded potential of the country for inclusive economic growth and development.

Though not essentially a novel trend, having been preceded by the Northern Governors’ Forum (NGF) that meets more regularly on matters that concern the North, the SGF needs to formalise itself like its northern counterpart and seek a national consensus on the cores issue of restructuring the federation.

In the meantime, our charge to them is to go beyond seminal pronouncements and take concrete actions that would facilitate the birth of a more workable arrangement that will not only decongest the central government but also allow the states to develop at their own pace.

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.

DIPLOMACY AND ZUMA’S STATUE

mo state, few weeks ago, witnessed the visits of two heads of African states, Ghana and South Africa.

First, Ghanaian President, Nana Akufo-Ado, came for the graduation ceremony of the Rochas Foundation College as part of activities marking Rochas’ 55th birthday. The South African President, Jacob Zuma, came to sign a MoU between Zuma Foundation and Rochas Foundation. But the most disturbing aspect of all the jamborees was the unveiling of a bronze statue of President Zuma.

That singular act has painted Rochas’ image in a bad light. He has been accused of insensitivity to the plight of the people. While I would not want to toe the line of condemnation, as many have done, as a scholar of diplomacy, I chose to analyse what has transpired, looking at the short-term and long-term

implications.

Sometimes, it is said that political patronage is a terrible phenomenon, especially its Nigerian version, which has a mixture of sycophancy, hypocrisy and stomachinfrastructure-driven exhibitions by fair-weather politicians. I may not be one of Rochas’ very many devoted pen warriors who defend every of his deeds, but I still think he deserves to be placed under fair logical reasoning in the course of our trying to always condemn his conduct. Rochas may have succeeded in placing his name on the lips of everyone, whether they are talking ill of him or not. He’s gotten people to discuss him at every setting.

In a nearly cohesive political setting like ours, it’s almost impossible to contain longstanding perceived grumble against any political figure. With a glimmer of kind-

ness, he could as well be winning everyone’s support back. Some politicians would make you discuss them for no meaningful reasons sometimes. In due course, that same political leader would float a scheme that would make even a blind man call him a “god” – good enough for all to forget the past, and once again, push him on.

Many have even said if Rochas so liked statues, that it would have been better he erected one for Nelson Mandela or Nnamdi Azikiwe, the first President of Nigeria, instead of Zuma, who is facing a backlash and legal trials in his country. On a different look, Zuma may not be one of Africa’s most loved leaders but to a governor, who is dining with foreign leaders, and who is looking for avenues to attract foreign direct investments into his state, erecting statues for fallen heroes will not make sense but with

a living Zuma, it will bring in dividends.

After all, who celebrates of fallen heroes?

In 1998, Rochas Foundation was established to provide succour to the underprivileged by way of free education. President Zuma shares similar vision for his foundation. Both had a rough past growing up and wouldn’t want anybody from a poor background to suffer the way they did in trying to access education. This is what brought the two men together in the first place.

Aside the erection of his statue in Owerri, President Zuma received the state’s highest traditional title- Ochiaga (Great Warrior). A street was also named after him.

While Governor Okorocha may not claim to be unaware of the controversy over the Zuma statue in South Africa and corruption allegations against the man he chose to honour, to the governor, he saw beyond all that and has no regret for his action.

People have asked, “Why honour a

man under whose watch Nigerians were killed in South Africa?” On a critical analogy, many things could come to mind. Could it be that Rochas made a statue of Zuma and named a road after him as a way of lobbying to ensure commitment from the South African president? I have also considered why most kings (Igwes, Emirs, Obas, and Olus) give traditional titles of highest order to non-indigenes of their land in a bid to attract financial or infrastructural assistance to their communities. Also higher institutions give honorary doctorate awards to, sometimes, people of questionable character and moneybags. What were they thinking?

Universities are broke, so they think the way to attract aid from individuals and company owners is by honouring them.

Sometimes drug barons are among the award recipients.

––--Gerald Nwokocha, University of Lagos

T H I S D AY SUNDAY OCTOBER 29, 2017

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T H I S D AY SUNDAY OCTOBER 29, 2017

T H I S D AY SUNDAY OCTOBER 29, 2017

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GUINNESS GRADUATE SKILLS DEVELOPMENT SCHOLARSHIP 2017/2018

Guinness Nigeria is offering bright, ambitious graduates of Electrical/Electronic and Mechanical Engineering a unique opportunity to train at the prestigious National Power Training Institute of Nigeria This scholarship will provide full tuition for Engineering graduates to enroll for the 2017/2018 one year NAPTIN Graduate Skills Development Programme (NGSDP).

This intensive programme equips graduates with the technical skills they need to build successful careers in the Nigerian Power Sector.

By offering this scholarship, Guinness Nigeria seeks to play a part in developing Nigeria’s power sector while fostering Youth development across Nigeria.

ELIGIBILITY Candidates must be University/Polytechnic Electrical /Electronic or Mechanical Engineering graduates who have completed their National Youth Service Corps programme.

We welcome applications from candidates from all parts of Nigeria. However, in line with our corporate social responsibilities and commitments to our host communities, we strongly encourage applications from candidates from our host communities listed below: Ogba, Ikeja Local Government Area, Lagos State

APPLICATION PROCEDURE Candidates who qualify for this scholarship should visit the NAPTIN portal www.naptinportal.com to submit an online application (Click on the ‘Sign Up as a Trainee’ tab on the home page).

Upon receipt of submitted applications, NAPTIN will send details of the selection test to candidates. Candidates from the above communities who have already applied following NAPTIN’s earlier advert need not reapply.

SELECTION CRITERIA Shortlisted candidates for this scholarship will be required to write the NAPTIN selection test and provide a letter of introduction from the Chairman of their Community Development Association.

For more information about the NAPTIN Graduate Skills Development Programme, please visit: www.naptin.gov.ng You may also contact: Olalekan Oregbesan (Programme Coordinator); ooregbesan@naptin.gov.ng Mobile number: 07067777559

Oregbeni, Oregbeni lkpoba-Okha Local Government Area, Edo State Egbeluowo, Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Area, Abia State Odeukwu, Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Area, Abia State

Management GUINNESS NIGERIA Plc

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

SUNDAYNEWS

News Editor Abimbola Akosile E-mail: Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2039;Ë&#x203A;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x2122;Ă?Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2013;Ă?ĚśĂ&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x2039;ĂŁĂ&#x2013;Ă&#x201C;Ă Ă?Ë&#x203A;Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2014;Ë&#x153; ͸Î&#x20AC;͸ͺ͚͚͝Ϳ͞͝ΠĚ&#x2122;Ă?Ă&#x2014;Ă? Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2013;ĂŁĚ&#x161;

A WORTHY RECOGNITION L-R: Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Dr. Okwu Joseph Nnanna; Managing Director/CEO, Fidelity Bank Plc, Nnamdi Okonkwo; President /Chairman of Council, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Prof. Segun Ajibola; First Vice President, CIBN, Dr. Uche Olowu; Executive Governor, and Central Bank of Liberia (CBL), Milton Alvin Weeks, at the 2017 CIBN Investiture where Okonkwo was awarded the Honorary Fellowship of the institute held in Lagos...yesterday

TCN: Power Transmission Contracts Top List of Abandoned Infrastructure Projects t Says powerful people in govt influenced contract awards to incompetent companies Chineme Okafor in Abuja

Of all the infrastructure projects that were procured but abandoned and left to rot away over the years, those contracted by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to expand the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s transmission network are top on the list of these abandoned projects, the interim Managing Director of the TCN, Mr. Usman Mohammed, has disclosed.

Mohammed, stated that these abandoned TCN projects were scattered across the country, and that a lot of them had largely been paid for by the government. He said the contractors for them were mostly Nigerians without the required capacities but selected by influential people in government.

According to him, this has cost the TCN both in terms of finances and goodwill especially within multilateral agencies that

are always willing to provide funds for its network expansion.

Mohammed said these at the weekend when two high-end transmission infrastructure - a 40 mega volts amp (MVA) 132/33 kV mobile substation in Zaria, and 60MVA 132/33 kV transformer in Funtua built by the TCN, were commissioned by the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola. â&#x20AC;&#x153;TCN projects are amongst the highest of all abandoned projects in the country. We have so many of them, and I cannot even begin to mention them. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Every year, budgets were provided and projects created but in the process they do not recruit quality contractors because some of them were actually suggested by some people in the National Assembly,â&#x20AC;? said Mohammed.

He further stated: â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have so many of these abandoned projects and I can give you a few

examples, we have the 132kV substation in Oba Anambra State, contract for that substation was awarded in 2001, the contractor is a Nigerian contractor, they have collected 81 per cent of the offshore amount and 54 per cent of the local portion, but the contract has been abandoned. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Welelembe in Kano is also another example of a failed contract and is a Nigerian contractor who has collected 90 per cent of the offshore and 60 per cent of the down shore, yet the contract is abandoned, it is all over the country.â&#x20AC;?

He noted that the TCN had begun to resuscitate some of the abandoned transmission projects using its in-house engineers and at very low financial costs but that this was attracting a lot of opposition from interests. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Some of them we are asking our staff to take them over and fix. I can tell you that this one (the

Zaria mobile substation) we fixed here was done by our people at less than 10 per cent of the contract sum that was quoted by a contractor because we believe we can do certain things by ourselves, and this is not going down well with some people who believe the TCN is supposed to be their farmlands,â&#x20AC;? he added.

Mohammed, also clarified the status and composition of about $1.5 billion multilateral donors loan which the TCN is primed to obtain from the World Bank, Islamic Development Bank, and African Development Bank (AfDB) amongst others for its network expansion, and which the National Assembly recently initiated an investigation into.

He said that the National Assembly may haave misunderstood the composition and process of getting the loan, adding that it was yet to get it

Crocodile Smile 2: Army Arrests 399 Suspects in Lagos, Ogun AbimbolaAkosileĂ&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D; ChineduEze

The Nigerian Army yesterday said no fewer than 399 suspects were arrested for various offences during the Exercise Crocodile Smile 2 in Lagos and Ogun States.

The 35 Artillery Brigade Commander, Brig.-Gen. Bassey Adonkie, disclosed this while giving an appraisal of the exercise during the closing ceremony of the Crocodile Smile 2 at 192 Battalion, Ajilete, Ogun State.

He said the Crocodile Smile 2 was aimed at flushing out pipeline vandals, kidnapers and miscreants. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The exercise led to the arrest of suspects including armed robbers, kidnappers and recovery of ammunition.

So far, a total of 399 suspects

were arrested for different offences across as the SouthWest region and handed over to various security agencies concerned. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In addition, 20 assorted arms were recovered, while illicit drugs were also recovered and handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA),â&#x20AC;? he said.

The commander, who said over 1,000 officers participated in the exercise, added that criminal activities had reduced following the crackdown which denied the hoodlums freedom of action.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.Gen. Tukur Buratai, who was represented by the Chief of Training and Operations, Maj.Gen. David Ahmadu, said the exercise leveraged on the gains of the Crocodile Smile 1.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Experience drawn from the exercise conducted in 2016 revealed that criminals and miscreants do flee from areas of ongoing operations to seek safe haven and cause security menace in areas hitherto regarded as peaceful. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was in line with this development, that I deemed it necessary to extend the areas of coverage for this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exercise crocodile smile, to cover the South-West and South-South regions of the country,â&#x20AC;? he said.

He said the closing ceremony should not be regarded as the end of the exercise and urged the men to sustain the tempo of the operation. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The army places premium on training and thus Exercise Crocodile Smile is one of the training activities embarked on to sharpen the skills of person-

nel in the conduct of operation,â&#x20AC;? he said.

He said the exercise was a joint operation conducted with other sister agencies, adding that it improved comradeship, inter-agency cooperation and synergy.

The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 81 Division, Maj.-Gen. Peter Dauke, in his opening remark, said the exercise was flagged off by the chief of army staff on Oct.7. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The exercise was designed to develop and enhance professionalism among units, foster relationship and synergy among participating services, security agencies. It was also designed to improve the overall planning and conduct of internal security operations in combating prevalent security challenges.

and would not have done that without the approval of the federal government through the ministry of finance. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When we came in, we had to assess TCN and see what we can do to make it an organisation that can meet

its objectives of wheeling power across the nation, and stabilise the grid with quality power. In doing that, we had to come up with a program â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the Nigerian Transmission Rehabilitation and Expansion Programme. â&#x20AC;&#x153;

Former Army Chief Victor Malu Buried Amid Encomiums Onyebuchi Ezigbo Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x152;Ă&#x;Ă&#x201D;Ă&#x2039;

The remains of late General Samuel Victor Leo Malu, a former Chief of Army Staff were committed to mother earth at about 12:23p.m on Saturday in his country home, Tongov, Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue.

The late general, former Army Chief between 1999 and 2001, died on Oct. 9 in Cairo, Egypt, after a protracted illness.

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has said he would consult with the State House of Assembly on how best to immortalise the late former Chief of Army Staff.

The governor described Malu as a professional soldier and a great man, who had done much to impact the lives of the Tiv people and the state in general; and as a great son of the state who added value and brought outstanding professionalism to bear on military service in the

country and made the people proud. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The late Malu had contributed much into the lives of the Tivs and Nigerians. We are proud of him, we appreciate him.â&#x20AC;?

Governor Ortom said even in death General Malu has attracted the electrification of several communities and his village, adding that more of such would be brought to the area.

He solicited support from the Army and other security agencies in the implementation of the Anti-open Grazing Law with effect from November 1.

Governor Ortom stated that with the support of the agencies the state was confident of containing and overcoming the threats from some herdsmen to subvert the law.

In a citation, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai described him as an articulate, dedicated, forthright gentleman, professional officer, who was firm, but calm.

Mary Doghudje Burial

Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă?Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2013;ĂŁ Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x2039;Ă? Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă?Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă&#x152;Ă&#x;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2013; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2018;Ă?Ă&#x2014;Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x2122;Ă? Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă? Ă&#x153;Ă?Ë&#x203A; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x153;ĂŁ Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x2019;Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2014;Ă? Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x;Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x201D;Ă? ĂĄĂ&#x2019;Ă&#x2122; Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2013;ĂŁË&#x203A; Ă?Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2018; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă?Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2013;ĂŁË&#x153; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă? Ă&#x2122;Ă? Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2018; Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153; Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă? Ă&#x153;Ă?Ë&#x203A; Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x;Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x201D;Ă? ĂĄĂ&#x201C;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2013; Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x2122;Ă Ă?Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x152;Ă?Ă&#x153; ͡ Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x;Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x201D;Ă?ËŞĂ? Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x161;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D;Ë&#x153; Ă?Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x2122;ĂĄĂ&#x2DC; Ă&#x152;ĂŁ ͲĂ&#x161;Ă&#x2014; Ă&#x161;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x161;Ă&#x17E;Ë&#x153; ĂĄĂ&#x2019;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2013;Ă? Ă?Ă&#x;Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2013; Ă?Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă? ĂĄĂ&#x201C;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2013; Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x2122;Ă Ă?Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x152;Ă?Ă&#x153; ÍŻÍŽË&#x153; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2039;Ă?Ă&#x;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă? Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă?Ă&#x161;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x201C;Ă? Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x;Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă&#x2019;Ë&#x153; Ă?Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x2122;ĂĄĂ&#x2DC; Ă&#x152;ĂŁÍŻÍŽĂ&#x2039;Ă&#x2014; Ă&#x161;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x161;Ă&#x17E;Ë&#x203A; Ă?Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2018; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122; Ă&#x2039; Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă?Ă&#x2014;Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E; Ă?Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x152;ĂŁ Ă&#x153;Ë&#x203A; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x153;Ă?Ë&#x203A; Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x17D;ĂĄĂ&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x;Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x201D;Ă? Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x152;Ă?Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2013;Ă? Ă&#x2122;Ă? Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă?Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2013;ĂŁË&#x153; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă&#x152;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x17D;ĂŁ Ă&#x2122;Ă? Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă&#x17D;Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă&#x2039;Ă?Ă?Ă&#x17D; ĂĄĂ&#x201C;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2013; Ă&#x17D;Ă?Ă&#x161;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x17E; Ă?Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2014;Ă?Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă?Ă&#x2013;ĂŁ Ă&#x2039;Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă?Ă&#x153; Ă?Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă? Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122; Ă&#x2019;Ă?Ă&#x153; Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x161;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E; ĂĄĂ&#x2019;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x17D;Ă? Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153; Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2014;Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E;Ë&#x153; ĂĄĂ&#x2019;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2013;Ă? Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2014;Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E; Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2122;ĂĄĂ? Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2014;Ă?Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă?Ă&#x2013;ĂŁ Ă&#x2039;Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă?Ă&#x153; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E; ĂĄĂ&#x2019;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x17D;Ă? Ă&#x153;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x153;ĂŁ Ă?Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2013;Ë&#x153; Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x2019;Ă?Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x201C; Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019; Ë&#x153; Ă?Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2039; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă?Ë&#x203A;

15

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

SUNDAYNEWS NAF Deploys Five Fighter Jets as Boko Haram Terrorists Regroup Paul Obi in Abuja The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) yesterday sent five fighter jets to the notorious Sambisa Forest to crush Boko Haram terrorists operating in the area. The operation is coming on the heels of new reports of the regrouping of Boko Haram sect in the forest.

The regrouping of Boko Haram terrorists has also been linked to the resurgence of attacks by the sect, where they recently attacked Maiduguri, the Boko State capital, parts of Adamawa and Yobe States.

Speaking, NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Olatokunbo

Adesanya said: “The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has intensified its intensive day and night aerial bombardments of Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) locations within the North-east.

“On the fourth day of the ongoing Operation Ruwan Wuta II, the NAF conducted air interdiction on some structures

in Dure, a BHT-infested location, 12km east of Sambisa.”

Adesanya explained that “reports from NAF Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance platforms had revealed the gradual resurgence of BHT activities in the settlement, particularly at the targeted structures, which were hideouts for the terrorists.

Kano Confirms Case of Suspected Monkey Pox

NAIC to Partner Banks on Agro Risk Management Services

Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano

Chiamaka Ozulumba

Kano State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Kabir Getso has confirmed that there is a suspected case of Monkey Pox disease in the state, which is being investigated.

The Commissioner, in a press briefing at the Ministry of Health headquarters in Kano on Saturday, said a suspected case was reported in the Bebeji Health Facility of the State and the patient demonstrated symptoms similar to that of monkey pox, which is also close to symptoms usually demonstrated by patients suffering from Smallpox disease.

“The case is being referred for investigation as the blood sample of the victim has been

collected and sent to Abuja for onward transmission to Dakar, Senegal for analysis and authenticity.”

Getso said the result is being expected between two to three weeks. He said expert dermatologists have been invited and observations made, which they say the presentation is close to that of smallpox.

“The patient has no history of travels but had contacts with sixty other persons in his area who are now placed under observation.”

He said it is not confirmed whether it is monkey pox or not as such people should remain calm and dispel dangerous rumors that could trigger panic among the residence of the state.

Managing Director of the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC), Folashade Joseph has disclosed that her agency is committed to forging appropriate partnerships with Deposit Money Banks in the fulfilment of their mandate through provision of appropriate risk management services to agricultural investors being financed by the banks.

She disclosed this yesterday in Kaduna during a capacity building programme organised to enlighten the Agric Desk Officers of Deposit Money Banks on how to implement the risk component of CACS. According to her, “risk management remains an integral part of any modern day Agric financ-

ing model, as such the Central Bank of Nigeria has deemed it fit to ensure that any agricultural investor accessing the Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme facility must have the project insured by the NAIC.” Joseph stated that “the deposit money banks and other financial institutions have been NAIC’s major distribution channels over the years, with the deposit money banks, as Credit Providers, and NAIC, as risk managementserviceprovider.”

Stressing the readiness of NAIC to improve its services to conform to modern realities, NAIC’s MD said: “I wish to state that NAIC is poised to improve its services in the area of product development, claims payments, valuable farm extension services across the entire agricultural value chain”.

“Five aircraft namely 3 x Alpha Jet aircraft and 2 x F-7Ni aircraft conducted the air interdiction missions. The Alpha jet aircraft and the F-Ni aircraft took turns to attack the location with bombs, destroying the targeted structures and killing the terrorists.”

He observed that “the Battle Damage Assessment (BDA) con-

ducted after the strikes revealed that some of the structures were set ablaze by the bomb explosions.

“On the same day, the NAF conducted air interdiction missions on a BHT-infested settlement in Mangusum. The location was attacked, in succession, by 2 F-7Ni aircraft and 3 x Alpha Jet aircraft.”

Group Seeks Prosecution of Police Corporal for Rape of Teenager Temitope Omabegho Huge outcry of rage have followed a harrowing story of the rape of a 14-year-old girl by a police corporal, Barau Garba; a disturbing situation which has now gone viral in the social media.

In a statement signed by its secretary, Hamisu Gumel, the Ra’ayi Initiative for Human Development, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) which offers humanitarian assistance and undertakes various developmental projects in the society, is seeking the prosecution of Garba for vicious rape.

According to the statement, “Maryam Yusuf, who lives with her parents in Asaba, Delta State, got stranded in Onitsha where

her parents sent her on an errand from Asaba on October 14, 2017, after she lost her transport fare.

She was approached by the said Corporal Barau Garba from MOPOL 7 Sokoto State, with service number 275601, who was on special duty in Anambra State and attached with Okpoko Police Divisional Headquarters, Onitsha.

“Upon learning about the girl’s predicament, the randy policeman took advantage of her innocence and tricked her into believing he was going to help her. But instead of helping the girl get transport back to Asaba, he took her to a temporary police base, locked her up in his room and raped her repeatedly for six days until her private part ruptured.”

16

Ͱͷ˜ Ͱͮͯ͵ ˾ THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

OPINION Gender And Climate Change Caleb Adebayo canvasses deepening involvement of women in the struggle against climate change

T

here used to be a time when the lines connecting climate change and gender were non-existent or blurred. People hardly saw the interplay, and any mention of gender in the deluge of epidemic and disasters related to climate change was seen as a feeble attempt to foist gender on every discussion.

With more research, social progress, and available data from different parts of the world, it has become clear that there is no separating climate change from gender inequality. It is a failing this discovery came late, yet it is not too late to act.

A stunning statistic I stumbled upon during my studies on environmental justice and climate change impacts on humanity precipitated this piece. It reveals that women are 14 more times likely to die than men during a disaster. This is an alarming demography, if you consider that 68 per cent of all disasters are related to climate change. This supports the contention that climate change affects women in particular, when broken down into demographic factors.

Women comprise the majority of agricultural workers all over the world, and even more so in Nigeria where agriculture is mainstream, making them more vulnerable to diseases that result from extreme weather conditions, and in particular, those exacerbated by heat waves, extreme rainfall, and rising humidity.

Accordingly, women are more exposed than men to mosquitoborne diseases such as malaria, dengue, and chikungunya, which they come into contact with through the duties of water collection and food harvesting. The physical pressure a female body undergoes during pregnancy and childbirth is also vital to consider in this context: foetuses are more likely to be at risk of low birth weight, pre-term deliveries and stillbirth during heat waves because the core body temperature of pregnant women is ordinarily higher than normal and they cannot thermoregulate like every other person.

Water scarcity is a grave subject, and the impact of climate change on it is significant. Such scarcity means that women – for it is often, if not always - have to travel further distances to collect clean water for their homes, which has a considerable carry-on effect: a woman who spends hours daily travelling to collect water is unable to use that time in any other way, which prevents her from using her time more productively to get an education, gain a skill, or become involved in activities that could

increase her social development. Essentially, like a game of musical chairs, this continues the cycle of poverty and inequality, two factors that enable or disempower the female gender’s involvement in society.

The role of women in domestic work, including taking care of children, elders, and the sick, reduces their mobility too, thereby increasing their vulnerability to sudden climate-related disaster.

For instance, some women, due to cultural limitations, may need to seek the consent of a male adult to relocate from certain places to avoid impending or actual disasters. And from a pragmatic perspective, some forms of traditional clothing may inhibit women’s movement – both physically and from a moralistic standpoint.

Women who have lost clothing in disasters may be less likely to access food and medical aid because they are unable to enter public areas.

This is compounded by the fact that women make up the majority of the world’s – and Nigeria’s – poor and are more dependent than men on natural resources for their livelihood, yet policies for land ownership and the social structure that determine access for women are poised against them. Moreover, studies show that women are often excluded from government-run climate change adaptation training for farmers and fishers, despite women constituting 45-80 per cent of this group. Thus, women, especially in rural areas, and the livelihood they eke out for themselves are threatened by climate change, because they lack the knowledge for

The government should take a serious approach towards empowering women to be climate ready, re-organise social structures for more inclusiveness of the female gender and also mainstream gender-responsive approaches in climate change strategies

adaptation and mitigation.

Climate-related disasters are also responsible for high mortality and vulnerability levels of women. Some 83 per cent of single mothers were unable to return home after Hurricane Katrina for a full two years after the storm. In the 2004 Asian tsunami, women in many villages in Aceh, Indonesia, and in parts of India accounted for over 70 per cent of the dead. An estimated 87 per cent of unmarried women and 100 per cent of married women lost their main source of income when cyclone Nargis hit the Ayeyarwaddy Delta in Myanmar in 2008. Even in post-disaster refugee and internally-displaced persons (IDPs) camps, women and girls are exposed to higher risks than men - especially during conflict - over scarce resources, and are also susceptible to greater likelihood of sexual abuse and domestic violence.

This is the female face of climate change, and it is not looking good, to say the least.

On the bright side, women are effective actors in both mitigation and adaptation. They often have a strong body of knowledge and expertise that can be used to create and implement workable strategies suitable for their communities. This has been displayed in countries like Brazil, Mali, Bangladesh, and India, where women are constantly developing solutions to climate change disasters. It is axiomatic to recall that women leaders initiated the Paris Agreement adopted at the 21st Conference of Parties on Climate Change (COP 21). Christiana Figueres, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Executive Secretary, during COP21, spent decades working towards an ambitious and equitable final text.

New Executive Secretary, Patricia Espinosa, pushed it further at the Conference in Marrakesh. Ambassador Laurence Tubiana, French ambassador for international climate negotiations at COP 21, and Minister Hakima El Haite, delegate Minister in Charge of Environment for Morocco also encouraged climate action from state and non-state actors, with a specific mandate to amplify the voices of women in the UNFCCC process. A study of 130 countries revealed that when women are in government positions, they are more likely to sign on to international treaties that are taking action against climate change.

–––Caleb, a lawyer, environmental enthusiast and founder of Earthplus, wrote from Lagos

Pouring Trouble On Oily Waters (1) The state should hands off issues relating to religion, writes Michael West

N

igeria is a blessed nation. Both in human and natural resources, we are still the giant of the black world. As it is common to many African societies, we are facing more of self-inflicted problems than external. The more reason only bare-faced truth and dispassionate opinions on issues of national interest can sustain the unity of our nation. While we are currently preoccupied with the economic issues, political permutations for 2019, President Muhammadu Buhari’s recuperating health, the Biafra agitation, the looming federal cabinet reshuffle, the resurgent Boko Haram and spate of industrial disputes by different workers’ unions over wages, I chose to focus on a simmering intellectual and political jihad that is gradually sweeping Nigeria off her feet: the Islamisation of Nigeria. Its twin evil, nepotism, is equally endemic as aptly demonstrated in the style of appointments by the current administration.

This article will boldly expose the naked injustice and grand plots to foist Islam on the rest of us using the instrumentality of the state. Let me state here that I have respect for Islam as a religion of good people but the unconstitutional and systematic imposition of Islam is real! I’m sure patriotic Muslims won’t subscribe to government’s surreptitious moves as such will ultimately breed discord, mutual suspicion and religious hostility among Nigerians.

Nigeria is a secular state; this is according to our constitution. Hence, the country should distant itself from core religious activities capable of undermining her internal security and compromising her unity, independence, and sovereignty. I think we embraced religion as part of our natural rights because freedom of association permits us to socialise, gather together and worship unhindered. However, accepting Christianity and Islam as the dominant religions in Nigeria does not wish away our constitutional status as a secular state. Secularity in its meaning implies not practising or adopting any form of religion as state religion.

The running of the government business should be free of any particular religious tenets or formats. Thus far, this has not been adhered to.

I’m not here to whip up religious sentiments or join issues with the proponents of the Islamic agenda; rather, I seek, nonetheless, to call to question the fundamental errors and unconstitutional indulgences sentimentally condoned thus far, which now threaten our peaceful existence as a nation. One thing I often find difficult to unravel is the flagrant and insensitive manner in which leaders from the North do act, not considering the feelings of the other component members of the country; especially in political appointments and promotions in public service, by pandering to religious and ethnic preferences.

I think we need to ask why we allowed the inclusion of Sharia in

our Constitution in the first place. Who smuggled it in? Why did we not insist on the reversal of Nigeria’s membership of the Organisation of Islamic States (OIC), which the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd) imposed on us in 1986? Why the gradual but consistent moves by every successive regime headed by northern Muslims to expand the frontiers of Islam through the use of state apparatuses and resources to the disadvantage of other religions and the non-Muslim majority Nigerians? Most of the juicy, sensitive and strategic public or political appointments are usually the exclusive preserves of the Muslims, especially those from the North.

A forthright approach to a holistic healing process of our ailing and defective socio-political and religious membranes will be to consider an immediate review of our affiliations with all religious organisations; and to align our dealings and continued membership in line with our constitutional provisions. This guileless opinion was aptly articulated by an eminent constitutional lawyer, Solomon Asemota (SAN), while commenting on the possible outbreak of sectarian violence if the threats of Islamising Nigeria are pushed through. Asemota said, “By taking Nigeria into the OIC in 1986, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida officially turned Nigeria into an Islamic State. Simply by the act of the application for OIC membership, Babangida tampered with the secularity of the Nigerian State. That unilateral decision should be reviewed because it violates Section 10 of the Constitution.”

Another brazen constitutional affront witnessed in this country was the proclamation of Sharia Law as state legal code for some states in the North, as was pioneered by Zamfara State during the Ahmed Yerima administration as governor in 2000. By this, Islam became the official religion of those states. Meanwhile, Section 10 of the constitution specifies, “The Government of the Federation or of a State shall not adopt any religion as State Religion.” Making any set of religious rules to equate as state laws, technically, makes that religion the state religion, which is an action that negates constitutional provisions.

Conversely, when a federal lawmaker proposed a bill for Ecclesiastical (Christian) courts, pronto, leaders of the Islamic faith spat fire.

According to the Secretary-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, the Christian court idea was a recipe for anarchy and should be stopped in the interest of the nation!

He added that no informed Christian would agitate for Christian courts because Muslims had Shariah courts! Hmmm! So, what is good for Muslims is not good for Christians or any other religion in Nigeria?

Meanwhile, the proposed bill for a Christian court sponsored by Hon. Gyang Dung (PDP) from Plateau State and eight other members of the House of Representatives has scaled the second reading.

There have been obvious exercises of intolerance and overt entrenchment of Islamic agenda going by the utterances, actions and biased dispensation of justice in favour of Islamists in this country. Till date, no culprit of blue murders carried out in parts of the North in the name of “blasphemy” has been brought to book. Mrs. Christiana Oluwasesin, who was murdered on March 21, 2007 at Government Day Secondary School, Gandu, Gombe State, is a case in point. As at today, justice has not been done. There had been several of such unprovoked attacks and killings by Moslem urchins who claimed to be protecting the sanctity of Islam and its Prophet. This includes the recent incident in Kano where a woman, Bridget Agbahime, a trader at the Kofar Wambai market, was killed right in the presence of her husband over an alleged blasphemous statement. It is even more annoying that the suspects were freed by a court few days after their arraignment after a “No case” submission by their lawyers.

Our security agents and northern leaders have been insisting that the marauding Fulani assailants are foreigners from Mali, Senegal and some other neighbouring countries. But the question is, why, then, were these so-called Nigerian leaders enraged when Christian leaders told their people to defend themselves against further assaults from the ‘foreigners’?

Why did the DSS send lorry-loads of its officials to arrest Apostle Johnson Suleman in the dead of the night at Ado-Ekiti, like it did to some judges, simply because the preacher asked his members to defend themselves since the state has abdicated its duties in this regard? But for the prompt action of Governor Peter Ayo Fayose, Apostle Suleman would have been arrested like a common criminal and, possibly, his life could have been endangered. Does it then mean that our leaders are being economical with the truth whereas the rampaging herdsmen are those they know too well? If, indeed, those killers are foreigners, shouldn’t our leaders support their fellow Nigerians and cooperate to protect us against ‘foreigners’ murdering us at will?

If Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai actually paid the killerFulanis to stop killing Christians in his state, as he publicly declared, then, is it not true that those bestial murderers are well known? What further proof do we need that it could even have been the other way round: that the killer-herdsmen were paid for services well rendered?

The simple truth is that those dastardly acts are well funded, scrupulously coordinated and clinically executed towards achieving a set goal – the extension of Islamic territorial conquest!

––West, a Media Consultant, wrote via mikeawe@yahoo. co.uk

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ OCTOBER 29, 2017

LETTERS Maina: One Scandal Too Many

M

ore like a spellbinding season film series, the spate of screaming scandals rocking the President Muhammadu Buhari administration is getting more intriguing. With fiction-like twists and turns, couched in denials and tepid responses, one is bound to ask our dear President: is the Lion King still holding the reins of power at Aso Rock?

Or, have the hyenas and jackals truly taken over and calling the shots, as his bold and beautiful wife, Aisha, had severally insinuated?

These questions are pertinent because of the recent allegations of financial scams brought up against key officials in his administration. These include that of the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, the $26 billion NNPC contract award traced to Baru without the knowledge of the Minster of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu, and outside the purview of the NNPC’s Board. And

Dambazzau, Minister of Internal Affairs

now we have the iniquitous Mainagate. The former pension boss, who fled Nigeria in 2013, sneaked back to the country and was reinstated into the civil service, and promoted! Can you beat that?

All these unpardonable acts have cumulatively put

a huge question mark over the integrity wings that saw Buhari ride the political firmament and scale over former President Goodluck Jonathan to the nation’s number one political seat back in 2015.

Currently, the army of the so-called ‘hailers’ or his

diehard supporters is having a Herculean task trying to ward off the ferocious attacks by the ‘wailers’ now having a field day and growing in leaps and bounds.

And you cannot blame them. The usual lame and vacuous recourse to blaming ex-President Jonathan’s administration for the myriad of our current woes has lost its currency. One only hopes that both Garba Shehu and Lai Muhammed can read the livid lips of concerned Nigerians.

Indeed, not a few patriots are yet to come to terms with the long-winding, bureaucratic delays in handling corruption charges against PDP former governors that have defected to the ruling APC. Add that to the ease with which similar charges brought against Buhari’s men suffer the Doppler’s Effect. Both are inimical and antithetical to the anti-graft war.

In the words of the former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, “the controversy surrounding the reinstatement of Abdulrasheed

Facts And Fallacies In The Restructuring Conversation

M

an is really in an ambiguous position in nature. Nature presents to him series of paradoxes and puzzles he is expected to solve.

His consciousness reminds him of his individuality because he has his own name, ambitions, destiny, and in some cases, fate; yet to optimise his individuality in nature, he must act as a group.

Man’s search for “good life” that can help him achieve his lofty aspirations in this seemingly ambiguous position in nature is endless. This explains why political and social systems are always evolving as man’s consciousness changes to suit his circumstances per time.

I have listened to several commentators on the “ills” of the Nigerian situation and restructuring as the best “user friendly manual” to solve these problems or to “make Nigeria better”. Understandably, all these “solutions” are emotionalladen, value-filled, subjective in orientations, and in some cases, arrogant in approach.

On my part, I have told those who cared to listen that the nebulous concept, restructuring, will need to be properly analysed in the context of the Nigerian situation. Of all the positions I have heard or read on the debate, the most interesting is an article written

by Solomon Ukhuegbe under the title, Facts and Fallacies in the Restructuring Conversation published in The Guardian of October 16, 2017.

Inasmuch as I do not agree with all the “fallacies” he raised in his article, I feel the need to expand the scope of the discussion. I will restrict myself only to the central theme of the article, which is the nebulous

nature of what is known in Nigeria as “true federalism”!

Before I proceed, let me make some important clarifications.

First, the concept, “federalism”, in itself should not be taken as given. It must be taken for what it is - a concept. A concept, to be properly understood, must be properly operationalised by the user. For instance, is Spain a federation simply because it fits Professor Kenneth C. Wheare’s criteria of a “federal principle”?

Also, can we classify the defunct Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) as a federation even though its constitution gave her “Republics” the right to secede but not unilaterally?

Second, as a federalist myself, I do not share Professor Wheare’s highly legalistic conception of federal principle in his Federal Government published in 1946. Rather, I prefer William Riker’s “Federal Bargain” in his Federalism: Origin, Operation, Significance published in 1964, which makes the adoption of federalism a political solution and just not a legal jingoism contained in some long, prosaic documents to complicate issues for mortals.

Riker, in criticising Wheare’s “highly legalistic in tone” conception of federalism, restated politics as the role of the political elite in the formation of federations.

Again, federalism is not the same as devolution of power. There are in varying degrees, power devolutions, in all countries, but that does not make all countries federations. Spain operates a unitary constitution with a high degree of devolution of power to the regions, which can be withdrawn by the central government under Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution.

Having said these, I have observed that when many Nigerians use the concept “true federalism”, as Ukhuegbe noted, in most cases they mean the system or political structure as adopted in the United States of America (USA), where many countries “borrowed the concept from” as one pro-“true federalist” (I couldn’t find a better way to describe him) noted. If we must borrow a concept, as some commentators maintain, we must “borrow it fully”. On the surface, this looks good as an argument.

Also, when told to define federalism, the chances are higher that many will simply regurgitate Wheare’s “federal principle”. Unfortunately, many people who hold advanced degrees in political science and law have done little or nothing to disabuse the minds of our people over this misconception.

Comparing US federal experience with Nigeria and passing the former as “true federalism” is at best dubious. The US federation is a product of the 13 colonies that came together to form, initially, a United Colonies, and later the United States. Over time, to show the dynamic nature and changing powers in the domestic and global arena, since the American Civil War (1861-1865), the First and Second World Wars, the federation has moved from competitive, fiscal, or cooperative federalism.

Also, the United States has not been as unfortunate as many African countries, especially Nigeria to have experienced military incursion into politics.

This alone affected the character and psyche of the political elite since the drafting of the famous Decree 34 (Unification Decree) of 1966 which abolished the once-powerful three (later four)

regions of the First Republic.

I have also heard the argument that Nigeria needs a “perfect” constitution or “people’s constitution” as though there is anywhere in the world where the people have gathered to frame a constitution for themselves. Japanese constitution was written by US general, McAuthor, after the defeat of the former during the World War II in 1945. I am not sure the Japanese complain of their constitution being written by a General from an occupational army the way some Nigerians complain about the so-called “Military Constitution”.

Since the framing of the Japanese Constitution, Nigerians have operated about 10 different constitutions. Yet, the search is on in Nigeria for a “people’s constitution”. Isn’t that wonderful? Some agitators are today advocating for us to go back and dust the 1963 Constitution and use to solve the numerous political problems in the country today. This is another reductionist fallacy.

I will not end this piece without mentioning that the whole argument of restructuring is today a political issue.

That itself is fine. The major political parties, All Progressives Congress (APC) and People’s Democratic Party (PDP), are set to take positions on the issue. It will be too early to know which party will officially make it its campaign slogan during the 2019 and see what becomes of it. By then, we will know what it means better. For now, it remains ambiguous needing more clarifications. Therein lies the heart of the fallacies in the restructuring conversation!

––Olalekan Waheed Adigun, Lagos

Maina to the civil service is the most lethal blow to the Buhari-led administration’s fight against corruption.”

On his part, the inimitable Senator Shehu Sani, representing Kaduna Central, says corruption used to be hosted under the umbrella (PDP) but has now been swept beneath the carpet, by the brooms of the APC. Reacting to the reinstatement of Maina, ex-chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms into the civil service, Shehu described corruption as a cat with nine lives, resurfacing with each administration.

Only recently, in reaction to the federal government’s directive to all relevant agencies to compile the names of “looters”, Sani said the list should not be limited to “Umbrella United players but will include those in the Broomers FC and ‘Paris Saint Germain’ and Dynamo Cabal FC players.”

Taking the public outrage against the Mainagate a notch higher, Ijaw Youths under the umbrella of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) worldwide, from the nine states of the Niger Delta have thrown their weight behind the call for the sack of all officers involved in the embarrassing recall of pension funds fugitive Maina.

They insist that the incident has dealt a serious blow to the anti-corruption crusade of the Buhari administration.

According to them, it is totally unacceptable for key officers of the Buhari administration, such as the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Malami; the Minister of Interior, Mr. Abdulraham Dambazau; and Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, to have played key roles in the unthinkable reinstatement of Maina.

Also, Premium Times reported that despite being on the run after being

declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged corruption, Maina was provided federal security cover! Investigators have found that for months, Maina actually received official protection from operatives of the Nigeria Police and the State Security Service (SSS). It is alleged that the SSS also provided an accommodation for him at his controversial $2 million house in Jabi, Abuja.

So, what do we make of these recent high-wire, sensational scandals? Firstly, is my long-held position that Nigerians have been battling with the twin evil of corruption and impunity and not just corruption alone. When allegations involving the untoward financial sleaze, running to humongous sums are made known to the pubic there is instant outrage. Soon after, members of the National Assembly ask the committees related to such charges to investigate them. The law courts take their turn, but months or even years later nothing tangible comes out of all the hullabaloo and the ordinary Nigerians are shortchanged again.

When perpetrators of such heinous crimes against the Nigerian nation are left to walk the streets as free men, worse crimes take place.

That explains why many state governors collect huge monthly allocations and bailout funds but divert such to feather their nebulous nests, instead of paying their long-suffering workers.

My candid admonition is for President Buhari to realise and show more by action than by words that he is, indeed, not only the president to his close allies from the core North or his favoured APC faithful, but to all Nigerians. Is he still in charge at Aso Rock?

–––Ayo Oyoze Baje, Lagos

MEDICAL TOURISM KILLED ASO ROCK CLINIC

W

as it guilt or a sense of civic duty that compelled the wife and the daughter of President Muhammadu Buhari to voice their damning verdict on the state of the Aso Rock Clinic? Or was it even a sense of shame? Anyway, by the actions of this mother-daughter activistassociate Nigerians were duly informed that all was not well inside the Presidential Villa; but one should not be surprised in the least about that state of affair.

Primarily, the Aso Rock Clinic was conceived to cater for the health of the president plus others, but when the sitting president zooms off to London

for medical check-ups very so often, the message that these actions send to the permanent secretary of the Villa and others charged with running Aso Rock Clinic is, “All be damned.”

All would be truly damned since nearly all senior staffers of the Aso Rock Villa can afford this kind of medical tourism also. That was why I was a little bit taken aback by the surprise expressed

by Ms. Zahra Buhari and Mrs. Aisha Buhari that all was not well inside the Villa Clinic. Simply put, presidential medical tourism killed Aso Rock Clinic.

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

18

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ Ͱͷ˜ Ͱͮͯ͵

INTERNATIONAL

Beyond Nigeria’s Space Journey

“N

igeria’s Space Journey: Understanding its Past, Reshaping its Future” is a new book, authored by Dr.AdigunAdeAbiodun, a former United Nations expert on Space Applications and former Senior Special Assistant on Space Science and Technology to a former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR. The book, published in the United States with Library of Congress Control Number 2016920275 about a fortnight ago, is seen as ‘a candid and somewhat troubling assessment of Nigeria’s current state of space affairs,’ by TomAlfoldi, Retired Geoscience Specialist at the Canada Centre for Remote Sensing.

If the assessment is candid, why is it troubling? Could the troubling factor be traceable to the observation of Peter O.Adeniyi, Emeritus Professor of Geography and Geomatics, University of Lagos, who said Dr.AdeAdigun examines what Nigeria ‘could have done differently and makes profound suggestions on how to chart a progressive and sustainable space programme in Nigeria?

In the same vein, Frances Brown, a former editor of the Space Policy, United Kingdom, says ‘Nigeria has been involved in space activities since the late 1950s but thus far, and despite its rich material and human resources, it has failed to achieve its potential.Ade Abiodun provides a comprehensive and informative examination of his country’s space journey and of the many barriers thrown up against it...’ Why have the space activities of Nigeria failed? If they have failed as a result of the many barriers thrown up, are the barriers still there as at today or not? This question is pertinent in light of the recommendations made by the author.

Whatever is the answer, “Nigeria’s Space Journey: Understanding its Past, Reshaping its Future” raises more critical questions on the extent of seriousness of the government and people of Nigeria to develop on the basis of the principle of self-reliance. The failure raises the quality of political governance in Nigeria. It shows how corruption, incompetency and intellectual parochialism can ruin a whole nation. More importantly, it clearly shows the need to go beyond the affirmation of the failure to dealing with the general attitudinal disposition of Nigeria’s leaders, especially the so-called military-turned politicians and professional politicians. Nigeria’s problem is largely due to the poor quality of leaders that often parade themselves as holier-than-thou and more patriotic than the others. It is therefore good to also go beyond the issues that make the author’s assessment troubling in order to objectively reshape the future.

Before dealing with the issues and providing an exegesis of the book, it is useful to recall that Dr.Adigun had explicated the space enterprise within the context of Nigeria’s national interest in 2007 and had already pointed to some problems to which little attention was paid (vide his “Space Enterprise and Nigeria’s National Interests,” in BolaA.Akinterinwa, ed., Nigeria’s National Interests in a Globalising World: Further Reflections on Constructive and Beneficial Concentricism; Volume 2 on Foreign Policy Interests in the Innermost Circle, Ibadan, BIP, 2007, pp. 31-79).

For instance, he noted that ‘the first efforts of the federal government, through the National Council of Science and Technology, to build a remote sensing data receiving station in the 1974-76 period failed, because Nigerians who had the knowledge of the technology were not invited to participate in the project. In the absence of any demonstrable performance after two years of funding, the government of the day cancelled the budgeted funds of N10 million at a time when N1.00 was worth US$1.75.’

Three critical issues are involved in this statement: the purpose of wanting to build a remote sensing data receiving station; non-involvement of relevant specialists and experts; and the wastefulness of the N10 million invested. In terms of purpose, if the policy makers were very clear on the long term benefits of the project, they would probably have done the appropriate thing by not only getting those Nigerians with the requisite knowledge to drive the project, but would also have not discontinued with the project.

On the non-involvement of experts, the erroneous belief in Nigeria is that, a fresh university graduate is already a specialist, not to say an expert, and therefore a ‘Mr. know-it-all.’ This is particularly the mentality of hundreds of senior civil and public officials in Nigeria. Pieces of advice coming from outside of the public service, even if they are given by a SpecialAdviser or SpecialAssistant, are taken as if they are coming from foreigners and not as coming from other compatriots. In fact, they are seen from a competitive perspective, whereas, many people claim to be policy analysts, when they are simply commentators. This is most unfortunate.

VIE INTERNATIONALE with

Bola A. Akinterinwa Telephone : 0807-688-2846

e-mail: bolyttag@yahoo.com

Adigun

Regarding the invested funds, it simply reminds one of the time when the economy was quite good, when there was good governance. Today, good governance appears to have been thrown to the garbage of history. Good governance, if there is today, would have allowed for consideration of objectivity of purpose and protection of the national interest at all times. From the accounts ofAdeAdigun in his book, the quest for honest protection of the national interest was far-fetched. This explains Nigeria’s political and economic dilemma as being witnessed with the reckless looting of the public treasury by those who are precisely required to protect it.

Another example given by Dr.Abiodun is also thoughtprovoking.As he put it: ‘against all sound scientific advice of our own experts, Nigeria chose the wrong technology and tool and invested in a tetheredAerostat balloon, supposedly to meet the daily communications needs of Nigerians. The national uproar that followed signalled the demise of the project, and on May 17, 1983, the then Federal Minister of Communication informed the nation that the project had been terminated at a cost of US$30 against Nigeria.’ The indisputable point about the foregoing is that good feasibility study of projects is hardly carried out by experts relevant to the projects being embarked upon.

This observation is still valid in the context of a third example given by Dr.Abiodun. In 1976, the Federal Ministry ofAgriculture ‘initiated the Nigerian Radar Project (NIRAD), which required the use of radar to monitor the total land area of Nigeria, with a view to producing vegetation and land-use maps of the country. However, radar technology for earth observation was at its teething stage at that time, and the maps produced were inaccurate.’Again, there was no expert, if there was, would the advice have been heeded?

The foregoing failures did not prevent exploring new avenues for development. Nigerians, with effect from October 9, 1999 and particularly, the Federal Executive Council, on July 4, 2002 began to make strenuous efforts on the journey to the outer space. It is as from this point that the new book, “Nigeria’s Space Journey: Understanding its Past, Reshaping its Future” should be reviewed, explained and understood, particularly within the context of the dedication.

The book is dedicated to ‘the youth of Nigeria, its future generations, and their compatriots inAfrica and in the emerging economies of the world, in my (Abiodun’s) belief that as He did

Even though‘UNIFE experts and engineers affirmed that the proposed balloon project had a very high probability of failure, and might actually failed within three months of its installation... the Federal Commissioner for Communications and its Department of Posts andTelegraph (P andT) at the Federal Ministry of Communications eventually got the green light from the highest level on the land; the Commissioner went ahead and committed the country to the launching of five such balloons for the nation’s telephony, broadcasting, telex, radio surveillance, and maritime and mobile communications services.‘The first of these balloons was installed near Ile-Ife on the way to Ondo, and just as the UNIFE experts had predicted, it collapsed within two weeks’

and continues to do for me, God will guide them, even when they cannot see the path ahead. I hope that this book will inspire them to strive to make a difference and the agents of change, wherever they are in the world.’

Put differently, the writing of the book is partly aimed at inspiring the Nigerian youth to seek to be more patriotic, become agents of change in order to make a difference. More significantly, the book is also more of a plaidoyer to God, a request for divine intervention in the case of Nigeria, especially when Dr.Abiodun pleaded with God to guide the Nigerian youth wherever they may be located ‘even when they cannot see the path ahead.’

GoingbeyondNigeria’sSpaceJourney The book, in terms of formatting, is published in a 10”x7” academic giant size. It is printed on a whitish paper of about 80mg thick, with double line spacing. The characters are quite legible and therefore friendly to read. Referencing style is that of footnoting.

Pagination wise, it has 404 pages with running heads and index professionally well done.

In terms of content analysis, the book is chapterised into 16, which are divided into six main parts, excluding the preliminary pages.

In the foreword written by Brett Biddington, the Principal, Biddington Research Pty Ltd, Canberra,Australia, one major challenge confronted by the author was the determination of the audience for which the book is written: is it the political leaders, government officials, Nigerians orAfricans, or the developing world as a whole?

Biddington has it that the book ‘speaks to all of these groups and indeed to anybody who seeks a better understanding ofAfrica’s space journey.

In appreciating the book, Biddington noted thus: ‘I know of no other Nigerian, orAfrican indeed, who could have written a book such as this...’ The perception of Retired Professor of Physics and Satellite Meteorolgy at the ObafemiAwolowo University, Ekundayo E. Balogun, is not different: ‘No one in Nigeria, and perhaps inAfrica, can speak more authoritatively on the subject of space activities inAfrica than Dr.AdeAbiodun. He created awareness in Africa, especially in Nigeria, of the benefits derivable from space exploration. He encouraged the use of the products of remote sensing, communication facilities, the study ofAtmospheric Sciences, andAstronomy... It is precisely as a result of these observations that the book is worth examining.

In part one, “Space in Human Lives,” comprising two chapters on human exploration of outer space and relevance of Space in Nigeria, the author raised the issue of nuclear race, which, without any scintilla of doubt, was and still is a major threat to global peace and security. In fact, the genesis of the current nuclear race is traceable to this section of the book.As explained by Dr.Abiodun, the former USSR disregarded the Protocol on the use of Space. On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union launched the Earth’s first artificial satellite named Sputnik-1. Dr.Abiodun has it that, ‘Although the launching of Sputnik-1 was a planned part of the International Geophysical Year (IGY), the Soviet Union launched it using a military intercontinental ballistic missile. This was against the protocol that all military satellite designs and deployments to collect data during the IGY’ (p.16 of the book).

More significantly, Dr.Abiodun also has it that, ‘Many of the basic motivations that catapulted humankind into space in 1957 are still the same today, namely the yearnings for discovery, for knowledge generation and for the development of those skills needed to address a variety of problems here on earth.’ Thus these motivations led to the Space Race and to the Space Race Era.Additionally, ‘Most nations also saw the emerging Space race as a precursor to the domination of the world from outer space.’

In the same vein, the way the Space Race is seen is not in any way different from the rationale for nuclear race, which is deterrence or the need to prevent being cut unawares in the area of military defence and developmental challenges.

This first chapter of Part 1 also witnessed a distinction between and among Space-faring nations, Space-capable nations, Space-aspiring nations, Space-aiming nations and Space users or Supplicant nations, as well as the analysis of the impact of Space products and Services on the development and well-being of the people of each Space-aspiring nations.

The relevance of Space to Nigeria is the focus of Chapter 2: reduction in the loss of human lives on roads – thanks to the GPS (Global Positioning System); quick recovery of vehicles stolen; enhancement of the quality of human health; contribution to the sustainability of the nation’s fisheries resources; provision of improved weather surveillance; provision of search and rescue support for those in distress situations; and use of Space applications to build a culture of peace in Nigeria andAfrica, as a whole, especially in terms of the use of satellites to monitor the adherence of signatories to multilateral and bilateral treaties that are associated with tactical and strategic military developments. The 1963 Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty and the 1972 First StrategicArms Limitation Talks (SALT-1) are good points of illustration.

And perhaps, more interestingly, Dr.Abiodun underscored the use of satellites for peace inAfrica: identification of sources of conflicts before they develop into crises; location of buried landmines and de-mining them; monitor and identify mobile units and units and terrorists that transfer firearms across national borders; track the movements of refugees; arrest the depletion ofAfrica’s living and non-living resources, etc.

(See concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com)

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ OCTOBER 29, 2017

BUSINESS

Business Editor Vincent Obia Tel: 08054681757 Email: vincent.obia@thisdaylive.com

LAST WEEK Oil Oil prices rose on Monday over supply concerns in the Middle East as the U.S. market showed further signs of tightening while demand in Asia kept rising.Brentcrudefutures,theinternational benchmark for oil prices, were at $57.84. U.S.WestTexas Intermediate crudefutureswereat$52.03perbarrel.

The amount of U.S. oil rigs drilling for new production fell by seven to 736 in theweektoOctober20,thelowestlevel since June, General Electric Co’s Baker Hughes energy services firm said on Friday. Much will depend on demand to guide prices, with the U.S. market tightening,flowsfromIraqreduceddue tofightingbetweengovernmentforces and Kurdish militant groups.

Oando The management of Oando PLC obtained an order of court restraining the Nigerian Stock Exchange from placing its shares on technical suspension. A statement signed by the oil firm’s spokesperson, Alero Balogun, and the Chief Compliance Officer, Ayotola Jagun, faulted the decision of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the NSE. The NSE had last week suspended trading on the shares of the oil firm. The bourse said it was acting on the directive of the SEC. On Monday,thebourserelaxeditssanction and placed the company’s shares on technical suspension, saying trading on its shares will not affect prices.

Barrels of crude oil

IEA: Global Oil Supply Rose 90,000b/d in September to 97.5mb/d Non-OPEC output edged higher standing at 620,000 b/d more than 2016 Kunle Aderinokun

Global oil supply rose 90,000 b/d in September to 97.5 mb/d as non-OPEC output edged higher with output standing at 620,000 b/d higher than last year, the October edition of Oil Market Report has revealed.

Also, the impact of hurricanes, which ravaged some states and islands in the United States recently, slowed the growth of global oil demand by one million barrels per day (mb/d) to 1.2 million in September, According to the OMR, a publication of the International Energy Agency (IEA), following very strong year-on-year demand growth of 2.2 mb/d in the second quarter, the pace slowed to 1.2 mb/d in the third quarter, reflecting “relatively weak July and August data and the impact of hurricanes in September.”

In spite of this slowdown, the OMR maintained its forecast of global demand growth of 1.6 mb/d (or 1.6 per cent) and 1.4mb/d in 2018 (or 1.4 per cent).

Noting that global oil supply rose 90,000 b/d in September to 97.5 mb/d as non-OPEC output edged higher with output standing at 620,000 b/d higher than last year, it said in 2017, non-OPEC supplies were expected to grow by 0.7 mb/d, followed by a 1.5 mb/d increase in 2018.

ENERGY

The OMR, which confirmed compliance with supply cuts for the year-to-date was 86 per cent in September, stated that OPEC crude output was virtually unchanged in the review month as slightly higher flows from Libya and Iraq offset lower supply from Venezuela. “Output of 32.65 mb/d was down 400 kb/d on a year ago.”

The IEA publication also showed that benchmark crude prices increased by $2-4/bbl in September over the level in August, marking the third straight month of gains. According to the report, “Middle distillate prices increased almost twice as fast as crude, reflecting lower refinery throughputs and higher demand.”

For the OECD commercial stocks, the OMR said it fell 14.2 mb in August from the revised July. “The surplus over the five-year average fell to 170 mb. Global stocks are likely to have drawn in 3Q17 as reductions in floating storage and the OECD outweighed net builds in China,” it noted.

Looking forward to the fourth quarter, the October OMR posited: Our refinery throughput forecast edges up to 80.9 mb/d, up 0.1 mb/d quarter-on-quarter. Our first forecast for January 2018 implies 1.2 mb/d year-on-year

growth, although runs decline by 0.4 mb/d from December to just under 82 mb/d.”

It added: “Our global crude and product balances show inventories drawing in 2017 by 0.1 mb/d and 0.2 mb/d, respectively. For next year, the crude and product markets look broadly balanced, assuming OPEC holds output steady at around current levels.”

Meanwhile, ahead of the next The IEA publication also showed that benchmark crude prices increased by $2-4/bbl in September over the level in August, marking the third straight month of gains

OPEC meeting, Saudi Arabia and Russia have been reported by the IEA in the OMR to have “strengthened their relationship with a high level summit, and a series of investment agreements accompanied by statements suggesting that the current oil output cuts might be tightened.” “Of course, we must wait and see what happens.

But there is little doubt that leading producers have recommitted to do whatever it takes to underpin the market and to support the long process of re-balancing.”

The OMR explained that the backdrop to these high-level

manoeuvres is the recent volatility we have seen in the Brent crude market, with prices coming close to the symbolic level of $60/bbl before retreating to $57/bbl. According to the report, “Uncertainty with some suppliers (Libya, Venezuela, Iran and northern Iraq) and signs of possibly slower than expected growth in US shale production, coupled with strong oil demand, provided upward momentum to the market. Producers looking for higher prices were on the verge of declaring victory.”

The report, which pointed out that “the number of net long positions held by money managers in Brent futures rose to their highest-ever level through September”, however, stated that, more recently, enthusiasm has peaked and profit taking has set in.

“For WTI, the mini bull run was more limited because logistical constraints saw crude oil stocks increase at Cushing, causing the discount to Brent to blow out to nearly $7/bbl from only $2/bbl in June.

“Even the huge increase in US crude oil exports in late September to a record level of close to 2mb/d only increased the value of WTI versus Brent by about 95 cents/bbl. Markets have a tendency to over-shoot during headline-heavy periods, which is probably what we saw with Brent,” it explained.

ICRC The Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission announced theterminationoftheOutlineBusiness CaseandFullBusinessCasecompliance certification fees as part of moves to deepen ease of doing business in the country. This became effective since October 19. ICRC explained in a statement by its acting Director General, Mr. Chidi Izuwah, that the decision to discontinue with the respective fees was as a result of feedback from stakeholders and potential investors with respect to the cost and procedure of Public Private Partnership project preparation.

Budget The Federal Executive Council has approved the draft budget estimates for 2018. This was revealed by the Minister of Budget and Planning, Udoma Udoma, while briefing State House correspondents at the end of the FEC meeting at the presidential villa,Abuja.Theministersaidthecouncil will liaise with the National Assembly to determine when the president will submit the draft estimates for the consideration of the two chambers.

NIMASA The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ghanaian Maritime Authority to develop capacity in the maritime sector, in line with its vision to enhance regional cooperation. At the official signing of the MoU at the Nigerian Maritime Resource Development Centre in Lagos, Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, noted that intra-African collaboration was a vital requirement for Africans to effectivelyharnessthenaturalpotentials that the Blue economy represents for thecontinent.Hesaid,”Africancountries must cooperate to solve challenges peculiar to the continent. All maritime nations on the African continent have comparative advantage in different areas, and only collaboration will ensure that we complement each other, thus,ensuringthatthemaritimesector contribute effectively to the growth of the continent.”

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ OCTOBER 29, 2017

BUSINESS INTERVIEW

Dozie

PHOTOS: ABIODUN AJALA

Dozie: Collateral Registry Will Help Businesses to Unlock Capital The Chief Executive Officer of Diamond Bank Plc, Mr. Uzoma Dozie, is optimistic that the Secured Transactions in Movable Assets Act (otherwise known as National Collateral Registry Act), recently signed into law will make it easy for a lot of micro, small and medium scale enterprises in the country to access capital. Dozie, who spoke with Kunle Aderinokun, Chika Amanze-Nwachuku, Obinna Chima and Nume Ekeghe on the sidelines of the justconcluded IMF-World Bank annual meetings in Washington DC, United States, also addressed other pertinent issues in the banking industry and the strides taken by Diamond Bank

H

ow did you receive the news that one of your staff was nominated for the position of a deputy governor at the Central Bank of Nigeria?

I received the news like everybody else. I am not a member of the Board of Governors. But we see this as an honor and it reflects the kind of people we have in Diamond Bank. And as a whole, I think we need younger people to participate in forging Nigeria’s path. In most parts of the world, we see younger people beginning to take part in the realm of affairs. May be not at the top, but certainly in policy making and in driving leadership, weather it is in the public sector or private sector. So, I think this is good for the country and we hope to see more of that in Nigeria.

Your peers in the industry are all rushing to

the Eurobond market to beef up their capital, is Diamond Bank also considering doing same in the medium term?

Ours is more of capital management and making sure we have the right type of capital to drive our strategy and to ensure that we have enough regulatory capital and buffers in case of shocks in the system.

So, if you look at our strategy and where we are going to, which is purely retail, it means that with those big transactions we have been doing in the past, we would not be there. And if we are going to do big transactions, it would be participatory from a syndication perspective. Also, our focus is going to be more on Nigeria than beyond Nigeria’s border.

When Diamond Bank first started, our philosophy was to be in key financial parts of the world. However this was before the explosion of technology and how we could leverage it. Now, our focus is to be able to provide services to Nigerians regardless of

where they are in the world.

So everything is changing. It is more about how we can provide services without any physical linkages. So, we question whether we should be in a location first for us to provide services. Now, we are looking at more partnership and collaboration within banking and financial institutions and mostly with non-financial partners. So, it means that our capital requirements would not be much. I think we have over 300 locations, which is enough. So we would increase our footprint, but it would be through collaboration and partnership. Two good examples are our partnership with MTN where we have 40,000 agents providing Diamond Bank services, so we are using their outlets. The second one is our agency banking model where we also partner with our customers to provide banking services.

One other thing that absorbs capital is lending – whether it is through loans or through non-

performing loans. So in that way, we are also in line to be driving our lending from the retail and small business perspectives, diversifying our portfolio and reducing the risk profile of the organisation. So it means our capital requirement is not going to be much. So the only capital requirement is going to be if we are only operating in only Nigeria, then our capital requirement would not be that of an international bank. It would be that of a national bank. So the question is, what are we raising capital for? So for us it would be to make sure that we meet regulatory requirements.

Does this mean you are closing down your branches outside the country and selling assets?

We are focusing on Nigeria. If anyone is interested in those assets, we would consider it. The good thing about our assets is that they are all profitable.

You just need to weigh the offer with the value.

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ OCTOBER 29, 2017

BUSINESS INTERVIEW

Dozie: Collateral Registry Will Help Businesses to Unlock Capital

Cont’d from Pg. 22 is a fantastic innovation and also help discipline and enhance credit culture. So it is definitely welcomed.

We have over 50,000 on that register right now. So it is a mandate for every loan. We started compiling that about a year ago. It is not perfect yet but we are still on course. It is like a new house, where you have to move into first then you would see where the problems are. This is going to play a big role in financing small businesses in the future.

Is there a time frame for you to achieve that?

There is no time frame. Time frame means you are under pressure. So there is no time frame.

Is there a plan to for this asset sale?

Our plan is very simple, so first of all we are meeting our capital adequacy requirements. You don’t want to be at the edge and you also don’t want to be at the brink because for the fact that you are in a volatile economy means you must have shock absorbers. As Nigeria’s macroeconomic conditions are improving, your capital needs or should I say the buffers you would be needing are reducing.

We are in a state where foreign currency liquidity is improving, inflation is going down, reserves are up, oil prices have been stable and also, disruption has been minimal as well. So those are the key indicators that show we are moving in right direction.

Are there any new innovations your bank is doing to enhance financial inclusion and what should we expect in technology space?

Are Diamond Bank shareholders happy with your strategy?

Our major shareholders understand the strategy Diamond Bank is going towards, which is a retail-led strategy. So it means your returns are not going to be short-term, but long term. So Diamond Bank is a long-term investment and we met their expectations, which is the most important thing. What the shareholders want to see is progress and I know we are not going to get our returns today, but I want to make sure that the retail strategy is working.

So if you look at the indicators - the number of customers that we have and cost of business, you would also see that there are more people using our mobile banking solutions, whether it is smart phones, USSD or Diamond Y’ello. So, we are bringing more customers into our platform.

We are also trying to make it more attractive by providing customers with our Gemzone’ loyalty point. I believe we are the first that have done this.

So we have done a few firsts in the retail space. We are also now working on new innovative ways to lend to customers in the consumer space by using non-traditional information to determine the credibility of people. We are working with different financial parties who have done this in other parts of the world. A typical example of this is that, for most people who want to borrow money, they go to a bank and that alone is a big inconvenience. Why can’t they just initiate a transaction just like you initiate a payment? So these are the things we are going to be offering customers. So it means that instead going to a branch to borrow which sometimes come with that cultural stigma that one is going to borrow. So, it means that regardless of where you are and what time it is, do it yourself at your convenience. You can make a request and it is also interactive so it would tell you what your expectations are. So, there is full transparency. Part of the problem when you are dealing with human beings is that you might go to bank A, and they would tell you something different from what bank B told you, Whereas they are talking about same products. But with this system, it gives us information on why the customer wants to borrow and also tells the customer on time if the loan is approved. That is beauty about data. For example, you offer something to a customer and then they are using it for something else, but with this you can monitor it enables you to improve on your solutions. One classic one is USSD. What we found about data is that although we were deploying ATMs in certain areas, customers now prefer to use USSD for certain transactions. So we are beginning to see a shift from ATM to USSD transaction simply because of convenience. So those are the things our investors what to see. We have more international partners and people who are collaborating with us. For example, we were the third bank MTN attempted to do something on the mobile space and we are successful.

I am also on the board of Women’s World Banking.

So that is the acceptance of our bank because I am the only person on that board in Nigeria. Also, they believe in our agenda and financial inclusion drive.

All those things reflect in our results and also where we are going to. And even from a balance sheet perspective, 70 per cent of our fees is today coming from retail-driven transactions. Five years ago, it was corporate and trade-related activities. But since the drop in foreign currency our trade income dropped, that has been replaced by consumer transactions.

So we know that the more consumers we have, the more we would put more solutions on the platform and with more diversity of our income.

Talking about balance sheets, the issue of NPL for the energy sector is a cause for concern for banks. What is Diamond Bank doing to reduce the level of its non-performing loans?

Of course, we are worried. No man is an island and so you want a strong financial system. Nigeria is a very big country with huge financial needs. I

Dozie would tell you that although we are 25 banks, there is certainly more room for more players, especially when you consider that it is only 30 per cent of Nigeria that is banked. We still have about 18 million small businesses that are not banked. You also have a market that has not been developed to provide more products and solutions for customers. So you do not want any loss of confidence in the system.

Loss of confidence is probably a bank going down and when that happens they would start wondering if other banks would go down. So, for us, financial stability is key.

From the energy perspective, the concern is the ability of cash flows to payback the loans that had been extended. Firstly, oil price have improved and production has improved as well. So it means that the cash flows are coming back in. And it is reflected in the capital market as well. So a certain level of confidence is actually coming back. I think it is not the ability to pay that is the issue, the issue is, if they would be able to pay back over a period of time.

I think we have seen almost a full year of stability and if we see another year there would be more optimism. There are more rigs going into the field, which is also a reflection of confidence in the market.

There is so much focus on the agriculture, how is Diamond Bank playing in that sector?

There are three anchor borrowers’ programmes in different parts of the country that we are participating in. So, we are going through the process of making sure the governance is right. It is a retail area, so we are interested in it. It is an area where the government and the central bank is focused on. So it means that, if one plays in there, the risk is shared. From a consumption perspective, it is about 20 per cent of GDP, so it is an area where the more data and information we have, the more we would lend in that space. From the last time that we spoke, I think we had close to half a billion naira that we are processing in that space. And that N500 million is going to affect over 300 hundred farmers. We are moving from an era where N500 million would probably go to one person to giving that to over 300 people. You can imagine the multiplier effect.

Agriculture would also deal with the unemployment problem in Nigeria. We would also be seeing a shift from people moving from the urban areas to rural where we would a certainty of jobs. So, agriculture is an important area for Nigeria and would also be an important area for financial institutions. We are also working together to try and create an enabling environment as well as the road to markets. So it is not just about planting and production. It is about making sure there is transportation, so that the cost to take it to the market is much lower and also price stability as well and storage unit so that you can be selling all-year round. So all these things are beyond banking. So, we need to also collaborate

with the different stakeholders to really accelerate the agricultural aspiration of Nigeria.

Are you going to lend to the whole value chain?

Of course, we lend to everybody. So we lend to farmers, we lend to people who are in the transportation segment area. In processing, there is lower risk. You have gotten the raw materials, input and then you are selling. So the higher you go up the value chain, the lower the risk. When you are processing you already have the end market. So, it is a premium. So it is when you are harvesting cocoa to sell that is when you have a huge risk.

But when you begin to go into refining the cocoa then the risk is much lower.

Since a bank like you is focusing on agriculture, does it mean banks are now changing their business model?

I can only speak for Diamond Bank. We changed our focus about five years ago, at the time of my predecessor. But we started executing when I became the managing director and we took a stand and said this was what we were going to do. We knew these were areas we were going to be playing in and we wanted to invest and develop these markets and this isn’t going to be a side business, but the core business of Diamond Bank. So these are the things we would be doing. If you look at the areas in small businesses where we are focusing on, it is education and healthcare which are as important as agriculture. Without those two, you cannot have a viable agricultural sector. So those three work hand in hand so it is also focusing even on gender. So it is health, education and women, because they are the core foundation of any society.

What can you tell us about the national collateral registry and have your customers started taking advantage of it?

I think it is a good idea. Collateral registry would help unlock capital. We have people who have capital that are locked and they cannot use them to drive their business especially because for banks, you cannot lend without some collateral. Secondly, if you could lend without collateral, which we are going to do, I think you would need the person’s commitment. And thirdly, I hope we are not going to be fixed on collateral because our philosophy in Diamond Bank is that, yes collateral is a second way out, but the first way out is a primary cash flow.

If your cash flow cannot support your business, I don’t care about the collateral.

So the collateral registry is actually customer-centric.

It is to help people use their assets in a cost-effective manner to borrow. And the fact that they have assets that they have placed down, it shows their commitment and their level of seriousness. I think it

Our innovations are to enable our customers do everything by themselves. So we are taking banking out of banking halls. So our innovations are coming from the mobile perspective. We would do a lot of work with fintechs by providing payment solutions for our customers. Where we are going to is a place where we are not carrying cards and no point of sale (PoS) requirement. So it is either mobile to mobile payments or USSD, QR codes. So we are doing a lot of work in that space. We have some customers in that space who don’t want cash because of the inconvenience of cash. So we are taking electronic payments seriously. So that is where we going to in the payment space. On the small business space, one innovation for us is going to be in the area of financial education. To bring all these together, we would announce that in January next year, we are going to have a one-day tech conference called ‘techfrence’. And the whole idea is to bring fintechs and businesses together so that we can create that market that connects our customers with solutions and technology that would help them drive their businesses.

I was watching the Tony Elumelu Foundation where they were actually talking to entrepreneurs and most of the conversation was on those education people take for granted. It is not all about the money, it is about enhancing and using the new social media to market and create awareness. It is about those cost-effective things that would put you on a global map. So for us, innovation is continuous. We have moved from products to solutions so I can’t tell you that we want great products tomorrow. I am going to tell you that we are coming out with ways to make life easier for our customers. So I no longer care of share of wallet anymore, I care of share of life. So I am looking at how to collaborate with company A,B and C to play a bigger role in your life not just in your financial life. That is why banking is changing now and that is why we are now playing a bigger role in the market.

There is a growing fear that Fintechs would take over traditional banking. What is your position on this?

Most new generation banks in Nigeria are actually fintech-driven. So when Diamond Bank started, we started with technology. So if you look at the new generation banks around 1991 era, with western banks that have legacy systems, you see that their type of banking was old. To give you an example, when I left the UK in 1991 and came back to Nigeria, while I was in London, they had PoS terminals, cards and ATMs. In Nigeria, we didn’t have ATMs then and then I went back to cheque books and savings booklets. But 20 years later, our mobile banking is the best. We don’t need even debit cards as they have become inconvenience because you have to remember to carry them. With e-payments, if you want your money, I can send it to you immediately.

The only way you can do that in the UK without incurring additional cost is with cash. So our banking has actually evolved and we can even do much more.

We have done that by collaboration with fintechs.

When people talk about fintech taking over banks, I don’t know how that is going to happen. First of all, banking is about trust. So if a fintech is going to take over my business first of all what of all the regulations, Know-Your-Customer (KYC), anti money laundering and all that has to be put in place, who is going to be the regulator and where is the legislation and how many are you going to change? I am talking about the Nigerian context. The common man, is he going to leave his life savings with the fin-techs? So that will take a while. So for me the solutions we have to provide must meet the needs of the man in the village. And for us in retail banking, one of the biggest costs is convincing people that electronic payment is safer than cash payment.

So if Diamond Bank is the only bank in the retail space doing that, do you know how much money I’m going to spend on financial literacy? Nigeria has 25 banks with 180 million people. The market in Nigeria is very big and to cover that market, you need more players who believe that it is the future before you start talking about fintechs taking over the banking space.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ OCTOBER 29, 2017

22

BUSINESS/ECONOMY

Vice President Osinbajo addressing the EITI conference. Sitting on the right side of the podium is Indonesian Minister of National Development Planning, Bambang Brodjonegoro

In Jakarta, Nigeria Renews Commitment to Transparent Corporate Beneficial Ownership, Seeks Investors Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was on a two-day working visit to Indonesia last week where he spoke at the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) Beneficial Ownership Conference in Jakarta and also held high level meetings with Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla, the Southeast Asian country’s business leaders, and African ambassadors. Tokunbo Adedoja, who attended the meetings, reports

F

or two days last week in Jakarta, Indonesia, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo engaged participants at the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) Beneficial Ownership Conference.

And in separate meetings with IndonesianVice President Jusuf Kalla, the country’s business leaders, and African diplomats, Osinbajo provided information on the huge opportunities for foreign investors in Nigeria.

Leading a high level delegation, which included Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; Minister of State for Budget and Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed; Executive Secretary of Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Mr. Waziri Adio; Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media, Mr. Laolu Akande; and some senior officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Osinbajo gave a compelling account of the changing business environment under the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Cost of Secret Business Ventures At the Banquet hall of the Fairmont Jakarta, venue of the conference, where participants from EITI-member countries discussed the challenges of beneficial ownership reform, provided peer learning, and exchanged experiences, the vice president spoke on the dangers posed by hidden corporate ownership to Nigeria and other developing nations. Warning that opaque corporate beneficial ownership is an existential problem as secrecy provides convenient cover for

criminals, Osinbajo, in his address at the opening session, cited a 2014 report by the One Campaign, titled the “One Trillion Dollar Scandal,” which claimed that developing countries lost $1 trillion annually to corporate transgressions – most of it traceable to the activities of companies with secret ownership.

The vice president also quoted a 2015 report of the High Level Panel on Illicit Financial Flows from Africa, chaired by former South African President Thambo Mbeki, which noted that Africa had lost over $1 trillion over a 50-year period and lost more than $50 billion annually to illicit financial flows.

He said, “Masked or hidden corporate ownership is deeply implicated in the sad story of our underdevelopment.”

Noting that most of these illicit flows are perpetrated in the extractive sector and through companies with hidden ownership, the vice president said,“So for us in the developing world and especially in Africa, breaking the wall of secret corporate ownership is an existential matter. It

is for us literarily a matter of life and death.”

He, however, agreed that while anonymous companies were not always illegal or not always designed to harm, the secrecy around their ownership provided a convenient cover for criminals and corrupt individuals.

“Our lived experience has shown clearly that anonymous corporate ownership could serve as vehicles for masking conflicts of interest, corruption, tax evasion, money laundering, and even terrorism financing,” he said.

The vice president said,“Nigeria is still grappling with the negative consequences of the use of opacity by senior members of government and their cronies between 1993 and 1998, awarding themselves juicy contracts in the extractive industry.

One of such incidents involving a company called Malabu Oil and Gas has been and is still subject of criminal and civil proceedings in many parts of the world involving huge legal costs while the full benefit of the natural resource remains unexploited for the benefit of the people of Nigeria to which it belongs,“ he said.

Some members of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry who spoke at the meeting expressed interests in the railway, aviation, agriculture and foods sectors, just as they also expressed concern about the declining value of the Indonesia-Nigeria trade, which currently stands at $1.70 billion from $3.18 billion in 2012

He called for global efforts to tackle the problem of hidden corporate beneficial ownership, stating that this is not just a problem of the developing world.

“We live in a more inter-connected world, and anonymous companies have footprints and tentacles that do not respect the developed/ developing divide,” the vice president stated.

He added that even when the degree of exposure may differ, the whole world was at risk of the dangers posed by anonymous corporate ownership, noting that the Panama Papers clearly illustrate the global scale and spread of this problem. Osinbajo described this as a global challenge and called for a truly global approach to tackle it. He commended the United Kingdom, Norway, Netherlands and Denmark for leading the way in establishing public registers of the real, human owners of companies in their countries and called on other G8 and G20 countries to follow suit by initiating actions to end corporate secrecy at home and also in their dependencies.

“It is important to underscore the fact that opacity in one section of the globe undermines openness in the other. We need to break down this wall together as we are all at risk of the evil effects of opacity in business ownership.”

Osinbajo lauded Open Ownership and its partners for establishing a global register of beneficial ownership with entries on about two million companies. He noted that current legislative measures in those countries might need to go farther, to effectively discourage or totally prohibit non-disclosure agreements with big corporates and re-evaluate the use of secret trusts to hide beneficial ownership from

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ OCTOBER 29, 2017

BUSINESS/ECONOMY

In Jakarta, Nigeria Renews Commitment to Transparent Corporate Beneficial Ownership, Seeks Investors Cont’d from Pg.. 22 the prying eyes of the law.

He observed that laws passed in some very developed countries did not go far enough to set the examples really needed, as they did not cover territories and dependencies where most of the stolen assets from developed countries end up.

According to him, while governments and citizens stand to benefit from increased revenues, better law enforcement in this area should improve citizens’ welfare as a result of more ownership transparency.

He, however, warned that care must be taken not to frame the campaign as a zerosum between society and business, adding, “Legitimate businesses benefit not only from the better business climate that results when governments better serve their citizens but also from knowing who they are doing businesses with or competing against, they benefit from a level playing field, lower costs of doing business, and from reduced reputational risks.”

Corporate Beneficial Ownership in Nigeria Osinbajo recalled that Nigeria was one of the first set of countries to join the EITI, one of the 12 EITI-implementing countries that piloted beneficial ownership disclosure, and one of the few countries that have disclosed beneficial ownership details in three audit reports. He said through NEITI, a comprehensive roadmap that would culminate in the establishment of the register of beneficial owners of companies operating in the country’s extractive sector had been published.

He said Nigeria was taking the initiative beyond the extractive sector, citing the commitment Buhari made at the May 2016 London Anti-Corruption Summit to establish a public register of the beneficial owners of all companies operating in the country.

According to the vice president,“In December 2016, Nigeria joined the Open Government Partnership (OGP) and submitted a National Action Plan that prioritises the establishment of this all-encompassing and publicly accessible register.

These are commitments that we made with all sense of seriousness. They are commitments that we made not because we are seeking applause or commendation, but because we are convinced they are in our best interests.

“To further reinforce our determination by our course of actions, we presented a draft Money Laundering Prevention and Prohibition Bill to the National Assembly in 2016. The 2016 draft Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act attempts to cure the deficiency of the 2011 Act, Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act No. 11, 2011, to bring it in line with the FATF standards, and it contains robust provisions on removing the barriers to full beneficial ownership disclosure in our laws.”

National Priority Speaking during one of the panel discussions at the conference, Fayemi said beneficial ownership disclosure was critical to Nigeria’s national priorities.

He aligned it with the electoral mandate of the Buhari administration, which is to fight corruption, tackle insecurity, and grow the economy.

Recalling the president’s commitment to the establishment of a central public register of company beneficial ownership information, and Nigeria’s membership of the Open Government Partnership (OGP), the minister said Nigeria had made“the establishment of an all-encompassing register of company owners the centrepiece of our national action plan.”

He noted that Nigeria’s commitment to both the EITI and OGP processes was strong and unwavering, stressing that the country has two reinforcing commitments on ownership disclosure – the beneficial ownership register for the extractive sector as an EITI-implementing country and the beneficial ownership register for all companies doing business in Nigeria under OGP. Fayemi said:“We are starting with the extractive sector because it is our most strategic sector and is a sector already exposed to revenue and ownership reporting. Our national EITI, which I chair, was part of the EITI pilot on beneficial ownership disclosure and has featured beneficial ownership information in the last three audit reports.

“Also, a roadmap for beneficial ownership disclosure in the extractive sector had been developed through a consultative process and is already being implemented. But it is our considered view that to have the desired impact we need to go beyond just one sector, no matter how strategic

Osinbajo with Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla

and ready that sector is. Without mainstream ownership disclosure, hidden ownership with all its harmful baggage will just move to uncovered grounds. This was why we decided to cover all sectors and all companies.”

The minister said while NEITI was taking the lead on the extractive sector register, the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) was taking the lead on establishing the all-encompassing register.

According to him, the extractive register will eventually become part of the wider register while the experience gathered in implementing it would be useful for the second phase, which is the all-encompassing register.

Noting that the major challenge is that there is no law that mandates the disclosure of more than the legal owners of companies operating in Nigeria, he said there were existing reforms or initiatives that could help unveil beneficial owners of companies in the country. These, according to him, include the mandatory asset declarations by all public officials, the Freedom of Information Act, the anti-money laundering law, and the bank verification numbers, among others. He, however, said these initiatives could only be complementary instruments, as clear legislation would still be needed.

Not oblivious of the fact that it takes a while to pass legislation, Fayemi said NEITI was working with other institutions to explore two interim options, namely, subsidiary legislations by regulators and an executive order on beneficial ownership disclosure. He added that the process of repealing the Companies Act to include express provisions on beneficial ownership disclosure had commenced.

“Additionally, structured consultations are on-going among critical stakeholders on what to capture in the register(s), the levels of access, technology needs, who will host the register(s), how to validate entries, how to sensitise stakeholders, capacity building for media and civil society, funding needs and other operational issues.”

Challenge Ahmed, speaking in one of the sessions, emphasised the need for disclosure of companies’ beneficial owners. She said Nigeria had a tax to GDP ratio of 5%, adding that if the current efforts channelled towards disclosure of companies’ beneficial owners are successful, it can unlock more tax revenue. She was responding to questions from participants on the challenges facing Nigeria as regards beneficial ownership.

The minister said lack of official record of beneficial business owners was a major challenge faced by government. She noted that though it was unlawful in Nigeria for government officials to own businesses, some government officials still found a way to circumvent that law.

“That is an issue that has been a challenge because government officials still own businesses and you cannot find any official record of such ownership by government officials. Sometimes even when you enter a taxi, the taxi driver may point at a hotel and say this is owned by one government official, but you won’t find that in any official record.”

She said in some instances stakes in companies were under-declared, citing an instance where a

person that had the least percentage holding in a company was the actual owner of that company.

Marketing Nigeria On the sidelines of the conference, Osinbajo met with the Indonesian business leaders, where he highlighted the incentives initiated by government for investors and urged them to take advantage of the immense opportunities in the Nigerian economy.

Speaking to the business leaders under the auspices of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Osinbajo said some of the incentives introduced by the Nigerian government to attract investors and improve the business environment included approval of pioneer status for some categories of companies; establishment of special economic zones; opening up of marginal oil fields; investment in infrastructure; and efforts at increasing foreign exchange availability through the NIFEX window.

Stressing the need for Indonesian companies to increase their investment portfolios in Nigeria, particularly in the manufacturing as well as oil and gas sectors, because of the incentives available in those areas, he also gave an overview of on-going projects in Nigeria and called for collaborations between Indonesian and Nigerian businesses.

He listed railway development as one of such areas, adding,“Nigeria would need a rolling stock in its railway revitalisation project.”

Declining Trade Some members of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry who spoke at the meeting expressed interests in the railway, aviation, agriculture and foods sectors. They also expressed concern about the declining value of the Indonesia-Nigeria trade, which currently stands at $1.70 billion from $3.18 billion in 2012.

Emphasising the need for both countries to work on reversing the slide, Chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr Rosan Roeslani, said,“Being the 15th largest economy in the world, Indonesia, through its investors, is desirous of increasing its portfolios to levels that justify Nigeria’s position as the Asian country’s biggest trading partner in Africa.’’

He noted that Osinbajo’s visit to Indonesia and his meeting with the business leaders were strong indications that Nigeria was ready to take her pride of place among Indonesia’s biggest trading partners in the world.

One of the highlights of the visit was the meeting between Osinbajo and his Indonesian counterpart, Jusuf Kalla, at the end of which both leaders expressed their countries readiness for more economic cooperation

Chief Executive Officer of Indonesian Eximbank, Shintya Roesly, who was also at the meeting, expressed the bank’s readiness to support trade relations between both countries through financing of import and export activities with a view to boosting the balance of trade between the two countries. She called for the creation of a roadmap and establishment of a working group with timelines to enhance trade development between Indonesia and Nigeria.

Representative of Pertamina, Indonesian state-owned oil and natural gas corporation, Mr. Daniel Purba, said the company had already opened discussions with stakeholders in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry with a view to investing in upstream assets.

Parley with African Envoys Osinbajo also had an interactive session with the Committee of African Ambassadors to Indonesia, led by the Dean of the group, Ms. Alice Mageza of Zimbabwe. Present at the meeting were ambassadors of Egypt, Ethiopia, Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Mozambique, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, and Tunisia.

Addressing the envoys, Osinbajo noted that Africa had huge potential but it must reposition its economy in the direction that would be attractive to investors.

“The way that such investments will go will depend on the advantages that the investors get from investing in such economies,”he said, adding,“We in Africa must prepare our economies in that direction that attracts such huge and qualitative investments. It is for us to push and we must push.”

Osinbajo said Africa’s poor economic indices of lowest integration statistics and lowest GDP ratio could only be reversed by preparing the continent for quality investments that would benefit the people. He urged the envoys to work together to attract the needed investments to the continent.

Emphasising the need for the continent to focus its investment drive on the manufacturing sector, the vice president said,“The most important thing for Africa is that whoever wants to invest in our countries should start in the manufacturing sector.”

Nigeria-Indonesia Economic Cooperation One of the highlights of the visit was the meeting between Osinbajo and his Indonesian counterpart, Jusuf Kalla, at the end of which both leaders expressed their countries’ readiness for more economic cooperation. Osinbajo said Nigeria was open for business and more investment.

While informing Kalla that the Buhari administration has implemented reforms that have made the Nigerian business environment more favourable, Osinbajo said,“We are looking forward to more Indonesian investments, especially in the manufacturing sector in Nigeria, trying to exploit our local raw materials.”

Other issues discussed by the two vice presidents included how both countries could collaborate more in the agriculture and agro-allied sector, and also in palm oil research and production.

Both countries agreed to work together to strengthen economic ties.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ OCTOBER 29, 2017

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BUSINESS/MONEY

Ex Parte Order on Accounts without BVN Sparks Debate The ruling of a Federal High Court in Abuja that all cash in bank accounts without bank verification numbers would be forfeited to the federal government has generated controversy. Obinna Chima reports

T

he dust raised by a Federal High Court ex parte order in Abuja that all monies in bank accounts owned by corporate organisations, government agencies or individuals that are without bank verification numbers (BVNs) will be forfeited to the federal government, has not settled.

While some financial market analysts and lawyers have continued to fault the decision of the court, others believe it would help the government in its anti-corruption war.

The court order stated that the decision would be enforced 14 days from the date the order was given.

Justice Nnamdi Dimgba Igwe had granted the order on October 18, 2017, following an application by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN) on behalf of the federal government.

The Federal Government had sought an interim order directing all the money deposit banks (commercial banks) to disclose/declare all individual and corporate accounts in their custody not covered

by BVN and for an interim order of forfeiture of the monies therein being accounts with insufficient know your customer guidelines contrary to the directive of the CBN and Section 3 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended.

The application was filed on September 28th, 2017.

The judge had ordered the banks to file an affidavit of disclosure before it, showing the names of the affected accounts, the account numbers, outstanding balances, domiciliary accounts and the branch, where the accounts are domiciled.

In specific terms, part of the orders made by the judges included:“1.That the 1st-19th defendant banks shall filed an affidavit of disclosure before this court deposed to by the Chief Compliance Officer of all accounts of: (a) Individuals; (b) corporate bodies and (c) government agencies in their custody without BVN and serve same on the Central Bank of Nigeria.

“2.That the 1st-19th defendant banks shall disclose: (a) the names of the accounts as opened; (b) Account Numbers; (c) outstanding balances (d) Domiciliary Accounts and (e) the branch/location where the accounts are domiciled of all accounts without BVN. According to the Nigerian Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS), 52 million bank accounts had been linked to their BVNs as of February this year. The total number of bank accounts in the country was estimated at 70 million in 2016.

Mixed Reactions The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Prosecution, Okoi Obono-Obla, welcomed the decision of the court.

Obono-Obla stated that the federal government would be justified when the order is implemented, saying that those who do not have a BVN to their accounts had violated the CBN policy on BVN and thus, have themselves to blame.

Obono-Obla, who is also the chairman of the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Property, decried the alarming number of accounts yet to be linked to BVNs. He, however, stated that the amount in each of the bank accounts were still unknown.

“From Central Bank Statistics, 46 million accounts are yet to be linked with BVN after three years.

Anyone who has not complied with that directive, it means that his account is fraudulent and so, whatever is there should go to the government. “ Our laws are not even as strict as what we find in the U.S. In the United States, if you do not operate in a bank account for three years, all the money in that account goes to the federal government of the United States of America”.

He, however, faulted the argument of banks that not every account without a BVN is fraudulent. He stressed that failure to comply with the BVN policy after two years of implementation suggested that the accounts were fraudulent.

But speaking in a chat with THISDAY, a bank chief executive, who spoke on the condition of

Naira notes anonymity, questioned the legality of the move by the federal government. According to the CEO, the move would discourage financial inclusion and might affect financial system stability.

“What of a situation where somebody has died and the matter is in administration, what do you want the bank to do? To give government the money and face litigation?

“What of Nigerians who are abroad and are still struggling to get their BNVs? What if we send the monies to government and we are sued by the customer(s)?

“And the 14-day time frame is very short. Why the rush? Why not give a time frame, maybe till 2018 for people to get their BVNs? These are the type of things that create uncertainty and instability in the market. We are just coming out of a recession and we try to discourage anything that would destabilise the system.

“We are trying to drive financial inclusion, but there are many people who are not in the banking system that may not want to open accounts once they hear of such things happening,”he said.

Also, the chief executive of the defunct Progress Bank, Mr. Okechukwu Unegbu, argued that the ruling was“basically illegal”.

Unegbu wondered under what law the ruling was given.“Was there any federal gazette on that?

Who was the case against?”he wondered.

He added:“In fact, if that is done to anybody’s account, the person has the right to go to court. But for me, if it is something the federal government wants to pursue, let them come out with a law.

“But I must tell you that we are still feeling the impunity of the military mentality. Remember that in banking, your relationship with the customer is confidential.

“However, if the government comes up with a policy to enable it to fight corruption, all of us would support it. But you don’t use draconian laws to enforce such things.”

According to Unegbu, the federal government ought to be developing policies that would encourage

financial inclusion and not those that discourage it.

He added that some of the challenges around the BVN scheme ought to have been corrected before resorting to the courts.

“Even the BVN scheme has its problems. If you go to the bank most of the time, before you conclude it, it takes a lot of time. Atimes when you register, the bank will call you back to come and register again.

“The environment should be put right first. If the environment is faulty, there is nothing bank customers can do. Besides, this should be extended to the microfinance banks, where most of their customers do not have BVNs yet.

“So there are holes in the so-called court order.

But any order from a court should be obeyed, but it can still be challenged.

“Honestly, I am disturbed because I see it as an order given without considering the challenges in the environment,”he noted But a former Managing Director of the defunct Liberty Bank, Chief Lawson Omokhodion, welcomed the court order, arguing that it would help the government in its anti-corruption war.

When asked about what would become of the fate of bank customers in the Diaspora, Omokhodion said:“People in the Diaspora have not gone forever.

They come home during Christmas, some come once a year and some come twice a year.

“So they have time to link their BVNs to their accounts. Also, the central bank created centres outside the country to enable them to do that.”

He added:“But the truth is that there is no person who genuinely worked for his money, who would not be concerned about the safety of his funds. If I have 25,000 pounds in a British bank account and they tell me there are things I need to do to preserve my money, I would run down there immediately.

“So why won’t you, if you are truly the owner of this account? You would run back to sort things out and return. So for me government is doing the right thing. Government sometimes has been too soft. This country requires tough measures to create order.”

However, human rights lawyer, Ebun Olu Adegboruwa described as illegal, the order granting the forfeiture of funds in accounts without BVNs to the federal government.

In a statement, Adegboruwa, citing Section 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution and Article 7 of the African Charter, said it was not proper to determine the rights of parties in their absence.

He said the BVN was a policy decision and not “backed by law”.

The lawyer also faulted the“bindingness”of the order on millions of bank customers who he said were not directly parties to the suit, as reported The Cable, an online news site.

Adegboruwa said the quest to get revenue for the government should not be to the detriment of the constitutional and fundamental rights of the citizens.

“I am very well concerned about how we deploy interim orders for permanent purposes, such as to forfeit valuable assets without any or fair hearing from the person(s) concerned,”the statement read.

“I think it is improper to obtain interim orders to freeze the bank accounts of estates that are in dispute between the beneficiaries, of estates of deceased persons that are still being contested, of profits of companies that are still subject to litigation or other disputes, just to mention a few examples of the arbitrariness of these orders.

“There is nothing in Section 3 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 that makes BVN a condition precedent for operating a bank account in Nigeria. Nothing at all. What the law requires is verifiable identity of the customer, such as name, address, photographs, identity cards, etc.

“BVN is a policy decision of the Central Bank of Nigeria and a court of law should not base its orders on executive policies that are not backed by law.

“I get truly worried with the way we adopt ex parte applications to determine very serious and weighty issues of law.

“The other point is the bindingness of an ex parte order upon the whole world and upon millions of bank customers in Nigeria, who are not directly parties to the suit.

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BUSINESS/MONEY

Resolving Perennial Excess Bank Charges Despite the clamour for financial inclusion and against agreed terms, deposit money banks have continued to visit their customers with outrageous charges, writes Ndubuisi Francis

Customers transacting business inside a banking Hall

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n September 30, 2017, a close friend, and bank customer, Hilary Chukwu (not real name), cried blue murder as soon as he received an alert indicating that he had been charged as much as N538.00 purported to be “account maintenance fee”, by his bank.

Piqued by the outlandish charge on his roughly N70, 000 current account balance in the name of “account maintenance fee”, Chukwu saw this as not only fraudulent, but smacks of an attempt to rubbish the clamour for financial inclusion.

This‘over-kill’charge under the guise of a nebulous maintenance fee has become the lot of scores of bank customers daily, despite efforts by the CBN to check the sometimes amorphous and often unscrupulous charges many DMBs visit on their customers on daily basis.

After stopping the cost on turnover (COT) charges by banks January last year, the CBN had authorised the introduction of current account maintenance fee a few weeks later. But this did not go down well with bank customers.

Speaking under the aegis of Bank Customers Association of Nigeria (BCAN), bank customers said the implementation of the fee would erode the confidence of bank customers in CBN as an unbiased regulator; affect negatively the budgets and other plans which had been prepared by customers on the certainty of a zero-COT regime.

It was this ‘current account maintenance fee’ that made Chukwu (referred to above) to express outrage after receiving an alert to the effect that N538.00 had been deducted from his current account balance of about N70,000.

Recovered Excess Charges On February 28, 2016, the CBN announced that it compelled banks to return N6.2 billion excess charges to their customers in 2015 alone.

In announcing the development, the apex bank in a statement captioned“Alleged Excess, Illegal Charges

by Deposit Money Banks (DMBs)”, said it“received series of complaints from customers of Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) alleging excessive and in some cases illegal charges from their respective banks.”

The CBN had said in the February 2016 statement: “The Revised Guide to Bank Charges clearly specifies

allowable charges for all banking services and the CBN does not in any way condone the fleecing of banking customers under any guise.

“It was in the quest to provide a strong voice to banks’customers and moderate the arbitrary charges that the CBN in 2012, established its Consumer Protection Department. For the avoidance of doubt, the CBN has investigated over 6,000 complaints relating to unauthorised bank charges brought to its notice, following which banks have been compelled to refund the sum of over N6.2 billion to affected customers in 2015 alone.

“The CBN wishes to reiterate its resolve to continuously enforce the provision of the Revised Guide to Bank Charges and urges members of the public to report cases of infringement to enable it investigate and apply sanctions on any erring Deposit Money Bank (DMB).”

Despite the efforts by the CBN to check the excess charges by the DMBs, recent developments seem to suggest that the banks are resolved to continue to fleece their customers under sundry charges, most of which are way above agreed and approved thresholds.

Precisely on October 4, 2017, CBN’s Acting Director, Corporate Communications, Mr. Isaac Okorafor, disclosed that the bank’s efforts to ensure that DMBs play by the rules were yielding significant dividends.

According to him, the apex bank had in three years recovered over N50 billion as excessive charges on bank customers by DMBs. Okorafor, said the CBN was unrelenting in its resolve to ensure that excessive charges were stopped as the practice was against the campaign for banking inclusion and fair deal.

He urged the banking public to promptly report incidences of excessive charges, when discovered, to the Consumer Protection Department of the CBN, for action.

The apex bank, he said, had established the necessary mechanism to reverse every form of unwholesome practice by DMBs. Okorafor noted that the CBN had a Customer Bill of Rights and urged them to access the bank’s website and read up the“Guide to Bank Charges in order to know their rights with a view to guarding against being overcharged by banks.

But for emphasis, Okorafor reminded all that banks were not charity organisations, but profitable

entities that survive through charges.

He, however, noted that in going about charging their customers for services rendered, such charges should fall within approved threshold.

It is important that the CBN has asked bank customers to always forward their complaints to the Director, Consumer Protection Department via email: cpd@cbn.gov.ng.

This window of redress has not been fully exploited by bank customers, who daily suffer one form of infringement or the other through excess charges.

The CBN may also not have carried out its enlightenment role well enough to intimate bank customers on approved charges and ways of seeking redress in the event of overcharge.

But it is gratifying that the apex bank had acted on reported cases of excess charges against DMBs. Looking at the amount (N50 billion) said to have been recovered as excess charges in the past three years (2015-2017), it is deduced that a whopping N44.8 billion was recovered between 2016 and 2017 since the CBN had put recovered excess charges for 2015 at N6.2 billion.

The apex bank had in three years recovered over N50 billion as excessive charges on bank customers

by DMBs… the CBN was unrelenting in its resolve to ensure that excessive charges were stopped as the practice was against the campaign for banking inclusion and fair deal

Guide to Charges The Guide to Bank Charges published by the CBN provides a standard for the application of charges on the various types of products and services DMBs in Nigeria offer their customers, individuals, corporate organisations and governments at all levels.

According to the CBN, wide consultations with relevant stakeholders were considered in arriving at the charges prescribed in the guide.

The guide was designed to enhance flexibility, transparency and competition in the nation’s economy.

It stipulates that where a bank charge is stipulated as“negotiable”, DMBs are required to appropriately draw the attention of their customers to it, and both parties should mutually agree on the applicable charge. Although the guide also provides for charges on various products and services of DMBs, it is not exhaustive .

Banks are mandated to present any new product, service and charges not covered by the guide to the CBN for prior approval.

Some DMBs run afoul of this, rather opting to introduce and overcharge their customers, many of who are ignorant of their rights, display a form of apathy or both.

Different Charges There are different charges/fees approved by the CBN such as interest on deposit as well as interest rates/lending fees. Interest on deposit includes current account in credit balance, which has a ‘negotiable’ charge.

Others are savings deposit account, term deposit account, domiciliary account, current account, savings account and deposits held on collateral. Charges on virtually all these accounts are classified as‘negotiable’.

But how much of negotiations the DMBs carry out with their customers before embarking on what has resulted in outrageous excess charges is better imagined.

That the DMBs have also embarked on these excess charges in clear breach of extant provisions leaves much to be desired.

It is not enough for the CBN to recover excess charges, ensuring that these breaches are not allowed is more potent. Above all, defaulting banks should be made to face serious sanctions, while more enlightenment campaigns should be put in place for bank customers.

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ OCTOBER 29, 2017

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ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ĂŶŬŝŶŐ ^ĞĐƚŽƌ ZĞƉŽƌƚ ϮϬϭϳ͗ ͞EŝŐĞƌŝĂ ZĞŽƉĞŶƐ ĨŽƌ ƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ͟ džĞĐƵƟǀĞ ^ƵŵŵĂƌLJ

EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶ ĂŶŬŝŶŐ ^ĞĐƚŽƌ ŝŶ ϮϬϭϲͬϮϬϭϳ

,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ /D& ƚƌŝŵŵĞĚ ^Ƶď ^ĂŚĂƌĂŶ ĨƌŝĐĂ͛Ɛ ;^^ Ϳ ŐƌŽǁƚŚ ƉƌŽũĞĐƟŽŶ ďLJ ϮϬďƉƐ͕ ĐŝƟŶŐ ƚŚĂƚ ŵĂŶLJ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ůĂƌŐĞƐƚ ŶŽŶ ƌĞƐŽƵƌĐĞ ŝŶƚĞŶƐŝǀĞ ĐŽƵŶƚƌŝĞƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƌĞŐŝŽŶ ǁŝůů ĮŶĚ ŝƚ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐŝŶŐůLJ ĚŝĸĐƵůƚ ƚŽ ƐƵƐƚĂŝŶ ŐƌŽǁƚŚ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ŚŝŐŚĞƌ ƉƵďůŝĐ ĐĂƉŝƚĂů ƐƉĞŶĚŝŶŐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĨĂĐĞ ŽĨ ƌŝƐŝŶŐ ƉƵďůŝĐ ĚĞďƚ͘ dŚĞ ƌĞŐŝŽŶ ŝƐ ƉƌŽũĞĐƚĞĚ ƚŽ ŐƌŽǁ Ϯ͘ϲй ŝŶ ϮϬϭϳ ;ƌĞůĂƟǀĞ ƚŽ ϭ͘ϰй ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ŝŶ ϮϬϭϲͿ͕ ĚƌŝǀĞŶ ďLJ Ă ƌĞďŽƵŶĚ ŝŶ EŝŐĞƌŝĂ͕ ^ŽƵƚŚ ĨƌŝĐĂ ĂŶĚ ŶŐŽůĂ ʹ ƚŚĞ ƌĞŐŝŽŶ͛Ɛ ůĂƌŐĞƐƚ ĞĐŽŶŽŵŝĞƐ ǁŚŝĐŚ ĨĂĐĞĚ Ă ĐŚĂůůĞŶŐŝŶŐ ϮϬϭϲ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ůŽǁ ĐŽŵŵŽĚŝƚLJ ƉƌŝĐĞƐ͘ ,ĞŶĐĞ͕ EŝŐĞƌŝĂ ŝƐ ĨŽƌĞĐĂƐƚ ƚŽ ŐƌŽǁ Ϭ͘ϴй ŝŶ ϮϬϭϳ ƌĞůĂƟǀĞ ƚŽ Ă ϭ͘ϱй ĐŽŶƚƌĂĐƟŽŶ ŝŶ ϮϬϭϲ ǁŚŝůĞ ^ŽƵƚŚ ĨƌŝĐĂ ŝƐ ĂůƐŽ ĞdžƉĞĐƚĞĚ ƚŽ ŐƌŽǁ Ϭ͘ϴй͕ ĨĂƐƚĞƌ ƚŚĂŶ Ϭ͘ϯй ĂĐƚƵĂů ŝŶ ϮϬϭϲ͘ :ƵƐƟĨLJŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞĚ ŐƌŽǁƚŚ ƉƌŽƐƉĞĐƚ͕ EŝŐĞƌŝĂ ĂŶĚ ^ŽƵƚŚ ĨƌŝĐĂ ĞdžŝƚĞĚ ƌĞĐĞƐƐŝŽŶ ŝŶ YϮ͗ϮϬϭϳ ǁŝƚŚ Ϭ͘ϱϱй ĂŶĚ Ϯ͘ϱй ' W ŐƌŽǁƚŚ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘ ŶŐŽůĂ ŝƐ ĂůƐŽ ĞdžƉĞĐƚĞĚ ƚŽ ƌĞďŽƵŶĚ ϭ͘ϯй ŝŶ ϮϬϭϳ͕ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ŵĂũŽƌ ĚƌŝǀĞƌ ďĞŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ŶŽŶ Žŝů ƐĞĐƚŽƌ͘

dŚĞ ďƵůŬ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶ ĂŶŬƐ ĚĞŵŽŶƐƚƌĂƚĞĚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƌĞƐŝůŝĞŶĐĞ ŝŶ ϮϬϭϲ ĂŶĚ ŝŶƚŽ ϮϬϭϳ ĂŵŝĚƐƚ ƚŽƵŐŚĞƌ ŵĂĐƌŽĞĐŽŶŽŵŝĐ ĐŚĂůůĞŶŐĞƐ ǁŚŝĐŚ ǁĞŝŐŚĞĚ ŽŶ ĐƌĞĚŝƚ ĞdžƉĂŶƐŝŽŶ͕ ĂƐƐĞƚ ƋƵĂůŝƚLJ ĂŶĚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂů ĂĚĞƋƵĂĐLJ͕ ƚŽ ƌĞĐŽƌĚ ůĂƌŐĞůLJ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞƐ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ LJĞĂƌ͘ dŚĞ ĮŶĂŶĐŝĂů ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƐĞĐƚŽƌ ǁĂƐ ƉƌŝŶĐŝƉĂůůLJ ĂīĞĐƚĞĚ ďLJ ŵŽŶĞƚĂƌLJ ƉŽůŝĐLJ ĚĞĐŝƐŝŽŶƐ ƟĞĚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ŵĂŶĂŐĞŵĞŶƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ &y ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŚĂĚ Ă ƌŝƉƉůĞ ĞīĞĐƚ ŽŶ ĞĂƌŶŝŶŐƐ ĂĐƌŽƐƐ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĚƵƐƚƌLJ͘ dŚŝƐ ǁĂƐ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ĨŽƌ ďĂŶŬƐ͛ ŶŽŶ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ ŝŶĐŽŵĞ͕ ĞƐƉĞĐŝĂůůLJ dŝĞƌ ϭ ůĞŶĚĞƌƐ ǁŝƚŚ ĂŐŐƌĞŐĂƚĞ ůŽŶŐ EĞƚ KƉĞŶ WŽƐŝƟŽŶƐ ;ŝ͘Ğ͘ ŚŝŐŚĞƌ ĨŽƌĞŝŐŶ ĐƵƌƌĞŶĐLJ ĚĞŶŽŵŝŶĂƚĞĚ ŵŽŶĞƚĂƌLJ ĂƐƐĞƚƐ ƚŚĂŶ ůŝĂďŝůŝƟĞƐͿ ǁŚŝĐŚ ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ŵĂƐƐŝǀĞ ũƵŵƉƐ ŝŶ &y ƌĞǀĂůƵĂƟŽŶ ŐĂŝŶƐ͘ DŽƌĞŽǀĞƌ͕ ŝŶ Ă ďŝĚ ƚŽ ĂƩƌĂĐƚ ƉƌŝǀĂƚĞ ĐĂƉŝƚĂů ŇŽǁƐ ĂŶĚ ƐŚŽƌĞ ƵƉ ƚŚĞ EĂŝƌĂ ĂŶĚ ĞdžƚĞƌŶĂů ƌĞƐĞƌǀĞƐ͕ ƚŚĞ E ĚƌŽǀĞ ƵƉ ƉŽůŝĐLJ ĂŶĚ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ ƌĂƚĞƐ͕ ƌĞƐƵůƟŶŐ ŝŶ ŚŝŐŚĞƌ ĮdžĞĚ ŝŶĐŽŵĞ LJŝĞůĚƐ ǁŚŝĐŚ ďŽůƐƚĞƌĞĚ /ŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ /ŶĐŽŵĞ ĨŽƌ ďĂŶŬƐ͘

ŽŵĞƐƟĐ DĂĐƌŽĞĐŽŶŽŵŝĐ ,ŝŐŚůŝŐŚƚƐ

ŽŶƐĞƋƵĞŶƚ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ŚŝŐŚĞƌ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ ĂŶĚ ŶŽŶ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ ŝŶĐŽŵĞ͕ ŝŶĚƵƐƚƌLJ 'ƌŽƐƐ ĂƌŶŝŶŐƐ ;ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ϭϱ ďĂŶŬƐ ǁŝƚŚŝŶ ŽƵƌ ĐŽǀĞƌĂŐĞͿ ƌŽƐĞ ĨĂƐƚĞƌ Ăƚ ϭϲ͘ϰй ŝŶ &z͗ϮϬϭϲ ;ďĞƩĞƌ ƚŚĂŶ ϭϬ͘ϰй ŝŶ ϮϬϭϱͿ͘ ,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĚƵƐƚƌLJ ƐƟůů ĨĂĐĞĚ

EŝŐĞƌŝĂ͛Ɛ ĞƌƐƚǁŚŝůĞ ƉƌĞĚŽŵŝŶĂŶƚůLJ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ŵĂĐƌŽ ƐƚŽƌLJ ƐƵīĞƌĞĚ Ă ƐĞƚďĂĐŬ ďĞƚǁĞĞŶ ϮϬϭϰ ĂŶĚ ϮϬϭϲ ĂƐ ŵĂĐƌŽĞĐŽŶŽŵŝĐ ŝŶĚŝĐĂƚŽƌƐ ĐĂŵĞ ƵŶĚĞƌ ƉƌĞƐƐƵƌĞ ĂŶĚ ƵŶĚĞƌƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĞĚ ŵĞĚŝƵŵ ƚĞƌŵ ƚƌĞŶĚ ĂŶĚ ĨƌŽŶƟĞƌ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƉĞĞƌƐ͘ dŚŝƐ ƉĞƌŝŽĚ ĐŽƵůĚ ďĞƐƚ ďĞ ĚĞƐĐƌŝďĞĚ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ͞ůĞĂŶ LJĞĂƌƐ͟ ǁŚŝĐŚ ƉĞƌŚĂƉƐ ŚĂƐ ďĞĞŶ ŽŶĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ĐŚĂůůĞŶŐŝŶŐ ĨŽƌ ƉŽůŝĐLJ ŵĂŬĞƌƐ ƐŝŶĐĞ ƚŚĞ ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ƚŽ ĚĞŵŽĐƌĂƟĐ ƌƵůĞ ŝŶ ϭϵϵϵ͘ Ɛ ǁŝƚŚ ŵŽƐƚ ĞŵĞƌŐŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ĨƌŽŶƟĞƌ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐƌŝƐĞƐ͕ EŝŐĞƌŝĂ͛Ɛ ĞĐŽŶŽŵŝĐ ŵŝƐĞƌŝĞƐ ǁĞƌĞ Ăƚ ĮƌƐƚ ƚƌŝŐŐĞƌĞĚ ďLJ Ă ĐƵƌƌĞŶƚ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ŝŵďĂůĂŶĐĞ ĂŶĚ ǁŝĚĞŶŝŶŐ ĮƐĐĂů ĚĞĮĐŝƚƐ ǁŚŝĐŚ ǁĞƌĞ Ă ĚŝƌĞĐƚ ĐŽŶƐĞƋƵĞŶĐĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĨĂůů ŝŶ ŐůŽďĂů Žŝů ƉƌŝĐĞƐ ƐŝŶĐĞ ϮϬϭϰ͘ Ɛ ƚŚĞ ƟĚĞ ǁĞŶƚ ŽƵƚ ŽŶ ĐŽŵŵŽĚŝƟĞƐ͕ EŝŐĞƌŝĂ͛Ɛ ƐƚƌƵĐƚƵƌĂů ǀƵůŶĞƌĂďŝůŝƟĞƐ ŚŝƚŚĞƌƚŽ ŝŐŶŽƌĞĚ ďLJ ƉŽůŝĐLJ ŵĂŬĞƌƐ ĂŶĚ ŐůŽďĂů ĨƵŶĚ ŵĂŶĂŐĞƌƐ ĐĂƵŐŚƚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĞƵƉŚŽƌŝĂ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ͞ ĨƌŝĐĂ ZŝƐŝŶŐ͟ ŶĂƌƌĂƟǀĞ ʹ ďĞĐĂŵĞ ŵŽƌĞ ŽďǀŝŽƵƐ͕ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ĞīĞĐƚ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ ĐLJĐůĞ ĂŵƉůŝĮĞĚ ďLJ ƵŶĚĞƌǁŚĞůŵŝŶŐ ƉŽůŝĐLJ ƌĞƐƉŽŶƐĞƐ ǁŚŝĐŚ ƐĂƉƉĞĚ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ĐŽŶĮĚĞŶĐĞ ĂŶĚ ůĞĚ ƚŽ Ă ĐƵƌƌĞŶĐLJ ĐƌŝƐŝƐ͘ dŚĞ ƌĞƐƵŵƉƟŽŶ ŽĨ ŵŝůŝƚĂŶĐLJ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ Žŝů ƉƌŽĚƵĐŝŶŐ EŝŐĞƌ ĞůƚĂ ƌĞŐŝŽŶ ŝŶ &ĞďƌƵĂƌLJ ϮϬϭϲ ǁĂƐ ƚŚĞ ƐƚƌĂǁ ƚŚĂƚ ďƌŽŬĞ ƚŚĞ ĐĂŵĞů͛Ɛ ďĂĐŬ͘ dŚĞ ƌĞƐƵůƚ ǁĂƐ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ ĐLJĐůĞ ƌĞĂĐŚĞĚ Ă ƚƌŽƵŐŚ ǁŚĞŶ ' W ƐŚƌĂŶŬ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ĮƌƐƚ ƟŵĞ ŝŶ ŵŽƌĞ ƚŚĂŶ ƚǁŽ ĚĞĐĂĚĞƐ͕ ƵŶĞŵƉůŽLJŵĞŶƚ ƌĂƚĞ ƉĞĂŬĞĚ͕ ŝŶŇĂƟŽŶ ƐƵƌŐĞĚ ƚŽ ĚŽƵďůĞ ĚŝŐŝƚƐ͕ ƌŝƐŬ

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ƐŝŐŶŝĮĐĂŶƚ ĐŽƐƚ ƉƌĞƐƐƵƌĞƐ͕ ƉĂƌƟĐƵůĂƌůLJ ŝŵƉĂŝƌŵĞŶƚ ĐŚĂƌŐĞƐ ǁŚŝĐŚ ƐƵƌŐĞĚ ϵϭ͘ϴй ǁŝƚŚŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƉĞƌŝŽĚ ĂƐ Ă ƌĞƐƵůƚ ŽĨ ǁĞĂŬĞƌ ĂƐƐĞƚ ƋƵĂůŝƚLJ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ŽŶĞ Žī ĨŽƌďĞĂƌĂŶĐĞ ŽŶ ǁƌŝƟŶŐ Žī ĨƵůůLJ ƉƌŽǀŝƐŝŽŶĞĚ ůŽĂŶƐ ŐƌĂŶƚĞĚ ďLJ ƚŚĞ E ŝŶ ϮϬϭϲ͘ EŽŶĞƚŚĞůĞƐƐ͕ ƉƌŽĮƚĂďŝůŝƚLJ ŵĞƚƌŝĐƐ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞĚ ĂƐ ŝŶĚƵƐƚƌLJ W d ĞdžƉĂŶĚĞĚ ϵ͘ϴй ŝŶ ϮϬϭϲ͕ ĂŶ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞŵĞŶƚ ĨƌŽŵ Ă Ϯϴ͘ϰй ĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŝŽƌ LJĞĂƌ͕ ǁŚŝůĞ ZĞƚƵƌŶ ŽŶ ƋƵŝƚLJ ;ZK Ϳ ƐƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶĞĚ ƚŽ ϭϮ͘ϯй ĨƌŽŵ ϵ͘ϭй ŝŶ ϮϬϭϱ͘

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dŚĞ ƌĞĂůŝƟĞƐ ƵŶĚĞƌůŝŶŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ĐLJĐůŝĐĂů ƌĞĐŽǀĞƌLJ ĚŝƐƉůĂLJĞĚ ďLJ ƚŚĞ ĞĐŽŶŽŵLJ ǁĞƌĞ ƐŚĂƉĞĚ ďLJ ƌĞďŽƵŶĚ ŝŶ Žŝů ƉƌŝĐĞƐ͕ ƉƌŽ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ &y ƉŽůŝĐLJ ĂŶĚ ĐŽůůĂďŽƌĂƟŽŶ ďĞƚǁĞĞŶ ĮƐĐĂů ĂŶĚ ŵŽŶĞƚĂƌLJ ƵƚŚŽƌŝƚLJ ŝŶ ƚĂĐŬůŝŶŐ EŝŐĞƌŝĂ͛Ɛ ƐƚƌƵĐƚƵƌĂů ĐŚĂůůĞŶŐĞƐ͘

,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ ĐŽŵƉĂƌĞĚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĞĐŽŶŽŵŝĐ ĚĞƐƉŽŶĚĞŶĐLJ ŽĨ ϮϬϭϲ ǁŚŝĐŚ ƐĂǁ ƚŚĞ ĞĐŽŶŽŵLJ ƐůŝƉ ŝŶƚŽ Ă ƌĞĐĞƐƐŝŽŶ͕ ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ ĂŶĚ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŵĞŶƚ ĐŽŶĮĚĞŶĐĞ ƐƚĂƌƚĞĚ ƚŽ ŐĂƌŶĞƌ ƐƚĞĂŵ ŝŶ Yϭ͗ϮϬϭϳ ĂƐ ŚŽƉĞ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞƐ ƚŽ ďƌŝŐŚƚĞŶ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ ĐLJĐůĞ ŚĂƐ ƌĞĂĐŚĞĚ Ă ƚƌŽƵŐŚ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ĞĐŽŶŽŵLJ ŝƐ ƐĞƚ ƚŽ ĨƵůůLJ ƌĞǀĞƌƐĞ ĐŽƵƌƐĞ͘ Yϭ͗ϮϬϭϳ ' W ĮŐƵƌĞƐ ĂŶĚ ĐŽƌƉŽƌĂƚĞ ĞĂƌŶŝŶŐƐ ĂůƌĞĂĚLJ ƐŝŐŶĂůůĞĚ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ ŵƵĐŚ ĞdžƉĞĐƚĞĚ ƌĞĐŽǀĞƌLJ ŝƐ ĂĨŽŽƚ͘ ^ĞĐŽŶĚ YƵĂƌƚĞƌ ' W ŶƵŵďĞƌƐ ĨƵƌƚŚĞƌ ĐŽŶĮƌŵĞĚ ƚŚĞ ƌĞĐŽǀĞƌLJ ŝƐ ŽŶ ĐŽƵƌƐĞ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ĞĐŽŶŽŵLJ ĞdžŝƟŶŐ Ă ϰ YƵĂƌƚĞƌ ůŽŶŐ ƌĞĐĞƐƐŝŽŶ ǁŝƚŚ Ă ŵŝůĚ ' W ŐƌŽǁƚŚ ŽĨ Ϭ͘ϲй͘ dŚĞ ƌĞďŽƵŶĚ ŝŶ ŐƌŽǁƚŚ ǁĂƐ ĚƌŝǀĞŶ ďLJ ďŽƚŚ Žŝů ĂŶĚ ŶŽŶ Žŝů ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ͘

WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŐůŽďĂů ĞĐŽŶŽŵLJ ŝŶ ϮϬϭϲ ǁĂƐ ŵŝdžĞĚ ĂƐ ŐƌŽǁƚŚ ƉƌŽƐƉĞĐƚƐ ǁĞƌĞ Ăƚ ĮƌƐƚ ĚĂŵƉĞŶĞĚ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ƐƚĂƌƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ LJĞĂƌ ďLJ ŐĞŽƉŽůŝƟĐĂů ƚĞŶƐŝŽŶƐ ĂŶĚ Ă ƐůŽǁ ďƵƌŶŝŶŐ ďĂŶŬŝŶŐ ĐƌŝƐŝƐ ŝŶ ƵƌŽƉĞ ďĞĨŽƌĞ ŐĂŝŶŝŶŐ ŵŽŵĞŶƚƵŵ ůĂƚĞƌ ŽŶ͘ ZŝƐŬ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŐůŽďĂů ůĂŶĚƐĐĂƉĞ ƌĞŵĂŝŶĞĚ ŚĞŝŐŚƚĞŶĞĚ ďLJ ŐĞŽƉŽůŝƟĐĂů ƚĞŶƐŝŽŶƐ ĂƐ ƚǁŽ ŶŽƚĂďůĞ ĞǀĞŶƚƐ ƐĞŶƚ ƐŚŽĐŬ ǁĂǀĞƐ ĂĐƌŽƐƐ ŵĂƌŬĞƚƐ ʹ ƚŚĞ ŽƵƚĐŽŵĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƌĞdžŝƚ ǀŽƚĞ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ĞůĞĐƟŽŶ ŽĨ ŽŶĂůĚ dƌƵŵƉ ĂƐ WƌĞƐŝĚĞŶƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ hŶŝƚĞĚ ^ƚĂƚĞƐ͘ ,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ ĐŽŵƉĂƌĞĚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ƚĞŶƐĞĚ ĂƚŵŽƐƉŚĞƌĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĮƌƐƚ ŚĂůĨ ŽĨ ϮϬϭϲ͕ ĐŽŶĮĚĞŶĐĞ ŚĂƐ ďĞĞŶ ƌĞŝŶǀŝŐŽƌĂƚĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ŐůŽďĂů ĞĐŽŶŽŵLJ ŶŽǁ ǀŝĞǁĞĚ ƚŽ ďĞ ŝŶ Ă ƐǁĞĞƚ ƐƉŽƚ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ƌĞƐƉŝƚĞ ŝŶ ĚŽǁŶƐŝĚĞ ƌŝƐŬƐ ĂƐƐŽĐŝĂƚĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ h^ ĞůĞĐƟŽŶƐ͕ ƌĞdžŝƚ ƵŶĐĞƌƚĂŝŶƚLJ ĂŶĚ ĐŽŶĐĞƌŶƐ ŽĨ ƐůŽǁĞƌ ŐƌŽǁƚŚ ŝŶ ŚŝŶĂ͘ /Ŷ ϮϬϭϳ͕ ŐůŽďĂů ŽƉƟŵŝƐŵ ŚĂƐ ďĞĞŶ ĨƵƌƚŚĞƌ ĞůĞǀĂƚĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ /ŶƚĞƌŶĂƟŽŶĂů DŽŶĞƚĂƌLJ &ƵŶĚ ;/D&Ϳ͕ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ƐƚĂƌƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ LJĞĂƌ͕ ĞƐƟŵĂƟŶŐ ŐůŽďĂů ŐƌŽǁƚŚ ƚŽ ƌŝƐĞ ĨƌŽŵ ϯ͘ϭй ŝŶ ϮϬϭϲ ƚŽ ϯ͘ϰй ŝŶ ϮϬϭϳ ĂŶĚ ϯ͘ϲй ŝŶ ϮϬϭϴ͘

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'ůŽďĂů ĐŽŶŽŵLJ ĂŶĚ ĂŶŬŝŶŐ >ĂŶĚƐĐĂƉĞ

ĐƌLJƐƚĂůŝnjĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂŶŬŝŶŐ ƐĞĐƚŽƌ ĂŶĚ ĂƐƐĞƚ ƉƌŝĐĞƐ ĨĞůů ĂĐƌŽƐƐ ďŽĂƌĚ͘

ĂǀĞƌĂŐĞ ƉĂLJ ŽƵƚ ƌĂƟŽ ŽĨ ĂďŽƵƚ ϯϯ͘Ϭй ĂŶĚ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ŶĞƩĞĚ ĂůƉŚĂ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ďĂŶŬŝŶŐ ŝŶĚĞdž ŽƵƚƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĞĚ ƚŚĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďĞŶĐŚŵĂƌŬ͘ ŽŶƐŝĚĞƌŝŶŐ ƚŚĞƐĞ ĨĂĐƚŽƌƐ͕ ŽƵƌ ŽƵƚůŽŽŬ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ƐĞĐƚŽƌ ĨŽƌ ϮϬϭϳ ŝƐ ďƌŽĂĚůLJ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ĂůƚŚŽƵŐŚ ǁĞ ŶŽƚĞ ƚŚĂƚ ĐƌLJƐƚĂůůŝnjĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ĚĞǀĂůƵĂƟŽŶ ƚŚƌĞĂƚ ĂŶĚ ĐƌĞĚŝƚ ĞdžƉŽƐƵƌĞ ƚŽ ŚŝŐŚ ƌŝƐŬ ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ ƐƟůů ƉŽƐĞ Ă ƚŚƌĞĂƚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ƐĞĐƚŽƌ͘ ŽŶƐŝĚĞƌŝŶŐ ƚŚĞƐĞ ƌŝƐŬ ĨĂĐƚŽƌƐ͕ ƚĂŬŝŶŐ Ă ůŽŽŬ ƚŚŽƵŐŚ ŽƵƌ ĐƌLJƐƚĂů ďĂůů͕ ǁĞ ƉƌĞƐĞŶƚ ŽƵƌ ĞdžƉĞĐƚĂƟŽŶƐ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ďĂŶŬŝŶŐ ƐĞĐƚŽƌ ďĞůŽǁ͘

^ůŽǁĚŽǁŶ ŝŶ WĂĐĞ ŽĨ ƐƐĞƚ YƵĂůŝƚLJ ĞƚĞƌŝŽƌĂƟŽŶ ĞƐƉŝƚĞ ĨŽƌǁĂƌĚ ŐƵŝĚĂŶĐĞ ŽĨ ďĂŶŬƐ ƚŽ ŬĞĞƉ ĐƌĞĚŝƚ ĞdžƉĂŶƐŝŽŶ ŵŝŶŝŵĂů ŝŶ ϮϬϭϳ͕ ǁĞ ďĞůŝĞǀĞ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ ĞdžƉŽƐƵƌĞ ŽĨ ƉƌĞ ĞdžŝƐƟŶŐ ůŽĂŶƐ ƚŽ ͞ŚŝŐŚ ƌŝƐŬ ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ͟ ǁŝůů ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞ ƚŽ ƉƌĞƐƐƵƌĞ ĂƐƐĞƚ ƋƵĂůŝƚLJ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ LJĞĂƌ͘ ,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ ǁĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ĂƐƐĞƚ ƋƵĂůŝƚLJ ŵĞƚƌŝĐƐ ƚŽ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞ ŝŶ ϮϬϭϳ ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬĚƌŽƉ ŽĨ ƐƚĞƉƐ ďĞŝŶŐ ƚĂŬĞŶ ƚŽ ƌĞƐƚƌƵĐƚƵƌĞ ůŽĂŶƐ ƚŽ ĐŚĂůůĞŶŐĞĚ ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ƐŽŵĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŶŽƟĐĞĂďůĞ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞŵĞŶƚƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ 'ĞŶĞƌĂů ŽŵŵĞƌĐĞ ĂŶĚ DĂŶƵĨĂĐƚƵƌŝŶŐ ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŚĂǀĞ ďĞĞŶ ďƵŽLJĞĚ ďLJ ĚĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ &y ŵĂƌŬĞƚ͘ džƉĂŶƐŝŽŶ ŝŶ 'ƌŽƐƐ ĂƌŶŝŶŐƐ ʹ tĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌLJ ŐƌŽƐƐ ĞĂƌŶŝŶŐƐ ƚŽ ƌĞŵĂŝŶ ďƵŽLJĞĚ ďLJ ŚŝŐŚĞƌ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ ŝŶĐŽŵĞ ŽŶ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŚŝŐŚ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ ƌĂƚĞ ĞŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞĚ ŶŽŶ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ ŝŶĐŽŵĞ ĨƌŽŵ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ŝŶŇŽǁƐ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ĨĞĞƐ Θ ĐŽŵŵŝƐƐŝŽŶ͘ EŽŵŝŶĂů džƉĂŶƐŝŽŶ ŝŶ >ŽĂŶƐ ʹ ůƚŚŽƵŐŚ ĨŽƌǁĂƌĚ ŐƵŝĚĂŶĐĞ ĨƌŽŵ ŵĂũŽƌŝƚLJ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ďĂŶŬƐ͕ ŝŶĚŝĐĂƚĞƐ ƚŚĞ ƌĞůƵĐƚĂŶĐĞ ƚŽ ĞdžƚĞŶĚ ĐƌĞĚŝƚ͕ ǁĞ ďĞůŝĞǀĞ ƚŚĞ ĂŶLJ ŵŽǀĞƐ ƚŽ ƵŶŝĨLJ ƚŚĞ &y ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ǁŝůů ůĞĂĚ ƚŽ Ă ŶŽŵŝŶĂů ĞdžƉĂŶƐŝŽŶ ŝŶ ůŽĂŶƐ͕ ŐŝǀĞŶ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŽƉŽƌƟŽŶ ŽĨ ĨŽƌĞŝŐŶ ĐƵƌƌĞŶĐLJ ůŽĂŶƐ͘ ^ƵƐƚĂŝŶĞĚ WƌĞĨĞƌĞŶĐĞ ĨŽƌ /ŶǀĞƐƚŵĞŶƚ ^ĞĐƵƌŝƟĞƐ ŝŶ ƐƐĞƚ ůůŽĐĂƟŽŶ ʹ Ɛ ĂůƌĞĂĚLJ ŶŽƟĐĞĚ ŝŶ ϮϬϭϲ͕ ďĂŶŬƐ ĂƌĞ ŵŽƌĞ ǁŝůůŝŶŐ ƚŽ ĚŝƌĞĐƚ ĨƵŶĚƐ ƚŽǁĂƌĚƐ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŵĞŶƚ ƐĞĐƵƌŝƟĞƐ ĂƐ ŽƉƉŽƐĞĚ ƚŽ ĐƌĞĚŝƚ ĞdžƚĞŶƐŝŽŶ ŐŝǀĞŶ ƚŚĞ ƌŝƐŬ ĞŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚ ĂŶĚ ǁĞ ďĞůŝĞǀĞ ƚŚŝƐ ǁŝůů ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞ ŝŶ ϮϬϭϳ͘ ĂƉŝƚĂů ĚĞƋƵĂĐLJ WƌĞƐƐƵƌĞƐ ʹ Ɛ EW>Ɛ ƌĞŵĂŝŶ ŚŝŐŚ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ĚĞƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĚŽŵĞƐƟĐ ĐƵƌƌĞŶĐLJ ǁŚŝĐŚ ƌĞƐƵůƚĞĚ ŝŶ ŚŝŐŚĞƌ ZŝƐŬ tĞŝŐŚƚĞĚ ƐƐĞƚƐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ŬƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ďĂŶŬƐ͕ ĐĂƉŝƚĂů ĂĚĞƋƵĂĐLJ ƌĂƟŽƐ ŽĨ ƐŽŵĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ďĂŶŬƐ ĨĞůů ŝŶƚŽ ƚŚƌĞĂƚĞŶŝŶŐ ůĞǀĞůƐ͘ ŽŶƐĞƋƵĞŶƚůLJ͕ ǁĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ƚŽ ƐƵĐŚ ďĂŶŬƐ ĂƉƉƌŽĂĐŚ ƚŚĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ŝŶ ŽƌĚĞƌ ƚŽ ƌĂŝƐĞ ĐĂƉŝƚĂů ƚŽ ƐŚŽƌĞ ƵƉ ĐĂƉŝƚĂů ďƵīĞƌƐ͘ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶ ĂŶŬƐ ƚŽ ZĞƐƵŵĞ ƵƌŽďŽŶĚƐ /ƐƐƵĂŶĐĞ dŚĞ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞŵĞŶƚƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ &y ŵĂƌŬĞƚ͕ ŚĂǀĞ ƌĞŝŐŶŝƚĞĚ ĂƉƉĞƟƚĞ ĨŽƌ ƵƌŽďŽŶĚƐ

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ OCTOBER 29, 2017

ŝƐƐƵĂŶĐĞ͘ Ɛ Ă ƌĞƐƵůƚ͕ Ă ŶƵŵďĞƌ ŽĨ dŝĞƌ ϭ ďĂŶŬƐ ŚĂǀĞ ƌĂŝƐĞĚ ƵƌŽďŽŶĚƐ ŝŶ ϮϬϭϳ͖ E/d, ĂŶĚ h ƌĂŝƐĞĚ h^ΨϱϬϬ͘Ϭŵ ĞĂĐŚ ǁŝƚŚ ďŽƚŚ ŝƐƐƵĂŶĐĞƐ ŽǀĞƌƐƵďƐĐƌŝďĞĚ ďLJ ϯ͘Ϭdž ĂŶĚ Ϯ͘ϰdž ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘ &/ >/dz ĂŶĚ 'h Z Edz ŚĂǀĞ ƵƌŽďŽŶĚƐ ƚŚĂƚ ǁŝůů ďĞ ŵĂƚƵƌŝŶŐ ŝŶ ϮϬϭϴ ĂŶĚ ǁĞ ĐŽƵůĚ ƉŽƚĞŶƟĂůůLJ ƐĞĞ ƐŽŵĞ ŽƚŚĞƌ ďĂŶŬƐ ĂƉƉƌŽĂĐŚ ƚŚĞ ŝŶƚĞƌŶĂƟŽŶĂů ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƚŽ ŇŽĂƚ ƵƌŽďŽŶĚƐ͘

EŝŐĞƌŝĂ ZĞŽƉĞŶƐ ĨŽƌ ƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ &ŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ƌĞǀŝĞǁ ŽĨ Ăůů ƚŚĞ ĂĨŽƌĞŵĞŶƟŽŶĞĚ͕ ǁĞ ĂƌƌŝǀĞĚ Ăƚ Ă ĐŽŶĐůƵƐŝŽŶ ƚŚĂƚ ͞EŝŐĞƌŝĂ ŝƐ ƌĞŽƉĞŶĞĚ ĨŽƌ ƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ͟ ĂŶĚ ǁĞ ŐŝǀĞ ŽƵƌ ƌĞĂƐŽŶƐ ďĞůŽǁ͘ &Žƌ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ĂĐĐƵƐƚŽŵĞĚ ƚŽ ĨƌŽŶƟĞƌ ŵĂƌŬĞƚƐ ŝŶǀĞƐƟŶŐ͕ ƚŚĞ ĐLJĐůŝĐĂůŝƚLJ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ ůĂŶĚƐĐĂƉĞ ĂŶĚ ĂƐƐĞƚ ƉƌŝĐĞƐ ŝƐ ƵŶĂǀŽŝĚĂďůĞ ĂŶĚ ƚŚƵƐ ďĞƩĞƌ ĞŵďƌĂĐĞĚ͘ ŌĞƌ ůŽŶŐ ƉĞƌŝŽĚƐ ŽĨ ŵ ƚLJƉŝĐĂůůLJ ĐŽŵĞƐ Ă ĐLJĐůŝĐĂů ĐŽƌƌĞĐƟŽŶ͕ ďƵƚ ǁŚĂƚ ŝƐ ŵŽƐƚ ŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶƚ ŝƐ ƚŚĞ ƐƚƌƵĐƚƵƌĂů ůĞƐƐŽŶƐ ƉŽůŝĐLJŵĂŬĞƌƐ ƚĂŬĞ ĨƌŽŵ ĞĂĐŚ ĐƌŝƐŝƐ ĂŌĞƌ ƚŚĞ ƌĞďŽƵŶĚ ŝŶ ƐŚŽƌƚ ƚĞƌŵ ĐLJĐůŝĐĂů ŐƌŽǁƚŚ ƉƌŽƐƉĞĐƚƐ͘ EŝŐĞƌŝĂ͛Ɛ ƉƵďůŝĐ ĚĞďƚ ĐƌŝƐŝƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ϭϵϵϬƐ ůĞĚ ƚŽ ĂŶ ŽǀĞƌŚĂƵů ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƉƵďůŝĐ ĚĞďƚ ŵĂŶĂŐĞŵĞŶƚ ƐƚƌƵĐƚƵƌĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ϮϬϬϬƐ͕ ũƵƐƚ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ϮϬϬϵ ĮŶĂŶĐŝĂů ĐƌŝƐŝƐ ŽīĞƌĞĚ ƚŚĞ ĐĞŶƚƌĂů ďĂŶŬ ĂŶĚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂů ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĂƵƚŚŽƌŝƟĞƐ ǀĂůƵĂďůĞ ůĞƐƐŽŶƐ ŽŶ ƉƌƵĚĞŶƟĂů ƌĞŐƵůĂƟŽŶ ĂŶĚ ŵĂŶĂŐĞŵĞŶƚ ŽĨ ƐLJƐƚĞŵŝĐ ƌŝƐŬ͘ EŝŐĞƌŝĂ ŚĂƐ ŐŽŶĞ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ LJĞƚ ĂŶŽƚŚĞƌ ĨƵůů ĐLJĐůĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ůĂƐƚ ƚŚƌĞĞ LJĞĂƌƐ͖ ĨƌŽŵ ϮϬϭϰ ǁŚĞŶ ƚŚĞ ĞĐŽŶŽŵLJ ďĞŐĂŶ ƚŽ ǁŝƚŶĞƐƐ ĂŶ ĞĐŽŶŽŵŝĐ ĚŽǁŶƚƵƌŶ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĞŵĞƌŐĞŶĐĞ ŽĨ ŐƌĞĞŶ ƐŚŽŽƚƐ ƐŝŶĐĞ YϮ͗ϮϬϭϳ͘ dŚƌĞĞ ůĞƐƐŽŶƐ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ƌĞĐĞŶƚ ĞƉŝƐŽĚĞ ĂƌĞ ŽďǀŝŽƵƐ͗ ;ŝͿ ƚŚĞƌĞ ŝƐ Ă ŶĞĞĚ ĨŽƌ ƚƌƵĞ ĚŝǀĞƌƐŝĮĐĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ ŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚ ƌĞǀĞŶƵĞ ĂŶĚ ĞdžƉŽƌƚƐ͕ ;ŝŝͿ ŝŶƐƟƚƵƟŽŶĂů ĐŽŶƐƚƌĂŝŶƚƐ ŶĞĞĚ ƚŽ ďĞ ƐƉĞĞĚŝůLJ ƌĞŵŽǀĞĚ ĂŶĚ ;ŝŝŝͿ ƚŚĞƌĞ ŝƐ ĂŶ ƵƌŐĞŶƚ ŶĞĞĚ ƚŽ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŵĞŶƚƐ ŝŶ ŝŶĨƌĂƐƚƌƵĐƚƵƌĞ ŝŶ ŽƌĚĞƌ ƚŽ Ɛƚ ĞŶƚƌĞƉƌĞŶĞƵƌƐŚŝƉ ĂŶĚ ŐĂŝŶ ŵŽƌĞ ƚŽ ĂĐŚŝĞǀĞ ĐŽŵƉĞƟƟǀĞŶĞƐƐ͘ dŚĞ ŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚ ŚĂƐ ƌĞůĞĂƐĞĚ ĂŶ ĐŽŶŽŵŝĐ ZĞĐŽǀĞƌLJ Θ 'ƌŽǁƚŚ WůĂŶ͕ Ă DĞĚŝƵŵ dĞƌŵ WůĂŶ ĨŽƌ ϮϬϭϳ ʹ ϮϬϮϬ͕ ĂŵŽŶŐƐƚ ŽƚŚĞƌ ĞīŽƌƚƐ ĂŝŵĞĚ

Ăƚ ĚĞĂůŝŶŐ ǁŝƚŚ ƐŚŽƌƚ ƚŽ ůŽŶŐ ƚĞƌŵ ĐŽŶƐƚƌĂŝŶƚƐ ƚŽ ĂĐŚŝĞǀŝŶŐ ĞĐŽŶŽŵŝĐ ƉƌŽƐƉĞƌŝƚLJ͘ tĞ ĞdžĂŵŝŶĞ ƐŽŵĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĮƐĐĂů ĂŶĚ ƐƚƌƵĐƚƵƌĂů ƌĞĨŽƌŵƐ ĐƵƌƌĞŶƚůLJ ƵŶĚĞƌƉŝŶŶŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ŽƉƟŵŝƐŵ͘ dŚĞ Z'W͗ &ŝŶĂůůLJ͕ ĂŶ ĐŽŶŽŵŝĐ ŐĞŶĚĂ /Ŷ ŽƵƌ ŽƉŝŶŝŽŶ͕ ƚŚĞ Z'W ŚĂƐ ďƌŽĂĚůLJ ĐĂƉƚƵƌĞĚ Ăůů ƚŚĞ ĐŚĂůůĞŶŐŝŶŐ ŵĂĐƌŽĞĐŽŶŽŵŝĐ ĂƌĞĂƐ ƌĞƋƵŝƌŝŶŐ ĐƌŝƟĐĂů ƉŽůŝĐLJ ƐŚŝŌƐ ǁŝƚŚ ĐŽŵƉƌĞŚĞŶƐŝǀĞ ƉůĂŶƐ ŽŶ ŚŽǁ ƚŽ ĂĚĚƌĞƐƐ ƚŚĞŵ͘ EĞǀĞƌƚŚĞůĞƐƐ͕ ǁĞ ŶŽƚĞ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ ŝŵƉĂĐƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞƐĞ ƉůĂŶƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƐŚŽƌƚ ƚŽ ŵĞĚŝƵŵ ƚĞƌŵ ǁŝůů ďĞ ďĂƐĞĚ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ĞdžƚĞŶƚ ƚŽ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŝŵƉůĞŵĞŶƚĂƟŽŶ ŝƐ ĐĂƌƌŝĞĚ ŽƵƚ͘ &Žƌ ƚŚĞ ĞĐŽŶŽŵLJ ƚŽ ĂĐŚŝĞǀĞ ƐƵƐƚĂŝŶĂďůĞ ŐƌŽǁƚŚ͕ ǁĞ ďĞůŝĞǀĞ ŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚ ŵƵƐƚ ďĞ ĐŽŵŵŝƩĞĚ ƚŽ ŵŽŶŝƚŽƌŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ĞǀĂůƵĂƟŶŐ ƚŚĞ ŝŵƉůĞŵĞŶƚĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƉůĂŶ͘ &ƵƌƚŚĞƌŵŽƌĞ͕ ŝƚ ŝƐ ĞdžƉĞĚŝĞŶƚ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ ƐƚƌƵĐƚƵƌĂů ĐŚĂŶŐĞƐ ŶĞĞĚĞĚ ƚŽ ƌĞǀĂŵƉ ƚŚĞ ĞĐŽŶŽŵLJ ĂŶĚ ƉůĂĐĞ ŝƚ ŽŶ Ă ƐƵƐƚĂŝŶĂďůĞ ŐƌŽǁƚŚ ƉĂƚŚ ĂƌĞ ĐŽŶƟŶƵŽƵƐ ĂŶĚ ƉƌŽĂĐƟǀĞ ƚŽ ďƵŝůĚ ƌĞƐŝůŝĞŶĐĞ ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚ ĐŽŵŵŽĚŝƚLJ ƉƌŝĐĞ ƐŚŽĐŬƐ͘ tŚŝƐƚůĞ ůŽǁŝŶŐ͙,Žƚ ŝƌ WƌŽƉĞůůŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ŶƟ ŽƌƌƵƉƟŽŶ tĂƌ KŶĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŵĂŶƚƌĂƐ ŽĨ WƌĞƐŝĚĞŶƚ ƵŚĂƌŝ͛Ɛ ƉƌĞƐŝĚĞŶƟĂů ĐĂŵƉĂŝŐŶ ŝŶ ϮϬϭϱ ǁĂƐ ͞njĞƌŽ ƚŽůĞƌĂŶĐĞ ĨŽƌ ĐŽƌƌƵƉƟŽŶ͘͟ ,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ ŵŽŶƚŚƐ ĂŌĞƌ ĂƐƐƵŵŝŶŐ ŽĸĐĞ ǁŝƚŚ ŶŽ ŚŝŐŚ ƉƌŽĮůĞ ĐŽŶǀŝĐƟŽŶ ĚĞƐƉŝƚĞ ŐƌŽǁŝŶŐ ĂĐĐƵƐĂƟŽŶƐ ŽĨ ĂďƵƐĞ ŽĨ ŽĸĐĞ ĂŶĚ ĚŝǀĞƌƐŝŽŶ ŽĨ ƉƵďůŝĐ ĨƵŶĚƐ ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚ ƚŽƉ ŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚ ŽĸĐŝĂůƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ĂŶƟ ĐŽƌƌƵƉƟŽŶ ĐƌƵƐĂĚĞ ĂƉƉĞĂƌĞĚ ƚŽ ďĞ ůŽƐŝŶŐ ƐƚĞĂŵ͘ dŚĞ t W ĂƉƉĞĂƌƐ ƚŽ ŚĂǀĞ ĞŶĞƌŐŝnjĞĚ ƚŚĞ ŶƟ ŐƌĂŌ ĂŐĞŶĐŝĞƐ͕ ƉĂƌƟĐƵůĂƌůLJ ƚŚĞ & ͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŚĂƐ ƌĞƉŽƌƚĞĚůLJ ƌĞĐŽǀĞƌĞĚ Eϭϳ͘ϬďŶ ƐŝŶĐĞ ƚŚĞ ƉŽůŝĐLJ ďĞŐĂŶ͕ ĂĐĐŽƌĚŝŶŐ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ŚĂŝƌŵĂŶ͘ dŚĞ ƌĞĐĞŶƚ ƌĞĐŽǀĞƌŝĞƐ ĂŶĚ ĨŽƌĨĞŝƚƵƌĞƐ ŚĂǀĞ ĂůƐŽ ƐƚĞĚ &'E͛Ɛ ƌĞǀĞŶƵĞ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ƉƵďůŝĐ ĐŽŶĮĚĞŶĐĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĮŐŚƚ ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚ ĐŽƌƌƵƉƟŽŶ͘ ZĞĐĞŶƚ ƌĞŵĂƌŬƐ ďLJ ƐĞŶŝŽƌ ŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚ ŽĸĐŝĂůƐ ŚŝŐŚůŝŐŚƚ ƚŚĞ ƌĞĂĚŝŶĞƐƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚ ƚŽ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞ ƚŽ ƉƵƌƐƵĞ ƌĞǀĞŶƵĞ ŐĞŶĞƌĂƟŽŶ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ƚŚŝƐ ŵĞĚŝƵŵ

Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ^ĞĐƚŽƌ ZĞĨŽƌŵ͙ džĂŵŝŶŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ϳ ŝŐ tŝŶƐ Ɛ ƉĂƌƚ ŽĨ ŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚ͛Ɛ ĞīŽƌƚƐ ƚŽ ƌĞƐƚƌƵĐƚƵƌĞ ƚŚĞ Žŝů ƐĞĐƚŽƌ ĂŶĚ ƌƵŶ ŝƚ ŵŽƌĞ ĞĸĐŝĞŶƚůLJ ĂŶĚ ƉƌŽĨĞƐƐŝŽŶĂůůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ &ĞĚĞƌĂů DŝŶŝƐƚƌLJ ŽĨ WĞƚƌŽůĞƵŵ ZĞƐŽƵƌĐĞƐ ŝŶ Yϰ͗ϮϬϭϲ ƌĞůĞĂƐĞĚ Ă ƐŚŽƌƚ ƚŽ ŵĞĚŝƵŵ ƚĞƌŵ ƌŽĂĚŵĂƉ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ŝŶĚƵƐƚƌLJ ŝŶ Ă ƌĞƉŽƌƚ ƟƚůĞĚ ͞ϳ ŝŐ tŝŶƐ ^ŚŽƌƚ ĂŶĚ DĞĚŝƵŵ dĞƌŵ WƌŝŽƌŝƟĞƐ ƚŽ ŐƌŽǁ EŝŐĞƌŝĂ͛Ɛ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌLJ ϮϬϭϱ ϮϬϭϵ͘͟ dŚĞ ƵůƟŵĂƚĞ ŐŽĂů ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ͞ϳ ŝŐ tŝŶƐ͟ ŝƐ ƚŽ ĚĞǀĞůŽƉ Ă ƐƚĂďůĞ ĂŶĚ ĞŶĂďůŝŶŐ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ŝŶĚƵƐƚƌLJ ďLJ ŝŵƉƌŽǀŝŶŐ ƚƌĂŶƐƉĂƌĞŶĐLJ͕ ĐŽƐƚ ĞĸĐŝĞŶĐLJ͕ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐŝŶŐ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŵĞŶƚƐ ĂŶĚ ŝŵƉƌŽǀŝŶŐ ƐĞĐƵƌŝƚLJ͘ tĞ ďĞůŝĞǀĞ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ ϳ ŝŐ tŝŶƐ͕ ŝĨ ƉƌŽƉĞƌůLJ ŝŵƉůĞŵĞŶƚĞĚ͕ ǁŝůů ƐĞƚ ƚŚĞ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ƐĞĐƚŽƌ ŽŶ Ă ŐƌŽǁƚŚ ƉĂƚŚ ĂŶĚ ĚƌĂǁ ƐŝŐŶŝĮĐĂŶƚ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŵĞŶƚ ŝŶƚŽ ƚŚĞ ƐĞĐƚŽƌ͘ dŚŽƵŐŚ ŽƵƌ ƌĞǀŝĞǁ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƉůĂŶƐ ŝŶĚŝĐĂƚĞƐ ƚŚĂƚ ŵĂũŽƌ ǁŽƌŬ ƐƟůů ŶĞĞĚƐ ƚŽ ďĞ ĚŽŶĞ ŝŶ ŽƌĚĞƌ ƚŽ ĂĐŚŝĞǀĞ ĨƵůů ŝŵƉůĞŵĞŶƚĂƟŽŶ͕ ǁĞ ďĞůŝĞǀĞ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ ƌŽĂĚŵĂƉ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞƐ ĂĚĞƋƵĂƚĞ ĚŝƌĞĐƟŽŶ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ &ĞĚĞƌĂů 'ŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚ ƚŽ ĂĐŚŝĞǀĞ ŝƚƐ ŽďũĞĐƟǀĞƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ŝŶĚƵƐƚƌLJ͘ WŽǁĞƌ ^ĞĐƚŽƌ ZĞĨŽƌŵƐ͗ EĞǁ ƉƉƌŽĂĐŚĞƐ ƚŽ ^ŽůǀŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ >ŝƋƵŝĚŝƚLJ ƌŝƐŝƐ EŝŐĞƌŝĂ͛Ɛ ƉŽǁĞƌ ƐĞĐƚŽƌ ƌĞŵĂŝŶƐ ĞǀŝĚĞŶƚůLJ ĐŚĂůůĞŶŐĞĚ ĚĞƐƉŝƚĞ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŶƐŝĚĞƌĂďůĞ ĂŵŽƵŶƚ ŽĨ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŵĞŶƚƐ ĂŶĚ ĂƩĞŶƟŽŶ ŝƚ ŚĂƐ ĂƩƌĂĐƚĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ůĂƐƚ Ϯ ĚĞĐĂĚĞƐ͘ WŽƐƚ ƉƌŝǀĂƟnjĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƉŽǁĞƌ ĂƐƐĞƚƐ ĂĐƌŽƐƐ ƚŚĞ ǀĂůƵĞ ĐŚĂŝŶ͕ ĐŽŶƐƚƌĂŝŶƚƐ ĂƌĞ ƐƵƌĨĂĐŝŶŐ ƚŚĂƚ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞ ƚŽ ǁĞŝŐŚ ŚĞĂǀŝůLJ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ůŝƋƵŝĚŝƚLJ͕ ǀŝĂďŝůŝƚLJ ĂŶĚ ƐƵƐƚĂŝŶĂďŝůŝƚLJ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƐĞĐƚŽƌ ĂƐ ĐƵƌƌĞŶƚůLJ ƐƚƌƵĐƚƵƌĞĚ͘ dŽ ƌĞƐŽůǀĞ ƚŚĞ ĐŚĂůůĞŶŐĞƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ĨĞĚĞƌĂů ŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚ ůĂƵŶĐŚĞĚ ĂŶ ĂŵďŝƟŽƵƐ WŽǁĞƌ ^ĞĐƚŽƌ ZĞĐŽǀĞƌLJ WƌŽŐƌĂŵ ŝŶ DĂƌĐŚ ϮϬϭϳ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ŵĂũŽƌ ŚŝŐŚůŝŐŚƚ ďĞŝŶŐ Ă E ĨƵŶĚĞĚ WĂLJŵĞŶƚ ƐƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ 'ƵĂƌĂŶƚĞĞ ;W 'Ϳ ĨŽƌ ƚǁŽ LJĞĂƌƐ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ƚƵŶĞ ŽĨ EϳϬϭ͘ϬďŶ͘ dŚŝƐ ĨƵŶĚ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŝƐ ĞdžƉĞĐƚĞĚ ƚŽ ĐŽǀĞƌ ƚŚĞ ƐŚŽƌƞĂůůƐ ŽĨ E d ŝƐ ƚĂƌŐĞƚĞĚ Ăƚ 'ĞŶ ŽƐ ĂŶĚ 'ĂƐ ƐƵƉƉůŝĞƌƐ ĨŽƌ ƉŽǁĞƌ ŐĞŶĞƌĂƚĞĚ ĂŶĚ ĨƵƚƵƌĞ ƉŽǁĞƌ ŐĞŶĞƌĂƟŽŶ ĂŶĚ ŝŶ ŝƐŽůĂƟŽŶ ǁŝůů ĐŽǀĞƌ

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28

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ OCTOBER 29, 2017

TRAVEL

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

Governor’s Band Revs up for 2017 Carnival Calabar Demola Ojo

A

s preparations for the annual Carnival Calabar intensify, the Governor’s Band has unfolded plans to add spice to the carnival by increasing the scope of its participation.

According to the Coordinator of the band, High Chief Edem Duke, “This year, the Governor’s Band will be involved in the interpretation of every element of the theme of the Carnival which is Migration, with a substantial increase in the number of revelers. However, the band still remains a non-competing band.”

The main event of the Carnival which is a twelve kilometer street parade is a competition between five bands namely, Passion 4, Seagull, Masta Blasta, Freedom Band and Bayside Band.

Prior to now, the Governor’s Band had limited participation within the Carnival with membership exclusive to friends of Cross River.

However this time around, the membership of the band is expected to be boosted considerably as participants will include prominent stars from the entertainment world, business leaders, government functionaries and high net-worth individuals.

Elaborating further, Duke said;“The Governor’s Band is the brand ambassador band for the Carnival. It is supposed to reflect its vibrancy, inclusiveness, glamour and boisterousness. It’s supposed to be the DNA of the Carnival Calabar in its entirety and reflective of Governor Ben Ayade’s vision of dreaming a new dream for the Carnival and the state in general.

“This informs the inspirational philosophy of the Governor’s Band which is Dare to Dream.

Dare to Dream is the rallying call that whatever circumstances Cross Riverians find themselves in, they should always dream because if you can dream it, you can achieve it,” Duke said.

“In effect, the Governor’s Band is supposed to aggregate the spirit of all the other bands, and promote the new vision of the governor for Carnival Calabar and propel it into a place of prominence among Carnivals around the world.”

This edition marks the third consecutive year of the Governor’s Band’s participation in the Carnival. The band is one of the many innova-

Governor Ben Ayade and Nollywood stars in Governor’s Band costume at a previous carnival tions brought into the Carnival by Governor Ayade. Another is the Biker’s Carnival which is expected to be bigger and more glamourous than ever.“The Biker’s Carnival will be further accentuated within the main Carnival this year,” Duke revealed.

The Cultural Carnival will also step up a level and will be highlighted by participation from a prominent traditional ruler in the country, while the International Carnival, another

innovation by the governor, is expected to attract participation from at least 20 countries.

Speaking further, Duke encouraged more Nigerians, especially those in the higher strata of society, to participate in the Carnival like it is done in other climes that have embraced the carnival culture. According to him, it is not unusual for Presidents, Prime Ministers, Governors, Mayors and other top functionaries to let their hair down and join the people in

interpreting the theme of the Carnival. This is because the Carnival is not just entertainment and revelry but also has impacts positively on the State’s economy.

The Carnival Calabar has grown in leaps and bounds every year since its inception, with each successive carnival raising bar. The Carnival will enter its 14th edition this year and would be the highpoint of a month-long festival in December.

Anticipating Another Ika Carnival The annual Ika carnival in Delta State promises to consolidate on the gains of previous editions with plans for a much bigger event in December.

Speaking on preparations for its third edition coming up in Agbor, Mr. Steve Aderemi, Managing Director, Astol Communication, said that the Ika Carnival, which is a unique display of the people’s heritage showcased through music, dance, drama and visual creativity will again be reflected through floats, costumes and make-up.

The 19 day carnival is the second longest after the Calabar carnival. “Despite the fun and relaxed atmosphere around the Ika Carnival, a great degree of thought, creativity and discipline goes into the interpretation of the event.”

Aderemi added that over 200,000 people attended last year which he said

“contributed greatly to the social and economic life of the people.”

He promised that despite the standards set last year – with star studded participation from J. Martins, Oritse Femi, Whizboy, Joe Morgan, and many others – this year will be a lot bigger, with collaborations expected to be divulged in coming weeks.

The Ika Carnival will be spiced with a cultural exhibition, beauty pageant, youth talent hunt, cultural dance, business empowerment events, comedy night and many more.

Seeking the support of the state government and private sector contributions to the staging of the carnival, Aderemi said that the carnival has put a stop to youth violence during the festive season in the area as they have been given the platform to showcase their Ika carnival talents.

29

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

MARKET NEWS

FMAN, CFA Society Partner to Create Financial Literacy Awareness Chinazor Megbolu The Fund Managers Association of Nigeria (FMAN) recently partnered CFA Society Nigeria to create awareness financial literacy in Lagos. Both bodies organised a fund raising event tagged “Five kilometer Walk /Run for Financial Literacy” that saw members come out with full support.

Speaking at the event, Mrs. Eno Atoyebi of FMAN said the early morning exercise was a way of awareness

creation on financial literacy.

She stated that some charity organisations have been selected where the association would assist them on financial literacy.

According to her, the event was in line with association’s objectives. She explained that FMAN is an independent, non-governmental, non-political and non-profit making body established to promote the operations of fund managers registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission in Nigeria.

“FMAN provides for self-

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

regulation and supervision of SEC registered fund managers and ensure the observance of global best practices relating to the operations of such fund managers. The aim of the association is to address all the issues affecting the industry’s development and represent its members at national and international levels in ongoing discussion about the future regulatory framework for the industry,” she said.

Atoyebi added that the association’s focus is on education, regulation, policy

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 19-Oct-2017, unless otherwise stated.

development and international best practices for the benefit of its members, institutional investors, policy makers and other stakeholders.

“Some of its objectives are: identify, discuss and articulate reviews and updates of rules and regulations governing the operations of fund managers; organise seminars, workshops and other fora aimed at discussing the conduct of fund managers with regard to the management of Collective Investment Schemes(CIS) in order to promote the

highest level of ethics and professionalism amongst fund managers; disseminate information to the public on the theory and practice of fund management through the most appropriate media; undertake activities aimed at improving awareness of the fund management sub-sector; interact with regulators, government, society and other organisations to advance the practice of fund management in Nigeria,” she said.

Before now, the President of FMAN, Dr. Ore Sokefun had in

an interview with THISDAY, advised CIS investors to always invest their funds through fund managers that are registered by the SEC. While investing through collective investment schemes in the nation’s capital market has many advantages, some investors are still discouraged due to their past experiences of losing their funds to fund managers.

But Sokefun said the situation has changed significantly given the efforts by SEC and operators to reposition and develop the industry.

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

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

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

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 1 270 1680 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund 176.70 177.66 39.24% Nigeria International Debt Fund 233.71 234.81 10.57% ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund 0.82 0.82 16.55% ACAP Income Funds 0.61 0.61 75.45% AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 17.94% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 17.74 18.28 43.71% ARM Discovery Fund 371.55 382.75 29.38% ARM Ethical Fund 26.37 27.17 18.05% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 17.78% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund 148.03 149.07 40.74% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 18.06% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 19.04% Paramount Equity Fund 11.57 11.87 23.63% Women's Investment Fund 94.94 97.47 12.28% 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 29.10% 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 1,102.30 1,103.39 8.87% FBN Heritage Fund 146.45 147.69 31.36% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 17.91% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional $111.40 $112.56 8.39% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail $110.81 $111.97 8.56% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 160.22 162.61 42.33% 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 1.37 1.40 47.34% Legacy Short Maturity (NGN) Fund 2.91 2.91 13.33% 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 2,888.37 2,928.07 31.36% Coral Income Fund 2,398.60 2,398.60 15.10% GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 17.94% 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 17.95% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.06 2.08 22.48% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 18.38% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 112.17 112.17 15.60%

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 1.15 1.17 16.06% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,030.96 1,030.96 9.49% 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 13.12 13.23 35.78% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 18.82% 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 1.20 1.22 20.46% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 10.84 10.89 4.25% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 13.95% 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 125.27 127.63 23.69% 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 1.40 1.40 12.10% 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 2,194.67 2,207.77 19.87% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 171.10 171.10 11.13% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.97 0.99 27.27% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 213.64 213.64 14.31% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 169.69 171.87 30.70% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 17.87% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 9,484.40 9,295.69 23.11% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.04 1.04 4.00% 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 1.31 1.32 16.97% United Capital Bond Fund 1.50 1.50 22.54% United Capital Equity Fund 0.88 0.89 30.36% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 18.50% 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 12.53 12.71 28.95% Zenith Ethical Fund 13.23 13.38 20.34% Zenith Income Fund 18.69 18.69 13.01%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

11.41 131.31

1.01% 5.92%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

10.78 137.25 106.72

10.88 140.23 108.73

24.92% 38.74% 40.84%

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

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS Fund Name Lotus Halal Equity Exchange Traded Fund SIAML Pension ETF 40 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

4.55 9.03 17.12 19.60 140.14

4.59 9.11 17.22 19.80 142.14

64.29% 28.29% 44.63% 22.74% 10.51%

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

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TR

UT H

& RE A S

ON

LIFE LESSONS WITH AYO AROWOLO

ayo.arowolo@thisdaylive.com

not networking. Move that meeting to the next level, think of how you can be of value to that contact, how you can be valuable to him. When you are offering value, the person will cancel other appointments to meet you.

Chances are you cancel other appointments to meet others or others cancel their appointments to meet you. It now depends on who is offering the value.

09067059433 (SMS only) LESSON LESSON

3

Make Intentional Choices Everything that happens to us in life is a result of our choices. We choose to go to the gym or not, to hit the snooze button or get up as we hear the first alarm. This applies to every sphere of life. The choices you are making today will impact your life tomorrow.

In 1991, I didn’t get my first job by choice; I got into the job by default. When I had become the best sales person in my company, I wanted to stay there, but the company felt they could get the best out of me by putting me in the training department so that I could train more people to be good sales persons.

I didn’t like it because I was making more money in the field, there is no commission in the training school. But I went to my bosses and told them that I needed to be having field experiences which I would bring back to the classroom, I sold that to them and they agreed. They gave me five days in class and 15 days in the field. That was when I started making choices. You have to be intentional in your choices

WE LEARN MORE FROM FAILURE THAN SUCCESS

LESSON

4

– Rajiv Sharma Since he came to Nigeria in 2006, Rajiv Sharma, a Licensed Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) Coach, has been in the business of helping celebrities, actors, sportsmen, singers and high net worth individuals/organistaions employ their innate powers and intelligence to achieve new and better results. Sharma, an Indian, who has worked with clients in over 45 countries, says that when the correct elements are activated inside an individual, there is so much he or she can make happen. You will also enjoy his life lessons.

LESSON

1

Begin with the Purpose Most people don’t realise that they live their life in auto pilot mode. It is important to start with the picture in your mind. Imagine the picture of the result you want to achieve. Once you can see the picture and take mindful actions there is a higher possibility of being able to turn that picture into reality. That picture keeps you focused on results. Results, not efforts, matter. I do this on a daily bases. I learnt that some time back when I started learning Neuro Linguistic Programming.

When I started my career in 1990 I had difficulty getting job after my management degree. I kept giving my CV and kept rejecting jobs because I wanted to be a manager. But I got frustrated, the pressure was so much. So I took a job as a salesman, which was not by choice; it was just because there was nothing else. For the first six months, since I never wanted to be a salesman, I kept circulating my CV in other places.

In January 1991, my first boss called me and gave me a sack letter which interestingly, changed my life. I said to him, you can’t sack me I am a first class management graduate.

He looked at me and asked me, ‘how many cars have you sold?’ I said I hadn’t sold any.

He said ‘we are not hiring MBAs we want you to sell cars. He told me I had one month notice to sell cars or to get out. I had sleepless nights. What I did was to locate the best four sales persons in the company, attach myself

to them and I picked the best of their sales strategies and started to apply them. By December 1991, I was the best salesman in the company, I had sold 1000 cars. I created a picture of the result I wanted and focused on making it happen. It works.

LESSON

2

We learn more from failure than from success I once owned a big company back in India. It was worth close to N400 million in 1995/96. I trusted some people and I allowed them to run the company. I was managing the company myself, but since it was a large company, you can’t be everywhere.

So I trusted them, they were handling some portfolios independently but along the line two of the individuals decided to play game with the company which eventually cost me everything. I lost the company and all my investment in it. I became wiser after that mistake. I learnt how to judge people more effectively. What I have learnt is that money can go away from you but the knowledge you have acquired, the wisdom you have, nobody can take that away from you. So I created something similar in much easier way.

I have no regrets making those mistakes because I learnt a lot of lessons from them.

I have not forgotten the mistakes; otherwise I will not learn anything from them. But I have forgiven those people. If you don’t remember your mistakes, you tend to make those mistakes again.

Respond; don’t react to situations When I came to Nigeria, our office was in Surulere, very close to where you had a couple of miscreants (area boys). The area boys used to come weekly to collect their money (for ‘protecting us’), one day when they came to collect, I told them no, we can’t be giving them money like that. I met with them, it was a difficult conversation, but I told them, ‘if you need anything in kind, we can give you but if you need cash I won’t give.’

I told them if I give them cash, they would use it to smoke. They said it was none of my business, I said it was my business because it was my money I decided how it would be spent.

The guys left. In the evening when I closed, they came looking for me they wanted to surround me and talk to me in tough language. They were thinking that I would be running away from them. When I got outside the office, I actually moved towards them and I said, ‘what are you guys doing here? Let’s go and have some soft drinks. I took them to a soft drinks seller around the place. They were disarmed. What can you do with somebody giving you soft drinks?

But they said ‘oga, but you should give us money.’ I told them I don’t work like that, you are my friends, we can teach you something, but we will not just give you money. At the end of the day we became friends.

If I had not managed that experience well, I would have got myself into trouble.

This was one of the fantastic experiences where I turned a bad experience into a good experience. So how you respond to a situation can turn it into a good or bad experience.

Negative experiences are not bad, what you need to do is to reflect back and say, ‘what could I have done better in this situation?

LESSON

5

Improve Your Connection with the World What connect us to the world are our senses. And we were never trained to use our senses well. No one taught us how to see beyond the obvious, learn to hear what is not being said. There is no manual for how to operate your senses.

The basic difference between a successful person and not so successful person is the way they use their senses.

People talk of relationship, of networking, don’t go after relationship and networking, and improve your connection. People we network with, what do they do with that network after? Connection is the key thing,

6

Care for People I take it as an ultimate responsibility to care for people. To me people matter in life, human is a wonderful and most amazing creation in the world. The people may be your family, your friends or colleagues in office. Care for them and their prosperity and growth. And when we care for people, we need to work with them to create a better tomorrow and higher life.

My biggest lesson of life is to create effective, long-term relationships with mutual respect and win-win mind-set.

That I care for people doesn’t mean I just flatter them, no. What I mean is that I develop them for better results. Even if I have to punish the person I would do it, but the punishment is not out of hatred but love and care so that the person will become a better person.

When I was selling cars, I cared for my sales people even though I sacked many of them.

There was this guy I sacked because he was performing as a sales person. When I sacked him he went to open a restaurant, now he has a chain of restaurants. Whenever I am in India, he hosts me, he says ‘look, this is the man who sacked me and he made my life, otherwise I would have been doing that lousy job.’

LESSON

7

Walk Your Talk When you say something do it. Don’t just say it to please people around or make impressions. Once you start taking actions aligned to your dialogue, results won’t come over night. Once you sow the seed, you have to nurture the crop to get a full harvest and it takes time to get results. So consistently walk your talk.

For me, I take actions and when those actions have given me results, I then bring them into my talk. So first I work then I share my experiences with you. ‘If you do this, you get this kind of result.’ It makes you more meaningful and more relevant to companies because you are not a preacher, you are not a speaker, you are a manager who has passed through that situation. I have a personal experience with a well-known conglomerate group we work for in Nigeria. When we started that work, during our coaching sessions, they asked various questions many of which were just basic. After working with them for two and a half years, the level has really gone up, they now ask more intelligent questions because their thinking has gone higher.

BOOKS Neuro Linguistic Programming

by Richard Bandler My Experiments with Truth

by M.K. Gandhi The 7 Habits of Highly Effectively People by Stephen Covey

MISTAKE Not starting the NLP earlier. I should have started this much earlier, I started this quite late. I became an NLP practitioner in 2006 but I became a licensed coach in 2014. So I should have started this earlier. But better be late than never.

WHAT KEEPS ME AWAKE: When I think of all the miracles around, when I imagine the new future. The innovations that will make this planet a much better place. How I am going to participate and contribute for the next level, to leave a legacy for generations to come.

A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

29.10.2017

FEMI ODUGBEMI TAKES BIGGER STRIDES

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

COVER

A wedding scene in Battleground

FEMI ODUGBEMI

TAKES BIGGER STRIDES Nseobong Okon-Ekong and Vanessa Obioha enter the world of an ace film maker who continues to sturn with hit productions that features compelling story line

T

here is very little about the documentary filmmaker, screenwriter, director, photographer, arts and culture enthusiast, Femi Odugbemi that is not in the public space. And that is because he does not fish in unfamiliar waters. He is committed to one thing only: Film! Everything else is ancillary.

It is easy to focus on Odugbemi’s work; to take each one as they come. However, that effort demands serious concentration to play catch-up, for as unassuming as he appears, Odugbemi is restless. His agile spirit is forever thinking up new schemes and projects. Whatever you knew of him yesterday may not be relevant today. The only thing you may be sure of is that his venture will always be tied to the magic of initiating a discourse through the sight and sound medium of television or film.

For instance, to launch his intriguing hit TV series, Battleground, he went through the motion of introducing a new company, Zuri 24 Media.

His success with production of successful drama on television attained an enviable feat with Tinsel.

Following that mark of distinction, not many imagined he could reach into the recesses of his creative mind to come up with another winning television drama. With Battleground, however, Odugbemi does not only seek to surpass himself, the most enduring impression that is being conveyed is how the team has been able to deliver a world class production daily, depending entirely on resources and talent obtained in Nigeria.

Battleground is what may be called the Nigerian dream!

It’s making is like a fairytale. Every week day, a bus filled with the crew and cast takes off from Maryland Bus-stop in Lagos mainland at 5am heading for the Lekki Phase 1 location. The personnel find their way to the location. But lateness is not tolerated, for whatever reason.

Breakfast is served at 7am. Shooting begins at 8am and goes on till late afternoon. There is lunch break. Everything moves like clockwork. There are no distractions. All possible hiccups have been anticipated and taken care of (to a large extent).

The Battleground set must be one of the few places where things work seamlessly in Nigeria.

The unlikely story of Battleground begins from acquisition of the property in Lekki Phase 1. “It was an abandoned house. The former occupants did not take good care of it. But it was what we were looking for. We needed to do a lot of work to transform it to what you see now.”

This is where the amazing craftsmanship of his team was deployed. As the artisans and professionals went to work, an adorable masterpiece, fitting the description was invented in every space; whether it was the bedroom, living room, study or the courtyard. Even he could not believe the extent of renovation that was carried out in such a short time.

The ingenuity of the professionals on the Battleground set is futher showcased with the creation of an ‘artificial’ island and a golf course.

More astounding is the fact that every costume used on the set of Battleground is made right there!

The impeccable lifestyle in Battleground is too good to be true, therefore, some viewers forget that it is make-believe and strongly desire to live in the Battleground.

But this is not an entirely new phenomenon.

It is not uncommon to see fans go extra mile or do the weirdest things to have an encounter with their favourite celebrity. Take a look at the US rapper Eminem whose number one fan Stan ended up killing himself simply because Eminem didn’t reply his mails on time. Back home, we’ve seen fans present portraits of their famous artistes to them on different occasions or move past security guards to hug their idols. None of these however can match the unwavering loyalty of Africa Magic’s Battleground fans. The intriguing TV series produced by Femi Odugbemi has acquired a larger-than-life status since its debut last May. These fans come from diverse backgrounds to converege on social media platforms. On Twitter and Facebook, they share their views on the gripping tale, post updates as well as create funny moments with memes.

However, they proved their unflappable devotion to the series when they organised a party to celebrate the 100th episode of Battleground recently. DStv and Africa Magic had earlier scheduled a live screening of the episode at

Odugbemi

the Battleground towering mansion where most of the scenes are shot. Some selected celebrities, journalists and fans were invited to share in the historic moment with the cast and crew.

Feeling left out of the fun, the uninvited fans had their own party in Lagos with the former Governor of Cross River State Donald Duke in attendance. That’s what you call real fandom.

They partied, took selfies and generally had a

good time networking. All were in agreement that they definitely had a good reason to celebrate the soapie which compelling storyline had kept them glued to their TVs. Arguably, Battleground redefined the TV culture in more ways than one. The compelling story line and clinical precision given to the production are good testament to the dexterity of the man at the helms of the production, Femi

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Joke Silva in a scene in Battleground

Odugbemi. The son of a cocoa farmer from Ondo State, Odugbemi is famous for excellent productions like Gidi Blues, Oriki documentary, and another Africa Magic production, Tinsel.

Paying extra attention to his craft and raising the standards of his vocation have set him apart from his contemporaries.

This demand for professionalism is meticulously displayed at conspicous vantage positions round the location. They are mainly instructions (or reminders) to the cast and crew, imploring them to be businesslike.

Odugbemi says it’s intentional. “We shoot everyday. An episode a day for next week. The call-time is 6am. We’ve made adequate provisions for them to make it easier for them. There is a caterer who brings variety of delicacies for them so that they can have breakfast before shooting.

They don’t have to worry about clothes because we make the costumes here. There is an in-house costumier who makes all the attires. We also have the salon where they all get prepped up. So everything is here.”

“Most of them live nearby and drive their own cars,” he continues, “So they easily get here on time but for those who don’t, we have a bus at Maryland that picks them up. We did all these because we don’t want to encourage excuses that may tamper with production. Things should be done properly and professionally.”

Indeed, this was clearly seen at the location in Lekki. Cameramen and members of the cast were already on ground to shoot a scene, while the costumier spun the wheel tirelessly upstairs, making cuts and patterns on fabrics. The make-up artist was not idle either as she applied finishing touches to the face of one of the actors to get the desired look for her character. In another section of the big compound there were scriptwriters who barely looked up from a huge sheaf of papers. Everyone carried on their duties in a very dedicated manner.

Working with such reliable individuals makes his work easier. The Creative Director Mike-Steve Adeleye who oversees the various creative departments and ensures that the script is coherently executed from pre-production to post-production. There is also the Series Producer Mayowa Oluyeba, a towering figure described by Odugbemi as the one who keeps everyone on their feet. His duties include budget monitoring, and ensuring the creative department deliverables meet their timelines.

So far, consistency is the major challenge they have faced. Adeleye put it this way.

“It’s easier to do something that stands out in short films because you are only tested for a short period, but features are longer so you need to be more consistent in your craft. That demand is even longer on a TV show because you’ve got all sorts of stuff to deal with. You got actors, characters with acts that are constantly evolving, not just from Point A to B, but you got this graph that kind of scintillates. It goes up and down. It just can’t be random because you have audiences following these characters and it is important that you don’t get to a point where people say

Odugbemi surrounded by his production team

‘this character wouldn’t do this’. It has to get this systematic feel so that when you get there, your audience has journeyed with that character so when the character evolves and changes, it makes sense, it’s not just a sudden jump. Tracking that on a series, with the performances, their costumes, looks, how they interpret their roles is not random, it’s very specific challenge.”

Oluyeba concurred by adding, “You can’t just change anything. Even if you are shooting a wedding scene that is supposed to take one day and you shot it for three days, when you are coming back to continue on the third day, you must build the area to pick up from what you shot the previous day; everything must tally-up to the weather condition.”

Interestingly, this particular location known as the Bhadmus mansion is an intriguing part of the drama. It is a sprawling edifice in the heart of Lekki and the 18th location Odugbemi stumbled on.

“It was an abandoned building. I like to tell the story because somewhere in between I think that God is really great. We looked at about 17 other houses but we never found one that was good enough. Sometimes we found one but it was either the house was not affordable or suitable.”

Apparently, a few changes were necessary

so he called his close friend and famous architect Theo Lawson to make a few adjustments to the landscape. A golf lawn, a royal pavilion, artificial trees, even a small boat house close to the lagoon was created at the backyard.

Inside, rooms were magically transformed.

Chandeliers, beds, upholstery, libraries all locally made created the right setting and mood for each scene. The logo of the drama, an emboldened letter B facing each other is crested on one of the walls outside. Odugbemi says the logo shows the flip side of the human nature. His explanation is simple. No one is perfect.

Undeniably, the compelling storyline of Battleground has earned it its growing fame.

It tells the story of the Bhadmus family and its patriarch Chief Kolade Bhadmus (Gbenga Titiloye), a man whose desire for power, fame and wealth leads to dire consequences to his family and business “This is a very uncomplicated story,” says Odugbemi. “I like it because we have stories that people know but don’t talk about. A lot of stories in Battleground are reality based. There is an underground of stories in our culture. The idea that a chief or rich man has a remote family somewhere, maybe strange to foreigners but not to us. We’ve seen it at many burial ceremonies.

That he would go as far as to fake a heart attack

in order not to pay his debt to the General is part of the folklore of our communities. There are lots of rich people in Nigeria whose wealth cannot be explained. Even if you can explain it, you cannot do what he did to acquire it. Then effectively there are reflections in our story of a society that actually needs to examine itself, its values and views of money. You know we say in Nigeria that money is not everything, younger people these days will tell you let me have it first. All those phrases like ‘get rich or die trying’ or the popular Yoruba saying that ‘there is a certain dirt at the bottom of the barrel of wealth’. You will find at the end of the day that not all that glitters is gold are undertones in our story. And the impact of it on family and society itself may be the unspoken lessons that our audience are taking from Battleground.”

Odugbemi, however, attributes the success of the drama to his ensemble. There are about 70 crew members and 36 cast members.

“I like the fact that we are very breezy, fastpaced, we ride on the wings of some extremely talented persons. In all honesty, if there is something to boast about, I think it is the fact that we have gathered a group of incredibly talented people. We are lucky to work with people who are big but they take a small role and pay attention to it. For instance, Joke Silva is playing Mama Egba. It’s actually a small part but you can’t tell from the enthusiasm she brings to it. Bikiya Graham Douglas has given one of the most powerful performances I have ever seen and you see her bring pure magic to her character, Hadiza. People knew Shaffy Bello from Tinsel.

She was the girl in Seyi Sodimu’s ‘Love Me Jeje’ but she is such a magical performer. Gbenga Titiloye has worked in quite a few films and was in Ghana and had come home to take over the role of Chief Kolade in a way that I can’t imagine.

Francis Onwochei is a big boy taking the big part of Chief Ige, the politician.

“Then there is the young crew; a lot of fantastic young people. We have made a departure from the usual M-net show will have foreign crew. When I did Tinsel, we had that because we were starting for the first time. We paid our price by learning from South African shows. What Tinsel did was to create a clique of very young people in Nigeria whose core expertise is television production; and not Nollywood. Take for instance, Chike from The Voice Nigeria Season One, he is a big discovery for us. I find him to be a more fantastic actor than a singer while Nonso Bassey from that same competition brings this raw sex appeal that you can’t ignore. They come here everyday and they kill it (as the younger people say).”

Over the years, Odugbemi has adopted the unique style of merging two generations in his productions.

“I find it to be the only way we can pay back.

I like that melding. The older ones are doing something I find quite fascinating. They are actually helping the younger ones to find their way. On the other hand, the younger ones look at the older people and learn.”

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with Ě&#x201C;

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

Culture Meets Music in DJ Spinall Tour

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rom all indications, it isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t going to be business as usual for the vodka brand, Smirnoff. With the launch of its new product Smirnoff XI which comes in two variants: Extra Smooth and Intense Chocolate, the premium brand is raising its ante in the entertainment industry.

It started with a huge buzz that the brand ambassador DJ Spinall will be kicking off a tour. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not really something new. The main catch was unveiled at a media briefing were the brand revealed its plans to tour selected cities in the country.

Going all the way till May 2018, the Smirnoff band will be lighting up cities such as Lagos, Abuja, Jos, Ibadan, Port Harcourt, Benin, and Owerri with unforgettable music concerts. The city of Lagos will play host twice being the hub of entertainment in the country. Lined up artistes include Yung L, Adekunle Gold, Illbliss, Mayorkun, M.I, Harrysong, among others. DJ Spinall will also be on ground to provide unlimited music to the excited fans.

The concerts will not end on the stage but will give feisty fun lovers an

opportunity to showcase their city. Using the hashtag #TurnUpMyCity, participants are enticed to share exciting things about their city, particularly in how they party.

According to the Marketing and Innovations Director - Guinness Nigeria Plc, Adenike Adebola; the tour is a testament of the brandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dedication to bring the best party to town. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are happy to launch the new brand Smirnoff X1 which comes in two variants:Intense Chocolate and Extra Smooth, as well as kick off a tour. It is going to be one nation, seven cities and right epic nights. Beyond the music experience, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also about discovering the different realities in these cities. How they like to party, the different energy that bring to parties as well as the unique creative things about the cities.â&#x20AC;?

To show that they meant business, a mini-fashion parade was set up at the unveiling. Beautiful models adorned in cultural outfits of the enlisted cities dazzled the crowd with their catwalks while assisting Ill Rhymz, the host at the raffle draw. The lucky winners were given an all-expense paid trip to the selected city. The first leg of the concert kicked off yesterday in Owerri.

The New Ethnik Collection is a diverse mix of fashion accessories that are made from the popular Yoruba fabric â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;aso okeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. Ranging from footwears to hats, the beautiful patterns of the post-colonial architecture were used in designing the accessories. Owolabi launched his fashion brand Ethnik in 2015 to promote the elegance and rich cultural heritage of the aso-oke.

According to the artist, the Amaros had great taste of art which is beautifully seen in their houses. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Although they are no longer in vogue,â&#x20AC;? he added, â&#x20AC;&#x153;their intricate patterns and designs cannot be overlooked.â&#x20AC;?

Bashorunâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s house on spring and board TUNDE OWOLABIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S JOURNEYWITH THE AMAROS It was in 2011 that photographer and artist Tunde Owolabi had the brainwave to document the post-colonial architectural beauty of the Brazilian returnees to Nigeria through his lens. Known as the Amaros due to their stylish lifestyle, Owolabi discovered that they built their houses with that same sophistication.

From the intricate patterns on the windows to the grand entrance, there were artistic patterns that reflected their cultures and lifestyles.

This was what intrigued the photographer to traverse the south-western states for these houses built in the 1800s and 1900s. Without hesitation, he picked up his camera and began to capture captivating images of these buildings such as the afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo-Kutiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s house, Bashorun, Bejeweâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s houses and of course the house built with ÂŁ1,000.

Putting all these together, Owolabi showcased this timeless collection in an art and photography exhibition at the Red Door Art Gallery recently. Named after the returnees, Owolabi replicated the images in pop art and string on boards, giving the images a whole new modern twist. For instance, the beautiful replica of Bashorunâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s house with strings on board attest boldly to the creative mind of the artist.

However, the Amaros did more than appreciating the African heritage for the photographer. It became the muse behind his latest Ethnik collection.

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;EVERYWHERE, THAT IS, KWESE IN SHONAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; The understanding that the promoters of the new television network, Kwese TV envision a service that reaches far and wide into the broader spectrum of society. In choosing a word that conveys that notion, they could not find a more fitting expression than Kwese, which means everywhere among the Shona ethnic group in Zimbabwe.

It was just the right term to deliver the concept of having television everywhere.

The recent launch of Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dynamic broadcaster, KwesĂŠ TV brings the very best in premium entertainment, international and African series and movies, award-winning childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s entertainment channels, up to-theminute news and a diverse mix of exclusive channels for the entire family to enjoy. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are excited to launch our dynamic content business in Nigeria, a market that we know is hungry for a compelling alternative pay TV network. At KwesĂŠ we pride ourselves in having selected a strong general

Guests at the Kwese launch

Toluwalashe Ogunyemi, Adenike Adebola and Sodamola Desmond (DJ Spinall)

entertainment and sports programming lineup which we believe will be well received by viewers of all ages â&#x20AC;&#x201C; kids, young adults, men and women, alike,â&#x20AC;? expressed Elizabeth Amkpa, General Manager KwesĂŠ TV Nigeria. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our business is premised on the concept of TV anywhere and everywhere. This means we have made our premium content easily accessible across a number of platforms namely linear TV, mobile and digital platforms, providing unlimited viewing options for our subscribers.â&#x20AC;?

KwesĂŠ is at the forefront of innovation through pioneering ground-breaking payment options that offer flexibility and convenience in the industry. â&#x20AC;&#x153;With KwesĂŠ, content is not only accessible through our multi-platform service, but also through a revolutionary payment model.

We have pioneered â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;pay-as-you-watchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; subscription packages for premium programminng which enables consumers to purchase three and seven day subscriptions at N990 and N1,850 respectively, as well as a 30 day subscription option for only N6,275,â&#x20AC;? added Amkpa.

Subscribing to KwesĂŠ TV is as simple as visiting a KwesĂŠ branded store and purchasing a satellite dish and decoder combo for N10,960 inclusive of installation. Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more, your first monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (30 day) subscription to KwesĂŠ TVâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s full entertainment and sports bouquet is free! After expiration of this free 30 day pass, KwesĂŠ audiences can continue to enjoy exceptional quality programming at an affordable price of just N6,275 per 30 day pass.

The full KwesĂŠ TV bouquet offers over 65

channels of pure entertainment with wellknown international channels.

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more KwesĂŠ subscribers can also enjoy an always on programme offering on their KwesĂŠ TV decoders. The always on offering features selected free-to-air channels, which form part of KwesĂŠâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s programming line-up, which remain available for viewing on you decoder even with a lapsed subscription. This means Nigerian audiences can remain connected to KwesĂŠ with channels such as Africa News, Flow TV, NTA, Islam TV and of course KwesĂŠ Free Sports.

KwesĂŠ also prides itself in being the exclusive broadcast partner of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in sub-Saharan Africa. Sport lovers can look forward to live action, weekly previews and highlights from the NBA, international boxing (including exclusive coverage of all Anthony Joshua fights), IAAF World Championships and the National Football League among other sports, on KwesĂŠ Sports 1, KwesĂŠ Sports 2 and KwesĂŠ Free Sports which was first introduced to Nigerian audiences in earlier this year. KwesĂŠ Free Sports is Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest and first Pan-African free-to-air TV channel available in 25 countries providing premium sporting content to sports fans for free. The channel holds exclusive free-to-air rights to the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia and the Premier League.

Viewers looking for premium lifestyle channels can enjoy telenovelas on Passion and Zee Bollynova, exciting Nollywood movies and series on African Movie Channel, African Movie Channel Series and KwesĂŠ Movies 3 which is dedicated to showcasing original African movies. The little ones in the family can look forward to a wide array of kiddiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; channels including Boomerang, CBeebies, Cartoon Network, Jim Jam and the KwesĂŠ exclusive Toonami for superhero fans.

2BABA ELECTRIFIED AT CAMPARI DARE TO MIX FESTIVAL It was a cocktail affair at the recently held Dare to Mix festival in Port Harcourt.

Sponsored by the premium cocktail brand Campari, thousands of music lovers gathered at the Port Harcourt Mall to witness the first ever cocktail festival to grace the city..

Participants were completely enthralled by the lined-up activities which stretched all through the day. There were variety of cocktails, great food, rib-cracking comedy, mixology sessions and of course, stage performances from various artistes in an electric atmosphere The crowd brimmed with excitement and enthusiasm as they watched Campari

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ENTERTAINMENT Brand Ambassador 2Baba walk up on stage to perform hit song after hit song. 2Baba gave fans an unforgettable experience in a truly memorable performance. Fans were excited to finally get the chance to watch him perform live on stage.

Harrysong, Kelly Hansome and Duncan Mighty also graced the stage and gave mind blowing performances that left fans eager for more. Also, the music artistes were very impressed with how Campari put the show together and were grateful for the opportunity to bring their music to the excited crowd.

Comedian Akpororo, made the night even more interesting as he thrilled guests to rib-cracking jokes. Superstar DJ Jimmy Jatt got fans dancing and vibing with a mix of some of the biggest hits both from the local and international scene.

One of the highlight of the night was when a fan however took his love for the ‘Gaga Shuffle’ crooner a step further by sneaking up to the stage and grabbing on to his idol’s legs while he performed. He enjoyed the pleasure of ‘touching the hem’ of his favourite pop icon’s garment, even if just for a few minutes and his joy knew no bounds, especially as 2baba welcomed his embrace warmly, gently patting him on the back as he continued performing.

Campari has also been rewarding Nigerians nationwide in its ‘Buy N Win’ campaign, where buyers of the product win amazing prizes in raffle draws.

SIMI TOURS GHANA Keeping her promise to reward fans following the successful release of her long anticipated sophomore album, Simisola; pop/R&B songstress, Simi embarked on a tour to neighbouring Ghana to promote this masterpiece and interact with fans that have followed her career from the start of her singing career to her reinvention as a songwriter, mixer and exceptional vocalist.

The purpose of this media tour, according to Simi, who is presently signed to X3M Music, is to meet her Ghanaian fans and media friends and also appreciate them for their support towards her career over time.

She also held a meet and greet interactive session with fans which was well attended by media personalities and had the delectable songbird charm her audience as she posed for pictures, signed autographs and answered questions relating to her life and career.

HEADLINERS THRILL PORT HARCOURT RESIDENTS Ten entertainment headliners thronged the Garden City of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, last Saturday on the train of the impressive Glo Mega Music Nationwide Concert, a flagship concert designed and sponsored by total telecommunications service provider, Globacom.

The accomplished entertainers included Katch, Di’ja, Omawumi, Kiss Daniel, Yemi Alade, Phyno and Tuface Idibia; Uche Jombo and Juliet Ibrahim who compered the show; while Nollywood legends, Patience Ozokwor, a.k.a. Mama G, Kanayo O. Kanayo (KOK) and Richard Mofe-Damijo (RMD) attended as celebrity guests Resourceful female disc jockey, DJ Nana, dished out danceable tunes from the juke box to set the audience in the mood for the evening of fun which was hosted at the Hub Event Centre at the Trans Amadi area of the flowery city New discovery in hip hop, Uche Ikachukwu, a.k.a. Katch opened the curtains and was followed by the music diva from the Marvin Records family, Hadiza Blell, known in the music industry as Di’Ja. Glo brand ambassador and Na who I go ask crooner, Omawumi Megbele was next in line , took the show to the next level with her well-choreographed band. She got enthralled by the spirit of music at some point and exhibited her excitement by rewarding one of her fans, Juliet Emubor, who danced to her Bonsue track with a pair of her brand new and expensive shoes to wild ovation from the crowd.

Talk to me, o’ Mama! singer, Kiss Daniel, Yemi Alade, Phyno and Tuface were simply amazing as they sang their hearts out with the audience singing and dancing excitedly to tracks from their music idols.

Harrysong

Duncan Mighty, Harrysong Light Up Port Harcourt With Legendary Performances Vanessa Obioha Call it a homecoming concert for Duncan Mighty and Harrysong and you will not be far from the truth. In a very memorable night that had residents of the beautiful city of Port Harcourt thronging the Star Ground, Elekahia, the superstar duo of Duncan Mighty and Harrysong brought the house down with their legendary performances.

The venue for the Port Harcourt Real Deal Experience had filled up hours before the event even started as fans and Legend Extra Stout consumers gathered in anticipation to see their favourite stars. As expected, the crowd erupted in an excited and deafening roar when they finally saw the superstars emerge.

Duncan Mighty, the proud Port Harcourt boy as he calls himself was the first to mount the stage. The “Port Harcourt Son” crooner known for his original and much localised tunes and lyrics mesmerised the raving audience performing some of his biggest hits like “Port Harcourt Son,” “Obianuju,” “Dance for me,” and “Ako Na Uche” among others. The connection between him and the fans was visibly real and authentic as they echoed back the lyrics of the songs in excitement.

Overwhelmed by the show of love from the fans, a teary Duncan said,” I feel special, I feel loved. This has been more than just a show for me and I want to thank my amazing fans for their support. They’ve always stood by me like a family. I also appreciate Legend for putting this together…honestly you (Legend) might not realize how far this kind of initiative goes, but trust me, this is very commendable.”

Duncan’s remarkable performance was enough for the fans to end the night on a Mary Agoha, who profusely appreciated Globacom for bringing the star artistes to the city said, “this is the best of all the shows I have attended and to imagine that I got all the fun without paying a dime feels so great. I thank Glo for making my day”.

On his part, another show attendee, Nkemere Divine, called on other corporate organisations “to take a cue from Globacom and delight their customers. I have attended all the four shows organised by Globacom in Port Harcourt and I am happy that a Nigerian company is doing this”.

POTATO POTAHTO SET FOR PREMIERE IN NIGERIA, SOUTH AFRICA AND GHANA Following a series of successful screenings in some of the biggest festivals across the globe, West African romantic comedy ‘Potato Potahto’ will kick off its cinematic releases across the continent from November 2017.

Potato Potahto opens in Nigerian and South African cinemas on November 24 and makes its way to Ghanaian screens on the 30th of November.

Directed by award winning Ghanaian film maker Shirley Frimpong-Manso; the

high, but Mr Songz took the fun to another level. Noted to have churned out some of Nigeria’s biggest hits, Harrysong led the raving audience in an unending sing-along.

From “Beta Pikin” to “Baba for the Girls,” and “Samankwe,” to “Ofeshe”, the former 5 Star music strongman delivered a breath-taking performance that will be long talked about in the city of Port Harcourt.

In addition to the musical performances, winners of the online talent competition went home N50,000 richer, while several other fans and consumers won other exciting prizes like flat screen TVs, generators, refrigerators and other high-end gift items in the Taste, Tell, and Win game. Guests also got the unique opportunity to experience the different elements of Legend Extra stout in a live simulation room.

Speaking on the success of the event, Portfolio Manager - Mainstream, Lager and Stout brands Nigerian Breweries, Emmanuel Agu said: “Legend Extra Stout cares about creating real and authentic experiences for our consumers and that is what the Real Deal Experience is about. Through this experiential show, we have created a platform for fans to interact freely with their favourite celebrity artistes in an atmosphere of fun, music and of course plenty enty y free Legend Stout. Port Harcourt iss the 6th city we’re visiting this year and are e set to visit even more before the year ends. ds.”

The Real Deal Experience by y Legend g Extra Stout brings Nigeria’s biggest ggest music gg stars to various cities across the he country to entertain and interact with their eir die-hard fans. The Real Deal Experience e tour 2017 kicked off in February in Nnewi wi and it’s on schedule to visit other cities in n Nigeria in the coming weeks. film stars OC Ukeje, Joselyn Dumas, JJo Joke oke ke Silva, Blossom Chukwujekwu, u, Chris Attoh, LalaAkindoju, Adjeteyy yAnang, Victoria Michaels and d Nikki Samonas. The movie tells ells the story of a divorced couplee whose plans to share their matrimonial home results in chaos after the husband, Tony, brings in an attractive female house help. When his ex-wife, Lulu, then hires an n attractive young man to help her out, a roller coaster ride of laughter, er, jealousy y and tears ensues. tatic about Producer Inya Lawal is ecstatic the movie’s upcoming cinematic atic release; “We have taken Potato Potahto to round the world to an incredibly warm reception, we mas home cannot wait to bring it to cinemas ning! “ she in Africa, this is just the beginning! explained For South African filmmaker ker Bonginhlanhla‘Mr. B’Ncube, more dopt Potato African film makers should adopt -African Potahto’s unique form of pan-African collaborations. “This collaboration ration is a true

representation of Africans coming together and saying, ‘we own this space, our continent, our people,’ let’s serve them and tell those African stories-to our people.”Mr. B attended the Cannes Film Festival premiere of the film and immediately invited the Producers to release the film in South Africa, his production company Sukuma Media which released the action comedy flick, Safe Bet (2016), is actively involved in the South African release.

Director Shirley Frimpong-Manso reflects on the film’s journey; “It has been a whirlwind taking our labour of love across the world. I have truly been overwhelmed by the universal acceptance of the movie, the unusual storyline and our incredible cast; I look forward to when Potato Potahto finally hits the cinemas.”

Potato Potahto has been screened to rave reviews at the Cannes Film Festival, the Durban International Film Festival, the British Urban Film Festival, and theSilicon Valley African Film Festival. It was the first Nollywood film to screen at the Chelsea Film Festival and it heads to the American Film Market, the African International Film Festival and the Toronto Nollywood International Film Festival in November.

OSAS VOICE WINS GOSPEL ARTISTE OF THE YEAR DIASPORA A Nigerian-born artiste based in the United States, Osas Voice has taken the entertainment industry by storm as she picked the highly coveted 2017 Gospel Artiste of the Year Diaspora award in Lagos.

The annual awards, which is in its 11th edition and organised by Nigeria Media Night Out Awards, had the likes of Kano state governor, former governor of Kaduna state, Sir Shina Peters, Cornel Udofia, Tricia Obi among others in attendance.

Expressing great excitement over the award, the artiste who already has five songs under her belt and is coming out with the second album in December had only deep gratitude and appreciation for her fans and the event organiser.

“I want to say a very big thank you to the Nigeria Media Night Out Award members for recognizing my music. I am extremely grateful. God bless you,” she gushed and she also promised to produce more beautiful and inspiring songs. She attributed the success to dogged determination, improvement efforts, self-belief and pursuit of excellence. For her fans and upcoming Gospel artistes, she said though making a breakthrough is not easy, they should keep striving as their persistence will yield favorable result sooner than later.

Osas

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FOCUS

At FADAN’S ‘Stitch in Time’ Conference Funke Olaode

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he Fashion Designers Association of Nigeria led by its president, Mrs. Funmi Ajila-Ladipo has announced the theme of its 2017 Fashion Week ‘A Stitch in Time’ holding between November 18 and 19 at the Civic Center, Victoria Island, Lagos. It will showcase over 25 Nigerian and African designers.

Some of the big names at the announcement were President, National Association of Tailors, Otunba Wasiu Taiwo, Kola Kudus and Buy Naija Initiator, Ramz Mousallati, Modela boss and Ayanfeoluwa Oluwaseun.

According to Ajila-Ladipo, the theme for this year ’s fashion week has been carefully crafted to demonstrate the essence of making the hay, while the sun shines. Speaking further, she said that this year ’s event goes beyond the runaway and entertainment, as it involves youth empowerment.

The two-day event she noted would x-ray the essentials in the fashion industry through training and Master Class to be conducted by proven professionals and experts in Nigeria’s fashion industry. She noted that the class will tutor and teach their members and

L-R: President, National Association of Tailors, Otunba Wasiu Taiwo, FADAN President, Mrs. Funmi Ajila-Ladipo, FADAN member, Kola Kudus and Buy Naija Initiator, Ramz Mousallati at the Fashion Designer Association of Nigeria’s press conference announcing its forthcoming 2017 Fashion Week held at Ikeja GRA, Lagos... last Tuesday.

selected grassroots designers (who would in turn go to their various communities) to professionalize the industry and see it beyond mere ‘cut and sew’ business.

Calling on government at all levels to support fashion business and see it a viable alternative, president,

National Association of Tailors, Otunba Wasiu Taiwo said though tailors and designers are the same and they would continue to work together to achieve common goals for the interest of the nation. He advised government to see the industry as a very vital aspect

that can grow the economy. In his words, Buy Naija Initiator, Ramz Mousallati said he believed in proper growth of fashion industry in Nigeria as most fabrics are imported. But with FADAN skill acquisitions initiatives, it would not only empower teeming

A Father’s Plea for Help Yinka Olatunbosun

S

ix years ago, when Nicole Adesanya was delivered at a Lagos Hospital, her parents did not envisage that a huge burden had befallen them.

Her delivery was traumatic; it was a typical case of medical negligence. The doctors delayed her mother who was referred to another hospital during labour for a quick caesarian section. After the third day, she was eventually transferred to the initial hospital and Nicole was born. The doctor and nurses called her “a miracle baby”.

Most babies die after such tumultuous delays. Her mother was nursed back to health.

Few months later, the reality of Nicole’s medical condition became to show its face.

At a private hospital, cerebral palsy was diagnosed. After her father recounted her child birth episodes to a doctor, the doctor knew the case was not congenial. Several tests were done and it was discovered that poor handling led to the delivery of an asphyxiated child. To use a simple language, Nicole is living with a severe case of cerebral palsy. At six, she cannot walk, talk, or stand. With lots of attention from her loving parents, she began to sit before the age of three. That gave her father hope that Nicole can live an independent life if she gets the right treatment.

Nicole’s condition changed her father’s life completely. He couldn’t socialise and sometimes suffered depression. In Nicole’s infancy, seizures were very frequent and she was constantly hospitalised. Nicole has little tolerance for warm climate and still depends on her parents to feed. Recently, this reporter met Mr Adesanya in Ikeja, the second time in five years, and he recounted how caring for a special needs child can be financially draining.

“She had been in two schools. She went to Ketu Special Centre which was founded by the former Deputy Governor, Lagos State, Mrs Orelope Adefulore. But

because of the severity of the case, she was enrolled at Children Development Centre in Surulere. She undergoes a lot of therapies. Asides the school fees which is about five hundred thousand per term, we had to engage a physiotherapist and a speech therapist who are paid one hundred and fifty thousand naira each on a monthly basis. I had the money then and I was able to pay for these,” he began.

The three-hour long conversation was punctuated by phone calls and several instances of off-record comments. Adesanya is a man who loves being a father and that responsibility, he cherishes.

It was indeed a last resort to call to the public for financial assistance to save Nicole. When asked how much he spends on Nicole’s medications, he said it would be difficult to calculate unless he gathers all the receipts. But one thing he was very sure of is that if her medications stop, within two days, she would be hospitalized. That usually costs nothing less that one hundred and twenty thousand naira. Nicole’s father had consulted John Hopkins’ Hospital in US and he had been fully briefed on the medical options for Nicole’s condition. This would involve surgery, as well as implantations that would help stabilise her muscles and coordinate her movements. He described the every day life of Nicole who had learned to sit and play on her own, although with a lot of noise.

“Taking her to school is another episode entirely. We didn’t have a car so we would take taxi. When I sat down to calculate all the money spent on transportation, I decided to get a car,” he recalled.

He has sold the car earlier this year to care for his family upon his loss of employment.

Meanwhile, Nicole’s schooling had to stop as he couldn’t afford to the fees.Describing Nicole’s unchanging condition over the years, Mr. Adesanya said he believes his daughter has the right to live, and live right.

“She constantly vibrates. When she is being held, her body calms. When you hold her legs down, they stop shaking but as soon as you take the hands away, they begin to vibrate. That is how she has been since she had been born,” he said.

Sadly too, Nicole doesn’t understand simple commands such as “come”, “take”, “stop” or “keep

Nicole

quiet”. Her father recalled one night when she cried uncontrollably and no one understood why she was crying on top of her voice. The next morning, neighbors asked what the problem was and they had no answer. Once, Nicole’s father had scolded her for crying for no reason and the tables were turned a few minutes later as he had to find his private space to shed his tears quietly. He blamed himself for trying to punish a child for an offense that she cannot comprehend.

Later, Adesanya met Miss Curvy Culture Nigeria, Ms. Shelly Ogbise who has launched an online campaign for contributions for Nicole’s overseas treatment for cerebral palsy.

The beauty queen has decided to use her reign to do something positive for humanity. An estimated sum of six hundred and twenty five thousand dollars is required to cover just the medical bills for a treatment that would last six

months, including surgery. Every five years, the implants to stabilize her muscle will be filled with some liquid to strengthen her muscles.

Mr Adesanya said he was inspired by the story of Tobiloba Ajayi, a lawyer and author who lives with cerebral palsy. With good support and financial backing from her parents, she began to walk at 12. That gave Adesanya the confidence that if Nicole gets the funding her treatment requires, she will live an independent life. Most hospitals in Nigeria have no technical knowledge of Nicole’s condition nor are they equipped to handle the severe nature of it.

“Once Nicole had a seizure, and we took her to a Lagos hospital. She was given a sedative, something in the range of Valium 5.

We transported her all the way from Ikorodu to Victoria Island and all she got was a sedative,” he recalled.

T H I S D AY SUNDAY OCTOBER 29, 2017

61

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OCTOBER 29, 2017 ˾ THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

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ARTS & REVIEW A

PUBLICATION

FROM KENYA WITH PASSION PAGE 66

29.10.2017

COLLECTOR, KNOW THY ART...

Castellote and Ajogwu

EDITOR OKECHUKWU UWAEZUOKE/ okechukwu.uwaezuoke@thisdaylive.com

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OCT Ͱͷ˜ Ͱͮͯ͵ ˾ THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

ARTS & REVIEW\\VISUAL ARTS

COLLECTOR, KNOW THY

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Fabian Ajogwu and a Spanish-born art industry pooh bah, Jess Castell on the subtleties of collecting art with their recently-published book. Okechukwu Uwaezuoke report

R

eally, there’s no dispute in matters of taste. For how indeed does one legislate something so unavoidably personal and subjective? Or, even rationalise the myriads of reasons that motivate art collection, including how it is done?

Enter Fabian Ajogwu and Jess Castellote. The duo – while acknowledging aficionados’ entitlement to their whims – seeks to educate art collectors with a new book, Collecting Art: A Handbook.“Whatever their reasons for acquiring artworks, whether enjoyment, vanity, investment or a mixture of all, for many collectors, art is among the most valuable assets they own,” goes their postulation in the book’s Introduction. “Learning how to appreciate them, to manage and care for them is of capital importance.”

Collecting Art is one book that deftly weaves anecdotes into a rich tapestry of the wherefore and the how-so of art collection along with its legal framework and nuances, among other things. Indeed, count the anecdotal references among its great strengths.

Add to the latter, its eight chapters – including one that offers a glossary of terms for the enlightenment of collectors – which make an enlightening, exhilarating read.

But does the documentation-challenged Nigerian art scene really need this book? Of course, both authors would naturally think so. “There are some ways of acquiring works that are better than others,” Castellote argues.

“A collection that is documented and a collection that is not documented. A collection that is properly stored better than a collection that is not properly stored...”

For Ajogwu, it’s also about helping people, who collect for different reasons, understand the difference between the practice and the business of the art. “It is indeed a full industry that has a role for so many to play,” he says.

Among the issues raised – including copyright, moral rights, fair use and resale rights, among others – he insists there on the need to encourage people to collect art. “It is better to collect qualitatively than quantitatively.”

Thus, the authors beam the spotlight on an industry that can still throw out plenty of grit. What with the hidden talents out there waiting to be unearthed. And, of course, there are lots of empowerment and deepening in the process, which ultimately translates to the growth of the industry.

As credible voices in the industry, the authors draw on their lustrous antecedents. Take Ajogwu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, for instance. His interest in art collection is more than a fleeting one, even when he insists on calling himself a “conscript” rather than a collector. Besides, his degrees in law from the University of Nigeria, the University of Lagos and the University of Aberdeen as well as his studies at the Said Business School of Oxford University and the Lagos Business School – where he is currently a professor of corporate governance – coalesce to stand him in good stead to handle both the legal and business parts of the book. This author of several authoritative law books, who has been an honorary counsel to the

Castellote and Ajogwu

State of Israel and the Republic of South Africa in Nigeria, is also a member of the Council of Legal Education (Nigerian Law School) and a fellow of the AIFA Reading Society.

As for the Spaniard Castellote, his untir-

ing behind-the-scene enabling projects in the art scene have become almost legendary. Besides holding separate masters degrees in architecture and art history, he is the director of the Foundation for Contemporary and

Modern Visual Arts (FCMVA). This is in addition to functioning as an independent art advisor on art matters to private and corporate bodies. Previously, he had edited a book on Nigerian art in a private collection, co-authored a book monograph on the late Ben Osaghae and co-edited a book on Kolade Oshinowo.

Both authors’ long-term commitment to the industry have rewarded them with an uncommon insight into the nuances of art collection. They argue that owning works alone does not make one a collector. Indeed, hard to ignore is the spectre of incoherence flitting around many gallery collections in Lagos or the eclectic impersonality of works adorning many homes and offices.

“Great collections are put together with varying degrees of meticulousness and expertise by people who are almost always passionate about art,” they explain. “Passion and commitment are necessary requirements for a coherent collection to emerge, but they are not the only conditions. The serious collector also needs to be discerning; to be able to differentiate the great, from the good, from the mediocre, from the bad.”

This much-needed discernment comes from an educated appreciation of the art works and artists. Besides saving the collector from the booby traps of fraudsters and mediocre artists, it also lifts the veil from the different stages of recognition an artist undergoes during the span of his or her career. The recognition of these stages – peer recognition, critical recognition, patronage by art dealers and

65

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ BER 29, 2017

ʶ ˺˺

Y ART...

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public acclaim – prepares the soil for a conscious acquisition of art works.

That buying art is a serious business is an uncontested fact. It is not surprising, therefore, that the authors devote an entire chapter of this book on the subject. The reader traipses through the maze of the artists’ studios, dealers and galleries, art auctions and art fairs, etc., before getting initiated into the legal framework of art collection.

It is not uncommon in a growing art industry like Nigeria’s to encounter collectors who are blissfully ill-informed about issues bordering on copyright, moral rights and artists’ resale rights as well as on the troubling reality of art fraud.

On a more reassuring note, the book offers the industry’s stakeholders “the necessary requirements” for “a legally water-tight transaction and a generally better art transaction”. This is despite the relative infancy of the art scene.

In any case, so much about the book is predicated on the optimistic notion that the Nigerian art scene is firmly on an upward trajectory. This uncontested assumption makes it safe to anticipate a future period of blossoming. In preparation for this golden age of creative explosion, such industry stakeholders as artists, collectors, critics, scholars and gallery owners, among others, would do well to avail themselves of this well-written invaluable book.

The Inverted Pyramid; Adapted from a novel by Emeka Dike

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OCTOBER 29, 2017˾THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

ARTS & REVIEW\\EXHIBITION

FROM KENYAWITH PASSION Olufunke Adepuji

Magina easels along the walkway in the OYASAF Garden seethe with his Nigerian experiences some of which he verbally shared with the guests at the evening event.

Two impressions stood out among the lot. One was the predilection for cultural attires among Nigerians.

And the other? Mouse traps! He bought several of these among several other items to take back to Kenya. He also returned to his native Kenya with fond memories of his visits to Lagos-based art galleries, such art centres and institutions as the National Museum, Freedom Park and the Universal Studios at Iganmu, among others.

HODONUHOLDSASOLO EXHIBITIONATNATIONALMUSEUM

Nathaniel Hodonu

M

Menu Weh

enu Weh, the third solo exhibition of the painter and sculptor, Nathaniel Hodonu, will open at the National Museum, Onikan, Lagos on November 11.

Featuring over 50 paintings, sculptures and assemblages, the show runs till November 24.

It's a one man show, all the way from Badagry that this Lagos- born artist showcases his talent.

Since 2006, Hodonu has been working with coconut shells, plastic bottle caps and wood to make exquisite and durable artworks. The show therefore gives art critics and patrons an opportunity to critically appraise the works and see if the artist has succeeded in his quest.

Asides the artworks, the artist is also exploring the issue of identity with the show, hence the decision to title it Menu Weh? and expose the beautiful cultural values of his Ogu people.

“It is a phrase that can be used to expatiate on one’s identity: who are you, who is that, who is there. It is a question that requires an answer in totality about someone, his culture, way of life, background, cultural values and everything that concerns the person,” he explained in a press statement.

Yinka Olatunbosun

I

K

enyan artist Geoffrey Omondi Magina’s five-week experiences in Nigeria unfurled with his 19 works displayed at an exhibition held at the OYASAF Garden in Lagos mainland neighbourhood of Maryland on Thursday, October 19.

Coming to Nigeria, courtesy the OYASAF international artist-in-residence programme, was for the dreadlocks-sporting artist, a much-desired opportunity to have a close-up interaction with fellow Africans of different orientation.

His visit coincides with the period when the OYASAF founder and chairman, Omooba Yemisi Shyllon, decided to make his art foundation’s artist-in-residence programmes more Afro-centric.

Previously, scholars and artists from the US, Austria and South Africa had been hosted by the foundation in Lagos.

Magina’s five weeks in Nigeria were, therefore, shared between Lagos and Abeokuta. While in Abeokuta, he was availed the OYASAF facility for his work. It was here that he not only produced the works on display, but also taught art to the security guard he met at the premises as well as young children he met around the area. The security man, who had no prior artistic skills, was able to produce a painting using oil and acrylic on canvas.

Shyllon had thought it would be desirable to let the visiting artist work undisturbed in the serene environment of Abeokuta. “I had no intention of seeing the works he produced before the exhibition,” he told the gathering at the event.

Magina, who holds graduated in 2013 from Strathmore University with bachelor ’s degree in commerce, is a dab hand at improvisations. Overwhelmed by the visual experiences in this hitherto unknown environment, he had had to make use of available materials to produce the works on display, a few of which he would have wished to make in 3D. Striking among the exhibits is a painting of an armless Fela, which he titled “St Fela”. His canonisation of the late Afro-beat legend was nourished by a dewy-eyed adulation dating back to his childhood years. What a coincidence therefore that this idol of his hailed from Abeokuta!

Magina’s artistic dexterity leaves much to the viewers’ conjecture. The canvases displayed on

EXHIBITION From the Dance Floor to Shop Floor

“I used ‘Menu Weh’ to answer the questions about the Ogu people in Badagry and in general their cultural values, heritage and occupation in Nigeria and Africa at large.

The cultural heritage of my people is unique and beautiful; the Sato drum, Zangbeto masquerades, Ajogan dancers, Gangbesi, Hungan drum, Agbato drummers, Pashasi, Kaka and Sekunmeh just to mention a few. Menu Weh? also attempts an answer to questions like, who are we as Nigerians? Why do we cherish imported products over home-made materials? Why do we attach more importance to other people’s cultural values than ours?” The title piece, a coconut shells assemblage, explains the identity of a Badagry person, an Ogu man, his culture and occupation while the Ibi Ori Danisi series of paintings showcase the basic occupation of the Ogu people; living on water, schools and markets on water.

Conversely, “Harmony”, a piece made from bottle caps portrays co- existence among Nigerians while others like “Flower Season” and “Showers of Blessing” does the same.

On his choice of coconut shells for more than 10 artworks in the show, Hodonu said, “It is the only tree that I know with all its parts valuable to mankind. I grew up witnessing the profound contributions of coconut palm to the betterment of many lives. It is without doubt the tree of life.”

magineamovementthatstartsasperformance,thenmetamorphosesintovisualart.SuchisthestoryofLemiGhariokwu's AfroArtbeat'sseriesofworkscurrentlyshowingattheAfrican Artists’Foundation,VictoriaIsland,Lagos.Thebodyofworks wasavisualreplayofFela'soutstandingcompositions.

Walkingthroughtheexhibitionhalllastweekend,the atmospherereekedof“Felasophy”.Allthevaluesembeddedintheworks,theirsocialpoliticalsignificanceandtheepoch beingcrystallisedcamethrough.Letusbeginwiththeworks.Each lookslikeamasterpieceandsmellslikedouble-platinum.It'slike playingFela'shitsongsalloveragain.Theworksinclude,“BigBlind Country”,“MonkeyBanana”,“JohnnyJustDrop,”,“Sorrow,Tears andBlood”,“NoAgreement”andmore.

Someoftheworksinthecollectiontakesusbacktothegoodold daysofSandra,Fela'sformerwifeandbandmemberwhowasa majorinfluencerinthemusiccareerofthislargerthanlifeartist.A sociallycommittedartist,Ghariokwu'svoyageintovisualartaspaid employmentbeganwithFela.Heenjoyedpaintingandsketching imagesoffamouspeopleasateenager.Once,ajournalistatanational newspaperdiscoveredhimatapubandintroducedhimtoFela, tellinghimhehadmetayoungchapwhocouldpaintagoodpicture ofFela.FelawasoverwhelmedbyGhariokwu’srawtalentandpaid himforhisjob,whichhadthattimewasjustapassion.

Today,Ghariokwujoinsmillionsoffansintheworldtoremember FelaAnikulapoKutiwhodied20yearsago,leavinganunbeatable legacyforotherAfricanartiststobesociallycommitted.Ghariokwu’s workswerethemirrorsthroughwhichtheworldsawthelyricsof Fela’santi-governmentmusic.ThisexhibitionisthusarebirthofFela persona;hisanger,hisvoiceddismayandrejectionofanti-people policies.

SomeoftheworksarelikeacloseupshotattheimageofFela.

When he blows the saxophone, the muscles in his arms match up to theveinsaroundthebackofhishand.Youdidn’thavetobeinAfrikanShrinetofeelthezestofthisenigmatic,multi-instrumentalist.

Throughthesoundofhissaxophone,themesofequality,unity, blackism,justice,freedomandpan-Africanismwaft,asGhariokwu relivesthemessagesFelatrieddesperatelytocommunicatetoa governmentthatrepeatedlymisunderstoodhim.

Ghariokwuisalsoabusinessman.Hehasreproducedsomeof thepaintingsinminiaturessothatthosewhocannotaffordthelarge piecescangoawaywiththesmallerpieces.Remarkably,someofthe paintingshavedualpackage,containingoriginalalbumcoversand realvinylalbums,reminiscentofturntables.Theseincludeclassics suchasBeastofNoNation,Afrodisia,amongstothers.

CBAAC Celebrates FESTAC's 40th Anniversary

T

heCentreforBlackandAfricanArtsandCivilisation (CBAAC)hasannouncedaseriesofactivitiesthatwill markthe40thanniversaryoftheSecondWorldBlack andAfricanFestivalofArtsandCulture(FESTAC) inLagos.FESTAChasremainedalandmarkcultural eventthathasshapedthehistoryofArtsandtourism inNigeria.Itsetanunbeatablerecord.Thus,CBAAC wasestablishedtopreserveallthematerialsdisplayedatFESTAC ’77andtoconsolidateonthegainsofthemomentousfestival.

Tagged,“FESTACat40”,the40thanniversaryofthisclassicevent issetastheplatformforhistoricalandculturalrenaissancereminiscentoftheactualeventthattookplacefourdecadesago.Itisalsoan opportunitytointensifycampaignforcontinuedculturalexchange, understandingandunityamongstBlackandAfricanCountriesand communities.

AtapressbriefingheldatCBAACofficeonLagosIsland,the Director-General,CBAAC,Dr.FerdinandAnikwe,revealed someofthemajorhighlightsoftheupcomingactivitieswhichwill runfromNovember6till11.Perhaps,themostinterestingisthe crowningofFormerNigerianPresident,ChiefOlusegunObasanjo as“RubyKingofFESTACandPatronofAfricanCulture.”This honourisintherecognitionofObasanjo'svaluedcontributionsto thepromotionanddevelopmentofAfricancultureandheritage aswellashisroleintheemancipation,unityanddevelopmentof continentalandDiasporaAfrica.Namedafterthepreciousstone Ruby,theRubyKingawardisarepresentationofaninextinguishableflame. Thiseventwillbedoneincollaborationwiththe residentsofFESTACTown,acommunitybuiltessentiallyforthe arrivingparticipantsfromothercountries.Dr.Anikwesaidthatthe centreiscurrentlytrainingtourguidesaheadoftheeventwhowill educatethevisitorstoNigeriaonthesignificanceoftheculturalrelics andotheraspectsofNigerianculture.

Forhim,thisFESTACat40weekwillhelptobuildintegrating culture. The lined up activities include the Unity Arts Exhibition by participatingcountries,individualsandorganizations;traditional performancessuchaspoetry,wrestling,culturaldance,Dance Drama,Folkloreandmore.Therewillalsobeaninternationalsymposium on the theme, “Black and African Arts and Culture and the 21stCenturyImperativeswhichwillbeheldatGoldenTulipHotel, builtforFESTAC’77.Ontheseconddayoftheevent,anAfrican foodfairwillbeorganisedatUnilagSportsComplexandon7thand 10th,attheMainExhibitionHall,NationalTheatreComplex.

Theceremonywillbedeclaredopenbythesamepersonwho declared open the FESTAC ’77, Dr. Ahmadu Adah Ali while the keynoteaddresswillbedeliveredbyProfessorUnionEdebirifrom theUniversityofBenin.OtherheroesofFESTAC’77areAdmiral O.P.Fingesi,AlhajiAbubakarAlhajiandjujumaestro,KingSunny Ade.TherewillbedocumentaryfilmscreeningonFESTAC’77to relivethesweetmemoriesoftherareculturalevent.

WhilereflectingonFESTAC’77,Dr.Anikweacknowledgedthe contributionofthelegendaryAfrobeatmusician,FelaAnikulapo KutitotheimageofNigerianmusicandAfricanheritage.Hesaid thatdespitetheabsenceofFelafromFESTAC’77,hispopular AfrikanShrinewasbesiegedbyvisitorsfromparticipating countries,makingitwhatthemusiccritic,BensonIdonijereferredto asa“FESTACwithinFESTAC”.

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CICERO

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

IN THE ARENA

Maina: Patting Corruption on the Back?

The controversy surrounding the botched recall of a former chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina, who was accused of embezzling pension funds and sacked by the immediate past administration, is a dent on President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-graft war, writes Olawale Olaleye

W

hen President Muhamamdu Buhari’s initially lauded antigraft war first started to totter, the convenient narrative by the government information machinery was that “corruption was fighting back”. No attempt at doing a scientific review of the process to ascertain what the problem was and thus, government could not see that the drive was evidently selective and incontrovertibly one-sided.

A few months down, with the stench of corruption oozing out of the seat of power, it is clear now that corruption is actually not fighting back as government intends to make all believe. Rather it is government that is actually patting corruption on the back and consciously making Nigeria the infamous ‘Animal Farm’, where certain animals are more equal than the others.

Without much ado, it appears that the fowl is fast coming home to roost as the case of the former chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina, has helped to illuminate the façade of Buhari’s anti-corruption fight much more than the other examples before it. From the conflicting stories filtering out of the corridors of power, it is clear that something is disturbingly amiss about the Buhari leadership in terms of capacity to fight the scourge.

Maina was dismissed in 2013 by the federal civil service commission for absconding from duty.

This followed a recommendation by the office of the head of service.

He was accused of being involved in pension fraud running into over N100 billion. Soon after an investigation by the senate joint committee on public service and establishment and state and local government administration, a warrant of arrest was issued against him and he was consequently declared wanted by the police. But

Maina...another test case for corruption war

he seized the opportunity of the moment to go into hiding. He allegedly fled to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which reportedly prompted his dismissal.

As a result, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) declared him wanted too, aside the police, while the Interpol issued a worldwide red alert on him based on a request from the EFCC. But four years after this well-articulated rollercoaster, Maina found his way back into the country and of course, the federal civil service.

First, the swirling story that three top officials in the Buhari government, namely, the Head of

the Civil Service of the Federation, Winifred Oyo-Ita; the Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau; and the Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami; were major players in the Maina scam, elicits genuine concern about “who is in charge?”

In a letter dated September 17, 2017, the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) made a strong case for Maina’s reinstatement, apparently orchestrated by the trio of Dambazau, Malami and OyoIta. Although Maina has tried to defend the corruption allegation, saying pension thieves were the ones after him, and much as this does not justify the curve he has travelled since the news of the

allegation broke, Malami, on his part, has said he did what he did in the nation’s interest.

Dambazau, who had initially confirmed Maina’s reinstatement and posting to his ministry, has yet to speak since the President ordered Maina’s immediate sack and issued a query to the head of service following the nationwide anger generated by his reinstatement. But Oyo-Ita has come forward to deny her involvement in the mess, which if correct, leaves both Malami and Dambazau only in the ‘witness box’.

Again, the fact that Maina was said to have had federal security protection all the while he was on the run leaves much to be desired.

Therefore, the shock expressed by the ruling All Progressives Party (APC) that it was embarrassed by the development is of no consequence, not even the face-saving move by the EFCC, Kaduna zonal office, which swooped on Maina’s properties and sealed six of them.

But there is no debating the fact that Buhari is fast blowing away the goodwill extended to him in good conscience by the Nigerian people in 2015. The staggering ineptitude of his government has become quite alarming coupled with his perceived bigotry, a sad reminder of a Nigeria no one wishes for. Over the past two years, the Buhari administration had left too many things unattended – brashly thriving on an impossible body language and failing to realise that silence could be complicit in certain instances.

Of course, the Maina episode is not the last to be heard of the sad tales coming from this administration. Guess what the joke of Maina’s scam is? The presidency still blamed former President Goodluck Jonathan as it has always done whenever it fell flat, even when Maina himself thinks Buhari is complicit in his excessive indulgence. And to think nothing may likely come out of the ordered investigation makes the entire episode another charade of monumental proportion.

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

Unpaid Salaries as Social Cancer

T Bello

he news of a director in the Kogi State Civil Service, Mr. Edward Soje, who committed suicide in Lokoja, the state capital, following the non-payment of his 11 months salaries by the state government is a sad reminder of how low leadership has sunk here. This unfortunate development, however, happened at a time his wife gave birth to a set of triplets, 17 years after their no-child marriage.

But in rubbing it in their faces, an apparently unashamed Kogi State government had the impetus to come out to say it didn’t owe the deceased 11 but eight months. What manner of leadership is

that? And to also think that in spite of the circumstances surrounding the death of her husband, the state government has not found a reason to attend to the helpless wife with a set of triplets.

It is though sad that the first attempt at trying change after 16 years of PDP’s dismal ruling is turning another disaster, leaving the options ahead of 2019 pretty open. This, notwithstanding, the suicide embrace is not the way to go, regardless of the frustration. It is too defeatist an option to ponder, because it changes nothing ultimately. But, before it becomes a social cancer, governments at all levels must rise up to this emerging challenge and effectively tame it.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ OCTOBER 29, 2017

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BRIEFINGNOTES Let the Buhari, Jonathan Debate Continue The recent public spat between former President Goodluck Jonathan and President Muhammadu Buhari is, beyond the underlining pettiness, a healthy development for the nation’s democracy. Therefore, the tempo should be sustained, but issue-based as the nation journeys towards 2019, writes Shola Oyeyipo

A

few years back, the word ‘nascent democracy’ described the growing state of the Nigerian political system. But having stretched the current fourth republic to about 18 years, it would not be out of place to tag the system as one that is fast maturing and one of the characteristics features is the entrenchment of robust and healthy debates at all times, even as the learning curve continues.

Followers of the nation’s political history will remember what happened in 2011, when the Jonathan/Sambo Campaign Organisation tactically beat a retreat, when it claimed that Jonathan would not attend the NN24 presidential debate, because he could not abandon the Nigerian Election Debate Group (NEDG), which had been organising several debates since 1999 in favour of another platform on the eve of a crucial national election.

Besides, the organisation also said the then president had not concluded his tour of the 36 states and as such, could not accommodate new appointments at that point in the buildup to the election.

Curiously, the same scenario played out in 2015, when the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari dodged or for want of better word, politely turned down the request for a debate.

Special Adviser to Jonathan on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, described Buhari’s avoidance of the presidential debate as an act of examination malpractice, stressing: “It is not good enough for a man, who wants to be president of our country”, insisting that Buhari “dodged” the debate, because he was insecure.

Buhari’s spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, who was then APC’s Presidential Campaign Organisation’s Director of Media and Publicity, however contended that the presidential debate was not a constitutional requirement, though he agreed that it was an established convention that deepens and enriches the democratic process.

Sources close to the president also noted at that time that the APC was uncomfortable with Mr. Mike Omeri, the supposedly nonpartisan director of the Nigerian Orientation Agency, who was seen as not capable of organising a credible debate and that its principal promoters were from NTA and AIT, two electronic media organisations that openly supported Jonathan.

But now, unlike what was the order of the day, the debate is gradually building up by itself ahead of the 2019 presidential election.

Jonathan, who had been relatively quiet, has begun to throw up issues that the president and his team are unable to ignore.

Over the past two years, the current government have had the field churning out information on the alleged corruption of the Jonathan government and putting some of the key players in that administration on trial. The narrative his however changing gradually.

The media office of the former president some few days ago named the federal government and the Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media, Femi Adesina, as liars. According to Jonathan’s men, the presidency is simply peddling falsehood by claiming that Nigerians opted not to protest the hike in fuel price by the Buhari government because they trusted the government.

This would translate as an indictment on the immediate past government, because it’s on record that the Jonathan administration met with unprecedented resistance from Nigerians when the government attempted to increase the price of fuel on January 1, 2012.

So, in responding to Adesina and the

President Buhari in a handshake with Jonathan, when he visited the President after the elections federal government, over the claims, Jonathan’s media office, in a statement signed by Reno Omokri, said fear and not trust was why Nigerians did not protest against fuel price hike by the Buhari government.

According to Omokri, “When Femi Adesina says that it is because of trust that Nigerians did not rise up against the Buhari administration, when it increased the pump price of petrol from N87 to N145, he betrays a deep ignorance and arrogance.

“First of all, it was not Nigerians that rose up against the Jonathan administration, when that government increased the price of petrol on January 1, 2012. It was actually members of the All Progressives Congress, who sponsored the protests.”

Omokri pointed fingers at the Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, whom he claimed led other chieftains of the opposition to the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park, Ojota, Lagos, where they attracted crowds by inviting top musicians to perform and by giving out free food and drinks as part of efforts designed to bring the government to disrepute.

Justifying the fear factor, Jonathan’s man noted that, “On December 15, 2015, the Nigerian Army, under President Muhammadu Buhari’s command, killed 347 unarmed Shiite men, women, children and infants and buried them in a mass grave as revealed by the panel of inquiry instituted by the Kaduna State Government.

“The excuse given by the military for this massacre was that the Shiites had blocked a road during one of their procession and this allegedly affected a trip by the Chief of Army Staff. After killing his followers and destroying their place of worship, Sheikh Ibrahim Zak Zaky, the spiritual leader of the Nigerian Shiite community, was illegally and unconstitutionally detained and has not been seen or heard of in public since December 15, 2015.

“So, when the Buhari administration increased the pump price of petrol, Nigerians

wisely reasoned that if the Buhari administration can kill 347 unarmed Shiite men, women, children and infants for blocking a road, it would be suicidal to give them an opportunity to do the same thing to them on a wider scale.”

They also claimed that human life is so cheap in the current situation and that the military and security services routinely kill innocent Nigerians be it Shiites, peaceful demonstrators or IDPs at the Rann IDP camp.

“To say Nigerians trust an administration that publicly boasted that it would not tell Nigerians how much of their own money the President spent in treating himself in London, when the State House Clinic cannot boast of ordinary Panadol (by his own wife’s testimony) is to speak a lie.

“Nigerians can judge the nature of the man, whose number one campaign promise was that ‘no Nigerian Public official should receive medical treatment overseas at public expense’. For him lies are cheap even if they are expensive for the Nigerian public who has to pay the price.

“Nor have Nigerians forgotten the promise to end corruption when the $25 billion Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation scam is ringing in their ears along with the denials by the vice president that he never approved any contracts. How can they trust a government that has still not released or acted on the SGF grass cutter contract probe after six months?

“In the five years that he governed Nigeria, President Goodluck Jonathan spent N16 trillion. The economy grew. The Naira was stable. We had the greatest expansion of infrastructure since the Gowon years and inflation was in single figures. In the two years that President Muhammadu Buhari has ruled Nigeria, he has spent N15 trillion.

We have had recession. Naira collapsed.

“Inflation has gone back to double digits and the only infrastructure that he has started and completed is the Daura helipad,”

Jonathan lambasted Buhari’s government.

With this, the president, his party and aides must brace up for a major challenge as 2019 draws closer and one of the persons that will be a thorn in the government’s flesh will be former President Jonathan and that is exactly what he has started – an issue-based debate.

In April, Jonathan had cried out that President Buhari was officially harassing his family members. His kinsmen under the aegis of the Ogbia Political Forum, (OPF) had alleged that the United States was particularly unhappy with Jonathan for his opposition to the legalisation of homosexuality in the country.

They alleged further that some interest groups were determined to keep the former president from talking, even in the face of the alleged injustice he suffered Though the United States embassy has dismissed Jonathan’s claims of bias on the part of the country in the approach to the Nigerian presidential election in 2015, when the Information, Officer Russell Brooks, in a response said: “The U.S. advocated a free, fair, and transparent election in 2015. The outcome of the election was an expression of the will of the Nigerian people,” fact is the former president still has so much bottled-up in his mind.

To assume that Jonathan has been silenced ahead of 2019, is joking with a time bomb, because recently, he said he would soon make public what happened in the 2015 general election that made the PDP lose the presidency. “People maybe writing left and right, at the appropriate time, some of these things would be properly addressed because of history,” Jonathan said.

Debates, especially in mature democracies like the US, are also high stake encounters, where candidates prepare extensively, because they believe it has huge influence on the electoral outcomes. So, Nigerians are waiting for the debate to continue, without having to assassinate anyone’s character.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ OCTOBER 29, 2017

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CICERO/REPORT

Ararume inaugurating his fan club

Ararume: Exploiting Okorocha’s Failings In a calculated move to rescue the Imo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress party from the grip of Governor Rochas Okorocha, the recent unveiling of Araraume Fan Club in the state has begun to change the narrative, writes Iyobosa Uwugiaren

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hree times he narrowly lost the opportunity of becoming the governor of Imo State. But Senator Godwin Ifeanyi Araraume, who represented the Okigwe senatorial district in the Senate between 1999 and 2007, has remained the main issue in the current political conversation in Imo State.

And as the 2019 general election steadily draws near, his attractively designed, greened, standout large house in Isiebu, Umuduru in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of the state, has become a centre for different political consultations and discourse in the past weeks, in what some political strategists described as “desperate political script” being cooked to rescue the Imo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the disturbing political activities of Governor Roachas Okoroacha.

To be sure, those following the unfolding political activities in the state have said the recent launch of Araraume Fan Club, which has swelled political engagements in the state, is part of the script.

A chieftain of the party, Hon. Tony Eze, said the launch of the Club in two local government councils: Ikeduru and Isaiala Mbano and attended by thousands of APC supporters, attested to how Araraume is becoming the rallying point to reposition the smashed image of the party in the state.

“Araraume Fan Club was initiated and formed to sensitize men and women, including the youths to support APC in the state and our governorship hopeful come 2019”, said Eze while welcoming people to the inauguration ceremony. THISDAY had reported that the national secretariat of APC was troubled about the unfolding developments in Imo State, the only APC state in the South-east zone.

Okoroacha-led APC government has been in the news for all the bad reasons in the past few months. The anger that has greeted government’s failure to pay workers’ salaries/ pension for over a year; the forceful demolition of the popular Eke Ukwu Market and the violent eviction of traders that led to the death of innocent people; the ban of tricycle riders; the demolition of many “illegal” buildings; the recent erection of the statue of controversial President Jacob Zuma of South Africa in Owerri, the Imo State capital, and other unpopular political activities in the state.

All these, coupled with the seemingly lack of good governance in the state, analysts said, are hindering a strategic plan by the APC to use Imo as its poster state in the South-east in the 2019 general election. The popular belief among the party leaders in the state is that until recently, when Araraume rejuvenated the APC structures at the ward, local and state levels, the party was almost dead in the state. There was a huge

lull in the party with virtually all the party executives in the state side-lined from the activities of government.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who was the governor’s guest recently made allusion to the apparent impishness of Governor Okorocha, when he told him that apart from his immediate family, virtually everybody in the state, including members of his cabinet were not happy with him. But, to many APC followers, Ararume is working very hard to save APC in the state.

Some monitors of Imo State’s politics said the assumption explained the huge and excited crowd that attended the unveiling of Ararume Fan Club in the two local government areas recently. Although the event was put together by Ararume’s political fans, it attracted many traditional rulers, different religious faith groups, market men/women, students, civil servants and APC leaders. They were there in large numbers.

“The unveiling of Araraume Fan Club was another landmark history recorded in the course of building and promoting a stronger and formidable APC, which Senator Ifeanyi Araraume has not relented in committing his time, strength and resources in the past two years.

“It was another day of passionate situation as the association of Imo State Tricycle Riders that was recently banned from operation in the state capital territory by the state government amidst tears and regret, pledged their support for APC through their identification and subsequent registration with Araraume Fan Club,” a social media activist, Mr. Awurum Darlington, told THISDAY He added that Senator Araraume’s winning strategy is predicated on his humanity, kindness and accommodating spirit. He claimed like a big tree, Araraume provides enough shades for all Imolites: children, men, woman, the aged, the physically challenged, the rich and the poor.

Pledging their support for Araraume, the traditional rulers and the Association of Tricycle Operators Imo State, promised to spread the good news of APC and Araraume to the people.

“As you can see, many good people of Imo State, different groups from different sectors of Imo spectrum and of various shades of opinion are emptying their structures and pledging their loyalty to Araraume, an interesting politician,’’ Chinedu Ifeanyi, a graduate and tricycle rider told THISDAY in Owerri.

The Disable Association of Nigeria, Ikeduru Chapter, that received hundreds of wheelchairs from Araraume at the occasion, vowed to identify with the Imo and APC aspiration for 2019 general election. Araraume promised the physically challenged to import and deliver more new sets of wheelchairs and crutches to change their already worn out ones.

Araraume, who currently represents the South-east in the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) as national

commissioner, also promised to arrest the unemployment rocking them by allotting jobs up to the tone of 15% in his newly constructed factories in Owerri.

Thus, as Okorocha’s fumbling continued to trouble APC’s scheming in South-east, not many APC supporters disagreed that if people still talk about APC today, it is because Ararume took a bold step last December to revive the party. Before then, the party members were said to have withdrawn to their fate – feeling used and abandoned by the APC government in the state.

To be sure, a key and active player in the ruling party’s affairs in the state and immediate past Commissioner of Information and Culture, Dr. Vitalise Ajumbe, told THISDAY recently that save for the crisis that enveloped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of late, many of the APC members wanted to join the opposition party.

“As I speak with you, if you know those who are in APC, sample their opinion and you will find out that those supporting Araraume from the party hierarchy, are about 70 per cent”, Ajumbe added.

Like many people in the state, the immediate past DirectorGeneral, Consumer Protection Council, Imo State and chieftain of APC, Chief Kingsley Ufere, is also not happy with Okorocha’s management of the state and the party.

“Many people believe that Rochas has not done well in the past two years; and that his inability to perform might work against APC in the next election, unless a credible person is put forward as the candidate of the party. I agree with them,” the APC chieftain from Ideato North Local Government Area stated, adding that “I am former Director-General, Consumer Protection Council, Imo State. I am talking as an insider. And I left the government, because I felt he was not doing well.’’

The President-General of Olu-Okigwe, a socio-cultural group in Imo state, High Chief Chiedozie Anyanwu, also accused the governor of running the state like his “private business”. “The governor’s so-called projects are self-serving; they are not people-oriented projects. He has abandoned everybody, including the party members, who helped to bring him to power. He is running the state with his entire family. His brother-in-law is the chief-of-staff; his sister is the deputy-chiefof staff, the deputy governor used to be his general manager in his private business.”

Chief Anyanwu accused the governor of destroying APC in the state with his “anti-people” programmes and policies. And like some state leaders of APC in Imo State, Chief Anyanwu praised Senator Araraume for “rescuing” the party in the state.

“But for Senator Araraume, whom many members now see as their guardian angel, APC was almost dead in our state because of Rochas anti-people’s programmes,” he stated.

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CICERO/INTERVIEW

Shonibare...Nigeria’s disintegration imminent except we restructure

Shonibare: My Father Didn’t Betray Awo, His Properties Distinct from those of AG Chief Olasupo Shonibare is the National Treasurer of Afenifere, a pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation and scion of Chief Samuel Olatubosun Shonibare, National Treasurer of the defunct Action Group. In this interview with Gboyega Akinsanmi at his Ikeja, Lagos, residence recently, Shonibare provided verifiable evidence to disprove widely circulated claims that his father betrayed the Action Group and the first Premier of the Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. In addition to this, he warned that unless the country returns to the ideals of the First Republic and the vision of its founding fathers through restructuring and devolution of powers, Nigeria might fail eventually. Excerpts:

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fter 57 years of statehood, Nigeria is still embroiled in deepening crises that now challenge her corporate existence. What in reality explains the problems with this 57-year union?

For 57 years, I think we have been trying to evolve a nation. We have a collection of ethnic groups and settlements. Some have evolved and claimed they are no longer ethnic group. Really, there is no common Nigerian agenda or Nigerian identity. Ultimately, Nigerian identity will be when each component finds something of itself within Nigeria. This is the character of a union without any group dominating others.

Hopefully, I think we will get there eventually. But the trouble is that nations that have not done the needful in the process of building a nation-state have ended up in disintegration. I hope all parts of Nigeria, various ethnic groups and political interests will see the need to invent a different structure for the country.

We have been doing something for several years now.

As a matter of fact, those of us that seek return to parliamentary system forget we only practised it for three years as a republic. Prior to independence, the practice of parliamentary system was done as a self-governing entity. But as a republic, we only practiced it between 1963 and January 1966, when the first

coup took place. It should be obvious to all of us that it was a working system. It is not appropriate for us as a country.

In the light of the sustained calls for restructuring, do you think the North will wholeheartedly support the idea?

First of all, there are two categories of people in the North.

The same categories of people are in the South as well. Those who I will describe as cultured northerners have realised that it is essential to change the parts that are not working. It is not working politically. It is not economically. If you look at all indices, we need to change the present system that we are operating. I believe the majority of the people in the North will come to that conclusion.

I am indeed encouraged by some northerners, who may not be speaking on the pages of newspapers. True, some northern youths are speaking against restructuring. Who are they? You cannot even trace them to any support base. It is really the minority that does not mean well for Nigeria. They are fanning the embers of separation, because if we do not restructure and other people are contented with the system, the alternative is that the entire system disintegrates.

I do not see any option for all of us. The question is: how do we now restructure in a manner that we will appreciate the fact that we have been coming together as one people? How do we

restructure in a manner that we will look at the anxieties in other parts of the country and see how it is equitable to meet those anxieties? Those anxieties cannot be something you compel others to appreciate. It has to be something we must decide the most equitable way to precede.

A lot of people have called for restructuring, but have yet to come up with how it can be done equitably and fairly.

How then do we restructure equitably and fairly?

I think the South-west has done so. The Yoruba Agenda, as contained in the Ibadan Declaration, is recommending a unicameral National Assembly. No one has explained to us why we need bicameral National Assembly. So, we say what is important is that we have unicameral National Assembly, a parliamentary system of government where the president sits in the Parliament and where the entire executives are elected members representing their constituencies and exercising executive functions as a government in power. The opposition too will be in the Parliament.

Under the First Republic, that was how it was. That system is highly recommended for Nigeria. We also think there should be six regions. It is a reality that states are a critical level for development. So, we think states should exist. There is even the clamour for more states. There is no template that determines

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CICERO/INTERVIEW t SHONIBARE: MY FATHER DIDN’T BETRAY AWO, HIS PROPERTIES DISTINCT FROM THOSE OF AGt the 36 states we have. The Ibadan Declaration suggests that we have six regions. We have six geo-political zones already. We are operating and using six zones in what we do in the country already.

The geo-political zones should transform into regions. Each region will have constitution. But within each region, it is the states that will decide common economic and social services that Regional Assembly will exercise on their behalf. Within each region, the Regional Assembly should have power to create more states so that we remove the issues of states being contentious. At the same time, we adopt states as a critical level of development and allow other regions that want states to create for their people.

In this structure, how many levels of government are we going to have?

Well, it is the same. At the moment, we have two levels at the national level. What we suggesting is that instead of two levels at the national level, we should just have one. The second chamber should be devolved to the regional level that exercises the power of making laws and delivering services for the states within each region. It is in the interest of the states within the region to have neighbouring states develop as much as their own states.

For instance, it is in the interest of Lagos State to be interested in what happens in Ekiti State. It is in the interest of Osun State to be interested in what happens in Lagos State. If we have underdevelopment in a part of the region that has similar ethnic settlement, we will keep having migration from the weaker states to the prosperous states. For this reason alone, states should be interested in what happens in their neighbouring states. That is why regional structure is critical.

In the real sense, it is not really additional level. We still have four. It is just that instead of having two at the centre, we have one at the centre. And the other one becomes a structure that coordinates the economic and social services of the states within the region. And then, that will really have a composition of all states comprising the region. In this instance, we will not have somebody from Lagos determining what happens in Sokoto or somebody from Imo determining what happens in Osun State.

It is only those who are part of that region, who will constitute various corporations and parastatals that are set up to exercise those economic and social functions. It will be the same four structures. Instead of having two at the centre, it becomes a level coordinating economic and social services at the regional level.

With the Ibadan Declaration, are the Southern leaders engaging the federal government on the possibility of restructuring Nigerian governance structure?

Let me first state this. The Yoruba agenda is a document adopted to become the Ibadan Declaration. Basically, they are the same document. The South-east has seen it. It has equally adopted it. The South-south is looking at it. We will soon hear from them. It protects states and links states with the power they presently have. They are entitled to have other functions they may wish to have. The states will determine what the regional structure, functions and powers should be in coordinating common services. Even the judicial system will be structured in a way that certain cases terminate at the regional level. Certain cases will still terminate at the state level.

But inter-state issues should be something that terminates at the regional level. It should just be agreed that litigations on the exclusive legislative list that remains with the federal entity are adjudicated upon by Federal Court of Appeal or Supreme Court. Constitutional matters go to the Supreme Court so that we can decongest the volume of cases. With this, we will fast-tract the delivery of justice. These are recommendations that the people, even the North, will accept as a good way to proceed and restructure our country.

Aside the South-east and the South-south, which other groups the Ibadan Declaration has been presented?

We have presented it to the Middle Belt groups. There was a

Shonibare meeting in Abuja between the Southern leaders and the Middle Belt leaders. The Middle Belt extends beyond the present Northcentral states. We had a very good representation of the Middle Belt leaders in Abuja penultimate week. There is a committee too, which intends to engage the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and other groups from the North. We are working to building groundswell consensus on the way forward.

It is obvious that we can no longer depend on crude oil. The suggestion to restructure is what will make the North to survive.

It is what will make the South survive as well. We need to diversify our capacity to produce. What is being suggested will encourage production in all parts of Nigeria. It will allow the states to keep most of the revenues they generate within their territories. That was how we started the Nigerian entity. I think that is the best to proceed.

Are you sure restructuring can take place as soon as possible?

Definitely, it will. Look! The bottom line is that there is no multi-ethnic country in the world that has not already devolved powers as a nation, where you see some reflections of each ethnic group within that has survived the unitary system. They have all collapsed. So, what we are suggesting is a truly federal system. It is only truly federal systems that will enable this country survive.

Look at the United Kingdom. Even some parts of the United Kingdom that are homogenous like Liverpool or Manchester, the central government is devolving power to them. Already, they are having local government in those areas. They have been devolving more powers to another structure to ensure that the delivery of social and economic services can be determined by the people in the area. That is what we are asking for.

With the increased agitation for restructuring, what is the implication for the 2019 general election?

It should not affect the 2019 elections, because we are operating a constitution that has tenure for the elected officers. Those who are now there have a tenure that will lapse in 2019. What

we are suggesting is that we adopt a new structure that will be used for the 2019 elections.

Are you convoking another constitutional conference?

The most ideal thing is that we have a sovereign national conference. That is the most ideal thing. But in some other jurisdictions, parliaments that have been alive to the need to be truly representative of the country they have elected to serve have risen to meet this kind of challenge. I am in doubt the present parliament we have can rise up to meet the challenge of adopting the necessary structures that sustain Nigeria. Even the mere tinkering with the existing structure and devolving more powers to local governments that are not as fundamental as what we are demanding, they have not been able to do. I am not so sure that the National Assembly, as presently constituted, will be able to do the needful.

But the President said the National Assembly remained the appropriate institution to restructure Nigeria. Do you share his view?

To be fair to the President, we are operating constitutional democracy. In constitutional democracy, those exercising legislative functions have to initiate the process. But what the President did not mention is that he is a leader of the country. As a leader, it is incumbent upon the President to propose the structure to the National Assembly. He can propose it by the way of initiating a bill. If he does not like the recommendations of the 2014 constitutional conference, he can come up with his own and present it as a bill to the National Assembly.

And the National Assembly can do the needful and pass it to the State Assemblies. It is possible to achieve restructuring with those who are exercising legislative functions now. But I doubt if they will be able to rise up to the demands of the occasions.

I will be surprised if they are able to because they will save us from the challenges we may have if we do not restructure.

People are fearful that it is difficult for those who are enjoying the benefits of a system to bring about fundamental changes in that system.

NOTES FOR FILE

LGs and the Autonomy Debate

Gov. Abdul-Aziz Yari

This debate is as old as the return to civil rule itself. Although local governments started pretty well with their seeming independence rarely tampered with as far back as 1999, before state governments started to fondle with their autonomy gradually. Today, the councils are no less a shadow of themselves as far as their status as the third tier of government is concerned.

Today, the debate is as relevant as it is alive to the demands of time. The councils want their autonomy.

The governors think they are just mere appendages of the state. The state assemblies share the sentiment of the councils but are not imbued with such bravery to undo what their “paymasters” desire or had designed. There lies the complication!

However, it may be too late to start narrowing down the debate to regional benefits or who stands to gain what at the level it is now. Some people hold the view that if the debate is about revenue sharing, then the northern states stand to gain more

from the agitation for council autonomy. How that is in sync with the reality and the demand for autonomy is yet to be seen.

This is because already the allocations that come to the councils are still based on the number of local governments controlled by the states respectively – 774 of them recognised by the constitution (not inclusive of the development areas) and money are being monthly shared on the basis of that number. What has changed therefore is how the monies are being managed, albeit by the state governments.

Rather than go directly to the councils, the monies go into the state/LG joint account, from where the state governments decide what they give the LGs from their own money as they deem fit and under different guises. This is how the autonomy has been stripped of the councils for many years and allowed for impunity to creep in. The debate is therefore good and should be addressed as it is.

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CICERO/ANAMBRA 2017

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun handover the party’s flag to its candidate in the Anambra governorship election, Tony Nwoye, while other party leaders look on

In Anambra, the Candidates Rev Up Election Campaigns The leading candidates of the major political parties in the November 18 Anambra governorship election, have heightened their campaigns in their quest to win the peoples votes, reports David-Chyddy Eleke.

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o far, four out of the five leading candidates of the major political parties in the November governorship election in Anambra State have commenced their campaigns and in full steam, except for Chief Godwin Ezeemo of PPA, who is yet kick into the arena. But with the current state of campaigns, there appears to be no let up by any of the candidates in the bid to outdo one another for the coveted seat. As the people get ready to make a choice from the lot, below are some of the developments that dotted their campaigns in the last few days…

Willie Obiano Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano has moved into the hinterlands to lobby the people for votes since he kicked off his campaigns in Awka. As at the last count, Obiano has visited the 21 local government areas of the state to set up his campaign committees. The essence, THISDAY learnt, was for the committee to lead the campaigns in their local governments as his campaign train prepares to visit the 179 communities in the state.

In Onisha North Local Government Area, where he inaugurated his campaign committee at Ezechima Primary School on Wednesday, Obiano seized the opportunity to break his silence over a controversial allegation of a

request of the sum of N7.5billion by his predecessor, Mr. Peter Obi, from him for sponsoring his election in 2013.

Obiano and his predecessor, Obi, began to have a frosty relationship shortly after his swearing-in. While most people said the reason for their feud was the refusal of the governor to pay back funds used by the former governor to finance his election, Obi has since denied that he demanded the sum of N7.5billion from Obiano, saying his problem with him was his (Obiano’s) underperformance. Obi said if he needed the said sum, he would have simply taken it from the N75billion he left for the Obiano administration at the end of his tenure.

But Obiano, while speaking at Ezechima Primary School, said alleged that his predecessor actually demanded the sum of N7.5billion from him as funds spent in prosecuting the election on his behalf. He however said he refused to pay the money because he strongly believed that public funds should be used for public good and not to settle godfathers. These he said was the reason they fell apart.

The governor said another reason he refused to pay the money was because he was aware that enough money was raised for his campaign by his friends and associates, all of which were never accounted for by Obi. On the actual sum Obi claimed to have left behind, Obiano said he inherited liability of about N127 billion from him in

contracts awarded and other responsibilities, which he had been religiously undertaking in the spirit of continuity.

At Nnewi South while inaugurating the campaign committee of the local government, Obiano again flew the power rotation kite, assuring the people that his reelection is the only guarantee for power shift to Anambra South.

On both occasions, the Chairman of the Governor’s Re-election Campaign Committee, Chief Victor Umeh, and former Central Bank Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, canvassed for votes for Obiano.

Tony Nwoye The APC candidate may have started his campaigns late as a result of political differences that bogged down his party, following his victory at the party primary election, but penultimate Friday at the All Saints Cathedral field, Nwoye finally kicked off his campaigns in what has been described as the mother of all rallies. The master of ceremony, Hon Tony Oneweek Muonagor, said statistics collated from the rally ground showed that over 46,000 people were at the rally.

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo led the campaign kick-off with a huge number of top notch politicians from the party, including 12 governors, 10 senators, 17 ministers and five deputy governors.

The national chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, former governor of old Anambra State, Chief

Jim Nwobodo, Mrs Uche Ekwunife and 10 out of the 11 aspirants defeated by Nwoye at the primaries also attended the rally to drum support for him.

Osinbajo told the crowd that, “Buhari loves Anambra State. This is one state that is dear to him. When he ran for president the first time, he chose one of your sons, Chuba Okadigbo as his running mate; when he ran the second time, he chose your son too; Edwin Umezuoke as his running mate. It is because of this love that the president himself went to negotiate for the second Niger Bridge, and that is why that bridge is in the budget today. Anambra was among the first state to benefit from our home grown school feeding programme. We will not make any promise that we will not fulfill. If you make the right choice, you get the right result. That is why we are giving you Tony Nwoye.”

From Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State to Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna, national chairman of APC, Oyegun, and several other personalities, who spoke, they all expressed the need for Anambra to be connected to the national political grid for leadership to come to the Igbos.

Okorocha begged Anambra people to give him, Nwoye as an extra voice from Igboland to go to Abuja to speak for Ndigbo, while El-Rufai assured the people that all the governors of the APC would be back in Anambra with President Muhammadu Buhari on the 14th of November to campaign for Nwoye.

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CICERO/ANAMBRA 2017 t */ "/".#3" 5)& $"/%*%"5&4 3&7 61 $".1"*(/4 t Continued from Page 72 THISDAY gathered from sources that as its strategy for the election, APC plans to put one governor each in charge of the 21 local government areas to ensure delivery for the party.

A visibly elated Nwoye, in his speech, called on the people of the state to take him by his words as they remain his bond. He said he would work hard to return Anambra to the path of greatness again if elected next month. He said education and job creation would constitute the major trust of his government as he would work to boost the standard of education by slashing fees, payment of bursary and ending youth joblessness.

Godwin Ezeemo Barely three weeks to the election, Chief Godwin Ezeemo, is the only major candidate that is yet to commence his campaigns officially. This however does not take away the fact that he has also been moving round the remote areas of the state to campaign for votes from people at the grassroots. Ezeemo cuts the shape of one candidate that may spring surprises in the election. This is because being one who has advocated against moneybag politics, he has however in a polity where every endorsement means money been amassing endorsement from traditional rulers, community leaders and various groups.

In Achalla, the local government headquarters of Awka North Local Government Area, where Ezeemo visited with his team on a familiarization tour, the people of the largely agrarian community trooped out to welcome him, while singing his praise and promising to vote for him as a result of his antecedents.

Ezeemo described the backwardness of the area as utter negligence by the government and lamented how his convoy struggled through the near impassable terrain in Awka North and had to pass through several other local governments to connect one community to another. Ezeemo said it was “an act of wickedness by the past and present governments to deny the people of the area good roads, the most basic infrastructure, even when the resources to provide them are available.” He therefore promised that the first six months of his government would be dedicated to ensuring that the link road that joins all the communities of Awka North were built to standard.

Addressing the youths, Achalla traditional ruler, Igwe Alex Nwokedi, and PPA faithful in the area, Ezeemo asked: “How can an ex-governor tell us that that he left 40 billion naira in cash while leaving office when we have such pressing needs like linking up sister communities in Awka North with good roads, which will facilitate socio-economic development in the area and ultimately in the state? How can the present government be proud to spend billions of naira on high quality billboards, endorsements and posters for a second term when the same money was enough to build the long neglected link roads in Awka North, a more effective way of winning the heart of the people to vote him in for a second term.”

Ezeemo has also been penetrating remote areas of the state, but his major concern lately is the dismantling of his billboards by people suspected to be agents of the state government. The Director-General of Ezeemo Campaign Organisation, Dr. Chira Obiora, in a recent chat with THISDAY lamented that the PPA candidate billboards were being destroyed by persons suspected to be supporters of Obiano.

Oseloka Obaze Since the official take-off of the PDP candidate ‘s campaign penultimate week, he is not known to have engaged in any open campaigns, but that does not take away the fact that he has been moving round, seeking the support of notable Anambra people.

Obaze’s presence in the race and the support of the former governor of the state, Obi in the election are two things other opposing politicians cannot wish away. If there is anything people fear about the candidature of Obaze mostly, it is the presence of Obi. He has stood himself out as one politician, who knows the state like the back of his hand and can never engage in a fight he would lose.

Though not much of activities have characterized the Obaze campaigns, his team including his running mate, Mrs. Chidi Onyemelukwe, the director general of his campaign, Joe-Martin Uzodike, Obi and even the leader of the party, Dr Alex Ekwueme, have been visiting radio and television stations to sensitize the people of the need to vote out the present government.

For Obaze and his team, the fight may have shifted to the social media, where his supporters exchange jabs with those of Obiano and Tony Nwoye on a daily basis. Obaze have also engaged Obiano over the pulling down of his billboards in different places in the state. Obaze, who uploaded receipts of payment he made for the billboards on the social media expressed surprise as to why his billboards were being pulled down.

Obiano (3rd left) at a campaign supported by his campaign manager, Chief Victor Umeh (r); Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu and other leaders of APGA Obaze’s wife, Ofunne, an American-trained Assistant Clinical Professor of Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine, and wife of Obi, Margaret, joined the campaign train canvassing for women votes for the PDP candidate. In Omor in Anyamelum Local Government Area, and Umueri in Anambra East Local Government Area Obaze’s wife reiterated her husband’s promise to devote 26 percent of the budget to education with 10 percent going to mission and private schools, including free, compulsory and quality education from kindergarten to JS3. She also promised that her husband would reintroduce the N5,000 monthly welfare stipend for people above 75 years, which was stopped by the Obiano administration.

It was also an opportunity for Obi’s wife to explain why her husband was against the reelection of Obiano as she reminded the women that while she and her husband campaigned for the incumbent in 2013, they promised to lead the campaign to oust him from power if he failed to perform and that was exactly what they were doing now.

Obase

Osita Chidoka Like Obaze, Chidoka too is not known to have engaged in much of activities since the campaign kickoff at Amorka, Uli. Perhaps, Chidoka’s highest selling point is his sympathy for the secessionist bid of the Igbos. During the celebration of the 50th remembrance of the horrific massacre of the innocent people in Asaba during the civil war, Chidoka through Viola Ifeyinwa Okolie, his media director, issued a release calling on the military high command to release the report of its investigation on alleged abuses and violation of the rights of citizens by security officials involved in the widely criticised Operation Python Dance in the South-east.

He recalled that the military had acknowledged that it was investigating reports of alleged rights violations including a video showing the dehumanisation of civilians by some soldiers along Port-Harcourt-Enugu Expressway. This had earned him support from the people and possible endorsement. Recently, at the Obiora (New Yam Festival) ceremony in his hometown, Obosi, an event graced by a large crowd of his kinsmen, supporters, volunteers and party members from other parts of the state, Chidoka was openly endorsed for his courage and what supporters called unequalled passion for the Igbo race.

Addressing the ceremony, the UPP candidate also unveiled his plans to bring governance nearer to the people and ease their cost of accessing government services, by creating Government Contact Centers in all the 171 communities across the state. He stated that the contact centers would guarantee an immediate 1,710 graduate jobs by engaging at least 10 graduates from each of the communities, Chidoka announced another immediate jobs opening through a special Simultaneous Rapid Development Scheme (SRDS) for accelerated development of all communities across the state. The scheme will ensure that no community is left behind, while providing employment opportunities across the state.

Ezeemo

Chidoka

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ OCTOBER 29, 2017

CICERO/REPORT

Fashola...determined to change the narrative!

A Curious Fixation on Fashola Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, recently came under attacks from some Senators and former President Goodluck Jonathan, in a manner that smacks of politics, writes Olawale Olaleye

I

t was Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, OFR, who recently delved into the power debate, putting in black and white, his observation about some noteworthy improvements in that very critical sector of the economy.

It is, however, important to note that he took on this patriotic assignment, not as a stakeholder or one with vested interest but as an ordinary Nigerian, who has learnt to appreciate progress however insignificant, where one is incontrovertibly established.

“I am drawn to believe that many Nigerians have seen some improvement in electricity supply in the last few months,” he stated, adding: “I just hope that this assumption is indeed true. In Lagos, where I live, I have noticed an unusual availability of electric power, so much so that for some weeks, we have not been using much of the generator. Yes, often the supply is disrupted, but before you can start the generator, the power is restored.

“Every once in a while there is a collapse of the system but it quickly comes back to life. In my family home in far-away Arochukwu, in Abia State, I have also been surprised by some improvement in electricity supply in recent time. In fact, the change has been most dramatic in Arochukwu. For years, I had never arrived home to find the lights on. We would have to start the generator to have light to get into the house and most times, we could spend a whole week without electricity from the mains.

“Therefore, we need to congratulate all those working hard to provide this noticeable improvement. From the Minister of Power, Works & Housing to NERC to Bulk Trader, GENCOS, TRANSCO and the DISCOS. They have always been on the receiving end of endless criticism by Nigerians and therefore, we must acknowledge this visible improvement in output.”

When an honest and fact-based intervention of this nature derives from an independent mind, it is justifiable to then question the rationale of some senators, who recently demanded the removal of the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, a man who has put his all into resetting the power sector from the crass mismanagement that typified the arrangement of the past

to a stabilising and functional entity as evidenced by the testimonies of the honest few.

For the record, the senate resolution followed a motion sponsored by Senator Mustapha Bukar, APC senator from Katsina State, who requested President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint a separate minister for the ministry of power and allow Fashola continue piloting the affairs of the Works and Housing ministry alone.

His motion was sequel to an additional prayer by the Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, Francis Alimikhena, APC Edo, and seconded by the Deputy Minority whip, Biodun Olujimi, PDP, Ekiti. According to them, the ministry under the supervision of Fashola was usurping the duties of power related agencies, thus hindering the quest of the federal government to improve power generation and supply in the country.

Unfortunately, they have not said anything particularly instructive or noteworthy, because generation can no longer be the problem, when there are over 2000 megawatts unused, because of the capacity of the concerned companies to evacuate power so generated.

Today, power generation is hovering between 6,900 and 7000 from the 3000 that was available on assumption of office of the minister. Indeed, as at May 29, 2015, what was on the grid was 2500, which now is 4800 megawatts! In the area of transmission, it is currently swinging between 6,700 and 6,900 from the 5,000 that was obtainable before Fashola came on board.

Explained away, what this means is that the difference between the 4800 that is currently on the grid and the 6900 that is being generated as at today is what is locked up somewhere unused as a result of the lack of capacity to evacuate them, which clearly is no fault of the federal government or the minister as it is being made to appear by people who, probably have personal axe to grind with the minister.

Again, what this means in essence is that the buck lies with the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), which is the one certified to address the issues of regulation, the tariffs inclusive. But should anyone request for the

redundant 2100 megawatts as you read this, it is ready to fire up the grid several notches up.

Distribution which is considered the contention here is being addressed and this is manifest by the level of works going on in Ife and Magboro.

The one being handled now by General Electric in Afam is a private investment and therefore not a business of the government.

So, if the concern of these “emergency patriots” has been that the minister was doing deals, such doubts would have been long cleared if they had followed his memos quite closely at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, where all he had presented so far to the FEC were concerns of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

And lest anyone forgets, the TCN has always been dismissed as the weakest link, but that link has been identified as the strongest in the chain now, courtesy of Fashola’s conscious and scientific approach to the issues.

To put it pointedly, what he has been attending to since assuming office are the contracts he met on the ground, in addition to the Mambila project, being a major one. What therefore is the problem of the senators who are so fixated on the minister that their blurred vision cannot see the palpable efforts and the commensurate improvements, except that they want him shown the way out of the ministry?

Whatever they thought he was doing with the monthly meeting outside of supervision betrays their deep-seated illogic in objectively analysing their so-called concern.

However, while the senators’ excesses could be brushed aside, perhaps, on the grounds of their deliberate ignorance, the skewed intervention of former President Joanthan is an unfortunate slant to the debate in general. Jonathan recently alluded to the fact that Fashola, as governor of Lagos State, once said he could make power available in six months if in charge.

Certainly, a deficient interpretation of the statement by Fashola, which was deliberately misconstrued and pushed into the public space for the undiscerning to feast on, and since he assumed office, the translation has sold widely than the true intent of the statement, which was made in Lekki,

long before the elections of 2015.

Fashola had gone to Lekki to commission an Independent Power Plant, which boasted about 10 megawatts to run the street lights and water works, when the people of the community asked when power supply would reach their homes and in responding, he said it was doable within six months if licensed by NERC and if Eko DISCO accepted to go into an agreement with the government with clear understanding of when and how to recoup the state’s investment.

And in citing the plant being commissioned as an example of the fact that there was nothing esoteric about providing power once the knowledge and the understanding of the workings are right, he said he would make it possible to those identified homes and areas in Lagos in three to six months, earlier citing nine months. But this was to be interpreted to mean ‘any serious government would ensure stable power in six months’, as if he meant the whole country. How mischievous!

People could choose to twist the fact of his statement, the very reason he has asked for the video to support the unfounded claims by those, who have refused to see the good in his efforts, even if they are supplied electricity 24/7, they would rather peddle falsehood.

Despite the deliberate attempt in some quarters to downplay is performance, available facts show Fashola is doing a lot more than those before him in ensuring stable power in all parts of the country. What he therefore needs is support and encouragement and not the kind of vilification from those feeding fat on the nation’s common patrimony. The minister is not one to toy with his job or laze about when there is work to be done.

This is in addition to always making sure that he braces up for every assignment in terms of knowledge acquisition and working tirelessly as if it was his last.

The fixation on him is not a bad idea in itself if meant to make him deliver result. But choosing to be mischievous and not support a hard working public servant is unfortunate. The excuses so far advanced by the senators are lame and undeserving of any debate in the first place.

75

OCTOBER 29, 2017 ËžTHISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

PERSPECTIVE Godwin Emefiele: Is It Harvest Time Yet? Bisi Daniels of tooth picks in August 2016 with 43 staff per shift to produce 60 million sticks of tooth picks per month.

It aims at producing about 4 billion per month by December 2018. This companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s toothpick is about 25 per cent cheaper than that of the main competitor.

Generally, the CBNâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s forex policy has stabilized the exchange rate, even though the desired expectation has been to have one rate; increased forex liquidity; provided easy access to forex for capital and raw materials importation; availability of forex to MSMEs; ease of payment of tuition fees, medicals, BTA/PTA, etc; and boosting the capital market.

The effects of the policy shows in the growth of many companies like Caverton, Dangote Cement, Chi Ltd, Nestle Nigeria and Larfarge Africa. Chi Ltd, which has between June 2015 and now created over 2,500 direct employments across Nigeria, more than twice the employment created in the 10 years before the policy.

F

or the seventh consecutive time, the Central Bank of Nigeria in September retained benchmark interest rate at 14 per cent, alongside other monetary policy rates, and was greeted with mixed reactions, some of them very harsh. A popular economist, who usually reviewed the decisions on television, called the rates retention a â&#x20AC;&#x153;do-nothingâ&#x20AC;? decision.

At a time the economy needs urgent reflation for growth and to ease the excruciating financial pain of millions of people around the country, â&#x20AC;&#x153;do-nothingâ&#x20AC;? was taken by some people to mean cluelessness.

Opposition to Emefiele had, indeed, heightened in September last year to earn him the label of â&#x20AC;&#x153;stubborn governorâ&#x20AC;?, when he ignored the advice of finance minister Kemi Adeosun to reduce monetary policy rates. A day before the MPC meeting, Adeosun, apparently, voicing the concern of manufacturers, urged the CBN to consider cutting the 14 per cent benchmark interest rate to support governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stimulus plan to borrow cheap funds locally, and to bail out the economy.

For a man who was seen by some critics as a wimp, Emefiele was expected by them to take the advice hook, line and sinker.

They must have been disappointed. In a unanimous decision, MPC left the prevailing rates unchanged, signalling a lack of consensus in the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economic team on the best way to guide the economy out of recession.

The CBN governor said the MPCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decision to ignore Adeosunâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s proposal in favour of retaining the rates was informed by the bankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s resolve to continue to tighten liquidity in the monetary policy to limit the balance of risks weighing against one of its key functions of stabilising price. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Both monetary and fiscal authorities have the same intention to achieve growth. But the direction through which each wants to achieve it may differ, for as long as you still achieve the growth,â&#x20AC;?

Emefiele had said.

But some people were not convinced. They saw it as an anticipatory defence mechanism for cluelessness. â&#x20AC;&#x153;That is the stubbornness of a clueless man,â&#x20AC;? an economic commentator had said then. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The man is just stubborn. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t also forget the 41 items he has continued to restrict forex access to.â&#x20AC;?

In fact, some people had expected Emefiele to be fired after that time, forgetting that just as in good times; you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fire a central bank boss in times of general economic crisis if they didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t cause it. Doing that sends out signals of hopelessness, causing loss of confidence, especially, among investors.

Clueless or stubborn, Emefiele stayed on.

Managing interest rates and inflation requires delicate balancing because of their inverse, see-saw, relationship. In the United Sates, by moving interest rate targets up or down, the Federal Reserve attempts to achieve target employment rates, stable prices, and stable economic growth. It will raise interest rates to reduce inflation and ease (or decrease) rates to spur economic growth.

The â&#x20AC;&#x153;do-nothingâ&#x20AC;? story was to change last September. With the economy out of recession and the rate of inflation dropping for the seventh consecutive month to 16.01 per cent in August, the comment of the highly respected economist was widely expected. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is the same do-nothing decision, but it appears to be working,â&#x20AC;? he had confessed. The reward for focus and perseverance!

Louder and more visible commendations for the CBN came soon after that, but the economy is not out of the woods yet, and Emefiele shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be popping the champagne for the CBNâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s contribution to the recovery process.

In his usual display of humility and caution, he acknowledged that at last monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s MPC meeting: â&#x20AC;&#x153;On the argument to hold, the committee believes that the effects of fiscal policy actions towards stimulating the economy have begun to manifest as evident in the exit of the economy from the fifteen-month recession. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Although still fragile, the fragility of the growth makes it imperative to allow more time to make appropriate complementary policy decisions to strengthen the recovery. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Secondly, the most compelling argument for a hold was to achieve more clarity in the evolution of key macroeconomic indicators, including budget implementation, economic recovery, exchange rate, inflation and employment generation.â&#x20AC;?

Subdued image?

Encouragingly, the current re-assuring image of Emefiele is a sharp contrast to the subdued version he took to Plot 33, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Way, Abuja, on June 3, 2014 to start the plum job of Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Before the trip to Abuja, he served as Chief Executive Officer and Group Managing Director at Zenith Bank Plc, a very high profile job in one of Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s flagship private enterprises.

Despite the remarkable success of the bank, he served under the towering image of Mr. Jim Ovia, which somehow eclipsed Emefieleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fine qualities. Ovia is the founder of the bank where he also worked as CEO until 2010, when he transferred into the chairman role.

In Abuja, where Emefiele replaced the current Emir of Kano Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II (Sanusi Lamido Sanusi), he had walked into the shadows of another towering image of a bright and vocal economist and banker, who had left in controversial circumstances. And in a storm!

Emefiele is a relatively quiet person; this quality prompted

Forbes Award

EmeďŹ ele oppositionists to hastily conclude that government had opted for a pliable governor, offered by his supporters. Although Emefiele had paid his dues, his handlers were quiet about it or in his characteristic reserved nature; he had chosen to focus on his work rather than flaunting his elite resume.

Emefiele is from Ika South in Delta State, but a Lagos boy. He was born in Lagos, Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s commercial capital, where he began his primary school education at Government Primary School, Victoria Island, formerly Ansar-U-Deen Primary School, Igbosere, Lagos. He continued at Maryland Comprehensive Secondary School, Ikeja, Lagos. People raised in Lagos are noted for their street-smarts and so Emefiele couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be a pushover. Observers say he is much tougher than he looks.

He proceeded to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where he obtained his Bachelor of Science Finance and Banking (Second Class Upper). To that he added an MBA as the Best Graduating Student in Finance at the same university. He went on to deepen his knowledge of Macroeconomics at Oxford University having obtained various qualifications and executive education studies in Negotiation, Strategy, Leadership, Critical Thinking, Delivering Value/Profit from Harvard University, Stanford University and University of Pennsylvania, Wharton Business School.

Before he became Group Managing Director of Zenith Bank, he had served as Executive Director in charge of Corporate Banking, Treasury, Financial Control and Strategic Planning of Zenith Bank Plc. The new Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria has over 18 years of banking experience.

He has some teaching experience as a lecturer at the University of Nigeria Nsukka, and University of Port Harcourt, where he lectured in Finance and Insurance before he finally decided to go full-time.

The CBN Governor Emefiele, therefore, couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have been a wrong choice for the top banking job. Emefiele is calm, focused and said to be a workaholic.

Asked why he looked slightly emaciated at the recent IMF/ World Bank meetings in the US, a source close to him explained jocularly: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The governor needs deliverance from two sources. One, the demon of work. Two, the demon of no rest. Your observation was correct.â&#x20AC;?

His family may be uncomfortable with those demons but a fragile economy in need of painstaking care needs them.

Another Emefiele advantage is his devotion and patriotism, which he wears silently in his green ties. He wears no other colour these days. The source explained it more directly this time: â&#x20AC;?The green ties are a symbol of patriotism. It keys into his philosophy that the nation comes first and the welfare of the ordinary Nigerian should underpin public policy.â&#x20AC;?

The mix of all of those Emefiele qualities, including, â&#x20AC;&#x153;stubbornnessâ&#x20AC;? is paying off now. As an immediate example, the restriction on 41 items has engendered domestic production and consumption reducing dependence on the imported items; employment generation, improved domestic capacity and conservation of foreign exchange.

These achievements are better illustrated in Baton Nigeria, a company based in Ogun State, which commenced the production

For his efforts, recognition came for Emefiele in the US during the last IMF/World Bank meeting where he was awarded the Forbes 2017 Best of Africa Innovative Banking Award. President of Forbes Customs Emerging Markets, Mark Furlong, said the award was in recognition of Emefieleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s courage and determination in using monetary policy to ensure financial stability in Nigeria.

Furlong said the CBN under Emefiele had also shown transparency, which had helped to stabilise the economy through interventions in the real sector of the economy. He cited the CBNâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Anchor Borrowersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Programme, as a major boost to the development of the agricultural sector in Nigeria.

Before receiving the award, the CBN governor highlighted efforts since 2014 to stabilize the financial system and maintain the international value of the Naira. He attributed the award to the efforts of the CBN management and staff, the cooperation of government to check the negative impact of global shocks on the Nigeria economy between 2014 and 2016.

The monetary authorities, he noted were glad that its policies contributed in forcing inflation down from about 18 to 16 per cent, adding he was optimistic inflation would further be lowered with other policies in place. On CBN policy to restrict access to foreign exchange from the Nigerian foreign exchange market to some 41 items, Emefiele said the decision was to stop the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s foreign reserves due to huge import bills, among other things.

There are all manner of awards the world over, but the Forbes award is a reputable one; the same company that ranks the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s richest people including Aliko Dangote, Mike Adenuga, and Mrs. Folorunsho Alakija.

Presidential Commendation However, for all his green ties, the commendation that may excite Emefiele most is the veiled one from President Muhammadu Buhari. It came in the Presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s October 1st address to the nation: â&#x20AC;&#x153;With respect to the economy, the Government has remained pro-active in its diversification policy. The Federal Governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s agricultural Anchor Borrowers Programme, which I launched in November 2015, has been an outstanding success with: r / CJMMJPO SFMFBTFE UISPVHI UIF $#/ BOE QBSUJDJQBUJOH institutions, r TNBMM IPMEFS GBSNFST GSPN TUBUFT PG UIF GFEFSBUJPO benefitting, r IFDUBSFT PG GBSNMBOE DVMUJWBUJOH FJHIU DPNNPEJUJFT namely Rice, Wheat, Maize, Cotton, soya-beans, Poultry, Cassava and Groundnuts, in addition to fish farming.

The Anchor Borrowers Programme is one of the CBNâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s key intervention programmes It was launched by the President on November 17, 2015 at Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State and as at August 2017, a total sum of N44.18 billion has been released through 13 Participating Financial *OTUJUVUJPOT 1'*T JO SFTQFDU PG TNBMM IPMEFS GBSNFST BDSPTT TUBUFT DVMUJWBUJOH PWFS IFDUBSFT PG GBSNMBOE While the programme has supported nine commodities, the focal crop still remains rice. According to the bank, this overarching strategy of the programme is in line with the federal governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s agenda to ramp up local rice production and stop importation of parboiled rice in the foreseeable future. The CBN has made similar intervention in power and other sectors.

A job done well attracts more work. The President again disclosed that: â&#x20AC;&#x153;A new presidential initiative is starting with each state of the Federation creating a minimum of 10,000 jobs for unemployed youths, again with the aid of CBNâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s development finance initiatives.â&#x20AC;?

Before he left for the US, Emefiele, who is devoted to programmes that affect the common man was already holding stakeholder meetings to develop a framework for the new initiative. More work!

With the fragility of the economy, the fear that it might slip back into recession if appropriate measures are not taken for sustainable economic growth, and the need to further strengthen the banking sector to engender greater confidence in the health of all banks, there must be more concerns to usher in a legion of the â&#x20AC;&#x153;demons of workâ&#x20AC;? to rob the CBN of celebration of its harvests.

So, yes, this may be harvest time for the CBN but the celebration has to wait as Emefiele deploys more of his trademark stability, focus and perseverance! â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Daniels, an economic commentator, lives in Lagos.

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

PERSPECTIVE

Why Southern Governors Must Work Together Akinwunmi Ambode

I

t gives me great pleasure, on behalf of the people and government of Lagos State, to welcome you my dear colleagues to this very important meeting of the Southern Governors Forum (SGF). We will recall that the maiden gathering of this forum was held in 2001 at the Akodo Beach Resort, Ibeju Lekki, here in Lagos.

The initiative to set up the SGF was received with mixed feelings at the time. There were those who read partisan political moves into the idea. Others saw it as essentially sectional and potentially divisive while some dismissed the SGF as another superfluous talk shop of doubtful utility.

However, the convener of the inaugural edition of the forum and my illustrious predecessor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, gave a robust articulation of the necessity for the forum in his address to participants, which remains relevant and pertinent even today. On that occasion he said, “We are of course aware that our northern brothers have met regularly and publicly articulated common positions of interest in the polity. While some have condemned such meetings, I believe very strongly that such fora should indeed be actively encouraged and supported. Our democracy and federal system can only be strengthened when various groups and component parts of the country are free to discuss and pursue their perceived common aspirations within the framework of the law.

There are unquestionably issues of common interest to us as governors of states in the southern region of Nigeria. This does not mean that there are no matters which the South-West, the South-East, or the South-South, respectively, may feel constrained to pursue separately at other fora”.

From its modest beginning in 2001, the SGF held at least nine meetings over the following four years with the last one taking place again in Lagos on Friday, 25th February, 2005.

During this period, the forum became a significant voice on matters of critical import both to the south and to Nigeria as a whole.

Perhaps, we need to quickly remind ourselves some of the landmark achievements obtained through the pressure exerted by this forum in the past. The first was its collective advocacy for the special allocation to oil producing states in the federation account which resulted in the current formula of 13% accruing for Derivation in allocating revenues from the Federation Account.

Another major victory won towards strengthening the country’s practice of true federalism was the declaration by the Supreme Court in 2002 that the then prevalent practice of the federal government deducting monies from the Federation Account as a first line charge for the funding of Joint Venture Contracts, NNPC priority projects, servicing of Federal Government’s external debt, the judiciary and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and other federal obligations were

Ambode illegal and unconstitutional.

The Supreme Court in that case abolished the special funds created by the Federal Government to enable it draw funds from the Federation Account to pay for matters that fell within its exclusive responsibility before sharing whatever was left with the states and local governments.

Despite these successes, there is still a lot to be done. There is certainly a lot to be done about true federalism; an issue that requires urgent, meticulous and proactive attention by this forum.

No less disturbing is the failure to undertake the periodic review of the revenue allocation formula as provided for by the constitution to reflect evolving realities. This is another critical matter that ought to engage this forum in order to enhance the viability of the states and local governments as well as their capacity to fulfill their developmental roles in the polity. All too often, states are disparaged for always carrying begging bowls to Abuja in quest of hand-outs from the federal government.

This is a function of our present national constitution

that burdens the federal government with activities and responsibilities that rightly fall within the province of the states. The productivity and revenue-generating capacities of most of the states are thus stifled thus turning them into no better than street beggar states incapable of even meeting routine obligations of paying workers’ salaries and pensions without federal support.

Lagos State has fought and won several legal battles since 1999 that has systematically strengthened her autonomy and enhanced her fiscal viability. Over the years, the state has won legal control over the management of its environment, control of urban and physical planning, regulation of overhead masts, registration and regulation of hotels and restaurants and control of her inland waterways. And these victories do not belong to Lagos alone, but to all other states in the federation and which they must explore significantly.

I believe that If Lagos has been able to achieve so much fighting singly, the SGF can accomplish much more by thinking, planning, strategizing and acting together.

This resuscitation of the SGF is coming at a most appropriate time. As we are aware, the Senate and House of Representatives are currently harmonizing their differences on the proposed amendments to the 1999 constitution before they are transmitted to the state Houses of Assembly for approval. It is important for this forum to comprehensively look at the proposed amendments with a view to working with our respective Houses of Assembly to ensure a coordinated response on our part that will strengthen the practice of democracy, federalism, constitutionalism and the rule of law.

In our deliberations, particularly on the pressing need for greater devolution of powers, responsibilities and resources from the centre to the states, our preoccupation must not be with having a weak centre and strong states or vice versa.

Rather, in the words of the Indian politician and statesman, Bhupesh Gupta, on the floor of the Indian parliament on May 9th, 1969, “Therefore, we want a centre which will function on the basis of democratic principles and safeguard the unity and integrity of the nation as a whole; whereas at the same time we must have the states enjoying a wide range of powers, economic, political and otherwise, in order that out of this arrangement there develops a symphony of centre-state relations to the common good of the people of the country. There is no contradiction between having a democratic and viable centre and having at the same time, strong, democratic states”.

On this note, I welcome you all to Lagos once again, in the confidence that our deliberations will be productive and in the best interest of our states and Nigeria.

––Being the welcome address by Lagos State Governor Akinwumi Ambode at the meeting of the Southern Governors’ Forum last week

Still on Nigeria’s Performance at ITU Telecom World 2017 Yakubu Musa

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efore the Super Eagles’ new hero, Alex Iwobi, fired the shot that helped to take Nigeria to 2018 World Cup, the country’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) community was already basking in the euphoria of another glory.

Nigeria had just carted away 5 major prizes at the ITU Telecom 2017 in faraway Busan, South Korea, in September - just few days before the Super Eagles made the nation proud again.

Winning the trophies, though a cherry on the cake, was only a part of the roaring trade the Nigerian contingent made at the global fiesta, which attracted the cream of the crop of the world telecom industry. ITU Telecom World is, no doubt, the most prestigious global gathering in the sector. If you want to, therefore, measure the connotation of these silverwares, you can’t go beyond juxtaposition with the significance of the stage they were won.

For those who are coming across the information for the first time, the ITU Telecom World, has named the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) the most Valuable Partner for its commitment and participation in ITU Telecom World events over the years. The commission was also awarded a certificate of Appreciation for the ITU Telecom World 2017 National Pavilion and thematic Pavilion as well as Loyal Participation and supporters of the yearly ITU Telecom World in a number of years.

Likewise, Nigeria, as a country, won the ITU Telecom World Government Award

for being the government with the most innovative Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) included in the nation’s pavilion.

Three out of the 5 SMEs the NCC took to the event, Miss Temitope Awosika (Medsaf), Mr. Valentine Ubalua (Ubenwa) and Mr. Chizaram Ucheaga (Mavis Computel), also joined the ITU Global SME honours lists.

Yet, that is only on the laurels front.

Nigeria’s participation at the ITU Telecom World, especially in the last two years, has always been underlined characteristically by aggressive and proactive advertising of the country’s investment opportunities.

This year did not record departure from the consummate mark. Perhaps the only variance is that the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Prof Umar Garba Danbata, seized the opportunity to explain to the rest of the world the Federal Government new regime of ease of doing business, as encapsulated in its economic recovery plan, as an extra incentive.

Nonetheless, if one is scouting for the right man for that kind of job for Nigeria, there’s, perhaps, no need to look beyond the former university don. He has in the last two years at the helm of affairs of the NCC succeeded in further entrenching a regime of transparency vis-a-vis frugality that saw the commission remitting a whopping N140 billion to the coffers of the Federal Government. This is despite that the NCC is essentially not a revenue generating agency.

The Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), has - after a painstaking exercise rated the commission top among its peers in the area of institutional work processes.

NPBSR hailed what it called “very strong business organizational structure, policies and practices that facilitate effective and efficient service” when it presented the

platinum award to the agency.

However, the National Broad Plan, which sets the target of 30 per cent penetration by next year would always feature in the event, as it requires a massive injection of capital.

In his appearance at the ITU television studio, Danbatta noted that “The policies of the government are not limited to broadband.

They are of course relevant to broadband.

However, the Federal Government had recently introduced what we call Economic Recovery and Growth Plan. And in this plan, there is important role assigned to the Nigerian Communications Commission again to ensure deployment of broadband infrastructure.

“And the attraction of the provisions of this plan is that, you have incentives for investors including 30% reduction in company income tax plus a list of other incentive waivers of import duty for the importation of infrastructure equipment and so on and so forth”.

Speaking further, the EVC said as soon as they arrived at the Asian country, he and other notable delegations hit the ground running, spreading the glad tidings about the remarkable change taking place in Nigeria.

“We have been informing the investors at this important forum about all these very good incentives by the Federal Government as well as the ease of doing business this has improved significantly.

“There is an executive order as I am talking to you on transparency and efficiency in public service delivery and this is intended to ensure that approvals are granted without delay. There is even a disciplinary measure that can be brought to bear on agencies of government which deliberately refuse to grant approvals,” he explained.

But investors want to be assured about

the safety of their investment. And this was what dominated the discussion at the investment forum session of the country.

Danbatta particularly seized the moment to cite the example of how the NCC, in collaboration with Nigeria’s apex bank, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), prevented a takeover bid for a telecommunication company by a consortium of banks back in Nigeria.

“The NCC is assuring the investors that our doors are open and that we will do whatever we can within the regulatory mandate assigned to us to ensure that their investment is safe and secure,” he pointed out.

He said the NCC would continue to build a reputation “of a firm but flexible agency”, which provides incentives to operators and potential investors in order to ensure the gains recorded over the past couple of years are sustained.

“We collaborated with a sister agency to successfully stave off the take over a telecommunication company by a consortium of banks. Banks are not competent to run telecom companies, they should concentrate their efforts on making the financial sector more robust, which I believe they are doing. I have no doubt about it.

“This company is now rebranded as 9Mobile and is providing services to over 20 million Nigerians. Nigerians are on the payroll of the company. The message we are sending out to investors is that in the NCC we are always committed to ensuring stability in the telecom sector of Nigeria as well as making sure the safety of the investment is guaranteed,” he said.

–––Musa is the Special Assistant Media to the EVC

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PERSPECTIVE

From Abeokuta to Abuja Soyombo Opeyemi “A man who can’t tell where the rain began to beat him cannot know where he dried his body.”- An Igbo epigram

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t comes as a pleasant coincidence. Just a few days after the Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, cleared the air on the state’s debt profile, drawing plaudits from the vast majority of residents and stereotyped censure from a few opposition elements, the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, has equally cleared the air on the financial position of the Federal Government, especially the debt profile. From what I have read in the papers, there is no doubt the vast majority of Nigerians will applaud the minister, and of course, criticisms must be expected from a few.

Constructive criticism is the oil of democracy while destructive censure constitutes a clog in the wheel of progress. No government, the world over, will get everything right. There must always be room for improvement. But when opposition elements and some commentators stand before a skyscraper and still claim what they see is a bungalow, all in the name of “Pull him Down”, then we are in the realm of disruptive politics, which is fatal to the socio-economic progress of any society.

Debt is an emotive issue in every part of the country. Nigerians know that borrowing is an aspect of economic measures. But they are averse to borrowing because of the mismanagement of the past. In the past, a government would claim they borrowed one humongous amount for one project or the other. You ask, “Where are the projects constructed with the money? Where are the roads built? Where are the classrooms or school buildings erected? Is there any improvement in the health care delivery?” They have practically nothing to point to; little or nothing to show for the resources. So when any new government comes on the scene and talks about loan, Nigerians simply don’t want to listen. And that is why responsible governments must keep up the dialogue with the people, so that they don’t become victims of transferred aggression.

Before you talk of borrowing, Nigerians at least expect certain measures to be in place. First, you block loopholes inherent in the old system, raise your revenue generation and ensure financial discipline. I recall one of the major steps taken by the Amosun government in 2011 was to streamline the accounting system and put an end to the proliferation of government bank accounts by the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). Electronic payment was introduced to ensure that government revenues would no longer end in private pockets. As a result of these measures, the income generated by the Ministry of Commerce suddenly rose from the average of N45 million per annum under the previous administration to N550 million per annum (representing 1,122% increase) within a space of one year! Of course, the

Amosun governor is a reputed expert in financial prudence. There are no free monies in Ogun. Amosun insists on value for money for every project executed. From a paltry sum of N750m per month inherited Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), the Amosun government has moved the IGR to N6 billion monthly; the administration is doing everything possible to raise the figure to N10 billion in not too distant future.

Reading the article by the Minister of Finance on the debt debate on Monday jogs my memory on my piece in early 2015: “It would seem an understatement for President Muhammadu Buhari to speak of inheriting an empty treasury. I think we should thank God that the President even met a treasury at all. With the monetary bonanza, bazaar and lottery that characterized the electioneering of the ruling party in the last general elections, we should be grateful to the almighty that both the purse and its contents had not disappeared altogether.”

I also recall another intervention in the fall of that same year, “I believe we also need prayers in this country. Why is it now that we have a President Muhammadu Buhari that is committed to good governance and accountability that we are confronted with paucity of cash? Why has the price of oil chosen this momentous time to plummet to this level? Even if the new government achieves

complete diversification of the economy, will it fructify overnight, in one, two or three years? Why should it be at this time that we have a highly conscientious and honest central government that we should have this kind of financial situation as a country? So we need prayers in this country.”

I think what Minister Adeosun has done is to remind us of the road we had marched as a people in recent years and the sedulous efforts the Buhari administration is making to turn things around for the country. And the hard work is yielding positive fruits. To quote an Igbo epigram, “Aman who can’t tell where the rain began to beat him cannot know where he dried his body.” For instance, it is so easy to forget that about 28 states could not pay salaries before Buhari came to power. Mass sack of workers loomed large in the horizon. Yet, the President released bail-out funds, Budget Support Fund and Paris Club Refunds to all the states irrespective of party affiliation. As Adeosun pointed out, “Through the implementation of the Efficiency Unit and enrolment of the Ministries, Departments and Agencies on the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, we have successfully saved N206bn in payroll costs using technology to drive the cleansing process, with the removal of 54,000 fraudulent or erroneous entries. This was attained without the negative social impact of retrenchment.” Two hundred and six billion naira is up to the budget of a state government in Nigeria!

The non-oil revenue drive of the Federal Government is producing results, some in an unprecedented manner. Just recently, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) remitted about N8 billion to the Federation Account without any increase in fees payable by candidates, whereas the highest it ever paid under the previous government was a meagre N3 million! The Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) remitted only a paltry N4.95 billion to the Federation Account in 2015 but the figure rose dramatically to N24 billion within a space of one year under the Buhari administration! Major revenue-generating agencies are turning in fantastic figures to the Federation Account.

The Almighty, of course, answers prayers. As the Buhari administration intensifies investment in agriculture, solid mineral resources and other non-oil income sources, the price of crude oil in the global market appears promising once again. All this shows that better days are ahead for Nigeria.

The article by the Minister of Finance is stirring and most affecting. “The administration has always been transparent and the reward for transparency should not be consternation but rather, patient and informed analysis. The administration has expended more on capital projects than any previous one, despite tight fiscal conditions… is working harder on revenue generation than ever before. Blocking leakages, demanding efficiency and even breaching previous “no-go” areas like tax compliance for our higher earners. All these efforts are aimed at ensuring that Nigeria has an economy that distributes wealth and opportunity fairly among her citizens.”

–––Soyombo, Special Assistant on Media to the Governor of Ogun State, sent this piece from Abeokuta via densityshow@yahoo.com

Ajimobi: Challenging the Status quo Akeem Adebiyi

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overnor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state cannot be called a gatecrasher in the comity of elites in Nigeria, having paid his dues in the corporate world at the highest level.

With a father that played an active part in the politics of the Southwest as a lawmaker in the Second Republic, the murky waters of Nigeria’s polity should also not be seen as an unfamiliar terrain to Ajimobi.

Having risen to the pinnacle of the corporate ladder as Managing Director of Shell-National Oil after a 26-year distinguished career in the oil industry, the governor brought a wealth of experience into politics. Therefore, his desire to challenge the status quo by bringing his managerial acumen in the corporate world to bear on the governance of Oyo state would expectedly attract resistance from the old guards.

The obvious reason is that his pragmatic approach to issues is alien to them and is therefore regarded as an affront to their authority as wheeler-dealers in the political game. It is crystal clear that courage and sense of purpose are strongly required by any political leader desirous of effecting complete change in a political system as ours in Oyo state. Those bent on business as usual are often wont to confront the game changer with barrage of criticisms, campaign of calumny, blackmail, deliberate falsehood, mudslinging, vilification and the related. Such embarrassing moments oftentimes pit such beleaguered leaders against their immediate and extended family members who, out of fear of the unknown,

always mount pressures on them to abandon the struggle, no matter how genuine their intentions may be. Governor Ajimobi may have unwittingly created more enemies for himself in Oyo state as a harbinger of a new social order. His altruistic style of governance attracts negative comments majorly from the opposition political parties. His sophisticated approach to governance is deemed complex and alien to the average citizens who are used to the superficial style of governance. It is indubitable that only the deep minded and far sighted can decipher and interpret correctly the laudable objectives of Ajimobi’s programmes and policies.

For instance, his prudential principle of managing the lean resources of Oyo state leading to the cutting down of unnecessary expenditure and wastages has earned him the nickname “Ajirebi” (harbinger of hunger).

Furthermore, his administration’s zero tolerance for street trading and erection of structures under high voltage transmission lines, as well as his insistence on strict adherence to building codes to prevent avoidable deaths, flooding and other environmental hazards are misconstrued as wickedness and acts of political victimisation. These misconceptions are predicated on ignorance and refusal of the citizens to change their old habits, whereas, the government’s intention is targeted at securing clean environments, as well as the protection of lives and property.

The situation becomes more challenging as the opposition elements take advantage of the masses’ resistance to change by distorting facts and firing undeserved salvos in the direction of the governor. It is obvious that the governor’s attempts at changing the status quo in an appar-

ently hostile political environment are daunting, yet, surmountable. I have no doubt in my mind that at the end of his tenure, Ajimobi shall surely be appreciated by the populace for leaving behind an enduring and befitting legacy.

The recent review of the Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration is another area where Governor Ajimobi has grossly been misunderstood. But, for his resilience, the fierce resistance from familiar quarters almost thwarted the exercise. Till date, it’s on record that only few opposition politicians have been stoking this ember of resistance to the review. Understandably, the revered Olubadan, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Saliu Adetunji, who had earlier disagreed to the review from the clip of a video that has gone viral, later agreed, only to turn back again to disagree with the governor on the move. Had Baba considered the many benefits of the review in the larger interest of the concerned parties, he would have given Ajimobi a pat on the back for elevating the status of the Olubadan chieftaincy. The call for the creation of Ibadan State can now be reinforced given its new status, unlike before when it had Olubadan as the only beaded crown Oba. Unfortunately, Kabiyesi’s misplaced fear of a whittled influence and the involvement of politicians that have axe to grind with Ajimobi have given the whole saga a new colouration.

Little did many armchair critics and commentators on the issue know that the Olubadan Chieftaincy declaration was not cast in iron. For starters, the dynamism of the chieftaincy is manifest in the fact that between 1820 and 1929, the traditional ruler of Ibadanland was known as Baale, until 1930 when Oba Okunola Abass became the first holder of the Olubadan title. And not until 1976 did an Olubadan wear a beaded crown. More so, several

attempts had been made by past governors, including ex-Governor Rashidi Ladoja, who set up the Justice Adio Commission of Inquiry, to review the chieftaincy declaration but they could not muster enough courage to see the proposed review through. Again, from what we have read and which has not been debunked, the move by Ajimobi was in response to clarion call by the members of the Olubadan-in-council, eminent citizens, respected elders of the land and the umbrella body of socio-cultural groups in Ibadanland, the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes.

It is worth stating here that any leader desirous of changing the status quo must not only be daring, but must also be prepared to pay the price. Such a leader also needs courage, focus and perseverance, all of which, interestingly, are possessed by the governor. It is also gladdening to note that majority of the citizens have appreciated Governor Ajimobi’s efforts, which are directed at improving their lot in the state.

The conflict of interests among members of the political class has always pitted the masses against the government, with the latter cashing in on the gullibility of the former. As Governor Ajimobi labours hard to give Oyo State a new lease of life, my appeal to the citizens, including political opponents, is to view his programmes, policies and projects from a wider compass rather than from a narrow compass of politicking. Let those beating the drum of war sheathe their swords in the interest of the generality of the people.

––Akeem Adebiyi, a social commentator and public affairs analyst, writes from Ibadan. (akeemadebiyi2015@gmail.com)

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Gwarzo and the Chicken Chasers James Ume

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onstructive criticisms are sometimes necessary for the smooth running of organisations. They help to keep the executives on their toes and call their attention to mistakes as they occur. Criticisms can also become pernicious and debilitating when they are made in bad faith. They are worse when they are based on false information and outright lies.

Mr. Mounir Haliru Gwarzo since he was appointed the Director-General (D-G) of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), on May 20, 2015 by former President Goodluck Jonathan in a letter signed by the then Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, has had a feel of the effect of evil manipulation of information. He assumed office as D-G after serving as a member of the board of the commission for more than two years in the capacity of an Executive Commissioner having been appointed on January 2, 2013.

The Director General of the Commission is, to all intents, a political appointment that must have to pass through the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for screening and eventual approval. The candidate for the job does not necessarily have to be a career staff of the commission. With his appointment as the D-G of SEC, he left from the board of the commission as a full time member and Commissioner as soon as the appointment was made. And if he had served for a minimum of two years on the board, he was entitled to ALL his benefits. Asimple arithmetic will prove that from the time Gwarzo was appointed to the board and the time he was lifted to the position of D-G, he had put in two years and six months.

The board of the commission, at a meeting held on July 11, 2002 (eleven years before he was appointed to the Board of the Commission), approved, inter alia, that a permanent commissioner who has spent a minimum of two years is entitled to full benefits which can be monetized when leaving that office. In the extracts of this board meeting, it was specifically mentioned that the benefits should accrue to permanent commissioners who have served for a minimum of two years of which the D-G was listed as one. To that extent, therefore, he is entitled to the benefits paid to him for his service as the Executive Commissioner of Operations Directorate. Mr. Gwarzo has not denied that these entitlements were duly paid to him as they were, indeed, his rights because they are attached to the office and not necessarily to the individual who occupies the office.

Although a certain legal opinion was made public. But the fact is that in corporate governance, the decision of the board is binding on all. If there are contrasting views, opinions or objections and any other matter that is inconsistent with the decision of the board, the decision of the board renders those a nullity to the extent of the inconsistency. Interestingly, the position of the Acting Head of Legal department relied upon by the mischief makers were dismissed by a counter opinion proffered by the Acting Executive Commissioner Legal & Enforcement and the Executive Commissioner Corporate Services of the Commission, both of whom are seasoned and senior legal practitioners. Regrettably, these counter opinions were not made public by the chicken chasers as they make clear the true position. The mendacity of the allegation is

Gwarzo further demonstrated by the fact that the benefits were not approved by the D-G for himself as canvassed, but approved by the Executive Commissioner Corporate Services, whose statutory duty it was. It is, therefore, a deliberate act of mischief for anyone to adjudge the payment to him as illegal or that it contravenes any known law of the land.

It is on record that Gwarzo as SEC D-G, supervised the purchase of three cars from Stallion NMN Limited, manufacturers and distributors of Nissan automobiles, as project vehicles. Once again, the mischief of the chicken chasers is exposed as records exists which shows that those vehicles were purchased in 2013 and not during Gwarzoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time as Director General. At the time, all necessary approvals on the bidding process, purchase and other procurement guidelines in accordance with the provisions of the Public Procurement Act were obtained from the Bureau of Public Procurement. The vehicles were duly assigned to the various offices as project vehicles.

They were never at any time assigned to or used by the person of the Director General or any other Executive Commissioner as private vehicles. Till date, the project vehicles assigned to the offices of Executive Commissioners which are vacant are packed in the premises of the Commission.

It is often said that a mischief maker is like someone drowning who desperately clutches to any available straw just to stay afloat. In their bid to cast slur on the excellent job the SEC D-G is doing since he assumed office, the chicken chasers (apology to Prof Chukwuemeka Ike) have been looking for tell-tale signs of abuse of office. And when one does not exist, it must be contrived somehow. Government rules are clear on what a functionary should do in relation to other business interests. The matter is considered settled when the functionary

in question resigns from or withdraws his interests in those other businesses. There is nothing in the statute books stopping those businesses as corporate entities from doing business with that or any other government agency. The intendment of the law in insisting on this is to avoid any conflict of interest. Before his appointment as Executive Commissioner, Mr Gwarzo had interests in two companies owned by his family, Outbound Investment Limited and Medusa Investment Limited. He withdrew his interests in them before his appointment into the board of SEC. That was on December 12, 2012.

As for the other companies his traducers are hinging on to blackmail him, they are companies doing business with SEC as an entity with no connections whatsoever to the D-G as a person. The Public Procurement Act empowers the D-G as the Chief Executive Office of the Commission to approve contracts within certain thresholds.

However, to ensure transparency in the procurement process of the Commission, the D-G has delegated every procurement exercise of the Commission to the Minor Tenders Board, completely excluding himself from the processes.

In the public service, there is a saying â&#x20AC;&#x153;if you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t train them, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t blame themâ&#x20AC;?. It was in keeping with this aphorism that the Executive management of SEC considered the training of some its staff on some specific areas of its core operations. It is, therefore, surprising that staff training should be counted as a sin committed by the D-G. The initial plan was to assign that programme to a foreign trainer. But because of the exorbitant cost implication, the foreign trainersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; fee actually came to N700, 000 or its dollar equivalent per participant. The management, to cut cost, engaged the services of local trainers including the Lagos Business School (LBS) and were paid less for the same programme.

Some received as little as N150, 000 except for LBS that got N300, 000. If updating the knowledge base of the staff is considered a sin, then it is a sufficient ground to assess the intentions of those alleging inappropriate conduct on the D-G especially with regard to what they think of SEC as a key play in the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economy.

The circular restricting chief executives of government agencies to economy class in air travels was issued on November 2, 2016. Gwarzo travelled to Hong Kong for the IOSCO board meeting in October of the same year. He received payment for his airfare for that trip and travelled on Business class. Considering the time he travelled in October and when the circular was issued on November 2nd, only someone out to course mischief will allege misdemeanour on the part of the D-G. It is obvious that his trip to that Chinese city predated government restrictions on air travels and as such could not apply to that trip. This leaves me perplexed at the extent to which a person would fabricate tales to tarnish the integrity of another.

Every corporate organisation, be it public or private has its own ways of appreciating staff leaving service meritoriously. For SEC, it was called The Golden Hand Shake, a retirement scheme designed by the commission for certain categories of staff. Upon assumption of office as D-G, the Gwarzo led administration noted that the Commission was top-heavy and rolled out this scheme, to encourage staff within the cadre of Senior manager - Director to voluntarily exit the system with certain benefits. â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Ume is an Abuja based analyst (See concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com)

EMPOWERING TRADERS L-R: Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (2nd left); his deputy, Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo (right); Mrs. Cecilia COMMUNITY SUPPORT Onu (left); and Benard Onwukwe, who were among 100 winners of the 9th raffle draw of the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s L-R: Former President Olusegun Obasanjo; Chairman River Park, Mr. Paul Odili; and Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Traders Empowerment Scheme held at Afor Okpanku Market, Aninri LGA, Enugu State...recently

Okowa,attheunveilingofRiverParkandCommunityPoliceStationheldinAbuja...recently

Photo:JuliusAtoi

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T H I S D AY SUNDAY OCTOBER 29, 2017

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PRESS STATEMENT ON THE ALLEGED FORFEITURE OF 14 PROPERTIES BY SENATOR BALA A. MOHAMMED, FORMER MINISTER OF THE FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY In the past one year, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, former minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, has been subjected to the most vicious campaign of calumny characterized by deliberate ĨĂůƐĞŚŽŽĚ͕ ŵŝƐƌĞƉƌĞƐĞŶƚĂƟŽŶƐ ĂŶĚ ŵĞĚŝĂ ŚĂƌĂƐƐŵĞŶƚƐ͕ ŽƐƚĞŶƐŝďůLJ ŽŶ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ŽĨ ĂůůĞŐĂƟŽŶƐ ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚ Śŝŵ͖ ĂůůĞŐĂƟŽŶƐ ƚŚĂƚ ĂƌĞ ŶĞŝƚŚĞƌ ƚƌƵĞ ŶŽƌ ŚĂǀĞ ďĞĞŶ ĐŽŶĮƌŵĞĚ ďLJ ĂŶLJ ĐŽƵƌƚ ŽĨ ĐŽŵƉĞƚĞŶƚ ũƵƌŝƐĚŝĐƟŽŶ͘ tĞ ŚĂǀĞ ŚĂĚ ĐĂƵƐĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƉĂƐƚ ƚŽ ƐĞƚ ƚŚĞ ƌĞĐŽƌĚƐ ƐƚƌĂŝŐŚƚ͕ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŵŝƐƉůĂĐĞĚ ŚŽƉĞ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ ĂŶƟͲĐŽƌƌƵƉƟŽŶ ĂŐĞŶĐŝĞƐ ǁŝůů ĂďŝĚĞ ďLJ ƚŚĞ ĞƐƚĂďůŝƐŚĞĚ ƌƵůĞƐ ŽĨ ĞŶŐĂŐĞŵĞŶƚ ŝŶ ŵĂƩĞƌƐ ƚŚĂƚ border on the integrity of people who, by the extant provision of ŽƵƌ ƉĞŶĂů ĐŽĚĞ͕ ĂƌĞ ĂĚũƵĚŐĞĚ ŝŶŶŽĐĞŶƚ ƵŶƟů ƉƌŽǀĞŶ ŐƵŝůƚLJ͘ hŶĨŽƌƚƵŶĂƚĞůLJ͕ ƟŵĞ ĂŶĚ ĂŐĂŝŶ͕ ǁĞ ŚĂǀĞ ĨŽƵŶĚ ŽƵƚ ŚŽǁ ǁƌŽŶŐ ǁĞ ǁĞƌĞ͘ EŽ ŽƚŚĞƌ ĐĂƐĞ ŝůůƵƐƚƌĂƚĞƐ ƚŚŝƐ ƐŝƚƵĂƟŽŶ ƚŚĂŶ ƌĞĐĞŶƚ ŶĞǁƐ ƌĞƉŽƌƚƐ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĞīĞĐƚ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ &ĞĚĞƌĂů ,ŝŐŚ ŽƵƌƚ ŝŶ ďƵũĂ͕ ůĂƐƚ tĞĚŶĞƐĚĂLJ͕ ŽƌĚĞƌĞĚ ƚŚĞ ĨŽƌĨĞŝƚƵƌĞ ŽĨ ϭϰ ƉƌŽƉĞƌƟĞƐ ĂůůĞŐĞĚůLJ ƚƌĂĐĞĚ to the former minister and his son, Shamsudeen, on the ground ƚŚĂƚ ŚĞ ŚĂĚ ĚĞŶŝĞĚ ŽǁŶĞƌƐŚŝƉ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŽƉĞƌƟĞƐ͘ EŽƚŚŝŶŐ ĐĂŶ ďĞ ĨĂƌƚŚĞƌ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ƚƌƵƚŚ͘ dŚĞ ĐŽƵƌƚ ǁĂƐ ĂůƐŽ ƌĞƉŽƌƚĞĚ ƚŽ ŚĂǀĞ ĚŝƌĞĐƚĞĚ ƚŚĞ ƉƵďůŝĐĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ Ă ŶŽƟĐĞ ŝŶ Ă ŶĞǁƐƉĂƉĞƌ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ǁĞďƐŝƚĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŶŽŵŝĐ ĂŶĚ &ŝŶĂŶĐŝĂů ƌŝŵĞƐ ŽŵŵŝƐƐŝŽŶ ; & Ϳ ͞ŝŶǀŝƟŶŐ Ăůů ƉĞƌƐŽŶƐͬďŽĚŝĞƐ ǁŚŽ ŵĂLJ ŚĂǀĞ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƐĂŝĚ ƉƌŽƉĞƌƟĞƐ ƚŽ ƐŚŽǁ ĐĂƵƐĞ ǁŚLJ ƚŚĞ ƐĂŝĚ ƉƌŽƉĞƌƟĞƐ ƐŚŽƵůĚ ŶŽƚ ďĞ ĨŽƌĨĞŝƚĞĚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ &ĞĚĞƌĂů 'ŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚ͘͟ dŚĞ ƐŽͲĐĂůůĞĚ ƚĞŵƉŽƌĂƌLJ ĨŽƌĨĞŝƚƵƌĞ ŽƌĚĞƌ ĂŵŽƵŶƚƐ ƚŽ ƵŶĚƵůLJ ƐĞŶƐĂƟŽŶĂůŝnjŝŶŐ Ă ŵĂƩĞƌ ƚŚĂƚ ŝƐ LJĞƚ ƚŽ ƌƵŶ ŝƚƐ ĨƵůů ũƵĚŝĐŝĂů ĐŽƵƌƐĞ͘ dŽ ƐƚĂƌƚ ǁŝƚŚ͕ ŚŽǁ ŵĂŶLJ ƟŵĞƐ ǁŝůů ƚŚĞ ĨŽƌŵĞƌ ŵŝŶŝƐƚĞƌ ĨŽƌĨĞŝƚ ĞdžĂĐƚůLJ ƚŚĞ ƐĂŵĞ ƉƌŽƉĞƌƟĞƐ͍ /ƚ ŝƐ Ă ǁĞůů ŬŶŽǁŶ ĨĂĐƚ ƚŚĂƚ ďĞƚǁĞĞŶ ŚŝƐ ĂƌƌĂŝŐŶŵĞŶƚ ǁŚŝĐŚ ǁĂƐ ǁŝĚĞůLJ ƌĞƉŽƌƚĞĚ ĂŶĚ ƚŽĚĂLJ͕ ƚŚĞ ŵĂƩĞƌ ŝƐ LJĞƚ ƚŽ ƌƵŶ ŝƚƐ ĨƵůů ĐŽƵƌƐĞ͘ dŚĞƌĞĨŽƌĞ͕ ƚŚĞ ŝƐƐƵĞ ŽĨ ĨŽƌĨĞŝƚƵƌĞ ĐĂŶŶŽƚ ĂƌŝƐĞ ŝŶ Ă ŵĂƩĞƌ ƚŚĂƚ ŝƐ ďĞŝŶŐ ĚŝůŝŐĞŶƚůLJ ƉƌŽƐĞĐƵƚĞĚ ĂŶĚ ƌŝŐŽƌŽƵƐůLJ ĐŽŶƚĞƐƚĞĚ Žƌ ĚĞĨĞŶĚĞĚ͘ /ƚ ŝƐ ĐƵƌŝŽƵƐ ƚŚĂƚ͕ ŝŶ Ă ƐĞŶƐĂƟŽŶĂů ĐĂƐĞ ŽĨ this nature, the media found it professionally excusable to skip the ĨƵůů ƉƌŽĐĞƐƐ ŝŶǀŽůǀŝŶŐ ĞǀŝĚĞŶĐĞ͕ ĞdžĂŵŝŶĂƟŽŶ ĂŶĚ ĐƌŽƐƐͲĞdžĂŵŝŶĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ǁŝƚŶĞƐƐĞƐ ĂŶĚ ĮŶĂů ĂĚĚƌĞƐƐĞƐ ĂŶĚ ǁĞŶƚ ĂŚĞĂĚ ƚŽ ĚƌĂŵĂƟnjĞ ƚŚĞ purported forfeiture order as if anybody had been found guilty of Ă ĐƌŝŵĞ͘ tĞ ĚŽ ŶŽƚ ǁĂŶƚ ƚŽ ďĞ ŵŝƐƵŶĚĞƌƐƚŽŽĚ͘ KƵƌ ƉŽƐŝƟŽŶ ŽŶ ƚŚŝƐ ŵĂƩĞƌ ŚĂƐ ďĞĞŶ ƐƚĂƚĞĚ ǁŝƚŚŽƵƚ ĂŶLJ ĞƋƵŝǀŽĐĂƟŽŶ͖ ƚŚĂƚ ^ĞŶĂƚŽƌ ĂůĂ DŽŚĂŵŵĞĚ ƐƵƉƉŽƌƚƐ ƚŚĞ ĐƵƌƌĞŶƚ ĂŶƟͲŐƌĂŌ ĐĂŵƉĂŝŐŶ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŝƐ Ă ĐĂƌƌLJͲŽǀĞƌ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĞīŽƌƚ ŽĨ ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ĂĚŵŝŶŝƐƚƌĂƟŽŶƐ͘ /ƚ ƐŚŽƵůĚ ŶĞǀĞƌ ďĞ ĨŽƌŐŽƩĞŶ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ & ĂŶĚ ŽƚŚĞƌ ĂŶƟͲŐƌĂŌ ĂŐĞŶĐŝĞƐ ǁĞƌĞ ĐƌĞĂƚĞĚ ĞǀĞŶ ďĞĨŽƌĞ ƚŚĞ ĂĚǀĞŶƚ ŽĨ ƚŚŝƐ ĂĚŵŝŶŝƐƚƌĂƟŽŶ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ƐĂŵĞ ƉƵƌƉŽƐĞ ŽĨ ƌŝĚĚŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ĐŽƵŶƚƌLJ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƐĐŽƵƌŐĞ ŽĨ ĐŽƌƌƵƉƟŽŶ͘ dŚĞ style may have changed, perhaps even the emphasis or scope, but ƚŚĞ ŐŽĂů ƌĞŵĂŝŶƐ ƚŚĞ ƐĂŵĞ͖ ƚŽ ŬĞĞƉ ƉƵďůŝĐ ŽĸĐĞƌƐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƚŽĞƐ ĂŶĚ ƚŽ ŐĞƚ ƚŚŽƐĞ ŝŶ ƉŽƐŝƟŽŶƐ ŽĨ ƉƵďůŝĐ ƚƌƵƐƚ ƚŽ ĐŽŵƉůLJ ǁŝƚŚ ĞdžƚĂŶƚ ŐŽǀĞƌŶĂŶĐĞ ƌƵůĞƐ͘ ,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ ƚŚŝƐ ƐŚŽƵůĚ ŶĞǀĞƌ ďĞ ĂƉƉůŝĞĚ ĂƐ Ă ůŝĐĞŶĐĞ ĨŽƌ ƐĐƵƌƌŝůŽƵƐ ĐŚĂƌŐĞƐ ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚ ƉĞŽƉůĞ Žƌ ĨŽƌ ŵĞĚŝĂ ĐŽŶǀŝĐƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĂĐĐƵƐĞĚ͘ /Ŷ ƚŚĞ ƉƌĞƐĞŶƚ ĐĂƐĞ͕ ƐŽŵĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŚŽƵƐĞƐ ŝŶ ĐŽŶƚĞŶƟŽŶ ĚŽ ŶŽƚ ďĞůŽŶŐ ƚŽ ^ĞŶĂƚŽƌ ĂůĂ DŽŚĂŵŵĞĚ͘ zĞƚ͕ ŝƚ ŝƐ ŵŝƐůĞĂĚŝŶŐ ƚŽ ƐƵŐŐĞƐƚ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ŽǁŶĞƌƐ ĚŽ ŶŽƚ ĞdžŝƐƚ͘ /Ŷ Ăƚ ůĞĂƐƚ ŽŶĞ ŝŶƐƚĂŶĐĞ͕ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŽƉĞƌƚLJ ŚĂƐ ďĞĞŶ ƌĞƚƵƌŶĞĚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ƌŝŐŚƞƵů ŽǁŶĞƌ ǁŚŝůĞ ŽƚŚĞƌƐ ŚĂǀĞ ŝŶŝƟĂƚĞĚ ƐƚĞƉƐ ƚŽ ƌĞĐŽǀĞƌ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƉƌŽƉĞƌƟĞƐ ƚŚĂƚ ǁĞƌĞ ǁƌŽŶŐůLJ ƐĞŝnjĞĚ ďLJ ƚŚĞ & ͘ /ƚ is in this context that we consider it a gross abuse of professional privilege on the part of the media to deny the public of these facts for the simple reason that it has been hoodwinked into joining ĚĞƐƉĞƌĂĚŽĞƐ ůĂďŽƵƌŝŶŐ ƚŽ ƐĂůǀĂŐĞ Ă ĨĂůƚĞƌŝŶŐ ĐĂŵƉĂŝŐŶ ŽĨ ĐĂůƵŵŶLJ͘ Besides, it is also important to challenge and debunk the unsustainable impression being created that Senator Bala DŽŚĂŵŵĞĚ ĚŽĞƐ ŶŽƚ ŚĂǀĞ ƚŚĞ ƌŝŐŚƚ ƚŽ ĂĐƋƵŝƌĞ ĂŶĚͬŽƌ ŽǁŶ ƉƌŽƉĞƌƚLJ ĂŶLJǁŚĞƌĞ ŝŶ EŝŐĞƌŝĂ͘ dŽ ŵĂŬĞ ŚĞĂǀLJ ǁĞĂƚŚĞƌ ŽĨ ŚŝƐ ŽǁŶĞƌƐŚŝƉ ŽĨ ƐŽŵĞ ŚŽƵƐĞƐ ŝƐ ŵŝƐĐŚŝĞǀŽƵƐ ĂŶĚ ĐŽŵƉůĞƚĞůLJ ƵŶƚĞŶĂďůĞ͘ /ƚ ǁŝůů ďĞ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƟŶŐ ƚŽ ƐĞĞ ƚŚĞ ĚĂLJ ƉƵďůŝĐ ŽĸĐĞ ŚŽůĚĞƌƐ ĐĞĂƐĞ ƚŽ ŽǁŶ ƉƌŽƉĞƌƚLJ ǁŚĞƚŚĞƌ ŝŶ EŝŐĞƌŝĂ͕ ƵďĂŝ͕ ƵƌŽƉĞ Žƌ ƚŚĞ hŶŝƚĞĚ ^ƚĂƚĞƐ ŽĨ ŵĞƌŝĐĂ͘ ƚ ůĞĂƐƚ͕ ĨƌŽŵ ĂǀĂŝůĂďůĞ ĞǀŝĚĞŶĐĞ͕ ƚŚĂƚ ĚŽĞƐ ŶŽƚ ĂƉƉĞĂƌ ƚŽ ďĞ ƚŚĞ ĐĂƐĞ ƐŽ ĨĂƌ͘ dŚĂƚ ďĞŝŶŐ ƐŽ͕ ƚŚĞ ƉĞƌƐĞĐƵƚŽƌƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĨŽƌŵĞƌ & d ŵŝŶŝƐƚĞƌ ƐŚŽƵůĚ ĞdžƉůĂŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĚĞƐƉĞƌĂƚĞ ĞīŽƌƚ ƚŽ ͞ŶĂŝů͟ Śŝŵ Ăƚ Ăůů ĐŽƐƚ͘ Unfortunately, Bala Mohammed’s adversaries have taken their ĚĞƐƉĞƌĂƟŽŶ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ƉŽŝŶƚ ŽĨ ƐƵďũĞĐƟŶŐ ŚŝƐ ƐŽŶ͕ ^ŚĂŵƐƵĚĞĞŶ͕ ƚŽ undeserved searchlight as if he is the only person whose father was Ă ŵŝŶŝƐƚĞƌ͘ &Žƌ ƚŚĞ ĂǀŽŝĚĂŶĐĞ ŽĨ ĚŽƵďƚ͕ ^ŚĂŵƐƵĚĞĞŶ͕ Ă ϯϭͲLJĞĂƌͲŽůĚ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶ ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐŵĂŶ͕ ŝƐ ĂŶ ĂĞƌŽŶĂƵƟĐĂů ĞŶŐŝŶĞĞƌ͕ Ă ŚƵƐďĂŶĚ ĂŶĚ Ă ĨĂƚŚĞƌ ǁŚŽ͕ ůŝŬĞ ĂŶLJ ŽƚŚĞƌ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶ͕ ŚĂƐ ƚŚĞ ƌŝŐŚƚ ƚŽ ĞŶŐĂŐĞ ŝŶ ůĞŐŝƟŵĂƚĞ ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ ŽĨ ŚŝƐ ĐŚŽŝĐĞ͘ ,Ğ ŚĂƐ ŶŽƚ ŚĞůĚ ĂŶLJ ƉƵďůŝĐ ŽĸĐĞ ǁŚĞƚŚĞƌ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ & d Žƌ ĂŶLJ ŽƚŚĞƌ ƉůĂĐĞ͖ ŚĞ ŶĞǀĞƌ ďĞŶĞĮƩĞĚ ĨƌŽŵ ĂŶLJ ĐŽŶƚƌĂĐƚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ & d ĂŶĚ ŶĞǀĞƌ ƚƌŝĞĚ ƚŽ ŝŶŇƵĞŶĐĞ ƚŚĞ ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ & d ƵŶĚĞƌ ƚŚĞ ƚĞŶƵƌĞ ŽĨ ^ĞŶĂƚŽƌ ĂůĂ DŽŚĂŵŵĞĚ͘ ,ŝƐ ŽŶůLJ ĐƌŝŵĞ ŝƐ ƚŚĂƚ ŚĞ ŝƐ ƚŚĞ ƐŽŶ ŽĨ ĂůĂ DŽŚĂŵŵĞĚ͘

tŚĂƚ ĞǀĞŶ ŵĂŬĞƐ ƚŚĞ ĚĞŵŽŶŝnjĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŵŝŶŝƐƚĞƌ ƉĂƌƟĐƵůĂƌůLJ untenable is that, so far, there is no record of any loss of funds at ƚŚĞ & d ƵŶĚĞƌ ŚŝƐ ƚĞŶƵƌĞ͘ ,Ğ ŚĂƐ ŶŽƚ ďĞĞŶ ŝŶĚŝĐƚĞĚ ĨŽƌ ƐƚĞĂůŝŶŐ ĂŶLJ ŵŽŶĞLJ͖ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞƌĞ ŝƐ ĂůƐŽ ŶŽ ƌĞĐŽƌĚ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ & d ŝƐ ůŽŽŬŝŶŐ ĨŽƌ ĂŶLJ ŵŝƐƐŝŶŐ ĨƵŶĚƐ͘ dŚĞ ƐƉƵƌŝŽƵƐ ĐůĂŝŵ ƚŚĂƚ ŚĞ ƐŝƉŚŽŶĞĚ Eϭ͘ϳ ƚƌŝůůŝŽŶ ƵŶĚĞƌ ƚŚĞ ůĂŶĚ ƐǁĂƉ ƉƌŽŐƌĂŵ ŚĂƐ ůŽŶŐ ďĞĞŶ ĂďĂŶĚŽŶĞĚ͖ ƚŚĞ ŝĚŝŽƟĐ ĐůĂŝŵ ƚŚĂƚ ŚĞ ǁĂƐ ĐŽůůĞĐƟŶŐ EϮ ďŝůůŝŽŶ ƉĞƌ ƉůŽƚ ŽĨ ůĂŶĚ ĂůůŽĐĂƚĞĚ ŚĂƐ ďůŽǁŶ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĨĂĐĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƉƵƌǀĞLJŽƌƐ͖ ǁŚĂƚ ŝƐ ůĞŌ ŝƐ ƚŽ ƌĞŚĂƐŚ ƐƚĂŐĞƐ ŝŶ a court process that is yet to run its course simply to embarrass the ĨŽƌŵĞƌ ŵŝŶŝƐƚĞƌ ĂŶĚ ŚŝƐ ĨĂŵŝůLJ͘ dŚŝƐ ŽŶĞ ǁŝůů ĨĂŝů ũƵƐƚ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ƌƵŵŽƵƌ ƚŚĂƚ ŚĞ ŚĂĚ ƌĞĨƵŶĚĞĚ ƐŽŵĞ ŵŽŶĞLJ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ &ĞĚĞƌĂů 'ŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚ ŝƐ ĂƐ ĨĂůůĂĐŝŽƵƐ ĂƐ ŝƚ ŝƐ ĐŽŶĚĞŵŶĂďůĞ͘ Senator Bala Mohammed avows solemnly that he never stole any money while he was minister and therefore has not returned or ƌĞĨƵŶĚĞĚ ĂŶLJ ŵŽŶŝĞƐ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ &ĞĚĞƌĂů 'ŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚ͘ ,Ğ ĐŚĂůůĞŶŐĞƐ anybody with evidence of such a refund to come forward with it or ůĞƚ ŚŝƐ ĂĚǀĞƌƐĂƌŝĞƐ ƐŚƵƚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ŵŽƵƚŚƐ ŚĞŶĐĞĨŽƌƚŚ͘ It is a fact that no other minister that served in the cabinet ŽĨ WƌĞƐŝĚĞŶƚ 'ŽŽĚůƵĐŬ :ŽŶĂƚŚĂŶ ŚĂƐ ďĞĞŶ ƐŽ ĞdžƉŽƐĞĚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ƐĞĂƌĐŚůŝŐŚƚ ŽĨ ĂŶƟͲŐƌĂŌ ĂŐĞŶĐŝĞƐ ĂƐ ^ĞŶĂƚŽƌ ĂůĂ DŽŚĂŵŵĞĚ͘ dŚĞ ĨŽƌŵĞƌ ŵŝŶŝƐƚĞƌ ŚĂƐ ďĞĞŶ ǀŝůŝĮĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŵĞĚŝĂ ǁŝƚŚŽƵƚ ƐƵĐĐĞƐƐ͖ ŚĞ ŚĂƐ ďĞĞŶ ĚĞƚĂŝŶĞĚ ĂŶĚ ƐĞǀĞƌĂůůLJ ŝŶƚĞƌƌŽŐĂƚĞĚ ďLJ ƚŚĞ & ƚŽ ŶŽ ĞŶĚ͖ ŚĞ ŚĂƐ ĨĂĐĞĚ ƚŚƌĞĞ ƉƵďůŝĐ ŚĞĂƌŝŶŐƐ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ EĂƟŽŶĂů ƐƐĞŵďůLJ͕ Ă ďŽĚLJ ŚĞ ƐĞƌǀĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ĚŝƐƟŶĐƟŽŶ ĂŶĚ ĞǀĞŶ ƐƉĞĂƌŚĞĂĚĞĚ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƟŽŶ ƚŽ ƐƚĂǀĞ Žī Ă ůŽŽŵŝŶŐ ƉŽůŝƟĐĂů ĚŝƐĂƐƚĞƌ ŝŶ ϮϬϭϬ͕ ĐƵůŵŝŶĂƟŶŐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĞŵĞƌŐĞŶĐĞ ŽĨ 'ŽŽĚůƵĐŬ :ŽŶĂƚŚĂŶ ĂƐ WƌĞƐŝĚĞŶƚ͘ dŚƌŽƵŐŚŽƵƚ ƚŚĞ ĞŶƟƌĞ ůĞŐŝƐůĂƟǀĞ ĞŶƋƵŝƌLJ͕ ƐŽŵĞ ƐĂLJ ŝŶƋƵŝƐŝƟŽŶ͕ ďLJ ƚŚĞ ŐƌĂĐĞ ŽĨ 'ŽĚ͕ ŚĞ ĞŵĞƌŐĞĚ ƵŶƐĐĂƚŚĞĚ͖ ŝŶ ƐŽŵĞ ĐĂƐĞƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ŚƵŶƚĞƌƐ ŚĂǀĞ ďĞĐŽŵĞ the hunted and those who pretended to hold the moral high ground ŽǀĞƌ ŽƚŚĞƌƐ ĐŽůůĂƉƐĞĚ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ƐůŝŐŚƚĞĚ ƚĞƐƚ ŽĨ ƉƌŽďŝƚLJ͘ &Žƌ ƚŚŽƐĞ ǁŚŽ are interested in details, the Supreme Court records are there to ƐŚŽǁ͘ ;,ŽŶ ,ĞƌŵĂŶ ,ĞŵďĞ ǁŝůů ŬŶŽǁ ďĞƩĞƌͿ The former minister of the FCT is not under any illusion that his ĚĞƚƌĂĐƚŽƌƐ ĂƌĞ ŐŽŝŶŐ ƚŽ ĚĞƐŝƐƚ ĨƌŽŵ ƉƌŽŵŽƟŶŐ ĨĂůƐĞ ŶĞǁƐ ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚ Śŝŵ͘ tĞ ŚĂǀĞ ƚŚƌĞĞ ƌĞĂƐŽŶƐ ƚŽ ďĞůŝĞǀĞ ƚŚŝƐ͗ First, his traducers are disappointed that his legacy remains ŝŶƟŵŝĚĂƟŶŐ ĂŶĚ ƚŚƌĞĂƚĞŶĞĚ ƚŚĂƚ ŚŝƐ ƉƌŽĮůĞ ŚĂƐ ŶŽƚ ďĞĞŶ ĚŝŵŝŶŝƐŚĞĚ ďLJ ƚŚĞ ŵĂůĞǀŽůĞŶƚ ĐĂŵƉĂŝŐŶ ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚ Śŝŵ͖ ŝĨ ĂŶLJƚŚŝŶŐ͕ ŚŝƐ ƉŽƉƵůĂƌŝƚLJ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞƐ ƚŽ ƐŽĂƌ ĞƐƉĞĐŝĂůůLJ ŝŶ ŚŝƐ ŚŽŵĞ ƐƚĂƚĞ ŽĨ ĂƵĐŚŝ͕ Ă ƐƚĂƚĞ ƚŚĂƚ ŚĞ ĐŽŶƐŝĚĞƌƐ ƚŽ ďĞ ŝŶ ĚŝƌĞ ŶĞĞĚ ŽĨ ƵƌŐĞŶƚ ƌĞĚĞŵƉƟŽŶ͖ ^ĞĐŽŶĚ͕ ƐŽŵĞ ĞůĞŵĞŶƚƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŶĂƟŽŶ͛Ɛ ĂŶƟͲŐƌĂŌ ĂƌĐŚŝƚĞĐƚƵƌĞ ƐĞĞ Bala Mohammed as a vulnerable target to use in hoodwinking the public and the Presidency away from scandalous failings such as ŚĂǀĞ ƌĞĐĞŶƚůLJ ďĞĞŶ ĞdžƉŽƐĞĚ͖ dŚŝƌĚ͕ ďLJ ŽƌĐŚĞƐƚƌĂƟŶŐ Ă ŵĞĚŝĂ ƚƌŝĂů ŽĨ ĚŝƐƉƌŽƉŽƌƟŽŶĂƚĞ ƉƌŽƉŽƌƟŽŶƐ͕ ĂůĂ DŽŚĂŵŵĞĚ͛Ɛ ƚƌĂĚƵĐĞƌƐ ďĞůŝĞǀĞ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞLJ ĐĂŶ ŝŶƟŵŝĚĂƚĞ ĂŶĚ force the judiciary into a premeditated outcome, a scenario that he ĐŽŶƐŝĚĞƌƐ ĨĂƌͲĨĞƚĐŚĞĚ ŐŝǀĞŶ ƚŚĞ ĮĞƌLJ ƌĞƉƵƚĂƟŽŶ ĨŽƌ ŝŶĚĞƉĞŶĚĞŶĐĞ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶ ũƵĚŝĐŝĂƌLJ ŚĂƐ ĂĐƋƵŝƌĞĚ͘ KŶĞ ƚŚŝŶŐ ƌĞŵĂŝŶƐ ĐůĞĂƌ͗ EŽ ĂŵŽƵŶƚ ŽĨ ƉĞƌƐĞĐƵƟŽŶ͕ ďůĂĐŬŵĂŝů Žƌ ǁŝƚĐŚͲŚƵŶƚ ĐĂŶ ĞƌĂƐĞ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĚĞůŝďůĞ ůĂŶĚŵĂƌŬƐ ƚŚĂƚ ĂůĂ DŽŚĂŵŵĞĚ ůĞŌ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĂƌĞĂƐ ŽĨ ŝŶĨƌĂƐƚƌƵĐƚƵƌĞ͕ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚLJ ƌĞůĂƟŽŶƐ͕ ĞƋƵŝƚĂďůĞ ĚŝƐƚƌŝďƵƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƌĞƐŽƵƌĐĞƐ ĂŶĚ ƉĞĂĐĞ ĂŶĚ ƐƚĂďŝůŝƚLJ͘ /Ŷ ƐƉŝƚĞ ŽĨ ŽƌĐŚĞƐƚƌĂƚĞĚ ĞīŽƌƚƐ ƚŽ ĚĞŶLJ ƚŚĞ ŽďǀŝŽƵƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ƌŽĂĚ ŶĞƚǁŽƌŬƐ ĐŽŶƐƚƌƵĐƚĞĚ ďLJ ƚŚĞ ĂůĂ DŽŚĂŵŵĞĚ & d ĚŵŝŶŝƐƚƌĂƟŽŶ ĂƌĞ ƚŚĞƌĞ ĨŽƌ ĞǀĞƌLJďŽĚLJ ƚŽ ƐĞĞ͘ EŽ ŽŶĞ ǁŝůů ĚĞŶLJ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ hŵĂƌƵ DƵƐĂ zĂƌ͛ ƌĚƵĂ džƉƌĞƐƐǁĂLJ͕ ƚŚĞ <ƵďǁĂ džƉƌĞƐƐǁĂLJ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ 'ŽŽĚůƵĐŬ :ŽŶĂƚŚĂŶ džƉƌĞƐƐǁĂLJ ĂƌĞ ůĞŐĂĐLJ ĂĐŚŝĞǀĞŵĞŶƚƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ :ŽŶĂƚŚĂŶ ĚŵŝŶŝƐƚƌĂƟŽŶ ƵŶĚĞƌ ƚŚĞ ƐƚĞǁĂƌĚƐŚŝƉ ŽĨ ^ĞŶĂƚŽƌ ĂůĂ DŽŚĂŵŵĞĚ͘ ƵƌŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ƐĂŵĞ ƉĞƌŝŽĚ ƚŚĞ ĂĚŵŝŶŝƐƚƌĂƟŽŶ ĐŽŵƉůĞƚĞĚ ƚŚĞ >ŽǁĞƌ hƐƵŵĂ tĂƚĞƌ ƚƌĞĂƚŵĞŶƚ WůĂŶƚ͕ ƌĞƉƵƚĞĚ ƚŽ ďĞ ƚŚĞ ďŝŐŐĞƐƚ ŝŶ ĨƌŝĐĂ ǁŝƚŚ Ă ĐĂƉĂĐŝƚLJ ƚŽ ƚƌĞĂƚ ϳϮϬ ŵŝůůŝŽŶ ůŝƚĞƌƐ ŽĨ ǁĂƚĞƌ Ă ĚĂLJ ĂŶĚ ŐƵĂƌĂŶƚĞĞ ƌĞŐƵůĂƌ ǁĂƚĞƌ ƐƵƉƉůLJ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ŶĞdžƚ ĮŌLJ LJĞĂƌƐ͕ ŶŽ ŵĂƩĞƌ ƚŚĞ ƌĂƚĞ ŽĨ ĞdžƉĂŶƐŝŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ & d͘ EŽƚ ƚŽ ďĞ ůĞŌ ŽƵƚ ĂƌĞ ƚŚĞ tŽƌůĚ dƌĂĚĞ ĞŶƚƌĞ͕ ƚŚĞ ĞŶƚĞŶĂƌLJ ŝƚLJ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ŝŶŶŽǀĂƟǀĞ ůĂŶĚ ƐǁĂƉ ŵŽĚĞů ŽĨ ĚĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚ͕ ďŽůĚ ŝŶŝƟĂƟǀĞƐ ƚŚĂƚ ĂƩƌĂĐƚĞĚ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŵĞŶƚ ŝŶŇŽǁƐ ŽĨ ŽǀĞƌ Ϯϴ ďŝůůŝŽŶ ĚŽůůĂƌƐ ĂŶĚ ǁŽŶ ƚŚĞ ĞŶĚŽƌƐĞŵĞŶƚ ŽĨ EŝŐĞƌŝĂ͛Ɛ ĨŽƌĞŵŽƐƚ ĞŶƚƌĞƉƌĞŶĞƵƌƐ ĂŶĚ ůĂŶĚ ĚĞǀĞůŽƉĞƌƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ŝŶƚĞƌŶĂƟŽŶĂů ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚLJ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ tŽƌůĚ ĂŶŬ͘ &ƵƌƚŚĞƌŵŽƌĞ͕ ƵŶĚĞƌ Bala Mohammed, the FCT Revenue Board, an agency that will ƚƌĂŶƐĨŽƌŵ ƚŚĞ ƌĞǀĞŶƵĞ ŐĞŶĞƌĂƟŶŐ ĐĂƉĂĐŝƚLJ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ & d ĂŶĚ ŐƵĂƌĂŶƚĞĞ Ă ƉƌŽũĞĐƚĞĚ ƌĞǀĞŶƵĞ ŽĨ EϯϬϬ ďŝůůŝŽŶ ƉĞƌ ĂŶŶƵŵ ǁĂƐ ĞƐƚĂďůŝƐŚĞĚ͘ /ŶŶŽǀĂƟǀĞ ĂƉƉƌŽĂĐŚĞƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĂƌĞĂƐ ŽĨ ƉƌŽƉĞƌƚLJ ƚĂdž͕ ŽƵƚĚŽŽƌ ĂĚǀĞƌƟƐŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ŽƚŚĞƌ ŝŶŶŽǀĂƟǀĞ ƌĞǀĞŶƵĞ ŐĞŶĞƌĂƟŶŐ ƐƚƌĂƚĞŐŝĞƐ ǁŝůů ĐŽŶĨĞƌ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ & d ƚŚĞ ĮŶĂŶĐŝĂů ĂƵƚŽŶŽŵLJ ƌĞƋƵŝƌĞĚ ƚŽ Ğdžŝƚ ƚŚĞ ŵŽŶƚŚůLJ &ĞĚĞƌĂƟŽŶ ĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĂŶĚ ĞǀĞŶ ŐŝǀĞ ŽƉĞƌĂƟŶŐ ƐƵƌƉůƵƐ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ &ĞĚĞƌĂů 'ŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚ͘ dŚĞƐĞ ĂƌĞ ŝŶĚĞůŝďůĞ ĂĐŚŝĞǀĞŵĞŶƚƐ ƚŚĂƚ ĐĂŶŶŽƚ ďĞ ƐǁĞƉƚ ƵŶĚĞƌ ƚŚĞ ĐĂƌƉĞƚ͘

EMMA AGU

dŽ ďĞ ƐƵƌĞ͕ ƚŚĞ ĂůĂ DŽŚĂŵŵĞĚ & d ĚŵŝŶŝƐƚƌĂƟŽŶ ǁĂƐ ƉƌŽĂĐƟǀĞ ŝŶ ƉƌŽĐĞƐƐŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ƐŝŐŶŝŶŐ ŽǀĞƌ ŽŶĞ ŵŝůůŝŽŶ ĐĞƌƟĮĐĂƚĞƐ ŽĨ ŽĐĐƵƉĂŶĐLJ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ĂůůŽĐĂƟŶŐ ŽǀĞƌ ϱϬϬ͕ ϬϬϬ ƉůŽƚƐ ŽĨ ůĂŶĚ ƚŽ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶƐ ĂĐƌŽƐƐ ĞǀĞƌLJ ƐŽĐŝĂů ƐƚƌĂƚĂ͕ ůŽĐĂƟŽŶ͕ ŐĞŶĚĞƌ Žƌ ƉŚŝůŽƐŽƉŚŝĐĂů ƉĞƌƐƵĂƐŝŽŶ͕ the guiding philosophy being that ownership of land in the ĨĞĚĞƌĂů ĐĂƉŝƚĂů ƚĞƌƌŝƚŽƌLJ ƐŚŽƵůĚ ďĞ Ă ƌŝŐŚƚ ŽĨ ĞǀĞƌLJ ĂĚƵůƚ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶ͘ Unfortunately, it is this statutory power that has been turned into ĂŶ ŽďũĞĐƚ ŽĨ ŝŶƋƵŝƐŝƟŽŶ ĂŶĚ ƚƌŝĂů ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŵĞĚŝĂ͕ ŝŶ ƐƉŝƚĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĨĂĐƚ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ ŵĂƩĞƌ ŝƐ ďĞĨŽƌĞ ƚŚĞ ĐŽƵƌƚ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ ŵĞĚŝĂ͕ ĂƐ Ă ŵĂƩĞƌ ŽĨ ůĞŐŝƟŵĂƚĞ ĨĂĐƚ͕ ǁĂƐ ŶŽƚ ůĞŌ ŽƵƚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĞƋƵŝƚĂďůĞ ĚŝƐƚƌŝďƵƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚŝƐ ŶĂƟŽŶĂů ƉĂƚƌŝŵŽŶLJ͘ dŚĂƚ ŶŽƚǁŝƚŚƐƚĂŶĚŝŶŐ͕ ŚĞ ŚĂƐ ŶŽ ƌĞŐƌĞƚƐ ĨŽƌ ĐŽŶĚƵĐƟŶŐ ŚŝŵƐĞůĨ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƚƌĂĚŝƟŽŶ ŽĨ Ă ƐƚĂƚĞƐŵĂŶ͕ ĨŽƌ ŐŝǀŝŶŐ ĞǀĞƌLJ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶ Ă ƐĞŶƐĞ ŽĨ ďĞůŽŶŐŝŶŐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶ ƉƌŽũĞĐƚ͕ Ă ƌĞƉƵƚĂƟŽŶ ƚŚĂƚ ŚĂƐ ǁŽŶ Śŝŵ ĨƌŝĞŶĚƐŚŝƉ ĂŶĚ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ǀĂƌŝŽƵƐ ŐĞŽͲƉŽůŝƟĐĂů njŽŶĞƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĐŽƵŶƚƌLJ ǁŚĞƌĞ ĞǀĞƌLJďŽĚLJ ŝĚĞŶƟĮĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ŚŝƐ ƚĞŶƵƌĞ͘ tŚĂƚĞǀĞƌ ƚŚĞ ĐĂƐĞ͕ ůĞƚ ŝƚ ďĞ ŬŶŽǁŶ ƚŚĂƚ ĂůĂ DŽŚĂŵŵĞĚ ŝƐ ŐƌĂƚĞĨƵů for the privilege and opportunity to serve the country as minister ŽĨ ƚŚĞ & d͘ ,Ğ ŝƐ ƉƌŽƵĚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ůĞŐĂĐLJ ĂĐŚŝĞǀĞŵĞŶƚƐ ŚŝŐŚůŝŐŚƚĞĚ above, achievements that his detractors are so desperate to destroy ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ƚŚŝƐ ŵĞĚŝĂ ƚƌŝĂů͘ KĨ ĞǀĞŶ ŐƌĞĂƚĞƌ ŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶĐĞ ŝƐ ƚŚĞ ĨĂĐƚ that in keeping with his pact with the people, Bala Mohammed is ŽīĞƌŝŶŐ ŚŝŵƐĞůĨ ƚŽ ƐĞƌǀĞ ƚŚĞ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ŽĨ ĂƵĐŚŝ ^ƚĂƚĞ ĂƐ ŐŽǀĞƌŶŽƌ͕ ĐŽŵĞ ϮϬϭϵ͘ tĞ ĂƌĞ ŶŽƚ ŽďůŝǀŝŽƵƐ ƚŚĂƚ ŵƵĐŚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŵŝƐĐŚŝĞǀŽƵƐ ĂŶĚ ĐĂƉƌŝĐŝŽƵƐ ƉƵďůŝĐĂƟŽŶƐ ĂƌĞ ŝŶƚĞŶĚĞĚ ƚŽ ƉŽƌƚƌĂLJ Śŝŵ ŝŶ ďĂĚ ůŝŐŚƚ͕ create unfavourable public image for him, confuse the electorate ĂŶĚ ĚĞƌĂŝů ŚŝƐ ĂŵďŝƟŽŶ͘ WĞƌŚĂƉƐ ŵŽƌĞ ŝƌŬƐŽŵĞ ƚŽ ŚŝƐ ĚĞƚƌĂĐƚŽƌƐ ŝƐ the groundswell of opinion that he should, in fact, throw his hat ŝŶƚŽ ƚŚĞ ƌŝŶŐ ƚŽ ƌƵŶ ĨŽƌ WƌĞƐŝĚĞŶƚ͘ ,Ğ ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂƚĞƐ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŶĮĚĞŶĐĞ ƌĞƉŽƐĞĚ ŝŶ Śŝŵ ďLJ Ă ĐƌŽƐƐ ƐĞĐƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ǀŝďƌĂŶƚ ĂŶĚ ĐŽŶĐĞƌŶĞĚ ƉĂƚƌŝŽƟĐ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶƐ͕ ĞƐƉĞĐŝĂůůLJ ƚŚĞ ůĞĂĚĞƌƐŚŝƉ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ϰϮ ƌĞǁĂ LJŽƵƚŚ ŵŽǀĞŵĞŶƚƐ ƵŶĚĞƌ ƚŚĞ ůĞĂĚĞƌƐŚŝƉ ŽĨ ŽŵƌĂĚĞ ůůŝŽƚ ĮLJŽ ƚŚĂƚ ŚĂƐ ĐŽŶƐŝƐƚĞŶƚůLJ ĐŚĂŵƉŝŽŶĞĚ ƚŚĞ ĐĂŵƉĂŝŐŶ͘ ,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ ǁŚŝůĞ ůĞĂǀŝŶŐ ŚŝƐ ĨƵƚƵƌĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŚĂŶĚƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ůŵŝŐŚƚLJ 'ŽĚ͕ ƚŚĞ ĨŽƌŵĞƌ ŵŝŶŝƐƚĞƌ ŝƐ ƐƚƌŽŶŐůLJ ŵŽƟǀĂƚĞĚ ƚŽ ũŽŝŶ ŚĂŶĚƐ ǁŝƚŚ ĐŽŵƉĂƚƌŝŽƚƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŽǀĞƌĚƵĞ ƚĂƐŬ ŽĨ ŐŝǀŝŶŐ ĂƵĐŚŝ ^ƚĂƚĞ Ă ůĞĂĚĞƌƐŚŝƉ ƚŚĂƚ ǁŝůů ƌĞͲŝŐŶŝƚĞ ƚŚĞ ĚĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚĂů ƐƚƌŝĚĞƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ dĂƚĂƌŝ ůŝ ĂŶĚ ŚŵĞĚ DƵĂnjƵ ĞƌĂƐ͘ Furthermore, to his detractors and blackmailers, the senator ǁĂŶƚƐ ŝƚ ďĞ ŬŶŽǁŶ ƚŚĂƚ ŚĞ ŝƐ ƵƐĞĚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞƐĞ ďĂƩůĞƐ ĂŶĚ ǁŝůů ŶĞǀĞƌ ďĞ ŝŶƟŵŝĚĂƚĞĚ ďLJ ƚŚĞ ŽŶͲŐŽŝŶŐ ƐŵĞĂƌ ĐĂŵƉĂŝŐŶ͘ /Ĩ ƚŚĞ ƉƵƌƉŽƐĞ ŽĨ the campaign is to force him out of the governorship race in Bauchi ^ƚĂƚĞ͕ ƚŚĞŶ ŚŝƐ ĂĚǀĞƌƐĂƌŝĞƐ ŚĂǀĞ ĨĂŝůĞĚ͖ ŝĨ ŝƚ ŝƐ ƚŚĞ ĞdžƚƌĞŵĞ ĐĂƐĞ ŽĨ ĨƌŝŐŚƚĞŶŝŶŐ Śŝŵ ĂǁĂLJ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ĐŽƵŶƚƌLJ͕ ƐƵĐŚ Ă ŵŽƟǀĞ ĐĂŶŶŽƚ ƐƵĐĐĞĞĚ͘ Bala Mohammed has never demurred from the understanding that Ă ĚĂLJ ŽĨ ƌĞĐŬŽŶŝŶŐ ǁŝůů ĐŽŵĞ ĨŽƌ ĞǀĞƌLJ ƉƵďůŝĐ ŽĸĐĞ ŚŽůĚĞƌ͕ ƉĂƐƚ͕ ƉƌĞƐĞŶƚ Žƌ ĨƵƚƵƌĞ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĂƚ Ă ĐůĞĂƌ ĐŽŶƐĐŝĞŶĐĞ ĨĞĂƌƐ ŶŽ ĂĐĐƵƐĂƟŽŶ͘ ŵďŽůĚĞŶĞĚ ďLJ ƚŚĂƚ ůŽŌLJ ŝĚĞĂů͕ ŚĞ ŚĂƐ ĨĂĐĞĚ ƵŶĚĞƐĞƌǀĞĚ ŝŶƋƵŝƐŝƟŽŶ͕ ŝŶƐƵůƚƐ ĂŶĚ ďůĂĐŬŵĂŝů Ăƚ ůĞŐŝƐůĂƟǀĞ ŚĞĂƌŝŶŐƐ͕ Ăƚ ƟŵĞƐ under the headship of people whose moral standing has since ďĞĞŶ ŝŵƉĞĂĐŚĞĚ ďLJ ƚŚĞ ŚŝŐŚĞƐƚ ĐŽƵƌƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ůĂŶĚ͘ &Žƌ ƚŚĞ ƐĂŬĞ ŽĨ emphasis, it needs be placed on record that he emerged unscathed ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĐŚĂŐƌŝŶ ĂŶĚ ĚŝƐĂƉƉŽŝŶƚŵĞŶƚ ŽĨ ŚŝƐ ƚƌĂĚƵĐĞƌƐ͘ tĞ ƐƚĂƚĞ ĞŵƉŚĂƟĐĂůůLJ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ ĨŽƌŵĞƌ ŵŝŶŝƐƚĞƌ ďĞĂƌƐ ŶŽ ŐƌƵĚŐĞƐ ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚ ƚŚĞ ƵŚĂƌŝ ĚŵŝŶŝƐƚƌĂƟŽŶ ĨŽƌ ĞŵďĂƌŬŝŶŐ ŽŶ Ă ŚŽƵƐĞ ĐůĞĂŶŝŶŐ ĞdžĞƌĐŝƐĞ͘ ,ŝƐ ĐŽŶĐĞƌŶ͕ ŝĨ ĂŶLJ͕ ŝƐ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ & ĂƉƉĞĂƌƐ ƚŽ be beaming its searchlight in a discriminatory manner, given that he ŝƐ ƚŚĞ ŽŶůLJ ĨŽƌŵĞƌ ŵŝŶŝƐƚĞƌ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ & d ƚŚĂƚ ŝƐ ďĞŝŶŐ ƐŽ ƐĐƌƵƟŶŝnjĞĚ͘ The former minister is convinced that he has not deviated from the ƉƌĞĐĞĚĞŶƚƐ ƐĞƚ ďLJ ŚŝƐ ƉƌĞĚĞĐĞƐƐŽƌƐ ƐŽŵĞ ŽĨ ǁŚŽŵ ĂƌĞ ƐƟůů ƉůĂLJŝŶŐ ƉƌŽŵŝŶĞŶƚ ƌŽůĞƐ ƵŶĚĞƌ ƚŚĞ ƉƌĞƐĞŶƚ ƉŽůŝƟĐĂů ĂĚŵŝŶŝƐƚƌĂƟŽŶ͘ /Ĩ͕ therefore, his predecessors have not been indicted for any crime, ŚĞ ĚŽĞƐ ƐĞĞ ǁŚLJ ƚŚĞ ƐLJƐƚĞŵ ƐŚŽƵůĚ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞ ƚŽ ƐƵďũĞĐƚ Śŝŵ ƚŽ ƚŚŝƐ ƚŚŝŶůLJ ĚŝƐŐƵŝƐĞĚ ƉĞƌƐĞĐƵƟŽŶ͕ ďůĂĐŬŵĂŝů ĂŶĚ ƚƌŝĂů ďLJ ŵĞĚŝĂ͘ /Ŷ ƐƉŝƚĞ ŽĨ ŚŝƐ ƚƌĂǀĂŝůƐ͕ ŝŶ ůŝŶĞ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ƟŵĞůĞƐƐ ƐƚĂƚĞŵĞŶƚ ŽĨ DƵŚĂŵŵĂĚƵ ƵŚĂƌŝ ŝŶ ϭϵϴϯ͕ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĞīĞĐƚ ƚŚĂƚ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶƐ ŚĂǀĞ ŶŽ other country that they could call their own, Senator Mohammed ŚĂƐ ǀŽǁĞĚ ƚŽ ƌĞŵĂŝŶ ŝŶ EŝŐĞƌŝĂ͕ ƚŽ ũŽŝŶ ĨŽƌĐĞƐ ǁŝƚŚ ĐŽŵƉĂƚƌŝŽƚƐ͕ in and out of government, in the task of deepening democracy ĂŶĚ ĐƌĞĂƟŶŐ ƚŚĞ ĞŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ĞŵĞƌŐĞŶĐĞ ŽĨ Ă ƚƌƵůLJ ŐƌĞĂƚ ĞĐŽŶŽŵLJ ƚŚĂƚ ĞǀĞƌLJ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶ ǁŽƵůĚ ďĞ ƉƌŽƵĚ ŽĨ͘ Finally, Senator Bala Mohammed deeply appreciates the ƐƚĞĂĚĨĂƐƚŶĞƐƐ ŽĨ ŚŝƐ ĐŽŵƉĂƚƌŝŽƚƐ ĨƌŽŵ ĂƵĐŚŝ ^ƚĂƚĞ͕ ƉŽůŝƟĐĂů ĂůůŝĞƐ Ăůů ŽǀĞƌ ƚŚĞ ĐŽƵŶƚƌLJ͕ ǀŽůƵŶƚĞĞƌƐ ǁŽƌŬŝŶŐ ĨŽƌ ŚŝƐ ƉŽůŝƟĐĂů ĐŽŵĞďĂĐŬ ĂŶĚ͕ ŝŶ ƉĂƌƟĐƵůĂƌ͕ ƚŚĞ ůĞĂĚĞƌƐŚŝƉ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƌĞǁĂ zŽƵƚŚƐ ŐƌŽƵƉƐ ǁŚŽ have all stood by him during this period of trial and, in some cases, ƉĞƌƐĞĐƵƟŽŶ͘ /ƚ ŝƐ ŚŝƐ Įƌŵ ďĞůŝĞĨ ƚŚĂƚ͕ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ƉĂƐƐĂŐĞ ŽĨ ƟŵĞ͕ ĞƋƵŝƚLJ ĂŶĚ ũƵƐƟĐĞ ǁŝůů ƌĞŝŐŶ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ůĂŶĚ ĂŶĚ Ăůů ǁŝůů ďĞ ĨƌĞĞ͘ dŚĂŶŬ LJŽƵ͘

Media consultant to Senator Bala Mohammed

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NEWS XTRA ‘Private Sector Participation Vital for Revival of Education in Nigeria’ Damilola Oyedele in Abuja The Chairman/Founder of the Lead British International School (LBIS), Hon. Wole Oke, has harped on the need for the encouragement of the private sector to boost the country’s ailing education sector.

This is as he lauded the invitation extended to Turkish businesses to establish schools in Nigeria, by President Muhammadu Buhari, during a recent visit to Turkey. President Buhari, in a recent visit to Ankara for the

In Brief Governors IGR Peer Learning As part of its strategic mandate to improve fiscal governance at the subnational level, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum Secretariat (NGFS) will kick off its annual IGR Peer Learning Event Monday, October 30 at Sheraton Hotel, Abuja. The event which will host all Commissioners of Finance of the 36 States and Chairmen of States’ Boards of Internal Revenue will provide a platform to share practical and effective measures of boosting revenue generation, assimilate and share knowledge resources to guide the implementation of needed reforms and identify priority areas for technical assistance from the NGF’s IGR HelpDesk. The event will be hosted alongside some development partners who have shown keen interest in raising the revenue status of states.

The programme will also leverage on recommendations of the federal government’s fiscal sustainability plan, and decisions reached by the Joint Tax Board (JTB), according to a release issued by the Head, media & public affairs, Nigeria Governors’ Forum Secretariat Abuja, Abulrazque B. Barkindo.

Cleric Urges Prayer, Fasting Chairman, Central Working Committee, Reinhard Bonnke Final Fire Crusade in Africa, Apostle Alexander Bamgbola, has called on Nigerians to fast and pray for progress of the nation; even as the Final Fire Crusade of Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke will hold at the crusade ground, near Sparklight Estate, opposite OPIC Event Centre, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, from Wednesday, November 8 till Sunday, November 12, between 4:30pm and 8pm daily. Bamgbola, in a release titled, ‘A wake-up call to fast and pray’, noted that “a vast majority of Nigerians are living in perilous times, with grinding poverty, stark illiteracy, and debilitating disease staring everyone in the face. Crimes of rape, ritual killings, kidnapping, armed robbery, drug addiction, fraud, and mind-boggling homicidal cases, have combined with corruption, erosion of sacred values, and a vacuum of Godly leadership, to make life very tough indeed for Nigerians.” However, he noted that hope is not lost after all, if only the citizens would rise and pray to God for succour.

G8 meeting, had urged Turkey business sector to establish schools and hospitals in Nigeria.

Oke speaking during a ceremony to mark the 10th anniversary of LBIS in Abuja Saturday, said establishing a school cannot be motivated by profit, but rather as a way to impart values in developing children and establishing legacies.

“You may have a gigantic structure but what is important is what comes out of it. Legacies are important. What value are you adding to others? Our focus is that when you give us your little boys and girls, we return

them to you as responsible men and women,” he said.

The Guest Lecturer, Prof.

Abdullahi Y Shehu, lamented that several Nigerians who benefitted from the public school system have seemingly contributed to the decline of the public education system.

Shehu is former Director General, ECOWAS InterGovernmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) and currently Director, Olusegun Obasanjo Good Governance and Development Research Centre, National Open Univer-

sity of Nigeria, Abuja.

The Guest lecturer noted that those who ought to change the situation of education in Nigeria have their children studying abroad, and therefore have no stake in the sector.

He added that Nigeria’s national budget has consistently failed to allocate enough to the education sector, thereby lagging behind other African countries despite its status on the continent.

At the ceremony, the school honoured its alumni who have made first class in their tertiary studies.

RAL Helicopters Secures AOC, Commences Charter Flight Operation Revilo Aerospace Ltd has announced the commencement of helicopter charter flight operation. The helicopter transport operation division of the Revilo Aerospace Group, which is trading as RAL Helicopters, is in technical collaboration with Helicopter Transport Services (HTS) Canada Inc. The business model is anchored on the Nigerian economic diversification policy beyond oil and gas, to Agriculture, Mining, Power, Construction, Telecom, Entertainment, etc.

RAL Helicopters pays special attention to developing the capability required for delivering aerial services to these sectors of the economy, and as such carves a niche for itself in Nigeria as well

as in the West Africa.

Revilo Aerospace successfully expanded to commercial helicopter charter operations after completing the onerous NCAA audit and subsequent issuance of the Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC). For 24 years, RAL has been a leader in the MRO and Airline technical support, servicing major international and domestic airlines, and the general aviation.

“Expanding to helicopter charter service will open up new market sectors for us as many multinational companies investing in Africa are in need of point to point safe and reliable transportation service to explore and monitor investment opportunities in all corners of Nigeria.”

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

EPL: Man City Keep Winning, United Down Spurs

M

anchesterCitymaintainedtheir charge towards the Premier League title with a 3-2 win at West Bromwich Albion as Manchester United kept within five points of their neighbours with a 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.

Goals from Leroy Sane, Fernandinho and Raheem Sterling moved the leaders on to 28 points - equalling the best return after 10 matches of a Premier League season - as irresistible City took their campaign’s tally of league goals to a remarkable 35.

Pep Guardiola’s Man City continue to look unstoppable at domestic level, having opened up in brilliant fashion with Sane scoring his sixth goal in seven league games after 10 minutes.

Though Jay Rodriguez equalised quickly, City were in complete control once Fernandinho’s deflected effort put them ahead after 15 minutes.

Substitute Sterling scored his ninth of the season in all competitions four minutes after coming with City’s only late moment of concern en route to a 13th straight win coming when careless defending from Nicolas Otamendi let in Matty Phillips for a consolation.

City’s 28 points equalled the tally accrued by Chelsea in 2005 and Manchester City themselves in 2011 - and both those sides went on to win the title - but neither of those teams could match the plus-29 goal difference of Guardiola’s charges.

The manager reserved special praise for Sane, describing him as a “special talent” after City extended their unbeaten record in all competitions to a club record 21.

Earlier, Jose Mourinho received the response he had demanded from his United side following their humbling defeat at Huddersfield

Martial wheels away in celebration after scoring the only goal for Manchester United against Tottenham

Town as an 81st-minute goal from substitute Anthony Martial preserved their perfect home record.

The win, their sixth straight victory in the league at Old Trafford without conceding a goal, moved United on to 23 points, three clear of Spurs as champions Chelsea and Arsenal both marched to within a point of their London rivals.

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte, who had shown unusual irritation last week when asked about stories linking compatriot Carlo Ancelotti with his job, seemed rather happier after Eden Hazard’s 51st minute goal earned his side a 1-0 win in the late game at Bournemouth to maintain their fourth spot.

Arsene Wenger celebrated a successful 800th Premier League match in charge as Arsenal

fought from one down to beat Swansea City 2-1 with second-half goals from Sead Kolasinac and Aaron Ramsey.

Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp got the better of his best friend, Huddersfield boss David Wagner, in a 3-0 win atAnfield where second-half strikes from Daniel Sturridge, Roberto Firmino and Georginio Wijnaldum pushed the Reds to sixth on 16 points.

Mexican GP:Vettel Takes Pole, Hamilton Third Oboh Earns Equatorial Guinea Open Invitation

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errari’s Sebastian Vettel stole pole position for the Mexican Grand Prix from Red Bull’s Max Verstappen as Lewis Hamilton lines up third. Verstappen was quickest after the first runs of the last part of qualifying by a quarter of a second, but a superb effort by Vettel put him on top. He pipped the Dutchman by 0.086secs, saying on the radio: “What a lap.”

Hamilton, who needs only to finish fifth in today’s race to be sure of the title, was 0.446secs off pole.

Hamilton and team-mate Valtteri Bottas topped the first part of qualifying but the presence of Vettel and Verstappen just 0.1secs behind them, despite using one grade harder tyres, suggested it would be difficult to stay there, and so it proved.

Hamilton said: “I gave it everything I could.

The last lap could have been a couple of tenths quicker but I wouldn’t have been able to match those times [of the leading two]. We are still in for the win and I am hoping I get to have at least a battle with one of them.” Verstappen was under investigation by the race stewards for potentially impeding Bottas’ first lap in the final session in the stadium section, but after studying the incident, the stewards ruled Verstappen had not impeded Bottas.

Verstappen said: “Which incident? I was on the inside and he was doing his line and so there is no incident.” Vettel claimed his 50th career pole and afterwards said: “We have to maximise every session. Today is really important and tomorrow [Sunday] we [will] see. It is not as much in my control as I would like it to be. We go all out and attack.

From Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

S

cratch player, Georgina Oboh, has earned a rare invitation to the 3e Actuaries Equatorial Guinea Open Championship that comes up at the end of the year in Mongomo, Equatorial Guinea.

With the wild card, the 16- year-old amateur will share the limelight with selected top female golfers, who ply on the Ladies Professional Golfers Association (LPGA) and Ladies European Tour (LET).

In this league are the defending champion, Paz Echeverria of Chile, Paula Hurtado of Colombia, Leigh Whittaker of Germany, Leticia RasAnderica

of Spain, Maria Jose Uribe of Colombia, Kyle Roig of Puerto Rico and Chayuda Singhsuwan of Thailand.

The lady tournament will attract the sum of $100,000 when it tees off from December 14-17 at the Presidential Golf Course, Mongomo.

Manchester-born Oboh will head to Equatorial Guinea as the youngest contestant on the field, joining the veteran Uloma Mbuko as the only Nigerian ladies at the event.

She confirmed her Equatorial Guinea itinerary to THISDAY after featuring at Ibadan Mesiogo Open, one of the series of international qualifying tournaments climaxing at Mongomo.

“Yes, I will be going to 3E Actuaries Open in Mongomo; it will be a great opportunity and honour to attend the tournament in Equatorial Guinea,” Oboh said.

In 2014, she hugged the spotlight after winning the World Junior Golf Championship in Florida, USA. Touted as the player to finally be Nigeria’s first player on the LPGA Tour, Oboh cut her teeth at Ikoyi Club 1938 at the golf academy created by Dr Adenike Marinho.

Her father, George, who plays golf as a five handicapper at Ikoyi, is her coach and usually doubles as her Caddy.

Among her contemporaries are Diana Osmond and Anita Uwadia currently at North Carolina University.

Oboh, who once featured in the US Kids European Golf Championships Van Horn Cup, stressed that her ultimate desire is to turn professional.

PREMIERSHIP RESULTS & FIXTURES

Joshua connects Takam with a right hook on his way to victory yesterday

Man United Arsenal Crystal Palace Liverpool Watford West Brom Bournemouth Brighton Leicester

1-0 2-1 2-2 3-0 0-1 2-3 0-1 vs vs

Tottenham Swansea West Ham Huddersfield Stoke Man City Chelsea Southampton2:30pm Everton 5pm

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High Life

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...Amazing lifestyles of Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rich and famous

Youngest Bank Chair...Unity Bank Appoints Ibrahim Babangidaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Son, Aminu, As New Chairman

T

he question, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Who ought to be boss?â&#x20AC;&#x2122; is like asking â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Who ought to be the tenor in a quartet?â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Obviously, the man who can sing tenor, opined the late Henry Ford. In the same vein, it could be determined that Unity Bankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s appointment of Aminu Babangida, youngest son of former Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida, as its chairman, was a right move in the right direction.

Aminu does not appear to be the best man for the job, he is in fact the best man for the job, according to senior members of the bankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s board.

If he werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t in possession of immense knowledge and an unremitting gift of wisdom and character, his appointment wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have been ratiďŹ ed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), argued sources within the bankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s senior management.

Fortune, has indeed favoured Aminuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s prepared mind. The entrepreneur, cofounder and Chief Executive OďŹ&#x192;cer of Phoenix Energy, Abuja, shone with greatest appeal among a list of candidates nominated for the esteemed position.

Besides his vast experience as a business founder and manager, Aminu has also worked on the trading ďŹ&#x201A;oor of TraďŹ gura BV, London, UK. He attended Regents Business School and Westminster Business School in London

Aig Imohkuede

BLISSACTIVATEDâ&#x20AC;Ś AIG IMOHKUEDE SETTO MARRYFUNKE FOWLER Ëž

Bliss activated in Aig Imohkuedeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s heart in unexpected hours, like the enchanted spell sailing in with the wind to animate a loveless heart. It enshrouded his heart soon immediately he stepped into the soft, blissful glades of the smiles and endearing warmth of his newfound love.

To Aig, love was the proverbial thorn that pricked his strides, scaring him off the valley of marriage but few years till he clocks 50, Aig has found his bride thus dismissing fears by friends and family that he might end up an â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;eternal bachelor.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Aig has found that ethereal maiden in her flower whose love presumably trumps a hundred coat-ofarms and the love of a pining mob of

where he obtained a BA in International Business and MA in International Business Management respectively. He was appointed to the board of Unity Bank Plc in 2011.

His inexorable desire to make a positive diďŹ&#x20AC;erence has seen him cut a swift, inspiring path to the top of the business world. Like a fearless warrior, he soldiers on, hacking his way through the frontlines of predictable and unforeseen odds, wielding knowledge as his sword and integrity as his shield.

His appointment as the Chairman, Unity Bank, makes him the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s youngest bank chairman ever, having only recently crossed the threshold of 40 years of age. Despite his youth, there is no gainsaying Aminu is blessed with a wise head on his young shoulders.

His youth and fearlessness are his greatest assets, enabling him to think up bold moves which he deploys regularly to outsmart more tenured counterparts in industry.

Yet there is no cult of personality around this energetic young man. He is no public celebrity subject to daily gossips and sensationalism. He does not blow his own trumpet nor does he pay others to make deafening vuvuzela sounds singing his praise to high heavens. He is a man chasing after lasting legacies rather than the gaudy, borrowed robes of transient popularity. damsels.

While his friends and family agonised over his perpetual bachelorhood, Aig surprised them with the only woman with whom he would walk down the aisle: Funke Fowler.

The latter, who is the daughter of the Federal Inland Revenue boss and former Lagos tax Czar, Tunde Fowler, has also found love in Aig, soon after she bled and stung from an ill-fated marriage to ex-husband, Abbey Kuku.

It is noteworthy that Funke is the Executive Director at Coronation Bank, a fashion enterprise, where Nigerian billionaire, Tunde Folawiyo, is the Chairman and she has unlocked the soft spaces in her heart for the wild, intoxicating thrusts of Aigâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s passionate love.

Aig, like he is fondly called by friends and associates, is the younger and very quiet brother of the former MD/CEO of Access Bank PLC, in the person of Aigboje Aig-Imohkuede.

At the moment, Aig and Fowlerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s story reads like a passionate verse in a treatise of love. The intrigues and realities inspire such rare passion that has become a reference point for experienced and budding romantics alike among their coterie of friends, relatives and other loved ones.

Findings revealed that, barring any interference, the two lovebirds are set to tie the knots in a few months.

For Aig, it would be his first sojourn into the meadows of wedlock but for Funke, it would be her second attempt at finding bliss and living it within the folds of matrimony.

While no marriage is an easy grind, letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hope they are blessed with the cosmic gift of resilient love. That perfect love that survives the test of time.

Aminu Babangida

MAN WITH THE GOLDEN TOUCH...OTUNBA OLUSEGUN RUNSEWE IGNITES NEW PORTFOLIO

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There is a sphinx-like quality in Otunba Olusegun Runsewe. His genius burns with electricity that that no earthly contrivance could tame. Wherever he finds himself, Runsewe parades his smarts at astounding depths. As the new Director-General of National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Runsewe is set to transform the culture and arts industry into a globally acclaimed treasure trove.

In a manner reminiscent of his exploits as the National Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) boss, Runsewe has taken significant steps to reposition the cultural industry as the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s next cash cow. Among such measures was his recent convention and participation at a forum to progressively engage prominent players in the sector, courtesy the National Stakeholders Meeting on Cultural Industries Forum organised by the council in Lagos.

Runsewe brought together over 20 corporate stakeholders to a roundtable to brainstorm on the best strategy that Nigeria can use to transform her culture and arts into a veritable cash cow.

He said the forum was meant to solicit the assistance of the media and other stakeholders in informing the general public and mobilising full support for the councilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s determination and mission to bring to the fore, the economic potentials of Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s creative industries.

Hardly anyone would forget his successful tenure as NTDC boss. There is no gainsaying Runsewe supervised the positive turnaround of the corporation

from a moribund national agency into a global tourist attraction and revenue earner.

In the same vein, Runsewe has revealed his intention to re-organise the programmes and activities of the NCAC along an entrepreneurial perspective with a view to exploring the merchandising opportunities associated with them.

He intends to establish mechanisms that would transform the sector by empowering local artists, craftsmen and women, to take control of this industry and make the best of its interminable opportunities.

One other such creative innovation of the DG is observable in his recent campaign to glamourise the proposed 37 Cultural Wonders of Nigeria. The initiative is designed to highlight the economic potentials of an iconic cultural manifestation in each state of the federation and the FCT, and the signing

Olusegun Runsewe

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

HIGHLIFE

Billionaire Magnate, Femi Otedola, and Friends Celebrate First Daughter, Tolani, in a High-octane Musical Showcase

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ike the proverbial apple, Olawunmi Tolani Otedola didn’t fall too far from the tree.

The first daughter of billionaire magnate, Femi Otedola, bedazzles peer and the elderly, with the lustre rare ingots make amid a trove of middling jewels.

Like her younger sibling, Florence Ifeoluwa a.k.a DJ Cuppy, Tolani has taken to music. And in conscious bid to announce her passion and artistry to the world, Tolani recently hosted a musical showcase at the highbrow event place, Terra Kulture, on Tiamiyu Savage Street, Victoria Island (VI), Lagos.

The United Kingdom (UK) based artiste returned home to establish herself as one of Nigeria’s finest musicians.

And if her musical showcase was her entry performance, Tolani no doubt presents as a bundle of talent. Born into incredible affluence, Tolani, who is a sister to DJ Cuppy and Temi, a fashion blogger, devotes herself to a vision far removed from what family, friends and associates of her billionaire father and Forte Oil boss, Femi Otedola, probably had of her.

Unlike several billionaire heiresses, she would not tread the beaten path and engage in commercial pursuits related to her of the MoU with the Bank of Industry for the sum of N300 million as loan for eligible artists.

Other long-term interventions include rebranding of NCAC flagship programmes such as the African Arts and Crafts (AFAC) Expo and National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) beginning with the 2017 edition which comes up soon. According to the DG, the new focus of the council now is to direct cultural activities and engagement towards revenue generation; how to effectively tap into the economic potentials of our cultural heritage to improve grassroots development; job creation, youth and women empowerment as well as how to deploy culture to serve as a panacea for peace, unity and diplomacy.

No doubt the NCAC is set to experience a radical but positive transformation under the leadership of Runsewe, its new boss. As Nigeria waits with baited breath for the changes to kick in, stakeholders in the cultural industries are experiencing a resurgence of hope and progressive dreams that synergise with the vision of the new arts and culture council boss.

father’s business empire like many of her peers from filthy-rich families. Tolani chooses to be different, seeking out her livelihood and acclaim in her passion for music.

There is something about the Otedola girls, from Tolani, Florence (DJ Cuppy) to Temi, that inspires. Sometimes it manifests as envy and dread among their peers in high society. Although their father, Femi, is no music maestro, his wards radiate a rare artistry that must be ingrained somewhere along the depths of their lineage, according to pundits.

They radiate the essence of creative spirit, passion and acclaim that the odds can never tame. Thus they manifest on the world like scenic spokes of the rainbow across a dystopic world. And she made such a grand entrance courtesy her musical showcase. The event, which had in attendance, the creme of Nigeria’s high society, featured the comingout of the entertainment hopeful into the challenging but highly gratifying world of international showbiz.

Tolani certainly left no one in doubt that she is out to give established local and international class acts a good challenge and run for artistry. the exclusive preserve of men. The boss of StillEarth, a construction firm, projects that shrewd, indefatigable spirit that shepherds the greatest of men to most enviable heights.

Very early in life, she attained entrepreneurial acclaim for her inspiring exploits in the business world—you could be forgiven for imagining that she was shepherded by an unrelenting innate alter ego that persistently counselled her that where strength fails, boldness at least will deserve praise. Hence her inexorable dash for the summit of achievement in her business endeavors.

Soon after she positioned StillEarth at the pinnacle of the construction industry, Oyin has recorded another remarkable first achievement by her recent foray into

THE FIRE STARTER...FROM CONSTRUCTION TO BUSINESS FINANCING, OYIN ADEYEMI BLAZES THE TRAIL

r STILLEARTH HEAD HONCHO TAKES ANOTHER REMARKABLE LEAP Oyin Adeyemi is unusual. She exudes the savvy of the ancients, the type of spunk that spurred medieval Amazons to dare and surpass exploits that were

Oyin Adeyemi

Tolani Otedola

the echelon of fiscal enterprise.

By her recent exploit, Oyin plays big league with the men.. In a few months, she will launch her new enterprise and partnership with renowned players in the finance sector. Predictably, she is starting out in colossal, long-term entrepreneurial mode.

There is no gainsaying Oyin exemplifies a totally modern yet timeless construct of audaciousness and femininity which manifests as a blend of dashing individuality, genius and noble pedigree.

Folk who are familiar with her beginnings and ascent in the business world earnestly attest to her industry.

She worked hard to attain her current status and she is far removed from the contemporary alpha female stereotype that glorifies flamboyance, selfaggrandizement and narcissism above substance. The self-driven entrepreneur and construction magnate comes across as an enviable Amazon and achiever in an area and era where everyone seems to understate the role and worth of a driven woman.

It is only fair then that she becomes a towering business magnate on the strength of her exploits in the business realm.

Soon she ventured into the construction and engineering sector with the determination to excel and set the pace in an industry controlled by powerful men with deep pockets. Oyin however, determinedly maneuvered StillEarth Limited to the top.

The company is a diversified projects company that deals in construction, real

estate and just recently, project finance.

Today, Oyin manages a multi-billion Naira firm with astounding savvy and depth of character. A renowned icon of female power on the business realm, Oyin is a star, a pioneer and workhorse with monumental focus. These towering traits have led in no small measure to her speedy rise up the entrepreneurial ladder of commerce and acclaim.

CONCERN OVER GLORIA IBRU’S NEW LOOK “I’m fat, but I’m thin inside. Has it ever struck you that there’s a thin man inside every fat man, just as they say there’s a statue inside every block of stone,” said the late British writer George Orwell. Years after his witty rhetoric,

Gloria Ibru

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

Ͷ͵

HIGHLIFE

The Return of Munira Marwa

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very day in the life of Munira Marwa portends a fresh adventure; it’s enchanting, melodic, like the coming together of lovelorn soul mates caught in an interminable whirlpool of passion. Perhaps it’s her captivating beauty, maybe it’s her capacity to win and tame even the most frigid heart that enchants her husband and binds him to her love – for each day spent in her presence necessitates a fresh wooing. And her husband, Col. Buba Marwa, former military administrator of Lagos and former Nigerian ambassador to South Africa is definitely up to the task. Every day, he treats Hajia Munira to fresh treat and goes out of his way to ensure that she enjoys the best their

marriage can give.

However, Munira’s joy is two-fold; while she savours the joy of her blissful marriage, she is making a momentous return to the social scene.

It would be recalled that before she disappeared from the social arena, Munira was a preeminent personality and guest at many high octane shindigs where her very colourful lace materials caught the attention and admiration of all and sundry. Munira is back with a bang and she is set to reclaim her prized spot in the social circuit. A courteous woman, Munira incontestably occupies respectable spot in the pantheons of Nigeria’s high society. She is enthrallingly beautiful, approachable and very fashionable too thus making her the darling of the high society.

his brittle wit rings true in the world of Gloria Ibru, daughter of Oloorogun Micheal Ibru. Gloria has achieved in a few months what a number of people fight a futile battle against all their lives: weight loss. She has gone through a remarkable transformation burning off many calories in a few months, thus attesting to the fact that anything can be achieved with confidence and determination. The magic lies in her very strenuous but rewarding exercise schedule. Intense as it is, Gloria keeps going, spurred by the desire to burn off the very deadly calories that might still be lurking anywhere in her body. In the wake of her astounding reduction in size, a lot of news have been flying around that Gloria weight lost has nothing to do with exercise but a strange illness.

Have you seen Gloria lately? If yes, you would almost believe the latter assertion.

However, a time also was when her band, G-Notes, was not just a toast of fun lovers, but was also the favourite of top celebrities who had penchant for brilliant

live band performance. Those were the glorious days of Gloria. If what her fans and friends are saying is anything to go by, then her once popular band G-Notes is almost comatose as her musical career is careening off course.

ON RAYMOND DOKPESI’S 66TH BIRTHDAY IN ABUJA But everybody knows what Chief Raymond Dokpesi, the chairman of AIT, thinks of attaining such a milestone. He clocked 66 last Thursday. And he has cause to be thankful to God on clocking the wisdom years, hence his unparalleled joy. But contrary to expectations that he would celebrate with pomp and ceremony, Raymond, opted for a lowkey celebration. The respectable media guru, it was learnt, prefers to spend his hard-earned money on the less privileged and downtrodden than to squander it on such trivial events like a birthday party.

His philanthropic gestures have brought succour to many. To celebrate him, his friends and associates gathered at his Hiltop Residence to celebrate his birthday.

The leader of the league of friends, Sen. Yisa Braimoh, said “today we have been blessed to witness this very special day to celebrate his 66th birthday”. A birthday card was later presented to him which was signed by all members of his campaign organisation as a birthday present. Dokpesi thanked them and expressed his profound gratitude saying “I cannot have a better presence than the presence of all of you I am seeing here, am deeply grateful for the sacrifices you are making. Although we may have our differences in trying to attain certain goals but the goals are common. A lot of people have said that Nigeria is not matured but I completely disagree”.

FORMER AKWA IBOM FIRST LADY, UDY UMONDAK, LOSES ONLY CHILD Raymond Dokpesi

Hajia Munira Marwa

Death is man’s most inevitable end.

And when it occurs, it leaves in its trail tears, anguish and sorrow.

Udy Umondak Former First Lady of Akwa Ibom State, UduakAbasi Umondak, is bereaved. Her grief is occasioned by the death of her only child, Victoria Nkanga Herman.

Victoria suffered a cardiac arrest in the United States. The 40-year-old lady never recovered from it, as she died some days ago. Victoria was Uduak’s only child from her marriage to Nsikak Nkanga, the former Military governor of Akwa Ibom State. She was was buried in the USA, where she had lived almost all her life. The funeral service took place on Monday, 9 October, 2017, at Capital Christian Fellowship. 10411 Greenbelt, Lanham, Maryland, USA. The interment took place at National Harmony Memorial Park, 7101 Sheriff Road, Landover.

returns finer, like burnished steel from a steel forge.

Thus as you read, Madam Helen Okunbo, the beautiful mother of multi billionaire businessman, Captain Hosa Okunbo, the chairman of Ocean Marine Services, evolves as worthy inspiration to generations of family and friends alike.

Little wonder her son, Hosa and his siblings celebrated her in grand style last Sunday when she clocked 80.

Mama Okunbo is no doubt a pillar of trust, hope, compassion and support to everyone around her, particularly her family members. She never shies from giving them crucial and beneficial moral support in the most trying and pleasant moments. She is undoubtedly their guiding light through the wilderness of life and their interminable gust of calming wind on life’s stormy seas.

Mama Okunbo has been a lot of positive influence on Capt. Okunbo in particular; thus his relentless bid to treat her to the best of celebrations.

A MOTHER IN A MILLION… CAPT. HOSA OKUNBO CELEBRATES MOTHER AT 80 She has gone through the motions of life with equanimity and grace. Through the shrill clang of trials and pain, she emerged victorious as the rough hewn ore

Hosa Okunbo

Sunday October 29, 2017

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Price: N400

MISSILE Col. Ali to FG

“There is no doubt that we have derailed because we are not doing what we say we want to do. Why is it so? We need to find an answer to that. If we do not find answer, then what should we do to get us all back on track? We owe this great nation and the 180 million Nigerians the duty to give good governance. Good governance is what they voted for and good governance is what they expect and deserve.”

– The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd), urging the federal government to find solution to the problems of the country and ensure good governance.

SIMONKOLAWOLE SIMONKOLAWOLELIVE!

simon.kolawole@thisdaylive.com, sms: 0805 500 1961

Can Maina be Buhari’s Turning Point?

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o cut a long story short, Alhaji Abdulrasheed Abdullahi Maina came into national limelight in 2013 when, as chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reform, he was accused of perpetrating a fraud running into over N100 billion. The senate committee probing the matter invited him to testify but he refused — while regularly driving in and out of Aso Rock to demonstrate his closeness to President Goodluck Jonathan. Maina thought he was untouchable. The pressure mounted, senate issued a bench warrant and he soon ran out of the country, absconding from duty and getting dismissed from the civil service in return. The EFCC also declared him wanted.

Four years later — and two years into “change” — top officials of the Buhari administration arranged an elaborate scheme to bring Maina back to the country in a blaze of glory. He literally rode on a donkey to the shouts of “Hosanna” — if we are to believe his family, who claimed the “pension messiah” was actually invited back from exile to be part of Buhari’s Team Change.

He was reinstated and promoted from deputy director to director instantly. With a little luck, he was well on his way to becoming permanent secretary. He could even become a minister, an ambassador or a governor. He could become president, why not? This is Nigeria, remember?

From all the memos that are now available in the public domain, Mr. Abubakar Malami, the attorney-general of the federation, Gen. Abdurrahman Dambazau, the minister of interior, and Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita, the head of service, all participated one way or the other in formalising Maina’s reinstatement.

How much President Muhammadu Buhari knew about this perfidy will continue to be a subject of speculation, but at least he quickly seized the moral high ground by ordering the sack of Maina when Premium Times, the investigative online newspaper, blew the lid.

It is impossible to cut this long story short, but that is the tragicomedy in three paragraphs.

The Maina story illustrates everything that is wrong with Nigeria. Most of the ingredients for the underdevelopment of Nigeria are contained in the saga. One, wickedness in high places.

After workers have served Nigeria all their youthful and productive years, they spend their old age chasing their pensions up and down.

Some are owed years in arrears. The regular excuse is that there is no money to pay them.

In retirement, they usually face critical health issues — high blood pressure, diabetes, heart failure and such like. And, what a pity, they will have no money for treatment. Yet their pension is their right. It is their sweat, their blood. But who cares?

A pension reform chairman is accused of fraud running into billions of naira. Yet he lives in opulence, too much for a civil servant. But who cares? He is well dressed, well groomed and handsome-looking, and allegedly owns the best of mansions and all manner of property home and abroad — while the old, ragged pensioners struggle in pain and in vain, day and night, to collect their entitlements. My heart melted the day I saw a picture on the front page of Nigerian Tribune many years ago: a pensioner had collapsed and died at a verification centre, and — with his shrouded dead body serving as backdrop — the rest pensioners remained glued to the bench waiting for Godot.

The question you would ask yourself is: why on earth would anyone born of a woman see the sufferings of these old people and remain heartless? Why would anybody deny these hapless pensioners their entitlements in that old age under the guise of “no money” while

Buhari stealing, wasting and mismanaging the resources?

It takes a conscience seared with iron to be so callous. It takes a wicked conscience to be frolicking and gallivanting while denying workers and pensioners the legitimate reward of their sweat. Any country that treats workers and pensioners with this wickedness can never make progress. I want to be contradicted with hard evidence.

Two, the Maina story tells the story of impunity.

You mean a man declared wanted by the EFCC can confidently return to the country with the help of top officials of a government that claims to be fighting corruption? You mean the police and the Department of State Service (DSS) could provide security for the fugitive? You mean he could be promoted instantly? Impunity is well captured in Yoruba language as “tani o mumi?” That is, “who the hell can touch me”?

There is this air among the Nigerian elite that they can do anything and get away with it.

Nobody can touch them. They kill and steal and get medals in return. Impunity is the name of the game.

When President Buhari assumed office two years ago, I wrote an article, “The One Thing Buhari Must Do” (July 5, 2015). I said if the president would have just a one-point agenda, it should be an all-out war against impunity. In place of “War against Corruption”, I proposed “War against Impunity”. There would always be corruption, I said, as there is no corruption-free country in the world. However, what gives Nigeria the gold medal is impunity. Impudence.

Effrontery. The audacity with which laws are violated and corruption is implemented in Nigeria is incredible. Any country practising such impunity can never develop. I want to be contradicted with hard evidence.

The third aspect of the Maina story that captures Nigeria’s underdevelopment is shamelessness. In a civilised country, in a country where people have a sense of shame, those implicated in the scandal would have resigned by now. I am not even suggesting that they should be sacked — that is another matter entirely. I am saying on their own, having let this country down badly, they should have left

government. But there is no sense of shame in Nigeria. If we had shame, Nigeria would not be where it is today. Most of the people in government are shameless. Show me a country ruled by shameless people and I will show you a doomed society. I want to be contradicted with hard evidence.

When we discuss the underdevelopment of Nigeria, it is usually the story of wickedness, impunity and shamelessness in high places. It takes absolute wickedness to see the suffering of the people and not be bothered, and continue to loot and rape with impunity and shamelessness.

I am forced to ask and ask again and again: who in government really cares about the plight of Nigerians? Across the length and breadth of this country, only a few states consider payment of salaries and pensions as priority. They would rather mould graven images or go for lesser hajj or build ultra-modern governor’s lodge than meet their basic obligations to the people.

Meanwhile, Buhari’s government is beginning to lose it — as evident in the incredible attempt to hold Jonathan’s “loyalists” responsible for the recall of Maina. It is getting ridiculous.

For some of us who are not interested in the silly politics between PDP and APC but are more anxious about the progress of Nigeria, it would be most catastrophic if the Maina scandal ends up as a political game. No. This cannot be treated as politics. We are discussing the present and the future of Nigeria. PDP and APC can burn to ashes for all I care. We are discussing wickedness, impunity and shamelessness in high places. Both the PDP and APC have these vices in their bones. Nobody can fool us.

Maina and Malami could well be archetypes of the kind of characters that preside over the affairs of Nigeria, from federal to state and council levels. They are everywhere. But I find it most heartbreaking that President Buhari has watched this perfidy without plucking out the culprits and crushing them. The biggest credential Buhari brought to this game was his anti-corruption resume. But in his cabinet are many ministers who ordinarily ought to be in jail as we speak. Since Buhari cannot jail them, he can at least fire them and hand them over to the EFCC. But maybe we are asking for too much. The Babachir Lawal saga remains a low point for this government. What a shame.

I have not said Maina is definitely guilty. That is the job of the courts. However, the manner of his reinstatement clearly suggests something is not right. Something is horribly wrong with those who thought they could have gone away with such treachery in this day and age. What the hell were they thinking? By the way, every administration faces a turning point. It is the point where things tip over irredeemably, where opponents, neutrals and die-hard supporters come together. The widespread reactions to the Maina saga suggest this could be the tipping point for Buhari. Many Nigerians have been too accommodating and too considerate. They are being taken for granted.

I would, therefore, leave Buhari with these words: Mr. President, your government is falling apart. You need to act fast. You came to office with a promise to change the way things are done, to give us a new direction, to heal our wounds, to belong to nobody, to belong to everybody, to make Nigerians dream again.

Mr. President, go back to your inauguration speech, the speech you delivered so eloquently on May 29, 2015 at the Eagle Square, Abuja.

Read the speech again, word-for-word. Reflect over it. You renewed our hopes. You made us feel it was the dawn of a new era. It has become extremely urgent for you to retrace your steps. Tomorrow may be too late.

And Four Other Things…

MISAU’S MISSILES Senator Hamman Isah Misau has been making a series of damaging allegations against Mr. Ibrahim Idris, the Inspector General of Police. Ordinarily, these allegations are enough for Buhari to suspend Idris pending investigation. Instead, Idris went to court to stop the senate from investigating him. And the attorney-general has even filed a libel case against Misau.

Quick question: can the libel case stand given the “parliamentary privilege” that prevents a lawmaker from being sued for statements made in the chamber of the National Assembly? Furthermore, I thought many courts have ruled that you cannot stop the legislature from doing its job? Wonders.

SALAMI’S SLAM It has happened again. Another appointee has rejected his appointment. Justice Ayo Salami, former president of the Court of Appeal, has turned down his appointment as chairman of the Corruption and Financial Crime Cases Trial Monitoring Committee (COTRIMCO). The National Judicial Council (NJC) had named Salami as head of the committee in an initiative aimed at helping the anti-graft war. One big challenge of the war is the way judges and lawyers conspire to delay cases forever and ever.

Many Nigerians, including President Buhari, welcomed the idea of CONTRIMCO. But was Salami not informed before his name was announced? Astonishing.

GRAVEN IMAGE There is something I will never understand even if I live for 200 years — why on earth a governor would spend hundreds of millions of naira to build a statue in honour of an enemy of Nigeria. I would understand if he had tarred the roads, electrified rural communities, provided the villages with water, put public schools in good shape, paid every worker and every pensioner, put the hospitals in good shape and built a legacy that will outlive him. In building a graven image for President Jacob Zuma of South Africa and asking his critics to go to hell, Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo state has hit an all-time low. Nonsense.

LYRICAL LURE FolarinFalana,themulti-talentedentertainer better known as Falz, touched a raw nerve in me recently when he said Nigerian artistes are not to blame for the poor lyrical content of their songs. According to Falz, “Music of today truly lacks content, but it is hardly the fault of the musician, as Nigerians just want to dance.” A day earlier, I was lamenting to my wife over the reduction of music to just women, cars and money and she said “this is what the current generation wants”. Falz is obviously right, but I am convinced this generation can raise its own Felas and Bob Marleys to arouse its conscience. There is more to life than Ferrari and Gucci. Values.

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