Sunday 19th November 2017

Senate Awaits Presidential Nominees for Ministers List expected as early as this week Olawale Olaleye If things go according to plan, President Muhammadu Buhari would present a list of his new cabinet members to the Senate this week for approval, a

principal officer of the National Assembly disclosed to THISDAY last night.

Buhari had recently hinted at a possible cabinet expansion following a meeting with the leadership of his All Progressives

Congress (APC) as part of moves to close ranks and consolidate ahead of the 2019 elections.

Even though he has not pronounced his intention to seek re-election, Buhari is said to have perfected the list of at

least eight new ministers and some of the current ministries he plans to split like Transportation and Power, Works and Housing.

In his address on Tuesday, October 31, Buhari had promised the APC leadership that

he would expand his cabinet above the current 36-member structure to accommodate “fresh ideas and fresh blood”.

Although this is believed to negate his pre-election promise to run a relatively lean government

in order to reduce the cost of governance, the president said the new Federal Executive Council (FEC) would be expanded to bring in more supporters at the Continued on page 8

Mugabe Meets Army Chiefs as ZANU-PF Moves to Dismiss Him Today … Page 8 Sunday 19 November, 2017 Vol 22. No 8249

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With Proposed Borrowing, States’ External Loans to Increase by 40% 10 states proposed loans, 7 approved, 3 awaiting approval Current annual debt service ratio about 2.7% Fresh loans at concessionary rates

Kunle Aderinokun Barring any last minute change on approval of new borrowing, the total external loans contracted

by the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory are estimated to increase by 39.65 per cent, THISDAY can report.

As it stands, seven states

have secured approval to take external loans of $1.070 billion while three are awaiting approval to borrow $492.4 million to add to the existing loans.

The seven states that had been given the nod by the federal government are Abia ($200 million), Ebonyi ($70 million), Enugu ($100 million), Kano

($100million), Ogun ($350 million), Ondo ($200 million) and Plateau ($50 million). The states that are still waiting for the go-ahead are Jigawa ($32.4

million), Kaduna ($350 million) and Katsina ($110 million).

The new borrowing proposContinued on page 8

Anambra on Tenterhooks as Governorship Poll Result is Delayed Despite early conclusion of collation at polling units, state collation centre yet to receive result as at 4am today Election largely peaceful, large voter turnout in spite of IPOB’s threat Onyebuchi Ezigbo, Christopher Isiguzo, David Eleke and Amby Uneze in Awka The people of Anambra State went to bed last night with bated breath following the non-announcement of the winner of Saturday’s governorship election. The election which held in over 4000 polling units scattered across the 21 local government areas of the state, was largely peaceful and witnessed a large voter turnout, despite threats by the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB), which had earlier called for a boycott of the poll.

Though accreditation and voting were done simultaneously at the polling units, with collation of results concluded before 6pm in most polling centres, no result had arrived at the State INEC office, which is the state collation centre, as at 4am Sunday, a clear departure from the trend in the Edo and Ondo governorship elections held months ago.

37 political parties fielded candidates in yesterday’s election but five were considered Continued on page 8

CELEBRATING EDOZIEN AT 80…

L-R: The celebrant, Professor Emmanuel C. Edozien, his wife, Elizabeth; and former President Olusegun Obasanjo, during Edozien's 80th birthday dinner held at the Oriental Hotels, Victoria Island, Lagos...yesterday Kunle Ogunfuyi

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

PAGE EIGHT

Mugabe Meets Army Chiefs as ZANU-PF Moves to Dismiss Him Today Embattled President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe is set to meet army chiefs today.

According to ZTV, the state TV, citing Catholic priest Fidelis Mukonori, who has been mediating the negotiations, announced the proposed meeting yesterday.

Also today, the ruling

Zimbabwe African National Union– Patriotic Front (ZANU–PF) party will meet to dismiss Mugabe as its leader.

The party is also expected to reinstate ousted Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who has been backed by the army, as the deputy head of the party. The party is also

allegedly going to remove Grace Mugabe as the head of Women’s League.

Earlier media reports suggested that the ZANUPF party that has called on Mugabe to resign amid the political crisis, plans to convene an extraordinary meeting of its central

According to earlier reports, Mnangagwa, the vice president and likely successor who had been sacked by Mugabe, returned to the country to head the government.

Mugabe allegedly refused to step down at talks with the army commander.

Previously, an opposition

leader called on Mugabe to resign, saying that his removal from power would be in the interest of Zimbabwe’s residents, while the president is reportedly insisting that he remains the legitimate head of state and demanding guarantees of immunity should he step down.

card reader could not read his fingerprints, but he was able to vote because his voter’s card was verified by the device. “My card was verified but they said they couldn’t read my fingerprints,� he said.

On his part, the candidate of PDP, Mr Oseloka Obaze, while reacting to allegation of votebuying , absolved his party of such acts.

The candidate who voted at exactly 1:40pm at his Ogbaru Primary School, Ochuche ward 006, polling unit 001 said he intentionally stayed back until afternoon so as to give the people chance to vote, as he was more interested in his people being served first. He said he heard allegation of vote buying, but said that his party was not involved. He said he was confident that if the process was credible, he would emerge winner.

Obaze expressed satisfaction with the level of security and the conduct of the security agents, while also saying that he cannot discredit the process until his agents have collated reports in diverse parts of the state.

"I cannot react to that now. I do not have the statistics with which to furnish you with, but

reports are still trickling in, and I believe that if the process is right I will win the election."

In Nsugbe, Dr. Tony Nwoye of APC accused the Police of colluding with APGA to rig the election. Nwoye who spoke to journalists after casting his vote at about 12 noon at Ilo Abito Square in Nsugbe Ward 1 Unit 2, was however optimistic that he would emerge winner.

He commended INEC for ensuring that election materials arrived on time. But the National chairman of APGA who spoke to journalists last night, long after voting had ended, said that result collated from polling units showed that the party's candidate, Willie Obiano, has won.

He said, "I have a situation room here in my house, and from the results collated so far from the various polling units across the state, we have won. "I already said it before in a press interview that after listening to INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, during the stakeholders’ meeting that I was sure he would conduct a credible election.

"What I am saying is that nothing short of the results collated from units would be

accepted. It is not possible for them to declare a contrary result.

"I am confident that we have already won this election."

On their part, former National chairman of APGA, Chief Umeh, and Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the election, noting that reports from the field showed their party was maintaining a commanding lead.

On the decision of the people to defy IPOB’s threat participate in the election enmasse, Umeh said it was based on their appeal that people should ignore calls for boycott as it would not be in the interest of the people of Anambra State.

"We are happy that Ndi Anambra heeded our appeal to come out in their numbers," he said.

On his part, former President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr Dozie Ikedife, whose son is the APC gubernatorial running mate, faulted the arrangement at the polling units, saying that voters did not enjoy enough privacy while exercising their franchise.

it is said, will man Aviation and another may lead Marine Transportation.

According to the earlier report, the proposal sent to the president provides for the appointment of one minister each from the six geopolitical zones in the country and one from Lagos (who may be a nominee of Tinubu) and Kano State (who may be a nominee of Rabiu Kwankwaso).

The appointment of two more ministers from the two most populous states in the country is deemed strategic and is designed to ensure that the appointees from Lagos and Kano play crucial roles in delivering both states to the APC in 2019.

Particularly on the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, the president is said to have

stooped to pressure from some quarters that the three ministries put together may have been too much of a responsibility for an individual, even though he is believed to be comfortable with how the current minister, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, has so far handled his brief.

Fashola, THISDAY had reported, is expected to retain Works and Road Infrastructure, while an appointee from the North-east geopolitical zone will be appointed to man the Ministry of Housing and at the same time, an appointee from either the North-central zone or the South-east will be handed the Ministry of Power.

In the same spirit, Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, another ally of the president from Kano is expected to retain the Ministry of Interior, while Police Affairs Ministry may also be hived off from the Ministry of Interior, THISDAY had further learnt.

But the situation is not the same in the transportation ministry, where the minister, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, has been locked in a battle of supremacy with his junior counterpart in aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika.

Their rivalry, which Amaechi has allegedly attributed to insubordination and reported to Buhari, is said to have remained so without any effort by the president to call the parties to order. Instead, the president is alleged to be considering severing the two as the solution to the problem.

To that extent, once the ministry is split, Amaechi will man the Ministry of Rail Transportation while Sirika, who is currently a Minister of State

in the transportation ministry (aviation) will most likely be made a full Minister of Aviation. Another appointee will be given the Ministry of Marine Transport once it is severed from the transportation ministry.

Another minister, whose fate is also believed to be hanging in the balance, is the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, because his recent letter which highlighted some of the ills in the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), headed by Dr. Maikanti Baru, embarrassed the president and the presidency.

Largely believed to be on top of his job, presidency sources claimed Buhari has been pondering his options on how to handle Kachikwu’s case as he is no longer comfortable with him in the petroleum ministry, especially as the ministry might be useful in the countdown to the 2019 election. Sources claimed that while Buhari may not remove him outright on account of his capacity and ability to deliver, he might be moved to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to save face and avoid being seen as persecuting a member of their own team. A new nominee might be appointed Minister of State for Petroleum.

But the new cabinet structure, sources hinted, seemed to have significantly taken into account the core of the interest of a national leader of the APC, Bola Tinubu, who has been unhappy with the Buhari administration for allegedly side-lining him.

Buhari and Tinubu have met about three times in the last three weeks, an indication that the tide of their relationship might have begun to change significantly.

committee to discuss the developments in the country within 48 hours.

The development comes amid the so-called “Solidarity March� in Harare, with up to 5,000 people participating in the rally supporting the Zimbabwe army and calling on Mugabe to resign.

ANAMBRA ON TENTERHOOKS AS GOVERNORSHIP POLL RESULT IS DELAYED major contenders because of their political platforms and the perceived strength of the candidates. These include incumbent Governor Willie Obiano of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Mr. Oseloka Obaze of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Tony Nwoye of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Mr. Osita Chidoka of the United Progressive Party (UPP), and Mr. Godwin Ezeemo of the Progressive People Alliance (PPA). The candidates won their respective polling units.

The headquarters of INEC in Awka, located along House of Assembly Road, near Ekwueme Square, remained heavily manned by a combined team of soldiers, mobile policemen and DSS operatives waiting for results from local government area collation centres to arrive. Also keeping vigil at the INEC office were anxious journalists. But as at 4am, none of the results had arrived neither were any of the key officials of INEC present.

Results announced by INEC officials at some polling units monitored by THISDAY correspondents earlier on Saturday, showed that the ruling

party in the state, APGA, led in several of the polling units.

APC and PDP also had impressive showing.

At Agulu town in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State, two political gladiators, former Governor Peter Obi and Chief Victor Umeh from rival Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) respectively, recorded victory in their polling units. At Amatutu polling unit in Agulu , where Peter Obi voted, PDP won with 145, while APGA scored 40 , UPP 1, and APC 5 votes. Similarly, at the Uzuanunu polling unit in Agulu Uzo-Igbo in Anaocha LGA., Umeh's APGA won with 68 votes followed by APC 8, PDP 1 and NCP 1.

At Nkwo Ide public square 1 in Idemili North, where APC chieftain and former governor of Anambra state, Dr Chris Ngige, voted, APC scored 35 votes followed by APGA and PDP that scored 12 and 6 votes respectively.

At Umudim Ward 2, where Chukwuemeka and Bianca Ojukwu voted, APGA scored 261 votes, APC 98 and PDP 80 votes.

The governorship election

on a general note took off in all the polling units across the state in good time amidst large turnout of voters. A number of polling units visited by the THISDAY correspondents in Awka, Onitsha, Agulu, Nsugbe and Aguleri areas showed that voting and accreditation started simultaneously as early as 8 am. Some voters interviewed by THISDAY said that officials of INEC arrived at 8am to commence the business of the day.

There were also complaints of missing names in the register and this caused anxiety among the voters who were anxious to perform their civic duty.

Governor Willie Obiano voted in his Eri Ward 4, Aguleri in Anambra East Local Government Area at 9:57am.

The governor said the card reader failed to capture his fingerprint and expressed fears that it might have happened in other polling units thereby disefranchising the people.

The governor also told reporters that there was violence in Ihiala area.

He said: “My voter’s card was scanned but my fingerprint could not be accessed.�

Obiano explained that the

SENATE AWAITS PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEES FOR MINISTERS federal level. He also promised to re-constitute the boards of parastatals as pledged in 2016.

Describing the current FEC structure as compact, Buhari reiterated, “The compressed federal executive council will be expanded to bring in more supporters at federal level, with fresh ideas to be injected into the government. Last year, I said we would re-constitute the boards of parastatals. I must regret the fact that we have not done so, for many reasons. “Some of us in this meeting may know I had given instructions since October 2015 for this exercise to start. But there have been inordinate delays through several committees in an attempt to get the balance right and to make sure all parts of the country

are equitably represented. “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 soon. Especially now that the economy is improving, we will have the resources to cater to the appointees.�

The president is said to have concluded work as well as consultations, particularly with the governors on the list of the new ministers and is billed to make this public by sending it to the Senate for constitutional screening and approval.

But while the president gave the impression that the move was informed by the need to further energise the cabinet with fresh

ideas, there is also a growing belief among the people that it is simply jobs for the boys, especially with another election fast approaching and the fate of the party critically at stake.

Already, the president is said to have resolved to toy with the idea of splitting some key ministries in order to create fresh openings for the new intakes.

Thus, to accommodate the eight new prospective cabinet members, the plan, according to sources and as reported recently by THISDAY, is to get the president to split the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing into three ministries that will be manned by full ministers, and hive off the aviation and marine transport units from the Ministry of Transportation. One minister,

WITH PROPOSED BORROWING, STATES’ EXTERNAL LOANS TO INCREASE BY 40% als (approved and yet-to-be approved) will bring the total external loans by all the 36 states to an estimated $5.502 billion from the current level of $3.940 billion published by the Debt Management Office (DMO), representing a significant increase of 39.65 per cent.

A major proportion of the current external loans- that is, $3.727 billion-of the states was contracted from multilateral institutions while the rest ($213.245 million) were bilateral loans, the DMO debt data revealed.

A cursory look at the debt deductions from the federal allocations to the states, published by the ministry of finance, revealed that for July allocations shared in August, the states serviced their debts with N2.674 billion (about $8.05

million). When annualised, the implication is that, the states are servicing their debt with about $105 million yearly, translating to a debt service ratio of about 2.7 per cent.

When THISDAY confronted the government with danger in the increasing level of debts contracted by the states, which would be bequeathed to administrations coming after them, a ministry of finance official argued that the new and proposed loans were gotten at concessionary rates. According to the source, most of the loans are World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) credits.

In his view, Director, Union Capital, Egie Akpata, believed, the states were following the lead of the FGN to lower their

cost of borrowing by going abroad to secure USD debt at concessionary rates.

Noting that, “Analysis of Debt Management Office and ministry of finance data shows that outstanding state foreign debt of $3.7billion is being serviced for less than 3 per cent per annum, principal repayment inclusive,� Akpata said, “Clearly, such low rates and amortization periods of up to 30 years are not available locally.�

He, however, added that, “with some states increasing their foreign borrowing by 200 per cent at once, there is a risk that they could run into trouble servicing these debts in the next 5 to 10 years when the naira would most likely have suffered further devaluation.� “ The current administrations

would be out of office by then so won't have to deal with such future problems, “ he argued.

Egie, who reasoned that the “States looking for foreign debt were making a rational decision given the price and available tenor of local debt,� suggested that, “The local debt providers, particularly the capital market would need to improve their product offerings in order to compete with foreign debt.� “The local macroeconomic environment makes it difficult to provide local debt at low single digits. However, if the local market could provide timely debt with tenors of over 20 years, principal moratorium of at least 5 years and interest rates in low double digits, Naira debt might be able to compete with these foreign loans,� he submitted.

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

SUNDAY COMMENT

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

THE AMAECHI/WIKE STREET BRAWL The people of Rivers State deserve peace and good governance

T

here seems to be no end to the battle for superiority between the former governor of Rivers State, Mr Rotimi Amaechi and his successor, Mr Nyesom Wike. Last weekend, the strained relations between the duo again played out when their security operatives engaged one another in a street brawl in Port Harcourt to the amazement of onlookers. But the pertinent issue here is: If the sordid encounter was a sneak preview of what the 2019 elections may degenerate into in Rivers State, then the people should be very worried.

While the spin doctors of the two politicians are trying to outdo one another in the media, both men should share the blame almost proportionately. For Amaechi, an ex-governor must of necessity assume the responsibility of a statesman. The experience of eight years in office and his current role as a federal minister combine to make his recent utterances and actions clearly unacceptable. Similarly, the responsibility of a state governor compels Wike to rise above his rabid partisan and idiosyncratic limitations.

Incidentally, when the roles were reversed in the last dispensation under President Goodluck Jonathan with Wike as minister and Amaechi as then governor of Rivers State, the former was always using federal might to harass the latter. It would appear that the same scenario is playing out again but the people of Rivers State deserve peace. While a minister is responsible to all citizens of the country and can visit any state at any time, the frequency with which Amaechi visits Rivers is unhelpful. Meanwhile, the role of the governor as protector of all citizens in the territory

The Amaechi/ Wike brawl presents an opportunity to address the problem of the growing partisanship and lack of professionalism of the security operatives attached to VIPs in our system

Letters to the Editor

of a given state should also transcend petty inter personal squabbles. Therefore, Wike should not continue to behave like a mobster; he should face the job for which he was elected by the people of Rivers State.

We are particularly worried that Amaechi and Wike cannot work together for the good of Rivers State, especially considering that they are kinsmen. Whatever may be the issue, an open street brawl between two adult leaders has nothing to do with a contest for the good of the ordinary man or woman. It is a needless squabble over turf at a time when the nation is wracked mostly by a crisis of leadership. Both Amaechi and Wike must therefore stop inciting their supporters to violence and face serious issues of governance.

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

B

e that as it may, by far the greater failure in this incident is that of the security forces attached to both men.

The most elementary code of security in VIP protection is that the operatives attached to high political office holders must see themselves first and foremost as professional managers in the efforts to protect their principals while also ensuring that public order is not sacrificed even in episodes of dire stress and provocation. The best security systems in the world excel by navigating this precarious balance. The incident in question could very easily have been managed as a traffic matter if the security personnel acted first as professionals.

However, there is a bigger issue here. The sad fact in Nigeria is that once attached to protect individual VIPs, state security and police personnel quickly get absorbed into the political biases and personal idiosyncratic predilections of their principals. They soon become part of the politicians’ private army.

They are ready to die for such individuals and even kill opponents for them.

Clearly then, the politicisation of security forces begins with allowing their personnel to become permanently attached to key political office holders.

This is a level of corruption that has hardly been mentioned or addressed by the current anti- corruption csars. The Amaechi/Wike brawl therefore presents an opportunity to address the problem of the growing partisanship and lack of professionalism of the security operatives attached to VIPs in our system.

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.

The Appointment of Sarkin Bwari In FCT

F

ollowing the death of the Sarkin Bwari, His Royal Highness Alhaji Muhammad Musa Ijakoro, on August 29, 2017, the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello exercised his constitutional authority by appointing the son of the late Sarkin, Alhaji Awwal Musa Ijakoro as the new Sarkin Bwari in Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory.

But due the monarchical structure of the traditional institution in Bwari Area Council which has what could be described as two kings existing side by side – the Sarkin Bwari and the Etsu Bwari - there have been some agitations over the propriety or otherwise of this appointment.

Those against the appointment of Alhaji Awwal Musa Ijakoro as the Sarkin Bwari, which mainly

are those sympathetic to the Etsu Bwari, are saying it is a subjugation of the people, as, according to them, the new Sarkin is a Koro and a settler and not a Gbagyi and therefore cannot be king over the Gbagyis.

But a peep into history shows that this allegation is misleading because, to begin with, the palace of late Sarkin Bwari had been in existence some 40 years ago, even before the office of the Etsu Bwari came into existence. The late chief has been there for over 40 years. He did his 40 years anniversary last year because he was appointed in 1976 as the district head of Bwari.

In fact, he appointed all the village heads at that time and they are called Mai Angwa. His territory reaches up to Maitama Dutse and Kubwa.

Again, the late Sarkin was the

first chief to be turbaned in FCT, in July 1997. Mamman Nasiru was the Chairman of the Committee on FCT at the time and he recommended 19 chiefs for FCT. He also recommended Ija Koro to be given first class but eventually he was given second class. He was the first chief to be turbaned on July 23 by Lt. General Jeremiah Useni in 1997.

In fact, he was turbaned before the Ona of Abaji, Alhaji Adamu Yunusa was turbaned. The palace of Etsu Bwari came later on but it was not gazetted. But these earlier appointments were gazetted.

There are 14 gazetted chiefs in FCT. Furthermore, the claim also that the FCT Minister, Malam Bello did not follow due process in appointing the Sarkin Bwari is not true because the minister acted in accordance with the law and the appointment was done

pursuant to the powers conferred on him under the relevant sections of the FCT Chiefs (Appointment & Deposition) Act, 1997 and in accordance with established customs and traditions of the Bwari chiefdom. The nomination of Alhaji Awwal Musa Ijakoro was also accordingly endorsed by the Bwari kingmakers.

Understandably, the relationship between the two chiefs is a bit frosty.

There is this internal rivalry about who controls which areas, but that is normal.

For example, in Ijakoro’s days when he was alone, he controlled Kubwa. But when the late Etsu of Bwari came, he tried to control Kubwa and some other areas.

I think the agitation over this appointment is normal because when the Emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi Lamido was turbaned, he stayed in government house for one week before coming to the palace. So, I think it’s a tradition that

when you turban a chief, definitely, there are some people who will feel aggrieved. But after a while, everything will die down.

What is important however is that the new Sarkin Bwari is from the royal family and he was duly endorsed by the Bwari Council kingmakers. He was evaluated based on his quality and capacity and these were the deciding factors in chosing him to become a leader. The government has found Alhaji Awwal Musa Ijakoro worthy of being elevated to the status of Sarkin Bwari and if there is any disagreement over this, it should be about his leadership style, not on the basis of tribe or ethnicity.

Abuja is Nigeria’s centre of unity where every citizen has a right to live according to his religious belief, tradition and ethnic background.

––Danladi Akilu, Durumi II, Gudu District, Abuja.

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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 ͚Π˜ ͺ͸͚Ϳ

SUNDAYNEWS

News Editor Abimbola Akosile E-mail: Ă‹ĂŒĂ“Ă—ĂŒĂ™Ă–Ă‹Ë›Ă‹Ă•Ă™Ă?Ă“Ă–Ă?̜ÞÒÓĂ?ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁĂ–Ă“Ă Ă?Ë›Ă?Ă™Ă—Ëœ ͸΀͸ͺ͚͚͝Ϳ͞͝Π̙Ă?Ă—Ă? Ă™Ă˜Ă–ĂŁĚš

Apampa to Speak at TI-UK Business Integrity Forum Temitope Omabegho

GROOMING ENTREPRENEURS L-R: Country Partner, PwC, Uyi Akpata; Executive Secretary, Nigeria Content Development Monitoring Board, Simbi Wabote; Founder, Nigeria and Entrepreneurship: Summit & Honors (NESH), Mr. Emeka Ugwu-Oju, and Executive Director, SMEs, Bank of Industry, Waheed Olagunju, at the NESH annual conference held at the MUSON Centre, Lagos...recently

The CEO, Integrity Organisation, Mr. Soji Apampa, has been invited as one of the experts on anti-corruption issues in Nigeria to make a presentation on practical tips for doing business in Nigeria at the Transparency International- United Kingdom (TI-UK) Business Integrity Forum scheduled to hold in London on Thursday, November 23. The invitation, according to a statement from the organisation, is in line with its drive to consistently add its voice to the growing concerns of corruption and seeking practical ways to curb the menace.

The Business Integrity Forum (BIF) is a group of corporate supporters committed to the fight against corruption. The BIF was established in the late 1990s and, since the introduction of the UK Bribery Act and subsequent increase in anti-bribery enforcement, has grown into a lively forum.

Osinbajo: Money Laundering is West Africa’s Greatest Existential Threat t Says lines between terrorists, corrupt politicians, kidnappers, traffickers blurred t Laments barriers to repatriation of looted funds from developed countries Alex Enumah in Abuja

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said yesterday in Abuja that money laundering posed serious threat to crucial existential issues in West Africa, stressing that the menace needs to be tackled with utmost unity and determination. Osinbajo stated this at the opening ceremony of the 18th ministerial committee meeting of the InterGovernmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA).

The vice president said the

political and economic stability of countries in the sub-region depended heavily on a successful war against the movement of the proceeds of crime. He lamented the obstacles to the repatriation of looted funds stashed in the developed countries, despite various mutual assistance treaties and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) recommendations.

Osinbajo stated, “At risk from money laundering, especially the laundering of proceeds of corruption, and terrorist financing, are the stability of our

Suicide Attacks: Five Killed, Four Injured in Maiduguri Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri

Five persons were killed and four others injured on Saturday morning as suicide bombers made unsuccessful attacks on troubled Maiduguri, Borno State capital.

The residents of the troubled town, the birthplace of Boko Haram, were already in panic as there has been a surge in suicide attacks, traced to the terrorist group, in recent times.

During the week in suicide attacks by four persons on an outskirts of the town, 18 persons were killed on the spot while 29 others sustained injuries.

The panic in the town was heightened at the weekend as a text message was circulated round, claimed that many spot targets are being targeted for attacks in the latest security breach on the Northeast state, which has been under terrorist attack in

the last six years.

The text message in circulation read: “An information received from the Army intelligence that the Boko Haram suicide bombers are trying to attack NGOs’ vehicles, clinics, mosques, markets, churches, and all gathering places. “Therefore people should be vigilant on their movement. Please share this info with other NGOs actors. The source is from arrested Boko Haram boko yesterday (Friday) night along Gubio road.�

Confirming the suicide attacks on the town, the spokesman of the Police in Borno State, Victor Isuku, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, in a statement said: “In the wee hours of today 18/11/2017, two female suicide bombers detonated their IED vest in the outskirt of Alakaramtii village in Jere local government area, killing themselves alone.

financial and political systems, and ultimately the development of our countries and the prosperity of our people. “What this means is that we are dealing here with an existential threat – it’s either we wipe it out or it wipes us out.�

He said, “We know that the lines between terrorist groups, corrupt politicians, traffickers (whether of drugs, guns or people); fraudsters; smugglers; kidnappers; illegal oil bunkerers, etc., have always been blurry; that these groups have always found complementary

need for one another’s tactics and strategies. Indeed, if there’s one thing that the world’s deadliest terrorist groups, from Al Qaeda to ISIS to Al-Shabaab, have in common, it is the ease and expertise with which they diversify their criminal activity while retaining their overarching goal of inflicting maximum devastation.�

Osinbajo said the wideranging dangers of money laundering and other financial crimes should spur the countries to treat such criminalities with zero tolerance. “We have for long

enough affirmed our commitment as a sub-region to fighting money laundering and terrorist financing. We must now back this intent with forceful action and visible results,� he said.

He acknowledged the previous efforts of countries within the sub-region to fight money laundering and terrorist financing, but said more needed to be done, especially to keep abreast of new criminal tactics.

According to the vice president, “Information sharing is very important to the success of our fight. This means that

on the one hand we should rise above the temptations of secretiveness and mutual suspicion; and on the other hand, we must do everything in our power to sustain trust and confidence by safeguarding every piece of information that is being shared across national databases. “We must also strive to work beyond the barriers imposed by the differences in our various legal systems, bearing in our minds that the criminals we are tackling have never allowed themselves to be held back by these obstacles.�

Protest Against Senator’s Poor Representation Claims 5, Injures 7 in Kwara

Maiden Edition of HID Awolowo Annual Lecture Holds Nov 28

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

The HID Awolowo Foundation will host the first annual HID Awolowo Lecture on November 28, which will take place at the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Victoria Island, Lagos, starting at 10am.

The HID AwolowooFoundation was launched on September 19, 2016, under the aegis of the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation, with the aim of perpetuating the edifying legacy of Yeye Oodua HID Awolowo, the character of which was complimentary and contributed significantly to the success of the life mission of her husband, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

The topic of the 2017 annual lecture, according to a release issued by the Convener/Executive Director, Dr. O. Awolowo Dosumu, will be ‘Ethical Politics, Peace, Development and Security in Nigeria: The critical importance of women’s leadership’.

The one-day event will feature a

Five persons were reportedly killed in Lafiaji in Edu local government council of Kwara state weekend following the crisis that ensued between some irate youths of the town and the senator representing Kwara North senatorial district at the National Assembly, Senator Shaaba Lafiaji, over his alleged poor representation at the national assembly.

During the crisis, the residential building of Senator Lafiaji was reportedly burnt in the town while about seven persons were seriously injured.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in the state which confirmed the incident, told journalists in Ilorin yesterday that the incident happened when the senator was coming home on Friday night to participate in the local government council elections.

The state Public Relations Officer of the corps, Mr. Kunle

Bilesanmi confirmed the death of three persons and the burning of the house of Lafiaji.

Irate youths of the town, according to THISDAY investigations, were said to be protesting against the alleged poor representation of Senator Lafiaji who happens to come from the town.

It was gathered that the youths of the town had written a lot of letters to Lafiaji on the need to do the culvert leading to the town but they were said to have been ignored by him.

Sources said the youths who got the information that the senator was coming home for the local council elections in the town decided to mobilise themselves to the entrance of the town in order to prevent him from entering the town.

The sources added that when the senator got to the main entrance of the town, the irate youths were said to have laid ambush for him and asked him to go back.

keynote address to be delivered

by Dr. Oby Ezekwesili.

This will be followed by an inter-generational panel of discussants to highlight strategies for enhancing women’s leadership in Nigeria. The panellists are: Lady Maiden Ibru; Hajiya Naja’atu Muhammad; Yemi Adamolekun, and Bolanle Olukanni. The event will be chaired

by Senator Daisy Danjuma. “At a time when Nigeria is faced with challenges on so many fronts, with half of the population still at a disadvantage, it is important to reflect on the legacy of women like Yeye Oodua HID Awolowo. This event will serve as a call to action for Nigerian women to take their rightful place and use their voices and talents to chart a new course for Nigeria, one that will set us firmly on the path of peace, prosperity and development.

The general public is hereby cordially invited�, the release added.

T H I S D AY SUNDAY NOVEMBER 19, 2017

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T H I S D AY SUNDAY NOVEMBER 19, 2017

T H I S D AY SUNDAY NOVEMBER 19, 2017

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ÍŻÍˇËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍľ Ëž THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

OPINION Adamu And Education Strategic Plan Chidi Anselm Odinkalu argues that the authorities must do more to counter the increasingly missed opportunity of the ministerial strategic plan

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ducation may, at last, be receiving some attention in Nigeria. In Kaduna State, Governor Nasir el-Rufai is wielding the broom of his ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), against teachers in a controversial proposal to sweep away an estimated 22,000 of them who’re apparently unfit for the vocation. The supply line for competent replacements on this scale is unclear.

President Muhammadu Buhari’s 2018 budget proposes N605.8 billion to education, with N435.1 billion for recurrent, N61.73 billion for capital expenditure and N109.06 billion for the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC). This continues a pattern of lower spending on education for the fourth consecutive year from a high of 10.78% in 2015. In 2016, education received 7.92%, falling to 7.4% in 2017, before the most recent estimate, a mere 7.04% of the proposed budget of N8.6 trillion.

These numbers are, of course, a far cry from the UNESCO recommended level of 26%. Many are justifiably sceptical that Nigeria’s education sector currently has anything like the capacity to absorb spending on that level.

In Abuja, on Monday, November 13, President Buhari hosted a Cabinet retreat on education. Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, himself a teacher of considerable stature and Education Minister, Adamu Adamu, also addressed the retreat. Besides the presentations, the retreat involved little deliberation and ended with an inconclusive communique.

A high point of the cabinet retreat was the presentation of Minister Adamu Adamu’s “Education for Change: A Ministerial Strategic Plan, 2016-2019.� Launched in August 2016 and better known under the acronym MSP, its title is a play upon the “Change� mantra of the APC, and the United Nations’ Education for All campaign. At over 120 pages, most Nigerians, including senior staff of the Federal Ministry of Education (FMoE), are unlikely ever to read the MSP. In his foreword, Adamu promises to “welcome rigorous discussion with all levels of stakeholders to ensure a sustainable and enduring document.�

The MSP offers the minister’s vision for education in Nigeria, setting out three strategic outcomes namely: improving access, enhancing quality and strengthening sectoral systems. The scope covers 10 major areas. Under access, the MSP focuses on out-of-school children (OOSC); adult and special needs; technical and vocational; as well as basic and secondary education. Under quality, it addresses teacher education, curriculum in basic and secondary education as well as quality and access in higher education. Turning to systems, the MSP addresses education data and planning; information and communication technology (ICTs), and library services.

The MSP has some appealing features. For instance, it places priority on the twin challenges of OOSC and mass illiteracy. The plan

estimates the number of OOSC at 10.5 million and illiteracy at 38% of Nigerians or 60million. With reference to OOSC, it proposes “a state of emergency on education in the states most affected by the insurgency.�

By 2019, the plan will reduce by half the number of illiterate people in Nigeria through the deployment of 170,000 instructors, 100,000 of whom will be mobilised by the federal government and another 70,000 by the states. For the first time, the MSP offers a plan for pre-primary (nursery) education curriculum and also to close the policy gap which senior secondary education languishes outside UBEC. It rightly identifies the absence of a national language policy as problematic.

Despite these features, the MSP suffers serious flaws. First is its methodology. By its own admission, the document “derives from six main sourcesâ€?, including the APC manifesto; “the campaign promises of President Muhammadu Buhari‌ contributions from departments and parastatals in the Ministry; the reports, plans and documents that were produced in the past; contributions from our development partners; and our own insights.â€? There was no public participation it its development and it shows.

Second, in an age defined by data, the MSP is data-light. Its pivotal planning data are dubious or dated. Take the issue of OOSC, for instance. The MSP claims that Nigeria has “10.5 million out-of-school children�, a figure first used by the FMoE in its planning 11 years ago in 2006. Something is evidently wrong if it’s still the basis of planning today. Contradicting the MSP, President Buhari informed the country at the retreat that in Nigeria “an estimated 13.2 million children are out of school�, which is 33.3% or one-third more than the estimate by the MSP.

In an age deďŹ ned by data, the MSP is data-light. Its pivotal planning data are dubious or dated. Take the issue of OOSC, for instance.

The MSP claims that Nigeria has “10.5 million out-of-school childrenâ€?, a ďŹ gure ďŹ rst used by the Federal Ministry of Education in its planning 11 years ago in 2006.

Something is evidently wrong if it’s still the basis of planning today

In planning terms, this is disastrous.

Third, the MSP doesn’t make any coherent connection between its mission and its methods. It states the mission of the FMoE as “fostering the development of all Nigeria citizens to their full potential, in the promotion of a strong, democratic, egalitarian, indivisible and indissoluble sovereign nation under God.� Yet, it is silent on inputs, programmes or outcomes linked to its mission in support of democracy, coexistence or civics. In particular, the entire policy omits any acknowledgement of the Unity Schools which were established under the ministry precisely for this purpose.

Fourth, besides some half-hearted mention of NGOs and a laconic nod to “development partners� the MSP curiously has no place for partners. Oddly, however, it acknowledges: “the percentage of Nigeria’s budget committed to education is very low and needs to be upped� and adds that “well over 90% of the federal and state governments appropriations to the sector are committed to the payment of staff salaries and allowances.� Rather than see in this an opening for sharing stakeholding with other partners and models in the education sector - such as private providers, PTAs, old students as well as trusts - the MSP merely limits itself to spreading “costs across all different levels of government.�

Fifth, other than a complaint about “severe shortage of ICT skills and personnel� and “poor funding of ICT in education�, the MSP does not seriously explore the use of ICTs in pursuit of Education for All or synergies with private content and platform providers.

Illustrating its own limitations, the MSP is not available on any public platform.

Above all, more than one year after its launch, most of the MSP’s benchmarks remain un-costed promises that are not time-bound besides a vague commitment that “the cost of all remaining activities will be estimated� once the FMoE can “define all non-Federal activities in a separate ‘supplementary implementation plan’ of the MSP.� There are also no identified savings anywhere. Instead, it proposes to increase already bloated education overheads by elevating the National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS) to a parastatal. Bluntly, the MSP is remarkably lacking in any sense of urgency or efficiency.

These and many more flaws in the MSP highlight the reasons why Nigeria’s educational sector is in a difficult place. Education is a national priority on the recurrent list. States need both a coherent policy environment and a willing partner at the federal level. The MSP does not promise to bring such a partner to the table. On its face, it threatens to be a missed opportunity compounded by a failure of imagination. The minister has asked for help. If he is serious, he should take the MSP to the country. –––Odinkalu is the President-General of the Unity Schools Old Students Association

PDP And The Eight Wise Men The fortunes of the PDP in 2019 will be determined by the calibre of its chairman, argues Abel Oshevire

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benga Daniel. Jimi Agbaje. Olabode George. Rashidi Ladoja. Raymond Dokpesi. Toaheed Adedoja. Tunde Adeniran. Uche Secondus.

Eight great men. Eight wise men. Eight distinguished, powerful and success high-flyers.

These outstanding Nigerians of no mean repute and achievements are offering themselves for service as National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). No doubt, any one of these men has the capacity and wherewithal to occupy that powerful but highlydemanding office.

However, since there can only be one national chairman of the PDP at any given time, only the very best among these great eight gladiators, can assume the position come December 9, 2017. It therefore behove the aspirants to demonstrate maturity and the spirit of sportsmanship by accepting the outcome of the convention in good faith and team up with whosoever emerges winner to build the party for the great task ahead. None of them must yield to the temptation to do otherwise, no matter the provocation.

So far, the conduct of all the aspirants is worth commending.

They have exhibited the highest degree of decorum, in their choice of words at consultations and inter-personal relationships. They are known to be holding meetings among themselves, in demonstration of the fact that it is a family affair. Chief Raymond Dokpesi is reported to have attended the formal declarations of some of his co-contestants, as well as paying visits to others. This, indeed, signals a new dawn in the annals of real politics of no bitterness in the PDP. Furthermore, the decision of the caretaker committee to commit the aspirants to sign an undertaking to be of good conduct and accept the outcome of the convention without malice, is a most heartwarming development, particularly with the acceptance of all the contestants to sign the document without reservations.

As the delegates, who are representatives of the owners of the biggest political party in the African continent, the PDP, converge in the next couple of days, precisely Saturday, December 9, 2017, to pick a new leader from among the eight wise men, to lead the

party to battle in 2019 against the All Progressives Congress (APC) they must be guided by history; to do the right thing and resist a weakling or a mole being foisted on the party.

Given the fact that the PDP is going to battle for the first time as a party in opposition, the quality of the leader to lead the battle must be one who is strong in character, fearless, focused, detribalised, uncompromising and can command the confidence of the majority of members of the party to provide the requisite leadership to guide the party to victory. Above all, and quite instructive, is the fact that such a person must be a man of integrity, unblemished character, a team-player and a bridge-builder who must strive to work against all odds, to rebuild, rejuvenate and reposition the party for effectiveness, to attract and accommodate new members, including all or most of the former aggrieved members who left the party for whatever reasons. It will no doubt require a master strategist and a man with a large heart to accomplish that seemingly impossible task of taking back the PDP to its glorious past.

Consequently, as the over 3,000 delegates from the 36 states and Abuja gather on December 9 to make history, they must put the interest of the party above every other consideration. Money should never be a factor so that we don’t mortgage our destinies and those of our unborn children for a mess of pottage. Neither should tribal sentiment blind their senses of judgment and sway their decisions.

Every one of the eight contestants for the exalted office of national chairman must be critically x-rayed and the best and most qualified among them elected to do the job. It is obvious that the fortunes of the PDP in 2019 will be determined by the calibre and quality of the chairman that emerges from the convention. Will the delegates trade off the position to the highest bidder who, in return will, in 2019 sell positions to highest bidders and thereby impose candidates on the party and cause discontent? Or will they be patriotic enough to shun all overtures and elect a courageous and committed ‘general’ to lead the party to victory in 2019? Again, the desire and concern of every genuine and committed PDP

member today who truly wishes that the party bounces back and rescue the Nigerian ship that is drifting aimlessly and restore hope to Nigerians who have been battered and impoverished by the clueless APC government, is not what region of the South the chairman emerges from, but that it should be a chairman that can deliver the goods. The party cannot afford a weak or a lily-livered person or another ‘sheriff in town,’ who will abandon the battle midway or surreptitiously work for the opposition as in 2015, particularly if the Tribune story of Sunday, November 12, is to be taken seriously. According to the Tribune story titled: ‘2019: APC Plots takeover of South for Buhari,’ one of the three plots of the APC to achieve its objective of taking over the South is “to work with some of the PDP stakeholders to install a ‘weak’ national chairman.� Indeed, we must avoid such a surreal situation that will give the enemies within the party cause to celebrate.

Without doubt, the battle in 2019 will be tough. But with the right choice of a leader to lead the onslaught against the ruling party, PDP should be victorious.

The Port-Harcourt convention must be commended for zoning the Presidency to the 19 states of the North and the National Chairmanship to the 17 states of the South. Any attempt to micro-zone any of these two major and strategic offices would amount to enthroning mediocrity and thereby spell doom for the PDP. By throwing the positions open, the party will definitely be better for it as the coast has been expanded to accommodate everyone qualified and interested in the position from the South so that the best, only the very best, would emerge and guide the PDP in giving the ruling party a run for its money. In this regard, the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led Caretaker Committee deserves special commendation for being steadfast in resisting all pressures to micro-zone the national chairmanship to any particular zone in the south and ensuring a level-playing ground for the aspirants to market themselves to delegates and other stakeholders without let or hindrance. ––Oshevire was a member of the Delta State House of Assembly

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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 19, 2017

LETTERS Memo To PresidentialAdvisory CommitteeAgainst

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n Friday, November 10, 2017, the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) held an interactive session with stakeholders in Abuja. It was an opportunity for the PACAC to present a two-year scorecard against some of the negative backlash it has received from the media and the Nigerian political elite. I held the same view with the generality of Nigerians and that view has been supported by the PACAC itself: based on allegations that the government of President Muhammadu Buhari was being ‘selective’ with its anti-corruption effort.

I’d written to and called the PACAC chair Itse Sagay. I sent him a salvo of questions in relation to that argument. I suspect that he was too busy to respond to those questions and I eventually did not get any response from him.

Think-tanks like the PACAC are usually ineffective if there is a virile political ideology on ground, especially to the extent that Nigerians interpreted the body language of Mr. President as largely skewed.

Therefore, the advisory body has received negative feedback in relation to its key term of reference – the promotion of the reform agenda of government on the anti-corruption effort

Itse Sagay

and the coordination and implementation of all anti-corruption legislation and interventions. I believe that part of the reason for that negative feedback is the problem of perception and the failure of the PACAC to address that negative perception innovatively.

The opportunity of this meeting for me therefore was to examine the PACAC up close. The night before, I’d gone through its August 25July 2017 report. Like a true think-tank, I found out that the committee is made up

of well-respected professors – Sagay, Odekunle, Alemika, Radda and Owasanoye. And that – having 90% of the committee as professors - is in itself a problem because even though the PACAC has churned out paper after paper, and has held workshop after workshop (there are 54 of these workshops in two years) with key stakeholders the negative feedback which holds the PACAC as an effete government body persists.

Therefore up close at that meeting some of my worst fears about the PACAC were

confirmed. First was the fact that the PACAC, contrary to our expectations, is not a strong government agency like the EFCC or ICPC. It is but just an advisory committee. Even though it got and gets good funding from Norway, the United States and the Open Society Foundation, the PACAC still contends with the many quasi-advisory bodies in and out of Aso Rock for relevance. It has no firm control of the anti-corruption fight, and whatever advice it gives to the president, there is no guarantee that it will be taken into account against the centrifugal and centripetal forces at play currently in Nigeria today. What however has made the PACAC as prominent as it is today has been the passionate disposition of its chairman. He has taken on very powerful members of the political elite, and treaded where angels would fly instead of performing a miracle. But his mistake is that while blaming the corrupt political elite in the Jonathan administration as the stumbling blocks to the work of PACAC and the fight against corruption, he is just as well beginning to realise that there is also a very corrupt political elite within government fighting very hard to scuttle the anti-corruption effort.

The PACAC chairman said that his committee has

Sani, El-Rufai And Kaduna Teachers

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he quality of teaching and learning in schools, I believe, is a shared responsibility irrespective of our differences and a senator who claims to have the interest of his people at heart should know better.

In October, at a meeting with some World Bank representatives, Governor Nasir el-Rufai had made his intentions of disengaging over 20,000 teachers in Kaduna State. Their crime?

They failed to score up to 75 per cent in a primary four examination which the state set for them to test their competency level and academic abilities. The governor also blamed the politicisation of hiring of teachers in the past for this disgrace and vowed to change this by replacing the soon-to-be-sacked teachers with competent hands after, of course, putting them through professional screening.

In his response, a “sworn enemy” of Governor El-Rufai, Senator Shehu Sani, condemned the move calling it “inhumane” and the “height of lunacy”.

It’s quite a shame that the lawmaker allowed his hate for El-Rufai becloud his reasoning. There is no reason why a child of the peasant should not enjoy the basic right of

being taught by a qualified teacher, just like Sani’s children. Hate El-Rufai all you want (and this applies to the rest of those who have condemned this move), encouraging the status quo, in this case, is what is inhumane and the height of lunacy.

The quality of the education of a nation could be determined by the quality of her teachers and the most important factor in improving children’s achievement is by filling our classrooms with people trained in this process - qualified teachers.

Issues such as the quality of schools, teachers and the education provided to our children should be of utmost importance to all of us. It is pertinent to note that schools in other climes have been preparing their children – the next generation – to compete and win in the global space while we’re still grappling with unteachable teachers.

Teachers who probably should be schooled by their pupils! Supposed teachers who are unable to pass a test for primary four pupils. Teachers who don’t know the meaning of the acronym of the education board. Teachers who can’t even write a proper sentence. Teachers who are better off sticking to their various skill sets,

one of which I am certain is everything but teaching.

What is worse, a senator throws his weight behind the even more disgraceful and inhumane protest organised by the state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers for the recall of these teachers – all for purely political reasons.

In other climes, unions like this warn against the use of unqualified teachers in school so as not to jeopardise the children’s education.

I repeat, hate el-Rufai all you want, but if you are opposed to this feat, then, your sincerity of purpose should be questioned. As a matter of fact, I think this exercise should extend to all the states of the federation, especially those in the North. It is high time we held our teachers, schools, communities as well as representatives accountable for the education of our children so they can have an excellent future. Pray, will Senator Sani allow his children get schooled by these teachers? Is the future of these children worth jeopardising because of some political vendetta? I totally agree with El-Rufai that it will be irresponsible not to act in this kind of despicable situation.

However, while the move by the governor is commendable and worthy

of emulation, the infamy we just saw in Kaduna State has exposed our flawed education system. Some questions like how these teachers even passed the NCE and qualified to be teachers in the first place are worth asking. It is time to tackle the real fundamental issue with our education sector. Pray, why should there be a segmentation of cut-off points for say, entry into a college of education?

Why should the cut-off point in the South differ (by a wide margin) from that of the North? This, I believe, is encouraging impunity, laziness and endangering the future. Truth is, you cannot provide what you don’t possess. In the end, we end up churning out these kinds of teachers who continue to wreak havoc by shattering the hopes of our future generation if we do not jettison practices like these.

That said, ensuring that we have teachers with expertise in our classrooms is crucial in achieving the best student outcomes and an improved society.

It’s time to act and not rob our children of their entitlement- they won’t forgive us tomorrow.

–––Chiechefulam Ikebuiro, chiechefulamikebuiro@ gmail.com

been a success. Among areas which the PACAC said it has succeeded included asset recovery, sanctions, enforcement and prevention.

But I believe it has failed, and very woefully too with one key area of its strategic areas of focus – public engagement and ethical revolution. As far as I am concerned, public engagement and ethical re-evaluation are bride and bridegroom. One comes the other follows, and for PACAC to succeed, it must redefine its understanding of those terms – public engagement and ethical re-evaluation. To engage looters, beat them at their game, and get the common people as allies goes beyond fraternising with the elite and the press. As we speak, the PACAC has no signature achievement beyond its media presence and papers and workshops to which it can be Eureka about.

With this in mind, I made my suggestion to the PACAC. I told them at that meeting that it must consider the innovative method of producing movies, to be aired on national and private television, distributed in primary and secondary schools, in villages and

hamlets right across Nigeria.

My suggestion is based on my conviction that if the PACAC does not want to go down in history as an effete think-tank, and that if it is really serious about taking the fight from the national to the sub-national level where corruption is greatest, it must get the people behind it as allies. How to do that is an experiment we carried out in ANEEJ: realising that press releases, opinion articles and advocacy visits/workshops with stakeholders are marginal and one dimensional as a methodology as a tool for fighting societal problems, we took to producing movies which focused on the spectre of rape at three levels of our educational institutions. We did that realising that all that Tanzanians, Ugandans, Liberians, Sierra Leoneans and Cameroonians and the rest of Africa know about Nigeria is not from the Network news at 9pm, Nigerian newspapers, the Nigerian embassy or the Nigerian website but from our ‘home videos’.

––Bob MajiriOghene Etemiku, ANEEJ Communications manager, Benin City

A Twisted Morality

W

hen news first made the rounds that Mallam Mohammed Mohammed, the Vice-Principal of Day Secondary School, Tunga, Minna, Niger State, impregnated his 16-year old Junior Secondary School 3 (JSS 3) student, hell broke loose as fire and fury was initially rained down on this felon by way of widespread condemnation, calls for arraignment in court and imprisonment.

Parents were united in their trepidation for the safety of their daughters and everyone sought quick justice and harsh deterrent.

Soon after, nothing more was heard of this case and the rumour mill was then awash with the gist that this felon’s punishment had been lightened and he had been transferred to another school altogether. Not until very recently when the parent of the student-victim cried out about the suffering the family is enduring that we all knew what was actually happening. The young maid that was defiled was called Faith Galadima, and this was the singular reason for the relief that anxious parents are now feeling. Yes, she was “Faith,” not “Aisha or Fati or Nafisa or Maryam or Farida or Jummai.

Anyone named “Faith” was a Christian and to the generality of the anxious public the Vice-Principal only went after “one of the unbeliever sisters,” thus incarcerating him would have been too harsh and he should just be allowed

to pay upkeep for the first three years of the baby’s life.

It would have been utterly terrible for Mallam Mohammed if he had “spoilt” a “Muslim sister” who is a future wife of “a fellow brother in the ummah.” In short, this is the tragedy of a typical Muslim-majority town of Northern Nigeria and the yokes that Christians bear.

What are similar to Faith Galadima’s case are abduction, rape, and forceful conversion to Islam with the imprimatur of the local emir or imam. Apparently, over here in Northern Nigeria there is no universal standard of morality for Christians and Muslims.

The scaled-down version of this tragedy is what IGP Ibrahim Idris happily touted so openly, something to the effect that a man can choose romantic liaisons at will at his place of work (especially if that man is boss) with the intention of completing his full-complement of four wives.

Well, if a Muslim man desires four or more wives, so is his way but if that desire involves sexual harassment of Christian women, then that is not acceptable. We understand that one of IGP Idris’ mistresses is named “Esther” and this means she is some hapless Christian policewoman who got trapped in the sexual lust-sphere of Mr. Ibrahim Kpotun Idris.

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

16

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍŻÍˇËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍľ

INTERNATIONAL

People’s Friendship as an Instrument of Chinese Foreign Policy Towards Africa

C

hinese foreign policy towards Africa as at today can be likened to France’s policy towards Nigeria in the period immediately following Nigeria’s independence. By then, Franco-Nigerian ties were difficult essentially because of the French atomic tests in the Reggane area of the Sahara desert to which Nigeria was vehemently opposed. with However, France never allowed her political disagreement with Nigeria to undermine her economic interests in Nigeria, hence she adopted a policy of maintaining a dichotomy in which political and economic relationships were allowed to Telephone : 0807-688-2846 develop together regardless of the differences of the two countries. e-mail: bolyttag@yahoo.com In this regard, policymakers argued that Nigeria’s potential to become a great country in the future, especially in light of her big population and material resources was a major to always reckon with in relating with Nigeria. In fact, by then, Nigeria told the world that she did not want to be addressed as ‘La NigĂŠria but ‘Le NigĂŠria’, in order to simply show that Nigeria had come of age.

Put differently, the Tafawa Balewa administration did not want to be likened to a woman but to a strong man. Thus, the attitudinal disposition of France was therefore to learn how to manage Nigeria’s new nationalism and how to continue to hope for better days and understanding to come.

The Chinese policy attitude towards Africa is not essentially different in terms of better days to come. The Chinese believe that Africa has a bright future, especially if its leaders are assisted and able to harness the continent’s human and material resources well, as well as able to sustain an environment of peace and security, considered a sine qua non for economic growth and development.

In this regard, maintenance of peace and security is given special emphasis in Chinese foreign policy to the extent that the quest for peace is sought at the level of promotion of people-to-people relations as an instrument for the attainment of Chinese national interest in international relations. As noted by the Chinese Consul General to Nigeria, Liu Kan, in a statement following the conclusion of the CPC 19th Congress, ‘China remains firm in its commitment to strengthening friendship and cooperation with other countries on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence (mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity; mutual non-aggression; mutual non-interference in each other’s internal affairs; equality and mutual benefit; and peaceful coexistence.’ Perhaps, more noteworthy, is the Consul General’s reaffirmation of the readiness of China to forge ‘a new form of international relations, featuring mutual respect, fairness, justice, and win-win Map of Yunnan Province, China cooperation.’ And to a great extent, there can be no disputing the fact that the foundations of a new form of international relations see and then leave whatever opinion you may wish to have for are already being laid, with the increasing emphases being placed you. This is the policy of ‘seeing is believing!’ by the Chinese government on the formation of Chinese friendThe BOCIDASS delegation, which included Dr. Tunde ship associations and the promotion of their ties with various Emmanuel, ICT and Electrical Engineer and Mrs. Toyin Jaiyeola, peoples of the world. It is within this context that academics, Director of the International Christian Business School, visited politicians, and other professionals have always been invited to Kunming, Dali Old City, Lijiang, all in the Yunnan Province. Kunvisit various parts of China, not only by the Chinese government ming, which has the fifth biggest single terminal airport in China, but particularly by various Chinese Friendship Associations. was the first official port of call. Five years ago, the environmental Last week, the Bolytag Centre for International Diplomacy and location of the Kunming airport was nothing to write home about.

Strategic Studies (BOCIDASS) visited the Yunnan Province on It was a local village Ă la Nigeriana. The airport area has not only the kind invitation of the Chinese Consulate General in Lagos, been turned into a modern city, it also boasts of 1000 domestic and from Friday, 10th to Friday, 17th November, 2017, days of travel international flights daily. inclusive. Yunnan Province is one of the six provinces into which Kunming has a population of 7.2 million people, out of which, the People’s Republic of China was divided: Guangzhou, Yunnan, for every 205 people, there are 105.7 men and 100.0 women. Their Fujian, Xizang, Neimeng and Hebei, province. lifespan is 76 years. It supplies 70% of flowers in China. It is the What is particularly noteworthy about these people’s visit is second largest auction centre for flowers and exporting flowers that guests are often taken to areas where the Chinese are making to 46 countries. Kunming is also not the only biggest centre for serious development impacts. For instance, it seems that the the manufacture of cigarettes in Asia, it also plays host to the most Chinese Consulate General in Lagos is interested in showing expensive cigarette in China. Ten packs of cigarettes, 16 cigarettes case development feats in China following the 19th Congress in each pack, cost N28,000. Additionally, Kunming has the 6th of the Communist Party of China, and particularly to justify the largest fresh water lake in China, as well as the tallest building, re-election of President Xi Jinping. with 308 metres (67 storey building), called the Twin towers with Perhaps, most interestingly, when international observers helipad facilities on top. criticise China for whatever reasons, the Chinese often respond Perhaps, most interestingly, Cheng Lianyuan, the Party Comby simply organising visits of independent observers to go on mittee Standing Member of Yunnan and the Party Committee Sectour of the relevant areas or to discuss the issues, or simply extend retary of Kunming, has described Kunming as ‘the spring floral invitation to people to come to participate in seminars or group city of the world, the historical and cultural city, the open portal discussions on the issues in China. And true enough again, the of the South West, the international tourism city, the vibrant city Chinese, from time to time, invite foreigners to come and see the of China. Kunming is quickening its paces to be an international height of their development efforts. The Chinese simply make you metropolitan and a regional centre.’

VIE INTERNATIONALE

Bola A. Akinterinwa

People-to-people relationship is not simply a potent soft power but a quiet and alternative method of addressing issues that ofďŹ cial diplomacy might have failed in solving. There are several foreign policy stakeholders that can be engaged to undertake the preliminary discussions. The BOCIDASS has already provided for a people-to-people platform for discussions on foreign policy questions. There is the Association of Retired Career Ambassadors of Nigeria (ARCAN), which could be appropriately required to drive the relationship at the ofďŹ cial level

The essence of the foregoing is to suggest that villages are turned into cities with ease but much of patriotic zeal and one major dynamic that is hardly talked about in developing countries is Chinese self-imposed educational discipline, the illustration of which was clearly demonstrated at the Yunnan University, another institution being show-cased.

At the Yunnan University, it is on record that, under the Sui and Qing dynasties, opportunity was given to everyone to become great and whatever he or she wanted to be, especially in terms of being a leader in the society. In this regard, however, one must write an examination for the purposes of political leadership in China. What is quite interesting about the examination is that it is in three areas. Each examination lasts for three days, meaning that, for the three examinations, nine days were required. The students sleep in the examination room. They must eat in the examination room.

In fact, during the period of nine days, no student writing the examination was allowed to go out of the room at all, except to go out very briefly to ease himself or herself, but again, under security guard surveillance. The examination was for both the young and the old. This means that since a long time ago, examination cheating had been taken seriously and contained. This is one objective way of appreciating Chinese development: imposition of self-discipline, self-reliance, and self-dignity.

Also at the Yunnan University, an open and comprehensive place with century-old trees adorning the various lawns and roads, the BOCIDASS delegation met with the faculty and post-graduate students of the Yunnan University Centre of African Studies. The Director of the Centre, Professor Zhang Yonghong, who had not only worked at the University of Jos, Nigeria on exchange programme basis, but who also doubles as the Executive Director of the Research Center for China-South Africa People-toPeople Exchanges at Yunnan University, underscored the three main foci of his centre.

The first is to work as a think tank for China-Africa Cooperation, meaning that the centre is playing a complementary role to the efforts of the Government of China. This also explains why the centre can apply for government funding of its research programmes and why the centre can also establish cooperation partnership programmes with several African institutions. Within the various partnership programmes, researchers are allowed to carry out their research as they determine and approved within the framework of the national interest.

Professor Zhang Yonghong also made the point that, as China is part of the developing world, there is the need to focus greater attention on technology development, especially in terms of development of indigenous knowledge and resources.

The journey from Kunming to Dali City was by air. It took about three and a half hours. Dali, as a word means marble or great administration. Who says Dali is also implying the terra cognita of marble and great administration. Marble is in abundance. Dali is also famous for minority groups, thirteen in number. There are six tribes and the Bai is the main ethnic group with more than one million people. The total population of Dali is three million while its territorial size is 29,000 sq. km.

What is particularly noteworthy about Dali City is its Mount Cangsham Mountain Global Geopark, located in the Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture. The Geopark, which has an altitudinal range of 4122-2100 metres above sea level and ‘located in a climate transitional zone and characterised by vertical climate and vegetation zones,’ has the ultimate goal of protecting ‘geological heritage and promoting socio-economic development, in this sense, the Cangshan Geopark is an excellent example of how geological relics combine with local culture to promote geological heritage protection and faster local economic and social development.’ The journey from Dali to Lijiang was by road and the road was macadamised and free of potholes. Travelling by road enabled a better understanding of Chinese conception of a village and its lifestyle. All the various villages on the way have basic amenities, including good road infrastructure. The many tourist centres of attraction, all of which clearly show that China cannot be rightly considered as a Third World country, necessarily require recategorisation. Aspecial world may have to be specially articulated to which China may belong.

The BOCIDASS delegation visited the Black Dragon Pool in Liajiang, the Bai Shai Old Town, the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Watch Lijiang Impression Show, where 500 artists perform and ‘acted by soul, where a banquet is watched by heart, and where a dream is made in the day time,’ the Spruci Meadow, Blue Moon Valley, and the Mu’s family Embroidery School in Bai Shai Village.

All these tourist centres actually reflect centuries of civilisation and technological development. They show how a people can preserve their past, while also opening their doors widely to other cultures. More important, the various places visited in different communities also show even development, and clearly suggest an increasing progress in poverty reduction. They raise questions on Africa’s developmental attitude compared with that of the Chinese. Can Nigeria or Africa learn from the experiences of other countries, like China?

(See concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com)

17

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

BUSINESS

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

LAST WEEK Inflation The National Bureau of Statistics said inflation rate, measured by the ConsumerPriceIndex,furtherdropped to 15.91 per cent in October from 15.98 recorded in September. The NBS disclosed this in its CPI report for October released in Abuja. The CPI increased by 15.91 per cent (year on year) in October 2017. According to the bureau, this is 0.07 per cent points lower than the rate recorded in September (15.98 per cent). It said theindexmadeittheninthconsecutive decline or slowdown in the inflation rate since January.

Electricity Debt The federal government on Monday announced that it had recovered $64.6 million in electricity debt from its international customers.

Minster of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, announced this at the 21st monthly power sector meeting in Asaba. Fashola said the money recovered was from Benin and Niger Republic. He said Nigerian Bulk ElectricityTrader would work out modalities for distribution of the fund to the value chain operators. The minister also announced that Rural Electrification Agency had completed guidelinesfortheoperationoftherural electrification fund.

Buhari presenting the 2018 budget to the National Assembly

2018Budget:PwCPredictsFiscalDeficit May Overshoot Projection by 67.7 % Says non-oil revenue target could underperform Vincent Obia

President Muhammadu Buhari presented the 2018 budget to the National Assembly on November 7, in a rare early financial plan meant to consolidate on marginal macroeconomic gains made since the country’s exit from recession in the second quarter of the year, and break the jinx of late budget implementation. But it appears the key goals of Buhari’s “budget of consolidation” may not be achieved, going by a report by leading professional services provider, PricewaterhouseCoopers.

PwC said in the report published on Tuesday that effective implementation of the budget would depend on increase in government revenues, but it doubted the capacity of the government to achieve its revenue projections.

The 2018 budget has a proposed total expenditure of N8.612 trillion, 16 per cent higher than the 2017 budget estimate of N7.441 trillion. An aggregate expenditure of 2.652 trillion or 30.8 per cent of the total budget (inclusive of capital in statutory transfers) is allocated to the capital budget.

This is in keeping with the policy of allocating at least 30 per cent of the annual budget to capital expenditure, which the government has implemented since its first full year budget in 2016.

The budget contains a fiscal deficit of N2.005 trillion (or 1.77 per cent of Gross Domestic Product), a reduction from the 2017 figure of N2.356 trillion. The deficit is to be financed with new borrowings estimated at N1.699 trillion, 50 per cent of which will

ECONOMY be sourced externally, while the balance will be sourced domestically. N2.014 trillion of the budget is allocated to debt service.

The key parameters and assumptions for the 2018 budget include benchmark oil price of $45 per barrel; oil production estimate of 2.3 million barrels per day, including condensates; exchange rate of N305/$; real GDP growth of 3.5 per cent; and inflation rate of 12.4 per cent.

The budget is looking to generate N11.983 trillion for the economy (N6.387 trillion from oil and gas sources and N5.597 trillion from the non-oil sector), with total federal government revenue of N6.607 trillion, 30 per cent more than the 2017 target.

In pursuit of the government’s economic diversification agenda, it projects that oil revenues would account for N2.442 trillion (37%) of the government’s revenue share of N6.607 trillion, while N4.165 trillion (67%) will be from non-oil revenue sources.

But PwC Nigeria said judging from experience, there might be an underperformance in non-oil revenues, which could result in higher fiscal deficit.

It stated, “The 2018 budget proposes an aggressive increase in non-oil revenues to NGN4.2 trillion. Relative to the 2017 budget, the target is 44.6 per cent higher; this variance could be close to 100 per cent when compared to our estimate of the actual non-oil revenue collected in 2017.

“Whilst the reduced reliance

on oil revenues is plausible, the trend and reasons for revenue underperformance in prior years suggest that this target might be difficult to achieve.

“Nigeria’s low tax to GDP ratio (around six per cent) is a consequence of a poor and inefficient tax collection system. While the government has implemented specific measures to address this by expanding the tax base and increasing tax compliance using various incentives, the impact is yet to materialise. As a result, we estimate that the fiscal deficit could overshoot projections by as much as 67.7 per cent to NGN3.4 trillion.”

The report foresees debt sustainability problems.

According to the report, “The federal government’s budget estimates the 2018 deficit at NGN 2 trillion. Given our outlook of Whilst the reduced reliance on oil revenues is plausible, the trend and reasons for revenue underperformance in prior years suggest that this target might be difficult to achieve

revenue underperformance, we expect a higher-than-expected deficit, which could bring the federal government’s debt stock to NGN20.9 trillion in 2018 (2017E: NGN17.6 trillion). We believe the Federal Government of Nigeria would rely more on the domestic debt market to finance this deficit, given the availability of a stable domestic investor base, which includes the Pension Funds.

“Moreover, external financing could be tight in 2018 due to the uptrend in interest rates in advanced economies, particularly in the US and UK. Following this, we estimate that debt to GDP could rise marginally to 15.1% (2017E: 14.6%). This is closer to Nigeria’s country-specific threshold of 19.4 per cent, but still far below the IMF’s recommended threshold of 56 per cent.

“Although the low debt-toGDP ratio is reassuring, the debt service to revenue ratio, which is often cited as a better measure of debt sustainability, is projected at 30.1 per cent in 2018 (threshold: 28 per cent). Based on our estimates, this could rise to 45.9 per cent in the event the budget deficit reaches 2.4 per cent of GDP.” The Central Bank of Nigeria has of late hinted on monetary easing. But the PwC Nigeria report says inflation may limit the prospects of any relaxation in monetary policy.

The report says, “Given a reduction in core inflation to 12.1 per cent (year on year) in September 2017, and our expectation of a continued moderation in inflation in the near term, we believe there is sufficient headroom for a rate cut in Q1’18.

“However, this reflationary budget, which provides for a 12 per cent increase in personnel costs, raises inflation expectations. Likewise, history suggests that the commencement of the election cycle ahead of the 2019 general elections could portend significant inflationary risks, thus, reducing the scope for monetary easing.”

SUKUK Bond The Nigerian government dismissed as “unfounded” speculations that the N100billionSUKUKBonditraisedlast Septemberhadbeendiverted.Director General, Debt Management Office, Patience Oniha, said the money was intact at the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Minister of Finance Kemi Adeosun on October 5 said the fund, which was over-subscribed, would support the government’s capital spending on 25 road projects in the country’s six geo-political zones.

Oil Prices Oil prices fell more than one per cent after the International Energy Agency cast doubts over the past few months’ narrative of tightening fuel markets.

Brentcrudefutureswereat$61.33per barrel at 0515 GMT, down 88 cents, or 1.4 per cent from their last close. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was at $55 per barrel, down 70 cents, or 1.3 per cent. The price falls mean that crude prices are now down by around 5 per cent since hitting 2015 highs last week, ending a 40-per cent rally between June and early November.

“Crude prices dropped dramatically aftertheIEAforecastagloomyoutlook for the near future … The drop was arguably exacerbated by a global selloff in other commodities,” said Sukrit Vijayakar, director of energy consultancy,Trifecta.TheInternational Energy Agency on Tuesday cut its oil demand growth forecast by 100,000 barrels per day for this year and next, toanestimated1.5millionbpdin2017 and 1.3 million bpd in 2018.

Telecoms Operators Telecommunications operators raised the alarm that the harsh business environment was adversely affecting their operations, pointing out that several of them may soon go out of businessexcepturgentstepsaretaken to remedy the situation. Chairman of the Association of LicensedTelecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo, said, “The operators are currently operating on a very slim revenue margin and are running at huge losses thataregraduallythreateningbusiness continuityinthetelecomssectorowing to the harsh business environment, which has made the ease of doing telecoms business a lot more difficult.”

18

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

BUSINESS/ECONOMY

Foreign Investors Renew Confidence in Nigeria, Invest N783 Billion in 9 Months As the economy improves with Gross Domestic Product recording positive growth in the second quarter of 2017, foreign investors’ confidence in the Nigerian Stock Exchange is witnessing a boost.

Bamidele Famoofo reports

F

oreign Portfolio Investment on the Nigerian Stock Exchange in nine months ended September 30, 2017 stood at N783.34 billion (about $2.56billion). The figure outperformed the N517.55 billion invested in the Nigerian capital market in full year 2016 by 51.36 percent.

It is a proof that foreign investors, who had decided to beat a retreat from the biggest economy in Africa during the time of recession, are beginning to have confidence again in doing business in Nigeria. Both foreign and domestic investments recorded a drastic drop on the Nigerian bourse in 2016.

Compared to the figure in 2015, transaction by foreign investors recorded a huge decline to the tune of 49.5% from N1.025 trillion in 2015 to only N517.55billion in 2016 while Domestic investment dropped from N880.56billion in 2015 to N633.82billion in 2016, representing a 28 % drop.

But the trend has since changed as foreign investment accounted for 47.31 percent of total investment in the market as at September 30, 2017 as Total Portfolio investment recorded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange in the review period stood at N1.656 trillion compared to N1.151trillion recorded in full year ended December 31, 2016.

Foreign portfolio investment in 2016 compared to the total investment made in the market as at December 31, 2016 stood at 44.95 percent, which is 2.36 basis points higher than the performance in 2016.

Notwithstanding the renewed

Domestic vs. Foreign 2017

confidence shown by foreign investors in Nigeria during the review period, Domestic investors have shown greater confidence in the economy as both the retail and institutional domestic investors committed more funds into the market than foreign investors. A track of three years performance revealed that more money has been committed into the capital market as at end of third quarter ended September 30, 2016 than was done since 2015.

Domestic investors which splashed N872.45billion on instruments offered for sale in the market as at September 30, 2017, accounted for 52.69 percent of total turnover in the review period, also outperformed their foreign counterparts which accounted for only 47.31 percent in the same period.

As at September 30, 2017, domestic investment in the capital market has exceeded the figure of full year 2016 which was put at N633.82billion, representing a growth of 37.65 percent.

Breakdown of investment by domestic investors puts Institutional investors ahead of retail domestic investors. As at September 30, 2017, contribution of Institutional Investors to total turnover by Domestic investors rose to N577.88billion from N355.02billion in full year 2016, representing 62.77 percent increase. On the retail end, investment increased by 5.66 percent from N278.80billion as at December 31, 2016 to N294.57billion as at September 30, 2017.

Meanwhile foreign inflow exceeds outflow as at end of third quarter in 2017 at N468.30billion compared to N315.04billion recorded as foreign

outflow in the same period, leaving a surplus of N153.26billion.

Total transactions at the nation’s bourse decreased by 0.58% from N95.88 billion recorded in December 2016 to N95.32 billion (about $0.31 billion) in January 2017. In comparison to the same period in 2016, total transactions increased by 13.34% from the N84.10 recorded in January 2016.

Foreign investors conceded about 7.65% of trading to domestic investors.

Total foreign transactions decreased by 0.02% from N44.02 billion recorded in December 2016 to N44.01 billion in January 2017. Domestic transactions also decreased by 1.06% from N51.86 billion to N51.31 billion within the same period.

Monthly foreign inflows outpaced outflows. There was a 16.01% increase in foreign inflows from N19.49 billion in December 2016 to N22.61 billion in January 2017. Foreign outflows decreased by 12.76% from N24.53 billion in December 2016 to N21.40 billion in January 2017.

In February, total transactions at the NSE decreased by 22.25% from N95.32 billion recorded in January 2017 to N74.11 billion (about $0.24 billion) in February 2017. Also, the cumulative transactions from January to February decreased by 15.86% from N201.37 billion recorded in 2016 to N169.43 billion in 2017.

In February 2017, domestic investors outperformed foreign investors by 6.78%.

Domestic transactions decreased by 22.88% from N51.31 billion recorded in January 2017 to N39.57 billion in February 2017 whilst foreign transactions also decreased by 21.52% from N44.01 billion to N34.54 billion within the same period.

There was a 28.79% decrease in foreign inflows from N22.61 billion in January 2017 to N16.10 billion in February 2017. Foreign outflows also decreased by 13.83% from N21.40 billion in January 2017 to N18.44 billion in February 2017.

As at end of March 2017, total transactions in the capital market increased significantly by 284.63% from N74.11 billion recorded in February 2017 to N285.05 billion (about $0.93 billion) in March 2017. Also, the aggregate value of transactions from January to March increased by 52.67% from N297.68 billion recorded in 2016

to N454.48 billion in 2017.

In March 2017, domestic investors outperformed foreign investors by 7.02%. Domestic transactions increased by 285.49% from N39.57 billion recorded in February 2017 to N152.54 billion in March 2017. Foreign transactions also increased by 283.64% from N34.54 billion to N132.51 billion within the same period.

There was a major increase in foreign outflows from N18.44 billion in February 2017 to N108.87 billion in March 2017.

Foreign inflows also increased by 46.83% from N16.10 billion in February 2017 to N23.64 billion in February 2017.

Contrary to the increase recorded in March, transactions decreased significantly by 80.74% from N285.05 billion in March 2017 to N54.90 billion (about $0.18 billion in April 2017.

Again, domestic investors outperformed foreign investors by 18.22%. Total domestic transactions decreased by 78.73% from N152.54 billion recorded in March 2017 to N32.45 billion in April 2017. Foreign transactions also decreased by 83.06% from N132.51 billion to N22.45 billion within the same period.

Monthly foreign inflows outpaced outflows as foreign inflows decreased by 38.49% from N23.64 billion in March to N14.54 billion in April 2017. Foreign outflows also decreased by 92.73% from N108.87 billion in March to N7.91 billion in April 2017.

In comparison to the same period in 2016, total FPI transactions from January to April 2017 increased by 56.85% from N148.87 billion to N233.51, whilst the total domestic transactions increased by 27.85% from N215.77 billion to N275.87 billion.

There was a reversal of trend in the last two months in third quarter as foreign investors outperformed domestic investors by 8.13% in August.

Total foreign transactions decreased significantly by 59.55% from N208.34 billion recorded in August 2017 to N84.27 billion in 2017. Total domestic transactions also decreased by 68.77% from N188.52 billion to N45.25 billion within the same period.

Foreign inflows decreased by 70.74% from N165.47 billion in August 2017 to N48.42 billion in September 2017.

Foreign outflows also decreased by 16.38% from N42.87 billion in August 2017 to N35.85 billion in September 2017.

19

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

BUSINESS/ENERGY

A power distribution station

Energy Bills: Pressure on Indebted Foreign Customers Yielding Fruit Nigeria has recovered about $65 million of the electricity debt owed by West African neighbours, Niger and Benin. Considering that monies owed by both countries for electricity supplied to them contributed substantially to the financial troubles Nigeria’s electricity market has faced in recent times, would the payment ease the market’s financial crisis? Chineme Okafor ponders

R

ecent meetings between Nigerian authorities and those of the West African countries of Benin and Niger to evaluate and pay off millions of dollars in energy debt owed Nigeria’s electricity market have begun to yield some results. About $65 million out of the over $100 million electricity debt has been recovered so far from the debtor international customers.

Speaking at the last power sector operators’meeting in Asaba, the capital of Delta State, recently, Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, stated that the country’s power sector had made some significant progress in its attempt to recover the millions of dollars owed it by Benin and Niger republics, for electricity supplied to them. Fashola, explained that the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc had received $64.6 million out of about $115.91 million owed operators by both countries.

He noted that disbursements of the recovered funds to beneficiaries by the NBET would shortly commence, and that eligible beneficiaries would get their monies.

the governments of Bénin and Togo, and NIGELEC of Niger Republic.

It was gathered that in each of the meetings, Nigeria was clear and unambiguous on its request for prompt payment of the outstanding debts to its electricity market.

Also, at one of the meetings to resolve the accumulated debts, THISDAY gathered that the federal government requested the CEB and NIGELEC to settle the outstanding bills to avoid possible service cut off. It also impressed it on the utilities that they had the obligation of meeting up with their payments for services rendered by the market considering that it was now run on contracts with private operators.

To best appreciate the debt profile, the NBET in August disclosed that the international customers owed Nigeria about $115.91 million. It pointed out that the CEB of Benin Republic owed $101.46 million, while NIGELEC of Niger Republic owed $14.45 million.

Political, Economic Motivation Though the basis for Nigeria’s supply of electricity to its neighbours while it has very little for domestic use has been questioned, the truth is that the supply arrangement is both economically and politically motivated.

Good News Politically, under an international treaty, the country is Fashola said in his opening remarks at the meeting, “To those of you businessmen, I have good news for obliged to supply power to the two countries through you. We have recovered payments from power that we the NBET and Transmission Company of Nigeria but sold to Benin and Niger Republic. People wonder why at a price.

As part of the existing treaty, industry experts explained we sell power to them; but it is a product of treaties and agreements and they also help our own economy. that for Nigeria to continually have the large body of “So, we have a total of $64.630,055.00 million that had water that flow into the reservoirs of its two major been recovered, and NBET will work out the modalities hydropower dams in Kainji and Jebba from the Fouta for its distribution and, hopefully, by next month you Djallon region uninterrupted, it had to sign the power should be able to report that you have received alert.” supply agreement with the countries on the river route when it constructed the hydro dams.

The Fouta Djallon region serves as the watershed Path to Recovery Sector operators told THISDAY that the impressive for some of western Africa’s greatest rivers, including debt recovery effort was made possible by the prioritisation the Niger River. However, if countries like Niger, which of the debt issues in meetings between the federal is farther up on its route, decided to dam the River government and the Communauté Électrique du Bénin Niger at Fouta Djallon to generate its electricity, Nigeria’s (CEB), an international electricity firm co-owned by two hydro plants, which rely on its waters to generate

electricity, would be affected.

From the economic point of view, Nigeria supplies up to 300 megawatts of electricity to CEB countries of Togo and Benin, as well as Niger Republic’s NIGELEC, and gets paid in dollars for this, Nigeria gets some good earnings from the international power customers.

While the CEB countries have 200MW of power from the supply loop, the balance of 100MW is reserved for Niger Republic, and each is expected to promptly pay for the supplies.

Normalising the Supply Deal Following the completion of Nigeria’s power sector privatisation, and the need to continue to trade with its international customers in line with the terms of the contracts in the privately-run electricity market, the country transferred its bilateral power supply deal with CEB and NIGELEC to the Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading Plc. The transfer would regularise the agreements into power purchase agreements and guarantee prompt payments for service delivered. At a recent meeting involving the TCN and West African Power Pool, where this was discussed, the permanent secretary in the ministry of power, Mr. Louis Edozien, stated that the country would migrate the supply pact to PPAs. He noted that the migration to PPAs would protect the countries from supplies disruptions.

Edozien said, “Concerning proper contracts for electricity consumption by CEB and Nigelec, current policy is to migrate the current supply to power purchase agreements with Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading, while encouraging bilateral contracts with available generators and wheeling contracts with TCN for expanded supply.

“Contracts protect you from negligent or incompetent default in supply from your contracted generator. Contracts also protect your contracted generator from payment default.”

He also spoke on the need for Benin and Niger Republic to clear their electricity debts to Nigeria’s electricity market, in addition to having an efficient payment mechanism that would encourage non-stop supplies.

According to Edozien, “As the power sector in Nigeria progresses, we are disposed to wheeling more electricity to our international customers. Our primary obligation, however, is to serve Nigerians; we therefore, have to be able to justify our continued supply to international customers to continue to export power, and it is very difficult to persuade our countrymen when the international customers we want to supply have not been paying their bills for electricity supply.

“It is, therefore, necessary that all outstanding bills are paid immediately, and payment mechanisms are quickly put in place to ensure bills are paid as and when due.”

Edozien noted that debts owed by international customers were an impediment to further investments in expansion of transmission facilities to the regional market, adding that they must be ready to pay to support the market to continue to meet its obligations to them.

“Generally, as Discos are making efforts to expand, TCN and Gencos are also expanding to stay ahead of the requirement. This is where the regional market comes in. We may need the regional market to sustain our expansion drive.

“Now that TCN and Gencos are ahead of Discos, we will ensure that it becomes a norm. For the power supply value chain to be sustained, the trading arrangement must be respected and adhered to,“ he noted.

According to him,“For TCN, the only way it can continue to stay ahead financially is that the trading arrangements are viable so if WAPP/TCN builds the second Ikeja West-Sekete 330kV DC and other WAPP backbones, they must be paid for wheeling the power, promptly.

“The generators must also be paid for generating power. That is the only way the trading arrangement would work. Trading arrangements are already captured in our laws and regulations, which is periodically reviewed to accommodate technological advancement, new policies and institutional corporations like WAPP. Moving forward they must be effectively operationalised.”

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

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BUSINESS/AVIATION

Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Lagos

With ICAO Certification of Lagos, Abuja Airports, Nigeria Aviation Gets Major Boost InSeptemberandNovember,theNigerianCivilAviationAuthoritycertifiedtheMurtalaMuhammed Airport, Lagos, and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, respectively, in line with the International Civil Aviation Organisation safety standards. Chinedu Eze writes that the certification would improve the rating of the airports and the Nigerian aviation industry in global circles

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t is a standard practice that major airlines of the world consider the rating of airports before designating their routes, and pilots consider the safety of airports before agreeing to fly to such destinations. Just this year, after several years of trying, Nigeria’s busiest airports – Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, and Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos – were certified in accordance with the International Civil Aviation Organisation safety regulations by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.

Import The certification is very important for Nigeria, because the International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations reviews airports on a continuous basis, evaluates their safety standards in accordance with ICAO regulations, and disseminates such information to their members all over the world. It is their evaluation that determines whether commercial airlines would agree to fly to certain airports or not.

With the certification of the Lagos and Abuja airports, Nigeria’s rating has not only improved but these airports can also serve as hubs in West and Central Africa because they are the only certified airports in the sub-regions.

Director-General of NCAA, Captain Muhtar Usman, said Nigeria had become the only country in Africa to have its two airports certified in accordance with ICAO safety standard, and the only country in the West African sub-region with internationally certified airports. Usman said the certification had improved the rating of the two airports in safety standards in international aviation

circles. He explained that it would attract more global carriers to the country, which would boost air transport and create more jobs for the citizens.

Usman said the certification would reposition air transport to contribute more to the Gross Domestic Product of the country because it would boost passenger movement in domestic and international destinations.

He hinted that passenger movement was expected to double from over 15 million per annum in the next 15 years. He also disclosed during the ceremony to mark the certification that Kano, Port Harcourt, and Enugu airports were scheduled for completion in the first, second and third quarters of 2018.

Milestone Usman, who handed the certificate to the Managing Director of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Saleh Dunoma, said it was an epoch making moment for the country.

Usman stated, “The attainment of this safety milestone is quite significant in view of the fact that less than 25 per cent of international airports in Africa and Indian Ocean are certified.

“It is also interesting to note that with the certification of Abuja airport, Nigeria has become the first state to achieve the certification of more than one international airport in the AFI (Africa/Indian) Region.

However, we are not resting on our oars, as the certification of Kano, Port Harcourt and Enugu airports are scheduled for completion in the first, second and third quarters of 2018 in compliance with the Abuja Ministerial Declaration and safety targets of 2012.

Dunoma reiterated FAAN’S commitment to continue with the present tempo in the development of the other international airports. He said, “We made a commitment to continue with this tempo and soon we will go to Port Harcourt, Kano and Enugu.

But for today, we have achieved a milestone.

I want to recognise the DG NCAA because anytime I talk to him, certification is always the main topic. So I want to thank the NCAA team for their commitment. Let’s sit down and continue to improve on the safety situation because that is all that it’s all about, safety.”

According to NCAA, the certification means that the operator of the airports, which is FAAN, must be on its toes to maintain the given standard that earned the air[ports the certification and improve on it. This is because ICAO would continue to monitor the airports and anytime any of the airports so certified breaches any given criterion, the certification would be withdrawn.

Project Team The NCAA director-general recalled that in August 10, 2016, the West and Central African regional office of ICAO launched a project team for the provision of technical support to states in the sub-regions towards achieving certification of international airports within 11 months in eight states.“This pilot project, which was designed in line with ICAO vision of ‘No Country Left Behind,’ included Nigeria, Gambia, Senegal, Niger, Mali, Cameroon, Burkina Faso and Cote d’Ivoire,” he said.

Usman said the Abuja airport had met all the safety standard but even beyond that; the airport remained very unique in

the aerodrome certification project because it was greatly facilitated with the provision of a totally resurfaced runway and with the full complement of Category 11of precision approach lighting, runway edge lighting, runway centreline lights, touchdown zone lights, as well as runway threshold and runway end lights.

The NCAA boss noted that the entire certification process had resulted in enhanced safety levels, capacity, efficiency and effectiveness in aerodrome facilities and services as well as staffing levels and efficiency level of safety critical manpower.

Safety Enhancement In an interview with THISDAY, the managing director of FAAN, Dunoma, said the major benefit of the certification was safety. He stated that the airports were now recognised globally as having attained standard level of safety.

Dunoma said, “First of all, let me start with the benefits of the certification. ICAO devised this certification in order to make airports keep up to the standards. It starts with the First Declaration. Anybody that wants to develop an airport must come up with certain assumption that look, I want to have an airport that will handle this type of aircraft, let’s say Boeing B747.

If your intention is to develop an airport that will handle a B747, then ICAO has a specification for you, in terms of the design and the operational parameters.

“ICAO will tell you how many firemen you need, what category of firemen you need, what the length of the runway will be, what will be the width of the runway. Then you will be allowed to build it. So once you finish your design and it is implemented

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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 19, 2017

BUSINESS/ECONOMY

Multi-level Car Park Eases Problem at MMIA But Throws up Challenge As the the management of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja makes progress in its effort to address the problem of inadequate parking space for vehicles, a new problem has emerged, writes Chinedu Eze

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nbound and outbound passengers as well as other airport users out of the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos have in the past few weeks suffered traffic gridlock due to the movement of vehicles in and out of the new car park built close to the terminal.

The new car park, which was unveiled by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) on October 5, 2017, was built as public private partnership (PPP) between the agency and Seymore Aviation as six-level multi-storey car park that could take about 1,300 cars.

THISDAY learnt that the car park was expected to solve the problem of having a standard car park close to the international terminal of the Lagos airport, but the problem with the facility is that its operation has led to the multiple movements of vehicles around the airport, which has given rise to heavy traffic jam.

This becomes frustrating when majority of the passengers for international flights move to the airports for check-in, which is from 4:00 pm daily.

THISDAY investigations reveal that there is also human traffic as hundreds of arriving passengers and airport workers move through the walkway that crosses the entrance to the new car park and the old open car park. According to FAAN spokesperson, Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu, the old open car park which has not closed, would continue to function along with the new one.

Passengers and airport staff, who spoke to THISDAY, said there was a seeming conflict caused by FAAN by retaining the old system, whereby buses pick up passengers at the entrance to the new terminal being built by the Chinese and convey them to the old car park. At the same time, pedestrians coming out of the airport also have to go through the walk-way that passes through the new car park to the old open car park.

Also, the vehicles coming out of the new car park will drive and pass through the road under the bridge to exit the terminal towards NAHCO Bus Stop, while the vehicles entering the new car park must have to also go through the same narrow path to the facility.

The road has become narrower because for easy security check, security operatives divided the road into two and demarcated it so that motorists conveying travelling passengers would go up the road to departure, while the vehicles picking up passengers from the terminal would have to go down to arrival and from their exit the terminal.

Newly opened multi-layer car park at MMIA

So it is these vehicular movements that cause the gruesome gridlock at the airport and this may get worse as passenger movement peaks as Yuletide approaches.

THISDAY spoke to officials managing the new car park, who said to reduce the heavy traffic that builds up in front of the park; the management had opened the back of the facility for entry and exit of vehicles in order to reduce vehicular movement in front of the car park.

Spokesman of FAAN, Yakubu, who also confirmed the opening of the back exit of the new car park said, “Members of the public have been complaining about

Nigeria Receives Major Boost to Global Rating and the airport is up for a B747 category, then ICAO comes back to see whether what you said you are is what you are. Are you an airport that can handle a B747? Do you have the processes and procedures in place to handle a B747? Are you compliant with all the safety requirements? Are you compliant with the security requirement?

Are you complaint with all the annexes as specified in handling this particular category of aircraft? So they will come, it will be inspected, after the inspection they will give a report.”

the traffic jam because of the new car park. The back exit has been opened.

FAAN will always ensure we adhere to our core values of safety, comfort and security of passengers,” she said.

THISDAY learnt that Seymour Aviation was working with FAAN to find lasting solution to the traffic gridlock, but the secretary to Aviation Round Table (ART), a think-tank body in the industry, Group Captain John Ojikutu, said, “Again crisis is brewing at the MMIA terminal, the type we once saw at MMA2 (domestic terminal of MMIA) between Arik and Bi-Courtney.”

“This time it will be between the car park operator and the public; FAAN

and the police may not be able to contain it. I have never seen a traffic management like this in any airport; it is a chaotic way and a tinderbox for violent occurrences in the airport. NCAA (the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority) had better find solution to this before we start getting disasters in our hands.”

But with the opening of the back of the new car park, FAAN and Seymour aviation may have started solving the problem of traffic jam around that area of the airport and it is expected that FAAN would take more concrete and urgent action to ensure the problem is solved before December, when movement at the airport would double.

Cont’d from Pg. 20

Dunoma also explained that before an airline would decide to operate into a country it would first send its personnel to come and inspect the airport that would service its operations. So when an airline wants to come to Nigeria, for instance, it comes and inspects the airports and if they notice gaps or areas that do not meet their own standard they complain to the airport operator, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria.

According to Dunoma,“Every airline that wants to come to Nigeria does its own inspection. And they will come back with

their report and give it to the operator, that is FAAN, and say look, we have inspected, we want to come but these are our observations, if you can do A, B, C, D we are ready to come. And we normally do it for them and when we do it they will come. Well, each airline has different things to look out for.

Some of them are more concerned about security, some about safety, and some are concerned about their commercials.

“They have different things to look out for, but ICAO and NCAA have standardised it. They have looked at all the requirements

of the airlines and put it in the form of a standard, in form of those annexes. And they will say, this is what you are supposed to do, so for you to be able to provide this service for this category of aircraft, these are the standards, these are the recommended practices, so go ahead and do that.”

The certification of the two major airports in Nigeria means that they have met all categories of expectation of international airline operators, the regulatory bodies, ICAO, NCAA and even the Transport Security Administration of the United States.

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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 19, 2017

BUSINESS/AGRICULTURE

Appraising Agricultural Initiative Towards Zero Hunger Benjamin Nworie, in Abakaliki, reports on the second meeting of the Nigeria Zero Hunger Forum held recently in Abakiliki

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he second meeting of the Nigeria Zero Hunger Forum took place in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, recently. The forum held on November 6 and 7 at the International Conference Centre, Abakaliki, provided an opportunity for stakeholders to access the impact of the zero hunger policy of the federal government after the maiden summit in June in Makurdi. The policy aims to eliminate hunger in the country and improve the living standard of the citizens through agriculture.

The NZHF, which is made up of policymakers and development partners committed to eliminating hunger in Nigeria, has six pilot states. For the take-off, six states were chosen to test-run the programme intended to end hunger in Nigeria by 2030.

The pilot states are Ebonyi, Benue, Ogun, Sokoto, Borno, and Kebbi. The programme was first launched in Benue State, where all the governors of the pilot states and development partners were in attendance. The aim of the tour of the state was to look for agricultural programmes to implement and policies to actualise; to help states in any area they might need help.

The Zero Hunger Strategic Review, as encapsulated in the synthesis Report, identifies key development and humanitarian challenges confronting the people on the path to achieving the aspirations of Sustainable development Goal II. It identifies the role of the private sector in achieving zero hunger; proposes actionable areas as well as milestones; and identifies key actions and partnership for the national roadmap on achieving zero hunger status.

Ebonyi Initiative The idea of zero hunger has long been the focus of the Ebonyi State government, especially since the country’s economy went into recession in the second quarter of last year. The governor, David Umahi, has taken bold steps to revolutionise agriculture through various windows that provide soft loans to farmer.

The programmes of the Ebonyi State government in the agriculture sector have helped the state to increase its rice production.

Since assumption of office, the Umahi government has initiated policies aimed at diversifying the economy through aggressive farming. With this effort, rice production in the state has blossomed from 120 tons in 2015 to 360 tons in 2016.

Attention has now shifted to mushroom production.

So when Ebonyi State played host to the NZHF team in Abakaliki on November 6 and 7, it was an opportunity to showcase the state’s agricultural capabilities and, perhaps, compare notes with stakeholders on new production strategies. The two-day meeting ended with a tour of agricultural projects of the state government on November 7.

Participants at the meeting included the host governor, Umahi; the governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom; Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State; Governor Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi State; Deputy Governor of Borno State Maman Usman; and a representative of Chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Senator Abdullahi Adamu.

Participants from the donor and international community included Director-General of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Dr. Nteranya Sanginga; Director (Agriculture) of the African Development Bank, Dr. Chiji Ojukwu; Dr. Abiodun Oladipo of the World Food Programme; Dr. Abraham Shaibu of AfricaRice Centre; and Dr. Tawanda Muzhingi of the International Potato Centre (CIP). Also in attendance were members of Ebonyi State Executive Council, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, members of the academia, representatives of the private sector, farmers groups, and traditional rulers.

A worker at Ezillo Rice Farm in Ebonyi State More than 500 persons attended the meeting.

Apart from the representatives of the five pilot States of Benue, Borno, Ebonyi, Ogun, Sokoto, and Kebbi, there were also people from other states, including Abia, Anambra, Enugu, Niger, Oyo, and Plateau.

Appraisal A field visit was conducted by the NZHF team to appraise the agricultural efforts of the Ebonyi State government. Places visited included the showroom, government farm/mushroom site, Ezillo Farm, Dr. Sam Egwu’s farm at Umuebe, Waste to Wealth plant and bags, hatchery, rice cluster old mill, fertiliser plant, Ikwo Rice Mill, Ebonyi Rice Mill, and biomass plant at Ikwo.

The team led by former President Olusegun Obasanjo also commissioned the Ebonyi State University’s Green House.

At the end of the programme, the forum called on the federal government to support the production of genuinely-certified seeds for farmers and check the distribution of fake seeds. They raised concerns over the influx of adulterated herbicides into the Nigerian market and called on the federal government to step up the regulation of the herbicides and input market, as the issue of adulteration was taking negative toll on the agricultural productivity of the state.

The forum also raised the alarm over the high interest rates charged by banks for agricultural loans and called on the Central Bank of Nigeria to intervene to make interest rates to be given to farmers at single-digit.

They recognised the deficit in rural infrastructure and called on states to discuss with the African Development Bank and other development partners with the aim of creating a special investment vehicle that would address rural infrastructure.

Stakeholders at the interactive session bared their minds on how to make the zero hunger campaign successful in Nigeria by developing a clear roadmap sustainability and technology usage.

Speaking at the end of the field visit, Obasanjo said,“What I saw in Abakaliki boggles my mind, especially when I compare it to the allocation to the state from the federal government and the capacity of the state to generate revenue.

There were bridges where there was no water.

This means that Umahi is a good manger of resources. The governor of Ebonyi State enjoys great support from the president who is not in the same political party with him. Governor Umahi has washed his hands well and so he is eating with his elders.”

The former president said the aim of the programme was not only for the elimination of hunger among Nigerians but to also improve their standard of living through an implementable agenda and network of agricultural programmes and activities. He noted the programme was the initiatives of stakeholders who gathered to think about ways of alleviating poverty and hunger through sufficient agricultural programmes.

It is expected that after every visit, the team would evaluate the various facilitates and areas of comparative advantage for possible assistance and improvement.

Support Obasanjo stated, “We will go round this beautiful state; we are looking for agricultural programmes to implement and policies to actualise.

We want to help the state in any area the state might need help; what we have seen that is going well and or wrong. The governor will be telling us about the next level; production of all commodities that the state can produce.

We want to make this state a most important food basket of Nigeria.

“As we go along, we want to improve on what every state is doing. We want to impact positively on what we see on ground. I doff my cap for Ebonyi for rice production.”

The governor of Benue, Sokoto, Kebbi and Borno states said they were overwhelmed by the facilities on ground in the state, stressing that the visit has afforded them knowledge of areas they would like to replicate in their states.

The meeting also afforded Ebonyi and Benue states an opportunity to strengthen their ties and unit the boundary communities between the two states who have engaged in border disputes for decades.

Ortom charged the two states to see themselves as brothers and sisters, stressing that the agricultural policy would not bear fruit if both states are in dispute. He stressed

that both states would work together to resolve the boundary dispute between Mgbo in Ebonyi State and Agila people of Benue State because it would also affect the zero hunger campaign positively if they resolve the crisis.

The Benue State governor added that the open grazing prohibition law, which he signed into law, was not targeted at any section of the people but meant to ensure a peaceful and harmonious existence of all persons living in his state.

Umahi thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for his support to Ebonyi State. The governor said his government had deployed agriculture to turn around the fortunes of the people. He said he had no choice than to look for alternative sources of revenue, detached from the“precarious” monthly allocations from the federal government.

The governor added that with the drastic fall in oil revenue and its effect on the income of the country, achieving zero hunger status and driving the economy forward could only be possible if Nigerians changed their attitude and approach, and work towards economic diversification. He lamented the negative consequences dependence on the free flow of petro-dollars for nearly half a century has had on the manufacturing and agricultural sectors.

Umahi said,“The Nigeria zero hunger initiative being taken through the leadership of global statesmen such as our former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, to whom we owe this current drive to bring hunger to zero in our country, is to be highly applauded.

“The leadership of the Nigeria zero hunger forum has its work cut out. Anyone who underestimates the threat of hunger in our nation only needs to see the tragedy unfolding in the North-east zone of the country to pause and reflect.

“President Buhari has paid the greatest attention and demonstrated exemplary passion for agriculture. He has taken practical steps to advance the cause of economic diversification, with focus on agriculture and food security – lending unprecedented support to Ebonyi State.”

President of African Development Bank, Akinwumi Adesina, represented by Dr Chidi Ojukwu, called on government to put up measures that will ensure the sustainability of its agricultural programmes through advancement in technology.

T H I S D AY SUNDAY NOVEMBER 19, 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 19, 2017

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DW ƚŽ DĂŝŶƚĂŝŶ ^ƚĂƚƵƐ YƵŽ͙ EĞĂƌ dĞƌŵ KƵƚůŽŽŬ &ĂǀŽƵƌƐ ĂƐŝŶŐ

'ůŽďĂů ŵĂƌŬĞƚƐ ŚĂǀĞ ďĞĞŶ ŽŶ Ă ďƵůůŝƐŚ ƌƵŶ ƐŝŶĐĞ ƚŚĞ ůĂƐƚ DW ŵĞĞƟŶŐ ĂƐ ĂƐƐĞƚ ƉƌŝĐĞƐ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞ ƚŽ ƌĂůůLJ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ǁĂŬĞ ŽĨ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞĚ ŐůŽďĂů ŐƌŽǁƚŚ ĞdžƉĞĐƚĂƟŽŶƐ ĂŶĚ ƐƵƌŐŝŶŐ ĐŽŵŵŽĚŝƚLJ ƉƌŝĐĞƐ͘ Kŝů ƉƌŝĐĞƐ ŚĂǀĞ ŵĂŝŶƚĂŝŶĞĚ ƵƉǁĂƌĚ ŵŽŵĞŶƚƵŵ ƐŝŶĐĞ ^ĞƉƚĞŵďĞƌ ĂƐ ŵĂƌŬĞƚƐ ƌĞŵĂŝŶ ĐŽŶĮĚĞŶƚ ŽŶ ŶĞĂƌ ƚĞƌŵ ƌĞďĂůĂŶĐŝŶŐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ Žŝů ŵĂƌŬĞƚ͘ KW ĂŶĚ EŽŶ KW ĐŽƵŶƚƌŝĞƐ ĂƌĞ ƐĐŚĞĚƵůĞĚ ƚŽ ŵĞĞƚ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ĞŶĚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŵŽŶƚŚ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚĂƟŽŶ ďĞŝŶŐ Ă ƵŶĂŶŝŵŽƵƐ ĚĞĐŝƐŝŽŶ ƚŽ ĞdžƚĞŶĚ ƉƌŽĚƵĐƟŽŶ ĐƵƚƐ͘ WƌŝĐĞƐ ŚĂǀĞ ĨƵƌƚŚĞƌ ďĞĞŶ ďƵŽLJĞĚ ďLJ ƌŝƐŝŶŐ ƚĞŶƐŝŽŶƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ DŝĚĚůĞ ĂƐƚ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ĂŶƟ ĐŽƌƌƵƉƟŽŶ ĚƌŝǀĞ ďLJ ƌŽǁŶ WƌŝŶĐĞ DŽŚĂŵŵĂĚ ŝŶ ^ĂůŵĂŶ ůĞĂĚŝŶŐ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĂƌƌĞƐƚ ŽĨ ŬĞLJ ŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚ ŽĸĐŝĂůƐ͕ ƌŽLJĂůƚLJ ĂŶĚ ƉƌŽŵŝŶĞŶƚ ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ ůĞĂĚĞƌƐ ŝŶ ^ĂƵĚŝ ƌĂďŝĂ͘ dŚĞƐĞ ĨĂĐƚŽƌƐ ŚĂǀĞ ĐƵůŵŝŶĂƚĞĚ ŝŶ Ă ϭϯ͘Ϯй ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ďĞŶĐŚŵĂƌŬ ƌĞŶƚ ƌƵĚĞ ƉƌŝĐĞ ƚŽ ΨϲϮ͘ϴϮ ;ϭϰͬϭϭͬϭϳͿ ĨƌŽŵ Ψϱϱ͘ϰϴͬď ĂƐ Ăƚ ǁŚĞŶ ƚŚĞ ůĂƐƚ DW ŵĞĞƟŶŐ ǁĂƐ ŚĞůĚ͘

,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ ǁĞ ĚŽ ŶŽƚ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ƚŚĞ ƌĂƚĞ ĐƵƚ ŶĞdžƚ ǁĞĞŬ ĂƐ ,ĞĂĚůŝŶĞ /ŶŇĂƟŽŶ ŝƐ ƐƟůů ĨĂƌ Žī ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ƚĂƌŐĞƚ ƌĂŶŐĞ ŽĨ ϳ ʹ ϵй ĂŶĚ ĂďŽǀĞ ƚŚĞ ďĞŶĐŚŵĂƌŬ ƉŽůŝĐLJ ƌĂƚĞ ;ϭϰ͘ϬйͿ͘ ,ĞŶĐĞ͕ ǁĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŶĐůƵƐŝŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ϲƚŚ DW ŵĞĞƟŶŐ ǁŽƵůĚ ďĞ ƚŽ͖ ϭ͘

ZĞƚĂŝŶ ƚŚĞ DWZ Ăƚ ϭϰ͘Ϭй͖

Ϯ͘

ZĞƚĂŝŶ ƚŚĞ ZZ Ăƚ ϮϮ͘ϱй͖

ϯ͘

ZĞƚĂŝŶ ƚŚĞ ůŝƋƵŝĚŝƚLJ ƌĂƟŽ Ăƚ ϯϬ͘Ϭй͖ ĂŶĚ

ϰ͘

ZĞƚĂŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƐLJŵŵĞƚƌŝĐ ĐŽƌƌŝĚŽƌ Ăƚ нϮϬϬ ĂŶĚ ϱϬϬ ďĂƐŝƐ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ĂƌŽƵŶĚ ƚŚĞ DWZ͘

tŚŝůƐƚ ƚŚĞ ƌĞĐĞŶƚ ƌĂůůLJ ŝŶ Žŝů ƉƌŝĐĞƐ ŝƐ ĞdžƉĞĐƚĞĚ ƚŽ ŚĂǀĞ Ă ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ŬŶŽĐŬ ŽŶ ŝŵƉĂĐƚ ŽŶ ĮƐĐĂů ĂŶĚ ĞdžƚĞƌŶĂů ƐĞĐƚŽƌ ďĂůĂŶĐĞ ŽĨ Žŝů ĞdžƉŽƌƟŶŐ ĐŽƵŶƚƌŝĞƐ ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ EŝŐĞƌŝĂ͕ ǁĞ ŶŽƚĞ ƚŚĂƚ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐŝŶŐ ŽĚĚƐ ŽĨ ŵŽŶĞƚĂƌLJ ƉŽůŝĐLJ ƟŐŚƚĞŶŝŶŐ ďLJ ƐLJƐƚĞŵŝĐ ĐĞŶƚƌĂů ďĂŶŬƐ ʹ ƚŚĞ ĂŶŬ ŽĨ ŶŐůĂŶĚ ; K Ϳ͕ ĂŶŬ ŽĨ :ĂƉĂŶ ; Ž:Ϳ͕ ƵƌŽƉĞĂŶ ĞŶƚƌĂů ĂŶŬ ; Ϳ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ h^ &ĞĚ ʹ ĐŽŶƐƟƚƵƚĞ ĂŶ ŚĞĂĚǁŝŶĚ ƚŽ ĂƐƐĞƚ ƉƌŝĐĞƐ ĂŶĚ ŵĂĐƌŽĞĐŽŶŽŵŝĐ ƐƚĂďŝůŝƚLJ ŝŶ ĞŵĞƌŐŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ĨƌŽŶƟĞƌ ŵĂƌŬĞƚƐ͘

tĞ͕ ŚŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ ŶŽƚĞ ƚŚĂƚ ŶĞĂƌ ƚĞƌŵ ŽƵƚůŽŽŬ ƐƟůů ĨĂǀŽƵƌƐ ĞĂƐŝŶŐ ĂƐ ŐƵŝĚĞĚ ďLJ ƚŚĞ E 'ŽǀĞƌŶŽƌ ŝŶ ƌĞĐĞŶƚ ĐŽŵŵĞŶƚƐ͘ /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ĂƌĞ ĂůƌĞĂĚLJ ƉƌŝĐŝŶŐ ƚŚŝƐ ĞdžƉĞĐƚĂƟŽŶ ŝŶƚŽ ǀĂůƵĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ĚĞďƚ ƐĞĐƵƌŝƟĞƐ͕ ǁŝƚŚ ĂǀĞƌĂŐĞ ďŽŶĚ LJŝĞůĚ ĚŽǁŶ ϭϭϬďƉƐ ƐŝŶĐĞ :ĂŶƵĂƌLJ ϮϬϭϳ͘ tĞ ďĞůŝĞǀĞ ƚŚĞƌĞ ŝƐ ƐƟůů ƐĐŽƉĞ ĨŽƌ ŵŽƌĞ ƌĂůůLJ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ &ŝdžĞĚ /ŶĐŽŵĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĂƐ ǁĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ƚŚĞ E ƚŽ ĐƵƚ ŝƚƐ ďĞŶĐŚŵĂƌŬ ƌĂƚĞ ŝŶ YϮ͗ϮϬϭϴ͘

/Ŷ Ă ƐŝŐŶ ŽĨ ƚŚŝŶŐƐ ƚŽ ĐŽŵĞ͕ ƚŚĞ Ž ͕ ŽŶ ϮŶĚ EŽǀĞŵďĞƌ͕ ƌĞĐĞŶƚůLJ ŝŐŶŽƌĞĚ ƌĞdžŝƚ ƵŶĐĞƌƚĂŝŶƟĞƐ ƚŽ ƌĂŝƐĞ ŝƚƐ ďĞŶĐŚŵĂƌŬ ƌĂƚĞ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ĮƌƐƚ ƟŵĞ ŝŶ Ă ĚĞĐĂĚĞ ƚŽ Ϭ͘ϱй ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ ĂůƐŽ ƌĞĐĞŶƚůLJ ƵŶǀĞŝůĞĚ ƉůĂŶƐ ƚŽ ŚĂůǀĞ ŝƚƐ ŵŽŶƚŚůLJ ďŽŶĚ ƉƵƌĐŚĂƐĞ ƉƌŽŐƌĂŵŵĞ ƚŽ ϯϬďŶ ĨƌŽŵ :ĂŶƵĂƌLJ ϮϬϭϴ͘ /Ŷ ƚŚĞ h͘^͕͘ ĚŽƵďƚƐ ŽǀĞƌ Ă ƉŽƚĞŶƟĂů ƌĂƚĞ ŚŝŬĞ ŽǀĞƌ ŝŶŇĂƟŽŶ ĨĞĂƌƐ ǁĞƌĞ ƋƵĞůůĞĚ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ h^ &ĞĚ ƌĞĐĞŝǀĞĚ ĞŶĐŽƵƌĂŐĞŵĞŶƚ ĨƌŽŵ ƌĞĐĞŶƚ ŝŶŇĂƟŽŶ ƌĞƉŽƌƚ ŽŶƐƵŵĞƌ WƌŝĐĞ /ŶĚĞdž ƌŽƐĞ Ϭ͘Ϯй D Ž D ĂŶĚ ƌĞƚĂŝů ƐĂůĞƐ ǁĞƌĞ ŚŝŐŚĞƌ ƚŚĂŶ ƉƌĞĚŝĐƚĞĚ Ăƚ Ϭ͘Ϯй D Ž D͘ EŽŶĞƚŚĞůĞƐƐ ƚŚĞ ĚŽǁŶƐŝĚĞ ƌŝƐŬ ŽĨ ƌŝƐŝŶŐ ŐůŽďĂů ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ ƌĂƚĞƐ͕ ǁĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ĞdžƚĞƌŶĂů ƉŽůŝĐLJ ĂŶĚ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĞŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚ ƚŽ ƌĞŵĂŝŶ ďƌŽĂĚůLJ ĨĂǀŽƵƌĂďůĞ ĨŽƌ ĞŵĞƌŐŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ĨƌŽŶƟĞƌ ŵĂƌŬĞƚƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƐŚŽƌƚ ƚŽ ŵĞĚŝƵŵ ƚĞƌŵ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ƉĂĐĞ ŽĨ ƟŐŚƚĞŶŝŶŐ ŝƐ ĞdžƉĞĐƚĞĚ ƚŽ ďĞ ŐƌĂĚƵĂů ǁŚŝůƐƚ ŵŽƐƚ ŵĂũŽƌ ĐĞŶƚƌĂů ďĂŶŬƐ ĂƌĞ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐŝŶŐůLJ ƵƟůŝnjŝŶŐ ĨŽƌǁĂƌĚ ŐƵŝĚĂŶĐĞ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝĐĂƟŽŶ ƚŽ ƐŚĂƉĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĞdžƉĞĐƚĂƟŽŶ ĂŶĚ ƌĞĚƵĐĞ ǀŽůĂƟůŝƚLJ͘

DŝdžĞĚ ŽŵĞƐƟĐ ^ŝŐŶĂůƐ :ƵƐƟĨLJ DĂŝŶƚĂŝŶŝŶŐ ^ƚĂƚƵƐ YƵŽ dŚĞ E ŚĂƐ ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ƌĞŵĂƌŬĂďůĞ ŐĂŝŶƐ ƐŝŶĐĞ ƚŚĞ ƐƚĂƌƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ LJĞĂƌ ŝŶ &y ƐƚĂďŝůŝƚLJ ŽŶĞ ŽĨ ŝƚƐ ŵĂũŽƌ ƉŽůŝĐLJ ŽďũĞĐƟǀĞƐ ĂŶĚ ŝŶĚĞĞĚ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŝŵĞ ŵŽŶĞƚĂƌLJ ƉŽůŝĐLJ ĂŶĐŚŽƌ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ůĂƐƚ ϯ LJĞĂƌƐ͘ ůƚŚŽƵŐŚ ƚŚĞ ƌĞďŽƵŶĚ ŝŶ Žŝů ĞdžƉŽƌƚƐ ŝŶ Yϯ͗ϮϬϭϲ͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŚĂƐ ŚĂĚ Ă ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ŝŵƉĂĐƚ ŽŶ ĐƵƌƌĞŶƚ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĂŶĚ ĞdžƚĞƌŶĂů ƌĞƐĞƌǀĞƐ͕ ŵĂƌŬĞĚ Ă ƚƵƌŶŝŶŐ ƉŽŝŶƚ ŝŶ ŵĂĐƌŽĞĐŽŶŽŵŝĐ ƐƚĂďŝůŝƚLJ͕ ƉƌŽ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ŵŽǀĞƐ ŵĂĚĞ ďLJ ƚŚĞ E͕ ƉĂƌƟĐƵůĂƌůLJ ƚŚĞ ŽƉĞŶŝŶŐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ĂŶĚ

'ůŽďĂů ƋƵŝƚLJ DĂƌŬĞƚ ZĞǀŝĞǁ ĂŶĚ KƵƚůŽŽŬ 'ůŽďĂů ƋƵŝƚLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚƐ ǁĞƌĞ ůĂƌŐĞůLJ ďĞĂƌŝƐŚ ƚŚŝƐ ǁĞĞŬ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ƌĞĐĞŶƚ ƌĂůůLJ ŝŶ ĐƌƵĚĞ Žŝů ƉƌŝĐĞƐ ǁĞƌĞ ƌĞǀĞƌƐĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ƌĞŶƚ ƌƵĚĞ ƉƌŝĐĞƐ ĚĞĐůŝŶŝŶŐ Ϯ͘ϴй t Ž t ƚŽ ĐůŽƐĞ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬ Ăƚ h^Ψϲϭ͘ϳϳͬď͘ /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ƌĞĂĐƚĞĚ ƚŽ ĚĂƚĂ ŽŶ h͘^ ĐƌƵĚĞ ƐƚŽĐŬƉŝůĞƐ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞĚ ďLJ ϭ͘ϴϱŵ ďĂƌƌĞůƐ ůĂƐƚ ǁĞĞŬ͕ Ă ƉŽƚĞŶƟĂů ĚŝƐƌƵƉƟŽŶ ƚŽ KW ͛Ɛ ƉƌŽƉŽƐĞĚ ƐƵƉƉůLJ ĐƵƚƐ ǁŝƚŚ ĂůůŝĞƐ ďĞLJŽŶĚ ƚŚĞ ŵĂƌĐŚ ĚĞĂĚůŝŶĞ͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ǁĂƐ ŝŶƚĞŶĚĞĚ ƚŽ ĐƵƌƚĂŝů ŽǀĞƌƐƵƉƉůLJ ĂŶĚ ƌĞďĂůĂŶĐĞ ƚŚĞ Žŝů ŵĂƌŬĞƚƐ͘ EŽƚǁŝƚŚƐƚĂŶĚŝŶŐ͕ ƌĞŶƚ ĐƌƵĚĞ ŚĂƐ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞĚ ƚŽ ƚƌĂĚĞ ĂďŽǀĞ h^ΨϲϬ͘Ϭͬď ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ĞdžƉĞĐƚĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ĂŶ ŽƵƚƉƵƚ ĐƵƚ ĞdžƚĞŶƐŝŽŶ ďLJ KW ͬ ŶŽŶ KW ŵĞŵďĞƌƐ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ƚĞŶƐŝŽŶ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ DŝĚĚůĞ ĂƐƚ͘ DĂũŽƌŝƚLJ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ƵŶĚĞƌ ŽƵƌ ĐŽǀĞƌĂŐĞ ĐůŽƐĞĚ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƌĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ŐLJƉƚ͛Ɛ 'y ϯϬ; ϯ͘ϱйͿ ĂŶĚ ZƵƐƐŝĂ͛Ɛ Zd^ ; Ϯ͘ϭйͿ ůĞĂĚŝŶŐ ůŽƐĞƌƐ͘

/Ŷ ƚŚĞ ĚĞǀĞůŽƉĞĚ ŵĂƌŬĞƚƐ͕ ƚŚĞ h< &d^ ůů ^ŚĂƌĞ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ Ϭ͘ϴй t Ž t ĂƐ ĨƌĂŐŝůŝƟĞƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƌŝƟƐŚ ŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞ ƚŽ ĂƌŝƐĞ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ƌĞƐŝŐŶĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƚǁŽ ŵŝŶŝƐƚĞƌƐ ǁŝƚŚŝŶ Ă ǁĞĞŬ͕ Ă ŵĂũŽƌ ĚŝƐƚƌĂĐƟŽŶ ĨƌŽŵ ŝƚƐ Z y/d ŶĞŐŽƟĂƟŽŶƐ͘ ZĞůĂƚĞĚůLJ͕ ƌĞƚĂŝů ƐĂůĞƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ h͘< ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ Ϭ͘ϯй z Ž z ŝŶ KĐƚŽďĞƌ͕ ƚŚĞ ĮƌƐƚ ĚƌŽƉ ŝŶ ŵŽƌĞ ƚŚĂŶ ĨŽƵƌ LJĞĂƌƐ͘ KŶ ƚŚĞ ŇŝƉ ƐŝĚĞ͕ ƚŚĞ h^ E ^ Y ƌŽƐĞ Ϭ͘ϱй t Ž t ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ ^ΘW ϱϬϬ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ŇĂƚ ĂƐ Ă ƌĞƐƵůƚ ŽĨ Ă ƌĂůůLJ ŝŶ h͘^ ƚĞĐŚ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĂŶĚ ƐƉĞĐƵůĂƟŽŶƐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ dĂdž ƌĞĨŽƌŵ ƉƌŽƉŽƐŝŶŐ ŽƌƉŽƌĂƚĞ dĂdž ĐƵƚƐ ǁŚŝĐŚ ƐĞĞŵƐ ƚŽ ďĞ ŐĂŝŶŝŶŐ ŵŽŵĞŶƚƵŵ͘ ĐƌŽƐƐ ƚŚĞ Z/ ^͕ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ǁĂƐ ŵŝdžĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ϯ ŽĨ ϱ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĐůŽƐŝŶŐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŐƌĞĞŶ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ƌĂnjŝů

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/ďŽǀĞƐƉĂ ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŶŐ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ͕ ƵƉ ϭ͘Ϭй t Ž t͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ ^ŽƵƚŚ ĨƌŝĐĂ &d^ ͬ :^ ĂŶĚ /ŶĚŝĂ ^ ^ E^ ďŽƚŚ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ Ϭ͘ϲй ĂŶĚ Ϭ͘ϭй t Ž t ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘ KŶ ƚŚĞ ŽŶƚƌĂƌLJ͕ ƚŚĞ ZƵƐƐŝĂ Zd^ ůŽƐƚ Ϯ͘ϭй t Ž t ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ ŚŝŶĂ ^ŚĂŶŐŚĂŝ ŽŵƉŽƐŝƚĞ ĨĞůů ϭ͘ϰйt Ž t ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƌĞůĞĂƐĞ ŽĨ ǁĞĂŬĞƌ ƚŚĂŶ ĞdžƉĞĐƚĞĚ ĞĐŽŶŽŵŝĐ ĚĂƚĂ͘ /Ŷ ƚŚĞ ƵƌĂƐŝĂ ƌĞŐŝŽŶ͕ Ăůů ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ƚƌĞŶĚĞĚ ƐŽƵƚŚǁĂƌĚ͕ ƐĂǀĞ ƚŚĞ ,ŽŶŐ <ŽŶŐ ,ĂŶŐ ^ĞŶŐ ǁŚŝĐŚ ĐůŽƐĞĚ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŐƌĞĞŶ͕ ŐĂŝŶŝŶŐ Ϭ͘ϯй t Ž t͘ dŚĞ :ĂƉĂŶ EŝŬŬĞŝ ůŽƐƚ ϭ͘ϯй t Ž t͕ ǁŚŝůĞ &ƌĂŶĐĞ͛Ɛ ϰϬ ĂůƐŽ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ Ϭ͘ϵй ĂŶĚ 'ĞƌŵĂŶLJ͛Ɛ y dZ y ƐŚĞĚ Ϭ͘ϲй t Ž t͘

/Ŷ ƚŚĞ ĨƌŝĐĂŶ ŵĂƌŬĞƚƐ͕ ƚŚĞ 'ŚĂŶĂ '^ ĐŽŵƉŽƐŝƚĞ ǁĂƐ ƚŚĞ ůŽŶĞ ŐĂŝŶĞƌ͕ ƵƉ ϰ͘ϳй t Ž t͘ ŽŶƚƌĂƌŝůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ ŐLJƉƚ 'y ϯϬ ǁĂƐ ƚŚĞ ďŝŐŐĞƐƚ ůŽƐĞƌ͕ ĚŽǁŶ ϯ͘ϱй t Ž t ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ƐĞůů ŽīƐ ďLJ ĨŽƌĞŝŐŶ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ͘ dŚĞ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶ ůů ^ŚĂƌĞ /ŶĚĞdž ƚƌĂŝůĞĚ͕ ĚŽǁŶ ϭ͘ϯй t Ž t͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ <ĞŶLJĂŶ E^ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞĚ ŝƚƐ ŶĞŐĂƟǀĞ ƌƵŶ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ǁĞĞŬ͕ ĚŝƉƉŝŶŐ Ϭ͘Ϯй t Ž t͘

ŽŵĞƐƟĐ ƋƵŝƚLJ DĂƌŬĞƚ ZĞǀŝĞǁ ĂŶĚ KƵƚůŽŽŬ dŚĞ WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶ ŽƵƌƐĞ ƚŚŝƐ ǁĞĞŬ ǁĂƐ ďĞĂƌŝƐŚ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ^/ ĚŝƉƉĞĚ ϭ͘ϭй t Ž t ƚŽ ĐůŽƐĞ Ăƚ ϯϲ͕ϳϬϯ͘ϲϴ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ǁŚŝůĞ zd ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ŵŽĚĞƌĂƚĞĚ ƚŽ ϯϲ͘ϲй͘ ĐĐŽƌĚŝŶŐůLJ͕ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ůŽƐƚ Eϳϯ͘ϬďŶ ĂƐ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝnjĂƟŽŶ ƐĞƩůĞĚ Ăƚ EϭϮ͘ϴƚŶ͘ ,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ ĂĐƟǀŝƚLJ ůĞǀĞů ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞĚ ĂƐ ĂǀĞƌĂŐĞ ǀĂůƵĞ ĂŶĚ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ũƵŵƉĞĚ Ϯϵϳ͘ϰй ĂŶĚ ϭϭϯ͘Ϭй ƚŽ Eϭϭ͘ϬďŶ ĂŶĚ ϱϲϬ͘ϴŵ ƵŶŝƚƐ ŽǁŝŶŐ ƚŽ Ă ĐƌŽƐƐ ĚĞĂů ŽĨ ϭϮϴ͘ϱŵ ƐŚĂƌĞƐ ŽĨ E' D Ăƚ EϮϭϬ͘Ϭ ͬƐŚĂƌĞ ŝŶ Ă ĚĞĂů ǀĂůƵĞĚ Ăƚ EϮϳ͘ϬďŶ ĂŶĚ Eϵ͘ϴďŶ ǁŽƌƚŚ ŽĨ ƚƌĂĚĞ ŽŶ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶ ƌĞǁĞƌŝĞƐ ŽŶ dŚƵƌƐĚĂLJ͘ dŚĞ ƚŽƉ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ďLJ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ĂƌĞ & E, ;ϭϵϰ͘ϮŵͿ͕ E/' Z/ E Z t Z/ ^ ;ϳϵ͘ϵŵͿ ĂŶĚ / DKE ;ϲϳ͘ϱŵͿ ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ ůĞĂĚŝŶŐ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ďLJ ǀĂůƵĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ĂƌĞ E/' Z/ E Z t Z/ ^ ;Eϭϭ͘ϬďŶͿ͕ 'h/EE ^^ ;Eϭ͘ϳďŶͿ ĂŶĚ E/d, ;Eϭ͘ϱďŶͿ͘ dŚĞ ǁĞĞŬ ƐƚĂƌƚĞĚ Žī ŽŶ Ă ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ŶŽƚĞ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ^/ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ Ϭ͘ϱй ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ďƵLJŝŶŐ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ ŝŶ E' D ;нϯ͘ϵйͿ͘ ,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ǁĂƐ ƋƵŝĐŬůLJ ƌĞǀĞƌƐĞĚ ŽŶ dƵĞƐĚĂLJ ;ĚŽǁŶ ϵϲďƉƐͿ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ^/ ƌĞĐŽƌĚŝŶŐ ŝƚƐ ůĂƌŐĞƐƚ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ŝŶ ϳ ǁĞĞŬƐ͕ ĂƐ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ƚŽŽŬ ƉƌŽĮƚ ŝŶ E ^d> ; ϯ͘ϭйͿ͕ E/d, ; ϰ͘ϳйͿ ĂŶĚ E' D ; Ϭ͘ϲйͿ͘ dŚĞ ĞƋƵŝƟĞƐ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĨƵƌƚŚĞƌ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ŽŶ tĞĚŶĞƐĚĂLJ ; Ϭ͘ϵйͿ ĂŵŝĚ ƚŚĞ ƌĞůĞĂƐĞ ŽĨ DŽƌŐĂŶ ^ƚĂŶůĞLJ ĂƉŝƚĂů /ŶƚĞƌŶĂƟŽŶĂů ;D^ /Ϳ ƐĞŵŝ ĂŶŶƵĂů ŝŶĚĞdž ƌĞǀŝĞǁ ǁŚŝĐŚ ƌĞŵŽǀĞĚ Žƌ ƌĞĐůĂƐƐŝĮĞĚ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ DĂŝŶ &ƌŽŶƟĞƌ DĂƌŬĞƚƐ /ŶĚĞdž ĂŶĚ D^ / &ƌŽŶƟĞƌ ^ŵĂůů ĂƉ /ŶĚĞdž͘ dŚĞ ^/ ĞǀĞŶƚƵĂůůLJ ƌĞďŽƵŶĚĞĚ ŽŶ dŚƵƌƐĚĂLJ ĂŶĚ &ƌŝĚĂLJ͕ ƵƉ Ϭ͘ϭй ĂŶĚ Ϭ͘Ϯй ŽŶ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ŽĨ ďƵLJŝŶŐ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ ŝŶ 'h Z Edz ;нϭ͘ϰйͿ ĂŶĚ & E, ;нϰ͘ϮйͿ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘ ^ĞĐƚŽƌ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ǁĂƐ ůĂƌŐĞůLJ ŶĞŐĂƟǀĞ ƚŚŝƐ ǁĞĞŬ ǁŝƚŚ ϰ ŽĨ ϱ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ƵŶĚĞƌ ŽƵƌ ĐŽǀĞƌĂŐĞ ĚĞĐůŝŶŝŶŐ t Ž t͘ dŚĞ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ŝŶĚĞdž ǁĂƐ ƚŚĞ ůŽŶĞ ŐĂŝŶĞƌ͕ ƵƉ Ϭ͘ϴй t Ž t ŽǁŝŶŐ ƚŽ ƉƌŝĐĞ ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ &KZd ;нϭϬ͘ϮйͿ ĂŶĚ DK /> ;ϯ͘ϬйͿ͘ dŚĞ ůŽƐĞƌƐ ǁĞƌĞ ůĞĚ ďLJ ƚŚĞ ŽŶƐƵŵĞƌ 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚĞdž ǁŚŝĐŚ ĨĞůů Ϯ͘ϵй t Ž t ĂƐ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ƐŽůĚ ƉŽƐŝƟŽŶƐ ŝŶ E/' Z/ E Z t Z/ ^ ; ϯ͘ϱйͿ͕ E ^d> ; ϯ͘ϬйͿ ĂŶĚ hE/> s Z ; ϲ͘ϮйͿ͘ dŚĞ

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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 19, 2017

/ŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ ĂŶĚ ĂŶŬŝŶŐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ƚƌĂŝůĞĚ͕ ƐŚĞĚĚŝŶŐ Ϯ͘Ϭй ĂŶĚ ϭ͘ϯй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͕ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ƐĞůů ƉƌĞƐƐƵƌĞƐ ŝŶ >/E< ^^hZ ; ϭϳ͘ϲйͿ͕ D E^ Z ; Ϯ͘ϰйͿ͕ E/d, ; ϯ͘ϱйͿ ĂŶĚ ^^ ; Ϯ͘ϭйͿ͘ >ŝŬĞǁŝƐĞ͕ Ă ƉƌŝĐĞ ĚĞƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ t W K ; Ϯ͘ϴйͿ ĚƌĂŐŐĞĚ ƚŚĞ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ /ŶĚĞdž ϭ͘Ϭй ůŽǁĞƌ͘ /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ͕ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ ǁŽƌƐĞŶĞĚ ƚŽ Ϭ͘ϱdž ;ϭϴ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞƌƐͬϰϱ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞƌƐͿ ĨƌŽŵ ϭ͘Ϭdž ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ƚŚĞ ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ &ƌŝĚĂLJ͘ dŚĞ ƚŽƉ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĞƌƐ ƚŚŝƐ ǁĞĞŬ ĂƌĞ '> s Ed ;нϮϳ͘ϯйͿ͕ &KZd ;нϭϬ͘ϮйͿ ĂŶĚ K ' ^ ;нϵ͘ϵйͿ ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌƐƚ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĞƌƐ ĂƌĞ s ZdKE ; Ϯϭ͘ϰйͿ͕ >/E< ^^hZ ; ϭϳ͘ϲйͿ ĂŶĚ /> ^/E' ; ϭϯ͘ϴйͿ͘ &ŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ƚŚŝƐ ǁĞĞŬ͛Ɛ ůŽƐƐ͕ ǁĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŝŶ ĞĂƌůLJ ƚƌĂĚĞƐ ŶĞdžƚ ǁĞĞŬ ƚŽ ďĞ ĚƌŝǀĞŶ ďLJ ďĂƌŐĂŝŶ ŚƵŶƟŶŐ ŝŶ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ǁŚŝĐŚ ĚƌĂŐŐĞĚ ƚŚĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚŽƵƚ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬ͘

DŽŶĞLJ DĂƌŬĞƚ ZĞǀŝĞǁ ĂŶĚ KƵƚůŽŽŬ dŚĞ ǁĞĞŬ ŽƉĞŶĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ŶĞŐĂƟǀĞ ƐLJƐƚĞŵ ůŝƋƵŝĚŝƚLJ ďĂůĂŶĐĞ ;Eϰϲ͘ϲďŶ ĨƌŽŵ Ă ĚĞĮĐŝƚ ŽĨ Eϭϭ͘ϲďŶ ůĂƐƚ &ƌŝĚĂLJͿ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ E ĐŽŶĚƵĐƚĞĚ KDK ƐĂůĞƐ ǁŽƌƚŚ Eϲϭ͘ϳďŶ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ŝƚƐ ǁĞĞŬůLJ ^D/^ ƐĂůĞƐ ŽĨ h^ΨϭϬϬ͘Ϭŵ͘ ĐĐŽƌĚŝŶŐůLJ͕ ŵŽŶĞLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƌĂƚĞƐ͕ KƉĞŶ ƵLJ ĂĐŬ ;K Ϳ ĂŶĚ KǀĞƌŶŝŐŚƚ ;KsEͿ ƌŽƐĞ ϭϬ͘ϲ ĂŶĚ ϭϭ͘ϵ ƉƉƚ ƚŽ ĐůŽƐĞ Ăƚ ϭϳ͘ϴй ĂŶĚ ϭϵ͘ϴй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ŽŶ DŽŶĚĂLJ͘ ^ƵďƐĞƋƵĞŶƚůLJ͕ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ĂŶ ŝŵƉƌŽǀŝŶŐ ƐLJƐƚĞŵ ůŝƋƵŝĚŝƚLJ ǁŚŝĐŚ ǁĂƐ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ Ăƚ EϮϲ͘ϭďŶ ŽŶ dƵĞƐĚĂLJ͕ ŵŽŶĞLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƌĂƚĞƐ ŵŽĚĞƌĂƚĞĚ ŽŶ Ăůů ŽƚŚĞƌ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶƐ͕ ĐůŽƐŝŶŐ ůŽǁĞƌ ŽŶ dƵĞƐĚĂLJ ;ϭϮ͘Ϯй ĂŶĚ ϭϯ͘ϰй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJͿ͕ tĞĚŶĞƐĚĂLJ ;ϭϬ͘Ϯй ĂŶĚ ϭϭ͘ϯй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJͿ ĂŶĚ ĞǀĞŶƚƵĂůůLJ Ă ǁĞĞŬ ůŽǁ ŽĨ ϲ͘Ϯй ĂŶĚ ϲ͘ϳй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ŽŶ dŚƵƌƐĚĂLJ͘ dŚŝƐ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞŵĞŶƚ ǁĂƐ ůĂƌŐĞůLJ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ WƌŝŵĂƌLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƌĞƉĂLJŵĞŶƚƐ KDK ;Eϭϰϭ͘ϳďŶͿ ĂŶĚ d ďŝůůƐ WD ;ŶĞƚ ďĂůĂŶĐĞ ŽĨ EϬ͘ϭďŶͿ ǁŚŝĐŚ ďƵŽLJĞĚ ƐLJƐƚĞŵ ůŝƋƵŝĚŝƚLJ ďĂůĂŶĐĞ ƚŽ EϮϵϳ͘ϲďŶ ŽŶ dŚƵƌƐĚĂLJ͘ ,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ ƌĂƚĞƐ ƐƵƌŐĞĚ ŽŶ &ƌŝĚĂLJ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ĂŶ KDK ĂƵĐƟŽŶ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŵŽƉƉĞĚ ƵƉ Eϲϲ͘ϬďŶ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ĮŶĂŶĐŝĂů ƐLJƐƚĞŵ͕ ŚĞŶĐĞ K Θ KsE ƌŽƐĞ ƚŽ Ϯϲ͘ϳй ĂŶĚ Ϯϳ͘ϳй ŽŶ &ƌŝĚĂLJ͕ ŝŵƉůLJŝŶŐ Ă ϭϵ͘ϱ ĂŶĚ ϭϵ͘ϵ ƉƉƚ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞ t Ž t͘

WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ dƌĞĂƐƵƌLJ ŝůůƐ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ǁĂƐ ďƌŽĂĚůLJ ďƵůůŝƐŚ ĂƐ ĂǀĞƌĂŐĞ ƌĂƚĞƐ ĨĞůů ŽŶ ϯ ŽĨ ϱ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶƐ͘ dŚĞ ǁĞĞŬ ƐƚĂƌƚĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ƐĞůů ŽīƐ ĂĐƌŽƐƐ ůŽŶŐ ĚĂƚĞĚ ŝŶƐƚƌƵŵĞŶƚƐ ĂƐ ĂǀĞƌĂŐĞ ƌĂƚĞ ;ĂĐƌŽƐƐ ƚŚƌĞĞ ďĞŶĐŚŵĂƌŬƐ ǁĞ ƚƌĂĐŬͿ ƌŽƐĞ ϯďƉƐ ƚŽ ϭϳ͘Ϭй͘

,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ǁĂƐ ƌĞǀĞƌƐĞĚ ŽŶ dƵĞƐĚĂLJ ĂƐ ĂǀĞƌĂŐĞ ƌĂƚĞ ĨĞůů ϭϲďƉƐ ƚŽ ϭϲ͘ϴй ĂŌĞƌ ƚŚĞ EĂƟŽŶĂů ƐƐĞŵďůLJ ŐƌĂŶƚĞĚ ƚŚĞ &'E͛Ɛ ƌĞƋƵĞƐƚ ƚŽ ƌĂŝƐĞ ĞdžƚĞƌŶĂů ĚĞďƚ ƚŽ ƌĞĮŶĂŶĐĞ ĞdžƉĞŶƐŝǀĞ d ďŝůůƐ͘ KŶ tĞĚŶĞƐĚĂLJ͕ ƌĂƚĞƐ ĨĞůů ĨƵƌƚŚĞƌ ƚŽ ϭϲ͘ϱй ŽŶ ĂǀĞƌĂŐĞ ďƵƚ ƌŽƐĞ ϭϴďƉƐ ƚŽ ϭϲ͘ϳй ŽŶ dŚƵƌƐĚĂLJ͕ ĐůŽƐŝŶŐ Ăƚ ƐĂŵĞ ůĞǀĞů ŽŶ &ƌŝĚĂLJ͕ ŝŶĚŝĐĂƟŶŐ Ă ϮϳďƉƐ ĚĞĐƌĞĂƐĞ t Ž t͘

ƚ ƚŚĞ WD ĂƵĐƟŽŶ͕ ƚŚĞ E ĂƵĐƟŽŶĞĚ EϯϮ͘ϰďŶ͕ EϮϮ͘ϴďŶ ĂŶĚ Eϲϰ͘ϳďŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ϵϭ ĚĂLJ͕ ϭϴϮ ĚĂLJ ĂŶĚ ϯϲϰ ĚĂLJ ŝŶƐƚƌƵŵĞŶƚƐ͘ 'ŝǀĞŶ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ͛ ĞdžƉĞĐƚĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ Ă ŶĞĂƌ ƚĞƌŵ ŵŽŶĞƚĂƌLJ ĞĂƐŝŶŐ͕ ƚŚĞ ϵϭ ĚĂLJ ĂŶĚ ϭϴϮ ĚĂLJ ŝŶƐƚƌƵŵĞŶƚƐ ǁĞƌĞ ƵŶĚĞƌƐƵďƐĐƌŝďĞĚ ďLJ ϱϰй ĂŶĚ ϯϴй ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ ϯϲϰ ĚĂLJ ŝŶƐƚƌƵŵĞŶƚ ǁĂƐ ŽǀĞƌƐƵďƐĐƌŝďĞĚ ďLJ Ϯ͘Ϯdž͘ ĐĐŽƌĚŝŶŐůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ ƉĞdž ĂŶŬ ĂůůŽƩĞĚ Eϲ͘ϬďŶ ĂƉŝĞĐĞ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ϵϭ ĚĂLJ ĂŶĚ ϭϴϮ ĚĂLJ ŝŶƐƚƌƵŵĞŶƚƐ ǁŚŝůĞ EϭϬϳ͘ϵďŶ ǁĂƐ ĂůůŽƩĞĚ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ϯϲϰ ĚĂLJ ŝŶƐƚƌƵŵĞŶƚƐ Ăƚ ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ƐƚŽƉ ƌĂƚĞƐ ŽĨ ϭϯ͘Ϭй͕ ϭϱ͘ϯй ĂŶĚ ϭϱ͘ϲй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘ /Ŷ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŵŝŶŐ ǁĞĞŬ͕ ǁĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ĂŶ KDK ŵĂƚƵƌŝƚLJ ŽĨ EϮϬϬ͘ϵďŶ ƚŽ ďƵŽLJ ƐLJƐƚĞŵ ůŝƋƵŝĚŝƚLJ͘ EŽŶĞƚŚĞůĞƐƐ͕ ǁĞ ďĞůŝĞǀĞ ƚŚĞ ŽƵƚĐŽŵĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ůĂƐƚ DW ŵĞĞƟŶŐ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ LJĞĂƌ ǁŽƵůĚ ĚŝĐƚĂƚĞ ĂĐƟǀŝƟĞƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŵŽŶĞLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ʹ ƉĂƌƟĐƵůĂƌůLJ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ĨŽƌ dƌĞĂƐƵƌLJ ŝůůƐ͘

&ŽƌĞŝŐŶ džĐŚĂŶŐĞ DĂƌŬĞƚ ZĞǀŝĞǁ ĂŶĚ KƵƚůŽŽŬ dŚŝƐ ǁĞĞŬ͕ ƚŚĞ E ĐŽŶĚƵĐƚĞĚ ŝƚƐ ǁĞĞŬůLJ ^D/^ ĂƵĐƟŽŶ ǁŝƚŚ h^ΨϭϬϬ͘Ϭŵ ŽŶ ŽīĞƌ Ăƚ Ă ƌĂƚĞ ŽĨ EϯϯϬ͘ϬϬͬh^Ψϭ͘ϬϬ ŝŶ ŽƌĚĞƌ ƚŽ ŵĞĞƚ ĚŽůůĂƌ ĚĞŵĂŶĚ ĂŶĚ ŵĂŝŶƚĂŝŶ ƐƚĂďŝůŝƚLJ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ &ŽƌĞŝŐŶ ĞdžĐŚĂŶŐĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ͘ ĐĐŽƌĚŝŶŐůLJ͕ ƌĂƚĞ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ŝŶƚĞƌďĂŶŬ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ǁŝƚŚŝŶ Ă ƌĂŶŐĞ ŽĨ Eϯϱϱ͘ϰϵͬh^Ψϭ͘ϬϬʹ Eϯϱϵ͘ϵϵͬh^Ψϭ͘ϬϬ͘ ZĂƚĞƐ ŽƉĞŶĞĚ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬ Ăƚ Eϯϱϱ͘ϰϵͬh^Ψϭ͘ϬϬ ;ƐŝŵŝůĂƌ ƚŽ ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ǁĞĞŬ͛Ɛ ĐůŽƐĞ ŽĨ Eϯϱϱ͘ϰϵͬh^Ψϭ͘ϬϬͿ ďƵƚ ĚĞƉƌĞĐŝĂƚĞĚ ŽŶ Ăůů ŽƚŚĞƌ ĚĂLJƐ ƐĂǀĞ ĨŽƌ &ƌŝĚĂLJ ǁŚĞŶ ƚŚĞ ĞdžĐŚĂŶŐĞ ƌĂƚĞ ƐůŝŐŚƚůLJ ƌĞďŽƵŶĚĞĚ ƚŽ Eϯϱϵ͘ϳϵͬh^Ψϭ͘ϬϬ͘ DĞĂŶǁŚŝůĞ͕ ĂĐƟǀŝƟĞƐ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ŽĸĐŝĂů ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƌĞŵĂŝŶĞĚ ƐƚĂďůĞ͕ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ E ƐƉŽƚ ƌĂƚĞ ƉĞŐŐĞĚ Ăƚ EϯϬϲ͘ϬϬͬh^Ψϭ͘ϬϬ ŽŶ DŽŶĚĂLJ Ɵůů ŵŝĚ ǁĞĞŬ ďĞĨŽƌĞ Ă ŵĂƌŐŝŶĂů ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŽŶ ŽŶ dŚƵƌƐĚĂLJ ƚŽ EϯϬϱ͘ϵϱͬh^Ψϭ͘ϬϬ͘

ƚ ƚŚĞ &D Y /Θ tŝŶĚŽǁ͕ ƚƵƌŶŽǀĞƌ ĂƐ Ăƚ dŚƵƌƐĚĂLJ ƐƚŽŽĚ Ăƚ h^Ψϲϳϰ͘ϯďŶ͕ ƌĞůĂƟǀĞůLJ ůŽǁĞƌ ƚŚĂŶ h^ΨϲϴϮ͘ϵďŶ ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƐĂŵĞ ƉĞƌŝŽĚ ůĂƐƚ ǁĞĞŬ͖ ƚŚĞ EĂŝƌĂ ŽƉĞŶĞĚ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬ Ăƚ Eϯϱϵ͘ϵϭͬh^Ψϭ͘ϬϬ ŝŶ

ƚŚĞ tŝŶĚŽǁ ĂŶĚ ĐůŽƐĞĚ Ăƚ Eϯϱϵ͘ϴϰͬh^Ψϭ͘ϬϬ͕ ŝŵƉůLJŝŶŐ Ă ϮďƉƐ ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŽŶ t Ž t͘ /Ŷ ůŝŶĞ ǁŝƚŚ ƌĞĐĞŶƚ ƚƌĞŶĚ͕ &y ƌĂƚĞ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ƉĂƌĂůůĞů ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ǁĂƐ ƐƚĂďůĞ Ăůů ǁĞĞŬ͘ dŚĞ ŶĂŝƌĂ ŽƉĞŶĞĚ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬ Ăƚ Eϯϲϯ͘ϬϬͬh^Ψϭ͘ϬϬ͕ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ŇĂƚ Ɵůů ŵŝĚ ǁĞĞŬ ďĞĨŽƌĞ ĚĞƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŶŐ ƚŽ Eϯϲϰ͘ϬϬͬh^Ψϭ͘ϬϬ ĂŶĚ ĐůŽƐĞĚ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬ Ăƚ ƐĂŵĞ ůĞǀĞů͘

/Ŷ ƚŚĞ &D Y Kd ĨƵƚƵƌĞƐ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ͕ ƚŽƚĂů ǀĂůƵĞ ŽĨ ŽƉĞŶ ĐŽŶƚƌĂĐƚƐ ĐůŽƐĞĚ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬ ŚŝŐŚĞƌ Ăƚ h^Ψϯ͘ϮďŶ ĨƌŽŵ h^Ψϯ͘ϭďŶ ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ŝŶ ƉƌŝŽƌ ǁĞĞŬ͛Ɛ ĐůŽƐĞ͘ ůů ϭϮ ĐŽŶƚƌĂĐƚƐ ŚĂǀĞ ƌĞŵĂŝŶĞĚ ƵŶĚĞƌƐƵďƐĐƌŝďĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ƐŽŽŶ ƚŽ ŵĂƚƵƌĞ E'h^ EKs ϮϬϭϳ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ƐƵďƐĐƌŝďĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŽƚĂů ǀĂůƵĞ ŽĨ h^ΨϰϵϬ͘Ϯŵ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ƌĞĐĞŶƚ E'h^ K d ϮϬϭϴ ƚŚĞ ůĞĂƐƚ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŽƚĂů ǀĂůƵĞ Ăƚ h^Ψϰϵ͘ϱŵ͘

EĞdžƚ ǁĞĞŬ͕ ƚŚĞ DW ǁŝůů ďĞ ŚŽůĚŝŶŐ ŝƚƐ ůĂƐƚ ŵĞĞƟŶŐ ŝŶ ϮϬϭϳ ĂŶĚ ǁĞ ďĞůŝĞǀĞ ƚŚĞ ĐƵƌƌĞŶƚ &y ĨƌĂŵĞǁŽƌŬ͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŚĂƐ ƌĞƐƵůƚĞĚ ŝŶ ƐƚĂďŝůŝƚLJ ŝŶ &y ƌĂƚĞƐ͕ ǁŝůů ďĞ Ă ŵĂũŽƌ ƚĂůŬŝŶŐ ƉŽŝŶƚ͘ dŚĂƚ ƐĂŝĚ͕ ŝƚ ŝƐ ƵŶůŝŬĞůLJ ƚŚĞƌĞ ǁŽƵůĚ ďĞ ĂŶLJ ĐŚĂŶŐĞ ŝŶ E͛Ɛ &y ƉĞŐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŶĞĂƌ ƚĞƌŵ͕ ŐŝǀĞŶ ƚŚĞ ϮϬϭϴ ďƵĚŐĞƚ ĂƐƐƵŵĞƐ ĂŶ ĞdžĐŚĂŶŐĞ ƌĂƚĞ ŽĨ EϯϬϱͬh^Ψϭ͘ϬϬ͖ ŚĞŶĐĞ ďĂƌƌŝŶŐ ĂŶLJ ŶĞŐĂƟǀĞ ƐƵƌƉƌŝƐĞƐ͕ ǁĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ƌĂƚĞƐ ƚŽ ŚŽǀĞƌ ĂƌŽƵŶĚ ĐƵƌƌĞŶƚ ůĞǀĞůƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŶĞĂƌ ƚĞƌŵ͘

ŽŶĚƐ DĂƌŬĞƚ ZĞǀŝĞǁ ĂŶĚ KƵƚůŽŽŬ ĞƐƉŝƚĞ ĐƟǀŝƟĞƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĚŽŵĞƐƟĐ ďŽŶĚƐ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƌĞŵĂŝŶĞĚ ƋƵŝĞƚ ďƵƚ ůĂƌŐĞůLJ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ĚƵƌŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬ ĂƐ ĂǀĞƌĂŐĞ LJŝĞůĚ ĂĐƌŽƐƐ ŝŶƐƚƌƵŵĞŶƚƐ ŵŽĚĞƌĂƚĞĚ ŽŶ Ăůů ϱ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶƐ͘ ǀĞƌĂŐĞ LJŝĞůĚ ŽƉĞŶĞĚ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬ ŇĂƚ Ăƚ ϭϱ͘Ϯй ;ĨƌŽŵ ϭϱ͘Ϯй ƚŚĞ ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ &ƌŝĚĂLJͿ ďƵƚ ŵŽĚĞƌĂƚĞĚ ŽŶ dƵĞƐĚĂLJ ;ĚŽǁŶ ϮďƉƐͿ͕ tĞĚŶĞƐĚĂLJ ;ĚŽǁŶ ϰďƉƐͿ ĂŶĚ dŚƵƌƐĚĂLJ ;ϭďƉƐͿ ŽŶ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ŽĨ ďƵLJŝŶŐ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ ŝŶ :hE ϮϬϭϴ͕ :hE ϮϬϭϵ ĂŶĚ D Z , ϮϬϮϰ ŝŶƐƚƌƵŵĞŶƚƐ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘ ǀĞƌĂŐĞ LJŝĞůĚ ĂĐƌŽƐƐ ƚĞŶŽƌƐ ĐůŽƐĞĚ Ăƚ ϭϱ͘ϭϴй ŽŶ &ƌŝĚĂLJ͕ ŝŶĚŝĐĂƟŶŐ Ă ϱďƉƐ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞ t Ž t͘ dŚĞ ďƵůůŝƐŚ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ƚŚŝƐ ǁĞĞŬ ĐŽƵůĚ ďĞ ĂƩƌŝďƵƚĞĚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĂƉƉƌŽǀĂů ŐƌĂŶƚĞĚ ďLJ ƚŚĞ EĂƟŽŶĂů ƐƐĞŵďůLJ ŽŶ dƵĞƐĚĂLJ͕ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ &ĞĚĞƌĂů 'ŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚ ƚŽ h^Ψϱ͘ϱďŶ ŝŶ ĞdžƚĞƌŶĂů ĚĞďƚ ʹ Ă ĐŽŵďŝŶĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƵƌŽďŽŶĚ͕ ŝĂƐƉŽƌĂ ďŽŶĚ ĂŶĚ ĨŽƌĞŝŐŶ ĐƵƌƌĞŶĐLJ ůŽĂŶ ƐLJŶĚŝĐĂƟŽŶ ƚŽ ĨƵŶĚ ϮϬϭϳ ďƵĚŐĞƚ ĚĞĮĐŝƚ ĂŶĚ ƌĞĮŶĂŶĐĞ ĚŽŵĞƐƟĐ ĚĞďƚ͘ dŚĞ ƐŚŝŌ ŝŶ ĚĞďƚ ƉŽƌƞŽůŝŽ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ &'E ŝƐ ĞdžƉĞĐƚĞĚ ƚŽ ƌĞĚƵĐĞ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ŽĨ

ĚŽŵĞƐƟĐ ĚĞďƚ ƐĞĐƵƌŝƟĞƐ ŝƐƐƵĂŶĐĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŶĞĂƌ ƚĞƌŵ͕ ŚĞŶĐĞ ƚŚĞ ďƵůůŝƐŚ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ͘ /Ŷ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŵŝŶŐ ǁĞĞŬ͕ ƚŚĞ DK ǁŝůů ďĞ ƌĞ ŽƉĞŶŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ :h>z ϮϬϮϭ ĂŶĚ D Z , ϮϬϮϳ ŝŶƐƚƌƵŵĞŶƚƐ ǁŝƚŚ ŽīĞƌ ĂŵŽƵŶƚƐ ƌĂŶŐŝŶŐ ĨƌŽŵ Eϰϱ͘Ϭ Eϱϱ͘ϬďŶ ĨŽƌ ĞĂĐŚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ďŽŶĚƐ͘ Ɛ ǁŝƚŚ ƚƌĞŶĚ͕ ǁĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ƚŚĞ ĂƵĐƟŽŶ ƚŽ ďĞ ůĂƌŐĞůLJ ƐƵĐĐĞƐƐĨƵů ǁŝƚŚ ƐŝŵŝůĂƌ ŵĂƌŐŝŶĂů ƌĂƚĞƐ ;ƚŽ ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ĂƵĐƟŽŶͿ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ŚŝŐŚĞƌ ůĞǀĞů ŽĨ ƐƵďƐĐƌŝƉƟŽŶ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ůŽŶŐ ĚĂƚĞĚ ďŽŶĚ͘

ƵůůŝƐŚ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ƌĞƚƵƌŶĞĚ ƚŽ ^Ƶď ^ĂŚĂƌĂŶ ĨƌŝĐĂŶ ^ŽǀĞƌĞŝŐŶ ƵƌŽďŽŶĚƐ ƚŚŝƐ ǁĞĞŬ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ůĂƐƚ ǁĞĞŬ͛Ɛ ƐĞůů Žī͘ ĐƌŽƐƐ Ăůů ŝŶƐƚƌƵŵĞŶƚƐ ǁĞ ƚƌĂĐŬ͕ ĂǀĞƌĂŐĞ LJŝĞůĚ ĨĞůů ϭϯďƉƐ͕ ϭϳďƉƐ͕ ϮϯďƉƐ͕ ϭϬďƉƐ͕ ϮϮďƉƐ ϵďƉƐ͕ ϰďƉƐ͕ ϴďƉƐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶ͕ 'ŚĂŶĂŝĂŶ͕ 'ĂďŽŶĞƐĞ͕ /ǀŽƌLJ ŽĂƐƚ͕ <ĞŶLJĂŶ͕ ĂŵďŝĂŶ͕ ^ĞŶĞŐĂůĞƐĞ ĂŶĚ ^ŽƵƚŚ ĨƌŝĐĂŶ ŝŶƐƚƌƵŵĞŶƚƐ͘ /Ŷ Ă ƌĞůĂƚĞĚ ĚĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚ͕ ƚŚĞ &ĞĚĞƌĂů 'ŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚ ŽĨ EŝŐĞƌŝĂ ŚĂƐ ĞŵďĂƌŬĞĚ ŽŶ Ă ƌŽĂĚ ƐŚŽǁ ƚŽ ƌĂŝƐĞ h^ΨϮ͘ϱďŶ ŝŶ ƵƌŽďŽŶĚƐ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ EĂƟŽŶĂů ƐƐĞŵďůLJ͛Ɛ ĂƉƉƌŽǀĂů͘ 'ůŽďĂů ZĂƟŶŐ ŐĞŶĐLJ &ŝƚĐŚ ŚĂƐ ĂƐƐŝŐŶĞĚ ƚŚĞ ƵƉĐŽŵŝŶŐ ƐĞŶŝŽƌ ƵŶƐĞĐƵƌĞĚ h^ ĚĞŶŽŵŝŶĂƚĞĚ ŶŽƚĞƐ н ǁŝƚŚ Ă ŶĞŐĂƟǀĞ ŽƵƚůŽŽŬ͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŝƐ Ăƚ ƉĂƌ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ŐĞŶĐLJ͛Ɛ ƌĂƟŶŐ ŽŶ ĞdžŝƐƟŶŐ ƐŽǀĞƌĞŝŐŶ ďŽŶĚƐ͘ tĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ƚŚĞ ŝƐƐƵĂŶĐĞ ƚŽ ďĞ ůĂƌŐĞůLJ ƐƵĐĐĞƐƐĨƵů ŐŝǀĞŶ ƚŚĞ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞŵĞŶƚ ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ŝŶ ŵĂĐƌŽ ĞĐŽŶŽŵŝĐ ǀĂƌŝĂďůĞƐ ĂŶĚ ƐƚƌŽŶŐ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ĂƉƉĞƟƚĞ ĨŽƌ ŚŝŐŚ LJŝĞůĚŝŶŐ ĞŵĞƌŐŝŶŐ ŵĂƌŬĞƚƐ ďŽŶĚƐ͘

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26

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ NOVEMBER 19, 2017

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27

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

MARKET NEWS

Jaiz Bank Foresees Huge Potential for Sukuk Bonds in West Africa Many West African countries and companies may fall back on Sukuk bonds to raise non-interest funds to finance infrastructural development and corporate growth plans, the Managing Director, Jaiz Bank Plc, Mr. Hassan Usman has said.

Usman, who spoke at a twoday national convention of the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic Abeokuta Muslim Alumni (MAPAMA) in Lagos, said the envisaged scramble for Sukuk issuance in the nearest future could make the non-interest

capital market grow bigger and faster than its banking counterpart.

“This is due to the inherent linkage of Sukuk to an underlying asset. The IMF asserts that with Sukuk, African nations could tap into growing Islamic financial markets to meet infrastructure financing needs instead of using conventional financing from international finance institutions such as the World Bank or the African Development Bank or relying on borrowed Chinese funds,” Usman said.

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

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

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

According to him, non-interest banking (NIB) in West Africa has a lot of potential due to a number of positive indicators including the economic growth in many West African nations supported by improving fundamentals, growing domestic demand and stronger regional integration.

He added that with a population of about 329 million people, the emerging middleclass segment of the region is expected to boost demand for NIB retail banking, takaful and Islamic funds.

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 16-Nov-2017, unless otherwise stated.

He noted that with financial literacy improving across the region, greater understanding of the benefits and dynamics of NIB products shall usher in greater up-take of the products and help to deepen financial inclusion.

“Most importantly, NIB’s growth in the region is heavily going to be influenced by its infrastructure deficit -mainly new airports, power plants, roads and railways and the urgent demand for creative and alternative approaches to funding the gap, which is

common to all the countries without exception,” Usman said.

He pointed out that Islamic finance has a lot of opportunities for young professionals and even those in mid-career, noting that Islamic finance system is a complete universe or ecosystem that goes beyond Islamic banks to include other areas such as Islamic capital market which has Sukuk as its most popular instrument, Takaful or Islamic insurance, Islamic wealth management and Islamic private equity.

According to him, as the

market for Islamic finance develops in Nigeria, each segment of the market will sprout out and branch out to provide potential career paths for young and middle-level professionals.

He, however, noted that harnessing the opportunities in the Islamic finance market might take some time because the ecosystem is currently narrow with only one fullfledged bank, one window operation, one capital market operator and two Takaful operators.

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

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

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

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 1 270 1680 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund 176.55 177.72 39.20% Nigeria International Debt Fund 234.34 235.63 10.91% ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund 0.82 0.83 16.66% ACAP Income Funds 0.63 0.63 79.10% 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 17.99% 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 17.69 18.22 43.25% ARM Discovery Fund 371.09 382.28 29.22% ARM Ethical Fund 26.05 26.83 16.59% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 17.78% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund 147.49 148.53 40.23% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 18.03% 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.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 18.33% 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 QUEST 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 1,114.04 1,115.18 9.94% FBN Heritage Fund 146.97 148.21 31.82% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 18.90% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional $111.03 $112.30 8.09% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail $110.73 $112.00 8.54% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 154.88 157.15 37.57% FIRST CITY ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD fcamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcamltd.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Equity Fund 1.37 1.40 47.48% Legacy Short Maturity (NGN) Fund 2.94 2.94 14.32% 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 2,906.57 2,946.65 32.18% Coral Income Fund 2,420.68 2,420.68 16.15% 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 17.49% 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 17.65% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.07 2.10 23.19%

Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 18.53% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 112.97 112.97 16.43% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.16 1.18 17.35% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,039.26 1,039.26 10.31% 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 13.28 13.39 37.44% 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 1.23 1.23 1.23 PACAM Fixed Income Fund 10.93 10.93 10.93 PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 10.00 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 126.51 128.52 24.73% 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 1.41 1.41 13.27% 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 2,205.62 2,218.84 20.47% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 173.53 173.53 12.71% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.98 0.99 27.92% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 215.95 215.95 15.55% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 170.18 172.38 31.08% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 17.77% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 9,498.56 9,610.59 25.27% 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 1.33 1.32 18.01% United Capital Bond Fund 1.51 1.51 23.32% United Capital Equity Fund 0.93 0.91 35.65% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 18.80% 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 12.63 12.81 29.78% Zenith Ethical Fund 13.29 13.43 21.22% Zenith Income Fund 18.82 18.82 13.77%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

11.41 131.62

1.01% 6.17%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

10.89 136.08 105.49

10.99 139.03 107.48

26.16% 37.56% 39.21%

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

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS Fund Name Lotus Halal Equity Exchange Traded Fund SIAML Pension ETF 40 Stanbic IBTC ETF 30 Fund

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

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

4.50 8.55 16.97 19.90 141.56

4.54 8.63 17.07 20.10 143.56

62.50% 21.50% 43.40% 24.61% 11.60%

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

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

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UT H

& RE A SO

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LIFE LESSONS WITH AYO AROWOLO

ayo.arowolo@thisdaylive.com

BE CAREFUL WHO YOU TRUST

– Felix Ohiwerei At 80, Mr. Felix Ohiwerei, former Managing Director of Nigerian Breweries (NB) Plc, still actively presides over the boards of over five Ivy League companies. He creates time to share the gospel while also loading in many meaningful works to see that the rest of the journey counts. In this life lessons interview, Ohiwerei said that apart from being a product of the grace of God, his greatest secret has been strict adherence to walking the talk. Enjoy the reading LESSON

1

Salary should not be the basis of career choice.

On reflection, a great lesson I learnt is that salary should not be the basis of choice of a career; it should be what you have aptitude for, where you can give of your best, where you can be yourself, and not a pretender.

When I look back, I realise that I am actually what I am by the grace of God. It is only His grace that has taken me this far. Then, I also need to add that I had a clear idea of what I wanted to be in life. I wanted to have a successful career and to retire gracefully. Right from the beginning, I made up my mind that I wasn’t going to work for the government; that I was going to work for a company, but which company I didn’t have a clear idea. At the end of the day, I had offers from the Nigerian Breweries, Nigerian Tobacco Company (NTC), Mobil Oil, and a very strong possibility for an offer from the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC). But for me, the choice was between the Nigerian Breweries and NTC. In terms of visibility, NTC had a bigger profile at that time than NB. The major reason that made me to settle for NB was that I was far more comfortable with their products (beer and soft drinks) than those of the NTC. One of the biggest surprises I had was the offer from NTC; it came before that of the Nigerian Breweries. I was surprised because when I went for the interviews which lasted for two days they offered me cigarettes several times but I turned down each offer. At the final interview, I was offered a cigarette. But while I was busy answering questions, the cigarette bore a hole on the table of the personnel manager.

On realising what had happened the panel members laughed hilariously . I was thoroughly embarrassed and left crestfallen. I thought I had blown it. But within days, they still offered me the job. I was surprised. They gave me a very good package. Nigerian Breweries offered me a job as well and also gave me a similar package.

However, NTC invited me to Lagos for a discussion with the marketing director . As I walked into his office, he said to me: ‘young man, they said you don’t smoke; don’t worry, by the time I am done with you, you will be smoking like a chimney’. He didn’t quite know what that did to me. So, when the Nigerian Breweries job came, I took it.

When I look back, I can say that I made a good choice.

LESSON

2

Let your work speak for you.

When I joined Nigerian Breweries as a management trainee, I started from the shop floor, did the most menial types of work in the office, contrary to my expectation that I would be working as a full manager with people working under me.

I had a boss whom I was not getting on very well with because I thought he was very arrogant and bossy. At a point I thought after all I am a manager like you but only I am in training. A time came when I was given a responsibility to be in charge of an area as a sales representative during my training period. I was asked to go

09067059433 (SMS only) and relieve a representative. I got to the place, started doing the work of a representative which I had been trained to do. My boss came two weeks after to accompany me in my work, at the end of which he expressed dissatisfaction with my work. He complained of all the things that were wrong in the area. I told him it was not proper for him to be blaming me for lousy jobs done by someone else. He said he didn’t care and told me I was the man in charge now and that he would hold me responsible for whatever was wrong. He added that if on his return in two weeks, things were still not okay, and something would have to happen.

He reported the matter to the regional manager, who called me and lambasted me, too. He said one thing that infuriated me. He said: “We know that one day we would have to leave this country, but we want to leave this business in the hands of capable Nigerians.” I told him that there are many capable Nigerians around.

If you give them a chance, they will do this job better that you can ever do it.

I regretted that outburst later and I started thinking of leaving. But a senior colleague, a manager from Northern Nigeria that came on relief duty in Lagos, took me to a quiet place and spoke to me very nicely, asking me not to leave. He explained to me that these people will irritate you and force you to leave. If all of you come in and leave as some have left, these people will not leave this country. He asked me to stay. That day, I made up my mind that having opened my mouth and made that earlier statement, I have to prove it. So day and night, I worked correcting all those things he complained about.

When the man came back in two weeks’ time at the end of the day, he sat me down, ordered a drink and started taking the points one by one.

In the end, he said you have done a great job.

I couldn’t reconcile his attitude now with his earlier disposition. Within 12 years of joining NBL, I rose to the position of a Marketing Manager overtaking my two former bosses in the process. To their credit, they collaborated all the way with me.

The lesson I got out of that experience is that you should allow the quality of your work to speak for you. Later on in my life, I thanked them for putting me through that mill. In a National Sales/Marketing meeting, my former Regional Sales boss said: “If I leave Nigeria now, I would leave fulfilled because I had a hand in training this young man who is now my boss”.

LESSON

3

A good name will open doors that money cannot.

I learnt this lesson from my father. He told all of us his children that a good name will take us very far in life . He said it would open doors that money could never open. This advice made me to be very careful. When I got the Nigerian Breweries job, my sisters said no way, that their brother would never go and sell beer. My father was a catechist. He told them, “leave him, if the training he received from home is of any value to him, he will stand his ground anywhere.” I heard it, and it put me on my toes never to let that old man down.

What that did to me was that I put name above money. In my generation, there was a time when people were pursuing money. I knew, because of what my father told me that that was a path to destruction. That was my guiding principle, and I suppose I would not have got to where I am without it. To him, ‘when character is lost, all is lost’.

LESSON

4

Be careful who you trust.

I have seen things in my relationship with people, and my conclusion is that don’t

be too quick to trust a man because you really cannot fathom what human beings can do.

What I am saying is based on my personal experience in the various companies in which I worked in, (particularly in Nigerian Breweries). The Bible says the heart of man is deceitful and desperately wicked; who can understand it? Before you say I trust this man, be very careful. I had trusted people and I was disappointed times without number. I have come to realise that you cannot say I know this man until you have tested him with a number of things, especially money and power. The way people change when those things come under their control is simply amazing.

LESSON

5

Success demands humility.

If you are successful and you are arrogant, destruction is at the door.

If you are successful and you are humble, success will lead to another success. Look at the people you know who are successful and arrogant, where are they today? Look at those you know who are successful, humble, and manage their successes in a very humble way; they go from one success to another.

A good example that easily comes to mind is Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God. He is very successful, humble and meek. That is why I said that when you are successful, to remain successful, you must be humble. Arrogance is a killer.

LESSON

6

You hold your position in trust for God. Whenever you are in a position, you should realise that you hold it in trust for God. For God to prosper you there, He expects you to do his will, not your will.

The moment I came to that realisation, my life changed. If you are a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) today, it is not because you are the best person, but it has pleased God to put you there to do his will, not your will. If you are doing his will and your ways please him, then, you will go from success to success.

LESSON

7

God answers prayers.

When I was about to retire, my wife asked me one day at a dinner, ‘what do you want to do when you retire?’ I told her I want to be a business consultant but not a briefcase-carrying one moving from office to office, but that I will like to be on about six boards and I will be chairman of about three international companies. The good lady took it to heart and started praying about it with the children. The appointments that followed were divinely orchestrated. I didn’t go searching for any of them.

HARD KNOCKS The two hardest knocks I have had in life are the loss of a daughter at 22 and later on the loss of a son who was in his 30’s. The daughter was the first born again Christian in the family who enthusiastically got everyone in the family to receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. On both occasions Jesus showed up for the family and pulled us out of a dark period of pain and confusion.

BOOK The Bible and Christian Literature ADVICE Pray daily for Divine Guidance “Don’t hire anyone you cannot fire”.

MARRIAGE/FAMILY God gave me my wife. The very first day I set my eyes on her, I felt in my heart that she is for me.

HEALTH I am blessed with a wife who is very meticulous about what we eat. She is very good at providing balanced diet. Moderation is the word; don’t indulge in too much of anything. Invite God to bless everything you eat and drink.

A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

19.11.2017

A CELEBRATION OF AFRICAN MUSIC TALENTS

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T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R ˞ ͯ͡, Ͱ͎ͯ;

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Sam Onyemelukwe and Busola Tejumola (right)

A CELEBRATION OF AFRICAN MUSIC TALENTS Nseobong Okon-Ekong and Vanessa Obioha report on the growing fame of the All Africa Music Awards which celebrates the creative energy of African artistes

O

rganising a music award is by no means a mean feat, irrespective of the capacity.

It entails a lot: logistics (feeding, transportation and venue), publicity, selection of eligible entrants and collation of results, budget and other elements.

At the nexus of each planning is the financial demand which solely depends on sponsorship, but in extreme cases, may require personal intervention of the organiser to take loans from financial institutions, friends and family members.

However, the beauty and success of any award ceremony is the ability of the organiser to give a clinical execution to his or her idea.

Without this, all the beautiful ideas will be another waste of mental energy.

From whatever angle you may view it, planning such an event at a communal level is not for the faint-hearted, let alone taking the scope of the event to a continental scale. For a significant continental event like the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), it obviously requires more than just skeletal strategy of pooling people together from different countries to reward various musicians. Effective planning, strategy and teamwork is highly needed to deliver a monumental event. For starters, Africa is a diverse continent booming with creative talents, and music being a unifying art serves as an important tool in showcasing the beauty of her diversity.

African music is an eclectic mix which is deep-rooted in culture. Each region or ethnic group strives to sell its musical culture which ranges from musical composition to language.

These elements have set many foremost African musicians apart from their counterparts.

Their capability to project a language that is as melodic as the sounds that accompanies them conveys a compelling intrigue.

For instance, stars like Salif Keita, Youssou Nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;dour, King Sunny Ade, Oliver Mtukudzi, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Manu Dibango, Chaka Chaka and Mariam Makeba to name a few gained international recognition by staying true to their roots and introducing sounds that the world fell in love with instantly. They wore their culture with pride. Although times have changed; that indelible rhythm of Africa can never be replaced. Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s generation of musicians are still learning from these stars who laid an unforgettable groundwork.

Therefore, a continental award ceremony should be a unifying platform between the old and new where both generations get the appropriate dose of appreciation and showmanship.

To an extent, Mike Dada, a PR practitioner and convener of the AFRIMA had this in view when he set out in 2014 to organise the continental award. Before AFRIMA, KORA Awards was the only award celebrating African music stars on such a large scale. Interestingly, Dada worked closely with the planning committee for the KORA award. To set his idea apart, Dada had to dig deeper into the richest reserves of his creative mind to come up with AFRIMA. From the onset, the odds were highly stacked against him. People thought the idea was only good on paper. How was he going to pull it off. They watched from a distance bemused. However, like a skilled footballer, he scored a hat-trick by clinching a working relationship with the Africa Union, AU. This partnership made all the difference; giving AFRIMA an international image that no other award platform in its category could boast of.

The AU had been looking for a credible platform to roll out and canvass its youthoriented agenda. The coming of AFRIMA was the opportunity, the organisation needed. And this year, the relationship entered a sustainable cycle with the launch of the AFRIMA Foundation, which truly empahises the theme: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;For Hope, for Celebration.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Despite the seeming challenges he was confronted with, Dada stunned onlookers by delivering a spectacular show that year. Since then he has not rested on his oars. With each edition, he pushes the envelope. From the African-themed stages and performances to all the razzmatazz, the organisers of AFRIMA are eager to hit the right chord.

For the 2017 edition held recently at the Eko Convention Centre, Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, Dada kept to his original script but with an additional catch: Akon. The organisers caused a great buzz with their announcement that the Senegalese born music superstar will host the event alongside Cameroonian diva-broadcaster, Sophy Aiida.

Arguably, Akon delivered on the objectives of his choice, but failed woefully as a presenter.

The three-day event kicked off with The Africa Music Business Roundtable (AMBR), a platform that engaged top music business stakeholders, label owners and music marketers on the theme â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Digital Takeover; Shaping the Future of African Musicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. Held at the Grand Ball room of the hotel, the roundtable featured keynote speakers like the Head of culture, African Union Commission, Angela Martins; General Manager, Sony Music, West Africa, Michael Ugwu; Managing Director, Trace Anglophone, West Africa Samo Onyemelukwe; Technology

Lagos culture mascot, Eyo masquerade of AFRIMA red carpet

Tonye Cole (right) and Elizabeth Ofosu-Agyare

Harrysong

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NOVEMBER 19, 2017 ˾ T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R

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Salif Keita with Lai Mohammed (right)

Oliver Mtukudzi

& Media Leader, PwC, West Africa, Femi Osinubi; Chairperson Moshito Festival South Africa, Dr.Sipho Sithole; Artistic Director Timitar Festival Morocco, Brahim El Mazned; MD United Capital Securities Ltd. Nigeria, Jude Chiemeka; Head A&R Okay Music USA, Rikki Stein; Head of Operations, Content Connect Africa, South Africa, Munya Chanetsa; CEO Kennis Music Nigeria, Kenny Ogungbe and Founder/CEO Emblue, Kelvin Orifa.

In her opening speech, Angela Martins commended the relentless work of AFRIMA in promoting African music, culture and creative enterprise in Africa, while appreciating Nigeria who through its host city, Lagos, has successfully hosted Africa’s leading creatives and musicians at AFRIMA for three years.

She also noted the theme of the roundtable is in line with the African Union Agenda on the promotion of the new Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs).

“Digitization is the order of the day. We are glad that this theme was chosen so that music professionals can debate on it and come up with a clear roadmap on how to keep abreast with these new information and communication tools. African music can make great strides and reach out to new continental and global markets.”

After the talk came the AFRIMA Village where music fans had the opportunity to watch their favourite star on stage by just buying the AFRIMA customised t-shirt. Although the event was well attended but many of the stars earlier advertised did not make it to the stage. The show ended up featuring Nigerian artistes majorly. Only one emerging artiste from Malawi put up a lacklustre performance.

Artistes from other African countries could not perform because they had not yet arrived Nigeria on the day of the show. Given that flight connections between African countries can be tiresome, the organisers made it look like they only wanted the artistes at the finale.

This was surprising to many watchers of AFRIMA, as the Music Village has been a critical content that the organisers had not been able to execute since the event started in 2014.

The importance of the Music Village cannot be over emphasised as it serves the purpose of giving fans who would not make it to the awards proper opportunity to connect with their favourite artistes, particularly nominees at the awards. Many of the names that were bandied around like Femi Kuti and 2 Baba, were not at the show. Apparently, negotiation between the organisers and the artistes could not be sealed. Feelers from the industry indicate that the artistes were very aggrieved that they had signed a contract and blocked off the date

against other contracts in favour of AFRIMA only to meet with disappointment.

Even at the level of a pan Nigerian concert, the AFRIMA Music Village failed to present the diversity of the country. Allowing three Fuji music bands -Atawewe, Malaika and Saheed Osupa-with their non-stop method of delivery and large retinue of instrumentalists clearly tilted the performing artistes in favour of one section of the country. In the Nigerian pop category, the only recognisable names with top hitting songs were Oritsefemi, Muma Gee and Sound Sultan. The show started three hours behind schedule with a rash of emerging artistes and even though the organisers tried to rush through the programme, many hopeful artistes were not given a chance when the show closed in the morning of the next day.

The music stars were allowed to perform only one song. Only few of the artistes gave an electrifying performance within the time limit. This was a major constraint at the main awards ceremony. For instance, the audience was evidently pained when Ycee performed only his hit single “Juice’. The implication of this was that the artistes ended up rushing their songs in order to avoid being cued off by the DJ. Perhaps, the organisers noticed the audience’ gasps of disappointment because some of the artistes were later given more performing time.

Most of the acts for the night failed to elicit a rousing applause from the audience, particularly non-Nigerian artistes. However, there were few exceptions that warmed the hearts of the audience. They include the energetic musicians and dancers from Togo, Toofan, Ghanaian sassy diva, Becca, and the masterly display on the guitar by one of the recipients of the AFRIMA legendary awards, Oliver Mutikudzi (Zimbabwe). The other recipient was Salif Keita (Mali). Keita declined to perform when approached with a guitar.

Clearly, it was not on the script and he could not be persuaded.

Placing Tiwa Savage to close the event could have been another trump card if the singer who came on stage barefooted had more time. In less than five minutes, she hurriedly performed three songs. Though she wanted to excite her audience more but the DJ was strict with his timing that he even cut her microphone off when she dragged on a particular song.

Seyi Shay suffered a stage mishap when she stumbled and fell in the midst of her act but was quick on her feet and continued her performance. She handled the fall well, which brought back memories of a similar incident

involving Chief Tony Okoroji at a PMAN awards event at the National Theatre in the 1980s.

Also, the two representatives of the federal government, Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed and Special Adviser Political Matters to the President Senator Babafemi Ojudu, were both booed by the audience when they came to present awards - a clear indication that Nigerians are unhappy with the present administration.

In order to control the human traffic, this year’s show was not open to everybody; hence the hall was not overflowing like previous editions. As many who came to see Akon, they were not disappointed but the synergy between him and his co-presenter were not like a house on fire. Many times Akon did not appear to know what to do. He lacked the spontaneity of an excellent presenter. There were occasions when their jokes were lost on the crowd.

Other big winners of the night included 2baba (Nigeria) Tiwa Savage (Nigeria), Simi (Nigeria), Wande Coal (Nigeria), Ycee (Nigeria), Montess (Cameroon), Locko (Cameroon), Nandy (Tanzania), Eddy Kenzo (Uganda), Ibitssam Tiskat (Morocco) among others. The award for Best Video which Orezi so gleefully celebrated should rightly go to the director of the video whose artistic and technical skills created visuals that put a cine-life to the song.

Another major blunder which officials of Lagos State Government openly frowned at was the flawed representation of the ‘The Three Lagos Elders’. Only organisers can explain why they increased the number of Lagos elders to four.

Like in previous editions, Dada and his crew always infused different elements from the different cultures of the continent. The major element on stage was the gigantic drums placed on each side of the stage. Other features include fireworks and two big screens used for advertorials and extra view.

As much as Dada has tried to sell his unique idea to a very complicated audience, the award is yet to acquire the grand status it desperately desires. The reasons for this are not far-fetched. First, the location of the award in Nigeria is wrong. Arguably, Nigeria is perceived as the creative hub of Africa with Lagos as its headquarters. This simple notion is perhaps what is misleading the organisers that Lagos is the perfect host city but the truth is that Lagos does not have the right audience for an award of such eminence. This is evidently seen in each of the edition where performers and winners of the award from other countries receive lukewarm cheer from the crowd who

often wear a vacuous expression when the artistes from other countries come on stage or have their names rolled out on screens. But the reverse is the case when a Nigerian artiste wins or performs. For example, at the arrival of Wizkid who clinched three awards - Best Male artiste in West Africa, the Song of the Year and Artiste of the Year - a large part of the audience caused a raucous jubilation that bouncers had difficulty keeping the excited fans at bay.

Coincidentally, Tanzanian artiste Nandy was performing on stage.

The insolent manner the audience ignored the beautiful songstress was very heartbreaking. And it was very rude of Wizkid not to have delayed his entry; moreso that the awards was supposedly televised live.

Despite the distraction, the singer maintained her stance and at the end, was rewarded with a great ovation. If the applause was an act of remorse or not, one may never know. Nevertheless, since AFRIMA has two more years to host the event, they may consider promoting the nominees from other regions by engaging radio stations and TV channels to play their music more, particularly on TRACE Naija which lent the weight of its network as AFRIMA partner this year. The other option is to organise a pre-award show where the fans will have the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the artistes. This is one of the purposes that the AFRIMA Music Village was supposed to serve, but it was not quite realised.

If any of these options fail, then they should hire cheerleaders to cheer the artistes on to avoid the cold reception of the audience.

Again, the organisers of AFRIMA are yet to select performing artistes that will deliver the grandeur that is deserving of the show.

Performing artistes at awards should be those who are known to deliver an elaborate and theatrical performanceat the point of entry and can sustain a highly sophisticated show to the end. The organising committee of AFRIMA may have to revisit the boardroom and reexamine the selection process of performers at the award. They will do more justice to the awards if they bring in some of these African legends to perform and not just reward them with legendary awards. In doing this, they will be creating history as well as merging the old and young generations.

Nonetheless, AFRIMA has done well in casting the limelight on countries that are hardly recognised musically on s huge platform like this. For instance, Shyn from Madagascar was visibly overwhelmed when he was announced the winner of the Revelation of the Year award.

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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 ˞ ͯ͡, Ͱ͎ͯ;

with Ě&#x201C;

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

Afrosonics

With Afrosonics, Dayo Ayodele Explores Universality of Music

A

fter a long sojourn in the United States with a successful career in music, founder of popular Afro-Indie band Afrosonic Dayo Ayodele breezed into town recently for several outings including the grandly celebrated 50th birthday of Joke Bakare wife of business mogul Muyiwa Bakare at the Pearl Towers Eko Atlantic Lagos.

Even though not physically present at home, one could see that Dayo has been following and is touch with the developments in the music and movies scene and is really excited at the huge leaps in the Nigerian creative and entertainment space. He said that â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nigerian music and movies are grabbing attention on the global stage and fast taking their place there. Many Nigerian artistes were doing things out there that are interesting producers and promoters global Naija hiphop called â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;afrobeatsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is being played in clubs & radio stations all over and the iconic status of Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti has inspired many productions including the popular broadway production FELA! The legendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s music is also being studied and performed by many bands internationally.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a big deal. FELABRATION is not only being celebrated in Nigeria but globallyâ&#x20AC;? he enthused.

Although his parents wanted him to study Medicine, he learned African drumming from his grandmother at The Apostolic Church as a boy. He went to America to study film, taking classes at Columbia College Hollywood and USC. After graduation, he worked as an editor and a production assistant and also exported American albums to England for Liverpoolbased independent label 3 Beat Records.

He then moved to Idaho from California in 2004. Funnily he did a stint in banking before switching back to his first love music. Dayo founded Global Lounge in 2006 when he brought various ethnic groups together. At first, Ayodele concentrated on his band United Roots, an Afrobeat/reggae outfit formed in

2006 and broke up in 2009. He then started devoting more energy to his work with Global Lounge. Afrosonicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s was formed in 2011.

Asked what inspired the formation of Afrosonics, he responded â&#x20AC;&#x153;As a child in Nigeria, i saw a Coca-Cola commercial that played a lot on TV that spoke about teaching the world how to sing in perfect harmony.â&#x20AC;?

For him the commercial suggested a world far beyond anything he had experienced. What impressed him most was the image of people of different races and cultures holding hands suggesting that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a big world and we all have to live in peace and unity.â&#x20AC;? After he had moved to Boise, Idaho, Dayo drew on that idea to start Global Lounge, a charity that seeks to foster cultural awareness and help refugees and immigrants settle into a new life in the US. He also brings that spirit to Afrosonics, which combines African music with funk and jazz. Afrosonics fusion of musical genres reflects the influence of Nigerian musician Fela Kuti, who pioneered Afrobeat. Dayoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mother grew up with the Kutis as a child, she lived in a christian boarding house run by the family. Dayo never had a personal connection with the Legend except a few times that he came around the house to greet his mom. But he grew up listening to Felaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s music and also considered him â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;the main news sourceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; during a time when Nigeria suffered from strict censorship, military coups and corruption in government.

Dayo recorded the Afrosonics album influenced by the universality of music.

Afrosonics has chosen this medium to bring people with diverse musical influences together in the creation of an original music style. Audiences experience new vibes through a fusion of guitars, drums, percussion, keyboards, electronic soundscapes, vocals, dance and chants. Although most of the rhythms are of African and American origin, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tough to put a label on their sound. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been called Electro Funk, Afro Funk, Eclecto Funk or Afro Punk. They call it Afro-Indie.

WAHL CLIPPERS TO REWARD BARBERS AT LABHCA BARBERS To commemorate its 25th anniversary, Wahl Clippers Corporation USA is set to reward winners at the Lagos State Barbers, Hairdressers and Cosmetologists Association (LABHCA) Barbers competition.

The competition which kicked-off in January will be coming to a climactic end on November 23 at the grand finale where 10 finalists will battle for cash prizes and Wahl clippers at Hi-Tech field, Orisunmbare, Alimosho, Lagos.

Known for its premium quality, Wahl Clippers has over the years supported the

barbers association in ensuring that they are celebrated as well as rendering financial support to ease their ways of doing business.

In the past 24 years, the brand has also held its own competition where barbers are rewarded with gifts as well as educated on trends and health tips on male grooming.

The clippers were introduced to the Nigerian market by Chief Victor Mbadiwe, through his company J. Green Mbadiwe& Sons Ltd. Since then, the company has continued to dominate the market despite the influx of fake and substandard clippers in the market. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been an amazing journey for us. We

Dayo Ayodele, Founder Afrosonics

Afrosonics incorporates music from all over the world, and the root of each band member intermingles to create something both classic and unique. In addition to their own music, the group draws influences from other musical genres and locales, including South America, the Caribbean, funk, southern American jazz, blues, rock and others that capture the true essence of the African, American or Universal spirit. Dayo & Afrosonic has shared stages with many artistes like Angelique Kidjo, TV on the Radio, The Suffers, Budos Band and others.

Dayo has big plans for the future. Since visiting he has met with several promoters, artistes and producers to check the out scene and how best to plug in with his music and also how he can use his wealth of experience to contribute to the growth and development of the music scene here. He plans to collaborate with various Nigerian musicians and in conjunction with his agents Inspiro productions organise tours with Nigerian musicians both in Nigerian and the US at various festivals and concerts.

can only be grateful to the barbers who have come to the realisation that nothing comes close to our product because we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t compromise our quality in any way. Of course, the market has become competitive but we are proud to be a leader in the market,â&#x20AC;? said Mbadiwe.

Mrs. Ijaoba Oladipupo, LABHCAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s president affirmed the quality of Wahl Clippers in her statement: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Wahl Clippers is a statement of class. Barbers who use Wahl clippers are highly respected. It is affordable and durable and easy to use even for a firsttimer.â&#x20AC;?

Regarding the value of the industry,

Mbadiwe stated that the industry has a lot of potentials. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Male grooming in Nigeria is gradually gaining recognition. Most people limit it to clothes but a manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fashion goes beyond what he wears. His overall look starts from the head. What hair-cut is he wearing? Is he cleanshaven or not? Remember, the hair needs daily grooming which starts from the barbing salon. If you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t use the right clipper, you will end up with cuts or bruises that can lead to some skin diseases. All of these we try to highlight in our competitions. Barbers are not mere artisans. They are also stakeholders in the fashion world, because they determine the

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

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ENTERTAINMENT trends.”

About 10 contestants competed in the monthly contests, out of which four winners emerged. The numbers were further trimmed during the semi-finals. However, only ten finalists made it to the grand finale. The finalists will be judged based on their professionalism, poise, handling of tool, creativity and finishing. The winner and runners-up will be rewarded with cash prizes, wahl clippers and other consolation prizes.

LIFE THROUGH THE EYES OF ZINNO ORARA Zinno Orara continues to make lemonades out of the lemons life served him three years ago with his upcoming exhibition titled ‘Life is a Journey.’ Having lost his beloved wife to stage 7 cancer in 2014, Orara’s artistic skills took a new dimension as he strives to keep his wife’s legacy through visuals that are as thought provoking as they are artistic. The art world got a taste of his resilient creativity in the 2014 exhibition called Against All Odds which is a thought-provoking body of work that to this day, is still a major point of reference among avid and respectable art lovers and curators.

For ‘Life is a Journey’, the painter will take the viewer on an adventurous journey of the different moments we experience in life.

From grief to joy, to love and faith, Orara will showcase various thought-provoking and creative works of his while celebrating the life of his late wife.

“Life’s Journey consists of a series of thought provoking works that depicts our voyage through life as humans, the good, the highs and lows, our opportunities, heartaches and our eventual sojourn to the unknown.

This promises to be an exciting exhibition,” he said in a statement.

The exhibition will run for over two weeks, starting from Saturday November 25 to December 4, 2017. This event will hold at Terra Kulture Gallery Plot 1376, Tiamiyu Savage, off Ahmadu Bello way, Victoria Island Lagos, Zinno Orara has had over 12 solo exhibitions and 25 group exhibitions in Nigeria, South Africa, Sweden, Spain, United States and Canada. His paintings are present in art galleries all over the world; as well as with some of the world’s most dedicated collectors.

Eyes of Faith

INDELIBL ART PLATORM LAUNCHES An online art platform Indelibl that showcases African arts to worldwide audience recently launched in Lagos. The e-commerce platform dedicated to promoting works by African artists is the latest in the art world that is poised to give African artists more traction on the international scene.

Founded by Edwin Otta and Adetayo Jinadu, Indelibl aims to empower African artists from around the world, by allowing their work to be more accessible to audiences of all backgrounds.

“There is a growing demand for works by African arts and creative works. The biggest auction houses, from London to New York, such as Sotheby’s and Bonhams, have units dedicated to developing and promoting both contemporary and antique African art works.

Works of artists such as El Anatsui, Ben Enwonwu, amongst several others, are selling at record-breaking prices, paving the way for younger artists to follow. Platforms like Indelibl will avail these artists a worldwide audience and commercial appreciation of their works,” said the founders.

art fair which took place from the 4th – 8th of October. At an exhibition curated

by Indelibl, titled ‘In Transition’, visitors explored the qualities of traditional African art in the contemporary context. The focus was on the influences of migration, globalisation and the African Diaspora.

Yinka Ayefele

Twenty Years After, Ayefele Commemorates Ghastly Crash Vanessa Obioha Former broadcaster and one of Nigeria’s best known gospel singers, Yinka Ayefele is set to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the ghastly auto accident that has confined him to a wheel chair.

Ayefele said he was grateful to be alive and owes \god a debt of gratitude.

According to the musician, in appreciation of God’s mercy, he has concluded plans to mark the two decades of the accident with a week-long series of activity traversing two states of Oyo and Ekiti starting from December 12 and climaxing on December 17.

As part of the activities lined up, on Tuesday, December 12, Ayefele and his friends will be in his hometown of Ipoti, Ekiti State, to commission a multi-million Naira hall which he will donate to his alma mater, Ipoti High School.

Also on that day, the musician, through his Yinka Ayefele Foundation, will be putting smiles on the faces of 100 women of Ipoti stock by empowering them with various cash gift.

Within that same week, Ayefele and his team will be visiting various orphanages, old people’s homes and hospitals, particularly, the University College Indelibl features a range of products, from original pieces of art to prints, t-shirts and books. Customers are able to purchase original artworks as well as other related items directly from emerging artists. This range captures Indelibl’s mission to make art more accessible and its vision to promote art as a lifestyle. The platform also gives its users exclusive access to exhibitions, book launches, film-screenings and other creative events.

According to the founders, the value of the online market for works of art will be nearly 1.3trillion (US$6.3billion) by 2019, projects Hiscox Online Art Trade Report 2015. Indelibl aims to be part of this huge market by putting unique African voices on the spotlight and

Hospital, UCH in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, where he will present buses, cash gift and food items to the less privileged in the homes and patients in the hospital.

The remembrance event will climax on Sunday December 17 with a thanksgiving service, launching of the 20th year remembrance album and public presentation of his first book titled “You and Your Spine”.

The event will hold at the Music House, Challenge, Ibadan.

Ayefele, on December 12, 1997 involved in a ghastly motor accident along Ibadan –Abeokuta Road, the tragic event that later became a watershed that transformed his life.

This life changing event has been the motivation for many powerful and inspirational album releases. He is also a recipient of over 200 awards including Member of the Order of the Niger, MON, a recognition bestowed on him by former president, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

Speaking on the significance of the week-long event, Ayefele said he believes the incident, though a sad one, was what transformed his life and he has to reach out to people in order to appreciate God’s magnanimity in his life over the last two decades. allowing their narratives to reach audiences from all over the world. It will offer its artists the opportunity to sell and promote their pieces to a niche audience while proposing affordable premium quality content to its customers and ensure that they have a personalised experience through a social interaction with the artists and their art works.

“Following the launch of our social commerce platform, our next focus would be on building our offline community. By carefully curating live experiences, we will be launching a fresh and exciting series of events celebrating our community,” says Edwin Otta.

The first in the series of such events was Art the Hague, the international contemporary

One Africa Music Fest Dubai 2017 Refreshed by Pepsi: 10 lucky winners of Pepsi NoShakinCarryGo2Dubai campaign before their departure to Dubai

PJAY RECORDS SIGNS ON KIMONO AT LAST Rub-dub master, Ras kimono who have been on the quite side as a recording act for over four years, is back on the dais and signed on recently by a recording label, PJAY records stationed in Iju area of Lagos State.

The new label owned by Joseph Ighodalo who also pilots PJAY Supermarket and a pal of Kimono for years, pushed out his latest singles –Senseless Killing and Blessed Africa, currently ruling the airwaves.

Kimono according to him, “is one musician whom I have a lot of respect for his creative ability, current affairs and feelings for down toddle persons in the societies. I mean, the people who suffers most any misfortune. For instance, are the unfortunate victims of the Boko Haram sect”.

He maintained that Kimono’s works are vantage collections in all their ramifications, buttressing his stance with his first ever release, “Under pressure” which Ighodalo believes can still grab attention of followers of good reggae music.

Rub-Dub master’s penchant for address societal burning issues like the many killings for Africa, especially Nigerians, with such reckless abandon, lamenting over them and striving to know rationale and justification behind these un ending spillage of innocent blood.

Like somebody who actual known the place of good video in music marketing, Ighodalo pledged to do his best in shooting a video that will tell best the story of Senseless killings and Blessed Africa.

ENTER ROBAZ ENTERTAINMENT It was indeed a full house at the official launch of Robaz Entertainment, it’s artiste and media parley which took place on Wednesday 8th of November, 2017 at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The event which kicked off in the afternoon had lots of print and electronic journalists in attendance, stakeholders in the industry, comedians, friends and fans of Robor Philip Asiotu, a Dubai-based business mogul and the Chairman/CEO of the brand.

Also, the Manager of the brand, Mong Kalu, fondly known as MONKALS, an actor and a comedian at the press briefing asserted that Robaz Entertainment is set to storm the showbiz world and do great justice to everything entertainment. “Robaz Entertainment is into both music and movie productions as well as glamorous events.

We would not leave any stone unturned as far as entertainment is concerned,” he added.

When as this platform of talent discovery in the industry would be able to multitask or shoulder all the responsibilities as promised, Asiotu a music lover right from his childhood assured that he is equal to the task. “The label is not a jamboree. It is strictly an avenue to carve a niche for talents to shine, as well as raise stars. We are really committed to making our dreams come through, and I want people to be on the lookout for our works. We are one hundred percent ready to deliver because we are focused! Music, movies and events are interwoven remember? So, as long as we know our targets, the sky would not even limit us. I believe that this is not an impossible task because even in the western world, it is done that way, so we can still do the same here,” he noted.

Martinz Ega, an artiste who is of course under the label of Robaz Entertainment had a fantastic performance. That was his first performance and it was awesome.

Little wonder the young musician said it would not take him much time to blow not minding that the industry is already saturated. “With God on my side and hard work, I would get there. I’m not going to be intimidated at all,” he said, as a matter of fact.

The unveiling proper was done by Ruth Kadiri, a Nollywood actress, Robor Philip Asiotu and his lovely wife and then of course Egos the prince of Wazobia. Ruth Kadiri said a short prayer for the brand when she unveiled it, “this is the beginning of greater things to come, in Jesus name,” she enthused.

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ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

Da Vinci’s Painting Astronomical Sale Puzzles the Art World and businessman. He sold it afterwards for $127.5 million to the family trust of the Rybolovlev. Mr. Rybolovlev’s family trust was the seller on Wednesday night.

Arguably, old works of art attract huge sums. Take for instance, Jean-Michel Basquiat’s 1982 skull painting that sold earlier in the year for a gulping $110.5 million; a Picasso sold for $179.4 million in 2015 and a Rubens $76.7 million for a Rubens in 2002.

Ordinarily, apart from its rarity, Salvator Mundi didn’t cast much hope in the art market, but Christie the auctioneer came up with a hat-trick that might shaped the landscape of art market. He carried out an aggressive marketing campaign that spurred curiosity and emotional appeal.

He held pre-sale viewings in Hong Kong, London, San Francisco and New York which drew 27,000 people. An outside agency was hired to create a dramatic video which related the “real-life emotions” of selected viewers. He didn’t end there. He caused a frenzy by referring to the work as “the male Mona Lisa” and to the artist as “da Vinci,” a name popularised by author Dan Brown, than the “Leonardo” commonly used by scholars.

The outcome of his strategy paid off when the painting was bought for a staggering sum of $400 million, plus $50.3 million in commissions.

The record-breaking sale got art critics wondering if a brand name should be placed higher than the artistic value of a work. Arguably, this last piece of work by the maestro according to some scholars is not exceptional. But having a Leonardo Da Vinci’s painting is totally not unexceptional.

While some argued that the painting was overpriced, others embraced the sale with the hope that the art market will shatter more ceilings in the future. Moreso, Christie has reassert the notion that art is an asset class.

Vanessa Obioha Most art works are usually auctioned based on their artistic work and beauty but the sky-high sale of Leonardo Da Vinci’s ‘Salvator Mundi’-an image of Christ in an embroidered blue robe, holding an orb in his left hand- recently has raised eyebrows.

And there are good reasons to be puzzled.

First, the painting‘s authenticity has been debatable. As the only remaining painting of the great artist that was not in public space-most Da Vinci’s work were in museums- art collectors have meticulously stayed away from the painting over the years due to numerous reworking and restorations. A good pointer to this is the observation made by the New York Times Editorial Board on why images passing through the crystal orb in Jesus’ hand not inverted. The painting is now a hybrid of its original form and an imagined restoration.

While the provenance of Salvator Mundi is from the royal palace of Charles I and Charles II of England before being commissioned by King Louis XII of France, the painting has been with different custodians over the past centuries. However, the sale of the painting by the Russian oligarch Dmitry Rybolovlev who lived in Monaco and was involved in a lawsuit against the Swiss dealer who over the years helped him amass a huge art collection, including the Leonardo made Salvator Mundi’s history more nebulous.

In 2005, when the painting was rediscovered, it was purchased at an estate sale. for less than $10,000. The auction price rose to $200 million when it was first offered for sale by a consortium of three dealers in 2012.

Only the Dallas Museum of Art showed public interest in buying it that year. In 2013 however, Sotheby’s sold it privately for $80 million to Yves Bouvier, a Swiss art dealer

CARRIE UNDERWOOD, JOHN LEGEND TO CO-HOST THE GRAMMYS GREATEST STORIES Multi-Grammy award winners John Legend and Carrie Underwood will co-host “Grammys Greatest Stories: A 60th Anniversary Special,” an all-encompassing retrospective packed with epic moments from the past 59 years of Grammy history, including new anecdotes directly from the artists on how their Grammy performances came to be. The one-of-a-kind broadcast event will feature rare archival footage, exclusive interviews, and special appearances by multi-grammy winners and nominees Christina Aguilera, Mary J. Blige, Celine Dion, Dave Grohl, Elton John, Alicia Keys, Bruno Mars, Chris Martin, Ricky Martin, Paul McCartney, P!nk, Ed Sheeran, Blake Shelton, Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Justin Timberlake, U2, Underwood, and Keith Urban.

The event will highlight some of the most memorable Grammy Moments from the last five decades of Music’s Biggest Night and take viewers behind the scenes to reveal unknown facts about the remarkable performances. Special segments will include reactions from Grammy producers and members of the music community following some legendary performances, including Paul McCartney bringing the Beatles’ legendary album, Abbey Road, to the Grammy stage.

The primetime special will be broadcast on Friday, Nov. 24 on CBS Television Network.

GET OUT MAKES AN UNUSUAL ENTRY AT 2018 GOLDEN GLOBES For a movie that was critically acclaimed as the smash horror movie of the year to compete in the comedy category at next year’s Golden Globes is almost laughable.

As absurd as it is, the move is the marketing strategy that Universal Pictures adopted in order to get a chance at the awards. The production company entered the film into the comedy/musical category at the Golden Globes.

To be sure, there is nothing musical or comical about Jordan Peele’s movie. With undertones of racial abuse, the film is a gripping tale of horror that is void of the copious bloody scenes often seen in contemporary horror films. It is even bandied as the most profitable film of 2017. It amassed global box office takings of $253m for a $4.5m budget.

Although, horror films don’t usually make the cut in big awards, it is yet unknown which films will compete with Get Out in the category when the nominees are announced on December 11. That is, if it is not thrown out first.

RAW VS SMACKDOWN: WHO WILL BE THE ULTIMATE SURVIVOR? The battle line will be drawn tonight at the Survivor Series where Raw and Smackdown will face off in a deadly match.

For the past few weeks, a feud has been brewing between the two brands which quest for superiority has inspired storylines.

Smackdown raised the dust when it placed Raw under siege by attacking the Raw team unawares including costing the Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins their Tag Team Championship title. The result of that action drew the ire of Stephanie McMahon who berated Kurt Angle, the general manager of the Raw brand for being careless and incompetent. Angle was forced to drop his son Jason Jordan who sustained an injury from Bray Wyatt from the team. He is being replaced by Triple H. Not easily deterred, Raw had its sweet revenge on Smackdown Live, wreaking more havoc than it received.

Tonight, the feud will meet a climactic end as Team Raw-Kurt Angle, Braun Strowman, Finn Balor, Samoa Joe and Triple H- fight it out with Team Smackdown- Shane McMahon, Bobby Roode, Randy Orton, Shinsuke Nakamura and John Cena for the ultimate championship.

Carrie Underwood

Team Raw (r) vs Team Smackdown

John Legend

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FOCUS

FGGC Sagamu: Bringing Mental Health to the Front Burner Ugo Aliogo

S

agamu, a rustic town in Ogun State is the home of Federal Government Girls College (FGGC). Nestled in the heart of the city, the college has produced great women who have risen to the zenith of their career. Their success stories resonate beyond the shores of Nigeria.

They all share a common trait – the passion to give back to their alma mater. This, they have done in diverse ways through their alumni association. They invest in projects aimed at improving the social welfare and learning conditions of the students of the college.

On this bright Sunday morning in October, FGGC Sagamu Alumni USA assembled students of the college, experts and important dignitaries in the school premises for its 5th health and wellness workshop.

The workshop which was conceived for the purposes of expanding upon existing health and wellness education programmes within the school curriculum focused on Mental Health.

The seminar provided an eye opener for participants to understand the meaning of mental health, because of the various interpretations and negative narratives the issue has garnered over the years. To set the tone for discussion was a paper presentation by a Consultant at the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, and the Centre for Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CCAMH), Dr. Tolulope Bella-Awusah.

Bella-Awusah is a lecturer in Psychiatry at the College of Medicine. She has been actively involved in the development of mental health services for children and adolescents in hospital and community settings. These services include community outreaches to children in correctional institutions, training in schools on mental health issues, and training for caregivers of children in institutions on how to meet the mental health needs of children in their care.

She began her presentation with an operational definition of the subject matter of discourse. She sees mental health as a state of emotional well-being which provides for psychological wellness of an individual, “it is a condition where individuals are developing well, accept themselves, they have a purpose in life, and they have a positive relationship with others.”

Awusah however noted that the subject matter had gained a negative narrative because it’s erroneously viewed as mental disorder.

She argued that mental health primarily involves physical and emotional wellbeing

L-R: Special Adviser on Health to Ogun State governor, Dr. Babafemi Adenuga; Wife of Ogun State Commissioner for Culture, Mrs. Oladipo; former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Alhaja Sinatu Ojikutu; FGGC Sagamu Principal , Mrs. Owolabi (3rd right) President, FGGC Sagamu Alumni USA, Abimbola Art-Alade (2nd right) and Dr. T A Bashorun

of an individual as opposed to the negative definition it had been given. Therefore it involves people’s emotions, behaviours and thinking which are controlled by the brain.

She said: “If we need to change the narrative of mental health, it is going to be a gradual process. First, we have to begin through awareness creation. It is through this that people who had suffered mental disorder can come out.

“One challenge that exists is that many people don’t know that there are treatments available for people with this condition. Many people don’t know that persons with mental disorder can function better and achieve greater things in life. Because they once have mental disorder doesn’t mean they cannot achieve what they want. For a long time mental health issues have been shrouded in secrecy. People don’t want to come out in the open.

“One of the things we suggest is advocacy; it provides us the opportunity of teaching, and talking to people. There is the preventive part of mental health. Also, there are so many things we can do to prevent people from falling sick. I believe that there is so much that can be done in the area of mental health and other health challenges.”

Apart from the lecture, also included on the agenda were the presentation of 100 chairs for ICT Lab and the presentation of best grades awards to the top 5 students for academic performance in their 2017 WASSCE examination by the James Akintola Olatunji

Family Foundation in partnership with the USA alumni.

Looking radiant in a red gown, President of the FGGC Sagamu Alumni, USA chapter, Abimbola Art-Alade, in her remarks said the desire to help the young girls reach their goals was one of the reasons why the old students returned to their alma mater to provide critical information about different health issues to the students. For 2017, she said the health series workshop was on mental health.

For an initiative which is in its fifth edition, the association has succeeded in establishing a mechanism to monitor the progress yearly especially through feedbacks from the girls.

“We ask them to write essays about each workshop that they have attended and the one on mental health is going to be closely monitored. It is a pretest and I’m going to do some posttest for the girls to help them about this particular subject. So monitoring the success of the workshop is based on feedbacks from the school and the students,” she noted.

While noting that the workshop was sponsored in part by Beta Malt, Jemi-Alade Tours, Cadbury Nigeria, Travel Options Nigeria and Promasidor Nigeria, she expressed alumni USA appreciation to the companies adding that “their support means a lot to the girls at FGGC Sagamu.”

Art-Alade said she was glad that FGGC Sagamu Alumni USA had been able to add value to the lives of the young girls, especially taking them a step further in their career pursuit and personal development.

She added: “We do a lot of things for the school such as provision of chairs for the Library. We do a lot of projects but this workshop is very dear to me because if I had the opportunity to learn what they are learning, I would have done better in my adult years. Apart from the regular curriculum that they had, there was nothing like this. We use these workshops to create awareness for the girls on certain health issues.

“Today, we presented awards to five students of the school for their outstanding performance in the 2017 West Africa Examination Council (WAEC). Shalom Adekunle was the overall best in the WAEC and won N50, 000. The second prize went to Anointed Okunola who won N25, 000. The third prize was won by Blessing Agbedion who went with N20, 000, the fourth prize was won by Fatimah Odumuyiwa who received a cash prize of N15, 000 and the fifth prize was won by Olunifemi Kafaru who won N10, 000.”

Among the distinguished guests at the workshop were wife of Ogun State governor, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun, represented by Mrs. Oladipo, wife of Ogun State Commissioner for Culture; former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Alhaja Sinatu Aderoju Ojikutu; Special Adviser on Health to the governor of Ogun State, Dr. Babafemi Adenuga; Dr. TA Bashorun; President & CEO, Utopian Consulting LLC, Dr. John Adesioye; and Mr. Yemi Olatunji of the James Akintola Olatunji Family Foundation.

COLOURS OF LIFE WITH KOKO KALANGO

Hugh Hefner, Marylin Monroe and the Pearly Gates

I

n the last chapter of his book Never Look An American in the Eye, the author, Okey Ndibe, narrates how when he was much younger, his image of a macho man was the quintessential playboy whose life revolved around drinking, smoking, partying and womanizing. Incidentally, Okey grew up with a father who was quite the opposite. C. C. Ndibe was a devoted husband and responsible father. Though they were a family of modest means, the exemplary relationship between his parents resulted in a stable and happy home for Okey and his four siblings. Growing up, Okey did not appreciate the example that was being lived out before him. It was not surprising therefore that as a young man, he lived life on the fast lane. But some four decades later, with the

benefit of hindsight, Okey has come to realise that real men are those who, like his father, honour their marriage vows and care for their family.

Ndibe’s engaging memoir ends with a lesson that, if we heed, will save us and those we love from the pain that accompanies the lifestyle promoted by popular culture.

Hugh Hefner was a different kind of man.

M.O. Carnegie describes him as ‘…a business success but a moral failure whose legacy is pornography’. In an interview with Esquire Magazine in 2013, Hefner, founder of Playboy Enterprise, said he may have slept with over 1000 women. Even sadder is the fact that his partners were a third his age. Despite having the benefit of a godly upbringing, Hefner’s merchandise was

sex and the result of his pursuit is broken lives and broken homes. The maiden edition of his Playboy magazine (December 1953) had a nude photo of Marilyn Monroe. Though Hefner had never met her, Monroe, a sex icon of her time, was his choice poster girl. Monroe had had an unstable family life as a child and a troubling life thereafter. Though her film “Niagara Fall” grossed an impressive $6m in the early 50s, she reportedly suffered depression. Monroe died of a drug overdose on August 5th 1962 at the age of 36. Hefner died of natural causes on September 27th 2017 at the age of 91. At his request, Hugh Hefner was buried beside Marilyn Monroe. Hefner and Monroe had 3 failed marriages, a string of partners and they both reduced themselves to sex objects. They are

no strange bed fellows.

Someday, we all shall get to the ‘pearly gates’.

All flesh shall stand before the judgment seat of Christ. Have Hugh and Marilyn made it through the ‘pearly gates’? Would you and I make it through the ‘pearly gates’? It depends on how we respond to Jesus while we are alive. At Calvary, Christ was crucified between two thieves. At the point of death, both men responded to the Saviour differently. One challenged Jesus to save Himself and them. The other humbly acknowledged His Lordship and Jesus saved his soul. While where we spend eternity should be out uttermost concern, what we do with our time on earth also matters, for ‘It is appointed unto man once to die, then the judgment’ (Hebrews 9:27).

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EVENTS

Snow White Reindeer on display at Ajose Adeogun Roundabout

It’s 37 Days to Christmas!

Yinka Olatunbosun A six-year old tradition of lighting up the public space by one of Nigeria’s leading banks, Zenith Bank, was relived last Friday at the Eko Hotel Roundabout, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The official commissioning was witnessed by top management staff of the bank, media as well as passersby, grinding the city to a halt, as the grandiose view naturally commanded.

Streamed live on Youtube, the light-up ceremony signals the march towards the yuletide period which makes the city buzz with festivities. The sight of the lighting may be familiar to workers, residents and other Lagosians who frequently plied this axis but the magnetic impact of gigantic creative displays of Christmas decoration this year is very unique.

In a few weeks, the bank will host its annual Youth Parade, which brings together school children from different parts of Lagos for a day out with the management of the bank.

Meanwhile, the Zenith Christmas decorations have been consistent in providing visual feast over the years and this year records the biggest, covering the entire stretch of Ajose Adeogun – from Eko Hotel to Ligali Ayorinde and the Lay-by around the Eko Hotel Roundabout.

Eko Hotel Roundabout was a sight to behold the moment

Beautiful Chritmas Trees on Ajose Adeogun

the brilliant lights shone. The stunning view propelled passers by to capture the moment on mobile devices while some staff of Zenith Bank could not resist the temptation of riding on the electronically powered horses on the rail tracks, taking selfies and sharing short videos on social media.

The brain behind the decorations, Adesh Patil from Quantum Limited, revealed that the project had commenced since January but the on-site installation took about four weeks.

Having being at the helm of the project for six years, Patil remarked that this year’s is the biggest that the company has executed.

Asides setting the mood for the season, the annual Christmas decorations are a source of illumination. Although the brilliant lights are better appreciated at night, a day time passersby cannot miss the elegant LED cherry blossom trees, the beautifully lit whipping willow trees, over one hundred thousand bulb lights of Christmas tree, a forest of yellow and white LED Christmas tree glowing against the beautiful skyline of Victoria Island and other awesome decorations

A giant Chritmas Bell at the Ajose Adeogun Roundabout

covering the entire stretch of Ajose Adeogun as well as the Bank’s headquarters building.

The Group Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Mr Peter Amangbo, in his brief speech as the light-up ceremony, thanked all customers for their unwavering patronage and staff of Zenith Bank for their hard work and commitment over the years.

Right now, the Zenith cube roundabout decoration is a bigger and better glowing cube of sugar in the massive expanse of Victoria Island.

This beautification project is a corporate social responsibility initiative of the bank embedded in the culture of giving. For them, giving away part of their profits to good causes may not make sense on the face of it but the returns on such social investments can hardly be underestimated.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has increasingly gained currency in management circles as a key and strategic management principle and a strong business investment that ultimately contributes to the bottom line.

T H I S D AY SUNDAY NOVEMBER 19, 2017

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ARTS & REVIEW A

A COLLECTOR’S PASSION: A NOTE ON DR. OKEY ANUEYIAGU PAGE 67

PUBLICATION

19.11.2017

THOUGHT PYRAMID’S TRAIL OF FAME

Ajueshi

EDITOR OKECHUKWU UWAEZUOKE/ okechukwu.uwaezuoke@thisdaylive.com

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

ARTS & REVIEW\\ART ENTREPRENEUR

THOUGHT PYRAMID TRAIL OF FAME

A previous stint as a gallery attendant in the old Nimbus Art Centre, Lagos stood JeďŹ&#x20AC; Ajueshi in good stead to esta Centre a decade ago in Abuja. This year, the gallery has begun operations in Lagos from a prime location in the So Okechukwu Uwaezuoke reports

M

ornings at the Nimbus Art Centre were usually this quiet.

Somewhere at its main exhibition hall, an ebony-complexioned youth, was gesticulating, as he tried so hard to make himself understood to his much older interlocutor. The latter, a standoffish art writer, was obviously in a surly mood that morning. Apparently, the youthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s energy and enthusiasm did little or nothing to lighten it.

Back then, the thriving art gallery was gradually morphing into a cultural centre and was arguably the leading art space in Lagos. It used to occupy a sprawling duplex building, which was in a large compound, opposite the present location of Bogobiri House, along Maitama Sule Street in South West Ikoyi.

The youth, whose name was Jeff Ajueshi, was one of the gallery attendants, employed by the Nimbus Art Galleryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s director and curator, Chike Nwagbogu.

Anyone could easily tell from the way his eyes gleamed as he spoke that he was really in his element.

Years later, fate beckoned. This was sometime in 2007. Ajueshi found himself in Abuja. In this Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s culturally-sterile capital city, it occurred to him that he could replicate his Nimbus Art Centre experience and personal vision.

Thought Pyramid Art Centre thus emerged from out of the blue and stands proudly in Wuse II, one of Abujaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s trendy neighbourhoods. It had first started in a more modest rented space as Thought Pyramid Gallery before moving into its own purpose-built space eight years later in the same neighbourhood.

At its new two-storey edifice, situated along Libreville Road, the art centre provides training facilities to help budding artists become more proficient.

Thus, this space barged into the art publicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s consciousness as the federal capitalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s art hub. Reports about the visits of such distinguished international personalities as the former German president, Joachim Gauck, to the gallery competed with those of exhibition openings graced by diplomats, local dignitaries and aficionados. It was not surprising, therefore, that it was listed among West Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top ten galleries by howafrica.com.

Shortly before this bold Abuja venture, Ajueshi had established a facility he called FACT â&#x20AC;&#x201C; acronym for Foundation for Arts and Creative Training â&#x20AC;&#x201C; in his home town Oghara in Delta State. His aim, he said, was to empower the hordes of unemployed youths in the locality.

This probably would explain his relatively recent endowment of two category prizes in the annual Life in My City Art Festival (known as LIMCAF).

The prizes, worth N100,000 each, reward the best artists emerging from the Edo/ Delta axis and Abuja.

Ajueshiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s venture into the Abuja art scene was as audacious as it was illogical.

First, there was the fact that the bulk of the activities in the city swirled around

One of the gallery's exhibition spaces

A view of the Thought Pyramid's exterior politics. Then, even the handful of its already existing art ventures hardly seemed to be thriving. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We knew that Abuja was not a city in which people were so much interested in the art,â&#x20AC;? the art entrepreneur acknowledged. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But, do not forget that it was not as if the Abuja people had an offer for visual art interface that they turned down.â&#x20AC;?

Actually, all it took was a healthy blend of passion and patience for the Abuja venture to pay off. Abuja residents gradually warmed up to visual arts events, thanks to the efforts of Thought Pyramid Art Centre and a miscellany of other art galleries including the National Gallery of Art. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I can assure you that in a very

short while, Abuja would give Lagos a very stiff competition, in terms of art patronage,â&#x20AC;? Ajueshi enthused.

In addition, promoting art anywhere at a time of a gloomy economic climate was fraught with risks. â&#x20AC;&#x153;That period came as a disaster; it was rough [what] with plummeting home values, sinking stock prices, and frozen credit markets. So, we had to pay more heed to our peculiar risk management principle which I hold dearly to heart. We were able to spot the flip side of risk which is an opportunity for survival. Of course, you know that there is a direct relationship between risk

and reward: the greater the potential upside, the greater the risks involved, though not in all cases. We then tried to avoid perfection because it became obvious to us that it would be stupid for us to think that any product, especially artwork, would ever be â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;finishedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; in the sense that it would make all users completely happy.â&#x20AC;?

Thought Pyramid Art Centreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s entrance into the Lagos scene this year was somewhat surreptitious. It had quietly established itself along Norman Williams Street in South West Ikoyi â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a stoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s throw away from where the Nimbus Art Gallery (the precursor of the Nimbus Art Centre) had first

65

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž EMBER 19, 2017

ʜ ˺˺

Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S

Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă&#x2019; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x17E; ĂŁĂ&#x153;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x153;Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019; Ă?Ă?Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x2122;ĂŁĂ&#x201C; Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x17D;Ë&#x203A;

started operations and the location where the Mydrim Gallery still operates from.

This was happening at a time hardly any member of the Lagos art community seemed to be paying attention.

But soon the galleryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s presence was proclaimed from the rooftops with the well-attended opening of the LIMCAFâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Lagos zonal exhibition on Saturday, September 30, by the former media proprietor, Senator Chris Anyanwu.

Now that the Thought Pyramid Art Centre has formally opened its doors for business in Lagos, it has joined the ranks of the commercial capital cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top-notch galleries. It has also extended the frontiers of Ajueshiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s art business empire, which revolves mainly around his lifelong passion. But, above all, it is seeking new ways to meet a need: â&#x20AC;&#x153;for art to be professionally housed and managed with the needed expertise, as it is done in the developed world.â&#x20AC;?

Its peculiar name, he explained, â&#x20AC;&#x153;was derived from a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;thoughtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; of a symbol that can be identified with the cradle of civilisation, which historically can be found in Egypt. And it is in Egypt that you can find â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Pyramidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. Hence, the name, Thought Pyramid Art Centre.â&#x20AC;?

Despite his laudable efforts so far, Ajueshi is constantly goaded by the urge to grow his market. Sometimes, charlatans inveigle their wares into the art market to divert countless unsuspecting ill-informed buyers. These, in any case, would readily snap up cheaply-made art works displayed in the streets. Could this be part of the â&#x20AC;&#x153;avalanche of challengesâ&#x20AC;?, he said he had faced â&#x20AC;&#x153;different points?â&#x20AC;?

As he put it: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think that one of the biggest challenges to my continuing on full scale, and to my being in a full-time art business, now is the pressure of competing with the cheaply-made items brought in from other countries.â&#x20AC;?

The Thought Pyramid Art Centreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Lagos outpost, like its main base in Abuja, displays a choice collection of both modern and contemporary Nigerian star artists. Adjoining the gallery space at the back is a restaurant, which Ajueshi said, would soon begin catering to the culinary needs of the visitors.

The Inverted Pyramid; Adapted from a novel by Emeka Dike

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NOVEMBER 19, 2017ËžTHISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

ARTS & REVIEW\\VISUAL ARTS EXHIBITION Arthouse Holds Its 19th Auction

A

Dr. Anueyiagu

A COLLECTORâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S PASSION: A NOTEONDR.OKEYANUEYIAGU Chuu Krydz Ikwuemesi

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rt collectors everywhere collect for a variety of reasons. While some collect out of sheer passion, others collect for economic and political reasons.

Although it is obvious that a number of emergent young art collectors in Nigeria are driven by the economics of art, Dr. Anueyiagu belongs to the older and more experienced breed on whose deep-scaled passion art and artists may depend.

Anueyiaguâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rich collection, dating back to his younger days in Kano, straddles epochs, styles, geographies, and paradigms. He is a collector par excellence. As he tells me, for him to want to have and to hold, the work of art must appeal to his aesthetic taste and resonate with the rhythms and realities of his environment, be it realism, surrealism or abstraction. A great lover of Picasso and Braque, he is also an enthusiast of impressionism, with a keen interest in, and understanding of, how all, particularly Picassoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cubism, derived from Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s conceptual and abstract approach to form and content. It is perhaps his love for Cubism that attracted him to the works of Onyema Offoedu-Okeke, the Nigerian architect and prolific painter whose works in Anueyiaguâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s collection number over 200. Any Wonder the ace

art collector initiated and published a hardcover, large-format, full colour book of his OffoeduOkeke treasures in 2012, titled Contemporary African Art: My Private Collection of Onyema Offoedu-Okeke, with contributions by Chike Aniakor, Ozioma Onuzulike, Frank Ugiomoh and Oke yAnueyiagu himself.

The richness of Anueyiaguâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s collection can be gauged through the long list of the many vibrant artists that make it up, including Nigerian artists and others from other parts of Africa and the world. As a widely travelled collector, he balances his vision and perception of art vis Ă vis the possibilities and paradigms African art and, indeed, world art, have offered.

His proposed art centre in Awka for research and promotion of contemporary African art promises to consummate his passion for art and creativity, as it will be a major platform for the promotion of African art and heritage, in addition to providing an instrument for preserving his own collection.

It should be remembered that in 2003, Anueyiagu presented six Nigerian artists in London in the famous African Passage exhibition in collaboration with Pointec Group and Barclays Private Bank. Featuring Nsikak Essien, Ndidi Dike, OnyemaOffoedu-Okeke, Obi Ekwenchi, Sam Ovraiti, and Tony Enebeli, the exhibition was highly successful and logically created some awareness for contemporary African art in the UK, thereby contributing to the build-up to the

current fructifying auctions of African art in that country .

Anueyiagu is one of those collectors who do not collect art primarily as stock. His interest is in the basic aesthetic essence of art, its humanist potencies that inscribe it as the pursuit of happiness, and those bio-cultural essences that bind art to the human spirit. Perhaps, this brings up the question, why do art collectors collect art? If it is primarily for aesthetic enjoyment, how is a work of art enjoyed, both in the literal and metaphoric senses of it? Are there problems and issues in human nature and condition which artâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s salve can address? Why is art so valued and respected in human history that it commands very high economic value? What are the conditions that underpin peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s interaction with works of art and how do they generate ample empathy, enough to drive collectors to part with huge sums in exchange for art pieces? This is not the forum to answer these questions, but we must agree that art is not primarily made for collectors, although their position in the ecology of art is central and affects most of the other factors. While some collectors live up to this expectation for sheer interest, passion, and humanism, others dabble in the art of art collection for crass materialism and personal economic gains. Perhaps it is on the former, rather than the later, that the turning of the wheel of art depends. It is among those selfless humanists that we must locate Dr. Okey Anueyiagu.

Professor Ikwuemesi writes from Nsukka

AGBA, FELDMAN AND OROKO FOR AWF'S NOVEMBER GUESTWRITER SESSION

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he Abuja Writers Forum (AWF) hosts Goddy Jedy Agba, Guy Feldman and Ausin Oroko the November 25 edition of the Guest Writer Session which holds at Nanet Suites, Cental Business District, Abuja from 4pm.

Goddy Jedy Agba was born on August 20, 1958 to Uti J. D. Agba and Gertrude Agba. His father , Uti J. D. Agba, is the longest serving monarch in Africa and second longest serving monarch in the world.

Uti J. D. Agba was barely 27 when he ascended the throne of his forefathers, and is at present the Paramount Ruler of Obudu Local Government Area of Cross River State. Uti J. D. Agba also represented Obudu Division in the former Eastern Region House of Chiefs from 1959 to 1966.

After a career in the public service where he had the privilege of serving four ministers â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Major General Mamman Jiya Vatsa, Air Vice Marshall Hamza Abdullahi, Alhaji Zakari Ibrahim, and

Alhaji Hassan Hadejia as Personal Assistant â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, he voluntarily retired in 2014 as Group General Manager, Crude Oil Marketing Division.

Farming has also become a major part of him since retirement. His firm, Godilogo Farms, has the largest arable farm in Cross River State, employing over 3000 workers, and making it aside Government, the highest employer of labour in the State.

Godilogo Farms also has a farm in Kwara State. His autobiography, Stepping Forward with Uti J. D. Agba, (with Mathias Okoi-Uyouyo) is his first book.

Ambassador Guy Feldman will give a talk on contemporary Isreali literature. He was the Political and Diplomatic Advisor to the Israeli Minister for National Infrastructure, Energy and Water Resources for three years before his recent posting to Nigeria.

Ambassador Feldman also served in Asmara, Eritrea as Ambassador (2010-2013) and before that, as Deputy Chef of Mission in Vienna, Austria and

Manila, Philippines.

In between, he has held various positions within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Israel. Ambassador Feldman holds a Bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree in Middle Manchester University.

Austin Oroko, popularly known has been in the music scene for quite a while. The amazing guitarist and vocalist signed to THELMARECORDS sometime ago and released OXYGEN as his debut single. It describes how life is going to practically be impossible without God, and is musically a fusion of African soft Rock and a touch of Soul Music.

Aush is indeed one of those persons whose vocals is way outside the box and is appreciated by the audience each time he features at the Guest Writer Session.

The Guest Writer Session which also features a raffle-draw for books, runs from 4-7pm and is open to the public. The Abuja Writerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Forum also runs a weekly Critique Session and a regular Creative Writing Workshop series.

rthouseContemporary,Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s premierauctionhouse,holds the19theditionofitsauctionof ModernandContemporaryArt, onMonday,November27from 6pmattheKiaShowroomalong AdeolaOdekuStreetinVictoria

Island,Lagos.

Foundedin2007,ArthouseContemporaryis aninternationalauctionhousethatspecialisesin modernandcontemporaryartfromWestAfrica.

Withbianuallauctionsheld inLagos,Arthouse Contemporaryhopestocreateawarenessofthe scopeofcontemporaryartintheregion,encourage internationalrecognitiontowardsitstalentedartists,andstrengthentheeconomyofitsartmarket.

"AscontemporaryAfricanartmovestobecome oneofthefastestgrowingglobalartmarkets,this editionoftheauctionwillfeaturebothmaster worksfromthemodernperiodandcutting-edge contemporaryartfromtheregionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mostcelebrated artists,"saidastatementfromtheauctionhouse.

Featuringatthiseditionoftheauctionarethe worksofsuchmodernmasterssuchasBenEnwonwu,UcheOkeke,BenOsawe,JacobAfolabi, Bruce Onobrakpeya, Chuks Anyanwu, Susanne Wenger,GeorginaBeier,DavidDale,DeleJegede andJimohBuraimoh. Itwillalsofeaturetheworks ofleadingcontemporaryartistslikePejuAlatise, KainebiOsahenye,RomIsichei,NnennaOkore, GeraldChukwuma,SokariDouglasCamp CBE,BenOsaghae,LemiGhariokwu,Kolade Oshinowo,AlimiAdewale,andNdidiDike, amongothers.

Internationalartists,whowillbefeatured LQ WKH DXFWLRQ LQFOXGH .RĂ&#x20AC; $JRUVRU $EODGH Glover,GeorgeHughes,NanaNyanAcquah,Ato Delaquis,AmonKoteiandGeofreyMukasa.

Theauctionwillincludefourcharitylots fromIkeNwachukwu,StellaYowviUbigho, Duke Asidere and Millicent Okocha in support RI $UWKRXVH )RXQGDWLRQ WKH QRQ SURĂ&#x20AC;W DUWLVW residencyprogrammebasedinIkoyi,Lagos.

TheArthouseFoundationprovidesaplatform forartiststoexpandtheirpracticeandexperiment withnewartformsandideas,offeringlive/work residenciesthroughouttheyearinthree-month residencies.

WorkswillbeondisplayattheKiaShowroom inanticipationoftheauctiononSaturday,November25from11amto6pm,onSunday,November 26,from12noon-6pmandMonday,November27 from10amto1pm.

Theauctioneer,asusual,willbeledbethe English-bornJohnDabney.

Thiseditionoftheauctionwillbesponsored byKiaMotors,VeuveClicquotand7UP,withThe *XDUGLDQ DV LWV RIĂ&#x20AC;FLDO PHGLD SDUWQHU

LABAF's Play Back on History Yinka Olatunbosun

H

istory was nicely sold to a gathering mostly made up of students recently at the Freedom Park, Lagos when the organisers of Lagos Book and Art Festival (LABAF) screened a documentary movie on D.O. Fagunwa. Directed by Femi Odugbemi, the documentary movie was based on the writing career of one of the leading fathers of modern literature in indigenous language.

Born Daniel Oludotun Fagunwa, this legendary novelist had influenced a generation of writers and thinkers, some of whom were interviewed in the course of the movie production. The special honoree for this edition of LABAF, Professor Niyi Osundare is a famous poet and a Professor of English at the University of New Orleans, USA. A multi-award winning writer, Osundare is a recipient of the prestigious Folon/ Nichols Award for excellence in literary creativity combined with significant contributions to human rights in Africa.

Before his arrival that afternoon, the convener of LABAF and former Sunday Editor, Guardian Newspaper, Mr. Jahman Anikulapo prepped the students for aspects of history with the documentary titled, D.O. Fagunwa: Language, Literature and Literati. The very well-paced movie highlighted through audio-visual narrative techniques the distinct narrative style, structure and symbolism in Fagunwaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s works as perceived by some of his avid readers such as Molara Wood, Prof. Femi Osofisan, Prof.

Sola Olorunyomi, Dr. Niyi Osundare and Jimi Solanke as well as some footage of Prof. Wole Soyinkaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s discourse on Fagunwa.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž VEMBER 19, 2017

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ARTS & REVIEW\\VISUAL ARTS

THE WHEATBAKER UNVEILS PERMANENT ART COLLECTION Yinka Olatunbosun

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or the next two weeks, the permanent art collection of Wheatbaker Hotel will be on display for public viewing. This is the first time in six years that the home of hospitality will be showcasing its collection of 30 exquisite pieces of paintings, sculptures and mixed media works from leading and emerging artists. These artists include award-winning artists such as Olu Amoda and Peju Alatise as well as Billy Omabegho, Tayo Adenaike and Obiora Anidi.

This exhibition is deemed quite timely as it comes on the heels of West Africa's premiere art fair, Art X and the African Culture and Design Festival (ACDF) with delegates from over 100 countries.

To celebrate this special unveiling titled, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Art of Collectingâ&#x20AC;?, a panel discussion by seasoned Nigerian and international collectors was organised in collaboration with Sterling Bank and Louis Guntrum was featured. It was preceded by a welcome address by the curator, Sandra Mbanefo-Obiago, the founder, SMO Contemporary Art who described

the event as â&#x20AC;&#x153;the vital intersection between culture, design and art for our human developmentâ&#x20AC;?.

Next, the director of Wheatbaker, Mosun Ogunbanjo revealed the reason for the boutique hotel's special interest in art. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have always seen art as an integral part of our corporate DNA, allowing our guests to find solace and inspiration from what is displayed on our walls," she said. "Before we completed the hotel, we had set aside significant resources for art, and continue to invest in providing an important regular platform for local and international artists through our quarterly exhibitions."

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enelemah expressed satisfaction at seeing Nigeria play host to IFI Congress in Lagos, paving way for more delegates at the congress to attend Wheatbakerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s permanent art collection opening.

The panellists' session was moderated

by Papa Omotayo, an architect and art enthusiast also referred to as â&#x20AC;&#x153;urban activistâ&#x20AC;?. He fired up the light-hearted talks with questions that reached the depth of conversations around collecting art.

For Professor Ebun Clark, investing in art collecting is personal, emotional and

sometimes nationalistic. She identified personal interest as one of the essentials of art collecting. On a broader perspective, she recounted how she and her husband, the renowned playwright and scholar, J. P. Clark fought to keep antiques in Nigeria and even getting the military government to promulgate a decree to protect them. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Collecting art is very addictive,â&#x20AC;? she said, as she recalled how she had been torn between art collecting and caring for her children especially in mid-70s when the country reeled from economic crises.

Evidently, Prof Clark has no regret for temporarily abandoning art collection because till date, she is still a proud owner of a 1957 painting while selling off those that brought some financial benefits. She is a member of the art collective, Mbari Club in Ibadan and that played a major influence in her experience as a lover of the arts. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You need to have not just the passion but knowledge of what you are buying,â&#x20AC;? she said.

Femi Akinsanya, another ardent collector, argued that art collection is a practice that is fairly limited. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But with the development of auction houses, there's an emerging market for art but the scope of the market needs to

be widened. Artists should be driven by their creativity and not the commercial pressure,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Gallery owners need to recruit different kinds of artists so that they can concentrate on the art.â&#x20AC;?

He advised art collectors to be more discriminatory in their practice. According to him, this will help them set rules of engagement. He expressed concern on the â&#x20AC;&#x153;absence of art criticsâ&#x20AC;? in the art scene. â&#x20AC;&#x153;No one is bold enough to criticise the art works,â&#x20AC;? he said. For Obiago, collecting art is a generational culture. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My mother used to collect ceramic pots,â&#x20AC;? she disclosed. â&#x20AC;&#x153;She bought five pieces by El Anatsui and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exciting to have those pieces that represent values of investment. I am a collector. I curate what I can buy. From my film perspective, I like works that tell the stories especially about the issues in our society.â&#x20AC;?

Jess Castollote, a renowned collector, architect and co-author of the book, Collecting Art- A Handbook said that collectors play a very important role of picking out artists and legitimising them.

The collectors stressed the need for supporting institutions for the art such as contemporary museums that can preserve art works and private collections.

T

he book, Ladies Calling The Shots, written by Niran Adedokun, a Lagos based public relations practitioner, columnist and lawyer was presented at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs last Monday The event, chaired by former Ogun State Governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba, who was represented by Mr Lanre Idowu had dignitaries that included Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwumi Ambode, who was represented by His commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Steve Ayorinde; Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Ms Hadiza Bala Usman, represented by Executive Director, Finanance and Administration, Mr. Mohammed Bello Koko; Wife of Kwara State Governor, Dcns Omolewa Ahmed represented by Mr. Lanre Bello, CEO of NECCI, Mrs Nkechi Ali-Balogun; President of the Nigerian Association of Nigerian Travel Agents(NANTA) and Senior Pastor of The Fountain of Life Church, Ilupeju, who was represented by Pastor Paul Briggs. Ten of the ladies profiled in the book also graced the event in addition to friends and family members of the author. Bellow are a some pictures from the event.

CEO, thecable.ng, Simon Kolawole, Niran Adedokun and Editor, Ovation, Mike EďŹ&#x192;ong

Female ďŹ lmmakers from Left, Remi Vaughan- Richards, Vanessa Nzediegwu, Ronke Macaulay, Belinda Yanga-Agedah, Tope Oshin, Mildred Okwo, Grace Edwin-Okon, Ema Edosio, Pat Oghre and Adeola Osunkojo with Niran Adedokun, of the book: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ladies Calling the Shots â&#x20AC;&#x153; at the launching of the book at the Nigerian Institute of International AďŹ&#x20AC;airs, Victoria Island on Monday

Former Editor of The Guardian on Sunday, Mr Jahman Anikulapo, veteran ďŹ lmmaker, Mr Mahmood Ali-Balogun, Broadcaster and development banker, Hajia Rakiya Zubairu

Mr Deji Aiyenigba, Mrs Deji Aiyenigba, author, Niran Adedokun, Dr Wale Adedokun of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Miss Tosin Omowumi and Mrs Nkemdilim Adedokun at the book presentation

T H I S D AY SUNDAY NOVEMBER 19, 2017

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love, share and be merry From all of us at FCMB

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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 19, 2017

CICERO

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

IN THE ARENA

Okorocha’s Tawdry Development Ideas There are more pressing development challenges in Imo State than Governor Rochas Okorocha’s recent love for erecting statues, writes Olawale Olaleye

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ne of Nigeria’s major development challenges isn’t just the issue of poor and inane leadership; more important is the challenge of non-existent recruitment process for leadership at all levels. Nigeria is one system that throws up impossible characters as leaders overnight, often without clear cut ideas on how to advance the cause of development, either at the macro or micro level. The tragedy of this growing tendency is that it is fast becoming a culture of her nascent democracy.

The evidence of this unfortunate but systemic inadequacy is that it has spread across the length and breadth of the country. The other day in a North-western state of the country, a governor assembled his people, who are known to majorly trade in ready-to-drink tea, spent a whopping N280 million on the purchase of tea bags, loaves of bread, eggs, sugar, etc., and distributed those items as part of his empowerment initiatives.

He would further argue that the gesture was an investment initiative, designed to further boost the economy of the state. That’s the thought of a governor – a man, who has been entrusted with the responsibility of life-changing policies. Will selling tea in cups enhance the economy of his state?

The state in question is Kano and its governor, Alhaji Abdulahi Ganduje, is a man who has spent almost 20 years in both elective and appointive public service since the return to civil rule.

In another state not too far away from Kano, Katsina to be precise, Governor Aminu Bello Masari, also recently launched an empowerment initiative by sharing goats to female secondary school students, a critical demographic indicator, he would say. He wanted them to become self-reliant early in life.

About a year ago, he did something similar to women in the state. This is without as much contemplating the fact that Katsina is largely agrarian. The one for women was in the form of a loan, which entitled each woman to two female goats and a male one.

Okorocha

To also think that not too long ago, the same Katsina State government had reportedly distributed about three thousand coffins to nearly all the mosques in the state for God-knows-what and in spite of the hue and cry that trailed this erratic gesture, government has yet to come out to offer a tangible explanation why that was done.

Then, you are welcome to the world of Rochas Okorocha, the Imo State Governor, who has suddenly developed an uncommon penchant for erecting statues, either of leaders of other countries or those of Nigeria, for which he is yet to unveil any. It is not impossible that scientists would soon find a name for this apparent social disorder in the form of a syndrome.

And despite having come under stringent attacks from all corners for leaning towards such inanity and his apparent weak capacity to

juggle better ideas in the face of staring hunger, Okorocha seemed to have developed not just a thick skin to public criticisms, but also a love for statues.

First it was a statue in honour of Mr. Jacob Zuma, the South African President, after playing host to him. Zuma has constantly been under serious attacks back home over allegations of corruption, affirmed recently by the country’s Supreme Court, which held that the president must stand for corruption trial. Therefore, the idea behind Okorocha’s decision to honour Zuma with a statue has remained incomprehensible, let alone logical.

This, of course, followed intense criticisms from across the country, especially from his state and region, South-east. But rather than carry out a bit of self-appraisal, Okorocha stepped all out to fight

back and justify his action, saying he has no apologies, because the reason for erecting the statue is to encourage business relationship between the state and South Africa.

However, if you thought that the Zuma debate ended there, then, you better sit back and watch some more because it is a long series.

Okorocha has raised another dust with the unveiling of another statue, this time, of the outgoing President of Liberia, Mrs. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.

The Imo State government had announced that the Liberian President would visit the state, be conferred with a chieftaincy title and a road named after her, following the same pattern as Zuma.

True to the official announcement as done by Okorocha’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, Johnson-Sirleaf visited and the rites of statue unveiling, amongst other things, were performed.

You may note that this is the second of the about eight statues said to be awaiting their unveiling ceremony in order of the governor ’s preference. What this means is that Imo Sate in the next few months would continue to play host to dignitaries from around the world as the rest of the statues are unveiled in phases.

Although it is not clear yet what other personalities the other statues represent, since they are products of development initiatives designed to open up the state as the governor has said, it is expected also that they would be statues of personalities ‘with economic relevance to the future of the state’.

Without having to delve into the debate of what is being contended as the cost of the statues to the state, Okorocha’s defence in all of this is tawdry, inane and exposes the sheer emptiness of his administration in terms of the capacity to think and throw up cutting edge policies and initiatives that can drive visions many years ahead of their time.

But with abandoned projects littering every nook and cranny of the state, depicting urgent development needs and challenges, whatever thought-process that spurred the idea of statue has been defeated ab initio.

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

An Ugly Spectacle from Rivers

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ast Saturday, former Rivers State Governor and Minister of Transportation, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, and the incumbent governor of the state, Nyesom Wike, had a public spar in what could be considered a precursor to the 2019 engagements.

The sparring was however not done in persons.

A m a e c h i ’s c o nvoy wa s r e p o r t e d l y a c c o s t e d a t a n i n t e r s e c t i o n c a l l e d Tra n s A m a d i i n Po r t H a rc o u r t , R ive r s S t a t e by a n o u t r i d e r b e l o n g i n g t o t h e g ove rnor ’s full convoy, which was about four h u n d r e d m e t e r s away, a c c o rd i n g t o t h e p o l i c e . B u t t h e g ove r n o r wa s t h e f i r s t

to hit the airwaves to allege assassination attempt on his life. Amaechi, in his a c c o u n t , a l l e g e d s i m i l a r m ove a n d t h e p u b l i c s h ow c o n t i n u e d by p ro x y.

Although the police, which earlier arrested some of the officers in the convoy of the governor for allegedly molesting o n e o f t h e i r ow n , l a t e r c a m e o u t a f t e r i nve s t i g a t i o n t o d i s m i s s t h e c l a i m s o f assassination by Wike and Amaechi. They also dispelled as untrue, some of the n a r ra t ive s d i s h e d o u t f ro m b o t h s i d e s .

Th e e n c o u n t e r b e t we e n t h e c o nvoy s o f t h e t wo p u b l i c f i g u r e s i s a l a r m i n g a n d a c l e a r r e f l e c t i o n o f t h e a dve r s a r i a l politics that had been on since the 2015 g ove r n o r s h i p e l e c t i o n i n t h e s t a t e .

Amaechi and Wike...the good old days

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BRIEFINGNOTES Mugabe: A Hard Fall from Grace?

The current travails of a highly regarded revolutionary, who has overstayed his welcome as the only president Zimbabwe has known, is a result of power play between his comrades and his wife, writes Demola Ojo

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y the time you read this, Robert Mugabe may or may not be the president of Zimbabwe. The 93-yearold is cling ing to power af ter the militar y rolled out tanks and placed him under house arrest last Wednesday, despite claiming it isn’t coup.

T he c u r re nt c r i si s stem s f rom a power st r ugg le i n re ce nt mont h s over who m ig ht succe e d h i m - h i s w i fe Grace Mugabe or for mer Vice President Em merson M na ngag wa.

Penult i mate week, Mugabe came down in favour of his wife, sacking Mnangag wa and provoking the ire of the army chiefs. Mugabe has been hold i ng d i re c t t a l k s w it h t he s a id ch iefs over h is f ut ure, meet i ng the a r my c h ief a nd t wo e nvoys f rom South Africa at his official residence i n Ha ra re.

The nonagenarian has ref used to resig n despite pressu re mou nt i ng on him to accept offers of a graceful exit. He i nsists that he remai ns the only legitimate ruler of the country u nt i l ele c t ion s s c hedu led for next yea r.

Mugabe, however, t ur ned up to a universit y graduation ceremony in Ha ra re on Fr iday, h i s f i r st publ ic appea ra nce si nce t he “coup” t wo days ea rl ier. T he vetera n leader a r r ive d at t he Z i mbabwe O pe n Un iver sit y i n a blue -a nd-yel low gown, accompanied by his security detail, t wo days after bei ng placed u nder hou s e a r re st.

The event was apparently designed to convey a bu si ne s s -a s -u sua l atmo sphere – t he ge nera l s pu l l i ng the strings in Harare are desperate not to give the impression they are orc hest rat i ng a n u ncon st it ut iona l coup.

But beh i nd t he scenes, ef for t s to push Mugabe aside appeared to be fou nder i ng. Mugabe was repor ted to be re si st i ng a pla n to ou st h i m, a nd t he ge nera l s were s a id to be f r u st rate d about h i s ref u s a l to go qu iet ly.

T he a r my’s t a ke over sig n a l le d t he col laps e i n le s s t h a n 36 hou r s of t he s e c u r it y, i ntel l ige nce a nd patronage net works that sustained Mugabe through 37 years in power.

The army appears to want Mugabe, who has r uled Zi mbabwe si nce i ndependence i n 1980, to go qu iet ly a nd a l low a smoot h a nd blood less t ra n sit ion to M n a ngag wa.

T he m a i n goa l of t he ge nera l s i s to preve nt Mugab e f rom h a ndi ng power to h is w i fe, 41 yea rs h is ju n ior, who h a s bu i lt a fol low i ng among the ruling party’s youth wing and appeared on the cusp of power af ter M na ngag wa was pushed out.

Vau nte d Revolut ion a r y The last of Africa’s state founders f rom t he heyday of t he st r ugg le against European colonisation still i n power, Mugabe i s st i l l s e e n by many Africans as a liberation hero.

I n t he pa st, he h a s be en vau nted a s a hero, f ig ht i ng wh ite m i nor it y r u le for t he f reedom of h is people, which is why many African leaders rem a i n reluc t a nt to c r it ic i s e h i m.

The on ly leader most Zimbabwea n s have ever k now n, Mugabe has r u le d t he la nd lo c ke d cou nt r y for 37 yea r s, of te n w it h a n i ron f i st.

He ro s e to power a s a f re e dom fighter and was seen as Zimbabwe’s Nel s on Ma ndela. But he qu ic k ly wage d a ca mpa ig n of oppre s sion

President Mugabe on Friday made his first public appearance since the military coup that put him under house arrest earlier in the week, where he presided over a graduation ceremony at Zimbabwe Open University on the outskirts of Harare, Zimbabwe. It is believed that his appearance was stage-managed by the military to give an impression that its intervention was actually not a coup, while negotiation with Mugabe continued to con sol idate h i s po sit ion, ext i ng u i sh i ng t he pol it ica l oppo sit ion t h roug h v iole nt c rac kdow n s.

He i s rev i le d i n t he We st a s a despot whose disast rous ha ndli ng of t he e conomy a nd w i l l i ng ne s s to re s or t to v iole nce to m a i nt a i n power pauper i s e d one of A f r ica’s mo st prom i si ng st ate s.

Zimbabwe’s flourishing economy bega n to d i si nteg rate a f ter a pro gramme of land seizures from white fa r mer s, a nd ag r ic u lt u ra l out put plu m mete d a nd i n f lat ion s oa re d.

Since Zimbabwe’s independence, mo st of t he world h a s move d on but h i s out look rema i n s t he sa me.

He has always blamed Zimbabwe’s e conom ic problem s on a plot by Western countries, led by the United K i ngdom, to ou st h i m be cau s e of h is sei zure of wh ite-ow ned far m s.

Fr ie nd s Tu r ne d Fo e S ou rce s s ay one mot ive for t he m i l it a r y t a k i ng over power m ig ht have been k nowledge of a pla n orc he st rate d by Grace Mugabe a nd her suppor ter s to h ave up to 40 s e n ior of f icer s a nd of f ic ia l s s e e n a s bac k i ng M n a ngag wa remove d f rom t hei r po st s.

During his rule, Mugabe ensured t he cont i nu i ng loyalt y of t he m i l it a r y by of fer i ng pr iv i lege s a nd luc rat ive bu si ne s s oppor t u n it ie s to top soldiers. The transfer of these to t he f i r st lady a nd her fac t ion would have been a bitter blow. One oppo sit ion of f ic ia l s a id negot iat ions had been ongoi ng for several

months with “certain people within t he a r my.”

Interest i ngly, accordi ng to CNN, M n a ngag wa h a s be e n i n st r u me nt a l for some t i me i n pla n s to s ei ze cont rol f rom Mugabe.

“T h i s t a ke over wa s pla n ne d a long time ago by Emmerson Mnangag wa a nd s e c ret d i s c u s sion s d id take place wit h opposit ion about a succession pla n i nc lud i ng forc i ng out Mugabe,” a s e n ior oppo sit ion leader w it h d i re c t k nowle dge of t he t a l k s told CN N. Mugabe, M n a ngag wa a nd Constant i ne Ch iwenga the Head of the Zi mbabwea n M i l it a r y a re a l l ver y good f r iend s. T he t h re e men were i n t heir 20’s when t hey entered t he bushes a nd took part i n t he liberation struggle to free Zimbabwe from wh ite r u le.

Mugabe, who wa s i n it ia l ly t he S e c ret a r y Ge nera l of ZA N U PF, beca me t he head of st ate, w it h t he t wo ot her men equally g iven plu m po sit ion s of power.

Sometime in the 90s, Mugabe married Grace, h is personal secretar y, a f ter t he deat h of Mugabe’s f i r st spou s e.

Grace be ca me Mugabe’s pol it ica l con f ida nt a nd m ade her way to t he ver y ce nt re of Z i mbabwea n pol it ics, bel ieved to have st ra i ned t he relat ion sh ip bet we e n Mugabe a nd h i s t wo com rade s.

M n a ngag wa, a f ter m a ny yea r s of loya lt y be ca me Mugabe’s Vice President in 2014, paving the way for

h is event ual hold on power should Mugabe ret i re, re sig n or d ie but Grace Mugabe a l so h ad desig n s of her ow n.

A few mont h s ago, M n a ngag wa accused certain persons in the party of t r y i ng to poi s on h i m a nd m ade reference s to Grace. T h i s d id n’t go dow n wel l w it h Mugabe. I n a bold move he removed Mnangagwa from the position of Vice President.

M n a ngag wa f le d to S out h A f r ica.

Chiwenga, a friend of both Mugabe and Mnangag wa, sent a warning to Mugabe but Mugabe replied through h i s M i n i ster of I n for m at ion t h at t he A r my Ge nera l shou ld st ay out of St ate m at ter s before f i n a l i si ng pla n s to s ac k C h iwe nga. Unt i l t he A r my st r uc k!

T he M i l it a r y cou ld be r ig ht i n i n si st i ng t h at wh at i s goi ng on i s not a coup. It ’s a t ra n sfer of power between those who were all present in 1980. It is the same reason Mugabe is being accorded a soft-landing. His friends are not really out to change t he for t u ne s of t he Z i mbabwea n people but i n act ual fact, mai ntai n their power and protect themselves f rom Grace Mugabe.

B u t t h e We s t e r n w o r l d d o e s n’t c a r e about t he appa r e nt i l lega l it y goi ng o n i n Z i m babwe, a s lo ng a s Rober t Mugabe fa l l s i nto ig no m i ny f r o m g r ac e, pr e c ipit at e d by act ion s t raced to Grace. Above a l l, t here i s a le s s on i n t he Mugabe ex per ience pa r t ic u la rly for t he African folks.

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CICERO/REPORT

Echoes of Buhari’s Visit to Ebonyi For three weeks consecutively, Ebonyi State played host to prominent Nigerians. From Vice-President Yemi Osibanjo to former President Olusegun Obasanjo and now President Muhammadu Buhari. With the change in the political atmosphere of the state following the president’s visit, the journey to 2019 might have begun, writes Benjamin Nworie

Buhari surrounded by South-east leaders and governors during his recent visit to Ebonyi State

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n November 4, the VicePresident, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, came to Ebonyi State to attend the wedding ceremony of his Chief Security Detail, Mr. Nelson Ekene Nwokoro.

As it was, Osinbajo’s presence ignited political fireworks in the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC). As elated as they were, APC members turned the wedding ceremony to a mini solidarity rally with a rousing welcome.

The APC supporters displayed brooms and forcefully followed the Vice President to the church service and were ready to dominate the event. The idea was to inform the second citizen that APC actually existed in Ebonyi, contrary to claims by the PDP hierarchy in the state.

After the church service, the members dared all security surveillance to “forcefully” present the party’s logo, broom, to Osinbajo, which he firmly received and raised to the crowd, generating a thunderous response.

The Buhari visit was to take the same turn but the state government was fast to thwart the plot to infiltrate or hijack the rally. Buhari’s visit was the first visit by the president to the South-east zone since assumption of office, which also signified his belief in Nigeria’s unity.

Apart from project commissioning, the visit has many untold stories for the state and the governor.

Umahi, with other South-east governors, received Buhari at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu. He was conveyed by a Nigerian air force helicopter with registration number NAF-540 from Enugu airport to the Military cantonment in Nkwegu, the Ebonyi State capital at about 11.15a.m.

The president, who was received at the army barracks by dignitaries from the state, subsequently commissioned six projects and thereafter proceeded to the Government House, where he met notable leaders of the state and traditional rulers from both Ebonyi and the South-east, who conferred on him two traditional

chieftaincy titles.

Among those who received the president were the deputy governor of Ebonyi State, Dr. Kelechi Igwe; Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu; former governors of the state, Senator Sam Egwu, and Chief Martin Elechi; former Senate President, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim; former Minister of Culture and Tourism, Ambassador Frank Ogbuewu; ex-Minister of Health (State), Mr. Fidelis Nwankwo; former deputy governor of the state, Prof.

Chigozie Ogbu; the zonal Vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Austine Umahi; and Chief Executive Officer of Orient Global Ltd, Chief Chukwuma Odi. Other dignitaries, who visited the state to welcome the president, were the Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu; Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyema; and his Trade and Investment counterpart, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah.

The state was grounded to honour the President. Private and public schools were closed. Major markets were not opened either. It was a public holiday for civil servants. Movement was paralysed as all routes were barricaded by stern looking security operatives. Nobody waited to be reminded to be civil and orderly. There was absolute calm and peace as surveillance helicopter hover the capital city till the end of the rally.

The visit was the best day for Governor Dave Umahi and his admirers. The governor dictated the tone of direction at the rally and everybody abided by it. It was however not a good outing for APC members. Even in opposition, Umahi has proven his relevance in national politics.

Though he has been accused of romancing the Presidency suspiciously, the governor had insisted he would not play opposition politics with the fortunes of his people.

Rather, he promised to always seek a way of advancing the wellbeing of Ebonyi people by keying into the policies and programmes of the Buhari administration.

Umahi also proved that he was highly respected by the presidency to have made it possible for the president to come.

The governor described the president’s visit as significant for the state, because both the president and his administration had provided incentives, which he claimed had boosted the state’s programmes and policies in agriculture and solid minerals.

He also said the president, who would later commission some projects, would use the opportunity of the visit to examine if the assistance has been well deployed and whether Ebonyi has justified its creation 31 years after.

“Mr. President has helped us so much in the area of agriculture. At every opportunity, I have had to talk. I have always commended the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, the Minister of Agriculture, the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Solid Minerals.

“They have tremendously helped us to revamp our agricultural programme and solid minerals in Ebonyi State. So, I believe Mr. President will be coming to see how far we have fared with the assistance he gave to us. Of course, he gave to other states but the Bible says that in the last day, men shall be unthankful.

“We are not like those that are unthankful. We have to say, ‘well, Mr. President has helped us and so he is coming to see how much we have been able to manage the state we yearn for,’ and he will be able to see the level of marginalisation we suffered before the creation of Ebonyi State.

He also requested the president’s intervention in certain challenges confronting the state such as non-functioning dams in the state, totalling 30 in number, which he said would have boosted rice production. He also drew the attention of the president to some federal roads that his administration had constructed, lamenting that such projects were not captured for a refund in 2018 budget.

Also, at a reception for the president in the state’s stadium, the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, thanked Buhari for his visit to the region barely a few weeks after Igbo leaders had visited him in the State House to draw his attention to infrastructure deficit in the South-east.

Nwodo highlighted the infrastructure

decay in the region and appealed to the president to address it. He also said livelihoods in the region were threatened by the infrastructure decay, including the dilapidated state of the Onitsha-Enugu expressway, Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway, stoppage of work on the Second Niger Bridge, unemployment, hunger and starvation, among others.

Responding, the president recalled how some Igbo leaders had visited him at the State House, Abuja, last month to express concern over the poor state of infrastructure in the region, assuring them that resources meant to address their concerns had been captured in the 2018 budget currently before the National Assembly.

He promised to concentrate on power and agriculture projects as well as other social services in the region, when the budget is operational and praised the governor for the projects being executed by his administration in the state, describing them as laudable.

“I am delighted to be here in Abakaliki to interact with the good people of Ebonyi State and indeed the South-east region as a whole. I want to express my gratitude to the people of Ebonyi State for their hospitality and warm reception since I arrived the state. My presence here today is a demonstration of my strong belief in the unity of Nigeria. As the most populous country in Africa with over 300 ethnic groups, our diversity is almost unique. When I met with the leaders of the South-east in Abuja last month, they raised several issues of concern including the state of the roads and infrastructure in the region.

“After independence, the same founding fathers worked together to maintain this one Nigeria. Yes, they had differences and varied opinions at times. After all, they were only human. And yes, they had moments of weaknesses and doubt. But again, no one is perfect. However, one thing they all protected until the end of their lives was having one Nigeria for all Nigerians,” he said.

(See concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com)

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CICERO/ISSUES

2019 and the South-west Factor Tobi Soniyi examines the dynamics of the South-west politics and concludes that both the ruling All Progressives Congress and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party would have to slug it out in the region to win the presidency in 2019

Buhari and Tinubu at a dinner

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or visionary leaders, the campaign for their re-election begins immediately they are sworn in for their first term. But not Muhammadu Buhari!

While waiting to be inaugurated, the president started to squander the goodwill with which he was elected. After inauguration, he continued to make enemies and sought protection within his ethnic enclave. He was brazen that many believed at the time he was not going to seek a second term in office.

In the process, he lost many of his staunch supporters especially in the South-west. Today, the South-west people are at a crossroads. Should they stick to Buhari and risk further alienation if he wins a second term?

Or should they switch allegiance to the Peoples Democratic Party? For many in the South-west, deciding on which option is best is not an easy task. This is because each option carries its own risks. Perhaps, there is a third option.

Luckily for the South-west however, it appears to be the zone that will ultimately decide who becomes the president in next elections. It is going to be the battleground. Little wonder, the PDP wants the zone to initially produce its next national chairman.

Having already secured the South-south and the South-east and having zoned the presidency to the North, the PDP needs the South-west to beat the All Progressives Congress. Against this backdrop, it is re-ordering its options. It also wants to zone the vicepresidential slot to the zone too since the APC may likely retain it there.

The APC does not even have a choice in the matter.

Since the party is not wanted in both the South-east and the South-south, save for the façade of crowd that greeted the president’s visit to the zone recently, the APC must do all within its power to maintain the status quo by remaining the dominant party in the South-west zone in order to retain power at the centre. Whichever way one looks at it, the South-west is the attractive bride every party wants to befriend.

Apart from starting their campaigns for re-election immediately they begin their first terms, visionary leaders also do their best to maintain their power base. It is suicidal for a president, who intends to seek re-election to ditch his power base. But that appears to be what Buhari did. As clueless as the media like to refer to President Donald Trump, he started his re-election campaign for the 2020 presidential election just 29 days after assuming office, when he held a rally at the Orlando-Melbourne International Airport in Florida in February this year. He continued to side with white supremacy to the consternation of the generality of the people especially the liberals. He is bent on maintaining his support base.

The same thing applies to former President Goodluck Jonathan, who came into office in 2011 on the understanding of one term, he started his re-election campaign against all odds immediately he secured victory in 2011. As clueless as he is said to be, he understood that part of power and strategy, although he messed up his power base tremendously.

How Buhari Lost the South-west The president began by exploiting the divisions within the region. Even though he knew that more than anyone else in the zone, (some even say more than anyone in the country) Asiwaju Bola Tinubu played a pivotal role in his emergence, first as candidate and second as president, Buhari appointed people who had fallen out of favour with the APC national leader as minister.

In reality, Raji Fashola and Kayode Fayemi are obviously not Tinubu’s candidates for ministerial postings.

Neither was Kemi Adeosun.

Having already chosen to dump him as vice presidential candidate on account of the need to avoid a Muslim-Muslim ticket, refusing him the opportunity to have a say in the appointment of ministers amounted to adding insult to injury.

Then, the president did not stop there. Working with the National Chairman of the APC, Chief John OdigieOyegun, he began to reduce Tinubu’s influence in the party, even though it took time before he started to get along with the party chairman, whom he is believed to have an axe to grind with.

That was why they could stop his anointed candidate for the Ondo State governorship seat, Segun Abraham, from winning the primary. In his reaction, Tinubu was unable to hide his frustration and openly called for the resignation of Odigie-Oyegun. That did not happen.

Those following the Buhari-led APC government’s handling of Tinubu and the South-west politics are able to establish a pattern: reduce his influence by empowering his enemies. Then push him to a level that he will not have a choice but to support us. To a larger extent, that strategy appeared to have worked.

“If we can win Ondo, Edo States without his influence, who says, it cannot be done”, a source who did not want his name made public told THISDAY on Sunday.

However, those who know Tinubu very well claimed that those celebrating his diminishing influence in APC are doing so too early.

“His strength lies in mobilising people. The people the president is banking on do not have the temerity, dexterity and the resources to match Tinubu in mobilising people for election in the South-west,” another analyst said.

unique position to cast the winning vote, it faces very difficult options. Among these are: Support Buhari for a second term or do a deal with the PDP and stop Buhari from winning. While the first option appears to be the most attractive, elders in the party fear that Buhari will not spare Tinubu and his people if he wins a second term.

After all, by then the president needs no favour from anyone. He is constitutionally ineligible for a third term. He can therefore afford to crush his enemies and retire as many as possible politically.

An APC leader in Ogun State said: “Now that he wants a second term, he has been this brazen. What will happen when he does not need us for anything?

He will throw us in jail. It is time for us to critically review our position and weigh the risks before taking a plunge.”

But what happens if the South-west does not support Buhari and he still goes ahead to win the election?

The zone will have no legitimate reasons to complain except Buhari wants to favour it. In fact, the plight of the South-east might be a child’s play, some reckon.

Many hold the view that the zone’s best option is to adhere to the popular saying, ‘the devil you know is better than the angel that has yet to come.’ After all, there is no guarantee that the opposition would treat the South-west better even if the zone helps it to win power.

Not So United The 2015 presidential election results showed that Buhari won in 21 states while Dr. Goodluck Jonathan won in 15 states including the Federal Capital Territory.

However, in 2011 presidential election, Buhari won in 12 states all in the North while Jonathan secured the highest number of votes in 23 states and the FCT. Except for Ekiti, where Ayodele Fayose was governor, Jonathan lost all the states in the South-west.

But that is not the whole story. Despite the fact that the South-west states (minus Ekiti) were the stronghold of the APC, the PDP had a strong showing. In Osun APC had 383,603 as against PDP’s 249,929 while in Ondo APC polled 299,889 against PDP’s 251,368. APC recorded 308,290 votes in Ogun while PDP had 207,950.

In Oyo APC won 528,620 as against 303,376 of the PDP. Finally in Lagos, APC had 792,460 votes while PDP polled 632,237 votes.

When critically reviewed, the differences between the APC and the PDP reveal a region that is evenly divided. With the lacklustre performance of the APC in the past two and a half years, the PDP stands a good chance to stage a comeback in the South-west.

But whichever way one looks at it, the South-west is the region to win by any party seeking to form a No Easy Options Although the South-west might have found itself in a government at the centre

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ NOVEMBER 19, 2017

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SUNDAYINTERVIEW Farida Waziri

Waziri

As the EFCC Chairman, I Never Took Files to the AGF

Mrs. Farida Mzamber Waziri, a retired Assistant Inspector General of Police, chaired the Economic and Financial Crimes between 2008 and 2011. In this interactive session with journalists, she speaks on her stewardship at the anti-graft commission, reveals how she was appointed by the then President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, the concerted efforts to undermine her work, and her relationship with AGF Michael Aondoakaa. Tokunbo Adedoja was there. Excerpts:

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our time at EFCC was enmeshed in many controversies, do you think this was because you are a woman or it just happened so?

I think, one, do I say I came at a wrong time; at that time I was not in the country, I was in Turkey with my husband and we just returned from that posting, and the Chairman at the time, Nuhu, was being removed amidst controversy, and that controversy rubbed off on me. The typical Nigerians thought I was gunning for the job.

The second reason was because I am a woman and many people didn’t want a woman in that sensitive position. Again some of them who knew my antecedent didn’t want this particular woman because in the force I held sensitive positions, I don’t suffer fools gladly and you know how women are, they cherish their reputation so much; many things that men can do for money, where they can even sell their mothers for money, women can’t do that. Those were the three reasons and people then went all out to ensure that I was not confirmed by the Senate at all, they did so many things.

Eventually when I was confirmed, some of them told me to my face that they were giving me three months and during the three months, they receded to the background then started campaign of calumny against my person. They cooked up, garnished stories about me, stories that I was not connected with. You will recall at

a time I asked if there were two Farida Waziris? It was so amazing and they did all of that so that I will be thrown out but the truth prevailed. You can deceive some people some time but you can’t deceive all of the people at the same time. I’ll tell you one example: I was fought locally, nationally and internationally; when they saw that I was working and obeying the rule of law – because the late President Yar’Adua, called me and said to me, ‘Farida, I don’t want Gestapo method, follow due process and the rule of law, we will give you the necessary protection and the wherewithal to do this job and remain focused.’ Anytime I was depressed (on the job) I always remember what Mr. President said to me and he gave me attention and access to the Villa, I was free to see him anytime that I needed to see him. A letter went out to the United States purportedly written by the Director General of the State Security Services, SSS, it was a voluminous report and it was titled ‘Security Report on the activities of Farida Waziri.’ You know if I am working in a sensitive organisation for my country and report on me was going out from my country to a foreign country it means I am a security threat to my country. I worked in the SSS before, we started the SSS, the Special Branch of the force moved to the Nigerian Security Organisation, NSO, on 15 Awolowo, Ikoyi (Lagos) before I went back to the Police Force so I know the working system, we had traces, and you must become a security threat to your country before reports are written about you… So I had so many challenges, it was only God that

saved me and because of the support of late President Yar’Adua, a great, gentle man and a courageous leader. Even when sickness weighed him down he was such a great man, I survived it all because of his support.

Even when I went to the State Department I saw all of these things, it affected me somehow but I remained focused.

But was there any time when you wanted to just throw in the towel when you became so overwhelmed?

It was very difficult for me, I am a human being, my family stood by me, my late husband and my children stood by me, they gave me the support that I needed. And then there were some patriotic Nigerians that knew what was happening and encouraged me to carry on, but above all, it was Mr. President. He was wonderful to me. One day he called me and said to me, ‘Farida, you have to be careful, you have enemies;’ I said to him, I know. Then two weeks after somebody went to him and told him things about me, and when he called me and told me all that the person had said, I collapsed and started crying. I was uncontrollable because it was too much. Then he said to me, ‘Farida, I told you somebody told me all of that about you, did I tell you I believe them?’ I said to him, ‘Sir so you don’t believe them,’ and then I wiped my tears; so it was that bad.

When I went to the United States, I went to the Department

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of State, I went to Clinton’s office, I went to the Department of Justice after that I addressed the Council on Foreign Relations, I had another meeting in town, my handlers said I should just go in quietly, by the time I was through with the third meeting they knew I was around. I think it was Sahara Reporters, they carried placards saying Farida Waziri Ole, Yar’Adua Ole. That is hate speech and hate attitude demonstrated in a foreign country and when the car that was to take me away arrived they wanted to force themselves into the car, they would have caught me. What did I do to them? It was so personalised, but working in EFCC I also know why some people made it so personal. It was due to their selfish interest, it had nothing to do with my competence.

If you were given another opportunity what would you have done differently?

If I am given another opportunity there is very little that I would have done differently. For instance, I wanted some special courts, I went to the Chief Justice of The Federation, the Attorney General, I went to the President of the Court of Appeal, I met with the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, I engaged with Civil Society Organisations because cases were not moving and it was a disgrace to the image of the country that a case that is not murder, treason or treasonable felony will last for 10 years. The local people call the cases come today, come tomorrow and they shied away from coming forward to testify in the cases and the cases became endless.

When I mooted the idea of the special courts it was as if I committed treason, people descended on me but today I have been vindicated, a Daniel has come to judgment. Chief Justice Onnoghen should be awarded the Person of the Year for his courage. Operating at the highest court in the land he must have seen a lot of what was going on.

I was not saying the justices were not working, I have a lot of them as friends, very honest people, men of honour in fact I felt sorry for a lot of them; if you saw their court lists, one person was trying murder cases, rape cases, internet crime, bank fraud, stealing cases, advanced fee fraud cases and Ponzi schemes cases, one person. So I felt why don’t they specialise especially with the emerging new kinds of crime; society is not static. The time when people steal a pot of soup and when people shout thief and the person starts running is long gone. Today, there more sophisticated crimes and new modus operandi to committing crime, so that was where I was coming from when I mooted the idea of a special court. So today, I feel so vindicated and I feel so happy that what I started and I was abused over, something people called me names over has seen the light of the day through the CJN; that is a man after my heart. Some of the people that descended on me are the ones who are also clapping now. That’s Nigeria for you.

You lost your husband recently, what do you miss most about him?

He was a pillar of strength. He was a very courageous man. You find a lot of men in this country that are so lily-livered so much that if you want to tell them the truth you have to get an ambulance handy because they will collapse but my husband was very courageous, hard working and very strong. He went to the Senate twice, he was an ambassador, he had held key sensitive positions in this country; when I was in office whenever I returned home he was always there with whatever reports that was published about me especially from Sahara Reporters and he would say don’t worry about it. So I miss the kind of love, care and attention I used to get from him a lot. That’s why it was so painful, but my son was given his title immediately people were trying to contest the title, the community quickly took the decision and awarded him the title and there was jubilation in the community when we were still crying. That aspect consoled me to some extent.

Did you have any premonition about his death?

I didn’t, as a Muslim, I believe when the time comes there is nothing that you can do. My only regret was that … As a Muslim, when we were going to India, he said to me, ‘you know there is nothing that I like about that country, not even the food; the country is so choking, you can’t even take a stroll like you would do in London,’ so I say let’s go to London and we tried to get a ticket from India to London, but it was so expensive so I was the one who encouraged him. I told him that let’s just go and when we get back from the treatment in India we will then go to London, and then I lost my daughter too, who anytime we were in London and we do not have money for hotel, we always spend the time in her apartment, she had a three bedroom apartment, so I told him she’s not there anymore, the hotels are quite expensive and we can’t afford the hotel bill. He didn’t want to go to India, if I knew that was going to be the end I would never have taken him to India.

That was my only regret. I shouldn’t have taken him to India and when we went and they saw him, they kept assuring me he will be okay until all the money we had finished, then I reached out to some people back in Nigeria and when they sent money to me it went straight to the bank account of the hospital and then he passed on, yet they took all the money and still told me we’re still owing them. That was the only experience that I try to put behind me. As I said whenever it will happen it will happen.

That was quite a sad story, You alluded to the fact that the timing of your appointment contributed to the challenges that you faced while in office. Would you also agree that the circumstances surrounding your appointment, you came at the time that the then Chairman of EFCC, Nuhu Ribadu, was perceived as doing a good job. At the time he was leaving, first they promoted him, he was then demoted, government that appointed him had just left and then those that were being tried by EFCC suddenly became so close to the seat of power; there was also the unconfirmed report that one of those people was responsible for your nomination. How would you react to this?

I’ve heard that cock and bull story. They were talking of (former Governor James) Ibori, I never knew him, can you nominate someone that you don’t know? I saw him for the first time at the Villa because I do go to the Villa while I was in office but I never knew him and he couldn’t have nominated me. I think some of the appointments were lobbied for, but I don’t lobby for jobs. When I came back from Turkey, I was told to bring my CV. But let me say something, when EFCC was created, all my former bosses that I had worked with in Alagbon, including at the Special Fraud Unit where I was commissioner of Police, Special Fraud Unit, 13 Milverton Street Ikoyi, Lagos, were moved to the EFCC, and I was asked to submit my CV, I did. I was approached for the first time at EFCC for the chairmanship but somebody said I should lobby but I said I don’t loby for jobs and I don’t advise people to lobby for jobs. You might just lobby yourself into hell; so I don’t. If it comes fine. I didn’t know Ibori.

When I came back again, I was approached to submit my CV for two things, either the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency, NDA, and I told them I won’t do drugs; I did 419 job once and I nearly lost my life, now I don’t want to do drugs. Then I was told they wanted to expand the board of the EFCC, I was told they collected about 11 CVs and took it to Mr. President and according to the information that I got, Mr. President took my CV and asked that ‘who is this woman?’ I never knew President Yar’Adua. My CV is very rich, there was no job that I didn’t do when I was in the police force including undercover job. In fact the Attorney General (Michael Aondoakaa) came to my place sweating, he was from the same place with me but he never wanted me there. He didn’t know my residence either. My husband was upstairs when he came, he told me that the ‘President had shocked everybody. He picked your CV and said he wanted you for the job, but I don’t think you would want to do the job. the press will tear you apart. It is better you take that of NDLEA, the letter will come out.’ I asked him that did Mr. President ask you to come and ask me?, he said yes.

I doubted that then went upstairs to invite my husband, when he came downstairs and listened to him, he said, ‘well as a patriotic Nigeria, a policewoman and as a lawyer, any assignment given to her by the government she can’t say no.’ So he said she will take the job. Later Mr. President sent for me and my husband, he wanted to hear about me. It was so interesting, I felt so proud. We sat down, the three of us, and you know Yar’Adua, when he zooms his eyes on you as if he was seeing your soul, so I started talking about my career, in fact I was so carried away that I kept talking and talking, he just sat there listening and I spoke on everything. At a point I felt one leg from under the table and wondered who could be doing that, I looked at the president and he was so serious, I looked at my husband and his face said I was talking too much. I looked at the president again and he was smiling then I continued talking. That was the first meeting. Then there was a second meeting with the president, and then there was the third one. The third one was late in the night, I went out with my husband and when we returned

the president sent for me and my husband again; at the meeting he asked ‘what do I think about the job? He asked me ‘would you like to take the job?’ I said to him ‘thank you sir,’ he again asked me ‘do you think you can do the job?’ I said to him ‘yes sir,’ I have done some dangerous jobs before, I think I can do it because I believe in God, I believe what is worth doing is worth doing well, I believe a good name is better than silver and gold, I believe money is not everything; that is my guiding philosophy.

He then said to me I will send your name but you must know that it is a really tough job so you have to be strong but remain focused. He told me that the press will write so many things and say many things but you must be strong and remain focused. He and my husband were the two main persons that encouraged me to survive on that job. So, it was no bloody anybody that said I nominate this person. That was how it happened. I was able to convince the president by talking to him and we had a very good working relationship. One time I got to his office and he was seating down, and I asked ‘sir, what is wrong?’ And he replied that, ‘can you see the thing that they are writing about me, my wife and my family’. I said to him, ‘sir, are you not the president; the moment you agreed to the president you have sold your privacy’. He said, ‘well agreed I sold mine, not that of my wife and children. Why should anybody be bothered about my family’, and I said to him, ‘because they realised that was your weak spot. They know that if they write about you nothing will happen but they also know that with any good man, his family is the weakest spot and remember that you enjoined me to remain focused.’

Some people are specialist in cooking up stories, when they come up with such stories they will spice it and garnish it then inject little truth here and there, you yourself will be confused.

Your initial actions in EFCC, you may have done them in good faith, actually sent out wrong signals. The incumbent EFCC chairman was arrested and locked up somewhere on allegations that bordered on some files, Ibrahim Lamorde was posted to Bauchi State or some other place; you were in the intelligence service and you know about continuity. When it comes to investigation you don’t just post people who had gone far investigating cases away, you don’t just bring a new person to start all over again unless you don’t have trust in that person because that means you have to start all over again. So people felt that was wrong, they felt that you came in to do some peoples’ bidding …

I am surprised. Is that your mindset? You should know the truth.

It’s not my mindset but that is the view out there.

At that level, you should do investigative journalism, you should know the truth. When I came in, Lamorde was posted back to the Police, I had nothing to do with it. They posted a director of operations to me. I should select my director of operations. The police took Lamorde and posted him out. This thing had noting to do with

Aondoakaa and myself are from the same village but I never knew him, probably because he was younger somehow, but he never wanted me to become EFCC chair. He never influenced me in any way, remember I told you I don’t suffer fools gladly, because, I realised that the EFCC chair is called Farida Waziri and if somebody comes and tells me do this or do that, I am not stupid, I know that I am performing a constitutional duty, and as a lawyer I also know my duty, so I never took any case file anywhere

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CICERO/SUNDAY INTERVIEW t $0/53"3: 50 3&10354 "0/%0","" %*%/ 5 8"/5 .& 50 #& &'$$ $)"*3 t Continued from Pg.74 per cent minus five for human errors. To tell a lie to a president is like you are trying to sabotage the president so I wouldn’t dare do that. But perhaps if he didn’t throw me out my enemies would have descended on me with all the revelations that are now coming out.

Someone like Femi Falana would have had me handcuffed and taken to Kuje Prison. He resented my being there and when I was removed he was the first person to say it was long overdue and he didn’t give any reason. I never knew him before then. So you could see that God was working for me all along and I took it philosophically. When you get a job, you must leave one way of the other.

Some people drop dead in office, some people are taken to prison from office while some other people fall sick and quit the job on health grounds. But if you leave and go home in peace what could be better than that?

me whatsoever. And my director of operations, they posted to undermine me. I told you earlier that I had enemies; I call them enemies ab initio.

From the very beginning, they don’t want you for personal reasons and when you are there they now perfect ways to penetrate the organisation, they put people there to spy on you, to denigrate you, to rubbish you and undermine you. So they posted Ogunsakin (Now retired AIG). Again, I didn’t send away anybody, the people that I sent away were the Mobile Policemen. Recall that I was AIG Training and I travelled to the training institutions, I went to Gworza, into the bush where the mobile police force were being trained and the ones in EFCC, from inception, looked so lazy like pregnant women; when I asked them how long have they been at the EFCC, they said they had been there from inception, then there was a unit that was being trained and when they finished their training, and don’t forget that apart from AIG Training I was also nominating peace keeping force and when they come back from peace keeping posting they come back carrying themselves with pride and you will be proud of them. I didn’t want sluggish people at the EFCC, they forget that they were even mobile policemen. So I said I wanted the whole of the unit posted out and another unit to replace them and that they should go to Gworza. Then my enemies said I removed all the experienced hands, they even wrote to the Americans that the United States government spent dollars to train them and I came in and sent them away. My enemies were churning out falsehoods.

There is the issue of succession crisis in EFCC. We had one when you came in, when Lamorde came in after you we also had succession crisis, we still have it now, and the incumbent has still not been confirmed by the Senate. Would you say succession crisis has not only affected the integrity of the organisation but also affected its performance?

I agree with you there should be continuity, I am passionate about the EFCC and what goes on in there, even though I am out of the place, being a place that I have worked before. When I got to EFCC, there were EFCC offices scattered all over Abuja, there was economic governance, that is politically exposed persons, the most sensitive unit was in Asokoro; there were some in Garki, there were some in the Villa, they were everywhere; they were all over and there were no offices and a man was building an office block adjacent the road and I approached him, we had Block A, Block B, we named that building Block C and I brought in everybody. I have been to the Scotland Yard, when I went they took me round, they took me to the canteen and we ate first class meal at the place and the officers were so proud of where they work and carried themselves with pride and I wished we could replicate that kind of set up at EFCC; it was when I got there that I created uniform allowances, I said come in suits and don’t wear bathroom slippers to the office. The first day they wore their suits they felt happy for themselves.

I didn’t leave it at that, I got over five hectares of land and I went to Mr. President of blessed memory, and I said ‘Sir, I want to ask for a favour, let us make history, let us set up Scotland Yard in Nigeria. Mr. President said Farida, where is the money and where is the land to do that? I told him I have got the land. Then he asked what of budget and I said to him this is what we should do, and then he said OK. I went to him again and asked him to promise me that the person I want will build the place, he asked me who and I said Julius Berger. It was very tough for us, Nigerian contractors wrote petitions that I was corrupt, that I was embezzling money but we went all out.

I think we started with 8-storey building then I asked that it should be increased to 11 storeys, and they wrote all kinds of petition against me.

The building is going on, that is a legacy.

As you rightly said, if the succession crisis continues, it will weaken the morale of the officers. Since the president has sent the name of the incumbent chairman for confirmation, he should have been confirmed, if this continues it will weaken the morale of the officers there. He is working hard no doubt but he will be distracted because of the

issue of confirmation.

Besides, I will like to see the government introduce a policy, it is there in the guideline, who can be the chairman of the EFCC, the criteria is there.

The EFCC is such a place that everybody’s eye is there. That is why government should take a serious look at the place so that the place is not destroyed.

always coming and going during the trial and every time she comes around she would stop by at my office and she would say ‘I have come to collect adjournment again.’ She would add, ‘the judge was even smiling’, and I will tell her do you want the judge to cry. So these are some of the problems but I am glad a Daniel has come to judgment and I hope things will improve.

You have been privileged to chair the EFCC, from experience, what would you say is the major militating factor against the fight against corruption?

I mentioned earlier that justice delayed is justice denied. You arrest someone, you build a case file that can stand the test of time anywhere in the world, if Scotland Yard ask you for a case file you can be able to use the same pattern. I went to California, USA to testify in a case and I was put in a hotel and the Americans were always coming to warn me about the antics of the lawyers and judges involved with the case. They forewarned me and kept telling me that the lawyers, the judges may want to annoy me; they schooled me for two weeks on how the case could play out in court, in the California court because Jim Andler thought he was dealing with Nigerian government.

Successful prosecution is key to fighting corruption.

As I said, it is scandalous that a case lasts for more than 10 years.

When a case lasts that long some scenarios could come up. One, witness stress, that is fatigue. Will a witness spend his entire life going to court to testify in one case? Two, witness may move. If a witness wins an American or Canadian visa lottery, won’t he move? Who will pay for flight ticket for the witness to come and testify? Witnesses may die. Imagine a situation where there is only one witness in a case and when he dies, is that not the end of the case. A witness may even forget some vital ingredients of the case and finds himself at the mercy of the overbearing senior advocate during cross examination.

So in that whole scenario, the trial judge who is following the law is even tired. The only person that is happy with that scenario is that senior advocate, of course there are good ones and there are bad ones, the money bag ones that have thrown away the ethics of the noble profession, whose only guiding philosophy is only about money are the only ones happy in that scenario. To me, the guilty one is also the accused person because he is in and out of court when he should be out there earning a living. So the whole thing is centered on prosecution.

My German friend, Freida Springerbeck, she was a victim of Nigerian fraudsters, she was

You talked about being an undercover agent while in the police force, what was it like rising through the ranks in the force?

It was interesting and you gain a lot of experience.

I did everything, including the patrol beat system, the beat of the Aberdeen, you do night duty, so you know the job from scratch up. It was interesting and I believe it built me for who I turned out to be. Of course you recall I told you that I also worked in the Special Branch of the force from where we metamorphosed into the NSO. I left the undercover beat because my cover was blown.

When we were in the Special Branch, we were called the E Department and when I went out and people asked me what department I was and I tell them the E department, they would be like what department is that, I was always telling them things like Education Department, Equalisation Department just to get by. But then the Police felt we were spying on them. But it was nice back then, I was getting funds to go out and gather intelligence report and I was writing report every day, when you write your report you get paid. We even wrote about rumours in our reports; in that case you start your report with ‘Rumours have it that.’ You recruit agents and get your sources; I was almost beaten during an assignment and when I said I was a police officer they just looked away.

I believe that if you don’t have a goal in life people will dribble you about and eventually mess you up, but if you have a goal, like your calling, just give your all; give it your best, not to please people, just do your best because God is watching you. As you are aware, there have been many revelations after I left the place and since the other government passed and nobody is calling my name. But to think I was on the bridge and so much water was passing under that bridge and that I had no idea.

I thank God for all of it. If God is working for you, you won’t even know. When Jonathan threw me out, you said it was perception, but I was disappointed because I was 100 per cent loyal to him and I told him so. I told him that you are not the one that appointed me but in my line of duty, you are loyal to the president of the day 100

Case files, especially that of politically exposed persons were locked up in the office. I know he was always trying to put me down and do certain things; so one day I said I have had enough, so I went to his house to see him and they said he was in the bedroom and I waited for him for hours, when I was tired of waiting for him I went and banged on his door and told him he better come out, somehow the door was not locked so I went into his bedroom and he ran into the bathroom, I had really had it up to here (pointing at her lower jaw)

There are views that for the anti-graft war to make huge impact there must be high profile convictions. Did that kind of view guide your headship of EFCC? Yes. However, the EFCC is not a police station, this has to do with politically exposed persons and you know who politically exposed persons are, they are high up there from the president, to the governors, ministers, legislators including captains of industries; these are the people that are vulnerable; they wield authority and are in a position to approve money and remember that this establishment was created to checkmate corruption.

It was more of a preventive measure when the politically exposed persons unit was created; and in other countries, Mardoff’s case was for two years for his involvement with Ponzi scheme and he was convicted, all his properties were seized, I think one property was left to the wife and two sons; I followed the case. Unfortunately, it is only the small fries that get punished here and that is why people are concerned and wondering what is going on. If you go to some villages you will see abject want and poverty, you see people who leave on garri for breakfast, lunch and dinner, someone who has not seen N1000 in a month, yet some people get away with crimes and they hear people talking about billions and billions; when this kind of things, the gap between the rich and the poor keep getting wider and wider, and when that sort of thing continue to happen, resentment sets in.

All kinds of offences that we never used to have like kidnapping are as a result of that. Remember, what we used to have was just robbery, and then came robbery with violence, then there was armed robbery where the assailant say to you give me the keys, and after you had complied he still shoots the victim; this is as a result of that resentment.

So something needs to be done to address that inequality in the country as a whole. I am not saying government should do everything but government should empower people so that they could do some things for themselves, not the hopeless case that we have now where salaries are being owed to the extent that people now take their lives.

While you were there, what was the most challenging investigation that was carried out by your leadership of the EFCC? That has to do with cases involving politically exposed person, we had lawyers that were very junior and you know the way the court system is, when the silk gets to court he is heard, then I tried to get some good senior advocates to come and help us with prosecuting some the cases and then we also worked with the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, because he did some reforms that we were part of and we were there to work with him and we got some convictions involving bank CEOs and some former state governors. The truth is that I really worked hard even though I was vilified. I studied case files thoroughly, I created the interrogation room, I saw the model in Israel and I liked it so I introduced it here, we had two interrogation rooms and I made it such that I could monitor interrogations from my office and there was a phone linking the interrogation room to my office and I would call the detective and tell him you didn’t ask so, so and so question.

Let me tell you about another damage that could happen when people personalise this job. All my life I read a lot, I also read a lot of biographies. I have read a lot about the Clinton couple and I admire them, when Hilary Clinton was to come to Nigeria, I looked forward to meeting her. When she came she made a statement that the war on corruption was faltering; well she is entitled to her opinion, may be that was based on the intelligence report that she got.

(See concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com)

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Oloyede

Oloyede: When I Got to JAMB, I Discovered People Were Admitted into Schools with Zero Mark The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board organised some multi-stakeholdersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; consultation meetings in Lagos recently. On the sidelines of one of the meetings held at the Yaba College of Technology, the Boardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, shared his vision, challenges and successes with Abimbola Akosile. Excerpts:

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hat brought you to Lagos and specifically to YabaTech, Prof.?

Thank you very much. Yabatech, it is in continuation of the meeting we started three days ago. Day before yesterday, we met with the banks, the representatives of the banks, and after that we met with the groups called the mobile money operators. The intention for that was to sensitise those people that will be working with us on the issue of how to sell our forms and today we met with the CBT Operators, the CBT Centres that we wanted to use for the purpose of registration. We also met with them, the technical advisors.

Our intention was to sensitise each of the groups as critical stakeholders on our plan so that we can together critique the process and fine-tune the process so that by the time we are rolling out the plan we would have secured the buy-in of all stakeholders.

Many people are already complaining about the challenges faced at the Computer Based Test (CBT) centres around the country. I am assuming that the meeting you held today is to simplify the process?

Yes, it is expected to be so but I am not that hopeful because the CBT operators they are largely businessmen and I have come to realise that people are doing things for commercial, for profit. They care less, many of them care less about ethics.

It was just like sermonising because as I was talking to them, I myself had the impression that I was talking to people that were largely not people that you can count on to do what you

have told them. But one thing we have done today was that we have given the CBT Centre operators our red lines and I have told them things we will not accept. And I believe that we were clear enough about what we have said today that any CBT Centre that violates any of our codes would be de-listed and where they have committed crime we will ensure they are prosecuted. So that was the message to them, to roll out all the new regulations. For example, all anti examination malpractices positions that we are taking, that there should be no wrist-watch in the examination hall, no telephone would be allowed by anybody into the examination hall, and all other devices like pens that some of them are using to transfer data from and to the examination centre, we are giving them notice today that we are not going to allow examination malpractice anymore.

What were some of the problems and challenges that were carried over from the last examination and how are you tackling them?

Yes, I believe the major problem we have is not with the candidates but with their parents. There appears to be a cartel, a cartel of parents and a group of business operators. Their intention was, the cartel, the parents were trying to find undue advantage for their wards and children while the business arm of the cartel was out to ensure that they extort the candidates and they undermine the system with a view to gaining some commercial advantage. All these are issues; I can deal with the candidates because I can be ahead of them. But I find the involvement of parents so shocking and the amount of money they were ready to commit to examination malpractice is

unbelievable. A situation where you find group of parents ready to individually contribute N200,000 not towards a positive thing, but towards damaging the future of their wards and I wonder whether they are sane. Because if you procure an undue advantage to gain entrance for your child, how are you going to sustain the child in the institution.

Even after so-called graduation, how are you going to sustain the child in the place of work? And how come.....they are permanently damaging the children and the children will never do anything right because they would have assumed that anyway, what is important is for you to get eventual success, which is a wrong foundation.

Your tenure has witnessed the highest application of technology in the examination process in JAMB, what are the advantages in this application?

I believe that technology is the best way to go, it is the only way to go because there is no way you can conduct an examination without the application of one form of technology or the other. It makes things easy, faster, transparent, cheaper and even more permanent. Because you can track anything that is done unlike the pen and pencil or the non-digital methods that can even destroy the process. For anybody who wants transparent transaction particularly in the registration and conduct of an examination, ICT is indispensable and that is why we have found it...of course since my days at the University of Ilorin, I have been the champion of using CCTV where applicable, using CCTV in the conduct of mass examinations and it has paid off because it is more efficient, it is more just in terms of being fair, equitable, to all concerned

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CICERO/INTERVIEW t 0-0:&%& 063 ."+03 130#-&. 4 /05 8*5) +".# $"/%*%"5&4 #65 5)&*3 1"3&/54 t Continued from Pg.76 and at the end of the day it is even more accurate.

Despite the application of technology, there is an argument that the overall standard of post-secondary education in particular is falling in Nigeria. What is your take on this?

I have heard it so many times but I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t believe it. But those who are holding that opinion, they have right to their opinion. I do not believe as somebody who has been involved in higher education all over the world. If standard of education is falling, it is falling globally; it is not just in Nigeria. And I have seen people calling my attention to individuals who do not possess the knowledge or the skills expected of them particularly communication skills. I have seen people calling my attention to people who they consider not only unemployed but unemployable. There are cases like that everywhere. But for me, the statistics that I have cannot justify a particular fall in the standard of education in Nigeria. It is not peculiar to Nigeria because products of Nigerian educational system are not found to be inferior to their colleagues from all other educational systems in the world. I have participated in higher education issues, management of higher education at the regional level, at the continental level, at the Commonwealth level, at the international level. And I am very proud of the products of the Nigerian educational system. All of them, I have not seen one particular case, not one particular case of a class, of postgraduate class anywhere in the world where you find products of Nigerian system and you find them wanting or not being on top in the class. You can go to UK, go to Russia, go to China, everywhere you go, you find out that when it comes to postgraduate education, our candidates and even those who are involved in industries all over the world, they are proving their mettle. I have not found a particular case where you find Nigerians or a group of Nigerians being regarded as inferior in terms of knowledge and skills required.

But one thing that works for this nation, it has always been working for us, that we over-devalue ourselves in terms of making uncomplimentary remarks about what belongs to us. And that has been in my own perception, that has been a source of strength. We undervalue ourselves and when we step out across our border we find out that we are kings.

I am not saying that we shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t improve the quality but I do not share the opinion that those who are in our tertiary institutions or products of our tertiary institutions are in any significant manner inferior to the products of other educational systems elsewhere in the world.

It is well-known that revenue generation in JAMB has increased substantially under your tenure. What strategy or model did you adopt to ensure this?

I would like to say that the policy that we adopted was that all revenue should go into the common purse and then all expenditure should also come out from the same source.

We do not allow the operation of any transaction outside the official platform. In many of the agencies, I think the problem is that we allow informal transactions, we allow transactions that are not done under the official line and in the process some of these contractors, suppliers, service providers corrupt the system and take undue advantage of the system. We, for example when I got to JAMB, there were suppliers that were selling directly to our candidates. And when they sell directly to our candidates, you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know how many candidates that they are patronising, you do not know how much they have collected from the candidates because some operators inflate what they collect from the candidates. And you do not know what is due to JAMB. It is as decided by the suppliers. So, for us, one of the major decisions we took was that all transactions on behalf of JAMB must be done on the official platform and the gross income must come to JAMB. It is JAMB that will determine what belongs to other parties and pay them. So the reverse has been the case whereby the vendors, the service providers collect the money and declare what is due to JAMB. That was a major shift in what we did, and to me, I do not know of anybody we owe today because we pay promptly to anybody, everything due to any party is given to them as at when due. But at the end of the day you would find out that some of them who had been taking undue advantage of us, despite the fact that they had their due, they are still not happy because they want to continue to take undue advantage of the Board. This we will not allow. Unfortunately, they have penetrated the system, many of them brought in those who were recruited, who are representing the interest of the Board. They are staff of the Board, but they represent the interest of those who have put them there, who are traders with the Board. And such people of course would not be happy and would want to subvert

Oloyede the system. That is what informed the number of changes that we are doing in terms of the deployment of staff. We have not and we will not sack anybody, but anybody that we find to have done anything capable of undermining the interest of the Board we will have to post that person outside the zone in which he or she will be a threat to the operations of the Board.

In the admission process, the issue of quota system and catchment area has refused to go away. How do you think this can this be addressed?

Oh, it is not our problem, that is a government policy, and quota system is not peculiar to Nigeria. It is everywhere in the world; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just that in other places they use or find better terms like affirmative action, equal opportunities, fairness commission. They are just names for what we call federal character here because without inclusiveness, there is no sustainability. It is not a decision of JAMB and it cannot be a decision of JAMB; it is a decision of government and I share that view very strongly and because it is also one of the best practices in the world that you do not just take the best from anywhere they come from. We also ask each of the communities to provide its best. The abuse we have in Nigeria is that even when we go to the disadvantaged group, we do not want to take the best from the disadvantaged group.

We want to choose who to take among the disadvantaged group and I think that is where the abuse comes in. But to give opportunity, to open windows of opportunity for people who are not adequately represented to be represented is a normal practice, it is a global practice and for which nobody should have any apology.

In the course of your administration, what has been the major challenges, apart from the CBT centre issue?

If I can think of any major challenge, I think it is the issue of trust. Many people do not know the value of trust. Many people they make promise that they do not intend to keep.

For example, over the years, we have been declaring what we call national cut off, 200, 180 and so on and so forth. But to my chagrin, to my surprise, when I got to JAMB, I realised that it was just a paper tiger. People were being admitted with as low as zero; it depends on who and how. A window of opportunity called regularisation had become a process of anything goes. Candidates who did not take JAMB at all, who did not obtain the form would find themselves in

Over the years, we have been declaring what we call national cut off, 200, 180 and so on and so forth. But to my chagrin, to my surprise, when I got to JAMB, I realised that it was just a paper tiger. People were being admitted with as low as zero; it depends on who and how. A window of opportunity called regularisation had become a process of anything goes

universities and in first class programmes. And all they had to do was to pay N5,000 at the point of graduation, and the abnormality would then be said to have been regularised.

That is their level of abuse. But we have said that cannot continue and of course that was why we have asked every institution to declare what the institution intends to accept in terms of minimum score. We are not imposing any score on any institution, but we want the institution to declare on their own what is admissible to them, but we will ensure that none of them, not one single of them will admit below what they themselves have set for themselves. So in reality there is nothing called national cut-off this year, it is the cut-off as determined by each of the institutions. If an institution says my cut-off is 240 that institution cannot admit 239; if an institution says my cut-off is 120, that institution cannot admit 119. It does not mean that that institution must take anybody with 120, no, the institution is prepared to go down to as low as 120 if there are no other scorers of higher grades. But once you have people with 180, 190, you cannot dump them and go to 120. But if you say your minimum score is 120, you cannot turn round and tell me that, look oh, my minimum score is 180 but I cannot find candidates and that is why I want to admit candidates with 160, no! You cannot do so; you must take the availability of candidates into consideration, your capacity for admission into account before determining your minimum cut-off. But the minimum cut-off this year is not just one per institution, you have institutional cut-off, you also have programme cut-off. That was why University of Ilorin could say, yes, my cut-off is 180 but that 180 is for History, Physics, French and so on. But for Medicine, it is 245, for Engineering it is 220. You have programme-specific cut-offs determined, and again UTME score is not the only parameter for admission this year. Institutions are free to grade the quality of the O/Level or A/Level and score it. Institutions are free to conduct their own post-UTME screening and grade and no one can discard the UTME score. The UTME score under all circumstances would carry a weight of not less than 50 per cent of the assessment. So that is what is happening; multi-track assessments of candidates to be placed.

How strong is your feedback mechanism process, from the CBT Centres to JAMB, from the candidates, or between JAMB and other stakeholders like the university system?

Very, very strong, particularly now that we are automating. We have moment-by-moment reports from the other stakeholders and for instance with the introduction of CAPS now, we do not wait until the admission officers will come to Abuja, no. Every minute, the desk officers and the situations are interacting and on my laptop as the Registrar, I also monitor what is going on and I intervene when and where necessary.

Even though you mentioned that the standard of education in Nigeria is not inferior to some other countries, many of our students are running away to study in countries like Ghana and Benin Republic. How can we stop this exodus of Nigerian students?

To do what? Why are they going there? Is it because the standard is higher there? If any, it is because the standards are lower; the requirements are lower, that is why they are going there. Parents who have money and their children cannot meet the admission requirements in Nigeria take them to Ghana, take them to UK, take them elsewhere. And those students who are not the best eleven in Nigeria, they come back with Second Class and Third Class Honours. So how can you then say the standard of education is falling in Nigeria? They do not leave the country to go for a more difficult terrain, actually the opposite is the case. Those who cannot secure admission in Nigeria run away to those places and because their parents have money, most of them from dubious sources, they then make the money available for these candidates to have the so-called education that is not in any way superior to the education we offer in this country.

How has it been since you came on board in August 2016, and where do you envisage JAMB to be in the next five years?

I think it will be said of me that I have done my best. That is my vision, that wherever God determines for JAMB to be, JAMB will be there. But wherever JAMB would be I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want it to be said of me that it could have been better if not for defects on my own part. I will do the best possible to make sure that the cause of JAMB is advanced to the highest level possible, and wherever JAMB finds itself, is then determined by many other factors. And it would not be said of me that we could have been better placed were it not for my inability to give my best. I would give my best and I believe my best would place JAMB at a level that would be enviable.

Lastly, how do you describe yourself? Who is Prof. Ishaq Oloyede. A don, a technocrat, an education activist or what?

I just see myself as an ordinary Nigerian. I see myself as a fortunate person who rides on the shoulders of people who have been there. I see myself as a person that have the opportunity to succeed greater Nigerians. And I just put my minimal best, and because I have been preceded by great Nigerians, the little I do, people believe they are okay, because I am standing on the shoulders of giants who had preceded me in these offices, who must have done all the rough work and I would just be opportune to come and cross the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Tsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and dot the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Isâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and people would think that I have.....I just consider myself a fortunate person and I pray that the fortune would continue.

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Ganduje displaying some of his tea empowerment initiatives

Ganduje, Masari’s Curious Empowerment Strategies In the last few weeks, the governors of Kano and Katsina States have come forward with different poverty alleviation initiatives for their people. Unfortunately, those ideas have done nothing but portray the inanities of their leadership, writes Ibrahim Shuaibu

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he quest to find a lasting and sustainable solution to the socio-economic problems facing Kano people especially among the small scale traders made the state government to convene an empowerment programme for the teeming tea sellers in the state, for their contribution to the development of the state. About 5,200 tea sellers were empowered by the government, ostensibly to boost their economic morale so that they can further stand on their feet without dependency on government.

In similar vein, the Katsina State government recently introduced an empowerment initiative, a goat empowerment scheme for secondary school girls in the state. The state government was of the view that though learning and rearing goats might not be easy for school girls, it considered the initiative a step towards becoming self-reliant despite the challenges they may face combining it with schooling.

The result of the Kano State empowerment initiative under the leadership of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje was reckoned would help enhance the economic capacity of the local traders in the state that were in need of support for self-reliance, given the current state of the state economy.

Ganduje, during an elaborate ceremony for the distribution of the items, which was said to have cost about N280 million to the tea sellers, said the gesture was in furtherance of his administration’s commitment to ensuring increase in the masses economic well-being.

He said the tea sellers were drawn from the 44 local government areas of the state, with each of the 5,200 beneficiaries given N40, 000 as a take-off capital.

“I welcome you all, the 5,200 tea sellers drawn from 44 local

government areas of the state. I am very happy. I am happy, because you are all happy. Your happiness is my happiness. In particular, we are empowering 5,200 tea sellers. We are empowering them, because we want to increase their economic wellbeing.

We are empowering you to improve the economy of Kano.

“We are empowering you to improve sanitation in your services; we are empowering you to improve nutritional value of your services; we are empowering you because of the multiplying effects of this kind of programme. You are aware that with the effort of President Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria is out of recession. This is why we have created this kind of youth empowerment to help sustain our relief from recession,” he stated.

Not unexpectedly, the initiative was received with applause and condemnation. The truth is that the Tea sellers in Kano were believed to have contributed to the political campaign in the state.

Thus, they are seen as stakeholders in the state.

Pundits therefore hold the view that the distribution of empowerment to tea sellers would contribute immensely to the success of the Ganduje administration. But loyalists of former Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso are said to see it as a decimation of quality administration in the state.

The governor has also promised to continue to empower women, recalling that his government has recently trained 200 women on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and provided them with computers, laptops and other communication accessories.

“We have also trained 50 women drawn from Fulani herdsmen on artificial insemination. We trained another 50 women on automobile. They were trained by Peugeot Automobile Nigeria (PAN) in Kaduna. We have also

trained over 1,936 women on nursing, particularly to help pregnant women in the rural areas to deliver safely.”

Commissioner for Local Government and Community Development, Alhaji Murtala Sule Garo, said, “The various empowerment programmes that have been undertaken by the present administration have ensured the training of over 100,000 youths in various trades across Kano state.”

Although Katsina is an agrarian state, Governor Aminu Bello Masari administration has made efforts to improve the lot of his people through different empowerment initiatives, though some have been criticised.

Last year, the state government distributed 720 goats, said to be worth N104 million to women under its Women Empowerment Schem. About 240 women selected across the 34 local governments were given two female goats and one male goat. The animals were given to the beneficiaries under a loan scheme and the cost was expected to be repaid after a year, the government said.

This soon followed a similar empowerment initiative during which the government distributed goats to female secondary school students in the state. Government said it selected 20 secondary schools in each of the three senatorial zones for the take-off of the programme.

Launching the programme at the Government Girls Arabic Secondary School, Dutsinma, Katsina State commissioner for Education, Professor Halimatu Idris, said the programme was aimed at making the students self-reliant as well as develop their education. But observers have questioned how empowering students with goats instead of encouraging them to concentrate on their studies could contribute to the development of the state.

Politicians in the state have already

begun to condemn the initiative as bereft of good thinking on the part of the state government.

Malam Adamu Kofar Sauri said the state government lacked focus of what the citizens of the state voted it into power for, adding that the government wasted its resources on a programme that could only bring setback to the education of the girl-child in the state.

The education commissioner emphasized that the goat empowerment programme was part of the Masari administration’s efforts toward improving the lives of the people and development of education in the state.

From all indications, what the two governments of Kano and Katsina appear to lack is the ability for good thinking that could throw up life-changing innovations. It could be correct that the tea business is as old as the state itself, it does not mean government cannot further modify it or take the people out of such primitive lifestyle if indeed the desire is to have their states catch up with the rest of the country.

Masari would have been better off if his initiative was meant to enhance the study of agriculture in the secondary schools in the state. However, that he sold the idea because he wanted to start teaching the students how to be self-reliant is to say the least disappointing, more so coming from a man who was once the nation’s number four citizen.

It appears these two governors love the idea of poverty as against the façade of helping to alleviate it.

In what ways would such a tawdry thought-process enhance the economy of their states? It is cheap, pedestrian and exposes their lack of capacity to think out of the box. Importantly, it brings to the fore the tragedy of the nation’s leadership recruitment process, if at all, there is any.

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In Ebonyi 2019, Your Record Must Speak for You The elections of 2019 are not a walkover for the current public office holders as the people have resolved that anyone seeking re-election must do so on their performance record. Benjamin Nworie reports

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n Ebonyi State, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has always held sway in all elections into public offices. This feat has lasted with the enthronement of democratic rule as well as the creation of the state in 1996. The PDP has always dictated the political direction of the state and the people have seen it also as the “household” party, heavily popularised and acceptable by its logo, the “umbrella”.

The seeming political monopoly enjoyed by the party in the state may still not be far from the support of the federal government, hitherto, controlled by the PDP. Now, that PDP is bereaved at the center, other component states controlled by the party are now left at its own mercy, either to be submerged or battle for survival from the forces of the APC controlled federal government.

This situation has furthermore created room for more accountability and transparency from political officer holders. The alternative platform has created confidence in the minds of the people to vote out any visionless leader or perceived poor performer in the forthcoming election.

Interestingly, debate about performance has continued to strewn the state’s political landscape.

In the minds of the people, some poorly performed persons are already being awaited back home immediately after their tenure to give room for fresh hands. The burden of works awaits the PDP members in the National Assembly both Senate and House of Representatives occupiers.

There is a lot of side talks going on amongst the electorate, which seem to suggest that many of their national assembly members have performed abysmally low and must be shown way back home, albeit some are victims of zoning and political witch-hunt.

As a result, the seat of the Ebonyi South Senator, Senator Sunny Ogbuorji has long been declared “vacant” in 2019 by the PDP hierarchy and actors in the state. In a projection, it’s certain in some quarters that Ogbuorji may not smell the red chambers in 2019 unless he puts his fate in the hands of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which his body movement had long confirmed.

And whether true or misconstrued, Ogbuorji is seen as a threat to future permutations in the state. Analysts have therefore argued that this is the time to whittle or decimate his glowing influence and affluence before he grows too “big” to be controlled or tamed.

Ogbuorji’s palaver is slightly different from his colleague in Ebonyi North, Senator Sam Egwu, although the latter’s seat has been declared vacant too by certain influences in some quarters. Egwu has the combine challenges of alleged underperformance and the conspiracy of the Izzi clan.

His candidature is also seen as a threat to the zoning principle, equity, justice and fairness which fine-tune the political system in the state. Many don’t wish Egwu back to the Senate and there are overwhelming indications some forces are aggregating to pull him down, chief of which is lack of followership and lack of grassroots supports.

Some have even said Egwu sees his senatorial election as honour done to his people.

But it may be very difficult for the state governor, David Umahi to “sacrifice” Egwu in respect of the clamour for the charter of equity, which the Izzi people have been agitating since the creation

R-L: Governor Umahi and Senator Egwu of the state. When things were tough in the 2015 governorship election in the state, Egwu played a prominent role to ensure the victory of the governor.

As the first governor of Ebonyi, Egwu laid solid foundation for the take-off of the state, especially with his educational policy and programmes. His free and compulsory education actually assuaged the backward story of the Ebonyi people. All things being equally, the footprint made in the education sector has remained Egwu’s political unique selling point.

But such selling point and influence diminished and disappeared into the thin air after his successor, Martin Elechi, forcefully pushed him into oblivion and rendered him politically irrelevant in the state for eight years, only to be resuscitated by Umahi with the senatorial position.

Rather than consolidating and making new friends, he has allegedly divided the Izzi clans with divided interest groups, which according to observers, almost marred his empowerment programmes last year.

Various lists from different camps created tensions that the materials were deferred and secretly disbursed at an unpublicised date. It was envisage, however, that the crisis may have been politically motivated to blight the exercise, and register grievances in the minds of the people.

Observers also claimed that Izzi people are already divided at his instance.

If the division is true, it could make or mar his reelection. First, if the Izzi people are divided, the hope of a replacement from the clan may be a mirage, because the Izzi people will lock themselves into clannish battle, while Egwu may utilize the opportunity and strategize his machinery for reelection.

It could however undo him if the Izzi people unite themselves to fight him as common “enemy” but for the seeming intractable clannish battle between

the two clans – Igbojima and Umuera. To this effect, Umahi has given him much prominence to the extent of naming the governor’s lodge after him based on what Umahi described as “laudable foundation in the progress and development of the state” as the first executive governor for eight years.

But as the saying goes that in politics, what is permanent is interest. Umahi too believes in internal democracy and accountability. It may not be business as usual, especially as it was in 2015, for any public office seeker to ride on the back of Umahi to emerge victorious. Pundits hinted that there would not be “sacred cows” in the next election as the electorate are wiser now to detect and choose who they want.

Sources in the zone alleged that Egwu has not shown any meaningful impact since he went to the National assembly, while a majority of Izzi people claimed that he’s holding the position in “error”, after it was snatched from their kinsman, Senator Chris Nwankwo in 2015. The Izzi clan still claims that it was their birthright to occupy the position. Izzi controls three local government areas of Abakaliki, Ebonyi and Izzi as against Egwu’s Ohaukwu local government area.

The jostle for Egwu’s replacement has also put the clan in disarray over who is legitimate enough to occupy the seat. This internal crisis may illuminate Egwu’s chances, when the Izzi people become heavily divided among themselves. If Izzi people are determined to unseat Egwu, observers advised that they should eschew internal and personal wrangling and mudslinging and forge a common front to form a formidable strong voice at the poll.

This feat may be difficult if not impossible because political heavy weights from the clan across the two political parties are battle ready for any political show of shame, if their candidate is threatened. Besides, the APC may still be basking on the euphoria of

“federal might” to snatch the seat from the PDP, no matter who the candidate maybe.

The APC is already threatening to sack the PDP senator in the zone, just as they threatened to occupy other positions. The vision of the APC may suffer setbacks if its leadership crisis is not promptly resolved. The crisis has degenerated in recent times, with a third faction emerging and clamouring for the sack of the other two factions led by Hon. Ben Nwobasi and Hon. Eze Nwachukwu respectively.

Already, the people of Ebonyi council area have lodged a “genuine” clamour for equity and zoning in the zone to occupy the seat for once since the creation of the state. The council area, THISDAY learnt remains the only local government in the zone that does not know the “shape” of the red chambers and they consider the next election as the time to fully burry the marginalization structure. The other three council areas have occupied the seat twice or once respectively.

In Ebonyi council, former Minister of State for Power and Steel, Chief Goddy Ogbaga is said to have renewed his intention to vie for the seat, after he discontinued his ambition for Egwu to emerge victorious in 2015. In the PDP, Ogbaga seems favoured to occupy the seat as the only heavyweight to have sacrificed his ambition to ensure the victory of the party in the zone.

Sources noted that Ogbaga was lobbied to vie on the platform of the labour Party, so as to pitch tent with his brother and governorship candidate of the Labour Party, Edward Nkwgeu but he declined all entreaties to ensure the overwhelming victory of Umahi’s PDP. Ogbaga is also highly revered in Izzi land in lieu of his giant strides recorded as a former minister. His relevance in Ebonyi politics may not be far from humanitarian services, which have endeared him to his numerous fans and admirers.

(See concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com)

NOTES FOR FILE

IGP Idris’ Overzealousness

Ian Squire

The Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, last week, caused unnecessary distraction and panic in the lead-up to yesterday’s governorship election in Anambra State, when he removed the security detail of a sitting governor, Chief Willie Obiano, because he was also a candidate in the election, forgetting however that he remained the governor, the election regardless.

The governor immediately protested the withdrawal of his security detail, which the IG claimed would be returned after election, saying such action has exposed his life to danger. Obiano raised the alarm in Awka during a stakeholders’ meeting organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and presided over by the National Chairman of the commission, Prof MahmoodYakubu. He described the act as unacceptable and a dangerous signal on what was to happen ahead of the governorship election.

Immediately, the Senate, led by Senator Bukola Saraki,

intervened in the matter and asked Idris to return Obiano’s security within 24 hours. The Senate’s resolution was followed by President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive to the IG to restore Obiano’s security detail, which he prompty complied with.

But what was his reason? He claimed the security detail could be subjected to abuse during the election.

That was dumb. He saw the need to withdraw a sitting governor’s security but not bothered about his competitors, who also had security details attached to them.This was sheer overzealousness on the part of a police boss, who should have been above board and acted as such.

With actions such as these from people who are expected to be unbiased in their attitude to work, the IG has created doubts about his capacity to act with fairness and above party consideration. It is shameful and sad.

One day, Nigeria will rise above this pettiness and forge ahead with great promises.

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EVENTS

T

he solemnization of holy matrimony between Opeyemi Moronke and Oladapo Oluwaseyiwas held at First Baptist Church, Abule Egba, Lagos State and the reception took place at Grandeur Hall, Billings Way, off Oregun Road, Ikeja. Here are some of the faces at the ceremony on Saturday October 14, 2017.

Photos: Kolawole Alli

Newly wedded couple, Dapo and Ope

L-R: Father of the groom, Mr. Gbadebo Jaiyeola; Mrs. Joke Jaiyeola and Mrs. Taiye Olukoju

Parent of the bride, Mr. and Mrs. Owolabi Ilesanmi

L-R: Mrs. Funmi Akintade; Mr. Ifedayo Dairo; Mr. Femi Olatunji; and Mr. Toyin Bankole

L-R: Chairman of the occasion at the reception, Chief and Mrs. Adesina Adegoke

L-R: Mrs. Bunmi Adeyanju; Mr. Segun Adeyanju and Mrs. Funke Adeyanju

L-R: Tolu Ilesanmi; Yemi Kuti and Douglas Atalor

L-R: Mr. Ayo Adeyanju; Mr. Funso Adeyanju and Mrs. Bunmi Adeyanju

L-R: Mrs. Omodara; Mr. Victor O. Adeyanju; Mrs. Adeyanju and Mr. Dele Omodara

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

81

EVENTS

L-R: Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Chief Moses Alake Adeyemo and Engr. Peter Oladimeji, JP

L-R: Mrs. Modupe Ogunyemi; Deacon Majonagbe Zacchaeus and Mr. Benson Faniyi

L-R: Mrs. Ayomipo Akinniyi and Mrs. Modupe Ayenuro

Chief and Mrs. Fola Omolayo

L-R: Mrs. Sola Ijogun and Mrs. Funmi Komolafe

L-R: Adewunmi and Seyi Law

L-R: Princess Bimpe Omodara; and Mrs. Moni Falaki

Kcee and E-Money

L-R: Tolu Ilesanmi and Tayo Ilesanmi

L-R: D S Skullz and Xcluswemic

L-R: Toyosi Popoola and Goriola Oladapo

L-R: Mr. Imoudu Oputeh and Mr. Seyi Odukoya

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T H I S D AY SUNDAY NOVEMBER 19, 2017

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

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NEWSXTRA Jonathan Denies Receiving Payments from Pension Fund Anayo Okolie Former President Goodluck Jonathan, has dissociated himself from allegations of being paid N5 billion monthly from the Pension Fund.

In a statement issued yesterday by his media adviser, Mr. Ikechukwu Eze, Jonathan said the claim credited to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, was false.

In debunking the claim, Eze dismissed it as â&#x20AC;&#x153;a blatant lie hurriedly cooked up to divert the

attention of the general public from the raging â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Mainagateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and other embarrassing scandals.â&#x20AC;?

Eze said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;we believe that the story was concocted as part of the unfolding grand design to always dodge responsibility and blame every evil act taking place in the present dispensation on the past Jonathan administration.â&#x20AC;?

According to him, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our attention has been drawn to a story published in Sun newspapers of November 18, 2017 in which the Attorney General

of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, was alleged to have told a Senate ad hoc committee that an â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ex-President was taking N5 billion monthly from the Pension Fund.â&#x20AC;? He was also alleged to have sourced the information from the fugitive former chairman of Pension Reform Task Force Team, Abdul Rasheed Maina who, Malami admitted to have met in the United Arab Emirate (UAE). â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our initial reaction was to ignore the story because it was speculative, conjectural, full of

mischief and rumour-driven, since the National Assembly â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;sourcesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; were not disclosed and the ex-President in question was not identified by name. â&#x20AC;&#x153;However, since the Pension Reform Task Force Team served under former President Jonathan, we believe that the story was concocted as part of the unfolding grand design to always dodge responsibility and blame every evil act taking place in the present dispensation on the past Jonathan administration. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In the first place, we do not believe that AGF Malami

made such a claim because he is in a position to know that it is simply not true. We expect that even the Senators, if they were ever told that, would have dismissed it as a blatant lie hurriedly cooked up to divert the attention of the general public from the raging â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Mainagateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and other embarrassing scandals. Let us not forget that the 7th Senate had uncovered large scale fraud and indicted Maina upon which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) declared him wanted for pension fraud in 2015. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We also strongly believe that Maina, who is alleged to be the source of the false information, couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have said that.

Even for a drowning man, understandably clawing on every straw for survival, that would have been a very wild shot, if it actually came from him. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We will simply challenge the Senate Committee to demand from those who fabricated the spurious claims that N5 billion was collected monthly from the Pension Fund by â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;an Ex-Presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; to give more details and produce

evidence of how these transactions were made. They should be able to establish whether the monthly payment of N5 billion to â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;an ex-Presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; was made by cash or through bank transfers, in which case they should name the banks involved. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We advise that this matter should not be allowed to go the way of similar ones that have been swept under the carpet.

We have no doubt that this is just another futile effort to cover up the ineptitude and corrupt tendencies of members of the present administration, who are now caught up in the Maina mess. Nigerians have not forgotten that the same forces initially claimed that it was Jonathanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s men that quietly brought back Maina from exile and reinstated him in office under the Buhari administrationâ&#x20AC;?, Eze noted.

According to the statement, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Again, we restate our position that we very much doubt if AGF Malami really said what was reported in the Saturday Sun, because if he did, he would be placing his integrity and that of his office in a difficult position. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We believe that more of

LASU 1990 Alumni Party

COURTESY VISIT

President Muhammadu Buhari (r) welcoming the Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission, Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye, during a visit to the President at the State House, Abuja...recently

ĂĄĂ?Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E;ĂŁĚ&#x2039;Ă?Ă?Ă Ă?Ă&#x2DC; ĂŁĂ?Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x153;Ă? Ă&#x2039;Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă?Ă&#x153; Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2018; Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2014; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x2122;Ă? Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă? Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x201C;Ă Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x17E;ĂŁË&#x153; â&#x20AC;&#x153;LASU 1990â&#x20AC;? Alumni class members are set for a historic reunion; the Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x17D;Ă?Ă&#x2DC; Ă?Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x2122;Ă? Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă?Ă Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E;Ë&#x203A; Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă&#x2122;Ă?Ă?Ă&#x2039;Ă?Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC;Ë&#x153; ĂĄĂ&#x2019;Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă&#x2019; ĂĄĂ&#x201C;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2013; Ă&#x152;Ă? Ă&#x2019;Ă?Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x2122;Ă?Ë&#x153; Ă&#x201C;Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă&#x2019;Ă?Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2013;Ă?Ă&#x17D; Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153; Ă&#x2122;Ă Ă?Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x152;Ă?Ă&#x153; Í°ÍłË&#x153; ĂĄĂ&#x201C;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019; Ă&#x2014;Ă?Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x152;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă? Ă&#x2122;Ă? Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? ËŤ ˊ͎͡ˏ Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D; other invited guests expected to be in attendance. The information ĂĄĂ&#x2039;Ă? Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă?Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2122;Ă?Ă?Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x152;ĂŁ Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă?Ă Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E;ËŞĂ? Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2018; Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x17E;Ă?Ă?Ë&#x153; ĂĄĂ&#x2019;Ă&#x2122; Ă?Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x201D;Ă?Ă?tives of the reunion were to provide a platform for social interaction as well as creating an avenue to reach out to all alumni of the set within and Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x;Ă&#x17E;Ă?Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x17D;Ă? Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x153;ĂŁË&#x203A; Ă?Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2018; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2018; Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x17E;Ă?Ă?Ë&#x153; ˪͎͡ Alumni plans to look into different areas of collaboration with the Lagos Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă? Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x201C;Ă Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x17E;ĂŁË&#x153; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă?Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x153; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2039; Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ë&#x153; Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x17D;Ă?Ă&#x153; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122; Ă&#x2039;Ă?Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x201D;Ă?Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C;Ă Ă?Ă? Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D; to empower members of the class as well as the student body through the network. They urged all members of the class to turn out en masse Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă?Ă Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E;Ë&#x153; Ă?Ă Ă?Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x2039;Ă? Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă&#x2014;Ă?Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x152;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă? Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x153;ĂŁ Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2039;Ă?Ă&#x161;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2039; Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17D; already indicated interest to be in attendance.

UN Working on Making Militants Announce US Delegation Visits Nigeria Irregular Immigration Resumption of Hostility in for Bi-national Commission Regular, Says Dabiri- Erewa Nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Delta Meeting commitment to a strong partnerof exemplary leadership, Abimbola Akosile t Advise oil firms to vacate workers with Kuni Tyessi in Abuja immediate effect

Okon Bassey in Uyo Three militant groups operating in Akwa Ibom and Cross River States, the Niger Delta Volunteers (NDV), Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force, Niger Delta Strike Force have announced resumption of attack on all the oil and gas installations in the two states.

Accordingly, they have advised international oil companies, subsidiaries and servicing firms to vacate Akwa Ibom Cross River territory with immediate effect for the safety of their staff members and expatriates.

To avert the strike tagged â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Operation Zero Oil Flowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, the militant groups are demanding the return of oil blocks specifically in Akwa Ibom state but owned

by Northerners and Yorubas to the indigenes of the state.

The leader of the groups, Commander Ekpo Ekpo stated the resolve of the militants in the two states to attack oil and gas installations in a statement made

available to newsmen in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Wewishtoofficiallyannounce our readiness to resume â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Operation Zero Oil Flowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; in Akwa Ibom State.

This time will be more deadly, zero tolerance for any obstacle that would stand in our way of success to liberate Akwa Ibom from the enslavement of the Nigerian government. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We hereby give all the oil/gas companiesoperatingwithinAkwa Ibom State immediate ultimatum to withdraw their workers from all the oil installations, platforms, rigs within our territory both onshore and offshore. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The operation zero oil flowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; will commence as soon as possible; and we shall destroy all the oil installations within our reach both onshore and offshore, we shall cripple oil/gas pipelines, flow lines and export lines. We have already carried out survey and map-out (sic) the strategy point in all the trunk-lines, flow stations, export linesâ&#x20AC;?, he said.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa has announced that the United Nations is doing all it can to regularise all irregular immigration due to the need for more labour force in the western world.

Dabiri-Erewa also stated that the 26 young Nigerian girls who drowned in the Mediterranean Sea didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to leave Nigeria in the first place, saying that Nigerians need to talk to one another about the consequences of illegal migration. She also stressed that due to hardship encountered on the routes, many do not live to tell the story.

Dabiri-Erewa stated this at the US International Visitors Leadership Programme Alumni 2017 lecture, dinner and awards held in Abuja, where 12 recipients from different walks of life were given plaques in appreciation for their efforts in the field

selfless service, compassion, entrepreneurship, community development, innovation and many more.

She said the â&#x20AC;&#x153;UN is working on making irregular immigration regular because the countries need the labour force. Many have attributed migration to poverty but it is not worth it. The Nigerian girls that drowned at the Mediterranean didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to go after all. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s talk to ourselves and educate each other against following such dangerous routes. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Five thousand Nigerians have been brought back home and many more are coming back. They have been rehabilitated and shown how to move on with their livesâ&#x20AC;?, she added.

In his own speech, the guest lecturer, Prof. Maxwell Gidado, while commending the strides of Nigerian youth in the re-discovery of themselves as a result of information and technology, he said migration is a component of the modernised world and should be by choice and not a necessity.

The United States Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan is billed to visit Nigeria on November 19 and 20, where he would lead the US interagency delegation to the Bi-National Commission (BNC) meetings in Abuja.

The high-level bilateral meeting between Nigeria and the US would be hosted by the Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyeama.

The BNC is a collaborative forum founded during the first term of the former US President Barack Obamaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s presidency.

Its stated mission is â&#x20AC;&#x153;to build partnerships for tangible and measurable progress on issues critical to United Statesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s shared futureâ&#x20AC;?.

Working groups at the BNC would focus on security cooperation, governance and democracy, as well as economic growth and development.

The Deputy Secretary is the highest ranking member of the Donald Trumpâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s administration to visit Nigeria. He would convey the US Governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

ship with the Government and people of Nigeria.

The United States-Nigeria BiNational Commission last met on March 30 to April 1, 2016, in Washington, D.C. The meeting was co-chaired

by Onyeama and Antony Blinken, former United States Deputy Secretary of State, while former U.S. National Security Adviser Susan Rice provided opening remarks, and former US Secretary of State John Kerry met the group and hosted a working lunch.

During President Muhammadu Buhariâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s visit to Washington, DC from July 20 to 22, 2015, Buhari and Kerry underscored the need to strengthen and revitalise the BNC to advance our overall relationship and spur joint action on key issues.

At a meeting on Nov. 13, 2015, between an inter-ministerial group led by the Permanent Secretary of Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the US Ambassador to Nigeria, the two sides underscored the need to reinvigorate the BNC as a forum for focused and high-level discussions.

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SUNDAYSPORTS

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

ATP Finals: Goffin Shocks Federer in London

D

avid.

Goffin shocked Roger Federer yesterday, coming back from a set down to eliminate the second seed and pick up his first win against Federer, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Goffin, who qualified for the season finale for the first time, will play for the biggest title of his career today. The

Belgian has won four ATP World Tour crowns, including an ATP World Tour 500-level title at the Rakuten Japan Open Tennis Championships 2017 last month.

But the 26-year-old had never reached a bigger title match, either at an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event, a Grand Slam or the Nitto ATP Finals.

TOday, Goffin will meet Bul-

garian Grigor Dimitrov who beat American Jack Sock 4-6 6-0 6-3.

“For the first time I played my best tennis, and I played a little bit more relaxed after the first set. I started to feel the ball really well for the first time, and continued to serve and played my best tennis today,” Goffin said.

The Belgian is 1-4 against

Dimitrov in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series. Regardless of today’s result, though, this has already been the best week of Goffin’s career. He started his stay at The O2 by celebrating his biggest win by ranking, a 7-6(5), 6-7(4), 6-4 upset against World No. 1 Rafael Nadal. Goffin then had a blip, falling to Dimitrov in only 75 minutes.

But he rallied on Friday to beat

Dominic Thiem in straight sets and qualify for the semi-finals, and Goffin again summoned his best tennis to beat Federer.

Goffin becomes the first player to beat the Top 2 players at the Nitto ATP Finals since 2009, when champion Nikolay Davydenko beat No. 2 Nadal in group play and No. 1 Federer in the semi-finals.

Goffin is the sixth player ever

to beat Nadal and Federer in the same tournament and the first since Novak Djokovic at the 2015 Nitto ATP Finals.

“Both are really special. It was the first time against Rafa. Then the semi-final for the first time for me here, and to beat Roger for the first time here in such a big event, big tournament, it was the perfect moment,” Goffin said.

23 Boxers Emerge at GOtv Boxing NextGen Search A total of 23 young boxers were adjudged fit to join the professional ranks by selectors at GOtv Boxing NextGen Search 3, which ended in Ibadan laast week. All the boxers selected will have their professiona licences paid for

by Mr. Adewunmi Ogunsanya (SAN), Chairman, MultiChoice Nigeria, and Chairman, GOtv Boxing. Ogunsanya will also pay for comprehensive medical tests for each of the selected

Eagles Draw Libya, others in CHAN Nigeria will tackle 2014 champions, Libya, Rwanda and Equatorial Guinea in the group stage at the 5th African Nations Championship taking place in Morocco.

The biennial football championship will take place from January 13 – February 04, 2018.

The matches of Group C will be played in Tangier.

Libya shocked the African football family by winning the 2014 edition in South Africa at the expense of Ghana despite the North African nation being embroiled in political turmoil at the time. Nigeria finished third at the same competition.

Rwanda was the last team to qualify for the finals after edging Ethiopia 3-2 on aggregate in a play-off that was necessitated

by Egypt’s decision to forfeit her slot at the championship.

Equatorial Guinea qualified for the finals following the withdrawal of Gabon and a miffed Caf hierarchy has made it clear the Gabonese (as well as Djibouti that also withdrew after playing the first leg against Ethiopia) would not be part of the qualifying campaign for the 2020 finals.

The Draw Ceremony held at the Hotel Sofitel Rabat on Friday evening also housed hosts, Morocco, Guinea, Sudan and Mauritania in Group A, in the event pitting the Atlas Lions against Mauritania in the opening match of the competition at the Mohamed V Stadium in Casablanca on January 13.

Hosts of the inaugural edition of the competition in 2009, Ivory Coast head Group B that will be based in Marrakech, and have Zambia, Uganda and Namibia as group mates.

Group D, based in Agadir has 2011 runners-up Angola, Cameroon, Congo and Burkina Faso.

boxers.

In addition, the GOtv Boxing Chairman directed that the Oyo State Boxing Association be given a cash support of N100, 000, with the coaches’ associa-

tion in the state getting a cash support of N50,000.

Each of the best three boxers at the event, which began on Thursday, was given a GOtv decoder. The event was attended

by over 200 boxers from across the country. In attendance at the closing ceremony were Dr. Rafiu Ladipo and Mr. Remi Aboderin, President and General Secretary respectively of

the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control; Mr. Lateef Opaleye, Chairman, Oyo State Boxing Association; Mr. Toye Arulogun; Oyo State Commissioner for Information and Strategy;

and other boxing authority figures in the state.

The judges’ panel at the programme included coaches Joe Mensah, Obisia Nwakpa and Jerry Okorodudu.

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High Life

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͎͎͜;ʹ͜͜ͳ;ͳͰ

...Amazing lifestyles of Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rich and famous

11 Govs, Scores of Top Politicians Storm Kano as Ajimobiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Son Takes Gandujeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Daughter as Wife

M

ore than any day in recent memory, every corner in the city of Kano, last Friday November 10, heaved, creaked and pulsated with excitement and festivity as 11 state governors, former governors, scores of Federal and state legislators, political appointees and other dignitaries stormed the state for the marriage introduction ceremony between Fatima Baby Ganduje, daughter of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, and Idris, son of Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State. Some of the governors present were Alhaji Badaru Abubakar (Jigawa), Senator Abiola Ajimobi (Ogun), Akinwumi Ambode (Lagos), Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Abubakar Baguda (Kebbi), Hon. Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Abdullaziz Yari (Zamfara), Rauf Aregbosola (Osun), Kashim Shetima (Borno), Aminu Bello Masari (Katsina) and Abdulfatai Ahmed. The eminent visitors were received by, among other personalities, the Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, and Alhaji Ishyaku Rabiu. The Emir who accepted the Ajimobisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; proposal on behalf of the brideâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s family described the union as a positive ingredient in cementing relationships across tribes and geopolitical zones

Demola Seriki

DEMOLA SERIKI PLANS LOW-KEY 58TH BRITHDAY CELEBRATION Few days from now, precisely November 30th, Senator Demola Seriki, one of Lagosâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; finest politicians, would add a year. However, prevailing circumstances in the nation, his party, the All Progressives Congress, APC and his political family have combined to ensure that the United States of America-trained accountant cum teacher would have a low-key birthday celebration. Few weeks back, Serikiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s political leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed

Father of the groom and Oyo State governor, Abiola Ajimobi; Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode; the groom, Idris Ajimobi, Jigawa State governor, Badaru Abubakar; father of the bride and Kano State governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, at the wedding ceremony of Idris Ajimobi and Fatima Ganduje

and destroying stereotypes between southern and northern Nigeria. He said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am pleased that two leaders of this country at a time when this country is most in need of reminders that we are all Nigerians. We are part of one common humanity descended from one man and one woman, made from the same earth decided to apply this

teaching to show an example to all of us.â&#x20AC;? The Emir continued, â&#x20AC;&#x153;No superiority for the light skinned over the over the black skinned or black skinned over the white skinned all of you are from Adam and Adam is from the earth. The reason I quote this Hadith is to remind all of us that tribalism, racism and all these â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;ismsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; that are based on ethnicity have no

Tinubu, lost his first son, Jide. It was a devastating occurrence that threw the Nigerian political establishment into poignant sorrow. Jide was in his late 30s and died of cardiac arrest, according to his grieving father. He left behind a wife and three sons, all of who are based in London. The former Lagos governor and his wife, Senator Oluremi, were in London to be with the deceasedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s young family then. Again, the uncertainty in the APC, compounded by the presidency to compensate party members with juicy appointments as expected, is also a major reason Seriki would not be rolling out the drums. Sources close to him say on his 58th birthday, he would just have a prayer session and dinner with family and select friends.

Indeed, he has so much to thank God for and if permitted, celebrate unabashedly on his birthdays. This year alone, his daughter, Faridah or Kah-lo, as she is more popularly known in the international music circuit was nominated in the Grammy Awardsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Best Dance Recording category for her feature on Ritonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s song, Rinse and Repeat. Debonair Seriki has also become more integrated in the APC. An alumna of Herbert Lehman College of the City University of New York where he bagged a Bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and Masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degrees in Accounting, Finance & Management, Seriki had his fair share of political failure before he was first elected Minister of State for Agriculture

and Water Resources in 2007 while concurrently supervising the Ministry of Mines and Steel around 2008.

Subsequently, he served as Minister of State for Defence, and later, in the same capacity in the Ministry of Interior.

He was then a member of the Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Democratic Party, PDP.

LANRE SHITTU LOSES WIFE Grief and gloom now sashay and saunter about in the home of popular Lagos auto dealer and boss of Lanre Shittu Motors, Alhaji Lanre Shittu,

place in Islam. Marriages are unions especially when they come from prominent families.

They are not just unions between boy and girl or man and woman, they are unions of people, they cement relationships, they improve understanding, they breed love and respect, they destroy stereotypesâ&#x20AC;?, Emir Sanusi added. who lost one of his wives, Alhaja Wuraola Shittu, after a brief illness in a London hospital last weekend. Since the news broke, the multi millionaire auto magnate has been a picture of deep-seated desolation and distraught.

Indeed, if money were a language understood by death, the deceased would be alive. But her time was up, as it were. Her remains are being expected in Nigeria in the new week. Regarded as the number one dealer for Mack Trucks in Africa, he once introduced single-digit interest rate finance for its Mack Truck customers nationwide with the view to making acquisition of the trucks easier for them. He was recently in the news when the Senate came under fire for acquiring over N300m vehicles. Lanre Shittu Motors supplied the vehicles. A well known socialite in the South-West and a deep-pocket fan of popular musicians, the deceased was one of his four wives.

WHEN LATE OLOYE OLUSOLA SARAKI CAME ALIVE IN ILORIN

Lanre Shittu

Five years after his demise, Oloye Olusola Saraki, former Senate Leader in the Second Republic and father of Senate President Bukola Saraki, came alive in the blizzard of tributes and prayers offered at a memorial service held in Ilorin, Kwara State, last Tuesday.

The late Oloye, a redoubtable politician and philanthropist, was also the strongman of Kwara politics and had a huge following. Not surprisingly, the

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HIGHLIFE

A Wailing Wailer... Fayoseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Regret at 57 Ëž Ă&#x2122;ĂĄ Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2122; Ă&#x2122;Ă Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153;ËŞĂ? Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă? Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17D;Ă?Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2014;

A

pologies to Femi Adesina, Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari, who once described critics of his principal as wailing wailers; without a scintilla of doubt, Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State falls into that obnoxious category. A rabid, unrestrained and impulsive anti-Buharist, he wears his hunger for attention by attacking Buhariâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s deeds and misdeeds like a badge of honour.

Even when needless, the rambunctious governor must say something to be in the news. It was his birthday days back. And he held a thanksgiving service at Lady Jibowu Hall of the government house in celebration of his 57th birthday. His mother, wife and sons were all present.

So were, predictably, all government appointees and friends. But that is not even the story. In the run up to the 2015 presidential elections, Governor Fayose attracted widespread scorn and infamy for his strident opposition to the candidacy of President Muhammadu Buhari, even going as far as taking paid newspaper pages to suggest that if elected president, Buhari would die in office.

memorial service had a huge turnout of politicians and peasants, Islamic faithful and party followers. Friends and associates of the Sarakis turned out in their numbers in celebration of the man who singlehandedly made his son a two-term governor. The llorin talakawas who regarded him as a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Messiahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; of no mean stature turned out in their hundreds to pray for the repose of the Waziri of Ilorinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s soul.

Unarguably, Oloye Saraki controlled the politics of Kwara State for over 40 years and throughout his sojourn on earth, he was a man who had anawe-inspiring pre-eminence in the

More than two years after, Buhari is still alive and kicking. Yet, Fayose has remained unwavering in his harsh, sometimes childlike criticism of the president. Surprisingly, on his birthday, when asked what his major wish was, he said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;My wishes on my 57th birthday as Ayo Fayose are many but one of them which will interest you is that I wish President Buhariâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s congratulatory call would have woken me up today as one of the governors in the country, as a father of the nation and as a leading opposition figures in the country. A fearless young man who believes that things should be done rightly, to show himself as a father of all, preaching that we must extend love to everybody not only those in his political party.â&#x20AC;? He continued, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The president would have made a difference if he had extended such gesture to others beyond his political party. Such a congratulatory message should have been conveyed through his Minister of Information. I would have loved to either wake up receiving a congratulatory call from him or read it in the papers. But since it is not coming, it is not a big deal to me and I take no political landscape of Nigeria. Until his death, the former Senate leader was like the oak tree on which birds of different shapes, sizes and names perched. His shoulder became a rock to lean on and he provided succour to many hungry mouths through the many jobs that were created. His name was all his medical doctor son, Bukola, needed to become governor of Kwara State in 2003. And he served for two terms of eight years. Bukola has eased into his fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s big shoes as he now oversees Oloyeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s political structures.

It was no mean feat. And the Senate President remains eternally grateful.

In his tribute, he stated, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dear Father, today makes it five years since you left us. Although the years may pass, we still celebrate the legacy of your greatness, goodness, and selflessness.

Your memory remains a blessing to all the lives that you touched. Thank you Baba, we miss you.â&#x20AC;? Born May 17th, 1933, the Saraki patriarch was a successful medical doctor turned politician. He died in November 2012.

Ayo Fayose

offence on it.â&#x20AC;? While saying he is not President Buhariâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s enemy by any stretch of the imagination, Fayose described opposition as the strength of democracy, saying, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Those who criticise your government are not your enemies, they are catalysts to your growth as a government.â&#x20AC;?

Interestingly, this wish, like incredulity and utmost curiosity.

Perhaps one of the most understated billionaires in this clime, Olowolafe was reportedly the sole individual whose construction firm was trusted enough by the Lagos State government under former Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, for construction jobs. And not even the groundswell of complaints by members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Democratic Party (PDP), civil servants, politicians and their cronies to mention a few swayed the governor. Throughout Fasholaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eight years therefore, Olowolafe allegedly

Olusola Saraki

commandeered the juiciest construction contracts notably the Gbagada General Hospital among many others. His tentacles spread across other Nigerian states. But it was in Lagos he made the cleanest sweep.

In spite of his billions however, Olowolafe is a proud tenant in the same city he has made tons of billions!!!

Despite having the wherewithal to buy the luxury serviced maisonette he lives in Probyn Street, Ikoyi, Lagos, he prefers to pay rent. Sources close to the Spartan, self-effacing billionaire say, like his anonymous appearance, he doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like to be noticed, a strategy that might have worked well for him over the years anyway. While not totally colourless, Olowolafe is just one wealthy dude who doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t give a damn about style or material acquisitions.

Seeing him for the first time you will never believe he is the guy that had Lagos in his palms for so many years.

Yet, he is reputed to be richer than his native Ekiti State!

HOW BIMBO ASHIRU GOVERNOSHIP BID RECEIVED A BOOST

THE HUMBLE BILLIONAIRE â&#x20AC;Ś IF OTHER RICH MEN WERE LIKE TUNJI OLOWOLAFE The life of a billionaire is oft befuddling. More often than not, they exhibit weird and wonderful characters that distinguish them from peers. But sometimes, they do things that make them look like the average man in the street. This is why the case of a billionaire construction giant, Tunji Olowolafe, blurs the line between utter

everything Fayose, was met with mockery and outright reprimand. Wife of the Borno State Governor, Mrs. Nana Shettima, retweeted a news article of the story and added, â&#x20AC;&#x153;What goes around, comes around. Keep your circle positive, speak good words, think good thoughts and sow good deeds. Simple reminder.â&#x20AC;?

Tunji Olowolafe

Abimbola Ashiruâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s genius is exhilarating. It has seen him through the odds of entrepreneurship, until he attained mastery of complexity and creative command of simplicity.

He exudes the common core of entrepreneurial depth, tact, and other personal and social abilities which has proven to be the key ingredients of his brilliance and emotional intelligence.

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HIGHLIFE

Class Act: Sujimoto Boss Raises N1bn for Banana Island Project Ëž Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă&#x161;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2122;Ă?Ă&#x161;Ă?Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C;Ă Ă? Ă&#x152;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x17D;Ă? Ă&#x2039; Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2013;Ă? Ă&#x2122;ĂŁĂ?Ă? Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2039; Ă?Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x161;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x161;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x17E;ĂŁ

W

hen the poster boy of Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s real estate industry, Sijibomi Ogundele, otherwise known as Sujimoto, disclosed to a few friends and associates that he would put up a luxury property in Banana Island, Lagos, they didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t doubt him. They know better than that. Over the past couple of years, the boss of Sujimoto Construction has proved cynics wrong by envisioning and executing to applause and awe some of the most talked about luxury properties in Lagos at the moment. Though his idealistic Lorenzo By Sujimoto, reputed to be Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tallest residential building, has become a stillbirth or so HighLife has learnt, the relentless and suave gentleman has not abdicated his resolve to redeďŹ ne the real estate landscape in Nigeria.

It is in furtherance of this that independent sources have conďŹ rmed to us that Sujimoto has raised over N1billion from local investors for a closelyguarded project in Banana The news took a lot of people by surprise. Not because he is not eminently qualified but Otunba Bimbo Ashiru, a technocrat and the Ogun State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, did not give any inkling that he would one day seek to succeed his boss, Senator Ibikunle Amosun. Well, he has thrown his hat in the ring. And during the past week, he got a major boost for his governorship ambition.

He emerged the consensus candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ogun East senatorial district. Ashiru was picked at an Ijebu Ode meeting, last Wednesday, to fly the flag of the party in 2019 by the Ijebu/Remo Governorship Agenda Elders Forum. Ogun State is at the threshold of what could be its sweetest epoch of statesmanship and politics. Following Otunba Bimbo Ashiruâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s endorsement, the nooks, crannies and political circuits of the state are ecstatic with joy.

There is no gainsaying Ashiru is the sweetest thing that ever happened to the state in recent times. A technocrat

Island. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The fact that such a secretive project could raise such a substantial investment completely from local investors has lent credence and conďŹ dence to the viability of the idea and the Nigerian real estate industry,â&#x20AC;? one of the dependable sources said.

Speculated to be a development of luxury terrace houses in the heart of Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most expensive neighbourhood, no amount of prodding would make Sujimoto disclose his plans. Rather, to underscore his joy at the success of the funds raised, he recently took to social media to post a cryptic message; â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The Storm Is Over.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; He went further to cause a viral frenzy when he promised to crown one lucky woman with a mind blowing proposal accompanied by generous gifts of a Rolls Royce Car and a house in Banana Island. For a young businessman who has been harried for his vision, Highlife has gathered that this new venture would go a long way in reinstating public conďŹ dence in him. of note, Ashiru turned the ministry around and improved its fortunes by remarkable leaps courtesy his ingenious business strategies. Thus his emergence as governorship favorite has thrown the gateway state into euphoric fits of pleasure and expectation. Several illustrious sons of Ogun state have cast their lot with him and are openly canvassing for him.

Foremost international magnates, billionaires and politicians have congratulated him and they are ready to throw their weight behind him. Pundits ascribe this to Ashiruâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s brilliance, humility and earnestness in dealings with the electorate, associates and rivals on the political turf. He will battle for the partyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ticket with other aspirants from other zones at the primary.

Apart from a groundswell of support from some of Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wealthiest businessmen who he is acquainted with and are ready to bankroll the ambition of one of their own, Otunba Ashiru is regarded as one of the closest Ijebu sons to the paramount ruler of Ijebuland, the Awujale, Oba Sikiru Adetona. Add to this, his closeness to Governor Amosun who reportedly is fond of and awed by Ashiruâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ingenuity that has shored up the IGR of the state.

FROM LANGTANG TO LAGOS...

CATCH GLO IF YOU CAN Ëž

ËŞ

Bimbo Ashiru

Since telecoms company, Globacom, launched its Glo Everyday Bonanza promo, it has been delighting subscribers from Langtang to Lagos, Aba to Adamawa and everywhere in between. Already, the promo has changed forever the life of Shishi Tanini, an indigene of Takum LGA, Taraba State. Tanini won a brand new Hyundai Accent. The ecstatic Tanini was beaming and bouncing with pride at the headquarters of Globacom in Victoria Island, Lagos. Other subscribers who won flat screen LED TV sets, generators, refrigerators and microwave ovens

Sijibomi Ogundele

also received their prizes same day. A total of 60 power generating sets, 60 refrigerators, 120 microwave ovens and 30 LED television sets were received by excited subscribers at the presentation.

Presentation ceremonies will also be held in 20 cities like Abuja, Ikeja, Lokoja, Asaba, Warri, Onitsha, Owerri, Calabar, among others across Nigeria.

Existing subscribers are required to buy airtime of N100 or more in a day to qualify. Ashok Israni, Globacomâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s regional chief marketing officer, said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;To crown the week-long largesse to its subscribers, Globacom will be giving out a brand new Hyundai Accent to a lucky subscriber every Sunday, making a total of 14 car winners.â&#x20AC;? He said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;All a subscriber needs to do to qualify for these life-impacting prizes is to recharge his or her phone with at least N100 worth of credit. Each N100 credit purchased entitles a subscriber to an entry. So the more recharge a subscriber makes, the more entries he gets and consequently the greater the chance to win quality gifts every day.â&#x20AC;?Predictably, the news of this novel idea has brought many Nigerians out of their shells, with many taking to their preferred social media pages to praise Globacomâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unprecedented and unimaginable magnanimity. From Twitter to Facebook and Instagram, it has been thumbs up galore. A responder to the news in a national newspaper waxed poetic; â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is certainly no excess in surplus as nocturnal and diurnal subscribers to the Globacom network, excite over gifts of data and other interminable perks showered on them by the telecoms provider.

There is no gainsaying Globacom has a capacity for consumer satisfaction so vast that it gives away great chunks to its subscribers in appreciation of their loyalty and patronage.

PATIENCE JONATHAN ROCKS AT IWUANYANWUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S HIGH-OCTANE PARTY Former First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, was among distinguished

guests that stormed the glamorous 75th birthday party of billionaire businessman, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, which held at the International Conference Center, Abuja. As one of Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wealthiest men, it was no surprise that Iwuanyanwu and his 30-year-old wife, Frances, pulled together a colourful array of guests from all walks of life. But the cynosure of all eyes was no doubt Mrs. Jonathan, a veritable newsmaker while her husband reigned in Aso Rock lasted. Seated on the same table with the Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, Mrs. Jonathan wore a permanent smile as virtually everybody in the audience wanted a word or a photo opportunity with her. She obliged all while taking time to enjoy the sumptuous entertainment around her. Typically bedecked in shimmering jewellery, she did not betray the emotion of someone whose bank account with a few millions of dollars in deposit was frozen by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Patience Jonathan

Sunday November 19, 2017

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Price: N400

MISSILE Falana to Nigerians “If our looters are not divided on the table of ethnicity, nothing will happen ... the (anti-graft) war now is just a tip of the real iceberg; there is still money to be recovered.”

– Senior Advocate of Nigeria Femi Falana speaking on the challenges facing the anti-graft war of the President Muhammadu Buhari government

SIMONKOLAWOLE SIMONKOLAWOLELIVE!

simon.kolawole@thisdaylive.com, sms: 0805 500 1961

So Many Things to Reform

I

n my primary four, the Yoruba text book we read was ‘Kola ati Kemi’ — a series of short stories depicting the “adventures” of two siblings: Kola and Kemi. Kola was the crafty one while his sister, Kemi, was the clever one.

One day, Kola and Kemi followed their father to the farm. As they played around the farm, Kemi would announce: “Daddy, I found a snail!” And the father would reply: “Well done, my daughter.” Kola, not to be outdone, would also announce: “Daddy, I’ve found a snail!” And the father would reply: “Good job, my son.” It became a healthy competition as they went on picking snail after snail while their father kept himself busy cultivating the land.

They left for home and it was soon dinner time. So the father announced: “For your dinner tonight, you will eat the snails that you picked on the farm.” As it turned out, Kola did not pick any snail — he was just deceiving himself in order to keep up with his sister. Kemi had plenty snails and had a good dinner. When the true story came to their father’s attention, he said something like: “If you planted one hundred ridges of yam and claim it is two hundred, after eating one hundred yams, you will eat another one hundred lies.” In Nigeria, we have perfected a way of living on lies, cooking the books, dancing with the digits, and whitewashing the sepulchres. Whom are we deceiving but ourselves?

One of the biggest scandals rocking our education system is the yearly competition for the best-performing state in WAEC (I will leave that of the “best university” out of this discussion for sanity sake). As a result, many state governments give school principals the marching order to make sure the students pass very well. So the school authorities will, like Kola, game the system. They will aid and abet cheating. They will bribe invigilators and supervisors. The students will come out in “flying colours” and the state will get good ratings in WAEC. But states where things are done more decently will seem to perform poorly on the WAEC table. In the end, who is deceiving who?

A positive thing coming out of the controversy over the recent “competency test” conducted

by Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, the governor of Kaduna state, is that we are now having a sustained conversation around the quality of instruction in our schools. For too long, our attention has been more on the quality of infrastructure. We often complain about leaking roofs and dilapidated classrooms.

Politicians and their allies have made billions of naira from contracts to build schools, but the quality of teaching has not improved in billions. You can have a classroom that looks like a five-star hotel, but what are the pupils learning? That is what counts the most.

I have read a number of comments on the Kaduna issue that caught my attention. One is that a competency test can only be legally conducted by the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN). And since we claim to be operating a constitutional democracy, then we have to follow the law. You can hardly argue against this position if you believe in the rule of law. However, the teachers that were tested

by Kaduna state all have certificates from the same TRCN legally proclaiming them as “qualified”. And then you will turn to the same TRCN to assess them? What is the likely outcome? So whom are we deceiving

El-Rufai but ourselves?

How do people get certified in Nigeria today? How did you get your driving licence?

Did you go to a driving school? Did you do a driving test? Did you read the laws and regulations of driving? Do you understand the road signs around you? Do you know who should give way at a roundabout? If your answer to all these questions is “yes”, you deserve a national honour. I know many people who have driving licences but are yet to learn driving. I kid you not. With just N20,000, you can get a driving licence in Nigeria and hit the road. I don’t know how much it costs to get a TRCN “qualified teacher” certification, but you can buy it even if you can’t spell “teacher” correctly.

I also noted the argument about the “validity and reliability” of the test. It is an extension of the legality argument. I support things being done properly, I should say, but I am just curious: if you cannot spell “Donald Trump”, does it matter who is conducting the test? Would you be able to spell the name of the eccentric American president only if the test was conducted by TRCN and not by a consultant? I don’t get the argument, but I will let it pass. It is also argued that a civil servant may not be able to sing the national anthem but that does not mean he or she is unpatriotic. Beautiful analogy. But it still breaks down at some point: the national anthem is a competency test.

The officials of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) said the leaked scripts were not those of the teachers. They were filled by el-Rufai’s aides to ridicule the teachers, they said. In other words, the teachers are not that bad: el-Rufai is only calling a dog a bad name in order to hang it. Really? Do the NUT officials currently have their children in public schools? If so, are they happy with the quality of instruction their children are receiving there? Would the NUT officials please withdraw and enrol their children in public schools to prove their point, to put their money where their mouths are? It is very easy to pursue that line of argument when your own children are schooling at Corona.

For those of us who believe that the teachers are as bad as the test results showed, the next question is: what should be done? Sack them and recruit new ones — as el-Rufai wants to do? Re-train them? An interesting recommendation coming from the debate is the need to re-train the teachers. Some think that with an intensive course of about nine months, these teachers will learn to differentiate between a triangle and a square. This is a very optimistic suggestion. I wish I could be this generous. What experience has shown, though, is that while there will be those who can be still be salvaged, the majority may be unserviceable and, thus, unsuitable for teaching.

No matter the criticism of el-Rufai, we have someone who is not just worried about the quality of education but is determined to do something about it. All the governors must address this issue. We live in a society where politics colours everything and where labour unions are so powerful they can stop the rain from falling, but after the fire and the brimstone, it is very important to keep asking the question: is this how things should be?

Can we maintain the status quo and expect a turn-around? Can we ever make a fundamental change by papering over the cracks? Can we make omelette without breaking eggs? Can we cleanse the education sector without a major surgery?

The biggest headache for me, though, is that there are so many things to reform about Nigerian institutions. The bureaucracy is sick and weak — no thanks to corruption. You bribe to get certified as a teacher. You bribe to get certified as a nurse. You bribe to get certified as a driver. You bribe to get your uniform as a police officer. You bribe police to investigate the theft of your car. You bribe to get university admission. You bribe to pass your exams. You bribe to graduate. Bribe makes way for everything in Nigeria, and the teaching profession is just a victim of the system. We can’t move forward under this rigged system. If the foundation be destroyed, what can the righteous do?

President Muhammadu Buhari last week backed the strategic education plan of Mallam Adamu Adamu, the minister of education. It’s a well-articulated plan. But, as we all know by now, it takes more than a plan. It takes more than a vision. It takes more than a man.

All hands must be on deck. The institutions and human beings to actualise the vision have to be on the same page. Unfortunately, most unfortunately, Nigeria is such a warped society that when you think about reforming a critical sector like education, the only thing some people can see is money. The unions are there to put a spanner in the wheel, in any case. Who really cares about any vision?

Let’s be honest: if the TRCN were driven by a vision and were doing such a great job, the complaint we would have about our schools would be the infrastructure, not the teaching. All sorts of characters, both literate and illiterate, are certified as “qualified teachers”. I can say confidently that I was well taught in my primary school, even if we didn’t have great toilets or cushioned chairs.

Over the decades, everything has gone on sale. Everything has a price. That is why we keep rigging the figures. We keep deceiving ourselves that things are improving when they are not. After eating one hundred yams, we will feast on another one hundred lies — like Kola (no relation).

And Four Other Things…

NEW CUSTOM Just when you see and hear things that should make you finally give up on Nigeria, a light suddenly flashes in the darkness. I was so encouraged by the testimony of a Customs officer in court on Thursday on the illegally imported 661 pump action rifles. Abdullahi Muhammad said he was offered a bribe of N8 million but he turned it down — and his supervisor fully supported him. Oh my God! In Nigeria? How many Customs officers would do that? In a country where, for filthy lucre, fake and substandard drugs — including life-saving insulin and antibiotics — easily pass through Customs, this inspires some optimism about Nigeria. Maybe we are not genetically corrupt, after all. Hope.

BUHARI KWENU! President Muhammadu Buhari did what some called a “soft launch” of his 2019 re-election bid last week in the south-east, which is clearly the bastion of opposition to his government. He was received by the politicians and the traditional rulers. He was hosted to a banquet. He was even decorated with chieftaincy titles. Was this for real? Was it meant for the cameras? Is he genuinely wooing them? Are they genuinely responding to his touch? Are they faking it? Most crucially, are the Igbo elite and the people on the same page? In all honesty, it is difficult to know the fruits his overtures will produce, but I think there is a long way to go in winning them over. Dicey.

PEACEFUL POLL It was heart-warming that the Anambra state governorship election went on smoothly on Saturday. I had my fears. The IPOB threat was there, and with allegations that the APC was hell-bent on taking the state to please President Buhari, I was wondering if we were not about to reverse the gains of previous elections. I wondered if we would not need a massive deployment of soldiers to reinforce security. When police withdrew Governor Willie Obiano’s security aides a few days to the D-Day, I almost gave up. You can now understand my relief that it went without any major incident and the turn-out was good.

At least we should be able to get something right in this country. Progress.

MUGABE MISERY How much is too much? President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe has always carried on as if he can do and undo. His actions and decisions go unchallenged by his subjects. Slammed with a hefty hammer by the West since 1990 over his insistence on implementing agreements with the colonialists to cede land to blacks, Mugabe has watched his country wither like herb but he would rather eat grass than backtrack. He has not helped himself with a series of rash and selfish decisions that have worsened his country’s economic and political fortunes.

Removing his VP to pave the way for his wife as his successor appears to be the final straw leading to a military intervention. Snookered.

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