Sunday 31st December 2017

NEITI: Nigeria Earned $268bn from Oil in Five Years Says NNPC’s inconsistent pricing method caused $90m loss in 2015 Chineme Okafor in Abuja Between 2011 and 2015, which represented an auditing period of five years, Nigeria earned a total of $268.8

billion from mining and sales of oil and gas from her fields in the Niger Delta, Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has said.

According to NEITI, which disclosed this in its 2015 oil and gas audit report, released last Friday in Abuja, in 2011, Nigeria made $68,442,328 billion from oil sales, and

earned $62,944,356 billion in 2012, recording about eight per cent drop, and another $58,079,681 billion in 2013 with a similar eight per cent drop.

In 2014, the report said Nigeria earned $54,555,279 billion and recorded a six per cent drop in oil revenue, while in 2015, it earned $24,791,173 billion but recorded the

highest drop in revenue by 55 per cent. All the earnings, the report noted, amounted to $268,812,817 billion.

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FG Appoints Medview to Evacuate Nigerians Stranded in Libya… Page 83 Sunday 31 December, 2017 Vol 22. No 8291

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I Have Not Forgotten Remaining Chibok Girls, Buhari Reassures Victims’ Families Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri President Muhammadu Buhari said yesterday that he had not forgotten the remaining 113 schoolgirls from Chibok in Borno State still held by Boko Haram insurgents. Buhari made the declaration through the senator for Borno South senatorial district, Senator Mohammed Ndume, at a gathering in Chibok. The president regretted the circumstances under which the girls were abducted, but stressed that he had never felt comfortable with them in captivity.

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ROYAL RECOGNITION… Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, and his wife, Betty Anyanwu - Akeredolu, flanked by their children shortly after the installation of Mrs. Akeredolu as the Ada Emeabiam II of Emeabiam in Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State weekend

Boards’ List Compiled in 2015, Submitted 2016, Says Presidency PDP: Deceased persons on list confirms APC govt’s incompetence release of appointments as promise kept Omololu Ogunmade, Olawale Ajimotokan and Onyebuchi Ezeigbo in Abuja Following the inclusion

of the names of dead persons on the list of board appointments released by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the

Federation on Friday, the Presidentcy yesterday attributed the development to the fact that the list was compiled in 2015.

In a telephone conversation with THISDAY, Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity,

Ruling party lauds

Malam Garba Shehu, said the names of the deceased had been compiled before their demise, insisting that there is nothing scandalous

in the development.

He said names of dead persons would be expunged.

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ÍťÍšËœ 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 I HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN REMAINING CHIBOK GIRLS, BUHARI REASSURES VICTIMS’ FAMILIES Boko Haram abducted 276 girls from Government Secondary School, Chibok, on the night of April 14, 2014 in controversial circumstances that have been blamed on the military authorities protecting the Boko Haram-ravaged state.

The girls were preparing to write the West African Senior School Certificate Examination.

Fifty-seven of the abducted girls escaped, three were later found, while 103 were released under allegedly negotiated arrangements.

Nineteen parents of the victims are said to have died so far.

One hundred and thirteen of the schoolgirls are still held

by Boko Haram in unknown locations.

Addressing the people of Chibok on behalf of Buhari, Ndume said, “I’m here to visit my constituency to convey a message from President Muhammadu Buhari, who sent me to tell you of his administration’s determination to end the insurgency threatening peaceful co-existence. “The president assures you that the abducted Chibok girls still being held by Boko Haram are still on his mind. There were some lapses in the first phase of negotiation that led to the release of the other

girls. The president restates his commitment to ensure release of the remaining girls still in captivity. “The president equally directed me to tell you that he had wished to visit Chibok and see things for himself, but because of his tight schedule, he is unable to do so. But he said his mind is always with you, he feels your pains and cries over the inability to secure the release of your daughters.�

Ndume said Buhari also implored the community to engage in massive commercial agriculture to boost their incomes.

In an interview with

journalists, the chairman of the Abducted Chibok Girls Parents’ Movement for Rescue, Malam Yakubu Nkeki, expressed delight at the president’s assurance to secure the freedom of the remaining kidnapped girls. Nkeki thanked the president for his concern, determination, and display of solidarity with the victims’ families. He assured the president of the support and cooperation of the parents of the abducted girls and the entire community in the on-going counter-insurgency operations.

The abduction by the militant Islamist group had

sparked one of the biggest global social media campaigns, with tweeters using the hashtag #BringBackOurGirls.

Fifty-seven of the schoolgirls managed to escape over the next few months of their kidnap. In May 2016, one of the missing girls, Amina Ali, was found. She claimed that the remaining girls were alive and six had died. A second girl was discovered later in the week, but there were doubts about her identity.

Twenty-one more girls were freed by Boko Haram in October 2016, while another was rescued the next month.

Another girl was found in

January this year, and 82 more girls were freed in May. Last week, the American business-focused international daily newspaper, Wall Street Journal, reported that 13 of the remaining Chibok schoolgirls in captivity had died in the insurgents’ custody due to hunger, sickness, and snake bites. “Of the remaining 113, at least 13 have died, officials say. Some were felled by malaria, hunger or a snake bite,� the WSJ report said. “The majority died in airstrikes. Among those forcibly married to fighters, at least two died in childbirth.�

drawing the list, as the names were compiled and processed by the former SGF Babachir Lawal and, later Mrs Habibat Lawal, who acted as the SGF, when Babachir Lawal was suspended and eventually indicted by a probe panel, leading to his sack, following the saga over the North- east IDP camp contract award.

Mrs. Lawal, who has since reverted to her status as the Permanent Secretary Ecological Funds Office at OSGF, only handed over to Mustapha in October this year as the substantive SGF. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has however described as an unpardonable national embarrassment, the appointment of deceased persons as members of various federal boards by the Buhariled APC administration.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, in a statement said the development had further confirmed PDP's position that the APC administration was completely confused, disorganised and grossly incompetent, adding that Nigerians can now see the level of recklessness and shoddiness inherent in the management of the nation under the APC. The party noted that the situation had further exposed why the nation’s economy had been in shambles under the APC and wondered how a government which cannot tidy up a routine issue of board appointment for over two years can successfully take on complex issues of governance.

Ologbondiyan stated, "Nigerians can now see why the nation’s economy has been in shambles in the last two years. When we say that this government is completely inept, some Nigerians did not know to which level, but now they do.

"This inability to tidy up

a simple issue of list of 209 appointees has completely exposed the extent the APC government is bereft of simple organisational skills to manage a country like Nigeria, which is in dire need of development.

"How on earth can a government that cannot compile a common list handle intricate issues of national planning and budgeting; issues of health, education, aviation, agriculture, infrastructure and management of the huge civil service?

"How can they possibly initiate and successfully implement national and international instruments for national development in today's competitive world?

"This also explains why nothing has been working under the APC government.

Furthermore, the mix up in the list also exposes the corruption in the APC government.

"The fact is that the government of our dear country has been in wrong hands in the last two years and the situation will continue to worsen unless the nation is rescued from them in 2019.�

On its part, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) said the appointments fell short of expectations.

APGA's national chairman, Chief Victor Oye, who spoke to THISDAY yesterday on telephone, said the target goal of such appointments which is to bring persons with capacity to crystallise development had been neglected.

Oye said, "The essence of the appointments to the boards is to crystallise development in the country and to ensure that the machinery of government is moving fine. They are expected to bring in new life, new ideas into the system. But when you bring in dead wood into the system, they would not be able to add value to the system.

"As far as we are concerned

the appointment is fraught with irregularities and we call on the federal government to redo the list and come up with men and women of integrity to be able to man such offices.

"The era of mediocrity should give way to quality representation. APGA frowns on the development and hopes that the president will take a dispassionate look at the matter and ensure that the proper thing is done."

But APC saw the release of the list as a promise kept by Buhari. The party said although it had not had time to study the list of those appointed into the boards, it believed that by approving the appointments, Buhari had finally kept the promise earlier made to party stakeholders.

National Publicity Secretary of APC, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, who spoke to THISDAY by telephone yesterday said, "As a party we have not had time to look at the details of the board appointments, nonetheless, we are happy that it has finally come as promised by the president.

"Party members from across the county are being given the desired recognition and they are finally going to have the opportunity to be part of the government. The president promised at the last National Executive Committee meeting of the party that he would release these appointments. What it means is that he kept his words. So for that we thank the president.�

On the criticisms that the appointments were not meticulously done and that some of the persons that made the list ought not to be there, the APC spokesman said the party would take time to study the list and make appropriate representations to Buhari.

and 8.74million barrels (or 5.6 per cent) were sent to the three refineries owned and operated by the NNPC. NEITI said that eight entities in the sector - Shoreline Natural Resources, Neconde Energy, ND Western, Platform, Newcross, Elcrest, ORIENTAL, and NDPR were granted tax holidays for five straight years instead of the normal three years at first instance, and thereafter additional two years after satisfying conditions set by the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) for the first grant. This, it noted, would lead to revenue loss for

the country.

The audit further established that there was an outstanding liability of $65,574,833.37 for royalty on gas counting against eight covered companies and which include Eroton, Chevron, AITEO, SNEPCO, Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), Frontier, Pan-Ocean and SEPLAT. The outstanding liability for royalty on oil, it explained, was $393,756,482, which was as a result of under assessment or late payment.

The report revealed that the Niger Delta Development

Commission (NDDC) got a total of $345,390,279, as statutory contributions from the covered entities for the year under review, but there was an unreconciled sum of N175, 000,000 or $890,902 being payment made by Sterling Oil Exploration which could not be traced to NDDC’s bank account.

NEITI informed that the audit report was approved by its National Stakeholders Working Group (NSWG) chaired by the Minister for Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, while an indigenous audit firm, Haruna Yahaya & Co. carried out the audit exercise.

BOARDS’ LIST COMPILED IN 2015, SUBMITTED 2016, SAYS PRESIDENCY Nigerians have continued to express repugnance after it was discovered that at least five of the appointees were dead. There is also grumbling within the ruling All Progressives Congress because some of the appointees had defected to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party.

One of the dead appointees was the former Director Mass Mobilisation for Self Reliance, Social Justice and Economic Recovery (MAMSER), Sokoto State, Alhaji Umar Dange.

Dange, from Sokoto State, was appointed a member of the Federal Medical Centre, Ebutte Meta, Lagos.

Another dead man who also made it to the board is Francis Okpozo, a Second Republic Senator from Delta State.

Ironically, the government that wrote a condolence letter to Okpozo’s family when he died in 2016 at a private hospital in Benin City, appointed him chairman of the Nigerian Press Council.

A former Deputy Inspector General of Police Donald Ugbaja, who died some weeks ago, was appointed into the board of of the Consumer Protection Council.

A fourth person, Christopher Utov, was appointed board member of the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research.

He is believed to be the same person as a Catholic priest from Benue State that died in March last year. The fifth controversial appointee said to have also died is Garba Attahiru from Kaduna State.

Shehu who said he was not in a position to state whether the list would be reviewed or not, added that what was clear was that the names of dead persons on the list would be removed.

He pointed out that people raising other issues over the list were entitled to their opinions.

"If people are dead, their names will be removed. People can hold opinions. This is a political environment. People are entitled to their opinions,"

Shehu said.

Explaining how names of dead persons got to the list, Shehu said the list was not new but had been in existence since 2015.

According to him, at the commencement of the preparation for compilation of the list, the president asked leaders of his party to forward names of prospective appointees to the party headquarters.

The list, he added, was later forwarded to the then Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, whom he said submitted the list to the president in October 2016.

The presidential spokesman further explained that upon the submission of the list to the president by the former SGF, it became a subject of dispute as governors said they were not carried along during its compilation.

He said the dispute over the list prompted the president to constitute a fresh committee led

by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to review the list in collaboration with governors.

Shehu said when the Osinbajoled committee finished the review, the president was not available as a result of his ill health, pointing out that now that the president has fully recovered, he simply asked the new SGF, Boss Mustapha, to release the list.

Insisting that there was nothing scandalous about the list, Shehu said death is a call of nature which can happen anytime, observing that it is not impossible for some of the appointees who are alive today to also pass on before inauguration.

"The list is an old list. It was compiled in 2015. The president asked party leaders to forward names. So, names were forwarded to the headquarters.

The list was to pass through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

"The then SGF, Babachir Lawal, then submitted the list in October 2016. But the list was disputed. Governors said they were not carried along. So, another committee was set up to review the list.

The president asked the vice president to review the list along with governors. They finished the review.

"But when the reviewed list was ready, the president had his health challenges. Now, the president is fully okay. So, he asked the SGF to release the list.

There is nothing scandalous about it. Before their inauguration, don't be surprised, some of those on the list now, may die. It is nature's call," he explained.

The Office of Secretary of Government of the Federation (OSGF) however maintained tight lips on the controversy trailing some of the key appointments into the boards of the federal agencies and departments.

Workers at OSGF offered no clues when THISDAY sought clarifications about the circumstances under which names of dead individuals were included among the 209 board chairmen and 1,258 board members appointed into federal government parastatals.

Some of them said they were in no position to make explanation because the file on the appointment did not pass through them.

A statement issued by the SGF Boss Mustapha on Friday said the president considered the approval for the constitution of the boards as well as the appointments, very necessary to provide proper governance and oversight structure for government agencies and parastatals.

The appointments were with immediate effect and respective ministers were to inaugurate the boards after letters of appointment had been issued.

THISDAY checks revealed that Mustapha made little inputs into

See full list of board appointments on www.thisdaylive.com

NEITI: NIGERIA EARNED $268BN FROM OIL IN FIVE YEARS The audit report pointed out that oil revenues earned by the country within these periods recorded some steady percentage decline from about eight per cent in 2011 to 55 per cent in 2015.

These, it explained, were occasioned by drastic reduction in the unit price of crude oil in the global market from $101.91 per barrel in 2014 to $52.16 in 2015.

Similarly, the NEITI report, which highlighted some operational anomalies in the industry, explained that due to an inconsistent pricing methodology adopted by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)

in its sales of Nigeria’s domestic crude oil share and remittance of revenue from same to an appropriate account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the nation lost about $90.176 million.

It explained: “At the point of remittance into the CBN-NNPC domestic crude oil (Naira) accounts by NNPC, NNPC based remittance on another valuation report that used a revised pricing option, which was often lower than the initial valuation. “By implication, the pricing methodology was not consistently applied, leading to a revenue loss of $90.176 million. Therefore,

Nigeria failed to realise revenues from crude sales in a manner consistent with market conditions with respect to sales to NNPC and its subsidiaries.�

Also, it noted that about 153.92 million barrels (mb) of crude oil were allocated for domestic consumption at an established rate of 445,000 barrels per day (bd), and within which 56.11million barrels (or 37 per cent) were exported by the Pipeline and Products Marketing Company (PPMC) of the NNPC, while 89million barrels (or 57 per cent) were utilised in the defunct Offshore Processing Arrangement (OPA)

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DECEMBER 31, 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

LIBERIA: THE PLAYER AS PRESIDENT George Weah, former football star, is President–elect of Liberia

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he presidential election victory of Mr. George Opong Weah in Liberia must go beyond the adulation of his countrymen and women as spectators in a football contest. The Presidency in today’s Liberia carries a huge historical and political burden. We are dealing with one of the world’s poorest countries that had borne more than its fair share of the calamities of the late 20th and early 21st century. In many respects therefore, Weah has his job as the 25th president of Liberia well defined.

Ruined by a series of civil wars unleashed by the greed of plain megalomaniacs who masqueraded as leaders and ravaged by some of the worst epidemics-Ebolain human history, Liberia has in the past 12 years relied on the steady hands of Ms Ellen Sirleaf Johnson to pick up the pieces. But now set to replace Africa’s first female head of state, economist and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Weah’s inauguration would be the first time power was transferred from one democratically elected government to another in Liberia. Inherent in his victory therefore is the challenge to deepen the gains of democracy.

While Weah can bring his star power to carry the masses along in tackling the lingering immense socio-economic problems in Liberia, only a mix of that star power and the legacy of tested statesmanship of his immediate predecessor can guarantee a consolidation of the modest gains of the past decade. It will not be easy but we believe Weah is now more prepared than he was 12 years ago when he first contested for the office.

A former Liberian international, Weah played for Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain (France), AC Milan (Italy), Chelsea and Manchester City (England) before returning to France with Marseille. Named African Footballer of the Year three times and to date the only African to be named FIFA World Player of the Year, Weah is also the only African player to win the coveted Ballon d’Or in the same season he also won the UEFA Champions League Top Scorer award. In the course of his illustrious career, Weah won Coupe de France, Ligue1, Coupe de la Ligue, Serie A title, English FA Cup, among several other laurels.

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His illustrious career as a star footballer uniquely equips him to appeal politically to the youthful majority and cultivate a new generation of Liberians who will obviously look at the past of the country with horror and insist: NEVER AGAIN!

Letters to the Editor

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

hat is, however, remarkable about Weah is his political trajectory. In the first post-war election in 2005, Weah, at age 39, ran for the presidency on the platform of the Congress for Democratic Change and while he was popular with the masses, his lack of formal education counted against him, especially as his opponent was a Harvard-educated former Finance Minister. Although Weah led in the first ballot, he was defeated in the run-off by Sirleaf who had the support of most African leaders who were wary of electing a footballer with little education to run Liberia at such a critical period.

Following that experience, Weah went to school; first to obtain his school certificate in 2006 at age 40 which then qualified him to seek university education in the United States. He obtained his first degree in 2011 and his masters two years later in 2013. With that, Weah contested for a Senate seat in 2014 and won. Today, he is the president-elect.

The moral of his political trajectory is that those who will succeed must also be prepared to selfimprove.

Meanwhile, leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) need to support Weah so he can also score goals of progress and stability for Liberia as president.

ECOWAS needs a stable Liberia to thrive. It cost the sub regional group enormous expense in human lives and financial terms to guarantee the modest recovery that created the atmosphere for democracy to produce peaceful change in Liberia.

While we therefore congratulate Weah and wish him all the best in his new assignment, the Liberian president-elect must be guided by a determination to avoid the ugly past of his country and instead embark on a transformative leadership.

His illustrious career as a star footballer uniquely equips him to appeal politically to the youthful majority and cultivate a new generation of Liberians who will obviously look at the past of the country with horror and insist: NEVER AGAIN!

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.

OBIANO AND THE ANAMBRA DREAM

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ince the governorship election in Anambra State was won and lost not much in terms of the discussion still dominates public discourse. Everybody appears to have moved on. Both the winner and the losers have since adjusted to the reality of the time. The state has also adjusted to the continuity train and shut its doors firmly against possible abandoned projects.

But for occasional rumour seeping through the mills, that chapter of the state history was closed on November 8, 2017. The day the people of Anambra decided. Nobody has since contested the election. None protested the dominance of the winner- the plurality of his votes. The victory run of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the 21 of 21 local government areas of the state was a major surprise to everybody. It has since been muted in discussion

just as the margin of victory. Neither the spread nor the plurality of votes was bettered in the history of the state.

For the first time, the idea of APGA as a collective trust was established. The nkea bu nke anyi mantra became a big pay-off. But more than that, good governance was chosen over and above any manner of gamble with the unknown. The victory was an endorsement of the achievements of the Willie Obiano government hitherto excoriated on the social media by paid agents.

Ndi Anambra remembered how safe they were since the Obiano government. Civil servants among them remembered the relief of prompt payment of salaries, pensions and emoluments amidst whining in most states. Community dwellers remembered how their lives were touched through communities’ choose-your-project initiative of the government. The physically

challenged, the poor and others on the wrong side of life remembered how their burden was lightened and the meaning of life redefined by the government. The man in the street remembers with nostalgia the illumination of his street previously in pitch darkness. Residents of Awka who were witnessing the transformation of the town into a capital city for the first time spurned any idea of change. The petty trader in the market relieved of the burden of taxation vowed to walk his talk. Pupils, students and their teachers decided against partisanship and voted for continued improvement in their academic environment. Beneficiaries of the improved agriculture in the state, those who gained employment in the many integrated farms and others who sourced food items from them worked hard to return the government. All those made Governor Obiano’s victory seem a

win in a walk.

However, not everyone appreciated the achievements to the extent of wishing the government reelected. And that is the beauty of democracy. It allows for diverse interest and its lawful protection. Those who saw differently and voted according to their conscience had their say. But in the end the views of greater majority of the people prevailed. The people spoke loud and clear. With greater mandate they asked the governor to continue with his good work.

To his glory, not one of the losers among the sea of contestants had challenged his victory in court. Every one of them, in the spirit of sportsmanship, and for the greater love of the state, has decided against contesting the popular decision. This is perhaps the first of its kind since the governorship elections in the state. Apart from the fact that the governor had extended a hand of fellowship to other contestants, urging them to greater task of developing the state, good reason also prevailed. The amount of money the state would have saved this time

by not contesting the victory at the tribunal can only be imagined. Anambra remains one of the few states with a history of convoluted post-election cases. Often the story would not end alone with loss of huge capital from the state it sometimes elicited one type of drama or another.

But for the mischief of the social media all the bad-tempered responses of the past would be forgotten. The internet imps who could not deter the good cause on 18th of November through malicious lies have regrouped to attempt straining the relationship between the governor and the president. Nothing could be more mischievous than ascribing the idea of a presidential ambition to the governor whose passion for Anambra in the next four years is undiluted. Not once since he won the election did he make it clear that his passion for the development of the state is a consuming one.

–– Rowland Odegbo, Aborgu 11 of Nteje.

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OPINION Weah And The Future of Liberia Can the former soccer star make a dierence? Tayo Ogunbiyi asks

I

t is now official. The 1995 World Footballer of the Year, George Weah, has been declared winner of the just concluded Liberia’s presidential election. It will be recalled that Weah topped the first round of voting earlier in October but did not secure the 50 per cent majority needed to win outright, thus necessitating a runoff.

According to the chairperson of Liberia’s National Electoral Commission, Jerome Kokoya, Weah won 61.5 per cent of the total vote as well as 14 out of the country’s 15 counties.

With this development, Weah, a serving senator from the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) whose main opponent in the election was 73 years old Vice-President Joseph Boakai of the ruling Unity Party, is set to replace President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who is stepping down after the constitutionally mandated two terms of 12 years. This is the nation’s first democratic transition since 1944 and Weah is poised to be the 25th president of the country.

Weah’s victory was a product of multifaceted intrigues.

His running mate was Senator Jewel Howard-Taylor, ex-wife of former President Charles Taylor, who sparked Liberia’s civil war in 1989 and is currently serving a 50-year prison sentence in Britain for his role in war crimes in Sierra Leone. Despite his incarceration in faraway Britain, Taylor is reportedly still having huge supporters in Liberia and this is partly responsible for Weah’s winning of key counties in the first round of voting.

Aside the Taylor’s connection, Weah’s popularity with the youth was also a strong factor in his electoral victory. Some 70 per cent of Liberian population is under 35 and they formed the army of his fanatic supporters. Weah, 51, has a lot of support among the youth who strongly believe in him and his change agenda. Being a former international footballer who has committed a vast proportion of his personal fortune to the development of his nation and her extremely impoverished citizenry, Weah’s acceptance among the youth is simply electrifying. The spontaneous euphoria that greeted his announcement as President-elect is a demonstration of his widespread acceptance by his countrymen.

The country’s battered economy equally made Weah’s change campaign an exciting proposition. Liberia is one of the world’s poorest countries and Weah had vigorously run his campaign on the premise of engendering accelerated economic growth.

And since he is widely seen as an anti-establishment candidate, many believe that he is the right man to turn things around for the poor West African country that had been variously raped by greedy and corrupt leadership.

Equally, Weah had become more mature politically since he was beaten by Sirleaf Johnson in the 2006 presidential runoff.

Weah had learnt the rope and this is quite evident in the various alliances he was able to garner in the latest election.

He has become more politically educated to make calculated decisions that have significant electoral consequences. It is clearly a reflection of Weah’s political development over the years that he was able to beat the vastly experienced Joseph Boakai and the ruling party.

Now that Weah has been declared victorious, the fear of many analysts is whether his main opponent, Boakai, and the ruling Unity Party will actually accept the electoral verdict and give peace a chance. Outgoing President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s tenure as Liberia’s president ended decades of bitter conflict and civil war in the country and it is hoped that the relative peace that has been achieved during her reign would not be

Weah must be ready to come up with creative strategies through which the fortune of the country’s economy could be positively transformed

frittered away through selfish ambition and unpatriotic tendencies.

If there is anything that Liberia can really do without now, it is another round of needless acrimonious actions that could draw the nation back into avoidable crisis. It is hoped that major stakeholders in the country as well as the international community will mutually work together to ensure that the nation’s interest is well safeguarded far above personal concerns. This is why the United Nations’ recent deployment of former President Olusegun Obasanjo to help in the county’s transition process is a welcome development.

Now, what should be considered paramount is what the future holds for Liberia in the immediate post Sirleaf Johnson era. Liberia had passed through so much trouble and crisis that it cannot afford to slide into anarchy once again. It will be recalled that the outbreak of Ebola virus in the West African country between 2014 and 2016 left her in a rather devastating state as it accounted for the death of thousands of both young and old people.

Apart from the Ebola epidemic, the country’s economy is almost in ruin, thanks to years of highly destructive civil war. Being a profoundly bi- product economy, the drop in prices for rubber and iron ore, her main export commodities, has sharply affected the country’s economy. Despite attaining much peace in her 12 years in the saddle, the country’s economy hasn’t really fared better under incumbent Sirleaf Johnson. The county has made slow progress on jobs, education, rural development, healthcare and attracting foreign direct investment. Equally, infrastructure across the country remains quite in a deplorable state.

Therefore, whenever he is eventually sworn in as the country’s next President, George Weah and his team must be prepared to tackle an economy that is already tattered by lower commodity prices and a rapidly depreciating currency as well as living standards that remain among the worst in the world. They must be ready to come up with creative strategies through which the fortune of the country’s economy could be positively transformed. –––Ogunbiyi wrote from Lagos.

The Controversial $1B Insurgency Fund Adewale Kupoluyi writes that the money should be used wisely

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ontroversy has continued to trail the recent disclosure by the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Abdulaziz Yari that state governors in the country had asked the federal government to withdraw $1bn from the Excess Crude Account (ECA) to fight insurgency in the North-east. The decision was recently taken at the Federal Executive Council meeting, presided over

by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Justifying the decision, Osinbajo said that the $1bn was not meant for the fight against insurgency alone. He said the sum was meant for all security challenges being experienced in states of the federation. The vice-president explained that state governors had agreed to approve the money for the nation’s security challenges such as armed robbery, kidnapping, small arms trafficking, Boko Haram terrorists’ activities, clashes between herdsmen and farmers as well as cattle rustling, among others.

No doubt, a just, fair and equitable mobilisation and allocation of economic resources is fundamental to national stability, hence, if a tier/arm of government state is given a direct constitutional responsibility, it should ordinarily receive commensurate means and resources to perform. Unfortunately, the current system of funding seems to be unsustainable for development such that the central government assumes an all-powerful position by appropriating substantial part of the nation’s resources to itself and leaving behind only meagre and peanuts for the states and local governments; running contrary to the dictates of true federalism that appreciates a reasonable level of autonomy to the federating units. It is for these reasons that revenue allocation has remained one of the major areas of controversy in Nigeria’s federalism.

The major argument supporting the administration of ECA is that it was designed to save Nigeria for the rainy day when income levels are low to keep the nation going. The importance of saving funds for future use is expected of any responsible person or corporate organisation, government inclusive.

However, the way and manner ECA has been managed in the country has been decried thus questioning the credibility of the account. According to the National Resource Governance Institute, Nigeria’s Excess Crude Account, is one of the most poorly-managed portfolios around the world. Similarly, the Nigerian Senate, in a show of disapproval, recently passed a resolution abolishing the account, arguing that the ECA was alien to the constitution or any known law in the country.

A cross-section of Nigerians has reacted both in favour and against the decision to use $1 billion for insurgency. For those who support the idea, it is a way of providing the needed lifeline to curtail the excesses of insurgents and belligerents. Not only that, the funds would be used to address other germane security issues in the interest of the nation, as revealed by the vice-president. On the other hand, critics alleged that the approval of the fund was illegal, considering that the process for its approval did not pass through the National Assembly that is basically responsible for appropriation of public funds.

Other antagonists are of the opinion that the $1 billion allocation could be misappropriated, considering how similar funds were abused in the past while another strong argument allude to the insinuation that it could be an avenue to mobilise resources for the ruling party, for the forthcoming general elections in 2019. This last point flows with belief of the Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, who had dissociated himself from the decision, saying there was no agreement among the governors before the announcement was made public, describing the approval as a ploy to divert the money for political ends, while demanding explanations from the federal government on the rationale behind spending such huge sum of money to fight an already ‘defeated’ Boko Haram.

From the opposing views, there are few points that sincerely need adequate appraisals. First, why do we have contradictions in the statements issued by both Osinbajo and the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, who were both present at the meeting, where the decision was said to have been taken? After the meeting, Obaseki had disclosed that the $1bn was approved to fight Boko Haram insurgency while the vice-president said the money would be expended on a variety of security challenges facing the nation aside the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-east. Secondly, the government should give a clear plan of action and blueprint on how the funds would be managed, considering past experiences associated with mismanagement of public funds.

Thirdly, the proposal to withdraw the $1 billion from the ECA would mean leaving the account with a little balance of $1.31 billion, going by the report of the Accountant-General of the Federation that, the amount in the said account stands at $2.317 billion. Then, is this the best way to expend our hardearned resources at this critical moment when many people are terribly hungry amid other important commitments such as decaying infrastructure that are equally competing for our very limited financial resources?

Another question that demands an answer is; if truly Boko Haram has been ‘technically defeated’, as severally claimed by the government, why should state governors still give approval for such funding now? What is the true position of things? Or, could it be a misplaced priority? Nigerians would also further ask: what is the moral basis for such an intervention when in July 2014, the former administration of Goodluck Jonathan had proposed borrowing the same amount of $1 billion to fight insurgency and same leaders of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), were quick to dismiss and kick against the proposal?

Despite the many unresolved questions, one is tempted to dismiss the idea with a wave of hand because investing in the Boko Haram insurgency without any sound, empirical, reliable and convincing result-oriented strategies. This reasoning, in all honesty, is logical. However, hinging on such rigid and stereotype may really not be helpful, especially when concerted and genuine efforts are being made to learn from past mistakes in order to move forward. Security demands great level of prioritisation. Therefore, no amount of money approved for such project may be considered as too much because it is about the safety and welfare of the people; a primary concern of government in tandem with constitutional provisions. Learning from the past, the government should not compromise transparency, accountability and financial discipline. One of the effective ways of achieving this is the monitoring of the funds by the National Assembly in the performance of oversight functions.

More importantly, the government should shun partisan politics in the award of contracts and other activities that are associated with the administration of the $1 billion. This is another litmus test for the Muhammadu Buhari administration’s avowed commitment to anti-corruption. To always win the support of people, government officials should avoid contradictions in sensitive public communications going by what happened in the case of Osinbajo and Obaseki, mentioned above; security agencies should be more productive, synergise, work collaboratively and desist from unnecessary rivalry to be more productive, while those sponsoring and wreaking havoc through insurgency should have a change of heart. Defeating terrorism, insurgency and curtailing insecurity in the land remain collective responsibility. This calls for deep reflection as we enter into a brand New Year. ––Kupoluyi wrote from Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

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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 ˾ DECEMBER 31, 2017

LETTERS Reworking The Grand Norm For Better Nigeria

L

ooking at the way the Chimpanzee walks, you will discover without labour that it’s not a happy creature. Comparatively, a peep at the way Nigerians currently spend hours at different petrol stations in search of fuel, one may not wait to be told that Nigerians are mourning the dearth of good leadership in our country. This leadership challenge has also portrayed us as a nation where tribal loyalties are stronger than a common sense of nationhood, thereby making our situation both hydra-headed and native.

Consequently ‘if we look honestly at the realities of our national life,’ it is clear that we are not matching forward but groping and stumbling; we are divided and confused. Our moral values and our spiritual confidence sink, even as our material wealth ascends.

We stumble from one crisis to another-from clamour for the nation’s restructuring to economic gloom, from Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) quest for secession to the Operation Python Dance; from the Niger Delta Avengers declaration

Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information

to continue with hostility in the oil-rich region to the incessant and excruciating pains visited on the citizens by the unexplainable fuel scarcity…

Again, casting a glance at these challenges faced as a nation will further reveal that they all share a common denominator called a defective constitution. A constitution that has used tiny details to prevent the

government at the centre from looking at the bigger picture. A constitution that has technically disarmed the federating states. And a constitution that has made Abuja appear as a “general” surrounded by many lieutenants.

Ending this vicious circle of chaos come 2018 and beyond will require making Abuja less attractive via devolution of power. That

section of our constitution that vested so much power at the centre needs to be revisited. This is necessary as the masses are aware that the disproportionate posture of our nation’s political framework is fuelling these absurdities in leadership.

Therefore, to make 2018 and beyond politically fruitful for all, urgent steps to correcting these imbalance need to be taken by reworking our constitution to reflect a true fiscal federalism.

Another important part of the nation’s 1999 constitution that calls for urgent amendment is the second chapter. A peep into this chapter will reveal a portion with a very long list of what ordinarily could have been very beneficial to the citizenry and at the same time solve the multifaceted challenges bedeviling the nation if it were at par with the provisions and status enjoyed by similar items as contained in chapter four.

But, as expected, this portion for no clear reason, shares the same body and spirit with chapter four but not equal in essence.

Again, the above wellenvisioned and perfectly embodied portion has again

ATIKU, SECONDUS , W IKE A ND A FAILED P ROPAGANDA

E

ver since former

Vice-President Atiku Abubakar ended his political sabbatical in APC and returned to his former party—the PDP, APC as a political association has been left to nurse its wounds of losing a political earthmoving machine like Atiku to a reinvigorated PDP. But instead of its stakeholders to concentrate on how to fulfil their bogus campaign promises within the remaining timeframe before the commencement of electioneering, they have all abandoned governance to unleash media attacks on the former vice-president. Two prominent governors of APC— Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State and Bello Masari of Katsina have practically adopted #OperationStopAtiku as the new policy direction of their administrations.

On daily basis, they disturb the polity with one remark or the other on why Atiku’s exit from APC is inconsequential to the party. The APC propaganda machinery has been very busy telling Nigerians how unpopular Atiku is, to the extent that he cannot deliver his ward. All these resources cum energies are targeted on the same person they described as a no threat in the build up to 2019 presidential election. What an irony! Why lose sleep over an “unpopular” and “unsellable” individual who is yet to officially declare his intention to run? After the successful convention of PDP, APC propaganda machinery unleashed media fireworks on Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and the newly elected

national chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, accusing the former of hijacking the party using the latter, thereby making the PDP a regional party. The essence of the attack was to incite the South-West electorate against a resurrected PDP but met brick wall.

All sorts of allegations were levelled against Gov. Wike including but not limited to how he allegedly bought party delegates to vote for Secondus using state resources; how he side-lined other party stakeholders mainly from South-West, to influence the outcome of the elective convention. APC is in panic mood; the election of Prince Secondus has altered their calculations. They thought that the national chairmanship position of the party would emerge from Southwest to pave way for a Southeast vice presidential candidacy—though not foreclosed for now.

With Secondus from SouthSouth at the helm of affairs of the party, there is a high probability that the vice presidential ticket will be going to South-West— this is the worst nightmare of the APC! A South-West PDP VP candidate will neutralise the “Osinbajo Effect” in the zone, which will make the entire Southern Nigeria all for grab for an Atiku/Yoruba VP joint ticket.

You can now deduce why APC has been subtly throwing all manner of spanners in the works of the PDP to no avail.

The palpable fear in camp of the APC, be it in Aso Villa, Kaduna and Katsina government houses, is an Atiku Abubakar presidential candidacy of PDP.

Reasons: Atiku Abubakar has formidable political structure across the country; he is highly prepared for the job. Atiku is in control of both chambers of National Assembly; his candidature will ignite mass exodus of APC’s heavyweights into PDP. Atiku has billionaire business and political associates, who are ready to bankroll his campaign; he has a deep pocket and wide international contacts.

His media team can give APC propagandists a run for their money; he is the only northern presidential aspirant in PDP that can garner considerable votes across the six geopolitical zones of this country; he commands loyalty in all the three arms of government. He is more appealing to southerners and middle belters than any other northern PDP aspirant because of his character as a liberal Muslim cum pan-nationalist, etc. With all these variables, we can understand why APC is deploying severe propaganda and campaign of calumny to create non-existent conflict of interest between Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, new leadership of the PDP under the watch of an experienced and grassroots political juggernaut called Prince Secondus and PDP governors, as represented by Governor Wike of Rivers State.

APC is ready to deploy huge resources to influence delegates during presidential primary of the PDP to ensure that Atiku does not get the ticket. I pray and hope that PDP leadership and stakeholders should not fall into this trap being laid by the ruling party using the instrumentality of negative propaganda, aka,

fake news to paint Atiku in bad light.

The contrived conjecture being circulated in the social media where it was alleged that Atiku accused Gov. Wike of hijacking the party and subsequently referred to the Rivers strongman as “small boy” is one of the propagandist missiles fired from the arsenal of the ruling party to portray Atiku as an opportunist, blackmailer and usurper in the eyes of critical stakeholders of the party. From the best of my knowledge, there is no way Atiku would return to PDP few days to the party’s elective convention and scheme to determine who got what. Atiku Abubakar remained neutral throughout the campaign for national leadership of the party. I personally saw him on a national TV where he sat with Prince Uche Secondus even before the announcement of the convention results.

Within a short interval of few hours after Prince Secondus emerged the new chairman, he congratulated him and other newly elected members of National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP and promised to work with them to ensure a victorious outing for the party come 2019.

I wonder where the author of the said article got his malicious facts. All these shenanigans and grandstanding are also to divert the attention of Nigerians from the failure of President Buhari’s administration as can be seen in the excruciating fuel scarcity across the country which has truncated plans of a merry Christmas for Nigerians.

-––Nwobodo Chidiebere, Abuja

been incapacitated by the provision of a clause tagged ’non-justiceable’ and is further deformed by the phrase: ‘the fundamental objectives and directive principles of the state.’

These two attributes made that chapter ‘a fallen angel,’ thereby depriving over 180 million Nigerians what they are supposed to enjoy, and on the other hand, stunted the nation’s development.

While the above chapter is bemoaning her fate, Chapter Four, with the appendage ‘fundamental human rights,’ enjoys all the legal paraphernalia.

Comparatively, the second chapter handles issues such as access to education, housing, health and so on which the constitution described as non-justiceable and comes under fundamental objectives and directive principle of the state. Chapter four on the other hand contains items which include but not limited to the rights and freedoms of association, expression, right to life, movements just to mention but a few.

Secondly, while you cannot deprive or deny any citizen of any of the above-mentioned rights as contained in chapter four without committing an offence against the individual or the state of which the state or the individual concerned can seek legal redress, such is not the case

of all the provisions as made in chapter two.

Now, the question is, if a citizen based on the provisions of chapter two, is deprived access to quality education, where and how will the citizen gain the knowledge and education that will expose him to recognising and eventual claiming of the said fundamental human rights as enshrined in chapter four?

Also, if one is seriously sick and is deprived of access to quality health care, how is he going to access his fundamental human right to the freedom of association? By this provision and arrangement, the basic necessity is treated as of mere importance while items of less importance were treated as essential.

Thirdly, the asymmetrical nature of the interpretation, as well as the implementation of the provisions of the said chapter two calls for a serious scrutiny.

Correspondingly, if at the electioneering campaign period political office seekers are allowed to use all the items as listed in chapter two for their electoral manifestos, it is equally germane that citizens use those same items to hold them accountable when defaulting as well as measure their performance against their promises.

Jerome-Mario Utomi, jeromeutomi@yahoo.com.

THE LINGERING FUEL SCARCIT Y

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he OurMumuDonDo Movement wishes to express absolute dissatisfaction at the lingering fuel scarcity presently rocking the entire nation.

Despite the fact that the nation’s economy is in a shambles and the present administration has been creating unemployment in the place of the mass employment it promised, the desire of Nigerians to at least celebrate this season of festivities has been marred by unprecedented nationwide fuel dearth.

We have also heard that many petrol stations are engaged in massive hoarding of Premium Motor Spirit when they should be distributing the product to all Nigerians who need it.

This nefarious act by PMS distributors nationwide is totally inhuman and unacceptable. Even worse is the apparent lack of concern of the Minister of Petroleum, Muhammadu Buhari, at this difficult time when Nigerians need his leadership the most. No doubt, President Buhari has failed over and over again to live up to his promises to Nigerians.

It is therefore imperative for the federal government to take note of the excruciating predicament of the Nigerian people at this time and desist from any plan to increase the price of PMS above N145 per litre. For it is already being

rumoured that PMS is being sold at N300 per litre in some places and even N500 per litre in other places.

Further to this, it is imperative that the federal government discloses to Nigerians the true status of the oil industry with regard to the removal of subsidy. Are we still paying subsidy or not?

Conclusively, therefore, we enjoin the President of Nigeria and Minister of Petroleum, Muhammadu Buhari to live up to his promise and alleviate the suffering of Nigerians by ensuring that there is ample circulation of PMS across the nation.

We also wish to remind the president that his failure to end the current fuel scarcity/hoarding will be succinctly translated to mean he is totally incapable of discharging the duties and responsibilities of the office of the minister of petroleum and shall consequently be held responsible for the present lack of effective leadership and coordination beleaguering the cash cow sector of the nation.

Again and again, we wish to emphasise that we shall hold President Buhari responsible should this fuel scarcity linger beyond December 31, 2017.

Indeed, Nigerians are tired of his repulsive apathy towards their plight.

––Adebayo Raphael, OurMumuDonDo and Deji Adeyanju, Concerned Nigerians

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T H I S D AY ˾ ͱͯ˜ Ͱͮͯ͵

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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 ˾ DECEMBER 31, 2017

BUSINESS

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

FAAC: FG, States Share N5.64 Trillion in 2017 LAST WEEK Oil

Oil prices touched two and a half years highs in light volume boosted by an explosion on a crude pipeline in Libya andvoluntaryOPEC-ledsupplycuts.Libya has lost around 90,000 bpd of crude oil fromablastonapipelinefeedingEsSider port,aLibyanoilsourcesaid,addingthat NOC was still assessing the damage. A Libyan military source said earlier that armed men had planted explosives at the pipeline. The country’s output had been recovering in recent months after beinghelddownforyearsbyconflictand unrest. Brent crude, the international benchmark for oil prices, rose to 66.76 dollars a barrel. Prices hit a session high of $66.83 a barrel. U.S. crude climbed to $59.76 a barrel after touching a session high of $59.86.

FTZ

L-R: Kebbi state Accountant General, Alhaji Ibrahim Zaki; Katsina state Accountant General, Alhaji Kabir Dankaura Mohammed; and Kano state Acting Accountant General, Alhaji Magaji Labbo, during a recent Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting in Abuja

Bamidele Famoofo

The Federal Ministry of Finance, through its Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), distributed about N5.64trillion revenue generated in 2017 to the three tiers of government, namely federal, state and local governments Major sources from which the finance ministry generated distributable revenue are oil and tax.

The federal government as usual took the bulk of the revenue in 2017, accounting for 40.78 per cent or about N2.3trillion of the distributable revenue generated in 2017. The state governments, which exclude Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja got about N1.52trillion between January and November of 2017, according to data sourced from the website of the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

States, which include Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo, Rivers, Akwa-Ibom and Lagos, classified as oil producing states shared an additional N341.91billion in a space of 11 months ending November, 2017 as derivation revenue. The figure represents 6.06 per cent of the total revenue distributed by the FAAC in the review period.

The local governments, being the third-tier of government, expected to cater for people at the grassroot level received N1.14trillion, representing 20.21 per cent of the total largesse in 2017.

The statutory account, value added tax (VAT), forex equalisation account, excess petroleum product tax (PPT) and refund

ECONOMY

from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) are major sources from which revenue was garnered in the review period.

Breakdown of income in the period showed that the statutory account contributed 73 per cent to the revenue pool, which stood at about N4.12trillion while VAT, being the second largest contributor to the pool of the distributable fund accounted for 15.73 per cent or about N887.22billion. The foreign exchange equalisation account in 11 months generated a sum of N362.66billion.

The gains were recorded in the first and second quarters of the year while no gains were recorded in the third quarter (July-September). A sum of N50.81billion was however captured as forex gain in October, 2017. PPT account generated about N207.74billion, which was shared by the three tiers of government between January and November, 2017. PPT was the fourth major contributor to the total revenue shared in the review period while total refunds from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) stood at N55.32billion, representing 0.98 per cent of total revenue distributed in the period.

Quarterly analysis of revenue showed that a boom was experienced between July and September or third quarter. It was the period after which Nigeria exited its worst recession in two decades. It would be recalled that Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, slipped into

recession in second quarter of 2016 due largely to drop in oil production, declining oil price in the international market among other factors.

Revenue generated and shared in third quarter of 2017 stood at about N1.76trillion representing an increase of 27.5 per cent compared to about N1.38trillion recorded in second quarter of 2017. Revenue surge in the period ended September 2017 boosted income shared to all tiers of government in the period. Revenue slipped in second quarter by 2.13 per cent compared to N1.41trillion Breakdown of income in the period showed that the statutory account contributed 73 per cent to the revenue pool, which stood at about N4.12trillion while VAT, being the second largest contributor to the pool of the distributable fund accounted for 15.73 per cent or about N887.22billion

generated in first quarter.

Month-on-month, revenue distribution was at its peak for Nigeria in July as cash inflow increased from N462.36billion in June by 41 per cent to N652.23billion in July. While the revenue shared by FAAC dropped by 28.3 per cent from a peak of N652.23billion in July to N467.85billion in August, a rebound was recorded in September with the FAAC sharing N637.70billion in the month, though that was N14.53billion lower than the amount shared among the FG, States and LGs in the month of July, 2017.

Meanwhile revenue shared by the FAAC has recorded a consistent drop from the end of third quarter till date.

In October, N558.08 billion

was shared among all the tiers of government, which represented a 12.5 per cent shortfall compared to N637.70billion distributed by FAAC in September.

The figure further dropped to N532.76billion in November, representing a decrease of N25.32billion or 4.54 per cent.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), which are the key revenue generating agencies of government shared about N338.4billion as cost of revenue generation in the review period.

On the flip-side however, revenue generated by states internally as at September 2017 stood at N473.08billion.

According to the NBS, a total of N149.45billion was generated by states in Q3 2017.

This excludes Rivers, Sokoto, Nasarawa, Niger, Kwara, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Gombe, Edo, Borno, Bauchi, Adamawa, Abia Ebonyi and Anambra states that have not yet reported their IGR figures for Q3 2017.

A shortfall of N334.84billion was recorded as at Q3 2017 when the full year 2016 and Q3 2017 YTD IGR figures of all states are compared. States like Bayelsa, Benue, Ekiti, Enugu and Jigawa have already surpassed their total 2016 IGR figures as of Q3 2017. “Note that Rivers, Sokoto, Nasarawa, Niger, Kwara, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Gombe, Edo, Borno, Bauchi, Adamawa, Abia Ebonyi and Anambra have not yet reported for Q3 2017 so have no analysis here”, NBS disclosed.

Managing Director of Nigeria Export Processing ZonesAuthority,Emmanuel Jime, said the authority had licensed three new Free Trade Zones. Jime announced this in a statement signed by the head of corporate communications of the authority, Simon Imobo-Tswam, in Abuja. According to Jime, the new FTZs are NascoTown FTZ; Quit Aviation ServicesFTZ;andTomaroFTZ.“Thenew licensedFTZshaveover$2.751billionin ForeignDirectInvestmentinflowsintothe country. Besides the over $2.751 billion inFDIinflows,thenewFTZsaretargeting direct jobs in excess of 50, 000.

Data

National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers called on Nigerian CommunicationsCommissiontoextend the grace period of unused data roll over to 30 days.The president of NATCOMS, DeoluOgunbanjo,madethecallinLagos.

NCCissaidtobeplanningtoissueadirectivetotelecommunicationsoperatorsto give 14 days’ window to subscribers to enablethemtorollovertheirunuseddata.

Ogunbanjo, while describing the idea of 14daysasawelcomedevelopment,said itwasnotenoughconsideringthepresent economicsituation,assubscriberswere not getting value for their money with regard to data usage

Fuel

NigerianNationalPetroleumCorporation and the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association continued the blame game over the current fuel scarcity. Executive Secretary of DAPPMA, Olufemi Adewole, in a statement in Lagos accused the NNPC of leaving his members’ depots empty of petroleum products, while Nigerians suffered on fuel queues at filling stations across the country. Adewole blamed NNPC for the fuel crisis and accused the state-owned oil corporation of assuming the role of thesoleimporterofpetroleumproducts, despitethefactthatDAPPMAmembers owned 80 per cent of the functional fuel storage facilities and retail outlets in the country. But NNPC, in a statement, accused DAPPMA of insincerity. “NNPC wishes to affirm that it has supplied appreciable volume to DAPPMA, Major Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) and Independent Petroleum Marketers of Nigeria (IPMAN) to rid the challengescurrentlybeingexperiencedin thesupplyanddistributionofpetroleum products in the country,” the NNPC said in astatementbyitsspokesperson,Ndu Ughamadu.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ DECEMBER 31, 2017

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BUSINESS/MONEY

As Deadline for e-Dividend Registration Expires Today...

As the deadline for capital market investors to register on the e-dividend platform expires today, the Securities and Exchange Commission has vowed that the deadline remains sacrosanct, reports Bamidele Famoofo

A

fter today, investors in the Nigerian capital market, who are yet to register to get dividend payment electronically, will have to part with a fee to be enrolled on the platform.

And if eventually they refuse to follow the new trend of ‘e-dividend’ platform, which has come to replace the outgoing system of issuing ‘dividend warrant’, they may forfeit their dividends (cash received on share investment) to government.

Since November 2015, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the highest regulatory authority of the capital market has encouraged stock investors to register with their respective registrar companies for them to get to receive dividend in their bank accounts.

E- dividend simply refers to an online system of paying dividends to investors when companies declare dividends, which are the profits meant for investors, rather than send it by post, they will just wire it to the investor’s bank account.’

The initiative, according to SEC, will help check the lingering problem of unclaimed dividend, which was estimated at about N90 billion as at January 2017.

By law, any money issued as dividend to shareholders that was not claimed within 12 years, will be forfeited to government.

Head, Corporate Communications, SEC, Mr. Naif Abdussalam, earlier in the year, explained that the deadline was set for June 30, 2017, but was later extended to give room for investors to key into the e-dividend payment platform.

Abdussalam disclosed that the extension became necessary to perfect the commission’s rules on issuance of dividend warrants.

He stated that the commission’s issuance of dividend warrants would be a thing of the past by the end of today with the amendment of the rules and keying into the e-dividend payment platform by more investors.

It would be recalled that SEC had in 2016 announced June 30, 2017, as deadline for issuance of physical dividend warrants to shareholders by quoted companies to tackle unclaimed dividends and mitigate the risks associated with warrants.

According to the SEC spokesman, forfeiture of dividends would be a thing of the past with the e-dividend payment platform.

Giving report on the e-dividend registration at the Capital Market Committee Meeting which held in Lagos in May 2017, the suspended Director-General of SEC, Mr. Mounir Gwarzo, said 2.2 million investors had mandated their accounts for the e-dividend payment policy as of April 30, 2017.

But the enthusiasm shown by investors in the early part of the year to register for e-dividend slowed as the deadline date gets closer. According to the SEC, only about 147,176 registrations were recorded in the last three months between August and October 2017.

Gwarzo, who gave the report at the fourth quarter post Capital Market Committee (CMC) media briefing in Lagos, however said the low registration would not make the commission to change its decision to stop the free e-dividend registration exercise by today.

“Investors who are yet to take advantage of the free registration exercise will therefore mandatorily pay a sum of N150 to register after December 31”, SEC said.

“We realise that there is a slow pace in terms of the implementation of the e-dividend. In the last three to four months, there has not been appreciable increase in terms of number of people registering. By 31st of December,

Lagos trading floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange 2017, any Nigerian that does not register for e-dividend will now have to pay N150 for registration. We have been pursuing this initiative since last year and SEC has been underwriting this cost. The moment you start extending, people will think that they have 100 years to do it”, Gwarzo reiterated.

Head, Vertical Markets at Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), Mr. Samuel Oluyemi, gave a breakdown of registration by investors between August and October, 2017. According to him, “In August, what we were able to get was 50,819 people, who registered. In September, we got 59,204 registrations and in October 2017, we got 37,153 registrations.

This shows that there is a dip in the month of October”.

Oluyemi said a continuation in that trend would be interpreted to mean that investors don’t trust the system. He said the remedy will be for SEC to increase awareness of the deadline for the closure of the exercise.

“There is no way we will have the muchneeded jump that government expects in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) except all of us work together as one”, Oluyemi lamented.

Similarly, former President of the Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), Sir Sunny Nwosu, believed it will not be realistic for SEC to close the free registration exercise on the appointed date, arguing that the commission had not done enough awareness programmes to reach minority shareholders scattered over the six geo-political zones in Nigeria.

Nwosu, who claimed to be speaking the mind of shareholders, said the SEC must have to extend the registration exercise for another

six months while it engages in far-reaching awareness programme to sensitise shareholders of companies that reside in remote places in the country. “What the SEC has done so far was to reach investors who reside in the urban areas but forgetting that minority shareholders which accounts for about five per cent of the total shareholdings in the Nigerian capital market are scattered over the nooks and crannies of the country. They all must be reached besides the institutional and foreign investors who are very much aware of events in the market”.

In its bid to boost registration before the December 31, deadline, SEC, apart from encouraging investors to visit their respective registrar companies to get registered also provided a portal in which unregistered investors could register for payment of their dividends electronically.

In a statement released on SEC’s website in April, 2017, the commission noted that it had provided a platform for investors who were yet to register for payment of the e-dividend and for those who were yet to participate in the registration exercise, adding that a link had been provided to ascertain an investor’s registration status.

According to SEC, all listed companies were encouraged to participate in the enlightenment campaign on e-dividend by informing their shareholders at Annual General Meetings (AGM) on the processes put in place to increase the registration figure.

Also, the e-dividend form could be obtained and properly filled at bank branches or in the office of a registrar and stock broking firms, or could be downloaded and filled by individuals.

Meanwhile, operators in the capital market have listed the numerous benefits of the edividend platform.

First Registrars & Investor Services Limited (formerly First Registrars Nigeria Limited) said the e-dividend system was safe and convenient for investors, saves time and resources as shareholders are notified right on their mobile phone once payments are made into their respective bank accounts (applicable to shareholders on e-Notifier).

Abdulraham believed the e-dividend would strengthen the Know Your Customer (KYC) status of all investors in the capital market to curb unclaimed dividend and stoppage of unauthorised sale of shares in the market.

According to SEC, inefficiency, poor logistics, management and inadequate update of personal data in the existing dividend payment system had created a lot of problems in the system.

It is, however, expected that the e-dividend system would lead to increased transparency in the administration of dividend payment and eliminate the costs associated with printing and posting dividend warrants.

According to SEC, the continuous retention of dividends by companies had distorted the true financial position of companies and misled investors and other members of the public.

“The huge amount of unclaimed dividends would discourage foreign investment and discourage members of the public from staking their funds in the market. Non-payment of dividends discourages investors in stock market and encourages them to search for alternative investment outlets such as the real sector and money market”, SEC added.

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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 ˾ DECEMBER 24, 2017

BUSINESS/ENERGY

Long queue of vehicles waiting for fuel in FCT, Abuja

Oddities of Abuja Petrol Scarcity Illegal depots, seas of jerry cans, and a sprawling fuel hawking industry gave the recent struggle for scarce petrol in Abuja a peculiar feature. Chineme Okafor reports

A

buja is often regarded as Nigeria’s most organised city. But that reputation seemed to be tainted in the past three weeks, thanks to the nationwide scarcity of petrol. Day by day, the order for which Abuja was known melted in the heat of the biting experience of queuing for hours and even days to buy petrol, or relying reluctantly, indeed bitterly, on mobile petrol hawkers on the streets.

While petrol scarcity or queues are not particularly new or strange to residents of the city, the latest experience was different because the scarcity of premium motor spirit, the most consumed fuel in Nigeria, was swift and unexpected. It hurt deeply because it left residents with no room for prior planning.

Just a few days into the pms scarcity, Abuja, which hosts the seat of the Nigerian government, was in a virtual lockdown. Vehicles lined filling stations in countless numbers, as motorists struggled and sweated to buy petrol. Even stations that traditionally had petrol to sell during past scarcities, and had gained the confidence of consumers as some kind of sellers of last resort, were locked for the most part of the period of the latest pms shortage.

Diversion As supplies trickled in following interventions by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, cases of diversion and hoarding soon became the new challenge. The corporation and government fought hard to try to stabilise the situation.

To add to the trouble of diversion and hoarding, mobile petrol dispensers, the black market operators, returned to the streets of the city in full force, and this time, largely unhindered.

Clutching mainly 10 litres jerry cans filled with petrol they got from the supposedly dry petrol stations, these itinerant merchants made quick money from selling petrol at prohibitive prices to stranded consumers. They sold 10 litres of petrol for as much as N3, 500 – instead of N1, 450, which it should ordinarily cost at the controlled price of N145 per litre.

Even regular taxi drivers, intent on sharing

from the black market boom, suddenly turned their cabs into supply sources.

Illegal Depot Troubled by the worsening petrol scarcity, which had seemed to defy efforts to normalise supplies, NNPC, which became the sole importer and distributor of petrol in Nigeria since October, reportedly sought intelligence on alleged cases of diversion and hoarding.

The results it got were quite revealing.

Perhaps, working from the adage that an apple does not fall very far from its tree, the NNPC Group Managing Director, Dr. Maikanti Baru, led searches within the city centre. Baru was stunned at the discovery of a huge illegal depot with huge volumes of petroleum products just opposite the corporation’s mega station along Olu Obasanjo Way in the Central Business District.

“In the heart of the city, right opposite the mega station, this is unbelievable,” said a baffled Baru. The discovery was made in conjunction with the Department of Petroleum Resources and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

The illegal depot was found about 500 meters from a long queue of vehicles waiting to buy petrol from the corporation’s mega station.

Baru said, “In the war room (a room dedicated to address issues around the scarcity), we asked ourselves why the situation persisted. We got an intelligence report of these mini depots and as you can see, these golf cars that are supposed to have 40 litres have tanks that can take 200 litres of petrol.

“This other one is a mini depot. Although, some of the products are diesel, the DPR says it is unauthorised. We have over 50-day supply of diesel and so there is no reason to hoard the product.”

Clampdown Buoyed by this discovery, the team, which soon adopted the moniker, fuel Joint Task Force, launched further into the deeper parts of the city where it considered illegal acts could be rampant, according to its intelligence.

A filling station in Kubwa had its petrol confiscated by the team for selling above the controlled pump price of N145 per litre.

The petrol was freely dispensed to motorists.

According to the Zonal Controller of DPR for Abuja, Mr. Mohammed Abba, the station, Khalif Civic Oil and Investment Limited, got busted by the NNPC team for exploiting the public. It followed a tip-off from the public on the shady practices at the filling station.

Abba said the station had 6,000 litres of petrol in stock, and was, in addition to operating with an irregular permit, selling to consumers at N250 per litre.

“We instructed that the product should be dispensed free of charge. We will give them one month to come and regularise their license, after that if he does not come, we will hand over the station and the people concerned to the civil defence to prosecute,” Abba said.

Accordingly, everyone on the queue at the station got 20 litres of the 6,000 litres the team confiscated free of charge.

Continuing its clampdown, the team sealed and dispensed petrol stock held by the same service station owned and operated by the same Khalif Civic Center and Investment Limited and which it previously visited, on account of alleged illegal operations.

Baru, in his reaction to this, stated, “This is an effort of government to continue to identify all those who are a hindrance to the supply of petroleum products.

“Incidentally, this filling station is owned by the same perpetrator of yesterday and to our dismay not only is he selling to people at N250 per litre, but he is also under-dispensing at half the volume as testified by one of the motorists.”

He added, “DPR confirmed yesterday that he did not have licence and they have handed over the station to civil defence for appropriate action. Today, this one has more volume, about 15,000 litres, so we are dispensing five litres to every motorcycle and 20 litres to every car and this will continue.”

Abba, explained, “We have advised the civil defence to apprehend him, they have put that in motion but he is in hiding. If you look at this station, it is an illegal station; there is no way we will give licence to a station within a community because it has not satisfied all the requirements.

“Look at the power lines and high tension

cables all around. Moreover, when we spoke yesterday we gave him a concession but I think the owner of this filling station does not need pity from any government.

“The way he situated this, if there is any accident, the amount of lives that would be lost would be massive. We advise that instead of giving this fuel free, the station should be demolished; it should not exist at all.

“Under no circumstance should the station be allowed to exist within this community because it is very dangerous. We call on development control that its Certificate of Occupancy should be revoked.”

The team conducted other raids on stations in Kubwa and around the airport area of the city, and clamped down on an unnamed filling station in Byazhini community in Kubwa, whose staff were caught selling petrol at N250 per litre, as well as in Bassa Jiwa community behind the Abuja airport, where three errant stations were shut down with products in their storage also dispensed free of charge to motorists. One of the stations, McManakai Global Services, had 39,000 litres in its storage tank, which it sold to motorists at N240 per litre, as against the approved price of N145 per litre.

The team also noted that such stations were used to divert products meant for legal filling stations. Seven of such stations, it said, were along the Kubwa and Airport Road axis of Abuja, and their contents dispensed free of charge to motorists by the team.

Baru said about 24 trucks with petrol meant for Abuja were diverted to some states in the South-east, and that the defaulting marketers had been identified.

Following the team’s discoveries, the GMD hinted that black market operators in the city had developed new ways of getting petrol for storage and subsequent sale to the public.

He said vehicles owned by them were now refurbished and fitted with bigger tanks that could take more than 300 litres at once.

“They go and siphon the tank and come back. The civil defence has arrested several and will continue to do so. Those who are in the habit of installing extra tanks should beware,” Baru stated. He said the monitoring team had found and arrested 24 marketers who diverted products.

22

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ DECEMBER 31, 2017

ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ^ƵƌǀĞLJ ŽŶ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶ ĂŶŬŝŶŐ džƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ ϮϬϭϳ dŚĞ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶ ĂŶŬŝŶŐ ^ĞĐƚŽƌ ŚĂƐ ƌĞŵĂŝŶĞĚ ƌĞƐŝůŝĞŶƚ ĚĞƐƉŝƚĞ ƚŚĞ ƚŽƵŐŚ ŵĂĐƌŽĞĐŽŶŽŵŝĐ ĐŽŶĚŝƟŽŶƐ ǁŚŝĐŚ ƉƌĞƐƐƵƌĞĚ ƚŚĞ ŽƉĞƌĂƟŶŐ ĞŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚ͘ /Ŷ ƚŚŝƐ ƐƵƌǀĞLJ͕ ƚŚĞ ĚĞƉůŽLJŵĞŶƚ ŽĨ ǀĂƌŝŽƵƐ ŝŶŶŽǀĂƟǀĞ ƉůĂƞŽƌŵƐ ƚŽ ŵĂŝŶƚĂŝŶ ĂŶĚ ŐƌŽǁ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌ ďĂƐĞ͕ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞ ĞĂƐĞ ŽĨ ďĂŶŬŝŶŐ ĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ͕ ĞŶŚĂŶĐĞ ĞĸĐĂĐLJ ŽĨ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞ ĚĞůŝǀĞƌLJ͕ ĞŶƐƵƌĞ ƐĂĨĞƚLJ ŽĨ ďĂŶŬŝŶŐ ĂĐƟǀŝƟĞƐ ĂŶĚ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞ ĂĐĐĞƐƐ ƚŽ ĨŽƌĞŝŐŶ ĞdžĐŚĂŶŐĞ ĐŽŶĐĞƌŶƐ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ĐƌĞĚŝƚ ĨĂĐŝůŝƟĞƐ ĂƌĞ ƐƵďũĞĐƚƐ ĐĂƉƚƵƌĞĚ͘ dŚĞ ƌŝƐĞ ŽĨ &ŝŶdĞĐŚ ƐŽůƵƟŽŶƐ ŚĂǀĞ ĂůƐŽ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞĚ ďĂŶŬƐ͛ ĚƌŝǀĞ ĨŽƌ ĮŶĂŶĐŝĂů ŝŶĐůƵƐŝŽŶ͕ ĞƐƉĞĐŝĂůůLJ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐŝŶŐ ƵƐĞ ŽĨ ŵŽďŝůĞ ƉŚŽŶĞƐ ĂŶĚ ŝŶƚĞƌŶĞƚ ƉĞŶĞƚƌĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĐŽƵŶƚƌLJ͘ ŐĂŝŶƐƚ ƚŚŝƐ ďĂĐŬĚƌŽƉ͕ ǁĞ ĐŽŶĚƵĐƚĞĚ ƚŚĞ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ƐƵƌǀĞLJ ŽŶ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶ ĂŶŬŝŶŐ džƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ ϮϬϭϳ͕ ĞŶŐĂŐŝŶŐ Ă ƚŽƚĂů ŽĨ ϲϯϰ ƌĞƐƉŽŶĚĞŶƚƐ ĨƌŽŵ ĚŝǀĞƌƐĞ ďĂĐŬŐƌŽƵŶĚƐ ĂŶĚ ǁŝƚŚ ǀĂƌLJŝŶŐ ĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞƐ͘ dŚĞ ůĂƌŐĞƐƚ ƉƌŽƉŽƌƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƌĞƐƉŽŶĚĞŶƚƐ ;ϰϮ͘ϲйͿ ĨĂůů ǁŝƚŚŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĂŐĞ ďƌĂĐŬĞƚ ŽĨ ϯϲ ʹ ϱϬ LJĞĂƌƐ ŽůĚ͕ ĨŽůůŽǁĞĚ ďLJ ϮϮ ʹ ϯϱ ;ϯϯ͘ϰйͿ͕ ϱϭ Θ ĂďŽǀĞ ;ϭϵ͘ϱйͿ ĂŶĚ ϭϱ ʹ Ϯϭ ;ϰ͘ϲйͿ͘ KĨ ƚŚĞ ƚŽƚĂů ƌĞƐƉŽŶĚĞŶƚƐ͕ 'd ĂŶŬ ŚĂĚ ƚŚĞ ůĂƌŐĞƐƚ ƉƌŽƉŽƌƟŽŶ ŽĨ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌƐ ;ϲϰ͘ϭйͿ ĨŽůůŽǁĞĚ ďLJ &ŝƌƐƚ ĂŶŬ ;ϯϴ͘ϱйͿ ĂŶĚ ŝĂŵŽŶĚ ;Ϯϵ͘ϳйͿ͘ KƵƌ ĂŶĂůLJƐŝƐ ĂůƐŽ ŝŶĚŝĐĂƚĞƐ ƚŚĂƚ ŵŽƐƚ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌƐ ŚĂǀĞ ŵƵůƟƉůĞ ďĂŶŬ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚƐ ĂƐ ŝŶĚŝĐĂƚĞĚ ďLJ ƌĞƐƉŽŶƐĞƐ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ƋƵĞƐƟŽŶ͗ tŚĂƚ ďĂŶŬ ĚŽ LJŽƵ ƵƐĞ͍ ;WůĞĂƐĞ ĐŽŶĮƌŵ ƚŚŝƐͿ͗ ϭϬϱϲ ƌĞƐƉŽŶƐĞƐ ǁĞƌĞ ŐĂƚŚĞƌĞĚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ƋƵĞƐƟŽŶ ĨƌŽŵ Ă ƚŽƚĂů ƌĞƐƉŽŶĚĞŶƚ ďĂƐĞ ŽĨ ϲϯϰ ŝŶĚŝǀŝĚƵĂůƐ͘ džƉĞĐƚĞĚůLJ͕ ϲϭ͘ϵй ŽĨ ŽƵƌ ƌĞƐƉŽŶĚĞŶƚƐ ŚĂǀĞ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚƐ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ dŝĞƌ ϭ ďĂŶŬƐ͕ ĨƵƌƚŚĞƌ ĂĸƌŵŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ƐƵƉĞƌŝŽƌ ďƌĂŶĚ ƌĞĐŽŐŶŝƟŽŶ ĂŶĚ ĚŽŵŝŶĂŶĐĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ϲ dŝĞƌ ϭ ďĂŶŬƐ͘ ŚĂƌƚ ϭϮϰ ͗ ĞŵŽŐƌĂƉŚLJ ŽĨ ZĞƐƉŽŶĚĞŶƚƐ

ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞ ƐĂƟƐĨĂĐƟŽŶ͘ &ŝƌƐƚ ĂŶŬ ;ϴ͘ϭй ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƌĞƐƉŽŶĚĞŶƚͿ ĂŶĚ ĞŶŝƚŚ ;ϲ͘ϳй ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƌĞƐƉŽŶĚĞŶƚƐͿ ĂƌĞ ƚǁŽ ŽƚŚĞƌ dŝĞƌ ϭ ďĂŶŬƐ ĂŵŽŶŐƐƚ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ƉƌĞĨĞƌƌĞĚ ďLJ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌƐ ŝŶ ƚĞƌŵƐ ŽĨ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞ ĚĞůŝǀĞƌLJ͘ ^ƚĂŶďŝĐ / d ;ϲ͘ϳйͿ ĂŶĚ ŝĂŵŽŶĚ ;ϲ͘ϱйͿ ĂƌĞ ƚŚĞ ŽŶůLJ dŝĞƌ Ϯ ďĂŶŬƐ ĂŵŽŶŐƐƚ ƚŚĞ ƚŽƉ ϱ ŵŽƐƚ ƉƌĞĨĞƌƌĞĚ ďĂŶŬƐ ŝŶ ƚĞƌŵƐ ŽĨ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞ ƐĂƟƐĨĂĐƟŽŶ͘ tĞ ŚŽǁĞǀĞƌ ƌĞĐŽŐŶŝnjĞ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚŝƐ ĚŽĞƐ ŶŽƚ ŝŵƉůLJ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞƐĞ ďĂŶŬƐ ƌĂŶŬ ďĞƐƚ ŝŶ ƚĞƌŵƐ ŽĨ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞ ŐŝǀĞŶ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ ďĂŶŬƐ ĂƌĞ ĂŵŽŶŐ ƚŽƉ ϳ ďĂŶŬƐ ƚŚĂƚ ŽƵƌ ƐƵƌǀĞLJ ƌĞƐƉŽŶĚĞŶƚƐ ďĂŶŬ ǁŝƚŚ͘ tŝƚŚ ƌĞŐĂƌĚƐ ƚŽ ŬĞLJ ĐŽŶƐŝĚĞƌĂƟŽŶƐ ŝŶ ĐŚŽŽƐŝŶŐ Ă ďĂŶŬ͕ ƌĞƐƉŽŶƐĞƐ ŐĂƚŚĞƌĞĚ ƐƵŐŐĞƐƚ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ ƚǁŽ ŵŽƐƚ ŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶƚ ĨĂĐƚŽƌƐ ƚŚĂƚ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌƐ ĐŽŶƐŝĚĞƌ ĂƌĞ ƐƉĞĞĚ ĂŶĚ ĞĸĐŝĞŶĐLJ ŽĨ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞƐ ;ϳϳ͘ϲйͿ ĂŶĚ ǁŝůůŝŶŐŶĞƐƐ ŽĨ ƌĞƉƌĞƐĞŶƚĂƟǀĞƐ ƚŽ ůŝƐƚĞŶ ĂŶĚ ƌĞƐƉŽŶĚ ƚŽ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌƐ͛ ŶĞĞĚƐ ;ϱϲ͘ϲйͿ͘ ZĞůĂƚĞĚůLJ͕ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌƐ͛ ŵŽƐƚ ƉƌĞĨĞƌƌĞĚ ŵĞĂŶƐ ŽĨ ůĂLJŝŶŐ ĐŽŵƉůĂŝŶƚƐ ŝƐ ďLJ ƉŚLJƐŝĐĂů ǀŝƐŝƚƐ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ďĂŶŬ ;ϲϰ͘ϵйͿ ǁŚŝůĞ ƐŽĐŝĂů ŵĞĚŝĂ ;ϵ͘ϲйͿ ŝƐ ƚŚĞ ůĞĂƐƚ ƉƌĞĨĞƌƌĞĚ ʹ ĂůƚŚŽƵŐŚ ǁĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ƚŚŝƐ ŶƵŵďĞƌ ƚŽ ƐŝŐŶŝĮĐĂŶƚůLJ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŵŝŶŐ LJĞĂƌƐ͕ ĂƐ ďĂŶŬƐ ďĞĐŽŵĞ ŵŽƌĞ ĞīĞĐƟǀĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƵƐĞ ŽĨ ƐŽĐŝĂů ŵĞĚŝĂ ĨŽƌ ƌĞƐŽůǀŝŶŐ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌ ĐŽŵƉůĂŝŶƚƐ͘ /Ŷ ĂĚĚŝƟŽŶ͕ ƚŚĞ ĚĞŵŽŐƌĂƉŚŝĐƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƌĞƐƉŽŶĚĞŶƚƐ ŵĂLJ ŚĂǀĞ ŝŶŇƵĞŶĐĞĚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĐŚŽŝĐĞ ŽĨ Ă ďĂŶŬ ǀŝƐŝƚ ŐŝǀĞŶ ƚŚĂƚ ϲϮ͘Ϭй ŽĨ ƌĞƐƉŽŶĚĞŶƚƐ ĂƌĞ ĂďŽǀĞ ϯϱ LJĞĂƌƐ ŽĨ ĂŐĞ͘ &ƵƌƚŚĞƌŵŽƌĞ͕ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĨĂĐƚ ƚŚĂƚ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌƐ ǁŝůů ŵŽƌĞ ŽŌĞŶ ƚŚĂŶ ŶŽƚ͕ ƉĂƚƌŽŶŝƐĞ ƉƌŽĚƵĐƚƐ Θ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞƐ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞLJ ŚĂǀĞ ƐƵĸĐŝĞŶƚ ŬŶŽǁůĞĚŐĞ ĂďŽƵƚ͕ ǁĞ ŽƉŝŶĞ ƚŚĂƚ ďĂŶŬƐ͛ ƌĞƐƉŽŶƐĞ ƚŽ ƋƵĞƌŝĞƐ ĂďŽƵƚ ƉƌŽĚƵĐƚƐ Θ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞƐ ŽƵŐŚƚ ƚŽ ďĞ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞĚ ďĞĐĂƵƐĞ ŽŶůLJ Ϯϭ͘ϴй ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƌĞƐƉŽŶĚĞŶƚƐ ĂƌĞ ŚŝŐŚůLJ ƐĂƟƐĮĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞƐ ŐŽƩĞŶ͘ ,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ ŝŶ ƚĞƌŵƐ ŽĨ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞ ĚĞůŝǀĞƌLJ͕ 'd ĂŶŬ ;ϰϮ͘ϬйͿ ǁĂƐ ƌĂƚĞĚ ƚŚĞ ďĞƐƚ ĨŽůůŽǁĞĚ ďLJ &ŝƌƐƚ ďĂŶŬ ;ϴ͘ϭйͿ͘

ĂƐĞ ŽĨ ĂŶŬŝŶŐ dŚĞ ĮŶĂŶĐŝĂů ƚĞĐŚŶŽůŽŐLJ ŽƉƟŽŶƐ ŽīĞƌĞĚ ďLJ ďĂŶŬƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĨŽƌŵ ŽĨ ĞůĞĐƚƌŽŶŝĐ ďĂŶŬŝŶŐ ĐŚĂŶŶĞůƐ͕ ŝŶ ĐŽŵƉĂƌŝƐŽŶ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ƚƌĂĚŝƟŽŶĂů ŵŽĚĞƐ ŽĨ ďĂŶŬŝŶŐ͕ ŚĂǀĞ ŵĂĚĞ ďĂŶŬŝŶŐ ŵƵĐŚ ĞĂƐŝĞƌ ĨŽƌ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌƐ͘ dŚŝƐ ŝƐ ĚĞŵŽŶƐƚƌĂƚĞĚ ďLJ ϴϭ͘ϳй ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƌĞƐƉŽŶĚĞŶƚƐ ǁŚŽ ĂůǁĂLJƐ ƵƐĞ ĞůĞĐƚƌŽŶŝĐ ĐŚĂŶŶĞůƐ ĨŽƌ ďĂŶŬŝŶŐ ďĞĐĂƵƐĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŶǀĞŶŝĞŶĐĞ ĂƐƐŽĐŝĂƚĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ƐƵĐŚ ŵŽĚĞƐ ŽĨ ƚƌĂŶƐĂĐƟŽŶ͘ &ƵƌƚŚĞƌŵŽƌĞ͕ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ŝŶ ĐŚŽŽƐŝŶŐ Žƌ ĐŽŶƟŶƵŝŶŐ ƚŽ ƵƐĞ Ă ďĂŶŬ ŝƐ ůĂƌŐĞůLJ ĚĞƚĞƌŵŝŶĞĚ ďLJ ŚŽǁ ĞĸĐŝĞŶƚ ƚŚĞ ďĂŶŬ͛Ɛ ŽƉĞƌĂƟŽŶƐ ĂƌĞ͘ ϰϳ͘ϵй ĂŶĚ ϰϬ͘ϴй ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƌĞƐƉŽŶĚĞŶƚƐ ĮŶĚ ŝƚ ŵŽƌĞ ĐŽŶǀĞŶŝĞŶƚ ƚŽ ƵƐĞ ŵŽďŝůĞ ďĂŶŬŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ŝŶƚĞƌŶĞƚ ďĂŶŬŝŶŐ ĐŚĂŶŶĞůƐ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĐŽŵƉĂƌĞĚ ƚŽ ŽŶůLJ ϭϬ͘ϭй ǁŚŽ ĮŶĚ ǀŝƐŝƟŶŐ ƚŚĞ ďĂŶŬŝŶŐ ŚĂůů ŵŽƌĞ ĐŽŶǀĞŶŝĞŶƚ͘ tĞ ŽďƐĞƌǀĞĚ ƚŚĂƚ ϵϬ͘ϴй ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƌĞƐƉŽŶĚĞŶƚƐ͛ ďĂŶŬƐ͕ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞ ƚŚĞŵ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ŽƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƚLJ ƚŽ ĐĂƌƌLJ ŽƵƚ ƚƌĂŶƐĂĐƟŽŶƐ ƐƵĐŚ ĂƐ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ŽƉĞŶŝŶŐ͕ ĂŝƌƟŵĞ ƌĞĐŚĂƌŐĞ͕ ŵŽŶĞLJ ƚƌĂŶƐĨĞƌ͕ ďŝůůƐ ƉĂLJŵĞŶƚ͕ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ďĂůĂŶĐĞ ǀŝĂ DŽďŝůĞ ƉƉ͕ h^^ ͕ ŝŶƚĞƌŶĞƚ ďĂŶŬŝŶŐ ĞƚĐ͘ Ɛ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌƐ ďĞŶĞĮƚ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŶǀĞŶŝĞŶĐĞ ŽĨ ĞůĞĐƚƌŽŶŝĐ ďĂŶŬŝŶŐ͕ ďĂŶŬƐ ĂůƐŽ ŐĂŝŶ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ EŽŶ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ ŝŶĐŽŵĞ ;E//Ϳ ƚŚĞLJ ŐĞŶĞƌĂƚĞ ĨƌŽŵ ƐƵĐŚ ƚƌĂŶƐĂĐƟŽŶƐ͘ ŚĂƌƚ ϭϮϲ͗ ĂƐĞ ŽĨ ĂŶŬŝŶŐ tŚĂƚ ďĂŶŬŝŶŐ ĐŚĂŶŶĞůƐ ĚŽ LJŽƵ ĮŶĚ ŵŽƐƚ ĐŽŶǀĞŶŝĞŶƚ͍

ŚĂƌƚ ϭϮϱ ͗ ƵƐƚŽŵĞƌ ^ĞƌǀŝĐĞ ĞůŝǀĞƌLJ

ĸĐŝĞŶĐLJ͕ ^ĂĨĞƚLJ ŽĨ ĂŶŬŝŶŐ ĐƟǀŝƟĞƐ ĂŶĚ ŽƐƚ ŽĨ ĂŶŬŝŶŐ ^ĞƌǀŝĐĞ

tĞ ƉƌĞƐĞŶƚ ŽƵƌ ĂŶĂůLJƐŝƐ ĂŶĚ ŽƚŚĞƌ ŝŶĨĞƌĞŶĐĞƐ ĨƌŽŵ ŽƵƌ ƐƵƌǀĞLJ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶ ĂŶŬŝŶŐ džƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ ŝŶ ϮϬϭϳ ďĞůŽǁ͘

ƵƐƚŽŵĞƌ ^ĞƌǀŝĐĞ ĞůŝǀĞƌLJ

ƵƐƚŽŵĞƌ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞ ƐĂƟƐĨĂĐƟŽŶ ĂĐƌŽƐƐ ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ ŽƉĞƌĂƟŽŶƐ ƌĞŵĂŝŶƐ Ă ŬĞLJ ƐƵďũĞĐƚ ǁŝƚŚŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĐŽƵŶƚƌLJ͕ ŚĞŶĐĞ ŽƵƌ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞĚ ĨŽĐƵƐ ŽŶ ƋƵĂůŝƚLJ ŽĨ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞ ĚĞůŝǀĞƌLJ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĂŶŶƵĂů ďĂŶŬŝŶŐ ĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ ƐƵƌǀĞLJ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌ ƚŽ ŽƵƌ ϮϬϭϲ ƐƵƌǀĞLJ͕ ŵŽƐƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƌĞƐƉŽŶĚĞŶƚƐ ĂƌĞ ǁĞůů ĚŝƐƉŽƐĞĚ ƚŽ 'd ĂŶŬ ;ϰϮ͘Ϭй ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƌĞƐƉŽŶĚĞŶƚƐͿ ŝŶ ƚĞƌŵƐ ŽĨ

/Ŷ ŽƌĚĞƌ ƚŽ ƐƚĂLJ ĐŽŵƉĞƟƟǀĞ͕ ďĂŶŬƐ ƚƌLJ ƚŽ ĚĞǀŝƐĞ ŝŶŶŽǀĂƟǀĞ ĂŶĚ ĞĸĐŝĞŶƚ ǁĂLJƐ ƚŽ ĚĞůŝǀĞƌ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞĚ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞƐ͘ tŚĞŶ ƐĞůĞĐƟŶŐ Ă ďĂŶŬ͕ ĞĂƐĞ ŽĨ ďĂŶŬŝŶŐ ;ϳϯ͘ϲйͿ ĂƐ ŽīĞƌĞĚ ďLJ LJ DŽďŝůĞ ƉƉƐ͕ h^^ ͕ ŝŶƚĞƌŶĞƚ ďĂŶŬŝŶŐ ĞƚĐ͘ ĂŶĚ ƚƵƌŶĂƌŽƵŶĚ ƟŵĞ ĨŽƌ ƉƌŽĐĞƐƐŝŶŐ ƌ ƚƌĂŶƐĂĐƟŽŶƐ ;ϰϰ͘ϲйͿ͕ ŝŶŇƵĞŶĐĞ ŽƵƌ ƌĞƐƉŽŶĚĞŶƚƐ͛ ĐŚŽŝĐĞ ŽĨ ďĂŶŬ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ͘ dŚĞ ĐŽŶǀĞŶŝĞŶĐĞ ŽĨ ϱϴ͘ϱй ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƌĞƐƉŽŶĚĞŶƚƐ ŝŶ ƵƐŝŶŐ ĂůƚĞƌŶĂƟǀĞ ďĂŶŬŝŶŐ ƉůĂƞŽƌŵƐ ŚĂƐ ďĞĞŶ ŽďƐĞƌǀĞĚ ƚŽ ďĞ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ƐƵĸĐŝĞŶĐLJ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ ĂĐĐĞƐƐĞĚ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ƚŚĞ ďĂŶŬ͛Ɛ ĂůƚĞƌŶĂƟǀĞ ƉůĂƞŽƌŵƐ ĨŽƌ ďĂŶŬŝŶŐ ƚƌĂŶƐĂĐƟŽŶƐ͘ tŚĞŶ ƐĞůĞĐƟŶŐ Ğ ďĂŶŬŝŶŐ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞƐ͕ ϳϰ͘Ϭй ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƌĞƐƉŽŶĚĞŶƚƐ ƉƌŝŽƌŝƟnjĞ ƐĂĨĞƚLJ ŽĨ Ĩ

ƉůĂƞŽƌŵƐ ŽǀĞƌ ĐŽŶǀĞŶŝĞŶĐĞ ǁŚŝůĞ ϭϱ͘ϯй ƉƌŝŽƌŝƟnjĞ ĐŽŶǀĞŶŝĞŶĐĞ ŽǀĞƌ ƐĂĨĞƚLJ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƉůĂƞŽƌŵƐ͘ ,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ ϳ͘ϱй ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƌĞƐƉŽŶĚĞŶƚƐ ƉƌŝŽƌŝƟnjĞ ƚƌĂŶƐĂĐƟŽŶ ĐŚĂƌŐĞƐ ŽǀĞƌ ƐĂĨĞƚLJ Žƌ ĐŽŶǀĞŶŝĞŶĐĞ͘ dŚĞ ŚŝŐŚ ƉƌŝŽƌŝƟnjĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƐĂĨĞƚLJ ŽǀĞƌ ŽƚŚĞƌ ĨĂĐƚŽƌƐ ƐŚŽǁƐ͕ ƉĞƌŚĂƉƐ͕ ĞdžƉůĂŝŶƐ ǁŚLJ ŽŶůLJ ϭϭ͘ϱй ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƌĞƐƉŽŶĚĞŶƚƐ ĐĂƌƌLJ ŽƵƚ ƚƌĂŶƐĂĐƟŽŶƐ ŽŶ ƐŽĐŝĂů ŵĞĚŝĂ ƉůĂƞŽƌŵƐ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ŚŝŐŚĞƌ ƌŝƐŬƐ ŽĨ Ğ ďĂŶŬŝŶŐ ƐĐĂŵƐ͘ &ƵƌƚŚĞƌŵŽƌĞ͕ ǁĞ ĂƌĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŽƉŝŶŝŽŶ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ ŚŝŐŚ ƉƌŝŽƌŝƟnjĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƐĂĨĞƚLJ ďLJ ŽƵƌ ƌĞƐƉŽŶĚĞŶƚƐ ǁĂƐ ǁŚĂƚ ƌĞƐƵůƚĞĚ ŝŶ Ă ǀĂƐƚ ŵĂũŽƌŝƚLJ ŽĨ ŽƵƌ ƌĞƐƉŽŶĚĞŶƚƐ ;ϴϱ͘ϵйͿ ŚĂǀŝŶŐ ŶĞǀĞƌ ĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞĚ ĨƌĂƵĚ ƌĞůĂƚĞĚ ĂĐƟǀŝƚLJ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ƵƐĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞŝƌ ďĂŶŬ͛Ɛ ŝŶƚĞƌŶĞƚ͕ DŽďŝůĞ ƉƉƐ Žƌ &ŝŶƚĞĐŚ ƉůĂƞŽƌŵƐ͘ /ŶƚĞƌĞƐƟŶŐůLJ͕ ǁŝƚŚ ƌĞŐĂƌĚƐ ƚŽ ĐŚĂƌŐĞƐ ďLJ ƚŚĞ ďĂŶŬƐ͕ ŽƵƌ ƌĞƐƉŽŶĚĞŶƚƐ ƐĞĞŵ ƐŽŵĞǁŚĂƚ ĞǀĞŶůLJ ƐƉůŝƚ͗ ϯϵ͘ϱй ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƌĞƐƉŽŶĚĞŶƚƐ ĂƌĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŽƉŝŶŝŽŶ ƚŚĂƚ ĐŚĂƌŐĞƐ ĨŽƌ ŽŶůŝŶĞ ƚƌĂŶƐĂĐƟŽŶƐ ĂƌĞ ĂīŽƌĚĂďůĞ ǁŚŝůĞ ϯϰ͘ϴй ĂŶĚ ϭϱ͘ϲй ĂƌĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŽƉŝŶŝŽŶ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞLJ ĂƌĞ ĨĂŝƌůLJ ĞdžƉĞŶƐŝǀĞ ĂŶĚ ƚŽŽ ĞdžƉĞŶƐŝǀĞ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘ ŚĂƌƚ ϭϮϳ ͗ ĸĐŝĞŶĐLJ͕ ^ĂĨĞƚLJ ŽĨ ĂŶŬŝŶŐ ĐƟǀŝƟĞƐ ĂŶĚ ŽƐƚ ŽĨ ĂŶŬŝŶŐ ^ĞƌǀŝĐĞ

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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 ˾ DECEMBER 31, 2017

^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ ŽƚŚĞƌ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌƐ ƌĂƚĞĚ &ŝƌƐƚ ĂŶŬ ;ϴ͘ϳйͿ͕ ĞŶŝƚŚ ;ϳ͘ϰйͿ͕ ĐĐĞƐƐ ;ϲ͘ϮйͿ ĂŶĚ ŝĂŵŽŶĚ ;ϱ͘ϰйͿ ĂƐ ƚŚĞŝƌ ďĞƐƚ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶ ďĂŶŬƐ ǁŚŝůĞ Ϯϳ͘ϭй ŽĨ ŽƵƌ ƌĞƐƉŽŶĚĞŶƚƐ ƌĂƚĞĚ ŽƚŚĞƌ ďĂŶŬƐ ĂƐ ƚŚĞŝƌ ďĞƐƚ͘ ƵƐƚŽŵĞƌƐ ǁŚŽ ƌĂƚĞĚ &ŝƌƐƚ ĂŶŬ͕ ĞŶŝƚŚ͕ ĐĐĞƐƐ͕ ŝĂŵŽŶĚ ĂŶĚ ŽƚŚĞƌƐ ŚŝŐŚůŝŐŚƚĞĚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƌĞĂƐŽŶƐ ĨŽƌ ĐŚŽŽƐŝŶŐ ƚŚĞƐĞ ďĂŶŬƐ ŝŶ ϮϬϭϳ͘

&ŝŶƚĞĐŚ ^ŽůƵƟŽŶƐ 'ůŽďĂůůLJ͕ ƚƌĂĚŝƟŽŶĂů ďĂŶŬŝŶŐ ŵĞƚŚŽĚƐ ĂƌĞ ƌĂƉŝĚůLJ ďĞŝŶŐ ĚŝƐƉůĂĐĞĚ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ƐƉŽƚůŝŐŚƚ ďŽƚŚ ŝŶ ƚĞƌŵƐ ŽĨ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌ ƉƌĞĨĞƌĞŶĐĞ ĂŶĚ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞ ĞdžĞĐƵƟŽŶ͘ dŚĞ ƉƌŽůŝĨĞƌĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƵƐĞ ŽĨ ŵŽďŝůĞ ŝŶƚĞƌŶĞƚ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŚĂƐ ĐĂƵƐĞĚ Ă ĚŝƐƌƵƉƟŽŶ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŵŽĚĞ ŽĨ ŝŶƚĞƌĂĐƟŽŶ ďĞƚǁĞĞŶ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞƌƐ ĂŶĚ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌƐ ŚĂƐ ďĞĞŶ ƉŝǀŽƚĂů ƚŽ ƚŚŝƐ ĞdžƉĂŶƐŝǀĞ ƐŚŝŌ͕ ŝŶ ĂĚĚŝƟŽŶ ƚŽ ƵƟůŝnjĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƚĞĐŚŶŽůŽŐLJ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŽǀŝƐŝŽŶ ĂŶĚ ĞdžĞĐƵƟŽŶ ŽĨ ĮŶĂŶĐŝĂů ƐŽůƵƟŽŶƐ ďLJ &ŝŶƚĞĐŚƐ ŚĂǀĞ ďĞĞŶ Ă ŵĂũŽƌ ƉƌŽƉĞůůĂŶƚ͘ ,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ &ŝŶƚĞĐŚ ^ŽůƵƟŽŶƐ ŝŶ EŝŐĞƌŝĂ ƐĞĞŵ ƚŽ ďĞ ůĂŐŐŝŶŐ ďĞŚŝŶĚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ŐůŽďĂů ĐŽƵŶƚĞƌƉĂƌƚƐ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ŽƵƚĐŽŵĞ ŽĨ ŽƵƌ ƐƵƌǀĞLJ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŝŶĚŝĐĂƚĞĚ ƚŚĂƚ ϳϴ͘ϱй ŽĨ ƌĞƐƉŽŶĚĞŶƚƐ ǁŽƵůĚ ŽďũĞĐƚ ƚŽ ĞdžĞĐƵƟŶŐ Ă ƚƌĂŶƐŝƟŽŶ ǁŝƚŚ Ă &ŝŶƚĞĐŚ ƌĂƚŚĞƌ ƚŚĂŶ ƚŚĞŝƌ ďĂŶŬ ŝƐ ƋƵŝƚĞ ƐƵŐŐĞƐƟǀĞ ŽĨ Ă ůŽǁ ůĞǀĞů ŽĨ ƚƌƵƐƚ͕ ĂŵŽŶŐƐƚ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌƐ͕ ǁŝƚŚ ƌĞŐĂƌĚƐ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ƐĞĐƵƌŝƚLJ ĂŶĚ ĞīĞĐƟǀĞŶĞƐƐ ŽĨ &ŝŶƚĞĐŚ ƐŽůƵƟŽŶƐ ŝŶ EŝŐĞƌŝĂ͘ &ƵƌƚŚĞƌŵŽƌĞ͕ ǁŚŝůƐƚ ϱϲ͘ϭй ŽĨ ƌĞƐƉŽŶĚĞŶƚƐ ŝŶĚŝĐĂƚĞĚ ƚŚĞ ŽĐĐĂƐŝŽŶĂů ƵƐĞ ŽĨ &ŝŶƚĞĐŚ ƐŽůƵƟŽŶƐ͕ ǁŝƚŚ ƉĂLJŵĞŶƚ ŽĨ ƵƟůŝƚLJ ďŝůůƐ ĂŶĚ ĂŝƌƟŵĞ ƌĞĐŚĂƌŐĞ ďĞŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ĞdžĞĐƵƚĞĚ ĂĐƟǀŝƟĞƐ͕ ŽŶůLJ ϭϴ͘ϯй ŽĨ ƌĞƐƉŽŶĚĞŶƚƐ ǁĞƌĞ ƐƚƌŽŶŐůLJ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŽƉŝŶŝŽŶ ƚŚĂƚ &ŝŶƚĞĐŚ ƐŽůƵƟŽŶƐ ŝŶ EŝŐĞƌŝĂ ĂƌĞ ŵŽƌĞ ĐŽƐƚ ĞīĞĐƟǀĞ ĂŶĚ ƐƵƉĞƌŝŽƌ ŝŶ ƋƵĂůŝƚLJ ƚŚĂŶ ƚƌĂĚŝƟŽŶĂů ďĂŶŬƐ͘ &ŝŶƚĞĐŚ ĐŽŵƉĂŶŝĞƐ ŝŶ EŝŐĞƌŝĂ ƚŚĞƌĞĨŽƌĞ ŵĂLJ ŚĂǀĞ ĂƐ ƚŚĞŝƌ ŐƌĞĂƚĞƐƚ ĐŚĂůůĞŶŐĞ Ăƚ ƚŚŝƐ ƟŵĞ͕ ǁŝŶŶŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ƚƌƵƐƚ ĂŶĚ ĐŽŶĮĚĞŶĐĞ ŽĨ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌƐ ǁŝƚŚ ƌĞŐĂƌĚƐ ƚŽ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞ ƋƵĂůŝƚLJ͕ ĐŽƐƚ ĞīĞĐƟǀĞŶĞƐƐ ĂŶĚ ƐĞĐƵƌŝƚLJ͘

ŚĂƌƚ ϭϮϴ͗ &ŝŶƚĞĐŚ ^ŽůƵƟŽŶ

ĂƐĞ ŽĨ ďĂŶŬŝŶŐ

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ĸĐŝĞŶĐLJ ĂŶĚ ƐĂĨĞƚLJ ŽĨ ďĂŶŬŝŶŐ ĂĐƟǀŝƟĞƐ ŽƐƚ ŽĨ ďĂŶŬŝŶŐ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞ

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&ŝŶdĞĐŚ ƐŽůƵƟŽŶƐ

ƌĞĐƵƌƌŝŶŐ ƚŚĞŵĞ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŚĂƐ ƉůĂŐƵĞĚ ƚŚĞ ĮŶĂŶĐŝĂů ŵĂƌŬĞƚ͕ ĂŶĚ ďLJ ǀŝƌƚƵĞ ŽĨ ŝƚƐ ƌĞůĞǀĂŶĐĞ͕ ƚŚĞ ĞŶƟƌĞ ĞĐŽŶŽŵŝĐ ƐĐĞŶĞ͕ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ƚŚĞ ĐŽƵƌƐĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ LJĞĂƌ ŝƐ ƚŚĞ ĨŽƌĞŝŐŶ ĞdžĐŚĂŶŐĞ ĐƌŝƐŝƐ͘ Ɛ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌƐ ƌĞŵĂŝŶ ƐƵďũĞĐƚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ůŝŶŐĞƌŝŶŐ &y ůŝƋƵŝĚŝƚLJ ĐŚĂůůĞŶŐĞƐ ŝŶ ĞdžĞĐƵƟŶŐ ĨŽƌĞŝŐŶ ĞdžĐŚĂŶŐĞ ƌĞůĂƚĞĚ ƚƌĂŶƐĂĐƟŽŶƐ͕ ǁĞ ĂƩĞŵƉƚĞĚ ƚŽ ĮŶĚ ŽƵƚ ƚŚĞ ĞdžƚĞŶƚ ƚŽ ǁŚŝĐŚ ƚŚĞƐĞ ĐŚĂůůĞŶŐĞƐ ŚĂǀĞ ĂīĞĐƚĞĚ ƐŽŵĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞŝƌ ďĂŶŬŝŶŐ ĂĐƟǀŝƟĞƐ͘

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ĐĐĞƐƐŝďŝůŝƚLJ ƚŽ &y

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ĐĐĞƐƐ ƚŽ ůŽĂŶ ĨĂĐŝůŝƚLJ

dŚĞ ŽƵƚĐŽŵĞ ŽĨ ŽƵƌ ƐƵƌǀĞLJ ŝŶĚŝĐĂƚĞĚ ƚŚĂƚ ϱϬ͘ϱй ŽĨ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌƐ ĂƌĞ ŶŽƚ ƉĞƌŵŝƩĞĚ ƚŽ ƵƐĞ ŶĂŝƌĂ ĚĞďŝƚ ĐĂƌĚƐ ƚŽ ĞdžĞĐƵƚĞ ĨŽƌĞŝŐŶ ƚƌĂŶƐĂĐƟŽŶƐ ďLJ ƚŚĞŝƌ ďĂŶŬƐ ǁŚŝůĞ ϰϵ͘ϱй ĂƌĞ ĂůůŽǁĞĚ ƚŽ͘ KĨ ƚŚĞ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌƐ ƉĞƌŵŝƩĞĚ ƚŽ ĞdžĞĐƵƚĞ ĨŽƌĞdž ƚƌĂŶƐĂĐƟŽŶƐ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ŶĂŝƌĂ ĚĞďŝƚ ĐĂƌĚƐ͕ ϲ͘ϲй ĂƌĞ ƐĂƟƐĮĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ƚƌĂŶƐĂĐƟŽŶ ůŝŵŝƚ ŽŶ ĨŽƌĞŝŐŶ ƚƌĂŶƐĂĐƟŽŶƐ ǁŚŝůĞ ϱϯ͘ϯй ĂƌĞ ĚŝƐƐĂƟƐĮĞĚ ĂŶĚ Ϯϯ͘Ϭй ŝŶĚŝīĞƌĞŶƚ͘ zĞƚ͕ ǁĞ ŶŽƚĞ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ ƌĞĐĞŶƚ ĚĞĞƉĞŶŝŶŐ ŽĨ ŝŶƚĞƌǀĞŶƟŽŶƐ ďLJ ƚŚĞ E ĂŶĚ ŇĞdžŝďůĞ ƉƌŽ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐŚŽŝĐĞƐ ƚĂŬĞŶ ǁŝƚŚ ƌĞŐĂƌĚƐ ƚŽ &y ƉŽůŝĐLJ ŝŶ ϮϬϭϳ ŝƐ ƐƚĂƌƟŶŐ ƚŽ ŚĂǀĞ ĚĞƐŝƌĞĚ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ŝŵƉĂĐƚ ƚƵƌŶĂƌŽƵŶĚ ƟŵĞ ĨŽƌ ŽďƚĂŝŶŝŶŐ &y ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ŐĞŶĞƌĂů ĂĐĐĞƐƐ ƚŽ &y ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŽĸĐŝĂů ŵĂƌŬĞƚƐ͘ ϭϬ͘ϴй ŽĨ ƌĞƐƉŽŶĚĞŶƚƐ ŝŶĚŝĐĂƚĞĚ ůĞƐƐ ƚŚĂŶ Ă ǁĞĞŬ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ƚƵƌŶ ĂƌŽƵŶĚ ƟŵĞ ĨŽƌ ŽďƚĂŝŶŝŶŐ ĚŽůůĂƌƐ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ŽĸĐŝĂů ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ŝŶ ϮϬϭϳ ĂƐ ŽƉƉŽƐĞĚ ƚŽ ϰ͘Ϭй ǁŚŽ ŝŶĚŝĐĂƚĞĚ ƚŚĞ ƐĂŵĞ ƟŵĞ ƐƉĂŶ ĨŽƌ ϮϬϭϲ ǁŚŝůĞ ŽŶůLJ ϱ͘ϰй ǁĞƌĞ ƵŶĂďůĞ ƚŽ ŽďƚĂŝŶ ĚŽůůĂƌƐ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ŽĸĐŝĂů ǁŝŶĚŽǁ ŝŶ ϮϬϭϳ ĂƐ ŽƉƉŽƐĞĚ ƚŽ ϭϲ͘ϲй ŝŶ ϮϬϭϲ͘ ,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ ǁĞ ĨŽƵŶĚ ƚŚĂƚ Ă ŵĞĂŐƌĞ ϰ͘ϱй ǁĞƌĞ ĂďůĞ ƚŽ ŽďƚĂŝŶ ĚŽůůĂƌƐ ĨŽƌ Wd Ɛͬ d Ɛ͕ ŵĞĚŝĐĂů ĂŶĚ ƚƵŝƟŽŶ ĨĞĞƐ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞŝƌ ďĂŶŬƐ ƐĞĂŵůĞƐƐůLJ͕ ϭϵ͘ϯй ĨŽƵŶĚ ŝƚ ĨĂŝƌůLJ ĞĂƐLJ ǁŚŝůĞ Ϯϰ͘Ϯй ĨŽƵŶĚ ŝƚ ĨƌƵƐƚƌĂƟŶŐ ĂŶĚ ϱϮ͘Ϭй ŝŶĚŝĐĂƚĞĚ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞLJ ŚĂǀĞ ŶŽƚ ĂƉƉůŝĞĚ LJĞƚ͘

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ŚĂƌƚ ϭϮϵ͗ &ŽƌĞŝŐŶ džĐŚĂŶŐĞ ŽŶĐĞƌŶƐ

ƵƐƚŽŵĞƌ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞ ƐĂƟƐĨĂĐƟŽŶ

&ŽƌĞŝŐŶ džĐŚĂŶŐĞ ŽŶĐĞƌŶƐ

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ŚĂƌƚ ϭϯϬ͗ dŽƉ ZĂƚĞĚ ĂŶŬ ĨŽƌ ϮϬϭϳ

ĐĐĞƐƐŝďŝůŝƚLJ ƚŽ >ŽĂŶ &ĂĐŝůŝƟĞƐ ĞƐƉŝƚĞ ƚŚĞ E͛Ɛ ƉĞƌƐŝƐƚĞŶƚ ĐůĂŵŽƵƌ ĨŽƌ ĐƌĞĚŝƚ ĞdžƉĂŶƐŝŽŶ ĞƐƉĞĐŝĂůůLJ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŝǀĂƚĞ ƐĞĐƚŽƌ͕ ƚŚĞ ƟŐŚƚĞƌ ŽƉĞƌĂƟŶŐ ĞŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŚĂƐ ŚĞŝŐŚƚĞŶĞĚ ƌŝƐŬ ůĞǀĞůƐ ŚĂƐ ƉƌŽŵƉƚĞĚ ďĂŶŬƐ ƚŽ ƚĂŬĞ ĐƌŝƟĐĂů ƐƚĞƉƐ ĂŝŵĞĚ Ăƚ ƐƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶŝŶŐ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƌŝƐŬ ŵĂŶĂŐĞŵĞŶƚ ĨƌĂŵĞǁŽƌŬ ƚŽ ŵŝŶŝŵŝnjĞ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĞdžƉŽƐƵƌĞƐ ƚŽ ůŽĂŶƐ ǁŝƚŚ ŚŝŐŚ ĚĞĨĂƵůƚ ƌŝƐŬƐ͘ dŚƵƐ͕ ǁĞ ĨŽƵŶĚ ĨƌŽŵ ŽƵƌ ƐƵƌǀĞLJ ƚŚĂƚ ŽŶůLJ Ϯϭ͘ϳй ŽĨ ƌĞƐƉŽŶĚĞŶƚƐ ŚĂǀĞ ĞǀĞƌ ƚĂŬĞŶ Ă ůŽĂŶ ĨĂĐŝůŝƚLJ ŝŶ EŝŐĞƌŝĂ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŝƐ ŶŽƚ ǀĞƌLJ ƐƵƌƉƌŝƐŝŶŐ ĐŽŶƐŝĚĞƌŝŶŐ ƚŚĂƚ ŽŶůLJ ϲ͘ϰй ĂŐƌĞĞĚ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ ůĞŶĚŝŶŐ ƉƌŽĚƵĐƚƐ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞĚ ďLJ ƚŚĞŝƌ ďĂŶŬ ďĞŝŶŐ ŝƐ ƚŽ ŵĞĞƚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ŶĞĞĚƐ͘ /Ŷ ĂĚĚŝƟŽŶ͕ ϳϱ͘ϯй ŽĨ ƌĞƐƉŽŶĚĞŶƚƐ ŝŶĚŝĐĂƚĞĚ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ ƌĞƉĂLJŵĞŶƚ ƌĂƚĞƐ ĂŶĚ ƚĞŶŽƌƐ ǁĞƌĞ ŝŶĂĚĞƋƵĂƚĞ ĂŶĚ ƵŶĂīŽƌĚĂďůĞ͘ ůƐŽ͕ ǁŝƚŚ ƌĞŐĂƌĚƐ ƚŽ ŝĨ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞ ďĂŶŬƐ ŽīĞƌĞĚ ŵŽƌƚŐĂŐĞ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞƐ͕ ϴϭ͘Ϯй ŝŶĚŝĐĂƚĞĚ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞLJ ĂƌĞ LJĞƚ ƚŽ ĮŶĚ ŽƵƚ ǁŚŝůĞ ϰ͘Ϯй͕ ϱ͘ϲй͕ ĂŶĚ ϯ͘ϱй ĂĐĐůĂŝŵĞĚ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ďĂŶŬƐ ŽīĞƌĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ Ă ŵĂdžŝŵƵŵ ŽĨ ϱ LJĞĂƌ ƚĞŶŽƌ͕ ŵĂdžŝŵƵŵ ŽĨ ϭϬ LJĞĂƌ ƚĞŶŽƌ ĂŶĚ ǁŝƚŚ ŽǀĞƌ ϭϬ LJĞĂƌ ƚĞŶŽƌ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘

ƵƐƚŽŵĞƌƐ͛ ZĂƟŶŐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĞƐƚ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶ ĂŶŬ &ƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ϲϯϰ ƌĞƐƉŽŶĚĞŶƚƐ ǁŚŽ ƉĂƌƟĐŝƉĂƚĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƐƵƌǀĞLJ͕ ǁĞ ŐĂƚŚĞƌĞĚ Ă ƚŽƚĂů ŽĨ ϲϮϲ ƌĞƐƉŽŶƐĞƐ ĨƌŽŵ ďĂŶŬ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌƐ ǁŚŽ ƌĂƚĞĚ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶ ďĂŶŬƐ ŝŶ ƚĞƌŵ ŽĨ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞ ƐĂƟƐĨĂĐƟŽŶ͕ ĞĂƐĞ ŽĨ ďĂŶŬŝŶŐ͕ ĞĸĐŝĞŶĐLJ ĂŶĚ ƐĂĨĞƚLJ ŽĨ ďĂŶŬŝŶŐ ĂĐƟǀŝƟĞƐ͕ ĐŽƐƚ ďĂŶŬŝŶŐ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞ͕ &ŝŶdĞĐŚ ƐŽůƵƟŽŶƐ͕ &y ĐŽŶĐĞƌŶƐ ĂŶĚ ĂĐĐĞƐƐŝďŝůŝƚLJ ƚŽ ůŽĂŶ ĨĂĐŝůŝƚLJ͘ &ƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ƋƵĞƐƟŽŶ ͞ǁŚŝĐŚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶ ďĂŶŬƐ ǁŽƵůĚ LJŽƵ ƌĂƚĞ ĂƐ LJŽƵƌ ŽǀĞƌĂůů ďĞƐƚ ŝŶ ϮϬϭϳ͕ ϱϵϳ ƌĞƐƉŽŶƐĞƐ ǁĞƌĞ ǀĂůŝĚ ŽƵƚ ŽĨ ǁŚŝĐŚ ϮϳϬ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌƐ ƌĞƉƌĞƐĞŶƟŶŐ ϰϱ͘Ϯй ƌĂƚĞĚ 'd E< ƚŚĞ ďĞƐƚ͘ ŵŽŶŐƐƚ ŽƚŚĞƌ ƌĞĂƐŽŶƐ ĐŝƚĞĚ ďLJ ƚŚĞƐĞ ƌĞƐƉŽŶĚĞŶƚƐ ŝŶĐůƵĚĞ ƚŚĞ ďĂŶŬƐ͛ ůĞĂĚŝŶŐ ƌŽůĞ ŝŶ ĞdžĐĞůůĞŶƚ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞ ĚĞůŝǀĞƌLJ͘

KƵƌ ǀŝĞǁƐ tĞ ďĞůŝĞǀĞ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ ƌĂƟŶŐƐ ĂŶĚ ƌĞƐƉŽŶƐĞƐ ĂƌĞ ƉƌŽďĂďůLJ ďŝĂƐĞĚ ƚŽǁĂƌĚƐ ƚŚĞ ďĂŶŬƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌƐ ŐŝǀĞŶ ƚŚĂƚ ƐĞǀĞƌĂů ĨĂĐƚŽƌƐ ĚĞƚĞƌŵŝŶĞ ŚŽǁ ĞĸĐŝĞŶƚůLJ ĂŶĚ ĞīĞĐƟǀĞůLJ Ă ďĂŶŬ ŽƉĞƌĂƚĞƐ ŝŶ EŝŐĞƌŝĂ͘ ŶĂůLJƐŝƐ ŽĨ ƌĞƐƉŽŶĚĞŶƚƐ͛ ĚĞĐŝƐŝŽŶƐ ƐŚŽǁĞĚ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ ŵĂũŽƌŝƚLJ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ďĂŶŬ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌƐ ĂƌĞ ĚŝƐƐĂƟƐĮĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ĨŽƌĞŝŐŶ ƚƌĂŶƐĂĐƟŽŶ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞƐ ŽīĞƌĞĚ ďLJ ƚŚĞŝƌ ďĂŶŬƐ ĂŶĚ ĂƌĞ ŶŽƚ ĨƵůůLJ ĂǁĂƌĞ ŽĨ &ŝŶƚĞĐŚ ƐŽůƵƟŽŶƐ ƚŚĞŝƌ ďĂŶŬƐ ŽīĞƌ͘ /ƚ ŝƐ ŽƵƌ ǀŝĞǁ ƚŚĂƚ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌƐ ƌĂŶŬ ƚŚĞ ĨĂƐƚ ĂŶĚ ĞĸĐŝĞŶƚ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞƐ͕ ǁŝůůŝŶŐŶĞƐƐ ŽĨ ƌĞƉƌĞƐĞŶƚĂƟǀĞƐ ƚŽ ůŝƐƚĞŶ ĂŶĚ ƌĞƐƉŽŶĚ ƚŽ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌƐ͛ ŶĞĞĚƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ďĂŶŬƐ͛ ƉƌŽĚƵĐƚƐ ĂŶĚ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞƐ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ǁĞůĐŽŵŝŶŐ ĂƫƚƵĚĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌ ƌĞƉƌĞƐĞŶƚĂƟǀĞƐ ĂƐ ŵŽƐƚ ŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶƚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĐŚŽŝĐĞ ŽĨ ďĂŶŬ͛Ɛ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ͘ Ɛ Ă ƌĞƐƵůƚ͕ ǁĞ ƌĞĐŽŵŵĞŶĚ ƚŚĂƚ ďĂŶŬƐ ƐŚŽƵůĚ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞ ƚŽ ĨŽĐƵƐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞƐĞ ĂƌĞĂƐ ŝŶ ƌĞƚĂŝŶŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐŝŶŐ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌ ďĂƐĞ ĂŶĚ ǁŽƌŬ ŽŶ ĂƌĞĂƐ ǁŚĞƌĞ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌƐ ĂƌĞ ĚŝƐƐĂƟƐĮĞĚ͘ ƵůůĞĚ ĨƌŽŵ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϮϬϭϳ ĂŶŬŝŶŐ ^ĞĐƚŽƌ ZĞƉŽƌƚ͖ ͞ EŝŐĞƌŝĂ ZĞKƉĞŶƐ ĨŽƌ ƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ͟

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

Anse Lazio in Praslin has a reputation as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world

Seychelles: Experience another World Demola Ojo offers a guide to one of the most famous vacation spots on earth, known for its breathtaking beaches as well as the legendary coco de mer nut. it is also visa-onarrival for Nigerians…

S

eychelles is a 115-island country east of mainland East Africa and northeast of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean. With approximately 94,000 indigenes, it has the smallest population of any sovereign African country.

It is a relatively virgin place; there is no record of human habitation before the 18th century.You’ll understand why if you check a map; it’s in the middle of nowhere.

One of the most fabled vacation spots in the world, only a fifth of its 115 islands is inhabited.

There are two categories of islands: the granitic ‘inner’ that cluster around the principal islands of Mahe, Prasline and La Digue, whose green peaks rise skywards from virgin forests and pristine beaches, and the ‘outer’ islands; an array of flat, coralline islands extending westwards towards the African continent.

The inner islands are the cultural focal point of Seychelles, where the majority of the population lives, while the outer islands remain mini worlds, hardly touched by man thus offering an incomparable island experience.

Culture The rich culture of the Seychelles is a melting pot of the many different types of people who have settled on the islands over the years.

From French settlers and their dependents who established the archipelago’s spice and coconut plantations, to Islamic mariners, British colonials, Chinese traders, and African slaves (many of them originally from West Africa), each wave of new residents have contributed something unique to

a remarkable blend of language, music, arts and religion.

English is widely spoken and is an official language along with French and Seychellois Creole.

Under the provisions of the Seychellois constitution, women enjoy the same legal status as men and at 45.8 percent of the total delegates, the Seychelles has the highest percentage of women in its parliament of any country in the world.

In the Seychelles, people of all colors and races mingle freely and racial tensions are almost unknown.

Roman Catholicism is the dominant religion, practiced by well over 90 per cent of the population.

Members of other Christian denominations can be found there as well, and a smattering of Hindis, Moslems and adherents of the Bahá’í Faith.

When to go The best thing about the Seychelles islands is that they are blessed with a year-long warm, tropical climate which means it’s always a good time to visit, although different times of the year may be better suited to particular interests.

Conditions for swimming, snorkelling and especially diving are superb all-year round but especially from October to April when the water temperature sometimes reaches 29ºC and visibility is often 30 metres plus. It is no surprise that this period is high season in the Seychelles.

Planeloads of tourists are heading there presently, while the traffic was noticeable lighter during departure.

How to get there A few major African airlines go to Seychelles.

I flew with Ethiopian Airlines which took a little

The Coco de mer is the national symbol of the Seychelles over four hours to Addis Ababa and another three to the airport in Victoria, Mahe Island.

Besides having a fleet of modern planes, Ethiopian Airlines also connects from five Nigerian cities; Lagos, Abuja, Enugu, Kano and Kaduna, making it an ideal choice regardless of where you are in Nigeria.

The approach to the Seychelles already gives an indication of what is in store. The view from the plane window is breathtaking; crystal clear blue waters dotted with white-beached, forested islands.

It’s all water until touchdown at the airport which was built in 1971 on reclaimed land.

Where to stay A total of 16 islands, including 12 island getaways with only a single lodge per island provide an authentic tropical island experience and offer a range of accommodation choices, from the homely comfort of rustic beachside bungalows to the pampered privacy and luxury of 5-star resorts.

Mahe is the most populated of the Islands and is home to the capital, Victoria. Ninety per cent of Seychelles 94,000 population resides in Mahe. Mahe is as busy as the Seychelles gets, and is home to the largest selection of resorts and activities, from the hiking possibilities across the rugged interior of Morne Seychellois National Park to diving pristine sites and snorkelling with whale sharks in or just beyond the glorious bays caressed by the gorgeously multihued waters of Mahé.

The west coast, from top to bottom, is one long string of stunning beaches and outstanding accommodation, but there are plenty of secret gems elsewhere. And wherever you’re based, paradise lies close at hand – a bus or car ride of no more than 20 minutes will bring you to fabulous natural attractions.

If you’re looking for activity - rather than being by yourself (and your significant other maybe) on a beach where the only footprints you’re likely to see are yours – Beau Vallon beach is the place to be.

Beau Vallon is a bay on the north western coast of Mahé. The land surrounding a bay often reduces the strength of winds and blocks waves. At Beau Vallon, the surrounding hills with lush vegetation provide extra protection for the beach. Even when the storm gathers, it knows its boundary.

This complements the warm Indian Ocean, making it the perfect site for swimming and other

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Seychelles: Experience another World

Cont’d from Pg.. 24

watersports. The beach is a base for diving and snorkelling due to its clear waters and coral reefs.

There is a market lining the promenade on Wednesdays and Saturdays where you can find souvenirs, barbecue fish and other local delicacies, coconut drinks (similar to palm wine in Nigeria) and local rum (more on this), as well as a diverse mix of people to strike up conversations with.

A wide range of affordable, new and refurbished hotels, self-caterings and charming Creole guesthouses are joining the ranks of existing 5-star hotels and exclusive island retreats to offer memorable stays among welcoming Creole people and stunning natural surroundings.

Among the numerous options, you can’t go wrong with the Savoy Spa and Resorts, which is right on the beach.

Nestled amongst palm trees and facing the Indian Ocean on Beau Vallon Bay, this beachfront resort offers sleek rooms with modern facilities you would expect from a spanking new 5-star hotel; free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs and minibars, fridges, sitting areas and balconies with sea or garden views.

Polished suites add living and dining rooms, upgraded suites add kitchenettes and outdoor hot tubs. Room service is available 24/7.

Amenities include five casual to refined restaurants serving local and international fare, plus a spa and a gym. There’s also an outdoor pool with a bar and sea views, and a garden with palm trees.

Best of all, a walkway leads you right into the centre of beach in seconds, meaning you can talk a walk in the wee hours of the morning when the crashing waves beckon.

Praslin and La Digue Praslin is home to the Vallee de Mer, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where the famous coco de mer grows wild in abundance (more on coco de mer below). Praslin is Seychelles second largest island and is 15 minutes by plane or 45 minutes by ferry from Mahe.

Divided by a ridge of hills intersected by a road that leads through the Valle de Mai, the island with a population of less than 10,000 people possesses some of Seychelles’ most striking beaches such as Anse Lazio, widely acclaimed to be the most beautiful beach on earth.

Praslin is ideally suited for those who want to island hop to La Digue, Chauve Souris, Curiese, St. Pierre Cousin and the island bird reserves of Cousin and Aride.

La Digue which is 7 kilometres from Praslin is celebrated for its divinely sculpted granite boulders on beaches such as Anse Source D’Argent.

The island where more traditional modes of transport such as bicycles and oxcarts still hold sway, offers authentic island-style accommodation, mainly situated on the west coast while the east remains untouched.

What to do Seychelles is heaven for watersport enthusiasts and lovers of water-related activities; sailing, diving, snorkeling, surfing and plain old lying on the beach.

Hiking is also a very popular activity. And yes, rum tasting, which the group I was part of partook in.

Takamaka!

The Trois Frères Distillery, on the main island of Mahé, is the only producer and exporter of rum in the Seychelles. Its rum, named Takamaka after a bay in the country, is exported to many parts of Europe and the UAE. By the time we were done at the distillery, my group broke into song;“We are H-A-P-P-Y!!! We know we are, we are sure we are...”Understandably so, after tots of eight different variants of the rum distilled, aged and blended in the Seychelles.

This, after we were taken on an educational tour of the distillery and the rum making process.

The 15-year-old distillery is located on an old tropical spice plantation site, La Plaine St André, which dates back to the 1700s. The property is a national heritage site.

Takamaka Rum is made from naturally grown local sugar cane from four different regions of Mahé. It is then crushed on site at the distillery.

The sugar cane juice is fermented and distilled in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks, before being aged and matured in French and American oak barrels. It is then blended with aged rums, local spices, fruit extracts, and spring water from the island.

The rum range includes St. André Premium Rum; Dark Spiced Rum; Extra Noir; White Rum; Takamaka 69 Rum; Coconut Rum; Pineapple Rum; and Mango and Passion Rum. The Coconut Rum was my favourite and I was sure to get a couple duty free on my way back.

The Savoy Spa and Resorts opened two years ago and is on Beau Vallon beach the restaurants, including the Boat House at Beau Vallon. Nothing beats tasty and filling.

A panoramic view of Beau Vallon Bay other

Variants of Takamaka rum made from the Seychelles Rum is a staple ingredient in cocktails in many of the restaurants and bars across the islands.

Cuisine Obviously, fish plays a prominent part in Seychellois cuisine because of its location in the Indian Ocean.

The Seychelles is a foodie’s heaven as its cuisine has been influenced by African, British, French, Indian and Chinese cuisine.

The use of spices such as ginger, lemongrass, coriander and tamarind are a significant component of Seychellois cuisine. Fresh fish and fruits are sold

by street vendors in various places.

Seafood is often accompanied with rice. Fish dishes are cooked in several ways, such as steamed, grilled, wrapped in banana leaves, baked, salted and smoked. Curry dishes with rice are also a significant aspect of the country’s cuisine. Aprt from fish, I found chicken to be another popular source of meat.

Additional food staples include coconut, breadfruit, mangoes and bananas, which has close to 20 varieties as a walk through the market in Mahe attests to.

I noticed meals came in large portions in many of

Coco de mer It would be incomplete talking edibles without specially mentioning the coco de mer, a rare species of palm tree native to the Seychelles. The nut is a national symbol, even above the giant tortoises the island nation is also known for.

The name coco de mer is French, and means “coconut of the sea”.

The nut of the coco de mer is very large (the largest seed in the plant kingdom) and is oddly shaped, being the shape and size of a woman’s buttocks on one side, and a woman’s belly and thighs on the other side.

Not surprisingly, this nut was viewed by people in other parts of the world as a rare and fascinating object with mythological and even magical properties.

Coco de mer is endemic to the islands of Praslin and Curieuse.

The coco de mer palm has separate male and female trees, unlike the coconut palm. And, unlike the more familiar fruit of the coconut tree, the coco de mer fruit is not adapted to disperse naturally by floating on the ocean water.

When a coco de mer fruit falls into the sea, it cannot float because of its great weight and density; instead it sinks to the bottom.

However, after the fruit has been on the sea bed for a considerable period of time, the husk drops off, the internal parts of the nut decay, and the gases that form inside the nut cause the bare nut to rise up to the surface.

At that time the nut can float, but is no longer fertile, thus when the ocean currents cause the nut to wash up on a distant beach, for example in the Maldives, a tree cannot, and does not, grow from the nut.

The exceptional size and suggestive form of the nut, the circumstances of its discovery, and some unusual qualities of the trees have given rise to several legends.

Even after 1743, when the real coco de mer trees were discovered by early settlers, new legends were formed.

Fruits of coco de mer are developed only on female trees while male trees have long phallic-looking catkins. Because of these unusual, erotic shapes, some people believed that the trees made passionate love on stormy nights.

According to the legend, male trees uproot themselves, and approach female trees. Apparently the love-making trees are rather shy, and the legend has it that whoever sees the trees mating will die or go blind.

The fact that even now the pollination of the coco de mer is not fully understood, is one of the factors behind the legend. The legend of the coco de mer may be one extra reason why the Seychelles is arguably the world’s leading honeymoon destination.

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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 ͚͝Ë&#x153; ͺ͸͚Ϳ

MARKET NEWS

FMDQ OTC Restates Commitment to Development of Debt Capital Market Goddy Egene The FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange has restated its commitment to the development of the Nigerian debt capital market (DCM) through its highly efficient listing/quotations service.

Vice President, Business Development of FMDQ, Ms. Tumi Sekoni, restated the commitment while speaking at the  ceremony to list the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) FGN 30 year $1.5 billion Euro Bond, FGN 10 year $1.5

billion Euro Bond, FGN 5 Year $300 million Diaspora Bond on  FMDQ OTC exchange.

She commended the Debt Management Office (DMO)Â Â for another successful outing by the federal government in the international markets.

According to her, via the listing of its Diaspora Bond, the government is providing  the opportunity for Nigerians in the international markets (and those in the domestic market with foreign capital) to contribute to the development of the Nigerian DCM and by

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

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

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

extension, the economy.  She stressed that   listing the bonds on FMDQ would rightly position the nation to continue to maximise its potential via the Nigerian DCM. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The FMDQ   remains unyielding in its support for the development of the Nigerian DCM through its highly efficient listings/ quotations service,â&#x20AC;? she declared. According to her, following a series of strategic engagements between the DMO and FMDQ, and other stakeholders on

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 28-Dec-2017, unless otherwise stated.

the importance of listing the sovereignâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eurobonds domestically, the DMO achieved this most significant accomplishment when it listed the $1.00 billion Eurobond on FMDQ in March 2017. Â She noted that less than a year later, the DMO, is again making history through the issuance and subsequent listing of the Diaspora Bond.

Also speaking at the ceremony, the Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, the sponsors of the issue,  Mr. Yinka Sanni,   said:

â&#x20AC;&#x153;By proceeding to list these instruments on the domestic exchanges, the DMO once again has paved the way for corporate and bank issuers to follow suit, thereby adding to the depth and breadth of the domestic capital markets. We thereby applaud the DMO for this initiative.â&#x20AC;?

In her address, DirectorGeneral of the DMO, Ms. Patience Oniha,  said the listings would  increase number and range of securities available in the domestic capital markets, thereby deepening

the market and promoting financial inclusion.   â&#x20AC;&#x153;This listing  will give more visibility to the domestic debt capital markets, which will be beneficial for attracting capital from local and foreign investors. Furthermore, in the specific case of the Eurobond, because it is a sovereign security, the information it will provide such as coupon, yield and tenor will serve as benchmarks for corporates who intend to issue Eurobonds in the international capital markets,â&#x20AC;?  she added.

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 180.91 182.36 42.74% Nigeria International Debt Fund 235.18 236.77 11.37% 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 0.83 0.84 18.10% ACAP Income Funds 0.65 0.65 84.58% AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 19.65% 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 18.85 19.42 52.65% ARM Discovery Fund 391.67 403.47 36.39% ARM Ethical Fund 27.56 28.39 23.36% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 17.94% 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 151.89 152.96 44.41% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 17.22% 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 18.68% Paramount Equity Fund 12.07 12.38 28.96% Women's Investment Fund 98.08 100.60 15.94% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 18.01% CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 18.40% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.09 1.11 9.65% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.03 1.06 4.32% 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 1,147.72 1,148.89 12.93% FBN Heritage Fund 138.64 139.99 23.98% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 17.80% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional $113.39 $113.49 9.71% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail $112.75 $112.85 9.85% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 170.31 172.82 50.43% 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 1.40 1.43 50.53% Legacy Short Maturity (NGN) Fund 2.99 2.99 16.16% 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 2,973.77 3,011.42 35.15% Coral Income Fund 2,467.86 2,467.86 18.39% GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 16.72% 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 17.50% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.10 2.13 25.06%

Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 18.41% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 115.08 115.08 18.61% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD ďŹ ncon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.20 1.22 21.00% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,052.29 1,052.29 11.60% 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 14.04 14.17 45.37% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 16.80% 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 1.25 1.27 25.55% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.00 11.07 5.87% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 15.14% 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 124.73 126.80 23.02% 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 1.48 1.48 19.02% 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 2,246.49 2,260.47 22.72% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 176.44 176.44 14.60% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.00 1.02 31.17% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 220.31 220.31 17.88% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 178.70 181.03 37.65% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 16.93% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 9,676.62 9,792.83 27.63% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.06 1.06 6.00% 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 1.35 18.99% United Capital Bond Fund 1.55 1.55 26.87% United Capital Equity Fund 0.92 0.94 36.77% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 17.07% 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 12.74 12.92 18.21% Zenith Ethical Fund 13.45 13.60 7.88% Zenith Income Fund 19.00 19.00 14.87%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

11.41 132.46

1.01% 6.85%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

11.92 143.69 109.41

12.02 146.83 111.51

37.83% 45.26% 44.41%

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

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

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

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

4.70 9.53 17.66 19.39 149.06

4.74 9.61 17.76 19.59 151.06

69.64% 35.36% 49.06% 21.43% 17.33%

The value of investments and the income from them may fall as well as rise. Past performance is a guide and not an indication of future returns. Fund prices published in this edition are also available on each fund managerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website and FMANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator of the relevant fund and are published for information purposes only.

T H I S D AY SUNDAY DECEMBER 31 2017

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T H I S D AY ˾ ͱͯË&#x153; Ͱͮͯ͵

A SPECIAL REPORT

P R O LO G U E

People & Events 2017 VINCENT OBIA

D

uring the past 12 months, Nigeria witnessed many important events at governmental and non-governmental levels. But some were particularly momentous, as they involved people whose actions and lifestyles have impacted the course of the country’s history and development. We spotlight the people and events whose importance in the social, political, and economic life of Nigeria stood them out as perfect examples of the good, the bad, and the ugly sides of the country.

In the economic sphere, the events brought together people with exceptional skills in various areas of business, who had achieved outstandingly in their chosen fields. Political personalities also gathered, in events that profoundly impacted the course of politics. Generally, the events preached both the positives and negatives of the country and the people’s lifestyles.

One such event, the 80th birthday ceremony of former defence chief, General Theophilus Danjuma, took place in Lagos on December 10. The guests list at the event read like the who’s who of the country’s richest businessmen and most prominent serving and former political and military leaders.

There were celebrity marriages.

The son of one of the world’s richest black women, Folarin Alakija, got married to his Iranian model girlfriend, Nazanin Jafarian Ghaissarifa, in January.

The wedding took place at the Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, the main residence of the Duke of Marlborough, in England. In Minna, top government officials and wealthy entrepreneurs graced the marriage of former military president Ibrahim Babangida’s daughter, Halimah Babangida, to Alhaji Auwal Abdullahi. In October, the daughter of Senate President Bukola Saraki, Halimat Oluwatosin Saraki, tied the knot with Mr. Olatunde Olukoya. Nigerian singer Oritsefemi married his heartthrob Nabila Fash on November 25 in Lagos. Singer and songwriter, Bankole Wellington, popularly known as Banky W,

and actress Adesua Etomi tied the knot in November.

There were also downsides to the celebrity shindigs: divorces.

Then, politics had its ups and downs. One of the biggest political upsets of 2017 was the tensions that followed the ailment of President Muhammadu Buhari and his long stay in London for medical treatment. Buhari’s medical trip gave rise to some stormy events. The months of July and August were a period of intense shuttling between Nigeria and United Kingdom by Nigerian politicians seeking to identify with the president in an obvious bid to convince Nigerians that he could still govern.

But the message did not quite sink in, as civil society activists under the aegis of #OurMumuDonDo, led

by Charles Oputa, also known as Charly Boy, staged several days of protest in Abuja, demanding Buhari’s return to Nigeria or resignation from the office of president. The #OurMumuDonDo group occasionally clashed with supporters of Buhari.

The president returned to Nigeria on August 19 during a spectacular ceremony in Abuja that drew his party, All Progressives Congress, members and political associates from across the country. He took steps to brighten the political atmosphere, which had markedly darkened during his about 103 days’ absence, through personal attendance of private and official functions.

The historic events of 2017 are captured in the following photographs.

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DECEMBER 31, 2017 ˾ T H I S D AY T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R

PEOPLE & EVENTS 2017 PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI’S 75TH BIRTHDAY

President Buhari; his wife, Aisha; Vice President Osinbajo; his wife, Dolapo; and some state governors celebrating with the president on his 75th birthday

Alhaji Aliko Dangote presenting a birthday card to the president while Senate President Bukola Saraki watches with interest

Chief of Staff Abba Kyari leading presidental aides on a congratulatory visit to Buhari

GENERAL TY DANJUMA’S 80TH BIRTHDAY

Ajoke Muhammed, TY Danjuma and his wife, Daisy

Governor Nasir el-Rufai, Gen. TY Danjuma, his wife, Daisy, and Governor Godwin Obaseki

Gov. Ibikunle Amosun, Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and a clergy

General Danjuma chatting with Mrs. Ambode and Mrs Fashola

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˾ DECEMBER 31, 2017

PEOPLE & EVENTS 2017 FORMER PRESIDENT OLUSEGUN OBASANJOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S SONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S WEDDING

Groomâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s father, former President Olusegun Obasanjo (left), brideâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s father, Chief Kessington Adebutu (right) Obasanjo dancing with the bride with the couple, Olajuwon and Temitope

The couple, their parents, and Governor Ibikunle Amosun during their traditional wedding ceremony

FORMER MILITARY PRESIDENT IBRAHIM BABANGIDAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S DAUGHTERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S WEDDING

The couple, Halimat Babangida and Auwal Lawal Abdullahi

Former First Ladies Turai Yarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Adua, Fati Abubakar, and Patience Jonathan

L-R: Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, former President Goodluck Jonathan, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, Senate President Bukola Saraki, Speaker Yakubu Dogara, and former Vice President Namadi Sambo

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T H I S D AY ˾ ͱͯË&#x153; Ͱͮͯ͵

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˾ DECEMBER 31, 2017

PEOPLE & EVENTS 2017 SENATE PRESIDENT BUKOLA SARAKIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S DAUGHTERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S WEDDING

Brideâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mother, Mrs. Toyin Saraki; the couple, Oluwatosin and Olatunde; brideâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s father, Senate President Bukola Saraki; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, and his wife, Dolapo

Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi (right) and Governor Ibikunle Amosun

Senator Udo Udoma, Osinbajo, and Saraki

GOVERNOR IBIKUNLE AMOSUNâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;S DAUGHTER & ABIKE DABIRIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S SONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S WEDDING

Groomâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mother, Hon. Abike Dabiri; Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; the couple, Oladipo and Ayomide; brideâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s father, Governor Ibikunle Amosun

Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunnusi; former President Olusegun Obasanjo, and Governor Akinwumi Ambode

Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo supervising the cutting of the cake by the couple

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DECEMBER 31, 2017 ˾ T H I S D AY T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R

PEOPLE & EVENTS 2017 FORMER GOVERNOR OLUSEGUN MIMIKO’S DAUGHTER’S WEDDING

Father of the bride, former Governor Olusegun Mimiko, the couple, Adetola and Bibitayo, and mother of the bride, Mrs. Olukemi Mimiko

The couple, Adetola and Bibitayo

former Governor Babangida Aliyu, Governor Nyesom Wike, the couple, Adetola and Bibitayo, Governor Seriake Dickson, Governor Darius Ishaku, Governor Ayo Fayose and Mimiko

CHIEF BISI AKANDE’S DAUGHTER’S WEDDING

Governor Ibikunle Amosun; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; the couple, Mr. and Mrs. Olawale Isiaka; father of the bride, Chief Bisi Akande; Mrs. Ajimobi, and Governor Abiola Ajimobi

Ajimobi, Akande, Osinbajo, Mrs. Akande and Senate President Bukola Saraki

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˾ DECEMBER 31, 2017

PEOPLE & EVENTS 2017 FOLORUNSHO ALAKIJAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S SONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S WEDDING

The couple Folarin Alakija and Nazanin Ghaissarifar during their wedding ceremony at Blenheim Palace in Stockport, Oxfordshire, London

Parents of the groom, Modupe and Folorunsho Alakija

Aliko Dangote (middle), Mrs. Toyin Saraki (right) and a guest

FORMER GOVERNOR ORJI KALUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S DAUGHTERâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;S WEDDING

Daughter of former Governor Orji Kalu, Neya, and her heartthrob, Lawrence, in Lagos

Kalu, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu

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PEOPLE & EVENTS 2017 SHADE OKOYA’S 40TH BIRTHDAY

DECEMBER 31, 2017 ˾ T H I S D AY T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R

BANKY W & ADESUA ETOMI’S WEDDING

Banky W and Adesua Etomi during their wedding engagement ceremony

ORITSEFEMI & NABILA’S WEDDING

Shade Okoya being assisted by her husband Rasaq Okoya to cut her birthday cake

Nabila and Oritsefemi tradiional wedding

Shade Okoya flanked by her husband, Chief Razaq Okoya, and children during her 40th birthday celebration

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Ëž DECEMBER 31, 2017

PEOPLE & EVENTS 2017

THE PRESIDENT: HIS HEALTH AND TRAVELS

President Buhari alighting from Nigeria Airforce One on his arrival from a medical vacation in London in August

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo welcoming President Buhari on his return from medical vacation

Buhari and his wife, Aisha, at the Abuja House, London

Buhari and Osinbajo when the latter visited the president at the Abuja House in London

The president with APC leaders who came to visit him at the Abuja House in London

Buhari receiving the General Overseer of RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, at the Abuja House in London

Buhari and his wife, Aisha, on his arrival from medical vacation in London

Buhari receiving leaders of the National Assembly led by Senate President Bukola Saraki at the Abuja House in London

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DECEMBER 31, 2017 ˾ T H I S D AY T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R

PEOPLE & EVENTS 2017 INAUGURATIONS, PROTESTS, ET AL.

Osinbajo decorating Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen, shortly after he was sworn in as Chief Justice of Nigeria

Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State (left) taking the Oath of Office before the Chief Judge of Ondo State, Justice O. Sanda, during his inauguration in Akure. With him is his daughter in law, Chinelo, and her baby

Nicole, a young admirer of the president, who paid a get-well-soon visit to the president at the State House

Buhari receiving Mr. Boss Mustapha at the State House after his appointment as Secretary to the Government of the Federation

Osinbajo dispensing petrol at Oando Filling Station, Elegushi, Lekki, Lagos, during the fuel crisis

Buhari being conferred with a chieftaincy title by Ebonyi traditional rulers in Abakaliki

IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, shortly after he was granted bail by an Abuja court

A woman casting her vote at Agulu in Anambra State during the November 18 governorship election

Charly Boy leading ‘OurMumuDonDo’ protest in Abuja against the continued stay of Buhari in London for medical treatment

School children in the South-east running home following rumours that routine medical outreach initiated by the Nigerian Army for rural communities was aimed at administering killer vaccine

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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 ˾ DECEMBER 31, 2017

GAVEL TO GAVEL

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

Mark: In the Eye of the Storm The ongoing ordeal of the former President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, is a reminder of the controversy that trailed the federal government’s monetisation policy, writes Damilola Oyedele

S

enator David Mark’s sojourn in the eighth Senate is one where he has maintained a dignified silence, and sometimes seeming detachment from the ongoing legislative business. Save for his recent bill seeking the establishment of the Federal University of Health Science, Otukpo, Mark has not been very visible during plenary on the floor of the senate. It is however necessary to point out that the Senator, who was Senate President between 2007 and 2015 when his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was in power, still commands the respect of his colleagues.

This was evident when in October he presented the university bill. On that day, the lawmakers extended their normal time at plenary to take his bill, and except for a few who spoke glowingly of the sponsor, the bill scaled through without any hitches or opposition. Some lawmakers even suggested that the proposed university be named after Mark.

But his ongoing ordeal with the EFCC seems to have thrust him back into limelight. First, it was the allegation that N2 billion was paid into the account of the National Assembly in 2010, a period when he held sway as the Senate President, for distribution among the 109 Senators.

Mark, in a statement issued on his behalf by his Media Assistant, Mr. Paul Mumeh, however confirmed that he was quizzed by the anti-graft agency, but said the invitation letter to him was based on the need to respond to some questions on the 2015 presidential election campaign funds as it concerned Benue State. The Senator honoured the invitation as a law abiding citizen, the statement said.

“Curiously, they also alleged that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) paid over N2 billion into the National Assembly’s account which he, as the then President of the Senate, allegedly shared among the 109 Senators (including PDP, ACN, and ANPP) in 2010.

“Again, to the best of his knowledge, Senator Mark is not aware of such transaction. This simply did not make sense to any right thinking member of the society.

Senator Mark wondered why anybody would think that PDP will pay money into National Assembly account. He however clarified all the issues raised before returning home.

“Senator Mark believes in due process and rule of law. He has maintained a clean record of public service over the years and will continue to uphold the highest standard of conduct expected of public servants,” the statement read.

The matter was however far from over as reports surfaced in the media on penultimate Tuesday, that Mark illegally acquired the residence of the Senate President, now a private property.

According to the reports, the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for Recovery of Public Property issued a 21-day notice to the former Senate President, in September 2017, to quit the property located at No. 1, Chuba Okadigbo Street, Apo Legislative Quarters in Abuja. The Panel is chaired by Mr. Okoi Obono Obla.

Sitting on 1.6 hectares of land, the property consists of structures which include the main house, guest chalet, boys’ quarters, driver/servants quarters, ADC/ Chief Security detail’s house, security/ generator house and chapel.

The panel alleged that Mark used his influential relationship with former President Goodluck Jonathan to acquire the property as it was excluded from the monetisation policy.

Mark has since filed a suit at the Federal

Mark

High Court Abuja, seeking a declaration that he lawfully acquired the said property from the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) in April 2011. He is also seeking a declaration, that to forcefully evict him from the property without fair hearing is a violation of his fundamental human rights.

He had allegedly purchased the property at the ‘reserved price’ of N673.2 million.

In a statement, he issued on the matter, Mark said the allegations against him are “spurious, contrived and baseless”, adding that the property was offered for sale, bided for and purchased “like any other person would in line with federal government’s monetisation policy that was started during the time of President Olusegun Obasanjo.

“I had the right of first refusal. Even if I did not purchase it, someone else would have. I am a law-abiding citizen. I did not flout any law. Curiously, four houses occupied by the then Presiding Officers of National Assembly were offered to the occupants.

“All of us, me as the then President of the Senate, Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, the then Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, and his Deputy Bayero Nafada were all given the same offer. I am at a loss as to why it is now a subject of contention,” he said.

Expectedly, the former Senate President has attributed his ordeal to his membership

of the now opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the 2019 elections.

The Controversial Monetisation Policy To be clear, this report is not saying Mark did, or did not acquire the property in question legally, because that is a matter for the Court to decide. But at the time of its inception, the monetisation policy, attracted diverse opinions on both sides of the divides.

While many Nigerians voiced support for the sale of houses to civil servants, to help them own homes, there was opposition to the sale of residences of tenured officers, and other residences considered essential properties. Such properties were the residences built for other principal officers of the National Assembly, and serving legislators, and political appointees such as ministers.

The argument was logical: if the homes built as official residences for tenured or likely tenured occupants are sold, what happens when there are new occupants of their offices?

For instance, if the official residence of a member of the House of Representatives is sold to the occupant, what happens when he loses elections and another representative emerges? Would the federal government pay rent for the new person, since he/she is entitled to accommodation?

There was more opposition to the idea for such officers, particularly because by perks accruing to their positions, they can afford to buy homes in the capital city, where properties are considered expensive. But eventually the FG excluded the residences of the leaders and principal officers of the National Assembly, and listed them as essential housing.

But under the Goodluck Jonathan administration, the essential statuses of the properties were removed as according to the then Minister of the FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed, all the houses in the Apo legislative quarters have been sold to the lawmakers occupying them, or the public, at the time of the policy in 2004.

Mohammed therefore noted that the sales had “altered the general security provision for the area and by extension, the security of the leading principal officers of the National Assembly.”

He therefore advised that the houses be sold, while new residences can be constructed for the principal officers in a more secure and conducive environment.

This argument, which eventually informed the construction of new residences for the main leaders of the National Assembly (a project which is still ongoing), buttresses initial opinions that the homes of all 409 legislators should not have been included in the monetisation policy in the first instance.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ C ͱͯ˜ Ͱͮͯ͵

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T H I S D AY ˾ ͱͯË&#x153; Ͱͮͯ͵

A S P E C I A L R E P O RT

2017 YEAR IN REVIEW

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DECEMBER 31, 2017 ˾ T H I S D AY T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R

2017: YEAR IN REVIEW

A SPECIAL REPORT

2017 Winners & Losers This year brought political and economic shocks whose consequences were revealed in various dimensions. From political tensions, to poor economic health, and threats of social upheaval, 2017 tested individuals’ and institutions’ abilities to weather difficult times. Some passed the test, successfully weathering the tough economic and political climate and coming tops in their fields. Others were not as lucky. Following is a rundown of the placements, showing those that made it in 2017 – and other who could not.

WINNERS

MUHAMMADU BUHARI This year was tough for President Muhammadu Buhari with regard to his health. Buhari suffered severe health challenges that put the whole country on edge. The president admitted he had never been that sick. But after a number of medical vacations, which were often tension-soaked, he was nursed back to health. The president has continued to enjoy good health and give the lie to doomsday predictions about his fitness.

GODWIN EMEFIELE

March 1. The delay in the confirmation of his appointment had generated controversy especially when he was the only southerner so appointed into the top position in 30 years. When the Department of State Security raided the homes of some judges over allegations of corruption last year, there were insinuations that Onnoghen was the target. DSS however, debunked the insinuations. The submission of his name to the National Assembly and the confirmation of his appointment came after loud agitations particularly from the South south.

assets declaration, when the Court of Appeal quashed 15 of the 18 charges brought against him at the Code of Conduct Tribunal. The tribunal had earlier upheld Saraki’s no-case submission and acquitted him. But the appeal court held that a prima facie case had been established against the senate president for which he should stand trial at the CCT.

PDP

ANTHONY JOSHUA British-Nigerian-born professional boxer achieved a lifetime feat when he became the unified world heavyweight champion last April. The 28 year-old currently holds the IBF, WBA and IBO titles.

SUPER EAGLES

KEMI ADEOSUN

Efforts by the Central Bank of Nigeria under the leadership of its Governor, Godwin Emefiele, to ensure monetary and price stability in the economy had hitherto been widely criticised by Nigerians. At the outset of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration when the value of the naira plummeted, Emefiele was not given any chance as the central bank governor who would restore the fortunes of the national currency. An array of policies and reforms rolled out by Emefiele’s CBN to create a regime of foreign exchange designed to buoy the value of the naira and entrench monetary stability were heavily criticised. Several months down the line, the efforts have yielded fruits. Not only has the value of the naira stabilised, exchanging for the dollar at N360, the interbank rate and bureau de change rate have reached a convergence. Similarly, as a result of CBN’s tight monetary stance, inflation for the tenth consecutive time, has declined with the consumer price index now at 15.90 per cent as at November compared to 18.72 per cent in January. Following the re-enactment of a favourable monetary milieu, investor confidence is renewed and the resultant effect is that the foreign reserves accumulated to about $39 billion.

WALTER ONNOGHEN While Justice Walter Onnoghen was appointed and sworn in as acting Chief Justice of Nigeria on November 9, 2016, his appointment was not confirmed until

The economy, which slipped into a recession in the second quarter of 2016, came out of the quagmire in the second quarter of this year after five quarters of contraction.

Although the current administration had claimed it inherited a battered economy from the immediate past government, it also did not fail to admit that the dwindled fortunes of oil at the international market coupled with violent activities of militants in the oilrich Niger Delta region seriously affected the economy and plunged it. The tenacity of the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, who critics had clamoured, was not qualified to man the economy was no doubt plausible in getting Nigeria out of the murky waters of recession.At a time the International Monetary Fund tried to entice Nigeria with a loan to assuage her financial crunch, Adeosun was resolute that the nation was not sick and as such did not need the Bretton Woods institution’s support. True to type, Nigeria came out of its predicament without the financial support of IMF. With the GDP growth rate at 1.4 per cent in the third quarter of this year, Nigeria’s economic growth has surpassed the expectation and projection of the IMF and other multilateral institutions.

BUKOLA SARAKI Senate President Bukola Saraki got a good breather in his trial over alleged

Despite the fact that he was in contention for the exalted position with other formidable party stalwarts like Chief Bode George, Prof. Tunde Adeniran, Otunba Gbenga Daniel and Chief Jimi Agbaje, with the unwavering support of the governors, he became victorious.

The aforementioned with exception of Adeniran had announced their withdrawal from the race shortly before the election. Apart from Adeniran, he also slugged it out with Dr. Raymond Dokpesi, and Prof. Taoheed Adedoja.

The Peoples Democratic Party entered 2017 with a huge baggage of internal crisis that threatened to tear apart the erstwhile ruling party. The crisis, which broke shortly after the party’s devastating defeat at the 2015 general election, led to factionalisation and intense squabbles, as stakeholders blamed one another for the electoral loss.

But PDP got its act together, did a successful elective convention, and inaugurated an acceptable national executive.

WILLIE OBIANO

Despite the formidable forces arrayed against him, Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State surprised many political pundits when he convincingly won the governorship election to return for a second term. He won in all 21 local governments of the state.

UCHE SECONDUS The PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus, is a beneficiary of party’s convention, which was held recently.

Led by Mr. Gernor Rohr, a German-born coach, the Nigerian soccer team, Super Eagles, are the toast of football loving Nigerians after they secured a place for the country in the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

INEC This year, the Independent National Electoral Commission has proved its mettle having conducted all its elections free and fair. For instance, Anambra governorship election, where 36 candidates contested was adjudged free and fair and it has been regarded as a litmus test for 2019 general elections. INEC has also conducted free and fair bye elections and local government elections in some states.

73

Ëž DECEMBER 31, 2017

2017: YEAR IN REVIEW

A SPECIAL REPORT LO S E R S

ALI MODU SHERIFF

Senator Ali Modu Sheriff acted as national chairman of Peoples Democratic Party from February to May, 2016, when he was removed and replaced by Alhaji Ahmed Makarfi. But Sheriff rejected his removal and challenged the process up to the Supreme Court. He lost, as the apex court ruled in July this year that Makarfi was the authentic national chairman of PDP. Â BABACHIRÂ LAWAL

Babachir David Lawal was Secretary to the Government of the Federation from August 2015 to April 2017, when he was suspended

by President Muhammadu Buhari amid fraud allegations. He was officially sacked in October after an administrative committee indicted him for misappropriating funds meant for alleviating the tough existential conditions of people in the North-east, whose lives and livelihoods have been ravaged by Boko Haram insurgency since 2009.  AYO OKE

Former director-general of the National Intelligence Agency, Ayo Oke, was appointed by then President Goodluck Jonathan in November 2013. Oke was retained as NIA director-general by Buhari, until April 2017, when he was suspended by the president following the discovery of more than $43 million in an apartment at Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Oke was finally dismissed in October

by Buhari after being indicted by the report of an investigative committee headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.     Â

 AYO FAYOSE Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State is one of the fiercest critics of

President Muhammadu Buhari and his All Progressives Congress. There is hardly anything on which Fayose has not taken issue with Buhari since he became president in May 2015.

Fayose has made an issue of Buhariâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s health right from the time he was campaigning for the presidency. At the time Buhariâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s health was a major cause for concern, nationally, in 2017, Fayose was in the vanguard of those who painted several doomsday scenarios about the presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s condition. But those pictures were disproved by Buhariâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s recovery and subsequent good health   PETER OBI

Former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, lost out in his bid to dislodge his erstwhile protÊgÊ and incumbent Governor of the state, Mr. Willie Obiano.  Obi who openly campaigned for the PDP governorship candidate, Oseloka Obaze, sustained a bitter war in the media against Gov. Obiano who flew the APGA flag. However, the result of the election gave a clear victory to Obiano, returning him to office a second term.  It was a sour trouncing for Obi whose political fortunes took a nosedive and has since kept a low profile.  NNAMDI KANU

Champion of the Biafran separationist efforts and the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu has gone into hiding after jumping bail following his conditional release from prison. No sooner he regained freedom than he flouted some of the

conditions for his release. Kanu was linked to groups that carried out several disruptive actions against public peace and order, particularly in Eastern part of Nigeria.  He had been quoted at different times insisting a Republic of Biafra must be established. An attempt by security agencies to rein him in, led to his perplexing â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;disappearanceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.  ABDULRASHEED MAINA

financial impropriety bordering on the payment of N104 million to himself when he retired as an executive commissioner of SEC in 2015. Besides, Gwarzo was also accused of awarding contracts to his company Medusa Investment Company and to companies linked to his wife and cronies. According to Adeosun, Gwarzoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s suspension was to enable an administrative panel of inquiry (API) investigate and determine the culpability of the DG. While there were claims that Gwarzo was suspended over his refusal to heed Adeosunâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s call to discontinue the forensic audit of Oandoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s account, the minister had denied such claims.

NNPC

Former Chairman of the Presidential Pension Reform Team, PPRT, Abdulrasheed Maina, has been at the centre of  a mindburgling allegations that he stole over N1 billion of pension funds.

While investigation was till going on, Maina who had earlier been sacked from the federal civil service was recalled through the backdoor.

The uproar that accompanied this abnormal reinstatement forced the Presidency to order his sack and instituted a probe into his ridiculous return to the civil service. Maina has since gone into hiding. Â MOUNIR GWARZO

The suspended Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mounir Gwarzo, had a running battle with Oando, Plc, following petitions

by Mr. Gabriele Volpi and Alhaji Dahiru Mangal, who had accused the executive management of the integrated energy company of mismanagement. Arising from these petitions, Gwarzo therefore decided that SEC, the apex capital regulatory authority would conduct a forensic audit on Oandoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s account.

He was later suspended

by Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, over allegations of

Statutorily, the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mandate is, amongst others, to sell crude oil, natural gas liquids (domestic & export) and LPG mix based on term contract. But Nigerians gauge the performance of NNPC with the availability of fuel at filling stations across the country. The issues NNPC had with PENGASSAN, DAPPMA that caused the ongoing spate of fuel scarcity has led Nigerians to once again question the efficiency and integrity of NNPC. Despite the reforms at the corporation in recent times, refineries are still operating at suboptimal levels. The recently licensed refineries are yet to take off.

The belief in many quarters is that, with the current scheme of things, end may not be in sight to fuel crisis in Nigeria.

P-SQUARE Sensational singing twins, Peter and Paul Okoye, better known as P Square, who had been on and off the infamy of seasonal bickering, finally went their separate ways. The brothers achieved fame and built a huge followership as a team, but the pressure of personal ambitions broke the sagging chord of their unity. They are now pursuing separate solo careers as Mr. P and Rude Boy.

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2017: YEAR IN REVIEW

A SPECIAL REPORT

President Buhari signing the condolence register in honour of late former Vice President Alex Ekwueme during the last FEC meeting of 2017 at the State House, Abuja

So Much for a Year!

With peculiar character traits, the outgoing year is unique in many ways, writes Olawale Olaleye;

P

olitically, the outgoing year, 2017, had carved its niche from the start. It is one year that failed to show promises from inception.

The year landed into the carryover of full blown recession, which had taken off the previous year. Although not completely all gloomy, some glimmer of hope had also struggled to brighten the seemingly overwhelming despondency that had darkened the sun of 2017. In no particular order, here are some major developments that typified 2017 Buhari’s Medical Vacations President Muhammadu Buhari, on January 19, 2017, left the country for a medical vacation in London, the United Kingdom. Buhari returned to the country on March 10, 49 days after, disclosing that he had never been that sick in his life, of course, hinting of a possible return.

However, after being absent from official engagements for a while, including missing three Federal Executive Council meetings consecutively, Buhari, on May 7, returned to London for further medical consultation, only to return on August 19, 103 days after and making it the second time he went on medical leave this year.

S’Court Sacks Sheriff’s PDP The Supreme Court, on Wednesday July 12, sacked Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as the National Chairman of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party and consequently declared Senator Ahmed Makarfi, the caretaker committee national chairman, as the authentic leader of the PDP. This intervention came after nearly a year and a half of intense legal fireworks over the leadership tussle that had engulfed the party.

Sheriff had come in shortly after a former chairman of the party, Adamu Mu’azu, was forced to resign – a

development that afforded Mr. Uche POLITICS Secondus, the new chairman of the party, an opportunity to act briefly before Sheriff was drafted in. He would later become a thorn in the flash of the party and efforts to ease him out proved abortive until the Supreme Court intervened, more so after having exhausted other court options.

The Kaduna Declaration A few months ago, some Arewa youths, at a meeting described as the Kaduna declaration, issued a quit notice to the Igbo living in the north and gave them till October 1, 2017, to leave else they would be forcefully evicted.

This quit notice followed a sit-at-home order handed the Igbo by the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, which experienced massive compliance. But with the interventions of leaders of thought across the Southern region, including the international community, the Northern youths withdrew the order.

Akeredolu Sworn in, Obiano Reelected Two major governorship events happened in the course of the year.

While in Ondo State, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, who won the November 26, 2016 governorship election, was sworn on February 24, 2017, Anambra State, on the other hand, held a governorship election on November 19, 2017, won by the incumbent, Chief Willie Obiano.

The inauguration of the Anambra State governor is slated for early next year.

Secondus is New National Chairman of PDP The opposition PDP, on Saturday, December 9, held an elective national

convention, where it elected new officers and Mr. Uche Secondus from Rivers State emerged the new national chairman of the party. He beat Professor Tunde Adeniran and Chief Raymond Dokpesi to clinch the coveted seat, after the likes of Chief Bode George, Gbenga Daniel, Jimi Agbaje and Rashidi Ladoja had withdrawn from the race.

However, in the lead up to the convention which had raised tensions, the national leadership of the party had also suspended for a month, the senator representing Ogun East, Buruji Kashamu, without any articulated reasons. Although Kashamu rejected the suspension, he was unable to do anything as he did not vote at the convention.

INEC Ready for 2019, Announces Election Dates Coming from the Anambra State governorship polls, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) appears ready to a large extent for the 2019 elections as it recently announced the dates for the elections. While it hopes to hold the Presidential and National Assembly elections on February 16, it has fixed the governorship and state Houses of Assembly for March 2.

Although the commission has sent a notice about some of the pending legislations meant to aid its operations in 2019 at the National Assembly, it is notwithstanding ready for the elections coming its way, starting with those of Ekiti and Osun next year.

Suspended Ndume Resumes Former Majority Leader of the Senate, Ali Ndume, recently resumed sitting at the Senate, six months after he was placed on suspension.

The Senate had on March 29, 2017, suspended Ndume for not “conducting due diligence” before filing a petition against the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, and the lawmaker representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Dino

Melaye. He has since been back at his desk Senate, Buhari’s Ministers Tango One of the very visible character traits of 2017 was the constant disagreement between some of Buhari’s cabinet members and the senate. From the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, to the ComptrollerGeneral of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali, the senate and Buhari’s men failed to get along well regardless of whatever was at stake.

Thus, the whole of 2017 was riddled with a plethora of needless and avoidable brickbats that only accentuated the frosty relationship between the executive and the legislature.

Shettima Tackles UN, 126 other NGOs Earlier in the year, Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, advised all “nonperforming” United Nations agencies, including UNICEF, and 126 other nongovernmental organisations to leave the state for alleged failure to justify the funds they claimed to be expending on persons displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency.

Short of calling them thieves, the governor said most of the NGOs were using funds released to them for servicing only their overheads and personnel costs and therefore accused them of enriching selves in the name of providing service to victims of Boko Haram in his state.

In a similar development, albeit later in the year, some soldiers stormed the United Nations building in Maiduguri, the state capital, in search of arms and wanted terrorists allegedly smuggled into the building. It was learnt that the building which was raided by soldiers and known as Red Roof was a property of a former governor of the state, the late Mala Kachalla.

Ironically, the same building had

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Ëž DECEMBER 31, 2017

2017: YEAR IN REVIEW

A SPECIAL REPORT situation, when she stated in response to a query that President Buhari was aware of the issue. Although nothing has been concretely done, the jury is still out as far as the Maina matter is concerned.

The Ikoyi Billions and the SGF Debacle

Saraki

Atiku

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), sometime in April found $38 million, ÂŁ27,000 and N23 million in a private residence on Gerrad Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.

But the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) stepped in and claimed ownership of the money.

It was no surprise that the situation forced the president to set up an investigative panel headed by VicePresident Yemi Osinbajo, in addition to also finding out the truth about the allegation of corruption involving his former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir David Lawal.

However, when Buhari returned from his medical vacation after 103 days in London, he was presented with the report.

The content of the Osinbajo report is still not known to the public.

Sarakiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Trial at CCT

Onnoghen

become hostel for UN personnel and therefore, the invasion forced the UN officials to suspend humanitarian services until the governor stepped in.

Boko Haram and Swelling Insecurity The dreaded Boko Haram sect has continued to maim and kill despite assurances by the federal government that it had not only secured â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;technical victoryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; but also on top of the security situation in the North-east part of the country.

Unfortunately, the Boko Haram menace has been compounded by other security threats like the constant herdsmen attacks as well as kidnapping, ritual killings and armed robbery in all parts of the country. The security situation in the outgoing year is nothing to be proud of.

This appalling situation was confirmed recently by the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, who said the Army had lost significant human resources to the war against Boko Haram.

It was for this reason that government has been advised not to take lightly the threat by Boko Haram to unleash terror in the Yuletide period.

IPOB Proscribed, Designated Terrorist Group The federal government, in the year, proscribed the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and subsequently designated it a terrorist group. This followed a violent encounter between the group and security forces at the Abia home of their leader, Nnamdi Kanu, a development that has reportedly since left Kanu and his parents missing.

Unfortunately, Kanuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unknown location has since put a senator, Eyinnaya Abaribe from Abia State into some sort of problem as a guarantor, who has been unable to produce him in court. He has since been going back and forth from the court over Kanuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s whereabouts.

Kanu was released earlier in the year from detention but would later flout all his bail conditions, making the clamp down on his group as well as its proscription by the federal government secure some support from the observing public.

Atiku Takes His Chances Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar during the year resigned his membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC)

Akeredolu

Secondus

and days after, defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Atiku, who has never hidden his presidential bid also spoke ill of the APC, saying the party now indulges in arbitrariness and unconstitutionality. He has also been making pronouncements all year to suggest where he had his eyes, ultimately.

Curiously, in what seemed like a preparation ahead of Atikuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s quitting the APC, the Minister of Women Affairs, Aisha Alhassan, had declared support for his presidential aspiration, even as a member of the President Muhammadu Buhari cabinet. This action created some controversies, all of which are still playing out.

It claimed that the leadership of PANDEF, led by Chief Edwin Clark, had been leading the process of dialogue with the federal government, over crisis in the Niger Delta and was acting the script of some members of the opposition PDP. Also led by the Reformed Niger Delta Agenda (RNDA), the coalition, after a crucial meeting held along the Benin River, in Delta State and presided over by its leader, Major Johnmark Ezonbi, declared that PANDEF was structured as an opposition tool by the PDP and would therefore unleash terror.

Army Retires 38 officers

Kachikwuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leaked Memo The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, a couple of months ago wrote a supposedly confidential letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, intimating him with developments in the NNPC and how the General Managing Director of the corporation, Dr. Maikanti Baru, had undermined him, often times bypassing laid down rules and regulation.

But the letter was soon leaked in a way to make it seem like it was Kachikwu, who leaked it in order to embarrass the president. Sadly, also, some of the issues raised in the letter were believed to have exposed the ills going on in the corridor of power, to which the actors were uncomfortable.

Onnoghen Named CJN On Tuesday, March 7, 2017, Justice Walter Onnoghen of the Supreme Court took the oath of office and allegiance before acting President Yemi Osinbajo to become the substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria.

Onnoghen was appointed on November 10, 2016 in acting capacity by President Buhari and his name did not get to the Senate till February 7, 2017, for confirmation by Osinbajo. He is from Cross River State and the 17th CJN. Militants Threaten to Resume Hostility A coalition of militant groups from the nine states of the Niger Delta threatened to resume hostilities against oil installations if the federal government entered into any discussion or agreement with the Pan Niger Delta Elders Forum (PANDEF).

Some thirty-eight senior army officers were recently compulsorily retired for their alleged involvement in the $2.1billion arms procurement deal, and â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;unprofessionalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; conduct during the 2015 elections, however without trial or following due military tradition of fair hearing.

They were retired over two allegations of partisanship and corruption and all the affected officers were in the ranks of Major General, Brigadier General, Colonel, Lieutenant Colonel and a Major, many of whom were from the southern part of the country.

Their case came to an interesting stop sometime ago, when Major Daniel Ehicheoya, a representative of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Yusuf Tukur Buratai, was walked out by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, the day he appeared at its hearing, following a petition on the malicious compulsory retirement of the officers.

Mainaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Curious Return to Civil Service A former Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina, stirred a disturbing controversy, when he allegedly returned to the service after over a year of being at large for alleged pension fraud running into several billions.

However, that he was â&#x20AC;&#x153;illegallyâ&#x20AC;? reabsorbed into the system, had created serious problems for the government, a development that implicated top members of the cabinet including the Minister of Interior, General Abdulrahman Dambazau, and the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.

Worse still, the Head of Service, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita, would later unsettle the

The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) on May 4, 2017, dismissed the case of false assets declaration against Senate President Bukola Saraki following his no-case submission. Sarakiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s trial had commenced immediately after winning his election as Senate President against all odds and certain interests in the party.

Whilst the government functionaries insisted he had a case to answer, observers reckoned it was politically instigated and might be a highway to nowhere.

Perhaps, his acquittal was a proof of the assumptions that had trailed the trial. A Court of Appeal has however upheld his acquittal on 15 of the 18-count amended charges and ordered retrial of three charges following an appeal filed by the Federal Government challenging his acquittal.

Kogi on the Watch Kogi State has constantly been in the news, almost for all the wrong reasons.

The stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s senator for Kogi West, Dino Melaye, has continued to battle move to recall him by his constituents, even though the move was said to have been instigated by the state government.

Whilst that went on, the state continued to wallow in crisis of unpaid salaries and pensions, prompting one of the pensioners to commit suicide over unpaid 11 months allowances. But strangely, the governor recently inaugurated a massive mansion he newly built amidst the despondency in the state. Certainly, the last is yet to be heard of the Kogi drama.

Ekwueme, Onagoruwa Die Former Vice-President Alex Ekwueme and a former Attorney-General of the Federation, Dr. Olu Onagoruwa, died in the year. While Ekwueme died recently in London, having gone into coma in Nigeria and flown abroad at 85, Onagoruwa died sometime in July in Lagos. He was aged 80 years.

Maina

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DECEMBER 31, 2017 ˾ T H I S D AY T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R

2017: YEAR IN REVIEW

A SPECIAL REPORT

President Buhari presenting the 2017 Budget proposal to the National Assembly

Economic Recovery Gathers Strength Despite entering the year on a note of decline, the economy picked up, exiting recession, and making progress on key fronts, amid tight monetary policy.

L

ast year, Nigeria went into recession in the second quarter.

The negative growth in Gross Domestic Product in two consecutive quarters from the first quarter of 2016 continued into 2017. But the economy began to improve marginally, exiting recession in the second quarter.

GDP grew by 0.55% (year-on-year) in real terms in the second quarter of 2017, after five consecutive quarters of contraction, the National Bureau of Statistics announced in September. In a second consecutive quarter of growth since emerging from recession, GDP rose by 1.4% in the third quarter of 2017.

Experts attributed the improvements to sounder economic policies, though, delay in the implementation of the budget tended to slow down progress with poor budget performance. The 2017 budget of N7.441 trillion has a total capital expenditure estimate of N2.177 trillion. Buhari said only N450 billion of the capital vote had been released as at the end of October. He said the target was to release up to 50 per cent of the capital vote for the Ministries, Departments, and Agencies of the federal government by the end of the year.

But trying to break the cycle of delayed budget and poor budget performance, the president presented the 2018 budget to the National Assembly on November 7.

That was about one month earlier than the average time for the previous exercises in the past few years.

The economic contractions since the start of last year were mostly attributed to a decline in government revenues, following the fall in the price of oil, Nigeria’s main export. The situation was worsened by a brief resumption of militancy in the oilrich Niger Delta, which sank oil output to 20-year lows. But with successful peace efforts by the government and the oil producing areas, oil production recorded some increase, averaging 1.8 million barrels

BUSINESS

per day. It is the highest output since the first quarter of last year, but still below the anticipated 2.2 mbpd.

In addition to boosting oil production, the federal government also tried to stimulate growth by removing obstacles to investment and making it easier to do business in the country. In furtherance of the ease of doing business initiative, Osinbajo, while he acted as president, issued three executive orders on May 18.

The orders were with specific instructions targeting the removal of obstacles to private business, government budgeting, and movement of people and goods between Nigeria and other countries.

The efforts bore fruit. In the latest World Bank ease of doing business ranking, Nigeria moved 24 places to 145th position in 2017, out of 189 countries surveyed, from 169th position in 2015.

The federal government made effort to reduce its revenue shortfalls through an aggressive tax drive anchored to the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme. VAIDS was launched on June 29 in Abuja by Osinbajo after he had signed an Executive Order to back it. The scheme aims to increase tax revenue through tax awareness and increased compliance by granting tax payers, who had defaulted, a time-limited opportunity to regularise their tax status without penalty. It is jointly implemented by the federal and state governments.

Tight Monetary Policy The first meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee of the Central Bank of Nigeria in January held against the background of economic recession. On the foreign scene, there were global political and economic uncertainties, as the classical capitalist concepts of free trade, globalisation,

and multilateralism faced serious threat from rising nationalist sentiments. MPC adopted a tight monetary approach to the economic conditions, which it has retained since January in its bimonthly meetings. It retained the Monetary Policy Rate at 14%; Cash Reserve Ration at 22.5%; Liquidity Ratio at 30%; and Asymmetric Corridor at +200 and -500 basis points around the MPR. The committee believed retaining the monetary policy stance would help the fruition of macroeconomic measures and maintain the modest improvements in output, inflations, and foreign exchange stability.

Foreign Exchange Policy Perhaps, the most important event that occurred in the Nigerian money market in 2017 was the pragmatic move of the Central Bank of Nigeria to wrest the currency from what seemed like an irredeemable depreciation against major currencies of the world, especially the United States dollar. At a point when the naira had hit the threshold of N500 to a dollar, the CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, and the MPC enacted a new foreign exchange policy. The policy, which was criticised in some quarters, ended up salvaging the dwindling foreign exchange market. Beginning from February, CBN has under the policy provided direct additional funding to banks to meet the needs of Nigerians for personal and business travels, medical needs, and school fees.

The CBN said such retail transactions would be settled at a rate not exceeding 20 per cent above the interbank market rate.

Capital Market The Nigerian capital market, especially the equities market, witnessed regeneration and bounced back to growth after contracting for three consecutive years (2014-2016). All Share Index and Market

Capitalisation grew simultaneously, with ASI almost hitting the 40,000 thresholds and Market Capitalisation well over N13 trillion as at December 7.

According to market analysts, the Month-to-Date and Year-to-Date returns on the Nigerian bourse increased to 2.98 per cent and 45.40 per cent, respectively.

They said demand would persist on the back of strong market fundamentals.

A major event in the capital market in 2017 was the listing of a N100 billion Islamic Bond (Sukkuk), which the federal government said will be expended on providing good roads for Nigerians. The bond was listed in the money market on the platformofFMDQOTCSecuritiesExchange.

The offer for Nigeria’s debut sovereign Sukuk in the sum of N100 billion opened on September 14. This followed a road show, which took the Debt Management Office; Ministry of Power, Works and Housing; CBN; and the transaction parties to Lagos, Port Harcourt, Abuja, Kano and Kaduna to engage with prospective investors on the issuance.

This first issuance of a Sukuk by the federal government attracted a lot of interest as well as some questions, too, from the public, fuelling demands for more explanation on the Sukuk issuance.

Energy Sector With almost two years of austerity occasioned by crude oil price crash, project deferrals and cancellation, and renewed militancy in the Niger Delta that threatened oil and gas production, Nigeria’s oil industry witnessed a slowdown of activities in all ramifications. The industry also saw huge borrowings and instability, especially with respect to federal government’s policy direction.

The government, from late 2015, turned bullish with activities that began to define the progress of the industry. In the Niger Delta, it initiated dialogues that stopped

77

Ëž DECEMBER 31, 2017

2017: YEAR IN REVIEW

A SPECIAL REPORT total yam output in the world.

Manufacturing Around 70 per cent of members of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria fall within the SME classification, thus the CBN FX window for SMEs introduced during the year generated widespread discussion. Under the initiative, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The sum of $20, 000 per SME customer per quarter can be effected through telegraphic transfer subject to completion of Form â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Mâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; supported with proformer invoice and the importerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bank Verification Number.â&#x20AC;?

Many stakeholders hailed the initiative.

However, the real sector continued to be challenged by the importation of substandard and fake products.

PZ Cussons acquired the highest International Standard Organisation certification standard. The issuance of ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Systems certificates to the company for its Ikorodu andAba factories by Standard Organisation of Nigeria was in recognition its quality and adoption of Good Manufacturing Practices.

Labour

L-R: Adeosun, Governor el-Rufaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;i, Governor Yari, and Governor Abubakar at NEC meeting in Abuja

destruction of oil assets and disruption of production, leading to increased output levels from 1.1 mbpd. It equally launched an international oil diplomacy drive that saw the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s candidate, Dr. Mohammed Barkindo, become General Secretary of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, and also got an exemption in the production cut pact OPEC and its nonOPEC allies reached to stabilise the global oil market.

The government signed a new gas policy.

For the first time, the country developed a gas-focused policy separate from oil, which is expected to help develop the gas resources and create a gas-driven economy that includes gas for power, industries, transportation, domestic use, and other associated uses for gas. The policy would also help to clarify the gas terms for investors in gas exploration, production and conversion.

The Petroleum Industry Governance Bill was passed by the Senate, with an expectation of concurrence from the House of Representatives. The NNPC signed a couple of alternative funding pacts for oil production projects in line with its drive to exit the joint venture cash call funding system.

The â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Seven Big Winsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; was launched by the government as a roadmap for the development of a stable and enabling oil and gas landscape.

In the area of power, the sector continued in a poor financial trajectory almost four years after privatisation was concluded.

Funding gaps, poor metering statistics, uneconomical tariff system, regulatory inconsistencies, capacity drops, and exchange rate differentials were some of the challenges the power industry faced in 2017.

Financial shortfalls in the sector reached about N800 billion, with the electricity distribution companies heavily indebted and their books looking unattractive for investment. Generation, which initially dipped on account of militancy in the Niger Delta, rose and maintained an average of 3,500 megawatts for the most part of 2017.

However, while generation capacity rose to about 7,000 megawatts, distribution capacity remained at an awful level of about 4,000 megawatts.

More than 50 per cent of electricity distributed to homes and offices in Nigeria are reportedly consumed free-of-charge, meaning that less than half of the customers captured by the Discos in their database pay for electricity they use. Also, out of Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 180 million population, the Discos said only about half were connected to the grid, with very few millions metered by them, indicating that there is a prevalence of estimated billing practice or free use of

electricity across the country. The amount of electricity lost to theft and vandalism in the industry is not known yet, as there is no data on this.

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, which reviews and approves tariffs, had three tariff review processes deferred, making it difficult for the cost of generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity to be appropriately recovered. This also had a direct bearing on investments in the sector, as there were no new large-scale generation and distribution investments.

Transmission saw some improvement following the restructuring of the Transmission Company of Nigeria with a new head â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Usman Gur Mohammed â&#x20AC;&#x201C; who went on to revamp transmission projects that had been abandoned. The TCN developed project-based work plan that attracted some multilateral investments from the World Bank, African Development Bank, and Islamic Development Bank, among others.

To cushion the financial challenges of the sector, the government approved a N701 billion loan for the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Limited from the CBN to support payments for power produced by generation companies for the next two years. The government also developed a Power Sector Recovery Programme under which the World Bank would provide some financial supports to help revive the sector.

Ogun Rice Pyramid

Solar as an alternative energy source was also given attention by the government, with the restructuring of the Rural Electrification Agency to take up the task of providing electricity in rural communities without electricity. Solar mini grid solutions are expected to drive this initiative with the private sector coming in to take ownership of them.

Agriculture The major developments in the agricultural sector in 2017 include the deepening of the fertiliser distribution network and commencement of yam and roasted cashew nuts export. Disclosing the cashew nuts deal with Walmart in June, Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh, stated, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Their demand is 130,000 tonnes of cashew nuts per annum, the total value is $7 billion.â&#x20AC;? Ogbeh said Nigeria hitherto shipped the nuts to Vietnam, which roasted and sold to the US. Nigeria planned to sustain the supply chain with the creation of six cashew processing factories in Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cashew belt states of Enugu, Imo, Benue, Kogi, Kwara and Oyo. Within the year, the country expanded its yam export to the US market. About 72 tonnes of yam were exported in the first phase of the export programme. Statistics by the Food and Agricultural Organisation said Nigeria accounted for 61 per cent of

It was a difficult year for labour, as workers in many states were owed wages. This was also as the Nigerian Labour Congress and other affiliate unions demanded an increase in the minimum wage.

Between June and July, there was a spate of teacher association strikes, as they protested the handover of the administration of primary school education to local councils through constitutional amendment.

In August, the Academic Staff Union of Universities embarked on a five-week strike, which was called off after an agreement was struck with the federal government.

In September, the Joint Health Sector Unions embarked on an indefinite strike over alleged non-implementation of agreements reached with the federal government, although it was soon called off.

Meanwhile, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria got locked in battles with some oil companies, resulting in litigation.

The new central labour organisation in the country, United Labour Congress of Nigeria, also launched nationwide strikes in a bid to force a review of the power sector privatisation, among other demands.

However, the year seems to end well for labour, as Buhari, in November, inaugurated the long awaited 30-member tripartite National Minimum Wage Committee for the negotiation of a new National Minimum Wage for Nigerian workers.

Solid Minerals Having operated for a long time as a single mining jurisdiction governed by the national constitution, which makes mining governance an exclusive preserve of the federal government, Nigeria in 2017 made attempts to change the governance structure of its solid minerals sector.

Considering this as the biggest hindrance to the development of the sector, despite the huge mineral deposits, the country made attempt to involve all tiers of government in the mining of its abundant gold, iron ore, coal, uranium, and bitumen.

Representatives of the federal, state, and local governments, as well as communities that host mining activities met in 2017, for the first time, in an elaborate conference tagged the National Council for Mining and Mineral Resources Development summit.

The NCMMRD summit proffered solutions to the problems in the sector, with 36 memoranda under five thematic areas, including minerals sector governance, illegal mining operations, mineral export challenges, security challenges and economic sabotage. They also considered regulatory and legal frameworks in the sector. Actions that could unlock the sectorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s potential were adopted.

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DECEMBER 31, 2017 ˾ T H I S D AY T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R

2017: YEAR IN REVIEW

A SPECIAL REPORT

Hits and Scandals of 2017 The outgoing year 2017 has played out like a blockbuster movie in many instances. What with the many interesting narratives that have unfolded so far. From giant leaps to the disgusting scandals that have rocked the creative industry, there are so many twists and intrigues. No doubt, each year has its share of joy and disappointments. Perhaps what stands 2017 out is that despite the biting recession, the creative industry, somehow, maneuvered the dangerous curves.

Nseobong Okon-Ekong and Vanessa Obioha relive the happy, nostalgic and mind-boggling moments MUSIC

A

rguably, the most successful sector of the creative industry this year. A couple of musicians had great hits, which was something to jubilate about. On the gory side, they also had sickening feuds, as well.

WIZKID

The Starboy continues to shine this year with rave hits and awards. As the curtain was about to fall on 2016, his sensational hit, ‘Daddy Yo’ became a national anthem of sorts. This year, he put a firm foot in the doorway of international fame by releasing his third studio album titled ‘Sounds from the Other Side’ featuring international acts.

One video from the album that attracted great viewership was, ‘Come Closer’ in which he collaborated with international act Drake. The video has about 49 million views (and still growing) on YouTube. The singer also bagged numerous awards this year. He made history in May as the first African artiste to win a Billboard Music Award. His joint effort song with Drake, ‘One Dance’ won the Top R&B song, Top R&B Collaboration and Streaming Song at the awards. More awards followed as he also won the Best International Act at the BET Awards and MOBO Awards. Wizkid got a mention in the 2018 Guinness Book of World Records for his 2016 collaboration with Drake ‘One Dance’. The song was listed as the most streamed song on Spotify but has been replaced by Ed Sheeran’s ‘Shape of You’.

Back home, he bagged the AFRIMAAward

E N T E RTA I N M E N T for Artiste of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Male Artiste in West Africa.

Despite this huge success, Wizkid and Davido have been subject of all manners of controversies particularly spurn by their fans who unwittingly promote a fight for supremacy between the artistes. A Twitter brawl ensued between the two camps earlier this year when Davido took a swipe at Wizkid after the latter released his album.

The feud escalated to a rumoured fight in Dubai where the artistes were scheduled to perform. Nevertheless, it’s been a wonderful year for the young musician.

DAVIDO

The ‘Aye’ singer could have had a very successful year if not for the strings of death that surrounded him. He was accused of complicity in the death of a close friend Tagbo Umeike who happened to be an ex-lover of actress Caroline Danjuma. On hearing the news of Tagbo’s death, Caroline took to her Instagram page to mourn her friend as well as allege Davido’s culpability in his death. She claimed that the deceased who was partying with the singer was murdered and dropped in front of the Lagos State General Hospital. Different versions of what happened that night surfaced on the internet with some claiming that the singer died of too much consumption of the alcoholic beverage, Tequila.

For a while, it seemed Davido was guilty of the crime when the police revealed CCTV footages that suggested that Davido’s escort driver Tunde Usutu actually brought the dead to the hospital. The interim autopsy report indicated that Tagbo was

asphyxiated. That same week, DJ Olu and Chime Amaechi, friends of Davido, were found dead in a car. The artiste has since been cleared of all allegations.

Notwithstanding, Davido has had a good year in his music career. His hit single ‘If’ was an instant success, garnering over 52 million views on YouTube while ‘Fall’ has 36 million views. His recent single ‘Fia’ is already on a meteoric rise with over 4.7 million views.

TEKNO

If anything, 2017 proved that the artiste Tekno Miles is no longer a flash in the pan.

Through the years, he has consistently worked on his career and has recorded a significant success, so far. On YouTube, his afro-pop love song ‘Yawa’ has been watched 17 million times. ‘Rara’ has 11 million views while ‘Go’, another club banger has 7.7 million views. His latest collaborative effort with Wizkid ‘Mama’ interestingly is receiving poor reviews.

KISS DANIEL

It is a year that brought out the versatility in Kiss Daniel. Going forward, there can be no question about the ‘Woju’ singer’s talent as he keeps on pushing the envelope. In 2017, he sampled his skills on dancehall music. The outcome was splendid. Although, the 2.3 million views on YouTube is not quite impressive, the song is a major hit on airwaves. However, his latest jam ‘Yeba’ is already a fans’ favourite and has over 2.6 million views on YouTube. But the singer seems to be ending the year with a court case instituted against him by his record label, G-Worldwide Entertainment.

Wizkid

Femi Kuti and his brother, Seun (r) at one of the Felabration2017 events

MAYORKUN

Last year, Mayorkun burst into the limelight with his hit ‘Eleko’. This year, it is ‘Mama’, a mellow danceable afro-pop tune that dominated the airwaves for a while. On YouTube, it’s been viewed 6.7 million times.

Born Mayowa Emmanuel, the singer will be having his first concert titled ‘Mayor of Lagos’ on December 14 at Hard Rock Cafe, Lagos.

NINIOLA

One thing is certain, Niniola is a talented singer and if you doubt it, get a copy of her album ‘This is Me’. Chances are that you will relish each track. Her first two singles ‘Maradona’ and ‘Sicker’ released ahead of the album are already climbing the ladder of fame. On YouTube, both singles have over one million views.

Apparently, she is the most sensational female artiste to hit the Nigerian music scene this year, showing signs of displacing some established female acts.

OLAMIDE

It has not really been a fantastic year for Olamide. Nevertheless, his street-style music always brings him good tidings. His ‘Wo’ single is still enjoying massive airplay and has over 9.9 million views on YouTube.

TUNJI IGE

The Nigerian-born Philadelphia rapper and producer has joined the robust list of Nigerian artistes with Grammy nominations. He is nominated as a producer on ‘Location’, a song by Khalid. ‘Location’ is nominated in the Best R&B Song category.

MAJOR LAZER

Peter Okoye of former P Square

Banky W and Adesua Etomi

Olamide

79

Ëž DECEMBER 31, 2017

2017: YEAR IN REVIEW

A SPECIAL REPORT NOLLYWOOD

The American electronic music trio composed of record producer Diplo, DJs Jillionaire and Walshy Fire have warmed the hearts of most Nigerian musicians. From Skales to Ice Prince, the virtual band has become a constant feature on the Nigerian music scene. Their unique sounds sample the mixing of numerous genres such as reggae with dancehall, reggaeton, soca, house and moombahton. Skales, Yung L and Chopstix did an afrosmash remix of their â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Run Upâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; hit which features Canadian musician PartyNextDoor and rapper Nicki Minaj.

The music video has over three million views.

American-based Nigerian rapper Wale also featured the band in his song â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;My Loveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.

Wizkid and Dua Lipa were also featured on the song which has over 9.7 million views.

But the highest of them all is â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Particulaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; (11 million views) which has a long list of collaborators: DJ Maphorisa, Nasty C, Ice Prince, Jidenna and Patoranking.

BANKY W AND ADESUA ETOMI

From the screen to reality, singer Bankole Wellington popularly known as Banky W finally tied the nuptial knot with Nollywood actress Adesua Etomi. Their love story started on the set of Moâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Abuduâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hit movie â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The Wedding Partyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. They had a star-studded wedding ceremony in South Africa on November 25.

BURNA BOY

Despite his creative talents, this singer has a way of courting trouble. The latest is his alleged complicity in a robbery attack on Mr. 2Kay, a fellow musician who was attacked in his room at Eko Hotel and Suites. The incident took place during the Buckwyld and Breathless concert. Different online media reported that Burna Boy was declared wanted by the police as the suspects confessed that he was the brain behind the robbery. Although the singerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s management claimed that the artiste is innocent of the crime and is cooperating with the police, but Mr. 2Kayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lawyer, Barrister Mayowa said Burna Boy is yet to honour the invitation by the police for questioning. Mr. 2Kayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s camp claim that Burna Boy has sent several highpowered emissaries to plead on his behalf, â&#x20AC;&#x153;all he wants is to be let off the hook. There is no hint of remorse at all in his approach.

Meanwhile, his Twitter handle shows that he performed at a concert in Botswana and may be releasing new music soon. Critics have suggested that Burna may have taken his gangster tendencies too far. At different times he was alleged to have threatened to assault his Baby Mama and fellow musicians.

MUMA GEE

The sexy mother of three children finally told her side of the story detailing years of abuse which she condoned in a six-year marriage to Nollywood actor, Prince Eke. She relocated to Lagos from Port Harcourt and has been trying to piece together her music career which took a back seat. Meanwhile, she has retuned to the University of Lagos to study Law

P-SQUARE SURVIVING WITHOUT THE OTHER

Ever since their motherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s death, there has been visible crack in the relationship between the lovable twins, Peter and Paul Okoye, better known as P Square who entertained the continent with their dance skills and songs. After so much drama on social media with Peter attacking his twin and older brother, Jude, of many things, the twins are finally solo artistes. Going under different names, Mr P (Peter) and Rude Boy (Paul).

They have since launched their singles. From the views on YouTube, Mr P is leading with his songs â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Cool it Downâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; having more than one million views.

BIOLA ALABI

It was a big year for the media entrepreneur who ventured into movies.

Her first outing â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Banana Island Ghostâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; which was in partnership with BB Sasoreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Nemsia Pictures was a great hit. The movie grossed N35 million at the box office in its opening week. The romantic action comedy was lauded for its special effects and starred comedienne Chioma Omeruah, better known as, Chigul, Patrick Diabuah, Ali Nuhu, Bimbo Manuel and Saidi Balogun among others.

Other movies that had a great outing include Isoken, Slow Country, Acada Reloaded, Hakkunde and Roti to mention a few.

MERCY AIGBE

It came as a big surprise to many when Mercy Aigbe released images of her battered face on social media in April. Not that it was the first time her husband Lanre Gentry had turned her to a punching bag. In 2013, he was said to have beaten up his wife in public.

The element of shock came from the veneer of happiness the actress displays in public. She reportedly moved out of her matrimonial home after the news broke. Recent media reports suggest that the two might reconcile. We are yet to hear the reunion bells.

This was the saddest breakup that hit Nollywood this year. Hitherto, they were cited as a good example of a happy union. No one saw it coming.

Iretiola and Patrick Doyle lived such an exemplary life that most people thought it would stand the test of time. Unfortunately, the couple went their separate ways without giving their fans reasons for their break up.

Their separation was shrouded in so much secrecy that fans were forced to conclude that Iretiolaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s latest liaison with Moâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Abudu led to the end of her marriage.

MOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ABUDU

The media mogul enjoyed huge success in the movie industry last year with her rom-com â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The Wedding Partyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.

This year, Moâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Abudu is yet to hit the spotlight. Her movie â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Royal Hibiscus Hotelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; which paraded A-list actors like Jide Kosoko, Rachel Oniga didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fetch good reviews despite the effusive review by US-based publication, Variety. But the successful premiere of the sequel of The Wedding Party which grossed N73million in its opening weekend, making it the highest ever in the Nigerian box office, ended the year on a pleasant note for her.

IRETIOLA DOYLE

NATHANIEL BASSEY #HALLELUJAH CHALLENGE

Prior to the release of his single â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Olowogbogboroâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, in which he collaborated with Wale Adenuga, gospel singer and trumpeter, Nathaniel Bassey started a 30day midnight praise challenge which lasted throughout the month of June. The Hallelujah challenge tagged #Olowogbogboro had over 60,000 worshippers joined in the Instagram praise and worship in a one hour long midnight gathering. It was first-of-akind and was highly applauded as many testimonies emerged from the challenge.

In the month of November, the artiste also staged a 21-day hallelujah challenge tagged #OpenHeavens.

Biola Alabi

Iretiola and Patrick Doyle

FESTIVALS 2017 seems to be a year of festivals, particularly in the drinks industry.

NIGERIAN BEER FESTIVAL

For the first time in the country, a beer festival was held. Put together by On and One Event Limited, the festival was a week-long event that gathered giants in the brewery industry like Nigerian Breweries Plc and Guinness Nigeria Plc. Held at the Eko Atlantic City, the festival was also a hub of many commercial activities. Hosted by the Lagos state government, the festival came to a close with a mega music concert.

INTERNATIONAL DRINKS FESTIVAL

Revelers at the Lagos Street Party

For the first time in Nigeria, the Balmoral Group hosted an International Drinks Festival which attracted more than 25000 visitors.

The festival had various activities such as masterclasses, summit, Flair Bartending Show and an outdoor entertainment called Beer Village. The three-day festival is the brainchild of three business friends, Adamu Ezekiel, Akin Eso and Goke Obembe.

NICKELODEON FESTIVAL

Another first was recorded for children, teens and pre-teens as they had the fun of their life in November when favourite children channel Nickelodeon staged its first festival in the country. Popular Nickâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s characters like Spongebob were in town to entertain the children.

MUSIC AND DEALS FESTIVAL

Models serving plamwine at the International Drinks Festival 2017

Popularly called MAD Festival, the event was a first-of-its-kind shopping experience that saw a partnership between foremost music channel Trace Naija and top online retailer Jumia. The festival was a commemoration of Jumiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Black Friday which lasted for one month. Music stars like Wande Coal, Niniola,

Skales entertained the crowd while they enjoyed flash sales from the e-commerce hub.

ALKEBULAN FESTIVAL

The brainchild of arts collector and promoter, Kokwe Yebovi, the festival held at Freedom Park in Lagos and featured a spectacular line up of engaging activities and entertainment, including art exhibition, drama, musical concert and fashion over a two-day period.

The theme for this year was, Heritage: A Bridge to the Futureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. Alkebulan is believed to be the original name for the African continent, meaning, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;mother of mankind.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;

OSOSO FESTIVAL

With the signing of an MoU between the promoters of the Ososo Festival and Neo Media and Marketing, the festival holds greater promise; more so that the organisers have sought knowledge from the Calabar Carnival Commission. The festival is heavily supported by the Edo State government.

OBANGOGO FESTIVAL

As some influential indigenes of Kabba community in Kogi State led by the CEO X3M Group, Mr. Steve Babaeko, become more involved in the promotion of an entertaining time of dance, music and funfair to celebrate Obangogo Hills, the festival is about to experience a marked turn-around that will attract visitors from far and wide.

Felabration: In its 20th year, Felabration, the annual week-long festivity to honour the heritage of Afrobeat trailblazer, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti has been listed as one of the African festivals to make the global list of top 300 festivals in the world. The only other African festival on the list is Nyege Nyege from Uganda.

80

DECEMBER 24, 2017 ˾ T H I S D AY T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R

2017: YEAR IN REVIEW

A SPECIAL REPORT

An Eventful Year for Arts Community 2017 is a memorable year in Nigerian arts community for its anniversaries, festivals and controversies that fuelled intellectual conversations, writes Yinka Olatunbosun

“Headless Fela” at Allen Roundabout in Lagos

E

xhale! 2017 was a good year for the arts in Nigeria with copious examples as proof. Beginning with the Osogbo School of Art in January, the motion was set for a remembrance of the pioneers of an enduring art tradition, with credits to the late Ulli Beier, his wife, Georgina and Susan Wenger for putting Nigerian arts on a global map with their workshop that developed into an art movement. The Ministry of Information in collaboration with the Osun State Government marked the 50 years of this movement with the exhibition of the works of Twin Seven Seven, Jimoh Buraimoh and Muraina Oyelami in Osogbo and Abuja in January.

Lagos was busy in the second quarter of the year with the Lagos at 50 celebrations which actually started last year with a series of colloquiums, followed by street parades, dances, Vision of the Child competition, film screenings and ultimately culminated in the command performance of the concert edition of Fela! From Broadway. In the same spirit of art anniversaries, the Centre for Black African Arts and Culture (CBAAC) observed the 40 years of FESTAC, the most important cultural event in Nigerian history which has remained unbeatable.

Nigerian theatre became a source of cultural export with the home made performances that were done outside the shores. For instance, with the 50-man cast and crew, Kakadu the musical, proved to be Nigeria’s best kept musical secret that berthed in Johannesburg, precisely at the Nelson Mandela Theatre which is arguably the largest acting space in Africa.

Saro the musical, a Bolanle Austen Peters Production was performed in London just when the new look of Terra Arena space is on the lips of visitors in Lagos.

Much later, in October this year, Lagos Biennial, the inaugural edition, made the Railway Compound a visual arts

Obafemi Awolowo statue at Allen Roundabout, Lagos

ARTS destination. Its relics, the old locomotive engines and those scavenged coaches were no distraction to the art enthusiasts who swarmed the main venue and the satellite venue, Ilukwe House for masterpieces. Not long after that, the second edition of Art X took Lagos by storm with the cosmopolitan appeal, drawing from 15 countries across Africa while attracting 10,000 visitors at the three-day fair. Following closely on the heels of ArtX Lagos was the maiden edition of the African Culture and Design Festival at the Federal Palace Hotel in Victoria Island.

There was also the opening of the annual LagosPhoto festival, which entered its eighth edition this year. The event’s opening, which traditionally held in October, was for undisclosed reasons moved to late November.

November was also the month of the official grand opening of Thought Pyramid Art Centre’s Lagos outpost. The gallery, which has been in operation in Abuja for a decade, considered its presence in the Lagos scene a significant move. This probably explains the large attendance of art lovers at the event.

Felabration was bigger this year and may be the biggest yet considering the support received from fans, artists and Lagos State.

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode becomes the first sitting governor to unwind at the New Afrikan Shrine during the Felabration ceremony that marked the 20th anniversary of Fela’s passing.

The official unveiling of Fela statue at Allen Avenue Roundabout added to the list of debates on the nature of monuments that are commissioned by the state. On the social media, the anger was unquantifiable.

How could Fela be headless? Fela, also known by the moniker, Abami Eda couldn’t be represented in a predictable form as he was a revolutionary to some and an

outlaw to the government that he fought in his lifetime.

Before the “headless Fela’’, there was some measure of outrage amongst critics after the new statue of the late nationalist Chief Obafemi Awolowo was unveiled.

First, the argument was around why Awo would be made to sit. Second, it was argued that it was sacrilegious for the late elderstate man to be shown sporting laced boots with his traditional robe. What dress sense! Others argued about the cultural import of such manner of dressing- as a form of cultural assimilation. Awolowo was famed for his anti-colonial ideals which is why a US-based Nigerian scholar, Dele Jegede’s scathing verdict on the statue led a series of arguments and counter-argument which was seen in some quarters as an attempt to discredit a work of art that was made by an unconventionally trained artist, Hamza Atta. To calm the nerves of critics on this monumental controversy, a statement was issued by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Hon. Adebimpe Akinsola stating that Chief Awolowo was a colossus who cannot be stereotyped.

On the book scene, The Nigeria Literature Prize – sponsored by the NLNG – announced the winner of its $100, 000 prize at Eko Hotel and Suites. The winner, Ikeogu Oke, clinched the winner-takes-all prize for his entry, The Heresiad, a book of collection of poetry, to which the prize – which rotates among four literary genres – was dedicated this year.

The Lagos Book and Art Festival (LABAF) was quite a success as it celebrated the poet and scholar, Niyi Osundare’s 60th birthday with book readings and discussions, documentary film screenings and theatre performances. A week later, the city of Abeokuta was besieged by the literati who shut the city down with the annual Ake Arts and Book Festival. The Lagos International Poetry Festival, sponsored

by Nigerian Breweries was not aborted

this year. Instead, more international performance poets were on stage with the rock-solid Nigerian roll call of master poets with thought provoking lines.

LagosPhoto Festival looked good this year with its content. Starting with its collaboration with National Geographic, the discussions were rich in message just as the carefully selected works are heavy on details and thematic resonance.

Nigerian music also experienced a new wave of music style that draws upon the folk tradition and afrobeat. The comedian and rapper, Falz experimented with French in his single La Fete, Simi gave a wonderful Afrobeat delivery in Joromi while MI sparked controversies with his new single, “You rappers should fix up your lives’’. The song was met with anger by foes and fans who reacted on the social media that MI himself needs some fixing.

The song throws in the challenge for new crop of rappers to aspire for the throne of lyricist. Also, the rise and rise of Wizkid internationally caught the attention of critics who responded critically to his brand of music being christened as “Afrobeats’’.

The controversy in music this year shows the vacuum created by the dwindling number of reviews on music in Nigeria.

The split of singing duo, Psquare had become so cliché that the traditional media is no longer paying attention, or so it seems. Mr P, as Peter Okoye is now known, has dropped a single while contractual restraint has made it impossible to perform PSquare’s hit songs. The breakup of Psquare translates to the rise of two new artists who need to rebrand, reinvent and retain the love, the latter being the most difficult in any artist’s career life.

This year was also a year of tears and heart-breaks. The visual arts community lost two of its members: the enigmatic painter Ben Osaghae in his Lagos home early this year and the renowned woodcarver Bisi Fakeye.

81

Ëž DECEMBER 24, 2017

2017: YEAR IN REVIEW

A SPECIAL REPORT

Aruna Quadri

Super Eagles of Nigeria

Marylove Edwards

Eagles Fly Again, Joshua goes Global Demola Ojo and Vanessa Obioha

I

tâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been a year of records and firsts for Nigeria in sport scenes as Nigerians celebrated some breath-taking victories across different sports.

British Nigerian boxer, Anthony Oluwafemi Joshua, made Nigerians proud this year as he transformed into a genuine global superstar. The IBF and WBA heavyweight champion wa fully in the limelight during his world heavyweight title match against Ukrainian Wladimir Klitschko in April. The new poster boy knocked out his contender in front of 90,000 people at the WembleyArena, London.

He earned ÂŁ15 million for the fight.

Ever since that victory, AJ as he is fondly called became a sensation among Nigerians, particularly in Sagamu, OgunState where he hails from. The Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung,, Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Yetunde Onanuga, Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed were among the few dignitaries who travelled to Cardiff to watch him defend his IBO, IBF and WBA title against Cameroonian Carlos Takam in October which ended in another victory for AJ. A viewing party was organised in Sagamu by the Youth Association.

One of the things that has endeared AJ to Nigerians is his readiness to associate with Nigeria. On more than one occasion, he has leaned towards his Nigerian heritage despite his British citizenship. Also, a map of Africa with Nigeria highlighted is tattooed on the side of his right arm, just below his shoulder.

This year was also historic in Nigerian sports as for the first time in the history of Winter Olympics, an African team represented by three ambitious Nigerians qualified to participate at the 2018 edition. The trio of Segun Adigun, Ngozi Onwumere and Akuoma Omeoga completed the fifth of five required races to qualify in PyeongChang, South Korea. They were former US-based sprinters. Through massive campaigning and marketing, they crowd-funded the $150, 000 required to fund their efforts in the races.

Football is undoubtedly Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s number one sport and it was top great relief that

SPORTS against all odds, Nigeria secured World Cup Qualification in a group of death that included African champions Cameroon, Zambia and highly rated Algeria.

However, this was almost marred by a deduction of points (and a fine) for fielding an ineligible player, Shehu Abdullahi, in the match against Algeria.

Abdullahi was supposed to be on a onematch suspension as a result of receiving yellow cards in two previous matches of same competition. However, the loss will not affect Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s participation in the upcoming competition since they had amassed enough points to make the deduction inconsequential. Arsenal forward Alex Iwobi sealed the deal with a goal at the 73rd minute in their match against Zambia. This ensured a the sixth appearance for Nigeria at the World Cup. The Super Eagles was also the first African team to advance to Russia.

In preparation for the global fiesta, Nigeria played Argentina in a friendly which the Eagles won 4-2 after coming back from two goals down. The victory was all the more impressive as it was a full strength Argentine team which fielded their global superstars apart from Barcelona forward, Lionel Messi.

Interestingly, both have been paired together in the same group for the fifth time.

Argentina won the four previous encounters by the odd goal.

Twenty seventeen also witnessed the rise of Victor Moses to global prominence, a trajectory that started in 2016. Although he lost the 2017 BBC African Footballer of the Year Award to Egypt and Liverpool forward, Mohamed Salah, Victor Moses earned the accolade as the top Nigerian performer of the year. He was the only Super Eagles player named in a study by ESPN. He was ranked in the top 10 right backs in the world and the only Nigerian on the list.

On the international scene, he is the regular starter for his club Chelsea, and regarded as an important player for Chelsea.

In tennis, Temple Management Company

helped Marylove Edwards - 12 year-old tennis prodigy - launch her career in what is being seen as a first an important step to being a global superstar. Recently, she won her first US Open by defeating her opponent Nina Sidhu in two straight sets at the USTACelsius Level 6 Girls & Under Tournament.

She also emerged the first junior to make it to the finals of the CBN Women Seniors.

Her performance at the tournament earned her the fourth position in Nigerian Women Singles Tennis ranking. TMC also facilitated the youngsterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s return to IMG Academy to begin a full academic session.

Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s men baskeball team team made history in Togo this year when they won the first-ever edition of the FIBA 3X3 Africa Cup. They won every game before the 10-minute limit. They clinched the overall victory after beating Cote dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Ivoire in the finals. Still on FIBA, for the first time in a decade, Nigeria won the hosting rights for the international Basketball competition after winning the bid for the 2017 FIBA Africans Club Championship elimination.

In table-tennis, Aruna Quadri, Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s superstar player set a new record recently when the International Table Tennis Federation ITTF ranked him 21 in their end-of-theyear list. He is now the highest ranked African in the latest list. Quadri climbed four steps from his previous position in the global ranking.

These are among the notable highlights of Nigerian sports in 2017 with hopes of 2018 being a better year.

Joshua

82

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

INTERNATIONAL

Definienda and Challenges of Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Foreign Policy in 2018

T

he conduct and management of foreign policy is the most difficult challenge that any chief diplomat, that is, the Head of State and Government can be faced with in the articulation of his countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s foreign policy attitude. This is because every member state of the international community is in competition for the protection of its own national interests, even if it is to the detriment of those of other stakeholders. The protection of such national interests is required to follow a certain mania of policy attitude, such as respect for the principles of non-intervention in the domestic affairs of other sovereign states, resolution of disputes peacefully, use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, promotion of good neighbourliness, good governance, protection of fundamental human rights, commitment to maintenance of international peace and security, etc.

In the event of non-compliance with the foregoing principles, the international community also prescribes various measures to deal with it. They include the principles of International Responsibility to Protect (IR2P); economic sanctions; collective response, including joint attacks and other measures of reprisal.

In the specific case of Nigeria, the conduct and management of foreign policy under President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) in 2017 was compliant with general international practice, especially in terms of respect for international law and particularly, international humanitarian law. However, the definienda, both at the national and international environmental levels are quite inclement. First, at the national level, institutions do not matter in Nigeria. It is the private individuals that do matter. In other words, private individuals are more powerful than institutions. Consequently, foreign policy making and implementation is private interest driven, and therefore, necessarily and largely fraught with political instability and inconsistency.

For instance, corruption is not only institutional and systemic, but was also reported to be deepening. Complaints of corruption and serious misconduct in many agencies of government, especially at the Nigerian Institute of InternationalAffairs whose case was brought to the attention of PMB, was covered up by silence over it. The Ike Omar Nwachukwu-led Governing Council was incapable of determining who was right or wrong when three members of staff petitioned the Director General and the Director General provided his own version of the truth in his reply to the petition. The Council could only â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;noteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; but could not sanction anyone. Government also simply covered it up. The Ministry of ForeignAffairs, underAmbassador Bulus Lolo as Permanent Secretary andActing Minister, as supervisory authority, similarly and consciously covered it up.And yet, the Government claims to be seeking the extermination of corruption and other societal ills. This is a major contradiction that does not help Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s international image.

The Maina and Magu saga are other cases of corruption on which PMB has been dilly dallying. These cases have seriously tainted whatever good record to which PMB may want to lay claim. Besides, corruption, injustice and unfairness are some of the reasons also being advanced for the threats to the corporate existence of Nigeria, as disturbingly manifested by the activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Movement for theActualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Boko Haram, etc. It is within this frame of considerations that calls for restructuring of Nigeria have also been made.And this is why the definienda of Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s foreign policy at the domestic level has been inclement and also why there was no clear foreign policy focus in the past one year.At best, foreign policy has been reactive, rather than initiative-oriented and preventive. Even, at the reactive level, Governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s response was generally not prompt.

At the international and environmental level, the threats to global peace and security were more serious in terms of fear and implications than they were at the national level. There was the fear of nuclear war likely to be prompted by the dispute between the United States and North Korea over its alleged illegality of nuclear tests. President Donald Trump is talking about total destruction of North Korea but the defiance of North Korea in light of its continued nuclear tests and development of intercontinental ballistic missiles are sending disturbing signs of a possible nuclear war, the extent of devastating effect of which is best imagined.

In the same vein, a regional war, with possible global implications, is again most likely with President Trumpâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s declared intention to assist Ukraine in its struggle against Russia. Moscow authorities have

VIE INTERNATIONALE with

Bola A. Akinterinwa Telephone : 0807-688-2846

e-mail: bolyttag@yahoo.com

Onyeama, Minister of Foreign AďŹ&#x20AC;airs

simply responded to Donald Trump by amassing troops along the borders of Ukraine. Thus, the environment of foreign policy is belligerent, and, therefore, requires not waiting to react but embarking on a more programmatic strategic calculations in preparation for defence of the national interest in whatever circumstance.

In essence, the domestic foundation of Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s foreign policy in 2017 was generally weak and characterised by dwindling economic revenues, largely induced by recession, political intrigues, especially at the level of the political parties (All Progressives Congress and Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Democratic Party), heightened insecurity, with much concerns for kidnapping, Fulani herdsmenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s terror, and agitations for restructuring.As it is generally believed that foreign policy is a reflection of the domestic setting, Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s foreign policy in 2017 was necessarily weak and reactive. It was largely routine in design and execution: participation in regional and international meetings, responding to public complaints, and reaffirmation of Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stand on various international questions.

With this situational background, how is Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s foreign policy likely to respond to various international questions in 2018? What are the definienda, the foundations, and the likely issues to be involved, especially when compared with what transpired in the first year of PMB?And, perhaps more importantly, what is the likely prospect of the current mania of conduct of Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s foreign policy?

LikelyIssuesandChallenges

The issue of Moroccoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s application for membership of the ECOWAS has the great potential of generating much controversy in the foreseeable future, especially at the level of the ECOWAS Community Citizens. This is because ECOWASAuthority is now taking decisions before thinking, which is most unfortunate. It is not learning after acquisition of experience but behaving as if there is no other West

More important, the ECOWAS Authority not only envisioned by 2020 aâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;sustained collective effort to eliminate social discrimination and exclusion,â&#x20AC;&#x2122;as well asâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;a unified region that is integrated into the continental and global economy spaceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;but alsoâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;a secure and socially cohesive West Africa devoid of conflicts whose leaders and people place a high premium on peace and collective regional security, effective operation of an ECOWAS regional defence and security system that will effectively combat illegal arms and drugs

Africans that can reason and learn from history. Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s grievances appear to be mounting and should be quickly nipped in the bud.

In this regard, Nigerians should be particularly grateful to PMB and Ghanaian leader who queried the rationale for the approval-inprinciple given to Moroccoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s application for membership on 4 June 2017 in Liberia.At the 52nd Ordinary Session of theAuthority held inAbuja on 16 December 2017, PMB submitted that the information given to Member States on the matter was inadequate to enable an objective decision-taking by Nigeria. In fact, PMB queried the alleged study carried out before giving the approval-in-principle, which competent sources say were more about associate membership and observer status.

As a result of the new opposition to the approval-in-principle, the ECOWAS resolved to empanel a new study committee to look at the implications of Moroccoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s membership of the ECOWAS. The committee is much likely to look at the implications for the ECOWAS as a whole and as a region and not likely to investigate the specific implications for Nigeria. Consequently, Government will need to quickly direct the relevant research institutions, particularly the Nigerian Institute of InternationalAffairs, the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, the National Defence College, in collaboration with the private sector stakeholders to engage in a special study of the implications for Nigeria.

The outcome of the study can then be compared with the general report to be submitted by the ECOWAS committee. Nigeria is specifically the target, and therefore, to bear the brunt of Moroccoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s quest for membership of the ECOWAS.As Nigeria does not intend to sign the Economic PartnershipAgreement for now, because of the need to grow the home industries and prevent the deepening of the challenges of youth unemployment, foreign policy must begin to address some of the likely scenarios, such as possible renewal of rivalry between the Anglophones and Francophones, as the CĂ´te dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Ivoire is reportedly the chief â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;sponsorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; of Moroccoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s application for membership. In the event of possible decision of the ECOWASAuthority admitting Morocco, what will Nigeria do?

Another critical issue to be addressed is the expected return of the terrorist jihadists from the war-torn Syria and Iraq to the ECOWAS region, a situation which the Senegalese president, Macky Sall, has described as having the potential of negatively affecting Community citizens, foreigners and anyone residing in the region, including their investments. In the words of the Senegalese leader, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;il ne fait dĂŠsormais aucun doute que la menace de lâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;arrivĂŠe, voire la dĂŠferlante, de djihadistes sur le continent, dans un proche avenir, est une grave menace pour les Etats, les populations comme pour les ĂŠtrangers qui y vivent, ainsi que pour leurs intĂŠrets et leurs investissements.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Put differently, there is no longer any disputing of the fact that the arrival of Jihadists inAfrica in the near future is a serious threat to states and people residing inAfrica. The arrival is inimical to their investments. For Nigeria, in particular, the returning terrorists are not likely to come back and remain idle. They are much likely to join hands with the Boko Haram that has an understanding with theAl Qaida. Foreign policy must therefore address this issue not rhetorically but seeking to strengthen cooperation with the immediate neighbours and making the issuance of visa and entry to Nigeria inaccessible to them.

Athird foreign policy challenge is derived from the ECOWAS Vision 2020. In this regard, the situational assessment of ECOWAS Vision 2020 is much likely to be raised as from 2018. The vision was introduced in June 2007 by the ECOWASAuthority with the objective of raising the standard of living of Community citizens.

In this regard, the ECOWASAuthority wants to achieve a regional integration that is driven by the people. This was why the President of the Commission was given the mandate to mobilise all the citizens of the region and for all ECOWAS leaders to be made accountable to the people. As noted in the Vision statement, the ECOWASAuthority wants â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;to create a borderless, peaceful, prosperous and cohesive region, built on good governance and where people have the capacity to access and harness its enormous resources through the creation of opportunities for sustainable development and environmental preservation.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; More important, the ECOWASAuthority not only envisioned by 2020 a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;sustained collective effort to eliminate social discrimination and exclusion,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; as well as â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;a unified region that is integrated into the continental and global economy spaceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; but also â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;a secure and socially cohesive WestAfrica devoid of conflicts whose leaders and people place a high premium on peace and collective regional security, effective operation of an ECOWAS regional defence and security system that will effectively combat illegal arms and drugs.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; However, the level of public sensitisation and mobilisation in Nigeria cannot be said to be high. Naturally and expectedly, Nigeria ought to be providing leadership, and, of course, leadership by example.

Public sensitisation on all the issues ought to be a model for other peoples in the ECOWAS region, but it is still far from the expected.

Foreign policy calculations should therefore begin to address well in advance the challenges in the new year.

The ECOWAS 2030Agenda for Sustainable Development is also noteworthy. It is inspired by ECOWAS Vision 2020, as well as by the AUAgenda 2063 both of which are aimed at regional integration and development. In all these development instruments, it is important for Nigeria to have a well-planned agenda for possible application in the event of need. Nigeria should always avoid being caught unawares as a regional influential.

(See concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com)

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ ECEMBER 31, 2017

SUNDAYNEWS

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

FG Appoints Medview to Evacuate Stranded Nigerians in Libya Chinedu Eze

The federal government has appointed Medview Airline to participate in the evacuation of stranded Nigerians in Libya.

The appointment was done

throughtheNationalEmergency Management Agency (NEMA), which has been working with international organisations to return Nigerians over there, to the country.

Despite the fact that over 2,000

Nigerianshavebeenairliftedback to the country, thousands more are reportedly still trapped in the war-torn North African nation.

The agreement was signed at the NEMAheadquartersinAbujaat theweekendbetweenNEMAon

behalfoftheNigeriangovernment andMedviewtofacilitatesmooth airlifting of Nigerians out of the troubled zone. There are indications that Medview would be participating in the evacuation with another Nigerian carrier

yet to be named.

Reacting to the appointment, the Executive Director, Business Development,MedviewAirline, Mr. Isiaq Na’Allah said, “This kind of responsibility is meant for Nigerian carriers, because it is our responsibility and we havethecapacitytocarryoutthis operation.Wehavedemonstrated the capacity that we can do it and we are honoured to have been appointed by the Federal Government through NEMA. “ItisaknownfactthatMedview Airline has been in operations for the past 10 years. We do Hajj operations and we do it successfully and the record is there for everybody to see.

That is a factor I think the government considered before we were assigned this national project.Wewilldeliverprofessionally up to international standard and the government is not making any mistake for entrusting a Nigerian carrier to this kind of project,” he added.

Recently, President Muhammadu Buhari had constituted a 17-man fact-finding committee to aid the evacuation process of 5,037Nigerians.The17-manteam washeadedbyMinisterofForeign Affairs Geoffrey Onyeama.

The federal government has also established a Reception CentreinPortHarcourt,theRivers Statecapital,tobemanagedbythe ZonalCoordinatorof NEMA,to receive the 5,037 returnees.

Thefederalgovernmentisalso toworkwiththegovernorsofthe returnees’statesasthereturnees, afterprofiling,identificationand documentation, will be handed over to their state governors.

NEMA’s Director-General, Mustapha Maihaja; a Senior Legal Officer to NEMA, Fatima Bukar; Medview’s Executive Director, Business Development and Commercials, Mr. Isiaq Na’Allah and Medview Corporate Affairs Officer, Johnson Omole, participated in the signing of the agreement.

Police Arrest Suspected Assailants of Sun Correspondent Wole Ayodele in Jalingo

HONOURING EMMANUEL L-R: Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel (right), presented with a portrait by the Youths of the state during the 2017 Christmas Get-together for the Youths held at Christ the King Primary School, Wellington Bassey Way, Uyo...recently

10 Modular Refineries with 300,000bpd Capacity Near Take-off, Says Presidency Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja

Ten licensed prospective modular refineries being constructed in five of the nine states of the Niger Delta region will soon commence operations as their preparation for take-off has reached an advanced stage, it was learnt at the weekend.

Whenfullyoperational,the10 refineries will have the capacity to refine 300,000 barrels of crude oil per day.

AstatementbyVicePresident YemiOsinbajo’sspokesman,Mr. Laolu Akande, said the administration of President MuhammaduBuhariwascommittedto promoting the establishment of privately-financed modular refinerieswithaviewtoincreasing local refining capacity, creating jobs, and ensuring peace and stabilityintheNigerDeltaregion.

According to the statement, the initiative, which featured prominently in recent talks between the federal government and oil-producing areas represented by Pan-Niger Delta Forum(PANDEF),willreposition the petroleum industry and aid self-sufficiency in the refining of petroleumproducts,addingthat it will also serve as a disincentive for illegal refineries and oil pollution.

It disclosed that at the end-ofthe-year review meeting of the Niger Delta Inter-Ministerial Committee at the Presidential Villa, Abuja before Christmas,

Osinbajosaidthefederalgovernment, in line with its new vision for Niger Delta, was targeting measurable objectives in its efforts towards implementing developmental projects in the region.

“The December 22 meeting received a report that 38 licensed privatelyfinancedGreenfieldand mini-modularrefineriesinvestors have so far indicated interests in the establishment of refineries in the region, and at least ten of the licensed refineries investors are at an advanced stage of development.

“The advanced stage of development means that these projectshavepassedtheLicenceto Establish(LTE)stage,whilesome have the Authority to Construct (ATC) licence or close to having it because they have met some critical requirements in the licensed stage.

“There are three stages in the processofrefineryestablishment; Licence to Establish (LTE), Authority to Construct (ATC) and Licence to Operate (LTO). So far, 10modularrefineriesarelocated in five out of the nine states in the NigerDeltaregion;namelyAkwa Ibom,CrossRiver,Delta,Edoand Imo states.

“Also, two out of these 10 Amakpe Refinery meant to be locatedinAkwaIbom,andOPAC Refinery to be based in Delta State - have their mini-refineries modules already fabricated,

assembled and containerised overseas, ready for shipment to Nigeria for installation. The total proposed refining capacities of the 10 licensed refineries stands at 300,000 barrels.

“Noting the issue of funding as a major challenge to most of the investors, and the primary reason holding further progress of the refinery projects, the Vice President directed that the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources keeps providing the necessary support and creating the enabling environment for positive investments in modular refineriesbyengagingkeygovernment agencies.

“TheagenciesincludetheNiger DeltaDevelopmentCommission (NDDC), the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), and financial institutions, including the International Finance Corporation, African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), Nigerian SovereignInvestmentAuthority(NSIA), Bank of Industry (BoI), amongst others,” the statement said.

The statement further said the vicepresidentstressedtheneedto ensurethatoilcommunitieshave a stake in operations of modular refineries and consequently directed that an appropriate model should be developed to achieve that.

Akande said other issues discussed at the meeting included the Maritime University, Ogoni

clean-up, and other related matterssuchastheincreasingsupport for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises(SMEs)intheregion.

“On the Maritime University take-off,theVicePresidentnoted that further support would be given by the federal government to ensure the training of staff members to give the best to the incoming students of the institution.

“On the Ogoni clean-up, the Project Coordinator for the HydrocarbonPollutionRemediation Project (HYPREP), Dr. Marvin

The Taraba State Police Command has arrested two persons suspected to have attacked the Taraba State Correspondent of The Sun newspaper, Mr. Sylvanus Viashima.

In the same vein, the Command,inapressreleasesignedby thestateCommissionerofPolice, Mr. Dave Aderemi said it has arrested one Terkinbi Daniel a.k.a.

Mopol who is a member of the notorious Ghana criminal gang.

Viashima was attacked by a 3 hoodlums on Thursday, 28th of December along FGGC road in Jalingo at about 10.30 am who inflicted life threatening injuries on him with a knife and was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo where Doctors battled to save his life.

The Police boss, in the release stated that the suspects were arrestedsameThursdaynightafter carrying out another attack at a popular bar in the town where they inflicted injuries on one Linda Habila and Aliyu Yusuf.

He revealed that a patrol team

attachedtoJalingoDivisionPolice station effected the arrest of the two suspects whose names are stillbeingshroudedinsecrecyin ordernottojeopardiseinvestigations.AderemistatedthatMopol was arrested at his hideout in Jalingo on December 13 based on an intelligence report.

He further revealed that Mopol had earlier appeared in Benue and indicated interest in laying down his weapons but relocated thereafter to Taraba where he has carried out series of criminal activities.

According to the CP, Mopol confessed to being a member of the notorious Ghana gang as wellashisinvolvementinseveral kidnappingsandarmedrobbery in Taraba and Benue states.

Similarly, the Command also arrested the principal suspect and 7 others who attacked and shot a 25-year-old palm wine tapper, Kpanti Yaro at Bali local governmentarea.Itemsrecovered from the suspects who are to be arraignedincourtincludeasingle barrelgun,threequiverscontaining arrows and two cutlasses.

Navy Arrests Five Notorious Kidnappers in Rivers Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt

Operatives of the Nigerian Navy in the newly established Naval War College Nigeria located at Ubima Community in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State have dislodged a notorious kidnapping and cult ring syndicate operating in Ubima and its environs.

A statement signed by the Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship Pathfinder, Commodore Samson Bura, said “the suspects conspired and kidnapped a personnel of the Nigerian Navy and his daughter at about 8pm on Thursday, December 28, 2017 around Ozuoha/Omademe communities in Ikwerre Local Government Area.”

He said, “Similarly, same

group had attempted to assassinate a Director of the College.

Consequently, the Navy mobilised a quick response team in collaborationwithothersecurity agencies towards rescuing the personnel and his daughter. In the encounter, gun fight ensued betweenthekidnappersandthe armed rescue team where the superior firepower of the team prevailed and led to the successful rescue of the victims and dislodgement of the kidnappers den in OmademeCommunity.”

He said the operation led to the arrest of five suspects in possession of dangerous weapons.

Three of the suspects, he said, were wounded while their suspected gang leader escaped with gunshot wounds.

He said efforts were on-going

to track and arrest the ring leader, Kirgika Stanley Lucky, popularly known as Schoolboy, while all arrested persons have been handed over to the Nigeria Police for further investigation and prosecution.

“By this statement, Kirgika Stanley Lucky, alias Schoolboy is hereby declared wanted.

Members of the Public with useful information that could lead to his arrest should contact thenearestpolicestationorother security agencies. Additionally, membersofUbimacommunity and environs are advised to caution their wards against involvement in kidnappings and cult related activities, as the Nigerian Navy would not relent initseffortstoridthecommunity of criminals,” he said.

84

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

NEWSXTRA UN Scribe Seeks Unity

CELEBRATION TIME Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (middle) dancing with former Governor of old Anambra State Senator Jim Nwobodo (right) and the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Commissioner for

Gender AďŹ&#x20AC;airs and Social Development, Hon. Princess Peace Nnaji after the governor was conferred with a chieftaincy title during the civic reception in honour of his Chief of StaďŹ&#x20AC;, Dr. Festus Uzor by Iwollo community, Enugu State...yesterday

The United Nations SecretaryGeneral, Mr. Antonio Guterres has urged leaders everywhere to narrow the gaps, and rebuild trust by bringingpeopletogetheraroundcommon goals.InhisNewYearmessagetothe world, Guterres said â&#x20AC;&#x153;When I took officeoneyearago,Iappealedfor2017 tobeayearforpeace.Unfortunatelyâ&#x20AC;&#x201C; in fundamental ways, the world has gone in reverse. On New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day 2018, I am not issuing an appeal. I am issuing an alert -- a red alert for our world. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Conflicts have deepened and new dangers have emerged. Global anxieties about nuclear weapons are the highest since the Cold War. Climate change is moving faster thanweare.Inequalitiesaregrowing.

We see horrific violations of human rights. Nationalism and xenophobia are on the rise. As we begin 2018, I call for unity. I truly believe we can make our world safer. We can settle conflicts, overcome hatred and defend shared values. But we can only do that together. Unity is the path.

Our future depends on it. I wish you peaceandhealthin2018.Thankyouâ&#x20AC;?, headded.

Dogara: Democracy Cannot Thrive Amidst Poverty t Sponsors N156m empowerment scheme in Bauchi, floats football club James Emejo in Abuja and Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara has reiterated the need to tackle the worrisome rate of poverty in the country from the grassroots, adding that no democracy can succeed when poverty thrives.

The Speaker, who sponsored an empowerment scheme worth N156 million for 526 women and men from 20 local government areas of Bauchi state presented each

participants with N100,000 cheques to start a business from the skills they have acquired.

The empowerment programme was on building entrepreneurial skills and the participants were taught how to add value to food crops such as beans and rice and how to package them properly for onward sale to earn income.

Speaking at the event, Dogara said the programme was part of his efforts to reduce poverty from the grassroots. He added that so

far, through the support of his friends, N300 million had been raised from donations at a birthday charity football match and book launch for onward presentation to internally displaced persons in the country.

According to him, â&#x20AC;&#x153;In that event, just for you to know we are not just blessings to you but from this constituency, we are raising resources to address poverty and internal displacement in Nigeria. That event has generated about N300 million and I believe it

will be more because people are still pledging more. The credit belongs to all of us because if you had not supported me this wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have been possible.â&#x20AC;?

He said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;What we are doing here today is not politics. We are here to attend to those needs that have dire consequences on our nation.

I have said it several times that poverty is a threat to our democracy and the only way we can address it is from the roots. Democracy should go with prosperity; we are not

Wike: Rivers APC Leaders Lagos Promises Spectacular One Lagos Gain Recognition by Fiesta Finale Insulting Me t Face PH airport, leave Wike alone,

t KSA, Wizkid, Davido, Olamide,

Rivers govt tells Amaechi

others headline concert

Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt

The Lagos State Government on Saturday promised Lagosians and visitors a world-class finale for the ongoing One Lagos Fiesta holding simultaneously across the five divisions of the state.

An array of A-list artistes, a new set of talented youths that emerged from the Lagos Grows Talent (LGT) competition and a spectacular display of fireworks are some of the â&#x20AC;&#x153;special effectsâ&#x20AC;? lined up for the countdown concert, which will usher in the New Year and draw the star-studded fiesta to a close at the Eko Atlantic City in Victoria Island, Agege Stadium, Ikorodu Town Hall, Badagry Grammar School and Epe Marina waterfront.

In a press statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, he said â&#x20AC;&#x153;the eightday, five-centre fiesta has again highlighted Governor Akinwunmi Ambodeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s passionate

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has stated that leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State only gain recognition from the Federal Government when they rain insults on him. He said apart from insulting him on the pages of newspapers and on electronic media, Rivers APC leaders have no political value in the state.

He spoke yesterday when he received hundreds of APC defectors from Opobo-Nkoro Local Government Area at the Government House Port Harcourt.

The governor said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The only way they get recognition from the federal government is by insulting Wike. Apart from that, they are finished politically. They must tell Rivers people what they have attracted to the state. After two and half years, they are unable

to attract any project.â&#x20AC;?

He said both the Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Minister of Transportation have nothing to show to Rivers people except their capacity to insult Wike.

The governor stated that his administration has used projects to silence critics, pointing out that more projects would continue in 2018. He said with the level of projects delivery in Rivers State, it would be difficult for anyone to rig elections in the state. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If you attempt to rig elections here, then you rig your life. You canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t rig election and go free. It is not possible. You want to steal somebodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vote, anything you see, take it. Robbery is robbery. Instead of using resources to execute projects, they are keeping the money to bribe military and police for riggingâ&#x20AC;?, he said.

commitment to the promotion of art and culture, development of entertainment and tourism and using the creative sector to engage and empower the teeming youths in the State. â&#x20AC;&#x153;An estimated 300,000 people have thronged the five locations of the fiesta on a daily basis in a multi-dimensional arrangement that has made it Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biggest end-of-the-year artistic event. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is a fiesta that has provided direct, indirect and induced jobs to more than 6,000 people like musicians, dancers, technicians, stall owners, brand ambassadors, food and beverage sellers as well as security guards and transport services owners,â&#x20AC;? Ayorinde said.

He added that the Victoria Island zone for tomorrowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s grand finale will hold inside the sprawling Eko Atlantic City as against the Bar Beach end where the first seven days fiesta held since December 24.

here to do any campaign.

We are not here only for the training but to put resources in your hands and hope you wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t allow these resources to dry up.â&#x20AC;?

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Hassan Turaki, Dogara also the thanked the people for supporting him to be able to make these happen by re-electing him, and assured them that he will provide support for all, irrespective of those who didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t vote for him because he does not discriminate along any line.

He said his goal is to raise people from the ashes of poverty to a glorious destiny, and appealed to them to make good use of the money presented to them to do businesses that will provide income for them and their families.

However, in a determined bid to boost sports in Bauchi State and promote youths with football talents, he further announced the formation of a football club to be sponsored by him.

The Speaker disclosed this at the finals of the Dogara Unity Cup competition in Bogoro local government area.

Marwa Organisation Urges Nigerians to Sheath Political Swords Dani Sani in Yola

Marwa Organisation (TMO) a political organisation of former military administrator of Lagos State, Gen Buba Marwa has called on Nigerians to sheath their swords ranging from insurgency, kidnapping, child trafficking, nepotism and political hate speeches bedeviling the unity of the nation; for sake of the fear of God. The organisation said â&#x20AC;&#x153;God didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make a mistake to create Nigeria despite our tribe diversitiesâ&#x20AC;?, adding that anybody agitating for the disunity of the country was fighting the Almighty. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My new yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s message is united we stand divided we fall as a nation and there is much trength in our diversitiesâ&#x20AC;?, said the organisation, adding â&#x20AC;&#x153;We should borrow a leaf from China which despite its population and diversity is able to develop. If there is political will, success is inevitable.â&#x20AC;?

However, the organisation reiterated its stand to support President Muhammadu Buhariâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s presidential ambition come 2019.

Marwa, who spoke on Saturday in Yola, Adamawa state capital on behalf of his organisation noted that Nigerians should not be carried away by fantasies and deception by some politicians who have personal interest at heart and not the interest of the nation.

He said â&#x20AC;&#x153;some politicians may come in sheepâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cloth but they are wolves in sheep cloths and are only concerned to defraud and siphon the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s treasure.â&#x20AC;?

Marwa said Nigerians should used the yuletide holidays to do critical analysis on who should be the next president of the country come 2019, adding that the Buhari administration has proven beyond reasonable doubt its case in people-oriented projects in the few years of its reign.

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85

͎͎͜;ʹ͜͜ͳ;ͳͰ

...AĂ&#x2014;Ă&#x2039;äĂ&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2018; Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă&#x17E;ĂŁĂ&#x2013;Ă?Ă? Ă&#x2122;Ă? Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2018;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2039;ËŞĂ? Ă&#x153;Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă&#x2019; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D; Ă?Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x;Ă?

Full Time! The Return of Maryam Abacha Ëž Ă&#x2122;ĂĄ Ă?Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x2039;ääĂ&#x2013;Ă?Ă&#x17D; Ă?Ă Ă?Ă&#x153;ĂŁĂ&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC;Ă? Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2039;ËŞĂ? ͳ͎Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019; Ă&#x152;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x2039;ĂŁ Ă?Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC;ĂŁ

H

er femininity is sturdy enough to withstand anything; even desolateness and ruined careers. But for all the misery she has had to endure, Maryam Abacha, former First Lady, has waded out of the sinking sands of grief with well-healed scratches and scars of defeat. Maryam has smothered the agony and disappointment of her husbandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s damaged reputation to chance on joy; rather than mope and wallow eternally in self-pity, she has chosen to rediscover happiness and contentment.

However, to her loved ones, Maryam Abacha is rare gem.

For an ordinary person, the hurdles she had been forced to cross would have been both daunting and disastrous but

she survived and subsequently gave the social scene a wide berth for many years. Today, Hajia Maryam Abacha is back with a bang and has launched herself back into the buzz of Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s high society.

She was a cynosure of eyes last Tuesday at Speaker Yakubu Dogaraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 50thbirthday ceremony. However, as she would turn 71 in few months, Maryam clings to the gift of life and a second chance, like dependable friars on the Alp. Having attained that curve in her life when words can no longer varnish her deeds to make up for her misdeeds, she hangs on to acquiescence to guide her across the moors and uncertain expanse of her twilight.

Irrespective of her travails, she stands strapping and ageless.

Fola Ogunlesi

THIRD TIMEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S A TREAT...FOLA OGUNLESI SET TO MARRY THIRD WIFE Again, Fola Ogunlesi, the owner of Fantasyland, has ventured into the mysterious overland; that peculiar haven bordered by esplanades of secret treasures and colourful spokes of eternal delight. Thanks to sweet heavenly grace, Fola has rediscovered bliss in ravishing belle, Ireti; after two failed marriages, hardly anyone believed that Fola would find another love of his life so soon. To high society trolls, it is unbelievable, but to Fola, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s simply ethereal.

To Fola, finding Ireti is akin to beaming light through the surface of a brushwood that light never penetrated.

Few years after a bitter separation from his second wife, Omolewa, the founder of Ikoyi, Lagos based events centre,

Fantasyland, has rediscovered love in Ireti. Fola has been seen all over town with Ireti in recent times. So smitten are they with each other that they have aroused speculations about the future of their newfound love.

Folaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first wife, Idowu, was the CEO of Amazing Grace Fabrics Stores at Alade Market, Ikeja, Lagos, but their marriage packed up over 22 years ago due to irreconcilable differences. Fola subsequently married Omolewa, who had also been previously married with three kids before she met Fola. They got married and started living together.

So deep was their love that the Kogiborn lady ensured that she became crucial part of Folaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life; from his personal finance to business scattered all over the country and overseas, Omolewa was privy to every aspect of Folaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life. The Fantasyland boss never hid anything from Omolewa, and he reportedly sought her consent before taking any step. It is a known fact in the Lagos social circle that they had joint bank accounts and their cheque books were clearly marked â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Fola/Omolewa Ogunlesi.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; While Fola enjoyed sweet, passionate love with Omolewa, he gave her his fancifully built high-rise on Opebi Road to run her kiddies stores, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Balloon;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Fast forward a few years later, Omolewa and Folaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s marriage hit the rocks following a long drawn out and acrimonious spat - which also involved a dispute over ownership of property - thus ending his second marital adventure. Now, Fola is in love with Ireti. Ireti used to be married to a man called Olutayo with whom she had two kids. Olutayo allegedly dumped her to marry her friend but just before she yielded to despair, Fola arrived in her life like a gladiator from

Maryam Abacha

an ancient age, to rescue her from the pit of depression. Now sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s enjoying the best of the good life with Fola who spares no expense in taking care of her.

MOHAMMED BABANGIDAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S GODSON, ABE IBRAHEEM, CELEBRATES 50 Abe Ibrahim is every inch a gracious champ. Like most champs, he makes a good first impression. As he clocks 50, his story pulsates a pleasurable lore of labour, perseverance, reinvention and accomplishment. It projects the fate of a man immune to the proverbial fatal weakness of character oft derided by conservatives as carefree folkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Achilles heel. Abe personifies a classic success story of the man who grew to be titan under the heavy weight of daunting odds, along the torturous path to

Abe Ibraheem

acclaim. Asides his manifest depth, he presents with zero haughtiness; he is at heart, very private and unpretentiously modest. His towering humility excites cozy presumptions about his attitude which leads many of his acquaintances to believe that he is simply a great guy. His candid cadences, touch with just the faintest whiff of reticence, amplifying his graceful modesty and ability to navigate the tricky slopes of toil, acclaim and humane ethics - whether in the cutthroat world of commerce or social politics, Abe meanders the fiddly inclines with the grace of a saint. The Polo-loving dude is one of the closest men to General Ibrahim Babangida, and also runs Soveran Oil. He celebrated his 50th birthday on Christmas day.

BIMBO ASHIRU THROWS HIGHOCTANE SOIREE TO CELEBRATE BIRTHDAY AND WEDDING ANNIVERSARY Yes, Lagos listed to their grace, like a vessel tilting to the splendorous splash of the Atlantic. Last Tuesday, the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry in Ogun State, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru, and his beautiful wife, Kemi, celebrated their wedding anniversary and his birthday at their Magodo residence. The coupleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wedding anniversary was no doubt an exhibition of pageantry and class; the Ashirus have a reputation for understatement but in honour of their blissful matrimony, they threw subtlety overboard. The event was well attended by friends and associates of Bimbo. As the A-list guests wined and dined and slipped into jolly moods, the Ashirus thrilled their palates and souls to the choicest of exotic meals,

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HIGHLIFE

Bolu and Ladun Akin-Olugbade Celebrate 37th Wedding Anniversary

W

here there is no love, there is no ardor.

But where love exists, passion becomes a given and even the most wretched homestead becomes Eden. There is love in the heart and home of Aare Bolu Akin Olugbade.

The Rolls Royce loving socialite is extremely joyous at the moment; he is swaddled in the ecstasy of requited love, like a newborn cradling in his motherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s warmth.

Bolu is very much in love with his wife.

And he is never too shy to express his heartfelt adoration of his heartthrob.

Last Wednesday, he celebrated his unflagging love for his wife of 37 years. Predictably,

friends and family celebrated the couple on the social media on that day. In the highest boughs of their love, the world rustles like branches of a giant oak with roots extending far into infinity; but unlike several other couples whose passion and affection have caved or extinguished in the raging inferno of mid-life crises or love-gone-sour, they put up a gallant and admirable defense against life and fateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worst trials.

They contend with all the force of their lives and for one thing only, to fulfill their heartfelt dreams of actualising a never-ending story of insurmountable love, forged by them, according to their own laws.

music and liquor. They held court and provide ample space and materials for their distinguished guests to hobnob in a sumptuous royal gathering designed to rival the best of the filthy richâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s parties.

The Ashirusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; wedding anniversary was undoubtedly a spectacle of grandeur; among other things, it reflected the coupleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s impeccable taste and high sense of fashion, order and splendour. The elaborate event, which paraded top politicians, respected technocrats, society big wigs and captains of industry, saw the guests shuffle and nod to the liveliest and most delightful musical tunes. As the guests thrilled to delightful music, their hair stood on end and they tipped over in merriment - their joy spilling from their souls into the air and sky high into the blue firmament.

The Ashiruâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s residence exploded inwards and outwards in colorful bursts, the bass and treble guitars black strumming and buzzing to

Bimbo Ashiru

mesh with the cymbals and drums in a thunder clap. Enthralled, the guests moved in gaiety, tap dancing and swaying to the beat as if they meant to enact a beach rave or simulate an indoor Ibiza. The melody reverberated through the halls and passageways of their posh apartments and spilled into the atmosphere, drawing excited and muted sighs of pleasure from their invited guests and neighbours.

Bimbo played the perfect host; and so did his wife, Kemi, whose warm and comforting smile seemed etched on her face throughout the birthday party.

Bimbola is a manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s man.

JOY RULES OYO...AYODEJI KARIM TICKLES ANCIENT CITY WITH â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;AYO NIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; GOSPEL Tyranny erupts in various forms. It could emerge in the form of a military despot or tyrant-democrat. Sometimes, it manifests as the disease which must be cured, the volcano which must be extinguished, the gangrene which must be burned out with a hot iron, the hydra with jaws open to swallow up the social order.

Very few men, or very few Nigerian leaders to be precise, are equipped to combat such monstrosity. But Ayodeji Ismail Karim is remarkably different.

Karim understands the need of his people and with him in the saddle, democracy in Oyo will manifest as a pleasant reality and become less of a theory than it has been in several parts of the country, according to pundits.

The punditsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; views are apparently shared by various segments of the Oyo electorate.

Too many people are excited about Karimâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decision to participate in the next gubernatorial elections in 2019.

Little wonder the chant â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Ayo Ni O!â&#x20AC;&#x2122; has recently become a chant attached to different things in Oyo State. Karimâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s enthusiasts claim itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a credo to Change, Liberation, Youth

Bolu Akin -Olugbade and his wife, Ladun

Development, Poverty Eradication, Employment, Quality Representation and many others.

It all started with Karimâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s declaration to join the other contestants vying to become the Governor of Oyo State in 2019.

The Chief Executive Officer of Costain Plc. is indeed a fine breed, an accomplished gentleman who understands the needs of the people.

More significantly, he understands the common failing of totalitarian regimes and the major foibles of tyrant democrats hence unlike them, he aspires to better understanding of the true nature of democracy. Thus he would never mistake dissent for disloyalty nor would he mistake arguments against public policy and arrant animosity.

The incumbent governor of Oyo State, Ajimobi, probably had him in mind when he disclosed in a recent statement that he needed someone â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;credible, honest, hardworking that has

the leadership character that could take the batonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; from him and lead the State to greater heights.

Pundits in the State believe Karim is the worthy replacement Ajimobi has in mind; not only is he close to Governor Ajimobi, Karim is also the latterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s protĂŠgĂŠ and his keen follower.

Predictably, Karimâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s recent declaration in Ibadan was celebrated with fanfare, as a mammoth crowd consisting of party faithful, chieftains, clerics and the youth from all political divides in Oyo State assembled and expressed delight at Karimâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s foray into politics.

The declaration gave birth to Ayodejiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Ayo Niâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; movement. The movement is a multimillion naira foundation that seeks to touch all aspects of life of the people of Oyo State. It seeks to provide jobs, entrepreneurial skills, scholarships, medical support, social amenities among others to the people of Oyo State.

AS CAPTAIN IDAHOSA OKUNBO CLOCKS 60 NEXT WEEK

Ayodeji Karim

There is something electrifying about Capt. Idahosa Okunbo as he clock 60 next Sunday. He exudes the lustre of the proverbial leading light thus distinguishing his persona amid a range of middling men.

Okunbo radiates compassion, ardor and acclaim that no lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s odd could tame. Having hacked his path to affluence in honest, industrious strides, he spread outs like a bastion of human aspiration even as his exploits become objects of the world affection.

Everywhere he navigates, he exudes a spirit of humaneness and generosity that even the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s finest and most daring philanthropists live in awe of.

Like a strapping rampart in lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sea of odds, Okunboâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s resilience stretches for miles. And you did still hang on his every thrust and aspire to the random

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HIGHLIFE

Julius Rone Serenades Wife, Utibe, at 40

U

nlike most husbands, Julius Rone the chairman of UTM Group, hardly reminds his wife, Utibe, â&#x20AC;&#x153;of an orangutan trying to play the violin.â&#x20AC;? And unlike the late French writer, HonorĂŠ de Balzac, Juliusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wife has no reason to doubt or disdainfully analyse the character and depth of her husbandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s love for her in such manner. And the reason is never far-fetched; Rone does not only deploy great tact and ingenuity at pleasing his beautiful wife, he showers immeasurable love on her at every opportunity. And so did he last Wednesday as she celebrated her 40th birthday.

Utibe Rone clocked the age of 40 on 27th December. As Utibe adds another year to her enchanting life, the pert, blue flame of joy burns through her pretty frame; brightening her world and burnishing her persona with irrepressible shine.

The beautiful mother of three lovely boys is beside herself with joy for being privileged to witness yet another glorious addition to her inspiring days. Curiously, however, at 40, some women are like sapphire, they glow as the brilliant blue gem thus colouring the world with their craft. Some are sassy as teens and cute as amber studs. Some are like coral

Idahosa Okunbo and his wife

lunges of the billionaire magnate for all its worth. As a businessman, Okunbo has the same fundamental psychology as the artist, inventor, or statesman. He has set himself at a certain work and the work absorbs and becomes him. It is the expression of his personality; he lives in its growth and perfection according to his plans.

There is no gainsaying that the amiable Chairman of Ocean Marine Solutions represents a force of nature on the African continent, a towering force of hope and entrepreneurial depth.

Capt. Okunbo is a patriot whose commitment to national and economic stability are beyond doubt. By grit, persistence and hard work, he built a great empire that employs thousands of Nigerians and Africans in highly profitable and futuristic endeavour. He gives generously to medical research,

clasps - pretty yet disposable.

Amidst the glitter, Utibe is an emerald cut. Julius was made for Utibe. To Utibe, it probably feels like she had him ordered and delivered to her, to be worshipped and revered. On this note, it may be said that Julius is Utibeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s idol. And this is where it gets interesting; Julius also considers her a boon from God. The wealthy dude treasures her like a priceless heirloom â&#x20AC;&#x201C; this explains his predilection to flaunt her like a sapphirestudded wristwatch or buttonhole bouquet to the world. No doubt, Utibe was and still is the mysterious woman of his dreams, the angelic muse that inspired and still invigorating his ardor, leading him everlastingly into the Eden of unparalleled love. With her, he suffered no false protestations of love and blissful companionship Their love was neither a performance nor a jailhouse thus Julius and his heartthrob felt no pressure to break out of a literal or symbolic prison of lust and unrequited love.

Utibe owns Yutees, the muchtalked about fashion house in Abuja. Gifted with a physique and psychological balance not a few people would die for, she has evolved from the proverbial silver spooned kid to a full-fledged, self-driven entrepreneur with astounding diligence and sartorial depth. the arts, education, think tanks and science without courting the mediaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s attention. He cares deeply about the values that make success in Nigeria and the African continent possible â&#x20AC;&#x201D; free markets, freedom, limited censure and healthy competition.

He is currently one of the very few economic giants and magnates enjoying the respect of the Nigerian government due to his infectious modesty and enviable business culture in the oil and gas sector. There is no gainsaying that he has conquered the air as a pilot; the sea as an oil and gas player with over 60 vessels; and now, land as he recently unveiled an agricultural project worth a staggering $750 million with an initial $300 million take-off capital. The farm, located at Odighi and Odiguetue in Ovia NorthEast Local Government Area of his native Edo state, has already taken off with an $11 million 20-hectare Green House vegetable farm, which products would be exported overseas. He would be 60 on January 7. Expectedly, friends, family and business associates can not wait to celebrate this well-connected Edo High Chief.

CLASS ACT! GOV. AMBODE TURNS ONE LAGOS FIESTA INTO A SPECTACULAR EVENT *ELEVATES MUSIC CARNIVALWITH FINANCIAL DISCIPLINE AND CLASS

The right jockey never cracks the turntable. He knows to tweak the stylus in tuneful measure, every deft move making up a perfect part of the melodic mix. You could liken Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to the proverbial disc jockey (DJ) whose dexterity lures the Lagos party crowd to the dance

Utibe Rone

floor.

The incumbent Lagos governor who certainly understands the intricacies and demands of his role; like the practiced jockey, he knows what to add and what to leave out in his melodic mix of thrill and funfare as the coastal â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;City of Excellenceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; celebrated another edition of One Lagos Fiesta (OLF).

Though the previous Lagos State governor, Babatunde Fashola, initiated different activities for the fiesta, especially the Lagos countdown during the Yuletide, the recent edition anchored by Governor Akinwumi Ambode, was unarguably the best of its kind so far.

The event which is a potpourri of exciting musical and entertainment events, drew the party crowd from far and near.

In order to make the One Lagos Fiesta a success, a generous but well pruned budget was devoted to the festival and the best of the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s entertainment crowd was recruited to add spice and glamour to the event.

The event has been graced by millions of revelers from Lagos, other parts of the country and across the world.

In a warm up to the OLF, Lagos pulsed to the wonder and musical treats of the Lagos Street Carnival (LSC).

The carnival set the stage for the One Lagos Fiesta which holds across the five divisions of the State and involves a parade of colours by representatives of the 57 Local Government Councils and Organised Private Sector (OPS) participation from Lagos Island and

other parts of the state.

Lagosians and visitors to the state have been trooping out in large numbers to enjoy great fun and entertainment provided by the Lagos State government in the eight-day carnival across five venues in all the divisions of the state.

Predictably, the wellplanned event has brought lots of commendation to Governor Ambode.

The fiesta, according to entertainment buffs and residents of the Lagos, serves as a worthy curtain call to a challenging but highly rewarding and glorious year under the indefatigable Lagos governor.

Akinwunmi Ambode

Sunday December 31, 2017

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& RE A S O

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Price: N400

MISSILE Dasukiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Family to FG Today is two years since the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki, was arrested and re-arrested in December 2015 after securing his bail condition but ignored by the federal government. â&#x20AC;&#x201C;The late Sultan Ibrahim Dasuki family urging President Muhammadu Buhari to order the release of former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd).

SIMONKOLAWOLE SIMONKOLAWOLELIVE!

simon.kolawole@thisdaylive.com, sms: 0805 500 1961

The Year Nigeria Almost Disappeared

I

t is time to confess my sins. All my adult life, I have never feared for the continued existence of Nigeria as much as I did in 2017. Anybody who knows me very well knows where I stand: I believe in one, united Nigeria. It is not that I am an incurable optimist or that I am the most patriotic Nigerian alive. It is just that after assessing all the issues that so easily bog us down, I have always come to the conclusion that we do not have irreconcilable differences that should inevitably lead to divorce. I have always believed that every ingredient, every resource needed to make Nigeria work is here with us.

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve always concluded that we have been terribly let down by the ruling elite.

My stand on Nigeria â&#x20AC;&#x201D; in the face of campaigns for its balkanisation along ethnic, religious and other sectional lines â&#x20AC;&#x201D;has earned me plenty enemies. I know people who have stopped reading me because of that. In fact, one â&#x20AC;&#x153;egbonâ&#x20AC;?

I used to look up to accused me of pandering to certain sections of Nigeria as â&#x20AC;&#x153;a tactic for personal advancement, like Obasanjo (or Tinubuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s failed 2015 plan)â&#x20AC;?. He as much as said I was not a Yoruba â&#x20AC;&#x153;freebornâ&#x20AC;?. I was amused at the personal attack over differences in worldview.

Of course, there is always a price to pay if you refuse to play the ethnic and religious card in political commentary, if you do not go with the flow â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and that I know.

But I will be honest and confess that there were two events that shook my confidence in the unity of Nigeria in this outgoing year, so much so I got to the point of throwing up my hands in surrender and saying â&#x20AC;&#x153;it is all overâ&#x20AC;?. One, the politics over the grave illness that befell President Muhammadu Buhari and kept him away in the UK for months. Two, the October 1 deadline issued to Igbo people to leave northern Nigeria because of the activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. I had never been so scared about the possibility of another nationwide bloodshed and the risk of another civil war as much as I was in 2017.

Sometime in February, I was inside a bank when I got a call from a woman who lives in Jos, Plateau state. She sounded frightened. Let me paraphrase her: â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is a message going round in the north that Yoruba people have poisoned Buhari so that Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo would take over as president if he dies. They said the poison was placed on the curtains in Buhariâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office, that the Yoruba want to take power through the back door. The Hausa people here seem to believe this rumour. If Buhari dies, we are in trouble. They will start attacking and killing us. You know killing human beings means nothing to these people.â&#x20AC;?

I was confused. I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know what to tell her. She spoke to me in a way that suggested I could do something about the rumours or the backlash that would follow if anything happened to Buhari on the hospital bed. As soon as we ended our conversation (I only said â&#x20AC;&#x153;I have heard you Ma and I will tell some contactsâ&#x20AC;?), my head went into a spin. I started imagining things. If Yoruba were attacked in the north, there would be reprisal in the south-west. There would be turmoil again in the country. We could be back to the June 12 calamity of 1993 which effectively shut down Nigeria for five years. The damage to our economy is yet to be assessed and quantified.

In Buhariâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s absence, things were happening at a dizzying pace. Different shades of rumours and theories flew all over the place. Far-reaching changes were effected in the military high command to such an extent that allegedly favoured northern officers. The word in town was that

Buhari the military would rather take over than allow power to return to the south so â&#x20AC;&#x153;quicklyâ&#x20AC;?. Chief Bisi Akande, a senior member of the ruling party, issued a statement warning that what happened in 1993, when Bashorun MKO Abiolaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s victory was annulled by the military, must not repeat itself.  There was fire in his eyes and his words were really clear, to borrow a line from Michael Jacksonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Beat Itâ&#x20AC;?.

Akande fired: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Let me warn today that those who wish to harvest political gains out of the health of the president are mistaken. This is not Nigeria of 1993. We are in a new national and global era of constitutionalism and order.

We hope Nigerians have enough patience to learn from history. My greatest fear, however, is that the country should not be allowed to slide into anarchy and disorder of a monumental proportion.â&#x20AC;? Speaking in Lagos a few days later, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu advised the military against staging a coup, warning that â&#x20AC;&#x153;Lagos will resist youâ&#x20AC;?. Those who were in Lagos in 1993 would understand the implications better.

I intensified my prayers for Buhari to regain his health and come back to Nigeria alive.

This had nothing to do with the fact that I am unashamedly one of Buhariâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s admirers, in spite of his obvious weaknesses. My concern was for Nigeria. If Buhari had died, the crisis would be unimaginable. Killings and counter killings. We all know that the biggest undoing of President

Nigeria has survived another turbulent year.

There is peace. But the best conclusion would be that this is the kind of peace you ďŹ nd in a graveyard. The issues always exploited by the political elite are still there.

It is only a matter of time before these sentiments are whipped up yet again in the competition for political power and patronage

Goodluck Jonathan, for some people, had nothing to do with his performance in office but the fact that he â&#x20AC;&#x153;usurpedâ&#x20AC;? power when President Umaru Musa Yarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Adua died. Jonathan could never do anything right in the eyes of those who wallowed in this mindset. I never wish to see a repeat in my lifetime.

While we were at it, the 50th anniversary of the declaration of Biafra was marked with pomp.

The cries of marginalisation by the south-east reached a crescendo. Kanu enjoyed enormous airtime on TV/radio and lengthy inches in the newspapers. He was everywhere on social media.

And then a group called Arewa youth whatever came up with the reckless declaration that all Igbo in northern Nigeria should vacate by October 1, 2017. I froze. We normally donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t run reports that promote ethnic hate and warmongering at TheCable, and I remember the editor, Mr. Taiwo George, asking my opinion on whether or not to run the story. I advised him it was too important to ignore.

I was fearful of the likely outcome of the ultimatum. If the Igbo did not quit as demanded, would they be attacked and killed in the north?

Wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t the Igbo also retaliate in the south-east?

Would the tit-for-tat stop there or degenerate into a bloodbath that would bring back memories of 1966-67 and lead us into another civil war?

My biggest fear was that even if the Arewa youth eventually withdrew the quit notice, the people on the streets might still go ahead and attack Igbo people. The group was playing a very dangerous game and toying with emotive issues whose consequences no one could predict.

In all honesty, I was really, really scared.

I began to review my positions on the unity of Nigeria. In my mind, I started moving away from â&#x20AC;&#x153;One, United Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;? to â&#x20AC;&#x153;anybody that wants to go should goâ&#x20AC;?. After all, South Sudan left Sudan. Eritrea ditched Ethiopia. Soviet Union broke up. Yugoslavia disintegrated. Deep down my heart, I still desired one Nigeria â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a rainbow coalition whose strength is in its diversity. But I came to the conclusion that while ordinary Nigerians have learnt to live with, and tolerate, one another, the political gladiators â&#x20AC;&#x201D; including their intellectual sidekicks â&#x20AC;&#x201D; are bent on pursing the agenda of balkanisation. The political class has continued to disappoint and manipulate the ordinary Nigerians.

In the chaos though, I was comforted by the moves made by prominent Nigerian leaders to douse the tension. As a journalist, I was privy to some of the underground peace moves made by prominent statesmen. Many of them do not talk openly but are selflessly working day and night to prevent ethnic and religious conflagration in Nigeria. In the end, the Arewa ultimatum was withdrawn and Igbo were not attacked in the north. My fears melted. Well, the elites are masters of brinksmanship. Most importantly, though, Buhari did not die. I honestly canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t say if Nigeria would still be in this shape if Buhari had not returned alive. God be praised.

Okay, Nigeria has survived another turbulent year. There is peace. But the best conclusion would be that this is the kind of peace you find in a graveyard. The issues always exploited by the political elite are still there. It is only a matter of time before these sentiments are whipped up yet again in the competition for political power and patronage. We have survived yet another turbulence that tested the foundation of our nationhood. I continue to wish that the unity of Nigeria would be strengthened. I wish the agents of balkanisation would have a rethink. But I am intelligent enough to know that we have not seen the last of it. Nevertheless, I remain a believer in one Nigeria.

And Four Other Thingsâ&#x20AC;Ś BROUGHT IN DEAD Nigerians have been having fun on the social media over the latest round of appointments by President Muhammadu Buhari. Far from the usual ethno-religious analysis, the interest this time is in the comical inclusion of names of dead people on the list. You call that posthumous national service! Something tells me most of the appointees were nominated in 2015 when Buhariâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s supporters thought he would hit the ground running, but somebody did not bother to do due diligence before throwing the list to the media in 2017. If the list was indeed prepared in 2015, does it mean it took over two years to make it public? Killjoys.

OIL DOOM The time has come for us to ďŹ nally admit that Nigeria is a country like no other. It is the only OPEC member that imports petrol!

It is the only country that has reďŹ neries that are not working! It is the only country that regularly spends billions on â&#x20AC;&#x153;turn around maintenanceâ&#x20AC;? of its reďŹ neries without results â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and yet continues to hold on to those reďŹ neries! It is the only country in the world, bar warzone, where fuel scarcity and fuel queues are integral to national culture!

It is the only country in the world that does not have the competence to import petrol!

It did not start today. It wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t end today.

That is why we are Nigerians. Jokers.

ON YUSUF BUHARI My prayers and wishes are with the First Family over Yusuf Buhariâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s motorbike accident on Tuesday night. From what we are hearing, the presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only surviving son suďŹ&#x20AC;ered serious injuries in the accident.

Biking and car racing are dangerous sports that are not yet properly regulated in Nigeria â&#x20AC;&#x201D; even though they have been with us for a while. It is usually the children of the rich who engage in these sports here. I would suggest that, if possible, the useless velodrome at the national stadium, Abuja, should be converted to a racing arena so that people can exercise their hobbies in a safer environment. Government could even earn revenue from it. Commonsense.

PRESIDENT WEAH I ďŹ rst heard of the name George Weah in 1988. Iwuanyanwu Nationale had defeated Tonnerre Kalara of YaoundĂŠ, Cameroon, 2-0 in the ďŹ rst leg, second round of the African Club Champions Cup (now called CAF Champions League) in Owerri. They were suddenly gasping for breath as the Liberian mercilessly terrorised their defence in the return leg. Iwuanyanwu still managed to beat them 3-2 after all the drama. Weah would go on to Europe to do great things. He has now been elected president of Liberia in the most fascinating fashion â&#x20AC;&#x201D; including returning to school to get university education after his ďŹ rst failed presidential bid in 2006. What a strike! Sensational.

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