Sunday 5th November 2017

NBS: Pension Fund Assets Grow by N332bn in 3 Months Grossed N7.164 trillion in Q3 Kunle Aderinokun The pension fund assets under management increased by N332 billion to N7.164 trillion in the third quarter of this year, from N6.832 trillion in the second

quarter, the National Bureau Statistics has revealed.

The NBS, which released its Pension Asset and Membership Data (Q1-Q3 2017) report at the weekend, also disclosed that 7,710,564 workers were registered

under the pension scheme in the quarter under review compared to 7,589,936 registered workers in Q2. This showed a growth of 120,628 workers.

The pension fund assets were invested in various asset classes

by approved existing scheme (AES), closed pension fund administrators, retirement savings account (RSA) active fund as well as RSA retiree fund.

A breakdown of the total pension assets revealed that

with N4.339 trillion, RSA active fund formed the largest chunk of the lot, while CPFAs which stood at N895.811 billion trailed it, followed by AES with N696.309 billion and RSA retiree fund, N484.026 billion.

Further breakdown showed that the pension fund assets were held in asset classes namely, domestic ordinary shares and foreign ordinary shares; FGN Continued on page 9

Marafa: Customs CG's Comments on PDP Members in Buhari's Govt Politically Irresponsible… Page 13 Sunday 5 November, 2017 Vol 22. No 8235

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AT ART X LAGOS…PROMOTING NON-OIL EXPORTS L-R: Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed; Emir of Kano and former CBN governor, Lamido Sanusi; founder of ART X Lagos and daughter of Atedo Peterside, Tokini Peterside; CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele; former Chairman, Stanbic IBTC Holdings, Mr. Atedo Peterside, and Chairman/Editor-in -Chief, THISDAY/ARISE TV, Mr. Nduka Obaigbena, at an event by ART X Lagos ...yesterday

Buhari's Federal Appointments, State

by State, as Released by the Presidency Ogun, Imo, Kano, Edo have highest slots Ebonyi, Abia, Kebbi least favoured Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja In a move designed to put an end to insinuations that a majority of President Muhammadu Buhari’s appointments was largely from the north, the presidency last night released documents showing state and geographical spread of appointments made by the President. In a graphical presentation of appointments ac-

cording to states, the southern state of Ogun top the list with 21 slots, followed by Imo and Kano with 15 slots each.

They were closely trailed by Edo and the president’s home state, Katsina, with 14 appointments each.

The graph tagged ‘agency appointments by state’, which was attached to a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media, Mr. Femi Adesina, showed that the top

five beneficiaries of agency appointments by the President were three southern and two northern states.

On the lower rung of the graph are Ebonyi (2), Abia (2), Kebbi (3), Zamfara (4), Sokoto (4) and Oyo (4), while the federal Capital Territory, Abuja, is yet to secure any agency appointment.

Other states follow in this order: Anambra (13), Kogi (13), Kwara (13), Kaduna (12),

Adamawa (11), Bauchi (11), Borno (10), Lagos (10), Benue (9), Delta (9), Niger (9), Osun (9), Gombe (8), Jigawa (8), Rivers (7), Bayelsa (6), Ondo (6), Cross River (5), Nasarawa (5), Plateau (5), Taraba (5), Yobe (5), Akwa Ibom (4), Ekiti (4) and Enugu (4).

In all there were 299 agency appointments shared among the states, according to the graph. Though another tag on the graph indicated that these

were ‘appointed CEOs’, neither the list of CEOs nor their agencies were released.

A second document provided last night by the presidency contained a table of 157 agency and board appointments, including presidential aides, on geopolitical distribution basis.

Though the tabulated list of appointments may not be exhaustive, the zonal distribution of the listed beneficia-

ries showed that South-west had the largest share. Of the 157 appointments in the table, South-west got 40. It was followed by the Northwest which got 30 slots. The North-east secured 24, while the North Central had 21. The table also showed that the South-east got 22 while the South-south got 20.

The release of the list of Continued on page 9

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PAGE NINE BUHARI'S FEDERAL APPOINTMENTS, STATE BY STATE, AS RELEASED BY THE PRESIDENCY state and geopolitical distribution of agency appointments by the presidency was in reaction to a media report last week which claimed that out of 100 appointments made by the President, 81 were from the North, his region of origin - thus further deepening the perception that the President is favouring a section of the country.

Describing the report as bias, Adesina said what the report did was to solely select 100 appointees of its own choice and classify their appointments on the basis of ethnicity "to mislead the public and portray the Buhari administration in bad light."

The President’s spokesman, who further dismissed as uncharitable, the decision of the report to insinuate that Buhari's appointments were in favour of the North, added that it was not only full of errors, but even ascribed nonexistent appointments to the president, just to incite the public against him.

While identifying the appointments he described as non-existent as well as naming the actual appointees of the president currently occupying positions, he maintained that there were no fewer than 50 of Buhari's appointees that the report left out, and that there were other appointments he mentioned, which were not made by the president but by the previous administration.

"To claim, suggest or at-

NBS: PENSION FUND ASSETS GROW BY N332BN IN 3 MONTHS securities; local money market securities, open/close-end funds and real estate properties.

Others are private equity fund, infrastructure fund and cash & other assets.

Pension fund investment in FGN Bonds had the highest weight of 54.09 per cent of the total assets and was followed by the one in treasury bills with 17.73 per cent. While domestic ordinary shares represented 8.66 per cent of the total pension assets, foreign ordinary shares accounted for 1.41 per cent. Infrastructure funds had the least with 0.07 per cent weight.

In the FGN Securities asset class, investment in agency bonds-NMRC and FMBN bondsrepresented 1.30 per cent, while state government securities were 2.29 per cent of the total. Others in that category were the corporate debt securities and supra-national bonds accounting for 3.98 per cent and 0.19 per cent, respectively of the total assets.

For the local money market securities, pension assets with the banks were 5.56 per cent, while investment in commercial papers and foreign money securities accounted for 0.47 per cent and 0.34 per cent, respectively of the total.

Apart from the Real Estate Investment Trust Scheme (REITS), which attracted 0.16 per cent of the pension fund assets, real estate properties gulped 3.45 per cent of the total.

While private equity fund took 0.27 per cent of the assets, cash and other assets accounted for 0.19 per cent of the total. Similarly, during the third quarter, participants within the age distribution below 40 years had the highest percentage composition, closely followed by participants that were less than 30 years and within the age bracket of 40-49 years. The participants above 60 years had the least percentage composition.

tempt to insinuate that the President's appointments are tilted in favour of a section of the country is simply untrue and certainly uncharitable,�

Adesina said.

He said: “For instance, the author wrongly named the Director-General, NISER, as Haruna Yerima, whereas the DG, NISER is actually Folarin Gbadebo-Smith. Again, the author wrongly identified the CEO, NDLEA as Muhammad Abdallah. However, Mrs. Roli Bode-George is the CEO, NDLEA. "The article also wrongly named Tunde Irukera as Executive Secretary of CPP – whatever that is – instead of Consumer Protection Council (CPC). Rather conveniently, the publication ignored mentioning that Mr. Emeka Nwankpa is chairman of CPC. Not only that, the writer claimed that the DirectorGeneral of the Budget Office is Aliyu Gusau, whereas Mr. Ben Akabueze is the actual DG, Budget Office.

"Besides, the publication

made not just one, but several errors on names and positions, in what could be seen as a deliberate attempt to mislead the reading public, along the lines of some intended distortions of the truth.

"For example, there are several other appointments the publication failed to mention, which clearly shows the fair geopolitical spread of President Buhari’s appointees. For instance, the publication didn’t mention Sharon Ikeazor, Director-General, PTAD, who is from Anambra, South-east; Folorunsho Coker, DG, NTDC; who is from Lagos, South-west; Ituah Ighodalo, of the National Council of Privatisation, who is from the South-south; Eze Duru Ihioma, Chairman, NPC, who is from Imo, South-east, among many others.

"There are at least 50 names of the President’s appointees that the article didn’t mention that are not from the North, while there are some others that were already in place before the administration came

in but reconfirmed by the Buhari administration.

"Aside from that, several names of board members/appointees from other parts of the country were deliberately left out. These include Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye, NCC Chairman; Sunday Dare, NCC Executive Commissioner; Jide Zeitlin, NSIA Chairman; Anthony Ayine, Auditor General of the Federation; Anibor Kragha, COO NNPC;

Chiedu Ugbo, MD NDPHC; Uche Orji, CEO NSIA; Osita Okechukwu, DG VON; Yemi Kale, DG NBS and Waziri Adio, Executive Secretary NEITI, among several others." he said.

He maintained that the president remained committed to providing a leadership that is devoid of ethnic, tribal and religious colouration in expression of his commitment to the unity of Nigeria.

He said: “President Muhammadu Buhari remains committed to serving all Nigerians, no matter the tribe, ethnicity or region, and he is also determined to ensure that Nigeria remains strong and united. He has, and will continue to keep faith with one Nigeria and has shown this with the administration’s diverse projects in different parts of the country’s geopolitical zones."

List of agency and board appointments according to geo-political spread as released by the Presidency Name 1 Tukur Buratai 2 Babagana Monguno 3 Abubakar Lawal 4 Femi Adesina 5 Garba Shehu 6 Sunday Dare 7 Lawal Kazaure 8 Ahmed Idris 9 Antony Ayine 10 Abayomi Olonishakin 11 Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas 12 Sadique Abubakar 13 Monday Morgan 14 Lawal Daura 15 Mahmood Yakubu 16 Hadiza Bala Usman 17 Paul Boroh 18 Dakuku Peterside 19 Sen Olabiyi Durojaiye 20 Umaru Dambatta 21 Babatunde Fowler 22 Maikanti Baru 23 Boss Mustapha 24 Abba Kyari 25 Ade Ipaye 26 Hameed Ali 27 Mohammed Babandede 28 Ita Enang 29 Suleiman Kawu 30 Babafemi Ojodu 31 Adeyemi Dipeolu 32 Ahmed Lawan Kuru 33 Mohammed Kari 34 Ibrahim Magu 35 Abike Dabiri 36 Abdullahi Muhammadu 37 Winifred Oyo-Ita 38 Aishah Ahmad 39 Â Mary Ekpere 40 Funso Doherty 41 Dikko AbdulRahman 42 Olukayode Pitan 43 Mr Adebayo Somefun 44 Kemi Nelson 45 Lady Azinge, A. Obiageli 46 Ahmed Dangiwa 47 Melville Ebo 48 Dankane Abdullahi 49 Alex Okoh 50 Ibrahim Goni 51 Nasiru Ladan 52 Saliu Alabi 53 Jeffery Barminas 54 Folarin Gbadebo Smith 55 Mohammed Tukur 56 Shettima Abba 57 Tunde Irukera 58 Umar Gambo Jibrin 59 Roli Bode George 60 Garba Abari 61 Sule Kazaure 62 Jelani Aliyu` 63 Bayo Onanuga 64 Ibrahim Idris 65 Ghaji Bello 66 Saleh Dunoma 67 USA Sadiq 68 Rabiu Yadudu 69 Salisu Daura 70 Nike Aboderin 71 Norris Anozie 72 Clifford Omozeghian 73 Rahimatu Aminu Aliyu 74 Melville Ebo 75 Julie Okah - Donli 76 Bello Rabiu 77 Henry Ikem Obih 78 Bello Gusau

Portfolio Chief of Army Staff National Security Adviser Aide de Camp S A- Media and Publicity SSA. Media and Publicity EC, NCC State Chief of Protocol Accountant General Auditor General Chief of Defence Staff Chief of Naval Staff Chief of Air Staff Chief Defence Intel DG, State Security Services INEC Chairman MD, NPA SA, Niger Delta Amnesty DG, NIMASA Chairman NCC Chief Executive, NCC Chairman, FIRS GMD, NNPC SGF Chief of Staff Deputy Chief of Staff CG, Nigerian Customs CG, Nigerian Immigration SSA, National Assembly SSA, National Assembly SA Political SA Economy MD, AMCON Insurance Commission Acting Chairman EFCC SSA, Diaspora CG. NSCDS Head of Service Deputy Gov. CBN DG, NCWD DG, PENCOM Chairman, BOI MD, BOI MD, NSITF ED, NSITF Ag. Registrar General, CAC MD, Federal M.Bank ED, Federal M.Bank ED, Federal M.Bank DG, BPE CG, National Park DG, NDE DG, MINILS DG, RICT DG, NISER Secretary FCC Chairman FCC ES, CPC ES, FCDA CEO, NDLEA DG, NOA DG, NYSC DG, NADDC MD, NAN IGP DG, NPC MD FAAN Dir Security, FAAN Dir Operations, FAAN Dir Maintenance, FAAN Dir Finance & Accounts FAAN Dir HR FAAN Coy Sec, Legal Adviser FAAN ED, Federal Mortgage Bank ED, Federal Mortgage Bank DG, NAPTIP COO NNPC COO NNPC ES PTDF

Region North East North East North West South West North West South West North West North West South South South West South South North East North Central North West North East North West South South South South South West North West South West North East North East North East South West North West North Central South South North West South West South West North East North East North East South West North Central South South North Central South South South West North East South West South West South West South East North West South East North West South South North Central North Central North Central North East South West North East North East North Central North East South West North East North West North West South West North Central North East North East North West North West North West South West South East South South North West South East South South North West South East North Central

79 Isiaka Abdulrazak CFO NNPC North Central 80 Isa Inuwa COO NNPC North West 81 Saidu Muhammad COO NNPC North West 82 Babatunde Adeniran COO NNPC South West 83 Anibor Kragha COO NNPC South South 84 Chidi Momah Secretary NNPC South East 85 Modecai Baba Ladan Dir DPR North Central 86 Eberechukwu Uneze ED, AMCON South East 87 Aminu Ismail ED, AMCON North West 88 Kola Ayeye ED, AMCON South West 89 Ishaq Oloyode Registrar, JAMB South West 90 Chidi Izuwah DG, ICRC South East 91 Bolaji Owasanoye ICPC South West 92 Lenrie Aina National Librarian South West 93 Charles Uwakwe NECO South East 94 Umaru Maza Maza Chair, REA North West 95 Damilola Ogunbiyi MD REA South West 96 Sanusi Ohiare ED, REA North Central 97 Yewande Odia ED, REA South West 98 Fola Akinkuotu MD, NAMA South West 99 Sani Abubakar Mashi DG, NiMet North West 100 Abdusalam Mohammed Rector, NCAT North Central 101 Akinola Olateru Commissioner, AIB South West 102 Abubakar Rasheed ES, NUC North West 103 Abdulkadir Umar ES, PPPRA North West 104 Elias Nwalem RMAFC South East 105 Marilyn Amobi NBET South East 106 Faisal Shuaib ES, NPHCDA North Central 107 Umaru Ibrahim NDIC North West 108 Uja Tor Uja NCPC North Central 109 Isa Pantami DG, NITDA North East 110 Patience Oniha DG, DMO South South 111 Nnenna Akajemeli CEO, SERVICOM South East 112 Folasade Joseph MD, NAIC North Central 113 Cecilia Gaya DG, ASCON North East 114 Luci Ajayi ES, LITFMB South South 115 Lanre Gbajabiamila NLRC South West 116 Usman Abubakar NRC North West 117 Chiedu Ugbo MD, NDPHC South South 119 Osita Okechukwu DG, VON South East 120 Eze Duru Ihioma Chair, NPC South East 121 Bisi Adegbuyi Postmaster General, NIPOST South West 122 Yewande Sadiku DG, NIPC South West 123 Princess Gloria Akobundu CEO, NEPAD South South 124 Olagunsoye Oyinlola Chairman, NIMC South West 125 Umana Okon Umana Oil & Gas Free Zone South South 126 Sharon Ikeazor DG, PTAD South East 127 Ben Akabueze DG, Budget Office South East 128 Yemi Kale DG,NBS South West 129 Folorunsho Coker DG,NTDC South West 130 Waziri Adio ES, NEITI South West 131 Alh Adebayo Thomas DG Film and Censor's Board South West 132 Maryam Uwais SA Social Investment North Central 133 Jumoke Oduwole SSA Trade and Investment South West 134 Emeka Nwapa CHAIRMAN, CPC South East 135 Ife Oyedele ED, NDPHC South West 136 Alhaji Ali Usman Chairman, PENCOM North West 137 Manase Benga EC, PENCOM North Central 138 Zaki Magawata EC, PENCOM North East 139 Ben Oviosun EC, PENCOM South South 140 Nyerere Ayim EC, PENCOM South East 141 Sanusi Garba NERC COMMISSIONER North West 142 Dafe C. Akpeneye NERC COMMISSIONER South South 143 Nathan Rogers Shatti NERC COMMISSIONER North East 144 Dr Moses Arigu NERC COMMISSIONER North Central 145 Musiliu Olalekan Oseni, NERC COMMISSIONER South West 146 Professor Frank N. Okafor NERC COMMISSIONER South East 147 Ituah Ighodalo National Council of Privatisation South South 148 O. Olaoye National Council of Privatisation South West 149 Yinka Amosun FRCN (Lagos) South West 150 Femi Odumosu Ogun Osun RBDA South West 152 Jide Zeitlin Chair, NSIA South West 153 Uche Orji CEO/MD, NSIA South East 154 Stella Ojekwe-Onyejeli ED, NSIA South East 155 Urum Kalu Eke NSIA South East 156 Lois L. Machunga-Disu NSIA North Central 157 Asue Ighodalo NSIA South South 158 Halima Buba NSIA North East 159 Bello Machido NSIA North West

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SUNDAY COMMENT

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

CABINET JOBS FOR THE BOYS? Cabinet reshuffle may be necessary but it should not be about creating jobs for the boys

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esponding to mounting pressure from both the big wigs and the rank and file in the ruling all Progressives Congress (APC), President Muhammadu Buhari said last week that he would soon expand the Federal Executive Council to accommodate more members to reward their loyalty and contributions to the 2015 presidential election that brought him to power. As part of the appeasement drive, boards of many parastatals dissolved about two years ago would also be constituted with party members given preference in their composition.

While such appeasement policy may have doused the tension that had preceded the APC National Executive Committee meeting, we must quickly reject the idea of expanding the cabinet just to accommodate party members because it represents a disappointing tendency towards opportunism and the usual inclination of the political leadership to sacrifice good governance principles at the altar of expediency.

Faced with a declining economy and the need to cut the cost of governance, the president had in 2015 decided to trim his cabinet from a crowd of 48 to 37 ministers even as the number of ministries were reduced. As he said at the time, he would probably have preferred a leaner cabinet were he not constrained by the 1999 Constitution as amended that compels him to appoint a minister from each state of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory. That decision became more imperative as the economy lapsed into recession and government needed to conserve its resources for capital expenditure that would help it out of the woods and impact more positively on the general-

ity of the people.

However, the leanness of the cabinet would appear not to have engendered any concrete advantage as the administration is widely perceived to have underperformed with many Nigerians urging the president to consider a review of his team and weed out the dead woods. Meanwhile, the underperformance of the cabinet might have been worsened by the failure of the administration to constitute the governing boards of a retinue of parastatals that are meant to guide the implementation of policies tailored to engender the much needed good governance.

W

The expansion of the cabinet will lead to the bloating of the executive arm of government and increase the cost of governance in an economy that is just emerging from recession

Letters to the Editor

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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

ithout a doubt, therefore, there were strong grounds for the president to rejig his cabinet and fill up vacant parastatal positions. Indeed, many policy analysts and social critics had canvassed this, contending that the administration needed to reboot if it wanted to acquire the capacity to fast-track the delivery of its basic programmes. But rather than harken to the general clamour for a better and more efficient administrative hands, the president has, once again, mismanaged the situation and frittered away an opportunity to regain the confidence of critics who often accuse him of political misjudgement.

Had the president’s reason for the proposed cabinet review and expansion been in tune with the public quest for better governance, he would have been commended. But, as he told the nation last week, he was making the move to appease his political associates who were organising an uprising against him. Regrettably, as we inch closer to the 2019 general elections and with the clear signal that the president wants to contest, the tendency for him to seek political correctness at the expense of good governance would increase.

While we concede President Buhari’s right to fight for his political survival, we disagree that it should be done at the expense of public good. The expansion of the cabinet will lead to the bloating of the executive arm of government and increase the cost of governance in an economy that is just emerging from recession. Besides, there is no assurance that the nation would derive any beneficial value from the exercise since it is motivated by politics of jobs for the boys, which often times leaves us with a situation where square pegs are put in round holes as scant attention is paid to merit.

We, therefore, advise the president to rethink his decision. While a cabinet reshuffle may be necessary, it can be done without bloating its size with political jobbers. Such an exercise should be done in the overall interest of all Nigerians.

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.

WILL PDP SURVIVE THE LOOMING CATASTROPHE?

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has scheduled to hold its Elective National Convention from December 9 – 10, 2017, in Abuja, Nigeria.

The Convention is supposed to elect officers of the party at the National level to pilot the affairs of the party for a period of four years.

As the major opposition political party in the country and a party that has also been in power since the birth of the forth republic in 1999 till 2015, Nigerians are of the opinion that the success of the PDP Convention in December will end the APC regime of misgovernance, maladministration and total failure to deliver on its campaign promises.

It is however worrisome

that the PDP has not leant any lessons from the 14 months leadership crisis that began on May 21, 2016 and ended at the Supreme Court on July 12, 2017, after some governors on the platform of the party imposed one of their own, the former Governor of Borno State, Senator Ali Modu-Sheriff on the party.

The PDP is once again enmeshed in some serious power-game, involving different stakeholders, zones and organs of the party competing for who becomes the National Chairman of the party and other positions come December 9, 2017. The most worrisome aspect of these power tussles includes and not limited to the culture of impunity and imposition of candidate, influx of immediate past National

Working Committee (NWC) members into the race and the records of misappropriation of funds by the same NWC in recent past.

There are endorsements of some aspirants by the zones and party leaders without recourse to merit and capacity to deliver and threat by some zones to leave the party if election does not favour them at the convention.

Another disturbing development is the revelation that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has concluded plans to strategically plant aspirants for key and sensitive offices in the PDP, like the National Chairman, National Secretary, National Organising Secretary and National Publicity Secretary, in order to destroy the party from within as it

did in the wake of the 2015 General Election.

It is therefore incumbent on the founding fathers of the party and other elders to intervene urgently to arrest these ugly developments before the scheduled national convention of the party; otherwise, the PDP is heading for another dangerous implosion that may end the life of the party if care is not taken.

Some concerned members of the party are calling on the former heads of state, Gen. Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (rtd), Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd) and other Generals, brains behind the formation of the party to quickly intervene on these issues to restore peace to the party before the convention.

Others are also inviting the founding fathers of the PDP that are still alive - former Vice- President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Dr. Bamanga Tukur and Alhaji Adamu Ciroma to call

the rampaging members to order before it is too late.

Some stakeholders have also mooted the option of convening meetings of major critical stakeholders of the party to brainstorm on the way forward to resolving these issues in order to carry everybody along and to give everyone a sense of belonging.

Nigerians are waiting with great expectations that the PDP will conduct a very successful, free, fair and credible elective National Convention in December 2017,that will end the misery of the failed APC-led administration at all levels.

Pundits are already predicting rightly or wrongly that this will be a make or mar convention that will give an insight into the future of the nation’s democracy.

––Dimgba Okonkwo, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.

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SUNDAYNEWS

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

Marafa: Customs CG's Comments on PDP Members in Buhari’s Govt Politically Irresponsible t Challenges customs boss to provide evidence he contributed 100 votes to Buhari’s election Damilola Oyedele in Abuja

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum (Upstream), Senator Kabiru Marafa (Zamfara APC), has tackled the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) over comments credited to the latter that the All Progressives Congress (APC) had been derailed by politicians who joined it from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Marafa said Ali’s statement was politically irresponsible as the same set of people joined hands with the APC to ensure its success at the 2015 polls.

Ali speaking during the unveiling of the Buhari Support Organisation (BSO) in Abuja recently accused former PDP members of hijacking the government, and causing it to derail from its mandate and principles.

But Marafa, speaking with some journalists during the week, said the Customs helmsman was speaking from both sides of the mouth, as his comments were berating the President on one hand, and lauding the President on the other hand. He challenged Ali to provide evidence that he contributed 100 votes to the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari during the presidential elections.

Marafa who first won elections to the Senate on the platform of the All Nigeria Peoples Party in 2011, had defected then from the PDP. “In politics, anybody who identifies with you and joins you before ballots are cast is part and parcel of your struggle. Anybody at whatever stage they join before going to the polls is part of you and your victory. It is only those who join you after election that can be called any name. “We must not forget the five out of the seven governors who initially broke the back of the PDP; those governors who walked out of the Eagle Square; they staged a walkout on the sitting President at the Eagle Square. That was the beginning of the end PDP. These people formed a splinter group and created a faction in the PDP which gave some members of the National Assembly - who by the Constitution cannot leave their party unless there is a division - the reason to decamp and many of them did,� Marafa said. “Let him say, if he is accusing the President of failing, I think the most reasonable and responsible thing he should do is to resign his position and say I am resigning because this government has derailed. But he cannot sit down in one corner and say this or that.

These are the people who sat

somewhere in the comfort of their offices and did not know how this victory came about. “Yes, I was a player; I was part of the campaign at the local, grassroots level; even when it was freezing cold, we were going out from village to village campaigning for the success of this administration.

I don’t know what he did. I am not quite sure if President Buhari got 100 votes that can be attributable to the Customs boss; to say that I voted Buhari because of Hameed Ali’ I don’t (think) we can get that.

AndIchallengehimtobringthem out if there is any,� Marafa added.

The senator noted that the opening of the BSO office was not politically expedient, as Buhari was already a national figure. “To me, I look at this as a sabotage. Whoever is behind that idea is just trying to sabotage the government of the President; to demean and bring him back to a small organisation after achieving a larger ambition. Anybody who likes the President and his government will think of how to bring the different forces that came together to give the President the platform and the necessary ‘energy’ to win the (2015) election; not to go back to a small group that definitely cannot win a national election,�

Marafa said.

A TOKEN...

L-R: Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, receiving a souvenir from Director General,Department of State Services, Lawal Daura at the graduation ceremony of the Executive Intelligence Management Course 10 at the Institute for Security Studies in Abuja...yesterday

INEC to Test Run State-wide Electronic Result Transmission in Anambra To monitor Nov 18 polling from central server Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The Independent National Electoral Commission would do a test run of its new electronic result transmission technology at the Anambra State governorship election on November 18 before applying it during the 2019 general election, THISDAY has learnt. The automated result transmission system is a major innovation that INEC plans to introduce to the country’s voting process to forestall rigging. The commission intends to try the new technology in Anambra State to see if it works properly and identify areas of possible modification ahead of the 2019 general poll.

It was gathered that the new technology would ensure that the results of the governorship

election are transmitted simultaneously to a central server from the polling units as voting is taking place. Though, not yet officially enacted as part of the electoral process, the e-transmission process is said to be initiated by INEC as a buffer and backup to enable it track collation of results at various centres in order to check malpractices, like ballot box snatching, falsification of figures, and over voting.

Sources in the commission said the new system was successfully deployed penultimate Saturday in Sokoto State during a by-election held in Kware/Wamakko Federal Constituency. But Anambra State would be its first application in a state-wide election.

The Anambra State governorship election is

expected to be a hot contest by 37 political parties and their candidates, representing the highest number of parties in one election in the history of the country.

Although the National Assembly recently passed a bill seeking to give the electoral umpire powers to introduce new technologies it deems fit to enhance the electoral conduct, certain aspects of the technological deployment, especially the use of electronic voting and relaying of election results via electronic means, are still subject to constitutional amendment.

THISDAY learnt from sources in INEC that it had decided to apply electronic transmission of results, first, on a pilot basis, hence the move to experiment it at the Anambra poll. A top

INEC official who confirmed the decision yesterday, on condition of anonymity, said the commission will carry out manual collation of results in addition to the electronic collation.

The source said in response to enquiries, “Yes, we will deploy it. We are piloting the scheme. And we always use the electronic recording of results to compare with the manual collation. It helps us to serve as an audit mechanism and also to test-run the technology until when the constitution is amended to allow for such use of electronic transmission of result from our elections.� According to the official, the essence of deploying e-transmission is to authenticate election results.

He said the results would be transmitted electronically from one collation level to the next; just the same way the manually collated results are taken from

one collation centre to the next level of collation.

The Senate had voted in support of an amendment bill to legalise the use of smart card readers for the authentication of accredited voters during an election and pave the way for the application of electronic voting in future elections. Apart from empowering the presiding officer at a polling unit to use the smart card reader to authenticate voters, the bill also approves the use of any other technological device that may be prescribed

by INEC "from time to time for the accreditation of voters to verify, confirm or authenticate the genuineness or otherwise of voters’ card".

The bill specifically stipulates that votes and recorded results must be electronically transmitted directly from polling units in an encrypted and secured form.

INEC has consistently decried

the delay in the amendment of the constitution as it affects the conduct of elections. The commission says the delay is affecting its plans to roll out in full scale new technologies that would enhance its operations and the quality of elections in the country.

The United Progressive Party had last week alerted the public to what it described as a worrisome story making the rounds that the Anambra governorship election will not be different from other manipulated and discredited elections. UPP asked INEC to deploy electronic devices that would ensure that results of the governorship election are transmitted directly to the central server in Awka, the state capital. The party said the demand became necessary following threats by some politicians to undermine the outcome of the poll.

PDP Chair: South-west Caucus Endorses George, Adeniran, Adedoja Ex-Governor Daniel dismisses move Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The South West Board of Trustees caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has narrowed down the number of its preferred chairmanship aspirants from the Zone to three.

The aspirants shortlisted are former Deputy National Chairman of the party and ex- Military Governor of the old Ondo State, Chief Olabode George; one-time Sports and Special Duties Minister and former Provost of the Federal College of Education, (Special) Oyo, Professor Taoheed Adedoja; and former Education Minister, Professor Tunde Adeniran, who

was Nigerian Ambassador to Germany.

The caucus pledged to go a step further to pick one of the three aspirant as a consensus candidate for the office.

The endorsement of the three chairmanship aspirants was contained in a document signed by a former Deputy National Chairman of the Party, Alhaji Shuibu Oyedokun, dated November 3.

According to the document, the Caucus picked Chief George to represent Ogun - Lagos axis, Prof. Adedoja from Osun - Oyo axis and Prof. Tunde Adeniran from Ekiti and Ondo axis respectively.

The caucus said that its action

was based on the numerous calls and wise counsel from several quarters to prune down the number of contestants to a manageable number.

However, former governor of Ogun state, Gbenga Daniel, has asked his supporters to disregard the endorsement by the group, describing it as personal opinion of the author.

In a statement issued late Saturday night, by the Media Consultant to the Otunba Gbenga Daniel Campaign Organisation, Steve Oliyide, the former governor said he was still a top contender for the PDP chairmanship race.

"Our attention has been drawn to a document endorsing

3 aspirants for the PDP national chairmanship race, without OGD, purportedly signed by Chief Oyedokun on behalf of the SW caucus of the BOT of our party ahead of the Dec. 9 national convention.

"Our teaming supporters should kindly disregard such documents which can best be described as the personal opinion of the writer and it’s clearly not well thought out, if at all such a document is authenticated.

"For the avoidance of doubt, Otunba Gbenga Daniel is currently on a nationwide tour of all the 36 states chapters of our party consulting with leaders and potential delegates, preaching the gospel of internal democracy and retuning the party to the people at the grassroots," he said.

The caucus however said

that its position was without prejudice to the right of any contestant outside the recommended list to contest.

It also said it was also without prejudice to the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the provisions of the constitution of the party.

The South-west BoT members of the caucus said the move would improve the chances of the zone to clinch the chairmanship of the party at the convention.

They said that their aim was also to reduce tension, rancour and friction that may rise before, during and after the convention among the winner and other contestants.

"Assist the voting process on the election day, reduce

expenditure for nonrecommended contestants; present manageable list of contestants from the South-west to compete favourably with any other contestant (s) from any other zone (s) from the South; and to avoid splitting of votes among contestants from the South-west and to provide soft landing for non-recommended aspirants.

The caucus said, "in the over all interest of the party and after wide and due consultations, we have been taking cognizance of various factors such as experience, acceptability across Nigeria, educational exposure, vision, public perception, international visibility, wining chances, party standing nation wide, members perception and expectations"

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OPINION Emmah Isong Lecture and Orubebe’s Recipes for Restructuring Restructuring would redress lopsidedness in the polity, writes Obong Akpaekong

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he 21st Century pastor must be a man of ideas, because, as someone has said, ideas rule the world.

The Emmah Isong Annual Lecture Series, which began in October 2014, is by any standard, a great idea.

The lecture aims at providing a common platform for people in politics, business, religion, academia, the professions, etc, to collectively discuss the place of peace, unity and equity in sustainable development and advancement of society.

Emmah Isong, bishop of Christian Central Chapel International and national publicity secretary of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, instituted the series as part of activities to mark his birthday. The latest edition of the lecture, chaired by Aniekpeno Mkpanang, permanent secretary, Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and anchorman of the one-time Akwa Ibom Broadcasting Corporation’s weekly programme, Something to Remember, held in the ultra-modern auditorium of the church in Ikot Enebong area of Calabar, October 26.

Aside the 53rd birthday cake, which Isong cut with his family, the event featured the presentation of his latest book, Confronting the Custodians, which was reviewed by Obong Akpaekong, a former senior associate editor of Newswatch and publisher of Sippar magazine, and the 2017 lecture titled, “Can Restructuring take Nigeria to the Next Level?�, given by Godsday Orubebe, a former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs.

Akpaekong said the 162-page book describes the activities of a spiritual enemy and task master, assigned to monitor people’s progress in life and supervise the occurrence of calamities. He quoted the book as saying that the custodian is similar to the officer that kept watch over the donkey, which the Bible says in Matthew 21:3 was tied to a spot for years until Jesus ordered its release for His ride into Jerusalem. The book reveals the many ways to confront and defeat the custodian, which it says could be one’s relation, some old woman back in one’s village or some other wicked person.

Orubebe’s lecture, which was presented by Joseph Offiong, a professor of Acting at the University of Calabar, was a painstaking approach to identifying the socio-political and economic problems that threatening to drown the nation. It also outlined

how restructuring could give a new lease of life to the economy.

He traced the country’s misfortunes to the elimination of the First Republic’s regional system after the 1966 truncation of the democratic experience by the military. He said it marked the beginning of the decline in innovative and creative solutions to challenges of national development.

The former minister said before the truncation, social and economic policies of the First Republic were characterised by regional peculiarities. The pace of regional development was faster and healthier. Agriculture was the mainstay of the economy for the North, East and West regions while human talent had much value.

He said the central administration, concerned about the need for equity, established University of Ibadan with 280 admissions in 1960, University of Ife in 1961 and Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in 1962.

He said at that time, Enugu was popular for coal; Kano for groundnut, Benue for yam and Ondo for cocoa, all of which generated resources to fund defence, foreign affairs and the central government, whose only task was national coordination. “Our present federal system is faulty, a result of decades of continuous efforts to address symptoms rather than the root causes of genuine discord and direct protests by Nigerians,� he said.

Orubebe did not mince words when he said Nigeria needed restructuring and that there were over 100 reasons for it. He made reference to various shapes of restructuring of the country in the minds of Nigerians but said his was “a fundamental refinement of the nation’s institutional structure, which undergirds the working of our systems in order to prevent the country from collapse and make it more efficient and beneficial to every Nigerian.�

This notion of restructuring has sector dimensions. “Nigeria cannot reach the expected next level unless there is a consistent legal, social, cultural, political and economic consciousness to refocus development from the grassroots�, he said, explaining that in restructuring the nation, traditional institutions must be represented, cultural differences recognised and jobs created for youth, women and people with disability.

The idea tends to have strong affinity with regional government.

Hear Orubebe: “Whereas the regional governments built quality roads, schools and health institutions and maintained them to the highest standards, today’s state governments depend on the centre

for everything. Restructuring should make politics a grassroots affair.� Orubebe said the 36 states system the nation operates is not similar to regions because all of them depend on handouts from the centre. He said the progressive restructuring he recommends must have agenda that is “fair, participatory and representational of our collective make-up�, and must be backed by a new constitution.

He asked for parity among the regions, saying the National Conference of 2014 recommended that a sixth state be created for the South-east since North-west, North-central; North-east; South-west, and South-south have six states each, with North-west even having seven states. “A restructured federation will definitely correct this anomaly,� said Orubebe.

Orubebe suggested further that the 36 federating units be allowed to explore mineral resources in their domains to empower them to respond and develop according to their peculiar challenges, build vibrant private sectors, create jobs and generate wealth. This, he said, would stop the states from waiting for monthly handouts from the federal government. Local governments, he suggested, should be empowered to play active roles in regulating commercial activities and provide social services within their jurisdictions.

For economic diversification, Orubebe said restructure should include infrastructural development contracts between the states and the federal government. He said with this, states can complete portions of the Trans-Sahara Highway in their jurisdiction in return for tax incentives from the federal government, build modern national or modular power grid systems or river-based commercial transportation to unlock economic opportunities.

In the area of security and public safety, he called for introduction of state and municipal police aside the existing federal police.

Restructuring, he also said, must include competent handling of data, saying academic curricula from primary to tertiary levels must include active understanding and utilisation of Information, Communication and Technology, ICT, so as to build the 21st Century compliant workforce. ––––Akpaekong is a public affairs analyst (See concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com)

Pouring Trouble On Oily Waters (2) Nigeria is a secular state and should be so treated, writes Michael West

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he reinforcement of Islamic financial operations in Nigeria is becoming serious constitutional and sectarian trepidations. Typical of our former military and present political leaders who are Muslims, they don’t care a hoot about the constitutional violation and protestation by the Christian community over this issue. Despite the vocal and intellectual fireworks deployed by the immediate past President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, against the integration of Islamic banking into our financial system, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) formally enlisted Jaiz Bank as a regional interest-free bank in northern Nigeria in January 2012.

Today, the bank has 21 branches across Nigeria (no longer regional) and it was even one of the 11 banks approved for the Joint Admissions Matriculation Board (JAMB) for pin vending. I think this is why Christian leaders were wary of Sukuk Bond arrangement.

There have been accusations against President Muhammadu Buhari that he was much committed to the full implementation of Sharia Islamic Law throughout the country before he ascended the seat of power as president in May 2015. He was quoted to have said at a public forum in Kaduna in August 2001: “I will continue to show openly and inside me the total commitment to the Sharia movement that is sweeping all over Nigeria. God willing, we will not stop the agitation for the total implementation of the Sharia in the country.� If you ask me, I don’t see anything wrong if Buhari is committed to the growth of Islam as a religion in Nigeria, just like Christians would evangelise the nation for Christ; but implementation of Sharia is an affront to our constitution, thereby giving Nigeria dual identities both as an Islamic state as well as a secular nation simultaneously.

Recent developments in public institutions leave no one in doubt about the dogged drive towards perceived Islamic expansionist tendencies. From the hindsight of history, we knew Sokoto (the seat of Caliphate hegemony) and Ilorin, Kwara State capital, fell to Fulani Islamists on the strength of being accommodated by the land owners and indigenes. This is possibly one of the reasons History as a subject is being phased out in our secondary school curriculum in order to nip in the bud the gradual agitations by angry indigenes who are beginning to ask questions about their lands of origin. So, when the issue of grazing reserves across the nation was mooted at the National Assembly, it was vehemently opposed!

Prof. Ben Nwabueze, who ruminated over the systematic implementation of Islamisation agenda, despite wide denunciation of the move to turn Nigeria into a mono-religious state, tearfully told journalists at the venue of Igbo Leaders of Thoughts (ILT) meeting

in Enugu, “This is a very crucial meeting for us because, if you look at our agenda, we have critical issues for discussion; issues like Islamisation agenda and its impact on the unity of the country. Islamisation agenda is real, it’s not something that somebody has just conjured up, it’s there. And it’s being implemented gradually. Look at the security agencies; in every aspect of security, Islamists are in control in its entirety. They are methodical in the way they are going about its implementation.

Look at Fulani herdsmen menace, it is part of it.�

Abu Qaqa and Kabiru Sokoto, two kingpins of the Boko Haram terror group had confessed during interrogation after the Madala bombing that, “We had a grand plan to Islamise Nigeria rightly starting with the North. We felt that a lot of Muslims were not practising the religion faithfully as they should.

The plans to attack churches and schools were not a reaction to any provocation. The plans had been there. You know why the churches had to go. Those schools for instance were not teaching the children according to ways of our faith. These were part of our initial plans of allowing only Islamic schools and wiping away the so-called secular schools.�

When President Buhari sacked the heads of educational bodies such as JAMB, NUC, NECO and 14 others in August 2016, out of the 17 affected offices, nine Christians were replaced with Muslims while four (on-the-job Muslims) were allowed to continue in office. In all, 13 of the 17 are Muslims. Ordinarily, we don’t need to view every issue from religious perspective but the brazen imbalance and nepotistic biases of the current administration makes one suspects and weighs every action on both ethnic and religious scales. One of the beneficiaries of this lopsided appointments and immediate past Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, who incidentally was spitting fire and brimstone over an Ecclesiastical Court proposal, is very much comfortable with Sharia sweeping across the entire country regardless of the interest and feelings of other religions.

Meanwhile, dominating the leadership of our security agencies by Muslims was identified as a grand plot to further entrench Islamisation agenda regardless of our constitutional provisions which stipulates federal character for equity, fairness and regional balancing. This reality was justified by the conscription of the Civilian JTF in the North-east into the Nigerian Army without considering the geographical imbalance and protocol for recruitment. I do hope this administration won’t be blinded by its passion for Islamist territorial conquest drive to breed Christian militia both in defence of their valued lives and Christian faith in Nigeria. Sudan and Central African

Republic should be a lesson for us to learn from.

If the situation is allowed to degenerate to a level where Christians, especially the youth, are forced to carry arms in ‘selfhelp,’ I doubt if we can survive it as a nation. What baffles me in the whole game is that those involved in this Islamic grand plot are not thinking of the unforeseen at all. I think they have so much confidence in their game-plan because they have their ‘boys’ manning strategic posts in the armed forces. My point here is that sometimes, human power does fail! They should pulse for a while and do a serious rethink about the possibility of breakup or a breakout of serious ethno-religious war that could last for years and which might even consume them.

Until there was so much outcry and widespread condemnation, the Christian Religious Studies (CRS) had been merged or subsumed into some other subjects while those designing the curriculum made Islamic Religious Studies (IRS) compulsory.

What an affront! Similarly, I learnt they also proposed to make Arabic language a must in our tertiary institutions. I keep wondering if there are no Christians at the level where these lopsided academic decisions are made.

In Kaduna, the state government asked religious preachers to get permit to preach while preachers should also submit their proposed sermons for screening. All these shenanigans were targeted at the church. It’s all in the ploy to shut down the voice of the gospel which apparently is sheer impossibility. The Head of the Church Himself had decreed that “the gate of hell shall not prevail against His Church� not only in Nigeria but the world over.

In conclusion, I think President Buhari, a supposed panNigerian leader, would prefer to work towards ingraining his name in gold in the history of Nigeria as a great leader who did his best to promote and unite the country and not the other way round. He is the President of both the North and the South; Muslims and Christians; as well as the elected leader of everything Nigeria stands for. Failure to acknowledge this truth and act accordingly will do us no good, especially if he chooses to continue on this parochial, skewed and highly nepotistic style of administration. It is a certified and shorter route to anarchy.

Those who are hell-bent on Islamising Nigeria and favouring their own with juicy, strategic and sensitive appointments should, in the interest of this country and her good people, stop this suicide mission and learn from the history of nations where such misadventure had back-fired. ––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 ˾ NOVEMBER 5, 2017

LETTERS Is Nigeria Ready For COP 23?

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n a few days, delegates from all over the world will gather at the World Conference Center in the historic city of Bonn, two years after the epoch-making conference at which the Paris Agreement was signed. These delegates will gather for the 23rd session of the Conference of Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Only two years ago, the Paris agreement made the record as the second most supported treaty in the history of the United Nations, after the Montreal Protocol with 195 countries signing, 175 of them signing in a single day, and 169 of that number having ratified as of October 2017.

Two years after, we return to Bonn to determine how far we have gone with implementation and to negotiate on important issues like financing,

Buhari

contributions of states, transparency, adaptation, policy, technology and energy governance.

What bothers me though is whether Nigeria is truly ready for the COP 23. It was

exhilarating to see President Muhammadu Buhari signing the Paris agreement on the sidelines of the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), and ratifying

it shortly thereafter, and even more for the country to come up with its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC’s) almost immediately. Yet, it is sad to see that we have not lived up to the expectations of this ambitious INDC’s (now Nationally Determined Contributions) which include a commitment to reduce our carbon emission by 20 per cent unconditionally, and if given international assistance, rise to 45 per cent with key activities including working towards ending gas flaring by 2030, working towards off-grid solar PV of 13GW (13,000MW), efficient gas generators, two per cent per year energy efficiency (30 per cent by 2030), transport shift from car to mass transit, improved electricity grid and climate smart agriculture and reforestation, while growing the economy at 5 per cent annually. For a country with a teeming population with about

Oil: What We Want From Baru

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n 2012, the World converged on Brazil for Rio + 20 to set development agenda for post 2015.

The assembly’s outcome document: “The Future We Want’’ recognised that each country faces specific challenges to achieve sustainable development. One of the goals of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is to: “promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.’’

This goal discussed achieving higher levels of productivity of economies through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation, including through a focus on high value added and labourintensive sectors. Also, it is encouraging development – oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage formalisation and growth of micro-small- mediumsized enterprises including through access to financial services.

Continuing, by 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men including young people and persons living with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value. One posits that the SDGs set by the United Nations are not unattainable. Our petroleum resources could be a launching pad for sustainable development if we do the right thing. Our petroleum resources managers should not get it wrong.

We must solve this lingering problem to meet the

SDGs; otherwise we may be cajoled into giving away our four refineries in the name of privatisation, as has been touted by some. The only fully-fledged petrochemical complex in Nigeria which came on stream in 1990 became moribund in the early 2000s due to lack of maintenance. The preferred investors acquired the wholly-owned subsidiary from the NNPC in August 2006, did the normal turn around maintenance (TAM), rehabilitated the complex, which started operations on October 12, 2006.

We have wasted millions of man-hour dissipating energy on whether we should subsidise petroleum products other countries produce which unfortunately we import. This reminds one of the irony of a country that “exports what she does not have and imports what she has’’.

That paradox of a nation must be removed from our petroleum. Petroleum is the future we want. We now have a stabilised market for products across the country through modest local refining efforts as well as the Direct Supply Direct Purchase (DSDP) scheme.

The Group Managing Director of the NNPC Dr. Maikanti Baru recently said that the nation had saved about N40 billion in 2017.

We appreciate that but what he is encouraged to do is to get more value for our crude in the DSDP scheme.

To what extent can the DSDP go to solve Nigeria’s problem? It should be a temporary solution to bridge supply gap. Baru’s drive to reposition the nation’s oil sector must be

to yield results. What has been achieved is part of the NNPC’s key business focus areas to grow the industry. We are hoping that Nigeria would benefit from petroleum that it has comparative advantage.

We will continue to rely on Joint Venture partners for some time. As cash calls issues are renegotiated, industry players corroborate the GMD’s confidence of the NNPC JV partners to pursue new projects. The repayment agreements have been reached for JV cash call arrears after negotiations for outstanding up to the end of 2015 for all the IOC partners.

The first line of action is that Nigerians must be in charge by building capacity. In the upstream sector, Nigeria needs high level manpower for exploration and production.

We have advanced a little in exploration but not much in production especially with high-tech equipment for offshore drilling. With Baru, resources are being deployed to the Benue Trough for exploration using the Integrated Data Services Limited (IDSL) and her partners to pursue this government’s aspiration to grow the reserves base of the country.

The corporation had grown the production of the NNPC’s flagship upstream company, Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) from 15,000 barrels per day (bpd) to the current peak-operated volume of 180,000 bpd in June 2017. With about 10 per cent of our contribution to crude production, we still rely more on the International oil Companies

(IOC). We need more local participation especially now that the internal combustion engine is being passed out for reasons of perceived carbon emissions. The vision for NPDC is to grow its equity production from 180,000 barrels per day to 300,000 bpd by 2018 and by 2019 and 2020 its production is expected to hit 400,000 bpd and 500,000 bpd, respectively. NPDC Managing Director, Mr. Yusuf Matashi, disclosed that the planned increase in the company’s equity production was to become the fifth largest exploration and production oil producer in Nigeria. It is a target that is achievable.

The drive for the NNPC is to attain a six-month contracting cycle. The NNPC has lowered operating costs of production from US$27 per barrels to US$22 per barrels for the Upstream.

Cost reduction and efficiency are key features that will make our crude to be more competitive in the international market. The national average daily production was 1.83 million barrels of oil and condensate while currently, the year-to-date 2017 average production hovers around 1.88 million barrels. In October 2016, the Owowo Field, located close to the producing ExxonMobil-operated Usan Field was found. The field’s location could allow for early production through a tie-back to the Usan Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) with current estimated reserves of one billion barrels to the national crude oil reserves.

––Tonye Amakree, Ughelli, Delta State.

67.1 per cent of it living in poverty, increasing the likelihood of health risks and vulnerability to climate change effects, Nigeria has done very little to show its commitment to its NDCs. But again, perhaps Nigeria is renowned for its ratification of international treaties without any real follow-through plan of action, a reflection of the rash manner of drafting laws and policies without any implementation structure.

Nigeria has the ninth largest gas reserves in the world, and for a country that has committed to reduce carbon emissions by 20 per cent unconditionally, there should have been positive and intentional actions towards utilising this opportunity and transiting quickly from a crude-dependent world to at the very least, a gas regime. Yet, we rank as one of the top five gas flaring countries in the world as at 2016, eight years after late President Yar’Adua put together the National Gas Master Plan that included putting an end to gas flaring. It has been mooted that considering the state of Nigeria’s economy, we cannot immediately transit from a heavily carbon dependent economy to a no-carbon economy.

No doubt, therefore, the workable solution would be to tap into our gas resources and transition first to low carbon, and eventually no carbon. Yet, nothing has been done to utilise the nation’s vast gas reserves.

Beyond gas, Nigeria has done very little to utilise its solar, wind, and most especially waste to power potential. For a country that generates 24 million tonnes of waste annually, it would not be too much to look into a waste to power plant that will in one breath clean up the country and still provide electricity for the 75 million people who do not have access to electricity. That a country blessed with so much resource for green and sustainable development is bent on oil for which we have seen no tangible development, and still has a pride of place as the country with the second highest electricity access deficit in the world is a reason to question our readiness for COP 23.

There have been repeated calls for decentralised solar stations, off grid and embedded generation opportunities for renewable energy power supply, but the dragging of feet on this issue is so loud, almost deafening.

–– Caleb Adebayo, Lagos.

PRESIDENT BUHARI: IT IS NOT OVER

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resident Muhammadu Buhari has finally sacked the suspended Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Babachir Lawal, and replaced him with Boss Mustapha, who prior to his new appointment, was the Director General of the Nigeria Inland Waterways.

However, some people have criticised the president and condemned the appointment of Mustapha because of the fact that Mustapha is first cousin to Babachir.

Must the job remain in the family? People have also criticised President Buhari for not taking action immediately against Babachir and Ayo Oke when they were both accused of corruption, but I must applaud the president for finally doing the right thing.

Therefore, it will be more right and appropriate if the EFCC can do its job by arresting Babachir Lawal, and Ayo Oke and charge them to court and if found culpable, should ensure that they are punished accordingly.

The president should know that we are all watching with keen

interest to see how Lawal and Oke would be treated. We know what the PDP members who have been accused of corruption are going through in the EFCC’s net. Balance and fairness must be maintained.

Let me at this point appeal to the president to as well take action against the governors who still owe the workers in their states several months’ salaries and allowances despite the collection of bailout funds and the Paris Club refunds. Also, action should be taken against the ministers who are only warming their seats.

I would also like to use this opportunity and inform the president that there is a massive corruption in the office of Industrial Training Fund. The officials of the ITF have been diverting funds meant for the allowance of the students who undergo industrial training in different ministries, companies and industries across the country to prepare them before going to the labour market.

––Awunah, Pius Terwase, Mpape, Abuja.

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INTERNATIONAL

The Future of ECOWAS without Nigeria and the Dilemma of Morocco’s Membership

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t was President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, who once noted that ‘Africa without Nigeria is hollow,’ meaning that, without Nigeria, a critical vacuum that cannot be easily filled, is necessarily created. It also means that the role of Nigeria in intra-African affairs is significant to the extent that it cannot be neglected. The observation was made against the background of Nigeria’s roles in the defence of Africa’s interests in international politics, and particularly in the light of the struggle against Apartheid South Africa. And fair enough, Nigeria never gave any opportunity for such a vacuum or hollowness to exist. Africa has consistently remained the operational centrepiece of Nigeria’s foreign policy.

At the West African regional level, Nigeria has always filled the vacuum to be created by insolvency of some Member States. For instance, the chairmanship of the ECOWAS is rotated amongst leaders on a yearly basis. President GnassingbĂŠ EyadĂŠma of Togo chaired the organisation in the 1977/1978 period. General Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria followed in 1978/1979. LĂŠopold SĂŠdar Senghor of Senegal chaired it in 1979/1980 and, again, President GnassingbĂŠ EyadĂŠma of Togo in 1980/1981, etc, followed in that chronological order.

However, whenever there was to be disinterest in chairing, and thus creating a vacuum, Nigeria had always prevented it. General Ibrahim Babangida, who took over from Muhammadu Buhari as Chairman of ECOWAS Authority (May 1985 to August 27, 1985), chaired the organisation from August 27, 1985 until 1989, that is, for an unprecedented period of four years.

Again, because of the heavy financial burden often associated with chairmanship of the organisation, and which many leaders try to avoid, General Sani Abacha of Nigeria not only chaired the ECOWAS from July 27, 1996 till June 8, 1998 (two years), General Abdulsalami continued with the Nigerian chairmanship of ECOWAS from June 9, 1998 till 1999. In fact, President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua also chaired the ECOWAS from December 19, 2008 till February 18, 2010 while President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan continued with the chairmanship till February 17, 2012, that is, for over three years.

Apart from President Alpha Oumar KonarĂŠ of Mali, who chaired the organisation from 1999 till December 2001 (two years); Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal, December 21, 2001 to January 31, 2003 (two years); John Agyekum Kufuor of Ghana, January 31, 2003 to January 19, 2005 (two years), as well as President Mamadou Tandja of Niger, January 19, 2005 to January 19, 2007 (two years), no other ECOWAS Member State has served as chairman more than two years except for Nigeria.

Without any scintilla of doubt, the chairmanship of ECOWAS is essentially first a desire. Adesire requires unflinching commitment to make it meaningful. Commitment not only requires a good implementation strategy but also productive timing devoid of bickering of whatever kind. But time is also money and the most critical problem for many of the Member States many of which actually still find it uneasy to even pay their assessed dues to the organisation. It is from this perspective that we must begin to look at the future of the ECOWAS without Nigeria.

Put differently, can Morocco fill the vacuum or hollowness to be created by possible withdrawal of Nigeria from the ECOWAS? Why should Nigeria even threaten to withdraw? Why should the issue of self-determination of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Biafranisation be responsible for Nigeria’s threats to withdraw, bearing in mind that the pioneering initiative to establish the ECOWAS was Nigerian?

Who has forgotten that Nigeria collaborated with Togo, in this regard, to translate the initiative into action with the joint visits of General Gowon and GnassingbÊ EyadÊma to the various countries in West Africa? In trying to address the foregoing questions, it is useful to first investigate the main problem and its major dynamics, especially from the perspectives of both the proponents and opponents of Morocco’s quest for membership of the ECOWAS.

TheProblemand itsMainDynamic The main problem is the conscious attempt to avoid or enforce the application of the international principle of self-determination provided for in international law and relations. In this regard, the dynamic of Nigeria’s attitude towards Morocco’s application for

VIE INTERNATIONALE with

Bola A. Akinterinwa Telephone : 0807-688-2846

e-mail: bolyttag@yahoo.com

Faure GnassingbĂŠ, Chairperson of ECOWAS

membership of the ECOWAS is IPOB’s quest for a State of Biafra, which has prompted the conflict of politico-economic interests between and among Member States of the ECOWAS, on the one hand, and the proponents of self-determination in international relations, on the other. The conflict now has the great potential to create a Nigerian vacuum in West African politics, thanks to Morocco’s application for membership of the ECOWAS. And true, Morocco’s application for possible membership of the ECOWAS has proponents and opponents. The proponents underscore the potential economic contributions to be offered by Morocco, while the opponents consider the political dimensions.

Nigeria belongs to the opposition group from a technical sense.

For Nigeria, the problem is more than politico-economic.

It is essentially the question of national security, territorial integrity of Nigeria, and more specifically, how to neutralise the MASSOB and IPOB quest for Biafranisation. This question largely explains in part why Nigeria was not represented at the appropriate highest level at the last 51st Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of States and Government, held in Monrovia, Liberia in June 2017, during which the application for Morocco’s membership was considered and approved in principle.

It is important to note that Nigeria’s attitudinal disposition is not, a priori, driven by Morocco’s application but the rationales for the application, even though Morocco does not qualify to apply for membership, be it on the basis of geo-territorial contiguity or political propinquity. First, the IPOB has taken its quest for self-determination to different regional institutions and even to the United Nations for possible hearing and fairness.

The United Nations does not condone the dismemberment of any of its Member States as a matter of policy. However, dismemberment has taken place in some countries as a result of the use of force. In fact, as reported in Daily Sun of Friday, November 3, 2017, the UN Secretary General, António Guterres, responded to IPOB’s letter of request for UN intervention by sending Ambassador Mohammed Ibn Chambas to the Chief Nnia Nwodo-led Ohanaeze Ndigbo in South East of Nigeria.

As we have also noted, Morocco’s membership of the ECOWAS cannot but be a conflict of interest in the long run from which Nigeria must begin to learn some lessons: Mauritania was a founding member of the ECOWAS. Mauritania withdrew its membership in the hope of associating with the Maghreb Union.

The Union appears to be seriously challenged by bad governance.

Its members are seeking alternative futures in the ECOWAS region. In fact, Mauritania wants to return to the ECOWAS.Why?

Ambassador Chambas, who is former Head of the ECOWAS Commission, conveyed the message of the UN Secretary General as follows: AntĂłnio Guterres ‘believes in this one Nigeria project, because as he has always said, a united, strong Nigeria is good not only for the people of Nigeria, but indeed for the people of West Africa and all of Africa. We know the strength that the people of the South East bring to Nigeria and the sub-region. There is hardly a single country in West Africa, where you will not find enterprising persons from the South East, who in their own rights, are economic ambassadors of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. ‘ So our simple message is to encourage the leaders, elders of the South East to continue to endeavour to seek ways they can work with all other parts of this federation to strengthen the unity of this country through constructive approach, seek dialogue to redress whatever shortcomings that may be’ (vide page 8). Thus, the United Nations is against the application of the principle of self-determination. Nigeria also does not want it.

However, Israel and Morocco are indirectly accusing Nigeria of double standard as Nigeria has been supporting the autonomy of Palestinians within the framework of the 1917 Balfour Declaration on the creation of a State for Israel and a state for the Palestinians.

Nigeria argued that there has to be fairness since the state of Israel was, indeed, established at the end of World War II, while that of the Palestinians is yet to be actualised. Israel is not happy with Nigeria on this matter, believing that if Nigeria would support selfdetermination, fairness and justice in the case of the Palestinians, it should also accept the same spirit in the case of the IPOB. It is precisely the same logic at the level of Morocco’s relationship with the Saharawi Arab Republic, formerly referred to as the Spanish Sahara. When Spain left the territory, Morocco began to claim sovereignty over the territory, but which the International Court of Justice denied. The whole of Africa, through the Organisation of African Unity supported the Saharawi Arab Republic by admitting its membership of the OAU. It was because of this that Morocco withdrew its membership of the continental organisation.

Even though the dusts of claim of sovereignty over the territory of the Saharawi Arab Republic are yet to settle, Morocco has not only manoeuvred to stage a come-back to the AU, it is also seeking membership of the ECOWAS. Unlike the argument of Morocco’s pioneer membership of the OAU, Morocco has only applied to accede to the 1975 ECOWAS Treaty as amended in 1993, but for a purpose that has not been seriously tabled for further reflections.

Explicated differently, when the ECOWAS Parliament was considering ruling on possible referendum to prevent unnecessary violence, on the basis of Nigeria being a signatory to various UN, AU and ECOWAS treaties, especially as they relate to the principle of self-determination, Nigeria objected and threatened to discontinue funding the ECOWAS and possibly withdraw from the regional organisation. It was in an attempt to avoid the eventual ruling of the ECOWAS Parliament on the need for referendum that the Government of the Federation accepted to release the IPOB leader, insisting on unacceptability of a referendum on the matter.

It was especially in the light of this that Morocco considered the exploitation of the likely opportunity of possible withdrawal of Nigeria to seek her replacement in the organisation. Morocco wants to leave its own North African economic community to seek accommodation in ECOWAS, promising to fund the organisation in the same way Israel wants to do (vide “Why Israel and Morocco are Solidly behind Biafra,� in Hope for Nigeria: Nigeria’s No.1 Community Platform on line).

While the main rationale for Morocco’s quest for membership of the ECOWAS is essentially to serve as a counterweight if Nigeria remains a member or to outright replace Nigeria’s functional roles with those of Morocco, the emerging interest of Tunisia to also join the ECOWAS is yet to be made clear, except to begin to look at the deepening setbacks of the Maghreb Union to which both Morocco and Tunisia belong. The Union is currently fraught with political stalemate in its regional cooperation. Intra-trade in the five AMU countries (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Mauritania) does not exceed 3%, compared to 10% in the ECOWAS region and 19% in the SADC countries. Besides, the objective of the Union was to have a Customs Union by 1995 and an economic market by 2020.

This wish has more or less remained a dream.

As noted in this regard by the North African Post, in the face of the paralysis crippling the Maghreb Union, Tunisia is following the example of Morocco by repositioning itself on the African continent. More important, Tunisian endeavour to join the ECOWAS was not only announced at the highest level by Prime Minister Youssef Chahel at the opening of the “Tunisian African Empowerment Forum� last week, an event that ‘sets the tone for a pivot and Tunisian foreign policy towards West Africa and echoes a frustration with the paralysis plaguing the Maghreb Union. It is therefore legitimate for Tunis to seek alternatives to the Maghreb Union, which, more than 27 years after its creation in 1989 (Marrakesh Treaty) has failed to achieve its main goals’ (vide “Tunisia launches Charm Offensive to join ECOWAS as Maghreb Union Crumbles,’ North African Post).

(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 ˾ NOVEMBER 5, 2017

BUSINESS

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

LAST WEEK Economy Nigeria recorded a major leap in the Ease of Doing Business ranking as the country moved up 24 places to 145th in the ranking. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo expressed satisfaction with the development and described it as a “significant result”. Nigeria was also identified as one of the top 10 most improved economies in the world. A statementbyOsinbajo’sSeniorSpecial AssistantonMediaandPublicity,Laolu Akande, said, “Improving the business environmentisattheheartoftheBuhari administration’s reform agenda.

Biofuel The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ondo State Government to establish a 65 million litresperannumbiofuelplantinOkeluse, OndoState,aspartofitscommitmentto ensureunimpededsupplyofpetroleum productsandsafeguardtheenvironment through reduction of carbon emission.

Group Managing Director of NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru, stated, “We expect that thisplant,whenbuilt,willbeproducingat least65millionlitresperannumoffuel ethanol that could be blended into our Premium Motor Spirit and will be used in Nigeria and neighbouring countries when exported.”

Customers thronged a commercial bank on the last day of BVN registration about two years ago

As 14-day Ultimatum on BVN Expires, Fate of Nigerians in Diaspora, Intestate Accounts Come under Focus Obinna Chima and Bamidele Famoofo If the order handed down on October 17

by Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court, Abuja, to 19 commercial banks in Nigeria and the Central Bank of Nigeria is anything to go by, then tens of millions of bank customers whose accounts are without the Bank Verification Number will no longer have access to their monies in such accounts. They could forfeit the monies to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The court ordered the banks to disclose all accounts in their custody, the balances in such accounts, the owners, and their proceeds in their affidavits of compliance deposed to by their chief compliance officers.

The court also directed the CBN and the Nigeria Interbank Settlement Systems “to validate the information contained in the affidavit of compliance/disclosure filed by the respective 19 banks” within seven days from the date of service of the orders on them. The judge was ruling on an ex-parte motion filed on September 28 by the federal government.

One of the orders from the ruling reads, “An interim order is hereby made granting leave to the applicants or any officer authorised by them to advertise the accounts without BVN disclosed by the banks in a widely circulated national newspapers as notice to any person or body corporate or financial institution who may have any interest in any of the said accounts to claim ownership within 14 days of the publication of the order and show cause why the proceeds in the account should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.”

Freezing funds in bank accounts without BVN link is one of the anticorruption strategies of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration. The government intends to recover ill-gotten wealth stashed in the coffers of banks in Nigeria.

But the pronouncement by the Abuja High Court has attracted mixed reactions from Nigerians. While some believe the order given by the court to the CBN and the

MONEY commercial banks to freeze accounts not linked to BVN is insensitive, others say it is a step in the direction. Yet, a few say CBN and the banks should put measures in place to enable those without BVN, especially diaspora Nigerians, get linked to the verification system launched on February 14, 2014 to register all customers in the country’s financial system using biometric technology.

About 30,511,506 BVNs have been issued in Nigeria, according to the CBN. The Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System says 45.85 million bank accounts remain unlinked to BVN. But in relation to the active accounts, the number of unlinked accounts is put at 15.72 million, as at February.

A Senior Lecturer in Development Economics at the Lagos Business School, Dr. Bongo Adi, said the move by the federal government to make bank customers forfeit their monies was morally wrong and sent out a bad signal about the country’s banking system.

Adi stated, “If we consider it from a moral point of view, there is something we call in economies error of targeting. There is the Type 1 error and there is the Type 2 error. The Type 1 error is that you are likely to miss those whom you target. Let’s say they are looking to stem corruption or financial irregularities. But there is the likelihood that they may not get those they are looking for.

“So, there is no way we can prove that the accounts that had not been linked to BVN have some form of malignancy.

Now from an economic point of view, don’t forget that there are Nigerians in the diaspora who have money in the system but have not gotten the chance to come around and register for their BVN. This is going to discourage financial inclusion.”

In his reaction, the chief executive of Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Mr. Bismarck Rewane, also pointed out that if the decision of the court was implemented,

it would lead to a liquidity squeeze in the market. But Rewane stated that the court ruling would help sanitise the system.

According to Rewane, “It does mean that all that money would be transferred to the central bank and that would drain liquidity.

Let’s say it is N500 billion in all the banks and the banks are to comply by transferring the monies to the central bank account, which is the federal government’s bank.”

A manager with one of the commercial banks in Lagos, Mr. Sanmi Akinleye, said those mostly affected by the BVN issue were Nigerians in the diaspora. Akinleye said, “Those Nigerians in the United States of America, who have money in commercial banks in Nigeria, only have four points in the whole of the United States to register for BVN.” About 30,511,506 BVNs have been issued in Nigeria, according to the CBN. The Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System says 45.85 million bank accounts remain unlinked to BVN

He argued that both the CBN and the 19 commercial banks must seek ways to make necessary provisions for Nigerians, not only in the United States, but also in other countries to have the opportunity to link their accounts to BVN. Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Mrs. Abike Dabiri- Erewa, had earlier pleaded with the CBN to further extend the deadline for the BVN registration by the Diaspora for them to retain their monies in the banks.

Dabiri-Erewa said Nigerians in the diaspora had contributed immensely to the growth of the Nigerian economy by remitting billion of dollars annually through the banks to the economy. She believes the diasporas should be given some consideration now that they need their country to protect their hard-earned monies in the local banks.

But special aid to the president on pros-

ecution, Okoi Obono-Obla, who spoke recently on the court’s pronouncement, said the Buhari administration would be justified should the funds in the accounts be taken over by the federal government.

Obono-Obla, who is also Chairman of the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property, regretted the huge number of unlinked accounts.

“From central bank statistics, 46 million accounts are yet to be linked with BVN numbers after three years,” he said, stressing, however, that he does not know how much money the accounts hold.

He said those who had not linked their accounts to BVN had violated a CBN policy and should have themselves to blame.

“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.”

Obono-Obla added, “Our laws are not even as strict as what we find in the U.S. In the United States, if you do not operate a bank account for three years, all the money in that account goes to the federal government of the United States of America…

“You don’t expect the government to sit back. Government must take action to ensure that these accounts are closed or government must take action to find out who are the owners of these accounts.

Why have they not linked these accounts with BVN as directed by the Central Bank of Nigeria, the regulator?”

The presidential aide also said, “I will never absolve the banks from the endemic and pandemic corruption we have, because the banks promote corruption. They know these accounts, they know people who bring money into these accounts and some of these accounts are fake.”

But the 19 commercial banks affected by the court ruling are in the court, challenging the position of the federal government and the Abuja high court. They are allowed under the law to challenge the order of the court up to the Supreme Court.

Agriculture Nigeria plans to establish a $1 billion crop-processing park in Badeggi Crop Processing Zone, Niger State, in partnership with Turkey as part of efforts toimprovevalueandboostagricultural exports.DeputyDirector,NigerianInvestmentPromotionCouncil,AminuTakuma, statedthattheparkwillstartoperation next June, with an initial $250 million fundingfromaTurkishinvestor,whilean additional$800millionwillfollowlater.

The facility, when fully operational, will processmorethan750,000metrictons ofcrops,includingrice,maize,yam,cassava, groundnuts and peas, every year.

VAIDS The data of over five million corporate organisations and individuals in the countryhavebeencollectedthroughthe Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme. The data collated will be subjected to further analysis to ensure thatallunpaidtaxesaretrackedandcollected.The VAIDS office in the Federal Ministry of Finance made this known in a statement. The statement added thatthesecondphaseofitsdatamining initiative was aimed at obtaining data fromallgovernmentrevenue-generating agencies.The agencies, the office said, include the Federal Inland Revenue Service; Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation; Central Bank of Nigeria; andFederalAirportsAuthorityofNigeria.

CBN The Central Bank of Nigeria will work aggressively towards increasing the financial inclusion rate to 80 per cent, andcuttingdownthenumberofpeople excludedfromthefinancialsystemto20 percentinthenextthreeyears.TheCBN governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, noted that the target was very ambitious, but saidthebankhadidentifiedkeystrategies to apply to cut down the financial exclusion rate across the country to 20 per cent by 2020.

Repatriation The Federal Executive Council on WednesdayapprovedaMemorandum ofUnderstandingbetweenNigeriaand Switzerland for the repatriation of looted funds amounting to $321 million.Attorney-generaloftheFederation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, disclosed this to State House correspondentsaftertheFECmeeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ NOVEMBER 5, 2017

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BUSINESS/ECONOMY

Dealing with Nigeria’s High Debt Service-to-Revenue Ratio The IMF red flag on the high debt service-to-revenue ratio, which it raised for the second time this year, has been a cause for concern for stakeholders in the economy. But the government has allayed the fears on the danger it may portend, writes Kunle Aderinokun

D

ebt is a financial obligation or an amount due for repayment. This requires allocation of resources albeit scarce. That is why when it comes to the national debt, stakeholders in the economy and observers are critical of the issue because a lot of tax payers’ money goes into fulfilling obligations or servicing loans that have been contracted on behalf of the citizens. It is therefore not out of place or surprising that Nigeria’s debt service status has been a subject of debate in recent times.

Owing to dearth of resources, occasioned by dwindled fortunes of oil and alleged mismanagement by the immediate past government, the current administration led by President Muhammadu Buhari has resorted to borrowing to augment the inadequate funds at its disposal. The effort, the government claimed, was geared towards availing it with the requisite resources to spend its way out of its challenges.

But government’s debt management has come under the watchful eyes of international observers and their local counterparts, nay economic analysts.

IMF Cautions The latest is the report of the International Monetary Fund, which reiterated that debt servicing costs were becoming a burden on Nigeria and other developing countries, especially, oil-producing countries. The other affected oil-producing countries are Angola and Gabon. In sounding this note of caution, the IMF pointed out that, the debt service costs would gulp more than 60 per cent of government revenues in the aforementioned countries in 2017.

“Even in cases where debt levels are still relatively low, tighter financing conditions and increased debt financing have started to worsen debt service burdens, with an upward trend in both the debt-service-to-revenue ratio and the external debt-service-to-exports ratio. The change has been most dramatic for oil exporters, with a seven-fold increase in debt service, from an average of 8 percent of revenues in 2013 to 57 percent in 2016, and has been especially acute in Nigeria (66 percent) and Angola (60 percent),” the IMF had indicated.

The Bretton Woods institution made its position known last week in its Regional Economic Outlook titled: ‘The Quest for Recovery’.

This is not the first time the multilateral institution would be cautioning Nigeria on debt servicing. In a report issued at the end of its Article IV Consultation on Nigeria in March this year, it raised a red flag on the country’s debt serviceto-revenue ratio, which it put at 66 per cent.

According to the fund,“Even with a significant under-execution in capital spending, the consolidated fiscal deficit increased from 3.5 percent of GDP in 2015 to 4.7 percent of GDP in 2016, because of significant revenue shortfalls. This resulted, over the same period, in a doubling of the Federal Government (FG) interest payments-to-revenue ratio to 66 percent.”

FG’s Position However, the Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun, who had earlier stated that the federal government would not bequeath a portfolio of unserviceable debts to future generations of Nigerians, said while reacting to the IMF report that the Federal Government’s revenue and debt management strategy would mitigate the country’s debt service risk and fast-track her development.

Adeosun, who welcomed the advice of Nigeria’s international development partners, including the IMF, said the strategy would achieve a number of objectives that include: mobilising revenue whilst reducing the debt burden by lengthening the maturity profile, increasing foreign exchange reserves, reducing crowding-out of the private sector, and creating savings in debt service cost.

In fact, she argued that rather than making debt servicing a burden on Nigeria, the federal government was saving N76.375 billion per annum from US$2.5billion borrowing and N91.65 billion per annum from US$3 billion refinancing of short-term domestic debt.

According to the minister, a key element of the economic reform strategy was the mobilisation of revenue to improve the debt service to revenue ratio. This, she pointed out, was being undertaken through a number of initiatives including, the plugging of leakages and the deployment of technology revenue management.

She specifically cited the example of the Health Pay, a pilot cashless revenue project in the health sector, which recorded material increases in revenue. The ongoing Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS) was equally expected to impact positively the level of tax collections.

Adeosun

IMF MD, Lagarde Christine

Adeosun explained that, “The difference in our economic strategy is that we are changing the mix of revenue sources available to government from the traditional oil or debt to a combination of oil, debt and domestic revenue.

“This is a long term strategic reform which is critical to our future economic growth and in the short term will enable our debt service to revenue ratio to improve.”

In addition, Adeosun noted that the government was refinancing its inherited debt portfolio and this will lead to significant benefits, particularly a reduction in costs of funds.

“The proposed refinancing of US$3billion worth of short terms Treasury Bills into longer tenured international debt is expected to save N91.65 billion per annum.

“Other benefits of our revenue and debt management strategy include: improvement in foreign reserves as well as reduced domestic debt demand, which will reduce crowding-out of the private sector and support the aspirations of the monetary authorities to bring down interest rates,” she added.

The government, according to her, did not see a significant devaluation risk as the implementation of the Economic Recovery Growth Plans (ERGP) reforms, over the medium term, is such that the naira is expected to strengthen.

“Both debt and debt servicing must be sustainable to avoid the economy going into debt overhang as was the case years back. The structure of the economy must be altered to ensure that revenues come from other sources other than oil.

“In financing projects, the public private ownership approach is also an option. External borrowing from multilateral institutions such as the World Bank and the African Development Bank, among others are preferable because of the concessionary terms, long-term of payments, low interest rate and possible rescheduling if the country’s economy experience difficulties.

External borrowing has more flexibility especially as regards delayed payment and/ or rescheduling than domestic debt.

The issuance of Sukuk bonds to finance road infrastructure is also a step in the right direction. The government must ensure that the country’s debt profile is sustainable. A modern market system is a casino economy which survives on debt!”

Similarly, another analyst, Director, Union Capital Ltd, Egie Akpata, said the IMF raised some valid concerns regarding the FGN debt profile. According to Akpata, spending 60 per cent of revenue on debt servicing is clearly not advisable.

Akpata indicated that,“The current FGN strategy of moving towards ‘cheaper’ off shore borrowing might reduce the debt service ratio on the short term but on the long term, guaranteed Naira devaluation would mean the interest savings might not materialise but the total debt stock will grow rapidly as the Naira devalues.

Akpata believes: “It would be helpful if we can move beyond the misleading debt/GDP ratio. That ratio is relevant to countries with very high tax/GDP ratios.”

“Also, the idea that the FGN can borrow huge amounts of money to help reduce the infrastructure deficit in the economy will likely lead to even worse FGN debt service ratios in the future. Most of this proposed infrastructure spend cannot pay for itself directly, is very expensive and might not be located where increased economic activity would lead to higher tax revenues for the FGN. Even if the tax revenues materialise in the distant future, they will be in Naira but the debt to be serviced would be in USD,” he added.

One solution, according to him, would be to concession infrastructure development to experienced and well capitalised foreign operators who will bring in the required capital and expertise to develop these projects.“Even if the FGN provides some kind of performance based guarantees, this approach will likely lead to more cost effective infrastructure development, lower debt on the FGN balance sheet and after the concession period, the FG is still left with ownership of a functioning infrastructure asset,” he explained.

To the CEO, Global Analytics Consulting, Tope Fasua,“The figures are not jiving.”

Lamenting that,“It is already worrisome to any keen observer

Analysts Speak But economic analysts and market watchers, who hold contrary views from Adeosun’s, have x-rayed the issue and advise on utilisation of the proceeds of borrowing and suggested alternative ways to manage the debt servicing.

One of them, Director General. West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management, Dr. Akpan Ekpo, stated that there was no doubt that the cost of servicing Nigeria’s debt from revenue was quite high.

Ekpo believes no economy would like to burden itself with high costs debt servicing if most of its revenues go to servicing debts.

“My position has been that there is nothing wrong in borrowing to finance capital projects such as roads, railways and power. Nigeria’s debt management office has the expertise to advice government on managing the country’s debt. It seems that the debt servicing/revenue ratio has stated by the IMF seems quite high (68%). I suspect that the IMF did not take into account oil revenues because of its volatility.”

Moreover, Ekpo added, oil revenues are exogenous; the economy has no control of its price and output. If oil revenues become part of the equation then the debt/servicing should be around 38% which is still high and above the threshold,” As part of his suggestions, Ekpo advised the federal government to borrow only to finance capital projects with proper analysis such that overtime the returns on the projects would pay off the debt.

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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 ˾ NOVEMBER 5, 2017

BUSINESS/INTERVIEW

Ayeyemi: Govt Must Make Investment in Infrastructure Profitable to Attract Investors Mr. Ade Ayeyemi is Chief Executive Officer, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated. Ayeyemi speaks on the issue of access to finance, a hot topic of conversation in Nigeria currently, in this interview with Francis Ndubuisi conducted on the side-lines of the recent Nigeria Economic Summit. Excerpts:

H

ow involved is Ecobank in the financing of infrastructure in the country?

which is to give support to individuals.

We also have an investment arm and own microfinance companies, both in Nigeria and across West Africa. So, our business model understands that it is ensuring that those small and medium scale enterprises are successful. Then, we can have a successful society. Now capital is one of the things that they need access to. But the businesses need to be positive. For business to be positive, the business environment, access to infrastructure, access to power have to be guaranteed, and also when they supply people they need to pay them. All of us need to work; the financial institutions, like Ecobank, need to work. We also need to provide advice from our commercial banking to the entrepreneurs, guide them and have entrepreneurial clinics that we have from time to time that enable them to know how to manage their businesses.

We do that. Have we done enough? No, we haven’t done enough but we need to continue to do more.

Infrastructure has to be profitable so that when you are financing it, the money can come back. When we had the power privatisation in Nigeria, it was based on the assumption that the multi-year tariffs will be approved. But it was aborted. It’s like somebody went to court and said the tariff should not be there. So, do we have power today? No. And why don’t we have it? It’s because it’s not profitable. Why are the mobile phone companies profitable? It’s because when the SIM card came, for you to buy a SIM card, you pay N40, 000. Today, you can get the SIM card free with some airtime because the government allowed that industry to mature. So, all the people that invested in the power now, the companies have been bankrupt. There are non-performing loans in the financial institutions. We need to have real conversations with ourselves, if we really want to build infrastructure. We have to be willing to pay for it. It’s not about financing; we are ready to finance but our money are not grants-- they are loans – which means they need to be paid back and for it to be paid back the company needs to be profitable.

We have a $21 billion balance sheet as a group and Nigeria is a large part of that group.

Looking at access to finance, one of the biggest challenges is interest rate. What is your position on this?

You were one of the panellists at the access to finance segment of the Nigeria Economic Summit. How can the problem of access to finance be resolved?

I think as a people and society, we are beginning to realise what our challenges are and more importantly, we are beginning to say ok, what can we do? And this morning, the question was what can we do? You think about the problems because from home, the question is still, what can we do? And imbibing these solutions, and the proof is going to be the follow-up, because we have to make sure we don’t just come in next

Adeyemi

year and have another set of debate. We need to figure out how to ensure that the things that we agree will be fixed then, because once we take one thing off the table, once we fix one thing, then it’s no longer going to be there next year.

At Ecobank, we have a segment of

our business, which is in line with large companies, which is called the corporate and investment bank. We have a segment of our business that is commercial bank, which is to give loans to small and medium scale enterprises. We have a segment of our business which is consumer bank,

Dealing with Nigeria’s High Debt Service-to-Revenue Ratio that we may be back solidly in the debt trap,” Fasua said, “It has become almost cliché that it’s revenue to debt ratio that matters, not debt to GDP.”According to him,“It seems like the minister of finance is helpless in this regard, as she is merely under severe pressure to fund the budget by any and every means.”“The economy suffers leakages which political actors are milking heavily while she is unable to move forcefully against them.”

Fasua believes, “The structure of the economy cannot be altered in any salutary manner because politicians have their dead weights on the country, times are therefore so tough for Nigerians. The minister can only tide over by borrowing, and as she said recently, borrowing to finance old borrowings.”

“I believe successive Nigerian governments have not dreamed big enough for the people, and most have not been totally honest.

How can Angola generate revenue of about $38billion yearly, and budget $44billion for 2017, while ‘a whole’ Nigeria, generates about $14billion and could only budget $22billion this year?

South Africa budgeted $115billion this year for its 40million people, and generates at least $95billion in revenue. In terms of budgets and revenue, SA is at least 9 times Nigeria! So, the debate should probably be; where is Nigeria’s money?,” he also noted.

Also, the CEO, The CFG Advisory Ltd, Adetilewa Adebajo, said the issue was not new as it was raised and extensively discussed during the Article IV consultation earlier this year.

Interest rate is not the problem of the bank; it’s the problem of the society. We need to understand our problems so that we can find appropriate solutions. If you as the THISDAY Associate Editor have the opportunity to put your savings in the bank today and the bank tells you we will pay you five per cent and you can put it as treasury bill at 17 per cent, which one will you choose? You will definitely put it in treasury bills. So let’s try and not force a solution that is not sustainable. We need to solve the fundamental problem, which is that our inflation rate is high, our cost of lending to government is high and it’s because we don’t pay taxes so the government has to borrow. We have to choose whether to pay the tax or we pay high interest rates. So it’s something that we have to speak truths to ourselves. I can’t tell you all the banks will bring down the interest rates, it’s not going to happen because the government is borrowing at 17 per cent due non-payment of taxes.

Cont’d from Pg.. 18

“My take is that the government has properly captured the solutions to this problem within the ERGP. The key challenge now is implementation and to consolidate on the gains of the efficiency and cost cutting unit with the MOF. We also need to move our tax to GDP ratios to levels commensurate to our economic ranking. We have talked about diversifying the revenue base and the time to act is now,” Adebajo explained.

Recalling that, the presidential enabling business environment council led by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Minister of Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enelamah, set out a 60-day national action plan backed by Executive Orders, he said, “The result of the follow through with the implementation, has manifested in the improvement of Nigeria’s ranking with the World Bank ease of doing business, affirming an improving business environment. This is a positive signal to increased business confidence, Portfolio investment and FDI.” Suggestion Adebajo posited: “We need to borrow a leaf from this success and apply it to the debt service issues. The improved coordination between the CBN, MITI and MOF should help forestall any problems with debt service. The efforts of the finance minister to refinance the national debt profile in an effort to reduce borrowing cost should also be to begin to take effect early next year, which will be reinforced by falling inflation and the CBN cutting rates.

DG, DMO, Patience Oniha

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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 ˾ NOVEMBER 5, 2017

BUSINESS/ENERGY

Fresh Oil Price Rally Stokes New Hopes Crude oil prices have maintained a northward trajectory, even up to the levels last seen in mid2015, to boost the confidence that it may have finally turned the corner. Chineme Okafor writes on rising fortunes of oil and what it could mean for Nigeria’s economic recovery

Barrels of crude oil

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eports from Financial Times of London that crude oil recent price rally extended to new heights of above $60 a barrel when Brent crude last Wednesday climbed to a level last seen in mid-2015, would to a large extent gladden the hearts of Nigeria’s federal authorities for many reasons.

Accordingly, this could begin to stoke hopes within the oil industry that the market has finally turned the corner after about three years of downturn that has affected economies like Nigeria’s which are hugely dependent on oil.

As reported, the price recovery had been underway since June when demands for crude finally started to outstrip supply, and the global oil glut that had built up over the previous three years started to draw down.

“Oil has always been a cyclical market and at the moment traders are realising they’re still living off just two things to meet rising demand: US shale and the legacy investments in fields made prior to the price crash in 2014,” said chief commodities analyst at the Nordic corporate bank, SEB, Bjarne Schieldrop, to the Financial Times.

Schieldrop further added that,“From 2019, the pipeline of supply could dry up pretty quickly and the industry, including US shale producers, are signalling they need these higher prices.”

Changes As indicated by market analysts, much of the recent tightening of the oil market has been driven by the decision of member countries of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and their allies led by the

Russian Federation to, since January, cut about 1.8 million barrels of oil per day outputs, which is about two per cent of global supply from the market, and significant drawdown in shale oil production from US producers.

Together, OPEC and the Russia-led coalition have continued to support the production cut, and even shown signs they would support its extension through most of 2018 when they meet again on November 30. This has also minimised fears that the price rush could be brief because they could return to producing more oil to flood the market.

Similarly, demand for oil has reportedly continued to soar on the back of low petrol and diesel prices to the benefits of motorists.

And, there is equally very good evidence in the oil futures market to show that the oil market is perhaps on a tight end.

Recent futures curve for Brent were seen to have been in a state of backwardation for some time now. Backwardation is a situation in which near-term contracts trade at a premium compared to when the contract was further away from expiration.

As explained by market experts, a state of backwardation usually followed periods of time when the oil market is tight, unlike ‘contango’ which is the opposite, and occurs during surplus times.

A contango also involves the hoarding of oil in storage to be sold at a higher price at a later date, which is what the market had seen lots of in the past three years when it buckled under supply glut.

No threat Considering the role shale oil has in determining the dynamics of the market, further market reports explained that the

industry was looking out to the US shale industry for a response that could possibly halt this bullish trend, but that was yet to come from shale producers.

Being very instrumental to ending the $100/b oil era in 2014, the US shale industry had remained a big influence that traditional producers frequently considered in making forecasts for the market. However, the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) noted in a data it released in August that the US shale oil was not performing as well as everyone thought they did or could do.

The EIA in the August oil production data showed that total US oil output actually fell from 9.234mbd in July to just 9.203mbd in August. And, so, with its rising costs, falling rig count, production problems and lots of debt, experts feel the US shale industry could be on a slowdown route that is very unlikely to halt the new price rise.

Good movement Also, like a fortunate pull, the development in prices of oil, which was very dominant in Nigeria’s descent into economic recession in 2016, as well as her recent recovery from same, would come very welcomed by the country.

Entering into a very crucial period of its administration, the President Muhammadu Buhari – led government would ordinarily wish to have this price movement sustained to amongst other things allow it more money to fund its budget, which has largely suffered poor implementation from paucity of funds.

Now rising to within $60/b in November 2017, the influence, especially for Nigeria could be substantial, when it is considered that oil production from the Niger Delta

has remained relatively stable and Nigeria is yet to get into the production freeze band approved for it by OPEC. As was known, Nigeria’s economic recession was sharply activated by a steady decline in the prices of oil in the global market, and production disruptions in the Niger Delta, which brought about a huge drop in Nigeria’s oil and gas output.

Without a doubt, these twin problems of low oil price and output, forced down Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings, reduced her revenue, stimulated a devaluation of her currency – the naira because of the scarcity of foreign exchange, as well as resulted in a general rise in the prices of goods and services, starting with that of petrol pump price.

Also, with the general rise in prices, came the steep rise in inflation figures and a subsequent drop in trade and industrial activities and the resultant rise in unemployment and depressed Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures for about five consecutive quarters.

According to the NBS, in the second quarter of 2017, the nation’s GDP grew by 0.55 per cent year-on-year in real terms, indicating that economy emerged from recession after five consecutive quarters of contraction since Q1 2016.

Also, the country’s foreign exchange reserves could be buoyed further with stability in oil prices. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in September, indicated that the country’s foreign exchange reserves had risen to a 31-month high of $33 billion, and that was when oil prices were circa $55/b, additional price rises would subsequently add to the reserves deposit to support the country’s economic recovery efforts.

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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 ˾ NOVEMBER 5, 2017

BUSINESS/ECONOMY

Presidet Buhari (M) Vice President Osinbajo (2nd left), Senate President Saraki (2nd right) Speaker Dogar (right) and Budget and National Planning Minister Udoma at the launch of ERGP in April

Doing Business: How ERGP Triggered Nigeria’s Giant Leap in World Ranking Bamidele Famoofo examines the impact of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan on Nigeria’s recent impressive leap in the ease of doing business ranking, where it was grouped among 10 most improved economies in the world in 2017

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n Tuesday, March 7, the President Muhammadu Buhari administration formally launched an economic roadmap christened the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan.The ERGP, a medium-term plan covering 2017-2020, broadly targets restoration of growth, human development, and globally competitive economy, in efforts to end the economic crisis and achieve sustained diversification and inclusiveness.

Giant Leap Three months after the launch of the economic roadmap, Nigeria, the largest economy in Africa, wriggled out of economic recession with Gross Domestic Product recording a growth of 0.55 per cent. About four months after the most populous black nation in the world recorded the impressive feat of returning to economic growth, the World Bank says it is officially recognised as one of the top 10 best improved economies globally in 2017.

The vice president, ProfessorYemi Osinbajo, who is the chairman of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council, said on Tuesday, after the cheering news was broken by the World Bank, that it was the first time in 10 years that Nigeria would record such a huge rise in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business ranking.

Nigeria, according to the Ease of Doing Business Report, which captured the performances of 190 countries across the globe, ranked 145th, moving up 24 places, and joining the prestigious league of top 10 most improved economies in the world.

An elated Osinbajo disclosed that Nigeria, which recorded a modest improvement from 170 to 169 in the 2016 ranking, had surpassed the target set by the president. “This year, Mr President set us an ambitious target of moving up 20 places in the rankings. I am delighted that we have exceeded his goal,” he stated.

ERGP The vice president attributed the significant improvement recorded by Nigeria in the World Bank’s Doing Business ranking to the efficient implementation of the ERGP by all relevant government agencies since it was formally launched some seven months ago. He said the implementation of the plan actually

began over a year ago.

According to Osinbajo,“Improving the business environment is at the heart of the Buhari administration’s reform agenda. We are reinforcing our economic turnaround by implementing the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan so businesses operating in Nigeria can thrive and be competitive globally.

“For the first time, coordinated efforts across various levels of governments have been undertaken to make it easier to do business in Nigeria. I commend all stakeholders who worked with us to achieve this excellent result, particularly the National Assembly, Lagos and Kano state governments, and the private sector.”

Inland Revenue Service office, and electronic payment and filing are gradually gaining acceptance.

Going by figures released by the World Bank for Doing Business 2018, the coast is clear for Nigeria to achieve a meaningful economic growth in the years ahead.

“On the distance to frontier metric, Nigeria’s score went from 48.18 in Doing Business 2017 to 52.03 in Doing Business 2018, using a comparable methodology. This improvement of 3.85 points means that in the last year Nigeria has improved its business regulations as captured by the Doing Business indicators in absolute terms—the country is narrowing the gap with the global regulatory frontier,” the Bank said.

Reforms in Lagos, Kano The World Bank highlighted five reforms making it easier to do business in Kano and Lagos, the two cities covered by the report in Nigeria over the course of last year. The improvements were in the areas of starting a business, dealing with construction permits, registering property, getting credit, and paying taxes.

In the area of company registration, the World Banks says the Corporate Affairs Commission has moved to offer online registration and introduced new features such as electronic stamping of registration documents. Thus, entrepreneurs have been able to register their businesses much faster, within 24-48 hours, thereby saving cost and time Getting construction permits and registering property in Lagos and Kano states have also become more transparent and easier for businesses with the online publication of all relevant regulations, fee schedules, and pre-application requirements online.

Getting access to credit is now easier and Nigeria is placed sixth in the world on this indicator. The government recorded a significant success by collaborating with the National Assembly to pass two new Acts, the Secured Transactions in Movable Assets Act 2017 and the Credit Reporting Act 2017, thereby strengthening the legal framework for access to credit for Small and Medium Enterprises across the country – an important requirement for the success of SMEs. In addition, according to the World Bank report, it has become easier to pay taxes in Nigeria because taxpayers can file tax returns at the nearest Federal

‘We are not resting on our oars’ Osinbanjo said regarding the country’s huge leap in ease of doing business,“Our focus remains firmly on ensuring that SMEs operating in Nigeria find it easier to do business. Our ultimate success will be the testimonials received from businesses all across the country. However, this validation from the World Bank endorses the direction that we have been taking to improve the ease of doing business in Nigeria over the last 12-18 months. Although we are beginning to get some positive feedback, we still have a lot of work to do before the full impact of our reforms are felt by all Nigerians.

“Some of our critical on-going reforms include a new sub-national ‘ease of doing business’ project being implemented in conjunction with all the states and the FCT to replicate similar reforms across the country. We are again collaborating with the National Assembly to deliver an Omnibus Bill to jointly furnish a more business friendly legal framework for Nigerian businesses in the future.

Furthermore, the Federal Executive Council has approved the concessioning of our major international airports, which will be fast-tracked to enable easier movement of persons.

“We are also nearing the implementation stage of our National Trading Platform to ensure our crossborder trading is more efficient, while collaborating with other countries to safeguard our security. This policy will also be supported by on-going reform efforts to simplify trading within Nigeria, whether that be the ease of trade in goods, regulatory approvals or the protection of intellectual property.”

More Reforms On September 27, the second 60-day National Action Plan (NAP 2.0) was approved by an expanded meeting of the PEBEC. NAP 2.0 has over 60 priority initiatives targeted to be attained

by December 1, 2017.

According to the PEBEC chairman, the plan covers 11 areas this time, including new areas, such as enforcing contracts, simplifying the procurement process, and trading within Nigeria. It is hoped that a successful implementation of the NAP 2.0 would deliver significant benefits, especially for SMEs, including the fact that it would make 1.3 million MSMEs eligible to do business with government, bring about 75% reduction in average clearance time for foreign travellers, 60% reduction in time to get electricity, 75% reduction in time to register business premises, and 50% reduction in time for filing corporate income taxes.

It would be recalled that the PEBEC was established by the president in July 2016, with a mandate to sustainably and progressively make Nigeria an easier place to do business.

The PEBEC is chaired by the vice president, with the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment as vice chair. Other PEBEC members include 10 ministers, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, and Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria. In 2017 the membership was expanded to include the Deputy Senate Majority Leader as representative of the National Assembly, representatives of Lagos and Kano state governments, as well as the private sector.The Enabling Business Environment Secretariat supports PEBEC in implementing its reform mandate.

Since October 2016, the PEBEC has embarked upon a number of reform efforts, including the concluded 60-day National Action Plan (NAP 60), which was a short term intervention targeted at accelerating specific reforms; the operationalisation of the Executive Order on the Promotion of Transparency in the Business Environment (EO1); and the improvements of business processes, regulations for trading within Nigeria, as well as a new sub-national reforms project in collaboration with state governments.

While the initial NAP 60 had a 70% performance rate, the final results of NAP 2.0 will be announced

by PEBEC in December, and the current World Bank reform cycle will end in May 2018.

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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 ˾ NOVEMBER 5, 2017

BUSINESS/TELECOMS

As Race for 9mobile Acquisition Hots up...

Incentives like the directive by the Central Bank of Nigeria to the 13 local banks involved in a 9mobile loan facility to take a five per cent provision as part of their third-quarter results, the Senate’s determination to address the firm’s crisis, and the choice of Barclays as the institution to find new investors for it, have raised the interest of investors, with many queuing up to acquire the telecoms company. Emma Okonji writes

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efore the end of the third quarter of 2017, the Central Bank of Nigeria gave a directive to the 13 local banks involved in a 2013 $1.2 billion loan facility to Etisalat, which had since rebranded to 9mobile.The CBN asked the lenders to take a five per cent provision as part of their third-quarter results. The directive, which has since been complied with, coupled with the Senate’s resolve to launch an investigation into the default of Etisalat Nigeria and how its loans were used, as well as the choice of Barclays to find new investors for 9mobile have, no doubt, raised the confidence of intending buyers of the company. The number of intending buyers has increased from the initial five to 16, at the last count.

Although no investor will want to invest in a telecoms company that is saddled with debts, one thing that seems to raise investors’confidence is the government’s interest in creating an enabling business environment and protecting businesses within the country. The CBN, Nigerian Communications Commission, and the Senate have demonstrated this determination in the issue of 9mobile.

Analysts believe it is such confidence that has triggered the interest of intending buyers of 9mobile.

Earlier Jostle At the peak of Etisalat’s crisis, its former board collapsed, following the withdrawal of Emirates Telecoms Group, and the resignation of every member of the former board, including its former chairman, Hakeem Bello-Osagie, and the former management staff. But this was quickly managed, with the setting up of a new board and management staff, a situation that also raised the confidence of intending investors. Apparently, due to the quick management of the crisis, the new 9mobile became attractive to BUA,Virgin,Vodacom, and a few others.

As at July this year, BUA Group, Virgin Mobile from the United Kingdom, Vodacom of South Africa, and other investors had expressed interest in acquiring 9mobile.

The new management of 9mobile, led by its Chief Executive, Mr. Boye Olusanya, had said that the telecoms company was open to new investors that were willing to invest heavily in it to enable the company raise funds to offset its $1.2 billion bank loan.

THISDAY authoritatively gathered that BUA Group, Virgin Mobile, and Vodacom, among other investors, indicated their interests to invest in 9mobile and fully acquire the company. BUA Group was trying to put together a bid with its technical partners, following the initial appointment of advisers, which included Standard Bank of South Africa and Citibank of New York, to receive and evaluate bids, before the present choice of Barclays for specific reasons.

BUA Group is a fully-fledged, diversified business with a stake in a wide range of business sectors.

Virgin Mobile is part of theVirgin Group, founded by the maverick and successful UK entrepreneur, Richard Branson. THISDAY gathered that Virgin Mobile’s bid is being promoted by a star-studded team of executives with many years of experience in the telecoms sector in Africa and other parts of the world. Several former top executives of MTN Nigeria are said to be behind this bid, which has offered to buy over Emerging Markets Telecommunications Services (EMTS), trading as 9mobile, and absorb the balance of the $1.2 billion debt, which it owes the 13 financial institutions. It is also said to have outlined a repayment plan for the debt.

According to THISDAY sources, Virgin Mobile’s plan is not just about repaying the debt owed by 9Mobile. It has also carefully outlined a financing strategy and an ambitious network development strategy in which every cell-site will either be a

to enter into negotiations with the banks to seek write-offs, which the banks rejected.

The banks involved in the loan deal include Zenith Bank, GTBank, FirstBank, UBA, Fidelity Bank, Access Bank, Ecobank, FCMB, Stanbic IBTC Bank, and Union Bank.

A breakdown of the amounts owed the banks shows that Zenith Bank has the highest exposure to Etisalat amounting to $262 million and N80 billion, GTBank has the second highest exposure of $138 million and N42 billion, Access Bank follows with $131 million and N40 billion.

Etisalat also owes UBA $125 million and N38 billion; FirstBank – $79 million and N24 billion; Fidelity Bank – $56 million and N17 billion; Stanbic IBTC – $25 million and N7.5 billion; FCMB – $15 million and N4.5 billion; and Ecobank – $10 million and N3.1 billion.

At the peak of the debt crisis, one of its three core investors, Emirates Telecoms Group Company (Etisalat Group), pulled out of the shareholding structure and announced on the Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange in the United Arab Emirates the transfer of 45 per cent of its stake and 25 per cent of its preference shares in Etisalat Nigeria to United Capital Trustees Limited, the legal representative of the lending banks.

Shortly after the pull-out of Emirates Telecoms Group Company, all the former board members of Etisalat resigned their appointments, beginning with the resignation of the six Mubadala and Etisalat Group-appointed non-executive directors, all nationals of the United Arab Emirates, and the resignation of its former chairman, Mr. Hakeem Bello-Osagie, a Nigerian.

Few days after its former chairman resigned, its ex-Managing Director/Chief Executive, Mr. Matthew Willsher, and its former Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Olawole Obasunloye, also resigned.

Since then 9mobile has been managing the situation and at the same time looking for credible investors that will take the once vibrant telecoms company out of the woods.

Olusanya third generation (3G) or a fourth generation (4G/ LTE) cell site. Currently, majority of cell sites in Nigeria operated by the country’s pre-existing mobile networks are second generation (2G) with a sprinkling of 3G sites.

THISDAY also gathered that South Africa’s Vodacom was backed by some Nigerians that had at one time operated telecoms businesses in Nigeria at smaller levels.

Recent Jostle As at last month, the list of intending buyers of 9mobile had increased. This has been attributed to the renewed efforts of the federal government to protect investments in the telecoms sector, which the government is already positioning as its biggest source of revenue, after the global fall in oil prices.

The renewed scramble to acquire 9mobile, Nigeria’s fourth largest network operator, promises to be very competitive, as 16 firms have submitted expressions of interest to Barclays to bid for the firm.

The new companies that have expressed interest in the company include Africa’s biggest telecoms operator, MTN; India’s Bharti Airtel, operating as Airtel in Nigeria; and ntel, which in 2015 acquired the assets of the defunct NITEL and MTel through the federal government’s privatisation programme.

Also in the race are Bua Group, a privately held conglomerate promoted by Alhaji Abdulsamad Rabiu; Morning Side Capital Partners, promoted by former Managing Director of Diamond Bank Plc, Mr. Alex Otti; and Africell, a subsidiary of the Lebanon-based Lintel Group of Companies, with cellular communications operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo, The Gambia, Sierra

Leone and Uganda.

Other firms that submitted EoIs are Obot Etiebet & Co, belonging to a former petroleum minister, Mr. Don Etiebet; Blackstone Private Equity; Tel-ology Holdings Limited, a special purpose vehicle led by a former chief executive of MTN Nigeria, Mr. Adian Wood, and Ericsson; De-elim Services Limited; Veittel, a firm owned by the investment arm of the Vietnamese military, which has telecoms assets in Africa; AB-Bro Limited, a Nigerian venture company; Hamilton and George International Limited; and two other firms.

Industry sources confirmed to THISDAY that the 16 companies had complied with the deadline for the submission of EoIs at Barclays’ office in Ikoyi, Lagos, and were preparing to access the data room to conduct their due diligence on 9mobile, preparatory to the bid submission stage.

Crisis Etisalat had in 2013 approached a consortium of 13 local banks for a loan of $1.2 billion for network upgrade and expansion. The money was sourced in dollar and naira denominations. However, citing the economic downturn of 2015-2016 and naira devaluation, which negatively affected on the dollar-denominated component of the loan, Etisalat wrote its creditors, informing them of its intention to halt the repayment of the loan in instalments, until such a time when it was able to raise more money.

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

Attractions Although 9mobile has been faced with serious financial crisis since 2013, which forced it to obtain the $1.2 billion loan from 13 local banks, despite its travails, investors still have confidence in the telecoms company. Several reasons are responsible for this. They include the prompt steps taken by the Nigerian government, especially the CBN, NCC and the Senate, to address the financial crisis.

Industry stakeholders have commended the efforts of government in this regard.

President, National Association of Telecoms Subscribers, Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo, hailed the way the crisis was resolved, but tasked the 9mobile board to do everything possible to return Etisalat to profitability.“Etisalat was once vibrant, especially in the area of data service offerings. So the new board has a task to return Etisalat to its vibrancy in order to maintain existing subscribers and attract new subscribers,” Ogunbanjo said.

Ogunbanjo, who was particularly interested in the data service offering of Etisalat, described it as the best service offering in the telecoms industry.

But the NATCOMS president advised the new board members to look into the pricing, which he said, is slightly higher than the data pricing of other telecoms operators.

Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria, Mr. Gbenga Adebayo, told THISDAY in Lagos that he was happy that the financial crisis in Etisalat had been resolved amicably.

Adebayo said,“Our interest as an association is in the issue that has been resolved amicably in the interest of all stakeholders involved and we will continue to support the management of Etisalat and its new board members.”

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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 ˾ NOVEMBER 5, 2017

INTERVIEW Adebajo: Govt Should Have Deliberate Policies to Create More Dangotes After strong headwinds, which pushed the economy into recession, it appears to be receiving a new lease of life, albeit with a fragile growth. In this interview with Kunle Aderinokun, CEO, The CFG Advisory Ltd, Adetilewa Adebajo, who, believes the economy would need a long period of time to recover and achieve tangible growth as well as stability also suggested ways by which the government could boost the flow of foreign direct investment into the economy

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igeria was 57 on October 1, which means the country has come a long way. What’s your assessment of the economy?

First of all, in assessing the current state of Nigerian economy at 57, we have to take a look at a perspective that is pretty much more holistic. Nigeria gained independence in 1960. If you take a look at the countries that Nigeria gained independence with about the same time, the two countries that Nigeria was well ahead of, were countries like South Korea and Singapore, even Malaysia and Indonesia.

Those countries considered Nigeria as a model and it is clear that even the legendary Lee Kuan Yew, in his book, said he came to Nigeria and stayed at the Federal Palace Hotel. It was a marvel for him and he felt he wanted to emulate Nigeria.

When you take a look at these things and you put them into perspective about where we started and where we found ourselves, there is a lot of soul-searching that needs to go on and it goes beyond restructuring. There is a collective responsibility that we all have to take that we have not put this country or the economy of this country where it should be because the people that we are well ahead of at independence have gotten way ahead of us and I think it is a very important comparison.

But despite all these shortcomings that we are talking about, the Nigerian economy still remains the top economy in Africa and globally is ranked 23. So, there is a powerful resource base we have in this country that we have mismanaged. But despite this mismanagement, we are still a top economy in Africa. You imagine if we are able to put our economy in order and generate 10,000MW of electricity, there is no reason why Nigeria should not be closing in on G-10 economy. So, clearly, we are not where we are supposed to be.

What have we done with our resources. That for me is the question that we need to ask and after 57 years of independence, we need to ask this question but if you look at the numbers, we are still number one in Africa, we are still 23 in the world. So the underlying problem is that the way our population had grown, we have not been able to cater for the growth of our population.

According to the data from NBS, the economy recorded 0.55 percent growth in the second quarter of this year, which indicated that Nigeria had technically exited recession. What do you think the economic managers could do to increase the growth, recover and stabilise?

Whatever it is you say, you have to go back to history. I look at the 10 years growth pattern of inflation and GDP growth. Obviously, you know that there is a correlation between the low levels of inflation and high levels of growth and also correlation between inflation, which means that your growth will be quite low. I looked at Nigerian economy over a period of 10 years, which is from 2007 to 2017, and at each point in time, the highest we have ever got is 8.5 percent GDP. When we had 8.5 percent GDP, the rate of inflation was about 12, 13 percent. Historically, what it shows is that, in Nigeria, in order for us to have high growth rate in Nigeria, inflation rate must be relatively lower and the highest inflation rate that we achieved about this time was 13 per cent or so and we brought inflation down to single digit.

But unfortunately, after the new government was elected in 2015, we saw a massive decline in GDP. Some policies came in and spike the inflation. So, unfortunately, this whole recession was self-inflicted in my own opinion. The monetary authority and fiscal authorities did not respond properly and the gap in-between when the president came in and appointing the ministers, there was no signal to the marketers as to the direction of the economy. That

Adebajo was a highly devastating period. Having said that, I think that clearly took the economy into recession.

And the fact that they took out the subsidy, inflation spiked; it was not managed properly- for it to get to a situation whereby the effect was lingering over a period of time. It was just now, two years later, that we got it. That was a long lag. Two years for cost push inflation, which is an increase in the factors of production to take two years to go through the economic cycle is a management problem. You can feel the impact. It should be only one surge, then you control because it is only once you increase the price. But then, it starts to filter towards the cost of food, cost of transport. It goes through the economy because that is something that is very powerful. But you should expect a surge and be able to control it.

Earlier in the year, the government came up with a brilliant document Economic Recovery Growth Plan, ERGP, and we all agreed that that was the document which stated clearly that the government understood what was going on, understood the situation and understood what we needed to do to stimulate the economy and get the economy out of recession. I don’t have any problem with that document. I think it is well put together, well researched, understands the issue and properly document a roadmap to be able to come out of that.

In addition, I think credit has to go to the vice president on the directives of his boss. He went to the Niger Delta and he pacified and won their confidence. He negotiated a peace settlement with them and he kept to that and oil production was flowing. That abated the foreign exchange situation

whereby foreign exchange went from N500/$ to N360/$. If the monetary authority then had listened to the JP Morgan advice as to what they should have done with currency, we wouldn’t have seen naira at N360/$ now. Naira then was about N190/$ or thereabout, we probably would have seen naira between N250/$ and N280/$. It did not need to come to N360/$. It is too much. That was also mismanaged. It wasn’t only the fact that the oil price was low, we were not also meeting our production target. That action by the vice president is what has stabilised the economy today. The income from oil production was steady and money was coming even at $50 per barrel. By the time production dropped to under 1,000,000 barrels, they you are in trouble. That is what has stabilised the economy.

That was a brilliant move and that is why it is a political economy.

The move by the vice president was also a fantastic move and it won the confidence of the international community. The so-called windows that the Central Bank introduced NAFEX, bid and offer rate, open market system. All of a sudden, these portfolio investors started coming back into the market. So you are restoring confidence gradually, but the investors we need are the foreign direct investors.

The key limitation to all those people is that our ease of doing business in Nigeria was very low. So, nobody wants to come and get stuck with a governor in a court and get their money stuck because that kind of money coming in, you expect it to stay here for 10 years. That kind of money doesn’t come easily, it comes with confidence. So, those are the

two possible steps taking by government and you have seen the results. FX has come down and all of a sudden, you are beginning to tighten and inflation also is beginning to drop. The tightening we are seeing now, we are controlling inflation and we are now coming out of recession.

But having said that, my own analogy is the fact is that Nigeria was in intensive care and in a comma.

Now with this growth, the eyes have opened, but still in intensive care. You cannot discharge Nigerian economy from intensive care to recovery room until we have at least 3 per cent growth in the economy and 3 per cent is the growth rate of the economy, which is what we talked about. The responsibility of every government is to make sure that its economy is growing faster than the rate of its population growth because if the economy is not growing faster, which is what has happened to us, you cannot sustain your population growth. There are not enough schools, hospitals, social infrastructure for everybody. JAMB cannot take everybody in the University. So what has happened? Population has grown, but you have not put the infrastructure around it. So those are the two positive things that the government has done that you can see to begin to move this county into positive territory. But in order for them to sustain it, they still have the problem in financing the deficits because what they told us was that they wanted to spend their way out of recession and they wanted to fund it by going to raise money, which mean the economy went into deficits because they did not have enough revenue, they wanted to borrow and spend, increase capital expenditure, but unfortunately for the government, their current plan has not been on track and that is one of the key limitations.

And as you can see from the IMF Article IV Report that came out in March, government was not spending close to 66 percent of its revenue to service debt, clearly that is unsustainable. So, government needs to sort that out. I think finance minister is working on that. They are going on road shows to move some debts from naira to dollar to reduce some cost of interests they are paying on them. So, they have a programme in place, but in the interim the lack of stimulus from government spending into the economy would affect recovery. What that means is that our recovery is going to be slower over a period of time. So, you don’t expect recovery this year because we can’t grow at 3 per cent. It is after we start growing at 4 or 5 percent, then you can discharge, the economy is out of the wood.

So, it is when we start reaching 4, 5 per cent growth, then you can now say the economy is no longer in the hospital- that it has now fully recovered and can be discharged to go. That is where we are. So, they are on course to do it, but unfortunately, they only have one year to do it because the election is near.

Do you think the policies government has churned out, aimed at taking the economy out of its challenges are sufficient? If not, what is amiss?

What I see amiss is the commitment and the will to get things done. I also take a look at all the infrastructure we have had in this country- the National Stadium in Abuja and in Lagos, look at the Ibadan-Lagos Expressway. When that expressway was opened, it was tolled and it took us less than an hour to drive from Lagos to Ibadan. Now, what have we done with that road after about 40 years?

It is not that we are trying to expand that road but the population is growing, the economy is growing, but we are not putting up the infrastructure base to support this and benefit from it. What we have not done is that government has not privatised and let proper private sector take care of that and because right now, it is clear that the government does not have the money but you also need outside investment to develop your economy.

24

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ NOVEMBER 5, 2017

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EŝŬŬĞŝ ϮϮϱ ;нϮ͘ϰйͿ ĂŶĚ 'ĞƌŵĂŶLJ͛Ɛ y dZ y ;нϭ͘ϵйͿ͘ :ĂƉĂŶ͛Ɛ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ǁĞĞŬ ǁĂƐ ďƵŽLJĞĚ ďLJ à Ɛƚ ŝŶ ĨŽƌĞŝŐŶ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŵĞŶƚ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ƐƚƌŽŶŐ ĐŽƌƉŽƌĂƚĞ ĞĂƌŶŝŶŐƐ͘ ,ŽŶŐ <ŽŶŐ͛Ɛ ,ĂŶŐ ^ĞŶŐ ;нϬ͘ϲйͿ ĂŶĚ &ƌĂŶĐĞ͛Ɛ ϰϬ ;нϬ͘ϮйͿ ǁĞƌĞ ƐŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ ďƵůůŝƐŚ͘ dŚĞ Z/ ^ ĞƋƵŝƟĞƐ ŵĂƌŬĞƚƐ ǁĞƌĞ ŚŽǁĞǀĞƌ ůĂƌŐĞůLJ ďĞĂƌŝƐŚ ĂƐ ϯ ŽĨ ϱ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĐůŽƐĞĚ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƌĞĚ͘ dŚĞ ƌĂnjŝů /ďŽǀĞƐƉĂ ĨĞůů ƚŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ͕ ĚŽǁŶ ϯ͘ϱй t Ž t ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ ZƵƐƐŝĂ Zd^ ĂŶĚ ŚŝŶĂ ^ŚĂŶŐŚĂŝ ŽŵƉ ĨĞůů Ϯ͘Ϯй ĂŶĚ ϭ͘ϯй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘ ůƚĞƌŶĂƟǀĞůLJ͕ /ŶĚŝĂ͛Ɛ ^ ^ĞŶƐ ;нϭ͘ϲйͿ ĂŶĚ ^ŽƵƚŚ ĨƌŝĐĂ͛Ɛ &d^ ͬ:^ ůů ^ŚĂƌĞ ;нϭ͘ϲйͿ ǁĞƌĞ ƚŚĞ ƚǁŽ ŐĂŝŶĞƌƐ ƚŚŝƐ ǁĞĞŬ͘

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ŽƌƌŽǁŝŶŐ Ă ůĞĂĨ ĨƌŽŵ ƐĞǀĞƌĂů ĐŽƵŶƚƌŝĞƐ ƚŚĂƚ ŚĂǀĞ ŝŵƉůĞŵĞŶƚĞĚ ĞĂƐĞ ŽĨ ĚŽŝŶŐ ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ ƌĞĨŽƌŵƐ ǁŝƚŚŝŶ Ă ǀĞƌLJ ƐŚŽƌƚ ƟŵĞ ;<ĞŶLJĂ ĨŽƌ ĞdžĂŵƉůĞ ƵŶĚĞƌƚŽŽŬ ϱ ƌĞĨŽƌŵƐ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŵŽǀĞĚ ŚĞƌ ƌĂŶŬŝŶŐ ƵƉǁĂƌĚƐ ďLJ Ϯϭ ƉůĂĐĞƐ ƚŽ ƌĂŶŬ ĂŵŽŶŐƐƚ ƚŚĞ ƚŽƉ ϭϬϬ ĐŽƵŶƚƌŝĞƐ ŝŶ ϮϬϭϳͿ͕ ƚŚĞ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶ ŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚ ƚŽŽŬ ƐĞǀĞƌĂů ƐƚĞƉƐ ƚŽǁĂƌĚƐ ŝŵƉƌŽǀŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ EĂƟŽŶ͛Ɛ ƌĂŶŬŝŶŐ ďLJ ƐĞƫŶŐ Ă ƚĂƌŐĞƚ ŽĨ ŵŽǀŝŶŐ ϮϬ ƉůĂĐĞƐ ŚŝŐŚĞƌ ŝŶ ϮϬϭϴ ĂŶĚ ĞǀĞŶƚƵĂůůLJ ďƌĞĂŬŝŶŐ ŝŶƚŽ ƚŚĞ ƚŽƉ ϭϬϬ ĞĐŽŶŽŵŝĞƐ ďLJ ϮϬϭϵ͘ dŽ ƚŚŝƐ ĞŶĚ͕ ƚŚĞ WƌĞƐŝĚĞŶƟĂů ŶĂďůŝŶŐ ƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ ŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚ ŽƵŶĐŝů ;W Ϳ ǁĂƐ ƐĞƚ ƵƉ ƚŽ ƌĞŵŽǀĞ ƚŚĞ ĂĚŵŝŶŝƐƚƌĂƟǀĞ ďŽƩůĞŶĞĐŬƐ ĂƐƐŽĐŝĂƚĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ĚŽŝŶŐ ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ ŝŶ EŝŐĞƌŝĂ͘ ƚ ƚŚĞ ƚĂŝů ĞŶĚ ŽĨ ϮϬϭϲ͕ ƚŚĞ ŽƉĞƌĂƟŽŶĂů Ăƌŵ ŽĨ W ƚŚĞ ŶĂďůŝŶŐ ƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ ŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚ ^ĞĐƌĞƚĂƌŝĂƚ ; ^Ϳ ĂŐĞŶĐLJ ďĞĐĂŵĞ ĨƵŶĐƟŽŶĂů ǁŝƚŚ Ă ĚĞůŝǀĞƌLJ ƐƉĂŶ ŽĨ Ϯ LJĞĂƌƐ ƚŽ ŝŵƉůĞŵĞŶƚ ƚŚĞ ƌĞĨŽƌŵƐ ŽĨ W ͘

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ŐĂŝŶƐƚ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬĚƌŽƉ ŽĨ ƐĞǀĞƌĂů ĚĞĞƉ ƐĞĂƚĞĚ ƐƚƌƵĐƚƵƌĂů ĐŚĂůůĞŶŐĞƐ ƐƟŇŝŶŐ ŽƉĞƌĂƟŶŐ ĞŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚ ĨŽƌ ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐĞƐ͕ EŝŐĞƌŝĂ ŚĂƐ ƉĞƌƐŝƐƚĞŶƚůLJ ďĞĞŶ ƌĂŶŬĞĚ ůŽǁ ďLJ ƚŚĞ tŽƌůĚ ĂŶŬ ŝŶ ŝƚƐ ĂƐĞ ŽĨ ŽŝŶŐ ƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ ; K Ϳ ƌĞƉŽƌƚ͘ KƵƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ϭϵϬ ĐŽƵŶƚƌŝĞƐ ƐƵƌǀĞLJĞĚ ĨŽƌ ϮϬϭϳ͕ ƚŚĞ ƌĞƉŽƌƚ ƌĂŶŬĞĚ EŝŐĞƌŝĂ ϭϲϵƚŚ Ă ŶĞŐůŝŐŝďůĞ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞŵĞŶƚ ĨƌŽŵ ϭϳϬƚŚ ŽĨ ϭϴϵ ĐŽƵŶƚƌŝĞƐ ŝŶ ϮϬϭϲ͘ KŶ ĂǀĞƌĂŐĞ͕ ƚŚĞ ĐŽƵŶƚƌLJ ƌĂŶŬĞĚ ϭϱϴƚŚ ŽĨ ϭϴϵ ĐŽƵŶƚƌŝĞƐ ƐƵƌǀĞLJĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ůĂƐƚ ϱ LJĞĂƌƐ ĂŶĚ ϯϳƚŚ ŽĨ ϰϴ ĐŽƵŶƚƌŝĞƐ ŝŶ ^Ƶď ^ĂŚĂƌĂŶ ĨƌŝĐĂ ĨŽƌ ϮϬϭϳ͘

WD/ ƐĞƩůĞĚ Ăƚ ϱϱ͘Ϭ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ͕ Ϭ͘ϯ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ůŽǁĞƌ ƚŚĂŶ ^ĞƉƚĞŵďĞƌ ďƵƚ ĂďŽǀĞ ƚŚĞ ďĂƐĞůŝŶĞ ƚŚƌĞƐŚŽůĚ ŽĨ ϱϬ͘Ϭ ƉŽŝŶƚ͘ dŚŝƐ ŝŶĚŝĐĂƚĞƐ ƚŚĞ ŵĂŶƵĨĂĐƚƵƌŝŶŐ ƐĞĐƚŽƌ ĞdžƉĂŶĚĞĚ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ƐĞǀĞŶƚŚ ĐŽŶƐĞĐƵƟǀĞ ŵŽŶƚŚ ŝŶ KĐƚŽďĞƌ͕ ĂůďĞŝƚ Ăƚ Ă ƐůŽǁĞƌ ƉĂĐĞ ƌĞůĂƟǀĞ ƚŽ ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ŵŽŶƚŚ͘ dŚĞ EŽŶ DĂŶƵĨĂĐƚƵƌŝŶŐ WD/ ƌŽƐĞ Ϭ͘ϰ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ D Ž D ƚŽ ϱϰ͘ϵ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ͕ ƐƵŐŐĞƐƟŶŐ ĂĐƟǀŝƚLJ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƐĞĐƚŽƌ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞĚ Ăƚ Ă ĨĂƐƚĞƌ ƉĂĐĞ ƌĞůĂƟǀĞ ƚŽ ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ŵŽŶƚŚ͘ dŚĞ ƵƉďĞĂƚ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŽĨ ďŽƚŚ ƚŚĞ DĂŶƵĨĂĐƚƵƌŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ EŽŶ DĂŶƵĨĂĐƚƵƌŝŶŐ ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ ŝƐ ŶŽƚ ƐƵƌƉƌŝƐŝŶŐ͕ ŐŝǀĞŶ ŝŵƉƌŽǀŝŶŐ ŵĂĐƌŽĞĐŽŶŽŵŝĐ ƐƚĂďŝůŝƚLJ ĂŶĐŚŽƌĞĚ ďLJ ƌĞďŽƵŶĚ ŝŶ &y ůŝƋƵŝĚŝƚLJ ĂŶĚ ĐLJĐůŝĐĂů ƌĞĐŽǀĞƌLJ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ Žŝů ŵĂƌŬĞƚ͘ tĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ WD/ ĚĂƚĂ ŝŶ ƐƵďƐĞƋƵĞŶƚ ŵŽŶƚŚƐ ƚŽ ƐƚĂLJ ƌŽďƵƐƚ ĂƐ ǁĞ ƌĞŵĂŝŶ ĐŽŶĮĚĞŶƚ ŽŶ ŶĞĂƌ ƚĞƌŵ ĞĐŽŶŽŵŝĐ ƉƌŽƐƉĞĐƚƐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ƐƚƌŽŶŐĞƌ &y ĞĂƌŶŝŶŐƐ ĂŶĚ ƐƚƌƵĐƚƵƌĂů ƌĞĨŽƌŵƐ ďLJ ƉŽůŝĐLJ ŵĂŬĞƌƐ͘ ,ĞŶĐĞ͕ ǁĞ ƌĞƚĂŝŶ ŽƵƌ &z͗ϮϬϭϳ ĂŶĚ &z͗ϮϬϭϴ ŐƌŽǁƚŚ ĨŽƌĞĐĂƐƚƐ ŽĨ ϭ͘Ϯй ĂŶĚ Ϯ͘ϲй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘

ĂƐĞ ŽĨ ŽŝŶŐ ƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ ZĞƉŽƌƚ͗ EŝŐĞƌŝĂ͛Ɛ WŽůŝĐLJ ZĞĨŽƌŵƐ ĞĂƌŝŶŐ &ƌƵŝƚ͊

ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ďĞŶĐŚŵĂƌŬ ůů ^ŚĂƌĞ /ŶĚĞdž ; ^/Ϳ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ ŽŶ ϰ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ϱ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶƐ͘ dŚĞ ǁĞĞŬ ƐƚĂƌƚĞĚ Žī ďƵůůŝƐŚ͕ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ^/ ƵƉ ϲďƉƐ ĂƐ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ƚŽŽŬ ƉŽƐŝƟŽŶ ŝŶ ďĂŶŬŝŶŐ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ E/d, ;нϭ͘ϭйͿ ĂŶĚ h ;нϮ͘ϱйͿ͘ KŶ dƵĞƐĚĂLJ ĂŶĚ tĞĚŶĞƐĚĂLJ͕ ƚŚĞ ďƵůůŝƐŚ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ǁĂƐ ƐƵƐƚĂŝŶĞĚ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ^/ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ ϱϰďƉƐ ĂŶĚ ϱϲďƉƐ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘ ,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ ŽŶ dŚƵƌƐĚĂLJ͕ ƉƌŽĮƚ ƚĂŬŝŶŐ ŝŶ E/' Z/ E Z t Z/ ^ ; ϯ͘ϮйͿ ĂŶĚ E' D ; Ϭ͘ϮйͿ ŚĂůƚĞĚ ƚŚĞ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ƐƚƌĞĂŬ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ďĞŶĐŚŵĂƌŬ ŝŶĚĞdž ůŽƐƚ ϯďƉƐ͘ EŽŶĞƚŚĞůĞƐƐ͕ ǁĞ ƐĂǁ Ă ƌĞďŽƵŶĚ ŽŶ &ƌŝĚĂLJ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĂĚĚĞĚ Ϭ͘Ϯй ƚŽ ĐůŽƐĞ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ͘ ŽŶƐĞƋƵĞŶƚůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ ďĞŶĐŚŵĂƌŬ ŝŶĚĞdž ŐĂŝŶĞĚ ϭ͘ϯй t Ž t ƚŽ ĐůŽƐĞ Ăƚ ϯϲ͕ϵϯϵ͘ϱϵ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ǁŚŝůĞ zd ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ĞdžƉĂŶĚĞĚ ƚŽ ϯϳ͘ϱй͘ >ŝŬĞǁŝƐĞ͕ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝnjĂƟŽŶ ĂĚĚĞĚ EϮϱϭ͘ϮďŶ ƚŽ ĐůŽƐĞ Ăƚ EϭϮ͘ϴƚŶ͘ ,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ ĂĐƟǀŝƚLJ ůĞǀĞů ǁĂƐ ŵŝdžĞĚ ĂƐ ĂǀĞƌĂŐĞ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ Ϯ͘ϯй ƚŽ ϯϲϭ͘ϭŵ ƵŶŝƚƐ ǁŚŝůĞ ĂǀĞƌĂŐĞ ǀĂůƵĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ŝŶĐŚĞĚ ϴ͘Ϭй ŚŝŐŚĞƌ ƚŽ Eϯ͘ϳďŶ͘

WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ĂĐƌŽƐƐ ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ ǁĂƐ ůĂƌŐĞůLJ ďƵůůŝƐŚ t Ž t͘ dŚĞ /ŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ ŝŶĚĞdž ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ͕ ƵƉ ϭ͘ϱй t Ž t ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ƉƌŝĐĞ ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ D E^ Z ;нϳ͘ϰйͿ ĂŶĚ E D ;нϲ͘ϯйͿ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ĂŶĚ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ƌŽƐĞ ϭ͘ϰй ĂƉŝĞĐĞ t Ž t ĂƐ DK /> ;нϯ͘ϱйͿ ĂŶĚ E' D ;нϯ͘ϳйͿ ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ŐĂŝŶƐ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ ĂŶŬŝŶŐ ŝŶĚĞdž ĐůŝŵďĞĚ Ϭ͘ϯй t Ž t ĂƐ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ƚŽŽŬ ƉŽƐŝƟŽŶ ŝŶ h ;нϲ͘ϯйͿ ĂŶĚ ^^ ;нϮ͘ϯйͿ͘ KŶ ƚŚĞ ŇŝƉƐŝĚĞ͕ ƚŚĞ ŽŶƐƵŵĞƌ 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚĞdž ǁĂƐ ƚŚĞ ŽŶůLJ ůŽƐĞƌ͕ ƐŚĞĚĚŝŶŐ Ϭ͘ϭй ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬĚƌŽƉ ŽĨ ƉƌŽĮƚ ƚĂŬŝŶŐ ŝŶ hE/> s Z ; ϲ͘ϱйͿ ĂŶĚ E/' Z/ E Z t Z/ ^ ; ϰ͘ϲйͿ͘ /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ ǁĂƐ ŇĂƚ Ăƚ ϭ͘ϭdž ĂƐ ϯϯ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚ Ϯϵ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ƚŚĂƚ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ͘ dŚĞ ďĞƐƚ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĞƌƐ ǁĞƌĞ hW> ;нϮϲ͘ϯйͿ͕ > ZE &Z ;нϭϵ͘ϬйͿ ĂŶĚ &>KhZD/>> ;нϭϴ͘ϮйͿ ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌƐƚ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĞƌƐ ǁĞƌĞ /Z^ Zs/ ; ϭϴ͘ϯйͿ͕ >/E< ^^hZ ; ϭϯ͘ϯйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ hE/> s Z ; ϲ͘ϱйͿ͘ /Ŷ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŵŝŶŐ ǁĞĞŬ͕ ǁĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ƚŚĞ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ƚŽ ďĞ ƐƵƐƚĂŝŶĞĚ ŐŝǀĞŶ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐŝŶŐůLJ ĨĂǀŽƵƌĂďůĞ ĐŽŶĚŝƟŽŶ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ Žŝů ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ʹ Ă ŵĂũŽƌ ĂŶĐŚŽƌ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ ĐLJĐůĞ͘ &ŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ Ă ďƌŽĂĚůLJ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ĂŶĚ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ƚŚŝƐ ǁĞĞŬ͕ ǁĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ƚŚĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƚŽ ƐƵƐƚĂŝŶ ŵŽŵĞŶƚƵŵ ĂƐ ŬŶŽĐŬ ŽŶ ĞīĞĐƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ Žŝů ƌĂůůLJ ďƵŽLJƐ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ͛ ĂƉƉĞƟƚĞ ĨŽƌ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶ ĂƐƐĞƚƐ͘

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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 ˾ NOVEMBER 5, 2017

&ŽƌĞŝŐŶ džĐŚĂŶŐĞ DĂƌŬĞƚ ZĞǀŝĞǁ ĂŶĚ KƵƚůŽŽŬ dŚĞ E ŝŶũĞĐƚĞĚ h^Ψϭϵϱ͘Ϭŵ ŝŶƚŽ ƚŚĞ ŝŶƚĞƌ ďĂŶŬ ĨŽƌĞŝŐŶ ĞdžĐŚĂŶŐĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ŽŶ dƵĞƐĚĂLJ ŝŶ ĂŶ ĞīŽƌƚ ƚŽ ŵĂŝŶƚĂŝŶ ƐƚĂďŝůŝƚLJ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ EĂŝƌĂ͛Ɛ ĞdžĐŚĂŶŐĞ ǀĂůƵĞ͘ ĐĐŽƌĚŝŶŐůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ ŝŶƚĞƌďĂŶŬ ƌĂƚĞ ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂƚĞĚ ĨƌŽŵ Eϯϱϵ͘ϰϵͬh^Ψϭ͘ϬϬ ŽŶ DŽŶĚĂLJ ƚŽ Eϯϱϱ͘ϴϱͬh^Ψϭ͘ϬϬ ďLJ ŵŝĚǁĞĞŬ͖ ŚŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ ƚŚĞ ƌĂůůLJ ǁĂƐ ƌĞǀĞƌƐĞĚ ŽŶ dŚƵƌƐĚĂLJ ;EϯϲϬ͘ϰϬͬh^Ψϭ͘ϬϬͿ ǁŝƚŚ ĂŶ ƵŶĐŚĂŶŐĞĚ ĐůŽƐĞ ŽŶ &ƌŝĚĂLJ ;EϯϲϬ͘ϰϬͬh^Ψϭ͘ϬϬͿ͕ ƌĞƉƌĞƐĞŶƟŶŐ Ă ϵ ŬŽďŽ t Ž t ĚĞƉƌĞĐĂƟŽŶ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ ŽĸĐŝĂů ƌĂƚĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ǁŝƚŚŝŶ Ă ƟŐŚƚ ďĂŶĚ͕ ŵĂƌŐŝŶĂůůLJ ĚĞƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŶŐ ϭϱ ŬŽďŽ ƚŽ EϯϬϱ͘ϵϬͬ h^Ψϭ͘ϬϬ ĨƌŽŵ ůĂƐƚ ǁĞĞŬ͛Ɛ ĐůŽƐĞ ŽĨ EϯϬϱ͘ϳϱͬ h^Ψϭ͘ϬϬ͘ /Ŷ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĂŶĐĞ ŽĨ ƌĞĐĞŶƚ ƚƌĞŶĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƉĂƌĂůůĞů ŵĂƌŬĞƚ͕ ƚŚĞ EĂŝƌĂ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ŇĂƚ Ăƚ Eϯϲϯ͘ϬϬͬh^Ψϭ͘ϬϬ Ăůů ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ƚŚŝƐ ǁĞĞŬ͘ ƚ ƚŚĞ /Θ tŝŶĚŽǁ͕ ƚŚĞ E & y ƌĂƚĞ ƉƵůůĞĚ ďĂĐŬ ůŽƐƐĞƐ ŽŶ DŽŶĚĂLJ ;ĚŽǁŶ ϴďƉƐ ƚŽ EϯϲϬ͘ϲϭͬ h^Ψϭ͘ϬϬͿ ĂŶĚ dƵĞƐĚĂLJ ;ĚŽǁŶ ϲďƉƐ ƚŽ EϯϲϬ͘ϴϯͬh^Ψϭ͘ϬϬͿ ƚŽ ĐůŽƐĞ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬ Ăƚ EϯϲϬ͘ϱϳͬh^Ψϭ͘ϬϬ͕ ŝŵƉůLJŝŶŐ Ă ϳ ďƉƐ ůŽƐƐ t Ž t͘ ĞƐƉŝƚĞ ƉƌŝŵĂƌLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĂƵĐƟŽŶƐ ŚĞůĚ ƚŚŝƐ ǁĞĞŬ͕ ĂĐƟǀŝƚLJ ůĞǀĞů ŝŶ ƚŚĞ /Θ tŝŶĚŽǁ ǁĞĂŬĞŶĞĚ ƌĞůĂƟǀĞ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ǁĞĞŬ ĂƐ ƚŽƚĂů ƚƵƌŶŽǀĞƌ ĨĞůů ƚŽ h^ΨϱϮϳ͘ϴŵ ;ĂƐ Ăƚ dŚƵƌƐĚĂLJ ϮŶĚ EŽǀĞŵďĞƌͿ ƌĞůĂƟǀĞ ƚŽ h^ΨϳϱϬ͘ϴŵ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƐĂŵĞ ƉĞƌŝŽĚ ůĂƐƚ ǁĞĞŬ͘ /Ŷ ƚŚĞ &D Y Kd ĨƵƚƵƌĞƐ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ͕ ƚŚĞ ƚŽƚĂů ǀĂůƵĞ ŽĨ ŽƉĞŶ ĐŽŶƚƌĂĐƚƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ EĂŝƌĂ ƐĞƩůĞĚ Kd ĨƵƚƵƌĞƐ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ϭϮ ŝŶƐƚƌƵŵĞŶƚƐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ĐĂůĞŶĚĂƌ ƐƚŽŽĚ Ăƚ h^ΨϮ͘ϵďŶ ĂƐ Ăƚ dŚƵƌƐĚĂLJ ϮŶĚ EŽǀĞŵďĞƌ ĨƌŽŵ h^Ψϯ͘ϬďŶ ƚŚĞ ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ǁĞĞŬ͘ dŚĞ WZ Ϯϱ ϮϬϭϴ ƌĞŵĂŝŶƐ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ƐƵďƐĐƌŝďĞĚ ŝŶƐƚƌƵŵĞŶƚ ǁŝƚŚ Ă ƚŽƚĂů ǀĂůƵĞ h^Ψϱϵϭ͘Ϭŵ ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ ůĞĂƐƚ ƐƵďƐĐƌŝďĞĚ ŝƐ ƚŚĞ DĂLJ ϯϬ ϮϬϭϴ Ăƚ h^Ψϭϯϰ͘Ϯϳŵ

KŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƌĂůůLJ ŝŶ Žŝů ƉƌŝĐĞƐ ĂŶĚ ƌĞ ďĂůĂŶĐŝŶŐ ŽĨ &'E ĚĞďƚ ŝŶ ĨĂǀŽƵƌ ŽĨ ĞdžƚĞƌŶĂů ďŽƌƌŽǁŝŶŐƐ͕ ǁĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ĞdžƚĞƌŶĂů ƌĞƐĞƌǀĞƐ ƚŽ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞ ƚŽ ĂĐĐƵŵƵůĂƚĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŶĞĂƌ ƚĞƌŵ͘ Ɛ ƐƵĐŚ͕ ǁĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ƚŚĞ E ƚŽ ƐƵƐƚĂŝŶ ĨƌĞƋƵĞŶĐLJ

ŽĨ ŝŶƚĞƌǀĞŶƟŽŶƐ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ EĂŝƌĂ ƚŽ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞ ƚŽ ƚƌĂĚĞ ǁŝƚŚŝŶ Ă ƟŐŚƚ ďĂŶĚ Ăƚ Ăůů ƐĞŐŵĞŶƚƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ &y ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŶĞĂƌ ƚĞƌŵ͘

DŽŶĞLJ DĂƌŬĞƚ ZĞǀŝĞǁ ĂŶĚ KƵƚůŽŽŬ /Ŷ ƚŚĞ ŵŽŶĞLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƚŚŝƐ ǁĞĞŬ͕ ŝŶƚĞƌďĂŶŬ ƌĂƚĞƐ ƚƌĞŶĚĞĚ ůŽǁĞƌ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ĮƌƐƚ ĨŽƵƌ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ĚĂLJƐ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞĚ ƐLJƐƚĞŵ ůŝƋƵŝĚŝƚLJ ĂƩƌŝďƵƚĂďůĞ ƚŽ ZĞƚĂŝů ^D/^ ƌĞĨƵŶĚ ĂŶĚ KDK Θ d ďŝůůƐ ŵĂƚƵƌŝƚLJ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŽīƐĞƚ KDK ŵŽƉ ƵƉƐ ďLJ ƚŚĞ ƉĞdž ďĂŶŬ͘ ,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ ŝŶƚĞƌďĂŶŬ ƌĂƚĞƐ ƐƉŝŬĞĚ ŽŶ &ƌŝĚĂLJ ĂƐ ďĂŶŬƐ ƉƌŽǀŝƐŝŽŶĞĚ ĨŽƌ ^D/^ ĂƵĐƟŽŶ͘ ƚ ƚŚĞ ƐƚĂƌƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬ͕ KƉĞŶ ƵLJ ĂĐŬ ;K Ϳ ĂŶĚ KǀĞƌŶŝŐŚƚ ;KsEͿ ƌĂƚĞƐ ĐůŽƐĞĚ Ăƚ ϭϴ͘Ϭй ĂŶĚ ϮϬ͘Ϭй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͕ ŚŝŐŚĞƌ ƚŚĂŶ ϭϱ͘ϴй ĂŶĚ ϭϴ͘ϴй ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ƚŚĞ ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ &ƌŝĚĂLJ͕ ĂƐ ƐLJƐƚĞŵ ůŝƋƵŝĚŝƚLJ ǁĞĂŬĞŶĞĚ ĨƌŽŵ Ă ĚĞĮĐŝƚ ŽĨ Eϴ͘ϯďŶ ƚŽ EϭϬϯ͘ϭďŶ͘ dŚĞ ǁŝĚĞŶŝŶŐ ĚĞĮĐŝƚ ǁĂƐ ĐŽŶƐĞƋƵĞŶƚ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ KDK ŵŽƉ ƵƉ ŽŶ &ƌŝĚĂLJ ǁŚŝĐŚ ƚŽŽŬ EϵϮ͘ϱďŶ ŽƵƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƐLJƐƚĞŵ ǁŚŝůĞ ĂŶŽƚŚĞƌ KDK ĂƵĐƟŽŶ ǁĂƐ ŇŽĂƚĞĚ ŽŶ DŽŶĚĂLJ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŚĂĚ ĂŶ ŝŶŝƟĂů ŽīĞƌŝŶŐ ŽĨ EϱϬ͘ϬďŶ ǁŝƚŚ Ă ƚŽƚĂů ƐĂůĞ ŽĨ Eϴ͘ϴďŶ͘ ZĂƚĞƐ ĨƵƌƚŚĞƌ ŵŽĚĞƌĂƚĞĚ ŽŶ dƵĞƐĚĂLJ ĂƐ K ĂŶĚ KsE ĐůŽƐĞĚ Ăƚ ϭϳ͘Ϯй ĂŶĚ ϭϵ͘ϯй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĂƐ ƐLJƐƚĞŵ ůŝƋƵŝĚŝƚLJ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞĚ ƚŽ Ă ĚĞĮĐŝƚ ŽĨ Eϯϵ͘ϭďŶ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ ŽŶ tĞĚŶĞƐĚĂLJ͕ ƌĂƚĞƐ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ĨƵƌƚŚĞƌ ĂƐ K ĂŶĚ KsE ĐůŽƐĞĚ Ăƚ ϵ͘ϰй ĂŶĚ ϭϬ͘Ϯй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĂƐ ƐLJƐƚĞŵ ůŝƋƵŝĚŝƚLJ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞĚ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ZĞƚĂŝů ^D/^ ƌĞĨƵŶĚ ǁŚŝůĞ ŽŶ dŚƵƌƐĚĂLJ͕ K ĂŶĚ KsE ƌĂƚĞƐ ƚƌĞŶĚĞĚ ƐŝŐŶŝĮĐĂŶƚůLJ ůŽǁĞƌ ƚŽ ϲ͘ϯй ĂŶĚ ϳ͘Ϭй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘ dŚŝƐ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ǁĂƐ ĐŽŶƐĞƋƵĞŶƚ ŽŶ KDK ŵĂƚƵƌŝƚLJ ĂŶĚ d ďŝůůƐ ƌĞƉĂLJŵĞŶƚ ŽĨ Eϰϯϭ͘ϮďŶ ĂŶĚ EϭϬϬ͘ϴďŶ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ǁŚŝĐŚ ďƵŽLJĞĚ ůŝƋƵŝĚŝƚLJ ďĂůĂŶĐĞ ŽĨ D Ɛ Ăƚ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ŽƉĞŶ ƚŽ EϱϬϮ͘ϬďŶ͘ /Ŷ ůŝŶĞ ǁŝƚŚ ƌĞĐĞŶƚ ƚƌĞŶĚ͕ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ KDK ĂƵĐƟŽŶ ŇŽĂƚĞĚ ďLJ ƚŚĞ E ŽŶ dŚƵƌƐĚĂLJ ǁĂƐ ƐƵďĚƵĞĚ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ďĂŶŬ ƐŽůĚ Eϭϭ͘ϰďŶ ǁŽƌƚŚ ŽĨ KDK ďŝůůƐ ƌĞůĂƟǀĞ ƚŽ EϯϮϬ͘ϬďŶ ŽīĞƌĞĚ͘ ,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ ŽŶ &ƌŝĚĂLJ͕ ƌĂƚĞƐ ƌŽƐĞ ĂƐ ďĂŶŬƐ ƉƌŽǀŝƐŝŽŶĞĚ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ E &y ^ƉĞĐŝĂů ^D/^͖ ŚĞŶĐĞ͕ K ĂŶĚ KsE ƌĂƚĞƐ ƌŽƐĞ

ƚŽ ϯϲ͘ϯй ĂŶĚ ϯϵ͘ϰй͕ ƵƉ ϮϬ͘ϱй ĂŶĚ ϮϬ͘ϲй t Ž t ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ dƌĞĂƐƵƌLJ ŝůůƐ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƐƚĂLJĞĚ ďƵůůŝƐŚ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞŵĞŶƚ ŝŶ ƐLJƐƚĞŵ ůŝƋƵŝĚŝƚLJ ĚƵƌŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬ͘ ,ĞŶĐĞ͕ ĂǀĞƌĂŐĞ LJŝĞůĚ ŽŶ ďĞŶĐŚŵĂƌŬ ďŝůůƐ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ϯϴďƉƐ t Ž t ƚŽ ϭϳ͘ϱй͘ dŚĞƌĞ ǁĂƐ Ă d ďŝůůƐ ĂƵĐƟŽŶ ŽŶ tĞĚŶĞƐĚĂLJ͕ ǁŚĞƌĞ ŝŶ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞĚ ƚŽ ĂŐŐƌĞƐƐŝǀĞůLJ ďŝĚ ĨŽƌ ůŽŶŐĞƌ ĚĂƚĞĚ ďŝůůƐ ĂůƚŚŽƵŐŚ ƌĂƚĞƐ ǁĞƌĞ ďĂƌĞůLJ ĐŚĂŶŐĞĚ ƌĞůĂƟǀĞ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ůĂƐƚ ĂƵĐƟŽŶ͘ Eϲ͘ϯďŶ͕ Eϲ͘ϳďŶ ĂŶĚ Eϴϴ͘ϬďŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ϵϭ ĂLJ͕ ϭϴϮ ĂLJ ĂŶĚ ϯϲϰ ĂLJ ďŝůůƐ ǁĞƌĞ ŝƐƐƵĞĚ Ăƚ ϭϯ͘ϭй͕ ϭϱ͘ϯй ĂŶĚ ϭϱ͘ϲй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘ /Ŷ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŵŝŶŐ ǁĞĞŬ͕ ĂŶ KDK ŵĂƚƵƌŝƚLJ ŽĨ EϮϯϯ͘ϴďŶ ŝƐ ƐĐŚĞĚƵůĞĚ ƚŽ Śŝƚ ƚŚĞ ƐLJƐƚĞŵ ĂŶĚ ǁĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ƌĂƚĞƐ ƚŽ ƌĞŵĂŝŶ ĂƌŽƵŶĚ ƐŝŵŝůĂƌ ůĞǀĞůƐ ĚĞƐƉŝƚĞ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞĚ KDK ŵŽƉ ƵƉƐ ďLJ ƚŚĞ E͘

ŽŶĚƐ DĂƌŬĞƚ ZĞǀŝĞǁ ĂŶĚ KƵƚůŽŽŬ dŚĞ ĚŽŵĞƐƟĐ ƐŽǀĞƌĞŝŐŶ ďŽŶĚƐ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƐůŝŐŚƚůLJ ďƵůůŝƐŚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬ ǁŝƚŚ ĂǀĞƌĂŐĞ LJŝĞůĚ ŵŽĚĞƌĂƟŶŐ Ϭ͘Ϯй t Ž t ĂƐ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ͛ ĂƉƉĞƟƚĞ ĨŽƌ ůŽŶŐ ĚĂƚĞĚ ŝŶƐƚƌƵŵĞŶƚƐ ƐƚĂLJĞĚ ƐƚƌŽŶŐ ƚŚŽƵŐŚ ŵŽƌĞ ĂĐƟǀŝƟĞƐ ƌĞŵĂŝŶĞĚ ŶŽƟĐĞĂďůĞ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ƐŚŽƌƚĞƌ ĞŶĚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ďŽŶĚ LJŝĞůĚ ĐƵƌǀĞ͘ ǀĞƌĂŐĞ ďŽŶĚ LJŝĞůĚ ŽƉĞŶĞĚ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬ ŇĂƫƐŚ ĂŌĞƌ ĐůŽƐŝŶŐ Ăƚ ϭϱ͘ϯй ŽŶ DŽŶĚĂLJ ;ĨƌŽŵ ϭϱ͘ϯй ĐůŽƐĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ǁĞĞŬͿ ĂŶĚ ƌĞŵĂŝŶĞĚ ƐƚĂďůĞ Ăƚ ƚŚĂƚ ůĞǀĞů ĨŽƌ dƵĞƐĚĂLJ͘ LJ ŵŝĚ ǁĞĞŬ ŚŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ ĂǀĞƌĂŐĞ LJŝĞůĚ ŵŽĚĞƌĂƚĞĚ ďLJ ϭϰďƉƐ ƚŽ ƐĞƩůĞ Ăƚ ϭϱ͘Ϯй ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ƚŽǁĂƌĚƐ ƐŚŽƌƚ ĂŶĚ ŵĞĚŝƵŵ ĚĂƚĞĚ ŝŶƐƚƌƵŵĞŶƚƐ ƚŚŽƵŐŚ ĂǀĞƌĂŐĞ LJŝĞůĚ ŽŶ ůŽŶŐ ĚĂƚĞĚ ďŽŶĚƐ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ŇĂƚ͘ dŚĞ ďƵůůŝƐŚ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ǁĂƐ ƐƵƐƚĂŝŶĞĚ ŝŶƚŽ dŚƵƌƐĚĂLJ ĂƐ ĂǀĞƌĂŐĞ LJŝĞůĚ ĨƵƌƚŚĞƌ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ďLJ ϯďƉƐ ĂŶĚ ĞǀĞŶƚƵĂůůLJ ĐůŽƐĞĚ ŽŶ &ƌŝĚĂLJ ǁŝƚŚŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ƚĞƌƌŝƚŽƌLJ ĂƐ ŝƚ ƐĞƩůĞĚ Ăƚ ϭϱ͘Ϯй ;ŵŽĚĞƌĂƟŶŐ ϭďƉƐ ĚĂLJ ŽŶ ĚĂLJͿ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ǁĞĞŬ͛Ɛ ĐůŽƐĞ ŽĨ ϭϱ͘ϯй͘ tŚŝůƐƚ ǁĞ ŚĂǀĞ ŶŽƟĐĞĚ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞĚ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ĂƩƌĂĐƟŽŶ ĨŽƌ ďŽŶĚ ƐĞĐƵƌŝƟĞƐ ƐŝŶĐĞ ƚŚĞ ƉĞdž

ĂŶŬ ƐƚĂƌƚĞĚ ŐƵŝĚŝŶŐ ƚŽǁĂƌĚƐ Ă ŵŽĚĞƌĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ ƐŚŽƌƚ ƚĞƌŵ d ďŝůůƐ ĂŶĚ KDK ƌĂƚĞƐ͕ ǁĞ ƐŽŵĞǁŚĂƚ ĂƩƌŝďƵƚĞ ƚŚĞ ƌĂƚŚĞƌ ďƵůůŝƐŚ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ŽŶ ďŽŶĚƐ ƚŽ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞĚ ĐŽŶĮĚĞŶĐĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĐƌĞĚŝƚ ƐƚĂƚƵƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ &ĞĚĞƌĂů 'ŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚ ŽĨ EŝŐĞƌŝĂ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ƐůŝŐŚƚ ƌĂůůLJ ŝŶ ĐƌƵĚĞ Žŝů ƉƌŝĐĞƐ ĚƵƌŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬ ; ƌĞŶƚ ĐƌƵĚĞ ƉƌŝĐĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ϭ͘ϯй ŚŝŐŚĞƌ t Ž t ƚŽ ĐůŽƐĞ Ăƚ h^ΨϲϬ͘ϵϮͬďͿ͘

^Ƶď ^ĂŚĂƌĂŶ ĨƌŝĐĂŶ ƵƌŽďŽŶĚƐ WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ĚƵƌŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬ ǁĂƐ ŵŝdžĞĚ ƚŚŽƵŐŚ ƚŚĞ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞŵĞŶƚ ŝŶ ĐŽŵŵŽĚŝƚLJ ƉƌŝĐĞƐ ƐƚĞĚ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ĂĐƌŽƐƐ ďŽĂƌĚ͘ ǀĞƌĂŐĞ LJŝĞůĚ ŽŶ ŵŽƐƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƐŽǀĞƌĞŝŐŶ ŝŶƐƚƌƵŵĞŶƚƐ ŝŶ ŽƵƌ ĐŽǀĞƌĂŐĞ ŵŽĚĞƌĂƚĞĚ͕ ƐŝŐŶĂůůŝŶŐ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞĚ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ĐŽŶĮĚĞŶĐĞ͘ /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ǁĂƐ ŵŽƌĞ ŝŶ ĨĂǀŽƵƌ ŽĨ ĂŵďŝĂŶ ƵƌŽďŽŶĚƐ ĂƐ zŝĞůĚ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ĂǀĞƌĂŐĞ ƚĂƉĞƌĞĚ ďLJ ϯϰďƉƐ ĨŽůůŽǁĞĚ ďLJ 'ĂďŽŶ ; ϯϬďƉƐͿ͕ 'ŚĂŶĂ ; ϮϰďƉƐͿ ĂŶĚ <ĞŶLJĂ ; ϮϮďƉƐͿ͘ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶ ƵƌŽďŽŶĚƐ LJŝĞůĚƐ ŽŶ ĂǀĞƌĂŐĞ ŵŽĚĞƌĂƚĞĚ ϭϱďƉƐ t Ž t ƚŽ ƐĞƩůĞ Ăƚ ϰ͘ϴй ǁŝƚŚ Ăůů ƚŚĞ ďŽŶĚƐ ĐƵƌƌĞŶƚůLJ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ Ăƚ ƉƌĞŵŝƵŵ ƚŽ ƉĂƌ ǀĂůƵĞ͘ dŚĞ <ĞŶLJĂŶ͕ ĂŵďŝĂŶ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶ ƵƌŽďŽŶĚƐ ƌĞŵĂŝŶ ƚŚĞ ďĞƐƚ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵŝŶŐ zd ǁŝƚŚ ϭϬ͘ϱй͕ ϵ͘ϳй ĂŶĚ ϴ͘ϰй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘ ŽŶƚƌĂƌŝůLJ͕ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ĂĐƌŽƐƐ ƚŚĞ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶ ŽƌƉŽƌĂƚĞ ƵƌŽďŽŶĚ ǁĂƐ ďƌŽĂĚůLJ ŶĞŐĂƟǀĞ ĂƐ ƐĞůů ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ƉƌĞǀĂŝůĞĚ t Ž t ĂĐƌŽƐƐ Ăůů ŽƌƉŽƌĂƚĞ ƵƌŽďŽŶĚƐ ďƵƚ &/ >/dz ϮϬϭϴ͘ zŝĞůĚƐ ŽŶ & E, ϮϬϮϬ ;нϮ͘ϯйͿ͕ & E, ϮϬϮϭ ;нϬ͘ϰϱйͿ ĂŶĚ E/d, ϮϬϮϮ ;нϬ͘ϭϱйͿ ƌŽƐĞ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ͘ / DKE ϮϬϭϵ ŚĂƐ ƚŚĞ ŚŝŐŚĞƐƚ ƉƌŝĐĞ ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ;Ϯϲ͘ϯйͿ zd ͘ tĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ƚŽ ƐƚĂLJ ŵŽĚĞƌĂƚĞ ŶĞdžƚ ǁĞĞŬ ĂƐ ǁĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ƚŚĞ ŐĂŝŶƐ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚŝƐ ǁĞĞŬ͛Ɛ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞŵĞŶƚ ŝŶ ĐŽŵŵŽĚŝƚLJ ƉƌŝĐĞƐ ƚŽ ƐƵƐƚĂŝŶ ďƵůůŝƐŚ ŵŽŵĞŶƚƵŵ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ^^ ƵƌŽďŽŶĚƐ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ͘

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26

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

MARKET NEWS

SEC Restates Commitment to Improved Financial Literacy Goddy Egene The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has said it will continue to improve and boost financial literacy among young people. The Director General of SEC, Mr. Mounir Gwarzo stated this during a mentoring session for students from various schools in Lagos  as part of activities to mark World Savings and   Financial  Literacy Week.

Gwarzo, who was

represented by  Director of Market Development Department, SEC, Mr. Henry Rowlands, said  the commission  would improve financial literacy of Nigerians, explaining  that  poor financial literacy has been identified as one of the factors responsible for the low level of financial inclusion.

He stated that the commission had similar sessions in Kano  and Port-Harcourt last year,

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

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

An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;sharesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; on the

while bringing the session down to Lagos this year.

The theme of   this year programme was â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Promoting awareness on how to save money.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; The SEC boss advised the students to always develop the habit of savings. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When you are going to school and they give you pocket money, you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to exhaust your pocket money.  Begin to plan and say, I want to have some money kept somewhere.

Make up your mind today

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 3-Nov-2017, unless otherwise stated.

that whatever money that comes to your  hand, you  to keep a little out of it,â&#x20AC;? he said.

Chairperson, Technical Committee on Financial Literacy Week,  and  the CEO, United Capital Plc, Oluwatoyin   Sanni advised the students to cultivate the habit of saving.

According to her, if we do not save, then essentially we have no future. It is very important for us to engage with young minds and enlighten them because

the students which represent 100 per cent of our future have to learn from early age the importance of savings. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If our young ones learn early enough about the discipline of delayed gratification, knowing that you cannot satisfy all your wants today and have to set aside something from todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s earnings to provide for the needs of the future. If we can pass this message correctly to the youths of today and imbibe it in them, this will brighten the future,â&#x20AC;? said.

The World Savings Day is observed annually across the globe on every October 31 to inform people all around the world about the idea of saving their money in a bank.

SEC, through a Technical Committee on Financial Literacy Week, comprising representatives of regulatory bodies, capital market operators and the media, have continued to take financial literacy awareness campaign to schools across the country.

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 178.40 179.46 40.61% Nigeria International Debt Fund 233.88 235.08 10.67% 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 0.81 0.82 16.47% ACAP Income Funds 0.62 0.62 77.99% 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 17.87% 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 17.99 18.53 45.67% ARM Discovery Fund 375.21 386.52 30.65% ARM Ethical Fund 26.36 27.16 17.99% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 17.87% 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 147.89 148.93 40.61% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 18.23% 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 18.45% CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronation.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 17.70% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.00 1.01 0.47% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.00 1.03 1.56% FBN CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund 1,107.18 1,108.27 9.31% FBN Heritage Fund 143.02 144.27 28.30% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 17.93% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional $111.34 $112.50 8.33% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail $110.75 $111.90 8.50% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 158.42 160.78 40.73% 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 1.39 1.42 49.47% Legacy Short Maturity (NGN) Fund 2.92 2.92 13.69% 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 2,904.95 2,945.08 32.11% Coral Income Fund 2,405.77 2,405.77 15.44% 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 17.48% 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 17.86% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.08 2.11 23.87%

Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 18.41% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 112.61 112.61 16.06% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD ďŹ ncon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.15 1.18 16.72% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,036.16 1,036.16 10.00% 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 13.10 13.21 35.58% 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 20.97% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 10.86 10.91 4.46% 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 2,204.16 2,217.31 20.39% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 173.01 173.01 12.37% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.99 1.00 29.22% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 214.48 214.48 14.76% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 172.00 174.23 32.48% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 17.83% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 9,561.09 9,673.89 26.09% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.05 1.05 5.00% 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 17.30% United Capital Bond Fund 1.49 1.49 22.26% United Capital Equity Fund 0.89 0.91 32.36% 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 12.54 12.72 29.01% Zenith Ethical Fund 13.19 13.33 20.57% Zenith Income Fund 18.72 18.72 13.16%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

11.41 131.31

1.01% 5.92%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

10.96 137.99 106.81

11.06 140.97 108.82

26.95% 39.48% 40.95%

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 GrifďŹ n 30 Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

4.58 8.86 17.03 19.49 140.14

4.62 8.94 17.13 19.69 142.14

65.36% 25.88% 43.89% 22.06% 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 managerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website and FMANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator of the relevant fund and are published for information purposes only.

T H I S D AY SUNDAY NOVEMBER 5, 2017

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ NOVEMBER 5, 2017

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& RE A SO

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LIFE LESSONS WITH AYO AROWOLO

ayo.arowolo@thisdaylive.com

SUCCESS IN MINISTRY IS NOT ABOUT FAITH ALONE

09067059433 (SMS only) upon themselves.

If you can’t manage a day you can’t manage the entire life; to manage the entire life, you have to learn to manage a day greatly. There are a few things you must do to have a great day; to make a great life. They are preparation, inspiration: you must be excited about the cause of the day, pray, plan and set the day before you and be excited about it believing it will be great. Also is organization. You must be organised, your day must be organised, you must have the things you want to achieve the entire day planned and worked through. There is also delegation, there must be things as you get to a point in life you must delegate, to let you concentrate on the bigger issues. And so on. The idea is that you have to seize the day before you step out. So when your day turns out to be good consistently, it would result into a great week, a great month and a great year and that is how success comes.

LESSON

3 – Matthew Ashimolowo Matthew Ashimolowo, founder and Senior Pastor of London-based Kingsways International Christian Church (KICC) is one individual who has demonstrated that spirituality could also go side by side being wealthy, materially. Ashimolowo runs a vibrant and dynamic ministry with television network in over 200 countries; and, in the business world he has built a couple of first class business entities while he personally owns choice properties in choice places around the world. In an earlier conversation with me, Ashimolowo shared some interesting life lessons. Please enjoy.

LESSON

1

Success in Ministry requires more than faith When I got the leading of the Holy Spirit to set up a church in the United Kingdom, even though I knew there was a spiritual angle to it, I also knew that there should be application of knowledge and wisdom. I felt led to start something fresh and new, and the first thing I did was to recognise that visions are as distinct as we have over 7.5 billion people on earth. When I was starting out I needed to find my own niche, my own peculiarities, and my own uniqueness.

What I did as soon as I got to the United Kingdom was to enroll for a degree programme in The Sociology of the English People. Although I did not finish the degree programme. I left as soon as I got what I wanted from the course. What happens to people who come from elsewhere into the United Kingdom is that they come with the mindset of where they are coming from, the culture, the attitude and their perceptions, and when the English people refuse to accept what they are offering, they start complaining, that they don’t even understand these English people. The issue is that every set of people have a way of doing their own things, it may not look like your own, but it works for them.

For instance, the English people have a way of raising their own children, they may not beat them but their children also grow up responsible, at least on a greater scale.

When we started KICC, people saw the ambiance of the place, the settings, the quality

of our infrastructures and presentations and they could not believe this was coming from a Nigerian, from a black man. So I realised that quality sells, that people identify with quality and that quality breeds and generates quantity, that excellence rewards. So we excelled because of the quality of work we put into our endeavour and the grace of God. But what people do is to blame the ordeals on one witch out there, who doesn’t know them, they blame Satan as if he is omniscient, he is not everywhere at a time, although he has demons that are scattered all over the place, but he isn’t everywhere.

So that’s how we come to where we are. The right application of knowledge, the right and careful application of the truth guarantees a man to make progress in life.

LESSON

2

Success is hidden in what you do daily.

I recently taught a series on how to have a great day. This is the idea. Some people don’t know how to have a great day. When you have a great day, you have a great week and then a great month and a great year and so on, that’s it. Many people don’t know how to manage a day, not to talk of a year and they wonder why their life is such a failure, they blame a witch in their village and so on. They blame the devil. The way people talk about the devil, they make him look omniscient, omnipresent, but the devil isn’t omnipresent.

The failure of many people has absolutely nothing to do with the devil, they brought it

It is not a curse to be wealthy The day you receive Christ you carry these blessings; but the church you go to, the ministration you sit under determines if these blessings will find fulfillment in your life. Some people go to churches where they are taught they don’t need these blessings, some work on cursed ground, others work with cursed hands. The environment where you are operating is important to the blessings manifesting in your life.

As a Christian we are blessed for the following reasons: to be a blessing to our generation, to make a difference in our family and to be a major sponsor of the gospel. We are blessed so that we can make a difference in our world, we get wealth so that we can touch our world, you can do much more when you are wealthy than you can do when you are broke.

The first thing is if you want wealth, do not talk down on it, celebrate it and as you follow the principles of building wealth, it will naturally flow to you.

Whatever you celebrate gets attracted to you and whatever you denigrate gets repealed from you. Money is called currency because it flows to where it is celebrated, to wherever it is respected and showed it is needed and can be handled well.

To attract money you must show passion to get it, passion to multiply it and passion to use it to bless and help others. This can be done in two ways, using your gifts or through a business.

Among these, the best has been entrepreneurship; it has been proven that if you want to do something great for the kingdom of God, you must be an entrepreneur. Salaries can never make you rich. For instance, there is nobody in Nigeria that is paid a million dollars, not even the bank C.E.Os, nobody. So if you must be rich you must set out to create something to create wealth, that’s being an entrepreneur.

LESSON

4

Wealth multiplies as you give it out Wealth multiplies when you allow it to flow through you to others. The principle of wealth creation is universal. It has no respect for anybody; if an unbeliever practises it, it works and if a Christian doesn’t practice it, he remains broke. There are so many Christians who are broke, whereas some unbelievers are being blessed with these same principles. In the United Kingdom, some organisations are using these same principles to prosper and grow tremendously.

Organisations like Marks and Spencer, every year give out a large chunk of their earnings

as charity and it works for them even without knowing that they are practising Biblical principles. The business world calls it CSR (corporate social responsibility) but this is a fancy way to call this biblical principle.

I have practiced this with results. Anything God blesses me with I pass on to others to be a blessing. There is nowhere I keep so much money at once than to be a blessing to mankind, to people as I get blessed by God. Anything God blesses me with I just use to bless others. I don’t stack it somewhere. I just gave out my Hummer Jeep not long ago to a man of God who is in the heat of Boko Haram insurgency. In what other way can we empathise with people like this, than just to spot them and bless them? So, God laid it upon my heart to bless him with the car and I did. He has been at the heart and heat of this insurgency. He deserved to be blessed and I did. In the last three years I have donated 24 cars to people. Some of them are people who have been praying to God to be blessed and God laid it in my heart to be a blessing to them and I gave them out to these sorts of people

LESSON

5

is not a sin to do business as a pastor I used to think like that as well, that being doing business was not compatible with doing pastoral work. In 1974 I was in the Bible school, in 1976 I started pastoring and in 1979 I traveled out for the first time, I bought BTA ( Basic Travel Allowance), and on returning I bought a musical instrument for five hundred naira and sold it for one thousand two hundred naira in Nigeria, with that I built my first house. At that time my salary was one hundred naira, I started with a salary of fifty naira when I joined ministry. People would say fifty naira was a whole lot then, it wasn’t, my wife used to get that amount from her father as pocket

money while she was in secondary school back then. So I began to think and I realised that from the age of fourteen years I have always sold things and God was telling me that it was my gift to make a difference and be a blessing to my generation. So it’s okay to be where God has put you and use your strength to be a blessing and touch lives and that’s what we are doing. I have always sold things from the age of fourteen years, I have been hawking bread and the mark is still at the centre of my head.

MESSAGE FOR NIGERIA Nigeria: Till date we have only raised tribal chiefs and not national leaders.

Those that came up to leadership position in Nigeria, quickly surround themselves with people from their own side of the geographical location of the country and sideline all others no matter how good they. That needs to change.

BOOKS The books that I read now and even the ones that I write are majorly about sixty per cent secular. Books on leadership, on finance, management and so on. My library has about fifty thousand books, I have books, I read books, every time I step into any airport, I buy between four hundred to five hundred dollars’ worth of books. The book that has made the most impact on me is The Power of Vision by George Barma

A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

05.11.2017

CHLOE OLUMIDE

COLOURFUL WORLD OF BOBBY BENSONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S GRAND DAUGTHER

30

T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R Ëž Íł, Í°ÍŽÍŻÍľ

COVER

CHLOE OLUMIDE

COLOURFUL WORLD OF BOBBY BENSONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S GRAND DAUGTHER Her eminence is multiplied by the link to Bobby Benson, an entertainer and musician who defined an era of Nigerian music, particularly the Highlife genre. Her father, Yomi (Bobby Benson Jnr.), managed the 80s hit group, SWEAT, which majorly comprised his siblings (Bobby Bensonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s children and their friends). Although she is not sure where to find a connect, Chloe Olumide thinks that somewhere in her inner recesses lives a vibrant artist.

Nseobong Okon-Ekong reports

S

he has created a gorgeous and stylish window display characterised by rare pieces of furnishing to attract attention. The strong appeal is hard to resist and curiosity tears down every inhibition that may have been unwittingly announced with a name like The Luxury Collection; drawing many to enter the display shop. While the security man at the entrance does not really hinder visitors, he looks smart enough in his uniform to enhance the obvious impression of elegance that is evident, beginning from the flight of steps and the decoration on the wall leading to the main exhibition area.

A waiting staff announces my presence to Chloe Olumide who requested that I be ushered into her office. She was in an all black outfit. Her workplace is small. She would later explain that the business has expanded from another property next door which it still retains. This new space is already looking crammed. Chloe weighs her words like a skilled athlete pumping iron to build specific parts of the body.

Her statements are direct like, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I need all the space I can get to showcase what we have got to customers.â&#x20AC;?

Although she is born of a great heritage, it takes some prodding for her to volunteer the information. Much of what she likes to talk about is how in her 29 years she has been able to take the right decisions, guided by her parents, of course to make her a business owner.

If she was to write the story of her life, her parents, Mrs. Abiodun FeuserAjidahun and Mr. Yomi Bobby Benson Jnr., would get a generous mention for

the mentoring that has ensured she is on a steady climb up the ladder of success. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was actually my Dad who told me to do this. I am actually thankful to both of my parents. Parents know their children.

I wanted to explore something else, but my dad said you do this with your mother all the time and you do it well.

Some people need to be taught things that come naturally to other people. I have since developed my own touch, but this is not something that I went to school to learn. I must give credit to my parents. â&#x20AC;?

We were just getting acquainted and trying to decide if we should wait for Adubi Mydaz, the artist who scheduled the meeting or get on with it. She was not sure if she should hand me her business card. And she did not mind at all if her speech would be considered a blunder by me, a stranger. But it showed her warmth and authenticity, if anything. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I just got married and I have not made business cards with my new name.â&#x20AC;?

Laughing, she added a clincher, â&#x20AC;&#x153;my mother in-law will kill me if she hears me introducing myself any other way.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am Mrs. Olumide!â&#x20AC;?

The influence of the personality she has just introduced does not register immediately until she throws more light.

Her husband is the son of the former Managing Director of the defunct Virgin Nigeria, Captain Dapo Olumide.

However, Chloeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s circle of eminence is further multiplied by her link to Bobby Benson, an entertainer and musician who defined an era of Nigerian music, particularly the Highlife genre. Her father, Yomi (Bobby Benson Jnr.) managed the 80s hit group, SWEAT, which majorly comprised

I AM EXPRESSING MY CREATIVE GENE IN A DIFFERENT WAY. MY GRANDFATHER WAS A MUSICIAN AND I AM AN INTERIOR DECORATOR. HE WAS A PERFORMING ARTISTE. IN SOME WAY, I SEE MYSELF AS A VISUAL ARTIST. I ADD VALUE TO A SPACE BY PLACING THE RIGHT PIECES THAT ARE EYE PLEASING AND ENLIVEN THE SENSES Chloe

31

NOVEMBER 5, 2017 ˾ T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R

COVER his siblings (Bobby Benson’s children and their friends). Although she is not sure where to find a connect, Chloe thinks that somewhere in her inner recesses lives a vibrant artist. There is no other explanation for her veering from Biological Sciences which she studied in a university in the United Kingdom to Interior Decoration. She had hoped to continue with a career in Pharmacy. “Sometimes, things don’t go as planned,” she chuckled. “I am expressing my creative gene in a different way. My grandfather was a musician and I am an Interior Decorator.

He was a performing artiste. In some way, I see myself as a visual artist. I add value to a space by placing the right pieces that are eye pleasing and enliven the senses.”

This bit about music was coming towards the end of our interaction and it was Adubi who stirred her in that direction.

The fact that she was hoping that she can find a place of distinction to stand all by herself, without necessarily drawing from the heritage of her father in-law or grandfather says something about her fierce fight for independence or individuality.

Chloe disclosed to The Glitterati: “We have our sister company Nettetal which is based in Abuja and Port Harcourt. The store was started about 20 years ago in Port Harcourt by my mother. She has since then moved to Abuja where she has five stores. We didn’t have a branch in Lagos and I live in Lagos. I have been doing this my whole life since I was a child. I was always in the shop after school.

During holidays, I was there helping my mother. When she goes buying I am there with her. It made sense because family businesses do well. We decided to open a front in Lagos and we call it The Luxury Collection. This is my business but we are a sister company to Nettetal. The name Nettetal is the name of my maternal grandfather’s village in Germany. I am the only one bitten by this family business bug for now because the rest of us are younger. I have a younger sister. She is also very much involved in things. She goes to the shop.

She sells to the customers. I have another sibling, a younger brother who is also currently into luxury but he is more into watches. He is not into furniture. He is more into lifestyle. My mother and I deal with the furniture, accessories and gifts.

It is a blend. It is all merged and we feed off each other. He is younger than me but he is very smart. There is synergy between both.”

Apparently, there is both a point of merger and a dividing line between Chloe and her mother.

“What I would say is that as time has gone by, I have learnt so much. I was following her then. I was not doing it professionally. I began to take this seriously three years ago. I have studied my mother’s taste. When I became professional I had a say and I could choose products to buy. I have more of a European flair. My mother has a need to appeal to her market segment. At the same time, she may be seeing things from an older person’s point of view. She is used to what she buys. I look for new pieces. I look for things that are trending. I bring it to her attention. We don’t always have the same pieces in the shops..”

With the increasing awareness of luxury lifestyle in Nigeria, business is growing in leaps and bounds. A cursory look at The Luxury Collection at Sanusi Fafunwa Street in Victoria Island, Lagos may suggest that the goods are meant for the high end market. While this is not far from the truth, Chloe has a compelling argument.

“We have a clientele, but we want to be accessible to a good number of people. The name, The Luxury Collection, speaks for itself. People already have an expectation before they come in. A lot of people say the name scares them, but they are pleasantly surprised because the prices are quite decent and affordable. We want to supply customers with good quality items and beautiful pieces that they don’t have to break the bank to acquire.

The analogy about TLC, Tender Loving Care, is at play here. We want to make sure that our clients feel well taken care of when they shop here. Our slogan is, ‘everybody needs TLC’. As common place as throw pillows are, I take my time to design my throw pillows. We choose the colour, fabric and design.

We sell them for between N9000 and N25000 each. If we don’t sell anything at all, we sell a cushion pillow. We have photo frames, bathroom mat.

We have beautiful cards. The cards carry messages that are very specific to Nigeria culture. They go for N1000 each. I have perfumed candles that are Nigerian made.”

Chloe insisted that she is not opposed to stocking Nigerian items. “It makes my life easier.”

In furtherance to this believe, she recently promoted a three-day art exhibition of the works of Adubi Mydaz.

Again, it was her father that discovered Mydaz and suggested she work with him. She sees a future where other artists will also her use platform to project their works. With time, she might even develop enough confidence in them to request that they execute certain commissioned works. For now, she does not have the time to supervise Nigerian artisans to deliver perfect pieces.

“I would not say there are no rare pieces out of Nigeria. There are definitely good workmanship. There are carpenters and artisans who are good. However, I do not have the time to mentor. There is a certain standard of things that I need. The artisans may be able to work very well but a lot of the time they need supervision. You need to check everything they do, the measurement has to be perfect, it has to be in a straight time. I do not like to give my customers anything less than what I would accept in my home. If I was going to bring something into a home, I will take my time and make sure every single line is in place and everything is done to perfection. To do that takes a lot of time which I don’t have right now. I want to focus on this. If you do a turnkey project, you have to make sure your light switch is working, things like that; typically these are things that Nigerian artisans don’t look out for.”

While she is waiting for the time when a good number of her products will be made in Nigeria, she continues to shop in Germany and Italy.

Asking her to define uncommonness was supposed to be a hard nut to crack. Surprisingly, her thoughts were not cluttered. Her response was very revealing. “That is talking about the uniqueness of an item. The thought behind a particular product defines its rarity. A lot of people have ideas but they cannot put it to paper. When an item is intriguing, beautiful and functional, that makes it rare. That item must not be in excess. You can have a variation of it, but it must not be everywhere. You have to strike a good and delicate balance, because you don’t want the show room to look the same by stocking items that can’t be sold.

However, you must not that people don’t want something that everybody has.”

Chloe

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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 ˾ NOVEMBER 5, 2017

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

Harvey Weinstein’s Sex Scandal Gives Voice to Hollywood’s Sexually Abused Victims Vanessa Obioha From Rose McGowan to Ariane Bellamar, more women are revealing their sexual abuse ordeal in the hands of celebrated A-list stars in the American film industry. Not too long ago, a group of women in the Animation Guild penned an open letter calling for more actions to be taken against sexual predators in the workplace. Their actions were influenced by the piling number of sexual allegations against prominent Hollywood film producer Harvey Weinstein. After the New York Times released a report that chronicled how the disgraced producer sexually harassed women in the industry, a floodgate of accusations opened. Over 40 women including Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow, Lupita Nyong’o had come forward to say they were also victims of Weinstein’s harassment. On Twitter, hashtag #MeToo is used to encourage victims of the Hollywood mogul to speak out.

Weinstein rose to fame in the 80s when his co-founded independent film distribution company Miramax, acquired the rights to two British films of benefit shows filmed for Amnesty International. Their brilliant tweaking of the films into one compelling narrative entitled ‘The Secret Policeman’s Other Ball’ earned them their first taste of success. A string of successes followed with more films and Tony Awards,fetching them Oscars and Tony Awards. However, in 1993, Weinstein and his brother Bob who co-founded Miramax sold their ownership rights to Disney while still retaining their head positions

at Miramax. But by 2005, they left the company to form their own production company, The Weinstein Company which recently fired him.

Following the recent accusations, Weinstein have been disrobed of his Hollywood clout. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences expelled him, British Academy of Film and Television Arts suspended him, the Producers Guild of America board of directors voted unanimously to terminate his membership, the Writers Guild of America condemned his conduct, and the British Film Institute stripped him of its prestigious fellowship.

Although the producer denied all accusations and rumoured to have checked into rehab, the mounting accusations against him have called for an investigation by different police departments.

It is against this backdrop that the women in animation called for a change in how they are treated sexually at the workplace. They demanded that every studio puts in place clear and enforceable sexual harassment policies and takes every report seriously; the Animation Guild should add language to their constitution that states it can censure, fine, suspend or expel any member of the guild who is find guilty of such conduct; and urge their male colleagues to start speaking up and standing up for women who are victimised.

“It has not been easy for us to share our stories”, the letter reads, “Many of us were afraid because our victimizers are powerful or well-liked. Others were worried that if they came forward it would affect their careers. Some of us have come forward in the past, only to have our concerns

ALBERTO GUERRA ENCOUNTERS THE DARK SIDE OF MUSIC IN PRICE OF FAME Telemundo’s new telenovela ‘The Price of Fame’ sees the Cuban actor on a deadly mission to avenge the death of his brother, Mexican music star, Julio Caesar Solar, played by Daniel Elbittar. Alberto Guerra and Daniel Elbittar were co-stars in Azteca’s production ‘Love to Remember’.

In ‘The Price of Fame’, Guerra plays a hugely successful music producer Mateo who will stop at nothing until he discovers who is behind his brother’s death.

A series of dramatic events such as the suicidal death of Victoria Aguilar, Julio’s obsessive ex-girlfriend who was accused of killing Julio, made Mateo suspects that a conspiracy is involved. His first suspect is Gabriel Trevino, a rich and powerful crime lord and owner of a radio station. However, as the narrative unfolds, Mateo will discover a web of music industry mobsters including his late brother’s supposed mentor Rafael Zabala (Alejandro de la Madrid) and Amado Matamoros (Juan Pablo Medina). His quest for justice will be complicated by the time he falls in love with Matamoros half-sister Manara Leon who also is the love interest of Rafael.

The three families will find themselves fighting for survival in this intriguing tale of vengeance, betrayal and secret romance.

The Price of Fame is Telemundo’s first musical telenovela that will play the genre of Mexican regional music like the Spanish ranchero and mariachi.

Weinstein

brushed aside or our supervisors tell us ‘he’s just from a different era’.

“It is with this in mind that we resolve to do anything we can to prevent anyone

Alberto Guerra in The Price of Fame

CELINE DION, ARETHA FRANKLIN TO FEATURE IN GRAMMYS GREATEST STORIES In commemoration of its 60th anniversary, the Recording Academy will air a special feature: ‘Grammys Greatest Stories: A 60th Anniversary Special’ on the CBS television network.

The one-of-a-kind broadcast event will show rare archival footage, exclusive interviews, epic moments and special appearances by multi-Grammy winners like Celine Dion, Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Elton John, Mary J. Blige, Sting, U2 among others. It will also highlight memorable moments from the last five decades of the award and take viewers behind the scenes to reveal unknown facts about remarkable performances. There will also be a special segment with producers and members reacting to the tragic loss of Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin’s opera performance and others.

The special feature will be broadcast on November 24.

MY NAME IS PRINCE SHOWCASES ITEMS FROM SINGER’S PAISLEY PARK London’s O2 Arena has always been home to late singer Prince. It was here that he held sold out concerts. Therefore, the arena is arguably apt for a befitting honour and celebration of the Purple One. The arena was transformed to a purple Mecca of some sort where hundreds of items from the singer’s Paisley Park were showcased in an exhibition titled ‘My Name is Prince’. Viewers are taken through different stages of the singer’s life.

From his ever-changing fashion style to the personas he developed throughout his music career. There are also a wardrobe of his famous outfits and footage from his tours. Visitors also get a look at some of his pencilled lyrics for songs such as Erotic City, as well as the notable Third Eye sunglasses, and a diamond-studded cane and waistcoat. rSource: The Guardian UK

Jay Z

else from being victimised. We are united in our mission to wipe out sexual harassment in the animation industry, and will no longer be silent.”

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ON THE COUCH

PROF. RAHAMON BELLO (ACADEMIC)

What Saved Me from Banana Peels Interviewed by Funke Olaode How did you avoid the banana peels throughout your tenure as Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos?

What is your greatest regret?

I became the Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos on 11th of November and will be quitting on 11th of November.

University of Lagos is a peculiar tertiary institution because of its location in the city of Lagos and because of its size. We have over 75,000 students, over 5,000 members of staff and over 10,000 that besiege us on daily basis for one business or the other.

You can imagine what it takes to run such an institution. One is faced with one challenge or the other but certain things are paramount such as infrastructure, funds, power, water and environment, as well as, salaries. With this, banana peels can run you over. The other one has to do with studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; unionism. I want to thank God that in the last five years, I overcame.

My greatest regret is related to studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; crisis. Today, in the University of Lagos, any election into any studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; group is done through e-voting and on representative basis. There is no influence from cultic groups or other groups influencing the outcome of SUG elections in the University of Lagos. With the introduction of e-election, all the elections have been peaceful. We realized in 2016 that there are professionals in the student electoral system in Nigeria who move from one institution to another.

And this is like a caucus. They move from Colleges of Education, to Polytechnics and even universities where they believe they can get control. If the leadership of union is taken care of by the students themselves, it would not go that way. But when an organization that is used to thuggery and violence cross over here that is where challenge come from.

It seems the month of November is signiďŹ cant in your lifeâ&#x20AC;Ś

Then how were you able to manage agitations from the labour unions?

It just happened that I was appointed on the 11th day of the 11th Month and fortunately, I happened to be the 11th Vice-Chancellor of the university and also my office is on the 11th floor of the Senate Building. And I would be exiting as ViceChancellor on the 11th day of November.

On a lighter note, I think I would look at the number again and see what I can do with it.

Unfortunately, I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t gamble.

As far as the issue of unionism is concerned, here in the University of Lagos, we have an organization that represents all the four staff unions: We have quarterly meetings with them. It is only issues that concerns a particular union that we take privately. I pray it will continue to work.

Looking back, are there things you would have loved to do differently?

It has to do with the infrastructure; the buildings we planned for the faculty of law and others. If the university had the autonomy and we were able to work around it, today, those projects would have become reality. The Post Graduate School and DLI are units of this school that can fund the buildings themselves based on arrangement if we can get a concession from developers and make arrangements to pay back over 10 to 15 years, we would do it successfully. Already, we have money earmarked for these buildings but the bureaucracy would not allow it come to

What does it take to run University of Lagos? reality. That is why the issue of financial autonomy is important because we can work with the private sector to execute it.

We also have some roads that I would have loved to construct so that it would open up some areas and ease the problems we usually have. Those are some of the things I would have done.

There has been a clamour from your people in Ogun State to represent them. Are you planning to go for politics?

I have not been far away from my people. I am a community man and I have served them before in Ogun state as a commissioner. But you know I am not

a partisan politician. I am a politician by fighting for the right of my people. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t intend to go into politics in the nearest future. I will work to ensure that one of my people emerges.

How would you consider your experience between your alma mater, University of Ife and University of Lagos?

I had my early life in Ife but I have spent over 40 years of most of my productive life in the University Lagos. That is where I belong to. Of course, I am not disputing my foundation which is very key for me. I appreciate the University of Ife for that.

Ensure that you carry everybody along.

Whatever your issues are, whatever your feelings are, you must put the university as the main objective of your activities and not yourself. Once you do that, everything would work out fine. That is the basis of any success we have achieved over the last five years.

How do you feel quitting the stage now?

It has been great. It has been fulfilling.

I got elated being appointed as the ViceChancellor of the University of Lagos. At this point, I feel very relieved. My family can have me back and I can have myself back.

The Power of Adoption

W

hen Roger Clinton adopted his wifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s son, he did not know that boy would become the 42nd president of the most powerful nation in the world. Interestingly, it is his name that has gone down in history, not that of William Jefferson Blythe, Bill Clintonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biological father.

Rolihlahla was only nine when he lost his father. His mother took him back to his native Thembu where he was adopted by his uncle, the Regent of the land, Chief Jongintaba Dalindyebo. In the palace, he was raised alongside the children of the Regent. This Rolihlahla was Nelson Mandela, one of the greatest leaders of our time.

Joanne Schieble and Abdulfattah Jandali were both 23 and graduate students when Joanne got pregnant. The couple gave the baby up for adoption. His adoptive parents, Paul and Clara Jobs lived in an area of California that would later become known

as Silicon Valley. The young Steve spent considerable time fixing electronics in the family garage with his father. At the age of 21 Steve Jobs began APPLE with Steve Wozniak in the Jobsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; family garage.

Gabrielle Bonheure Chanel was born out of wedlock and ended up being moved from one orphanage to another. She was adopted by Catholic nuns and raised in a convent. She became â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Cocoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; the style icon and founder of the CHANEL brand.

In cultures like ours where having children is very important, many families come under tremendous pressure and some even break up for the lack of children. Many childless couples resort to absurd practices in search of children. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Baby factoriesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;are lucrative business; here young girls get pregnant and sell their children to desperate women. The more straightforward, godfearing childless folks can be found in long prayer lines seeking divine intervention.

This all-consuming need has led to many being exploited by so called men of God

who are nothing but wolves in sheep clothing.

Of course we know that God gives children miraculously but sometimes we do not get the children and that does not make God unfaithful.

Can we, for a moment, look beyond ourselves to a bigger purpose when it comes to parenthood? What would have happened to the young William or Nelson, Steve or Coco if they never got adopted?

Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s take the conversation a notch higher.

How about the God factor in adoption?

Ever paused to think there may be a divine purpose at play here? The scripture says, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;God sets the lonely in familiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; (Psalm 68:6).

Could there be a potential world leader, inventor, luxury brand creator out there in need of a family where they would be nurtured to fulfill destiny? Could some lonely child benefit from the extra room in your home, the spare cash in your account?

Many adopted children have grown up to be a blessing not just to those who adopted

them but to the world.

Adoption should not be a taboo. It should not be an option for those looking for children, a good luck charm to keep them busy until their biological children come.

Adoption should be a social responsibility that we all respond to joyfully.

This was the essence of the maiden conference of the Heritage Adoption Support and Advocacy Group (HASAAG) which held on October 28 under the chairmanship of Her Excellency Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo. According to the Managing Trustee and project coordinator of HASAAG, Eme Akenzua, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The aim of this conference is to change the negative perception associated with adoption and thereby make it more acceptable to childless couples and any responsible and Godfearing adult that has the heart and resource to adopt. By so doing, we would achieve our aim of getting all abandoned and needy children into responsible, God-fearing homes.â&#x20AC;?

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ARTS & REVIEW A

FADUGBA'S FEMALE FORMATION PAGE 66

PUBLICATION

05.11.2017

A FESTIVAL ON THE CUSP OF AN AWAKENING

Best sculpture-Installation Cliché by Daaduut Judith

EDITOR OKECHUKWU UWAEZUOKE/ okechukwu.uwaezuoke@thisdaylive.com

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ARTS & REVIEW\\ART FESTIVAL

A FESTIVAL ON THE C OF AN AWAKENING

Life in My City Art Festival upped the ante at its 11th editionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s grand awards night held recently in Enugu. As a prom event beckons, the festival should be prepared to live up to the expectations of the new time, says Okechukwu Uw

T

enacity has brought Life in My City Art Festival this far. Resilience also. On its 11th edition, it has clawed its way into reckoning as, perhaps, Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s longest running art event. For, indeed, the annual event, which is more popularly known by its acronym LIMCAF, has been around for longer than any other local art event in recent memory. This alone earns it a laurel wreath.

But the art festival also deserves a seat of honour among Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s other high-profile cultural events on account of its truly national character and its galvanic impact on the talent-glutted contemporary Nigerian art scene.

Then, there was the impressive guest list at its grand finale and awards night held on Saturday, October 27 at the Institute of Management and Technology, Enuguâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s International Conference Centre.

That it included the likes of the Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; the former Cross River State governor, Donald Duke; the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe; Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s former high commissioner to the UK, Christopher Kolade and his wife as well as a representative of the French Embassy, among other dignitaries, was a testimonial of its importance.

Egged on by the goodwill of such visual arts communityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s greats as El Anatsui, Obiora Udechukwu, Okwui Enwezor, Olabisi Silva and Kolade Oshinowo, the LIMCAF organisers seem set to take the annual festival to the next level. And that would be to somewhere among the continentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s elite art events. â&#x20AC;&#x153;After the blood, sweat and tears (both of pain and joy) of the past 11 years, we are beginning to believe â&#x20AC;&#x201C; no; I take that back: we now fully believe that we can go the whole hog and become a high-profile, art tourism destination, ranking among the top three in Africa within the International Art Events Calendar,â&#x20AC;? the LIMCAF chairman, Elder K. U. Kalu told the audience at the 11th editionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s awards night.

With the conclusion of the speeches, interspersed with musical interludes, the eveningâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s proceedings climaxed with the award of prizes to the last 26 artists standing. These 26 artists had emerged from a stage-by-stage elimination process that had started from the zonal level after 180 artists answered the call for entries, which was based on the theme, â&#x20AC;&#x153;In the Midst of Realitiesâ&#x20AC;?.

Fifteen of the 26 artists soon dropped off the radar of reckoning, each receiving a consolation cash prizes of N20, 000. They were trailed by the seven winners of the category prizes: Godwin Ejike Ugwuagbo (winner of Justice Anthony Aniagolu Prize for Originality, worth N100,000), Taofeek Badru. A (winner of Dr. Pius Okigbo Prize for Technical Proficiency, worth 150,000), Etim. E. Essang (winner of Mfon Usoro Prize for Outstanding Work from Uyo/ Calabar Zone, worth N200,000), Bolaji.

K. Onaolapo (Thought Pyramid Prize for the Outstanding Work from Abuja, worth N100,000), Armstrong Obialo Grillo (Thought Pyramid prize for the

Best Painting Obscured Ideas by Nsiobodo Doris Painting

The winning work Facing The Giants by Afegbua Ibrah

Outstanding Work from Auchi/Benin/Delta, worth N100,000), Israel A. Fatola (Lawrence Agada Prize for the Most Promising Young Artist, worth N100,000) and Kingsley Ayogu (VinMartin Ilo Prize for the Outstanding Work from Enugu, worth N50,000).

The top four artists, who emerged from this elimination process, became the lucky four who clinched El Anatsuiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all-expenses-paid trip to Dakar, Senegal for the 2018 Dakar Art Biennale. Also, one of these four â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Bamidele Abdulgaffar Raji â&#x20AC;&#x201C; won the French Embassy Prize, which attracts a sponsorship to a major exhibition in Abuja. Raji was also the winner of the prize for the Best Graphics/Multimedia/Digital Art/Photography/Video worth N250,000. While Doris Nsiobodo and Judith Daaduut won Best Painting/Mixed Media/ Drawing and Best Sculpture Installation/ Ceramics, respectively, which are both worth N250,000.

Thus, Ibrahim Afegbua became the overall winner of the N500,000 cash prize with his sculptural piece â&#x20AC;&#x153;Facing the Giantsâ&#x20AC;?, which was made with binding wire.

Meanwhile, LIMCAF has so far established

Rocana Nigeria Limited, the festival took its first toddling steps under the watchful eyes of the Alliance Française Network and the French Embassy, who provided both financial and administrative support.

Flashback to the festivalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s modest official launch at the Enugu Press Centre in 2007.

None of the organisers knew for certain that the festival would one day elicit the interest of such art personalities as Jerry Buhari, Kunle Filani, Sani Muâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;azu, Peju Olaywola, Joe Musa, Chijioke Onuora and Tonie Okpe, among others. As a guiding orb were its lofty aims and objectives, which orbits around the promotion of â&#x20AC;&#x153;pan-Nigeria art through an annual competition that offers young people an avenue to showcase and commercialise their productions, win handsome prizes and interact with the larger art community on a national and progressively international platform and, in so doing create, a notable national and international art tourism destination in the country.â&#x20AC;?

Then, there was the role played by the Pan African Circle of Artists â&#x20AC;&#x201C; more popularly know by its acronym PACA

itself as a credible platform for young, up and coming artists. Drawing on the intangible asset of these raw talents, who have long toiled unrecognised, the festival has grown even beyond the expectations of its founder Chief Robert Oji, who owns the Enugu-based advertising firm, Rocana Nigeria Limited.

Yet, with growth loomed the spectre of inadequate funding, which naturally became an existential threat to the festival.

For even the modest cash rewards for the contestants could no longer be taken for granted. Take the endowed category prizes, for instance. A few ceased to exist though the gap they left behind were promptly filled by El Anatsuiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mouthwatering offer.

Still, sustaining the more-than-adecade-long uninterrupted annual outings despite the obvious challenges was no mean feat. This attests to the resilience of the human spirit even in this inhospitable creativity-stifling wasteland.

Bankrolled during its first four years by Chief Orjiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s advertising and printing firm

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž EMBER 5, 2017

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him â&#x20AC;&#x201C; which was then represented by Dr Krydz Ikwuemesi and Ayo Adewunmi.

The duoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s efforts were complemented by those of two Rocana staff members, Esona Onuoha and Onyinye Igbo, who were among the festivalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first administrative pillars.

A spectre of uncertainties still flits around LIMCAF despite the upward trend in its narrative chart. Indeed, this is an annual event, which according to Jerry Buhari â&#x20AC;&#x153;symbolises a quiet cultural revival that would one day give birth to a mega art festival like Documenta.â&#x20AC;?

Yet, somewhere in the midst of all this lurks the question: what next? The choice of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Twilightâ&#x20AC;? as the next yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s theme seethes with so much symbolism for the festival which may have been lost on even the organisers. The annual event, like all endeavours, is being increasingly driven to that moment of decision when it must voluntarily aspire towards entrenching eternal values among its growing followership.

The Inverted Pyramid; Adapted from a novel by Emeka Dike

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T H I S D AY SUNDAY NOVEMBER 5, 2017

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ NOVEMBER 5, 2017

CICERO

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

IN THE ARENA

Shall They Walk Away Free?

The handling of the corruption cases involving hitherto suspended Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir David Lawal, and the former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Ayodele Oke, is to say the least, uninspiring. Olawale Olaleye writes

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ast Tuesday, October 31, two months and eight days after being handed the report of a presidential panel headed by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on August 23, four days after he had returned from his 103 days medical vacation in London, President Muhammadu Buhari finally took the initiative to act on the corruption allegation that had blemished his former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Babachir David Lawal; a former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Ayodele Oke and by extension, his anti-graft crusade.

Whilst Lawal ran into trouble over some ‘high level grass-cutting deal’for the IDPs, Oke on his part has not been able to offer tangible explanation, at least to the knowledge of the public, on how the agency under him had kept the billions found in a private luxury apartment in Ikoyi, which he had admitted ownership.

These two developments happened at different times, although not too far in time from each other. But evidently, one actually compelled the eventual trial of the other.

And finally when the president acted, he merely relieved the duo of their responsibilities and asked them to go, although with a proviso that the anti-corruption agencies could try them if convinced they have cases to answer. He also added that he would not interfere in their independent investigation and its aftermath.

“Based on his wish and desire for strict observance of the law, the president expects the EFCC, ICPC and such agencies to proceed with ongoing investigations. When and where they have reasonable grounds to charge former or serving officers to court under our laws, they do not require the permission of the president to do so,” a statement by one of the two presidential spokespersons, Garba Shehu, stated.

First off, it is important to know what the next line of action is after a presidential administrative panel of inquiry submits its report. To that extent, is the Osinbajo panel report classified?

If it is, then it is pointless asking either the ICPC or EFCC to prosecute on a classified report.

However, if on the other hand, the report isn’t classified, why prevent the public from knowing the content if indeed government is honest in the fight against graft?

On the flip side, if the accused persons are deemed guilty, perhaps from the report, is their sack the only provisional disciplinary measure as contained in the report? However, if they are not guilty of the charges against them and the report stated as such, why sack them? There are quite too many questions that are begging for

answers on the Lawal and Oke matter, which unfortunately, the government has not shown readiness to answer them.

But one thing is clear from the president’s action – he has seen that the report was damning and the only thing he could do was to relieve them of their postings. But this, he has also done reluctantly otherwise, if he had his way, he would have acted differently. After all, it has taken him over two months after receiving the report to act. To now say it was the prerogative of the anti-graft agencies to go after them as if a matter of choice is to say the least, at variance with his highly touted anti-graft crusade.

Whatever was wrong with a downright presidential order for them to be picked up, this time, acting based on the report, especially when the president is not oblivious of the fact that heads of sensitive agencies like the EFCC and ICPC don’t take such initiatives when cases with vested interest are involved except pushed

to, then, this descent to mischief at the highest level is too palpable to be ignored.

Truth is if the president genuinely wants to combat graft, no opportunity had better presented itself than this. But where the president feels encumbered because of the personality of those involved, then, he cannot successfully run a nation that way.

It was Lawal, who once asked a rethorical question: “which presidency?”; and today, he has been adjudged right because he is just about to walk away free even where all fingers of culpability points at him. There is no point wasting time banking on the anti-graft war of this government, people now contend. It is daily becoming a façade and a move targeted only at the opposition and or identified enemies of the government, because people are treated differently and based on their political leanings.

As far as the matters of Lawal and Oke are seen before the observing public, the president

has failed to deliver leadership by example.

One, by his action and decision, Lawal is walking away with the grass cutter deal, while the people may never get to know the truth about the Ikoyi billions again. Where then is the right of the people to know or the transparency which this government sold as its strongest point during the elections in 2015?

Just as in the case of Lawal and Oke, another golden opportunity to make a signature statement with the anti-graft crusade might have been bungled in the case of a former chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, Abdulrasheed Maina. And if you care to know, this vicious cycle will continue with the Buhari presidency.

Although it is worthy of mention that the EFCC has already summoned Oke and wife over the Ikoyi billions, it is equally important to keep an eye on how the matter involving Lawal would be handled.

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

So, What’s the Deal?

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Tinubu in handshake with President Buhari...recently

or a very long time and for reasons presumably known to close observers of the polity, former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, had stayed away from the corridors of power – a government he helped to bring onboard. And in addition, he maintained a dizzying silence that has constituted serious worry for those currently running the show. But all that ceased last week, when he held a closed door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Villa, Abuja.

Tinubu, after the meeting, had described the development as a proof of the fact that the news about their differences was not true. “It is fake news”, he told state house reporters. It

is also not by accident that penultimate Sunday, the First Lady, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, was at Tinubu’s Bourdilon residence in Ikoyi, Lagos, where they both met. Thus, Tinubu’s eventual meeting with Buhari was believed to have been made possible by the one with Aisha.

Of course, the details of both meetings are not known yet to the public, but the simplest deduction is that they are not unconnected to the elections of 2019 as horse-trading might have begun in earnest. Well, it would be interesting to see what deal Tinubu might have struck with Buhari, and that is premised on the notion that he has learnt his lessons on how to better handle ‘sophisticated high-wire national politics’, if his experience in the last two and a half years counts for him.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ NOVEMBER 5, 2017

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BRIEFINGNOTES The Last Minute Move to Save APC How far can the leadership of the All Progressives Congress go in their last minute move to save their party, asks Onyebuchi Ezigbo

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ast Tuesday’s National Executive Committee meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) came as a climax to months of expectations and uneasy calm within the ranks of the ruling party. Before the meeting, the party had come under stringent criticism for failing to hold regular statutory meetings to the extent of even running foul of its own constitution. This is in addition to further coming under attacks from some of its stakeholders, who felt aggrieved by certain actions and inactions of the party in the past two years.

A combination of factors, including the ill-health of President Muhammadu Buhari, which kept him out of the country for some time made it almost impossible for the party to hold its National Executive Committee meeting until last week. After assuming power at the centre, the party appeared to have run into trouble, which made it lose grip of most its key men in government. What looked like an imaginary wall existed between the party leadership and the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to the extent that it National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, hardly find easy access to the President.

The party got alienated from the Buhari-led administration to the extent that it was no longer consulted, when certain categories of appointments were made. The result was that most party men, who relied on the leadership of the party to get appointments as a reward having made sacrifices during the election became stranded as none was forthcoming. Rather than the party doing the recommendation, it was alleged that certain cabal around the presidency had taken over and got their friends and cronies into juicy positions.

On many occasions, the state chairmen of the APC protested their irrelevance in the scheme of things as far as selection for federal appointments were concerned. They mounted pressures on the Oyegun-led National Working Committee and accused them of not doing enough to protect their interest. Again, when the interests of political gladiators in the party clashed, the party further found itself in a messy situation. Before last week’s meeting, the situation in the party had become very tense.

Notable leaders of the ruling party like Tinubu and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar had become almost estranged with the party. While Tinubu was known to have openly mouthed his disdain for the present party leadership, over its handling of the governorship primary in Ondo State, Atiku Abubakar complained bitterly that he was not being carried along both by the party and the administration.

The former Vice President may have expected to play a role through the Board of Trustees (BoT) but for some unknown reasons, that important party organ had remained a still-birth. The result of all these was that the party found itself in a precarious state, almost finding it very difficult to discharge its routine obligations of funding its operations. At a stage, it became a major challenge how to mobilise funds to prosecute its non-elective convention. In fact, speculations were rife that a certain group of governors were plotting to use the NEC meeting to seek the resignation of Chief Oyegun and other members of the NWC perceived to be part of the problems of the party.

Perhaps, sensing the charged atmosphere, President Buhari decided to first hold consultation with the national leader, Tinubu before the wider meeting of the national caucus of APC. The meeting with Tinubu as well as other informal discussions the president was said to have had with other aggrieved stakeholders apparently did the magic and helped to calm nerves.

The national caucus of the party meeting held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja further doused the tension before the NEC meeting. Some the governors elected on the platform of the party, who bared their minds on the outcome all shared optimism that APC was on its way back to form. The Governor of Nassarawa State, Tanko Almakura, told journalists shortly before the NEC meeting began that the tone had been set at the caucus meeting.

“At this meeting, we could see a family meeting, a family reunion, a meeting of committed people

Tinubu, Osinbajo, Buhari, Oyegun and Saraki at the APC Caucus meeting for a cause, a meeting where all the stakeholders that matter in the party were present and everybody expressed his or her view in line with our vision, without commitment and with our intention to take this country to the next level,” he said.

For Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State, the president has once again convinced the party leaders of his sincerity of purpose in the handling of the affairs of the country. In giving his own account of the caucus meeting, Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong, said notwithstanding the tense moments that griped the party to the extent that people thought it will be the end, APC survived it.

“The meeting was very brief and as brothers, we resolved on many issues that mostly centred on encouragement for him to give Nigerians good governance and carrying the party along. What will be the biggest take-away is to roll out a brand new APC devoid of wrangling. I want to assure you that you won’t see a wrangling party after the meeting.

From now onwards, it will be focused governance from Mr. President and all the governors from the states. We have all resolved to support Mr President”.

On his part, the chairman of the APC Governors Forum and the governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, described the meeting as very critical. He said the President is showing the right leadership and taking the very right steps and that there is reconciliation going on even with nobody talking about it.

“This is perhaps one of the most vital NEC meetings that will tell the whole world as to the strength of this party. From the caucus meeting of last night, we can see light at the end of the dark tunnel. APC is coming out of the woods and we are set to take over the nation like we have always done. It is going to get better and better,” he said.

However, one issue that was agitating the minds of the party men and indeed Nigerians was that of whether President Buhari would contest in the 2019 presidential election and if APC would give him an automatic ticket. It is also one issue that seems to have the capacity to make or mar the party. Some of the governors, who were bold to share their opinions evaded the issue of automatic ticket but offered their personal opinion on the candidacy of President Buhari.

For example, Lalong said all the APC governors have resolved that they would work for his return ticket.

“I want to say that if Mr. President is performing, is well respected and carrying everybody along – all of us have resolved that we will work for him. Do we have any other person that will challenge the President again? Whatever you call it, as far as we are concerned, we have one President and that is the ticket we will fly”.

Echoing Lalong’s position, Bagudu said he would give the president his support based on his sterling performance.

“I think for APC members, it is a democratic party, number one. But the performance of the President in the last two and a half years suggests that if he wants to contest, I will certainly support him and I know that our party members feel the same about him”.

Al’makura reiterated that the greatest asset Buhari has is his acclaimed integrity and impeccable character, and the fact that he has endeared himself to Nigerians. However, Almakura said that any consensus arrangement that did not follow democratic process is not what President Buhari needs. The outcome of the NEC succeeded in putting paid to the rancour in the party at least, momentarily.

The NEC members thus unanimously gave a vote of confidence to President Buhari for satisfactory performance, while the national chairman also got a vote of confidence in what was seen as a new spirit of reconciliation and unity.

Addressing journalists at the end of the NEC meeting, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara said the party reviewed its activities in the past year and also took decisions on how to reshape its future.

Dogara let out what the party would have loved to conceal when he spoke of how another motion was raised by a member urging for a vote on automatic ticket for the President but was shut down. Dogara said: “Even though there was a motion from the floor that called for a vote of confidence on the President, some of us felt it was not necessary because there is nowhere that his confidence is shaking. But the motion was taken and passed. But, there was a second leg to that motion which calls for the adoption of the candidature of the President, but it was differed for now and no decision was taken because that is not the major reason we are here”.

However, addressing the NEC meeting, President Buhari said his administration would expand the federal cabinet to bring in more supporters of the party. Apparently responding to agitations by his party men, who complained of being shortchanged in appointments, President Buhari told the meeting that apart from rejigging the cabinet, the government will also do something about all outstanding board appointments.

The president, who said he was proud of his administration’s achievements in the last two years, in the areas of tackling Boko Haram, Niger Delta security crisis and ensuring regular fuel, improved power, TSA, agriculture and fertilizer, also maintained that corruption would not be tolerated by the government as a clear sign that there is change.

“On the other hand, I am keenly aware that our supporters are very eager for these appointments to

be announced. By the Grace of God, these appointments will be announced sooner, especially now that the economy is improving, we will have the resources to cater to the appointees. By the same token the compressed Federal Executive Council will be expanded to bring in more supporters at the federal level, with fresh ideas to be injected into the government,” he said.

Although the final outcome of the APC NEC meeting failed to confirm some of the fears in the party, the issue of second term for President Buhari and whether to grant him automatic ticket were left hanging in the balance. From all indications, the unresolved issues of the president’s second term bid and that of automatic ticket is one dicey matter that will continue to haunt the leadership of the party.

AndtheProgressReport…

Meanwhile, the Oyegun-led National Working Committee of the APC presented what seemed like its scorecard to the NEC meeting. The party claimed in the report that its support base and fortunes with the electorate had continued to grow across the country despite the economic challenges in the polity. As a testimony to the popularity of the APC, the National Organising Secretary, Senator Osita Izunaso, who presented the report, listed the major victories recorded by the party in the past one year to include its triumph in the Edo and Ondo States governorship elections.

The party also said as a result of various byeelections, court-ordered re-run polls as well as defections, it has been able to increase the number of its members in the National Assembly. For instance, the party said its majority in the Senate has increased from 59 to 70 out of the 109 senators.

According to the report, the affected senators include Senator Ovie Omo Agege (Delta), Senator Andy Uba (Anambra), Senator Nelson Effiong (Akwa Ibom), Senator John Owan Enoh (Cross River), Senator Joshua Dariye (Plateau) and Senator Yele Omogoruwa (Ondo). In the same breath, it claimed to have gained more members in the House of Representatives from a gale of defections that hit other parties.

At present, the party said it has a total of 220 members out of the 360 federal lawmakers. And to further reassure stakeholders that the ruling party was still the place to be, the report of the NWC listed some political gladiators that recently joined its fold.

These are a former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, former governors Jim Nwobodo, Orji Uzor Kalu, Sullivian Chime, Martins Elechi, Alhaji Mahmud Shinkafi, Alhaji Garba Umar, Col. Musa Muhommed, Senator Florence Ita Giwa, Dr. Aliyu Modibbo, Senator Abdullahi Idris and Cairo Ojougboh.

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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 ˾ NOVEMBER 5, 2017

CICERO/ONTHEWATCH

Tasks Before the New SGF With less than two years to the end of the current mandate of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, the new Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, has a huge responsibility to deliver as FG scribe, writes Daji Sani

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or any government to run good and at least, present a semblance of structured organisation, the office of the secretary to the government, whether at the local, state or federal level is the cynosure of attention here. How well any government functions relies to a credible extent, on the capacity and the ability of the occupier of that office to get things done.

Unfortunately, President Muhammadu Buhari had suffered greatly in this respect. Apart from taking several months to settle for the sacked Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir David Lawal, his eventual choice was neither justified with the deportment of a man, who would later grow up to become the “presidency” himself and the corruption scandal that trailed one of the critical committees he was assigned to chair.

Perhaps, the appointment of Boss Gida Mustapha as a replacement to him would begin to reset the government and its focus.

And perhaps also, it was the reason Adamawa Stakeholders received his appointment with a lot of excitement. This is because of his mutual relationship with the people and his long standing political experience in the state.

The choice of Mustapha was also perceived by the stakeholders as one of the right decisions ever taken by President Muhammadu Buhari, following his vast experience in different facets of life.

He is an experienced lawyer, a successful businessman and a onetime gubernatorial candidate of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Adamawa State in 1991.

The general belief is that with his wealth of experience and his good relationship with the people, he would mend bridges in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) nationwide and ensure that everybody is carried along in the discharge of his duties as the new SGF. Importantly, the people of Adamawa are also happy because the president has replaced the former SGF with someone from the same state and the same Hong Local Government Area.

Senator Abubakar Girei, who represented Adamawa Central Senatorial District between 1999 and 2003, said the appointment of Mustapha was a master’s stroke and that because of his appointment, the six states in the Northeast would vote for Buhari in 2019.

He explained that Mustapha was competent for the position and has the capability to bring everybody together in the region, saying the fight against the insurgency and the workability of the North East Development Commission was certain because of the coming on board of Mustapha.

“Without fear or favour, with the calibre of the new SGF, I want to assure the president that he will win the six states of the North-east and Mustapha will mend all fences across the APC nationwide. This appointment is a milestone in Buhari’s government and it will bring his administration back on track, because of Mustapha’s integrity and wealth of experience,” he said.

Challenges before the new SGF Unfortunately, for the new SGF, he has not been invited to a tea party. He has been asked to not just replace a failed candidate, but to come and help give the administration a new face and image. Thus, some of the challenges

President Buhari in handshake with the new SGF Boss Mustapha in Aso Rock...Abuja before him range from administration to politics and strategy. In all of these, the administration had failed before his coming onboard.

Again, there are a lot of expectations by the people on his performance in office. Therefore, it is expected that he would put in his best to meet these expectations and act differently from those before him.

Curiously, he would be confronted with the challenge of local politics. He has a responsibility to mend fences in the Adamawa APC. This is because of the lingering rivalry amongst key stakeholders in the state like former Governor Mutala Nyako’s factions known as “Black Cap”, Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar faction (Atiku boys) and the incumbent governor, Jibrilla Muhammed Bindow, whose faction is known as Red Cap. But checks have revealed that it would only take political brinkmanship to bring the three factions in the Adamawa APC together because of their deep-seated animosity, coloured by interest and ambition.

Adamawa state has more than eighty six tribes and the Kilba tribe, where the new SGF comes from is just one tribe among other tribes. He must therefore do his best to carry everybody along, because tribes and religion have great influence in Adamawa politics. It is believed that due to the cultural diversities in the state, he may face a difficulty of trying to satisfy everybody.

But the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Ahmed Sajoh, has said the state government received the appointment of Mustapha with a lot of excitement and commended the president for choosing the right person for the job. He believes that Mustapha will not face much challenges following his experience, more so that he has been in politics a long time ago and so, he is

abreast of the political landscape, both in the state and country at large.

In the same vein, Dr John Ngamsa of the Moddibo Adama University of Technology, Yola and one time commissioner for Information during the Boni Haruna administration, said Mustapha was the right person for the job. The university don said there was no challenge that Mustapha could not handle, because of his kind of person, adding that his appointment was a good decision by the current administration.

“I know him for quite some time now.

I assure you he is the right person for this job, not because he is a Christian but he is qualified for the job and he can handle any situation,” he said

A Sterling Profile Mustapha, a lawyer, management consultant, politician, businessman and boardroom guru of considerable repute, was the Managing Director/CEO of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA).

Born in Adamawa and attended Hong Secondary School, in Hong Adamawa and North East College of Arts and Sciences Maiduguri Borno State, he sealed that phase of his education with WASC and HSC in 1976.

He earned his Bachelor of Law (LL.B) from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1979 and was called to bar in 1980. Mustapha did the compulsory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) at the Directorate of Legal Services at the Army Headquarters and was in charge of review of Court Marshall Proceedings from 1980 to 1981.

After his NYSC, he joined Sotesa Nigeria Limited, an Italian consultancy firm, as an Executive Director in charge of administration, leaving in 1983 to join the law firm, Messrs Onagoruwa & Co in Lagos.

He has been for decades, a progres-

sive, since joining politics in the late 1980s. He later established his own practice as Principal Counsel in the firm, Messrs Mustapha & Associates.

In 2000, the Olusegun Obasanjo administration appointed him a member of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the defunct Petroleum (Special) Trust Fund (PTF). He served till 2007.

He returned to legal practice in 2007 as Principal Partner of the law firm, Adroit Lex. As a politician, he was a member, Federal Republic of Nigeria Constituent Assembly (1988-1989), Chairman People’s Solidarity Party, Gongola State (19891990), state chairman, Social Democratic Party, Gongola State (1990-1991) and was even a gubernatorial candidate for SDP in Adamawa State in 1991.

He was the Deputy National Chairman of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria from 2010 to 2013. In 2007, he played a prominent role, serving as the Deputy Director-General of the party’s Presidential Campaign Organisation. His services remained in high demand after the fusing of ACN with other parties to form the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He was the Secretary, APC Presidential Campaign Organisation Mobilisation (2015) and member, APC Transition Committee (2015). He is also a member, APC Board of Trustees. And until his new appointment, he was the Managing Director/CEO of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA).

Like Lawal, he is a Christian and he is the National Vice President, Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International Nigeria. As it is, only time will tell, whether Mustapha truly meets the expectations of Nigerians especially the North-east zone of the country, where he comes from – a zone ravaged by the activities of insurgents with huge humanitarian crisis.

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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 ˾ NOVEMBER 5, 2017

CICERO/ANAMBRA 2017

The Contest for Anambra Govt House Gets Tougher The major contenders in the November 18 governorship election in Anambra State have intensified campaigns as the election day inches closer, writes David-Chyddy Eleke

Ezeemo

Chidoka

A

Nwoye

nambra State’s governorship election is two weeks from today. However, the last few weeks had witnessed intense campaigns across the contending parties, especially the five major candidates. But last week was particularly interesting with some of the dramatic turn of events as captured here.

Obiano Trudges on Governor Willie Obiano’s campaign train might have suffered a bit of setback in the week, following a court ruling which asked him to stop parading himself as the APGA candidate. Although a faction of the party leadership had issued a statement, affirming him as their authentic candidate, that cannot be as assuring as it sounds.

What may be in the offing in the state if not nipped in the bud might as well be another Ondo scenario. There are those who believe that this might be an attempt to distract the governor and keep him busy with something else while they perfect their game.

Recall that the Martin Agbaso leadership of APGA has approached the Supreme Court to upturn the ruling of the Court of Appeal which invalidated the Enugu High Court judgement that recognised him as the national chairman of APGA. Even in the midst of these, Obiano is recorded to have visited a total of 19 local government areas, where he had campaigned for votes and also received assurances of the people that they were with him.

In Orumba North Local Government Area, where he visited last week, the transition committee chairman of the local government, Mr. Emeka Aforka, took time to reel out some of the achievements of the governor in the area, insisting that in the history of the council area, no governor had been as benevolent as Obiano.

In Orumba South, the governor was welcomed by a huge crowd of supporters, who had attended the rally to listen to him speak. The event was a very colourful one, because one of the pillars of the local government, Hon Ben Nwankwo, a member of the House of Representatives, dumped his former party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to declare support for APGA. Nwankwo, who defected with over 100,000 supporters as he mounted the podium, where he was formerly admitted into the party by the national chairman of the party, Chief Victor Oye, and also presented with party insignias, told the crowd that he decided to leave the PDP for APGA having seen that APGA was the only party that truly belonged to the Igbos.

Obaze Counts on Experience, Credibility The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Oseloka Obaze, like his counterparts in others parties,

Obase has been moving from local government to local government asking for votes from the people. Obaze, a diplomat turned-politician has brought humility into politics, and this has endeared him to a lot of people at the grassroots.

The former SSG to Obiano is one candidate, who would stop his convoy while on a campaign train, just because he noticed farmers in their farms, and his singular purpose would be to meet them one-on-one to talk to them and beg for their votes. In market places, Obaze will also breech the advice of his security detail to interact with people, most of whom are elderly and whose phone calls he picks in order to identify with them.

Though former Governor Peter Obi is not in the race, the opponents of the PDP see him as their major challenger.

They have as such not spared him in the campaign propaganda as he has been accused of supporting a candidate with the hope of playing the godfather role when his godson emerges.

The acceptability of the former governor may be the

Obiano reason for the headache of the opposition, but one thing is clear, if Obaze wins the election, he owes his victory not just to Obi, but also to experience and credibility. But Obi has shown a good understanding of politicsa of the state and has been taking him around to get his other friends support his candidature.

Chidoka Deploys Technology The candidate of the United Progressive Party (UPP), Chief Osita Chidoka, has brought innovations into the state’s electioneering. The Obosi-born high chief is deploying technology and scientific means to woo voters for the election. Already, Chidoka has set up a call centre in his native Obosi, where over 100 young ladies sit everyday and make calls to voters across the state, and persuade them to vote for him, outlining his manifesto and his capacity to deliver the state.

Many voters including journalists have confirmed that they received calls from smooth talking young girls, who

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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 ˾ NOVEMBER 5, 2017

CICERO/ANAMBRA 2017

A Stakeholders’ Meet on Peaceful Poll League of Anambra Professionals, which undertook a two-day visit to stakeholders in the November 18 gubernatorial election in Anambra State, says shunning the election would do the state more harm than good. Kasie Abone, who was on the trip, reports

A

fter a two-day sensitisation tour of Anambra State, President of the League of Anambra Professionals (LAP), Mr. Chijioke Okoli (SAN), called on Anambra people to come out en mass to vote for a candidate of their choice in the November 18, 2017 gubernatorial election.

Speaking during the last lap of his two-day visit at ABS Radio/TV, Okoli advised the Anambra people to ignore calls to shun the election as doing so would not be in the interest of the state. He said with the assurances of the Nigeria police to provide adequate security and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a free and fair election, the onus lies on the people to come out and exercise their civic responsibilities. He however acknowledged the alleged marginalisation of the South-east, but argued that boycotting the election would not be in the best interest of the region.

The stakeholders’ visit was in line with LAP’s commitment to good governance and rapid development of Anambra State. Okoli was accompanied on the trip by some executives and members of the association including Assistant Treasurer, Dr. Mrs. Nkiru Ifekwem; Assistant Publicity Secretary, Mrs. Kasie Abone; former president, Mr. Chike Nwegbe and LAP Administrator, Mr. Buchi Ochuba. Other members of the team were Mr. Leo Ikedife, Mr. Peter Eze and Mr. Austin Mbaekwe.

The team first visited Anambra State office of the Independent National Electoral Commission, where it held fruitful dialogue with the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Nwachukwu Orji. The team later visited Anambra State Police Command, Amawbia, where it also dialogued with the Commissioner of Police, CP Garba Baba Umar, and the visiting Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of operations, DIG Habila Joshak, who was in Anambra State to see the extent of preparedness of his men for the election. The two day visit was rounded off with a visit to Anambra State Radio and Television, during which the team met with the stations’ Managing Director, Chief Uche Nworah.

Okoli at various occasions informed his hosts that their mission was to partner them to ensure a successful poll in the state. Given LAP’s passion for development and maintenance of law and order in the state, it becomes critically important that LAP partners the various stakeholders in the forthcoming election in the state not only to mobilise Anambra citizens to shun the call to boycott the election but come out en mass to perform their civic responsibilities.

It is also to ensure that the gubernatorial aspirants play by the rules and that the election is conducted in an atmosphere of peace devoid of violence, where people should be free to cast their votes without fear of harassment, intimidation or molestation.

He said, “We know that if we do not get involved on citizens participation, those governance deliverables may not be achieved. We have been actively involved in elections in Anambra State. We do not endorse any of the combatants.

We are rooted so much in the community. We are a major stakeholder. Therefore our mandate is to ensure the delivery of free, fair and credible election without violence, intimidation or any form of molestation. At the end of our visits, we

INEC Chairman, Mahmud Yakubu hope to get assurances from critical stakeholders charged with responsibilities of conducting the election, we go out to sensitise our people.”

The REC, Orji, while thanking LAP for the visit, said the commission was at a very critical stage in the course of its work. He added that the process of conducting election is multi stakeholders-based and with about 2.15 million voters and 5,339 voting points and over 23,000 people needed to man the polls, it will be almost impossible for INEC to do it alone without partnering other stakeholders like security agencies, NYSC, university, inter-agencies, groups and community groups.

“Our watchword here is that Anambra State is excellent in all things but rings a bell in terms of bad election. We made a decision that there is going to be a point of reversal. We have to move away from the path of suspicion, lack of integrity and administrative blunders. We need to make a break. The success of Anambra State has to be complete. Our modus operandi is founded on integrity and professionalism. I am working with experts, people with integrity. If we put them together with capital and our networks, we are going to deliver a fantastic election.”

To this end he informed that top management of the commission was replaced and new electoral officers brought on board. He also assured the team, that the commission was on course with its plans and that all electoral materials received at local governments were awaiting collection.

“Politicians are no fools. If they are convinced you are doing your job, they will leave you alone. We are hoping that the election will come peacefully and successfully,” he said, ap-

IGP, Kpotun Idris pealing to LAP to help disseminate the information. He said it was important that groups like LAP help pass on information to encourage peaceful participation in the election.

At the state Police Command, the visiting Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Operations, DIG Habila Joshak, said his visit was to assess the extent of readiness of the command for the election. He said the election would serve as a test case for the 2019 general election and assured them that the police would not disappoint.

“We have a lot of plans laid down. We will try them. We will take them out to do the final execution. November 18 election is the only election in Nigeria that day; we have no reason not to deliver. We won’t be seen wanting in the discharge of our responsibility.” he further assured.

In his response, CP Umar assured LAP that his team was peopled by officers of high integrity and professionalism and assured them that his responsibility of providing security during election would not be compromised.

“I am a player on election matters. I don’t want to give room to question my integrity. It is not out of place to partner you for the progress of your state. It is unprecedented that Anambra is the only state without issues few weeks before election.

Anambra State is a mirror. Everybody that matters comes from this state. It is therefore an opportunity for us to deliver the best because we are not partisan and we should not be seen to be.”

At ABS Radio/TV, the MD, Nworah, expressed happiness over the LAP visit and the preparedness of his stations to partner it not only during the election but going forward on issues relating to the progress and development of the state.

t 5)& $0/5&45 '03 "/".#3" (075 )064& (&54 506()&3 t Continued on Pg. 70 regale them with the personality of Chidoka and end up soliciting for votes from them. Not done, Chidoka has also inaugurated about 26,000 workers, who canvass for votes for him in all the nook and cranny of the state. The canvassers, THISDAY learnt, go from house to house convincing people on why they should vote for Chidoka.

The candidate confirmed this to journalists in a press conference to unveil his manifesto, where he claimed to be running a data-driven campaign that would not expend energy on people, who do not have their permanent voters cards, just as his campaign organisation has analysed and come up with the number of people that had the cards in various areas and are concentrating on wooing them.

Ezeemo Banks on His Social Contract Penultimate Saturday, Mr. Godwin Ezeemo officially kicked off his campaign at the All Saints Cathedral field, Onitsha. The event was attended by a large crowd of supporters, whom he boosted were not the usual hired crowd as other parties had done. Though the event came late, Ezeemo has toured almost all the 181 communities in the state soliciting for votes from them.

In what seemed like a new idea in politicking in the state, Ezeemo signed a social contract with groups in the state, which consisted of the plans he hoped to achieve in

the various sectors of the state. He then read out the social contracts with definite actions he would take to address infrastructural, policy and social justice issues that militate against the smooth and optimal functioning of the various groups in the state. He signed them and asked for a representative of the various demographics to sign on their column.

Ezeemo also introduced his running mate, 39-year old Stanley Nkwoka, whom he referred to as “one who has distinguished himself as an environmentalist and a consultant and therefore deserves a chance in governance.” He said his administration was poised to give everyone equal chance to exercise his or her potential regardless of age or background.

The rally afforded Ezeemo the opportunity of feeling the people’s love for him as several groups including market, youths and professional groups took time to march past, singing his support, and expressing their confidence in his power to redeem the state.

Nwoye Takes His Chances One thing is surely working for the 42-year-old governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and that thing is his youthfulness. He has attracted to himself, young people in hordes, and has so far used them

to wage a social media war with the incumbent government in the state.

It is not certain what the Tony Nwoye campaign organisation has done since it kicked off campaigns in Onitsha, because not much of activities have been seen in the camp.

Though THISDAY gathered that the young medical doctor had held a rally in Anambra East, where he and Obiano both hail from, boasting at the rally that he would beat the governor silly in the election.

A source said the paucity of activities in the APC camp may be related to complaints of unavailability of funds.

The party, however, held a recent rally in Awka South local government area, during which Nwoye pledged to remain resolute to serve and justify the trust reposed in him by the people. He assured that he would work tirelessly to deliver good governance for the collective good of all Anambra people.

He said his manifesto would stand on a tripod of security, infrastructure development and job creation for the youths. He also said he was fully aware that a safer Anambra would attract more investments from local and foreign investors hence his fidelity to his promise in the first quarter as governor is to improve on the security in the state with an investment that would pave the way for free flow of investors within and outside the state.

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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 ˾ NOVEMBER 5, 2017

CICERO/ONTHEWATCH

Amid Challenges, Kachikwu Looks Ahead In spite of the distractions that dogged his office in the last few weeks, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, has moved on to something more productive as he is already projecting into the coming year, writes Olawale Olaleye

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ith the recent politicisation of a sincere attempt to enforce sanity, rule of law and efficiency in one of the critical parastatals under him, it was almost unbelievable for an average observer to see that the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, had moved on so quickly from what had constituted needless distraction to his resolve to deliver change.

Although a preponderance of opinions would rather that the inspiration was the disposition of his principal, President Muhammadu Buhari, who refused to give credence to the babel of voices that almost demonised the man for doing his job and would rather encourage him to ignore the distraction and go on with his work, he too has proven to belong to a class of his own.

Even in the heat of the distractions, it was enthralling to note that Kachikwu still held his ground in terms of focus on his work and refusing to make credible, the extraneous debates that typified that period or the attempt to pit him against anyone, either as colleague or directly working under him.

He maintained the professionalism in him and with the silent treatment extended to the sycophants, he controlled the slant of debate, considerably.

However, with this phase seemingly behind him, Kachikwu, in a recent podcast gave a distinct projection into the New Year with a mindset that addressed whatever was left of the policy thrust of the concluding year and a veritable launch pad into 2018, evidently mindful of the importance of the coming year, as a precursor to the elections of 2019.

First, he started by reviewing some of the ideas that guided and shaped the outgoing year, alluding specifically to how the ‘7 big wins’ policy that was inaugurated by the President Buhari had helped to define the year under review.

He served the salvo with the zero fuel availability, a policy he was proud to announce as having helped to clear the Nigerian roads of fuel queues. There is no debating the fact that fuel scarcity had almost become a part of Nigeria’s administrative signature, with each succeeding government.

Indeed, the Buhari government had its own fair share of this menace too before Kachikwu eventually nipped it in the bud. Although he did not mention in specific what magic the government did to tame this social menace, he was however proud to note that the Buhari government conceived an idea that was deemed workable and it yielded result eventually.

He went on to address what he described as the confidence-building with the multinationals, who suddenly became pleased with a functional system despite its many

Kachikwu inadequacies. This, of course, led him to their effort in delivering efficiency at NNPC and the other six parastatals under the petroleum ministry through openness, accountability and transparency.

One of the biggest deliverables, according to him, was the special focus on Niger Delta, which he noted had become calm and stable through conscious initiatives designed to address some of the growing concerns in that part of the country. He specifically alluded to the efforts by the president and his deputy, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, in supporting his efforts to realising the dream of a stable and productive Niger Delta through deepening engagements and which is still ongoing.

He also spoke about a certain project, which he claimed was very dear to him and that is the project 100, an idea set out to engage as many companies that are involved in activities that are helping to push up the economic prosperity of the country. These companies, he claimed are carefully identified

and marked out for assistance in collective interest.

And to close the year under review, he spoke about the reward disposition, which he termed “The Industry Reward”. This, he claimed, would mean gathering those industry players, who had contributed significantly to the progress of the sector and reward them for their efforts. This, he also reckoned would help to ensure efficiency, subsequently.

That phase excitedly closed and owing to a performance he would rate as simply excellent, he began his projection into the New Year. First, he plans to start 2018 with the refineries. In the New Year, he plans to get all the refineries working and stop fuel importation, possibly, such that would allow for a savings of about 30 per cent of the nation’s foreign exchange. He however commended the immutable efforts of Alhaji Dangote in this regard.

He spoke of the need to address the gas flare commercialisation by exiting it and at

the same time, taking gas to the hinterland.

These two moves, he maintained, had become imperative in the light of the progress that is envisaged in that critical sector in the New Year.

Again, in the New Year, Kachikwu is determined to focus on what he called “infrastructure rebirth”. This is spurred by his concern about the growing infrastructure deficit in that sector, focusing on such things as the dilapidated pipelines and the deplorable depots.

And of course, to make all of these sit well and for a long time is what he identified as the regulation of the industry through legislation.

He was convinced that the National Assembly is a willing partner here, especially given its disposition to the PIGB. Then, he spoke about crude tracking through their various IT platforms. According to him, this would help to put in place, an abiding accountability policy, such that addresses the question of not knowing how much of the crude was being lifted, thereby eliminating crude theft. This initiative would further go a long way in helping to increase the country’s revenue base as much as the driving policy. In addition, he believed it would engender cost reduction in the running of that industry and governance in general.

He also plans to focus on the marginal field trams this New Year by improving and expanding them. This, he said, would help drive also, revenue and efficiency at delivering results.

Importantly, he held the view that the sector would consider strongly, the need for parastatal restructuring, also to ensure efficiency in the running of the industry and ultimately, there would be focus on transparency, which he has consistently tried to make the hallmark of his headship of that sector.

Thus, if driven to the letter, Kachikwu is optimistic that the coming year holds better promises in terms of policy conception, strategy and administration. He was particularly grateful that the president has always been supportive of the ideas that could move the oil sector forward and had no doubt that the same culture would continue in the New Year.

While it may be safe to conclude that the distraction that recently strewn his path might have subsided considerably or gone with the wind, Kachikwu has shown to be a truly hardcore professional, who carries himself with a weight of decency, integrity and efficiency in the handling of his assignment, particularly with eyes on the ball.

His review of the outgoing year and the analysis of the year to come are more than sufficient to tell of a man, who is adept and diligent at his work. Again, as he has always done, he has set yet another pace for others to catch up with as the government in general contends with stewardship.

NOTES FOR FILE

Boko Haram Still on the Prowl

Buratai

Amnesty International (AI), a global human rights organisation, last Monday said the resurgence in Boko Haram attacks and suicide bombings in Nigeria has left over 381 civilians dead since April 2017, with casualty figures more than doubling those of the previous five months. It said the same of Cameroon.

Here:“Boko Haram is once again committing war crimes on a huge scale, exemplified by the depravity of forcing young girls to carry explosives with the sole intention of killing as many people as they possibly can.

“This wave of shocking Boko Haram violence, propelled by a sharp rise in suicide bombings, highlights the urgent need for protection and assistance for millions of civilians in the Lake Chad region. Governments in Nigeria, Cameroun and beyond must take swift action to protect them from this campaign of terror,”Amnesty International’s Director for West and Central Africa,AliouneTine, stated in a statement.

Truth is that AI has not said anything new or what an

average Nigerian does not know already.What it has failed to say or refused to acknowledge is that the resolve to relish in sheer propaganda as against tackling the scourge head-on is the reason the anti-social group appears to be gaining upper hands.

It is sad to note that more men of the Nigerian military had died in recent time than the figures recorded in the previous administration.Yet, all the government has always been interested in is the narrative that goes out there, because it never wanted to appear as failing the people in this war on terror.

The one point scored by the AI revelation is that it confirmed that the Boko Haram sect was still very much on the prowl. Importantly, it is a wakeup call for the government to review strategy and adopt that which best contains the menace posed by this ungodly group. Government can actually do better than it is doing now if only it concentrates more on the battlefield as against propaganda.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ NOVEMBER 5, 2017

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SUNDAYINTERVIEW Raymond Dokpesi

Dokpesi...the wind of 2019 will blow APC away

I’m the New Face of PDP Leadership Dr. Raymond Dokpesi, the Chairman of Daar Communications, parent of African Independent Television and Raypower radio station, cut his teeth in business and politics early in life. He was personal assistant to Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, when he was the general manager at the Nigerian Ports Authority and also served in the Ministry of Transport under the duo of Alhaji Umaru Dikko and General Garba Wushishi. His association with the likes of the Tukur and the late Chief MKO Abiola was believed to have facilitated his rise in business. In politics, one of his early assignments was being the campaign manager for Tukur, which saw him (Tukur) become the governor of the old Gongola State back then. He played similar role during Alhaji Adamu Ciroma’s presidential bid as well as Tukur’s presidential campaign in 1993. In equal sense, he took up same role for former Military President Ibrahim Babangida and former governor Peter Odili of Rivers State, when the two men wanted to rule Nigeria. A prominent leader of the South-south People Assembly, an organisation that seeks to promote South-south people, Dopkesi, played a defining role in the campaigns of former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 and today, he is eyeing the national chairmanship of the Peoples Democratic Party. With a support base that cuts across, Dopkesi is confident the project is doable and is leaving no stone unturned in living this dream of his. In this interview with Olawale Oleleye, he spoke on his ambition, the future of the PDP, the Change agenda of the ruling All Progressives Congress and the strategy by the PDP to take over power in 2019. Excerpts:

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ NOVEMBER 5, 2017

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SUNDAY INTERVIEW t A* . 5)& /&8 '"$& 0' 1%1 -&"%&34)*1 t

Y

ou were the face of APDA as a fall back option during the power tussle that engulfed the PDP. Suddenly, it ended the way it did. So, what has changed with APDA now that you are pursuing an ambition in the PDP? Let me thank the Almighty God for the peaceful resolution of the problem and challenges that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faced at that time and by the judgment of the Supreme Court. But let me also, having thanked God and the justices of the Supreme Court for that, state very emphatically that the strategy review committee – the group of concerned PDP members that were very active managing the affairs of the party and giving support to the caretaker committee at that time felt very strongly that it was in the interest of the party and our first option was PDP, PDP and PDP. But it was necessary for us to have Plan B and that Plan B was necessary because of what could happen at the Supreme Court and so on. It was basically to be able to provide a platform. A number of the Makarfi people, who are 99-95 per cent of the membership of the PDP were in the various councils, having to contest council elections and so on. They were being deprived of the opportunity to contest, so we found ourselves either trying to use Accord Party (AP), SDP, and other parties to be able to contest, because the laws at that time recognised only the Sheriff group as the authentic PDP and what they did was that each state they went, they made sure they decimated the PDP over there – prevented the PDP members from running.

Rather than start using different types of platforms in different states, it won’t show the cohesion that we had to have. So, we said we were going to go ahead and definitely have a platform on which we were going to run. This was the origin of APDA. Our option A was PDP; our option B was PDP. In fact, our options from A to Z were PDP, but we needed to have a Plan B to be able to deal with the challenges of that time. And we knew that any party we adopted was going to face a lot of attacks, so, we looked at the name – Peoples Democratic Alliance – we were negotiating with associations at that time, which the PDP thought we were going to have alliance with.

The Peoples Democratic Alliance, as it was, all we needed to do was to add Advance to it in order to bring our placement – our voting position up down there. But the colours, the constitution of the Advanced Peoples Democratic Alliance (APDA) – everything was PDP. The amendments that were agreed to at the strategy review committee meeting were what were put down there. I, Raymond Tony Aliegho Dokpesi paid the necessary fees to INEC for the registration of the party. The bank drafts are there to show that it was done and I did it with the clear knowledge of and permission of all the organs of the party. Everybody was aware that this was being done for the PDP. Yes, there were a few people who were not comfortable with it but the preponderance of the people wanted that to happen.

Then we went to the Supreme Court, also at the Supreme Court, we were very confident of the facts of our matter on the powers of the convention. We were very sure that the few people that were parading as leaders had no support anywhere within the party, yet, we went to the Appeal Court, with the support of the incumbent government and so on, and judgment was given.

On the day of reading, the judgment, in spite of three months adjournment and so on – that we were going to get about the 90th day, the judgment came in, two of the justices didn’t – there was no written judgment. It was only the minority judgment.

They have been possibly put under pressure to read out what the two judges teamed up together to write. Thank God we appealed to the Supreme Court and all those who supported the process in making sure that we succeed, we are very grateful to them.

So, what is the future of APDA after this?

There was nobody that came across me, that attended the several meetings that I left in any doubt that the APDA was a Plan B for the PDP. Plan A is the PDP. So, now that the justices of the Supreme Court had already given judgment, we must strengthen plan A. There was no time I left the PDP. Yes, I founded; yes I supported in order to have a platform for all our numerous members, who would be contesting.

In Nigeria, the tendency is always that the most important election is the election in which I want to contest. It is the election that affects me and you forget the ordinary people and Senator Makaffi is such a grassroots politician that he believes those grassroots people should not be left but somebody has to take the responsibility – somebody had to take the bull by the horn and that bull by the horn I volunteered to take.

A lot of efforts went into that process, are you saying all of those efforts are wasted now?

All the effort must be wasted, because they were backup plan.

If the plan A is functional, there was no doubt whatsoever that our option A was PDP. So, if the issues of the PDP are now resolved, that is where we must put our efforts and strengthen ourselves and move forward.

Now that you are seeking to be the national chairman of the PDP, more or less against the run of play, because there is said to be an understanding that the South-west would produce the chairman of the party and you are from the South-south. How are you going to balance this understanding?

Continued on Pg.73

Let me quickly point out that when we lost election in 2015, there was an Ekweremadu report and that Ekueremadu report, I want to tell you that I belonged right from the PDP reform group, the group that in 2010 saw tomorrow and outlined the issues and the problems of the PDP and attempted to proffer solutions, recommended amendments to the constitution of the party. That group was led at that time by the former Senate President, Senator Ken Nnamani, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Masari and I was the third person that was not from the legislature that formed that initiative. We had former governors, we had people, who saw the problems and attempted to proffer solutions.

These amendments, which we tried to make, the party accepted it up to the Board of Trustees level. It was approved and it was when it got to NEC that the governors at that time shut every aspect of it down, because it was close to the election. They said it would be revisited after the election. Those problems which we identified in 2009, which included impunity, which included lack of respect for the provisions of the constitution, which included disrespect for reports of committees that the party adopts up to the NEC level, even at convention, have been parts of the major banes of the party – disrespect for the zoning formula of the party.

The constitution of the party only recognises the north and south. In the zoning of offices, a committee of 88 persons led by Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State co-chaired by Governor Ibrahim Dankwabo of Gombe State, former Governor Gabriel Suswam was secretary and there were other former governors, former senators, serving senators and serving House of Representatives members, former ministers, who decided that there should be a paradigm shift; that zoning will only be on the North and South basis and the party adopted it.

They came to a convention and adopted it. Then a few persons met and said they wanted to modify the position of the party, because they are powerful in the party. So, there was no time the PDP as a party ever zoned the chairmanship of the party to the South-west or any part of the South. Those people, who were in Port Harcourt, a majority of them will tell you that their opinions were not so. Just a few governors went into the room, came back and announced to them that these are the positions and asked them to go and sleep.

Ahead, the party at the national set up an 88-man committee and yet, the convention of the party adopted a position and it almost led to the breakage of the party in Port Harcourt. Thank God, after that convention it was reaffirmed that it is part of the resolution of the convention in August. It was part of the resolution in May, then after that, NEC approved that again, just as NEC has reaffirmed again now. It was a concession.

The South-east said they had held the position of National Chairman and therefore they would not be interested. The South-south had held the position of deputy national chairman and it is only a convention that can elect a chairman. There is no convention in which any person from South-south, including Prince Uche Secondus was elected National Chairman. Chief Olabode George was also a Deputy National Chairman just like Uche Secondus, so, it is just misleading the public by saying South-west is the only region that has not produced a national

chairman. Neither South-west nor South-south had produced a national chairman.

Now, we have heard an argument also, of recent, as per the reasons why we won’t be able to have a chairman of South-south extraction. Let me make it abundantly clear: I was born in Ibadan. My umbilical cord is buried in Ibadan. I went to school in Ibadan. I’m married to two Yoruba women. So, there cannot be any question to my being a South-west person. My children speak Yoruba, so, there can be no discrimination. But the truth of the matter is simply the fact that the NPN, you will remember very clearly, also, in an attempt to move forward, decided on Chief Adisa Akinloye, one of the most powerful and knowledgeable politicians of those days.

The Chairmanship of the party was zoned to the South-west in the hope that Chief Akinloye would be able to do the magic wand, and what ended up happening? The UPN floored NPN in all the elections. Not one single state was won. So, the fact that the PDP zones the chairmanship to the South-west does not guarantee the PDP any victory right down there. I dare say, with due respect to all those that are parading themselves today that we need bridge builders; we need people who are able to come together in the interest of the party but none of these people have shown directly that drive, that love and passion for even themselves as south westerners. The amount of fighting, the amount of acrimony going on and the number of candidates that have come out wanting to run, they are not such that you will say you want to put all your trusts in them.

The South-south on the other hand, yes, they have five governors, yes, they have abilities, they have governors, who will protect them but should they lose their states, because they want to please the South-west? The PDP is anxious in the interest of democracy, in the interest of Nigeria, to have a strong political party that can serve in opposition between now and 2019 and also, try to wrest power from the sitting government.

Coincidentally, everybody from the South-west is my in-law or is my relation in one way or the other, yet they cannot achieve these goods for the people. So, the people of the South-south are also looking at their interest. We are going to go to war. Who out of these people can fight fully, can defend the party, can protect the party or can answer the millions of people living in the South-south, who are committed to the PDP? That their interest will be protected? So, we must look at the interest of the PDP across Nigeria, not the interest of individuals, not the aspiration of anybody. I have told them, at the end of the day, it is the PDP that must be a winner, not an individual, not Raymond Dokpesi, not Chief Bode George, not Gbenga Daniel, not Prof Tunde Adeniran. We must look at the overall interest of the PDP. Are you genuinely in the race, because there is this swirling theory that you are just out to undo the chances of the South-west?

Undo the chances of the South-west? I have already stated very clearly, I am the only candidate or aspirant who up to date had undertaken a tour round the 36 states of the federation. I just want to spoil the chances of the South-west that I decided to go? If there is any person aggrieved, I must be one of the most aggrieved – aggrieved on the constitution of the party based on

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CICERO/TRIBUTE t A* . 5)& /&8 '"$& 0' 1%1 -&"%&34)*1 t Continued on Pg.74 traditional media and so on, we need to remobilise to re-orientate people.

There are issues that need to be addressed.

There are issues that started since 2003 and so, somebody who is just coming from a different party and coming into the PDP would not know what happened in 2003 and the youths, we need to groom; we need to give them hope, give them opportunities. When we are growing up, we had a lot of opportunities. We were entrusted with opportunities, which were taken for granted by the PDP federal government and at state levels and so on and so forth. Once we come out with a formidable, successful December 9 national convention, I believe that the gate will open for the PDP to start moving.

what has been said and done as regards zoning by the appropriate national organs of the party that undertook a tour round the country. I expressed interest. I have remained consistent in my service to the party irrespective of it, I didn’t go away. So, I would want to spoil the chances of the South-west? Some people in the South-west are saying if they don’t win, they are going to break the PDP. Why should that be the spirit?

Taking you up on your passion for the job, why you are interested in leading a party that is more or less a carcass?

I do not believe that the PDP is a carcass. I do not agree that the PDP is a carcass. Don’t forget, immediately after the 2015 election, people lost interest in the PDP. People had shown that they need to align to the government in power in order to be able to get this thing. I organised and brought the PDP together for the first time, at the THISDAY Dome in Abuja. Delegates from all parts of the country; gave them hope and assuring them that someday, the PDP shall rise again and the people believed in it and started coming together, meeting and working at the way we could improve and get us ready to be able to move ahead.

What we need is a proper leadership. What we need is vision and by the grace of God by December 9, you will see a great realignment of the PDP. You will see the hope and the opportunities that are given to the youths, you will see the position given to the women in a renewed rebuilding effort of the PDP and you will see very clearly that PDP is not a carcass; that PDP is still the only party grounded and which has its roots to the ground in Nigeria.

APC is just floating. Any breeze will blow it off. So, the only party grounded to the root in Nigeria is the PDP. We will reactivate it. We will realign. We will again forgive one another, come together and appropriate leadership to be able to do that – a blessed one, not a quarrelsome, unforgiveable and the-not-ready and so on.

I believe I am the bridge between the North, West and East on fairness, justice and equity.

You need a firm leader. You need a coura-

geous one, who will stand by the truth, that will make sure that the youths of this country – that their appropriate and legitimate rights are not denied; that will ensure industrialisation and development of this country for once; that will make sure that women are given rights and if there is a sense of justice from the morning of the day, people will fall in place and a great movement that the founding fathers of the PDP started before will come into light and we will be able to have a formidable – one of the largest parties that will be possible again in 2019 election.

You will agree that PDP currently has serious credibility crisis, so, what are you going to be doing differently to make the people trust the party again?

See, what is very important is that in every human endeavour you achieve success, in the process, you also make some mistakes. So, the PDP being in power for 16 years had a lot of the successes as far as the development and progress of the country is concerned, but it also made some mistakes. But what you have now is a blow up hope. The PDP is corrupt, but all the coups that had ever taken place in Nigeria, the previous administration is always accused of corruption and by the time there is another coup, the people that were accusing people are again accused of corruption. So, it is normal in a developing environment. The PDP did not prepare strategically for the election early enough. It allowed grounds for the APC and the opposition to be well grounded and had platforms and understanding and appreciated the roles of the media.

We need to represent the PDP and apologise for the mistakes that were genuinely made, atone for our sins, promote and project properly and give the proper understanding to Nigerians. The time is very short now. That is why we cannot gamble with the kind of time that we have. The resources are limited.

And the media, you know how expensive it is, and media yet constitute 80 to 85 per cent of the effort. Whether it is the social media, the electronic media, the print media or the

Talk about the timing, don’t you think the PDP will be better off taking its chances in 2023 as against 2019?

No! No! See, this country has never been as divided as it is today just based on wrong policies of the administration. This country has not been as hungry as it is today. Ordinary people, the middle class and the rich also cry here now. People have not been as impoverished. The corruption they are talking about; you are in the media, you are able to see the amount of corruption that is going on, that is being unearthed – far more than what has ever happened.

It is institutions that endure. We will come out with fresh ideas with the younger generation, who we want to bequeath this country to.

It is not the youths that are leaders of tomorrow, they are leaders of today. Together with them, we should rebuild and restructure. How long more can I live? They are the ones who will live. We have to involve them in dealing with this issue of corruption.

And talking about the government of the day, what really do you think is the problem?

I will be divulging my campaign strategy if I start talking about the problems that they have.

When INEC lifts the ban and by the grace of God, I am the chairman of the PDP, then we will be able to start talking about what their failings are. We will start reeling it out quite effectively and quite properly and what we think should be done to be able to salvage this country.

Why do you feel the government has failed to this extent?

It is because there is no cohesion; there is no vision. They are strange bedfellows. They had no plan – they didn’t expect to win! They stumbled on success. PDP voted out PDP. It was not that APC won. No! PDP voted out PDP. So, I believe that we have learnt our lessons, we will put our house in order and we will get things going on.

With the benefit of hindsight, do you think if former President Jonathan had won in 2015, Nigeria would have been better off?

Let me say that Jonathan was a God-fearing human being. Jonathan, definitely, was not perfect but he had the best intentions for Nigeria. The people that are in government right now don’t have a history of wanting any good for Nigeria. They don’t! There is no proven track record that these people are dedicated to the progress and development of Nigeria. I don’t know anyone. May be you want to advise and tell me who? There is no person that has shown capacity. So, people have struggled to grab power – just to get power for their own benefits but not to apply that power or that opportunity for the good of the ordinary man of this country, to bring about development and progress.

It is very easy to fall sick and go to London and have the best medical facilities, what

See, this country has never been as divided as it is today just based on wrong policies of the administration. This country has not been as hungry as it is today. Ordinary people, the middle class and the rich also cry here now. People have not been as impoverished. The corruption they are talking about; you are in the media, you are able to see the amount of corruption that is going on, that is being unearthed – far more than what has ever happened

prevents Nigerians from having it? Exodus of doctors out of Nigeria started about 1984 and successive governments failed to create and build. How much does it cost to build an ultra-modern hospital in every local government in Nigeria? How much money have we been allocating to the local government administration? Where do you find it? Do you find anything tangible in your local government area? Since 1976, the monies that have been allocated can you find them? No! We need to turn a new leaf. We need to restructure. We need to redefine our priorities.

We need to hold our leaders accountable and responsive. We need people, who genuinely love this country and want to move it to levels that all the European, Asian and American countries that have developed – that we are better than the height they have attained. We must look for ways to bring Nigeria to that level, so that it can become the pride of the black race.

The next election will be defined by serious debates, especially one that borders on governance structure and one of the issues likely to be looked at is restructuring.

What is your idea of restructuring?

I was a member of the 2014 National Conference that looked at the structure of Nigeria and the challenges confronting Nigeria in all spheres of life and proffered a solution. I fully and absolutely subscribe to the immediate implementation of the 2014 recommendations.

I am shocked at the positions that even some members of the conference are taking now.

The truth of the matter is that we are very clear that this country needs to be restructured, reorganised, and repositioned. There is no state in this federation that doesn’t have mineral resources. We need to diversify our economic base, we need to build our industrial base, we need to patronise made-in-Nigeria goods. That is the only we can create job opportunities for the youths! If we continue to buy finished products from other parts of the world then those who are producing will be employing their citizens and our own children will continue to be jobless.

The food that we eat, we must produce them. We cannot be coming cap-in-hand to the federal level to be asking for allocations, we should go back to the earlier provision, where you contribute to the centre. Let us allocate more money. I was laughing when this administration was said to have been allocating money for the searching of oil in the North-east and in the Chad Basin whilst we were appealing that more money should be allocated to the development of other mineral resources, so that we can diversify our economic base. People are moving up from oil now and going into shale gas and other green sources of energy.

So, in another ten years, it will be a foregone conclusion that we must make use of our crude oil within our territory.

Yes, we will still export to some countries but not in the volumes – they won’t have the need for it. So, we would have to diversify – we have to build capacity. The younger generation needs to be involved, because I got my PhD about 42-43 years ago but I dare say today, my children with Masters are now better than I. So, why do I want to die there? We must involve them so that their new technology and their new information can be brought to bear in pushing up Nigeria to the place it is supposed to get into.

So, definitely, everything that we have been doing wrongly would have to be corrected. So, we need to restructure. Everything that we are doing, we need to reorganise even our thought process so that we can be more patriotic and committed to the well-being and good of our society. Nigerians should stop thinking I am Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa, Fulani – that is a big challenge. We are a country, we are not a nation and we need to be in a nation. So, it is every aspect.

I lived in Europe and I have never seen cows going on the streets in London. I’d never seen one in Poland. There are ranches, where animals are bred, fed and what you just find is either in supermarket or in ordinary markets, the meat is brought cleaned, prepared and with health standards that are required. So, in the name of herdsmen, people are being killed, people are being kidnapped, children are being sacked from classes and so on and you don’t think there is something wrong with us?

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ NOVEMBER 5, 2017

76

CICERO/ASO VILLA WATCH

An Eventful Week at theVilla Last week at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, was quite eventful, writes Omololu Ogunmade, who chronicles some of the activities at the seat of power

B

eginningeginning from Monday, October 30, the Presidential Villa,Abuja was characterised by events and activities bordering on subtle politics and governance. It was, perhaps, one of the busiest weeks since President Muhammadu Buhari assumed

office in 2015.

Personalities of various statuses thronged the Villa with grinning expressions on their faces. Some of them were once high profile politicians including former governors, who had seemingly gone into political oblivion since they left office. The events therefore became a fresh opportunity to showcase their relevance.

ParleyswithKeyPartyLeaders It began with a closed door meeting held by the president with the quartet of Senate President Bukola Saraki, House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara, Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari and National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), John Odigie-Oyegun. Details of the meeting were kept secret as the quartet left the Villa without entertaining questions from waiting journalists.

The meeting was immediately followed by another with one of the national leaders of APC, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who had been in the president’s waiting room while the other meeting was ongoing. Tinubu, who had not been sighted in the Villa in a while over alleged cold war between him and the president, emerged from the meeting one hour later to dismiss insinuations of rift between him and Buhari as fake news.

Contrary to that insinuation, Tinubu said he had unwavering confidence in the president and his meeting with him was fruitful and productive.

He was also swift to dismiss the claim of cabal’s existence in Aso Rock as mere gossip and a myth. And to further buttress his claim of smooth relationship with Buhari, Tinubu, who said he had never shied away from expressing his mind and even rebelling when necessary, said his party, the APC, was on course.

“I just met with the President. Our discussion was fruitful, productive and it was about the country and leadership as a whole. And that got him excited and happy,” he said. Asked to confirm the alleged rift with President Buhari and the activities of cabal, which got him sidelined, Tinubu replied: “Fake news.”

He continued: “I have confidence in this President. There is no doubt about that. We worked hard to bring about the government. There are certain things that are unpredictable and those are things that can lean itself to gossips, insinuations and all of that. But once you create leadership and it is functioning, you don’t have to baby-seat that leadership unless there is a loss of confidence and I don’t have that.

“You know me. I’m not known to shy away from talking my mind and rebelling if it is necessary and taking charge of things that I believe are necessary. What is the myth in this leadership thing?

What is cabal? It’s a myth. We are the party of the people for the people and by the people and this is a democratic environment,” he said.

AConvergenceofAPCLeaders Buhari had a break from meetings for about four hours on Monday before returning to the national caucus meeting of APC at the banquet hall of the Presidential Villa at 8.30 pm. At the meeting, which lasted about three hours, he met leaders of the party from all parts of the country ahead of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting scheduled for the following day, October 31, at the party secretariat.

It was a gathering of who is who in the party as the meeting became a forum for reunion of politicians, who had lost contact with one another in the last two years. The meeting had been perceived as the take-off of nocturnal meetings, political horse-trading and consultations ahead of 2019 polls.

Participants emerged from the meeting which had earlier been described as a make-or-mar forum, beaming with smiles with a number of them describing it as not only fantastic but also a forum, where unity of the party was upheld and members resolved to bury the hatchet and work together in

Buhari with former former Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama at the State House party’s interest.

Present at the meeting were Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, Saraki, Dogara, Deputy Speaker, Yusuf Lasun, Odigie-Oyegun, Tinubu, former interim National Chairman of the party, Bisi Akande, Deputy National Chairman of APC, Segun Oni and Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari Governors present at the meeting were Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Sani Bello (Niger), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Bindowo Jubrilla (Adamawa), Mohammed Abubakar (Bauchi), Aminu Masari (Katsina), Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), Kassim Shetima (Borno), Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Tanko Almakura (Nasarawa), Nasir el-Rufai (Kaduna), Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Ibrahim Ganduje (Kano), Ibikunle Amosun and Osun State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Titilayo Laoye-Tomori.

Former governors in attendance were Olusegun Osoba (Ogun), Niyi Adebayo (Ekiti), Adams Oshiomhole (Edo), Olagunsoye Oyinlola (Osun), Martin Elechi (Ebonyi), Sullivan Chime (Enugu), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Timipre Silva (Bayelsa) National Assembly members present were Senators Ahmad Lawan, Barnabas Gemade, Ibn Na’Allah, Ahmed Sani, Joshua Dariye, Kabiru Gaya, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Andy Uba, Abdullahi Adamu, Bukar Abba-Ibrahim, Hon. Ado Doguwa and Femi Gbajabiamila.

Ministers who graced the meeting were Chris Ngige (Labour, Employment and Productivity), Rotimi Amaechi (Transportation), Lai Mohammed (Information and Culture), Audu Ogbeh (Agriculture and Rural Development), Kayode Fayemi (Solid Minerals) and Ogbonaya Onu (Science and Technology).

Other party stalwarts and government officials present were Ken Nnamani, Buba Marwa, Jim Nwobodo, Babafemi Ojudu, Don Etiebet and Abike Dabiri.

DinnerwithNationalAssemblyLeaders The Presidential Villa remained a beehive of activities on Tuesday as the president the following night hosted principal officers of the National Assembly to a dinner in the Banquet Hall. The dinner was meant to secure the cooperation of the lawmakers ahead of the presentation of the 2018 budget.

The dinner had initially been scheduled to hold on October 26, but was abruptly suspended following the decision of the lawmakers to turn back at Aso Rock gate over the insistence of security officers at the pilot gate that they, except Saraki and Dogara, must undergo clearance before entry. Buhari later apologised to the lawmakers, and separately

invited Saraki and Dogara while he rescheduled the cancelled dinner for Tuesday.

Present at the dinner were Saraki, Dogara, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and Deputy Speaker, Yusuff Lassun. Others were Senate Leader, Ahmad Lawan; House Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila; Senate Deputy Leader, Ibn Na’Allah; Senate Whip, Olusola Adeyeye; Deputy Senate Whip, Francis Alimikhena; Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio; Deputy Minority Leader, Emmanuel Bwacha; Minority Whip, Philip Aduda and Deputy Minority Whip, Biodun Olujimi.

Also in attendance were the House Whip, Ado Doguwa; Deputy Whip, Parley Iriase; Deputy House Minority Leader; Chukwuma Onyema and Deputy Minority Whip, Binta Bello. The Minority Leader, Leo Ogor was conspicuously absent. He was said to have been brought down by an acute illness.

Also in attendance on the part of the executive were the president, Osinbajo, the yet to be sworn in Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha; Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari; Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun; Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udo Udoma; and National Assembly liaison officers, Ita Enang and Ismaila Kawu.

Oyo-Ita,Kyari’sCuriousEngagement The rather light mood in the Villa since Monday was almost blighted on Wednesday when the Head of Service of the Federation, Winifred Oyo-Ita and the Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, had an unusual encounter for about 10 minutes at the Council Chamber and to which different meanings had since been read.

The episode took place ahead of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, which had coincided with the launch of the military emblem

by Buhari. The drama started, when Kyari, while facing Oyo-Ita, pointed a finger at her in a manner that suggested she might have leaked a certain memorandum to the president on the embarrassing reinstatement of a pension culprit, Abdulrasheed Maina.

The leaked memo, published by a national daily on October 31, was the response of head of service to Buhari’s query, demanding a report on the circumstances leading to the recall of Maina, who had been accused of pocketing about N195 billion pension funds and consequently declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) since 2013.

But Maina was secretly reinstated and promoted as Director on September 28, this year in the Ministry of Interior and following a public outcry, Buhari ordered his disengagement, queried Oyo-Ita and

ordered her to explain the circumstances leading to Maina’s reinstatement before the close of work on October 23. But the memo she submitted to Kyari was leaked to the press eight days later.

The head of service, according to the leaked memo, said Buhari was aware of Maina’s reinstatement and that she advised him against it.

The submission of Oyo-Ita in the memo, however, contradicted the president’s feigned ignorance about Maina’s recall.

In a complete departure from her usual calm and quiet nature, Oyo-Ita, after engaging Kyari, returned to her seat but rose again and headed straight to Osinbajo, who eventually calmed frayed nerves between the two officers.

EntertheNewSGFandLaunchof MilitaryEmblem Buhari, on the same Wednesday, before the commencement of FEC meeting, swore in the new Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha. His swearing-in ended the lull, which followed the suspension and investigation of the former SGF, Babachir David Lawal, on April 19 over alleged financial impropriety.

Mustapha, who took oath of office in the council chamber, has since resumed duties.

Same day, Buhari also launched the Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration 2018 Emblem and appeal fund, saying it was time Nigerians resolved never to provoke another round of civil war by their actions and inactions, even as he recalled the pain of the huge but tragic material and human loss during the civil war.

Buhari who launched the emblem in memory of the ex-service men, who lost their lives in the first and second world wars as well as the Nigerian civil war, said honouring the memories of the departed service men was worthwhile and desirable and urged Nigerians to contribute to the fund for the benefit of the families of the fallen heroes and the wounded soldiers.

The president also lauded what he described as the unparalleled loyalty of the military to Nigeria and hailed the gallant officers – men and women – whom he said were being confronted with huge security challenges facing the nation.

…Ouattara,MahamaHosted Also last week, President Buhari played host to President of the Republic of Cote D’Ivoire, Alassane Ouattara, at the State House. The two leaders met behind closed doors to discuss bilateral issues between the two countries. On Friday, Buhari also hosted former Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama to a private dinner.

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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 VEMBER 5, 2017

PERSPECTIVE

Tackling Crime through Technology: The Lagos Example Ademola Joseph

O

n October 20, 2017, an unfortunate incident occurred on the iconic cable stay 1.346km LekkiIkoyi Link Bridge in Lagos when a 40-year-old man simply identified as Adekunle Oluseyi jumped into the lagoon from the bridge in an obvious suicide mission. The man, who is now late, got on the bridge at about 10am on that fateful day and took off his clothes, phone, wristwatch, wallet, band and shoes before jumping into the water.

Part of the items in the wallet included Oluseyiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s two Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards which had no cash inside.

Many wondered what could have made Oluseyi to decide to end his life but in all of that, one instructive development happened and that was the confirmation by the Lagos Tolling Company (LTC), the operator of the bridge, that the last moment of the deceased was captured by the Close Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras installed on the bridge.

As a matter of fact, it was when the officials of the LTC realised the development through the CCTV footage that they alerted emergency workers and within minutes, officers of the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and the Marine Police emerged on the scene and activated rescue operation. Though the victim was found dead after two days precisely on Sunday morning, the fact however remained that the rescue operation was carried out with state of the art equipment deployed to the scene by LASWA, LASEMA and Marine Police. The Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the Lagos Police Command was also on ground with personnel and equipment to support with the rescue operation.

Few days before that unfortunate incident, Umueke Tagbo, the friend of music star, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, had died in a mysterious and controversial circumstance to the point that the development led to back-and-forth on what actually led to his death.

But through CCTV footages, the lid was blown open and the Lagos State Police Command was able to confirm that it was through the escort car of Davido that the said Tagbo was brought to the premises of the Lagos General Hospital.

The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Mr Imohimi Edgal, while briefing journalists on the investigation had revealed how the CCTV footage confirmed the involvement of some people in the whole saga.

The CP had said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I called for a pre-investigation meeting in my conference room. In attendance were all parties including family, friends of the deceased; those of Davido; Caroline Danjuma; the DPO and investigating officers. The meeting confirmed that the deceased Tagbo Umueke on that day met and had drinks with friends at Shisha Bar amongst whom was Davido. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The bar tender confirmed the deceased had as much as 40 shots of Tequila and exhibited signs of drunkenness. The CCTV footage also confirmed this. Davido had told the police he had left Shisha Bar for DNA Night Club in Victoria Island without the deceased and was only informed by mutual friends of his death while he was at DNA. â&#x20AC;&#x153;However, investigation revealed that Davidoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s white Toyota Hilux escort driver, Tunde Usutu, accompanied by one Agbeje Olaoye and one Idris Busari, both Davidoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s friends, took the deceased to the General Hospital, Lagos and abandoned him in his vehicle. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The CCTV footage at the hospital picked the escort vehicle and the entire activity. The vehicle was recovered from Davidoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s residence at 7, Awoshika Street, Lekki Phase 1,â&#x20AC;? the CP explained.

Aside the issue of the CCTV, another matter which the episode brought to the fore was the fact that the deceased was exposed to too much alcohol, and the rate at which youths are now having access to excessive alcohol and even hard drugs was alarming and pose imminent and great danger to the security of the state.

Speaking recently at the quarterly town hall meeting organised by his administration, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State urged traditional rulers, community leaders and parents to rein in their children, wards and subjects not to give to drug abuse and other forms of crime, saying that the call even became necessary in view of the fact that the last four months of the year had set in. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are in October and we are going to December, naturally, when it gets to the ember months, somehow traditionally, crime rate goes up but in the last two years, we have been able to reduce crime rate when it is coming to December. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I want to appeal to all our traditional rulers and other community leaders; there is a need for us to support the Neighborhood

Ambode

CP Edgar

Safety Corps. Also, our volunteers and the people should now be more vigilant and then cooperate with our security agencies to maintain law and order. I want to reduce the crime rate to the barest minimum and I know that we are going to engage a lot of our youths in end of the year activities to make sure that peace continues to reign in Lagos,â&#x20AC;? the governor said.

Similarly, in a recent meeting with stakeholders in the hospitality industry in the state, the CP (Edgal) specifically told the operators of night clubs, beaches, hotels, bars, lounges, among others that it was now compulsory for them to henceforth put internal security measures in place such as CCTV and other gadgets to discourage drug abuse, drug peddling and other criminal activities in their establishments in the overall best interest of their businesses and security of the state.

According to the CP, intelligence report indicated that there was increase in drug abuse among youths and minors, and that such was dangerous to efforts of the State Government to promote the night economy of the state.

He said through the efforts of the state governor, the police and other security agencies have been hugely funded, aside the fact that there had been many initiatives and programmes geared toward ensuring a 24-hour economy for the state.

He said despite the successes recorded in recent time, there were grey areas which must be jointly tackled by both police and operators in line with the principle of community policing and security partnership.

He said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;One of such areas is the issue of drug peddling, drug use and abuse. Intelligence report at my disposal reveals that there is increased drug peddling and drug abuse in most of our night clubs, lounges, beaches and so on across the state. Young men and women freely use narcotic substances at times in the seating areas, at times more hidden in the toilet areas of our clubs, lounges, hotels to the knowledge of the operators but they are doing nothing about it. This is wrong. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The scourge of drugs and its attendant effect not only health wise on the young population but also that sheer fact that there is a very clear correlation between drug and crime is something that should make every responsible Lagosian to be worried. The ease with which our youths are getting access to drugs at clubs, lounges, beaches and so on is worrisome and our meeting here today is to send a very strong signal to operators that it is not going to be business as usual,â&#x20AC;? Edgal said.

The CP said it had also been observed that some hotels in the state now give rooms to minors and also sell alcoholic drinks to them, while under-aged girls were also being allowed to use such establishments for prostitution, saying that such was very criminal and capable of leading to crimes.

Hear him, â&#x20AC;&#x153;In addition, we also have the issue of criminals hibernating and having save haven in all our beaches, hotels, clubs, lounges these days. The last intelligence report I received indicates that young men now move around these establishments armed.

This is very dangerous for the security of the state. We have it on good authority that some of these establishments are used as meeting points to plan crimes before they execute,â&#x20AC;? Edgal said.

He said in as much as the police have the capacity to arrest any operator found aiding such, but that he was engaging the stakeholders in line with the principle of community policing and security partnership to tackle the menace frontally, while any operator found culpable would henceforth be arrested, shamed and prosecuted in accordance with the law.

Going forward, the CP said it was compulsory for operators to now install basic security gadgets such as CCTV cameras and metal box detectors, among others to effectively cover their establishments.

Also, in an interview, RRS Commander, ACP Olatunji Disu said through the Mobile CCTV vans, helicopters and drones, among other equipment procured for police in the state by Governor Ambodeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s administration, many crimes have been unraveled, while others were prevented with critical arrests made.

For instance, Disu said the decoy team of RRS was able to recover six vehicles in Enugu stolen from Lagos at gunpoint and arrested ten suspects with other suspects coordinating their operation from prison using technology.

Giving details, Disu said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, recently bought for us three CCTV vans and they have been put in different locations in Lagos. On about two or three occasions, it has assisted us in picking robbers robbing on the road. We sit in the van and see what is happening in the environment; we look on the roads and see whether there are congestion especially the bus stops; we see things happening and the policemen with them will quickly rush to the crime scene and effect arrest. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Not only that, we use the CCTV vans to re-plan our security strategies. Everywhere we place them, we monitor the policemen in the crowd as well if they are doing well or not because at the end of the day, we come back to watch every dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s activities thereby making the men more professional knowing that we are watching them as well. So, they are putting in more effort to catching these suspects we are looking for.â&#x20AC;?

Disu said aside preventing crime and effecting arrest, the CCTV vans have also been deployed to accident and riot scenes to assist rescue operation, and also serve as mechanism to review activities of the emergency responders with the view to improving on areas where there are lapses.

He said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Every riot scene, we deploy CCTV vans and we are able to catch the mob when they attack the police or when the police officers misbehave, we see it. So, apart from catching thieves, we have been able to use the CCTV vans for various other activities. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Like the last accident that happened under the Third Mainland Bridge where a ferry with about 21 passengers fell into the waters; we brought in helicopter, we deployed drones as well to search for the victims on the waters. And again, we have used drone to monitor traffic. We stay far off, the drone goes and discover the bottleneck for us and through that we are able to know where the high traffic is and know where to deploy our men or we find out if the traffic is caused by accident and what is happening on the road.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Joseph, a journalist, writes from Ibeju Lekki.

Every riot scene, we deploy CCTV vans and we are able to catch the mob when they attack the police or when the police ofďŹ cers misbehave, we see it. So, apart from catching thieves, we have been able to use the CCTV vans for various other activities. Like the last accident that happened under theThird Mainland Bridge where a ferry with about 21 passengers fell into the waters; we brought in helicopter, we deployed drones as well to search for the victims on the waters.

And again, we have used drone to monitor trafďŹ c. We stay far off, the drone goes and discover the bottleneck for us and through that we are able to know where the high trafďŹ c is and know where to deploy our men

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IMAGES

C

hairman, Wilson & Weizmann Associates Limited and member, THISDAY Editorial Board, Dr. Chidi Amuta, last weekend married off his daughter, Ugochi Moremi, to Chidiebere Benjamin Elekwachi at Archbishop Vining Memorial Church, GRA Ikeja. Friends of the couple as well as family members, friends and associates of their parents were entertained at Ostral Hall, Alausa Ikeja.

Photos Kola Olasupo

หพ ร รกร รฃ รกร ร ร ร ร ร ร ห ร ห ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร รกร ร ร ร ห ร ร ร ร ร ร รกร ร ร ห ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร

ฬ ห ร ร ร ร ร ร ห ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ห ร ห ร ร รข สตร ห ร ร ร ร ร หชร ร ร ร ร ร ร ห ร ห ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ห ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ห ร รกร ร ร ร ร ร ร ห ร ห ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร

Groomโ s parents Oluwatosin Oyedepo with her husband, Ayotunde

ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ห ร ห ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ฬ ร ร ร ร ฬ ห รกร ร ร ร ห ร ร ร ร ร ร ร

Chairman of the occasion, Dr. Yemi Ogunbiyi, and his wife, Iyalode Shade

ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ฬ ร ร ร ร ฬ ร ร ร ร ร ร ร รฃ ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ห ร ร รกร ร ร ร ร ร ร ห ร ห ร รฃร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร

ฬ ห ร ห ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร รกร ร ร รกร ร ร ห ร ร ร ร ร

ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร รฃร ร ร ฬ ร ร ร ร ฬ ร ร ร ร ห ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร รกร ร ร ร ร ร

ฬ ห ร ห ร ร ร ร ร ห ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ฬ ร ร ร ร ฬ ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร ร

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IMAGES

HRM Eze Edward Eluha (left) and Rev. J.C Amuta

Mr. Chuma Chinye (right) and APC Deputy National Secrtetary, Hon. Victor Tombari Giadom

L-R: Mrs. Tinuke Adeniyi, Mrs. Yinka Akinyele, and Mrs. Folake Fawehinmi

Chief and Mrs. G.U. Evulukwu (left) and Mrs. Uchechi Evoh

Mrs. Helen Uwoche (right) and Mrs. Abimbola Oyelola

Mr. Wale Adesokan, SAN , with wife, Nike

Mr. Akin Akingboye with wife, Bola

Elder Sunday Ukpabi Ekeledo (left) and Mr. Ike Browne Ekenedo

Mr. Ikenna Nwizu and wife, Nwandu

ARC Debo Aina (left) and Mr. Wande Majekodunmi

Mr. Alaba Hakeem and his wife, Halimat

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T H I S D AY SUNDAY NOVEMBER 5, 2017

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ NOVEMBER 5, 2017

GAVEL TO GAVEL

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

Dogara...commission will address challenges

Dogara: It ‘ll Be Our Shame if the North-east Devt Commission Fails President Muhammadu Buhari, on October 25, assented to the bill establishing the North East Development Commission, conceived, drafted and sponsored by the Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara. In this interview with journalists, Dogara expresses his excitement over the development and warns that the elite from the region would live in eternal shame if they mismanage the commission. James Emejo presents the excerpts:

Y

ou sponsored the North East Development Commission Bill, which was only recently signed into law by the President.

Is this a dream come true for you?

First of all, I will start by extending our sympathies, that is, of members of the House of Representatives, as well as those of members of our own caucus, over this very deadly crisis that has bedeviled our own section of this dear countr y. Let me also thank the press for their effort in highlighting the crisis and the security agencies for the ver y extraordinary sacrifices put in place in order to restore some sanity in our region.

For us, who are sons of the NorthEast, we know our history very well, so we appreciate this gesture and we will not take it lightly. I commend His Excellency, the President for signing the Bill into law. As I said before, this shows the level of the President’s

sensitivity to the plight of the highly traumatised people of the North East.

Why did you push for the commission?

From day one, when we started meeting, our thinking was how do we ensure that whatever policies that are developed by government and aimed at tackling the millions of challenges facing us as a zone are policies that will survive whoever is formulating them? So, it became clear to us that if we left everything at the level of policies, granted that today we have a president that supports, loves and likes our people, chances are that he would not continue to be there forever.

Not even chances; that is the reality.

Do you really think the commission is able to end the insurgency in the region as well as usher in a new beginning for the people?

As a matter of fact, the heat was becoming very close to our section of the North-East, if not for the timely intervention that was brought, owing to the change of government in this

country, and then they were able to put these insurgents on their backtrack.

With this progress made, some have said Boko Haram has been degraded, decapitated, some have said they have even been defeated. But whatever the situation is, the most important thing is for our people to go back to where they belong. And then, for them to get hope in the environment, where God has given us, so they can continue to contend with destiny of life. That is what is important. The debate shouldn’t be about the degrading and decapitating the Boko Haram, but about the survivors, the IDPs and then rebuilding these communities, hopes that were shattered on account of terrorism.

Do you agree that the Boko Haram insurgency was caused by the prolonged years of neglect of the North East?

As sons and daughters of the North East in the House, recently, we’ve been meeting and putting our heads together as true representatives of the

zone to see what it is that we can do.

As a matter of fact, these signs were there, it’s just that we didn’t notice them on time. It is true that for years in this country, the North East has always come last in terms of budgetary allocation. This is in spite of the fact that we face more challenges than others. And when it comes to development indices, we are the last in the country, but we didn’t pay attention.

When the population curve was going up sharply and opportunity costs were nose-diving, we didn’t pay attention.

Are you saying poverty and deprivation caused the insurgency in the region?

I don’t know the correlation between violence and poverty, but I’ve seen that in societies where hope is lacking, there always seems to be tendencies of violence. Or where you find extreme poverty, the likelihood of violence is always there. I guess that was where we missed it. So, as true believers and representatives of the zone, our focus has always been what is it that

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GAVEL TO GAVEL/ BILLS, MOTIONS, ET AL. Dogara: It’s Our Shame if the North East Devt Commission Fails

Cont’d from Pg. 81

we can do so that we can build on the successes that this government is gaining in its fight against terrorism?

And ultimately, to ensure that we do not have a relapse into this kind of situation in which we find ourselves. Even those zero statistics of human development indices have been destroyed. Businesses, factories, I think as we speak, perhaps the only productive Enterprise in the Northeast may be Ashaka Cement. I don’t know if we have any other factor y employing people in the Northeast.

Infrastructure is zero.

I now know that this issue of unity in the North East – it’s just that we have been playing with it; it is something that is achievable, because I saw it. I even noticed that a delegation was sent under the leadership of the Governor of Borno to the National Assembly to thank both the Senate President, the leadership of the National Assembly, not me because I’m the promoter. I should be the one thanking them.

And through all that I saw a lot of emirs from the zone, two governors, from Yobe and Bauchi, he wasn’t there but he was ably represented. He sent a representative to stand in for him.

And at that courtesy call as well, I saw leaders from the zone, former governors like I said, former ministers, across the board, they were all there.

So, you know that if we can continue to pursue things in the zeal of this unity that I saw, there’s nothing that we cannot achieve.

Sincerely, there’s nothing that we cannot achieve, if this unity is possible, then the only reason why we are not seen to be united is because nobody is working on that. With the right leadership, we can unite, and with that unity we can push through so many regional objectives, and they will come to fruition. So that is one thing that is left for us to do.

Like I said before, we shouldn’t just celebrate the coming into being of this commission. Obviously, we should, because it’s going to increase the level of opportunities available to our people, whether in terms of employment, in terms of mobilsation of resources, in terms of redeveloping the infrastructure that were destroyed, we’re going to be better off for it.

But with this new law, major source of funding will cease after 10 years. Do you think 10 years are enough to rebuild the region?

The truth is that the level of devastation as a result of this insurgency is one that is going to take us decades to recover from. If you were to quantif y the infrastructure, wealth and everything that we have lost, you’d be talking about trillions, then you can imagine in the national budget, where are we going to get allocation of trillions to the North-East? Is it within the next ten or twenty years?

So, even to recover the things that we have lost, as we are saying will take us decades, not even a few years.

That was why as skillful legislators, we decided that we will go for the North East Development Commission.

Some people believe that the commission was not necessary and that it may end up being like the Niger Delta Development Commission, which many believe has failed to deliver on its mandate.

Do you share this fear?

Yes, a lot of people thought it was not necessary, some even thought, well, we want to create a system that will be like a pool of prosperity in the desert so that a few privileged sons and daughters of the region will just mismanage the resources. And I know that even the president was watching us before signing this bill into law.

But I guess that he saw the plight of the people and that he’s been told of the level of devastation in that region.

And since these current efforts are not enough, and may never be enough to address the challenges, if these interventions are left at the level of policies, any subsequent government that comes and doesn’t love our people that much will just with a stroke of the pen, strike the policy out, and that is the end. So, the thinking was that if we could elevate this to the level of a law, then any future government that seeks to reverse it will have to face the members of the National Assembly in order to repeal that law.

And because we have a voice, we will continue to have a voice in the National Assembly – it is going to be exceptionally difficult for that to be achieved. So, we were making provisions for the long run, not for the short term. And as a matter of fact, in some places where I have had to advocate for this commission, I have said the freedom for us to plan for ourselves, to manage the resources accruing to the zone is something, and we should be given that freedom.

I should never be understood to be canvassing that we will mismanage resources given to us, but I said even if we do it, and we fail, a free man when he falls blames no one. We will accept the blame that we have been given the liberty and resources, but we mismanaged it, and then we will carry the shame for the rest of our lives. It is better than to leave this on the level that one day it may just be thrown to the dogs.

There were delays in signing the bill into law and rumours were rife that the president might veto it. What actually transpired?

You have also been advocating for an International Donor Conference under the auspices of the United Nations to rebuild the region, now that the NEDC is here, don’t you think it is no longer necessary?

other option was to bring it back to the National Assembly and override the veto.

But the question was whether we could muster the two-third votes that we need in order to override the veto should that be the case? And we thought it wasn’t wise. So, at a point I had to ask that a letter be written to the executive to withdraw the bill so that we can address those concerns that they have. So, they brought it, some law yers were brought from the executive side, I gathered a team of law yers as well, and I chaired the meeting.

We were on this matter for three weeks with a notable son of Borno, who is no more in the House with us, but I knew him with accounting during our work as law yers in this city of Abuja. I had to draft him in to give a helping hand. At the end of the day, we cleaned up all the misunderstandings, addressed all the issues the executive had, and we sent it back to them. And if that Bill had not been signed on October 25, 2017, I think officially the thirty days would have been elapsing by now. So, we should thank God for His intervention, even as we thank the president, and I want us also not to forget the role of the First Lady, her members were here with us.

When we had a public hearing on the bill, she personally led wives of governors to come and witness that public hearing. And happily, so many high ranking stakeholders of the North East were there. From all across the states, former governors, former ministers, I’ve never seen this kind of solidarity before.

We lobbied members from other zones and fought to get through this process of lawmaking. And at the end of the day, the law was prepared and sent to the executive. Obviously they had issues with it. And realising that Unlike your brothers from the time was going and if the president doesn’t sign within 30 days, it means North West, it is believed that that he has vetoed the legislation. The with the different peoples and

tribes that make up the north east, they can never unite for a common cause. Is this a new beginning of togetherness in the region?

In fact, it was on account of this that

I should never be understood to be canvassing that we will mismanage resources given to us, but I said even if we do it, and we fail, a free man when he falls blames no one. We will accept the blame that we have been given the liberty and resources, but we mismanaged it, and then we will carry the shame for the rest of our lives. It is better than to leave this on the level that one day it may just be thrown to the dogs

As far as I am concerned, if it was the responsibility of the House of Representatives, we can do it tomorrow. But unfortunately, we need all the arms of government to make it happen. This, I believe, will provide a platform to further that discussion.

But the important thing is that it has been done for Syria. So, I do not see why the international community will not respond to this crisis that we are faced with in Nigeria.

The world is a global village. The problems in Nigeria, if they are not well taken care of, will have an international dimension sooner than later. Those countries in Europe, who felt that they were detached from the crisis in Syria, were overrun by the massive influx of emigrants. For us to deal with this there must be an international response, so that we will be able to nip it in the bud.

Sincerely, do you think the operation of NEDC will end the woes of the region?

Those challenges are still with us, the challenges for providing job opportunities for our teeming young people, the challenges of redeveloping the region to ensure that for everyone, who grows up in that region, there’s perhaps something that he can find to do. And when we expand this window of opportunity to so many of our sons and daughters, we’ll be able to end this issue of violence, because I heard some of the recruits of Boko Haram were offered so much, that the security agencies discovered in their bank accounts.

So, it was like money was even the life blood that was funding this terrorism. If we offer a situation, where the society offers what outweighs what they get from terrorism, nobody would be a terrorist, as nobody wants to die.

But it’s only when you face a kind of life or a kind of situation, where to even die is better than to be alive then you’d have no choice; then you’ll be available to do anything at that stage.

But anyone who is firmly rooted in the land of prosperity would hardly think of visiting violence on anyone.

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GAVEL TO GAVEL

A Botched Dinner that Raised Ethical Questions A dinner invitation to members of the National Assembly by the Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, Dr. Maikanti Baru, last week assumed an unsavoury twist, writes Damilola Oyedele

A

controversy which seems to have now been quieted played out during the week at the National Assembly. The Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the 469 federal lawmakers were supposed to meet over dinner at the behest of the corporation.

“The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Maikanti K. Baru, FNSE, cordially request your presence at a special dinner for members of the National Assembly,” the invite read.

But as the news filtered in for the dinner scheduled to hold at 7pm at the Transcorp Hilton, on October 31st, 2017, it was followed by instant uproar particularly on the social media. The uproar was buoyed by the fact that there was an impending probe of Baru by the Senate, following several allegations leveled against him by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, some weeks back.

Kachikwu, in a leaked memo to President Muhammadu Buhari, had accused Baru of unilaterally awarding contracts worth $25 billion, and making appointments of senior executives at the NNPC without recourse to the board, which is chaired by the minister. He also accused the GMD of insubordination and abuse of due process.

Following the allegations, the Senate constituted a committee to investigate the matter, and also to investigate allegations that Baru gives preferential treatment to Duke Oil (a subsidiary of the NNPC) in oil contracts, even though the company does not have the capacity to fulfill most of the contracts.

Duke Oil, a subsidiary of the NNPC, was registered in Panama in 1989. It has however been named in several NNPC dealings, which are being investigated, including the oil swap (crude oil for refined products) deals and alleged $17billion stolen crude.

Already, there are reports that the presidency is lobbying the Senate ad hoc committee to secure a softlanding for Baru, and avoid a situation where he would be indicted. Based on this, it is therefore understandable that such uproar followed the dinner invite.

The Story Untold Indeed, while many prefer to believe that the invitation was just recently extended to the lawmakers, it is necessary to clarif y that it was not.

According to the NNPC, it was part of an interaction with stakeholders which also included the media, and was supposed to have held in April.

It was however deferred to August, but it coincided with the annual recess of the National Assembly, and therefore ‘mutually’ moved to October 31, 2017.

It was however cancelled at the last minute as the leadership of the National Assembly was billed to also have a dinner with President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Invite and Ethical Issues For emphasis, Senator Tayo Alasoadura, Chairman of the Committee on Petroleum (Downstream) had already rejected the invitation on behalf of the National Assembly, although the NNPC still claimed the lawmakers were aware and agreed to the date.

But the development has since raised a critical question on the ethics and morality of such a gathering had it happened. How ethical is it for an institution to wine and dine with a corporation it is probing? It is unclear what time the third invitation was

Baru...organised the dinner

extended or agreed to as claimed

by NNPC, but the general thinking is that it was ill-timed and could undermine the credibility of the National Assembly as an institution.

It is also necessary to emphasise that as stakeholders in the Nigerian Project, there is nothing wrong with the legislature and the NNPC engaging in a discourse over meal.

The legislature, however, has to take into cognizance its constitutional mandate to investigate and expose corrupt practices or inefficiencies in the institutions, which places a moral or ethical burden on it, to foot the bills for such dalliance with government Ministries, Agencies and parastatals.

It is simple: if the dinner had taken place, what would the atmosphere have been like? Would the lawmakers assume their superior position? Or would they let down their hair, grin and chat all through the (maybe) three course meal with Maikanti and his team, who are being probed by the same lawmakers? How would the lawmakers be able to convince Nigerians that the choice meal, hospitality and other metaphoric components, would have no bearing on the probe?

Partner at Resolution Law Firm in Lagos, Mr. Olusola Jegede, while sharing his thoughts with THISDAY, said the dinner invite was in bad taste, and would lend credence to

Importantly, there is no debating the fact that the invitation was ill-timed, because it showed lack of sensitivity to the prevailing development at the time. It also proved a lack of deep and proper reflection on the part of those, who mooted the idea or at the very least, confirmed that they might have been spurred by the desperation to seize advantage of the moment to clean up their pending mess

the allegations of corruption thrown at both the NNPC and the National Assembly.

“It’s sad that the National Assembly members were actually warming up to show up at the event had it not been cancelled. Such irresponsible behaviour from the lawmakers is the reason their summons are often ignored by government officials,” Jegede said in an email.

Between the Legislature and the MDAs Quite naturally, the development has begun to interrogate the level of cordiality that is expected to exist between members of the National Assembly and the Heads of MDAs. It bears a subtle reminder to the case in the seventh assembly, where the then Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Ms. Arunma Oteh, had accused the Chairman of the committee on Capital Markets and Institutions, Hon. Herman Hembe, of lashing out at her during the probe on activities of SEC, because of her refusal to fund the probe.

In the infamous drama which unfolded on live T V, Oteh alleged that Hembe had written to her requesting the SEC to sponsor the probe. She also accused Hembe of collecting a business class ticket and estacode from SEC to attend an emerging markets conference at the Dominican Republic, which he did not attend, and did not return the money collected.

The point many missed in that scandal was that had Oteh been willing to sponsor her own commission’s probe, would there be an unbiased enquiry?

According to media report, Oteh was informed about the request to “assist” the Committee on Capital Markets and Institutions by “cosponsoring” the public hearing, in an internal memo dated March 1, 2012 by a departmental Head, Mr. Hassan Mamman.

“It is our considered opinion doing this will be of immense benefit to the nation’s capital market,” Hassan had written.

In a subsequent memo, Oteh was informed that the Hembe-led committee had “welcomed this development and accordingly forwarded a budget estimate,” with the department recommending that live coverage of the hearing and secretariat needs be sponsored with N26.2 million and N4.2 million respectively.

Oteh approved the sponsorship with the note: “You may consider” on the memo. So, is it ethical for SEC to have provided the ticket and estacode for someone, who oversights the agency, or for him to have collected it in the first instance? Should this even happen at all?

There have been allegations that sometimes, when committees go on oversight functions particularly outside Abuja, the affected agencies play host, and sometimes pay for hotel accommodation of the lawmakers.

This is in spite of the fact that all monies for the oversight (including public hearings) are provided for by the National Assembly. Isn’t this a form of inducement?

There seems to be a blurry line between hospitality and duty in Nigeria.

It is however time, that efforts were made to make such lines clearer for effective delivery of national duties.

Importantly, there is no debating the fact that the invitation was ill-timed, because it showed lack of sensitivity to the prevailing development in the country. It also proved a lack of deep and proper reflection on the part of those, who mooted the idea or at the very least, confirmed that they might have been spurred by the desperation to seize advantage of the moment to clean up their pending mess.

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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 OVEMBER 5, 2017

NEWSXTRA Lagos Emerges Overall Best on NCCN Sub-National Competitiveness Index t Delta, Rivers, Sokoto, Akwa Ibom rated top states Kunle Aderinokun

Ahead of the launch of its first Sub-National Competitiveness Index report today, the National Competitiveness Council of Nigeria (NCCN) has released its ranking of the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory in the areas of human capital, infrastructure, economy and institutions.

In a snapshot obtained

by THISDAY, NCCN, which launched the Sub-National Competitiveness Index last Thursday, considered education, health, migration and gender equality in ranking the states and FCT in human capital.

Similarly, the council also assessed the states on infrastructure using metrics that

measured the status, efficiency and performance levels, as the case may be, of their electricity, airport, telecoms, waste management and water.

Besides, NCCN, which noted that the index was â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;the culmination of a two-year research into the factors that drive competitiveness in Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 36 states and the FCTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, looked at access to finance, state finances, business sophistication and tax to measure the status of their economies. It, as well, measured the strength of institutions in the states considering security, transparency, justice and anti-corruption, amongst others.

NCCN rated Lagos the best state on the Sub-National Index Overall Ranking table, followed by Delta, which was

also trailed by Rivers in the third place. Niger State and Enugu State ranked fourth and fifth on the index table, which was occupied at the bottom by Borno State. Gombe, Yobe, Kwara and Imo followed Borno in that order to make the last five states on the ladder.

Considering the economy, Lagos was also ranked top by the council and was followed

by Rivers. Sokoto, Kebbi and Enugu placed third, fourth and fifth states in that order. The worst-performing economies were in Bayelsa, Nasarawa, Ekiti, Imo and Osun states in that order.

In terms of infrastructure, Rivers came top, followed by Lagos and Akwa Ibom. On the fourth and fifth places were Edo and Delta states. The worst

states were Nasarawa, Zamfara, Taraba, Yobe and Katsina.

NCCN has said its first Sub-National Competitive Index was â&#x20AC;&#x153;a move to help spur growth-friendly policies.â&#x20AC;? The index, it noted, evaluated the competitiveness of Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 36 states and FCT through metrics that examine growth, development and productivity potential.

According to NCCN Chief Executive Officer, Matthias Chika Mordi, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The NCCN Sub-National Index is a potent tool for catalysing businessfriendly policies that will spur job-rich growth in Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 36 states.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;The findings of NCCN Sub-National Index underscore the salience of state governments in Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s overall economic growth potential,â&#x20AC;?

Mordi added.

The council had explained in a statement that the NCCNâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s index drew from resources of the World Economic Forum, World Bank, Mexicoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s IMCO and HBSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Prof Michael Porter.

It also stated that it received funding from Ford Foundation, the Tony Elumelu Foundation, and resource support from the EU Energy Initiative Partnership Dialogue Facility (EUEI PDF) to drive initiatives targeted at fiscal balance, healthy public-private policy contestation and unleashing private enterprise potential. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nigeria faces a welldocumented overdependence on oil for fiscal revenue that has stifled incentives for private sector growth and remains insufficient for sustainable poverty reduction,â&#x20AC;? NCCN stated. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s context is Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rising youth population, which is an unutilised demographic window of opportunity that is fast turning to a ticking demographic bomb

in the form of a massive army of unemployed youths. 62.27 per cent of the population is under the age of 25, Countries such as the US, China, Japan, and South Korea achieved economic growth and poverty reduction by exploiting a similar demographic window of opportunity,â&#x20AC;? it lamented.

The council added: â&#x20AC;&#x153;While national data is widely known, state performance remains obscured by a previous lack of reliable data. Over 50 per cent of revenue from Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s federation account is controlled by state and local governments, especially when you account for derivations and bailouts from federal to state governments. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Beyond that, the majority policies affecting businesses are controlled by states. NCCN is a non-partisan private effort aimed at enhancing the productivity of businesses operating in Nigeria with the ultimate goal of improved socio-economic outcomes for Nigeria.â&#x20AC;?

Desmond Elliot Leads Annual Kwavithon 5K Race

HONOURING NWOKORO L-R: Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State; and Ambassador Frank Ogbuewu, during Osinbajoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s arrival for the wedding of his Chief Security Detail, Mr. Nelson Nwokoro, in Abakaliki...yesterday

The much anticipated second Annual Kwavithon 5K charity race kicks off next Saturday in Lekki, Lagos state. It is tagged Miracles for Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x152;Ă?Ă&#x2013; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D; ĂĄĂ&#x201C;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2013; Ă&#x152;Ă? Ă&#x2013;Ă?Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x152;ĂŁ Ă&#x2039; Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2018; Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2013;ĂŁĂĄĂ&#x2122;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x2039;Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x2014;Ă?Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x152;Ă?Ă&#x153; Ă&#x2122;Ă? the Lagos state House of Assembly, Mr. Desmond Elliot.This Annual Kwavithon 5K race debuted last year in Lagos and is the brainchild Ă&#x2122;Ă? Ă&#x2039; Ě&#x2039;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x2039;Ă?Ă?Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2018;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ë&#x153; Ă&#x153;Ă?Ë&#x203A; ĂĄĂ&#x2039;Ă Ă&#x201C; Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x152;Ă?ĂŁĂ?Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x152;Ă?Ë&#x153; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2013; Weight Loss and Lifestyle coach. According to Mrs. Agbeyegbe, â&#x20AC;&#x153;this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exercise is to help raise funds for the Mirabel Centre that helps rehabilitate women and young girls who have suffered any form of sexual abuse. We want to assist them to provide holistic and high quality medical and psychological services to survivors of sexual assault and rapeâ&#x20AC;? she said.

Agbeyegbe added that this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s race, a one-day event, would also help create awareness about the â&#x20AC;&#x153;frequency of rape in our community and open up a conversation on what could be done to reduce rape and sexual assault in Agbeyegbe our societyâ&#x20AC;?.

Kachikwu: Nigeria to Earn $2bn in the Short-term from Proposed Fiscal Policies for Oil Industry Chineme Okafor in Abuja

Nigeria is eyeing at least $2 billion in the short-term, and $9 billion in the long-term from the rollout of a new fiscal policy it has initiated for her oil and gas industry, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, has disclosed.

Kachikwu, in his monthly podcast for the period of November which was released within the week in Abuja, stated that the government would rollout the new fiscal policies shortly for use in the industry.

He added that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) was on the verge of approving the policy and its rollout. He however did not give out details of the policy.

He also said that once FEC approves the new fiscal policies,

it would transmit same to the National Assembly to give it the required legislative backing that it deserves. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As we get towards the end of this year, we are running towards a finished line with batons. A few things still need to be delivered, some of the policies that we enunciated petroleum policy, the gas policy.

We need to begin to bring out regulations to be able to push those. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are going to be rolling out our fiscal policies which are now waiting for FEC approvals.

These fiscal policies will expand income in the short-term over $2 billion a year to the federal government but on a long-term over $9 billion. So, very major movement and obviously on the back of that, we will be working with

the assembly to then transmit that into legislative provisions,â&#x20AC;? said Kachikwu.

He said government had also ensured that the oil industry operated transparently in the last one year, but that there was still a lot to be done to keep the sector completely transparent and accountable.

According to him: â&#x20AC;&#x153;We delivered an open NNPC, we basically opened up our books, we published and tried to be as transparent as we can, but a lot of works still needs to be done there, but for the first time we delivered the kind of NNPC that has never been the sort of NNPC that you used to know.â&#x20AC;?

The National Assembly, he noted, has been working on getting the entire aspects of the Petroleum Industry

Governance Bill (PIGB) passed into law. This, he explained, would need the support of the executive arm of government to get it functional for the stability of the oil industry.The minister further explained that in the runoff to the end of the year, Nigeria would continue to push her target to produce 2.2 million barrels per day (mbpd) of oil, but subject to its commitment to the production cap that exists between member countries of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and non-OPEC countries led by the Russian Federation.

He equally disclosed that he would this week revive negotiations with stakeholders in the Niger Delta, which had somewhat gone stale, to firm up commitments to peaceful pro-

duction of oil from the region. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Deepening the Niger Delta engagements: Next week, I am going back there to talk to the governors of the region, the oil companies, to put a seal to some of the agreements we have made â&#x20AC;&#x201C; MoUs that all of us can work with, in that way, there is faith in what the vice president has said in his statements,â&#x20AC;?

Kachikwu, stated.

However, his resort to revive negotiations with stakeholders in the Niger Delta came at a time a militant group - the Niger Delta Avengers, said it was calling off the ceasefire it declared on vandalism of oil facilities in the region because of what it said was the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s non-committal attitude to negotiations with the region.

The group which in 2015

destroyed oil installations in the region and downed Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s oil production to an average of 1.1mbd, stated in a statement posted on its website on Friday afternoon that it would resume hostilities.

It said the Buhari administration had not been sincere with its peace talks and promises to the Niger Delta. Since its ceasefire, the militants have not carried out any major attack on oil facilities this year.

Meanwhile, member countries of OPEC and their allies who had initiated a production cap agreement to shore up prices of oil in the international market, may be wary of the recent upwards movement in prices of oil which they fear could spur shale oil producers back into production.

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

85

NEWSXTRA 2nd Edition of Ndigbo and Entrepreneurship Holds Nov 11

PROMOTING EXPORT L-R: Assistant Director, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, C.I. Elekwa; Nigeria 2017 Palmtech Organising Committee Chairman, Ifeanyichukwu Agwu; Permanent

Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Enugu State, Ogbonna Idike; Group Head, Agric. Finance & Export, Heritage Bank, Gbenga Awe; and S/East Region Group Head, Heritage Bank, Chike Mbaneme, at the Palmtech Expo & Conference in Enugu...recently

The second edition of Ndigbo and Entrepreneurship, a dinner and honours event that promotes and celebrates entrepreneurship in the South-east will take place between November 11 and 13 at Base Landmark, Independence Layout, Enugu.

Some of the personalities and prominent Igbo groups expected to be at the event are Ohaneze Ndigbo led by the President General Chief John Nnia Nwodo, South East governors led by their Chairman, Engr Dave Umahi, the Executive Governor of Ebonyi State, National Assembly members from South East, led by Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, eminent traditional rulers led by the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe and among others.

Go After Those Inciting Nigeria Split, Buhari Orders Security Operatives t Osinbajo urges citizens to shun corruption, calls for separation Okon Bassey in Uyo and Benjamin Nworie in Abakaliki

President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday ordered security agencies to fish out and bring to book people who indulge in act capable in threatening the peace and unity of the country through inciting statements, instigate civil disobedience, riot and rebellion.

The President gave the directive in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State during the 22nd and 23rd combined convocation of the University of Uyo (UNIUYO), expressing concern over series of issues bordering on insecurity and division of the

country.

Represented by the Minister of State for Education, Prof.

Anthony Anwuka, Buhari warned that â&#x20AC;&#x153;the Federal Government will never condone and tolerate incendiary remarks from any person or group of persons, which are meant to harass, intimidate, cause fear and spread hate, no matter how highly placed such a person is.â&#x20AC;?

The President, who is a Visitor to the University, noted that the convocation was held at a time of enormous economic and social challenges in the country, saying â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our elites and members of the political class also have a role to play

in healing and reconciling our nationâ&#x20AC;?. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Law enforcement agencies should fish out people who put out inciting statements, instigate civil disobedience, broadcast hate speeches or stir up strife, riot and rebellion and bring them to bookâ&#x20AC;?, he stressed. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The current discussions and debates have been typically lively, boisterous and even sometimes rancorous; but this year, strange and embarrassing dimensions have been introduced. The idea of a part of our country seceding from the rest is not only unacceptable, it is also unconstitutional. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The very idea of issuing

Tejuosho, 100 Others to Forfeit Illegally Acquired Assets

threats to a particular group of people with ultimatum for them to relocate from their legitimate places of residence is an assault on the very foundation of our nationhood. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We cannot afford to lose any part of Nigeria through secession, dismemberment or any other process; we cannot accept the breaking of our beloved country and we can never endure this sort of internecine debate and recriminations for a much longer period. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Within this context and as a matter of urgency, I am tasking our universities to conduct research and come up with empirical solutions for this national problem which is

plaguing and even threatening our continued existence as a country today. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is a veritably bad and specious logic when some Nigerians point to the few countries else-where that have undergone secession as a reason why we should also break up our country, but they fail to draw attention to the fact that there are even more countries that have remained united and indivisible. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our elites must stop misleading our people; they must refrain from spreading fear in the society. The development and progress we all clamour for can never thrive in a hatefilled and divisive societyâ&#x20AC;?, the

President stated.

Buhari said the nation would continue to look up to the universities for solutions to some of the challenges being faced in the country.

He pointed out that tertiary institutions now generated through research, the greatest amount of knowledge for the advancement of the present world civilisation.

According to the President, â&#x20AC;&#x153;the inability of some nations and their institutions to play a significant and leading role in the global competition for technological and scientific research is the salient cause of under-development in such nationsâ&#x20AC;?.

China Sets 2020 Target to Lift All Rural Residents Out of Poverty

t Lagos considers prosecuting beneficiaries

t As Nigeria-China bilateral trade volume reaches $8.94bn

Gboyega Akinsanmi

Abimbola Akosile

The Lagos State Government may have begun revoking its assets illegally acquired by highly placed persons in Ikeja GRA, Ikoyi, Magodo, Lekki and Victoria Island among others, in line with the report of a panel of inquiry it set up to probe the sale of such assets between 2006 and 2016, THISDAY has learnt.

A source disclosed the commencement of the revocation exercise at the weekend, noting that the state government might also prosecute over 100 beneficiaries of illegal asset acquisitions in the state.

The source, who spoke with THISDAY in confidence, disclosed that a serving member of Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Funmi Tejuosho might be affected in the

on-going revocation of illegally sold assets.

Apart from the lawmaker, the source revealed that no fewer than 100 highly placed persons including political actors, lawmakers as well as former government functionaries who served under the administrations of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Mr. Babatunde Fashola would be affected.

The source explained in detail how Tejuosho was involved in the alleged illegal deal to which he said the state government lost billions of naira, noting that two wings of a 5-bedroom semi-detached house located in Ikeja GRA was the official residence of Deputy Speaker of Lagos House of Assembly.

He said the lawmaker representing Mushin Constituency I moved into the apart-

ment when she was serving as the State Deputy Speaker between 2007 and 2009, but allegedly used a firm linked with her to acquire the property at a ridiculous offer while serving as the deputy speaker.

After extensive review of the report, according to the source, it was discovered that two wings of a 5-bedroom semi-detached house located around Ikeja GRA valued at hundreds of millions of naira was in 2010 offered to a certain Funmi Smith of Debam Mega Solutions Limited.

He said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The property was acquired by a firm linked to Hon. Funmi Tejuosho. It was sold at a sum far less than half of its market value, but seven years after the offer barely half of the offered sum had not been paid to the state government coffers by the company.â&#x20AC;?

Barring any last minute changes, China, the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most populous country and second largest economy, is set to lift all rural residents living below the current poverty line out of poverty by the year 2020.

The current population of China as of November 4, is 1,411,422,153, while 58.2 per cent of the population is urban (819,767,019 people in 2017), according to the latest United Nations estimates.

The remaining 41.8 per cent (591,655,134) reside in the rural areas.

The economic superpower, which has maintained a medium-high average growth rate of 7.2 per cent annually, has already lifted more than 60 million people out of poverty, THISDAY has learnt.

These plans were disclosed by the Consul-General of the Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Republic of China in Lagos, Mr. Chao Xiaoliang at a meeting organised by him in Lagos as part of the activities showcasing the 19th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, which took place between October 18 and 24.

Xiaoliang, in an address titled â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s New Era of Development Promote ChinaNigeria Strategic Partnershipâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, which he delivered at the Lagos meeting attended by members of the diplomatic corps and other personalities, stated that â&#x20AC;&#x153;China will push forward the implementation of the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Belt and Roadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; construction in Africa, and support Africa in implementing the Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Developmentâ&#x20AC;?.

The envoy, who noted that Nigeria and China have common interests in terms of national conditions, also expressed interest in the significance of the 19th CPC National Congress to ChinaNigeria relations. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is a new roadmap for Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s development in the coming decades. The Congress have drawn up a two-stage development plan for the period from 2020 to the middle of this century to realise the grand goal of building a socialist modernised country in an all-round way. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In the first stage from 2020 to 2035, we will build on the foundation created by the moderately prosperous society with a further 15 years of hard work to see that socialist modernisation is basically realised.â&#x20AC;?

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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 ˾ NOVEMBER 5, 2017

SUNDAYSPORTS

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

Chelsea Bank on Kante Return as Mourinho’s United Visit Stamford Bridge

C

helsea will give N’Golo Kante every chance to prove his fitness when they host Manchester United in the Premier League today. The midfielder has been missing since picking up a hamstring injury last month but could return to action at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea will be looking to bounce back from a 3-0 loss at Roma in their midweek Champions League match and they have a good recent record against today’s opponents - losing just one of their last 15 home Premier League games with United (W9 D5), with that defeat It will also signal a return to Chelsea for Jose Mourinho - who spent five years at the club over two spells as manager - and he has lost three of his last four away games against sides he’s previously managed.

United currently sit second in the Premier League table - five points behind leaders Man City - and have won their last three games in all competitions without conceding, including last weekend’s 1-0 victory against Tottenham in the league.

Alongside Kante, his former Leicester team-mate Danny Drinkwater could also make his Premier League debut. Right wing-back Victor Moses (hamstring) is the only definite absentee, with captain Gary Cahill poised to start in defence despite his early tactical substitution in the loss at Roma.

Jose Mourinho does not expect to have any of his injured players back for today’s clash. United were without five players for Tuesday’s Champions League win over Benfica while Jesse Lingard picked up a back problem.

Paul Pogba, Michael Carrick, Marouane Fellani, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marcos Rojo have all spent significant time on the sidelines.

Manchester United’s 2-0 victory in their last meeting with Chelsea ended a run of 12 games

Kante (left) and Morata will be pivotal for Chelsea today

without a win against them in all competitions.

They last won back-to-back meetings with the Blues in September 2011.

United have lost more Premier League games (17) and conceded more Premier League goals (66) against Chelsea than they have against any other side in the competition.

Antonio Conte’s side have already lost as many home Premier League games this season as they

did in 2016-17 overall (2).

Antonio Conte has won 112 points as Chelsea manager in his 48 Premier League games in charge, 11 points fewer than Jose Mourinho had at this point of his Chelsea managerial career (123).

Mourinho lost just one of his first 48 Premier League games in charge of the club (W38 D9 L1), but Conte has already lost eight times (W36 D4 L8).

Twenty-one per cent of the total Premier League goals scored in the final 10 minutes of games this season (10/47) have been netted by Manchester United.

Manchester United substitutes have scored seven goals and assisted four more (both league-highs) this season so far - Anthony Martial has provided six of these 11 substitute goal involvements (four goals, two assists); more than any other player.

Arsenal Tasked with Halting Morata, Lukaku Seek Return to Form Unbeaten Man City

A

rsenal are tasked with bringing Manchester City’s sensational start to the season to an end when they travel to the Etihad today. City’s flying start has seen them go unbeaten in their opening 16 games in all competitions and has sparked speculation over whether they could go through the entire campaign undefeated.

The last side to do so in the Premier League were their opponents this weekend, Arsenal in 2003/04, while the Gunners were also the last side to beat Pep Guardiola’s men, in the FA Cup semi-final in April.

City have won their last 14 games on the spin - a new club record - and scored 49 already this term, but Arsenal head to Manchester in fine form themselves.

Arsene Wenger’s men have lost just one of their last 13 - a run which has gone under the radar Aguero and Sane have been on fire for City this to some extent - and victory over the Premier season League title favourites would certainly grab everyone’s attention. due to a long-term knee injury.

Manchester City have no fresh injury concerns Arsenal will be hoping Sead Kolasinac overahead of today’s clash. Captain Vincent Kompany comes a hip injury in time to feature at the Etihad. remains on the sidelines with a calf injury, but The Bosnia-Herzegovina international limped manager Guardiola hopes to have him back in out of last weekend’s win over Swansea after training after the international break. Left-back scoring and laying on an assist, but Wenger Benjamin Mendy is the only other senior absentee expects him to be fit.

A

lvaro Morata and Romelu Lukaku will be under pressure to fire their teams back into the Premier League title race when the misfiring strikers clash in Chelsea’s showdown with Manchester United today.

Chelsea forward Morata and United front man Lukaku were the toast of their clubs after celebrating their close-season transfers with a barrage of goals.

But, with Chelsea and United battling to keep pace with leaders Manchester City, Morata and Lukaku have lost their midas touch at the wrong moment, putting them under the microscope at Stamford Bridge today.

United manager Jose Mourinho splashed out £75 million to sign Lukaku from Everton after persuading the Belgium international to snub interest from Blues boss Antonio Conte. Lukaku was off to a fast start, netting 11 times in his first 10 games.

However, the 24-year-old finds himself in the midst of a barren spell stretching back six games to the end of September.

United fans have grown frustrated by Lukaku’s lack of contributions outside the penalty area, prompting Mourinho to chastise the Old Trafford crowd for failing to give the striker enough support in last weekend’s win over Tottenham. Lukaku responded to the doubters by admitting he is still a work in progress.

“You can’t judge me as the finished article.

I’d rather have a career where year after year I improve rather than going to the top and decline,” he said. “I know I have a lot of talent, but I want to have more assists, I want to make sure when my team is in difficulties they can count on me.”

After missing out on Lukaku, Conte settled for Morata as an expensive consolation prize.

Morata hit the ground running with seven goals in his first seven games following his club record £58 million move from Real Madrid.

But, like Lukaku, the 25-year-old Spaniard has failed to score in his last six games, earning criticism for some lethargic displays. Morata also had to claim he had been misquoted after

Lukaku rues another missed chance

an interview in which he appeared to hint he wouldn’t stay with Chelsea for long because he doesn’t enjoy London’s hectic lifestyle.

In the circumstances, Morata and Lukaku could do with silencing the critics by producing a priceless winner at the Bridge. Both players carried hefty price tags because of the belief they were ready to deliver when the stakes are highest. That will be the case in west London this weekend as champions Chelsea try to claw their way back into the title race.

PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES Tottenham Man City Chelsea Everton

vs vs vs vs

Crystal Palace 1pm Arsenal 3:15pm Man United 5:30pm Watford 5:30pm

T H I S D AY SUNDAY NOVEMBER 5, 2017

87

Sunday November 5, 2017

TR

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& RE A S O

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Price: N400

MISSILE Onaiyekan To Buhari

“I am confused about the whole issue. If somebody, who had been accused, of misuse of public funds and public trust should be brought back by a government that is supposed to stand out against corruption, then something is happening that people like me cannot see.”

– Catholic Bishop of Abuja Metropolitan See, His Eminence, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, reacting to the controversial reinstatement of former boss of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, Abdulrasheed Maina

SIMONKOLAWOLE SIMONKOLAWOLELIVE!

simon.kolawole@thisdaylive.com, sms: 0805 500 1961

Ekwueme in the Eyes of History

T

hey have shut down the factory that produced the political breed of Dr. Alexandra Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme.

They don’t make them like Ekwueme anymore. Upright, cerebral, courageous and loyal — it is often a contradiction in terms to attach any of those adjectives to a Nigerian politician. Yet, in the last four decades, Ekwueme, who is currently hospitalised, has demonstrated those virtues largely unappreciated. Or, at best, underappreciated. The politicians that we recognise and celebrate are the noisemakers, the pilferers, the nitwits, the chameleons, the bandits. Even with my excessive distrust of politicians, I can afford to make exceptions. Ekwueme is an exception.

When I heard on Wednesday that he had slipped into a coma, I said: “Not again!” Too many times in my life, I have procrastinated in paying tribute to Nigerians who truly inspire me while they are alive. When they die, I will start writing tributes that they cannot read in the grave.

Maybe it is human nature to demonise people when they are around and canonise them when they are gone. The way we eulogise dead people makes me feel that maybe if we had said those words to their hearing, some would have lived longer. Thankfully, Ekwueme is still alive. I can finally “cleanse my soul” with a tribute from my heart. No matter his failings as a mortal, he is a man of adorable virtues.

Upright. After being detained in Kirikiri prisons for 20 months following the coup of December 31, 1983, the military tribunal that tried him over his tenure as vice-president to Alhaji Shehu Shagari (1979-1983) did not only discharge and acquit him, it also eulogised him thus: “Dr. Ekwueme left office poorer than he was when he entered it, and to ask more from him was to set a standard which even saints could not meet.” Nobody says that about Nigerian politicians anymore. The most common story is that they became stupendously rich just after a few minutes in office, with mansions in Dubai, New York and Banana Island to show for their “service” to the nation.

Cerebral. I do not know many Nigerian politicians, dead or alive, with the academic grounding of Ekwueme. He has four first degrees: architecture and city planning (from the University of Washington, US, as one of the first four US Fulbright scholars from Nigeria); sociology (also WU); history, philosophy and constitutional law (as an external candidate of the University of London); and law (London).

He has a master’s in urban planning (London).

He also holds a PhD in architecture (University of Strathclyde, Scotland). For all his degrees, he was loyal to, and respectful of, Shagari, who didn’t have a degree. Ekwueme was called to the Nigerian bar in 1990 at the age of 58.

Therefore? Therefore, you could see the depth of knowledge, intellect and foresight in some of his contributions to the nationhood debate in Nigeria. In 1995, he proposed the six geopolitical zones which Nigerians now hold dearly as a commandment from God. To manage the mistrust and fears about domination among the different components of Nigeria, he suggested power rotation and six vice-presidents. To prevent the Yar’Adua scenario that we are yet to recover from, he proposed that if a president dies, resigns or is removed, the VP from the zone should complete the tenure. To tackle the oft-acrimonious re-election bids, he suggested a single-term tenure.

Not that all his ideas are perfect, but they offer solutions to some of our perennial political crises.

We freely discuss Nigeria today as north-west, north-central, north-east, south-west, south-south and south-east. I must say I have my reservations about the assumption that these sub-identities are settled. For instance, of the six zones, only the

Ekwueme south-east is close to homogeneity in ethnicity and religion — the two biggest identifiers in Nigeria.

The rest are far from homogenous. But, in fairness, Ekwueme’s idea of geo-political zoning represents a layer of nationhood that is largely acceptable even among agitators in today’s Nigeria. We owe Ekwueme some kolanuts for that.

Ekwueme apparently paid a price for his ideas.

His geopolitical proposal was initially interpreted as an attempt to break up or weaken northern political solidarity. I don’t know if that is the same perspective today. He was accused of trying to even things with the south-west by making sure the Igbo had a zone of equal status.

But how is that a sin? More so, his proposal to decentralise the army to make coups difficult, if not impossible, was twisted to mean he was advocating regional armies and promoting confederacy through the backdoor. I’m inclined to think these misinterpretations counted against him in his bids to be president in 1999 and 2003.

Courageous. When Gen. Sani Abacha was in power, his biggest opposition came from two camps: the civil society and senior politicians.

The civil society, with NADECO in the lead, fought from the trenches, insisting that the military should leave power and hand over to Chief MKO Abiola, the winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election. On the other hand, some elements in the political class, working from the inside, organised within their ranks to fight for the restoration of democracy, albeit without insisting on the restoration of Abiola’s stolen mandate. As narratives go in Nigeria, the only democrats were those who fought for Abiola.

Yet, the role of these politicians was as dangerous, if not as suicidal, as that of NADECO. Abacha was in no mood for any agitation for democracy as long as it did not mean perpetuating himself in power. Ekwueme was a key player in organising some politicians against Abacha’s self-succession plans that began to materialise in 1995. Ekwueme chaired the All-Nigeria Politicians Summit at Eko Hotel, Lagos, to demand a return to democracy. It was disrupted by political thus, with the security agencies watching as if they were at a cinema. Ekwueme also chaired the Institute of Civil Society (ICS), which continued the demand for a return to democracy.

After the launch of ICS, chaired by Justice Kayode Eso, Ekwueme held a meeting in his house in Lagos with northern politicians — Alhaji Abubakar Rimi, Chief Solomon Lar, Chief Sunday Awoniyi (all late now) and Mallam Adamu Ciroma — and told them there was an impression everyone in the north was supporting

Abacha’s transmutation plot. They agreed to fire a letter to Abacha, with the understanding that a pan-Nigerian group would follow. The northern politicians, called G-18, met in Kaduna and wrote to Abacha to demand a return to democracy. Lar delivered the letter. Abacha was yet to recover from the shock when the enlarged group, G-34, was formed.

G-34 met at Ekwueme’s Lagos office to finalise their plans. A committee of four — Prof. Uzodinma Nwala, Senator Onyeabor Obi, Prof. Jerry Gana and Ekwueme — prepared a stinging letter, warning Abacha not to transmute from military ruler to civilian president as he was planning to do, with the five political parties having adopted him as their “consensus” presidential candidate in a well-choreographed charade. It amounted to wilful suicide writing such a letter at a time Abacha was sparing no bombs in taking out his opponents. NADECO was already too hot for Abacha to handle. Now senior politicians were on his case. It was double trouble.

Abacha died in June 1998 and Abiola also died in detention the following month. We still don’t know the true details of what happened but we can reasonably speculate that the deaths were not accidental. The military moved to restore democracy and, naturally, G-34 was in the centre of things. It practically formed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which would go on to win the 1999 presidential election on the strength of its national appeal. Ekwueme, as a respected founding father, sought to be the presidential candidate but was defeated at the primary election by Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, whom many believed was the anointed candidate of the military.

Loyal. Ekwueme had every right to make life difficult for the PDP and Obasanjo over the presidential ticket in 1999. It had been agreed by the party’s national executive committee on November 24, 1998 that a presidential aspirant must have delivered his LGA and state to the PDP in the council and governorship elections. On that score, Obasanjo was not qualified to contest, yet it was clear the military wanted the next president to come from the south-west. Ekwueme did not make an issue out of it. He could have engineered a crisis and handed victory to the opponents by default. He was clearly a loyal party man. You don’t say that of many Nigerian politicians today.

Now, that was the point at which I began to idolise Ekwueme. He not only openly congratulated Obasanjo at the convention ground in Jos — a clear departure from the politics of bitterness we play in Nigeria — he went on to chair the campaign fundraiser for Obasanjo. Wait for this: when Dr. Pius Okigbo and Prof. Ben Nwabueze later went on air, on behalf of Ohanaeze, to declare that the Igbo should vote for Chief Olu Falae, Ekwueme countered. He personally paid for radio slots to ask Igbo to support Obasanjo. He even met with Igbo community in Lagos to push this position.

Sadly, Obasanjo was reportedly made to believe Ekwueme was behind the Ohanaeze broadcast.

For all his grace, therefore, Ekwueme was politically ostracised by Obasanjo. He was accorded only one ministerial slot, and even his nominee — Prof. Barth Nnaji from Enugu state — was not appointed. Not surprisingly, Ekwueme was more confrontational and unforgiving in his next bid for the PDP ticket in 2003. This time he did not congratulate Obasanjo. He believed there were underhand tactics at the convention which undermined fairness. But he never left the PDP. Fidelity is not a common virtue in Nigerian politics these days. Given that no human is perfect, Ekwueme thoroughly deserves our respect. I wish the Ide of Oko kingdom quick and full recovery.

And Four Other Things…

THE AVENGERS When they say peace and safety, then a sudden destruction comes. I’m actually quoting the Bible there. Nigeria has enjoyed some stability in recent times: the naira has stabilised, currency reserves are growing, the stock market is on the upswing, salaries are getting more regular, the jobs are coming back in droves, budgets are getting funded and we are even planning bigger spending. All because of two things: Niger Delta Avengers stopped attacking oil installations and crude oil prices have recovered, even hitting $60 last week from the low of $28 last year. Now that the Avengers are threatening to resume work, it’s time to fasten our seat belts.

Turbulence.

‘EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR’ Mr. Boss Mustapha, the new SGF, has reminded us about some aberrations called appellations in Nigeria. The term “executive governor” does not make sense. There is no “legislative governor” or “judicial governor”.

Neither do we say “the executive president of Nigeria”. There are more aberrations. “Mr. President” is not a title; it is a polite address in a direct conversation with the president, like: “Mr. President, may I crave your indulgence to…” But government officials habitually say “Mr. President has approved…” even in official letters. Meanwhile, can somebody please explain the use of “honourable” and “distinguished” as titles by lawmakers?

Megalomaniacs.

RIP JIDE TINUBU So quiet was the life of Kazeem Olajide Babajide Tinubu that when he died suddenly on Wednesday, there were no pictures of him in the media. Some even mistakenly used the picture of his brother, Seyi, who got married last year. His profile was nowhere to be found, making many to conclude that he was the same person as Wale Tinubu’s younger brother, also named Jide, who is a lawyer and co-founder of TSL Limited. You don’t often say “quiet” or “self-effacing” when describing the children of the Nigerian elite. My heart goes out to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the loss of his first son.

Jide was just 37, leaving behind a wife and three children. Condolences.

DAPSY AT 60 Almost 24 years ago, my path crossed that of a humble and humane mentor at TheNews magazine: Mr. Dapo Olorunyomi aka “Dapsy”.

I was a young journalist seeking a new direction. Dapsy, who was deputy editor-inchief, took me under his wings. He practically sired me in his intellectual monastery, along with many others who have gone on to greater things. He would later abruptly go into exile as Abacha’s killers came for his blood at a time it was dangerous to be a journalist in Nigeria (everybody is a journalist now). Thank God Dapsy, who is the publisher of Premium Times, the investigative online newspaper, is alive to mark his 60th birthday on Wednesday. Cheers!

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